ZED?

we need PROGRESSIVE dems not Puke-lite

EDWARDS ALL THE WAY yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

is anybody home?

okay where is everybody …its cold and lonely at the top!

Well, I’m here.

Bluetex….yooooooooooooo hooooooooooo

It’s cold in Illinois too, and the poor folks in Iowa will be freezing their a**es off when they caucus. Hope it helps Edwards. Enough of these lawless, immoral Repukes.

this is good news for republicans

-2 F

6 degrees here …of separation?

my little lap dogs refused to go out

BT: It might be useful to point out the differences in expected total turnout for Dems and Reps. You cite 20% independents in both groups, but the AP story out this morning shows a much higher total (120,000-150,00 vs. 80,000 to 90,000) for the Dems. That gives a much higher absolute number of independents caucausing for the Dems.

It’s 9 degrees here and will be 15 below with windchill factor by this afternoon. Same as it will be across the river in Iowa.

wannas know why i hate GREENSPAQN ,ANDREA and ALL the cronies?

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/….._0102.html

Geez. It’s even cold here in FL this morning.

Go Edwards. I am a CO-Precinct captain. He had over 3000 people turn out for his John Mellancamp/Edwards rally last night. This was considerably more than Obama or Hillary was able to get to come out. Hopefully, these same folks will turn out tonight and propel Edwards to victory.

jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez Greenspan …sorry bout that

I had trouble grasping the quoted text on the numbers. Perhaps this is explanatory, although I still don’t really understand:

Another way to look at it is that a third of likely caucusgoers who identified themselves in the Register’s most recent poll as independent said they planned to attend a GOP caucus, while two-thirds said they planned to attend a Democratic caucus.

It is actually warming up here today. High’s in the upper twenties. Woo Hoo.

You cite 20% independents in both groups,

Er, no. You misread the article, which reads:

The Des Moines Register’s late November poll showed 21 percent of likely Democratic caucusgoers identified themselves as independents, a group that accounted for a surprising 40 percent in the Register’s poll this week.

So it’s 40% to 20% or 2:1.

i love the guy
we are all suffering under this corporate JUNTA…pets are now being discarded just dayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyum!

Oops, sorry.

Katrina was the microcosm…the rest of us the MACRO

Just read over at Crooks & Liars that Thompson will drop out within days if he doesn’t show well in Iowa. Don’t think his heart is in it, and we know that we don’t need another lazy thinker.

Irish Jim I’m glad you guys will warm up somewhat. Good thing the caucus’ aren’t tomorrow night when we’re scheduled to have some more freezing rain.

i am praying on this VERY cold day,for all the peeps,and pets that are cold and hungry in the richest nation in the world

Heckuva job with that Republican brand, Bushie!

the bush brand is not the republican brand

the bush brand is the fascist brand, real republicans and real concervatives have nowhere to go but the democrats

the bush brand is not the republican brand

It is now.

Apparently according to numerous reports, some from MSNBC’s Morning Joe: Obama’s numbers are up because several Repugs are gonna caucus for him. That’s real swell ain’t it?

“Heckuva job with that Republican brand, Bushie!”

heh heh…I really enjoy seeing all the GOP candidates flocking away from Bush’s stained legacy. It’ll be fun to watch the nominee hold W at arm’s length, as if failure is communicable.

tattoo it on their rich corporate asses

trying to screw Edwards

Oil supplies down in USA, prices going up. What a racket. What a deal for America?

Thank you BlueTexan, now that is a very thoughtful balanced way to read that poll.

The Repub field of presidential candidates is so disappointing that I’m not surprised to find true independents looking at the Dem candidates. However, I think it would be a mistake to believe that this phenomena will necesarily translate to lower level races as well. Many independents are seriously angry that they voted for Dems last November in order to see some true Bush opposition–opposition that never materialized.

they think they can beat the hill because they have disparaged her for so long the base hates her, they think they can beat obama because he is black and the base hates blacks

they got nothing on edwards, they really don’t want him to run

“It seems to me the smart strategy is to worry, because if you’re worried, you can take steps to fix it,” added Mehlman, who is unaffiliated with any of the campaigns in 2008. “One of the mistakes I think we made in ‘06 a little bit was not enough folks got concerned early in the process that year about where the elections were going.”

Not enough folks from Diebold and ES&S got concerned early enough to fix it.

Maybe those REpugs are going to become Obama Democrats, as long as they vote for him in the general too, that is fine with me.

And while you are praying for the Chinese, say a few for those of us in the United States as well. /s

Maybe those REpugs are going to become Obama Democrats, as long as they vote for him in the general too, that is fine with me.

they won’t, they think they can beat him in the general because he’s black they can mobilize the base who hate the black

you betchyorsweetass

That’s just Clinton spin, another lie, another day. Finally, this day may be the beginning of the end for the Clintons in national politics.

Republicans need to face the fact that they have lost their brand, all that will be left of that party will be the Bush 20% Evangelicals.

too dark …they wont sadlyyes

OfT – a little blowback for the latest NIE?

(I think that this is a real live, serious article, but it reads like snark)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..newsletter

hahahahahahahaha
spilled my coffee

I hope there is a state law in Iowa that prevents Republikans from switching party affiliations on the spot. Obama Lieberman has me worried.

Re: Repugs for Obama:

Jane speculated on this as well in a post yesterday…

this is why bloomberg has a shot at republican voters if he runs and he will run if huck or mitt win the primaraies, I doubt he’ll run if mccain wihs

I think he takes more republicans then democrats, what’s firedog lake’s wisdom on that?

