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There are 75 days until the November elections. The DNC has a great countdown of action steps that you can take going at the DNC Blog. Today's step: write a letter to your local paper, describing how Republican policies have hurt you.
But there is much, much more -- counting back from 100 days to 76 today. Lots of practical, common sense steps that you can take to get the word out that the do-nothing Rubber Stamp Republican Congress has to go -- and that enabling George Bush to keep on failing has to stop.
Things look decent in terms of polls at this point:
But you can't take a poll to the bank -- not even close -- and the elections this fall are going to be a battle, from now until November. And it is going to take every one of us working together to get over the finish line in the front of the pack.
If you need some motivation, take a peek at this clip from Howard Dean on yesterday's Hardball. Plain talk -- how refreshing. Or this clip from Cafferty on CNN on the Republican "play the race card" strategery this year. Or, if you missed this one, take a peek at Jon Stewart destroying the latest George Bush presser.
It's time to suit up, gang. Let's go kick some ass...
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NED!
Ned, Webb and FDL!
What’s up with the CNN and Gallup polls? Are they historically pro-Rethug?
NOEVEMBER COMING FIRE!
Christy - did you see Harold Ford Jr’s newest ad - they’ve been showing it on blitzer the last couple days.
Here it is
JCB:
Yes, they are.
Good for Dean. Now he might want to revisit the convoluted thinking of the Demmies who are playing both sides of the fence regarding Leiberman. There is still the false belief that there is any real benefit of placating Joe now just in case he ends up getting re-elected. Schumer and Reid are covering their own asses with a coat of teflon “just in case”. Balls gentlemen, please, show some balls!
Valley Girl - If you haven’t seen it already, there is a response to you in the last thread.
Come November, there will be dancing in the streets. This is autumn for the Republicans and almost spring for the Democrats. Getting time to break out the Korbel. Extra dry or brut, if you please. Just wait and see.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 9
I wish I shared your confidence. I’m a little nervous about November.
IMO - the CNN poll is reflecting the disastrous beltway strategy of Dems trying to straddle the Lieberman line. They have few enough credentials on the leadership front; when they then have chunks line up to fight for the right to be Bush’s Best Friend and still get Dem support - they are nuts.
Republicans are running from Bush, Dems are bending over backwards to say it’s ok to run towards Bush.
We sooooo need a third party. FOr now, we’ll work with what we’ve got.
ReddHedd !
Webb, Rowley, Sestak, Massa, Edwards, Brown, Lamont … we REALLY need them.
Oh–and for some definitive smackdown about Gallup’s persistent bias, check out LeftCoaster. That site has kept a pretty close eye on the matter. The link will take you to the search results for gallup. Dig through; you’ll see how whacked they are.
I think Pollkatz has the data in graph form that shows Gallup consistently trending higher for R’s too.
Yeah, Gallup polls are usually VERY rethug-heavy. Every time I see one I automatically adjust it to reality in my mind.
Lately, too, my radar is starting to pick up the beginning of the MSM push to play up “good news” for republicans - polls up, terror tactics winning, blah blah blah - trying once again to create the self-fulfilling prophecy of republican “inevitability” - that “those republicans sure know how to win.”
I’m sure it’ll only get worse the closer we get to November. Thank God we have a few sane voices on TV - like Jack Cafferty - to drown out the noise machine.
The polls look interesting but Christy is right. No way should any of sit on our hands. As a matter of fact the polls show considerable tightening when individuals are polled rather than general parties or even policy questions.
Suiting up . . .
I love it when a woman says Let’s go kick some ass…
OT, but I didn’t even want to participate in the immediate preceding thread.
I get really pissed when comments which I HOPE were merely meant to be critical of failed policies and undue influence of the Israeli government go way over the line and become critical of “Israelis” and “Jews.” As longtime readers here know, I’m highly critical of that government’s policies and have been through the three preceding Israeli administrations. But it is disappointing to see commenters at fdl, some of whom I regard as dear friends here, spew out totally unfocused stuff on the Israeli sub buys (which are old news, BTW) and throw out bs statements about the Israeli economy like “um, Israel did sell fruit and veg nurtured and cultivated by their Palestinian slave laborers until recently…”
As we come closer to this election, more and more crap is going to come from the right to pressure American Jews, who have been, by and large, staunch progressives for a lot longer than almost any other American cultural group, to jump ship and vote red.
