G’morning, Christy and pups.

Just caught up with the news that Ann Coulter says she’ll campaign for Hillary if McCain gets the Repug nod. OMG! Raises the hackles. Which raises the matter of what candidates do if an unsavory soul latches on. A Rove ploy?

Good morning Christy. The owl is gorgeous. ;-)

I see we’ll have Hillary v Mittens on ABC, McCain v Obama on CBS and McCain v Hillary on Faux. Where’s the Mittens v Obama match-up?

Oh, yikes! Please, Ann, please, for the love of heaven, do us all a favor and stay home…

Owls, wonderful owls. Owls nested and babies hatched in a tree in the secluded gardn behind my house in a major European metropolis. One of the joys of sprig.

EPU’ed from below. Somethting to kick around since the T-heads wont, Sorry for metaphor, came I can imagine how.

Rove doing math again.His mathiness is truthi, except when it’s entirely based on illegal acts. Anyone up for parsing this one.
Gotta go, there is lots of life befor sports kick in.

Which makes me think: When its football vs baseball metaphors in USA speech, who wins. and where to look. Basket ball has given us slam dunk? What are you favorite ones that can be given a political twist?

Will check back later/

Third, we are told Democrats have raised more money. You will search in vain for a similar declaration of last rites for the Democrats in 2000 when Republicans outraised them. And having more money doesn’t decide the contest. Consider 2004, when Democratic presidential candidates, committees and 527s outspent their Republican counterparts by $124 million—and lost. Besides, the RNC has nearly eight times the cash on hand as the DNC. Just a month has passed since voting began, and nine months remain before November. Let’s see what happens to Republican bank accounts as the year goes on.

Maybe we are not seeing the crackup of the GOP. Rather, America is more likely to be at the start of an intense and exciting election. The contest will be hard fought, the actions of the candidates each day hugely significant. It’s far too early to draw sweeping conclusions about the health of either party; the presidential race, after all, has barely begun. Lots of surprises lie ahead.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/107568/page/2

She can’t, she needs to vote in two places or the wrong place to prove ‘voter fraud’ in FL.

Morning Christy…

Morning all…

My very first Sunday visit at FDL. I’ll read the post in a few…

Rushbo apparently had some issues with his voting machine too.

Russert is promoting MtP as follows: “Two days before Super Tuesday, we have an all star cast of veteran campaign strategists to devote the full hour to insights & analysis on Decision 2008: Democrats Bob Shrum & James Carville and Republicans Mary Matalin & Mike Murphy. More than 2,600 delegates are at stake on Tuesday, what will happen in the race for the Democratic & Republican nominations?”

Murphy seemed like a reasonable fellow, when I saw him doing election-night commentary after the NH primaries (on HDnet, hosted by Dan Rather). I don’t much care for the other three.

Barred owls are the only owl to vocalize during daylight.

Which makes me think: When its football vs baseball metaphors in USA speech, who wins. and where to look. Basket ball has given us slam dunk? What are you favorite ones that can be given a political twist?

What a fun question! I think that both candidates “hit one out of the park” in last Thursday’s debate. I’ll have to leave the football and basketball terms to folks who follow those sports.

The GOP depends on Wallstreet cash allot more than we do. Has anyone told Karl about what is happening to the DOW lately? Karl is right cash will not help us if we elect someone who will not fight back.
But if that is what he is counting on especially with the sad sacks his party is running this time with an economy tanking and a war we are losing AND ITS ALL BUSH’S FAULT, well hope springs eternal.

I learn the most interesting things here.

Good Morning Christy!

Ah! That explains why we’ve been hearing owls in the morning after sunrise.

We’ll see what Carville and wifey Matalin come up with with Timmeh… (or Mr. Potato-head)

O RLY?

Per Karl Rove:

You will search in vain for a similar declaration of last rites for the Democrats in 2000 when Republicans outraised them.

In fact, I’ve hoped for years for such a declaration regarding the Republicans, but alas I’ve neither seen nor heard of such a thing. Yet another Rovian strawman?

The Owl does not miss a thing, from his perch…… Not much follow up on last week’s 60 Minutes Story and statements by FBI Agent who was charged with coddling Saddam while in US custody prior to handing him over to the Iraqi’s for execution. He stated Saddam told him Iraq had NO WMD!