We’ll all see what happens tonight in the Hawkeye state, eh? No more speculating.

I know of a vet that has about 20 cats, because people drop their pets off and can’t afford the bill, so they abandon.

i have visions of dark smokey rooms where these guys snort coke,and NEVER give up on their evil plots to steal elections…they terrify me worse than any jihadist…well flip side of the same coin i guess

I’m not so sure. If I were a Republican, I would hate to vote for my party this year, and I would prefer the other party to nominate someone not quite so partisan so I could feel secure voting for that someone. I think Obama is that guy, and in an open election, why shouldn’t I caucus for him if I were willing to vote for him in the general election?

They like how he makes change.

Edwards is a trial lawyer – the rethugs hate trial lawyers unless they happen to be representing rethugs. In that case, trial lawyers are OKIE DOKIE. Same thing with womens’ reproductive issues. Same thing with other false morality issues, m*rijuana and gun laws. Hypocrisy is the name of the game. When issues come home to roost and affect the personal life of a republican, he changes his tune every time.

Bloomberg:

If he runs he’ll f*ck things up for the Dems, not the Repugs…And if he runs he might well be the 2008 version of Nader in 2000.

i would be VERY pleased to send him some money…i rescue abandonded pets also

even though the media finds it shocking, voters are flocking to the party that is still discussing the war and really doesn’t care about hate based immigration policy.

lou dobbs go home

because sadly most are biggots,and think they are better

From your mouth to the Iowa voters.
I still have the tire tracks from the Clinton throwing us under the bus in the 90’s
DOMA
NAFTA
DONT ASK DONT TELL

Oh and good riddance to Carville and Begala too!

the sun just came out…oh yea!

Ummm because everything from A-Z about Obama has shades of Lieberman. Starting with Obama’s mentorship when first entering Congress. His support of Lieberman during the CT primaries. Chastising CT Dems at a fundraising dinner for booing a man who represents noting Dem these days. His BS lipservice to Lamont. His crapola about bipartisanship and social security in the hope of trumping Hilary durng the Russert debate. His equivocating. His last minute “decisions.” His no-show on Kyl/Lieberman, than chastising Hilary for voting on it (Even if her vote was disgusting, at least she bothered to show). His preference for the company of fundraisers rather than getting his arse down to DC to defend Chris Dodd’s stand on the FISA legislation. . . .*sigh* /rant off.

Reuters via NY Times Bloomberg says he’s not a Presidential candidate. Again.

Her. I don’t think she needs the money. She’s an excellant vet. Nice intuitive touch, and saved my cats numerous times.

I second. All in favor Aye, all opposed No.

His politics and record seem much more Republican than Democratic. So without much more information than that, I assumed that he’d pull more R-votes than D-votes, thus helping the Democrats. You’ve obviously thought about it and come to the opposite conclusion. May I ask why?

Means nothing or it could mean he is going to run. ‘Berg could jump in any time now.

Aye

mui1@62Please tell us how you really feel?

707

Aye

oh good…i thought you meant army vet…sorry

still havent heard from PY…can you believe it,and theres not a darn thing i can do about it…so many to worry about in the BOOOOOOOOOOOOsh
Boom

You want more?!? I’d be happy to oblige, but sometimes I run out of steam when I go on a precipitous rant.

BREAKING. WE WIN. von Spakosky gives up the FEC. !!! Snoopy dance!!!! *G* also tears.
links follow.

I love passionate people. You don’t sound like you run out of steam to me!

i agree with everything you said…and he also threw the gays under the bus

Thanks. I’ve read that. But I don’t believe him. Why is he going to that meeting in OK then?

Several people are going to that meeting. Not all plan to run.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/005012.php

“Hans von Spakovsky threw in the towel on New Years Eve, in an e-mail sent out to supporters.”

The analysis I’ve heard all along is that a very large turnoutin Iowa, including a lot of independents and Republicans, works for Obama and against Edwards and Clinton. If it’s a national trend, and they would vote Democratic in the general, it would suggest a strong Democratic victory. However, it would not seem to suggest a particulary strong showing for the most progressive part of the Democratic Party.

Perhaps Biodun feels that Blooberg as a third choice would have greater appeal to Independents than the Democratic candidate would. But not necessarily greater appeal to Republican voters. I have a bad feeling about all this centrist crap spawning a Unity Party candidate set. The writing is on the wall – with those AARP ads that morph the donkey and the elephant. Its a clever way to save the rethug brand – throw it out and make a new one masked in centrism (ergo, more rethug bad policy and governance).

The only thing better than running against Hillary, is running against Obama.

Repugs rate Edwards toughest to beat.

This piece is prominent at the Daily Paul, Ron Paul’s “daily forum”

Israeli defense firm that tallies the Iowa caucus

The Iowa caucus is only a few days away and the nation’s attention will be directed to the results, which signify the beginning of the U.S. presidential race. But does anyone watch who tallies the results of the Iowa caucus?

The Iowa caucus results were tallied in 2004 by a company that is headed by a man whose company was bought by Elron Electronics, the Israeli defense firm. I suspect that it will be the same this year. Don’t expect to see any grassroots political activists doing the tally in Iowa. The Israeli defense establishment takes care of that part of the American “democratic” election process.

I can find nothing at all about this in the MSM. But, I must say, I’d feel a lot more comfortable if I heard it strongly denied by someone whose word I respect. I’ve also seen the claim that there will be no audit trail available for this vote. Again, I’ve been unable to substantiate it.

