Tuesday Open Thread
In case you missed the AP story this morning:
--In 2003, House Republicans, on a procedural vote, agreed to kill a Democratic amendment that would have added $250 million for port security grants to a war spending package.--Two years later, nearly all House Republicans voted against an alternative Homeland Security authorization bill offered by Democrats that called for an additional $400 million for port security.
--Senate Republicans stood together in 2003 to set aside a Democratic amendment that would have provided $120 million more for port cargo screening equipment.
--One year later, all but six Senate Republicans voted to reject a Democratic attempt to add $150 million for port security in a Homeland Security appropriations bill. [...]
House Republicans were put on record again last week on port security when Democrats tried to force a debate and vote on legislation that would require congressional approval of DP World's takeover. The effort failed. Only two Republicans voted with Democrats.
When the Democratic Party reclaims control of the congress, we are going to do everything possible to protect America's ports. In fact, we are already doing what we can from a minority position -- it's the party in power obstructing our efforts to do so.
Comments (107) «
I heard some very sad news this morning on my way into work. Rachel Maddow reported that Dana Reeves (Christopher Reeves' widow) has lost her battle with lung cancer and passed away.
...At least now I know why the White House is so obsessively secretive about its decision-making process. The leaked videotapes and transcripts of pre-Katrina briefings that were obtained last week by The Associated Press leave in tatters the defining myth of the Bush administration — an undeserved aura of cool, unflinching competence and steely resolve. Instead, the tapes show bureaucratic inertia and a president for whom delegation seems to mean detachment...
Why do we let the Repuglithugs frame the debate? Listening to Springer this morning on AAR its all Abortion. THAT is/should not the issue we should/need to be debating. How about Bush failures? There are enough of them to keep us very busy. Then we could add Democrat Moral values on the positive side. What needs to be done about...well, name it. There are so many
Morning, followthemoney,
Here's the thing. The Republicans USE things that touch a cord the most with the people, like Abortion and Gay marriage! Issues like those, are more apt to bring an emotional, passionate response, than the one generated by Politicans doing corrupt things! A lot of people feel all politicians are the same and are doing the same thing!
We have to be ready this election to fight their defining us a Abortion loving, Gay marriage approving, Illegal Immigrant approval !
This is what we will face.
good morning good dems
sorry to hear about dana reeve. her poor children.
i hope cindy sheehan is okay, looked kind of like the police were rough with her yesterday when she got arrested.
There is nothing wrong with being pro choice, or being for gay marriage. What we need to do, is stand firm on the issues. Democrats lose because no one knows what we stand for. When members articulate clearly and take a stand, people will be more willing to vote for them than they are now, because we are running scared.
Who cares how the republicans try to define us. We need to define ourselves!
"Gay marriage is a civil rights issue. You are unamerican if you are against it. " Paul Hackett.
Is this the message you are so afraid of?
(btw, I have nothing against the Dems defending those issues, it is HOW the Republicans will frame them that worries me!)
Here is an issue we cannot let get swept aside, as the Port Deal is upon us! This illegal spying is MUCH larger than we even heard !
"There is a suggestion in his letter there are other classified intelligence programs that are currently under way," Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., told reporters.
The comments from the moderate Republican come as the Bush administration is trying to quell criticism of its surveillance operations and work with the Senate on legislation that would write the program into law.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060307/ap_on_go_co/eavesdropping;_ylt=AswNqXzZI2ECG6qzXq4baIas0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-
IMO when the Rep throw a wedge issue out (abortion, gays, guns, creation/evolution etc) we make a standard statement of our position and end the statement with a question about the most pressing political issue of the day. REFRAME the debate. Keep it focused on the POLITICAL issues and corruption of the Administration. Rather than letting them catch us up in their frame we MUST recast the net...draw them into the real political issues. Draw an answere out of them or put one in their mouths. That's what they have been doing to us.
Here is how the Republicans are going to play it!
And if you still think holding back money from DNC is a good idea, then I think you had better re-think it!
"Republican efforts to localize the elections are well documented. For example, a January 30 Roll Call article (subscription required) by David M. Drucker noted that the stated strategy of National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) chairman Rep. Tom Reynolds (R-NY) consisted of emphasizing local issues in the upcoming congressional elections. The article also highlighted Reynolds's contention that Democrats will fail in their attempts at "nationalizing" the elections:
Just as he had last fall, during his previous briefing on the midterm elections, Reynolds stressed that Republicans would run individual races based on the unique local issues of each House district, while also promising a focused ground game complemented by the 72-Hour Program -- a get-out-the-vote effort run during the last three days of a campaign that has been extremely successful in getting GOP voters to the polls.
Reynolds has repeatedly said that Democrats' hopes of nationalizing the elections won't work, adding Friday that it especially won't work for them this year because they don't have the money to wage a national advertising war.
From a Washington Post Op-ed this morning:
The Democrats' real problem is that they have failed to show how their critique of the Republican status quo is the essential first step toward the alternative program they will owe the voters in the presidential year of 2008.
This failure has made it easier for Republicans to cast anti-Bush feeling (aka, "Bush hatred") as a psychological disorder. The GOP shrewdly makes the president's critics look crazed and suggests that opposition to Bush is of no more significance than, say, the loathing that many watchers of "American Idol" love to express toward Simon Cowell, the meanest of the show's judges.
_________________________________________________
I am not trying to bring up negatives but I do believe that the Democratic party needs to get on a definitive message and stay there. I don't know how this can be accomplished when we have Joe Lieberman in Bush's pocket as one of the most powerful Dem' leaders and then Governor Dean who really has the message outlined. The two factions will not come together at least I don't see it happening.
Anyway, out of here and back to lurking.
The president's critics need to identify precisely why they oppose him, not only so they can make clear that they are not psycho basket cases but also to convey the idea that they know what needs to be put right
This is from EJ Dion's col in the WP this morning (as was the snips Posted by lavndrblue on March 7, 2006 at 11:14 AM)
Kristen,
That is truly sad news about Dana Reeve. May she RIP with her husband now and may her children do as well as can be expected.
