Seamus D- that is amazing. It should be the topic of a whole blog. This all could have been prevented with some oversight, and putting in place other policies that did not move to destroy the middle class (home owners). This is tragic. Each of those homes represents a family tragedy.

What kinds of families are losing homes? Do they have savings? Are they affluent second homes or primary residences?

What kind of family assistance will those people need? What should government do to help?

I think we can feel assured Republicans will look on and ignore them.

What should Dems do?

GSD @ 165

…when those dollars are released into our economy our dollar will fall like it did when we were paying off viet nam

I am surprised this hasn’t happened already but I do believe it is inevitable

They haven’t moved big time to buy our assets, but they’re getting ready to. It’s obvious and inevitable they would as there is nowhere else to use those dollars.

However, the dollar has already been dropping. When the Euro came out it was .99e to $1.00. Now it’s more like 1.00e to $0.70. That’s a drop of about 1/3 which makes our dollar less valuable for buying foreign assets.

One can likely see a continuation in the increased valuation of the Chinese Yuan.

BigMitch @ 76

I’m not backing Hillary. (Edwards is my man.) But don’t ya think that when Hillary talks about leaving troops in Iraq, it is to minimize killings afterward, and to administer a reconstruction and relief program? I am not a naif, but I don’t believe that she wants to continue an occupation for strategic reasons.

No Bigmitch I don’t think that. She is in bed with AIP*C and the Neo-cons. I don’t think she wants us leave Iraq. period.

Well, you’ve arrived at a rather critical question we need to ask all the candidates (except Richardson, who has said “out”): In your plan to leave Iraq are there stages where would leave troops and if so is it to continue the Bush war plan to conclusion or is it just part of a staged withdrawal?

That oughta sort ‘em out a bit.

But, of course, after that there would need to be a bit more sifting through some details.

Eureka Springs @ 53

Big Mitch, If Dem Hillary stays in Iraq with 50k troops (no telling how many paid militia) on an endless killing occupation, that makes her (or we Dems who vote for her) better than neo republicans?

Give me a break.

Give me a break. If the election is held today and your choices are W or HRC, would you vote or not?

As for me, I refuse to speak of preemptive use of tactical nukes with regard to this, er on civilians…oh, let’s drop it.

rwcole @ 50

Best thing a candidate could have said about this issue- “I can’t explain why my collegues voted the way they did- I CAN say that when I am elected president I will remove this practice by executive order and request that congress remove it by statute as some of my first acts in office.”

Appointing a credible AG would be a significant stride forward! Whitehouse, Leahy, Jackson-Lee, etal… Hmmm… ;-)

Comey seemed to indicate he didn’t want it, but Iglesias might be good. Repubs could vote for him and Dems wouldn’t object, I don’t think.

Our plan is to vote Democratic in 2008. And if things don’t change radically after that, we are going to push with all our might for a third party. Let the chips fall where they may.

The plan which appeals to me is to continue to use the Democratic Party label and just go after congressional seats where we can swap out a “blue dog” or Republican for a True Blue Democrat.

I can’t see starting a new party as being easier, cheaper or quicker than taking the Dem party bit by bit.

the Kosniks are sheepdogs for Progressives and others of the non-aligned Left, barking and nipping to get us to the pen in even numbered years.

Sheepdogs don’t want dialog with the sheep, but they are canny enough to do whatever it takes to keep the herd moving the right way.

I just wanted to post my support of this post,thanks for sharing your overview of YKos. I was getting the same impressions,but I wasn’t there,so I didn’t feel right saying much about it.

GSD @ 67

Hoofah. Anderson Cooper, eegads. Kos is becoming the indy band that has a top 10 hit.

-GSD

I don’t know who Bai is but if they are going to turn YearlyKos over to the media, it’s toast. There will probably be one more next year and then it’s done.

At least they could have gotten Jon Stewart ;-)