zed

Oh! Evening Grosbeaks. I love those birds.

zed2

zee

Julie at 2 — I knew you’d be as mesmerized by this video as I was. (Although, honestly, I could have done with some different music, but it’s just as lovely on mute. *g*)

I feel lucky to be at work and out of range of a TV. Oh, good morning all, single digits.

Fred Thompson and Tom Brokaw. I feel blessed.

Singles? What the hell time is it?

Daylight Saving time is a cruel joke on those of us with small children with an indestructible inner clock.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 5

Julie at 2 — I knew you’d be as mesmerized by this video as I was. (Although, honestly, I could have done with some different music, but it’s just as lovely on mute. *g*)

I keep thinking I should get a video camera of some sort for our feeders. They make these really cool cameras these days that are super-slow-mo. I.e., you can slow the action down to 1/200th of real time. I was thinking it would be cool next summer to set one up in the yard and leave it running, pointed at the hummingbird feeders :)

Anyone have any thoughts on today’s Rich?

I see his point; I’m not sure if I agree.

Good morning Christy! Hope you enjoyed your extra hour.

retirin’ in five @ 8

Singles? What the hell time is it?

Make mine a double.

Good morning everyone.

If the MSM is so discredited and these bobbleheads are woefully uninformed why do we have this talking head post every Sunday? I suppose we need to watch with dropped jaws how the beltway thinks, in order to “defeat” them.

On the other hand how do we get some of the progressive and right thinking ideas in from the the rain makers inside the beltway… the so called crashing the gate thing?

It sounds more and more that the dialog is among the disparate bloggers and readers thereof. And the conventional wisdom is not being informed by some the the brilliant thinkers out here.

Why not?

Lea (no uh) @ 9

Daylight Saving time is a cruel joke on those of us with small children with an indestructible inner clock.

LOL!

Good Morning! my kitties are going to enjoy this video too

SanderO @ 15

If the MSM is so discredited and these bobbleheads are woefully uninformed why do we have this talking head post every Sunday?

for the same reason media matters watches them?

personally, i can’t stand ‘em. but i am very grateful to those who do watch and analyze – so that there is some accountability and push back.

$5 says Pumpkinhead won’t ask Grampa about this.

Selise, are you still here. How do I find out if there’s a vigil/protest locally against Schumer’s vote? I’m apparently not on a mailing list and I’ve googled to no avail.

It really is a pathetic Sunday line-up when you consider all what’s been happening here, in Pakistan and elsewhere..
and then one more nepotistic book promotion… sheesh.

.
PeteCO
it would be fun if Russert did mention it tho

ot: funny stand up for moms
http://www.spareroom.co.nz/200…..ur-mother/

PeteCO @ 18

$5 says Pumpkinhead won’t ask Grampa about this.

Not taking that bet. I’ll be interested to see the Edwards/TW interview. Last time, George was nearly snarling at Edwards. Shameful.

This morning’s “Duh” moment:
When conservatives were talking about less Govt, they didn’t mean less Govt in our lives, they meant less Govt as in no oversight, just a dictator…..

Elliott @ 20

It really is a pathetic Sunday line-up when you consider all what’s been happening here, in Pakistan and elsewhere..
and then one more nepotistic book promotion… sheesh.

.
PeteCO
it would be fun if Russert did mention it tho

Re; your comment @#300 in the previous thread; Thats exactly what I was thinking. Not only can I see Bush saying it, I can see him saying it with that smug little smirk on his face he has when he’s getting away with something.

Which is nearly all the time.

really good essay, imo, on our current political culture.

a little inspiring too.

PeteCO @ 18

$5 says Pumpkinhead won’t ask Grampa about this.

I wanted to ask about that, on what Planet does a guy, Philip Martin, now an adviser to Fred Thompson, get caught with $30,000 of Cocaine and do NO jail time?

solai @ 19

Selise, are you still here. How do I find out if there’s a vigil/protest locally against Schumer’s vote? I’m apparently not on a mailing list and I’ve googled to no avail.

left you a reply in the previous thread (actually two replies – my mistake). oh well, let’s make it three… as there maybe other NY firepups who are interested in participating.

selise @ 279

on the good news front – the ny roots project folks are going like gangbusters this weekend. they’re planning some kind of vigil on monday and hopefully a meeting with someone on schumer’s staff. and they’re making a video from mukasey’s testimony before the SJC (i ripped video for 13 clips jill wanted – thank you tw3k!).

very nice to see that schumer will not be allowed to make his vote without a protest from his constituents.

selise @ 299

solai @ 293

Selise, where’s this info. I’m from NY and would love to participate on a local level if they’re doing that.

there is a googlegroup email list. just request membership (probably a good idea to say you saw the posting on fdl this morning).

you should hear back within a couple of hours – that’s what happened when i signed up yesterday morning…. although i live in MA (and so am on that list), i was so pissed off at schumer i wanted to see if there was anything i could do to help out the NY folks. i’m sure they would love to have another person to work with. many fingers make for light work. *g*

Sander — We do it because (1) the media needs to know they are being scrutinized, especially those with a record of bad journalism; (2) because we do media critique here along with political commentary; (3) because a number of readers like to watch these shows, and this is a service for them to plan their morning; (4) it’s an excuse for me to post something birdy; and (5) I write a bazillion posts a week, and this one is a bit of a break on providing detailed content, especially on the weekend.

PS — And, (6) it makes an easily searchable record for me when I’m trying to go back through and tabulate types of guests, and particular show issues, and such.

lol Christy is a b1rd g33k

Tom Brokow’s new book, Boom! Voices of the Sixties: Personal Reflections on the ’60s and Today

Is anyone, anywhere interested in this book?
Sounds like a sleep aid to me.

I’m off to do yard work soon. I’ll have the camera set up out there, too, in case anything interesting shows up on the feeders.

In the meantime, if anyone’s interested, I wrote up a really nice piece on Poverty this Friday morning and posted it on Kos. I also managed to demonstrate a very strong ability to piss people off yesterday, by defending Fred Phelps right to freedom of speech.

But now, to mulch leaves for winter compost :)

selise @ 25

really good essay, imo, on our current political culture.

a little inspiring too.

