Christy!!

Nothing like a ZED!!!!

After reading the material on the last thread I think there might be a large number of Republicans suffering from heartburn this coming week. Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch!

Every day is Fitzmas!

I guess I can have great conversation with myself.

After reading the material on the last thread I think there might be a large number of Republicans suffering from heartburn this coming week.

Actually judging from their fondness for male hustlers there might be a large number of Republicans suffering from crabs.

g’morning, Christy!

I hope Scooter and Harriet had a nice long weekend conversation about the ” ‘em” Harriet sez they are gonna “[expletive].”

Even if this quote exists only in Dana Milbank’s Potomac-fevered imagination (and our Jane was closer to the newly convicted felon and never heard it) I like to think Harriet Grant is re-shuffling Scooter’s priorities.

Sing, Scooter, sing!

I’m wondering if there’s any way the USA firings can be “undone”? They were clearly “wrongly motivated” or whatever adjective one could use to describe them.

Why should we go FORWARD and allow the WH criminals to appoint toadies in place of the competent USA’s we had? Any suggestions anyone?

I’ll converse with you, Matt. Where in AZ are you?

Mauimom @ 9

I’ll converse with you, Matt. Where in AZ are you?

Hi Mauimom!

I am in northern Arizona on the Hopi Indian Reservation. Very high and dry here on the Colorado Plateau but have some warm weather at the moment. The daffodils are up!

Second and final firedoglake pimping of my topical crossword (Java or PDF available–because I care). If you’re that kind of geek.

On a scale of “Monday to Sunday,” the difficulty level is somewhere around early a.m. on Tuesday. I.e., it’s easy. Just don’t get too war far out on Wilson.

(Edited to try to make strikethrough work on the word “war.”)

David Ehrenstein @ 6

After reading the material on the last thread I think there might be a large number of Republicans suffering from heartburn this coming week.

Actually judging from their fondness for male hustlers there might be a large number of Republicans suffering from crabs.

They certainly have a crabby bunch lately, complaining about how they are misunderstood. I certainly don’t understand them and not sure if I ever want to understand them. They can go cut brush with Bush in Texas for all I care.

Christy,

How is the little one doing? Over her cold I hope. Is there snow on the ground there?

This Week with George S. was very amusing this morning. Poor George Will(my heart just bleeds for him) was looking very much put upon. He tried to trot out the same old talking points about Valerie and David Corn just shot him down. He spent much of the show sulking. He didn’t have Cokie to watch his back.

Re: USA firings- Did post-doc work & lived @ UC San Diego for a while. Carol Lam was a beacon of light down there for prosecution of white collar crime. Even the ultra-conservative Union Tribune liked her prosecutorial style.

She was terminated supposedly for ignoring immigration issues. Duke Cunningham probably laughed out loud when he heard that one.

She deserves to be reinstated, no doubt in my mind…

Good. Someone needs to stuff Will in a locker and take his lunch money.

&y @ 11

Second and final firedoglake pimping of my topical crossword (Java or PDF available–because I care). If you’re that kind of geek.

On a scale of “Monday to Sunday,” the difficulty level is somewhere around early a.m. on Tuesday. I.e., it’s easy. Just don’t get too war far out on Wilson.

(Edited to try to make strikethrough work on the word “war.”)

thanks, good idea for a Libby Sunday! I printed it out for use this afternoon.

Rayne,

per your suggestion downstairs to google ______(your state here) and Abramoff -

good gawd gal, I’m in Texas and I don’t happen to have a CRAY handy*g*

we’ll forget all his minor peccadiloes (underwriting DeLay’s daughter’s baby shower w/ an energy company, etc.),

and move right on over to Tigua tribe tragedy -

Little Ralph Reed working with his BFF then Texas Atty Gen. John Cornyn shut down their El Paso casino to the benefit of some LA tribes Ralphy was representing – then of course Jack bags $4M from these folks in lobbying efforts to re open said gaming site

USA at the time is current USA Johnny Sutton who is presently suffering from Lou Dobbs Disease for egregiously prosecuting and jailing those poor innocent border guards who shot the unarmed brown person 15 times

Twisted Martini @ 16

Good. Someone needs to stuff Will in a locker and take his lunch money.

wouldn’t be the first time, would it? ;)

Sweaty armpits for Shooter, Scooter and KKKKarl…

you suppose we are reaching some sort of critical mass?

This is Ben Sargent cartoon from the other day but is one that hits the Rove/Gonzo on the head!

http://www.uclick.com/client/wpc/bs/

Molly Ivins would be so proud!
And she would be very proud the FDL coverage of the Plame trial too.

Hi AZ Matt –

Where on the Hopi Reservation are you?

AZ Matt @ 20

This is Ben Sargent cartoon from the other day but is one that hits the Rove/Gonzo on the head!

http://www.uclick.com/client/wpc/bs/

Molly Ivins would be so proud!
And she would be very proud the FDL coverage of the Plame trial too.

she probably would have been right here at The Lake, doncha think?!

I hate to leave y’all but it’s way too nice not to go awalking with the dog and his cat.
See ya on the flipflop.

Helpless Dancer @
14

This Week with George S. was very amusing this morning. Poor George Will(my heart just bleeds for him) was looking very much put upon. He tried to trot out the same old talking points about Valerie and David Corn just shot him down. He spent much of the show sulking. He didn’t have Cokie to watch his back.

I agree! David Corn was the best thing about This Week this week.

-ck- @ 22

Hi AZ Matt –

Where on the Hopi Reservation are you?

I live in Keams Canyon but work out the tribal HQ in Kykotsmovi.

Waxman poetic!

Good (late) morning Christy.

I have a lady cardinal that has been in a fight with her reflection in my window for three days! Bluebirds everywhere, and the Bald Eagles are still over my (about 30) house every day and the wild turkeys are in the woods behind my house( I sit on my porch with a call and chat with them).
Forsythia and dafodills blooming this week as the first hint of green lawn reminds me I need to tune up the lawn mower soon.

time to plant your peas.

If prez Bush is not appropriately dealt with, and by this I mean held accountable, for his criminal actions, then our children’s children will have to contend with the Bush family and their particularly ruthless and offensive brand of politics. Of course I realize dealing with Mr. Bush is no guarantee against the insidiousness of the Bush gang. But it’s a start. It is a must do.

Seize the moment. Contact all of your reps and more. Let them know that you expect them to dig further into the Plame outing. Call and e-mail this week let them know we are watching and that we will not go away.

Tha Aipac conference just took place in D. C. Reps will be getting hammered by the pro Israeli lobby this week. Call your reps and let them know that you want them to deal with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a more fair and balanced way. Our nation needs a counter-balance to our lopsided policies in the middle east.

SP, CPA – epu’d the real link.

Where is Senator Boxer on all this US Attorney business? I haven’t heard one little peep outta her…

Will you be posting my last comment?

Hey AZ Matt, a shout-out from Tucson Drinking Liberally.

Want to talk about something? How about the biggest boil festering underneath the American skin: how those in charge of our nation’s economy are lying with statistics to make the financial picture look a lot better than it is. We have able-bodied young people with no idea of a future beyond the military, college grads with pathetic employment options, elderly who think their money will give out long before their health does, and middle-agers who face caring for both their unemployed adult children and their aging parents. Healthcare and social security issues, depleted savings, uncertain stock market: it gnaws at people. They become unwilling to spend money and the retail market falters. We can’t all live on the spending sprees of a few hedge fund kajillionaires.

At least the NY Times has finally acknowledged the pitiful state American mortgages are in. The way I look at it, the recent stock market falter was a preview of more to come. While we focus on the dirty dealings of the Bush Administration, they dig us in as deep domestically as they do internationally. What do you think?

OldCoastie @ 20

Sweaty armpits for Shooter, Scooter and KKKKarl…

you suppose we are reaching some sort of critical mass?

Only if wishin’ would make it so!

Keams Canyon is a cool place — the neutal territory between the Hopi and Navajo Nations.

Ten years ago, I corresponded with some folks in the Hopi cultural preservation office — I had some interesting findings, but didn’t have the wherewithal to present them.

Am I just dreaming, or are the Republicaniks finally going down? If I’m only dreaming DO NOT PINCH ME. I DO NOT WANT TO WAKE UP.

I’m thinking about the irony of Turdblosson’s role in Attorneygate in the wake of Friday’s Compost piece about Rove seeking to frame Bush’s legacy, hanging his hat on, of all things, the Bush Doctrine, which, by now, should be shredder confetti in the breeze.

What Rove doesn’t get is that the stench of this administration’s politicization of everything will be its historical legacy, just as Watergate, and not the EPA or relations with China, will forever be Nixon’s. And, in the ultimate irony, he pushed Bush in that direction, p;oliticizing everything, and so bears the greatest responsibility for what will be Bush’s abysmal enduring legacy.

On several occasions I have tried to post comments about the topic at hand and have mentioned Aipac’s conference. What are your problems with mentioning Aipac and reaonable dialogue taking place about efforts to counter balance the influence that the Israeli lobby has on our foreign policy being mentioned on this site? What’s up?

Yeah, but the one thing that annoyed me about This Week was even Zakaria and Stephanapolous were saying there’s no underlying crime here. Only Corn seemed to know wtf he was talking about.

It truly exposes the MSM pundits for the lazy bs’ers they are. And message to Will, if you’re as independent and as smart as you claim, why don’t you actually get off your duff and do some research about this trial. As Fitzgerald said, the no underlying crime talking point just doesn’t fly. ANd the Armitage shiny object is just that, BS.

I think everyone should point out to any wingnuts who yell Armitage, Armitage all the time that if Armitage was so guilty, then why didn’t he even have a lawyer when he talked to Fitz? It’s simple, he told the truth.

