He has NOBODY with which to communicate, and this is the only place on Earth where he can let the world know he is still alive. As if anybody cares

Now be fair doobee. If he goes into the Firehouse in town, buys everybody a drink, then they care for the moment! :)

Esme, I too plan on dropping by to say Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone. In between my family dinners, open house, etc.

This is what we get when we invest in science.

Astronomers have taken what they say are the first-ever direct images of planets outside of our solar system, including a visible-light snapshot of a single-planet system and an infrared picture of a multiple-planet system.

Earth-like worlds might also exist in the three-planet system, but if so they are too dim to photograph. The other newfound planet orbits a star called Fomalhaut, which is visible without the aid of a telescope. It is the 18th brightest star in the sky.

The massive worlds, each much heftier than Jupiter (at least for the three-planet system), could change how astronomers define the term "planet," one planet-hunter said.

Breakthrough technology

Until now, scientists have inferred the presence of planets mainly by detecting an unseen world's gravitational tug on its host star or waiting for the planet to transit in front of its star and then detecting a dip in the star's light. While these methods have helped to identify more than 300 extrasolar planets to date, astronomers have struggled to actually directly image and see such inferred planets.

The four photographed exoplanets are discussed in two research papers published online today by the journal Science.

"Every extrasolar planet detected so far has been a wobble on a graph. These are the first pictures of an entire system," said Bruce Macintosh, an astrophysicist from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, and part of the team that photographed the multi-planet system in infrared light. "We've been trying to image planets for eight years with no luck and now we have pictures of three planets at once."

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/081113-hubble-exoplanet.html

This is what we get when we don't invest in science.

http://io9.com/5084491/the-alternate-history-theme-park-where-dinosaurs-fought-i n-the-civil-war

Good morning, Democrats, Independents, and moderates with Republican backgrounds.

I see that Alaska still has more than 40,000 more early and absentee ballots to be counted. If they wait much longer they are going to miss the inauguration...of George Washington.

How close does this Senate race have to be before an automatic recount kicks in?

Alcohol Fuel Advantages

An expert in alternative fuels and sustainable agriculture, David Blume discussed the advantages of using alcohol-based fuels, which he said are 98% pollution free. In addition to making us less dependent on foreign oil, using such fuels can help reverse global warming-- the increased growth of plants used to make the fuels takes out CO2, he explained.

Many different plant sources can be used to make alcohol. Corn, he noted, doesn't have that high of a yield compared to a plant such as sweet sorghum, which generates 1,000 gallons per acre. Reports that growing corn for making ethanol was leading to starvation were untrue, said Blume, who pointed out there was actually a surplus of corn, and the U.S. only uses 5% of its farm lands on corn.

The oil companies have employed multiple strategies to curtail the use of alcohol-based fuels, such as buying corn futures at high prices, and claiming alcohol can harm car engine parts, he stated. Cars can actually run on up to 50% alcohol without any conversion process, said Blume, who added there are some 2,000 alternative fuel stations in America. He encouraged people to start their own small plants or stills-- such enterprises can inject money into local economies.

Something to consider for all. The sooner we get off of foreign oil, then oil, then carbon, the better.

SandyH on November 15, 2008 at 11:02 AM

It's Alaska, Sandy. Considering the mental midget they elected for governor and the fact it look like at least 48% will have voted for a convicted felon, I wouldn't expect too much out of them. I'm surprised there is anyone left up there that can count that doesn't stomp on the floor like a trained horse to do it.

On a serious note, there is something fishy going on up there. Votes are probably missing from somewhere because every state of the union saw significant increases in voter turnout except AK. I'm sure the DSCC has lawyers looking into it.

1
rjsnj on November 15, 2008 at 09:15 AM
Good article! I think it cuts to the heart of the matter.

BobVADemocratHawk on November 15, 2008 at 10:58 AM

Bob,

Intellectual curiosity is the difference between civilization and mass breakdowns in societies. We may barely be escaping another Dark Ages on this planet.

With the effects of global warming accelerating at such an alarming pace, it may not be a minute too soon to counter the setbacks brought on by extremist religious and political forces. I’ve never understood why some are so afraid to examine the miracles and mysteries that surround us. God put them here for us to praise and marvel over.

These sorts of scientific discoveries just make me more in awe of the God that created this universe. He said we must help ourselves if we want any help from Him. The first step is to look around you and wonder why and how it all works.

Hi Sandy, Bob, RJ and any other good democrats! I hope that I don't jinx us when I say, it sure is nice to be 'troll free' for the moment.

I's Alaska, Sandy. Considering the mental midget they elected for governor and the fact it look like at least 48% will have voted for a convicted felon, I wouldn't expect too much out of them.

BobVADemocratHawk on November 15, 2008 at 11:09 AM

Bob,

Don't be too quick to condemn. I live in Missouri. We voted for a dead man for Senator. Of course, he was running against John Ashcroft Under the circumstances we obviously made the right choice.

But there does seem to be something wrong in Alaska. I don't ever recall it taking this long for them to finalize an election. And considering that the voting total in the primaries was so much higher, there has to be something strange going on here...especially with their native daughter on the ballot for V.P.

Stevens may be more corrupt than we thought? Palin's ties to this man need to be further examined.

I've always thought she seemed to be the perfect plant for something or somebody who wanted to manipulate the system. Maybe she was nominated for the same reason in the national election, too?

5
BobVADemocratHawk on November 15, 2008 at 11:04 AM

Ethanol has a lot of hidden costs. With a bit of application and cross-technology it can be made cheaper, both in terms of human and environmental costs. There needs to be a melding of technologies.
Currently the production of ethanol is using too much petroleum in the forms of of fertilizers for the soil, pesticides, farm equipment and transportation fuels, and heat for the processing. Hog farm methane gas, and biodiesel could reduce some of that dependence on petroleum, but there needs to be a push to use natural fertilizers as opposed to petroleum based chemicals, something that Big Agra will fight.
Sorgum has a higher sugar content than corn, so it stands to reason that it would be a better source of ethanol. There are also people looking at cellulose fermentation, which could use grasses and timber wastes.
There is a high human cost tied to the use of corn and the higher corn prices, humans who are chronically undernourished, because of the high corn prices, are more susceptible to disease and wind up just as dead as if they had starved to death.
There is also a higher cost in the environment. There are cases of land being taken out of conservations and plowed to grow more corn, to the detriment of waterfowl programs.
Ethanol is not the rosy savior that it is being painted. That doesn't mean that it isn't a viable alternative fuel. What it does mean is that it needs to be taken out of the hands of Big Agra, and allowed to develop better methods.

marymac_memphis on November 15, 2008 at 11:26 AM

Hi, mary.

I imagine sally* is out squirrel hunting on such a fine late autumn day. The German is probably trying to deal with the hits on his financial portfolio.

So do you think Hillary will accept the Secretary of State position…if it was really offered?

Butte on November 15, 2008 at 11:29 AM

Butte,

We'd be better off not burning anything that puts carbons in the atmosphere. We need to come up with new ways to create chemical and/or electrical reactions and the resulting energy that is harvested. The negatives of bio-fuels outweigh the short-term advantages, imho.

