Darcy says the FISA vote threw the Constitution under the bus. It sucks.
As Duncan might say: Darcy speak, you listen.
Darcy is Blue America favorite running for Congress. You can give to her campaign here.
Please reward good behavior. Darcy is the real thing.
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- al-Haramain Reply Filed; Constitution, Rule of Law in Judge Walker’s Hands
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zed
Go Darcy!
Damn, I like getting the Zed, but I just posted a really long comment downstairs. Now, nobody will read it.
I am officially politically depressed (t/y to our Congress).
: ‘ (
Darcy, is a breath of fresh air!!!
Mikey @ 4
Doncha mean ‘repressed’? ;-)
BigMitch @ 3
We knew it would be about baseball :-).
Mark Crispin Miller’s Cruel and Unusual: Bush/Cheney’s New World Order covers the story of the Ranger’s stadium pretty well, too.
Darcy’s in serious danger of looking weak here[/SARCASM].
For the “big picture” type Democrats, OTOH, I’ve created an illustrated guide on how not to look strong.
lol big mitch – too fast for your own good hehehe
CTuttle @ 6
touche’, and yes indeed.
This terrorist s*** is getting annoying, what ever happened to nationalism?
*smashing the democratic & republican party symbols with a canoe oar*
Mikey @ 4
Don’t be. It’s time to fighter harder and smarter. Indiana’s Barry Welsh, like John Laesch in Illinois and Donna Edwards in Maryland and like Darcy, have to fight against the reactionary establishment. We should do what we can to help them. Their values are like our values. That’s why Jane and I started Blue America. September 1 Barry will be our Blue America guest here at FDL. Expect something very special.
darcy is the real thing you say ehhh?
Darcy, if you’re here,
I spent parts of four days this past week and a half in your district. You’re going to win this time. A lot of work, though. Pound Reichert on his failed policies and lack of imagination. Hit him on his recent votes. Not too early for yard signs this cycle. Point out today’s Seattle Times article which shows that 2/3 of the jobs created in his district since 2002 won’t raise a person above poverty.
More but mostly BETTER democrats. As she so eloquently put it FISA sucks.
do we ever need the real thing right about now …..
Darcy and all of these people have my undying support, count on that… it’s just times like these that it’s hard to see ahead…
But, you’re right, fight on and fight hard people, keep your heads up! **struggling to raise mine and smile**
a Truly shocking statistic.
Darcy Burner’s website is here, BTW:
http://www.darcyburner.com/
Darcy is sweet, but Debbie Wasserman Schultz is the real powerhouse! Wow. That woman has enough amount of anger to lift a car and throw it across the street. We need more like her.
In 2004, Reichert, at the time serving as the sheriff of King County, beat his Democratic opponent Dave Ross by 52% to 48%, a surprisingly small margin, in the race to replace retiring Rep. Jennifer Dunn; that year, voters in the district favored Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Responding to Reichert’s perceived vulnerability, former Microsoft project manager Darcy Burner (D) challenged Rep. Reichert in 2006, in what was widely expected to be a close election. Influential election analyst Charlie Cook listed the contest among 68 competitive or potentially competitive House races to watch in 2006, now categorizing it as a “toss-up” (defined as “the most competitive; Either party has a good chance of winning.”[1] Burner was one of 22 House challengers selected by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) for fundraising assistance with its “Red to Blue” program, aimed at unseating vulnerable Republican incumbents around the country.[2]
In the end, Reichert won reelection, defeating Burner by just 7,341 votes out of more than 250,000 cast. [3] The outcome of the race was not decided for almost a week after the election, as severe flooding in the eastern part of the district delayed the counting of absentee ballots
Wiki
BigMitch @ 18
There should be no such thing as a job where a person works 40 hours a week and cannot pay for food,clothing,shelter,healthcare and perhaps a bit more. It’s obscene.
Well, it was certainly spot on and to the point.
Is it going up as a campaign ad?
Mikey @ 17
“It was the best of times, and, it was the worst of times…” a tale of the Haven’ts and the Have-Mores!!! *g*
rwcole @ 21
The district continues to become more Democratic, and Reichert’s popularity would probably be diminishing even if that weren’t true. There’s a real chance for a win here.
A realistic living wage in much urban america is probably $15 per hour.
My question for Darcy is, do you have any particular insight as to why 41 representatives and 16 Senators would have let this pig with lipstick on it pass? This FISA adjustment should seemingly have been a no-brainer! Does anybody know what the specifics are yet? Like, do they revisit this in 3 months? 6 months? Did they ultimately reach an accommodation that leaves the FISA court still basically in charge? How weakened is the FISA court. Did FISA previously find something the NSA was doing illegal or unconstitutional? Any insight would be much appreciated. I really am totally disappointed in Jim Webb, with Ken Salazar and Bob Casey and Claire McCaskill not far behind. With Diane Feinstein and Evan Bayh, I just breathed a sigh, shrugged my shoulders and said, what, again! This is very disheartening.
