"WASHINGTON — A group of well-connected Democrats led by a former top aide to President Clinton is raising millions of dollars to start a private firm that plans to compile huge amounts of data on Americans to identify Democratic voters and blunt what has been a clear Republican lead in using technology for political advantage.

The effort by Harold Ickes, a deputy chief of staff in the Clinton White House and an adviser to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., is prompting intense behind-the-scenes debate in Democratic circles. Officials at the Democratic National Committee think that creating a modern database is their job, and say that a competing for-profit entity could divert energy and money that should instead be invested with the national party.

Ickes and others involved in the effort acknowledge that their activities are in part a vote of no confidence that the DNC under Chairman Howard Dean is ready to compete with Republicans on the technological front.

"It's unclear what the DNC is doing. Is it going to be kept up to date?" Ickes asked, adding that out-of-date voter information is "worse than having no database at all."

Ickes' effort is drawing particular notice in Washington because of speculation that he is acting to build a campaign resource for a possible 2008 presidential run by Hillary Clinton. "

http:// seattletimes.nwsource.com...demsdata08.html

Howard is the best thing that's happened to the Democratic party in decades, and they have to try and undercut him. They can't do it with the grassroots so they'll try this way. I am so mad. Off to fire off letters.

Posted by LH*Seattle on March 8, 2006 at 11:58 AM

This Harold Ickes' project seems to be a big waste of time and money to me.

Most Democrats realize that putting Hillary on a ticket would sink us faster than the Titanic. By all means send me your campaign lit by expensive snail mail (I already get it on the internet). But you can't change peoples' minds about Hillary with a list.

The only way to change voters' minds is meeting them face-to- face and that takes volunteers not a data base.

I liked this Abramoff's quote best:

President Bush, who claims not to remember having his picture taken with Abramoff. According to Abramoff, at one time, the president joked with Abramoff about his weight lifting past: "What are you benching, buff guy?"

The most laughable, outrageouslly ridiculous of this article, is where Abramoff says that he and Tom DeLay used to sit for hours and talk about the BIBLE! Is that the most hypocritical thing you ever read??? Two morally bankrupt, corrupt, low-class men discussing What Jesus would do??? I am sure they convinced themselves that he would approve of their actions!

Gawd, these Republicans know no lows, do they?

I have said all along, the Democrats could have made a big stink about the wire taps, the CIA leak, the far right appointments of the SCJ, the lying about the Iraq war and everything in between but the one thing - the very one thing which will bring the Republicans to their knees will be the stench of the Abramoff corruption. And they fell hook line and sinker for it - by running away and saying they never met the guy...now the guy is singing and he has pictures....

meanwhile - we Democrats are just sitting in the weeds - waiting....sometimes those who keep their mouths shut become the biggest winners in the end.I don't think we Democrats have to do anything - the Republicans will do it to them themselves.

I'll be dancing in my jammies, as the saying goes!

The Republicans believe they are Greater than God? They speak where God's Word doesn't speak, and they ARE NOT Silent where God's Word is silent?

While Democrats speak only where God's Word speaks and the Democrats are silent where God is silent!

Jesus said pray that the least and the greatest would have time and opportunity to hear God's Word, believe and obey it! The Republicans want to take the sinners life before he can see the error of his way! Everyone has a soul and if that soul is innocent, it goes back to God. You can make your soul innocent, by receiving forgiveness of sins and raised to walk in newness of life. That is why Democrats believe
following God's Word and not to go about making your own commandments of men.

The Republican House of Congress is still working political dirty tricks. I watched them this morning and what they do is enough to convience any voter to kick out Republicans and vote in Good Solid Government found in Democrats.

A Baby's soul is innocent!

"(Two) men discussing What Jesus would do??? I am sure they convinced themselves that he would approve of their actions!"

Posted by PamB

Um, I doubt that . . . . since Abramoff is an Orthodox Jew, and as such does not follow the teachings of Jesus. But hey, don't let facts stop a good rant.

