Hello Jane!

I just have a quick minute before I have to run off and pick up my son at work. Are you doing okay? Go Ned!

Oi. I’ll have one here in y’alls honor.

Safe travels, O Lambish One.

Anybody home?

Hey OFG! Hope you’re well.

I couldn’t be any better if I was twins.

goodness … the picture of Jane and the pups crossing the country with wifi, friends for coffee and some great campaigning in CT … really warms my heart!

You’re so happy you’re beside yourself!

Please say hi to the ‘Burgh for me. Family’s from there. You’ll have a great time!

For any locals reading some of us will be there at 7pm (our normal start time) so if you’re in the neighborhood stop in.

See you soon, Jane!

.

The flag burning amendment was not adopted!

66 in favor, 34 opposed – just a one vote margin.

We here in Connecticut are waiting!

OFG!

Jane, it sounds like a wonderful trip, filling you up with admiration and love! We on Your Own Coast are envious of the Eastern Lambs you grace with your presence.

And on to Connecticut! Lucky them, an entire month of poodles and Jane. Poor Joe.

Poor Hillary! What’ll she have to campaign on?

Oh wait, there’s always censoring video games instead of dealing with real life. Never mind.

Who are The Flag-Desecrating Thirty-Four?

Thanks are certainly in order for preserving the Constitutional process from this craziness.

Hi Jane! Have a grand time tonight!

Freshly EPU’d:

Remember that story I linked to a couple of days ago about the desert-busted Humvees, etc., coming home for rehab?

CBS says that that item alone is going to cost $18B – that’s $18 BILLION – A YEAR – “for as long as the war lasts, and far beyond.”

Jane,

In think it is wonderful that you are meeting with the FDL pups along the way.

Could this be a trend… circulating FDL pups doing meetups across america! I like the concept… and some blogging at the same time. What a concept!

I suspect there are many who want to meet and this might be the catalyst for some serious activism… ya know getting up from the keyboard… and talking… and then???

I am sure that these face to face meetings can be very productive and lots of fun as well.

You are doing a great thing as the founder of FDL with this road trip to Ned.

Thanks!

Enjoyed visiting you in Tulsa. Hopefully someday you’ll have the chance to visit OKC and see what we’ve done here.

Drinking Liberally — mmmmmm . . .

Iron City Beer — well, there are other brewskis in Pittsburgh . . .

Maybe they can re-write the Amendment more narrowly to make it more appealing. Y’know, outlawing flag burning ONLY gay marriage ceremonies.

‘eh?

or outlawing gay married flags.

DefJef,

Sounds like a blast! In the near future I’ll be better situated to be way more active than I am now. Sorta focusing on my block for the midterms.

Yes it was a good time this morning, and worth the ticket I got for an expired license in order to meet the head FireDog. And the others too! Nice to know that there are more and more people out there who are fed up and ready for change. Have a blast in Pittsbugh tonight, and have a twisted martini for me!

It needs the term “flaming” in their somewhere for fundie approval.

Or outlawing flag burning ONLY at gay Mormon weddings in Utah, to appease Orrin? Terrible problem, y’know.

Hmmm, OFG 22 … are you about to favor us with a major announcement?

lotus 3:46 p.m.

I wonder if it would be cheaper to build a Humvee factory in Kuwait. Of course, that would require a desire by the DoD to be prudent in its expenditures.

Jane –

Have a safe and happy drive! Imagine me standing along the road with a big sign saying “Go Jane! Go FDL!”

And please convey greetings and hugs to FDL’ers you meet along the way (keeping a hug for yourself and the doggies, of course). Though I wish I could be along with y’all in more than the spiritual sense, still I’m looking forward to the day when we will connect in person.

Oh! And a big hello to Western PA and Pittsburgh in particular. Ancestors of mine called the region home — one in particular, a minister, arrived shortly after the Revolution, when Western PA was called “the far western frontier” and “the wilds” and it was the place where Scots-Irish were mixing it up with the Natives (some married the natives, while others battled them). It’s a beautiful and historic region.

Vaya con Dios!

Not a chance, neurophius. Not a flamin’ chance in hell.

lotus,

no, I’ve suffered huge financial setbacks and have taken a vow of poverty, living on beans and water gravy. Feb ‘07 I’ll be 100 percent debt free. Sorta give a fella options, right.

Gotta go. bbl.

OFG –

If your equipment hauling duties take you through Denver, I’m a mile south of I-70, and two blocks off I-25.

Now this a response…FINALLY…this is how we have to respond to the Miss PIggy Rover tactics……
from Kos about Webbs response to DUMBO Allen TRYING to swiftboat him.

———————————————–The campaign of U.S. Senate candidate Jim Webb today called the attacks on Webb’s patriotism by Allen’s campaign, “weak-kneed attacks by cowards” and demanded that Allen and his campaign apologize.

“George Felix Allen Jr. and his bush-league lapdog, Dick Wadhams, have not earned the right to challenge Jim Webb’s position on free speech and flag burning. Jim Webb served and fought for our flag and what it stands for, while George Felix Allen Jr. chose to cut and run. When he and his disrespectful campaign puppets attack Jim Webb they are attacking every man and woman who served. Their comments are nothing more than weak-kneed attacks by cowards. George Felix Allen Jr. needs to apologize to Jim Webb and to all men and women who have served our nation,” Webb spokesman Steve Jarding said.

On Tuesday, George Felix Allen Jr. and his campaign issued a press release in which the Allen campaign, through Wadhams, implied that Webb’s position in support of the Free Speech Amendment to the U.S. Constitution amounted to a political act and not a defense of our Constitution, which Webb fought for and for which he was highly decorated. George Felix Allen Jr. did not serve.

“I believe it is precisely because of bush-league attacks like this that John Zogby, a highly respected, independent polling expert just this week said that Dick Wadhams is not fit to serve as a campaign manager and that George Allen should find a new manager,” Jarding said.

“While Jim Webb and others of George Felix Allen Jr.’s generation were fighting for our freedoms and for our symbols of freedom in Vietnam, George Felix Allen Jr. was playing cowboy at a dude ranch in Nevada. People who live in glass dude ranches should not question the patriotism of real soldiers who fought and bled for this country on a real battlefield,” Jarding said.

“Is Dick Wadhams willing to publicly say that Colin Powell, John Glenn and Bob Kerrey are unpatriotic for having the same position on the flag burning amendment that Jim Webb has? Ask him,” Jarding said.

I took some pictures this morning:

http://home.indy.net/~ctto/JaneH014.jpg

http://home.indy.net/~ctto/JaneH028.jpg

http://home.indy.net/~ctto/JaneH030.jpg

I think I just heard some woman on Lou Dobbs say Lamont is going to beat Lieberman in Connecticut. Didn’t catch her name. Did anyone else hear that?

A prior post indicated only Kobe lived for going in the car. How are Katie and Lucy handling all of this excitement?

neurophius 34,

That was Laura Flanders from Air America Radio.

neuro#34 that was Laura Flanders who has a gret show on Sat and Sun on AAR!

And in a surprise ending to the new smash hit movie “Poodles Across America”, Joe Lieberman is pelted with pumpkin loaves by protesters and is suddenly ravaged by a trio of left wing Standard poodles!