If nothing else, it’s emblematic of our disturbing national tendency to turn over the underpinnings of our “democratic” system to corporations whose impartiality is far from guaranteed.

Anybody seen anything more about this?

i feel Obama will never be elected in a gneral election…look at the absolute hate of Mexicans,this country is teh RACIST!

That was just the most recent statement (today) where he has said it. He may not mean it but if he eventually caves in and runs (I can imagine that he is getting a lot of pressure from the Unity08/Broderella to spend his money to make them happy), then he becomes fair game across the board, including all his denials.

Hope the door hit him right square in the ass on his way out.

Sounds like good news – the independent voters going dem. But color me a skeptic. The last seven years have taught me not to believe that this is the final straw for republicans.

Has anyone wondered, as I am sure has been mentioned/pondered/questioned whether the republicans are voting dem to get the candidate THEY want, and will not stay dem for the general? Because I don’t trust anybody at this point on just about anything.

Sorry to be such a doubter. True belief in our voting system, let along republicans to see light, is scarce for me.

I AM SO VERY SICK of this meddling

I have no idea what he is selling except has say he can make change happen. But he’s never specific about what he finds wrong with the status quo. He’ll eliminate poverty without identifying its causes. There are no villians in his world. Just unpleasantries that he’ll fix, so he assures us with unctious sincerity.

If that’s true, how could a big turnout in Iowa be a good thing?

i REALLLLLLLY want to remain hopefull

Bloomberg leans to the left a bit on social issues. He was a Dem before he was mayor and switched only because he lost out of the Dem primary. Sound familiar? But seriously, a lot of New Yorkers think of him as a moderate Dem in Repug clothing. If eCAHN is at the Lake, she’ll confirm this…

do you NOT believe we live in a VERY rascist country?

Uh huh. He also said has said that obvious racial issues are not racial issues. Jena Six. New Orleans. Moyers with Walters on why the black community doesn’t wholeheartedly embrace Barack Obama.

Thanks gaiilonfong@75 *blushing.*

Repugs rate Edwards toughest to beat.

I think it’s always a mistake to look to Republicans’ preferences to pick our nominee. I never see Republicans say, “Democrats don’t want to face X” and I suspect it’s because they’re just really used to winning. Who cares what Republicans rate?

Actually he switched before the primaries as he knew he would not make it through a Dem primary.

Which means he at least had some small level of honor (unlike Short Ride)

Laikoff keeps telling us that there are no votes in the middle. But say that Bloomberg takes all of them, where otherwise they’d have split 50/50 for Dems/Repubs. That’s not a problem. In fact, I think he’ll take more of the indeps who’d have otherwise gone Republican in the general election. (YMMV)

i live in the South…its still Civil War here,im amazed how intractable the feelings are here,(moved here last summer)

From Moyers transcript:

BILL MOYERS: There’s a black progressive site. It’s called BlackAgendaReport.com. And I went to it this morning. And the editor of that site took both Obama and Oprah to task and I’m quoting for a three-state weekend extravaganza of vapid, substance-devoid entertaining posing as presidential politics. I mean, he goes on to say political theater has devolved to theater without politics. Do you agree with that?

RONALD WALTERS: Yes. I agree with that.

Recognize the implication. ENORMOUS.

For the elections:
The Repubs had frozen all nominations to FEC if they could not keep him on it. The FEC thus lacked a quorum and went out of business on Jan. 1 as a regulator of election law. As Little Hans was Obama’s hold, this says something for his senatorial record.

For culpalization of the Bush crimes:
This is the time to revive efforts to his disbarment for moral turpitude made when USA broke on TPM. IANAL, but I remembering citing here the opinions of those who are and thought the case, while difficult, could be made. If there are any takers, I can hunt them down.

Work calls. will check in later.

That’s way to large a discussion for me today. Short, in some ways yes, in some ways no. My point only has to do with Iowa and the general election. It doesn’t seem consistent to me to be for Edwards and gleeful over a large number of independents and Republicans crossing over.

in my mind its still US against the corporate candidates, just sayin

And more:

BILL MOYERS: If you were poor and living in the inner city, what message would you have taken away from the Obama-Oprah weekend?

RONALD WALTERS: Not very much. Because you– again, you don’t hear much discussion about poverty. John Edwards-

BILL MOYERS: He’s the only one.

RONALD WALTERS: The only one who’s called-

BILL MOYERS: Well, Kucinich and-

BILL MOYERS: Yeah.

RONALD WALTERS: Yeah, but of the major candidates, he’s the only one who’s talking about alleviating poverty. He’s the only one, even though Barack Obama has issued an urban policy, he doesn’t really talk about it. And that’s what I mean by inserting those issues into the political dialogue so that you’re educating the American people about what’s happening at the same time. So, yes, if I were in that situation and looked at what people were saying, I would come away disappointed.

This trend for Edwards also shows up in the head-to-head polls. All three top Dem candidates beat all three top Rep candidates, but Edwards beats them all by a larger margin than Hillary or Obama.

i am not gleeful,and truly not very hopeful that the STATUS QUO will change one iota…but i must try to be!

Where in the South are you?

TN

Morning all. We’re inching up twds 20 deggggreeeeze F. in n.e. OH, but it feels colder. At least the sun’s out, sorta, & the snow’s right purty.

Hats off to the caucus-attendees. Make Iowa proud, folks!