Someone gave Fitzgerald Grossman’s name. Since Libby denied remembering talking to Grossman during his first GJ appearance, it certainly wasn’t Scooter. It must have been Armitage. And Grossman backed up Armitage. Nothing else makes sense.

Eureka Springs, AR @ 26

Waxman poetic!

Good (late) morning Christy.

I have a lady cardinal that has been in a fight with her reflection in my window for three days! Bluebirds everywhere, and the Bald Eagles are still over my (about 30) house every day and the wild turkeys are in the woods behind my house( I sit on my porch with a call and chat with them).
Forsythia and dafodills blooming this week as the first hint of green lawn reminds me I need to tune up the lawn mower soon.

time to plant your peas.

I take it you have no small pets?

AZ Matt at 13 — Am trying to catch up on laundry while I’m blogging today, so I just caught your comment. The Peanut is feeling much better today, and the snow is all melted here — it’s gorgeous outside and I’m hoping we can get her out a bit this afternoon once she wakes up from her nap.

Sorry if folks are getting comments stuck for more than a minute or two — am trying to catch up on things around the house and also catch up a bit with Mr. ReddHedd, who has been wonderful about all the blog time I’ve been putting in here. Everyone will just have to be patient as we are all trying our best to keep up with everything and actully have lives as well a bit this weekend. Patience, as always, is very much appreciated by me and the mod on duty who is volunteering time out of the weekend to help out. Thanks!

Kathleen – the initials in the A*P*C land you in moderation automatically.

Elliott @ 17

thanks, good idea for a Libby Sunday! I printed it out for use this afternoon.

Thanks back at you. I hope it’s not so hard that it takes up your whole afternoon, though.

I missed this story earlier this week: Grand Theft Auto GOP Edition

Bush adds funds to increase troop request
President seeks $3.2B to pay for 8,200 more troops than previously planned

Seize the moment. With Fitzgerald and Plame both “allegedly” testifying this week before congress. No time like the present Contact your reps this week and demand that they investigate OldCoastie @ 40

Kathleen – the initials in the A*P*C land you in moderation automatically.

Why?

Kathleen at 37 — My problem is this: we have had several very virulent and rabid anti-semitic posters who have used AIPAC comments as a means to post anti-Jewish screeds in the past while using rotating IPs. Rather than have those go up, we’ve had to get creative in how the filters work because, frankly, I’d rather have someone have to be patient and wait a couple of minutes for a comment to be freed than to have bigoted comments go up on the blog. That is a decision that both Jane and I have made, and considering some of the filth that has been attempted as postings, I believe most folks would agree with the decision. A little patience would go a long way — and if you refresh your screen, you will see that each and every one of your comments has been freed. Thanks.

afternoon all – still basking in the glow of meeting marcy last night :o)! this has been a remarkable week and i feel the tide is hopefully turning away from relentless onslaught of repressive repug rule – its a brighter day today! I FEEL GOOD!!!- props to james brown lol

Kathleen @ 44

Seize the moment. With Fitzgerald and Plame both “allegedly” testifying this week before congress. No time like the present Contact your reps this week and demand that they investigate OldCoastie @ 40

Kathleen – the initials in the A*P*C land you in moderation automatically.

Why?

So are you telling me that I can encourage people to contact their reps about the Plame outing? But I can not encourage people to contact their reps about taking a more balanced stance towards the Israeli/Palestinian conflict? Especially just after Aipac’s conference (this past weekend) when our reps will be getting hammered by those who attended this conference. Why is this topic off limits on this site? Please explain?

Is this issue off topic here just as it is in the mainstream? Sure seems to be so!

viget @ 38

Yeah, but the one thing that annoyed me about This Week was even Zakaria and Stephanapolous were saying there’s no underlying crime here. Only Corn seemed to know wtf he was talking about.

It truly exposes the MSM pundits for the lazy bs’ers they are. And message to Will, if you’re as independent and as smart as you claim, why don’t you actually get off your duff and do some research about this trial. As Fitzgerald said, the no underlying crime talking point just doesn’t fly. ANd the Armitage shiny object is just that, BS.

I think everyone should point out to any wingnuts who yell Armitage, Armitage all the time that if Armitage was so guilty, then why didn’t he even have a lawyer when he talked to Fitz? It’s simple, he told the truth.

Someone gave Fitzgerald Grossman’s name. Since Libby denied remembering talking to Grossman during his first GJ appearance, it certainly wasn’t Scooter. It must have been Armitage. And Grossman backed up Armitage. Nothing else makes sense.

IMO that is the most pernicious thing about what’s going on in the media. What part of obstruction of justice do they not understand? If they did their homework(lazy bastards) they would know it was the seriousness of the underlying crime that was the reason Walton compeled Judy to testify. Ya know, like look at the court filings?

Lobbies are not the problem. It’s our elected officials who cater to them that is.

Ann in AZ – I have a cat and as brutal as he is on birds he just can’t put a dent in the population. Although I can’t have bird feeders so no finchs’ or flying squirrels (at night). I do worry about the owls and golden eagles getting after him though.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 45

Kathleen at 37 — My problem is this: we have had several very virulent and rabid anti-semitic posters who have used AIPAC comments as a means to post anti-Jewish screeds in the past while using rotating IPs. Rather than have those go up, we’ve had to get creative in how the filters work because, frankly, I’d rather have someone have to be patient and wait a couple of minutes for a comment to be freed than to have bigoted comments go up on the blog. That is a decision that both Jane and I have made, and considering some of the filth that has been attempted as postings, I believe most folks would agree with the decision. A little patience would go a long way — and if you refresh your screen, you will see that each and every one of your comments has been freed. Thanks.

Actually Christy this is not true. I submitted very reasonable comments many post back and they did not get posted.

Christy Hardin Smith @
46

Kathleen at 37 — My problem is this: we have had several very virulent and rabid anti-semitic posters who have used AIPAC comments as a means to post anti-Jewish screeds in the past while using rotating IPs. Rather than have those go up, we’ve had to get creative in how the filters work because, frankly, I’d rather have someone have to be patient and wait a couple of minutes for a comment to be freed than to have bigoted comments go up on the blog. That is a decision that both Jane and I have made, and considering some of the filth that has been attempted as postings, I believe most folks would agree with the decision. A little patience would go a long way — and if you refresh your screen, you will see that each and every one of your comments has been freed. Thanks.

Good on ya!

Jukesgrrl @ 32

Hey AZ Matt, a shout-out from Tucson Drinking Liberally.

Want to talk about something? How about the biggest boil festering underneath the American skin: how those in charge of our nation’s economy are lying with statistics to make the financial picture look a lot better than it is. We have able-bodied young people with no idea of a future beyond the military, college grads with pathetic employment options, elderly who think their money will give out long before their health does, and middle-agers who face caring for both their unemployed adult children and their aging parents. Healthcare and social security issues, depleted savings, uncertain stock market: it gnaws at people. They become unwilling to spend money and the retail market falters. We can’t all live on the spending sprees of a few hedge fund kajillionaires.

At least the NY Times has finally acknowledged the pitiful state American mortgages are in. The way I look at it, the recent stock market falter was a preview of more to come. While we focus on the dirty dealings of the Bush Administration, they dig us in as deep domestically as they do internationally. What do you think?

Along these lines, did anybody see last week’s 60 minutes interview of the head of the GAO? An interesting note: As I was watching it, I asked my oldest son (who is 44 years old and leans toward Reagonomics inexplicably–I feel like I am in the Keaton family and he is Alex Keaton) if he was hearing this. He responded that he was, so I asked him what he thought. His response__that me and my friends (from time to time he calls us communists) have been talking so much and so loud that others have been listening to us! “There’s nothing wrong with our economy!” he squealed. Later he said he won’t be coming back to Az; I didn’t tell him that was no threat.

Jukesgrrl @ 31

Hey AZ Matt, a shout-out from Tucson Drinking Liberally.

Want to talk about something? How about the biggest boil festering underneath the American skin: how those in charge of our nation’s economy are lying with statistics to make the financial picture look a lot better than it is. We have able-bodied young people with no idea of a future beyond the military, college grads with pathetic employment options, elderly who think their money will give out long before their health does, and middle-agers who face caring for both their unemployed adult children and their aging parents. Healthcare and social security issues, depleted savings, uncertain stock market: it gnaws at people. They become unwilling to spend money and the retail market falters. We can’t all live on the spending sprees of a few hedge fund kajillionaires.

At least the NY Times has finally acknowledged the pitiful state American mortgages are in. The way I look at it, the recent stock market falter was a preview of more to come. While we focus on the dirty dealings of the Bush Administration, they dig us in as deep domestically as they do internationally. What do you think?

I think that in country such as ours where there is a large group below the poverty line, a middle class struggling at times, when a hot housing market prevents new buyers from entering, where there are a large numberf of rural people having the military as the “vocational education”, and where the interest of business far outweighs the interests of people, then, too say the least, things are out of kilter.

((((mr. reddhedd))))

am so very sorry I missed his appearance in the threads yesterday – some West Virginian I have never met has sacrificed a good portion of a decent homelife just so I and others of similar ilk do not go completely batshit (clinical term) amidst this madness – you go ahead on Christy and get you some quality time – it’s Selection Sunday afterall ;)

Halliburton will move HQ to Dubai

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200…..liburton_1

Christy Hardin Smith @ 39

AZ Matt at 13 — Am trying to catch up on laundry while I’m blogging today, so I just caught your comment. The Peanut is feeling much better today, and the snow is all melted here — it’s gorgeous outside and I’m hoping we can get her out a bit this afternoon once she wakes up from her nap.

