FITZ!

close to the top. the spinners will spin in their little concentric circles but the kool aid is a new colour.

Lou Dobbs just called for Allen to do the gracious thing and concede.

Crotch lice! HA!! Probably a few on some eyebrows…

Remember what Digby said: conservatism is perpetually blameless; it can only be failed by liberalism. Or something like that.

Perfect photo of Freddy the Beetle Barnes. Just perfect.

And gang — I just got off the phone with Speaker-elect Pelosi. She said to tell everyone thank you so much for everything.

Just wanted to pass that along before I have to pack up my computer again and hop on my next flight. I’ll try to have more on the call tomorrow when I’ve gotten more than three hours sleep…but I wanted to let you guys know about the thank you today. :)

This is actually counter spin.

They’re worried they’ve gone overboard with the “moderate dems-just-like-republicans” spin.

If that spin is true, how do they paint dems as dangerous liberals?

Hence, Fred pulls back on the reins: Sure there are some moderate dems, but they’re an anomaly. The rest are CRAZY SAN FRANCISCO LIBERALS!

Rahm Emanuel is a Tony Coehlo wannabe — and may he follow the same career path, and get out of DC one step ahead of the DoJ.

Jane is rocking the house and the keyboard.

What a gifted writer you are!

Christy Hardin Smith @
6

And gang — I just got off the phone with Speaker-elect Pelosi. She said to tell everyone thank you so much for everything.

you take calls from Nancy? :~)

And yes, before anyone asks, I’m stuck in the airport in Cleveland having political conference calls on three hours sleep and coffee fumes. I am such a geek.

punaise at 10 — as though I would hang up on the speaker-to-be? *g* Yeah, I thought not.

Repugs are not backing Allen

Republicans Will Pressure Allen… Soon

Top Republicans in Washington will give Sen. George Allen a few days to take stock of his legal and political options before beginning to pressure him to concede to James Webb. Senior Republican officials and White House aides believe that Webb won the race.

via hotline

lazlo pink @
2

spin in their little concentric circles but the kool aid is a new colour.

that’s KoolAid swirling down the drain

Christy Hardin Smith @ 12

punaise at 10 — as though I would hang up on the speaker-to-be? *g* Yeah, I thought not.

Were you on Speaker Phone?

That’s true, but if they go off on some total left-wing too, those moderates who joined us will abandon us in two years.

I keep saying, to use a football analogy, last night, we won the conference champiopnship game. The Super Bowl is two years from now. If we alienate the middle of the spectrum, they’ll run back to the repukes so fast it’ll make our heads spin like Linda Blair’s.

One thing at a time. Be friendly. Deal with our own weaknesses (Barbara Boxer, Hillary CLinton, Rahm Emanuel, DiFi, Lieberpuke and many others) and kick ass in ‘08.

THere are a LOT of people who need to be purged from the party in the next two years. We need to be Mao-like in our purging. No prisoners. You didn’t support Ned, you’re gone. Start with Boxer. How I hate her.

The appointment of Gates presages the ascendency of James Baker, wot?

You know, I’m really getting weary of this blue dem denial thing. How come they don’t get that we are heading in a progressive direction that is anything but centrist. And the society is heading that way for the long term.

Christy — Speaker to be Pelosi had a terrific interview with Blitzer. She was articulate, responsible, confident, modest — and extraordinarily gracious. Wolf couldn’t be polite and deferential enough. My, my.

That interview was worth a lot to the new Democratic majority.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 12

punaise at 10 — as though I would hang up on the speaker-to-be? *g* Yeah, I thought not.

sorry – couldn’t resist…

Christy Hardin Smith @ 11

And yes, before anyone asks, I’m stuck in the airport in Cleveland having political conference calls on three hours sleep and coffee fumes. I am such a geek.

Hee hee! Geeks rule!

In Germany, Der Speigel reported that Rahm Emanuel was the hidden architect of the victory. Here’s the letter I wrote them:

Editors — Your article on the reasons Americans were ready to shift some power back to the Democrats hit the main points. But you seriously erred by calling Rahm Emanuel “the secret architect of the Democrat victory.” The DNCC spin is that their strategy worked, hence the “victory.” But many of their top candidates lost, and many of the winners were grass roots candidates who wouldn’t “kow-tow” to the Emanuel-Clinton centrists line.

The grass roots internet campaign begun by Move On, and furthered by several sites like Blue America and firedoglake and more, which raised many millions of dollars and put many committed feet on the ground, was the real difference. Enough of a difference to turn the tide. Winners like Jerry McNerney in CA 05, beating a Congressman labeled one of the 13 most corrupt in Washington, Richard Pombo, were accomplished by the grass roots.

It was only in the last three weeks of the campaign that Emmanuel’s DCCC came to the table, putting McNerney over the top. Previously, they funded lavishly their own candidate in the primary, which ended in Emanuel wasting precious dollars while the campaign gained no traction. They spent $3M on Tammy Duckworth, with no result.

Enough of the winners on Tuesday were only supported by the grass roots groups, and several lost by only hundreds or thousands, very close. End effect: Rahm’s campaign was not without success, but the overall victory came only with the incredible energization of the grass roots (netroots).

And for German readers, McNerney is the 1st lifelong windpower engineer to become a Congressman.

My first reaction on seeing the title of this article was “that’s going to be a short article”. Sure enough. Nevertheless, The Beetle managed to get it right. Rahm deserves limited credit, but a lot of other folks deserve at least as much, including Howard Dean, Kos, FDL, Howie Klein, etc.

Patrick at 15 — ba dum bum…no, but a wingnutty looking geezer reading the latest O’Reilly “book” sitting near me did a double take when I said “First, let me say congratulations, Madame Speaker…” and then went on with my point. *g* That was, admittedly, fun.

Speaker to be Pelosi had a conference call with a few bloggers able to attend. I was a participant.

It has for some time passed my understanding that her dkos approval numbers are as weak as they are, especially when Reid’s are as good as they are.

Ried has been living off that reputation as a fighter from that one time he sandbagged Frist, but he’s been AWOL and craven ever since. He does not respect you, the grassroots. Nancy Pelosi does, and she’s a progressive.

Please spread the good word on our Speaker to be. She won’t be perfect with us on everything all the time, but she handles that caucus well. She has a lot of egos to herd. She’s with us on our values.

And gang — I just got off the phone with Speaker-elect Pelosi. She said to tell everyone thank you so much for everything.

Christy, that is so cool!

Prior thread, some great comments from scarecrow and others about her interview with Wolfie. I hope a YouTube of it is available. The best part was when she educated Wolfie (so politely, but firmly) about how the members of the Intelligence Committees are selected, not by seniority. Wolfie had no idea.

Of the three most powerful leaders of our nation, she is the only one qualified to lead.

hehe. GG Parker is going up with the provisional ballot recount in VA…

J H Webb Jr Democratic 1,173,755 49.55%
G F Allen Republican 1,166,408 49.24%
G G Parker Independent Green 26,226 1.11%
Write Ins 2,364 0.10%

Can we please have some payback on the greens this time? Pretty please?

you take calls from Nancy? :~)

LMAO.

punaise @ 14

lazlo pink @
2

spin in their little concentric circles but the kool aid is a new colour.

that’s KoolAid swirling down the drain

seems like such a mean thing to do to an inocent drain. on a more serious note, this canadian would like to thank and congratulate jane, christy, trex, pach, siun and all of the fire breathing firepups for rewriting the political script of the 21st century. you cats are like rockstars. you’d be surprised how many canucks were grinning and excited to have our southern neighbours make a sudden dash back toward sanity.

Madame Speaker.

Be still my heart.

A lady! Our female ancestors are so proud tonight.

(the males are smiling, too I’ll bet!)

Congrats on the call, Christy. This does mean that Pelosi gets it, doesn’t it? Now, get home and crash. We need you in good shape for the Pull up a Chair session, wherin we discuss the relative merits of lame duck recipes.

The GOP has suffered and devastating loss. This denial stage of dealing with their grief is amusing, but the anger phase may not be. Next week things might get ugly.

She won’t be perfect with us on everything all the time, but she handles that caucus well. She has a lot of egos to herd. She’s with us on our values.

This isn’t new, but it’s more emphatic after she reached out to bloggers today, I’m down with Speaker Pelosi for the LONG haul.

angie @ 30

Madame Speaker.

Be still my heart.

A lady! Our female ancestors are so proud tonight.

(the males are smiling, too I’ll bet!)

I’m 45 years old and have had almost exclusively female bosses. ‘Bout time politics caught up to the real world.

Okay gang, have another quick call and then I’m on my next flight. You guys play nice until I see you in the morning. And thanks mucho from me as well. We truly have the best damned community in the blogoverse.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 24

Patrick at 15 — ba dum bum…no, but a wingnutty looking geezer reading the latest O’Reilly “book” sitting near me did a double take when I said “First, let me say congratulations, Madame Speaker…” and then went on with my point. *g* That was, admittedly, fun.

PA voice booming though the Cleveland airport: “paging Christy Hardin Smith to the white courtesy telephone, please. Speaker-to-be Pelosi on line 1.”

Is Allen waiting for 7000 unexisting votes to fall in his pile? Those days are over.

Yeah, it’s a refusal to accept reality and an attempt to deny that the country really wants change, because the Democrats are conservatives “just like them”.
They can’t face this truth: people no longer want them to govern.

BTW – I think something STINKS in Virginia. Allen and the republicans are up to something. Who’s watching them as they uncover these “uncounted votes” for Allen?

Randy Tinkerman @ 2:56 pm (#22)

In Germany, Der Speigel reported that Rahm Emanuel was the hidden architect of the victory. Here’s the letter I wrote them:

…

And for German readers, McNerney is the 1st lifelong windpower engineer to become a Congressman.

Good letter.

I hope McNerney is part of a trend. Not only is he the first windpower engineer in Congress, he’s also one of the few engineers in Congress of any sort. There are precious few scientists, as well. Considering how much loose thinking, distortion, and lying we’ve had to endure from the lawyers and business people who predominate there, I think this is something that needs to be corrected.

Nancy Pelosi has been doing these calls on a semi-regular basis for a while. This isn’t something new. That she took time to do one today, however, with all of the media rush and work on her plate was both gracious and telling on how she truly does understand and value the contribution that all of you made in this election. And I wanted to be certain that you all knew about it this evening — because you guys earned it and then some.

ccmask @ 37

Is Allen waiting for 7000 unexisting votes to fall in his pile? Those days are over.

But Diebold promised! It’s not fair! ;)

Jane — I thought the problem is the rest of the media is ignoring the progressives and not exaggerating them, as Barnes implies. So what is Barnes talking about?

I may have missed a thread from Howie in the last 24 hours, but if this has not been done, it would be helpful to have a list/summary of Blue America wins and near wins, highlighting how Howie et al rescued progressive Dems, especially those that the Rahmists ignored or joined only at the last minute. Is something like this in the works from Howie or others?

Mods – I screwed something up at 39, and I previewed and everything. Just delete it please as it makes no sense. sorry.

sofistic @ 18

You know, I’m really getting weary of this blue dem denial thing. How come they don’t get that we are heading in a progressive direction that is anything but centrist. And the society is heading that way for the long term.

It’s not that they’re in denial; I think they do see it. But it’s to their advantage to pretend that it doesn’t exist and that they’re the ones that really won this historic victory.

In other words, they’re trying to use the Big Lie technique.

I haven’t be on all day today. I’ve been reading blueprints since noon…Anyway, if I was a Gop and I just lost an elction and George Clearing Bush fired Rummy today, I’d be pissed off big time. I mean, had he done this two or three weeks ago, it might have saved some seats, no? That whole “stay the course” is what threw it for one. I’m sure this has already been discussed but I’ve been thinking of it all day.

Nancy Pelosi has been doing these calls on a semi-regular basis for a while.

I had no idea.

ccmask @ 46

I haven’t be on all day today. I’ve been reading blueprints since noon…Anyway, if I was a Gop and I just lost an elction and George Clearing Bush fired Rummy today, I’d be pissed off big time. I mean, had he done this two or three weeks ago, it might have saved some seats, no? That whole “stay the course” is what threw it for one. I’m sure this has already been discussed but I’ve been thinking of it all day.

Great comment.

Patrick 4/4 at 2:17 from last thread:
“Somebody tell me that Agnew is dead.”

It should be clear that that would be no obstacle.

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 16

That’s true, but if they go off on some total left-wing too, those moderates who joined us will abandon us in two years.

I keep saying, to use a football analogy, last night, we won the conference champiopnship game. The Super Bowl is two years from now. If we alienate the middle of the spectrum, they’ll run back to the repukes so fast it’ll make our heads spin like Linda Blair’s.

One thing at a time. Be friendly. Deal with our own weaknesses (Barbara Boxer, Hillary CLinton, Rahm Emanuel, DiFi, Lieberpuke and many others) and kick ass in ‘08.

THere are a LOT of people who need to be purged from the party in the next two years. We need to be Mao-like in our purging. No prisoners. You didn’t support Ned, you’re gone. Start with Boxer. How I hate her.

Uhhh… I was disappointed that Boxer supported Lieberman, but she’s a pretty reliable progressive. Let’s be a little more judicious in our purging, ok? Rahm first! :D

How is it that Rahm occupies whatever position it is that gives his pronouncements any weight.
It seems to me that he is now the principal impediment to meaningful change in Washington.
He and Mehlman are a real pair…

ccmask @ 46

I haven’t be on all day today. I’ve been reading blueprints since noon…Anyway, if I was a Gop and I just lost an elction and George Clearing Bush fired Rummy today, I’d be pissed off big time. I mean, had he done this two or three weeks ago, it might have saved some seats, no? That whole “stay the course” is what threw it for one. I’m sure this has already been discussed but I’ve been thinking of it all day.

y’know, i was thinking this as well. they were never going to lose any of their base by giving rumsfeld the boot…they only stood to gain in independent voters.

not that i’m sad it didn’t happen…

First you take the country back. Then you take the party back.

