watch the frontline two part piece "bush's war", then impeach him.

Now that the Bosnia "sniper" story was proven false, the next of her overblown role in foreign politics is Belfast. More to follow.

Northern Ireland:

Senator Clinton has said, "I helped to bring peace to Northern Ireland." It is a gross overstatement of the facts for her to claim even partial credit for bringing peace to Northern Ireland. She did travel to Northern Ireland, it is true. First Ladies often travel to places that are a focus of U.S. foreign policy. But at no time did she play any role in the critical negotiations that ultimately produced the peace. As the Associated Press recently reported, "[S]he was not directly involved in negotiating the Good Friday peace accord." With regard to her main claim that she helped bring women together, she did participate in a meeting with women, but, according to those who know best, she did not play a pivotal role. The person in charge of the negotiations, former Senator George Mitchell, said that "[The First Lady] was one of many people who participated in encouraging women to get involved, not the only one."

News of Senator Clinton's claims has raised eyebrows across the ocean. Her reference to an important meeting at the Belfast town hall was debunked. Her only appearance at the Belfast City Hall was to see Christmas lights turned on. She also attended a 50-minute meeting which, according to the Belfast Daily Telegraph's report at the time, "[was] a little bit stilted, a little prepared at times." Brian Feeney, an Irish author and former politician, sums it up: "The road to peace was carefully documented, and she wasn't on it."

Kosovo:

Senator Clinton has said, "I negotiated open borders to let fleeing refugees into safety from Kosovo." It is true that, as First Lady, she traveled to Macedonia and visited a Kosovar refugee camp. It is also true that she met with government officials while she was there. First Ladies frequently meet with government officials. Her claim to have "negotiated open borders to let fleeing refugees into safety from Kosovo," however, is not true. Her trip to Macedonia took place on May 14, 1999. The borders were opened the day before, on May 13, 1999.

The negotiations that led to the opening of the borders were accomplished by the people who ordinarily conduct negotiations with foreign governments - U.S. diplomats. President Clinton's top envoy to the Balkans, former Ambassador Robert Gelbard, said, "I cannot recall any involvement by Senator Clinton in this issue." Ivo Daalder worked on the Clinton Administration's National Security Council and wrote a definitive history of the Kosovo conflict. He recalls that "she had absolutely no role in the dirty work of negotiations."

Rwanda:

Last year, former President Clinton asserted that his wife pressed him to intervene with U.S. troops to stop the Rwandan genocide. When asked about this assertion, Hillary Clinton said it was true. There is no evidence, however, to suggest that this ever happened. Even those individuals who were advocating a much more robust U.S. effort to stop the genocide did not argue for the use of U.S. troops. No one recalls hearing that Hillary Clinton had any interest in this course of action. Based on a fair and thorough review of National Security Council deliberations during those tragic months, there is no evidence to suggest that U.S. military intervention was ever discussed. Prudence Bushnell, the Assistant Secretary of State with responsibility for Africa, has recalled that there was no consideration of U.S. military intervention.

At no time prior to her campaign for the presidency did Senator Clinton ever make the claim that she supported intervening militarily to stop the Rwandan genocide. It is noteworthy that she failed to mention this anecdote - urging President Clinton to intervene militarily in Rwanda - in her memoirs. President Clinton makes no mention of such a conversation with his wife in his memoirs. And Madeline Albright, who was Ambassador to the United Nations at the time, makes no mention of any such event in her memoirs.

Hillary Clinton did visit Rwanda in March 1998 and, during that visit, her husband apologized for America's failure to do more to prevent the genocide.

China

Senator Clinton also points to a speech that she delivered in Beijing in 1995 as proof of her ability to answer a 3 AM crisis phone call. It is strange that Senator Clinton would base her own foreign policy experience on a speech that she gave over a decade ago, since she so frequently belittles Barack Obama's speeches opposing the Iraq War six years ago. Let there be no doubt: she gave a good speech in Beijing, and she stood up for women's rights. But Senator Obama's opposition to the War in Iraq in 2002 is relevant to the question of whether he, as Commander-in-Chief, will make wise judgments about the use of military force. Senator Clinton's speech in Beijing is not.

Senator Obama's speech opposing the war in Iraq shows independence and courage as well as good judgment. In the speech that Senator Clinton says does not qualify him to be Commander in Chief, Obama criticized what he called "a rash war . . . a war based not on reason, but on passion, not on principle, but on politics." In that speech, he said prophetically: "[E]ven a successful war against Iraq will require a US occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences." He predicted that a U.S. invasion of Iraq would "fan the flames of the Middle East," and "strengthen the recruitment arm of al Qaeda." He urged the United States first to "finish the fight with Bin Laden and al Qaeda."

If the U.S. government had followed Barack Obama's advice in 2002, we would have avoided one of the greatest foreign policy catastrophes in our nation's history. Some of the most "experienced" men in national security affairs - Vice President Cheney and Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and others - led this nation into that catastrophe. That lesson should teach us something about the value of judgment over experience. Longevity in Washington, D.C. does not guarantee either wisdom of judgment.

Obama Camp: Clinton Foreign Policy A Dramatized Assertion, Clinton Calls His Iraq Plan "Just Words"

Email from Howard Dean. If you can buy a Democracy Bond, or raise your current one, now is the time. What is the price you will pay to make sure a Republican Never sees the light of the day in the White House again? That this illegal occupation will end? That our SCOTUS is not filled with Right wing zealots? That your children and grandchildren have the rights granted to them, without Big Brother Government listening to their phones and reading their emails? That our global image is one of respect and dignity, instead of the joke it is and will be should McCain and Republican Senators get in?

"John McCain is raising money and campaigning across the country -- he's looking at the White House.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are also raising money and campaigning across the country -- but they're still looking at the nomination.

Hillary and Barack can't build an organization to take on John McCain directly yet, but we can. And we have to -- it's our responsibility as Democrats to make sure we're prepared.

I know you're already with us, and we've put your monthly contribution to work. But now I'm asking you to take the next step to help us win back the White House by increasing your monthly contribution at this important time. There's a lot of time until Election Day -- and we need to know exactly what resources we'll have so we can plan effectively.

Will you increase your contribution each month so we can finalize our plans to elect Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama?

Over the past three years, you've invested heavily in our 50-State Strategy. We put resources in all 50 states, committing to make sure each state has the resources and infrastructure to compete at every level.

We saw the results from this strategy in 2005, 2006, and 2007. And, with your help, it will help us take back the White House in 2008.

Why? The Republican Party is in trouble. Just read what the Web site Politico reported...

At a time when the GOP presidential nominee will need more assistance than ever, a number of state Republican parties are struggling through troubled times, suffering from internal strife, poor fundraising, onerous debt, scandal or voting trends that are conspiring to relegate the local branches of the party to near-irrelevance.

In some of the largest, smallest, reddest and bluest states in the nation, many state Republican organizations are still reeling in the aftermath of the devastating 2006 election cycle, raising questions about how much grassroots help the state parties will be able to deliver to presumptive GOP nominee John McCain.

We've worn them down, but we can't be complacent -- we've seen what they will do to win. We can't let up -- every day that goes by where we don't answer John McCain's attacks means another opportunity missed, and it erases the work we've done so far.

We're already working on field plans and polling. We're ready to wage a general election campaign -- but we need your help.

Increase your monthly commitment -- and support our efforts to help elect Hillary or Barack. We've got to keep fighting John McCain so he doesn't get ahead.

We can't allow John McCain to crisscross the country, fooling the American people with his "more of the same" agenda.

