mornin’!

Wow. I thought you would have gone with the cattle egret :)

Mornin’ everyone. Hope holidays were wonderful and that all the pups make it back home from their festivities safely.

JulieWaters @ 2

Wow. I thought you would have gone with the cattle egret :)

He’s amazing! We love your site — it’s helped us identify some feeder visitors. Gorgeous photographs — thanks for doing what you do!

Good morning everyone.

wow – a schedule that is not to be missed bothered with. I’ll watch Zinni.

I’ll watch Timmeh too – but only for a fee.

on edit: a rather substantial fee…

Good Morning Christy!
and firepups!

here’s an interesting article on the number of dee’s that a chickadee does.

jayt @ 6

wow – a schedule that is not to be missed bothered with. I’ll watch Zinni.

I’ll watch Timmeh too – but only for a fee.

oh for a minute there I thought you were going to watch it for us.

JulieWaters @ 2

Wow. I thought you would have gone with the cattle egret :)

beautiful, I love the colors s/he is. wow!

Elliott @ 8

jayt @ 6

wow – a schedule that is not to be missed bothered with. I’ll watch Zinni.

I’ll watch Timmeh too – but only for a fee.

oh for a minute there I thought you were going to watch it for us.

To look at Mary Matalin for an hour, I would require hazardous duty pay.

NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Republican strategists Mary Matalin and Mike Murphy; Democratic strategists Bob Shrum and James Carville.

This is the absolute worst. Don’t they know anyone else’s phone number? Now, if they had called Howard Dean, that would be worth watching.
More and better Democratic strategists.

I’m afraid that an hour of watching Mrs. Carville might cause permanent damage to my sex-drive…

What ever happened to wiring TV viewers up to pulse rate monitors etc when they watched TV shows.
I swear my pulse rate goes up everytime I hear Tweety lie.
I despair over the length of eternity, almost slipping into a coma whenever Tweety Makes an unfounded point, for example his endlessly repeated Americans hate Hilary point.
If they hate Hilary why does she lead in the polls?
I shake and go ehh! everytime Tweety talks about Fred the aqua velva man, or how only crazy lefties don’t like Bush.
I want NBC to realize that Tweety makes people physicaly ill!

Good morning Christy! Yes, that bird does look pretty happy :)

Elliott @ 7

Good Morning Christy!
and firepups!

here’s an interesting article on the number of dee’s that a chickadee does.

I remember that article– it was cool, especially when we discovered that chickadees and nuthatches would use the number of repetitions to communicate nature of predators. Now I pay a lot more attention when I’m outside, counting their calls to see if they’re objecting to me, to the red-shouldered hawk that sometimes does flyovers or a neighborhood cat.

Marion in Savannah @ 4

JulieWaters @ 2

Wow. I thought you would have gone with the cattle egret :)

He’s amazing! We love your site — it’s helped us identify some feeder visitors. Gorgeous photographs — thanks for doing what you do!

I do it mostly for fun. If I ever start making money at it, I’ll be pleased, but surprised :)

Let’s see how do we get peopole to tune in for Fred, Lindsey, and Carl.

Elliott @ 9

JulieWaters @ 2

Wow. I thought you would have gone with the cattle egret :)

beautiful, I love the colors s/he is. wow!

Yeah. That was amazing luck. This bird had been around all day, but there was no great way to get a really nice picture of it because of the angle of the sun. Then just before heading out of the refuge, we figured we’d go back and look to see if it was doing anything else. Shortly after we showed up, it flew into the parking area and landed on a post, letting me reposition myself with me between it and the sun. Sun behind me, bird in front is by far the best possible light for taking pictures of birds that are primarily white, so the colors on this one came out amazing

JulieWaters @ 15

Elliott @ 7

Good Morning Christy!
and firepups!

here’s an interesting article on the number of dee’s that a chickadee does.

I remember that article– it was cool, especially when we discovered that chickadees and nuthatches would use the number of repetitions to communicate nature of predators. Now I pay a lot more attention when I’m outside, counting their calls to see if they’re objecting to me, to the red-shouldered hawk that sometimes does flyovers or a neighborhood cat.

that was my reaction too!

(except that would be my cat and not the neighbors *ahem* I don’t feed the birds seed tho, so as not to feed the cats birds:)

we’re snobs to think we are the only creature that “thinks”

How many times will Wolfie ask Huckabee about Chuck Norris (or his other celebrity nutjob endorsements)?

Mornin’ all!

My bet is that whatever Pumpkinhead asks Mary will not be a gotcha question but rather an easy pitch that will let Mary hit a home run of spining the GOP talking point on this matter.
Does Timmy ever nail a regular guest on his show or anybody for that matter. His last interview with Dick Cheney almost had me screaming he’s lying don’t you read the newspapers!
But on the plus side Timmy’s VP interview is exhibit A when we show why the fairness doctrine must be brought back. That and why we must get rid of corporate control of the press.

Good morning all.

The morning line-up looks about as bad as the Inky’s Currents page with Dinesh and Smerconish on the front page. Blergh!

Yesterday Mr. Rev and I went on the trolley tour of Philly to finally get to see the sights of our new home. We were impressed. We looped around again and spent some time in the Reading Terminal market and then on to the Rodin museum. Nice.

This afternoon it is off to the Barnes Foundation, private museum with what we hear is an amazing collection. Really looking forward to it.

As for the morning line-up on my one Sunday off, I think I’ll pass.

Also, friends, if you may even possibly think of going to Netroots Nation, make your hotel reservation now. It can be cancelled up to 2 days before the event with no penalties. I sent an e-mail to some of my friends with a little nudge.

noonan @ 20

How many times will Wolfie ask Huckabee about Chuck Norris (or his other celebrity nutjob endorsements)?

hey – give the guy credit for locking up the endorsement of a professional wrestler. If he can add the Nascar bloc to the pro-rasslin’ bloc – that’s a whole bundh of really stupid people voters.

