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WIRE For 4/28/08 Workers Memorial Day

Written by: Kevin Sharkey on Apr 27, 2008 9:12 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Brevard Workers for Democracy, Central Florida for Democracy, Democracy for Brevard North

 

"30 Years Ago: 51 Workers Die at Willow Island « The Pump Handle

John McCain gets tax-free disability pension - Los Angeles Times

Disability and Democracy Posted by Michael Bérubé

except from article

Oh, and the rhetorical appeal to “my friends” reminds me! I’d almost forgotten all about that John McCain fellow. Apparently he’s become the nominee of the Grand Old Party, on the grounds that he is not a barking lunatic who will promise to double Gitmo and build a tall fence to defend us against the Gay Immigrationist Mexislamofascist Menace. Yes, well, McCain’s disability policy is much easier to summarize: (a): we need to cut costs; and, following from (a), (b): don’t become disabled:

Controlling health care costs will take fundamental change—nothing short of a complete reform of the culture of our health system and the way we pay for it will suffice. Reforms to federal policy and programs should focus on enhancing quality while controlling cost.

This means you, solider – and you too, person with autism, you, person with Alzheimer’s, and the rest of you malingerers. Buck up! Your job is to control health care costs for the rest of us.

Taking a toll on the CSX debate by Aaron Deslatte Orlando Sentinel

Vouchers get back on the ballot | floridatoday.com | FLORIDA TODAY

As Longevity Declines in Poor Areas GoozNews:

For more visit http://spacecoastaflcio.org

 

Tags:
Location: Merritt Island, FL 32952

Discuss
 

Reply

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- Howard Dean

By rich^kolker on Apr 28, 2008 9:06 AM EDT

The good doctor is first, as always.

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- which blog entry is on first ?

By * rdorgan on Apr 28, 2008 9:07 AM EDT

Which blog entry is on First ?

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- rear window proclamation

By * rdorgan on Apr 28, 2008 9:10 AM EDT

Well, yesterday I was driving in my town I've lived in for the past 25 years and I can't recall ever seeing someone with a hand-drawn poster that blocked their rear view.

The poster read "Real Americans don't protest; We support our troops."

Well, when we started to pass the pickup truck, my wife rolled her passenger window down and yelled to the driver "Hey, it's illegal to have a sign that blocks your rear view".

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- This is rich

By rich^kolker on Apr 28, 2008 9:13 AM EDT

But it seems the new blog can't read my name and is posting my email link instead. Any suggestions?

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- go into your personal file and make adjustments

By Monica Smith on Apr 28, 2008 9:23 AM EDT
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By Monica Smith on Apr 28, 2008 9:25 AM EDT

you can get there from "display settings" at the beginning of this thread

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- Problems with my name

By rich^kolker on Apr 28, 2008 9:33 AM EDT

It told me "Access Denied." Probably because it couldn't recognize me.

I've sent an email to support.

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- Success!

By rich^kolker on Apr 28, 2008 9:35 AM EDT

Huzzah!

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By Monica Smith on Apr 28, 2008 9:21 AM EDT

ok, it seems that the reply to a comment function has been temporarily disabled and they're working on it. There is no tool bar on this comment box that I'm using.
I think I have an answer for the weird blog posts that are showing up when a user first logs in. Actually, it was my son who suggested that the re-direct server or ISP provider may be caching posts and providing stuff from cache, instead of serving up the dynamic page. The reason that happens is because the default is to go to cache cause that's more efficient from a band-width perspective. To get around it, DFA needs to send code to make sure only the most recent page gets forwarded.

btw, I've switched back to the MAC. Firefox on the linux box wasn't having any problems, but I did have to refresh the page after logging in to get today's most recent. The first page that came up was from April 8th.

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- God Bless America

By rich^kolker on Apr 28, 2008 9:25 AM EDT

I was at the Washington Nationals game yesterday, and in the 7th inning stretch they asked everyone to rise for "God Bless America". I understand lots of baseball teams have been playing this song (one of the least of Irving Berlin's repertoire) but we rise for the national anthem, not some random song.

This probably annoys me more than it should (and my being a nonbeliever contributes to that).

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By Monica Smith on Apr 28, 2008 9:34 AM EDT

It seems the reply function works after the first comment is posted.  Also, the tools are present.  It's hard to know what's being changed by Tim Watson and what the program sorts by itself.

Anyway, Rich, I always take invitations for all to stand as an opportunity to be ornery and stay seated.  Getting people to jump through hoops is not how humans should get their jollies.

I would note that both comment boxes are currently open on my MAC and, unlike earlier today, both have tool bars and on both the "format" pull-down reads "paragraph"  Also, on both the toggle thingy is active and yet the wrap is doing fine and not being discombobulated by my use of the hyphen or a hard return.  So, perhaps that was a bug that got addressed.

Now I need to go off and send a message to one of our members with an unemployed spouse (laid off by IBM) who might be able to help elder son, whose company keeps losing IT people to better jobs.

