Democrats – the mop-up crew

Eli!

it was a “For the love of God, just FIX THIS SHIT ALREADY” mandate.

Thank you.

Eg!

You’re welcome.

another criteria: good Supreme Court appts.

I think that might fall into the progressive/wonk category, although again, I hope I’m wrong.

oo, and how about the rest of the world doesnt hate our guts anymore.

Or it that too wonky

I can go either way on that one.

Not too wonky in my book.
It has really bothered me that there has been so much negative collateral karma.
Not hating our guts feels a little better.

not too often I don’t have anything to add to a post, everything here is perfect.

great stuff eli

I think it’s a mistake for liberals/progressives to stand at the podium and say, “They like us. They really, really like us”. No, they don’t.

People are voting their pocketbooks and that’s about it. They are concerned with the economy and how it affects them. This is as “progressive” as this country is going to get – remember, these same voters also apparently hate the idea of all Americans having the same rights and are willing to pass laws saying so.

she’s a “wonky-talk woman” :~)

Not sure just when it happened but at some point during the past 30 years, David Bowie sought professional help forfeited his inclusion in The Big Book Of British Smiles.

lol

Eli, I really like your list. I’m sure there are a hundred more things that could be added to each section, but for the first four years – this list will do nicely!

Maybe we could drag it out each January 20 and examine it to see if any progress has been made…

Troops out of Iraq and re-establishing a functioning independent DoJ have topped my list for awhile. With a functioning DoJ, my hope is that an awful lot of ‘justice catching up’ will take care of itself, if you catch my drift.

.

Thanks. I think the whole country will be keeping score, albeit with a myriad of different lists.

Imagine a world where all criminal Republicans get prosecuted, and all innocent Democrats… don’t.

I just posted this at my place. It was issued 20 minutes ago by the Alaska Democrats’ HQ:

According to the Division of Elections, there are now 81,000 ballots outstanding that need to be counted. This accounts for more that a quarter of the total votes.

Also today, the Division of Elections said they’d count about 2/3 of the ballots (absentee and early) next Wednesday. Questioned ballots aren’t likely to be counted until the end of next week or even the beginning of the following week. Based on data from the Division of Elections, Begich is leading Senator Ted Stevens in the early votes which have been counted – 59% to 37%. However, there will be enough question ballots left after Wednesday’s count for the race to still go either way.

I think that falls under the not staffing with K Street lobbyists and cronies.

I think it also applies to every single department of the government – since there are similar problems in each one due to this kind of crap from Bushco.

DoJ is the most egregious certainly, and most in need of a huge, top-to-bottom overhaul to get rid of the Rethug moles and burrowers too.

After eight years of government run by the Seven Deadly Sins,….

hey, can we keep “Lust”?

four score and seven years hence:

Obama and the dawn of the Fourth Republic

His victory really may mark the beginning of a new era in American history.

interesting thesis, lofty assertion

I think it is of critical importance that the Obama team select a White House dog Americans can be proud of, as opposed to some snotty, nippy, self-righteous (quite possibly drunk) Scotty.

ET! Glad to hear about all the outstanding ballots. Otherwise, the results in all of the AK elections just didn’t seem to add up.

Uncle Ted’s reek-count.

(thanks for the news ET)

Obama and the Democrats will be goats if:

1) The economy continues to crater.

I don’t want to use it as a false excuse for what may be some failings under this new congress and administration… but, I expect the economy to crater due to existing problems for some time. What matters is if progressive policy/spending/taxation is attempted, imo.

And both Democrats and (especially) progressives are not defined well enough imo…even within our own conversations.. to be able to declare they like us or not.

ET Why is it taking so long to count the ballots? Just curious

hey, can we keep “Lust”?

Only in your heart. Don’t worry, it’s relatively low cholesterol.

It will probably be some sort of poodle cross because of Malia’s allergies. Think peke-a-poo, cocker-poo, etc. Mixed breed dogs are much more friendly than most terriers, and remember – this one must be good with kids!

I think they’ll get some forbearance if:

A) They can show some progress, and/or

B) They don’t let the United States of Short-Attention-Span forget who created the mess in the first place.

B) They don’t let the United States of Short-Attention-Span forget who created the mess in the first place.

This one will be the most difficult. Bushco spent their entire 8 years in office blaming everything that happened on Clinton. For the next 8 years, everything that happens will be Obama’s fault. *g*

It’s never to late for a healthy dose of accountability.. for the last eight years of criminal transgressions. *g*

I heard from a whole lot of people who did NOT vote their pocketbooks:
Pissed off Republicans – and they were pissed off about all sorts of issues, very few of which revolved around the economy and most of which had been perpetrated on the country by what is passing for their party.
Pissed off feminists – offended that the Rethugs somehow thought that “T and O” was all that mattered in terms of having a VP candidate who would siphon off the Hillary contingent.
Pissed off young people who see what the past eight years have done to their futures..and their kids’ futures(if they can ever afford to get married and have some).
Pocketbook issues were big for a lot of folks, I am sure; but I heard a lot more from people who were just supremely pissed off and had an opportunity to actually DO something about it.

