where ya from, you fitzy thing

Fitz!

I like Peacocks also.
After reading an interview of the editor of The Nation I want to thank firedoglake and the other progressive alternative media for helping fill the void left by the absence of an independent main line media and an oppersition party.

TM is hot, Ann Coulter is not!!!

Argh - EPU’d myself again. re-post:

Poll-watching: a possible netroots project? I’d be interested in finding out more on this topic, wrt w/n this is an official/quasi-official position, how one might go about becoming a poll-watcher, and a job description (what such a person can or can’t do). Does a poll-watcher, e.g. have any ability to prevent a Diebold rep from showing up to “correct a problem with the machine†on voting day? How does one become a poll-watcher, I wonder.

Exit polling - pretty much the same question as far as - how to get in on this. Maybe wrong, but I’m under the impression that poll-watchers are more or less public officials, but exit polling is done by private sector?

IMHO, these are areas where the grassroots may be of immense value.

These Sunday shows are as big a joke as tv “news” itself.

Wonderful bird stuff - thanks for keeping the Sunday Redd Bird thing going.

Peacocks are simply amazing. I first saw one when I was about six years old and am still not over it.

OK, my inner peacock is off to listen to some Bill Evans…

Jayt–

I’ve been thinking about a shadow ballot process in Ohio, folks sitting outside polling places, and asking voters to drop in a paper ballot that reflected their choice on the machine. The folks doing it would have to track refusals as well, but it would both serve as a check to adjusting the electronic results, and a reminder to voters that there is no audit trail.

my answer to Jayt got EPU’ed so I will re-answer:
a pollwatcher in Indiana is merely an observer permitted to hangout around the voting place. Credentials are issued thru the candidates or parties on behalf of the County Clerk.
Exit polling is done by commercial entities and is not formally a part of the election process.
The best thing progressives can do on election day is to work for a progressive candidate in whatever capacity suits that campaign. Money is the mothers milk of politics but on election day (and its run-up) many nurses are needed!

As I was catching up on yesterday’s threads (*always* catching up, dammit) and reading the Repub grousing quotes from the R base, it occurs to me once again that Repub discontent is very GWB-specific. They’re unhappy with the Pres, maybe he ain’t hatin’ enough or squashing enough brown people like bugs, but - it’s just *him* that they’re mad at - I see no come-to-Jesus awakening that their war-mongering, xenophobic policies are misguided. They may be angry with GWB’s performance in these areas, so they’re just looking for more efficient thugs (read better Republicans).

The base is miffed with GWB - this is a far cry from any idea that they’re not gonna show up at coming elections and keep pulling the handles for *better* Repub’s.

In 2006 and 2008, it’s an absolute imperative to tie GWB around the neck of each and every Repub incumbent. Afer all, they voted for every damn thing GWB proposed - hang ‘em with their voting record, speeches, etc.

Good morning everyone. Today is my birthday!

I have a little cathy’s birthday trivia question for you.

My birthday has been the day after easter 4 to 5 times in my life. But one year it was on easter. Can anyone tell me the year easter was actually April 23 and why easter was April 23?

Paper ballots, period. Mobs of American patriots need to burn those fucking machines.

Until these corporate bastards FEAR the people, we can expect nothing but more illegitimate assholes like GW Bush becoming “president” and further ruining our country and lives.

For those who, as I do, look forward to whatever bird (or occasional fish) is going to show up at the top of Gasbag post each week, I want to recommend your making you’re way to the NY Historical Society’s exhibition of about a tenth of Audobon’s watercolors that were the source for The Birds of America. The museum owns them all. (That collection is probably worth more than the rest of their holdings, including the building.) The paintings are spectacular, and the exhibit is very well put together, featuring recorded calls for some of the paintings, biographical information about Audobon, and Audobon quotations on the placards. The Roseate Spoonbill is itself reason enough.

If you’re in the tristate region, or just visiting in the next couple of weeks (the exhibition closes May 7), it is very much worth a detour.

The museum is just south of the AMNH at 77th and Central Park West.

Agree or Disagree, but Sen Kennedy certainly spoke Truth to Power today… I love the fact that he didn’t hide behind Bush being the #1 problem overarching issue, and I especially loved to hear him say with confidence that Dem’s will carry BOTH Houses!

I’m with you Ted. I believe that your and Rahm’s support and advocacy for College Tuition for all is the single best idea I’ve heard this FUCKING CENTuRY!!!

We Will Win

As for poll watching, right now the most important thing is supporting Bev Harrison with her Black Box Voting project.