I have serious doubts that it was offered, Sandy. I think a Supreme Court post would be more like it, and this meeting was just to tell her to hold her horses for a bit.

I still think Kerry should be Sec of State, and FITZ! for AG.

That way the Pugs' heads all explode at the same time, rather than drag out their torture. But that would be fun too. 1 name per week. Flush BOOM. Hannity, BOOM! etc.

Secretary of State position…if it was really offered?
She deserves any position that she wants, and if that is what she wants, then I hope she gets it. Regardless of where she is, she is a force to be reckoned with; however, she may be able to wield more power in the Senate. Her committee chairpersonship is a valuable and important one and her influence might be better used there.
I think Gov. Richardson is deserving of a major cabinet position and I believe that his experience qualifies him for Sec. State as well. I believe that is what is called an 'embarrassment of riches.' Lots of qualified people to choose from and I am confident that President Obama will make excellent choices!

WASHINGTON – Struggling to keep alive a government bailout of the troubled auto industry, key supporters offered concessions Friday — including reducing its $25 billion size. The White House came out firmly against a Democratic plan to carve it out of a $700 billion rescue package for financial companies.

The measure gained important ground among Republicans on Capitol Hill, where at least a dozen to 15 GOP votes in the Senate will be needed to prevent opponents from blocking it in the Senate. The focal vote on that could occur as early as next Wednesday.

Sen. Kit Bond of Missouri became the second Republican to publicly voice support for the idea, joining Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio. Both states have major auto plants. Several other GOP senators signaled they might accept a rescue for Detroit's Big Three if it contained strict conditions for the beleaguered companies, including management and salary changes, concessions from their powerful unions, and a commitment to making more fuel-efficient vehicles...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081114/ap_on_go_co/auto_bailout

I can see a bailout for GM and Ford, as they are publicly owned companies. I cannot say the same for Chrysler as it is privately owned.

I opposed the financial sector bailout primarily because the financial sector does not produce anything tangible or usable. Furthermore, they are solely responsible for their own demise in as much as they were the ones who created these exotic financial packages that are tanking as we speak.

The auto industry on the other hand has been a staple of American economics for over a century now. The auto industry was also key to our winning of WW2. "As GM goes..."

BobVADemocratHawk on November 15, 2008 at 11:04 AM

Bob, you should hope Gregg doesn't see that...he goes into apoplectic over ethanol. :) Me, I think we need to make it more efficient and from sources other than corn (not that I ever believed the "People are starving because of ethanol" crap). E85 gets so much worse mileage than gasoline and is not available widely enough that it is not cost effective for the consumer at this point. However, all new internal combustion vehicles should be built as flex fuel vehicles. That way as the technology and availability improve we will already be set for it.

DBDBD: Morning! I would love to see Sen. Clinton on the Supreme Court; however, I honestly thought that experience on the bench was a requirement. I thought that was how Miers was excluded before she was really nominated. While I know that her experience in the legal world is extensive, I don't know if she has enough time (if any) on the bench to qualify for consideration. Maybe she is being considered for AG or maybe her opinion was being sought out regarding cabinet appointments from the Clinton Administration.

GREGL: Down here we have a plant called kudzu. It was 'imported' from Japan years ago to be ground cover and prevent erosion; however, it has no natural enemies here and has basically taken over. It is a green leafy plant with a 'woody' vine structure. They are - at this moment - experimenting with it and have discovered that it makes better E85 than corn - you get more 'bang for your buck' and it's cheaper than corn. They are also working with a wild grass called 'saw grass' for the same purpose. There is an ethanol plant about an hour and a half north east of me that has some private grant money to study both of these.

DPD,

I can't see taking two Democratic senators from Massachsets out of the current equation in the Senate. We really need to keep the numbers close if Obama is to enact any of our middle class agenda.

Kennedy will hold on as long as he can, but there is no promises that the Republicans couldn't come away with one or both of those seats if they both came up at the same time. And I'd feel a lot more secure with Kerry the head of the Foreign Relations Committee with Biden now out of the picture.

Hillary's seat would be a lot easier to replace with a Democrat and she could still be named to the Supreme Court at a later.

What about Richardson? Is he ready to leave his post as Governor? Who would replace him?

oops
bbl

FITZ! for AG....

Now that would be a fitting choice.

bbl.

i think some folks need to turn off the computer and go for a walk more:

LONDON, England (CNN) -- A British couple who married in a lavish Second Life wedding ceremony are to divorce after one of them had an alleged "affair" in the online world.
Second Life users can interact and form relationships with other players' avatars.

Amy Taylor, 28, said she had caught husband David Pollard, 40, having sex with an animated woman. The couple, who met in an Internet chatroom in 2003, are now separated.

"I went mad -- I was so hurt. I just couldn't believe what he'd done," Taylor told the Western Morning News. "It may have started online, but it existed entirely in the real world and it hurts just as much now it is over."

Second Life allows users to create alter egos known as "avatars" and interact with other players, forming relationships, holding down jobs and trading products and services for a virtual currency convertible into real life dollars. iReport.com: Share your stories from Second Life

Taylor said she had caught Pollard's avatar having sex with a virtual prostitute: "I looked at the computer screen and could see his character having sex with a female character. It's cheating as far as I'm concerned."
Don't Miss

The couple's real-life wedding in 2005 was eclipsed by a fairy tale ceremony held within Second Life.

But Taylor told the Western Morning News she had subsequently hired an online private detective to track his activities: "He never did anything in real life, but I had my suspicions about what he was doing in Second Life." iReport.com: Anger in a virtual world

Pollard admitted having an online relationship with a "girl in America" but denied wrongdoing. "We weren't even having cyber sex or anything like that, we were just chatting and hanging out together," he told the Western Morning News.

Taylor is now in a new relationship with a man she met in the online roleplaying game World of Warcraft.

Talking about fuel efficient cars. My brother owns a Ford Hybrid Escape SUV. 40 miles to the gallon city and 35 on the highway. And it's big. That's better than a Honda Civic.

I don't understand why Ford or any of the big three don't see dollar signs flashing when it comes to fuel efficient cars.

There's gotta be someone in Detroit that can do something to make the U.S. auto industry competitive with fuel efficiency.

Well, heck Sandy, you're just so right. We should start building power plants run on dilithium crystals right now, and putting transporter technology in place of all airports.

marymac_memphis on November 15, 2008 at 11:26 AM

Good morning, Mary, and may I say you look quite lovely today. Just don't tell your husband I said that... ;-)

Butte on November 15, 2008 at 11:29 AM

Then, in principle, we agree. I would think we would also agree that the sooner we get off of carbon based energy, the better.

SandyH on November 15, 2008 at 11:17 AM

Amen. Science gives us the opportunity to see the "fingerprint" of God in our environment. And I seriously doubt he made this whole big universe, and some would say multiverse, just for the benefit of us looking around to say, "Oooo, isn't that pretty". That is just one of the reasons I'm in favor of dramatic increases to the budget of manned spaceflight once the current financial crisis is dealt with. Just think, six billion people in a cooperative endeavor for the benefit of all. Scientists, engineers, shipbuilders, and even miners would be just some of the jobs created. The results would be astounding!