Two thoughts; Progressives/Liberals are to the Democratic party what Evangelicals are to the Republicans-a reliable source of cash and votes.

Second; it’s great to talk about how we should go out into the world and talk to people about how f*cked up everything is. I’d love to talk to my work colleagues, but politics isn’t a subject that ever comes up. Ever. I work for a company that does a lot of work for the military-industrial complex, and it’s a non-subject. What’s frustrating is that I suspect many of them are open to trying to change things, but the culture is such that you would get a more favourable reaction if you talked about strangling your grandma. Then what?

Sandman @ 26

PeteCO @ 18

$5 says Pumpkinhead won’t ask Grampa about this.

I wanted to ask about that, on what Planet does a guy, Philip Martin, now an adviser to Fred Thompson, get caught with $30,000 of Cocaine and do NO jail time?

Planet Cash!

JulieWaters @ 31

I also managed to demonstrate a very strong ability to piss people off yesterday, by defending Fred Phelps right to freedom of speech.

i’m with you on this one.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 28

Sander — We do it because (1) the media needs to know they are being scrutinized, especially those with a record of bad journalism; (2) because we do media critique here along with political commentary; (3) because a number of readers like to watch these shows, and this is a service for them to plan their morning; (4) it’s an excuse for me to post something birdy; and (5) I write a bazillion posts a week, and this one is a bit of a break on providing detailed content, especially on the weekend.

PS — And, (6) it makes an easily searchable record for me when I’m trying to go back through and tabulate types of guests, and particular show issues, and such.

OK but how about another good reason.

Ahhh…back inside from refilling the birdfeeders. There was going to be a sparrow mutiny along with a cardinal and chickadee riot if I hadn’t. LOL Much happier birdies now…

Sandman @ 30

Tom Brokow’s new book, Boom! Voices of the Sixties: Personal Reflections on the ’60s and Today

Is anyone, anywhere interested in this book?
Sounds like a sleep aid to me.

BlahBlahHippiesBlahBlahPotBlahBlahVietnam….

(Stifles yawn)

Pamphlets
Tabling at supermarkets. Give people something to read along with a piece of candy perhaps.
Snarky ads in papers and local media.

PeteCO @ 32 –

i don’t know… each person has to do what makes sense for their own situtation.

i have sympathy – at one point, many years ago, for a short while, i worked on darpa projects (components for a missle guidance system). yuck. and my boss on 911 was an anti-muslim bigot (i later figured out he’d been doing too mucy uncritcal reading of marty peretz). more yuck.

Edwards on This Week now in EST (eastern standard time).

Media matters is doing the job pretty well Christy. And someone DOES need to push back.

But I simply get annoyed reading this line ups and I can’t bring myself to watch these liars and shills. It makes one’s blood boil.

Norah O’Donnel? Why is she on teevee commenting on anything?

neil @ 35

Christy Hardin Smith @ 28

Sander — We do it because (1) the media needs to know they are being scrutinized, especially those with a record of bad journalism; (2) because we do media critique here along with political commentary; (3) because a number of readers like to watch these shows, and this is a service for them to plan their morning; (4) it’s an excuse for me to post something birdy; and (5) I write a bazillion posts a week, and this one is a bit of a break on providing detailed content, especially on the weekend.

PS — And, (6) it makes an easily searchable record for me when I’m trying to go back through and tabulate types of guests, and particular show issues, and such.

OK but how about another good reason.

A. It allows us to know what propaganda is being foisted onto the public airwaves so that it may be countered.

B. Know your enemy and find the weak points.

selise @ 39

PeteCO @ 32 –

i don’t know… each person has to do what makes sense for their own situtation.

i have sympathy – at one point, many years ago, for a short while, i worked on darpa projects (components for a missle guidance system). yuck. and my boss on 911 was an anti-muslim bigot (i later figured out he’d been doing too mucy uncritcal reading of marty peretz). more yuck.

Ditto. Our Illustrious Founder has a photograph of Himself standing with Bush in front of an American flag, and another one of him with Dick & Lynne Cheney, standing in front of an American flag. How much do you have to contribute for those?

http://2007.weblogawards.org/p…..blog-1.php

Go here to vote!! Firedoglake leading(at the moment)Best liberal Blog

SanderO @ 41

Norah O’Donnel? Why is she on teevee commenting on anything?

Because she’s hot.

posted this late yesterday, this is current and I think everyone should start to pay a little more attention to the actual possibilities;

somebody try to make believe this isn’t a trial balloon (think progress);

Cheney’s ‘close’ ally Musharraf declares martial law. Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf today declared “emergency rule,” resulting in the suspension of the nation’s constitution, dismissal of the Supreme Court’s chief justice, and severe restrictions on independent and international media. The New York Times reports:

The emergency act, which analysts and opposition leaders said was more a declaration of martial law, also boldly defied the Bush administration, which had repeatedly urged General Musharraf to avoid such a path and instead move toward democracy. Washington has generously backed the general, sending him more than $10 billion in aid since 2001, mostly for the military. Now the administration finds itself in the bind of having to publicly castigate the man it has described as one of its closest allies in fighting terrorism.

In June, the Washington Post reported;

“Pakistan policy is essentially being run from Cheney’s office. The vice president…is close to Musharraf and refuses to brook any U.S. criticism of him.”

combine that with this also reported on think progress;

In the course of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s consideration of President Bush’s nominee for the post of Attorney General, there has been much discussion, but little clarity, about the legality of “waterboarding” under United States and international law. We write because this issue above all demands clarity: Waterboarding is inhumane, it is torture, and it is illegal. […]

This is a critically important issue – but it is not, and never has been, a complex issue, and even to suggest otherwise does a terrible disservice to this nation. […]

In this instance, the relevant rule – the law – has long been clear: Waterboarding detainees amounts to illegal torture in all circumstances. To suggest otherwise – or even to give credence to such a suggestion – represents both an affront to the law and to the core values of our nation.

