Senator Dianne Feinstein, usually loath to conduct business in public unless it serves her own political interests, has publicly revealed that she wants to ask Senator Clinton how she plans to win her party’s Democratic nomination.
“I, as you know, have great fondness and great respect for Sen. Clinton and I’m very loyal to her,” Feinstein said. “Having said that, I’d like to talk with her and [get] her view on the rest of the race and what the strategy is.”
DiFi also revealed that Senator Clinton has not yet returned her call. Perhaps she needs to call back at 3 a.m.
“I think the race is reaching the point now where there are negative dividends from it, in terms of strife within the party,” Feinstein said. “I think we need to prevent that as much as we can.”
This public revelation from a notoriously secretive Senator, and a longtime and early Clinton supporter, puzzles me. Famously unresponsive to constituent pressure on issues like telecom immunity as well as the Southwick and Mukasey nominations, is DiFi signaling publicly to Clinton because her call isn’t being returned?
Feinstein stressed that Clinton is not an “also-run candidate,” but added that there is a question “as to whether she can get the delegates that she needs. I’d like to see what the strategy is and then we can talk further.”
WTF do you think DiFi is up to? Was her head turned by the casual mention of her name in Anne Kornblut’s WaPo chatz earlier today?
Silver Spring, Md.: So, predictions on Obama’s veep? I’m big on Joe Biden. Likeable, white elder statesman with loads of experience and foreign policy gravitas. I understand the Webb sentiment, but he seems like a bit of a loose cannon. Your thoughts?
Anne E. Kornblut: It’s funny, we were just having this same discussion last night (caveat, of course, being that the race is not over). Biden is obviously a spectacular candidate, as is Sen. Chris Dodd, for similar reasons, but neither would bring an important electoral college state along — although it’s been awhile since that truly mattered. Other names we hear: Gov. Napolitano, Gov. Richardson, maybe even John Edwards again. Bob Graham? Dianne Feinstein? And then of course there is…Hillary Clinton.
[my bold]
DiFi’s been around this Veep carousel before, losing out to Geraldine Ferraro in 1984. Her husband, Richard Blum, currently chair of the University of California Board of Regents and thus John Yoo’s nominal ultimate boss, brings war-profiteering accusations and conflict-of-interest allegations to bear on her possible Veep candidacy.
But she was the most respected politician in California in 2006 and presumably would lock down a state Barack Obama lost to Hillary Clinton, where John Sidney McCain III makes noises about campaigning this fall.
And her Senate staff messes about in her wikipedia page, deleting references to published articles about her chairmanship of the Military Construction Committee, where she voted billions of dollars to firms owned by her husband, and about her $190,000 fine for failure to disclose her husband’s guarantee of her losing gubernatorial campaign loans.
Also, just six months ago, the California Democratic Party had to use procedural technicalities to kill a proposed censure resolution signed by 32,000 Californians, that condemned Dianne Feinstein for straying from core Democratic values.
If Barack Obama doesn’t seek to campaign against John McSame’s warmaking, against McSame’s promise of more Bush-like judicial selections, against the GOP for its war profiteering, against DeeCee insider dealing, against McSame for his campaign finance scofflaw attitude, and against the ruling Regime for its uncaring attitude to public opinion, Dianne Feinstein would be a spectacular choice for Veep. If core Democratic values aren’t important, she belongs on the ticket in November.
Do these contrasts matter to Senator Obama?
I can understand why Senator Feinstein’s head might be turned by the possibility of a Veep nomination, and why she then might try to help her favored candidate gracefully exit the race, thereby earning (in her eyes) the gratitude of the eventual nominee.
But if these contrasts are important for his fall campaign, I urge Senator Obama to look elsewhere for a running mate.
Update: And then there’s Seersucker Friday, a sartorial abomination that deserves no reward at all. Can you spot the Democrats? Me neither.
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No. Fucking. Way.
No.
Fucking.
Way.
Teddy!
Here’s Josh Marshall’s take
Diane has the same problem as McCain and neither can do anything about it…they are simply too old to run
Oh, but she’d have to leave Pacific Heights. Never mind.
” Perhaps she needs to call back at 3 a.m.”
Good one.
Has Diane ever been up to anything other than no good?
Hey there, h’blue. Long time no see!
Hello, CT!
eCAHN, the surprising thing to me is how public DiFi’s statement is. If she wanted Hillary to wrap things up, why not tell her privately? Or at least wait until her call was returned?
I do like that DiFi doesn’t like her calls being ignored. Welcome to our world, Mrs Blum, where we never hear about our many emails to you!
DiFi is 74 !
Yes. But it has been a good long while.
Teddy, we wouldn’t want to see you deprived of DiFi.
The only thing of importance that DiFi ever did was to announce the deaths of Harvey Milk and Mayor Mosconi.
Guess DiFi is about to change horses.
There is growing pressure for Hillary to quit..I suspect that she’ll finish out the string at low cost and without much trash talk and then sit it out until the convention. Her only hope for months has been an Obama implosion- and she might as well be in position to step in if that should happen.
I think this thing is over for all practical purposes.
I took her age out of my post, because I doubt Obama’s gonna campaign on McCain’s age. I do think we need a Veep candidate who can say, as Obama used to with a twinkle in his eye, “I respect John McCain for his half-century of service.”
It’s a little over-the-top for the fella on the top of the ticket to say it, but a 74-year old woman can’t say it convincingly either.
Hi Peterr. We were surprised she finally moved to PacHeights from Presidio Heights. Richard bought her a big house she doesn’t really like, but she moved into it nonetheless. Sixteen million dollars.
McCain on Daily Show.
Hope the damned teevee stops obsessing about what Hillary’s going to do next. Can’t they go find a REAL story? They all agree that she’s done- so why do they keep flappin their jaws about it. Can’t they write about McBush’s prostate or something?
Are you serious…?
And a GOP would appoint her replacement! Probably himself.
Why don’t these lists ever include Barbara Boxer, anyway? I know we have a RGJoe pain over her, but why doesn’t the political establishment ever include her? She’s got as much service as DiFi.
Oh, she’s liberal. Right.
your suggestion makes sense – the intended recipient of the msg was someone other than senator clinton. and the only way to get the msg to the intended recipient was to make i publicly.
As a stroke!
