JOHN EDWARDS FOR PRESIDENT!

Good morning, everyone.

Political Dictionary

China blasts Obama call for toy ban

Good morning all

Hidee HO HO, Cyn. This one is for you:

Edwards applauds Clinton’s decision to ‘follow’ his lead

OHN EDWARDS FOR PRESIDENT!

Posted by Cyn_NY on December 22, 2007 at 08:52 AM
===================================================
Hi Cyn,

I'll second that one! Go John Edwards!

What a sad story! This is why our health care system must change:

On Nataline Sarkysian,visibly angered Edwards, "we're not negotiating..."
by wade norris
Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 12:04:16 AM PST

Today, an insurance company denied a family healthcare. This case of denial of coverage, was so grievous, that a public outcry arose.
Nataline Sarkysian died after she was denied a liver transplant by CIGNA- even after her surgeons requested the transplant. Besides feeling anger and indignation against the insurance company, I felt sorrow for the family. 'Is anyone listening?' I thought to myself.
Turns out, someone is. John Edwards...

* wade norris's diary :: ::
*

http://www.cbsnews.com/...

John Edwards tonight cited the case of a 17-year-old California girl who died after her insurance company refused coverage on a liver transplant to save her life as a call to action to change the current system of healthcare in America.

Nataline Sarkysian died last night at UCLA Medical Center after complications arose from a bone marrow transplant to treat her leukemia. Her insurance provider, CIGNA Healthcare, first denied the potentially lifesaving transplant, but relented after a loud public protest and outrage. By that time, though, Sarkysian passed away before the procedure could be performed.

"Are you telling me that we're gonna sit at a table and negotiate with those people?" asked a visibly angered Edwards, challenging the health care companies. "We're gonna take their power away and we're not gonna have this kind of problem again."

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/22/24848/660/658/425459

Morning, Morning Crew! Looks like you all slept in this morning. I've been talking to myself on the last thread. :-)

Morning all,

Crisp cold morning here, but no precipitation, thank goodness.

I see the pathetic sick troll is still making his threats. LOL, compared to the file I have on his spawn and crew, he is looking for lots of trouble !

Lots to do today, so I will be in and out.

The Democratic Establishment Can't Stand John Edwards

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/21/15416/155/830/425311

China blasts Obama call for toy ban

Posted by Esmeralda on December 22, 2007 at 08:59 AM
====================================================
Esmeralda,

Obama is right on target here. If the Chinese won't clean up their act then their products should be banned.

Posted by Esmeralda on December 22, 2007 at 09:01 AM

Loved it, Esme! And, your political dictionary too.

fyi,

Zogby Poll: Obama Leads Top Republicans

Telephone survey shows fellow Democrats Hillary Clinton and John Edwards would defeat some GOPers, lose to others

UTICA, New York - Illinois Sen. Barack Obama would defeat all five of the top Republicans in prospective general election contests, performing better than either of his two top rivals, a new Zogby telephone poll shows.

His margins of advantage range from a 4 percent edge over Arizona Sen. John McCain and a 5 percent edge over Arkansas’ Mike Huckabee to an 18 percentage point lead over Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, the survey shows. Against New York’s Rudy Giuliani he leads by 9%, and against Fred Thompson of Tennessee he holds a 16 point edge.

http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1404

Crisp cold morning here, but no precipitation, thank goodness.
====================================================
Hi PamB,

Overcast here. Looks like it wants to do something ... probably rain.

