Good morning, Attaturk….and here’s wishing for a happier and more progressive New Year to all pups at the Lake.

Good morning Attaturk as well - (do I dare an Attaboy again?)

One perspective - the King of Spain has better democratic creds than the president of the united states; a world on its head and it isn’t in Australia - wonderful maps they have there with the S. pole up top.

Happy and Populistic New Year

Morning, and “yes” this snark is not directed exclusively toward Republicans.

I would also like to say Happy New Year.

Cheers…

Ok is Bhutto’s son running, her husband? just who is running against the General, assuming that Pakistan does end up having elections?

I wonder how many people will turn out to vote total for Republicans and Total for Democrats and how that number adjusted for population growth tracks with previous elections.

morning!

and attaturk - that was the best post i’ve read on bhutto’s death. tragic and sad for her family and her country…. but that doesn’t mean we have to pretend she was democracy’s champion. perfect, thank you.

Good Morning!

New Year’s is for out with the old and in with the new, so let’s IMPEACH!

Morning. About Bhutto, why are we not surprised? Some general thoughts leading to hope for better days follow.

Bhutto’s Family’s (read father’s) decision that she would lead the country sent to Harvard, according to personal testimony printed here and circulating in emails from her classmates. Next generation, no different. Indra Ghandi’s family, ditto. And Bush family ditto going once George I; ditto going twice, Jeb; and ditto despite their own misgivings, George II. And he may be the end of their Dittos. At least the Hanover King Georges got to III before they ran out of Georges, albeit for pesky dynastic reasons that led to Victoria.

Which leads to a digression.

[What have the Bushs ever done for a daughter/wife beside cover for their criminal infractions (Jeb’s wife/custom violations; his daughter/drugs; Jenna/Barbara/underage drinking). The Bhuttos chose Benezir over her brothers. Bhuttos braver than Bushs. Has a nice ring to it.]

End of digression.

It’s hard to fathom unless you have been around people with an ‘entitlement DNA’— how natural and unaffected they feel about the privilege that for them is a right. And it comes by affiliation with these people. Look Laurita Laurita Hoan/Doan whatever and Sara ‘I took an oath’ to the President Taylor.

Here’s the hope part:

What’s different now is there is a blogosphere of people who feel the same entitlement to a constitution and a democracy. Let’s hope that at the end of 2008 there will be a Republican party ready to recognize that the family thing did them in and a K street/Republican law firm culture willing to recognize that to hire Bush lackies is to mark them with the new Democratic majority as well, lackies.

Am I dreaming? Evidence that I am not:

1.It took Harriet Meirs 3 months to get a job. In Texas! And just what are Samson-Goodling-Taylor-Ransome (Susan)-and last but not least Robe– doing these days beside considering options with their defense lawyers? Has Foley even been seen?

2. The fired USAs had a reunion on Dec. 7th and everyone was better off than their persecutors.

Snark can be bracing this early in the AM. Attaboy Attaturk!! You chose your handle well.

And now to shovel the cars out of the Snow in WhiteBlueState. Will check back later.

Most powerful Democracy on earth does not make us the greatest democracy, Bush vs Gore and John Kerry not challenging the vote in Ohio by my count means that the White House has had an unelected, undemocratic, twerp in office for almost 2 terms now.
Call me about this greatest democracy on earth thing when we actually elect a president again. Or when we indict Bush on war crimes. Only in America could the people force Nixon to resign, if we actually send Bush to the Big House then we will deserve that title again.
I still can’t believe that Bush is giving billions to the Pakistani government that created Al Quieda.

while we’re complaining about the bush family, let’s not forget the clintons and the kennedys.

OT
On Washington Journal this morning:
Rocky Mountain News’ M.E. Sprengelmeyer & Des Moines Register’s Thomas Beaumont describe the presidential candidates’ Iowa strategies. Then we hear from a first-time caucus goer. And from Ann Lewis, a Senior Adviser to Hillary Clinton and Ed Rollins, Nat’l Chair. of Huckabee for President.

Even Nixon never gave the North Vietnam protection money! Well at least as far as I know.

True but why did the Bushies put their weakest link into the top job. Bhutto and Ghandi both had their problems but were never dismissed as G.W has been about his qualifications and they are both women in male dominated societies.

Roger Cohen says the assassination of Benazir Bhutto has given the coup de grâce to the botched American attempt to manage a nuclear-armed Islamic state. Well, probably unless there’s a Republican anywhere near the White House in the future… Mr. Krugman says the leading Republican presidential contenders have gone out of their way to assure voters that they will not deviate from the Bush path. He wonders why.

http://mgpaquin.wordpress.com/

The coffee, tea and hot chocolate are all ready, and the last biscuits of 2007 are out of the oven. I’ve got some local honey to drizzle over them if you’d like. Have a great day. I usually loathe New Year’s Eve (Guy Lombardo took it with him, you know…) but this is one I’m looking forward to. Getting rid of 2007 will be a good feeling. I’ll probably be here paddling in the Lake.

well, i don’t know enough about bhutto and gandhi to say… but certainly bhutto’s family was accused of massive corrruption while she was prime minister.

