hi david! how are you and the little dude?

Calling all BLUE DOGS, JAY ROCKEFELLER and STENY HOYER: NO to retroactive immunity!

Is A Rockefeller/Hoyer FISA Immunity Deal Imminent?
By: Jane Hamsher Wednesday April 30, 2008 3:00 pm

According to the ACLU, there is rumor of a backroom deal being brokered by Jay Rockefeller on FISA that will include retroactive immunity. I've heard from several sources that Steny Hoyer is doing the dirty work on the House side, and some say it will be attached to the new supplemental.

There doesn't seem to be any greater priority for this administration than to get Dick Cheney and the other criminals in the Bush administration retroactive immunity for themselves and their teleco cohorts on their way out the door. Much fear mongering, ads and robocalls in the districts of freshmen House Democrats, and lookie here -- Trent Lott crawls out from under his slimy rock:

Hmmmm! How short to Rockefeller and Hoyer want their political careers to be???
There is also a legislative race going on. Republicans, Blue Dogs and Republi-lites need not apply.

From The Nation which came today, an interesting editorial reminding us that using the "silent majority" argument marginalizes those in the party who stand for issues.

McCain, Clinton and Nixon's "silent majority" ...fence the left into minority status.

""But it wasn't just the media. In a recent Sunday talk-show appearance, McCain was eager to delve--unprompted--into yet another discussion about Bill Ayers, while Clinton invoked her affinity for her small-town brethren by recounting her girlhood shooting lessons. In other words, multimillionaire McCain, the millionaire pundit class and the millionaire Clintons all spent the last weeks waging a culture war against a man who spent most of his career organizing in or representing the South Side of Chicago. It was enough to make one cling to religion."

Lots more.

Hi, Fade! Can you believe the nonsense coming out of this primary campaign? Alls I can say is I'm glad it's not the general election, and to think that I used to like Hillary Clinton; thought he had good ideas and many contributions to health care, etc. I wouldn't vote for her now, and that scares me because suppose she steals the nomination. We'd be headed into a general election of the "least of two evils"; again.
Man, people have got to wake up. That, I think, is all Rev. Wright was saying in his OLD sermons. God damn America, wake up. I still contend that the truth hurts and thats why people are so upset with the publicizing of his comments. He does have the right, especially as a minister, to speak his mind. We are not living in Nazi Germany, Russia, or China if you catch my drift.
The Little guy and I are residing in Maine now. I have employment [kinda] at a cafe working "mother's hours". Not a lot of moula and housing will be a problem again soon. It is a nice cafe though. Good to hear from you again. How was your "sabbatical"?

Keep it lit, okay? this ones for you...

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Ronald Lauder calls for gas contract to be cancelled
30 April, 2008

(left to right), Michael Schneider Alfred Donath, Ronald S. Lauder, and Maram Stern

Ronald S. Lauder.(photo Reuters)
At a joint press conference in the Bern with the outgoing president of the Swiss Jewish community, Alred Donath, WJC President Ronald Lauder has underlined that he wants Switzerland to be part of the family of nations. Whilst criticizing the support by the Swiss foreign minister for a recent gas contract by a Swiss company with Iran, he said that his role as president of the World Jewish Congress was not to put pressure on Switzerland. "I see myself as ambassador of the Jews in the world, not as their policeman," the he stated, but added: "Obviously, I would like to see that gas contract cancelled, but the decision is up to Switzerland alone." Ronald S. Lauder also spoke of the need to enter into dialogue with moderate Muslims. Lauder and Donath will meet with Swiss President Pascal Couchepin on Wednesday and later travel to La-Chaux-de-Fonds, where the Swiss Jewish Community Federation is to hold its annual General Assembly


Since When Does The World Jewish Congress Have Anything To Do With Gas Contracts? Hummm(lol)

Thanks, David. This is the most important election of my lifetime.

I was relieved to see that Baron Hill endorsed Obama. I made hours of painful phone calls for him.

whew!

hope you're well. it's good to see you!

Another first for our country, fade. A presidential pardon legislated through the congress, which effects an entire industry as well. God Damn America, wake up!! As you could see my typing has not improved, and I'm just in too much a hurry to preview. Besides, mistakes? Me? :~)

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Hillary on O'Riley Right now and tomorrow

Posted by sunny on April 30, 2008 at 07:50 PM

good article, thanks! i rarely see you in real time, so let me say that i always enjoy your posts.

come on Dr. Dean and the DNC! let's wrap it up!

my fingers need to get back to the phone.

keep it lit~

Israel’s UN ambassador calls Jimmy Carter “a bigot” print this page

25 April 2008

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations has called former US president Jimmy Carter "a bigot" for meeting with the leader of Hamas in Syria. Carter, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, "went to the region with soiled hands and came back with bloody hands after shaking the hand of Khaled Mashaal, the leader of Hamas," Dan Gillerman told reporters. The ambassador's harsh words for Carter came days after the ex-president met with Mashaal for seven hours in Damascus in an attempt to bring about a ceasefire with Gaza's Hamas rulers. Carter then called Mashaal on Monday to try to get him to agree to a one-month truce without conditions, but the Hamas leader rejected the idea. Gillerman called the meeting "a very sad episode in American history." He said it was "a shame" to see Carter, who had done "good things" as a former president, "turn into what I believe to be a bigot."

Meanwhile, Carter denied that the US State Department had warned him of meeting with Hamas before he made his trip to the Middle East. "No one in the State Department or any other department of the US government ever asked him [Carter] to refrain from his recent visit to the Middle East or even suggested that he not meet with Syrian president Assad or leaders of Hamas," said a statement released by the Atlanta-based Carter Center, speaking on the former president's behalf.

subscribe to WJC news update

I Say No More $3 Billion a Year to Isreal from the United States! That'll teach um Name Calling isn't Nice! (lol)

David,

keep on keepin' on. better days are ahead, i HOPE

until then, give a big smooch to your son! you're a gem!!

Obama pledges to be a friend of Jews and Israel print this page

17 April 2008

Obama addressing Jewish leaders in Philadelphia photo: Obama for America
Senator Barack Obama has told Jewish leaders in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that as president he would be a friend of American Jews and the State of Israel. The candidate for the Democratic nomination said his links to the Jewish community predated his entry into politics and would extend beyond this campaign. Obama also addressed the inflammatory remarks of the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, his former pastor. "I want to be clear that not only do I absolutely reject the anti-American statements of my former pastor, I reject the anti-Israel statements as well," he said.

Obama added that he would bring "an unshakable commitment to Israel's security" to the White House and that he disagreed with former US president Jimmy Carter's decision to meet with the Palestinian organization Hamas, calling it "a terrorist group intent on Israel's destruction." Carter had said he would support Obama in the run for the White House.

Barack Obama also told Jewish leaders that he opposed the "right of return" of Palestinian refugees who left Israel at its founding . Accepting that idea, he said, "would extinguish the Jewish state, and that's not an option." The Illinois senator spent the bulk of the 50-minute meeting answering questions, most of which focused on Israel and the Middle East.

Obama will face Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary in the state of Pennsylvania on 22 April.

subscribe to WJC news update

Theres alot of Natural Gas coming out these days!

Watch, Hillary on O'Reilly

She is sure miles ahead of McCain,
I think she is doing really well.

She has refused so far to bash Barack or Wright.

Home > Campaigns > Stop the Iranian Threat

Ronald S. Lauder: Switzerland’s shabby deal with Iran
In an opinion piece, the president of the World Jewish Congress criticizes Switzerland’s recent gas deal with Iran.

The ejection of the populist politician Christoph Blocher from the Swiss government in December 2007 gave rise to hope that Switzerland could restore its tainted image and that the country’s “splendid isolation” on the international stage might soon be over.

Read more...

Iran poses a clear and present danger to the safety and security of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Iranian fighters have even been found in Lebanon attacking Israel.