I left off a HO in my last post. snicker

Cyn, I've been up since 4 a.m. No sugar means less sleep, means more life to live (or life to lounge)

~~~~~~~~~~~`
High in the 50's the next couple of days, with weather staying in the 30-40's throughout the coming week.

Politics1

Esme, you had to tell me that as I was eating a chocolate cookie for breakfast....

Loved the photos. Bella is already developing her own personality - I can see it in her smile and her eyes. She will be a force to reckon with, and I wouldn't expect any less with such strong women in her family.

Now if this doesn't show you exactly what this Neo Con Facist Government is up to, nothing will.

(isn't it funny, how the paranoid, 'less government", Repugs don't seem to have any comments on this kind of B-S !)

FBI Prepares Vast Database Of Biometrics
$1 Billion Project to Include Images of Irises and Faces

By Ellen Nakashima
Washington Post Staff Writer

CLARKSBURG, W. Va. -- The FBI is embarking on a $1 billion effort to build the world's largest computer database of peoples' physical characteristics, a project that would give the government unprecedented abilities to identify individuals in the United States and abroad.

Digital images of faces, fingerprints and palm patterns are already flowing into FBI systems in a climate-controlled, secure basement here. Next month, the FBI intends to award a 10-year contract that would significantly expand the amount and kinds of biometric information it receives. And in the coming years, law enforcement authorities around the world will be able to rely on iris patterns, face-shape data, scars and perhaps even the unique ways people walk and talk, to solve crimes and identify criminals and terrorists. The FBI will also retain, upon request by employers, the fingerprints of employees who have undergone criminal background checks so the employers can be notified if employees have brushes with the law.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/21/AR2007122102544.html?hpid=topnews

Election day

Telephone survey shows fellow Democrats Hillary Clinton and John Edwards would defeat some GOPers, lose to others
==================================================
PamB,

I truly believe that despite these polls everyone of our candidates will beat everyone of the GOP-PERS. The GOP-PERS have assembled the most incredible pack of goofballs, liars and creeps I ever seen:

Rudy Ghouliani can't get past his corruption.
Mitt the Flip is actually a pathological liar.
McCain stands for nothing and is gaining no ground.
Mike Huckleberry is just plain weird.
Then there is Freddy Cheeseball ... need I say more.

Pam, that Zogby poll is from 30 miles up the road. Since he screwed up on the last election, I don't put a lot of stock in his polls. I don't mean anything again Obama, I just don't trust Zogby polls as a rule.

YUMMY! Cookies for breakfast!

I only made 2 different kinds of cookies and 2 different kinds of breads yesterday, but it still took all afternoon!

I can eat anything sugar-free. So, I made some cookies with spenda. ;) Hershey's Coco has no sugar, but it gives you the chocolate you desire!

From a 12 to a 7 in 3 months. And I've never felt hungry!
Still have the broad shoulders though. ;p

Nightmare Before Christmas
By BOB HERBERT

Christmastime is bonus time on Wall Street, and the Gucci set has been blessed with another record harvest.

Forget the turbulence in the financial markets and the subprime debacle. Forget the dark clouds of a possible recession. Bloomberg News tells us that the top securities firms are handing out nearly $38 billion in seasonal bonuses, the highest total ever.

But there’s a reason to temper the celebration, if only out of respect for an old friend who’s not doing too well. Even as the Wall Streeters are high-fiving and ordering up record shipments of Champagne and caviar, the American dream is on life-support.

I had a conversation the other day with Andrew Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union. He mentioned a poll of working families that had shown that their belief in that mythical dream that has sustained so many generations for so long is fading faster than sunlight on a December afternoon.

The poll, conducted by Lake Research Partners for the Change to Win labor federation, found that only 16 percent of respondents believed that their children’s generation would be better off financially than their own. While some respondents believed that the next generation would fare roughly the same as this one, nearly 50 percent held the exceedingly gloomy view that today’s children would be “worse off” when the time comes for them to enter the world of work and raise their own families.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/22/opinion/22herbert.html?_r=2&ref=opinion&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

rj, Read this one, snicker, snicker. People think Romney is really going strong -----but if not for $17.5 of his own money , he would be long out of the game !

"A splashy early show of fundraising strength put Romney, then a little-known former Massachusetts governor, on the list of serious candidates.

But since then, measuring Romney’s strength and appeal has become tricky because of his personal subsidies to his campaign.

In the second and third quarters, which ended in June and September respectively, Romney’s campaign would have ended the period nearly bankrupt had it not been for his own cash infusions.

But the imbalance on Romney’s books may also reflect a disconnect between his apparent financial strength and his real support among Republican primary voters.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7438.html

Good morning Dems!

They say the weirdest things

It's that time of year when we review the weird and wacky comments made this past year by some of our public figures, prompting the always apt phrase, "Is this a great country or what?"

Cyn, I have seen those pictures of Esme's grandbaby, and she is gorgeous !

Morning, rj. I rec'd a walmart watch email yesterday that said a ton of their toys have been recalled.

http://action.walmartwatch.com/page/content/recallwalmart/

But the imbalance on Romney’s books may also reflect a disconnect between his apparent financial strength and his real support among Republican primary voters.
====================================================
Hi PamB,

I heard that he was dumping lots of his own money into the campaign. Romney was a loser in Massachusetts. He lied to a frustrated public promising to create jobs ... you know his tax cutting / cost cutting bunk. Massachusetts jobs situation actually got worst under Romney. He would have been toast if he ran as governor. So instead, he threw his millions at a presidential run.

So, what do you all think about his ridiculous lie that he marched with MLK or was associated with MLK? The man is a pathological liar as well.

Bella is already developing her own personality - I can see it in her smile and her eyes. She will be a force to reckon with, and I wouldn't expect any less with such strong women in her family.

Posted by Cyn_NY on December 22, 2007 at 09:13 AM

If I have anything to do with it, she'll be charming and strong willed! And love to dance & sing...in her jammies, of course.

We've decided that I will commute to the big city, and in the next 6 months look at (foreclosures) homes in the capitol for a place for me to stay part time through the week. I've found quite a few on the internet. Sad, but I must find something reasonable due to someone else's hardship. The carpenter can repair anything, so with a little $$$ and hard work, I'm sure I will have a modest, yet comfortable home to accommodate me during the work week. I don't want to leave my home town, or be far from my family....especially Bella.

I'm truly blessed.

Time to walk, power walk! Then it's Bella time!

(This afternoon, I plan on strolling her up and down the street while I gather signatures for my Central Committee petition)