Here’s my addition to the Sunday morning birdie thread – some images my partner and I took in Delaware about a week ago: Images from Delaware

Oh, wasn’t Tom Bevan sooo fair and balanced this morning on C-Span. As he advised Democrats to be very careful because all is going ever so much better in Iraq. Not one mention of Shrub dropping the benchmarks nor about a complete lack of political progress while this wondrous surge is ongoing. It is still Mourning in Iraq.

twolf1 @ 25

Here’s my addition to the Sunday morning birdie thread – some images my partner and I took in Delaware about a week ago: Images from Delaware

Wow. Highly recommend. Those are so beautiful.

Report: Internet Outages Could Occur By 2010 As Capacity Stalls

Booming demand for Internet services combined with insufficient infrastructure investment could leave the Web vulnerable to brown outs within three years, a study released Tuesday predicted.

twolf1 @ 28

Report: Internet Outages Could Occur By 2010 As Capacity Stalls

Booming demand for Internet services combined with insufficient infrastructure investment could leave the Web vulnerable to brown outs within three years, a study released Tuesday predicted.

How convenient for the oligarchy.

twolf1 @ 25

Here’s my addition to the Sunday morning birdie thread – some images my partner and I took in Delaware about a week ago: Images from Delaware

I love the seagull rest stop :)

Good morning to clean house and take a walk in the leaves…

Then it’s off to buy tickets for the ballet we’re taking the nieces to. Why bother with bloviating bobbleheads in the beltway? Nothing ever new there.

BushCo’s BFFs in Saudi let fundie ex-PM Nawaz Sharif return to Pakistan.
Sharif was in power when Pakistan intelligence (ISI) created, funded and armed the Taliban.
Unfortunately, seems like there’s now a bit of blowback.
But at least things are going well in Afghanistan, right?

egregious @ 27

twolf1 @ 25

Here’s my addition to the Sunday morning birdie thread – some images my partner and I took in Delaware about a week ago: Images from Delaware

Wow. Highly recommend. Those are so beautiful.

great pix.

Will have to find that place one of these days since DE is about 20 minutes south of where we are.

There is always blowback from our ill thought out policies of expediency.

From Karen DeYoung’s article in the Post (my bold):

Over the past year, all combat encounters against the Taliban have ended with “a very decisive defeat” for the extremists, Brig. Gen. Robert E. Livingston Jr., commander of the U.S. task force training the Afghan army, told reporters this month. The growing number of suicide bombings against civilians underscores the Taliban’s growing desperation , according to Livingston and other U.S. commanders.

Where have we heard that before?

Good to question Matalin, after all, she’s the one that told Libby to go to Matthews about Plame – that he and Russert “hate each other.”

solai @ 11

NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Republican strategists Mary Matalin and Mike Murphy; Democratic strategists Bob Shrum and James Carville.

This is the absolute worst. Don’t they know anyone else’s phone number? Now, if they had called Howard Dean, that would be worth watching.
More and better Democratic strategists.

Shrum and Carville – “Strategists”? How about “one failed ex-strategist and one double-agent saboteur”?

Why bother with these idiots?

Read a book or do some exercise.

SanderO @ 38

Why bother with these idiots?

Read a book or do some exercise.

Or spend the morning blogging :)

SanderO @ 38

Why bother with these idiots?

Read a book or do some exercise.

Yep. The morning will be devoted to dragging out the Christmas decorations and the bird feeders. Then on to the art museum.

A good day.

No politics needed.

Jack Aulis, one of my favorite nature writers, once wrote of chickadees, “They are full of curiosity, self-confidence, and insects.” Truer words never written.

And heaven knows I’d rather curl up around “Eagles Have Bad Breath (or How to Identify Birds without Knowing Anything About Them)” then watch the trashy line-up this morning.

SanderO @ 38

Why bother with these idiots?

Read a book or do some exercise.

Thinking the same thing. I have ‘Imperial Life in the Emerald City’ on loan from library. May spend part of my day on that. Anyone read it?

ArchTeryx @ 41

Jack Aulis, one of my favorite nature writers, once wrote of chickadees, “They are full of curiosity, self-confidence, and insects.” Truer words never written.

And heaven knows I’d rather curl up around “Eagles Have Bad Breath (or How to Identify Birds without Knowing Anything About Them)” then watch the trashy line-up this morning.

that’s a great quote on the chickadeedeedee!

NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Republican strategists Mary Matalin and Mike Murphy; Democratic strategists Bob Shrum and James Carville.

Any bets on whether Timmeh will ask Mary Matalin about her former boss Dick Cheney and her former co-worker Scooter and “the latest maybe they did, maybe they didn’t tell him to lie” floater from Scotty McLellan? Yeah, me neither. Have you ever seen a more annoyingly self-referential and self-serving line-up? Yeah, me neither.

I’d feel a lot better if they’d put “former” or “losing” in front of Shrum & Carville’s names as “Democratic consultants.”

PS – As CBS’s Sunday Morning is pointing out, today is the 44th anniversary of the National Day of Mourning for President John Kennedy [and his funeral].

Shrum and Carville? What a bunch of self important clowns

ArchTeryx @ 41

Jack Aulis, one of my favorite nature writers, once wrote of chickadees, “They are full of curiosity, self-confidence, and insects.” Truer words never written.

The other week I was refilling the bird feeders when a chickadee landed on the feeder pole, less than a foot away, and started yelling at me. I figured it either meant “get away from our food!” or “where the hell is our damned food?”

JulieWaters @ 46

The other week I was refilling the bird feeders when a chickadee landed on the feeder pole, less than a foot away, and started yelling at me. I figured it either meant “get away from our food!” or “where the hell is our damned food?”

Or it could have simply been a cheerful hello. :) I’ve been greeted by chickadees before, and even had them use me as a feeding platform. They’re one of my favorite small birds, bar none.

RevDeb @ 23

Good morning all.

This afternoon it is off to the Barnes Foundation, private museum with what we hear is an amazing collection. Really looking forward to it.

As for the morning line-up on my one Sunday off, I think I’ll pass.

