Tuesday morning open thread
For your chatting pleasure.
Comments (545) «
We need to post something concerning the death of Coretta Scott King. She was a very influential and important woman who deserves our attention. Many of her associates, such as John Lewis, serve in the party today.
The GOP already has something on their site. Despite the hypocritical nature and pandering present, it is something.
unbelievable. Matthews has got to go.
Last night, on MSNBC's Hardball, host Chris Matthews was commenting on tonight's State of the Union address and threw in this comment about Senator Ted Kennedy and Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito's wife:
"Another visual. I want to suggest the possibility that the president will be on top of his game...Martha-Ann Alito will be up in the gallery...Won't they say something very up beat and bucking-up like 'Isn't she a great woman?'...And then they'll put the camera right on Ted Kennedy and show how he was the guy that molested her basically."3
This follows a string of irresponsible comments by Matthews that could have been written by right-wing operatives—such as comparing President Bush's critics to Osama bin Laden1 and saying only "the real whack-jobs" don't like Bush.2
Please contact MSNBC immediately. Chris Matthews' Kennedy/Alito comment went too far—and he must apologize for his irresponsible and biased journalism.
Court Harson
Senior Producer
Hardball with Chris Matthews - MSNBC
(201) 583-5162
feedback@msnbc.com
Let us know you contacted MSNBC by clicking here:
IMPEACH THEM ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Dawnelle on January 31, 2006 at 10:57 AM
Now that's something I'd be proud to say AYE to.
Hey {{DellB}}
bb - I agree about Matthews but then I feel the same hostility towards Scar- borough, Tucker and the man/woman that chats about nonesense and missing aruba girls that comes on inbetween!
I'm so tired of sending them emails. They don't even read them. They can't possibly or that hateful group would have been gone a LONG time ago.
I'm smelling all kinds of Delay support!
where you been sticking your nose, Dawnie? Delay's going down, no doubt about it.
exuse me not DELAY but DELEWD!!! and DEBOY who's going DOWN!!! TOWN!!!
LOL
bb
Into the wind and it smells pretty BAD!!
but, November is not too far away!! That's the GOOD news. I have a feeling about our favorite son - Fitzgerald as well.
If he didn't have a case he'd be done by now. I'm thinking the more he digs the more golden news he uncovers. Golden because it's gonna make him look GOLDEN after he's done putting all these criminals behind bars!!
IMPEACH THEM ALL AND THE ONES WHO CAN'T BE SHUT OUT THAT WAY???? NEED TO STEP DOWN VOLUNTARILY OR GO TO JAIL!!!
i hear bubble boy will be speaking on health care in America in tonight's state of the union
i predict that he recommends to Americans
Don't get sick...hehehehe
bb, i called court harson's office and left a long, detailed, angry message with my home phone number should he wish to discuss this matter.
sally you sack of shit you are the best argument for abortion we ever saw around here. hope all is well with you.
Posted by Sally__* on January 31, 2006 at 11:15 AM
Amend is spelled with one M. I would invite you to look up the Fourth Amendment, the one Judge Alito doesn't think is very important. That was done by an act of Congress, the proper way.
to change the Constitution is to ammend it
How do you spell amend??
Well, folks, sad day for American rights and liberties. (58 to 42) The working man, minorities and Women will be the aims of this Administration now, using the court to do the dirty work!
Well, as Schumer said this morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THIS DAY, WHEN THEY START THEIR CHIPPING AWAY, WE WILL REMIND THE BLIND MASSES WHO DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE REPUBLICANS DID , EXACTLY WHAT THEIR LACK OF ACTION RESULTED IN!!!
Those new poll numbers really were good news I must admit bb. The ones the HACK Matthews could barely get out of his mouth.
I watched him try to squirm back to the left to start his pandering dance. I wasn't buying it. He just couldn't believe Terrorizm was so low on the "importance meter."
HA!
It's Iraq baby! Did anyone catch Gen. Clark late last night on cspan. That guy is sooooo together. Consistent, intelligent, fair yet bluntly honest. I can't believe the US has not rallied around this great man.
He needs better coverage. Not after midnight on a monday fkin night!@!@!@!
GREGG, LOL
I understand there is a hanger scar on the scalp, which proves it was at least tried!!!
A repeat from last Thread:
This is a good one on Bush in the Bubble that Time mag showed him as! That is why he now is out there talking to real people, etc.
ALSO, it explains why he is always demanding photos of himself chopping Brush! Seems Time mag showed his Father during his campaign sitting on a yacht, and called him a Wimp! The Bush's did not like that image ! (Not that it didn't fit!)
President Bush's White House usually takes pride in its thick skin. The news media can do their worst and get no rise out of the man in the Oval Office. But in recent weeks we have seen an exception, a single media image that stuck in the craw of the president or others in his innermost circle
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5176074
Dems need to remind Americans
that while terrorists from Saudi Arabia (not Iraq) were in control of 4 airplanes and flying them into our buildings that bush was reading the my pet goat book
and that while Americans were drowning in New Orleans and Mississippi he was playing around with a guitar
Posted by PamB on January 31, 2006 at 11:22 AM
ewwwwwwww - pammy
way to make a "point"
Ginsburg! Forget Ginsburg, Sally. Stevens is 85, TEN YEARS beyond average life expectancy for a man in this country.
considerable psychological research has been done on the phenomena of mass hysteria and retribution. one can just imagine how the masses are going to react when the liar-in-chief, who has bankrupted this nation in every possible sense of the verb in the cause of "keeping us safe", has to explain how the inevitable next terrorist act has occurred.
the tar could not possibly be hot enough, the feathers too abundant.
Hey {{Callie}}
If we ignore IT - why r we not ignoring IT?
I am angry with the Senate Democrats for not filibustering Alito's nomination. If this was not the time to enact the filibuster, when will it be? With today's confirmation, the congressional Democrats have officially become the patsies of the President. They can bluster and stew and proclaim all they want, but the truth is -- with the Supreme Court loaded the way it is, anything the President wants to do will be deemed constitutional. THe ramifications of this will be felt long after W has opened his presidential library.
Posted by bb on January 31, 2006 at 11:31 AM
you got that right ;-)
so sally you are hoping for another terrorist attack to help with the elections in the fall? i hope w and dick aren't doing the same. their ineptitude already contributed mightly to the loss of the world trade towers. and who are these terrorists that are being killed because o and z are still sending your little cowboy love letters written in the blood of the innocents they have failed to protect.