Which is tougher? The party. The party has no constitutional prohibitions against the kind of leadership we see in Rahm, Chuck, Hilary, etc.

Is it Chris Bowers who’s trying to get the party back from the clutches of the Philadelphia machine? How do we support that kind of real grass roots effort so that Rahm has no one to stand on?

Christy Hardin Smith @
24

Patrick at 15 — ba dum bum…no, but a wingnutty looking geezer reading the latest O’Reilly “book” sitting near me did a double take when I said “First, let me say congratulations, Madame Speaker…” and then went on with my point. *g* That was, admittedly, fun.

Sorry I haven’t had time to participate much!

BUT, omigod, this is such a great story Christy! REally has me smiling.

I knew J.Casper because Christy has mentioned it several times before. Wasn’t Pelosi at YearlyKos?

new note a Va. SOS site.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF PRECINCTS REPORTING:
The percentage of precincts reporting has changed due to the start of the canvas and the counting of provisional ballots. For reporting purposes, the day immediately following the election, each locality creates one conditional vote (CV) precinct, per congressional district, in which to report their provisional votes. Localities with no provisional votes will show total votes of zero in the CV precinct for each candidate/ballot issue.

Uhhh… I was disappointed that Boxer supported Lieberman, but she’s a pretty reliable progressive. Let’s be a little more judicious in our purging, ok? Rahm first! :D

Completely agree.

Guitar PB, who in the Senate is more liberal (intelligent and coherant) than Barbara Boxer?

Tactically, the first 100 hours agenda of our new Dem Congress is smart. It’s low-hanging fruit that most everyone agrees with. It’s the next steps that we need to take with caution.

My heart tells me that we must not delay in undoing the travesties of the last 6 years. However, my head tells me that weakening the whole body of conservative media is a necessary first step before we can advance significantly. Remember, we won despite the CNNs and APs of the world, not because of them. While we must continue to attack, we must choose our battles carefully, or else we will lose our momentum.

We must also beware of the poisoned chalices of Iraq and the economy. Once the Dems have a chance to influence Iraq policy, the MSM will blame the Dems for whatever bad happens thereafter — even though Bush/Cheney have driven us over a cliff long ago. Likewise, I can just hear the hoots and catcalls: “Of course we’re in a recession, ever since the Dems voted to reinstate the estate tax.”

Today is a day of rest and satisfaction. But tomorrow be ready to gird yourself to continue the battle anew.

Sorry Jane, but if you think Bush was conservative I guess I had been giving you too much credit. There is a reason why conservatives turned their back on him.

Also, Va. SOS says 100% is in and
J H Webb Jr Democratic 1,173,755 49.55%
G F Allen Republican 1,166,408 49.24%
G G Parker Independent Green 26,226 1.11%

John Casper @ 48

ccmask @ 46

I haven’t be on all day today. I’ve been reading blueprints since noon…Anyway, if I was a Gop and I just lost an elction and George Clearing Bush fired Rummy today, I’d be pissed off big time. I mean, had he done this two or three weeks ago, it might have saved some seats, no? That whole “stay the course” is what threw it for one. I’m sure this has already been discussed but I’ve been thinking of it all day.

Great comment.

There were a couple of panelists tonight on CNN (or MSNBC?) who agree with you.

Don’t hold back Jane. Tell us how you really feel.
Sooner or later the truth will show.

In the first place, we can thank Howard Dean and Nancy Pelosi for our big victory, not Rahm Emanuel.

If Howard hadn’t engineered the 50 States strategy we wouldn’t have been poised to take advantage of the Mark Foley situation, or to take three new seats in Indiana. Nor would we have had the organization on the ground in Montana or Missouri to take those Senate seats.

Nancy Pelosi raised money & worked hard to prove to the country that she is just the right person to show America how a REAL Speaker should behave. She has the talent & stamina to work with a President who “doesn’t get it” because she does.

Watching Rahm Emanuel take credit for a win that should be credited to Howard Dean and Nancy Pelosi makes me sick.

Also–this Pelosi call–was to Redd. It was to Redd because she and Jane and the other fabulous folks have figured out a way to make democracy work using internet tubes.

Hard to believe that internet tubes can raise money, network information, organize volunteers, provide emotional support, take down politicians who lie, and carry so much truth.

All in those tiny tubes that we can’t see when we have wireless.

Unsurprisingly, Tucker and Scarborough are barking about how Junja’s Rumsfeld announcement “stole the news cycle” from Nancy Pelosi. Scarborough still calls her “Nancy” as if he has something distasteful in his mouth. Time for a little respect, Joe-Boy!

Sounds like the Fred Barnes Fax machine may be down.

btw, where’s Boy Genius Architect TurdBlossom? Any sightings?

uncle toby @ 58

Tactically, the first 100 hours agenda of our new Dem Congress is smart. It’s low-hanging fruit that most everyone agrees with. It’s the next steps that we need to take with caution.

My heart tells me that we must not delay in undoing the travesties of the last 6 years. However, my head tells me that weakening the whole body of conservative media is a necessary first step before we can advance significantly. Remember, we won despite the CNNs and APs of the world, not because of them. While we must continue to attack, we must choose our battles carefully, or else we will lose our momentum.

We must also beware of the poisoned chalices of Iraq and the economy. Once the Dems have a chance to influence Iraq policy, the MSM will blame the Dems for whatever bad happens thereafter — even though Bush/Cheney have driven us over a cliff long ago. Likewise, I can just hear the hoots and catcalls: “Of course we’re in a recession, ever since the Dems voted to reinstate the estate tax.”

Today is a day of rest and satisfaction. But tomorrow be ready to gird yourself to continue the battle anew.

Bullseye

this whole thing makes me think of rove saying “i’m the one with THE numbers” (or something like that). on npr the other day. now i just have to laugh about it, thankfully.

he really bought into his own legend a bit too much.

btw, someone needs to make sure the la times got the memo — NOTE TO LA TIMES: go back and read your ‘rove is god’ story from a few days ago and tell us how it DOESN’T make you look like 13 year olds shrieking about the new copy of teenbeat with rove on the cover.

RagingGurrl @ 38

Yeah, it’s a refusal to accept reality and an attempt to deny that the country really wants change, because the Democrats are conservatives “just like them”.
They can’t face this truth: people no longer want them to govern.

BTW – I think something STINKS in Virginia. Allen and the republicans are up to something. Who’s watching them as they uncover these “uncounted votes” for Allen?

Relax, really. This ain’t 2004 Ohio, we have Democrats in charge of the state government. We see weird stuff like the “precincts reporting” going down because they’re in the process of adding in the provisional ballots. It looks weird because the process of statewide tabulation is strange and arcane, and until the last few years, we didn’t get to watch every detail live on the web, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything funny going on.

Yes, there are Republicans involved with the counting in many, probably most localities. But nothing is being done without a Democrat there to watch them, really. None of this is going to change the outcome.

They knew they were going to lose, because talk has to be about 51% on Rummy.

One guy out of 45 that lost his job last night – and all who should have lost there jobs 2 – 4 years ago.

Bloggers are not the only ones fighting this fight…

From Progressive Majority:

Yesterday’s election was truly historic and Progressive Majority continued to build on our winning track record. Across the country and across the ballot we did what we said we would do – we won – and we proved, once again, that progressive values are winning values.

In all, we elected 76 progressives to office in eight states – spanning from California to Pennsylvania. And there are nine races still too close to call.

That brings the total number of progressives we’ve helped elect to 185 in just three short years!

Building a Progressive Majority:

(snip)

Yesterday, we elected 76 progressives to the following seats:

46 State House of Representatives
13 State Senate
8 Countywide Offices
4 School Board Candidates
3 Statewide Offices
2 Higher Education Board Members

For complete results of all of Progressive Majority’s candidates, visit our website at http://www.ProgressiveMajority.org

Thanks to you, progressives are making a difference at every level of government!

Up and down the ballot, with some of the highest turnout we have seen in recent memory for a mid-term election, voters stood up for change. I’m excited to say that voters stood up not just for change that will last two or four years – but for a new generation of elected officials who can sustain our wins into the future.

Progressive Majority candidates are not career politicians – they are community leaders passionately dedicated to improving peoples’ lives and communities. They will make a tremendous difference.

Thank you for your help in electing these great champions.

**

Rahm & company can try to take credit for what happened yesterday – but too many people know what really happened.

Speaker Pelosi will have quite a balancing act on her hands, and it’s likely we’ll have occasion to criticise her for this or that tactical move. Still: it’s encouraging to know that she’ll be getting unfiltered progressive input to weigh into those strategic ponderings. As long as her voice remains strong I’ll be among those willing to cut her some slack as she finds her way.

I’m not surprised. I couldn’t concentrate today and it was killing me not to run from the planning room and up to my office and lock myself in and get to the lake. I mean my mind was wandering all over the place and I kept thinking Macaca was conceding and I was missing it.

Redshift @ 44

sofistic @ 18

You know, I’m really getting weary of this blue dem denial thing. How come they don’t get that we are heading in a progressive direction that is anything but centrist. And the society is heading that way for the long term.

It’s not that they’re in denial; I think they do see it. But it’s to their advantage to pretend that it doesn’t exist and that they’re the ones that really won this historic victory.

In other words, they’re trying to use the Big Lie technique.

Sigh, I guess you are right. But enough of that already.

Christy Hardin Smith @
6

Perfect photo of Freddy the Beetle Barnes. Just perfect.

And gang — I just got off the phone with Speaker-elect Pelosi. She said to tell everyone thank you so much for everything.

Just wanted to pass that along before I have to pack up my computer again and hop on my next flight. I’ll try to have more on the call tomorrow when I’ve gotten more than three hours sleep…but I wanted to let you guys know about the thank you today. :)

If you get a chance to talk to her again you might want to tell her that all the drivel we’re hearing about bi-partisanship and how Rumsfeld’s firing is some symbol of a “new direction” on Iraq is just so much B.S.

1. Rumsfeld’s firing was obviously decided upon some time ago, as is proven by fact that they immediately named his successor. Obviously Gates had to be vetted and asked if he wanted the job, etc. That wasn’t a morning’s work. Basically, Andrew Card must have convinced the President in the aftermath of the general’s revolt against Rummy’s leadership — made openly public in the pages of Army Times, signaled that Rumsfeld had finally and totally lost the support of the serving military leaders. Failure to heed them would only create a deepening and ever more open resistance.

So, this wasn’t some wake up call by Bush as a result of the election. They just waited until after the election to announce it so as not to demoralize the base who were all fired up and accusing Democrats of “cut and run.”

2. Bush’s new strategy will be to get Democrats to act as human shields for his failed war. If Democrats fall all over themselves in a fit of guilibility for actually being listened to for a change and take “bi-partisan” responsibility for Iraq Bush & co will simply turn on them like rabid dogs and blame them for the inevitable failure to come. It will all be the fault of the Democrats. (Think of Hitler’s blaming the Social Democrats — who took over AFTER the war, for Germany’s defeat in WWI and calling them the “November criminals who stabbed Germany in the back!”)

3. Always remember that there is NO “compromise on Iraq” that is going to give us victory or even a decent exit strategy. Democrats CANNOT drink that cool-aid. This is Bush’s war and he must be made to swallow responsibility for it.

For god’s sake don’t let him lure you into acting as his front man for “stay the course” under some new name and with new faces.

There is only ONE test of a viable policy in Iraq. Does it have a timetable for withdrawal of our troops? If not, it’s window dressing. It’s delusional hopes mascarading as policy.

scarecrow @ 61

John Casper @ 48

ccmask @ 46

I haven’t be on all day today. I’ve been reading blueprints since noon…Anyway, if I was a Gop and I just lost an elction and George Clearing Bush fired Rummy today, I’d be pissed off big time. I mean, had he done this two or three weeks ago, it might have saved some seats, no? That whole “stay the course” is what threw it for one. I’m sure this has already been discussed but I’ve been thinking of it all day.

Great comment.

There were a couple of panelists tonight on CNN (or MSNBC?) who agree with you.

It was a calculated gamble, I think. Tossing Rummy a few weeks prior would have convinced the wavering faithful that Bush really was interested in changing course in Iraq for the better, but it would have also depressed turnout among the so-called base, who, even now, are blaming Bush for the loss of the House. That faction would have sat on their thumbs on Nov. 7th.

It strikes me this way because it’s in character for Rove to appeal to his hard-core base always and only.

well, now the virginia site says 94.73%

A little local insight on how pervasive the repudiation of conservatism was yesterday.

In the Maine House the Dems had a 1 seat majority going into yesterday. The Dems are not wildly popular in Maine although they have been doing OK lately. Republicans ran on job and tax cuts, which is big in Maine as we are poor and our property taxes are very steep (something absolutely everybody seems to agree on).

The Dems now have a 30 seat majority in the Maine House. The local Republicans are literally saying, “I need to sit down and figure out what happened.”

The country, indeed, has had enough.

I hadn’t realized until this election what a useless tool Rahm Emanuel is. If Dean had listened to the twirp, this election would have comeout much worse.

Earlier today heard a RT Wing pundit saying that Pelosi would have to govern from the left to placate the bloggers “who were responsible for the Dems Victory, such as…. drum roll. “Huffing Post and Daily Chaos”

Wow we rate verbal nasty nick names from the right and a call from the new Speaker of the House.

