Bada bing

bada-bong

couldn’t say that in school

Christy again!

The posts are coming fast and furious this morn or afternoon depending on time-zone.

i’m on a fixed–that is, castrated–income…

i don’t really have any money to give, this quarter…
my sympathies lie with kucenich; dodd’s still in second…

I’m really pissed that the MSM is really defending Coulter and painting Elizabeth Edwards as debate “loser” and a wife who has to defend her husband….

The “Edwards is so affluent how dare he talk about poverty” line, needs to be refuted. Which of the candidates of either party are not affluent?

What is the difference between an affluent Repub promising to create jobs for Americans (who obviously are unemployed or they wouldn’t need one) rhetoric..

Grrrrrrrrr

Have you ever noticed that you can spot a republican tee vee spot immediately, even with the sound off?
It’s weird but true.

LS @ 5

The “Edwards is so affluent how dare he talk about poverty” line, needs to be refuted.

That’s the new “traitor to his class” line.

I got a fundraising letter from Elizabeth based on that call this morning. So they’ve obviously seen an uptick in anti-Coulter-based donations already if they are moving on it that quickly. Shrewd move, I say.

So, the skanky bitch is right in her critique of the Edwards campaign using it to raise money?

Apologies, Christy, for the early OT, and also if someone already posted this on earlier thread.

EPU’d from last thread:

Biodun @ 76

OT–

BTW, Jane:

Have you seen this? From Greenwald in Salon today:

Due primarily to discussions and promotions by blogs — a campaign catalyzed by Jane Hamsher – A Tragic Legacy became the #1 Best-Seller on Amazon’s Non-Fiction list last night, and currently sits at #2.

Exactly the same thing happened with my first book, How Would a Patriot Act? — it was ignored almost completely by establishment media outlets (not a single review, television interview, etc.), but nonetheless was pushed to the top of Amazon and the NYT Best Seller-List exclusively as a result of blogs. And other books pushed almost entirely by blogs have achieved similar success.

One can debate the true influence of blogs and whether they will continue to grow in size and influence. But what seems beyond reasonable dispute is the fact that nothing can match bloggers and their readers in terms of political interest, intensity and energy. And, most importantly, the ability of blogs to be self-sustaining is growing rapidly.

My bold.

Great Ad. The kicker is the request for patriotism .

“What are you looking for — both in an ad and a candidate, for President or otherwise? What catches your eye in an ad? Or, perhaps better yet, your heart? What doesn’t work for you at all? What do you think?”

I’m looking for someone who tells the truth!! Someone who addresses real issues, cares about the world, and doesn’t cowtow to corporate pressures.
I want someone who will be prepared to hold this present Administration accountable to the full extent of the law (but I’m not holding my breath on that one)…

raven at 8 — The e-mail hit my in-box 3 hours or so ago, according to the timestamp. But she wasn’t correct about it being sent yesterday which, as I understand it, was the dust that she was trying to kick up. Maybe Coulter gave them the idea? And wouldn’t that be funny! *g*

i feel like it’s the end of the world. i feel that it won’t matter if a democrat is elected president. i feel like our country has been destroyed and we’re just waiting for the other shoe to drop. i

What I think is that Ann Coulter is a smirking, simpering toad, a morally and intellectually threadbare poseur who does not know how to speak the truth. I applaud Elizabeth Edwards for calling her on it, but I’m appalled at how many of that young crowd behind Ann seemed smitten by “glamour”.

I think it is a good “introductory ad.” I would say that it makes Edwards come across as both Presidential and human (the shot of Elizabeth with her arms around the senior citizen is great!). And speaking of haircuts (I used to be a hairdresser so I notice these things) they are experimenting with a slightly mussed look on Edwards–hopefully they will continue in that direction! On a technical side, Edwards is blessed with a full head of hair, but “cursed” with the fact that it is baby fine and bone straight, which makes it difficult to “manage.” It has a lot more “layers” in it now, which is going to make it less “perfect.” It would help if he had more grey, but one man’s blessing is another man’s curse, depending on the role he wants to play!

As far as Edward’s affluence, I would like to see him take a Bloomberg approach. That is, because he knows how to make it, he knows how to manage it. The polar opposite of Bush, who inherited it and has no idea how to manage any budget.

Also EPU’d from last thread but on topic here:

Biodun @ 62

GSD @ 52:

Chris Matthews knew exactly what he was doing. He invited Coulter to his stupid show, knowing the fur would fly; knew that Elizabeth would call in–and probably encouraged her to do so, knowing more fur would fly; and then gets on the Today Show this morning with his stupid bullsh*t; and then got on MSNBC later with more stupid bullsh*t. Despicable and shameless. He had Coulter on his show for ratings. But things might have backfired, as MSNBC has been getting a lot of berating emails and calls about having Coulter on air.

I haven’t donated this quarter, but I’ll give something to the Edwards Campaign —

America needs a New Deal for the 21st Century, and an Eleanor Roosevelt to make it real — Elizabeth Edwards is as real as it gets, so I’ll donate in response to her email.

“What are you looking for — both in an ad and a candidate, for President or otherwise? What catches your eye in an ad? Or, perhaps better yet, your heart? What doesn’t work for you at all? What do you think?”

i think if we decide the presidency on the basis of television/internet ‘ads’, wasf*…

(wasf = we are sooo fucked)

Christy Hardin Smith @ 12

raven at 8 — The e-mail hit my in-box 3 hours or so ago, according to the timestamp. But she wasn’t correct about it being sent yesterday which, as I understand it, was the dust that she was trying to kick up. Maybe Coulter gave them the idea? And wouldn’t that be funny! *g*

Yea but part of Coulter’s tirade was that they had been using the other attacks to raise money as well. I really like Elizabeth but it just seems to me that John is too much the opportunist. He’s a vocal opponent of the war and wants other people to vote to de-fund after he voted for it. I also think his weak performance in the last campaign was enough to push Bush over the top. But this is just me.

Purchasing political ads on television is funding the Republican Party.

Democrats should stop it.