GregL on November 15, 2008 at 12:01 PM

My alien sponsor/mentor says it would be best.

YayObama on November 15, 2008 at 12:01 PM

Hire someone from Japan, Korea, or Omega 12?

later.

GregL on November 15, 2008 at 12:01 PM

We'll never get there as long as there are knuckleheads running around stating the planet is only six millenia old and dinosaurs and homo sapiens co-existed.

None the less, peace and long life...

YayObama on November 15, 2008 at 12:01 PM

I think Detroit, as well as other industries, are suffering from nepotism or promoting well connected people to positions of leadership as opposed to the intelligent people who would be best qualified. A "bought and paid for" degree from an Ivy League college does not necessarily mean you're the best and brightest.

"apoplectic"...gregl is using the damn Roget's Thesaurus to attack me? too much book learning is the trouble with this country...

anyhow i bet sally and dan are off trying to raise money by selling fishing worms to help these friends of theirs in kentucky....their little roadside stand has a sign that says " buy night crawlers to help night riders"...

" (CNN) -- A jury awarded $2.5 million in damages on Friday to a Kentucky teenager who was severely beaten by members of a Ku Klux Klan group because they mistakenly thought he was an illegal Latino immigrant, the Southern Poverty Law Center said.
Jordan Gruver, then 16, was targeted and beaten by Klan members, his lawsuit alleged.

The jury found that the Imperial Klans of America and its founder wrongfully targeted 16-year-old Jordan Gruver, an American citizen of Panamanian and Native-American descent.

The verdict included $1.5 million in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages against "Imperial Wizard" Ron Edwards.

The law center said before the verdict that a large damage award could break the Klan group, allowing the teen and the law center to seize the group's assets, including its headquarters, a 15-acre compound in Dawson Springs, Kentucky.

"We look forward to collecting every dime that we can for our client and to putting the Imperial Klans of America out of business," said SPLC founder and chief trial attorney Morris Dees, who tried the case.

Gruver, backed by the Southern Poverty Law Center, filed the personal injury lawsuit last year seeking up to $6 million in damages from the Imperial Klans of America and two of its leaders -- Edwards and "Grant Titan" Jarred R. Hensley.

An all-white jury of seven men and seven women deliberated for five hours after three days of testimony. The suit alleged that Edwards, Hensley, and the Imperial Klans of America as a whole incited its members to use violence against minorities.

"The people of Meade County, Kentucky, have spoken loudly and clearly. And what they've said is that ethnic violence has no place in our society, that those who promote hate and violence will be held accountable and made to pay a steep price," Dees said..."

YayObama on November 15, 2008 at 12:01 PM

Seriously? That's better mileage than they ADVERTISE for that vehicle. What, does he drive like 12 miles/hour?

I actually think Hillary should stay in the Senate and take a leadership position. Reid is history soon, and Durbin is next in line for the Majority Leader post, so that means slots will be opening up all down the line.

SandyH on November 15, 2008 at 11:53 AM

Sandy, I present you with Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish (D-NM) of the great state of New Mexico. She addressed the 2004 Democratic Convention. In other words, she's one of us.

http://www.ltgovernor.state.nm.us/

Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on November 15, 2008 at 12:15 PM

I believe Sen. Clinton (D-NY) would make a great Senate Majority Leader however, I do not believe a majority of the Democratic Senate caucus agrees with me. Sen. Reid (D-NV) is just too "namby pamby" for my liking. IMHO, Hillary has the proverbial "balls" for the job; Harry Reid does not.

31GregL on November 15, 2008 at 12:14 PM

He's a doctor and drive the congested streets of socal so on many occasions he does drive around 12 miles an hour.

My other brother also drive a Prius and they both say it how you drive the hybrids that count.

If you have to make a lot of stops at stoplights that turns off the gas engine and the electrical battery kicks in.

I've read that some hybrid enthusiasts can get as far as 100 miles on a single tank of gas! Although I haven't ever seen it done in person or ever confirmed these claims.

Why would Senator Clinton want to be Secretary of State when she has far more power to help people, the peace effort and her followers as Senator from New York? She can't be president but she can be the most powerful member of the senate and eventually majority leader. Don't we New Yorkers deserve to be represented by the person we elected? Upstate New York is one of the poorest parts of the U.S. Doesn't that area deserve the development she promised? Any what about our soldiers? Who will champion them?

As soon as Obama gets Hilary out of the Senate, a short time later she'll be out as Secretary of State and there will be no one in Nancy Pelosi's way. If Senator Clinton and her staff think that the tigers from Chicago have changed their stripes, she and they are sadly mistaken. They just want all oppostion out of power and out of the way.

Keep your day job Senator Clinton!
Thanks

A website launched Friday with the backing of technology industry and Hollywood elite urges people worldwide to help craft a framework for harmony between all religions.
The Charter for Compassion project on the Internet at www.charterforcompassion.org springs from a "wish" granted this year to religious scholar Karen Armstrong at a premier Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) conference in California.

"Tedizens" include Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin along with other Internet icons as well as celebrities such as Forest Whittaker and Cameron Diaz.

Wishes granted at TED envision ways to better the world and come with a promise that Tedizens will lend their clout and capabilities to making them come true.

Armstrong's wish is to combine universal principles of respect and compassion into a charter based on a "golden rule" she believes is at the core of every major religion.

The Golden Rule essentially calls on people to do unto others as they would have done unto them.

"The chief task of our time is to build a global society where people of all persuasions can live together in peace and harmony," Armstrong said.

"If we do not achieve this, it seems unlikely that we will have a viable world to hand on to the next generation."

Charter for Compassion invites people from "all faiths, nationalities, languages and backgrounds" to help draft statements of principles and actions that should be taken.

Copyright AFP 2008

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=081114211405.6b9pjnso&show_article=1

A step in the correct direction, IMHO.

RobertS on November 15, 2008 at 12:32 PM

Good points and well said, Robert. Perhaps you should pass this along to Sen. Clinton (D-NY)since you are one of her constiuents.

http://www.hillpac.com/

RobertS on November 15, 2008 at 12:32 PM

I agree too. I supported Clinton during the primary and eventually supported Obama during the election.

As far as whether the two could work together in an Obama Administration is another question.

And since I'm no a New Yorker, techinically, it doesn't matter to me either way. Both scenarios, Clinton as SOS or NYS, are fine with me.

Have you caught PRESIDENT Obama's national address this morning? His weekly Saturday morning video/radio address can be caught on www.change.gov, an intriguing site that also allows people like us to communicate with Obama's team.

Don't know about you, but I'm concerned about reports of the increasing number of threats being investigated by the feds. Between idiots like Limbaugh and Hannity, who continue to foment hatred and division, and Catholic Bishops who are way overboard in their condemnation of a democratically elected president there seems to be an increasing sense of rage among the fringe element in the right wing and those who generally distrust their government leaders. In reality, the republican party should be concerned with its future, tone down its rhetoric and muzzle their leading Obama dissenter friends.

