Rootz!

Everything Okay over there ??

there’s no way i could be first. but keep it up.
good work.

Joe actually thinks the way to win a Democratic primary is to act like a Republican and treat Democrats like 12-year olds who just don’t understand. It had better not work…

Steve at 2 — the damn computer ate my original draft of the post — which was a longer, more detailed version. Hate it when that happens, but it was my own fault — I clicked the wrong button and instead of posting, I went back one page. And I hadn’t saved as I was going along like I normally do. SIGH Hate it when that happens.

I was wondering…….. Well, It might be one of those days.

Thanks to everyone who helped with the Detroit News poll yesterday.

And yes, this is a thread-jacking, but you REALLY have to see this racist ad in Michigan: http://jesseowensrules.blogspot.com/

Anonymous Michigan conservatives hired an ad agency to compare Democrats to Hitler and they used Jesse Owens to do it. It’s the swift boating (literally) of Jen Granholm — and Scamway heir Dick DeVos is playing George Bush.

“I love you George”

“I love you too Joey”

“Geroge… I can’t quit you!”

Stopping by on the way to work this AM — people on previous threads asked about what caught their attention close to midway through the debate — the obviously VERY local station dumped into a promo for the 11pm newscast. There was no audience — that studio is teeny.

New poll at the Hartford Courant this AM http://www.courant.com on who won — sadly, “did not watch” is winning with 46%

While we are talking about whether the Democratic Party has left Joe Lieberman or Slow-mo has left the Democratic Party, may I provide a little information on whether Tom Delay has left the Texas Republican Party or the TRP has left the U.S. Constitution?

I don’t know whether this has been provided, but here is the Opinion (decision) of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in Texas Democratic Party v. Tina Benkiser, Chairwoman of the Republican Party of Texas:

http://www.txwd.uscourts.gov/a…..pinion.pdf

This is the case that leaves Tom Delay on the November ballot in Texas. The resolution of the case involves the question whether the Republican Party of Texas and state law can set requirements for eligibility of candidates for federal office, or whether only Congress under the U.S. Constitution can do so. The court ruled that only Congress can do so, so Delay stays on the ballot.

It will be, of course, appealed.

Fallout and next steps at this Houston Chronicle article: Democrats pleased with ruling; Texas GOP appealing

I had to turn off the debate about halfway through. They kept letting Joe get the last word in on everything and seemed too intimidated to cut him off when he was out of line. It’s getting so close to the elections and all this stuff raises my blood pressure to the danger level. At some point I’m going to have to bail out on paying such close attention to all the politics and just start hanging out with my cat to mellow out.

Steve Clark 11 – I had the same reaction to the debate. Joe was pissing me off much like when Chimpy is on TV, I often change channels or mute him. Someone should tell Joe that the debate is structured so they each get equal time and it is very rude, and not to mention unprofessional, to keep interrupting with snippy little comments.

Who is Ned Lamont? Joe, he’s the guy that is going to kick your ass in the primary.

i sent off an email to boxer’s office yesterday but have yet to hear back. i kept it brief and asked her why she was endorsing joe’s canidadcy given his ardent support for the war which she voted against and his spotty record on progressive issues which she always champions. i’ll be interested to see if i get an actual answer, or just a “thanks for making your opinion known” reply.

e.c.

Christy –

you’ve got mail

off the above topic but never-the-less related – editorial at NY Times about the Dem’s war strategy

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07…..rubin.html

and thanx to cujo, i now can link….

OfT: As usual, d r i f t g l a s s is, well, d r i f t g l a s s.

http://driftglass.blogspot.com…..manqu.html

FWIW – Brian Lehrer on WNYC is devoting the first hour of his show (10-11 AM ET) to parsing the debate and taking calls, in his usual pretty fair and direct way. It’s available on line streaming and podcast @wnyc.org.

e.c.

I emailed Boxer two days ago, and I’m still waiting . . .

Maybe her “constituent services” intern is on vacation.

Bwwwaaaaa…..Liebermans internal polling confirms that the CT. primary voters are realizing that politicians are very much like diapers… when full they should be changed.

Christy,
I am sorry and I am not trying to hijack the thread, but I am looking for info.

According to the Chicago Tribune, yesterday while Shrub was eating wig Daley (which was supposed to do something to boost Shrub’s polls–don’t ask) Daley got the news that Team Fitz won it’s conviction in the Chicago City Hall hiring case.

The Trib thinks this has directly damaged Bush. Pat DID NOT ATTEND THE PRESS CONFERENCE according to the video the Trib had up and there are ZERO quotes from in and any of the 5-6 articles I have read so far.

When I first heard that Shrub was going to Chicago, I expressed a little concern that Pat may have been Saturday Night Massacred. I don’t see, but admit I have just started looking, any mention of Pat being somewhere else.

Question: does any body know why he was not at the press conference? has there been a press sighting? Does anyone KNOW of an innocent explaination for this? (So I don’t spned a day doing research instead of doing my job)

Thanks.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming

Prof

Just FYI on the Delay ruling — I read it yesterday and the final footnote sums up the Court’s opinion: the change in residency was just an attempt to circumvent Texas’ “no replacement of a candidate who withdraws after the primary” rule.

It is a fairly solid opinion. The ultimate conclusion is that Delay says he lives in Virginia today, but there is nothing keeping him from living in Texas on election day — the only day that constitutionally matters. I would be VERY surprised if the Fifth Circuit bothered. Sparks is no Hughs (insider Fed Judge talk) and the Appellate Court does not have much to go on to disrupt the District Court finding.

Boxer lives in the San Francisco area — a phone call to her office there would be most efficacious. Faxes are good too. Internets get clogged up in the tubes full of Emails so they arent all that useful anymore.

Looking at the Hartford Courant poll, if you count those who watched and expressed an opinion it’s 69/31 Lamont. If you include those who said it was a draw, it’s 65/30 Lamont.

I’ll take those odds.

OT, but deserving of inflammatory indignation. From Soldiers For The Truth:

http://www.sftt.us/cgi-bin/csN…..abase=HOME DefenseWatch FTE 2.db&command=viewone&op=t&id=1&rnd=139.6759073938464

A recent IED attack has surfaced an ugly truth — the Grunts doing the great majority of fighting and dying in Iraq are considered “more expendable” than their REMF comrades, and the people making this determination are themselves, you guessed it, REMFs!!
.
.
The 4/1 SPPT Team was traveling back from Salman Pak to Camp Rustamiyah along EFP alley (RTE Pluto South) on Sunday May 14th about 5:15pm in a 3 vehicle convoy. About 3 miles from Camp Rustamiyah, the first Humvee was hit by a massive roadside bomb called an EFP. The bomb blew the HUMVEE into the air and created a giant cloud of debris, dirt and pavement. . . The two soldiers in the front were trapped inside the burning vehicle and died. . . The gunner was pulled from the wreckage and was severely wounded with shrapnel wounds from the spalling. The Medic with the SPTT Team was able to start working on the gunner to save his life and we gave the interpreter aid as best as we could. A MEDIVAC was immediately called for the litter urgent and critical soldier and the QRF rolled from the FOB. About 10 minutes later the tanks and HUMVEES of the QRF got there and secured the area.
.
.
The MEDIVAC was denied because we could not guarantee the LZ was not hot. Even with the QRF securing the area, the MEDIVAC was not launched. We were told we had to transport the severely wounded soldier and interpreter back to the FOB, have the aid station stabilize them and the MEDIVAC would then fly to the FOB to pick them up. . . Thank God this soldier is still alive and on his way to Landstuhl. The two [dead] soldiers were eventually pulled from the wreckage after a HEMMIT with a tank pump unit put out the fire that engulfed the wrecked HUMVEE. It took the HEMMIT almost an hour to get to the site, 3 miles away from the FOB, because the KBR contracted Fire Department and EMT unit refused to leave the FOB, because their contract states they will ONLY work within the protection of the FOB. . . Their brand new fire engines and rescue vehicles were waiting inside the gate when we finally towed the wrecked HUMVEE back. . . . When we asked why the MEDIVAC would not land on a secured LZ to MEDIVAC the critically wounded soldier, we were told “the policy is that we cannot afford to lose a Blackhawk and crew flying into potentially hostile LZ.” We work in Salman Pak, which is almost an hour southeast of Baghdad. If a soldier is wounded, we are expected to self evac him back to Rustamiyah because “it is too dangerous” to send a MEDIVAC, Ambulance or M113 combat medic vehicle (even if it is with the QRF). From he time we landed in Kuwait and after we arrived in Iraq, we were given MEDIVAC procedure cards and even given a MEDIVAC Freq . We were told that all we had to do is call and follow the procedures on the card and a MEDIVAC would be launched. This is BOGUS! ALL Soldiers need to know that unless they are at a FOB, the MEDIVAC will not be launched. Fire departments, EMT, combat medic vehicles, field ambulances all have orders not to leave the FOB because it is to “dangerous.” The reality is if you are wounded, you are SOL until your own unit puts you into a HUMVEE and you get back to the FOB.