The Barnes Foundation collection is phenomenal, although they way they are forced to hang/display it detracts. The collection toured a number of years ago, and I saw it. You’re so lucky!! Enjoy.

We watched a couple of dvd’s yesterday that had my husband & I looking at each other saying more than once ’sounds very familiar’.
1st one was “Ellis Island” by History Channel. Anti immigrant attitudes in the past are pretty much the same as the present: Immigrants taking american jobs & hostility toward immigrants in war times.
2nd one was “Fire and Ice, The Winter War of Finland and Russia”. The Soviets planned to take over Finland in the 1930’s thinking it would be a cakewalk lasting only a matter of days. The Soviets were extremely confident of this believing the Finnish people would welcome them. The troops even brought their dress uniforms along. One statement either by a historian or Finnish general about Soviet ideology trumping facts was eerie. “Fire and Ice” is a fascinating documentary. I highly recommend it.
Humans, especially those in power, are highly resistant to learning from the past.

twolf -

That mirror image pic of the Great Blue is wonderful!

You guys want to talk about all this “good news” coming out of Iraq, and how this is “bad news” for the Democrats? This seems to be the headline of the week in both the NYT and WaPo.

If the Democrats don’t get in front of this absolute bullshit talking point, it’s going to be very damaging.

Any suggestions?

Waccamaw @ 50

twolf -

That mirror image pic of the Great Blue is wonderful!

it really is beautiful, thanks for sharing your pictures, too twolf

ArchTeryx @ 47

JulieWaters @ 46

The other week I was refilling the bird feeders when a chickadee landed on the feeder pole, less than a foot away, and started yelling at me. I figured it either meant “get away from our food!” or “where the hell is our damned food?”

Or it could have simply been a cheerful hello. :) I’ve been greeted by chickadees before, and even had them use me as a feeding platform. They’re one of my favorite small birds, bar none.

Maybe they just seem menacing up close :)

I love the red-breasted nuthatch, primarily because it took me so long to get a good picture of one.

JulieWaters @ 53

Maybe they just seem menacing up close :)

I love the red-breasted nuthatch, primarily because it took me so long to get a good picture of one.

That is an absolutely gorgeous picture, Julie. I’m an amateur shutterbug myself, but I couldn’t get close to that quality, especially with a bird as flitty as a RBN. If you’re interested, I could tell you my nuthatch story (though it has a sad ending).

ArchTeryx @ 54

JulieWaters @ 53

Maybe they just seem menacing up close :)

I love the red-breasted nuthatch, primarily because it took me so long to get a good picture of one.

That is an absolutely gorgeous picture, Julie. I’m an amateur shutterbug myself, but I couldn’t get close to that quality, especially with a bird as flitty as a RBN. If you’re interested, I could tell you my nuthatch story (though it has a sad ending).

I’m okay with sad endings.

I sometimes bring my camera out to the yard to stalk the feeders. That shot particular was funny because I’d worked really hard to get a RBNH picture shortly before that and got crappy ones, but they were the only ones I had so I posted them. Then, just hanging out by the feeders suddenly I spotted one so I waited with the tripod and took tons of shots. That was the best one by far– perfect colors, perfectly in focus, etc.

My vestigial remnants of sexism tell me that I should maybe watch Fox to see the beautiful Ashley. But even she isn’t enough to make me wade through that morass.

Surprise! The Fox News All Stars are satisfied the stem cell issue is solved

dakine01 @ 56

My vestigial remnants of sexism tell me that I should maybe watch Fox to see the beautiful Ashley. But even she isn’t enough to make me wade through that morass.

I’m watching the second half so you don’t have to :)

JulieWaters @ 55

I’m okay with sad endings.

I sometimes bring my camera out to the yard to stalk the feeders. That shot particular was funny because I’d worked really hard to get a RBNH picture shortly before that and got crappy ones, but they were the only ones I had so I posted them. Then, just hanging out by the feeders suddenly I spotted one so I waited with the tripod and took tons of shots. That was the best one by far– perfect colors, perfectly in focus, etc.

Well, that’s the mark of a good photographer, I’ve been told for every hundred or so shots you take you’ll get a good shot, and every thousand or so you’ll get a truly MEMORABLE shot. Pictures like the famous “Angry Bluebird” are literal lottery winners.

I have a friend with a Rolliflex and we go out once a year or so to take photos in places like Black Hand Gorge here in Ohio, beautiful setting for an awesome camera.

The nuthatch, well, this was a VERY persistent RBNH that was mobbing a Red Tailed Hawk. The hawk ignored the bird at first, then flew and changed perches. The bird FOLLOWED the hawk and kept divebombing her. So she opened her beak…

…and no more nuthatch. Down in one gulp. There’s such a thing as carrying a point TOO far, and that bird learned it the hard way. It’s also the only time I’ve ever seen a raptor actually strike out at a mobbing bird before.

…President Bush has been busy liberating two countries from horrible dictators…

so says the Bloody Kristol, so Bush’s kinda busy so don’t be expecting him to settle the Palestinian Israeli conflict.

.

and dakine, you can turn on Fox now to see Ashley Judd if you want, the Fox News All Stars are gone now.

next week on Fox News Sunday
Karl Rove v Chris Van Hollen

well the birdies didn’t eat all the *crickets*

Elliott @ 61

next week on Fox News Sunday
Karl Rove v Chris Van Hollen

mud wrestling? How many rounds?

Good morning (afternoon for us in Europe) all,

On the bird front once more, have you seen this site from the Zoological Museum in Amsterdam. There are fantastic 3D images of most European (and some foreign) birds.

http://nlbif.eti.uva.nl/zma3d/types.html

One of my favourite sites.

RevDeb @ 63

Elliott @ 61

next week on Fox News Sunday
Karl Rove v Chris Van Hollen

mud wrestling? How many rounds?