That should be fun for all of you! No doubt she will discover all sorts of interesting things to show mommy and daddy! *g*

Kathleen at 52 — I’m certain that you aren’t meaning to sound snotty on a lovely Sunday, so I’m just going to say this: we have been immensely swamped lately with the Libby coverage. Our mods have been working overtime — for free — to keep things freed up and moving. And I, for one, am grateful that they can get to whatever additional help they are giving the blog. If you had a problem with comments on a prior thread, it needed to be addressed there — or you need to be very specific about what it is you are talking about here. Because given the amount of threads and words per day and comments per thread we all go through working on this blog, I have no idea to what “comments many posts back” you are referring without something more substantive attached to it.

Now, if you will excuse me, I’ve got a load of laundry that has to come out of the dryer, another one to go in, and another load for the washer…

Kathleen, did you refresh the whole page with your browser reload tab or F5? The ‘Refresh Comments’ button doesn’t show freed comments and so you won’t see them that way. I’ve read several of your posts on this thread. :)

Sun is gone down here, final re EPU last post – a question

Can someone do research to find out what ever happened to the people who took the fall for Neil Bush’s raping of the Colorado S&Ls. I recall there were people going to prison over it. They should be out now. It may be illuminating just how well off they are living now for “taking the bullit” for a Bush. I am not well qualified to make the searches necessary to find that information – old dog/new trickies syndrom. (Could be what Irving LL has in store as well)

Again, All the best…….

Some weeks ago someone posted a way to hear Air America on iT*nes (click radio, talk radio, Air Am). That was fine for a while, but no longer works for me.

Does anyone else have that problem?
Does anyone else have a free solution?

Tia.

AZ Matt @ 54

Jukesgrrl @ 31
I think that in country such as ours where there is a large group below the poverty line, a middle class struggling at times, when a hot housing market prevents new buyers from entering, where there are a large numberf of rural people having the military as the “vocational education”, and where the interest of business far outweighs the interests of people, then, too say the least, things are out of kilter.

That is what is known as the Republican way. Otherwise known as “I got mine Jack”.

Halliburton is concluding their smash and grab of American cash. Time to ride out the storm in Dubai, the water is warmer and comfort girls don’t know English.

-GSD

As to Chimpy, Gonzo and Deadeye this is gonna be a tough March for them to get through.

Even Fox Snooze is now playing defense.

What’s on my mind.

1. The sorry state of this country and how in the world we can make it better: our lost reputation in the world, loss of civil liberties including the right to privacy and not to be searched or seized without warrant; the loss of the right to habeous corpus; the loss of the right to free and untampered elections; the loss of the right to free speech and peaceable assembly; the loss of the right to travel unimpeded by the government; the loss of the expectation that my representatives in Congress*, the state, or the city will represent me instead of their political masters (e.g. the machine) or their personal ambitions (e.g. Obama’s tringulating everything to serve his presidential over-ambitions).

[* excepting Senator Durbin who’s doing a pretty good job.]

2. The sorry state of my own personal economic situation exacerbated by Bush and the corrupt Republicans that has left me worse off than I was in the 90s, and less able to contribute to turning around item 1.

The Libby conviction and the outbreak of “oversight” by Congressional Democrats has given me hope that at last momentum might be gained at righting the wrongs of #1.

So I’m not without hope, but I’m feeling some concern about my future.

cbl @
18

Heh. I should have said there were a few obvious examples that should be omitted — like MI (ex. Saginaw Chippewa tribe), TX, LA, FL.

But would you expect to see Abramoff’s name come up in…Arizona?

Idaho? Iowa? Oregon?

One of a number of reasons why this Democrat is fed up with the Clintons. Their coziness with the Bush and Poppy..

“Just when Bill Clinton needs to distance himself from his ties to the Bushes, the second most controversial Bush crony (second of course to Dick Cheney) rears his wispy dome at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, the shared campus of the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library. In the heat of Hillary Clinton’s fiercely contested Presidential campaign, Karl Rove, the master of malfeasance, was Thursday’s C-SPAN televised speaker at the CLINTON School. “From post by Linda Milazzo at Arianna, 3-11-07.

Eureka Springs, AR @ 51

Ann in AZ – I have a cat and as brutal as he is on birds he just can’t put a dent in the population. Although I can’t have bird feeders so no finchs’ or flying squirrels (at night). I do worry about the owls and golden eagles getting after him though.

That was what I was worried about.

I think we’ve got a plurality of Arizonans here this morning. Just to delurk for a moment and shout from Tucson. Everyone in my neighborhood is out planting this beautiful morning. And I think we’re reaching a tipping point on scooter, the justice department, impeachment. Or maybe it’s just the weather!

Christy, I sent you something last night if it didn’t get lost in the ether.

Also someone mentioned the excellent article in the Times on the mortgage crisis. It is:

Crisis Looms in Mortgages By GRETCHEN MORGENSON

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03…..ge.html?hp

My only criticism is I wish this had been written when all the bad loans were being handed out.

Kathleen @ 48

Kathleen, I personally believe that one lobbying group representing a small nation has had a crippling effect on our nation’s foreign policy, often at detriment to their own cause.

But blogging is organic; this blog covers what it does because these issues mattered intensely to the persons who started the blog. They do a great job because they were passionately moved by these issues. It works that way in many forms of writing; why’d Marcy write Anatomy of Deceit or Kos and Jerome write Crashing the Gates?

You personally may have a calling to write about the issue that bothers you so intensely. Perhaps you should be covering this yourself, and encouraging readership to your blog by using your blog URL in your signature here.

Go for it.

Hugh @ 70

Christy, I sent you something last night if it didn’t get lost in the ether.

Also someone mentioned the excellent article in the Times on the mortgage crisis. It is:

Crisis Looms in Mortgages By GRETCHEN MORGENSON

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03…..ge.html?hp

My only criticism is I wish this had been written when all the bad loans were being handed out.

Now THAT is high praise from Hugh…)

peanutgallery @ 69

I think we’ve got a plurality of Arizonans here this morning. Just to delurk for a moment and shout from Tucson. Everyone in my neighborhood is out planting this beautiful morning. And I think we’re reaching a tipping point on scooter, the justice department, impeachment. Or maybe it’s just the weather!

My wife is Costa Rican and keeps asking when we can plant a garden but it is too early in northern Arizona. We are at 6,000 ft.

But I will enjoy watching Scooter the Gooper get planted, along with the other assorted nuts!

What’s on my mind after watching Sting? :)

Every time I see a photo of Valarie my heart sinks. Here’s someone who make a conscious choice to risk her life to help the country out. I think about how much of her life she has had to keep to herself, while I go around expressing my concerns, hopes and fears freely. I could only imagine what this act of revenge has done to her.

Rayne 71_well said, as always.

From George McGovern:

There is no question in my mind that Cheney has committed impeachable offenses. So has George Bush,” argues McGovern. “Bush is much more impeachable than Richard Nixon was. That’s been clear for some time. There does not seem to be much sentiment for impeachment in Congress now, but around the country people are fed up with this administration.”

Rayne @ 71

Kathleen @ 48

Kathleen, I personally believe that one lobbying group representing a small nation has had a crippling effect on our nation’s foreign policy, often at detriment to their own cause.

But blogging is organic; this blog covers what it does because these issues mattered intensely to the persons who started the blog. They do a great job because they were passionately moved by these issues. It works that way in many forms of writing; why’d Marcy write Anatomy of Deceit or Kos and Jerome write Crashing the Gates?

You personally may have a calling to write about the issue that bothers you so intensely. Perhaps you should be covering this yourself, and encouraging readership to your blog by using your blog URL in your signature here.

Go for it.

That’s such a good idea. Now you’ve got me thinking about writing a book on politics and mental illness. Gee thanks [like I have time!]

Lesar said. “Yes, I will spend the majority of my time in Dubai.”

much easier to keep track of those Iranian Operations

and hey Rayne, believe Hopi and Navajo nations approached Jack early on wrt lobbying but am not sure they actuallly inked a deal – oh well, back to the google

Just dropped in so pardon me if someone already posted this. It’s a bit from MadTV last night. It’s hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-KWYYIY4jQ

Enjoy!

Mauimom @
8

I’m wondering if there’s any way the USA firings can be “undone”? They were clearly “wrongly motivated” or whatever adjective one could use to describe them.

Why should we go FORWARD and allow the WH criminals to appoint toadies in place of the competent USA’s we had? Any suggestions anyone?

I posed this question down thread, just went back to check if any response. Reiz Fischer (?) says that they’re all pukes anyway, so don’t shed any tears of their firing.

WTF happened to the rule of law or respect for precedence. Carol Lamm was not a puke IMHO. I’m sure Randy Duke Cunningham might think so, but not millions of other concerned citizen. Those attorney’s who willingly took on corruption and exposed the underbelly of the GOP, helped to ensure the take over of the House and Senate by the Democrats.

just wondering – if the economy is soooooooo strong why are there sooo many people being down-sized? and if folks are being down-sized – who’s left to purchase goods and services? oh yeah i know the present bunch of us may be doing “ok at the moment” but what of our children? it certainly looks bleak for them in more ways than one – i dont think i’m being overly pessimistic………….

I hate to go back to the lightbulbs from the previous thread, but it reminded me of one of the things my Sunday morning brain was skipping over.

A lot of all this goes back to Reagan.

There is a legion of examples. Start with the Elliot Abrams conference mentioned by Sy Hersh, “How do we do the old stuff in a new way so that it’s ‘legal’ this time?” The biggest thing is that the beginning of the destruction of the middle class began under Reagan, the gap between rich and poor. And the lightbulbs come in because Carter set up a great start for energy independence that was tossed aside as soon as Ronnie got to Washington.

One reason I mention this is because I work with people who aren’t dirty hippies like some of us and they went to high school and college in the Reagan era and bought the whole farm during that period. Just as many liberal/progressives were fostered in that era but it’s always stunning to me when I’m talking to unreasonable people who believed that Saddam Hussein was sponsoring al-Qaeda five years ago, that we have to “win” the “War on Terrorism”/occupation of Iraq now, that there was no underlying crime in the Libby trial, but Clinton’s perjury was impeachable.