Posted by ezworld on January 31, 2006 at 11:25 AM
and I would be willing to bet 98 percent of the planet knows both of those facts by now and the ones that are drinking the koolaid will NEVER CARE that they are following an inept moron.
but it's true the rest of us should be reminded of just why we fight against this criminal!
yep!
and here i am dealing with a troll. no ice cream for me.
so sally you have in a not so round about way hoped for ruth ginsberg's cancer to become active and for a terrorist attack on american soil....bad, bad, we may have to call your parents in and have a meeting with the school psychologist.
"has to explain how the inevitable next terrorist act has occurred."
Easy. "We had been doing a great job of protecting the country by collecting international intelligence and heading off dangerous acts. The country was left mostly defenseless after we had to limit our intelligence gathering abilities."
Kennedy is speaking on C-Span2 about Coretta Scott King.
my pleasure chat
Well there it is. 58/42. One Republican against, four Democrats for.
Kennedy is speaking on C-Span2 about Coretta Scott King.
my pleasure chat
Trish did you finally hook up with Stephanie Miller on line?
Pam - I'm with you on the emailing of Josh or TIM. Let's cut this cancer out bEFORE it spreads beyond the bounds of Gregg's chat box.
WHO wants to read that chit??!!!!
Tonight at the State of the Union Address, I would like to see the entire Democratic Congressional contingent attend, and then enmasse, walk out.
If they are refused, they should stand with their back to the President for the entire speech.
Irene Lynch NJ
Moore and Sheehan are much more acceptable than Rove and Chaney. More truthful, more honest, more human, more lovable, more likable, more compassionate, more smiley, more sexy, more...everthing good. What is not to like about Moore and Sheehan? NOW Rove and Chaney!!!!
letshelpdean: Buy a Democracy Bond
This blog currently resembles a kindergarden playground. This is no game. One-upmanship is really petty considering what is currently at stake.
(puke) MSNBC POLL
State of the Union Address: What do you want to hear about most? * 2776 responses
Troop withdrawal strategy
44%
War on terror
12%
Affordable health care
25%
Energy costs & conservation
19%
Lincoln Chafee is the ONLY republican who had the guts to vote his conscience, not his Party Line.
He was not afraid of this administration, smearing him or his wife or children, as is generally accepted practice.
To thank Lincoln for being an open minded politician, email him at:
This is a good one on Bush in the Bubble that Time mag showed him as! That is why he now is out there talking to real people, etc.
ALSO, it explains why he is always demanding photos of himself chopping Brush! Seems Time mag showed his Father during his campaign sitting on a yacht, and called him a Wimp! The Bush's did not like that image ! (Not that it didn't fit!)
President Bush's White House usually takes pride in its thick skin. The news media can do their worst and get no rise out of the man in the Oval Office. But in recent weeks we have seen an exception, a single media image that stuck in the craw of the president or others in his innermost circle
http://chafee.senate.gov/webform_original.htm
(I am sure there are a lot of Free Republian bloggers threatening his life today !!)
Posted by followthemoney on January 31, 2006 at 11:52 AM
this is why the RIGHT hate them!
absolutely sickening today that Alito got in.
The DNC can't even pretend to be united on something as important as the supreme court and stop this piece of trash. Well done DNC!
F**king idiots!
hump, you ran off from this blog promising to never come back in some sort of jack nicholoson "a few good men " rant. you should have stayed with that instinct. what we need to hope is that bush/cheney and rice will be awake when the next piece of important intelligence comes thru AS THEY WEREN'T IN AUGUST OF 01 !!!! remember? i do here in new york.
sally you do so want an attack, without one your little cowboy could end up facing impeachment....and why not also admit, sally, that one of the great attractions of your far right court is the possibility it could make slavery legal again? come on... you know you'd love some slaves out back to wash and wax that 75 gremlin of yours...
this is fun but i must leave for a bit...
Good Day to you fellow Dems!
Big bummer about the Alito confirmation... when will people figure out that "Strict Contructionist" is just another word for "Activist?" I can't believe that many Americans have never read a single contract with a "no strict construction"clause in it... but oh well, we dont' need to get depressed... we've been through worse, at least we've been trying our best to keep America free and prosperous for the last five year despite the rise of the American Taliban!
Republicans are going to be voted out off office in November, and they can take their cowardly fear with them.
The Democratic party is about standing up for America and not being AFRAID. Remember that the majority of Dems have SERVED in the MILITARY. Just remember, conservatives are willing to throw everything America stands for out the window because THEY ARE COWARDS AND THEY LIVE IN CONSTANT FEAR.
We see the results of the republican's much lauded "market forces" in the Abramhoff conviction... this is what you get when you privitize government.
Keep you heads up folks... history shows we WILL PREVAIL!
:)
Posted by ilynchRadical on January 31, 2006 at 11:48 AM
don't hold your breath
they won't walk out
but there are many ways we can take control and have our own protests
Let the republicans cower under their ducttaped windows, I won't.
The masses are scared of OBL and they follow around a small man that knows that if he gets rid of OBL the general public will stop cowering and start demanding their constitutional rights.
What a bunch of wimps. Better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.
Yea and the simple fact this COUNTRY was NEVER attacked w/in her borders until
W STOLE THE 200O ELECTION!
no other President has ever been so weak and incompetent!!
whose watch was it anyway?????
WHO wants to read that chit??!!!!
Posted by Dawnelle on January 31, 2006 at 11:45 AM
You mean you actually stop and READ these posts, when you see the name? skip by them, gal.
Rehab must be completed again, and they let IT loose !
Posted by BlueinIdaho on January 31, 2006 at 12:00 PM
Hey Blue! You got THAT right Mister!
Posted by Dawnelle on January 31, 2006 at 11:55 AM
And yet, King George is going to try to sell HSAs to you and me. What an idiot. Anyone in the healtcare field will tell you that HSAs are for the rich and healthy. Pity the poor sick people that get suckered into this.
Sorry, Dawnelle!! I had the thought come into my head and just couldn't resist. ;)
I try to skip them but when they are EVERY OTHER post as responding to EVERY OTHER one of OUR posts and then some have to argue with it!!!