Black Gold and myopic self interest…………..

Morning Christy! Morning firedogs!

Why is Hillary on Fox. Isn’t that the same Chris Wallace that Bill interviewed awhile back?

Hey there, Elliott… I now realize you’re an early bird at FDL. Which state do you live in?

Roughing the candidate

PA

Well, for one thing, the corporate media has really put a squeeze play on the Democratic Party. Now we can only pray that one of our two weakest candidates will make it past the goal line.

Interesting question, especially since I was under the impression that most Democrats were boycotting Faux. (I left you an answer to your question downstairs, EPU’d.)

Yikes. Wikipedia could only produce two football metaphors, period. both pertinent.

A political football refers to a political issue that is used primarily as part of the ‘political game’, rather than as an issue to be addressed.

The nuclear football refers to the briefcase which accompanies the President of the United States, containing codes which would enable him or her to launch a nuclear attack, should the need arise.

The question is where do think like kick a idea around and other kicking terms come from?

One thing I am sure “the whole nine yards” is not football.

There it i 8:30 and the LakeLifeGuards are declaring the lake off limits.

One last post and I am out of here.

Easy — we’re already watching the corporate media “moving the goalposts” when it comes to fact-checking between the Dem and GOP candidates.

I heard Bill did good on that interview. I think Hilary can get points running against the Fox Network which hates her more than Tweety the thing is she has to bury Chris Wallace.
I would prefer that she avoid Fox completely, but then again Fox has done so much to hurt her maybe she feels she has to stand up to them. Still she needs to bury him, cause if Chris gets the better of her before super tuesday its over.

Biden Dodd Kucinich just a little experience there………

Palemale and Lola is one of the best bird sites on the Intertubes. I can’t get over how stunning the photography is.

I hear screeches in the night in the late summer & tried fruitlessly to figure out what they were in books, online, & asking friends. I finally found the email address of Donald Kroodsma, who wrote The Singing Life of Birds: The Art and Science of Listening to Birdsong. He emailed me back to say that it was young owls (not screech owls) trying to establish territoriality. It may have been barred owls, but I don’t remember.

Good Morning, Firepups!

It’s clear and mild this morning in central Jersey, but I’m not able to enjoy it. I’m home sick with the flu (yup, really diagnosed flu–since I missed getting my flu shot this year–so let me be an example of the misery you will experience, and go get a flu shot if you haven’t already had one!!). Mr. NJP had to go a great jazz concert solo last night: Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Jack DeJohnette played at NJPAC in Newark last evening. I’m so jealous!

Given my poor health right now, I’m not offering breakfast goodies this morning. Marion in Savannah usually has terrific baked goods, and big pots of coffee and tea. I’ve got a little pot of tea, and will have a slice of whole wheat toast later.

In spite of the MSM and its tired clichés, it’s a good year to be a Democrat.

Work for peace, every day.

Do you think Schieffer will ask Obama about the upcoming Rezko trial with Patrick Fitzgerald?

Palemale and Lola is one of the best bird sites on the Intertubes. I can’t get over how stunning the photography is.

I never saw their website, thanks. Birds are a stunning subject!

For Christy,

EPUed from yesterday’s pull up a chair.

Anything in magic food tool box for a low cal dip for veggies made from a yogurt cheese (yougurt trained for 24 hours which becomes the consistency of cream cheese but without the glue. Dontt enough herbs to herb it.

Where to do go for low cal carb superbowl dips or is that an oxymoron?

Got to cut up the things that the dip will go on to serve those whose nirvana is not pizza and wing. We now have persian/armenian cucumbers in our (very Amenian )neck of the woods. tastier than Ameican or English. a bout the size of thin short zucchini.

Check back in 30 min.

Is the pope a nazi?

There is the football equivalent of “long shot,” namely “a hail-Mary pass”, which I’ve heard a few times used as a political metaphor.

The Football vs. Baseball cliches remind me of George Carlin.

there you go. I’ll sleuth around during the half time game that I hate. report back tomorrow am this posting time.