Your donation today helps us take him head-on everywhere.

Iraqi police in Basra shed their uniforms, kept their rifles and switched sides

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article3635838.ece

Here is Bush and McCain's idea of Sucess of a ridiculous surge of our troops!!!

Iraqi police in Basra shed their uniforms, kept their rifles and switched sides

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article3635838.ece

Impeach Chimpy and Shooter

So, is it now clear that the surge has failed? Did it ever work? The stupid media bought into Bush's narrative. Will they ever learn?

Posted by PamB on March 28, 2008 at 09:30 AM
=====================================================

Hi PamB, I also heard that the Iraqi army in Basra have been abandoning their tanks. The Shitte militia have been spray painting the tanks to mock them. Clearly, the surge is total failure. I don't think it ever worked. There were too many coincidences such as the truce with Al Sadr and paying off the Sunni militia. I think this is just more Bush-Cheney-McCain arrogance gone bad.

As a Clinton supporter and an anti-war activist during Viet Nam, let me share some of my observations about the national defense issue over the past years. I voted for George McGovern in 1972 (and every Democrat for president since then). Despite a hugely unpopular war as well as the military draft, George McGovern (the anti-war candidate) lost in a landslide to Richard Nixon. As it turned out, George McGovern won only one state plus the District of Columbia. How could this happen? A large majority of voters were against the war, and Nixon was widely hated. Nonetheless, voters choose Nixon largely because of his perceived strength on national defense. There’s an odd paradox when Americans choose the Commander and Chief. In fact, no Democrat has been elected president during a time of major military conflict since FDR in 1944. Democrats must overcome this historic trend to win in 2008. Today, some Democrats mistakenly believe that the candidate that is the most against the war in Iraq has the advantage in becoming the president. History shows that they are wrong. Sadly, anti-war candidates are viewed by a majority of American voters as weak on national defense, and this is why Barack hasn’t been able to win in the big blue electoral states. Fortunately, Hillary Clinton has made having a strong national defense the cornerstone of her presidency. As a result, voters in the big blue electoral states have selected Hillary Clinton as the best qualified to become Commander and Chief.

It's Time to Reregulate Business UPDATE Hotlist
by bonddad [Subscribe]
Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 04:12:30 AM PDT

Over the last 4-5 years we have seen an astonishing amount of problems in the business community. And it's not just a minor incident here and there; it's everywhere. From the complete breakdown in the financial sector to toy recalls to meat recalls every industry that has "self-regulated" has shown that it can't.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/28/71230/6141/903/485225
=================================================

That's for sure. Obama gave a speech yesterday where he talked about regulating brokerages. Are hedge funds still without any sort of SEC oversight? It seems amazing to me that after Enron, Worldcom, etc... that regulation is still so weak. Yet, the GOP complain that Sarbanes-Oxley is too tough. I doubt it.

We choose the president. Commnder in chief is just one of their many roles.

In fact, no Democrat has been elected president during a time of major military conflict since FDR in 1944
Posted by anne_smith on March 28, 2008 at 09:52 AM

Kennedy and Johnson are democrats and were elected during Vietnam. Moron.

Posted by PamB on March 28, 2008 at 09:26 AM
==================================================

Just got the email. Doing what I can ...

It may help for Dr. Dean to get out there more and talk about how wrong McCain is on the issues. It was good that both Clinton and Obama did that yesterday but then they went back to attacking each other.

Posted by rjsnj on March 28, 2008 at 09:54 AM

My favorite part was when he said (I paraphrase)
If you accept a loan from teh governemnt you should accept government oversite.

I'll try to find the quote

Posted by Cubilist on March 28, 2008 at 09:58 AM
================================================

Hey Cubi, there's some nasty trolls on this blog of late. These ones are deceitful and pretend to be Democratic supporters. They give themselves away by using GOP code words and criticizing the policies of both candidates. Be aware!

I saw you having an arguement with Marz. I don't think he's a troll. A disagreement doesn't mean republican, our tent is very large and occasionally you will hear other voices,. (or echoes.)

Posted by Cubilist on March 28, 2008 at 10:00 AM
================================================

Cubi, I watched parts of the speech last night on Olbermann's show. I haven't had a chance to listen to the whole speech yet. I recall a line like that from last night.

How true. If they want bail outs, they must accept regulation at the very least. Though, I am still a bit uncomfortable with the idea of brokerage firms getting bail outs. I really Obama would also add - that if we allow Chapter 11 to apply to business then it should apply to people as well. The bankruptcy law passed by the Republicans should be repealed.

Posted by rjsnj on March 28, 2008 at 10:03 AM

Oh, and don't forget the ones who call Obama supporters "your kind", "your type", and "you people"...right B_Y_Dick?

Pennsylvania senator to endorse Obama

NEW YORK - Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey plans to endorse Democrat Barack Obama Friday, a move that could help the presidential candidate make inroads with white working-class voters dubbed "Casey Democrats" in the Keystone State.

Campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the endorsement will come as Obama begins a six-day campaign swing through Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania's April 22 primary is the next big prize in the drawn-out nomination battle between Obama, the Illinois senator, and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. Clinton, who holds a double-digit lead in Pennsylvania polls, needs a victory in the state to keep her nomination fight alive.

Link

Another Carville %344%, another true independent "We the people" Democrat.

I suggest that Democrats concentrate on McCain and unite in a strategy in defeating him. Let the Kitchen Sinks fly in the backgrounds, but attack McCain head on, not other Carville %345^ Democrats as he calls them. Those that bash with vicious venom of how they would run a White House in pride.

Come on Obama, come out with Microsoft and AT&T CEO's and say, we need to train tomorrow's skilled workers today. Rebuild Public Education in par excellence.

If Poetry paid, I would contribute a million dollars to children patriot dreams but I get paid in Free Speech Termination paychecks for Poetry. So if you can spare a dollar support our Public Schools. Get in School Boards where they have children attending Public Schools, not religious leaders who send their children to private or religious schools. They have no agenda for Public School improvements but its second class status.

Children are the legacy that "We the people" give to this country's Heritage of Constitutional History to carry on the red, white, and blue that claims the ground as our working class Democrats. We not not need someone looking down on US as somehow superior Bohemian Royals.

Got to find a new cheaper motel, weekend rates kill me. Have to spend some of that Cheney gas inflation to get around Spring Break Florida. America, where you can only afford to stay home and suffer in Bush's legacy in how much was lost so fast. Blessings Democrats

Posted by Cubilist on March 28, 2008 at 10:08 AM
=================================================

Cubi, maybe he/she is and maybe he/she is not. The attack last night became personal for no reason at all. This morning it inexplicably continued when I said nothing at all to he/she.
I find it disturbing that a Democrat would used GOP loaded word such as "elite".

If this person doesn't like the wording of my posts, it's easy enough to ignore them. There's no reason to resort to name calling.

Posted by GregL on March 28, 2008 at 10:15 AM
==================================================

GregL, I know what you mean. They are using language in subtle ways to conceal ugliness.

By all means but only if we also pass a constitutional amendment that disallows stupid people that think its okay to put babies in microwave ovens from procreating. Posted by puggles on March 27, 2008 at 05:50 PM
Huh?
Posted by GregL on March 27, 2008 at 06:00 PM

GregL or anyone else that's interested, I made the statement about above because there was a stupid guy in Texas that was just sentenced to 20 years in prison for doing just that and thinking it was okay. It appears before he nuked the baby he tried putting it in the refrigerator. Sick, right? He should have been mentally evaluated before he became a sperm donor.

