Kicking Ass: The Democratic Party's Blog

One Week Out Open Thread

Posted by Christy McConville on October 31, 2006 at 08:36 AM

This is an open thread...

Comments (184) «

Goodmorning Dems, Crunch time. GOTV

1
letshelplamont on October 31, 2006 at 08:53 AM

We are not responding strongly enough to Bush's nasty comments about Democrats and the war in Iraq.

Look at it this way: it is over 5 years since 9-11 and Osama bin laden is not only still at large, but still killing Americans. This despite our getting into 2 wars, having spent close to half a trillion dollars and suffered 22,000 military casualties.

This is failure on a historic scale. That is what we should be talking about. Bush is a failed war leader, and the only people who have benefited by his incompetence are the terrorists.

2
EdFarley on October 31, 2006 at 09:02 AM

LOOKING FOR PEACE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES

What would Democrats do about Iraq?

Even if Democrats take both Houses of Congress, big change is unlikely.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1031/p01s02-uspo.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The people can't vote for peace if it isn't on the ballot."

http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=9934

3
Scorpio69er on October 31, 2006 at 09:10 AM

LOOKING FOR PEACE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES

No fast U.S. shift on Iraq if Democrats win -Dean

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N29286537.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The people can't vote for peace if it isn't on the ballot."

http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=9934

4
Scorpio69er on October 31, 2006 at 09:12 AM

LOOKING FOR PEACE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES

Election 2006: The Fix is Already In

Only 17% of rank and file Democrats are for "staying the course," 53% want immediate withdrawal and another 25% are for gradual withdrawal. Among all voters, only 30% want to stay the course, 37% want immediate withdrawal and 26% a "gradual withdrawal (Gallup poll - 9/24/06). According to recent Pew Polls, 52% of voters want a timetable for withdrawal while only 41% oppose setting a timetable.

In contrast to voters' sentiment, 64% of the Democratic candidates in the 45 closely contested House Congressional races oppose a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq.

http://www.counterpunch.org/walsh10142006.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The people can't vote for peace if it isn't on the ballot."

http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=9934

5
Scorpio69er on October 31, 2006 at 09:15 AM

How many more Americans will die while the spinelss Democrats continue to wring their hands over withdrawing from Iraq?

A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN CONGRESS COULD CUT OFF ALL WAR FUNDING!

But they won't.

The Democratic Party is just as beholden to the military-industrial complex as are the stinking Republicans!

There IS no opposition Party in this country -- it's effectively a fascist dictatorship!

"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power."

- Benito Mussolini

6
Scorpio69er on October 31, 2006 at 09:26 AM

I don't believe that Bush is evil. I think he is incompetent. I know, I know, you've heard it all before. But keep this in mind. The Republican Party has always been touted as the party of "Business". Really. Let's think about that for a minute. Any sucessful corporation, would not tolerate the so called leadership that Bush has demonstrated. If you are a business man or woman, and you run your own company. Would you hire Bush? And if the answer is no, then the next question is why would you hire his supporters ?
Don't let incompetency be rewarded. Send a message that this country deserves better.

Posted by LaSt on October 31, 2006 at 08:54 AM

LaSt, Lets do think about it. If you had the opportunity, and were unscrupulous enough, you may delight in being able to deal with a dim witted buyer. One who has more money than sense and absolutly no sense of value. But who has an agenda: arm to the teeth bully every body on earth who isn't in your circle. No weapon too expensive or outrageous; he'll take a dozen. Costs bedamned. So, the incumbent buyer is perfect if you deal in toys he likes. The idea that he is incompetent is not accurate. He (they) know exactly what they are doing and are doing it very well. They are bleeding our country to death for their own enrichment. Why buy 98,000 acres of land in S America?

7
letshelplamont on October 31, 2006 at 09:46 AM

internet weekly report:

hey cheney, all you base belong to us!

8
gregg on October 31, 2006 at 09:48 AM

By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer
Tue Oct 31, 5:12 AM ET


STATESBORO, Ga. - President Bush has for months cast the midterm elections as a choice about just two issues: taxes and terrorism. Now, with polls predicting bleak results for Republicans, he is trying to fire up his party by decrying gay marriage.

ADVERTISEMENT

"For decades, activist judges have tried to redefine America by court order," Bush said Monday. "Just this last week in New Jersey, another activist court issued a ruling that raises doubt about the institution of marriage. We believe marriage is a union between a man and a woman, and should be defended


You know it's getting bad when republicans renew their gay-bashing strategy. This is not even about marriage it's about equal rights!

Over 100 Americans killed this month and Bush distorts the courts ruling to raise money for traitors who want to legislate discrimination and deny civil rights to American citizens. Good Grief I could care less who anyone sleeps with as long as no one gets hurt. It's just another diversion from all the failed policies they can't talk about.

9
wldj on October 31, 2006 at 09:53 AM

Good morning again

We had a wild ride last folks with the last debate between our candidates for governor. A last minute court ruling let a third party candidate enter the debate and as the saying goes, "It was on like popcorn"!

The Reform party candidate came in like a hurricane blasting both candidates, in particular Charlie Crist (R) with full force questions and debate. Both the Charlie Crist (R) - States Attorney and Jim Davis (D) - US Congressional Rep were constantly on the defensive. At one point all three debaters got into disagreement about the rules of the debate.

No one can say how this debate is going the affect the election outcome because both candidates are now neck and neck and Florida is a pivitol state nationally for either party.

Some debate - no where but Florida ....

Gotta laugh though, when they do anything here, they DO it.

10
J on October 31, 2006 at 09:55 AM

Scorpio69er on October 31, 2006 at 09:26 AM,

Peace is on the ballot through the democratic choices in each representative district. The republicans (Rove) have tried to paint the democrats as the party of 'cut and run', because democrats choose to get on with the turn-over of Iraqi security to Iraqi'. Would immediate pullout accomplish this? Probably not. Would a timetable for pullout accomplish this? Probably not. Would redeployment which would mean basically US forces take a step back, while Iraq forces take a step forward accomplish this? Probably, yes.

Redeployment, without making the insurgency privy to actual withdrawal date would meet the democratic objective of moving out of Iraq and leaving a stable government to govern that country's business.

11
davidual on October 31, 2006 at 09:58 AM

THE AWFUL TRUTH

What the Democrats count on is that Bush-weary voters have no where else to turn.

What the Republicans count on is the Democrats falling into the trap they have set:


* Stay in Iraq and be tarred and feathered along with Bush for the utter catastrophe that will continue to unfold in spite of any tactical changes


* Pull the plug on funding this fiasco and be tarred and feathered alone as the Republican slime machine lays the blame on them in 2008 for the utter catastrophe that will continue to unfold

Iraq is a virtual black hole that will eventually suck this country down the tubes as we waste more and more lives and treasure searching in vain for a way out.

12
Scorpio69er on October 31, 2006 at 10:04 AM

The question of escalating or withdrawing from Iraq is not the Issue for Democrats or the US to address. The real issue is Policy in the Middle East and the World. Do we want to be the Imperial Power in the world? Do we want world hegemony. Will we enforce the dominance of the dollar with a rifle? If we withdraw from the middle east will our dollar dominance dwindle? How much of this thinking enters the minds of our candidates?

13
letshelplamont on October 31, 2006 at 10:06 AM

re: "Peace is on the ballot through the democratic choices in each representative district." by davidual

READ 'EM AND WEEP:

Election 2006: The Fix is Already In

In contrast to voters' sentiment, 64% of the Democratic candidates in the 45 closely contested House Congressional races oppose a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq.

http://www.counterpunch.org/walsh10142006.html

14
Scorpio69er on October 31, 2006 at 10:07 AM

Scorpio69er on October 31, 2006 at 10:04 AM,

The way out is incrementally clear!!

15
davidual on October 31, 2006 at 10:07 AM

In Missouri, it's the War, stupid. Not stem cells...

As you can probably guess from my name I am a center-left independent in Missouri. I've consitantly voted for democrats over the last several years because the Republicans have steadily marched further and further to the extreme right.

All that said, I'm very worried that Dems are not applying the right strategy to win over independents in Missouri. And sense our state is a critical battleground state with a neck-and-neck Senate campaign, this worries me greatly.

According to a recent St. Louis Post-Dispatch article, the war is very unpopular with Missouri voters.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/politics/story/AA3333F726B6D32E862572170014A5CE?OpenDocument

But the despite this Democratic adds focus mostly on local Missouri issues like stem cell research.

What's troubling about this the focus on stem cells is that it has allowed Republican Senator Jim Talent to focus mostly on that local issue (which also happens to motivate religious conservatives), and to effectively unlink himself from Bush even though he has supported Bush on 94% of the votes he has cast.

What is needed are ads that remind Missouri voters about the Iraq war that also DIRECTLY LINK that conflict to Talent's rubber-stamp support for the president.

It is my sense from talking to many people whom I know to be swing voters in Missouri that the Iraq war and the need for checks and balances are the issues most likely to convince them to vote for Claire McCaskill over Jim Talent.

Don't let Jim Talent get away from the war. Stem cells are a very important issue, but if the Dems want to win Missouri the war needs to be the focus of campaign ads.

16
mo_independent on October 31, 2006 at 10:13 AM

Scorpio69er on October 31, 2006 at 10:07 AM,

In contrast to voters' sentiment...A personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty.

Sentiment being what it is, stability is the direction of peace! I think a majority of Americans understand the importance of stability in Iraq, and henceforth, the middle east.

17
davidual on October 31, 2006 at 10:14 AM

re: "The way out is incrementally clear!!" by davidual

BULL$#%^!

The phony Republican demand that the opposition come up with a plan to "win" in Iraq is akin to the Captain of the Titanic demanding of the passengers a "plan" to prevent the ship from sinking -- after it struck the iceberg!

No, the only possible "plan" is this:

ABANDON SHIP! MAN THE LIFEBOATS! GET AS FAR AWAY FROM THIS SINKING HULK AS POSSIBLE BEFORE IT SUCKS YOU DOWN TO YOUR DEATH!

18
Scorpio69er on October 31, 2006 at 10:15 AM

Stay out of the Republican firing zone and do not give them any ammunitions. Don't stand up til they are no longer able to fire. The Republicans will use any and all things available. Go Tennessee,Bring back the Ford and the USA.

19
squekywheel on October 31, 2006 at 10:19 AM

• CDC probing salmonella outbreak in 18 states

What's wrong with this picture?
Is there not enough money to provide inspections of or to provide enforcement of regulations regarding the processing and shipping of packaged produce and other foods.
We are paying the price for the Iraq war and the "out of sight" national debt.

20
rashlimbo on October 31, 2006 at 10:19 AM

re: In contrast to voters' sentiment...A personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty. by davidual

Only 17% of rank and file Democrats are for "staying the course," 53% want immediate withdrawal and another 25% are for gradual withdrawal. Among all voters, only 30% want to stay the course, 37% want immediate withdrawal and 26% a "gradual withdrawal (Gallup poll - 9/24/06). According to recent Pew Polls, 52% of voters want a timetable for withdrawal while only 41% oppose setting a timetable.
http://www.counterpunch.org/walsh10142006.html

It is abundantly clear that the MAJORITY of Americans want us out of Iraq, pronto.

Why do you hate democracy so much?

21
Scorpio69er on October 31, 2006 at 10:21 AM

Is Katharine Harris Really A Man?

Check out the masculinity.

22
masterplanz on October 31, 2006 at 10:22 AM

bush goes down, dow goes up.Repeat over the course of the day until CNN starts reporting it.Take the economy away from them today.

