Go Jane!

Thanks, Twisted. We’re working very hard, talking with a lot of people and trying to do this right.

Go Ahead and Digg this Post for the Lake and Jane!
Nice post Jane as usual!

DUGG! And very well deserved. Thanks for your magnificent efforts, Jane.

Kick butt! (and not volleyball butt)

When I look at that ad, the circle above Steny’s head looks like a halo. You might want to draw a couple of horns to go with it.

I thought the same thing.

Thanks for your work on this, Jane. Hoyer is a great target. I hope we can stop H.R.362 but I’m not optimistic.

I like the ad very much. Dramatic visually, and the text is compelling.
Good work!

Just my $.02 but I think the text in this ad might be too much and too intelligent.

If “politics is video with the sound turned off” I think a pic of Bush + “Wrong on Iraq”, then a pic of Bush and Hoyer + “Wrong on Iran” does the job of nailing Hoyer.

That and the large “Call Hoyer at…” text at the bottom would really do it IMO. I guess I’m just cynical about how political messaging works anymore.

Speaking of accountability: From ABC News

Lawsuit Filed Against Gonzales & DOJ Officials
Lawsuit: DOJ Officials Should be Held Accountable for Politicizing Hiring Practices
By EMMA SCHWARTZ
August 15, 2008

Six attorneys rejected from civil service positions at the Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and three other top officials for allegedly violating their rights by taking politics into consideration in the hiring process.

The suit is an attempt to hold top officials accountable for the hiring scandal that ultimately led to Gonzales’ resignation last year, said Daniel Metcalfe, the attorney for the plaintiffs who is also executive director of its Collaboration on Government Secrecy at American University’s Washington College of Law.

“My clients wish that they hadn’t had to bring this lawsuit — they would have greatly preferred to be working inside the Justice Department, where by all rights they deserved to be, defending the government in court rather than standing as victimized examples of government wrongdoing,” said Metcalfe, a former longtime Justice Department official.

…

These ads have got to sting like the dickens. Nice work Jane and all.

That’s not cynical. Usually people will take the time to read a short, snappy piece but not a longer one. It depends on how interested they are in the subject.

Oh, and I love the ad for meeting single Persians online. Is there one for meeting single Iranians?

I think you’re probably right. We’ve got to lighten up on the text on these things.

Thanks, Balrog. Nice to see you.

Oops. IranianPersonals.com. I just needed to read further.

I agree with you. And I’d like to point out that it assumes facts that are not in evidence. The pronouncement that Hoyer wants more war is way too easily refuted, which in my opinion puts the message on the defensive.

Here’s what we know: They have ignored the January 08 NIE while using the November 07 NIE to bolster their argument (see resolution). They want to use sanctions which if THEY haven’t been proved to be counter-productive, almost nothing else has.

I think the point of the argument is that sanctions are NOT what is needed right now — it’s counterproductive and has been shown to be in other instances. Hoyer should stop supporting Bush’s strategy, and start supporting diplomacic efforts (again that’s in the resolution, but it’s fair question to ask what’s been done on that score or rather to imply that nothing has been done on that score).

Just my $.02 cents.

I think the people you want to reach are not people like us who will read anything political. Most are busy and tired. My rule in politics used to be if you can’t make your point in 10 sentences don’t try. IMO

Rearrange the choices … that will take the halo off his head.

The words are good, but I agree with others that the people who should read this ad probably won’t. Lighten up on the words.

Interesting that the bill has this:

Whereas nothing in this resolution shall be construed as an authorization of the use of force against Iran: Now, therefore

And a little later adds the following:

imposing stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran; and prohibiting the international movement of all Iranian officials not involved in negotiating the suspension of Iran’s nuclear program

I’d like to know how they intend to make the Iranians comply with these inspections and travel restrictions without using force. Will sending them candy and flowers suffice?

I’d be interested to know if any reps have stated their intention to oppose the bill? Also, if anyone in the Senate has expressed an opinion? It seems as if the intent is to tie the hands of Bush’s successor regarding Iran before they take office.

Just a suggestion, change out Rumsfelds’ face for McCain’s. That will really sting!