PamB, the contributions to the DNC are critical. I have been contributing for the last 7 months thru a Democracy Bond. Not a huge thing to do for an individual but it really mounts up.
Could we have a show of hands of those contributing thru Democracy Bonds?
letshelpdean: Buy a Democracy Bond
To start with, I believe that many, many cops out there are very good people just trying to make a living and doing the best jobs they can under bad circumstances and being underpaid in the process.
However, that having been said, I wonder why so many cases of police abuse take place. Why are there so many what we call "Hitlerchimps" with guns and badges beating people up.
Most recently four cops beat a guy up in St. Louis. True, he was missbehaving, but they caught him and beat the hell out of the guy just becuase they were mad.
In California, some "HItlerchimp" shot a suspect four times just becuase he didn't get up fast enough.
somewhere, I don't remember the state (I think Missouri) The cops were robbing peoples homes. They went in in broad daylight like they were making a bust, and then cleaned the person out.
In the Military, Bush's influence can be seen in the war crimes repeated over, and over, and over again by U.S. Military Forces. They talk alot, but nothing is really done about it.
This abuse exists both in the police and in the military. WHY? Because "Hitlerchimps" wear military uniforms as well as Police uniforms and they know that with Bush's mentality, they can get away with all the abuses they want to.
I always wondered why "Hitlerchipm" type cops got away with beating people up and acting like --- Well--- "Hitlerchimps".
Now I understand that it is becuase the wealthiest people are often the most conservative (Usually Republicans but not always).
They want their hard core right wing ideas expressed in government. Additionally, there are many Hitlerchimps ( bad cops) out there that love to beat people up.
The wealthy hard right wingers who have the power hire them to be cops so they will beat up anyone with less money, power or influence than they have.
It's the old idea that if people don't look like we look, talk like we talk and think like we think, those of us with money and power let the cops beat them up. You remember, just like Justice Alito's college group believed.
We must take back Both houses of Congress in November. If we don't, We could get more Alito type Justices. If we take back both houses of Congress, we can block Bush when he tries to put more Alito's on the Bench.
Furthermore, when we do take back congress and get a democratic president, they must emphasize investigations of the abuse in the police and military and retroactively go back and prosecute those involved. It is obvious that Bush is going to do nothing to them. Once Bush and his gang of thieves are out of office, the new Democratic president must show them that they can retroactively be held accountable.
To stop the abuse, both bad cops and the military abusers (Hitlerchimps) have to know that they will eventually be investigated and many of them need to go to Jail.
Please, copy and pass this on to anyone who would like to read it.
Arthur
IMO, what needs to be pointed out to those that react so passionately to these "hot-button issues", is to ask them if they know anyone personally who has either attempted to marry someone of the same sex, or had an abortion. I would bet most cannot.
But then ask them if they know anyone who has struggled to pay healthcare premiums, struggled to pay for gas this past winter, watched as their children's schools crumbled, or if they or someone they know has been subject to discrimination, or lost someone in this senseless war. I'm betting they have. These are the issues that are impacting Americans everyday, not these other sensitive issues. Its like flag burning. Anyone seen anyone burn a flag lately that was in America? Most haven't, but mention it and it gets people's blood boiling.
BTW, stickers are turning up on water fountains, bathrooms and benches around town here that say "Heterosexuals only". According to the news, they are the act of a human rights group that wants to get the dialogue started in comparison to the Jim Crow laws of the past.
I hope it works.
I hope they do localize their campaigns. Let's divide and conquer. I've thought for a long time we were not thinning their herd by cutting out the weak ones.
We need to localize each and every House seat race. Let's put each Republican incumbent on the defensive and personally blamed them for their part in the corruption and incompetence in the Beltway today. They haven't demonstrated any oversight or any initiative.
Bring up the Social Security reform issue, the ports issue, the Medicare perscription drug donuthole, and the rising interest rates, outsourcing, etc. Most have been in power for 12 years and need to be pounded on their undistinguished record and the current sad state of affairs with the our economy and domestic security.
They tooks bribes from lobbyists and allowed the executive branch to abuse their power. They ignored all the warning signs before starting a war. They just plain didn't take their job seriously and need to be thrown out on their butts.
Their priorities were ... being wined and dined by the lobbyists first, attending to corporate business second.... and watching out for the welfare of their district's citizens dead last.
That's the Republican incumbent's record and our job is to remind the voters how little they actually have done.
From callingallwingnuts:
never encourage the freeping of polls - it just seems kinda pointless…
But… I can’t wait to hear Bill announce these poll results…
Go to BillOreilly.com and vote for who you trust the most to “solve complicated problems.” Is it George Bush? Dick Cheney? Howard Dean? or Hilary Clinton? or None of the Above?
I voted for Howard Dean. Because I can’t wait for him to announce the results through gritted teeth.
To FollowtheMoney:
Democrats and Anti Bush people outnumber the Republicans. I give a little each month. If we all do that, we can win. Never apologize for giving small amounts.
Arthur
Tim Tagaris:
IF YOUR READING THESE POSTS, AND I BELIEVE YOU ARE. HOW ABOUT STARTING A POETRY THREAD. IT WILL GET PEOPLE THINKING, AND OTHERS FIND IT INTERESTING TO READ. IT ADDS A NEW OUTLOOK AND PUTS A NEW FACE ON WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY. EACH PERSON MAKING A POST SHOULD GIVE PERMISSION TO DUPLICATE AND EMAIL OUT THEIR WORK, OR IDENTIFY WHO THE AUTHOR IS. I GIVE PERMISSION IN ADVANCE FOR ANY OF MY POEMS OR WORK TO BE USED BY ANYONE AT ANY TIME TO HELP THE DEMOCRATIC CAUSE.