Iran’s pursuit of nuclear technology, implicit threats to use nuclear weapons against the Jewish people, support for global terrorism, ties to terrorist murders of Jews around the world, calls to destroy Israel and denial of the Holocaust make the regime a continued threat to the Jewish people and global security. Support the WJC today and help fight this terrorist threat!

The Iranian regime will stop at nothing to destroy Israel and terrorize Jews around the world. Iran arms and assists Hezbollah, executes terrorist attacks against Jewish institutions and persistently calls for the destruction, elimination and annihilation of Israel. World Jewry must stand united against this vicious threat – Support the WJC’s campaign today to help expose the Iranian threat and help secure the rights and lives of Jews around the world.

And I thought Bush was a Methodist! (lol)

I Say No More $3 Billion a Year to Isreal from the United States! That'll teach um Name Calling isn't Nice! (lol)

Posted by Maxxis_Mud on April 30, 2008 at 08:06 PM

Am I the only one who sometimes gets the feeling that Israel does not want peace in the middle east?

I wish someone would Jew the Gas Prices down, but I'm just spinning my 1 wheel! (lol)

Hillary Clinton, has the "common" touch. But please don't ask her to do things like pour coffee or pump gas. (see the YouTube video)

Hmm... what does that mean?

I know Obama can't bowl, but pour coffee???

Come on.

Hi, fade.

It's the time of the season for pandering, eh?

First McCain says he'll knock 18 cents off a gallon of gasoline and then Hillary follows by stating she'll make the oil companies make up the difference.

That's real leadership in times of crisis? Promise voters pennies and try to convince them you are doing them a big favor? Isn't that what Bill did?

Both of them knew when they said they would cut that tax that it was a pittance and would never happen.

Congress during an election year is not going to cut off funding for the Highway Fund which is the only thing keeping our shaking infrastructure from collapsing...and shows their local constituents they are delivering for their district.are

So McCain and Hillary are going to buy voters off.

I guess if you have nothing to offer but experience which has never delivered anything but promises in the past, this is "The Change" you have to offer.

Been there done that. It outsourced our manufacturing base and good paying jobs and laid the framework for the economic meltdown we are experiencing.

What did the father of a soldier at Ft. Bragg who releases those despicable conditions in the barracks say? "I'm embarrassed for this country."

I'm embarrassed that this is the best The Clintons think that the Democratic Party can do.

Hi, Sandy! Pandering...yep! The sad thing is most people will not take time to understand what Barack is saying. This fed excise tax on gas will do more harm than good for the economy, and it will do nothing for the long term of solving this energy stratification in which we find ourselves.

The oil companies, working through Cheney's administration, have "legally" rampedup prices so that they can remain in power (control) of any future energy conversion. Be it bio-fuels, solar, wind, or you name it the entities sucking up all the money today are doing so so they can remain in power for the next millennium. Our global energy needs relate to power and control. Pun intended.

goodnight, folks!

hi sandy,

yeah, pandering AND counting on the ignorance of the people. road and bridge funds, air quality additives, inspection fees and a wide range of USER FEES are involved--so who will pick the tab up for that if the McCain/Clinton plan goes into effect?

utterly ridiculous! of course, no one ever went broke underestimating the people...

i've been making calls for an hour and have enjoyed the folks tonight. i get a big charge out of these cheerleaders who advise me on the importance of voting, even if it requires a clothespin on my nose.

my vote is just a tiny fraction of my participation, i'm very proud to say. the noive!

i'd stack up my faithful service up against any of these cheerleaders any time. this party will not withstand the fractures of a protracted primary. let's hope Howard Dean will wrap it up in June.

hi sandy,

yeah, pandering AND counting on the ignorance of the people. road and bridge funds, air quality additives, inspection fees and a wide range of USER FEES are involved--so who will pick the tab up for that if the McCain/Clinton plan goes into effect?

utterly ridiculous! of course, no one ever went broke underestimating the people...

i've been making calls for an hour and have enjoyed the folks tonight. i get a big charge out of these cheerleaders who advise me on the importance of voting, even if it requires a clothespin on my nose.

my vote is just a tiny fraction of my participation, i'm very proud to say. the noive!

i'd stack up my faithful service up against any of these cheerleaders any time. this party will not withstand the fractures of a protracted primary. let's hope Howard Dean will wrap it up in June.

maxx
It is my understanding that Israel buys oil from Iran.
ssssshhhh

geez, sorry about the redund-0-posts. i've been trying to use the F5 key, with mixed results.

NBC/WSJ: Obama Edges Clinton 46%-43%
CBS/NYT: Obama Leads Clinton 46%-38%

come on people--let's demonstrate that negative campaigns don't work, that we will not be fooled by dirty tricks and that this is the time for a new chapter in American history...

or let's have more dynasty...Bush,Clinton,Bush,Clinton...can't get enough of that funky stuff!

keep it lit~

I'll just bet these kids come from compassionate, religious republican homes.

US teenagers ruthlessly kill homeless just because they are not humans

Thanks President Mini-Brain

Domestic abuse, high housing costs and unemployment increase number of homeless families in USA

Bush is a lying piece of shit

Glad to see those polls blue!Everything you see is about Hillary on tv eccept for the still negative stuff on Obama. Good to see it`s not working!See you all tomorrow evening.

Did you hear that another carrier battle group left for the Persian Gulf. Is the war on?

chimpenfuhrer can't wait to bomb Iran then strut around like Hitler walking down the Champs Elysee slapping his knee with his riding stick.

I wonder what excuse chimpenfuhrer will use to blame the Democrats for the war and the increase in gas prices to $100 a gallon.

This asshole is bound and determined to kill us all with his reverie or whatever the fuck he calls it. These religious Assholes on the radio like janet parschall are 100% behind Israel and it is our duty - according to their twisted perversion of the Bible - to protect Israel no matter what the cost. I say bullshit. I for one have had it with supporting a government that treats others (Palestinians) like shit. chimpenfuhrer treats Iraqis and Afghanis like shit and thinks he converses with God in his drunken stupor.

chimpenfuhrer is a fucking war criminal and we must make he and cheney pay for their crimes no matter what lame excuse Pelosi and Reid use to ignore his treasonous acts in our name. I for one am not going to take it anymore.

chimpenfuhrer has his brownshirts (blackwater) strutting around U.S. cities killing homeless veterans. "How dare they lay in my street." "I'll teach them."

When is America going to wake up and die right.

Never thought I'd see a 527 used by a Democrat against another Democrat. What on earth is this country coming to? I'm embarassed to be a Democrat after seeing these primaries.

Barack Obama's campaign has filed a formal complaint over a pro-Hillary Clinton group running ads attacking the Illinois senator on jobs and the economy in the critical primary state of Indiana.

The American Leadership Project, which includes veterans of the Clinton administration and longtime supporters, is a "527," which means it is not bound by federal campaign finance laws as long as it does not directly advocate on behalf of a particular candidate.

The group announced earlier this week that it was planning to buy $700,000 worth of airtime in the state leading up to Tuesday's vote.

The Obama campaign planned a conference call this morning with general counsel Bob Bauer to discuss the specifics of the complaint filed Tuesday with the Federal Elections Commission.

Read the rest here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/30/obama-campaign-files-fec_n_99399.html

solja
I thought that was a really badly written ad.
$700,000?
Barack jumped right on it, with lawsuit but I don't know how it is illegal. he wouldn't try to sue, unless it was
and
I would be surprised if he didn't come out at the exact same time, with a brilliant ad, debunking the 527's.

Has a democrat ever done this before?

I know republicans have---remember those terrible ads and rumors against John McCain by Bush's 527's??

Maybe that is why the have elected McCain---it is not only his TURN, but they owe him.

