Jane!

We must watch the raws as well as the percentages in Iowa. How many Dems will have raw numbers higher than the Rethug “winner”?

And this week Chris goes to battle on behalf of the rule of law.

Happy New Year Mr. Dodd. Don’t give up on us.

Read this morning that Dennis, Dodd and Gravel will be cut from the next debate by ABC. They are leaving Richardson??? Fox is cutting Hunter and Paul. Huff Post, I think.

Maybe the powers that be like Richardson as the VP nominee. Just a guess.

didja see this

Nader Backs Edwards
Politico.com | David Paul Kuhn | January 1, 2008 09:13 AM

——————————————————————————–

Breaking Iowa News
MUSCATINE, Iowa — Ralph Nader unleashed on Hillary Rodham Clinton Monday – criticizing her for being soft on defense spending and a chum of big business – and expressed his strong support for John Edwards.

Edwards/Dodd 08

Read this morning that Dennis, Dodd and Gravel will be cut from the next debate by ABC. They are leaving Richardson??? Fox is cutting Hunter and Paul. Huff Post, I think.

And Biden? Does anybody seriously support him outside his immediate family, a few credit card company execs, and Wolf Blitzer?

Hi Jane. Dodd is impressive.

Bloggers too! :)

Any idea about the predicted numerical effect of the Nader endorsement?

Tim Tageris last summer at YKos said that he was working for the best man in the race. I truly believe he was right. That he can’t get more traction is the fault of the corpo media but I salute his presence and his effort. He was there for Ned and he is there for the Constitution. And no matter what, he stands up for what’s right. I’m also pleased that he values his relationship with us, as we do with him. No matter what the eventual results of this horserace, I hope that we can continue to have a good working relationship with him and his office.

I agree, but Richardson (IMO) has come off very poorly in the debates and Biden is interesting ’cause you never know what he might say. Entertainment value.

Looks good to me. While Edwards is doing the presidential stuff, Dodd can work on repairing the executive branch, which is going to require identifying and rooting out all of the right-wing partisan hacks installed by the Bush regime.

Edwards/Dodd 08

That has a nice ring to it, but if Edwards wins I think he’ll choose someone who will have broad appeal to the Moron Americans (independents).

And it won’t be Clinton or Obama because he doesn’t want to lose his natural regional base in the South.

Out of pragmatism I think Richardson would be a good choice. Unless Broder wants him, then I would go with someone else.

i have no idea,but lets hope he expresses Johns strengths over other candidates

Let me just personally say thank you to Jane, Christy, Pach, Siun, Scarecrow, Marcy, and everyone else at FDL for all the help you’ve given Senator Dodd in this past year. From giving us a fair shake when it comes to coverage and attention, to helping Dodd put pressure on his colleagues on the Senate to stop retroactive immunity, to set a timetable tied to funding to end the war in Iraq, and to stand up the Bush administration, the FDL community has been so tremendously supportive of our efforts.

Thank you once again – we’ve achieved so much more with this community’s support.
Best,
Matt

Disclosure: I proudly work for Chris Dodd’s presidential campaign.

RevDeb! Good morning! Happy 2008.

i think Sen. Dodd would make a very fine president

I know Kos is upset over Obama’s recent comments (he thinks they were directed at Kerry and Gore). Has anyone asked Obama to clarify them? Are they really a dig at HRC?

Maybe the powers that be like Richardson as the VP nominee. Just a guess.

Hey, I like Richardson, but I have seen him stumble pretty badly now twice, and I thinks that’s twice too many. The first time was when he couldn’t give a straight answer to Melissa Ethridge about whether she was born gay or “chose that lifestyle.” I can’t remember the other time, although I think it was more recent, but I’m sure others here can. Unfortunately, I don’t think we can afford that as a follow up to Bush. He’s a nice guy, and hopefully there’s a place for him on the cabinet, but Pres or VP may be overreaching.

i think Sen. Dodd would make a very fine president

as do I, but I am still leaning towards Edwards

Kuttner & Huffington on C-SPAN2 talking about economic populism.

Connecticut…something for everyone.

Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman…what better balance?

A pretty good House delegation. If you don’t like Dems, there’s Chris Shays.

The highest per-capita income, and some impoverished, crime-ridden cities. Again, something for everyone.

And of course there’s Yale, which GAVE a degree to GWB. Balances the degrees given to Bill and Hill.

Lousy food and good food. Wealth and poverty. Something for everyone.

I’ll be disappointed if Dodd isn’t in the debate. Whenever the Dems debate, I feel there’s hope. I like them all. Truly.

I just went to kos and they’re having a big food fight over there!

How any progressive can support Obama, after he cuddled up to the homophobes and Holy Joe and pandered to the faith-based nutjobs is beyond me.