We all know how long the list is.

And it has only gotten worse, judging by the audience response to the Coulter comments, if you listened to it. The audience loved her. It’s so amazing that this happened: who are these people? It reminds me of the screaming conservative audience on the Wally George show that I vaguely remember from 20 years ago, which was an early example of the twisted unfunny right wing political theater that has become so widespread in our time.

Ah, the vertical challenge!

Rayne @ 71

Kathleen @ 48

Kathleen, I personally believe that one lobbying group representing a small nation has had a crippling effect on our nation’s foreign policy, often at detriment to their own cause.

But blogging is organic; this blog covers what it does because these issues mattered intensely to the persons who started the blog. They do a great job because they were passionately moved by these issues. It works that way in many forms of writing; why’d Marcy write Anatomy of Deceit or Kos and Jerome write Crashing the Gates?

You personally may have a calling to write about the issue that bothers you so intensely. Perhaps you should be covering this yourself, and encouraging readership to your blog by using your blog URL in your signature here.

Go for it.

Actually, it seems to me there is a simple solution: If Kathleen puts in some well-placed asterisks, her meaning will not be lost, but her posts will not go into moderation. The warning was that if asterisks are not used, automatic triggers are pulled that require a person to go in and release the comment. No need to get testy, just a little more compliant.

Ann in AZ @ 53

Jukesgrrl @ 32

Hey AZ Matt, a shout-out from Tucson Drinking Liberally.

Want to talk about something? How about the biggest boil festering underneath the American skin: how those in charge of our nation’s economy are lying with statistics to make the financial picture look a lot better than it is. We have able-bodied young people with no idea of a future beyond the military, college grads with pathetic employment options, elderly who think their money will give out long before their health does, and middle-agers who face caring for both their unemployed adult children and their aging parents. Healthcare and social security issues, depleted savings, uncertain stock market: it gnaws at people. They become unwilling to spend money and the retail market falters. We can’t all live on the spending sprees of a few hedge fund kajillionaires.

At least the NY Times has finally acknowledged the pitiful state American mortgages are in. The way I look at it, the recent stock market falter was a preview of more to come. While we focus on the dirty dealings of the Bush Administration, they dig us in as deep domestically as they do internationally. What do you think?

Along these lines, did anybody see last week’s 60 minutes interview of the head of the GAO? An interesting note: As I was watching it, I asked my oldest son (who is 44 years old and leans toward Reagonomics inexplicably–I feel like I am in the Keaton family and he is Alex Keaton) if he was hearing this. He responded that he was, so I asked him what he thought. His response__that me and my friends (from time to time he calls us communists) have been talking so much and so loud that others have been listening to us! “There’s nothing wrong with our economy!” he squealed. Later he said he won’t be coming back to Az; I didn’t tell him that was no threat.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 58

Kathleen at 52 — I’m certain that you aren’t meaning to sound snotty on a lovely Sunday, so I’m just going to say this: we have been immensely swamped lately with the Libby coverage. Our mods have been working overtime — for free — to keep things freed up and moving. And I, for one, am grateful that they can get to whatever additional help they are giving the blog. If you had a problem with comments on a prior thread, it needed to be addressed there — or you need to be very specific about what it is you are talking about here. Because given the amount of threads and words per day and comments per thread we all go through working on this blog, I have no idea to what “comments many posts back” you are referring without something more substantive attached to it.

Now, if you will excuse me, I’ve got a load of laundry that has to come out of the dryer, another one to go in, and another load for the washer…

IInteresting that this is your response to being politely challenged Christy. This sounds like members of a certain administration in power. I know that I have tried to post reasonable comments about Aipac in the past and they have not been posted. So if this is the way you respond to a reasonble challenge. This is very telling.

For those here in need of a great laugh go to Badreporter and your need will answered:

http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/asmussen/

Juslin @80,

There was a report last week that said the midwest economy is much worse off than the economy as-a-whole. Rosy picture is only rosy for some. You’re not being pessimistic, IMHO.

Hugh, I wish I had not read that entire article you linked to at 70. Somehow, the delayed mark-to-market is the scariest part of this deflating-balloon scenario: until the securities are downgraded (something the ratings agencies appear to be financially dis-incentivized against) management can value them however they like. There’s no requirement to re-value them until they are re-rated. Which means everyone’s current mortgage portfolio is likely highly overvalued.

kathleen-
I second Rayne. even this community is not ready – yet – to have a sophisticated discussion of israel, and what you propose could be used to destroy what is going on here. take it from a tenure track palestinian…. but a tipping point is coming!

peanutgallery @ 86

kathleen-
I second Rayne. even this community is not ready – yet – to have a sophisticated discussion of israel, and what you propose could be used to destroy what is going on here. take it from a tenure track palestinian…. but a tipping point is coming!

It seems to be true..not ready just like the MSM

Oklahoma kiddo @ 75

From George McGovern:

There is no question in my mind that Cheney has committed impeachable offenses. So has George Bush,” argues McGovern. “Bush is much more impeachable than Richard Nixon was. That’s been clear for some time. There does not seem to be much sentiment for impeachment in Congress now, but around the country people are fed up with this administration.”

OTOH, this March is starting to feel more like last Sept. all the time. You remember the period right after Katrina when the nation seemed to wake up or come out of a fog, and we had a perfect storm of scandals that caused the losses of Nov. So far, we had a verdict in the Libby trial (1), the treatment of veterans by the Walter Reed outpatient system (2), the firing of US Atty’s by the Justice Dept. and leading back to the White House (3), and the over ambitious use of the Patriot Act by the FBI (4), all of which seem to be resonating. No telling what’s next, and it’s only the eleventh of the month! I feel pretty good!

juslin @ 80

It’s all about the measures. They are monkeying with them in many ways. Pay more attention to what the OMB says, and to the price of gasoline, and you’ll know a lot more than the baloney reported as GDP.

Rayne and AZMatt -

sweet jeebus, we were just talking about NeoCon genealogy this am –

a little fun w/ the google – Hopi Nation

Kevin Ring represented The Nation -
but then left them without a lobbyist

In 2002 and 2003, he was named a
“Top Rainmaker” by The Hill newspaper
in its annual rankings of Washington’s
premier lobbyists.

which is all we really need to know – heh

In 1993, Mr. Ring
joined the staff of U.S. Representative
John T. Doolittle, a member of the House
Appropriations Committee

In 1998, Mr. Ring was named by
then-U.S. Senator John Ashcroft to serve
as a counsel on the Senate Judiciary
Committee’s

returning to the
House to become executive director of
the Conservative Action Team (later
renamed the Republican Study
Committee)

oooh and a multi talented fella -

Mr. Ring’s book, Scalia Dissents:
Writings of the Supreme Court’s Wittiest,
Most Outspoken Justice, was published
by Regnery in November 2004.

Where is this guy ???

OT..Hillary “I am the JFK of 2008″ What she should want to be if the RFK of 2008. JFK was a medical disaster and I suspect Bobby was the person who did the “real work” as president. If Hill wants to be the “New JKF’ who will be her RFK; Bill?

Kathleen—

Here’s the view from my porch. You can discuss Israel all you want. If you have been here for a long time you will see that I have quite a few hot comments on that topic, likewise our Alaskan colleague.

But you get in trouble by criticizing how Christy and Jane run the blog. It’s THEIR blog. Don’t like it? Start your own.

“I am the JFK of 2008″

Please tell me she hasn’t actually said that.

Raven, please pardon my curiosity – you’ve mentioned VietNam, etc, so i assumed you are a guy, yet people call you a she. Do i have two different people confused? Thanks.

Steve @
93

OT..Hillary “I am the JFK of 2008″ What she should want to be if the RFK of 2008. JFK was a medical disaster and I suspect Bobby was the person who did the “real work” as president. If Hill wants to be the “New JKF’ who will be her RFK; Bill?

I can just hear Hagel saying to Clinton in debate,”Senator Clinton, I have met President Kennedy, and you Senator Clinton are no Jack Kennedy”.

What a dumb thing to say. I thought she was more seasoned than that. Talk about setting yourself up.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 58

Kathleen at 52 — I’m certain that you aren’t meaning to sound snotty on a lovely Sunday, so I’m just going to say this: we have been immensely swamped lately with the Libby coverage. Our mods have been working overtime — for free — to keep things freed up and moving. And I, for one, am grateful that they can get to whatever additional help they are giving the blog. If you had a problem with comments on a prior thread, it needed to be addressed there — or you need to be very specific about what it is you are talking about here. Because given the amount of threads and words per day and comments per thread we all go through working on this blog, I have no idea to what “comments many posts back” you are referring without something more substantive attached to it.

Now, if you will excuse me, I’ve got a load of laundry that has to come out of the dryer, another one to go in, and another load for the washer…

I appreciate what you do. But does that mean one is not allowed to challenge the Firedoglakers in a reasonable way. Your response almost reminded me of individuals in this administration. I will post comments about a-pac without saying using their initials. And yes this it is a beautiful day in southeastern Ohio too!

Kathleen @
48

Kathleen @ 44

Seize the moment. With Fitzgerald and Plame both “allegedly” testifying this week before congress. No time like the present Contact your reps this week and demand that they investigate OldCoastie @ 40

Kathleen – the initials in the A*P*C land you in moderation automatically.

Why?

So are you telling me that I can encourage people to contact their reps about the Plame outing? But I can not encourage people to contact their reps about taking a more balanced stance towards the Israeli/Palestinian conflict? Especially just after Aipac’s conference (this past weekend) when our reps will be getting hammered by those who attended this conference. Why is this topic off limits on this site? Please explain?

Is this issue off topic here just as it is in the mainstream? Sure seems to be so!

I’m going to try fielding this so Christy can do her laundry. I hasten to say I am *not* any official person with FDL, but have seen this question come up before.