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By Huron John on Apr 28, 2008 9:37 AM EDT

Rich--it's the same jingoistic crap as the flag lapel pin. In-your-face bogus patriotism that the right wing loves.

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By Michael Ellis on Apr 28, 2008 11:02 AM EDT

Huron..............is there a clock with this thing yet?  Anyways, at the baseball game I would have gone and gotten a hot dog and a beer.................shades of Germany circa 1936...........

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- Change is in the Air

By Joan In Florida on Apr 28, 2008 9:27 AM EDT
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- Florida - backward in time!

By Joan In Florida on Apr 28, 2008 9:33 AM EDT

 

Yep! Vouchers are once again on the menu of the November ballot. Our state constitution prohibits them, yet now we are to vote on an amendment to invalidate the amendment we voters approved of long ago.

Then there is the new legislation that will allow teachers in Fla. to allow students to debate the "theory" of evolution in their classrooms, a theory that has evidence out the ears that is undeniable and that no credible scientist would oppose. But of course that isnt' good enough for our state.

 

 

 

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- Hillary--nasty but not tough

By Huron John on Apr 28, 2008 9:34 AM EDT

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/guy-t-saperstein/hillary-is-nasty-but-she_b_98719.html

 

Hillary Clinton's current ads seek to portray her as the tough leader who is ready on Day One to handle crises. Borrowing from a line made famous by Harry Truman, the tag line trumpets, "If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen." The sub-text, of course, is that she will dish out a full plate of heat and if Obama can't respond on her gutter level, he can't handle heat.ᅠ

The truth is almost exactly the opposite. Hillary is nasty, but she is not tough. In fact, Hillary is a classic whiner. She and Bill whine about everything that doesn't go well for them. Unlike Harry Truman, who also said, "the buck stops here," she and Bill accept responsibility for nothing and blame others, especially the media, when things go wrong or their deceptions are exposed.ᅠ

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By Monica Smith on Apr 28, 2008 10:16 AM EDT

How very Republican of them.  Seems they picked up some bad habits from their Arkansas cohorts.

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- not me in the Avatar

By Phil Specht on Apr 28, 2008 9:36 AM EDT

The man in the photo with the Obama llama parade ready beast of burden is not me, it is our Obama captain for the county. That was the one that was front paged in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald.

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- Race to the mountaintop.

By Phil Specht on Apr 28, 2008 9:39 AM EDT

Hillary Clinton gave a very good speech on health care and the economy in Evanston Indiana;and needs to be beaten in a race to the mountaintop and not let the swifties in her campaign distract Obama himself from that race.

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By Phil Specht on Apr 28, 2008 9:42 AM EDT

What will the Brewers do without the sausage races, rich? Have a flyover by the thunderbirds?

we have snow again this morning and I can't quite get into the baseball mood yet

bbl

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- Races

By rich^kolker on Apr 28, 2008 9:54 AM EDT

In DC it's the "Racing Presidents" - George, Tom, Abe and Teddy. Teddy has never won. At yesterday's game he had a big lead, but slipped on a banana peel.

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- banner headline with rich's email

By Phil Specht on Apr 28, 2008 9:46 AM EDT

test by clicking on it and see if the rest of you can get to his post for a recommendation

I also don't know if the rating system of individual posts is a good idea, but here we go again.

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- Clinton is a good candidate.

By Phil Specht on Apr 28, 2008 9:52 AM EDT

Hillary Clinton has been tireless (or relentless) in pusuit of her goal of being the nominee and is giving good appearances around Indiana. Barack needs to do the same.

rather than play four corners because he does have the big lead he needs to go back to running his regular offensive set and try and score a few points (Hoosiers will get the analogy)

he needs to win half or more of the remaining contests, match her point for point not run out the clock

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By * rdorgan on Apr 28, 2008 9:55 AM EDT

<em>and is giving good appearances around Indiana. Barack needs to do the same.</em>

<em>+++</em>

Phil -

Barack has been doing plenty of appearances in Indiana.  I posted last week all the links (appearances for Barack and Michelle) in Indiana.

I usually like your posts but you're getting on the Indy Steve high horse again, directing Obama what to do (as if Obama is some child).

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- the politics of destruction

By * rdorgan on Apr 28, 2008 9:52 AM EDT

the politics of destruction:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/apr/28/hillaryclinton.usa?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

Hillary has cynically turned to the one argument she has left: race

 

She failed to convince the electorate of her own viability. Now her team claims that voters won't back a black candidate

The Guardian,

  • Monday April 28 2008
  • Article history
  • It is one of the enduring paradoxes of American racism that those black Americans most likely to exercise their full rights as citizens - to vote, to stand, to speak out - are the most likely to be branded as unpatriotic.

    ...