Most of us would have better things to do!
BTW, chins up fellow dems. Now is not the time to take your marbles and go home. If we can win the 2006 elections and obtain a majority or near majority we can prevent the destruction that King George is doing to America. Otherwise we may as well change our motto to the "Land of the Cowards".
America is acting like an abused woman that stays in a bad relationship for fear of the big bad world outside.
please forgive me for i have sinned...it has been....wow! a really long time since my last confession!!!
love you all, even sally...bbl.
Posted by Dawnelle on January 31, 2006 at 12:01 PM
Most republican presidents share this same tactic. With Nixon and Reagan it was the big bad Red....oooh very scary. Remember hiding under your flimsly wooden desk at school? People are so simple and can be led around by their fears so easily.
lmao gregg!
say 5 hail harry's and call someone in the morning!
(how about pancakes with syrup?) lol
What a bunch of wimps. Better to die on your feet than to live on your knees
Posted by BlueinIdaho on January 31, 2006 at 12:00 PM
----
Hear, hear! well said my friend.
Let's make OUR heroes, THE FOUNDERS proud. Give me libery or give me death! Those who would trade liberty for security deserve neither!
WHAT YOU WON'T HEAR IN SPEECH TONIGHT !!!
"While there will likely be a brief, obligatory concession that some Americans are still struggling, the president's text and subtext will be straight forward.
The text will be that the economy ``has a full head of steam'' due to his tax cuts, and that we better make them all permanent -- even those directed to the most affluent -- to keep the good times rolling.
The subtext will of course be, ``What the heck is the matter with you? How can only 37 percent (according to a recent Bloomberg/LA Times poll) approve of my handling of the economy when we have had two solid years of growth?''
With fewer and fewer Republican incumbents wanting to run on Bush's handling of Iraq, turning around public perception of the president's economic leadership is no doubt a top political priority for the White House.
Since you are unlikely to hear, either in the text or subtext, any of the legitimate economic reasons Americans aren't buying President Bush's economic message, I will perform a public service by providing a few.
contd:
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000039&refer=columnist_sperling&sid=afEwQxAXRHv4
Posted by BlueinIdaho on January 31, 2006 at 12:08 PM
I read about that but never had that in school. What year was that happening? My memory only goes back so far. LOL
Media Finally Reports That Gonzales Misled Congress
This morning, prompted by a letter from Sen. Russ Feingold, the Washington Post reports that Alberto Gonzales misled the Senate Judiciary Committee during his January 2005 confirmation hearing:
Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) charged yesterday that Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales misled the Senate during his confirmation hearing a year ago when he appeared to try to avoid answering a question about whether the president could authorize warrantless wiretapping of U.S. citizens.[more]
just chatting
i'm not thanking Chafee for shit. he knew as all of us did that if he voted FOR cloture his vote meant nothing.
OH JEZ I had to turn off AL FRANKEN!!
He had a WAY too LONG clip of LUSH - I kept wincing and squirming and finally had to turn it OFF!! EW that VOICE just CREEPSSSSSSSSS me out!!! makes my skin crawl!
Posted by Dawnelle on January 31, 2006 at 12:10 PM
Well, I was born in '62 so I'm not sure of when it began or ended. The gist of it was they would sound an alarm and you had to "duck and cover" under your desk.
Apparently, the wood in school desks withstands a nuclear attack or atomic bomb. I plan to build my next house using nothing but old school desks and duct tape.
"America is acting like an abused woman that stays in a bad relationship for fear of the big bad world outside."
Posted by BlueinIdaho on January 31, 2006 at 12:06 PM
------------
I've been saying that for a long time. It's like battered spouse syndrome.
What trolls? I don't see any trolls here.
Everyone's invited to my place for the SOTU. We have an old TV to watch it on (That way when I start throwing things at it and break it my family won't freak).
I can already hear tomorrows morning spin (err news)...
3 tickets to NZ please... yes one way.
ooops, live post for 12:10.
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000039&refer=columnist_sperling&sid=afEwQxAXRHv4
Posted by lw on January 31, 2006 at 12:15 PM
Think it will resonate with the crowds??? Call it an intervention...
yea I was bornin 56 and we didn't have that in my school in Florida. Or if they did? It apparently didn't register as anything significant!
aw the naive state of mind (mostly found in children) lol
HEY JENFUR and LIZZY :-) Hugs GF's
So, anybody have a theory about the GWB's tick in his jaw? Everytime he pauses for a second he does the coke addict thing with his mouth... me thinks he back on the powder again..
oh, wait, he probably just has a 'sript for some FDA approved "metabolism enhancers," right?
What's he on now, diet pills?
:)
Fellow Dems, here's a very interesting perspective from one of the main posters on the DailyKos blog. You may find it comforting.
Although our nation has suffered a major blow, and our people will suffer many injustices in the days and years to come because of Alito's skulk onto the Supreme Court, we can think of Nelson Mandela who spent years imprisioned in South Africa yet never lost hope. We cannot lose hope either, nor can we stop fighting for the America our founders envisioned.
You and I may not live to see it yet we must still work every day for a free, just, and honorable democracy in these United States.
My favorite Democrats are currently Al Gore, Russ Feingold, and Howard Dean. Although, John Kerry has moved up a couple notches in the past few days. He's a close runner up now.
Dawnelle, you and I are the same age. I'll be 50 in May (hard to believe).
Hey DTree!
I watched Stephen Colbert last night and he had a championship card shark - type woman on and she was showing Colbert all the tricks to reading people.
It was a total hidden message about W. Did anyone else catch it? She talked about the fluttering of the eyelids as a sign of lying and many more things that W is noted for!
It was COOL! Better than Jon Stewart who only had Randy (DUDE) Jackson on! LOL
Well our cowardly democrats once again showed the world why we keep getting beaten. I HOPE we win more elections but after the shameful way 18 or so democrats got frightened and refused to block the nomination, we look like pansies again.
Alito is in and the imperial presidency is a lock as is the overturning of Roe v Wade. Not to mention Roberts and Scalito et al, all deciding there is no such thing as privacy.
Why won't our democrats EVER do anything as a united group>
Bush ain't gonna be impeached and the hearings will be a sham, Gonzales will continue to lie, the ReThugs will still hold power and we'll look like cowards constantly.
