So, let me get this straight, even though 16 US Intelligence agencies concur that Iran is not working to produce a nuclear weapon and has not been working on acquiring a nuclear weapon for more than four years, the Bush administration continues to try and sell us another war based on false evidence?

Posted by margotb822 on March 31, 2008 at 02:53 PM

margot,

Good website commentary.

Why wouldn't they try it again? It worked once. They are efficient in repeating lies if nothing else.

What could possibly be solved from starting another war with this sort of deceptive crap? We can't occupy every country that has oil reserves with a overextended, volunteer army...even if we weren't already in debt to all these countries, too.

margot,

Good website commentary.

Why wouldn't they try it again? It worked once. They are efficient in repeating lies if nothing else.

What could possible be solved from starting another war with this sort of deceptive crap. We can't occupy every country that has oil reserves with a overextended, volunteer army...even if we weren't already in debt to all these countries, too.

Posted by SandyH on March 31, 2008 at 03:07 PM

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

Thanks. I am just so fed up with this war mongering. It's all false!!! Lies!!! How many times can people fall for this crap?!?!

If oil is their justification, we should just invade Canada. It's close, not militant and is our largest oil provider anyways.

This was sent to me by a republican friend and this is one of the reasons why he can not win the general election OMG! This is true! I checked it out with snopes.com.

Subj: The Real Obamas.....

This is unfortunate, but it needs to be read to have an understanding of our political choices.

OBAMA'S MILITANT RACISM REVEALED

In her senior thesis at Princeton, Michele Obama, the wife of Barack Obama stated that America was a nation founded on"crime and hatred". Moreover, she stated that whites in America were "ineradicably racist". The 1985 thesis, titled "Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community" was written under her maiden name, Michelle LaVaughn Robinson.

Michelle Obama stated in her thesis that to "Whites at Princeton , it often seems as if, to them, she will always be Black first..." However, it was reported by a fellow black classmate, "If those "Whites at Princeton " really saw Michelle as one who always would "be Black first," it seems that she gave them that impression".

Most alarming is Michele Obama's use of the terms "separationist" and "integrationist" when describing the views of black people.

Mrs. Obama clearly identifies herself with a "separationist" view of race.

"By actually working with the Black lower class or within their communities as a result of their ideologies, a separationist may better understand the desperation of their situation and feel more hopeless about a resolution as opposed to an integrationist who is ignorant to their plight."

Obama writes that the path she chose by attending Princeton would likely lead to her "further integration and/or assimilation into a white cultural and social structure that will only allow me to remain on the periphery of society; never becoming a full participant."

Michele Obama clearly has a chip on her shoulder.

Not only does she see separate black and white societies in America , but she elevates black over white in her world.

Here is another passage that is uncomfortable and ominous in meaning:

"There was no doubt in my mind that as a member of the black community, I am obligated to this community and will utilize all of my present and future resources to benefit the black community first and foremost. "

What is Michelle Obama planning to do with her future resources if she's first lady that will elevate black over white in America ?

The following passage appears to be a call to arms for affirmative action policies that could be the hallmark of an Obama administration.

"Predominately white universities like Princeton are socially and academically designed to cater to the needs of the white students comprising the bulk of their enrollments."

The conclusion of her thesis is alarming.

Michelle Obama's poll of black alumni concludes that other black students at Princeton do not share her obsession with blackness. But rather than celebrate, she is horrified that black alumni identify with our common American culture more than they value the color of their skin. "I hoped that these findings would help me conclude that despite the high degree of identification with whites as a result of the educational and occupational path that black Princeton alumni follow, the alumni would still maintain a certain level of identification with the black community. However, these findings do not support this possibility."

Is it no wonder that most black alumni ignored her racist questionnaire? Only 89 students responded out of 400 who were asked for input.

Michelle Obama does not look into a crowd of Obama supporters and see American s. She sees black people and white people eternally conflicted with one another.

The thesis provides a trove of Mrs. Obama's thoughts and world view seen through a race-based prism.

This is a very divisive view for a potential first lady that would do untold damage to race relations in this country in a Barack Obama administration.

Michelle Obama's intellectually refined racism should give all Americans pause for deep concern.

Now maybe she's changed, but she sure sounds like someone with an axe to grind with America . Will the press let Michelle get a free pass over her obviously racist comment about American whites? I am sure that it will.

PS: We paid for her scholarship.

Posted by SandyH on March 31, 2008 at 02:57 PM

We live in a small complex of condo's. It's in a nice part of town and in a good area. The condos are up market but not extravagant. My wife and I are both professional people, as are most of our co-owners.

(6) of the (16) are on the market and have been for over (2) years. Two of the condo's previous occupants were baby boomers, like ourselves, who along with a lot of people took advantage of large equity loans at teaser rates.

It was like having an ATM machine and these particular people bought all the toys. Big screens, upgrades, new furniture and new cars. Living large. I hate debt and so does my wife.

Anyways, teaser term is up and all of a sudden they had big equity line payments and guess what, couldn't make the payments.

Short of the long...in both instances, the couples fought and eventually split up and abandoned their properties. So sad to witness two lovely couples blow their whole lives up over finances and debt.