So. The grunts outside of the perimeter not only can’t expect (although they’re told to expect!) a helicopter medivac, but the KBR operated fire trucks and ambulances won’t come for the either “because their contract states they will ONLY work within the protection of the FOB”!

In armies everywhere, for decades if not centuries, the tendency of the REMF’s is to look out for themselves at the expense of they troops at the point of the spear. That can only be countered by responsible leadership. And when you don’t have leaders with character at the civilian-political level, it decays at the upper and middle military levels as well.

I can’t remember when I’ve read something that pissed me off so much. And there’s plenty to read that pisses one off these days.

PS of the long link above doesn’t work go to http://www.sftt.org and click on the Roger Charles piece entitled “Abandoned On The Killing Fields – No Medivac Coming”.

the Preznit will be doing a press conference at 11am ET — half an hour from now …

Hey, jim preston, if you’re here, thanks for that link in your comment last thread. That E. J. Dionne bit in WaPo is definitely a Must-Read. I’ve been telling my kids we should watch the Mexican election outcome as a learning opportunity about electoral processes.

GG 7:09 am — hey, send me an email, I’m in MI and would like to formulate a response to that bit of nasty work. rayne_today (at) yahoo.com

Joe isn’t the only mole. Feinstein joins him as a neocon thoroughbred. The Democratic Party needs resolution of it’s platform-any platform-before our country is diluted into a single party with one aim; world domination through force.

The push and shove in the struggle for dwindling resources can be resolved by different means. Thats what our mouths are for. Those like Lieberman and Feinstein have settled on war and dangerous military-industrial hybridizing. Not a good show of ethics.

As for Boxer: Her support for a neocon is outrageous. This is not going to go away for her. She has some explaining to do to us loyalists.

The voters of Connecticut and California need to be put on high alert.

I just spoke to a lady in Boxer’s office. She is claiming that it would be ILLEGAL for her to comment on any position Boxer has with regard to the CT Dem primary.

Time to open up in this disingenuous hack with both barrels, folks.

24, minnesotachuck: yeah, I’d heard that. Oh….for a few of you here, “REMF” is lingo for, and pardon language….Rear Echelon Mother Fucker. The rest of the initials “stuff” in the article are just primarily unit desinations. The POINT is how the Brass is letting soldiers die over there to save equipment. Tragic. And, I COULD just about choke Rummy. But I’m a man of peace.

Ghostman

“And while Ned Lamont’s most fervent acolytes occasionally seem to be writing for Tiger Beat, last night he was cool and precise and extremely disciplined. I don’t know what kind of senator he’d make, but I wouldn’t go into a business deal against him without body armor.”

–Charles “where roam free” Pierce

Something tells me that we’re all a little cranky today – well, I am, anyway. You’d think I would be in a fine mood – it being such a short work week, but I think I get to a point where ALL the BS going on eventually gets to me. Sigh…

Anyway, I am just tired of Joe Lieberman, and I’m hoping that by the time August 8 gets here, the majority of Connecticut voters will be feeling the same way. Really, from what I’ve read, Joe has been virtually unseen in CT these last 6 years, so his “We’ve cried together” comment ought to have everyone in CT thinking “yeah, right – but yours were crocodile tears.”

Ned needs to clue CT voters in on Joe’s charade of casting “principled” votes only when it didn’t matter, and should reveal his committee voting record – that’s where the truth is.

I hope Lieberbaby’s “Who is Ned Lamont?” talking point is answered for him when Lamont uses it to bite Joe in his wrinkly (never seen it, but how could it not be?) ass. Not only can Ned make an effective case for who he is, he can also make an effective case for who Lieberbaby is. The “Kiss” photo is going to be the dominant image of this campaign, and there’s nothing Lieberbaby can say about it that will make it go away, or change its meaning. Add the growing evidence of Lieberman’s anger problem – anger that never seems to be directed at the opposition party, only at opposition from his fellow party members – at least the ones who dare to question his positions and ask him to be accountable for them.

This isn’t helping my rantful mood, so I’ll stop now. *g*

*ilson — what is the presser for???

OT. A very disturbing story, among several in today’s NYT, about the US military allowing increasing numbers of skinheads to enlist, and the consequences thereof.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07…..mp;emc=rss

A decade after the Pentagon declared a zero-tolerance policy for racist hate groups, recruiting shortfalls caused by the war in Iraq have allowed “large numbers of neo-Nazis and skinhead extremists” to infiltrate the military, according to a watchdog organization.

[snip]

The report quotes Scott Barfield, a Defense Department investigator, saying, “Recruiters are knowingly allowing neo-Nazis and white supremacists to join the armed forces, and commanders don’t remove them from the military even after we positively identify them as extremists or gang members.”

Mr. Barfield said Army recruiters struggled last year to meet goals. “They don’t want to make a big deal again about neo-Nazis in the military,” he said, “because then parents who are already worried about their kids signing up and dying in Iraq are going to be even more reluctant about their kids enlisting if they feel they’ll be exposed to gangs and white supremacists.”

[snip]

An article in the National Alliance magazine Resistance urged skinheads to join the Army and insist on being assigned to light infantry units.

The Southern Poverty Law Center identified the author as Steven Barry, who it said was a former Special Forces officer who was the alliance’s “military unit coordinator.”

“Light infantry is your branch of choice because the coming race war and the ethnic cleansing to follow will be very much an infantryman’s war,” he wrote. “It will be house-to-house, neighborhood-by-neighborhood until your town or city is cleared and the alien races are driven into the countryside where they can be hunted down and ‘cleansed.’ “

He concluded: “As a professional soldier, my goal is to fill the ranks of the United States Army with skinheads. As street brawlers, you will be useless in the coming race war. As trained infantrymen, you will join the ranks of the Aryan warrior brotherhood.”

Another major story is about the guy accused of rape and murder, but that’s another post.

In the meantime, our President is throwing up one distraction after another. The last is a campaign trip around the country to “find out what the American people are thinking.” We’re thinking this guy and his neocon apologists and Republican rubber stamps are running our country into the ground and destroying its moral authority and international image for decades.

CTblogger message for Rayne:

CT: “Oh, that’s good. I’ll take it.”

Egregious email to CT last night–

fdl blogger has this for you:
39
Rayne says
July 6th, 2006 at 7:19 pm
EPU’d, previous thread:
BarbaraB – somebody beat me to it [buying the domain WhoIsNedLamont.com], and I don’t know if they’re somebody from “our team”.
Any Firepups got scoop on it, dish it out here.
In the mean time, I need to find somebody in CT who’s pro-Lamont who wants the Blogger site I set up, http://whoisnedlamont.blogspot.com.
Firepups, help me out here and find me somebody to give this to!! [end email]

Raayynne? Calling Rayne?

CT is subbing for our own CTBob in support of Lamont.

contact — ctblogger@yahoo.com

Any official taxpayer-funded Senatorial Office is indeed prohibited from being involved in any partisan political matters whatsoever. You are free to ask which phone number will connect to a campaign office/operative.

Minnesotachuck 24, and that sorry situation is a direct result of the outsource-ization of non-fighting military functions to civilian outfits who can’t be ORDERED to go do their jobs.

OK

Nevermind.

Solved my own problem. He was just out of town the day of the verdict. I really gotta stop seeing monsters in the closet everytime some member of Bushco glances in the direction of Illinois.