This is a keeper!

1 Corinthians 4:20

For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

Enjoy the day, everyone.

Morning, rj. I rec'd a walmart watch email yesterday that said a ton of their toys have been recalled.
==================================================
Morning Cyn. It's about time! It's simply tragic that we went from a nation with relatively high (though certainly not perfect) consumer safety standards to where we are right now.

Just watched a video of Edwards speaking from yet another American town where the last vestige of the manufacturing base is gone. It's hard to imagine a country that doesn't make any products ... except these fraudulent and ultimately worthless financial instruments.

{{Cyn}}

I don't hold much faith in polls either, just post them for the fun of it. If you like a roller coaster ride, then one should click into polls every day. Depending on who is doing them, what questions asked, etc, they can differ greatly.

Inhofe (R-Exxon): Truthiness Gift for Christmas
by A Siegel
Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 05:02:07 AM PST

The Minority on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Commitee (read James Inhofe (R-Exxon)) has just released a "report": 0ver 400 Promient Scientists Disputed Man-Made Global Warming Claims in 2007.

As a taxpayer, to start with, I am outraged that my taxes are used to support such truthiness and distortions.

As a human being, I am outraged that such deniers (Roadblock Republicans) are able to stand in the way toward moving the nation and the Globe toward a more sensible energy future.

And, as an analyst, I am outraged that such mediocrity is allowed to be pedaled as a "report" with the imprimateur of the US government and a US Senate Committee behind it.

A full throated examination of the mediocrity of this collection of misleading climate denier and climate skeptic and delayer material is beyond the ability of one single post.

But, after the fold, this posting provides just a taste of the reviews and examinations of just the first three of the "peer-reviewed studies" cited by James Inhofe and his staff-support for Global Warming Denial.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/22/73147/008/645/425480
==================================================

Inhofe (R - Exxon) ! Tee, Hee, Hee ... I like that one. What a blowhard. It must drive him nuts to be a second fiddle on these committees.

Well, dear Dems, I'm off to hit the shower. I have to shop for the last of the groceries for the Christmas dinner.

Have a wonderful day!

California to sue federal EPA over emissions standards
by Chris in Paris · 12/22/2007 12:13:00 AM ET · Link
Discuss this post here: Comments (51) · reddit · FARK ·· Digg It!

Schwarzenegger is right to be furious about the failures of Bush and his backwards EPA. I wish Democrats could show as much emotion on this subject instead of cowering to to the Inhofe-Dingell crowd.

"It's another example of the administration's failure to treat global warming with the seriousness that it actually demands," the governor said at a news conference Thursday.
More on both Bush's "plan" and Schwarzenegger's fury after the jump.

================================================
Chimpy is going to get his head handed to him on this one. So much for the GOP bunk that they don't like to interfere in state policy! The GOP stand for nothing except making their corporate masters wealthy.

morning rj,

Like I said before, If they can't lead, then Get out of the Way on global Warming because the rest of us (the Majority) are going to do this!!

bbl, too.

Okay later ...

Good morning, all.

Everybody seems to be off doing holiday stuff and exercising to ward off the goodies that could land around the waist. I'm cleaning house and wrapping presents today. So I'll be stopping by from time to time also.

I found this on YahooNews first thing this morning. It's the second threat issued in a week. Now that the MSM has bought into the White House lie that the war in over, I wonder how they would react if suddenly it all blew up again?

Shiite leaders oppose expansion of U.S.-backed citizens groups

By Leila Fadel, McClatchy Newspapers
Fri Dec 21

BAGHDAD — The leader of Iraq's most powerful Shiite Muslim political party warned Friday that the security organizations that American officials credit with helping to cut violence in Iraq must be brought under control.

Abdulaziz al Hakim , the head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq , became the latest Iraqi leader to raise concerns that the U.S.-financed groups, which are predominantly Sunni Muslim and known as awakening councils or "concerned local citizens," could become a potent army capable of challenging the U.S.-backed Shiite-dominated central government...

news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20071221/wl_mcclatchy/2793055

Apparently, with the Republicans the political majority is never allowed to have their way.

Our troops are being held virtual hostages in a violent, unfriendly country and could feel the wrath of the Iraqi majority at anytime if they feel they are being sold down the river by Gates and Petraeus?

Instead of getting out like the British are doing, Bush will risk our sons and daughters lives till the day he leaves office... just to save his pride. Unbelievable.

To day is another day in the race for get the nomination of the Democratic Party.

But today also is a great day, a day of happiness for many people, millions of people who unjustified was dismissed by the sarcasm and the racism comments of Mr. Lou Dobbs in his CNN’s program.
He uses this network, essentially to promote his perverse intentions of racism hidden by the flags of the nationalism and patriotism.
It’s a beautiful and wonderful Christmas gift for those who thanks his comments and he’s persistent racism commentaries, damage the image our Hispanic community.
Justice some time come later, but always come up!
Percy H Florez

Commentary: It's not over, over there

By Joe Galloway | McClatchy Newspapers
Thursday, December 20, 2007

...But the truth is that much of this reduction in violence is, like the violence itself, entirely homegrown and thus resistant to the analysis and understanding of foreigners.

We don't know why Sadr stood down his murdering militiamen for six months beginning last August or why, this week, he sent signals that he may extend the truce. What we do know is that his militia was, at the height of the killing, responsible for more than 60 percent of American combat deaths in Iraq.

We know that Anbar province almost overnight has ceased to be a killing field for American Marines because the local tribal sheiks had had enough of the jihadists they'd sheltered. When the jihadists began killing the sheikhs themselves and imposing their idea of Islamic law — cutting off the heads of barbers, bootleggers and women not sufficiently subservient — they crossed the line.

It was easy enough for the sheikhs to begin dropping the dime to the American forces on the jihadists.

More important, the sheikhs decided to stop their own Sunni insurgency and stop killing Americans.

They'd balked at participating in the Iraqi central government and army and police, which are almost entirely Shiite. That didn't bode well for the day when the Americans would leave and the night of the Shiite long knives would arrive, so the Sunnis began sending their sons to attempt to join the army and police. When the government turned them away, the sheikhs signed up to fight with the Americans for $300 a month, a rifle and some training.

That model has been applied successfully in once-rebellious towns and communities elsewhere, to the dismay and opposition of the U.S.-backed Shiite central government.

So let's review the bidding. The key decisions that have led to the reduction in the slaughter weren't made by us or by what passes for a national government in Baghdad. They were made by some of the people — both Sunni and Shiite — who were killing American troops just six months ago...