Rove only knows how to fight dirty

My bird of the morning: 10 feet out my back door is a chain link fence demarking the large retention pond behind me. ‘Round about 8 a.m., I walked out of the office to find a 1st year red-shouldered hawk perched on the fence. Big, chunky bird, a female, I’d reckon. I stood rooted to the spot, ‘nocs to eyes to see the details of feather, eye, and talon, for the best part of 15 minutes, enjoying this privileged view. She jumped down to the ground once, after a lizard, perhaps, but came up empty and returned to her perch. She gave me extensive views of front, back, and profile. Wonderfully cryptic coloration–she’d be invisible perched in the dappled sunlight of a tree. She’ll be prettier when she’s adult.

Parrot children (2 greys) seemed unfazed, probably because the hawk was perched–they react sharply to predators on the wing.
Nice start to a day on the west coast of Florida, I must say.

ArchTeryx @ 59

JulieWaters @ 55

I’m okay with sad endings.

I sometimes bring my camera out to the yard to stalk the feeders. That shot particular was funny because I’d worked really hard to get a RBNH picture shortly before that and got crappy ones, but they were the only ones I had so I posted them. Then, just hanging out by the feeders suddenly I spotted one so I waited with the tripod and took tons of shots. That was the best one by far– perfect colors, perfectly in focus, etc.

Well, that’s the mark of a good photographer, I’ve been told for every hundred or so shots you take you’ll get a good shot, and every thousand or so you’ll get a truly MEMORABLE shot. Pictures like the famous “Angry Bluebird” are literal lottery winners.

I have a friend with a Rolliflex and we go out once a year or so to take photos in places like Black Hand Gorge here in Ohio, beautiful setting for an awesome camera.

The nuthatch, well, this was a VERY persistent RBNH that was mobbing a Red Tailed Hawk. The hawk ignored the bird at first, then flew and changed perches. The bird FOLLOWED the hawk and kept divebombing her. So she opened her beak…

…and no more nuthatch. Down in one gulp. There’s such a thing as carrying a point TOO far, and that bird learned it the hard way. It’s also the only time I’ve ever seen a raptor actually strike out at a mobbing bird before.

That’s a bit impressive. The small birds sometimes mob our red-shouldered hawk but usually it just squawks and flies off.

I forgot:
ArchTeryx @ 59

Well, that’s the mark of a good photographer, I’ve been told for every hundred or so shots you take you’ll get a good shot, and every thousand or so you’ll get a truly MEMORABLE shot. Pictures like the famous “Angry Bluebird” are literal lottery winners.

I took over 1700 pictures that day at Plum Island (with the Cattle Egret). I ended up keeping less than 50 and posting less than half that many. I got three life birds in one day that day: cattle egret, eurasian wigeon & american golden plover.

Morning, all–

I’ve been back to lurking mode for a while, courtesy of recent increase in paid work. Will be glad when that’s over!

Anybody see Mark Halperin’s sort-of mea culpa op-ed in today’s NY Times?

A little breath-taking in its belated self-awareness-slash-admitted-stupidity…

More than any other book, Richard Ben Cramer’s “What It Takes,” about the 1988 battle for the White House, influenced the way I cover campaigns.

I’m not alone. The book’s thesis — that prospective presidents are best evaluated by their ability to survive the grueling quadrennial coast-to-coast test of endurance required to win the office — has shaped the universe of political coverage.

Voters are bombarded with information about which contender has “what it takes” to be the best candidate. Who can deliver the most stirring rhetoric? Who can build the most attractive facade? Who can mount the wiliest counterattack? Whose life makes for the neatest story? Our political and media culture reflects and drives an obsession with who is going to win, rather than who should win.

(snip)

So if we for too long allowed ourselves to be beguiled by “What It Takes” — certainly not the author’s fault — what do those of us who cover politics do now? After all, Mr. Cramer’s style of campaign coverage is alluring in an election season that features so many candidates with heroic biographies and successful careers in and out of politics. (Not to mention two wide-open races.)

Well, we pause, take a deep breath and resist. At least sometimes. In the face of polls and horse-race maneuvering, we can try to keep from getting sucked in by it all. We should examine a candidate’s public record and full life as opposed to his or her campaign performance. But what might appear simple to a voter can, I know, seem hard for a journalist.

I know. Doing your job is hard.

Ack.

Torturing myself…watchin MTP. What is wrong with Mary Matlin’s face? Is it so botoxed that nothing moves but her mouth? Is it too much plastic surgery a la Michael Jackson? I can’t figure it out but whatever it is, it’s distracting.

At least I tried to stomach Meet The Press but I just can’t

sorry

and thanks for the great link Nola Sue!

Nola Sue @ 69

Morning, all–

I’ve been back to lurking mode for a while, courtesy of recent increase in paid work. Will be glad when that’s over!

Anybody see Mark Halperin’s sort-of mea culpa

I know. Doing your job is hard.

Ack.

I’d say it’s too late for a mea culpa from Mr. Helprin.
He and his ilk have done too much damage to the political culture
in this country for letting bygones be bygones.

JulieWaters @ 67

That’s a bit impressive. The small birds sometimes mob our red-shouldered hawk but usually it just squawks and flies off.

Impressive, but not necessarily helpful selection-wise. All the other large birds that get mobbed, even by singles, do what your Red-Shouldered did and find more peaceful perches. Mr. Inigo Montoya Nuthatch, though, wouldn’t leave it alone after it’d won the battle!

I think in photography, though, that’s the great blessing of digital photography: it’s much less expensive, wasteful, and time consuming to take those thousand pictures. The downside is that anyone — even amateur hacks like me — can be shutterbugs, and thus competition is more fierce then it ever was.

Still, please, keep it up! Your bird photos are awesome, and I’m glad to share FDL with you. :)

solai @ 70

Torturing myself…watchin MTP. What is wrong with Mary Matlin’s face? Is it so botoxed that nothing moves but her mouth? Is it too much plastic surgery a la Michael Jackson? I can’t figure it out but whatever it is, it’s distracting.