I really can’t believe anyone thinks these people are not so brazen, so depraved and so enabled to think they don’t think they have a shot at pulling it off

nobody would have EVER believed they could lie America into a war, nobody would have EVER thought they would actually be able to BRAG about torture, BRAG about spying on us without warrants, BRAG about defying subpeaona, and a HOST of other depraved behavior that they use for bragging

nobody would have EVER thought Americans would stand for this but here we are standing and doing nothing about it

these guys have NO intention of giving up all the power they’ve aquired, they are CERTAINLY not going to give it to hillary And that is the likely next president of this country, do you REALLY think they are amassing all this power for HER?

don’t give me the head in the sand “they think they are going to win, remember they thought they were going to win midterm elections” crap, they lost those elections and THEY WILL LEARN FROM THEIR MISCALCULATIONS

there is NO WAY they believe a republican can POSSIBLY win the next election

and get this, cheney GUARANTEES a republican will be in office after o8

WE ARE BEING SET UP

and pelosi BETTER GET WITH IT FAST

snowbird42 @ 44

http://2007.weblogawards.org/p…..blog-1.php

Go here to vote!! Firedoglake leading(at the moment)Best liberal Blog

… leading if you don’t count Talking Points Memo

Perris, re: cheney GUARANTEES a republican will be in office after o8

Remember, Rove had “The Math”, that showed the republicans would hold the House and Senate after 2006.

Well, he was wrong!

twolf1 @ 47

snowbird42 @ 44

http://2007.weblogawards.org/p…..blog-1.php

Go here to vote!! Firedoglake leading(at the moment)Best liberal Blog

… leading if you don’t count Talking Points Memo

Sorry Im not awake!

Sandman @ 26

PeteCO @ 18

$5 says Pumpkinhead won’t ask Grampa about this.

I wanted to ask about that, on what Planet does a guy, Philip Martin, now an adviser to Fred Thompson, get caught with $30,000 of Cocaine and do NO jail time?

I can hear Limbaugh ranting about free markets now.

PeteCO @ 43

Ditto. Our Illustrious Founder has a photograph of Himself standing with Bush in front of an American flag, and another one of him with Dick & Lynne Cheney, standing in front of an American flag. How much do you have to contribute for those?

you have more self control than i do. don’t think there’s any way i could keep my mouth shut.

PeteCO @ 32

selise @ 25

really good essay, imo, on our current political culture.

a little inspiring too.

Two thoughts; Progressives/Liberals are to the Democratic party what Evangelicals are to the Republicans-a reliable source of cash and votes.

Second; it’s great to talk about how we should go out into the world and talk to people about how f*cked up everything is. I’d love to talk to my work colleagues, but politics isn’t a subject that ever comes up. Ever. I work for a company that does a lot of work for the military-industrial complex, and it’s a non-subject. What’s frustrating is that I suspect many of them are open to trying to change things, but the culture is such that you would get a more favourable reaction if you talked about strangling your grandma. Then what?

If you work for a defense contractor it’s understandable that you can’t say too much. But I work with (and for) mostly conservatives and I argue with them all the time. It’s a lot easier lately, what with everything falling apart for them.

Some things I’ve found that work–

1) Laugh at them for being uptight about sex, and for all the preaching from the evangelicals. They’re almost always embarrassed about this.

2) When they complain about “people who don’t want to work” (i.e., black people) ask them if they really hate their jobs so much that they have so much resentment about that. Tell them they must hate their jobs and that they are pathetic. They should feel blessed to have good jobs.

3) About national health care- that’s an easy one. Point out that people are going to the emergency room and that costs a lot more. Also don’t let them get away with the lie that people in Europe and Canada don’t like their health care. That’s a flat out lie. It would be political suicide to try to remove national health care in those countries. Also, our auto industry can’t compete because in America the companies have to provide health insurance.

4) Bush allowed the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history withing 8 months of being in office. He was warned about it in the famous PDB entitled “Bin Laden determined to attack in U.S.”.

5) Don’t let them get away with saying Reagan was a good president. He was a senile movie star (that’s a fact, so it’s not name-calling), he sold missiles to the terrorists. He sold hawk missiles and tow missiles to Iran. He was a disgrace to America.

Sandman @ 48

Perris, re: cheney GUARANTEES a republican will be in office after o8

Remember, Rove had “The Math”, that showed the republicans would hold the House and Senate after 2006.

Well, he was wrong!

well, I have SOME consolation since cheney is wrong about EVERYTHING

however look at what has happened, regardless of how depraved and unlikely his mehcanations, he still gets people to go along with his moronic plans

he is, contrary to popular belief, a moron, but for some reaon people try whatever rediculous ideas he comes up with

we really have to think this thing in pakistan is a trial balloon

good morning perris!

Check the bottom of the last thread for some other links and discussion about Pakistan, too…

Mideast peace envoy and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair

I’m sorry but this will just NEVER work.

Elliott @ 54

good morning perris!

Check the bottom of the last thread for some other links and discussion, too…

g’morning elliot!

*goes to check links*

after quick skim, I really can’t believe this was not advised by cheney and I can’t beleive anyone here thinks he did not advise this action

man, it is a GORGIOUS day here in lawn guy land new york and I am gonna DEFINATELY head out what has to be the last outdoor tennis weekends this year

enjoy the day all

Thanks, Selise.

OT, but interesting – from Scott Horton at Harpers:

Several days before his first meeting with the Senate Judiciary Committee, Michael Mukasey’s Justice Department handlers arranged a private meeting for him with a number of “movement conservatives.” Two different administration sources have described the meeting to me. During the meeting, Mukasey’s counterparts, largely figures associated with the Federalist Society, pushed him on two points in particular.

First, they wanted him to undertake that he would not appoint a special prosecutor to look into the U.S. attorneys scandal and related charges concerning political prosecutions. At this point it is clear that if an independent investigation were to be launched, it would quickly run head-on into some of the same figures who sat in the room with Mukasey…

My Bold

selise @ 51

PeteCO @ 43

Ditto. Our Illustrious Founder has a photograph of Himself standing with Bush in front of an American flag, and another one of him with Dick & Lynne Cheney, standing in front of an American flag. How much do you have to contribute for those?

you have more self control than i do. don’t think there’s any way i could keep my mouth shut.

Unfortunately, I need the money. Like millions of others.

Wordsmith @ 55

Mideast peace envoy and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair

I’m sorry but this will just NEVER work.

