Zed?

good zedding, eCAHN

hiya suzanne!

Hey Gals!

Hiya Suzanne!

EPU’d:

I’m sitting here, wearing my new plaid jammies (with pockets), nibbling on my christmas ham (courtesy of my brother) and truffles from the chocolate hippies, listening to KPIG playing all kinda wacky Christmas tunes commercial free, and listening to Token snore after he had his share of ham and lamb tonight.

The feeling I am enjoying most tonight is the feeling of progress having been made this past year. We’ve done lots of good this year pups, and I’m dayam proud of all of you.

Evening Suzanne! Hope you had a Merry Christmas today.

Hey cassie – told ya there would be a Late Nite tonight :)

Welcome into my home by the fireplace, Suzanne.

Suz, I was just about to say that you EPU’ed yourself *g*

Dr (pause) Dick, I did and hope yours was extra special.

SUZ! eCAHNomics! SnarkKassandra!

and so this is Christmas
and look what we’ve done
another year over
a new world just begun…

Coming Soon:

The Awakening

Good night all.

how was everyones’s day today? didja get what you wanted from santa?

NPB!
Merry, Merry!

Niters AT.

hi ms npb!

thanks – i’ve been a bad girl and have not gotten more wood so no fire going tonight.

Happy holidays to everyone. Time for this tired pup to turn in.

Quiet and peaceful, with a good meal this evening.

Night GW.

Woo-hoo! Wifey-poo and Junior shall be home shortly!!!

how was everyones’s day today?

We had a good day. Our bosses whipped up a killer breakfast for us :-)

g’nite gw

g’night GW, sleep well.

excellent news ct

Hi everyone!

Yay CT, great news!

Hi Margot :-)

Congrats, CT!

Woo-hoo! Wifey-poo and Junior shall be home shortly!!!

I AM SOOOOO GLAD TO HEAR THAT!!! Color me really happy for you and the rest of the family.

Oops, I’ve gotta reheat the din-din… *g*

(laughing) about time the bosses did some work. thanks for working today, LL

Hi LL, you worked today? So does that mean you’re off next year, I hope?

We arrived at my in-laws to stay for two nights, to an unclaimed pair of plaid pjs — after they asked over and over: “are these your pjs?” I just took the darn pair and am wearing them now. All ok now!

Huh? I think I’m missing something here CT.

Christmas greetings, everyone…Margot, CT, eCAHN, suzanne, newton, Cassie, LL, greenwarrior, bigbrother, Christine…it’s snowing in Nebraska, where this SoCal girl is visiting. Beautiful flakes, big and wet and sticky, looking forward to sledding tomorrow with my sprout.

Is it video time yet?? Hoping the waiting will be over in 2008.

Peace to you all.

I almost forgot Dr.(pause)Dick

Margot, we should be off next year (unless they change the shift schedules on us) — the holidays seem to rotate back and forth between us and the other shift. This year our shift only has off New Years’ Eve and Day, and we worked most of the other big ones. Other years our shift is the lucky one ;-)

Hi Mommybrain! Enjoy that sledding tomorrow, that should be fun :-)

snow (big sigh)
i opened up my video stash downstairs mommybrain in case you did not see it.

Oops, my linky didn’t transfer from EPUville.

((((((Mommybrain !)))))) Are you anywhere near Rushville, NE or Lead in the Black Hills?

Peace to you dear Mommybrain — we WILL have a good year ahead!!!
Christine

night y’all

Mommybrain!
NE? brrrrrr

Leonard Cohen is teh cool.

g’nite cassie

G’night Cassie, sleep tight.

Night Cassie.

nite cassie!

Bye all,
Love you all and see you tomorrow! Merry Christmas.
Chris

((((newspaperbrat))))

I’m in Kearney, in the southern part of NE, 3 hours west of Omaha. Looks like rushville in farther north than us.

I heard there were Santa Ana’s back home today, 102 mph winds. Hmmm, hot hurricane winds or snow, which to choose?

*contented sigh* I am full again

g’nite chris e

Niters – always a treat to see YOU!

G’night Chris, enjoy yourself in PA :-)

Huh? I think I’m missing something here CT.

My son had Grand Mal seizures, frothing at the mouth even, they’re home, tho… *g*

Night, Christine.

CT, really glad for you that they’re home now.

OMG! I glad to hear that he is all right. That has to have been way scary.