23
ER on October 31, 2006 at 10:25 AM

Georgia!!!!!! Get out there and let the President know we are there. DOn't let the media claim victory for the Republicans. The guy elected as a Democrat will probably be there.Wolf in democrat clothing.

24
squekywheel on October 31, 2006 at 10:25 AM

Good morning, all.

With all the problems in the world and in our country being ignored, this is what the Vice President thinks is his first priority before the election.

Cheney decries Sarbanes-Oxley, fund rules
BLOOMBERG NEWS
10/31/2006

Vice President Dick Cheney suggested Monday he wouldn't support new hedge-fund regulation and said the Sarbanes-Oxley law passed four years ago may have gone "too far" in safeguarding investors from corporate fraud.

"I'm reluctant to see additional regulation," Cheney said in an interview with CNBC television, when asked about hedge funds and corporate ethics. "We have to be very careful about slapping on new regulations or trying to respond to the political pressures of the moment by making life even more burdensome than we have."

The Treasury Department is leading a task force that is examining the impact of hedge funds on financial markets. The inquiry also involves the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Reserve and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Cheney said the Bush administration would "be happy to work with" Democrats on changing Sarbanes-Oxley, a law passed in 2002 that imposes stiffer penalties on companies for committing fraud.

"I do think there needs to be some work done in that area," Cheney said. "You can make a case that Sarbanes-Oxley went too far."

Pressure to regulate the industry has intensified since the collapse last month of Amaranth Advisors LLC of Greenwich, Conn., which lost $6.6 billion — the most ever by a hedge fund — because of bets on natural gas.

And the President has said that his 1st priority after the election is dismantaling Social Security.

Buyers Beware at the polls next week.

25
SandyH on October 31, 2006 at 10:27 AM

Stay out of the Republican firing zone and do not give them any ammunitions. Don't stand up til they are no longer able to fire. The Republicans will use any and all things available. Go Tennessee,Bring back the Ford and the USA.

26
squekywheel on October 31, 2006 at 10:29 AM

{{J}},

Yeah, I watched the debate last night on CSPAN. The R came off looking like the machine-cog he is. Couldn't give a straight answer to a single question. No surprises there. The Indy guy sounded as if he didn't like much of anything. My response to him (and everyone else who whines about the system being broken): if you think things are broken, get'ch'ass in there and fix it from the ground up. That's how it's done.

Davis presented well, seemed enthusiastic about his positions being correct (the wingnuts have forever mucked up the word "right", sigh). After 8 years of pugs wrecking, dismantling and parting-out both TX and FL, you'd think folks would finally stand up and say, "Alright, y'all have stolen enough and have trodden enough on my good will and forebearance. Begone, the bunch of y'all thieving liars."

We'll see. Americans need to realize that if you want good governance, you have to work for it. Freedom, liberty, a way of life: these are not handed out for free. You have to understand cause and effect of poking a button in the voting booth.

I still burn every time my mind wanders back to watching the TV cameras in front of my precinct in 2000, rolling footage as our ballots were hustled quickly off to destruction even before the recounts began. Katherine Harris will burn in hell for stealing that election for Shrub. I say, throw her a match and let's get that party started.

I can't wait for Nancy Pelosi to unleash the reports and results of investigations that the pug self-servatives have been blocking. Root the cheaters out down to the lowest pug phone-bank operative. Cut deep and let it bleed clean.

27
HillWilliam on October 31, 2006 at 10:31 AM

Scorpio69er on October 31, 2006 at 10:15 AM,

Sentimentally, I agree with you wholeheartedly. However, logically I could not disagree more. The act of dropping Iraq like that proverbial rock will allow virtual hell to break out all over Iraq, and guess who gets the blame for that. That's right, the USA, and to paraphrase your words we get sucked down to death.

The main problem of our current policy in Iraq is that the Bush administration refuses to even redeploy. In fact, they feel they need to send in more of our troops to get the job done. Whatever that means to them. Exit, yes, but exit strategically.
It is not about winning or losing, never was, it's about peoples lives. Both American and Iraqi, and how elude additional bloodshed.

28
davidual on October 31, 2006 at 10:32 AM

I think that with 6 more days, (144 Hours) to get our work done, that the time for Negatisism, blasting Dems, is cone!

From this point on, Keep the message Positive! Focus on the fact that it CHANGE IS NEEDED, (whether you like the change very much or not)

I plan on holding the Dems to a higher standard in the future than we have become accustomed to!
The days of weak, apologetic little politicians are over! BUT we will deal with that once we get them in! For the next 144 hours, stay on Message! That message is Change the Course, or Stay the Course---which are you for!!!


29
PamB on October 31, 2006 at 10:33 AM

Posted by davidual on October 31, 2006 at 10:32 AM

The act of dropping Iraq like that proverbial rock will allow virtual hell to break out all over Iraq

According to the news I am getting, virtual hell has broken out all over Iraq. Our troops are caught in the middle of this hell and this country simply must do something to get them out.

30
rashlimbo on October 31, 2006 at 10:40 AM

rashlimbo on October 31, 2006 at 10:40 AM,

I agree, totally! Exit Strategically!!

31
davidual on October 31, 2006 at 10:43 AM

By Kevin Tillman

Editor’s note: Kevin Tillman joined the Army with his brother Pat in 2002, and they served together in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pat was killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. Kevin, who was discharged in 2005, has written a powerful, must-read document.

It is Pat’s birthday on November 6, and elections are the day after. It gets me thinking about a conversation I had with Pat before we joined the military. He spoke about the risks with signing the papers. How once we committed, we were at the mercy of the American leadership and the American people. How we could be thrown in a direction not of our volition. How fighting as a soldier would leave us without a voice… until we got out.

Much has happened since we handed over our voice:



Somehow we were sent to invade a nation because it was a direct threat to the American people, or to the world, or harbored terrorists, or was involved in the September 11 attacks, or received weapons-grade uranium from Niger, or had mobile weapons labs, or WMD, or had a need to be liberated, or we needed to establish a democracy, or stop an insurgency, or stop a civil war we created that can’t be called a civil war even though it is. Something like that.

Somehow America has become a country that projects everything that it is not and condemns everything that it is.



Somehow our elected leaders were subverting international law and humanity by setting up secret prisons around the world, secretly kidnapping people, secretly holding them indefinitely, secretly not charging them with anything, secretly torturing them. Somehow that overt policy of torture became the fault of a few “bad apples” in the military.

There's a lot more it's a powerful statement...

peace

32
wldj on October 31, 2006 at 10:43 AM

drip, drip, drip....


MARKETS:
Stocks pare gains on consumer, PMI data 10:15am ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks pared gains on Tuesday, with the Dow and S&P 500 gauges briefly dipping into negative territory, after data on Midwest business conditions and consumer confidence came in lower than economists' forecasts.

33
gregg on October 31, 2006 at 10:45 AM

Scorpio69er,

You are a troll who has come here to dishearten Democrats and keep people from voting. What else is your message? Not all troll attacks are from the right.

Perhaps what you are saying about Democrats is true, many have been against the immediate withdrawal. That does not mean that they support the endless war, or that they are not going to work for peace.

Even if you are right, one thing I know for sure is that when Democrats get in charge there will be some OVERSIGHT in congress again. Even if you are mad at the Dems for not wanting to pull out immediately, you should be happy that at least they won't be throwing billions of dollars and many lives away without any investigation. At least they will be able to monitor the situation by forcing progress reports from the Pentagon and scrutinizing the cash flow, which should have been happening this entire time.

I will also say this again:

1) Only the president can order a withdrawal, the congress can pressure him though, and I hope they do.

2) I firmly believe that if Dems cut funding for Iraq, Bush would allow troops to suffer to make a political point.


Lastly, why did you wait until a week before the election to show up here and complain about this? Did you just wake up and smell the coffee or have an epyphony? You should have been active during the primaries or before to make sure your people got in. Instead, you come here now and spread your doom and gloom. Great job, you are doing a great service to the republicans.

34
ranger995 on October 31, 2006 at 10:47 AM

Today's action is getting friends to the polls.

I have an addition to that. Get a listing of polling locations from your county board of elections office. Ask the election officials if the poll workers are required to check off at certain times (here in OH, it's called 11 a.m. & 4 p.m. posting list) which voters have voted. If you behave, you can go into each location (don't wear candidate t-shirts/buttons in the polling location, that is a no-no) Looking at the list, write down people you know who haven't voted yet, step outside & give them a call. Maybe they need a ride? Offer them one.

Ok, repugs done smoking. I sure hope issue 4 passes here in OH.

Enjoy the day, one and all.

35
Esmeralda on October 31, 2006 at 10:58 AM

Scorpio69er,

Your tactic, while intelligent, is not going to work. Your BS posts here a week before the election show me that republicans are desperate enough to try anything, including attempting to make the left sit out the election. Well, it is not going to work, in fact, you make me that much more willing to get out there and work harder.
I was sort of burned out, but your slimy tactics have reinvigorated me! Thanks

36
ranger995 on October 31, 2006 at 10:58 AM

Rash,

Leaving our troops right smack in the middle of
Baghdad has never, and will never solve anything. Like ducks at a shooting gallery, you know what I mean? Redeployment!

37
davidual on October 31, 2006 at 11:01 AM

More Corporate BS

38
ranger995 on October 31, 2006 at 11:01 AM

this is a tough environmental case to follow the bushies in. give it a try if you your brain needs some exercise:

Supreme Court set to hear power plant case
Bush administration has changed positions on emissions

Updated: 11 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - When the Bush administration lost an important air pollution case before an appeals court last year, it did an interesting about-face and sided with the electric power company that won.

Unfortunately for the administration, environmental groups persuaded the Supreme Court to take up the case over the objections of the government.

Now the administration’s switch is being aired at the court in politically painful detail in the case of Environmental Defense v. Duke Energy Corp.

duke of hazards or hazards of duke...and don't you wish christy whitewoman was around to wear those cut off jeans....NOT!

39
gregg on October 31, 2006 at 11:02 AM

ranger995 on October 31, 2006 at 10:58 AM,

Yeah, I kinda thought I was being trolled, but tried to make the point for strategic exit, as opposed to, immediate exit.

40
davidual on October 31, 2006 at 11:10 AM

Hey davidual,

One thing you have to say about those posts is that it proves republicans are scared! If they come here trying to dishearten the most liberal, they are scared! Makes me want to pour it on!!!!

Well, I have to go get some work done today.

Good luck today Dems

41
ranger995 on October 31, 2006 at 11:14 AM

Posted by J on October 31, 2006 at 09:55 AM

Nowhere but Florida? You should have seen Idaho's governor debate last night. We, in this state, have Constitutionalist candidates running, including the race for governor. This particular candidate wants to be known as "pro-life"---I mean as his name on the ballot. Every question he was asked he linked to "our turning away from God" and abortion. These people believe in virtually no government, which begs the question why they would run for government. This candidate was a first rate nutcase, dressed in a bright red jacket and pointing directly at the camera telling the people everything is their fault.

What a sideshow.

42
BlueinIdaho on October 31, 2006 at 11:15 AM

Oh, geezz I almost forgot

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

43
ranger995 on October 31, 2006 at 11:15 AM

Bomb targets Iraq wedding party A bomb has ripped through a wedding convoy in Baghdad, killing at least 15 people, four of them children, the interior ministry says.
Full story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6102768.stm

44
DemocratKickingAss on October 31, 2006 at 11:17 AM

HealthDay Reporter
Mon Oct 30, 5:03 PM ET


MONDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- There may be a little Neanderthal in all of us.