Cujo
Sounds VERY promising.
working 40 hours is sooo 60s – one must work 2 and 3 jobs in THIS america today – surprising – uh why??
rwcole @ 26
Legislated slow death is what the minimum wage is….
that is if you want to eat and pay rent….
The minimum wage has been in existance for ever and has never made much difference at all- it only gets raised when 99% of the jobs are already paying more than the proposed minimum..
I’ve never considered it a serious political issue- although goopers act as if the heart of the country has just been removed every time it’s raised.
juslin @ 31
…and pay utilities and to put gas in the tank…!!!
anangryoldbroad @ 22
The religious right believes that laissez-faire capitalism is part of God’s plan. This is what they mean when they invoke the concept of “liberty.”
“It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged.” A Republican president at his inauguration in 1865.
That’s if you are young and fit enough to work. Another pickle is for those on a fixed income hoping that cost-of-living increases do in fact keep up with the cost of living!
The video is so different from the stuff her campaign was putting out in July-August 2006. It shows – I think – she’s got a new staff, more savvy of the immediacy of tools such as YouTube.
the bible also says a man or woman is worthy of their hire….
Ann in AZ @ 27
My question is: What are we going to do about this. I’m starting to look at who among the 41 are vulnerable to a primary challange. The odds of success may be pretty long but even an entrenched incumbent will not like having to fight a primary and it may make them think twice about leaning so far right in the future. Once I get the initial data together I’ll post it at my site and perhaps some of us can work it from there.
Am happy – and mildly surprised – that not a single democratic congresscritter from California voted to shred the constitution.
Can’t say the same for Dianne Feinstein. Ugh.
Must soak my head in ice water now.
We think a minimum wage is a serious matter. It should be the same as a living wage. The way you get around higher minimum wages is that while you pretend to be anti-immigration, you hire more illegals. Next time you stay in a hotel, change your own sheets and bring your own mints for the pillow.
rwcole @ 32
rwcole @ 32
because some poor widdle CEO might have to take a bit of a pay cut. We could afford to pay people a LIVING wage(which is what we should,imo,fight for rather than a minimum wage)in this country if loser CEOs weren’t being given insane paydays. It astounds me that a CEO can lose a company millions of dollars and then make 300 million dollars himself. That crap is the problem.
Ed*ard Teller @ 36
I saw her on the local PBS station’s talk show around that time. It really looked like she’d been working on being as bland and uncontroversial as possible. I don’t know if the staff’s new, but it’s pretty clear that the old DLC-inspired image thing has gone out the window.
When Howie Klein had Darcy here on Saturday just over three weeks ago, this video came up. Hilarious!
Oklahoma kiddo @ 40
they would have to be impeachmints
I was not a Nader fan. Are we perpared to say that perhaps Nader was right?
Mutant Poodle @ 39
Hey MP, Aloha! I’m similarly disposed, I’m pissed at Inouye, yet, pleased with rest of my delegation!!! :~)
Mutant Poodle @ 39
I hate to rain on your parade, but we did have one Constitution shredder in the California delegation: Costa. I’m glad there weren’t more.
anangryoldbroad @ 42
those executive pay packages are a racket, a criminal racket.
Angryoldbroad, et al,
I don’t understand this thing about CEO’s getting 300 million bucks. Why can’t there be derivative lawsuits for unfair compensation to CEO’s. I am here to publicly announce that if you are paying 300 million to lose your company half a billion dollars, I am willing to do twice as much (lose a billion) and only ask for 150 million in return. Double the output for half the cost. Why not?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 46
If we want to build the Democratic Party to include young people and folks who became cynical about the Dems back in the 80s or earlier, we need to find ways to court the voters who either embraced Nader’s candidacies, or failed to vote because they saw things his way.
exec salaries are wayyyyyyy out of bounds – but thats ok the actual workers have to fight for a decent wage – somethings wrong here
broad
Well those are two good issues- but I’m not sure that they have much to do with one another.
In most cases if you divided the entire CEO’s salary equally among all employees, you’d end up with peanuts.
I really DO think that many of these people are makin WAY too much money lately though.
Elliott @ 49
When an executive earns a 1,000 times what a lowly employee earns, it boggles the mind!!! 8~(
Oklahoma kiddo @ 46
I thought he was right at the time, and to some extent I still do. I agree, though, that the most likely route for change is to make one party different from the other by making it speak for us. Trying to start up a third party from scratch, even when it has a fairly loyal base, probably isn’t practical here.
Howie – glad you’re here. This place has been jumping to put our rage to good use, tearing into our reps and sometimes each other.
Your ideas for focus, please.
Minimum wage. Can you just imagine “A Day Without a Mexican”?