Biodun @ 16

Also EPU’d from last thread but on topic here:

Biodun @ 62

GSD @ 52:

Chris Matthews knew exactly what he was doing. He invited Coulter to his stupid show, knowing the fur would fly; knew that Elizabeth would call in–and probably encouraged her to do so, knowing more fur would fly; and then gets on the Today Show this morning with his stupid bullsh*t; and then got on MSNBC later with more stupid bullsh*t. Despicable and shameless. He had Coulter on his show for ratings. But things might have backfired, as MSNBC has been getting a lot of berating emails and calls about having Coulter on air.

bingo

Yes, I am also donating in response to the Coulter email. Before the hardball episode, I didn’t know that Coulter had done a “Jersey Girl” on Edwards regarding his son’s death. For that reason alone, I am really proud of how Elizabeth took her on about that–you could “hear” the audience gasp at that. It was so beyond the pale.

Thank you coultergeist you have just persuaded me to send $25 to the Edwards campaign. I cannot tell you how bloody furious I am that they give this bi**h air time. Here is date and time stamp of my email from Elizabeth June 27, 2007 9:54:04 AM EDT
So FU bi**h if I had more money I would send that too.

I got Elizabeth’s letter in my mailbox at 9:11 AM CT. A snippet:

Subject: Why I called Ann Coulter
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:11:45 -0400

Dear Friend,

Last night I had an important talk with Ann Coulter and I want to tell you what happened.

On Monday, Ann announced that instead of using more homophobic slurs to attack John, she will just wish that John had been “killed in a terrorist assassination plot.”

Where I am from, when someone does something that displeases you, you politely ask them to stop. So when I heard Ann was going to be on “Hardball” last night, I decided to call in and ask her to engage on the issues and stop the personal attacks. I told her these kinds of personal attacks lower our political dialogue at precisely the time when we need to raise it, and set a bad example for our children.

How did she respond? Sadly, perhaps predictably, with more personal attacks.

John’s campaign is about the issues—but pundits like Ann Coulter are trying to shout him down. If they will not stop, it is up to us cut through the noise. Help us fight back—please give what you can today.

(snip)

“it is time for the President of the United States to ask Americans to be patriotic about something other than war”

My favorite real-time/current non-joke line in politics since I have been old enough to listen.

I refuse to watch Hardball ever again. MSNBC has been supporting Coulter via Buchanan…so, from now on,

I will only watch KO.

One more thing about Elizabeth Edwards. She reminds me of Jane Hamsher…she is not only fighting breast cancer, but she is out making every single minute of her life count on behalf of others.

These are the women I want my daughter to model herself after.

Woodhall Hollow @ 27

One more thing about Elizabeth Edwards. She reminds me of Jane Hamsher…she is not only fighting breast cancer, but she is out making every single minute of her life count on behalf of others.

These are the women I want my daughter to model themselves after.

Amen to that

GordonM @ 7

LS @ 5

The “Edwards is so affluent how dare he talk about poverty” line, needs to be refuted.

That’s the new “traitor to his class” line.

Can that be refuted by somehow saying that if Bobby Kennedy could care about the poor, Edwards can?

part of Coulter’s tirade was that they had been using the other attacks to raise money as well.

Well, duh! The right has been doing this for decades, and you don’t hear Lamprey Annie complain about that. Karl Rove and the wing nuts use anger points in their fundraising letters to raise dough, and whip the base into a crazed frenzy.

Look — this is politics; John Edwards is a politician; Politicians score points and raise money where ever they can. It’s the nature of the business.

I think having Coulter on the air for an hour is a good thing.
She did more for Edwards in that one hour than all these ads will do combined.
Coulter is the naked id of the Right. It needs to be exposed.

raven at 19 — There is not one political campaign out there that doesn’t use an attack or other public dust-up like that to raise funds. Truly. That Coulter keeps handing them the opportunities and that they decided to finally call her bluff on it is amusing for me, frankly. Coulter was doing her faux outrage act on that one — and she needs to be called on it.

Boston1775 @ 29

GordonM @ 7

That’s the new “traitor to his class” line.

Can that be refuted by somehow saying that if Bobby Kennedy could care about the poor, Edwards can?

I think that the idea as to whether Edwards or a Kennedy cares about “the poor” is a red herring. The proper questions is, can he care about PEOPLE? And the answer to that question is a resounding, yes. Not only can he, but he does.

Bush today, in praise of Tony Blair, as his resignation becomes official:

“I’ve heard he’s been called “Bush’s poodle”…he’s bigger than that.”

(No smileface big enough) Sweet Jesus in a humvee; has there ever BEEN a president with a shittier understanding of the english language?

:o)

De Riguer comeback:

“He certainly IS bigger than that, Mr. President. He’s at least the size of a fat Pomeranian….of maybe, a half-grown but well-trained sheepdog.”

What more can I say? The Edwardses are my candidates, have been from the word go. There’s no one better on LGBT issues, and that’s dear to my heart, living as I do in Michigan, which is working so very hard to now strip my partner and I of our hard-won domestic partner benefits based on lies told by Gary Glenn, President of the AFA-Michigan, during the 2004 campaign.

Bad thing is, the MI Court of Appeals decision earlier this year on this was so far-reaching and broad, it’s now being eyed as the (incredibly oppressive and unfair) precedent for other cases now being litigated. We really don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell, being that the MI Supreme court 9 which recently decided to hear arguments, hmm… – is composed of very right-wing rightards.

Elizabeth Edwards – would be SO PROUD to have her as our First Lady!!!

I was on a media call with deputy campaign manager Jonathon Prince and senior advisor Joe Trippi yesterday, and they said something in response to one of the local reporter’s questions that I found intriguing: after the recent hit piece in the NYTimes, the Edwards campaign had its best fundraising week ever.

I’m reminded of the spikes in contributions to the DNC every time they attacked Howard Dean. Notice how they don’t do high-profile attacks on Dean any more? I hope it works the same way for Edwards.

We’re moving offices this week and I don’t have speakers on my computer, so unfortunately I can’t review the ads right now. I’m supporting Edwards (at least until Gore gets in), but I have to say, with Elizabeth Edwards’ attendance at Pride and support of gay marriage, and her powerful smackdown of the Evil One on Hardball, I wish Elizabeth was running instead!

LS @ 26

I refuse to watch Hardball ever again. MSNBC has been supporting Coulter via Buchanan…so, from now on,

I will only watch KO.

Tweety had that fucking asshole John O’ Neil from the Swiftboats on over and over.

gravie @ 14

What I think is that Ann Coulter is a smirking, simpering toad, a morally and intellectually threadbare poseur who does not know how to speak the truth. I applaud Elizabeth Edwards for calling her on it, but I’m appalled at how many of that young crowd behind Ann seemed smitten by “glamour”.