    Unable to beat Obama on delegates and still unlikely to beat him in the popular vote, Hillary Clinton has just one strategy left - to persuade superdelegates that Obama is unelectable. She has tried branding him as inexperienced and slick-tongued, and neither of those have worked. At this stage she has just one argument left: his race. For several months now, her aides have been whispering to whoever would listen that America would never elect a black candidate. In desperation, some are now raising their voices.

    But their accusations are not only cynical - by most accounts they also seem to be wrong. It seems they have underestimated the potential of the American electorate. Polls show that in the states won with less than a five-point margin in 2004 Obama does far better than Clinton against McCain.

    The problem is not that Hillary Clinton is still in the race. She has every right to be. It is that she is running the kind of race that she is. Having failed to convince voters of the viability of her own candidacy, she is now committed to proving the unviability of his.

    Hillary once said it takes a village to raise a child. Now she seems determined to destroy the village in order to save it.

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    By Monica Smith on Apr 28, 2008 10:24 AM EDT

    African Americans are annoying because they refuse to be subjugated or obey irrational demands.  By insisting on their independence they demonstrate themselves as untrustworthy.  African Americans glory in their liberty; it's what makes them liberals.

    And yes, they are unpatriotic in the sense that they are not subservient to the

    authority of the pater.  They're more likely to be matriotic.  

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    - Rev. Wright from Wiki

    By mary vb on Apr 28, 2008 9:54 AM EDT

    Here's some background on Rev. Wright.  Check out his military service.  He just served Cheney a few minutes ago.  When asked about his patriotism - he talked about how long he served in the Marines and asked how long did Cheney serve? 

     

    http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4/28/63127/8878/756/504695

     

    Good morning all!  I wish this primary was over already!

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    -

    By Phil Specht on Apr 28, 2008 9:58 AM EDT

    Home » Blog » What should we ask?

    HQ Loading....please wait

    Comment was successfully added.

    Blog for America

    What should we ask?

    Written by: rich^kolker on Apr 28, 2008 8:47 AM

    There are two remaining candidates for the Democratic nomination.  They ask for our money, our support and our votes. 

    What should we ask of them?

    After all, they will work for us if they are elected President.  They are our highest elected representative.  We deserve a say in what they want to do.  Instead, I think the impression is that we need to conform to their policy positions.  This is just plain wrong.

    This is some of what I ask.

    (more)

     

    Universal health care means universal.  The only way that is feasible is if we are all part of a system that shares costs.  If anyone gets to bail out of the system, then we don't get to share the cost of health care across the sick and the well, the young and the old, the well off and the less well off.  Personally, I think the best way to do this is with a single-payer system, but I'm willing to lok at alternatives.

    Pay the bills.  Taxes are the price we pay for civilization.  If we want big government services, we need to pay for them.  We need to look at a tax system that is simple, fair, progressive and raises sufficient money for the services we demand.

    Be honest about what constitutes national defense.  The United States plays a unique role in the world.  That means we're going to spend more on defense than a lot of other places.  But that doesn't mean we should go out looking for a fight.  It doesn't mean every tinpot dictator who calls us a name is worthy of being a member of an "axis of evil."  We can ignore most of them.  Also be honest enough to say that if we pull out of Iraq tomorrow, the costs of the recovery of our military from the Iraq experience will last a while, and be larger than we'd like (that taxes thing again).

    Becoming less energy dependent will involve investment and costs.  That doesn't mean opening the government pocketbook willy nilly to corporations who want to play with technologies, but it does mean promoting alternative energy resources, mandating energy savings (like a major increase in CAFE standards) and communicating to we Americans that it is part of being patriotic to walk away from wasteful practices.  At the same time, our goal shouod be an increasing quality of life while decreasing energy use, not a return to the "dark ages."

    The same thing with the environment.

    I could go on, but the message isn't what I think we should ask of our candidates, but the idea that we need to ask them at all.  If you're in Indiana or North Carolina, and you get a chance to ask Barack or Hillary something at a town hall meeting, tell them what you want, don't just settle for what they will give.

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    By Phil Specht on Apr 28, 2008 10:02 AM EDT

    rdorgan

    when Obama's campaign calls me for advice (which has happened occasionally) I give it, and I might as well share my thoughts here

    but I also want to share how super delegates think since I had lunch with one yesterday and that was the gist of the conversation

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    - I can't reply to a someone's comment post

    By Susan Rowe on Apr 28, 2008 10:10 AM EDT

    The reply box appears then the page changes to 'can't find this file'. It then tells me to refresh the page. A lot of nonsense.

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    - Everytime I make an entry...

    By Susan Rowe on Apr 28, 2008 10:13 AM EDT

    ...the threads all close and then I need to go to the top and re-open the expand.

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    By Huron John on Apr 28, 2008 10:18 AM EDT

    Seems to be a hit-and-miss deall. Sometimes it lets me reply--other times, SORRY

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    By Monica Smith on Apr 28, 2008 10:14 AM EDT

    When I came back to the blog, it crashed opera three times, until I finally let it start with home page, instead of go back to where it had been. Now, the comment box on opera has no tool bar.