CTuttle @ 54
They’re on each others boards, scratching each other’s back. With that amount of money at issue, how can performance not be a key factor in considering compensation for executives?
realworld @ 38
My question is: What are we going to do about this. I’m starting to look at who among the 41 are vulnerable to a primary challange. The odds of success may be pretty long but even an entrenched incumbent will not like having to fight a primary and it may make them think twice about leaning so far right in the future. Once I get the initial data together I’ll post it at my site and perhaps some of us can work it from there.
Yeah, but I really still wanna know why? Do they take turns betraying us or what? This would seem so out of character for Webb, yet there it is. Forty one is a pretty large number for the kind of majority we’re supposed to have. And sixteen is a lot of Senators. Or are they all so shallow they thought resisting would be if they did not allow Bush to ruin their plans for August? There must be some rationale behind this? So far, I haven’t heard any. Weird!
i can – all restaurants lawn care and janitorial businesses will be shut here in new jersey ;)
Cujo359 @ 55
The Dems are sorta kinda like the Whigs in the early 1850s. But, unlike then, it is a better bet to grow the progressive wing of the Dems than to attempt to grow an entirely new party. As a 16-year member of the Green Party of Alaska, the strongest Green organization in the USA, I can vouch for the futiity of the third party model in national politics in the USA. I’m now a fighting Dem.
A novel and perhaps quaint idea? Lets make the Democrats in Congress behave like Democrats.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 62
John Dean described himself as representing “the Democratic wing of the Democratic party.”
Mitch—Wasn’t it Howard Dean?
Business say their only in it for the money (the money to buy the powerful), The politically powerful say their in it to serve (the economically powerful). Now if only the rabble would just listen to reason and do what their told, life would be so much simpler (little boots “it would be so much easier it this were a dictatorship, as long as I’m the dictator” policy statement made easy)
BigMitch @ 63
Howard…
Ed*ard Teller @ 61
ET, Yours is a comment that needs to be reposted every day. Nothing like first-hand anecdotal evidence.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 46
Absolutely not!!! He’s an egomaniacal idiot.
Elliott @ 58
Performance? With few exceptions, most companies are losing money hand over fist! Ironically, they only turn a profit when they slash payroll, or so they claim!!! 8-(
Cranking it up.
AP – Rogue Shiite militiamen with Iranian weapons and training launched three-quarters of the attacks that killed or wounded American forces last month in Baghdad, stepping into the void left as Sunni insurgents have been dislodged, a top U.S commander said Sunday.
You know, Darcy may be “the real thing”, but it’s too late to trust ANY candidates, whatever they say. What happened with Webb? Elections aren’t the answer anymore.
It’s not Darcy’s fault, but this is going to end in the streets, not at the ballot box. We weren’t even close to having enough defenders in the House or Senate. We’d need to ousts dozens of candidates and replace them with actual patriots. This isn’t going to happen.
But WE THE PEOPLE will win and defeat the tyrants by NOT PLAYING BY THEIR RULES.
Our unalienable rights are non-negotiable. This government is illegitimate. It may take months, even a year or two. But it will end in the streets, with the tyrants stepping down.
Because they will have no choice.
I suspect that we’re headed for at least a minor remodel of the distinction between the two parties.. Dems have been running on the “New Deal” way too long- and Clusterfuck just proved that most of the ideas goopers have been plumping for decades just don’t work…
newtonusr @ 56
I’m pretty pissed off too. And I’ve been calling congressmembers and telling them. But like I said in a post that Christy linked to earlier, every single one of our incumbents voted against this and the Democrats who voted for it are the ones we usually encourage primaries against. In a few weeks we have Mark Pera on– the guy who is challenging fake-Dem Dan Lipinski, a reactionary shithead from a solidly blue district in Chicago who voted for this crap.
rwcole @ 64
Once again, Mitch reaches for the emoticon of man slapping self on forehead, and saying, “Stupid me!”
Oklahoma kiddo @ 57
The question is can you imagine a day without food or enough money to pay the bill, if you can your like much of america.
Ed*ard Teller @ 61
Gore?
Did Jerry McNerney get shaken up a bit? Did he correct his course in favor of the ones that brung him? IIRC, just a few days back it got noticed that he was toting Rethug water. I’m glad to see that he voted correctly against the gutting of FISA bill.
BigMitch @ 74
Doh!!! (KISS) ;-)
Oklahoma kiddo @ 76
He needs to hire Hillary’s personal trainer. She looked fabulous at the CNN YouTube debate – except for the jacket she stole from the Babylon Nine set. Again, if he loses another 5 pounds, he’s gonna announce.
Ann in AZ @ 59
I’ve been pondering this too. The best theory I can come up with is that they REALLY didn’t want to miss their August vacation and they somehow rationalized their way into thinking that because it’s supposedly “temporary” it’s not such a bad thing.
Maybe explainable…….but not excusable.