//www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/23518.html

Galloway seems to be suggesting that the White House is holding its breath. They feel that Cheney would be doing cartwheels if this deal was done. In truth, this administration and our military has never been the determining factor over in Iraq.

Even when Bush invaded, fate was ultimately in the hands of the people over there with guns who now seem to be holding a very precarious truce of some sort. The political majority is sending signals that that may change soon.

We need to get our troops out of there before Round Two begins.

bbl.

Good advent of Winter,

California to sue federal EPA over emissions standards
***

Harry and Nancy are saying that the energy bill is progress by raising car emission standards. The energy bill is behind the standards that were to be set by California, and so it was let to pass so that some greenishness could be displayed in DC.

Arnold's fury is feigned, and California's actions are still not enough. He is trying to take control of and direct the energy future as the alternative to oil wars and climate destruction.

Why did we even need an energy bill? Billions for nuclear, billions for oil, billions for alcohol?
That is way out of line for any decent future and should have never been proposed.

Posted by Pflorez on December 22, 2007 at 11:17 AM

I'm confused by your post...did something happen to Dobbs?

To we stay or do we go?

December 22, 2007
Richardson: Clinton has 'flip-flopped' on Iraq

Richardson: Clinton is trying to "duck and weave." AMES, Iowa (CNN) ­– Bill Richardson is now the latest Democratic presidential candidates to accuse Hillary Clinton of drastically changing her position on Iraq this week. “She’s flip-flopped so many times, I don’t know what her position is. It changes almost every day,” Richardson told CNN Friday.

Richardson, who is running a distant fifth among Democrats in Iowa in most polls — with the state's first-in-the-nation caucuses less than two weeks away — has stepped up his attacks on the rest of the presidential field in recent days.

Clinton has long maintained that even after most U.S. troops have been pulled out of Iraq, some troops would have to remain there — and that they could be there for several years.

But at a town hall event in Elkader, Iowa on Wednesday, Clinton told a crowd she had consulted with military advisors on Iraq and that “I think we can bring nearly everybody home, certainly within a year if we keep at it and do it very steadily.”

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards has characterized those comments as a policy shift. On Friday, Richardson agreed, saying that Clinton was trying to "outflank" him. "I’ve got an ad that says ‘are you going to get all the troops out by 2013?’” And so she’s trying to duck and weave.”

“I do know she wants to keep troops beyond one year,” said Richardson, “and I want her to explain her position.”

The Clinton camp disagrees with that assessment, and has responded to the criticism by saying the New York senator has always maintained a need for “small residual force” to remain in Iraq after most U.S. troops have left, and called for a slow but steady pace of withdrawal.

politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

Kristen,

I couldn't find anything on the CNN website about Dobbs. I assume he's just been taking vacation time off for the holidays?

We need to get our troops out of there before Round Two begins.

Posted by SandyH on December 22, 2007 at 11:24 AM

Hey Sandy, saw this yesterday, -stick US soldiers in a nearly impossible situation and hope for what, a miracle?:
***

U.S. Soldiers Stage Mutiny, Refuse Orders in Iraq Fearing They Would Commit Massacre in Revenge for IED Attack
*****

AMY GOODMAN: The refusal of these men to go out, because they were afraid they would commit a massacre. Explain that.

KELLY KENNEDY: Yeah. They’re—I need to say this: they are good guys. I mean, I saw them take care of each other. I saw them take care of Iraqis.

When the IED, the roadside bomb, went off, it was so close to one of the Iraqi police stations that they should have been able to see somebody burying that. It was right in front of somebody’s house, and nobody said anything. Nobody said to these guys, “Listen, there’s a bomb here. We’re worried about you,” even though they had been going out and patrolling and doing what they were supposed to be doing, in their minds. So when that IED went off and killed their five friends, they’re in—you have to understand, they’ve been living together for a year like brothers in the basement of this old palace. And it’s—they’re right on top of each other and going out and taking care of each other on the battlefield, daily firefights. And so, they’re closer probably than anyone could be. And when they lost their five men, they—I think they gave up on the Iraqi people.

If the Iraqi people weren’t willing to fight for them, then what was the point? And they were so angry. They just wanted to go out and take out the whole city. They didn’t understand why they couldn’t finish up what they call the war, and the whole idea of counterinsurgency is that you’re supposed to be building relationships, but they’re trying to build relationships with people who obviously aren’t that concerned about them. So this idea of a massacre was just—they were just so angry, they could barely contain it anymore.

www.democracynow.org/2007/12/21/us_soldiers_stage_mutiny_refuse_orders

Morning all good Dems. I wish I was at home or doing errands to get ready for the holidays. Instead, I'm at work, finishing up some stuff before next week.
Sandy: You said "if it all blows up again" - I think it's more like "WHEN it all blows up again."
TomN: I so agree, we do need envoirnmental leadership from D.C. but, until we elect a Dem. President and hold a majority in both houses of congress, we won't get it. It's just that simple. The rethugs are the party of facists and the Dems are the party of the people.

Congress directs the president, if they call for a CIC, to command legal military action they choose to fund.

Gates should be reprimanded and fired for military criticism of congress. That is forbidden. A press conference from the pentagon? Who called it, politicos?
***

Gates: Congress' Iraq, Afghan War Funding Undermines Military

WASHINGTON (AP)--Paying for the wars in Iraq in Afghanistan in fits and starts undermines U.S. military planning and risks the gains made by U.S. troops over the past year, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday.

Congress this week approved $70 billion for combat operations, but that is only half of what the President George W. Bush requested.

"We will again face the risk of running out of money," Gates said at a Pentagon news conference. He said the uncertainly of funding requires the Defense Department to make "short-term plans and short-term decisions."

Hi Sandy, thanks for looking, I didn't see anything about him either.

Hello Mary,

Dems have some problem people, but are the best hope for change and a liveable future. So here's my idea for Dem supermajority and exec in 08. Select Edwards early in the primaries and set Clinton and Obama onto all the GOP candidates possible for takeover. Work together and be less divisive to get the control necessary to get the job done. It is too important a time to be divided, and IMO, Clinton and Obama divide the country and would take away the focus on congress and the senate.

The issue and rallying messaage for the dems and country should be Universal Health Care.

Hi gals, Lou Dobbs is still with CNN, at least his nighttime slot shows Lou Dobbs tonight when Katie is on in his slot. Probably on a vacation. Even Racist xenophobics need a little time off !

Hopefully this wasn't on anyone's wish list this year, but just incase you bought this as a gift...