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    - I can't open a comment by clicking on it...

    By Susan Rowe on Apr 28, 2008 10:17 AM EDT

    ... I have to go to the top, open all the threads and then I can't reply to a thread.  I have to make a new one. IMHO, it's kind of wasted space and time.

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    By Fred from Oregon on Apr 28, 2008 10:41 AM EDT

    I tried it and it seems to work- complete with tools (if this post shows up)

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    - well the superdelegate needs to wake up

    By * rdorgan on Apr 28, 2008 10:21 AM EDT

    Phil -

    Well, the superdelegate needs to wake up, IMO.

    Some of the recent Barack appearances in Indiana:

    Apr 26 - Anderson, Marion, New Castle

    Apr 25 - Indianapolis, Kokomo

    Apr 24 - New Albany

    Apr 22 - Evansville

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    - no tools bar--again

    By Monica Smith on Apr 28, 2008 10:33 AM EDT

    perhaps the cache function on the servers or the ISP re-direct is off and that accounts for people getting old stuff. This is a very dynamic site where everything is changing all the time.

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    - That happened to me yesterday B4 I re-registered under a different name/address

    By Fred from Oregon on Apr 28, 2008 10:34 AM EDT

    Everytime I make an entry...
    By Susan Rowe on Apr 28, 2008 10:13 AM
    ...the threads all close and then I need to go to the top and re-open the expand

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    - How Rev. Wright brought me to God

    By mary vb on Apr 28, 2008 10:35 AM EDT

    by Granny Doc

     

     

    http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/28/92734/8108/706/504737

     

    First time I didn't have to go through my dfa to comment.  Small steps...

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    - I cant see anything on the right side of this page...

    By Susan Rowe on Apr 28, 2008 10:36 AM EDT

    ...all of the icons are cut off. The page doesn't condense to fit the screen. The ticker at the top has a very long white space after the text. The space trails on forever.

    This reply box has no tools. Some do some don't.

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    By Fred from Oregon on Apr 28, 2008 10:38 AM EDT

    I miss the plain text alternative -  I wonder how this is working with dialup - maybe I'll try - this is a pretty complicated setup, I hope they can get the bugs out.  I liked the old blog, except for the time stamp and sequence bugs.

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    - <p><br></p>

    By Monica Smith on Apr 28, 2008 10:39 AM EDT


    if there's something in the subject line, it's what i copied from the body of the comment box. It was here yesterday, but then when I submitted, the line of code was gone. Now I have no tool bar on Firefox.
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    By Monica Smith on Apr 28, 2008 10:57 AM EDT

    ok, tools are back and the subject line is missing some words including "bogus"

    ******************************************

    On topic, I just want to observe that I think conservatives are really committed to the proposition that some humans are just not "fit" to survive and that it's somehow immoral (inconsistent with the welfare of the community) to provide subsidies (education, health care, safety) to compensate for individual deficits--i.e. if it is beyond the capability of parents to "correct" the deficits of their off-spring, then those off-spring deserve to languish/die.

    Or, more bluntly--humans are conceived in sin and if they don't shape up, off with them.

    This perspective/prejudice is, of course, consistent with their commitment to a natural human hierarchy which assures them that those who overcome adversity and survive are good and everyone else is not.  The thing about such a dicotomoy is that you can't have one without the other.  If some humans are inherently good or superior, then there have to be others who aren't.  And if wealth is associated with goodness and poverty with badness, then there have to be some people who are poor.  There's a social imperative to have poor people, if having rich people is a good.  We make poor people so the rich people can feel more important.

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    - It seems we are all having toolbar bugs

    By Fred from Oregon on Apr 28, 2008 10:59 AM EDT
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    - A little Meta

    By rich^kolker on Apr 28, 2008 10:40 AM EDT

    I'm running the new blog on Firefox 3 Beta 5 and it's working fine.  I did have the initial problem of getting old stuff, but it cleared up.

    Firefox 3 Beta 5 is also blazing fast, I guess because of the new rendering engine.

    We now return to normal programming.

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    - DFA-List current endorsements are not current

    By Susan Rowe on Apr 28, 2008 10:40 AM EDT
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    - Barack has shown up in Indiana

    By * rdorgan on Apr 28, 2008 10:41 AM EDT

    Some of the recent Barack appearances in Indiana:

    Apr 26 - Anderson, Marion, New Castle

    Apr 25 - Indianapolis, Kokomo

    Apr 24 - New Albany

    Apr 22 - Evansville

    Apr 19 - Ft Wayne

    Apr 12 - Muncie

    Apr 11 - Bloomington, Columbus

    Apr 10 - Gary, Lafayette, South Bend

    Default_user

    -

    By Jo*in*Vermont on Apr 28, 2008 10:47 AM EDT

    I can't gain access anywhere to change my settings or update my profile - when I hit 'display settings' it thinks I'm susan rowe and denies me access.  when I try it from my dashboard it tells me I have an inactive account, but yet it states that I'm logged in.  it makes me log in each time I visit the blog and insists I have an inactive account each and every time, yet lets me post.

    thanks, dfa.  I can see you're getting there, slow but sure.  good luck with the tweeking.  perhaps when I get back from puttering around in the spring sprinkle it will be one step better!