I think I saw that crazy gal from the Mr. Professor ad on computer-learnin’ being interviewed last night (”I swear even my 3 yr old can do the computer better than I can half the time.” – THAT gal). Teh presumed idjit claimed she loved Hill till she heard Hucksterbee and swooned for him till she heard Dodd, so now she loves Dodd… – as she burbled on, it appeared she’s gonna go with the last thing to pass by her nose. I HATE that! I’m hoping she was just playing a pesky reporter for getting in her face. If that’s not the case, I suggest her keepers let her outta the house more, not necessarily to caucus…

I grew up in Kentucky. My great-grandfather fought in the Confederate Army and spent 18 months in a Yankee prison camp. After the war, the South was an occupied territory for 10-12 years. There are many folks my age (mid-50s) who grew up hearing stories about the (Civil War/War Between The States/War of Northern Aggression – choose whichever name worked for your family). It doesn’t make it right, but it makes it somewhat understandable.

the media will give us 2 more corp whores unless Huckadoodle squeaks through imo

Well, as long as they don’t let her cross the street all by herself or, God forbid, drive…

we are products of our internal tapes, and our families shaping imo

Where Freddie Thompson will soon be relegated to civil war re-enactments.

-G

hahahahahahaha
mediocrity pays him well

I’m in GA. It does depend a lot on your general area. In the metro areas the racism is much less prevalent, but still exists. The radio talk show hosts make sure of that. Here, just outside Atlanta, what I see is not so much anti-black, but anti-furriner. Get a littler further out, and it is anti-not-white.

I grew up in Kentucky.

Among all the crazy conservatives, Kentucky has a tradition of producing some really fine progressives.

correction to my above.
HIS Disbarment for moral turpitude made when USA broke on TPM.

oh whoever controls our universe, please send us the ANTI-BOOOOOOOOSH!

Where Freddie Thompson will soon be relegated to civil war re-enactments.

I’d like to see the whole Republican Party relegated to political re-enactments. They can reminisce about the good old days, while we run the country.

When do the evening festivities begin?

its all the same…the OTHER

Yes we do live in a racist country. But both conservative, moderates and semi libruls, are willing to pick a “moderate” black man who will preserve the status quo, than a Kucinich or a Cynthia McKinney or an Edwards. We were supposed to think that Colin Powell represents diversity and progress in the Bush Camp.

That’s a good point. There are a lot of hawks that gag on the religiosity and social conservativism that the Rs need to pitch to hold their “base.” For example a lot of jewish voters. They could vote for Bloomberg but would otherwise have voted for a democrat. He’s BigBrother who believes in evolution and stem-cell research. Okay.

Thanks for the link. I love the title: Hans has left the building.

I also like the way it ends:

Von Spakovsky attached an endorsement by the Wall Street Journal, though he added that “it did not help in the end in convincing the Democrats to vote to confirm me.”

I’ll guess he’ll just have to intimidate federal employees and work to disenfranchise minorities from outside the government now.

Here’s what I said yesterday here in response to a “Unity ‘08″ drive-by spammer:

Here’s my comment: I don’t want my party to “unite” with the psychopathic racist sexist authoritarian sick fucks that are the remaining dregs of the Republican Party. I want my party to adopt a clear unambiguous progressive platform that repudiates all of the pathology of the degenerate Republican Party.

To the extent that there are any Republicans who are sick of the depravity of their party, and not too addled to recognize that it is their party that has single-handedly created the national clusterfuck we are currently embroiled in, they are welcome to join us. Otherwise, they can all go fuck themselves.

Id vote for the older wiser Colon Powell in a minute..i could be wrong,but i think hes seen the light

I’d like to see the whole Republican Party relegated to political re-enactments. They can reminisce about the good old days, while we run the country.

They can bob for rotten apples in Grover Norquist’s old bathtub. Fun!

Yeah, it’s a shame that the Senate seat once held by John Sherman Cooper, a liberal Republican/progressive is still occupied by Toothless Mitch McConnell, R-Big Bidness.

Right. But they’ve gotten over it enough to vote Republican. ;-)

word straight on up BRAVO!

Where Freddie Thompson will soon be relegated to civil war re-enactments.

Re-enactments? I thought he was old enough to be in the original.

Stop sugar-coating it and tell them how you really feel.

Not a chance in hell for me. When he did that presentation in front of the UN, he lost all possible credibility, no matter how he tries to rehab himself now.

HILL AND OBAMA is just more of the same
Huckadoodle, mind cant imagine

I thought that in 1998. Silly me. He doesn’t get another chance.

That’s cuz the R party became the party of the unreconstructed racists. Nixon’s Southern Strategy in full bloom.

“BAGHDAD – Clashes between the Iraqi Army and the neighbourhood patrol of Baghdad’s Sunni Aadhamiya district left three patrolmen wounded on Wednesday, members of the patrols said.”

Petreaus’ needs to hold these competing causes together for another year.

-G

I grew up in Virginia, and I’m about the same vintage as dakine01. My relatives had lots of stories about the Civil War, and the nastiness of the aftermath…

The South would be very different if Lincoln hadn’t been assassinated.

Id vote for the older wiser Colon Powell in a minute..i could be wrong,but i think hes seen the light

I think Colin Powell can be summed up as way too little way too late.

I believe the R party has given up on ‘08 – hence they have settled for double Gitmo, a preacher & two haggard retreads.

hahahahahaha
3strikes and your out

I think Colin Powell helped ruined the credibility with his craptastic performance before the UN. Colin powell in my mind will always be associated with those so-called nuke mobiles in Iraq.