Toy removed for asbestos link

WASHINGTON -- Four days before Christmas, Planet Toys Inc. wants stores to remove the company's CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit from their shelves after some tests had revealed samples of asbestos included in the kits.

The New York toy manufacturer sent a "stop sale" notice Friday, according to a statement on the company's Web site saying an investigation is under way into whether the kits pose a health threat to anyone using them.

Posted by TomN on December 22, 2007 at 12:06 PM
Hi Tom: I agree except I want Sen. Biden as POTUS. As that is unlikely to happen, I would love to see an Edwards/Biden team as I think that Edwards could use some 'schooling' on Foreign Relations and Sen. Biden has the most successful experience in that area.

When I look at who is running on either side I ask out of a nation of 300,000.000,is this is the best we can do?

No room for them at the Paris Hilton Inn?

Tent city in suburbs is cost of home crisis

By Dana Ford Fri Dec 21

ONTARIO, California (Reuters) - Between railroad tracks and beneath the roar of departing planes sits "tent city," a terminus for homeless people. It is not, as might be expected, in a blighted city center, but in the once-booming suburbia of Southern California.

The noisy, dusty camp sprang up in July with 20 residents and now numbers 200 people, including several children, growing as this region east of Los Angeles has been hit by the U.S. housing crisis.

The unraveling of the region known as the Inland Empire reads like a 21st century version of "The Grapes of Wrath," John Steinbeck's novel about families driven from their lands by the Great Depression...

news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071221/us_nm/usa_housing_social_dc

I remember reading a similar article a month ago about similar conditions in Connecticut where middle class families were living together because rental housing was so high.

It's been no secret to food pantries who are seeing more middle class families among the working poor looking for help...the homeless eat at shelters. During the last Bush recession we all learned just how close anybody can be to a marginal existence in this country.

"Homeless" will haunt Bush just as it did Hoover and will be the final nail in the Bush legacy next to Katrina, Abu Graibe/Gitmo, and WMD...among others.

Bush Sr. should count himself lucky that Senator Clinton would even consider him as a roving ambassador for our country when he is a member of THAT family.

I suppose the Bush crime family has done pretty well for themselves with all the war profiteering across generations. If the grandfather could do business with the Third Reich, it's easy to see why Bush Jr. isn't concerned about these tent cities springing up in this country...any more that Grand Dad was about the Jewish ghettoes leading up to concentration camps in WWII.

Suffering is for the little people...and the middle class it now appears.

Journal:

BILL MOYERS: What is it? No one knows or seems to care but as commercials for the thing hit the airwaves, citizens everywhere are seduced into believing they can't live without it, so they descend in droves to buy as many as they can get. Enter: Word Girl!

WORDGIRL: Everyone stop, you're being tricked! The Thing doesn't do anything!

PERSON 1: Yes it does! It does so much stuff!

PERSON 2: The commercial says I needed one for my boat!

WORDGIRL: You don't have a boat!

PERSON 2: Hon, we need a boat for our THING!

WORDGIRL: You don't need a THING!

PERSON 2: But the commercial says !

BILL MOYERS: Watching all this, it seemed a good time to put in a call to Benjamin Barber. Like WordGirl, he's standing athwart history and shouting stop.

You may remember Benjamin Barber from his international best seller, JIHAD VERSUS MCWORLD. Among other things, he's a renowned political theorist and a distinguished senior fellow at Demos — a public policy think tank here in New York City.

His latest book is CONSUMED, about how the global economy produces too many goods we don't need, too few of those we do need, and, to keep the racket going, targets children as consumers in a market where shopping is a twenty-four hour business. Capitalism, he says, "seems quite literally to be consuming itself, leaving democracy in peril and the fate of citizens uncertain." Benjamin Barber answered my call - and he's with me now.
****

BENJAMIN BARBER: Yeah. Well, wherever Milton Friedman is, right now, he's at the soul of the Republican and the Democratic party. And the reality is, here, there is a powerful role for, I'm not gonna say our government, for democratic institutions. For citizens. For participatory institutions. They include our government. They include our townships. They include our PTAs. They include our NGOs and our philanthropies. There's a whole civil society which is a whole lot more than just the government. Where we act not as private consumers, or selfish individuals, but we act as neighbors. We act as citizens. We act as friends to establish the social character of the world we live in. And we keep doing it wrong.

You know, everyone loves Wal-Mart as a consumer. So do I. Lots of goods, cheap prices. But it has social consequences that, as a consumers, we don't think about. We know it means low wages, it means low wages without pensions. It means wage earners who don't have proper healthcare. But, worse than that, it means the destruction of mom and pop stores. The destruction of retail. The destruction of those very little shops you were talking about that are at the heart of America's villages and towns.

BILL MOYERS: But that is the creative destruction isn't it. That's at the heart of capitalism.

BENJAMIN BARBER: But, you know what? Democracy has a simple rule. The social conscience. The citizen trumps the consumer. We, Milton Friedman, with his help, we've inverted that. Now the consumer trumps the citizen. And we're getting a society that manifests the trumping by the consumer of civics. Which means a selfish privatized and, ultimately, corrupt society. And one no one wants their own children to grow up in.

www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/12212007/transcript4.html

What is not offered is the key to this economic mess spreading around the world.

Any one with a conscience is a threat to this system and will be imprisoned and tortured until it is gone. How fun is that? Who needs a conscience with all this great stuff to wallow in?

Posted by TomN on December 22, 2007 at 11:37 AM

Tom,

I read that yesterday, too.

There was another article last week describing another situation where a unit was divided over how to proceed. When a professional, volunteer army begins to question their officers and debates among themselves, you know something is terribly wrong at the top command...and the mission is murky at best.

There have also been stories leaking out that commands are sending out untis and they just pull over to the side of the road till it's time to return to post. The officers are even part of the rebellion.

It's not just the worn out equipment and the constant re-deployments from stretching the troops and the mission too long, it's now the actual miliatry chain of command that is falling apart. This is not a good sign for the future.

The Russian military must feel great about the mistakes being made by this Pentagon. The Chinese see it as an opportunity. They are taking all those interest payment we make them each month on our National Debt and using them to build up their army as well.

What are we going to be left with when this is all said and done?

When I look at who is running on either side I ask out of a nation of 300,000.000,is this is the best we can do?

Posted by freedomforce on December 22, 2007 at 12:53 PM

When you look at the collective strength of our slate of candidates and the quality people they could bring into play to develop policy and run governmental agencies, you see the potential for change and growth.

