{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{ BIG HUGS }}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

To all the democratic campaign workers across America!

Take back 2006!

Posted by Paul on October 31, 2006 at 05:55 PM

Sorry to hear of what your daughter endured, Paul. Good thing she had loving parents to help her through that.

Trick or Treat!

Thank you ...

It's going to be unfortunately easy for the Republicans to take the statement of Sen. John Kerry out of context for political purposes.

I've known many National Guard members, and none of them come from a very wealthy background and needed the extra pay and benefits from the Guard to help to exist or support a family. With a better job or education, most of them would have likely chosen not to join the Guard.

In a time of military conflict like now, these persons get sucked into a conflict which I'm sure that they hoped would not really come along. For the sake of wanting a little extra oncome, these persons are really putting themselves at huge risk. Unlike Firemen or Police who generally earn far more for risking their lives, National Guardsmen take a great risk for lower pay and benefits.

PROGRESSIVE VALUES

Repost from last thread:

"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.

Re: Posted by PaulSHooson on October 31, 2006 at 06:04 PM

Please see my comment on the flip side.

Good evening, all.

Poor George. He's so stupid he doesn't know when he's being insulted...slyly suggests that it was directed at somebody else. More deceit and lies.

What's really outrageous is that he doesn't understand why the Americans are fed up with his quagmire in Iraq. Just today the Iraqi Prime Minister rejected American military strategy and sided with the most radical elements in his country.

But let's not face reality. Instead the GOP and their pundits in the media are grasping at straws by desperately setting up another Swiftboat lie....when the country is desperate for a change in Iraq.

The war is getting worse and they are playing games as usual. Let them play their way right out of control of Congress.

PaulSHooson:

The Point of Kerry's comment:

Is about the economic standing of our soldiers rather then their intelligence.

Democrats need to refocus the debate to the fact that the options for the lower class it to go into the military - what is their choice to get a college education.

Kerry is a democrat and we should stand up with him against the Republican hype and their taking a perfectly sound statement and turning it into a trashing of the Democrats.

I say how dare them - if it weren't for there constant slashing at the middle and lower income families we may have the money to send our sons and daughters to college without them having to go to the military for it.

Right now there have been TV adds showing a young black man talking to his mom about "I've found away to college" he tells his mom about his great opportunities in the Military.

Kerry's remark is inline with exactly what the ad implies - get an education by serving you country.

HOW DARE THE REPULICANS FOR TAKING THE TRUTH AND MAKING IT THE TRASH - I say send that trash right back at them!

Stand up with Kerry!

Posted by Cyn_NY on October 31, 2006 at 06:06 PM

Ironic how they always overlook the obvious, Cyn. If voters refuse to see the truth right in front of their face, then they don't deserve a candidate as courageous and competent as Tammy Duckworth. But they are going to get her anyway, right.

So our president has finally had some progress with North Korea, after he agreed to speak with them away from the six party talks. This is something that North Korea has been asking him to do for years now. I wonder, if he'd have done this sooner would North Korea be a nuclear power today? I guess we'll never know.

I feel deeply sorry for the situation involving your daughter, Paul. You have my prayers. My family has suffered with a sister with significant birth defects. Many families suffer terrible pain that they don't deserve. I'm currently very ill with a serious genetic defect in my blood. There is no real justice in life.

But the feature on my website only deals with the November 8, Supreme Court hearing which focuses on a very late term controversial abortion practice, that has no relationship to the immediate medical help offered to rape victims.

My feature deals only with how much this November 8 hearing may impact Roe v. Wade given the conservative leaning court appointed by Bush, and Attorney General Gonzales as the main Plaintiff. That's all.

I wish you and your family the very best, Paul. A very good day to you.

PROGRESSIVE VALUES

Marine:

He did it in private - I guess he wants to ask them to join the North American Union!

(Ha ha ha - that was my sorry attempt at humor!)

Sandy, wouldn't one think that McCain of all people should understand that? He was a war hero, a pow and he took so much shit from the repugs. It's very hard for me to understand what happened to that courageous man, slandered and lied about by Rove & Co. I remember actually feeling sorry for him. How can he not only forgive them, but forget where he came from. Kool-aid, indeed.

Paul,

It's not about the troops at all. It's about the Commander-in-Chief.

Quit jumping to conclusions. Bush is using the same strawman technique he always does. He offers up two lies and then challenges you to choose which of the two you will accept.

Don't fall for it. You don't have to accept any of the lies this man offers.

Re: Posted by SandyH on October 31, 2006 at 06:34 PM

Sandy,

I never jumped to any conclusions.

The problem isn't what Kerry said. It's simply that he said it.

He cost us the 2004 election. I don't think we should allow him to cost us again. I wish he would just shut up and go away.

My take on MC Cain is: he isn't looking too good, I don't know what his physical condition is, but his R jaw looked like he had some medical treatments a few weeks ago.

Maybe his medications are distorting his ideals.
(I mean that seriously not as a joke) Some meds can effect your logic and thought processing abilities.

I've known many National Guard members, and none of them come from a very wealthy background and needed the extra pay and benefits from the Guard to help to exist or support a family. With a better job or education, most of them would have likely chosen not to join the Guard.

Posted by PaulHooson

That may be your experience. It is not mine. My son had a full academic scholarship to a private university. We have plenty of financial resources. He joined the National Guard out of a deep desire to serve his country. I know it may come as a surprise to some, but more people are like my son than not.

I was deeply hurt by Senator Kerry's flippant remarks. The other families in my group are livid. This is not helpful to the Democrats.