I did Election Protection in Miami/Dade in 2004. we had a couple of hundred volunteers just for that county and couldn’t cover all of the precincts. It takes far more people than we have at FDL to do that work and even at that, we have no way of knowing how the machines are being hacked by the “powers that be” whoever they are. What we can do is join up with EP and make their numbers increase to go to the states where we know there will be hanky panky.

But the MOST important thing first off is getting transparency with the machines and their software. That’s what Bev is working on.

Stalin said “Those who vote decide nothing. Those who COUNT the votes decide everything.”

We are living in Stalin’s America I fear.

ahhh…Bill Evans…what brilliance

Happy birthday cathy! Them non-fixed holidays are weird - I always have the same thing around my b-day and Thanksgiving.

Cathy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter will tell you more about the moveable feast of Easter than you want to know.
BTW: Happy BDay…

jayackroyd says:
April 23rd, 2006 at 6:21 am

shadow ballot process in Ohio, folks sitting outside polling places, and asking voters to drop in a paper ballot

I like the idea, and would be willing to do it here in corn country. I’d be a very unpopular guy, but around here, what else is new?

Jayt

The wingnut base is going to complain, the way they always do, that Bush wasn’t conservative enough–that he gave into the liberals.

The thing is, of course, that their policies are so widely unpopular that if they actually ran on them, they’d get crushed. The freepers are too, I dunno, politically unastute is a polite way to say it, to understand this. But I think the evangelicals are beginning to figure out that they’ve been gamed. Again.

We’ll see if running against love, commitment and family can work for them again. The latest word from the RNC is that they’re going to try to run on “values.” If the Democratic leadership were the least bit creative, they’d start a viral campaign among the evangelicals that points out that although the religious right has been extremely loyal in their support for republicans, nothing substantive on their agenda has been accomplished.

I see that one woman is brave enough to appear with the Gropinator!

Thanks *ilson and Sharkbabe. In the year 2000 Easter would have been on April 22 like it had been many times in the past, and 2000 would also have been a leap year, as it is every 4 years. But in order to make a time adjustment, that leap year was eliminated so therefore, easter was April 23rd. It will never be April 23rd again in my lifetime.

One of my favorite mythis about the peacock is how Jupiter fell in love with Io, the daughter of Inachus, the river god. Juno, Jupiter’s wife was the jealous type and found out about the affair.

Jupiter changed Io into a heifer, Juno was shrewd and didn’t fall for it, played along and asked Jupiter for the heifer as a gift.

Jupiter gave Juno the heifer, and Juno put the heifer under the watch of Argus, the dude covered with one hundred eyes, which 50 were always open.

Jupiter asked Mercury if he could help get Io(the heifer) back, and Mecrury disguised himself as a shepard’s boy. After charming Argus to sleep with his flute, Mercury cut off Argus’ head.

Juno, in honor of Argus placed his eyes on the tail feathers of her favorite bird, the peacock. And that’s how the peacock got all thoses “eyes’ on his tail feathers.

sometimes refresh doesn’t work unless I post, so ’scuse me whilst I say nothing this time…

Good Morning Firepups !

Taylor, thanks for the post and thanks for continuing the birdy thing -

you are adventurous souls having peacocks ! do you mind telling us what you feed them - actually have a reason for asking

Las Vegas birders benefit from living at a confluence point - Great Basin, plenty of the Sonoran Desert migrants, Cali birds, etc.. If you haven’t already, find the local Audubon group online - I bet they have a ‘rare birds’ link which should offer all kinds of goodies in winter and both migration periods

general note to everyone - birdders are a lot like FDL’ers in that they’re always willing to answer questions, point out good stuff, use their scope, etc., so don’t ever hesitate to ask questions in the field

Happy Birthday Cathy !

The sea of tranquility the Neo-Cons promised is coming to fruition? Maybe not.

Kurdish group alleges Turkish military planning incursion into Iraq.

Can anyone say “broader regional conflict”?

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.c.....324442.xml

-GSD

My birthday has been the day after easter 4 to 5 times in my life. But one year it was on easter. Can anyone tell me the year easter was actually April 23 and why easter was April 23?

IIRC Easter is always on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring equinox.

As for when the last time these conditions were met on April 23rd, well I’d have to Google that……….

Thanks cbl-
I must say that every year is better than the last. I love my life. I wouldn’t trade places with anyone.

I remember when I was growing up there was a peacock in a big cage at the local mall. I loved to see him everytime we went there. But when I think back on it now that I’m a grownup, I really feel sorry for that poor bird stuck in that tiny area it’s whole life.

So Blue loves jazz; good taste. What numbers or performers are on his top ten playlist?

happy birthday cathy!

(found out from seeing V that my b-day is Guy Fawkes day). Who knew?

I can’t belive Joe Kline is on today!ARGGGGH!