Posted by rjsnj on March 28, 2008 at 10:21 AM

You guys were fighting the other day and calling each other trolls. It's boring. I hear you though.

As far as elite, I don't know how much of a code word it is. A class of the elite do exist. They're called politicians. Elitist may be more of a code word...That and Liberal.

Good Morning Dems! This has probably been posted, but I'm going to post it again anyway.

Dean says attacks getting too personal

WASHINGTON -- Democratic Party chief Howard Dean says Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton and their supporters should beware of tearing each other down, demoralizing the base and damaging the party's chances of winning the White House in November.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Dean also said he hopes the Democratic nominee will be determined shortly after the voting ends in early June and that he will encourage the superdelegates who will play a role to make up their minds before the August convention in Denver.

Dean said the charges and countercharges between Clinton and Obama have gotten too personal at times. He declined to say how they have crossed the line, but he said he's made it clear privately when it has happened.

"You do not want to demoralize the base of the Democratic Party by having the Democrats attack each other," he said Thursday during the interview in his office at Democratic National Committee headquarters. "Let the media and the Republicans and the talking heads on cable television attack and carry on, fulminate at the mouth. The supporters should keep their mouths shut about this stuff on both sides because that is harmful to the potential victory of a Democrat."

Come on Obama, come out with Microsoft and AT&T CEO's and say, we need to train tomorrow's skilled workers today. Rebuild Public Education in par excellence.
====================================================
Poet, I am going to do something different here. Both candidates have plans on education:

Obama:

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/education/

Clinton:

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/education/

You got me thinking because my first tendency was to just post Obama's link. But why shouldn't I also post Clinton's link ... If I truly believe that both are infinitely better than McCain, then I can't dismiss either.

Yes, it would be wonderful if our corporate leaders worked with us on building the necessary skills for our workers. To many of them have abandoned American workers in favor of cheaper global labor.

rj,

How many times have you called me a troll? Please realize that not everybody agrees with your point of view. Since we belong to the same team you would think you would be a little nicer!

People that don't agree with rj = TROLL

Posted by Cubilist on March 28, 2008 at 10:28 AM
==================================================

Elite is something I heard GOP-PERS hurl at Democrats. It's a trick they use to imply that Democrats really aren't for the people. It also diverts attention from how the GOP cares and feeds the corporations while ignoring everyone else. Generally, the GOP tie to Hollywood. They say that because many Hollywood (wealthy people) support Democrats that makes Democrats elites. It's a silly argument but that's what they try to do.

I don't see how anyone on this blog could possibly know enough about the other bloggers to call them "elites". In full disclosure, I assure I am not a Hollywood Star ... geez.

But, I tried to break off from a debate that turned personal last night. Strangely, the very first post I made this morning I was attacked for no reason at all.

Yes, these attacks are boring!

You cannot rubberstamp republican policies and fail to address blatent lies for 8 years and then have the nerve to tell me to shut my mouth...That having a debate is ruining our chances. That is not democracy or the democratic way. What's ruining our chances at a democratic victory is a protracted primary where one candidate has lost and is refusing to step aside for the good of the party.

Democrats should not "shut their mouths." That sounds like something Bush and Cheney have said. Shutting our mouths since 9-11 are why there are problems in America.

NOT THIS TIME!

I think Howard Dean is the one who has divided this party. With his removal of FL and MI delegates, he is disenfranchising Democrats. These are people who WILL turn to McCain in the general election. Now, Howard is calling for unity? I remember in 2004 he was making statements about making sure EVERY vote counted, now he's changed his tune...MI and FL cannot be counted. I saw a post from a woman in FL whose son had died in Iraq. After he gave his life for our country, and fought to give Iraqi's the right to vote, she is not able to have her vote count for the primary.

Howard Dean is obviously stumping for Obama and this is the only reason that this is not resolved. The number of Hillary supporters who say they will vote for McCain or not vote in the general election if these delegates are not seated (immediately) is growing. If this general election is lost, it the blame lies squarely in the lap of Howard Dean and no one else.

Posted by Cubilist on March 28, 2008 at 10:47 AM

of course you miss the point. Focus on the one we have to beat in November, not June. It's the November election that ultimately will decide if we get another 4 years of death and destruction from a Republican President.

Good morning Democrats. For sure we have a conundrum with our seclection process/campaign. Lots of ideas for a solution. Nothing seems to be getting traction yet. More Republican office time is not a solution. Glad to see Dean enter the picture. What does Reid mean when he smiles and says something is in the works to solve this?

Posted by jenar on March 28, 2008 at 10:37 AM
===================================================

As I said to you and MARZBAR already, whatever ...

Maybe you're a troll maybe you're not. It's all a matter of how you act.

Tuning out the noise ...

"The supporters should keep their mouths shut about this stuff on both sides because that is harmful to the potential victory of a Democrat."

--Howard Dean, 2008

"We have to say what we believe... whether it's popular or not."

--Howard Dean, 2004

Howard Dean at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration, “This year, as Republicans continue their attack on voting rights, we'll fight to protect every American's right to vote and have that voted counted.”

Unless you live in Florida or Michigan?

DNC Primary Rules/Disenfranchisement of FL & MI Voters
Here's some background on DNC rules, and this research (by Andre Walker) covers those rules pertinent to early primaries. Of course, the devilish details are not reported in the big newspapers or covered by major television news programs. Doesn't anybody in the media check the facts anymore? The DNC has a Convention Credentials Committee and anyone concerned about Election Integrity should be contacting them as well as the Rules Committee. (We're talking over 1.7 million Dem voters in Florida -- an all-time record-breaking turnout -- who have been disenfranchised by its own Party).

Note to the DNC: Apply the rules equally & fairly
by Andre Walker (andrewalker08, firedoglake)

As a prelude to this diary, I am serving notice to anyone who may feel the need to opine about how the Florida & Michigan delegations should not have their voting rights restored at the Democratic National Convention; and how it is breaking the rules by seeking to have those two states' delegations votes count in Denver; notice is hereby given that before you hit that "submit" button to post your comments, you better make damn sure that what you're saying is consistent with the Charter & Bylaws of the Democratic Party of the United States, the Call to the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the 2008 Delegate Selection Rules for the Democratic National Convention, and the Regulations of the Rules & Bylaws Committee for the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Ladies & Gentlemen, this whole mess surrounding the state delegations from Florida and Michigan is a result of the Rules & Bylaws Committee of the Democratic National Committee not strictly adhering to the 2008 Delegate Selection Rules for the Democratic National Convention by applying the rules equally and fairly to all states.

Rule 11.A. of the Delegate Selection Rules for the 2008 Democratic National Convention states the following:
11. TIMING OF THE DELEGATE SELECTION PROCESS
A. No meetings, caucuses, conventions or primaries which constitute the first determining stage in the presidential nomination process (the date of the primary in primary states, and the date of the first tier caucus in caucus states) may be held prior to the first Tuesday in February or after the second Tuesday in June in the calendar year of the national convention. Provided, however, that the Iowa precinct caucuses may be held no earlier than 22 days before the first Tuesday in February; that the Nevada first-tier caucuses may be held no earlier than 17 days before the first Tuesday in February; that the New Hampshire primary may be held no earlier than 14 days before the first Tuesday in February; and that the South Carolina primary may be held no earlier than 7 days before the first Tuesday in February. In no instance may a state which scheduled delegate selection procedures on or between the first Tuesday in February and the second Tuesday in June 1984 move out of compliance with the provisions of this rule.

We already know that Florida and Michigan violated Rule 11.A. by moving their primaries to a date before the first Tuesday in February. There is no argument there, but what about Iowa, New Hampshire, and yes, South Carolina too.