Posted by Cyn_NY on October 31, 2006 at 06:06 PM

So McCain is saying - Tammy Duckworth is the very,very best of us --- Hey, he just endorsed her!!

Why did King George and his regressive republican Congress cut funding for the VA?

dk2 - please stop repeating this innacurate statement:

we may have the money to send our sons and daughters to college without them having to go to the military for it.

There are many options for going to college. Please do not denigrate our soldiers by saying they are only in in for the money.

Paul - I wish the same of a few others too.

Lieberman for one. Evan Bayh for another, and all the others that think it is ok to join the bi-partisanship rhetoric. Like Harold Ford saying that he was going to be one of the "14".

The problem isn't what Kerry said. It's simply that he said it.

He cost us the 2004 election. I don't think we should allow him to cost us again. I wish he would just shut up and go away.

Posted by Paul on October 31, 2006 at 06:40 PM

Honey, them is fighting words. Better to concentrate on the postive, not the negative. Let's try to look forward, not backward. The midterm majority is within our reach. Let us not argue, but unite together to beat the bastards.

Please, let it go.

Well Joan there maybe for yours but not many others.
Sorry you feel the truth is a denigrate to our soldiers.
But it is what I believe and I will not stop saying it.

Sorry.

Well Joan there maybe for yours but not many others.

And you know this how?

Re: Posted by dk2 on October 31, 2006 at 06:46 PM

Verily.

King George thinks that 2,700 military deaths are a good thing.

Go Kerry! Thanks for telling the truth! If you aren't priveledged in this country, there is nothing left for you to do but to go into the military and serve, what is it now, 3, 4 tours in Iraq? I hope my dems get behind John and confront the enemy here at home so we won't have to over there....

McCain no longer fights his enemies, instead he joins them. The Republicans said themselves that McCain had been forever psychological scared by his time as a POW, so much so that they refused to allow him to run against Al Gore, and they may have been right. McCain didn't fight them back then and now he chooses to repeat party falsehoods much like he repeated Communist falsehoods in one infamous letter published during Vietnam.

I don't know what happened to him exactly, but I can see that he has lost his will to fight.

Here's what's stupid -

the democratic strategists!

Did you notice how the republicans are tying the local campaigns loud and clear into Washington?
eg. "A vote for my opponent is a vote for Pelosi as House Speaker" etc.

Why aren't the democrats playing the Washington card? Not one sound bite I have heard effectively does this and it is the single issue which IMHO would be most resonant with voters.

Here's the simple song they all should be singing in addition to whatever else they want to say -

If you support George Bush and want to continue the Republican monopoly in congress then vote for my opponent because a vote for my opponent will help do that. But if you are sick and tired of the abusive practices of the republicans and the arrogance of Bush and want to break up the monopoly vote for me!

end of story.

What is going to happen in Iraq now that al Sadr suggested non-violent resistance and it worked for him? He got the Prime Minister to purge American troops from his stronghold without even lifting a finger.

Will he go after the oil fields in the South or our military bases next? Will al Sistani support him? What will Iran gain from this new development in the long run?

Joan, don't take this personally. You are falling into the repub trap. Kerry was a soldier. Although your son has a calling and knows what he wants, there are many kids that have no education, no where to go, and only sign up because a recruiter has lied to them in order to make a quota. I believe what Kerry was trying to say is make sure that you know what you are doing, and that signing on is not just an escape from life.

I miss your posts. And, I honor your son for his service.

King George wants to keep our troops in the middle of a civil war.

If you aren't priveledged in this country, there is nothing left for you to do but to go into the military and serve,

Again - please give me some supporting evidence for this.

My own experience for one, and my 3 boys for 2, and the Army, Navy, Marine TV spots for 3.

And if you like I can search for many people who have made statements to the fact that they went into the military for an education!

{{{Joanie}}}

good to see you and know you are well.

I had two brothers who joined the Army and the AirForce for one reason. To get training and help with college tuition should they decide to continue schooling when they got out.

They got sucked into Vietnam. One got killed in an auto accident on a leave home, and the other was never mentally well again.

I think if the Repubs had not picked up on, and turned Kerry's statement into such a big deal, that those kids listening to him, who were laughing loudly by the way, would not have thought a thing about it.

Don't forget, John is a Veteran too. He would not disparage the troops for any reason.

Please take his remark for what it was, a poorly articulated joke meant for Bush and his war.

King George and Crazy Joe are denying our boys their heroes' welcome!

It came during a campaign rally for California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides. Kerry opened his speech at Pasadena City College with several one-liners, saying at one point that Bush had lived in Texas but now "lives in a state of denial."

He then said: "You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."

MSM - can't run the segment about state of denial.

Ok, I see that Steve/Sally is here, so I'm out.

Keep your eye on the pie and don't get sidetracked by the bullshit, Dems.

Go Kerry! Thanks for telling the truth! If you aren't priveledged in this country, there is nothing left for you to do but to go into the military and serve, what is it now, 3, 4 tours in Iraq? I hope my dems get behind John and confront the enemy here at home so we won't have to over there....

Cyn - Ny

With all due respect, over this past 15 months of deployment, I have gotten to kknow literally hundreds of military wives, mothers, and family members. Some of these men or so accomplished and so successful in their civilian lives, you would be amazed. Othopedic surgeons, dentists, lawyers, accountants, etc. They all volunteered to go. It makes me crazy when people fall into this cliche of the under-educated underpriviledged service person. It's just not my experience at all.

King George is SOFT on the Saudis!