Ed*ard Teller @ 79
You think so? I wonder if he’ll apologize for giving us Lieberman. He never has.
BigMitch @ 74
Dean saying he represented “the Democratic wing of the Democratic party,” that was a classic and a treasure.
Boswell quoting Johnson
Of Dr. Beattie, Mr. Johnson said, ‘Sir, he has written like a man conscious of the truth, and feeling his own strength. Treating your adversary with respect is giving him an advantage to which he is not entitled. The greatest part of men cannot judge of reasoning, and are impressed by character; so that, if you allow your adversary a respectable character, they will think, that though you differ from him, you may be in the wrong. Sir, treating your adversary with respect, is striking soft in a battle. And as to Hume,–a man who has so much conceit as to tell all mankind that they have been bubbled for ages, and he is the wise man who sees better than they,–a man who has so little scrupulosity as to venture to oppose those principles which have been thought necessary to human happiness,–is he to be surprized if another man comes and laughs at him? If he is the great man he thinks himself, all this cannot hurt him: it is like throwing peas against a rock.’
Debbie rocks- and she personally contributed to Darcy’s campaign last year. Not a claim very many candidates can make!
KayInMaine @ 20
howieklein @ 81
A bad case of Lieberman that won’t wash off.
oddmommy @ 80
I will not forget Boehner’s smug f*cking mug in the well, last night!!!
So to get back on topic how many quality candidates, are out there, and how many solid serving rep.s in state and federal positions are really worth supporting. My thought is if those that are throwing our country under the bus begin to sense the grow shifting under them, we might be more effective getting them to not only listening but doing something.
argosfalcon @ 75
Very true. Lahoma and I see and talk to these folks every single day of our lives. We live in a poor (and Republican I might add) state. And we are determined to make Oklahoma blue again. ;0)
Ed*ard Teller @ 61
Thanks, ET. I’m old & cranky – voted in & worked in a hell of a lot of elections (since Bobby Kennedy) — so the “let’s start a new party” line pisses me off.
Let’s not waste our time or money in that futility. Let’s work smart: re the Senate, figure out which of the Traitors is up in ‘08 (e.g., Coleman) and target them. We can deal with those who are up in 2010 next (Mikulski), and then move on to those up in 2012 (Webb).
And I suggest telling the DCCC when it calls, that we don’t need any “more” Blue Dog Dems like the ones they supported in ‘06. We need ActBlue Dems — that’s where we’ll put our money.
i’m still waiting for dems to really take bushco on and NOT backdown – wishful thinking on my part – sighhhhhhhhhhh
He didn’t “Give us Joe Lieberman,” he showed us the first example of the paucity of support for the man, even where he was supposed to give the ticket important strength – Florida. Both campaigned wanly, listening to old-school pols who had forgotten how hard and intense a real campaign has to be. And Al won.
Ground not grow
CTuttle @ 86
Galling. With you there.
mauimom @ 89
Pretty quick to turn on Webb, eh?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 88
You’ve got a tough row to hoe, Kiddo!!! Go get’em!!! *g*
As to why those 57 Dems betrayed us, I had a new thought.
Many were probably following the lead of those Dems on the Intel committees. But the intel committees are like the Iraq war lead-up, only worse. They’re given cherry-picked bad intelligence and partial truths, but they’re told that if they breathe a word of it (inluding any doubt) it’s straight into jail and forfeit all your property. And they can’t get any more info, because they have absolutely no leverage!
That’s the only explanation I can find for the truly lame talk coming out of them on the Gonzo TSP bs. I mean, Rockefeller writes a handwritten note even though it doesn’t say anything that could remotely be considered “secret”!
Cheney has them in some convoluted Addington derived legal trap with truly vicious teeth.
Thoughts?
argosfalcon @ 87
Absolutely. We have to make some of them feel the ultimate pain. It is crucial that we defeat at least a couple of Democratic insiders. Al Wynn and Dan Lipinski would be perfect and it would show the Emanuels (Lipinski’s sponsor) and the Hoyers (Wynn’s sponsor) that we mean business.
howieklein @ 81
I voted for Gore/Lieberman. I know much more about Mr. Lieberman than I did then. We in this house absolutely detest Joe Lieberman. But we have gotten over him.
juslin @ 60
And perhaps all the businesses that say “no American will take this job” will have to increase the wages so an American will.
Connie Schultz, married to Sherrod Brown, is now on C-SPAN2, talking about the book she wrote about his senatorial campaign.
mauimom @ 89
Shaka, Bra!!! *g*
There are companies out there paying more than minimum wage, but still below what living costs are in their areas. It’s bad when an employee with more than five years’ work at a company still needs aid to pay for their kids’ medical bills, and it isn’t for major medical.
eCAHNomics @ 100
Thank you! I like her more than I like the Senator.
newtonusr @ 103
she’s interesting
On the average, how much money did the Blue America candidates get through that funding source? What percentage of their total campaign costs is that?