Rule 11.A specifically set the date for the primaries & caucuses for those three states as "no earlier than 22 days before the first Tuesday in February" (Iowa), "no earlier than 14 days before the first Tuesday in February" (New Hampshire), and "no earlier than 7 days before the first Tuesday in February" (South Carolina).
Iowa held their caucuses on January 3rd. That's more than 22 days before the first Tuesday in February. New Hampshire held their primary on January 8th. That's more than 17 days before the first Tuesday in February. And South Carolina held their primary on January 26th. That's more than 7 days before the first Tuesday in February.

Under Rule 11.A., five states were in violation of the Democratic National Committee's Delegate Selection Rules, and as such, all five states should have been punished under Rule 20.C.1.a.

Violation of timing: In the event the Delegate Selection Plan of a state party provides or permits a meeting, caucus, convention or primary which constitutes the first determining stage in the presidential nominating process to be held prior to or after the dates for the state as provided in Rule 11 of these rules, or in the event a state holds such a meeting, caucus, convention or primary prior to or after such dates, the number of pledged delegates elected in each category allocated to the state pursuant to the Call for the National Convention shall be reduced by fifty (50%) percent, and the number of alternates shall also be reduced by fifty (50%) percent. In addition, none of the members of the Democratic National Committee and no other unpledged delegate allocated pursuant to Rule 8.A. from that state shall be permitted to vote as members of the state's delegation. In determining the actual number of delegates or alternates by which the state's delegation is to be reduced, any fraction below .5 shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number, and any fraction of .5 or greater shall be rounded up to the next nearest whole number.

Yes, you read that right; under Rule 20.C.1.a., Florida, Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire, and South Carolina would have all lost their super delegates and had their pledged delegates reduced by half since they all violated Rule 11.A.

However, Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina weren't punished fairly. In fact, they weren't punished at all.
And what about Florida & Michigan?
Well, we all know what happened to them.

Instead of strictly adhering to Rule 20.C.1.a. and reducing their pledged delegates by 50%, the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee decided to take it a step further. The DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee exercised the authority granted to them by Rules 20.C.5. and 20.C.6. which allowed them to "impose sanctions the Committee deems appropriate." And what were those sanctions the Committee deemed appropriate? Stripping two of the largest states in the union of all their votes at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Ladies & Gentlemen, this is what happens when the rules aren't applied equally and fairly. And as I said before, this mess is a result of the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee not applying the rules equally and fairly.
So, the next time someone starts talking about the rules, might I suggest two courses of action:

1.) Read the damn rules first!
-and-
2.) Let them know that the rules were bent to allow for Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina to keep their preferred first-in-the-nation status.
--------------------------------------------

I posted this before. I think it is Dean's fault too!

The death and mayhem continue to escalate in Iraq:

US Airstrike Kills at Least 4 in Baghdad

BAGHDAD — A U.S. helicopter fired a Hellfire missile during fighting in a Shiite militia stronghold of Baghdad Friday, killing at least four people as deadly clashes broke out in Iraq's oil-rich south for the fourth day.

American jets also dropped bombs overnight in Basra in the first use of U.S. air power in the southern oil port since the Iraqi government launched a crackdown against Shiite militias there earlier this week.

Defying a curfew in Baghdad, extremists also lobbed more rockets or mortars against the U.S.-protected Green Zone.

At least two rounds struck the nearby offices of Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, killing two guards and wounding four, his daughter Lubna said.

Thick black smoke rose into the sky in the latest of a week of attacks that have prompted the U.S. State Department to order all personnel at the embassy to stay in reinforced structures.

Ground forces called for the airstrike in Sadr City after coming under small-arms fire while clearing a main supply route at 4:10 a.m., U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Steve Stover said.

He said four gunmen were killed, but Iraqi police and hospital officials said five civilians died and four others were wounded in the attack.

In Basra, the U.S. jets dropped bombs on a mortar team and a militia stronghold in Basra, said Maj. Tom Holloway, a British military spokesman. He did not have information about casualties.

The strikes came as tensions rose among followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr angry over a crackdown that has threatened to unravel a militia cease-fire and spark a new cycle of violence after months of relative calm in Iraq.

The situation in Basra remained tense ahead of a Saturday deadline for gunmen to surrender their weapons and renounce violence. Masked militia fighters moved around freely in a southwestern neighborhood and there was little traffic, according to Associated Press Television News footage.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has insisted the fight is targeting criminal gangs in Basra, not al-Sadr's movement, and he has promised "no retreat."

But the crackdown has intensified Sadrist anger over recent raids and detentions by U.S. and Iraqi forces followers say have taken advantage of their 7-month-old cease-fire.

Al-Sadr on Thursday called for a political solution to the burgeoning crisis and an end to the "shedding of Iraqi blood." But the statement, released by a close aide, stopped short of ordering his Mahdi Army militia to halt attacks.

One of his representatives called al-Maliki "a hypocrite" during a Friday sermon calling for an end to military operations and the release of Sadrist detainees.

"He imprisoned and displaced thousands of Iraqi people under the name of democracy. He is killing the citizens in the south of Iraq," Sheik Jalil al-Sarghi said, referring to al-Maliki as U.S. helicopters buzzed over the office where the prayer service was held.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/28/us-airstrike-kills-at-lea_n_93870.html?view=print
=================================================

The surge has failed.

Bush/Cheney have failed.

McCain has failed.

Did you hear McCain say he doesn't care what anyone thinks about the surge, it worked. Guess what McCain, it never did work.

"The supporters should keep their mouths shut about this stuff on both sides because that is harmful to the potential victory of a Democrat."

--Howard Dean, 2008

"We have to say what we believe... whether it's popular or not."

--Howard Dean, 2004

Howard Dean at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration, “This year, as Republicans continue their attack on voting rights, we'll fight to protect every American's right to vote and have that voted counted.”

Unless you live in Florida or Michigan?

And while we're at it, let's not forget about the ongoing BushCo pilferage of national treasures own by We The People. Our natural resources belong to all citizens, not to be pilfered by BushCo cronies for their own profit -- leaving the rest of us with nothing!

The fight to protect the majestic Giant Sequoias is not over. More than half of the remaining groves — located in Giant Sequoia National Monument — are in jeopardy because, despite being rebuked by the federal courts, the Bush Administration is refusing to back off its plan to log this irreplaceable ancient forest. That’s why we are asking you to act now and sign our petition to Forest Service Chief Abigail Kimbell, asking her to implement the strongest possible protections for Giant Sequoia National Monument.

Without these protections, loggers would be permitted to cut down trees of any species 30” in diameter or larger — a size that normally takes two centuries or more to grow. In addition, timber companies would be entitled to take 7.5 million board feet of lumber from Giant Sequoia National Monument each year — enough trees to fill 2,500 logging trucks — that’s a truck almost every three hours!

Now, isn't this the definition of a neoKKKon Republic: stealing natural resources that don't belong to them, profiting from the pilferage and returning nothing to the taxpayers who in point of fact own these resources, except barren land. They continuously do the same thing by taking entire mountains down to steal the minerals beneath, displacing families who have lived there for up to 10 generations, leaving nothing but poisonous slurry and spoiled acquifers in their wake.

Once these natural treasures are gone, they're gone forever. They belong to us, not BushCo profiteers.

And they do this in spite of the law and in spite of court decisions which specifically forbid such activity. Not like they give a damn; the right-wingers never prosecute their own for crimes committed in plain view.