I would sure like to see a national Sunday boycot of Catholic parishes where its diocese continue to attack the new democratic presidency and the millions of us who voted for Obama. There is no longer tolerance for intolerance, our country's democracy is too important to not defend it rigorously.

I've read that some hybrid enthusiasts can get as far as 100 miles on a single tank of gas! Although I haven't ever seen it done in person or ever confirmed these claims.

YayObama on November 15, 2008 at 12:31 PM

Err, I'm sure you meant 1000 miles? Because I get 100 miles on a couple of gallons in my Prius. I usually average around 45 miles per gallon combined. But yeah, he would have to be driving mostly on the electric to get that good in an Escape. Hell, if I did that, I'd probably be able to get 1000 miles out of a tank, too. Unfortunately (well, fortunately in my opinion) I don't live IN the city. Sustainable communities are all well and good, but I don't like be crowded. Now, as the area around me gets built p, as long as I'm able to have my full acre lot, I don't mind walking or biking to the store down the block. But if it's more than a 1/2 mile away off a busy highway, eh, I'm driving.

13
SandyH on November 15, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Any short term solution that gives us a some more time to come up with other solutions is better than not doing anything.
Hog farms, fed lots and chicken farms produce manure as a waste product that is harmful to the environment,because it is no longer used as fertilizer, since petroleum based fertilizers have replaced it. Once it is composted it can be put on fields to enhance friability, the ability of the soil to not compact and to allow root growth, and reduce our dependence on petroleum based fertilizers which do nothing to enhance friability. Producing methane off all this shit(manure)one way to reduce our dependence on oil, and turn it into useful compost.
Biodiesel is another product that can turn waste, in this case, waste fat from meat processing and restaurant wastes into a useful product that can be used to reduce our dependence on oil.
The alternative is having the oil companies bully us into allowing drilling on unsuitable sites, and further destroying our irreplaceable wildlands, and farmlands. The extraction industry; mining, especially coal, and oil and gas drilling, have held this country for ransome far too long and we will not have any viable energy program until we bring them to a screeching halt.

BobVADemocratHawk on November 15, 2008 at 12:45 PM

YayObama on November 15, 2008 at 12:49 PM

Good points? Which ones? The Obama bashing ones, or the Pelosi bashing ones?

Butte on November 15, 2008 at 01:09 PM

Yeah, that's what I meant, i just used my "smart-ass" voice to do it. :)

GregL,

I guess that depends on what you mean by crowded. My brother lives in the suburbs not downtown. Things are spread out. I suppose there are places where things are more spread out. But he doesn't live in the inner city.

Either way, SUV moving cargo with anything above 30 miles to the gallon is better than the historical standard.

43GregL on November 15, 2008 at 01:16 PM

Good point in that there are New Yorkers not readily willing to give up their Senator to the White House because they have issues in their own backyards.

I'm not much on Pelosi or Reid bashing. In some ways I wish the two were more effective in ending the Iraq occupation sooner but I am not compelled to second guess the complexities of the issues and their (Pelosi and Reid) performance in dealing with these issues.

I simply believe that Pelosi and Reid were thrust into a highly volatile position and have performed well under glaring scrutiny and criticism and I commend they have performed respectably. Maybe not to the satisfaction of some to the left or even those to the right. As an independent, I believe they have both done a commendable job.

Gotta go.

Stuff to do.

GregL on November 15, 2008 at 01:16 PM

Neither. There is a kernel of truth of what he is espousing though, IMHO. And since he is a constituent of Sen. Clinton (D-NY), or so he claims, she should listen to him first, not the non-residents of NY.

17
GregL on November 15, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Ethanol was the trigger for a lot of speculation that drove corn prices out of reach of poor people who depended on it as a staple.
A lot of the speculation was with borrowed money, so the financial bust brought down the price of corn along with the price of petroleum.
The price of corn would likely have gone up with increased demand because of ethanol, but not to the disasterous prices that it did.
The stock market crash was caused by speculators buying on margin (credit) with no regulation of the market, and history is repeating itself.
Ethanol's role in this is that it fueled speculation. BUT regardless of the reasons, poor people in several countries still went hungry when they shouldn't have.

YayObama on November 15, 2008 at 01:24 PM

I agree that it would be nice for her to honor her promises to the people of New York, and that it is fine for people in New York to wish her to serve out her term. But when a person comes on here with words about how Obama just wants "all power and opposition out of the way", it raises my hackles. Especially since I'm not quite sure on what issues this "person" feels Senator Clinton is going to be opposing President Obama. Just smells like a another fucking sour grapes PUMA to me. Which yes, does automatically invalidate anything they have to say in my mind.

I agree there are a lot of hungry people in the world. I think that teaching people how to create their own sustainable food supplies is probably one of the most progressive things that we as a people need to do. I think sending food all over the world is a waste of time and resources. People shouldn't have to worry about the price of corn and other basic staples on the WORLD market, hell, there probably shouldn't even BE a WORLD market for some things.

Bob: If you are still here, I saw that you mentioned investing in the space program. I recall reading an article somewhere that gave the exact figures of investment/return for the 'race to the moon.' It was some crazy amount like a return of $4 in increased tax revenue for every dollar spent. They made reference to all of the scientific discoveries, how those benefited different companies and how the increased revenue, particularly that when goods were sold in other countries, turned into tax dollars. Do you have any idea where I could find this info again? Maybe the GAO website?
You know, until the late 1980's we lead the entire world in science and technology - well, Germany may have had us in some engineering fields - but now we are behind have of the civilized world. That's what 28 years of Republican dominated rule has gotten us!

Correction to above post
half of the civilized world.
Sorry

Since the Obama Transistion Team is hard at work trying to figure out who the next cabinet will consist of, I thought I would get my two cents in.

Department of Agriculture Tom Harkin
Department of Commerce Paul Krugman
Department of Defense Robert Gates
Department of Education Bill Gates
Department of Energy Arnold Schwarzenegger
Department of Health and Human Services Paul C. Lauterbur of the University of IL
Department of Homeland Security John McCain
Department of Housing and Urban Development Dennis Kucinich
Department of the Interior Christine Todd-Whitman
Department of Justice Patrick Fitzgerald
Department of Labor Ralph Nader
Department of State Colin Powell
Department of Transportation Tim Kaine
Department of the Treasury Robert Reich
Department of Veterans Affairs Max Cleland

40
CalDemo on November 15, 2008 at 12:58 PM
If you look at the US Council of Catholic Bishops(USCCB) website. http://www.usccb.org/
You will find that the Catholic Bishops are not promoting any of this division and hate.
Granted there are a few of the Catholic Bishops and some priests who are overboard their views and speaking injudiciously, much to the delight of the hatemongers, but most Catholic clergy are not.
Many of the extremists are being lead/influenced by the EWTN TV and radio media, which has become increasingly single-issue since Mother Angelica stepped out of the management of that entity. The TV & radio network is managed by conservative lay people, and has no input from the USCCB.