Not watching but I know exactly what you are saying. It’s almost like one of the cartoon faces that has a moving mouth superimposed on a still picture.

dakine01 @ 74

Not watching but I know exactly what you are saying. It’s almost like one of the cartoon faces that has a moving mouth superimposed on a still picture.

Yay! Mary Matalin as Ms. Synchrovox!

I think I’ll stick to Clutch Cargo, myself.

Elliott @ 60

…President Bush has been busy liberating two countries from horrible dictators…

so says the Bloody Kristol, so Bush’s kinda busy so don’t be expecting him to settle the Palestinian Israeli conflict.

.

and dakine, you can turn on Fox now to see Ashley Judd if you want, the Fox News All Stars are gone now.

Approx 50 minutes into the hour? Cool. I just checked the local station and the Fox news show is on right now so I will keep checking the clock.

allan_in_upstate @ 72

Nola Sue @ 69

Morning, all–

I’ve been back to lurking mode for a while, courtesy of recent increase in paid work. Will be glad when that’s over!

Anybody see Mark Halperin’s sort-of mea culpa

I know. Doing your job is hard.

Ack.

I’d say it’s too late for a mea culpa from Mr. Helprin.
He and his ilk have done too much damage to the political culture
in this country for letting bygones be bygones.

I’m sorry, but I’ve never understood this mind-set. What do you gain by being hateful and vindictive? What happened to “hate the sin, love the sinner,” “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me,” and other similar attitudes?

Can you explain?

And in another installment in the re-awakening of the supposedly brain-dead chattering class, did I just hear Timmeh & crew express surprise that Iowa Dem voters are focused on… issues?!?

What? Are you disappointed your efforts to talk about Edwards’ hair & hedge-fund didn’t have a greater impact?

Maybe they will shake themselves out of their coma. But then I’ve always been an optimist.

dakine01 @ 76

Elliott @ 60

so says the Bloody Kristol, so Bush’s kinda busy so don’t be expecting him to settle the Palestinian Israeli conflict.

.

and dakine, you can turn on Fox now to see Ashley Judd if you want, the Fox News All Stars are gone now.

Approx 50 minutes into the hour? Cool. I just checked the local station and the Fox news show is on right now so I will keep checking the clock.

I have little use for Ashley, either. Just another bitter UK fan who can’t get past Laettner’s shot. Grow up, UK fans — that was 1992. :-)

Good Morning Christy and All!

First and foremost, to Christy,
GO MOUNTAINEERS!

Secondly, Shrum, Matalin and Carville…and I was enjoying such a wonderful holiday weekend.
Oh well, I could tune out I guess. :-|

Good morning. It was, and always is, a pleasure to hear Dennis Ross. There are a few people still around who were molded by the Enlightenment. If we can just get an administration willing to find them and make use of them.

FYI: FTN: looks like those watching may actually learn something. Talking about the meeting on mid-east peace.

Almost as many females as males are watching financial news online (4.5/5.5).

For neat economic overview try: http://bigpicture.typepad.com/

RevDeb @ 29

twolf1 @ 28

Report: Internet Outages Could Occur By 2010 As Capacity Stalls

How convenient for the oligarchy.

twolf1 @ 28

Report: Internet Outages Could Occur By 2010 As Capacity Stalls

Booming demand for Internet services combined with insufficient infrastructure investment could leave the Web vulnerable to brown outs within three years, a study released Tuesday predicted.

Ergo, We MUST have regulation! We must have someone decide what material is appropriate to push thru the Toobz for our own good!

This was the same logic that led to the creation of the FCC in the 1920’s. They argued the radio spectrum was running out and that they needed to decide how that spectrum was allocated. In some ways this was good…preventing stations from sharing the same frequencies and creating a cacaphony in much of their service areas. But we can see how shallow the ideas that “public service”, diversity, and local control/programming came to be.

We now have a radio/TV spectrum that is so homogeneous that distinctive political views are denied access, that the only programs with ethnic diversity are stereotypical pap, where major corporations with other massive media interests are allowed to operate dozens of stations across the USA. The stations have become mouthpieces for flagrant propaganda and lies…and partisan mudslinging.

Instead of being evaluated on the merits of public service or the diversity of community involvement, frequencies are auctioned off to the highest bidder…usually some wealthy magnate who owns scores of other stations and newspapers.

So expect that this announcement will lead to the same process for the internet.

burnspbesq @ 77

I’m sorry, but I’ve never understood this mind-set. What do you gain by being hateful and vindictive? What happened to “hate the sin, love the sinner,” “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me,” and other similar attitudes?

Can you explain?

I’m not trying to be hateful or vindictive.
I just don’t believe that political journalists, pundits and their editors, having
bought into “the Village” mindset, will ever really let go.
Look at David Broder declaring recently that he doesn’t beieve that there is a place for panty-sniffing coverage of the 2008 race, only to engage a few days later in … panty-sniffing.

There is a long list of people who have proven themselves incapable of objective, reality-based journalism, and I think it’s a waste of time to think that we can “educate” them. I mean, it’s worked so well with Joe Klein, don’t you think?

kdh22 @ 80

Good Morning Christy and All!

First and foremost, to Christy,
GO MOUNTAINEERS!

Secondly, Shrum, Matalin and Carville…and I was enjoying such a wonderful holiday weekend.
Oh well, I could tune out I guess. :-|

my reaction to MTP:
:0=====|

(h/t to twolf for the emotipuke)

burnspbesq @ 79

dakine01 @ 76

Approx 50 minutes into the hour? Cool. I just checked the local station and the Fox news show is on right now so I will keep checking the clock.

I have little use for Ashley, either. Just another bitter UK fan who can’t get past Laettner’s shot. Grow up, UK fans — that was 1992. :-)

*shaking head* We shall never forget how Laetner stomped our hearts after he stomped on one of our players, dirty player that he is/was.

Is Zinni implying that if a peace process would take longer than a year, Bush will reject it because the next pres would get credit?

Really, turn on FTN.

Long, important article in NYT on
why young men in North Africa become suicide bombers
in Iraq and Europe.