The problem is we can't seem to get our act together and work as a united front. Think about this:
NO MATTER WHAT the ReThugs stand together. We look like a herd of cats.
Voters have more respect for being tough together. I get the feeling a lot of democrats could care less about America as much as they in pleasing their corporate masters.
AND who is running against this year's Zell Miller; Joe Lieberman?
Lieberman, Nelson, and Feinstein have got to go.
=========
Why does ANYONE respond to the trolls who come here? Morons like Sally do nothing but come here and are rude as hell, whereas NO DISSENT is allowed at the RNC blogs. You say ANYTHING they don't like and you are banned for life. NOT just your name but your IP address.
Why can't we do the same? And I could care less about tolerance. It's the trolls who come here who hate tolerance. So ban them. We don't need some Beyotch coming here and throwing eggs. It's true it makes her look like a little weasel idiot troll, but there is no reason we need to put up with the crud.
We have our own issues to deal with.
Too many democrats have had the surgery to have their spines, balls and courage removed. They need to be voted out. We have not stopped a single thing Dumbya has put forward.
I'm still angry about the Alito thing and I have a feeling that down the road, a lot of Senators are going to have to move and hide rather than explain why, when they had the chance, they didn't stop the rush to turn America into a rightwing fascist state.
I hope you all are going to www.huffingtonpost.com as well to see how things are.
lw I LOVE Your list too
I'd add of course my HERO GEN CLARK! and Barb Boxer, John Conyers, MANY Congresspeople like Debbie Wasserman-schultz, tim ryan, kendrick meeks, etc.
There are really a HUGE amount of GREAT fighting DEmocrats once I put them down in front of me!
many, many!
Thank you Lizzy! It's SUCH a pleasure to chat here. hooboy
Some more chat for you Jen:
Joe Lieberman’s hometown newspaper, the New Haven Register, has a daily “Soundoff” column, in which readers are invited to phone in their opinions on a question of the day for the next day’s edition.
No on-line section so Click here
Morning {{{Jen}}}
I cannot stomach watching Bush speak. That false caring about America and it's people sickens me. That falsetto high pitched voice showing no testesterone grates like fingernails on a black board! (wonder if the little box on his back will stick out?)
Not that anyone in the State of Ct will be watching anyways ! Our UCONN men (#1 in nation) will be playing Pittsburg, and our lady Huskies will be playing Louisville. Both games tonight !
Had another guy yesterday, see my "Don't Blame Me, I voted for Kerry" sticker on my car, and said "I did too!" I Love living in a Blue State.
i hope you're 'delighted' when you ten year old gets strip searched for eating french fries on the bus
Not intentionally tooting my horn but I received a few awards and commendations for a series of articles I wrote (back in the day) on NBC (nuke, bio, chem) in the military.
I'll tell you what to do if you see a mushroom cloud -
OPEN YOU ARMS TO GOD THEN BEND OVER AND KISS YOUR ASS GOOD BYE!
simple :-\
i bet bubble boy doesn't mention anything about his trainwreck of a year in 2005
lest we forget...
2005: George Bush's Trying Year
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/12/28/2005/main1168863.shtml
The supreme court is in goo hands.
goo hands, you got that right.
Just chatting
Posted by jen on January 31, 2006 at 12:26 PM
ThAnKyOu JeN JeN!! I just love that man. I honor his mind, his courage, his honesty, his tact, I adore his wife, his son, his grandson, his life history, even the fact he's shorter than me!
I gush but I must. That one brought me to the political table. ALL him. Never met him but was brought here even though. (sniff, sniff)
Posted by jen on January 31, 2006 at 12:26 PM
Did you watch Clark on the New America Foundation thingy?
Blumenthal (sp?) was awesome on that program.. i've been looking for a transcript but can't find one. Anybody know?
Keep you heads up folks... remember, the Founders would be Dems if they were here today. Priority # 1 is regaining the majority in congress this year... it WILL happen. Positive thinking folks!
WeRememberPAC -- A Political Action Committee dedicated to taking back the Democratic Party from those who betrayed us on January 30, 2006.
Q: What is WeRememberPAC?
A: Right now, just a beautiful dream held by a number of angry Democrats. Soon, hopefully, much more.
Q: What do you hope WeRememberPAC will become?
A: The goal is to build WeRememberPAC into a full-fledged Political Action Committee dedicated to recruiting and funding candidates in primary races against the 19 Democratic Senators who crossed the aisle on January 30, 2006, and effectively voted to confirm Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.
Q: Why do you want to do this?
A; Quite simply because by refusing to join a filibuster against a Supreme Court nominee who was further to the right than even Judge Bork, who was soundly rejected by the Senate nearly twenty years ago, they have betrayed our party, our principles, and their constituents.
By crossing the aisle, they lost any right to refer to themselves as Democrats, and we need to return those seats to the Democratic Party by running REAL Democrats in the primaries against them.
Q: Who are you targetting?
A: The "Alito 18:"
Daniel Akaka
Max Baucus
Jeff Bingaman
Robert Byed
Maria Cantwell (opposed by Mark Wilson)
Tom Carper
Kent Conrad
Byron Dorgan
Daniel Inouye
Herb Koh;
Mary Landrieu
Joseph Lieberman (opposed by Ned Lamont)
Blanche Lincoln
Ben Nelson
Bill Nelson (opposed by Rick Chapman, link coming soon)
Mark Pryor
Jay Rockerfeller
Ken Salazar
Q: What can I do to help?
A: If your Senator is one of the Alito 18, then call his or her office IMMEDIATELY, and announce that you will no longer support him or her. If you give to your State party organization, and they support that Senator, stop giving them money immediately. Let them know that from now on you will only fund REAL Democrats!
Next, where there are already primary opponents against one of the Alito 18, stop by their website and donate or volunteer.
Those Scalito Dems that wouldn't support a filibuster, but turn around and for "plausibility" of being against Alito deserve ZERO credit for their votes.They are hypocrites!
As you watch the SOTU, picture Cheney and Hastert being replaced by Scooter Libby and Jack Abramoff, (that might be mentioned in the Democrat's reply to the SOTU.)
Ladies hold on to those coathangers, a change's a comin'!
well, then i must gush and thank Wes too Dawnie for bringing you here. ;)
Today Cheney crawls out of his undisclosed location, and if he sees his shadow, we'll have 3 more years of the Iraq War.