From 9 years old to 88, it was a wonderful Christmas day with the just the perfect dinner (for me)of turkey, dressing, potatoes, dressing, tangerine carrots (not a new kind of carrot),salad, etc. The best was reminiscing about Bush’s speechwriter, Andy Dick?, can’t quite remember, but when a 14 year old brings it up what’s to quibble? We argued a bit about whether the Will Farrell bit as Bush was better. Anyway, I was worried that the evil empire of Bush/Cheney would pull something hideous while we were all celebrating.

Recommend you stay right where you are til the Santa Ana’s blow themselves out. You’re much braver than the old brat – am waiting for spring to do research in Rushville.

LL, I concurr. Saw him in LA a few years back, he was the epitome of cool.

He Who Must be Obeyed (my Sprout) is moping around, waiting to watch his new Grinch movie on my computer. I bid you all a fond adieu for now.

CT, blessings on you and your son. I don’t know what I’d do if that happened to mine. Namaste.

that salad sounds yummy, carmen.

g’nite mmb, enjoy the grinch

Night MommyB

npb, what kind of research in Rushville? Are you panning for gold?

nite mommy! bundle up!

g’night Mommybrain, have fun playing in the snow tomorrow :-)

Maybe you can find a better doctor. Having a Gran Mal is like running a marathon it is exhausting. Take good care of him and get a lot of rest. Maybe some alternative medicine will aid in his recovery not to say no traditional. Never is a good time for serious illness but if was not kept in the hospital the prognosis must be favorable. Hope that is the lst one for him.

Here’s some more Leonard — Hallelujah

I’m going to call it a night. Take care and Merry Christmas to all.

Good evening dear friends.

I have to relay this; my son was relaying his displeasure by pulling and yanking on every possible tube, telling my wife, all the while; …’like this’… I was rolling, thinking, I taught him well… *g*

‘nite DrD, and hello Betsy :-)

nite doc
evening betsy

Suzanne, here’ the recipe for the tangerine carrots. The salad was separate, but the carrots were delicious.

http://find.myrecipes.com/reci…..id=1687668

CT, how old is your son?

g’nite dr (hugs) dick and waving to tex
thanks carmen

Thirteen, LL!

Gosh CT, he’s dealt with a lot already at 13. Blessings to him, and all of you!

Another addition to my 20 minute long Favorites list. Those sound wonderful!

Hay ya’ll! The kiddiewinks are on their way back to the bay area and
Ron and I are fat and sassy. Tired, too. Hope everyone had a merry, merry whatever.

santa left some chocolate presents for y’all, and left himself as well.

Thanx, LL! He’s a stubborn old cuss… ;-)

hellooooo, mary

ho ho ho mary mcc – hoping you had a clown free day

those look yummy tex. thanks

oh, and i think i see his sleigh!

Here are the two candidates for Bush parodies: Andy Dick and Will Ferrell, which one is better? I think they are both excellent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_RSQSYgGB4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkqrI3IibYI

Newtonusr,

What did Santa bring you?

Researching public and private sources for my biography of a great yet sorely neglected American artist born in Rushville and raised in Lead, SD. Very close to finishing the book – late summer I hope! Check him out sometime at http://www.stowitts.org.

Maybe I’m a blasphemer, but I like this version of Hallelujah just a silly millimeter more.

oh, that is a tough choice

Thanx, BB, I’m always looking at any and all options, I’m sorely disappointed at this juncture, but, it shall be rectified… I’m one that doesn’t go away quietly… *g*

Books I am dying to read, and music I know nothing about… yet. And peace.
And very little time on the freeway, which for me, is rare on the 25th.
You?

Hey newtonuser – great to see ya! What books are you gonna read when you find time?

I had a great day with my two girls, their boyfriends and Ron. We have very calm celebrations at this time of year. Presents are very background and food is in the forefront. We had chicken, andouille, and shrimp gumbo and mucho good wine. We strengthened our mojos. We are witches. :)

newspaperbrat!!

A different kind of Hallelujah

…andouille, and shrimp gumbo…

Ooh, I’m sooo drooling… ;-)

Were Iowans to get a glimpse of the fact that Huckabee is a fraud, his candidacy would immediately collapse. (I grew up there.)

but not reaaly in response to npb

Blackwater by Scahill
The Fall of the House of Bush by Unger
Boom by Brokaw

Wow, the Roches! Fantastic!

nice reading list, newton

The Conscience of a Liberal by Paul Krugman

The Sixties: Years of Hope & Days of Rage by Todd Gittlin

I’m still only up to 10 in the Stephanie Plums

Christmas train is pulling out. Help yourselves to goodies!