Try this

Excerpt from excellent Frank Rich column this morning. Remember, I have been an unrepentant Edwards supporter:

BEFORE John F. Kennedy was a president, a legend, a myth and a poltergeist stalking America’s 2008 campaign, he was an upstart contender seen as a risky bet for the Democratic nomination in 1960.

Kennedy was judged “an ambitious but superficial playboy” by his liberal peers, according to his biographer Robert Dallek. “He never said a word of importance in the Senate, and he never did a thing,” in the authoritative estimation of the Senate’s master, Lyndon Johnson. Adlai Stevenson didn’t much like Kennedy, and neither did Harry Truman, who instead supported Senator Stuart Symington of Missouri. {snip}

How did the fairy-tale prince from Camelot vanquish a field of heavyweights led by the longtime liberal warrior Hubert Humphrey? It wasn’t ideas. It certainly wasn’t experience. It wasn’t even the charisma that Kennedy would show off in that fall’s televised duels with Richard Nixon.

Looking back almost 30 years later, (Kennedy speechwriter Richard) Goodwin summed it up this way: “He had to touch the secret fears and ambivalent longings of the American heart, divine and speak to the desires of a swiftly changing nation — his message grounded on his own intuition of some vague and spreading desire for national renewal.”

(((NJP))) I hope your flu doesn’t hang on. Bundle up, lots of fluids, and try a piece of Mr. Marion in Savannah’s whole wheat bread. (He’s the bread baker in the family, and a good one too.) Get well soon.

Hey NJP, feel better soon.

I love Owls. The love affair started with the logo of my favorite local brand of potato chips, Wise, and once I started reading about them, and how they turn their head almost 360 degrees, I was hooked forever.

classic!

“we are told Democrats have raised more money. ” Is there any doubt that we have raised more cash? Karl your biggest fundraiser was Ron Paul who hasn’t won a state yet.
Look at the primary results Karl we are pulling in huge numbers if the trend continues on Super Tuesday especially in the Southern and Western states it won’t matter how much cash we have cause we will have the votes.

By the thousands, Paul’s fervent followers donated $19.95 million to the “Ron Paul Revolution.” He spent $17.75 million, and at year’s end, had $7.8 million cash on hand, making him the only Republican candidate to increase his fundraising totals in every quarter of 2007. According to his website, Paul’s Paulunteers have contributed another $4.1 million this month to…

fuel the strict constitutionalist’s travels and advertising campaign.

Compare that impressive financial success with, say, ex-candidate Rudy Giuliani, who raised only $14.4 million from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 and spent $18.2 million.

Or the departed Fred Thompson, who collected $8.9 million and spent $13.9 million.

Or even the newly-minted Republican front-runner Sen. John McCain, who raked in only $9.9 million, spent $10.5 million and had only $2.9 million cash in hand. Of course, McCain’s string of primary victories in January will have boosted his financial fortunes. Everybody loves a winner.

Mitt Romney actually raised only $9.2 million from other people last quarter, less than half of Paul’s haul. However, the former Massachusetts governor — and if he keeps spending at this rate, the quite possibly former multimillionaire — gave himself $18 million more of his own money last fall for a total of $27.2 million and $2.4 million cash on hand.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.co.....er-ro.html

I had dinner with a MN FDLer yesterday, and he said Hill would be the ideal candidate to face McCain in general. He said sure the Repugs have the playbook on her, but what new info can they come up with? I have to say I reluctantly agreed with him…

This morning’s puzzle: Which one of

Broder | Hoagland | Toles | Will

is not a clown?

The fact that Obama got 70% of the moveon vote means that he’s the weaker candiddate in the general.

yes I did omit Edwards…..apologies

This Minnesotan disagrees.

Thanks for all the get well wishes from the early morning crew!

Many years ago, I had a job as curator of education. I had a graduate degree in art history, but I worked at a general museum, and had to be able to give any of 19 different gallery talks in history, art, and science. So I explained to some old grad student friends that I was giving live animal talks, with toads, turtles, snakes, lizards, a black-footed ferret, and a small kestrel. The museum’s natural science department briefly had a small screech owl, but she kept clipping her way through successively heavier gauge screening, so she went to a raptor center, where they were better able to care for her (she had a damaged wing, and wouldn’t have survived in the wild). She was so tiny, but such a handful!!