Hello fine dems.
I cannot believe this Democratic primary. I cannot wait until it is over. It is being handled very poorly. And the media is up to their old crap again. Playing the Wright issue over and over in an endless "swift-boat" type loop giving people the impression it is something important.
When we have a strong majority in the house and senate, we have got to do something about the media so that it STARTS serving the people again.

When we have a strong majority in the house and senate, we have got to do something about the media so that it STARTS serving the people again.

Posted by Chicago on April 30, 2008 at 11:08 PM
____________________________________________

Media (our public airwaves) and election fraud should be part of the foundation of all the work that has to be done to undo so much destruction of our country that is looked upon by the world as one who used to take "takes the high road"

Exclusive: Investment Giant Ends Talks With Blackwater
Private Equity Firm Was Pondering $200 million Investment Into Controversial Security Firm
By MADDY SAUER
April 30, 2008
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(ABC News)
More PhotosAfter news broke this morning on the Blotter on ABCNews.com of the ongoing talks between the investment giant Cerberus and the controversial security firm Blackwater, the talks have now ceased, and there will be no deal.

Late today a spokesperson for Cerberus told ABCNews.com that they have decided not to pursue a transaction with Blackwater. The spokesperson declined to reveal the reasoning behind the decision.

Cerberus, which owns a controlling stake in Chrysler, had been in negotiations to buy the controversial security firm Blackwater USA, which has millions of dollars in U.S. government contracts in Iraq, according to sources familiar with the talks. Other sources said auditors from Cerberus had been examining Blackwater's books since the beginning of the year.

Related
Despite Investigations, Blackwater to Keep Working in IraqBlackwater 'Blood Money' Angers IraqisPHOTOS: 1st Look: Blackwater Shooting IncidentBlackwater did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The reclusive founder of Cerberus, Stephen Feinberg, reportedly told his investors in a letter earlier this year that he hated all the attention the company was getting.

"We do our best to avoid the spotlight," wrote Feinberg, "but unfortunately, when you do some large deals, such as Chrysler and GMAC, it is hard to avoid."

Owning control of Blackwater would certainly have attracted even more attention to Cerberus. Blackwater has been accused of tax fraud, improper use of force, arms trafficking and overbilling connected to its work for the U.S. government in Iraq. A grand jury, federal prosecutors and congressional investigators are all currently probing allegations against the company.

Despite the controversy, however, Blackwater was recently renewed for a $1.2 billion private security contract with the State Department. The one-year extension is worth an estimated $240 million.
I just got 1 question Why Buy Blackwater? Heck ain't there More Private Armies to Buy? Yes

Posted by highserenity on April 30, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Highserenity,
Yes, the rest of the world is watching as we sink under the incompetent hand of the Bush administration. I am sure the world is amazed at what the republicans have done to this country in such a short time. THEY could not believe we elected Bush for a second term. Now the information is coming out regarding the propaganda campaign used against the American public to lie us into this war. We need Obama NOW!!!

The Daily Mirror had it RIGHT ON.

http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blbushdumbpeople.htm

I can't stay.
Good night highserenity.
Keep up the good work.

Good night all
Thanks Chicago I forgot how much I love going through those pictures.
Anyone who can't sleep, should try, it will put a smile on your face.
Nice gift from Chicago to dream by

I am going to send this one to the few friends I know that actually voted for him TWICE

Can't believe I can do the linky thing now. thanks to Barbi

Posted by highserenity on April 30, 2008 at 11:44 PM

^5! :-)

AP:

Echoing a commercial from the national Democratic Party, the MoveOn ad represented an expanded attack on the GOP's all-but-nominated candidate.

MoveOn, which has endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, said it is spending $160,000 on the new ad in Iowa and New Mexico. It said it plans a monthlong, $1 million ad campaign against the Arizona senator.

The ad comes five years after President Bush appeared on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln under a banner stating "Mission Accomplished." The ad shows a cake with the same words written in icing. Five candles on the cake multiply to 100.

"One hundred years in Iraq? And you thought no one could be worse than George Bush," the ad says.

The ad quotes McCain, during an appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation," stating, "and then I don't think Americans are concerned if we're there for 100 years, or 1,000 years, or 10,000 years."

Barbi, good to see you. are we still in kansas? anynow good night.

The White House said Wednesday that President Bush has paid a price for the "Mission Accomplished" banner that was flown in triumph five years ago but later became a symbol of U.S. misjudgments and mistakes in the long and costly war in Iraq.

Thursday is the fifth anniversary of Bush's dramatic landing in a Navy jet on an aircraft carrier homebound from the war. The USS Abraham Lincoln had launched thousands of airstrikes on Iraq.

"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended," Bush said at the time. "The battle of Iraq is one victory in a war on terror that began on Sept. 11, 2001, and still goes on." The "Mission Accomplished" banner was prominently displayed above him - a move the White House came to regret as the display was mocked and became a source of controversy.

After shifting explanations, the White House eventually said the "Mission Accomplished" phrase referred to the carrier's crew completing its 10-month mission, not the military completing its mission in Iraq. Bush, in October 2003, disavowed any connection with the "Mission Accomplished" message. He said the White House had nothing to do with the banner; a spokesman later said the ship's crew asked for the sign and the White House staff had it made by a private vendor.

Ooops, my bad.

Housing package advances

Democrats turned back a slew of Republican challenges to their housing rescue package Wednesday as they moved toward committee approval of the plan.

Republicans, targeting virtually every element of a measure they characterized as an unfair and risky taxpayer-funded bailout, failed to win adoption of any major changes. A final vote of the Financial Services Committee on the bill is scheduled Thursday, and the House is expected to consider the package next week.

The bill would allow the Federal Housing Administration to back up to $300 billion in new mortgages for distressed homeowners now too financially strapped to qualify for such loans.

The plan by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., the Financial Services Committee chairman, would require that borrowers show they could make payments on refinanced fixed-rate loans, while lenders would have to agree to take losses on the existing mortgages.

I dunno where we are anymore!

'Nite, {{Gregg}}.

House candidate in Pa. charged with burglary, other counts

Surprise, surprise.

A Republican congressional candidate was charged Thursday with felony burglary and criminal trespass stemming from an encounter last year with an ex-girlfriend.

Derek Walker, a 32-year-old financial planner, called the charges politically motivated because the Pennsylvania primary is Tuesday. The district attorney denied the accusation.

Posted by Barbi on April 30, 2008 at 11:57 PM

Link

*blush*

U.S. War Criminals to Be Hunted Someday?

U.S. war criminals -- currently uncharged -- like George W. Bush, president of the United States, and other members of his administration (Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, etc.), should ponder the fate of the Nazi pursued by justice, even unto their last years. No matter what they think they can get away with, if a party or regime in this country ever comes into power and sets its aim as cleaning up the crimes of this country, whether to serve justice, or as a matter of realpolitik, needing to reclaim some measure of integrity internationally, then Bush et al. had better have set aside a defense fund.

This is in addition to the possibility that other countries may choose to extradict or prosecute those criminals who aggressively invaded a sovereign country (Iraq), killing over a million people, and then proceeded to torture thousands or tens of thousands of individuals.

Michael Moore is a opportunistic pig. Remember after Ohio was stolen he came out and said, "it's not so bad... you really like the Bush twins." He started the wild fire with Nader, and now he's making money by charging people to see it in detail. Some guy.

NYT Lets the Truth about Oil Slip, for a Second

Paragraph 25 of an article in Thursday's NYT:
OPEC’s 13 members plan to spend $150 billion to expand their capacity by five million barrels a day by 2012. But OPEC will need to pump 60 million barrels a day by 2030, up from around 36 million barrels a day today, to meet the projected growth in demand. Analysts say that without Iran and Iraq — where nearly 30 years of wars and sanctions have crippled oil production — reaching that level will be impossible.This is why we are not going to leave Iraq. The country that controls the future of Iraq and Iran, controls the world for the next 40 or so years.

WTF??