And the look of shock on Coulter’s face when the audience applauded for Elizabeth was priceless!

Christy Hardin Smith @ 32

raven at 19 — There is not one political campaign out there that doesn’t use an attack or other public dust-up like that to raise funds. Truly. That Coulter keeps handing them the opportunities and that they decided to finally call her bluff on it is amusing for me, frankly. Coulter was doing her faux outrage act on that one — and she needs to be called on it.

OK, this isn’t the hill I’m going to die on. Buchanan is now explaining that Coulter did this in response to Bill Maher.

Hmm — political ads, I can only tell you the ones I would *like* to see:

For a pro-Democratic ad, the Broadway musical “1776″ could be a gold mine. Can you see pictures of Edwards (or your favorite here) with the strains of “does anybody care?” in the background?

How about reviving the musical renditions of the Preamble to the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence done for the Bicentennial and using them in the ads?

I would love to see an anti-Republic ad using “Cool Considerate Men” from “1776″ — all I would show would be clips of the current crop interspersed with shots of Nixon, the Idiot-in-Chief and Cheney…

If you must do attack ads, for Ghu’s sake, be subtle.

I think the Edwards folks were trying to go for that “morning in America” ad feel, but from a fresher take on how Americans need to pick up and take charge of the issues we face ourselves. A sort of “we’re in this together” sort of theme.

This seems like a good response to the core Republican “you’re on your own” ideology.

Ann is the posterchild for the Entitled Conservative Inner Child.

She can never say she was wrong. She can never allow someone else to make her do anything. And, she’s arrogant about it, too.

She’s the Mouth for Cheney’s middle finger.

Boston1775 @ 29

GordonM @ 7

That’s the new “traitor to his class” line.

Can that be refuted by somehow saying that if Bobby Kennedy could care about the poor, Edwards can?

Gee, if Edwards is a traitor to his class, I wonder how they feel about Warren Buffett from today’s WaPo0 (although buried deep). Buffett says it’s ludicrous for him as the third richest person in the world to pay 17.6% of his income in taxes while his secretary pays 30%.

LS @ 26

I refuse to watch Hardball ever again. MSNBC has been supporting Coulter via Buchanan…so, from now on,

I will only watch KO.

I wrote Tweety to tell him and I too gave $ to Edwards.
The Coulter thing made me sick to my stomach

gravie @ 14

What I think is that Ann Coulter is a smirking, simpering toad, a morally and intellectually threadbare poseur who does not know how to speak the truth. I applaud Elizabeth Edwards for calling her on it, but I’m appalled at how many of that young crowd behind Ann seemed smitten by “glamour”.

This says it better than I can:
“Please allow me to introduce myself
I’m a man of wealth and taste…”
-Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones

Many young people think it’s glamourous to be amoral. At first, anyway.

John Edwards is scheduled for Hardball today…

Raven,
I’m foolish over John and Elizabeth, but we agree on one thing – he’s got to use the shiv on occasion.

In the high school basketball of my youth, the refs would call a tight game – not much physical contact was allowed. On occasion, some refs would let things get a bit rougher. In those games, if my opponent played fair and square, so did I, If not, he got an elbow in the kidneys for his trouble.

Edwards has the smarts to wield an elegant stiletto, and I’m ready to see it.

Somebody’s setting up somebody. I hope we’re not the somebody.

From Hardball yesterday:

EDWARDS: I‘m calling—you know, in the South, we—when someone does something that displeases us, we want to ask them politely to stop doing it.

I would like to ask Ann Coulter to—if she wants to debate on issues, on positions, we certainly disagree with nearly everything she said on your show today. But—but it is quite another matter to—for these personal attacks.

That‘s—the things that she has said over the years, not just about John, but about other candidates, is—lowers our—our political dialogue precisely at the time that we need to raise it.

So, I—I want to use the opportunity, which I don‘t get much, because Ann and I don‘t hang out with the same people—to ask…

It makes my blood boil when the media gives coultergeist one second of airtime. Why that little woman hasn’t yet broken out in flames is a mystery to me. I flame her with the heat of ten million hot suns.

LS @ 5:

Now, now; from the republican point of view, it’s perfectly logical to assume that anyone with substantial sums of money, is heavy into the “fuck the poor!” philosophy. And if they aren’t, that means that they’re a raving marxist traitor to the notion that, as one of Vonnegut’s characters put it:

“The american flag should be a green field with the dollar sign on it, and the legend underneath saying:

“I’ve got mine; screw you, Jack!” :o)

Woodhall Hollow @ 27

One more thing about Elizabeth Edwards. She reminds me of Jane Hamsher…she is not only fighting breast cancer, but she is out making every single minute of her life count on behalf of others.

These are the women I want my daughter to model herself after.

Word, word, and WORD!

tbsa @ 49

It makes my blood boil when the media gives coultergeist one second of airtime. Why that little woman hasn’t yet broken out in flames is a mystery to me. I flame her with the heat of ten million hot suns.

But it will raise more money for Edwards, Maybe it’s a plant.

raven @ 36

LS @ 26

I refuse to watch Hardball ever again. MSNBC has been supporting Coulter via Buchanan…so, from now on,

I will only watch KO.

Tweety had that fucking asshole John O’ Neil from the Swiftboats on over and over.

Who advertises on Hardball?

Was John Edwards scheduled to be on Hardball tonight, prior to the Coulter thing? What the hell is going on here?

FDR was the first President to be labeled a “traitor to his class”. No one did more for the poor in America.

More from Hardball:

COULTER: OK. So, I made a joke, let‘s see, six months ago. And, as you point out, they have been raising money off of it for six months, since then.

MATTHEWS: But this is yesterday morning, what you said about him.

COULTER: I didn‘t say anything about him, actually, either time.

EDWARDS: Ann knows—you know that‘s not true.
And, what‘s more, this has been going on for some time.

COULTER: And I don‘t mind you trying to raise money. I mean, it‘s better this than giving $50,000 speeches to the poor…

EDWARDS: I‘m asking you—I‘m asking you politely…

COULTER: … just to use my name on the Web pages.

But, as for a debate with me, yes, sure.