It's not just the poor and impoverished who's lives were wrecked by easy credit and predator lendors.

GOP ideology is good for economics ... when it's the 16th century!

Posted by rjsnj on March 31, 2008 at 02:58 PM

Yea, I know the contract with America is crap. That's why I used the word "claimed." The GOP have always dressed up their fascist, pseudo-Christian policies with Orwellian names.

It's so obvious that the president's direction is the reason for success or failure. Congress has always passed the legislation, but it's up to the President for approval. So, to act like the President has no say in the success or failure of the nation is BS. It's just another Repub spin.

Posted by connfloyd on March 31, 2008 at 03:14 PM

Welcome back. Where have you been? Fighting in the streets of Texas for every last delegate?

I find the concept of a woman married to a bi-racial man being racist a bit over the top. And which way would he be racist? To the white side as you suggest or to the black side? Or maybe both at the same time?

Why would Michelle Obama have even married this man if she was so conflicted?

Instead of wasting you time with this crap, why don't you try investiating his much "rumored" latent Moslum tendencies? Or his Asian preferences because of his half-sister?

I hear that he once marched in a St. Patrick's Day parade. His heritage might be white English and black Irish?

Go back and try again.

Tent city in suburbs is cost of home crisis
15:57 ET, Thu 20 Dec 2007

By Dana Ford

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

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

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

As more families throw in the towel and head to foreclosure here and across the nation, the social costs of collapse are adding up in the form of higher rates of homelessness, crime and even disease.

While no current residents claim to be victims of foreclosure, all agree that tent city is a symptom of the wider economic downturn. And it's just a matter of time before foreclosed families end up at tent city, local housing experts say.

"They don't hit the streets immediately," said activist Jane Mercer. Most families can find transitional housing in a motel or with friends before turning to charity or the streets. "They only hit tent city when they really bottom out."

Steve, 50, who declined to give his last name, moved to tent city four months ago. He gets social security payments, but cannot work and said rents are too high.

"House prices are going down, but the rentals are sky-high," said Steve. "If it wasn't for here, I wouldn't have a place to go."

'SQUATTING IN VACANT HOUSES'

Nationally, foreclosures are at an all-time high. Filings are up nearly 100 percent from a year ago, according to the data firm RealtyTrac. Officials say that as many as half a million people could lose their homes as adjustable mortgage rates rise over the next two years.

California ranks second in the nation for foreclosure filings -- one per 88 households last quarter. Within California, San Bernardino county in the Inland Empire is worse -- one filing for every 43 households, according to RealtyTrac.

Maryanne Hernandez bought her dream house in San Bernardino in 2003 and now risks losing it after falling four months behind on mortgage payments.

"It's not just us. It's all over," said Hernandez, who lives in a neighborhood where most families are struggling to meet payments and many have lost their homes.

She has noticed an increase in crime since the foreclosures started. Her house was robbed, her kids' bikes were stolen and she worries about what type of message empty houses send.

The pattern is cropping up in communities across the country, like Cleveland, Ohio, where Mark Wiseman, director of the Cuyahoga County Foreclosure Prevention Program, said there are entire blocks of homes in Cleveland where 60 or 70 percent of houses are boarded up.

"I don't think there are enough police to go after criminals holed up in those houses, squatting or doing drug deals or whatever," Wiseman said.

"And it's not just a problem of a neighborhood filled with people squatting in the vacant houses, it's the people left behind, who have to worry about people taking siding off your home or breaking into your house while you're sleeping."

Health risks are also on the rise. All those empty swimming pools in California's Inland Empire have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which can transmit the sometimes deadly West Nile virus, Riverside County officials say.

'TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT'

But it is not just homeowners who are hit by the foreclosure wave. People who rent now find themselves in a tighter, more expensive market as demand rises from families who lost homes, said Jean Beil, senior vice president for programs and services at Catholic Charities USA.

"Folks who would have been in a house before are now in an apartment and folks that would have been in an apartment, now can't afford it," said Beil. "It has a trickle-down effect."

For cities, foreclosures can trigger a range of short-term costs, like added policing, inspection and code enforcement. These expenses can be significant, said Lt. Scott Patterson with the San Bernardino Police Department, but the larger concern is that vacant properties lower home values and in the long-run, decrease tax revenues.

And it all comes at a time when municipalities are ill-equipped to respond. High foreclosure rates and declining home values are sapping property tax revenues, a key source of local funding to tackle such problems.

Earlier this month, U.S. President George W. Bush rolled out a plan to slow foreclosures by freezing the interest rates on some loans. But for many in these parts, the intervention is too little and too late.

Ken Sawa, CEO of Catholic Charities in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, said his organization is overwhelmed and ill-equipped to handle the volume of people seeking help.

"We feel helpless," said Sawa. "Obviously, it's a local problem because it's in our backyard, but the solution is not local."
© Reuters 2007. All rights reserved.
==================================================

All of the GOP's lies and corruption are coming to roost. Whether it be the "surge", housing bubble or erosion of civil liberties, it's all coming to a boil.

I am looking for information Someone posted at one time a site where you could go and see donations made by people. It was a site that tracked donations made by citizens. Does anyone have that link or site as I have miss placed it.