I am having trouble posting a longer comment, is anyone else getting server backtalk?

I guess the presser is for the Preznit’s dirty laundry …

Isn’t the important question how Ann Althouse would feel about someone calling Joe Lieberman “Joey” in this thread?

ilson 35 – yeah, but Karl Rove is allowed to do politics on the public dime for six years and counting.

joe-nertia has looked around and seen all the success the rethug lite strategy has garnered the Dems and feels they need more of the same.

Trying new ways to improve his low poll ratings, President Bush will hold an hour-long press conference in Chicago on Friday morning. It will be his first full-scale meeting with reporters since June 14 after he returned from a surprise trip to Iraq.

Presidential counselor Dan Bartlett said Bush is beginning a series of trips around the country to learn what is on the minds of Americans. Now, when Bush travels, he primarily sticks to one issue, Bartlett noted.

http://newsblogs.chicagotribun…..ld_ne.html

Beemer t 28 and anybody else who is communication with Boxer’s Legislative office on the leiberman endoresement issue.

the staffer is correct, under the haqtch act, it is illegal to use the staff , offices, phones, etc of the government financed Leg. office to do politcal work.

You must cantct her campaign committee or her PAC office. They will blow you off becaus e they must, not because hey are trying to diss you.

Being POd b/c the leg office won’t answer poitcal questions (of any fed employee) is not prof of how evil they are,it just displays a lack of knowledge on our part.

I hope Senator Boxer does change her mind. I would like to keep my admiration of her.

I hope that when Lamont defeats the Bush saliva recepticle, it will signal the start of something bigger, that true Democrats want leaders who defend and fight for Democratic principles.

SOme Guy at 38 — it’s a WordPress glitch. If you just sit still for a few additional seconds, your longer post will go up. It gives you an error message, but it posts a longer post anyway. We don’t know why this is — and we’re trying to find a fix for it — but in the meantime, patience is a virtue and will get your comment up as well.

Minnesotachuck at 24 re no medivacs–that’s awful. Our troops deserve so much better. Where is the leadership?

“We support the troops” right up until you get wounded in battle??

Chimpy’s presser could be to tout the foiled NYC tunnel bombing plot. It smells like the miami 7 to me.

Don’t know if anyone has seen this article, but it is actually a pretty decent take on the debate. I usually don’t expect that from national media.
In Conn., Lieberman Defends Seat, War Stance
By Shailagh Murray
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01755.html

Amgie at 43

the Chicago trib said that daley got the new about the City Hall hiring conviction during the meal with Shrub and that this directly danmaged Shrub.

That made me smile.

Chicago rules and Karmic payback, who culd have predicted that the jury would come in just when it did? But what kind of fool scheduled that meal with daley while the jury was still deliberating?

Was this meant to influence the jury to aquit? Did the w/h not do their homework, were they unaware of the stauts of the City Hall trial?

Has Bush’s brain imploded? WTF?

Kinda OfT, but not really – Found out yesterday that Mark Pryor (DINO – AR) will support Liebertwit (WATB – CT) no matter what. I shamelessly c/p’d (with a few modifications) punaise’s most excellent letter from one of yesterday’s threads and shot it off to Pryor. Also sent a little love note to Blanche Lincoln’s office encouraging her to grab her compadre by the short hairs and show him the light.

Methinks Mr. Pryor could use some fdl love…

:-)

BobbyG’s rant to the papers this morning:
_____________

An all-powerful, unfettered “unitary,” “gloves off” Executive, constantly exhorted regarding His messianic noble infallibility by his fawning courtiers and Machiavellian subordinates? Murders and rapes under color of Authority? Secret detentions, abuse and torture of innumerable Enemies real and imagined (mostly the latter, as it turns out)?

The Iraq of Saddam Hussein, or the United States of George W. Bush?

Yes.

While the Hamdan decision has momentarily jerked us grudgingly back toward the moral constitutional basis of all that we espouse as this planet’s exemplar of civil realization and aspiration, we are but one Supreme Court vote away from our GOP becoming the American Ba’ath Party. To my Republican friends I have to ask: WHAT is it that you “conservatives” purport to conserve?

I, for one, have had quite enough of this pee-your-britches GOP Spectre-mongering regarding these putative 50 foot tall rag-and-turban clad Enemy Combatants that are SO dangerous as to be necessarily rendered exempt from the barest shred of due process. Go to any post office or police station. Look through the “Wanted” posters. You will find therein battalions of violent miscreants every bit the al Qaeda malevolence equivalent and then some. Yet, we find it unremarkable to accord such low-lifes the due process of our Constitution and lesser laws. Hello?

The Bush administration seems hell-bent on turning this nation into an overfed North Korea littered with Wal Marts and docile, groveling supplicants of The Dear Leader. We let it happen at our national peril.

Lieberman’s many lies yesterday should not be allowed to stand. We at FDL are doing a great job of fact-checking – but I hope that Lamont’s staff is compiling a list of the lies as well.

Lamont’s team needs to distribute a list of Lieberman’s lies yesterday in simple bullet-point format to be distributed to the press.

Make the list easy to digest, concise and simple or else it won’t get read.

Get the list out to EVERY columnist and reporter in CT.

Do it IMMEDIATELY or Lieberman’s lies will cement themselves into “conventional wisdom”.

op99 @ 36, True enough. But also a result of the moral bankruptcy of the civilian leadership who didn’t think through the downside risks of all the outsourcing.

When I wrote the post I was still fuming such that I could barely write a coherent sentence.

Ghostman @ 29, Thanks. I meant to define a couple of those acronyms but forgot. See above.

Good morning everyone, lots of great links since last night. Christy, do you use Resolve? It works great on, um, body fluids and the like on carpets and rugs. I have an older cat with an iffy stomach who likes to eat plants and have maintained the purity of a lovely persian rug.

Worth mentioning that Brian Lehrer is looking for Lieberman supporters to call because all callers have been Lamont supporters.
Thanks for the link, subject has ended.

(I’ll try thi sin two halves, nothing seems to be happening.)

Christy wrote: “The Democratic party hasn’t left Joe Lieberman, but Joe’s stance on the Iraq conflict (and on women’s issues) does not reflect the views of his constituents in Connecticut. Who is disrespecting whom in this relationship?”

Disrespecting yes, but there is more in this about the war besides Joe’s political tin ear and arrogance.

Despite the fact that the war is an unmitigated disaster, the country is split on even vague poll questions about “withdrawal” and general support for the war is bad, a candidate who is unswervingly opposed to the war in Iraq and who is in tune with a majority of his state’s voters is being treated like a strange weed in the garden by the national press.

xyz, there is some postmortem & clarifications at the Lamont blog:http://nedlamont.com/blog

(OK, three “halves.”)

Lamont is running on more than the war, Joe is losing on more than the war, but on that issue this primary is a case study in the contemporary Looking-Glass political landscape.

The war is very unpopular and if you asked people about Maliki’s plan for getting us out, I think a majority would say, “sure, why not, even the Iraqi’s want it.” That and Bush has nothing, zip, to in the way of a plan except rumblings about expanding the war into a regional (actually, probably global) conflict by bombing Iran.

I’m going to be playing at a Jazz Festival in Connecticut in three weeks (as if anyone cares). I’m looking forward to mixing it up with the locals about “Jumpin’ Joe” over a few beers while winding down from playing jazz all day. Should be fun, and informative.

So the question is, why do journalists keep acting like Lamont is a little strange even as they admit that Joe has problems? It has been observed many times that the country has moved faster than the press seems capable of in terms of the war, and Lamont’s challenge reflects that very well. Many reporters seems unable to believe that being prowar is the disadvantaged position. They say yes its unpopular, but then the often reflect the Rovespeak that looking weak on terror is politically dangerous.

I suppose it will take a high profile loss for a war supporter like Lieberman to change that tone and force the press to catch up to the public.

On this side of the looking glass, standing against an unpopular war is evidently a remarkable and slightly risky thing to do.

I am tired of living in bizarro world.

Thanks mui.

In addition, I think Lamont himself should speak out regarding Joe’s lies.

This would certainly garner media attention.