Here it is, marymac. Scroll down to "Distribution by state".

NASA Dollars Boost the Economies of Every State in the U.S.

In: "Economic Impact of Stimulated Technologlcal Activity") concluded that “the $25 billion in 1958 dollars spent on civilian space R & D during the 1958-1969 period has returned $52 billion through 1971 -- and will continue to produce pay offs through 1987, at which time the total pay off will have been $181 billion. The discounted rate of return for this investment will have been 33 percent.”

marymac_memphis on November 15, 2008 at 01:50 PM

Mary, I believe it was the GAO that came out with the statistic you're inquiring about. Still, we should have a permanent base on Luna and be well on our way to establishing one on Mars by now. Had it not been for Nixon, and the idiot conservatives, we would be there now. I still say it is not wise to ahve all of one's eggs in one basket. 65 million years ago, an ELE wiped out the dinosaurs. It's happened before. It will happen again. We'd better start getting ready now that we know how.

DBDBD: Can you imagine how much progress we could have made and how much the rate of return would have been on stem cell research if the current administration had not blocked it at every turn! Just one of the many, many reasons to never vote for another Republican - their outright opposition to scientific progress.

Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on November 15, 2008 at 02:09 PM

Thanks for clarifying, Doo-Bee. Well done!

Bob, Really???

Krugman should be head of the Council of Economic Advisers.

Wes Clark should head Defense

Lamar Alexander should go back to Education (opens up another DEM Senate appointment, too)

Whitman should be in prison for altering the records and stating that the air at Ground Zero was safe when she knew damn well it wasn't.

Schwantz-in-heinie instead of Schweitzer or Richardson for Energy?

NADER!!!??? CPSC if that.

Homeland Security, former FEMA Director James Lee Witt.

Transportation, former Amtrak CEO Tommy Thompson. BIG fan of intra-urban and inter-city high speed rail.

Colin Powell can be put on ice as a roving ambassador if needed, as can McLame.

And PRESIDENT Obama should make Holy Joe the Ambassador to Israel (the ONLY job he has ever wanted, anyway) and then fire his lame ass after 1 year.

Outside of that, I agree with every one of your picks.

;)

No, Stupidest Man on Earth. Your minion was insisting that the Himalayan ice melt provides water for Europe, and since the ice isn't melting there is plenty of water in Europe. Or whatever his asinine point was.

YOUR asinine point is on your head.

Moron.

Bob, don't forget, that study only covered the monetary benefits of NASA up to the end of the Apollo Program.

Carter was President during the Shuttle development, and the Stealth Bomber, and Ray-Gun killed the NASA budgets to build "friggin' sharks with lasers strapped to their heads" in Outer Space, or whatever "Star Wars" was supposed to be.
ANd as is the case with any Pug Administration the political honchos overruled the scientists and ordered an unsafe launch because Sponge Brain Poo Pants was going to give his "State of teh Union" speech to his adoring fans.

We all know how well THAT turned out; which further killed NASA budgets.

A good friend of mine worked at Mission Control for years and he finally quit because every year they were wondering if they would still have funding for certain projects, and the roller coaster of potential lay-offs every year got to be too much drama. So he quit and is now a University Professor, dealing with Pug budget cuts of a different kind.

He just can't win. Whenever Pugs get in and start stinking up the joint and outsourcing classified technology to the lowest bidder he feels it first.

And as we all know, if you pay the lowest price for something, you bought junk.

If you bought junk, you OWN junk.

Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on November 15, 2008 at 02:29 PM

GEN Clark at Defense and Lamar Alexander at Education would be great ideas as well. Whitman learned the error of her ways which is why she resigned. Arnold is a bi-partisan pick as is McCain at DHS though James Lee Witt would be an excellent choice for DHS. Nader is pro-union though the CPSC wouldn't be a bad idea either. Tim Kaine is my homestate governor and had the narrow-minded Republicans not blocked him at every turn, he would've instituted the best transporation upgrade to VA since the interstate highway system.

And last but not least, I still say Colin Powell is the best man for the State Department. I still believe the only reason he did not resign in the middle of W's first term was he didn't want all of the lunatics to run the asylum. Colin Powell was the last voice of reason in the Bush Administration until Bob Gates came along at Defense.

Especially the water that went to your "brain" and stayed there.

Moron.

I never said that you fucking brain dead moron.
But, as in keeping with your well documented reputation as the Stupidest Man on Earth, you can continue to listen to the voices in your cement filled pointy little head and keep convincing yourself that you are "smart".

Still can't grasp the difference between CLIMATE and WEATHER? Go back to 6th Grade (or go for the first time).

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The Mormon church on Friday blamed opponents of California's gay marriage ban for sending hoax mailings containing white powder to temples, while a group that also supported the measure condemned "acts of domestic terrorism against our supporters."

Investigators have not publicly cited any evidence that the mailings were linked to the Mormon church's support of the measure, and a gay rights group in Utah disputed that gay protesters were involved.

The letters were sent to the Salt Lake City headquarters of the church, where powder spilled on a mail clerk's hand, and to a temple in Los Angeles. Both packages tested nontoxic, the FBI said Friday.

The two temples were sites of recent protests against the church's support for a California ballot initiative that superseded a court decision allowing gay marriage. The Mormon church, whose official name is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said it is stepping up security...

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081115/D94F46TG0.html

Well, DUH! The GLBT community would be wise to limit their protests to more conventional means such as demonstrations and juris prudence. Perhaps they should take a page or two out of the civil rights playbook as they are so quick to point out how they believe their cause mirrors the civil rights agenda of the 1960's.

Bob, it wouldn't surprise me if the Moron "Church" did that themselves. They are a cult and are looking for any good press they can manufacture coming on the heels of that child molester Jeffs, and now their coming VERY close to violating their 501(c)(3) status by meddling in politics.

Open their books, audit them, tax them out of existence and turn their "Temple" into a flea market.

Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on November 15, 2008 at 03:23 PM

The First Amendment must apply to everyone or its means nothing. None the less, 20JAN09 can't get here soon enough for me. Churches have no business in politics and politics have no business in churches.

Have a good weekend fellow Democrats. Keep the Faith and keep the faith. Yes we did!

good afternoon, everyone.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Obama_presses_for_new_rescue_moves_for_US_economy/articleshow/3717611.cms

Obama presses for new rescue moves for US economy

President-elect Barack Obama said Saturday the US economy was already in "recession" and urged Congress to take urgent steps to
alleviate the financial pain of millions of Americans.

Hey Esmeralda, watch your step with the bible versus, Doo Bee, has already ruled that this is strictly a Political Site. He has admonished me so take heed. You need to go to a Christian site to post, according to Doo Bee.

I didn't say a fucking thing about that, asshole. The terms of use for this DOT ORG specifically prohibit commercial use.

Once in a while was fine, but every day it became "Hi, got any stock tips for me?"

