RootZ! and Nedrenaline!

Jane!

Rootz

Ned

How did the Weicker meeting go?

Kobe!

“The Lamont SURGE”

I like that in a candidate.

Sheesh is there even ONE Republican left that isn’t a complete sleaze?

If Schlesinger is “betting” that this helps him, it’s easy to understand why the man has gambling debts.

Are the same people running both the Schlesinger and Lieberman campaigns? ‘Cause the “this weakens Lieberman” idea is about as nutty as some of the stuff coming out of Lieberman’s campaign.

The whole thing is starting to take on a rather absurdist quality…

Lottery for Tickets to Clinton Event for Lieberman!!

Sign up now: this is a tremendous opportunity – get onboard now to attend the Clinton event on Monday.

Lieberman and Clinton both need to be asked some pointed questions.

From myleftnutmeg:

Clinton visit on Monday in Waterbury – 4 p.m. Monday at the Palace Theater.
The LIEberman campaign will be holding a lottery this evening to distribute tickets to the public interested in attending.

Want to go?

Jon Kantrowitz :: Go See Clinton Visit – Monday in Waterbury – 4 p.m.
If you are interested, this is what you need to do:
1. Send an e-mail to Marshall@joe 2006.com , or
2. Stop by the Lieberman Waterbury campaign office at 86 Bank Streeet and sign up.
The lottery drawing will be held tonight and winners notified.

Winning tickets must be picked up at the Waterbury office Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.to 9 p.m., and on Monday 9 a.m. to noon. A valid photo ID will be required for admittance.

http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/sh…..aryId=2239

Quinnipiac poll guy offers 3 reasons for surge:

1. The debate

2. Lamont’s ads

3. Lieberman running as an independent

is there any truth to the rumor that Whiny Joe has ordered his staff to buy up a whole bunch of surge protectors for his campaign office?

“This is going to be about turnout”

wxyz

do you think they will be screening out people who wear Lamont buttons or t-shirts to the event?

Maybe they can get some of W’s advance men to take care of that.

“Clearly the momentum is on Lamont’s side. He’s come out of nowhere.”

Earlier poll showed people were mostly anti-Joe, now that has softened.

[i.e., people are voting more FOR Lamont.]

it’s my opinion that there would be way too many Lamont supporters present for them to try to deny entry to anybody with Lamont paraphenalia. The stink of ejecting very very publicly Democrats would be impossible. Every medium within 100 miles will be present and looking for a ‘conflict story’ .

Plus Spazeboy will be there w his video camera.

I’m betting that Joe doesn’t make it past August 8. As for what the GOP has up it’s sleeve, you gotta wonder if they really want to spend that much money in CT. It isn’t like they are actually going to pick up a seat. My guess is that they want the OTHER guys to spend money beating the crap out of each other in Novemeber and if that is the case, Joe is toast. Someone is going to put their foot down and he will concede.

What is the selection process the GOP uses to find Senatorial candidates in Connecticut? It’s starting to sound like they try to find the worst human being in the state who isn’t in jail at the moment.

Lamont didn’t so much come out of nowhere as he does a much better job of filling the vacuum created by Lieberman’s physical absence from CT and his ideological abandonment of the voters.

and the infamous Kiss-Mobile will be cruising the neighborhood !

RevDeb -

I wouldn’t risk wearing Lamont gear when trying to get into the event.

I bet Lieberman’s bouncers will be turning people away for that.

Lieberman is trying to follow the Bush campaign approach – with the goal of maximizing the number of syncophants in the crowd.

If I were attending the event, I would bring Lamont buttons in my pockets and start handing them out once I got inside. Maybe Lamont hats and shirts too.

Now that the word about the lottery has reached us, I’m guessing that the crowd for the event will be over 50% Lamont supporters – hopefully they will have a chance to ask some serious questions of Lieberman and Clinton.

The poll guy looks excited and nervous, he’s done this before but not with the stakes so high.

International audience and all.

Cujo at 18 What is the selection process the GOP uses to find Senatorial candidates in Connecticut?

There is a solid Ph.D. thesis available for researching how opposition candidates are chosen for “doomed” races.

Jane – someone mentioned earlier today a story about an increase in democratic registrations for the primary and that Repubs were switching to vote for Joe – any news on that?

Also, the mention earlier of a large number of absentee ballots makes me nervous since this is the method the democratic machine in New Haven used to use to assure the results they wanted – absentee ballots particularly from seniors in places like Bella Vista who tended to let their ward leaders “help” them fill them out.

worrying and having flashbacks

wxyz

do you really think they will open it up for questions? That would be awfully brave of old Joe, a trait he has not exactly been known for.

Jane, thanks so much.
I have read snippets of this, but it’s great to get the scoop.
My guess is the GOP in CT is as split as the Dems.
All Ned can do is focus on winning the primary.
He has zero margin for error.
Some commenters sound as though Ned’s victory is a foregone conclusion. I hope they’re right, but until the votes are tallied, “it ain’t over.”
After Ned’s victory in the primary, we’ll regroup and beat whoever runs in the general. Whinermann bet the farm on Iraq staying at least stable through the primary. Summer in Baghdad, bad bet Joe. Hezbolah really blindsided him and that exposes his whole pro-Bush position for the sewer it is.

Just curious to know why Lamont supporters would want to help fill a venue for a Lieberman event – both the media and Joe will spin a full house, and more requests for tickets than they have seats for, as equalling turnout for Joe.

From Colin McEnroe: http://blogs.courant.com/colin…..r_be_.html

“Lowell P. Weicker will co-host the show with me today. Ned Lamont will be a guest around 3:35. This is enough to bring babeometric blogger Jane Hamsher from Firedoglake into our studio with a BBC camera crew.”

So Jane, what’s the scoop on this?