You can always trust a republican in at least one thing reliably: they'll steal everything not nailed down, including the pennies off a dead man's eyes. And what's nailed down, they'll prize up and steal that, nails and all. Then try to sell your own stuff back to you at a usurious price. Even street pimps aren't that slimy. But that's exactly what they do with coal and irreplaceable forests, 24/7, with utter impunity.

Much of this goes on beneath the notice of MSM, who are aware of the pilferage, but choose to aid and abet instead of reporting it.

If you would be so kind, please sign the petition to stop BushCo's theft of the redwoods for their own profit.

Howard Dean has said a number of times that he would support new elections in Fl. and Michigan. I think that's a reasonable approach.

Karen,
I didn't miss the point, I think the point is stupid.
I won't keep my mouth shut when the Clinton camp is putting out falsehoods, running a divisive campaign, and accusing other democrats of being judas'. I think you are missing the point. Republicans tell their members and the rest of america to shut their mouth and get in line.That is not my party. This is the democratic party. We can debate each other. If you don't like it. Fuck off.

Jenar, if each of the states that violated that rule and their seated delegates were reduced by 50% each, would that put Clinton in the lead?

Thank you jenar. I sent an e-mail to Donna Brazile regarding this issue and her response was, "You Clinton supporters should quite your whining." Just like Howard Dean, her response to a request for fairness was met with "Shut up." This is why our party will go down, you can't treat half of the electorate who support Hillary with disdain and expect them to rally around your party. I have refused for the first time in over 30 years to give money to the DNC. Heckuvajob, Howard!

Telling me to shut up is in the same vein as that stupid pledge to vote for any Democrat on the ticket that was going around.
I'll vote for whomever I feel best qualified.
It just so happens that they'll be shipping ice cubes out of Hades before I vote for another Republican, and third party candidates are losers, so why would I have to make a stupid pledge?
As for the term "elite", I do believe that I have used the term to describe the Bushiato, and their corporate backers as in "oligarchial elite".

There is an out-of-touch urban elite group in the Democrat party, has been for a long time.
They are the ones responsible for driving the true base of the party out in the 70s and 80s, though I think that this resurgence of the Democratic party and the return of many of the true base of the party has pushed them back into the hinterlands where they belonged. I sure hope so. I know that I became an independent when these elitists stopped discussing real issues and started pushing their own private agendas in one-size-fits-none policies. I was pretty shocked and dismayed, when all these out-of-touch ideas started getting pushed forward as being good for everybody. I became an Independent and started voting split ticket in an attempt to keep some sanity in government.
However, I never found a Republican presidential candidate that I liked, no matter how disenchanted I was with some of the Democratic ones.
Many of the former Democrats I know, who became Republicans (as opposed to Independents) did so because of single-issue-voter issues such as gun control, the "right-to-life", and the nebulous "pro-family".
Since most of the people I know are Westerners and Midwesterners, we tend to follow rural issues even though we live in town. The Urban elitists kept acting as though the rural part of the US didn't matter, even though this area not only feeds the country, but a large portion of the world, and is accountable for a fair chunk of our exports.
A lot of these people feel that "there's no difference between Democrats and Republican" because they have seen politicians from both parties pandering to Big Money, including some of our own legislators.
I think that we from the "small states", delegate wise, are benefitting from this close primary race, we would be getting the Democratic presidential primary contenders, if it wasn't a close race. We would have been blown off again.
I just hope that we get enough populist legislators from the "small states" in the Congress, this go around, to ensure that campaign promises are not forgotten.

Investment Firms Tap Fed for Billions

WASHINGTON — Big Wall Street investment companies have jumped all over the Federal Reserve's unprecedented offer to obtain emergency loans, borrowing more than doubled than in the program's debut week.

Those firms averaged $32.9 billion in daily borrowing over the past week from the new lending program, compared with $13.4 billion the previous week, the central bank reported Thursday. The program, which began last Monday, is part of the Fed's effort to aid the financial system.

On Wednesday alone, lending reached $37 billion.

The Fed, for the first time, agreed on March 16 to let big investment houses temporarily get emergency loans directly from the central bank. This mechanism, similar to one available for commercial banks for years, will continue for at least six months. It was the broadest use of the Fed's lending authority since the 1930s.

Last week, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers and Morgan Stanley said they had begun to test the new lending mechanism. The Fed does not release the identity of the borrowers using the facility.

The Fed created a way for investment firms to have regular access to a source of short-term cash. This lending facility is seen as similar to the Fed's "discount window" for banks. Commercial banks and investment companies pay 2.5 percent in interest for overnight loans from the Fed.

Investment houses can put up a range of collateral, including investment-grade mortgage backed securities.

Banks averaged $550 million in daily borrowing, for the week ending March 26, from the Fed's discount window, compared with $81 million the previous week.

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is scheduled to give lawmakers an updated assessment of the economic and financial situation at a hearing on Capitol Hill next Wednesday.

Also Thursday, the Fed debuted a separate lending facility where Wall Street firms can borrow Treasury securities and put up risky home-loan packages as collateral.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/27/investment-firms-tap-fed-_n_93797.html

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

This really feels like a house of cards. So, we are suppose to float more debt so financial companies can make really bad decisions, maybe even engage in outright corruption? At what point does it stop? The interest on the debt alone is already crushing. If we default on that, won't the IMF step in and run our economy?

Iraq is the chief cause of this slop. Greenspan is the main villian.

As far I am concerned: "it's the war economy, stupid". Until we stop spending trillions, there is no way we can stabilize the economy.

Posted by Cubilist on March 28, 2008 at 10:08 AM

Posted by Cubilist on March 28, 2008 at 10:28 AM

Thank you! I only questioned the sound bites and snippets in an effort to take RJ beyond his rhetoric. Show me the beef! And it went downhill from there...

But anyone who suggests that the American people have to be spoonfed snippets and sound bites because they don't have the attention span to listen to listen to reasoned argument is an elitist - Democrat and/or Republican. Moreover, merely because the tactics of the Republicans appear to have worked should Democrats adopt them? These are the rationalizations made by Rj to which I responded.

Since when is questioning another blogger in the spirit of debate trolling? Criticism is essential to that debate.

And then to resort to the troll baiting tactics ... it reminds me of those scenes when Rumsfeld or Cheney have been asked legitimate questions and they make a facial expression and dismiss the question as if it doesn't deserve an answer. So! Get over it! Next question!

I give up. Why is it that debate in this country is becoming more of a shouting match in which mere questioning of an idea throws people into a defensiveness that precludes any subsequent discussion. This is particularly disturbing to me when it occurs on a blog sponsored by the Democratic Party.

If I'm not mistaken Obama's campaign has been successful largely because he wants to engage in a dialogue rather than lecture the American people with soundbites and snippets... It was after listening to him in Akron, Ohio that I realized he knew what he was talking about and did it with a sense of realism that convinced me that he could govern this country with our help. He said he could not get it done by himself... but needed our participation.

To quote Harry Truman: "If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen!"

Posted by Cubilist on March 28, 2008 at 11:13 AM

Karen? It's hard to prove you are paying attention when you don't even know who you are talking to.

Huffington Post warwire:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/warwire

Good list of articles about what is going on in Iraq. The media may be finally paying some attention.

DianeMD,

I don't know. I am not a numbers person. However, usually when people like millie post things about the MI/FL mess they are told by the regulars that MI/FL knew the rules and did not follow them. My point is that if rules existed then why didn't the DNC simply follow them? They knew a head of time that this would potentially be a mess and that is what they got! It should have been resolved a LONG time ago!