I guess they just didn’t get the memo from Karen Hughes.

solai @ 89

Really, turn on FTN.

you’re right, thanks!

solai @ 89

Really, turn on FTN.

It’s souring a bit.

Morning all, Mr. ReddHedd got up with The Peanut so I could sleep in today. How’s tricks? And Julie, I thought your gorgeous shot was too lovely to be used with a line-up like this one. But chickadees are cute enough to bring a smile no matter what…

allan_in_upstate @ 85

burnspbesq @ 77

I’m sorry, but I’ve never understood this mind-set. What do you gain by being hateful and vindictive? What happened to “hate the sin, love the sinner,” “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me,” and other similar attitudes?

Can you explain?

I’m not trying to be hateful or vindictive.
I just don’t believe that political journalists, pundits and their editors, having
bought into “the Village” mindset, will ever really let go.
Look at David Broder declaring recently that he doesn’t beieve that there is a place for panty-sniffing coverage of the 2008 race, only to engage a few days later in … panty-sniffing.

There is a long list of people who have proven themselves incapable of objective, reality-based journalism, and I think it’s a waste of time to think that we can “educate” them. I mean, it’s worked so well with Joe Klein, don’t you think?

OK, That’s fine. I’ve never quite understood why progressives expect for-profit corporations to engage in “objective, reality-based journalism” absent any evidence that that’s a winning business strategy, but that’s just silly ol’me …

kdh22 — Thanks, much. It was quite a game yesterday. Boo yah! But we’ve got the Backyard Brawl with Pitt next week — and that one is never a gimme. It’s always an all out battle, and they will want to be the spoilers no matter what — and we’ll want to grind them into the turf.

I heard someone say once that no matter how good the season is, if we lose to Pitt it’s never good enough. And it’s true. Huge rivalry, and it will be a great game next week. Can’t wait!

Newtonusr, thanks for posting Jane Hamsher’s stint on C-SPAN. She really knows her stuff, and has the perfect demeanor for dealing with extreme right-wingers. She is a truly impressive speaker. My own public speaking style is similar to hers–casual yet precise–and I know how difficult it is to do well.

In regard to right-wingers, one of the things I found very interesting, having never really listened to a call-in political TV or radio show before, is that it was obvious within just one or two words whether a caller was Republican or Democrat. The Republican voices were so stressed and angry.

For those who listen to these kind of shows, is this because they were calling in to ask questions of a progressive Democrat, or would they have sounded that way even if there were a right-wing guest?

OMG! Matalin really did used to look human, from that 10yo clip. Personally, I think it’s purely the hate she peddles manifest on her face.

(Big shudder)

George Simian @ 51

You guys want to talk about all this “good news” coming out of Iraq, and how this is “bad news” for the Democrats? This seems to be the headline of the week in both the NYT and WaPo.

If the Democrats don’t get in front of this absolute bullshit talking point, it’s going to be very damaging.

Any suggestions?

Don’t judge the success of the surge by a few weeks or a few months.
I recall that was precisely what Petraeus was saying back in February and March.

The same applies now, too. But if the “surge” actually does work it means we should begin a timetable to withdraw. Let the Iraqi’s handle it. Sadly it wasn’t done earlier. We might have saved 1000’s of US soldiers and tens of thousands of Iraqi lives.

If, however, the surge fails, we should withdraw, as the surge was the last chance. There is no reason to RE-SURGE as the Surge was a failed strategy.

PhysioProf @ 96

Newtonusr, thanks for posting Jane Hamsher’s stint on C-SPAN. She really knows her stuff, and has the perfect demeanor for dealing with extreme right-wingers. She is a truly impressive speaker. My own public speaking style is similar to hers–casual yet precise–and I know how difficult it is to do well.

In regard to right-wingers, one of the things I found very interesting, having never really listened to a call-in political TV or radio show before, is that it was obvious within just one or two words whether a caller was Republican or Democrat. The Republican voices were so stressed and angry.

For those who listen to these kind of shows, is this because they were calling in to ask questions of a progressive Democrat, or would they have sounded that way even if there were a right-wing guest?

I’ve watched Washington Journal for a number of years (previously before leaving for work). I think the stressed/nasty tone tends to be with callers who hold viewpoints opposite those of the guest. However, I do think that there are some really hardened, hateful old conservatives, like the guy who called Jane from Canyon Lake, Tx., who sound that way whoever they talk to. I think it hating somebody is a part of the reason they are conservatives.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 95

kdh22 — Thanks, much. It was quite a game yesterday. Boo yah! But we’ve got the Backyard Brawl with Pitt next week — and that one is never a gimme. It’s always an all out battle, and they will want to be the spoilers no matter what — and we’ll want to grind them into the turf.

I heard someone say once that no matter how good the season is, if we lose to Pitt it’s never good enough. And it’s true. Huge rivalry, and it will be a great game next week. Can’t wait!

Rivalry matches in college football are fun!!!

I find myself, this time of year, holed up in my cave, wrapped up in a blanket, TV remote in one hand, coffee in the other, cheering an an American institution with abandon.

VT/Virginia was a great game too. I waited impatiently all day to watch MO/KS. What a game! Yesterday was a good day!

Oh yeah, WV MUST beat Pitt or all is lost! :)

Have a great day all!

hating somebody is a part of the reason they are conservatives.

This is the reason I rejected Rs, even from when I was little. Can’t stand the hate.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 92

Morning all, Mr. ReddHedd got up with The Peanut so I could sleep in today. How’s tricks? And Julie, I thought your gorgeous shot was too lovely to be used with a line-up like this one. But chickadees are cute enough to bring a smile no matter what…

I totally get that. I’ve had lots of good luck with chickadees lately :)

“Gun guys are a bedrock of conservatism.”

-Mary Matalin on MTP

Yes, but maybe not the way she thinks. Many hunters are moving left as they see W’s government giving federal land away to corp rapers. So maybe not ‘conservatism’ but perhaps ‘conservationism.’

burnspbesq @ 77

I’m sorry, but I’ve never understood this mind-set. What do you gain by being hateful and vindictive? What happened to “hate the sin, love the sinner,” “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me,” and other similar attitudes?