And it’s time for William Safire’s annual exercise in crystal-ball-gazing. Here, for your delight and amusement, is The Office Pool, 2008. I never fail to be amused by how totally, utterly, and completely wrong he usually is about almost everything.

Good morning. Two inches of fresh wet snow in the mid-Hudson. The trees are beautiful.

At this point in the Iowa process I have to stop paying attention. Que sera & all that. Nothing I can do about it & I’m getting tired of it.

Book reading today.

Yes! Thank god we don’t have legacies like that. No way! Not in Alaska, where the “Tubes” family has a stranglehold on the Senate spots. Or Oklahoma (where I grew up), which still has the same family (Boren) that was there when *I* was in high school. (And I am over 50 now.)

And why act superior to Bhutto when Sonny’s wife took his spot in the House — how many years ago? And, in my town, the wife of a dead rep. took his seat and still has it.

Marion this is great they won’t deviate? We just need one debate question on national TV “so you won’t deviate does that mean you will still pay money to Al Queida, I mean Pakistan uhh wait the Pakistani government created Al Quieda ” “so will you still pay Al Quieda money like G.W has”
Then we need our talking heads to explain that statement to the 30%ers.
Funny Whites used to keep African Americans from voting by giving a reading test a hard one for African Americans and an easy one for whites.
But if we were to quiz voters on their understanding of the issues well Clarence Thomas is probably as uneducated as some highschool dropout klansman.

Neal Bush the Savings and Loan Scandal.

oh, i completely agree about the bush family… but they can’t make other family dynasties ok.

The only thing GWB has done right is (hopefully) destroy any chance for any more Bush presidencies.

I’ve often read one or more of the NYT writers before you post them in the mornings and enjoy and get a chuckle from your synopsis of the contents….inevitably spot-on you are.

Thank God we live in the USA where these things don’t happen at every level of government
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_Stroger

The only thing GWB has done right is (hopefully) destroy any chance for any more Bush presidencies.

that’s looking at the bright side. Here’s hoping!

Mr Krugman needs to see Siun’s post from yesterday
Never have so few profited so greatly from such failure.
It is not an accident

CNN ran a video this morning of Bhutto being shot (her veil moved) and then slumping into the truck she was in. Musharraf’s government is covering up the fact that this was a hit-job. Bhutto would not be considered a martyr if she died from bumping her head.

It’s the cover-up of her death that is making her appear to be the complete opposite of Musharraf. I don’t think Musharraf planned on that.

This passage from Through the Looking Glass seems appropriate:

What I was going to say,” said the Dodo in an offended tone, “was that the best thing to get us dry would be a Causus-race.”

“What is a Caucus-race?” said Alice: not that she much wanted to know, but the Dodo had paused as if it thought that somebody ought to speak, and no one else seemed inclined to say anything.

“Why,” said the Dodo, “the best way to explain it is to do it.” (And, as you might want to try it yourself some winter-day, I’ll tell you how the Dodo managed it.)

First it marked out a race-course, in a sort of circle (”the exact shape doesn’t matter.” it said.) And then all the party were placed along the course, here and there. There was no “one, two, the and away!”, but they began running when they liked, and left off when they liked, so it was not easy to know when the race was over.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reade.....38;go.y=11

Will Newt Gingrich & Jeb Bush announce a run for the presidency together on the same ticket next year? I think they will! Ugh. I don’t think America has seen the last of the Bush family I’m afraid. This family has made most of it’s money dealing with America’s enemy and by using their powers in government to steal large amounts of our money from us. They’re not ready to leave that behind.

what a great point attaturk, how on earth could Bhutto’s son be leading a Democratic party because she herself died

how ridiculous, the power of a family to install their family and friends into positions that are supposed to be elected

no matter how incompetent that family member is

quite the parallel, bush was not elected he was installed by the judges of his father and Reagan.

is it possible for a man to be more inept, more deranged and more detached from reality and still be the president of the most powerful country in the history of planet earth?

this president is the result of a process by his family and bush Sr is more to blame for what has happened then the man our supreme court selected instead of elected into office

what will be left of our country when and if this president finally steps down from office?

and there is the rub too, “steps down from office”

that’s a very scary sentence right there, he is not removed from office, he “steps down”

stepping down is a voluntary phrase and from everything we have seen it is not likely these despots have amassed this kind of power only to hand it over to their oposition

we need to be on high guard the mechanations that might be in motion right now that these despots keep the power and assets they have stolen from this land

Oligarchy is a dangerous form of government (and Glen Greewald talks about it knowingly here) and where we’ve seen it crop up in the last century, it has failed. Actually, Attaturk has captured the lesson of the latest Bhutto tragedy for the United States: Stop the slide towards oligarchy now, while there’s still time to save the Republic.

It’s arguable that only a handful of the candidates running for President — Edwards, Kucinich, and Paul (I know) — aren’t beneficiaries of the oligarchic impulse. The more I think about it, that alone makes me support John Edwards.