Before Sharon’s political reorganization last year, his coma, and Olmert’s rise and fall, the term “Likudnik” was a sort of equivalent to several terms we use to describe organized wingnuts in our country. Likudinik has been superceded, but there is no current term which so easily describes the “Olmertniks” or whatever.
When dealing with this issue, please, please carefully avoid descriptions and anecdotal stuff like went on in “Deja Vu?”
Thanks.
Elections, what elections?
-GSD
Mary @ 11
In 2003, a lot of Howard Dean’s supporters were agitating for a 3rd party. Dean’s response was “let’s take over this one.” Which is exactly what we (and he) are doing! The powers-that-be sooooo did not want him in charge of the DNC, but the roots made it happen despite them.
I don’t have cable. Did Howard Dean answer the question about whether or not Joe Lieberman would be allowed back into the Dem party if he wins this election?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 9
That is like a dang jinx. Don’t do that.
Hope for the best. Expect the worst. Especially when dealing with this wretched party of scum and villainy known as the GOP, to paraphrase Obi-Wan.
*ilison - Question for you at the end of last thread.
twolf1 @ 10
Yes, I know. But it’ll happen. But of course we cannot stop being relentless in our pursuit of what we know to be right. Now is THE time to pour it on. Doing everything we can, just might save our planet. I think.
If we’d told those Goopers one year ago today that their BEST-looking poll by now would have them down 2 points to the (generic) Dems, they’d have laughed us outta the place.
Now, if we’d told them that one-year-ago-two-weeks-from-now . . .
Anyhow, nemmind that. Let’s just do all we joint-and-severally can to make sure the 11/08/06 tally knocks ‘em on their ass and keeps them there.
Never predict victory until your enemy lies broken at your feet
- Karl Rove
;>)
everhopeful @
15
Notice how there is a conspicuosly missing the “Republicans in disarray” theme in the media?
Tom Delay…Libby…Claude Allen…Pat Robertson..Ralph Reed…Bob Ney…Ernie Fletcher….Murkowski…Abramoff…
Who are they? Why should there be any overarching connecting of the dots by the media?
-GSD
You used the crappy stock MS pic from XP? Jeez..
LJ/Aquaria @ 21
Yes, I know what you are telling me. We just can’t let up.
take no prisoners.
this may well be the tipping point; we can’t afford anything less than a stinging rebuke to Bushco and the enablers.
Watch the news. Listen to the drumbeat on Iran. Iran, Iran, Iran. Last night Glenn Blech was saying “the reason we went to Iraq was because of Iran”.
They are doing the same thing as with Iraq. They are talking about how we must deal with this issue quickly…It’s on Fox, CNN, MSNCB, talkradio and the big papers…..
They say that Iranians are killing Americans as we read.
They are going to convince the sheep in this nation to go on one last roller coaster ride….off a cliff on this ride though.
They will do it….it IS happening now.
A significant attack in Iraq laid at the feet of Iran and it is a certainty.
-GSD
Perception Managers @ 26
deputy dawg mod-helper here, intervening with the utmost civility to ask that we stay focused on things that, ummmm, matter.
Speak of the devil.
Something stinky this way comes.
-GSD
I noticed something odd at yahoo news today. I used to be able (yesterday?) to search for a story in “all news and blogs” but now my only choice is “news.” Are they “search censuring” now?
Link
And what about this at E&P? Study: Newspapers, TV Far More Trusted Than Web Sites, Blogs
All in all I would take newspapers over tv, and of course, many blogs over both.
some comments have been sprung from moderation, not disappeared …
With the Gonzales criminal suits lining up for journalists - tame may be the order of the day. I wasn’t even happy over Miller, when Dana Priest is looking at felony convictions, it’s going to be a sad day.
Biden was pretty good on hardball, for once
if you can survive melhman’s blather, biden is trying to create a “HUMPTY DUMPTY meme for bushco’s adventures in the mideast
I know Biden ain’t popular, but if bushco invaded hell, I’d at least make a favorable refernce to satan …
You go, punaise!
Teddy
If you’re around, you’ve got mail.
darkblack @ 26
not until I finish feasting on his brains
overkill is my modus operandi
Reb Jean Schmidt has a new definition of “cut and run.” She’s apparently doctored a photo to show her as a top finalist in a marathon.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200.....thon_photo
this link may not work for those of you who aren’t yahoos. Let me know.
The future of the Republic is at stake, and we Democrats must save it from this war-mongering corporatist cabal.
The Seventh of November!
OT:
Welcome to 1955, Motherf**kers!
