Friday Evening Open Thread
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Posted by Kristen on October 27, 2006 at 06:35 PM
Kristen, I do remember it as well, but to repost it here, not once but twice, for no apparent reason, seems a little shortsighted. It's like posting a racist message over and over because you're angered by its content. Don't you become part of the problem by spreading the objectionable message?
Blue, I completely agree. I found it disgusting the first time and would prefer not to have to read it again and again.
Kristen
I posted a comment to your discussion with Blue on the last thread about the subject (last post). If someone is going to be describe a procedure at least give the information correctly.
J, I try not to put much into Paul H.'s posts because he tends to be overly judgmental on issues and has set himself up as an expert on everything under the sun.
What really angers me is the detachment from which he passes judgement. These are hard situations women and families are faced with every day and his post made it sound as if these were choices of women that took too long to decide what to do.
Kristen
Yes they are hard emotional/painful decisions. If you read my post on the last thread, well it wasn't easy to post, but I just can't stand incorrect information being placed out there.
Take care and have a great weekend.
I have heard very little from any canidate regarding "affirmative action" during the present campaign. Affirmative action has always been a strong Democratic issue. I realize that we have Iraq along with blatant curruption on the part of the pugs, but, I would not want to give minority citizens the impression that we have forgotten them. African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and orientals are a large and important part of the Democratic party. I hope that the grave issues we face do not overshadow our core values.
Posted by rashlimbo on October 27, 2006 at 07:57 PM
I believe affirmative action is something we should stay away from. To give someone a job or a promotion based solely on their race is what this party stands against. We should make sure that no one is discriminated against and land hard on the people or institutions that practice discrimination. Coming from south of the Mason-Dixon line, I see examples of discrimination every day. In fact, our junior senator, Sen. George Allen (R-VA) is a blatant racist and I am doing everything I can to see him defeated. However, the time for affirmative action, in the examples I state above, has come and gone, IMHO. It's the 21st century now. Let's leave the past where it belongs.
Posted by rashlimbo on October 27, 2006 at 07:57 PM
Besides, the vast majority of African-American people know what Michael Steele and Ken Blackwell represent. They are two individuals who've sold their soul to the RNC for a few bucks and some publicity as well as selling out their entire race to a bunch of people who laugh at them behind closed doors for being such suckers.
Bush swung through Des Moines, Iowa, at lunchtime to raise $400,000 for the state Republican Party and congressional candidate Jeff Lamberti, whom the president mistakenly called "Dave" throughout his speech.
I think "Jeff" told Bush jr, "Whatever you do, just don't use my real name".
Two things get me about the Republican attack ads I see on Democratic candidates.
One is that they all say the same thing -- so and so will raise your taxes. Coupla points on that. First, yeah they'll raise taxes. But they really have no choice, unless they want to put off cleaning up the mess they inherited from the borrow and spend Republicans. And that's not fair to future generations. Second point is that the federal tax cuts game is really nothing more than a game of three card monty, and that shouldn't be more obvious anywhere than here in New York. When the feds cut taxes, they short-change the states on many programs, and the states and municipalities make up the shortfall by raising local taxes. My Representative, Tommy Two-Chin, is constantly bragging about what he has done for the district. In reality, what he has done is siphon off more and more of New Yorkers' federal tax dollars for his puppetmasters in the South, while the upstate New York economy lags behind and local taxes go through the roof.
A second thing that gets me is the attacks on Democratic plans for Social Security. This from members of the party that wanted to, of all things, privatize Social Security. Jesus H. Christ on a cross . . .
Peggy Noonan and the rotting pundit class
One of the more corrupt pundit phenomena is the way in which the most loyal and worshippful Bush followers, who spent the last five years praising the President and doing everything possible to enable his most radical policies, are now suddenly pretending to be so deeply dissatisfied with his rule. Now that the Bush movement is collapsing, they all want to pretend that they knew all along that things weren't going well and that the President was deeply flawed. Suddenly, they're not a part of any of it and bear no responsibility for it because, all along, they felt the President wasn't doing the right thing and, besides, he was never really loyal to their political beliefs.
Here is Peggy Noonan in The Wall St. Journal today, trying to demonstrate how objective and intellectually honest she is by claiming that even well-connected Republicans think that Republicans deserve to lose this election. For this, Noonan blames the President: "They want to fire Congress because they can't fire President Bush."
In 2006 the Republicans consider it a "no brainer"....
Waterboarding Historically Controversial
In 1947, the U.S. Called It a War Crime; in 1968, It Reportedly Caused an Investigation
By Walter Pincus
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 5, 2006
Key senators say Congress has outlawed one of the most notorious detainee interrogation techniques -- "waterboarding," in which a prisoner feels near drowning. But the White House will not go that far, saying it would be wrong to tell terrorists which practices they might face.
Inside the CIA, waterboarding is cited as the technique that got Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the prime plotter of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, to begin to talk and provide information -- though "not all of it reliable," a former senior intelligence official said.
Waterboarding is variously characterized as a powerful tool and a symbol of excess in the nation's fight against terrorists. But just what is waterboarding, and where does it fit in the arsenal of coercive interrogation techniques?
On Jan. 21, 1968, The Washington Post published a front-page photograph of a U.S. soldier supervising the questioning of a captured North Vietnamese soldier who is being held down as water was poured on his face while his nose and mouth were covered by a cloth. The picture, taken four days earlier near Da Nang, had a caption that said the technique induced "a flooding sense of suffocation and drowning, meant to make him talk."
The article said the practice was "fairly common" in part because "those who practice it say it combines the advantages of being unpleasant enough to make people talk while still not causing permanent injury."
The picture reportedly led to an Army investigation.
Twenty-one years earlier, in 1947, the United States charged a Japanese officer, Yukio Asano, with war crimes for carrying out another form of waterboarding on a U.S. civilian. The subject was strapped on a stretcher that was tilted so that his feet were in the air and head near the floor, and small amounts of water were poured over his face, leaving him gasping for air until he agreed to talk.
"Asano was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor," Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) told his colleagues last Thursday during the debate on military commissions legislation. "We punished people with 15 years of hard labor when waterboarding was used against Americans in World War II," he said.
Seems like that is the problem...there are no brainers in the White House only arrogant men and women who abuse their power and the dictates of common dencency.
Good thing they passed Gonzales' alternative measures bill, because some day one of them might visit a civilized country and be charged with war crimes...as a no brainer.
interesting pew polling:
Democrats Hold Double-Digit Lead in Competitive Districts
GOP Troubles Extend into Home Territory
Released: October 26, 2006
Summary of Findings
With less than two weeks to go before the midterm elections, the Democrats not only continue to maintain a double-digit advantage nationally, but also lead by the same margin in the competitive districts that will determine which party controls the House of Representatives. Nationally, the Democrats hold a 49%-38% lead among registered voters, and a nearly identical 50%-39% lead among those voters most likely to cast ballots on Nov. 7.
An oversample of voters in 40 competitive districts identified by a consensus of political analysts shows that voting intentions in the battleground districts are about the same as they are in the "safe" House districts. Among registered voters, the Democrats lead by 11 points in competitive districts (50%-39%) and by the same margin in safe districts (49%-38%).
The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted among 1,552 registered voters - including 528 who reside in competitive districts - shows that Iraq continues to be the dominant issue for voters. More than four-in-ten voters (45%) view the situation in Iraq as the most important, or second most important issue in their vote, the highest percentage for six issues tested. In competitive districts, slightly more (50%) cite Iraq as a top issue in their vote.
Public views of Iraq continue to be overwhelmingly negative, with a solid majority of Americans (59%) saying the U.S. military effort there is not going well. Republicans, who have been steadfast backers of the war, are now rendering more negative judgments about how things are going in Iraq.
pew
Besides, the vast majority of African-American people know what Michael Steele and Ken Blackwell represent. They are two individuals who've sold their soul to the RNC for a few bucks and some publicity as well as selling out their entire race to a bunch of people who laugh at them behind closed doors for being such suckers.
Posted by BobVADemHawk-Gore-Obama2008 on October 27, 2006 at 08:18 PM
I'll leave the affirmative action issue alone, but as for the black REPs, as I stated this morning how could they possibly be asking blacks for their vote when the political party they represent has littered the campaign trail through several states with racist ads and literature?