Obama won’t say it- but others from the campaign will- and some 527 group will do a film of the prez answering the 3 am call in a fuckin walker—Creak- Creak – Creak
“Hello Sir”
“Mom- is that you?”
Digg Teddy here!
Why does Obama need her gas prices in California are among the highest in the country. The party in control of the White House will get the blame. We will win all the high gas price states.
She also got SF Park and Rec to trim all the bushes atop Buena Vista, thus depriving the community of prime cruising ground.
He’s actually made me laugh. once.
Life is rough, but we all have to make sacrifices.
Obama doesn’t need help in California- he needs help in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Tweety suggested Rendell- not a bad possibility in my opinion–he appeals to the very people Obama most needs help with.
Damn!
If Obama runs a great campaign but loses Ohio- say hello to President Geezer!
Who really gives a shit! I would just like to get her replaced. I have seen the enemy and it is DiFi. She has turned into the biggest pile of crap The Dems in here in California have elected!
Dianne Feinstein as VP is such a preposterous idea that it can only come from Rush Limbough. The fat little creep is trying to meddle again.
Oh I think she could make a powerful argument to Obama that she’s needed:
1. McCain has Arnold on his team; low-info CA voters still like Arnold.
2. Hillary won CA
3. People are confused about McCain’s anti-choice stand; CA voters will listen to her about it.
4. Gravitas
5. Armed services experience
6. Gets the wimmin back on board.
7. Soothes the AIPACians
Consider my post a pre-emptive strike.
California recalled a governor maybe we could target all California politicians who vote for more war money for a recall. If we get the other blogs to talk about it we might scare the Dems into geting some stones.
Rendell appeals to Tweety’s sense of Pennsylvania-(self)-centrism.
He’s buddies with Big Eddie and hopes Big Eddie will help him in his campaign against Spectre in 2010.
Can’t recall senators as I recall.
Let’s not forget that Ohio is home of Diebold and Jesus Christ himself couldn’t run as a Democrat in Ohio and win.
Evening all. I think this is just more of the party regs telegraphing to the Hill that she needs to find a graceful exit soon.
Evening Neuro see you have reported for duty! Ya gotta keep these pups in line digging :>)
Yeah- that’s probably true- but he might be right for the wrong reasons and even if he IS an idiot.
Rendell–too much baggage.
Plus Obama’s already the urban guy…need rural, Western or Southern.
Dems now run the state- Including- I believe- the Secy of State.
Are we gonna have seersucker Friday here at the lake?
Actually, I believe it’s McBush on the Daily Show
What’s the objective probability that McCain would win CA, assuming the least attractive D Veep & most attractive R Veep from CA’s POV?
4. Gravitas
Nice Snark only Joe Lieberman has more Gravitas, but Gravitas without stones is pompousness and arrogance.
Approaches zero as a limit.
Can we get Nancy?
But don’t you think it’s odd Hillary won’t return DiFi’s call!? I mean, she is an early and important supporter.
It’s as if there’s someone on Hillary’s end of the phone who asks, “Can I ask what this is about?” and if the VIP sez, “Um, no, not really” — the call doesn’t get returned!
Chelsea? Bill?
You are right it is a federal office so federal rules trump! Dam I wish it were different… She lost me a long time ago….
is it not possible simply take her words at face value? OK, of my two senators she’s definitely not the one I like most, but isn’t it just possible that she’s sending a signal on behalf of some selection of party elders that this race may just be over and that it’s time for Senator Clinton to acknowledge the math?
I don’t much like her either- but I try not to lose any sleep about her. Should be her last term of office.
Oof, that photo op still sends shivers down my spine…!
Howie’s ode to Seersucker Thursday
PS Scroll all the way down!
Thanks for the good news. I wonder what state Karl Rove has picked to be the big Electoral swing state this year.
The simple explanation is that DiFi hasn’t had reporters around her for years and misses the exposure—DiFi exposure—YIKES!
A what on Friday? Does it mean I have to dress up?
I be praying for that but dam we ahve to wait way too long 2012 IIRC
Evening Teddy. Hi firepups.
Seersucker Thursday really sucks—who sucks seers anyway?
I’d love to see Rove’s “math.” I always need a good laugh.
Well, I certainly think that there are people in the campaign who have a vested interest in keeping it going. Not sure exactly who it is, but they have been milking this ghost ship gravy train for a while now. It may just be that Hillary and her committed followers just do not want to hear the truth.
ygm!
(ot – begging for imac help)
If Obama wants to win the White House, there is an obvious choice for a Veep. I make this distinction because it’s a lot different than choosing a Veep who would make a good President.
At the risk of pissing-off Eureka Springs (and my own sensibilities), I would suggest that Wes Clark gets Obama in. What Obama does with him once there, that’s another story.
As for DiFi, I think she may be cuddling up in search of the UN Ambassador slot.
If Hillary is about to assume her position as the junior senator from the state of New York, there’s also a certain amount of “remember who your betters are” in DiFi’s call to Hillary.
This is somewhat relevant: On December 21, 2007, the Washington Blade formally endorsed Hillary Clinton. And today, in an editorial by Editor Kevin Naff, the newspaper formal unendorsed Hillary Clinton.
I’ve already got the matching shoes. So when do we do our group photo?
God willing- we’ll all be around to welcome the blessed day—
But it ain’t nothin compared to Clusterfuck’s last day
I already ordered a small cask of pure blue agave tequila for the party–
I am honored to serve
Last year’s Seersucker Thursday, which apparently coincided with Pretty in Pink Day on the fashion calendar of then-Sen. Rick Santorum, left this unforgettable image, which reportedly sent small children all over the country screaming into their mothers’ arms, and had them suffering nightmares for months to follow:
http://downwithtyranny.blogspo…..rsday.html
I am not dressing up like that.
Hi Tex,
Hi Pups!
Wes is as intellectual as Obama—he needs someone who appeals to millworkers and union electricians.
Obama needs to pick up his game in PA, OH and MI. Without these three states Democratic electoral math gets dicey. Selecting Governor Strickland would help in these states and would also help mend fences with the Clinton supporters.
There is no sense in picking a southerner. Obama won’t be competitive in Dixie.
You have seersucker shoes?
OK, you just pissed me off too. To repeat myself from earlier this morning, just what the Ds need, a warmonger on the ticket. Only thing that would make me not vote for the D.
