Yo.

I see a pattern that bothers me. I am fearful that our party is playing politics more than standing up for issues.

And why in the world are our Democratic policy makers joining with right wing groups to work on Social Security issues.

What?

The Unifying Theme of Election 2008: Hillary Clinton

rasmussenreports.com Mon Oct 29

There are three separate races making up the Election 2008 Presidential competition: the race for the Democratic nomination, the race for the Republican nomination, and the general election. All three share one unifying theme—Hillary Clinton.

Among Democrats, Clinton is more than a dominant frontrunner, she is the standard against which other candidates are measured....

news.yahoo.com/s/rasmussen/20071029/pl_rasmussen/demprimary20071029

Excuse me? Nobody is that important.

All you have to do is examine the today's earlier open thread discussion to see how unifying her candidacy is. There is plenty of dissention out there, especially over Sentator Clinton's hawkish war stance.

Why the rush to annoit her? Who is behind this? It's not good politics to offer no alternatives so early. I smell a rat...named Rove.

Everybody knows you have to check out the pantry for menu possibilities and then make sure all the linens are ironed before you set the table for company.

Somebody is setting us up for a Clinton Scream and then the MSM will tell us I told you so. I think the Clinton War Room needs a new Commander. They are being outflanked by the Republicans.

evening michael.

Yeah, as I said last week Hillary's already been given the nomination by the media.

They've already crowned her and given her large voting blocks, even states.

Get used to it folks. It ain't goin' away.

FEMA fake news conference = fake agency = agency that gives assistance to no one.

Is this rational thought, poor policy or both - give funds to those individuals that are not even qualified because at the time you're hard pressed to show some type of assisting action and at a later date ask the individuals for repayment of the funds even though at the time of the giving you stated that it was a grant and need not be repaid.

Well this is what FEMA did after Katrina and in Florida in 2004.

Hi dems...I KNOW that I don't get here enough...something to do with having to work all of the time and moving to where I can't get high speed...but hugs to you all anyway. i wanted to share this:

Missing Nukes: Treason of the Highest Order

This article goes a bit off of the deep end at the end, but if the information that Nazemroaya is presenting at the beginning is true, and something tells me that it is, then the missing nukes weren't a mistake.

Wolf Blitzer is doing some hard-hitting journalism again by reporting on what Ford's crony said about Bill Clinton and Cheney AS A LEAD STORY. This is a classic conservative corporate media hack job shown in tv rooms across america at dinner time. For most families, this story will make the milk curdle on the table. And since Hillary is still being guaged by America for the top job, this is only damaging to her.

First off, it's bad to be reported on with Cheney involved in any way. And what a stretch they managed to do it. It's guilt by association. The story brings out that Ford thought Cheney should be dumped from the ticket. WOW! Hold the presses! What brilliant insight Ford had. He was such a visionary. Too bad he kept his mouth shut 8 years ago.

While conjuring up visions of Cheney's failures, President Ford, a man of zero psychological training, claimed Bill Clinton was a "sex addict." A man gets a bj and he's a sex addict? Men, we are in serious trouble, according to President Ford. But what makes this clever ruse standing is that President Ford is the husband of noted WH addiction celebrity, Betty Ford.

It appears that President Ford had gained special insight into all addictions because of his out-to-lunch history with Betty. It appears he was a regular Doctor Drew in his later years. In reality, Ford heard Betty and her bunch say "addiction" a million times, and he had nothing better to say about Clinton, according to this new news headline story.

Maybe he did say something positive about Clinton, like the record peace and prosperiety, but that didn't make the headlines today. Talk about a sorry day for news? No. Many important stories occured today, such as the paint factory fire in Iowa that created a massive ecological and health disaster that Al Q could only dream of doing. Imagine that, poor regulations at factories allow for a massive ecological disasters worse all of Al Quida and foreign terrorists. Too bad the media doesn't tell us that America is safer when OSHA and regulatory agencies are funded and work, rather the gutted and ignored.

Wolf is really scrapping the bottom of the barrel. But I have to give them credit, they have very clever ways of CREATING OPINIONS by associating stories with no scientific foundation.
Thanks for the news, Wolf. Now American moms and dads can talk to the kids about sex addiction at the dinner table. And CNN calls the program "the best" in the news business. More like it's the best corporate hack slime job portrayed as news.

Hi Deb, I miss you. I don't get here enogh too. good to see your name. Raise hell like Mother Jones! ;-)

Hey yellow...who'd ya used to be? Thanks tons for the news synopsis. I gave up TV for good about 5 months ago, because I couldn't take the lying spin.

It's great to get a news brief from a sane mind
;-)

FEMA almost got away with a major hoax "conference." How bold to think they could pull it off.

FEMA employee questioner: "Do you thing FEMA has done a good job in responding?"
FEMA Press Sec: "Yes, I think FEMA has done a good job in responding."

I love the way they use repetition to make a point. Repetition and lies... what a strategy. This was a classic Karl Rove stunt.