Probably…Again, my FDL friend said the Repugs will throw everything but everything against Obama. Again, I couldn’t disagree with him…

Why is that, barbara? After all the stuff over the years, what new material can the Repugs come up with on her?

IIRC, Kennedy was only 43 years old (roughly four years younger than Obama) and had served only one-and-a-half terms in the senate. Mostly, he got the election by being a very good speaker (like Obama) and having an excellent speech writer (like Obama). On the other hand, his father’s connections with Chicago Boss Richard Daly delivered Illinois, which was critical to his election.

Also, he conjured up the non-existent “missle gap” to play on Americans’ fears.

Oh, that wasn’t a problem, but thanks. I am working mightily to gin up enthusiasm for Obama. And it’s getting easier every day. BIG turnout for him in Minneapolis yesterday. 20,000 or so. And I hear young people (oh, lordy, everyone seems young to me!) flat out excited about voting for him. That’s worth a lot, I think.

How’s Franken doing? Does he have a chance?

Nobody can put things in perspective like Carlin.

I think this quote shows that football analogies to politics are more appropriate:

“Football has hitting, clipping, spearing, piling on, personal fouls, late hitting and unnecessary roughness.”

How’s Franken doing? Does he have a chance?

Poll: Franken leads Democrats in Minn. Senate race

This one is my all time favorite of all time.

I read somewhere yesterday that Franken now leads in the polls.

I had dinner with a MN FDLer yesterday, and he said Hill would be the ideal candidate to face McCain in general. He said sure the Repugs have the playbook on her, but what new info can they come up with? I have to say I reluctantly agreed with him…

i don’t know B, this bit with Bill and Kazakhstan could be, and frankly should be big trouble for them, I’m catching up on the late nite threads and there’s a bit about it in the late late nite thread. Look at Busted’s comment to start.

and btw, everybody should watch that video Eureka Springs put up.

I think we have not seen all of it. And the spectre of Bill Clinton looms large. Very large. He is Hillary’s albatross. And whether or not that’s fair, the perception of the 90% of the population (old stat, but probably still close) not particularly tuned in to politics will play a huge part in the election outcome. It’s not so much a problem with Hillary (though I find her off-putting) as with the Clinton machine and the ghost of Clintons past. Also the dynasty thing. And the old slime will be trotted out for multiple replays. (Mixed metaphor . . . need more/less coffee.)

Superbowl stuff on MSNBC with Tiki Barbar. Sports and politics: Fox has decided to capitalize by mashing up Superbowl with Super Tuesday:

In a move to super-size an already sprawling day of programming, the News Corporation is mashing up the Super Bowl and Super Tuesday with a blend of its sports and news divisions.

The day will begin with an hour of “Fox News Sunday” where the host, Chris Wallace, will cover the battle in 22 states two days later as well as the match at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., that night. A two-hour special, with the anchor Shepard Smith — transplanted from cable to the main network — as host, will then use reporting from various Fox affiliates around the country to create a blend of football and politics intended to build interest in the respective contests, and not so coincidentally, the Fox brand.

barbara, have you seen this video done for Obama?

this bit with Bill and Kazakhstan

This is news to me… Which specific late-night thread are you talking about?

Morning gang. Coffee’s finally on and brewing, dishwasher’s onloaded, and I’m working on my next post. How is everyone this morning? Cold here…heavy frost, and unhappy, fluffed-out birdies on the feeder this morning. Brrrrrr…

Fox has decided to capitalize by mashing up Superbowl with Super Tuesday

I believe, when referring to Fox News, the term is “crapitalize.” ;)

This is news to me… Which specific late-night thread are you talking about?

here’s a link to Busted’s comment where he brings it up.
link

Hey Christy -

We’re watching old Carlin videos and yapping about stuff.

the hippie dippie weatherman is a genius

Chilly and a bit damp here, little finches all over the thistle seed socks. Keep warm!

I’m getting ready to make the beef, mushroom and barley soup.

Awesome!!! Thanks so much.