I can’t say I’m a practicing Christian, but I really enjoyed The Nativity Story , which my SIL brought to watch last night. Mary was played by the actress who was the lead in Whale Rider a few years back.

I thought it would be cheezy….instead it was moving.

just the train or are you heading out too?

For you Messiah fans out there — not the Hallelujah Chorus, but imo something better. My favorite movement from the Messiah: The Trumpet Shall Sound

oh just the train.

Mele Kalikimaka, Ya’ll! Aloha Oe!!!

Mele Kalikimaka back at ya, CT!

“Maybe next time we just open the door and start out with some bitch slapping.”
Lula – Three to Get Deadly

I haven’t read any Janet Evanovitch, but I must say that we didn’t start out with any bitch slapping tonight and I’ve enjoyed our exchange with tangerine carrots and Bush parodies. Merry Christmas.

yummm choooo yummm choooo yummm choooo yummm choooo

http://www.craigunger.com/the-book/
The reviews are interesting. Sounds like you are to be among the best informed. Happy we are free enough still to read this, a good omen.

carmen, those books are one of my weaknesses. sharp writing, witty characters who have varying degrees of wackyness – kinda like my own family (laughing)

g’nite ct and enjoy the rest of your holiday with your family

Happy we are free enough still to read this, a good omen.

Here here.

I’ll try them. And good night and a Merry Christmas to all. This is just the end of the first day of Christmas. We have 11 more to go.

Think I am going to get some sleep as well. It’s tiring having kids home from school all week.

Fwiw: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hear_hear

just wanted to say hi

ll days more of Christmas to celebrate.

And I’m right behind Carmen and Betsy. Good night all.

Argos, hi :-)

nite betsy. the home-siege will be over soon.

Niters carmen and ct & all other wise & sleepy xmas firepups!

hello and goodbye argos. have a present or two. night LL

Hi LL

argos!
Nice to hear from you today!

g’nite carmen
pain free sleep wishes tex

Aw well thanks

g’nite ll

feeling better argo?

Can’t wait to read this book. From the review you linked to:

and the Christian Right’s disengagement from formal national politics after the embarrassment of the Scopes Monkey Trial.

Hmmm. We need another Scopes Monkey trial type deal…

Argos, namaste and merry christmas.

namaste and all the best

“preemptive war”
This description was in the review of the Fall of the House of Bush. Drives me to distraction. Preemptive war gives what we have done in the middle east a slight ring of validity. There is no preemptive about it. It is pure aggression without reason.

Hmmm. We need another Scopes Monkey trial type deal…

We would have one it Nancy would take impeachment off of the table.

Well yes it was, aggression, but unleashed power does run wild. Or no.

I want nancy to walk into her office and find one of The Freeway Blogger’s IMPEACH signs on her table.

Oh leave the monkey’s along, how many small ideas have the had to carry the banner for.

that should be “alone”

“preemptive war”
This description was in the review of the Fall of the House of Bush. Drives me to distraction. Preemptive war gives what we have done in the middle east a slight ring of validity. There is no preemptive about it. It is pure aggression without reason.

At this point, it’s hard to tell who is speaking in bad faith, and who has just relented to the “common usage” of the drumbeat of terms that we have been bombarded with.
I would not offer a cop-out, but there’s a fine line now between what we “call” things, and what they really are.
The Goopers are traitors and thieves, but they have been masterful at capturing the dialog. And fuck them all for it.

Thanks for the fabulous music video link at 99!

but in urban settings you might wish they would move along and leave you alone.

So, has Ungar been a guest at FDL’s Book Salon?

Yes and it is precedent setting to legalize “preemptive strikes” no wonder so many seek impeachment.

To Chimpy for Pelosi.

It seems that we are all detached for reporting and all is in question. Or so it seems, but not all facts are written on flash paper. But in trying to explain my online take to MSM types I do find myself walking into y2k style arguments and that un-nerves me.

How is that?

sorry I do wish I could speak not write, but no thats not an idea to press forward with.

sorry the reporting seems to have no memory of recent events. And the analysis has so little depth

argos, it took me a full month to recover from all the hospital meds from my total knee replacement surgery and i could think clearly again.