OK, we can and do discuss this topic, although not very much because most of the folks here agree that Palestinian are getting an awful deal. Many of us work for a fair and just solution for the Palestinian people elsewhere in our lives so it is not just lip service, either. The topic comes up most every day, generally several times a day. You might get a sample if you clicked on the Israel link in the Thread Index on the right hand sidebar, or google “Palestine” “www.firedoglake.com” to see what sort of things are said here.

However, as you probably know, there is an active pushback machine that will target any discussion of this topic and flood it with incredibly hateful messages. Some accuse us of being anti-s*mitic, others are trolls who post racist and/or anti-s*mitic remarks, often violent and/or obscene, to make it look like we are saying these things. And hate speech is illegal, of course, so we do not want it planted here. One of the ways they find target sites it to do a google search for the word “A*P*C” (with the missing letters filled in). So the spam filters have been set up to trap that term until a moderator can check to make sure it is legit.

Because it is difficult to search for a term with an asterisk in it, impossible in most search systems, the convention is that if you want to say something about that particular organization here, you may do so by using the non-searchable format A*P*C, as Christy told you.

The regulars here know this but it bears repeating (discretely) from time to time as new people are always turning up. BTW, we also use similar conventions for e-mail addresses, again to baffle the spammers.

egregious @ 92

Kathleen—

Here’s the view from my porch. You can discuss Israel all you want. If you have been here for a long time you will see that I have quite a few hot comments on that topic, likewise our Alaskan colleague.

But you get in trouble by criticizing how Christy and Jane run the blog. It’s THEIR blog. Don’t like it? Start your own.

Sounds like the Bush administration

Kathleen @ 89

If you’ve read the threads at DKos and at TPM where they’ve tried to take up these issues, you’ll see that there are folks who are willing to go nuclear winter on anyone who does not agree with them on the topic. It’s also very easy to muddy the issue because the different components related to the subject matter are readily conflated.

Is it that WE, the community of FDL and the bloggers who write here that are not ready? Or is this a larger issue, that America is not ready?

I encourage you to consider writing about this.

I’d also encourage you to do it, not only to answer the calling you are hearing, but to experience what it’s like to have to moderate comments. It’s no picnic, and key subjects bring out the absolute worst elements intent on shutting down discussion. You are not alone on being stuck in mod here, either, but having experience with managing a few blogs it doesn’t bother me that I’ve been stuck. “C*alis”, also found in words like “spec*alist”, will get you blocked just as “A*PAC” will.

“I’m sending out an S.O.L.” to Irving

christy@

be addressed there — or you need to be very specific about what it is you are talking about here. Because given the amount of threads and words per day and comments per thread we all go through working on this blog, I have no idea to what “comments many posts back” you are referring without something more substantive attached to it.

kathleen, i believe she was asking you to be more specific in order to address your complaint.

cbl @ 91

Rayne and AZMatt -

sweet jeebus, we were just talking about NeoCon genealogy this am –

a little fun w/ the google – Hopi Nation

Kevin Ring represented The Nation -
but then left them without a lobbyist

In 2002 and 2003, he was named a
“Top Rainmaker” by The Hill newspaper
in its annual rankings of Washington’s
premier lobbyists.

which is all we really need to know – heh

In 1993, Mr. Ring
joined the staff of U.S. Representative
John T. Doolittle, a member of the House
Appropriations Committee

In 1998, Mr. Ring was named by
then-U.S. Senator John Ashcroft to serve
as a counsel on the Senate Judiciary
Committee’s

returning to the
House to become executive director of
the Conservative Action Team (later
renamed the Republican Study
Committee)

oooh and a multi talented fella -

Mr. Ring’s book, Scalia Dissents:
Writings of the Supreme Court’s Wittiest,
Most Outspoken Justice, was published
by Regnery in November 2004.

Where is this guy ???

In regards to Hopi, he was a lobbiest for the Tribe on a possible deal with Relient Energy to build a coal powered plant on the rez. Relient got in trouble and when the Abramoff stuff cameout the tribal council cut ties with Ring.

I think that questions about our policies on the relations between the Palestinians and the Israelis are important. But when I try to discuss the matter with other people, mostly centrist to left of center, I don’t get much back.

Look what happened to Jimmy Carter. After his book came out, I posted a comment wondering if our hosts could approach him to do a book club. Jane replied, and I paraphrase, that it would be interesting but very difficult. Just consider the problem of trying to moderate the comments, given the hot passions the issue arouses on both sides.

We may not, as a nation, be ready to discuss this problem in public. We are, however, ready to take it up one on one, and that is always the best starting point for change. We can make our mistakes in private, hone our thoughts, and eventually they are ready for public discourse.

Heh. Too funny. I just tripped the mod trying explain to kathleen at my (101) that she is not alone, that a number key words also trip the mods.

Refresh in a few moments, kathleen.

ok – i need some levity to chase those lousy thoughts – make a girl smile ;o)

Kathleen at #84,

Christy is doing laundry today, trying to catch up with her life! She may also be a little testy, as we all are sometimes (I can’t think of anyone who deserves to feel a little overwhelmed more!). It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been testy! But I’m assuming that you meant to put in my number 83 (which referenced your problem, whereas my #53 had nothing to do with you), which simply stated that if you use asterisks in referencing a*p*c, we will understand your meaning and your comments will avoid censure. Is there a problem with that?

Kathleen @ 99

Sounds like the Bush administration

How does an exhortation to raise your voice on your own soapbox if you feel inadequately heard elsewhere ’sound like the Bush administration’?

I’m not following your analogy here.

Watertiger upstairs, gang. We could use some snark right about now.

egregious @
76

Rayne @ 71

Kathleen @ 48

Kathleen, I personally believe that one lobbying group representing a small nation has had a crippling effect on our nation’s foreign policy, often at detriment to their own cause.

But blogging is organic; this blog covers what it does because these issues mattered intensely to the persons who started the blog. They do a great job because they were passionately moved by these issues. It works that way in many forms of writing; why’d Marcy write Anatomy of Deceit or Kos and Jerome write Crashing the Gates?

You personally may have a calling to write about the issue that bothers you so intensely. Perhaps you should be covering this yourself, and encouraging readership to your blog by using your blog URL in your signature here.

Go for it.

That’s such a good idea. Now you’ve got me thinking about writing a book on politics and mental illness. Gee thanks [like I have time!]

An Irish Barrister has receintly written a superb book on the subject that can be gotten at amazon.co.uk Peter Charleton wrote Lies in a Mirror, An Essay on Evil and Deceipt here.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lies-M…..amp;sr=1-3
I cannot commend it enough. Beyond Chutspah was also an eyeopener read in conjunction with The Great War for Civilization. All should be on have read list for the right to vote IMO.

Kathleen @ 99

egregious @ 92

But you get in trouble by criticizing how Christy and Jane run the blog. It’s THEIR blog. Don’t like it? Start your own.

Sounds like the Bush administration

Here we go…

Kathleen @
100

egregious @ 92

Kathleen—

Here’s the view from my porch. You can discuss Israel all you want. If you have been here for a long time you will see that I have quite a few hot comments on that topic, likewise our Alaskan colleague.

But you get in trouble by criticizing how Christy and Jane run the blog. It’s THEIR blog. Don’t like it? Start your own.

Sounds like the Bush administration

Sounds like someone has a bad case of the Sundays.

-GSD

Anybody want toast?

Um, what kind of toast, egregious?

I’m compelled to ask for several reasons, not the least of which is the charcoal my husband prepared this morning to accompany his omelet.

Renee in Ohio @ 95

“I am the JFK of 2008″

Please tell me she hasn’t actually said that.

Sorry, Rene, that appears to be exactly what they’re saying. I believe there was even a link up yonder or in the last thread.

Kathleen @ 100

egregious @ 92

Kathleen—

Here’s the view from my porch. You can discuss Israel all you want. If you have been here for a long time you will see that I have quite a few hot comments on that topic, likewise our Alaskan colleague.

But you get in trouble by criticizing how Christy and Jane run the blog. It’s THEIR blog. Don’t like it? Start your own.

Sounds like the Bush administration

That’s a good idea, let’s start our own administration! “Of the people, for the people, and by the people.” Think it’ll fly?

Rayne @ 115

Um, what kind of toast, egregious?

I’m compelled to ask for several reasons, not the least of which is the charcoal my husband prepared this morning to accompany his omelet.

Well, for starters, whole wheat bread, lightly toasted with REAL butter and homemade cherry preserves.

The charcoal is slightly carcinogenic if you need a point for him.

Ann in AZ @ 104

Kathleen at #84,

Christy is doing laundry today, trying to catch up with her life! She may also be a little testy, as we all are sometimes (I can’t think of anyone who deserves to feel a little overwhelmed more!). It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been testy! But I’m assuming that you meant to put in my number 83 (which referenced your problem, whereas my #53 had nothing to do with you), which simply stated that if you use asterisks in referencing a*p*c, we will understand your meaning and your comments will avoid censure. Is there a problem with that?

No problem. But, I have made reasonable comments in the past that were never posted.

Back to my point. We should hammer our reps this week about the Plame case, demanding that they dig further. I also believe we should contact them about a more reasonable stance on the I/P conflict . Folks should call and e-mail this week, to counter balance the lop-sided lobbying that will take place this week after the A-pac conference.

There is no profit in trying to talk sense to one who revels in their grievance.

egregious — yeah, I tried to point to that carcinogenic quality, but he was pretty stubborn and had to make a point. “I wanted it dark,” he said.

Well, there’s a fine line between dark and smoke-billowing-out-of-the-toaster-dark, and yet one more fine hair’s width deviation from pissed-off-wife-house-stinking-of-smoke-five-hours-later-dark.

He seemed to miss both of those fine dividing lines.

But I’ll trade you a slice of REAL butter whole wheat toast for a freshly baked buttermilk biscuit and cloudberry preserves.