Here is the link to the article:
http://www.democracyfornewhampshire.com/node/view/5465

Posted by Butte on March 28, 2008 at 11:17 AM
===================================================

butte, the Republicans also apply the term "elite" to Hollywood people who support Democrats. The subtle implication is that these are super-wealthy who don't really care about the people and only are supporters for their own vanity.

Last I checked ... I don't live in Hollywood. I do live in an urban area but so what? You wouldn't say that people that live in poor / middle class urban/suburban areas are "elites"? No big swimming pool in my background ... in fact no back yard!

It's a strange distortion of language. I can't think of anyone more elite than Republicans. That's why they twist the term to imply that Democrats are "elites".

It's a GOP loaded word and not one we should hurl at each other.

McCain’s Membership In The Petroleum Club

Since launching his campaign for president, Sen. McCain has talked tough about Big Oil but has been funded by their petro-dollars. In a 2007 Iowa speech, McCain described his “energy strategy” for America, with “straight talk” about “petro-dictators,” big oil subsidies, and energy lobbyists:

As President, I’ll propose a national energy strategy that will amount to a declaration of independence from the risk bred by our reliance on petro-dictators and our vulnerability to the troubled politics of the lands they rule. That strategy won’t be another grab bag of handouts to this or that industry and a full employment act for lobbyists. Yes, that means no ethanol subsidies. But it also means no rifle-shot tax breaks for big oil.

But is candidate McCain himself reliant on Big Oil? Since first running for the Senate in 1986, John McCain has received at least $549,712 from the oil and gas industry. More than half — $291,685 — has come in the last two years. Moreover, John McCain’s own campaign is a “full employment act for lobbyists” who rely on “petro-dictators.”

– McCain’s Senior Adviser Lobbies For Foreign Oil Interests. Charlie Black (lobbying firm: BKSH), McCain’s senior campaign adviser, is a registered lobbyist for two Russian oil companies — Yukos Oil and Occidental International Corporation — and his lobbying firm was hired in 2005 by the China National Off-Shore Oil Corporation. [Roll Call 7/18/05, Senate Lobbying Disclosure Records]

– McCain’s “Consigliere” a Top Lobbyist for Saudi Arabia. Former Texas representative Tom Loeffler (The Loeffler Group), a top Bush fundraiser now in charge of McCain’s fundraising efforts, received approximately $900,000 a year from the Saudis to lobby Congress and “arrange meetings between Saudi officials and such senior Bush administration officials as Karl Rove.” [DNC 4/23/07]

– McCain’s Campaign Liaison to Congress a Million-Dollar Big-Oil Lobbyist. John Green (Ogilvy Government Relations) — the “full-time liaison between McCain’s presidential campaign and Republicans in the House and the Senate” — has made over $7.6 million dollars since 1999 lobbying for petro-industry giants such as Amerada-Hess, Chevron Texaco, the American Petroleum Institute, Reliant Energy, PJM Interconnection and First Energy. [Politico 3/4/08, Senate Lobbying Disclosure Records]

– Fossil Fuel Lobbyists Everywhere in the McCain Campaign. Susan Nelson, McCain’s National Finance Chair worked at the Loeffler Group for Saudi Arabia. Frank Donatelli, McCain’s RNC liaison to the Republican Party, has lobbied for ExxonMobil, Dominion, and Eastman Chemical. Jerry Kilgore, co-chairman of McCain’s Virginia campaign, has lobbied for Shell Oil and coal company Alpha Natural Resources. [Washington Post 3/12/08, O’Dwyer’s 8/9/06, Media Matters 2/26/08, Senate Lobbying Disclosure Records]

Although Candidate McCain may have made a “declaration of independence” on the campaign trail, Senator McCain’s own actions have kept “rifle-shot tax breaks for big oil” and “reliance on petro-dictators” as the law of the land.
– McCain Voted Against Reducing Dependence on Foreign Oil. In 2005, McCain voted against legislation calling on the President to submit a plan to reduce foreign petroleum imports by 40 percent. [Senate Roll Call Vote #140, 6/16/05; DNC 6/22/07]

– Candidate McCain’s “Zero” For Energy Future, Billions For Big Oil. Since launching his campaign for president in 2007, Sen. McCain has skipped out on every key environmental vote the Senate has considered, earning him a zero on the League of Conservation Voters scorecard this session. In one such instance, his absence killed the rollback of billions of dollars in oil subsidies for renewable energy investment. [LCV 2008]

– McCain’s Absence Allows GOP to Filibuster Oil-For-Renewables. By a roll call vote of 59-40 on December 13, 2007, Senate Democrats failed to muster the 60 votes needed to prevent a filibuster threatened by Republicans of compromise energy legislation with an oil-for-renewable tax package. The tax package rolled back $12.7 billion in tax breaks on the oil and gas industry to invest in renewable energy tax credits. Sen. John McCain, on the campaign trail, was the one senator not voting. [CQ 12/12/07] [Vote #425 12/13/07]

Having failed to act to roll back subsidies for Big Oil as a senator, McCain now has unveiled a tax plan which would provide an even greater “grab bag of handouts” to industry. As Wendy Norris at Colorado Confidential asks, “[W]ould a McCain presidency simply reprise the oil-and-gas-friendly Bush Administration for another four years?”

$4 Billion Among Friends

Later today(2/27/08), Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) will visit the Petroleum Club of Denver to pick up a stack of cash for his presidential campaign. He should get a warm welcome from the oil and gas executives who show up.

The centerpiece of Sen. McCain’s plan to stimulate the economy — actually, the whole plan — is large tax cuts for corporations. It would deliver $3.8 billion in tax cuts to the five largest American oil companies, according to an analysis released today by the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

The analysis only looked at one of the McCain corporate tax breaks: the proposal to cut the top corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent. Read the whole analysis here.

Posted by rjsnj on March 28, 2008 at 11:19 AM

In the mean time the Fed refuses to help the homeowners who were scammed, and prints more and more money hand over fist so the value of the dollar continues to go straight down the tube. All this to help the unregulated rich and greedy who caused this mess.
The media announces that "consumer confidence is falling" which is a euphemism for "consumers are getting caught between the rising prices of fuel and groceries and are running out of money".
The Bushiato's financial house of cards is falling as fast as their "sucessful surge" house of cards, and we're getting caught in the fallout.

Posted by Kristen on March 28, 2008 at 11:21 AM

Sorry Kristen,

I apologize for getting you're name wrong. That doesn't mean I don't know what I'm talking about, just who I am talking too. Whatever though, You're right. Just like the world, The whole crux of my arguement centers around you.

In the mean time the Fed refuses to help the homeowners who were scammed, and prints more and more money hand over fist so the value of the dollar continues to go straight down the tube. All this to help the unregulated rich and greedy who caused this mess.
==================================================

Butte, I know. It just makes no sense on many levels. If you help the homeowners by giving them decent terms, the number of foreclosures would drop and the financial companies wouldn't be holding bad mortgage backed securities. On a moral level, there is horrendous. How dare these financial companies that pushed for The Bankruptcy bill ask for the taxpayer to bail them out when they would hold the same taxpayer in conditions of usury!

Posted by Cubilist on March 28, 2008 at 11:13 AM

RE: The Obama Record: Just Words

Yesterday, a Pennsylvania editorial board asked Sen. Clinton how she would have "responded if [her] pastor had said some of the things that Rev. Wright said?" In response, she said Rev. Wright would not have been her pastor, an honest view shared by many Americans.

The Obama campaign's response? Attack Sen. Clinton and accuse her of trying to divert attention from the Bosnia trip story and her record of foreign policy experience.

