good morning dems: Its cold in Texas, but its a pretty day. I'm here at work hoping for a slow day, guess it will be decided by those people who will do stupid things and get hurt. Hoping everyone stays inside a watches football today.

Bin Laden Killed Bhutto? How Blind Can We Be?

The shorthand being bandied about in the news that al-Qaeda is responsible for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto is so sloppy, so lacking in nuance or understanding of the dynamics of Pakistan, and so self-centered in its reference to America's enemy as to be almost laughable.

Several U.S. defense and intelligence experts are quoted today dismissing even the possibility that President Pervez Musharraf, Pakistani government forces, or other domestic elements could be involved, a conclusion that flies in the face of the country's history and ignores the obvious beneficiaries.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/earlywarning/2007/12/bin_laden_killed_bhutto_how_bl.html#more

and if it WERE true, why isn't there an uproar about WHY Bin Laden is still happy, healthy and ordered deaths???? Why is Bush such a Failure?

NY Congresswoman Gillibrand will give the Democratic radio address today. Gregg worked very hard to get her elected last year. Here's a excerpt:

"This new Congress has a vision for change that we have begun, step by step, to realize. We see a nation free from dependence on foreign oil, which will strengthen our economy by growing our agricultural and manufacturing base through an investment in renewable fuels and new energy efficient products. This makes America safer, grows American jobs, and begins to address global warming."

http://timesunion.com:80/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=650857&category=&BCCode=&newsdate=12/28/2007

Looks like not ALL Military personnel are brainwashed, Bush boot lickers !!

Navy JAG Andrew Williams Resigns Over Torture

Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Williams, a JAG officer with the U.S. Naval Reserve, recently resigned his commission over the alleged use of torture by the United States and the destruction of video tapes said to contain instances of that torture.

As ThinkProgress reported in December, Brigadier General Thomas W. Hartmann, the legal adviser at Guantanamo Bay, repeatedly refused to call the hypothetical waterboarding of an American pilot by the Iranian military torture.

Explaining his resignation in a letter to his Gig Harbor, WA, newspaper — the Peninsula Gateway — Williams said Hartmann’s testimony was “the final straw”:

The final straw for me was listening to General Hartmann, the highest-ranking military lawyer in charge of the military commissions, testify that he refused to say that waterboarding captured U.S. soldiers by Iranian operatives would be torture.

His testimony had just sold all the soldiers and sailors at risk of capture and subsequent torture down the river. Indeed, he would not rule out waterboarding as torture when done by the United States and indeed felt evidence obtained by such methods could be used in future trials.

http://thinkprogress.org/

Here's the Religious Right's Great White Hope Dream candidate. They don't give a damn that he has zero Foreign policy credentials----as long as he says he is against Abortion and Gays is good enough for them!

Huckabee Clueless After Bhutto’s Death,

Says Pakistan Has ‘Eastern Borders’ With Afghanistan
Forced to respond to the tragic assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee has spent the last 24 hours constantly fumbling and apologizing for his cluelessness and incompetence on a key foreign policy issue

Huckabee’s muffed and embarrassing responses to Bhutto’s death underscore his glaring foreign policy incompetence.

UPDATE: A “senior aide” to Huckabee admitted Friday that Huckabee has “no foreign policy credentials

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/12/28/huckabee-pakistan/#comments

FINALLY, the REAL Republicans are opening their eyes.

In an AP poll released today, most respondents say they don't trust the Republican Party to solve the biggest problems facing our nation. On the big issues, they trust Democrats more, and the two biggest issues are the economy and health care.

The Republican Party's 27-year war against the middle class has finally begun to scare away middle class voters. Old wedge issues like abortion rights, gay rights, and race-related crime are now less important to middle class Americans, who have seen their wages stagnate and benefits slashed during a time of unprecedented prosperity for the wealthiest Americans. For the first time in 45 years, the labor-participation rate -- the percentage of able workers who are actually working has dropped during a period of economic growth. And voters are noticing.

Voters say they are far more likely to trust Democrats to handle the economy and health care.

Registered as a Republican, she's ready to reconsider.

"We're Republicans and I'm very unhappy with them, and I've been watching the Democrats," she said. "We did better when (Bill) Clinton was in than we did with Bush. It's just terrible."

http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=8921E2E9BA513C91326AE49EF917FA62?diaryId=8805

Pam, Huckabee's response was not just off the wall, it was offensive and very telling as to how he would handle world affairs. He is clearly unfit.

Good one here for you gregg

The Flaws in Two of the Arguments of the Climate "Skeptics

Danger and Uncertainty: What Prudence and Responsibility Require

The "skeptics" about climate change often declare that the science remains uncertain. It makes no sense, therefore, they claim, to undertake certain costs to protect ourselves against uncertain dangers.

Besides the fact that the uncertainty is a good deal less than such climate "skeptics" seem to believe, there's another important point that really should be given greater emphasis in the public exchange with climate-change "skeptics," both genuine and pretend.

We make decisions all the time in the face of uncertainty. Uncertainty is chronic in our lives.

In a second frequently heard -- and also largely bogus-- argument, the "skeptics" say: "OK, so the planet is warming. But it has not been proven that this global warming problem is caused by human activity." Therefore we ought not bother to change what we're doing.

Aside from the accumulating evidence that it IS caused by human activity, the proper response to this argument is, “So what? What difference does it make whether or not the main driver behind the change is human activity?”

And even if human activity is not the major engine of the change, it has been scientifically established that greenhouse gasses have the effect of trapping the earth’s heat. And therefore it’s known, too, that reducing our emission of greenhouse gasses will reduce the warming of the climate

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/11786

bbl,

Good morning

Impeach the Chimpenfuhrer and Shotgun Dick too.

First off a note on the Chimpenfuhrer's failed economy:

Just how bad is it on Wall Street?
by Chris in Paris · 12/29/2007 05:25:00 AM ET · Link
Discuss this post here: Comments (52) · reddit · FARK ·· Digg It!

Watch this clip from CNBC and you'll have a better idea. Citi has more bad news, with rumors of 5-10% of the workforce being cut (10% is roughly 32,000 jobs!) and Bank of America won't deny reports of trimming the budget by removing soup, yes soup, from the cafeteria. They also have not denied the report that says they are no longer providing soap in their bathrooms. Yeesh. As if you didn't have to be cautious enough when shaking their hands, now this.

Equally shocking is CNBC's comments about how these moves only hurt the little guy. If true, this means that the greedy fools who took BoA into the can will be OK (no cuts there!) but the regular workers are all being asked to sacrifice. Nice. It's interesting to note that only a short time ago it was US companies looking to buy into China and today, it's China buying into the US. Batten down the hatches...rough seas ahead.

More weakness in housing report
by Chris in Paris · 12/28/2007 11:27:00 PM ET · Link
Discuss this post here: Comments (32) · reddit · FARK ·· Digg It!

What's worse between a 9% drop and a 12 year low for new homes? Either way, the Bush/GOP economy continues to falter and we're all stuck with the lousy results. How many times have we heard "record low" about another failed GOP economic policy in recent months?
================================================

GOP shills and hacks are total losers for following the little Chimpenfuhrer. They are too stupid to even realize he has ripped them off. There is nothing worst than conservative economic policy ... well, then again there is conservative foreign policy.

By Ravy at DU:

I will make this short. I like all of the Democratic candidates, and feel they are all up to the task (except for Mike Gravel). I politically agree the most with DK. I do not believe in bashing the other candidates in order to make my candidate appear stronger.

I am asking you to consider voting for John Edwards for four reasons.

1. He has been "vetted" by running in a national election before. Almost everything about him has been "out there" and mostly rejected by the voters before. I do not believe the republican "talking-points" folder about him is very thick.

2. He has shown the ability to organize an effective campaign. One of the measures that I use of how effective a candidate will be if elected is how well they can organize and run their campaign. While I like all of the Democratic candidates (excepted above) the ability to organize an effective campaign has knocked out several of the candidates I identify more closely with from my consideration. I ask you to consider this as well.

3. Edwards has shown the ability to readily admit when he makes a mistake. That, to me, is a good indication of the ability to govern well. If elected, I believe Edwards will be the most effective candidate. While I abhor presidential signing statements, I am not sure any Democrat will be able to turn this government around without using *every* tool that is available to them. Once the ship is righted, then it will become time to impose severe restrictions on the executive branch. To dismiss, out of hand, any tool that can turn this country around will ultimately slow our return to normalcy. I think Edwards will use those tools effectively and wisely.

4. I think he is hitting the nail squarely on the head with his populism. Others are hitting it as well, but Edwards is, in my opinion, the one that can drive the nail home (to stay with the metaphor).

So, I am asking any undecided or wavering voters to join me and those who support Edwards.

and if it WERE true, why isn't there an uproar about WHY Bin Laden is still happy, healthy and ordered deaths???? Why is Bush such a Failure?

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 09:05 AM
===================================================
PamB,

This is an easy one.

He is such a failure because he is a die-hard proponent of conservative philosophy. Conservatives are all regressives and they have been busy screwing the country up for 25 years.
Bush is their finest example of what a complete failure conservatism is. McCain, Ghouliani, Thompson even Romney would be no different.

In an AP poll released today, most respondents say they don't trust the Republican Party to solve the biggest problems facing our nation. On the big issues, they trust Democrats more, and the two biggest issues are the economy and health care.
==================================================
PamB,

It's about time that they stopped being snowed by GOP lies. This is not a hard concept to grasp. There is no way that a GOP philosophy can solve any problem as they run from responsibility.

If Al Qaeda really was behind Bhutto's assassination, then Bush has some explaining to do
by John Aravosis (DC) · 12/28/2007 04:52:00 PM ET · Link
Discuss this post here: Comments (206) · reddit · FARK ·· Digg It!

A new intercept purportedly shows Al Qaeda admitting they were behind Bhutto's killing. If this is true, and let's face it, I wouldn't put it past the Pakistani government to start pointing fingers elsewhere, then Bush needs to explain to the American people why he's been ignoring Al Qaeda since 2003? Invading Iraq had nothing to do with Al Qaeda, and in fact, Bush closed the CIA shop in charge of searching for Osama in 2003. Bush also moved lots of military assets from Afghanistan to Iraq, assets that were looking for Al Qaeda and Osama. Bush has ignored Al Qaeda - uh, the folks who killed 3000 Americans, remember them? - since 2003 and no one has held him accountable. What's worse, we've let him (and Giuliani and others) crow about how Democrats are the ones who don't understand the threat from Al Qaeda.

Bush claims Senate's pro forma sessions don't count Hotlist
by Kagro X
Fri Dec 28, 2007 at 02:40:03 PM PST

(Bumped by Susan)

That veto George W. Bush threatened of the Defense authorization bill? The one with the troops' pay raise in it?

He hasn't even got the stones to put his signature to it:

The adjournment of the Congress has prevented my return of H.R. 1585 within the meaning of Article I, section 7, clause 2 of the Constitution. Accordingly, my withholding of approval from the bill precludes its becoming law. The Pocket Veto Case, 279 U.S. 655 (1929). In addition to withholding my signature and thereby invoking my constitutional power to "pocket veto" bills during an adjournment of the Congress, I am also sending H.R. 1585 to the Clerk of the House of Representatives, along with this memorandum setting forth my objections, to avoid unnecessary litigation about the non-enactment of the bill that results from my withholding approval and to leave no doubt that the bill is being vetoed.

That's right, civics fans: Bush is claiming this is a "pocket veto," as defined in Article I, section 7 of the Constitution:

Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President of the United States; if he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large in their journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a law. But in all such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each House respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law.

Because the bill has so much in it for veterans and active members of the Armed Forces, Bush apparently doesn't dare sign an affirmative veto. Instead, he'll pretend it... just went away on its own.

But this bill was presented to the president for his signature on December 19th. It's been eight days since then, not counting Sundays as the Constitution outlines. Seven if you give an extra day for Christmas. Hasn't been ten days yet.

Not only that, but you may recall that the Senate has remained in session all this time explicitly to prevent trickery like this. The most oft-cited reason was to prevent recess appointments, but the pro forma sessions -- the most recent of which was held today, yes, the very day Bush claimed there was no session -- also serve to avoid adjournment, and therefore the pocket veto.

But not in Bushworld. In Bushworld, these sessions don't count. Because he says so.

And if Bush thinks the Senate's sessions don't count, what's stopping him from making recess appointments?

How much more abuse can this Congress stand?
==================================================

It's time to impeach the Chimpenfuhrer.

This is good news. I posted on this before. Our government should be encouraging everyone with tax rebates to install solar panels. Stop giving blackmail money to these oil companies:

Solar Power Breakthrough Hotlist
by FishOutofWater [Subscribe]
Sat Dec 29, 2007 at 04:23:51 AM PST

Revolutionary solar cell design innovations are now going into mass production. Cheap and efficient solar power is becoming a reality.

The holy grail of renewable energy came a step closer yesterday as thousands of mass-produced wafer-thin solar cells printed on aluminium film rolled off a production line in California, heralding what British scientists called "a revolution" in generating electricity.

* FishOutofWater's diary :: ::
*

The manufacturer's claims are stunning.

- the world’s first printed thin-film solar cell in a commercial panel product; - the world’s first thin-film solar cell with a low-cost back-contact capability; - the world’s lowest-cost solar panel – which we believe will make us the first solar manufacturer capable of profitably selling solar panels at as little as $.99/Watt; - the world’s highest-current thin-film solar panel – delivering five times the current of any other thin-film panel on the market today and thus simplifying system deployment

The first application is planned for a power plant in Germany, but the great promise of these solar cells is their universality.