Excellent, Jane! You do deserve the credit he gives you. I had to send Dodd some money when he stood up against telecom immunity. It’s going to be interesting to see how that goes later this month. I appreciate his hard work and principled stand on our Constitution.

Happy New Year, Jane and Pups!

Matt, your work and your candidate honors all of us.

I’ve stated my preference, Edwards/Dodd 08 or Dodd ML 08, but I truly respect Senator Dodd and his stand-up fight for progressive values.

What comments?

Something important to note about Nader’s endorsement of Edwards: Nader’s not running!

Edwards/Dodd 08

:~)

Also, I like the news that Nader finally did something politically useful; he’s endorsing Edwards. Every little bit helps, I always say!

Senator Dodd has been my second choice, to Edwards, all along but if he is not going to be president I would really like to see him take on Harry Reid and get the Senate Dems in line. He could do it easily and we could be proud again.

Dodd’s father was a prosecutor at Nuremberg. Hmmmmm.

If taking on Reid is the long path, then we must be mindful of electing progressive Democratic Senators to help the cause.

I’ve said this many times before and will most likely say it many mote times; if Dodd is not the top of the ticket, let him stay in the Senate, preferably as Majority Leader where he can be far more beneficial than as the VP.

Plus it keeps the R governor of CT from appointing someone like Chris Shays or Nancy Johnson to the seat.

yep. i’ve learned to have a lot of respect for senator dodd – in fact, he’s the only presidential candidate i’ve donated to…. and it was his work to restore habeas corpus and his fisa fight that convinced me.

….

senator dodd – now that you’ve stood up and begun to fight, don’t let anyone know you down. it’s inspiring to see someone of your stature care enough to fight with us for our constitutional rights. ending our “mis-adventures” in the ME and single payer health care are important issues for me too.

and thank you again for the family medical leave act. i was able to be with my mom (in the early ’90s) and my dad (just a couple of years ago) when they were ill and dying because of that act. it meant the world to them and to me.

Well, of course they’ll be cut. Anyone who is talking the exact opposite of what the republican candidates are saying is being cut out of the national dialogue and stage to suppress this opposition.

thank you matt! it’s a pleasure to support someone who’s trying to support us.

Dodd/Kucinich sounds good to me. ;-)

If taking on Reid is the long path, then we must be mindful of electing more and betterprogressive Democratic Senators to help the cause.

There. Much better.

I would proudly work for and vote for that ticket.

Me too, TexBetsy. To me, this team truly represents what we all hold dear to our hearts. I’ve honestly not been able to wrap my brain around the top 3 Democratic candidates that were chosen at the beginning of this year by the ROM (republican owned media) as the candidates we must be choosing from.

Dodd/Kucinich sounds good to me. ;-)

I would love to see the look on Broder’s face if that was the ticket!

Happy New Year Jane!

I don’t think the Republican owned media, to use your phrase, are exactly thrilled about Edwards’ populist message. If he is nominated there will be a greater push to have an electable Republican candidate. Otherwise I think they’ll let Clinton inherit the mess of the war and the economy, so that a centrist Repub looks good in ’12.

Um, not wanting to burst anyone’s bubble here, but folks really aren’t giving consideration to the fact that if BushCo leaves the White House, almost everyone in it will be open to indictments on serious charges, some of which are High Crimes. I’m reminded of an old “M*A*S*H” episode when Frank Burns was caught in a minor theft. He tells Hot Lips, “Ive learned my lesson. If you steal something, never try to give it back.”

BushCo ‘manipulated’ two federal elections to get the power they’ve amassed to themselves. They’ve cloaked their actions in insane layers of secrecy to hide crimes so brazen as to thumb their noses at the Constitution. They’ve lied this nation into an illegal war and left a major American city to become a model for Disaster Capitalism at home.

White House propaganda minister press secretary, Dana Perrino has hinted at an Al Qaida attack during the transition between Presidencies. The way I see it, it comes down to a choice between inventing a lame excuse for declaring Martial Law, or serious jail time.

If you were Dick Cheney, which would you choose?

I agree, but Richardson (IMO) has come off very poorly in the debates and Biden is interesting ’cause you never know what he might say. Entertainment value.

Actually, I like Biden for that very reason; you never know what he might say. But I think it’s more than entertainment value. I think he is that flamethrower we’re always saying we want, but criticize whenever we see him. We don’t seem to be able to recognize the flamethrower when we see one, and so many hold so much against him that they refuse to give credit even when it seems to me to be due. I regret that, although I’m not planning on voting for him for Pres. either. I’m deep down a Gore person, but will accept Edwards as my second choice since it doesn’t look like there’s a chance Gore will run. Not to take away from Edwards, though; I really do like him better than all the others.