Who picked him for that job, close to worst pick ever?

PeteCO @ 18

$5 says Pumpkinhead won’t ask Grampa about this.

Yeah, just heard that on NPR

Just a drive by hello before I head out to pick up a few Central Texas Firepups to meet up at our fall reunion.

Thanks to Julie for id’ing those birds at the feeder. We don’t get those down here. I decided a long time ago to stop feeding the birds because my cats thought I was chumming the yard for them. We have too many ground feeding doves. They would end up “exploded” in my house.

PeteCO @ 59

Unfortunately, I need the money. Like millions of others.

yeah. that’s why i said “self control” – ‘cuz even when i try…

hey everyone, before I go get some outdoor tennis I have to post this link, they very best youtube I have seen to date, you will not be sorry to click

http://youtube.com/watch?v=GIqk4agzKPE

From Frank Rich:

Whatever happens in or to Iran, the American public will be carpet-bombed by apocalyptic propaganda for the 12 months to come. Mr. Bush has nothing to lose by once again using the specter of war to pillory the Democrats as soft on national security. The question for the Democrats is whether they’ll walk once more into this trap.

I don’t know maybe pain Bush as the madman that he is?!

Riesz Fischer @ 52

All great points, but I never get the chance to use them. It appears that the whole political dimension simply doesn’t exist for these people. I think it’s just going along to get along, but it’s frustrating and disappointing.

Nothing hot about Nora O”Donnel. When you see what she says she looks like an ugly bot. Even her “style” is hideous. ICK

Gnome de Plume @ 62

Just a drive by hello before I head out to pick up a few Central Texas Firepups to meet up at our fall reunion.

Thanks to Julie for id’ing those birds at the feeder. We don’t get those down here. I decided a long time ago to stop feeding the birds because my cats thought I was chumming the yard for them. We have too many ground feeding doves. They would end up “exploded” in my house.

say Hi! to everyone and have fun, you’re lucky

Elliott @ 68

Gnome de Plume @ 62

Just a drive by hello before I head out to pick up a few Central Texas Firepups to meet up at our fall reunion.

say Hi! to everyone and have fun, you’re lucky

Yup say hi to everyone! We had a blast at the soCal one yesterday :-)

Sandman @ 60

Wordsmith @ 55

I’m sorry but this will just NEVER work.

Who picked him for that job, close to worst pick ever?

Because of our long involvement in the middle east, we British command universal respect from all citizens in that troubled part of the world.

I can’t even type that with a straight face.

peanutbutter @ 69

Elliott @ 68

say Hi! to everyone and have fun, you’re lucky

Yup say hi to everyone! We had a blast at the soCal one yesterday :-)

Will do. thank goodness for that extra hour of sleep. I was up way too late last night to be able to be at Betsy’s by 10:30 this morning.

peanutbutter @ 69

Elliott @ 68

say Hi! to everyone and have fun, you’re lucky

Yup say hi to everyone! We had a blast at the soCal one yesterday :-)

I saw your pics! thanks

P.S. I live an hour south of Aunt Betsy and am picking up Non-plussed along the way, so I have time for one more cup of coffee.

PeteCO @ 7

Fred Thompson and Tom Brokaw. I feel blessed.

One is hard pressed to find a greater Republican sycophant than Russert. He had lost any semblance of credibility with his obfuscation of his own role in the Libby fiasco. He’s running on fumes ever since. He should be called to the floor by his peers. Instead, he is called upon by Dick to bully Democrats and treat Republicans with Kidd gloves. I guess the little old ladies who eat catfood still like him.

Russert likely reminds many elderly parents of their own sons – the sons who are redfaced, alcoholic, used-up, Blackjack dealers.

Kudos to whoever it was that came up with that one. Its an apt description.

PeteCO @ 66

Riesz Fischer @ 52

All great points, but I never get the chance to use them. It appears that the whole political dimension simply doesn’t exist for these people. I think it’s just going along to get along, but it’s frustrating and disappointing.

it could also be:

1) they hide their political thinking in order to protect their jobs.
2) they live in denial in order not to undermine their motivation.
3) they don’t care.
4) they think that any politics which makes for more work in their industry is a good thing.

Gnome de Plume @ 73

P.S. I live an hour south of Aunt Betsy and am picking up Non-plussed along the way, so I have time for one more cup of coffee.

Big shoutout to all you Texas meetup pups!

Hey gang — if there are pix of firepup gatherings that you want to send along, I’ll try to get a post together later today to let y’all see each other (if people are comfortable with that — I know some folks prefer the anonymity…) Post links and/or e-mail pix and I’ll see what I can do to share.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 76

Hey gang — if there are pix of firepup gatherings that you want to send along, I’ll try to get a post together later today to let y’all see each other (if people are comfortable with that — I know some folks prefer the anonymity…) Post links and/or e-mail pix and I’ll see what I can do to share.

I’ll get our professional reporter to take care of that. (TexBetsy) I am always too busy yakking to remember to take pictures.

‘morning all… coffee is ready…

dogs, like small children, have alarm clocks in their stomachs and expect to be fed at o’dark thirty…

ABC “this week” George Will says the difference between Bush and Hillary Clinton is:

When Bush speaks the talk is “syntactically challenged.” When Clinton speaks, it’s “slippery.”

I thought when Bush speaks is usually a lie, or a misrepresentation, a diversion, a non-sequitur, a denial or reality or an effort to obscure complexity. You’d think the country’s biggest problem was Hillary’s response to questions about immigrant drivers licenses.

selise @ 75

PeteCO @ 66

All great points, but I never get the chance to use them. It appears that the whole political dimension simply doesn’t exist for these people. I think it’s just going along to get along, but it’s frustrating and disappointing.

it could also be:

1) they hide their political thinking in order to protect their jobs.
2) they live in denial in order not to undermine their motivation.
3) they don’t care.
4) they think that any politics which makes for more work in their industry is a good thing.

To a greater or lesser degree, I think it’s all of the above. Those are good calls.

From today’s Boston Globe The New Hampshire not seen by candidates and the news A story about immigrant pockets and diversity in Manchester.

hackworth @ 74

PeteCO @ 7

Fred Thompson and Tom Brokaw. I feel blessed.