Posted by connfloyd on March 31, 2008 at 03:14 PM

Read this ya dick. Checked it out on snopes? What a bunch of bullshit.

The crap you posted is written by some white dickweed that should be locked up for hate crimes.

His or her rant is the first link. The second is snopes which will need to be read to the bottom so you know what they are calling True.

Go away and stop with the inflammatory bullshit.

http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.african.american/browse_thread/thread/16784b926a74f63f/79d125b559958df3

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/thesis.asp

Short of the long...in both instances, the couples fought and eventually split up and abandoned their properties. So sad to witness two lovely couples blow their whole lives up over finances and debt.

It's not just the poor and impoverished who's lives were wrecked by easy credit and predator lendors.

Posted by Michigan_Dave on March 31, 2008 at 03:16 PM

Dave,

And there is something so deja vu about it all, isn't there?

During the Bush Sr. recession our neighbor's son moved in with his four sons when his marriage imploded. The guy is a union plumber and couldn't find any work in the housing market for almost two years.

Sure they had run up the debt some, but it was the recession that tried their family values sorely.

Years later they finally reconciled and re-married. They would have lived happily ever after, but the housing bubble hit at the same time as a major medical emergency with one of the sons.

Guess who's back living next door with his mother...and he's had to bring his sick son with him?

Can't believe people ever trust the Republicans with the economy...ever.

Posted by connfloyd on March 31, 2008 at 03:14 PM

OMG are you still here? Why don't you just admit that Hillary LOST and it is OVER. THIS IS NOT TRUE IN ANY WAY, YOU ARE LYING AND YOU AND YOUR PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GIVE US JOHN MCCAIN IF YOU DON'T SHUT UP!! I always wondered if you were really a Hillary supporter or just a lying troll and now I know. YOUR BOTH. I doubt your even married with kids, heck I doubt your even a woman. BTW turns out Hillary LOST TEXAS ROFL

Posted by gemstone on March 31, 2008 at 03:33 PM

I kind of remember what you are talking about, but I'm not sure if it was a government site or a consumer/political one.

Why don't you just make a donation to the DNC? We would all appreciate it.

gemstone,

http://community.freespeech.org/fundrace_2008

http://community.freespeech.org/fundrace_2008

Just a question to get everyone fired up.

With the state of the world, US, State, local and personal economies....

Are you better off today than you were 10 years ago?

Which was better 1998 or 2008?

Posted by connfloyd on March 31, 2008 at 03:14 PM

So now I will need to add 'racist' to the terminology used to describe your insane posts? ON the bright side, I guess we're lucky that you finally gave us a peek up your knickers, revealing your starched white sheets. I wonder if the hospital you work for and the patients you "care for" know your true side...the one with the pointy cap.

Posted by rjsnj on March 31, 2008 at 03:31 PM

rjsnj,

So the Hoover Towns are back again a.k.a Bush Suburbs?

And the food pantries from the Bush Sr. recession never left. When "workfare" was enacted in the 1990's most of the working poor still had to depend on them. During the first Bush Jr. recession they became a mainstay for the underemployed white collar families that saw their professions moved over to India and China.

And let us not forget the soup kitchens that still feed disabled veterans from Vietnam and Dessert Storm....along with the mental patients thrown out on the streets by the Reagan Revolution. "Those people" are just lazy and don't want to work.

There are plenty of minimum wage jobs that they could do to support themselves even if they have some impairment. Why else would Republian businessmen import all those cheap foreign laborers.

Reagan knew how to handle all our problems. He is our hero, our savior, our last and final answer to everything. Bush and McCain are his second coming, right?

Posted by the bs artist on March 31, 2008 at 03:14 PM

B.S. As per usual you provide ZERO links and you NEVER check out anything on Snopes. I'm surprised this opinion piece of garbage wasn't festooned with dozens of burning Crosses like the last one you claimed came from a "friend". Remember??

BTW, Snopes has only ONE rumor listed as "TRUE"

SNOPES

Can we be SURE that you aren't just lying, as usual? Or did that come from HERE?

Either deal with the truth or take a hike and take your racist BS somewhere else, like David Duke's cesspool.

P.S. Obama WON TX. Mull THAT over. All your threats and bluster amounted to little if anything. (Oh, and thanks for breaking your "CAPS LOCK" key due to overuse.)

One of my forms of self-torture is to watch that little asshole Stephanopolis on ABC Sundays. George Will is always prominently featured spouting his Nazi poison, but this week, he was laughable--calling the mood of the country center-right, when it has already shifted to left-center. The power-structure simply cannot accept the fact that they are over and done with for at least the next twenty-five years. What a rude awakening it's going to be for them in November! Stay active!

Posted by radlib on March 31, 2008 at 03:13 PM

Yes, but radlib, didja notice not ONE of the supposed "liberals" on the panel challenged his statement about "center-right". I don't know, maybe ignoring statements like that works better than confronting them? I mean, it could reinforce the concept if they try to negate it. But you would think maybe one of the "liberals" would at LEAST try to replace that frame with a different one.

Posted by TMH on March 31, 2008 at 04:00 PM

1929?