Because this is what happens when evil promises to behave if you give it another chance.
TeddySanFran @ 42
Just please keep Biden away from any soundbite having anything to do with seven eleven
LindyH @ 20
Yes, he did. He said sure he could come back, but then went back to promoting Lamont.
Mary @ 45
biden has a good idea for refuting bushco
ridicule
watch hardball, look for the “All the king’s horses …” reference
this is LUNACY
only way to confront bushco
scarecrow @ 40
LOL, she a vampire?:
Linky worked for non-yahoo me, scarecrow. And so does this sentence:
In the photo, Schmidt doesn’t cast a shadow while other runners do.
Stake Night at Dr. Vic’s, woohoo!
If I could a wish upon a star tonight, and have it come true, it would be that Senator Joseph Lieberman would decide of his own volition to drop his quest for his election in the fall. For I really think if he did that and perhaps urged his supporters to consider throwing their weight behind Senator Lamont, then Joe Lieberman could be a grand elder Democrat statesman and have the appointment of his choice in the new Democratic administration in 2008. And there will surely be a Democrat in the WH then. Make no mistake about that. I would support Lieberman, and welcome him home to the Democratic Party. Perhaps if we started sending emails, snail mails, and making phone calls to Joe, en masse, it would help. Urging him in a most polite way to be the hero of the day… I don’t know. Maybe I’m just being naive and silly here.
darkblack @43
Amen. Fighting “them” over in Iraq, so we can have racism here.
I was particularly struck by the resolution that the School Board came up with:
A new solution reached Monday by School Board officials has a black bus driver driving across town to pick up the nine black children.
What has happened to this country?
punaise @ 46
Well, I was in the pace car and I couldn’t see her in the mirror.
Just please keep Biden away from any soundbite having anything to do with seven eleven
You know, Mare, something tells me mumming-up on this one will be a piece o’ cake for our dear Bidenteefies . . .
freepatriot @ 40
The job’s not really checked off on until you’re using their femurs, tibia, ulnas, and humerus in a set of wind chimes, IMO.
>:-)
Well, I was in the pace car and I couldn’t see her in the mirror.
Politically speaking, she belongs in the rear-view for all time.
scarecrow @ 50
maybe she was just going for a jogular
scarecrow @ 39
We already knew that she doesn’t cast a shadow, didn’t we?
Humor in a jogular vein?
If your margins are still all beeeg, hit Refresh Browser. Somebody nice just fixed ‘em.
Holden, over at First Draft, catches Katherine Harris getting blue eyes for her Church/State unity interview in the Florida Baptist Witness.
I guess they just wanted a subtle message to boost her aryan bona fides
Oklahoma Kiddo — It’s a nice thought. If this were only hurt feelings and a little pride, it might work. I’m afraid we’re dealing with massive ego and a deep sense of entitlement, as well as a lot of pressure from those fearful of losing influence if he’s replaced. Gerstein’s nastiness is the sign that this is for keeps, IMO.
War, war , war! Iran, Iran, Iran! We can’t wait! We must act! Bombs away! Terror…Al Qaeda…..IED’s…..
This nation has lost its fucking mind.
-GSD
OKKiddo, I totally respect you and always value your comments, but um, get a grip!
Oklahoma kiddo @ 49
wow, my hat’s off to you. You are so much more gracious than I am. I want to see him dragged out of his office, bleating piteously, by a mob with torches and Frankenstein rakes. Then I want somebody in the mob to whack a random senator–Biden, perhaps, doesn’t really matter who–upside the head with a rake, and declaim, “We’ll do this to YOU next, if you don’t straighten out. Shape up.”
Primordial O, A.Bag (blue-eyed or brown-) has such bad news for Joe there, too:
If you are not electing Christians, tried and true, under public scrutiny and pressure, if you’re not electing Christians then in essence you are going to legislate sin.
many fundies eschew makeup for their females because there’s a Bible passage or two about a woman’s natural modesty or sumtin. Katherine Harris looks like a painted Jezebel, a regular Whore of Babylon what with all her Maybelline and Aquanet…
ET, Thank you. There is often a fine line between snark and racism, isn’t there? And policies and people. While deploring many of the policies of both the US and Israel, it is important to remember that this discussion ought not to be about Jews and Jewishness, nor about Moslems and Islamicism, nor the even more rarely seen on ANY page here, Americans and Christianity though perhaps that use of language might more clearly reflect the way many people in other parts of the world view the US. We owe it to our goals to take care with our words.
lotus @52 *g* Bidentures.
