J A N E !!!

I’m watching The Today Show where someone is on trying to illegalize spanking… Talk about the nanny state… Does this count as morning idiocy?

Bush needs a congressional spanking.

Good morning, all!

Mr. Marks is out of town this weekend visiting his brother. I swore to myself to use the time to purge the closets. Instead, I’ve been watching chick flicks and cruisin’ the toobz.

I thought I read somewhere yesterday that Richardson is on the verge of declaring himself in the race. Do you suppose he’ll do it on This Week?

mrsmarks – I think he may have announced his exploratory cmte. on Friday

…here’s the link, says he plans to announce today: Gov. Bill Richardson plans to take first step toward White House run

Thanks!

. . .don’t hate me ’cause I’m zediful ;)

Mornin Christy and Firedogs,

TIVO Alert – Mike Snark will be on Reliable Sources 10 est – per the comments downstairs – he’s supposed to go mano a zero w/ Dan Riehl

tweety (msnbc), jon meacham (newsweek), Carter’s press sec Jody Powell and others live on CSPAN now -The Carter Presidency: The Press and the Presidency

…Judy Woodruff also on CSPAN

is kennedy going to be able to see what mccain said and respond?

man, that would be great…kennedy is amazing

could someone tell me what his story is concerning chapaquidic?…all I hear are the wing nuts version

Dirge for a ‘Surge’

In the latest NEWSWEEK poll Bush’s approval rating remains at its all-time low as his plan to increase the number of U.S. troops in Iraq is met with widespread disapproval. Looking to ’08, declared candidate Hillary Clinton is in a statistical dead heat with other potential nominees.

Jan. 17-18, 2007. Conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International.

I just noticed in Pach’s Late Nite post on Love that the phrase ‘human error’ can be condensed into the word ‘humor’ – sometimes…

mrsmarks @ 4

Good morning, all!

Mr. Marks is out of town this weekend visiting his brother. I swore to myself to use the time to purge the closets. Instead, I’ve been watching chick flicks and cruisin’ the toobz.

Electric drill ould only go backward yesterday, so there were lots of things I couldn’t fix. So I ended up in the family pile watching Love Actually. I think Pach was channeling our vibes.

Today, there’s church and Monsterboy’s godson’s first birthday party. (Monsterboy loves having a godson.)

Later, I am going to track down economists interested in Exxon’s astroturf. Yummy.

g’ morning, all… coffee?

perris @ 11

is kennedy going to be able to see what mccain said and respond?

man, that would be great…kennedy is amazing

could someone tell me what his story is concerning chapaquidic?…all I hear are the wing nuts version

The most charitable thing that can be said is that he didn’t cover himself with glory…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T…..k_incident

Here in my city in Japan I pass a large pond on my way to work every morning where several snowy egrets and a couple of blue herons reside (a few domestic ducks, some koi and summer frogs complete the scene).

Clinton Enters ’08 Field, Fueling Race for Money

George Soros, the billionaire New York philanthropist, has made maximum donations in the past to both candidates, for instance, and last week he faced a choice: support Mr. Obama, who created his committee on Tuesday, or stay neutral and see what Mrs. Clinton and others had to say. In this case, Mr. Obama won.

Mr. Soros sent the maximum contribution, $2,100, to Mr. Obama, the first-term senator from Illinois, just hours after he declared his plans to run.

“Soros believes that Senator Obama brings a new energy to the political system and has the potential to be a transformational leader,” said Michael Vachon, a spokesman for Mr. Soros.

-via RawStory

Iran plans to conduct missile war games

…”The elite Revolutionary Guards plans to begin a three-day missile maneuver on Sunday near Garmsar city,” said the broadcast. The city is located in northern Iran on the edge of Kavir desert, about 60 miles southeast of Tehran.

“Zalzal and Fajr-5 missiles will be test fired in the war game,” the television quoted an unnamed commander of the guards, as saying. Both are considered short-range missiles…

Same stiffs…different day.

CNN says Richardson has video up on his website announcing his intentions and exploratory committee.

Hi everyone! I think this is the first time in a long time that those of us who only get CNN International have something to look forward to…. Patrick Leahy and Maxine Waters!

I haven’t had a chance yet to add my voice to the thousands of well-wishers for Jane. I’m convinced that the massive waves and winds we experienced here in Europe a couple of days ago were just full of the energy from all our positive vibes going out to you. :)

Boy if we wanted to start some controversy we could get into the spanking debate. I personally think we legislate the sale of sex as if it’s the worst thing in the world (and yet we all must grow to learn how to balance it’s power someday), but violence?? It seems this country has a huge denial about the damage of violence, it’s long term affects and even the effects of spanking.

As a therapist I can attest to the fact that some kids are spanked and turn out “fine”. (Of course we have no idea whether or not they grow or become their potential). However, there are many children who’s genetic makeup is greatly damaged by violence (and spankings are violence–it’s power and control..it’s the same thing you are not allowed to do to your wife or neighbor AND to top it off it’s not a fair “fight”.)

There are literally stacks of studies both longitudinal and short term that say that spanking your kid may or may not be damaging depending on the constitution of the kid. But we all know that one spanking given by a certain parent might be completely not traumatic but if it comes with verbal abuse, even one spanking is more about a parent’s inabilty to regulate emotions. And that’s the rub. Some parents spank because they are at the “end of their rope” which is the worst time to deliver discipline.

I have used time outs with 4 children. People continually tell me what “well behaved” children I have. I also refrain from yelling or saying anthing that will hurt my kids. I want my kids to behave because they see the value in the behavior and if they are not yet old enough to “understand” the value of the lesson, then I protect them from making a mistake that they cannot clearly understand. (ie…”don’t go in the street”…”stay in the back yard and not outside by the street without mom and dad.)

I think this is the beginning of the discussion about war. Until we realize that using power and control…making the choice to invalidate another human beings rights…because we want them to change their behavior…in my opinion is paradigm dilemma. In human behavior terms we still think the world is flat. It’s as if we do not know or realize that there is a whole other way of interacting that is mutually satisfying, but without violence or power and control.

Living with an alcoholic spouse has taught me alot of my interpretations of his behavior. It has taught me the same in my interpretations of my childrens behavior. I have found that I can protect myself from the behavior of others by simply changing my own.

But as an oldest child before recovery, I certainly would yell at my husband and occasionally the kids when they wouldn’t do what I wanted and had deemed they “should”.

Peace will require the ability to see that giving up the use of power and control does not mean giving up rights or letting people walk on you. It is a frame of mind.