I was the ACTIVIST formerly known as... one of Stephanie Miller's supporters. www.stephaniemiller.com ;-)

It seems the White House and all its members can "At Will" offer immunity from prosecution that what they do will never see the courts. That the White House can bypass any laws of Congress, The World Court and any federal court by saying the Bush White House is above the law and does not have to be accountable to no one. That Blackwater can kill "At Will" and never face an Iraqi court or any legal justice anywhere. That the White House will at the end of the Bush empire absolve all from legal proceeding that even the World Court is below Guantanamo Justice of Executive Privilege. The arrogance to say, like all Totalitarians that claim supremacy before the scales of justice reigning supreme.

Congress will you let Blackwater and the cowboys have mass immunity from prosecution? The last, I knew the law was for Congress to impose and enforce and the Supreme Court to judge.

It is imperative that we have an Attorney General that will uphold Constitutional and Congressional law. Nobody even the President and his White House is above the law.

Congress pass a law banning White House immunity without due process. I think Bush is to dangerous to leave as President.

What minor official has the right to offer immunity to the federal and international courts?

If a soldier kill an Iraqi civilian with malice they will face a court martial, Yet, these Bush cowboys can kill "At Will", torture "At Will", and mayve even rape "At Will" seeing no punishment at all. These contractors can abuse civil rights, and human rights having a Bush Free "At Will" pass to reign as a vigilantes of Cheney Corporate power. Why they could steal billions and never face justice of the courts.

Impeach Cheney and then Bush, or Congress take away his power that Clinton would give back to the Constitution. Hilliary tell US what power Bush is abusing, America wants to know.

Do you know that every email goes into a NSA Microsoft computer that all our contacts are tracked. That every name in our address list is recorded. That is why email is stored on Corporate computers to bypass the need for warrants. That even if deleted messages can be restoted "At Will." Why Bush has far exceed Nixon abuse by aborting the Constitution.

The day of reckoning nears; are we a Bush America or a Congressional America, and are we a Bush religion or a religion of God?

Posted by Big_Yellow_Dog on October 29, 2007 at 08:43 PM

Schube?

HEY DEBDEB!!

That article has been floated a while back and I definitely think it was intentional and failed (like everything else this administration trys to do)

Edwards’ attack on Peru deal shifts debate

By Eoin Callan in Toronto

Published: October 28 2007 21:32 | Last updated: October 29 2007 00:22

The Democratic presidential field tilted to the left over the weekend as John Edwards came out against the US free trade agreement with Peru.

Mr Edwards is the first leading contender for the nomination to oppose the pact with the Latin American nation, now making its way through Congress.

The move increases the pressure on Hillary Clinton to vote against the agreement when it reaches the Senate floor next month.
...........

Mrs Clinton’s main rival, Barack Obama, recently came out in favour of the Peru deal, while Joe Biden announced his opposition.......

any bets?

I say she goes WITH Peru.

Hey Ladybug...see I occasionally join the conversation.

Go Edwards!

If he wins the dem nomination then we will finally get the trifecta that the pugs had for 6 years.

Sandy, coming from your article

For every attraction that Clinton holds for one segment of the population, there is an opposite reaction in some other segment. A review of recent Rasmussen Reports polling data found that Clinton might attract support from 18% of Republican women. But, 20% of Democratic men are likely to vote for a Republican if Clinton is the nominee.

-----------------------
And this is where MEN and their stubbornness really can MESS up a world. You guys really need to get OVER your insecurities! DEMOCRATIC MEN VOTING FOR A PUG OVER A WOMAN DEMOCRAT??? THAT'S JUST BS ON A STICK AND I'D LIKE TO SLAP EACH MAN THAT DOES THAT!!

GO AHEAD Cut off YOUR damn NOSE to spite your faces!! Risk the PLANET for your STUPID ego.

argh!!

wake UP BOYS!!

Posted by xdebx on October 29, 2007 at 09:31 PM

he's not doing so well debdeb :-( sowwy

Posted by Big_Yellow_Dog on October 29, 2007 at 08:29 PM

BYD,

It's Halloween season. The ghost of Halloween past and the Nixon era are haunting us again?

Don't sweat what Ford said. Remember he was the one who pardoned Nixon...that's all my college sons remember about him. So he has zero credibility with even the youngest voters, if they even know who he is.

Posted by SandyH on October 29, 2007 at 09:43 PM

really and did anyone NOT think Bill had sex issues? lol puhlease!

Way off topic...but have y'all been watching the comet?

Unexpected comet 'outburst' could be visible for weeks

Supposed to freeze tonight Ladybug...bundle up when you take the pooch out;-)

Posted by xdebx on October 29, 2007 at 10:00 PM

oooooo maybe that's why NASA did this

NASA Will Re-Open Kecksburg UFO Files

hehe

Deb yes it's ccccold! I'll be calling you this week too! The Debate is tomorrow not Thursday. If you get your satellite set up by then. And if you change your mind about heading to the Dem meet up thing.

Immunity Deals Offered to Blackwater Guards
Officials said the investigators lacked the authority to offer the deals and that they could complicate efforts to prosecute the company’s employees. Full Story:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/washington/30blackwater.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Suicide Bomber Kills 29 Iraqi Policemen
Police training in the provincial capital of Baquba turned into a blood bath on Monday when a suicide bomber on a bicycle set off his explosive vest in the midst of policemen, killing 29, the local police said.
Full Story:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/world/middleeast/30iraq.html?hp

The whole Blackwater thing is totally sick...if we had anything close to an unbiased media justice would be served...but we don't, so they'll get away with it just like the rest of this admin.