McCain Has a Bridge He Wants to Sell You "The bridge in Minneapolis didn't collapse because there wasn't enough money," McCain told reporters while campaigning in Pennsylvania. "The bridge in Minneapolis collapsed because so much money was spent on wasteful, unnecessary pork-barrel projects." I never took physics, but I'm pretty sure it collapsed because it wasn't strong enough to hold the weight it was bearing. It probably would have held up if some money had been spent to strengthen it, but the Republicans neglected infrastructure investment the entire 12 years they controlled Capitol Hill, because they were more concerned with tax cuts to the rich and war in Iraq.

But the man does offer a compelling argument against electing a Republican Congress.

who will pick the tab up for that if the McCain/Clinton plan goes into effect?

this party will not withstand the fractures of a protracted primary...

Posted by fade2bluz on April 30, 2008 at 09:10 PM

Clinton's plan taxes the oil companies to pay for it. McCain's does not.

This party will do fine IF we go to a convention. The added media will get more people interested and "inspired." You seem to forget how bad things are at home and abroad, and that McLame is the SAME as Bush. Nobody wants 4 more years of Republican policies, messes, and wars.

Don't put this on Dean's shoulders. Let the process play out without Party interference. Let the Dems get all the media they can get up to the Convention. In the end, the stronger candidate will prevail. And that's what counts. May the strongest candidate win.

Report Questions Quality of Medical Care for Workers in War Zones:

An increasing number of federal employees are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, but it is not clear that the government's policies go far enough to ensure they receive the best medical care or the most appropriate benefits, according to a congressional report released yesterday. [Wed.]

The report was issued by the House Armed Services Committee oversight and investigations subcommittee, which looked into the incentives and medical coverage being provided to civil service employees.

BYD are you still here?

Boston Legal tonight
laughing
suing DNC because massachusets 22yr old delegate won't vote with constituancy ie/for Hillary

I just received this in my email and it is too FUNNY not to pass along:

I�just want to thank all of you for your educational emails over the past�year.
Thanks�to you, I no longer open a public bathroom door without using a��paper towel.
I can't use the remote in a hotel room because I don't know what the last person was doing while flipping�through the adult movie channels.��
I can't sit do wn on the hotel�bedspread because I can only imagine what has�happened on it since it was last washed.
I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has�been driving because the number one pass-time while driving alone is picking your nose. ( Although�cell phone usage may be taking the number one spot )
Eating a Little Debbie sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans fats I have consumed over the years.��
�
�I can't touch any woman's purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom. �Yuck !��
�
�I must send my special thanks to whoever sent me the one about poop in the��glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet�sponge with every envelope����that ne eds sealing.

Also, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.

I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl ( Penny Brown )��who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time.

I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive the��$15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program..

I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out���for me, and St. Theresa's novena has granted my every wish.

I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant��freaks with no eyes or feathers.

I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water��buffalo on a hot day.

Thanks to you, I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward�� an email to seven of my friends and make a wish�within five minutes.

Because of your concern I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

I no longer can buy gasoline without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I'm pumping gas.

I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr. Pepper since the people who make these�products are atheists who refuse to put�
' Under God '��on their cans.

I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer.

And thanks for letting me know I can't boil a cup of water in the microwave��anymore because it will blow up in my face...disfiguring me for life.

I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked��with a needle infected with AIDS.

I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume��sample and rob me.�

I no longer receive packages from UPS or FedEx since they are actually Al� �Qaeda�in� �disguise.

I no longer shop at Target since they are French and don't support our American troops or the Salvation Army.

I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number��for which I will get a phone bill with calls to�Jamaica,�Uganda,��Singapore�and��Uzbekistan.

I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman Marcus since I now have their��recipe.

Thanks to you, I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it��bites my butt.

And thanks to your great advice, I can't ever pick up $5.00dropped in the��parking lot because it probably�was placed there by�a sex molester waiting underneath my car to grab my leg.

I can no longer drive my car because I can't buy gas from certain gas companies !

If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at��5:00 PM�this afternoon and the fleas from 12 camels will infest�your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to�a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician...
Have a wonderful day....�

Oh, by the way.....�

A German scientist from��Argentina�, after a lengthy study, has discovered
that� people with insufficient brain activity read their e-mail with their hand on the mouse.

Michigan Dave, this part I am adding just for you :-0
And all of the above was caused in some way by Bill Clinton! LOL !!!

McCain’s Health Care Plan: Increases Taxes, Decreases Coverage

blog.AFL-CIO:

McCain wants to address our nation’s health care crisis by merely shifting costs around—and millions of people would pay higher health care costs as a result. McCain would tax health care benefits as income and push more people out of group insurance pools and into the often-predatory private market. In short, McCain would increase our taxes and ensure fewer of us could afford quality health care.

[...]

McCain’s health care plan, as it currently exists, wouldn’t lower costs or expand coverage. Instead, through changing the tax system for health benefits, it could result in many employers cutting off health benefits altogether.

How to Talk About Health Care

AlterNet.org:

The health care debate is not about right versus left. It's about McCain's radical scheme to dump our employer-provided health coverage into a ditch.

[...]

In the case of McCain's proposal, the key fact is that the tax provisions will encourage companies to drop health insurance as an employer-provided benefit.

[...]

Put another way, the McCain plan will cause businesses to drop health care benefits like a rotten egg from a picnic basket. The argument for McCain depends on the idea that once they cut health care benefits, corporations will increase our salaries to offset our loss! And no persuadable voter in America will believe this. So if you're middle-class in America, this plan should scare the sox off of you. This is Bush economics on steroids!

Boston Legal tonight
Posted by highserenity on May 1, 2008 at 01:12 AM

I love that show and I almost missed it. Isn't it usually on Tuesdays. Isn't that the 'joke' that they were making in the entro?

This is Bush economics on steroids!

Posted by Barbi on May 1, 2008 at 01:23 AM

You could not be more right! It's just more reTHUGlican 'slight of hand' to try and convince you that 'less is more' when in reality, our less is their more!

Getting married for health insurance

L A Times.com:

Some people marry for love, some for companionship, and others for status or money. Now comes another reason to get hitched: health insurance.

In a poll released today, 7% of Americans said they or someone in their household decided to marry in the last year so they could get healthcare benefits via their spouse.

"It's a small number but a powerful result, because it shows how paying for healthcare is reflected not only in family budgets but in life decisions," said Drew E. Altman, president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, which commissioned the survey as part of its regular polling on healthcare.

On a broader scale, the survey found that healthcare costs outranked housing costs, rising food prices and credit card bills as a source of concern. Twenty-eight percent of those surveyed said they had experienced serious problems because of the cost of healthcare, compared with 29% who had problems getting a good job or a raise. Gasoline prices were the top economic worry, with 44% saying they had serious problems keeping up with increases at the pump.

MaryMac,

I cannot describe how much this neo-con regime disgusts me. Without swearing like a sailor, that is.

Posted by Barbi on May 1, 2008 at 01:29 AM
Barbi: as you may have read here, I had surgery about a month ago. I got a call to schedule the surgery where I was informed that I had to pay my deductible in full and 10% of the anticipated minimal costs before I could schedule my surgery. Pam had a family member who also had to do this. Can you believe that it has come to this?

Barbi: I really like your posts. You seem to hold the current administration in the same 'respect' that I do! I HATE them, seriously HATE.
But, anyway, it's gettin' late here in the Central Time Zone so I gotta' go. I hope I run into you again, in real time!

Yes, I did see that and I hope you are recovering well, now, MaryMac. I'm not always up to current time when I read [lurk] here, though.

It's awful that anyone has to pay up front like that. So far, we've been fortunate and haven't had to do that. Fingers crossed.

Never in my life did I expect this. It's time for the adults to take over.

Oh, I left some linky help on previous threads, if it will help you. The afternoon comment is here.