EDWARDS: I‘m asking you politely…

OT:
Froomkin quotes an FDL commenter in his chat today! First question:

Denver: I wonder if Bush is even aware of all the things Cheney has done. If Bush just signs whatever Cheney puts in front of him, is it possible that Bush doesn’t realize how much power he’s ceded to Cheney? Maybe the infamous “Bush Bubble” is worse than we thought.

Dan Froomkin: Barton Gellman, who coauthored the massive Post series on Cheney that concluded today, told CNN on Monday: “It’s clear that the president knows what Dick Cheney is doing, and it’s clear the president could stop it.”

But that may underestimate the power of the bubble. I thought one of the most astute reactions to the series (as in, I wish I’d had it myself) was made by a commenter at the Firedoglake blog, who wrote:

“The thing that strikes me about the WashPost series is that Cheney was constructing Bush’s bubble from the very get go. He has managed to prevent anybody from one on one access to Bush without his approval. Nobody talked to Bush without his approval or his presence. His heavy handed presence managed to kill every effort to inject reality into the decision making process through intimidation. Just think about him staring at Bush from behind the bushes at that presser.”

I like the Edwards ad – very presidential and uplifting … but a touch standard political ad which I have mixed feelings about. I think most people tune out on these (I know when I lived in NH, the wall to wall primary ads drove me nuts)

Richardson’s ad is so unexpected and genuinely funny that I think it’s more effective – you’d say (and I have) to a friend or coworker “wow, did you see that?” which you wouldn’t about Edwards ad.

And with our super snazzy Blue America page – I’ve been signed up to give $25 a month to the BA PAC for a while – I really like the idea of supporting our very own efforts to move elections with things like the Have you had enough campaign and it’s a pretty painless way to chip in. I hope folks who can will consider doing the same – it’s a great way to build up some funding so we can do the same good work this cycle.

#42

Wow, 17.6% – I could totally afford gas if I only had to pay 17.6% in taxes, maybe even a little health care.

Cheney Subpoened!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheney is getting a subpoena

raven at 52 — You are saying that Coulter was a plant for the Edwards campaign? I’m sorry, I’m not following on that one…

The Dick subpoena is over the wiretapping. Also, others in the WH have been subpoened.

Final installment from Hardball:

EDWARDS: You had a column a couple of years ago which—which made fun of the moment of Charlie Dean‘s death, and suggested that my husband had a bumper sticker on the back of his car that said, “Ask me about my dead son.”

COULTER: That‘s now three years ago.

EDWARDS: This is not legitimate political dialogue. It debases political dialogue. It drives people away from the process. We can‘t have a debate about issues if you‘re using this kind of language.

COULTER: Yes, why isn‘t John Edwards making this call?

MATTHEWS: Well, do you want to respond? We will end this conversation.

EDWARDS: I have not talked to John about this call.

COULTER: I think this is just another attempt for…

EDWARDS: I‘m making this call as a mother. I‘m the mother of that boy who died. My children participate. These young people behind you are the age of my children. You‘re asking them to participate in a dialogue that is based on hatefulness and ugliness, instead of on the issues.

And I don‘t—I don‘t think that is serving them or this country very well.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

dakine01 @ 43

Boston1775 @ 29

Can that be refuted by somehow saying that if Bobby Kennedy could care about the poor, Edwards can?

Gee, if Edwards is a traitor to his class, I wonder how they feel about Warren Buffett from today’s WaPo0 (although buried deep). Buffett says it’s ludicrous for him as the third richest person in the world to pay 17.6% of his income in taxes while his secretary pays 30%.

Eggzactement! Bill Gates has made similar statements. I know that as a small business person, I am so happy when I can make enough money to give. Somehow it makes all the hard work seem so worthwhile.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 62

raven at 52 — You are saying that Coulter was a plant for the Edwards campaign? I’m sorry, I’m not following on that one…

Just being the snarky cynic I am. . .but I don’t really think so. Elizabeth wouldn’t do it.

raven at 67 — Okay, that’s what I thought, but I wasn’t sure. And you are right — Elizabeth wouldn’t do that in a million years. *g*

I’ve often pondered that Coulter’s schtick actually makes Republicans look really, really bad, and that the joke might be on them. She’s a friend of Bill Maher.

FDR saved capitalism…

the capitalists and corpoRats will never forgive him…

First, to answer CHS question: I like the Edwards ad. It focused on American generosity of spirit kind of patriotism vs. jingoistic bs. And it’s the right time in the campaign to run this general kind of ad, IMO.

Second, re Coultergeist. GOPers always shriek “foul play” when one starts using their winning strategies. It’s like when the Indians starting making Big Bank with gambling casinos according to the rules of the White Men. Shocked people that tribes could figure out how to win at “their” game. And yes, I noticed when she shriveled at the applause for Elizabeth like the witch Coultergeist is. Sunshine on a #########.

Third, I’m loving Woodhall Hollow’s presidential hairstyle analysis. :) Shear genius!

Speaking of Elizabeth Edwards & Jane Hamsher and their integrity & courage…I heart the men who love these women and the countless others like them!

Christy Hardin Smith @ 12

raven at 8 — The e-mail hit my in-box 3 hours or so ago, according to the timestamp. But she wasn’t correct about it being sent yesterday which, as I understand it, was the dust that she was trying to kick up. Maybe Coulter gave them the idea? And wouldn’t that be funny! *g*

The Edwards campaign fundrose like crazy off Coultergeist’s CPAC “f****t” remark. An email arrived yesterday in my box, after the Hardball phonecall but not much after (timestamped 7:11pm):

I just got off the phone with Ann Coulter. Since you helped us fight back against her attack in March, I wanted you to be the first to know about our conversation.

On Monday, Ann announced that instead of using homophobic slurs to attack John as she has done in the past, in the future, she will wish that John had, “been killed in a terrorist assassination plot.”

Where I am from, when someone does something that displeases you, you politely ask them to stop. So when I heard Ann was going to be on “Hardball” this evening, and heard that they were taking calls, I called in and asked her as politely as possible to please stop the personal attacks, and engage on the issues instead. I told her I believe that these kinds of personal attacks lower our political dialogue at precisely the time when we need to raise it.

How did she respond? Sadly, with more personal attacks.