E me, Ladybug, with the time and all. I promise I'll try to get the TV hooked up so I can watch the debates;-)

Hugs to you all fair dems..."see" ya next time...

Whither Gore?

Dan Rather said he had been talking to James Carville, who told him there was a 25% chance that Gore will enter the race. (Because, you know, Carville is a scientist, so you can rely on that meticulously-arrived-at number. Sheesh.) Halperin quipped that with Carville it was less talking than listening (appreciative chuckle from crowd) and then said that, with "three titan candidates" in Hillary, Barack Obama and John Edwards (he noted that yes, he'd include Edwards here), " I don't think Al Gore thinks he can come in — and the polls don't suggest he can come in — and shake this race up.

Schube?
Posted by Dawn on October 29, 2007 at 09:20 PM

Nope. More like scooby-dooo. :-P

UN Issues "Final Wake-Up Call"
on Population and Environment
By James Kanter
The International Herald Tribune

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/25/europe/environ.php?WT.mc_idewsalert

US Dollar Drops Lower
The Canadian dollar continued to soar Monday, briefly reaching a value of US$1.05 for the first time since 1960 before settling at 104.90 cents US when the market closed. Read More . . .

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071029/oil_prices_071029/20071029?hub=World

Gnite {{Deb}}

talk to you soon!
Peace

US Dollar plumbs new low versus Euro
The US dollar slid to a new record low against the euro, as investors bet that the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates to help the economy this week. The dollar hit a record low against the euro in early Monday trading at $1.4438 - before pulling back to $1.4423 by late trade in New York. Full Story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7067111.stm

Will Schubert is the one that first introduced me to Stephanie Miller. That's why I said his name. Sorry YellowDog.

Canada brushes off allegations of Afghan torture
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada brushed off allegations on Monday that Taliban members captured by Canadian troops and handed over to Afghan authorities had been tortured, saying the militants often made false claims of mistreatment. But the French-language daily La Presse said on Monday it had found three prisoners who alleged inmates had been beaten with bricks and cables, given electric shocks, deprived of sleep and had their nails torn out.
Full Story:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071029/wl_nm/afghan_canada_dc

It seems the White House and all its members can "At Will" offer immunity from prosecution that what they do will never see the courts. That the White House can bypass any laws of Congress, The World Court and any federal court by saying the Bush White House is above the law and does not have to be accountable to no one.

Posted by dlesterpoet on October 29, 2007 at 08:48 PM

poet,

It would appear. Unless the House wants to impeach the dynamic duo. I'm going to change my party affiliation and rob a bank...see if I get immunity saying I was checking out terrorist accounts.

are the repelicans debating tonight? i was channel surfing and saw thompson trying to squeeze some sort of coherent statement out of his chicken fat infused skull...he wasn't doing well at it.

meantime we have the piglet administration trying to screw consumers as much as possible and again we find a guy running an agency that was established to protect us who wants to destroy it. these folks really need to be put in irons:

Strengthening of Consumer Agency Opposed by Its Boss

By STEPHEN LABATON
Published: October 30, 2007

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 — The top official for consumer product safety has asked Congress in recent days to reject legislation that would strengthen the agency that polices thousands of consumer goods, from toys to tools.

On the eve of an important Senate committee meeting to consider the legislation, Nancy A. Nord, the acting chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, has asked lawmakers in two letters not to approve the bulk of legislation that would increase the agency’s authority, double its budget and sharply increase its dwindling staff.

Ms. Nord opposes provisions that would increase the maximum penalties for safety violations and make it easier for the government to make public reports of faulty products, protect industry whistleblowers and prosecute executives of companies that willfully violate laws.

The measure is an effort to buttress an agency that has been under siege because of a raft of tainted and dangerous products manufactured both domestically and abroad. In the last two months alone, more than 13 million toys have been recalled after tests indicated lead levels of almost 200 times the safety ceiling.

Ms. Nord’s opposition to key elements of the legislation is consistent with the broadly deregulatory approach of the Bush administration. In a variety of areas, from antitrust to trucking and worker safety, officials appointed by President Bush have sought to reduce the role of regulation and government in the marketplace...

oinkers at the wheel

this is obviously a set up. no way state and the fbi weren't lined up on this approach to killing the investigation. probably an agreement among political appointees in the two agencies:

Immunity Jeopardizes Iraq Probe
Guards' Statements Cannot Be Used in Blackwater Case

By Karen DeYoung
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 30, 2007; Page A01

Potential prosecution of Blackwater guards allegedly involved in the shooting deaths of 17 Iraqi civilians last month may have been compromised because the guards received immunity for statements they made to State Department officials investigating the incident, federal law enforcement officials said yesterday.

FBI agents called in to take over the State Department's investigation two weeks after the Sept. 16 shootings cannot use any information gleaned during questioning of the guards by the department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security, which is charged with supervising security contractors.