There were three cases in the August primary of voters voting by absentee and then voting in a polling place. Because of that, they’re saying they have to go really, really slow. really. slow.

Other stuff going on, but I can’t comment on where it is, right now, because I’m in on the process.

good with kids…and NOT bite the reporters. that’s a biggy too.

Isn’t that fair and balanced? s/

Obama and the Democrats will be heroes if:

1) They secure affordable, quality healthcare for everyone. (Note: “Free” is a form of “affordable.”)This can be done.

2) They pull the economy out of its nosedive.
NOT about to happen, so many other shoes have yet to drop (like leveraged derivatives)

3) They start getting our troops out of Iraq immediately. Bonus points if Iraq does not become a bloodbath during or after withdrawal.
We can do this and there will not be a bloodbath

4) We can stop taking off our shoes and surrendering our precious toiletry fluids and beverages at the airport. Enough already.
First we need to clean-house at DHS and maybe even rethink having the department at all

5) They capture or kill bin Laden. This would be the ultimate fuck-you to Bush, especially if it happens in Obama’s first year.
That would be TOO SWEET.

6) They allow everyone to obtain a college degree without going into debt.
Like civilized countries?

7) Gas prices go down.
Sorry folks, we need to get used to $4/gallon gas. But we need t make the high price happen because of the taxes that pay for item number 1.- Healthcare

8) They cut taxes for the lower and middle brackets and raise it for the upper ones. This would take away one of the GOP’s favorite anti-Democratic boogeymen.
And provide for a minimum corporate tax as so many pay none at all despite the allegedly high US rates.

9) They handle natural disasters brilliantly.
See number 4.

10) They stop a real terrorist plot, as opposed to some yahoos with blowtorches. Especially if they do it without torture or warrantless wiretapping.
Doesn’t stopping Bu$h and the GOP count?

NewChautauqua.org

Somethin’ like this?

Rachel (and Lawrence O’Donnell) just broke the story that there may be *two* dogs.

I hope that this is a “dual-dog” strategy, as opposed to a “duel-dog” thing….

I’m not sure I really care if it bites the reporters – maybe they will learn to keep their hands to themselves and leave the kids alone as well!

This dog gets my vote.

Yeah, bear in mind that the list was not intended as predictions. I suspect that a lot of these things will not happen, due to either the weight of circumstance (economy) or lack of political will (healthcare). We’ll see how aggressive Obama is, and how willing Congress is to go along with him.

The best part in all of this? The republics know come January 2009, they had better not play games with the American people, because if they do, they will continue to lose seats in both the House & Senate and the Democrats will have a majority for a very long time!

Ha ha. The republics are forced to play nice. Will they turn to guns & religion now? Hey, could be. They’re pretty predictable.

My girlfriend sided with Barney, said Decker was harassing him, or at least invading his personal space without permission.

Good Evening Eli and Firedogs -

I would like to see some messaging out there on realistic expectations – especially about the economy. tricky ? a little, but he is President Elect because he treated the electorate like we have rational, functioning brains

and it is going to get worse.

a week ago today, Janet Yellin, Pres of SF Federal Reserve Board said “we should all expect the economy to contract significantly in the fourth quarter”

that’s like being in labor and having them tell ya, hang on, “yer gonna feel some pressure ” there

oh! Eli~
it’s the first night i could actually take off work and celebrate!
and I CANNOT express here the tears and joy and yelling in the street last Tues. night.
“”For the love of God, just FIX THIS SHIT ALREADY” mandate”
is sooooooo righteous.
you rock, and i think the Mandate TO YOU is
“write more”~!!!!!

i don’t think I could be clearer here.

it’s no less of a mandate as Rohmbo’s…………
not tooooo much to ask, i’m thinkin’

we ALL have to participate, after all.
*grinnn*
s

Looks like a nice doggy.

I think the Republican plan will be to make sure nothing on my first list happens… and then say it’s the Democrats’ fault.

Kinda like the last two years.

I can’t wait to see what kind of dog the Obama’s pick for their new home….the White House! I’m sure if they decide to get a dog from a shelter, there are shelters out there that specialize in hypoallergenic doggies.

I agree with your criteria for success Eli, although I’m not sure that we can accomplish the good stuff without “settling (some) old scores”… the rethug obstruction machine, once it finishes eating their own for a few months, will try their darndest to stop our new president from succeeding on any of your points unless they are dragged into the
light and punished — either with political damnation or actual prosecution.