Edwards has set a low ($9m!!) goal for Q2, which the campaign may not meet. Coulter may be the fundraising gold that puts them above Richardson, who seems capable of exceeding Edwards in Q2 from what I’ve read. Together with Richardson’s slight lead in Iowa over Obama among likely caucus go-ers, the Q2 money primary may shakeup the first tier.

LS @ 69

I’ve often pondered that Coulter’s schtick actually makes Republicans look really, really bad, and that the joke might be on them. She’s a friend of Bill Maher.

didn’t he used to (UGH) date her? I lost all respect for him when I heard that.

oddmommy @ 73

LS @ 69

I’ve often pondered that Coulter’s schtick actually makes Republicans look really, really bad, and that the joke might be on them. She’s a friend of Bill Maher.

didn’t he used to (UGH) date her? I lost all respect for him when I heard that.

Date it. Gawd.

LS @ 75

oddmommy @ 73

didn’t he used to (UGH) date her? I lost all respect for him when I heard that.

Date it. Gawd.

2 bagger

Today’s Froomkin

dakine01 @ 75

Today’s Froomkin

Froomkin rocks!

beth meacham @ 56

FDR was the first President to be labeled a “traitor to his class”. No one did more for the poor in America.

Amen to that — FDR did more for this country than any President ever. He was also a dupicitious conniving SOB, but he was our SOB — and he used his power for the common good.

Any Cheney updates?

Cheney’s “office” subpoened.

Re: Coulter and dates:

Ann Coulter dated Dinesh D’Sousa as well, who has also dated Laura Ingraham.

LS @ 81

Cheney’s “office” subpoened.

Gee! Just when he gave up the “Executive Priviledge” defense too!

Biodun @ 82

Re: Coulter and dates:

Ann Coulter dated Dinesh D’Sousa as well, who has also dated Laura Ingraham.

Just leave this mental picture alone…

Cheney and others subpoenaed

Breaking: Senate panel issues subpoenas

to the White House and Vice President Dick Cheney’s office for documents related to the NSA’s warrantless wiretapping program. AP reports:

Also named in subpoenas signed by committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., were the Justice Department and the National Security Council.

The committee wants documents that might shed light on internal squabbles within the administration over the legality of the program, said a congressional official speaking on condition of anonymity because the subpoenas had not been made public.

http://thinkprogress.org/

My office building has a canteen in the basement. I went downstairs to pick up some lunch. The TV was on.

Eleizabeth Edwards on the phone arguing with an on-camera Ann Coulter. WTF?

Since when do people of the Edwards’ stature even acknolwedge the existance of someone like Coulter? Isn’t she something you scrape off the bottom of your shoe?

Biodun @ 82

Re: Coulter and dates:

Ann Coulter dated Dinesh D’Sousa as well, who has also dated Laura Ingraham.

well, I guess we can be thankful that Psychoulter and her various boyfriends didn’t, uh, spawn anything.

TeddySanFran @ 73

Edwards has set a low ($9m!!) goal for Q2, which the campaign may not meet. Coulter may be the fundraising gold that puts them above Richardson, who seems capable of exceeding Edwards in Q2 from what I’ve read.

Anything that causes Annie the Bloodsucker to blow a gasket is good enough reason to make a donation.

looseheadprop @ 87

My office building has a canteen in the basement. I went downstairs to pick up some lunch. The TV was on.

Eleizabeth Edwards on the phone arguing with an on-camera Ann Coulter. WTF?

Since when do people of the Edwards’ stature even acknolwedge the existance of someone like Coulter? Isn’t she something you scrape off the bottom of your shoe?

That was last Hardball from last night.

I’d like to see a President who is concerned about the steady drain of jobs from this country to overseas countries.

I’d like to see a President committed to alternate energy sources and more effecient automobiles.

I’d like to see a President committed to ensuring that every citizen in this country has access to affordable health care AND higher education.

I’d like to see a President who is not afraid of science and scientist.

And as a retired military member I’d like to see a President who respects the men and women who wear the uniform and doesn’t just use them for one photo op after another and who thinks of the consequences of military action not just to our country but to the countries we use it against.

Does it sound like the WAPO article set this off??

RE: “He’s too rich to care about the poor”.

To the rich, this is “class traitor”.

To everyone else, this is “oh, caring about the poor just a phony political ploy” and “another sleazy lawyer who got filthy rich and wants more power”.

Most people aren’t rich, so “class traitor” doesn’t mean much. But it does to the media, who all have those summer homes on Nantucket.

The NYT already did a hit piece on the “ploy” angle. Coultergeist has used the “sleazy lawyer” attack. The $400 haircut falls into “inauthentic” or the “ploy” attack.

I’m not sure how to refute it. I’ll just point out that there’s a very strong love/hate thing around being rich. Hardly anyone stays rational when there’s piles of dough around, so it makes for very strong innuendo.

LS @ 92

Does it sound like the WAPO article set this off??

Nah, this has been in the works.

oddmommy @ 89

Biodun @ 82

Re: Coulter and dates:

Ann Coulter dated Dinesh D’Sousa as well, who has also dated Laura Ingraham.

well, I guess we can be thankful that Psychoulter and her various boyfriends didn’t, uh, spawn anything.

BTW, Dinesh D’Sousa has a thing for blondes. ‘Nuf said.

I like the Edwards Ad, and I like it that Elizabeth confronted Ann ‘politely’ with a sack of Coulter’s own hammers.

What I’d like to see next is for John to advance the national dialogue by racheting-up awareness on Reality Based Positions in sharp contrast to the disasterous BushCo positions.

Common sense is hard to argue with at election time. We need a common sense leader with a backbone – will Edwards take the mantle and lead?

What kind of ads do I like? I like ads that work. You state (and I agree) that attack ads work. Therefore, I like attack ads.