GordonM @ 96
that’s consistent with the explanation Webb gave — i.e., that he deferred to those intelligence savvy Democrats.
I still can’t give up on him quite yet. Jeez. He was the closest damn thing I’ve had to a political hero since……well (whispering), since I used to thing Ralph Nader was pretty cool.
: (
P J Evans @ 102
Hawaii’s minimum wage is already higher than what the new legislation will eventually top out at!!! The cost of Paradise!!! ;-)
Mitch,
I notice that Mark Begich’s involvement in Ted Stevens’s sweetest Anchorage land deal ever has drawn more comments than any other Anchorage Daily News Political Blog entry EVER – 167, and building. What’s your take?
Publicus @ 71
Webb made no pretense, as a candidate, that he was a progressive..he is what he is and a hell of a lot better than Allen. Chris Carney, on the other hand, was the only really bad apple in the ‘06 barrel.
Seems to me if we want to direct our attention to Joe Lieberman, lets perhaps explore the reasons for allowing Lieberman to caucus with the Democratic party. What about that Harry?
oddmommy @ 106
Who else has stood up to Bush?
Condi Lice just finished lyin her ass off about arming up the middle east for Armagedon..Next up- Rahm
A decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization. – Samuel Johnson
Johnson said it 250 years ago, Edwards is saying it today.
Big Mitch @ 59
No, not really. 2012 is 5 years off, and I’m hoping he’ll “learn” a few things before then.
He’s done great stuff: I worked for his campaign, contributed to him, have a good friend who’s a friend of his, who drew me into the campaign.
My point was, let’s not spend a lot of effort on “opposing” him or anyone else in the Senate who’s not up in ‘08.
Write them LOTS of letters, send LOTS of phone calls their way, but as for “opposing” anyone whose next election is that far away, let’s not go there. There are more fruitful targets for our efforts.
Rahm speakin against Armagedon. Doesn’t see the spiritual benefits of the final battle.
re-post, since this is a Washington State topic entry:
Any other Seattle area firedoggies interested in getting together with shoephone and ET somewhere in the city Wednesday evening? We’re thinking possible Thai food at a place she knows on Queen Anne Hill, or possibly a pub somewhere fairly central and convenient….
GordonM @ 96
Yep. The left & right hands of Coup d’état.
Ed*ard Teller @ 116
Would love to, but I’ll be out of town.
I watched this wage stagnation/ cost of living imbalance start to get bad in the 90’s in California when you have plumbers and electricians leaving certain ares the canary is singing, before I left in say Santa Barbara where I lived for many year a mixed community became very stratified driving second , third, and fourth generation Californians out of the state, leaving few who had any long term interest in the community (aside from economic).
The problem? Campaign financing. Where’s the money?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..mp;search=
Elliott @ 111
you know, I hate like hell to report this, but after that great bit of testicular fortitude he displayed in his white house visit (the “between me and my boy” thing)…..when his son actually did get home from Iraq…..he took him to visit bush. Can’t remember quite how he explained it; but I didn’t like it.
Rahm says that killin Iraqis won’t bring peace to Iraq—
Well I suppose it would if ya killed em all- but he wasn’t thinkin bout that.
MikeR @ 113
I (heart) Edwards!!!
HowieKlein @ 97:
I’m all for showing it to Steney Hoyer. I’m in MD and still steaming over his lack of support for candidates who could have won in ‘06.
I also heard him on the radio the other day and thought [before they disclosed who was talking] that it was a Southern Republican, or maybe a Blue Dog. He’s one of those who’s in it for the power and getting to “take charge” in ‘08.
Webb was never a Blue America candidate.
Darcy showed up and greeted us a few weeks ago. She is indeed the real thing.
mauimom @ 124
What, unseat Nancy?
oddmommy @ 121
well that’s another disappointment for me.
MikeR @ 113
Also: A society is judged by the condition of its weakest members.
CTuttle @ 123
Short of Al Gore, I’m continuing to warm very much to John Edwards. He’s getting the most mileage per gallon of any of the announced Dems. By far. Hillary – Hummer (no pun intended, please), Obama – VW Jetta, Edwards – Prius.
CTuttle @ 127:
Sorry, didn’t mean to imply that. Just that he, like Rahm et al., are anxious to move back into the White House and up the ladder of power.
re Webb, ya do gotta keep the George Allen factor in mind. A true example of the “the worst Dem on the worst day,” etc. GOD, I detested that guy.
There’s a word in German that means “face that begs for a fist in it,” which my mr. odd came upon during the election. That’s George Alllen in a nutshell.