My heads a flutter, where will all this attention lead.

Right this minute I am worried about the last couple of hundred hours with this congress. They are heading for a lame duck session. Our troops, treasury, net neutrality and the surveillance bill to mention a few of the bottom hits. *ugh*

Just got an email from Larry Kissell. Things are looking less bright for textile magnate Robin Hayes:

The Real Deal
Your support and tireless efforts made this campaign and this election what it now is…

TOO CLOSE TO CALL!

Still counting votes in NC-08!

Breaking: Kissell Narrows the Gap
122 added to Kissell column after polls

Only 346 votes from Victory
Hand count of provisional ballots pending
A message from Larry:
“My phone has been ringing off the hook this morning. Concerned Americans are calling in and offering their prayers and support while the final votes are tallied. The one thing that is crystal clear is that the best election lawyers in America are on their way to join our local legal team to assist the fight in making sure that all the votes are counted. I’m also humbled by the financial support that we are getting in order to fully fund my campaign while we wait for the votes to be counted.

Simply put, I am encouraged this morning. We are only 346 votes down at the moment and there are still votes to be counted.

What the results tell me is that the people have spoken and they have demanded change.

The proof is in the numbers. I beat Hayes in counties that he has traditionally won in the past. I ran strong in Hayes’ home county of Cabarrus exceeding recent Democratic margins there as well as in Union and Stanly Counties.

That’s why I feel confident that once the votes are counted, that we will have taken our country back from the Washington politicians and special interests.”

2. Bush’s new strategy will be to get Democrats to act as human shields for his failed war.

Yes. Yes. Yes.
It’s called “taking hostages.” They did it to the Dems on pre-war intelligence: “you (Dems) knew, if you didn’t like it, why didn’t you speak up?

I think the best thing for the Dems to do is to create an excel spreadsheet and figure out ecactly where the country stands. This will enable the talking necks to know at what point we were at when the gov was turned over. When they start to blame Pelosi she can tell them where to look on the spreadsheet.

D. Mason @ 58

Sorry Jane, but if you think Bush was conservative I guess I had been giving you too much credit. There is a reason why conservatives turned their back on him.

We all call BULLSHIT on this!

Rats fleeing a sinking ship are wont to deny they ever were aboard.

Denials of paternity kinda don’t work when the DNA proves otherwise.

Pachacutec @
25

She’s with us on our values.

*OUR values* yes! American values!

American values — not “San Francisco values” because there is NO SUCH THING.

This town is way to diverse to be categorized.

Castro St. values are not the same as Folsom St. values or Polk St. values — and all three are typified as gay.

The young white hets who hang at the Zeitgeist on Valencia St. wouldn’t get caught dead crawling any of the (young-white-het) wateringholes of Union St.

Neighborhoods change significantly from block to block, street to street.

There are Mission St. values (Latino commercial), Valencia St. values (boho), and Guerrero St. values (hep young-professional) — and these streets run side-by-side.

No, Pelosi is the champion of OUR values — American values. This land is your land this land is my land values.

Account ability is the value of the day, I’d say.

Organic George @ 78

Earlier today heard a RT Wing pundit saying that Pelosi would have to govern from the left to placate the bloggers “who were responsible for the Dems Victory, such as…. drum roll. “Huffing Post and Daily Chaos”

Wow we rate verbal nasty nick names from the right and a call from the new Speaker of the House.

My heads a flutter, where will all this attention lead.

Now you know how the Dixie Chicks feel.

From Kilroy campaign in Ohio:

It seems this fight isn’t over yet. After a long night and an early morning, I have some information I’d like to share with you.

#1 – The vote difference is less than 3,600

#2 – 20,000 absentee ballots remain uncounted. We anticipate half of these will be in Ohio’s 15th district.

#3 – There were 21,000 provisional ballots cast in Franklin County alone. This was confirmed just minutes ago by the Franklin county Board of Elections

#4 – Up to 1/3 of all Ohio State University students were required to cast provisional ballots.

We’re going to make sure every vote is counted because every vote counts.

There will be a “Count Every Vote” rally tomorrow, Thursday, November 9, 2006 at 4:00pm at Stecker Lounge on the 3rd floor of the Ohio Union.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
are you glad enough?
- – - – - – - – - – - -

A follow up: Many Republicans have drunk the kool-aid it great heaping gulps over the last few years. Faced with an ass-smacking of historic proportions at all levels of government, nationwide, those delusional Republicans will have to come to terms with a lot of lies.

Expect what amounts to grieving behavior, coupled with betrayal. Except that the betrayal and grief simply cannot be dislocated to liberals. The betrayal is a betrayal of self for Republicans. The grief is over a loss of self: they are not who they thought they were.

K’Lo is a poster child for this.

Well… I voted for Nancy Pelosi many times when I lived in her area. Sometimes, occasionally, I do the right thing.

I think the message from Speaker Pelosi would be something along the lines of, ‘there is still a lot of work to be done’.

Witchywoman @ 49
Uhhh… I was disappointed that Boxer supported Lieberman, but she’s a pretty reliable progressive. Let’s be a little more judicious in our purging, ok? Rahm first! :D

No, I’m sorry, supporting HoJo makes you a PRO WAR person. You can’t have it both ways. Your own actions are what you’re judged upon.

Her support of Lieberman NEGATES all that other stuff. Fuck Barbara Boxer. Purge her first because her hypocrisy is the most egregious.

Wes Clark on air america radio

Mad Dogs at 3:20 pm
I agree.

D. Mason, where is that “true Conservative,” Judge Bork on the Bill of Rights? Where is the true conservative, General Norman Schwarzkopf, when our troops are in harms way, because we are “occupying” a foreign country?

John Casper @ 56

Uhhh… I was disappointed that Boxer supported Lieberman, but she’s a pretty reliable progressive. Let’s be a little more judicious in our purging, ok? Rahm first! :D

Completely agree.

Guitar PB, who in the Senate is more liberal (intelligent and coherant) than Barbara Boxer?

All that is NEGATED by her support of Lieberman. Sorry, I want her out. Now.

Pelosi on PBS, “Plenty of room for agreement before we get into what divides us as a party”.

Jari Askins. Our new Democratic Lt. Governor. The right person for the job!

Bush’s presser today snipped and out of order Part 1

On the election:

actually, I thought we were going to do fine yesterday. Shows what I know.

Yes, it does.

Look, this was a close election. If you look at race by race, it was close. The cumulative effect, however, was not too close. It was a thumping

Well, there was a — I read those same polls, and I believe that — I thought when it was all said and done, the American people would understand the importance of taxes and the importance of security. But the people have spoken, and now it’s time for us to move on.

Yes, obviously Americans voted for Democrats because they just didn’t know any better.

On its ramifications:

What’s changed today is the election is over, and the Democrats won.

The message yesterday was clear: The American people want their leaders in Washington to set aside partisan differences, conduct ourselves in an ethical manner, and work together to address the challenges facing our nation

And it only took him 6 years to come to this conclusion, but watch out, Democrats,

there comes responsibility with victory

meaning Bush’s disasters are now yours, if he has anything to do with it, and he does.

The President’s casual admission of lying

Asked about that comment, Bush said he made it because “I didn’t want to inject a major decision about this war in the final days of a campaign,” Bush said. He appeared to acknowledge having misled reporters, saying, “And so the only way to answer that question and to get you onto another question was to give you that answer.”

He added later, “Win or lose, Bob Gates was going to become the nominee.”

Question…what did HoJo promise so that he would get all the GOP $$$ and votes?

Hasn’t W just shown the American people the great facility with which he LIES? Last Friday’s comments that Rummy and Cheney were in place until the end of his term were clearly LIES. When he said Rummy would stick around, W was clearly LYING. And the American people know that.

I understand that Nancy Pelosi cannot call the President a LIAR (as she quickly corrected Leslie Blitzer today when he misquoted her as doing). But the American people have in front of them now a very bright example of how well their President LIES. I’m not sure there has been quite so shining an example as was handed forth to the American people today. Our President LIES with great ease, and always has done, from denying to Bar that he blew up those frogs until right now.

And if W’s going to start undoing his LIES, working backward, shouldn’t a bus with Cheney’s name on it arrive very soon?

========
Who’s Next?
========

The Dixie Chicks did not bend. I respect these guys.

Remember when Al Gore didn’t want to concede and the media were calling for his head and telling him to give it up!

Might be a good time to go digging for some of them quotes to use against George Allen…

punaise @ 87

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
are you glad enough?
- – - – - – - – - – - -

—————-
we’re bad enough
—————-

Witchywoman @ 50

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 16

THere are a LOT of people who need to be purged from the party in the next two years. We need to be Mao-like in our purging. No prisoners. You didn’t support Ned, you’re gone. Start with Boxer. How I hate her.

Uhhh… I was disappointed that Boxer supported Lieberman, but she’s a pretty reliable progressive. Let’s be a little more judicious in our purging, ok? Rahm first! :D

I agree. What’s more, I’ll offer a bit of wisdom that someone surely has offered before this: After a revolution, you can have useful change or you can have bloodletting, but you can’t have both. If no one else has ever written that, I’ll add it to my collected wit and wisdom volume three ;-).

As far as I’m concerned, the task for the next election is to get rid of the folks we can get rid of who are really a problem. That might be Rahm Emanuel or Chuck Schumer. It might be Harry Reid. But whoever it is, we need to make sure it’s the best use of the resources available. Just getting rid of people who are mostly friendly to and genuinely supportive of progressive causes for the purpose of payback is insane.

Lieberman is a whiny, dimwitted fact of life for the next couple of years at least. I think the best way to deal with him is to make it perfectly clear to everyone we can that he’s a pathetic little troll. Punishing his enablers is pointless, because they often enable folks we like as well.

angie @
30

Madame Speaker.

Be still my heart.

A lady! Our female ancestors are so proud tonight.

(the males are smiling, too I’ll bet!)

I am a man I couldn’t be more proud of our nation to have a woman serving as Speaker of the House. The emotion of it didn’t hit me until I just typed that last sentence.

I must be some ancient pagan whose spiritual orientation aligns with the sacred feminine. I’m perfectly happy being a male, but I couldn’t appreciate it without women realizing in community all that they are.

Other than Edwards, Clark, and Kerry who did not through Ned under the Bus?

99% vote in. Webb wins. So says MSNBC.

punaise @ 88

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
are you glad enough?
- – - – - – - – - – - -

trying very hard to maintain jubilant mode, even though some who I consider friends lost last nite (NED Lamont and John Laesch). But, as Master Kos kommands, I’m laughing through my tears.

Bush’s presser Part 2

On Rumsfeld (and Gates):

Our military has experienced an enormous amount of change and reform during the last five years while fighting the war on terror, one of the most consequential wars in our nation’s history. Don Rumsfeld has been a superb leader during a time of change. Yet he also appreciates the value of bringing in a fresh perspective during a critical period in this war.

So let me get this straight? Rumsfeld has done such a superb job that he has to go, fast, one day after the election fast. And part of that job, of course, was reforming the army into a near state of collapse. Oh and as for that fresh perspective,

He [Gates] understands that defeat is not an option in Iraq.

So you can see the difference right away. If you don’t, there’s more

both political parties understand we cannot accept defeat

The election has changed many things in Washington, but it has not changed my fundamental responsibility, and that is to protect the American people from attack.

I’m committed to victory.

I am making a change at the Secretary of Defense to bring a fresh perspective as to how to achieve something I think most Americans want, which is a victory.

We’re not going to leave before the job is done

See, if the goal is success, then we can work together.

So it really was something of a mystery to me how all of this “stay the course” talk keeps making the rounds. I didn’t get it and then the answer just sort of oozed forth.

Somehow it seeped in their conscious that my attitude was just simply “stay the course.” “Stay the course” means, let’s get the job done, but it doesn’t mean staying stuck on a strategy or tactics that may not be working.

Oh, I see, it’s the seepage. Gotcha!

Bush also discussed Social Security reform (not going to happen) and immigration reform (may happen but won’t be effective)

My favorite moment:

You think I’m nuts? (Laughter.)

Yes, Mr. President, yes, I do.

Full text here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news…..108-2.html

WaPo site says 100.0% reporting in VA with Webb 49.6% – Allen 49.3%. there is no red check next to Webbs name to indicate winner.

UptownNYChick @
91

Wes Clark on air america radio

You mean Gen. Wes Clark, 44th President of the United States?

Sen. George Allen (R-VA) urged to concede race.

OT:

Get the mop, Hortense

;>)

…Best damn news I’ve had in a while.

twolf1 @ 112

Sen. George Allen (R-VA) urged to concede race.

Yay freedom and yay Webb.

Bring them home!

Dan Savage on Little Ricky’s loss.
via Atrios

Still waiting for Fred Barnes’ column entitled “The Wisdom of Jane Hamsher,” but not exactly holding my breath….

Phil @ 106

Other than Edwards, Clark, and Kerry who did not through Ned under the Bus?

Feingold.

Without Maxine Waters, (Sharpton, and Jesse Jackson), Ned doesn’t win the primary imho.

two beers @ 111

UptownNYChick @
91

Wes Clark on air america radio

You mean Gen. Wes Clark, 44th President of the United States?

would be nice, would like to see him take out Pryce first.

Cujo359 @ 103

Lieberman is a whiny, dimwitted fact of life for the next couple of years at least. I think the best way to deal with him is to make it perfectly clear to everyone we can that he’s a pathetic little troll. Punishing his enablers is pointless, because they often enable folks we like as well.