Fear Factor. Anyone want to guess just how frequently the threats and warnings are going to start flying at the American public again? It has been so quiet since, well, just before the 2004 election.

Looks like Rove has been freed-up to work his magic.

Is Bin Laden going to lose his tax-exempt status as a cleric because of his continued work on behalf of the Bush campain.

http://www.newsalerts.com/news.....us0:516607

-GSD

remember, remember, the fifth of - er, jayt’s birthday!

#18 jayackroyd,

So far I’m of the impression the RNC is going to run on General Pearl Clutching, e.g., Mary Matalin - vote for us, the Dems will be ‘disaster’

about a month ago, Mehlman tried the “they’re gonna impeach Bush” and it didn’t seem to resonate outside the bottom 30% - sure like to see him trot that one out now

I can’t belive Joe Kline is on today!ARGGGGH!

well, that’s a new one: klein just said the democrats were on the wrong side of the race issue in the 60s in response to tweety’s question when did the democrats go wrong.

Kennedy on MTP just confirmed what I have thought right along. That Iran and North Korea became nuclearly aggressive, because USA was in Iraq and they viewed us as impotent and unable to do much about it.

So when RNC uses Strength and Security as reasons to vote Republican, use this as proof they have made us less secure and safe!

Wonder if other fellow lovers of the ‘birdies” have noticed movie sound tracks that don’t quite fit the habitat? The old Tarzan jungle movies often featured the unmistakable peacock but also the loon. Pileated woodpeckers and flickers are also often tossed in as background. As I’ve aged, my birding relies more and more on sound, so perhaps I’m more attuned.

Loved the story of the GI who birdwatched in the Green Zone.

On this Earth Day weekend, it’s good to be reminded that life goes on, at least for a time, in spite of and despite the political machinations of humankind. We need to remember that we hold the key to the destruction of most, but not without taking ourselves down too.

Thanks jayt.

I think with the poll numbers as low as they are, they will have to come out with something huge to overcome it a election time. Just repeating the dems are soft on defense won’t cut it.

cbl says:
April 23rd, 2006 at 7:10 am

RNC is going to run on… vote for us, the Dems will be ‘disaster’.

I don’t care *what* they run on - Dem’s need to run on “and let’s take a look at your voting record, shall we?

cathy says:
April 23rd, 2006 at 6:44 am

According to one of my astronomy books, Easter’s most recent occurrence on April 23 was in 2000, which was a leap year. Easter’s next occurrence on April 23 will be in 2079.

Even though the years 2100, 2200, and 2300 are divisible by four, they are not leap years in the Gregorian calendar. The years 1600, 2000, 2400, and so forth are leap years since they’re divisible by 400.

Taylor, speaking as white male about to hit five-oh b’day in about 30 days (and Happy B’day cathy!) allow me to join in on your point with a ’scrant’ (EPU coined-halfway ‘twixt rant and screed):

It was nearly XMas, 1969. I was walking down the steps of my Jr. High as holiday break was beginning. I noted that the next time I arrived at school would mark the arrival of a new decade. Looking around, I thought, “Things sure are weird. They can only get weirder.”

The future I envisioned was perhaps naive. It wasn’t informed that the wave of ‘weird’ that I was observing had already crested, and was receding, along with the activism, hope and spirit that had been literally assassinated just shortly prior.

But that future that I assumed was to arrive ‘RealSoonNow’included a national political life that had health care assumed, adequate funding for education, a real respect for our Mother Earth that was reflected in all facets of out lives, and lived out in both gov’t and industry policies.

And, it assumed that women would have truly ‘equal representation in positions of power. I would have been shocked to find that not one woman had won a presidential nominiation, let alone the presidency. One vice presidential nomination? Unthinkable. That same view held that women would have about 50 percent, more or less, give or take here and there, depending, of Congressinal seats. Of either party. Of course, local and state offices would be likewise representative.

Of course, my view of the time included equality in the workplace across the board. That seems to be close to reality as I type, except of course, in the boardrooms and CEOs of corporate Amerika. Today’s advanced economic equality is, of course, double edged; telemarketing cubbies full of serfs struggling for survival on the edge of ruin, regardless of sex is not exaclty what I had in mind.

This is all to say, I share in your outrage that few woment, or women’s perspectives, are appearing on the rosters of guests for this mornings Talking Heads (the bass player was a woman!).