Continuing to watch Connie Schultz (Wife of Sen. Sherrod Brown) on C-Span 2, and I’m struck by how much better off we’d be if very bright women were in charge of the Republic.
eCAHNomics @ 129
We certainly lag behind most of the industrial nations, in virtually every category!!! Education, Health Care, Savings, Wages, ad nauseum!!! :-(
oddmommy @ 132
Man, you’ve gotta share that word with us!!
I’ll add it to my vocabulary, right next to schadenfreude (sp?).
And so true re the George Allen factor. Still . . .
newtonusr @ 133
Second that. She’s terriffic.
Blogs now subject on Schultz interview.
mauimom @ 131
Capiche! However, I swore if FISA passed in the House I was gonna contribute to Sheehan’s campaign!!! ;-(
Blogs didn’t efffect race. Got under her skin. All the access & none of the accountability. Some were good.
Edwards does look good. We like Dodd and most of the other Demos in the race. We will support the Democratic nominee.
eCAHNomics @ 136
Or, contrast with, say, Pickles. I’m not for her husband as Prez. He did marry up, though.
Ed*ard Teller @ 51
Consider me among those not a Nader fan!
He lost me when he pulled a LIEberman and accepted all the Republican money and help they could give him to get his name on ballots in the last presidential election.
I understand that he has ideas and objectives that he wants to promote, some I might even agree with, but this was not the way to do it. It may have cost the Dems the vote in close states.
As far as I’m concerned, the man has outlived his usefullness. May he retire, while he still has a shread of dignity left. I no longer have any respect for him.
Young people will learn, but not let it be from a mouth spitting out both sides of it from someone like Nader.
Sorry to offend anyone if they are a Nader supporter, but I put him directly in the camp of someone like Lieberman, and I don’t like what I see.
E.T. — Re: Mark Begich, I took a look at Adn blog. Interesting. My take is “there’s no there there.” Interesting is the amount of electrons being moved about because of this. I think it is a fart in a windstorm, but I am surprised to see that someone is taking pains to make it into a story.
Perhaps the fact that he has enemies speaks well of him.
What blogs was Schultz talking about? Wingnut ones in Ohio? Obviously left a very bad taste in her mouth.
mauimom @ 135
alas, we’ve lost track of what the word was…! But maybe I’ll dig thru my e-mail archives….
schadenfreude IS a great word too. kudos to the Germans for their ability to embody colorful concepts in single words.
Totally OT, and possibly a repeat, but I found this while “researching” the image guide article:
http://www.naturescornermagazi…..gs_at.html
The caption is hilarious.
We in this house are not advocating a third party. But the unrest we are sensing seems to point in that direction.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 46
IMO, he was right about 1 thing: there’s a single monster, having 2 heads.
Really OT, but if you needed cheering up today, try this: Can’t Stop Laughing
BigMitch @ 143
I’ve always thought he was among the most competent of Anchorage’s mayors. But that isn’t hard to do. I’ve only met him once, at Bartlett HS last spring, where we were both involved in a ceremony honoring Alaska Vets. When shaking his hand, I was immediately turned off. He shook my hand exactly like Mayor Tom Fink did – cold, clammy, reluctant, creepy.
Cujo359 @ 146
funny
OT: mauimom (and any other locals who are around), hope that you may be able to join us for a DC-area fdl get together that is planned for August 17 at Old Ebbitt.
Ooh, the repug’s debate on C-Span 1! I’m still waiting for it to air on ABC here! I believe it’ll be 3pm HST time!!!
newtonusr @ 133
Like Condi Rice? Like Harriet Miers?
We can form all the extra political parties we want to. But that will not deal with the real problem. And I hear the same old tired arguments everytime I bring up the subject of public financing of elections. “Oh that’ll never happen’. Or. That’s old news. Then I fire back; ‘what’s your solution’? And then silence.
Cujo359 @ 146
I am in cuteness overload.
((((((doggies)))))))
Ed*ard Teller @ 130
Ed*ward,
About a year ago my hubby and I were talking about Dem presidential candidates, and I said the absolute best candidates were Al Gore and Wes Clark. Al knows what he’s doing and Wes Clark has a clue about what it going on in Iraq and the military apparatus.
Sadly to say, I don’t believe either of them will make a run. It would take a gridlocked Dem convention, to make Al step up to the plate and that will not happen. (condolences to Okie Kid) I love Al too!
I too like Edwards, but have reservations about his ability to mount a real challenge to Hillary. But what the he**, stranger things have happened.
newtonusr @ 117
Unfortunately, I don’t think they need a coup. Shrub just needs to convince our Dem leadership that Dem voters will punish them if and when his long-promised terror attack finally comes, if they don’t do whatever the shrubco fear machine says we must. I hate to say it, but he’s made it ‘up to us’ — Dem voters — to prove to the same Dem leaders that we’re now more afraid of what shrub is doing to us now rather than what the ‘rrorists might do to us in the future. Until we do, they’ll listen to shrub.
What I don’t know is what is the best way for us to convince OUR leaders that we’re pretty much there already.