THANK YOU
ARTHUR
The idea of working on the local level and gaining a presence is essential, too. My County Democrat Chairman tells me we are getting help from Dean on the local level. We are running a Democrat for the first Congressional district of South Carolina for the first time im 6 years. There won't be primary competition so will have more time to get our guy out there. Lots of up hill ahead..but try we will.
DeLay's got gonads, big Texas-size
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rep. Tom DeLay, whose association with lobbyist Jack Abramoff has left him politically vulnerable, is spending Texas' primary night Tuesday at a fundraiser hosted by two Washington lobbyists.
DeLay faces three opponents in the Republican primary. For the first time in the 22 years he's held office, he is up against a serious challenge after being forced out of his job as House majority leader amid corruption and campaign finance scandals.
The fundraiser is being held by lobbyists Bill Paxon and Susan Molinari, both former members of Congress from New York. The event will raise money for DeLay's re-election campaign.
DeLay spokeswoman Shannon Flaherty said DeLay would be in Washington for votes and has other events on his schedule including the fundraiser. She said he was unavailable for an interview.
Paxon said if DeLay were to go to Texas for the primary, he would be criticized for leaving Washington while Congress was in session. The House is scheduled Tuesday evening to give final approval to the Patriot Act.
Challenger criticizes fundraiser
DeLay's toughest primary challenger, attorney Tom Campbell, criticized the congressman's election night plans
"I think it's amazingly ironic and callous he would be spending election night with a group of lobbyists," Campbell said. "I don't think he understands how unhappy constituents are with what appears to be a trade of principle for power."
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/07/delay.primary.ap/index.html
THIS IS TO EVERYONE:
I JUST MADE A POST ADDRESSED TO TIM TAGARIS: HE IS THE ONE WHO STARTS THESE COLUMNS. I SUGGESTED WE HAVE A POETRY THREAD. IT COULD GENERATE A LOT OF INTEREST AND GIVE PEOPLE LOTS OF THINGS TO EMAIL TO THEIR FRIENDS. PERHAPS I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO BELIEVES WE SHOULD DO THIS. IF ENOUGH PEOPLE MAKE COMMENTS TO TIM TARARIS, HE WILL READ IT AND LISTEN. IF YOU AGREE WITH ME, MAKE POSTS TO TIM AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
ARTHUR
I think Tim should reinstall the word limit control on posts. But I'm not gonna email him it.
nergy, Iran Spur Turkey's Revival of Nuclear Plans
By Karl Vick
Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, March 7, 2006
ISTANBUL -- Turkey is reviving its long-deferred quest for nuclear power, pressed both by serious energy shortfalls within its own borders and by strident nuclear ambitions in neighboring Iran that threaten to upset a regional balance of power.
"The rise in oil prices and the need for multiple sources of energy make our need for nuclear energy an utmost priority," Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said last month in announcing plans to build as many as five atomic energy plants. The first, to be located on the Black Sea at Sinop, would come on line in 2012 and ease Turkey's costly dependence on natural gas, 90 percent of which arrives by pipeline from Russia and Iran.
And I suppose Bush's invasion of Iraq and his nuclear "pat on the back" giveaway to India had nothing to do with this? What country isn't going to ignore the nuclear proliferation treaty from now on?
The Importance of Watching Keith Olbermann --
I must urge everyone to watch Keith Olbermann news report on MSNBC. By far he covers the most important topics that other networks and media MCs refuse to deal with.
His top story on Monday March 6 was discussing the "Orwellian" effects of the Bush administration's efforts to intimidate and investigate their own administration and reporters, making it a crime to have disclosed the warrant-less wire taps and the European interrogation camps of torture, all of which events are presumed illegal by this administration.
The consensus from Olbermann and his guest was that the artery of our Democracy is being cut, while Bush seeks to being Democracy into other parts of the world, and the irony. Without a free press, which has ceased to exist we do not have a Democracy.
Please make a point to watch Olbermann, send him emails and help get his ratings above O'Reilley, and get the major media to know that we want his style of reporting.
Please continue to blog this notice, and if anyone in Hollywood is watching, we need a good remake of Orwell's 1984, similar to how Clooney did Syriana/Good Night and Good Luck, to scare Americans into where we are heading.
Perhaps we need to consider that Bush is no longer a candidate andbegin running against our republican opponents. Those in congress are just as responsible as the White House for the chain of foolish legislation we have endurred these past 10 years. Unless we change the composition of the congress, the disintegration of the American Constitutional system will continue. What we lack in campaign funds can be made up in shoe leather. Electing democratic candidates is a must.
Re: WakeUpAmerica's comments: I'm a Keith fan as well. Also big fan of Bob Herbert, N Y Times Op-Ed columnist. Bob made the point that simply holding elections does not a democracy make. You need to be a subsciber to read his column on line, but it's worth the $50.00 a year to read him, Paul Krugman, Tom Friedman, and the others. These folks seem to have a handle on the issues of the day.
BB
Don't be shy BB if you have something to say, spit it out.
Arthur
Posted by PeppermintLizzy on March 6, 2006 at 09:53 PM
Thank YOU!!!
Posted by PC on March 7, 2006 at 10:37 AM
Pam is hardly afraid of the Gay Rights/Human Rights issue, and I for one can attest to that. If you actually try to take the time to discern what people are saying it will be obvious that Pam means the framing of the issues is being done in the form of "GOD GUNS AND GAYS" in the negative fashion. It is about reframing the issue, as you showed in the Hackett quote, changing the language to re-affirm our beliefs in Womens Rights, Human Rights, and Immigration Reform.
Pam has been and will always be a voice for Equality, weather or not you agree with her on other issues. Did you post here before as Underbear? Just curious, you seem to have a similar writing style.
Posted by bb on March 7, 2006 at 12:32 PM
I know some can't be helped (like when there is no link), but others...yeah, I agree with you--and I'm not even on dialup.
Posted by Arthur on March 7, 2006 at 12:23 PM
Why don't you go to the contact section and send him an email? Be proactive in your desire to get something. Although I do believe a Poetry Section, as altruistic as you mean it to be, would be out of Place on the Democratic National Committee Website. Have you thought of starting your own blog and just posting links on here when something gets added? Lots of folks here have them and do that.