I would also consider adding one: transformation of the national culture into one that is
more compassionate, more diverse, more tolerant, more open to change and
new ideas, and more patriotic to the ideals of American community and democracy (rather than the tokens and regalia of USA! USA!). I read today a story about how a child in rethug AZ shot his dad and a friend. The rethug prosecutor announced that even though the law excuses children from responsibilty for such mishaps he was going to exploit the heinous nature of the crimes to prosecute the child for capital double murder anyway. The child is 8 years old. This type of crap has to stop, and I’m looking to Obama to help lead the visionary process of
moral change.

Terriers are noted for that – they are pretty much one-person dogs, and really resent being pawed and petted by people who are not in their ‘allowed’ circle of permittees.

ha!
that’s what i was thinkin.
the po po animal!
already had to be owned and fed by a war criminal, TALK ABOUT STRESS,
but
has to pup up with paparazzi!
give him a break,
i was personally LIKIN’ it!

Yup and unlike governance, Republicans excel at obstruction.

Transforming the culture would be huge, and something that Obama is probably better equipped to do than almost any other Democrat. The fact that the smear campaigns backfired so enormously is very encouraging.

I’ll go along with that. The reporter’s approach was all wrong. Never reach for the animal, always let the animal come to you. Leave your hand down where they can sniff it.

Barney is getting up in years too. Most dogs start getting a little grumpy eventually.

Prolly just a little love sponge. Although I liked your entry. Those eyes were just too weird.

The American people aren’t stupid, even though Howie Carr of right wing radio said we are for voting Barack in. Yeah, yeah, according to Howie, we voted Barack in because we are the ‘dumbing down of America’ in action. See? We’re not the INFORMED VOTERS WHO HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION FOR THE PAST 8 YEARS. That said, these same voters will be watching the republics come January and the republics will get their asses kicked by us every time they play games so no piece of legislation gets passed that will help us out.

I say we ONLY call republic offices come next year when we’re pissed instead of calling Pelosi & Reed all the time. We need to go to the source to make the wingers cry.

ahhh, that is the Late Great Sam. He made his bones at an Ugly Dog competition in the bay area. Competitors would see him uncrated and immediately take theirs back to the minivan :D

don’t cry for me SARAH PALIN……..
because I doooooooo
not like you!

this is hysterical

The eyes might be borrowed from Kate Moss.

Phil Donahue is coming up on Rachel!!! (MSNBC)

Felines the same way. When my late Missy hit 19 she was easily irritated and would bite.

I like the cats that are all “Purr purr purr purr BITE”.

Barack should ask the r’s to define center right.

My first thought was that s/he was blind in the right eye.

Three of the four candidates I worked for won! Woohoo!
(Barack and Ol’ Joe count as one). But Charlie Brown breaks my heart, about 700 votes short in CA. But just checked and those interactive map things say the race is not called yet. That true? Is there still hope?

I heard residents calling McClintock ‘the carpetbagger.’ How could he have won? Maybe they were all Brown supporters calling that corrupt reactionary carpetbagger, the carpetbagger.

What do people think of the Obama transition website?

http://change.gov

I find it hopeful, if Obama continues his very competent and community organizing ways after the election.. If Obama continues to push for more grassroots input and participation and good well planned organizing, that might be more important than many of his specific policy -some of which all of us will disagree with, sometimes strongly. And which will range from awesome to bad, which is the human condition.

Of course, I can already hear the GOP muttering that change.com is just corrupt big city Chicago machine politics via internet. Well, who cares what they say? If Obama can get the economy moving again, money will flow into productive uses again, in regular peoples’ hands, rather than mega-rich cronies who already have so much they don’t know what to do with it. And that is more important than whether most people ‘like’ us or not right now.

Result talks and BS walks. If we show some results, they will slowly begin to like us, whether they realize it or not. The population has had nothing but 100% total BS that kills, maims and impoverishes for the last eight years. A little Result, things merely working again will go a long way.

I especially liked the moose antlers on the piano man!

“If America is a center-right nation, then I guess healthcare for everyone must be a center-right policy.”

That’s what Missy would do. I’ve got lotsa scars but never let it keep me from pettin’ her. Been a year and I miss her every day.

that sounds like Louis le chat, although allegedly it’s affectionate biting.

Check this out!

http://www.democracynow.org/20…..ate_senate

Very cool. ;-)

Congrats on your candidates!

Obama said to Rachel in his interview with her that ‘he was planning on bringing his campaign to the White House’. Rachel didn’t really pick up on that, but I did and this website is just the initial indication that is the case. I expect that he will continue to send out emails and all the other contact stuff when he needs help pushing congress to do stuff asking for phone/fax/email pressure etc. He asked for help – and he is smart enough to know that if he expects to get any he has to provide a mechanism to do so – and here it is.