The RNC is literally mocking us in such raw and disgusting form. There are many Americans saying this is 2006! - how can this be happening? Well very easy - the mindthink that holds this type of ignorant thought has never really gone anywhere. It just decided to take other forms and means of getting their message out. Other forms and means that can be construed as ambiguous thereby leaving the accuser looking stupid, paranoid or worse, as a quick draw with the race card.
As for me, I personally prefer the bigot that is straight up letting me know they don't care for black folk. See I can respect this person because they are man/woman enough to let me know where they stand. But most people can't be that honest and forthcoming, they would rather play games or view themselves as "progressive".
Democrats ain't gonna "raise" your's and my taxes. We didn't get no stink'in tax cut from Bush any damn way. Democrats are gonna make the big corporations who Bush and Cheney are taking bribs from for allowing to have a "tax holiday" go back to paying their fair share. (So we don't have to give up our retirement and our kids their future.)
Terry:
I know I did not read that correcty. Never ever admit or say that democrats will raise taxes. That has polled strongly as a losing position. If a future congress has to, they have to, but let's admit it now. Remember, it is "resdistribute the tax burden" to the wealthy, or "cut the middle class taxes." And yes, democrats do have a choice. Remember what happened to Mondale when he said he would have to raise taxes.
Posted by Domingo on October 27, 2006 at 08:51 PM
Rats abandoning a sinking ship. That's what that is.
Posted by BrianB on October 27, 2006 at 09:03 PM
You're right in that most people won't see a tax increase.
My point, and perhaps I didn't make it as well as I should have, is that we have to move beyond the sound bite approach on taxes somehow. Like I said, cutting taxes at the federal level is, in reality, a game of three-card monty. It results in higher taxes at the state and local level.
The rich can afford it, because the tax cuts they get at the federal level more than make up for the tax increases they see at the state and local level. But it's something different for folks like us.
When what I pay for property taxes is about twice what I pay for federal income taxes, something is drastically wrong.
Posted by Terry on October 27, 2006 at 08:50 PM
I know my state and local taxes have gone up constantly in the last six years.
All the school districts need more money to pay for that unfunded No Child Left Behind legislation. The local police and firemen have increased, mandated homeland security needs and the cost of fuel has hit them hard.
The Republican state legislature has shifted funds from education to pay for the streets and highway repairs. And they shifted money from Medicaid to pay for business tax incentives. They've asked voters to pass higher sales and property taxes to pay for it all...and instituted automatic inflation increases and property reassessments.
It's been a Republican shell game with us paying more taxes and getting less and less services. Meanwhile Bush goes around the country like a carnival shill twirling his cane and blowing smoke and everybody's face. Nice scam.
I remember what "BlackMale" posted when asked about Steele and Blackwell. Skinfolk is not my kinfolk.
from pew:
In the fall of 2002, married mothers favored the Republican candidate in their district by 57%-34%; today they support the Republican by just three points.
White Catholics were solidly in the GOP's camp in 2002, but now support the Democratic candidate by 52%-35%.
Independents now support the Democratic candidate in their district by 16 points; four years ago, Democrats led among independent voters by just three points.
The analysis shows that much of the change among independents has occurred among voters under age 30 and those ages 65 and older. Independents under the age of 30 decisively favored the Democratic candidate in 2002, and the margin has more than doubled (from 14 points in 2002 to 34 points currently). By contrast, independents ages 65 and older were narrowly divided in their voter preference four years ago, but now heavily favor the Democrat (by 52%-28%).
...the data shall set you free...
I love Keith Olbermann. The Death of "Stay the Course" piece was priceless.
Skinfolk is not my kinfolk.
I thought it was Monica R who always said that.
White Catholics were solidly in the GOP's camp in 2002, but now support the Democratic candidate by 52%-35%.
Posted by gregg on October 27, 2006 at 09:08 PM
Raises hand sheepishly . . .
That would be me. Although I've been a registered Democrat ever since I've been old enough to vote, I did cross party lines and vote for Tommy Two-Chins in '02, because I thought the Democratic nominee was underqualified. Boy, have I ever lived to regret that vote.
This is how those Right Wing freaks are. And what does that troll keep trying to say about this blog when people here won't kiss his @$$? "Oh, so much hate! So much hate on this blog!" Yeah, right.
Authorities: Powder At Clinton Office Non-Toxic
Secret Service To Investigate Envelope At Center Of Alarm
(CBS/AP) NEW YORK Police and Secret Service agents determined Friday that a suspicious substance found at former President Clinton's office in Manhattan was inert and non-toxic.
"redistribute the tax burden" to the wealthy
Posted by BrianB on October 27, 2006 at 09:03 PM
Brian,
You've described exactly what has to be done. Average working stiffs will understand and not be tricked by the Republicans rhetoric. Another way to describe it is "trickling taxes up"...why not use the Republicans terms and strangle them with them?
Posted by SandyH on October 27, 2006 at 09:18 PM
Actually, trickle-down, or supply-side, economics was little more than a ruse to transfer the tax burden from the wealthy to the middle class. Mission accomplished, sadly.
good evening, everyone
nice to be back home, and good to know that not too much has changed. i still diagree with almost everything that hawk-boy says:
It's the 21st century now. Let's leave the past where it belongs.
Posted by BobVADemHawk-Gore-Obama2008 on October 27, 2006 at 08:14 PM
Affirmative action is most definitely not what you defined in your post. What percentage of the dollar do women earn in this twenty first century utopia, Virginia? Look at the CEO's and let's count the women, the people of color...
Get back with me on that, wouldja?
...the data shall set you free...
Posted by gregg on October 27, 2006 at 09:08 PM
yes, my brudda...and the trute shall make you free (one of those oft misquoted biblical phrases)
your sister and pretty bird are in my thoughts, as are you and Jacque.
the sharpelbowed woman brought up an interesting topic with Kuo. the book is interesting.
i'm kinda stuck on the fact that he, like many of the anti-abortion activists, had one.
i wish these fuckers would CHOOSE NOT TO HAVE ONE and leave the rest of the world the hell alone
i wish the child-molester protectors at the catholic church would devote their lurid attention to the filth they have hidden and enabled and get their vile hands off our bodies
Nicaragua has new abortion laws, thank you church.
how about twenty year penalty for doctors that assist women, who might die...and the child is "aborted" ?
i have to campaign in the morning, so i won't post much tonight.
don't worry
I wondered why this story sort of just died?
If this rumor would be even partly true, our military security was been compromised. There isn't any Iraqi translator that can be trusted the longer this occupation goes on. Imagine how the families of these translators must be in peril if it becomes know that someone is collaborating with the enemy invaders?
Come to think of it. Wasn't there an American soldier acting as a translator that was reported kidnapped this week? The media reported that he was visiting relatives without permission?
Iraq: Media coverup of the Camp Falcon Explosion?
No reported casualties at Camp Falcon, eh?
falcon_camp1.png
“US occupation forces are accusing Iraqi translators of leaking information on the location of arms and ammunition depots in the Falcon military base (Al-Rashid military base) to the resistance.
“We are sure that two Iraqi translators working with US forces leaked information and gave the base altitudes to the resistance. There are also doubts that a third interpreter had left the base one day before the bombing only and did not join again”.
The Iraqi source, who refused to reveal his identity, said that dozens of American soldiers were killed in those explosions. The source pointed out that six Iraqi translators were killed in those explosions. American forces refused to hand over the bodies of the dead Iraqis to their families without giving reasons.”
Ammo Dump Explosions Investigation October 16, 2006
Who needs translators when there are Google Maps?
There are emailed reports, yet to be confirmed, that the number of dead American soldiers at Al-Rashid military base (camp Falcon) has reached 300. See below pictures on the extent of some of the devastation there as a result of just a few Grad and Katyusha rockets (cost: no more than $300 - Effect: estimated at $billions of munitions, structures and American lives wasted).
Wonder why there is a ’spike’ in American casualties this month?
Wonder why Bush is huddled with his military?
"redistribute the tax burden" to the wealthy Posted by BrianB on October 27, 2006 at 09:03 PM
It's not even that. Bush and gang have redistributed it FROM the wealthy the to middle class, and all we want is it put back the way it was. The way it worked so well for so many decades. The way it was when this country worked the right way.
