Mornin’, Elliott -

Looking forward to the the Q&A with Donna tonight.

Good Morning…Matthews’ panel a good exchange on Obama & the economy.

Good morning, pups. It’s Egan, Kristof, Friedman and Rich today. MoDo is off today, so Timothy Egan has taken over. He takes note of the fact that Joe the Plumber is publishing something he’s calling a book in “Typing Without a Clue.” He asks that publishers set some ground rules: Anyone who abuses the English language on such a regular basis should not be paid to put words in print. Mr. Kristof writes about “A Killer Without Borders,” and says Americans don’t think much about tuberculosis, just as we didn’t think much of AIDS in the 1980s. The risk is that our myopia will catch up with us. Mr. Friedman, in “The Real Generation X,” says to reverse the damage caused by this generation of greedy adults, we will not only need to bail out industries of the past but to build up industries of the future. Frank Rich says “The Brightest Are Not Always the Best,” and that long before the phrase “the best and the brightest” became the accolade du jour, it was meant to strike a sardonic, not a flattering, note.

For your one-click shopping pleasure you can find them all here.

The coffee, tea and hot chocolate are ready, and I stopped at the bakery yesterday and got chocolate croissants. There are also some plain ones in case you’re like my boss who’s allergic to chocolate (poor soul…). For some reason both of the cats are nuts this morning. I could understand it if it were the full moon, but it’s not. Have a great day — I’m off to roll out some sugar cookie batter I made yesterday.

Norman Soloman is kicking right wing ass on Washington Journal.

Good on ya Norman!

morning everyone

Thanks for the viewing reports. I am at an undisclosed location because I broke my computer last night so I won’t even be able to watch the Foxy News AllStars. I am in tears. All right, I am not really in tears.

Soloman also just finished up as a panelist on C-Span 2 about an English whistleblower……….hard decision to make between the two.

Chris Wallace celebrates his fifth year with the Fox News Channel this Sunday. TV Newser caught up with Wallace and asked him about his new competitor, David Gregory. Wallace sees some poaching opportunities
…
Wallace: I like David, I think he’s a very effective broadcaster. I think he’ll do well. But — and I think he’d be the first to admit it — he’s not Tom Brokaw and he’s not Tim Russert.

And I think that some of the traditional Meet the Press audience will shop around.

linky

Bryon York – blerrrrrrrrrrrgh!

Michael Medved, author of “The 10 Big Lies About America” interviewed by Mona Charen.

Is that one a reverse-pay-per-view?

Morning all,
Shopping around is putting it mildly. They might as well change the name of the show to David Gregory and Ego.

Marion my two terrors experienced snow for the first time this morning. The fact that is is wet and they don’t like it on their paws is my bloody fault on the other hand that dampness was soon forgotten in a game of chase the flake (no not me). Endless Joy.

Thank you all for your great recipes yesterday.

it would have to be if they want any viewers

LOL, is there room for both his fat head and his fat ego on the screen?

I think Fareed Zacharia is going to have Colin Powell on

OT It looks like William Jefferson has been ousted from the house.

oh thanks, I’ll add that to the post

I’m sure he’ll press Powell hard about deliberately lying at the UN about the evidence for WMD in Iraq.

NOT.

BTW, how ’bout them Sooners? Can’t wait to watch them whip the Gators in January, demonstration the superiority of the Big 12 over the SEC!

Cheers to this early am group. Im off to do work at a hospital…Is anyone ready to say it is morning in America? Please. Our laughing stock, shameful Pres is almost finished. Now, there’s hope.

it would have to be if they want any viewers

yeah well – for that one, I’d suspend my long-standing status as being cheap in every sense of the word….. *g*

Morning all. It’s snowing here on the North Shore of Lawn Guyland. Just the right amount of snow, sticking on the lawns ans shrubs, so it looks like a X-mas card, but hardly anything on the front path or driveway.

Yeah, no shoveling. I went to Ikea last night to by wrapping paper (I LOVE theirs) and picked up a 6 pack of cinnamon buns. Got up early this Am and put baked appples sweetened with boiled cider and dried cranberries and packed with pecans and cinnamon are in the oven right now. Big pots of coffee and tea are made and I set the breakfast table all in blue and white transferware dishes.

There’s a clementine on each plate. When the apples are almost done I will pop in the buns to warm and make some bacon.

It’s beginning to fell a lot like Christmas…. Or at least smell like it in my kitchen. it should be a nice surprise for Littleprop when she wakes up.

Anybody care to join me in a cup of coffee while the smell of baking apples drives me crazy?

Got to love it and they have five weeks to get everyone healthy.

sounds like a plan,
must smell so yummy at your house!