The technology is particularly exciting because it can be used nearly everywhere. "You are talking about printing rolls of the stuff, printing it on garages, anywhere you want it. It really is a big deal in terms of altering the way we think about solar," said Dan Kamman, director of the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory at the University of California at Berkeley.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/29/63319/190/646/427513

Later ...

Well, Well, now that Poodle Tony Blair is gone, Britain facing Reality ! There IS NOT SUCH THING as a War on Terror! (note the source !)

Britain Drops 'War on Terror' Label
Source: Military.com

The words "war on terror" will no longer be used by the British government to describe attacks on the public, the country's chief prosecutor said Dec. 27.

Sir Ken Macdonald said terrorist fanatics were not soldiers fighting a war but simply members of an aimless "death cult."
The Director of Public Prosecutions said: 'We resist the language of warfare, and I think the government has moved on this. It no longer uses this sort of language."

"The people who were murdered on July 7 were not the victims of war. The men who killed them were not soldiers," Macdonald said. "They were fantasists, narcissists, murderers and criminals and need to be responded to in that way."
(HMMMMM, I know some trolls who fit this description !)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3116863

Like I said YESTERDAY (and no trolls had a WORD to say) then JE repeated it and again today gregg posted it (and a few minutes ago my MOM brings me a newspaper clipping of the SAME EVENT)

Right ON Vermont~!!

Vermont town seeks Bush, Cheney arrests
DAVE GRAM
AP News
Dec 28, 2007 16:54 EST

President Bush may soon have a new reason to avoid left-leaning Vermont.....................

As president, Bush has visited every state except Vermont.

Posted by Ladydawn on December 28, 2007 at 06:55 PM

If I move again. THIS is the state to which I'd love to be involved!

R I G H T O N!

and a good morning DNC friends. How cold does it get in Vermont? I don't care. ;-)

Isn't it amazing how many Billions of dollars Bush gave to Pakistan, to use against Terrorists that they did not use for it? And NOW, we have the Taliban and AlQaeda in position to gain power WITH ALL THOSE NUKES !!

Thanks a lot Bushie, old boy!!!

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 10:05 AM

HA!

I LOVE it ! what are the last few asshats going to make fun of now that Bush has jumped on the Global Warming wagon????????? HAHAHAHAHA

"For years, Bush bristled privately at what he considered sky-is-falling alarmism by the liberal, elitist Hollywood crowd. The clatter over climate change, according to friends and advisers, seemed to him more like a political agenda than a rational response to known facts. But ever so gradually, they say, Bush's views have evolved. He has found the science increasingly persuasive and believes more needs to be done, especially after a set of secret briefings last winter. A former aide said Bush's staff even developed models for a market-based cap on greenhouse emissions.

Now Bush bristles not at the Hollywood types but at the notion that he does not care. At an end-of-the-year news conference, he spent more time answering a question on climate change than any other inquiry, outlining his approach in detail to dispel the notion that he does not have one. "I take the issue seriously," he said, later repeating the phrase. "And we're developing a strategy that will deal with it, and an effective strategy."
The evolution has been evident over the past year. Bush cited the danger of climate change in his State of the Union address for the first time, proposed a plan to cut gasoline consumption and, by extension, greenhouse gases, and convened a conference of major world polluters to start crafting an international accord to follow the Kyoto Protocol. He even invited former vice president Al Gore for a 40-minute talk about global warming.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3117927

HERE is the reason bush to veto the defense bill! And they LOVE to talk about Weak, wimpy Democrats???? Look at Bush back down like the little Coward that he is !!!

Bush to veto defense bill after Iraq objects
Source: reuters

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President George W. Bush intends to veto defense legislation after Iraq objected to a provision that could freeze its assets in the United States if Americans sue the country, the White House said on Friday

Iraqi officials raised their concerns with U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker about 10 days ago and when administration officials took a closer look at the provision they agreed that it could pose "grave financial risk" for Iraq, tying up assets needed for reconstruction, the White House said.

Iraq also discussed with the United States the possibility of pulling its assets, about $20 billion to $30 billion, out of U.S. institutions if the defense policy bill became law, a senior administration official said on condition of anonymity..........

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3117835

Congrats Floridians For TRUTH!!

By Jim Ash
FLORIDA CAPITAL BUREAU CHIEF
~snip~

TALLAHASSEE — Nearly 16,000 contested Florida voters will be back on the rolls by the end of today now that Secretary of State Kurt Browning has lost his latest legal round in an Atlanta federal court.

Oooo another YAYYYY!! (or Arigato!)

Japanese sail in to back anti-whaling
Matthew Knott | December 28, 2007

AS Japanese ships continue to hunt for whales in the Southern Ocean, an ocean liner packed with Japanese activists opposed to "scientific" whaling has docked in Australia.

The Peace Boat - a vessel carrying 1000 Japanese passengers on a 110-day voyage to promote human rights and environmental issues - is demanding that Japan end its scientific whaling program.

Japan has abandoned plans to harpoon 50 threatened humpbacks, but still intends to kill 50 endangered fin whales and 935 minke whales in the Southern Ocean this summer.

"The fact our Government is killing whales in the name of so-called scientific research is very hard for us to accept and believe," Peace Boat voyage director Inoue Nao said after arriving at Circular Quay in Sydney yesterday.

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 10:13 AM

probably lip service Pammy

but worth watching the maggot trolls squirm a little! LOL! ;-)

Mobs Rampage Through Pakistani Cities
By Juan Cole
Informed Comment

Friday 28 December 2007

Mobs Rampage through Pakistani Cities; Cars, Banks, Gas Stations Torched. Sharif's Party will Boycott Elections.

My column, "With Bhutto gone, does Bush have a Plan B?" is online at Salon.com. Excerpt:

'Pakistan's future is now murky, and to the extent that this nation of 160 million buttresses the eastern flank of American security in the greater Middle East, its fate is profoundly intertwined with America's own. The money for the Sept. 11 attacks was wired to Florida from banks in Pakistan, and al-Qaida used the country for transit to Afghanistan. Instability in Pakistan may well spill over into Afghanistan, as well, endangering the some 26,000 U.S. troops and a similar number of NATO troops in that country. And it is not as if Afghanistan were stable to begin with. If Pakistani politics finds its footing, if a successor to Benazir Bhutto is elected in short order by the PPP and the party can remain united, and if elections are held soon, the crisis could pass. If there is substantial and ongoing turmoil, however, Muslim radicals will certainly take advantage of it.

In order to get through this crisis, Bush must insist that the Pakistani Supreme Court, summarily dismissed and placed under house arrest by Musharraf, be reinstated. The PPP must be allowed to elect a successor to Ms. Bhutto without the interference of the military. Early elections must be held, and the country must return to civilian rule. Pakistan's population is, contrary to the impression of many pundits in the United States, mostly moderate and uninterested in the Taliban form of Islam. But if the United States and "democracy" become associated in their minds with military dictatorship, arbitrary dismissal of judges, and political instability, they may turn to other kinds of politics, far less favorable to the United States. Musharraf may hope that the Pakistani military will stand with him even if the vast majority of people turn against him. It is a forlorn hope, and a dangerous one, as the shah of Iran discovered in 1978-79. '

I am appalled by the rightwing US pundits who are taking advantage of Bhutto's assassination to blame "the people of Pakistan" for "extremism." Benazir's party would have won at least a plurality in parliament. The PPP is a moderate, middle class party, and it has done well in unrigged elections during the past 20 years. She was killed by an extremist of some sort. The Muslim fundamentalist parties usually only get 3 percent of the vote in national elections, and they got 11.3 percent of the popular vote in 2002 only because Musharraf interfered with the PPP and Muslim League campaigns.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122807B.shtml
================================================

Neocon conservative politics have once again failed completely. The Chimp, GOP and styupid GOP hacks, shills and apologists don't have a clue. They never did. All they know how to do is lash out wildly and turn every situation into a corporate rip off. They have destroyed Iraq and there is no end in sight to that situation. The surge is complete crap, Petraeus is full of it and so are all of the right wing hacks "bragging on the surge". What the hell did the surge get them? We are no closer to getting out now than before and it just made Iraq that much more costly. Meanwhile the conservative baffoons, fools and crooks took their eyes off of Afghanistan and allowed the Taliban / Al Qaeda to develop new bases of operation in Pakistan. The obnoxious hideous Chimp even had the utmost gall to say that Bin Laden no longer mattered. No longer mattered? He may have very well planned the assasionation of Bhutto.

Face it the GOP aren't qualified to even run a dog pound. They should just disband their crappy party.

Iraq also discussed with the United States the possibility of pulling its assets, about $20 billion to $30 billion, out of U.S. institutions if the defense policy bill became law, a senior administration official said on condition of anonymity..........
===============================================

Oh so there's the real reason. It's always the same with these conservative reptiles ... money! They are greedy POS's. They should not be governing.

"We're Republicans and I'm very unhappy with them, and I've been watching the Democrats," she said. "We did better when (Bill) Clinton was in than we did with Bush. It's just terrible."
Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 09:24 AM

----------------
WOW what a day so far! Pammy this ALSO deserves a BIG RIGHT ON!! (the truth is STILL refreshing no matter how many times I hear it)

Vermont town seeks Bush, Cheney arrests
=================================================

tee, Hee, Hee!

Way to go. Arrest the Chimpenfuhrer and the Chimp master Cheney.

"We're Republicans and I'm very unhappy with them, and I've been watching the Democrats," she said. "We did better when (Bill) Clinton was in than we did with Bush. It's just terrible."
==================================================

Here's an easy fix ... drop out of that right wing elitist party and become a Democrat OR at least an independent.

Good morning, everyone.

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 09:05 AM

Pam,

It's the WMD thing all over again. I'm surprised they haven't blamed Ahmadinejad or Hugo Chavez for Benazir Bhutto's death.

They also have not denied the report that says they are no longer providing soap in their bathrooms. Yeesh. As if you didn't have to be cautious enough when shaking their hands, now this.

Posted by rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 09:35 AM

rjsnj,

Just how bad can things be?

Or maybe they are discouraging some of their Republican male employees from spending so much time in the public restrooms?

Good Morning, ALL!

Here's a Saturday morning film for the trolls to watch and learn a thing or 2 about THEIR party. (I got it from a comment thread @ "Sadly, No!")

VERY interesting that it was made in 1946 before the Pugs got a chance to trash the educational systems of the USA and kids were actually taught important things like THIS:

Despotism (1946)

Tell me which party is which?

Posted by *Harpo* on December 29, 2007 at 09:39 AM
That's cute, but not as perceptive as yesterday morning when that cattle rancher, (female) told you after reading just one of your posts that she thinks you are a big, fat, stinking cow turd!

For those that admire Miss Woolsey as I do. (her words)

My Decision To Endorse Hillary
by Representative Lynn Woolsey
in Iowa
12/28/2007 4:38 PM

My decision to endorse came down to one issue and one issue only---the war in Iraq. When I looked at everyone's experience, electability and proposals, one person stood out as not only having the right vision for bringing our troops home, but also the experience to deliver on it.

And that person is Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Hillary Clinton has the foreign policy experience, credibility and commitment to bring all sides together (including allies and neighboring states) and bring about a comprehensive solution that will put Iraq on the course towards stability and bring our troops and military contractors home to their families.

As Senator, Hillary has voted three times for a timetable for bringing our troops home, most recently by December, 2008. And, she has co-authored legislation with Senators Reid and Feingold to require the President to safely redeploy the troops within nine months, cutting off funds thereafter. She recently made a commitment to not vote for any more funds for Iraq except for the safe redeployment of our troops.

Hillary has pledged that, as President, she will waste no time ending this war as responsibly and swiftly as possible. In fact, she views this as her most important duty to the American people.

There is no issue that is more pressing to the future of our Nation and our world than bringing about an independent Iraq and peace and stability within the region.

And there is no Presidential candidate who is better equipped to lead and bring about that change than Hillary Rodham Clinton.

I'm proud to offer her my endorsement for President of the United States because I know that Hillary's the one who can take what she says and turn it into reality once she's elected. I look forward to working with her.

-------------------------

another right on, right on, right ON!!

TALLAHASSEE — Nearly 16,000 contested Florida voters will be back on the rolls by the end of today now that Secretary of State Kurt Browning has lost his latest legal round in an Atlanta federal court.

Posted by Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 10:17 AM
===================================================

Dawn, that's good news. This is how the Chimp GOP fixes elections. They can't even run a honest clean election. What a retched party.

Time for FUEL!

bbl
Peace

Or maybe they are discouraging some of their Republican male employees from spending so much time in the public restrooms?

Posted by SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 10:29 AM
=================================================

ouch that's bad. Too much toe tapping huh ... I didn't know Larry Craig got around that much.

Posted by Cyn_NY on December 29, 2007 at 09:37 AM
Yeah!...Go Edwards!!

Iraq also discussed with the United States the possibility of pulling its assets, about $20 billion to $30 billion, out of U.S. institutions if the defense policy bill became law, a senior administration official said on condition of anonymity...

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 10:16 AM

Pam,

I thought we were occupying Iraq not the other way around.

This isn't how bullied, beaten people are suppose to act...unless we're talking about the Democratic Congressional leadership?

Tell me which party is which?

Posted by Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 10:29 AM
==================================================

Pug Uglies (that would be the GOP) are fascists.

Later ...

Britain Drops 'War on Terror' Label

Source: Military.com

The words "war on terror" will no longer be used by the British government to describe attacks on the public, the country's chief prosecutor said Dec. 27.

Sir Ken Macdonald said terrorist fanatics were not soldiers fighting a war but simply members of an aimless "death cult."

The Director of Public Prosecutions said: 'We resist the language of warfare, and I think the government has moved on this. It no longer uses this sort of language."