Plainclothes contractors working for Blackwater USA take part in a firefight as Iraqi demonstrators loyal to Muqtada Al Sadr attempt to advance on a facility being defended by U.S. and Spanish soldiers, in this April 4, 2004 file photo in the Iraqi city of Najaf,. The Blackwater USA contractors were actively involved in defending the position. The images were taken by Spanish freelance photographer Gervasio Sanchez and were made available to The Associated Press Tuesday, October 2, 2007. The likelihood of criminal charges being brought against Blackwater USA bodyguards in September's shooting incident in Iraq is clouded. The Associated Press has learned that the State Department promised the bodyguards immunity from prosecution as part of its investigation into the deadly shooting of 17 Iraqi civilians. (AP Photo/Gervasio Sanchez,File)
Plainclothes contractors working for Blackwater USA take part in a firefight as Iraqi demonstrators loyal to Muqtada Al Sadr attempt to advance on a facility being defended by U.S. and Spanish soldiers, in this April 4, 2004 file photo in the Iraqi city of Najaf,. The Blackwater USA contractors were actively involved in defending the position. The images were taken by Spanish freelance photographer Gervasio Sanchez and were made available to The Associated Press Tuesday, October 2, 2007. The likelihood of criminal charges being brought against Blackwater USA bodyguards in September's shooting incident in Iraq is clouded. The Associated Press has learned that the State Department promised the bodyguards immunity from prosecution as part of its investigation into the deadly shooting of 17 Iraqi civilians.

Some of the Blackwater guards have subsequently refused to be interviewed by the FBI, citing promises of immunity from State, one law enforcement official said. The restrictions on the FBI's use of their initial statements do not preclude prosecution by the Justice Department using other evidence, the official said, but "they make things a lot more complicated and difficult."

the lord's mercenaries

Looks like Bush's free trade policy is here trying to replace the DNC Kicking Ass staff? And they can do it all for $50 US.

This is spookier than the the Ghost of Ford giving free sex therapy.

bbl, maybe not.

drat - missed jon's opening

oh well I'll catch it again tomorrow

gnite everyone

Peace

the lord's mercenaries

Posted by gregg on October 29, 2007 at 10:47 PM

The Republicans have sunk as low as your can go. They don't recognize any law but themselves...have no concept of justice.

Innocent people were mowed down in the light of day for no other reason that Condi's stooges needed to get to the airport on time. Get out of our way?

The Romans treated the Jews better during their occupation. Our nation's integrity lies in the dust along with the bodies of those that the mercenaries killed...along with the Constitution the GOP shredded.

The rest of the world and history might not judge us so harshly, if only our Democratic leadership had the nerve to impeach the suckers.

wake UP BOYS!!
Posted by Dawn on October 29, 2007 at 09:40 PM

Well when I woke up TODAY, Bill Clinton was in the news with Cheney, and another headline story was the new President of Argintina was noted as "the Hillary of South America."

Nevermind the new President had no public policy experience, and is noted for her dressing style and shoes. That's a story with an association that will definately make men warm up to her.

And then CNN gets all psycho-analytical and does a segment on Hillary MANuvering to men by going from dark suits to more feminine colors. Yep. They actually showed her wearing different colored clothes to make the STORY that she's attemping to MANipulate men by her choice of clothing. "That Hillary... she thinks of everything to work men." Again, the media maligns Democrats.

My point is don't blame some men for not liking Hillary. Blame the media for planting stories that make it look like she's a master MANipulator, with no public policy experience, and she goes to great lenghts to look the part of a leader. I can't understand why ALL these stories would rub men and independents the wrong way with the Clintons. Do you see my point?

It's 10:30pm, and a different program on CNN is going to AGAIN run the Ford-Cheney-Clinton story. Boy that's a story to make people think fondly of the Clinton's. Let me be clear what the news reported tonight: Bill Clinton is a sex addict according to President Ford, who must have some knowledge in addictions because of his wife and her Betty Ford Clinic. Nope, but they paint a picture of what you should think. It's really a story to make people think Clinton's are without strong character, ethics, and morals. What a time to bring Ford back out in the news. Nobody cares what he thought when he was alive, and certainly nobody cares now. With stories like this, is it really a shocker that "Obama is gaining on Hillary."

In closing, don't blame Democratic men for not warming up to the Clinton's AND Democrats. And don't blame Democratic men for Gore for "inventing the internet," and losing Florida from voter purging, vote flipping, and a slanted Supreme Court. We are still being told by the media to blame a few Chads.

And don't blame Democratic men for the swiftboat story being shown as primetime news, and not researched to show it was lies. And don't blame Democratic men for ignoring the massive voter disenfranchisement and voting machine problems. Blame the media.

And don't blame Democratic men for Congress' supposed historic low approval numbers. You would never know that in less than 10 months, Pelosi has held a record number of votes- 1,000! Blame the media for not showing all the legislation passed that makes real progress for Americans. With accurate reprting and fair journalism, America would love Nancy Pelosi and Congress.

It's past time for publicly financed campaigns. We must take the corporate media machine out of our election process. As it sits, the corporate media machine controls the election process. Our democracy has been hi-jacked by the corporate owned, operated, and controlled media. It's time for the people to take the election process from the corporate media, and a few partisan, private vote administering and vote counting companies.

I think congress should put it back the way it was where Daylight savings time ends the last week of October and starts the first week of April. Children who have to take the bus to school in the morning have to wait outside in the dark! Also, it has also backfired, people are using more energy. The American people should contact congress and tell them to change it back to the way it was.