One is hard pressed to find a greater Republican sycophant than Russert. He had lost any semblance of credibility with his obfuscation of his own role in the Libby fiasco. He’s running on fumes ever since. He should be called to the floor by his peers. Instead, he is called upon by Dick to bully Democrats and treat Republicans with Kidd gloves. I guess the little old ladies who eat catfood still like him.

Russert likely reminds many elderly parents of their own sons – the sons who are redfaced, alcoholic, used-up, Blackjack dealers.

Kudos to whoever it was that came up with that one. Its an apt description.

Dude, how do you really feel?

The only Sunday political talk show on in Boston at 11AM in FOX Sunday News. UGH. Here goes…

hackworth @ 74

PeteCO @ 7

Fred Thompson and Tom Brokaw. I feel blessed.

One is hard pressed to find a greater Republican sycophant than Russert. He had lost any semblance of credibility with his obfuscation of his own role in the Libby fiasco. He’s running on fumes ever since. He should be called to the floor by his peers. Instead, he is called upon by Dick to bully Democrats and treat Republicans with Kidd gloves. I guess the little old ladies who eat catfood still like him.

Russert likely reminds many elderly parents of their own sons – the sons who are redfaced, alcoholic, used-up, Blackjack dealers.

Kudos to whoever it was that came up with that one. Its an apt description.

Dude, how do you really feel?

Ok, I’m off to get dressed. We are in what I call Santa Fe weather – cold in the morning and hot by afternoon. I was looking to see what hat to wear, when I ran across a hand painted poodle hat that one of my poodle pups had put a few chew marks on the bill. I’ve decided to wear that rather then the “F*ck Cancer” hat because it fits my head better. Either one would be in support of Jane. We will send a big group hug to her this afternoon.

Also on ABC’s This Week, Stephanopoulus interviewed John Edwards. They discussed the NY drivers license issue, and when it was all done, there doesn’t seem to be any essential difference between Edwards’ position and Clintons’. Both think the state efforts are driven by the lack of comprehensive immigration reform; that an undifferentiated license is not the best answer, that some license is probably necessary for safety/insurance reasons. Edwards also said he would only give licenses to those on a road to obtaining citizenship, which means anyone who is not would not be eligible — a more restrictive policy than Spitzer now proposes. Bottom line: the whole controversy was less than meets the eye.

perris @ 64

hey everyone, before I go get some outdoor tennis I have to post this link, they very best youtube I have seen to date, you will not be sorry to click

http://youtube.com/watch?v=GIqk4agzKPE

Wow. Just, wow…

Scarecrow at 84 — In my opinion, the whole thing was driven by Russert’s PR persona.

Sandman @ 26

PeteCO @ 18

$5 says Pumpkinhead won’t ask Grampa about this.

I wanted to ask about that, on what Planet does a guy, Philip Martin, now an adviser to Fred Thompson, get caught with $30,000 of Cocaine and do NO jail time?

I think that this will be the topic of the first episode of “Payoff Planet”, a new series jointly produced by the Discovery Channel and CourtTV.

And the guy was already on probation – but it was only a little-bitty $30K coke deal, with some conspiracy and book-making charges… so they *continued* his probation. Yep – planet is changing; a rich white guy just can’t buy a break anymore.

Poor bastard.

Morning everyone!

SanderO @ 15

If the MSM is so discredited and these bobbleheads are woefully uninformed why do we have this talking head post every Sunday? I suppose we need to watch with dropped jaws how the beltway thinks, in order to “defeat” them.

On the other hand how do we get some of the progressive and right thinking ideas in from the the rain makers inside the beltway… the so called crashing the gate thing?

It sounds more and more that the dialog is among the disparate bloggers and readers thereof. And the conventional wisdom is not being informed by some the the brilliant thinkers out here.

Why not?

Shhhh. Terrific ideas, but if Timmeh & HowieKurtsie see your comment, they’ll, um, soil themselves even worse.

Did anyone see Timmeh’s interview program yestidie?? First he tried to play bingo with Colbert (hilarious for anyone with a brain, but predictably painful to watch furrows of confusion gather over Timmeh’s eyebrows).

And then Timmeh & Howie put on their serious-adult faces & tried to decipher the whole internet w.m.dee & how it compares to “real” journalism such as their own.

Lawd-a-mercy! It was like watching matched bobbleheads in an old Studebaker being towed backwards down a dusty road. I hope they left a cookie crumb trail. Lost & hopelessly lost. AND arrogantly pleased with themselves for being thus. geeesh!

Oh, and anyone who buys Howie’s wonderful new book that explains it all just wasted their dime…

Christy Hardin Smith @ 89

Scarecrow at 84 — In my opinion, the whole thing was driven by Russert’s PR persona.

I never did understand the dust-up in the first place… Clinton’s answer made sense to me, Obama’s and Edwards’ arguments did not.

Whoa! I’m still reeling! Russert just said he was at Woodstock with a Fu Manchu! The image is blinding. That Brokaw seems have a full disclosure to a fault gene is once again proven.

Russert is an embarrassment to journalism. He is not interested in the story, his is interested in formulating gothcha questions of dubious value educating listeners about policy differences. Russert is an embarrassment to attorneys. Big Russ, little russ, hoakum.

[Will helped Ronald Reagan prepare for his 1980 debate against Jimmy Carter, breaking with the journalistic tradition of neutrality. Immediately after the debate, Will—who was not a member of the ABC News staff—appeared on ABC’s Nightline. He was introduced by host Ted Koppel, who said “It’s my understanding that you met for some time yesterday with Governor Reagan,” and that Will “never made any secret of his affection” for the Republican candidate. It was not explicitly disclosed that Will had assisted with or been present during Reagan’s debate preparation. Will went on to praise Reagan, saying his “game plan worked well. I don’t think he was very surprised” (Nightline Special Edition, October 28, 1980).