It seems that we are all detached for reporting and all is in question. Or so it seems, but not all facts are written on flash paper. But in trying to explain my online take to MSM types I do find myself walking into y2k style arguments and that un-nerves me.

I keep saying war, and biting the word back. And in my mind, I know damn well that the entire intelligence firmament has been subsumed to serve the war-makers and to deny the world as it really is. I even rationalize speaking with respect about the office of the President, when in fact, it has been converted into an enormous profit center, and I have very little confidence that whoever takes over in 2009 will get out the pen and sign 1000 executive orders to overturn what has happened.

But I have you guys, and that’s pretty darn good.

I spent a few hours talking to someone in LA and had a hard time expressing what I see online

Merry Christmas Suzanne and all you FDL’ers still out there.

We had a wonderful day. The 7 y.o. came down at 4:30 am, we said “no way, go back to sleep,” which she luckily did til 7:15. Coffee, make a fire, presents, breakfast, playing with the new stuff, nap, over to friends for dinner and fun. And then it snowed. We couldn’t drive up our hill which made for a brisk, slippery walk at 10:30.

Mele Kalikimaka (as I think of warm sunny beaches).

Well it maybe, and its just the last few hundred years I have been living with that shakes me. And yes history is just words, but when you do the archaeology it makes you feel you catch some thing others miss

I find it much harder talking to my mom, who does not read the blogs and uses the internet for pretty much just to check her email. She only knows what she sees on the teevee. Here, I can say something about KO’s special comment and everyone knows what i’m talking about. My mom’s only response to seeing a KO comment was “he seems to not like bush very much”.

hey rat – sounds like a great day! no snow here :(

It makes me wish we could expose these ideas, but not scare them.

It really takes the kind of lawyers (and constitutional)that EW has engaged. Addington et al have weaved a complex web of legal manuevers to pull off the goals of the neocons. It not only looks fishy to the uninformed that is reflected by the political polls, it seems extremely illegal but on the edge. I like how Mary over at EW has disected the legal parsing. At best the administration is looking horrid at least that is what they are hopimg for.

A old California boy looking to snow, now thats a thing my desert rat friends can’t rap their heads around

U.S. Chief Prosecutor at Nuremberg Ben Ferencz has been very clear that unprovoked wars are “wars of aggression,” which are the worst of crimes against humanity.

so a late night idea how do you decode intent from PR label.

I would guess this known, how did it disappear from the common cultural tradition.

Bless your informed head Wigwam that is indeed an informative addition to the dialogue! Like the putch through Eastern Europe by the Nazi German Reich. In an historical paralell has USA done what we had condemned and armed to stop them. And could not the military use of force in the Middle East escalate in a similar manner. Risky business that the administration has no right to enter in.

Ahh well its late, and there is time enough for harder thoughts. It was said by Mark Twain “never hit your sister with any thing harder than a cat.” which always made me think who would think the less of you over the longest period of time.

My father warned me that this would come. I wish he were alive today to share my concern and horror at its coming to pass. It’s an apocolyptic struggle, and there’s only us and those who share our concern. But, that’s not to dispare. Those who see it are extremely eloquent and are getting to be very well organized. Moreover, if I am to believe the polls, there seems to be a fundamental insight in the American electorate, a gut level sense that the swill they are being fed by the MSM is truly contaminated.

There seems to be hope in the wisdom of the rank-and-file. It is we who must nurture it.

The 9/11 attack and the resulting fearmongering (and warmongering)
made people swallow a big lie: That anything is worth it if it makes us feel safer.
Anything.
A doctor I worked with at the time was just fine with all kinds of civil liberties being suspended, if it made us feel safer. I said, “How long should we give up our civil liberties?” He said,”Well, they didn’t give us any notice when they hit us. So it may be a very long time.” In other words, let’s give them up for good, just in case.

I have heard in many voices what you say, yet when put in plain words, I feel like its a time and place in one of those dis-topian Sic-Fi stories. And that the bug to me some of this came true and now I feel I’m in a sea of percived fiction

Let’s see, the run up to the invasion of a already contained foreign state. The movement of large amount of troops and military fire power including but not limited to the whole 5th fleet, the AUMF and the very loud threats against Iran which has Russia and China allying with Iran in defense of the Caspian Sea area and the oil which Halliburton is now positioned harvest. And the Northern Kurdish fields which the Texas Hunt family has contracted for. All of which gives a clear reason for US boots on the ground. If I was a goof writer which I am not I would write a book about the history big… oil cause it’s one two three four that’s waht were fighting for.