"The people who were murdered on July 7 were not the victims of war. The men who killed them were not soldiers," Macdonald said. "They were fantasists, narcissists, murderers and criminals and need to be responded to in that way."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3116863

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 10:05 AM

The British Attorney General isn't writing legal briefs supportering waterboarding and sticking electrodes in male genitilia like Gonzales did?
What is this world coming to?

The War on Terror is a compromised brand name. It, like Mattel and Fischer Price, have become victims of a conservative Republican movement that is far more concerned about profit rather than protecting the consumer.

National security is really not on the radar scene with the GOP. They are too busy "selling off" the nation to Asian and Arab businessmen. Perhaps they will be a little more concerned about the safety of their new American assets?

It's pretty bad when we have to depend on the kindness of communist foreigners to uphold the GOP's family values because they can't be trusted to do what they say.

Glad to see the the public is waking up to the scam.

Dear john,

We've just received some great news that I want to share with you.

A new Iowa poll, released today of likely Democratic caucus goers, shows John Edwards moving into the lead with just six days left. The Lee Enterprises newspapers poll shows John and Barack Obama at 29 percent each and Hillary Clinton at 28 percent, with 19 percent of Democrats still making up their minds.

This poll confirms our momentum -- John has moved up 5 points in just two weeks. But we need your help to keep this momentum going. Please make a contribution today.

Bush's views have evolved.

At an end-of-the-year news conference, he spent more time answering a question on climate change than any other inquiry, outlining his approach in detail to dispel the notion that he does not have one.

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 10:13 AM

Pam,

Someone needs to tell the trolls that Bush is adopting an evolution theory.

Get on the bandwagon or Spunky may drive right over you and Limbaugh. And if Laura is at the wheel your road kill for sure.

Good Day Dems,

Con Rice is flailing in the Kissinger role:

TARIQ ALI: Her father was probably the most popular politician in Pakistan, pledging massive social reforms. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who had been elected in the 1970 elections, had won a large majority in the country that we now know as Pakistan and had been elected on a very radical platform. He came to power.

He implemented some of his reforms, not all, became extremely autocratic, clashed with the United States on a number of issues, including Pakistan’s right to have nuclear weapons. Henry Kissinger warned him in private that if you do not desist on the nuclear issue, we will make a terrible example out of you. That’s what Bhutto wrote from his death cell. The United States organized a military coup d’etat. General Zia-ul-Haq took power in 1977, organized a trial against Bhutto, charging him with an absurd charge of murdering someone. The judges were pressured, and they found him guilty, and Bhutto was hanged in April 1979. It could not have happened without US support and approval, because Zia was a nobody, and Washington clearly green-lighted the murder.

And Bhutto, from his death cell, wrote a very moving document called “If I Am Assassinated,” in which he said there are two hegemonies—these are his words. He said, “There are two hegemonies that dominate our country. One is an internal hegemony, and the other is an external hegemony. And unless we challenge the external hegemony, we will never be able to deal with the internal one,” meaning Washington is the external hegemony and the army is the internal one. And this is a problem which still haunts Pakistan and which, I have to say, has now created this new crisis.

And unfortunately, his daughter decided to collaborate with both of these hegemonies. One has to say this. Her second period in office was a total disaster, because not only did she do nothing for the poor or her natural constituency, but basically it became an extremely corrupt government, and she and her husband accumulated $1.5 billion through corruption. This is well known to everyone.

Now, when the United States decided they wanted to put her back in there, they told her, we are going to whitewash you so clean no one will even know. And this is what the global media and networks have been doing. Look, I knew her well. I’m very upset that she’s dead. But the piety being displayed on the global media networks is beyond belief. You know, it’s as if there’s no past, no history in this country or its politicians.

www.democracynow.org/2007/12/28/pakistan_in_turmoil_after_benazir_bhuttos

Democracy Now! later,

Posted by Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 10:17 AM

dawn,

This is great news. It looks like the DNC is pushing voting reform issues along with the 50 state initiative. We must protect the right to vote for everyone.

if a guy tells me he is a Negro or Indian, thats his choice, not mine.
Posted by Dan5 on December 29, 2007 at 07:26 AM

But if a guy tells him he likes Man Coulter, Jeff Gannon, Oxy-Rush, and Senator Brownback... they've got something to talk about. LOL

The GOP... Ghouls, Oddballs, and Perverts.

btw, Frosty is a group of college republicans from different schools who hide in college system servers. One of Rove's early tricks. four and a half years... same Republican frat boys.

PS: FWIW, I believe that Bush is probably in the right legally here with the pocket veto. Webb is keeping the *Senate* open, but HR 1585, like all spending bills, began in the House. As far as I know, no one is doing the same for the House, since the House doesn't matter for the purposes of recess appointments. I don't think the Dems foresaw this, and so just kept the Senate open. The Constitution is clear, however, that vetos are returned to "that House in which it shall have originated."

digbysblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/hmmm-by-digby-i-have-been-wondering.html

Attention, Nancy Pelosi. Get your ass back to Washington. The lizards outsmarted you...again.

"Who could have ever guessed this would happen" is Condi's excuse. Make this right somehow or hand over the reins to someone who knows how to deal with these vultures on a daily basis.

Maybe Senator Clinton does have a valid point when she says she has more experience dealing with the Far Right than anyone else. Rove left the building, but he's not dead.

later.

Posted by Big_Yellow_Dog on December 29, 2007 at 11:32 AM...When i first looked at this, I thought you were saying they were hiding in college system SEWERS....maybe that two, hence the term, Rat Republicans....

Posted by Big_Yellow_Dog on December 29, 2007 at 11:32 AM

Reefer madness after all these years? The frat boys never learn or grow up.

Oh that Pelican, his beak holds more than his belly can......

well, just when I thought I was safe and only working with Reptiles and today I met a fullfledged Ron Paul Supporter. Geez! what a nutcase.
He's hoping for a Clinton victory because he wants a revolution. If the dems get in it'll be a shorter time for the revolution, It'll take longer for the revolution if the reptiles get in.
He also said very few dems have guns, folks its getting scary out here.

C'est une bonne journée pour des démocrates!

Daily Presidential Tracking Poll
Saturday, December 29, 2007

In the race for the Democratic Presidential Nomination, it’s Hillary Clinton 43%, Barack Obama 24% and John Edwards 14%. No other candidate tops 2% nationally (see recent daily numbers). Rasmussen Reports polling data shows that Americans are divided as to whether Bill Clinton is a plus or a minus for Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Democrats view him as a big plus. A commentary by Dick Morris says the former President was initially an asset but has become a liability.

RasmussenMarkets.com indicates that Clinton has a 69.0 % chance to win the nomination while Obama has a 24.8 % chance. The picture is much different in Iowa--Hillary Clinton has a 39.2 % chance of winning the first caucus. Obama has a 45.0 % chance and Edwards is competitive at 24.8 %. Other results are provided on the Rasmussen Markets Summary page.

Posted by connfloyd on December 29, 2007 at 11:46 AM

IF their weapons are properly registered, they will be on file. Too bad the loonies usually kill someone bEFORE they get arrested.

The same with putting a simple stop sign at an empty corner. No one bothers until the first, 2nd or third fatality occur at that blank corner.

It's sad SOME Politicians have ZERO forethought or care for their citizens.

Speaking of guns, did you hear that NUT JOB NUGENT is backing Elmer Fudd Huckleberry??? LMAO! Boy does THAT make a HUGE statement.

Maybe Senator Clinton does have a valid point when she says she has more experience dealing with the Far Right than anyone else. Rove left the building, but he's not dead.

Posted by SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 11:39 AM

I'm listening to a local radio station which does an in depth show every Saturday from 8 -Noon (CST) which dissects a single year; news, music, sports, consumer prices, movies etc. This week they are featuring 1974.

In the segment where they were detailing where people were and what they were doing the DJ read a piece about a young Lawyer named Hillary Rodham being hired to work on the Watergate prosecution.

No wonder the wingers hate her. She's been dealing with those jerks for over 30 years.

(You can listen live from the link provided. I don't know what next week's 'year' will be yet.)

Posted by Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 11:52 AM

ah HA! That's why my 60 yr old reTHUG cousin in VA said, "I'd rather have Nixon back than vote for Hillary" now it makes more sense.

Thanks {{dpd}}

Is that some prerequisite to becoming a politician really??? First you MUST be a freakin legal eagle?

no wonder the world is being run by elites

The Rethuglicans think that they have a God given right to back an 18 wheeler up to any bank and just take what ever they want. Paper money, gold bullion, anything, just take it. God said it is their right to steal. They had some difficulties with this in the U.S. but found the perfect way to accomplish it else where. Start a war and then steal every thing. Like they just backed their trucks up to the Central Bank in Baghdad an d stole 850 million. Not bad for a half days work!

How about the FIRST SCHOOL TEACHER for President?

or Principal? Or maybe the FIRST Ambassador as President?

oops I guess we have an Ambassador Richardson running. Well good luck Ambassador! But he's also a Governor and we've had PLENTY of those. (good and bad)

Hillary - Lawyer/Senator
Obama - Lawyer/Senator
Edwards- Lawyer/Senator

what an overtly common theme

and on THAT wretched beasts stench I am GLAD to have other things to do this day!!

PEACE to DEMS
bbl

Food for thought -- the Bush Administration, the CIA, Condoleezza and Pakistan's Benzair Bhutto. Public domain article.

Senators have a difficult time getting elected. Governors have historically done better. As for Law degrees being a prerequisite, Truman was a clothing store owner before getting into local politics, Ike was Military, Johnson was a teacher, Carter was a career Military Nuclear engineer who had to quit to take over the family's farm when his father died, Ray-Gun was an idiot ass and a B movie second banana to a Chimp (how fitting), Bush 41 was a CIA spy (may have been a lawyer), Chimpy has an MBA (HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA! A lot of god it does).

So, it looks like Senator / Lawyer is a twofer in the hurdles department.

I see Cpl. McTurd is back. I doubt that you had enough smarts to make corporal in any real army.

Quoting: "An estimated one million school children in Texas alone have been prescribed Ritalin."

It's sad, because there seems to resignation to throw drugs at problems instead of working to resolve those problems. Drugs have bad effects that may not show up for a long time, and drugs should be the last, not the first option.

Posted by goodfoe on December 29, 2007 at 12:36 PM

John Boy, he's just trying to emulate his hero Adolph, even to the point of turning his back on America and moving to the Fatherland.

I don't have a Prof title. I'm simply one of lost souls swimming in the fishbowl of politics asking myself, "Do any of my leaders have a brain?"

g'morning everyone, i hope all of you great people had a wonderful christmas and are looking forward to a warm, cozy, comfortable, and joyous new year celebration. my wife and i have been quietly enjoying the holiday season at home with our dogs and the local wildlife. in the spirit of the season may peace, serenity, and wonder be with all of you.

here's a little piece on the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists site that may explain why the sock-jock pretzeldunce has seemingly switched sides on the global warming issue.

Rising carbon emissions call for a population policy by Frederick A. B. Meyerson

So, I believe the best course of action for both human well-being and climate policy is to quickly devote as many resources as possible to reducing unwanted pregnancy, so that we reach stabilization. Almost half of all pregnancies in the United States, and one-third globally, are unintended. We can do better than that, and several countries already have.

So my guess is the fascist zealoids are all over this.

sociopathic creatures of various sizes, shapes and so called genders.

Posted by Prof*_McBurd on December 29, 2007 at 12:44 PM....What are you babbling about now?

It's time for Harry Reid to dump this chump.

There certainly have been gaffes, softballs, and missed opportunities. And the most obvious are found in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security — the Senate’s version of Rep. Henry Waxman’s Oversight Committee in the House. Unlike Waxman’s enthusiastic probing, the Senate chair conducted zero proactive investigations into Bush administration malfeasance. It’s chairman? Connecticut’s Joseph Lieberman.

That ass should be stripped of all his Committee posts, tossed out of his suite of offices and moved to a Katrina trailer in a parking lot 3 blocks away.

When it comes to committee gavels, use it or lose it

The trolls are boring and my granddaughter wants to use the computer, so now seems like a good time to take a break.....later.....maybe.....maybe not....

Looks like pretzeldunce should have listened to Rommel. He probable read his book, like Patton, but sock-jock couldn't remember.

But courage which goes against military expediency is stupidity, or, if it is insisted upon by a commander, irresponsibility.

Don't fight a battle if you don't gain anything by winning.

In a man-to-man fight, the winner is he who has one more round in his magazine.

Drugs have bad effects that may not show up for a long time, and drugs should be the last, not the first option.

Posted by Roxie on December 29, 2007 at 12:37 PM

Roxie,

Good point. Look what they did to Spunky. Cheney is a walking iron lung with a taser attached for good measure.

Our whole economy revolves around drugs. That's why the GOP Congress let the pharmacutical corporations write their Medicare drug bill. They saw the housing market tanking and had to find some way to keep the stock market afloat.

What are the two most advertised products on TV? Drugs and cars. Unfortunately, working people in this country can no loner afford either these days without taking out a home equity loan. Because of the sub-prime meltdown, there is no equity left.

I guess we'll just have to live with the pain of Republican incompetence till January 2009?

Posted by goodfoe on December 29, 2007 at 12:55 PM

Hi, John Boy.

The writer's strike is really hitting the trolls hard. They have been working with their own material of late and have now resorted to quoting Patton who probably would have shot all of them on sight.

Posted by BoilerMan on December 29, 2007 at 12:49 PM

BoilerMan,

So we can expect the GOP to flip flop on birth control, too? That's not going to make their fundie base happy. It will, however, make the pharmacueticals richer.

I guess it's a trade off for the Republicans with the Religious Right having to find some real religion for a change.

bbl.