Of course, they need to be fair. Damn straight swift boaters piss me off. But an ad that juxtaposes all of the mutually contradictory statements of a candidate are just fine by me. Of course, I would enjoy seeing an attack ad about Giuliani. Here’s my vision of it:

Open to Bernie Kerick saying nice things about Rudy. Stamp over his image: “indicted.” Then his priest/friend comes on and says: That’s not charitable. I’ve known Rudy for 40 years, and he calls me his best friend.” Stamp over his image “Child molester” Cut to image, Rudy saying that he wants to give everyone a 15,000 tax cut to pay for their own health insurance. (Yes, he actually said this in the last debate.) Stamp over his face: “Non-sense” Announcer: Isn’t it about time for some honesty about Rudy? Cut to fire-fighters denouncing him for actions on 9-11. Cut to Christie Whitman in congress. Announcer: (sounding a little more tentative) “But isn’t Giuliani about family values?” Cut to montage of wedding pictures with “Cousin” stamped over wife #1. Announcer: (sounding defensive) “hey! that’s getting personal. And besides, Rudy’s current wife is an accomplished pharmaceutical salewoman!” Cut to Rudy saying he would have her sit in the Cabinet meetings because she has “expertise.” Announcer, (sounding almost hostile) “well, listen: what matters to me is that he is pro-life!” Cut to Rudy making stupid statement, “that would be fine, or it would be fine if a strict constructionist over-turned Roe v Wade.”
Announcer: “What about Gun control?” Cut to newspaper headline showcasing his views. Announcer: “gay rights?” Different (female) announcer:”Yes! When Rudy was kicked out of the Mayor’s residence by a judge because he was having an affair where his children lived, he went to live with his two married gay friends. Good for him!”
First announcer: “You’re just sore because you know that Rudy was a hero on 9-11 (background shot: Rudy walking around with Bernie Kerick) 2nd announcer: “Ha! HA! HA!!! Is that what you call walking around with no place to go because he went against the advice of the experts and put his emergency headquarters at ground zero?” First announcer: “But Rudy agrees with me on what matters!” Cut to Rudy: “Thank God George Bush is president” Dissolve to laughter.

We’re the American people and we approve this message.

Fuck it. This isn’t a sixty second shot anymore. It’s a telethon. And I haven’t even scratched the surface.

MyDD has a netroots Blue Majority fundraising pitch for John Edwards and Charlie Brown –

LHP at 87 — Coulter made some sort of statement earlier int he week that she wished John Edwards had been killed in an assassination plot. It seems Elizabeth Edwards had enough.

I just went to the Senate’s site to find out about the subpoenas and what do they have as the lesson on the day? The VP’s role as president of the Senate and how it has evolved into an Executive Branch position.

Coincidence? I think not.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 99

LHP at 87 — Coulter made some sort of statement earlier int he week that she wished John Edwards had been killed in an assassination plot. It seems Elizabeth Edwards had enough.

That is where it is tied up with Maher. He made a comment about it being too bad Darth wasn’t hit in the attack when he was in Kabul.

i guess i pretty much hate political ads in general. and i really, really hate ads that lie, misdirect or deceive in any way.

that said, trying to get beyond my generalized dislike…

i think edwards’ ad is pretty good – but only because of the bit at the end about being patriotic about someone other than war…. without that bit, it would fall flat. i think richards ads are funny… and i like them because i think they are a good reminder of how choosing bush was not a wise choice (whoever you think made the choice).

but, my opinion probably shouldn’t count for much. i don’t watch much tv (i go for weeks w/o turning it on)… so i don’t see many ads of any kind. when i do watch them, i’m filled with a feeling of crass manipulation… i hate that we make such decisions influenced by advertising. doesn’t seem like the best way for me to make wise choices.

looseheadprop @ 87

My office building has a canteen in the basement. I went downstairs to pick up some lunch. The TV was on.

Eleizabeth Edwards on the phone arguing with an on-camera Ann Coulter. WTF?

Since when do people of the Edwards’ stature even acknolwedge the existance of someone like Coulter? Isn’t she something you scrape off the bottom of your shoe?

Others here proposed yesterday that Elizabeth was “feeding the troll” by calling in to speak with Coulter. Just as we don’t feed trolls here at FDL, some thought Elizabeth lowered herself by engaging Coulter.

The rebuttal was that Tweety was feeding the troll by having Coulter on for an hour. I think Elizabeth, who’s quite direct, took the opportunity to reach Coulter directly, on-air (!), and ask her politely to stop talking about her family the way she has for four years.

Oh, and the fundraising was a bonus. But a planned bonus.

White House, Cheney’s Office, Subpoenaed

By LAURIE KELLMAN
The Associated Press
Wednesday, June 27, 2007; 1:12 PM

WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee subpoenaed the White House and Vice President Dick Cheney’s office Wednesday for documents relating to President Bush’s warrant-free eavesdropping program.

Also named in subpoenas signed by committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., were the Justice Department and the National Security Council.

The committee wants documents that might shed light on internal squabbles within the administration over the legality of the program, said a congressional official speaking on condition of anonymity because the subpoenas had not been made public.

Leahy’s committee authorized the subpoenas previously as part of its sweeping investigation into how much influence the White House exerts over the Justice Department and its chief, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

…

LINK

How do the Democrats keep the campaign from degenerating into one about gay marriage, flag burning, and school prayer? Republics cannot run on their record in power so I am confident that they will attempt to make the campaign about those or similar issues.

If their voters ever noticed, they’d see that Republics only campaign on those issues. They never govern on those issues. Yet, those voters never notice and Republics have been able to make elections about those issues. How can that be stopped?

Re: 96 above — Insert

Announcer: But Rudy is supported by folks like me. Cut to picture of Giuliani campaign manager from South Carolina (?) then stamp over his face: “Indicted for selling cocaine.”

Any other contributions?

raven at 101 — Good lord, that’s getting more tangled up than a nasty weed patch. Was that what Buchanon referred to earlier? Wonder if Coulter really was responding to Maher, or if that’s the excuse du jour?

radiofreewill @ 42

She’s the Mouth for Cheney’s middle finger.

RFW, that is brilliant. A perfect description of her.

Why is she on my teevee instead of sitting in an interrogation room while somebody investigates her threats to Edwards? She’s calling for him to be assassinated! If I did that, FDL would delete my comment, ban me, and I’d have the feds at MY door. She gets to go on the teevee and preen about it?

Big Mitch @ 98:

Word has it that anti-Giuliani ads are in the works that will deal with: (1) NYC firefighters attacking him for his pre- and post-9/11 (lack of or bad) leadership (BTW, attacking him re: 9/11 is from the Rove playbook: “attack an opponent on his/her strength”–pace swiftboating Kerry re: Vietnam); (2) his dalliances with Kerik; (3) his resignation from the Iraq Study Group to focus on highly lucarative speaking engagements; and (4) his messy family situation–his ex-wives and his etranged kids.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 107

raven at 101 — Good lord, that’s getting more tangled up than a nasty weed patch. Was that what Buchanan referred to earlier? Wonder if Coulter really was responding to Maher, or if that’s the excuse du jour?