OK. I’ll shut up now.
Webb
Military, Southern, and Hillary’s suitor…
I refuse to wear seersucker… You’re on your own…! ;-)
clark!?
i seriously don’t think i could vote for him. not that my vote is needed. does it have to be a warmonger?
I think you nailed it—Virginia COULD be competitive- but the polling looks bloody there at the moment. Arkansas and Louisiana could be in play- but I wouldn’t bet much on it.
As I said:
Might work!
If you want to appeal to blue collar types you have to show them you can fight.
teddy–who makes me more sick than difi?
donna brazille, hurt the democratic party more than any one soul, yet here she is back again, as an ’expert’……..all that is not remembered is soon forgotten, and boy have we, but i haven’t……..she is no friend of mine…..she has gone on shows claiming to be ’neutral’ for months…..yet she says ’senator obama’ 20 to 1 ’senator clinton’ i counted…….more than anything else, i hate dishonesty, and as dishonest as difi is, i think donna brazille wins it hands down……..i’ve written at least 20 letters to anyone who had her on the air when she was pushing obama, but NEUTRAL..a month ago, she said she supported obama on ed schultz, another asshat, and today said she is a neutral superdelegate, on and on ok donna……ok yeah donna……..and always mentions her ’home cooking’ as a reason to listen to her……….5 ” of duct tape and donna brazille, a good combination.
difi and retirement, a good combination.
how many people have listened to donna brazille and thought they were getting ’pure stuff’?
wake up, you got junk.
nice post teddy, g’nite.
difi–coulda been a lesbian………
donna brazille, kiss my ’wasp’ ass.you ’ain’t’ gettin’ away with anything if i can help it……at LEAST 20 letters, every time you’re on the air that i hear, a letter will follow………..peter principle, or is it vagina principle if it’s a woman?
signing off.
Here’s how I see Bush’s last day. He sets up a card table on the White House lawn with a cash register and a big rubber stamp that says PARDON GRANTED. The Secret Service will be in charge of crowd control.
Obama needs white men voters to have any chance of winning.
Edwards makes the most VP sense.
Ron Paul is of the wrong party.
I haven’t heard a convincing argument for anyone other than Bill Richardson, actually. He puts the “intermountain West” in play, brings Hispanics back into the fold, and makes McCain work to defend Texas as well as Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Nevada. Also has foreign policy credentials, and energy credentials.
I know all the arguments against him. I just haven’t heard a more convincing argument for anyone else at all.
Wes has PhDs in economics and philosophy as I recall—he and Obama are brothers- and that’s not what we need in my opinion.
No but we need someone who can fight we have had two Presidential Candidates already who gave up rather than question the vote totals. I doubt the GOP will mess with success.
Can’t argue with that one. From the day he was anointed I told the little lady we were in big trouble! Little did I know just how much fucking trouble he would cause this country. I have disliked most Republican Presidents but this one is by far the worst I have had the misfortune to live under…much worse than tricky Dick ever thought he could be!
Seersucker shoes? Yes.
They match my toenail polish
Now wait, being a former General doesn’t make you a ‘War Monger’… I’ve served under many who prefer to use diplomacy rather than war to settle issues, Wes was cut from the same clothe, and advocated diplomacy while he was Nato commander…!
Ditto. Don’t own it and won’t buy it. Hawaiian shirts, shorts, and flip-flops the rest of the summer (if it actually ever gets here – high today was 56).
Warner winning the USSenate will make Virginia competitive at the top of the ticket, big time.
Webb is too independent. He’ll run for President on his own someday, and I’ll support him.
Also, he’s a Reagan appointee, which undercuts Obama’s “new politics” theme.
I like Richardson- but I’m not sure he brings any other state- other than New Mexico perhaps with- what- half an electoral vote?
I think I may agree with you. Not yet 100% decided.
Their great height disparity makes for bad photos, too.
You didn’t hear him on WNYC. He’s a warmonger for sure.
Good arguments.
So who could guarantee Ohio for Obama?
i’m not making the claim that all generals are warmongers. i’m making the claim that wes clark is.
You just have to adjust the depth of field
A white guy with a military background who has ties to Senator Clinton.
strongly second this.
Tweety would never run as a Democrat in PA. Tweety’s brother is a Rethuglican. Tweety has said too many stupid things on TV ever to be a viable nominee.
A general who refuses to fight a war has a rather short career I would think.
I like Dennis or Edwards either one would scare the GOP so much that they would donate blood to keep Obama alive as President. And with the first African American running for President the choice for Vice is real important.
Strickland
Hey selise, we’re channeling each other. It’s so boring when you know another person in such depth. *g*
not saying it isn’t smart (in the want to win and don’t care how way). just that i hate the idea.
New Mexico was our closest loss in 2004, iirc.
Any one with a good paying public works, rebuild the infrastructure program.
I think that’s right.
Oh, I haven’t decided.
But I promised Katymine I would stop talking up her governor. I think nominating Napolitano might make McSame blow a gasket.
And prefer Edwards. But John won’t accept it I think, and I’m more worried about McCain than who the Dem Veep is.
yeah, it’s more fun to argue. but this time i’m glad to not have to sing this song on my own!
I have always liked Richardson but he was really terrible in the debates. I know he is very bright but he
just didn’t show it.
Obviously, I can’t sway any minds, so I’ll let it be… I do think he’d be a good veep for Obama, tho… Edwards would be a better choice, tho…!
No Wes! He made his choices in the political field, and he choose his homies Mark Pryor and the rest of the Blue Dog DLCers. I am still thankful and surprised he showed up in support of Ned Lamont, but I am not fooled.
Governor Strickland, who supports Clinton?
I am not averse to putting a Clinton supporter on the ticket with Obama, but I really like how marginalized Mr Matalin would be all fall by a Richardson Veep nod.
I hear Richardson has the zipper problem. Ds certainly don’t need that, if true. Besides, his beard proves he has no aspirations to national office.
I can’t believe nobody (until now) has Dugg Howie’s Seersucker Thursday post!
You can Digg it right now, right here!
I think we really need to avoid anybody from the DLC crowd. They have done their damnedest to destroy the party and turn it into the GOPLite. Now they need to be totally marginalized.
Heh, That’s not what I was saying, I was saying that it behooves them to exhaust all alternatives first… Pre-emption is not a valid option…!