It's not unexpected that we have a drug problem when from the day you come into this world you're bombarded with claims about how simply popping one pill or another into your mouth will solve what ever ailment or problem you might have. We need to undo the legislation allowing the pharms to directly advertise to the public. Big mistake!

Cool chart linked at KOS, showing how many times each of the Candidates mentioned certain words in the debates. Boy are the Pugs a bunch of phonies!

Check out the differences between the parties on the words "Bush" and Reagan".

I guess it's a trade off for the Republicans with the Religious Right having to find some real religion for a change.

Posted by SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 01:30 PM

Perhaps they'll discover that real religion is a personal thing and something you require of yourself, not of others and those who might think differently than you.

My problem with the Religious Right is that they can use scripture to justify injustice and war just as easy as the Islamic revolutionaries.

Using scripture to justify, in the name God, the very things commanded against just amazes me.

One other question, is there a CIA, Condo, Bhutto connection a covert mission in Pakistan?

BOY, Kos has all the links I was looking for. I heard this story on the news this morning and was waiting for it to get put on line.

This just shows how those Pugs really are. it's ALL "ME ME ME" ALL the time. Pugs are the lowest of the low. These worms should be sent to prison.

Notice the City listed in the Dateline.

Girl won Hannah Montana tickets with fake essay

Pug "KKKristian" "Family Values" = how low can you go?

Another thing the religious right seems to be unable, or unwilling, to comprehend is the fact that a person doesn't have to be a believer, or belong to an organized religion, to be honest, caring, compassionate, decent, or good.

Gez, anything for free tickets!

10:37 AM 12/29/07

The cowardice and stupidity of this Congress is already manifest for most of us, but when the results of their suspension of the AMT begin to be felt next year, and millions of Americans are paupered as a result of it while the billionaires continue to prosper, everyone will be running in circles shouting "What happened? What happened?" Well, what will have happened is that Congress failed to tax the rich adequately to sustain a decent society, and the AMT was the best place to start doing it. Instead, they repealed it for a year, allowing the recession to deepen, the dollar to weaken, trade to halt, credit to end, etc., on and on.... It's too late now to prevent the worst results of the Reaganomics nightmare begun 30-odd years ago. Maybe the next generation will be canny enough to see through their own prejudicices to the bullshit they are being handed when they indulge them. Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe, even if they do, it will be too late to do much about it.

Roxie, about Bhuto, Condi, and the rest. Digby has been all over that as has Middle East expert Professor Juan Cole.

Still Playing The Great Game

Too Many Posts to Name. Read them ALL (as Michael Link says)

I read Juan Cole, he shares a childhood history with me. Mine looks at from the aspect of Bhutto herself, the martyrdom mindset and her pre-planned attempts to reach out from the grave, and the barbaric nature of the Pakistan political system.

Roxie, more on the Bhuto killing, with more links to Juan Cole, and quotes from the attending physician.

she was murdered, end of discussion...

And apparently even a blind drunk can find his own 2 nuts every day.

And apparently even a blind drunk can find his own 2 nuts every day.

Posted by Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 02:31 PM

ROFLMAO ! No matter how small !

doo bee,

rumor has it, Thom-ass had a tatoo of Eisenhower on his scrotum, but these days it looks like Orville Reddenbacher ! tee hee !

It's amazing what they can do with micro-printing now-a-days, isn't it?

they've come a long way, doo-bee! :)

God help him if he ever needs prostate surgery though! LOL.

It's about friggin time Chimpy did something right.

Of course like the coward he is, he did it without all the pomp and circumstance that he used when he VETOED this very same Bill just to gain props from the Pug "base".

Bush signs SCHIP expansion.

Me thinks Chimpy is trying to build a "legacy" other than WORST PRESIDENT IN HISTORY.

I guess Michelle Martian and the rest of the Nazis owe that 12 year old kid a life time of apologies.

Well Yeah, Senator Clinton has been active in politics since age 14. She actually went to recount votes for Nixon when he ran against Kennedy. She did this without the knowledge of her parents. Her and friend jumped on a bus and went downtown Chicago to help run down address against votes. Geez! I thought everyone knew her whole history. Well, everyone knows the Newt and Rove whole lying history. She's a extremely intelligent lady with a lot of ability. She might had already been President if she hadn't followed that man of hers to backwoods Arkansas.

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 02:47 PM

Why? It would be easy to go right through the ear canal. After all, he keeps his ass between his ears (whenever his head isn't up his butt).

Pam, the guy running against Chris Shays is LIVE BLOGGING RIGHT NOW @ FDL.

Blue America Welcomes Jim Himes

GIVING AWAY APPALACHIA

December 27, 2007
Posted by Jim Hightower

Boy, things are hectic inside the Bush regime these days! The clock is ticking, and Corporate America is rushing to get all the favors it can before Bush & Company closes down in 2009. Sure enough, the Bushites are delivering.

It received little media attention, but the giant coal operators (which have been reliable funders for George and the GOP) recently got a huge goodie handed to them: Bush gave them Appalachia! His office of surface mining quietly issued a new regulation that would allow King Coal to ravage the ancient mountains, glorious forests, and pure streams of Central Appalachia at will.

The action was necessary, say the Bushites, to “clarify” existing laws governing a greedy, ruthless, and abhorrent mining process called mountaintop removal. This process decapitates the mountains, exploding the tops of them, then savagely shoving the trees, topsoil, wildlife, and other rubble down the mountainsides, burying the valleys and streams below.

This is a corporate rape and environmental mutilation – but, hey, it produces quick profits for the industry, which had been pushing since George took office to have it legalized.

www.jimhightower.com/node/6297

I believe this was the technique used by The Aliens in "War of the Worlds" to destroy all life on our planet?

This is the sort of thing that the GOP thinks will solidify their support among young evangelical Christians living in that part of the country?
Let's see how important God's Green Earth is to those who say they want to be good Sheppard’s.

I'm thinking The Great Divide may be coming sooner than we think.

"Take the money and run" might translate in the next election to "take this you filthy bastards". I'm paraphrasing here for those gentle religious people who speak more softly than I but can also wield a Big Stick from time to time.

Where does Byrd stand on this? Is he owned by the coal barrons? If not, this may be a nice issue to champion and end his long and distinguished service to the people of Appalachia.

If not, it might be a good way for a young Democrat to start out his new political career.

Keep it up, Thom-ass and I might have to start posting your little buddy Stevie's info again! You KNOW how he hates to have his parnoid info out there !

Me thinks you protest WAY too much about those little jewels of your's! Thanks, but unless I need a good laugh, I will pass on a picture of your 'girls" !

Now if only Bush had not pulled out troops out of Afghanistan for Iraq, we would have HAD this guy by now! But just another Bush Failure !

CAIRO, Egypt - Osama bin Laden warned Iraq's Sunni Arabs against fighting al-Qaida and promised to expand the terror group's holy war to Israel in a new audiotape Saturday, threatening "blood for blood, destruction for destruction."

Most of the 56-minute tape dealt with Iraq, apparently al-Qaida's latest attempt to keep supporters in Iraq unified at a time when the U.S. military claims to have al-Qaida's Iraq branch on the run.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071229/ap_on_re_mi_ea/bin_laden_tape

She might had already been President if she hadn't followed that man of hers to backwoods Arkansas.

Posted by connfloyd on December 29, 2007 at 02:51 PM

That's the message she should be pushing among women voters.

We've all had enough of all this nonsense about letting men screw up the works because the Bible says they should...which it really doesn't but the misinterruptation helps these hapless little lambs feel more important that way.

Mary Mageline was a whore and Mary was a virgin.

We've heard these fairy tales since childhood. Grown women know better. Jesus saw them both as they were and blessed them for putting up with all the crap grown men do in the name of God's knows what...like torture, war, or raping mountaintops to make an easy buck or two.

Hey Doo Bee,

I have met Jim Himes at the Jefferson jackson dinner and he is a great guy. We hope to knock Shays out this time, too, and there will not be anymore Republicans in congress in New England ! I will work for Jim, believe it.

well, looks like more Bush Failures ! Bush should have minded his own business !

Bolton: US 'helped precipitate' conditions for Bhutto's assassination

The US has seen its options for dealing with Pakistan crumble with Benazir Bhutto's assassination Thursday, and a former diplomat says American foreign policy decisions helped "precipitate" the former prime minister's death.

John Bolton, former US ambassador to the United Nations, said it was a mistake to collaborate with Bhutto's "desire to get back into the game in Pakistan" and view her as an alternative to the country's current leader, Pervez Musharraf.

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Bolton_US_helped_precipitate_conditions_for_1228.html

Bolton: US 'helped precipitate' conditions for Bhutto's assassination
=================================================

Hi PamB

Good ole Chimpy McLoser strikes again. I think Chimpy should confine his activities to cutting brush on the phony ranch for the next year.

Despite the last few non-believers, looks like global Warming is Here !

2007 a year of weather records in U.S.

Experts Verify 2007 Has Been a Year of Weather Extremes: 263 Record Temps Broken in U.S.

When the calendar turned to 2007, the heat went on and the weather just got weirder. January was the warmest first month on record worldwide — 1.53 degrees above normal. It was the first time since record-keeping began in 1880 that the globe's average temperature has been so far above the norm for any month of the year.

And as 2007 drew to a close, it was also shaping up to be the hottest year on record in the Northern Hemisphere.

http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/2007_a_year_of_weather_records_in_U_12292007.html

The Nation on the Edwards surge Hotlist
by JeremiahFP [Subscribe]
Sat Dec 29, 2007 at 09:05:34 AM PST

John Nichols wrote a great article called Behind the Edwards Surge: Right Message at the Right Time. As a passionate Edwards-supporter, I certainly hope that the Nation and others are correct -- I hope Edwards is surging and that he is about to win Iowa and begin his march to the presidency. If and when he does win, it will be for the reasons that Nichols gives in his article:

To a far greater extent than Obama or Clinton, Edwards has struck at the heart of issues that should matter most in the race to replace not just George W. Bush, but the Bush agenda of corporate giveaways, job-crushing free trade deals, war profiteering in Iraq, and subprime mortgage profiteering in Indiana, Idaho, Illinois and, yes, Iowa.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/12/29/12534/095/307/426827
===============================================

Go Edwards! Sorry ... I had to get that shameless plug in.

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 03:42 PM

Pam,

I'm surprised Bin Lauden isn't offering the Iraqi Sunnis $400 a month per head to keep the violence going as opposed to Bush's $300 to make the surge look like it's a miracle?

There must be any number of Saudi Arabian donners willing to antee up for the Cause just like they did to fund the 9/11 attack. But I suppose in this way Bin Lauden gets Bush to waste more money while arming future recruits to infiltrate Israel.

If the neocons can't outsmart these Arabs, perhaps we should just go home and let them fight it out amongst themselves?

Lineups for Sunday news shows

By The Associated Press, Associated Press
Last update: December 28, 2007 - 4:45 PM

NBC's "Meet the Press" _ Former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
___

ABC's "This Week" _ Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and John McCain, R-Ariz.

___

CBS' "Face the Nation" _ Former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.
___

CNN's "Late Edition" _ Sens. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Joe Biden, D-Del.; former Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga.; former Defense Secretary William Cohen.
___

"Fox News Sunday" _ Former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn.
YAWNING! :-O

hehee! just a fly by - bbl

Posted by SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 03:42 PM

sandy, couple of weeks ago when i mentioned to j that she shouldn't ask our candidates for their plans on specific issues, you objected. well, i have to say you were right. i've reconsidered and concluded that, yes, we do indeed need to know exactly how they plan on fixing this mess and make life better for everyday folks. the reason for my change is that it's very easy to say you're going to do something, but the essential element is how you do it. ok, we're going to eliminate poverty. well, one person might do it by sharing the wealth, another might do it by shooting all the poor people. thanks, sandy.

2007 a year of weather records in U.S.

Experts Verify 2007 Has Been a Year of Weather Extremes: 263 Record Temps Broken in U.S.
===================================================

There is no doubt about global warming. Only pinheads and losers like Ann Coulter, Glenn Beck, etc... keep denying it mainly because of their greed.

Al Gore deserved the nobel peace prize and the conservative chimps can't stand it. It kills them to acknowledge that Gore was the right person to be president (and the actual winner!).

By the way, Kerry was a war hero. Chimpaloser didn't even step foot in Vietnam. Shotgun Dick didn't serve at all. Two chickenhawk losers. The chickenhawks just can't stand that Kerry got medals and they can never take that away from him.

Face up to it right wingnuts. Your leader is a Chimp. He should be cutting brush rather than pretending to be a president.

Here's another one Bush screwed up! He refused to have Rice sit down and compromise and talk to Iran. Little tough cock of the walk rooster, now losing Iranian oil to russia !!!

Russia, Iran tighten the energy noose

Foreign ministers are busy people - especially energetic, creative diplomats like Russia's Sergei Lavrov and Iran's Manouchehr Mottaki, representing capitals that by tradition place great store on international diplomacy.

Therefore, the very fact that Lavrov and Mottaki have met no less than four times in as many months suggests a great deal about the high importance attached by the two capitals to their mutual understanding at the bilateral and regional level.

Moscow and Tehran have worked hard in recent months to successfully put behind them their squabble over the construction

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/IL22Ag01.html

"Fox News Sunday" _ Former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn.
YAWNING! :-O
==================================================

Freddy Cheeseball ... now talk about a typical conservative GOP loser.

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 03:50 PM

Boy, there's no honor among these theives. Bolton is stabbing Spunky in the back. None of them care if they spill White House blood any longer. Incompetence has a way of breaking down the strongest resistance.

However, I'm certain Bolton's real objective is to in some way argue that we now need to invade Iran...to save Pakistan. It's pretty convaluted logic but that's how the neocons operate.