Mui, I read that article, too. It was a pretty good overview and I loved the fact that they, like several of us here, took note of Lieberman’s ridiculous comment on the situtation in Iraq now:

Lieberman defended the conflict as “a lot better, different” than a year ago.

John Laesch had a diary up at Kos yesterday discussing the Bush presser today in Chicago—actually Aurora, a suburb in Hastert’s district. Bush was in Aurora last year to sign the Transportation Bill that had big earmarks for Hastert to get that highway going near the land he bought in his district, and now has sold for a $2 million profit. (Much of this I have gleaned at tpm.) Laesch’s diary:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/7/6/223240/7338

Steve Clark, where is the jazz festival and what are the dates? I bet there are folks here who would like to go.

looseheadprop

Daddy Daley never would have let a jury come back with a verdict like this during lunch with the president. Of course, Daddy Daley would probably have preferred lunch with Daddy Bush – former CIA chief, and all that.

Kids these days . . .

ummmm …. Daddy Bush sometimes throws up at dinners with foreign potentates

egregious 7:39 am — got it, I’m on it, will send info to ctblogger immediately. ;-)

No answer on the phones at Boxer’s offices, so I sent this rather long email, which I hope they’ll bother to read:

Dear Senator Boxer:

I have heard that you are planning to campaign for Senator Lieberman in his primary against Ned Lamont. I have also heard it reported that you think the only reason so many Democrats, in Connecticut and around the country, are unhappy with Mr. Lieberman is because of his stance on Iraq. Nothing could be further from the truth, and I would like tell you why.

It is true that many Democrats, myself included, do not agree with Mr. Lieberman’s position on our ongoing occupation of Iraq. But there are other problems. I am also profoundly disappointed with the Senator’s anti-choice decisions. Mr. Lieberman thinks that it is acceptable for rape victims to be denied emergency contraception, when an overwhelming majority of Connecticut voters, including 74% of Catholics, do not. He claims the endorsement of Planned Parenthood; but this overlooks the fact that the Connecticut state chapters of both Planned Parenthood and NARAL both took the unusual step of breaking with their national organizations and voting for Ned Lamont at the state convention. In addition, Mr. Lieberman’s vote on Samuel Alito was appalling. He voted for cloture, the only vote that mattered, but now disingenuously claims that he “opposed” Mr. Alito’s nomination. We know better.

But the real problem with Senator Lieberman is his disrespect for his own party and for the democratic process. Mr. Lieberman continually echoes GOP talking points in criticizing members of his own party, about Iraq and other issues. There is certainly room in the Democratic Party for a variety of views; but Democrats, especially at a time when the party that controls all three branches of government is driving our country to the brink of disaster, should not be aiding and abetting the GOP by attacking their own party.

Mr. Lieberman’s decision to run as an independent (there is no such thing as a “petitioning Democrat”) is part and parcel of this pattern of disrespect. Mr. Lieberman claims to be a Democrat; but if the Democratic party chooses Mr. Lamont as its candidate, the Senator refuses to respect that choice. Mr. Lieberman’s approval rating in Connecticut is higher among Republicans than Democrats; clearly, he thinks he can count on them to support him. But that being the case, why does the Senator continue to claim he is a Democrat?

If Mr. Lieberman runs as an independent, he could split the vote and actually throw the election, including the down-ticket races, to the GOP. At a time when a Democratic majority is desperately needed, Mr. Lieberman is willing to cost his alleged party, the Democratic party, three seats in a state that should be safely blue.

The Senator said, in announcing his decision, “I have loyalties beyond that to my party.” Indeed, that is very clear. Mr. Lieberman’s loyalty is to his continued position of power, even if it endangers Democrats’ chances of regaining a majority. If the voters of Connecticut give him an answer he does not like, he will act as though they don’t know what they’re doing, and give them another chance to return him to the seat he believes is rightfully his. If Mr. Lieberman wants to run as an independent, he should do it now, before the primary. If he loses the primary, he should support Ned Lamont as the Democratic candidate.

I understand that Mr. Lieberman is a longtime colleague of yours, Senator Boxer; but incumbency is a privilege, not a right. Mr. Lieberman no longer represents the views of a majority of his constituents, and they have every right to replace him with someone who does. Mr. Lieberman’s sense of entitlement is unseemly; his disrespect for the democratic process is repugnant; and his disloyalty to his own party should not be rewarded with that party’s support. I respectfully ask you to reconsider campaigning for Senator Lieberman; at the very least, it sends a bad message to your own progressive, proudly Democratic, pro-choice constituents. Thank you.

I’ll try again later with the Sacramento office and see if anyone’s there.

Also re: clarifications on Lieberlies from the debate, kos started during the show last night, I’m sure the Lamont/CT blogs are working on this furiously; they have been very effective on message.

Bush’s folksy little tour just makes him look even more out of touch than he ever was.

Just hearing that Japan is dropping the notion of sanctions for N Korea, likely under pressure from China and Russia. (Lehrer show talking about news off the wire)

Oh, shit, it’s Bush, I forgot he was going to interrupt our beautiful day.

OT – It looks like Mann Coulter had it’s adam’s apple digitally removed on the cover of her book Godless

lhp @ 50– I grinned like a fool when I saw that, too!

btw, folks, w’s interview with the lump and larry will be re-broadcast Sunday nite so everyone who can stomach it will get to hear him say this about Joey:

“You’re trying to get me to give him a political kiss, which may be his death.”

It’s really too funny!

HA!

Jim Vandenhei’s opener for today:

>>>>>>>>>>>

Jim VandeHei: what I love most about these chats is you, the audience, love to talk about the things we political reporters live for. So while the rest of the world is focused on nuclear showdowns in Iran and North Korea and CNN obsesses about new details of some disrupted NYC terror plot, we will chat about Lamont, Condi and all things 08.

Coulter’s physique is not why she is a lousy excuse for a human being. There are plenty of good reasons to bash her without sounding like the other side. Just saying.

Is anyone else watching the Bush presser this morning? Is it me, or does he sound like he’s really trying hard to convince not only the audience of journalists and folks watching out in the country, but HIMSELF, about the economy and his Administration? Weird tone this morning…

Zennurse 64, I thought you’d never ask. The Great Connecicut Traditional Jazz Festival is July 28-30 at Sunrise Resort in Moodus, CT. Here is a link: http://www.ctjazz.org I play drums with Igor’s Jazz Cowboys from Arizona. (forgive me for the shameless plug, everybody) Would love to meet some FDL folks up there !!

Leslie in CA @ 73: I agree. Her neck is not her problem. Her mind is her problem.

Christy, he sounds like he has to go to the bathroo & he failed an exam and he’s trying to convince the teacher that the dog is responsible for both.

BobbyG -was just wondering this morning where you’ve been – have you been away, or am I just imagining that you’ve not commented a lot lately?

Either way – love your letters to the editor.

Leslie in CA – GREAT letter – sure hope someone reads it. You might try faxing, as well!

For instance (sorry if this is a duplicate post – at the top of TPM so maybe not), there’s now a complete-to-date list of all of Coulter’s alleged instances of plagiarism.

Angie — that’s a good analogy, actually. He’s jumping from one thing to the next, with no real coherence to the topics and the stringing together of blather — and he’s shifting back and forth from one foot to the other. They must not have a teleprompter up for him. He keeps shifting his shoulders away from the camera — which makes him look dodgy. Weird that they didn’t do more prep work for this — it must have been a hastily put together newser.

But why?

Anne, thanks – faxing’s a good idea. Won’t be able to do it from work, but sometime this weekend, and it can be waiting for them Monday a.m.

From RJ Eskow at HuffPo, this is the most likely explanation for Boxer’s position. Not acceptable, but a theory.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..24547.html

SharonW at #62 — I agree that statement may have been the key quote. Not from a debating standpoint but from a lasting impression.