I guess I should look on the bright side: my two Senators, though I dearly love them both, are rich white males — and liberal Dems. Kerry and Kenndey.
I wonder if it was women who booked their appearances?
—–
end/scrant
The Personal IS the Political!

we are sitting here slack jawed at some vacuous idiot on Fox News - saying OBL is “a member of the Saudi Royal Family, a man with infinite resources” WTF ?

noblejoanie - yeah, we catch the wrong ’songs’ in film all the time - and you brought up a sore subject - in my 25+ years birding, I have never seen a Pileated (trogons, frigates, Smew, Condor, and other N. American rarities but no big guy -aarrgghh!)

hillary clinton is going to be a disaster if she is the democratic candidate in 2008. judging by the commentary on tweety’s show, the sally quinn party pals are salivating at the opportunity to take her down — and she’s providing more than enough material for their jihad:

Hil: Border needs wall
BY LESLIE CASIMIR
and LEO STANDORA
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Sunday, April 23rd, 2006

Taking her hardest line yet against illegal immigrants, Sen. Hillary Clinton told the Daily News she wants U.S. borders secured with a wall or fence, possibly surveillance drones and infrared cameras.
Clinton’s proposal - which came just weeks after she blasted Republican crackdowns on illegal immigrants as un-Christian - raised the ire of activists.

But she tempered her remarks by saying that, while she supports a barrier to stem new illegal immigrants, she favors a legalization process for the 11 million undocumented aliens already here.

Clinton envisions a two-stage plan in which border security is beefed up, followed by legalization efforts in a year or two.

“A physical structure is obviously important,” the New York Democrat and possible presidential contender said. “A wall in certain areas would be appropriate,” she said, endorsing a high-tech “smart fence” that could spot people approaching from 200 or 300 yards.

http://www.nydailynews.com/fro.....7915c.html

Stephen PCPA-
But 2000 wasn’t a leap year because they wanted to make an adjustment to the timeclock or something.

RE: Poll Watching –

Normally, poll watchers are appointed by political parties — if you want to do it, contact your local Dems.

Theoretically, a poll watcher should be able to blow the whistle on anything that resembles vote tampering or voter intimidation. The most common GOP dirty trick is not enough polling stations in Democratic precincts (worked in Ohio) and challenging minority’s voter credentials. The latter is what poll watchers can stop — call it in, and the harrassing goon will get the boot.

As for machine tampering, good luck. There are so many security breaches in electronic voting and vote counting machines, they make the Windows OS look like Fort Knox.

and El Segundo? that’s the 52nd state?

cbl

Have a mated pair absolutely dismantling a rotten birch in my northern WI yard. If you’re ever in the area…

We have two peacocks and a peahen, among many other birds, with whom we are privileged to share territory.

Yep, jealousy. That’s what I’m tasting in my mouth. Pure, jealousy.

I’ve seen a couple of Cardinals, a few Blue Jays and trillions of grackles.

There is one shopping center near me where every single wire, roof edge, sign post, tree branch, car roof, and old ladies head has a grackle on it at certain times of the day.

Lovely pavement…just lovely.

cathy says:
April 23rd, 2006 at 7:31 am

You’re thinking of the leap seconds added from time to time to compensate for the slowing of the Earth’s rotation.

cathy - ‘00 was my immediate guess. Your hint was laden with meaning, and I flashed that the weird ‘leap’ of Y2K was responsible.

Enjoy!

SPCPA-
Am I? I thought they eliminated the whole day for the adjustment.

So, does your peacock have a favorite? I’m guessing Herbie Han-cock . . .

Cathy: I was born on Easter Sunday also. This Easter Calendar is dated up to 2050. I will be celebrating another Easter birthday, I see…

http://users.chariot.net.au/~gmarts/eastcalc.htm

More Poll Watching and EV info –

I think groups like MoveOn can also nominate poll watchers — they were involved in it in Colorado in 2004, but they may have just referred people to the Democratic Party. (Or was it the DFA/DFC group? hmmm . . . )

Coloradans For Voting Integrity is our local anti-electronic paper ballot group — they are plugged into the national powers that be.

http://www.cfvi.us/

Brad Blog is very active in reporting the latest news in EV — Oregon is suing Diebold, for instance. Howard Dean speaks on the issue; links below –

http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00002714.htm

http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00002722.htm

PS My mother is still upset that she never got to wear that new maternity dress Easter Sunday due to my untimely arrival.

Next Sunday James Blunt will be featured on CBS with Charles Osgood. A sample of his work

Gotta see.

One down, two to go! Older daughter married off, everybody ridiculously happy, 40+ family members and 100+ guests from all over the country. Dancing late into the night. Lonely and depressed family members got reconnected with love and joy, old people got to see the newborns, it was wonderful. Wm Timberman–yes I did think about their braces. The 3 of them posed for a photograph, somebody said what beautiful teeth, and I thought, ya those sure cost me some $$$! Thanks all for kind wishes!