Petreaus’ needs to hold these competing causes together for another year.

Competing causes = civil war

I don’t trust Powell. Not one bit.

Id vote for the older wiser Colon Powell in a minute..i could be wrong,but i think hes seen the light

He may have “seen the light”, but he’s yet to act on it. Maybe he’s not looking at the same light I am.

Goddam right he will. And for him not to come clean, fuck his oreo ass.

Huckabee was snookered into this race to grab the fundy vote.

Ron Paul has a 75% fundy rating.

“The Centre for Responsive Politics (CRP), which monitors the role of money in US politics, says pro-Israeli groups and individuals have already donated more than $845,000 to presidential candidates in the 2008 campaign – 70 per cent of it to Democrats.”

Links to Al Jazeera.

-G

wish we could have some new fresh faces…more Ned Lamonts

Yep. Lincoln knew what he was doing/planning. Andrew Johnson attempted to implement Lincoln’s plans but did not have the will or gravitas or political heft to do so.

Lincoln had I believe at least one if not more BIL who were in the Confederate Army (Gen John Breckinridge was his BIL iirc).

Kentucky was truly divided. Lincoln was born in Hodgensville, KY and his family went north. Jeff Davis was born in Hopkinsville, KY and his family went south. Plus Lincoln.s wife was from Lexington.

I still think you have to prioritize objectives. I think the most important thing in 2008 is put someone in the Executive Branch, and majorities in both houses of Congress, who understand the damage done by an arrogant adventurist foreign policy, an effort to subvert the constitution and accrue excessive power to the executive branch, a decrease in the economic opportunities open to those in the middle and lower economic classes, and want to repair the damage. The defeat of anyone who would work toward those goals and election of anyone who would sustain the Bush system, would be totally counterproductive in my view. Therefore, in 2008, I can live with Democrats who may be more or less progressive than I am, on any particular issues, so long is the help repair the damage done.

Ron Paul has a 75% fundy rating.

what does that mean(please explain)

He should have seen the light 40 years ago when we lied our way into that cluster-fuck.

They are indeed a dysfunctional myopic lot………

It’s one more for your list. So pleased that you of all people are pleased.

Also this once the FEC goes back to business, Edwards gets his matching funds. H/T Mary on TNH.

Please let’s snoopy dance, even if it’s cold and caucusy in Iowa. He was a real piece of work and a danger to the election process.

I may be repeating myself but it was actionable too.
[HIS] disbarment for moral turpitude is possible. suggestion made when USA broke on TPM. His was based on his falsification of references in an article on which he based his opinion that IIRC he wrote himself under a pseudonym. o.k. Small change. But they got Al Capone on tax evasion.

It looks like Reconstruction was the prototype of the shock doctrine.

I have said many times, Colin Powell was THE man to make the war inevitable and digestable to many, many Americans.

He was The Closer for BushCheneyCo.

For that he shall be in eternal bad graces with this Cranky Yankee.

Never to be trusted.

-G

Iowa Democrats. The eyes of the Oklahoma Democratic Party are focused upon you. We have faith in ya’ll.

Huckeebeery:

After Huckabee claimed earlier in the day that the writers weren’t striking “The Tonight Show” — a claim that wasn’t true — his campaign tried to explain how the populist Republican candidate wasn’t really undercutting the writers by appearing with Jay Leno. “The governor would only agree to join Jay, an active member of the Writers Guild, for the taping after he was assured that no replacement writers were being used in the show’s production,” the campaign said in a press release. “Gov. Huckabee believes that the writers deserve to be fairly compensated for the sale of their work. Governor Huckabee is glad that Jay Leno was able to put his 160 employees back to work and he strongly encourages both sides of the current labor dispute to work diligently toward an equitable solution for all parties involved.”

The striking writers weren’t buying it. The best sign from the picket line: “Huckabee, you can’t deny this cross.”

Link: http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/

one would have to be progressive/non corporately endowed to WANT to repair things

I think this is good news earlier in the morning we heard a rumor that the GOP was going to swing the election to Obama.
Which I now realize begs the question why I thought Hilary was the person who pissed off the GOP base the most?
But the GOP must have realized that the independent vote was going to go Democratic in a huge way and they thought that it was going for Obama.
So the GOP decided to do some preelection spin they are going to say no Obama and the Dems did not outvote us in total primary votes cast. Our guys all received secret messages on our blackberries to vote for Obama.
The problem with that story is that the GOP has been saying for months that Hilary and not Obama was the Candidate they thought they could beat the most.
Another problem is that swinging the vote to Obama means that the GOP admits that their racist base hates African Americans more than they hate Hilary. But of course not one MSM talking head will cover that angle.
The good news is that they are telling conflicting stories which says that things are not going according to plan for them.

[1] understand the damage done by an arrogant adventurist foreign policy, [2] an effort to subvert the constitution and accrue excessive power to the executive branch, [3] a decrease in the economic opportunities open to those in the middle and lower economic classes, and [4] want to repair the damage.

I am convinced that Edwards is totally down with 1, 3, and 4. What do we know about his position on 2?

I would be stunned if Colin even thought of running. Slink away. Make some $$. Put out a ghost-written book mebbe… But he acts thoroughly defeated and quite possibly wants absolutely nothing more within the political realm, ever. ymmv

oh yes please…things need to run a muck

if that is so, then he really is an empty suit

It matters in this house which of the Democrats the Indies prefer.