ADVERTISEMENT

That's the conclusion of anthropologists who have re-examined 30,000-year-old fossilized bones from a Romanian cave -- bones that languished in a drawer since the 1950s.


According to the researchers, these early Homo sapien bones show anatomical features that could only have arisen if the adult female in question had Neanderthal ancestors as part of her lineage.


The findings may answer nagging questions: Did modern humans and Neanderthals interbreed on a significant scale? And were the Neanderthals exterminated about 28,000 years ago -- as some anthropologists contend -- or did they gradually assimilate into the gene pool of people living today?

I wonder how Pres. Bush will "decide" this controversey? Don't the fundies he depends on "believe" our world is only 5,000 years old? Now the sex all the time part, with another species no less, I can believe!

45
wldj on October 31, 2006 at 11:17 AM

INDEPTH: IRAQ
Casualties in the Iraq war

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/iraq/casualties.html

46
DemocratKickingAss on October 31, 2006 at 11:18 AM

No question that the neoselfservatives have completely screwed up Iraq and destabilized the Middle East. None whatsoever. No question that Iraq is already in a civil war. When people stop voting and start shooting at each other, that's a civil war, end of story, period, full stop.

Bush/Cheney?Rumsfeldt's little pirate war has ruined our economy, completely screwed up the Middle East, enslaved our treasury to Communist China (unforgiveable!) and wiped their fat backsides on the Constitution. Criminals, with criminal-minded (or cult-freak) followers. That's not what I want running my government. It's up to each American to decide whether or not they want a criminal government or a clean, transparent one. The only way that happens is to participate and not give them a chance to steal it out from under you.

I blame people who sit on their butts or say "oh, I don't like politics" just as much as I blame the nutcase right-wingers for the mess our government is in; equally for enabling the neoKKKons to perpetrate sedition at home and nation-as-enterprise-building abroad. If you feel uninclined to vote for change, consider this:

If you were in a department store and saw someone tucking a few shirts into their bags, would you call an associate over and point it out, or would you "just let it ride" because you're not interested and think it doesn't affect you? Allowing someone else to steal through your own inaction is just as much aiding and abetting as if you were handing the thief the shirts to steal.

You gonna let a group of people do that to your whole country? If you stand idly by or vote to continue enabling theft, misery and destruction (R), then you are no better than the criminal. Period.

On the other hand, if you try to do the right thing, (voting D), even if some of your candidates are defeated this go around, you've cleared your conscience and departed from sin. As far as I concerned, it's almost as simple as that. Protecting the Constitution and the American way of life is the most patriotic act of all.

Enabling those who destroy the Constitution, steal your jobs and send them overseas, steal oil from other nations, enrich themselves on no-bid contracts that your tax dollars are being wasted on, isn't just wrong... it's unpatriotic, and borders on the stupid and self-destructive.

You choose.

The best thing we can do as a nation is to get the hell away from Iraq, quit throwing our children into a death machine and set about restoring our face. The only way we can do that is to mind our own damn business for a while, prosecute and convict the criminals who stole from us and attempted to steal from Iraq, and get our own house clean.

We have no business telling anyone else how to run their business, when obviously and demonstrably we can't run our own.

The neoselfservatives have been picking illegal wars since Korea. It's waaayyyyy past time to put a stop to their criminality. Don't just throw the bums out; throw them in prison where they richly deserve to be.

47
HillWilliam on October 31, 2006 at 11:20 AM

Stretched by its commitment in Afghanistan, Canada's military is no longer too fussy about the fitness of its recruits, writes Anne McIlroy
The Canadian military claims recruitment is steady although 40 Canadians have been killed in Afghanistan - this bombing was in Kabul - but to boost enlistment it has dropped a fitness test for applicants. Read more >

http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,,1935359,00.html

48
DemocratKickingAss on October 31, 2006 at 11:21 AM

Florida E-Voting Machines
Already Flipping Votes
Glitches Cited in Early Voting
By Charles Rabin and Darran Simon
The Miami Herald

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/elections/15869924.htm

49
DemocratKickingAss on October 31, 2006 at 11:24 AM

By EDMUND L. ANDREWS
Published: October 31, 2006
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 — The Interior Department has dropped claims that the Chevron Corporation systematically underpaid the government for natural gas produced in the Gulf of Mexico, a decision that could allow energy companies to avoid paying hundreds of millions of dollars in royalties.


The agency had ordered Chevron to pay $6 million in additional royalties but could have sought tens of millions more had it prevailed. The decision also sets a precedent that could make it easier for oil and gas companies to lower the value of what they pump each year from federal property and thus their payments to the government.

Interior officials said on Friday that they had no choice but to drop their order to Chevron because a department appeals board had ruled against auditors in a separate case.

50
wldj on October 31, 2006 at 11:25 AM

11 Charged
in GOP Vote Fraud
Dozens of people who thought they were signing up to be Democrats ended up Republican.
By Christian Berthelsen and Christine Hanley

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-votefraud27oct27,1,1120010.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

51
DemocratKickingAss on October 31, 2006 at 11:27 AM

The New York Times endorses Ned Lamont! Read and then forward the article to your friends and personal contacts.

http://www.nedlamont.com/page/invite/nytimesendorse

52
DemocratKickingAss on October 31, 2006 at 11:28 AM

ARE ANY DEMS GOING TO CHALLENGE THIS??? ARE ANY MEDIA OUTLETS REPORTING ON THESE STOLEN VOTES???


The drumbeat of reports from around the country of touch-screen voting machines failing during Early Voting continues to grow. These aren't "glitches." These are failures.
So far, the reports have all involved Democratic (or Green) votes flipping to, or otherwise benefitting, Republican candidates. In South Florida, St. Louis County, Missouri, Virginia, Arkansas, Dallas, and now San Antonio, Texas.
Another incident involved a voter who voted for a straight party ticket only to have it flip to a straight party ticket vote for the other party

More than 10,000 pre-programmed election-ready Diebold touch-screen voting machines, to be used for the first time across the entirety of San Diego County this November 7th, are now in the cars, garages, homes, and hands of poll workers and lord knows who else across one of Southern California's largest voting regions.

As reported in several first-hand accounts from San Diego poll workers just after recent training sessions (see end of article for one of those first-hand accounts), the voting machines were sent home on so-called overnight "sleepovers" with temporary poll workers beginning on October 16th, allowing for a full three weeks prior to the election for poll workers to find the 60 seconds they might need to hack a single machine. One tampered machine could affect the results on every single voting machine, in every race in the county.

ED NOTE: BRING YOUR VIDEO AND STILL CAMS WITH YOU TO VOTE, ESPECIALLY ON TOUCH-SCREEN, TO DOCUMENT THIS STUFF!
The Miami Herald is reporting that votes on touch-screen voting systems in in South Florida are flipping from Democrat to Republican candidates.

Not a single report of a vote flipping from a Republican to a Democrat so far. As usual.
Several South Florida voters say the choices they touched on the electronic screens were not the ones that appeared on the review screen — the final voting step.

Debra A. Reed voted with her boss on Wednesday at African-American Research Library and Cultural Center near Fort Lauderdale. Her vote went smoothly, but boss Gary Rudolf called her over to look at what was happening on his machine. He touched the screen for gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis, a Democrat, but the review screen repeatedly registered the Republican, Charlie Crist.…
Joan Marek, 60, a Democrat from Hollywood, was also stunned to see Charlie Crist on her ballot review page after voting on Thursday. "Am I on the voting screen again?" she wondered. "Well, this is too weird."

Marek corrected her ballot and alerted poll workers at the Hollywood satellite courthouse, who she said told her they'd had previous problems with the same machine.

Poll workers did some work on her machine when she finished voting, Marek said. But no report was made to the Supervisor of Elections office and the machine was not removed, [Broward Supervisor of Elections spokeswoman Mary] Cooney said.

Mauricio Raponi wanted to vote for Democrats across the board at the Lemon City Library in Miami on Thursday. But each time he hit the button next to the candidate, the Republican choice showed up.

WE HAVE GOT TO GET THE MSM TO COVER THIS, THEY ARE STEALING OUR ELECTIONS - AGAIN!!!!!!!! HELP!! HELP!! HELP!!!

OUR VOTES ARE BEING STOLEN!!! OUR VOTES ARE BEING STOLEN!!!!!

MSM HELP!!! DEM LEADERS - HELP!!! BE WILLING TO FIGHT AND DEMAND RECOUNTS OR EVEN NEW ELECTIONS - GET READY TO FIGHT!!! WE WONDERED WHY THEY ARE SO CONFIDENT - THEY THINK THEY WILL BE ABLE TO STEAL ANOTHER ELECTION. WE MUST STOP THEM FROM STEALING OUR VOTE!!!!

53
dd on October 31, 2006 at 11:30 AM

Republicans give millions more back to the oil companies before the elections and no one calls it payback for campaign contributions.

54
wldj on October 31, 2006 at 11:30 AM

DemocratKickingAss on October 31, 2006 at 11:24 AM,

Only in a fascist environment!!

55
davidual on October 31, 2006 at 11:31 AM

NY Times also endorses Diane Farrell. (D) Poll: It shows Diane Farrell leading Chris Shays (R) by a 47 percent to 43 percent margin, with 10 percent undecided. " Please help Diane and share this webpage with others:

http://farrellforcongress.com

56
DemocratKickingAss on October 31, 2006 at 11:32 AM

Connecticut NOW - representing thousands of women across the state - endorsed John DeStefano's candidacy for governor today.

http://destefanoforct.com/home.jsp

57
DemocratKickingAss on October 31, 2006 at 11:33 AM

Florida E-Voting Machines
Already Flipping Votes
Glitches Cited in Early Voting
By Charles Rabin and Darran Simon
The Miami Herald

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/elections/15869924.htm

Posted by DemocratKickingAss on October 31, 2006 at 11:24 AM

Yep, I stated this last ight and it's getting worse. Voters in Broward County are reporting that when they come to the end of their screen action, it is showing something totally different than what they had been checking.

And Charlie Crist (R) running for governor still says we don't need a "paper trail".

58
J on October 31, 2006 at 11:33 AM

ranger,

I agree, attacks from the right or left...it doesn't matter. Things must change and the American people will force it to happen.

They know the American Dream is in danger. Our middle class standard of living, equal opportunity for all, the Constitutional balance of power/Bill of Rights, and the military have been weakened. It has to stop. It's insanity to continue this course.

And they know that nothing is going to change for the better, no problems will be addressed, or none of the corruption will stop unless Democrats get control of at least one house of Congress this election. It's the first step.

We are the agent of change. There really isn't any other alternative.

It's become a matter of frustration to many in this country, so they will come out and vote for us. The poor, disenchanted Independents, angry Democrats, and even disillusioned moderate Republicans and fiscal conservatives will vote next week....for us.

Not against them. The Republicans have burned too many bridges with their incompetence, waste, lies, bribes, and page scandal. They have ostracized themselves.

The media doesn’t have a clue as to what is happening. Neither do the people in the White House...but then that is sort of how this all started, isn't it.

59
SandyH on October 31, 2006 at 11:35 AM

7 Days left to win back congress! We can end Republican control if we can get out the vote on Election day. See how you can help Democrats by visiting this website:

http://pol.moveon.org/phone/volunteer/c4c.html

60
DemocratKickingAss on October 31, 2006 at 11:36 AM

Yep, I stated this last ight and it's getting worse.

Democrats must stand up to these Republicans and not allow them to get away with trying to pull any fast ones on the voters.