I disagree. Punishing enablers will serve as examples to other traitors whose true stripes are revealed as Boxer’s have been. She is PRO WAR and so are all the other assholes who supported HoJo. You can’t have it both ways. If you’re against the war, you don’t support pro-war candidates. If you support pro-war candidates, you, too, are pro war and anything you did before is negated. If you can’t see it you can’t but you don’t understand human nature if you can’t see that Boxer is pro-war.

Gore/Clark.

soon.

Here is the true wisdom of Jane Hamsher:

“The country ran from conservatives like a bad case of crotch lice and no amount of PR spin can re-write that”

SCRATCH SCRATCH SCRATCH

angie @ 120

Gore/Clark.

soon.

I was thinking Clark/Stewart ;)

BTW, What did I say all along.

IT MUST BE A LANDSLIDE

and it was!

Also wrt Boxer, the day after the Primary, she came out in support of the Winner of the Democratic Primary in CT.

Here’s an oldie but goldie from the 2000 election:

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, said Thursday night on CNN’s “Larry King Live” that he and Vice President-elect Dick Cheney will meet in one week.

“I congratulated him, I wished him well,” Lieberman said of their phone call. He also said he and Cheney talked of working together.

“He joked that we’d probably have plenty of opportunities because with a 50-50 tie in the Senate, he expected to spend a lot of time in the chair,” said Lieberman, referring to the vice president’s duty to cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate.

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/A…..lieberman/

twolf1 @ 122

angie @ 120

Gore/Clark.

soon.

I was thinking Clark/Stewart ;)

m’kay. How’s about Gore/Olbermann?

REDSHIFT-
Good to hear a confirmation of judicious oversight.
Thank you.

If you can’t see it you can’t but you don’t understand human nature if you can’t see that Boxer is pro-war.

Check out the Green vote in VA that almost gave the Senate back to the GOP.

Bush Shows He Can Turn on a Dime

Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) , a leading Democratic critic of the war and a candidate to be the new House majority leader, told National Public Radio that the change of power in the House “is going to change politics” on the war. “You get the committee system working in a bipartisan manner — and that’s the only way this problem can be solved — and then we confront the president on the issue,” he said.

While the president may say “we’re not going to change the policy,” Murtha added, Democrats will begin holding the administration accountable for its decisions on Iraq.

Pachacutec @ 25

Speaker to be Pelosi had a conference call with a few bloggers able to attend. I was a participant.

It has for some time passed my understanding that her dkos approval numbers are as weak as they are, especially when Reid’s are as good as they are.

Ried has been living off that reputation as a fighter from that one time he sandbagged Frist, but he’s been AWOL and craven ever since. He does not respect you, the grassroots. Nancy Pelosi does, and she’s a progressive.

Please spread the good word on our Speaker to be. She won’t be perfect with us on everything all the time, but she handles that caucus well. She has a lot of egos to herd. She’s with us on our values.

It’s unfortunate that Pelosi wasn’t able to attend Yearly Kos last year due to a last minute D.C. crisis. It has struck me that Kossacks have pretty much been giving a free pass to those pols who were able to show. I think some of the glamor effect has worn off, though. Harry Reid posted a “Thank You” diary on Kos yesterday and, in spite of protests by some in the community, the majority jumped down his throat, and wouldn’t let up, on his failure to garner Senate support for Lamont. Markos himself seems to be one of Reid’s biggest supporters, but my take is that the community on the whole now sees Reid’s leadership as weak-kneed. That doesn’t mean absence of dialogue, but it probably means no more blind loyalty.

Montag, I think the Zombies do not want divisions in Iraq. No matter what you do, it is not a militarily tenable position for long, while the policy of paying off and playing off could, in their view, work indefinitely. Trouble is, there’s no way at present to get the current divisions out either aerially through Baghdad alone, or over land, quickly enough without taking some big hits. The air base would partially restore the second line the generals were expecting to have in the north, and might even become the preferred location for a small force on the order of the Korean DMZ force to be based, since then they might have a somewhat friendly entity (Kurds) at their backs, instead of the ridiculous idea of being planted in the middle of Iraq. But keeping all of those bases from the original 2003 plan is so risky and expensive even compared to the oil that’s supposedly there, that it’s not likely to be worth that method of controlling it, and I think the Wolf people see it that way also.

John Casper @ 123

Also wrt Boxer, the day after the Primary, she came out in support of the Winner of the Democratic Primary in CT.

And proceeded to ignore him from that moment to election day. She supported Lieberman with the ensuing silence.

She needs to go. Soon as possible.

Congress is ours.

Eureka Springs,AR @ 102

punaise @ 87

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
are you glad enough?
- – - – - – - – - – - -

—————-
we’re bad enough
—————-

Bbbbaaad to the Bone

D. Mason @ 59

Sorry Jane, but if you think Bush was conservative I guess I had been giving you too much credit. There is a reason why conservatives turned their back on him.

Funny how long they turned their fronts to him. So are conservatives incredibly stupid for believing and writing about how Bush was conservative for five years, or incredibly dishonest for pretending that True Conservative is a platonic ideal, and somehow when a conservative fails spectacularly, he magically (and without changing his views) becomes Not Conservative, because True Conservative can’t be associated with failure?

Or alternatively, is it that conservatives were incredibly dishonest for the past six years, and while writing about Bush the Conservative knew he wasn’t, but said so because he satisfied your lust for raw power?

Any other possibilities I’ve missed? I guess the other one is that conservatives honestly believed he was conservative, and it took them six years of his stubborn and completely unchanging views to realize that he wasn’t, in which case they’re just too stupid to be left alone with sharp objects, ballots, or appointed federal positions.

Small force like the CFC or the 2nd Infantry Division?

prostratedragon @ 130

Montag, I think the Zombies do not want divisions in Iraq. No matter what you do, it is not a militarily tenable position for long, while the policy of paying off and playing off could, in their view, work indefinitely. Trouble is, there’s no way at present to get the current divisions out either aerially through Baghdad alone, or over land, quickly enough without taking some big hits. The air base would partially restore the second line the generals were expecting to have in the north, and might even become the preferred location for a small force on the order of the Korean DMZ force to be based, since then they might have a somewhat friendly entity (Kurds) at their backs, instead of the ridiculous idea of being planted in the middle of Iraq. But keeping all of those bases from the original 2003 plan is so risky and expensive even compared to the oil that’s supposedly there, that it’s not likely to be worth that method of controlling it, and I think the Wolf people see it that way also.

I’m rather looking forward to the subpoena power and committee chairmanships winning the House provides. Let the investigations begin. If Senator Shit concedes, Conyers can consider impeachment proceedings.

angie @ 126

twolf1 @ 122

angie @ 120

Gore/Clark.

soon.

I was thinking Clark/Stewart ;)

m’kay. How’s about Gore/Olbermann?

That would work too w/ Clark as Sec of Def, Colbert – Sec of State and Stewart as Deputy Chief of Staff

punaise @ 87

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
are you glad enough?
- – - – - – - – - – - -

“I’m so glad, I’m so glad, I’m glad I’m glad I’m glad.” Enough?

Wheels of Fire!

- – - – - – - – - – - -

“I’m so glad, I’m so glad, I’m glad I’m glad I’m glad.” Enough?

John Casper @
56

Uhhh… I was disappointed that Boxer supported Lieberman, but she’s a pretty reliable progressive. Let’s be a little more judicious in our purging, ok? Rahm first! :D

Completely agree.

Guitar PB, who in the Senate is more liberal (intelligent and coherant) than Barbara Boxer?

Boxer stood up to challenge the Ohio 2004 vote, and for that I will always admire and be grateful to her.

twolf1 @ 138

angie @ 126

twolf1 @ 122

angie @ 120

Gore/Clark.

soon.

I was thinking Clark/Stewart ;)

m’kay. How’s about Gore/Olbermann?

That would work too w/ Clark as Sec of Def, Colbert – Sec of State and Stewart as Deputy Chief of Staff

The President would surely be jolly and well-informed!

Oh, happy day!

so where’s the headlines:

Americans Claim: 2004 DO-OVER!!!

.

We need to start in on McCain.

We are all glad and giddy and silly and slap-happy and groggy…
Oh, wait.. grog, set up the grog and let the drinking songs begin.

LindaR @ 140

John Casper @
56
Boxer stood up to challenge the Ohio 2004 vote, and for that I will always admire and be grateful to her.

That was then, this is now. She is PRO-WAR. How can you not see that?

RE: bipartisanship in congress now.

Think Dixie Chicks….

NOT READY TO MAKE NICE!

Lou Dobbs lines up retired military to reiterate the old neo chorus that we have to finish the job.

Success means to me: We apologise now. Then get out of that place asap and take every single bullet or other instrument of death with us.

John Casper @ 128

If you can’t see it you can’t but you don’t understand human nature if you can’t see that Boxer is pro-war.

Check out the Green vote in VA that almost gave the Senate back to the GOP.

I’d be more pissed off if I didn’t think that most of those people would have stayed home without the Green candidate in the race. But I’m still pretty pissed at her because she did a CYA appearance at Webb’s last pre-Election Day rally, at a time when none of her supporters were likely to hear about it in time. She actually officially dropped out of the race a week earlier, but didn’t decide who to endorse at that point. If she’d endorsed when she dropped out of the race, more of them might have voted for Webb. But on the other hand, if she hadn’t dropped out (too late to be off the ballot), slightly more people might have voted for her, and could have tipped it the other way.

I think it all adds up to being mildly annoyed at the Greens, but not actually angry.

John Casper @ 123

Also wrt Boxer, the day after the Primary, she came out in support of the Winner of the Democratic Primary in CT.

Yes, Boxer has taken some conflicting actions with regard to the turncoat war supporter Lieberman. A couple of days before the election, I received an e-mail from her PAC, listing the names of a few Democratic Congressional candidates who were in close races and needed a little help to get over the top, asking readers to send money to them.

Although Lamont’s race turned out not to be all that close, it would have been a good time to include him in her last-minute plea. She didn’t. I felt like Ned’s name should have been on that list. It wasn’t.

What, if anything, did she do to support the Democratic nominee in Connecticut, other than give him lip service after the primary? She campaigned in CT for Lieberman before the primary. As far as I know, she did not campaign for Lamont after the primary.

I am not one to say, purge the Democratic Party of all the Barbara Boxers or the Hillary Clintons or even the Rahm Emanuals or Chuck Schumers. From a pragmatic perspective, we need them all. But I think we need to make sure they do not control the dialogue that defines us as Democrats. We need to let them know that their nonsupport of Ned Lamont was shameful.

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 3:37 pm (#118)

Cujo359 @ 103

Lieberman is a whiny, dimwitted fact of life for the next couple of years at least. I think the best way to deal with him is to make it perfectly clear to everyone we can that he’s a pathetic little troll. Punishing his enablers is pointless, because they often enable folks we like as well.

I disagree. Punishing enablers will serve as examples to other traitors whose true stripes are revealed as Boxer’s have been. She is PRO WAR and so are all the other assholes who supported HoJo. You can’t have it both ways. If you’re against the war, you don’t support pro-war candidates. If you support pro-war candidates, you, too, are pro war and anything you did before is negated. If you can’t see it you can’t but you don’t understand human nature if you can’t see that Boxer is pro-war.

This might make some sense if there was nothing on the political agenda but the war, and there were no political parties. There is much more on the agenda, and for whatever reasons Boxer decided to do what she did.

Boxer has been one of the few really progreesive voices in Washington, and there are many people in Congress who have done far more to enable Lieberman. I have absolutely no intention of wasting time or money on removing her.

From the BBC news:

If the Democrats can continue to mobilise their traditional base, and appeal to the key swing groups, they stand a good chance of reversing the Republican tide of the past decade.

But this election was relatively unusual, in the sense that national issues, such as Iraq, corruption, and the economy, rather than local issues or personalities, dominated the results.

Very well done article.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6126176.stm

Check out the Green vote in VA that almost gave the Senate back to the GOP.

Rachel Maddow just said that the “Independent-Green Party” of Virginia is a republican funded front group designed to ensnare disaffected lefties. We’ll be seeing more of this sort of thing in the future, I would think.

RagingGurrl @ 127

REDSHIFT-
Good to hear a confirmation of judicious oversight.
Thank you.

Yeah, and important to remember — if we hadn’t gotten a Democratic governor elected last year, it seems very likely this race would have gone the other way. Contest every race to the hilt!

AP – President Bush pledged Wednesday to work with Democrats after the “thumping” that Republicans took on Election Day.

As if this lame quack has a choice. Think ‘irrelevant’ George.

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 145

LindaR @ 140

John Casper @
56
Boxer stood up to challenge the Ohio 2004 vote, and for that I will always admire and be grateful to her.

That was then, this is now. She is PRO-WAR. How can you not see that?

There is a difference, I think in being pro-war and not having the guts to work to take down a colleague who truly is pro-war.

Part of what we do here should go toward putting some backbone into the wobbly and providing cover so politicians can stand up and do something toward what they profess to believe.

There’s also a place for threats and nights of long knives for those who truly deserve it. Boxer, for me, is pretty far down the purge list.

Ahhh Conyers

I really wait for what he’ll turn over

One of Webb’s campaign people is coming up on air america radio…

Do we get the results of the ethics panel looking into Hastert’s Foley cover-up tomorrow?

GPB @ 145
“She is PRO-WAR. How can you not see that?”

Boxer voted against the authorization for the Iraq war and all her public statements oppose it. Why are you promoting this deceptive meme about Boxer?

Hah hah.

Tweety looks like he’s gonna cry. This could be fun.