Can you explain?

P.S. Matthew Yglesias seems to agree with you.
So, you’re in good company. Peace.

eCAHNomics @ 101

hating somebody is a part of the reason they are conservatives.

This is the reason I rejected Rs, even from when I was little. Can’t stand the hate.

I used to feel that the right wing tendencies of one of the Washington Journal hosts showed through in facial expression and the questions he asked. He is much better now, and I’ve often wondered if it was partially due to the vicious accusations he got of being liberal from some of the right wing neanderthal (no offense to neanderthals intended) caller.

pma @ 99

PhysioProf @ 96

For those who listen to these kind of shows, is this because they were calling in to ask questions of a progressive Democrat, or would they have sounded that way even if there were a right-wing guest?

I’ve watched Washington Journal for a number of years (previously before leaving for work). I think the stressed/nasty tone tends to be with callers who hold viewpoints opposite those of the guest. However, I do think that there are some really hardened, hateful old conservatives, like the guy who called Jane from Canyon Lake, Tx., who sound that way whoever they talk to. I think it hating somebody is a part of the reason they are conservatives.

That guy did sound out of his mind. Every time he said the word “Clinton”, I could picture the veins throbbing on his temple. What are these people going to do if Hillary Clinton is elected President?

right wing tendencies of one of the Washington Journal hosts

Which one?

PhysioProf @ 106

pma @ 99

I’ve watched Washington Journal for a number of years (previously before leaving for work). I think the stressed/nasty tone tends to be with callers who hold viewpoints opposite those of the guest. However, I do think that there are some really hardened, hateful old conservatives, like the guy who called Jane from Canyon Lake, Tx., who sound that way whoever they talk to. I think it hating somebody is a part of the reason they are conservatives.

That guy did sound out of his mind. Every time he said the word “Clinton”, I could picture the veins throbbing on his temple. What are these people going to do if Hillary Clinton is elected President?

Yeah. A typical comment would be something like: “Why do all of you left wing followers of that traitorous, low-life, scumbag Bill Clinton hate and refuse to give due respect to our President. He’s a Godfearing man who’s doing his best to protect you in your sleep.”

solai @ 88

Is Zinni implying that if a peace process would take longer than a year, Bush will reject it because the next pres would get credit?

They would no more do that than allow American soldiers to be held hostage longer so a Republican president could take credit for their release.

What are these people going to do if Hillary Clinton is elected President?

Don’t know exactly – but being able to sit back and watch it happen, and the fun therein, is the only reason I can think of to vote for her.

Sad news. Congresswoman Julie Carson of Indianapolis has announced that she has terminal lung cancer.

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/PO…..eref=yahoo

Representing the Hoosier State’s 7th District since 1997, Carson opposed the Iraq war resolution in 2002 and worked to honor historic civil rights figure Rosa Parks. Fellow Democrats praised her as a bright personality who successfully fought against abuse of the welfare system.

Let’s pray she and her doctors somehow defeat this monster.

Local gooper rag is “Surge is workin – we’re winnin the war” from beginning to end….with “cowardly dems wanted to keep us from this victory” as a strong undertone. Hints of cassis and blackberry linger.

Don’t know where the “war” is headed, but the casualty rates are fallin rapidly. If they stay down through the election- it could turn the war into slightly more positive issue for the goops.

Re Mark Halperin’s op-ed, I don’t think it is what it purports to be. I think it is an indirect attack on Hillary.

Halperin’s theme supposedly is that good campaigners don’t make good Presidents. So what examples does he give? Bill Clinton and George Bush.

This is your typical false comparison that MSM types love to use. Look how Clinton is described:

For instance, being all things to all people worked wonderfully well for Bill Clinton the candidate, but when his presidency ran into trouble, this trait was disastrous, particularly in the bumpy early years of his presidency and in the events leading up to his impeachment. The fun-loving campaigner with big appetites and an undisciplined manner squandered a good deal of the majesty and power of the presidency, and undermined his effectiveness as a leader. What much of the country found endearing in a candidate was troubling in a president.

As for Bush:

When George W. Bush ran in 2000, many voters liked his straightforward, uncomplicated mean-what-I-say-and-say-what-I-mean certainty. He came across as a man of principle who did not lust for the White House; he was surrounded by disciplined loyalists who created a cheerful cult of personality about their candidate.

As with Mr. Clinton, though, the very campaign strengths that got Mr. Bush elected led to his worst moments in office. Assuredness became stubbornness. His lack of lifelong ambition for the presidency translated into a failure to apply himself to the parts of the job that held less interest for him, often to disastrous effects. The once-appealing life outside of government and public affairs became a far-less appealing lack of experience. And Mr. Bush’s close-knit team has served as a barrier to fresh advice.

So Bill Clinton is undisciplined and Bush gosh darn it never really wanted to be President. Apparently it just fell on him when he was clearing brush.

But more than this, what Halperin is doing is equating Bush’s Presidency, the worst in our history, with Bill Clinton’s which is usually considered a fairly successful one.

Finally, I agree with those who have commented above: How come Halperin who is supposed to be a top political analyst is only coming to a “realization” that most of us have known for years if not decades?

Mauimom @ 48

RevDeb @ 23

Good morning all.

This afternoon it is off to the Barnes Foundation, private museum with what we hear is an amazing collection. Really looking forward to it.

As for the morning line-up on my one Sunday off, I think I’ll pass.

The Barnes Foundation collection is phenomenal, although they way they are forced to hang/display it detracts. The collection toured a number of years ago, and I saw it. You’re so lucky!! Enjoy.

the Barnes Collection toured Europe. i saw it in Munich.
Matisse’s “Joie de vivre” hadn’t been seen in Europe in over 80 years.
people were mesmerized.

fahrender @ 115

Mauimom @ 48

The Barnes Foundation collection is phenomenal, although they way they are forced to hang/display it detracts. The collection toured a number of years ago, and I saw it. You’re so lucky!! Enjoy.

the Barnes Collection toured Europe. i saw it in Munich.
Matisse’s “Joie de vivre” hadn’t been seen in Europe in over 80 years.
people were mesmerized.