I’ve said this before on previous threads, but it was always in EPU land. Suppose it were an advantage to Hillory to have Ned in the senate, and suppose bubba stumped for Joe; then wouldn’t that make Joe Kryptonite to any potential republican voters? Seems to me that would leave Joe out in the cold, and the republicans would have to vote for a gambler, or, or ???

written, screened questions, I bet

Well said Anne at 1:51.

I suspect that the Clinton camp will convince Lieberman to drop out if he loses the primary. Think about how angry the netroots would be to back a primary candidate and win, only to see Lieberman somehow get elected in a general election by Republican voters. A massive amount of discontent would be looking for an outlet and that outlet would be most likely be Hillary Clinton ‘O8.

Joe Lieberman can lose a primary and still have a career in Democratic politics. He could be an Ambassador or have a cabinet post in a future Democratic administration as a primary loser. If Lieberman loses the primary AND loses the general election as an Independent he becomes a two-time loser and a pariah in the party.

I have no illusions that Lieberman will act in the best interests of the Democratic Party if he’s defeated in the primary. But he may just change his opinion of what’s in his own best interest. I think Bill Clinton will make Lieberman an offer he can’t refuse after Lamont wins the primary. Accept defeat and you still have a future, stay in and you’re dead to the Party when you lose.

siun,

we learned last weekend at one of Ned’s offices that it takes a bit of effort to get absentee ballots, You can only get them for 5 family members unless you register especially to do this and then there is a lot of paperwork and another number limit. It sounded like a rather daunting task even for campaign workers to do.

I could probably find and look it all up, but that’s off the top of my memory from a very hot last sunday afternoon.

RevDeb -

I agree – it is unlikely they will have a formal open question and answer session.

But, thinking back to the Irish-American event, I believe that people in the crowd will have a chance to speak with both Lieberman and Clinton when they work the crowd.

I can think of a few concise questions that I would ask of them if given the opportunity.

As we saw in the Irish-American event, the media will report questions asked by members of the audience to candidates during the press-the-flesh portion of these events.

To be absolutely clear: I definitely don’t think it would be wise to be rude to Clinton. That would be a terrible idea.

But I think it is fair to challenge him respectfully why he would support Lieberman when Lieberman has told us that he will choose his own selfish interests over support for his party and the Democratic cause.

suin at 24 a story about an increase in democratic registrations for the primary and that Repubs were switching to vote for Joe

They can’t. It’s too late. Have to switch parties more than 3 months before the election.

Bwahahahaha

I have no illusions that Lieberman will act in the best interests of the Democratic Party if he’s defeated in the primary.
joejoejoe, I liked most of what you said, but Whinerman is tearing the Dem party in CT limb from limb every day he does not commit to support the winner of the primary. As of today, his “Plan B” is still on the table.

It won’t matter if Lamont supporters are there to ask questions – the only thing that will matter is whether the seats are filled. If they are, it will be points for Lieberman.

Perception is everything, and I don’t understand why any Lamont supporter would want to add to even a glimmer to a perception that Joe isn’t down for the count.

Anne — Clinton is the draw — the place will be packed for The Big Dog — packed!

Anne at 37,

Why not show up, fill the seat, and wear a Lamont hat or button.

I don’t think anyone will mistake your presence as an endorsement for Lieberman if you are wearing Lamont gear.

Then, before and after the event, seek out the media and tell them that you are there to respectfully tell Clinton what a mistake he is making by supporting someone so disloyal to the Democratic values he has historically stood for.

The seats will be filled regardless.

Might as well be by us, not Lieberyouth.

babeometric? Did you get a shoulder rub?

Revdeb – I don’t know if things have improved – my experience was at the tale end of the very interesting Biagio DiLieto machine in NH (Mayor DiLieto had previously been the chief of police who set up wiretapping of several thousand activists which led to a large fine paid by the city) when the absentee ballots were taken around to senior citizen homes, etc by “registrars” and party functionaries who then were “helpful” … the process was harder for individuals who requested an absentee ballot.

I’m hoping thing changed under DeStefano but he did come up within that regime though he was seen as one of the new kids likely to modernize politics in NH …

just worth watching *very* carefully if party officials in the cities want to use their tried and true methods to guarantee turnout for the *right* candidate

The only question is: “Why won’t you respect the decision of Democratic party voters?”

Nursing homes: if they fear these votes will be stolen, what about the following idea.

Lamont people go gather ballots–for either candidate–along with a representative of the nursing home. All people who are CAPABLE of voting and who want to vote, do so.

Then later when Lieberman people come and want to “help” people vote, it’s too late.

Well?

OT- imman- tell me again, where are you going in VacationLand? And for how long?

remember the Who song, a prescient ode to a right wing commentator turned rabid lamb:

“Bah-Bah O’Reilly”

CNN is reporting that its reporters are getting shit in Lebanon from the people coz they are American and the role of the US Govt in backing Israel is making folk angry … oh, oh, oh

Immanentize -

You said ‘The only question is: “Why won’t you respect the decision of Democratic party voters?”’

This is the right question for Lieberman.

For Clinton, the question is “How can you support a man who won’t respect the decision of Democratic party voters?”

wxyz, I would prefer, for Clinton a statement, “I am so glad to hear that you intend to respect the Democratic party voters in this state — God Bless you, you are a man of integrity!”

M,

Seal Cove Pond on Desert Island (way west of Bar Harbor. One week. You?

OT, via TPM:

Italy to host ceasefire conference next week; Rice to attend. The conference, according to Italian FM (and former PM) Massimo D’Alema, was called at the behest of the State Department and will not include representatives from Israel, Syria or Iran.

and CNN reporter also said that folks are angry because the weapons being used against them are given to them by the US.

CNNHN is and has been for almost 2 HOURS! a car chase in Houston. The world is going to hell and CNNHN is following a white pick-up driving like a loon all over the highways in TX.

words fail.

well, that sounds like another mighty productive summit, punaise.

too late too, I might add.

counter-rumors also claim that the GOP is trying to weaken Lieberman amongst Democrats in the primary by floating this particular tale and forcing a three-way race they think they might win with lots o’ cash and a more viable candidate.

