We’re seeing a lot of anguish on the blog and in real life these days, people becoming infuriated about administration abuses and gloomy over a Congress that refuses to hit the Stop button.
It’s a geniune grief for our nation, and it’s taking a toll on our psyche. Such strong emotions need to go somewhere—we fight with each other on the blog instead of uniting against the real evildoers—or worse, we take the pain internally and struggle with it there alone.
I’ve been pretty far down that path at times as many of you have witnessed. Thanks to teamEgregious, which includes quite a few firepups, I’m currently doing well. But there are other people who need someone to lean on, and I fear that number will soar as these outlaws damage our future.
So please, reach out and take care of each other.
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Zed!
egregious!
Z
Evening, Egregious!!!
dang.
Hi Egregious
I’ve never seen a more caring community than FDL.
eg, did I read recently that you’re moving out of VA? If so, I hate to lose ya, good neighbor!
Hi egregious.
In an effort to take care of those not yet ready for the organic snacks downstairs, I present … truffles!
TexBetsy @ 10
Oh boy — I’m calling dibs on the one in the lower left. Thanks Betsy!
TJ @ 7
I ditto this…. I felt like I have been surrounded by one big family sending me warm wishes and lots of care. The one reason I have been able to survive the last month is because of FDL. The support, suggestions, the {{{{{HUGS}}}}, have been appreciated over and over again.
OMG, egregious. You are one of my favorites. You hold the values that I do and express them so beautifully. Oh, America.
TJ @ 7
I’ll second that. In the approximately 9 months that I’ve been here, I’ve seen so many kindnesses between the pups.
Good evening Egregious!
I made it your salon
Hey
LoudounLib @ 13
I’ve both seen it and experienced it firsthand, especially with the trip to YKos2 in Chicago.
Hiya all — this makes me a bit teary, something I’m not supposed to do anymore… sorry can’t help it.
katymine @ 11
(((((((katymine)))))))
Love and hugs, katymine! It was so wonderful to meet you in Chicago.
girls night out tonight or what?
Lifted me.
Loo Hoo. @ 19
ditto!
katymine @ 11
katymine! just get those towels and gauze in the right places! Your fortitude in the face of what you were going though was a huge inspriation. XXooo.
eg (good neighbor), did you see me at #8?
tw3k @ 20
all on tw3k’s arm, eh?
LoudounLib @ 10
I guess my thinking is too concrete..when I clicked on the link, I was expecting to see a fungus and a French Pig.
TexBetsy @ 9
YUM!
Besides, chocolate is good for you!
The LGB and sometimes T family has been torn up by our allies in Congress who seem determined to pass an ENDA bill that excludes the Ts among us, while more than 280 national and state organizations decry the T-exclusive ENDA. The Human Rights Campaign, meanwhile, “presses” for an inclusive ENDA but will not oppose an exclusive bill. Our allies, Barney Frank and Nancy Pelosi, anger us all when they talk about how the community didn’t do their homework and therefore the inclusive bill must be dropped now in order to pass something.
On that one issue alone, it’s been a tough week to be a Democrat.
Then Harry Reid decides not to tax the super-rich hedgers any more than they are currently, and Jay Rockefeller seems ready to do his telecom contributors’ bidding by giving them immunity.
It’s been a tough week to be a Democrat. But reaching out and taking care of one another is all we really can do after weeks like this one.
Thanks, eg.
tw3k @ 20
Boys are allowed to emote. Saturday only!
The Lake is an exceptional place, the populace are second to none…!!!
lol Steve — when I see the word truffles, I only think chocolate ;-)
peanutbutter @ 27
yummmmmmm
Elliott @ 25
707!
Steve-AR @ 26
Which would you prefer?
I’ve had such a hard summer medically, and being here has been a balm. I hate it when we argue, even when we must.
LoudounLib @ 8
Sorry, it’s true. I am counting on you personally to keep Virginia progressive. Thank you for your good wishes.
Ahhhh you guys are going to make me cry…. And would someone tell Miss Dog that I do not need kisses….. golly Miss Dog go away I am just expressing my feelings…
Loo Hoo. @ 29
well i had a good vent fri that let me sleep super duper well into caturday :)
egregious @ 36
eg, you got it. I will be working extra hard, within my capacity, to turn VA blue-er.
where you headed egregious?
Thanks for posting this. Sadly this seems all I can talk about these days. It is my biggest fear. Things are much better here at the lake than on some other left leaning sites. But even here, occasionally, tempers flare. And I can understand that. With the rape of this country that is Bushco, one cannot help but be outraged.
We need to stick together. We need to help each other and understand that the opinions here on some topics can vary. But we all have the same goal. To change america into the nation it should be. A nation that cherishes it’s diversity and is strong because of it.
My other concern is that we don’t become that which we despise on the right. When the left regains power, there are many atrocities that have been committed by the right that need to be addressed. But I hope we can address them using the rule of law and not give in to the desire to simply attack. That’s what I like best about the left. The belief in the rule of law. As I say, many atrocities have been committed and many people need to be punished for their acts. But within the framework of the constitution and our laws.
I know I don’t need to remind most people here of that. I just needed to say it for my own sake. Together we can make this country good again. It will take some time, but we can do it.
Thanks for listening.
ADM
That’s what I’m talking about. Thanks Teddy.
TeddySanFran @ 28
Teddy, it seems like our leaders think we are living in the fifties. We’ve got serious work to do. I know that people don’t think like this. At least not here in SoCal.
Christine Edmonson @ 35
The worst part of being stuck on my back was not being able to type. But even lurking helped.
TexBetsy @ 40
The left coast
Loo Hoo I think your dream means you are to run against Issa.
Christine Edmonson @ 35
egregious @ 45
EgSanFran?
TJ @ 44
Yes it does!
TeddySanFran @ 46
Ding!
egregious @ 45
w00t!
I should move out that way too!
LoudounLib @ 50
Sounds like a good omen :)
oh – fer chrissakes – would someone just play me some jumpin’ blues?
OT —
CT, I am tearing my hair out here…
TeddySanFran @ 46
You are our JosephSanFran of the Technicolor Dream Coat!!
What’s wrong LL?