Thanks, Jane. You amaze. I am proud to have contributed, and I think people are doing a little more analyzing this time around than they have in the past.

Hey, Balrog!!! I’m in Panama and there’s a sushi bar downstairs…

Aaagh, I can’t stay focused, do we try to stop an act of war against Iran, or do we focus on the new October Surprise in August, Cold War Part Deux?

Somehow the fact that Republicans have made such an utter mess of international relations gets played in the media as if it proves that we need to elect more of the same?

It’s completely irrational and yet it’ll probably work for them.

Hi Jane and pups. I’ve been absent lately. I’m the volunteer coordinator for our Democratic challenger for County Commissioner down here in Cortez, CO and am getting feet wet in r/t (up to my ears, actually) working for change. It’ll be the first time in 25 years this town has had a Democratic commissioner.
I’m so proud of what we did raising this money for the Accountability PAC. And I’m damned glad and thankful that SOMEONE (us!) is challenging Wash DC beltway insider k-wrap and corruption. SOMEONE had to do that if any of us ever hopes to get our country back. And no one else is. I see NO ONE else doing anything on this scale, on this level. Your plans for the money sound great. I wish it were more so we could do more. I’d personally like to see us go after the DOJ and effect some change to muck out that nest of corruption and injustice and work to get us back our Justice Department. I see that the USA’s have sued Gonzo and the department. BRAVO!
You guys keep up the good work, Jane, and I’ll keep kicking in money. I’m through giving it to pols. I got my money back from Obama cause of FISA. I’m do donate monthly to Blue America, and to Russ’s group. But I’ll be there for this cause far bigger than I give to any of them. My word!
WTG. I’m PROUD to be a Firedoglake pup. (I even wear my t shirt to our Dem headquarters down here and believe me, I answer those questions when they are asked.)
Thank you. Thank you HUGE.

Here is an email from ACLU and there is a quiz you can take all about our omnipotent Homeland Security agency..

Dear ACLU Supporter,
Why is 7-year-old John Anderson from Minneapolis on the national Terrorist Watch List?
1. He pushed Tommy too hard on the playground.
2. His July 4th birthday means he distracts other Americans from celebrating their country.
3. John didn’t pick up the blocks during playtime.
The truth is that we don’t know how he got on the Terrorist Watch List. Or if he can get off it. It took an Act of Congress to get Nelson Mandela, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, off the list.
This ever-growing and ineffective Watch List demonstrates what’s wrong with the U.S. government’s current approach to security: it’s unfair and a waste of resources. And when our government wastes time and money like this, we are all put in more danger — not less.
Take our national security quiz to learn about other frightening national security “tools.”
The questions above might be light hearted, but the problems Americans face everyday due to overzealous security measures are real.
According to USA Today:
John Anderson of Minneapolis, [now 7] was first stopped at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in 2004, when his family took him for his first airplane ride to Disney World. “We checked in at the ticket counter, and the woman said in a stern voice, ‘Who is John Anderson?’ ” says his mother, Christine Anderson. “I pointed to my stroller.”

Her son is allowed to fly. But because his name is flagged, his family cannot print out a boarding pass for him online and he must check in at the ticket counter so an airline official can see that he’s a child.
Learn about more outrageous DHS behaviors by taking the ACLU’s security quiz today.
After you take the quiz, make sure you forward it to your friends and family so they can learn about these measures which are supposed to protect us, but instead strip us of our basic rights with no additional security.
Thank you,

Anthony D. Romero
Executive Director
ACLU

Be sure and take the quiz.. it just may surprise you!

Oh I like that suggestion.

Great idea for the ad, but I agree w/ others that the amount of text undercuts the punch of it and for me the visuals are a little muddled. I think it would be better to cut the text to a bare minimum and instead rework the visuals to convey the point.

Was just e-mailing that letter to all my friends when I read your comment. Amazing, isn’t it!

Do you have a link for that quiz?

Thanks for all your work.

Righteous. (Remember that term?)

oops meant to put that link in there it is ACLU QUIZ

RRRAAAWWW!!!111

Steny “Seymore Butts” Hoyer can go Cheney himself. asshat

Yes I do! And this will be a righteous whack upside the head for Steny.

Thanks nahant!