61
DemocratKickingAss on October 31, 2006 at 11:38 AM

Good Morning, Democrats!


Happy Halloween!


:)


62
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 11:43 AM

Boo! Happy Halloween fellow dems.

63
ap215 on October 31, 2006 at 11:53 AM

Iraq for Sale bonus scene "Blackwater"... Learn about America's unregulated private army of "mercs" (mercenaries)-

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3701899279355987979&q=iraq+for+sale&hl=en

64
winbackamerica on October 31, 2006 at 12:01 PM

I would advise every single one of you voters, especially those in FL and Ohio, to pay VERY close attention to how your vote is registering.

Run off and pass out a brief flyer which you stand and pass out to voters telling them the same thing. Glitches have been found to be registering votes incorrectly, pay close attention before pushing the final button !

65
PamB on October 31, 2006 at 12:07 PM

Good Morning! The sand is running through the hourglass and our 12 years in the wilderness are about at an end.

I phone banked for Claire McCaskill last night, and any doubts I may have had about our chances were allayed with that experience. Only two negative intertactions out of more than 150 contacts.

And Stem Cells are the issue in this state. I discovered that the strongest opinions on the planet are held by the grandmothers of children with juvenile diabetes.

66
BlueGirlRedState on October 31, 2006 at 12:09 PM

Just read Leonard Pitts, jr. latest column. He hails from the Miami Herald. You should check this out and blog it. Bush as George Orwell's worst villian. How delicious can that be? Read on the web site that the DNC launched a new ad concerning Bush's flip-flopping on his once "stay the course" position on Iraq (also the subject of Pitts' column). Well here is another ad suggestion, use Bush's "cheerleading" of yesterday in which he repeatedly attacked Democrats as "soft on terror." Listening to American's domestic phone calls and wiretapping Americans' e-mails without a warrent or going to FISA is unconstitutional. Has nothing to do with being "soft on terror", it has to do with does the president know how to obey the law. Bush calls it "questioning" the terrorists which he then argues the Democrats are opposed to. Seems Senator McCain, Republican, was opposed to torture. How do you get useful information from torture and how does this country remain the beacon of light for the opproessed of the world through the use of torture? Bush on torture, we don't. Since Gitmo Bay and Abu Ghraib, of course. ...Now. Now for the real soft on terror? Bush and the Republicans provide band aids through a bill that calls for a 700 mile fence to cover over 2,000 miles open border but it is not funded. Bush says no to border security that allows terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas to infiltrate into this country. Bush doesn't HAVE room to attack the Democrats over terrorism when he has such a poor track record in the real world on this issue himself. Courtesy, CNN.

67
Arch-Druid on October 31, 2006 at 12:12 PM

Here we go AGAIN...

Florida voting attempted hijacking...the following taken from-

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/elections/15869924.htm

"Mauricio Raponi wanted to vote for Democrats across the board at the Lemon City Library in Miami on Thursday. But each time he hit the button next to the candidate, the Republican choice showed up. Raponi, 53, persevered until the machine worked. Then he alerted a poll worker."

"A poll worker then helped Rudolf, but it took three tries to get it right, Reed said."

Dems need to get the word out in Florida to the voters to do what these folks did...

"PERSEVERE UNTIL YOU GET IT RIGHT" when voting.

68
winbackamerica on October 31, 2006 at 12:13 PM

ED NOTE: BRING YOUR VIDEO AND STILL CAMS WITH YOU TO VOTE, ESPECIALLY ON TOUCH-SCREEN, TO DOCUMENT THIS STUFF!The Miami Herald is reporting that votes on touch-screen voting systems in in South Florida are flipping from Democrat to Republican candidates.

Not a single report of a vote flipping from a Republican to a Democrat so far. As usual.
Several South Florida voters say the choices they touched on the electronic screens were not the ones that appeared on the review screen — the final voting step.…

Debra A. Reed voted with her boss on Wednesday at African-American Research Library and Cultural Center near Fort Lauderdale. Her vote went smoothly, but boss Gary Rudolf called her over to look at what was happening on his machine. He touched the screen for gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis, a Democrat, but the review screen repeatedly registered the Republican, Charlie Crist.…

Joan Marek, 60, a Democrat from Hollywood, was also stunned to see Charlie Crist on her ballot review page after voting on Thursday. "Am I on the voting screen again?" she wondered. "Well, this is too weird."

Marek corrected her ballot and alerted poll workers at the Hollywood satellite courthouse, who she said told her they'd had previous problems with the same machine.

Poll workers did some work on her machine when she finished voting, Marek said. But no report was made to the Supervisor of Elections office and the machine was not removed, [Broward Supervisor of Elections spokeswoman Mary] Cooney said.…

Mauricio Raponi wanted to vote for Democrats across the board at the Lemon City Library in Miami on Thursday. But each time he hit the button next to the candidate, the Republican choice showed up.

Posted by dd on October 31, 2006 at 11:30 AM

Well if it is to be told, dd's caps to scream what is happening in Florida evidently is not loud enough. I have been stating all week that there are voting problems in this state AND the scene was ripe for a repeat of the 2000 election. I am personally calling everyone and his brother in his state to alert them of what is and will occur.

If anyone that doesn't live in this state feels the desire to blog this up everywhere, please feel free.

We need help here.

69
J on October 31, 2006 at 12:16 PM

I just heard on my NPR affiliate (KCUR in KC) that among REGISTERED voters McCaskill leads 51% to 43%!!! Likely voters is still neck-and-neck but Claire is pulling ahead in the homestretch!!!

70
BlueGirlRedState on October 31, 2006 at 12:33 PM

Zell Miller leads Democratic coalition for Santorum

Thank God that this vile form of bacteria is an ex-senator. With Zell Miller in his camp, the polls for "insanatorium" should sink like the titanic.

71
rashlimbo on October 31, 2006 at 12:47 PM

I have to head off to class, and I'm verging on being late, so I have not had time to pore over this piece on disenfranchising black soldiers, but I thought I would throw it out there anyway. Here is the link.

Back in a few hours.

72
BlueGirlRedState on October 31, 2006 at 12:50 PM

I don't know about other states, but I don't think you are permitted by law to take video cameras into voting locations.

HAVA more fun all the time.

bob ney needs it good and hard when he goes to jail. and he sure as hell doesn't deserve a pension.

73
Esmeralda on October 31, 2006 at 01:06 PM

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - A dead woman won re-election to a school board in rural Alaska after her opponent lost a coin flip meant to break an electoral tie.

Katherine Dunton, who died of cancer on October 3, the day of the local election, was re-elected to the Aleutian Region School District board after her opponent, Dona Highstone, called "heads" on a coin toss that landed "tails," state and local officials said.

"This is the first that I have ever heard about, not only in our state but in any other," said Whitney Brewster, director of the Alaska Division of Elections.

The coin toss was held on Friday, in accordance with state law, to break the tie since both candidates had 19 votes.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061031/od_nm/election_dead_dc

74
BlueinIdaho on October 31, 2006 at 01:09 PM

Machines lose calibration even with the best of transportation.

Please, please, please! Vote optical scan ballot!

75
Esmeralda on October 31, 2006 at 01:10 PM

Posted by BlueinIdaho on October 31, 2006 at 01:09 PM

Blue, I believe that John Ashcroft (former atty Gen) lost an election to an opponent who was killed in a plane crash.

76
rashlimbo on October 31, 2006 at 01:15 PM

Posted by EdFarley on October 31, 2006 at 09:02 AM

Ed, I agree with a lot of what you say, but I think our best bet is to remember that this is a midterm election, not a presidential election, and even if it were a presidential election, Bush would not be on the ballot. The important thing is to point out the voting record of all the Republican incumbents and what their votes mean for the average American. Yes, point out that Bush is a disaster, but do it by way of pointing out how the Republicans up for election have rubber stamped him every step of the way.

I believe that if we lose where we expected to win, it will be because of a lack of having done that to the extent that was necessary.

77
grain_of_salt on October 31, 2006 at 01:16 PM

By Andrea Shalal-Esa

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force has asked the Pentagon's leadership for $50 billion in emergency funding for fiscal year 2007, defense analyst Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute said on Tuesday.

Thompson, who has close ties to U.S. military officials, said the move was fueled in part by Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England who encouraged the services in an October 25 memo to broaden the range of emergency costs to include the "longer war on terror," not just the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Thompson said Air Force officials had identified some $30 billion just in past war-related costs that had not been recognized by Pentagon budget officials up to now.

A source familiar with the Air Force's plans said it was also seeking additional funds to help pay for the transportation of a growing numbers of U.S. soldiers who are being killed and wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I guess now we are going to get more "emergency" money being spent unaccounted for. The Bush Administration keeps leaving all these billions out of the budget to try and hide the actual cost of this disaster in Iraq. His Congress won't call him on any of it they just keep rubberstamping more debt and death upon the American Public.

78
wldj on October 31, 2006 at 01:16 PM

Posted by Esmeralda on October 31, 2006 at 01:10 PM

You'll be happy to know that my husband and I both voted in early voting by paper ballot.

79
grain_of_salt on October 31, 2006 at 01:17 PM

J,

Sounds like there may be a lot of frustrated voters throwing these "British" voting machines into the harbor on election day.

If there is mass chaos at the polls this election because of these voting machines, a massive voters' revolt will follow in 2008. This could be the last nail in the coffin for the Republican party.

They have over-reached their capabilities with Iraqi incompetence, outsourcing/illegal worker job abuse, K-Street corruption, Foley sexual preversion, Katrina neglect, squeezing the middle class, and now this.

The Republicans just aren't happy unless they are pissing folks off...thinking they will never have to face any accountability. Think again, suckers.

80
SandyH on October 31, 2006 at 01:18 PM

TIP:

I'm not accusing anyone of anything, but if a person had a mind to mess with the elections, it would make it a lot easier to target a person's ballot when that person votes for a straight party ticket. If you have that option in your state, I really think it would be a great idea to NOT use it. Vote for each candidate individually unless you've already voted in which case, you obviously can't undo the past.

81
grain_of_salt on October 31, 2006 at 01:23 PM

wldj wrote: Don't the fundies he depends on "believe" our world is only 5,000 years old?

My latest bumper sticker says:
We have the Fossils - We Win!

82
Kathy_in_Indiana on October 31, 2006 at 01:24 PM

Speaking of bumper stickers - if we should happen to win one this time and they count every vote, I wonder how long it will take before "Impeach Bush" bumper stickers will appear in huge numbers? I have one in my drawer -waiting...

83
Kathy_in_Indiana on October 31, 2006 at 01:27 PM

"Those who cast the votes decide nothing, those who count the votes decide everything."
--- Joseph Stalin

Technical "glitches" are always an easy excuse for planned disenfranchisement.

These selected comments on Electronic Voting Machines are from people who posted on a special Message Board for 15 hours on November 6, 2002 at http://www.angrydems.com (set up by Zack Exley of gwbush.com)

But did they really "win" all those races? Can someone investigate the company that makes the electronic voting
machines? Isn't one such company whose machines were used in Florida yesterday, connected to the GOP? It
would be fairly easy to write self-erasing code that could alter the actual tabulation figures and would be clocked
to election day, undetectable the day after. I do not put this type of fraud beyond the GOP. They are capable of
far worse and perhaps they have done far worse recently.