Oooh sounds good. You’ve got a trade, Rayne.

New toaster? Sometimes you can regulate them to only go so far.

darkblack @ 105

Kathleen @ 99

Sounds like the Bush administration

How does an exhortation to raise your voice on your own soapbox if you feel inadequately heard elsewhere ’sound like the Bush administration’?

I’m not following your analogy here.

Read it again and think. Not allowed to question, go elsewhere if you do, roll over and only give praise!

masaccio @ 105

I think that questions about our policies on the relations between the Palestinians and the Israelis are important. But when I try to discuss the matter with other people, mostly centrist to left of center, I don’t get much back.

Look what happened to Jimmy Carter. After his book came out, I posted a comment wondering if our hosts could approach him to do a book club. Jane replied, and I paraphrase, that it would be interesting but very difficult. Just consider the problem of trying to moderate the comments, given the hot passions the issue arouses on both sides.

We may not, as a nation, be ready to discuss this problem in public. We are, however, ready to take it up one on one, and that is always the best starting point for change. We can make our mistakes in private, hone our thoughts, and eventually they are ready for public discourse.

Which is exactly why my favorite ex-President (yes, I know it’s counter-intuitive to be pro-Carter) wrote the book. He wanted to give people something to debate, to talk about, to find common ground on. Shame we didn’t try to get him to join us. Nobody had better credentials than Carter on how to achieve peace in the Middle East than he does, IMO.

egregious @ 122

Oh no, not a new toaster. He put the toast a second time because it wasn’t dark enough the first time, then ignored it.

It wasn’t the toaster that needed calibration. Grr…

By the way, have I mentioned what the hardwired smoke alarm system in our new house sounds like when activated?

[passes the biscuits and cloudberry preserves]

Rayne @ 115

Um, what kind of toast, egregious?

I’m compelled to ask for several reasons, not the least of which is the charcoal my husband prepared this morning to accompany his omelet.

Raisin toast, of course!

maybe i’m just dense – exactly what IS kathleen’s point? does she feel stifled or perhaps misunderstood? curious………….

Rayne, I did the google thing wrt louisiana and abramoff. It goes on for page after page. I haven’t tried Alabama yet.

Mmm-mmm…raisin toast with a bit of cinnamon-sugar. And a steaming cup of green tea.

ok i’m getting something….. kathleen – stealth trolling? just sayin……

Rayne @ 121

egregious — yeah, I tried to point to that carcinogenic quality, but he was pretty stubborn and had to make a point. “I wanted it dark,” he said.

Well, there’s a fine line between dark and smoke-billowing-out-of-the-toaster-dark, and yet one more fine hair’s width deviation from pissed-off-wife-house-stinking-of-smoke-five-hours-later-dark.

He seemed to miss both of those fine dividing lines.

But I’ll trade you a slice of REAL butter whole wheat toast for a freshly baked buttermilk biscuit and cloudberry preserves.

What in the world is a cloudberry? I never heard of such a thing!

Lindy — oh dear, AL is another one, Alabama-Coushatta tribe.

You’ll see that Abramoff touched nearly every state in some way. Sad.

Ann in AZ — Cloudberries are related to blackberries and raspberries, but a low-growing plant suited only to cooler climates, mostly above 45th parallel. My stepson’s Swedish girlfriend brought me a jar this week, delightful orangy-gold color, delicious.

I remember Christy once said that everyone shouldn’t pile on when there’s a disagreement. I favor that approach.

juslin @ 127

maybe i’m just dense – exactly what IS kathleen’s point? does she feel stifled or perhaps misunderstood? curious………….

In case you hadn’t noticed, this is a subject that might be better off dropped before feelings are hurt beyond repair.

Rayne @ 133

Ann in AZ — Cloudberries are related to blackberries and raspberries, but a low-growing plant suited only to cooler climates, mostly above 45th parallel. My stepson’s Swedish girlfriend brought me a jar this week, delightful orangy-gold color, delicious.

Sounds yummy!

From EPU Land on the Turdblossom thread

A Congressional investigation into Mr. Rove’s background, assisted by subpoenas and grants of immunity, would no doubt uncover morsels that a federal or state prosecutor might find worth biting into.

Careful with the immunity, it seems to me that wholesale granting of immunity, plus a judicious pardon or two, had a lot to do with no one being held accountable for Iran/Contra or the sleazy treasonous dealings with the Iranians by the incoming Raygunites while demonizing Carter for not being able to make a deal for the hostages (since they already had). Indeed most of those criminals that aren’t dead are in the current criminal administration. This time either clean up America or build a fence around it.

cbl – Kevin Ring is now with the DC office of Barnes & Thornburg (an Indy based firm) – he and some of Abramoffs other crew landed there.

Ring was also the guy referenced in Abramoff’s email to his Mariana’s clients over the classified report prepared in part by then acting USAtty, Black. Ashcrofts COS, David Ayres, who is still with Ashcroft in his lobbying and pizza party business, was in Abramoff’s sky box and passed, to Abramoff, word about the CLASSIFIED report, that no one in Congress had even seen yet – no one on the committee for whom the report was being prepared.

So Abramoff fires off an email to his client saying that Ashcroft’s COS had just filled the lobbyist in on the CLASSIFIED report and that not to worry, Abramoff had someone who was going to play basketball with Ashcroft (that would be Ring – apparently the main criteria for being in the Ashcroft coterie was an ability to swish it *g*). That someone would have been Ring. And Abramoff assured his client that they could get Ashcroft to squash the report – no problem. Some of his ‘underlings’ might be a problem but they could take care of it.

The report then lingered, deep sixed and never received by anyone on the Congressional committee, until waaaaaaaaaay into the Abramoff investigation. At which point (after the emails came out), it kind of miraculously apeared.

Charges against Ashcroft, Ayres or Ring for any of this?

Not so much.

juslin @ 126

ok i’m getting something….. kathleen – stealth trolling? just sayin……

Give it up! Another way to undermine the topic…will not work

Kathleen @ 123

darkblack @ 105

Kathleen @ 99

Sounds like the Bush administration

How does an exhortation to raise your voice on your own soapbox if you feel inadequately heard elsewhere ’sound like the Bush administration’?

I’m not following your analogy here.

Read it again and think. Not allowed to question, go elsewhere if you do, roll over and only give praise!

Kathleen, I think you DO mean to be snotty on this beautiful Sunday afternoon. Christy gave you a perfectly clear explaination of the way the automated filter works, and why it was set to work that way. And she has a life. And the moderators are unpaid. And you’re getting your panties in a wad because your comments go into moderation, but don’t respond politely to a polite request for patience and an explanation of the way the filters work from the people who run this blog, but instead automatically think there’s a conspiracy against you and/or your issues. In other words, you are questioning the integrity of the owners of this blog and the community that comments here. There is a lot of disagreement on issues around here. However, everyone works hard to keep it civil. The issues we face need clear thinking and thoughtful analysis and they are all urgent.

People around here try hard to work together despite the diversity of views because the future of our country depends on us knowing what is going on and being willing and able to do what we can to help stem this tide of sewage that is hitting from every direction. I think you’re being unfair in your attitude.

Ann in AZ @ 135

juslin @ 127

maybe i’m just dense – exactly what IS kathleen’s point? does she feel stifled or perhaps misunderstood? curious………….

In case you hadn’t noticed, this is a subject that might be better off dropped before feelings are hurt beyond repair.

Oh dear. *blush*

Kathleen: whaat you consider reasonable, others may not. You are bringing down the Sunday thread with your trollish comments.

Ann in AZ @
136

Rayne @ 133

Ann in AZ — Cloudberries are related to blackberries and raspberries, but a low-growing plant suited only to cooler climates, mostly above 45th parallel. My stepson’s Swedish girlfriend brought me a jar this week, delightful orangy-gold color, delicious.

Sounds yummy!

Rayne, are those the Yooper delicacy I know as thimbleberries?

Mary4 @ 138

Gads, I’ve not even tried to recomb through those Abramoff missives that Waxman published for content related to the USA’s…whole thing smells like the largest, most convoluted RICO outfit ever, spanning continents and costing hundreds of billions.

Thanks for that brief on Kevin Ring. Have to keep that in the back of my mind…

A’57 @ 120

There is no profit in trying to talk sense to one who revels in their grievance.

Let it go folks. It’s a waste of valuable time and energy.

Ann in AZ @ 120

masaccio @ 105

I think that questions about our policies on the relations between the Palestinians and the Israelis are important. But when I try to discuss the matter with other people, mostly centrist to left of center, I don’t get much back.

Look what happened to Jimmy Carter. After his book came out, I posted a comment wondering if our hosts could approach him to do a book club. Jane replied, and I paraphrase, that it would be interesting but very difficult. Just consider the problem of trying to moderate the comments, given the hot passions the issue arouses on both sides.

We may not, as a nation, be ready to discuss this problem in public. We are, however, ready to take it up one on one, and that is always the best starting point for change. We can make our mistakes in private, hone our thoughts, and eventually they are ready for public discourse.

Which is exactly why my favorite ex-President (yes, I know it’s counter-intuitive to be pro-Carter) wrote the book. He wanted to give people something to debate, to talk about, to find common ground on. Shame we didn’t try to get him to join us. Nobody had better credentials than Carter on how to achieve peace in the Middle East than he does, IMO.

Carter has been hammered by Camera (right wing media watch group) for his new book “Palestine Peace: Not Apartheid”. Although he has been somewhat successful at stimulating healthy dialogue as well as the paper the “Israeli lobby” by Mearsheimer and Walt.

Carter held a conference recently in Athens Georgia called “Lessons for the 21st Century” you can watch it a C-Span. Really dealt with questions about the I/P issue constructively. Also the Cooper Union “Israel Lobby Debate” at Scribe Media is well worth watching for an honest debate about this critical issue.