Good morning. On “Morning Joe,” David Shuster just predicted that the national election would be Clinton vs. Huckabee, and Huckabee would be the next President. A pretty bleak new year.

bush was not elected in either term yet there he is president

unless he is brought into account for what he has done there WILL be others from his family that become president

the vote means nothing, money is everything, money and a promise that you will give national treasure to the wealthy

that’s all you need to be king of america

we have a shot of edwards, the vote is close and the lake can turn a close election

we cannot afford another corporate politician giving our treasure to people so wealthy they can never use it

Good morning. On “Morning Joe,” David Shuster just predicted that the national election would be Clinton vs. Huckabee, and Huckabee would be the next President. A pretty bleak new year

.

Oh, no. Details, please. Why did he think Huck would win?

Oh, no. Details, please. Why did he think Huck would win?

don’t be afraid of huck, he’s the easiest person to beat, I am much more afraid of romney

if it were possible a man even more inept and more detached then the current president existed, that man would be huckabe

My thinking has always been that the Dem will win. No matter who our candidate is. Presuming an honest election.
And I can’t believe that America has to worry about an honest election.

bee

Huckabee has, twice now, shown that he doesn’t even watch the news. The man is totally clueless.

Previously, he had given a long soliloqy on HUckabee’s political skills. He seems to feel that Huckabee’s communications skills are equivalent to Reagans’ (whose skills didn’t translate to me). Anyway, in later part of the show, the talking heads were all asked to give their guesses on each party’s nomination. He went beyond and said Huck would be Pres. No one else went that far.

Oh, but he’s wired directly into god, that has to count for something.

Must leave to get ready for work. See all later.

Firesign Theater had a line “Give them a light and they’ll follow it anywhere”!

I’m not that comfortable. I think the Dems have to maintain unity. I’ve seen too many times a large block of public opinion turns on a dime. By November, they may be touting the war as a major success. I don’t think anything is in the bag.

and there is the rub, there hasn’t been an honest election in the span of quite a few administrations

as far as I can see, the only reason a democrat won since Reagan would be that they couldn’t fix the vote as much as was needed

however they have become more skilled at stealing the vote, at keeping voters away

and they are more desperate, they know they need a massive vote flip, yet with every event they become even more brazen

think of this;

in the past people that said the vote was fixed were considered “conspiracy theorists”, so they had to make sure whatever case could be made might be questionable

however now most people thing the votes were deliberately flipped, therefore they can be even more brazen because whatever they will do is going to be questioned

it’s not who we vote for, it’s who counts the votes

I think Hitler said that but I am not certain

And I can’t believe that America has to worry about an honest election.

You’re a much more trusting individual than I am. Or maybe just less cynical and skeptical…

Huckabee has, twice now, shown that he doesn’t even watch the news. The man is totally clueless.

It appears that’s how the Republican like their candidates.

Would someone please tell me why my TV is now showing me fireworks over Sydney Harbor? Just because they’re in a different time zone why the [expletive deleted] should I care that it’s 2008 there?

we know as a fact bush wasn’t elected in either terms, of course we have to worry about a legitimate election

electronic voting must be de certified and democrats must make sure there are enough polling venues in their districts

and the votes must not leave the chain of accountability

I’m with Elliot, Impeach!

And I can’t believe that America has to worry about an honest election.

Can you doubt for one minute that the Dem nominee is going to be in physical danger from the GOP/Bush small airplane machine? I certainly do not and I do not doubt that marshall law will follow. Honest elections in this country…HAH!!!

Why would ANYONE vote on a voting machine in 2008? Don’t we have enough proof of fraud?

Now now, there there.

Just because they’re in a different time zone why the [expletive deleted] should I care that it’s 2008 there?

Because britney has not done anything yet this morning.

I got a zed upstairs! Me — a zed!!! Come on upstairs and let’s play “watch the Republicans fight.”

I believe there are actually laws mandating those machines

a few areas have decertified them but some have mandated their use

looseheadprop documented a scenario in new york where funding couldn’t be aquired unless we mandated those machines

go to brad’s blog to see the progress of honest machines and elections

even a paper record from an electronic machine will be hacked

this is because few people check their receipt and most will be embarrasssed that they made the mistake even if they do check

and even if votes are flipped, it might fall within acceptable perameters and not trigger a physical count

no electronic machines is the only solution

I’m afraid there are quite a few “independent” voters the same way. When I watched the first Bush-Gore debate, I told my wife that I thought Bush was the first Presidential candidate I had ever seen who was actually dumber than I was. After seven years, I haven’t changed my mind.

true

Happy New Year Marion and everybody else.

Sydney fireworks are a pleasure to watch and be there for it by the harbour - I’ve never seen its like anywhere else in the world.

I may be prejudiced but I’m an Aussie even if i cannot agree with my govt’s soft shoe shuffle on issues that matter. Well, here’s a glass of the the very best pinot noir to fight another day.

Here’s how it’s most often quoted.

“It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.” Joseph Stalin

Regarding Huckabee as the potential Republican nominee. The questions are - will the Republican machine mobilize for whoever the nominee is? Will the Republican machine do to Huckabee what the MSM did with the Howard Dean Scream?