The other side has only religious fanatics and frat boys running the show. That's worked out real well?

The difference in quality is so startling only a worried Republican or a lobbyist for foreign multinationalist interests would try to compare the two.

Hey, are these the grinches that are stealing Christmas? Take extra gas money charged on the credit card, then charge interest cause they own the debt and bank too. Debtor nation status is limiting our future choices and putting the payments onto the grandchildren.
****

Saudis plan huge sovereign wealth fund

By Henny Sender and David Wighton in New York and Sundeep Tucker in Hong Kong

Published: December 21 2007 09:23 | Last updated: December 21 2007 19:37

Saudi Arabia plans to establish a sovereign wealth fund that is expected to dwarf Abu Dhabi’s $900bn and become the largest in the world.

The new fund will be a formidable rival for other government-owned investment funds in the Middle East and Asia, which are playing an increasingly active role in channelling capital to western companies, particularly financial companies hard hit by the US mortgage meltdown.
******

Until now, SAMA’s investment policy has been conservative and largely limited to investment in bonds, especially US Treasuries, and shares. That contrasts with the mandate of its peers in the Gulf, which is increasingly geared to higher returns for when oil runs out, by investing in alternative assets such as private equity and hedge funds.

That emphasis has lately yielded to a focus on buying major stakes in troubled financial firms on both sides of the Atlantic in the wake of the subprime mortgage meltdown.

whoops

link

and later

I would be happy with ANY of the Dems running !

Not a one of them that won't be FAR better than what we have had for 7 years !

I am eager for the candidate to be chosen, and let the Games begin !

His latest book is CONSUMED, about how the global economy produces too many goods we don't need, too few of those we do need, and, to keep the racket going

TomN,

Thanks for this post.

Isn't it the truth? Why can't this country produce the necessities of life for its citizen any longer?

Health care, housing, reliable energy sources, or even affordable milk and eggs for growing children are out of reach for far too many...and the numbers lacking in these essential goods and services are growing fast.

With the baby boomers about to retire on small incomes and young people not able to find good-paying jobs, the situation is about to come to a head.

Could it be because the GOP isn't even trying and hasn't since the advent of St. Reagan? Bingo.

bbl.

10:02 AM 12/22/07

A few days ago, in a fit of pique after what I consisidered to be a prticularly nasty slap-in-the-face from my Senators, I posted a notice that I was going to write-in the name of my Congressman when voting for the Senator who is running in November. This was a silly idea, and after I cooled down I realized that it would probably get my ballot thrown out entirely if my Congressman's name appeared twice. Since the vultures will be looking for any excuse to throw out Democratic ballots, I've decided to either write-in my own name or go ahead and vote for the Senator, even though will never forgive her. This enrages me, but I have no other choice.

It's not just the worn out equipment and the constant re-deployments from stretching the troops and the mission too long, it's now the actual miliatry chain of command that is falling apart. This is not a good sign for the future.

Posted by SandyH on December 22, 2007 at 01:08 PM

=========================================

Al-Sahhaf is known for his daily press briefings in Baghdad during the 2003 Iraq War. His colorful appearances caused him to be nicknamed Baghdad Bob (in the style of previous propagandists with alliterative aliases such as "Tokyo Rose," "Axis Sally," "Hanoi Hannah," and "Seoul City Sue") by commentators in the United States and Comical Ali (an allusion to Chemical Ali, the nickname of former Iraqi Defence Minister Ali Hassan al-Majid) by commentators in the United Kingdom.

On April 7, 2003, al-Sahhaf claimed that there were no American troops in Baghdad, and that the Americans were committing suicide by the hundreds at the city's gates. At that time, American tanks were patrolling the streets only a few hundred yards from the location where the press conference was held. His last public appearance as Information Minister was on April 8, 2003, when he said that the Americans "are going to surrender or be burned in their tanks. They will surrender, it is they who will surrender".

He gained something of a cult following in the west, appearing on T-shirts, cartoons, and from internet phenomena came satirical websites. One such site featured sound bites of the minister, as well as photoshopped pictures of him on the Star Wars Death Star, at The Battle of Waterloo and at the D-Day landings, in all cases maintaining that "everything is just fine."[2]
=======================================

Did you get your Bagdad Bob T-shirt Sandy.

hey radlib, you think YOU have it bad, I have Lieber-loser for a Senator! Until we get all Democrats in office, THEN we will start weeding out the bad ones, so hang in there, the fight is not over just because the Dems win the WH and the Senate Majority .

Here was my Letter to editor in paper today:

"Well, Well, Well ! So Joe Lieberman is endorsing John McCain for President ! Why aren't I surprised? Could it be because Joe is assured that McCain will keep us stuck in the quagmire of Iraq? That despite there being no Political reconcilliation between the different sects there, the US will stick it out and build permanent bases within the country. That maybe, just maybe Joe can convince McCain to bomb the hell out of Iran?

I am sure that the Republicans within the State of Ct are thrilled at their vote last year and their candidate's choice for President , but for those Democrats who argued that Joe was a Democrat, and for those Independents who felt the same, and pulled the lever for Joe, are you feeling just a bit sheepish and embarassed? Nancy DiNardo? James Amann? All you other Democratic leaders in the state? All the mea culpas in the world will not correct the mistake you made putting this man in office!

Maybe you should have listened to those of us who told you Joe was no Democrat, after all!

Joe is a good man, liberal but not Commie.

Old CT Troll, are you going to call him "JoeBoy", your racist term for "Jewboy"?

Posted by PamB on December 22, 2007 at 09:14 AM

Scares the hell out of me!

One world order, and all that jazz.

Good Afternoon MR McBurd!

You know, everyone loves Wal-Mart as a consumer. So do I. Lots of goods, cheap prices.Posted by TomN on December 22, 2007 at 01:03 PM

Yes we do know this, even PamB can´t stay away(Samsclub).

Since the vultures will be looking for any excuse to throw out Democratic ballots, I've decided to either write-in my own name or go ahead and vote for the Senator, even though will never forgive her. This enrages me, but I have no other choice.

Posted by radlib on December 22, 2007 at 01:35 PM

If you write in a name other than a valid candidate who has submitted their intent to be a write-in candidate, you are allowing election officials to determine your intent, rather than you providing a clear vote.

Optical scanners will kick out your ballot if marked in error.

I recommend voting your ballot as laid out.

Hey Mr. cactus!!!

I am eager for the candidate to be chosen, and let the Games begin !

Posted by PamB on December 22, 2007 at 01:21 PM

Looks like the Old CT troll is feeling frisky. I wouldn´t want to be in Georgie`s shoes when she puts on her Gladiator suit and cracks the whip.

I wouldn´t want to be in Georgie`s shoes when she puts on her Gladiator suit and cracks the whip.
Posted by Marshall_McBurd on December 22, 2007 at 02:03 PM