The newspapers are full of stories this week about all the stuff going wrong in Iraq — US soldiers engaged in rape/murder, and this is just one of five recent atrocity disclosures, US Ambassador and top General issue a written apology to the Iraqi people, Iraqi PM calls for review of the occupation’s exemption from Iraqi prosecution, skinheads being recruited to meet enlistment quotas (anyone wonder why there are more atrocities?), towns being devasted, sectarian “cleansing” on the rise, kidnappings on the rise, more evidence surfaces of illegal renditions and tortue (and of the wrong people) etc, etc, etc — but instead of acknowledging any of this, Lieberman took last night’s opportunity to tell Connecticut voters that things are better today. They know this is false — no need for act checking — and that this is the line from the WH talking points. So I think that’s the connection they’ll use to make their choice in August.

The best Lamont comeback last night: “It’s time for the people who got us into this to be held accountable.” I think that taps right into the deep anger out there, and I believe ConnDems will express it in August.

Thanks, steve, sounds great. Easy for W. MA folks to get to. I work every weekend but would love to come, that’s my birthday weekend!

Ah well, will save the link and post again, would suggest sending to or posting on CT Bob’s site (blogroll), tell them zennurse told you to blogwhore.

Press conferences don’t generally use teleprompters, because they get in the way of eye contact between the questioners and responders.

They also often open with a brief statement, but this brief statement seems more wandering than usual. Which is saying something.

Christy—I’m watching. I am reminded of an article Molly Ivins wrote last year warning that if the Bush comes to you for a photo-op, beware, your funding will be cut tomorrow. I fear for museum funding…
Also thought it was interesting that he was trying to take credit for the strong jobs market in Chicago. If his point is to talk about immigration, it does make sense to be in Chicago because of the strong Mexican community. But he also there fundraising for Topinka running against Blagojevich for govenor.

Redd @ #74,

As he prattles on and on, he sounds no more sure about the economy than about any other issue he’s using for his preface. He’s been worse, but clearly he’s grasping at some type of straws here.

Just finished his opening remarks.

Why is it that Bush persists in refusing to understand that democracy only spreads to a region if and when the people in the region want it for themselves. It cannot be imposed by an occupational force from the outside, but the populace themselves have to be willing to do all of the work and the make the changes and make the difficult choices required of a plural, democratic, open society.

did anyone ever see a less heartfelt person speaking about the death of someone than bush just on the Chicago Marine.
why does he even try to do it?

‘The problem with diplomacy is that it takes a while.’

well, there you go, they don’t like it if it ain’t shock and awe; diplomacy is a problem.

he’s more of a blubbering mess this morning than usual.

angie and Christy – all I could think of when I saw him weaving back and forth at the podium was that his handlers are probably saying to themselves, “Damn – I TOLD him to go to the bathroom before this started!”

Pressers are always a bad idea for Bush.

AP now correcting previous report and reporter’s question that Japan is including sanctions per Lehrer.

This history lesson is just annoying.

Oh please, oh please, let someone ask about Lieberman advocating direct talks with Kim Jong Il in last night’s debate…

Oh, boy, he can’t even remember the first part of a simple two-part question if the second part disturbs the waves of his inner rage……..

Christy @ 88: I too find that one of the strangest things about this war. The fundamental illogic of “democracy at gunpoint” still floors me. Citing Germany and Japan as neocons do is nonsense. We did not go to war to make them democratic, we defended ourself and in the aftermath helped build democracies. That and every war is different, they aren’t products one buys off a shelf.

Message to Bush: whatever you’re doing ISN’T WORKING.

Here comes the Hmadan question – look out!

This presser shows why Bush won’t go one on one with Kim Jong Il — because he sucks at speaking and needs a script or an ear piece.

SharonW — I took issue with so many of Lieberman’s statements during the debate, I almost feel no single article could do him the justice he so richly deserves. I didn’t like Lieberman pointing and his in your face approach to Lamont. That’s actually not really CT style or very apealing, n’est ce pas? I think Lieberman made a grand mistake, but still . . . This person who I watched the debate with is only halfway attentive to the race,but walked out midway because Lieberman’s behavior was so unbearable.

Is the presser streaming anywhere?

Um, he did not answer the question about military approach with N Korea.

Uh oh…he’s lost the plot on the question. He’s going to argue his POV again, and screw the Court’s ruling. SIGH He has learned absolutely nothing.

Dr Bong, I’m listening on WNYC. YOu could try msnbc or cnn.

Streaming on C-Span

CSpan1 is carrying the Preznit on the Internet tubes

dr bong- try cspan or npr

Boy, Redd, he’s really saying more than his staff would want him to put out there on Hamdan at this early point. Still mostly blather and BS, though………

Ah, testy, now, are we Shrub?

cspan live streaming

modest = doesn’t work

Doesn’t. Have. A. Fucking. Clue.

New post — Peterr was kind enough to do another great thoughtful post on religion — today about the intersection between faith and science. Great read!

What? “I haven’t talked to the Sec.Def about missile systems”

Sadly, I believe this.

thx, zen

Fitz! from local press?!

We had a reasonable chance of shooting it down, at least that’s what the military commanders tell me.

feeling safer?

…and everyone else

:-)

OOOhhhh, pat fitz comes up!

I’m just waiting for him to put his foot in his mouth…

gas prices! again, local press

no plans to reappoint him..

Washington case: professionalism, handles himself well, don’t know whether AG will reappoint him, his choice, I haven’t thought about it.

Oh, it’s up to Abu Gonzales…to decide.

puh-leeze, he blames everything on everyone else.

Fitz comes up, but it was the wrong question.

on appointing him again as spec pro – I’m not sure if that’s what the AG is going to do or no

wtf?

just caught this while getting onto a biz call …

is Fitz up for “reappointment”?

Fresh Colin McEnroe (right on everything except Nesti, I’d say).

siun at 122 — no, they were talking about Fitz’ appointment as US Attorney in IL in his district. He hasn’t been re-appointed formally there, as yet, but that’s pretty common, actually, for someone continuing in the position. The ChiTrib (?) reporter was trying to stir the pot, I think.

That picture just gets better with each viewing. George to Joe: I’m going to have my filthy way with you.

88: I have often said that Democracy cannot be imposed over the barrel of an M-16. Very true.

Ghostman

Didn’t clueless Joe have some throw away line in the debate about how he could do more for voters than Ned -save more jobs, get universal healthcare, etc.? Someone should remind him he’s he’s already had 18 years with little effect so it’s not likely that the next six will produce different results.

We need more refineries to bring down the price of gas. Oh-boy slaps forehead.

“New technology”? They’ve been wasting our money on this stuff for almost 30 years now!

CJ at 127 — I think if you look through the debate transcript, at one point Ned did just that. *g*

link

Boxer told the Chronicle today she plans to appear on Lieberman’s behalf at an environmental event in Connecticut on air pollution and children’s asthma.

The not-so-subtle message of the event to Democrats: You may think he’s too close to President Bush on the war, but he’s been with you on other important Democratic issues.

“I campaign for a lot of my colleagues,” Boxer explained in a phone interview. “Joe is in a very tough primary. I understand that. He has been one of my strongest allies on the environment and on choice.

“I strongly disagree with him on the war,” she added. “We both accept that. We don’t have any common ground on that issue. The voters of Connecticut, the Democrats, are going to decide if they want him. We’ll see what happens after the election.”

Other Senate Democrats also are lending a hand to the beleaguered Lieberman campaign: Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware and Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado plan to make appearances in Connecticut before the primary.

Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, who is trying to lock up grassroots support from party activists for a 2008 presidential bid, has endorsed Lieberman for the primary, but added she’ll support whichever Democratic candidate emerges from the primary — even if it’s Lamont, a wealthy businessman from Greenwich who is pouring at least $1.5 million of his fortune into the race.

Boxer, who calls Lieberman a friend, said she’s not willing to join Clinton in that pledge, at least not yet.

“I’ll make an announcement” after the primary, Boxer said. “I’ll let you know.”

Oh, “we haven’t constructed new refineries since 1970’s.” Well, they closed most of the refineries south of Chicago in Whiting IN and moved everything to the Gulf Coast. Rarely does a hurricane hit Whiting—wouldn’t it have been a good idea to keep those refineries operating? But then there would not be a problem with supply today, and record oil co profits.

Shorter Bush:

Presidenting is hard work.

No wonder he’s nervous. The Chicago press is asking much more difficult questions then WH press corps.