Boston’s Bullpen has completely melted down… 4 runs with only one out…!!!
TeddySanFran @ 48
Yes, if you’ll have me. Altho why California needs one more progressive, not sure. Perhaps I should move to Alabama.
Valley Girl @ 23
Hear, hear!
LoudounLib @ 54
Good look at those pics from your vaca again.
Here ya go, jayt
Is Suzanne off this weekend?
Betsy, it’s the baseball game :-(
Steve-AR @ 62
Yep, she will be back Sunday
jayt @ 53
I added the link
We’ll roll out the welcome mat, ma’m!!
tw3k @ 33
You know I’m gonna have to draw this, don’t you?
OK…you want a hat with or without a feather? ;0)
LoudounLib @ 63
Seven runs needed with only three outs…!!! 8-(
Margot @ 67
A feather, whistling yankee doodle dandy!
CTuttle @ 68
It’s gonna take a miracle.
well said egregious…..
ctuttle i left a comment re the 7 runs scored by the indians downstairs……….:)
Hey there,
Been coming by to read the posts for awhile now and I’ve got to say, I’ve gotten pretty discouraged at times myself. I just keep repeating “only one more year.” If we can somehow get through to next November without Bush pushing the big red button on Iran or anywhere else, things are going to get better.
Right?
down with the old!
LL, and Elliot – please excuse my tardiness – had to listen to them both – guess it’s my turn, huh?
sykopoet @ 73
more n better dems!
It’s Suzanne’s birthday on Monday, in case you want to cook up something special…she deserves it…
i am rooting for the …..indians – always go for the underdog tho my boyz blew it to the phillies!!
Hi, all.
Anyone talking about Frank Rich in NYT tomorrow? It is, finally, the facts and sentiments that need to be expressed, appearing in a major US media. Profound and moving:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10…..ref=slogin
Go for it jayt, but please pick a tune for me that I can cry along with — the Sox just lost!
juslin @ 72
Tied Series…!!! 8-(
CT and I will now shuffle off to the corner with our crying towels :-(
sykopoet @ 73
I am still hoping for a miracle.
TeddySanFran @ 46
It was the strangest thing. He kept intruding, my kids were little again, and they were falling off a cliff that was deteriorating. He kept saying all was well, when I knew it wasn’t. Weird.
If nobody else does run against him, what should we do? Even the military hates Blackwater, which Issa has supported.
sykopoet @ 73
Hey, welcome! And this is why I came too.
egregious @ 58
The Monterey peninsula needs progressives more than SF my dear egregious so at least tink about it. ;~)
Oh No, add salt to the injury, Trot Nixon is Player of the Game… Traitor…!!!
mhpcr @ 77
I already have three cakes and some balloons saved for the occasion. A good time will be had by all.
sykopoet,
May I offer you an official egregious welcome to the Lake.
Please let us hear from you often. We need everybody.
CTuttle @ 88
Ain’t that a bitch?!
ok – here’s one while I get warmed up..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRlVE2pNQ-s
Van and The Hook….
LoudounLib @ 80
So sorry LL….. :~(
aReader @ 79
Wow, I’ll keep that in a tab for reading later tonight.
lol, thank you npb — tomorrow is another day!
My toobz seems to be broken….. can’t refresh again
test…test…
RICHMOND, VA. — Virginia Republicans will hold a convention instead of a primary to choose their candidate to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. John W. Warner, upsetting critics who say it makes the party appear closed off.
The state party’s central committee voted 47 to 37 on Saturday in favor of a convention. No date or location was decided.
server burp
Are we there yet?
or flying monkey attack
Someone in the last thread asked about a study that shows Walmart pays less Property Tax (as well as other service taxes) to the Communities which they operate within.
Here it is
http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpo…..E4MDGs0NUE
Hey pups – little spike in the network. We are back and ensuring we stay that way. Will advise.
I hate to ask this but it’s really been bugging me; why do the call Malkin “anchor baby”? Any and all explanations will be appreciated!
Thanks…
let me try this again — jayt, thanks for the John Lee Hooker/Van Morrison!
Gore on SNL
Better times ahead. We WILL get through this.
LoudounLib @ 100
Those Jack-booted Thugs at the NSA have landed…!!! ;-)
Pursang @ 102
who is the?
Pursang @ 102
I have a really sick visual of “Santa Baby” running through my head now. Oh the horror…
hope so burns, I’m counting on it.
Spies, Lies and FISA
from NYT > Opinion
We have watched Republican lawmakers help President Bush shred the Constitution in the name of fighting terrorism. It is time for that to stop.
katymine @ 104
Kewl, Mahalo for the heads up!!!
Getting Around Rules on Lobbying
from wa po politics by Elizabeth Williamson
In recent days, about 100 members of Congress and hundreds of Hill staffers attended two black-tie galas, many of them as guests of corporations and lobbyists that paid as much as $2,500 per ticket.
TexBetsy @ 110
Whose Opinion, Ma’am…?
burnspbesq @ 105
That’s the spirit
LoudounLib @ 96
test…test…
precisely – testing – Screaming John
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhQtTNBXwpg
Sonia Dada – real Chicago music:
CT, I am spent after that game — don’t know about you!
CTuttle @ 113
nyt editorial
As Democratic lawmakers try to repair a deeply flawed bill on electronic eavesdropping, the White House is pumping out the same fog of fear and disinformation it used to push the bill through Congress this summer. President Bush has been telling Americans that any change would deny the government critical information, make it easier for terrorists to infiltrate, expose state secrets, and make it harder “to save American lives.”
There is no truth to any of those claims. No matter how often Mr. Bush says otherwise, there is also no disagreement from the Democrats about the need to provide adequate tools to fight terrorists. The debate is over whether this should be done constitutionally, or at the whim of the president.
The 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, requires a warrant to intercept international communications involving anyone in the United States. A secret court has granted these warrants quickly nearly every time it has been asked. After 9/11, the Patriot Act made it even easier to conduct surveillance, especially in hot pursuit of terrorists.
But that was not good enough for the Bush team, which was determined to use the nation’s tragedy to grab ever more power for its vision of an imperial presidency. Mr. Bush ignored the FISA law and ordered the National Security Agency to intercept phone calls and e-mail between people abroad and people in the United States without a warrant, as long as “the target” was not in this country.