I know! Can you imagine the mayhem it would cause? The republican ticket would THEN have to stand up for their convictions publicly which would be:

Why they support the Iraq occupation? Why they support what George Bush has done to the rights of Americans? Where were they when crimes were being committed by the White House?

The list would go on and on for sure! Oh boy. I would love THIS MONKEY WRENCH this year. ;-)

Oh good. Nader’s going to help the cause of democracy and the Constitution again. Apparently, he feels John Edwards will promote both to a much greater extent than Al Gore would have.

Nice extemporaneous talk from Sen. Dodd. He sounds like a good man.

It is not very democratic atall – the way we elect the President. Its ridiculous. It really needs to change. Abolish the electoral college, delegates, get the money out, and publicly fund elections. The money spent on teevee ads that enriches Republicans Greedheads like Jack Welch and Rupert Murderock is a horrible and counterproductive waste.

For me, Biden’s big drawback is the bankruptcy bill. I need a candidate who cares about people more than banks.

Astral at 46

Pretty much my thoughts.

Your point is well taken, but I’m not sure Edwards is the one who would force the republics to sit up straight. *waiting for rotten tomatoes to be thrown at me* LOL ;-)

Waiting for the next president to say we must look forward, not rearward, and then not to relinquish any of the awful powers Bush has claimed.

I may be cynical but frankly I do not believe all this love being sent Obama’s way. I think the Dems will lose if he is the candidate.

Probably Nader better appreciates the dynamic of his previous spoiler action, now that Republican hell has been unleashed on the country for nigh eight years. Even Nader can see that the m*therf*ckers have just about broken everything.

cranky toobz today here – keep getting cut off – ackkkk!?!

I hope Dodd goes on to challenge Harry Reid.

Thankyou Senator Dodd.

Thanks much Matt.

We’re not done, not by a long shot.

Over & out before thymewannah cuts me off agin!

Dennis Kucinich has been consistently the candidate with the best positions all through the race so far.

I am grateful to Dodd for stepping up on FISA, but he, Clinton and Edwards all voted for the resolution that led us to war in Iraq. If they could be conned or misled by such a known liar as George Bush, why should I believe they will be less susceptible to the next trickster, domestic or foreign? Naivete is a highly undesirable quality in persons old enough to be U. S. Senators or presidents. Besides which, except for Dodd on FISA, I have not been impressed by any of their leadership on anything in the Senate.

Kucinich was not deluded about the war in Iraq, he was the first to make a big noise about impeachment, he’s committed to universal health care, and he’s been a strong “Constitutionalist” all along. Plus, he’s got a great sense of humor and a pretty, intelligent wife. What’s not to like?

I’ll vote for Kucinich if I have to write in his name. Or I might just stay home.

so that a centrist Repub looks good in ’12.

There still lives such a critter? Then, I nominate for an endangered species listing. And running for President would be entirely too dangerous.

While Edwards is doing the presidential stuff, Dodd can work on repairing the executive branch, which is going to require identifying and rooting out all of the right-wing partisan hacks installed by the Bush regime.

At first glance, I thought that rooting out all of the right-wing partisan hacks installed by the Bush regime would be easy; simply look for employment dates from 2001 to 2008 or 2009, and be suspicious of anyone on that list. However, then I wondered if all political appointees turn in their resignation upon the ascension of a new President? Even if they do, didn’t this administration also drive out some highly placed professional civil servants (as in the civil service, which is supposed not to be partisan) and even some lower level ones that were not appointees, but still had to pass Bush administration criteria to be employed in the executive branch or any other branch that Bush held sway over. Them’s gonna be a lot of people not to be trusted.

Me too. What was that chatter I heard whereby Dodd was not going to follow through? I’m hoping its incorrect information.

I’m not saying there is such a creature as a centrist Repub, but that’s how they would try to position the candidate in ‘12. A reasonable leader who can pull the country together after the Democrats “made a mess” of the war and the economy. [choke]

Thank you Chris Dodd! and here’s to a more and better Democratic-This-Year!

Biden has some good one liners, especially surprising given his reputation for bloviation, but then so do Gravel and Kucinich. I have been very impressed with Dodd in his standing up to Harry Reid on the Intel Committee version of the FISA law that gave this most corrupt and incompetent of Administrations even more power to abuse our Constitutional rights.

Them’s gonna be a lot of people not to be trusted.

Yes, that will be a major challenge to the next president, whoever it is. Lots and lots of rotten wood to be cleared out of DC.

Puleeze DO NOT just stay home!

With all due respect, ability to get things done, experience and savvy count for a whole lot in this difficult “game” of governance.

We Dems. have an overabundance of talent and potential on our side.

Don’t give up for reasons you may later regret.

just sayin’, apologies if i ruffled any feathers, but…

DO. NOT. GIVE. UP.