Oops mispelling pardon me.

Well I watched things change in places I can not name. I all ways wondered what was up. And now wonder why do I question somethings in terms of geo-political thought of some 300 or more years ago and still find room for modern technological tech, and econonic ideas

bigbrother, the spelling police are not down here in the comments… otherwise, i’d be in major trouble :) the spellchecker here at the lake is not working yet (its on the list). luckily, the firefox browser has a built in spell checker that i use

walk back to the 15th and 16th century

Yes firefox has saved my spelling bacon more than once. It’s my brain that fails to translate my thoughts two something other than random letters.

Hear, hear, for our lawyers over at TNH with Bmaz just brilliant recently on the legal cover for the torture tapes, which he (I think a he) shredded.

They are not alone: Talk Left does it in easy-to-comprehend-headline stories and Balkinization in longer essays.

The there is Glenzilla, in a class of his own.

That said, Looseheadprop and Christy have taught us a lot at the Lake.

Except in the homes of Don Siegelman and Paul Minor, Democratic political prisoners, while many are walking around scott free who should not, there are more this year who are currently considering their options, some with their defense lawyers than last. Their names, well “Senator, I can’t recall.” But TPM has a nice long list of those who have been naughty and caught.

So hear hear again to the lawyers and legal journalists and law explainers of the blogosphere. Consider the number of houses where the first prayer of thanks is ‘not indicted yet’ or ‘only under investigation’ or ‘only 2 years till dad returns’ or ‘the pardons are only 12 months away’, for lo, it is surely true that the majority of them are Republican. Come to think of it, the permanent majority and the Patriot Act USA nominations to them. it was also denied.

And with that, in the early am BlueState, to all a good night.

g’nite BSRH

to them [comma],it was also denied. sorry. ‘nite Suzanne.

I yield to the Blue state redhead, but redhead girls do disarm me, but any one with a good idea does

I hear you. Perhaps the distopian sci-fi was “The Space Merchants” by Kornbluth and Pohl, one of my favorites, which I think captures the essence of what we’re are living today.

I’d like to cite Ben Ferencz’s letter of alarm from February 2001, seven months before 9/11:

Thanks to all of you who have disseminated information that should sound the alarm regarding a new threat designed to abort the establishment of an international criminal court I refer to House Concurrent Resolution 23, submitted by Republican Representative Ron Paul of Texas and colleagues on Feb. 8, 2001. (He was the only member of Congress who voted against House Res. 34 on Feb, 13, 2001, calling for peace in the Middle East.)

H.C.R. 23 expresses “the sense of Congress that President George W. Bush should declare to all nations that the United States does not intend to assent to or ratify the International Criminal Court Treaty… and the signature of President Clinton to that treaty should not be construed otherwise.” . An organization called “The Liberty Committee” (boasting that it has some 50,000 members representing every district in the USA) has launched a nationwide campaign and has reported that some 20,000 people have already signed their petition to President Bush to rescind the signature to the treaty authorized by President Clinton on Dec. 31, 2000. The Resolution has been referred to the House Committee led by Representative Hyde who is reported to have denounced the treaty as “an assault on our sovereignty.”

Everyone, of course, is entitled to express their own views regarding the court. But it should be cause for grave concern to see the Petition of “The Liberty Committee”, displaying the American flag and the heading AMERICAN JUSTICE FOR AMERICANS, list on their website a host of press releases and articles, editorial and position papers denouncing the court for reasons that are palpably false and misleading. This is part of a well organized attempt to frighten and stampede the American public into believing that the new court would pose a threat to the United States, its military personnel and all its citizens . The arguments and goals are similar to those made in connection with the pending U.S. Servicemembers Protection Act introduced by Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina, the most outspoken critic of the Court.