Posted by SandyH on October 27, 2006 at 09:30 PM
Hi Sandy! Randi Rhodes was talking about it today.
It's not even that. Bush and gang have redistributed it FROM the wealthy the to middle class, and all we want is it put back the way it was. The way it worked so well for so many decades. The way it was when this country worked the right way.
Posted by Domingo on October 27, 2006 at 09:31 PM
I'm no fan of Bush, but in complete fairness to him, this one isn't entirely on him. This process was begun back when his highest ambition was still trying to figure out where he could score his next hit of blow. Ronald Reagan and supply-side economics ring a bell?
the sharpelbowed woman brought up an interesting topic with Kuo. the book is interesting.
sharpelbows thinks she found "Th holy Grail" that will bring down the Bush regime, and we're all ignoring it. Fact is we've talked about it for the last week, and it's not an earth shattering event. It's only one more drop in the constant drip, drip, drip that's been going on in the Bush administration for the last six years.
BREAKING: Hastert Office Blocked Corruption Probe
By Justin Rood - October 27, 2006, 7:37 PM
Congressional Quarterly reporting:
Two former House committee investigators who were examining Capitol Hill security upgrades said a senior aide to Speaker J. Dennis Hastert hindered their efforts before they were abruptly ordered to stop their probe last year.
The former Appropriations Committee investigators said Ted Van Der Meid, Hastert’s chief counsel, resisted from the start the inquiry, which began with concerns about mismanagement of a secret security office and later probed allegations of bid-rigging and kickbacks from contractors to a Defense Department employee.
Ronald Garant and a second Appropriations Committee investigator who asked not to be identified said Van Der Meid engaged in “screaming matches” with investigators and told at least one aide not to talk to them. Van Der Meid also prohibited investigators from visiting certain sites to check up on the effectiveness of the work, the investigators said.
Laura Bush will be in my neck of the woods tomorrow, the second time recently that she's come here to stump for Tommy Two-Chins. Is it just me, or does she look like a female version of The Joker, what with that beyond pale complexion and frozen grin perpetually on her face?
Hi, fade.
Hope your trip went well.
It's been a full scale panic over on the Republican side. More blunders and outright lies. Their dirty tricks keep blowing up in their faces.
Liz Cheney had a run in with reality on CNN when she tried to defend her husband's "no brainer" waterboarding torture comment. Then she got caught off guard thinking she could act outraged by Wheeler's "nasty books", when Wolf Blizer knew all about her"nasty novel" and called her on it.
She did the only thing any irresponsible Republican does when confronted, she lied like a dog. Classic Cheney comedy. I wouldn't be surprised if somebody on her pr staff doesn't get shot accidently in the face for setting her up.
And that's one children's book I wouldn't want my kids reading?
Laura better run for the bunker. She's the only on in the royal family that hasn't imploded in the last week.
There's even a rumor that Jenna is down in South America buying up land for the new Ponderosa ranch.
Ah, the Bush smirks and grins just keep coming.
evening all.
nothing more than a drive through for me, too tonight.
Did almost two hours of a WAVE this afternoon at commuter time, with 5 other Lamont fans. It was Very cold out there, and by the time we finished, I was freezing to death. I am just thawing out now. Need to do a door to door tomorrow, unless it rains, then we are doing it Sunday.
Catching up on my emails, and some things that caught my eye, is this one about Cheney's bimbo wife criticizing Webb's book, but wouldn't answer anything about that pukey book of her own!
"Lynne Cheney appeared on CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer. She dismissed Virginia Democrat Jim Webb as being "full of baloney" but was uncooperative when Blitzer questioned her on her own book.
Cheney, wife of the Vice President, was remarking on US Senate candidate Webb's response to charges last night that novels he has written are "pornographic," with excerpts released by GOP Sen. George Allen's camp and posted by the Drudge Report, as RAW STORY reported earlier.
The Vice President's wife had published a book of her own in the 1970's that, according to a press release today from the Democrats, "featured a lesbian love affair, brothels and attempted rapes," but as Blitzer highlighted the contradiction, Cheney became evasive. Pressed further and visibly agitated, she finally remarked that "Jim Webb is full of baloney," whereupon Blitzer changed the topic.
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/VPs_wife_says_Webb_full_of_1027.html
Posted by fade2bluz on October 27, 2006 at 09:38 PM
Is there anything that they weren't milking?
Oh jeez, she says her sex pervert book is not sex perverted, but Jim Webb's book is, (and he's got a lot of explaining to do, but she doesn't!). And just because her old man supports water-boarding doesn't mean he supports torture. Oh yeah, one more thing, just because people are released without charge doesn't mean they're innocent.
Crooks and Liars
hi pam --you and sandy and that great minds thing...
i was just reading the "Sisters" author lying her ass off story...what a piece-o-lying-crap-in-a-sack that whacko is.
streak would love this one. he used to post that book review with the photo...miss him
Yeah that's rght, put the tax burden on the wealthy job providers. No wait, not the ones that hire people and create jobs, just the wealthy who got their money for nothing.
If you subscribe to TIME mag, you read some interesting facts about "America By the Numbers".
I couldn't access these particular ones from the mag on line, although many of the other facts there are of interest to.
THIS IS WHAT AMERICANS MAKE IN A YEAR:
50% report Income of less than $30,000
70% report income of less than $50,000
90% of income of less than $100,000
9.7 million make $100,000 and $200,000.
2.3 Million make between $200,000 and $500,000
And 0.5% make over $500,000 per year.
THESE 0.5% are the ones who benefit from Bush's tax breaks.
Eye opening numbers, aren't they?
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1549322,00.html
BrianB: No sport, make them pay their share instead of putting it all on my and my kid's back.
got to out for evening.
({{{fade}}} it is a compliment to be thought of as a same mind as Sandy! :))
Thank you for All the work you have been doing!
night good dems.
streak would love this one. he used to post that book review with the photo...miss him
Posted by fade2bluz on October 27, 2006 at 10:08 PM
Yeah, he was a good one. What happened to him anyway? (Not that I should talk, as erratic as I am.)
Democrats ain't gonna "raise" your's and my taxes. We didn't get no stink'in tax cut from Bush any damn way. Democrats are gonna make the big corporations who Bush and Cheney are taking bribs from for allowing to have a "tax holiday" go back to paying their fair share. (So we don't have to give up our retirement and our kids their future.)
Posted by Domingo on October 27, 2006 at 08:59 PM
That is dopey, Democrats always raise our taxes. Bill Clinton's campaign promiss was not to raiese taxes on the middle class and then he turned around and raised taxes on everyone including the middle class.
Big corporations don't pay taxes - they collect them. They just raise their prices and everone else pays.
sandy is probably watching the cardinals, who are ahead now 3-2.
goodnight Democrats...premium day tomorrow to volunteer for your local candidate. keep those calls going.
thank you for all that you do.
Posted by Terry on October 27, 2006 at 10:22 PM
it's good to see you, Terry. erratic is fine! he comes around sometimes. i always enjoy reading his distinctive style.
Oh jeez, she says her sex pervert book is not sex perverted, but Jim Webb's book is, (and he's got a lot of explaining to do, but she doesn't!)
Posted by Domingo on October 27, 2006 at 10:05 PM
Lynn Cheney doesn't have to explain anything because she is not running for anything. Webb, on the other hand, has to explain why he writes kiddy porn so as to convince the voters of Virginia that he is not a pervert. Or why having a pervert in the Senate is good for VIrginia.
Big corporations don't pay taxes - they collect them. They just raise their prices and everone else pays. Posted by FrostyMacCowpie
I know you're an ignorant moron who doesn't know "beans" about math, you think 250% of one dollar is five dollars, but prices of goods aren't determined by taxes fool, they're determined by "supply and demand". If you really were a Right Winger, you'd know that, but you don't know $#!t.
Terry, excellent comparison of Bush tax cuts to three card monty. The taxes that are cut at the fed level are made up at the local level.
I was considering the GOP tax policy akin to the PayDay Loan Center operation. The tax cuts are funded by borrowing more money (almost always from other countries). Then more money is borrowed to pay off the interest on the loans from the money borrowed earlier. Add more tax cuts to the mix and that means borrowing more money and paying even more interest. It is a vicious cycle the GOP has gotten us into. People say that our grandchildren will be paying off our debt. But that is what they said when Reagan was doing the same thing: giving tax cuts and borrowing money.