You’ll be playing right into deadeye’s filthy hands. imho

Thanks to Chris Dodd, a lone voice in the Presidential field standing up every day for the Constitution and the Rule of Law — and thanks to his dedicated and hardworking campaign staff.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Thank you, Senator Dodd. You stood up when it was needed, and we’re standing up for you.

I don’t see why having a pretty wife is a qualifier, but I remember him announcing at one of his rallys before the 2004 election that he was looking for a lady. I guess it worked, but it didn’t make him look very serious to me.

Maybe you should write in Nader instead.

Sounds about right. But the Dem can’t really “make a mess of the war” if he/she just ends it . . .

Even if they do, didn’t this administration also drive out some highly placed professional civil servants (as in the civil service, which is supposed not to be partisan) and even some lower level ones that were not appointees, but still had to pass Bush administration criteria to be employed in the executive branch or any other branch that Bush held sway over. Them’s gonna be a lot of people not to be trusted.

These are the ones I’m talking about.

You are correct. Except that you might be wasting your vote when the time comes for us peones to vote. I will vote like I always do – never vote for anyone with an R by his name.

a lotta people? yeah. they’ve been at it for awhile, from home-schooling on up thru school boards to selective support of officially sanctioned bidnesses, etc….

*adjusts foil hat & checks box for more*

p.s., no, i’m neither kidding nor overstating the danger, as far as i know…

Disclosure: I proudly work for Chris Dodd’s presidential campaign.

And you should be proud to work for such a man. I think I speak for many here that would like to say thanks to Senator Dodd for showing the kind of backbone we haven’t seen in way too long now. We want to thank him for standing up for the constitution and our civil liberties and the fourth amendment when it became necessary. Tell him to keep up the good work.

However, then I wondered if all political appointees turn in their resignation upon the ascension of a new President? Even if they do, didn’t this administration also drive out some highly placed professional civil servants (as in the civil service, which is supposed not to be partisan) and even some lower level ones that were not appointees, but still had to pass Bush administration criteria to be employed in the executive branch or any other branch that Bush held sway over. Them’s gonna be a lot of people not to be trusted.

The political appointees do. There are several thousand of them. IIRC something like 4 to 7 thousand. Maybe someone else has a better figure. But there have been attempts at Justice to politicize career hires and there have been scattered reports of this happening elsewhere as well. I aw Bush’s recent Executive Order on political commissars for government agencies as part of this too. I don’t know if he will have time to implement and I think some Senator (Durbin?) cut the funds for them. But yes, it will take years to restore the institutional memory that has been lost with the departure of many careerists.

Good morning, Jane et al!

I confess, I am very selfish and pragmatic. I would prefer seeing Dodd in Senate Lead than as VP. Cheney was an aberration that we hope never to see the likes of again. I keep in mind that the VP is one heart tick away from the presidency so who would I want as president if something dreadful happened? This takes a lot of thought because Dodd would be excellent.

I think Edwards is in a hard fight and he and Elizabeth deserve credit for making his success possible. What has the press done for that team other than report on his hair? The substance of the man is lost in the noise over Hillary and Obama. I’m impressed Edwards has done as well as he has. It says the American people are listening, at least those interested in primaries.

I think Richardson would be excellent in a key appointed position where he can influence. Richardson has a lot to offer.

Kucinich, the Democrats never use this man’s talents. They ignore him. If they did we would’t be in this Iraq mess. They seem to sit on him. I know he won’t be president but he would be excellent in a key position. I trust Dennis.

Now I’m depleting the senate so we have to vote in lots of Democrats to fill the gaps.

Now a position for JoeBoy. Hummmm! Let me think. I know he has some good qualities. Now what could they be? Think, QG. He has something, somewhere to offer. Oh dear, I just can’t come up with one. I’ll have to leave this to the rest of you. I know you can come up with something for JoeyBoy.

But yes, it will take years to restore the institutional memory that has been lost with the departure of many careerists.

Yes, it will. In many Federal agencies, the culture of competence and expertise that was nurtured over the decades since WWII has been completely destroyed, and replaced with one of craven partisan hackfuckery.

I can’t buy that. He couldn’t see it in 2004. I think he did some good in the past, but for whatever personal reasons/viewpoint, I think he has very destructive. Without him, it is possible none of the destruction of the last seven years would have occurred. I

I like John Edwards too, but I’m sure not going to listen to Nader’s criticism of any other Democrat. That way leads to Romney or other of the ilk.

Chris Dodd is a great man, and I thank him and his staff for their devotion and passion for the Constitution.

In many ways, the Presidential race is a Stoopid Contest. I had suggested in a playful way that the women of the world should get together and change the name of GOLF. Its an acronym for Gentlement Only Ladies Forbidden. These two ladies said that they loved for their husbands to play golf because then the husbands will let them go shopping. Its unbelievable that educated women still talk that way in 2008. Republicanism.