RE: VOTING MACHINES: Attempts were made to examine the code used in the machines in Florida. The attempt
was blocked in the courts by the GOP citing "proprietary/trade secrecy" protections under law. Upshot is that the
DNC could not ascertain how the machines tabulated votes and how accurately. As mentioned above: it is easy to
write code to alter tabulations in any number of ways. A scary thought: why did VNS suddenly fail to release exit
poll data? Could it have been in wide variance with machine tabulated results?

Why does the news media get to "call" the elections? Why do the Republicans have the "keys to the kingdom" in
the form of the voting machines (ES&S)? We need to ask some critical questions about how the machines are
"programmed" and WHY THERE IS NO PUBLIC OVERSIGHT of these machines.

THE REPUGLICAN'S DIDN'T WIN THEIR RACES, THEY BOUGHT THEM - WITH NEGATIVE, FALSE ADVERTISING
AND NO CHECK FROM THE MEDIA! ALSO, WITH QUESTIONABLE ELECTRONIC VOTING APPARATUS - AGAIN
WITH NO CHECKS!


I submit that ABSOLUTELY NOTHING has changed.

Do we know who these companies are that are supplying the machines?

Do we have an oversight committee or ANY regulation to keep this process honest?

Has the Democratic party lived up to thier promise to safegaurd this process?

What is the Democratic party doing RIGHT NOW to combat this problem?

Does anyone know the answers to these questions?

84
winbackamerica on October 31, 2006 at 01:28 PM

I don't know about other states, but here in OH ballots are rotated from precinct to precinct. While races are set up uniform, the candidates aren't.

85
Esmeralda on October 31, 2006 at 01:32 PM

Why can't John Kerry keep his foot out of his mouth?


:(

86
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 01:34 PM

winback,

our public L & A is going to be performed tomorrow. Each county must provide this service.

Do we have an oversight committee or ANY regulation to keep this process honest? EAC

Has the Democratic party lived up to thier promise to safegaurd this process? NO

What is the Democratic party doing RIGHT NOW to combat this problem? Sitting on their hands wanting candidates to raise more money. Spending their/our money to have a lawyer in each county on the ready.

Does anyone know the answers to these questions? I tried.

Posted by winbackamerica on October 31, 2006 at 01:28 PM

87
Esmeralda on October 31, 2006 at 01:37 PM

Posted by Paul on October 31, 2006 at 01:34 PM

He can. He says the right thing far more often than he says the wrong thing, but this particular thing probably didn't mean what it sounds like and was very unfortunately worded.

88
grain_of_salt on October 31, 2006 at 01:41 PM

Posted by Paul on October 31, 2006 at 01:34 PM

I know I'm in a group of one, but when I first heard the Kerry quote, I thought that he was referring to Bush with that comment, not the soldiers.

Just to say there's another way of interpreting the quote.

89
grain_of_salt on October 31, 2006 at 01:50 PM

i still have this guy's back if he ever runs again:

Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran and Bush’s rival in 2004, fired back, saying the president and his administration are the ones who owe U.S. troops an apology because they “misled America into war and have given us a Katrina foreign policy that has betrayed our ideals, killed and maimed our soldiers, and widened the terrorist threat instead of defeating it.”

90
gregg on October 31, 2006 at 02:04 PM

"Those who cast the votes decide nothing, those who count the votes decide everything."
--- Joseph Stalin

Don't you all wish this was true? ;p

91
Esmeralda on October 31, 2006 at 02:05 PM

one of my posts disappeared.

maybe it will come back.

92
Esmeralda on October 31, 2006 at 02:06 PM

For the first year of her husband's deployment with the 172nd Stryker Brigade, Tamara Bell says she was a "good Army wife." She supported her husband's mission and trusted the military to bring him home safely—and on time. . . .

But last July, only days before Edward was to return home to Fairbanks following a year of combat duty in Mosul, Tamara learned that his infantry battalion, the 4-23, was being sent to Baghdad to quell violence in the Iraqi capital. . . .

These days Tamara has become, by her own admission, something of an Army dissident. "If people don't speak up and say this treatment is wrong, it's going to keep happening," she says.

93
Veneita on October 31, 2006 at 02:17 PM

HAPPY HALLOWEEN ALL

My costume this year is one of the Bush Administration...they are the scariest people I know.

7 days to go...DEFEND AMERICA...fire the republicans!

94
wackat on October 31, 2006 at 02:17 PM

Posted on Kos:

TENNESSEE (Senate, open)

Opinion Research for CNN (PDF). 10/26-29. Likely voters. MoE 4% (No trend lines)

Likely voters

Corker (R) 52
Ford (D) 44

Registered voters

Corker (R) 47
Ford (D) 45

Rasmussen. 10/30. Likely voters. MoE 4.5% (10/23 results)

Corker (R) 49 (47)
Ford (D) 47 (46)

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/31/124752/48


Clinton coming tomorrow to Memphis, I wish he would help New Lamont or some of the others instead, he may be wasting time in TN.

95
dk2 on October 31, 2006 at 02:20 PM

Bush is also in DENIAL when he says our economy is "doing good" when our federal deficit is out of sight. Any economy based on an extreme debt cannot be "doing good."

WHERE IS THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY?

And, there they (the Republicans) go again! Making the debt so outrageous that Democrats have to come in and straighten it out for them.

WHEN will the American people learn that they are purely responsible for this enormous debt. They, too, are in denial. God help us.

Know Bush, No Peace.
No Bush, Know Peace.

96
Rally on October 31, 2006 at 02:26 PM

John Kerry should play that tape of his saying that Often and Loud! Notice how those kids all Laughed at what he was saying!!! He was getting a point across, period. And they got it.


Let's face it. the Republicans are trying to say those kids are signing up because they want to go and die in Iraq. The ones I know who have signed up, are still signing up for one reason------Training for something!!! My husband and brothers all signed up for the same reason! Promised training or college tuition!

97
PamB on October 31, 2006 at 02:31 PM

Posted by wldj on October 31, 2006 at 01:16 PM

I want to submit a $50 billion request for funds to pay for all those without medical insurance in this country...in the long war against the working men and women in this country by multinationalists and their defenders, the GOP.

98
SandyH on October 31, 2006 at 02:32 PM

curious about the hack zell miller's support for repubs.

Take a look. If he so strongly believes in santorum, why isn't he putting his money where his mouth is?

99
Veneita on October 31, 2006 at 02:32 PM

IT DOES NOT MATTER WHO YOU VOTE FOR - IT ONLY MATTERS WHO COUNTS THE VOTES IN THE END.

ALERT YOUR LOCAL MEDIA IF THEY ARE NOT COVERING THESE STORIES. OUR VOTE IS BEING STOLEN AGAIN!!!!

GORE/BUSH - STOLEN
KERRY/BUSH - STOLEN

PEOPLE - THIS IS THE TIME TO FIGHT - BE LOUD - NOT ONLY ABOUT THE ISSUES BUT ABOUT THESE MACHINES!!!

they are stealing our vote~they are stealing our vote~they are stealing our vote~they are stealing our vote~they are stealing our vote~they are stealing our vote~they are stealing our vote~they are stealing our vote~

THEY ARE STEALING THE VOTES ALREADY - ALERT YOUR LOCAL MEDIA IF YOU DO NOT SEE THIS STORY RUN SOON. WE MUST MAKE PEOPLE AWARE.

contact your local media - tell them you demand coverage -
what happens in Florida - effects us all
what happens in Ohio - effects us all
what happens in California - effects us all

WHEN THEY STEAL EVEN ONE VOTE - THEY SILENCE US.
NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!!!!!!!!!!!!

don't let them steal this election - be ready to fight, demand recounts, demand new elections with paper ballots if they have been tampered with beyond repair - BE READY TO FIGHT!!!

you know this is just the beginning....they don't want to win, they just want control - they want power and will stop at nothing to get it.

THEY ARE ALREADY STEALING VOTES PEOPLE!!!!!! THE EARLY ELECTIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAMPERED WITH IN MULTIPLE STATES

DEMAND YOUR LOCAL PAPERS AND TV COVER THE THEFT OF AMERICAN ELECTIONS.

100
dd on October 31, 2006 at 02:34 PM

Oh, Wow, now why isn't there the ethics in our own Government to demand an investigation??? Tony in deep doo-doo!

Blair Risks Humiliating Defeat as Opponents Demand Iraq Inquiry

One Labour left-winger predicted that as many as 45 Labour MPs could join the opposition lobbies. He said: "We think this is going to be a very close vote. There has to be a full public inquiry into what went wrong and the lies that were told, both to the British public and to MPs."

Defeat for Mr Blair on the centrepiece of his foreign policy would be hugely embarrassing and could reignite dissent in Labour ranks over his leadership.

Today's SNP/Plaid Cymru motion calls for a select committee of seven senior MPs to investigate the Government's conduct in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq and during its aftermath.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/103106M.shtml

101
PamB on October 31, 2006 at 02:35 PM

"My statement yesterday was a botched joke about the President and about the War."


    ---John Kerry

102
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 02:37 PM

Want to see another dirty, last minute Desperate trick??? See what Joe Lieberman's campaign has out in the mail!!!

http://nedlamont.com/blog/2055/mail-bag?commented=1#c015243

103
PamB on October 31, 2006 at 02:40 PM

Bush is also in DENIAL when he says our economy is "doing good" when our federal deficit is out of sight. Any economy based on an extreme debt cannot be "doing good."
Posted by Rally on October 31, 2006 at 02:26 PM

Rally: I think Karl hired former Enron employees to do treasury books. I know of no one in the middle class who is better off now then they were 6 years ago.

104
Denise on October 31, 2006 at 02:44 PM

The Dem. theme should be "INCOMPETENCE". INCOMPETENCE in Iraq. INCOMPETENCE in foreign policy (ie Iran, Iraq, Venezuela, etc.) INCOMPETENCE in health care. INCOMPETENCE in energy - tax dollars for "research" to a company making BILLIONS each quarter!!! INCOMPETENCE in education. INCOMPETENCE in family values - they are rampant with adultery, lies, bribery, more lies, stealing,etc. etc. They are checking to see what we do in our bedrooms but ignoring the board rooms.

105
redneckprogressive on October 31, 2006 at 02:45 PM

VIDEO CUP OF JOE: New Ad Shows Bush Repeatedly Praising Joe Lieberman on Iraq

http://www.nedlamont.com/?s=truthaboutjoe


106
DemocratKickingAss on October 31, 2006 at 02:47 PM

Posted by dd on October 31, 2006 at 02:34 PM

an open prayer...

Dear Lord, give me broader shoulders than I already possess.

107
Esmeralda on October 31, 2006 at 02:47 PM

FACT SHEET: LAMONT PLAN vs. LIEBERMAN RECORD ON LOBBYING/ETHICS

http://nedlamont.com/truthaboutjoe/1595

108
DemocratKickingAss on October 31, 2006 at 02:47 PM

Posted by Paul on October 31, 2006 at 02:37 PM

If anyone believes, that a distinguished combat soldier who has done nothing but honor our troops since he left the military, was disparaging the intellect of the military, they are the ones that will likely be forever stuck in Iraq...just like Bush.

109
BlueinIdaho on October 31, 2006 at 02:48 PM

Voting machines in Texas change "Democrat" votes to "Republican" Learn more >

http://www.blackboxvoting.org

110
DemocratKickingAss on October 31, 2006 at 02:49 PM

Posted by Paul on October 31, 2006 at 02:37 PM

See Paul? That's what I said. It's amazing to me how many people rushed to the same wrong conclusion.

Posted by grain_of_salt on October 31, 2006 at 01:50 PM

111
grain_of_salt on October 31, 2006 at 02:50 PM

Posted by DemocratKickingAss on October 31, 2006 at 02:49 PM

Can you find a more specific link?