OT – the flag burning amendment failed by 1 vote. sorry if this was posted before

Tweety is talking about the Bush administration’s illegal spying on private bank records without a warrant program. He sounds like he might take the media’s side of the argument on this. We’ll see.

D’s Dogs and Six-Packs

for some reason that reminds me of the laundry/beer joint in San Francisco called The Brain Wash Cafe and Laundromat

Bustedknuckles:

Did Lieberman narrowly escathe injury?

Here’s how to repel a Swiftboat attack, courtesy of Supreme Master Kos Who Reports Only to Kobe:

http://www.webbforsenate.com/p……php?id=57

No prisoners!

not about to tender a soccer spoiler, but there was a World Cup match this afternoon between Gaul and Iberia, and one team won. just saying.

Jane

it sounds like you are having a great time. I admire the way you are channeling your enery right now. This is not only a positive healing thing you are doing for yourself, it leads the way for all of us.

You have certainly given me a model to use the next time adversity comes my way.

You are also reinjecting some of the “oh my gosh real people in the flesh” excitement of YearlyKos back into the Firedoglake experience.

Many are mentally taking the drive along with you, just as we mentally conventioneered with you. It is generous of you to include us in your activities.

You are a class act, lady.

oodles of poodles

billmon — When Worlds Collide

http://billmon.org/archives/002488.html

An asteroid possibly as large as a half-mile or more in diameter is rapidly approaching the Earth and will make an exceptionally close approach to our planet on July 3, passing just beyond the moon’s orbit.

Skywatchers with good telescopes and some experience just might be able to get a glimpse of this cosmic rock as it streaks rapidly past our planet in the wee hours of the morning.

Clem Snopes, NASA public affairs spokesman and a part-time student at Pat Robertson’s Regent University, urged Americans not to panic, saying there is little risk of a collision, given the flatness of the earth’s surface.

However, Snopes also urged asteroid spectators not to stray too close to the horizon in their quest for a sighting, as Republican Party science advisors have determined there is a significant risk they will stumble off the edge of the world and fall straight into the fiery pits of hell.

To help prevent such a disaster, President Bush has mobilized National Guard units from all 50 states to string plush velvet theater ropes around the entire surface of the planet, Snopes added.

This appears to be the vote on the Constitutionflag desecration amendment. It appears to be a vote to amend the thing out of existence, which failed 36-64:

http://www.senate.gov/legislat…..vote=00188

A yea vote is a vote against passing a flag desecration amendment.

Frnaco at 33

Do you suppose the George FELIX Allen use of his name by Webb, is kinda like us rembering that Libby’s name is Irving?

Just wonderin’

O/T for a good laugh:

Falwell on the “moral pervert[s]” in Hollywood: “[Y]ou almost got to be a homosexual to be recognized in the entertainment industry anymore”

Criticizing what he deemed the immorality of Hollywood during his June 25 televised sermon, Jerry Falwell, founder and chairman of the Moral Majority Coalition, declared, “You know, you almost got to be a homosexual to be recognized in the entertainment industry anymore.” Falwell also described “[m]ovie stars” as “moral pervert[s]” for “having babies” out of wedlock.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200606270003

I don’t suppose another stop in Las Vegas en route could possibly be on the itinerary? I missed you at YK (had a prior commitment in L. A. that weekend, tho I did catch the CSPAN replay).

In any case, safe journey.

42 – Joe may be relatively resistant to muffin-induced brain injury, as he seems to been have operating with minimal cortical activity for some time.

Barring direct pontine-pumpkin pastry projectile events. Joenertia should have come through the loaf lobbing alive.

No tellin’ what the poodles may do.

lhp 46, you put that so precisely perfectly, I have to catch my breath.

Robust thanks for the pix, *ilson! A traveling cutie show, they are! But we’d love to see the rest of yez too. Got any more?

And I’m reminded to ask: Does anybody have a clue why, when I click on a link in a comment and return, sometimes I get right back to the comment with the link, and sometimes I get back to only the last spot in the thread where I last refreshed the browser? A puzzle.

al-Scooter at 4:05 p.m.

Jim Webb is superbly qualified to defend himself against chickenhawk George Allen’s chickenshit attempted smear. Webb, the highly decorated military hero, is going on the ATTAAAAAAACK!

about the dog behavior: the Poodles were amazingly well behaved and oh-so-fluffy soft! Jane was effervescent …

If as is supposedly accepted by the pundits, journalists, talking heads, the politicians of both parties, and so on, that the elections this fall and in 2008 will be decided on the “merits” of the Iraq war, why then are not the Democrats hanging this horrible Iraq mess around the neck of President Bush. This should be THE issue. I would think that those who want to defeat the Republicans would want to pound and hammer into the electorate that Iraq is Bush’s war, and this idiot has no prescription for a successful conclusion. Make this the “Bush War” as was done with LBJ over the likewise futile Vietnam War. And we all know what happened to Johnson. Why the Democrats don’t put the yoke of Iraq around Bush is a real head scratcher to me. What are the Democrats afraid of?

Delurking here. I’m going to Memphis next week and was hoping someone could recommend a good place for real Southern food and maybe some of that mile high pie that CHS mentioned the other day. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. I own a restaurant and have to run back to work.
Also many thanks to all who post and comment here. This is such a great blog. I just wish my schedule allowed me to comment more often.
Thanks again,
Qing Qing

Felix sounds suspiciously French, if you ask me …

Oops, missed Franco’s earlier post.
*slaps forehead*

hmmm, well then what about Felix navidad?

punaise – brainwash on folsom and langton was a lot of fun when it opened, can you remember the name of the wonderful eatery across the street?

the group fotos came out poorly … I didnt bring my good flash unit and we were indoors at a coffeehouse…I also dont want to publish peoples pixes without prior permission…

recycled from the depths of last night: the real battle will be over flag dessication.

punaise 64 -

i’ll give up my silica gel when they pry my withered dry fingers off the bag…

Eureka Springs, I’m drawing a blank on the name of that one.

the group fotos came out poorly . . .

That’s more polite than saying that Kobe smashed the camera, and threatened *ilson where it really hurts if he revealed Blog Lord Kobe’s true identity.

kirk murphy – if this issue had arisen during the Watergate era it could have gone straight to Judge Silica.

lotus 54,

It is because the comments when you follow a link here are sent along with the entire page, but when you hit the Refresh Comments button, the new comments are dynamically requested on top of the page. So when you hit back, you load the page as it was originally requested.

al-scooter….no problem
LHP…..I think he was making “FUN” of the Felix middle name, in other words….Felix=PUTZ….LMAO
This kind of smack down should be the NORM not the “once in a while” GOOD mistake….

Qing Qing, I haven’t been through Memphis in a long time, but Corky’s Barbecue is certainly a local institution. I’m sure they must have a website.

On Tweety, the Democratic congressman debating Peter King is doing a pretty good job. King is crying “9/11.”

lotus – right click on a link and open in new tab or window to avoid wordpressin’ confusion.

wasn’t Judge Silica the one who tossed the wet blanket on the plumbers?