I like John Edwards too, but I’m sure not going to listen to Nader’s criticism of any other Democrat.

So, you’re saying he should endorse no one?

Can anyone tell me what the symbolism behind this picture on the front of the Drudgereport?

-G

In other world news.

*Hamas and Fatah have started fighting again.

*US diplomat assassinated in Sudan.

*Kenya is continuing towards a sectarian meltdown after their own Florida 2000 style election.

*Bombing in Baghada kills 30.

Happy New Year!

-G

Dodd is a rock. Wish there were more like him. Thank you Senator, for standing up, on your own, for the Constitution.

And Jane, he’s so right about your contribution to the political discourse. Thank you so much for what you do.

This picture.

-G

And Biden? Does anybody seriously support him outside his immediate family, a few credit card company execs, and Wolf Blitzer?

Well, there’s the sponsership from Crest Whitestrips.

Seriously, Biden has been a lightweight; has only begun to shoot from the hip now that he has a personal stake – his kid over in Iraq.

Actually, I think he should try to get a life, in these final decades. I’m only saying I don’t value his opinion of Democrats. Nor did I in 2000 or 2004, but others did.

I like John Edwards too, but I’m sure not going to listen to Nader’s criticism of any other Democrat.

So, you’re saying he should endorse no one?
reply

I think many people are done with Nader. There may be a handful of his followers left but basically it doesn’t matter what he does. He will have the same impact if he chooses to go fishing or endorse a candidate.

Chris Dodd is missing a certain je ne sais quoi. He’s not nearly stupid (acting) enough to appeal to stupid people. Personally, if he gets the nomination I would vote for him in a heartbeat.

I’ve heard the arguments about voting no matter what. I did vote for the Democratic candidates in 2000 and 2004. And in both cases, when the going got tough, the Democrats we had chosen as LEADERS rolled over and played dead.

And still today, the Democratics are not showing much gumption or leadership…no willingness to stick out their necks and be unpopular for the sake of being “right” for the nation. As important as FISA is, where were Dodd and the others when the Homeland Security Act was passed, and when Bush got his approval to invade Iraq?

The Democratic party and the Republican party know that they are our only choices. There has been much discussion here about lack of spine and leadership on the part of the Dems, but the conclusion is always the same “we have to vote Democratic or we get Republicans.” I am seeing less and less evidence to convince me that they are anything but two halves of the corporate whole.

Thanks to Democratic “leadership”, when I voted for Democrats in 2000 and in 2004, I still got Republicans.

Kucinich could upset their whole rotten apple cart, but he can’t do it without our votes.

Our very best to each of you in the coming year. Hope everyone made it through last night in good shape. I was too busy tending bar at our house to drink anything but Cokes. And to those we very occasionally are not quite in agreement with: Happy New Year! We are going over to one my favorite cousins’ ranch a bit later for our traditional New Years supper of cornbread and black eye peas.

lahoma and i really like Senator Dodd. And John Edwards.

Ah. That’s what was asking about earlier, as I don’t know anything about his current electoral weight.

Oh, Christ. Nader supports Edwards? Crap. I just pray that’s not the kiss of doom for his candidacy.

“looking forwrd, not backward” … That has become the entry level ticket to get my vote these days… whether the candidate will make any effort at all to bring these criminals to justice. And to clean up the Justice department. And all the other agencies. Some of the lackeys Bush appointed have life time appointments don’t they? Will the winning candidate clean house, or, as you say — let’s look forward, not backward (and I can have all the power that has been gathered unto myself).

I do have an idea that Edward would indeed make some effort to go after the bad guys in govenment, but the pressure to not do anything will be great. Can Edwards stand the heat? How do we judge that?

Just more questions to answer before I vote in the primaries.

Edwards/Dodd 08

That has a nice ring to it, but if Edwards wins I think he’ll choose someone who will have broad appeal to the Moron Americans (independents).

I don’t see Edwards making that kind of choice. I see him going for a smart well informed VP. I love the above pair up, but I also agree with Dakine01:

I’ve said this many times before and will most likely say it many mote times; if Dodd is not the top of the ticket, let him stay in the Senate, preferably as Majority Leader where he can be far more beneficial than as the VP.

I think that’s a closeup of Hucklefuck getting shaved. He went to the barber after his “silly” press conference yesterday. You remember, the “silly” press conference that all the media present laughed at, and that earned him the first story on the evening news and prime WaPo real estate?

TradMed thinks they are covering the rubes in Iowa, and that Hucklefuck is one, but TradMed’s editors sure got played on that one. Played, I say.