112
grain_of_salt on October 31, 2006 at 02:52 PM

Re: Posted by HillWilliam on October 31, 2006 at 11:20 AM


Tell us what you really think, Bill . . .


113
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 02:53 PM

My question to you all...

If it is a democratic primary, where only DEMOCRATIC candidates are listed on the ballot, how does it jump to Republican?

Or do the vendors only rig when both are listed on the ballot?

I understand your concern and have witnessed it first hand. With some of your thinking, does that mean that Lamont didn't win over Lieberman in a primary election?

114
Esmeralda on October 31, 2006 at 02:55 PM

Here we go again. When the Republicans aren't blaming Clinton, they are swiftboating Cleveland, Kerry, or Murtha.

Do they really think that voters would rather hear this sort of BS a week before the election instead of their sound, fool-proof plan to win a victory in Iraq? This is it? Piling ridicule of decorated combat veterans, when none of them ever served or know what the battlefield is really like?

No wonder we still don't have any victory three years after Bush declared mission accomplished. They always retreat from meeting the enemy face to face. These juvenile back-stabing jibs only exposing them as imcompetent cowards. The Axis of Evil and the terrorists are only encouraged by this sort of high school theatrics by the GOP.

Hiding behind our troops for protection when the battle gets tough is not a sign of distingushed leadership. The public has seen this tactic before and it looks so pathetic at this stage of the carnage in Iraq and reocuring violence in Afganistan.

The Republicans have fallen down and don't know how to get up....and our troops and the military establishment is hurting because of their irresponsibility.

The GOP isn't fit to serve.

115
SandyH on October 31, 2006 at 03:00 PM

Posted by Esmeralda on October 31, 2006 at 02:55 PM

Essie,

I'm not a computer tech expert, but I know that you can make all kinds of things happen on any program if something is written into the code. The first time I mastered Excel I could have swore magic was happening right before my eyes. These machines are just as vunerable.

116
SandyH on October 31, 2006 at 03:09 PM

Sandy,

I agree and have been the first one to inform all here that voting my optical scan is the only way to be sure of a paper audit trail.

Some who might be visiting here need to know that in OH we have dual representation...dem and repug. I'm the one who programs. with the repug right by my side. I also download the memory cards. So if I'm the counter, I'm the one who controls who wins? Damn, there should be more democrats in office then.

117
Esmeralda on October 31, 2006 at 03:14 PM

Let's face it. the Republicans are trying to say those kids are signing up because they want to go and die in Iraq. The ones I know who have signed up, are still signing up for one reason------Training for something!!! My husband and brothers all signed up for the same reason! Promised training or college tuition!

Posted by PamB on October 31, 2006 at 02:31 PM

Pam,

The only ones signing up because "they want to go to Iraq" are mercenaries making big bucks who can't find a decent-paying job in this country.

The young kids signing up in the service today have no economic alternative in this Republican economy. I have no doubt they want to serve their country and would die for it...but don't want to die for Iraqi freedom.

Iraq is not the 51st state the last time I checked. But then I didn't know about the United States of North America treaty either. Who knows what Cheney has been up to in all those secret meetings?

118
SandyH on October 31, 2006 at 03:22 PM

Essie,

So you're not really programming. You're starting up a system and downloading the results that may have been tablulated even before anyone voted due to the internal codes already there...for all you know?

So we don't really need more than a few voters to activate the program, just an administrator who runs the program and a counterpart to watch and validate that the instructions were followed.

Fidel Castro could have used these machines years ago instead of having to go through so many hoops cheating. Only the Republicans could have come up with a system this ludicris and corrupt.

Thank goodness we have opti scan as an alternative in my state. Please don't inform me of the possible ways for this to be compromised, too. I want to believe a paper ballot is safer.

I'm off to the phones. later.

119
SandyH on October 31, 2006 at 03:44 PM

Esme : what do you do if you don't have optical scan?


How are we going to fix this?

120
dk2 on October 31, 2006 at 03:51 PM

The Republicans would have us restrict ourselves to two options in Iraq. Stay and fight to win or leave and lose. The situation isn't this clear cut.

Everyone has heard why we entered Iraq, some even think we've made progress there. Reality says something all together different though. We know from having witnessed these events that Iraq was stable for nearly a decade during which we, with the help of the United Nations, strictly monitored the situation inside that country. We also know that Iraq's infrastructure and social structure have been in shambles since our occupation began in March of 2003.

Despite all the hope in the world, piss poor planning have thus far prevented us from reestablishing good order in Iraq. The lack of this one element, which existed prior to our occupation, means that Iraqis are worse off now than they were before the war.

Iraqis who desire to stabilize Iraq are present and accounted for. They also have an advantage over U.S. forces when it comes to restoring order, they live there. The social and language barries that have thus far prevented American forces from creating new enemies in Iraq are not a problem for Iraqis themselves. This is there country, and although we fear that they might let Iraq fall into the wrong Iraqi hands, we don't really know if we consider those Iraqi hands wrong simply because they lashed out against our presense or not. What I've seen recently seems to suggest that Iraq's militias and government forces will find a way to work together.

We've got to get out of their way. This is the only way that Iraq will improve. We don't need to abandon ship, that's what we'd be doing if we waited too long to redeploy, instead we'd be pulling back and taking the opportunity to reevaluate the situation. The longer we wait to do so, the more likely it will be that Iraq will join forces with the likes of Iran.

121
Marine on October 31, 2006 at 03:54 PM

Our family has a member over in Iraq. There are two reasons why he is there. First, he couldn't find a good paying job in Wisconsin and second, because he was told they attacked us on 911 and he wants to defend America and her freedom.

That is why we are not having Thanksgiving with the family this year. The first time in 20 years we will not be sharing a table with them.

It makes me sad.

122
Kathy_in_Indiana on October 31, 2006 at 03:55 PM

Jacque,

LOL, :) I assure you Ned won, because for the Primary, we used our old Lever machines . None of those computers. And now, we have certain Test town using the new Optical Scan, which our town is one of them. I shall study it very carefully while loading my ballot into that machine!

123
PamB on October 31, 2006 at 03:57 PM

Good afternoon fellow Democrats.

124
BobVADemHawk-Gore-Obama2008 on October 31, 2006 at 04:00 PM

Just a fact to boggle your mind! Here are new Voter Registrations in the State of CT, within 6 months! Notice that 30,000 new ones signed up for the Primary. The other 44,000 have signed up since!

About 74,000 new voters have been registered in Connecticut in the past six months -- the most in a decade -- and political experts expect those new voters to have a significant effect on Election Day.
In the primary, we saw 30,000 new voters ... at the end of the day, those were voters inspired to cast their ballot for Ned Lamont. were Ned's votes. Frankly, no long dormant voter is inspired by the Joe Lieberman; he generates a brand of enthusiam rivaled only by a of a warm bag of vaseline.


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/31/135733/15

this is our own Tim Tagaris writing this Thread!

125
PamB on October 31, 2006 at 04:01 PM

Look at what dirty tricks they are up to now!
Judges paying for their positions? Follow the Money is Right!!!


Salon: Money trails lead to Bush judges


"An investigation has revealed that two dozen federal judges contributed thousands of dollars to Republicans who "helped place them on the bench," Salon is reporting.

"A four-month investigation of Bush-appointed judges by the Center for Investigative Reporting," writes Will Evans, "reveals that six appellate court judges and 18 district court judges contributed a total of more than $44,000 to politicians who were influential in their appointments."

Some contributed money directly to the President after being officially nominated by him, the article reports. "Other judges contributed to Republican campaign committees while they were under consideration for a judgeship."

Evans lists several Republicans who "received money from judges en route to the bench," among them Sen. Arlen Specter (PA), Gov. George Pataki (NY), and Sens. Rick Santorum (PA) and Mike DeWine (OH), both of whom are struggling to win re-election in their respective states.

Excerpts from the adview-required article follow...

#
There are no laws or regulations prohibiting political contributions by a candidate for a federal judgeship. But political giving by judicial candidates has been a rarely scrutinized activity amid the process that determines who will receive lifelong jobs on the federal bench. Some ethics experts and Bush-appointed judges say that political giving is inappropriate for those seeking judicial office -- it can appear unethical, they say, and could jeopardize the public's confidence in the impartiality of the nation's courts. Those concerns come as ethics and corruption scandals have roiled Washington, and on the eve of midterm elections whose outcome could influence the makeup of the federal judiciary -- including the Supreme Court -- for decades to come.

...

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Salon_Money_trails_lead_to_Bush_1031.html

126
PamB on October 31, 2006 at 04:03 PM

Re: Posted by BlueinIdaho on October 31, 2006 at 02:48 PM


Hi, Blue.


I don't believe that John Kerry had any intention of saying what he actually said. I wish he could learn to keep his actual speeches under control.

My wife and I worked very hard for him in 2004 and donated more than we could afford to his campaign.

We then had the experience of hearing his speech at the Grand Canyon.

I will be more careful in 2008, and I hope whoever our candidate is will too.

127
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 04:04 PM

Every single Democrat should be on their toes right now, KNOWING that the Republians are taping every single word, HOPING for a mishap they can use!

128
PamB on October 31, 2006 at 04:12 PM

John King just said what I felt.

129
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 04:12 PM

Posted by PamB on October 31, 2006 at 04:12 PM

Exactly Pam. Thankfully, the selfservatives have the king of all message bumblers on their side. Trouble for us, we are usually more forgiving of a stumble by them and don't wave it around the media like the holy grail.

Let's see 103 Americans dead in just one month vs. a misspoken joke at a school speech: which is the greater folly?

130
BlueinIdaho on October 31, 2006 at 04:23 PM

Did anyone see the CNN report about the guy they tackled who was walking up to ask Allen a guestion about spitting on his former wife. There of Allen's staff people take the guy down to the floor!

131
dk2 on October 31, 2006 at 04:23 PM

Posted by dk2 on October 31, 2006 at 04:23 PM

Yeah, its on Crooks and Liars too. The guy is from the site "Calling all Winguts" and has, as he says, been doing a "Roger & Me" thing with Allen where he asks him questions. He's a law student, so this should be interesting....

132
BlueinIdaho on October 31, 2006 at 04:32 PM

I am tired of the democratic strategist not being about to figure out what to say . Carville on CNN about Kerry!

What Kerry said is true, but it is not based on being "stupid", it is based on Economic standing!

Anyone who doesn't think that many go into the army for a chance at a college education is totally wrong.

Come on dems call it what it is, - A TRUE STATMENT BASED ON ECONOMICS NOT ON HOW SMART SOMEONE IS OR ISN'T.


That is exactly what VIET NAM was about the rich by passing and war being fought on the back of the lower income class. Like it or not it is about economic standing, not intelligence!!!!!!!

133
dk2 on October 31, 2006 at 04:38 PM

Get Carville and Donna Brazile off of TV or anything representing the Democratic Candidates!

134
dk2 on October 31, 2006 at 04:39 PM

Happy Halloween!!! I only have a few minutes and wanted to post Kerry's reply to Tony Snowjob:

He said he had been criticizing Bush, not the "heroes serving in Iraq," and said the president and his administration are the ones who owe U.S. troops an apology because they "misled America into war and have given us a Katrina foreign policy that has betrayed our ideals, killed and maimed our soldiers, and widened the terrorist threat instead of defeating it."
"This is the classic GOP playbook," Kerry said in a harshly worded statement. "I'm sick and tired of these despicable Republican attacks that always seem to come from those who never can be found to serve in war, but love to attack those who did. I'm not going to be lectured by a stuffed suit White House mouthpiece standing behind a podium."