Walter Shapiro in Salon today:

In technical terms, the Edwards campaign in Iowa is the most traditional of the three leading Democrats. The guiding theory is that while turnout will be higher than the 122,000 who caucused in 2004, it will not jump much beyond 140,000. Obama (with his appeal to younger and less partisan voters) and, to a lesser extent, Clinton (whose Iowa base is older women) are depending on a sharp jump in turnout on caucus night. The Des Moines Register’s final pre-caucus poll on Dec. 31 gave Obama a startling 7-percentage-point lead over Clinton, with Edwards just behind Clinton. But the Register survey — which aroused skepticism among many polling professionals — predicted a tidal wave of independent voters, a pattern that defies precedent.

Link: http://www.salon.com/news/feat…..3/edwards/

its up to 16

ymmv

— ?you make me vomit?

I did a post yesterday with a host of links to survey information and analysis on constitutional, executive power and other rule of law issues. It’s the Dems v. GOP analysis post. Don’t have time to pull the link now, but maybe someone else has it handy…

somebody said the other day here Edwards was the most vetted,oh please universe throw us a good guy for a change

lol,thanks

Colin Powell? Now there’s a person of principle. Just like his successor at State. Mr. Powell you had your shot at possible greatness. You blew it. Big time.

On Larry King’s Show, Mrs. Powell stated: “My husband was used.” He allowed himself to be used. “He lives in metal alloy tube.”

Ron Paul has a 75% rating among Evangelical Christians.

I’ve been waiting for Clinton, Obama, or Edwards to address the trampling of the Constitution. And, I’ve not heard much. Edwards gets an edge in my mind due to the fact that he has been a serious practicing lawyer, and he uses the word fight as though he realizes that there are some evil people inside the American political system. With him I have some hope that he’ll try to clean out that pit of vipers and lock them up. With Clinton and Obama, I don’t see a chance in hell.

ya know,he must set the record straight before he dies…he really needs to do that imo

why him do you spose?

Well, I think we can get hung up in semantics and labels. In a lot of ways, the emphasis on repair is a return to something which existed in the past and could be labelled as reactionary, rather than progressive. The point is, that the current ultra conservative Republicans have gone a ways in sending us back to the 19th century and seem to be striving for some pre-Elignment society. Restoration of a belief that government can work for the common good is a start, but has to overcome 30 years of propaganda.

Powell knows a lot that he should tell for the good of the nation. He has not yet done so, which IMHO is irresponsible.

Speaking of Condi-Bot 2007. She’s stonewalling on the KBR rape camps that have been opened up in Iraq after a brief shuttering of the old Saddam rape camps.

The new rape camps are turning a much better profit.

Stonewalled.

-G

oh oh now cut that out, heh heh.

‘ere i is tryin’ ta git along & act savvy ‘n all, & ya bust my cover…

to my delicate sensibilities, ymmv = your mileage may vary, or at least it used ta wuz… egad.

*puts dunce cap back on & returns to stool in corner*

Ron Paul has a 75% rating among Evangelical Christians.

…and 99.5% rating among blimpohiles.

Found it; thanks!

Or the “flat tax” people

Protecting The Constitution And Respecting Our Freedoms

Restore Habeas Corpus and Shut Down Guantanamo

The Bush Administration has claimed the power to seize and indefinitely detain anybody it labels an “enemy combatant” with no due process and no lawyer, even if they were seized here in America. It built a prison at Guantanamo Bay outside the reach of our courts, creating a symbol that galvanizes our enemies and alienates our allies. As president, Edwards will shut down Guantanamo and work to resolve the status of the detainees, hundreds of whom have been held for years without being charged. He will also restore the writ of habeas corpus to reinstate judicial review of detention, rather than allow unchecked executive power.

Protect Americans’ Privacy and Freedom

Our government should protect the privacy, communications, and personal records of Americans—not spy on them without court supervision as the Bush Administration has done. Edwards will end the warrantless wiretapping of Americans’ phone calls and e-mails and the data-mining of Americans’ communications and personal records, restoring judicial review to surveillance of American citizens. He rejects retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies. He will fix the Patriot Act by restoring important safeguards to the provisions most susceptible to abuse: the “sneak-and-peek” delayed-notice searches, National Security Letters, and the business and library records provisions. He will also end racial profiling by law enforcement.

Defend the Constitution

Edwards will end the practice of issuing presidential “signing statements” that claim the administration can ignore the law. He will respect the proper roles of the Congress and the courts. He will not shroud the actions of the White House in secrecy. He will not abuse the executive privilege to hide information from Congress and the courts. And he will not interfere with the professional judgment of attorneys at the Justice Department or impose a partisan agenda on their interpretation of the nation’s laws and Constitution.

On Larry King’s Show, Mrs. Powell stated: “My husband was used.” He allowed himself to be used. “He lives in metal alloy tube.”

I wonder who “set him up” when he was busy covering up My Lai…

economists’ answer to flat-earth people…

Colin is an enabler of the “Iraqi Oil Plot.” Smedley Butler would have some choice words for him, Im sure!

Oh, the humanity.

-G

I dislike ‘toadies’ intensely. Particularly those who suck up to the Bush family. Mr. Powell fits snugly into that description.

I think Colin Powell may have been the only person who could have stopped the invasion of Iraq, if he had resigned on principle. In a way I feel sorry that he failed, but he did, with disastrous effects for this country.