Tag your it

Rove goes looking for his symbolic target, finds John Kerry

You would think that anyone who would remind voters of the mistake in the middle east would not be used as a republican campaign symbol. Hats off to Karl you gain a few, you motivate many others.

King George has spent more time holding hands with King Abdullah than attending soldiers' funerals.

Regardless of what Kerry said, he did not send our troops to Iraq on a pack of lies and cherry picked intelligence, DUH-bya did!

Hi PamB ! How are you? Happy Halloween to you - although here in Wisconsin we have the kiddies do it on the weekend in the daylight. Not the same at all. :(

Joan - please read the context of Kerry's statement - haven't found full text, but it was obviously meant to be an attack at Bush.

Sandy, Iraqis are likely to form alliances despite past aggression because it is in their best interest when considering future business dealings to be had with the United States. Unlike the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, Iraq's militias are not entirely opposed to foreign influence, so long as it is on their terms. Iraqis have been doing business with the west for some time, and enjoy it, that's it wasn't necessary to launch a full scale military assault in the first place.

Iraq is a modern nation and, despite the fact that we bombed them back to the third world, want to continue trade. They've been trying to get us out of the way so that they could settle things and get back to refining oil for a long time now.

Posted by Joan_here on October 31, 2006 at 06:54 PM

Why don't you come up with some supporting evidence for your opinion? Or why it is not so?

The Republicans keep claiming that if they do not retain a majority in Congress, then the terrorist will get us. The Republicans claim that their dedicated actions have kept terrorist away from US soil since "9/11. Republicans want us to think that a vote for them is a vote for your family's protection from terrorist. The President recently said in Texas that "the terrorists will win if Democrats win and impose their policies on Iraq."

I would like to remind all voters that 9/11 happened in 2001 under the current Bush Administration and Republican controlled Congress. We have been under a republican controlled Congress since 1994, yet 9/11 happened.

The Republicans have nothing to brag about fighting terrorism. Going to war in Iraq was a big distraction to the war on terrorism. The Democrats can do better by fighting a more direct, better planned, and more effective war against terrorism. We can start by implementing the 2005 9/11 Commission's recommendations.

If voters do not fall for Republican fear tactics (again), we will have a better Congress after the November 2006 elections.

Bill Roberson

King George won't fire Donald Rumsfeld.

dixiehen - I think it is on YouTube now, if I'm not mistaken, I heard it. The point is - Kerry is making military families mad - not a good thing one week before an election.

dk2 - see my 6:57 post above.

King George won't let the Iraqis build their own country.
NO RESPECT FOR IRAQI SOVEREIGNTY

Sure many serving now are well-educated and were successful in civillian life, but they are stuck in Iraq due to the guard and reserves being called up to serve the lies and greed of this administration, can you spell "Iraq for sale"? Are our military to become corporate henchmen for war time profiteers? these noble servicemen/women deserve better.

Joan, The trick or treaters are out now, but because I live on a tiny street with only a few houses, they don;t detour up here very much!

I miss the old neighborhood when a hundred kids were banging on the door!

wish you would come back more often. It is hard to keep Gregg in order without you!

:)

Can we all agree men and women join the military for varying reasons?

Moving on from there - we have men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan that are being screwed by this administration and that's where our focus needs to be.

The U.S.S.R. went bankrupt!

The public has caught on.

The Republicans can only siwftboat others on things that have nothing to do with the issues...because they can't run on their record.

It's diversion after diversion from the real issues that people are pissed off about. People want solutions not diversions.

So instead the Republicans tried to swiftboat Michael J. Fox. He fought back.

They tried to swiftboat Webb. He fought back.

They tried to swiftboat Ford. He fought back.

They tried to swiftboat McCaskill. She fought back.

They are trying to swiftboat Kerry...and guess what? He fought back.

Democrats won't back down on what we know is right. And we aren't going to stop fighting till we get these degenerate, corrupt incompetents out of Congress.

Spunky and Frostie can smirk and jive all they want. They can lie all they want. Swiftboat all they want. But the American public is sick of the lies and angry with the diversions and excuses.

They want change and solutions to their problems. And change they will get when they throw the bums out next week.

PamB -

gregg's still here? I thought God had smote him by now! LOL!

gotta run - have a great night everyone!

Let's face it, the Republicans jumped on this, and will keep fanning it, trying to keep it alive. Let's not fall into their trap.

this Iraq war is on the ballot next week. We cannot let this detract our mission of getting Republicans out of office, and Dems in, and FINALLY looking for a Strategy that works to get out of there.

STAY THE COURSE, OR CHANGE THE COURSE????

Posted by Joan_here on October 31, 2006 at 06:57 PM

Joan - I am really glad they signed up, but most of the ones you listed are going in as commissioned officers, there is a big difference to associating with the group you listed and associating with the frontline group troops, marines, 101 airborne, pfc's and non-comm.

It doesn't matter what John Kerry said. Bush wants the topic to change. They say the economy is going well, It is going well for the wealthy. Middle class america better wake up, because this is nothing but a good old fashion middle class financial lynching. Where do all of the golden parachute benefits come from. These CEO are making record salaries. Bush ,policy in Iraq may have been a noble gesture (middle east democracy), but I liken it to a chest game where he made the first move with no second move in thought. He continues to blame previous administration for his problems related to Iraq. He doesn't look at the whole picture in Iraq or here in America.

King George has yet to hold someone accountable for the anthrax attacks.

The point that disturbes me is the fact that Dem canidates are always having to fight "back" and defend themselves. Are Dems too nice to generate offense and let the pugs fight "back"?