And I think Einstein was on the mark (as he was known to be) when he made the observation that a peaceful frame of mind cannot coexist with the warring mind.

Peace…no judgments…I’ve lost my temper and spanked my kids once or twice because “I lost it”. It was my goal not to spank with my first two kids but I didn’t meet it perfectly. With my second two…they have not been spanked by either my husband or I. They are grateful for this and tell me so. I have really well behaved loving children.

My oldest sons once remarked that they wished I would just get it over with and “hit them”, because when they were teens I used to make them do a “chain analyisis” of their behavior (what started it, what thoughts led and feelings might have contributed, what would have worked better and a prevention plan). Then they could get out of their grounding.

I was consistent to a fault…and my consquences were always tolerable…not meant for misery but for lesson. Some parents control and some parents teach. Research says that “teaching” is more effective with less chance of negative consequences.

I think that some cultures have been treated with power and control, so thoroughly invalidated that they choose power and control for discipline and then they have children who are greatly troubled. But they don’t understand that they have internalized this power and control paradigm from the abuse that they and their ancestors have suffered. It’s a paradigm, a way of thinking. Not a necessity for raising good kids. I personally think the only way spanking should be legal is if you first pass a test for emotion regulation, and parenting. Then maybe you can have a license to spank…but I just don’t think people should have the “right” to use violence on their loved ones…for any reason.

Okay..thanks I got that off my chest.

Darts!

The WSJ editorial board are sleazzze bags…
Fucking distorted writing again…

“We don’t know whether this long personal history played any role either in Mr. Fitzgerald’s single-mided pursuit of Mr. Libby
or in Mr. Comey’s decision to grant the prosecutor plenary power even though the central mystery of the case had already been resolved.”

Then they go in and rip apart the integrity
of Fitzy…

Sham on the capitalist tools

Jack

perris -

My friend from a few years back is one of the top debunkers of Warren Commission.

His version is that at the very least, Nixon was afraid of a Teddy run in ‘72, and MaryJo was blackmail insurance.

My sense is that it just so happens that Ted was proabably so devestated by things, he went on a bender of sorts, and the crash resulted.

Cue Dealy Plaza lament:
“We’ll never know.”

FYI – Newt says that the ’system’ has been broken since 1984, he has been watching it and he knows how to fix it… vote for Newt.

CBS gets a pass, Fox flunks in weekend interviews of officials
By Al Neuharth

Last Sunday’s TV talk shows gave us sharply contrasting examples of interviewers and interviewees. Winners and losers:

http://www.newarkadvocate.com/…..14/OPINION

I have been wondering what the boy wonder has been up to.

Still Busy—But Staying Out of the Spotlight

Jan. 29, 2007 issue – Don’t write Karl Rove’s political obituary just yet.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16…../newsweek/

katie Jensen @ 23

Boy if we wanted to start some controversy we could get into the spanking debate.

My first question would be how on earth can this be enforced? The (lame) example that was given was something to the effect that one spouse (presumably the wife) would say to the spouse who is currently whaling away on the child “That form of punishment is illegal.” Yeah. That’ll work…

I was raised with periodic swats on the fanny when I was truly in need of one (about to do something dangerous, or having gotten into the same mischief for about the third time in a row) and it didn’t seem to warp my delicate psyche.

HOWEVER, we need to draw some sort of line between the “You’ll hurt yourself if you touch the stove” swat and striking a child when angry. When I had driven my mother to distraction instead of spanking me she would send me to my room. (Hardly a punishment — said room was full of books…) This served to get me out of her hair until she could calm down. (I spent a LOT of time in my room!)

I just don’t think this is something that can be handled legislatively with any hope of either a) a rational piece of legislation, or b) a way to enforce said legislation.

Now my chest feels lighter too!

spanking -

5 Kids – 3 Boys, 2 Girls, 3 w/ their own distinct take on ADHD – this simple book worked for all 5

on a particularly frustrating day as a mom, a windstorm blew this around and it literally fell out of the sky – innumerable prayers of parental gratitude have since followed :)

Positive Discipline

http://www.amazon.com/Positive…..0345402510

twolf1 @ 26

FYI – Newt says that the ’system’ has been broken since 1984, he has been watching it and he knows how to fix it… vote for Newt.

Isn’t that when Newtie himself threw the spanner into the works? Well, he oughta know HOW it got broken…

Hillary. On Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian ‘question’ and the Mideast in general:

Our very own Demo neo-con?

twolf1 @ 26

FYI – Newt says that the ’system’ has been broken since 1984, he has been watching it and he knows how to fix it… vote for Newt.

oh, that funny!

McCain on MTP [paraphrased] — It took us four years to get in this mess [in Iraq]

Reality: No, Senator, we got in the mess almost immediately, we’ve just been drowning in neocon egos for the last four years.

Bring our troops home whole and alive.

Looking outside seeing a layer of snow on the ground reminds me of a classic Straight Dope column:

What are the nine Eskimo words for snow?

I’ve got a lot more than nine words for snow, and I don’t even need to resort to Eskimo. This is because I have a powerful descriptive vocabulary.
…
When completed, this sentence will proclaim: “Look at all this f***king snow.” At present it means: “Observe the snow. It fornicates.” This is not poetic, but it is serviceable, and I intend to employ it at the next opportunity. Anyone who feels it would alleviate his or her tension is invited to do likewise. Should it be felt that this is too burdensome a load of verbiage to be hauling around all the time, one may avail oneself of the timeless Eskimo interjection anaq, shit. This is appropriate to a wide variety of situations.

The Tragic Death of an Activist’s Daughter
by Donald Macintyre in Anata, West Bank

http://www.commondreams.org/he…..120-01.htm

Opposition to Iraq War Simmers in America’s Heartland
by Steven Thomma

TOPEKA, Kan. – President Bush is losing the heartland.

Conservative Kansas – home to the Army’s Fort Riley, the U.S. Cavalry Museum, Republican icons Dwight Eisenhower and Bob Dole, and the place that gave Bush back to back landslide majorities – is turning against the Iraq war.

I must point out that Hillary is as narcissistic as our president when it comes to admitting her own capacity for error. Also, she is OWNED by her big money supporters and campaign contributors. The rest, as the man said, is silence.

Iraq, Iran, Palestine.

completely o/t, but . . .

good gawd I love the toobz
just found this diary over at Kos – chock-a-block w/ links to public domain images

thought it might prove handy for Christy and all the other bloggers here

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/20/15451/6564

message for Hillary, et. al., courtesy of Frank Rich:

Our failure to check the administration when it rushed into Iraq in 2003 will look even more shameful to history if we roll over again for a reboot in 2007. For all the belated Washington scrutiny of the war since the election, and for all the heralded (if so far symbolic) Congressional efforts to challenge it, too much lip service is still being paid to the deceptive P.R. strategies used by the administration to sell its reckless policies. This time we must do what too few did the first time: call the White House on its lies. Lies should not be confused with euphemisms like “incompetence” and “denial.”