Democrats will not let our country be dictated by fear and paranoia!
Democrats = the party for freedom and prosperity
The rest can have their dark ages, divine rule, and apocolyptic thinking. Let them move to Saudi Arabia, they'll feel right at home.
:)
sorry, Dtree, missed Blumenthal. have you checked cspan? and new america foundation?
all this coat hanger talk this morning is starting to make my ill
Now if we can just get Dems to act like Dems we'll be doing good.
In TN, Ford is supposedly thinking of running against Frist, but what's the use. He's as good as having an (R) behind his name as Frist is.
That's what we DON'T need!!! We don't need sniveling cowards of the righties playing Dem.
Posted by underbear1 on January 31, 2006 at 12:36 PM
It's funny because so many of us Dems pride ourselves in the belief that we do not follow in lockstep but do things based on what we believe is right.
I am a Democrat. I did not support the idea of a fillibuster. Does that make me less of a Dem?
You may say they lack a spine, but I would rather they were thought of as lacking a spine than lacking a brain. If they believed that fillibustering was not the right tactic then so be it. AMerica was promised an Alito when they elected King George. Did we believe that King George would give us any less?
Concentrate on winning a majority and then we call the shots.
Hello all. I know everyone is sitting back and licking their wounds from yesterday. I certainly am. My theory about our defeat? The average American doesn’t have a backbone. Their preference is to let someone else do the work and make their decisions for them. I see it everyday at work. People don’t have what it takes to stand up. I’ve listened to friends, co-workers and relatives rant about the current state of affairs, but when you challenge them to participate in bringing their message to others, they back down. After speaking with my family, friends and co-workers about how they supported the filibuster, I was the only one who actually wrote to Dem senators urging them to support John Kerry and Ted Kennedy. Everyone’s excuse was similar (didn’t get around to it, no one listens to me, etc.). Most people are simply apathetic when it comes to making a difference. Their thinking is “let someone else do it”. Couple that with our current administration and its ability to intimidate. Many people in office have skeletons which they prefer not be exposed. Think back to when this type of intimidation hasn’t existed. Business entrepreneurs, politicians, world leaders, CEOs, etc. having been playing this game forever. The ol’ “I’ve got something on you so do it my way or I’ll expose you.” How I wish that none of this happens, but sadly it does. But you’re right. It doesn’t have to stay this way.
I look at what the bloggers here have accomplished in under one week and am proud to stand beside you. I come here to gather opinions and news and am thankful that you exist and know in my heart that you will all come back and rally to the cause.
So for now, let them have their victory, because when all is said and done, we will come back stronger. This country was built on certain ideals. The democratic party was built on those ideals. We care about what happens not just to this country as a nation but reducing negative impacts upon our fellow man. Perhaps our numbers are few, but we still carry our statement into the future.
Don’t give up. We’ve got a lot of work ahead.
Laura
Posted by BlueinIdaho on January 31, 2006 at 12:16 PM
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I don't think it will work that way. However, I think it is something to keep in mind as we talk to Repubs who are becoming disillusioned.
I've had a recent email exchange with my younger sister (who falls into that category), and I'm intending to pursue a slow and steady "kinder, gentler" strategy to persuade her that she and her retired Marine husband (who's really a pretty good guy at heart, but is a county Repub chairman) are being abused by their party, which is not representing well-intentioned folks like them. They are good folks, very religious, but in denial about the lying.
One of their big pet-peeves is that so many lazy folks insist on their "entitlements". I'm working on reframing the debate thusly:
People have built-in defense mechanisms to protect themselves and their families (just like my dog protects her food as if there were a shortage). Sometimes people use a distorted concept of "rights" as Americans to game the system. We need to be smart and recognize this game for what it is and not play into it. However, there are also lots of people in our society who are indeed being abused and need help. We must use our intelligence to discern the difference between those who are truly in need of some real help from those who are just selfishly trying to game the system.
We'll see how it goes. What I'm trying to do is show her that I see the same thing she sees and am bothered by many of the same problems - but show her a somewhat alternative perspective on it.
Posted by jen on January 31, 2006 at 12:41 PM
yeah, i ws surpised not to see it on c-span of the NAF website... mayeb they'll update it eventually, because I didn't see anything about Wes either...
BTW, another thing to repeat whenever possible: the majority of Democrats in government have actually SERVED in the military, and the majority of Republicans HAVE NOT. This is an undisputed statistical fact.
SO, any time you here GWB and Dick Cheney HIDING BEHIND THE TROOPS for their own bad decisions, remember that they do this because they are nothing but fearful cowards.
my me mlehhh
NCADP news: six death penalty executions planned for this month. two blacks, one latino, three whites. off them: one schizophrenic, one with lupus-induced psychosis, and at least one victim of child abuse, at least one drug addicted at time of crime. ALL poor. ALL with legitimate trial miscarriage concerns.
I'm sure with Alito on the supreme court, the number of stays and cases taken on will decrease.
We need to learn as much as we can from the party regulars at the local level and then start volunteering to filling positions of responsibility. We can only acquire the power to field candidates who share our values, if we do the work necessary to make that happen. And when the time comes run ourselves.
We have more important things to do than wonder why they are such cowards.
Posted by SandyH on January 31, 2006 at 11:17 AM
Thank you!!!
These past 2 years have not been in vain!
Landrieu, Lieberman, and the rest
Which do you think will be remembered when Roe is trampled?
1. Your vote on cloture
2. The vote total of less than 60 votes to confirm Alito
3. A real filibuster would have stopped Alito
ALL OF THE ABOVE
NOW, HRC,VICTORY FUND, P-FLAG, NARAL not a dime of contributions to these TRAITORS!
The only thing I think we need to be in "lockstep" over is what it means to be a Dem. If a person can't follow the basic principles of being a Dem, there's another party they can join. But first, we need to decide what is and is not important. What REALLY makes a Dem a Dem? That's not "lockstep" necessarily. That's having some guiding values and principles.
BlueinIdaho
If you thought Bush43 acted like King George before Alito, honey, fasten your seatbelts it's gonna be a bumpy few years.
What do you want to bet right at this moment, Operation Rescue, Concerned Women of America, Focus on the Family, Family Research Committee are going over all the possible test court cases to bring an end to Roe?