Case in point, a bunch of BIG corporations had a sit down with Mayor Daley and told him that in the next 2 months there will be a SLEW of layoffs, and more to follow next year, so he could plan the City budget. He can't BY LAW discuss which companies are involved so as not to mess with the stock market, but he warned the Citizens that tax revenue was going to plummet next year, so they had better be prepared for some serious belt tightening.

Same thing here. You can't use a Not for Profit Organization to deal in commerce.

You seem to be doing just fine with your own email tip site. Why would you want to screw with the DNC tax exempt status?

Oh, and don't put words in my mouth.

Oh, and don't put words in my mouth.

77Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on November 15, 2008 at 04:32 PM

Your the asshole, not me.

Whats the difference Prick?

Remember separation of Church and State, did you forget? Or is it just a convenience when it suits you Prick? Tax exempt status falls into the same category that your speaking of Turd.

Once in a while was fine, but every day it became "Hi, got any stock tips for me?"

That's a bunch of B/S, Doo Bee and you know it as well as everyone else on this blog Mary-Mac asked me once. And News Junkie ask me 2 times i think, and you took issue with it. Fine i can live with it, don't bother me in the least. But since you hate me for no reason, you need to admonish others for the same kind of things. Unless of course it fits your agenda. Which you won't. Will You? Of course not that is what i hate about the far left of this party!

Not to leave anybody in doubt about me, i hate the far left of this party, as much as i do the far right of the pug party. If you don't like it lump it.

Sooner or later the Sheeple of these united states of American, will figure out, that nothing will ever get accomplished, by going to the far left or the far right. Firmly in the middle of the road, is the only way that things will ever get done constructively. Obama figured that out along time ago, and sooner or later the people of this country and the world will to. It will probably be later cuz people are stupider then animals.

The terms of use for this DOT ORG specifically prohibit commercial use.

77Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on November 15, 2008 at 04:32 PM

What in the hell are you talking about? I thought commercial was a business of some kind, and selling goods of some kind. I was selling nothing!!!! Got That? As a matter of fact i was puting my reputation on the line. But you have tought me, that, that will never happen again.

chassie on November 15, 2008 at 04:16 PM

I'm sure that it bothers a lot more than just DPD (if he is bothered, that is).

I won't stop posting bible verses.

I'm sorry that you are having a bad day. I wish it were better. Some days are harder than others, but no matter what, whether good or bad, this to shall pass.

I'm sure that it bothers a lot more than just DPD (if he is bothered, that is).

I won't stop posting bible verses.

I'm sorry that you are having a bad day. I wish it were better. Some days are harder than others, but no matter what, whether good or bad, this to shall pass.

83Esmeralda on November 15, 2008 at 05:34 PM

Esmeralda, why is it some one can not debate a point, without someone such as yourself thinking that I'm having a bad day? I am not. You post all the versus you want to, it was just a example. If we have a big tent, then expose it, don't close it.

sorry, marv, just reading you wrong. I'm all for big tent. I try to welcome everyone.

do unto others and all that jazz.

;)

86Esmeralda on November 15, 2008 at 05:48 PM

Jacqueline i knew that, you and i have been here for a few years. But thanks for reiterating it.

I was not picking on you, I would never do that to a good person such as your self, the carpenter is lucky to have you! I hope you can understand that it was just a example to get my point across.

80
chassie on November 15, 2008 at 04:54 PM
Hate the far left? Why? Hate wastes energy. The extreme left is mainly concerned with making people like each other through legislation, pushing their viewpoints and wandering around in lala land. They mean well, but they will never get it. The far right is much more hateable with their racism, lies, and general viciousness. BUT neither the extreme right nor the extreme left are competent to be in charge of anything, no matter how loudly they tout their positions. Neither of them understand reality, the Constitution,or human beings, BUT we need them around, if only because they define the broad area of the middle with wide range of viewpoints.
The extremes don't understand that a democracy is a compromise by its very definition.
A dictatorship of the extreme, either right or left, by their very philosophies and agendas is totally anti-democratic and we must guard against that.
We are still dealing with remnants of backlash from the extreme left ascendancy of the '70s and now we have to deal with backlash from the extreme right's attempt to take over our country in the 90s and 2000s.
Hopefully we are smart enough to tell both extremes to shut up and sit down, and leave us alone so we can fix the mess.

Hopefully we are smart enough to tell both extremes to shut up and sit down, and leave us alone so we can fix the mess.

88Butte on November 15, 2008 at 06:28 PM

Butte, i agree with you on the above statement.

And i was wrong, to use the word hate, that is a strong adjective, and should never be used, i should of said disliked instead.

How ever I will not cater more to the disliked, left any more then the disliked right. I'm a fair person, i don't discriminate. One is just as bad as the other.

From the New York Times Magazine

After the Imperial Presidency

http://www.nytimes.com/indexes/2008/11/09/magazine/index.html

It's long but very informative. It answers all the questions about "how the heck did this happen?"

913, people died in the Jones followers of Jim Jones. Which most people know about.

However here is a book, that more then likely that you will have to get from your local library, that a lot of you probably don't know about.

The name of it is the "Story of Henry Lee Lucas" which might be the biggest serial killer of all time, that has been way under reported. The name of the book is, ( "THE HAND OF DEATH" ) He is even thought to be the one that delivered the poison to Jim Jones. If you don't belief me research it on the net. I guarantee you if you get your hands on this book, you will not be able to put it down until you have read it in its entirety. ( Check it out ) .

I'm sorry Dem's, I'll, probably get charged with trying to sell books, now.

The reason i brought up the story about Jim Jones is cuz their profiling it on MSNBC, as we speak.

98Sally-* on November 15, 2008 at 08:25 PM

Belief it or not Sally, every once in a while i agree with you.

Sally, what do you think of Hillary as SOS? I know what you said about Howard Taff in 1908. Does that apply to SOS?

I already know what Doo Bee thinks of her, but I'm asking you, if you could get serious for a moment.

lest we forget just who sally and multiple personas are and what they have said:

"I got a feeling we are going to see pictures of Negroes running down the street carry televisions later tonight.
237
Sally-* on November 4, 2008 at 07:22 PM"

"If you take the average of the 3 top polls, Hussein Obama's lead is now only 3.7 points. If you consider that is virtually within the margin of error and subtract the Bradley effect, it is shaping up to be a McCain landslide.
188
Sally-* on October 18, 2008 at 10:54 PM"

"The democrats will lose in '08. They lied to make it in the '06 election and their campaign of doom and gloom will cost them in '08. America votes for winners not WHINERS.
Posted by D_Cactus_Weekend on November 9, 2007 at 08:38 PM"

so there you have it. sally is a delusional racist who just keeps jabbering no matter how many times it gets whomped and no matter what is going on in reality.

chassie, i suggest not trying to tie a can to the tail of the devil...

102gregg on November 15, 2008 at 09:05 PM

I beg to differ with you gregg, i call it reaching across the isle, which this nation is going to see a lot of with Obama.

Here is a question for you Gregg, and all other Dem's, as far as that goes. If Sally was your next door neighbor, and of course hated his political views. And you was awaken say by your dog, or a fire truck cuz his house was burning down, at 3:00 A.M. and you knew for certain that he was inside the house.