Guess what? We are the grandchildren! I would like all the tax cut happy voters to know just how much of those taxes they hate to pay are merely being used to pay the debt on another administration's tax cuts.
BrianB is right. It is suicidal for the Democrats to mention anything but more tax cuts. But at some point we are all going to have to face the realty of paying off the enormous debt.
The GOP really has nothing to run on, since they have "cut and run" from their own record. Instead they raise fear and hatred since those two emotions are the last refuge of political scoundrels. I am not surprised by the bigotry expressed in the Corker ads. And I expect to see some really ugly ads after the recent New Jersey ruling. If you are surprised, all you need to do is read the GOP motto:
"Welcome to the Republican Party. Where hate found a home."
Boy, we got the Repugs swarming in here today, howling, "No! NO! Don't force the poor rich folks to pay taxes! Make the middle class pay for it all!" Sheesh.
Tax cuts leave more money in the economy. More money in the economy means more jobs and more taxpayers. More taxpayers equal more taxes and that is why tax revenues are up since Bush cut taxes.
Tax revenues are up thanks to the Bush tax cuts.
That's another damn Repug lie. They're not up due to "tax-cuts", they're up due to Bush's corporate tax penalty amnesty. Another "give away" to the big shots that brib him with money.
I cannot see that a sex act written into a fiction novel as perversion. No one is physically or mentally harmed.
Attacking another country on the pretext of destroying WMDs and killing thousands of innocent civilians and American Servicemen and Servicewomen. Employing the use of torture to make detainees say what you want them to say. Whoring yourself out to lobbyist to line your own pockets instead of looking out for the interest of the American citizens. That, ladies and gentlemen is perversion, An obsenity which we will try to eliminate on November 7, 2006.
If everyone was required to read this blog before voting, the Democrats would get about 12% of the vote.
Higher wages put more money in the economy. More money in the economy means more consumer spending and more consumer spending means jobs and more taxpayers. That's why the the economy ALWAYS works better when Democrats are running the economy, because they let working people earn a fair wage. The economy doesn't work as well under Republicans because Republicans want the wealthy to get it all. They want things the way they were back in "the good old days", back in the great depression.
Tax revenues are up thanks to the Bush tax cuts.
That's another damn Repug lie. They're not up due to "tax-cuts", they're up due to Bush's corporate tax penalty amnesty. Another "give away" to the big shots that brib him with money.
Posted by Domingo on October 27, 2006 at 10:40 PM
It worked when Kennedy did it, it worked when Reagan did it and it worked when Bush did it.
Yeah, I recall that wonderful economy under Carter with 18% morgages and record inflation and all time high gas prices.
"All time high gas prices"?
I don't recall paying $3.00 + a gallon for gas during the Carter Administration. I'm having a senior moment, I guess.
"Higher wages put more money in the economy. More money in the economy means more consumer spending and more consumer spending means jobs and more taxpayers. That's why the the economy ALWAYS works better when Democrats are running the economy, because they let working people earn a fair wage. The economy doesn't work as well under Republicans because Republicans want the wealthy to get it all. They want things the way they were back in "the good old days", back in the great depression.
Posted by Domingo on October 27, 2006 at 10:51 PM
"
That is the fact.
"All time high gas prices"?
I don't recall paying $3.00 + a gallon for gas during the Carter Administration. I'm having a senior moment, I guess.
Posted by rashlimbo on October 27, 2006 at 11:01 PM
In todays dollars, gas prices were higher in the Carter Admin then they have ever been under Bush.
why would bush need to mess with google maps for kicks, doesn't he have access to much cooler satellite imagery stuff? maybe he doesn't believe in satellites? maybe he thinks the moon landing was a hoax. funny to see them try to wipe the blood and entrails from cheney's face today....i wonder how harry the face is doing?
As for the 18% mortgage: Lets just remember that a fairly luxurious home sold for about $30,000.
Reagan also spent billions (of borrowed money) on defense programs, like missiles and the laid to rest Star Wars program. That created thousands of jobs in the defense industry. That did pick the economy up, but it also left the country in massive debt. A debt that was partially cleared by George (Read My Lips) H.W. Bush, when he in fact, did raise taxes (which of course cost him the presidency). Our hero, Clinton, did raise taxes, balanced the budget, produced a surplus and presided over one of the most successful economic periods this country has ever seen. Bush Jr. did not borrow money to create jobs. He borrowed money to give tax cuts to the wealthy, who as previously stated above, did not deserve the cuts, because they will very often invest it outside the country -- in places where they see better investment opportunities. The junior Bush did not create jobs. He waited around for the economic cycle to change, as it always does and then to take credit for it when it happened. However, now we are saddled with the enormous debt of the Bush tax cuts. And an annual budget deficit of $250 billion is still money that we owe. How can he brag about increasing tax revenue when we are still saddled with that kind debt?
It worked when Kennedy did it, it worked when Reagan did it and it worked when Bush did it.
Posted by FrostyMacCowpie on October 27, 2006 at 10:52 PM
Kennedy's tax cut gave only 6% of the benefits to the wealthiest 1%. Bush's gave 42% of the benefits to the wealthiest 1%, and Reagan's was similar to Bush's. Therein lies the difference between Kennedy's tax cuts, on the one hand, and the other two.
And of course, it goes without saying that the top 1% had a much higher marginal tax bracket and were doing much worse viz. the rest of the country when Kennedy was President than was the case when either Reagan or Bush was President.
pew, 10-26-06:
White Catholics were solidly in the GOP's camp in 2002, but now support the Democratic candidate by 52%-35%.
Independents now support the Democratic candidate in their district by 16 points; four years ago, Democrats led among independent voters by just three points.
Approval ratings for President Bush have remained basically unchanged since June of this year. Currently, 38% of the general public approves of the way Bush is handling his job as president, while 53% disapprove. Views of the President are similar among registered voters: 41% approve, 53% disapprove. In competitive districts, however, registered voters take a somewhat more negative view; in these 40 House districts, 36% give Bush positive marks, while 57% give him negative reviews. Registered independents also take a dim view of the President's job performance - only 33% approve, while 56% disapprove.
The Carter Administration published the inflation rates almost on a daily basis. Why does the Duh-bya administration cover it up?
Posted by DaveInSeattle on October 27, 2006 at 11:08 PM
Thank you for posting that, It's always nice to know what the airheads are thinking.
Democrats Get Late Donations From Business
By JEFF ZELENY and ARON PILHOFER
Published: October 28, 2006
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 — Corporate America is already thinking beyond Election Day, increasing its share of last-minute donations to Democratic candidates and quietly devising strategies for how to work with Democrats if they win control of Congress.
The shift in political giving, for the first 18 days of October, has not been this pronounced in the final stages of a campaign since 1994, when Republicans swept control of the House for the first time in four decades.
....the piglets are snorting about wondering if a new slop pen has opened and wanting to be the first to dive in....hopefully they will have to drag their snouts thru some brambles first.
Posted by gregg on October 27, 2006 at 11:10 PM
If the pugs could read and comprehend, Duh-bya's approval ratings would be 0.
I remember after the 1979 oil crisis near the end of Carter's term, gas went from .65 cents to $1.30. Last summer I was paying $3.29 for regular at the cheapest place in town. But you know how Repugs are, they'll try to tell gas is cheaper under Bush. They'll also try to pee on your lag and tell you it's raining, that's how much they lie.
Official in Abramoff Case Sentenced to 18 Months
By Susan Schmidt
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 28, 2006; Page A03
A federal judge yesterday sentenced David H. Safavian, a former top Bush administration official, to 18 months in prison for lying and concealing unethical dealings with lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
I vividly recall that the phoney gas shortage and the rise in gas prices began during the Ford administration (1974, I believe it was)
Last Updated: Friday, 27 October 2006, 23:21 GMT 00:21 UK
BBC
Global warming 'threat to growth'
Environmental issues have jumped to the top of the political agenda
Global warming could cut the world's annual economic output by as much as 20%, an influential report by Sir Nicholas Stern is expected to say.
While that is a worst case scenario, the report claims that at the very best the cost of tackling global warming would be 1% of annual economic output.