*******
In a bid to save energy, Congress moved up daylight-saving time by three weeks this year. But so far, the change appears to have backfired after Americans last month used record amounts of gasoline as they got out to enjoy the extra hour of sunshine. Full Story:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2007-04-05-daylight-savings-usat_N.htm

gregg,

Letterman just had a cheney joke. He said that cheney was hunting in upstate New York today. He came back with his hunting partner tied to his fender.

I no longer trust Senator ever since he made that threat to invade Pakistan. The last thing we need is a Bush jr. threating others with more military action. For those that forgot or are not aware check it out below.

"Pakistan raps ‘irresponsible’ Obama remarks
Democratic '08 hopeful said he would consider military action in Pakistan:
Read the full story:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20104834

Fueling the Fires of War and Discontent:
$100 Oil
by GreyHawk

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/29/1833/0829

good morning. more from bush's war of choice and rummy's " democracy is messy " and the rip off of the iraqi people and the gross incompetence of the gang in the white house:

Iraqi dam seen in danger of deadly collapse
Failure could unleash a trillion-gallon wave of water, killing up to 500,000

By Amit R. Paley
Updated: 2:22 a.m. ET Oct 30, 2007

AT THE MOSUL DAM, Iraq - The largest dam in Iraq is in serious danger of an imminent collapse that could unleash a trillion-gallon wave of water, possibly killing thousands of people and flooding two of the largest cities in the country, according to new assessments by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other U.S. officials.

Even in a country gripped by daily bloodshed, the possibility of a catastrophic failure of the Mosul Dam has alarmed American officials, who have concluded that it could lead to as many as 500,000 civilian deaths by drowning Mosul under 65 feet of water and parts of Baghdad under 15 feet, said Abdulkhalik Thanoon Ayoub, the dam manager. "The Mosul dam is judged to have an unacceptable annual failure probability," in the dry wording of an Army Corps of Engineers draft report.

At the same time, a U.S. reconstruction project to help shore up the dam in northern Iraq has been marred by incompetence and mismanagement, according to Iraqi officials and a report by a U.S. oversight agency to be released Tuesday. The reconstruction project, worth at least $27 million, was not intended to be a permanent solution to the dam's deficiencies.

abdication and theft, hallmarks of the republican administration

Good Morning All...
Looks like Mr Bush is getting Stealth bombers retrofitted to carry 30,000 pound "bunker buster" bombs. He doesn't need that to bomb Afghanistan or Iraq, only need is to bomb Iran.
That's going to win friends and influence people, people like the Russians, the Chinese, not to mention the one billion Moslems we have not completely alienated,....yet, but Bush is working on it. I wish he and mad dog Cheney were already gone. I still think that impeachment is the only way to slow these incompetents down. I wish that the Democratic Congress we all wanted to win would grow some conjones and force Pelosi to put impeachment back on the table......

someone tell bush and petraeus that those bows they are taking are a bit premature:
Editor of Baghdad weekly paper murdered
Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:56am EDT

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The editor of a Baghdad weekly newspaper was murdered at the weekend, Iraq's Journalistic Freedoms Observatory said on Tuesday.

The Iraqi non-governmental organization said Shehab Mohammed al-Hiti, a Sunni Arab editor of the al-Youm newspaper, was last seen leaving his home in the western Baghdad neighborhood of Jamiaa on Saturday.

He was heading for the newspaper's office in the centre of the capital.

Iraqi security forces found his body later that day in the northern Baghdad district of Ur, which is a Shi'ite neighborhood. In a statement the Journalistic Freedoms Observatory did not say how he had been killed.

Many journalists in Iraq have faced threats from Sunni Arab militants and Shi'ite militias. Others have been killed by U.S. forces while reporting in the country.

The New-York based Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the weekend killing.

"Journalists continue to be killed in Iraq at an alarming rate, underscoring the risks of practicing what has become one of the deadliest professions in the country," CPJ executive director Joel Simon said in a statement.

At least 122 journalists and 41 media support staff have been killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, the CPJ says. About 85 percent of those killed were Iraqis.

Good Morning Gregg, the story about the dam is very scary because, with this administration, anything that can possibly go wrong, surely will!....John Boy...

Leave it to the ROYALS to make the U.S. are a third world country, and segregate us in CEO and working classes. There trade deals takes away the Middle Class and sends our jobs overseas to sweat shops.

goodfoe, these folks need to be in chains.

meanwhile:

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In an internal memo obtained Monday by CNN, Federal Emergency Management Agency chief David Paulison rips the agency's public affairs staff for a staged news conference in which staff members posed questions to FEMA's No. 2 official, Harvey Johnson.

--so what is the big deal, we've had a fake election, fake reasons to go to war, fake concern over social security and health care, fake lending in the mortgage buisness which has led to fake financial instruments all over the place, fake concern for children, fake presidential press conferences, fake attempts to help katrina victims....fakery is the hallmark of this misadministration....

Where is Cheney? He is too quite, so he is working with oil, or the invasion of Iran. Something tell me we need to know what he is up to.

Giuliani Still Working at Firm He Promised to Leave

By John Solomon
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 30, 2007; Page A06

Ten months into his presidential bid, Rudolph W. Giuliani continues to work part time at the security consulting firm he promised to leave this past spring to focus on his pursuit of the Republican nomination.