Would you try and save him? If your answer is no, then your not worthy of my time. Reality is a bitch, ain't it.

well chassie ( if this is you and not some troll using your name ) you are free to do as you please. i hope all goes well.

if sally's house was on fire? sally is just letters to me on the computer screen and those letters communicate a persona so vile that if it moved in next door to me i would probably sell my house and more to another state...so i guess i wouldn't be around to save it in a fire....and i probably would untie it's poor starving dog from the tractor tire it was hitched to in the yard and take it with me...

105SwirlyEyedObamabot on November 15, 2008 at 09:36 PM

Sir people can say anything they want to in a moment of anger. But when reality sets in they will change there minds with out even thinking about it. I've done been thur this 7 years ago with a neighbor, that is a complete asshole. And is a asshole to this day. I live in the country and his house is about 700 yards from mine. My ALASKA ESKIMO SPIZ WOKE ME AT EXACTLY 0255 IN THE MORNING TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING. She has now been gone for 2 and one half years, and was the best dog i have ever had in my life, and lived to be 19 years old. She was a beauty, and would let you know if a leaf, blew across the property, and knew every square inch of it, and never got off of it, she was a class act. I can't say that i saved my neighbor, but i was their for him and his. AND HELPED HIM THUR THERE TRAMA. I even let them live in a Camping trailer that i owned for 3 mos. until they could rebuild. I never charged them one penney, anyone that would, especially a neighbor, is a complete asshole.

sally is getting all warm and friendly and cuddly now....must have stolen his mom's bag of ludes...

Sally-* on November 15, 2008 at 10:02 PM

Sally thanks, for reaching across the isle, and your frankness, of your thoughts, and i pretty much agree with you.

See Dems, this is how you get stuff done!!!!!

Far left stuff don't get it, you got to go right down the middle of the road, and this just proves my point, thanks Sally, you have just proved to me that me are really not that much different.

However, i probably will be blocked from the blog tomorrow, or attack by 75 percent of the ones on the blog.

And thanks for the laugh, i needed it.

Good night, and have a great weekend.

A lot of Dems on this blog, need to learn the meaning of reaching across the isle, you all got the idea that, that means kissing someone's ass.

Your wrong, right down the middle of the road is where its happening. Just to prove my point Politics is the only place you can drive on the wrong side of the road, without getting killed in a head on collision, just think about that one for a moment.

Oh and by the way, i know no one cares but me, I'm just sharing, my Alaskan Eskimo Spitz name was, you guessed it "CHASSIE". And she lives on, thur me.

Good night everyone, i'll read up tomorrow.

Hey Chassie! Where's the "middle of the road" position on medical decisions? Where's the "center" on equal civil rights for all American citizens? Where's the "moderate" position on global warming? Genocide? Poverty? Where's the center on the moral mission of government?

Oh great...is this blog going to be all fucked up for me now that I've upgraded to FF 3.0? Now I'm not seeing posts even by using the "Preview" button.

Good evening, all.

I would sure like to see a national Sunday boycott of Catholic parishes where its diocese continues to attack the new democratic presidency and the millions of us who voted for Obama. There is no longer tolerance for intolerance, our country's democracy is too important to not defend it rigorously.

CalDemo on November 15, 2008 at 12:58 PM

Catholics don't protest; they walk away from this sort of dictatorial crap. It will be just like the 1960's and '70's all over again. Young people will leave the Church if they keep it up. I know, because I and good chunk of my contemporaries did two decades ago...and we raised our children in other Christian denominations.

These radical hard-liner priests are also angering older parishioners. They resent that pedophile priest settlements must be paid for by closing down old parishes and increasing Catholic school tuitions. It's rubbing a lot of Catholics of all ages the wrong way.

If they start really pushing against birth control again, the bishops may find themselves in the same place as the Republican Party leadership is now. The secular churchgoer does not practice the rhythm method or chastity...and apparently neither have a good number of priests in the last 30 years.

Watch the numbers of practicing Catholics nosedive if these bishops continue throwing their weight around staging political temper tantrums. Any Catholic can take Communion in other Christian houses of worship and they will if challenged.

If the American bishops want a holy war, they'll get it. These young Obama supporters know what must be done to save this Republic and are willing to fight for it. Remember all those young Latinos who protested in the streets for amnesty? They aren’t going to follow any priest who tells them they can’t vote for change.

Foolish authoritarian old men.

The extraction industry; mining, especially coal, and oil and gas drilling, have held this country for ransome far too long and we will not have any viable energy program until we bring them to a screeching halt.

Butte on November 15, 2008 at 01:09 PM

The oil and natural gas industries picked up right where the railroad monopolies left off. We have to break the trusts to get this country moving economically and technologically again.
T. Bone Pickens and the boys are staging their last stand under the cover of windmills and solar energy panels.

They have windmills in their minds. We have to move past the 19th century.

Hell, the Indians landed on the Moon today, while we're stuck in Iraq protecting oil fields. The fast-emerging Third World is exploring the myriad possibilities of new 21st century scientific advances.

Meanwhile, back here in the good old US of A Fundies are forcing us to add Creationism to Physics textbooks...and priests are telling women they can't practice safe sex. It's not hard to see where this is taking us. Down, down, down.

The current economic meltdown is just the tip of the iceberg if we do not drastically reverse our course.

sally*'s house is on fire?

It must be because she's been running around with his hair on fire ever since Obama won. I'd suggest putting her head in a bucket of water till the firetrucks arrive.

* * * *

"The middle of the road" in the middle of nowhere...is nowhere. Bush drove us out into the middle of nowhere.

I'll give the conservatives their "middle right" position on fiscal responsibility (when we are not in the middle of an economic meltdown that mandates bold strategies). But they must in return give us progressives our "middle left" position on equal opportunity/rights for all.

That creates a true middle ground for all of us to work in.

I believe a lot of Republicans would like to lean to the "middle left" now...and I encourage them to do it with great haste. Bush has found a cliff and is driving straight for it.

And if Obama puts Hillary in the job she is out of his way for 2012.

Sally-* on November 15, 2008 at 10:02 PM

Do we detect a little respect here for Obama?

Where would you suggest putting McCain for the next four years? In charge of the RNC? Our space program? FEMA? Or maybe chairman of Joe Lieberman's re-election?

I'd love to see McCain out there campaigning on behalf of Joe the Plumber again.

I can't wait to read the foreign newspapers tomorrow to find out what they thought of Bush's G20 freak show. Bush essentially told them to all go to hell...and that he's set up enough dirty bombs inside our economy to keep all their economies on the fritz for at least another decade.

Viva la incompetence all the way to the very end. There's nothing like a moron reveling in his own stupidity.

Bush believes in capitalism? He who is using socialism to help the speculators get back on their feet? His administration was the perfect marriage of political expediency and voodoo economics. He's fooling nobody.

I'm turning in.

Good night, all.

GregL on November 15, 2008 at 11:45 PM

Maybe it's because you can't properly envision change being over there so Far Left?