Gore-Clark. It has a certain ambience to it. Should Gore decide not to run. Then Clark would be an excellent choice to dispatch McCain.

Boxer and DiFi are not high on my list of very good Americans.

Boxer will be fine.

Tweety asks if Chimpy stole the Dems thunder by announcing Rummy’s firing.

prostratedragon @ 131

Montag, I think the Zombies do not want divisions in Iraq.

[snip]

But keeping all of those bases from the original 2003 plan is so risky and expensive even compared to the oil that’s supposedly there, that it’s not likely to be worth that method of controlling it, and I think the Wolf people see it that way also.

They’ll be there for as long as they are able to keep them there, but, if the Iraqis obtain any independence, they’re gone. There’s no point in having a base among the Kurds unless you want to maintain military presence for the sake of oil and for future conquests.

As for the costs, the oil companies aren’t paying those costs, either in fair taxes or in blood. They’re getting that military protection for free. As long as the Bushies can keep the charade going, they will.

Ask yourself why Camp Bondsteel was built directly on the route of a pipeline proposed–by Halliburton–four years prior to the mess in Kosovo.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 11

And yes, before anyone asks, I’m stuck in the airport in Cleveland having political conference calls on three hours sleep and coffee fumes. I am such a geek.

Not AGAIN.

I wish you a complete night’s sleep, and the dreams of a hero who sees the goal of her quest in sight.

twolf #1,
“Do we get the results of the ethics panel looking into Hastert’s Foley cover-up tomorrow?”
Nah, that will be part of the Friday news dump occurring around 5 p.m. *g*

angie @ 162

Boxer and DiFi are not high on my list of very good Americans.

Madame Speaker is altogether another matter.

Whoo Hoo!

Any of you FDL vets know where I can find a list of the candidates Rahm originally fielded? I’d love to do a side-by-side tally against the netroots candidates.

It’s hysterical that Tweety thinks HotSoup is like a real, relevant blog.

I swear, he’s so insulated from REE-AH-LI-TEEE.

mrs marks, I suggest downwithtyranny.blogspot.com

I want accountability for the dead in Iraq, Lebanon and the Gaza.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 24

Patrick at 15 — ba dum bum…no, but a wingnutty looking geezer reading the latest O’Reilly “book” sitting near me did a double take when I said “First, let me say congratulations, Madame Speaker…” and then went on with my point. *g* That was, admittedly, fun.

How cool is that!?

TSF at around 99 or so:

And if W’s going to start undoing his LIES, working backward, shouldn’t a bus with Cheney’s name on it arrive very soon?

Right you are.

We can’t purge the party and put FDLers in every office in the land. What we need to do is make sure progressives are the ones who control the agenda and message of the party. We need a big tent, but those in the party who are in the minority (the conservatives) need to get the message that they are not in control.

Dean is doing a great job. Watch his press conference today on C-SPAN to see how he’s doing.

scarecrow @ 19

Christy — Speaker to be Pelosi had a terrific interview with Blitzer. She was articulate, responsible, confident, modest — and extraordinarily gracious. Wolf couldn’t be polite and deferential enough. My, my.

That interview was worth a lot to the new Democratic majority.

You just have to wonder if someone in the home offices isn’t doing an overlay with the election results and the MSM tanking numbers and credibility and mumbling something about respect, discourse and facts.

…

nah.

Eureka Springs,AR @ 170

mrs marks, I suggest downwithtyranny.blogspot.com

Thanks much! I’ll check it out.

Hotsoup? Cold drivel.

Pachacutec @ 169

It’s hysterical that Tweety thinks HotSoup is like a real, relevant blog.

I swear, he’s so insulated from REE-AH-LI-TEEE.

unreal, oh by the way (((Pach))) you were great last night!

montag @ 164

prostratedragon @ 131

Montag, I think the Zombies do not want divisions in Iraq.

[snip]

But keeping all of those bases from the original 2003 plan is so risky and expensive even compared to the oil that’s supposedly there, that it’s not likely to be worth that method of controlling it, and I think the Wolf people see it that way also.

They’ll be there for as long as they are able to keep them there, but, if the Iraqis obtain any independence, they’re gone. There’s no point in having a base among the Kurds unless you want to maintain military presence for the sake of oil and for future conquests.

As for the costs, the oil companies aren’t paying those costs, either in fair taxes or in blood. They’re getting that military protection for free. As long as the Bushies can keep the charade going, they will.

Ask yourself why Camp Bondsteel was built directly on the route of a pipeline proposed–by Halliburton–four years prior to the mess in Kosovo.

Ding! ding! ding!

The War Business
by Chalmers Johnson

Oklahoma kiddo @ 178

Hotsoup? Cold drivel.

hotpoop

Pachacutec @
25

Speaker to be Pelosi had a conference call with a few bloggers able to attend. I was a participant.

It has for some time passed my understanding that her dkos approval numbers are as weak as they are, especially when Reid’s are as good as they are.

Ried has been living off that reputation as a fighter from that one time he sandbagged Frist, but he’s been AWOL and craven ever since. He does not respect you, the grassroots. Nancy Pelosi does, and she’s a progressive.

Please spread the good word on our Speaker to be. She won’t be perfect with us on everything all the time, but she handles that caucus well. She has a lot of egos to herd. She’s with us on our values.

Thank you for posting this and I very much agree with you. Most people are unaware that Madame Speaker is viewed by many in SanFran as “not left enough”. She is a delightful, extraordinary woman in her own right. I think that the R’s are beating up on her more than they would a man, which is disgusting.

og gawd, I ment that in a most steve audio kind of way…)

twolf1 @ 180

Oklahoma kiddo @ 178

Hotsoup? Cold drivel.

hotpoop

Mmmm. The aroma!

CNN – Just In (isn’t everything on CNN)- Fla recount expected in Buchanan/Jennings race

Anybody else find it interesting what a difference eight hours seem to make in Guitar Playing Bastard’s comments?

Rob Zuber @ 175

We can’t purge the party and put FDLers in every office in the land. What we need to do is make sure progressives are the ones who control the agenda and message of the party. We need a big tent, but those in the party who are in the minority (the conservatives) need to get the message that they are not in control.

Dean is doing a great job. Watch his press conference today on C-SPAN to see how he’s doing.

What we are good at is community building, analysis, fund raising, rapid response and targeting.

I made a vow to listen to talk radio today. It’s amazing how fast they can turn on the Republicans, and try to turn the elections into “wins” for conservatives.

I believe Savage called Bush the “Jackass in Chief” at least three times in 5 minutes, right after he tried to say that House and Senate elections don’t matter much and it’s all the ballot initiatives. (Insert comment about how the Democrats don’t have a mandate here).

The impression her is that Pelosi has plans for Georgie. And if was the President I’d make certain Karl has stocked up on plenty of Huggies. In the President’s size.

sofistic @ 187

Rob Zuber @ 175

We can’t purge the party and put FDLers in every office in the land. What we need to do is make sure progressives are the ones who control the agenda and message of the party. We need a big tent, but those in the party who are in the minority (the conservatives) need to get the message that they are not in control.

Dean is doing a great job. Watch his press conference today on C-SPAN to see how he’s doing.

What we are good at is community building, analysis, fund raising, rapid response and targeting.

And snark. Don’t forget the snark.

With puns on the side. Don’t forget the puns, either.

Pachacutec @ 160

Hah hah.

Tweety looks like he’s gonna cry. This could be fun.

Ha. You’re right – he’s having trouble with this democracy thing.

And snark. Don’t forget the snark.

With puns on the side. Don’t forget the puns, either

Ahh, buttered puns?

Well, I just want to know one thing …

Whatever happened to Emmie?

;>)

Oklahoma kiddo @ 189

The impression her is that Pelosi has plans for Georgie. And if was the President I’d make certain Karl has stocked up on plenty of Huggies. In the President’s size.

Umm, Laura will probably have to change him. My guess is that Rove will be departing after a discreet interval, in search of greener pastures and to find another dumb fucker work for the 2008 election.

jinny @ 4:13 pm (#181)

Pachacutec @
25

Speaker to be Pelosi had a conference call with a few bloggers able to attend. I was a participant.

It has for some time passed my understanding that her dkos approval numbers are as weak as they are, especially when Reid’s are as good as they are.

Ried has been living off that reputation as a fighter from that one time he sandbagged Frist, but he’s been AWOL and craven ever since. He does not respect you, the grassroots. Nancy Pelosi does, and she’s a progressive.

Please spread the good word on our Speaker to be. She won’t be perfect with us on everything all the time, but she handles that caucus well. She has a lot of egos to herd. She’s with us on our values.

Thank you for posting this and I very much agree with you. Most people are unaware that Madame Speaker is viewed by many in SanFran as “not left enough”. She is a delightful, extraordinary woman in her own right. I think that the R’s are beating up on her more than they would a man, which is disgusting.

I’m no fan of Reid’s, that’s for sure. Pachacutec’s right about how he’s been living off of a single act of defiance. He wasn’t any too helpful to the the Democratic Senate candidate in his own state, from what I heard. Anyway, he hasn’t done much of note other than talk since then. I’m still waiting for those consequences to kick in, BTW.

As for Pelosi, I just don’t know that much about her. I guess we’ll be finding out about her now.

After Chimpy stole the election from Gore:

“If the vote count affirms Bush’s election, we allow a short grace period to see the reaction of the Gore camp. If they have not graciously conceded after a few hours, we must bombard the news media and our public officials AT EVERY concession…. literally millions of phone calls. We must jam their phone banks with calls. There are millions of us so it shouldn’t be too difficult. . . . If it becomes widely reported-and it will-that there is a groundswell demanding that Gore back down and not embarrass the country, it will be very difficult for Gore to withstand the pressure. He will have to relent.”

In what should be the media theme, but isn’t:
Specter Urges GOP To Re-evaluate.

“We have just witnessed a seismic earthquake,” Specter said in an address to the Committee of Seventy, an election-watchdog group, at the Union League in Philadelphia. “There will have to be a fundamental re-evaluation of what is going on in Iraq.”

… Specter said his party will have to become “a lot more progressive and a lot less ideological.“

Of course, he goes on to criticize Conyers.

It would be “unwise” and “unfair” (but isn’t unfair and even abusive ok, as long as there’s no organ failure Senator?) to go after the President. “Disastrous for the country” in ways, I guess, the war in Iraq, failure to implement security, increasing poverty rate, education decline, horrific deficit, increased reliance on China and the middle east, foreign criminal investigations of CIA agents, Guantanomo, illegal wiretaps and the failure to every provide Iran-Contra accountability were not.

Watergate Iran/Contra unpunished = metastasis of corruption, ignorance and unchecked power.

Unlike the Farside equation, no miracle needed.

raven @
135

Small force like the CFC or the 2nd Infantry Division?

Around 20,000, right? That’s a long way from the plans I think the Neocons had, and nothing like a basis for moving elsewhere in the region any time soon. (Forget about Rumsfeld’s early lies plans and think about what they were building.)

I don’t say this enough, so let me say it again.

I love you guys and gals. You are an enduring inspiration.

angie @ 168

angie @ 162

Boxer and DiFi are not high on my list of very good Americans.

Madame Speaker is altogether another matter.

Whoo Hoo!

I hear what you’re saying.

Well, Speaker-to-be Pelosi made all the networks/cables with interviews, and was impressive in all that I saw.

This is exactly what a leader is supposed to do when change occurs — to assure the American people that a responsible grownup is now in charge. She did that. A very good start for Democrats, today, and I like having Grandma Pelosi out there as our spokesperson.

One of the news segments did a breakdown of voters — some 56% of women voted for Democrats — and they now have a Speaker of the House. Well done. I’m sure Rahm will take credit for that.

The other amazing breakout: despite the sex scandals, 75% of Christian fundamentalists reportedly voted for Republicans. Keep that in mind.

Finally home from CT. I hope the GF doesn’t get home from work for another couple of hours so I can start catching up on 3 days without my own computer. I’ve been living vicariously through RevDeb by reading over her shoulder when she could get a connection at the hotel we were staying at. God bless her.

It still pisses me off that Ned didn’t win. I tortured myself for the whole 7 hour drive home thinking about Tester and Lamont in the same Senate and the damage/fun they could have done there. It’s killing me that that Rat Bastard Lieberman won instead of our Ned.

All I can say about that is Ned for President.

Christy Hardin Smith @
6

Perfect photo of Freddy the Beetle Barnes. Just perfect.

And gang — I just got off the phone with Speaker-elect Pelosi. She said to tell everyone thank you so much for everything.

Just wanted to pass that along before I have to pack up my computer again and hop on my next flight. I’ll try to have more on the call tomorrow when I’ve gotten more than three hours sleep…but I wanted to let you guys know about the thank you today. :)

Did you ask her why she avoided CT. Come on girl, if you’re gonna run with the big dogs they won’t respect you for not having some bite!

David Olsen @
152

Check out the Green vote in VA that almost gave the Senate back to the GOP.

Rachel Maddow just said that the “Independent-Green Party” of Virginia is a republican funded front group designed to ensnare disaffected lefties. We’ll be seeing more of this sort of thing in the future, I would think.

Having GOP ops actually been caught locally giving a Green Party or candidate financial aid somewhere? I’m sure I remember hearing about it within the year.

RBG, great catch.

Yea, exactly. The CFC is a good bit larger but I was thinking about the old UNC that just handled the JSA at Panmunjom. That is a very small contingent.

Robert Gates

Seems to me to be rather interesting that Texas Monthly’s November issue features Gates on the cover and a lenthly article inside.