I hope the old CT Troll remembers to put the paper bag over her head first so she doesn't scare poor George.

Posted by **___D____Cactus*___ on December 22, 2007 at 02:09 PM

I bet she uses a wallworld bag just to make him feel a little bit better about the whole process.

The bag with the little yellow happy face on it??

Oh ya Mr. cactus, that one!! I wonder if she draws sqirrel teeth on it?

Thanks for your comments.

10:47 AM 12/22/07

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/12/22/immigrants.leave.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Here is another example of political frustration. We all know that the anti-illegal immigrant movement is based primarily on white-supremacist hatred of mixed races, in this case, Mestizo, rather than on a love of the law, but these illegal workers are all scabs and, indeed, do undercut hard-won organized labor victories in wages and benefits. I want to simply say, "A plague on both their houses!" But that does not solve the problem. The "free market" is at the base of this dilemma. Ungregulated markets give every advantage to the "haves" and none to the "have-nots," who are forced to sell their labor for any pittance offered just to stay alive. This is precisely what "free-market" backers intend to have happen. The "free-market" is right-wing mythology of the worst kind. Even Adam Smith saw through it and warned against it in his later writings, referring to "the conspiricies of the Masters." All of us, all decent people of goodwill, need to get active and put these abuses to an end.

hahahahaha....

No, I think the idea is to cover up her natural beauty.

Posted by radlib on December 22, 2007 at 02:25 PM

you could always move to N.Korea or Cuba, and take pammy with you.

Natural beauty?? Is that what they call it now days?
She should get some beauty tips from Nancy "Botox Queen" Pelosi.

Posted by Marshall_McBurd on December 22, 2007 at 02:34 PM

Yes, but can Nancy crack open a ten pound bag of walnuts in under a minute, like Pammy can??

I doubt it, thats a record that will stand for quite awhile. I wonder if Melody gets any of those nuts?

heah why dont you d cactus and mc turd get real job and leave the sight for the adult

Edwards Proposes New Economic Stimulus Plan to Combat Coming Recession Hotlist
by TomP [Subscribe]
Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 10:15:55 AM PST

Well, we all can see the results of the Republican economic theories: growing inequality and an economy broken and heading to recession.

"Families across the country are working harder than ever, but in the last seven years, the typical family's income actually decreased – at the same time the costs of health care, energy, and housing are skyrocketing," said Edwards.

Put bluntly, hard times are coming. Economists Alan Greenspan, Joseph Stiglitz and Martin Feldstein estimate that there is a 50-50 risk of a recession.

"The truth is our economy is slowing under the weight of stagnant wages, a major housing crisis and a spike in energy costs. And now, leading economists are saying there's a substantial risk we could enter a recession."

Edwards Unveils Stimulus Plan To Strengthen Economy And Create New Jobs

John Edwards believes that we cannot wait to fight the coming recession. Edwards is calling on Congress to pass at least a $25 billion jobs plan in early 2008 and be ready to pass $75 billion more if there are more signs of an economic recession.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/22/113746/68/596/425529

is it me and the trools

Looks like the Mitt Flipper has a "truthiness" problem:

Romney lied during his "I'm a Christian too" speech, said he watched his father march with Martin Luther King - never hapened
by John Aravosis (DC) · 12/22/2007 02:24:00 PM ET · Link
Discuss this post here: Comments (3) · reddit · FARK ·· Digg It!

Not only did Romney not see his father march with MLK, but Romney's father never marched with MLK. This is one hell of a lie, and Romney's explanation of the lie only makes matters worse. From the Boston Globe:

Mitt Romney acknowledged yesterday that he never saw his father march with Martin Luther King Jr. as he asserted in a nationally televised speech this month, and historical evidence shows that Michigan's Governor George Romney and the civil rights leader never did march together.

Romney said his father had told him he had marched with King and that he had been using the word "saw" in a "figurative sense."

"If you look at the literature, if you look at the dictionary, the term 'saw' includes being aware of in the sense I've described," Romney told reporters in Iowa. "It's a figure of speech and very familiar, and it's very common. And I saw my dad march with Martin Luther King. I did not see it with my own eyes, but I saw him in the sense of being aware of his participation in that great effort."

But historical evidence, including news accounts at the time, shows that George Romney never marched with King, though he supported King's agenda.

Saw in the figurative sense? What sense is that? I was a rhetoric major and never, ever, heard anyone use the word "saw" in a figurative sense. He looked it up in a dictionary? That's his best answer as to why he lied to the American people?

Next up: How Romney invented the Internet. I can see an entire campaign here, if this guy becomes the Romney. How Romney saw Churchill. How Romney saw Shakespeare. How Romney saw Jesus.

And it's not the first time Romney lied about all of this...

Posted by dusty2006 on December 22, 2007 at 02:50 PM

Look Dusty, you have two choices. 1: go back to school, learn to write, then you can come back and play with the big boys. 2: go back to Pong Yang, Timbucktu or where ever it was you came from and stay there.

December 22, 2007
9/11 Panel Study Finds That C.I.A. Withheld Tapes
By MARK MAZZETTI

WASHINGTON — A review of classified documents by former members of the Sept. 11 commission shows that the panel made repeated and detailed requests to the Central Intelligence Agency in 2003 and 2004 for documents and other information about the interrogation of operatives of Al Qaeda, and were told by a top C.I.A. official that the agency had “produced or made available for review” everything that had been requested.

The review was conducted earlier this month after the disclosure that in November 2005, the C.I.A. destroyed videotapes documenting the interrogations of two Qaeda operatives.

A seven-page memorandum prepared by Philip D. Zelikow, the panel’s former executive director, concluded that “further investigation is needed” to determine whether the C.I.A.’s withholding of the tapes from the commission violated federal law.

In interviews this week, the two chairmen of the commission, Lee H. Hamilton and Thomas H. Kean, said their reading of the report had convinced them that the agency had made a conscious decision to impede the Sept. 11 commission’s inquiry.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/22/washington/22intel.html?_r=1&ex=1356066000&en=527304ecfe527925&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

Dusty, or was it New Jersey?

More later ...

Robert,

If you are going to believe "dailyKOOKS", then you better get you soup bowl and spoon and run down to your nearest food line now!

your not big boy your a trool and go to hell if you think yo cna scare me this place for eveubody bot for trool like you go home your self mc turd

mc turd why does it have to be facist site to beleaveable

“further investigation is needed” to determine whether the C.I.A.’s withholding of the tapes from the commission violated federal law.
Posted by rjsnj on December 22, 2007 at 02:59 PM

Ahhh....Another case for the "Pretend Crimes Unit".

Posted by dusty2006 on December 22, 2007 at 03:05 PM

shoo fly shoo

you should know your a pretend person dumb ass cactus

your the trool why dont blow away

Posted by **___D____Cactus*___ on December 22, 2007 at 03:06 PM

These geeks will do anything to get attention.