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    By Fred from Oregon on Apr 28, 2008 10:55 AM EDT

    (Tool bar came up again with this reply)

    My re-registering<em> (under a changed blog name and different email address)</em> really helped most of the many problems I had with logging-in, thread downloading, displaying etc.  within a thread <em>(except the disappearing/reappearing  toolbar problem)</em>. Of course, it did not solve the problem of dissapearing/reappearing threads.

    Not sure if I different email address is needed to re-register under a different name, but I had another address so I used it.

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    By Fred from Oregon on Apr 28, 2008 10:48 AM EDT

    The presence of my toolbar seems to alternate every time (or every other time)I enter a post or refresh the thread. Less likely to come up when I refresh.

    Default_user

    - truth and fiction

    By Pat in Colorado on Apr 28, 2008 10:57 AM EDT

    Good Morning Folks,

    It looks like the fine turning is going on and stalwart souls are helping iron out the kinks.

    Just a thought, PHil, and by the way, your posts are always worth reading.  I think a fine speech is a good thing, details in policy are good, but if we've learned nothing from the Clinton presidency and the Hillary Clinton campaign, character counts.  Anyone can speak a good speech with the speech writers and experts, but the Bush Presidency and this campaign have shown us that we can't afford dubious ethics, can't afford duplicity, complicity, and ends justifying means.  I'm hopeful that Americans have learned something about that.

    Then off the topic, the new Stephen King novel, Duma Key, seems to be good, maybe up there with The Stand.  My husband finished it, and though I haven't been much of a novel reader these past few years,  I think his assessment is probably right.

    In expository prose we gets facts and logic, but in fiction we get human truths.  This passage I think may be illuminating, page  52 "But the surface events of a country laboring under a dictatorship can appear boring too--dictators like boring, dictators <em>love</em> boring--even as great changes are approaching beneath the surface."

    It appeared almost out of the blue.  In American Studies we examined the proposition that artists sometimes see trends and events as much as ten or more years ahead of the rest of us.  The insight that Stephen King may have alluded to is something that may be happening in our political system here now.

    Have a lovely day, folks.

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    By Fred from Oregon on Apr 28, 2008 10:57 AM EDT

    The text between that <em>'s in the last post was supposed to be italized text

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    - RMS Obama sinking.........

    By Michael Ellis on Apr 28, 2008 10:57 AM EDT

    Hi folks.......this web site is wacky. Anyways, Rev. Wright last night on CNN wont help BO much, in fact thats the start od the collapse IMO. Wright is a smart guy, knows his history, but syas things that are truthful but many Americans are not yet ready to accept.....some of the wording in controversial too.

    Making fun of leaders like JFK and caucasians in general wont help his cause much and I think he has forgotten in BO there WAS a candidate that may have helped the cause of the AA people, but Wright has not helped much.

    It was a good run by BO........he should debate HC also..one on one..manao on mano........

    Mccain has an easy path now........

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    By Fred from Oregon on Apr 28, 2008 11:02 AM EDT

    Don't jump to conclusions - the Rev. Wright thing could beat itself to death - it's a couch potato phenomenon.  After a while it goes over their heads, it becomes passe.

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    By * rdorgan on Apr 28, 2008 11:12 AM EDT

    <em>Don't jump to conclusions</em>

    +++

    Fred -

    I know you're trying to be nice with Michael but IMO he's attempting to jump ship from a ship he never embarked on - <em>RMS Obama</em>.

    His <em>doom and gloom </em>posts I frankly don't pay much attention to.

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    - Sorry, Michael

    By Monica Smith on Apr 28, 2008 11:31 AM EDT

    Too many logical inconsistencies here to let them pass.  The vast majority of the American electorate doesn't watch CNN and its programming is not likely to be a water-cooler topic.

    Jeremiah Wright is irrelevant to Barack Obama's popularity or lack thereof.  He definitely has nothing to with his rise or "collapse."  The idea that one person is responsible for what a whole lot of other people do is a fallacy much loved by Republicans because it makes them feel important.  But there's no basis in fact.

    Predictions have been fun and are popular because they let people believe that they have more control than they do.  But, practically speaking, they're worthless except as motivators.

    African Americans are not looking for help.  They do not have a cause that is different from anyone else's that doesn't want to be subservient.  The Clintons' biggest mistake in their relationship to African Americans was in revealing their belief that African Americans need to be helped--that they need a president while the more affluent populations really don't.  African Americans don't want help; they just want their due respect.  They are fully aware of what they have accomplished; they just resent having it dismissed.

    If, as you conclude, it's all over for Barack Obama, why bother to tell him what to do?  Do you see how inconsistent you're being?

