Morning Open Thread
Chat away...
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Good morning Dems.
Did my first post(?) disappear or is it hiding in wait for a new post?
Butte, I know you don't favor a nationl 55 mph speed limit because of the greater distances some people have to drive than others. And I know that as with most other issues in our nation matters of states rights are involved. So, to address these concerns, I wrote to my congressman suggesting an across-the-board national speed limit reduction of 10 mph from currently existing limits, exceptions being that no limit would be below 55 nor above 65. I think this approach would be fair and would save a great deal of oil. What do ya think?
Even Texas realtors don't want Karl Rove hanging around them. They are protesting his giving a speech at their convention.
Texas Realtors to protest Karl Rove's speech at their convention in San Antonio.
Even Texas realtors don't want Karl Rove hanging around them. They are protesting his giving a speech at their convention.
Texas Realtors to protest Karl Rove's speech at their convention in San Antonio.
Posted by BoilerMan on July 8, 2008 at 10:07 AM
65 would make better sense out here that 75, the speed limit out here for semis is already 65. A lot of truckers who used to avoid MT because of the lower truck limit are now driving through the state since 65 saves them fuel.
But I see lowering speed limits as a stop-gap measure at best.
There needs to be more alternatives made available. Gov. Schweitzer is trying to get AMTRAK along the southern part of the state where the bulk of the population is. I fully support the idea. When I was a kid, in the midwest, my family would take twice a year shopping trips to a larger town for school clothes. The Union terminal was in walking distance of the stores, malls were a big city thing back then. But it would be more fuel efficient for using inter urban trains or RDC (rail diesel cars) and then either renting a vehicle at your destination or better yet, using bus or light rail when possible.
That's an option that will take a few years to become feasible.
Coincidentally there's an article in the Montana Standard this morning discussing the lack of enforcement of a law that requires commercial railroads to prioritize AMTRAK trains. One of the problems with AMTRAK right now is the fact that they are usually made to "go in the hole" (sidetracked) for high priority unit trains. This blows the AMTRAK schedule all to hell, and then AMTRAK gets blamed for what the railroad does to them.
http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2008/07/08/opinion_top/20080708_c
Maybe we need to contact our legislators and pressure them to make DOT enforce the law.
Posted by Kristen on July 8, 2008 at 10:18 AM
Fixed? Oh yes. Like a dog in heat after a nasty trip to the vet.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/34610
Pelosi opposing contempt charges for Rove. WTF?
Bigger war role for Congress proposedWASHINGTON (AP) -- Former secretaries of state James Baker III and Warren Christopher say the next time the president goes to war, Congress should be required to say whether it agrees.
Bigger role? You mean the one mandated under our Constitution?
I wrote the DNC IT guys, yet again, to tell them this blog is not working. see "contact us" at top of this page.
I also called. I end up leaving voice mail messages. (202)863-8000.
I'm going to do this until it is fixed. I hope at least some of you will join me in my crusade to get this blog working again.
I wrote the DNC IT guys, yet again, to tell them this blog is not working. see "contact us" at top of this page.
I also called. I end up leaving voice mail messages. (202)863-8000.
I'm going to do this until it is fixed. I hope at least some of you will join me in my crusade to get this blog working again.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congress should repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" law because the presence of gays in the military is unlikely to undermine the ability to fight and win, according to a new study released by a California-based research center.
The study was conducted by four retired military officers, including the three-star Air Force lieutenant general who in early 1993 was tasked with implementing President Clinton's policy that the military stop questioning recruits on their sexual orientation.
"Evidence shows that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly is unlikely to pose any significant risk to morale, good order, discipline or cohesion," the officers states.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/07/military.gays.ap/index.html
Senator Max Baucus’ opponent, Bob Kelleher, wants to preempt negative campaigning against him. Kelleher wants voters to know that he turned away from the priesthood as a young man because he could not uphold the vow of chastity. Divorced three times, Kelleher admits he walked away from his first wife, mother of six of his children, because he wanted to have “fun.” Kelleher also admits he was not a good father to his seven children.
Kelleher is the 86-year-old former Democrat turned Green turned Republican who received the Republican nomination. Kelleher wants to abolish the Presidency and replace it with a parliamentary system. He also supports a the un-Republican notion of universal health care program. Despite being thrice divorced, Kelleher wants to make divorce harder to get.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N07438178.htm
Worst healthcare...
Why would a republican find a sign saying "McCain = Bush" offensive?
The Blog wierdness ocntinues.
Posted by BlueinIdaho on July 8, 2008 at 12:05 PM
LOL! Bob Kelleher is an always ran, who only won one election for one term in the state legislature about 40 years ago, but he keeps trying.
What I think is the funniest is that he beat all the regular Republicans at the primary!
Are the voters of Montana trying to send a message to the Republicans?
Probably the only people who will vote for him are the ones who are really, but really, fed up with Bacchus' Republi-lite maneuvering.
this looks like a blast! Wish I could attend!