Obviously it is not coincidental that Robert Gates’ name come up today as a replacement for Rumsfeld. Do you suppose that prior to the election W was given an either/or order by Daddy Bush and James Baker? Magazines don’t get printed and mailed overnight and I’ve had Texas Monthly on my desk for about two weeks now.

http://www.texasmonthly.com/2006-11-01/feature.php

Remember Rummy – you walk to the unemployment office in the shoes you have, not the shoes you wish you had.

Jane & Christy,
I had lunch with some Dem friends today, it was sort of a celebration and everyone was smiling again. Thank you, Howie, and the FDL crew.

I am so tired of Andrew Sullivan and the other newly alert conservatives who blog about how Rove played Nixon’s Southern Strategy and “over-reached.” Since when is a logical extension of a strategy (play to the racist, fundie base) an “over-reach?” The seeds of the 2006 repudiation of conservatism were sown in 1968, not 1980. The Dixie Party, formerly known as the GOP, is the party of hate, exclusion, and MINE-ALL-MINE. The Congressional leadership of the Party of Lincoln is now from the states Lincoln went to war against.

The GOP has cast their lot with a dying breed: the ugly American who loses. No one wants to be in that party. Catholics came home to their Democratic Party this year, as did observant Jews.

We’d better find a place in the back of our New Big Tent for the fundies.

Mary4 @ 175

scarecrow @ 19

Christy — Speaker to be Pelosi had a terrific interview with Blitzer. She was articulate, responsible, confident, modest — and extraordinarily gracious. Wolf couldn’t be polite and deferential enough. My, my.

That interview was worth a lot to the new Democratic majority.

You just have to wonder if someone in the home offices isn’t doing an overlay with the election results and the MSM tanking numbers and credibility and mumbling something about respect, discourse and facts.

…

nah.

They ignored or belittled/insulted her for years while the Dems were out of power; they repeated the Rove/Melhman nonsense of how radical/dangerous she was. But that was so pre-election. Now that she’s the most powerful woman in the US, they’ve found new manners and respect. And they also know she knows how to use power.

How bad was Tuesday for the GOP? This bad.

Patrick 4/4 @ 155

There is a difference, I think in being pro-war and not having the guts to work to take down a colleague who truly is pro-war.
That is a cheap rationalization and I’m not buying it. If you claim to be anti-war, yet you support someone as pro-war as HoJo, you are pro-war. That action defines you. If you don’t have to guts to take a correct stand, you are pro-war.

Part of what we do here should go toward putting some backbone into the wobbly and providing cover so politicians can stand up and do something toward what they profess to believe.

Sheeit, if you expect Boxer to show backbone now, after her post-primary cowardice, I want some of what you’re smoking.

There’s also a place for threats and nights of long knives for those who truly deserve it. Boxer, for me, is pretty far down the purge list.

She deserves that knife as much as anyone else who failed to give Ned full-throated support.

ALL who failed to support Ned need to be purged. No prisoners. No excuses.

The war is the ONLY issue that matters right now. Ending the war will also end a plethora of other social, fiscal and political ills we now face. Those who failed to support Ned are IN FAVOR of the status quo. How can their lack of support be interpreted any other way? You can make all the rationalizations you want but when you get down to where the bear shits in the buckwheat, either you’re for the war or you’re not, and if you fail to support anti-war candidates, you are pro war, anything you did prior is negated by said support.

That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

angie @ 162

Boxer and DiFi are not high on my list of very good Americans.

THANK YOU!

Pelosi on Blitzer again

scarecrow @ 201

75% of Christian fundamentalists reportedly voted for Republicans. Keep that in mind.

Since religion was invented, in a orgiatic fit of hermeneutical shamanism, 100% of fundamentalists have thought the world was going to end. Only if they continue to elect environmentally damaging candidates, will that actually be true. It’s a not so lovely irony that agnosticsm allows a view from above.

The Dems scored hugely among women, Blacks and Latinos and also among the youth.

The death of the calcified Bill O’Reilly coalition is at hand.

-GSD

Watergate Iran/Contra unpunished = metastasis of corruption, ignorance and unchecked power.

Door swings both ways. It’s our responsibility to bring the unpunished scandals to the attention of the TM. I never knew who Hugh Thompson, Jr. was until I got to FDL.

Phil @ 105

Other than Edwards, Clark, and Kerry who did not through Ned under the Bus?

The senior Senator from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

twolf@196 EXCELLENT FIND!!

Dead woman wins county commissioner’s race
S.D. candidate gets 100 votes; official says voters knew she was deceased

prostratedragon @ 205

David Olsen @
152

Check out the Green vote in VA that almost gave the Senate back to the GOP.

Rachel Maddow just said that the “Independent-Green Party” of Virginia is a republican funded front group designed to ensnare disaffected lefties. We’ll be seeing more of this sort of thing in the future, I would think.

Having GOP ops actually been caught locally giving a Green Party or candidate financial aid somewhere? I’m sure I remember hearing about it within the year.

The Pennsylvania GOP entirely funded the signature-gathering and ballot placement of the Green Senate candidate. Which, incidentally, came up short. He wasn’t on the ballot.

Mary4 @ 196

In what should be the media theme, but isn’t:
Specter Urges GOP To Re-evaluate.

Of course, he goes on to criticize Conyers.

It would be “unwise” and “unfair” (but isn’t unfair and even abusive ok, as long as there’s no organ failure Senator?) to go after the President. “Disastrous for the country” in ways, I guess, the war in Iraq, failure to implement security, increasing poverty rate, education decline, horrific deficit, increased reliance on China and the middle east, foreign criminal investigations of CIA agents, Guantanomo, illegal wiretaps and the failure to every provide Iran-Contra accountability were not.

Yes, what does Conyers think is going on? You’d think the President was getting a hummer in the Oval Office or something, instead of just breaking all those silly laws that were just there to keep the President from having too much power.

Watergate Iran/Contra unpunished = metastasis of corruption, ignorance and unchecked power.

Unlike the Farside equation, no miracle needed.

Snarlin’ Arlen == All bark, no bite.

Dover Bitch @ 212

How bad was Tuesday for the GOP? This bad.

I wonder if John Ashcroft was the campaign manager for the live candidate?

-GSD

Pat Buchanon is a crankpot.

Color Rummy culled — nice db!

RBG @ 186

Anybody else find it interesting what a difference eight hours seem to make in Guitar Playing Bastard’s comments?

I see no reason to hesitate going after pro-war democrats.

Besides, it doesn’t take long for me to get pissed off again. SOrry if that don’t suitcha but that’s how it is.

I have a long memory and I hold grudges.

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 212

Patrick 4/4 @ 155

There is a difference, I think in being pro-war and not having the guts to work to take down a colleague who truly is pro-war.
That is a cheap rationalization and I’m not buying it. If you claim to be anti-war, yet you support someone as pro-war as HoJo, you are pro-war. That action defines you. If you don’t have to guts to take a correct stand, you are pro-war.

Part of what we do here should go toward putting some backbone into the wobbly and providing cover so politicians can stand up and do something toward what they profess to believe.

Sheeit, if you expect Boxer to show backbone now, after her post-primary cowardice, I want some of what you’re smoking.

There’s also a place for threats and nights of long knives for those who truly deserve it. Boxer, for me, is pretty far down the purge list.

She deserves that knife as much as anyone else who failed to give Ned full-throated support.

ALL who failed to support Ned need to be purged. No prisoners. No excuses.

The war is the ONLY issue that matters right now. Ending the war will also end a plethora of other social, fiscal and political ills we now face. Those who failed to support Ned are IN FAVOR of the status quo. How can their lack of support be interpreted any other way? You can make all the rationalizations you want but when you get down to where the bear shits in the buckwheat, either you’re for the war or you’re not, and if you fail to support anti-war candidates, you are pro war, anything you did prior is negated by said support.

That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

Mm-kay. Now we start re-building from those 3 senators?

Wow, Speaker Pelosi is really coming across well with Wolfie: “prepared to lead, ready to govern.”

RBG, nice catch. Didn’t see that one.

Ban her.

She won me with “Myra, Myra, Myra…”

Republicans.

Gone Baby Gone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSxkAZcnMPA

Patrick 4/4 @
228

Mm-kay. Now we start re-building from those 3 senators?

Rome wasn’t built in a day. But if you want to have a party built on Democratic principles, you have to start somewhere. Boxer is a great place to start. No I don’t know her, never met her, but I’m a constituent, and the very sight of her turns my stomach.

TeddySanFran @ 230

RBG, nice catch. Didn’t see that one.

Ban her.

Nuthin like a little freedom of speech in the ol’ blogosphere, eh Ted?

And Speaker Pelosi is always immaculately groomed and beautifully dressed. Her husband takes credit for choosing her clothes. I admired him for telling gotcha Leslie Stahl that yes, he selected his wife’s clothes.

It’s the same old story with President Bush. He fails, and his father and his friends (this time Baker and Gates among others) pulls his little bitty titties outta the wringer.

Someone give Henry Waxman a big room and handful of young aides with laptops and tlet them go to

I have a long memory and I hold grudges.

GPB, as RBG’s link to your earlier comment confirms, you don’t have a “long memory.”

As close to a best-case scenario as yesterday was… just think about how disastrous it would have been to have had results like the last three elections. After Katrina, Iraq and all the scandals and power grabs, this quite possibly could have been our last chance to keep this country from going completely off the rails.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 236

It’s the same old story with President Bush. He fails, and his father and his friends (this time Baker and Gates among others) pulls his little bitty titties outta the wringer.

I doubtt they can save or help him. As long as Cheney’s there, I suspect he’ll still be heard loudest.

On first report of the resignation of Rumsfeld this morning on Fox, Barnes said something like “I hope this will also lead to a shakeup of the generals in Iraq, because they also share the blame for the situation.”

Yep, first instincts hold true – blame the victim to set the meme as quickly as possible. Never ever accept responsibility for anything that happens. (unless everybody knows you don’t really mean it, like Bush – “it’s on my watch”.)

On another note, I wonder if we realize how much Ned did to make all this possible? I suppose we here do, of course. As often happens in history, the bravest ones who lead the wave are not the ones who benefit from it. So we should appreciate him all the more. As Churchill put it, he is beaten but unbowed. Thank You, Ned Lamont.

Funny picture for Mac OSX users:
Rumsfeld resignation summarized in Mac OSX screenshot

GSD @ 237

Someone give Henry Waxman a big room and handful of young aides with laptops and tlet them go to

The fact that Henry Waxman will be given his lead might be the very greatest thing about the entire landslide of 06. I would NOT want that very directed man focused in on me in any way shape or form; and I’m squeaky clean ;-}

JohnSwifty @ 216

scarecrow @ 201

75% of Christian fundamentalists reportedly voted for Republicans. Keep that in mind.

Since religion was invented, in a orgiatic fit of hermeneutical shamanism, 100% of fundamentalists have thought the world was going to end. Only if they continue to elect environmentally damaging candidates, will that actually be true. It’s a not so lovely irony that agnosticsm allows a view from above.

I have not problem with them believing the world is about to end, as long as they believe it will end about a month before each election.

prostratedragon @ 204

David Olsen @
152

Check out the Green vote in VA that almost gave the Senate back to the GOP.

Rachel Maddow just said that the “Independent-Green Party” of Virginia is a republican funded front group designed to ensnare disaffected lefties. We’ll be seeing more of this sort of thing in the future, I would think.

Having GOP ops actually been caught locally giving a Green Party or candidate financial aid somewhere? I’m sure I remember hearing about it within the year.

PA to pull votes from Casey.

John Casper @ 238

I have a long memory and I hold grudges.

GPB, as RBG’s link to your earlier comment confirms, you don’t have a “long memory.”

When it comes to betraying your party and your constituents, I do.

Back for the first time since this morning (other than that spasm of frustration at work when I couldn’t see the pResident get pissy at the pressy). Lord God above, what a GREAT day this has been! I truly cannot remember an election that made me feel better, and my political awareness began with JFK. Oh. My.

A staunch Republican in my office (not a rePUGlican, one of the real ones…) came to my office door waving a white flag this morning. He served as forward air control (or was it command?) in the Nam, and he’s totally in favor of the results, and also glad that Rummy’s gone. The guys who have actually put their asses on the line are SO glad to see him gone it’s unbelievable.

I couldn’t really celebrate last night because my alarm clock goes off at 5:30 in the morning, so this evening is my PARTAY… Flasks of warm sake for me… How are all the rest of you enjoying today?

scarecrow @ 244

I have not problem with them believing the world is about to end, as long as they believe it will end about a month before each election.

Everbody’s gotta believe in something. I choose representative republics, apple pie and the Curch of the FSM!

http://www.venganza.org/

P.S. If the mods find me objectionable, they can ban me. But you’ll never find a more tireless worker for progressive causes…or someone who’s more willing to speak up against the bullshit and call a spade a spade. You just don’t like it because it’s your ox I’m goring.

FAC, control. Crummy job directing air support for the grunts.

Marion in Savannah @ 247

Back for the first time since this morning (other than that spasm of frustration at work when I couldn’t see the pResident get pissy at the pressy). Lord God above, what a GREAT day this has been! I truly cannot remember an election that made me feel better, and my political awareness began with JFK. Oh. My.

A staunch Republican in my office (not a rePUGlican, one of the real ones…) came to my office door waving a white flag this morning. He served as forward air control (or was it command?) in the Nam, and he’s totally in favor of the results, and also glad that Rummy’s gone. The guys who have actually put their asses on the line are SO glad to see him gone it’s unbelievable.

I couldn’t really celebrate last night because my alarm clock goes off at 5:30 in the morning, so this evening is my PARTAY… Flasks of warm sake for me… How are all the rest of you enjoying today?