True but we would own Spanish TV and Radio even in Florida if he were our VP. The GOP can’t win without Florida and they can’t win Florida without the Cubans.
I would rather have Edwards as the AG… Just think how all those rethuglians would be shaking in their boots, maybe we could get all the real criminals brought to justice!
well, if you could explain away his interview on wync, his visit here and his palatable excitement during the invasion of iraq.
but that’s a pretty tall order.
Richardson’s been much better on the cable gasbag shows since he dropped out. Relaxed, chatty, bearded (therefore not so double-chinned. Don’t ask me how I know this!)
He was the worst debater. Just listed his resume in response to every single question.
At least he apologized for his stupid answer in the Logo debate, that being gay was definitely a choice. Also for his fave Supreme answer: Whizzer White, who wrote the dissent in Roe v Wade.
The fact that Strickland is in the Clinton camp makes him a twofer.
He brings you Ohio and is a fence mender.
Look, this thing is absolutely unwinnable without Obama fixing his Eastern Big Ten problem and making peace with Clinton supporters. Come on!
I think Claire McCaskill would be better than Richardson in terms of election help.
Sen. Whitehouse or Feingold would be better…! ;-) Both, know a lot of the shenanigans…
Second that. Besides, what voters could the DLC crowd help attract? They whole raison d’etre is $$$ from lobbyists, and Ds will have no trouble outraising Rs in general, so who needs DLCs?
Is it really a zipper problem? Or is it a marginalizing women problem? I’ve heard the latter, and heard that those who thought they’d heard the former misheard and we actually being told the latter.
Although I don’t want a Veep who marginalizes woman, either. I just don’t think there are any really bad stories to come out in the zipper department.
(Thanks, Bill, for making it an entire department)
Wait a politician who can admit they were wrong before they lose an election! Dang he should be Prez
Tell me more. Don’t know enough about her.
Richardson would be a good VP – imo – but he will have to debate the Repub so it concerns me.
I pick Joe Lieberman … *g*
actually trying to think here….
i do think obama may be in more danger than most of some wingnut trying to prevent him from, shall we say, finishing his term? first AA potus is a big deal.
if that is so, then obama has a special responsibility to pick someone he believes would make a good president and not just help the ticket in nov.
McCain will pick a woman VP running mate.
As if he had a choice.
Ann Coulter ?
I was originally a Richardson supporter. I believe he has the widest breadth of relevant government experience of anyone who ran for president this year. Congressman, UN Ambassador, Energy Secretary, Governor. Plus, what Teddy said.
Or, I hear Zell Miller isn’t busy.
Heh, ya need to keep that heresy on your side of the border…! 8-P
Ok who do you suggest?
She has been Obama’s best cable gabfest surrogate, by far. Takes no bullshit from Tweety* and Timmeh**
*(first mention of Chris Matthews)
**(first mention of Tim Russert)
(Trying not to be cutesy-insidery)
Go Away!
DiFi Inc. (DFNK on the NYSE) twists the knife
Wow…I remember a little field trip to a place in Mexico where they made that. Great trip to take a bunch of 14-year-old Girl Scouts on, lol.
Same here!
Jr. Senator (2006) from Missouri, white female, middle of the road Dem who has backed Obama from the beginning. Obama could have an long time supporter at his side and Claire would help the women and blue collars get over themselves.
If Obama can get McCain to agree to weekly debates in September and October, there may not be time for a Veep debate.
I have a friend who claims she knows specific stories about Richardson. I have my doubts, in the sense that he’s a touchy feely type, who imposes himself on other people’s space. That could be misinterpreted as sexual harrassment.
In any event, regardless of the truth, but because of Clenis, the Ds need to stay away from any male about whom there are stories. Not fair, perhaps, but there it is.
Absolutely. Their only constituency is the corporate interests and so far Dubya’s Supremes have not yet given corporations the right to vote. I do not really have a dog in this VP fight (I am not even that big an Obama supporter, though he is better than Clinton). I do think we also need to avoid the Blue Dogs, ’cause ain’t nothing you can do to get them good ol’ boys to vote for a colored boy. I am not sure how much Obama needs to kiss up to the Clinton camp either. He has not really run a vicious campaign against her and I am not sure that anyone who could be convinced to vote for Obama (see my previous line), would actually vote for McCrazy when push comes to shove.
Yeah Get Behind me LieberFiend!
… tee hee hee …
Found a (previously) hidden bottle of Scotch …
The prospect of an Obama presidency strikes David Brooks.
-G
damn. you would ask.
i guess edwards of the names suggested – he might be ok.
Chardonnay for me. Just call me an elite.
Yeah, if Hillary heard about DiFi’s presser today before she tried to return her phone call, that had to hurt.
I’m allergic to any liquor that isn’t tequila
Chardonnay ? Ever tried Barolo ?
Nope. What’s it like?
I do not think Edwards would run for Veep again. He’ll be a terrific (and terrifying!) AG.
I’ll have a latte.
What I’ve heard from people in the state: No zipper problem; just annoying little brother poking at your ribs kinda thing.
LOL
Lots of todays Hispanics are touchy feely type and getting close to people is part of that its annoying my sister’s old boy friend tried to hug me the first time I met him I gave him the ice hockey shoulder like I was going to check him.
But yeah he’s out if he can’t pass a secret Obama VP lie detector test on that subject
Worst place to look for Veeps is among the losers in the prez race.
As McCain’s running mate–right?
Here is a good electoral map.
http://www.270towin.com/
It’s really good !
I’m not into defining flavor, texture, etc. but it is really good. For Reds, I prefer Chianti …
No I like Edwards the Corporate wing of the GOP hates Edwards so much they would make sure Obama lived through his term.
I agree about Hispanics & touchy feely. Not passing value judgement, just talking about electability. That kind of thing gets misconstrued by WASPs. Don’t need to go there.
Ot But The Original “The Blues Brothers” is just starting on HBO….
Going to lurking mode:>) Ready to laugh my ass off!
My thought exactly. Southern, white, military, straight arrow.
Edwards for AG.
And Aretha Franklin to sing the “Star Spangled Banner” a capella at the Inauguration.
What’s he poking WITH?
I like Edwards, no one refuses the job is asked …
KKKarl will be happy to provide plenty of “stories” about whomever the Democrats nominate.