MikeR @ 154
um, no.
Those women are (1) not “very bright”; and (2) not “in charge of” squat. (in harriet’s case, was not)
If Gore doesn’t come in, it’s Clinton.
MikeR @ 154
You were saying?
oddmommy @ 156
a vicious pack of alligator eaters!
Anybody heard any comments from Leahy, Pelosi, Reid, Schumer et al on the further erosion of the Constitution?
60 Something:
Edwards is a great guy. He says all the right things and just as importantly, he strikes me as very honest. For example, he’s smart enough to know that he didn’t do himself any favors with his answers about gays. But he told the truth anyway.
Kucinich answered a doubter who said that he couldn’t get elected by saying, “I can if enough people vote for me.” I don’t know if it is true in the case of Kucinich, but I believe it about Edwards.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 160
If that’s the case I’m glad I have dual citizenship. Philosophically Hillary doesn’t have it in her to make the fundamental changes the United States needs so desperately.
Think about it. If candidates and incumbents didn’t have to worry about campaign funds, what kind of a nation would this be?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 166
President Fred Thompson.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 166
Think about it. If the public weren’t told by pundits and polls who we favor, what kind of a nation would this be?
Blub @ 167
I know that was a snark, but I feel obliged to point out that Thompson would campaign as vigorously and diligently as he has raised funds. As long as he was going to be crowned, he was interested. When he found out he might have to work, he started backpaddling.
Bluetoe @ 163
from: Outofoffice Autoreply
to: Seekers of comment
I am currently recessing and have no access to e-mail, voice mail, snail mail or any other mode of accountability. Business as usual will resume September 4. If this is an emergency, you may contact my partners at gwb.com
Oklahoma kiddo @ 166
Bloomberg v. Romney. Guys who can finance it themselves. Or with such tight political connections like, uh, dad was president? or hubby?
One thing I noticed from the House debate: some of the most notable Dem voices in opposition came from the area around Silicon Valley.
Darcy Burner is a Microsoft alum. She understands that the issue isn’t the technology people use to communicate, but the technology the NSA uses to snoop.
It’s not just a case of campaign funding, though it does mean that congresscritters spend the majority of their time grubbing for cash. (As it is, Reps get less than a minute per constituent over the working hours of a two-year term.)
It’s that every two years, the American people indirectly send millions and millions of dollars to their local network affiliates and cable operators. In a way, you’d be better off sending your $100 to W- or K-whatever. Imagine what politics would be like without that money transfer?
Blub @ 158
Maybe it’s to start having sit-downs with our representatives or their staffs to explain things to them. A conversation that starts out “Yes, terrorists are bad people, but they’re not a threat to our society, and there are other things that are far more likely to kill me that you can do something about” might be just the thing.
Why couldn’t Valerie Wilson change names, times, and places just enough for her book to be a work of “fiction”, to get around the contraints they are putting on her?
eCAHNomics – she remind you of anyone? Intellectual heft, look-you-in-the-eye honest, family-oriented? Married to a Senate Denizen?
Ron Paul was just railing about Iraq and the crowd went wild!!! 8-)
eCAHNomics @ 169
That’s all true, I think, but my point was that in this case, the fundraising hurdle is not what’s stopping Gore or whomever we might like to see from running. Gore would jump to a fairly healthy financial position the day he declared.. or even seriously hinted, that he was in. Instead, the first fundraising casualties are likely to be people like McCain. I am very much in favor of campaign finance reform and publicly funded presidential campaigns, but, in this unusual case, we can be at least a little greatful that the money hurdle will make sure some of the most insiduous candidates are stillborn.
The Gestapo returns.
Aug. 13, 2007 issue – The controversy over President Bush’s warrantless surveillance program took another surprise turn last week when a team of FBI agents, armed with a classified search warrant, raided the suburban Washington home of a former Justice Department lawyer. The lawyer, Thomas M. Tamm, previously worked in Justice’s Office of Intelligence Policy and Review (OIPR)—the supersecret unit that oversees surveillance of terrorist and espionage targets. The agents seized Tamm’s desktop computer, two of his children’s laptops and a cache of personal files. Tamm and his lawyer, Paul Kemp, declined any comment. So did the FBI. But two legal sources who asked not to be identified talking about an ongoing case told NEWSWEEK the raid was related to a Justice criminal probe into who leaked details of the warrantless eavesdropping program to the news media.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20…../newsweek/
oddmommy @ 170
oddmommy @ 170
I sent Leahy & Pelosi a letter today thanking them for their stellar leadership in upholding the Constitution. I urged Leahy to write some more of those scathing letters he has become so famous for. That’ll stop fascism in it’s tracks.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 160
I wouldn’t bet on Clinton yet.
newtonusr
I was trying to think of women in this administration. Regardless of your opinion of her policies, Rice is intelligent. And she has as much spine as the 4th branch can tolerate.