Glorfindel @ 38

I must point out that Hillary is as narcissistic as our president when it comes to admitting her own capacity for error. Also, she is OWNED by her big money supporters and campaign contributors. The rest, as the man said, is silence.

Hillary is a wholly owned subsidiary of the DLC, where she is chair of something or or other. ;)

We could have Hillary… or… Gore, Clark, Edwards, Kucinich, Pelosi, Feingold, Murtha, and am I missing anyone?

Richardson, Vilsack…

At least 19 U.S. troops killed in Iraq
Most perish in a copter crash. U.S. asserts cause is unknown; a witness says craft was downed.

BAGHDAD — At least 19 U.S. troops were killed in a helicopter crash and insurgent attacks across Iraq on Saturday in the deadliest day for the American military here in nearly two years. From LA Times this am.

I support the troops! I want them home. Now. Hillary.

Prairie Sunshine @ 44

Richardson, Vilsack…

;)

Dean, Feingold…

From Late Night’s discussion of Love:

A.Political @ 64

my lord, this blog has degenerated in to a personal pulpit to espouse what my dog did today…honestly I am concerned and my thoughts go out to Jane, but when I first strted reading this blog it was relevant and had impact, now it’s just a bunch of personal diatribes with a smattering of posts with impact, let’s get back to the roots, less snide humour and merely being an outlet for personal blog style wrtitings…

I’m not exactly sure what “wrtitings” are, but I think that A.Political does have a point. (smirk) Even here in the comments, all that appears are “personal blog style wrtitings” on non “relevant” subjects, such as:

twolf1 @ 6

…here’s the link, says he plans to announce today: Gov. Bill Richardson plans to take first step toward White House run

twolf1 @ 9

tweety (msnbc), jon meacham (newsweek), Carter’s press sec Jody Powell and others live on CSPAN now -The Carter Presidency: The Press and the Presidency

Oklahoma kiddo @ 28

I have been wondering what the boy wonder has been up to.

Still Busy—But Staying Out of the Spotlight

Jan. 29, 2007 issue – Don’t write Karl Rove’s political obituary just yet.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16…../newsweek/

and, just starting, a fascinating discussion of the ethics and efficacy of spanking!!

Good “wrtitings,” folks! Even if “A.Political” doesn’t get it.

By the way, Pach aced an answer with this:

Pachacutec @ 65

I agree. Just look at all this irrelevant fluff from today:

# The Battle For Sadr City
# Waxman Invites Bremer to Appear Before Congress
# Waiting Room — Saturday Edition
# Smearing Justice and the Rule of Law
# Blue America: Who Opposes Escalation, And Who Doesn’t?
# Waiting . . .
# Pull Up A Chair…

All of which brings me to say: Hey — Christy (and Jane and Pach and TRex and Steve Gilliard and Scarecrow and Matt and Howie and Peterr and Cliff and emptywheel and Donita and, and, and that’s just the headliners for the last two days — and all you fellow firepup commenters — keep on what you’re doing with the delectable mix of analysis, humor, snark, and passion.

I can, and do, go to DailyKos for unfettered politics and even to the WaPo and NYT for some original reporting (keeping my salt shaker close at hand), but FireDogLake has become such a way of life. All of you, don’t stop doin’ what you’re doin’. Doin’ stuff like this:

Renee in Ohio @ 35

Looking outside seeing a layer of snow on the ground reminds me of a classic Straight Dope column:

What are the nine Eskimo words for snow?

OT: Great skiing yesterday in the mountains. Wrtiting this from a motel, and heading up another mountain today.

Katie at #23–excellent commentary. I keep wanting to write more about that, as the mother of a gifted, special needs son (Asperger’s). I really see how that whole mentality of “seeing the world as flat” in behavior terms can wreak havoc. And it’s all interconnected. But I’m often too busy living it to have time to write about it well.

Oops, you said Feingold.

Can someone explain to me why we must continue to endure having Newt Gingrich foisted upon us ad nauseum? Have we not suffered enough?

Hearts & flowers to Jane. And chocolate to Christy.

EDITORIAL
Bush’s fourth quarter
As the president prepares for the State of the Union, the biggest issue facing the U.S. is his own credibility.
January 21, 2007

ON THE EVE of his seventh State of the Union address, President Bush’s Texas swagger is muted. Not long ago, Bush famously called himself “the decider,” but the drubbing he took in November’s elections has reduced him to being “educator in chief,” as he referred to himself on “60 Minutes” a week ago.

http://www.latimes.com/news/op…..n-leftrail

Oklahoma kiddo @ 42

Hillary is a wholly owned subsidiary of the DLC, where she is chair of something or or other. ;)

I think they gave her a throne.

A Dean 08 bumper sticker hubby did a while ago. Inspired by the fact that people sometimes said he had, “somethings” of steel.

Newt’s Contract for America: incomplete after 12 years.

Pelosi’s 100-hr agenda: completed in 87 hrs, accomplishing more things than Newt did, without screwing over any wives.

Hey OK…

Obama.

Prairie Sunshine @ 57

Hey OK…

Obama.

Well yes. At this point, for this voter, the jury is still out on Obama. I think the Senator is one of the few who voted against going into Iraq. And for that I have a huge amount of respect for him. I just wish Obama could be a little more partisan. But he may yet prove to be an excellent prez. ;) ;) ;)

It took McCain 2 seconds to cite Lieberman.

I’m completely convinced that reading too many blogs contributed to my first violent head cold in over 10 years. Just imagine what watching the fascists on parade will do to your body on a cellular level.

Go ahead and laugh. :-) THAT, at least, is indisputably therapeutic.

raven @ 59

It took McCain 2 seconds to cite Lieberman.

Did they, ahem…, kiss?

Newtie is so… fu’ed up. What a major hypocrite.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 58

Prairie Sunshine @ 57

Hey OK…

Obama.

Well yes. At this point, for this voter, the jury is still out on Obama. I think the Senator is one of the few who voted against going into Iraq. And for that I have a huge amount of respect for him. I just wish Obama could be a little more partisan. But he may yet prove to be an excellent prez. ;) ;) ;)

he wasn’t in the Senate when they voted on Iraq, but he did give a speech in Ill. against the idea.

this is why/how he will wallop Hillary in the primary process.