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @
227

RBG @ 186

Anybody else find it interesting what a difference eight hours seem to make in Guitar Playing Bastard’s comments?

I see no reason to hesitate going after pro-war democrats.

Besides, it doesn’t take long for me to get pissed off again. SOrry if that don’t suitcha but that’s how it is.

I have a long memory and I hold grudges.

Just speaking as one daily reader of FDL, I hope I don’t have to read about your grudge every day until 2010.

twolf1 @
221

Dead woman wins county commissioner’s race
S.D. candidate gets 100 votes; official says voters knew she was deceased

Well, didn’t our former Attorney General lose to a dead guy??? There’s precedent…

MayDaze @ 4:44 pm (#244)

PA to pull votes from Casey.

Cujo359 to request clarification.

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 240

Oklahoma kiddo @ 236

It’s the same old story with President Bush. He fails, and his father and his friends (this time Baker and Gates among others) pulls his little bitty titties outta the wringer.

I doubtt they can save or help him. As long as Cheney’s there, I suspect he’ll still be heard loudest.

Cheney is one of the nastiest s.o.b’s I’ve ever run across. He may very well be worse that Nixon.

John Casper @ 229

Wow, Speaker Pelosi is really coming across well with Wolfie: “prepared to lead, ready to govern.”

She has gotten so much better at handling the press and live TV.

OK, this is a bit off-thread, and I’ve also been banned as a concern troll by TRex for expressing my misgivings at the bloggers having that off-the-record lunch with Clinton. So it’s a gamble that this will even post. But since there is nowhere else I know of to come with my Lieberhate, I come here with this question:

Obviously, Lamont and the other decent folks Lieberman shit on will not be pursuing the illegal slush fund issue, lest they lose the Senate for the Dems. But what about the Republicans? Was that the plan all along? Get him in, get him kicked out, and get the Rupublican Governor of CT to appoint a Republican senator. Or blackmail him to do their bidding lest they bring the FEC and whomever else down on Mr. Sanctimony(not that keeping Droopy Dawg in line will need such extreme measures to keep him in line).

Sure it’s tinfoilhatty, but 6 years ago I thought the idea that this country could be led into a quagmire of aggression on the say-so of a draft-dodging cokehead was tinfoilhatty. I’m not looking for agreement or to start a fight. I honestly want to know from someone with inside-the-beltway experience of politics “How likely is this scenario?”

GSD @ 237

Someone give Henry Waxman a big room and handful of young aides with laptops and tlet them go to

Waxman was fantastic on NPR this evening. Was Steve Inskeep the interviewer? Great (fair and unbiased for a change) reporting – he threw none of the typical right wing slimey curveballs normally issued. Waxman was very, very impressive. I felt good (and hopeful for our country) hearing his ideas.

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 249

P.S. If the mods find me objectionable, they can ban me. But you’ll never find a more tireless worker for progressive causes…or someone who’s more willing to speak up against the bullshit and call a spade a spade. You just don’t like it because it’s your ox I’m goring.

And rum, DON’T forget the rum!

Up here in Oconee County we had a Sheriff named Terry Roach that was in jail and getting his pay fom the county. Not the same but. . .Georgia, Georgia.

Dead woman wins county commissioner’s race
S.D. candidate gets 100 votes; official says voters knew she was deceased

Well, didn’t our former Attorney General lose to a dead guy??? There’s precedent…

scarecrow @211 – I partly meant that, but I also partly meant I wonder if they realize that the same sentiment the Republicans are seeing is also partly directed at the MSM that has been nothing but a screaming heads talking point de(voidof)facto Executive branch extension?

I noticed Bush didn’t garner his gushing guffaws from and enamored presscorps so much today either.

I don’t know who the guy was who asked about “aren’t you out of touch” but when Bush finished his non-answer, the guy came back with a “how could you be in touch and not see this coming” — that wasn’t happening too much before.

Maybe they’ll even begin to realize that when 40 percent or so of Americans think that Hussein was behind 9/11 – they aren’t really fulfilling the duties related to their broadcast licenses.

Then I realized – nah.

They are just like Bush – never in a million years will they see the contempt is not just for Bush and Congress, but also for them.

No Rum today. Last night was a special occasion.

Marion in Savannah @ 252

twolf1 @
221

Dead woman wins county commissioner’s race
S.D. candidate gets 100 votes; official says voters knew she was deceased

Well, didn’t our former Attorney General lose to a dead guy??? There’s precedent…

A dead guy who’s plane just fell outta the air! Kinda like Paul Wellstone’s did. Hmmmmmmm.

Waxman is one of the most dedicated and honest people ever to serve this nation.

Now we get to see some of the Democratic servants doing their thing….

That means dingleberries like James Inhofe in Oklahoma can take some time off to find out if any family member has ever engaged in any gay sex.

-GSD

Theme on MSNBC’s website is that gettin his ass kicked will be the best thing that could ever have happened to Clusterfuck..

Back to invitin Kennedy over for movies and popcorn? That’s actually the role Clusterfuck is better at- he ain’t worth a shit as “The Decider”.

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 260

No Rum today. Last night was a special occasion.

Night Train?

John, don’t get me started about Wellstone. Can You say hit job?

But the repukes wouldn’t do that would they?

Oh, wait…

JohnSwifty @ 264

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 260

No Rum today. Last night was a special occasion.

Night Train?

Crystal light.

I would have to think that Hillary Clinton is one of the biggest pro-war Demos around. And we’re told she’s the front runner for the Democratic nomination for the presidency in 2008. I won’t even mention her support for the Lebanon fiasco or her (at least tacit) support for what goes on in the Gaza.

Same here Marion with my very close co-worker. He votes Republican down the line. Last week I told him that Mahoney was a closet Republican and that if Katherine Harris won the election it would be a bigger disaster than the butterfly ballot and Florida would once again be the butt of all jokes on late night tv.

Today he says “Well, you’ll be proud of me. I did something I never do. I voted for Mahoney & Nelson. Believe me, this was a big upset. It was almost like he was relieved. But in the next breathe he made a joke about that libral new speaker of the house and I knew that I had lost him again.

Cujo359 @ 253

MayDaze @ 4:44 pm (#244)

PA to pull votes from Casey.

Cujo359 to request clarification.

OK, there was a Green candidate for the PA senate seat who received funds from Republican fundraisers. I don’t recall all the specifics, but that was the gist of it. The candidate admitted it and was found to be a former (?)Republican himself.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 267

I would have to think that Hillary Clinton is one of the biggest pro-war Demos around. And we’re told she’s the front runner for the Democratic nomination for the presidency in 2008. I won’t even mention her support for the Lebanon fiasco or her (at least tacit) support for what goes on in the Gaza.

She is the most pro-war Dem around, except for HoJo.

If she is the nominee, I am voting Libertarian, or Green, or for Frank Zappa.

Marion in Savannah @ 246

I couldn’t really celebrate last night because my alarm clock goes off at 5:30 in the morning, so this evening is my PARTAY… Flasks of warm sake for me… How are all the rest of you enjoying today?

I did sake and flaming hot cheetos in celebration late last night, quite a combination… *buuurp*.

jarotra @ 241

On another note, I wonder if we realize how much Ned did to make all this possible?

Oh, Lord, yes.

When all of us were in the Slough of Despond there was Ned, the only man in the country who seemed to have the cojones to stand up on his hind legs and scream “the Emperor has no clothes.” Without him this would not have happened. I’m way down here in Georgia and I owe him a debt of gratitude that I have no idea how to repay. All he has to do is ask me to do something for the country… I’ll be there.

Oh, yeah. We know what Ned gave us. And we bless him for today.

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 266

JohnSwifty @ 264

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 260

No Rum today. Last night was a special occasion.

Night Train?

Crystal light.

Rum and Coke

GSD @ 262

Waxman is one of the most dedicated and honest people ever to serve this nation.

I’m very interested to see what Mr. Waxman is able to accomplish in his tenure. I don’t expect his activity to be lauded in the MSM, in fact, I will quite prefer to enjoy it in relative seclusion. Join me, won’t you?

Oklahoma kiddo @ 267

I would have to think that Hillary Clinton is one of the biggest pro-war Demos around. And we’re told she’s the front runner for the Democratic nomination for the presidency in 2008. I won’t even mention her support for the Lebanon fiasco or her (at least tacit) support for what goes on in the Gaza.

Funny, so many knuckledraggers think progressives love them some Hillary.

twolf1 @ 273

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 266

JohnSwifty @ 264

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 260

No Rum today. Last night was a special occasion.

Night Train?

Crystal light.

Rum and Coke

You a verah funny boy. :-)

Cujo359 @
23

My first reaction on seeing the title of this article was “that’s going to be a short article”. Sure enough. Nevertheless, The Beetle managed to get it right. Rahm deserves limited credit, but a lot of other folks deserve at least as much, including Howard Dean, Kos, FDL, Howie Klein, etc.

Yeah, well as one of the “nose-pickers” shat on by Rahm and the shit-bags around him, I have one thing to say to him – suck my cock.

We saw what a “disaster” the 50-state strategy was, and we ain’t done with it yet. How did Rahm’s “wisdom” contribute to picking up a majority of governorships?

Yeah, that’s what i thought – fuck all.

Fuck him and people who look like him…

Chris Matthews explaining Bush as the guy who failed at business in the past and had to be bailed out by his Dad’s rich buddies, — and now, as President, we have the same thing — and Andrea Mitchell adds that this time, it’s not just an oil company, it’s the whole country that is the victim. That’s a powerful theme.

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 265

John, don’t get me started about Wellstone. Can You say hit job?

But the repukes wouldn’t do that would they?

Oh, wait…

Well, it’s not like pilots ever fly in snowstorms here in Minnesota. I’m sure there’s a perfectly plausible explanation…which no one has ever actually given.

Waiting for Olbermann. T-four mins.

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 249

P.S. If the mods find me objectionable, they can ban me. But you’ll never find a more tireless worker for progressive causes…or someone who’s more willing to speak up against the bullshit and call a spade a spade. You just don’t like it because it’s your ox I’m goring.

I don’t know about anybody else, but I’ve always enjoyed hearing your take on things. Maybe some folks’ emotions are running a bit high today… Lordy knows, I know mine are!

It’s time for your enema, Mr. Barnes. Our new male nurse, “Rummy,” will be adminstering it.

scarecrow @ 278

Chris Matthews explaining Bush as the guy who failed at business in the past and had to be bailed out by his Dad’s rich buddies, — and now, as President, we have the same thing — and Andrea Mitchell adds that this time, it’s not just an oil company, it’s the whole country that is the victim. That’s a powerful theme.

Yes it is. It truly is. Will it catch fire!

JohnSwifty @ 282

scarecrow @ 278

Chris Matthews explaining Bush as the guy who failed at business in the past and had to be bailed out by his Dad’s rich buddies, — and now, as President, we have the same thing — and Andrea Mitchell adds that this time, it’s not just an oil company, it’s the whole country that is the victim. That’s a powerful theme.

Yes it is. It truly is. Will it catch fire!

Welcome MSM – 6 years too late.

MayDaze @ 268

Cujo359 @ 253

MayDaze @ 4:44 pm (#244)

PA to pull votes from Casey.

Cujo359 to request clarification.

OK, there was a Green candidate for the PA senate seat who received funds from Republican fundraisers. I don’t recall all the specifics, but that was the gist of it. The candidate admitted it and was found to be a former (?)Republican himself.

Ahhh, yes. The “Green Party” candidate who wssn’t able to get on the ballot. I don’t mind third parties, in fact I rather like the idea. The major parties manipulating them for their own purposes, however, is another matter.

JohnSwifty @ 283

scarecrow @ 278

Chris Matthews explaining Bush as the guy who failed at business in the past and had to be bailed out by his Dad’s rich buddies, — and now, as President, we have the same thing — and Andrea Mitchell adds that this time, it’s not just an oil company, it’s the whole country that is the victim. That’s a powerful theme.

Yes it is. It truly is. Will it catch fire!

CM has become awfuly brave overnight hasn’t he – turned his coat as well.

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 271

Oklahoma kiddo @ 267

I would have to think that Hillary Clinton is one of the biggest pro-war Demos around. And we’re told she’s the front runner for the Democratic nomination for the presidency in 2008. I won’t even mention her support for the Lebanon fiasco or her (at least tacit) support for what goes on in the Gaza.

She is the most pro-war Dem around, except for HoJo.

If she is the nominee, I am voting Libertarian, or Green, or for Frank Zappa.

Zappa or Zeppo (Marx). I like ‘em both. And the have the creds.

scarecrow @ 278

Chris Matthews explaining Bush as the guy who failed at business in the past and had to be bailed out by his Dad’s rich buddies, — and now, as President, we have the same thing — and Andrea Mitchell adds that this time, it’s not just an oil company, it’s the whole country that is the victim. That’s a powerful theme.

They’ll use this line to say this: That’s why we need a real conservative administration next time – perhaps a Maverick like John Beavercheeks McCain.

JohnSwifty @ 284

scarecrow @ 278

Chris Matthews explaining Bush as the guy who failed at business in the past and had to be bailed out by his Dad’s rich buddies, — and now, as President, we have the same thing — and Andrea Mitchell adds that this time, it’s not just an oil company, it’s the whole country that is the victim. That’s a powerful theme.

Yes it is. It truly is. Will it catch fire!

Have Chris and Andrea finally landed in the reality-based community? Or are they just passing through?

I got a thank you letter from Dr. Victoria Wulsin on Monday thanking me for my generous $5 contribution and I don’t know why but I get a lump in my throat just thinking about it. It was obviously too late to contribute any more and she wasn’t asking for any more.