Sir Nicholas's comments are expected to form the core of The Stern Review that is due to be released on Monday.
It is important because it looks at economic, not environmental, arguments.
Wide audience
According to BBC business correspondent Hugh Pym, the report will carry weight because Sir Nicholas, a former World Bank economist, is seen as a neutral figure.
Unlike earlier reports, his conclusions are likely to be seen as objective and based on cold, hard economic fact, our correspondent said.
It also may help win over sceptics in the US, where climate change has often been accused of being based on shoddy science.
environmental degradation, its so funny we will be laughing forever and ever and ever...
Ah yes, we live in a Republican made Utopia. They have had the majority for how many years? Seems like forever. Republicans were against gay marriage, so it must be unconstitutional by now, right? Republicans were against abortion, so it must be unconstitutional by now, right? Republicans were against illegal immigration, so it must be unconstitutional by now, right? Clever liars they are. If Repbulicans gave what they promised, those that they deceive would then notice that the Republicans were the reason there are fewer good jobs with benefits to go around. Clever liars they are...
why would bush need to mess with google maps for kicks, Posted by gregg on October 27, 2006 at 11:06 PM
He says he uses "the Google" to look at his ranch. The lazy bum can't wait to get back to it and lay around on his @$$ some more. Why won't he use those maps to catch Osama? Oh that's right, his daddy makes money off Osama's family and he doesn't want to kill the goose that lays the golden egg for his family. He going to inherit all that money real soon you know, and he wants it all. And none of this paying tax on it like the working chumps do. It's nice when you can write all the laws to benfit you and yours, ain't it? Culture of corruption, anyone?
well another great week for the republicans. they are on fire! gonna get me some sleep and will see you in the morning. that pew study put out yesterday is pretty amazing. and the population surveyed was around 1500 with a subset of 600 or so drawn from the areas of competitive races, which were more pro-democrat than the larger population.
hope bush keeps using the google to look at the ranch and that cheney stops getting in the way of bush splainin iraq to us all....hee ha...!
Even the Iraqi Prime Minister thinks Bush Jr doesn't know what he's doing.
Iraqi Prime Minister Criticizes U.S. Policy
domingo, kinda weird and almost sad the presidunce sittin around the white house looking at his fake ranch and wishin he was there...of course the blood of innocents is dripping from his fingers as he moves the mouse around which takes some of the mirth out of it all...
GOP Ecconomics at Work
Poll Shows Rural Voters Shifting to Democrats
Twelve days before the midterm elections, Republican congressional incumbents are struggling to corral a key voter group -- rural residents. A new bipartisan poll indicates that Democrats now dominate rural voters, a critical part of the Republican base.
It's the Economy
The poll also found that rural voters more strongly committed to Republican ideals are unenthusiastic about voting Republican now. Scientist and teacher Brian Cox counts himself as one of the disenchanted, citing the economy, the growing federal budget, and what he calls a general malaise in a party in power too long.
Posted by Denimblue on October 27, 2006 at 11:24 PM
Some things don't have to be unconstitutional because they are illegal. Queer marriage is illegal most places, illegal immigration is illegal everyplace. Abortion is illegal in South Dakota.
g'nite Dems, time to get off the "internets" and give "the google" a rest.
It will be fun to see Webb sink into oblivion in Virginia next week.
Posted by Denimblue on October 27, 2006 at 11:24 PM
Some things don't have to be unconstitutional because they are illegal. Queer marriage is illegal most places, illegal immigration is illegal everyplace. Abortion is illegal in South Dakota.
Posted by FrostyMacCowpie on October 27, 2006 at 11:33 PM
The supreme law of the land is the Constitution. Lying Republicans like you would re-define the meaning of the words of the Constitution so that your un-constitutional laws would be enforced such to deprive the citizens of their rights.
Bedtime. I don't have time to argue with a republican... I am going to vote straight Democrat come hell or high water.
The Democrats should run this add in the southern states!
Maybe they can relate to it!
James Webb
First in his class of 243 at the Marine Corps Officer's Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, he then served with the Fifth Marine Regiment in Vietnam, where as a rifle platoon and company commander in the infamous An Hoa Basin west of Danang he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star Medal, two Bronze Star Medals, and two Purple Hearts. He later served as a platoon commander and as an instructor in tactics and weapons at Marine Corps Officer Candidates School, and then as a member of the Secretary of the Navy's immediate staff, before leaving the Marine Corps in l972.
Imagine electing a man with this sort of combat knowledge to officer during a time of war. After all, he might just be able to teach those draft dodgers in the White House a thing or two.
Posted by rashlimbo on October 27, 2006 at 11:01 PM
I remember paying 17 cents a gallon back when the Cardinals won their last World Series.
Good night, baseball fans.
The supreme law of the land is the Constitution. Lying Republicans like you would re-define the meaning of the words of the Constitution so that your un-constitutional laws would be enforced such to deprive the citizens of their rights.
Posted by Denimblue on October 27, 2006 at 11:43 PM
Oh, I see - now i get it.
Please forgive the lack of typing skills this time of night, I'm apparently more tired than I thought. I think you got the picture at any rate.
So because a guy had a successful career in the Marines he is immune from being criticised for writing kiddy porn.
Or because Max Cleland blew himself up with his own hand grenade we have to go along with all of his goofey ideas forever.
It gets even better, Marine. His son is a 24-year-old Lance Corporal in the USMC and is currently in Iraq. Webb would not allow photographs of the two of them before his son deployed because his sons service is separate from his fathers political career.
Thats Honor.
By the way - Hi. I've never been here before. The trolls at Political Animal are geting tiresome, so I went shopping.
Congratulations St Louis Cardinals. How many days to spring training, because the world just got a little darker here.
Last one outta the stadium pick up your hot dog wrapper. Lights
out.
Can't we just say, "Hey, he was a Republican when he wrote that"? I mean, after all, it's OK when a Republican does it, right? No, but seriously, I showed this list of Republican child molesters to a Repub troll one time and out of a hundred guys on there, one was about how Strom Thurmond had sex with and impregnated that 15 year old Black girl (all the while being a racist) and the troll read the list then said, "Ah-hah! Strom was a Democrat when he did that!". And that's all he cared about on the list.
Noone ever said that they were very bright, Domingo.
Hi, BlueGirl.
How about John McCain?
Posted by Marine on October 28, 2006 at 12:00 AM
He should pick up his own wrapper. Just cause he's a Senator doesn't mean he can't be tidy.
Didn't McCain suggest that torture was not effective when explaining why he wrote those terrible things he wrote about our government during Vietnam?
I believe he claimed to have been coerced into making false statements.
Apparrently torture was effective on John McCain.
hmmm new folks. welcome blue state red girl. thing is marine the republicans have somehow made it honorable to dishonor war heroes...it is some sort of deal they made with devil or something. our own coulter troll is slamming a guy who lost his limbs...it was his fault he says...guess he just took the subway to nam and was juggling grenades for spare change....
Posted by Marine on October 27, 2006 at 11:48 PM
Smear only works for so long and then it gets tuned out. To counter, the GOP has gradually had to become more and more outrageous.
Right now, they look downright unhinged.
dors, take a look at that pew poll ( shit i thought i was going to bed?) it splains why the trolls are getting so nasty...they are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and it is the A-train bearing down and they are tied to the tracks...
If you are looking for false information, McCain says it works.
Wow. Letterman just slapped the snot out of Bill O-Lie-ley. It'll be on YouTube within the hour. Here are three of the better bitch-slappings Letterman dished up:
"You're putting words in my mouth just like you put artificial facts in your head."
"A reasonable person can't believe a damned word your saying."
"I have no idea what I'm talking about, but I don't think you do either."
Oh, how I long for the good ole' days, like when Ollie North was heading to prison for disgracing his Marine Corps uniform instead of to Fox News.
My husband is a retired Major from the USAF. he was enlisted the first six years.
well i am going to bed but bluegirl and the rest of the newcomers and oldies who are showing up here lately...canvas, phone bank, light candles and just maybe we will do the happy dance together late into the morning est 11/7...peace.
Jim Webb was a Republican before he became a Democrat, for those who didn't "get the joke" I made above. The DLC leaders of our Party (Emanual, Schummer, the Clintons, etc.) want to enlist so called "ex-Republicans" to run on the Democratic tickets of every race they can.