Beautiful peacock….women on Sunday tv, what about assembling a list of possibilities to send to the program directors? They keep choosing the same old people probably as much out of habit as malice. Help them learn who the alternative candidates are (Jane, Christy, Taylor, etc). On the guy list: Glenn Greenwald, he was terrific on c-span, great ideas, immense poise, able to respond immediately to the other debater.

Poll monitoring, time to get cooking on how to organize this for November. That would be the only cooking I’ve done all weekend :D
————a very merry egregious

ccmask-
I see that I am a better person than you. I was supposed to be born on Easter sunday, but my mother said I was too stubborn to come out and wanted to come out the next day. I just didn’t want to ruin her Easter ;)

But 2000 wasn’t a leap year because they wanted to make an adjustment to the timeclock or something.

No, it’s because it’s because the solar year is a little less than 365.25 days. Years ending in two zeroes aren’t leap years to account for that.

Face the Nation was pretty good today,now Press the Meat is up

#46 noblejoanie - thanks for the offer ! Suspect you have some other goodies we’d all envy as well - Great Gray and Northern Hawk Owl’s w/ the Occasional Snowy - Northern Goshawks and Gyrfalcons - ooh yeah

Okay, so I just stumbled across excerpts on Raw Story from an upcoming TIME Magazine story about Josh Bolten, Bush’s new chief of staff. In it, they lay out Bolten’s “five point plan to rescue Bush’s presidency.” Have you guys seen this yet? I’m sure the talking heads will be all over the TV this morning talking about how “bold” this all is (since they can never seem to find another descriptor for this sort of thing) but… well, it doesn’t look to me like they’re even rearranging the deck chairs this time, but rather just giving them a quick dusting-off before heading for the lifeboats and/or leaping into the sea.

Let’s take a look…

DEPLOY GUNS AND BADGES

“Under the banner of homeland security, the White House plans to seek more funding for an extremely visible enforcement crackdown at the Mexican border.”

Translation: “Get tougher on the beaners.” That ought to get Bush that all-important South Texas border town support, which obviously is the key to bringing his poll numbers up perhaps even as high as 33.02%.

MAKE WALL STREET HAPPY

“In an effort to curry favor with dispirited Bush backers in the investment world, the Administration will focus on two tax measures already in the legislative pipeline to please investors.”

Translation: “Still more tax cuts for the wealthy.” Gee, and this is a new move on what level, again?

BRAG MORE

“White House officials…. are planning a more focused and consistent effort to talk about the [Medicare] program’s successes after months of press reports on start-up difficulties… and highlight any glimmer of success in Iraq….”

Translation: “Rose petals were spotted on the outskirts of Baghdad today, honest! They finally love us! They finally really, really love us!” Because clearly, this particular line of bullshit has borne so much approval-rating fruit for Bush up till now, they just need to lay it on more thickly and we’ll all start bellying up to the bar for another round of Kool-Ade. We’re all just that stupid, as far as Bolten is concerned.

RECLAIM SECURITY CREDIBILITY

“Presidential advisers believe that by putting pressure on Iran, Bush may be able to rehabilitate himself on national security, a core strength that has been compromised by a discouraging outlook in Iraq.”

Translation: “Nuke Iran and Bush will be a hero.” Does something this sick and twisted even require further comment?

COURT THE PRESS

“Administration officials said [new White House chief of staff Josh Bolten] believes the White House can work more astutely with journalists to make its case to the public…. His first move… was to offer the press secretary job to Tony Snow of Fox News… who served George H.W. Bush as speechwriting director.”

Translation: “We will finally accomplish that which has eluded the Bush administration for so long… we will at last gain the support of Fox News.”

Yeah, I can already see it… a reinvigorated Bush White House, all thanks to Mr. Bolten’s “More of the same, only EVEN more” strategery.

“Hit me.”

“But Mr. Bolten, you already went over 21. You lost.”

“Hit me.”

“Okay (sigh…) annnnd… a seven. 28, and you still lose. Sorry sir.”

“Hit me.”

Funny pic of Condi at http://www.Billmon.org

Shiffier’s comment at the end of his show today-priceless

Face the Nation was pretty good today,now Press the Meat is up

well the gotcha moment of today was fat fucking tim digging up a 1962 quote from ted kennedy re corruption in massachusetts politics.

goddamn, the idea that that pig is considered one of the leading lights on anything is proof positive of the degraded and ignorant level of political commentary in this country.

jayackroyd says:

April 23rd, 2006 at 7:51 am

As you correctly point out in your post, the length of the solar year is a little less than 365.25 days. Please look at the Wikipedia article for which I have provided a link and look at a calendar for February 2000. Here’s an excerpt from that article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_calendar

…To implement the model, it was provided that years divisible by 100 would be leap years only if they were divisible by 400 as well. So, in the last millennium, 1600 and 2000 were leap years, but 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not. In this millennium, 2100, 2200, 2300 and 2500 will not be leap years, but 2400 will be…

I have never seen a Pileated

There’s some kind of birder term for that–a species that’s relatively easy to see but just hasn’t cooperated–but I can’t remember what the word is.