I have no idea what DiFi is up to — BUT I can say she will never be the VP candidate, or she shouldn’t, at least.
California will go for Obama — no doubt about it. Yes, we went for Hillary, but what does that mean? That Utah, since it went for Obama, will go Democrat in the general? haha
I say Bill Richardson is a great pick. In a swing state, in the west. A Hispanic. Foreign policy experience. What is wrong with him? He seems to have everything Obama needs.
katymine tells a story where he puts his forehead right up against yours when he’s talking to you. for a big guy, that’s a really intimidating action.
also, i’ve read something about crushing your toe with his boot, but slowly.
Ahem. How does one reach all the way up to the ribs with that?
ola pups
it’s half-time and the lakers are up by 14.
how is everyone doing this evening?
Do you think Richardson can only campaign effectively for the Dems if he is the VP nominee ?
Not sure about Montana this year. The state has been reliably GOP in the Presidential race for decades, but we did elect a Democratic Governor and a second Democratic Senator in the last election. Likewise, Obama generated a huge and enthusiastic response when he was here a few weeks ago. Still may not be enough to get past the troglodytes in the eastern part of the state, but we will see.
“Aloha Friday!!!”
Get your Hawaiian shirt [or Hawaiian dress, as the case may be].
I’ll keep my touchy feely hispanicky self over here
((((( WB )))))
well, there’s a certain motivation if you’re the Veep, plus there’s the learning to take orders directly from the president thing….
Oooh! The all important Blade endorsement. Now we know why Rush Limbaugh has suddenly started suggesting that the Super D’s endorse Obama…his favorite mag has “switched”.
He’s tall!
Oh, cmon. Gimme a hug. (((wobblybits)))
Not all us honkies are quite so withdrawn, so you can come sit over here, if you don’t mind associating with over educated hillbilly commies.
Hey, TB, we need to stop sublimating, dontcha think?
did you break out the alcohol yet? I may need it tonight *g*
I heard that story to so what my veins stick out of my arms and neck when I’m intimidating people. Blue Collar voters will like it if he shows he will fight for what he believes in.
Larry King has had an amazing makeover … looks like John King and has on a panel, including Wexler …
I think that Hillary hasn’t been responding to DiFi’s calls simply because she doesn’t want to be listened in on…the NSA likely classifies a call to SF on a public phone line as going to “a foreign country”.
Wine done but found a bottle of Scotch, help yourself … *g*
I definitely need it, but I am on light rations until Friday and the grading is done.
In Illinois I think its an insulted flannel.
Lyndon Johnson (successful VP candidate in 1960, also defeated primary presidential candidate) was very touchy-feely.
Not at all. I like them types myself *g*
You have to admit that Lamb Curry tastes better on nights like this …
((eCahn)) i’m sure it doesn’t rub off *g* hehe
Cold and wet ones when I am facing 8am student presentations?
umm I’ll leave the scotch alone. While in Scotland, we went on a tour of a distillery and at the end we were given scotch to sample. I took a sip and umm saw the pitcher of water nearby. I thought adding water would help (it didn’t) but I did talk one of my fellow tour mates to drain my glass forme. He did and some other guy gave me another three fingers to drink. I had to drink it and was completely fucked up at 10:00am. Yes, you read right, ten o’clock inthe morning
You have to admit that Lamb Curry tastes better on nights like this …
————————————————————–
Cold and wet ones when I am facing 8am student presentations?
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I cannot follow the logic of that exchange at all…duh?
Well, not this late but I prefer hot, spicy dinners on cold evenings/nights …
You expect two men to be logical ? *g*
LOL
Hands, is what I heard. Why, whatever did you think I meant?
LOL. Never! Don’t even expect it of one of them.
Ouch, or should I say, “Och !” *g*
ooh countdown. Well I’ll be turning in my thesis come the last week of August, so i will spend my summer in the bowels of the archive in Sao Paulo.
ROFL
((((( Betsy )))))
One of the few personnel development things I was privy to on Wall St. was a 2 day seminar on “styles.” Your style is your personality, only less. It’s one of those quadrant things. The point of the exercise is to recognize your style and those around you so that you can interact better in a business environment. I found it incredibly revealing, simple as it was. One exercise was to stand nose-to-nose with a randomly selected partner (mine turned out to be my boss). Then step back until you feel comfortable and observe the spaces between the various pairs. There was like a football field between myself & my boss, both the same style (forget the names). Others felt comfortable being much closer. As i said, revealing.
Can’t say that I am a fan of Scotch. There are a couple of really pricey single malts that are OK, but mostly it tastes like it was filtered through a moldy used sweat sock. Not really all that fond of tequila anymore either, a by product of youthful indiscretions. For Herradura, however, I can make and exception.
Well, room 621 is right over on Folsom….
hence my belief that brown liquor is evil
Thanks, I’ve never heard about that exercise … what did they say about those who required more space ?
Will you still have time to come here? ((Hugs))
Those silly corporate exercises made a lot of not-bright people very rich, putting something over on executives.
What is the topic, if I may so bold. Just sent my first Ph.D. student off into the wilds to study the savage inhabitants of Chicago.
Spiced Rum is evil ?
… say it ain’t so …
My bet is to go after the West…Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado…that would suggest Richardson. In California he’d be viewed as a double bonus…a non-ideological, pragmatic Hispanic. Plus he’s got executive experience.
Or Obama could try to find a Mid-Western female Governor. Younger, setting her up to be President in 2016..thus assuaging somewhat the issues with Clinton and perhaps attracting back even some of the older women who wanted to see a “woman President in my lifetime”. I wouldn’t exclude some of the pro-Clinton supporters on this front. No reason to…and good for unity reasons.
I think the options are a lot better than for the Republicans…
BTW Onward Christian Soldiers
Does this mean that McCain will support an Olympic boycott because of China’s suppression of Christians and the Falun Gong? Or REALLY put pressure on Saudi Arabia to allow Christianity and Judaism to be openly practiced in that country? And actually put them on the list of violators of child sexual trafficking…thus reversing Bush’s repeated exemptions that he’s made for the sake of his “allie on the war against terror”?
All of this raises some real good questions…embarassing ones!
Oh yeah, teaching people to walk on fire make Tony Robbins very rich indeed …
Ah now, a wee dram of Bushmills is definitely a bit of blessing from the Gods.
