Comments on: Useful Idiots

By: GregDiablo

GregDiablo — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 17:02:01 +0000

Baird does have liberal Olympia to prop him up, but too many of these younger single folks don’t vote, unfortunately.

I wonder if the Rethugs will put up a phony third party spoiler “anti-war” candidate like they did with Unseold on gun control in 1994. That trick probably wouldn’t work again in the internet age.

By: RickrInSF

RickrInSF — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 15:30:13 +0000

Democratic leaders are not “usefull idiots”, but people who vote for democrats are. The democratic leaders work for the military industial complex just like the repugs, when will you people wake up, they are not saying things like Baird says because they believe it, they are saying these things because they get money to say them.

By: brendan

brendan — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 14:49:49 +0000

As a measure of his usefulness, Baird got a nod for “seriousness” in Charles Krauthammer’s Friday column. Like clockwork.

By: bmaz

bmaz — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 03:57:50 +0000

Bob - Thanks, appreciate the opinion; and I concur wholeheartedly about the atmosphere and environment of the respective campuses. Both ASU and UA have turned into urban concrete jungles, especially ASU, and have to much of a big city, as opposed to university, feel to them.

As to the 9th Circuit, jeez you never know how quickly, or how slowly, they will issue an opinion. I don’t think I would expect it anytime much before mid-September of so. No clue.

By: bobschacht

bobschacht — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 03:49:05 +0000

bmaz @ 113

Bob Schacht - Bob here is EFF website. I am crappy at links, so it is a url. I have only talked to the legal people there, but they were very good and very cool people and they are doing heroic work on the ATT suit in the face of long odds. I would recommend them for that effort alone, but as you will see when you go to their site, they are active in several communications and digital areas. There are a couple of links on the homepage for their pages on the ATT case specifically. On a side note, if I recall correctly, I saw some time back, maybe during the Libby trial, can’t remember, that you had been at NAU for a while. Is that correct and, if so, what do you think of it academically these days. I was undergrad at ASU 75 to 79, when I graduated; probably wouldn’t (read didn’t) have considered NAU at that time even though I love Flagstaff and the campus. I know they have grown in both size and stature since then. My daughter will be heading off somewhere in 3 years and has already said she likes Flag and NAU. She is bright enough to go pretty much anywhere (well, at least so far-heh heh we shall see, eh). Presumption so far would be science/liberal arts program of some sort. Thoughts?

http://www.eff.org/

Thanks for the EFF reference– but that was almost a week ago that the hearing took place. What happened?

Yes, I was at NAU for about 17 years, 1987-2004. NAU may not have as many big name researchers as UA or ASU, but it is an excellent school for undergrads. There is more attention to teaching at NAU than there is at UA or ASU. Besides, its a better environment to live in than ASU or UA. If your daughter likes it, good! I recommend it!

Bob in HI

By: Blueman1

Blueman1 — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 02:57:34 +0000

This representative is an example of why the congress is held is such low regard. Why does someone who is opposed to the war now an advocate for keeping it going? He should be pressed on his feelings about the casualties (ALL casualties)to come from “surging” another six months or so. His actions make me wonder where his loyalties lie. With the “serious” people who engineered this fiasco or those who are asked to bear the misery and death. But who knows maybe somebody told him he had to do it and he’s not strong enough to oppose.

By: bmaz

bmaz — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 01:49:01 +0000

Bob Schacht - Bob here is EFF website. I am crappy at links, so it is a url. I have only talked to the legal people there, but they were very good and very cool people and they are doing heroic work on the ATT suit in the face of long odds. I would recommend them for that effort alone, but as you will see when you go to their site, they are active in several communications and digital areas. There are a couple of links on the homepage for their pages on the ATT case specifically. On a side note, if I recall correctly, I saw some time back, maybe during the Libby trial, can’t remember, that you had been at NAU for a while. Is that correct and, if so, what do you think of it academically these days. I was undergrad at ASU 75 to 79, when I graduated; probably wouldn’t (read didn’t) have considered NAU at that time even though I love Flagstaff and the campus. I know they have grown in both size and stature since then. My daughter will be heading off somewhere in 3 years and has already said she likes Flag and NAU. She is bright enough to go pretty much anywhere (well, at least so far-heh heh we shall see, eh). Presumption so far would be science/liberal arts program of some sort. Thoughts?

http://www.eff.org/

By: bobschacht

bobschacht — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 01:14:50 +0000

bmaz @ 93

bobschacht @ 65

Funny you should ask.

Sept. 17-23 is “Constitution Week.”
I think most people don’t realize what BushCo is doing to the Constitution. I think we — all Firepups! — should focus attention on getting the word out that week, with letters to the editor, opinion essays, special events, leaflets, and more.

I am so dismayed by the Democrat’s (and Republican’s) lackadaisical attitude towards BushCo violations of the Constitution that I may make more contributions to organizations like the ACLU, who are actually involved in court challenges to BushCo executive over-reach, than to political candidates.

Bob in HI

Excellent suggestion Bob. Constitution Week would be a perfect time, venue and forum for a push to get the word out. It sould be a Netroots priority to get the word out and about. Here are two more worthy places for any contributions to the effort, in addition to the ACLU. These are the two citizen groups fighting on behalf of the plaintiffs, and all of us, in the 9th Circuit privacy cases you have heard and read so much about:

CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
666 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10012-2317
Phone: (212) 614-6438
Fax: (212) 614-6499
Email: kadidal@ccr-ny.org

Electronic Frontier Foundation
454 Shotwell Street
San Francisco CA 94110-1914 USA
Phone: 1 415 436 9333

I certainly add my “amen” to your suggestion of the CCR. But who or what is the Electronic Frontier Foundation?

Bob in HI

By: teedawg

teedawg — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 00:50:25 +0000

I knew Brian Baird years ago when we both lived in Tacoma and worked on environmental matters in that toxic community. His recent positions are a surprise and very disappointing. One possible explanation — not an excuse, really, but an explanation — may be his district, which is conservative, and towards whose inclinations he may be tacking as election season rolls around. I don’t know, but I suggest this is one plausible basis. He does not have liberal Seattle to prop him up.

By: Ed Kunin

Ed Kunin — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 23:58:10 +0000

bmaz @ 93

bobschacht @ 65

It should be a Netroots priority to get the word out and about.

The winners of the 2006 election pay no attention to Netroots power. That’s the complaint. We need to show them Netroots power if there is such a thing. How about making 9/11 a “No Buy Day”, a day when no one buys anything, not a newspaper, not lunch (brown bag it). You get the idea, but do you like it enough to put Netroots power to the test? It’s a risk, maybe throwing a protest and no one comes. If it succeeds to the point of being noticed, it could change both parties. No guts. No glory.