Harriette Myers V 2.0

imman- home already. Gotta do better next year.

angie – indeed, I don’t see the point of that summit

footing dragging – the Italian conference is just more of the same…

imman,

would love it if you join us over at the new website.

Won’t run into you on vacation next week. We’re going to Canada. All the news will be in french, probably a good thing.

Ezra Klein, via Kos:

I’ve really been saddened, in fact, by how often, when I drill down into anti-Lamonter motivations, I find their ideological and electoral motivations, mere sandrock obscuring a core rage at this affront to tradition and orderly succession. I didn’t believe this even a few months ago, but I’ve been forced to conclude that what scares folks about Lamont is that he represents an assault on privilege — Joe Lieberman’s, to be sure, but also theirs, no matter what sector of politics they currently represent.

In some ways, Lieberman is the canary in their coal mine, and if his sanctimonious song stops, so too may all of theirs…..

49 immanentize –

That is good too. As usual, we are in agreement.

maybe in Rome they can compare shoes and do some more canoodling while the ME burns.

Lip-smackin’, that Ezra Klein, punaise.

OT – but central to the issue. Today in the NYTimes, Koppel insists we need to have a permanent presence in Iraq. Friedman in the same paper suggests we need to move on Iran and Syria – both purportedly to stabilize the region and to counter attacks on Israel. This whole area has become a mess, thanks to lots of people – Lieberman and Bush certainly, but also the Democratic party leadership – Schumer, Clinton and others. It was this same broad group of irrational minds who pressed our attack into Iraq, despite all evidence that there were no WMD. For many of my (liberal) Jewish colleagues it was the Israel issue that was central in their strong Iraq war support. Yet the Iraq intervention has had a disastrous impact on Israel security and well being. When I hear it said that we need to “clean out” the terrorists in Lebanon, Syria, and Iran, I am stunned. You can’t just wipe out a terrorist group as if it is a zero sum game. They don’t wear pink dots on their foreheads, or carry homing devices. The more that die (or are the recipients of violence) the more that are made. The Neo-con/Bush insistance on more “democracy” in the region in turn has brought people even more radical to power – the result largely of the Iraq war. Happily more people now are speaking out on this from various vantages – both here at FDL and on Air America (interestingly Rachel Maddow, and Stephanie Miller – but not Frankin). The problem is that most of the discussion now is so framed by the emotions on the part of the media and policy makers that real insight into how to end this mess is not addressed. I also get incensed with the idea (proposed by Frankin) that Israel’s response has always been is disproportionate (therefore it is OK)? Indeed, part of the current issue, has been the over the top response to the Hamas insurgents taking an Israeli soldier hostage, this coming about after Israel attacked viciously the duly elected Hamas government. The worry about Lamont, in short – Lieberman and the Repugs, is that an alternative view of the situation might actually get elected.

okee-doke, lotus….your klein of guy?

Well unfortunately Israel has cancelled Pam’s (of Atlas fame) trip to Israel. She could have been the perfect good will ambassador between the Israelis and the Lebanese.

And by good will ambassador, I do of course mean crazed geriatric crack-whore slut.

My klein of hopeful news, at least, pun.

Well dang, Kurt. Think how Pammy coulda iced that cake.

why would the Israelis need Pammy? They have Condi and Wolfie reporting for them …

Hey wxyz — Is that you identified simply as “xyz” at CtBob’s?

Man is it stormin’ in Boston right now. Crack Booommm! rain rain rainrainrain

Hey Kurt, I don’t think Pam is geriatric :~)

I still wonder if the blogosphere and the people can pull of a Lamont win.

But if it happens, it will shake both party’s foundations.

The status quo, which the professional pols and pundits love so much (and why wouldn’t they?) will be rocked.

Go Ned. I’m tired of the status quo; I’m tired of war being the answer to all problems; I’m tired of being locked into a job via my health care benefits; I’m tired of the 90 % incumbency reelection rate; I’m tired of worrying about the children in this country who will have to pay for the bills, political, economic, social, and possibly militarily, that our government is leaving them.

I want new blood, on both sides of the aisle. I want every incumbent to have to earn their seat back. I want CHANGE.

I tried not to look to closely when I watched that last vlog of hers hehe imm :)

Yah, see whatcha mean, imm.

http://www.weather.com/weather…..&day=1

this is starting to sound like a set piece put in motion long ago?
joe has a repug that can’t win, and they planned it. this guy is having his gambling debts paid by the repugs and maybe joey boy’s war chest huh? so he can drop at the right time for joe to win

sounds like the kind of thing these folks would do to subvert our country toward oligarchy

since we know 911 is a frame job, no one ever captured, buildings blowing up on their own, it is just one more item showing the government has used stupidity and fear to do a coup on us

and the demo’s are pissed at netroots. means only one thing, conspiracy, no?

egregious,

Candidate selection in losing races is usually based on ability to personally finance a substantial chunk of the campaign.

Absent that, the campaign is allowed to wither on the vine.

BC

No, oldtree.

Read an analysis that discusses the connections between the efforts to elect Ned Lamont in the Connecticut Senate race and Howard Dean’s Fifty State Strategy…and how the outcomes of, and ramifications for, both may be intertwined…here:

http://www.thoughttheater.com

HoJo is suffering from in situ shun all problems

Punaise @ 60 — great catch. Ezra Klein says it well.

John O @71

I still wonder if the blogosphere and the people can pull of a Lamont win.

Well the blogosphere can’t elect Ned, the voters of CT have to do that.

But I dod think we blogofascists (hehe) can create a new power structure, replacing smoke filled rooms where the rich and privledged make the decisions, with a decentralized network of smart, engaged people pushing in appropriate spots to nude things in a more progressive way.

The 20th century way of politics is clearly not working out for us in the Information Age, so we gotta try something new.

^^gah me and my stupid typing.