. . . we’ve raised over half a million dollars.

Whether the Powers That Be in the Democratic Party read or even see this ad, that number will get their attention. And most, if not all, of it from small donations (average Accountability Now contribution: $66).

The old cliche says the way to deal with a stubborn donkey is to whack it across the head with a 2×4 to get its attention. $500K is a mighty big 2×4, Jane.

Swing away, and aim well!

Give ‘em Hell, Harry! um. erm. Jane and Glenn.

My pleasure Margot let me know what you think of the quiz..

please just no more ads with malcolm x on them front and center–took too long to give history lessons to those it was aimed at. including him was a shot in the foot.

you can be controversial without alienating, the idea is to have an affect that will help attract and educate and expose, right?

can’t read all of the text-want to read all of the text, anywhere i can read it?-clicked on the image, but didn’t get larger.

end of the ad–
: and get him out of g’s corner.”

and tell him to quit hiding in g’s corner.

or

tell him we see him hiding in gw’s corner.

Ot
not changing the subject, just didn’t know if anyone saw this yet.

fda says bisphenol A is fine and dandy, safe as mother’s milk.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH…..erecommend

The Iraqi Hoyer Picture Show.

Unfortunately, I maxed the quiz. I was already aware of all the situations mentioned but when in doubt, select the most anti-privacy or ludicrous or generally stupid response and it is the correct one.

From RAWSTORY: Faux news “Don’t Swift Boat the Swift Boat Author”
Teah right hope he gets sunk along with lies and innuendo of twisting the facts! Jeromi Corsi deserves what ever he gets for his crap!

Yep! tis an affront to all freedom loving US citizens! Land of the Free enslaved!

Right on!, Nahant. I appreciate a lot of your clear-eyed commenting here.

Here’s something for you to ponder: in summer moist heat I wear a garment called a “galabiya”. It is common in Arab countries where they know how to dress in the heat. It reminds me of old-fashioned cassocks: loose, open to the air (like a loose dress would be), and very comfortable. I noticed yesterday that I seemed to be attracting a lot of steely-eyed and very disapproving looks. Worst, IMO, was being asked to leave a fast food restaurant I sometimes frequent when in a hurry–by the security guard, himself an often-hated “minority”. I am a caucasian person with very fair skin, but sport a beard. Reminds me of a colleague who has a high-visibility senior position in one of the famous DC museums: he was, he avers, stopped and interrogated by Capitol Police many times because of his beard, swarthy skin, and his photography hobby. He was on the point of shaving his beard for self-protection; he finally obtained an official letter attesting to his probity. I am having second thoughts about wearing my galabiyas in this insane climate of hatred and distrust here these days. A pity. Arabs know how to dress in the heat. This is not the only thing they have taught us. Recall that Aristotle and other ancient Greek learning came back to us through the Arabs after having been lost in our Western cultures. Personages such as Ibn Khaldun gave us back our Greek intellectual heritage, not the monks in Christendom.

they keep not mentioning that mary matalin is the pubisher.

The important thing is that we as liberals (and our allies) are hitting back. Vichy Dems bleed too. We’re never all going to all agree on the ad, but it’s just good to attack.

Thanks Jane.

Every time I see your name here, Primrose, I am delighted because it is, to me, the very essence of loveliness.

There’s a light… over at the Frankenhoyer place?

random thought: when someone starts a sentence “in all honesty…” or some similar formula, why does my BS radar go up a notch?

throw Rice…under the bus.

(cleanth–i was supposed to pass on to you from one of my friends, an english lit major; that shakespeare caused all of your suffering by inventing/creating contractions to fit his iambic pentameter.)

scott horton on lehrer newshour about saaaaaakashvili –known him for 20 years. big surprise.

today’s newsconference he got quite animated with condi coverin’ his ass today. she didn’t look to o happy about it and stressed we were only commiting to the cease fire part.