The first distillery in NYS in a coons age is about 2 miles down the road from my country house. Tutilltown is its name, after a mill that’s still there but no longer functioning. The distillery started out making vodka from apples, potatoes, etc. Now it makes bourbon & single malt scotch. Really good. The guy also has gotten into many of the best restaurants in NYC.
http://tuthilltown.com/QUALITY/home.html
that was pretty much my take on scotch
tequila is pretty good. my mom recieved some ’sipping’ tequila. Very dangerous stuff
i’m a rum and cachaca girl. It goes great with spicy foods and just reminds me of homw *g* oh and wine is divine *g*
Which, given the stunning successes of late as evidence, is obviously not all that hard.
I have a 23 year old rum in the house that is wickedly wonderful.
link no good :( i’m unable to fix
Bacardi Anejo is pretty good as well and quite affordable.
Teddy I think that you mean “Warner running for the US Senate” will make Virginia competitive. And I agree! In fact this is one clear case where Obama being the Presidential candidate helps Warner (bringing out both younger and Black voters) and vice-versa. Nice synergy there. And this could be true in other Southern states.
Not to Cabrini…? ;-)
It is good. They call it aged but don’t say for how long.
Wow, 23 year old Rum ? What brand ?
Dredging up info from perhaps 20 years ago. It’s not a value judgement, just a way people feel comfortable. People who feel confortable being farther away are less touchy feely and more cerebral. Important to recognize that not everyone is in that category. (who’d a thunk?)
Another thing that struck me from a video: person (female in this case) was told by her casual boss that he expected a report in the morning. She worked all night and when he came in the next morning & offered her a cuppa coffee, she exploded at him. She wanted recognition for her effort. He was trying to be friendly. I resemble her. It’s a mismatch of styles. He should have acknowledged the perfect report with the executive summary on top of his desk, and she should have said she’d love a cuppa.
Good lord no! They tore that down years ago. He will actually be spending much of his time in Uptown, which has its own distinct charm. His dissertation is on the Chicago Indian community (about 40,000 strong), of which he is a member. Fieldwork is really rough when you have to eat your mom’s cooking.
sort of a tear down of the whole post colonial argument in terms of travel narratives. shorter: textual economics in the travel writings of germans to the new world.
that was actually for dr.dick
Hi Suzanne
Sounds like a tough assignment…! ;-)
I am presuming Warner will win, although I read somewhere that the VA GOP is banking on a macaca moment.
As if. (do the kids still say that?)
OK. Now I have absolutely no idea what field that is in. People accuse us anthropologists of esoteric topics.
Military guy…with ties to Clinton? General Wesley Clark?
Ron Zacapa Centenario is from Guatamala. Smoother than a baby’s behind.
petro
rum is not evil and i don’t consider it brown alcohol because it has a lighter variety as well (i know but it’s my logic and i’m sticking to it) *g*
Hi Theodore
Nice guess … I was thinking Al Gore …
Sounds perfect to me … *g*
Hey, Suz! Do you have the Late, late honors…?
Hmmm, I wonder if my neighbor from Costa Rica has some of this …
travel narratives can fall under many diff depts but usually are under history or comp lit. my major is more so interdisciplinary studies (german/comp lit/history/latin amer studies) but broadly, cultural studies
What about the Kansas governor? Who does she support?
((((( Suz )))))
I’m out … G’nite all !
nope, es’s nite.. he has mon, wed, fri, i have tue, thur, sat, and we alternate on sundays
Warner vs. Warner? Help me out in VA.
If not he can get it in the duty free when leaving Costa Rica.
OK. That makes sense. Those were my guesses, but could tell which one.
Aloha, Petro!
boa noite, petro
beautiful dreams
nite petro
Night Petro!
Senator John Warner, Republican, about to retire.
Former Governor Mark Warner, wildly popular centrist Democrat, running for Senate.
i want to continue on to a doctorate program but we will see
night petro
Unique torque on name-recognition.
Sibleius supports Obama. She gave a drab SOTU response, but is admired for turning Kansas kinda blue. Gets lotsa non-wingnut GOPs to change parties, too.
OK. Didn’t know R-Warner was retiring. Who’s expected to run against the D-Warner?
“Do you think Richardson can only campaign effectively for the Dems if he is the VP nominee ?”
No! And he will be great, wherever he is. I just think he would be a great VP.
Even more so six years ago when Mark challenged John for his Senate seat, iirc.
g’nite petro and any other leaving sleepy pup i may have missed
It is a big commitment and a lot of work. Not for the faint of heart or those who are not hopelessly addicted. Mine took forever and cost me a marriage. Almost a whole ream of paper on the evolution of the Seminole sociopolitical system 1700-1900.
i have to say as a side study (it is sort of automatic) i really pay close attention to how people express opinions about cultures, people, practices that are different than their own. the sheer amount of generalizations and stereotypes that make their way into these ‘opinions, observations, etc. is astounding.
One thing to note…and that I found a bit surprising….Edwards did not declare for EITHER Obama or Clinton before the North Carolina Primary. Some have said that he really didn’t carry much weight in any case…many NoCarolinans feel that John was not really much of a home-stater after he got elected (I actually disagree and think that he was more of a Blue Dog than my relatives in that State think…from looking at his voting record and his association with Lieberman’s New Democrat Coalition). And looking at that record he’s actually vulnerable on many of the positions that Obama needs to take against McCain.
But I don’t think he’ll accept a VP slot. Maybe a cabinet position or an opening in the Courts.
BTW Is Edwards a Super D on the basis of his former Senatorial position?
Sen. John Warner’s retirement announcement
I imagine the Republicans are rather dispirited at the prospect of finding anyone to go up against Mark Warner. People just love him.
OT, Margot, you won.
I say Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia for VP!! He is too old to do any harm.
Thanks.
Didn’t we sign on with her constituents last fall to censure her????
Does ANYONE really think Obi would choose her for ANYTHING?
I think not!
She’s making some kind of an effort to draw attention to herself, which if I were her, I would not do.
Remember Mukasey???? You can bet Obi does too!
she’s toast.
In fact, she’s way old toast!
oh, i’m addicted. but first i have to finish the thesis at hand and a few conference papers.