At the Audobon exhibit I mentioned above, they have his Ivory Bill, and video footage of an ivory bill from the 30s beside it. It does bear resemblance to a Pileated, which is what Sibley thinks the reported Ivory sighting actually was.

You’ve seen a magnificent frigatebird in the US? I saw some over Christmas in Puerto Rico, but have never seen one here.

WH new five points. When I saw the concept I flashed to an image of Stalin/Mao and the NEW IMPROVED “Five Year Plan”.

MISSING: abortion, gays, porn, Family Values…oh, wait, that’s the 30 percent they’ve still got. Guess they be looking at wooing ‘moderate’ soccer moms (who are gassing up as I type…) Every time someone pulls up to the pump is another vote lost.

Thanks, for setting the record straight, Stephen.

With all the precincts and absentee ballots reported in the nonpartisan primary, Nagin topped all candidates with 38 percent or 41,489 votes but fell short of the majority he would have needed to win a second term and avoid the May 20 runoff.

Landrieu had 29 percent, or 31,499 votes. Nonprofit executive Ron Forman followed with 17 percent, 18,734 votes, and 19 other candidates trailed far behind.

OH MY GODDESS . . .

OBL has a new release: i predict it will shoot to the top of the charts in record time . . . hint —- he sings of the zionists!!!!

What struck me in the several shows I managed to see so far, is that no one apparently bothered to do the kind of homework that us regular folks do here all the time: a lot of talk about Mary McCarthy and the crime of leaking classified information, but not a peep about the government not being able to classify illegal activity. Not a word.

It just serves to highlight for me the dearth of real information on these talking-head shows, and how truly lazy some of these so-called “experts” really are. I mean, why actually research the law and determine the facts when it’s ever so much easier to make like a parrot and simply repeat endlessly whatever your fellow “experts” are saying?

No shame.

This story names the leaker as a “he”……

ABC News has learned that the fired officer admitted to the leaking after he failed a polygraph test. The leak included information on the CIA’s secret prisions, but that was not the only story this official was accused of leaking.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics.....amp;page=1

MarkC, the Turks just moved another 40,000 troops down to Southeast Turkey, which gives them about 250,000 there, all told.

The turks are another mortgage-holder, on george bush’s balls. If they want another “grant” of a billion or so, all they have to do is park an armored unit or two on the Iraqi border, rev up their engines, and figuratively speaking, Condi will be under Recep Erdogan’s desk faster than you can say “Monica Lewinski”, dispensing “foreign aid”.
:o)

“OH MY GODDESS . . .”

“OBL has a new release: i predict it will shoot to the top of the charts in record time . . . hint —- he sings of the zionists!!!!”

LOL!! “hint — he sings of the zionists!!!!” Classic! Got a great mid-morning chuckle out of that one. T’anks! ;^)

Happy birthday, Cathy!!

and many, many more

jayackroyd # 65

Magnificent Frigates can be seen along the Texas Coast. There are regular Calif. sightings, mostly Salton Sea -

been intersting to watch the ‘debate’ about the Ivory Bill in Arkansas - didn’t know that Sibley had come out ‘against’, believe the kids from Cornell are holding fast. I’ve seen the ‘video’ from Ark. and heard the recording, doesn’t look or sound like Pileated - but we all know about that thing that ’sits in the soul with wings’

envious of your seeing the Audubon show - once went to a bridal shower in Belvedere (Marin County, CA.) where the family had several originals throughout the house - including a Snowy Egret in the ‘powder room’ - my my my

RE: Leap Years in the Gregorian and Julian Calanders.

The Julian (Julius Caesar) Calander was reasonably accurate, but by the time of Pope Gregory the whatever in the 15th century, the Julian had added two weeks worth of extra days. Because they had 15 centuries of field testing, the fix was very accurate — dropping some of the turn of the century leap days, as outlined above at 65.

Call me crazy, but I don’t believe in Osama bin Laden. His timing is too helpful to the administration. Since the evening of 911, the mainstream media started telling the stories of Osama. He travels at night, he never sleaps in the same place twice, he has thousands of followers…..sounds like a Jebus story. The fact that all of the MSM had the same stories tells me that the propaganda was in full steam ahead early on.