Giuliani and McCain would go for it. Romney would do anything Cheney told him to...even from the grave. Huckabee doesn't know where Pakistan or Iran is. Thompson once did, but he doesn't think it's important anymore.

What a line up of candidates and a foreign policy disaster to match them.

Here's another one Bush screwed up! He refused to have Rice sit down and compromise and talk to Iran.
====================================================

Of course, the Chimpenfuhrer knows everything ... but really knows nothing. We all knew he was going to be a major loser in 2000. He's lived up to the worst expectations. Time for Chimpy boy to ride into the sunset and cut brush permanently.

Posted by Ladydawn on December 29, 2007 at 03:58 PM

dawn,

Nobody wants to talk to Romney?

I guess when he made that remark about it was more important for his five sons to help him get elected than service in the miliary his candidacy was pretty much over.

Posted by SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 01:23 PM
Patton would have done what he did with people like these, he would have slapped them, open handed until they cried and peed in their pants. He liked doing that to cowards.

Does anyone else suspect that al-qaida might be trying to refocus attention on iraq as a distraction from their real intent of going after pakistan's nukes? Sock-jock prezteldunce's biggest most grave blunder was not going 110% after bin lauden in afganistan. stupid, stupid, stupid!

Cliff's Corner
by Cliff Schecter · 12/28/2007 06:54:00 PM ET · Link
Discuss this post here: Comments (50) · reddit · FARK ·· Digg It!

The Week That Was 12/28/2007

Another week. More preposterousness to report.

This week we will have to be quite brief, but I do come bearing gifts. The brevity is due to the fact that your humble blogger, who has now inhabited this Corner for exactly two years (that's right, an anniversary of sorts!), also happens to be enjoying a birthday today.

I use the term "enjoying" loosely, for as I become firmly entrenched in my mid to late 30s, well, we all know what can happen. In case, you don't, observe the dual visages of Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld in their mid thirties:

So any day now I could have that male pattern kick in and suddenly feel the urge to purge the world of brown people. It is, to be sure, a dangerous age.

I joke of course. I am off to see what my parents feel like spending on me.

In the meantime, enjoy this brilliant video by one of my bloggers and AMERICAblog commenter, the ingenius Gottalaff. She is a comedy writer by trade, so I am sure you will find this video compilation as hilarious as I did. Oh, and one more thing, my blog, no Ablog powerhouse to be sure, just passed the 1 million mark. Not too shabby for 10+ month's time. So come on by and say hello. We'll leave the doors unlocked and the windows open!

Happy New Year all!

http://www.americablog.com/2007/12/cliffs-corner_28.html
===============================================

Check out the Youtube video. It's the best of the Chimpenfuhrer's stupidity ... hard to fit in one video.

Chimpenfuhrer is a fool, baffoon, petty dictator and disgusting individual. It will be a relief to get rid of him.

Posted by rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 03:53 PM

Ah yes, the PHONY "Ranch" with ZERO crops and ZERO animals because Chimpy is scared to death of large animals.

It's a 10,000 sq. ft. fortified bunker with built-in pool, built by slaves from a religious cult. This bears reposting. Make sure to click on the internal links.

Get you a room at the rhythm ranch

(From the list of BEST BLOG POSTS of 2007 as decided by Jon Swift, a conservative blogger, but not a nutcase idiot winger.)

(h/t, Skippy the Bush Kangaroo)

But GWBush buys a ranch from a financially troubled family, turns it into his own Neverland for urban cowboys, buys $$$$ suits, has a home built by cultish workers, and installs a water tank big enough to turn the place into a Branch Davidian or Ruby Ridge compound, and he's plain ol' folks.

Not in this lifetime.

David Shuster smacks The Scar over his trying to pump “Bush’s foreign policy” as successful
By: John Amato @ 11:01 AM - PST

The Scar says that Republicans are suddenly very pleased with George Bush’s performance as the Decider including his….cough…cough….foreign policy. David Shuster wouldn’t let him get off with painting a bright and shiny picture of the Bush Doctrine—I’ll let David lay it out for you….The middle east is a complete disaster and….anyway…

video_wmv Download (834) | Play (1440) video_mov Download (562) | Play (734)

Shuster: Joe, I like you a lot. but I cannot let you by with what you just said about “George Bush” and his foreign policy successes. Are you really saying that the President’s foreign policy in all these places has been a success that most Republicans think—it’s been a success? Because that’s not the polling that I’m seeing and that’s not what I’m hearing from Republicans in Iowa who say: “Look, we want somebody we can trust. We want somebody who is smart, but we also want somebody who is competent this time.

——

Joe, I don’t even know where to begin….If the US had taken care of business in Afghanistan along the Pakistan border, had taken care of al-Qaeda, had sent 150,000 troops there instead of to Iraq which had nothing to so with the al-Qaeda attacks on 9/11, then al-Qaeda and the Taliban, they wouldn’t have the influence, the destabilizing influence they have over Pakistan today…

The Scar tries to downplay Shuster’s reporting by saying that since he’s a former member of Congress—then Shuster doesn’t really know what he’s talking about because he’s not a former member of Congress. David just laughed at him on that one…Joe Scarborough is the guy that did a segment called “Is Bush an Idiot” and then followed it up with a few more segments defending that take…As any election cycle approaches, a wingnut like Scarborough will always try to get back in the good graces of their party after trying to tell the truth for a short period of time.

You can check out the polling trend on Bush’ overall job performance here. Not very good.
==================================================

This is the latest crap from the pinhead right wing. They are trying to paint Bush's policies as successful. Yeah right, that's why we are bogged down in Iraq spending 12 billion per month of the taxpayer's dollars and with no exit strategy in sight. Chimpenfuhrer is a total loser.

But GWBush buys a ranch from a financially troubled family,
====================================================
Doo-Bee,

Is there anything more despicable than this strutting phony Chimpy Bush? I didn't know he hired cult members to work on the phony ranch.

That's a fact that the big bad "cowboy" is actually afraid of animals.

If the neocons can't outsmart these Arabs, perhaps we should just go home and let them fight it out amongst themselves?Posted by SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 03:55 PM

Sandy,

I wonder these days if Cheney, wolfowitz, Perle, Kristol, all of the PNAC crew, i.e. the original beginning of the Neo Cons ever fully understand how absolutely Ridiculous their big plans for World domination via ownership of the middle east was !

It was the beginning of the destruction of our country.

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 04:02 PM

Pam,

The last I heard, the Iraqis had signed a oil deal with both Russia and China...when they weren't threatening Bush if he didn't veto the military spending bill that shortchanges our Persian Gulf veterans.

Nobody with any brains would send Condi to negotiate with another country. And no Arab country would sit down with her. Madeline Albright or Nancy Pelosi were always welcome but not one of Bush's mentally-challenged, female birdbrains.

Sandy,

I have to chuckle at the mention of Rice, when I look back 3 years or so, when her name was on everyone's lips at the next Presidental candidate for the Righties ! Now she is nothing but a joke! She could not negotiate between the US and a boyscout group !

Mary Mageline was a whore and Mary was a virgin.
Sandy, there are some scholars that contend that Mageline was a wealthy woman who supported the ministry of Jesus, in fact, the disciple that he loved. These same scholars contend that after the death of Jesus, the church (Male) discredited her and invented the story of her being a prostitute to do so. I don't know, I wasn't there.

Posted by rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 04:12 PM

rj,

Is it just me or does Huckabee and Scarborough sort of look and sound alike these days?

Bush's mentally-challenged, female birdbrains.

Posted by SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 04:16 PM
=================================================

Send in Dana Perino ... but first give a map and show her where the Middle East.

Posted by goodfoe on December 29, 2007 at 04:20 PM

Neither was I, my friend. But I always thought it was significant that she was the first to see Him when He arose from the dead. No mistake there.

Posted by PamB on December 29, 2007 at 04:16 PM

Pam,

A lot of them like Perle have already distanced themselves from the policy. Only the likes of Kristol and Cheney are still defending it. They can't admit failure or it goes to the root of their whole conservative argument for running the country.

They have essentially mortally wounded the Republican Right. No wonder they can't come up with a viable presidential candidate this time.

A senior official of Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) told TIME late Saturday that the slain former prime minister's 19-year-old son, Bilawal, will likely be named as her political heir and the new party leader on Sunday. PPP members are due to meet to discuss the party's future and to give Bilawal, a student at Oxford, a chance to read his mother's last will and testament.

A Pakistani television news channel also carried reports that Bilawal will be made the new leader, which the channel said accorded with Benazir Bhutto's wishes. If confirmed, the teenager will become the third leader of the 40-year-old center-left party, one of Pakistan's most powerful. Bilawal will follow his grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who founded the PPP in 1967, led Pakistan as Prime Minister for four years in the mid 1970s and was hanged in 1979 by a military government, and Benazir, who took over from her father and was killed in a shooting and suicide bomb attack two days ago.

The quick anointment of a Bhutto to head the PPP will help rally party members devastated by the assassination of their tough but beloved leader. The party hopes to ride a wave of sympathy in parliamentary elections that are set for Jan. 8 but may yet be postponed in the face of widespread violence around the country. Rival opposition parties have called for a boycott of the polls but PPP officials say their party intends to participate.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1699006,00.html

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan rejected foreign help in investigating the assassination of Benazir Bhutto on Saturday, despite controversy over the circumstances of her death and three days of paralyzing turmoil.

The Islamic militant group blamed by officials for the attack that killed Bhutto denied any links to the killing on Saturday, and Bhutto's aides accused the government of a cover-up.

President Pervez Musharraf ordered his security chiefs to quell rioting by Bhutto's grieving followers that has killed at least 44 people over three days and caused tens of millions of dollars in damage.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20071229/pakistan/

Posted by rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 04:21 PM

rj,

I sometimes wish Bush had appointed Coulter to some sort of post. Her references and qualifications for serving in the Bush crime family are iron clad.

But she's to cunning to fall into that trap. This way she can operate below the radar...and below the belt...in such a way that only she can.

Rate Of Suicide Bombs Rises In Iraq

Petraeus said the number of attacks in Iraq had fallen by 60 percent since June and the number of civilian deaths had fallen by 75 percent since a year ago. The number of U.S. military deaths was also sharply lower.

But figures supplied at Petraeus's briefing also showed a slight rise in suicide car and vest bombs since October. At least 33 people were killed by two suicide bombs on Christmas Day, and 10 people died in a Baghdad car bomb on Friday.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/12/29/rate-of-suicide-bombs-ris_n_78677.html
================================================

Petraeus is a freakin liar. The surge has failed.
We are no closer to reconciliation now than before the surge. All we have done is dig ourselves in deeper and spend more money per month. Disgraceful!

Her references and qualifications for serving in the Bush crime family are iron clad.
==================================================

Sandy, ain't that the truth. Satan's Barbie Doll would have fit in nicely.

Later ...

Posted by BoilerMan on December 29, 2007 at 03:59 PM

BoilerMan,

I sort of remember that exchange. I think I was concerned that we would elect someone who wouldn't really change things. We've talked about universal health care since 1992. Let's make sure something is done this time.

Same thing with equal opportunity. Some people continue to live on the outside looking in. If we are going to finally get the door open to the inn, let's make sure all will be welcome there.

I can't remember your reasons for not wanting to more closely press on details but it was probably valid, too. With the primaries over so early, it's going to give the Republicans a long time to shoot holes in anything we propose.

I hate this early campaign season. Who was behind pushing this besides the Republicans? Who on our side went along with it so eagerly?

Posted by rjsnj on December 29, 2007 at 04:32 PM
RJ, even if the surge did show marked progress, it is meaningless. al-Sadr has a truce going on. He's just waiting for the American troops to leave, then he will attack the Sunni full force. It is his intention to run the government himself and set up a Shiite Islamic state patterned after Iran. Anyone with any knowledge could have seen this coming, but Bush and Cheney are so greedy they refused to listen. Ir was their way or the highway: they fired any general who did not worship at their alter.

This old man is tired now, have to rest up for the ball game. It will be interesting to see if the Giants play their starters or try to save them for the playoffs....Later.....Maybe....

Sandy,...the book is done, will be going to the printer shortly.

john boy,

I'm so tired of waiting for them to go. The world feels the same.

If Bush had any pride or love of country, he'd resign and take Cheney with him. They've got every corrupt thing they set out to steal. It was obvious from the start that they were in over their heads internationally.

The country needs to heal the wounds they inflicted on it. The sooner it starts the better it will be for us as a nation.

bbl.

Congratulations, goodfoe!

RJ, even if the surge did show marked progress, it is meaningless.
=================================================

goodfoe, to me it's meaningless because we are no closer to getting out now than before the surge. In fact, all it did was dig us in deeper. I see that as a failure.

Mary of Magdala was highly favored in that she was present at His crucifixion and that she was the first witness of Christ's resurrection. He told her not to cling to Him, He had not gone on to His Father.