Still Evolving, Human Genes Tell New Story
By NICHOLAS WADE
Published: March 7, 2006
Providing the strongest evidence yet that humans are still evolving, researchers have detected some 700 regions of the human genome where genes appear to have been reshaped by natural selection, a principal force of evolution, within the last 5,000 to 15,000 years.
The genes that show this evolutionary change include some responsible for the senses of taste and smell, digestion, bone structure, skin color and brain function....
The finding adds substantially to the evidence that human evolution did not grind to a halt in the distant past, as is tacitly assumed by many social scientists...
"There is ample evidence that selection has been a major driving point in our evolution during the last 10,000 years, and there is no reason to suppose that it has stopped," said Jonathan Pritchard, a population geneticist at the University of Chicago who headed the study....
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/07/science/07evolve.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
Science trumps Republican fundamentalist propaganda yet again.
Last night my husband and I had an "OMG moment" while watching TV. An ad for the upcoming local news asked whether the teacher that was suspended for making unkind remarks about King George should be fired. We looked at eachother and said "SHOULD THAT BE A QUESTION A FREE NATION ASKS?"
Please, Americans, take back your country.
Blue, the truth that teacher spoke hurts. The MSM has to defend their practice on not questioning anything said by the administration. These stupid promos only prove how much incest is involved between the Republicans and their media enablers.
I see it as a cry for help. Maybe you should send a letter to the news director?
Posted by SandyH on March 7, 2006 at 01:26 PM
Well, I don't see it necessarily as a question that was being posed solely by this news channel, they were just reporting about the debate going on in the nation and on the talking heads shows.
It goes to show that republicans are cowards. Even words scare them.
Pam has been and will always be a voice for Equality, weather or not you agree with her on other issues
Posted by I_support_human_rights_Why_dont_you on March 7, 2006 at 01:11 PM
{{{Burnsey}}}
Thank you for that, and for ALWAYS having my back.
Love ya
Pam
Who you trust the most to “solve complicated problems.” Is it George Bush? Dick Cheney? Howard Dean? or Hilary Clinton? or None of the Above?
hehe - I voted for Dean too!
Have there been any comments re that road worker in Arapahoe, CO? He has his own business as a lawn services guy, and he has a sign on his truck that says "Lawn Services Done With Pride!! By An English Speaking American." He drove that truck to his job with the county highway dept, and has now been accused of "insensitivity" and may lose his job.
* * * *
I got a new supervisor," said Gray. "He's a politically correct, bleeding heart liberal... I got to stand up for what I believe in and I don't think I'm doing a thing wrong...they're just chipping away at our rights and freedoms."
* * * *
I'm concerned that this image of "liberals" is hurting Democrats. Comments? Has the Colorado Dem Party contacted his boss and asked him (unofficially of course) to ease off, as a patriotic Democrat, for the good of the mid-term elections?
Talk about local issuses. We had the Indiana Toll Road. Mitch wants to "lease" the toll road for 75 years to a company based in Australia. The toll road gets alot of traffic. The locals are pissed and are asking the gov why do we have to lease it when the company in Australia are saying that they can make a 40% increase in profits. What's wrong with the State doing that? 70% of Hoosiers are against this deal - 70%! Can you say - 1 term?
So I say - local issuses - bring them on!
Another local issuse - we have a republican Commissioner. Just before George's War started, there were a group of anti-war protestors who wanted a permit to protest in front of our county courthouse. This creep denied the permit because he didn't agree with their viewpoint!
Local issuses - bring them on!
Posted by PamB on March 7, 2006 at 01:32 PM
Hey, I totaly support you. I support the truth and facts and I support your heart. I know where you stand, and I know what you were saying.
On occassion we all get things wrong, and in this case it was PC who got his/her facts wrong. I know that you support Human Rights, Pam, and I will defend your honor at any given moment, even though you don't need my help in defending it:) You are able to do so yourself, but hey, what are friends for.
Gotta go, some plans to make for My trip to Miami and the Keys in April (friends wedding) and Jonathan has a trip to NY in a few weeks, so I have to get ready for that as well. BE WELL-
PEACE-AS ALWAYS
We have a republican County Council President who thought he could conduct business over the phone with the other members - they passed a resolution about the Toll Road Lease and it went to Indianapolis. One problem - in Indiana, we have an "open door" policy. What he tried to do was illegal and he was caught. He had to resend the resolution....
Local issuses - bring them on
Thanks, Robert.
Enjoy your trips back east ! Bring warm clothes to NYC. Still winter here !
Heather on March 7, 2006 at 01:42 PM,
This is mostly responsible because of the framing of democrats in 1991 by GHWB as "dyed in the wool, bleeding heart, card carrying members of the ACLU liberals". It has been 15 years since that election and this perception continues in large part thanks to media characters such as, O'Reilly, Limbaugh, Coulter, etc. This image is burned in the brain of the public at large.
Even though GWB is currently seeking to relax legislation for immigrants, as did his father in 1990, democrats [liberals] get the brunt of the criticism. Why do you think frepublicans laugh so much at their handy work? They're evil, I'm tellin' you, evil!! That's the only way to perceive republicans.
Posted by SandyH on March 7, 2006 at 01:15 PM
you should visit driftwood and post that on his site, maybe he would learn a thing or two.
Just because we don't have the answer about an issue now, doesn't mean we are wrong, some things take time to learn. Used to be a time where you died from heart problems, but now you cna have a transplant. The people around before the transplant was known as valid science would think we were ghouls and demons. Great article by the way, I read it before I came on to the blog today.
And fwiw, every question is a good question to ask in a free society, it's the answers that might be inappropriate!!
Oh please - you have got to be kidding right?
"America will help women stand up for their freedom, no matter where they live," Bush said at a White House celebration of Women's History Month and International Women's Day.