The president did not announce his decision. He allowed a few lawmakers to be briefed but withheld key documents. The special intelligence court was in the dark until The Times disclosed the spying in December 2005.
Mr. Bush still refused to stop. He claimed that FISA was too limiting for the Internet-speed war against terror. But he never explained those limits and rebuffed lawmakers’ offers to legally accommodate his concerns.
This year, the administration found an actual problem with FISA: It requires a warrant to eavesdrop on communications between foreigners that go through computers in the United States. It was a problem that did not exist in 1978, and it had an easy fix. But Mr. Bush’s lawyers tacked dangerous additions onto a bill being rushed through Congress before the recess. When the smoke cleared, Congress had fixed the real loophole, but also endorsed the idea of spying without court approval. It gave legal cover to more than five years of illegal spying.
Fortunately, the law is to expire in February, and some Democratic legislators are trying to fix it. House members have drafted a bill, which is a big improvement but still needs work. The Senate is working on its bill, and we hope it will show the courage this time to restore the rule of law to American surveillance programs.
There are some red lines, starting with the absolute need for court supervision of any surveillance that can involve American citizens or others in the United States. The bill passed in August allowed the administration to inform the FISA court about its methods and then issue blanket demands for data to communications companies without any further court approval or review.
(snip)
Mr. Bush says the law should give immunity to communications companies that gave data to the government over the last five years without a court order. He says they should not be punished for helping to protect America, but what Mr. Bush really wants is to avoid lawsuits that could uncover the extent of the illegal spying he authorized after 9/11.
It may be possible to shield these companies from liability, since the government lied to them about the legality of its requests. But the law should allow suits aimed at forcing disclosure of Mr. Bush’s actions. It should also require a full accounting to Congress of all surveillance conducted since 9/11. And it should have an expiration date, which the White House does not want.
Ever since 9/11, we have watched Republican lawmakers help Mr. Bush shred the Constitution in the name of fighting terrorism. We have seen Democrats acquiesce or retreat in fear. It is time for that to stop.
Hrm. When does Trex come back? Because I found a perfect picture for him…
testing again — is this thing working?
Pursang @ 102
Linky, please?
I am heading off to bed….. Toobz not working well and I’m fading … see ya all tomorrow… Nite all
Sleep well and late if ya can dear katymine.
{{{katymine}}} rest well
testing, testing…
Still working on this, pups.
So sorry for the break-up.
Excerpted from a Washington Post story:
{{{Lurking Mod}}} and {{{backstage crew}}}
ccmask @ 97
This makes the nomination more difficult for former governor Gilmore and easier for Tom Davis.
Hispanic exodus from Irving hurts businesses
from HoustonChronicle
The bottom dropped out of Mike Granger’s snack business almost immediately after the Mexican consul general in Dallas warned people to avoid this sprawling suburb.
I am out, friends — good night all!
what did gore say on SNL?
just wanted to say to egregious how much I’ve appreciated your help over the past two years – not just on Diane Benson and political stuff, just your take on things has helped me be less selfish.
and, Loo Hoo, if you’re still here – don’t ever let Republicans into your dreams. I banished them from my dreams around 1982.
Anchor baby is someone who is the first generation born American citizen in a family. Malkin’s parents are immigrants from the Philippine’s, she is the anchor of the family in America.
Ok… I’m out of here….
Thanx, Tex!
“President Bush has been telling Americans that any change would deny the government critical information, make it easier for terrorists to infiltrate, expose state secrets, and make it harder ‘to save American lives.’”
A mere observation; Shrub couldn’t handle the ‘critical information’, has exposed state secrets, and, certainly has enabled and emboldened the terrorists…!!! So, WTF?!!!
sleep well LL and katymine and anyone else i missed while i was doing news stuff.
Sorry…. Gore was a SNL spoof….. good but not really Gore….
LoudounLib @ 130
Nite, LL! Monday, Dice-k and Westbrook at the Jake…!!! *g*
Handling bad news — Dick Cheney’s way
from LA Times
Also: Giuliani is going to a conservative forum, the truth about the Florida flap, Bush is GOP’s four-letter word and Hillary Clinton vs. Iowa history.
Dan Bartlett was President Bush’s counselor until July. But now he’s on the lecture circuit, and when he’s not dissing the GOP’s candidates (Fred Thompson is the “biggest dud”), Bartlett is telling insider’s stories about Vice President Dick Cheney and, frankly, how much trouble it was to work with the taciturn Washington veteran.
CTuttle @ 137
Daisuke, eh? *grins* i’m still amused at that nickname for that player.
CT, let’s hope Westbrook is Shaky-Jake at the Jake! ;-)
how i spent my youth:
Billy Vera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yVsswZGrLA
this one’s pretty bad:
i wish i could sit up all night cuz i love the lake but alas the kid is tired… carry on pups – night to all fellow lakers ;)
TeddySanFran @ 128
Or, according to the WaPo, the opposite. I read elsewhere that Gilmore was way ahead in primary polling, and so Davis wanted a convention. WaPo goes with the conventional “conservative candidate favored in a conventiion setup” line, which may also be true….
night juslin
aliasofwestgate @ 140
Phonics works in Japanese too…!!! ;-)
LoudounLib @ 141
That would be sweet…!!! *g*
running low on duct tape, eh, lurking mod? I had two comments up that have disappeared. and they were innocent…
White House refuses anti-war petition from Christians
from Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub by Ed Darrell
Two Christian leaders were arrested after they held up copies of anti-war petitions they were trying to deliver to the White House.
Earlier in the day they had delivered the petitions to leaders in Congress, in both the House of Representatives and Senate.
In unrelated news, surgery to remove George Bush’s fingers from his ears was unsuccessful.
(Would it hurt Bush to just gracefully accept the petitions and deprive these people of a chance to be arrested?)
egregious, something’s wrong here on the links. Love you, though!
CTuttle @ 146
The phonetics are the easy part. *laughs* It’s the context and syntax that drives my friends absolutely batty. If i had time and money id’ take formal classes in it myself! Straight forward in essence but context heavy.
night all.
the rest of my news picks for the day are here.
the Lake’s a bit choppy tonight-
Night – all!!