“nudge things in a more progressive direction”

Kurt:

“pushing in appropriate spots” and “nude” in the same sentence… Hmmmm

Daniel DiRito’s link concludes:

I’ve previously commented on the significance of the Lieberman v. Lamont Connecticut Senate race and I see that race as a perfect model for what is actually happening within the Democratic Party. Going back to the business model, I would assert that we have a middle management uprising whereby they believe the existing senior management is out of touch with the voting public. What remains to be seen is whether those who quickly rose to middle management positions can actually deliver the work force (voters).

Those who can be identified as the progressive netroots…people that I would argue were a part of (or can be equated with) Dean’s middle management structure see the Lieberman v. Lamont race as an opportunity to demonstrate that they can deliver the voters and in so doing unseat the senior management (beltway Democrats). In other words, they (the middle management), in conjunction with Howard Dean…although only on parallel paths, are simply seeking to bring to bear the maturation of what Dean initiated during the 2004 presidential campaign.

Strategically for the netroots, a Lamont win keeps the incubation moving forward although it may remain difficult to extrapolate the significance nationally. That may depend upon the Party’s November national scorecard. If Lamont were to win and the Democrats were to take control of the House, the netroots and Dean may be able to lay claim to reconstituting the Party and it may well emerge with a clearer direction and more unified.

On the other hand, if the Democratic Party fails to do well nationally…and I might suggest that the bar is set such that failing to win control of at least the House will likely be seen as a failure…it may well undermine the Dean Fifty State Strategy. That may well hinder the netroots effort to assert more influence within the Party…especially if Dean is seen as the fall guy should the Democrats do poorly. What could ensue is the cessation of the parallel efforts of Dean and the progressive netroots…as Dean could be unseated and replaced by a beltway operative. A poor Democratic showing coupled with a Lamont loss could potentially spell the end of the entire effort to redefine the Party.

At the very least, I remain concerned that after the November election the Democratic Party may be as divided as it now appears. Worst case, the midterm election may only set the stage for an even bloodier battle for control of the Party in anticipation of the 2008 presidential election. I’m doubtful that the 2006 election will provide the clarity and consensus the Democrats so desperately need. That is unfortunate and may have ramifications for many years to come. The conclusion offered by Real Clear Politics is the best guess as to what will actually happen in November that I’ve seen to date.

Virtually nobody in the Washington press cabal cares a whit about party organization. They tend to focus exclusively on “sexy” political stories. Talk about party organizational coherence is not sexy, but on Election Day it matters a great deal. In what Michael Barone calls the “49-49 nation,” the party that will get to half-plus-one is the party with the more coherent and efficient organization. Today, that party is the GOP.

Seems a pretty fair picture of our chore to me.

Kurt- not to worry. The emperor has no clothes, so fair’s fair.

Looky — Bong’s either the fastest healer in the history of medical science or gots the thickest skull, one!

lotus:

*projecting Spicoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High*

“Hear that?…… It’s my skull!!!”

Get it?

I don’t understand how the same people who now HAVE to concede how wrong they were about Iraq initially can with a straight face claim to be a voice worth listening to going forward.

lotus – EPU’d a response below.

BTW – I’m lost on what is accomplished by an Italian cease fire conf that “will not include representatives from Israel, Syria or Iran.”

I’m guessing either shoe shopping or warrant serving.

OT– Watching Sharpton and that rethug battery powered power tool on Tweety…

Sharpton is so dern good and sensible and advocates talking instead of killing and the rethug is just repeating the mantra, Hezbollah, terror, Iran, Syria, evil, evil, evil. War is good, war makes us right.

Rethug says the new war may help the preznit…

Christy…just saw an article about Bush’s backrub being shown on the Web, and Firedoglake is mentioned. It says you play fast with the facts (paraphrasing) because you didn’t get Shrub’s fraternity correct (this is what it implied, anyway). These morons just WON’T try to understand…you were making an anology…duh!

Condi is really going to Italy to do some bargain shopping at the Ferragamo Shoe Factory Outlet Store… she’s not a rich lady, you know on a Secretary’s salary!

OOPS! Didn’t say where I saw it…CNN (whatever is at cnn.com). Am going to go back and see who (or what) wrote it!

Mary – warrant serving

oooh, do tell. Condi for war crimes? Something about the shooting of the Italian agent in Iraq? kidnapping by CIA in Milan (?)…

angie says ,
Rethug says the new war may help the preznit…

Right out the fuckin door.
Stunningly out of touch.

When is the last time we heard the words “cut & run” re Iraq?

War may help Presnit…It did in the past.

Talk about “if it feels good do it” mentality.

Yes, #90, the AP took a disingenuous, gratuitous shot at Christy, but at least they spelled the URL right. They’re reading.

EPU’d my thanks too, Mary.

Any lhp sightings since yesterday?

Beats me how Shooter and Sleeza keep straight faces any more. Chimpy can’t. But then he can’t do anything ‘cep’ cut brush.

DEPU’d/OT/rant warning

TSF at 121 2 there have been no calls for Leavitt’s resignation over his seemingly legal but not terribly generous tax-sheltered family charity

A. egregious.

B. I don’t have to tell you what the right wingers would do if it was a Democrat. Ha.

C. This kind of behavior always hurts real charities, more paperwork, more oversight of honest people.

I spend a WEEK every year filling out forms for the federal government to prove that, yes again this year, we are still a charity saving the lives of hundreds of children.

But a cabinet member can get away with THIS?

/rant…but still smokin’* **

*unlike CTBob. Go you.

**out the ears. Not tobacco.

New Thread?

I wonder if lhp has power?

I’m at work, but my home power is knocked off from a storm – St. Louis has big outages, and I heard there were quite a few in NYC too.

?

punaise – I was being snide, but it would be the kidnapping by CIA in Milan issue. The Italians have gone for the jugular with an investigation of their own Military Intel SISMI now that Prodi is in power.

Reading the tea leaves is right. It’s not exactly about owing money to casinos.