HotFlash @ 143

Oh no, distantly related, both berries are genus Rubus, but thimbleberry plants get to be as much as 5 feet tall (I can easily hide under the canopy of a thimbleberry plant). Cloudberries are much lower growing; wish I had the chance to see and pick some in the wild, would love to compare them to other berries I’ve picked.

The taste of thimbleberries is very mild, little acid in them compared to raspberries or blackberries. Cloudberries are somewhere between raspberries and blackberries in terms of acidity, has bigger, fleshier fruits than raspberries. But still delicious, mmm-mmm.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 46

Kathleen at 37 — My problem is this: we have had several very virulent and rabid anti-semitic posters who have used AIPAC comments as a means to post anti-Jewish screeds in the past while using rotating IPs. Rather than have those go up, we’ve had to get creative in how the filters work because, frankly, I’d rather have someone have to be patient and wait a couple of minutes for a comment to be freed than to have bigoted comments go up on the blog. That is a decision that both Jane and I have made, and considering some of the filth that has been attempted as postings, I believe most folks would agree with the decision. A little patience would go a long way — and if you refresh your screen, you will see that each and every one of your comments has been freed. Thanks.

Everything that you and Jane do is done with such careful thought. You two, as well as the rest of FDL are such a class act. If only the rest of the world that we interact with were just half as competent. Wouldn’t that be lovely?

Ann in AZ @ 124

Which is exactly why my favorite ex-President (yes, I know it’s counter-intuitive to be pro-Carter) wrote the book. He wanted to give people something to debate, to talk about, to find common ground on. Shame we didn’t try to get him to join us. Nobody had better credentials than Carter on how to achieve peace in the Middle East than he does, IMO.

I totally agree with you on Jimmy Carter. I’ve always thought he failed to get re-elected (other than the treason going on behind his back over the hostages) because his world view was too complex for the dumbed down American electorate.

The scary thing is the current American electorate that sorta elected Bush and his world view suitable for black and white comic books is even more dumbed down that the electorate that rejected Carter and his intelligience and compassion for Ronnie Raygun whose world view was at the level of a B movie screen play.

At times I despair for the future of a country that allows a draft dodger frat boy to disparage the war records of actual veterans and then give him enough votes that he can steal the rest. Voters that confuse the guy running for Governor of CaleeeForKneeia with the Terminator.

It’s hard to believe that there isn’t gun control in the USA when you see slime like Rove and Tom Delay scurrying around in broad daylight. Though maybe it is a security feature that Turdblossom’s office has no windows.

Back to the original subject – Jimmy Carter was the best President in my lifetime that didn’t get either re-elected or shot. He outshone most of those that got re-elected as well with the exception of Ike and Harry perhaps.

Thanks Kathleen! Looks like I’m in mod now, and I certainly don’t understand just why.

Blush, sigh, Sorry – it disappeared for a moment.

If you don’t see your message, try hitting F5 at the top of your keyboard to refresh the whole page.

Just hitting ‘refresh comments’ won’t do it.

Not to worry, this kind of stuff happens to me all the time.

Several other great debates about the I/P issue took place on Amy Goodman’s Democracy Now program. Both civilized debates.

One between Alan Dershowitz and Norman Finkelstein, and the other between Former Israeli Foreign Minster Ben Ami and Norman Finkelstein. Both debates are worth listening to at Democracy Now

Ann in AZ @
124

masaccio @ 105

I think that questions about our policies on the relations between the Palestinians and the Israelis are important. But when I try to discuss the matter with other people, mostly centrist to left of center, I don’t get much back.

Look what happened to Jimmy Carter. After his book came out, I posted a comment wondering if our hosts could approach him to do a book club. Jane replied, and I paraphrase, that it would be interesting but very difficult. Just consider the problem of trying to moderate the comments, given the hot passions the issue arouses on both sides.

We may not, as a nation, be ready to discuss this problem in public. We are, however, ready to take it up one on one, and that is always the best starting point for change. We can make our mistakes in private, hone our thoughts, and eventually they are ready for public discourse.

Which is exactly why my favorite ex-President (yes, I know it’s counter-intuitive to be pro-Carter) wrote the book. He wanted to give people something to debate, to talk about, to find common ground on. Shame we didn’t try to get him to join us. Nobody had better credentials than Carter on how to achieve peace in the Middle East than he does, IMO.

One last thing to say here, to get things *absolutely correct*. When Massocio asked, and that was around New Years, Jane replied that she had already contacted Carter’s people to see if the President would do a Book Salon and they had not responded. She hypothesized that he was uneasy about being in an open blog format, but the point is that she *did* ask and he (his staff) did not respond. Here is the link to that comment.

We had recently done the very successful — and respectful — Book Salon with John Dean, so we could be fairly sure that random wingnut attacks could be filtered/moderated out. The very next comment was a suggestion for Elizabeth de la Vega’s book, as we know she came, she saloned and she conquered.

Kathleen @
123

Read it again and think. Not allowed to question, go elsewhere if you do, roll over and only give praise!

Very well, I’ve read it again and thought about it.

And

No one is restricting your questions. No one has told you to go elsewhere. ‘Roll over’ is strictly for odometers. And praise is overrated.

I think that the points you referenced earlier regarding a certain lobby have merit, and that certain lobby and its activities deserves some closer scrutiny.

So start a blog, research the data, publish it, and promote. That is the nature of the medium, not attempting to force another to do your bidding and castigating them when they prove reluctant…Something that is far closer to the zeitgeist of the Bush administration, IMO.

Check out David Corn and Jim Pinkerton’s discussion/debate about the Libby conviction at Bloggingheads T.V. Pinkerton is a conservative and believes Libby did wrong and does not deserve a pardon.

zhiv @ 81

…A lot of all this goes back to Reagan.

There is a legion of examples. Start with the Elliot Abrams conference mentioned by Sy Hersh, “How do we do the old stuff in a new way so that it’s ‘legal’ this time?” The biggest thing is that the beginning of the destruction of the middle class began under Reagan, the gap between rich and poor. And the lightbulbs come in because Carter set up a great start for energy independence that was tossed aside as soon as Ronnie got to Washington…

Have u noticed that the Office of Vice-Prez has become the locus of WH operations that seek very low-profile or covert existence?

Even Dick has noted that the OVP is the preferred seat of certain activities that are more effective out of the limelight? [ I cannot find a link for this].

from my 283 on Double Whammy thread:

…that the regime fronted by Dick selected, arranged for and installed Strawman, who in turn delegated authority to Dick to forward regime’s agenda.
They played to Strawman’s vanity as self-created, oil industry insider and his neophyte familiarity with its nomenclature.
He had/has no agenda beyond what was/is scripted for his ears. Strawman is a via for others’ vision. He got the attention and votes. His personality was suitable for that.

The technique echoes the very effective actions of VP Nixon under Ike and VP GHWB under RR…effective, if not ethical.

Delegation to the OVP to do the unethical stuff.

Ooh, ooh, Book Salon up now Striling Newberry hosts Joe Connason re It Can Happen Here.

Just one last comment. When the firepups start nervously chattering about berries to try and drown out the voice of a regular you can tell we’re pushing the last big taboo. This and other trust-busting topics that will split a fragile community in two cannot be discussed in anonymity in my experience (I stopped blogging for this very reason) – sliming techniques will prevail and cause everyone to head for the hills in disgust.

[”Progressive from Wikipedia:]

There are at least three distinct meanings of the word “progressive”, as it is used today. Ordered from the most vague to the most specific, they are as follows:

1. In the broadest sense, the label “progressive” may be used in self-description of anyone who advocates any kind of change in a society, or in any part of the political spectrum.
2. In a somewhat more restricted sense, “progressive” is a term used within left-wing politics to distinguish those who advocate moderate or gradual social change – often called either “progressives” or “reformists” – from those who advocate larger and more rapid changes – called “revolutionaries” or “radicals”.
3. Finally, in the most specific sense, there is the continuation of the political movement/ideology that began in the late 19th century. Progressives support the continual advancement of workers’ rights and social justice. The first progressives were some of the earliest proponents of anti-trust laws and the regulation of large corporations and monopolies. They were also among the first advocates of government-funded environmentalism, and the creation of National Parks and Wildlife Refuges.

In plain fact, the only ones who call liberals progressives are liberals themselves or those who have been wrongly accused of being liberal.

There is a Progressive Party – or more accurately – parties that has made most headway in local elections in Vermont. These are hardly the modest liberals that have been sent to Washington but hellraisers and even some extreme rightwingers.

Put any face you want on it. Those calling themselves progressives are mostly ashamed of being called liberals. That is if they aren’t the stripe of Progressives in Wisconsin that proudly separate themselves from the likes of the Berkeleyites who think the Wisconsin liberals are extremists. Maybe some here qualify as the heirs of LaFollete, whose xenophobic isolationism had an ugly side but I haven’t noticed. Other radicals share notions in common with reactionaries of the right.

Just a pet gripe.

We knew an undertaker and his wife, s rather jolly pair that naturally preferred to be called funeral directors. We called them “diggers” among ourselves. Such is life among those in less than honored professions.

Are liberals really so frightened of scorn from the like of Limbaugh and Coulter and even Russert and Matthews?

Best, Terry

peanutgallery @ 159

Now just a darn minute. One of the many features of the WordPress format is that all comments appear choronoogically (more or less). When several subthreads/conversations are going on at once, which is most of the time, given the format, there will be comments in sequence that do not relate to one another. In fact, at least one of the berry sub-thread people had responded directly to Kathleen.

You may have been nervous, but not fair or accurate to say others were/are. This topic is not taboo here.

peanutgallery @ 155

Just one last comment. When the firepups start nervously chattering about berries to try and drown out the voice of a regular you can tell we’re pushing the last big taboo. This and other trust-busting topics that will split a fragile community in two cannot be discussed in anonymity in my experience (I stopped blogging for this very reason) – sliming techniques will prevail and cause everyone to head for the hills in disgust.