Your talking about 3 standard Poodles going on the attack got me thinking. You know, the only redeeming quality I can assign to Bush is that he does show compassion and love toward his dogs. That, honestly, is a major plus. So, I wonder if Joe has a dog. It is when folks don’t that I begin to question how decent they are. Now, that doesn’t go for those who are allergic, don’t have the ability to have a dog where they live, etc.

With two young kids, I’d think Ned probably does have a dog. If so, Jane will have to do a meetup with her trio.

I have issued a directive for emergency legislation making it illegal for cable news pundits to start sentences using the word “look” or “listen”.

Joe Lieberman is a decent guy, but he’s out of touch and his time has passed.

Peter King better watchout….there are SOOOooo many skeletens in that closet, that the Times could easily dig-up……I remember when I was in college in NY in the early eighties he was almost indicted for some treasonous stuff….I have to call my friend in upstate NY who knows all of Kings dirt!

schoolpsyc -

maybe it’s not too late to teach an old doc new tricks -

could Bush teach Billy Frist how to love his cats (without dissecting them?)

Thanks, DB — not sure I quite followed that, but thanks.

Look, Everythingseemssoneat, pundits can take care of themselves without your meddling. Listen, if you don’t like it, talk to TRex.

looseheadprop:

May we please have an update on your health situation?

I apologize if you have had to do this before, but I haven’t seen it if you have.

I hope you’re getting better.

Right click is the magic, eh, Eureka? Can’t wait to try that next time. Thanks.

*ilson,

lgf is claiming the last picture is of you after Jane waved her koswand over you three times and chanted “six-six-six.” Is that true? Where are the pics of the rabid, venomous sheep she’s bringing to Connecticut in the trunk?

*ilson, where are your pictures? I haven’t seen them.

“I have issued a directive for emergency legislation making it illegal for cable news pundits to start sentences using the word “look” or “listen”.”

Can you add “The American people need to understand” to that list? ; )

Everythingseemsoneat at 4:21 pm – eerrrrrggghhhhh, that is one of my pet peeves. Thanks very much for your consideration.

*ilson, so is there some sort of Lamb-Duh group you should tell us about?

Coz #86: Passed by acclimation!

S.J Res. 12: For the Protection of the Flag
Defeated 34-66

Voting against the amendment: Republicans with **

Akaka (D-HI)
Bennett (R-UT)**
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Carper (D-DE)
Chafee (R-RI)**
Clinton (D-NY)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (D-CT)
McConnell (R-KY)** Color me shocked.
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Obama (D-IL)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Wyden (D-OR)

Democrats who voted for the amendment:
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Dayton (D-MN)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Johnson (D-SD)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Stabenow (D-MI)

pundits need to stop “look” and “listen?”

Oh, Kirk, don’t get me started on Frist. Thank goodness not all surgeons are like him. He is just downright scary. All I know is my hubby, who is a pharmacist, told me the main reason he could not go to medical school. It was all the dissection of animals that was required. He used to boast to me about how he would secretly let out frogs from the lab rooms, and how he populated various lakes with them instead.

punaise #88: Log Cabin Republicans?

pix at comment #34

al-Scooter #93 – not rabid enough

“Can the President ignore the law?” Preview of Countdown for tonight.

*ilson #94: Pic #3 – Dog Is My Co-Pilot?

schoolpsyc -

good for your hubby – he sounds like a real sweetie.

somewhere in hundreds of puddles, thousands of tadpoles bubble praises in honor of the man who saved their [great-great]n=10 progenifrog.

and i do agree that not all surgeons are like him – most i’ve met are decent and ethical people.

punaise: Erik Satie in 1913 wrote 3 brief piano pieces entitled: Embryons desseches

Cujo359 #49

The roll call vote on the Hatch Amendment is 189. Roll call vote 188 was on the Durbin Amendment to provide a complete substitute. It was defeated 64-36.

oh dear -

trying to imply the decent and ethical surgeons are unlike Sen. ViviFristor

(and not suggesting the good and ethical surgeons are unlike your good spouse)

sorry about that, schoolpsyc

*ilson46201 @ 4:31 pm (#94) – I’m going to guess that JaneH030.jpg is Kobe, and JaneH028.jpg is Katie and Lucy?

I think 30 is Lucy (Baby Dog) and 28 is Katie and Kobe … the legs are Jane’s (hubba, hubba)

Effervescent? Yes. Charismatic? Yes. Smart? We already knew that. Nice looking? Uh huh.

And that’s just Kobe! You should see Jane. Whew boy!

Anyone within a hundred miles of Pittsburgh, I’d advise you to get in your car now.

Please come to philly. I want to be a groupie instead of a secret admirer. More fun!

ck says:
June 27th, 2006 at 4:08 pm

More from Space.com about 2004 XP14’s close approach on July 3: http://www.space.com/scienceas…..close.html

Pittsburgh is a great city, overlooked by a lot of people as a destination.

*ilson: I do like Satie’s work.

Franco, 33:

heh, heh.

1. “Cowards”….good on Webb! More are joining my lead. And….
2. Just last night on Scarborough, he had a debate between 2 guys. One, a R teamer, and the other, some guy from Air America Radio…Trapatino?..Palipino?…hell. Some guy with an Italian last name. Anyways, the Italian guy specifically called out Rove, calling him, Cheney, et al: “War Sissies”. That’s right, war sissies!

These are the ways you handle draft dodging Karl The Coward Rove. Yes! A few of you get squeemish at my tactics. Understandable. Just turn your head, and look away. As I said several weeks ago, it’s time to get the long knives out…and I bring the A team. Are you hearing us yet, draft dodging Karl The Coward Rove??? heh heh

All for now. I return you to your regular programming.

Ghostman

Israelis attacking the major electrical power plant of Gaza — how civilized! real harbingers of Democracy!

Hugh @ 4:36 pm (#100) The votes were very similar. That’s why I guessed as I did. Looks like a couple of Democrats defected on the final vote (189), Reid and Salazar.

Ghostman….that guy on SCAB-borough was Mike Papantonio, he does a program on the weekends with Kennedy…He is fierce…a great guy for the progressives……
Miss PIggy Rover coward extraordinaire will get his someday!

Qing Qing – I would have to point you over to west memphis for my favorite bbq. For a simple breakfast The Arcade http://www.roadfood.com/Review…..RefID=51is a classic elvis time warp.

With Reid of Nevada voting for the Flag Amendment and McConnell of Kentucky voting against it, there seems to be a story within a story surrounding this vote.

Thread overshoot sector:

Regarding the wingnet welfare post, here’s a poll at C-SPAN that could use some yesses:

Was the media justified in reporting about the government’s use of Swift, an international financial database, to track terrorism suspects?

Right now Yes is only at 47 percent.

Need clarification on flag burning amendment vote please. Cujo’s link at 49 says my Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) voted Nay. Hugh’s list at 90 says he voted Yea. Which is it? (I wouldn’t be surpirsed if he voted Yea with Biden and Bayh, but I was so hoping that with him now 30 points ahead of Katherine Harris he would actually step up and be Democrat on this one.)
If anyone has confirmation, please post it. Thanks much.

*ilson – thanks for the photos. I was checking those out and watching Hardball at the sametime, and at first quick glance, I thought, “OMG, Jane’s transporting lambs across state lines!” But no . . . poodles. Or are these attack lambs in disguise? Very clever.