Like the Bill Bennett case, it’s about being in a casino town with a shitload of cash.

One wishes it were not true, but like day folows night, other temptations are being pursued — oh, let’s make it 9 times out of 10.

Mary – that would be a SISMIc event

wxyz 39

Why not get in the lottery for the tix and if you win one, stay home. :)

Clinton will give a hell of a good speech so go and enjoy it — whoop and holler at Whiney Joe!

Ya know….I hate it when Larry Johnson is subtle:

http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/co…..es_a_grave

Israel’s latest offensive to root out and destroy Hezbollah probably will fail and in the process will ignite a new round of international terrorist attacks that will put the United State squarely in the crosshairs. It is as if we are watching a plane crash in slow motion. We see the plane hurtling towards the earth, our mouths agape in a silent scream. We know it will explode on impact and can do nothing but watch. (Please check out Pat Lang’s take on the latest developments).

Israel’s last invasion of Lebanon did not vanquish Hezbollah. This time around Israel faces a Hezbollah that is bigger, better armed, and well entrenched in highly fortified areas. Air power cannot extract Hezbollah from their bunkered retreats and caves. That will be the hard work of infantry. And as the Israeli Army tries to clear the caves, thousands of fighters on both sides will likely die.

and your little dog,

THATS BRILLIANT!!!!!

Is it too late? when is this lottery???

ticket info at comment # 8 above

Leavitt is a crook. Trust me, I’m from Utah. Like Bush, ol’ Mikey hides behind a conservative Christian (in this case Mormon) facade.

Check the link. Leavitt’s family decimated wild trout populations in the State of Utah while he was guv of Utah. Nice.

http://www.slweekly.com/editor…..-08-21.cfm

I was wondering about power for lhp and our other NYers too, Mary. Home is Lawn Gisland, but getting from court in town (if any today) out there may be a chore. Anybody heard whether LI is out too?

St.L. sounds an awful mess — river heat/humidity with no seabreeze — oooie.

How long have you been out? Is this the second day? Howya holding up? What’s the story with the power-grid thereabouts?

U.S. Media & the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
http://video.google.com/videop…..4384920696

That would be very nice to see: almost as many, or more Lamont supporters there than Lieberman’s. I will hope for it.

Thanks sophist. Will view.

Mary at 102 The Italians have gone for the jugular with an investigation of their own Military Intel SISMI now that Prodi is in power

Investigations…ahh…one can dream.

Take back the Congress!!!!

I can just see six guys with nice shirts on going in and sitting next to each other and yanking off their shirts to show a big L A M O N T scrawled across their chests.

Could even be more effective if it was co-ed, but it might not make the evening news. ; )

OT But it’s a hot humid day and maybe you want a laugh.

Before Ann Coulter, there was Barbara Amiel. She was a neocon columnist for a Canadian news magazine called Macleans.

Not only is Ann unoriginal in her writing, but also in her persona.

Does this sound familiar?

While I treasured her shock value, she left me with the impression that her opinions were swallowed whole, undigested, to be defended with unsheathed claws instead of mental effort. I could never escape the feeling that, despite her claims to be a champion of unfettered freedom, she stood mainly for the greater glory of Barbara Amiel. This was an impression I shared with nearly all those who watched her scratch-and-gouge climb up the journo-celebrity ladder.

Hot, sexy and super intellectual (just like Ann!) Amiel hit the jackpot with her fourth husband Conrad Black.

He’s the guy in Chicago whose prosecution that Patrick Fitzgerald keeps having to fly back home to look after.

I’ve just written an article on this portrait Amiel by Peter C. Newman, the man who gave her her first fulltime gig at Macleans.

You can read it at The Next Agenda, right now!

You just gotta read who she left her third husband for and why!

OT According to an article I saw at the CBS site on the autopsy of Ken Lay the infamous former chairman of Enron, Lay had 3 clogged arteries and had had at least two previous heart attacks. In addition, he had undergone the placement of two cardiac stents. What this means is that Lay had a known history of coronary artery disease. You would expect stress testing to have revealed the previous heart attacks. Depending on the type and size, EKG and echocardiogram might indicate electrical and wall motion abnormalities consistent with an old heart attack as well. That he was stented shows that at some time he was symptomatic enough to be treated with an invasive procedure. You might expect such a person to be on various heart medications and you would definitely expect such a person to have regular followup with a cardiologist. Now it is always possible that all this crept on everyone and Lay was asymptomatic until his last devastating episode. But with his money, history, and 3 vessel disease, you might as easily think that someone would have noticed and taken appropriate action before. In the end, it may well be Lay who victimized so many others was himself a victim of the American healthcare system.

Hugh, my theory is that Ken Lay was a master of denial in all areas of his life.

How kind of explaination did Lay give to Satan concerning his big loss on Enron stock?

UP 108

Why, thankyew!

Can’t wait to go read that, Bionic!

Just followed your link to Pat Lang, Zergle.

His bottom line:

The latest newsroom fantasy insists that the Israelis will not have to occupy south Lebanon for long because the Lebanese Army is going to come down to take over the role of excluding the Hizballah (by force) from the area and that various foreign countries will contribute troops to a force to back up the Lebanese Army in keeping Hizballah fighters out of the area (by force).

If anyone wants to bet any money on either or both of those things happening, I would be interested in discussing terms with you.

Ken Lay was greeted in hell with the words: “Well done, my good and faithful servant!”

Condi is saying that she is not for a “quick fix” in Lebanon. I guess she is going to apply the long hard slog approach Rumsfeld perfected in Iraq. Heaven help the Lebanese!

*ilson46201 #123

Ken Lay was greeted in hell with the words: “Well done, my good and faithful servant!….How’s George?”

Did you use Zergle’s link at 107, Hugh? Heaven help us all.

lotus – I’m not having any big problem. The storm that knocked out the power was just, it’s not a big deal. It will be up again soon and the storm brought a cooldown.