McCain has concerns about Gates, “I am very skeptical about him” – leaning towards a ‘no’ vote.

lina @ 63

Oklahoma kiddo @ 58

Prairie Sunshine @ 57

Hey OK…

Obama.

Well yes. At this point, for this voter, the jury is still out on Obama. I think the Senator is one of the few who voted against going into Iraq. And for that I have a huge amount of respect for him. I just wish Obama could be a little more partisan. But he may yet prove to be an excellent prez. ;) ;) ;)

he wasn’t in the Senate when they voted on Iraq, but he did give a speech in Ill. against the idea.

this is why/how he will wallop Hillary in the primary process.

I dearly hope so! ;)

Why am I still seeing David Brooks vapid baby face on the Teevee? Does he have ANY credibility left? (oh, I guess credibility is irrelevant. see: Newt)

What I’m reading this morning: front page story about kids reacting to their daddies’ tour in Iraq being extended. [Saw a local tv report this week on a 48-yr-old National Guard lt. col. who’s likely to be sent for the purge-our-honor desperation surge and his tearful wife.]

When I just once see a Bush or a Chee-knee or a Russert or any of their ilk facing the real costs of this debacle war in Iraq, maybe….nah.

Viewing notice: CNN’s broadcasting a Christiane Amanpour investigative report on the extremists in Britain. Tonight at 7. GWOT is a p.r. gimmick phrase to legitimize Bush’s taking dictatorial powers [Still seething over Red Skull’s smirk as he talked about Bush’s CinC powers because of GWOT on Hardball Fri evening.]

But the danger from extremism is real, and here’s an opportunity to educate ourselves about one segment of it. One would hope CNN will also report on extremism’s faces here in the USA.

One would even more hope that next Sunday’s Reliable Sources talks about the watershed moment when people started calling BushCo’s lies the lies they are.

Missing JH….

Glorfindel @ 66

Why am I still seeing David Brooks vapid baby face on the Teevee? Does he have ANY credibility left? (oh, I guess credibility is irrelevant. see: Newt)

What Mr. Brooks lacks in credibility, he more than makes up for in arrogance.

Just finished watching the Brit Hume hour on Faux News (I decided my blood pressure could take it), and was reminded of this post from the always-insightful Glen Greenwald:

“Most serious people now concede we need more troops.” Fathom the sheer quantity of self-delusion and rank disregard for the most basic constraints of truth-telling in order to make such a claim (and just incidentally, the use of term “serious” to mean “those who agree with my war views” has become one of the most potent indicators of mindlessness).

Both Newt and Brit referred to their own opinions as “serious”, implying that anyone who disagrees is an unserious dilettante.

It might be interesting to keep this in mind when watching the reactionaries at work.

McCain says voting to cut Iraq funding is basically a vote of no confidence directed at the troops.

McCain says cutting the funding is a vote of “no-confidence” in the troops. . .not the mission. Insane.

McCain – when we left Nam, the Vietnamese didn’t want to follow us. I am convinced that if we leave iraq, al Qaeda will follow us home.

MayDaze @ 70

Both Newt and Brit referred to their own opinions as “serious”, implying that anyone who disagrees is an unserious dilettante.

yes, Newt & Brit sure are serious:
Seriously sociopathic
Seriously disingenuous
Seriously corrupt
Seriously mendacious
Seriously dangerous
Seriously ludicrous
…etc.

From Senator Clinton:

‘Only a new Prez can undo W’s mistakes’

Today I am announcing that I will form an exploratory committee to run for President.

And I want you to join me not just for the campaign but for a conversation about the future of our country – about the bold but practical changes we need to overcome six years of Bush administration failures.

I am going to take this conversation directly to the people of America, and I’m starting by inviting all of you to join me in a series of Web chats over the next few days.

As a senator, I will spend two years doing everything in my power to limit the damage George W. Bush can do. But only a new President will be able to undo Bush’s mistakes and restore our hope and optimism.

Only a new President can renew the promise of America – the idea that if you work hard you can count on the health care, education and retirement security that you need to raise your family. These are the basic values of America that are under attack from this administration every day.

http://www.nydailynews.com/fro…..3192c.html

But, but… Hillary. What about Iraq, Iran and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict?

When was the last time he was in Orange County? Choi Duck!
twolf1 @ 73

McCain – when we left Nam, the Vietnamese didn’t want to follow us. I am convinced that if we leave iraq, al Qaeda will follow us home.

who did al qaeda follow on 9/11?

McCain is clueless in Arizona and DC.

David Brooks gushes about Irving the Scooter Libbey’s marvelous character on Tweety’s show. The jury, he’s sure, will agree. And Brooks is ALWAYS RIGHT, as has been shown numerous times over the past six years.

Kennedy up on Press the Meat

Raven @ 76:

Does that mean we’ll get lots of Al Qaeda restaurants, to go with the Vietnamese and other ethnic restaurants? (I’ll see your Orange County, and raise you San Gabriel Valley!)

Senator C. just doesn’t seem to get it. With the prospect for regional war in the Middle East and possibly worse, foreign policy is THE name of the game. Talk about being behind the curve.

They say great minds run in similar channels:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…..15219/0788

Hmmm…I wonder if you can impeach Rove based on his violation of the SF312, whether the President wants the SF312 enforced or not.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 82

Senator C. just doesn’t seem to get it. With the prospect for regional war in the Middle East and possibly worse, foreign policy is THE name of the game. Talk about being behind the curve.

Yes, well see, she just doesn’t do curves. She does triangles.

McCain, please stop lying.

Russert Potatohead, please tell McCain that Joe Lieberman lied about wanting to stop the war.

-GSD

Senator McCain’s nose is growing. Which makes it difficult for his alliance with Lieberman, since they are joined at the lip.

I don’t have time to read the comments right now, so I apologize if this has been covered or answered:

I don’t understand what Christy means to say about the lineup of guests — it doesn’t seem too bad. Maxine Waters, Ted Kennedy, Chuck Hagel, Pat Leahy.

I’ll get on later and read what people say. This really confused me.

How did Al Qaeda find the US before we had troops in Iraq?

-GSD

I fold, you can have the whole damn state!

P J Evans @
81

Raven @ 76:

Does that mean we’ll get lots of Al Qaeda restaurants, to go with the Vietnamese and other ethnic restaurants? (I’ll see your Orange County, and raise you San Gabriel Valley!)

McCain believes we can succeed in Iraq. He believes if we draw down troops it will be a complete disaster for US!!!! He believes it! HE BELIEVES IT, CAN’T YOU UNDERSTAND!!!