Christy Hardin Smith #124

Bush is misspeaking all over the place. He was talking about reappointment of Fitzgerald as a “special” prosecutor. He said that SCOTUS upheld then was silent about the existence of Guantanamo. He said the military assured him that his anti-missile system would have worked against the North Korean missile. I doubt that unless they were all on LSD. Brain dead or blithering idiot? You choose.

son’s here, seeya later, take tums after presser.

You win elections by phonying up the numbers with Diebold machines

weeder at 134 — hehehehe So much for the “head out of the Beltway and hang with the rubes” idea of travelling Presidential huckster-ism.

ooohhh—three part question—No. Korea, Afghanistan & Iraq. He must be pissed now.

weeder @ #134,

Good point.

he’s lost it– whatever he had.

can’t remember *&^%.

The most hollow statement in recent American presidential history:

“I have the belief that when you say something, you’d better mean it!”

Uh oh. The Preznit is testy. Whomever came up with the travelling presser roadshow idea is gonna get a talking to in a few minutes. *G*

Oh—seeking refuge with Fox news!

Do you notice when a question pisses him off he lets out this explosive “Hemmmmmm”?

Brett Beier with a Gannonesque Fox News planted question………

So Laesch is holding a press conference in Aurora at 2pm while Bush is there with (prolly) Hastert. I wonder if we’ll see any of that. I kept thinking about John Laesch debating Hastert while watching Lamont/Joe-nertia last night. Wonder if he’ll get the opportunity?

That explosion you hear is his backpack communicator firing off, Hugh.

Christy at 124

No, I think the repiorter was trying to get a commitment of no Saturday Night Massacre. Unlike previous Special Prosecutors, Fitz does not draw a salery for Plame and does all of his work with borrowed stff through DOJ.

If they want to screw withhim htey will go after his Chicago job not the Plame job. Will it kill him directly in a way that will have an obvious backlash? No

Will it make VERY MUCH HARDER to do his job (may , just maybe impossible) Yep.

This is a corrolary to the promoting somene out of hteir job, or framing them for a crime they didn’t commit or pardoning their target before the trial.

Sen Fitzgerald, got all frantic about this when Pat’s term was about to expire, and ABu (cue the “jaws” shark attack music) paid his very odd and ominuous visit to Chicago.

This is Bush (at a mnimum) trying to create a Maalox moment, at worse, there will be a meeting or phone call w/Fitz that is not on the public schedule.

Reporters should be asking about any holes in the schedule or any non publicly disclosed meetings in Chicago.

Whether or not Schrub pulls the trigger, he is trying to rattle cages at USAO NDIL.

Christy @ 138, 143—you’re so right.

Thx ET.

oh my– suzanne malveaux gets corrected by shrub and she corrects him back– he IS clueless.

Hugh questions:

“Do you notice when a question pisses him off he lets out this explosive “Hemmmmmm”?”

I’ve been hearing him do that when being questioned – at this conference and at others. It appears to me that he grunts at the point of a question when he thinks he gets what the rest of the question will be.

about my 149

Even for me, that was a wonderland of typos.Hope you can actually follow it.

many humble apologies.

angie – that would have been the perfect point for Malveaux to correct chimpy’s pronunciation of ‘nuclear’

lhp at 149 — interesting, and the Bush answer was completely unintelligible on that point. Hmmmmm…

(And a side note to reporters: please stop asking him questions that require him using the word “nuke-u-lar”…)

Wow, Suzanne Malveaux holding his feet to the fire and not backing off. Are they all feeling emboldened now? He said something like “it’s good for the washington press corps to get out into America, too…” in his opening statements. Maybe he’s right!

It’s an incorrect story about shutting Alec down. It’s just not true– we got a lot of assets looking for him.

The first time I heard Bush mispronounce the word nuclear, I knew he was an idiot.

Redd

I am very nervous today. About Pat.

not going to stop looking for bin laden??? didnt they just do that the other day? disband the CIA OBL task force?

Daley is still a great mayor– w.

I am worried about Pat, too.

Just called Boxer’s Sacramento office and asked if they had seen Arianna’s article–they were unaware of it. Encouraged them to read it and let them know that Boxer is letting down the Democratic Party by stomping for Joe.

You can’t make troop decisions based on political considerations? Has anyone told Rumsfeld?

lhp — you shouldn’t be. I think if something had gone badly, we would have heard about it. Things have a way of leaking out — probably not from Fitz himself, but you can’t keep a staff that is pissed along with jurors that are pissed along with Congressional and DoJ types that are pissed ALL silent. It just isn’t human nature.

I’ve said it a bazillion times, but I’ll say it again — until I hear something from Fitz, nothing is done.

Okay, I can’t stand listening to Bush any longer. Gotta go see what my cat is up to. Have a great weekend everybody !!

the Preznit is in full making-shit-up mode this morning …

oh no, Koizumi story coming up.

angie, @ #161,

You’re right. The Daley support – “happy to spend my birthday with him” – combined with the snide way he referred questions about Fitz to Abu G, add up to an upcoming operation.

If he pulls out Pooty-Poot, you’ll know he’s reaching…

uh…the entire country can anticipate your remarks…
(see “and your little dog” yesterday, right here at fdl.”

ET– it gave me goosebumps– he always lies, but something was way different there.

fdl).

Just heard Bush say at his presser wrt terr’sts that “life is not precious to them.” And it struck me, he didn’t follow up with “life is precious to us/me…” Left it as implied.

So let’s look at the actions of the Pentagon-WH civilian leadership of this occupation who dictate that REMFs decide whether our military live or die–first piece of evidence, our Minn poster re wounded warriors left to bleed to death because the Medivacs won’t come.

Why this Lamont vs Lieberman race matters so much? The reasons abound and resound throughout this nation. And it only starts with the Occupation debacle in Iraq.

Increasing electricity in Baghdad, and small businesses???, and hospitals, not getting reported. Maybe because it’s not happening, just saying.

Now freedom. We’re gonna make those GD Iraqis free whether they like it or not. They’re going to be free if we have to force them. Now on to Graceland and the Japanese. You know we occupied them and that turned out all right. Oh, and Iraq is “hard work”.

Not my fault. It’s up to Gen. Casey in Iraq. So that’s how he’s going to make his decisions (by letting Casey make them) Oy!

Don’t you DARE lecture me on what is fair to the troops, George Bush. When you have dear friends and family with their asses on the front lines, you can be cavalier about the conditions under which they are fighting right now. But don’t you DARE lecture me with no understanding of how terrifying and poorly planned and dangerous this whole mess is for every soldier on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. Don’t you dare…

npr is now breakin’ it down. (the press conference.)

“The incumbency protection racket” as Jane calls it, is so poisonous to our political system. Lieberman oozed a sense of entitlement during the debate; anyone supporting his “candidocracy” needs a civics lesson.

Hugh said:

Increasing electricity in Baghdad, and small businesses???

I’m surprised he didn’t add something like ‘lowered the tax burden on small Iraqi businesses’. Sheesh.

HAHAHAHAHAHA Tim Russert just said “no questions on the economy…and how robust it is (pause) in his mind”

Is it Sam&Ned yet?

Gotta love it! Russert saying on MSNBC that the presser didn’t succeed. The local press as much as the WH press corps pressed on questions BubbleBoy didn’t want to deal with, instead of the theme-of-the-day, the economy.

looseheadprop at 37 & earlier

!Thankyou! for tracking that down about Fitz. I share same vibes. Ya just know if the evildoodlers feel trapped, they’re gonna do something wicked & unpredictable, and lightening fast . . trapped dawg craziness. Manoman I wish Fitz had put rover away. Seems r’s in hypervicious gear ever since he supposedly/possibly got out-from-under.

hear, hear, Dru @ 177!

npr “He didn’t exactly get softball questions from reporters in Chicago.”
She also repeated what Topinka said, “We need to fly the president in, in the middle of the night because of his low poll numbers.” IIRC
And he’s fundraising for her on this visit…

“Dow, NASDAQ slide in Late-Morning Trading”

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060707…..html?.v=12

Thanks, W!

Are you listening to Sam? WOWF! That Droney quote he just pulled out is RILLY rock-bottom!