Posted by marymac_memphis on May 1, 2008 at 01:26 AM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
g-night mary----hope you are well

I have never seen Boston Legal before,
I will make a point of looking for it now.

Goodnight, all you Kicking Ass women.

And {{smooches}} to the Kicking Ass guys (*flirt*) (*flirt*) who put up with 'em. :-D

For giggles:

Yesterday's "Broad" Is Today's Kick-Ass WomanThis species of woman is endangered because, to flourish, society must appreciate a zaftig figure, hard-won lines, and unapologetic strength. What ever happened to broads? You know, those larger-than-life women who swore like sailors, threw back shots of whiskey, sounded like they'd swallowed whole packs of cigarettes, and aged without apology.

[...]

It's amazing to me how the quips Mae West famously uttered still serve as quotable quotes today: "Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?" "When I'm good, I'm very good, but when I'm bad, I'm better." "A man in the house is worth two in the street." Now, that's a broad!

Half a century later, at the 1988 Democratic National Convention, Ann Richards delivered one of the best lines in all of American politics when she said of then-Republican presidential nominee George H. W. Bush, "Poor George. He can't help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth." Only a broad could pull off a line like that -- and make it seem unrehearsed and natural.

[...]

Today's broad:

• Would never be caught speaking the words "that's hot."

• Doesn't own any pairs of Manolo Blahniks.

• Uses salty language, especially around men.

• Developed her brain and talents and flirtiness, in part because she couldn't coast on her looks alone.

• Doesn't watch her cholesterol or have her body mass index measured.

• Can probably be found right now in a back room somewhere playing poker and smoking cigars with the boys.

• Can kick your ass, and mine.

• Is not the librarian with glasses and her hair in a bun who then tosses her glasses and shakes out her hair to lure a man. She's the librarian. Period.

• She's not the superhero/martial arts heroine who beats the guy at his own game and then lets him "take" her. She's the one who beats the guy at his own game. Period.

• Knows who she is, and so no one would think of asking her to be something she's not.

Has the press asked Dr. Reynolds, why she supported Rev. Wrights speech, she is an avid Clinton fan. She would never have supported him had the speech supported Obama. And with Carville aware of it in the background, he must have know the purpose of the speech as being Kitchen Sink politics. Do anything to get elected including destroying another Democrat, even use racial division.

In all the speeches Obama has made has he ever advocated Rev. Wright values? If you were going to vote for someone who speaks the truth, who would it be? If you were going to vote for someone doing their Homework for the American voters, who would it be? If you wanted real change in Washington over keeping the status quo, who would it be? Last question, if you wanted someone to repair our overseas image, and not use the Bush's as Good Will Ambassadors, who would you vote for?

So Clintonite Reynolds, who did you speak too in the Clinton camp before the National Press Club? Was their collusion to inflict harm by the Clinton campaign especially in Indiana.

Kitchen Sink Clinton tactics, how low did they go. Are we Carville Judas's, or Progressive Clintonites of Royal inheritances of Executive Privilege autocracy. I think a lot of US are ex-Clinton supporters like Bill Richardson that think Obama can lead US in doing his Homework. How many promises and trade deals will be negotiated in a Clinton White House? The money paid by overseas interests in Bill's speeches tell the story.

Moderate real Democrats now is the time to cast your Superdelegate vote for "We the people" rule of real change from the Royal Corporate influence.

Clinton gas holidays has no promises that the oil companies will fill in the federal taxes with increased profits of inflation right away. So that later they will add the taxes and blame the government and Clinton for the price increase. The sad fact is all that money for the bridges and roads are lost in funding when they are seriously needed, just so some politician can get elected, some economic plan that is. Sounds like Bush economics. It is another case of Clinton's failing to do their Homework.

Happy [belated] birthday, {{Poet}}. I hope next year's will be a much happier one for you.

G'nite.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The head of the agency that administers federal contracts has resigned amid allegations of engaging in illegal political activities and doling out no-bid awards.

The General Services Administration on Wednesday announced the departure of Lurita Doan, who was appointed by President Bush two years ago
"No one can be effective leader who has lost the public's confidence, politicizing the agency, and violating the federal Hatch Act," Waxman said at the time.

OMG Waxman----what about Bush/Cheney?????

You aren't any kind of doctor. Hell, you aren't even any kind of human being. FLick off, McTurd.

From ghosties and ghoulies,
and long legged beasties,
and things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord deliver us!

[Traditional Scottish prayer]

It seems that http://www.reynoldsnews.com/ is no longer a site. It was stripped of any info, before now it was a stripped framework. I wonder why Dr./Rev. Reynolds took it down? Could it be because on it somewhere she supported Clinton? How much contact has she made with the Clinton campaign can the Free Media find out, over the Royal Media of biased reporting?

Yes, I am reminded of my statement that Hillary had the nomination locked up and that true Democrat of "We the people" had no real chance that the coronation to the crown was hers to take. Maybe it is true after all that it is a Carville and Mark The Penn led done deal. Can you imagine Carville as a White House spokesman, why he will be calling all of US Judases, like Bush using the French as scapegoats. Why Reynolds will be, maybe Secretary of State to take over Rice's place.

Tell me why the Reynolds site evaporated from the Internet? Is there anywhere on the Internet information on her being friends with Rev. Wright? Oh, the Kitchen Sink dropped with some strategic Clintonite planning to try to sink the USS Obama and the USS Constitution. How ruthless a campaign on a fellow Democrat, reminding me of Bush's annihilation of McCain with all his Intelligence "Lies" that Hillary and others swallowed into the Iraq War of being a Bush Republican Goodwill Ambassadors.

Posted by Dr_Elroy_McBurd on May 1, 2008 at 02:18 AM

_________________________________

This video of Bush flipping the bird was taped at an Austin production facility during the later months of Bush's term as Texas governor.

Here is to those who voted for him the first time.

Can't find anything on how I feel about you who voted for him again, and promoted the distruction of a great country.

On that I will bid all
Aloha, and have a great night
Continue to support those that speak Truth to Power and let's take back our country.

Posted by Barbi on May 1, 2008 at 02:07 AM

Thank you, I appreciate that.

Hi MaryMac. Yes, I'm here.

BTW Cindy McCain on Leno
west coast now
Understand she will be wearing BRIGHT yellow pantsuit

Didn't think they would allow the pancaked face c--t to speak.
(John's words, not mine)

Chimpenfuhrer. Always cracks me up.

Funny thing how so many people are clamoring to open up ANWAR etc. to increase access to oil. They claim the new supply will drop the global price of oil.

We're talking about a small amount of production compared to the global need. The global need is driven by India and China with no end in sight.

So I guess the idea is...American oil producers will sell oil to Americans for a low price, rather than sell the oil on the global market and get rich, rich, rich. Tell me another story.

There are a lot of capped oil wells being opened up in the USA...it's profitable again. But it is just being sold at the global price...perhaps slowing demand a little.

And...the Saudis, Mexicans, and Malaysia are actually cutting production. Their oil fields are mature and they want to maintain their prosperity for the future, not have all the oil pumped out in 40 years.

We need some serious breakthroughs in high MPG vehicles.

Another option is a political effort in the UN to declare OPEC a terrorist organization and break it up. It's not as far-fetched as it sounds. If the food riots continue, and mass starvation sets in, the possibility of a UN mandate to "Internationalize" the world oil supply increases. It's unlikely but possible.

Final Note : MRSA, the bacterial infection that can kill in days, and is extremely resistant to most antibiotics, is spiking again. A tough MRSA case takes two weeks of hospitalization to treat, and costs about $48K. MRSA started with a few cases in the U.K. circa 1961 and passed AIDS in the USA for the number of annual deaths in 2005 (approximately 17K AIDS deaths, 19K MRSA deaths). The MRSA epidemic needs to be dealt with.

China, Russia heavily subsidize gasoline prices. USA price per gallon is "middle of the pack".