I listened to the complete radio show and it really hit all the high point very well. On the trivial technical side, I would recommend a pop filter. ;)

You better wise up, Condi Rice…

Thank you cleanth for the compliment:>)… I see things through the eyes of one who was taught/brought up that our freedoms were protected by Our Constitution and those in power now are managing to use fear to rip at the very fabric of those freedoms that were so nobly enshrined by our founding fathers in the Bill of Rights and the Constitution…
I will to my dieing day do what I can to preserve those same rights for my grand kids! The Lake is a very good medium for voicing my opinions on such matters! Thank you Jane and the other FirePups that make this such a wonderful bastion of freedom!

automatic defensive response.your bullshit detector is working just fine punaise!

random thought: when someone starts a sentence “in all honesty…” or some similar formula, why does my BS radar go up a notch?

my friends, there’s a reason for that …

Thanks, dmac.

It is not the contractions that cause me to suffer, but that suffering rank fools is vexatious to the spirit. And also, I revere the English language and know how to use it effectively. Among my heroes insofar as English prose style is concerned are Sir Thomas Browne, Robert Burton (the author of the immensely learned and entertaining cento piece _The Anatomy Of Melancholy_), Sir Charles Doughty (who averred that he had written the magnificent _Travels In Arabia Deserta_ “to rescue English prose from the slough of despond into which it had fallen after Chaucer”) And, of course, Chaucer.

*frankly*, I suppose so.

LOL!

Yes, Nahant, FDL is non pareil. Back in my salad days I might have called it awesome.

[R]andom thought: when someone starts a sentence “in all honesty…” or some similar formula, why does my BS radar go up a notch?

IMO, because this is a standard refuge of these prevaricating scoundrels. I heard McTeleprompter using it today, and cringed.

On the News Hour, they just reran the clip of the town hall where McCain dropped his “We are all Georgians,” line. I was watching the crowd behind him… abject glassy-eyed boredom. One guy yawns widely. These are presumably McCain supporters… It was pretty funny, actually.

My microphone. I need a better one.

random thought: when someone starts a sentence “in all honesty…” or some similar formula, why does my BS radar go up a notch?

my friends, there’s a reason for that …

ROFLMAO. Thanks, Elliott: a big belly laugh such as your snark gave to me is a great good thing.

Ready for some Armageddon? And some fire and brimstone

Operation Brimstone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biCXQHexflY

How does Georgia fit in?

The Georgian army had no chance of winning a war with Russia or any intention of occupying the territory they captured. The real aim was to lure the Russian army into a trap. US planners hope to do what they did so skillfully in Afghanistan; lure their Russian prey into a long and bloody Chechnya-type fiasco that will pit their Russia troops against guerrilla forces armed and trained by US military and intelligence agencies. The war will be waged in the name of liberating Georgia from Russian imperialism and stopping Putin from achieving his alleged ambition to control critical western-owned pipelines around the Caspian Basin. Much of this “think tank” generated narrative has already appeared in the mainstream media or been articulated by American political elites. Meanwhile, the fighting in the Caucasus has diverted attention from the massive US naval armada that is presently sailing towards the Persian Gulf for the long-anticipated confrontation with Iran.

No fair. My family would love to join you in Panama next year. ;)

great podcast, glad you posted it.

I really haven’t been following the accountability ground game. The obama/mccain pie fights seems to cloud over substance and shows both as the political tools they are. HR362 isn’t going to replace fisa for me.

Keep up the great work! Accountability now!

Here is the al-aipac tool for House Resolution 362.

~ in the age of non-state players all you have is a coalition ~

MyMr. microphone. I need a better one.

Would someone please chip in an extra $50 so Miss Jane can have a decent microphone?

thxbai

Is the theory that in the event of an attack on Iran, Russia would come to their assistance and that provoking Russia to invade Georgia is a way to keep them from responding to just such a planned attack? If so, I’m not convinced. Russia has a lot of military options that are not committed in Georgia and it’s not as if they would ever be blind to the fact that we are moving a vast armada into strike position. Having said that, I can’t rule anything out given Bush’s record to date.

I agree that the text needs to be shorter, and punchier.

Carefully tailored soundbytes that will stick in memory. Easy to read, big print (less text = bigger text size)

This isn’t there, but something like this:

This resolution gives Bush the okay to start another war by blockading Iran
Under International Law, YES, that’s an act of war.
We, the People can’t afford another senseless war.
Tell Congress to Stop This warmongering right now.