Will gave the Reagan campaign a top-secret briefing book stolen from Carter’s office (Fresh Air, October 21, 2004). According to a report, he repeated this accusation in 2005 (The Alabama Plainsman, July 28, 2005). In a 2005 syndicated column, Will called his role in Reagan’s debate preparation “inappropriate” but denied any role in stealing the briefing book. As he had done to Carter privately, Will wrote in his column that he gave the book a “cursory glance” and found it a “crashing bore and next to useless—for [Carter], or for anyone else” (Washington Post, August 11, 2005). A media watchdog group, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, criticized Will in connection with the 1996 election, for “commenting on the presidential race while his second wife, Mari Maseng Will, was a senior staffer for the Dole presidential campaign,” including commenting on a Dole speech without disclosing that his wife had helped write it.
………company controlled by Conrad Black. The board met once a year and Will received an annual payment of $25,000. The board was disbanded in 2001. In March, 2003, Will wrote a syndicated column which praised a speech by Black and did not disclose their previous business relationship.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 77

Hey gang — if there are pix of firepup gatherings that you want to send along, I’ll try to get a post together later today to let y’all see each other (if people are comfortable with that — I know some folks prefer the anonymity…) Post links and/or e-mail pix and I’ll see what I can do to share.

Click on “peanutbutter” above (not “f”) for the socal ones.

Front L to R: newtonusr, Mommybrain, Old Coastie. Back, L to R: Loo Hoo, peanutbutter, demi and burnspbesq.

George H W Bush on Fox News Sunday. Proud of his children and grandchildren serving in government.

loved Fred Thompson’s answer to Timmeh’s question – “What should we do about Pakistan”?

FT – “first, learn about it…”.

snowbird42 @ 44

http://2007.weblogawards.org/p…..blog-1.php

Go here to vote!! Firedoglake leading(at the moment)Best liberal Blog

Yayyyyy! We can vote once a day, right? When’s the final tally?

Marion in Savannah @ 88

perris @ 64

hey everyone, before I go get some outdoor tennis I have to post this link, they very best youtube I have seen to date, you will not be sorry to click

http://youtube.com/watch?v=GIqk4agzKPE

Wow. Just, wow…

roflmao…shift

hard as it is to believe – I’ve come to the conclusion that Fred Thomspon really *is* as dumb as he looks…

PeteCO @ 45

SanderO @ 41

Norah O’Donnel? Why is she on teevee commenting on anything?

Because she’s hot.

about as hot as britney spears with a horse laugh …..

Christy,
Here’s a linkto some photos of the SoCal pup meet-ups.
What a gabfest / chow down it was!
We covered a lot of Hot Topics and toasted Edward Teller’s concert and Newtonuser drove all the way down from SF!

That’s the George Will who criticizes Hillary and praises Dubya for a perceived similarity in speech syntax. Will is a Republican presstitute.

neil @ 84

The only Sunday political talk show on in Boston at 11AM in FOX Sunday News. UGH. Here goes…

CNN usually has interviews, and also summarizes takes from other interview shows.

Ann in AZ @ 92

Whoa! I’m still reeling! Russert just said he was at Woodstock with a Fu Manchu! The image is blinding. That Brokaw seems have a full disclosure to a fault gene is once again proven.

More evidence that the whole “Woodstock generation changed the world, maaan” thing is bollocks. Yeah, they changed the world; they f*cked it up even worse.

jayt @ 97

loved Fred Thompson’s answer to Timmeh’s question – “What should we do about Pakistan”?

FT – “first, learn about it…”.

“And here it is, right next to Luxembourg.”

Marion in Savannah @ 87

perris @ 64

hey everyone, before I go get some outdoor tennis I have to post this link, they very best youtube I have seen to date, you will not be sorry to click

http://youtube.com/watch?v=GIqk4agzKPE

Wow. Just, wow…

I didn’t get it. So, we’re all f*cked? I already knew that.

jayt @ 100

hard as it is to believe – I’ve come to the conclusion that Fred Thomspon really *is* as dumb as he looks…

The Mighty R Wurlitzer bends over backward to give the big dunce a friendly platform with which to engage the public, and he flubs it every time. He can’t even do Leno. They’re better off hiding Plan B Fred in a closet.

PS,
And, we signed a get well card for Jane and we are sharing email addys and phone numbers in case things get worse and someone pulls what happened in Pakistan yesterday here.
OldCoastie – I will work on getting my list of #’s out as soon as I get this first cup of coffee down.

Scarecrow @ 105

neil @ 84

The only Sunday political talk show on in Boston at 11AM in FOX Sunday News. UGH. Here goes…

CNN usually has interviews, and also summarizes takes from other interview shows.

George H W BUsh was interviewed for 20 minutes. 10 more mins of FOX for me, then a choice between MTP, FaceTheNation, and McLaughlin Group.

demi @ 109

PS,
And, we signed a get well card for Jane and we are sharing email addys and phone numbers in case things get worse and someone pulls what happened in Pakistan yesterday here.
OldCoastie – I will work on getting my list of #’s out as soon as I get this first cup of coffee down.

yup, I’m looking at my copy and think it needs to get typed up… I’ll get it going in the next hour or so…

jayt @ 101

hard as it is to believe – I’ve come to the conclusion that Fred Thomspon really *is* as dumb as he looks…

if you show him perris’ UTOOB from #64, u think his head’d espload? or mebbe, by the time he finished watching it, he’d be obsolete…

(In case a mod recognizes my IP, I’m not a sock puppet, but I’d rather a google search not turn up my usual moniker with a work-related comment…)

PeteCO @ 32

selise @ 25

really good essay, imo, on our current political culture.

a little inspiring too.

Two thoughts; Progressives/Liberals are to the Democratic party what Evangelicals are to the Republicans-a reliable source of cash and votes.

Second; it’s great to talk about how we should go out into the world and talk to people about how f*cked up everything is. I’d love to talk to my work colleagues, but politics isn’t a subject that ever comes up. Ever. I work for a company that does a lot of work for the military-industrial complex, and it’s a non-subject. What’s frustrating is that I suspect many of them are open to trying to change things, but the culture is such that you would get a more favourable reaction if you talked about strangling your grandma. Then what?

I work in the security-industrial complex. And yes political discussions are entered very, very gingerly; but they’re not impossible when , e.g., you’re out at lunch. (Actually, our business is so closely tied to the news and political cycle that it is probably nearly impossible to avoid the topic entirely.)