I think she was. That was part of her crying to Tweety that they took the clip from GMA “out of
context”.

She’s the Mouth for Cheney’s middle finger

More like the mouth of cheney’s a**.

leinie @ 108

radiofreewill @ 42

She’s the Mouth for Cheney’s middle finger.

RFW, that is brilliant. A perfect description of her.

Why is she on my teevee instead of sitting in an interrogation room while somebody investigates her threats to Edwards? She’s calling for him to be assassinated! If I did that, FDL would delete my comment, ban me, and I’d have the feds at MY door. She gets to go on the teevee and preen about it?

also, this is not the first time she has advocated acts of terrorism and murder, iirc. Ditto your question…..WTF?

Jane’s new thread — Shooter gets served; would you like fries with that head on a platter?

raven @110:

Well Coulter should know what the solution to that one is — don’t make statements that CAN be taken out of context.

Any twit knows you don’t make public statements that can be construed as a threat to another person. I believe that the lawyers in the group will confirm that that can be considered to be an assault.

The Secret Service takes an even dimmer view of it, and I think they’re already protecting some of the 2008 political candidates.

Why isn’t someone presenting Miss Piranha-Face with a pair of stainless steel bracelets and an orange jumpsuit?

Brisingamen @ 114

raven @110:

Well Coulter should know what the solution to that one is — don’t make statements that CAN be taken out of context.

Any twit knows you don’t make public statements that can be construed as a threat to another person. I believe that the lawyers in the group will confirm that that can be considered to be an assault.

The Secret Service takes an even dimmer view of it, and I think they’re already protecting some of the 2008 political candidate.

Why isn’t someone presenting Miss Piranha-Face with a pair of stainless steel bracelets and an orange jumpsuit?

Like she gives a rats ass. She’s selling books and she smirked about that all the way through last night.

Biodun —

1. Damned straight it’s from Rove’s playbook. (I am not nearly that smart/sociopathic on my own.

2. I am concerned about the timing of the campaign. I want Rudy to get the nomination, since I believe he is the most vulnerable of the candidates, for the reasons advertised here.

Brisingamen @ 114

raven @110:

Well Coulter should know what the solution to that one is — don’t make statements that CAN be taken out of context.

Any twit knows you don’t make public statements that can be construed as a threat to another person. I believe that the lawyers in the group will confirm that that can be considered to be an assault.

The Secret Service takes an even dimmer view of it, and I think they’re already protecting some of the 2008 political candidate.

Why isn’t someone presenting Miss Piranha-Face with a pair of stainless steel bracelets and an orange jumpsuit?

Like she gives a rats ass. She’s selling books and she smirked about that all the way through last night. BTW“if I’m going to say anything about John Edwards in the future, I’ll just wish he had been killed in a terrorist assassination plot.”

How could I have forgotten his resignation from the iraq study group. Which brings up his lying explanation for that.

Woodhall Hollow @ 15

I think it is a good “introductory ad.” I would say that it makes Edwards come across as both Presidential and human (the shot of Elizabeth with her arms around the senior citizen is great!). And speaking of haircuts (I used to be a hairdresser so I notice these things) they are experimenting with a slightly mussed look on Edwards–hopefully they will continue in that direction! On a technical side, Edwards is blessed with a full head of hair, but “cursed” with the fact that it is baby fine and bone straight, which makes it difficult to “manage.” It has a lot more “layers” in it now, which is going to make it less “perfect.” It would help if he had more grey, but one man’s blessing is another man’s curse, depending on the role he wants to play!

As far as Edward’s affluence, I would like to see him take a Bloomberg approach. That is, because he knows how to make it, he knows how to manage it. The polar opposite of Bush, who inherited it and has no idea how to manage any budget.

I am not a lawyer, but I can see that if Edwards did take your suggestion, the next round of criticism would be “he earned his money dishonestly–didn’t employ lots of people and build a business–he got being an ambulance chaser”. There are a lot of lawyers here at the Lake. What do they say to this? It seems to me the Republicans have done a great deal in the last 10 years to make lawyers villains and the Chamber of Commerce heroes.

leinie @ 108

radiofreewill @ 42

She’s the Mouth for Cheney’s middle finger.

RFW, that is brilliant. A perfect description of her.

Why is she on my teevee instead of sitting in an interrogation room while somebody investigates her threats to Edwards? She’s calling for him to be assassinated! If I did that, FDL would delete my comment, ban me, and I’d have the feds at MY door. She gets to go on the teevee and preen about it?

My thought exactly! Where’s the secret service for Edwards?

I think this is why Eliz. finally confronted the rat with a double barrel shotgun in public.

Her “I’m a mother and care about other people” trumps single angry big mouth in a very classy way. JMHO

dude @ 119

Woodhall Hollow @ 15

I think it is a good “introductory ad.” I would say that it makes Edwards come across as both Presidential and human (the shot of Elizabeth with her arms around the senior citizen is great!). And speaking of haircuts (I used to be a hairdresser so I notice these things) they are experimenting with a slightly mussed look on Edwards–hopefully they will continue in that direction! On a technical side, Edwards is blessed with a full head of hair, but “cursed” with the fact that it is baby fine and bone straight, which makes it difficult to “manage.” It has a lot more “layers” in it now, which is going to make it less “perfect.” It would help if he had more grey, but one man’s blessing is another man’s curse, depending on the role he wants to play!

As far as Edward’s affluence, I would like to see him take a Bloomberg approach. That is, because he knows how to make it, he knows how to manage it. The polar opposite of Bush, who inherited it and has no idea how to manage any budget.

I am not a lawyer, but I can see that if Edwards did take your suggestion, the next round of criticism would be “he earned his money dishonestly–didn’t employ lots of people and build a business–he got being an ambulance chaser”. There are a lot of lawyers here at the Lake. What do they say to this? It seems to me the Republicans have done a great deal in the last 10 years to make lawyers villains and the Chamber of Commerce heroes.

what do I say? F**k ‘em. In the world they’ve created, honest lawyers, judges and juries are all there is left of justice.