You know, I like the turquoise in this photo. You got a problem with that? (Sheesh, everyone is a critic…)
And Ed*ard Teller at 18 — I apologize if the last thread got…um…out of line. I had to run out to a parent-teacher conference for preschool and missed whatever kerfuffle occurred, but be assured we try to keep a tight watch on that sort of thing. And will do so in the future as well. (Do I make myself clear, people? I thought so.)
I’d love it if she would start with Ann Coulter.She appeared with Barney Frank and her venom
was flowing all over the set.
Millineryman @ 17
GSD @ 61
The people who want this war have. The rest of us, I’m not so sure. We tried to discuss last night (before my posts became serially immoderate), I can’t get people to engage on the topic. They just can’t seem to deal with it. Prolly won’t matter, though, ’cause none of us will be doin’ the decideratin’.
Harried Harris also says that God chooses the president? I thought she chose the president?
I can’t believe it. I’m waiting for hardball to see Biden, and they’re showing continuous film of a car going down a highway — more JonBen! Pathetic.
guess hardball decided to show fake news instead
and then I changed the channel …
no wonder chicken noodle network is kicking nbc’s ass
could we please drop the mini-ghoul thread about bone uses ? it’s kinda creepy, ya know …
Edward Teller, thank you for saying that.
meta @ 73
God chose her, she chose the President…The Deity’s version of ‘wingnut welfare’, I suppose
;>)
Speaking of Krazy Katherine Harris–how’s that for a segue?–does anybody have an opinion of the Florida governor race? I watched the Democrats debate last night, and I’m…uncertain.
Florida governor gets to pick the FL Secretary of State. Might be handy to have those two be Democrats in 2008.
http://www.stamfordadvocate.co.....local-wire
~~ Democratic primary winner Ned Lamont is accusing U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, now running as an independent, of not holding the Bush administration accountable for failures in responding to the disaster.
Lamont also says Lieberman, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, mistakenly agreed to put the troubled Federal Emergency Management Agency under the control of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“I think FEMA worked really well when it had professional management as an independent agency,” Lamont said in an interview this week. “And sure, it was Senator Lieberman who said, ‘Let’s redo FEMA.’ It was Senator Lieberman who said, ‘Let’s put Michael Brown as No. 2 at FEMA.”‘~~
http://www.stamfordadvocate.co.....local-wire
~~No hugs or kisses for Lieberman at submarine session
[]”I did say to Joe on the way in I wasn’t going to hug him,” said Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell.
[]Inside, Lieberman spoke of a “near death experience.” He was referring to the battle over the base.
“We checked our party labels at the door,” Lieberman said.~~
sorry *ilson. Cow bones! Cow bones was what I meant.
VG - OT - Did you read the end of last post?
Oh God! Nobody wants to hug Joe? Bwwaahahaaaa. Tears on my pillow!
Valley Girl @ 80
As the kids used to say, back in the day, hotdamn.
Pound it.
Mr. Lieberman went on to say:
Pat Lang has a go at Peter Hookerstra:
http://turcopolier.typepad.com.....tra_a.html
Pretty much as we all commented in the earlier thread, but it’s always nice to hear it from someone who used to be “in the room” about such matters.
ET– I am the author of the comment you think is bs and I am sorry if I contributed in any way to your discomfort because I do consider you a dear friend. I think I was trying to respond (albeit, not so cleverly) to stark sarcasm.
History is important, imho and is not just bs.
scarecrow, meta, cleter… re: Ok k @49 Re: Lieberman. Not a good idea. I guess. Some of the voters I most respect have spoken. What can I say?
*ilson46201 @ 76
when I want it to stick, I give it to them LOUD AND DIRTY
you got any idea how hard it is to get your message thru in this jaded enui palace that is the innertubes ???
sorry *ilson, I ain’t suitable for decent company
I humbly apologize …
[ed. by CHS — I’m going to help you by stopping you at the apology…]
Mary @ 83
Easy to do with that convenient velcro backing, no doubt
Mary @ 81
Maybe he just accidentally picked up the wrong label when he left. Just never noticed.
Mary- glad you appreciate. I have been googling “Lamont Lieberman” regularly in the (faint) hope that the NH registrar defrocks JoLo. Alas, I do think it is a faint hope. Sigh.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 86
Let me be the first to say that I’m totally sorry if you felt like you were piled on. I was mostly just teasing you. I must confess I’m more cynical on this matter, but I truly admire your good faith in the situation.