Actually, I think the mantra heard here most frequently is more and better Democrats. We want both more Democrats (replace the Rs wherever possible) and then make those Dems better for all.

We’ve seen just how much damage can be done by the a**hat Rs if we just sit by and let them run things.

The Dems are not perfect and no one here will claim that. We’re just trying to make them do and be better.

Very strange. Is it foreshadowing the metaphorical demise of Huckleberry?

I am seeing less and less evidence to convince me that they are anything but two halves of the corporate whole.

There is no question that corporate interests have undue influence over both parties, but there are huge differences between the parties in very important ways. Please do not allow disgust with the definite imperfections of the Democratic Party to obscure this undeniable fact.

Some of the lackeys Bush appointed have life time appointments don’t they?

Article III federal judges do.

Hiya, GrandmaJ! I too do not want a ‘bygones’ Presidency in 2009.

Indict
Convict
Imprison

Let’s recall the last ‘bygones’ President was named Clinton.

In response to GrandmaJ at 95:

Can Edwards stand the heat? How do we judge that?

Where has Edwards stood in the past on important issues? He voted for the war, he voted for Homeland Security, he did not break with Kerry on caving in 2004. What has he had to say about FISA, even though he is no longer in the Senate? Hot enough for you? What would make you think he will do anything different if he is president?

Yeah, I kind of felt that way. The mainstream is setting up to ‘whack’ old Huckabubba.

They built him up and now they’re going to take him down.

The more they do that, the more the fundagelicals will get that persecution complex, the more they run into Huckables’ flaccid embrace.

-G

Just think, this time next year we may have evicted the GOP from the White House. And it may be time to fumigate. Bush and the Republicans ain’t got no class, or taste. We here are ‘feeling butterflies’ about Iowa.

The only endorsements I care about right now are the ones from the Demo participants in the Iowa caucus.

Bingo.

If Kusinich is the nominee, I promise I will vote for him in the general. For those inclined not to vote if their favorite is not nominated, I ask only that you watch Fox News and the Republican candidate and Bush Adminstration speeches for at least four months after the nomination.

You know something that strikes me? Dodd must be a regular reader of blogs. He has the jargon down pat. He actually talks like one of us, and understands the concept of democratizing information. He also seems to “get” that we care very much about the rule of law.

You can tell the difference between the folks like Barbara Boxer who came to Yearly Kos b/c she was curious to learn more about the net roots, but showed up completely unprepared making it obvious she does not read us.

You can tell pretty easily which politicians ans which MSM actually read the netroots regularly and which still regard us as some alien “other.”

Dodd speaks the language of the netroots like a native.

White House propaganda minister press secretary, Dana Perrino has hinted at an Al Qaida attack during the transition between Presidencies. The way I see it, it comes down to a choice between inventing a lame excuse for declaring Martial Law, or serious jail time.

If you were Dick Cheney, which would you choose?

I assume this is big dick’s plan B.

Didn’t some shaman perform some anti-Bush ritual cleansing somewhere in South America last year?

I say break out the Lysol and Febreze and remove everything from Cheney’s old office, brick and timber and burn at a 1000 degrees for a month.

Maybe even bring in Pope Benny of the Prada Shoes’ exorcism squads and let them go to town casting out the legion of devils, demons and vile spirits that have nested in our Whitehouse since Darth Sidious and his dry-drunk flunky stole the place in 2000.

-G

-G

Actually, I would anticipate one large, blanket, administration wide pardon issued by Little Boots on or about 1/19/2009.

Dodd may just be one of the last of a breed. A Statesman.

I’ll take that endorsement and am bringing 10 friends to the caucus. GOTV on Thursday morning and it will be a toasty 25 degrees, as opposed to 0 with wind chill gusts of 40 mph bringing the chill to minus 34 at present.

As Edward Teller would say, snow makes a different sound at 35 below!

Here, here.

-G

P.S. Hi GrandmaJ and LHP.

LHP, Dodd is clearly up to snuff on the newest media, as is Keith O.

There is an open air market in Cancun, MEX, located downtown a few miles from the oceanfront strip. Some tourists make the bus ride over there. Barbers shave men with a straight razor as people are milling about. It occurred to me that in such tight quarters with so many people milling around that someone could bump the barber and cause him to slip. I decided against having a shave there.

Senator Dodd has been my second choice, to Edwards, all along but if he is not going to be president I would really like to see him take on Harry Reid and get the Senate Dems in line. He could do it easily and we could be proud again

What an inspired idea! I am thrilled to see Edwards in a dead heat with the sell outs. I wish Dodd were doing better nationally than he is, he just grows on me more every day.

He has Matt Brown Hamilan and Tim Tagiriss on his team so he knows the important value of having open communication with us.

The idea of someone shaving me with a straight razor gives me the serious heebie-jeebies.