John McCain:

“George W. Bush is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I’ve ever known in my life.”

-GSD

What the hell is haning off Teddy’s ear??

Glorfindel @ 38

I must point out that Hillary is as narcissistic as our president when it comes to admitting her own capacity for error. Also, she is OWNED by her big money supporters and campaign contributors. The rest, as the man said, is silence.

Yup. Right now, I have no need to contemplate Senator Clinton’s campaign–I have John Edwards already speaking a much more intelligible language. I’m keeping my mind open, but not so open that Hillary is going to find purchase.

Kevin Hayden @ 56

Newt’s Contract for America: incomplete after 12 years.

Pelosi’s 100-hr agenda: completed in 87 hrs, accomplishing more things than Newt did, without screwing over any wives.

Or screwing any mistresses. :-)

GSD @ 91

John McCain:

“George W. Bush is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I’ve ever known in my life.”

-GSD

What a suckup!

Spocko being covered on CNN now… Mike Stark is on…

They killed her on SNL last night!

EvilDrPuma @
93

Glorfindel @ 38

I must point out that Hillary is as narcissistic as our president when it comes to admitting her own capacity for error. Also, she is OWNED by her big money supporters and campaign contributors. The rest, as the man said, is silence.

Yup. Right now, I have no need to contemplate Senator Clinton’s campaign–I have John Edwards already speaking a much more intelligible language. I’m keeping my mind open, but not so open that Hillary is going to find purchase.

EvilDrPuma @
93

Glorfindel @ 38

I must point out that Hillary is as narcissistic as our president when it comes to admitting her own capacity for error. Also, she is OWNED by her big money supporters and campaign contributors. The rest, as the man said, is silence.

Yup. Right now, I have no need to contemplate Senator Clinton’s campaign–I have John Edwards already speaking a much more intelligible language. I’m keeping my mind open, but not so open that Hillary is going to find purchase.

twolf1 @ 77

who did al qaeda follow on 9/11?

Some kind named Able Danger?

btw, McCain looks like a whupped pup. His voice is so low I could barely hear him. Was that Casey, not Gates?

another btw, I swear I heard Matthews lead into Hardball one night with a phrase about D candidates and ‘they all want to be the first preznit elected in the 21st century. I figure it was a slip, but interesting.

McCain’s logic: Tautology 101 (emphasis on circularity)

BAGHDAD, Iraq – The gunmen who killed five U.S. troops in the Shiite holy city of Karbala wore military uniforms and used vehicles commonly driven by foreign dignitaries — an apparent attempt to impersonate Americans, Iraqi officials said Sunday.
ADVERTISEMENT

The local governor said the gunmen stormed into the provincial headquarters building during a U.S.-Iraqi meeting to discuss security measures ahead of the Shiite Ashoura festival

EvilDrPuma @ 93

Glorfindel @ 38

I must point out that Hillary is as narcissistic as our president when it comes to admitting her own capacity for error. Also, she is OWNED by her big money supporters and campaign contributors. The rest, as the man said, is silence.

Yup. Right now, I have no need to contemplate Senator Clinton’s campaign–I have John Edwards already speaking a much more intelligible language. I’m keeping my mind open, but not so open that Hillary is going to find purchase.

That’s where I am too, but I think HRC and all should get credit for positive work when it happens. Its really too early with too many disasters possible before we might have an election.

Stark is doing a fine job – they’ve got some dismissive idiot on with him and Kurtz is calling it a “free speech issue”… nitwit!

Now, Riel is attacking Mike.

Mike did good – he really hung in there…

By the by, the very notion of Faux News doing an Art Buchwald retrospective makes my soul bleed. I can’t imagine this being pretty.

I call bullshit on McCain.
(Ok, I’ve called bullshit on him for more than a decade… but here’s my latest example).

On MTP, he says that the Congress cannot stop Bush from sending more troops. He says that if they vote for this resolution (to keep more troops from being sent), it is a vote of no confidence for the SOLDIERS, telling our military that we don’t believe in them.

Um, isn’t it a vote of no confidence for the PRESIDENT and his CONTINUALLY FAILING policy? My God, he is simply doing the exact same thing he’s been doing (sending about 150,000 troops into a civil war), except he’s escalating the danger to them, because:

1. Other “allies” in this war have been methodically pulling their troops out, and have said they will pull more, if not all out in the coming months. This means our new people are simply replacing Brits and others who are leaving. It doesn’t increase the number of boots on the ground in this war we have lost.

2. He wants our people to go door-to-door in Baghdad.

How in the hell is opposing this suicidal strategy “a vote of no confidence for the soldiers”? That is nuts. It is simply a clearcut, “NO, Mister President. We will not allow you to send more of our American troops into one of the most highly dangerous situations (with no clear mission to accomplish) in the history of our nation. We will not let you continue this foolish policy at American’s personal expense.

Ah – Russert just said what I was thinking. McCain dances around it. Has he actually answered directly one of Russert’s questions today?

Some people say that John McCain is a power mongering, conniving, amoral cheesehole.

-GSD

cbl @
40

diary over at Kos – chock-a-block w/ links to public domain images
thought it might prove handy for Christy and all the other bloggers here
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/20/15451/6564

Those are terrific links for any blogger.

Another catagory of sources is also important to remember:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/usc…..-000-.html

The U.S. Gov’t cannot obtain copyright protection on anything it creates that might otherwise be copyrightable.

This is especially important for political blogs that link & lift material from pages with domains such as http://www.whitehouse.gov (not to be confused with http://www.whitehouse.org) or http://www.congress.gov, etc.

While the government may use, under the same terms as anyone else, work that has copyright protections, anything the government itself does — i.e. anything any government employee does within the scope of their government employment, is a public domain product.

slainte,
cl

libby trial on CNN

raven @ 100

BAGHDAD, Iraq – The gunmen who killed five U.S. troops in the Shiite holy city of Karbala wore military uniforms and used vehicles commonly driven by foreign dignitaries — an apparent attempt to impersonate Americans, Iraqi officials said Sunday.
ADVERTISEMENT

The local governor said the gunmen stormed into the provincial headquarters building during a U.S.-Iraqi meeting to discuss security measures ahead of the Shiite Ashoura festival

The drumbeat is getting louder as the neo-cons get closer to the Iranian false flag event.

GSD @ 107

Some people say that John McCain is a power mongering, conniving, amoral cheesehole.

…And then there’s the Power-Mongering Conniving Amoral Cheesehole Party, which calls him a leader.

OT:

This long article is awesome; it’s a movie waiting to happen.

I may not get time to write about it, but I want to recommend it as highly as I possibly can.

…also on CNN’s Late Edition this AM, the previously recorded Blitzer interview with Carter and Mondale.

twolf1 @ 113

…also on CNN’s Late Edition this AM, the previously recorded Blitzer interview with Carter and Mondale.

it was a pretty good interview – I saw part of it the other day…

you know, now that the democrats are getting some air time I think it’s time for some new “interview strategy”

they need to start referring to cheney and the entire administration as failures already, not opinion but fact, they should never again say;

“I think cheney has been wrong”, because he has been wrong, nothing to wonder, no opinion necessary

and when it comes to the president;

“we think the president doesn’t realize” should never be said again, it’s got to go as authoritative, no question about it.

for instance;

“the administration has been wrong every time, no matter what’s been said, the policy, strategy and decisions have been unqualified failure in every sense of the term”

things like;

when cheney suggests something regarding national security we should pretty much believe the opposite, we’d have an accurate description if we follow that advice”

“we have to figure out how to fix the damage this administration has done to our armed forces”

“we have to figure out how to regain the influence that has been lost due to this administrations tragic decisions”

“we have to figure out how to re stabalize the middle since it is this administration that has de stabilized it”

“we have to figure out how to get our country back on track fighting terrorism instead of the policies that have been made which have promoted terrorism”

see this, statements as facts, defer to the preisident’s policies as a known quantity of miserable failure

new strategy for the real new American century and put the morons in the “project for a new american century” in their correct status as the idiots they’ve proven they are

Leahy on CNN now

perris @115 – I couldn’t agree more.

geez, just now watching McCain – he’s just wandering around aimlessly… talking about the surge, taking troops out of Afganistan and how expanding the Marine Corps will solve it…

well, like, when John? it doesn’t even sound like John believes it – he sounds terrible today.

Glorfindel @ 117

perris @115 – I couldn’t agree more.

What Glorfindel said. Twice. And thrice on Sunday.

Leahy – “the president has finally made it to Vietnam. He’s gone over there to talk about trade.”

OldCoastie @ 118

geez, just now watching McCain – he’s just wandering around aimlessly… talking about the surge, taking troops out of Afganistan and how expanding the Marine Corps will solve it…

well, like, when John? it doesn’t even sound like John believes it – he sounds terrible today.

Well, he’s getting older and water carrying can really take it out of you. Water’s heavy…

boy, Leahy is just having fits at what Graham is saying…

Astral Music for a Sunday Morning

GSD @ 107

Some people say that John McCain is a power mongering, conniving, amoral cheesehole.

-GSD

Hey, are you talking about me?
Cuz you’d be right.

OldCoastie at 118 said:

geez, just now watching McCain – he’s just wandering around aimlessly… talking about the surge, taking troops out of Afganistan and how expanding the Marine Corps will solve it…

well, like, when John? it doesn’t even sound like John believes it – he sounds terrible today.

He’s in shock. Bush pulled yet another old trick on him to make McCain look bad and undercut his Presidential run. By going for a “mini surge”, McCain is forced to support the President’s failing policy. McCain can’t run away from the Presdient. Yes, he can try (by saying “it’s not enough”), but he basically has to endorse Bush’s unbelievably shitty policies once again.

He can’t craft his campaign in the direction he wants to go, as Bush is in the GOP driver’s seat. Bush is gonna ride out this war “for the next President to solve”, and the horrors of the Iraq war (along with the mess in Afghanistan) will hang over the Republican nominee’s head like a badge of shame.

McCain will oscillate between a despondent “oh how in the shit did I get into this mess” personality and his oft-displayed cocky asshole personality.

OldCoastie @ 122

boy, Leahy is just having fits at what Graham is saying…

live blog please…/no TEE vee for me 2day

Pach at 112:

That article just breaks my heart but also gives me great hope. Isn’t it always about the power of individuals who won’t give up? Hmmm, where else have we seen that little lesson applied recently? ;)

You’re right, it cries out to be a movie, but an HBO or foreign movie, not Hollywood dreck.

I understand Obama also voted “NO” on Roberts. But his lap sit with JoeMo is about what???

McCain doesn’t look like he is in shape to coach a little league team.

Come 2008 he’ll be an asterisk.

-GSD

GSD @ 128

McCain doesn’t look like he is in shape to coach a little league team.

Come 2008 he’ll be an asterisk.

-GSD

…or a comma

LandOfTheFree @ 124

He’s in shock. Bush pulled yet another old trick on him to make McCain look bad and undercut his Presidential run. By going for a “mini surge”, McCain is forced to support the President’s failing policy. McCain can’t run away from the Presdient. Yes, he can try (by saying “it’s not enough”), but he basically has to endorse Bush’s unbelievably shitty policies once again.

Maybe, but since McCain’s answer is to
magnify those unbelievably shitty policies, I find it hard to sympathize. If this undercuts his campaign, good!

bg @ 127

I understand Obama also voted “NO” on Roberts. But his lap sit with JoeMo is about what???

I mentioned this before, but I have a colleaque who moved and chose as his mentor there the toughest ass, hard knock irrascible (but hughly successful and powerful) person there. The two are on opposite poles in terms of expertise and politics. His point was to learn the system from someone who knew it well. And, it worked. This my have been in part behind Obama’s choice.

twolf1 @ 129

GSD @ 128

McCain doesn’t look like he is in shape to coach a little league team.

Come 2008 he’ll be an asterisk.

-GSD

…or a comma

or coma

twolf1 @ 129

GSD @ 128

McCain doesn’t look like he is in shape to coach a little league team.

Come 2008 he’ll be an asterisk.

-GSD

…or a comma

Comma comma comma chameleon.

blitzer asking Graham and Leahy about Gen Casey, shows them McCain’s response re casey from this AMs meet the press.

Graham – casey will be held to account for decisions he has made in the past. he is dodging the question.

Leahy – wants to see what comes out in the confirmation hearings. his feeling is that he will b confirmed.

think progress has this up and it will drive you batty;

It’s So Irresponsible That They Can’t Be Quiet For Six Or Nine Months’

what a moron

Marion in Savannah @ 119

Glorfindel @ 117

perris @115 – I couldn’t agree more.

What Glorfindel said. Twice. And thrice on Sunday.

Yup! I think so too. There should be one rule in Democratic politics from this day forward: NO MORE EQUIVOCATING!

perris @ 135

think progress has this up and it will drive you batty;

It’s So Irresponsible That They Can’t Be Quiet For Six Or Nine Months’

what a moron

I quickly changed the channel when Kristol came on. Now I am glad I did.

LandOfTheFree @ 106

I call bullshit on McCain.
(Ok, I’ve called bullshit on him for more than a decade… but here’s my latest example).

On MTP, he says that the Congress cannot stop Bush from sending more troops. He says that if they vote for this resolution (to keep more troops from being sent), it is a vote of no confidence for the SOLDIERS, telling our military that we don’t believe in them.

Um, isn’t it a vote of no confidence for the PRESIDENT and his CONTINUALLY FAILING policy? My God, he is simply doing the exact same thing he’s been doing (sending about 150,000 troops into a civil war), except he’s escalating the danger to them, because:

1. Other “allies” in this war have been methodically pulling their troops out, and have said they will pull more, if not all out in the coming months. This means our new people are simply replacing Brits and others who are leaving. It doesn’t increase the number of boots on the ground in this war we have lost.

2. He wants our people to go door-to-door in Baghdad.

How in the hell is opposing this suicidal strategy “a vote of no confidence for the soldiers”? That is nuts. It is simply a clearcut, “NO, Mister President. We will not allow you to send more of our American troops into one of the most highly dangerous situations (with no clear mission to accomplish) in the history of our nation. We will not let you continue this foolish policy at American’s personal expense.

Ah – Russert just said what I was thinking. McCain dances around it. Has he actually answered directly one of Russert’s questions today?

Nobody seems to want to talk about the Brits’ major pull-out. It is an event of major significance to the “surge” in that it shows how we are being abandoned by our only remaining ally! As with all other ironies of the American press, sometimes the most signficant events are the most significantly overlooked.

EvilDrPuma @ 130

LandOfTheFree @ 124

He’s in shock. Bush pulled yet another old trick on him to make McCain look bad and undercut his Presidential run. By going for a “mini surge”, McCain is forced to support the President’s failing policy. McCain can’t run away from the Presdient. Yes, he can try (by saying “it’s not enough”), but he basically has to endorse Bush’s unbelievably shitty policies once again.

Maybe, but since McCain’s answer is to
magnify those unbelievably shitty policies, I find it hard to sympathize. If this undercuts his campaign, good!

I agree wholeheartedly!

I just think it’s amusing to see that McCain probably thought that his petty feud with GW would be over, and he’d be free to become President… and now, he realizes that Bush can continue to mess up his campaign. McCain thought he had a great strategy (seem supportive of the war, criticise the President that we need more troops to win, and the President would refuse), and Bush still managed to screw him.

Now, if McCain had any integrity, he would not endorse and magnify the President’s fatally flawed policies. But, McCain already has an issue with much of the GOP base (evangelicals like Dobson say they will never endorse him). So, he believes his only chance at the nomination is to suck up to the Commander in Chief.

I am thrilled with the notion that McCain’s chances at becoming an occupant of the White House are dimming.

One more thing on Obama. I don’t know if anyone saw Saturday’s page 1 article in the NYT written by David Kirkpatrick on the Ethics bill. It was fascinating, in part because I have come to really distrust Kirkpatrick’s journalism. He was brought in to write on Christian fundamentalists; and I think he also drinks the coolaid. This particular piece sought to point up diffrences within the Democratic party on the Ethics bill, that Schumer was very opposed to Obama’s inclusion of “bundling” in the proposals. Major fight apparently, with Schumer (and presumably the DCCC opposing this because of financial reasons). THis kind of bundling, as I recall, is the sort of things that companies may use to bring together large numbers of separate checks for a particular candidate (without necessarily specififying the names on the individual contributors). The same is true, I think, of the fundamentalist church leaders. And, remember all those “Pioneers” the Rethugs named, for bringing in lots of smaller contributions. This is also about bundling.

In short, as with the war, the bankrupcy bill, the Roberts and Alito votes, Obama was on the side I support. And, in this particular flack he seems to have taken a fair amount of DCCC heat.

On ABC’s This Week, an author [Jan Greenberg?] of a book on the Supreme Court said that Gonzales went to Bush before the Miers nomination was announced, strongly counseling against it, but “Bush didn’t listen.”

Bush didn’t listen.
If that isn’t the ultimate defining statement aka “legacy” of this president, I don’t know what is.

22 troops killed yesterday.
Bring our
troops home
alive and whole.

LandOfTheFree @ 139

I am thrilled with the notion that McCain’s chances at becoming an occupant of the White House are dimming.

me thinks we want him as the candidate though, a very easy target, just as the neo fascists want hillary

If GW Clusterfuck’s “surge” is a total failure as expected, he’ll take most of the gooper presidential candidates down with him…

Goopers better get themselves a couple more anti war candidates for insurance- or they may end up totally fucked without a personal lubricant.

CNN breaking news:
helicopter brought down yesterday by hostile fire.

If, on the other hand, Clusterfuck’s surge (through lucky timing- or the hand of God) happens to “succeed” and his hawkishness wins the day in american hearts- then dems have no candidate left who is in a position to win in 08..

Wish these people would have been able to hold their fire for a while.

mandrake @ 138
Nobody seems to want to talk about the Brits’ major pull-out. It is an event of major significance to the “surge” in that it shows how we are being abandoned by our only remaining ally! As with all other ironies of the American press, sometimes the most signficant events are the most significantly overlooked.

Exactly.

We are going it alone. Our allies are quickly abandoning us, because they know this is failure at its worst.

Hell, many of them have refused to participate in combat in Baghdad for a long time.

Why this is not a central focus of reporting, I do not understand. Europeans are *done* with this war, and they think we’re foolish for continuing to allow our President to continue in Iraq.

Meanwhile, violence in Afghanistan is exploding. Attacks are going up four-fold in the past year. The Taliban is resurging (and it appears Pakistan’s government is behind them – see NYT story). Our allies who are there will likely start leaving, as they feel they are exposed to more danger.

These two stories should be the focus of our “war on terror” coverage.

rwcole @ 145

If, on the other hand, Clusterfuck’s surge (through lucky timing- or the hand of God) happens to “succeed” and his hawkishness wins the day in american hearts- then dems have no candidate left who is in a position to win in 08..

Wish these people would have been able to hold their fire for a while.

I’m hoping it does succeed, though, this is getting out of hand and a fix right now is better then a fix in two years, even if it costs us the presidency

The MSM is also doing a poor job of explaining that as the US strategery goes into effect it is having other consequences that directly impact on the main talking points of the Bush Junta.

As the UK pulls out of southern Iraq the void is being filled by the Shiite militias…The area that was once the pride of the occupation continues to spiral downward…Witness the upsurge in attacks on UK troops and the recent attack on joint US/Iraqi troops in Karbala.

Also as the Kurds are moved into Baghdad the northern areas of Iraq are destabilizing.

We are starting to see reports of bodies turning up in groups in Mosul….So it appears that the civil war is bleeding further afield from Baghdad…..

Scott Ritter called it “squeezing jello in Iraq”. The more we centralize the troops the more the areas they are drawn from become destabilized.

Heckuva job McCain.

-GSD

CSPAN replaying Abu hearing

new thread upstairs

perris @ 142

LandOfTheFree @ 139

I am thrilled with the notion that McCain’s chances at becoming an occupant of the White House are dimming.

me thinks we want him as the candidate though, a very easy target, just as the neo fascists want hillary

I don’t see how any other candidate will get the GOP nomination. Barring a health issue, McCain shouldn’t face any serious competition. Can you see anyone in the GOP field who truly could beat him for the nod? The religious bloc will reject Giuliani (too “liberal”) and Romney (being Mormon will kill his chances with Christian fundamentalists). I can’t envision “Brownback fever” leading him down the “yellow brick road to the White House” (what the hell was that comment in his press conference? Does he think this is a magical, cute game?) Unless someone surprising joins the GOP race, I don’t see anyone being more likely to get the GOP nomination.

I don’t think McCain as nominee means the Democrats won’t have a difficult campaign against him. He’s a smart man, he has a stellar war record, and the media loves him for some bizarre reason (while I admire his service, he’s truly an asshole when he doesn’t know the cameras are watching him). I think his temprement is an issue. I think his latest pandering is going to become an issue. And, even though it’s not fair, his age will become an issue.

GSD @ 148

The MSM is also doing a poor job of explaining that as the US strategery goes into effect it is having other consequences that directly impact on the main talking points of the Bush Junta.

As the UK pulls out of southern Iraq the void is being filled by the Shiite militias…The area that was once the pride of the occupation continues to spiral downward…Witness the upsurge in attacks on UK troops and the recent attack on joint US/Iraqi troops in Karbala.

Also as the Kurds are moved into Baghdad the northern areas of Iraq are destabilizing.

We are starting to see reports of bodies turning up in groups in Mosul….So it appears that the civil war is bleeding further afield from Baghdad…..

Scott Ritter called it “squeezing jello in Iraq”. The more we centralize the troops the more the areas they are drawn from become destabilized.

Heckuva job McCain.

-GSD

The Brits are smart enough to understand they don’t wan’t any part of the upcoming Iran nightmare

On top of everything else- we may have a gooper primary that fractures the coalition and makes one side or the other decide to stay at home in the general election..

The fiscal conservatives have had about enough of the social conservatives and vice versa.. If the social conservatives win- then that leaves the field wide open for a libertarian dem to dominate the west.

Someone like Richardson might well go down that road. I’d support it!

Pachacutec @
112

OT:

This long article is awesome; it’s a movie waiting to happen.

I may not get time to write about it, but I want to recommend it as highly as I possibly can.

Thank you, Pach! Great story.

Oh my, I’m going to rant and some of you are not going to like it. Oh well, it’s not like that’d be a first. At least I’m not ranting about Barbara Boxer.

This whole spanking thing makes me powerfully happy I remained childfree.

I think there’s a difference between an occasional swat on the ass to break the feedback loops kids seem to get into, and beating the shit out of them.

As someone who got the shit beaten out of him a lot, I can tell you at least in my case, that was a factor in my remaining childfree, because child-rearing, like all other behaviors is learned, and I would not have been a good parent.

I also think children do not have enough discipline in their lives these days.

A guy I used to know had an “oops” son in 1986. In the ensuing divorce, he won primary custody.

He was the *only* parent I ever saw who I thought was a good one. He rarely swatted his son, though it did happen.

What he DID do was discipline his son. Once the son was old enough to understand, he set boundaries for behavior and once the son was in school, he set standards for schoolwork.

If the son broke a boundary, he lost a privilege (and anything but eating, reading, exercising and sleeping was a privilege). Fail to put his toys away, he didn’t get to play with them for a specified time and that time was adhered to, virtually without exception. The lesson: actions have consequences.

If he brought home a less than adequate report card, he lost privileges. If he talked back about the loss of privileges, the length of time was doubled. There was no “time off” for good behavior. The common reaction to “but I don’t want to go two weeks without tv” was “you should have thought about that before you did XXX.” Bill was consistent, calm in presentation but ruthless in enforcement.

There were stretches of time when my friend’s son, when he got home from school, was confined in his room with his schoolbooks, a book to read for “entertainment,” and some beverage to drink until supper was ready. After supper, the son washed the dishes, by hand, and then went back to his reading. His son at 20 years old is now better read, on a wider variety of topics, than either his father or I am.

During the punishment, Bill would talk to his son about the books the son was reading. He’d do his best to make the reading (as opposed to watching Star Trek) enjoyable. But he never relented on the punishment, once deemed. They are closer, now, than any other father and son I know. They really are friends.

I can’t begin to estimate how many times I’ve seen parents in a public place with an unruly child, saying “stop it stop it stop it stop it stop it stop it stop it stop it stop it. “

The message seems to be “Stop it or I’ll tell you to stop it again.” But the real message is “I can’t be bothered to actually make you behave like anything but a little barbarian.”

I believe if parents would disipline their children with real-world, non-corporal manner, but with real and unpleasant consequences (no TV, no Wii, no iPod, no phone, no going out, no whatever) and STICK TO IT without rancor, but without pity, Children would be FAR better off, and the need for a swat on the ass would be minimal.

Even in my “I’ll take my belt off and beat you” world,” when I was growing up, I could see it was necessary for there to be some kind of discipline.

Now, to those who say the approach I’ve suggested is too difficult, too time-consuming or too something, my reply is you should have thought about that before you had kids.

If you make the lifestyle choice to bear children, it is your responsibility to raise them to be responsible and productive. Not the state, not the schools, not the “village” Hillary Clinton brays about so frequently. YOUR responsibility. And I promise you, if your kid is running amok in a grocery store, non-child-centric restaurant or other public venue, if you don’t say something to your kids, I will.

Believe it.

mccain back on press the meat after his two week vacation – very grim. Must not of been much of a vacation. Best tv in awhile: McCain watching the MoveOn commercial that hangs Bush around his neck like the 5,000 pound gorilla that will completely sink his 2008 presidential run, bye bye – we hate him, Dobson hates him, nobody love old Johnny, even Russert not very fond of his co-host anymore