I don’t have it verbatim, but mas o menos: Jews who won’t support one of their own are despicable.

I’m equaly puzzled by the Boxer behavior. Only explanation I can fathom is that she and Joe are close personal friends.

i’ve been unable to watch a bush presser ever since i read the comment that the reason he adopts that “explaining it to a six year-old” tone in his answers is because that’s the way the information was explained to HIM and he’s just parroting it back. once you see that he has no understading of any complex issue beyond his basic talking point, it’s just depressing to listen to him.

e.c.

lotus; the quote, from Lamont’s blog via Watertiger:
“I find the behavior of a large segment of the Jewish community to be reprehensible and outrageous,” said John Droney, a former chairman of the state party who is advising Lieberman to run as an independent. “When he’s in trouble like this, they all ought to rally to him. It’s too bad that you have to listen to an Irish-American to realize that you’ve got to support your own home cooking.”
Good Grief.

I know, Dru — I nearly fell outta my chair. So shocked I wasn’t sure what I’d heard.

Ned did well..Sam is such a great cheerleader.

I was so shocked I had to go look it up! Droney needs to keep droning; that kind of stupidity can only help Lamont!

Hiya, Hopie, doon better today, babe?

Yes, Ned just needs a little more TV-practice, but he did great just now with Sam, and if you’ve seen the WaPo transcript of last night, he’s the champ.

JoHo proves himself pondscum.

Ned was clearly more comfortable on the phone with Seder (and I agree RH, Sam IS an excellent interviewer) than he was on the podium last night.

Of course, he didn’t have Holy Joe interrupting him when he was trying to make a statement.

BC

That Droney quote fuckin’ blew my mind.

Ned sounded great. It just dawned on my why Joe is so pissed. He’s done everything he can in the last five years to ingratiate himself to the ursurpers and thus guarantee job stability. Now that’s threatened, and he never seemed to figure out that the Chimpbots would just as soon stick a shiv in his back and shake his hand.

So, he’s acutally got to get up there and do his fucking job. You know, like “talk to the people” and “have a position.” How declasse.

*ilson posted that link about Droney on an earlier thread– what a bombshell. Sam Seder just brought it up again on AA.

seriously bad press for the Lieberman camp.

Mrs. BC and I watched the debate on CSPAN and scored it about the same. Lieberman won on debating points, but looked bad doing it.

Lamont’s inexperience with the media showed in many ways. It’s not clear that it was a disadvantage to a candidate running as an outsider.

Holy Joe’s body language and demeanor were arrogant. It was as if he begrudged everything about the process. His failure to thank Lamont in his opening statement was a big mistake. Courtesy costs nothing and always pays dividends.

If it were a five round fight scored on a 10 point must system, I scored the first round (opening statements) to Lamont 10-8, the second round (Moderator questions) to HoJo 8-10, the third round (citizen questions, very badly produced IMO) even 10-10, fourth round (Candidate question) to HoJo 7-10, and the fifth round (Closers) to Lamont 10-9. So HoJo wins on my card, 45-47.

Lieberman won the debate based on the red-herring issue of Lamont’s tax returns. Unlike some other FDLers, I thought Lamont’s response was weak. He didn’t seem prepared on the issue and appeared a little flustered. Given that HoJo had released his returns, Lamont should have prepared for that attack. Mrs BC’s immediate response was, “What’s he hiding? That looks really bad.”

She was also unhappy with Lamont’s failure to cite specific actions. She felt he spoke in vague generalities and it made him appear to not know what he wants to do if elected.

So all in all, I chalk this up as a win for Lamont. He didn’t have to win the debate portion (though it would have been nice if he had), like the Preznit v. Gore, he only had to look like a reasonable alternative. He did much better than Bush did against Gore in 2000.

If I were a CT Democrat voter now, I’d be triangulating and trying to figure out which candidate can hold the seat in November and provide coattails long enough to pull in a couple of the D candidates running for R-held House seats. I don’t know the lay of the political land in CT well enough to figure that one out.

BC

And how Bushian unequipped he is to do any of those things, tommy. Politickin’ ain’t governing, but that’s their one trick.

Got some sleep, got a phone call from Germany, expecting my first email today, and the edges have smoothed out. Thanks for asking Lotus.

Sorry about stepping on Peterr’s post.

HopeSpringsATurtle

Good analysis, BC — just about the way I’d score it too. I’m thinking that in winning the debate, JoHo lost the race. The Droney insult caps it. Just incredible.

RH said:

Is anyone else watching the Bush presser this morning? Is it me, or does he sound like he’s really trying hard to convince not only the audience of journalists and folks watching out in the country, but HIMSELF, about the economy and his Administration? Weird tone this morning…

I caught the first 10 minutes of Dubya’s Chicago presser, Redd, and I thought exactly the same thing. “This is what I sound like when I’m trying to convince myself of something I don’t really believe…” Very whiny, very tentative. I wish I’d seen his body language on the tube…

BC

Glad to hear it, Hope. One day down!

Sam Seder just roared again about Droney the croney– this is not going away.

;)

Hope,

I’m glad things are smoothed over, ‘though I don’t know the specifics of your situation.

And while we’re asking for candles and nice thoughts, my oldest son (rising senior ROTC cadet) is heading to the Korea DMZ next week for three weeks of officer makee-learnee.

Your good thoughts, prayers are all gratefully accepted by Mrs. BC and myself.

As RH said, how dare Bush …

BC

BC

I shall keep your son in my thoughts and prayers. Best of luck and Godspeed to him.

My husband left yesterday for CCAT duty in Iraq. He will be shuttling casualties from Iraq to Germany.

Thanks for your kindness.

BC, he’s on my all-goodness-to-you list. Keep us up on what you hear, right?

Hoe’s Ode to Gay orge, “Because your kiss in on my list of the best things in life.”

from FreeEncyclopedia
“”Kiss On My List” was a 1981 hit song for Hall and Oates. It was the third single from their album Voices (album), and became their second Billboard Hot 100 number one single (after “Rich Girl” in 1977). “

You know, I just can’t figure out whom Droney was hoping to attract with that remark. Would Goopers and indies be any less turned off than we are? It just seems to be one piece of self-harming after another outta that camp.

ec at 188

Ditto. I can’t listen to chimpy for more than a minute. I get viscerally agitated.

I posted this in an earlier thread but didn’t see an answer, so I’ll repost it here (even though this is not a Jane post):

Jane,

Regarding your praise of Lamont: Are you thinking he’s going to be a really *good* senator, e.g. a Russ Feingold or a Paul Wellstone – or are you thinking he’s going to be a Hillary Clinton or a Joe Biden, or perhaps a Barack Obama, who sounds good and then votes for the bankruptcy bill and propagates Republican stereotypes about Democrats and religion? In other word, do you think that Lamont is just better than Lieberman or do you think that he is going to be one of the few really good Democratic senators? And if the latter, why (specifically) do you think so?

Thanks.

Hope

All our best to you and your family. I have personally really enjoyed your participation on FDL and would like to thank you.

I just phoned Senator Boxer’s office. They are actively tracking the Lieberman issue so you’re messages are paying off.

My point was not to argue about why Boxer may or may not support Leaverman. I wanted to drive home the point that if Lieberman loses the primary and goes indy, it will spilt the Dem ticket and the R’s will win. We can’t afford to loose another Dem right now. All other issues aside “good ol Joe ” is seriously damaging not only the party but he putting the future of the country in jeopardy. It’s much bigger than the local Connecticut primary.

Good, Sonoma Rus — now if only what you heard from them is what you/we WANT it to have been, maybe we’re in bidness. Your point to them is the strongest we have, I think. The only idea that worries me is the one some of us were kicking around yesterday … that maybe subliminally the DCDems really don’t WANT the power and responsibility to follow Bush and these terminally-stoopid goopers. May they’d just rather snipe than lead.

MayBE they’d just rather snipe than lead.

angie, thanks for the comment on Vanderhei, way up thread. I went to see what he was discussing today and found a really good dialogue re Lamont/Lieberman debate, Santorum’s chances (most-endangered senator), Condi looking at VP slot, etc.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..nav=topnav

Hope, and Lotus,

Thanks very much, I’ll keep you posted as I hear from him. He’s at summer camp right now, and just got in from 10 days in the boonies.