Happy trails, Jane, and please detour through Boston.

*ilson46201 at 59: Sen. Allen’s mother is French. Really.

(Guess we won’t be hearing any wingnut “he looks French” in that campaign, at least…)

Why did any Democrats think there was an upside to the “Let’s Burn the Constitution” amendment?

I understand why some in deep red states might have weak knees, but this is such a no brainer . . .

That IDIOT Bill Nelson also my senator voted YAH….he better get with the program…he is afraid of the COWARD Miss Piggy Rover….plain and simple….As you know Florida is changing become more progressive even in the center of the state(orlando area)..

Franco, 112: ok, Papantonio. I’ve not heard of him, but after watching him, I sure do agree with your assessment. Hell of a good fighter. Mr. “P” knows how to fight. And I like that. “War sissies”….and on national cable TV…gotta love it!

Ghostman

I think Comedy Central could be fun tonight. Helen Thomas is on with Jon Stewart, and then Tweety is on with Colbert.

HT to Markos for this good news on Lieberman’s efforts:

Finally, and this is great news for the Lamont campaign, the Lieberman campaign failed to get the AFL-CIO endorsement for an independent bid.

Yesireee, buh-bye Joe

prostratedragon @ 4:48 pm (#115) – For those using Javascript blocking, you need to allow pollmonkey.com to run Javascript. Otherwise, you won’t even see the poll.

Murtha missquote misssmear mangles memebots:

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/06/27/murtha-quote/

I don’t want to catch you kids doing something like this…. ever. Live by the gothch, die by the gotcha

(guess belongs under previous post)

I hope Colbert rheams one on Tweety.
Tweety was not kind to Colbert after the WH Corres. weenie dinner….I am sure Colbert will take it to him…
CAn’t wait.

I sooo want glasses just like Jane …. just sayin’

schoolpsyc at 4:52 p.m.

I am looking forward to both.

YOWWWWSERRRRR….Great news about RapeGurneyJoe not getting the afl endors.!!!!!

That’s the thing: this vote was Rove as Dirty Harry: “So, the question is – Do you feel lucky punk?”

The vote is kinda the anti-Miranda – it can and will be used against you, anytime.

Folks like Kennedy/Kerry/Clinton and the rest are ’safe’, but the others?

considering Felix means happy and gay, it might not play so well in some parts of Ole Virginie …

OtisIsHungry #116

Cujo’s link is to a different vote, a parliamentary maneuver by Dick Durbin of Illinois, which preceded the vote on the actual amendment itself. As I just wrote in a comment above, Durbin’s Amendment on the Amendment was roll call 188. The vote on the Flag Burning Amendment was roll call 189, the following vote. My list is on roll call vote 189. So yes, your Senator voted for the amendment to outlaw flag burning.

Colbert rhymes with Coal Bear
Colbert rheams with savoir faire

OtisIsHungry @ 4:48 pm (#116) – Those are different, but related votes. In the vote I linked to, a “Yea” vote means voting against the amendment. In the real vote, the “Nay” votes were against the amendment. See Hugh at #100 for an explanation.

*ilson, I was wondering whether the General would find a reason to support Felix in spite of his being French. But the dubious heterosexuality should seal his fate.

I KNEW it! Grrrr. That idiot Bill Nelson is 30 pts. ahead in his race–ahead of a “head case” BTW–and he votes with the republicans on this flag burning amendment. Can’t we ever get any party discipline on anything? . . . Otis ask rhetorically.

*ilson,

How’s this?

http://i67.photobucket.com/alb…..eindy1.jpg

neurophius and meta- Listen, the President may have to sign the law in pajamas.

Cujo – thanks for java heads up

*ilson at 110– They hit 2 or 3 bridges too, cutting off exit or entry. Those people are now trapped. Real humanitarians– must have taken their lessons from shock and awe.

thanks for the pics– i am really glad you had a nice time!

Otis, I’ll be voting for Moore in the primary. Nelson needs to hear from some of us that day!

hey firepups,

back from re-roofing Kos’ beach house -

*ilson, thanks so much for the great pix (Jane’s Black Sheep Squadron)

So, will AFL-CIO hold off on an endorsement until after the Primary, or have they stated their intent to endorse Joe as long as he’s a Dem ? I’m confused, thought he had them in his back pocket

Eureka Springs, re: eatery @62: do you mean “Julie’s Supper Club”?

NYT banner: Israeli Tanks and Troops Move Into Gaza

Dammit.

cbl
back from re-roofing Kos’ beach house- LOL

lotus 141
Yeah. . . . sigh. . .

cbl

The AFL-CIO endorsed Joenertia specifically for the primary.

it’s 4am in Gaza and the temperature is 73ºF but it’s expected to get up to 89ºF later — but the Israelis just bombed the power plant so there’ll be no air-conditioning …

cbl, they endorsed JL but ONLY for the primary.

On Hardball last night someone tried to slime Murtha for claiming that the US is the greater threat in the world, but it turns out, the Florida paper that reported this originally now concedes they made a mistake. Murtha was citing an international poll, not stating his own views. In the meantime, the right media blasted Murtha, as expected.

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/06/27/murtha-quote/

cbl,

“back from re-roofing Kos’ beach house”

ROFL

Yes !! Julie’s was so good … good times

Regarding Lieberman, he DID receive the AFL-CIO endorsement, but only until the primary. They are reserving the right to endorse the winner of the primary. Still big news, because if Lamont wins the primary, he won’t have to go against the unions while Joe goes Indie.

In contrast to Joe, New Haven Mayor John DeStefano got an endorsement through the November election, in spite of what happens during the August primary against Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy.

Of course, Mayor DeStefano hasn’t dodged the independent question; he’s going to stay a Democrat.

That’s what all your waffling gotcha, Joe! A half an endorsement!

Joe and the AFL-CIO topdogs had planned to get a ‘permanent endorsement’ for Joe all the way to November BUT a number of Lamont-friendly unions hollered loudly so the endorsement is only good for the Democratic Primary in August…

Don’t forget the NATIONAL BOYCOTT/STRIKE!click here

BTW, John DeStefano is running for governor of CT.

Can’t we ever get any party discipline on anything? . . . Otis ask rhetorically.

And who’s to enforce that? Harry Reid, who voted for the damn thing?

And what all those AFL-CIO peeps actually DO in the voting booth is known only to them . . .

When it comes to handling mewling attacks -you can tell Webb used to be a Republican. Not only a Felix, but a couple of “bush-leagues” and an overall weak-kneed and your momma and campaign manager too.

Is that so hard? Did most Dems never have older brothers?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
lhp – I hope what you were mentioning below about taking things on up through the courts will hold water. I got a very depressed feeling today about the Chauffeur case that they are supposed to come out with anytime. You know how it’s done – the strongest case for Gov is the one that went up. Not the cab driver beaten to death at Bagram or the Chinese Uighars or the guy imprisoned by the Taliban bc he was against bin Laden or any of the many sold by Pakistanis or warlords.

I’ve looked at the reversal of the exlusionary rule already and things are just not looking real good for law, order, inalienable rights and the Constitution these days.