That sounds fabulous. What’s the occassion?

Morning, LHP – Upstate, it’s 26 right now(way warmer than it was yesterday at this time, I might add); we had about an inch of snow last night, though I’m sure ‘the usual suspects’(aka Snow Belt up on the Thruway) got a lot more. I can tell it’s starting to be like the holidays because the neighbors down the road from us put up…their inflatables!!!

How’s that couple by you who suffered the cross burning? Are they doing OK? Did they catch the perp?

Don’t get all puffy chested before the two have met on the field.

Did they catch ‘the perp”? Yes they did..as I thought..a couple of teenagers from down the road. My contacts tell me that Archie, the architect(huh, I wonder if he went into architecture because of his name…) had a stroke within a couple of days of the burning and ended up in the hospital for a week. I think he is home now but do now have any information on how well he is doing, what the damage was and so on.

Beautiful snowfall

This is their place, eCAHN…
http://mudandfirepotters.com/index.php

If the the perps were minors does your state have laws making the parents financially responsible for the damage?

Well, I’m glad they caught the kids and I hope they learn their lesson. And I hope for the best for Archie the Architect. (Sounds like the beginning of a children’s game.)

Yum, sounds delightful.

That’s a great excuse for a beautiful morning.

We have only a dusting in the mid-Hudson.

Thanks. I’m not much of a pottery fan (I like it fine, but don’t have much use for it), but their property looks beautiful.

The building with the stack is their Japanese wood fired kiln that they built into the hill there. It’s quite spectacular.

OT – I got my copy of The Practical Progressive by Erica Payne. Easy and fun to read. Next edition should have a piece on FDL.

I figured out that was the kiln chimney.

What I like about the property is the natural, unpretentious look, but exquisite taste. (To be expected from artists.) Luckily there haven’t been too many McMansions around me, but the ones that have been built have been landscaped to within an inch of their lives. High maintainance, needless to say. I’ll be watching to see how well they’re taken care of as economic times get worse.

They’re liable to find out that their beautiful shrubbery and flowers don’t taste like steak.

Morning all, would like to see the celebrity news shows schedule Lansing mayor, Virg Benero, as a guest talking about the auto bridge loan. He blow these pompous bloviators out of their chairs. They just can’t handle the truth. eCHAN, I have a feeling you wouldn’t mind seeing Virg teeing off again.

Not only can’t they eat the shrubbery, the gardener costs will them alive.

Yes. When I saw Gettelfinger on the schedule, I thought why not Benero. Gettelfinger does an OK job at defending labor, but he has less credibility because people think of him as a union shill. Benero is both better on the defense and a comes from a less biased position.

I’m attempting to make cornmeal pancakes for breakfast. Wish me luck.

All these people who want to live better than the Sun King. The first letter of image is “i” and image has no substance.

Whip up your egg whites separately an fold the rest with the cornmeal in..that works for matzoh meal pancakes and the cornmeal will be the same graininess, I think.

he was great the other day, told it like it is.

That sounds good. Let us know how it turns out.

Gonna make something with the half a bushel of apples I still have. Have already made apple butter (it’s “in the mail” Marion), apple sauce, one apple cake. Gonna go thru my recipe books again to see what other trouble I can get into.

I’ll be right over

More and more designers will be designing using sustainable practices in conformance with LEED critera. Includes design of botht site and structure. Not a minute too soon. People who persist on building McMansions will be seen as anti-social dolts. Small well designed and crafted homes are in, conspicuous consumption is out.

Your take on Gettelfinger is spot on.

McMansions have gradually been becoming the subject of mockery even before the housing bubble burst.

You’re always welcome, just follow the scent of burning cornmeal.

Is the age of greed on the way out?

The Age of Greed is OVER. W killed it. As Krugman said, W even managed to harm his base economically.

Of course, our masters in DC (this is a bipartisan comment) are completely unaware of that.

Don’t count on it. Down but not out

My condolences on the computer. I just finished a few days of restriction to viewing the ‘net on a laptop through The Eyes of William Gates, and I don’t know why you’re not sobbing loudly.

If it hasn’t been noted here at FDL already, Prof. Thoma has some important homework assignments for those of us who intend to follow the fiscal stimulus debates:

What Causes Gluts and How Can They be Cured?
This is a review and criticism of the Malthusian roots of supply-sider arguments for using tax cuts to the business class instead of distributional policies that reduce income inequality by favoring poorer and working classes to stimulate the economy.