Posted by lw on January 31, 2006 at 12:46 PM
I have a suggestion for your very religious sister and brother-in-law... send them a copy of Martin Luther King's The Strength to Love.
This is a wonderful (and short!) book of sermons by King. I think everyone should read this, especially people who need a change of heart.
What REALLY makes a Dem a Dem?
Carol Crossed, vice president of Democrats for Life, told the crowd someone had asked her if the group's members were "real Democrats."
"We are the only real Democrats,'' she said. "We don't exclude anyone.''
Posted by underbear1 on January 31, 2006 at 12:59 PM
I have no doubt that Roe is in jeopardy. What concerns me even more is that the court will err on the side of big government at all costs.
That said, if we can take over Congress, we can stop this from happening. We can also stop King George from replacing the other intelligent justices on the bench, too. Alito isn't the only "Alito" out there.
by claiming "you are the only real democrats" is by itself excluding the rest!
correct?
what makes HER group any more Democratic than any others? pfffft.
(munch)
Don't forget.
Progressivism always wins in the long run, even though progressive candidates often lose popular elections. We may lose elections, votes on Supreme Court nominees, etc. All those are short term goals. What's important is that the ideas eventually win. Progress happens unevenly.
Look at the progress of humans over the past 500 years: Common folks learning to read, democracy, end of slavery, women voting, desegregation, civil rights, ending genocide (mostly), etc. Today's world is completely different from 100 years ago because of progressive leaders - many of whom never won an election.
It may not happen fast enough for our tastes, but we have to keep pushing. The current older generation will die off. The younger generation will take things for granted that the older generation would have thought were outrageous, because they simply weren't ready for it (like interracial marriage recently and gay marriage now).
History is full of examples. Keep it up, win or lose. We'll win over time (even if we're not around to see it).
DTree on January 31, 2006 at 12:46 PM
well, give 'em time, i bet one will come out soon
The phone just rang, and I heard my husband saying, "What?! That's insane!" When he got off the phone, he informed me that the call was from the mother of one of our daughter's classmates, telling us about a protest that is going on right now. I had no idea about the part of H.B. 3 that you see below in boldface, until we got this call and I went Googling for it:
Demonstration at the Ohio Statehouse at noon to raise our voices against House Bill 3, the bill that will require showing an ID to vote and preventing any challenge to the results of a federal election in Ohio.Location:Ohio Statehouse, Broad and High Streets, west lawn.
Phone:614-224-8771
I have no idea if there is anything that can be done at this point, but at very least I wanted to make some noise about this. If anyone has any ideas about how we can respond at this late hour, please share them.
What REALLY makes a Dem a Dem?
fairness, justice, putting people ahead of power and money
Rather than watching the SOTU I think I'll join Harriet Meyers in doing body shots off a male stripper, it might be our last chance.
Renee, I heard about it from jennifer brunner who had a petition, running for SOS. I am not sure what can be done now
Posted by underbear1 on January 31, 2006 at 01:16 PM
SPLAT! The food I was eating just LEFT The building! LOL
Bill Millers talking points for State of the Union
First, let me say it is time our party starts fighting fire with fire. It is time for strong leadership and we need to put a tougher face on our party. While I truly respect Sen. Harry Reid and Sen. John Kerry, we really need a tougher representative, someone like Jack Murtha.
The following opinions come from a group of people that meet for breakfast on a regular basis in Morgantown, Pa. a small town with a diverse population. The group consist of several small business owners, one of whom is gay, a Wal-Mart employee, a Mennonite farmer, a waitress, an event planner, and varied other people who join in from time to time. So as you can see this is Main St. America. Literally our meeting places are two restaurants on Main St. in Morgantown and Elverson Pa. Most are Democrats and some identify as independent. Our democrat members are becoming very disappointed with what seems to be weakness in our party. Therefore, I hope you will take these suggestions seriously.
Alito confirmation – It is somewhat symbolic that on the same day our nation has lost a great civil rights leader our Republican led congress confirmed Judge Alito who seems to have little respect for civil liberties
Economy- New figures show that the average salary increases is at the lowest in nine years and that the average savings for Americans is at the lowest since the great depression. Any positives in the economy are mostly based on the record earnings of the big energy companies
War on terror - Are we really any safer than we were before 9/11? This administration seems to ignore the facts that we are not achieving our goals in Iraq.
Our borders are porous, they always say, “We are fighting them there so that we will not have to fight them here”, yet we ignore the fact that they can cross our borders anytime they want. We have not caught Osama Bin Laden, in fact Al-Queada seems more emboldened now than ever before. (Releasing tapes on a weekly basis). In addition, the unnecessary war in Iraq has seemed to help their recruitment.
Likewise, the republicans seem to want to continue to use terrorism as a political campaign Slogan when the term is so vague that it could encompass many countries and organizations. Therefore it is a war against a word not a specific person or group that they could go on using forever to put fear into the minds of the American public.
Healthcare- More people are without health insurance than at any other time in history and all this administration seems to come up with is tax incentives. This does not do any good if you cannot afford it in the first place. A tax break at the end of the year does not help pay for it on a monthly basis. It is time to consider a universal health plan that is affordable and does not just benefit the insurance companies. The Medicare prescription plan is a debacle at best.
White House Scandals- Corruption has prevailed in this administration. Starting with their relationship with Ken Lay and continuing to their relationship with Jack Abramoff. The old saying goes “Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are”. With friends like Ken Lay, Jeff Skilling, Jack Abramoff, Mike Scanlon, Raul Garza, David Safavian, Scooter Libby, Tom DeLay , and Jeff Gannon we are getting a clear picture of who this administration really is.
underbear, i think i'm going to go have an abortion just in case.
imo real dems don't push for legislation that takes rights away
Just remember going into the SOTU chat tonight the president has an overall approval rating of 39%, that is same approval rating that he has on his handling of the War in Iraq.
What it means to be a Democrat
Being Democrart means BEING COURAGEOUS IN THE FACE OF FEAR.
It means never letting fear dictate your life!
Republicans are just scared people... afraid of EVERYTHING.
Just a bunch of sad, fearful people.
:)
Posted by jen on January 31, 2006 at 01:15 PM
yea that line of "we are the only true anything"
just reminds me of the daze when I was caught up in the fundies MIND set!!