Giuliani's continuing involvement with a firm catering to corporate clients makes him unique among Republican contenders. It also complicates the task of separating his firm's assets from his campaign spending.

----yeah, yeah, yeah----what i want to know is does he or bernie still have the keys to the vending machines at rikers and if so how many cans of festa have they stolen?

Posted by gregg on October 30, 2007 at 07:52 AM.......You nailed that Gregg...I had not thought about it that way, but it is a case of FAKE EVERYTHING!

Morning, gregg and Johnboy. Off to read the news. I can't help but think that all this talk of Hillary is Rove related. Although I see a lot of talk about how evil the Clinton's are, I don't see much proof of what Hillary actually did to earn the title of bitch of the year. I smell republican tactics and I think a lot of smart people are falling for the bait. If you can't say anything worse about Hillary than she stayed with her husband after the Monica incident, that's pretty lame. Facts, people, facts. If you don't like her and must bash her on this blog, don't give generalizations. Tell us exactly what she did to earn your scorn. By the way, I support Edwards for Prez.

poet, yesterday cheney was up here in the hudson valley at some rich guys hunt club shooting small creatures. i don't know why the asshole can't just have a basket or two of rats dumped into his crypt under the white house and go after them with .50 cal. maybe rats are related to him...

Morning Dems,

What a nice quiet board last night. The trolls must be busy this time of year, skinning black cats, pelting houses with paint bombs, tearing down Democratic yard signs, etc.

I don't know if you all saw this one I posted last evening or not, but it is something we must all be aware of, and have a Rapid Response effort ready to combat these emails, etc that these Repugs have planned. They are already used this Right Wing Smear Machine sucessfully, and are just warming up:

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20071112/hayes

And SandyH, should you read this, know that my comments about shuddering about Edwards and Obama going Negative and Smearing Hillary has to do with the way this played out in 2004. The Dem Candidates did such an excellent job on each other, exposing every single fault and mistake of each, that all the Repugs had to do was sit back and let them tear each other apart. That is what I hope does not happen this time.

My Mayoral candidate I am working for refuses to let us go negative. I am in charge of Rapid Response. Instead of tearing down the Repug, the minute she has an op ed or piece of literature with half truths, distortions, lies, I lead a charge for letters with FACTS in it. Facts that lay out what the truth is. And I encourage and help people with letters that post all the positive things that the Mayor has already achieved, and her vision for the future. This has been sucessful thus far, and people look at the Repug candidate as a hatefilled, spiteful liar, and our's is Mary Poppins. :)

Morning gregg, JohnBoy and dlesterpoet,

I think we are pissing in the wind and it is blowing back in our faces. Noone, except we bloggers, gives a damn about America.

If we don't win the next election, or the repukes steal it again, there will be great public unrest in America and people will take to the streets.

Morning Cyn and Pam.

The Gap using child labor by accident and Mattel using Chinese worker paid 5000% or more less than its CEO. The Republican CEO fraternity of Bush Clinton Royalty, the new political faces of Country Club "At Will" Corporate policies.

Bush the Mattel President who serves China better than the U.S. And The Gap Future President who gap between her society and the people are worlds apart.

Oh Cheney, what are you up to? You are sneaking around with your contractors who were given immunity for all your illegal actions. How many people do you have in Iran and Syria creating problems and torturing people.

Morning, Johne, Pam, Poet.

I agree completely on the negative campaigning, Pam. The democratic candidates vetted themselves in 04.

On the other hand, the repugs candidates this year act like college roommates. I expect to see them join hands and break out in song.

Good morning Cyn, Pam and JohnE...yes John, to the streets it will be and rightly so,...if that is the only way we can retake our Democracy, so be it!

Morning {{{Cyn}}}

I, too have been hoping either gore would enter, or Edwards would take the lead, but it behooves us all to have candidates decide that the only way they can push themselves ahead now (Obama and Edwards) is to try and take Clinton down.

Do we want these guys to give such a poor image of her, that should she become the candidate, even their Dem base hates her? This has to be played very carefully.

This entire Election cycle started way too early. People are sick of them all I think. Obama, who was such a Rising star, is now fizzling out, same as Edwards who projected a man for the People. They cannot try and come back on the corpse of Clinton.

How can the State Department investigators offer immunity to Blackwater? Congress needs to have them in front of them and demand they terminate them from the State Department. Congress can rescind the immunity if it was done to impede the law.

cyn, i am hoping the republican candidates end up as cell mates either at a jail or a mental institution.

one thing about hillary is that she has been vetted for about 15 years now and i doubt there is much else mud that can be thrown at her. she really does seem to have locked this thing up and i am ready to help get her elected. but i wrote a year ago that the 08 election stuff was starting too soon and now here we are with a year to go and folks have nothing to do but try to sandbag each other...makes me nervous.

dlester, I hope that someone, Waxman or Connors or some Dem is looking into that legality of immunity right now!

You could see the half smirk that Pres had on his face when he was testifying. I thought at the time he had been assured by Bush, even if found guilty, nothing would happen. Sure enough!

the local news just pointed out that the hunt club where cheney blasted away at cats and dogs or whatever yesterday had a confederate flag flying outside one of it's buildings....

gregg, if you didn't read that Right Wing Smear Machine I posted this morning, check it out.