The Barnes collection is actually moving to a new location:
The foundation says that by moving its collection of 181 Renoirs, 69 Cezannes, 60 Matisses, 44 Picassos and other works to a museum near the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Rodin Museum that 200,000 or more people could see it each year.

What much of the country found endearing in a candidate was troubling in a president.

I know I found eight years of rising prosperity and peace to be troubling.

Watched ABC’s This Week and was pleased to see Bill Richardson point out, as a counter to “the surge is working!!!” crapola, that violence dropped 90% in Basra when the Brits pulled out in September and has stayed dropped.

ironranger @ 49

We watched a couple of dvd’s yesterday that had my husband & I looking at each other saying more than once ’sounds very familiar’.
1st one was “Ellis Island” by History Channel. Anti immigrant attitudes in the past are pretty much the same as the present: Immigrants taking american jobs & hostility toward immigrants in war times.
2nd one was “Fire and Ice, The Winter War of Finland and Russia”. The Soviets planned to take over Finland in the 1930’s thinking it would be a cakewalk lasting only a matter of days. The Soviets were extremely confident of this believing the Finnish people would welcome them. The troops even brought their dress uniforms along. One statement either by a historian or Finnish general about Soviet ideology trumping facts was eerie. “Fire and Ice” is a fascinating documentary. I highly recommend it.
Humans, especially those in power, are highly resistant to learning from the past.

Hitler had the menu for the victory banquet at a hotel in Leningrad printed too. i saw a copy of it when i was there in 1993.

rwcole @ 113

Don’t know where the “war” is headed, but the casualty rates are fallin rapidly. If they stay down through the election- it could turn the war into slightly more positive issue for the goops.

It really is great the casualty rates have fallen.

They will fall even more when we pull out.

We can most likely credit the sad fact that hundreds of thousands have left the area and/or been killed; there’s simply less people around to target.

As for this becoming a gooper positive, remember even a stopped clock is correct twice a day.

Fresh thread, up and running for everyone…

rwcole @ 113

Don’t know where the “war” is headed, but the casualty rates are fallin rapidly. If they stay down through the election- it could turn the war into slightly more positive issue for the goops.

This is standard bait and switch. The goal of the surge was not to reduce casualties. That was actually the goal of the previous strategy of Generals Casey and Abizaid who wished to reduce troop numbers and concentrate US forces on a few large and more defendable super-bases. The goal of the surge was to facilitate a political settlement. It was to do this by securing Baghdad not Anbar, and supporting the majority Shia not the Sunnis.

None of this happened. The Sunni truce in Anbar was happening before the surge began. It was not our success against al Qaeda in Iraq but Sunnis tribal sheiks turning on them that has reduced suicide bombings. Baghdad is quieter because it has been effectively ethnically cleansed. Our casualties are also down because the US military is running fewer big sweeps in which many Americans were getting killed.

I don’t doubt that this is the story that Republicans and Bush will try to be selling but it is important to remember that it is a narrative constructed, not on facts, but for a political purpose.

Hugh

What will matter on election day is general perception.

I really don’t understand what’s goin on in Anbar- some see it as a suckering move- I don’t know. The US seems to have moved a bit to a more pro sunni position- what the long termm effect of that will be will be interesting.

Hugh @ 122

rwcole @ 113

Don’t know where the “war” is headed, but the casualty rates are fallin rapidly. If they stay down through the election- it could turn the war into slightly more positive issue for the goops.

This is standard bait and switch. The goal of the surge was not to reduce casualties. That was actually the goal of the previous strategy of Generals Casey and Abizaid who wished to reduce troop numbers and concentrate US forces on a few large and more defendable super-bases. The goal of the surge was to facilitate a political settlement. It was to do this by securing Baghdad not Anbar, and supporting the majority Shia not the Sunnis.

None of this happened. The Sunni truce in Anbar was happening before the surge began. It was not our success against al Qaeda in Iraq but Sunnis tribal sheiks turning on them that has reduced suicide bombings. Baghdad is quieter because it has been effectively ethnically cleansed. Our casualties are also down because the US military is running fewer big sweeps in which many Americans were getting killed.

I don’t doubt that this is the story that Republicans and Bush will try to be selling but it is important to remember that it is a narrative constructed, not on facts, but for a political purpose.

This is why I’m glad that Bill Richardson on ABC’s This Week brought up the fact that violence dropped 90% in Basra after the Brits left. Troops leave, violence drops.

Hugh @ 114

Re Mark Halperin’s op-ed, I don’t think it is what it purports to be. I think it is an indirect attack on Hillary.

Halperin’s theme supposedly is that good campaigners don’t make good Presidents. So what examples does he give? Bill Clinton and George Bush.

This is your typical false comparison that MSM types love to use. Look how Clinton is described:

For instance, being all things to all people worked wonderfully well for Bill Clinton the candidate, but when his presidency ran into trouble, this trait was disastrous…

As for Bush:

When George W. Bush ran in 2000, many voters liked his straightforward, uncomplicated mean-what-I-say-and-say-what-I-mean certainty. He came across as a man of principle who did not lust for the White House…
As with Mr. Clinton, though, the very campaign strengths that got Mr. Bush elected led to his worst moments in office. Assuredness became stubbornness..

But more than this, what Halperin is doing is equating Bush’s Presidency, the worst in our history, with Bill Clinton’s which is usually considered a fairly successful one.

And in fact the two characteristics that he says resulted in failure are direct opposites. He says Clinton should have been a less flexible and more of a stubborn idealogue, while Bush was doomed by not being more flexible and not so stubborn.

Amazing that Halperin can suggest two opposite things and conceal it in a pile of verbiage.