Yep — I can’t help thinking that that high pitched whine coming from Springfield, Illinois is Lincoln spinning in his grave…how far his party has fallen…

(”O mighty western star…”)

Beautful! (Well, beautiful words, anyway.)

okay EVERYBODY here does NOT believe,he is older and wiser,and sorry

Matt Stoller speaks for me in Salon:

Matt Stoller, political activist, consultant and blogger, OpenLeft.com

While Clinton and Obama have endorsed the war on terror, the central frame of the Bush-Cheney governance model, Edwards has repudiated it, and has stated that it is time that Americans be patriotic about something other than war. I don’t particularly trust any of them to run good campaigns and none of them are particularly accomplished, but Edwards is somewhat loyal to progressive values. In addition, if Edwards can win in Iowa with a hostile media that undercuts and ignores him, then maybe he can do that nationally. And that’s what we need if we are to stop the authoritarian drift toward a lazy corporate P.R.-style autocratic state and create a more sustainable, open and just republic. Sorry to sound so self-important, but there you go.

Edwards opposes the Iraq war, but not the war on terror. I don’t think any politician in their right mind would repudiate the war on terror. Al-Qaeda and freelance ancillary jihadists do exist… Did Edwards really repudiate the war on terror? News to me.
Linky anyone?

Link: http://www.salon.com/opinion/f…..ndex1.html

…calling markers?

Yes. And recall the talk not so long ago about Ms. Rice running for prez. What a hoot.

I am inclined to agree with what you are saying.

Peter Principle

Edwards will end the practice of issuing presidential “signing statements” that claim the administration can ignore the law.

this gives me a great idea to add to the platform;

that he will make a signing statement that he understands no previous signing statement has any standing as it concerns that law, that the president is not excused from any law simply because he makes any claim about any law in any signing statement

a little verbose, needs some work but you get the idea

my feet are cold

Ahem.

Perhaps you could find an alternative phrase?

*g*

is the contest stil on in Edwards camp for TV ad?

I don’t think any politician in their right mind would repudiate the war on terror. Al-Qaeda and freelance ancillary jihadists do exist… Did Edwards really repudiate the war on terror?

I don’t know anything more about Edwards’s position. But the point is not that there is no such thing as terrorism. The point is that it is not something that one can wage war against. Framing terrorism as an “enemy” in a “war”–rather than a tactic used by small bands of disenfranchised criminals–leads only to disaster.

Beautful! (Well, beautiful words, anyway.)

Right. I had the same thought. Still, Edwards looks like our best hope at the moment.

yep. pretty much. depending on yer definition of “sorry”, as in spectacle?
specimen? excuse for a [fill in the blank]?

me too…supposed to be 60 by Sunday here in east TN

hahhahahahaha
ive had 3 solid big laughs here today…i love that

He and his famous doctring gave the Iraq invasion operational and political credibility (though not moral credibility). Per the Wikipedia:

The questions posed by the Powell Doctrine, which should be answered affirmatively before military action, are:

1. Is a vital national security interest threatened?
2. Do we have a clear attainable objective?
3. Have the risks and costs been fully and frankly analyzed?
4. Have all other non-violent policy means been fully exhausted?
5. Is there a plausible exit strategy to avoid endless entanglement?
6. Have the consequences of our action been fully considered?
7. Is the action supported by the American people?
8. Do we have genuine broad international support?

Count the number of thse preconditions that were violated by the Invasion of Iraq.

oh goody

easy doctoral thesis: the Peter Principle as perfected during the boosh administration. the living, breathing, pretzel-laced essence.

oops! just saw. apologies Peterr!

We need to haul her to Congress to testify now! Lets see Bush use his Executive Priviledge argument to keep her from testifying. This could be the perfect media storm for the GOP.
Hiding a child molesting Congressman named Mark Foley helped them lose control of Congress last time. So either Condi talks or her refusal to talk will cause her to be compared to Mark Foley as one of the big reasons why the GOP lost two elections in a row.
Condi is all about image and things being perfect, if we start comparing her to Mark Foley in the press she should talk.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
i love this place

for startes …what happened to Bennie?

argh!!!! starters

Possibly number 2, if you’re so short sighted as to think the removal of Sadam Hussein was a sufficient goal. I don’t think Powell was that stupid.

I’ve sometimes thought that the Bush Administrations should make available free tapes of Sadam’s execution as the only benefit obtained from the whole effort.

Democrat John Edwards Wednesday repudiated the notion that there is a “global war on terror,” calling it an ideological doctrine advanced by the Bush administration that has strained American military resources and emboldened terrorists.

In a defense policy speech he planned to deliver at the Council on Foreign Relations, Edwards called the war on terror a “bumper sticker” slogan Bush had used to justify everything from abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison to the invasion of Iraq.

“We need a post-Bush, post-9/11, post-Iraq military that is mission focused on protecting Americans from 21st century threats, not misused for discredited ideological purposes,” Edwards said in remarks prepared for delivery. “By framing this as a war, we have walked right into the trap the terrorists have set—that we are engaged in some kind of clash of civilizations and a war on Islam.”

http://www.breitbart.com/artic….._article=1

here’s the link

http://www.johnedwards.com/myvote/

Hi. My name is Kristine and I’m checking in from Iowa, where it’s a balmy 19 degrees this morning. I am a registered NP (although I can’t imagine wanting to vote Republican, like, ever) and I will be attending my first caucus tonight. What gives me the most hope about the Democratic candidates is that a few of my politics-hating family members have actually asked my opinion on who will best represent them. These are people who normally vote but don’t usually talk about it at all otherwise. Even my evolution-denying mother has decided the Republicans are a bunch of whack-jobs.

