Reno McCain protest.....while he's in the casino ballroom behind us at his $1,000 and $5,000 lunch.

Thanks to Marsha - her awesome Bush budget post led me to the FCNL - Friends Committee on National Legislation - a Quaker lobby in the public interest.

Check out the map of Iraq on the Quaker website - it's too big for me to post here.  It is interesting and alarming to see so many bases already in the process of being built.  The funds to build these permanent bases are provided by Bush's supplemental funding bill. 

Where is the media?  Stuck on the Obama/Clinton mud wars.  Meanwhile, the GOP is building bases right in front of all of us - not even quietly or discretely. 

So the question of Obama or Clinton is a moot point.  Will we even be able to stop the military base operation in Iraq if a Democratic president is elected?  We can't know for sure.  But we damn well know that McCain WILL keep the base-building operation going....fulfilling his intent to keep our troops in Iraq for 100 years "if necessary."  Necessary, my blue ass.

A blog was posted earlier highlighting Hillary's admirable plan to help Veterans. A comment was made that Obama's site had no information regarding Vets....which is simply untrue. So, in fairness, the following is Obama's plans to help Veterans.

Record of Advocacy: As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Obama passed legislation to improve care and slash red tape for our wounded warriors recovering at places like Walter Reed. He passed laws to help homeless veterans and offered an innovative solution to prevent at-risk veterans from falling into homelessness. Obama led a bipartisan effort in the Senate to try to halt the military's unfair practice of discharging service members for having a service-connected psychological injury. He fought for fair treatment of Illinois veterans' claims and forced the VA to conduct an unprecedented outreach campaign to disabled veterans with lower than-average benefits. Obama passed legislation to stop a VA review of closed PTSD cases that could have led to a reduction in veterans' benefits. He passed an amendment to ensure that all service members returning from Iraq are properly screened for traumatic brain injuries. He introduced legislation to direct the VA and Pentagon to fix disjointed records systems and improve outreach to members of the National Guard and Reserves.

Sharkhunter posted a thought-provoking blog earlier... "McCain is a Non-Issue"

So, let's talk about the big, white elephant sitting on the living room sofa...

He's funny, witty, war hero, moderate-leaning, established name...etc, etc. 

What does the Democratic Party need to do to rally the United States against this GOP threat?

My cycle of grief from John Edwards withdrawing - excuse me, "suspending" - from the Presidential election has officially come to a close...

1.  Denial : The initial stage: "It can't be happening." 

2.  Anger : "Why me? It's not fair."

3.  Bargaining : "Just let me live to see my children graduate."

4.  Depression : "I'm so sad, why bother with anything?" 

5.  Acceptance : "It's going to be OK."

Take your pick - it's up to us to stop the GOP machine in '08!

Senator Edwards sent the following email to supporters this afternoon.

When it comes to protecting the rule of law, words are not enough. We need action.

It's wrong for your government to spy on you. That's why I'm asking you to join me today in calling on Senate Democrats to filibuster revisions to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that would give "retroactive immunity" to the giant telecom companies for their role in aiding George W. Bush's illegal eavesdropping on American citizens.

The Senate is debating this issue right now -- which is why we must act right now. You can find your Senators' phone numbers here or call the Senate Switchboard at 1-(202)-224-3121.

Granting retroactive immunity is wrong. It will let corporate law-breakers off the hook. It will hamstring efforts to learn the truth about Bush's illegal spying program. And it will flip on its head a core principle that has guided our nation since our founding: the belief that no one, no matter how well connected or what office they hold, is above the law.

But in Washington today, the telecom lobbyists have launched a full-court press for retroactive immunity. George Bush and Dick Cheney are doing everything in their power to ensure it passes. And too many Senate Democrats are ready to give the lobbyists and the Bush administration exactly what they want.

Please join me in calling on every Senate Democrat to do everything in their power -- including joining Senator Dodd's efforts to filibuster this legislation -- to stop retroactive immunity and stand up for the rule of law. The Constitution should not be for sale at any price.

Thank you for taking action.

John Edwards
January 24, 2008

Alone
   Lying, thinking
Last night
How to find my soul a home
Where water is not thirsty
And bread loaf is not stone
I came up with one thing
And I don't believe I'm wrong
That nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

There are some millionaires
With money they can't use
Their wives run round like banshees
Their children sing the blues
They've got expensive doctors
To cure their hearts of stone.
But nobody
No, nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Now if you listen closely
I'll tell you what I know
Storm clouds are gathering
The wind is gonna blow
The race of man is suffering
And I can hear the moan,
'Cause nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Maya Angelou

Wow. That's about all I can say right now. My adrenaline is still pumping after an exciting day of witnessing grassroots Democracy at its best. Early predictions were that 50,000 Democrats would show up today for Nevada's first caucus in state history - over 120,000 showed up! All colors - all ages - die-hard Democrats and brand-new voter registrations filled out *today*! I am amazed. And so very proud of my newly adopted state. With everyone's support, we're going to turn this state BLUE - first the Presidential election and then onto the Governor's mansion. Blue, baby, blue!

Here's a video of John Edwards in Reno today...standing room only crowd at the Grand Sierra ballroom. 

P.S.  I'm in the bleachers behind him...but you'll have to guess which one!  :)

If I hear the words "hope" or "change" one more freaking time. The words started out innocently enough as inspirational messages from Edwards and Obama....but now we've got Clinton, let alone ROMNEY and HUCKABEE joining the band wagon? I declare a BAN on the use of these words by all candidates and their supporters! The only change I hope to hear about is the "change in my pocket goin' jing-a-ling-a-ling..."