That is normal for people. We are all ethnocentric to some extent (even when we are trained against it and try not to be) and generally deploy stereotypes in dealing with other groups of people. The latter makes them intelligible and saves us the work of actually figuring out what they are really doing, thinking, and saying. It takes an act of will and consciousness to overcome those tendencies. Most people do not want to invest the effort.
Tribes about to get screwed. From Indianz.com:
Appeals court judge strikes blows against Indian rights
now that is a fascinating topic (i’m a culture junkie and eternally curious)
I suspect that DiFi has spoken privately with Hillary. I’m guessing that she came out publicly only because Hill was being unreasonable.
7 to 283. Did I miss anything?
true but then you read the work of someone like humboldt who was aware of these internalized paradigms and challenged them in his writings (even though he himself was guilty of this same act) self awareness is necessary but how many are even aware that they are doing it? it has become information that came via society (education, etc) that becomes accepted fact(s) about that culture.
That one will go to the Supremes. Just another in a never ending string of really bad Indian law cases. If you really want to get dizzy and disgusted read Ex. Parte Crow Dog and Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock, which are currently binding law of the land. Snoquomish v. Oliphant also can make your head explode.
Jim Gilmore, one of the Ten White GOP Men Who McCain Defeated
I am waiting to see what the judge in the Cobell case says is fair compensation. On side or the other will scream.
Many, if not most, people are unconscious of either their stereotyping or their ethnocentrism. A big part of my job as an anthropology professor teaching Gen Ed classes is to try to raise awareness.
I was taking DiFi at her word that her call had not been returned, but your explanation makes much more sense. Thanks!
Janice Rodgers Brown, was one of ACLU’s top judges they advocated against during her consideration for O’Connor’s seat… Deservedly so… That’s some FU’d shirt, Matt!
Brown should be impeached.
Going whole hog!
When Gilmore was Governor, he presided over the dismantling of the top professional talent at the Department of Transportation in order to save a few bucks, contributing to the evolution of epic traffic jams in Northern Virginia. People have a way of remembering things like that.
Brown is clearly not well.
My guess is both will be unhappy. The feds (especially under the Rethugs) will scream if they have to pay a penny and the Indians are guaranteed to get pennies on the dollar for what they are owed (if that). The feds will be especially unhappy as it establishes a precedent for damages for breach of trust (which is the issue here). Don’t think they ever thought that enforcing a fiduciary trust relationship on the Indians would ever reach around and bite their asses.
wonderful.
i’m examining the texts that the germans wrote on the Tupinamba. of particular interest is how thie practice of cannibalism was misunderstood and described
Where’s the pending resolution for all the piss-poor BIA accounting for all the tribal monies that resulted from mineral and oil royalties…?
Lemme try this again!
Onward Christian Soldiers!
McCain to make religious prosecution a “key” for his fall campaign.
So when will he call for a boycott of the Olympics until the Chines allow the free practice of Christianity and the Falun Gong? Or allow the Tibetans to practice their traditions without Chinese interference (such as selecting the Panjit Lama)?
Will he really crack down on the Saudis for their sex trading of minors (unlike Bush who exempted them from the list of those to be sanctioned for allowing this trade) and their banning of Christianity and Judaiism?
What about Israels restrictions on the proslytizing Mormons and fundamentalists…how can they ever get Hagee’s 144,000 Jewish converts if Israel doesn’t allow conversion of Jews in the homeland? No conversion…no “rapture”…which may be why the Israeli’s sorta prevent it! Who needs “nukes” when you’ve got the “radioactive Jesus”?!!!
But “religious freedom” does sort of insulate him from the questions which arise from him asserting to be a “Baptist” but refusing to undertake the “adult Baptism” that all “born agains” regard as mandatory to being a real Baptist. McCain, for some reason, hasn’t had his “revelation” yet.
But I’m sure he’ll conveniently opt to be dunked in this campaign…and say it’s no different from waterboarding.
the tribe has no jurisdictiion? what am i missing here?
Yankton must a rez with private lands spaced inside the rez. Makes for a mess.
I know someone who used to work for the BIA. They know they’re cheating the tribes out of royalty money. We’re talkin billions upon billions. I still think this was a factor in the firings of at least some of the US Attorneys.
That is the Cobell case we were discussing. There is another hearing shortly, though I cannot remember exactly what on, though I do not think it is the final judgment. That is not far off, however. The process was delayed a bit when the feds forced a change of judges a year or two ago. Old Judge Lamberth kept ripping them a new one. By the way, it is always nice to see a local girl make good. Eloise Cobell is a Blackfeet from here in Montana.
As a fellow anthropologist (for me it’s more of a physical thing, though) …it sounds like a topic that a German sociologist Ph. D. candidate might have pulled on his post-modernist advisors. “Look, I’ll undertake participatory research in Jamaican saloons and ask patrons about the colonial days when they are “uninhibited”…and be able to get some side research in on “Researcher-Subject Interactions of Rastafarians while both are under the effect of ganga (Cannibis sativa).”
Kept rippin’ em a new *sshole for their pathetic accounting, or even decent estimate, of all the $$$’s robbed over all the years…! 8-(
Senator Feinsein seems to fallinto the shameful category of a Blue dog, with intestinal parasites.
Pot, meet kettle.
.
Yankton, like most reservations is a patchwork of different legal categories of land with differing legal standards governing them. The federal government has also consistently and progressively worked to limit and strip away tribal sovereignty on the reservations. Ex Parte Crow Dog and Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock were big steps in that direction in the 1880s and early 20th century. Snoquomish v Oliphant in the 1970s stripped the tribes of any criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians on the reservations. Other cases have limited tribal legal jurisdiction in civil and regulatory law over non-Indians in some circumstances. Indian law can make your head explode and destroy any faith you ever had in human decency and fair play.
It had to, many Western USA’s were axed…!
Sh*t, they’ve never allowed the Hawaiians to attain even those bare standards…! 8-(
unhibited and then ‘discovered’ because they didn’t exist until anothe culture found them (gag)
Yep. And the battle continues into the future.
Sebelius is an Obama supporter. Might be a good choice…but would lose a good Governor. Hard to find someone to move up into the spot…but here’s the guy that likely would do so. Mark Parkinson a moderate ex-Republican who defected from the Party to run as a ticket with Sebelius.
sickening
bottom line is the refusal of whites to be held in check by native americans. (imho)
Too bad, because a case could be made for Dodd.