“Dad, ten days without a shower sucks.”

I had to brief him on what Kim Jong-Il had done. They leave the cadets (and the cadre too, apparently) mostly under information blackout. He knew that NK had a missile on the pad, but had not heard the facts about the July 5 launches. The rumors were flying around there thicker than fur in a catfight, and he called home to find out what was happening.

He’s a good kid, and the cadre on his campus think highly of him. One of the sergeants from his campus was at camp in the cadre and came over to his regiment. He asked the officer in charge to pull Cdt Countertenor to the post…

“Oh, do you know Cdt Countertenor?” asked the OIC.

“Yeah. He’s a real piece of shit.” responded the sergeant. My son heard all this, of course. The officer took him aside later and told him that the sergeant thinks very highly of him, and that for THIS sergeant to think highly of any cadet was high praise. I thought that was kind of the OIC to do.

Anyway, thanks again. And I’ll have your husband in my all-good-thoughts list, too Hope. Do keep us posted.

BC

weeder, you are welcome. He took my question and I was a bit suprised, since I kind of blasted Joe.

BC you might want to take a peek at a Wapo chat between Pritchard and readers today wrt NK. It might set your mind at ease a bit.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..nav=topnav

weeder @ 134 and christy @ 138, we [happy chicago resident here] have a long tradition of feisty reporters. politics is almost a spectator sport around here… and newspeople asking tough questions is appreciated. enjoyed, even.

Oopsy, Poolboy . . .

Jim VandeHei: we started early, so i can end early. thanks for your questions and comments and have a great weekend.

There is no need to include such a childish picture. I also cringe when I see right wing sites use such ridiculous photos. The story is good enough and only gets diminished by such a picture.

angie, was yours the first question? I thought his responses to questions were very even-handed and he confirmed what I’ve been thinking on a number of issues—reassurring for me to see in the MSM.
OT But I wonder if anyone else caught Charlie Rose last night. He had Bill Keller on defending the banking story, followed by RFK jr., re the Rolling Stone story about the stolen election. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone (outside of maybe, NOW) interview RFK on that article.

williscreek, what’s “childish” or “ridiculous” about the picture, please?

Yes, weeder, it was.

williscreek– that is a bona fide picture and is emblematic of the problem with Lieberman.

Anybody here take WSJ?

“A daily intelligence brief on Iraq, prepared by a private contractor for the U.S. military and companies working in Iraq, paints a grim picture of life in Baghdad,” according to the Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire.

An email to the paper went unanswered. RAW STORY is currently trying to obtain a copy of the brief.

[more]

Sorry if this has already been discussed, but I am reeling here! First we enlist gangs and now this!

>>>>>>>>>

A decade after the Pentagon declared a zero-tolerance policy for racist hate groups, recruiting shortfalls caused by the war in Iraq have allowed “large numbers of neo-Nazis and skinhead extremists” to infiltrate the military, according to a watchdog organization.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks racist and right-wing militia groups, estimated that the numbers could run into the thousands, citing interviews with Defense Department investigators and reports and postings on racist Web sites and magazines.

“We’ve got Aryan Nations graffiti in Baghdad,” the group quoted a Defense Department investigator as saying in a report to be posted today on its Web site, http://www.splcenter.org. “That’s a problem.”

(snip)

The report said that neo-Nazi groups like the National Alliance, whose founder, William Pierce, wrote “The Turner Diaries,” the novel that was the inspiration and blueprint for Timothy J. McVeigh’s bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building, sought to enroll followers in the Army to get training for a race war.

(snip)

The Southern Poverty Law Center identified the author as Steven Barry, who it said was a former Special Forces officer who was the alliance’s “military unit coordinator.”

“Light infantry is your branch of choice because the coming race war and the ethnic cleansing to follow will be very much an infantryman’s war,” he wrote. “It will be house-to-house, neighborhood-by-neighborhood until your town or city is cleared and the alien races are driven into the countryside where they can be hunted down and ‘cleansed.’ “

He concluded: “As a professional soldier, my goal is to fill the ranks of the United States Army with skinheads. As street brawlers, you will be useless in the coming race war. As trained infantrymen, you will join the ranks of the Aryan warrior brotherhood.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07…..cruit.html

Pretty pathetic, isn’t it, angie, that even skinheads know how to make hay from our dunderhead SecDef, but the Democratic Party doesn’t?

At one point in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Senator Payne attacks Jefferson Smith and then hurries off the floor. Taylor, the big boss, tells the Senator to go back in there and keep giving it to him, but Payne says” I hit him with all that I’ve got” and Smith did not fold. That’s what we saw last night. Holy Joe hit Ned with all that he’s got and Ned did not fold. In order for Joe to have won last night he needed a big win and anything less was a lost. Joe knew he did not get that and the reality of losing the primary and the general election chased him out the door. Once he loses the primary and all of his old friends and supporters ($$$) start to hedge their bets and some have already started, he has lost. He knows it and as events unfold he realizes more and more that his last chapter is not going to be pretty. The headline will be a heartbreaker for him and his family but he did more than anyone in writing his story.

We Americans don’t like War and the cheerleaders for this War have to pay a price. Joe Lieberman is the first of many governmental officials that took this country to War that will pay a small price compare to the price that is being paid everyday by the soldiers and their families, and the future generations of Americans that will have to fix the mess that this War with Iraq has caused.

The War on those that attack us on 9/11, The USSN Cole, and all the other attacks should go on but Iraq is not about that War and for Joe to continue to try to include Iraq into that War speaks of his dishonesty and complicity in taking us into this Iraq War.

The Washington club that Jefferson Smith discovered when he went to DC still exists and they should learn from this fight here in Connecticut or they too will have to pay a similar price that Joe is now and will forever pay if they don’t start listening to US.

It’s pathetic and frightening beyond all belief that skinhead hate groups are in the ME at all. This is a complete nightmare. Just when you thought the news couldn’t get any worse… some will come home too, after they have honed their skills. Woeful days ahead.

Our all volunteer force– this is fair to the other soldiers, how?

Amen, Phil. Do most of your friends and acquaintances feel the same? How many differents views of Lieberman ARE there among Nutmeggers? What’s your sense of it?

You guys do realize that there are two new threads, don’t you? *g*

angie — practically all the returning troops are going to be a major problem, whether they went over as skinheads or not, unless (maybe I should say “even if”) they get a helluva lot better mental- and physical-healthcare and other support than we’re seeing right now. This was a huge issue for years after Vietnam, but small in comparison to what faces us now — even if they all came home tomorrow.

Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld could never in a million years answer for all they’ve caused.

Minnesotachuck #24 and Ghostman #29 -

Thanks for that information. That’s my new designation for Joe Lieberman and those in Congress like him who helped unleash the dogs of war and haven’t looked back since, except to say that they’d happily do it all over again today:

Rear Echelon Mother Fuckers

Angie,

Thanks for the reference, I’ve read it and frankly didn’t see much new there, nor did I see much that was reassuring.

Kim Jong-Il may be a psychopath, but from all reports he is rational and cunning. Bottom line, he gambled on launching the Taepodong-2 and lost. Dubya got lucky on this one. The question is what will Kim do to attempt to regain prestige? No one has answered that question.

Aside: I’m very glad that I’m not a NK rocket engineer. I suspect a bunch of them are hanging by their thumbs about now.

BC

Kind of an odd question, BUT does anyone know where I can view the transcript of Bush’s presser?

I’m at work and couldn’t watch it. And, I’ve come to believe in the past few years, that even though he is absolutely repulsive, that we SHOULD listen to him to see what swill he’s throwing out. Know the enemy, sorta.

Anyone…?

Phoebe,

At the WH website:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news…..707-1.html

I agree with you about having to listen, no matter how hard it may be. Sometimes reading is easier. :)

Al Franken still has a show!?

May I suggest a caption for this picture of Bush and Lieberman locking lips in the context of his primary contest with Lamont?

What else?

Get Smoochy!

Are these silly Senators really coming to CT to appear with an angry, unrepentant neocon who channels Ronald Reagan in his debate? Are they that stupid?