This coming from a man who appoints anti-women judges....give me a freakn' break..
Posted by PamB on March 7, 2006 at 01:55 PM
Jonathan is going to NY in two weeks, I'm going with him to Miami and the Keys, in April when it will be warm. But I already started getting his long underwear out for that trip to NY, along with the gloves, scarves and turtleneck sweaters.
PEACE
ORG/DYNAMIC/STORIES/B/BUSH_WOMEN?
The story goes on:
Bush Touts Women's Role in Democracy
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush said Tuesday that democracies only reach their potential when women are allowed to fully participate in society, singling out Iran, North Korea and Myanmar as nations that are suppressing women's basic rights.
*some how or other every time I post a link it doesn't work - I'm either doing something wrong or something is preventing me from doing this from my work computer... sorry
"America will help women stand up for their freedom, no matter where they live," Bush said
-----
Really? Does this include South Dakota?
Is anyone running against Lugar in Indiana?
If not why not?
How do you break down a large rock?
Erosion over time.
Liberal sites blocked by military:
From Raw Story -
I had a few minutes today and thought I'd look and see what else was banned on the Marine web here. I think the results speak for themselves:
Wonkette – “Forbidden, this page (http://www.wonkette.com/) is categorized as: Forum/Bulletin Boards, Politics/Opinion.”
Bill O’Reilly (www.billoreilly.com) – OK
Air America (www.airamericaradio.com) – “Forbidden, this page (http://www.airamericaradio.com/) is categorized as: Internet Radio/TV, Politics/Opinion.”
Rush Limbaugh (www.rushlimbaugh.com) – OK
ABC News “The Note” – OK
Website of the Al Franken Show (www.alfrankenshow.com) – “Forbidden, this page (http://www.airamericaradio.com/) is categorized as: Internet Radio/TV, Politics/Opinion.”
G. Gordon Liddy Show (www.liddyshow.us) – OK
Don & Mike Show (www.donandmikewebsite.com) – “Forbidden, this page (http://www.donandmikewebsite.com/) is categorized as: Profanity, Entertainment/Recreation/Hobbies.”
Lugar is running - AGAIN
I don't understand - he's so tired....
Kathy_in_Indiana on March 7, 2006 at 02:05 PM,
Make your own link:
1. enter less than symbol [shift + comma key]
2. a href=
3. between " " place the url of your link, followed by >
4. Name your Link whatever you desire
5. enter less than symbol [shift + comma key]
6. /a>
Do this in linearly and the link will work on the blog. I cannot show you this linearly because it will show up as a link.
The date they give is 2012. Which just happens to correspond to the Mayan End Time Prophecies. Just thought it was interesting...
kathy, are you using the tool on the blog? If you highlight the text you want to make into a hyper link, then click the third button from the right above the comment box, it will make another box appear, you need to cut and paste (prior to clicking the hyperlink tool) the address you want to have as the hyperlink. When the box pops up make sure you click and paste your address in that box, making sure whatever it had typed in it is gone first, then click ok and it will create the link for you.
BTW
This is primarily for Jacque, but another example of the imcompetance of this President!
Seems our dull witted Mr. Bush, did not fill out his Absentee Ballot, for Mr. Delay, correctly and it had to be Scrapped!
Well, he is flying in tonight to Crawford, in order to vote, as he is on his way to the Gulf Coast again!
So it is NOT just Ohioians who do not know how to vote ! :))
And fwiw, every question is a good question to ask in a free society, it's the answers that might be inappropriate!!
Posted by I_support_human_rights_Why_dont_you on March 7, 2006 at 01:59 PM
Oh, I agree that questions should be asked in a free society. But I don't agree that a free society actually comes up with a question as to whether a teacher should be fired for expressing his Constitutional right of free speech. There should be no question.
Hi davidual -
Yeah, you're right about how the Right has been framing (in BOTH meanings of the word!) Democrats.
But I've started substituting "Bushies" for "Republicans." In many places around the country, people just "are" Repubs the way they just "are" Baptists or Hispanics or Red Sox fans or Wahabists. Its a culture they're born into. So calling ALL of them evil just sets them more against us.
If we blame things on the Bushies, then isn't there a chance that that'll lower their resistance to voting across party lines?
Posted by PamB on March 7, 2006 at 02:49 PM
-------------
Crawford is not in Tom Delay's district. I believe Crawford is in Chet Edwards' (D) district.
Posted by BlueinIdaho on March 7, 2006 at 03:10 PM
I was trying to make a funny with the answer there, but I agree that it is a silly question. Jonathan and I were watching that story on local news as well, they said the same thing and we had the same response as that which took place in your home. Goes to show you, though, that the media has choosen it's talking point on this issue. And remember, it all started in the White House when Ari Fleischer warned reporters to be careful what they said. Seems everything happening local is leading back to the WH. Guess there really is something to the Saying that all politics is local, and there are occassional signs of HOPE!!
a snip if you can't get it (registered I think):
Teens rally against gay harassment An advocacy day at the state Capitol supports two bills designed to combat campus discrimination. By Kim Minugh -- Bee Staff Writer Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, March 7, 2006 Story appeared on Page A3 of The Bee
For Garrett Rubin, the harsh reality of being an openly gay teenager comes as taunts in the high school locker room. But what could be destructive is instead motivating.
The 16-year-old Granite Bay student says the verbal harassment compels him to make sure school locker rooms - and campuses in general - are safer for other gay students.
On Monday, he picked up a microphone and a picket sign to celebrate Queer Youth Advocacy Day at the Capitol with about 500 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and their allies from all over the state.
"I refuse to settle for anything less than respect and equality in education," said Rubin, who was a master of ceremonies at the event. "I shouldn't have to be working so hard to get an education like everybody else."
Stories of harassment on campuses abounded at the Advocacy Day, sponsored by the Gay-Straight Alliance Network and Equality California. But students said they participated in hopes that such anecdotes will become rare among future generations of LGBT youth.