“Hello, my name is…
GOOPER Joe
“We checked our party labels at the door,” Lieberman said” ahh… y’all so great in followup.
And, let’s hope that the door hits him hard on the backside when he comes out.
Valley Girl @ 88
I thought I saw a link earlier this afternoon that said the registrar denied the request.
The real story of FEMA trailers in NOLA, and Dpt of Homeland Security contracts.
Now what were you saying Rockey?
Oklahoma kiddo
I didn’t mean to pile on either.
Another scumbag walks.
FRANKFORT, Kentucky (AP) — A judge dismissed charges against Gov. Ernie Fletcher in a state hiring scandal Thursday after the governor agreed to a settlement that includes the resignations of four of his appointees.
cleter –
Dang, I didn’t find out about that guv debate until it was over. Have you seen a link to a replay anywhere today? I’ve been leaning Davis, but admittedly on little info (and that, before Bob Graham’s endorsement, which counts heavily with me). A non-bloggy friend of mine has decided that Smith’s “a fascist,” btw. Don’t know yet whether she saw the debate.
*ilson –
Your “many fundies eschew makeup for their females” says so much in so little, no? Ahem.
Oklahoma kiddo- I thought your idea was a great one, in the best of all possible worlds. We haven’t been there lately, alas.
meta @ 89
Okla — Sorry, I wasn’t clear. I thought it was a great idea, but that Lieberman himself had cut himself off from it being offered. If he hadn’t, I’d take his acceptance (and accept him back) in a heartbeat.
scarecrow- thanks- I haven’t been able to “read all” this afternoon, but I am not surprised.
Hello CHS. Should be driving by your place sometime tomorrow afternoon. I’m usually up and at ‘em pretty early every a.m. so I don’t get a chance to comment on your threads much. But, I usually go back and read them in the evenings. In case no one has told you lately, you are a gifted writer with excellent research skills. Thank you for all the work you put into providing these posts.
BarbaraB@45 thanks.
when I read Kiddos optimistic remarks about Joe, my first reaction was : Oh no, the Pod People have gotten him too…
OFG at 102 — what time are you coming through? Have time for coffee — or are you taking a load somewhere? If so, let me know when you are coming back through and we’ll all grab dinner again. :)
OT
I had to drive through downtown Austin during rush hour this afternoon, and on Guadalupe, right behind the Governor’s Mansion, were all kinds of state troopers in the street and, on the sidewalk, a goodly crowd of protesters - - I’d say about as many the length of the block as you’d see at a well attended parade.
It appeared to be a “United” group of protesters, all on the progressive end of the spectrum. There were “Green” banners, and immigration banners, a living wage banner, I think, plus others.
As I gave them a thumbs up, I looked down at the thermometer in my car. It was registering 107 degrees!
God bless those people. I can hardly walk from the house to the car without feeling faint in this heat, and these good people were out protesting in simply brutal weather.
Note to self: restock car with bottled water and juice for thirsty souls.
*ilson, iirc, “he” is a “she”. ???
Kind of OT, quick question. Is it illegal to request armed forces recruiting information being sent to someone other than yourself?
Valley Girl @ 98
See the second story down on MLN:
http://www.myleftnutmeg.com/fr.....2DE61C48AE
hey, msnbc showed the Biden clip, but didn’t show melhman making an idiot of himself
still updating that fake news story though
now msnbc is half assed, and still a fucking joke
meta…4:27pm
No, don’t you even think about it. As far as being piled on, well…it probably was a stupid idea. But then I cop to being an idealist and stupid sometimes. You’re one of my faves for sure. Anytime, I’m sayin’ anytime, you don’t agree with me, please tell me. I can take it. Keep doing the good fight! I know you will and certainly don’t need me to tell you to do that.
TeddySanFran @ 42
Remember, remember, the 5th (7th) of November
now buchanan is blasting george from the right
what’s tweety been drinking to replace the koolaid he usually slurps ???
meta @ 75
meta - thanks
angie - you ARE a dear friend
Redd - Don’t go blaming yourself when the pups get ut of hand!
As some here know, I’m predicting war with Iran in the late summer or early fall, and that it will be nuclear. Hope I’m wrong (!!!!!), but if it involves both the USA and Israel, we need to be very careful about blaming national populations and cultures for what desparate politicians do.
scarecrow- thanks. Alas. I was pretty sure she would blink.