Yes

theExile @
149

Ann in AZ @ 124

Jimmy Carter was the best President in my lifetime that didn’t get either re-elected or shot. He outshone most of those that got re-elected as well with the exception of Ike and Harry perhaps.

In my view that economic adventurer was a pain who delivered pain by truckload. His embrace of monetarism was the lead into the chasm between rich and poor that has engulfed this country. He was the kind of fellow who could toast the Marcos and the Shah and then set up the country as arbiter of social justice around the world.

He makes a fine ex-president BTW. His penance for his maladministration is exemplary.

Best, Terry

Terry, can you edit that? I think you posted in theexile’s box

peanut gallery @ 159, thank you.

Terry Best or Best Terry, so which circle of Hell would Carter rate in your estimation compared to say, Nixon, Reagan and Bush the Lesser? Or are those three your idea of good preznits.

don’t get me wrong, I love berries too! ;-)

theExile @ 166

Terry Best or Best Terry, so which circle of Hell would Carter rate in your estimation compared to say, Nixon, Reagan and Bush the Lesser? Or are those three your idea of good preznits.

You will be most unhappy with this I fear.

In my view Nixon and Wilson ran the only liberal presidencies of the 20th Century. Oddly both were despised, mean-spirited racists, who did terrific damage to their party for a generation.

Nixon’s opening to China ended the Cold War. His beginnings of a kind of no-fault welfare plan prescribed by Daniel Moynihan might have achieved the egalitarian society that liberals have always dreamed of in the past if not eviscerated by Carter and his heirs.

I am not in anyway minimizing Nixon’s virulent antisemitism, his continuation of the Cold War and crimes that would have brought impeachment had he hung around.

Carter’s imagined hate of government did not prevent him from expanding the power of government, spending, debt and all that conservatives like him do. It was the beginning of fiscal insanity that has culminated in America being transformed from the world’s biggest creditor to the world’s biggest mooch with the Reagan dictum borrowed from Milton Friedman that debt doesn’t matter.

Takes a special someone to make me pine for Nixon.

Best, Terry

Terry regarding:

Nixon’s opening to China ended the Cold War.

Don’t you think this is a bit over the top, Nixon touring the Great Wall didn’t end the Cold War. Mainly it recognized the reality that China wasn’t an island off the mainland, which seemed absurd to me as a child. Maybe it turned the cold war down a notch, because now the Chinese knew we knew they were there (altho they knew we knew anyway, we just wouldn’t admit it publically).

Yeah, Nixon the great diplomat dipshit. If it hadn’t been for Nixon and his former boss/buddy Joe McCarthy and the virulent (Cheney like) reds under the bed etc. program, somebody else would have recognized China long before Nixon had the chance to be President. Due to his McCarthy credentials Nixon was the only person who COULD go to China without being branded a COMMUNIST. I will give credit to Nixon for some things, but basically he was an amoral opportunistic politician with no sense of right and wrong. He was a small minded little evil man. But much better than Bush the Lesser or Ronnie Raygun and smarter than both of them put together.

theExile @
169

Terry regarding:

Nixon’s opening to China ended the Cold War.

Don’t you think this is a bit over the top, Nixon touring the Great Wall didn’t end the Cold War…

:-)

Of course Nixon’s witless comments on the Great Wall reminds one of Vacation.

That was the culmination of Nixon once again stabbing his friends in the back.

I remain astonished to this day at what that hateful little hatemonger accomplished just as Clinton in the opposite way handed over the Democratic Party to the Republicans.

No, my friend, I don’t think I am wrong but then most of us who think we know everything don’t easily admit error. :-)

Best, Terry

Leaving this deep in EPU for those folks who obviously need it.

Look, this was an open thread.

If folks don’t like the subject some of us are discussing, they are free to talk about whatever you choose, but not to demand the blog conform to their needs. Commenters demanding content on particular topics cannot expect participants to give them the time of day when they insult the blog’s owners and its operation because they don’t take on a particular project.

What if I decided to have a hizzy over this blog not covering the topic of Avian Flu and pandemic prevention? What if I accused the blog owner of suppressing me because I used brand drug names in my comments demanding coverage that got my posts stuck in auto-moderation? What if my entreaties and insulting comments took up roughly 10 percent of the comments in a thread, and encouraged a reaction that took up another 25 percent of the thread?

Do you think that the folks who’ve worked so diligently to build a brand from their personal passions might not be a bit piqued, particularly if they were insulted for not permitting someone to hijack their blog? Do you think that the readers who came here for that particular brand realized in specific content might not also be piqued?

And what if there are simply better blogs out there that actually cover Avian Flu — wouldn’t my time be better spent visiting that blog than trying to force this blog with different objectives to comply with my needs?

If you don’t see what you like here, there are now hundreds of millions of blogs and likely one that suits you. Namaste.

Rayne @ 171

Leaving this deep in EPU for those folks who obviously need it.

Look, this was an open thread.

If folks don’t like the subject some of us are discussing, they are free to talk about whatever you choose, but not to demand the blog conform to their needs. Commenters demanding content on particular topics cannot expect participants to give them the time of day when they insult the blog’s owners and its operation because they don’t take on a particular project.

What if I decided to have a hizzy over this blog not covering the topic of Avian Flu and pandemic prevention? What if I accused the blog owner of suppressing me because I used brand drug names in my comments demanding coverage that got my posts stuck in auto-moderation? What if my entreaties and insulting comments took up roughly 10 percent of the comments in a thread, and encouraged a reaction that took up another 25 percent of the thread?

Do you think that the folks who’ve worked so diligently to build a brand from their personal passions might not be a bit piqued, particularly if they were insulted for not permitting someone to hijack their blog? Do you think that the readers who came here for that particular brand realized in specific content might not also be piqued?

And what if there are simply better blogs out there that actually cover Avian Flu — wouldn’t my time be better spent visiting that blog than trying to force this blog with different objectives to comply with my needs?

If you don’t see what you like here, there are now hundreds of millions of blogs and likely one that suits you. Namaste.

More of that “love it or leave it” hogwash. A healthy discussion and healthy questions should not pose a threat.

Give it a rest Kathleen – you are repeating yourself!

on harry shearer’s “le show” he sometimes does a bit about “41″ & “43″ having a father-son talk (he does the voices for both).

on today’s show “43″ asks “41″ if he thinks he should pardon libby. “41″ replies, (not a tanscript – just my memory), why should you have to pardon liddy? i thought we already dealt w/ that, thought he had a radio show now. “43″ says libby – not liddy. “41″ then chuckles & says oh – consider that a republican senior moment.

much funnier to hear harry do it. he usually puts his most recent show online after they have aired on all the affiliates. rt now march 4th show is still up.

http://harryshearer.com/leshow/

Watching the reaction to the Libby conviction is somewhat surreal. The usual right wing suspects have all lined up to decry the “injustice” of the verdict. Their shrill argument that Fitzpatrick overstepped his discretionary power since it had already been “established” that the underlying crime of malicious exposure of a CIA agent had not happened, and that the “leaker” had already been known is cleverly, (and cynically if you have any sympathy for Libby,) intended to keep Libby at the center of the debate rather than allow the questions of why Libby committed such obvious lies, which could only lead to Cheney and Bush. But of course, no one ever accused this Administration of being squeamish about playing hardball.

One wonders whether those complaining about the overstepping of prosecutorial discretion might have similarly argued that once Eliot Ness realized he couldn’t get Al Capone convicted of the St Valentine’s Day massacre, checking his tax returns was uncalled for?

President Bush might find it difficult to grant Scooter a pardon, since he didn’t show such compassion to those on death row, male or female, when he was Governor of Texas.

Kathleen @ 172

Rayne @ 171

Leaving this deep in EPU for those folks who obviously need it.

Look, this was an open thread.

If folks don’t like the subject some of us are discussing, they are free to talk about whatever you choose, but not to demand the blog conform to their needs. Commenters demanding content on particular topics cannot expect participants to give them the time of day when they insult the blog’s owners and its operation because they don’t take on a particular project.

What if I decided to have a hizzy over this blog not covering the topic of Avian Flu and pandemic prevention? What if I accused the blog owner of suppressing me because I used brand drug names in my comments demanding coverage that got my posts stuck in auto-moderation? What if my entreaties and insulting comments took up roughly 10 percent of the comments in a thread, and encouraged a reaction that took up another 25 percent of the thread?

Do you think that the folks who’ve worked so diligently to build a brand from their personal passions might not be a bit piqued, particularly if they were insulted for not permitting someone to hijack their blog? Do you think that the readers who came here for that particular brand realized in specific content might not also be piqued?

And what if there are simply better blogs out there that actually cover Avian Flu — wouldn’t my time be better spent visiting that blog than trying to force this blog with different objectives to comply with my needs?

If you don’t see what you like here, there are now hundreds of millions of blogs and likely one that suits you. Namaste.

More of that “love it or leave it” hogwash. A healthy discussion and healthy questions should not pose a threat.

Man: Well, an argument’s a discussion’s not the same as contradiction.

Mr Vibrating: It can be.

Man: No it can’t. An argument is a connected series of statements intended to establish a definite proposition.

Mr Vibrating: No it isn’t.

Man: Yes it is. It isn’t just contradiction.

Mr Vibrating: Look, if I argue with you, I must take up a contrary position.

Man: But it isn’t just saying “No it isn’t”.

Mr Vibrating: Yes it is.

Man: No it isn’t, an argument is an intellectual process… contradiction is just the automatic gainsaying of anything the other person says.

Mr Vibrating: No it isn’t.

Man: Yes it is.

Mr Vibrating: Not at all.

Man: Now look!

Mr Vibrating:(pressing the bell on his desk) Thank you, good morning.