Ed*ard Teller @ 149
Caught, ET. Trying to free up the whole system, we may not be able to see them for a bit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..earch=Mike Bloomfield Al Kooper Bob Dylan mcgarivision boogie woogie butterfield blues
Thanks Egregious and fellow firepups Enjoy the music. My back is so bad right now I c
Niters all – gonna curl up with mrbrat and watch the Gore bit on SNL – happy weekend fearless pups!
ReElect President Al Gore & VP John Edwards, 2008!
Some serious hiccups tonite, Nite, Tex and Jay!!!
Ed*ard Teller @ 132
Wo thanks ET, that’s really something.
I Blame Stevens!
Nite, NPB, and, any I might have missed…!!!
Oops, I am having a hard time sitting here to write and just screwed up the post..I am with all of you as are many thousands
That’s it, goodnight from central Oregon.
I blame the NSA!
i blame the patriarchy
Well, I guess it is topical to just say how much I do appreciate FDL.
Everybody keeps me from getting depressed. Keeps me well informed and engaged in ways I would otherwise not have.
So thanks egregious for bringing it up!
Good mods n crew too :)
Loo Hoo. @ 163
Heh, I agree see my 107…!!! ;-)
Did you all see Marcy discussing the NSA?
That’s all I got for tonight pups. Mahalo nui loa for your kind words of encouragement, and Aloha Oe one and all.
[How’d I do CT?]
ADM @ 41
Well said. In the same spirit, progressives would do well to remember that large numbers of Americans who would self-identify as “conservative” are just as angry at the Cheney regime as they are, and for many of the same reasons. In the current emergency, there is much more that unites progressives and true conservatives than divides them. Working together, we can evict the Radical Right from power and restore America. THEN, and only then, we will hash out our differences in an atmosphere of trust and cooperation. Never forget that there are people of good faith and sincerely held beliefs on the other side. Lumping them together with the truly bad guys does no one any good.
Ed*ard Teller @ 149
They’ve been renditioned. You’ll find them being tortured at Little Green Footballs.
egregious @ 168
Bravo, Most excellent! Au revoir!!! *g*
burnspbesq @ 170
Or the Captain himself is doing the honors at Captain’s Quarters…!!! ;-)
Loo Hoo. @ 167
yup, been keeping up on her threads.
tw3k @ 173
Brilliance.
burnspbesq @ 170
well that explains where all the duct tape, bubble gum and helium went.
Dang! I think Tom Friedman just begged Al Gore to run for President.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10…..an.html?hp
Loo Hoo. @ 174
An exquisite gem with the tenaciousness of a Bulldog…!!! 8-)
burnspbesq @ 169
I’m probably the most guilty around here IRT to disregard to religion. I shout Christofascist toward what the christian right is doing without thinking much about christians here on the thread. It is a lot easy to be insensitive when you don’t see peoples physical reaction.
Here is the story – there are Gremlins in the system. FDL is having to remove them in pieces, and the sticky residue is clogging things up. We are up, but flakey, and continue to work on this.
Should have brought my gloves to work today.
burnspbesq @ 176
Mr. The world is Flat?
Ed*ard Teller @ 175
ET, as I have mentioned before, it is really bad form to give shit to the mods. I speak from personal experience. WP is not the most elegant, and sometimes the servers get overwhelmed. The mods try to deal with this as best they can. Yes, things do sometimes appear to be totally FUCKED UP, but honestly, the mods should not be blamed.
The Lurking Mod @ 179
Gremlins! Sounds technical :)
“Indeed, Mr. Bush, rather than taking all that unity and using it to rebuild America for the 21st century, took all that unity and used it to push the narrow agenda of his “base.” He used all that unity to take a far-right agenda on taxes and social issues that was going nowhere on 9/10 and drive it into a 9/12 world.”
Too little, Too late from Mr. Friedman Unit…!!! 8-(
The Lurking Mod @ 179
Ugly, greasy things?
Valley Girl @ 112
VG – I must have lost all my snarkdar earlier in the day. Sorry…
The Lurking Mod @ 179
please give our love and appreciations to
all the anti-gremlin workers for their efforts.
FDL techs and mods are our heroes.
thank you, one and all
The Lurking Mod @ 179
I hope they’re not as noxious as Trolls…!!! ;-)
CTuttle @ 183
And keep in mind all of the political capital he had to use up.
Where is our newtonusr?
Ed*ard Teller @ 185
ET, we all depend on FDL as a reliable resource. And, I understand the frustration, because this is what BushCo has done to us. We are rightly pissed off. But, having spent my times behind the scenes, I do know that FDL and the mods do their best. Unlike BushCo. xxoo
VG, I personally respect and appreciate the mods here at the Lake, they run a tight ship with few glitches…!!! (((Mods Rock)))
ET and Valleygirl, I love you both. Didn’t really understand where ET crossed any kind of line. Explicky?
tw3k @ 74
this is very interesting.
shocking, if only because i had no idea.
and as a new(er) facebookite, i’m a contributor.
if i was running cnn’s site and i knew this (i expect they do) i would not be happy.
Really, though…
We’re working on this problem now. There are people checking servers and sweating it.
And we are blessed with the best job in the backstage Progressive’Sphere. You have no idea.
We are also blessed with endless humor, so swing for the fences. We’ll just smile and moderate away.
Thanks for your patience, and…
ET – your humor was and is taken in the spirit in which it was and is intended, always. :-)
Loo Hoo. @ 188
Who? Friedman? He already is bankrupt! imho.
yellowdog jim @ 192
yeah weird spike in the FB graph eh?
Please, we’ve already lost AK. (Hoping he will come back.) Please, Alfred!
hey girls and boys..I posted this on no quarter tonight..Thought i’d hit you all up..
kind regards,
Hoopster
Well Well It’s open thread..
It’s girls night out
The kids are all over town staying with thier friends..
And the hoopster has the house all to himself…
( let’s hear a Dean Scream) yahhheeewaaa!!
*****************************************
The Hoopster is looking for recommended blog sites besides FDL. let’s hear of a good spot you like to blog at.. ( I hear ya..rookie)
What’s your favorite sports movie? ok if you didn’t cry at the end of field of dreams or for the love of the game..you need a heart transplant.