My girlfriend’s late cat did that, but I don’t think it was affectionate…

The gf was always scratched up and bitten like Les Nessman.

Barack should ask the r’s to define center right.

The center has the right to bend over and transfer the ball between his legs to the quarterback.

Prior to typing that, I had never contemplated just how bizarre that custom is…

I never had a beef with Barney. I felt for the poor dog, being trapped like that. Barney is probably impaired in some way, being a purebred as opposed to a mutt (I don’t know much about Scotties, though).

The bottom line is that if I were a dog, I would be tempted to bite a national affairs reporter too. Too bad it was Reuters, which I think is better than most, though I also do not know how awful that particular reporter is. Or maybe his is OK.

Now, if Barney bit a McClatchy reporter, that would definitely be dog style political payback, and would show that Barney had been corrupted by the whole sick Cheney/Bush crew. I would frown on that and I would reject, repudiate, revile and reprobate the bad dog Barney to the max.

Excellent news! Now we jsut need to get more ‘girls’ into the national legislature! Seein’ as how we make up more than 50% of the population *g*

Shiimsa is 6 and he does that. Nibbles but those teeth are like serrated razors. Likes to nip my toes and fingertips. Just purrin’ away the whole time.

OOOh yeah, they still send e-mails. Yep sir those e-mails keep coming. I think it is down to a few dozen a day now. So that is some relief. /s

I never had a beef with Barney. I felt for the poor dog, being trapped like that. Barney is probably impaired in some way, being a purebred as opposed to a mutt (I don’t know much about Scotties, though).

His dumbass owner dropped him on his frickin’ head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9vJNtY_mZ4

ouch – you can trim claws but you can’t trim teeth!

Scottish terriers (Barney) are noted for being moody, grumpy, and one-person dogs. Like most of the terrier breeds. They are feisty since they were usually used for killing vermin (rats, etc) and not bred for playing nice.

Barney may be impaired – but that’s probably because W dropped him on his head. I feel sorry for Barney.

I got yer Center Right, right here

for the Palinists, I suspect that’ll be a hybrid combination of Apartheid South Africa, the Islamic Republic of Iran and some good ole fashioned Prussian militarism thrown in for good measure… emphasizing the worst aspects of each.

I have a Chihuahua and I love her. But I cannot understand why everyone all over the country cares what kind of dog the Obamas get.

Here is Barney’s Wikipedia bio. He just turned 8 in September, so he’s not as old as I thought.

404 Error. Bad linky.

A friend of mine had two scottish terriers and a cat. The terriers attacked and tore the cat apart (literally) one day while she was at work. I haven’t been a fan since.

Can’t speak for anyone else but I am incredibly shallow…

they have not called the Brown-McClintock race yet. will try and find you an up to date link. the insufferable Lungren also a carpetbagger

Firedogs – Dems picked up 2 more House Seats today ! MD-01 & MD 02

Common ground.

Like I said – they were not bred for playing nice.

I doubt that you are shallow but doesn’t this strike you as odd? Eli puts up a great post and everyone is talking about cats and dogs.
Just don’t get it. I think it’s funny, though.

Friends of mine had a tomcat that allowed himself to be mounted by their pet rabbit. Became the laughingstock of all the other cats in the neighborhood.

note the red is center right :D

I am sooo used to this.

Palinista!

Dog breeders care because if they get a purebred dog – all of a sudden that breed will get really popular and lead to all kinds of backyard breeding and the puppy mills will go into full-swing making puppies ‘just like the one the Obamas have’. It can have a devastating effect on a breed.

If they get a shelter mutt – that would be much better – maybe encourage others to adopt a dog or cat from a shelter instead of making more of them.

O/T Anyone see Sarah Dingbat’s latest interview in Alaska? Priceless. The McCain campaign was right to limit her access to reporters.

I think this talk that the US is left/right center, extreme vs semi extreme, center-center vs mid-right left-center and mid-center right northwest by south by southwest ideological mumbo jumbo is garbage.

It is ideological social engineering by corporate media and corrupt, paid, media pundit class to divide the people. It is nothing more.

I hope the Obama administration is sensible enough to simply and completely ignore that nonsense and talk like grown ups. Let the results speak for themselves. I think the Obama team realized the best way to beat the corporate media was to bypass it.

To do that now requires that they get on the stick with appropriate plans to continue their community organizing approach without trying to use it as a gimmick or burning out their supporters. I hope they have planned this as effectively as they have the election effort.

What would be very bad is using their troops like the GOP used the social conservatives. I think social conservatives are pissed of and will stay so for a long time. Twenty to thirty years is a long time to be used like a garden tool, or a handy roll of toilet paper. I would say tissue, but I think FDL still permits some vulgarity.