Posted by Marine on October 31, 2006 at 07:02 PM

Then the Iraqis will find a way to get us out of there sooner not later. I know I'm working on it from our side.

I'm just glad people are talking and questioning, not only believing.

kel- you're right the economy should be the issue.

What about those trying to live on minimum wage, or seniors and disabled people trying to get by on a fixed income?

How many people are using credit cards to pay for necessities? What happens when cards are maxed and they are unable to make payments?

Yeah, the economy is in great shape.

King George cut and ran from Afghanistan.

The Makaca thing is all but dead, The foley scandal has centralized in Fla., The Foley coverup by the pug house leadership is seldom mentioned. Iraq's WMDs is a forgotten subject. The pug congressmen's ties with Abramof is yesterdays news. Why do we Democrats let these things go?

King George supports the Egyptian dictatorship.

From earlier thread - there are voting machine problems with early voting in Florida -- here we go again

Warning --- if you vote opitcal scan---- do not vote straight party ticket - this was a problem in NM in 2000 - machines did not read correctly

I'm out of here for tonight --- let's get back on target - trolls scan to see what is the hot issue - if we stay on Kerry we are playing into their hands

King George gave classified information to male prostitutes.
[Jeff Gannon......... Oops. Sorry. James Guckert.]

And don't forget no brain cheneyburton' "no brainer" regarding waterboarding.

I hear what you are saying, dixie. This is why the Republicans will pay dearly for their spending habits. They understand that nothing they have done has resulted in a reduction in national debt and that we've carried deficits every year since George Bush was elected.

The rich and poor alike must pay their debt when it comes due, and ours in coming due. On the bright side, paying our debt now will mean that we owe less to communist countries like China who now hold a great deal of our debt and thus our interest. If we did keep going like this, some of those nations where America locates its factories might decide to seize them in exchange for unpaid debt. Some are already threatening.

Any pug canidate who is hanging on to DUH-bya' coat tails probably has their head up his ass. A vote for them is a vote for more of the same.

King George is helping Osama Bin Laden bankrupt our country.

Posted by rashlimbo on October 31, 2006 at 07:21 PM

How about Katrina? Those images are worth a thousand words. I say we make that our last and most haunting (in the spirit of halloween) image before the voters go to the polls. That and the flag drapped coffins.

King George has lost $9 billion in Iraq.
Where the hell did it go?

The problem isn't what Kerry said. It's simply that he said it. He cost us the 2004 election. I don't think we should allow him to cost us again. I wish he would just shut up and go away.
Posted by Paul on October 31, 2006 at 06:40 PM

I don't see "the problem" as being what he said. The only problem I can see is if he does not fight back hard enough to counter their lies. We'll see how this plays out over then couple of days.

King George gives no bid contracts to companies that cheat the troops and the taxpayers.

Don't be bothered by one bad comment made by Kerry, he's not up for election. Get back on the attack.

Posted by SandyH on October 31, 2006 at 07:36 PM

Sandy, you see what I mean. I forgot to mention Katrina. We Dems seem to overlook the shortcomings and negligence of the pugs to push an agenda which will benefit this country. The pugs should be hammerd and hammard hard for what they are doing to and for what they are not doing for this country.

If we did keep going like this, some of those nations where America locates its factories might decide to seize them in exchange for unpaid debt. Some are already threatening.

Posted by Marine on October 31, 2006 at 07:31 PM

Marine, let them have them. It would teach the Republicans a good lesson and cripple their campaign contributors. And it would show Americans just how stupid the Republicans and their multinational friends are.

Of course, the Communists will confiscate those assets. Squatter's rights. It's a universally accepted practice. And there will be nothing that the neocons will be able to do about it

When I think of all the time and effort put into this insane outsourcing fiasco. Well, it will hurt them not us.

It's pretty depressing that so many intellectually challenged people thought Kerry's comment referred to the military.I would have thought Bush's "plenty smart" comment would have bothered them more.This kind of display of our country's plight makes me wish that bird flu would get here a little sooner.I might have to move to europe to give my kids a better life.Very sad.

pee-wee,

In addition to the money missing in iraq, HOW ABOUT those thousands and thousands of missing WEAPONS! Probably being used against our kids right this minute!!

Never saw a more incompentent, ineffecient group of imbeciles in my entire life than this administration, and those leading over in iraq!

My, my, those Democrats. Having the nerve to try and get involved in U.S. election!

Cheney Accuses Democrats Of Trying To Influence US Elections

Speaking on Fox News, Vice President Dick Cheney accused Democrats of timing their political attacks and advertising campaigns to influence the midterm elections set for next week.

"I was reading something today that a writer -- I don't remember who -- was speculating on increased use of phone banking and cavassing of neighborhoods and get-out-the-vote rallies by the Democrats as attempting to demoralize the Republican people as we get up to the election," said Cheney on the "Your World With Neil Cavuto" program. "And when I read that, it made sense to me."

Dailykos

King George bought our boys CHEAP body armor after two years of no body armor.

Posted by SandyH on October 31, 2006 at 07:44 PM

Sandy, the economic impact would be devastating. After all, it is the large corporate invesments (buying huge blocks of stock) that is carrying the stock market. A mass selloff would cripple the market far beyond repair within the near future.

King George is too chicken to put the Iraq war cost in the national budget.
[SHRINKING DEFICIT MY ASS]

ACTION ITEM !!! Lou Dobb poll.

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/lou.dobbs.tonight/

Hey, rash.

The trolls are always coming in here saying we are wimps. So I say we go after them with both barrels blazing. When they start this swiftboating lying crap, we use it as an excuse to go after them.