Crowding-Out and Crowding-In
This is about the argument that if the government engages in extra spending that has to be financed in the debt markets, private investors trying to fund projects will have no financial power left over for projects that would sustain economic growth. You’d think this argument would be too embarrassing to raise in the present environment, but you would be dead wrong.

One more little note: What it says in the titlebar of this site is absolutely true. I use an ensemble of 4, and can testify that my life has been changed.

Good day.

Oh, yuck. Who wants a Kennedy as senator from NY? Toby, what do you think? Too much drama, doesn’t know a thing about the state, political dynasty, etc.

Littleprop. Love it! Lo these many years, I have wanted to ask you about your moniker. Today, I do it. See how decisive I’m becoming? Well, yes and no. Bwahahahahahaha!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_union_positions

I have to separate the whole ‘put someone in to complete Hillary’s term” thing from “can the person get re-elected?”
If Paterson wants to put Carolyn Kennedy in as a nice gesture (God, I’d hate that), then she gets a little ‘attagirl’ for her resume. But she is NOT what New York, esp Upstate NY needs. We need someone(and I don’t care where they are from, OK?) who will take the time to really do the work to learn what makes the entire state tick, the differences between upstate, downstate and the Island, the industrial challenges, etc. etc. That is how Hillary won. Carolyn Kennedy is a very nice person and very sharp…but I don’t think she knows beans(or potatoes, or onions, or cabbage, or dairy, or Corning, Inc. Or Xerox or Kodak, or Lockheed Martin or anything else)about Upstate New York or how the state actually ‘works’ (or doesn’t). My two cents. Paterson could put her there, but unless she spends those two years out in the field really learning her craft and learning the state, she’s a goner in a re-election.

Caroline could run for Senator in FL and I’d be first in line to volunteer for her campaign. Her head is in the right place and that’s the important thing to me.

I can’t believe I disagree with you, but I think it’s great. I know she doesn’t have the experience but I have confidence that she’ll be fine. Plus, it saves the seat from falling to a repub. I don’t think Cuomo is as popular and I’d hate to see Rudy step in.

If we did not already have Schumer, she might have a shot, sincerely. But people upstate see Schumer as “downstate’s senator” – Upstate always feels it needs someone of its own…we’re needy like that.*g

I look forward to the day when the roofs on most of those monsters need to be repaired/replaced:

a. They’re gonna start leaking early due to roof design and (probably) poor construction
b. The @holes who thought all those peaks, gables,dormers,etc. look rich are gonna feel awfully poor when they get the roofer’s bill.

Have fun with that one, suckers!

I agree. But on your reelection thing, do you really think there’s a R who would beat her, even if she didn’t do her homework in the intervening years? Raise Pataki from the dead?

Ohmygosh! Another world opens to me. Thanks.

I don’t think Rudy could win a statewide office, but I could be deluding myself because I dislike him so much.

Morning, Solai – how goes it in the Mohawk Valley??? It’s OK for you to disagree with me – I have a very grouchy attitude about the whole Upstate/Downstate thing…

Heh. Me too. I had no idea until someone mentioned it awhile ago.

Yes, I’ve been wondering about all those complicated joints on the roofs myself.

ah..you bring up another very interesting factor. The R’s in New York are just sort of …drifting along…with their heads in a sack these days. Perhaps she could win..esp if she did her homework over the next two years and shows herself to be someone who works for upstate too. Rudy couldn’t win on a bet. Pataki has enough dirty laundry (he has his own Troopergate) and basically is seen as someone who only wants to be the R nominee for president, so I think he wouldn’t do well either.

Have coffee – will dance….

Sonia Dada – Crazy Lady

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..re=related

I look at Congress differently. We elect people to Congress to do what is best for the country as a whole, not what is best for the state or district they come from. That’s what state legislatures are for. Congress critters doing what is best for the companies in their state or district has led to massive amounts of pork while infrastructure throughout the country goes lacking. Tax breaks for Lockheed Martin deprive other more important things from being funded.

I don’t watch it carefully, but it’s my impression that the Rs in NYS are dying a slow death. Does not seem to be any good new leaders, and they keep losing seats as the state turns bluer.

I agree with you in principle. But we are living in an “it’s all about me” society, by and large. Bearing in mind that roughly 10% of the population is interested in/involved in politics (a Wellstone Action stat, and maybe that’s somewhat higher now?), many of the rest have an at least subconscious agenda re electing Congress critters, i.e., “What’re you gonna do for me and mine?”

Yes, you do look at Congress very differently. I don’t know about voters in other places, but I can tell you that in Upstate New York, which has suffered greatly in terms of job losses, having people in DC who fight for every nickel of road and bridge money, government contracts and so on is a very big deal.