Posted by I_support_human_rights_Why_dont_you on March 7, 2006 at 03:27 PM
I read in the paper today that some gay citizens of Idaho have taken to wearing "second class citizen" pins. What impact would there be if we had a "second class citizen" day where those that are gay and those that support equality wear those pins?
Posted by lw on March 7, 2006 at 03:22 PM
I stand corrected.
They did not specifically say his vote was for DeLay on CNN, I just assumed it .
Ok - I have had it! I'm po'd but good. I'm moving to another country! This has put me way over the top.....
WTF is happening to this country????
To wit: Senate Bill 3794 (House Bill 3798), legislation that would make it illegal to sell, advertise, publish or exhibit to another person “any three-dimensional device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs….” For that matter, if you offer to show someone your dildo collection—or possess a vibrator with the intent to show it to someone—you’d be violating this proposed state law. And don’t even think about wholesaling those three-dimensional sex toys.
Of course, as with all good public policy, state Sen. Charlotte Burks and Rep. Eric Swafford have included a few exemptions for responsible dildo-users. College students and faculty are allowed to enter the sex-toy trade—as long as they are “teaching or pursuing a course of study related to such device,” like Auto-Erotic Stimulation 101. Your doctor or psychologist will similarly be authorized to prescribe the regular use of a sex toy “in the course of medical or psychological treatment or care.” And finally, employees of historical societies, museums, public libraries and—wait for it—school libraries are allowed to traffic in devices named Thruster, The Emperor and The Horny Hare, provided they’re doing their official duties. That means the Carnton Plantation would remain free to put up that “Dildos of the Antebellum” exhibit Robert Hicks has been pitching.What do Burks and Swafford have against genital stimulation? Your guess is as good as ours. At press time, staff members hadn’t returned messages left Tuesday morning, probably because it’s hard to defend such stupid ideas. Attorneys for the state of Georgia couldn’t defend them either: two weeks ago, a federal appeals court overturned portions of a similar Georgia law on the grounds that advertising bans violate free speech rights.
Nonetheless, this Tennessee legislative tag-team went ahead and introduced their bill last Thursday, and on Monday, it passed a perfunctory first reading. In other Monday developments, Tennesseans died from a lack of health care, remained poorly educated and were among the most obese state populations in the nation.
I'm speechless - Keep n Rockn'
But what could be destructive is instead motivating.
I should have highlighted this statement by the young gay man. This is why most GLBT people are democrats and why the party needs to embrace us as a whole. The integrity of youths who stand up like this, and also I am glad the Phelps Protesting at Soldiers Funerals thing is getting so much attention. My only question to ask, is WHY DIDN'T ANYONE CARE WHEN THEY WERE PROTESTING AT GAY PEOPLES FUNERALS?? I'm glad people are saying it's horrible to do this, but I just wonder why no one said anything before, I guess it might just start resonatting with straight people in general what it is that Me and Mine have to deal with on a daily basis. They won't even let us go die in peace. Yes they are extreme, but notice that the press isn't arguing the point of how vile what they are saying is, but they are arguing that you shouldn't do this to a VETERAN. As if it was understandable when they did it at Gays funerals. Now everyone can see what the double standard is that I deal with on a daily basis and why I fight for EQUALITY.
Sorry, had to get that out.
PEACE
Posted by BlueinIdaho on March 7, 2006 at 03:31 PM
I'd love to set it up, but it would cost a fortune to get the buttons made. I'd have to check the story out and see where they got the buttons.
75% of the Democrats wouldn't have an abortion, you could say Democrats are against abortion!!!!
*** But we don't believe you should control others? ******
75% of married Democrats say they wouldn't have an affair (ADULTRY)*** But they don't believe you should control others lives? *** God gave the death penelty for Adultry but didn't make a law against a woman causing herself to abort!!!!
Oh, Cheney is Rattling His SABER now, seems that we probably will be pulling out the troops by the end of 07, but it seems we will only be pulling them out to send them into their neighbors yard. At least that's how the odds are favoring.
A group posted "Heterosexuals Only" stickers in restrooms, at drinking fountains, on benches and bus stops in Downtown Boise early Monday morning.
A spokesman for the effort said about a dozen members of a grass-roots human rights group pasted 170 messages about the size of bumper stickers in the Statehouse and in busy parts of Downtown Boise to trigger dialogue about the state ballot initiative to prohibit gay marriage.
Many of the stickers reportedly had been removed by Monday afternoon.
The signs are intended to echo Jim Crow laws that segregated black and white people in the South, said the group member, who would not give his name. Jim Crow laws, which were lifted in the 1950s and 1960s, prevented the two races from sharing public amenities such as drinking fountains.
Jim Smith, who volunteers for Your Family Friends & Neighbors, an Idaho gender identity and sexual orientation advocacy group, said he didn't know about the stickers. But he guessed they represent a growing resentment about the ballot initiative. Since Thursday, Smith has worn a pin reading "Second-class citizen" because he feels he's being discriminated against in Idaho because he's gay.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060307/NEWS01/603070373
(From the Washington Post)
Party leaders, for example, have yet to decide whether Democrats should focus on a sharply negative campaign against President Bush and the Republicans, by jumping on debacles such as the administration's handling of the Dubai port deal -- or stress their own priorities and values.
Hey, here is a crazy idea....how about doing BOTH.
What the hell kind of party am I a member of. The Democrats have never had a better opportunity to take back the country, and they can't agree on ANY strategy. When the hell are the Democratic leaders going to stop worrying about thier own individual political futures and unify for once. Bush and the Republicans have been as negative as any group in history, Democrats should have a backbone and use the same tactics. The DNC needs to make a decision on whether they want to re-build our country or continue to be the second class party that allows Republicans to destroy the nation.
Posted by CollegeDNC on March 7, 2006 at 03:57 PM
you are preaching to the choir here. Come on dem leadership, get one strong message.
College,
It is MY opinion, that the strengthening growth of the DLC portion of the party, is having a direct affect on the party's message ! Until we get rid of this split within the party, we will never agree on a Unified message! Always appearing weak and without a message.