From what the pollsters say, that's what the voters are looking for...they want us to extract some revenge and do a little damage on their nether regions. I say we grab them by the balls and not let go till November 8.

King George is helping Osama Bin Laden bankrupt our country. Posted by pee-wee on October 31, 2006 at 07:34 PM

The Bush clan, and the Bin Laden have been "business partners" for a mighty long time. Bush Jr does whatever Osama tells him to do. "Get out of Saudi Arabia!" "Ok Osama" "Attack Iraq!" "You got it, OSL buddy".

Posted by SandyH on October 31, 2006 at 07:53 PM

Count me in Sandy.

I'm old, ugly,ill tempered, socially unacceptable, and my Mama dresses me funny, but, I'm sure as hell not stupid - I didn't vote for DUH-bya.

Rove - mister nice guy - NOT!

"Judge Tells Lawyer to Drop Rove Claim"

"Judge refused Friday to toss out charges against a Florida businessman whose lawyer claimed that presidential adviser Karl Rove set off probes against his client to retaliate for a flood of spam e-mails to President Bush."

"U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain cited prosecution arguments the criminal case against Robert McAllister was started three days before the e-mails were sent in January 2005.
McAllister, 49, of Jupiter, Fla., is accused of manipulating stock prices. He could face up to 65 years in prison if he is convicted of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, wire fraud and mail fraud between 2002 and 2005 in a stock manipulation scheme. He pleaded not guilty Friday."
"The probe began when a staff accountant at the Securities and Exchange Commission was told McAllister had made telephone threats against a stock promoter related to McAllister's events promotion company, Millennium National Events Inc., federal prosecutors have said.
Prosecutors said McAllister hired stock promoters and promised them shares in his company."

read it here

-The Repbulicans in congress have taken us from a surplus to a deficit nearly twice its size. (I don't have the figures but I'm sure that someone here does.)

-Nearly half our national debt is now by foreign entities. More than enough money to grant those nations significant sway here in the United States.

-In 2001 George Bush authorized a full scale military assault on terrorism, a tactic of warfare not an enemy, and as a result of poor planning excaserbated anti-American sentiment throughout the world.

-Also in 2001 George Bush authorized war in Afghanistan, which has resently seen an increase in Taliban and Al-Qaeda activity as a result of our presidents decision to shift focus onto Iraq.

-The invasion of Iraq established that the administration relied upon faulty and sometimes purposefully misleading intelligence concerning Weapons of Mass Destruction to get us into the country and that they failed to prepare for the post-Saddam atmosphere encountered.

-The administration has failed miserably in its responsibility to secure the United States from potential terrorist attack by not taking Mexico to task on its inability to patrol their Northern border. The administration has also failed to uphold current laws that would make it easier to prevent enemies from violating that border.

King George spied on Quakers.
Quakers are not terrorists!

Marine, let them have them. It would teach the Republicans a good lesson and cripple their campaign contributors. And it would show Americans just how stupid the Republicans and their multinational friends are.

Of course, the Communists will confiscate those assets. Squatter's rights. It's a universally accepted practice. And there will be nothing that the neocons will be able to do about it

When I think of all the time and effort put into this insane outsourcing fiasco. Well, it will hurt them not us.

Posted by SandyH on October 31, 2006 at 07:44 PM

This can help Democrats big time Sandy. If they propose to come to the rescue.

Posted by rashlimbo on October 31, 2006 at 07:52 PM

Then they should have never taken that kind of risk. Just like Cheney and the boys should never have taken the risk going into Iraq without a contingency plan or any plan for that matter but to exploit the natives.

We can weather anything that happens just as long as the voters learn a lesson not to trust these incompetent GOPers again. My parents lived through the Great Depression and were stronger for it. They dearly loved FDR and were loyal Democrats till they died.

Cheney Accuses Democrats Of Trying To Influence US Elections

Speaking on Fox News, Vice President Dick Cheney accused Democrats of timing their political attacks and advertising campaigns to influence the midterm elections set for next week.
*****

This is pretty funny. So, as opposed to what ... the Republicans? The entire Republican campaign strategy has been one big attacl campaign. Look at what Junior Kean has done to Robert Menendez.

Then that nonsense from Felix Allen ... Geez, I think that the shotgun doth protest too much.

HOW DARE THE REPULICANS FOR TAKING THE TRUTH AND MAKING IT THE TRASH - I say send that trash right back at them!

Stand up with Kerry!
****

This is a big joke. No one is paying attention to this except the desparate Republicans. So Kerry mangled a sentence, so what!

Now get this:

Letter from Mike Stark

Richmond Times-Dispatch

Oct 31, 2006

The following is a letter to NBC29 from Mike Stark, the man who was tackled for a comment he made at Senator Allen's campaign stop in Charlottesville on Tuesday.

My name is Mike Stark. I am a law student at the University of Virginia, a marine, and a citizen journalist. Earlier today at a public event, I was attempting to ask Senator Allen a question about his sealed divorce record and his arrest in the 1970s, both of which are in the public domain. His people assaulted me, put me in a headlock, and wrestled me to the ground. Video footage is available here, from an NBC affiliate.

I demand that Senator Allen fire the staffers who beat up a constituent attempting to use his constitutional right to petition his government. I also want to know why Senator Allen would want his staffers to assault someone asking questions about matters of public record in the heat of a political campaign. Why are his divorce records sealed? Why was he arrested in the 1970s? And why did his campaign batter me when I asked him about these questions.