My house construction knowledge is extremely limited but I know from personal experience the simpler the roofline, the cheaper less expensive the repair/replacement (being blessed with houses that fit that description).

It all goes back to the stupidity of thinking complex is always better. *g*

Bitter cold with an inch or so of snow.

With Shelby and Corker leading the fight against an auto bailout I don’t see anything important that needs to be done in AL or TN

LOL. Got that right. Especially no roads or bridges.

They have to fight for every nickel of road and bridge money precisely because of the “it’s all about me” mentality. Road and bridge money and other infrastructure projects should be a separate part of the budget. Firms move to FL so that they can get govt contracts and not have to pay any corporate taxes. Nothing wrong with govt contracts but I’d like to see the majority of those contracts shifted from the war industry to the alternative energy industry or some other non war related products.

Good Morning everyone …….

And coming from the state…. Arizona who gets less PORK because ya know….. McCain doesn’t believe in pork…… I just want my fair share of the tax dollars…..

Morning, Katymine!! And how are you this morning? Hugs to you.

Well, thank heaven for that. Arizona must be a trichinosis-free zone. /s

And pundit on WJ this morning sez he’s gonna be reelected in 2010.

Is that because Napolitano is leaving to go to DC? No D to run against him in AZ?

(((Mornin’, katymine)))

He sure is excited about sending the gov. to DC

Include SC in that category……per the twit politician from the state who thinks we don’t need to spend any money on infrastructure.

Let all these idiots explain during the next election why their states came out on the bottom of funding….we can sit back and watch blue spread across the South.

Gov Janet would of tromped McCain in 2010 but if she is in the administration…. then yes….. there isn’t anyone here in AZ with the stature and funding to run….. damn….. mistake number 2 of appointing her to the cabinet

I’m find ….. going to drop my oldest son off at the airport…. he is visiting from Seattle and then do all my errands to get ready for another week away from home….

I think that the reporter was just saying that, although McCain was disliked by some in AZ, there didn’t seem to be any competition that could beat him. Didn’t have anything to do with Napolitano, though I thought the analysis should have included some thoughts on the implications of that. But my standards on reporters are always being disappointed.

(((katymine))), you can do this! Sending warm and hopeful thoughts from freezy Minnesota. And hugs.

PW is upstairs with more news on the recount in MN.

Really I would like to see education funded in these areas (particularly poorer areas).

Mrs. Greenspan sez Obama’s putting together a “crack” team. She might want to reassess her choice of words, considering his past.

LOL

Don’t forget bmaz’s book salon, should a great one.

And I know I’m looking forward to movie night tomorrow.

Good morning katymine!

Until 2004 there wasn’t a state Democratic Party office. It was a organization that would start up months before an election and there was no network or funding. Since then we have had both a County & State office, we have officers, staff and it is open ALL year around.

The issue is that they have not been growing the farm team so our bench is very slim. It was Howard Dean that helped us with anything. We just do not have a long list of people who are qualified to run for some of these offices. AND because of that we don’t get the DSCC & DCCC support for those candidates.

Sheesh, way behind…

Obama great on MTP — blames the probs of Big Auto on…lousy business model and exec comp pkgs that are way outa line compared to their competitors…boo-yah!

Gregory baton passing…Gregory pfffffht.

oh puke
was hoping they’d change their minds by today,

Rice on this week continuing revision of history.

Is that the death knell of MTP I hear in the background? From the thought provoking days of Lawrence Spivak to the mindless days of David Gregory.

Meet the Idiocracy

Wobblybits has just shown up on PW’s thread.

Well, it’s a given they’re definitely in need of *that* specific piece of infrastructure. :-(

if you click on the profile there is an explanation of my screen name. A looseheadprop is a rugby position. LHP plays in the front row of the scrum and, along with the tight head prop, props up the hooker (analogous to the center in NFL football) so the hooker can strike at the ball with either foot without falling off balance.

If you are experienced, and totally lacking in ethics, the LHP can collapse the scrum pretty much at will without much danger to self, but at great danger of spinal cord injury for the opposing team. It is VERY hard for the referee to catch the LHP doing it.

Therefore, to be a responsible LHP, you have to learn to put the long term health and safety of your opposition, ahead of short term gain for your own team. You also have to be aware of proprotionality–after all, is winning even the most important game of you life worth knowing that you deliberatly risked making someone a quadraplegic?

Learning to play that position agressively, but not recklessly, invovles alot of soul searching. I think I learned more useful elassons, trying to grock rugby in fullness than I ever did in a classroom.

Hold onto your gag reflex, a couple of days ago somebody (an R) told me Pete King is thinking about running for Seante.