(Oh, and thanks for breaking your "CAPS LOCK" key due to overuse.)

Posted by Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on March 31, 2008 at 04:03 PM

DPD,

Shhhh. Don't encourage it.

McCafferty just said that the Housing Secretary is leaving early to spend more time with his lawyers (family). Tehe.

HEY!!! I found the original email from "a friend":

OGExtremeOne

Scroll down to the bottom of this piece of White Separatism and read his coda.

Get lost, connie.

Posted by GregL on March 31, 2008 at 04:05 PM

GregL,

But I do believe Krugman countered Will with this:

Will: The Republicans have now put themselves in a bind because people now say look if you have Wall Street socialism, whereby you save Bear Sterns, or at least save JP Morgan to buy Bear Sterns, and you are thereby socializing the losses and keeping the profits private, why not help everybody. Soon we’ll hear from everyone in the country who has a student loan. This is,it’s a burden, help me.

Krugman: When I listened to McCain give that speech I immediately thought of Herbert Hoover’s Treasury Secretary. Liquidate farmers, liquidate workers, liquidate real estate, purge the rottenness from the system. You can’t do this. This is a major financial crisis. You’ve got to do something and that does include helping homeowners who were sucked in. You know it would be a little different if Alan Greenspan hadn’t said you should all take out adjustable rate mortgages. It would be a little different if the administration hadn’t said housing prices are going up. If they hadn’t said there is no bubble. So this is a situation where a lot of people have been hurt. It’s a natural disaster in effect. It’s like Katrina, and to say oh let people suffer is like saying let those people who made the mistake of staying in New Orleans suffer.

www.crooksandliars.com/2008/03/30/krugman-on-the-housing-crisis-it%e2%80%99s-like-katrina-to-say-let-people-suffer/

Per rjsnj earlier this morning.

Well, well. Guess who that other New York Chillin' Out Clinton trotted out on CNN with a trial balloon just now?

Mario Cummo.

He suggested that the two finalists should both publically offer each other the V.P. slot as a way to stop Hillary from going to the convention with her panties all tied up in knots.

I'm not sure if that would be the strongest ticket when we have Richardson, Biden, Dodd, Edwards, Clark, Gore and even the Elf and/or Nader as viable V.P. alternatives. I hope I haven't missed anyone (but Gravel has already gone Libertarian and burned his bridges.)

I used to be for an Obama/Clinton ticket. Now, NO WAY !!! Senator Obama should select someone of the character of Chris Dodd or the intellect of Joe Biden.
Hillary is now right next to Joe Lieberman in my book and I can not even phathom Senator Obama offering her the VP slot.

Posted by connfloyd on March 31, 2008 at 03:14 PM

Paid for by the Committee to Elect John McCain President.

I guess it really is true that the junior senator from NY core constituency is women over 65 and knuckle-draggers.

Posted by SandyH on March 31, 2008 at 04:30 PM

Oh yeah, like Nader would be a choice. His bridges are COLD ash at this point.

Posted by justaguy on March 31, 2008 at 04:34 PM

Isn't it too bad? One can choose to be gracious and courageous, or stubborn and resentful. She appears to have chosen the latter and is losing more than just delegates along the way.

When everyone is telling you that this isn't going to end pretty and you just keep going along as if everything is rosy...well, truthfully, it is starting to remind me of a failed leader that we have come to know very well. It is time she started listening instead of talking.

Posted by justaguy on March 31, 2008 at 04:34 PM

justaguy,

She would be fine with me. But would she be the strongest choice?

It appears that The Clintons are realizing that a convention floor fight over credentials is not maybe a good idea?

If they do it, it will be the end of their influence within the party and within the country, too, whether they win it or not.

At some point, reality sinks in....for Democrats at least.

Oh, come on. Let Hilllary have her last big victory in Pennsylvania and then let her exercise her own good judgment on how to bail out.

If she doesn't, she'll end up with nothing. She's been there before after Bill's impeachment. I don't think she wants Her legacy to end that way.

She really has a great future ahead of her if she's smart and doesn't listen to the Arkansas Mafia...one last time.

Posted by GregL on March 31, 2008 at 04:41 PM

But they are Green?

Posted by BobVADemHawk-Obama08 on March 31, 2008 at 04:38 PM

Well, good afternoon to you, too, Bob.

Yikes. Those racist posts get us all riled up.

CNN Scrubs Dobbs’ Racially Charged Comment From Transcript

While it appears that Dobbs was about to say “cotton picking” (often used as a racially charged slur) in reference to Rice, he caught himself, only uttering the word “cotton.” Yet, the CNN transcript from Friday’s Situation Room has omitted the word “cotton” from Dobbs’ remarks:

DOBBS: We’ve got to be able to talk about it and I can guarantee you this, not a single one of these [the word “cotton” should appear here] — just ridiculous politicians should be the moderator on the issue of race. We have to have a far better discussion than that.

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

Just so we're all clear, Dobb's now hates mexicans and blacks.

Dobbs

Posted by SandyH on March 31, 2008 at 05:04 PM

Indeed they do, my friend. Indeed they do.

The most scary part of it is that, if memory serves, she's in the healthcare profession, namely an ER. Could you imagine being a minority and having to receive medical care from someone like that?