Blub @ 158
Blub,
In a round about sort of way you have hit the nail on the head. Bush put the fear of God in the Dems, or at least some of them.
In voting for FISA, some Dems are IMHO, in stark terror that a terrorist incident could really happen and they don’t want to be accused of doing anything to be a deterent to an attack. The repercussions if that would happen would be devastating to the Dems, had they blocked it.
In my own mind it could happen. It could be real, not a figment of Rove’s and Bush’s propaganda imagination.
I just don’t think they are willing to take a chance. They, (Dems who voted for it) could be right, but what the heck do I know. (*g*)
Now that the Dems in Congress have rolled over for Bush’s FISA legislation and are now on recess I’m wondering if KKKRove has called off the attack on Washington?
That perpetually spinning “Refreshing Comments” thingy means there’s a new thread upstairs.
FYI, Jane is upstairs
Bluetoe @ 183
Why would he settle for only the legal foundations, why not go for the whole enchilada, the Capitol’s actual foundations!!! ;-)
OKK – here in Maine, we have Clean Elections. They work, and they’ve withstood court challenges.
Only an insanely perverted court could claim that money is free speech.
GordonM @ 187
That would be the Supreme Court.
New Thread Upstairs
MikeR @ 181
I was trying to think of women in this administration. Regardless of your opinion of her policies, Rice is intelligent. And she has as much spine as the 4th branch can tolerate.
Rice is intelligent? I think you are confusing intelligence with the ability to lie with a straight face. Here’s a hint to help you distinguish the two. Only the latter is valued in the Bush administration.
LS said
I was wondering if her dates of service could be included on the book jacket in a blurb. Then they wouldn’t technically be her words, and thus not subject to CIA oversight.
MikeR @ 181
I was trying to think of women in this administration. Regardless of your opinion of her policies, Rice is intelligent. And she has as much spine as the 4th branch can tolerate.
Problem is, intelligence didn’t get her in a position of having to stroke and coddle Chimpy. And it didn’t keep her from being usurped by Shooter when she was NSA, or by Karen Hughes and Shooter as SecState. Or placed in those 2 jobs when she should have been @ State as the Russia expert, where her expertize lies.
Bright he ain’t.
Pach, thank you for introducing Darcy! I live in WA in Brian “Voted for Schivo and Bankruptcy Reform” Baird’s district. She’ll get any $$ donated in this state’s races from me. I appreciated her straight talk. I was a week ahead of you and called Baird’s office last Monday. It seems he is planning none of his much ballyhooed town hall meetings in August. It seems they believe that voters wouldn’t show up. My belief is they are afraid they WILL show up…with ATTITUDE!
OT
Don’t throw rocks at me, I think I wrote something all you folks should see :
The Words of Fire Fighters
One thing that has emerged from this fire season are the words of the people who have been fighting them, and the people who have been caught by them. Consider these accounts :
Sometime last year I decided that observed events, and only observed events will drive a stake in the “wing-o-sphere denier monster”. But they float around like snow flakes now, chopped up in bites. I started posting them at NewsVine last March. Turned into a serious obsession. But there’s plenty of bullets there now to finish off the bastard .
Item :
The weekend that Al Gore hosted “Live Earth” a fire in Utah, was burning 100,000 acres a day for 3 days that whole weekend. Broke out that Friday afternoon. Biggest fire in Utah history “Milford Flat”. Next time they make fun of Al tell em’ that.
One more :
National Climate Data Center :
June was the warmest ever recorded at the South Pole.
2007 = Fire and Water ….. Fire and water.
COLORADO BOB @ 194
Hey, Colorado Bob, good to see you.
Looks like fire’s way ahead of water right now.
BigMitch @ 63
Oh, no he didn’t. But *Howard* Dean made that claim.
Bob in HI
Bluetoe @ 165
Plus she’s a wholly owned subsidiary of corporate lobbyists.
A handy guide to those who voted “yes” and their home pages:
http://pruningshears.squarespa…..votes.html
Oklahoma kiddo @ 70
The operational word is “BAGHDAD”. The US is no longer sweeping the Sunni areas, and the Sunni forces have moved outside into areas where they continue to kill US Forces. So of course the areas that are now being swept are Shiite…with those militants involved, if they have training at all, being those trained back in the 1990’s by the Iranian Mujahideen.
It means nothing about overall US casualties and attacks…which we all have heard have picked up OUTSIDE Baghdad. So are they admitting that suddenly fighting in Baghdad is increasing? That things really AREN’T getting better there?
I’m still waiting for the US military to show the locations of those troops supposedly killed and injured by shaped IED’s back when they were asserting they “had to” be manufactured in Iran. It was pretty clear from the casualty lists published that these deaths were occuring OUTSIDE the area of Shiite control/influence.
MikeR @ 191