Why does Osama like to give Bush a lift?

There were reports that Turkey and Iran might be getting closer with other may have born out.

Not looking so hot for the Kurds.

http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/42659.html

-GSD

Morning everyone. Blank Kludge and gregious, thanks for your comments about women on Sunday mornings. Honestly, the Democratic party has the clout to make this happen. They’re just asleep at the wheel. Why don’t our progressive think tanks work on it? Anyway, thanks for taking the time to elaborate on your appreciation of just how important it is.

On MTP, Sen Kennedy just responded to timmeh’s question:“Why haven’t we caught Osama bin Laden?”. He (Kennedy) said,”Why have we given up on looking for him?” Good response. He tied this to the president’s decisions rather then to any lapse in military capability, or OBL’s craftiness.

Good one.

If you haven’t already read professor rat’s post (# 125 on the previous thread), please look at the comments from the Sydney Morning Herald from which he quoted about the Bush administration from an Australian perspective:

http://www.firedoglake.com/200.....ment-75824

In case the above link fails to work, here’s a direct link to Mike Carlton’s comments in the Syndney Morning Herald: http://www.smh.com.au/articles.....?from=top5

Ah, Peacocks, Peahens, & The PeaBabies

A lovely hen literally blew into our ranch a number of years ago during a storm, found the place to her liking, and joined the rest of the barnyard critters. For some unknown reason, we named her Josephine.

About six months later, a very young male walked up the creek, found Josephine to HIS liking, and proceeded to court her. Her response? Go away, kid. We named him Bonaparte — short, cocky, and determined to win the war.

What a difference a year made. He matured. He fanned his tail. He fanned his tail at EVERYTHING — bicycle wheels, his reflection in the windows, whatever. He was glorious. Josephine’s heart melted.

The next year, another male came over from the neighboring ranch. Hannibal (crossed the alps).

He, too, courted Josephine and was kind enough to leave all his tail feathers on our place before going home in the fall. When he arrived the next year, we got him a ladyfriend of his own.

Alas, the great horned owls killed all the peababies. They’d swoop in during the night and we’d hear screams right out of Jurassic Park. The next morning, a chick’s body would be at the foot of the tall roosting pine, missing its head. Very sad.

Loved those guys, but forget gardening.

I still have a breathtaking display of feathers — a full tail’s worth — on my wall. But the most prized feather is one of the tiny ones from Bonaparte’s topknot. In all those years, I found only two. My ex and I each kept one when we separated. Fair division of property.

PS — funny that the only female in the Sunday lineup is a a D, on Fox.

Cheers.

About the McCarthy case and D. Priest at WaPo:

I noticed this in Smith and Linzer’s article:

“The Post withheld the names of the countries from its account at the administration’s request. The article attributed its information to current and former intelligence officials and diplomats from three continents.”
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12412487/
———
Maybe my memory is faulty on this, but this says the admin had commucation w/WaPo prior to publication. I don’t recall this facet. (But, I confess ignorance, having not read the original Priest piece.)

Anyone know about this?

been intersting to watch the ‘debate’ about the Ivory Bill in Arkansas - didn’t know that Sibley had come out ‘against

I’ve signed up for guided bird walks on an AMNH program in Central Park–once a week. The Park is a stopping point for the spring migration so we’ll see a number of warblers. Northern Orioles are due this week. I also need to work on my sparrows.

This week’s leader had seen the video of the Ivory Bill and heard the audio tape. He says he’s surprised that the Cornell folks came out so strongly on this; he thinks that Sibley is right. Or, at the very least, that the evidence is not conclusive.

breaking news on FAUX Nudes:

“”OBL stirring up trouble beacuse of advances in iraq!!!”"

man are they good!

Wzrdvoz - I can’t tell you how we worked to keep the peacock chicks or peababies alive. You should have seen the albino! Beauty. Even at 10 months, Blue tried to kill his male chick, who wasn’t small. We found him cornerng him… anyway, it was frightening, so we finally penned him and are in the process of making the already big pen huge.

OT, but Glenn Greenwald has a couple of superb posts up on the Mary McCarthy thing. Clear, concise (as always) and devastating.

“Why does Osama like to give Bush a lift? “

’cause they need each other. Without Bush committing an endless series of foreign relations blunders and outright atrocities, who’d support just another fundie in a cave? Without OBL threatening to commit atrocities, who’d take Bush’s fearmongering seriously? OBL needs Bush to kill Muslims as much as Bush needs OBL to kill Americans. They validate each other. Heck… they probably deserve each other. Two sides of the same coin… pampered sons of wealth, seduced by their respectives visions of fascist theocracy.