But then, as a Christian, I know from personal experience that the words ‘trust me, I am good Christian’ is a serious warning sign and hearing that means something whacked is going on. And that has been a big part of the GOP pitch. So the reactionary Christianists should have known better.

Poor thing. Interspecies love…

Sorry Eli, but you wrote such an excellent post we all said it was great and added a few more items and there was nothing left to be said because…well, your post was just soooooooo good!

Sorry Eli, I introduced the subject @ 23. It was a passing diversion, didn’t intend to torpedo the thread.

I really don’t worry about it. Honest.

If you ever commented at Eschaton, you’d understand…

Given that the Obama camp has had their ‘transition team’ already working for over three months already – and that they had their new website up the day after the election, and his statement that he’s bringing the ‘campaign to the White House’, I do think that is exactly what he/they have planned. I predict that the new website will be an action center for people to help push his agenda through Congress, and will also have the blogs and groups that will allow us (the people) to communicate directly with him (as much as that can happen anyway).

Here is CA-04 page from Big Orange

The love that dare not speak (bark, meow, quack, moo, whinny) it’s name.

Good evening firepups. Hi Eli.

Hi Betsy.

Dropped the poor dog on his head, huh? I always suspected that being owned by W would be a dangerous situation. We all came close enough.

I am so sorry Barney, forgive me!

As long as we are talking about animals, I guess Dachsunds are the same way. Very friendly, trusting and loyal to those they know, but can be vicious little killers and biters in the wrong situation. Bulls will gore your just for the heck of it.

Old pigs are the worst. Dogs will give a warning nip. Cats a warning scratch or bite. Bulls a warning charge. An old pig will just knock you down and start trying to eat your foot or something. I wonder if Cheney has a big old grouchy pig as a pet.

How-dee.

Hey, Tex. How are the kids?

I agree and how about get the vets some benes and a decent wage for all workers.

He impersonates a pig. And!!! He’s proud to do so.

LOL!

Texteen is growing up too fast and Cassie is still depressed that Noriega didn’t win his senate race. How are you and yours?

thanks so much. Everyone pray/medidate/think nice thoughts about Charlie Brown (the congressional candidate).

I also worked for McNerney which might piss some people here. I discussed the progressive left’s concerns about him early in his term. McNerney said in a friendly way that he was a moderate that his who is and will be.

But, his opponent Andal would be bad news in Congress, so I could not help myself in the final weeks when it looked close, so went a knockin’.

Andal is pure reactionary House GOP material. A bad faith artist of the highest order and very reactionary.

Lower and middle-class wage increases would be pretty huge. As would more jobs overall.

Doing well, Tex. Youngest daughter moved out a little over one month ago, and is moving back.

I was never a sad empty nester, once it actually happened!

It would also be nice if, along with your affordable college point, we could get better K-12 so kids would be better prepared for college.

I have never figured out why W has a dog like that. W is not an animal person. He claims to be a ‘Texas rancher’ but have you noticed you never see him riding a horse? That’s because he is deathly afraid of them! So we get the ‘brush clearing thingy’ cuz he can relate to a chain saw.

Absolutely. Education bullet point should have been broader.

I worked for a candidate like that. Had a hard time getting too enthusiastic. Sure, I voted for him, but give me a liberal with a brain, please.

Texas Chain Saw Massacrer?

I think instead of getting a new dog, Obama should just consider offering to take Barney off shrub’s bloodstained hands. I mean, shrub won’t need Barney as a prop anymore and I doubt the luxury penthouse in Dallas shrub has told a number of people he wants to move to (Crawford was just a prop too… shrub hates the outdoors) will even allow pets.

Iraq, health care, jobs, economy, bin Laden, college, gas prices, taxes, natural disasters, terrorists, …

That’s a pretty big menu.

Out of this assortment of royal bleeping messes, I will be positively tickled if we manage any one or two turn-arounds. When you’re in several catastrophic nose dives simultaneously, it’s hard to argue against correcting any of them.

Given the depths of the messes that we’re in, and the laws of social inertia, fixing everything, even within one or two terms, is probably too tall of an order for any mortal.

But, just as the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, the repair of all problems begins with a single fix. And, then another. And, then another. If we can just start changing direction, the rest can follow, even if it takes more than Obama.

If Obama can just pull that off, he will be a hero, not only in my eyes, but in the history books, as well.

There was a big discussion about that on MoJo today – whether the Obama kids would be going to public school in DC. That school system is a complete shambles and the new Supt Rhee has not had time to work her magic yet – but I would be very surprised if the kids are not in another private school – as they have been for their whole school lives.

That said, we need to get all of our public schools functioning like the BEST private schools – and that is going to take a real commitment to some change in the old way of doing things. The NEA is going to have to budge on the merit pay and tenure and some stuff like that. It isn’t necessarily a throw-money-at-it thing – just a shift in the way we think about education and how we utilize the resources.