This time Petraeus isn't going to get away with lying to Congress:

http://www.winwithoutwarus.org/

General Patraeus and Ambassador Crocker will testify before Congress next week. As you recall, their testimony before Congress last year was used by the Administration to build public support for the "surge" and weaken Congressional opposition.

We are working to prevent a repeat performance. We start tomorrow with a "prebuttal" to the Patraeus' Congressional testimony featuring two highly respected retired military army generals: Gen. William Odom, who served as the Director of the NSA under President Reagan; and Gen. Robert Gard, former President of the United States Defense University. Generals Odom and Gard will join me tomorrow in a news conference with national reporters who will be covering the Patraeus hearing. Our mission is to help frame that news coverage by providing reporters information and perspective on how and why the "surge" has not only failed, but has made things worse in Iraq.

After we brief reporters, we will provide Members of Congress who will participate in next week's hearing with the information and analysis that they will need to challenge General Patraeus and Ambassador Crocker. Our goal is to set the stage for a clear, coherent and compelling alternative message to what the Bush Administration will be dishing out to Congress and the public. The time to begin laying out this alternative out is now!

On Wednesday, General Odom will then testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and present the case that he will make in tomorrow's news conference.

We will forward you the results of tomorrow's news conference and General Odom's testimony when they are available. But, we wanted to alert you to these developments.

Many thanks for your continued involvement and support.

Posted by BlueinIdaho on March 31, 2008 at 04:44 PM

Blue,

I don't think she would hurt the ticket that much...although a lot of folks from those big blue states don't really understand how hated The Clintons are in other parts of the country.

She would bring out that rabid 27% of Republicans who always support the Dark Side no matter what...but so will Obama.

The Independents are ready for a change and so are the Reagan Democrats. This economy and the war have voters up in arms. They want an alternative. McCain is seen as a senile version of Bush. He makes people cringe when he talks about the economy or staying in Iraq for 100 years.

Let's just make sure that whoever is at the top of the ticket remains calm and collected. We don't need any cocky remarks or undignified slaps at McCain's service record. Seniors and vets will not tolerate it.

I haven't seen any disrespect yet from the Obama quarters on that issue. He actually seems to like the old warrior...while making no concessions when it comes to ending the occupation.

The Clintons probably do, too, but they come across more as pandering to him...pandering to everyone these days when they aren't making enemies.

Yet, I've always liked Edwards and Richardson a lot. Biden grew on me so much I miss him. Dodd is a national treasure.

Perhaps there is a place for all of them in the next administration? Or should the Senators stay right where they are in Congress and move along our agenda quickly in the first two years... before the GOP starts coming back after our super majority?

The Super Majority is key. We need coat tails.

bbl.

Posted by Cubilist on March 31, 2008 at 05:06 PM

How about the Greens?

Obama is also running on the idea of change in Washington. He wouldn't be changing much if he picked a Washington insider as his running mate. It wouldn't be to smart to pic her either. She has the lowest favorability rating and a 50% disapproval rating.
I think Edwards, Richardson, or Daschle will get the VP nomination.

Posted by Cubilist on March 31, 2008 at 05:08 PM

I never even thought of that phrase as racist, but I guess it makes sense. My mother used to always tell me "to pick up my cotton picking room". It always seemed like a lesser swear term. go figure.

Posted by SandyH on March 31, 2008 at 04:06 PM

We still have 1 year to go before we are back in 1929. Early January 2009.

Things will get back on track though with a full dem congress and white house.

Posted by SandyH on March 31, 2008 at 04:03 PM

Interesting thought about minimum wage. Minimum wage used to be the lowest amount of pay a person could receive and still survive. Somehow (thanks to Repubs), it's become the lowest amount of pay a company can legally get away with, and is not reflected by actual living costs.

So, yea, I can see that people would rather not have a job and collect unemployment, than work minimum wage and not survive. Why is it so hard to understand that the economy will not grow until people have money to spend?

Posted by SandyH on March 31, 2008 at 05:26 PM

Ok, what's up? That's the second "Greens" comment you've made...you thinking about going native on us? :)

Posted by Cubilist on March 31, 2008 at 05:28 PM

Cubilist,

But don't you think Hillary would be a great workhorse to have on our team...just like Gore was?

Besides, there is something to be said about that "feel good" equation that party unity brings to a campaign. You can't say that her supporters are not determined and go the extra mile when they are asked. I'd like to Party Hardy this time?

And I'm not expecting Obama to die young, so you don't have to worry about any Clinton Washington Insiders screwing us up for at least another eight years.

Lord knows Bush would have been gone a long time ago with what he's done to the country. The Secret Service have performed admirably under very hard circumstances. I expect them to continue in the same vein with our new president and vice president even though he/she enjoys going outside the bubble from time to time.

The thunderstorms are really rocking here. Time to turn off the computer.

later.

Foodstamps at record highs is clear and convincing evidence, once again, that fiscal conservatism is a complete misnomer.

The only way to reduce government spending is to reduce "the demand" for it. Conservatives keep demand inelastic and then blaim "liberals" for meeting the demand.