Well it no big deal in any case. If you’re using a headset you can often reduce the problem by just moving the mic slightly to the side and upping the volume control slightly to compensate for any loss in volume.

just read the ad–text is fine, just needs cleaned up a little..

drop first paragraph all together–grab the reader, the first paragraph is leading where some don’t want to go, grab them with the second paragraph

the rest-don’t have to use incendiary words to get the point across-not necessary, let the facts talk…will post an example edit later…

and you used a small number ’half a dozen reps’ to prove a majority point—never never never do that–say ’many’…..

wish i could cut and paste..won’t copy and paste..have to do by hand….after i do some other things first.

you need an editor, may i volunteer? i edited a novel once, because of my gift to use 200 words for one, and ability to understand what someone is intending to say…..a friend wanted me to write a book called 2,000 words for the word blue.

one word is an entire language. implications, visuals, connotations, one word defines/can define that.

will edit and send, and maybe you will see what i mean.

Your guess is as good as mine

Have no idea what is in those people’s minds

Gotta run L8r

Would someone please chip in an extra $50 so Miss Jane can have a decent microphone?

Seeing that you mentioned this worthy cause, why don’t you follow your lead and fork over? You’ll get honorable mention, too. (Jane can tell you what termination she needs on the lead; and the impedance.)

Thank you BooRadley!
:)

Been there, done that already “my friend”, on many occasions. I can assume the same of yourself?

Besides, $50 would chip away at my beer and, um, recreational funds…

cleanthe at 58–oh i know, just was telling her about it when she stopped by with the kids the other day, that was her first retort.

she’s a neat individual, you would like her. she would like your ’dress’.

and i said before, doughty i know, from my genius historian uncle.

and cleanthe-your dress wouldn’t bother me….around here, you wouldn’t stand out. seriously.

try ’catbirding’ with someone, make it a common thing to be seen with someone not like yourself. people won’t look twice after a while.

It’s just like when someone says “quite frankly”, you just know they are lying.

Jane, it’s been a long time since I told you how unbelievably fantastic you are, so I thought I would drop you a note to make sure you haven’t forgotten.

I have no heroes. You are one of the exceptions. Keep up the great work, and thank you.

My very best to you and your terrific colleagues. But especially you. Be well.

J

I put my statement on Glenn’s site, but the conversation there was esoteric at best. So here’s my take:

The moneybomb was a little disappointing to me in that: 1)around 3500 folks pledged, while around 2500 paid; and 2) looks like the per-person was about $70, and I figured $100 was doable for most of us. On the other hand it’s a fair haul; and, as Jane noted in the audio, the ‘hot’ issues had subsided somewhat – at least in public consciousness.

I’m all for thinking in terms of movement-building and mass organization, so it seems that it might be time to address some organizing principles and programs, plus organizational questions per se. Seems self-evident that one of the main purposes/principles is support of civil and constitutional rights as perceived by us ‘fringes’ of both ends. Is that it?

I could throw in a plug here for helping Cheryl Crist out in the WA-03 race against Brian Baird, but it’s a little late as the primary ends this coming Tuesday. The primary is a ‘top two’, so, if she gets a place on the general election ballot, I’m going to assume that y’all are going to help.

Meantime, what about Cindy Sheehan vs. Pelosi? Seems to me a worthy target.

For future reference on display print advertisements. Studies show eye flow on a newspaper page is a backwards S, scanning from the top left to right, traversing top down from right to left and back across the bottom from left to right.

Savvy layout people use this knowledge. One trick is to put something bottom center that catches the eye. Once the object is seen and noticed the eye travels back across the page to the original starting point to begin the process anew. You get a double shot.

Don’t be too concerned with “balance” (of artwork and copy), one can have a nice, clean, balanced ad that is dull and boring. Also, don’t worry about being “text heavy” since it is a newspaper and not a billboard (seven words or less).

This particular ad uses full reverse, which is outstanding given the dark nature and seriousness of the issue. I note you used a sans-serif type face as well which is an excellent choice, as the “spurs and burrs” of a serif type face gets beaten up badly in gray screens and reverses.

Do nothing in less than ten point type.

Hope this helps, and in deep EPU territory, I hope somebody notices.