The bottom line is that Ron Paul, who I believe has injected major elements of sanity into an insane presidential campaign, was one of those who has sought to place American fascists, e.g., George W. Bush, beyond the reach of the International Criminal Court. He and his ally Jesse Helms did indeed succeed in securing the passage of the American Service-members Protection Act, aka, the Hague Invasion Act:

The amendment is intended to weaken the position of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. It authorizes the President to use “all means necessary and appropriate to bring about the release of any [US or allied personnel] being detained or imprisoned by, on behalf of, or at the request of the International Criminal Court”. This has led opponents of the act to call it The Hague Invasion Act.[1][2]

The Act prohibits federal, state and local governments and agencies (including courts and law enforcement agencies) from assisting the Court. For example, it prohibits the extradition of any person from the United States to the Court; it prohibits the transfer of classified national security information and law enforcement information to the Court; and it prohibits agents of the Court from conducting investigations in the United States.

The Act also prohibits U.S. military aid to countries that are party to the Court. However, exceptions are allowed for aid to NATO members, major non-NATO allies, Taiwan, and countries which have entered into “Article 98 agreements”, agreeing not to hand over U.S. nationals to the Court. Furthermore, the President may waive this prohibition where he determines that to do so is “important to the national interest of the United States”.

Well now having made a fool of myself over many times zones, And can only wonder that by creating a distortion wave of scandles both large and small. It like counter measures in any thing else, distort and distract. But one wonders then they come for you.

was it the read hair (that’s the original typo and a sign it’s time to sign off)
I mean the red hair or the good ideas you read.

I hope the latter, and not only mine.

At least one person thinks our ideas make a difference. My child who lives in China thinks that the best thing I have done this year is enter to the blogosphere. She expects that when she returns from her stint in a dictatorship another one will not be waiting for her because of us.
She has alot of faith in her mother’s ability to turn the tides. First time she left for an extended stay in China, I delivered a Red Sox World Series.

((((all)))) and I would not be Blueish if I did not add (((Sox)).

You and I have only to speak truth. It has to replenish itself, to recruit, to indoctrinate, to inculcate. Serious and worrisome tasks, each of them.

((all)) and especially ((Argosfalcon))

cool handle, steep in ancient and medieval references. I like it. and now permanently, irrevocably, good night.

nite bluestate

well its rare someone knows part of my handle

shoot, double button pushing. one more apology and I am out of here. That was a George the firstism. one more apology and I am sleeeping. (Some might say I have been for the last 10 comments.

now the 50,000 year old man pokes through

This is the first Christmas in fifteen years I didn’t play in or conduct Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride.” I played in less Christmas music concerts than any of the past 20 years. I didn’t miss it, either. Some years, I’ve played in four or more Christmas concerts a week from the beginning of December to now.

gentle person not in life I think

waving to et.. i got a new weather station this year from santa (aka my oldest)

I have tried to see the world as any number of 17th 18th century folk over the last 20 years,this is the first stuck so far inland.

did the oldest help set it up?

Well if your to the west of my lonely out post drop me a line

The core of the story walks back to the 1550’s and the great song and dance begins

nope, its not a fancy smancy one that is like those over at weather undergrand but it does remotely measure rain and temps outside and in and has a temperature alarm i can set.

three months to china 9 months home

I have on that tells me the temp. as it sees it on the front landing, and it lies.

I have got to go the doctor will fill in the blank all my love and best wishes

nite argos

g’nite argos

OT: The Huckster may yet crash and burn in the Tall Corn State: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..ecided-gop

Would he be the heir apparent to the bushco neocon dictatorship established in 2000?

…a little bit of an astrological weather change coming with Venus moving into the fire sign Sagitarius on monday the 30th to pep up the desire nature and Mars retrograding right back out of Cancer the Crab and into zany party loving Gemini in time for a New Years Eve frolic…kiss the water signs goodbye and all the murkiness that goes with them – at least for a short spell.

I hope huckster is not the nominee.

hey spidey

(((((((newtonusr!))))))) Sending you holiday hugs and eternal gratitude for turning me on to iKlear Apple polish and Kloths. ;~)

The neocons inside the beltway seem to be very leery of Huckabee. IMHO, they’ll eventually resurrect St. John McCain. He’s not their idea candidate either, but they feel more comfortable with him.

Remember that a lot of the neocons aren’t christian. Huckabee has tried to appease that faction by praising Reverend Hagee (which woudn’t work for me).

I hope huckster is not the nominee.

The more hidden away from the current bloodbath John McCain stays, the better his shot. Being irrelevant never felt so good to him, I suppose.
And he is the one I fear most.

I fear Huckster as the R nominee but I fear rudy rudy rudy most as pres. i think st mccain still has a few brain cells left that are sane and know right from wrong.

Fear not – the country is sick of bat-shit crazy worn out professional politicians, IMHO.