Posted by rjsnj on December 22, 2007 at 02:59 PM

Its funny,

I don't remember them getting so upset, when Sandy Burguler destroyed all those documents to keep the 911 commission from finding out about all Bill Clinton's screw ups.

you should know your a pretend person dumb ass cactus

Posted by dusty2006 on December 22, 2007 at 03:09 PM

Hey Dusty, what happened? All of a sudden we can read your writing???

nc turd and d cactus are the freaks not me iam true democrat this my site not your

Hey Dusty, what happened? All of a sudden we can read your writing???

Posted by Marshall_McBurd on December 22, 2007 at 03:13 PM

That happens when "it" gets upset.

why dont you two go to the republican sight and bug them insteed of us here

i trought a cactus was it iam person that you drean you are

Yeah,

Duh2006 must be pammys cousin "it".

i dont know pamy and ima not it trool iam real person why do you make fun of people does that make you feel important

Posted by dusty2006 on December 22, 2007 at 03:24 PM

I´m impressed.

Unfortunately,

"Cousin it" represents the intelligence of the socialists that post here.

Posted by **___D____Cactus*___ on December 22, 2007 at 03:32 PM

Actually I expected it for some odd reason. Just wait until Uncle fester shows up.

Michael Moore - Perhaps the sorriest excuse for an American citizen, this man has made millions upon millions of dollars with his shmuck productions constantly berating our country and our government. He is about as far left as you could get. Or so we would assume. He has made some small donations to individual campaigns, but has Mr. Moore ever made a single contribution to any national, state, local or district committee of ANY party, not just liberals? Nope. Not a single penny. $0. In his entire life he hasn’t made a single donation to a general party.
##################################################
Looks like another progressive scam artist. yes sir, he did it all for private gain. And again I´m impressed with this progressive crapola.

Good afternoon, all.

Before you go out this weekend and spluge on some last minute shopping items, you might want to consider the charges already on your credit card that you didn't know about:

Obligations Ignored

BY Scott Horton
December 18, 2007

...So here it is, an obscure speech delivered by an obscure person, with a message that no one wants to hear:

For the 11th year in a row, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) was prevented from expressing an opinion on the consolidated financial statements of the U.S. government–other than the Statement of Social Insurance–because of serious material weaknesses affecting financial systems, fundamental recordkeeping, and financial reporting.

David M. Walker, the Comptroller General of the United States and head of GAO, did note some progress in this year’s audit...

...Overall, however, Walker was not satisfied. In a speech today at the National Press Club, he said, “If the federal government was a private corporation and the same report came out this morning, our stock would be dropping and there would be talk about whether the company’s management and directors needed a major shake-up.” Walker urged greater transparency and accountability over the federal government’s operations, financial condition, and fiscal outlook.

Despite improvements in financial management since the U.S. government began preparing consolidated financial statements more than a decade ago, three major impediments prevent the U.S. government from obtaining a clean opinion: (1) serious financial management problems at the Department of Defense, (2) the federal government’s inability to adequately account for and reconcile intragovernmental activity and balances between federal agencies, and (3) the federal government’s ineffective process for preparing the consolidated financial statements.

“Until the problems outlined in our audit report are adequately addressed, they will continue to have adverse implications for the federal government and American taxpayers,” Walker said in a letter to the President and Congress. “The federal government’s fiscal exposures totaled approximately $53 trillion as of September 30, 2007, up more than $2 trillion from September 30, 2006, and an increase of more than $32 trillion from about $20 trillion as of September 30, 2000,” Walker said. “This translates into a current burden of about $175,000 per American or approximately $455,000 per American household.”...

www.harpers.org/archive/2007/12/hbc-90001943

Someone in the White House has been cooking the books...and borrowing and spending like crazy.

$455,000 per household! My house wasn't worth that much before the sub-prime mortage defaults and the resulting burst in the housing market bubble.

I think this amount should be taken out of the hide of the person in charge. Impeach him now...and his sidekick.

The Bush crime family and their crooked associates have made that much and more with war profiteering.

FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, Dec 22
22 Dec 2007 14:06:09 GMT
Source: Reuters

Dec 22 (Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq at 1400 GMT on Saturday. * denotes new or updated items

* KIRKUK - Two unidentified gunmen were killed and one was wounded in clashes with Iraqi police in a village near the northern city of Kirkuk, 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad, police said. Two policemen were also wounded in the clashes.

KIRKUK - A double roadside bomb attack killed one U.S. soldier and wounded 11 in northern Iraq's Kirkuk province on Friday, the U.S. military said. BAGHDAD - A suicide bomber blew himself up near an Iraqi police and army checkpoint in western Baghdad, killing four people and wounding six, police said. SINJAR - Two roadside bombs killed a policeman and wounded two others in an attack targeting a police patrol in the northern town of Sinjar, near the Syrian border, police said.

MADAEN - A roadside bomb wounded five civilians as they were walking past a hospital in the town of Madaen, 45 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.

BAGHDAD - Security forces found three bodies throughout Baghdad on Friday, police said.

ISKANDARIYA - Police said they found the body of a guard who works for the minister of state for national security in the town of Iskandariya, 40 km (25 miles) south of Baghdad, on Friday.
=================================================

Yeah, real peaceful there in Iraq. The SPLURGE is a failure. The GOP is a failure. Bush is a failure. The GOP conservative shills are all failures.

Turkish planes bomb Kurds in Iraq again

By C. ONUR ANT, Associated Press Writer 44 minutes ago

ISTANBUL, Turkey - Turkish warplanes bombed Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq on Saturday in the third confirmed cross-border offensive by Turkish forces in less than a week, the military said.
ADVERTISEMENT

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara said it was informed before the assault took place, but gave no further information. The United States and Iraq both have urged Turkey to avoid a major operation in the area, fearing it could destabilize what has been the calmest region in Iraq.

The bombing lasted nearly a half-hour on Saturday afternoon, and was followed by shelling from inside Turkish borders, the military said in a statement posted on its Web site. It did not say how deep into Iraqi territory the warplanes penetrated, or which areas were shelled.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071222/ap_on_re_mi_ea/turkey_iraq_kurds
================================================

Yeah, I am just so impressed by how peaceful it is in Iraq. I suppose this is some of that GOP buying into "success / victory".

The splurge is a lie. Nothing has been settled. In some ways, the overall situation now is even worst.

Iraq is the GOP's way of throwing our valuable tax money down the drain. Of course, the GOP war profiteers are making out like bandits.