Hi TeddySF, Happy New Year. and I hope it will be. Have been participating in a small battle over at Kos because of his front page ‘comment’ about Obama. Oh boy, the fur is flying, mostly polite.

But I said there, and will say here, I am looking for a fighter, not an appeaser. And I believe that most of America wants someone who will show some fight in them. This ‘let’s all get along’ doesn’t really cut in with regular people who are scared of losing their homes, their jobs, their lives because of poor/no health care. People want strong people to lead them, just not self-serving, sadistic, greedy strongmen.

All of which means they need to clean up the injustices of the last 8 years. Make people believe that all people have to obey the laws, not just the poor schmoes.

Actually, a barber shave is one of those luxuries to which I have never treated myself but will one day.

Very good on you!!!

lahoma and okk

Happy New Year! ;0)

Looks like someone wants him dead to me. Apparently he is incapable of even shaving.

GrandmaJ, misread your comment as “porno healthcare,” did a double-take and reread but realize my misread is accurate because healthcare situation in our once-great nation certainly is obscene.

All good questions. I will keep hoping he provides some info on what he will do to clean up this mess. And no, I do not think that he will immediately be the Rambo to fight the bad guys. Which of these candidates will put everything on the line to clean up ‘Dodge’ D.C.?

but I also believe that corporate America definitely does not want Edwards even close to the presidency. So, by default, I would be ‘for him, before I was against him.’ :-)

I haven’t either. Before doing so, you might want to rent a current movie called Eastern Promises, on the Russian mafia.

I’m not ready to give up on a Dodd presidency just yet. Surprising things do happen in Iowa and it is only the first of many caucuses/primaries. It’s one thing if you’re supporting someone else, but if you really think Chris Dodd is the best candidate for President, don’t give up on the man.

Oh good. Nader’s going to help the cause of democracy and the Constitution again. Apparently, he feels John Edwards will promote both to a much greater extent than Al Gore would have.

It appears that reality final smacked Nader in the face. He finally met up with a little thing called “the politics of what’s possible,” and had to admit that he cannot win; therefore he is extraneous or superfluous to the race. Ideology is fine until you realize that there is no Utopia here on earth, and in a democracy, you are constrained by what other’s perceive is right, not just your own judgments.

Jane has a new post about Joe Trippi upstairs.

Are you saying Dodd appreciates what the average American is saying and feeling?

It feels good, doesn’t it. :-)

The politcal appointments are all listed in something called the “Plum Book.” I think its cover is purple. It is from this book that were get the expressions “plum assignment” or “plum job”.

The problem is the salting of the “career” positions with people who had to pass a Monica Goodling type political test. These people would not be repolced as a matter of course and, if they have been employed more than 3(?) years, it will be very hard to crowbar them out of their jobs. Unless one could make some sort of hiring fraud argument, but I think that would be a VERY VERY tough row to hoe.

LOL – well it truly is obscene. OT short story – ‘googled’ an artist’s name to order a C.D. (first name Ingrid) and I got in return a whole page of prono ads. About fell off my chair. Waaaay over on the right side in very small print, was the ad for the song artist. Obviously prono ads pay much better than a starving artists’ ads. So maybe their healthcare is doing better than the rest of America

Now, daily, I get more emails from porno sites, that is the ones that manage to skip the filters.

Happy New Year, Kiddo and Lahoma.

-G

Thanks for clarifying my fear about appointments. Here’s hoping that the dem who wins puts strong leaders in these agencies to keep these people in line. But I believe they will be busy undermining everything an agency will be doing to make sure the idea the government does not work, actually comes true. That will be their mission. I have vivid memories of Freeh doing all he can do to ruin Clinton, from inside the FBI.

Unruly employees can continue to mess up the cogs of government for years and decades to come.

It’s one thing if you’re supporting someone else, but if you really think Chris Dodd is the best candidate for President, don’t give up on the man.

Hear, hear!!!!

The politcal appointments are all listed in something called the “Plum Book.” I think its cover is purple. It is from this book that were get the expressions “plum assignment” or “plum job”.

This fascinated me, so I looked into the Plum Book a little bit. The Plum Book Web site does, indeed, depict it with a purple cover. The first Plum Book was published in 1952, during the Eisenhower administration.

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/plumbook/index.html

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the earliest use of the term specifically to refer to political appointments occurred in 1887, and derives from the general sense of “any desriable thing”:

in G. Stimpson Bk. about Amer. Politics 258 The boys enjoying the plums will support anybody who is good for him or them.

Based on all of this, I think it is more likely that the Plum Book was named and colored on the basis of the already-extant use of the term to refer to political appointments.

But I believe they will be busy undermining everything an agency will be doing to make sure the idea the government does not work, actually comes true. That will be their mission.