    Btw, as I keep telling my grandson, sloppy writing and spelling send a message to the reader that the writer is not serious or respectful of his readers.  So, why should the reader give any credit to the offering?  You've been posting here long enough to start paying attention to your spelling, grammatical structure and punctuation.  Typos are inevitable.  Ungrammatical offerings are just plain rude, especially from someone who claims to have authored and published whole books.

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    - New Improved Teflon ???

    By Fred from Oregon on Apr 28, 2008 11:04 AM EDT

    BO may have had the same goddesses present at his birth that Reagan did.  I heard at least one pundit use the word TEFLON with regard to Obama

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    - up on deck in NC early this week

    By * rdorgan on Apr 28, 2008 11:09 AM EDT

    up on deck in NC early this week:

     

    http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/wilmington

    Town Hall with Barack Obama

    Trask Coliseum
    679 Wagoner Drive
    Wilmington, NC

    Monday, April 28th
    Doors Open: 11:00 a.m.

     

    http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/wilson

    Town Hall with Barack Obama

    Beddingfield High School Gymnasium
    4510 Old Stantonsburg Road
    Wilson, NC 27893

    Monday, April 28th
    Doors Open: 4:00 p.m.
    Program Begins: 6:00 p.m.

     

    http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/chapelhill

    One-Stop Early Vote Rally with Barack Obama

    The University of North Carolina
    Dean E. Smith Center
    300 Skipper Bowles Drive
    Chapel Hill, NC 27514

    Public Entrance: Entries A and B

    Monday, April 28th, 2008
    Doors Open: 7:00 p.m.
    Program Begins: 9:30 p.m.

     

    http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/winston

    Town Hall with Barack Obama

    Joel Coliseum Annex
    300 Deacon Blvd.
    Winston-Salem, NC 27105

    Tuesday, April 29th
    Doors Open: 9:30 a.m.

     

    http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hickory

    Town Hall with Barack Obama

    Hickory High School
    David W. Craft Gymnasium
    1234 3rd St. NE
    Hickory, NC 28601

    Tuesday, April 29th
    Doors Open: 2:00 p.m.

    676t107993

    - Free Advice Is Worth the Cost

    By Tom Bearse on Apr 28, 2008 11:16 AM EDT

    Mike wrote "Wright is a smart guy, knows his history, but syas things that are truthful but many Americans are not yet ready to accept.....I think he has forgotten in BO there WAS a candidate that may have helped the cause of the AA people, but Wright has not helped much.  It was a good run by BO.......Mccain has an easy path now........"

    As usual, your observations are useless gibberish.  You called out Obama for his conciliatory positions, indicating that he wouldn't earn your vote by equivocating on issues that Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich, for example, spoke out forcefully on.  Now you're telling us that Obama's  association with Wright and his controversial views give McCain an easy path, i.e., anything Obama does to move closer towards your political views clears the way for McCain's election.  

    Which is it?  Does he get himself elected or unelected by positioning himself as the doctrinaire liberal?

    511t233735

    - Lose-Lose

    By Huron John on Apr 28, 2008 11:26 AM EDT

    Obama has, alas, been put in a no-win situation by the media, the rethugs and the Clintons.

    If he attacks McCain (as he should be) he gets blind-sided by the Clintons. If he doesn't, he accused of wimpery by just about everyone except his hagiographers.

    Pict0562_tinythumb

    - Reply button got buggy

    By Fred from Oregon on Apr 28, 2008 11:16 AM EDT

    By * rdorgan on Apr 28, 2008 11:12 AM
    <em>Don't jump to conclusions</em>

    +++

    Fred -

    I know you're trying to be nice with Michael but IMO he's attempting to jump ship from a ship he never embarked on - <em>RMS Obama</em>.

    Pict0562_tinythumb

    -

    By Fred from Oregon on Apr 28, 2008 11:20 AM EDT

    Now it's working - Mike's disposition is probably cultural.  Combine British pretentiousness with American Hubris and there you have it.  Like the American Pizza and Fried Rice, a unique cultural invention in the New World - that's my friend Mike

    p.s. (chuckle) my three-year-old (sitting on my lap) keeps asking me DADDY, WHAT'S SO FUNNY, when I laugh at my own blog jokes.

    357t234709

    -

    By * rdorgan on Apr 28, 2008 11:23 AM EDT

    Fred -

    Nice pic of you and your daughter.

    Photo_124_tinythumb

    -

    By Monica Smith on Apr 28, 2008 11:39 AM EDT

    Does she know that we were all witness to her having her diapers changed ever since she was born?

    511t233735

    - New Format

    By Huron John on Apr 28, 2008 11:19 AM EDT

    The new format is a HUGE improvement over its dysfunctional predecessor; hopefully, the bugs and glitches will be gone soon.

     

    One good thing, it's distracted us somewhat from the "horse race", more accurately described as the Demolition Derby that is helping to pave the way for a McCain victory.