Seriously, I'm having trouble, too. It's like talking to yourself...or sally*. The ticker stays at absolute zero no matter how many posts I make.

As Essie said earlier, tomorrow is another day.

Bye.

116GregL on November 15, 2008 at 11:45 PM Oh great...is this blog going to be all fucked up for me now that I've upgraded to FF 3.0? Now I'm not seeing posts even by using the "Preview" button.

Thanks for the warning.

123SandyH on November 16, 2008 at 02:05 AM In reponse to GregL on November 15, 2008 at 11:45 PM Maybe it's because you can't properly envision change being over there so Far Left?

Good point - hadn't thought of that.

112chassie on November 15, 2008 at 10:27 PM A lot of Dems on this blog, need to learn the meaning of reaching across the isle

I understand what you're saying - I'd say "it's in our best interest to stop demonizing each other"

except Sally - we can demonize her/him - if we don't, he'll get confused and think he's on a different blog

or worse yet - he might think he's in a different country - one more Socialist than ours.

118Sally-* on November 16, 2008 at 12:22 AM Where's the center on the moral mission of government? -- Where is that in the Constitution?

The "center" is of our making - the Constitution changes from amendment to amendment - but the mission never changes - it's in the preamble

to create a more perfect union

128Sally-* on November 16, 2008 at 02:44 AM But one does have to respect someone becoming the President of the United States without any meaningful experience.

The majority of the country thinks otherwise, Sally - FL, VA, NC, PA, OH, NV, CO, IN, 1/2 of NE -

you need to take it up with them if you think we're on the wrong course.

129Sally-* on November 16, 2008 at 02:50 AM Taxing the useful to redistribute the wealth to the useful does not create a more perfect union. It creates a nation of the fat and useless.

Welfare was reformed under Clinton, Sally - the GOP should have declared victory - they didn't - the rest of the country has moved on.

It's morning in America

On the Pulse of the Morning

Here on the pulse of this new day
You may have the grace to look up and out
And into your sister's eyes, into
Your brother's face, your country
And say simply
Very simply
With hope
Good morning.

Maya Angelou

night, all - sorry I missed you.

SwirlyEyedObamabot on November 15, 2008 at 09:36 PM

MN Thomass----you really should get a sense of humor to offset that HUGE arrogance that lies inside of you! Everyone else here knew that was a joke about the hit and run, except a dead head like you. No WONDER your co-workers smirk behind their hands when you are mentioned!!

happy slacker Sunday, everyone.

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/medicine/la-na-obama16-2008nov16,0,4107027.story

Obama seeks new focus on helping struggling homeowners

http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/594057.html

'Mr. Inside' could find himself out of RNC post

A lot of Dems on this blog, need to learn the meaning of reaching across the isle, you all got the idea that, that means kissing someone's ass.

Your wrong, right down the middle of the road is where its happening. Just to prove my point Politics is the only place you can drive on the wrong side of the road, without getting killed in a head on collision, just think about that one for a moment.

112chassie on November 15, 2008 at 10:27 PM

Chassie, my friend, you are way off base with your desire for Dems and Repugs meeting half way on issues.!!

What part did you miss the last 40 years where the Republicans DELIBERATELY have fought every single issue that Dems came out with. Go read "A Day in the Life of Joe Republican" one more time. Those things that Joe enjoys were FOUGHT by Republicans. They do not want labor laws, clean air and water, highways and bridges, stem cell research, abortion in any form, Gay rights in any form, PEACE in the world (there is a lot of money to be made from War). they want to keep a Terri Schiavo alive long after she is dead. They do not complain about gas prices, because the alternative is to tax the shit out of Oil corporations. (so they blame Clinton, it is easier).

Did you read the article the other day, where already they are planning a fillibuster for any Justices that the Dems put out? Now how do you figure we meet a party that is pre-determined to stop our choices? Maybe we should meet in the middle, and find another Roberts to install for lifetime in the court. I am sure the Repugs will vote for that one!

You and Bob think all the Senators and Representatives should start off their sessions singing Kambalya and holding hands. WHY have 2 parties if they will meet somewhere in the center? Might as well have one, and call it Republicats or something like that.

Until this Republican party goes back to it's original adjenda and platform, there can be no compromise, no negotiation , no meeting in any center. This party is a mutated version of what the original Republicans formed.

And the Blue Dog Dems had better watch their steps these days. Now that we are getting a majority, they better stop with their obstructive voting because there are plenty of Progressives out there waiting for an opportunity.

Ben and Bill Nelson, Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln, Salazar, etc. I will support and work for true Dems to take their places if they continue to pull their bullshit. The country is now ready for Democratic candidates, and we need to fine tune our message, not our principles.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008396671_blackberry16.html?syndication=rss

Will Obama be forced to unplug his BlackBerry?

Yeah the Republican Congress reformed welfare, they did that when they were still behaving as Repuclicans

hahahahahahaha, Stevie, oh Stevie. You KNOW that the Republicans fought Clinton tooth and nail on EVERYTHING he came out with, including welfare reform. They did not want him getting credit for it. Come on now, when the other bird brains are not around, you do not need to fabricate these lies.

And I am glad to see that you acknowledge that this group of nutcases who call themselves Republicans, are not the TRUE Conservatives that the party was founded upon.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/16/MND3145A3L.DTL&type=politics

Bill Clinton's deals could pose issue for wife

Blue Dog Democrat works best in my neck of the woods. You'll never get a way left liberal being elected here.

You get blue dog, or way right repug. Which would the progressives like?

i trough sally and his friends were fat and useless otherwise you would never see then in here at all because they be working for living but now there all living of the system and whining about what they are lacking and that brains and a heart

bush is jail bird burd tird obama is onest person

bush is jail bird burd tird obama is onest person

SandyH on November 16, 2008 at 01:09 AM

Responsibility, fiscal included, plays a much more important role in a progressive worldview than it does in a conservative worldview. I mean, look at the "responsibility" of conservative up to this point. We have a military occupation in two separate countries costing us $11 billion dollars a month. We have a financial market that ran completely out of control into a complete meltdown because no one took responsibility for their actions. We have an infrastructure that is crumbling away because conservatives have gutted the departments RESPONSIBLE for that infrastructure. WE have an administration which constantly uses the words "NO one could have foreseen THAT". Corruption and scandal, and it is always the fault of someone else. It's just a few bad apples.

Well, it's NOT just a few bad apples. It's the result of looking at the world as if those in charge can do no wrong.

Pam, I have nothing against reaching across the aisle to get things done. Progressive Democratic politicians need to reach out to Republicans who they can work with to get work done on issues. The thing people like chASSIE don't seem to understand is, reaching across the aisle does not mean compromising your principles, it means finding people on the other side who want the same thing you do.

Of course, you also have to find, or convince, people on your OWN side that an idea is worth time and consideration.

Esme, I have nothing against Blue Dogs, most of them are more progressive than they think they are. It's just that the past forty years of having asshole conservatives define what it means to be liberal and progressive has undermined real progressivism.

NEW THREAD

And it's been there since before my last three posts, thanks a lot Matt. :P