I don’t know how up to date this info is but according to http://news.enquirer.com/apps/…..1077/COL02
she still hasn’t conceded defeat. So I’m still holding out hope.

raven @ 250,

Thanks. I really do know that… when I haven’t had 3 celebratory flasks of sake. The guy I referred to is a good one. Who probably called air support for a bunch of my other friends… most of who came home…

new thread

rwcole @ 263

Theme on MSNBC’s website is that gettin his ass kicked will be the best thing that could ever have happened to Clusterfuck..

Back to invitin Kennedy over for movies and popcorn? That’s actually the role Clusterfuck is better at- he ain’t worth a shit as “The Decider”.

Hey, rwcole. Been busy so I missed you last few days. Are you feeling more optimistic about the Dem’s chances in the elections? ;)

jinny @ 286

CM has become awfuly brave overnight hasn’t he – turned his coat as well.

Ya gotta get outta the way, if you can’t lend a hand…I think tweety thinks his ‘hand’ amounts to pointing out obvious truths when he thinks it’s safe.

They saved my bacon more than once.

Thanks. I really do know that… when I haven’t had 3 celebratory flasks of sake. The guy I referred to is a good one. Who probably called air support for a bunch of my other friends… most of who came home…

Patrick 4/4 @ 283

JohnSwifty @ 282

scarecrow @ 278

Chris Matthews explaining Bush as the guy who failed at business in the past and had to be bailed out by his Dad’s rich buddies, — and now, as President, we have the same thing — and Andrea Mitchell adds that this time, it’s not just an oil company, it’s the whole country that is the victim. That’s a powerful theme.

Yes it is. It truly is. Will it catch fire!

Welcome MSM – 6 years too late.

Our President isn’t the only slow learner, apparently.

Marion in Savannah @
282

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 249

P.S. If the mods find me objectionable, they can ban me. But you’ll never find a more tireless worker for progressive causes…or someone who’s more willing to speak up against the bullshit and call a spade a spade. You just don’t like it because it’s your ox I’m goring.

I don’t know about anybody else, but I’ve always enjoyed hearing your take on things. Maybe some folks’ emotions are running a bit high today… Lordy knows, I know mine are!

Thanks, Marion. :-)

Olbermann says it is “almost certain” the Demos will take over the Senate.

And Rumsfeld compares himself to Churchill. Get reality. Don.

Chris Matthews explaining Bush …

Isn’t keeping people up all night and then all the next day, challenging their perceptions of reality, how deprogrammers work?

Matthews newfound font – would that be: “Wingdings Wisdom”

Oklahoma kiddo @
299

…Rumsfeld compares himself to Churchill. Get reality. Don.

OK, now i know whyy…it explains so much…Rheumy has Alzheimers. That’s all it can be.

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 260

No Rum today. Last night was a special occasion.

good answer

As I told someone who was wondering what difference a democratic majority would make, well, for one thing, there are some very capable and long serving congressmen who have been cooling their heels patiently for 14 years, waiting for this nonsense to wear off. I remember the frustration of John Conyers with the political hackery of the judicial committee during the Clinton hearings. This man takes oversight very seriously, as does Mr Henry Waxman. In short, these members and others intend to start doing their jobs.

And how sweet to have “snarlin” Arlen Specter out of chairmanship, with his phony rebellion against presidential excess, his unsworn witnesses, his stifling of any real inquiry by such as Russ Feingold. It’s almost worth it having Ho Jo around to make that possible.

john in sacramento @
180

montag @ 164

prostratedragon @ 131

Montag, I think the Zombies do not want divisions in Iraq.

[snip]

But keeping all of those bases from the original 2003 plan is so risky and expensive even compared to the oil that’s supposedly there, that it’s not likely to be worth that method of controlling it, and I think the Wolf people see it that way also.

They’ll be there for as long as they are able to keep them there, but, if the Iraqis obtain any independence, they’re gone. There’s no point in having a base among the Kurds unless you want to maintain military presence for the sake of oil and for future conquests.

As for the costs, the oil companies aren’t paying those costs, either in fair taxes or in blood. They’re getting that military protection for free. As long as the Bushies can keep the charade going, they will.

Ask yourself why Camp Bondsteel was built directly on the route of a pipeline proposed–by Halliburton–four years prior to the mess in Kosovo.

Ding! ding! ding!

The War Business
by Chalmers Johnson

OK, my point is precisely that I don’t think they ever wanted to, necessarily, sit in Iraq with an army. I think we actually agree on that. We have a lot of bases mouldering in places where multiple divisions have never set foot, as Chalmers Johnson’s journalism has pointed out, and part of the graft aspect of it is precisely that so little of it has to do with anything beyond half a notion, plus the opportunity to get the money and build it. If anything, this sorry adventure has shown much more of their hand than they wanted, and now they’re stuck with a certain portion of the consequences; to the extent that the new plan resembles the old one tactically, it’s because they have fewer choices now. But some are going to pay, starting with Rumsfeld.

Also, I think the costs are much more than money. For starters, this is probably the first real-time look that so many people the world over have had under the covers of their operations at the same time, and it’s partly because the thing is so damn big, as well as of course the nets. Think about how much more information you can get a hold of quickly now, and how rapidly that set converges on what someone in both Baghdad and Asuncion can get.

The obviously broken army is a cost, to them as well as us (what do you do when “the army you have” won’t be fixed for another decade?), as is the rapidly declining citizen tolerance for it. True, they are making some really ugly noises about absolute totalitarianism, which is one way to control the discourse and keep the army filling up without worrying about the consent of the governed—but since we’ve already seen the world that the Kims have denied to the North Koreans, I don’t think they can get there so cheaply, so using despotism to maintain the garrison imperial adventures would need is a big cost. Being seen for all the world as incompetent buffoons, as at present (don’t you wonder what the new American jokes are like?), is certainly a cost.

The go-heavy crowd is suddenly at least two generations out of date, maybe more. The Zombies (pay and play) crowd were a bit better adapted. Thing is, I think it’s going to prove too late for them as well, though it might take a few years to shake out. Meanwhile, watch out for those velvet gloves.

It might take a while for journalists who like to have their stories pre-chewed by crack teams of DC establishment PR flacks to catch on, but this “triumph of the centrists” meme is a Rahm Emanuel spittle-soaked fantasy. The country ran from conservatives like a bad case of crotch lice and no amount of PR spin can re-write that.

I love me some Jane Hamsher.

But next time tell us how you really feel :)

THANK YOU FDL!!!!!

jussumbody @ 256

OK, this is a bit off-thread, and I’ve also been banned as a concern troll by TRex for expressing my misgivings at the bloggers having that off-the-record lunch with Clinton. So it’s a gamble that this will even post. But since there is nowhere else I know of to come with my Lieberhate, I come here with this question:

Obviously, Lamont and the other decent folks Lieberman shit on will not be pursuing the illegal slush fund issue, lest they lose the Senate for the Dems. But what about the Republicans? Was that the plan all along? Get him in, get him kicked out, and get the Rupublican Governor of CT to appoint a Republican senator. Or blackmail him to do their bidding lest they bring the FEC and whomever else down on Mr. Sanctimony��(not that keeping Droopy Dawg in line will need such extreme measures to keep him in line).

Sure it’s tinfoilhatty, but 6 years ago I thought the idea that this country could be led into a quagmire of aggression on the say-so of a draft-dodging cokehead was tinfoilhatty. I’m not looking for agreement or to start a fight. I honestly want to know from someone with inside-the-beltway experience of politics “How likely is this scenario?”�

Okay. I’m gonna jump in here with a bunch of what you must understand is PURE SPECULATION.

But. Let’s say come January the new Congress is sworn in, and all of a sudden we have some power… as in subpoena power. All we need is for 2 or 3 Republican Senators to be indicted and it’s a whole NEW ball game. THEN we can go after “our own.” (Which is not to say I think Nomentum is ours, but if he does hold true to his word and caucus with the Dems… well, you know….) It may take 6 months, maybe a year. But I do believe that the new Congress will remember what he did, and sooner or later he will pay. Down here in Red State country I have learned patience… (I hate it, but I’ve learned it.) Does that in any way respond to your question?

Guitar_Playing_Bastard @ 301

Oklahoma kiddo @
299

…Rumsfeld compares himself to Churchill. Get reality. Don.

OK, now i know whyy…it explains so much…Rheumy has Alzheimers. That’s all it can be.

God, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone; but don’t you just get that kinda Reaganesque twighlight zone feel every time he opens his mouth. I hope they find a nice shady pasture to put him out to.

jussonbody – Not likely. Way to expensive. I do hope the Feds investigate the missing petty though.

Mary4’s favorite part of Bushies presser on Olbermann now.

jinny @
207

Robert Gates

Seems to me to be rather interesting that Texas Monthly’s November issue features Gates on the cover and a lenthly article inside.

Obviously it is not coincidental that Robert Gates’ name come up today as a replacement for Rumsfeld. Do you suppose that prior to the election W was given an either/or order by Daddy Bush and James Baker?

http://www.texasmonthly.com/2006-11-01/feature.php

Yes. I think he was given, and tried to defy it, and we are now going to see “or” played out. I do so wish the upper class would settle their business in private and leave us out of it.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 24

Patrick at 15 — ba dum bum…no, but a wingnutty looking geezer reading the latest O’Reilly “book” sitting near me did a double take when I said “First, let me say congratulations, Madame Speaker…” and then went on with my point. *g* That was, admittedly, fun.

707!!!

Oklahoma kiddo @
299

Olbermann says it is “almost certain” the Demos will take over the Senate.

And Rumsfeld compares himself to Churchill. Get reality. Don.

Well, see, WE’RE the people stuck in a “reality based” world… Them? They don’t need no stinkin’ reality…

Hey Red State, How’d That Work Out For You?

[Mod Note; that means new thread, folks.]

GSD @ 263

Waxman is one of the most dedicated and honest people ever to serve this nation.

Now we get to see some of the Democratic servants doing their thing….

That means dingleberries like James Inhofe in Oklahoma can take some time off to find out if any family member has ever engaged in any gay sex.

-GSD

In keeping with the general trend, I simply have to say that that’s an affront to dingleberries….

sofistic @
18

You know, I’m really getting weary of this blue dem denial thing. How come they don’t get that we are heading in a progressive direction that is anything but centrist. And the society is heading that way for the long term.

Heading in a progressive direction that is anything but centrist?

You don’t get out much past Vermont, do you? Call me when most of the country gets close to -1000 on the conservative (negative) to liberal (positive) number line…until then, I’m still sleeping, ’cause there’s far too much conservatism in this country for me.

It’d be better for all of us to stop thinking that the conservative impulse in America somehow changed over the course of this election cycle, culminating with last night’s drubbing of the Team Red. Conservatism is alive and well — it was only Republican management of the conservative agenda that was rejected. All the values voters, libertarians, and fundamentalist Christians didn’t go away, and they aren’t going to. We should really drop this silly rhetoric of division. Calling people “spittle-soaked” and “crotch lice” doesn’t even feel that great, not really. This isn’t personal. I’m from Philadelphia but I live in Whatcom County, Washington. There are more churches here than you can shake a crucifix at. And guess what, they’re mostly just like us. In fact, they are us — Americans! So get over the gloating and the trash talk, and start trying to figure out how we’re going to find enough common ground with these people to keep them voting with us. And if that changes the Democratic party… Well, the sun will still rise, and hopefully it’ll rise on a happier and healthier United States of America.

Marion in Savannah @ 306

jussumbody @ 256
“How likely is this scenario?”�

Okay. I’m gonna jump in here with a bunch of what you must understand is PURE SPECULATION.

But. Let’s say come January the new Congress is sworn in, and all of a sudden we have some power… as in subpoena power. All we need is for 2 or 3 Republican Senators to be indicted and it’s a whole NEW ball game. THEN we can go after “our own.” (Which is not to say I think Nomentum is ours, but if he does hold true to his word and caucus with the Dems… well, you know….) It may take 6 months, maybe a year. But I do believe that the new Congress will remember what he did, and sooner or later he will pay. Down here in Red State country I have learned patience… (I hate it, but I’ve learned it.) Does that in any way respond to your question?

No, it didn’t answer my question. But thanks for raising the point about the indictment sword cutting both ways. I forget that Dems can play that game too (at least in theorey they could). It’s been so long that we’ve been out of power, my basic assumptions about reality need some time to adjust.

As for living in red states, I live deep in the heart of Texas, and it has not made me one bit more patient. I’m told payback is a bitch, and I pray to the Flying Spaghetti Monster that her name is Pelosi.

Jane, my sweet Jane. I have always admired you from afar. I have never professed my love for you in writing, restricting myself to humbly reading your wit and wisdom, well…wit, daily without commenting, but after tonight, I have to say your finesse in employing the phrase “crotch lice” was like a cupid cannon through my heart. I can remain silent no longer. Marry me Jane.

Best immediate analysis of election I have heard today was on CSPAN online – an AARP panel of polling experts. The Dem pollster said the words for the newly elected Dems were PROGRESSIVE, PRAGMATIC, AUTHENTIC. + CHANGE AGENTS. Sounds good to me.

Also some interesting stuff about changing party constituencies – Dems getting singles, young voters, and Latinos in this round.

We need to start by verbally negating the repetition that Americans are conservative. We are NOT. That conservatism is NOT the ideal. We also need to ignore any rantings made by Emanuel and Schumer. They are simply nuts. We need to thank Howard Dean. And we need not suffer fools gladly. (Definition of ‘fools’ — Hillary Clinton, Joe Lieberman!)