The executives (VP level and above) are Republicans, and they’re quite open that it’s because that’s where they think their bread is buttered. Below that level, the technical folks are all seething anti-Bush. And in the secuirty-industrial complex, that’s honestly a crowd that, say, ten years ago, would have been somewhere to the right of Rush Limbaugh. My New Hampshire colleague hosted an Edwards fundraiser recently; Edwards asked to come but they decided all the media would ruin the lawn :)

hackworth @ 108

jayt @ 100

hard as it is to believe – I’ve come to the conclusion that Fred Thomspon really *is* as dumb as he looks…

The Mighty R Wurlitzer bends over backward to give the big dunce a friendly platform with which to engage the public, and he flubs it every time. He can’t even do Leno. They’re better off hiding Plan B Fred in a closet.

ok, so call me perverse, but I’m kinda enjoying watching Freddie T sit there on national teevee giving more and more ammunition and video clips which can be dragged out against him in the future.

He just can’t seem to either help himself nor stop doing it…

neil @ 84

The only Sunday political talk show on in Boston at 11AM in FOX Sunday News. UGH. Here goes…

I think you forgot to ‘fall back’.

gonna try out opensolaris and openbsd

George H W Bush as a full scale reproduction Oval Office in his Library. He likes the fact the real oval office is intimidating to visitors who can’t muster to speak their minds when they enter.

neil @ 110

Scarecrow @ 105

CNN usually has interviews, and also summarizes takes from other interview shows.

George H W Bush was interviewed for 20 minutes. 10 more mins of FOX for me, then a choice between MTP, FaceTheNation, and McLaughlin Group.

Good lord, you’ve got a strong stomach.

FYI:Joe Biden and Mark Penn on Face the Nation.

solai @ 116

neil @ 84

The only Sunday political talk show on in Boston at 11AM in FOX Sunday News. UGH. Here goes…

I think you forgot to ‘fall back’.

You’re right TV PLANNER didn’t “fall back” but I did and so did my cable tv company COMCAST. he he

the CBS morning show just did a profile on Joni Mitchell… she’s such a treasure! anybody have her new album, “Shine”?

PeteCO @ 119

neil @ 110

George H W BUsh was interviewed for 20 minutes. 10 more mins of FOX for me, then a choice between MTP, FaceTheNation, and McLaughlin Group.

Good lord, you’ve got a strong stomach.

It’s really brutal, now Wallace is taking a tour of the George H W Bush library with George H.

Let’s face it “W” Dad is easier to take than “W” but you know he’s lying through his teeth when he says he’s proud of “W”.

Ya know – this will totally different now.

From Frank Rich:

Whatever happens in or to Iran, the American public will be carpet-bombed by apocalyptic propaganda for the 12 months to come. Mr. Bush has nothing to lose by once again using the specter of war to pillory the Democrats as soft on national security. The question for the Democrats is whether they’ll walk once more into this trap.

I don’t know maybe paint Bush as the madman that he is?!

When does CNN’s Late Edition air in Boston?

All right, the sun is up. It’s cold and crisp and I have Naomi Klein’s book to finish.

The question for the Democrats is whether they’ll walk once more into this trap.

Is this still in question? Rich is such an optimist!

Old Coastie,
Do you have the new JM? If you say it is excellent, I’ll splurge and buy myself something New.

Anonymous Just This Once @ 113

(In case a mod recognizes my IP, I’m not a sock puppet, but I’d rather a google search not turn up my usual moniker with a work-related comment…)

PeteCO @ 32

Two thoughts; Progressives/Liberals are to the Democratic party what Evangelicals are to the Republicans-a reliable source of cash and votes.

Second; it’s great to talk about how we should go out into the world and talk to people about how f*cked up everything is. I’d love to talk to my work colleagues, but politics isn’t a subject that ever comes up. Ever. I work for a company that does a lot of work for the military-industrial complex, and it’s a non-subject. What’s frustrating is that I suspect many of them are open to trying to change things, but the culture is such that you would get a more favourable reaction if you talked about strangling your grandma. Then what?

I work in the security-industrial complex. And yes political discussions are entered very, very gingerly; but they’re not impossible when , e.g., you’re out at lunch. (Actually, our business is so closely tied to the news and political cycle that it is probably nearly impossible to avoid the topic entirely.)

The executives (VP level and above) are Republicans, and they’re quite open that it’s because that’s where they think their bread is buttered. Below that level, the technical folks are all seething anti-Bush. And in the secuirty-industrial complex, that’s honestly a crowd that, say, ten years ago, would have been somewhere to the right of Rush Limbaugh. My New Hampshire colleague hosted an Edwards fundraiser recently; Edwards asked to come but they decided all the media would ruin the lawn :)

That’s interesting. My dept. is mid-level tech types who have been left dead in the water by this admin. In January, any changes to our health insurance will be revealed (I acknowledge I’m lucky to have insurance) so I’m keen to see what reaction there will be if the costs go up or the benefits go down.

demi @ 127

Old Coastie,
Do you have the new JM? If you say it is excellent, I’ll splurge and buy myself something New.

I don’t have it yet, but I’m getting very tempted…

Adie @ 113

jayt @ 101

hard as it is to believe – I’ve come to the conclusion that Fred Thomspon really *is* as dumb as he looks…

if you show him perris’ UTOOB from #64, u think his head’d espload? or mebbe, by the time he finished watching it, he’d be obsolete…

HeHeHe!

neil @ 125

When does CNN’s Late Edition air in Boston?

Usually 11:00 a.m.

Fresh post from Looseheadprop, up and running for everyone…

Professor Foland @ 126

The question for the Democrats is whether they’ll walk once more into this trap.

Is this still in question? Rich is such an optimist!