ABA taks force is going to recommend that Congress pass legislation allowing for standing to challenge signing statements.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/n…..igning.htm

Both Larry Johnson
http://noquarter.typepad.com/m……html#more
and Pat Lang
http://turcopolier.typepad.com….._tyrannis/

have insights on Rice that are just disheartening/disturbing. Johnson: Condi Rice still holds the crazy belief that Lebanon’s Army, which is 50% Shia, will magically deploy and confront Hezbollah. She also deluded herself into believing that the radical groups, like Hezbollah and the insurgents in Iraq, are stirring up trouble because the US mission of speading democracy is actually working.

Lang: Rice says she believes that crushing Hizballah will at long last trigger the Middle Eastern version of the post Soviet Union “Velvet Revolution” which she believes is “just around the corner.”

I only know the wider reports when it comes to info on Hezbollah (I love that, like al-Qaeda, there is *no* one consistent spelling) but this statement by Larry Johnson reflects something I have seen/read several places:

We should not confuse Hezbollah with Al Qaeda. Unlike Al Qaeda, Hezbollah has a real and substantial international network. Unlike Al Qaeda, Hezbollah has a real and substantial international political and financial network

I don’t know the accuracy, but the import when I have seen this discussed is that, while Iran and Syria are state backers, Hezbollah also has worldwide support tentacles. Some people who seem to know what they are talking about seem to think organizationally and financially they are more sophisticated and connected than al-Qaeda.

Cheery thought, that.

James Taranto on CNN Lou Dobbs just tried to pontificate that the death rate in Iraq today is lower than it was under Saddam — Dobbs cut him off curtly…

I got carried away with links on a prior post. Sorry.

Israel and the US benefitted by a multinational Beruit, but that’s been set back very far now.

Blackout in Queens Affects Many More Than Estimated

The number of people who have been without power in Queens for five days now is actually closer to 100,000, not the figure of 2,000 customers that officials of Consolidated Edison had cited in previous days.

Cheney, August 2002:

” Another argument holds that opposing Saddam Hussein would cause even greater troubles in that part of the world, and interfere with the larger war against terror. I believe the opposite is true. Regime change in Iraq would bring about a number of benefits to the region. When the gravest of threats are eliminated, the freedom-loving peoples of the region will have a chance to promote the values that can bring lasting peace. As for the reaction of the Arab “street,” the Middle East expert Professor Fouad Ajami predicts that after liberation, the streets in Basra and Baghdad are “sure to erupt in joy in the same way the throngs in Kabul greeted the Americans.” Extremists in the region would have to rethink their strategy of Jihad. Moderates throughout the region would take heart. And our ability to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process would be enhanced, just as it was following the liberation of Kuwait in 1991.”(emphasis mine)

Cheney today, while pimping for a Gooper candidate in Florida:

“Cheney said that as Republicans make their case to voters in the midterm elections, “it’s vital that we keep issues of national security at the top of the agenda.” …

…”If anyone thinks the conflict is over or soon to be over, all they have to do is look at what’s happening in the Middle East today,” he said.”
______

Totally unfazed by his failures.
_

Just read Johnson & Lang myself, Mary, and can’t imagine how we’re going to make to — much less through — impeachment. But if we should, I sure hope Nancy Pelosi is ready to prevail over the gawdawfullest time of her life.

I agree with Larry Johnson. It is distressing but not unexpected for Condi and this Administration to take an up is down approach to Lebanon. They didn’t know or try to understand the complexities of Iraq before launching the invasion. So it is no surprise that they are flying blind in the current crisis in Lebanon. These people don’t know anything and learn absolutely nothing.

My 4-year old with her little spinnie-wheel thing could randomly make better foreign policy decisions than these ass clowns.

O/T A piece from CQ on MD 4:

It is too soon to say whether Edwards will emerge as a serious threat to topple Wynn in the primary. But her quick jump start in the area of fundraising suggests that she is not alone in her skepticism toward Wynn.

She said she worked as a summer law clerk for Wynn when he was in the state legislature and supported Wynn in 1992 when he first won his House seat. But she contends he has moved to the right since taking office.

I’ve given to Donna Edwards twice through the FDL Act Blue page, I hope you will consider her as well.

lotus 130, dreadful. Our power supply infrastructure is pitiful, I know – one more chink in our armor that would be addressed by an administration that really cared about Homeland Security.

My only issue about the article about Dean in relationship to the Joe/Lamont struggle is that it sets up a goal which, if we miss it (Lamont winning in Nov. AND we take back one house at least) then the new progressive blog and grassroots experiment of campaigning is dead.

I do not buy that. If Lamont loses, Joe and other candidates will have been given notice. And we will try again. Lamont can run again for the next office. These excellent candidates cannot just go back to homebase. We must try, and try, until we start to win.

This is just the beginning and I resent anyone telling us it will be over if we don’t win everything now. Hogwash.

It’s not surprising I guess, but it seems so idiotic. The Lebanese army is going to make it all better?

Bionic – interesting site – thanks. We don’t get much real Gitmo coverage here – your story on the now 19yo caught my eye bc his US lawyer, Vokey, would not back down in Guantanomo on his protests of how the hearings were going. I remember the name from the little coverage we got b4 Rumsfeld kicked the press off island.

They are still in a bubble. It’s kind of like when that new kid fresh out of college comes into the office thinking he’s going to straighten everyone out. He’s read a lot of books and got great grades, but has never worked a day in his life. If he’s smart, in a few weeks he realizes he needs to back off and is eventually accepted. Bush, Rice, Cheney, though … not a chance. They still think they know better than everyone else despite having no actual experience to support that mentality. Everyone is just giving them lip service now because they’ve repeatedly proven themselves incompetent. Even if they did come up with a brilliant plan no one would implement it just because it has their approval.

…and calling them ass clowns is just an insult to rectums in bad makeup.

No insult to ass-painted intended….

I know someone who supports Hezbollah.