Kathy_in_Indiana on March 7, 2006 at 03:37 PM:
Just as I have always rushed out to purchase a copy of books that people are trying surpress (for example "By Way of Deception", an insider's account of the Israeli Mossad, which the Israelis tried to surpress), I think EVERYONE interested in free speech and a government free bedroom should rush out and purchase a collection of soon-to-be-illegal toys.
Last week it was San Francisco...this week a small town in Vermont.
Posted by Kristen on March 7, 2006 at 04:17 PM
Just more evidence that our Congressional leaders are out of touch with the desires of the people.
WE WANT IMPEACHMENT!
Later, Rumsfeld added: "We do know, of course, that al-Qaeda has media committees. We do know that they teach people exactly how to try to manipulate the media. They do this regularly. We see the intelligence that reports on their meetings. Now I can't take a string and tie it to a news report and then trace it back to an al-Qaeda media committee meeting. I'm not able to do that at all.
Son of a b***ch! Your kidding me. They actually have the balls to teach someone how to manipulate the media.
Some poor bastard at the pentagon is going to lose his pension over this. Leaking our top secret "media manipulation" playbook to Bin Laden.
Is nothing sacred in this country??? Can nothing be protected here?? What kind of security is this??
And the ever so trustworthy Dumsfield....
Rumsfeld did not cite examples of the misreporting he and Casey say has taken place.
"I have no way to judge; I'm not going to judge them," Rumsfeld said of the news media. "It's just a fact that [Casey] is saying that. And I believe he's correct."
Hey, me too Don. You know...you can always count on a 4 or a 5 star to tell the truth.
Did he tell you he went to the morgues and conducted a body count too??
Let me guess. He used a preset algorithm based on the number of days he had been in Iraq, divided by long service leave accumulated, multiplied by the number or hairs on his head and then presto, pulled figure out of his ass.
And, by golly gee..it was different then the body count reported by the morgue so, theirs was wrong and his was right.
Ya, I'll buy that, ya dipshit.
"We are on the offensive in Iraq with a clear plan for victory. Progress has not come easily, but it has been steady," Cheney said.
Hmmmm..... On the offensive in Iraq???? Yep, and 70% wanta come home and wonder why they are even there.
..."Progress has not come easily" Well, what was the first clue?? $400 billion??? 2,300 dead?? A f**in' civil war?? A parliment that can't agree to meet??
Women, and men, in this country should be alarmed and angry over the Republican attack on abortion, reproduction rights and sexuality in general. It really seems they want the old custom of women as chattel and that women should be barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen. First, keep'em stupid - only allow "abstinence only" sex education (repeatedly shown to be ineffective in reducing unwanted pregnancy); second, report 'em - bill introduced in the heartland was to require doctors to report (? to the government)any young teen female that was found to be sexually active; 3rd, remove options - FDA refused to release the 'morning after pill' to OTC in spite of their own scientific committee recommending doing so; 4th, get rid of the final option, abortion - SD has started it; 5th, just so women can't enjoy themselves without a man, outlaw 'sextoys' - Tennessee repubs entered legislation that outlaws vibrators, etc.
Obviously, these steps increase the risk of unwanted pregnancy then removes any option to do anything about it. Talk about setting up a no win scenario!
This really strikes me as men so terrified of sexuality, and female sexuality and reproductive capability specifically, that they attack and suppress it so that they can feel in control. I guess they think they will feel like men because they can impregnant a female and force her to carry to term all without her having any say. (Memories of the Dark Ages and church control of women)
We men need to stand up and fight for reproductive rights as much as women do. For the only way we can truly reach our potential as a healthy society is to assure that both genders have full control over their own bodies at all times.
Posted by Kathy_in_Indiana on March 7, 2006 at 03:37 PM
There goes B.O.B.!!!
good golly! The government trying to really sexually frustrate me!
I hope they don't make me get my tubes untied...I decided not to have any more children since I was 25 years old.
Heather on March 7, 2006 at 03:11 PM,
Republicans, Bushies if you desire, exercise their freedom of speech towards democrats relentlessly [repentlessly?], and when democrats fire back we are accused of being angry and/or contentious. It is when we backpedal that the subjective elements of our lives have us up against the wall. That is why you will never see a republican backpedal over what they say. It is i the backpedaling that suggests an inability to lead. I say stay foward and focused and the hell with inadvertently calling a pub a pub.
Thank you for the information. Frankly, I am not sure who sent it, but I did use the contact area to Emial Tim.
However, that having been said, it would seem as though I have failed to properly communicate my thoughts.
It is NOT ABOUT POETRY! It's about using poetry as a method of spreading positive ideas and getting rid of the Republican Hitlerites.
Anything new and different will catch attention. If it catches peoples attention, they will be amused and pass it on to their friends.
Tasteful Poems, jokes and other such articles will arouse peoples attention and help us take our country back again.
Furthermore, I have read many posts and some get a bit Frivolous. I feel that what I am doing is as helpful as any other. If people would work harder to find something to do that is helpful, and worry less about Criticizing what others do, we may ge a little closer to victory.
I read in one post something to the effect of "Democrats have many voices, but no chorus". This would at least on the surface appear to point in that direction. Lets work together to find new ideas to promote the common cause, and worry less about criticizing others trying to accomplish the same thing.
I will write my poems and post them. That is my way of helping get the Republicans out and the Dems in. If people want to reead and use them fine, if not, let them help in whatever way they see fit.
AP) - WASHINGTON-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' written answers to questions about warrantless wiretapping under the Bush administration's program might require him to testify a second time before the Senate Judiciary Committee, the panel's Republican chairman said Monday.
"There is a suggestion in his letter there are other classified intelligence programs that are currently under way," Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter told reporters.
The comments from the moderate Republican come as the Bush administration tried to quell criticism of its surveillance operations and work with the Senate on legislation that would write the program into law.