My Republican sister lives in Oklahoma, where McCain beat Obama by something like 32 percentage points, which I believe was the largest McCain margin in the country. Next time we talk I intend to tell her that with any luck under Obama they’ll receive more federal funding for education.

While that might be the best solution for Barney – it would not for the Obama kids. Barney is not a hypoallergenic breed – and Scotties are not good with kids. Besides, if Barney is fixated on W, he would not adapt to any new ‘owner’ very well, especially since he is not a pup any more. Too bad.

I dare say that the condo owner’s would make an exception for the ‘President’ if he really decided to take him there. Otherwise poor Barney is liable to just disappear.

I don’t think they need to pull off all of them, but they definitely need to pull off *some*. Enough for Americans to say, “Hey, these Democrats aren’t so bad after all. They’re a hell of a lot better than the Republicans.”

I think that education is sooooo important. If we don’t have an educated electorate, it is too easy for people to be duped, mislead, brainwashed, etc.

Exactly.

But, just as the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, the repair of all problems begins with a single fix. And, then another. And, then another. If we can just start changing direction, the rest can follow, even if it takes more than Obama.

An excellent point. Plus, a change of attitude at the top percolates down through the bureaucracy and the worker bees (career civil service – the people who really keep the government functioning) will respond overwhelmingly. Most of those people really want to do a good job and do the job they were hired to do. Shrub has prevented that good feeling and doing jobs well for his whole term and we have lost a huge number of good people who resigned rather than be a part of tearing apart everything they had worked so hard to build.

So whether it all gets ‘done’ is probably not the marker – just that progress is being made in the right direction.

Good post!

I think the key is to decouple school funding from property taxes. *Everyone* should be able to get a good education, not just kids in rich neighborhoods.

Probably oversimplifying, but I think it would be a good start. Money doesn’t guarantee a quality education, but lack of money just about guarantees the opposite.

I agree. Just start the ball rolling in the other direction, and the applause will follow.

The Palin pick demonstrated that even the most uneducated person can grow up to be nominated for the second highest office in the land. Maybe it IS time to set the bar a little higher.

Lundgren, yeah. I was visiting my people in the Central Valley and saw a Lundgren commercial. Yikes. I was hoping it was a mistake and Lundgren had gone McCain/Palin wrt to his campaing (that is, totally incompetent), and running his commercials 300 miles away from where they were suppposed to be.

When I can stomach it, I will find out what is up with that Lundgren.

There is a bright side to this, and all this carpetbagging shows how thin the GOP bench is. The wingnuts and the Rove-ties killed off a lot of very good future GOP stars in the US Attorney purge. I cannot believe I would ever vote for any of them, but at least they were competent, sane and ethical. They are gone. Iglesias is an example. Hagel is sane, so he is dead to them. Powell (probably ethical when he can be his own person)…. well…. he is kaput. Arnold has some of the desired weasel traits, but he is a commie to them, and cannot run for President anyway. I also wonder if he can survivie a rough CA GOP primary. Some one told me that even W said the CA GOP was insane and too far right. I wonder if that is true? Anyway, who are the next generation of winning GOPer polticians, who are competent sane and ethical?

They got what… Palin and Todd. Mitt. Huck. Is that it for them?

I’ll bet that Obama plans to get young, new teachers to teach in troubled school districts as part of his “aid” for higher education for service idea.

Higher than Palin would be about 1 inch off the floor. She knows nothing and likes it that way. I was amazed to read that she would not let them brief her before her interview with Katie.

gosh… can you imagine the hilarity that would ensue if some enterprising journalist was to discover an abused and neglected Barney in the Dallas pound, say, six months from now…

I am totally with you there. I think the ability to speak in coherent sentences should be a start.

Decoupling is a good idea – but it has to be accompanied by some sort of minimum funding requirement. California arguably had one of the best school systems statewide when it was still coupled to the property taxes. Of course there were districts that were bad – just as there are anywhere.

They undertook this reform by decoupling – so all the property taxes go into a central fund and then are doled out to the schools on a per-kid-per-day basis. Then the legislature started raiding the fund. So the voters passed a minimum requirement. Trouble is that it’s a 1984 funding level. So now California schools are near the bottom – 47th I believe, beating out Mississippi and Alabama. Ouch!

The per-kid-per-day also doesn’t take into consideration the economies of scale – it’s cheaper for infrastructure in the LA basin district (buildings, busses, etc) than for Trinidad Elementary (84 kids in k-8).

So while decoupling is a step – it’s just one and there are a lot of other complicating factors.

Boy, that was poorly written. What I meant to say was that as part of Obama’s plan to offer help with tuition for college, he would probably require that new teachers go to troubled school districts as part of their service requirement.