Grandma, you got that right.

Its relevance to the origins of the “Plum Book” I don’t know, but this is the first thing that came to my mind:

Little Jack Horner
Sat in a corner
eating his Christmas pie.
He stuck in his thumb
and pulled out a plum
and said “What a good boy am I!”

And that’s a very old rhyme.

It is relevant, as the figurative meaning of “plum” as something desirable arose secondarily out of its meaning as a particular kind of fruit.

Mommybrain, this is in response to your question at the end of Ian’s post Sunday. (Note to Mods: if there’s a way you’d prefer to handle posting what I think is a needed response to a question after a thread is closed, please advise.)

“Peony, is the configuration followed by another re-ocurring configuration? If so, what characterizes it? Is there hope in the stars?”

Mommybrain, it would take a long essay to do justice to your question. But, briefly, yes, if I understand what you’re asking, planetary configurations do follow one another in sequence and reoccur in cycles that can be anticipated ahead of time. Periods of contraction and crisis (next two or three years) are followed by more expansive ones where we’ll see a culmination of revolutionary and/or emancipatory movements worldwide, cultural creativity, and rapid technological progress (2010-2011).

What often happens too is that configurations having very different or contrasting archetypal characteristics are operative simultaneously which unfold in highly complex ways in the collective psyche and historical events. We’re moving into one of these which is unfolding between now and 2011. This particular one occurred only twice in the 20th century: 1929-1933 and again 1964-1967. The mid ‘60’s to elaborate on this example was accompanied by widespread civil unrest and protest and like now, we were in an unpopular war.

It looks like politically and socially, the country will be even more polarized than the last seven years, with progressives and conservatives – both empowered – with a high degree of tension created by contrasting and opposing archetypal forces. Whether that means a Republican will win the presidency and the Democrats will maintain control of Congress I don’t know. But, given the dynamics of these configurations, a message of unity, the change theme beng a significant exception, doesn’t resonate with the spirit of the time, a time which will be more hard-edged and turbulent. The current divisions between corporate wing and the progressive wing of the Democratic party will likely continue or intensify. But, in the long run (2010 and beyond), the country is moving more toward the progressive end of the political spectrum and the influence of the netroots will grow stronger. Around November, ‘08 and whoever is in the WH in 2009, it also looks like national security will be a major issue again.

I cannot do better than to take Ian’s sage advise to be on good terms with my family and friends, know my neighbors, forge strong ties with my community, and to add my own, in whatever way works for me, amplify the inner light and raise my vibratory rate. Thanks for the question.

No chrystal ball here…Yet I agree when times get tough bonding with your neirghbors and community is prudent…We all need to stick together and help one another. Housing will be more expensive and the poor will have a much higher percent of income dedicated to that. More people are without healthcare every second. Essentials like food clothing and energy are rising fast. Governement services will be cut drastically as tax revenues decrease with the recession. Community and family gardens (victory gardens) are needed.
The housing industry can be put back to work building smaller multifamily housing that can be subsidised with no interest loans. The new administration can do out of the box programs that don’t feed the K street lobbyist. We need a “New Deal”.

Peony, that is indeed the exact question I was asking and thanks so much for the response.

We recently moved into a BIG house, a very strange thing for us DFH’s to do. We realized after we moved in that we were both thinking the same thing when we chose it: now we have room to help any friends who will need a place to live in the next couple of years.

In response to GrandmaJ at 95:

Can Edwards stand the heat? How do we judge that?

Where has Edwards stood in the past on important issues?

During his Senate career he was representing North Carolina and had to defeat Lauch Faircloth (R) by running against the Jesse Helms machine to get the seat. A lot of what he said related to how one gets elected in a Red state and how the people of that state wanted to be represented.

He followed-up on what he promised.

Now he’s going to represent all of us and the issues he’s been discussing are clearly most pressing.

I trust him to do what he’s promising. I think it flows naturally from his background (as he so often relates) and it fits with his career as a trial attorney helping people who’ve been hurt.

None of these candidates is perfect and I agree we can’t know exactly what any of them would do. A lot of this is taking a leap of faith. I trust Edwards.

Edwards/Dodd works for me. One can concentrate on corporate buyouts on K Street while the other can return us to the rule of law under the Constitution. Seems a no brainer.

I’m so glad you saw the response. I knew I could not leave your question unanswered even though the thread was closed. I’m very pleased to meet you.

bigbrother, I appreciate your comments. What I’ve been thinking about lately is will there be a deflationary recession or an inflationary one. It looks like we have both now, deflation in the housing market, and inflation with the cost of food and energy. Boy do we ever need a New Deal! FDR was a genius. The difference between 1932 and now though is we’re up to our eyeballs in debt.

Happy new year, everyone!