Posted by gregg on October 28, 2006 at 12:08 AM the republicans have somehow made it honorable to dishonor war heroes...
The GOP has used the U.S. Military as political prop for the last 4 decades.
It's no different than cheap labor economics. The treat workers like they are incredients for moulding compound to be bought at the lowest possible price.
I never have seen a set of those, BlueGirl. What do you think they look like?
Posted by BlueGirlRedState on October 28, 2006 at 12:15 AM My husband is a retired Major from the USAF.
My uncle taught math at the USAF Academy after Vietnam. One of his sons flew for SAC when they were still flying and flew in the first Gulf war.
What pisses me off is their assumption that they have exclusive rights to the loyalty of the troops in uniform. That's bull. It's a pretty even split just like it is in everyday civilian life. Where the hell do citizen soldiers come from again?
I watched my husband take his oath more than once, and my father take his more than once too (dad retired a CPO - he was a swabbie). Neither of them ever pledged to uphold the platform of the Republican party. They pledged to uphold the Constitution.
Posted by gregg on October 28, 2006 at 12:10 AM it splains why the trolls are getting so nasty...
Actually, I think the "nastiness" level is the result of the natural progression of Rove style politics.
In order to make themselves heard, they have to become more and more absurd, sort of like a freak show at a carnival.
Bootstraps? I think they look like two years of busting ones ass getting an Electrical Engineering degree 15-18 hrs. a semester, and paying back the years in the Lt. ranks for the priviledge.
Dorsano: My husband was a Titan II guy, he served the dual mission of deactivation and maintaining readiness simultaneously. He was a brand-new Airman with a mosquito wing on his sleeve when the missile at Rock Kansas had the oxydizer leak, and Wichita realized just what the hell was in their wheatfields.
There is also that suggestion that we should always support the CiC, although we know for a fact that the same did not occur while Bill Clinton was in office.
The scene of WWII convinced me that vocal military commanders ensured that we would fight a logical and successful war.
It's a tough degree. You have to love all the math though, I did.
I remember. My husband and I deliberated a lot of long nights after the kids were in bed while the Supreme Court decided the 2000 election. He put in his papers the Monday morning after the decision was handed down.
He said "I can't serve this guy. He's gonna get a bunch of young men killed and a lot of middle aged men like me are going to be responsible for it. I want no part of him." I said Fine - you always stand up and you have in 20 plpus, so go to CBPO and resign your commission."
So he did.
He, no doubt, heard the warmongers coming. I was reading them loud and clear on the inside long before Bush even took the election. That McCain thing was my sign.
I'm past my bedtime. I have date stuffing envelopes at 8:30 tomorrow morning.
Goodnight, Democrats. Take care. Thank your husband for me, BlueGirl.
cya
goodnight. Nice meeting you. He thanks you for your service electing Democrats.
Richard Perle. When he became a foreign policy expert, the first horseman topped the hill.
Posted by BlueGirlRedState on October 28, 2006 at 12:42 AM He thanks you for your service electing Democrats.
Shit. With this brood of gooper, that's a no brainer. He pulled the tougher duty I'm afraid.
Nice meeting you too, BG.
Goodnight, Marine.
So what was your take on the Rumsfeld meltdown yesterday, Marine?
It's too bad that he couldn't see beyond Saddam to the power void that would leave chaos in his wake as local and foreign leaders battled for the top spots.
Rumsfeld is in a constant state of meltdown, he just hides it well. His role is as secretary anyway, and he needs to understand that the position does not give him control of the battlefield. He lacks the training and experience after all.
My husband refers to them as Capt. aWol, 2Lt. Other Priorities and Ens. Peactime Pilot.
I've never seen a freak show quite like theirs. It was nice talking to you BlueGirl. I'd talk more but I'm about ready to fall over as is. Tell your husband that it is nice to know he's out there.
Ok,
So I read this article about corporations making last minute donations to Dems, and I have half a mind to tell our leaders to reject the money!!!!
They made their beds with the republicans, and the Dems got this far without them. Why should they take the money? Now, Dems will be in debt to the corporations like republicans are.
Don't take the money, and investigate the corporations when you get in charge!!!
They have been raping the environment, treating their workers like the robberbarons of old, and screwing over the customers while the republicans looked the other way. Time for them to be held accountable!!
Goodnight Marine. Most crisp salute back at you. Good to know you are there too. Pleasant dreams. i'll be back.:)
My husband refers to them as Capt. aWol, 2Lt. Other Priorities and Ens. Peactime Pilot. Posted by BlueGirlRedState
Will he let me use that quote? It's a good one.
Of course! Use it. We got a million of em.
I'm at Blue Girl, Red State.
I've been occupied with McCaskill/Talent and stem cells.
Hello, All.
I've not written on this blog before, but I want to let as many people know about this really heinous act from the head chimp....the URL is http://towardfreedom.com/home/content/view/911/. What scares me is that if this is true, and if not stopped, then this administration will take the country into a facist tailspin that it won't recover from (sounds like bush wants the proverbial happy camps in the US's future).
....part of this said:
"In a stealth maneuver, President Bush has signed into law a provision which, according to Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), will actually encourage the President to declare federal martial law (1). It does so by revising the Insurrection Act, a set of laws that limits the President's ability to deploy troops within the United States. The Insurrection Act (10 U.S.C.331 -335) has historically, along with the Posse Comitatus Act (18 U.S.C.1385), helped to enforce strict prohibitions on military involvement in domestic law enforcement. With one cloaked swipe of his pen, Bush is seeking to undo those prohibitions."
'Sounds like the typical "disagreement is sedition, either you are with us or with the enemy" argument from the republicanazi party............jeez; I CAN'T wait until November!
Two Arabs boarded a flight out of London. One took a window seat and the other sat next to him in the middle seat.
Just before takeoff, an American sat down in the aisle seat. After takeoff, the American kicked his shoes off, wiggled his toes and was settling in when the Arab in the window seat said, "I need to get up and get a coke."
"Don't get up," said the American, "I'm in the aisle seat, I'll get it for you."
As soon as he left, one of the Arabs picked up the American's shoe and spat in it.
When the American returned with the coke, the other Arab said, "That looks good, I'd really like one, too."
Again, the American obligingly went to fetch it.
While he was gone the other Arab picked up the American's other shoe and spat in it.
When the American returned, they all sat back and enjoyed the flight.
As the plane was landing, the American slipped his feet into his shoes and knew immediately what had happened.
"Why does it have to be this way?" he asked. "How long must this go on? This fighting between our nations? This hatred? This animosity? This spitting in shoes and pissing in cokes?"
Early mornin' greetings y'all
Marine, Bluegirl thanks for posts and your/your families service. I'm the mother of a Marine and often think of the line from a movie "The only ex-marine is Lee Harvey Oswald" I had a cousin who was killed in Iraq this month. It has been difficult for those of us who were against the Iraq invasion from day one. We are trying to find comfort in the fact that he was following a career of choice.
Domingo - I wish it were only spitting in shoes and pissing in cokes.
Here is an interesting statistic, More people in New York City listen to Rush Limbaugh than watch Keith Olberman nationally.
Typical General Electric showing their conservative colors for not broadcasting The Dixie Chicks ads.
thanks DixieHen. Our condolences to your family. i am so, so so very sorry. This is all just so wrong. It like "when Kissinger won a Peace Prize" wrong, only worse. This is so wrong it has become a metaphor to illustrate the epitome of "wrong".
this is the first time I've been here. I assume you all have read the essay by Kevin Tillman? Just in case you haven't, here is a link to it.
Goodnight all.
I'll be back. I'm blogrolling this site.
Here is a good one, A Democrat campaign poster from 1864. Notice how little the party has changed in 142 years. The poster refers to the Civil War as the "useless war" and encourages surrender. Sure sounds familiar.
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7050/620/1600/civil%20war%20poster.jpg
More notes on that Democrat Poster:
1.) Showing the enemy soldier stronger and more resilient than our own. Here the southern soldier (enemy) is upright and strong, the northern (US) broken and dejected.
2.) The "useless war" on the tomb. Even then the pessimist couldn't see the righteousness of the conflict.
3.) The flag flown upside down in a distress display; even then they saw little hope and only failure.
4.) The grieving widow.