Party duopoloy in action...a perpetual-motion debt machine.

Without ensuring a free and unconsolidated marketplace being job one, government will always operate to conserve both the means and ends of power and the ideologies that motivate it.

We need a logical positivist alternative. Edwards was that alternative but rejected for novelty. Voting for McCain is a step back into the 19th Century. I cannot believe independents are favoring McCain. Sad commentary! Demoralizing.

Very best wishes.

Posted by GregL on March 31, 2008 at 05:37 PM

Obama lived in Hawaii and the Philippines. I'm getting into character. Green is good. Just ask Al Gore and Frosty the climate change guy.

Well, don't ask Frosty anything.

Bye.

Posted by margotb822 on March 31, 2008 at 05:37 PM

I used to have to do that to survive. When the company I worked for in Seattle was shut down and moved to New York, I moved back to Montana. I spent almost a year trying to find a job that paid more than I made on unemployment. The job I took paid barely more than my unemployment.

Even now, 4 years later, I only make about $200/month more than I was making on unemployment. How sad is that.

The business world is tilted towards employers paying low wages and reaping big profits. After my current company decided on a 2% pay increase for this year, many employees complained. The CEO send out a letter to all the employees explaining that everyone is actually making a lot more money than they think. He added in what he pays in workmans comp, medical insurance, etc.

I thought everyone should write a letter back to him explaining that they make a lot less than HE thought, by taking out medicaid, SSI, Federal and state taxes, etc.

But, I am sure he would have just fired me for suggesting that. The problem is that sooooo many entities take money away from individuals and businesses that it is hard for either one to get ahead.

Posted by SandyH on March 31, 2008 at 05:22 PM

Sandy, the pundits this past weekend were predicting that we could end up with as many as 58 in the Senate and 250 in the House. I think we can get to 60 in the Senate if we target the following senators:

Alexander, Lamar - (R - TN)
Allard, Wayne - (R - CO)
Coleman, Norm - (R - MN)
Collins, Susan M. - (R - ME)
Dole, Elizabeth - (R - NC)
Domenici, Pete V. - (R - NM)
Hagel, Chuck - (R - NE)
Inhofe, James M. - (R - OK)
Smith, Gordon H. - (R - OR)
Stevens, Ted - (R - AK)
Sununu, John E. - (R - NH)
Warner, John - (R - VA).

That's assuming we keep all 49 of our seats though I am worried about Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Tim Johnson (D-SD). None the less, even if we lost those two, and if we take all twelve above, with Sen. Sanders (I-VT), that'll make 60. It's a longshot but, it is possible.

correct!

The current mortgage crisis for example.

The problem is defined as high credit risk and housing prices; not the morgagees not being paid enough to buy housing.

Everything to avoid the cause: suboptimal distribution of capital. Just because we generate a surplus of capital with our hard work does not mean it has to be owned by a small economic elite. That's what is wrong with it.

Edwards was poised to at least make the distruibution more optimal, more equitable, something that free markets will do if allowed to operate!

Very best wishes.

Civilians handle minor duties for strapped police Departments under budget burdens hire outside help By Alan Gomez USA TODAY

Facing tighter budgets, law enforcement agencies across the country are increasingly turning to civilians to respond to some calls that sworn officers and deputies are usually responsible for.

That means people calling 911 to report a traffic accident, a burglarized home or a stolen car may be greeted by a civilian in a polo shirt instead of a gun-toting officer.

"It hasn't been universally adopted throughout the country. But most areas have at least thought about the alternative and are more open to it now because of the economy," said Richard Brady, president of the Palo Alto, Calif.-based Matrix Consulting Group that has worked with more than 250 law enforcement agencies.

The idea of using civilians, who require less training and are less expensive than sworn officers, to respond to minor police calls has been around since the late 1980s.

Brady said the practice died off for years as the economy improved and departments were augmented after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001...

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20080331/a_civiliancops31.art.htm

And the Bush strategy would be... Anyone? Tax cuts!

It amazes me to no end that the party of fiscal discipline, the party of miserly old men who used to take care of the country's finances, the party of rule and order could allow funding for our local PD's to devolve to this. The Libretarians may get their way yet at this rate.

911 Dispatcher: Thank you for calling 911. In order to proceed we need you to input your sixteen digit credit card number followed by the pound sign. Por espanol, marka de dos.

Posted by Cubilist on March 31, 2008 at 05:06 PM
================================================

Cubi, now that was simply dreadful! What has happened to Lou Dobbs. He really went over to the dark side. Maybe he's always been there but it's now just coming out. He should go back to business news.

Two to one. Thats the percentage of Democrats that think Obama will do better than Clinton in the General Election.

So, if this contest is as close as the Clinton camp believes (but then again, they also believe in Big Foot), does that mean that even the most Clinton Democrats think that Obama would be a better candidate?

So the reason to vote for Clinton is what??? Nostalgia??

Bush library loses web address to cybersquatter.

The Dallas Morning News reports that while the Bush library has found a physical home at Southern Methodist University, it is having difficulty finding an online home. “Some of the very best addresses are gone — snapped up for a mere fistful of dollars by squatters who have no connection to the library yet hope to make fun of the president, protect him or simply cash in on his name.” The Bush Foundation has itself to blame for losing one prominent url:

At one time, the Bush Library Foundation owned the easiest Web site to remember: www.GeorgeWBushLibrary.com.