“Seersucker Thursday really sucks—who sucks seers anyway?”
Sucker Carlson.
The Edwards Imperative: Because Compromising To Change Hasn’t Worked
Edwards should be Democratic nominee because he is the most progressive and electable of the top three candidate and the only one who understands that entrenched interests like the telecoms, banks, credit card issuers, health insurers and oil companies aren’t voluntarily going to make some sort of “bipartisan happy consensus” that costs them billions of dollars and a ton of power, whether doing so saves millions of lives, trillions of dollars and makes the country prosperous and safe or not.
Just is not happening.
And anyone who thinks it is (hello Mr. Obama) is both living in a fantasy land and certainly is suffering from amnesia, because nothing, nothing in the last 30 years, indicates that megacorporations are giving up any power, even a small amount, without a fight to the death.
Strike you as over the top? Why then, for example, did oil companies insist on continued subsidies when they were making record profits? When was the last time health insurance companies were okay with any expansion of universal health care, unless as with the Medicare drug benefit, it was going to make them even more money? And let’s all remember the record industry, who think that they own music you bought, and that you’re only renting it and can neither give it away, sell it or even, much of the time, copy it for your own use.
The filthy rich haven’t become richer than any time in US history because they were willing to give any sucker an even break, and only a sucker would expect folks like Scaife, Mellon and Murdoch to “compromise” when they’ve been winning by not giving an inch.
We could go through policy positions and compare the candidates, one to an another, and the end result would show that Edwards is slightly more progressive than Clinton and Obama: a slightly better Iraq plan, a health care plan that is about equivalent to Clinton’s and better than Obama’s, a much better rapport with labor, and so on.
But that’s not what this nomination battle is about. All three candidates are offering basically progressive policies, minus the big promise to definitely get out of Iraq post-haste.
And the question isn’t even, really, do you believe them, though for the record I have real doubts about Clinton and Obama. However others don’t, and that’s fine–in most respects its a gut-check thing, all of them have checkered pasts with some votes that are less than sterling, so in every case each of us has to decide, “Do I really believe this candidate this time?”
Instead we need to ask, while taking them at face value, does their plan to actually push through a progressive plan make sense?
Clinton says that she’s got the experience to make it work. Even granting that being the first lady allows her to take credit, the fact is that the Clinton years saw the Democrats lose both the House and the Senate and saw Bill Clinton put through many bills that were, to put it kindly, essentially conservative in nature. And Hilary Clinton’s one big moment in the sun, healthcare reform, ended with her being given a resounding drubbing by the health insurance lobby. She was never given such an important policy position again by her husband. Voting for Clinton is taking on an old scarred fighter with a bad win/loss record. And all of this is before we get to Mark Penn, the union-buster, being her chief right hand man.
Then there’s Barack “Consensus” Obama. It’s hard to even take this seriously. In 2007 the Republicans in Congress killed, through technical filibusters, almost twice as many bills as any Congress ever has. For the last 7 years, George “I won the vote that matters 5-4″ Bush has ruled the country by running rough-shod over the opposition party, giving them essentially nothing. There has been no consensus-driven voting or decision-making in the US in 7 years, and there wasn’t that much in the 90s either. Oh sure, I understand that Obama and many Americans would like to go back to the land of consensus-driven politics, where there’s a center and where everyone works for what is best for America by splitting the difference. It’s a pretty picture. But there’s no middle left.
There’s no room for splitting the difference between torturing and not torturing. There’s no room for splitting the difference between selling illegal wars based on lies and not selling illegal wars based on lies. There’s no room to split the difference between respecting the constitution and not respecting the constitution.
There’s no middle left and anyone who thinks that the vast majority of Republican Senators will respond to good will is living in a world of denial. Nothing, absolutely nothing, in Republican behaviour in the last 7 years indicates that will happen. Just as nothing in the behaviour of oil companies and health insurers indicates they’re interested in “compromise” when not compromising has done so very very well for them and taken them from victory to victory.
Which leaves us with John Edwards: who wants to kick ass, take names, and help the middle class stop getting reamed out by credit card companies, banks, oil companies, Wall Street and all the other invertebrates whose existence is based on sucking blood from ordinary people while denying they have any responsibility for how pale and weak the middle class has become.
Can he do it? Many Democrats, used to having their teeth kicked in for years by Republican bullies, say no. They reason that without 60 votes, they’ll still have to compromise with Republicans and so they want a Compromiser-In-Chief sitting in the White House.
But compromise, tried for damn near 20 years, has gotten us nothing but our teeth kicked in, our lunch money stolen and thousands of soldiers and probably a million Iraqis dead. And strangely, despite not having 60 votes at any point during their period of rule, the Republicans got through most of what they wanted.
So perhaps the key to getting Republican votes isn’t to come forwards sniveling on ones’ knees asking what the price for the votes is. I suggest the key is to have a President aggressively make the case that the American people want health care, want lower oil prices, want fairer credit card policies — a presidnet who is willing to go the wall over it.
That’s what John Edwards is offering. What Obama and Clinton are offering is, in effect, nothing more than what has already been tried and failed. Clinton’s experience amounted to, at best a tie, and more realistically, to a decade where the right wing got much of what it wanted. Obama’s “compromising” is exactly what Daschle, Reid and Pelosi have tried to do, leading to spectacular failure and ending in a Democratic majority Congress which Republicans like more than either Democrats or Independents.
It’s time for a new approach, and amongst the three front runners in the Democratic field, that means Edwards. As with FDR, if his approach works, he will be both the most loved and most hated man in America, and some will wring their hands about how divisive that is. But if “unpleasantness” is what is needed to stop going to war illegally, to end the shredding of the Constitution and to end the destruction of the Middle Class, so be it. An unwillingness to really fight means that those who will, the Republicans, will walk all over those who won’t.
The time for the failed politics of compromise is over.
Now it’s time for John Edwards.
Ian Welsh December 31, 2007 – 4:11pm
bigbrother – In the future, when you have substantial length comments, please use an brief excerpt, and link to the original.
Thanks.
He is also indirectly responsible for Arnold’s being elected California governor, having introduced the idea of repealing the Car Tax to the GOP suite of Shitty Ideas for America.