Uh Clem 60 - nice commentary :)

Anne 70 - amazing, isn’t it. That’s why I can’t watch this ridiculous retarded horseshit. (No disrespect to actual retarded people, who have more integrity in their baby toe than all the Russert-shills combined.) That’s why you and I are here and why these tired whores are increasingly going the way of the Edsel with every passing day.

Oh, and cbl, speaking of woodpeckers, have you seen acorn woodpeckers? Fascinating way of making a living.

I don’t know if anyone’s seen it, but David Sanger is suggesting that we kill the White House press briefing if the administration doesn’t want to start sharing more information with the press.

I’d hope that rather than just quiting when the WH stops playing nice, Sanger and his colleagues would start reducing the privileges they give to the WH when the press secretary stops sharing information with them. Stop granting anonymity. Stop publishing administration talking points. Stop shilling for the president. Then you can expect to see some change…

Taylor, I just knew there had to be Darkness somewhere amidst such impossible beauty…

Thanks William T for the Greenwald heads-up - he is awesome & I don’t always remember to keep up with his latest.

Taylor’s caught a glimpse of something I’ve known for a long time: birds have many more quirks that they are given credit for. Even ones with as relatively little RAM as a hawk (or a peacock) are capable of being completely unique and having personalities.

The jazz-loving peacock. That’s going in my bird stories collection. :)

TIME Magazine’s Mike Allen outlines a “five-point plan” posited by President Bush’s new chief of staff Josh Bolten to “rescue” the Bush presidency in magazines to hit newsstands Monday.

The five key points include:

1) “Deploy guns and badges” — to play to the conservative base on illegal immigration, using the cloak of Homeland Security.

2) Make Wall Street happy through tax cuts.

3) Brag more (”highlight the glimmer of success in Iraq”).

4) Reclaim security by playing tough with Iran (On Iran, “Democrats will lose”).

5) Court the press (pffer Tony Snow of Fox News the job of White House press secretary)

Excerpts from the TIME article follow, on the five points the Bush White House plans to use to revify a presidency whose poll numbers — even by Fox News estimates, place the president at a 33 percent approval rating.

(Raw Story)

Philo 91 (and all, re WH press) - this Salon piece by Jay Rosen the other day is a must. Sit through the 10 second ad.

For anyone who cares, River from Baghdad Burning has posted again:

http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/

I was worried.

77 ccmask says:
Why does Osama like to give Bush a lift?

I don’t know. Why does Bush hate America?

OT, catching up from last night’s netroot post:

Ladies from Washington, ROCK ON.

Me to Me and Sharkbabe, I agree that our biggest threat in the coming election is vote tampering. A poll watching project is an excellent suggestion. We could brainstorm those areas that are most likely to need people bearing witness. They will steal votes again, this time we can document it, call it in, stay in place until reinforcments come, shine a big light. This sounds like a people intensive job to me - considering that in many areas people will have to go in at least groups of two or three to minimize rethug intimidation.

Who can we recruit to help? We need videos, cars, bodies at every polling station. Well, not everywhere - Vermont, for example, has no pressing need for this. In my town we use paper ballots and town elders run the election and count ballots. But Ohio, Florida, New Mexico? Where else?

What other activist groups can we join with? Certainly the international community has a stake in our elections at this point. Jimmy Carter has worked to ensure fair elections - can he be tapped?

Yeah Arch - jazz-loving peacocks is a cool way to start the Sunday!

And thanks, Taylor, for pointing out the lack of women on the talking head shows.

Blub @88
Good comment on this simbiotic relationship.

kubla000 at 13, I agree.
Please, let’s have more of him on the Sunday talk shows and less of Biden etc.
I wonder if the general public is as sick as I am of seeing Republicans on these shows? (No, I’m not calling Biden a Republican.)

I think about and fear for and say a little prayer for Riverbend every day. And all her countrymen and women whom Dick Cheney has murdered and all the rest he’d like to still.

re: election integrity:

someone needs to go CARRIE NATION on some of those infernal machines . . .

Dos anyone else find it odd that on 2 of the morning talk shows, they have shown the “I am the Decider” quote of Bush?
This one comment symbolizes his limitations and arrogance more than anything he has said in the past 4 years. Can’t they see that? or don’t they care?

egregious,
good to hear you had a lovely day yesterday !

w. timberman - thanks for the greenwald heads up

jayackroid - very familiar with Acorns - none here in God’s Country - miss them and their antics a lot

anyone - now I’m confused about CIA Leak story - was this just incorrect reporting on ABC News part or what ?

and I’m with Sharkbabe, every week they sound more and more like Charlie Brown’s teacher - here we just tend to put it on Fox for the laugh factor and get all our input from y’all and other independent media