But whether on purpose or because of an oversight — foundation spokesman Taylor Griffin wasn’t sure — it lost that domain name last year. Illuminati Karate, a Web company in Raleigh, N.C., picked it up for less than $10. […]

“We’re just holding onto it for the time being,” said lead Web developer George Huger. “To be honest, I couldn’t believe someone was letting it expire.”
==================================================

Tee, Hee, Hee

Well he could use:

www.chimpenfuhrer.com
www.mcflightsuit.com
www.chimpy.com
www.worstpresidentever.com

No, I haven't checked if any of those are in use. Maybe, I'll go register them ...

Two to one. Thats the percentage of Democrats that think Obama will do better than Clinton in the General Election.

So, if this contest is as close as the Clinton camp believes (but then again, they also believe in Big Foot), does that mean that even most Clinton Democrats think that Obama would be a better candidate?

So the reason to vote for Clinton is what??? Nostalgia??

Posted by rjsnj on March 31, 2008 at 06:11 PM

I don't think Lou Dobbs has gone to "the dark side". He is a protectionist of the American economy and he gives the appearance of believing in the motto, "American jobs for American workers", and the old "Made in the USA" slogan. Also, he is pro-union and pro-worker, as long as said worker is a taxpaying American citizen or legal alien. Lou Dobbs has a lot of positions that resonate with those of us in the political center.

From PHNP (Physicians for a National Health Policy)

Most doctors support national health insurance, new study shows

Reflecting a shift in thinking over the past five years among U.S. physicians, a new study shows a solid majority of doctors - 59 percent - now supports national health insurance.

Such plans typically involve a single, federally administered social insurance fund that that guarantees health care coverage for everyone, much like Medicare currently does for seniors. The plans typically eliminate or substantially reduce the role of private insurance companies in the health care financing system, but still allow patients to go the doctors of their choice.

A study published in today's Annals of Internal Medicine, a leading medical journal, reports that a survey conducted last year of 2,193 physicians across the United States showed 59 percent of them "support government legislation to establish national health insurance," while 32 percent oppose it and 9 percent are neutral.

The findings reflect a leap of 10 percentage points in physician support for national health insurance (NHI) since 2002, when a similar survey was conducted. At that time, 49 percent of all physician respondents said they supported NHI and 40 percent opposed it.

Support among doctors for NHI has increased across almost all medical specialties, said Dr. Ronald T. Ackermann, associate director of the Center for Health Policy and Professionalism Research at Indiana University's School of Medicine and co-author of the study.

"Across the board, more physicians feel that our fragmented and for-profit insurance system is obstructing good patient care, and a majority now support national insurance as the remedy," he said.

Support for NHI is particularly strong among psychiatrists (83 percent), pediatric sub-specialists (71 percent), emergency medicine physicians (69 percent), general pediatricians (65 percent), general internists (64 percent) and family physicians (60 percent). Fifty-five percent of general surgeons support NHI, roughly doubling their level of support since 2002.

Doctors have often expressed concern about lack of patient access to care due to rising costs and patients' insufficient levels of insurance. An estimated 47 million Americans currently lack health insurance coverage and another 50 million are believed to be underinsured. At the same time, health care costs in the United States are rising at the rate of about 7 percent a year, twice the rate of inflation.

The health care issue continues to rank high among voter concerns in the 2008 elections, placing third in a recent poll after the economy and Iraq.

The current study by the Indiana University researchers is the largest survey ever conducted among doctors on the issue of health care financing reform. It is based on a random sampling of names obtained from the American Medical Association's master list of physicians throughout the country.

In addition to measuring attitudes toward NHI, the survey also asked doctors about their views about "more incremental reform," often interpreted as state- or federal-based programs requiring or "mandating" that consumers buy health insurance from private insurance companies, legislative measures providing tax incentives to businesses to provide coverage for their employees, or similar steps.

Fewer physicians (55%) were in support of "incremental" reform. Moreover, virtually all those opposed to national health insurance also opposed incremental reform to improve access to care. In fact, only 14% of physicians overall oppose national health insurance but support more incremental reforms. Ironically, many medical organizations and most politicians have endorsed only incremental changes.

Dr. Aaron E. Carroll, Director of Indiana University's Center for Health Policy and Professionalism Research and lead author of the study, commented: "Many claim to speak for physicians and reflect their views. We asked doctors directly and found that, contrary to conventional wisdom, most doctors support the government creating national health insurance."

Other signs indicate that attitudes among doctors are changing. The nation's largest medical specialty group, the 124,000-member American College of Physicians, endorsed a single-payer national health insurance program for the first time in December.
===============================================

Looks to me like Doctors are disgusted with the insurance companies as well. In 1948, it was the AMA that killed off Truman's National Health Care. I doubt that would happen today. We may be closer than we think. But we need to put our politicians on the spot. Those that are slaves of their corporate donors must stop taking their money or they must go.

Two relevant links about Lou Dobbs should anyone be interested.