It's about time, but too little to late for him.

Esme, how are you and yours doing????

Gotta go, but hang in there and make sure you GOTV!!!!!

135
lavndrblue on October 31, 2006 at 04:39 PM

Posted by BlueinIdaho on October 31, 2006 at 04:32 PM

As you may know, the law here in Virginia is very strict about what constitutes assault. Even a light TOUCH is an offense.

Under the circumstances that he was yelling insults at a public figure, I have no idea what a judge would hold, but . . .

136
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 04:39 PM

Re: Posted by lavndrblue on October 31, 2006 at 04:39 PM

It certainly is "too little, too late."

137
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 04:43 PM

Posted by Paul on October 31, 2006 at 04:39 PM

"Yelling insults at a public figure???" How is asking whether he spit on his wife, "yelling insults"? The victim of Allen's assault was in a public hotel asking questions of a public servant. Now if VA has a law against that, that would really surprise me.

138
BlueinIdaho on October 31, 2006 at 04:46 PM

The Shocking Secret About Alaskan Oil That The Bush Administration Helps To Protect

PROGRESSIVE VALUES

139
PaulSHooson on October 31, 2006 at 04:46 PM

I think this Kerry thing will have a shorter shelf life than republicans think. I liked his defiant response. Republicans and the Bush Administration in particular over react to everything it doesn't matter who says it or what happens. The republican hysteria machine is being ignored more every day by citizens fed up with the spin, BS and outright lies.

140
wldj on October 31, 2006 at 04:53 PM

Re: Posted by PaulSHooson on October 31, 2006 at 04:46 PM


OH THERE'S THAT FOOL WHO POSTS LIES ABOUT ABORTION AGAIN.


YOU STILL HAVEN'T CLEANED IT UP, HAVE YOU?


141
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 04:57 PM

Re: Posted by dk2 on October 31, 2006 at 04:39 PM

Verily.


142
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 04:58 PM

I want to clarify an earlier post:
Posted by dk2 on October 31, 2006 at 04:38 PM

I am tired of the democratic strategist not being about to figure out what to say . Carville on CNN about Kerry!


The following is what I am saying (not what Carville said)
What Kerry said is true, but it is not based on being "stupid", it is based on Economic standing!

Anyone who doesn't think that many go into the army for a chance at a college education is totally wrong.

Come on dems call it what it is, - A TRUE STATMENT BASED ON ECONOMICS NOT ON HOW SMART SOMEONE IS OR ISN'T.

That is exactly what VIET NAM was about the rich by passing and war being fought on the back of the lower income class. Like it or not it is about economic standing, not intelligence!!!!!!!

143
dk2 on October 31, 2006 at 04:58 PM

"PROGRESSIVE VALUES" INDEED!

144
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 05:00 PM

YOU ARE CERTAINLY NOT PROGRESSIVE

145
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 05:00 PM

Not again...

146
BlueinIdaho on October 31, 2006 at 05:07 PM

I think John Kerry should not back down. I'd like to see him take this Republican attack to the next level, and call Bush and Cheney out as liars who mis-used our troops, and continue to lie and mis-use our troops.

147
Domingo on October 31, 2006 at 05:08 PM

RE:

Not again...

Posted by BlueinIdaho on October 31, 2006 at 05:07 PM


Until that troll cleans up his web site and stops trying to post it as 'PROGRESSIVE VALUES' you can bet on it.


148
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 05:09 PM

Republican Rape Scandal In Oregon

Republican Speaker Of The Oregon House, Karen Minnis who is running for re-election, and her husband, John Minnis, a Portland Police Officer ran a pizza restaurant in Hillsboro, Oregon that their relative Tuck Minnis helped to manage. When a 17 year old female employee claimed that she was a victim of a rape attempt by Tuck Minnis, Police officer John Minnis helped to prevent the arrest of their relative and paid off the girl $20,000 to shut up about the matter.

Just like the Mark Foley incident, it is a yet another example of a serious incident being protected by another high ranking Republican lawmaker. Both John and Karen Minnis have served in the Oregon Legislature as Republican elected officials.

PROGRESSIVE VALUES

149
PaulSHooson on October 31, 2006 at 05:11 PM

Re: Posted by PaulSHooson on October 31, 2006 at 05:11 PM

You lying troll. You are a total liar and troll.

150
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 05:13 PM

Posted by Domingo on October 31, 2006 at 05:08 PM

Good idea. Use this as a way to bring back the focus to their mishandling of the war and failure to protect the troops. I hope all the dems are on board.

151
BlueinIdaho on October 31, 2006 at 05:15 PM

Domingo and Blue, I agree 100%

This can be turned around if they will just try and get some new strategist.


152
dk2 on October 31, 2006 at 05:17 PM

Posted by Paul on October 31, 2006 at 05:09 PM

Last I checked, everyone here still had the right to free speech which extends to their websites. You don't like it? Don't click on it.

153
BlueinIdaho on October 31, 2006 at 05:18 PM

THEY ARE STEALING OUR VOTE - EARLY ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN TAMPERED WITH - START DEMANDING A RECOUNT OR A NEW ELECTION FOR EVERY "FLIPPED" VOTE.
PEOPLE, THEY ARE STEALING OUR ELECTIONS AGAIN!!!!!

THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED ON THE EARLY ELECTIONS, IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE AS THE CROWDS GET BIGGER.

DO NOT TAKE YOUR EYES OR EARS OFF THIS ISSUE.

Statistically, if these machines were having "errors" it would go both ways - IT DOESN'T. so far all we hear of is dem, libertarian or independent votes "flipping" to REPUBLICANS - THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED STEALING THE VOTE

the issues do no matter if your vote is not counted. raise hell people, this may be our last chance for honest elections in the US. FIGHT PROTEST, MAKE NOISE!!!!! PASS THIS INFO ALONG, DEMAND YOUR NEWS STATIONS PICK UP THIS INFO...

imagine for one second what it will be like on Tuesday - stop and think - a machine "flips" how long does it take for the "trainee" to fix it? how long will you be standing in line while they "fix" the broken machines? or don't fix them at all to "save time"? they have already figured out how to steal the vote from people who may not have time to stand in line while all this is fixed, this is the beginning people, we have to make noise NOW.

they aren't planning on stealing it on Nov 7th - THEY ARE ALREADY STEALING THE VOTES.

GET THE MESSAGE OUT - DAMMIT!!!!!!
THEY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH ANOTHER ELECTION THEFT. PASS THIS INFO ALONG...WARN EVERYONE USING THE TOUCH SCREENS. if you can accompany an elderly person or someone who may need assistance, think about it.

the polls mean nothing if they rig the vote.

we mean nothing if they rig the vote.

Rove is confident, Bush is confident, there are enough "close" races for them to successfully steal an election unless people demand answers NOW.

154
dd on October 31, 2006 at 05:25 PM

Re: Posted by BlueinIdaho on October 31, 2006 at 05:18 PM

This is a pack of lies and deserves comment.


. . . the gruesome practice of partial birth abortion in which often later term babies are nearly delivered except for their head which is left in the birth canal, and while their little arms, legs, fingers and toes are moving, a scizzors is sruck into the back of the neck by a doctor and the babies brains are sucked out by a vacuum machine. This gruesome practive has caused some who support Roe v.Wade to oppose this practice, however a federal had ruled the ban that Congress has voted to unconstitutional. Atttorney General Gonzales is appealing this Federal Court ruling and opposing the Plantiff, Plannned Parenthood in a lawsuit entitled Gonzles v. Planned Parenthood.
10/14/2006
PaulSHoosan posted on DNC Weblog

"PaulSHoosan" IS A LYING TROLL AND DOES NOT BELONG ON THIS BLOG.


155
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 05:25 PM

Gee, Paul, so great that you could spread his "lies" over and over again.

156
BlueinIdaho on October 31, 2006 at 05:27 PM

Re: Posted by PaulSHooson on October 31, 2006 at 05:11 PM

This is simply one of the fundamentalist Republican talking points, and it has no business here.

. . . the gruesome practice of partial birth abortion in which often later term babies are nearly delivered except for their head which is left in the birth canal, and while their little arms, legs, fingers and toes are moving, a scizzors is sruck into the back of the neck by a doctor and the babies brains are sucked out by a vacuum machine. This gruesome practive has caused some who support Roe v.Wade to oppose this practice, however a federal had ruled the ban that Congress has voted to unconstitutional. Atttorney General Gonzales is appealing this Federal Court ruling and opposing the Plantiff, Plannned Parenthood in a lawsuit entitled Gonzles v. Planned Parenthood.
10/14/2006
PaulSHoosan posted on DNC Weblog

157
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 05:29 PM

Well, I've had enough. Way to clear a blog.

158
BlueinIdaho on October 31, 2006 at 05:30 PM

When Paul Hoosan stops posting that shit, I will very happily stop commenting.

159
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 05:32 PM

Posted by Paul on October 31, 2006 at 05:25 PM

Paul, will you please just let it go. People here are quite capable of remembering on their own.

160
Kristen on October 31, 2006 at 05:32 PM

Evening Dems!

Tea Leaf Watch: 7 Days Out
Words of the day: natural tightening.

Leaves:

1. Charlie Cook: "With the election just eight days away, there are no signs that this wave is abating. Barring a dramatic event, we are looking at the prospect of GOP losses in the House of at least 20 to 35 seats, possibly more, and at least four in the Senate, with five or six most likely. If independents vote in fairly low numbers, as is customary in midterm elections, losses in the House will be on the lower end of that range. But if they turn out at a higher than normal level, their strong preference for Democrats in most races would likely push the GOP House losses to or above the upper levels."

2. The GOP reported more than 2 million voter contacts over the past four days, exceeding their expectations. (Hotline sources)

3. The GOP claims early voting successes in IA, NM and FL -- the Dems dispute this.

4. Cook changes the following seats to toss-ups: AZ 05 (Hayworth), CA 11 (Pombo), CO 04 (Musgrave), CO 05 (Open, KS 02 (Ryun), MN 01 (Gutknecht), NH 02 (Bass), OH O2 (Schmidt), WY Al (Cubin). CA 50 (Bilbray) and NE 03 (Open) have been downgraded to "Lean Republican." and IA 01 has been rated "Lean Democrat."

5. Pres. Bush's campaign schedule in the final stretch does not inspire confidence: he'll campaign for Ryun in Kansas and for Marilyn Musgrave in CO 04.

6. Two Research 2000 polls for the New London Day and the Manchester Journal Inquirer show Rep. Chris Shays (R) trailing Diane Farrell (D) 47%-43% in CT 04, and Rep. Nancy Johnson (R) behind state Sen. Chris Murphy (D) 46%-43% in CT 05 (release).

7. John Podhoretz "If the House is controlled by only a few seats, the coming election cycles could feature control of Congress flipping between parties every two years. This will surely affect the behavior of individual Congressmen and a change in the tone in the House."

8. Does Michael Barone sound like a confident conservative to you? " I don't know what the results of the midterm elections of 2006 will be. But I doubt that they will have the sweeping partisan or policy consequences of the midterm elections of 1874 and 1894, or 1938 and 1994."

161
Cyn_NY on October 31, 2006 at 05:34 PM

Posted by Paul on October 31, 2006 at 05:25 PM

I'm still trying to understand why you're speaking out against John Kerry and why you haven't acknowledged my commentary on the fact that I took Kerry's comments exactly how he meant them.