In a letter to Specter last week, Gonzales clarified his testimony in a half-dozen areas covered in a daylong Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Feb. 6.
http://news.findlaw.com/ap/p/56/03-07-2006/18d80014a4f56a43.html
Arthur,
I don't think any offense was aimed at you, in telling you the best thing for you to do was contact Tim directly. We do not believe all that much attention is given to our posts here, so if nothing else, he will see it the other way.
Your poems are very good. Someone suggested you set up your own Blog. I think that is an excellent idea, with you inviting others to join in adding their poems. I am not gifted with creativity, but like to read other's.
Name it something like Poems for Liberals or something,. Who knows, you may start a whole new fad! Plus get greater exposure for your own, like you Pledge one.
respectfully,
Pam
Interesting new strategy by Republicans....pretend that there aren't any elections in '06 and direct the talking heads to fill the airways with talk about the '08 election instead. (Clinton bashing)
Strategy #2....talk about Republican sincerity and integrity on moral issues instead of the consequences of their stupidity and incompetence in handling the economy and domestic security. (Gay and femNazi bashing)
Strategy #3...pretend that the DeLay culture of corruption is a bipartisan scandal (Dem bashing)
Strategy #4...frame the Iraqi war as a patriotic obligation (pacifist bashing)
Strategy #5...point to all the rosy economic statistics that only benefit the top 5% and CEOs instead of the port security controversy, outsourcing, and rising interest rates. (bashing the working class)
Note that these are all negative campaign strategies. They are going to run AWAY FROM THEIR RECORD....they can't run on a positive agenda because they don't have one.
Actually, they are the one's who don't have an economic or foreign policy agenda this election year...at least one they want to talk about.
Most importantly, the fundies are focused on the Courts and could care less about the "do nothing" Republican Congress. The Republican's NEW base feels they don't need the Republicans anymore. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't vote in large numbers come fall.
The Republicans' OLD base hates what the Republican Congress has done to the national debt, the way they have handled this ports deal, and their complete capitulation to the executive branch on the Patrioit Act and warrantless domestic spying. I don't see a lot of money being donated to these Republican incumbents by this group.
So their negative strategy is going to fall on dead ears. Their base doesn't care about these incumbents. The Democrats and Independents think they are idiots.
The Congressional Republicans are all vunerable. So we go after them district by district isolating the economic and security issues that worry the folks living in those districts most....high energy cost, Social Security, outsourcing, port security, medical costs, etc. and challenging them on those issues.
We have them in a box.
Posted by SandyH on March 7, 2006 at 06:08 PM
I would love that if you are right...unfortunately, most are still not paying attention. They get their info from short 30-second snippets on the local news which most times slants the piece to the right. Then they read headlines from their newspaper, but rarely delve into the details of the news item. Adding to the lack of real info, they rarely question the source of the info. Then...they go to the polls and vote for the incumbent.
Hello all. I've been busy the last few days with a house-related issue and currently have a large hole in the ceiling in the TV room. Good thing I don't watch TV because I hate looking at nasty holes in ceilings.
Arthur, keep me posted on that poetry site. Have you visited the Poets Against the War site? Ever since Laura Bush's 2003 cancellation of the poetry reading at the White House, due to the poets refusing to read nonpolitical poems only, there's been more awareness of the role of poetry and imagination in our movement. We need to understand that imagination is what allows us to envision alternatives to the current situation, and it gives us a language we can use when the words we have are censored or coopted.
**waving to Lyn**
Been a long time and sorry to hear about your ceiling.
Lyn, you shouldn't have let Cheney enter your home with a shotgun. Did he hit any quails or just the chandelier? He, he.
hey guys!
oh no lyn, that sucks about your ceiling. glad to see you here.
Did he hit any quails or just the chandelier?
Maybe there are quails on Lyn's chandelier and he was so drunk he mistook them for real ones.
I know Lyn would not let Cheney into her home. Would you Lyn? I wouldn't let him into mine. I bet she had one of them damn liberal parties and someone was swinging from the chandelier. yep, bet that's it.
this would never happen in george bush's america
The Senate Intelligence Committee voted today not to investigate the crimes of President George W. Bush.
``This committee is basically under control of the White House,'' Rockefeller told reporters after the two-hour meeting today in Washington. ``It's an unprecedented bout of political pressure from the White House.''
The administration is threatening members of Congress, it is strong-arming them like never before--in short, like a cornered animal it has pulled out every last stop, every last fang and growl to dissuade Congress from investigating this matter. The inference is obvious: the more fervent the desire to cover up, the more heinous the crime.
I bet she had one of them damn liberal parties
We need to have one of them soon!!
Weel, the so-called USA PATRIOT act is on its way to the white house for bubble boy's signature. Don't you feel safer now?
Watched Tavis Smiley on PBS last night with his guest Scott Ritter, the co-author (with Seymour Hersh) of Iraq Confidential : The Untold Story of the Intelligence Conspiracy to Undermine the UN and Overthrow Saddam Hussein, reviewed in The Nation.
>
Actually, no I haven't had one yet, but a month after we moved in, we went away and our son had "a few people" over. When he came home from college several months later he brought his computer with a slide show screen saver, and we saw it was, in fact, "a few DOZEN people."
supreme court says army navy etc..can suck up our youth ... By www.wreckedband.com on March 6, 2006 - 10:31pm.
Generals speak beyond their reach but its the young that is their bitch ...but let them walk with yhe sword thats right,thats right they wont go...the words from my song another world jam ..well if we take to the streets and say no to war ( its been done before)they will listen ...then again we could tell our schools dont take the money (filthy lucar)and they cant recruit ...u pay top doller to these schools ....let them cut costs work on their budget and say no to uncle sam ...they are short on young humans ...to kill for them ...but our schools can just say no ...whats your take ....tell your parents to write letters alot of them pay the bills...i say lets take to the streets like they did in poland...south america ,,,russia..martin king took to the streets ..and moved a mountain .peace richard hydell and wrecked ...
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