On that note, Gonzales says – eh, what a half decade detention if they say we were wrong –

http://tinyurl.com/eoetx
“I think, by and large, the courts have vindicated our decisions. In some cases, the courts have disagreed. And when that happens, we … meet the mandates of the court,” Gonzales said.
“We will go to the limits of what our law allows, to what our constitution allows, to protect our country, because, quite frankly, that is what is necessary,” he added.

not all Senate votes are party-line votes … obviously

Thanks everyone for the Joe 411 !

And predictably – Pat Roberts wants to go immediately from flag burning to stake burning.

http://tinyurl.com/h3skd

[After requesting Negroponte to do a full damage assessment Roberts said] “Whether the president’s Terrorist Surveillance Program or the Department of Treasury’s effort to track terrorist financing, we have been unable to persuade the media to act responsibly.”
Negroponte’s office had no immediate comment. The national intelligence director told Roberts’ committee this year that media leaks compromise the effectiveness of intelligence operations and undermine the morale of intelligence officers.

I just realized what with Jane taking the Three Poodles to Connecticut — she really is planning to dog Lieberman !

Feinstein voted for the amendment? You know, I don’t believe there’s any principle she would stand up for. That small, still voice in her urging authoritarianism always wins.

OT: Senator Stevens postponed the vote on Net Neutrality again. They will debate and vote on it tomorrow, apparently.

Stevens also admitted that he doesn’t have the 60 votes required for cloture. And the sticking point is Net Neutrality. This bill might not even get through the Senate this year. Especially with principled Senators like Wyden fighting for us.

Gonzales, “quite frankly.”

HA!

*ilson46201

“it’s 4am in Gaza and the temperature is 73F but it’s expected to get up to 89F later – but the Israelis just bombed the power plant so there’ll be no air-conditioning …”

with the fuel shortage (due to the economic blockade), I wonder how soon before the hospitals’ emergency generators run out.

bye, bye ICU patients

and ventilator patients

and soon dialysis patients

Or perhaps the IDF will do what the US did in Fallujah and occupy the hospital before the next stage of the invasion.

Cuts down on the pictures of atrocities if the ER is closed – can’t let too much gore pile up at the scenes of these liberations.

It might disrupt the news cycle.

No water or food or meds either, kirk.

could be goodbye to everyone.

It’s really distasteful that when one criticizes almost any Israeli government policy, you are almost immediatly branded anti-semitic. I’m anti-Bush and anti-Republican, does that make me anti-American? Hardly. It’s become axiomatic, that to criticize Israeli governmental policies and that country’s undue influence on American foreign policy is taboo.

*ilson, feel free to put my mug up for what it is worth. Or, you can email me and I’ll photoshop ‘em and send ‘em back.

Jane is an amazing individual, and I was honored to meet her in person. I hope she shoves a big ole’ bug up Holy Joe’s ass.

Mary,

It’s not that Webb used to be a republican. Republican DOES NOT equal knowing how to fight/fight back.

What it does mean is that Webb believes in himself and his mission. He’s a leader, with the confidence that comes from fighting hard fights.

The crew you refer to is so concerned with keeping their jobs they neglect to actually DO their jobs.

And yes, they probably never learned that getting your ass beat once or twice is ok, as long as you hit back.

P.s. You KNOW i love ya. ;)

Twisted Martini, were you shaken by the encounter or stirred to take action?

Mary 5:12 p.m.

It is hard to figure where Sen. Pat Roberts is coming from. He has a degree in journalism, has worked as a reporter and editor, and his family has owned a newspaper for many years. Maybe the sheer weight of all the cocktail weenies, not to mention the flattery and fawning, he has been treated to as chairman of the intelligence committee has caused him to forget that there was ever a First Amendment.

*ilson46201 & kirk murphy – wrt gaza, much more important than airconditioning are refrigerators (and of course, hospitals). gaza – the world’s most dense population, the world’s largest prison. i grieve for all the people….

angie -

You’re absolutely right, of course :)

I can’t lay my hands (or keys) on the citation, but I recall that overt malnutrition is present in Palestinians living the Occupied Territories. The malnutrition is the result of insufficient food supplies due to the economic blockade.

One day in grad school, my roommate threw down the morning paper — “Jews-and-Arabs, Jews-and-Arabs, I’m so sick of Jews-and-Arabs!”

That was … oh … 30 years ago.

why not give the palestinians a chunk of texas or utah and a humvee factory. *g*

Oklahoma kiddo – i don’t think the gov of israel is good for the israeli people. when i condemn the actions of the israeli gov, i think i am defending the people of israel (as well as palestinians)… and i don’t forget the hostage…. my concern and care is for all the people.

it’s the same here… when i condemn the usa gov actions, i think i am defending (in some very small way) the people of my country….

meta – notice he didn’t mention Fred.

OT – I’ve ranted a bit about the secrecy thing (keep in mind, “a bit” has a very expansive definition). Secret review, detention, laws, court proceedings, etc. I thought that “your words are secret from yourself” tactic recently taken in Padilla was a first.

Saying that he could not hear his own interrogation or talk about his interrogation with his lawyer – although the lawyer could hear and talk about the interrogation, but not with his client – bc the lawyer had sec. clearance and Padilla did not.

Reading through the pdf I had below on the Ashcroft DOJ, I discovered that Padilla is really just a refinement, using national security instead of the former loser of “privacy” (which was the approach used to try to keep from releasing GITMO prisoners names as well- it would violate their right to privacy to have their families know that, after 4 years, they aren’t dead).

Anyway, the earlier “your words can’t be released to you” effort:

Courts have seen through other novel Justice Department attempts to justify secret
government. When two airline passengers sued to find out why they were on a national
“no-fly” list created after the September 11 attacks, the FBI refused to release its
summary of the travelers’ own complaints. The Justice Department tried unsuccessfully
to argue that the release would violate the travelers’ own privacy by giving them
information about themselves.

Wow – lucky thing we’ve moved on from Ashcroft.

Mary, you really need to write this as a post, you know.

punaise @172-both! I originally had a conflict with the get together, but juggled some things around. However, in the process of rushing back from the wilds of Indiana, I got pulled over by John Law and written up for an expired license. Irony was I went yesterday to get it renewed and the BMV closed at noon, I was 20 min late.

So I pull up at the Abbey Coffee House and there is a car with Oregon plates in front of me. Looks like sombody is sitting in there. I think, “better hurray, she’s getting ready to leave,’ but upon closer inspection, it was just the Original FireDogs, being very well behaved.

We had a fabulous conversation with Jane and sent her on her way east with much love, much coffee and renewed vigor to blog for Ned and help take back our country from the Gambinos.

our fearless leader Jane with Twisted Martini in Indianapolis this morning http://home.indy.net/~ctto/JaneH020.jpg

Mary, what do you think of this legal absurdity? Has the legal system in our country completely lost its collective mind?

Eureka, I want to thank you again for that right-click tutorial – works great.

Urban – you are right What it does mean is that Webb believes in himself and his mission.

I’m just so sick of so many Dem pols right now I went for the cheap shot. I am starting to really dislike them – I’m with Digby on the “maybe we’ll get a second party soon.”

Neurophius – I didn’t know that about Roberts. It makes you wonder that much more. It is absolutely ludicrous. And of course the “assessment” he wants would be “secret” in the Intel Committee so the Dems on the committee couldn’t even talk about it being ridiculous.