He doesn’t like the suicide bombing and considers the people who convince gullible teens to do so to be like drug dealers roping i the young. He thinks it is a terrible thing to do to the people of Israel.

He lived in South Lebanon and saw the mothers, who, contrary to the propaganda here, never recovered from losing their kids as bombers.

His father was killed in the fighting before he was born.

But he supports the Hezbollah because 1)he is Shia and they stand up for the Shia and 2)they do good things for the community that wasn’t getting done.

It doesn’t help IMO to paint either side with a broad brush. Many of us know people whom we like and/or love on both or either side(s). The reasons why people support this cause or any cause are myriad.

I knew a guy in the Bronx who lived on a street with a Mafia house. “It’s the safest street in the neighborhood”, he told me. “No one does anything to piss off the Mafia.” He was an old guy. He liked being safe.

Condi is not going to win friends and influence people if she insists on namecalling. Perhaps if she made the effort to find out why people support something, she just might find a way to solve a problem or two without thousands of people dying.

Ya know…now that I wrote that…

Where does the big nose go?

Too true, Bionic — but if she had that in her, she wouldn’t have lasted 6 years with Boosh.

Ass-clowns have no nose, and no sense.

As far as taking sides go, I have to go with this comment from a DKos diary:

asking me to take sides in the current conflict is like asking me to take sides in the California wildfires. I’m anti-fire. I could give a shit about who started it or why, I just want the damn fire out. Once it’s out, then let’s find out who started it and act accordingly.

…and no taste. I mean who puts make-up on their ass? ;-)

lotus 130

Why is the power out in Queens?

And thanks so much for including me in such an august list last thread!

Oo la la, time for a Sego break!

French Socialist Using Web to Win Over Voters
With Dean-Style Campaign, Segolene Royal Hopes to Become Nation’s 1st Female President

To make a Donnation to Donna Edwards and defeat right-leaning Wynn in MD, actblue firedoglake/blue america communities makes it easy to help her.

I think I understand your point Bionic and I also understand the point Larry Johnson and others make about needing to deal with Hezbollah differently than al-Qaeda in some fashion, bc it is structurally different.

But I do tend to paint with a pretty broad brush for anyone and any group that supports things like suicide bombers, or shelling civilian populations, genocide, or blackhole torture sites.

I don’t support them in my own government (which also does some pretty wonderfully nice things from time to time) and I don’t have a feeling of kinship with someone who supports them in another org. I try to keep an open mind to understand things (like the fact that it is often paramilitary orgs like Hezbollah and Sadr’s crew in Iraq who bring supplies and protection to people who have no other option). Understanding doesn’t mean I’ll ever think it’s “right” though, especially for someone who doesn’t have a gun to their head, to support an organization that openly espouses those kinds of things.

Grandma 137

They might want us to disappear, but that would be up to us, right?

We haven’t gone away several times now. :)

Condi was a failure before 9/11 and remains one today! So here we have a supposedly “smart” person who plays classical piano, survived the south before and during and after the civil rights movement, became highly edumacated, served as chancellor for an Ivy League and had an oil tanker named after her, forgot her roots and the poor people all over the planet in her desperate search for a great pair of pumps.

Can’t take the oil out of Condi. Secretary of Hate as Dru said a while ago. Go ruin football and leave foreign policy to humans.

li’l dog, it was apparently a combo of heatwave and thunderstorms that did in ConEd . . . which doesn’t speak highly of ConEd, eh?

And you’re welcome — I was reveling in great handles attached to great commenters!

To humans with souls.

Mary @ 138

Thanks! Means a lot coming from you! (Thanks Lotus too)

Check out my story on Gitmo where a CBC reporter finds it’s “hardly a gulag” and why.

You don’t have to be a Canadian to join! ;o)

Humans with souls, angie.

Jumping late into the discussion and adding my two cents – it’s really a shame that Clinton is coming to aid LIEberman… I know he’s doing to help his wife’s chances to run as a presidential candidate, but I don’t think he’s getting the big picture – we the regular Dems and Independents are fed up with both parties and want to see candidates with principles.

It is crucial that Lamont winsm it will send a CLEAR and PRESENT MESSAGE to the powers above.

I hope, I hope, I hope we can all make it happen.

#146

You know those Repugs, always trying to put a good face on things…

Angie 151

Just to quibble. I think Condi was a provost at a top-tier school, Standford, and not such a good one, or so I’ve heard.

Thanks egregious. Donnation! My brain has turned to mush from being at work too much.

my bad, little dog! ;>) just desserts for someone on a rant.

calm down, angie.

Lotus 153

Yeah, I guess ConEd didn’t think it was likely that they’d have a thunderstorm and a heat wave at the same time . . . in the SUMMER.

God.

Mary @ 149

I guess that’s the thing we do as humans is compartmentalize.
You support the goverment that rules your country, because to not do so would invite anarchy, but you don’t like certain things this administration does.

We like rules that let us live safely.

I’m not asking anyone to support Hezbollah, I’m simply offering an observation on someone who does support them. Unlike how Condi would like to play it, they aren’t people screaming for the deaths of ordinary Israeli citizens.

And Zergle @ 145 that’s an excellent quote. Too bad Condi isn’t anti fire, too.

Angie 160

To fracture an aphorism, If you’re not on a rant, you’re not paying attention..

I just didn’t want to give Rice more props than I could.

Oh, and I do know there aren’t two “d’s” in Stanford.

Greg Palast on what has happened to the US power grid:
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0720-22.htm

Weird deal, angie, but my 148’s been hung up in mod for 12 minutes now, so if this works, it’ll be a nice little tension-breaker for ya:

French Socialist Using Web to Win Over Voters
With Dean-Style Campaign, Segolene Royal Hopes to Become Nation’s 1st Female President

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01738.html

If you have an opportunity and the ability to go see Clinton, by all means, go!!! He’s an imperfect man, but when he answers questions from the audience or pre-screened questions, he does not limit himself to canned answers — he talks, informs, teaches.