     

    The media script seems to be on track. Get rid of all the Democratic candidates except for the anointed "firsts" (who are mostly indistinguishable on the issues), play "gotcha" with both, switching sides regularly to hype up the action, then vaseline your lens when you're looking at McCain, the "war hero" and "moderate".

    The outcome, alas, is predictable.........................

    Photo_124_tinythumb

    -

    By Monica Smith on Apr 28, 2008 11:42 AM EDT

    Every fool thing humans do is predictable.  That doesn't make it so.  Besides, most of what actually happens wasn't predicted at all.  "WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT......."

    357t234709

    - malaria

    By * rdorgan on Apr 28, 2008 11:21 AM EDT

    malaria and farmers:

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080425/lf_nm/leone_malaria_dc_2

    Rural farmers turn malaria medics in Sierra Leone

    <!-- BEGIN STORY BODY -->

    By Katrina Manson Fri

    Apr 25, 7:05 AM ET

    <!-- end storyhdr -->

    MALLAY, Sierra Leone (Reuters) - A year ago Adama Jongo, a rice and cassava farmer in Sierra Leone, almost died from malaria while pregnant.

    Now, the 37-year old mother of seven has turned volunteer medic to fight the disease under a pioneering scheme to bring life-saving healthcare closer to rural communities.

    Malaria is the number one killer in Sierra Leone, a former British colony in West Africa ranked by the United Nations as the least developed country in the world.

    Under a pilot scheme run by aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), Jongo has been given a tester kit and trained to care for the most vulnerable in her village, a collection of mud huts 200 km (124 miles) southeast of the capital Freetown.

    Instead of resorting to traditional medicine and "pehpeh doctors" who deal in out-of-date or fake medication, pregnant women and young children too weak to travel to far-off health centers can turn to Jongo for effective drugs and care.

    If the tester kit shows they have malaria, Jongo administers a 3-day course of drugs she keeps locked in a special box.

    Although free treatment is sometimes available in Sierra Leone to fight the mosquito-borne disease -- whose deadliest strain is common in the country's mangrove swamps and tropical forests -- many cannot get to health clinics in time.

    ...
    Pict0562_tinythumb

    - New Format

    By Fred from Oregon on Apr 28, 2008 11:23 AM EDT

    By Huron John on Apr 28, 2008 11:19 AM
    The new format is a HUGE improvement over its dysfunctional predecessor; hopefully, the bugs and glitches will be gone soon.
    ==================

    Sour grapes, John. You better like it, you were the biggest critic of the old blog. Hope the whole thing doesn't come crashing down on us.

    511t233735

    -

    By Huron John on Apr 28, 2008 11:28 AM EDT

    Fred:

     

    Where do you get sour grapes??

     

    I was praising the new format, and optimistically stating that the current glitches will be resolved.

    511t233735

    -

    By Huron John on Apr 28, 2008 11:29 AM EDT

    And the old blog was a disgrace.

    Pict0562_tinythumb

    - diagrace? interesting term

    By Fred from Oregon on Apr 28, 2008 11:35 AM EDT

    I just had a time and sequence problem - aside from that it was pretty solid and I liked it.  When it comes to computers my motto is KISS (keep it simple, stupid)

    511t233735

    -

    By Huron John on Apr 28, 2008 2:35 PM EDT

    Time and sequence problem. With the technology available, that was disgraceful. It was very disruptive.

    Pict0562_tinythumb

    -

    By Fred from Oregon on Apr 28, 2008 11:43 AM EDT

    Part of the problem seems to be how many items it takes to download after a refresh or post. 

    I like the pictures, though.  I think if we can see each other, we are less likely to become hostile.  There is more of a tendency to rage at an abstraction

    676t107993

    - I could not have predicted that so many bloggers look like the letter "i"

    By Tom Bearse on Apr 28, 2008 11:47 AM EDT

    I don't know.  If rdorgan and I really got into it, for example, it would be like Steve Yzerman getting into a shouting match with a dirt road.

    Default_user

    - the media..

    By linda b on Apr 28, 2008 11:25 AM EDT

    are relentless. get this thing over with.

    and tell grandpa to get some new duds. they aren't even ironed. and the closer you get to cindy mccain. what a trollop.

    Default_user

    - wrote mika at msnbc..

    By linda b on Apr 28, 2008 11:28 AM EDT

    what happened to her? she is very intelligent but she has gotten her walking papers to do the bidding of the mass corporate media.

    676t107993

    - This Time It's Personal

    By Tom Bearse on Apr 28, 2008 11:30 AM EDT

    I have to admit that seeing the authors' photos at the same time I'm reading their comments is forcing my imagination to envision the argument between the two antagonists.  The dialogue seemed a little more abstract and bloodless before.  It's kind of like the difference between watching a boxing match on TV and hearing it on the radio.

    796t373

    -

    By Annilow on Apr 28, 2008 11:35 AM EDT

    Is that why you are wearing a helmet lol?