EVERYONE KNOWS AND KNEW FOR YEARS INCLUDING BEFORE 9/11 that calls and money were being traced.

THE ONLY NEW INFORMATION is that it is being done either illegally, without oversight, or both.

Argh.

prostrated dragon at 115

That Poll needs some more freeping. It’s 50-50. Alas I don’t know how to do the links in Wordpress, but go to 115.

ot and heading toward epu land….
from today’s senate judiciary committee hearing on pres. bush’s signing statements – some of the transcripts are online (i haven’t been able to find a video or audio of the hearing).

http://judiciary.senate.gov/me…..it_id=2629

i just got to say that today i love senator leahy. here’s a great bit, from his statement (and he says “rubber-stamp”):

These signing statements are a diabolical device and the President will continue to use and abuse them, if Congress lets him. So far, this Congress has done exactly that. Whether it is torture, warrantless eavesdropping on American citizens, or the unlawful detention of military prisoners, this Republican-led Congress has been more than happy to turn a blind eye and rubber-stamp the questionable actions of this Administration regardless of the consequences to our Constitution or civil liberties. But, we in Congress have a constitutional duty to conduct meaningful oversight on behalf of all Americans.”

*ilson? Do we not get to know what you look like? : (

Sad-a-tee!

http://i67.photobucket.com/alb…..eindy3.jpg

Coz the pic fixer ; )

lotus – Both happy and amazed I could help out : ) FDLers hooked me on firefox if you haven’t tried, it’s fanTAbulous.

neurophius @ 5:32 pm (#183) – This is a question that occurs to me almost daily. IANAL, but it just seems so blindingly obvious that much of this is wrong that you just wonder what ass-backwards, anti-matter , gotee-wearing Spock universe that people like Yoo, Roberts, Alito, and Gonzalez emerged from.

here’s a photo of me from a coupla years ago — except nowadays I have brilliantly orange hair http://home.indy.net/~ctto/Wilson46201.jpg

Jacqrat ? Are you in DiFi land ? lol My mind wanted to name Julie’s…Katrina.

Has the legal system in our country completely lost its collective mind?

I truly don’t know. It seems to me that it has suffered from partisanship in appointments, failure to cull for quality, and intimidation with threats from all sides. Plus it had flourished once upon a fair amount of respect for govt, military and legal integrity which has given way to “parsing” and gaming the “secrecy” issues.

But mostly, partisanship in the courts and in the DOJ. There have always been weird things in the law that don’t make sense without a lot of background. For example, with all the mining legislation I heard some rumbles about something that I don’t know if they had to do or not, but which would make a lot of people scratch their heads.

They wanted wireless communications, so that fires, etc. couldn’t burn line, but there is also some kind of communication that involved partly wired, partly wireless that people agreed was probably the best alternative available (I think the wired portions were drilled through rock) but the legislation was already pretty far down the pike, so they were thinking of adding to the definition of wireless communications that it should be deemed to include wired communications – if they were . . .

Those kinds of things always send people around the bend. BUt this very basic – make stuff up so you can break the law and torture – is just sad. And to have Congress running around behind the President and passing law after law to try to clean up, is sadder.

But you also have the very real problem of so many people setting on the situation for so long making it less and less propitious for a court to draw the line and say “no more.”

For example, on the surveillance programs – how many years now? How many people? How many felony counts for Hayden alone? Other NSA employees? Every step that drags it out – more felonies accruing daily. Who in the courts has the fortitude to say – the Constitutional system is so important, it means that yes, we have to open every one of them to thousands of felonies.

Of course, if they did, the PResident that caused it all would still be unscathed and unsmitten. Except politically – but if he’s already spun the poltics this far, isn’t it pretty easy to just make that a traitorous activist court? So by structuring program after program with too many too hard working and valuable and probably pretty decent people on the front lines, they craft an untenable situation. WHen no whistleblowers come forward early – it gets much worse. WHen no one in Justice even hints that things are anything but “legal” and when they actively participate in the lies and misdirection that was and is the Patriot Act, as a cover for ongoing felony after felony after felony —

it becomes the snowball down the mountain that eventually no one wants to step in front of – and the possibles are people like Alito, Roberts, Kavanaugh — or Roberts and Specter?

It’s just been a lot of little evil adding up and no one who looks at the monstrosity wants to claim their part in making it.

And W hides behind the ranks of those who took the risks for him and will be in the line of fire if anyone does stand up and say, “the Constitution does matter.”

It all sucks so badly.

He does, and he was fabulously coordinated with his orange shirt!

If you come to Queens or Brooklyn I promise to show up

Oklahoma kiddo 169 -

“It’s really distasteful that when one criticizes almost any Israeli government policy, you are almost immediatly branded anti-semitic. I’m anti-Bush and anti-Republican, does that make me anti-American? Hardly. It’s become axiomatic, that to criticize Israeli governmental policies and that country’s undue influence on American foreign policy is taboo.”

Oklahoma kiddo, I couldn’t agree with you more.

I learned about many aspects of the human rights crimes and violations of international law inherent in the Israeli occupation from a delightful person whom I once was married to. She had learned Arabic in her Middle Eastern graduate degree program at UCLA, and went on to do real work in basic science.

When I object to human rights crimes the IDF inflicts upon non-violent Palestinians, I expect to hear I’m anti-Semitic.

That would be a surprise to the person I was married to and with whom I attended Passover dinners in her family home. She had grown in that hot bed of anti-Semitism known as Skokie, Illinois along with her family. There were fewer members of the extended family around when she grew up than would have been the case if many had not been lost in the Holocaust.

The lovely person to whom I was once married had no difficulty discerning the difference between her family’s religion (Judaism) and the poltical ideology known as Zionism. Many orthodox rabbis still make that distinction most vigorously, and some were doing so almost a century ago.

My question is why does the religion of any state or person absolve them of responsibility for their own individual acts in violation of human rights and international law?

I may be naive, but I’m left with the ongoing belief that those who torture, bomb, starve, blockade, or otherwise attack civilians are war criminals no matter what they worship before or after their violence.

Pittsburgh at Regent Square! Damn, if I had read this site earlier, I would have gone. That’s just a few miles from me.

Now I’m sad. :(

Eureka @ 193:

I now live in the fantastic East Bay, but used to work downtown at what was then KSAN radio (RIP, and CURSES to Clear Channel! *&^*&^~!).

Our Local Sales Manager’s name was Julie Kahn – that’s one reason why I remember. Those were good times! She was awesome. I think she works for the station that carries the Boston Red Sox now, IIRC.

Rob Zuber: it only started an hour ago! GO RIGHT NOW ! ! !

Mary @ 5:53 pm (#194) – Joe Scarborough was talking about this issue yesterday, and in essence he asked “What if the Clintons were doing this?” It’s just amazing that people who ought to be able to work through the ramifications are nonetheless happy to let this stuff slide.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/…..jefferson/

*ilson

If you didn’t figure out until just now that Jane is siccing the dogs on Joementum, then he surely doesn’t know what’s coming.

Watch out CT. Hello democracy. Poodle style.