Since last summer, an anarchist group calling itself the RNC Welcoming Committee has been advertising its intention to be present at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN this September, even releasing a video showing black-clad figures cheerfully spreading the word.
However, when a leaked plan for moving delegates in and out of the convention center was posted at Indymedia.org last week and online posts suggested the anarchist group was planning to blockade major bridges and intersections, the local Fox News affilliate became concerned that "the protesters goal is to block delegate access leaving the hotels on the six bridges leading to St. Paul, as well as into and out of the Xcel Center."
By Monday, Fox News was spreading this local coverage nationwide, telling their audience that anarchists "have plans to crash the Republican Convention" and featuring an interview on local community radio with three members of the RNC Welcoming Committee over the banner "anarchists plan to cut off the arena from entering delegates."
"We're not trying to influence the Republicans," stated one anarchist in the radio interview. "They already know that people are against the war. People are against pollution and global warming and racism. The Republicans don't seem to care
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Fox_Anarchists_planning_to_crash_RNC_0707.html
now just for a minute, try and imagine WHY would old man Cheney would not want this info published!!! See this is why we have the more simple minded folks thinking there is no such thing as Global Warming! they actually BELIEVE Bush and Cheney!
Vice President Dick Cheney's office pushed for major deletions in congressional testimony on the public health consequences of climate change, fearing the presentation by a leading health official might make it harder to avoid regulating greenhouse gases, a former EPA officials maintains.
When six pages were cut from testimony on climate change and public health by the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last October, the White House insisted the changes were made because of reservations raised by White House advisers about the accuracy of the science.
But Jason K. Burnett, until last month the senior adviser on climate change to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson, says that Cheney's office was deeply involved in getting nearly half of the CDC's original draft testimony removed.
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Cheney_reportedly_wanted_cuts_in_climate_0708.html
the Obama-Cons are growing!! Naturally only the intelligent!
Growing parade of conservatives backing Obama
An increasing number of disaffected Republicans fed up with what they see as President Bush's broken promises and unimpressed with John McCain say they may be switching teams in November to vote for Democratic candidate Barack Obama.
Among the reformed righties now hoping for an Obama victory are free-market economist David Friedman, former Reagan aide Douglas Kmiec, Contract With America co-author Larry Hunter and Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of the former president
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Growing_parade_of_conservatives_backing_Obama_0707.html
Oh, not only did bush pay off terrorists for release of hostages, but his so called sanctions are full of crap, too!!!
US Exports to Iran grew tenfold under Bush
(AP) The value of U.S. exports to Iran grew more than tenfold during President Bush's years in office even as he pressed for tougher international limits on trade and accused Iran of nuclear ambitions and helping terrorists.
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/US_Exports_to_Iran_grew_tenfold_0708.html
don't get taken in by the Repugs and Media stories that the surge was any sucess! Remember what the goal was really supposed to be!!!
Surge Amnesia: The Media's Newest Affliction
And the media -- and even a number of Democrats -- are swallowing this triumphalist nonsense whole, and washing it down with a pitcher of revisionist Kool-Aid. The result: a collective case of political amnesia. Everyone seems more than happy to forget what the president's own stated goal for the surge was: to create "the breathing space [the Iraqi government] needs to make progress in other critical areas."
But here we are, 18 months later, and McCain and the GOP are being allowed to change the goal. And, surprise, surprise, the retroactive goal they've chosen is remarkably similar to the current situation in Iraq: violence is down while the "progress in other critical areas" is sorely lagging.
So, even though Bush originally claimed that "a successful strategy for Iraq goes beyond military operations," the surge is now being judged exclusively on the success of "military operations." And since that's what the surge is all about, the surge is working. And since the surge is working, maybe we need to rethink this whole idea of ending the war, right?
Using Bush-McCain logic, since the surge has succeeded in reducing violence, there is no need for us to leave. Indeed, we can stay forever.
But here's the thing: while McCain and the Republicans may have been able to win the PR war among the American media, there is still that nagging problem of the lack of reconciliation among the warring factions in Iraq.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/surge-amnesia-the-medias_b_111277.html
Good afternoon fellow Democrats.
Obama \ Clinton 2008
Posted by PamB on July 8, 2008 at 02:12 PM
President Reagan did the same thing with the Iraqis in the 80's. He railed against Saddam Huseein yet sent a number of envoys there and actually gave the Iraqis material support in their war against the Iranians even after the Iraqis used chemical and, I think, some biological weapons.
Once again, the GOP has proven that they will sell this nation out at every opportunity to the highest bidder. The time has come to legally wrest control of the government from these anti-American hacks (i.e. the Neocons) and once again, make the United States the proverbial shining beacon on the hill for the rest of the world to follow.
Once again, the GOP has proven that they will sell this nation out at every opportunity to the highest bidder. The time has come to legally wrest control of the government from these anti-American hacks (i.e. the Neocons) and once again, make the United States the proverbial shining beacon on the hill for the rest of the world to follow.