Global Prices Per Gallon

Posted by YoungPoet on May 1, 2008 at 02:02 AM

Wrong. Hillary's plan pays for the tax cut by taxing the profits of the oil companies. Nice lie to attack the female in the race. You have cooked up a ridiculous, far-fetched scenario to blame the Clinton's. It makes you look uninformed and paranoid. How would you like people making up lies about Obama?

Talk about people who will say anything, and use the kitchen sink. Look in a mirror. You are the one who attacks with malicious lies.

btw, hillary clinton was in skull and bones with W, and she has ordered the Secret Service to follow you in Blackhawk helicopters. They are coming to get you because Mark Penn wants you teach him advanced poetic lying, and Olympic kitchen sink throwing. Have a good day.

Obama closing in on Clinton's advantage among superdelegates

Capps said Hillary Clinton would be a great president and fill a dream for those who have fought for women's rights. But she said Obama's call for a change in Washington was the most important factor in winning her support.

Link

This says a lot, do I need to say more?

Officials say Pentagon easing security clearance screening

Link

What a crock, there are thousands, who are on the streets that need help and do not need security clearances to know they have problems. This is a White House attempt to defray the abuse of VA officials to acknowledge that many coming back from the Bush Wars need real counseling. The Bush White House keeps the mental health problems hid like the body bags and coffins of deceased patriot veterans. When has the White House held a memorial service for those lost in the Bush Wars? When has a high ranking White House official attended a funeral service, even with a Silver Star decoration? How many in all of Bush's cabinets have served in active duty in the front lines, most stay at home and have campaign for politicians.

Shame, shame, shame;
Are we better dead than alive
When our vets come home
And need to cry!
Washington,
Why have you forsaken them
Has Vietnam been reincarnated
Yet again, in another facet?
Shame, shame, shame;
Has the Vietnam echo
On a Poet’s Katrina tears.
Feel the living suicide
Of surviving politicians
“Homework.”
Shame, shame, shame.
Look what they have given US.

AP NewsBreak: Former Democratic leader switches to Obama

WASHINGTON - A leader of the Democratic Party under Bill Clinton has switched his allegiance to Barack Obama and is encouraging fellow Democrats to "heal the rift in our party" and unite behind the Illinois senator.

Joe Andrew, who was Democratic National Committee chairman from 1999-2001, planned a news conference Thursday in his hometown of Indianapolis to urge other Hoosiers to support Obama in Tuesday's primary, perhaps the most important contest left in the White House race. He also has written a lengthy letter explaining his decision that he plans to send to other superdelegates.

Link

Another Democrat under Clinton switches to Obama.

Posted by Big_Yellow_Dog on May 1, 2008 at 03:01 AM

I do not attacking because of gender or race, I try to use the facts and open things up for discussion. As for as Clinton's gas holiday, it has a lot of opposition by economists. Thank you for using your Free Speech opinions, they are appreciated.

Obama can transform America's image, says Jimmy Carter

Former President Jimmy Carter has given Barack Obama a major boost by calling for the bitter Democratic nomination battle to end on June 3rd and speaking glowingly of his ability to “transform the image” of America.

Link

Yes, Obama can transform the American image from the Bush's.

Posted by YoungPoet on May 1, 2008 at 04:44 AM

Yes he can, like Jimmy did, he can bend over a chair and drop his pants in front of any 3rd world dictator and tell them we are sorry to exist.

But, who wants to go through that again?

Clinton blasts Bush for not stopping a project Bill OK'd

What Clinton never includes in the oft-repeated tale is the role that prominent Democrats played in selling the company and its technology to the Chinese. She never mentions that big-time Democratic contributor George Soros helped put together the deal to sell the company or that the sale was approved by her husband's administration.

In response, the Clinton campaign said that Bill Clinton's administration had gotten assurances at the time it approved the deal that production would remain inside the United States, and that the shift of jobs to China didn't occur until under the Bush administration.

Link

By the way that company was in Indiana, and in Indianapolis she failed to tell the whole truth to the audience.

If you care about children, then you know it was in the best interest to get them out and away. One HAS no first amendment rights when one breaks the law.

By your definition, then murderers, rapists, robbers all have rights to do what they do ??

Posted by PamB on April 30, 2008 at 04:16 PM

This post strikes me as odd. Pammy says these people have no rights, but she says the terrorist at club gitmo do. I think the old squirrel faced one has flipped her acorn. Maybe the freaks in Texas should have said "G__ Damn America" and they would have had her full support.

You are a dope.

Posted by Barbi on May 1, 2008 at 12:45 AM

That bridge was designed and built under the oppressive regime of Lyndon Baines Johnson. You don't need to spend money to strengthen a bridge that is properly designed.

Posted by FrostyMilkweed on May 1, 2008 at 03:01 AM

I didn't write the fricken article, asshat!

===

Posted by Barbi on May 1, 2008 at 02:01 AM
Let me simplify that for you:

Todays broad is a fat disgusting lesbo slug.

Posted by FrostyMilkweed on May 1, 2008 at 03:08 AM

===

Posted by FrostyMilkweed on May 1, 2008 at 03:08 AM

By Golly I have to agree with that one.

Posted by Dr_Elroy_McBurd on May 1, 2008 at 03:14 AM

===

Let me simplify it for you moonbats: I'm not a lesbo or a slug, you sick perverts.

Grow up and act like responsible human beings. And go someplace where your BS is wanted. It isn't here. But you don't get that, even after all this time. Pathetic.

You got nothin' but mean and evil. Fugly, filthy, disgusting low-life, Hell-bound trolls, that's all you are.

See if I EVER talk nicely to you again.

Not even with Mann Coulter's teeth.

Go to Hell, Sally*.

Not hardly, idiot.

Fugly?

What the heck is Fugly?

Are you Fugly, Barbi. Are you having a Fugly day?

Did you hear that another carrier battle group left for the Persian Gulf. Is the war on?

Posted by Johne on April 30, 2008 at 10:18 PM

So why hasn't MSM been reporting this? What are they hiding? We should be all over MSM to get off their butts and do their job - stop supressing free speech in this country!

Morning Kathy,

I wouldn't be surprised at anything cheney does. The price of gas hasn't strangled us yet so he is going to bomb Iran.

Russia will not stand by and watch us nuke Iran. they are already pissed at us for interfering in the ex-soviet state Georgia. What right does our Asshole president have to dictate to Russia what happens in the Georgian republic?

NONE!

Gates says 2nd carrier in Gulf is 'reminder' to Iran

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday that sending a second U.S. aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf could serve as a "reminder" to Iran, but he said it's not an escalation of force.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with Mexican leaders, Gates said heightening U.S. criticism of Iran and its support for terror groups is not a signal that the administration is laying the groundwork for a strike against Tehran.

---

Gates played down the addition of a second carrier to the Gulf, saying that the number of ships there rises and falls continuously. He said he doesn't expect there to two carriers there for a long time.

Asked if the carrier move went hand in hand with the rising U.S. rhetoric against Iran, Gates said, "I don't see it as an escalation. I think it could be seen, though, as a reminder."

US officials: Decision on confronting Iran up to Iraq

Iraqi leaders have been given the latest U.S. evidence of Iranian support for militias inside Iraq, and Baghdad will decide what to do about it, two senior Pentagon officials said Wednesday.

Marine Lt. Gen. John Sattler, director of strategy, plans and policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki possesses the evidence, which other officials said contradicts Tehran's stated commitment to stop providing arms, weapons technology and training to Shiite militias inside Iraq.

"It's in Prime Minister al-Maliki's hands right now, the evidence as to whether or not he's been lied to - bald-faced lied to - by the Iranian government," Sattler told a Pentagon news conference.

Today the Congress is going to hold hearings on commidity prices especially corn used for ethanol.

chimpenfuhrer is the one who was strutting around the Midwest celebrating the construction of ethanol plants.

What does ethanol have to do with commodity prices. NOTHING.