George Allen defends his support of the Iraq war by saying that our troops are defending the ideals America stands for. Indeed, he says our troops are defending our very freedom. What kind of country is it when a Senator's constituent is assaulted for asking difficult and uncomfortable questions? What freedoms do we have left? Maybe we need to bring the troops home so that they can fight for freedom at George Allen's campaign events. Demanding accountability should not be an offense worthy of assault.

I will be pressing charges against George Allen and his surrogates later today. George Allen, at any time, could have stopped the fray. All he had to do was say, "This is not how my campaign is run. Take your hands off that man." He could have ignored my questions. Instead he and his thugs chose violence. I spent four years in the Marine Corps. I'll be damned if I'll let my country be taken from me by thugs that are afraid of taking responsibility for themselves.

It just isn't the America I know and love. Somebody needs to take a stand against those that would bully and intimidate their fellow citizens. That stand begins right here, right now.

W. Michael Stark

Kerry smacks the right-wingers down:

"If anyone thinks a veteran would criticize the more than 140,000 heroes serving in Iraq and not the president who got us stuck there, they're crazy. This is the classic G.O.P. playbook. 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, or doughy Rush Limbaugh, who no doubt today will take a break from belittling Michael J. Fox's Parkinson's disease to start lying about me just as they have lied about Iraq . It disgusts me that these Republican hacks, who have never worn the uniform of our country lie and distort so blatantly and carelessly about those who have.

The people who owe our troops an apology are George W. Bush and Dick Cheney who 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. These Republicans are afraid to debate veterans who live and breathe the concerns of our troops, not the empty slogans of an Administration that sent our brave troops to war without body armor.

Bottom line, these Republicans want to debate straw men because they're afraid to debate real men. And this time it won't work because we're going to stay in their face with the truth and deny them even a sliver of light for their distortions. No Democrat will be bullied by an administration that has a cut and run policy in Afghanistan and a stand still and lose strategy in Iraq ."

So, what was the October Surprise?

A Tuna Noodle Casserole.

The Pugies got nothing and they are going down hard.

From 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.

Posted by rjsnj on October 31, 2006 at 08:10 PM

BRAVO Michael Stark!

I believe that we will see an increase in this type of activity in the very near future and also a increase of protests by the citizens who care about this country.

I wonder how much the connection to Condi Rice has to do with this since she was on the Board at Chevron. Nice to know people in High Places, esp. when you are in the Oil business!

Govt. Drops Demand for $6M From Chevron

"The Interior Department has dropped a claim that Chevron Corp., shortchanged the government $6 million on royalties from some gas it pumped in the Gulf of Mexico.
The department concluded its case would not hold up before an appeals panel.
The department's Minerals Management Service had maintained that Chevron owed an additional $6 million for gas it took under federal leases in the Gulf between 1996 and 2002 and sold to Dynegy Inc., a company Chevron partially owns.
Essentially, the government argued, that Chevron undervalued the gas it sold to Dynegy. Chevron paid royalties based on a price that didn't represent fair market value, the government auditors said."

story here

Did you all see this Dem ad????

I have not seen it run here, has anyone? It should be run 24/7 from this point on!!!

http://www.jabberwonk.com/flinker.cfm?cliid=l2rl5

If anyone here has direct contact with Dem leadership please persuade them to drive home this blatant use of gestapo tactics on Michael Stark. This is a classic example of abuse of power when a citizen is trying to ask a legitimate question and becomes a victim of gang warfare.

rash, it's called assault and Michael needs to file charges with police.

On Deorge Felix Allen:

"Ever since my brother George held me over the railing at Niagara Falls, I've had a fear of heights." [Fifth Quarter: The Scrimmage of a Football Coach's Daughter, page 43]

"We all obeyed George. If we didn't, we knew he would kill us. Once, when Bruce refused to go to bed, George hurled him through a sliding glass door. Another time, when Gregory refused to go to bed, George tackled him and broke his collarbone. Another time, when I refused to go to bed, George dragged me up the stairs by my hair." [Fifth Quarter: The Scrimmage of a Football Coach's Daughter, page 22]

****

Sweet eh? This why Felix doesn't resonate with the voters who are finally getting to know what a creep he is. Webb is going to take Felix out.

I believe that we will see an increase in this type of activity in the very near future and also a increase of protests by the citizens who care about this country.

****

This episode proves that Felix is a goon. Webb IS going to win.

Did you all see this Dem ad????

I have not seen it run here, has anyone? It should be run 24/7 from this point on!!!
****

pam,

this is a great ad. The Republicans are:

STAY THE COURSE
STAT THE COURSE
STAY THE COURSE

They are also full of crap that the economy is good. Who gives a damn that the stock market is up. That only benefits a small number of people.
Gas prices are cheaper than a few months ago but that won't last. In general, the economy is dysfunctional.

Posted by PamB on October 31, 2006 at 08:19 PM

Pam, that is a classic. I haven't seen the ad on any MSM. You are correct in saying that it should be run 24/7. It gets undivided attention.

Rasmussen. 10/28. Likely voters. MoE 4.5% (10/3 results)

Lieberman (CfL) 48 (50)
Lamont (D) 40 (40)
Schlesinger (R) 9 (6)

****

This is interesting. I don't think Holy Joe has won anything yet. Keep banging at this guy. He's a phoney.

NJ-Sen: Menendez surging
by kos
Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:06:29 AM PST

Quinnipiac. 10/23-29. Likely voters. MoE 4.5% (10/4-6 results)

Menendez (D) 49 (49)
Kean (R) 44 (45)

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

Likely voters

Menendez (D) 51
Kean (R) 44

Registered voters

Menendez (D) 50
Kean (R) 38

Strategic Vision (R). 10/27-29. Likely voters. MoE 3% (9/29-10/1 results)

Menendez (D) 43 (41)
Kean (R) 42 (46)

Even the Republican pollster has Menendez surging.