She holds much power in that she had an intimate relationship with Christ.

~~~~~~~~~
And dearest Steve, I shall post childish gibberish in the wee hours to annoy you trolls.

If you only had a brain, a heart, the nerve!

I shall post scripture to share the good news.

Enjoy the evening, everyone.

And also Stevie boy,

I warned you to call off your balkies that you shared my info with, or I would continue to post yOUR website, which of course has your address, your occupation, your phone number AND your email!

Now once and for all , unless you don't care that it will be posted for all to see, CALL OFF Thom-ass, or you will get hits to that professional (not) website of your's to start with, THEN on to bigger better things !! (like daughter, ex-wife, Mother Father obits with their life histories, and little occupations and other relatives, etc, etc.)

Yeppers, Mc Turd. It's commonly known as "dry wit" as opposed to you, who is commonly referred to as "nitwit".

ANN COLTER---SATAN'S BARBIE DOLL WITH ANOREXIA

Yet you feel comfortable enough to post:

...I should think that the carpenter might miss your presence.

>b>Posted by GeorgeB on December 29, 2007 at 05:48 PM

Actually, you should apologize. Figure THAT out.

You know, Gregg had a good point this morning. What was it that he said? Ignore the trolls??? Bad behaviour should not be rewarded with any kind of attention.

Well your little commie "godless" friends have
been posting childish crap all day, where were you ?

Posted by Dan5 on December 29, 2007 at 05:45 PM

After the carpenter & I enjoyed our morning pot of coffee together, I prepared a big breakfast for us and My Necee. Then Necee & I walked up the street to a new little business in town that makes/sells ceramics, while walking back home, I gathered more signatures for my Democratic Central Committee petition, then we went to a tastefullysimple food party that one of my Aunt's was hostessing. It was delish!

The carpenter knows that I can't sleep, and he has no problem with my reading news and blogging with you trolls during the wee hours. Ours is a relationship in which the independence is equal, the dependence mutual, and the obligation reciprocal.

Mighty fine Saturday if I do say so myself.

I dislike taking a tylenol. ;\

I don't want to have to consider OTC sleep aids. Heaven forbid if I should ever have to take medication.

I'll leave you to your trollyness...and not clutter the space for the fine democratic folks to discuss issues and candidates.

I'm rather limited in what I type now a days.

So long as the trolls are crapping up the thread, I'm posting this in it's entirety. And, our own Tracy Joan is working for John Edwards! Go Tracy!

Edwards will end the corruption in Washington by holding his administration to a higher standard by banning corporate lobbyists from serving in an Edwards White House

Washington, Iowa – Today, Senator John Edwards said that he will ban anyone who has worked as a corporate lobbyist or has lobbied for a foreign government from working in an Edwards Administration. Edwards is proud to be the only presidential candidate who has never taken a dime from any Political Action Committee or Washington lobbyist, because he's determined to be a voice for regular families like the ones he grew up with.

"I want to make an announcement today," Edwards said at an event in Washington, Iowa. "No corporate lobbyists or anyone who has lobbied for a foreign government will work in my White House. We will not replace corporate Republicans with corporate Democrats. I hear people argue that the way that you can get things done is to sit at a table with drug companies, insurance companies, oil companies, and negotiate with them and somehow they will voluntarily give away their power. I think this is a complete fantasy.

"I am proud of the fact that I have never taken money from a Washington lobbyist or a special interest PAC my whole time in public life," Edwards continued. "I don't think you can bring about change by taking their money or sitting down at a table and trying to make a deal with them. I think if that worked, we would have universal health care, we would be attacking global warming, we'd have a trade policy that makes sense, and we'd have a tax policy that makes sense. I don't think these people will give up anything without a fight – they've been there too long and they have billions of dollars at stake."

In August, Edwards challenged Senator Clinton and the other presidential candidates to join him in demanding the Democratic Party lead the way to real reform by refusing, as a party, to take campaign contributions from Washington lobbyists. And in October, Edwards unveiled his "One Democracy Initiative" to return the power in Washington to regular people and end the unique power of lobbyists.

Edwards called for prohibiting all candidates and federal office holders from accepting contributions from lobbyists and prohibiting federal lobbyists from acting as bundlers for federal candidates. As president, he will limit the ability of lobbyists to secure lucrative earmarks by enacting a Constitutional version of the line-item veto, where the president can require an up or down vote on special-interest spending. He also proposed curbing lobbyists' influence by increasing disclosure requirements for lobbyist activity and by prohibiting government executives from accepting gifts and travel from lobbyists and their employers.

Edwards "One Democracy Initiative" also called for closing the revolving door between Capitol Hill and K Street by reinstating the five-year ban on lobbying by former top government officials. Edwards' new proposal today builds on this by banning any former corporate or foreign government lobbyist from serving in an Edwards Administration.

Over the past few administrations, influencing our government has grown into a big business that employs a mass of lobbyists and lawyers. Lobbying expenditures totaled $5.1 billion during the last Congress. The number of Washington lobbyists has tripled in the past 10 years to almost 36,000—more than 60 for every member of Congress. Edwards believes it's time to end this permanent government and go back to a Jeffersonian model of public service. He believes there are plenty of skilled, honest and talented people from across our nation who will come to Washington to serve their country for four or eight years.

GeorgeB, your last name isn't Burns, is it? I just spit my drink across the table...

You "gentlemen" should not have picked on GeorgeB that way. He sounded like one of your own and was reaching out to you for help and what did you do? You ridiculed him! How would you feel if you learned that this was an act of desperation and as a result of your rejection, he killed himself?

Time for the republicans to scurry under their beds...

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- Osama bin Laden warned Iraq's Sunni Arabs against fighting al-Qaeda and vowed to expand the terror group's holy war to Israel in a new audiotape Saturday, threatening "blood for blood, destruction for destruction."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/12/29/binladen.message.ap/index.html

WTF? Even the republican candidates are bored with themselves.

(CNN) — Republican Fred Thompson has long faced criticism he lacks motivation to be President of the United States, but the Tennessee Republican's latest comments Saturday are likely to spawn fresh heat.

“I’m not particularly interested in running for president," the former senator said at a campaign event in Burlington when challenged by a voter over his desire to be commander-in-chief.

“But I think I’d make a good president," Thompson continued. "I have the background, capability, and concern to do this and I’m doing it for the right reasons.”

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

The republican mantra: "If it doesn't work, keep doing it..."

The Bush administration finds itself in a box after sticking so long with the policy of standing by Musharraf's side at all costs, and it has little choice but to stay with him now, otherwise the White House would run the risk of making Pakistan even less stable.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/29/henry.us.pakistan/index.html

Posted by BlueinIdaho on December 29, 2007 at 07:28 PM

hey blue, another fascist rethuglican mantra: "If it works, break it so you can sell it to the private sector."

Posted by Dan5 on December 29, 2007 at 07:26 PM
Been there, done that in 1954. Got rip roaring drunk and wound up in a street fight with another American in the middle of Havana right on the Parada. The Federal police stood around giving odds on the fight before it began. I put the other guy down with one punch and picked up some easy money.

For the old timers who remember

Steve Gilliard was born into this Harlem and took it all in, but he wouldn't find his voice on the corners. He was quiet, bookish, overweight. He won entrance to an elite high school, where he passed his time reading obscure military histories, then studied history and journalism at New York University. He found his true calling, though, on the Internet. In 1998, when he was 34, Gilliard joined a new site called NetSlaves.com, whose blogger-reporters chronicled the misadventures of the new high-tech work force, and there he discovered his own kind of incendiary oration. It was by the dim light of a computer screen, rather than on the sunlit corners of Harlem, that Gilliard took to expertly excoriating the moneyed establishment. By 2003, Gilliard had become one of the first official "guest bloggers" on Daily Kos, then on its way to becoming the most influential of the new liberal political blogs, where he informed his indictments of the Iraq war with detailed references to the British occupation of Mesopotamia. Eventually he created his own site - "Steve was a big personality, and it was clear he needed his own stage," Daily Kos's creator, Markos Moulitsas Zúniga, later wrote - and became one of a small group of early political bloggers with his own devoted following (and a self-sustaining, if modest, income from ads). On Gilliard's "News Blog," along with the partisan attacks on Republicans that made him a hated figure on the conservative blogs, he specialized in applying history to the present day, which made him an unusual and distinctive voice. In 2004, he banged out a remarkable 37-part series, the equivalent of about 200 typed pages, chronicling the foibles of European colonialism.

Though Gilliard, unlike many bloggers, always used his real name, few readers knew much about him. They didn't know, for instance, that at age 39 he had open-heart surgery to repair an infected valve. They didn't know he lived alone in a small apartment in East Harlem. And, although Gilliard often wrote about race and alluded to his own perspective, a lot of readers never realized he was black. In the incident that brought him the most infamy, Gilliard acidly attacked Michael Steele, the black Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Maryland in 2006, as a traitor to his race. Black conservatives like Steele infuriated Gilliard, who couldn't understand how any African-American could support a party that exploited racial prejudice. "I's Simple Sambo and I's Running for the Big House," read Gilliard's caption, below a doctored photo of Steele as a minstrel. Only after the post earned him headlines in major newspapers and recriminations from politicians of both parties did a lot of readers come to understand that a white man hadn't written it - although, for Gilliard's critics, that hardly made it less offensive.

The paradox of Gilliard's existence is a familiar story on the blogs, where people often adapt avatars that are more like the selves they imagine being. Online, he was vicious and uncompromising. In person, Gilly, as his close friends called him, was reserved and enigmatic. His writing at times betrayed a sense of loneliness and dislocation. In 2000, after seeing the movie "High Fidelity," he posted on NetSlaves.com a melancholy reflection on life as a geek. "Geeks live in an eternal conflict between their love of topic and love of people," he wrote. "I wonder if people substitute fascination with things they can control over things they can't - other people. You start to wonder if you've created a world so limited that you can't really reach beyond it." He lamented that he didn't know what it was to "wake up naked in a strange bed," but, he wrote, "at 35, I've figured out that this is it, at least for now. Anything I do, any life I make, is going to revolve around words and computers and strange, bright people."

It was a life both short and loud. What began with a bad cough just after Valentine's Day became a spiraling infection that ravaged Gilliard's vulnerable heart and kidneys, and he spent most of his last four months hospitalized. The identities he kept separate for most of his 42 years collided in the days after he died; the few dozen mostly white bloggers who came to Harlem for the funeral saw for the first time the stark urban setting of Gilliard's childhood, while his parents and relatives groped to understand what kind of work he had been doing at that computer and why scores of people had come so far to see him off. They must have been confused when Gilly's online pals, sickened by the way some right-wing bloggers were gloating over his death, advised them not to disclose where he was buried, out of fear that someone might deface the site. The grave, like Gilliard himself, is known only to a few.

Posted by goodfoe on December 29, 2007 at 07:34 PM

goodfoe, i'm assuming you took him out with your 'left', eh?

Posted by BoilerMan on December 29, 2007 at 07:34 PM

And one even more appropo: "If it has a chance to bring about democracy and peace, kill it."

Posted by BoilerMan on December 29, 2007 at 07:39 PM
I have to give credit where credit is due: that was a "Cute" response. No, I waited for the other drunk to blink and hit him with a straight right.

Posted by BoilerMan on December 29, 2007 at 07:39 PM
SorryBoilerMan, I thought I was responding to Dan5

Posted by BlueinIdaho on December 29, 2007 at 07:39 PM

Unfortunately, a sad reality perpetuated and perpetrated by the narcissistic fascist mind set.

A little history and a buttload of reality:

Contemporary conservatives have moved so far toward the radical right, of course, that they barely recognize Barry Goldwater as one of their own, not to mention that many are unfamiliar with his rather courtly conservatism based on civility and common sense. Liberals, meanwhile, can see how far to the center they have moved because their views on many issues are indistinguishable from those of the man once known as "Mr. Conservative."

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20071228.html

Good evening, everyone.

Sandy,...the book is done, will be going to the printer shortly.

Posted by goodfoe on December 29, 2007 at 04:55 PM

Congrats. I know you'll put a lot of work into this.

Posted by goodfoe on December 29, 2007 at 07:47 PM

no problem, goodfoe. personally, i prefer to use a 'have-a-hart' to take out the vermin. but a 1080 will do if all else fails.

Posted by SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 07:52 PM

What do you make of the republican prince declaring that Congress is not in session?

have to go now, the "Brat" wants the computer.

Posted by BoilerMan on December 29, 2007 at 07:39 PM
I don't understand, but Ill have to get back with you later....

Posted by goodfoe on December 29, 2007 at 07:47 PM

*wave*

If the president does not sign or veto a bill within ten days, the bill becomes law.

The defense bill should Constitutionally go into effect as law tomorrow. If the republican prince claims otherwise, he should be impeached and removed from office.

“I’m not particularly interested in running for president," the former senator said at a campaign event in Burlington when challenged by a voter over his desire to be commander-in-chief.

Posted by BlueinIdaho on December 29, 2007 at 07:26 PM

Blue,

Finally a Republican who will tell the truth.

It's a shame Thompson didn't tell all those folks he was soliciting funds from a few months ago that he wasn't in this contest for real.

* * * *

Who in the heck is singing the national anthem? She was voiced over by a commercial; and then when she could be heard, it wasn't too pretty.

The American people need to rise up and take this country back.

Those hatefilled people that masquerade as Christians yet breed violence and devisiveness have nearly ruined what made this country great.

To them, "freedom" means less freedom; "civil rights" means only for the most fortunate; "Christianity" means to pass judgement on all others; "democracy" means winning elections by deception and trickery.

Let us all pray and hope that God turns the hearts of those that feel only hatred. Let us pray and hope that America is restored. Let us pray and hope that Americans unite behind true leaders and vote Democratic. Let us pray and hope that Americans will show mercy on our soldiers and let them return home now.

Back to the holidays for me...

Posted by SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 08:15 PM

Maybe he wants to be appointed like Prince George was...

snark out.