The price of commodities always rise when there is a weak dollar. We all know that the boobs in charge of the federal reserve need to get their heads out of their asses and take measures to strengthen the dollar which chimpenfuhrer has obliterated. The other problem is the goddamn speculators making millions in commodities at our expense. We need to RE-REGULATE WALL STREET!

Maybe chimpenfuhrer will do something about the weak dollar and the speculators when the price of his corn whiskey gets too high and his comic books become unaffordable due to the price of paper.

I just found out yesterday that the head of PNM, the power company of NM makes about $1 million a year. No wonder our fucking bills are so high.

When is congress going to act an reign in these outrageous CEO salaries? Their employees are getting screwed from both ends. They pay high utility bills and get low salaries. This is downright criminal.

Officials: Iraq sends delegation to Iran

Iraqi officials say the government has dispatched a delegation to Iran to discuss concerns about the arming and training of Shiite militias in Iraq.

A government official says five Shiite politicians left Wednesday with "evidence, confessions and pictures" indicating that Iran is supplying weapons and training fighters who are locked in a violent standoff with U.S. and Iraqi troops.

The official says the delegation "will seek to clarify ... the interference of Iranian leaders."

The official spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information.

May Day!

This Thursday, May 1st, at noon, there will be anti-war demonstrations across the country. It's Mission Accomplished Day (5 years) and it's the original Labor Day (122 years). Concerned citizens will be leaving work to rally in front of their congressional members' offices. Here in Richmond, we will gather in front of Senator Webb's office to demand that he stop funding the occupation of Iraq. Although he says he opposes the war, he continues to vote for funding. Where: 507 East Franklin Street, Richmond VA 23219 When: Thursday, May 1st at noon More Information: http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/mayday http://www.myspace.com/rva4peace
===============================

This Thursday, May 1st, at noon, there will be anti-war demonstrations across the country. It's Mission Accomplished Day (5 years) and it's the original Labor Day (122 years). Concerned citizens will be leaving work to rally in front of their congressional members' offices. Here in Richmond, we will gather in front of Senator Webb's office to demand that he stop funding the occupation of Iraq. Although he says he opposes the war, he continues to vote for funding. Where: 507 East Franklin Street, Richmond VA 23219 When: Thursday, May 1st at noon More Information: http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/mayday http://www.myspace.com/rva4peace
===============================

Clarence Thomas, National Co-Chair of the Million Worker March Movement and Executive Board member of International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 10, spoke on April 24th, 2008, at the Iraq Town Hall meeting, in the Grand Lake Theater, Oakland, CA. The ILWU has committed to blocking ports on May 1st in opposition to the occupation of Iraq.

GET INVOLVED!

======================================
Workers rally on May Day over food prices, rights

2 hours ago
ISTANBUL (AFP) — Police battled demonstrators in Istanbul as tens of thousands of workers rallied on world labour day Thursday while soaring food prices brought large crowds onto the streets of some Asian capitals.

In Istanbul, police used pepper gas and water cannon to disperse workers outside Turkey's main left-wing labour confederation at the start of a tense day of events in the country.

Volatile crowds also rallied in the Philippines' capital of Manila and Indonesia's Jakarta, carrying signs demanding "Jobs, Justice, Food" and "Lower Food Prices Now".

The struggle to afford basic food staples such as rice was the focus of many of the demonstrations in Asia, where rallies were patrolled by huge numbers of police.

si se puede!

US military deaths in Iraq at 4,063

As of Wednesday, April 30, 2008, at least 4,063 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes eight military civilians. At least 3,307 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.

The AP count is five more than the Defense Department's tally, last updated Wednesday at 10 a.m. EDT.

good morning.

Moanin', Gregg

Posted by Johne on May 1, 2008 at 07:50 AM
you remember May Day, don't you?

Bernanke takes one more gamble

::Federal Reserve interest rate and monetary actions typically become fully felt only after a substantial time lag, sometimes of up to 18-24 months. Therefore, it is not surprising that most people have not observed much, or even any, of the stimulative effects of the rate cuts yet. However, one place where it seems that the rate cuts are having an effect is in the sudden astronomical rise in world commodity prices, and the attendant intensification of world inflationary pressures that are logically following from that rise.

The increase in world commodity prices is nothing particularly new; the CRB commodity price index bottomed out in late 2001 at 184, before climbing to over 575 this March. Most observers attribute the greatest part of this rise to increased commodity demand from the newly industrialized "BRIC" economies - Brazil, Russia, India and China.

However, even with the BRIC economies continuing to grow at their rapid and steady pace, it seems that the commodity price rises this year have been particularly steep. Looking at the charts, it is hard not to get the impression that the starting bell for this year's precipitous commodity price rises was, indeed, the Fed's first cuts in the middle of January.

Before the January cuts, crude oil was sitting at the bottom of its three-month range, at around US$90 a barrel; this week it topped out at $120, up 33% in three months. Similarly, price rises in corn, rice, soybeans and many other commodities accelerated sharply following the mid-January rate cuts.

The inference here was obvious. With Bernanke's aggressive and repeated interest rate cuts, investors seemed to be more and more concerned that the Fed chairman was sacrificing the fight against inflation in order to more aggressively fight the US economic downturn. Therefore, they were trading their US dollars from a country not seemingly committed to maintaining the value of its currency, for hard, tangible assets such as commodities. The US dollar declined 11.5% against the euro from January 22 to April 22.

We must tightly regulate utility companies to include electricity, natural gas, coal,and propane. While we are at it we need to regulate the price of gasoline.

After chimpenfuhrer deregulated everything in 2001, Enron screwed California. Now this behavior has caught on and all the corporations are screwing us. It is a screw spectacular and we are the victims.

263 more days.

Off to work.

TTFN. Good day, {{good Dems}}.

currency devaluation = inflation

Sobering assessment of risks to US economy

By Krishna Guha in Washington

Published: April 30 2008 23:00 | Last updated: April 30 2008 23:00

Wednesday’s message from the Federal Reserve was not a firm “one-and-done” as many in the markets thought it would be. The US central bank made clear that it would like to pause in June, but it is not certain that Wednesday’s quarter-point rate cut marks the end of the easing cycle.

Nor did the Fed train its guns on inflation and target the link between expected interest rates, the dollar and commodity prices, as a growing number of experts suggested it should.

It is a screw spectacular and we are the victims.

Posted by Johne on May 1, 2008 at 08:02 AM

that's quotable, John.

footage from Iraq

May 2, 2008


The heat is on Muqtada
By Sami Moubayed

DAMASCUS - The war continues between Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army and the Iraqi army, resulting in nearly 1,000 dead in the Shi'ite slum of Sadr City in Baghdad.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who is waging war on his former ally Muqtada, said, "The suffering will not be long in Sadr City. We will save our brothers." Additionally, 20 US soldiers have been killed since April 1. According to a spokesman for the Iraqi government, there have been 925 killed and another 2,605 wounded.

This is a sharp increase in violence, from the 1,082 killed in March, and the very high 721 dead in February. The results have not been satisfying, to say the least, for Maliki. When the onslaught began, Maliki was ill-advised. Somebody told him he would be able to crush the Mahdi Army in a breeze.

Instead the Mahdi Army has not disintegrated, nor has it laid down its arms. It continues to fight - a war of survival - against Maliki and many uniformed Iraqi troops have laid down their arms and decided to stop fighting. In some cases, to the horror of the Americans urging Maliki to continue the war, some have even shifted sides, and taken up arms with Muqtada.

Hilary vs. the coffee machine (too funny! she does a much better job throwing back shots)

The battle for Democratic superdelegates in the Capitol's marble halls is over, according to a report early Wednesday.