WE are the ONLY ones that will go to heaven. If you don't admit to being reborn you will go to hell. No convincing them of any other way! YET EVERYONE is welcome, ALL are Welcome!
first sign your name in blood and follow these simple yet rigid rules of conduct that will serve only to make you want to do the TOTALLY opposite!
fall on your ass and beg forgiveness all over again..... like a vicious circle of sin/repent/sin/ repent WTF???
LIFE is NOT so TRITE!
Posted by Renee_in_Ohio on January 31, 2006 at 01:15 PM
You ought to live it from my end..as a voter and one who will be required to uphold it.
To me, being a Democrat means that the people are the government and make the rules. That the Constitution should always be viewed as providing rights to the people of America, not taking them away. That each one of us is equal under the laws. That peace and freedom are too important to be thrown away upon the whim of a King.
Posted by jen on January 31, 2006 at 01:21 PM
ROFLMAO yea we better go stock up!
LMAO!
ROFLMAO yea we better go stock up!
you guys are siwwwy fewwows!
Peace!
If we went by what you guys are saying makes a "Dem a Dem", then there'd be a whole lot of people that shouldn't be Dems, right?
Why are these simple principles so hard for the head honchos to articulate and why do we allow them to waffle on them?
No need to get fancy with it. You're either on this train or not, with us or not.
BlueinIdaho,
"That the Constitution should always be viewed as providing rights to the people of America, not taking them away. That each one of us is equal under the laws."
Nice sentiments, see if you can sell that speel to gays/lesbians who will have the Constitution amended with their discrimination entrenched.
My community (LGBT)has 2 choices, migrate, or arm ourselves to the teeth. I'm too old to move, lock n' load.
Posted by PeppermintLizzy on January 31, 2006 at 01:30 PM
Yes but U R Peppermint MIST !! ;-)
Callie I shuddered for a minute when you started repeating the Bush line of with us or against us!
That truly makes me shudder.
But the train I can get on!! Lot's of room, lots of different parts from the engine to the caboose and all headed together in the same direction towards the same goal! I like it!
THE DEM TRAIN!!
"That the Constitution should always be viewed as providing rights to the people of America, not taking them away."
------------
Remember that the Constitution represents "We the people" establishing a government for OUR purposes. It's not a matter of whether our government will allow us to have rights. WE ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO EXIST. We have defined the government's role in OUR society, not the other way around. Those folks are our employees.
ok these train analogies are too close for comfort. i think the bush administration already has rail cars in mind for us.
ok Im not jewish so that has never really bothered me. Maybe I should make it an Indigo Starship!
it's bad enough (for me) that I can't appreciate the band RUSH anymore
or the fact that whenever I see a W I no longer think of WOMAN
or that I can no longer appreciate Gwen Stepanie's husbands band w/out wincing
NOW sista JEN I got to stop loving trains cuz of the facist regime that is heading to a station near me someday soon???
sniff sniff I'm gonna cry! All these hostile take overs of the language I once loved. :-(
TYPOS abound - I need a break........
bbl PEACE and HUGS ALL
50% of the people don't vote.
Women are 51% of the population.
Women control the majority of the wealth in the country.
When asked who should make the decision controlling a woman's reproductive choice, above 70% say a woman and her doctor.
Women it's time to act like the power in this Nation, start with Emily's list and get your money seeding campaigns of pro-choice women, in State legislators and governors.
I am pissed, and depressed, and disgusted, as usuall. The dems need new blood!
Unfortunately, I am from pa, and have two repugs for senators. can't affect much with them. I have told santorum so many times that he has lost my vote. at least he responds to my notes, not that he says anything intelligent in those responses. I rarely get a response from spector.
On the alito vote, I asked him if he thought it was ok to overturn Roe/wade, if he thought it was a good idea to take away power from the congress and give it people like our wonderful idiot prez. Not surprising, no response.
How can we the people hope for any change when the repugs run every branch, every single fricken branch?
I am very depressed. It feels like there is no hope.
For those of you in the greater Chicago area, there is a demonstration/protest rally at 5pm (CST) today at Daley Plaza sponsored by worldcantwait.org in conjunction with their Wash DC protest scheduled for Feb 4. Because of Chicago’s national exposure, it will get at the very least local news coverage. This is beginning to remind me more and more of the 60s protest against the Vietnam war.
goo hands?
***
Oh yeah, baby talk for Pugs. goo, goo, ga, ga
One thought for today:
alito = right wing rat
Second though for today:
SOTU party later tonight to give Dumbya The Bronx Cheer
Have a good day, keep your chins up, recharge your batteries. The battles have only begun!
sorry dawn, you can still love trains, the band Rush, the letter W, and gwen's husband has a new band with a different name. forgive me honey.
Underbear, you do have a great point! The sentiments are nice that we are (or should be) all equal, but you and I know the truth. We also know that, at least in talking to the opposition, that they very literally believe that they (i.e. "we the people") get to decide who does and does not get to be equal with everyone else. While some people can't believe, I've had actual conversations with the nutjobs who don't think that the Supreme Court should decide on issues of equal rights, but it should all be voted on by "we the people". I SWEAR!!!
Now, as a gay person, I need to trust my life to a vote? Holy crap! Well, it's not like we can petition the courts anymore and even what gets voted on positively for us can just get overturned by the courts.
Yeah, "arming to the teeth" doesn't sound like a bad plan because I don't see any other way out.
From Naral:
As one of our most loyal activists, I'm asking you to be a part of our game plan for 2006. We're focusing our efforts to turn today's lessons into pro-choice victories by...
Electing pro-choice senators in 2006. To quote pro-choice Sen. Barack Obama: "There's one way to guarantee that the judges who are appointed to the Supreme Court are judges that reflect our values. And that's to win elections."
Preventing unintended pregnancies and reducing the need for abortion with our nationwide Prevention First campaign.
As we put our priorities into action, one thing is certain: we can't succeed without you by our side. You are our partner in this struggle, and your dedication, creativity, and ideas are our most valuable resource. So, today I'm asking you to share your thoughts with your fellow pro-choice Americans.
Here are a few ways we're hoping you will give us your input as we begin this new day:
Ask me anything you want to know about our plan for 2006. Write me at CAN@prochoiceamerica.org with the subject line "Ask Nancy" and I'll be answering your questions throughout next week.