Favorite political movie? Ok everybody says all the presidents men.. but what about primary colors? ideas?
Favorite BB player? Reggie Miller..
Hall of Famer, Class act..
your choice?
Favorite Baseball player? ok i met jolt’n joe of the yankees once at an Ali Fight..In fact sat next to him. a million questions enter your mind..the 56 game hitting streak..being married to Marilyn Monroe..The World championships..After shaking his hand all i could think of to ask him was..’That mr coffee gig is sweet’ The hoopster sucks.
What great man/women has you met?
I met JFK as a little boy..Tell us your story..
Your greatest/best Teacher?
This applies only up to High School.. ( we’ll cover college later)
Ms. Myers.. I was flunking 9th grade english when they transfered me to another teacher..
The most beautiful teacher i have ever seen..Formally MS. IU..
I got an A- next report card.. I’m not sure what that says about the American education system..
But the teachers union might want to look into this..
( I’m kidding.. it was the 9th grade for gawds sake)
favorite new movie: hey we need alittle help here.
What is the happiest moment of your life?
Here is the meat of your responses..
Your first child? Getting married? winning the lotto?
I’d like to hear your stories…
( I have 6 kids and 2 grandkids )
We almost thought we would lose our 2nd daughter Nicole..it’s a long story but she ended up alive after an emergency C-section and is now a graduate of UC Davis. A most brilliant and beautiful woman at 24 yrs. old.. My pride and joy.
Our next child.. a 20 yr old stud that is in Iraq.
3/5 marines kilo company, Jordan is the strength and power of this family.
an all star football player and a heart of gold.
an athlete who will go all the way..future policeman.
Your Favorite person?
Your favorite Book?
your favorite story?
Your favorite Adult beverage?
Crown and diet..If you are going to drink..only drink the best..
Favorite pastime? This i gotta see…( no sex allowed in this question)
is it sports? ( better be ) I recommend Hawaiichannel.com.. live cams on the beach..When i worked for uncle sam i spent 3 years at pearl harbor.. Sweet!!
ok anymore questions?
ok i need a good movie recommendation tonight…
Loo Hoo. @ 191
Not to worry, Loo Hoo. My comment was directed to ET, and I trust he understood. After all, I have known him since he was a pup. And, I strongly suspect that he knows how valuable I have found his sane and wise voice at FDL. He really is an FDL gem. Waving to ET!
Loo Hoo. @ 188
Right here, Loo Hoo. I just tripped on over to my favorite WonkPost of the week, pow wow’s opus of Thursday. Had time to reread. Wow.
A hoosier lost in paradise! Sounds like ya knew what you were doing…!!! ;-)
tw3k @ 195
very.
he seemed to imply it was anomalous.
Hoosierhoops @ 197
I think you forgot birthstones. Negligance of the highest order.
welcome, hoosierhoops dood.
my dad was born in new castle in 1918.
i haven’t lived in indiana.
visited once.
1995.
two days in indianapolis.
I’ve been trying to figure out if karen hughes’s hubby jerry is related to Hughes Network Systems. I can’t seem to find out much about jerry other than he is an attorney.
yellowdog jim @ 203
F4H is a good name for hoosiers. Both my parents are from hoosier country and 4H was really big around Fairmont.
To Caanan’s land I’m on my way
I listened to Howard Dean’s speech to the Berkeley Commonwealth Club on NPR last night (unfortunately I can’t find a link to it on the KQED website). As part of a general presentation on the growth of the unitary executive and authoritarianism, he went into some detail on how the rethugs plotted to systematically immobilize and neutralize Democratic capacity for action, in Congress.. turning us into a party of reaction, instead of initiative.. going back to the Clinton era. The roots of our present malaise are very deep, I’m afraid. And the other side.. they have a plan. And they’re probably still carrying it out.
“4H
and
FFA
…
On a field trip to the farm
Me and a friend sneak off behind
This big old barn
Where we uncovered up a covered up
Moonshine still
And we thought wed drink our fill
And I swallered it with a smile
Brrrrrrr….i run ten miles“
tw3k @ 204
no relation I think. HNS is a spin-out led by a group of Indian-American executives, I think, from HEC (Hughes Electronics).. which goes back to the eccentric millionaire of the same name… and Howard Hughes left no heirs, if I remember correctly
yellowdog jim @ 139
I was elected to VP of my local chapter of FFA in HS, here on the Big Isle, our cash crop was Pakalolo…!!! ;-)
Blub @ 209
Yeah, I kinda figured as hughes seems to be a fairly common name.
Looks like HNS was bought out by Apollo Management tho.
Blub @ 207
This is the John Dean speech Blub and punaise and I listened to. It is pretty damn good.
{{{{Valley Girl}}}}
Nice community you’ve got going here. Btw. this is my first post. Just wanted to say, Hi and me too, as I’m bouncing from abject gloom to high hopes for a massive change.
If you haven’t seen this 6 minute video yet, well, it might give a little lift… and rise to some predictable bowel movement jokes.
Paul Hawken speaks about the emergence of a global grassroots movement on behalf of common sense.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzMPUKAXM7U
Kaleko @ 144
Aloha, Kaleko! A cautionary note, the Lake is highly addictive…!!! *g*
chug-a-lug, chug-a-lug
welcome, Kaleko!
Does anyone know if there’s a spot where one can go to watch all the important speeches Al Gore gave between 2003 and 2006? I thought of that while reading this article by Jeff Cohen.
Ed*ard Teller @ 141
thanks. yeah. It was a really good speech.. but absolutely scary in its implications. I was genuinely scared after listening to it. If he’s right, and our party doesn’t wake up, the long night is nowhere near over. The whole rethug apparatus would have to be dissambled before we’re safe, and I just don’t see who could do that. Has glass-half-full ray of hope at the end was, unfortunately, less than comforting.. basically it’s up to us… As in this blog and likeminded people on the outside.. and others like it… I don’t doubt our resolve. But it’s a lot of responsibility.