Hi Christy…Nice to be here with you this Sunday morn. I’m used to weekdays. And yes, I can use more coffee as well, more than I’m used to. I gotta be sharper than usual spending time with FDLers on Sunday morning…*g*

Hail Mary Pass??

Here in Minneapolis, it’s somewhat foggy and warmer (well, for the frozen north…17 F (barbara: Is it the same where you are?)

MTP:
Shrum: living in the ’60s
Murphy: polling showing Obama closing in on Clinton in Cali
Carville: if Hillary loses Cali she’s in big trouble, bellwether
Matalin: change is hoo-hah.

That may be all we need to know….

Elliott, the video makes me realize that my new theme song, directed to John Edwards, is “Please release me (let me go).” (sigh) Yes, I’m that old!

Thanks!

I’d like to quote Mrs ralphbon on the day John Edwards dropped out, some days after Kucinich:

So now I can’t even vote my conscience in the primary??

South metro area. Same here. Our trees are lightly frosted and no white caps on the bird bath today.

Like I said, squeeze play.

Giuiliani: Fouled out.

The Republican primaries are mostly winner-take-all, which means that the Republican nominaton may be settled as of Wednesday. At that point, McCain can stop talking crazy and start to broaden his appeal. IMHO, he’ll be a very dangerous opponent, whom conservatives will embrace provided they get one of their own as his veep, which will be a very important slot for obvious reasons. Think of McCain as the conservatives’ re-entry vehicle.

He drop the ball

Giuliani: Statue of Liberty play

Early in my career with the FAA, I worked shift work at an airport about five miles outside of town in the Texas panhandle. On mid-watches, I was the only person on the airport all night. Every hour, I had to go outside and look at the sky, the visibility, and read some instruments for a weather observation. One night I was reading The Exorcist and went out to make my weather observation. While I was reading instruments, an owl hooted in an adjacent hanger. I set speed records getting inside and did a little bit of “pencil-whipping” on the weather observation.

Okay, I’m officially now in the weeds! Statue of Liberty play? Whazzat?

Giulliani: creepazoid

I continue to believe that MN governor Tim Pawlenty will be tapped to run with McCain. Young(er), attractive in an oily Republican way, conservative, articulate, immensely skilled at dishing up faux sincerity. McCain’s MN chair and I think something on the national campaign level as well. Mentored by Rove and Darth. Pawlenty and McCain have been doing the running mate tango for at least two years.

Giuliani, red carded, ejected for repetitive dives!

It’s an old deke play. Quarterback fades back to pass, holding the ball up like SofL, and a back snags the ball and runs with it. A deceptive play.

Did everybody see that Sarkozy married his girlfriend yesterday, having divorced his wife only last October?

What’s French for “Republican?”

Le bastard.

Infidelity is OK if you support a neo-con agenda.

Bien sur.

-G

Sounds like a variation of the Rudi, Newt techniques.

Yeah, I use the “Tonight there will be scattered darkness throughout the area” line regularly. And I don’t credit Carlin, either.

IOKIYAR, or whatever the French acronym is. Sarkozy ought to be good more more than a few laughs.

Thanks for the explanation. Sneaky indeed — I just wish they had found a different name for it. I realize the Statue of Liberty is French and all, but still…!

Time for breakfast brunch with mr. barbara. Bonjour.

Yeah, and what does it mean when they say, “a few extra clouds”?

The freedom play

I’m downtown, in the Warehouse District..

Yes indeed…married Carla Bruni. Cecelia left him to come to NYC…So Sarko responded with the trophy wife. The impending marriage had been the talk of France–especially Paris–for several weeks… I suppose the media can now leave him alone to conduct badly needed affairs of state…

affairs of state…

Snort! No pun intended, I’m sure…

Why are people criticizing Sarko for getting married again? I don’t like his politics but he’s entitled to a personal life…

Hillary: Hurry up offense?

I guess because he’s mirroring what so many of our favorite Republicans have done. I don’t, however, know if he’s made a name for himself trumpeting “family values.”

John McCain in Al yesterday:

“You can count on me to protect the rights of the unborn in this country, ” McCain told voters in Birmingham. In Atlanta, he vowed to appoint judges who are “clones” of conservative Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.

latimes