Posted by BobVADemHawk-Obama08 on July 8, 2008 at 02:23 PM
some days I am sad, Bob, others I am angry! What the forefathers would think of this group of self centered, power seeking neo cons is appalled!
I saw your story about your Mom. I do not know if you saw my answer, but my recommendation to anyone on Medicare is call your State Insurance Dept, and ask about any Medicare Choice plans. These are state insurance companies to take a subsidy from the US government , and cover over-65's on PPO type of plans. You have to use their networks and hospitals and labs, and pay co-pays, but they are much more complete than Medicare even if you have a supplement over it. We get routine physicals covered, routine eye exams, a free dental cleaning per year, drugs up to $2500 per year. All for $99 per month. We are expected to continue to pay the Medicare out of our SS checks. Look into it for your Mom, and maybe next time, you will not face angry, greedy Doctors who are in the business for the money, not for the service to help people.
Butte, I totally agree with putting public transportation, especially AMTRAK, high on our national agenda of things needing urgent attention. I've posted it before, but AMTRAK and alternative energy development should be 'man-on-the-moon' type projects.
And speaking of priorities, if any of you people get involved with Obama's new platform program, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE advocate for 'human needs' as being THE number one platform issue. No other problem in our country can be resolved without every man, woman, and child in America having a RIGHT to adequate food and shelter, medical care, education, and employment.
I think the old troll in MN should contact this guy and tell him he is all wet! That this is all nothing but some Liberal scheme to squeeze more taxes out of Americans!
WE Have Seven Years Left to Reverse the CO2 Emissions Curve"
»
by: Laurence Caramel and Stèphane Foucart Interview Rajendra Pachauri, Le Monde
IPCC President and Nobel Laureate Rajendra Pachauri, who shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore, says humanity has only seven years to reverse the greenhouse emissions trend before we cross a threshold of "serious danger."
(
Since 2002, Rajendra Pachauri has presided over the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the reports of which have scientifically asserted the reality of climate change. For that work, this 67-year-old Indian engineer and economist received the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize jointly with former American Vice President Al Gore. A guest in Saint-Cloud (Hauts-de-Seine) at the Informal Council of European Environment and Energy Ministers on Friday, July 4, he called on the Twenty-Seven to maintain their commitment to reduce their greenhouse gases by at least 20 percent between now and 2020. Quoting Gandhi, he exhorted the Europeans to be at the forefront of the struggle against global warming: "If you want the world to change," he declared to the ministers, "you have to embody the change you want
http://www.truthout.org/article/we-have-seven-years-left-reverse-co2-emissions-curve
What a tremendous help it would be to resolve the issue of so many people commuting to work in the larger cities. Seeing them just bumper to bumper not going anywhere and burning gas for nothing. I think if we really get going on these type of issues we can transform this country within 4 years! All we need is a real president(OBAMA) who has the vision! I can`t wait for this time to come!
This I have often wonder myself! WHAT give the US the idea they have the right to say who gets Nukes and who does not! Let the change begin with us. Dismantle and get rid of nuclear weapons !
Ahmadinejad: All should urge US, UK to dismantle their nuclear weapons:
"As I have already said the era of domination, unilateralism, discrimination and bullying is now over." "Why should the US administration be allowed to produce nuclear bombs and use it against people but other nations should be deprived of benefiting from peaceful nuclear energy?" he asked.
http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-22/0807086730192549.htm
Posted by PamB on July 8, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Pam, thank you very much for the advice and your thoughts. You're an excellent American and Democrat.
Posted by PamB on July 8, 2008 at 05:15 PM
If Iran was strictly developing peaceful nuclear energy I'd agree with you. I understand that the IAEA and other organizations have not found any conclusive evidence that Iran is devloping nuclear weapons however, Ahmadinejad has too many times called for the destruction of Israel. Until Iran backs off the war rhetoric, I say we keep every strategic advantage we have.
NEW OPEN THREAD!
Of course, no one will see this until probably midnight.
Mr. Link, for the record, this blog is in bad shape. We all would hope for an update ASAP.
Bob, why bother. Sally is there with his same old crapola.
BTW, this POS is
STILL
NOT
WORKING.
(There has GOT to be a reason for this. They purposely effrd it up just days before Obama clinched whatever imaaginary number the new FOX jerk-off Wolfso made up.
What IS the deal, DNC???? Are you peeps SO in to the Clinton asses that you are PURPOSELY effing up Obama?????
It SURE looks like it
Get a grip, Howie; or did the DLC buy or scare you off?
DO SOMETHING!
Evening all good Dems,
I received a reply from my congressbitch heater wilson. She was bragging about the energy bill and gave me the impression that the neocons have introduced their own bill without consulting with the Democrats.
She really pisses me off. She spewed the following: "Since the beginning of this year I have been working with my Republican
colleagues on the House Energy and Commerce Committee on a broad range of policy initiatives to solve our energy problems.
What is wrong with these bastards. They are supposed to be working together with Democrats who head the committee to solve our energy problems.
She is toast.
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