Sen. Clinton's response was sincere. The Obama attack was disingenuous.

We are happy to discuss Sen. Clinton's foreign policy experience and her record overall. Unfortunately, the Obama campaign doesn't want to discuss its candidate's record and prefers personal attacks instead.

Sen. Obama knows that if he focused on his experience, he'd get questions about the shortcomings in his record and the efforts he has made to embellish it.

He'd have to deal with the fallout from this week's Washington Post report on his gross exaggeration of his role on immigration reform and housing policy.

Sen. Obama would have to explain why the New York Times reported that he claims credit for passing nuclear leak legislation that never got out of committee.

He'd have to confront reports from FactCheck.org and other independent organizations that say his claims of providing a universal health care plan are based on selective, embellished and out-of-context quotes from newspapers.

He'd have to discuss the LA Times story that reported on how his fellow organizers say he took too much credit for his community organizing efforts.

He'd have to explain why he regularly claims he was a law professor when in fact he held no such title.

Sen. Obama seems to think disingenuous attacks on Sen. Clinton will address the concerns voters have about his record and readiness to be the Commander-in-Chief and the steward of our economy. They won't.

In the end, Sen. Obama's words cannot erase Hillary's 35-year record of action because when all is said and done, words aren't action. They are just words.

Obama is not perfect either....remember they are both politicians.

Thanks for the information, Jenar. I really did not know there were other states besides Florida and Michigan that broke the Rule. Actually, I just had a minor "tiff" with a friend of mine who obviously did not know about the other states, so I cut and past what you wrote here, and e-mailed it to him. But it is amazing how people will shout their mouths/keyboards off without knowing all of the facts first. It should be interesting how this is all going to play out in the end.

“petro-dictators" ?

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

Wait a minute. Did McCain really say that? Now that would be a incredible gaffe.

actually, the whole crux of the argument is your willingness to throw the party under the bus in November because you want to so narrowly focus on what is happening in the primary.

Unless you haven't voted yet, ranting about the candidates left serves no purpose.

We rail against the Republicans, calling them sheeple (which I believe they are), but their strength has always been the ability to focus their party on a common goal...beat Democrats.

We, on the other hand, demand that our individualism be celebrated, that no one will take our right to argue away and IMO what ends up happening is this perceived/actual division within the party. People stop listening to each other and the outside world (media, independents, Republicans) view it as a sure sign of party weakness.

We are the Big Tent party, too bad we always seem to be having a Smack Down Cage Match in that tent.

Posted by jenar on March 28, 2008 at 11:45 AM

Can you put the link to the article or canned letter you just posted, instead of claiming it as you're own. You've been posting the same 2 articles for the past couple of days. I already responded in kind with refuting articles If you are interested in rehashing a former debate, I suggest you go back and reread the posts from Wednesday and Thursay's threads. Old news Jenar.

actually, the whole crux of the argument is your willingness to throw the party under the bus in November because you want to so narrowly focus on what is happening in the primary.

Unless you haven't voted yet, ranting about the candidates left serves no purpose.
Posted by Kristen on March 28, 2008 at 11:51 AM

How am I or my views throwing the party under the bus in Nov.? Clinton is kitchen singing our party. Her staying in a race she can't win is ruining our chances, not me talking about it. I agree that there is the perception of division, but they are only perceptions. I don't think there are actual divides within the party.

And yes, I haven't voted yet. I am in Oregon and we will not vote until May. According to you, that must mean my rants have a purpose. :)

Clinton is kitchen singing our party.
Posted by Cubilist on March 28, 2008 at 12:07 PM

Damn,
my attempt at wit has been thwarted by my horrible spelling and hatred for proofreading.

Leahy says Clinton should withdraw

BURLINGTON, Vt. - Sen. Patrick Leahy is suggesting that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton abandon her White House run.

The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and six-term Vermont lawmaker said there is no way that Clinton is going to win enough pledged delegates to get the nomination. Leahy told Vermont Public Radio, in a show that aired Thursday, that Clinton ought to withdraw and should be backing Sen. Barack Obama. But Leahy said that's obviously a decision only Clinton can make.

In a statement issued Friday, Leahy — who has endorsed Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination — said Obama's lead appears to be insurmountable and that Obama's endorsement by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey is the latest sign of how the race is going.

"Senator Clinton has every right, but not a very good reason, to remain a candidate for as long as she wants to. As far as the delegate count and the interests of a Democratic victory in November go, there is not a very good reason for drawing this out. But as I have said before, that is a decision that only she can make," Leahy said in the statement.

Good morning / afternoon, ALL!

Posted by jenar on March 28, 2008 at 11:03 AM

Good God, how many times does this have to be pointed out to the willfully ignorant?

NH had to move their Primary up, as did IA BECAUSE MI and FL decided to break the rules.

IA HAS TO be the first Caucus and NH HAS TO be the first Primary because IT IS IN THEIR STATE CONSTITUTION!

New Hampshire's first status is set in state law: "The presidential primary election shall be held on the second Tuesday in March or on the Tuesday at least 7 days immediately preceding the date on which any other state shall hold a similar election, whichever is earlier…" (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Title 63, Chapter 653.9)

If they DIDN'T MOVE IT, THEY WOULD BE IN VIOLATION OF THEIR OWN LAW!

Fl and MI votes DID count. There were other races contested that day, and tax issues up for a vote. So, that phony argument is also tossed into the trash. Hillary won, as you are so wont to claim. How do you know that if the votes weren't counted?

She won the contest and got her prize, which consisted of ZERO delegates. She knew that, she signed the Pledge, she announced on NPR that MI didn't count. Give her those zero delegates and let's be done with this goalpost moving once and for all.

Posted by Cubilist on March 28, 2008 at 12:09 PM
==================================================

Kitchen singing our party .... we all knew what you meant.

As I see it, it's the candidates right to stay in the primary but it's better for Democrats when they are reasonable about their chances.

What I think is really bad is when party disloyalty comes out in a campaign. I noticed yesterday that Clinton back-tracked from comparing McCain favorably over Obama. That was at least progress.

But then that awful letter to the DCCC came out from her top donors ... I think that motivated some, such as Leahy and Dean, to say we need a end to this campaign well before the convention.

"... anyone who suggests that the American people have to be spoonfed snippets and sound bites because they don't have the attention span to listen to reasoned argument is an elitist"

It is not a term invented by Republicans or Democrats. It is much, much older than that. I am using it in its generic sense. Limiting it to Republican-speak is to miss the my point entirely. Seeing it only as an epithet hurled by Republicans at Democrats is to fail to understand its meaning in the broadest sense.

But I can understand why anyone who has said the following:

Quick and punchy sticks. That's how the GOP linguists operate; there's no reason why we can't do the same. They come up with these short catch phrases like "fight them over there so you won't fight them over here". You be amazed how many people repeat that like good little robots.

MARZ, this is a common mistake that Democrats make. It's important not only what the message is but how you deliver it. We should admit that the GOP just learned how to DELIVER messages better than we have.

Face it, most people won't listen to very long speeches on ideas. The short and punchy will stick.

Democrats have used that method for a long time. We shouldn't act like it's "beneath us". That just makes no sense.

... would want to limit it the repub-epithet for Democrats. But what Rj does not see is that he's using the same arguments/tactics that the Republicans use. Judge for yourself... [the above statements in his own words] I wash my hands of this. I would only hope that someone else would try to explain it to RJ. Thank you.

Posted by MARZBAR on March 28, 2008 at 12:39 PM
====================================================

Hey MARZ, still at it? Whether you are a troll or not is no longer the point, you are acting just like one as you continue to make these personal attacks.