Makes me wonder if you're the troll, but I'll reserve judgment.

162
grain_of_salt on October 31, 2006 at 05:34 PM

Dear Paul.Out of 650 leftist leaning features on my Website, Progressive Values, which draws together information from many progressive and leftist groups and news organizations, you misrepresent one single feature I did recently warning that a November 8, hearing on the partial birth abortion question may overturn Roe v. Wade with the conservative 5 to 4 majority in the Supreme Court.

While a majority of Americans do tend to support Roe v. Wade to some extent, the partial birth abortion procedure suffers from a resounding 70% public opinion rejection. The Supreme Court may rule narrowly on the partial birth abortion issue or they may rule to limit Roe v. Wade further. That seems to be a matter of fact. Not opinion.

I don't think that I really expressed a real opinion on these topics as much as I only reported on the November 8, Supreme Court hearing and the high stakes for both sides. I was however, graphic in describing the partial birth abortion procedure only to illustrate that it maybe difficult for the side opposing Attorney General Gonzales to make their case with the 5 to 4 conservative majority to continue the procedure. The Supreme Court will likely rule on the side of Gonzales, but the question is just how far that ruling actually goes.

I don't see myself as a troll at all. I just cast 100% of my votes for Democrats in Oregon in my mail-in ballot, which is rare for me. Usually, I vote for at least one Socialist Party or leftist candidate. My support for progressive causes is strong. But I'm also a vegan who supports animal rights and antiwar efforts, and will oppose any efforts that I feel violates these standards for me, no matter the party.

PROGRESSIVE VALUES

163
PaulSHooson on October 31, 2006 at 05:35 PM

Posted by Paul on October 31, 2006 at 05:32 PM

PaulH has stopped posting that garbage YOU keep reposting it!

Sick all day only to come in and find the SOS.

Have a great Halloween Blue!

164
Kristen on October 31, 2006 at 05:36 PM

Check out the new Lamont ad! It's funny and really makes a point.

http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/#block-views-breaking_polls

165
Cyn_NY on October 31, 2006 at 05:38 PM

Re: Posted by grain_of_salt on October 31, 2006 at 05:34 PM


You are certainly correct about John Kerry's intention. The reason I spoke up is that I felt so let down in the 2004 election and i don't want to experience that feeling again.


I have a high respect for Kerry, but I remember his previous speeches and the unfortunate reaction. I hope and pray the Democratic Party doesn't make the mistake of picking a candidate who is so incapable of speaking clearly.


We are in the position of being able to take our government back. Democrats CANNOT afford to have that opportunity stolen by an inept speech.

Do you remember the "I voted for it before I voted against it?" speech. I do.


Kerry is a very impressive man. Unfortunately, I know from experience we need someone who can speak in short sentences and keep his foot out of his mouth.

166
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 05:42 PM

Paul. You posted one paragraph way out of context in a lengthy feature from my 650 feature website dealing with the November 8, Supreme Court case on abortion.

I think that's a pretty unfair misrepresentation of the complete feature. I've also graphically described the damage to the human body from Isreali and American depleted uranium weapons and from modern gel fuel bombs that are the modern versions of napalm before as well.

My website deals with very graphic content sometimes, because I refuse to varnish the truth. Today I dealt with the genetic damage caused by the high benzene levels in North Slope Alaskan oil, and how both big oil and the Bush Administration use the EPA to protect this problem until 2011.

PROGRESSIVE VALUES

167
PaulSHooson on October 31, 2006 at 05:48 PM

Posted by Paul on October 31, 2006 at 05:42 PM

I don't know if I agree, but I see your point.

The thing is, I guess Kerry is a man born in the wrong time. He is a complex thinker in an American society that has become increasingly intellectually bankrupt. I don't mean to insult anyone or sound as much of an elitist snob as people sometimes accuse Kerry of being, but the things he says are actually quite profound and clever if one just stops to think about them, and I have the patience to do so, so they don't bother me as much. Frankly, we communicate quite similarly oftentimes.

He would benefit, though, from some coaching on how to speak to people on a more, oh, what shall I say? everyday level.

168
grain_of_salt on October 31, 2006 at 05:50 PM

Kerry is a very impressive man. Unfortunately, I know from experience we need someone who can speak in short sentences and keep his foot out of his mouth.

Posted by Paul on October 31, 2006 at 05:42 PM

It's not Kerry. It's the dumbing down of America and main stream media.

169
Cyn_NY on October 31, 2006 at 05:53 PM

Posted by Cyn_NY on October 31, 2006 at 05:53 PM

I totally agree.

170
grain_of_salt on October 31, 2006 at 05:54 PM

Re: Posted by PaulSHooson on October 31, 2006 at 05:35 PM


Paul,


Thank you for your response.

As you must know, there IS NO procedure called "partial birth abortion." It is the fundamentalist term created to cause the strongest possible rejection from people who do not understand what an abortion actually consists of and it is totally without context. The description you posted is inaccurate and terribly inflammatory.

The reason I am so pained at your continued posting of the articles on your web site is that I had the experience of supporting my 14-year old daughter through an abortion. She was raped at 13 and did not tell us at the time. I do not forget that pain and suffering.

I do not think it is fair to anyone who has experienced such a horrible tragedy to see the worst and most gruesome possible description on your web site. If you are really concerned about the medical procedure, at least have the consideration to visit a medical web site that does not simply push a political agenda and then reference it. Your description is not appropriate. At worst, it is inflammatory to people like myself.

Please attempt to remove the article from your web site. If you must, replace it with a more balanced article.

Honestly, I hope you will help me (and perhaps others).

171
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 05:55 PM


********* NEW OPEN THREAD ************

172
dk2 on October 31, 2006 at 05:56 PM

Re: It's not Kerry. It's the dumbing down of America and main stream media.

Posted by Cyn_NY on October 31, 2006 at 05:53 PM


I agree totally. My academic background focused on language, and I enjoy an educated discussion.

However, our candidate has to appeal to the people who get their news from ... (you know where)

173
Paul on October 31, 2006 at 06:00 PM

dk, is it me or Halloween ghosts? I see no new thread :-(

174
Cyn_NY on October 31, 2006 at 06:01 PM

Paul, I know, I know.

Quote of the Day:

"I go out to Walter Reed quite often and see these brave young soldiers who have served and sacrificed so much. Many of them have lost limbs, as you know. And it's a very sad thing to see. But at the same time it's very uplifting. Because these young people are so proud of what they've done... This generation of men and women who are serving in the military are the very, very, very best of us."

-- Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), campaigning for congressional candidate Peter Roskam (R). His opponent is Tammy Duckworth (D), an Iraq war veteran who lost both legs during her service.

175
Cyn_NY on October 31, 2006 at 06:02 PM

Bush wants Kerry to apologize - Here's my suggestion

Kerry: I'm sorry Bush didn't pay enough attention when he was attending college to get the punch line of a joke.

He should apologize to our troops for not having a plan when they invaded Iraq, for not having a plan today.

176
dixiehen on October 31, 2006 at 06:18 PM
177
dk2 on October 31, 2006 at 06:19 PM

Sorry, I seem to be behind the time and trying to catch up - If you see the start of Kerry' speech you can tell, it was a joke about Bush.

The sad fact is many young men and women join the military for economic reasons, but this was not the subject of Kerry's speech.

moving on ----- optical scanners ---- do not vote party line - in 2000 there was a problem in New Mexico with the machines not scanning these votes correctly--- take the time to mark each name---

178
dixiehen on October 31, 2006 at 06:36 PM

A guy I know recently posted this on Usenet
to alt.politics and some of its subgroups
(the rest of this posting is copied from Usenet):

I happened to see a sound bite from a recent
speech of Bush's in which he attacks the
Democrats with lines like "What do the Democrats
say when you talk about [some questionably legal
and moral means of ostensibly attempting to
combat terrorism]? JUST SAY NO!"

I immediately thought of the obvious rejoinder
to this, which I freely offer and hope Democrats
everywhere will use:

"What do the Republicans say when you talk
about the Constitution? JUST SAY NO!!"

179
Phil_Osopher on October 31, 2006 at 07:22 PM

Before we went into Iraq, I told one of my friends that this whole country was not worth the life of even one Marine We have equipted 325,000 Iraqi troops and now they want to "stand up" an other 100,000? That's just because Bush does not want to admit that Iraq has turned into a "Black hole" sucking more and more money and more lives. If the current, corrupt Iraqi government can't do it with 325,000 troops, an other 100,000 won;t make any difference. Why train more Iraqi troops? We are going to have to. at some point in time, go back and fight the very troops we are training now bebause this Iraqi government is already in bed with Iran. Bring the troops home now!

180
goodfoe on November 1, 2006 at 05:58 AM

The Republicans keep asking what the Democratic plan is for Iraq while they are the proverbial "Bull in the china shop". They created this mess. Just because the dishes are broken doesn't mean you leave the bull in there to do more damage. Unfortunately it could get worse. Why is no one pointing this out?

181
sheila on November 1, 2006 at 02:30 PM

I would like to know why the Democratic party is being so silent on all the major media outlets. The issues are countless that could rally people to vote for change. The Katrina issue alone should outrage everyone in America to know that the Republicans care about noone except the 2% upper crust. Wake up you silly Republican want-to-bes. You never will be!

182
Freedomring on November 2, 2006 at 12:39 PM

Here is a Democrats solution to Iraq that the Republicans keep saying they want to hear. If one goes to war and evidently we are at war, one should go in full force to win that war. So send a million men in, disarm every gun caring S.O.B., shoot to kill every one that opposes and spend that money we keep sending over there to raise the Iraq peoples standard of living by letting them rebuild their infrastructure. Pay them a decent wage to do it. Including the Iraq army. duh

183
Freedomring on November 2, 2006 at 12:46 PM

Why is it that 84 percent of the population thinks the official story about 9/11 from NIST, FEMA stinks, it just doesn't hold up to engineering scrutiny.

9/11 was an inside job by Bush and many neocons. (plus of coarse a whole bunch of workers who were lured into installing demolition charges and other hard work. You may wonder why nobody of them leaked this, likely because it is hard to do from the bottom of Hudson river. Remember the plan was to murder 10000 innocent people, so what would 200 more or less matter?)

The concrete proof is this: Each tower had 110 floors of concrete, each about an acre by 4inch thick. The day after, all this material from the floors, and from many other things, was found spread as a very fine powder over several blocks in Manhattan. (A million New Yorkers could testify to this) This is the only logical conclusion, because no or very few broken chunks of concrete were found in the rubble.

What physical process could have done this?

A small tactical hydrogen bomb places deep under the lobby level in an elevator shaft would have this effect. If you know of any other means to do this, let us know.

So were did the perpetrator find these type of bombs? From US military, hence the inside job has revealed itself by leaving a smoking gun evidence on the murder site in form of 4 inch thick layer of powder over Manhattan. This powder was also from office equipment such as chairs, desk, computers, copy machines etc, from which there were no trace of in the rubble.

If you need more details to be convinced look here:
http://www.saunalahti.fi/wtc2001/military.htm ( read at least the last chapter by the “Finnish Military Expert” )

Why is it that this has not been published? The free media is not free. Or has this country decided to bury the biggest crime in history and not go after the guilty, they are not in a cave in Afganistan, even less in Iraq, they are just right here in Washington DC

So this campaign is progressing in the last week while the population is kept in the dark by a press which is maybe also complicit by keeping this information from the general public. Is that aiding and abetting the terrorists?


184
canadd2pl2 on November 2, 2006 at 03:20 PM


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