*ilson – the new thread I see is a labor thread

correction: Julie started as LSM, but due to her superb management and people skills, was soon General Manager. We were devastated when she went across town to the station that carries the SF Giants. (she started selling Cubs’ in Chicago, it is in her blood)

Best. Boss. Ever.

But YES! I am in DiFi’s territory. Wish she’d grow some balls – I hope yesterday’s hearing opened her eyes a WEE Bit.

Hugn at 90

Your list doesn’t seem to agree with the senate website. The posting there is:

Grouped By Vote Position YEAs —36
Akaka (D-HI)
Bennett (R-UT)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Carper (D-DE)
Chafee (R-RI)
Clinton (D-NY)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (D-CT)
McConnell (R-KY)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Obama (D-IL)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Wyden (D-OR)

NAYs —64
Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Allen (R-VA)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burns (R-MT)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
Dayton (D-MN)
DeMint (R-SC)
DeWine (R-OH)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Frist (R-TN)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lott (R-MS)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Santorum (R-PA)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Talent (R-MO)
Thomas (R-WY)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)

Rambling on.

For example, from the pdf Brandenburg article on Ashcroft’s DOJ, he discusses Ashcroft designated Haftill as a “person of interest” in the anthrax scare. Multiple times, but with nothing on the evidence front – to where Hatfill sued.

. At a hearing, a federal judge warned prosecutors that, “if you don’t have enough information to indict this man, you can’t keep dragging him through the mud. . .That’s not the type of country I want to be part of. It’s wrong!”

So much easier with one person, one publicized case. But when it is about thousands and thousands of covert violations of law, committed by who knows how many govt employees at the direction of the President — it may be even more wrong and even less the type of country anyone wants to live in– but it is a much more difficult thing for a court to rule You have all broken the law and whatever good you have also done, you are all felons and subject to serving time for each of your felony commissions.

Would you pull that trigger? It’s not as ez in the real world as in the abstract. It’s why I have no respect or trust left for anyone with the Dept of Justice, they started the snowball and not only are they not doing anything to stop it, they relentlessly and regularly add to it. Rove’s nothing. The assault on this country that DOJ has led the charge on and recruited every agency in the Executive to support is everything. And I don’t have nearly the positive feelings of some that it will sort out now — too long with too little reponse from those who knew better.

punaise 204

first i saw the labor thread and a new thread preceding it -

by the time i was done attempting to fitz! (curses, foiled again) the first new thread had rolled up

i’d mention what was in the first thread but then the moderators may have to kill me.

until the first thread unrolls again, i’ll be in the rabid lambs’ reader protection pastures…

cujo 5:44 p.m.

“you just wonder what ass-backwards, anti-matter , gotee-wearing Spock universe that people like Yoo, Roberts, Alito, and Gonzalez emerged from.”

The same one David Addington came from, I’m sure.

Jane

Hope you’re having a great time. There are such weird cosmic crossroads that we come to in life and FDL is one of those for me.

We call our house “The Poodle Palace” though we have no poodles, just 3 cats and a Jack Russell. I found FDL ‘by accident’ yet have found an internet “Poodle Palace” where I’m comfortable and able to speak my mind. There’s a Goethe quote that expresses what I feel better than I ever could:

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back– Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”

I’m pretty sure THIS IS OUR MANTRA.

Random thoughts:

Israel/Palestine: I’m having a hard time finding sympathy for the Palestinians. They voted Hamas into power, and now they’ve got an Israeli soldier hostage. The phrase “asking for it” comes to mind.

Rush/Florida: I sincerely doubt that there’s a statute that says you can prescribe drugs to someone and then give them to someone else, as long as everyone involved is aware of the arrangement. I’d love to see the statue, though, as well as the rationale for it.

Texas death row: The state is trying to execute a serial killer down here. One of his victims–the one he got the death penalty for–is a former fellow of my program down here. So everyone is watching this story. My big problem with this–even beyond my usual objections to the death penalty–is that this guy is clearly schizophrenic. He needs to be locked up in a psych ward for the rest of his life. I just don’t see the justification for execution here.

NYT/Treason: Nice to see them fighting back.

Flag burning: One vote, huh? Food for thought. It may help bring out the right-wing base this fall. I doubt it, though. Iraq’s going to be one of the big issues, not flag-burning. And I expect we’ll be seeing more and more conscientious objecteos between now and then, too.

This probably belongs in EPU:

From Think Progress
And finally: A charming computer simulation of Earth being destroyed by a 100km-wide asteroid.

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/…..e-27-2006/

(some one better check out who has the rights to this, otherwise could show up as a Bushco campaign commercial soon)

Frank Probst at 210

The Israel/Palestine topic is SO a thread in itself, and I think it deserves its own post. Anyone? Anyone? Bueler?

Frank: concerning Gaza: think “proportionality” —

Jacqrat – So do I. She used to get my reluctant vote. I wrote a thank you to Republican. Walter Jones N.C. last night. His face during the hearings yesterday was priceless.

Mary, you rock my vote. Just have to pause and say thank you again. I go back and catch all of your comments, and others, daily. Still need to make your butterscotch pie.

A Palestine(Israel) thread could be horrendously divisive here — I’m already worried we’ve possibly crossed an ignition point already in this thread …

Feingold voted for the constitutional ammendment to ban flag burning. WTF

ilson at 215

Boy do I agree…me and the doc are talking about it right now and I’m furious.

God…I was so Zen at 209.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCAT…..index.html

Off topic but if you live in Jersey you might want to know what your kid’s teacher is up to.

Why would a thread about the Israelis and the Palestinians be devisive?

Facts are facts…

The deal is that the Israelis have acted pretty horendously over the years. They have accomplished some incredible things over there, but the Likud push for a greater Israel clearly tramples on the Palestinians.

The Ps with their terrorism are not angels so I tend to wish they would both “go away”.

It is hard to see a way out of this intractable problem. It’s like both sides are acting like crazed children who can’t understand that ultimately they have to compromise.

Two wrongs don’t make a right and two thousand don’t either.

Kirk at 101

My guy (Pulmonology/Critical Care/Sleep) wants to know your speciality. And Thanks for all your great posts

Sincerely, HopeSpringsATurtle

the amazing thing is that the total population of the two sides is twice Indiana’s and the land area is half of Indiana’s…it’s not like China or Greenland!

JR @ 6:05 pm (#205) && Eureka Springs, AR @ 6:24 pm (#216) – Once again, there were two different, but related votes. Feingold voted against the flag desecration position in both.

Cujo
You’re one smart pup…

Eureka Springs, AR:

Check here. No need to worry….

http://feingold.senate.gov/~fe…..defeat.htm

This will likely molder in EPUville, but the outlier votes from party leaders, IIRC, are a procedural gimmick so this can be brought up again.

defjef – the israelis who think clearing the land of arabs is redeeming the land for g*d don’t represent all israelis, the palestinians and israelis who kill civilians are not the majority… and the politicians who manipulate public opinion by scapegoating (israelis or palastinians) don’t represent anybody but themselves.

there are also israelis and palestinians who are courageously working together for peace and the universality of human rights. they are heros.

we don’t have to choose between israelis and palestinians – as though it was a sporting event and we want to pick a team to cheer for. we can choose to support all the israelis and palestinians who are working together for peace.