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

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Dobbs

Posted by BobVADemHawk-Obama08 on March 31, 2008 at 06:17 PM
==================================================

Hi Bob, he is all that but please read his comment. It was just a disgusting racial slur.

Good night fellow Democrats. Keep the Faith and keep the faith. The populist revolution has begun.

He calls it Surprised, but I will bet they threw away the underwear he has been wearing during this Failure of the surge!

And big freaken deal! His family long years of military service? Hope the rest of them were a little better soldiers than he was, and didn't get caught by the enemy!

McCain ‘Surprised’ by Iraq Developments

MERIDIAN, Miss. – As he launched a tour here designed to highlight his family’s long tradition of military service, Senator John McCain said Monday that he was surprised by the latest turn of events in America’s current war in Iraq. (not a War---an illegal occupation)
Mr. McCain said he had not expected Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki to try to oust Shiite militias from Basra without consulting the Americans, and that he was troubled by some of the demands that were made by the Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr as part of his offer of a ceasefire after the militias held off the American-supported assault. And he tied some of the current problems to the Bush administration’s old strategy there.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/31/mccain-surprised-by-iraq-developments/index.html?nl=pol&emc=pola1

The CEO send out a letter to all the employees explaining that everyone is actually making a lot more money than they think. He added in what he pays in workmans comp, medical insurance, etc.
=================================================

TMH, I wonder ... how much does Mr. CEO makes?

This is happening to everyone. Either there is no raise at all or it's so small that it isn't worth discussing. This has been going on for at least a decade now. In fact, many people have gone backwards over the past 25 years when you take inflation into account. The only respite was the 8 years of Clinton; otherwise, we would all be in terrible shape.

Evening all good Dems,

Posted by BobVADemHawk-Obama08 on March 31, 2008 at 05:54 PM

Dumbinici already announced his retirement. The lock-step bitch heather wilson is running for his seat. She is going down.

Posted by rjsnj on March 31, 2008 at 06:32 PM

RJ, I did. I've used the phrase "Cotton pickin'" before with no racial connotation. In VA, it's used as a negative metaphorical adjective much like when Greg drops an F bomb. Now if a pattern can be established, of course, that's a cotton pickin' horse of a different color.

(Ooooh, mixed metaphors... For my next trick, tired old cliches...)

Oh God, somebody stop me. Once again, good night fellow Democrats.

Posted by BobVADemHawk-Obama08 on March 31, 2008 at 06:44 PM

Now wait just a cotton-pickin' minute! I don't just drop an "F" bomb, I drop a fucking PLANELOAD of 'em!

LOL!

Later, gotta go hit the boot camp.

Posted by BobVADemHawk-Obama08 on March 31, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Hey! stop insulting women over 65!
I have never been a Clinton supporter, nor ever shall I be!
I was undecided between Richardson, Biden and Kucinich, and as they dropped out I supported Edwards, and NOW I am for Obama!
I will vote for Clinton ONLY if I have no other choice, and I support the election of as many populist legislators as possible as a hedge against that unhappy day if it ever happens!
Pray to God it doesn't!

As a black woman married to a white man, I do not find honesty on race and America's past and current issues of race a matter of "concern."

After spending the first 2 years of our relationship arguing about race confronting the divisions, my husband and I were strengthened in our marriage and understanding of race. We are mature enough to know that even when we make negative observations about race it does not mean that either of us are covertly racist. We are being honest about the fact that we were raised in different cultures and we sometimes see people outside the culture of our birth and raising differently. We are also able to apply that same yardstick to people in public life with sensibility and are able to separate racism from insensitivity.

If Michelle Obama is a racist, I guess I am too.

Hi Dems! I had some problems logging in tonight. This blog sure has changed since i started posting here a while back. I sure hope they get the bugs worked out soon. With the convention approaching this blog will be the hot spot for discussion and I expect we'll be seeing a lot of new people coming here to voice their views and read your opinions.

just a couple of quick comments for anyone still around:

Lou Dobbs is a out-and out racist. If you've followed his asinine commentary over the years you can come to no other conclusion.

And it is definitely over for the Clinton campaign. Today 50 cent withdrew his endorsement of her and switched his allegiance to Obama.

Did the site lock up again?

According to the news today, they can't even withdraw "50 cent" from their bank accounts.

They must have spent too much money at Pizza Hut, Dunkin' Donuts and other forms of unhealthy fat; like Mark Penn.

Clinton's fundraising problems worsen

But HEY! Look at the silver lining...Mark Penn has pocketed almost 20 MILLION and he also works for McCain!!

Thank you PamB that was helpful! Here is the actual site

http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/

Sorry SandyH no funds for the DNC until FL & MI are a part of the process and the last 10 primaries are held! Get all those Obama supporters who are young or Republicans and Independents to vote straight Democrat ticket and give to the DNC for that cause.

My funds are going to Hillary and my local senate races.
GO HILLARY! DENVER IS OUR FRIEND! By Denver with counting FL & MI

Hillary Clinton will
Have the popular vote lead
the delegate count lead
the most wins in states that even have a remote chance of being Democrat in November The electoral vote lead
Out of Denver the supers support and the Nomination! DONE DEAL!