Ed*ard Teller @ 214
There was a site called GoreTV. Had his MoveOn speech @ Georgetown and a bunch more. I’ve been hunting for it for a few minutes.
newtonusr @ 218
selise has some
Kaleko @ 213
Never heard of him before but I like his positive observation.
Ed*ard Teller @ 147
Here’s a link to some…
http://www.americanrhetoric.co…..arming.mp3
CTuttle @ 210
What’s pakalolo, CTuttle?
sounds fun!
Loo Hoo. @ 153
Literally translated, Wacky Weed…!!! *g*
Text of the Georgetown speech in ‘04
The old “Draft Gore” site has the texts of a bunch of Gore speeches beginning September, ‘02
CTuttle,
Thanks for the link. That’s a great site – American Rhetoric.
newtonusr @ 223
‘Old’ Site? I thought they’re ramping up operations…!!! ;-)
CTuttle @ 225
Back in “the day”, the vid links were on that page as well. Still hunting down the vids.
And selise is a copious resource.
Ed*ard Teller @ 224
It took me a bit, was it ‘G’ for Gore, or, ‘A’ for Al…?!!! *g* (It’s ‘A’!)
The main reason I think Gore will eventually run is that he’s never said anything about the July 2006 Lebanon oil spill, the biggest eco-catastrophe in the Eastern Mediterranean since WWII, or possibly ever. I just did three different web searches, and couldn’t come up with a single utterance by him on this. He was interviewed time and again during the summer of 2oo6, yet this important subject seems to have never come up in them. Strange.
newtonusr @ 226
That She is…!!! A true heroine in her own right too…!!!
Isn’t the time running out for Gore to declare?
XML Kōan
Ed*ard Teller @ 228
I recall being blood-boiling mad when that happened. I hadn’t realized Al hadn’t addressed the “spill” in Lebanon.
katymine @ 134
Thank you very much and I do apologize for the typo in my original post. As far as who said it and links, I saw that term being used in one or two other blog posts regarding her recent SCHIP meltdown and comments on the posts. To pull the links I’d have to go through back through all of it.
Your reply makes sense though I thought it was going to be a snarky moniker based on someother meltdown of hers.
sykopoet, I can imagine the horror images of Malkin and “Santa Baby”, much like the horrible images I have with her and the video from Rick Springfield’s “Jesse’s Girl”.
I better try to get back to sleep, I’m way beyond punchy right now!
Thanks again Katymine…
Loo Hoo. @ 230
To be on the NH ballot, he has to do something before Friday, November 2. That would be the first deadline that would cut down his cumulative chances.
Loo Hoo. @ 230
Aargh, As much as I truly desire Al’s entry, reality rapidly ensues… Why in God’s creation would he prostate himself again to the noxious, toxic swamp of DC Politics??? *g*
I think the only thing that could possibly prompt Gore to throw himself back into the iniquitous swamp that now contains the remains of the institution of the American presidency would be a crisis or other catalytic event. …if say, for whatever reason, both Clinton and Edwards are weakened by scandal perpetrated by the rethugs, revelations of some dark rethug conspiracy or whatever.. but I think it needs to be a real crisis. Then he might respond.
CTuttle @ 168
He is a statesman, more so than he would ever be as a President, or former President. While I agree that it’s getting very late and why in the hell would he want to put himself and the family through it, I want him to be President.
Al isn’t kinda qualified. He is superbly, supremely qualified. He makes the rest of the Dem field, and the entire Gooper field seem like lightweights in every measure.
Howie Klein on Gen. Sanchez:
He blamed the Regime for a “catastrophically flawed, unrealistically optimistic war plan” and denounced the current “surge” strategy as a “desperate” move that will not achieve long-term stability. Sounds like something you;’d expect to read at Firedoglake or Kos or from Glenn Greenwald or Taylor Marsh. They’re just been a little ahead of their time. This is the General speaking, not John Amato: “There was been a glaring and unfortunate display of incompetent strategic leadership within our national leaders… derelict in their duties [and guilty of a] lust for power.”
Howie’s bolds…
I just so worry about Gore’s choice of Leiberman as VP. It’s mighty hard to get past that. Not a minor detail at all. It goes to judgement.
Loo Hoo. @ 239
I can’t remember.. was Lieberman “out” already as a disgusting excuse for a slime mold at that point.. or was he still merely just tolerably compromised?
newtonusr @ 239
I concur, and, Rachel Maddow! On AA, Friday, she said; “Let’s look at the true differences between the parties, the Dem’s put forward the most qualified, Gore… The Repugs push Shrub… Antithesis is an understatement…!!!”
Loo Hoo. @ 241
Hindsight is always 20:20. Lieberman seemed like a pretty sound choice at the time. He was wearing makeup that concealed the sign of the beast on his forehead.
“In my profession, these types of leaders would immediately be relieved or court-martialed.”
That’s up to our HR person, Nancy P.
I have to warn you, she isnt very good at her job.
Well, I don’t think most of us knew Lieberman from the hole in the wall. But certainly, Gore did. Or should have if he thought he’d be qualified to be our VP candidate.
Gore thought he needed Lieberman to carry Florida convincingly, because they knew the election there would be heavily weighted from GOP voter suppression and dirty tricks. Lieberman was even more wan there than Gore was elsewhere.
burnspbesq @ 244
Unlike Darth’s unearthly sway, HoJo, would’ve been a Quayle like Veep…!!! 8-)
Loo Hoo. @ 177
Agreed. Vexing. Forgiven.
In the universe of mistakes Gore may have made in ‘04, picking RGJoe as his running mate was pretty low on the list. Listening to Donna Brazile, now there’s a class-A fuck-up.
Again, forgiven.
smapdi @ 245
Having served twenty as a Noncom it makes my blood boil…!!!
burnspbesq @ 244
707!
Loo Hoo. @ 246
I thought he played that campaign in true Diet Cola fashion.
I think it’s worth noting that Gore was pretty conservative when he was in the Senate.. more of HoJo’s ideological persuasion. His present credibility is based on our belief.. my belief (hopefully well founded) that he is now a new man. I believe he has.. and that new man would not have chosen to link up with HoJo.
tw3k @ 250
Wait! Who was on a diet?
Burns, you are difficult! Love ya though!
Total blasphemy, I know, but I am totally for Hillary!