I’ve seen him on MSM since the Israel-Lebanon fighting broke out — and he said the violence should stop even if Bush does not want it to stop. He’s sane.

OT: I can’t say I’m surprised that Israel invaded Lebanon, especially since I wrote here a couple of days ago that the target list looked an awful lot like the sort you’d draw up for an invasion. It’s folly, of course. I didn’t need Larry Johnson to tell me that – Israel had eighteen years to get rid of their Hezbollah problem the last time they were in Lebanon, and they didn’t. Not much chance of that happening this time, either.

At least Israel has the excuse of being in the line of fire for their stupidity. Being scared makes you stupid sometimes. Our own government doesn’t have that excuse.

Hey there, Tawanda. Haven’t seen ya around for a few days — welcome back.

I love the fractured aphorism, little dog, and I love how people discuss and are gentle with one another here. Rice deserves zero props and I will contribute some leather for her wardrobe in exchange for her disappearing to the weenie circuit forever.

hotdog, hotdog, get your hotdog right here!

Remember when you used to hear on the news that Richard Holbrooke was headed somewhere to head up negotiations in a volatile situation?

I used to breathe a sigh of relief, because I knew that if Holbrooke was on it, everything was going to work out for the best.

I haven’t felt that way since January, 2001. :(

new thread, y’all…
also, check this out, http://www.lukira.com/lukira/2…..olls_.html

Hmm. The Mod Goddess seems to be grudging WaPo at the moment, but if you go there on your own, there’s quite an interesting piece on Segolene Royal’s adoption of Howard Dean’s/our net tactics.

And of course, La Sego is interesting all by her beautimous seff.

OT

I love Tom Oliphant. He always cuts to the meat of the matter.

My favorite hour on the radio each week is his Thursday guest shot on Al Franken.

And, do you find it impossible not to look at the names, ages and faces of the military people killed that the Newshour runs at the end of the show?

weeder @ 4:42 pm (#164) – Things certainly have gotten worse since the electrical industry was deregulated, there’s no question. It’s possible it’s just coincidence, but I don’t think so.

A couple of years ago my sister, who lives in an urbanized part of eastern Pennsylvania, had to wait almost a week for power after a transformer on a nearby pole blew out. I can’t imagine what her utility was thinking. Those things burn out or blow up all the time. It’s a hazard of having high-voltage components twenty feet in the air outside. Anyhow, that wouldn’t have happened in the old days. They would have had a spare within a day’s ride of there.

I thought deregulation was a mistake from the beginning, but hadn’t seen it spelled out the way Palast did it in this column. I also loved his title—which is why I read it in the first place. *g*

Mary at 149

Your broad brush works for me. Power in disparate manifestations. Understanding does not equal support.

little dog: I guess ConEd didn’t think it was likely that they’d have a thunderstorm and a heat wave at the same time . . . in the SUMMER.

What about rice-esque
No one could have imagined there would be both a thunderstorm and a heat wave in the summer.

Isn’t it right about now that Alan Keyes announces that he will be replacing Alan Gold, er, I mean Alan Schlessinger at the Republican nominee.

Stupid or liar?

Here we have some truth and some fuzzy-thinking:

“Strategically for the netroots, a Lamont win keeps the incubation moving forward although it may remain difficult to extrapolate the significance nationally. That may depend upon the Party’s November national scorecard. If Lamont were to win and the Democrats were to take control of the House, the netroots and Dean may be able to lay claim to reconstituting the Party and it may well emerge with a clearer direction and more unified.”

Actually, if Lamont wins and the Democrats win control of the House, the establishment & media are going to go ballistic with negative commentary, the kindest of which will be “can the Democrats govern without catering to their extremist left?”

“On the other hand, if the Democratic Party fails to do well nationally…and I might suggest that the bar is set such that failing to win control of at least the House will likely be seen as a failure…it may well undermine the Dean Fifty State Strategy. That may well hinder the netroots effort to assert more influence within the Party…especially if Dean is seen as the fall guy should the Democrats do poorly. What could ensue is the cessation of the parallel efforts of Dean and the progressive netroots…as Dean could be unseated and replaced by a beltway operative. A poor Democratic showing coupled with a Lamont loss could potentially spell the end of the entire effort to redefine the Party.”

This depends on the voters rather than the in-bred D.C. insiders and media whores. In short, the reform effort will be set back if Dean is bounced by angry conventional thinkers, but the grass-roots is never going to stop. It will simply have to focus more on the states before gaining power at the national level again. This will be a serious setback of course.

“At the very least, I remain concerned that after the November election the Democratic Party may be as divided as it now appears. Worst case, the midterm election may only set the stage for an even bloodier battle for control of the Party in anticipation of the 2008 presidential election. I’m doubtful that the 2006 election will provide the clarity and consensus the Democrats so desperately need. That is unfortunate and may have ramifications for many years to come. The conclusion offered by Real Clear Politics is the best guess as to what will actually happen in November that I’ve seen to date.”

Any Democrat who supports the war can forget about the nomination in 2008. That’s all. As for inter-party war that’s guaranteed to happen, and it’s certainly not a bad thing! Better a war within the Democratic party over supporting real values that people outside the beltway care about, than re-defining the party as “Bush-lite”, which was what was happening up to 2 years ago. The utter failure of Bush will make it difficult to go back, no matter what happens.

“Virtually nobody in the Washington press cabal cares a whit about party organization. They tend to focus exclusively on “sexy” political stories. Talk about party organizational coherence is not sexy, but on Election Day it matters a great deal. In what Michael Barone calls the “49-49 nation,” the party that will get to half-plus-one is the party with the more coherent and efficient organization. Today, that party is the GOP.”

It certainly IS the GOP, which is why all the Democratic state chairpersons are so happy with Dean! That alone will make it hard to go back. Whatever the beltway insiders think, committed Democrats around the states are very happy with Dean, especially Democrats in red states that haven’t seen any sign of democratic party in a generation.