Um, I doubt that . . . . since Abramoff is an Orthodox Jew, and as such does not follow the teachings of Jesus. But hey, don't let facts stop a good rant.

Just because he's an Orthodox Jew doesn't mean he CAN'T have a conversation about the guy - I mean maybe it was along these lines:

Tom: Well, ya know, that there Jesus feller did clean house at the temple because of the corruption thing going on.

Jack: Yeah, I heard about that - damn kid. Of course he had to disappear because of that. Seems the government was after him in a big way. Sort of like if they ever found out about us.

Tom: Yeah but who in the hell is ever going to find out about us, I mean, they might make a movie out of it and call it Broke Mountain or something but, we're safe.

Jack: Smile, they're taking a picture....

Whether Abramoff was a Jew or not (as I remember, so was Jesus), does not take away from the hypocrisy of these two lowest of men, discussing the Bible! Unless it was how to use it for their own benefit !

(Kath, LOL ! So right-on!)

Posted by Kathy_in_Indiana on March 8, 2006 at 02:30 PM

Yes, well, I can see your point, and for people who construct their politics around imaginary conversations, I think you just might be persuasive.

ach, doncha love it when Jack-off says he'd rather teach in an inner city school than spend the taxpayers dollars on the big house...

@sshole!

shows you what he thinks teachers are worth, too...i'm passing this one around the office, highlighted

the bush voters already express deep buyers remorse, so this should give them the pain they so richly deserve

kudos to the loyalists that reelected Tom Delay...nice job on closing the gap, btw, to the dentist that worked on him...the photo with Jack is pre-makeover

Posted by bookman on March 8, 2006 at 04:12 PM

bookman,

that was funny. you're condescending, as usual...go play at freerepublic

This was one of the best articles written yet about Abramoff. I highlighted some more of the people identified in it if your interested or if you don't have time to read the entire 9 page article. I would recommend going for the entire read though as it is very good.

http://www.intoxination.net/2006/03/08/the-vanity-fair-article/

Jamie
http://www.intoxination.net

and for people who construct their politics around imaginary conversations, I think you just might be persuasive.
Posted by bookman on March 8, 2006 at 04:12 PM

It's obvious you didn't bother to read any of this, it might make you open your mind up to the fact that Republicans are all a bunch of Corrupt, jerks.

Tom DeLay, who once referred to Abramoff as one of his closest friends. Abramoff explains his working relationship with DeLay, saying, "I didn't spend a lot of time lobbying Tom for things, because the things I worked on were usually consistent with the conservative philosophy." Abramoff has "admired Tom DeLay and his family from the first meeting with him," he tells Margolick. >"We would sit and talk about the Bible. We would sit and talk about opera. We would sit and talk about golf," Abramoff recalls. "I mean, we talked about philosophy and politics."

do you doubt your very own Drudge ???

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash7.htm

fade was right. go over and play at freerebublic, where they talk just like you all day long. They are comical. I go there just for laughs on how blind people can be, if their wallets might be affected. They cannot say one single thing GOOD about Bush or Republicans, only bash the Democrats! just like you!

Jack Abramoff sat down with Vanity Fair and pulled no puches.

If you mean punches, Tim - I agree. :)

It looks like he gave out more than a few bloody noses and broken ribs.

im surprised the GOP has hired someone to kill Jack Abramoff

Hello, NSA people reading this...would you puhlease get this idiot godisanAmerican on March 8, 2006 at 08:24 PM some medication or incarceration...i don't care which.

he needs help or punishment...see above.

good heavens

mike malloy is back on the air...yes, life is good

oh, as usual eff off, spy jerks...just my usual greeting to you. get a real job, traitors!

I love that photo of him with Tom De Lay!!!

Please,someone get a copy of that photo to the Campaign Staff for his Democrat Opponent.LOL

Okay, We need to get this photo on a Billboard and place it in Tom De Lay's district or.......do what we did with Schmidt.Have a driving Billboard. See photo on link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/03/08/abramoff-talks-to-vani_n_16987.html?p=8#comments