And the other recent polls on this race paint a similar picture:

Research 2000 for the Bergen Record. 10/23-25. Likely voters. MoE 4% (No trend lines)

Menendez (D) 48 (41)
Kean (R) 42 (46)

Bennet Petts & Blumenthal (D) for the DSCC. 10/23-25. Registered voters. MoE 3.5% (No trend lines)

Menendez (D) 45
Kean (R) 36

Rasmussen will show a 49-44 lead when his latest poll is publicly released, just a week after the last Rasmussen effort had the race tied 45-45.

Menendez's lead is real. He's pulling away, following a pro-Demcoratic current across the entire country. And one of the only two Republican hopes for a pickup is slowly fading away.
****

I agree Menendez is putting Junior away. Junior has killed himself with rascist commercials. His swift boaters disrespected Italian Americans and they are demanding an apology from Junior.

Now, we will sweep Stender into office along with Menendez. That wuss Ferguson is finished.

ESME - Look at this one, if you get a chance!

"No Penalty for Voting Systems Lapse "

"The Justice Department isn't penalizing states that fail to upgrade voting systems by next week's elections, a requirement passed by Congress in 2002.
Federal efforts to combat election fraud and prevent voter intimidation on Nov. 7 are among the most rigorous ever, Assistant Attorney General Wan J. Kim said Tuesday. He estimated 800 federal observers and monitors are headed next week to oversee elections in 20 states - selected in part because of close races there.
But prosecutors have not penalized states, or tried to hold them in contempt, if they failed to comply with the 2002 Help America Vote Act, Kim said. The law required states to plan for switching to electronic ballot machines and have a voter registration database up and working in time for the 2006 elections."

read it here

Marine, consider it done.

also:

Last night on Olbermann's Countdown, Iraq vet Paul Rieckhoff tossed off a line about politics and Iraq that went something like "politicians in DC seem more interested in attacking each other than attacking the enemies of this country."

Couldn't this be a fairly well-stated retort to Bush's attempt to pile-on Kerry for his poorly worded comment? All Dems (and not Kerry) should flood the cable talk shows after Bush speaks with remarks that go like this: "Republicans would rather attack political opponents than the enemies of America. Word games and smear attacks are really all they know how to do. If they knew how to attack America's enemies, wouldn't they have done more than stay the course for the last three years?"

Can you believe this bimbo actually said this about Michael J. Fox ? CLASSLESS !

Laura Bush on Michael J. Fox: ‘It’s Always Easy To Manipulate People’s Feelings’

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/10/31/laura-bush-michael-j-fox/

Pamb

Great ad, I hope they start running it in evey area!

I had not seen that one. But I really like it.

Laura Bush on Michael J. Fox: ‘It’s Always Easy To Manipulate People’s Feelings’
****

She is a sicko. But what do you want from someone who killed her boyfriend and got away with it. These are born with silver spoons up their rear people. They think they are superior to the rest of the people and can get away with anything. Trash! All trash!

rj,

btw, a Zogby poll has the numbers:

Lieberman 47
Lamont 43
Schlesinger 6

People believe the Republican's numbers are too low. They will come right off Lieberman if they are.

clip of the manhandling or "things like that happen" incident

just an observation, but why isn't the crew bashing macaca today? kerry? good grief, no wonder we lose

Posted by PamB on October 31, 2006 at 08:45 PM

\youse guys are gonna pull this off, sistah! i can feel it in these tired old bones.

Crazy Joe voted for CAFTA.

btw, a Zogby poll has the numbers:

Lieberman 47
Lamont 43
Schlesinger 6
***

Wow! This one is definitely not over. Holy Joe hasn't won anything. I think you are right. Schlesinger will pick up in the double digits. If so that may mean this is really a toss up.

Keep the faith. Keep after this phoney Lieberman.
He is STAY THE COURSE and KISS BUSH's BEHIND.

Posted by rjsnj on October 31, 2006 at 08:45 PM

rj, tonight when i'm having nightmares of the march of the silverspoons updabutz crew, i'm going to blame you! picture it, the head cheerleader and his lovely pickles, dickless and his porn queen, rummy and oh no here comes denny hastert...stop the music!!

Crazy Joe voted for OFTA.
Its time to put the middle class first.

Crazy Joe killed President Clinton's healthcare plan.
Its time to put the middle class first.

Don't believe the polls, Lieberman will win 60% - 40%.

Crazy Joe called for a vote to end debate on the bankruptcy bill.
Its time to put the middle class first.

bush hearts loserman. that should be good for the five points lamont needs.

kerry shoves his fist down bush and cheney and mccain's throats....yeah mutha fuckers let's talk about who has screwed the american soldier and who hasn't for the next seven days....definetly bring that shit on!

Posted by Marine on October 31, 2006 at 08:01 PM

Marine,

The more I think about this, I really hope the Communists do pull the plug on those factories and other assets...instead of expecting American workers to pay off all those useless IOUs that Bush and Republicans have been placing all over Asia and the Middle East.

The people who are to blame for the misguided, irresponsible foreign policy should be the ones who pay for it. I don't want my kids having to pay a huge tax bill for a policy that I never voted for...in fact voted against repeatedly.