Hi HopeSpringsATurtle -

I’m actually blushing.

Thank you for your kind assessment

I’m so glad for the good energy and good words (except for the lack of discernment in 221) you bring to the poodle palace here.

I’m a shrink…fellowship was in trauma psych/consultation-liaison. Before I moved out of the smog I spent years working with transplant, oncology and other teams of “real doctors” like your guy.

I’ve been working outside of teaching hospitals for three years now and despite the craziness of high tech med care, I very much miss the good work and good people.

And all the secret frog champions.

[Note to NSA - no, that is NOT a coded message to the Earth Liberation Front. Now go away, you grubby little Constitution-foulers…

NSA, you are right to think the sky is falling, but you’re looking in the wrong place. The culprits are back near your place at Fort Meade - just up the road.

The sky is falling in the form of condensed water vapor - brought in extra big portions by your real enemy, global climate change.

And the perps - well, their leader is the guy the CIA writes the President’s Daily Intelligence Briefing for. And his boss, Presdient Bush.]

selise,

I understand. But Israel is a jewish state. And like here the right wing has sway.

I used to travel accross the country with large amounts of cash on antique buying trips. I have no criminal record. I have at least a hundred personal Orwelian stories on how law enforcement, with no cause at all, destroys any notion of human decency or personal liberty in this land. People have been treated so poorly for so long I don’t find the lack of freedom fighting spirit all that surprising anymore. What freedom? When I read here the fine print of legal scrutiny from Mary and others on DOJ etc., I see the loss of rule of law under our constitution is nearly complete. Now that the connect a dot big picture is clearly painted. Just not sure what to do next. Move to D.C. and protest every day, keep writing letters and making phone calls. Is it enough? Are we going to hit any tipping point before economic disaster. I doubt economic disaster would tip this constitutional crisis in a direction towards liberty. Hope alone is no longer enough. Thinking and reading every day, waiting for my poodle idea/trip. Sorry a rant from a deer in headlights.

Cujo359
It is pretty disappointing about Feingold and unfortunately not too surprising about my senator DiFi. Maybe Feinstein has no opposition in the coming election and is intent on not making waves but I’d sure expect her to stand up for a change instead.

Kirk

My guy just yelled from the Kitchen (he’s making Moosewood cookbook Falafel. No O’Reilly Jokes please…), “You ARE a ‘real Doctor, thanks for your input to the thread.”

Eureka Springs, AR @ 7:21 pm (#230) – Much of the obsession with cash goes back to the “Drug War”. It was one of the reasons drug transactions were hard to detect, so they made it harder to collect large amounts of cash without being noticed.

Deep in EPUland – HopeSAT, that is a lovely quote.

Eureka – that is very nice – I feel like that about almost all the posters (take a bow) here. Sometimes the volume is staggering, but I love reading the comments.

I’ll try to go through this one more time. There were 2 votes today. The first was the Durbin Amendment to replace the Hatch Flag Protection Amendment with an entirely different amendment. This was a parliamentary maneuver and failed 64-36. This was roll call vote 188.

The real vote was roll call vote 189 which was on the Hatch Amendment which was the controversial Flag Protection Amendment. The vote here was 66-34. I give the vote breakdown in my #90. Feingold voted against the amendment which is what we wanted. The amendment failed because it needed 67 votes or a 2/3 majority to pass as is required for Constitutional amendments. Hope this clears up any misunderstandings.

JR:

Why are you disappointed in Feingold? He voted AGAINST amending the Constitution for this matter (see my previous post #225). Have no fear, Findgold ain’t pulling any triangulation nonsense. Maybe you wanted the Constitution to be amended to ban flag burning? If that’s the case, sorry to misunderstand you.

Spinegold/Rhodes ‘08! (as in Randi)

Mike Malloy as Press Secretary? Hmmm….

Jane Hamsher Sec of State? Bartcop Chief of Staff? Jesus’ General Sec of Defense? Now that’s a Cabinet!

DefJef 229

“But Israel is a jewish state. And like here the right wing has sway.”

I do not seek to pick at your (or anyone else’s) choice of words – especially regarding a topic as delicate as this matter.

I would not even comment – and I’m cringing as I do so – except that I’ve been part of the discussion.

So I’m – er – compelled to observe as politely as I may that I don’t believe the dominant religion in Israel, the US, Iran, (or Indonesia or ?) is relevant to an assesment of these nations’ observance of human rights and/or international law.

As I see it, the issue is not whether a nation’s majority faith is Zoroastrian, Society of Friends, Reclaming Pagan, Epsicopalian, or Reform Jewish.

The issue I do see regarding religious beleif and public policy transcends specific faiths: fundamendalist religious views may be difficult to reconcile with the concept of compromise and negotiation typical of funtioning representative government.

And here I very much agree with you – the right wing has held sway in Israel for a long time. I’m afraid the same thing has been true in the US for the past five years.

Any place the right wing rules, the living world and all the people and creatures therein suffer.

Hope we all see the end of religious fundamentalism’s role in government across the whole sad planet.

And that we and the living world survive it.

Whew – thank you, Selise 227, for your lovely comment. I was getting very uncomfortable.

belief, not beleif

sheesh

am i hallucinating, or was there a spell-check option in the wordpress shakedown cruise.

it would be so nice for the proof-reading impaired.

i’m bust slayin’

Much of the obsession with cash goes back to the “Drug War”. It was one of the reasons drug transactions were hard to detect, so they made it harder to collect large amounts of cash without being noticed.

Cujo – I am aware. My point was the real war on liberty. Only after many violations without cause, cash played a role in unwarrented scrutiny. War on drugs, terror, etc. should not require complete disregard for dignity of innocent citizens.

further unwarranted scrutiny

Bonkers at 238

But what Would Jesus Do?

Kirk at 239

You totally rock.

HopeSpringsATurtle – 232

thanks to your guy. hope the falfel were good….

kirk 239 -

fundamentalist,

not “fundamendalist”,

(perhaps my typing fingers had a cold….)

kirk, thank you for your posts.

selise, thank you for yours too.

HopeSpringsATurtle 245 -

i am truly embarrassed…

it’s my parents who rock (or Glenn Miller?) – they both taught me to treat each individual as a person deserving of respect and courtesy and – when possible – help.

i’m so lucky that both are in my life – last week’s sad news reminded me once again how blessed i am…

selise, i couldn’t agree more with angie’s (latter) comment – thank you for your post and the truths that you tell.

angie, thanks for your kind words!

i do believe that the majority on all sides of the conflict want peace for themselves and the “other side”. hope one day their wishes are granted.

(i also believe i can spell falafel. sheesh.)

Stalwart angel, keep on, with love.

He will make peace on us and on all Israel.

If you want to spend time in the Capitol (Hartford) when you arrive in CT, I have unused bedrooms in an adjacent suburb, and you would be most welcome.

robert.hall10@att.net

Ahhhh now how did I miss that you’d be in Indy? Too bad you weren’t here on a Thursday for our Drinking Liberally.

To any Indy area readers who might be reading, you shoudl come to Drinking Liberally: Indianapolis. Every Thursday, 7pm-whenever, at Spencer’s Stadium Tavern (802 S. West St.)