Hi again, NPB! Hugs and warm wishes right back!
I have tons of them left, and they get replenished in 3 weeks @ MacWorld. So you should have no problem wresting a few dozen more from me when I see you next.
I use them on my glasses, too.

npb, I still have some here you can snag if our next visit is before newton hooks you up.

And he [McCain] is the one I fear most.
reply

Exactly! He:
– is a real veteran war hero.
– apparently stood up to Bush on torture (but not really)
– has many years in the Senate
– has a real record of “bipartisanship” (whatever that means)
IMHO, he’ll be very tough to beat if the Republicans can really coalesce around him.

My cup runneth over – thanks sweet Suz!

we will see that boosh/mccain hug just as we did the boosh/hojo kiss in CT.

IMHO, he’ll be very tough to beat if the Republicans can really coalesce around him.

I fear him less as President than the others, but as an opponent, if he can get his act together wrt the straight talk, he will be very tough in the general.

He makes Obama look like a reed in the wind, and he war-mongers Hillary into submission. If it is Mccain, I can’t see anyone but Edwards beating him.

Exactly!!!

Call me crazy but I think the ReThug party is toast nationally come the 2008 election. I’m surrounded by their deep pocket enablers here on the swanky central coast and can attest to what unhappy campers they are these days…including Murdoch/k?

npb, i hope so.

npb,

Anything can happen between now and November, but short of something stranger than what we’ve seen yet, they are toast – for sure.

about time for me to head off to sleepytimeland. g’nite and I am glad this holiday is over (laughing)

And really, if McCain has affirmatively positioned himself this way, he has been at it for some time. And it’s maybe the nerviest strategy I’ve ever seen. It takes real stuff to allow yourself to be so marginalized that your very candidacy is a running joke, waiting for the months and the snikering to fade, only to reemerge once everyone else is mortally wounded.

It seems more likely that he decided to stay in because he’s bored being a Senator, or as a positioning move to take the second slot. But I wouldn’t underestimate him. Either way, he has fought his way to hell and emerged cleaner than the rest. Amazing.

G’night and thamkd all for sharing your thoughts. Suzanne are you running on a battery? heh

Even On Christmas, Bush Acts The Grinch

Apparently the Bush administration just can’t stop playing grinch with sick and handicapped kids. Now he’s preventing schools from using Medicaid money for getting these kids to school or having Administrators deal with the wall of bureaucracy he’s created to prevent them from getting services.

Apparently id a school or a district hires someone specifically to handle disabled kids medical problems they are not “educational” but crossing the line. ONLY Educational…not MEDICAL…service are supposed to be dealt with by the schools?

Bu..Bu..But Wait! THIS IS MEDICAID! It’s supposed to cover medical issues. The kids are in school most of the daylight hours. The schools are on the front-line in providing services to keep these kids mainstreamed.

But Bush wants the schools to take money used for other kids and apply it to the MEDICAL NEEDS of these kids?
What Bulldada!

Once again he’s trying to cut the budget (and Federal taxes) and place it on the shoulders of local school districts who can ill-afford it

~ especially after the massive cuts they will face in reduced property taxesafter the collapse of the sub-prime bubble
~ especially after the investments by State and County Pension Funds in these Financial Groups who built up a facade of being great investment opportunities.

Of course, maybe all those Faith-Based Groups will pick up some extra cash by picking up the MEDICAID money (and maybe a bit more) by trying a little Benny Hinn-style faith-healing on these students!

IMHO if Edwards can score an upset in Iowa and surges successfully winning the nomination the GOP – as we now know it – could well be toast for at least a generation. My fondest hope is Rahm faces stiff competition and defeat in 2008 as well though we might have to wait for 2010 to clean house thoroughly. How I dream!

Sweet dreams & good rest Suz – and to all the other sleepy firepups. I’m outta here too.

nite NPB!

The pollsters are not my friends, but I’m hedging towards a view of some of them – Obama and Hillary can split Iowa and New Hampshire, but Edwards needs them both to continue. I hope I’m wrong. I’d love to see Edwards still standing on February 5th – AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, GA, IL, MN, MO, NJ, NY, ND, OK, TN, UT, ID primaries, and a few caucuses.

But it is late, and tomorrow isn’t a holiday for me. Pesky clients.
Night all. Merry Whatever!

???? you, argos, falcon and what did i do to let happen.