My, God! We know the outcome of that war, and if not for the strength and foresight of President Lincln (and a new willingness for sacrifice from the soldiers) did the north come out victorious in the end. This poster was produced in 1864. The former battlefield failure General McClelland was running on the democratic ticket as the peace promoter - a position opposite of the president- just like today.
Although the Democratic party had broken apart in 1860, during the secession crisis Democrats in the North were generally more conciliatory toward the South than were Republicans. They called themselves Peace Democrats; their opponents called them Copperheads because some wore copper pennies as identifying badges.
A majority of Peace Democrats supported war to save the Union, but a strong and active minority asserted that the Republicans had provoked the South into secession; that the Republicans were waging the war in order to establish their own domination, suppress civil and states rights, and impose "racial equality"; and that military means had failed and would never restore the Union.
Peace Democrats were most numerous in the Midwest, a region that had traditionally distrusted the Northeast, where the Republican party was strongest, and that had economic and cultural ties with the South. The Lincoln administration's arbitrary treatment of dissenters caused great bitterness there. Above all, anti-abolitionist Midwesterners feared that emancipation would result in a great migration of blacks into their states.
As was true of the Democratic party as a whole, the influence of Peace Democrats varied with the fortunes of war. When things were going badly for the Union on the battlefield, larger numbers of people were willing to entertain the notion of making peace with the Confederacy. When things were going well, Peace Democrats could more easily be dismissed as defeatists. But no matter how the war progressed, Peace Democrats constantly had to defend themselves against charges of disloyalty. Revelations that a few had ties with secret organizations such as the Knights of the Golden Circle helped smear the rest.
The most prominent Copperhead leader was Clement L. Valladigham of Ohio, who headed the secret antiwar organization known as the Sons of Liberty. At the Democratic convention of 1864, where the influence of Peace Democrats reached its high point, Vallandigham persuaded the party to adopt a platform branding the war a failure, and some extreme Copperheads plotted armed uprisings. However, the Democratic presidential candidate, George B. McClellan, repudiated the Vallandigham platform, victories by Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman and Phillip H. Sheridan assured Lincoln's reelection, and the plots came to nothing.
With the conclusion of the war in 1865 the Peace Democrats were thoroughly discredited. Most Northerners believed, not without reason, that Peace Democrats had prolonged war by encouraging the South to continue fighting in the hope that the North would abandon the struggle.
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/
The Democratic Candidate of 1864, George McClellan.
1864 Democratic Presidential Nominee, General George B. McClellan would fit in nicely with the current democratic party. (Son of the South)
On Aug. 29, 1864, the Democratic National Convention assembled in Chicago, Ill., The Democratic Party Platform presented a plan of "Compromise with the South", which became known as "The Chicago Platform". They nominated General McClellan for the Presidency on the following declaration of principles:
Resolved... that in the future, as in the past, we will adhere with unswerving fidelity to the Union under the Constitution, as the only solid foundation of our strength, security, and happiness as a people, and as a framework of government equally conducive to the welfare and prosperity of all the States, both Northern and Southern.
Resolved... that this convention does explicitly declare, as the sense of the American people, that after four years of failure to restore the Union by the experiment of war, during which, under the pretence of military necessity, or war power higher than the Constitution, the Constitution itself has been disregarded in every part, and public liberty and private right alike trodden down, and the material prosperity of the country essentially impaired, justice, humanity, liberty, and the public welfare demand that immediate efforts be made for a cessation of hostilities, with a view to an ultimate convention of the States or other peaceable means, to the end that at the earliest practicable moment peace may be restored on the basis of the federal Union of the States.
Resolved... that the direct interference of the military authorities of the United States in the recent elections held in Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, and Delaware, was a shameful violation of the Constitution, and a repetition of such acts in the approaching election will be held as revolutionary, and resisted with all the means and power under our control.
Resolved... that the aim and object of the Democratic party are to preserve the federal Union and the rights of the States unimpaired ; and they hereby declare that they consider the administrative usurpation of extraordinary and dangerous powers not granted by the Constitution; the subversion of the civil by the military laws in States not in insurrection; the arbitrary military arrest, imprisonment, trial, and sentence of American citizens in States where civil law exists in full force; the suppression of freedom of speech and of the press; the denial of the right of asylum; the open and avowed disregard of State rights; the employment of unusual test oaths, and the interference with and denial of the right of the people to bear arms in their defense, as calculated to prevent a restoration of the Union and the perpetuation of a government deriving its just powers from the consent of the governed.
The democratic party was not fit to run this country in 1864. And, the democratic party is not fit to run this country in 2006, either.
sally is really off the meds now. the only thing that will make it happy is all out thermonuclear war...ya know a good old fashion million or so degree cleansing by fire.
“We are in a housing recession, but we are not in a broader economic recession,” said Richard B. Hoey, chief economist of Mellon Financial.
...and that's the good news. if you own a home you have on average lost 10% of its value in the MONTH of september...but hey gasoline is way, way down here in the hudson valley to $2.66 a gallon...no problemo...
when bluegirlredstate wrote last night that letterman had won a game of the numbers bill o'liely i thought being from a red state they had just got the transmission from last year but then i saw what crooks and liars has up this morning and it was last night and it was great...
"While sparring over Iraq, Letterman interrupted the giant talking head saying he "doesn't care" what Bill has to say. When Bill O, in typical FAUX form, tried to suggest that Dave believes "Bush is an evil liar" and that "America is a bad country" Letterman comes back with the line of the month:
"You're trying to put words in my mouth just the way you put artificial facts in your head."
...this is great stuff, thank you redstate....
Iraqi PM 'Not America's Man In Iraq'
Iraq's Prime Minister has again ratcheted up tensions with the Bush administration. According to an aide, Prime Minister al-Maliki told the U.S. ambassador that although he is a friend of the United States, he is "not America's man in Iraq."
...that's ok al neither is booooshhhhhh.....
bush comments on al
Special to World Tribune.com
GEOSTRATEGY-DIRECT.COM
This might have dropped below the radar, but Al Qaida and its allies are literally battling the Crusaders every day in Europe. And so far, Europe isn't doing so well.
"We are in a state of civil war, orchestrated by radical Islamists," said Michel Thoomis, secretary general of the Action Police trade union. "This is not a question of urban violence any more. It is an intifada, with stones and firebombs."
The French Interior Ministry has acknowledged the Muslim uprising. The ministry said more than 2,500 police officers have been injured in 2006. This amounts to at least 14 officers each day.
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/06/front2454036.086111111.html
Mr. President, now that you've abandoned the "stay the course" strategy, what are you going to do about this? We hear of riots in France, Somalia is about to enter civil war with Muslim extremeists, Pakistan is still hiding UBL, the Taliban is resurging in Afghanistan, Indonesia practically condones terrorist activity, Saudi Arabia still has doesn't anything of significance about its "education system", Syria and Iran are plotting against us and Israel, Palestine's government is ineffective, and Australian Islamic clerics are condoning the raping of uncovered women. Are you still sure that Iraq is the central front on the war on terror? I think not. The world knows not.
Posted by gregg on October 28, 2006 at 08:12 AM
Good morning, gregg. The weather is the same here in central VA. It's supposed to clear up by Noon EDT.
The current budget deficit? Clinton's fault.
So says Rep. John "Animal House" Sweeney (R-NY):
The deficit is actually a result of a recession that began in his administration. We are exponentially paying down the deficit in an accelerated time frame.
From TPM - more convolute repug talk
By Andy Borowitz
Special to Newsweek
Updated: 1:54 p.m. ET Oct 24, 2006
Oct. 24, 2006 - A man who found himself in Denver with absolutely no memory of who he was or how he got there has now found himself at the epicenter of the midterm election campaign, as the White House moved aggressively today to court his vote.
The amnesia victim, who was known only as "Al" and could not recall any recent events, was instantly pegged as an "ideal voter" by GOP political strategist Karl Rove, who flew the man to Washington today for a private meeting with President Bush in the White House.
"Here's a guy who has no memory of Iraq, Tom DeLay, Jack Abramoff or Mark Foley," Rove told reporters today. "From where I sit, I think we have a chance at getting this guy's vote."
According to White House aides, the amnesia victim's meeting with the president went well, and was capped by Bush presenting him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
"The guy didn't seem to know exactly why he was getting it," one aide said. "But then again, the same could be said of a lot of past recipients."