It gives as one example Hillary was smeared and blackballed in an email where Right Wingers put out a lie that she snubbed Gold Metal Moms, and it is still being circulated today, even though it has been found to be a lie. This is the kind of stuff we can expect to continue. And worse !

bbl,

Pam and gregg, you are both right - these campaigns started too soon. I don't want anyone to get so caught up in his or her candidate or anti-candidate that he or she won't work on the campaign of whomever gets the nomination. It's the only way the repugs can win again - divide the Dems. Or, cheat.

Off to the dentist. Have a great day, Dems.

And SandyH, should you read this, know that my comments about shuddering about Edwards and Obama going Negative and Smearing Hillary has to do with the way this played out in 2004. The Dem Candidates did such an excellent job on each other, exposing every single fault and mistake of each, that all the Repugs had to do was sit back and let them tear each other apart. That is what I hope does not happen this time.

Posted by PamB on October 30, 2007 at 08:07 AM

Y'all realize the reason Hillary is on top of the polls is that NO ONE can SHUT UP about her for one second. All the conservatives do is talk about her, all the other Democratic candidates do is talk about her, all the media does is talk about her, and pretty much everyone here (with the exceptionally notable exception of Bob) talks about her constantly.

Bob, I'm surprised you don't feel like Jan Brady....Marcia, Marcia, Marcia! Hillary, Hillary, Hillary!

On another note, but somewhat related...ever notice this tactic of the conservatives? They'll say "If you don't like it, give us an alternative." When you give them an alternative, they point out EVERY slight problem with it, and end with "If you don't like our plan, give us an alternative" or "They don't have an alternative", thereby COMPLETELY rendering your alternative null and void. Amazing how many people fall for that, isn't it? Kind of like Bush and Social Security..."Nothing is off the table, but it has to have private accounts". Conservatives want you to believe there are NO alternatives. There is always another choice. It may not be the easiest row to hoe, but there is ALWAYS another way.

Big debate tonight in Philly hosted by Russert and Williams. I've never seen them be fair to Democrats, and I don't think tonight will be different. We'll see. The big talk on the tv networks is that Obama said he needs to come out swinging. It appears the k.o. punch was telegraphed to the NYT by Obama. Now they are running with the story that Obama "needs to do something big." They are saying the gloves are going to come off.

The catch is that it's hard, if not impossible, to do because he's created a "uniter" image with "the politics of hope." To me, it's sounds like a page out of Bush's Faith based politics and rhetoric playbook. I didn't believe it when Bush said it, and I have a hard time believing it now. I don't fancy rhetoric from politicians; I want acts.

To prove that Obama is more rhetoric and talk than acts and deeds, I will point to his Senate record. If he has a magic uniter formula, I wonder why he hasn't used it in the Senate to atleast swing ONE near party line vote. But we all know that it can't be done. Th only evidence I see of a "uniter" is that Obama rarely, or NEVER, talks ill of Republicans. I'm leary that "uniter" is code for compromiser, and Dems don't need to compromise now.

All the issues are on the side of Democrats. From the war, to the economy, to health care, to education, to protecting privacy and the Constitution. I want a Democrat who will scream about virtues of Democrats. I want a candidate to explain the path to a better America that Democrats have fought for, and are winning. I don't want to unite with Republicans; I want Independents to understand why Democrats are right.

I'm not sorry. I don't see any room for compromise with a minority of "faith based" people who just want to take rights away from women to choose, and stop stem cell research. If they don't want Constitutional freedoms or technology to better lives, then they don't have to use them. But I don't want these fundamentalists in the negotiating room when my rights are on the auction table. I want a fighter, not a uniter.

Lastly, I question Obama's ethics and integrity for using the false conservative media reasoning that people who voted for the war are accountable for the war. We all know that the Administration manipulated the intel, and lied to the Senate. And the Senate resolution required Bush to exaust every option. The media conveniently forgets that little requirement by the Senate.

When someone goes to a bank or board or committee to get approval for a loan or transaction, and they lie in the process, it's the party who lied for approval who is held accountable. I totally reject the arguement that the Senate is accountable for Iraq. And since Obama has stooped to make this argurement, I question his integrity and loyalty to Democrats, and his sincerity for change when he claims to be a uniter. It just doesn't pass the smell test.

Now some of you are fuming that I'm talking anti-Obama so I must be for another candidate. Not so. I'm an activist, and I just want the strongest candidate to win. I stand up for all Democrats who are maligned in the media. I just want a solid candidate with no skeletons in the closet.

I see where people are getting the flashback feeling of '04 when Dean was in the lead, and everyone went after him, and Kerry came out on top. If this back and forth between Hillary and Obama continues, I can see how people will get sick of them, and want other candidate. I don't care what soft colots Hillary wears, or what Obama wears on his lapel. The door could open wide for Edwards, Richardson, or Gore. And when you look on paper, they are all very qualified leaders with much experience.

makes me nervous.

Posted by gregg on October 30, 2007 at 08:33 AM

Posted by PamB on October 30, 2007 at 08:26 AM

ME too! (in stereo)

Good Frigid Morning Loyal Democratic Buhhhh Dees ;-)

divide the Dems. Or, cheat.
Posted by Cyn_NY on October 30, 2007 at 08:44 AM

Exactly. It's Rove's divide and conquer ploys, and cheating with rigged e-voting machines run by partisan friends, and voter disenfranchisement strategy. And then they wave the flag, and talk about speading democracy. irony.