Make the capitalists pay the piper themselves. And I bet that;s just what the Chinese were thinking when the nitwits came to them with such an outrageous offer. They took their bait, but plan to push over the boat and drown the ferrets after they have eaten their full.

Some idiot Republican the other day was saying that the Chinese have learned a lot from watching the Republicans and their economic policy...as if the Chinese haven't tried everything in the last five thousand years. But I somehow think they have never seen anything this stupid...ever.

Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki is telling his inner circle that the situation in Iraq is "nearly out of control," according to CBS News intelligence sources.

Pentagon sources tell the network that General Casey will require 100,000 more Iraqi troops than the 325,000 who were to be trained in order to secure the nation. The security situation, however, has worsened and Iraqi troops have proven to be less effective than their American counterparts. Additional American troops may be called up to help train the new Iraqi security forces, and the U.S. may also double the number of advisors in each Iraqi unit.

As of Tuesday morning, the Pentagon is reporting 103 US casualties in the month of October.

Prime Minister Maliki has ordered that all checkpoints in Baghdad be lifted. Lara Logan of CBS News reports that some American troops expect that violence will now increase and are left questioning why U.S. Commanders would allow checkpoints to be removed now. The move is widely seen as a victory for Muqtada al-Sadr of Sadr City, who controls one of the largest militias in Iraq.

Crazy Joe voted for tax breaks for oil companies.
Its time to put the middle class first.

Crazy Joe takes money from big drug companies.
Its time to put the middle class first.

hmmm, well kidz...we know what to do

here's the blacklist

According to the memo, the adverstisers insist that "NONE of their commercials air during AIR AMERICA programming." Among the advertisers listed are Bank of America, Exxon Mobil, Federal Express, General Electric, McDonald's, Microsoft, Wal-Mart, and the U.S. Navy.

i hope somebody will stop G.E. and pull the plug on that damned propaganda machine. listen to the radio, it's retro kewl!

Crazy Joe Lieberman, like George Bush, puts the interests of foreign nations before his own. He and John McCain are after all responsible for establishing a policy that sought regime change in Iraq and got us into this mess. He was, of course, just doing what he thought best for Israel.

same story from another source:

The list, totaling 90 advertisers, includes some of largest and most well-known corporations advertising in the U.S.: Wal-Mart, GE, Exxon Mobil, Microsoft, Bank of America, Fed-Ex, Visa, Allstate, McDonald's, Sony and Johnson & Johnson. The U.S. Postal Service and the U.S. Navy are also listed as advertisers who don't want their commercials to air on Air America.

The ABC memo is evidence of the potentially censorious effect that advertisers' political preferences can have on the range of views presented in the media. When Al Gore proposed launching a progressive TV network, a Fox News executive told Advertising Age (10/13/03): "The problem with being associated as liberal is that they wouldn't be going in a direction that advertisers are really interested in.... If you go out and say that you are a liberal network, you are cutting your potential audience, and certainly your potential advertising pool, right off the bat." (See Extra!, 11-12/03.)

Crazy Joe won't fight the employers who hire cheap labor from Mexico.
Its time to put the middle class first.

rash, was that you who wanted offense? look at this video

A new ad, set to debut at 3:30 today, will parody an ad accused of race-baiting Tennessee Democrat Harold Ford by gay-baiting Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman. An advanced copy of the ad has been acquired by RAW STORY and is viewable below.

The ad, produced by Proud of Who We Are and BlogActive, is a parody mocking the the RNC's now-infamous "call me" ad. That spot, which the RNC eventually pulled this month, showed a scantily clad white actress saying she met Ford at "the Playboy party." It ended with her asking the congressman to call her. Many analysts believe it was produced to play on racist fears of interracial relationships.

The new ad uses the same format to reference Mehlman's widely-rumored homosexuality.

"[I'm] tired of people like Ken Mehlman using lies and personal attacks in an effort to manipulate elections," said BlogActive's Mike Rogers in a statement to RAW STORY. "If Ken Mehlman got the entire mainstream media to give precious air time and column inches to his race-baiting ad, I'm sure they will have no problem reporting the response."

"And," he added, "there's a big difference between Mehlman's ad and our response: Ours is honest."

fade is right. Stay focused. forget Kerry ! Stay on message! IRAQ, IRAQ, IRAQ! Social Security! Medicare Donut Hole, Katrina, Gasoline raping of us, Terri Schiavo, Jobs going out of country, Stem Cell research, Republican's Deficit, corruption, Sexual perversions, Afghanistan,

"House Republicans, increasingly desperate to smear and slime their way out of the myriad messes they have left in their wake, are throwing as much mud against the walls as can be found. In a way, it is all reminiscent of the 2004 presidential campaign, when issues like Iraq, Abu Ghraib, the economy, 9/11, and the continued freedom enjoyed by Osama bin Laden somehow took a back seat to spurious debates over gay marriage and the war in Vietnam.

It worked, back then. Time will tell if it works this time around. There are, you see, an astonishing number of hurdles to be overcome by the GOP in their quest to maintain power. Going negative is all the GOP has left in its bag of tricks, and if the campaign for governor in Massachusetts is any indication - Republican candidate Kerry Healy's relentlessly vicious attack ads against Democratic challenger Deval Patrick have earned her a 25-point deficit in the polls, in a state where Republicans have owned the governor's mansion for going on 20 years - taking the low road may not be effective medicine
It is hard, you see, to overcome stuff like this:

103 American soldiers killed in Iraq during the month of October. 2,816 dead American soldiers killed in Iraq since March of 2003. 44,799 American soldiers wounded in Iraq, many of them permanently and grievously, since March of 2003.

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