Loo Hoo. @ 254
the DLC! they wait to lose all the weight of the left.
newtonusr @ 170
Hi Chikka. I just can’t imagine why Gore would want to go back to the world of unpleasant compromises, noxious negotiations, fighting his own side as much as the other side. I think America and the world are desperate for the type of leadership he offers. On the other hand I think the Nobel Prize puts him in a position to do whatever he wants in whatever way he wants. No DINOs, no Blue Dogs, he’d have to be a masochist to do more than consider it.
Blub @ 253
Frankly, I’m not too concerned about his Liberal credentials overall. He is solidly Pro-Choice, not anti-Gay, believes the Constitution is in fact, the essential document from which the entire foundation of the country is built, devoted to a path of reason wrt foreign policy and possess a caring, thoughtful, reasoned mind at work.
Still the class of the field.
This is some serious Fuckery…
“The review is particularly focused on complaints that Mr. Helgerson’s office has not acted as a fair and impartial judge of agency operations but instead has begun a crusade against those who have participated in controversial detention programs.”
“Let’s put this into context. Two years ago John Helgerson produced a report highly critical of CIA officials for their failures to act to prevent the attacks on 9-11. Helgerson’s report went beyond simple Monday morning quarterbacking. For example, he took CIA Director Tenet and his Deputy, John McLaughlin, to task for declaring war in the wake of the Augst 1998 Al Qaeda attacks in East Africa but failing to follow up on that declaration. Helgerson’s report was hard hitting and unprecedented. In my experience, senior officials rarely have been called on the carpet for their errors and omissions.”
This is Larry Johnson posting at Booman Tribune…
http://www.boomantribune.com/s…../224418/39
Loo Hoo. @ 256
I hope you don’t think all the pounding Hillary is geting here is directed at any (and particularly you Loo Hoo) of her supporters. If this stuff was easy, we’d all be robots. And Hillary wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen. If she is completely controlled by Bubba, we’re better off than now by a factor of 50.
And the woman is no dummy. Sharp as hell. Just not my girl.
G’day, Persi! Great minds think alike…!!! *g*
CTuttle @ 260
If you can’t fool or buy-off the watchdog, crucify him.
newtonusr @ 261
I truly don’t want to have to put a clothespin on my nose before entering the booth during the General…!!!
newtonusr @ 261
I don’t dislike her either.. just disagree with some of her foreign policy.. not least on Iraq and the war.. but overall I’m alright with her positions. I just have some trust issues with her, which I still have to overcome :)
Blub @ 265
*Ding*
tw3k @ 204
Don’t know about that. But his speciality is apparently REAL ESTATE LAW. He also served as a member of the Eanes Independent School District board that was turned out by the voters due to incompetant fiscal management. Someone on another thread tried to imply that Jerry hughes was a “progressive Democrat” But I seriously doubt that any progressive would financially or verbally support George W. Bush. Highes maxed out on his contributions.
He apparently isn’t the same fellow as the guy who runs “Jerry Hughes Realty”, which is a big real estate sales firm in SE Texas.
CTuttle @ 193
I always knew you were a man after my own heart. I just keep remembering an interview Gore gave when he was here promoting the movie. He seemed to really be enjoying being free from all the frustrating crap that he encountered in the Senate. The Presidency however, is a whole different kettle of mud. I’d love to see him run but I’d understand if he decided that he’d have more impact on the world working on the outside.
A reminder about Hillary’s voting record.
Loo Hoo. @ 268
Like I said.. trust issues
Hey, thanks, Firepeople, for the warm welcome.
Yeah, Gore running would be like the Second Coming, arisen to smite the Antichrist. Biblical scenario for Evangelicals and neocons alike as Al whacks bigots with his Nobel Prize.
Ah, a girl can dream… good night.
persiflage @ 267
He reminds me of another prominent Southern Democrat, Jimmy Carter… Better off outta office…!!! *g* They’re both Nobelists…!!!
Kaleko @ 270
Heh, Newbie! It’s FirePups! Mahalo, for taking a dip!!! 8-)
Loo Hoo. @ 255
Difficult? Moi? How so?
He reminds me of another prominent Southern Democrat, Jimmy Carter… Better off outta office…!!! *g* They’re both Nobelists…!!!
————————
I always liked Carter, his work with Habitat for Humanity and election-monitoring show him to be a true statesman and humanitarian.
burnspbesq @ 273
The I-5 tunnel collapse didn’t phase ya did it???
persiflage @ 274
Hmmm… Didn’t ya just attribute Gore with the same…?!!! *g*
CTuttle @ 260
In his book, Jack Goldsmith makes some interesting observations about the institutional culture at the CIA. His basic take is that it’s hard to have an effective intelligence shop when everyone is constantly worrying about being retroactively second-guessed by a special prosecutor.
CTuttle @ 275
That’s 80 miles from me. Only time I go up that far on the 5 is to go to Yosemite.
burnspbesq @ 277
Helgerson was exposing the torture memos, etc… that was his cause fatale…!!!
I shall bid a fond adieu to the Lake! Aloha Oe!!!
Thanks but I am feeling so low. My little sister’s lung cancer didn’t respond to radiationa and showed up in another place. The Dems are ready to give GWB FISA lite. I write, I call my congress people and somehow the loss of american rights is below the radar. My stomach turns.
CTuttle @ 207
I think Gore is statesman-like. I have no evidence on his humanitarianness. (I think I just invented a word) Yes, he’s a leader on climate change and that affects all humanity but it’s at a remove. Still, I like him, his experience facing the noize machine would put him at a distinct advantage although it’s one that Hillary shares. I dunno, I’d like him to run but I think the Dems have a class field without him. The Repubs have a a class-clown field
morning!
CTuttle @ 280
A fond aeieu back at cha! Aloha!
(((malie)))
selise @ 283
Hi, Selise. How are things?
in the category of a picture is worth a thousand words.
morning selise
lol
burnspbesq @ 286
got a bit of sleep last night, so that’s good.
on the other hand, i just read an article about some palestinian villagers not being allowed access to their land (it is on the other side of the “fence”) for the olive harvest. it is about a village i visited when i was there five years ago… just went through some of my old pics. the man interviewed for the article was one of the people i met – he was a leader in the protests at the building of the wall, and i went to jayyus when the palestinians had asked for international and israeli support for their protests. so sad. and so unnecessary. i wanted to be there for the olive harvest this year, and feel very bad that i am not.
burnspbesq and tw3k – hope you are both doing well this morning.
selise @ 290
Well, malie’s story, your olive story and talk of hillary is depressing.