Posted by Cyn_NY on December 29, 2007 at 07:38 PM

Cyn,

Thanks for the article.

He was a quiet voice in the wilderness of American politics. It's interesting how the internet has allowed Americans in the 21st century to mimic the forefathers of this nation.

Remember the Federalist Papers? Those words spoken on paper were loud and clear. They confronted their countrymen with new ideas and challenged their desire for liberty and justice... and forged a new republic.

I think Madison, Hamilton, and Jay would have been happy bloggers. Steve would have had good company.

Read the entire article at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Taking Back America By Anatol Lieven

The danger posed by conservative religion, today as in the past, stems from the frequent association of its adherents with social groups that also consider themselves under threat from modernity and whose views often find expression in one variety or another of national chauvinism – hence, in the last century, their contribution to the rise of Fascism. Something like this is evidently at work in the US. It doesn’t, we know, characterise the whole country: very large numbers of Americans are bitterly opposed to the Christian Right and to its association with chauvinist nationalism.

Posted by BlueinIdaho on December 29, 2007 at 07:56 PM

Blue,

Someone said earlier today on digby said that Bush might be right.

PS: FWIW, I believe that Bush is probably in the right legally here with the pocket veto. Webb is keeping the *Senate* open, but HR 1585, like all spending bills, began in the House. As far as I know, no one is doing the same for the House, since the House doesn't matter for the purposes of recess appointments. I don't think the Dems foresaw this, and so just kept the Senate open. The Constitution is clear, however, that vetos are returned to "that House in which it shall have originated."

digbysblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/hmmm-by-digby-i-have-been-wondering.html

Nancy let this slip past her.

Posted by BoilerMan on December 29, 2007 at 08:36 PM

BoilerMan,

Even many at RNC headquarters are frightened by the sacramonious monster they have created as their Base and is now being personified in the person of Rev. Mike Huckabee.

I think the Huckster is going to have a hard time convincing the top brass that his candidacy belongs at the top of a GOP ticket. He's a clever propogandist and speaker but lacks the sophistication the ivy league feels comfortable with among their set.

It's the overlords in the big house not the field hands who get to decide who plays president.

Posted by BlueinIdaho on December 29, 2007 at 08:24 PM

Cute. It's back to the game for me.

74 yards! Wow.

"When You're In The Military, You're Also In The ___"

Sat Dec 29, 2007

A recent Military Religious Freedom Foundation report cited two newly uncovered videos made for the "Military Ministries" of Campus Crusade For Christ. One was filmed at the US Air Force Academy, the other at Texas A&M University. A study guide designed to accompany the second video, and which is currently being used by Campus Crusade's Military Ministry at Fort Jackson, SC asks soldiers in basic training the following:

"If you are in the military, then you are also in the m___________."

What goes in the blank ? "major leagues" ? "Middle East" "mythopoeic milleau" ?

The actual suggested answer is "ministry", and a very specific ministry in fact - a fundamentalist Christian ministry which teaches a Christian theology of war.

www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/29/10626/172/594/427557

How many officers are going to go along with this sort of activity within their command? Are these people deliberately trying to sabotage the effectiveness of our military capability by introducing dissension among the ranks? Isn't that called treason?

HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa

What a loser.

George Bush is optimistic about the future of America in 2008

Thank God for the Democratic party. If anyone were to align themselves with the idiocy displayed here by the republicans: Dan5, Harpo, et al, would be the equivalent of declaring humanity lost.

Bill Kristol To Become New York Times Columnist In 2008

December 28, 2007 06:37 PM

The Huffington Post has learned that, in a move bound to create controversy, the New York Times is set to announce that Bill Kristol will become a weekly columnist in 2008. Kristol, a prominent neo-conservative who recently departed Time magazine in what was reported as a "mutual" decision, has close ties to the White House and is a well-known proponent of the war in Iraq. Kristol also is a regular contributor to Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume.

This is suppose to sell more newspapers? Or is this move designed to make the paper fold?

Speaking of bullies...it's half-time and time to watch another replay of that Patriot poking someone in the eye. I'd rather watch steriod-induced home runs in baseball, thank you very much.

There was talk of a parade following the Rose Parade with floats demanding the impeachment of the two royal assholes in Washington.

I am watching the parade for sure.

Protesters Could Disrupt Rose Parade

Pope's exorcist squads will wage war on Satan
By NICK PISA - 29th December 2007

The Pope has ordered his bishops to set up exorcism squads to tackle the rise of Satanism.

www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=504969&in_page_id=1811&Satan=Santa

Watch out, danny boy5. The papists are out to get you...after their scheduled stop at the New York Times to run the devil back to his day job at Faux News.

Republican candidate gets a taste of republican politics:

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Many South Carolina Republicans got a bogus holiday greeting card this week, purported to be from White House hopeful Mitt Romney, that cites some controversial passages of theWe wish you and your family a happy holiday season and a joyful New Year. The Romney family," the card says.

The last page features a photograph of a temple above a box that says "Paid For By The Boston Massachusetts Temple."

Romney's campaign said it had nothing to do with the cards, postmarked Thursday from Columbia with a 41-cent stamp, and Boston Temple President Ken Hutchins said Saturday he first heard about the mailing Friday from a woman in Charleston.

Hutchins said the temple had nothing to do with sending mail to South Carolina Republicans, who go to the polls on Jan. 19 in a key early primary.

"It is sad and unfortunate that this kind of deception and trickery has been employed," said Will Holley, Romney's South Carolina spokesman. "There is absolutely no place for it in American politics."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071230/ap_on_el_pr/romney_card;_ylt=ApJBPCyL4QeghL_ac92S_pqs0NUE

Two Democratic candidates get a taste of democratic politics. Not any sneaky dirty tricks but in-your-face politics:

Dodd unloads on Obama and Clinton

By: Roger Simon
Dec 28, 2007
DES MOINES, Iowa — Chris Dodd is a warm and friendly guy, a charmer, a hail fellow well met. But when he hits you, he wants to raise a bruise.

And he hit both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton at an afternoon rally at his headquarters Friday, less than a week before the Iowa caucus.

“It isn’t just a question of giving a great speech, giving an ennobling idea,” Dodd said of what the presidency takes. “It isn’t enough just to be sitting on the sidelines and watching your husband necessarily deal with problems over the years.”

Take that, great speech-giver, ennobling Obama! Take that, sideline-sitting Hillary!

Dodd may be polling at about 1 percent in Iowa right now, but clearly he is not going to go down without a fight...

www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7599.html

OMG, I would post parts of this article but the whole thing deserves a read. If Americans are looking for another republican ignoramus, they need look no further...

PELLA, Iowa (CNN) -- A senior aide to Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee admitted Friday that the former Arkansas governor had "no foreign policy credentials" after his comments reacting to the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto raised questions.

During an event Friday in Pella, Iowa, Huckabee said the crisis sparked by Bhutto's death should lead to a crackdown on illegal immigrants from Pakistan.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/28/huckabee.foreign.policy/index.html

Huckabee: "Bhutto??, isn't that the toe next to your big toe?"

Ron Paul excluded from FOX News debate in NH Primary

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/12/29/ron-paul-excluded-from-fox-news-debate-in-nh-primary/

I can only imagine that Hannity etc., are sitting there with their hands over their eyes exclaiming, "if we don't see him, he doesn't really exist, right???"

December 30, 2007

Candidates Digging for a Deeper Pool of Iowa Voters
By ADAM NAGOURNEY and JEFF ZELENY

...“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Gov. Chet Culver, a Democrat who has not endorsed anyone in the race, said in an interview in his office on Friday. “The get-out-the-vote efforts are going to be the best ever.”

www.nytimes.com/2007/12/30/us/politics/30vote.html?ei=5065&en=6b226917f9e763c5&ex=1199595600&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print

There's a lot of good ideas and lessons to be learned from this effort in Iowa. I hope the DNC is taking notes and putting together a playbook for all 50 states to use next November.

The Republicans seem to be using their usual negative ads, dirty tricks, and paying peoople to attend caucuses strategies. And that's about all they can muster with the record they're all running on.

Everyone must do their good deed for this year by reaching under the bed of their republican neighbor, pulling his scared butt out from under there and giving him a dose of reality:

Iran's such a Scaaaary Eeeeevil Place that Christians can openly worship there. Not only that, but they celebrate Christmas there, driving around Christmas-themed art cars just like some of us do here. They used to be able to celebrate Christmas openly in Iraq, too, but that was back before Bush invaded the country.

Go to Photo Activists for Peace (h/t Newshoggers) and check out the pictures of Christmas in Iran -- and of Iranian women, living lives freer by far than those of women in post-invasion Iraq or Saudi Arabia. These are photos that you will never, ever see on America's nightly TV news programs, not when our networks are obeying the neocons' orders to dehumanize all Iranians so we won't feel so bad when Bush's airplanes incinerate them from above

http://firedoglake.com/2007/12/29/come-saturday-morning-irans-visual-reality/

Are you like one of those ambulance chasers who run along and bite at the tires of the rolling meat wagon or one of those "Is you life all hosed up and we know it's not your fault so call us now at 1-800-dial-lawyer and we'll make it all better".

No, you are confusing this with Ken Olsen's actions in Florida in 2000 in which he helped the alchi-crackhead attain the White House through legal maneuvers in Poppy's Supreme Court. If anybody's life has been all hosed up, it's Bush's.

“Daddy help me. The majority of American voters are insisting that the future Nobel Peace Prize winner take my rightful place in the Oval Office. Barney will be so disappointed.”

Just call 1-800-help-aliar...at the RNC. And don’t eat any pretzels with your beer in the future.

The republican prince loves veterans so much he vetoed a bill that would have provided justice to them:

Among those who would have benefited from the provision are American prisoners of war from the 1991 Gulf War who were tortured and beaten by members of Hussein's military.

Bush's action Friday also blocks more money for veterans' health care.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/28/bush.veto/index.html

Sorry, Harpo. I got that off DrudgeReport.

Posted by Dan5 on December 29, 2007 at 10:52 PM

You can be so persuasive sometimes. It's a wonder the Jehovah Witnesses haven't hired you. Anybody need a free subscription to The Light House...Dan's your man.

Posted by SandyH on December 29, 2007 at 10:50 PM

It is truly amazing to me that those two believe they are providing an admirable representation of republicanism. I say, "blog on". The more people who witness the vile juvenilisms that they spew, the better. They are the DNC's equivalent of Ann Coulter -- A woman who turned more people either indie or dem than any other individual.

May God have mercy on their tortured souls.

John Edwards believes that the United States must be a global leader in the fight against poverty. Solving global poverty is a moral imperative, but it is also a security issue. Global poverty increases the risk to America by providing a safe harbor for instability, extremism, and terrorism. Edwards' strategy against global poverty will require every weapon in our national security arsenal. For the last six years, too many burdens have been placed on the Department of Defense—not because it has asked for this mission or is the best suited to handle these challenges, but because it has been the most capable and well-funded national security institution.

As president, John Edwards will fundamentally transform America's approach to the world. As part of his $5 billion initiative, he will bring high-level attention to help people in three priority areas: primary education, preventive health, and greater economic and political opportunity.

http://www.johnedwards.com/issues/global-poverty/

Maybe electroshock treatments would be the next step in the process. A nice warm tub and a radio knocked off the bathroom shelf oughta do it.

This is the next step if waterboarding doesn't work for you boys?

Forty-seven million Americans lack insurance and families and businesses are struggling to pay skyrocketing premiums. Edwards has proposed a specific plan for truly universal health care that will take on the insurance and drug companies, cover every man, woman, and child in America, and get better care at lower cost.

http://www.johnedwards.com/issues/

Our standing in the world has been badly tarnished in recent years. America must once again be looked up to and respected around the world.

John Edwards supports the immediate withdrawal of 40,000-50,000 troops from Iraq and the complete withdrawal of all combat troops from Iraq within nine to ten months. We must also lead on the great challenges like ending the genocide in Darfur and the conflict in Uganda and fighting global poverty and diseases like AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.

A strong, principled national security policy is the foundation of America's strength. We must strengthen homeland security, stand by our soldiers at every turn, while respecting the Constitution and living up to our ideals in the fight against terrorism.

http://www.johnedwards.com/issues/

Posted by *Harpo* on December 29, 2007 at 11:07 PM

I found it posted there. Has it been so long since you've gone to any other website that you've forgotten how Matt sets up things for you suckers?

What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label "Liberal?" If by "Liberal" they mean, as they want people to believe, someone who is soft in his policies abroad, who is against local government, and who is unconcerned with the taxpayer's dollar, then the record of this party and its members demonstrate that we are not that kind of "Liberal." But if by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties -- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal."

President John Fitzgerald Kennedy

"The next President must exert the great moral and educational force of his office to help bring equal access to public facilities, from churches to lunch counters, and to support the right of every American to stand up for his rights, even if on occasion he must sit down for them. For only the President, not the Senate and not the House and not the Supreme Court, can create the understanding and tolerance necessary as the spokesman for all the American people."

John F. Kennedy

Blue,

They aren't tortured souls. They'd like torturing innocent souls...cheerleaders for the fourth branch of the federal government and the neocons.

Good night, all.

Activists in Vermont town want
Bush/Cheney subject to arrest
Group in Brattleboro petitioning to put item on town meeting agenda in March

Story Highlights:
.Activists allege war crimes; item would subject Bush, Cheney to arrest if they visit

.White House hasn't responded to requests for comment

.Vermont AG says move is "of very dubious legality"
Full Story:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/28/vermont.banning.bush.ap/index.html

Clinton: Politics shouldn't
play role in Pakistan tragedy
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton on Friday accused the camp of rival Sen. Barack Obama of politicizing the death of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Watch the video:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/28/clinton.obama/index.html#cnnSTCVideo

Purported Osama Bin Laden message
has warnings for Iraq and Israel