Troubled schools need some experienced, competent teachers as well.

Hey, they rented cattle, iirc.. why not rent a dog? /s

Bill Durston came within striking distance of Lungren and says he will go again in 2010. The normally rational Sac Bee endorsed Lungren – simply because they thought Durston’s political experience “too thin” aarrggh

and we are in agreement about that rather thin bench. Clueless clowns like Eric Cantor are stepping up for Leadership positions – oh please, give us more of that in ‘10 :D

There was a study published recently regarding the issue of how people think they do when presented with certain challenges. They gave this group of people a questionnaire and asked how they thought they would do on a test. They then took the test. Then they were asked again.

The people in the lower 25% responded both times they would/had done just fine.

Moral: Stupid people are too stupid to know they are too stupid.

I wuz wonderin’ jus’ how you’d know it wuz Barney?

Oh wait…dent in head. Check.

As we all know, McCain graduated near the bottom of his class and I find the allegation that Palin graduated at all difficult to swallow.

Ouch! Just watched the clip of W dropping poor Barney. That was quite a drop.

And it reminds me of something I have wondered about -why is W always carrying that dog? Are there no leashes? Are there no dog feet on Barney? I have seen footage of the dog, Barney, walking on its own two feet perfectly fine. Barney seems to enjoy himself waling on his own. In the clip of the famous Barney dog bites reporter incident, Barney seems perfectly fine on a leash. Of course, his walker seemed like a nice man, so there is that to consider.

Maybe W is a control freak, or something. Or has no rapport with animals of any kind, so cannot control the dog in a civilized manner unless he is clutching it like bag of ill gotten gains.

That sounds good to me. Tying education funding to local property taxes is a very effective way to ensure that the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor.

That has always been my observation. I have never heard anyone say that they are stupid. Yet they have to be out there…..

Barney, walking on its own FOUR feet

maybe we’ll find out that Laura and the twins are rented props too ;-P

I have become fascinated in the story and fate of Barney. The secret story of Barney will be more interesting and sell better than W’s memoirs.

Moral: Stupid people are too stupid to know they are too stupid.

So if I know I’m stupid, I’m not? Ow, this hurt much brain thinking my…

has no rapport with animals of any kind

That is exactly it. He doesn’t know the first thing about how to handle animals, is afraid of the bigger ones, and I think he has Barney because he thinks somehow it makes him look better (kind of like Queen Elizabeth with her Corgis.) Only trouble, the Queen’s Corgis adore her and she them!

Sure to be a top seller at Jr’s liberry.

Correct. You are not stupid – but merely ignorant – which can be remedied. Unlike stupidity – which cannot. *g*

(Ignorant is not a bad thing to be – it just means that you have not learned everything yet!)

don’t try thinking on weekends!

You mean LIE-berry.

Maybe Barney is more Laura’s dog?

Didja hear that all the publishers are not exactly falling all over themselves to get W’s memoirs? He has been advised to ‘take his time’ and that the ‘time is not yet ripe’ for them. Ha!

I have no idea. I have never seen Barney with her, just W and the ‘handler’ who takes care of him when W doesn’t want to be bothered.

On second thought…

Barney is probably the ‘handler’s’ dog – since that is undoubtedly who he spends most of his time with.

That is one dog you have to feel sorry for.

Yes, I do. *g*

No matter how educated we are, our knowledge is but a speck and our ignorance nearly infinite.

Hear, hear!

May I use that? with proper attribution of course!

I know all kinds of stuff, none of it useful.

don’t try thinking on weekends!

Excellent advice. I also intend to eliminate weekdays from my schedule.

…perhaps the publishers could reposition the memoirs in the horror genre, or maybe in childcare, as a cautionary pop up book for parents desiring scared-straight-type solutions….

Sacramento BEE endorsed Lundgren!? What the…
Lundgren won in CA District 3!? Ugh. I didn’t even know he was running there.

Gross! Yuck. That is bad news. Lord, that jerk will be on the Sacto news stations, talking and lying and leering and sneering and misleading and smearing and generally being disgusting all the time now. But doing it an irritatingly soothing way.

And one side of my family adores that wingnut and other loathes him. Severe penalties will have to be added for infractions to ‘no impolite political arguments’ rule at my family gatherings now.

Well, thanks for getting me to look up the situation. At least I got the news sitting down.

Sacto has been polluted! Stained.

Sure. Similar sentiments have undoubtedly been expressed often and usually better.

First move, yank FEMA out of DHS. Just DO it.

I was thinking of serializing it in “True Crime”.

I consider myself a suppository of useless information.

Or just break DHS back down into its component parts.

That may be, but I like your version and I’m in the process of updating my blog which has a “saying of the week”.

Thank you for your contribution!

This book is my talisman.