Other than that, I’m just peachy keen.
good news from miami:
tw3k @ 291
my bold.
everytime i see those 5 letters… i see the word IMPEACH.
mpeach
tw3k @ 294
lovely!
poem
Good morning!
morning
Morning, all.
It’s no wonder people think they may be losing it, with nonsense like this.
PeteCO @ 299
ug :/
I’ve been thinking about this for some time. I don’t want to be asked “why didn’t you do anything” when I’m seventy.
believing the unbelievable is so far pretty funny.
Hey tw3k what happened to your 3? You on a different computer?
And btw I really appreciated your observations about religion earlier in the thread. Yes it is easy to get off track because we don’t see people’s faces when we talk.
PeteCO @ 302
Powerful stuff. Frank Rich lays it out for us. I hope a lot of people see this. Good Germans indeed.
egregious @ 303
the 3 always breaks if I reedit a comment.
Thanks, I’m not religious so I tend to be pretty hard on religions. Generally I can have a pretty cutting sense of humor sometimes and I do forget the diverse sensibilities here sometimes. It is good to be reminded of that every so often.
egregious @ 305
I recently read Naomi Wolf’s latest book, and had the pleasure of meeting her when she came through Denver last week. Rich’s points tie right into what she’s saying. It’s getting pretty close; the next year leading up to the elections are make or break.
Good morning egregious and co. My kitty came home last night and there was much rejoicing and merriment.
A question,actually two.
1)How is situational depression different from clinical depression?(or how do you know which one is effecting you?)
2)If a person(for REALLY good reasons)has trust issues ,how do you find a doctor than can help?
Oh anangryoldbroad I am SO happy to hear your kitty came home!
Let me put my thinking cap on about the depression questions.
Situational depression affects pretty much everyone over the course of a life. Sad and shocking things happen, and if we didn’t have some reaction we wouldn’t be human. Even people who are totally even-tempered and happy can end up on anti-depressant medicine after the death of a spouse.
Clinical depression is mystifying in part because there is no clear “reason” to be upset. The person is just very sad some or all of the time, finds it difficult to work or to enjoy things. Been there. A lot.
But there are things that help: affirmation from other people about what you are going thru; the meds are about twice as good as they were 20 years ago; therapy can help you uncover some deeper reasons for unhappiness; supportive friends can be there to keep you from falling too low.
To deal with the trust issue, start by talking with someone that you DO trust. A close friend, family member, minister, and ask them for a recommendation of a counselor or doctor who is good on the trust issue. There is such a range of counselors and doctors, with their strengths and weaknesses, unless you live in an extremely remote area you will find someone who can help you. And yea it is kinda weird talking about personal things to a strange doctor, but no more weird than sitting in a physical doctor’s office with the little gown on surely?
anangryoldbroad @ 308
I’ve been having issues with symptoms that looked a lot like depression, but not all the time. Finally I asked my doctor, we did some blood work, and it appears to be hormonal. My doctor say’s this is more common than most people realise in middle aged men, and is often misdiagnosed as depression. Be aware that jacked up hormones are sometimes the cause of these symptoms, in men as well as women. Get bloodwork done before you start on anti-depressants. I’m just sayin’.
Good deal about your cat, btw.
They’re upstairs, but here’s today’s stuff from the NYT. MoDo dared Steven Colbert to write her column, and he did. Mr. Friedman muses about Gore. Mr. Rich says we’re being “the good Germans.”
http://mgpaquin.wordpress.com/
Coffee and tea are ready, and I’ve got old-fashioned oatmeal today with whatever you like to add. I’m torn between brown sugar and plain old butter and salt (my preferred way of eating oatmeal). Have a grand Sunday.
Christy’s got the new thread:
Sunday Talking Head Thread
Thanks Egregious and Pete.
Overall, a good post, Egrege…
But, I’m sorry, we SHOULD fight with each other some. It’s perfectly appropriate.
There are people who want us all to keep quiet and join the media-sanctioned stampede, for a candidate who doesn’t think invading Iraq was a mistake.
That’s a GREAT reason to fight with each other some. :o)
We’re NOT a children’s choir, where some self-appointed “conductors”, in the name of the same “unity” that Clinton’s people are now starting to beg for, gets to stop us from pointing out the obvious huge downside to nominating someone who, in the general election, will galvanize AND unify conservatives like it was a holy crusade.
After years of the misery, and the unrelenting bullshit, we’ve ALL got some foxhole fatigue, but my two cents is, that that aint gonna lead me to lay down like a dog, while the beltway democrats and their ilk shove down our throats the ONLY candidate running on either side who can give the GOP a very good chance of keeping the white house, and of re-taking both houses.
Excuse me for borrowing a few pre-owned terms, but if we nominate either Edwards or Obama, it will be a:
Cakewalk. :o)
Mission Accomplished. :o)
The election “that will pay for itself”. :o)
We’ll pick up practically every registered democrat.
A ton of independents.
A lot of moderate republicans.
13 months from now, it will be a TSUNAMI!
Either Edwards or Obama’s coattails will look like a mobile Rose Bowl, so many candidates will merrily ride them into the white house.
The main reason this will happen is because they will be able to hammer the republicans on the bloody Mack Sennet comedy they’ve created in Iraq.
And Hillary Clinton cannot do that. As we saw in the Olberman interview, she would rather have a root-canal than talk about Iraq and what it’s doing to us.
Just imagine; a democratic candidate who’s reluctant to go after the republicans on Iraq.
Because, EVERY time someone shouts “unity”, or laments that we in the progressive wing are arguing about the realities and specifics of the candidates and their positions and beliefs, that’s what they’re asking for:
“Please shut up and support the ONLY candidate who can turn sacrificial republican goats into presidential timber.”
As ol’ Jerry Lee said:
” ‘hink about it.”