TeddySanFran @ 103

looseheadprop @ 87

My office building has a canteen in the basement. I went downstairs to pick up some lunch. The TV was on.

Eleizabeth Edwards on the phone arguing with an on-camera Ann Coulter. WTF?

Since when do people of the Edwards’ stature even acknolwedge the existance of someone like Coulter? Isn’t she something you scrape off the bottom of your shoe?

Others here proposed yesterday that Elizabeth was “feeding the troll” by calling in to speak with Coulter. Just as we don’t feed trolls here at FDL, some thought Elizabeth lowered herself by engaging Coulter.

The rebuttal was that Tweety was feeding the troll by having Coulter on for an hour. I think Elizabeth, who’s quite direct, took the opportunity to reach Coulter directly, on-air (!), and ask her politely to stop talking about her family the way she has for four years.

Oh, and the fundraising was a bonus. But a planned bonus.

Actually, you should listen to the code Mrs. Edwards used. In her remarks on their website and in targeted email, she makes the point “where I’m from..we ask politely”.. You may not find that attractive if you think all politics is bloodsport, but there are millions of folks out there in the hinterland who know exactly what she meant. We aren’t Fundamentalist Christians, but we do also have a code. Mama Edwards nailed it.

Re the “ambulance chaser” charge: John Edwards is the only candidate of either party to have actual experience being a member of a national ticket. Hillary comes close, but not quite. As such, he has already been through everything the Republicans could throw at him. If they’d been able to find a single one of Edwards’s old clients who felt that he’d rooked them or charged too much or failed to do his best, we’d have heard from them three years ago. I think the Edwards campaign needs to point that out.

I really liked the Richardson ads–they’re clever and funny, but also give his credentials. Good way to get people to know him.

Did someone want Mrs. Edwards in stilettos? Wait 1:30 for Eddie to talk about his mom. And white kids who swear. Funny stuff

mothers with shoes

dude @ 122

TeddySanFran @ 103

Mama Edwards nailed it.

I agree 100%.

TeddySanFran @ 103

looseheadprop @ 87

My office building has a canteen in the basement. I went downstairs to pick up some lunch. The TV was on.

Eleizabeth Edwards on the phone arguing with an on-camera Ann Coulter. WTF?

Since when do people of the Edwards’ stature even acknolwedge the existance of someone like Coulter? Isn’t she something you scrape off the bottom of your shoe?

Others here proposed yesterday that Elizabeth was “feeding the troll” by calling in to speak with Coulter. Just as we don’t feed trolls here at FDL, some thought Elizabeth lowered herself by engaging Coulter.

The rebuttal was that Tweety was feeding the troll by having Coulter on for an hour. I think Elizabeth, who’s quite direct, took the opportunity to reach Coulter directly, on-air (!), and ask her politely to stop talking about her family the way she has for four years.

Oh, and the fundraising was a bonus. But a planned bonus.

I really think (hope) Elizabeth Edwards was trying to get a message across to not only Coulter, which I’m sure she’d realize was fruitless, but primarily to the audience whom Coulter attracts.

The way to win an election is to make your opponent look worse than you. That’s why attack ads work, and the more heinous, the better. Willie Horton set the gold standard, the swift boat guys are a close second. I like him a lot, but I’m not convinced Edwards has the nuts to do what has to be done. The phone call yesterday was a good start, but Elizabeth was way too nice. Although the bit at the end was good, there was not enough context, most people don’t know the history there.

Radiofreewill (#42)

She’s the Mouth for Cheney’s middle finger.

that about nails it, i think. she probably waits for his call, more probably Karl’s.
she’s there to feed the red meat to the faithful 27%. she spews lies and putrid venom but, i’m sorry to say this, she isn’t stupid. nobody can be that successful at doing what she does and and be really unintelligent. some people equate intelligence with goodness. i have arrived at the conclusion that this is by no means always so.

the right wing is perfectly comfortable being despicable and disengenuous. it’s their nature. there is no cognitive dissonance involved. they swim in it. they eat it. they’re at home in it. they know they’re lying when they say something like “no child left behind” or “compassionate conservative” or “bring the two sides together” because they’ve always got their fingers crossed behind their backs.
progressives do not like to be mean. the’re trying to actually do good (not that they always do, but their are sincerely trying).

i like John Edwards and his heroic wife, Elizabeth. John does have a problem however, at least in the perception of the uncommitted public. he does not project toughness. he may in fact be tough enough but he has an image of niceness that belies toughness. in this way he is similar to Jimmy Carter, whom i also respect highly. i voted for Carter and i will vote for Edwards if he becomes the candidate. it will do him a world of good if he can find a way to, genuinely, authentically show the voters if he is in fact, tough.

What really struck me in the clip was how authentic EE was. She was clearly upset but being civil and on topic. it was very clear that while her call may have been thought out, it was not staged. A very admirable woman.

Breaking news:

John Edwards to respond to Ann Coulter on Tweety’s Hardball.

If you are in the upper east side of NYC you can’t see this because of blackout possibly due to lightning strike of transformer in Queens. Subway lines are stalled. 300,000 people without electricity.

I loved the modern Lamont type ads & hated the old style Trippi ads for Dean last time around. They were awful by anyone’s measure. So is Trippi in charge of Edwards’ ads? I wonder & hope not.

My two cents: I think this is yet another Democratic ad that fails to understand that people are emotional and not rational beings. This is a moving arguement, but argument it is.

Edwards comes off as successfully delivering carefully scripted words. Ugh. For us to hire one of these guys, it has to feel real. And I LIKE Edwards (though I don’t think he has the gravitas to sit in the Big Chair).

Wellstone’s ads (and some of Lamont’s) worked because their emotional content was high. We got that Paul (and Ned) were good guys, real people, who had interesting ideas and really wanted to make a difference. From John I get that he really looks like a TV weatherman, and he is frankly sick and tired of this President.

I don’t get anything about him. It’s like on Law and Order: we learn facts about the main characters at a slow rate, and we value them all the more because they seem real.

We need to get to know these guys the way we got to know Lennie Briscoe. It ain’t hard.

Love the Edwards ad, and the first Richardson ad. I do not like the interrupting and fast talking of the second Richardson ad. Southern people will not be able to follow that at all.(I lived in CA for 25 years, and then moved back to New England, and I had a hard time for YEARS understanding the people around me because easterners talk very fast – and I GREW UP HERE)