Rove said that given the president's success with "Al," the White House was currently putting together a national database of amnesia victims to help get them to the polls on Nov. 7.
"Our message to the amnesiacs is clear," Rove said. "You may not remember anything else, but please remember to vote."
Bwwwwaaaaahahahahahaahaha!
Posted by Cyn_NY on October 28, 2006 at 08:47 AM
It would appear that Congressman Sweeney is as out of touch with reality as the President is.
Bob, that's funny!
And, yes, Sweeney is a total idiot. A True Republican!
Raining buckets here with high winds and a flood watch. Nothing seems to be "normal" anymore - not even the weather.
It seems to me that the Democratic Party is not articulating that it wishes to replace corporate- interest control of Washington with democratic, social values of protecting and preserving basic human rights: elimination of poverty, support of education, decent wages, job security, and universal health care.
Corporate control of Washington has only one purpose: to keep in power those who will allow and protect an unregulated free market capitalism which concentrates the wealth of the nation in the hands of a few at the expense of the many. Protecting this wealth against the many requires governmental control and repression using tactics of fear. The US is not going to be a very pleasant place to live in about twenty years if the Republicans stay in control. While the rest of the "first" world (at least the more meaningful members) is increasingly trying to remedy the failure of its own flirtation with an unregulated free market capitalism by renewing the social democratic values which are any nation's true wealth, the US is becoming the haven for free market pirates by keeping the Republican Party in power so they can ply their trade without regulation or restraint under its protection.
So, what do we need to do as a Nation to get rid of this corporate-control nightmare and survive as a nation? OK, here's a plan:
1. Unilaterally open the borders between Canada and Mexico and allow anyone from those two nations to travel and work freely in the United States and become US citizens upon simple application.
2. Unilaterally open our doors to the people in every nation in South America and allow anyone from those nations to travel and work freely in the United States and become US citizens upon simple application, e.g., make the application available in the US consulates in those nations.
3. Provide for democratic, social values of protecting and preserving basic human rights: elimination of poverty, support of education, decent wages, job security, and universal health care, all US citizens wherever they reside in the North American and South American continents.
4. Protect the right of US citizens to travel, work and engage in business in the North and South American continents.
5. Invite all North American and South American nations to enact reciprocal law.
6. Provide for a Council where each of the North and South American nations would join in a union of interests.
7. Provide for legal protection of basic human rights in all member nations of the union as a requirement for admittance to such a council.
8. Unilaterally protect the airspace, seas and coasts of the North and South American continents and wherever US citizens are entitled by the US to be.
If we survive as a nation, all of this will have to happen, or the nations of North and South America will be "owned" by a China and India controlled by the same "corporate interests" that are now controlling Bush and his right-wing cronies in Washington. And that's the sad truth.
Will it happen? Yes. When? Not soon enough to avoid destruction of the existing US middle-class, but only after it has been eliminated. Only then will there be enough people who have lost their basic human rights to raise their voices against corporate governance.
jkw
Virginia, Tennessee and Missouri - these are the states that will tip the majority in our favor in the Senate.
If you have any money left to give, consider giving it to these races.
i've done about three hundred calls so far for giilibrand to support her attempt to beat that asshole sweeney. it will be tough one but just maybe....he is such a turd...
When you want to fight a war, you put into power men and women with first hand knowledge of warfare. The Republicans don't have this anymore, they have CEO's and personal interests guiding their hands instead. If this leadership does not change, then experience will continue to be ignored.
Here's the saddest thing. Kings of our past did a better job calling the shots and then defering strategy and tactics to their military leaders than our politicians have. I guess they felt that their hold on power was so tenuous that they couldn't relinquish even that much control. Had they done this, they might have actually been successful.
It's obvious that we modern human live with the very flaws that afflicted our predecessors. Power corrupts the mind, so much so that it begins to believe itself capable of a task it was never trained to attempt. Why else would a Air National Guard dropout, a six time draft dodging power line repairman, and a former flight instructor consider themselves equal to a task that West Point has yet to master? Arrogance does not make for a successful military campaign.
Posted by jkw on October 28, 2006 at 09:23 AM
jkw, I respectfully disagree. An open border policy of that nature is the last thing we need. The security issue explains itself. Cheap labor of this nature keeps wages stagnant for the working class. We've already seen evidence of how the Republicans are trying to destroy the middle class. A policy of this scope will jeopardize all people making between $5.15/hr and $15/hr. I think we, as a party, would get farther with a policy of, "American jobs for American workers". We agree that the process for applying for U.S. citzenship needs to be streamlined. Waiting a decade for citzenship is entirely too long. Furthermore, we, as a party, need to fight offshoring of jobs. Label these employers as Sen. Kerry (D-MA) did in 2004; Benedict Arnold corporations. Yes, the unemployment rate is roughly 4.6%. Ask the people of Ohio what they think of illegals though after so many of their jobs have been outsourced. Ask the people of the southwest what they think about their state and local taxes going up to cover the expenses of providing necessary medical and financial care to the illegals. The U.S. is still the "melting pot" and should remian such. But we, as the citizens, need to dictate the terms.
sharp, us kids in the back of the classroom do get an answer right on occasion, its just more fun making spite balls.
Posted by Marine on October 28, 2006 at 10:31 AM
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
I'm sick of all this crap. Time to throw the bums out!
My little contribution to the good fight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlemtt3_jKw or www.OHenoughalready.com
Thanks for watching! August
Esme:
if you are out there, I have missed any updates, I hope you all are doing good, thoughts are still with you. Take Care!
i didn't mean to put you down today sharp...though i think i took a shot the other day. my "spite ball" was just a fast twist with no particular message in mind that i put in instead of spitball. thanks for the praise and lets all keep working till we get to the other side of this pile of shit the republicans have created.peace.
Good Afternoon, Democrats.
I am headed out to a meeting to support my Democratic Representative candidate, Judy Feder, along with Governor Tim Kaine and Jim Webb. I supported Kaine last year and had the pleasure of seeing him win. I am hoping, praying, and working to see Feder and Webb elected this time.
Wish us luck!
I can't remember for sure what "mediachannel.org" is. I am getting emails from them. Can anybody tell me if this is a FREEPER thing?
:)
just passing through and thought some might be interested in this. spent the morning working on letter to director of advocacy group i belong to regarding disability issues, changes in medicaid funding for services to the disabled in ohio- need to move on to cleaning the house- maybe being to "chatty" there, but thought it might be nice to mention an issue that involves my day to day existence as a county case manager who works with the disabled and as a brother of brother who is diagnosed with profound mental retardation- an issue that those on both sides of the aisle will continue to have to fight regardless of who becomes the next governor of ohio
david wells of the enquirer gave this response to story about mason schools brouhaha over allowing a room for fasting muslims to go to during lunch (article that i posted here the other night)- i'm also posting below that a response written by a mother (who is muslim) whose children attend mason schools
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061027/EDIT01/610270334/1020/EDIT
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061028/EDIT02/610280337/1021/EDIT
happy saturday people- the sun is back out here in sw ohio and that is a lovely sight to behold-
go strickland, wulsin, cranley and brown- bringing democratic values back to the great state of ohio and saying no to the values of divisiveness and hate that is the party of blackwell and his supporters
Posted by Marine on October 28, 2006 at 10:31 AM
Thank you for your response. Your points were interesting, but unfortunately they assumed that I understood what you meant by those points. I am not sure, however, what you mean by "security": security against what and from whom? Nor am I sure what you mean by "cheap labor": do you mean non-union, below minimum wage labor? If by your points on security and cheap labor you mean to embrace the people who would use the plan I propose, to become US citizens, then, of course, your argument is a circular one, isn't it?
But thanks again for the response.
jkw
As I have read through several posts, I keep seeing that people write how they feel on the Affirmative Action issue which is on the Ballot.
Please check out our site because affirmative Action includes women and this means white girls and ladies too.
It was a big effort to get this through so that females would consider careers in science, math, engineering, or other fields usually dominated by males. Also, the money that foundation's may donate to this designated area at colleges and other, because of the passage of such a Bill, will no longer go here as "POOF" it will not exsit if people vote this down. It is not a Race issue and includes all girls and women.
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