I’ve had the privilege of seeing most of the candidates speak; I’ve seen Edwards and Obama each three times and the rest, with the exception of Kucinich and Gravel, at the Harkin Steak Fry. Within the last two weeks I’ve seen Bill Clinton and John Edwards (again). The last Edwards speech had me in tears and afterward, while he was giving an interview to CNN on the sidewalk, an aquaintence of mine came up and told me that up until that day she had been undecided, but she wasn’t any longer.

It makes me happy that people around me that are otherwise indifferent are realizing how important this is. I’m very excited about (full disclosure) standing with the Edwards crowd at the caucus tonight and I’m thrilled that some of my family members will be joining me.

Now I’m trying to figure out a strategic clothing and/or fragrance choice that will make others want to stand close to me. ;)

Or a different spelling.

Democrat John Edwards Wednesday repudiated the notion that there is a “global war on terror,” calling it an ideological doctrine advanced by the Bush administration that has strained American military resources and emboldened terrorists.

Wow, this guy really “gets it”. This country needs him as President sooooooo badly.

That gets my vote.

This is just canned spam, being posted identically all over the Internet, correct?

No, sorry if I made it seem that way. I’ve only posted here a couple of times, so maybe I don’t know all the “rules” or something.

thank you

Sorry, then. I guess it sounded too well-written to be an extemporaneous blog comment. Good luck in the caucusing!

Kristine,

Thanks for your first-hand report! We look forward to hearing from you later today on how things are developing.

go EDWARDS

OK, this is rich. In this diary we learn of the independents where it is chalked up to disgust with the repugs. This is plausible. Then, in the earlier diary by Phoenix Woman and your comment, it is suggested that this is a mass plan by the repubs to get Obama, presumed more easy to beat than Hillary or Edwards, nominated. So which is it?

I will go with the principle a scientific colleague once articulated to me, a corollary of the famed razor of Occam: “Never underestimate the explanatory power of sheer incompetence.” In this case, that applies to the Bush administration and current republican field of presidential candidates, and suggests that indepdendents are really interested of leaving this party to the lizard brains, who are happy to embrace Huckabee.

And Obama? He has real crossover appeal whether he uses codewords that resonate with wingnut talking points or not. He apparently sees a chance to capture those independents and is going for it. The man is flawed, but to me he looks like a real presidential candidate.

I’m so glad you said that. Usually I’m too intimidated to post anything here because I’m not sure I have anything to add. I just thought some of you might be interested in little bits of what’s going on around here.

And thank you, egregious. I’d be happy to write again and to let everyone know what happens at the caucus.

And thank you, egregious. I’d be happy to write again and to let everyone know what happens at the caucus.

We’ll be waiting! Please keep us posted.

Hi Blue Texan, loved yer post, esp. the STFU immediately part.

Hate Bush, hate the corporate Junta (good one!) and hate obstructionist Repuke critters, and will I hate obstructionist Iowan R caucus goers who throw behind the Dem candidate they most like to hate? I dunno. I just know I liked your post.

Go Edwards.

“…the Unity ‘08/the-Democratic-Congress-is-less-popular-than-Bush crowd really needs to STFU immediately.”

My how VERY Republican of you. May we all stay on YOUR message, oh blue one.

Kristine, your comment gives ME hope! I have many koolaid drinking family members, and if your mom is thinking hard about who to vote for, that’s awesome.

And thank you, egregious. I’d be happy to write again and to let everyone know what happens at the caucus.

We’ll be waiting! Please keep us posted.

Ditto

That’s lovely to hear. I think Washington noted that democracy requires an informed electorate. Sometimes it’s discouraging, but incidents like your comment raise hopes.

The best part is that my family isn’t only asking me for whom they should vote, but WHY. Then I get to tell them all the information I know and they look at me like I’m really wise. *g*

This is what Digby was saying too.

I’ll have to find a link to Bill Maher’s “Real Time,” where he said something to the effect “I don’t want to reach across the aisle, I want to crush them (Repubs) into fine powder.” But I like the way you’ve articulated it, with mind as well as emotion.

Usually I’m too intimidated to post anything here because I’m not sure I have anything to add. I just thought some of you might be interested in little bits of what’s going on around here.

We are very interested! Please keep posting!

for startes …what happened to Bennie?

I spoke to a stranger today in a doctor’s office waiting room. He said he was an Independent and just didn’t know what to do this year. I didn’t push him to explain, but our conversation then took another interesting turn. He said his brother had a Pakistani doctor here and that this doctor (who was also a lawyer) actually knew both Musharraf AND Bhutto when he was in Pakistan.

I asked what the doctor had to say about Bhutto since her death and he said he hadn’t talked to the doc since that. It would certainly be an interesting conversation.

But, considering what we’ve learned about ‘Bennie’ in the reports about her here at the lake it was nice to hear that the doctor said she was well-regarded and considered to be a good person who was very bright and just a little too greedy about money. I think that probably matches what we’ve heard.

What a sad story that is and how tragic for Democracy and her supporters in Pakistan.

I guess it sounded too well-written to be an extemporaneous blog comment.

“To make victorious the campaign for the treatment good of all people who work in these states which are united all around stand courageously for the man of nice hair from North Carolina John Edwards.”
— Borat

So which is it?

,

aah, confusing isn’t it : different people have different opinions…