That was kind of what I thought. Of course they’ll screw up. They’re as complicit in this narrative as the media and the Republicans.

selise @ 27

solai @ 19

Selise, are you still here. How do I find out if there’s a vigil/protest locally against Schumer’s vote? I’m apparently not on a mailing list and I’ve googled to no avail.

left you a reply in the previous thread (actually two replies – my mistake). oh well, let’s make it three… as there maybe other NY firepups who are interested in participating.

selise @ 279

on the good news front – the ny roots project folks are going like gangbusters this weekend. they’re planning some kind of vigil on monday and hopefully a meeting with someone on schumer’s staff. and they’re making a video from mukasey’s testimony before the SJC (i ripped video for 13 clips jill wanted – thank you tw3k!).

very nice to see that schumer will not be allowed to make his vote without a protest from his constituents.

selise @ 299

there is a googlegroup email list. just request membership (probably a good idea to say you saw the posting on fdl this morning).

you should hear back within a couple of hours – that’s what happened when i signed up yesterday morning…. although i live in MA (and so am on that list), i was so pissed off at schumer i wanted to see if there was anything i could do to help out the NY folks. i’m sure they would love to have another person to work with. many fingers make for light work. *g*

On thing to stress is just how bad his idea of “passing a law to make waterboarding torture” is!

Such a law would indemnify torture that has already occurred! It would mean that all the waterboarding before was legal…under the ex post facto provision of the Constitution.

Is Schumer REALLY saying that he doesn’t think that waterboarding IS TORTURE?

That it isn’t already illegal under, amongst other things, the “cruel and unusual punishment” clause of the Constitution, the Geneva Conventions, and a host of other laws?

That we need a LAW to define something that falls entirely within the bounds of the laws we already have that any person whose brain hasn’t been attacked by an alien virus would know that these acts are torture?

I mean its not like we haven’t convicted Nazi and Japanese war criminals for using the same methods, or anything!

Schumer’s (and DiFis) relatives who perished in the Holocaust would be disgusted at his moral and ethical decadence.

How can a method that obtained 100% confessions to the crime of witchcraft, even when the victim knew that confession meant death, NOT BE TORTURE? How can Schumer believe that a method that obtained 100% CONVERSION of Jews and Muslims to Catholicism isn’t torture? A method that obtained confessions by tens of thousands to “crimes against the German People” during WWII? Used by the Khmer Rouge as a means to force the confessions of hundreds of thousands?

Schumer and DiFi appear to think that these atrocities weren’t war crimes. They don’t seem to be able to realize what’s torture when they are confronted with it right in their faces.

PeteCO @ 33

Sandman @ 26

I wanted to ask about that, on what Planet does a guy, Philip Martin, now an adviser to Fred Thompson, get caught with $30,000 of Cocaine and do NO jail time?

Planet Cash!

Well! Huckleberry orders the parole of a rapist who raped Clinton’s cousin…and then that rapist (who already had a history of sexual assaults) goes on to rape two more times…and nothing is mentioned about this by the MSM…

seems having a dope smuggling pilot is something that doesn’t reach the bar for a REPUBLICAN Candidate!

Now if it was a Democrat who puffed a doobie when he was in college…THATS SOMETHING TO MAKE INTO A MEDIA FUROR!

Scarecrow @ 87

Also on ABC’s This Week, Stephanopoulus interviewed John Edwards. They discussed the NY drivers license issue, and when it was all done, there doesn’t seem to be any essential difference between Edwards’ position and Clintons’….Edwards also said he would only give licenses to those on a road to obtaining citizenship, which means anyone who is not would not be eligible — a more restrictive policy than Spitzer now proposes. Bottom line: the whole controversy was less than meets the eye.

Actually that’s the status quo! Documented residents can already obtain drivers licenses!!!! Edwards position solves nothing!!!

The problem is with undocumented individuals who would obtain licenses and insurance IF they were not a) prevented from that; and b) not targeted by the INS because they carry some distinctive license.

On resolution to this issue would be to make available International Drivers Licenses (which could also be used in the State) and extend the legal use of these to longer terms.

OldCoastie @ 92

Christy Hardin Smith @ 89

Scarecrow at 84 — In my opinion, the whole thing was driven by Russert’s PR persona.

I never did understand the dust-up in the first place… Clinton’s answer made sense to me, Obama’s and Edwards’ arguments did not.

And yet you hear the Right Wing playing this up that Hillary contradicted herself twice in the space of one sentence. That plays well to those who didn’t actually see the debate…all the picked up was that Obama and Edwards attacked her.

Ann in AZ @ 93

Whoa! I’m still reeling! Russert just said he was at Woodstock with a Fu Manchu! The image is blinding. That Brokaw seems have a full disclosure to a fault gene is once again proven.

Oh! I remember that fat guy with the Fu Manchu! He was one of those stoned out of their gourd on the Brown Acid doing the mud-dives in front of the stage while Sha-Na-Na was performing. He kept yelling “Sha Na Na…I’m seeing the future of Rock N’ Roll Man!”

neil @ 97

George H W Bush on Fox News Sunday. Proud of his children and grandchildren serving in government.

“We serve mankind”

Selise, if you’re still hear, I’d be very interested to know how the vigil/protest @ Schumer’s office goes on Monday. I tried repeatedly to call his office and Di Fi on Friday and the line was busy.

Fab YouTube!

snowbird42 @ 44

http://2007.weblogawards.org/p…..blog-1.php

Go here to vote!! Firedoglake leading(at the moment)Best liberal Blog

Don’t they have a category for ‘foul-mouthed fem blog’?

Scarecrow @ 87

Also on ABC’s This Week, Stephanopoulus interviewed John Edwards. They discussed the NY drivers license issue, and when it was all done, there doesn’t seem to be any essential difference between Edwards’ position and Clintons’. Both think the state efforts are driven by the lack of comprehensive immigration reform; that an undifferentiated license is not the best answer, that some license is probably necessary for safety/insurance reasons. Edwards also said he would only give licenses to those on a road to obtaining citizenship, which means anyone who is not would not be eligible — a more restrictive policy than Spitzer now proposes. Bottom line: the whole controversy was less than meets the eye.

Great repetition of the Clinton talking point!

Edwards has a position.

Clinton talks and says “it is a great idea”, but “I didn’t say I supported it.”

Edwards is intelligent and consistent.

Hillary is evasive and stands for nothing in particular, especially nothing which might bother a potential voter.

Edwards decided what he thought would be good for America.

Hillary listened to her pollster and the focus groups and decided America didn’t know what it wants on immigration, so neither will she.

The same? Hardly.