We disagree on political messaging. We may even disagree on the message content. Big deal. But you were the one who threw out the "elite" name calling. I tried to break it off with you last night and here you are still at it.

I'll say again ... whatever dude. I am moving on. Now, will you?

Ignore mode on with your posts for good!

Posted by Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on March 28, 2008 at 12:26 PM

Regardless, why did the DNC not follow their own rules? Why did they find it necessary to penalize FL/MI like they did when the rules clearly say that not following the rules would result in 50% less delegates. If that rule would have been followed we wouldn't be in this situation. I think that would have been fair.

Also, I would like to know who moved their date up first. I live in Michigan and the governor keeps saying that they pledged to not move their date up unless others did it first. That is how Michigan got into this mess.

I would like to add that the GOP does not have the same problem in Mi because they got their delegates cut in half. Nobody has a problem with that election.

It is not about Hillary winning. It is the principle that it was known that this would be a problem and the DNC allowed it to happen. If the party is divided over the Mi/FL issue it is the DNC's. They should have followed their own rules! Isn't that why they are there? How stupid!

IBM Debunks White House Excuse for Millions of Missing Emails Hotlist
by markthshark [Subscribe]
Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 06:06:58 AM PDT

Perhaps, it’s just fanciful thinking on my part but I can’t help but believe that the walls are slowly closing in on the White House, regarding the missing emails. Their latest [highly improbable] explanation for the millions of missing emails from the RNC servers (that they weren’t suppose to be using in the first place) isn’t helping their cause at all.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/28/65639/4942/177/485943

Back to what matters, did you all catch McCain yesterday responding to Obama and Clinton saying that his economic "plan" is totally wrong. All he could come up with is that they are "tax and spend" Democrats. It must be nice to be a "borrow and spend" Republican.

McCrap (he's full of it).

Posted by Cubilist on March 28, 2008 at 11:56 AM

I was probably responding to you saying negative things about the Hillary camp. again.

I don't think you are stupid enough to think that both sides aren't slinging mud. You can say whatever you want about Hillary, but you don't want to hear anything negative about Obama.....a double standard!

Others on this blog keep saying that we need to be against McCain and then we have others (such as yourself) that continue to attack. I am tired of it!

tax-break and spend

Posted by rjsnj on March 28, 2008 at 12:28 PM

One of the names on that extortion letter to Pelosi was Pritzker. That family owns the Hyatt Hotel chain lock stock and ballroom.

I sure hope the Convention Committee takes notice of this and doesn't book ANYTHING at the Denver Hyatt in August.

(It's a private, family held company, so no share holders will be hurt if there is a boycott.)

Headquarters:
71 S. Wacker Dr.
Chicago, IL 60606
United States

Global Hyatt Corporation

Former Surgeon General: Mainstream Medicine Has Endorsed Medical Marijuana

By Dr. Jocelyn Elders

One of America's largest and most important groups of physicians has moved to cut through the clutter of political controversies over medical use of marijuana. Lawmakers and the public alike would do well to pay attention.

The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization and the second largest physician group in the United States. Its 124,000 members are doctors specializing in internal medicine and related subspecialties, including cardiology, neurology, pulmonary disease, oncology and infectious diseases. The College publishes Annals of Internal Medicine, the most widely cited medical specialty journal in the world.

In a landmark position paper released in February, these distinguished physicians are saying what many of us have been arguing for years: Most of our laws have gotten it wrong when it comes to medical marijuana, and it's time for public policy to get in step with science.

Right now, the laws of 38 states and the federal government bar use of marijuana as a medicine. Federal law classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug, defined as having no accepted medical use and being unsafe for use even under medical supervision.

ACP's position paper urges "reclassification into a more appropriate schedule, given the scientific evidence regarding marijuana's safety and efficacy in some clinical conditions." The document goes on to call for protection of physicians' right to "prescribe or dispense medical marijuana in accordance with state law" and "strongly urges protection from civil or criminal penalties for patients who use medical marijuana as permitted under state laws."

http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/80582/

Posted by rjsnj on March 28, 2008 at 12:46 PM

Would you agree that you are advocating tactics employed by Republicans for much the same reason that they do? Is winning by whatever means it takes legitimate behavior for you?

Weigh your words carefully. Other Democrats may be reading them. Please think about what you have said and are about to say.

New Republican Moniker: "Borrow And Spend Party" Hotlist
by EspressoAtNoon [Subscribe]
Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 08:26:03 AM PDT

This is really a NO BRAINER, and frankly I'm surprised that Democratic candidates continue to allow themselves be called the "Tax and Spend" party all the time. John McCain recently warned a group he was speaking to that Obama would be a "tax and spend" liberal.

Under Ronald Reagan we witnessed large tax cuts and increased military spending. By the time he left he had raised deficits greater than all other Presidents before him combined. Even George H.W. Bush had the wisdom to know that he had to raise taxes to alleviate the deficits - and the Republicans ran him out of office for violating his "read my lips, no new taxes" promise.

Bill Clinton left with a budget surplus.

And now George W. Bush has more or less bankrupted our country through his huge tax cuts for the rich while simultaneously misleading us into a war that will ultimately cost us over $3 Trillion. He NEVER vetoed a single spending bill for the first 6 years he was in office, because of course all the spending bills were by the Republican controlled House and Senate.

* EspressoAtNoon's diary :: ::
*

CLEARLY, Republicans have absolutely NO FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY! And yet media pundits, Republican Politicians, etc.. continuously demean Democrats as the fiscally irresponsible party (i.e. "the tax and spend party"). And Democrats almost sheepishly back down from these discussions with their tails between their legs.

The Republicans understand the power of labeling. If they say something enough then the masses of uneducated people out there will believe it to be fact.

WHY don't Democrats start calling Republicans exactly what they are: the "Borrow and Spend Party"? If Obama and Hillary could use the moniker in every speech they make it could help to brand John McCain as the "borrow and spend" candidate before the General Election even begins. It also preemptively trumps the "tax and spend" moniker that will certainly be leveled at the Democratic nominee.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/28/11263/6808/136/481932

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

This is exactly what I was talking about last night. The power of using short phrases that can be remebered. Yes, I think it's right that we give expansive speeches on our policies, issue white papers, etc... But, there is nothing wrong with coming up with catch phrases that are likely to easily remembered. I can't recall every word in every speech a candidate made. Can anyone? This is politics going back 100's of years. Campaigns always have their catch phrases and slogans. There's nothing "elite" about it. In addition, it would help if people like Dr. Dean got out there in the media more often. The GOP still dominate way too much air time.

"Adapt or Die" - was the battle cry for Japan after WWII. It was a cry for the Japanese for the business world to find better ways to build products and conduct business to compete in a global market. By the end of the 70' they began to overtake America in enginuity and quality of the products they produce.

While Japanese products became the standard for quality, America was working on ways to reduce costs without increasing the quality of the products. To increase productivity, American Business were focused on "Downsizing" while Japan was focused on "Eliminating Waste."

The Japanese defined waste in a production environnment as "Anything other than the minimum amount of resources to produce the highest quality of product." Using this definition, they worked on process improvements to increase productivity, lower operating costs, and increasing net profit.

To accomplish these same goals in America, the business comunity focuses on "Downsizing," telling its employees to "Do more with less," and began using cheaper components in the products.

This is the main reason today, that Japanese products, such as Toyota and Sony are prefered over American products.

Ronald Reagan's deregulation of the utility industry in the 80's also lead to higher operating costs for American