"Capitol Hill insiders say the battle for congressional superdelegates is over, and one Senate supporter of Barack Obama is hinting strongly that he has prevailed over Hillary Rodham Clinton," Politico's Amie Parnes and Josephine Hearn report Wednesday. "While more than 80 Democrats in the House and Senate have yet to state their preferences in the race for the Democratic nomination, sources said Tuesday that most of them have already made up their minds and have told the campaigns where they stand."

on a positive note, la la la

Superdelegates set to call for foreign policy unity
By Sam Youngman
Posted: 04/30/08 04:25 PM [ET]
A group of committed and uncommitted Democratic congressional superdelegates will call Thursday for foreign policy unity — including a call to end the Iraq war — regardless of who wins the Democratic nomination.

Representatives who have endorsed either Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) or Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), plus two who are uncommitted, will hold a conference call with reporters Thursday morning to outline their plea for party unity on ending the Iraq war, negotiations with Iran and closure of the Guantánamo Bay detention facility.

Members participating will announce a new campaign to urge superdelegates to sign a petition encouraging the Democratic Party to adopt those and other foreign policy stances into the Democratic National Platform, according to a release from the call’s host, the group Win Without War.

The call is scheduled to feature former Rep. Tom Andrews (D-Maine), Win Without War’s national director; Reps. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.), John Lewis (Ga.) and Barbara Lee (Calif.), who are endorsing Obama; and Reps. James McGovern (Mass.) and Maurice Hinchey (N.Y.), who are endorsing Clinton.

Reps. Rush Holt (N.J.) and Sam Farr (Calif.) are the two uncommitted superdelegates joining the call.

“While the superdelegates disagree on who should be commander in chief, they all agree the Democratic Party should be united around calling for a responsible end to the war in Iraq, a diplomatic surge with Iran and an end to the use of torture,” the Win Without War release said.

Todays broad is a fat disgusting lesbo slug.

Posted by FrostyMilkweed on May 1, 2008 at 03:08 AM

sheesh, stevie, what a way to describe your kid! So she inherited fat thighs, big deal!

Good morning all. I still believe that Obama will be the nominee!

good morning , fade

Our morning paper, owned by Tribune and usually quite slanted on presenting news, actually had a grid showing month by month the last year of Deaths in Iraq, and that April was the deadliest in some time.

Despite their recent more unbiased reporting, I have a bet going with a friend, that the Hartford Courant will come out and endorse John McCain at the end, with their usual list of gibberish and wishy washy reasons why .

good morning

yes, goodfoe, yes he will

anybody watch Michael Moore on Larry King last night. I was sorry I did not send through an email to him. He is coming out with a new documentary about the 2004 Election.

I also caught Michelle Obama interview on CNN's 360 . She is an eloquent speaker.

Posted by highserenity on May 1, 2008 at 08:51 AM

"The Orator is king" Obama is head and shoulders above either Hillary or poor 'ol John McNuts in this area. But it takes more than just oratory skills, it takes a Vision, a temerate judgement, and a high intellect to be a really great president and lead the American people back to greatness and world wide respect. Obama has all these abilities.

where is my burd from why would he say this

Liberals are obsessed with demonstrating their putative "moral superiority." Thus even though they live their lives without really helping anyone, the political activism they engage in is dedicated to convincing themselves that they are truly good people. Liberals are driven by the need to validate the unspoken assertion that "I care more than you do," which is ironic in the extreme since none of the government programs liberals have designed can be shown to have an overall positive influence in our society.

Posted by Dr_Elroy_McBurd on May 1, 2008 at 02:28 AM
when you see trough out out country what the programns do for all the people living in the united states like medicare medicaid social security ect

I have to wonder why Democrats who had connections with the Clintons, are choosing Obama. There is something puzzling about that.

DNC chairman under Bill Clinton: Unite behind Obama

WASHINGTON - A leader of the Democratic Party under Bill Clinton has switched his allegiance to Barack Obama and is encouraging fellow Democrats to "heal the rift in our party" and unite behind the Illinois senator.

Joe Andrew, who was Democratic National Committee chairman from 1999-2001, planned a news conference Thursday in his hometown of Indianapolis to urge other Hoosiers to support Obama in Tuesday's primary, perhaps the most important contest left in the White House race. He also has written a lengthy letter explaining his decision that he plans to send to other superdelegates.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080501/ap_on_el_pr/superdelegates

I want to share this, I am up early here in California because I could not sleep.

I was talking to my Aunt last night, getting an update on my cousin, who since the Vietnam war, has suffered many many medical complications due to organ failures etc., (agent orange dumped on him, amoung whatever), anyway he is in the V.A. Hospital right now, undergoing another cancer surgery.

We were talking about war in general, and I made a comment about greed, land, religion, power, money, etc etc ie/ all the usual I spew out as reasons I think causes wars.
She said no, it is testosterone.
I had never heard this before, let alone spoken matter of factually. and this was very out of character for my aunt.

It took me by surprise, and our conversation moved on.
Then I couldn't get it off my mind.
Ran it over and over in my head last night, trying to remember my history, and all the conflicts around this earth----

I was finally able to come to grips. I am not saying men, no---it is testosterone.

I know a few women, with more testosterone than the average woman, they seem to like violence and fighting, and conquering, even in the business world
and a few men with less testosterone than the average man,-----they don't seem to like violence and fighting and conquering.

Look at all the places right now around our globe that there is violence and fighting.
What do you see?

If this is true, and it is at the ROOT of everything I(we), continue to blame for war against each other, we must bring this into the light, or it will never stop.

It is like putting a band-aid on a gushing wound to continue to blame greed, religion, etc. like I have always done.

but then again, because I am solution oriented, I cannot come up with anything that even looks like a solution to this, unless it is just recognizing it.

Sorry about the weird personal post, just couldn't get it off my mind, so thought maybe if I share.
thanks for being here

Posted by highserenity on May 1, 2008 at 09:16 AM

Read this book!

From Chivalry to Terrorism: War and the Changing Nature of Masculinity. by Leo Braudy.

Its a very complex answer but then again, history and war is complex.

highserenity, I have always thought it is the LACK of testerone, which causes some men to look at aggression as a way to compensate for their lack of libido! You notice that Chicken hawks, and AWOL cowards like Bush and Cheney and Liberman all are girly men? Yet they are the biggest cheerleaders for war? My testertone laden husband and 2 brothers are veterans, and were in Vietnam, etc, and they Despised war. They understood that combat, killing , blood and guts solves nothing in the end.

so that is my theory >

I have always thought it is the LACK of testerone, which causes some men to look at aggression as a way to compensate for their lack of libido!
Posted by PamB on May 1, 2008 at 09:41 AM

It sounds like you are describing Hillary

Pam
Yes, the "girly men" create war for money.

I think my ramblings are more related to those attracted to actually be in the military, (not because they are economically challenged) but because they want someone, anyone let them do violence legally. oooooorrraaaayy

And like look at areas that are not even war---just violence---like Darfur---
all testonsterone

shiite against sunni
(up to now, saw it as a religious thing)
no, when I look, I don't see many women purpetrating.

ireland
on and on

I can't include the men like my cousin, who was a boy at the time, and doesn't resemble anything like the girly men, would never have been attracted to the military or police force -------and is totally non-violent personality. He was drafted, like the majority in Vietnam----these men, have truely suffered.

I see such a difference of the veterans and military people that come on this and other democrat sites,
compared to those that frequent republican and McCain sites.

I think Pam's husband and brothers must be dems?

example I just pulled off McCain's blog
says he a desert storm guy?
Totally convoluted thinking on many levels.

I think McCain will have a better compassion for the middle class worker than Obama, who said a gas tax holiday would only mean about $30. Well that is a lot for some people, but if you are well off like Obama AND don't happen to care, that is different. I think McCain does care and I think one other thing that will differentiate him from the present admin is that McCain will not be afraid to take on OPEC nations. We have the military might to do it if they mess with the supply. McCain will go over there to Saudi Arabia and take the oil if he has to. He does not have ties with Saudis.