Osama Bin Laden warned Iraq's Sunni Arabs against fighting al Qaeda and vowed to expand the terror group's holy war to Israel in a new audiotape Saturday, threatening "blood for blood, destruction for destruction."
Full Story:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/12/29/binladen.message.ap/index.html?iref=topnews#cnnSTCVideo

***********************************************
(Now for my thoughts: This is just another failure to add to the list of the Bush administration for the fact that Osama is still free when he should've been captured and brought to justice a long ago for all of the horrible things he has done. Bush took his eye off of the real threat by going into Iraq instead of going after Osama full force. This administration is going to go down as the worst in the history of the country! It's a disgrace that Osama is still free!)

Congratulations, goodfoe!

Posted by Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on December 29, 2007 at 04:57 PM....Thanks Doo Bee!!

Let's see, what shall we talk about this morning?.....Bush wants to veto the defense bill because his puppet in Iraq does not like it!..That seems like a case of the tail wagging the dog. In this case a large tail wagging a very small drug store cowboy dog! The bottom line on this is that it appears that Bushwacker is not supporting our troops for political reasons. The politics of a two bit shyster who is standing in for the Iranian government is more important than the lives and safety of our troops!

To my good Democratic friends, if you must refer to Bush as a "cowboy", please always ait with "drug store", ie, "drugstore cowboy" Real cowboys are honest, hard working people with a deep love of the land and out country. Bush has none of these character traits.

should read "preface it with "drug store"..."our country"....Pats won last night,...good ball game and I'm not awake yet and not typing well....

I no longer wish to see Bush, Cheney, Dumsfeld, Rice, et al, taken before the World Court. Rather, I want them charged with crimes against the American People as opposed to being charged with crimes against humanity at the World Court. I have changed my mind about this because their FIRST responsibility was to serve and protect the American People, all of us, not just the wealthy and privileged. The lies and deception of intell they used to deceive both the Congress and the American People to involve us in the illegal occupation of Ieaq deserve to be punished.What better lesson for future "wanna be" tyrants than to have the punishment carried out at the Washington Monument for the whole world to witness!

Good Morning, Goodfoe.

As for "Foreign Policy EXPERIENCE", you'd think that at least that buffoon would have learned a little geography when he was "studying" at all those "Jesus Jamborees" masquerading as "schools".

Huckabee Clueless After Bhutto’s Death, Says Pakistan Has ‘Eastern Borders’ With Afghanistan

Just what we DON'T need, ANOTHER clueless lazy Fundie screwing up the world in the hope of bringing about the "End Days".

Chimpy was too much already.

YAY!! The newspapers are here.

BBL

I like being called a liberal. I like what John F. Kennedy had to say about that, I plead guilty to the charge of being a "Liberal"....

Good Sunday Morning, Good Dems. Sunny and 36 degrees.

Sunday talk line-up from Kos

MTP: in IA; Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL); Mike Huckabee (R-AR)

FTN: John Edwards (D-NC)

This Week: Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY); Sen. John McCain (R-AZ); roundtable of David Brooks, Donna Brazile and George Will; reflection of lives lost in 2007

FNS: Fred Thompson (R-TN); DMR's David Yepsen on the caucuses

Late Edition: representatives of various presidential campaigns

One strategy in debate is to call my opponent what I really am. If I'm a racist, I call you a racist and point out why you are a worse racist than I am. If I'm a communist, I call you a communist and point out why you are a communist. All this is to deflect attention from my sins, my flaws and make you out to be the bad guy.
The trolls who post here and accuse Democrats of being communists are the real communists because they seek to create a two class society. They seek to break the middle class, break the unions, and drive all the middle class into poverty so that they, the upper class can rule us just as the privileged upper class ruled in the Soviet Union. And, of course, they had their guiding lights in Karl Rove, Dick Cheney and George Bush. These jerks and all their cronies deserve a fail trial and a just punishment for the evil they have inflicted upon our country. I hope we have truly learned from all of this and will protect out freedoms and liberty better in the future. Otherwise, revelution will come.

C-Span will have video of the Dems speeches in Iowa today.

John Zogby on C-Span now. His new survey shows Cinton ahead at 31 percent.

Looking into Mike Huckabee's mind is like looking out into a vast desert waste land. There isn't much there. God help this country if the Republicans steal another election and the Huckster should be elected!

Johnboy, that's interesting. I have a rethug from CA that lives near our summer place. He constantly calls me names. Although originally I wanted to claw his eyes out, now I just smile and point out what a jerk the president is. And, sometimes he agrees. This neighbor is a Neo-Con, Theo-Con, Corpo-Con Hawk of the worst kind.

Good morning Cyn,...GO EDWARDS!!

Al-Qaeda claims Bhutto killing

Interrogations are said to have revealed the existence of a vast al-Qaeda network to track down and kill “precious American assets” in Pakistan. Benazir Bhutto, assassinated on Thursday, was one of the foremost of those American assets. Her death was “our first victory”, in the words of an al-Qaeda spokesman. - Syed Saleem Shahzad

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IL29Df01.html

”We terminated the most precious American asset which vowed to defeat mujahideen.” These were the words of al-Qaeda’s top commander for Afghanistan operations and spokesperson Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, immediately after the attack that claimed the life of Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto on Thursday (December 27).

Good morning, JohnBoy. Yes, GO EDWARDS!

Posted by Cyn_NY on December 30, 2007 at 07:37 AM
People sometimes respond that way to populist positions if they have been brain washed for a protracted number of years. They will also react this way if they perceive that their money or security is threatened. Just tell him we will not steal his money illegally when we take over like George Bush has. That ought to fix him up real good!

Posted by Prof*_McBurd on December 30, 2007 at 07:39 AM....That sounds like a real educational experience since I don't have any knowledge in those fields, which was your point. Be happy to visit with you any time here in Spring, Texas. Just let me know hen you want to come and I'll give you directions on where we can meet up.

Posted by goodfoe on December 30, 2007 at 07:47 AM

Good idea! Yes, money is very dear to his heart. And he sure has been brainwashed. He repeats the Limbaugh, coulter, malkin, crystal bushshit like it was gospel.

Morning JohnBoy and Cyn,

It's 24 here and clear. It snowed a little the night we left for San Antonio and a little the night before we got back.

I only saw one bush bumper sticker in San Antonio. Hopefully they have come to realize as we have that bush is a loser and a criminal of the first order as is cheney.

Another Poll, Another Dead Heat in Iowa
A new McClatchy-MSNBC poll in Iowa shows a statistical dead heat in the Democratic presidential race and a big shift in the Republican race.

John Edwards leads with 24%, followed by Sen. Hillary Clinton with 23% and Sen. Barack Obama with 22%. Edwards has the momentum since the last poll in early December gaining 3 points, while Clinton lost 4 points and Obama lost 3 points.

Among Republicans, Mitt Romney has regained the lead as Mike Huckabee "has lost momentum and support, even among evangelical Christians who had propelled him into the top spot just weeks ago." Romney now leads with 27%, followed by Huckabee at 23%, Fred Thompson at 14%, and Sen. John McCain at 13%. Huckabee is down 8 points since earlier this month, while Romney is up 7 points.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/static/pdf/poll/1230iowadem.pdf

Good morning JohnE...I have to leave soon. Time to take the Boss Lady out to our old folks "el cheapo" breakfast....Later

Good morning, JohnE. The upcoming caucuses are getting interesting.

good morning all. airport duty today followed by snow i guess.

NH Concord Monitor Endorses Hillary Clinton

http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071229/OPINION/712300301

The trolls who post here and accuse Democrats of being communists are the real communists because they seek to create a two class society. They seek to break the middle class, break the unions, and drive all the middle class into poverty so that they, the upper class can rule us just as the privileged upper class ruled in the Soviet Union.

{{JohnBoy}}
What is sad is, those trailer trash trolls that come here do not realize is, THEY are the lower class! They have never amounted to much, and vote against themselves, all because they bought the koolaid that Dems will take another dollar out of their greasy little wallets! What they do not understand is, Taxes are the dues for a Civilized Society !

{{Cyn}}}

I do not believe for one minute that Al Qaeda was responsible for Bhutto death. Mushareff trying to cover up his own efforts to kill her. that is why he had the Death Results changed the next day to say she hit her head and died from that. He does not want any martyrdoms.

Al Qaeda is perfectly happy with the growth of their group in Pakistan. They are biding their time until they have control of those Nukes, and then God help us all !!

Digby

It was inevitable. I wrote about it right after the 2006 election --- as soon as the Republicans lost power, I knew the gasbags would insist that it's time to let bygones be bygones and meet the Republicans halfway in the spirit of a new beginning. GOP politicians have driven the debt sky-high and altered the government so as to be nearly unrecognizable, so logically the Democrats need to extend the hand of conciliation and move to meet them in the middle --- the middle now being so far right, it isn't even fully visible anymore.

Today we have none other than the centrist drivel king, David Broder, reporting that a group of useless meddlers, most of whom who were last seen repeatedly stabbing Bill Clinton in the back, are rising from their crypts to demand that the candidates all promise to appoint a "unity" government and govern from the the center --- or else they will back an independent Bloomberg bid.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/

Morning, Pam! It wouldn't surprise me one bit if they were working together.

Cyn,

I don't have a doubt, that Bloomberg is disgusted enough by the Republican cast of deadbeats for President, and will run. Supposedly all signs show he is evaluating it right now. This will split up the few Republicans who will even show up at the polls, and help the Dems.

Pam, Bloomberg is also seeking a new way to identify the poor.

The Bloomberg administration, frustrated by the federal government’s Great Society method of determining who is poor, is developing its own measure, which city officials say will offer a more modern and accurate picture of poverty.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg wants to adopt the new measure in part so he can better assess whether the tens of millions of dollars the city plans to spend on new anti-poverty programs will improve poor people’s standard of living.

But officials also hope the new measure will set off a nationwide re-examination of the current federal standard, and prompt other cities and states to adopt the city’s method.

The 42-year-old federal poverty standard, which is pegged to the annual cost of buying basic groceries, is widely viewed as outdated and off-target. The city’s formula would take into account the money families must spend annually on necessities including rent, utilities and child care. But it would also factor in the value of financial assistance received, like housing vouchers or food stamps.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/30/nyregion/30poverty.html?ex=1356670800&en=ce4ff6dc142cc3a4&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss

Cyn

Just such a crying shame that Bush sent all those Billions of our dollars, along with planes and weapons to Mushareff, who ended up using them for helping himself . Funny how you never hear the greedy little trolls complaining about their money for stuff like that, nor the trillions being borrowed from China, which is merely tying us more and more each day to being owned by them! Funny they don't complain about how Russia and China are turning out to be the Winners of the Oil supply from the Middle East, because the countries hate Bush so much. Funny how the trolls who profess such a love of this country, do not care that Bush has turned us into the World's Biggest Terrorist country. Funny we never hear any response about how Bush treats those Veterans, and returning injured troops when they pretend to support the troops! Just as long as they think they are able to keep an extra dollar in their pockets for that next pack of cigarettes or 6-pack of Bud, they are satisfied.

GOODMORNING FELLOW DEMOCRATS:
We have a mere 4 days left before it begins. I'm really ready for it to start.All the bickering is driving me nuts.
Its time for me to get off work, its been a long 24 hours. See ya at 1600.
Have a great day, Happy Sunday!!!

The 42-year-old federal poverty standard, which is pegged to the annual cost of buying basic groceries, is widely viewed as outdated and off-target. The city’s formula would take into account the money families must spend annually on necessities including rent, utilities and child care.

I cannot even guess how some of these people, with children or elderly, can survive these days with the price of heating, gasoline, food inflation (have you bought a box of cereal lately?).

It is very sad. What might have seemed like a lot of pension money and sufficient SS 25 years ago, has sadly turned a lot of older people into paupers in their old age.

Pam,

It's because the trolls can't think for themselves. They repeat the same sick talk of the right wing pundits without giving it any thought.

Look how the trolls on here keep repeating the same old trash. Over and over and over again. Whether it be about you or DPD or Gregg or Hillary or John Edwards, etc., it is the same stuff over and over. They can not or will not think for themselves.

i am trying hard to ignore the primaries...what the hell whoever the party picks i am gonna work like a lunatic for. on the other hand the whole credit market disaster is of great interest to me...it is one more in a long line of case studies in how unregulated capitalism will screw the vast majority of citizens while making a bundle for a select few. i found this post and attached blog and thought it might be more interesting than whether or not huckster uses preparation h or whatever...

"I love it when real estate experts say this is all about subprime loans.
Anybody who lived in SoCal or Florida during the boom can tell you that the housing bubble was not just about subprime borrowers buying houses they couldn't afford.

It was also about prime borrowers getting interest only loans to be able to afford buying in high price areas using no documentation loans.
It was also about realtors scaring buyers with the "buy now or risk being priced out of the market" phrase.
It was about Alan Greenspan telling people that the use of exotic mortgages was a great idea.
It was about the Bush administration pushing the "ownership society" lie where everybody can and should own a home.

All this has very little to do with subprime loans and everything to do with greed in an "instant gratification" society based on debt and leverage."

http://www.NationalBubble.com

Good point, gg. Although I am totally focused on the primaries, I have seen the housing bubble burst up close and personal. My sister is building a new house and can't sell her old one. Very bad timing on her part and she is starting to panic.

My daughter's best friend in California has one of those interest only loans. No equity at all in the home and the sales prices of homes in her area are falling fast.

Posted by Cyn_NY on December 30, 2007 at 07:27 AM

Thanks, {{{cyn}}}. I always look forward to your posting on Sunday morning.

I do plan on watching MTP. My two favorite candidates are going to be on. ;\

hey cyn we have a snow storm coming don't we?

God help this country if the Republicans steal another election and the Huckster should be elected!

Posted by goodfoe on December 30, 2007 at 07:35 AM

Only if the voters allow it to be. We must educate our voters, actually, all voters.

{{Esme}}, glad I can be of service to your Sunday morning TV viewing. ;-)

gregg, yeah, the recent weather has been too good to be true. Snow/cold is on the way.

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