Join the discussion on our blog. Our resident blogger Jessica will be leading online discussions about what this confirmation means, how we can keep up hope, and what we're going to do next. Check it out now at www.bushvchoice.com.
Say it loud and proud: "I am Pro-Choice America." Check out our online photo gallery of Americans around the country who have joined our "We Are Pro-Choice America" slideshow -- then add your photo as well!
Become a monthly sustainer. Of course, our strategic initiatives are only made possible by the generous support of people like you. If you'd like to help us make our plan happen in 2006, the most cost-efficient and effective way to give is to become a monthly donor to NARAL Pro-Choice America. Click here to check out our monthly donor program and sign up today!
As you reflect on today's challenges and look forward to fight for the victories ahead, I want to thank you again for all the work you continue to do to protect a woman's right to choose.
http://www.now.org/issues/economic/cea/history.html
calling all women to visit the website and sign up for women's equal rights
let's all do something enjoyable during the SOTU
bbl ;-)
Posted by Dawnelle on January 31, 2006 at 11:45 AM
No, Dawn, I didn't get Stephanie Miller...it kept telling me to register and then telling me that someone else had my password. When I finally asked to be sent a password I accessed but still got the same response...will try again tomorrow, though. Thanks for posting the link.
takeback, if anyone is going to do what your name says, it's up to you and me. we start at the bottom. contact your local dem precinct chair and get involved. run for dog catcher, school board, or help someone else do it.
now what fire dog lake says
Posted by takebackourcountry on January 31, 2006 at 02:01 PM
In case you haven't subscribed to the "old" Dean site, DFA (now Democracy for America), I highly recommend it...
You'll get regular e-mails about the new democratic candidates running for local offices that DFA is supporting.
I'm always cheered when I see these honorable and courageous citizens stepping up to the plate!
It's hard not to be depressed, but we are going to bring excellence back to our government, by golly! It WILL happen.. and taking back Congress is the first step.
:)
BOYCOTT MSNBC AND CNN...I only watch Keith Olberman on MSNBC and sometimes Anderson Cooper and Larry King on CNN...THAT'S IT!
This is a big setback to our beliefs and our constitutional rights. We must fight even harder to regain the high ground from those who wish to take even more. We cannot continue to let them set up the American Aristocracy that some have wanted since the beginning of our republic.
We have the most public support we have had in a long time and have to build on that. We must be vocal in our opposition, vocal enough that all of our elected representatives will hear our cry.
We now have to look forward to the next battle and it is close at hand. The State of the Union will be a slight of hand and a propaganda opportunity. Don't forget the Patriot Act. It was only extended until Feb. 3rd. We cannot let this slip through and further erode our rights.
The phones, faxes, and e-mails need to stay in working order.
Good Read! For those of you down today, read this one!
Conservatives Revel In Kerry's Failed Filibuster Bid But Miss the Bigger Point
"Orin points to Clinton's tepid response on the Senate floor during debate, where she failed to mention the filibuster, only issuing a "tame" written statement. "Still, Orin said, "the fact that Kerry's filibuster lost by such a huge margin gives Republicans more ammunition to paint Clinton as out-of-the-mainstream, which is just where they want her."
And here's precisely where Orin and her fellow spinheads are clearly delusional. They marvel at how inept the Democrats are, reveling in every perceived screw-up. Yet they seemingly ignore every single poll out there that shows just how much voters see the Busheviks as out of touch with mainstream America. Whether it's his current 39% approval rating or his abysmal job performance on the Iraq war, the economy, health care and education, Americans are screaming their disappointment and clamoring for change. The Bushies and the GOP can mock Kerry and the Dem's all they want, but America's been telling them their own house stinks like a pig sty and needs to be razed.
Sure, mock Kerry, but what he did was stand up for something he believed in. Albeit a little too late and a little too meekly, but he stood nonetheless. And 24 others stood with him. Just 16 more and we'd be calling him Mr. Filibuster. And his liberal star would be shining brightly today. And no one would be mocking him.
Lieberman at the bat
The outlook wasn't good for the Constitution that day
The score stood 4-4 with one Supreme Court nomination left to play
And when Lieberman died on the floor and Akaka did the same
A pall-like silence fell upon lovers of equality and justice
A struggling few got up to save us from despair
The rest pissed on freedom and equality eternal in the country I love
They thought, "If only we could grow a spine
We'd put up a fight, with a spine and cahones and all that."
But Lieberman's spine, has was Akaka's
the former's was weak while the latter's was meek.
So upon that stricken multitude, grim melancholy sat;
for there seemed but little chance of the Constitution surviving at that.
But John Kerry let drive a plea, to the wonder of all
And Kennedy, the much inflamed, spoke with passion, it's the Constitution afterall
But when the dust had lifted
And Democrats saw what occured
there we were betrayed by a few turds.
Then from a lot of us and more, there rose a lusty yell;
it rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
it pounded on the mountain and reconciled upon the flat;
for our mighty Constitution was torn in half.
There was ease in Lieberman's manner as he chatted up McCain
there was pride in Joe's bearing a Republican-lite, a disgrace.
And when responding to the jeers, he smugly flipped the bird
no Democrat in the crowd could doubt Lieberman's a turd.
Ten thousand eyes were on him as he soiled himself up the back of his shirt;
Five thousand tongues lashed out at him, "You're lower then dirt!"
Then, while the writhing Republicans trampled the Constitution
defiance flashed in Joe's eye, "I helped," he thought, "what an institution."
And now the Constitution's future hanging in the air
and Lieberman stood-a-watching in ignorant fashion there.
Close by the idiot Senator, the vote was read;
"I might as well be a Pug," said Joe.
"Oh shit!" his constituents said.
From Connecticut, that's a lot of people, there went up a muffled roar
knowing the Constitution will be forgotten by Alito forevermore.
Haha, Idiots" shouted Lieberman from the stand
it's likely somebody woulda killed him, if it weren't against the law of the land.
With a smile of Republican stupidity, Joe's lack of a spine shone
he killed his chance for reelection, voting we bade, must go on.
He signaled to the constituents and once more the bird flew;
but the constituents have had enough and said, "Fuck you!"
"Shit", cried the Republican-lite and echo answered "Shit!"
But one scornful look from Connecticut and Joe was hit.
They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles st