FITZ!

I will vote for the candidate for president in 2008 who advocates diplomacy in foreign policy. Not gun-barrel crap. And this life long Democrat doesn’t care what party this ‘peace candidate’ comes from. I want out of Iraq. No more wars. And a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

If he’s a friend of Dick, you must convict.

-GSD

There’s going to be a lot of theatre surrounding the “surge”- and it will go on for months but here’s the bottome line:

Clusterfuck will get his surge- it’s started already

By late 07 we will begin a troop drawdown- mostly pushed by goopers who will NOT run and lose again on this fucked up war..

By October or so- Clusterfuck will announce that his surge worked- and that we can begin the drawdown of forces- if he DOESN’T- goopers will help pass legislation to REQUIRE it.

This war is not nearly as important than winning an election- ya heard it here first.

This war will be in the crapper by 08- and the presidential race will focus on other issues.

On the dem side:

Healthcare

Education

Oil Conservation

Goopers will try to run again on taxes and immitgration- as well as the normal braindead– er I mean- social issues- gays, guns, and zygotes.

Dems will win- goopers are OUT of issues-

Clusterfuck picked the right domestic issues to mention in his SOTU- but it’s clear how hampered he is by gooper ideology- the only fuckin weapon he has for dealin with anything is to jerk off with the tax code- really stupid- so his solutions are all like pissin in the ocean ta raise the tide.

other news? geez, I’m lucky my dogs got emptied and filled today. Don’t be botherin’ me with no “other news”! ;)

Gore.

FITZ! FITZ! FITZ! FITZ! FITZ! FITZ! FITZ! FITZ! FITZ! FITZ! FITZ! FITZ! FITZ! FITZ! FITZ! FITZ! FITZ! FITZ! FITZ! FITZ!

From my ongoing series, adventures in reading the New York Times

In the NYT, there is an article entitled “Budget Office Forecasts Drop in U.S. Deficit” by Edmund L. Andrews.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01…..ref=slogin

This is based on the most recent projections (January 25, 2007) issued by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) The Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2008 to 2017.

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/77x…..timony.pdf

The Executive branch counterpart to the CBO is the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The OMB often comes out with higher budget deficit numbers which are cut during the year making the Administration look more effective than it really is.

The Times article cites a budget deficit estimate of $172 billion for FY 2007 and goes on to say that with supplemental budget requests for Iraq and Afghanistan the deficit is expected to rise to around $200 billion.

OK, now for the critique. The $172 billion estimate does not include $185 billion that the government will borrow almost entirely from the Social Security surplus. If this loan were included, this would increase the deficit to $357 billion (see Table 1 on page 2 of the pdf file). This is known as the “off budget” deficit because it adds in the monies that are kept off the budget mostly because their inclusion would be politically embarrassing. The Times and the rest of the MSM always report the smaller number although the larger number is the one we will have to pay back. I always wonder if the media are lazy or co-opted in failing to point out that the real world budget deficit is much larger than they report and that, in fact, in this fiscal year (October 1 to October 1), it will be over twice as large because they persist in ignoring this “detail”.

The NYT article notes too that the Bush Administration will be asking the Congress in the coming months for a $100 billion supplemental for Iraq and Afghanistan but does not question how this would only increase the deficit $30 billion from $172 to around $200 billion, as I mentioned above.

If the full $100 billion supplemental is combined with the $357 billion off budget deficit, that comes to a total real world deficit of $457 billion. This is your money and your debts. The New York Times and the media may not act like you do, but I think you have the right to know just how much in the red you (and I) are.

FITZ! FITZ!

President Gore.

Goopers treat “THE MARKET” like a sacred goddess- unfathomable, immutable, and infallible..

You aren’t allowed to actually DO anything cause that would fuck with the sacred market..

Of course the market nothing but a series of fuckin price points- and the goopers other sacred economic vehicle- TAX CUTS- are just as disruptive to the market as any other fuckin around you can do-

What’s the differene between mailin all the rich fuckers a million each- and givin em a tax cut worth a million? Not a fuckin thing–Goopers are spooky about this magic hand bullshit- they must do a gushing come nightly with the help of the magic hand.

RWCole,

The religious right Republicans must be a little crestfallen about Chimpster’s SOTU….Not a single flag burning, gay hating, abortion stopping moment to be heard the whole night. Not even an admonition against man-chimp hybrids.

Boo-hoo for the fascist Jesus bunch, they are flailing about now, Chimpy needs to divorce them in order to scrape a shred of respectability off the floor for his legacy.

-GSD

Brian Williams just showed 18 Panda Cubs playing in China!

Hugh — thanks for parsing the deficit numbers. A half trillion here, a half trillion there, “and before you know it, we’re talking about real money.”

Senator Clinton and the DLC is trying to bury us under a Hill. Are I going to stand for this?

We have cut in half the over inflated budget estimates that we made earlier this year.

Hooray!

-GSD

GSD

Yeah–a couple of years ago goopers were goin “NANANA”–we got the snake handlers and you don’t”

Now they’re tryin hard to figure out how ta give em away and replace em with sane people. My how things change!

Kiddo

“bury us under a hill”

What do you mean?

What policy positions have the various candidates taken on health care, and alternative energy- and which do you support?

hope you’re having fun on the left coast and I assume new daughter in law is lovely.

And how about John Kerry’s news?

Holy shit.

Speaker Pelosi talks about her meeting with Bush on the surge:

“He’s tried this two times — it’s failed twice,” the California Democrat said. “I asked him at the White House, ‘Mr. President, why do you think this time it’s going to work?’ And he said, ‘Because I told them it had to.’ “

To quote Jack Murtha, just because they say, doesn’t make it so.

-GSD

Scarecrow @
15

Hugh — thanks for parsing the deficit numbers. A half trillion here, a half trillion there, “and before you know it, we’re talking about real money.”

Try to imagine what the numbers look like using generally accepted accounting principles for governmental entities – in other words, using accrual basis financial statements and disclosing all off-budget expenditures.

Deb — DiL is gorgeous.

Re Kerry, I’ve been very restained in not saying a word. Aren’t I good?

Thanks, Hugh, for summing up the budget stuff.

Most folks’ eyes glaze over when they try to read articles on the topic, if they’re not into finance and economics (yeah, you can include me here).

But you explain it clearly enough for anyone to see this outrageous off-the-books bookkeeping.

Didn’t Enron get in trouble for that?

The Enron President gives us The Enron Economy.

Happy Days are here again — just trust us!!!

[There seems to be a theme here, across all policy matters, no?]

Scarecrow @ 23

Deb — DiL is gorgeous.

Re Kerry, I’ve been very restained in not saying a word. Aren’t I good?

very good.

I was driving home from the Cape and tried calling you the minute I heard. Left a message then called selise. Wanted to do the Snoopy dance, but I was going 70 on I 495.

I mean by this I do not like Hillary, the DLC, and other third way Demos locking up the money and doing everything possible to put progressives into a straight jacket towing the Rahm line. I want a straight talking Democratic presidential candidate that puts peace before all else. If we start blowing up the world, is anything else going to matter? And last, but certainly not least, I want a candidate who is ahead of the curve on global warming. Mother Earth’s health care is front and center.

Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 22

Scarecrow @
15

Hugh — thanks for parsing the deficit numbers. A half trillion here, a half trillion there, “and before you know it, we’re talking about real money.”

Try to imagine what the numbers look like using generally accepted accounting principles for governmental entities – in other words, using accrual basis financial statements and disclosing all off-budget expenditures.

Not an accountant, but I’m hoping one of the oversight committees lays out the facts so the whole country can grasp what has happened. Who are the Chairs?

Oklahoma kiddo @ 26

I mean by this I do not like Hillary, the DLC, and other third way Demos locking up the money and doing everything possible to put progressives into a straight jacket towing the Rahm line. I want a straight talking Democratic presidential candidate that puts peace before all else. If we start blowing up the world, is anything else going to matter? And last, but certainly not least, I want a candidate who is ahead of the curve on global warming. Mother Earth’s health care is front and center.

Al Gore. We can raise the money if we have to.

Oh, and I almost forgot an important thank-you (shame on me)…

Thank you, scarecrow, for a good summary of all the “other” news.

Trying to keep up with the popcorn-eating uh, trial coverage (most excellent coverage!!!) uses up all our energy.

You do a great service keeping us all up to date on what else is going down.

In Wyoming back in early 1988, the legislature was considering a bill to raise the drinking age to 21. It wasn’t exactly high on anyone’s agenda in Cheyenne, except for the fact that if the drinking age wasn’t raised, the state would lose its federal highway funds – one of the major sources of revenue in a state with no income tax. I sat in the gallery watching for a couple hours, as member after member railed against the bill, lambasting the folks in DC: “No one in DC is going to tell me how to run my life, raise my kids, or anything else.” And then, almost all of them voted to raise the drinking age.

I think of that debate when I hear all the republicans wringing their hands at Bush’s “dubious” plans for Iraq. If it’s so dubious, then why the hell aren’t you voting to put an end to it?!?

RevDeb @ 28

Oklahoma kiddo @ 26

I mean by this I do not like Hillary, the DLC, and other third way Demos locking up the money and doing everything possible to put progressives into a straight jacket towing the Rahm line. I want a straight talking Democratic presidential candidate that puts peace before all else. If we start blowing up the world, is anything else going to matter? And last, but certainly not least, I want a candidate who is ahead of the curve on global warming. Mother Earth’s health care is front and center.

Al Gore. We can raise the money if we have to.

;0)

Love the pic scarecrow. And it sure is wierd that the “impeachment” word hasn’t been uttered in the MSM. But then again, they get their scripts from the gov so I guess it is understandable.

Regarding little reference to impeachment on MSM: The View this morning had a guest whom Rosie tried to get him to say yes or no moving on now to impeachment of Bush; time ran out and he didn’t have to respond to the bait, aside from some dancing around the question.

I can’t remember his name, but he’s a well-known liberal who wrote a book about the American class war created by Bush’s policies; couldn’t find info on The View web site to get his name.

So there are some liberals on TV pushing for impeachment, altho I was startled to hear Rosie throwing out and yet not at all surprised by her.

One of the bloggers today called for Hagel to declare himself an independent and change the world with clear, clean spoken demands for accountability and change. Wouldn’t that be something? See Brent Dubowsky at OpEdNews
for today: http://www.opednews.com/articl…..if-he.htm.

Thanks for the other news from the left coast.

Scarecrow @ 15

Hugh — thanks for parsing the deficit numbers. A half trillion here, a half trillion there, “and before you know it, we’re talking about real money.”

You are welcome. A lot of economic numbers and terminology remind me of the line of Inigo Montoya in the Princess Bride: “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

Thanks too for the post. I’m concerned of the movement away from the stronger language of the Dodd Amendment toward the weak Warner Resolution which the Biden, Hagel, Levin Resolution seems to promote.

Mrs. K8 @ 29

Oh, and I almost forgot an important thank-you (shame on me)…

Thank you, scarecrow, for a good summary of all the “other” news.

Trying to keep up with the popcorn-eating uh, trial coverage (most excellent coverage!!!) uses up all our energy.

You do a great service keeping us all up to date on what else is going down.

Thanks, but actually I tricked you. I’ve discovered I can pull up any post from the last five years on Iraq, and the news sounds about the same.

wrt popcorn, I wish I had invested in that before Marcy et al began live blogging the trial. I understand the traffic through fdl has been phenomenal.

kairos in cal @
33

Regarding little reference to impeachment on MSM: The View this morning had a guest whom Rosie tried to get him to say yes or no moving on now to impeachment of Bush; time ran out and he didn’t have to respond to the bait, aside from some dancing around the question.

I can’t remember his name, but he’s a well-known liberal who wrote a book about the American class war created by Bush’s policies; couldn’t find info on The View web site to get his name.

So there are some liberals on TV pushing for impeachment, altho I was startled to hear Rosie throwing out and yet not at all surprised by her.

One of the bloggers today called for Hagel to declare himself an independent and change the world with clear, clean spoken demands for accountability and change. Wouldn’t that be something? See Brent Dubowsky at OpEdNews
for today: http://www.opednews.com/articl…..if-he.htm.

Thanks for the other news from the left coast.

Lou Dobbs…he’s no liberal.

-GSD

Scarecrow @ 27

Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 22

Scarecrow @
15

Hugh — thanks for parsing the deficit numbers. A half trillion here, a half trillion there, “and before you know it, we’re talking about real money.”

Try to imagine what the numbers look like using generally accepted accounting principles for governmental entities – in other words, using accrual basis financial statements and disclosing all off-budget expenditures.

Not an accountant, but I’m hoping one of the oversight committees lays out the facts so the whole country can grasp what has happened. Who are the Chairs?

Next thing you know, SP is going to ask for an audit, to see if expenditures match the authorizations.

And the committees . . . let’s see.

The Chair of the Senate Budget Committee is Kent Conrad (D-MT)

The Chair of the Senate Finance Committee is Max Baucus (also D-MT).

The Chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is Short Ride Joe (CFL-CT).

I’d bet on Montana, not CT, on this one.

Sorry, here’s a revised link on the Hagel article:
hagel article

Raising money for Gore: How much per person and how many of us? How much should the goal be?

Feinstein favors February California primary in 2008.

John Burns, the New York Times chief correspondent in Baghdad since, I believe, the time of the Babylonians, was on Charlie Rose last night. Every so often he would say something that was dead on, but most of the time, he was all over the place. The situation in Iraq was really bad, but when Iraqis said that things were better under Saddam, they were only expressing frustration over all the bombings. He pretty much said that the Bush “surge” won’t work but said it should be tried anyway because heck, it might work, there was no other plan out there, and the alternative was far worse.

It was all very disconcerting, he would criticize Administration talking points and then turn around and parrot them. I didn’t know what to make of it, except to think he (like we) has been in Iraq too long.

Grassroots activists around the country are working now to ensure Al Gore
will run in 2008 – – and win. Why not join them? Become part of our new
Meetup Organizer Program!

Meetups have become The Way for grassroots activists to organize. Becoming
a Draft Gore Meetup Organizer will give you an easy, highly visible way to
find other committed Gore supporters in your area. Once you hook up, you
can strategize, organize and make the Draft Gore movement a reality.

To make it easier for you participate in this exciting program, AlGore.org
will pay the Meetup.com fees of the first 100 Meetup Organizers who
register through us.
How the program works: Follow the link below to fill out our Meetup
Organizer Volunteer form. Our Meetup Task Force will contact you promptly
to give you a prepaid coupon code to pay for the first six months of
Meetup fees for your group. We’ll also help you create your new Draft
Gore group at Meetup.com. Once you’ve registered your group, you will
receive materials and support from AlGore.org to help you have successful
meetups.

http://www.algore.org/index.ph…..Itemid=320

GSD @
36

kairos in cal @
33

Regarding little reference to impeachment on MSM: The View this morning had a guest whom Rosie tried to get him to say yes or no moving on now to impeachment of Bush; time ran out and he didn’t have to respond to the bait, aside from some dancing around the question.

I can’t remember his name, but he’s a well-known liberal who wrote a book about the American class war created by Bush’s policies; couldn’t find info on The View web site to get his name.

So there are some liberals on TV pushing for impeachment, altho I was startled to hear Rosie throwing out and yet not at all surprised by her.

One of the bloggers today called for Hagel to declare himself an independent and change the world with clear, clean spoken demands for accountability and change. Wouldn’t that be something? See Brent Dubowsky at OpEdNews
for today: http://www.opednews.com/articl…..if-he.htm.

Thanks for the other news from the left coast.

Lou Dobbs…he’s no liberal.

-GSD

Dobbs admitted on his show today that he totally fumbled his response to Rosie, who, credit due, cut to the quick.

Today’s lies and deceptions over Iraq by the Bush administration parallel those of the Nixon administration over Vietnam back in the day.

Nixon had his Watergate; Bush has his Libby trial.

they re-shot Schuster’s piece on Hardballs without the snow on the lens. Do you think they will let David answer the question that Tweety asks this time? Prolly not.

oops. never mind. Snow very much on lens.

Nixon had his Watergate; Bush has his Libby trial.

Hopefully they have the same ending.

“And keep using the statements of the pathetic Joe Lieberman as proof that they’ve got us into such a catastrophic mess that the predicted outcome of doing anything other than continue to listen to them will be even worse.” –Scarecrow, above.

Speaking of the pathetic Joe Lieberman, for whom my contempt knows no bounds, I was not pleased to read how David Broder referred to him in a column published today.

Broder wrote, “Snowe and Alexander became ringleaders in two of the efforts to break down party barriers. Alexander teamed with Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, re-elected as an Independent Democrat, as co-hosts of the weekly breakfasts.”

As anyone who has followed the career of the pathetic Joe Lieberman recently knows, RGJoe was not “re-elected as an Independent Democrat.” There is no such thing as an Independent Democrat. RGJoe was re-elected as a “Connecticut for Lieberman.” He lost the Democratic primary. He has no right to call himself any kind of Democrat.

Besides, even if there were such a thing as an “Independent Democrat,” the label would not apply to RGJoe, because he is not independent–he is inextricably linked to the White House and to K Street.

mrobinsong @ 39

Raising money for Gore: How much per person and how many of us? How much should the goal be?

I’d give a month’s salary. :)

It appears that Broder, who should know better, either outright lied about Joe’s party status, or else is remarkably uninformed for someone who some call “the dean of the Washington Press Corps.”

TeddySanFran @ 40

Feinstein favors February California primary in 2008.

I support California getting a leg up. But what does Arnie expect to gain by supporting DiFi in this?

Ok Kiddo and others — if you haven’t read it, there’s a story about Gore in Rolling Stone posted at Huff Post. Love the illustration — and it might make you smile.

urban pirate @ 48

mrobinsong @ 39

Raising money for Gore: How much per person and how many of us? How much should the goal be?

I’d give a month’s salary. :)

If the netroots could raise 60 mil for Dean and he didn’t make it past NH . . . . well, we are better organized and more accustomed to giving now. It can happen.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 50

TeddySanFran @ 40

Feinstein favors February California primary in 2008.

I support California getting a leg up. But what does Arnie expect to gain by supporting DiFi in this?

It’s the other way around. Arnold was pushing this before DiFi ever said a word.

I think Arnold is looking at Boxer’s Senate seat, and this is one way to trying to be able to say to CA voters “I’ve done things to give our state more clout.”

Of course, the little fact that it’s going to cost the counties many $$$ to have another election (only the presidential primary would be moved up, not the primaries for state and local races) isn’t going to make the local party folks on either side happy. “Here’s Arnold taking more local money . . .”

Oklahoma kiddo @ 50

TeddySanFran @ 40

Feinstein favors February California primary in 2008.

I support California getting a leg up. But what does Arnie expect to gain by supporting DiFi in this?

From what I understand, it is being pushed so the legislators can issue a referendum on the primary ballot for repeal of term limits.

Two words that merit being repeated lots more:

1. Guckert
2. Impeachment

Off Topic

Hey scarecrow,

Thanks again for the really informative post.

We met your son at the last Drinking Liberally and I just have to say from our converstion and your posts that he really is a chip off the old block. Really sharp, articulate, and best of all … a really great guy.

I gotta run for awhile but will be back later, how long are you staying? Maybe some of us Sac area FDLers can get together and have a beer or something.

If you want to shoot me an email …?

frisian320i at hotmail dot com

P.S. You son’s wife is a real catch too

Well, gotta run

Curious in Central Texas @ 51

Ok Kiddo and others — if you haven’t read it, there’s a story about Gore in Rolling Stone posted at Huff Post. Love the illustration — and it might make you smile.

Thanks!

Have we ever had a President with such high unfavorables when impeachment wasn’t on the table? I wish the pollsters would start asking about impeachment; I wish I had a congresswoman who would push for it.

Jacqrat @ 54

Oklahoma kiddo @ 50

I support California getting a leg up. But what does Arnie expect to gain by supporting DiFi in this?

From what I understand, it is being pushed so the legislators can issue a referendum on the primary ballot for repeal of term limits.

No, Ahnold wants the presidential primary moved up, and the legislature won’t go along unless he also helps to get term limits relaxed (not completely repealed) on the same ballot. IIRC, I think it moves the limits from 6 years out to 12, but I’m not sure on the specific numbers.

GSD @ 36

kairos in cal @
33

Regarding little reference to impeachment on MSM: The View this morning had a guest whom Rosie tried to get him to say yes or no moving on now to impeachment of Bush; time ran out and he didn’t have to respond to the bait, aside from some dancing around the question.

I can’t remember his name, but he’s a well-known liberal who wrote a book about the American class war created by Bush’s policies; couldn’t find info on The View web site to get his name.

So there are some liberals on TV pushing for impeachment, altho I was startled to hear Rosie throwing out and yet not at all surprised by her.

One of the bloggers today called for Hagel to declare himself an independent and change the world with clear, clean spoken demands for accountability and change. Wouldn’t that be something? See Brent Dubowsky at OpEdNews
for today: http://www.opednews.com/articl…..if-he.htm.

Thanks for the other news from the left coast.

Lou Dobbs…he’s no liberal.

-GSD

I agree he is no liberal but then again it depends on who you are comparing them to. If you are comparing him to Norquist, Kristof, he is a liberal.

I think Krugmans said it best, “We on the left, formally known as the Center . . . “

Scarecrow @
27

Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 22

Scarecrow @
15

Hugh — thanks for parsing the deficit numbers. A half trillion here, a half trillion there, “and before you know it, we’re talking about real money.”

Try to imagine what the numbers look like using generally accepted accounting principles for governmental entities – in other words, using accrual basis financial statements and disclosing all off-budget expenditures.

Not an accountant, but I’m hoping one of the oversight committees lays out the facts so the whole country can grasp what has happened. Who are the Chairs?

I don’t know.

Senator Rockefeller is now claiming that VP Cheney pressured Chairman Roberts to stall the investigation into the misuse of intelligence leading up to the war. The long knives are out.

McClatchy story on Rockefeller and Cheney

Amato has the video of Scotty talking to Jon Stewart last night about “the” case.

Broder chatz tomorrow at noon; questions accepted now!

TeddySanFran @ 58

Have we ever had a President with such high unfavorables when impeachment wasn’t on the table? I wish the pollsters would start asking about impeachment; I wish I had a congresswoman who would push for it.

Yeah, we have–Truman. That’s why Bush has been trying to borrow some of Truman’s image. Truman was really in the toilet during the Korean War, but I don’t think there was any serious talk of impeachment.

Scarecrow @ 62

Senator Rockefeller is not claiming that VP Cheney pressured Chairman Roberts to stall the investigation into the misuse of intelligence leading up to the war. The long knives are out.

McClatchy story on Rockefeller and Cheney

Didn’t you mean to say that he is now claiming it?

Evening Firedogs,

already discussed ???

Senior State Department Official Resigns

Robert Joseph, the State Department’s senior arms control and security official, has resigned.

Joseph submitted his resignation to President Bush amid uncertainty about the future of negotiations to curb nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01111.html

TeddySanFran @ 64

Broder chatz tomorrow at noon; questions accepted now!

Ask him why he published a column that claimed Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut was “re-elected as an Independent Democrat.”

Stephen Parrish, CPa — yes, I meant now. I fixed it.

Peterr @
59

Jacqrat @ 54

Oklahoma kiddo @ 50

I support California getting a leg up. But what does Arnie expect to gain by supporting DiFi in this?

From what I understand, it is being pushed so the legislators can issue a referendum on the primary ballot for repeal of term limits.

No, Ahnold wants the presidential primary moved up, and the legislature won’t go along unless he also helps to get term limits relaxed (not completely repealed) on the same ballot. IIRC, I think it moves the limits from 6 years out to 12, but I’m not sure on the specific numbers.

Ah, thanks for the clarification – I was just going from something I half-heard on Hardball today…

Ok, I’ll go back to sitting in the corner in the dark now. BTW, tis fun to read the comments at Christy’s trial summation at Huffington Post – Everyone is as delighted with her as we are.

cbl @ 67

Evening Firedogs,

already discussed ???

Senior State Department Official Resigns

Robert Joseph, the State Department’s senior arms control and security official, has resigned.

Joseph submitted his resignation to President Bush amid uncertainty about the future of negotiations to curb nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea.

Joseph is a real hard-liner, and I’d guess he’s unhappy that there are talks going at all. He’s a buddy of Bolton’s, and went into Bolton’s old job when Bolton went to the UN.

neurophius @ 68

TeddySanFran @ 64

Broder chatz tomorrow at noon; questions accepted now!

Ask him why he published a column that claimed Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut was “re-elected as an Independent Democrat.”

Ask him if he thinks anybody actually cares what he writes. I can’t imagine a time when he was taken seriously.

Way back when, I remember hearing an announcer claim that the band Men At Work (veg-a-mite sandwich) was the new Beatles. Seriously. When I think of Broder, that incident pops into my head.

thanks montag -
didn’t know – just knew there’s been a an increasing number of long time professionals leaving

Scarecrow @ 69

Stephen Parrish, CPa — yes, I meant now. I fixed it.

I’m pretty dim, but I can’t figure out the edit function. Are there directions?

I want to know when Keith is going to have one of our fine Ladies of the Lake talking about the Plame case. Schuster is excellent, but our ladies rock!

Anyone else getting tired of the video of Irving & Co. getting out of the car and going into the courthouse? Enough already.

Look at this. Gonzo’s boy:
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/mie/…..orney.html

Detroit.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb…../701250458
Feiger Sues U.S.Attorney G0nzo

and Fitz!

Thanks to Curious in Central Texas:

Run, Al, Run

http://www.rollingstone.com/po….._can_win/1

Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., said more troops should be sent in and that the soldiers there now are “fighting and dying for a failed policy.”

Sen. Carl Levin (news, bio, voting record), D-Mich., the incoming chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said troop withdrawals must begin within four to six months.

“I believe the consequences of failure are catastrophic,” said McCain. “It will spread to the region. You will see Iran more emboldened. Eventually, you could see Iran pose a greater threat to the state of Israel.”

Taking the opposite tack, newly empowered Democrats pressed their case for a phased withdrawal of American forces.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..co/us_iraq

Hagel—”What do you believe? What are you willing to support? What do you think? Why were you elected?” he asked. If you wanted a safe job, go sell shoes.”

Ok then.

I’m gonna sell shoes.

Y’know, I used to believe that there was no way on God’s green earth that Congress would go through another impeachment again, but I’m beginning to change my mind. They’re finally, after six years, starting to come to their senses, and they’re making tut-tutting noises towards the administration, but the Evil Glimmer Twins, Bush and Cheney, are no more going to listen to them than they did the Baker-Hamilton Commission. They are going to do what they damn well please, up to and including attacking Iran, unless somebody stops them.

RevDeb @
28

Oklahoma kiddo @ 26

I mean by this I do not like Hillary, the DLC, and other third way Demos locking up the money and doing everything possible to put progressives into a straight jacket towing the Rahm line. I want a straight talking Democratic presidential candidate that puts peace before all else. If we start blowing up the world, is anything else going to matter? And last, but certainly not least, I want a candidate who is ahead of the curve on global warming. Mother Earth’s health care is front and center.

Al Gore. We can raise the money if we have to.

Darn tootin’ we can!

ReElect President Al Gore one more TIME (2009!)

Oklahoma kiddo @ 78

Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., said more troops should be sent in and that the soldiers there now are “fighting and dying for a failed policy.”

Sen. Carl Levin (news, bio, voting record), D-Mich., the incoming chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said troop withdrawals must begin within four to six months.

“I believe the consequences of failure are catastrophic,” said McCain. “It will spread to the region. You will see Iran more emboldened. Eventually, you could see Iran pose a greater threat to the state of Israel.”

Taking the opposite tack, newly empowered Democrats pressed their case for a phased withdrawal of American forces.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..co/us_iraq

I recognize that article — it’s from a month ago, or more.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 77

Thanks to Curious in Central Texas:

Run, Al, Run

http://www.rollingstone.com/po….._can_win/1

“accept no substitutes”

RevDeb, mrobinsong and others.
Gore is not running! He’s a nice guy, I voted for him, but he is not running! And finally I am not very sorry. Once, I too, though he was the ‘one’. But then I remembered how little insight he seems to have in people. He believed Clinton. He selected Lieberman. And Donna Brazil? Lucky for him he fell in love in high school while he was still dumb.
Kucinich is running and he has been on the right side Iraq, increasing the military budget, tax cuts for the rich, SHAFTA, universal heath insurance, bankruptcy, etc.
He becomes a ’serious’ candidate when progressives make him so.

Pentagon study narrows down Iraq options By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 26 minutes ago

WASHINGTON – A Pentagon review of Iraq has come up with three options injecting more troops into Iraq, shrinking the force but staying longer or pulling out, The Washington Post reported Monday.

The newspaper quoted senior defense officials as dubbing the three alternatives “Go big, go long and go home.”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..co/us_iraq

TeddySanFran @ 58

Have we ever had a President with such high unfavorables when impeachment wasn’t on the table? I wish the pollsters would start asking about impeachment; I wish I had a congresswoman who would push for it.

May I suggest that you go to http://www.impeachforpeace.org/evidence to read the evidence justifying impeachment and download the petition and petition cover letter and send to your representative(s)senator(s) to begin to create a demand for folks to get on with it. Fascinating site.

I don’t see how Wells could stick to a ‘memory’ defense when the OVP was so intensely focused on discrediting Wilson. Without it though, what else could he try???

john in california @ 84

RevDeb, mrobinsong and others.
Gore is not running! He’s a nice guy, I voted for him, but he is not running! And finally I am not very sorry. Once, I too, though he was the ‘one’. But then I remembered how little insight he seems to have in people. He believed Clinton. He selected Lieberman. And Donna Brazil? Lucky for him he fell in love in high school while he was still dumb.
…

that’s a fair assessment of Al Gore, version 1.0: “pre 9/11, pre-Bush utter failure”.

Al Gore version 2.0 is a changed man. I don’t know about his political instincts, but he speaks from the heart now. Prediction: he will ultimately allow himself to be drafted, jumping into the race at the right time. but then again, I also believe in rainbows and the poneys, so we’ll see.

Propagandee @ 43

GSD @
36

kairos in cal @
33

Regarding little reference to impeachment on MSM: The View this morning had a guest whom Rosie tried to get him to say yes or no moving on now to impeachment of Bush; time ran out and he didn’t have to respond to the bait, aside from some dancing around the question.

I can’t remember his name, but he’s a well-known liberal who wrote a book about the American class war created by Bush’s policies; couldn’t find info on The View web site to get his name.

So there are some liberals on TV pushing for impeachment, altho I was startled to hear Rosie throwing out and yet not at all surprised by her.

One of the bloggers today called for Hagel to declare himself an independent and change the world with clear, clean spoken demands for accountability and change. Wouldn’t that be something? See Brent Dubowsky at OpEdNews
for today: http://www.opednews.com/articl…..if-he.htm.

Thanks for the other news from the left coast.

Lou Dobbs…he’s no liberal.

-GSD

Dobbs admitted on his show today that he totally fumbled his response to Rosie, who, credit due, cut to the quick.

Thanks for the follow-up. Did he say what he would have said?

Oklahoma kiddo @
85

Pentagon study narrows down Iraq options By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 26 minutes ago

WASHINGTON – A Pentagon review of Iraq has come up with three options injecting more troops into Iraq, shrinking the force but staying longer or pulling out, The Washington Post reported Monday.

The newspaper quoted senior defense officials as dubbing the three alternatives “Go big, go long and go home.”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..co/us_iraq

Huh? This is news?

I heard that quote on the “3 alternatives” way back when — I thought it was when everybody was speculating on what the ISG would have to report.

What kind of stunt are they pulling over at the Pentagon with this?

I’m confused.

Of course, if this were the military’s way of trying to get “go home” more solidly on the table, I would be happy about that.

punaise @ 83

Oklahoma kiddo @ 77

Thanks to Curious in Central Texas:

Run, Al, Run

http://www.rollingstone.com/po….._can_win/1

“accept no substitutes”

I’m not about to. Accept ’subs’, that is. I want the ‘real thing’. ;0)

Deacon Blues @
80

Y’know, I used to believe that there was no way on God’s green earth that Congress would go through another impeachment again, but I’m beginning to change my mind. They’re finally, after six years, starting to come to their senses, and they’re making tut-tutting noises towards the administration, but the Evil Glimmer Twins, Bush and Cheney, are no more going to listen to them than they did the Baker-Hamilton Commission. They are going to do what they damn well please, up to and including attacking Iran, unless somebody stops them.

I see it the same way and based on the Iraq runup and results, they are content with creating the new realities. It’s been over 3 years getting out this information that may have slowed the administration’s destructive policies over the past 1-3 years.

This administration is not affected by public opinion. Their goals appear to be different than ours. If Bush/Cheney said that ‘Iraq is going well’ it usually means it’s ‘going well for them’.

Maybe it’s too late to stop them?

kairos –

I too would like to know what Dobbs considers a “non-fumble” would have been.

punaise @ 88

Maybe he does speak from the heart now, but maybe that is a function of the freedom he feels when doing so can’t lose him anything. Kucinch has been speaking that way since tinpot became pres and he still does. That puts him higher in my book.

Mrs. K8 @ 90

Oklahoma kiddo @
85

Pentagon study narrows down Iraq options By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 26 minutes ago

WASHINGTON – A Pentagon review of Iraq has come up with three options injecting more troops into Iraq, shrinking the force but staying longer or pulling out, The Washington Post reported Monday.

The newspaper quoted senior defense officials as dubbing the three alternatives “Go big, go long and go home.”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..co/us_iraq

Huh? This is news?

I heard that quote on the “3 alternatives” way back when — I thought it was when everybody was speculating on what the ISG would have to report.

What kind of stunt are they pulling over at the Pentagon with this?

I’m confused.

Of course, if this were the military’s way of trying to get “go home” more solidly on the table, I would be happy about that.

“Confused”? ;o)

Maybe it’s too late to stop them?

rumi –

Even if that WERE true — and there is no way we can know the answer to that — we must ACT as though we know for a fact that it is NOT too late.

We must not diminish our own energies by dwelling on the worst case. Psychologically, that would hamper us.

JMHO. (And I too have wondered about that when it’s very, very late at night…)

OK Kiddo –

OK, now I’m even MORE confused…

???

Do I need more coffee?

Nice little FDL plug tonight on our Sacramento Air America affiliate during a local politico program (Enid Goldstein).

A caller called in just gushing about the libby trial coverage on FDL and they talked about it for a good 5-10 mins – dropping the firedoglake URL about 12 times.

That was good to hear.

-Monk

Mrs. K8 @ 90

Oklahoma kiddo @
85

Pentagon study narrows down Iraq options By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 26 minutes ago

WASHINGTON – A Pentagon review of Iraq has come up with three options injecting more troops into Iraq, shrinking the force but staying longer or pulling out, The Washington Post reported Monday.

The newspaper quoted senior defense officials as dubbing the three alternatives “Go big, go long and go home.”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..co/us_iraq

Huh? This is news?

I heard that quote on the “3 alternatives” way back when — I thought it was when everybody was speculating on what the ISG would have to report.

What kind of stunt are they pulling over at the Pentagon with this?

I’m confused.

Of course, if this were the military’s way of trying to get “go home” more solidly on the table, I would be happy about that.

I think this is a hiccup of Yahoo news. Once in a while, the news service will burp up something from the past, as though it’s current. It’s happened to me several times. I know this story is from a least a month ago.

No compromise seen on Iraq resolutions By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer
37 minutes ago

WASHINGTON – The leader of a bipartisan effort to rebuke President Bush’s Iraq strategy said Thursday he would not strike a compromise with a harsher Democratic resolution the Senate will debate next week.

Sen. John Warner (news, bio, voting record), R-Va., former chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said he won’t negotiate with Democrats to develop a single proposal on Iraq. His comments along with the emergence of other resolutions the Senate might consider underscored how a Congress largely against Bush’s proposal to send more troops to Iraq remained divided over what to do about it.

Warner’s decision bolsters chances that his resolution will be the one to win final Senate approval. Democrats are expected to vote for his proposal if their measure fails, and several Republicans said they prefer Warner’s approach because it is less divisive.

His decision to avoid bargaining also decreases the odds that a single resolution would emerge that would garner a strong, bipartisan vote reproaching Bush’s plan, which the White House hopes to avoid.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..co/us_iraq

Scarecrow –

Oh thanks!

Sorry if I was dense and should have picked this up already….

…think I’ll have that next cup of coffee!

Thanks for your patience.

Regarding impeachment on MSM, cont. Martha Raddatz, commenting on the SOTU the other night, said that her sense of Congress is that they’ve concluded that Bush is just totally irrelevant and they were no longer listening. (I watched part of the SOTU and heard a lot of applause, so some folks are listening and affirming, however half-heartedly.) But it seemed to me she was pretty close to an impeachment statement, if not actually there. I wasn’t paying close enough attention to be sure. And her comments on ABC Nightly News and Nightline are increasingly negative.

rumi @ 92

Deacon Blues @
80

Y’know, I used to believe that there was no way on God’s green earth that Congress would go through another impeachment again, but I’m beginning to change my mind. They’re finally, after six years, starting to come to their senses, and they’re making tut-tutting noises towards the administration, but the Evil Glimmer Twins, Bush and Cheney, are no more going to listen to them than they did the Baker-Hamilton Commission. They are going to do what they damn well please, up to and including attacking Iran, unless somebody stops them.

I see it the same way and based on the Iraq runup and results, they are content with creating the new realities. It’s been over 3 years getting out this information that may have slowed the administration’s destructive policies over the past 1-3 years.

This administration is not affected by public opinion. Their goals appear to be different than ours. If Bush/Cheney said that ‘Iraq is going well’ it usually means it’s ‘going well for them’.

Maybe it’s too late to stop them?

I think the administration is in it’s death throes. I feel pretty optimistic that we can neuter Chimpy/Darth Cheney/Lieberman in regards to Iran.

Worst person in the world, on KO: Rush Limbaugh!

Keith really walloped Comedian Rush Limbaugh.

“Come out from under your hood!”

Found out about this via Booman Tribune

The segment in question–”Battle for Haifa Street”–is a piece of first-rate journalism but one that only appears on the CBS News website–and has never been broadcast. It is a gritty, realistic look at life on the very mean streets of Baghdad, and includes interviews with civilians who complain that the US military presence is only making their lives worse and the situation more deadly.

“They told us they would bring democracy, they promised life would be better than it was under Saddam,” one told Logan.
“But they brought us nothing but death and killing. They brought mass destruction to Baghdad.”

Perhaps it’s a new tactic. ‘Confuse and conquer.’ Or who knows? Do I smell a rat?

Nexis- Lexis- I haven’t had time to compare the articles, but I just emailed them to you Scarecrow.

November 20, 2006 Monday 6:21 PM GMT

SECTION: WASHINGTON DATELINE

LENGTH: 624 words

HEADLINE: Pentagon Study Narrows Down Iraq Options

BYLINE: By ANNE PLUMMER FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

BODY:

A Pentagon review of Iraq has come up with three options injecting more troops into Iraq, shrinking the force but staying longer or pulling out, The Washington Post reported Monday.

The newspaper quoted senior defense officials as dubbing the three alternatives “Go big, go long and go home.”

The secret military study was commissioned by Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and comes as political and military leaders struggle with how to conduct a war that is increasingly unpopular, both in the United States and in occupied Iraq.

Meanwhile, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter said Monday that the United States should push available and trained Iraqi security forces to the front lines of the fight to stabilize the wartorn country. [more]

~~~~

January 25, 2007 Thursday 10:59 PM GMT

SECTION: WASHINGTON DATELINE

LENGTH: 818 words

HEADLINE: Pentagon Study Narrows Down Iraq Options

BYLINE: By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

BODY:

A Pentagon review of Iraq has come up with three options injecting more troops into Iraq, shrinking the force but staying longer or pulling out, The Washington Post reported Monday.

The newspaper quoted senior defense officials as dubbing the three alternatives “Go big, go long and go home.”

The secret military study was commissioned by Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and comes as political and military leaders struggle with how to conduct a war that is increasingly unpopular, both in the United States and in occupied Iraq.

The postelection debate over Iraq is intensifying as members of Congress from both parties pose remedies and the Bush administration hunts for answers.

Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel of New York proposed a military draft, which the administration has repeatedly said it doesn’t need.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said more troops should be sent in and that the soldiers there now are “fighting and dying for a failed policy.” [more]

Impeachment will come
Maybe even as a by-product of the Libby trial
Certainly the nation is seeing the cooking of the books and the no holds barred intimidation of dissent behind the curtain.
Out in front of the curtain, we the dissenters already know this, but the large portion of the country assumed that there was a good case for War.
The blinders are off.
(4 years, 3000 US service and 100s of thousands of Iraqi lives too late)

Did you know that Rumsfeld is still at the Pentagon along with three aids? Wonder why.

Mrs. K8 @ 96

I know what you mean. I think I’ve witnessed too many this is IT! moments over the past 4 years. So many times, I thought that if more people were aware of how badly we all had been deceived, then we could make a difference. Somehow, nothing changes for the better.

however…never surrender!

Mack – How much of the American public is ready to support military action (even minor) against Iran? I know way too many elected politicians do.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 110

Did you know that Rumsfeld is still at the Pentagon along with three aids? Wonder why.

Correction: Seven aids I believe.

Mrs. K8 @ 101

Scarecrow –

Oh thanks!

Sorry if I was dense and should have picked this up already….

…think I’ll have that next cup of coffee!

Thanks for your patience.

Mystery partially solved. The Lexis/Nexis fairy just sent me two identical stories from the AP — one dated today, the other dated November 20, 2006. Same story, but Yahoo News Service printed it twice. Just a hiccup.

Next mystery: Who sent me the e-mails. My guess is selise? Nope: It was Valley Girl. Thanks. Nice work.

Renee in Ohio @ 106

Found out about this via Booman Tribune

The segment in question–”Battle for Haifa Street”–is a piece of first-rate journalism but one that only appears on the CBS News website–and has never been broadcast. It is a gritty, realistic look at life on the very mean streets of Baghdad, and includes interviews with civilians who complain that the US military presence is only making their lives worse and the situation more deadly.

“They told us they would bring democracy, they promised life would be better than it was under Saddam,” one told Logan.
“But they brought us nothing but death and killing. They brought mass destruction to Baghdad.”

Yep. Crooks and Liars has another link to Lara Logan’s story.

Scarecrow @ 113

Mrs. K8 @ 101

Scarecrow –

Oh thanks!

Sorry if I was dense and should have picked this up already….

…think I’ll have that next cup of coffee!

Thanks for your patience.

Mystery partially solved. The Lexix/Nexis fairy just sent me two identical stories from the AP — one dated today, the other dated November 21, 2006. Same story, but Yahoo News Service printed it twice. Just a hiccup.

Next mystery: Who sent me the e-mails. My guess is selise?

Scarecrow- I sent them to you. 3 emails- one with citations, and two with the two articles. I quoted part of the two above. #108 The are not identical, as you will see when you read the text, not just the headlines in the first email. Also different authors and diff. # words. Sorry I thought that my addy would be included in the emails. I’ll remember that!

Live vote: Impeach Bush, yes or no
http://www.buzzflash.net/story.php?id=5096

Scarborough is saying we have an Administration “teetering on oblivion”.

FYI – An interesting documentary just started on HBO, Friend Of God.

aka – bizzaro world

Deacon Blues @
80
Y’know, I used to believe that there was no way on God’s green earth that Congress would go through another impeachment again, but I’m beginning to change my mind. They’re finally, after six years, starting to come to their senses, and they’re making tut-tutting noises towards the administration, but the Evil Glimmer Twins, Bush and Cheney, are no more going to listen to them than they did the Baker-Hamilton Commission. They are going to do what they damn well please, up to and including attacking Iran, unless somebody stops them.
—————————
rumi @ 92

I see it the same way and based on the Iraq runup and results, they are content with creating the new realities. It’s been over 3 years getting out this information that may have slowed the administration’s destructive policies over the past 1-3 years.

This administration is not affected by public opinion. Their goals appear to be different than ours. If Bush/Cheney said that ‘Iraq is going well’ it usually means it’s ‘going well for them’.

Maybe it’s too late to stop them?
——————————
mui @ 103

I think the administration is in it’s death throes. I feel pretty optimistic that we can neuter Chimpy/Darth Cheney/Lieberman in regards to Iran.

I think it might still be legally possible but I don’t think it’s likely. The signs seem to point more to a definite engagement with Iran, (all of this is just my opinion and speculation) and the more BushCo is pushed into a corner, or threatened, the more likely they are to initiate action to dig us deeper in true global war.

What do you think can realistically be done?

These guys on Scarborough are telling us that Bush is irrelevant. Wrong. Bush still has his finger on the nuclear ‘button’.

RevDeb @
75

I want to know when Keith is going to have one of our fine Ladies of the Lake talking about the Plame case. Schuster is excellent, but our ladies rock!

Anyone else getting tired of the video of Irving & Co. getting out of the car and going into the courthouse? Enough already.

Dear Deb,
It’s important to me we talk about the toxic Chris Matthews.
Our Lake Ladies Rock, and Shuster is super… but CM has clout and a mission (which chills me)…
please email me emmich at mac punct com
Naomi

rumi @ 111

Mrs. K8 @ 96

I know what you mean. I think I’ve witnessed too many this is IT! moments over the past 4 years. So many times, I thought that if more people were aware of how badly we all had been deceived, then we could make a difference. Somehow, nothing changes for the better.

however…never surrender!

Mack – How much of the American public is ready to support military action (even minor) against Iran? I know way too many elected politicians do.

Well, I just took a look at the Live Poll results on impeachment — the Buzzflash link given above has another link to the MSNBC poll.

87% of almost half a million votes say IMPEACH!

I started to suspect that the American public, in general, is not as stupid as the propagandists hope back in the moment following the Schiavo circus. In spite of being bombarded 24/7 by 100% bullshit propaganda, the majority of the people called the GOP on their b.s.

The public is ahead of the politicos on this. They see through the Emperor’s “clothes.”

FCC to Feel Unfamiliar Heat From Democrats

By Charles Babington
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 26, 2007; Page A04

As congressional Democrats prepare to give the Federal Communications Commission its toughest scrutiny in years, a rivalry between the powerful agency’s two most prominent Republicans is raising questions about its readiness to handle barbed questions and stiff challenges.

The Republican-controlled FCC — which makes far-reaching decisions on telephone, television, radio, Internet and other services that people use daily — has sparred infrequently with Republican controlled Congresses. But the Democratic-run 110th Congress is about to heat up the grill, starting with a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on Thursday.

FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin, a Republican with close ties to the Bush administration, will be the focus of Democrats’ criticisms. But some industry analysts think those lawmakers may try to find an ally in Commissioner Robert M. McDowell, another young Republican loyalist with a reputation for intelligence and political ambition. The two have clashed on at least three significant issues in the past several months, creating what some see as a rift that could be ripe for exploitation.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01736.html

GSD @ 13

The religious right Republicans must be a little crestfallen about Chimpster’s SOTU….Not a single flag burning, gay hating, abortion stopping moment to be heard the whole night. Not even an admonition against man-chimp hybrids.

Bush admonishing against man-chimp hybrids was always just a little like Hitler’s endorsement of his “Aryan ideal.”

Pat Buchanan is saying on Scarborough that “up on Capitol Hill, Bush is Dead.”

Oklahoma kiddo @ 110

Did you know that Rumsfeld is still at the Pentagon along with three aids? Wonder why.

Is he holding them hostage in the bathroom and demanding his job back? That’s the only way it could make any sense to me.

Am i tripping?

I just came to FDL, and got “It Works”- black type on white background.

It lasted a few minutes of refreshes, and now you’re back.

Is that the one by Nancy Pelosi’s daughter?

Eureka Springs, AR @
118

FYI – An interesting documentary just started on HBO, Friend Of God.

aka – bizzaro world

Scarecrow @
35

wrt popcorn, I wish I had invested in that before Marcy et al began live blogging the trial. I understand the traffic through fdl has been phenomenal.

me, I’m a progressive, so I’m progressing… what is Marcy’s favorite chewing gum… I’m selling my popcorn shares and waiting to reinvest in Marcy’s gum…

drat, it’s a classified….

Mrs. K8 @ 122

Well, I just took a look at the Live Poll results on impeachment — the Buzzflash link given above has another link to the MSNBC poll.

87% of almost half a million votes say IMPEACH!

I started to suspect that the American public, in general, is not as stupid as the propagandists hope back in the moment following the Schiavo circus. In spite of being bombarded 24/7 by 100% bullshit propaganda, the majority of the people called the GOP on their b.s.

The public is ahead of the politicos on this. They see through the Emperor’s “clothes.”

The public has been there

…New Poll Shows Majority of Americans Support Impeachment;
ImpeachPAC is Launched to Support Pro-Impeachment Candidates

By a margin of 53% to 42%, Americans want Congress to impeach President Bush if he lied about the war in Iraq, according to a new poll commissioned by AfterDowningStreet.org, a grassroots coalition that supports a Congressional investigation of President Bush’s decision to invade Iraq in 2003.

The poll was conducted by Zogby International, the highly-regarded non-partisan polling company. The poll interviewed 1,200 U.S. adults from October 29 through November 2.

The poll found that 53% agreed with the statement:

“If President Bush did not tell the truth about his reasons for going to war with Iraq, Congress should consider holding him accountable through impeachment.”…

November 4, 2005

njr @ 129

what is Marcy’s favorite chewing gum… I’m selling my popcorn shares and waiting to reinvest in Marcy’s gum…

drat, it’s a classified….

you’ll have to parse the legalese Wrigley’s

raven @ 128

Is that the one by Nancy Pelosi’s daughter?

Eureka Springs, AR @
118

FYI – An interesting documentary just started on HBO, Friend Of God.

aka – bizzaro world

Not sure. I am sure most firedogs would want to see it for just the first ten minutes with Ted Haggard discussing sex. It’s now showing the constant brainwashing on creation vs anything else.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 125
Snakes often only look dead

kairos in cal @ 116

Live vote: Impeach Bush, yes or no
http://www.buzzflash.net/story.php?id=5096

87% in favor of impeachment now.

My guess? They are waiting for “something to happen” and/or get those 30 year OIL CONTRACTS signed first!?

There is NO GOOD REASON for the TROOP INCREASE! NONE.
————
Yesterday, NPR host Diane Rehm may have revealed why the NIE remains so politically sensitive. On her national radio show, Rehm said:

It’s my understanding that the National Intelligence Estimate…is going to suggest that adding troops is the wrong way to go, that it’s not going to improve the situation.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/25/rehm-iraq-nie/

Pakistan Prez tells U.S. that an attack on Iran would be devastating to not only the Mideast, but to the world. Scarborough.

Mike Barnacle says there’s madness afoot in Washington (re:Iran)

Buchanan says there “is a real hysteria” brewing in DC about Iran. And Israel is talking about destroying Iran.

On Scarborough.

Yea, that’s it. She was one of the shows the other night and it looked interesting. She didn’t go after the real hardcore evangelical nutcases. She said she wanted to see what the mainstream evangelical community was like. She was surprised how nice they were.

Eureka Springs, AR @
132

raven @ 128

Is that the one by Nancy Pelosi’s daughter?

Eureka Springs, AR @
118

FYI – An interesting documentary just started on HBO, Friend Of God.

aka – bizzaro world

Not sure. I am sure most firedogs would want to see it for just the first ten minutes with Ted Haggard discussing sex. It’s now showing the constant brainwashing on creation vs anything else.

Oklahoma kiddo @
42

Grassroots activists >
around the country

EvilDrPuma @ 126

Oklahoma kiddo @ 110

Did you know that Rumsfeld is still at the Pentagon along with three aids? Wonder why.

Is he holding them hostage in the bathroom and demanding his job back? That’s the only way it could make any sense to me.

Ah. That is the pertinent question perhaps. Why is Rumsfeld still at the Pentagon, and what is he doing there?

Proly has something to do with some phat retirement deal.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 139

EvilDrPuma @ 126

Oklahoma kiddo @ 110

raven @ 140

Proly has something to do with some phat retirement deal.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 139

EvilDrPuma @ 126

Oklahoma kiddo @ 110

We should be so lucky. ;)

raven @ 140

Proly has something to do with some phat retirement deal.

I have a bad feeling that it’s more like the emeritus professor who spends all day in his office despite having no official duties and exerts far more political influence than anybody should. Except, of course, that Rumsfeld has no meritus.

Says here in the Stars and Stripes it’s a transition office in Arlington

S&S

On Jan. 4, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld opened a government-provided transition office in Arlington and has seven Pentagon-paid staffers working for him, a Pentagon official told The Washington Times.

The Pentagon lists Rumsfeld as a “nonpaid consultant,” a status he needs in order to review secret and top-secret documents, the paper reported the official as saying.

Scarecrow @ 114

Renee in Ohio @ 106

Found out about this via Booman Tribune

The segment in question–”Battle for Haifa Street”–is a piece of first-rate journalism but one that only appears on the CBS News website–and has never been broadcast. It is a gritty, realistic look at life on the very mean streets of Baghdad, and includes interviews with civilians who complain that the US military presence is only making their lives worse and the situation more deadly.

“They told us they would bring democracy, they promised life would be better than it was under Saddam,” one told Logan.
“But they brought us nothing but death and killing. They brought mass destruction to Baghdad.”

Yep. Crooks and Liars has another link to Lara Logan’s story.

That is a pretty powerful clip

Marion in Savannah @ 134

kairos in cal @ 116

Live vote: Impeach Bush, yes or no
http://www.buzzflash.net/story.php?id=5096

87% in favor of impeachment now.

I think it’s great to see those numbers but aren’t they from a voluntary poll on a website? I think the number might be close to overall public opinion but the situation is similar to a poll done on the FoxnotNews website against.

OK – He probably avoids oversight this way.

raven @ 143

Says here in the Stars and Stripes it’s a transition office in Arlington

S&S

On Jan. 4, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld opened a government-provided transition office in Arlington and has seven Pentagon-paid staffers working for him, a Pentagon official told The Washington Times.

The Pentagon lists Rumsfeld as a “nonpaid consultant,” a status he needs in order to review secret and top-secret documents, the paper reported the official as saying.

Why does Rumsfeld need to review classified documents? Why should he be consulting after failing so miserably that even Bush finally had to cut him loose?

He has no position. Kick his ass out already.

EvilDrPuma @ 142

raven @ 140

Proly has something to do with some phat retirement deal.

I have a bad feeling that it’s more like the emeritus professor who spends all day in his office despite having no official duties and exerts far more political influence than anybody should. Except, of course, that Rumsfeld has no meritus.

Are we prepared to think that Rumsfeld might be yet exercising ultimate power there. And that perhaps Gates is merely window dressing?

S.O.S. from MA @
55

Two words that merit being repeated lots more:

1. Guckert
2. Impeachment

I’ll join you, in Keep It Simple
two words Do It

Did anyone see the Lara Logan Help on Crooks and Liars regarding the video footage?
If anyone has time to send a comment to CBS – about the story – not about my request, then that would help highlight that people are interested and this is not too gruesome to air, but rather too important to ignore.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 147

Are we prepared to think that Rumsfeld might be yet exercising ultimate power there. And that perhaps Gates is merely window dressing?

At a minimum, I am prepared to say that any power exercised by Rumsfeld on a continuing basis is proof that Bush still doesn’t understand any part of the problem beyond it making him look bad. And this looks bad too.

At a minimum, I am prepared to say that any power exercised by Rumsfeld on a continuing basis is proof that Bush still doesn’t understand any part of the problem beyond it making him look bad. And this looks bad too.

Oh, like Bush cares how things look. . .come on ya’ll.

punaise @ 131

njr @ 129

what is Marcy’s favorite chewing gum… I’m selling my popcorn shares and waiting to reinvest in Marcy’s gum…

drat, it’s a classified….

you’ll have to parse the legalese Wrigley’s

Double your pleasure, double your fun.

raven @ 151

Oh, like Bush cares how things look. . .come on ya’ll.

He cares enough to try to put a smokescreen in front of his political liabilities. He doesn’t seem to care enough to make it a good smokescreen, or to think about whether it’s worth keeping at all. It’s what he did with TIA. It’s what he’s doing with his wiretapping scheme. And it seems to be what he’s doing with Rumsfeld.

rumi @ 119

What do you think can realistically be done?

Maybe a binding resolution. Cut off Chimpy’s funding. I thought one of my congresscritters (Delauro) when I complained told me something was in the works in regards to Chimpy using force on Iran without any congressional authorization.

OT but evil,

“‘08 GOP Hopeful Tancredo Calls For End Of Congressional Black Caucus”

Coloradans: why do you elect people like this? I mean, blatant white sheets are a little passe aren’t they?

EvilDrPuma @ 153

raven @ 151

Oh, like Bush cares how things look. . .come on ya’ll.

He cares enough to try to put a smokescreen in front of his political liabilities. He doesn’t seem to care enough to make it a good smokescreen, or to think about whether it’s worth keeping at all. It’s what he did with TIA. It’s what he’s doing with his wiretapping scheme. And it seems to be what he’s doing with Rumsfeld.

Did I miss the part where we find out that Bush knows Rummy is there?

Blub @ 155

OT but evil,

“‘08 GOP Hopeful Tancredo Calls For End Of Congressional Black Caucus”

Coloradans: why do you elect people like this? I mean, blatant white sheets are a little passe aren’t they?

The Republicans are what you’d get if you put Sophocles in a time loop–one motherfucker after another.

rumi @ 156

Did I miss the part where we find out that Bush knows Rummy is there?

I’m quite comfortable taking that as given.

Reflecting on What We’ve Learned is upstairs.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 147

Are we prepared to think that Rumsfeld might be yet exercising ultimate power there. And that perhaps Gates is merely window dressing?

Look at the circumstances–Rummy’s out fairly suddenly (maybe a couple of weeks’ notice) and Gates, by his own admission, doesn’t know shit about the Defense Dept. I can understand that there would be some need for a transition of sorts.

That said, this needs to be watched, because they could be pulling the same nonsense as was done with Adm. Poindexter. We’re now at about sixty days since Rummy got his gold watch, and more than another sixty would begin to seem suspicious.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 147

EvilDrPuma @ 142

raven @ 140

Proly has something to do with some phat retirement deal.

I have a bad feeling that it’s more like the emeritus professor who spends all day in his office despite having no official duties and exerts far more political influence than anybody should. Except, of course, that Rumsfeld has no meritus.

Are we prepared to think that Rumsfeld might be yet exercising ultimate power there. And that perhaps Gates is merely window dressing?

Test: has anything changed?

rumi @ 119
What do you think can realistically be done?
—————————-
mui @ 154

Maybe a binding resolution. Cut off Chimpy’s funding. I thought one of my congresscritters (Delauro) when I complained told me something was in the works in regards to Chimpy using force on Iran without any congressional authorization.

(from their perspective) …but those laws don’t apply to us. We’re in a time of war and that gives the pres/(vp) an extra level of authority as CiC of the armed forces. That sits above impeachment. Actually, that could be seen as a conspiracy that endangers command of the armed forces during a time of war. What do your laws say about that? Congress?…we enjoy listening to their suggestions.

EvilDrPuma @ 158

rumi @ 156

Did I miss the part where we find out that Bush knows Rummy is there?

I’m quite comfortable taking that as given.

I don’t think he wants to know.

OT – I need some advice about YearlyKos. I have registered, will have the train tickets soon, and have reserved the room at the convention for 4 nights. Now there is a certain emergency where I might have to release the hold on the rooms (and the amount of $$).

It was mentioned back when Chicago was picked as the spot for this year’s convention that there would be a chance to find someone to share a room for cost reasons. If I release the room, would there be a good chance I can find some place to lay my elderly head down at night? Or that there would still be rooms available at the center in June?

Just wanted to judge what people thought about finding a room to share or alternative housing. No big deal, but am leary of canceling the room. I would be looking anyway for someone to share my room to defer the cost.

Just wanted some insight. Sorry for being so very off topic.

john in california @ 84

RevDeb, mrobinsong and others.
Gore is not running! He’s a nice guy, I voted for him, but he is not running! And finally I am not very sorry. Once, I too, though he was the ‘one’. But then I remembered how little insight he seems to have in people. He believed Clinton. He selected Lieberman. And Donna Brazil? Lucky for him he fell in love in high school while he was still dumb.
Kucinich is running and he has been on the right side Iraq, increasing the military budget, tax cuts for the rich, SHAFTA, universal heath insurance, bankruptcy, etc.
He becomes a ’serious’ candidate when progressives make him so.

Please don’t get me wrong John but I couldn’t disagree more with your take on Al Gore. And as much as I admire Dennis Kucinich he has about as much chance of being the Democratic choice for president as you or me. Certainly, Al Gore made mistakes early on in his presidential campaign, i.e. Lieberman and Brazille, but who among us has never made mistakes. We are all human, after all.

Often overlooked and certainly never seriously discussed in MSM Al Gore won his presidential election, fair and square. When the sociopathic Bush/Cheney operatives stormed the Dade County election offices disrupting and stopping the ballot recount already underway, followed soon by the US Supreme Court treasonous decision we the people witnessed a heretofore unthinkable and perverse theft of our most sacred democratic
process.

Al Gore was and remains the most qualified American to occupy the White House in our lifetime. I believe we the people who elected VP Gore President will only increase our numbers in the happy event he chooses to run again.

The American people have had enough of the crooks and liars who damned near destroyed the most sacred bedrock of of our constitutional republic. Mr. Gore is the real deal and always has been throughout his life. He continues to lead by doing and any honest poll would reveal he is acclaimed throughout the globe for his character, leadership and clarian call to address the increasing threat of global warming.

I’m just saying Al Gore is not the caricature the wingnuts, international corporate cartels and felonious political cabals would have us believe. Rather he is the real deal. An authenic man of honor, intellect, courage, vision and proven leadership.

This ole newsapaperbrat hasn’t a doubt he is the best qualified and most endearing presidential candidate I have ever had the honor of voting for the highest and most powerful office in our beleagured nation.

ReElect Al Gore for President in 2008 and if I may borrow the wise words of punaise, accept no substitute!

This being American democracy, we do not have a No Confidence option, which I suspect many confuse with impeachment.
Impeachment requires a crime and is followed by a conviction by the Senate to remove the officer.
I have no doubt that some crime has been committed, but evidence would be required.
Not to rain on any parades, but the wheels of change roll slowly.
I think what we need is to remove Bush AND Cheney… President Pelosi anyone?
I’m good with that

realisticly though,
The most important thing we can tak away from this disaster is a good memory of the underlying players:
The Doug Feiths, Scooter Libbys and their ilk.
And make certain that none of them have access to power again.
All you need to do is look at young Cheney and Rumsfeld in the Ford White House and think… No one associated with THAT bebacle should ever been asked back.

rumi @ 119.Joint Resolution, introduced by a Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC) via the Nation: No blank check.

mui @ 167

rumi @ 119.Joint Resolution, introduced by a Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC) via the Nation: No blank check.

Oh, yeah, I support all of these resolutions but I don’t think BushCo will recognize them as legitimate. These guys have created laws, some with Congressional approval, to give them the power that these resolutions want to block.

“Our constitution states that–while the Commander in Chief has the power to conduct wars–only Congress has the power to authorize war,”

When did Congress authorize these airstrikes?

U.S. confirms second air strike in Somalia

rumi @ 168

When did Congress authorize these airstrikes?

U.S. confirms second air strike in Somalia

War Powers Act comes into play on this. Bush can do it all by his little lonesome on an emergency basis. All he has to do is notify Congress of the reasons in either sixty or ninety days (sorry, can’t remember at the moment which). At that point, Congress can authorize or tell the Prez no more. That’s roughly the way the War Powers Act works.

I would suggest that the reference to republican senators be completed with their coming election year, e.g. Senator Sununu (R-N.H.-2008)
BTW, went to Dukem for dinner tonight and found it absolutely delicious. Must go back to try the rest of the menu.

Status of H.J.RES.14 Concerning the use of military force by the United States against Iran.

rumi @ 168

mui @ 167

rumi @ 119.Joint Resolution, introduced by a Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC) via the Nation: No blank check.

Oh, yeah, I support all of these resolutions but I don’t think BushCo will recognize them as legitimate. These guys have created laws, some with Congressional approval, to give them the power that these resolutions want to block.

“Our constitution states that–while the Commander in Chief has the power to conduct wars–only Congress has the power to authorize war,”

When did Congress authorize these airstrikes?

U.S. confirms second air strike in Somalia

That’s called Congress not living up to their responsibilities on a rogue preznit.

montag @ 169

rumi @ 168

When did Congress authorize these airstrikes?

U.S. confirms second air strike in Somalia

War Powers Act comes into play on this. Bush can do it all by his little lonesome on an emergency basis. All he has to do is notify Congress of the reasons in either sixty or ninety days (sorry, can’t remember at the moment which). At that point, Congress can authorize or tell the Prez no more. That’s roughly the way the War Powers Act works.

That was my understanding of just one of the ways he can legally do it. hell…many are cheering this.

It’s the same as the illegal surveillance issue and the war in Iraq. They claim, or actually have, the authority to initiate and conduct actions that have irreversible consequences. We can’t leave Iraq because the original mistake made it too dangerous now. BushCo didn’t care so much about how we got into Iraq, only that we did.

I’m just concerned that there is too much support for action against Iran that the neocons and BushCo won’t let this once in a lifetime chance slip away. I can’t foresee any military action in Iran that doesn’t result in decades of mutual killing.

I’m all for impeachment of Bush! It bugs me to think that Cheney will be the one replacing him, should this come to pass. Oh well – at least Bush will get what he deserves…

Imagine the timing: By the end of 2007, impeachment takes place; then we have Cheney for about a year…to further embarass the Rupublicans…Seems sweet.

Can they BOTH be impeached? Then we’d have Pelosi in…Wow. Sweet dreams, all!

mui @ 172

That’s called Congress not living up to their responsibilities on a rogue preznit.

yup…just to be clear, I agree with you and support your efforts on that resolution or any possible resolution that might have an effect. I think these are needed for future accountability, I hope so anyway.

rumi @ 173

I’m just concerned that there is too much support for action against Iran that the neocons and BushCo won’t let this once in a lifetime chance slip away. I can’t foresee any military action in Iran that doesn’t result in decades of mutual killing.

Hell, there’s probably going to be decades of killing in Iraq, as it is.

As for Iran, I doubt Congress will do anything substantive to stop Bush, or at least, anything in time. Someone will want to hold hearings, or request–and then wait for–a new NIE on Iran. If that happens, Bush and Co.™ will see their window of opportunity start to close, and there’s more likelihood of an attack than not.

Hate to sound cynical, but….

Grandma J, from the other Grandma Jo, I might be interested in “sharing” a room in Chicago. I’m trying to get my hubby to go with me but he really doesn’t want to.

Can e-mail me at 123jwc (at) sbcglobal (dot) net. I don’t check that address every day but will try to check it.