That photo looks a lot like my copy, actually – I’ve had it since I was a kid.

That’s the best idea yet. Bureaucracies function better when they have a narrow focus. Making that huge combo-nightmare DHS was a guarantee that nothing in it would ever work the way it was intended. FEMA was just the most egregious and obvious example of what happened.

Sounds potentially uncomfortable…..

DHS’s raison d’etre was always more symbolic than practical. “Look! We care so much about security that we created a whole giant department for it!”

DHS is a joke and always has been. Hope Obama fixes it very soon.

That was the public face of it. The actual intent was the destruction of any semblance of the government being able to actually function. After all, that is the grand design of the GOP – to destroy the government.

They use the Reagan mantra of ‘the government not working’ and then they get into power and basically prove it. Then they point to the useless mess they have made and say ’see, we told you so’.

This combining of agencies meant they could do it in one fell swoop instead of having to take them one by one.

The first reviewer, aka A. Customer says he wrote to the address the book gave for a Dinosaur Hunting License and received one. Too bad the dinosaurs all bought it in Sarah’s great flood.

OT pups but day three diary on the solar installation is ready for your viewing!

This is the book that helped stunt my intellectual development. Unfortunately, I was only able to master the first part…

Hey nahant!

So…what’s the difference between a ‘used’ copy and a ‘collectible’ copy – other than the price? More or less wear and tear?

I gather that’s it. Really rare books are sometimes valuable in any condition. A while back I was looking at a website that sells first editions. It was pretty interesting, though mostly stuff totally out of my price range.

Check out titles on Bookfinder.com — condition, year of publication, etc. And lots of other stuff. But, really condition, condition,condition! Hey Ratfood!

I just looked, the collectible copies are all first editions.

Hey back, Christine!

Think everybody else has moved on.

I’m all for that – it’s the right thing to do. But might take a while.

Yanking FEMA seems relatively quick and obvious. Surely the country would rally behind it and congress might have trouble complaining. We’d have the luxury of knowing it is funded and who is calling the shots.

I loved Eli’s post. I’m just so late to the night due to Moyers and Real Time.

I’m lost again in the site — can’t figure out where everyone has gone.

The most expensive first edition of The Great Gatsby at Bookfinder.com is five hundred thousand dollars… not even autographed. What a bargain! For that kind of money, I’d have to insist on having Fitzgerald rise from the grave and type it for me.

i think they all headed over to the tbogg post up top

There is a TBogg post upstairs.

julia upstairs a few flights

Is Missouri still MIA in the Electoral College? I’d make room on that list for a heroic measure to help protect all the rest – Fix voting once and for all. It took me 10 minutes this year in Iowa. That should be the standard for a prepared voter.

Edward~

I actually toiled through the actual data spread sheets for the different Alaska districts and State Assembly areas. In the normal vote count Begich leads in the following District 1 [ Area 2 (58%), 3 (71.5%), 4 (61%), 5 (58%), 35 (53%), 36 (56%)]; District III [ Area 8 (57%) and tied in 6,7,9.10]; District II [ 18 (54%), 19 (52%) 20 (56%), 21 (52%), 22 (59%), 23 (61.5%), 25 (56%), 26 (54%), and tied in 24 and 29]; District IV [37 (52%), 38 (68%), 39 (60.5%) and 40 (61%)].

Stevens is ahead in the walk-up vote in the following: District 1 [Area 1 (56%), 33 (61%) 34 (63%); Mat-Su 13-16 averaging 63.5%; District III [11 (63%), 12 (57%); District II [17 (58%); 27 (54.5%), 28 (56.3%), 30 (53%), 31 (57.6%), 32 (53%)].

Some of the early ballots have been counted and this is where the real advantage goes to Begich. Begich is polling between +5% to + 18% better than his walk-up polls, with no counted precinct showing a lower number than his election day numbers.

In District I only two precincts (3,4) had some early ballots counted and these were 77% (+6%), and 70% (+9%). But the unrecorded pro-Begich districts out-number the Stevens areas.

Begich’s Mat-Su numbers for the for precincts showed an average of +7% for early voting [41-45% in this heavily Republican district]. So even though he never gains a majority there he cuts into Steven’s substantial leads in the walk-up votes.

District II precincts were about 12% higher than his walk-up numbers (with all above 51% and averaging about 63%).

District III his early voting numbers (61%) were averaging almost 14% higher than his walk-up vote averages.

In District IV only one set of early voting number was available. Area 4 showed Begich with a 64%-36% advantage over Stevens. That was about 4% higher than his walk-up vote % on election day.

Given the above, if the pattern continues Begich should win easily…unless some bias is present in the “problem votes” towards Stevens.

Missouri is within 6000 votes.

http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/a…..sp?eid=256

Scrool down to see the population cartogram.

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2008/