I agree with that too B B B Big Dog. :-)

Tired of Hillary? Here you go GregL! (chew on this) LOL! j/k

Schwarzenegger: Marijuana 'not a drug'

Source: UPI

SACRAMENTO, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger admitted to past use of marijuana but said the substance is "not a drug. It's a leaf."

Schwarzenegger told a GQ magazine interviewer that he "didn't take any drugs" and explained when asked about his past admissions of marijuana use that "that is not a drug. It's a leaf," The Daily Mail reported Monday. "My drug was pumping iron, trust me," he said.
"I did smoke a joint and I did inhale. The bottom line is that's what it was in the 70s, that's what I did. I have never touched it since," Schwarzenegger said. The governor also told the interviewer that he doesn't think it is necessarily the public's concern when a politician uses Class A drugs.
"What would you rather have? A politician taking stuff and not saying but making the best decisions and improving things? "Or a politician who names all the drugs he or she has taken but makes lousy decisions for the country?" he asked during the GQ interview. "A politician's job is to do what's best for the people and to improve the country, the economy, the environment. Why should I care if a politician takes sleeping pills every night so long as he can do his job?"

HA! Looks like I beat Gro4me on this article!

Ok this guy here is from NC and NEW but unfortunately he's a RINO. I wish he'd change but I love what he's doing here. Worth Repeating for DebDeb if she's reading today.

~snip~

Rep. Jones introduces bill to limit president's war powers
Sue Book
Sun Journal
October 25, 2007 - 7:10PM

WASHINGTON — Rep. Walter B. Jones of North Carolina has introduced a bill to prevent the use of U.S. military force in war without the consent of Congress.

The bipartisan legislation would amend the United States War Powers Resolution of 1973, which was passed in response to the extended Vietnam War.

Jones submitted the bill Sept. 25 and announced it Thursday at a press conference with three of five co-sponsors. One of them, Rep. Bill Delahunt of Massachusetts, a Democrat, is a member of the House subcommittee on foreign affairs which will first hear the bill. Also present were Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and Rep. Wayne Gilchrest of Maryland, both Republicans. The other co-sponsors are Rep. Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii and and Rep. Robert Brady of Pennsylvania, both Democrats.

The bill would prevent U.S. involvement in another long war without congressional approval. But Jones said it was not drafted in response to last week’s “World War III” comment by President George Bush or to new numbers released this week by the Congressional Budget Office putting the cost of the Iraq War through 2008 at $610 billion and predicting a cost through 2017 of as much as $2.4 trillion.

“This has nothing to do with Iraq,” said Jones, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee and was one of the first Republican congressmen to oppose the war in Iraq.

“This has to do with the Constitution and it has to do with the future,” said Jones. “From what I have seen Congress has not met its constitutional duty regarding oversight.”

Jones said he is also concerned about the long deployments of overtaxed military forces and families.

Obama does have a good pr team. Knowing that Clinton has much support among women, and he just had an issue rubbing gay voters the wrong way, Obama goes on Ellen. The news is not reporting what was said, just a picture of him dancing with Ellen. We all heard the message. "Haaay. Hoooo. It's all good in the gay neighborhood with women." This was a very clever damage control piece.

I wonder why we haven't seen any gay people protest here about the recent Obama anti-gay fundraiser issue? That gospel singer is pretty goofy for saying it's a choice. The only people I've ever heard say that are fake fundamentalist wackos... like Ted Haggard. I don't expect to see the gospel singer on Ellen.

Heath Schuler D-NC is turning into more of a PUG than Walter Jones R-NC

and then there is Arnold. I've never believed he was really a PUG.

I feel like chicken little - the SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING!! The walls are coming down! Far OUT!

Posted by Big_Yellow_Dog on October 30, 2007 at 10:25 AM

unless he feels common ground with the "goofy" fundamentalist - which is a REAL problem.

NOT about Hillary

Kucinich's wife told, 'Your husband's a FLILF hunter'

As most of the media pores over poll numbers, handicaps the presidential horse race and analyzes each presidential candidate's proposals, Comedy Central's Daily Show decided to ask a different question: Is America ready for a FLILF?

Daily Show correspondent Jason Jones examined the groundbreaking potential within the candidacies of Fred Thompson and Dennis Kucinich -- each, he says, would bring an absolute knock-out along to become the country's First Lady. Just how dangerous would a FLILF be?

Jones began by talking to an expert on First Ladies through history, and he had to explain the meaning behind his question. A FLILF, he said, is "basically just like a MILF, in the White House." MILF, a crude colloquialism, stands for "Mother I'd Like to F--k."

"To better understand this impending threat, I faced it head on," Jones says before sitting down for an interview with Elizabeth Kucinich, the 29-year-old, red-haired, fair skinned beauty married to the long-shot Democratic candidate.

A playful Kucinich was coy when Jones asked if America is ready for a FLILF and she asked him for an explanation of the term's meaning.

"What's a FLILF? A FLILF is an acronym, also a palindrome," Jones sputtered. "Your husband would be a FLILF hunter."

DAH I really do know there is a new OPEN THREAD