    Pict0562_tinythumb

    - SO SICK OF HEARING ABOUT Obama outspending Hillary in PA and still losing

    By Fred from Oregon on Apr 28, 2008 11:31 AM EDT

    Hillary has her more-famous-than-her HUSBAND campaigning for her, an asset money can't buy.  She also had the perfect political machine that fits her modus operandi. 

    BTW - Cannot understand how a person so much more adamant about the so-called 'right-to-choose' can do so much better with Catholics than Obama, who doesn't even use the expression 'right-to-choose' and was moderate on the PBA issue.

    Must be that Catholics admire her for not divorcing a philanderer (how dumb)

    796t373

    - Rev Wright at the National Press Club

    By Annilow on Apr 28, 2008 11:32 AM EDT

    Did folks watch this? I watched on CSPAN but believe CNN carried it as well. The man is certainly charismatic. I felt that he successfully answered every question that was given him by the NPC folks. The Louis Farrakhan question was interesting - don't remember it all but he said, "how many people do you know that can fill the National Mall?" He also talked about how Farrakhan was taken out of context as he has been. He said the uproar was not about Jeremiah Wright but about the black church. Someone asked if he thought Muslims were OK, I think were they OK in the eyes of God and he quoted scripture (I'll get this wrong) - My father has sheep in many flocks. Which of course was a perfect answer. I can see how Obama has probably evolved in his thinking on religion, on community, on everything by listening to this guy. B/c although he is a black preacher, and thus has pretty much 0 in common with me personally, he is so smart and well read you just want to hear more. Also, I found out why he is speaking out at this time - he is in Washington for a conference on black churches - a theological conference. What really ticked me off was when he finished speaking and they went to questions, CSPAN cut it off and went to caller's questions. What yoyo made that decision? Fortunately CNN was carrying the questions live so I watched it there. I'm sure CSPAN will rerun the whole thing this afternoon so be sure to watch if you get a chance. This guy is to the left of ME and that's saying something, but it all makes sense. You can watch both the NAACP and NPC speeches on cspan.org right now. Also Feith speaking on CNN at Noon and there's a hearing at 2 on Iraq Contract Abuses. No wonder I can't get my paperwork for school done. ttfn

    357t234709

    - perfect storm

    By * rdorgan on Apr 28, 2008 11:35 AM EDT

    "Obama has, alas, been put in a no-win situation by the media, the rethugs and the Clintons.

    If he attacks McCain (as he should be) he gets blind-sided by the Clintons. If he doesn't, he accused of wimpery by just about everyone except his hagiographers."

    +++

    Huron John -

    Thanks for posting that analysis. I agree.

    It's like a perfect storm against Obama.

    However, I remain hopeful that RMS Obama will sail through this 3-way assault and win in NC and eek out a win in IN.

    796t373

    - On whether he was patriotic, Wright said, "I served 6 years in the military-how many did Cheney serve?"

    By Annilow on Apr 28, 2008 11:37 AM EDT
    Default_user

    - rev wright..

    By linda b on Apr 28, 2008 11:39 AM EDT

    is so right. this is an assault on the african american church.

    796t373

    - Don't recall context, but Wright said he wasn't running for public office but he was available for VP (said tongue in cheek of course).

    By Annilow on Apr 28, 2008 11:40 AM EDT
    676t107993

    - Famous Celebrity Blogger

    By Tom Bearse on Apr 28, 2008 11:41 AM EDT

    Annilow wrote "Is that why you are wearing a helmet lol?"

    Ha ha.  Thanks for the compliment.  That picture lifted unbeknownst to me from my now inactive account is of the incomparable Steve Yzerman. 

    357t234709

    - the long and windy (err, straight) road ...

    By * rdorgan on Apr 28, 2008 11:59 AM EDT

    "I don't know. If rdorgan and I really got into it, for example, it would be like Steve Yzerman getting into a shouting match with a dirt road."

    +++

    Tom

    that's no ordianary road -- it's a defensive trough --

    Battle of Alesia:

    If only the dems could carry out a winning siege-like campaign like Julius Caesar did at the battle of Alesia 52 BC, when the opposing Gauls outnumbered his Roman forces by a 5 to 1 ratio:

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

    676t107993

    - Yeah, but

    By Tom Bearse on Apr 28, 2008 12:01 PM EDT

    I still think Steve Yzerman would win. Your defensive trough might fare better against Monica's bumper sticker.

    357t234709

    - finally, my Reply button works

    By * rdorgan on Apr 28, 2008 12:05 PM EDT

    Tom -

    Finally, my Reply button works (before would get kicked out).

    Yeah, I shouldn't be bringing up any historical references (that's Michael's expertise).

    676t107993

    - Replies

    By Tom Bearse on Apr 28, 2008 12:11 PM EDT

    There's some trick to it.  I wish I knew what it was so I could share it with you.  It appears to be somehow related to whether or how long ago you posted to the main thread.

    676t107993

    - Re: Thread

    By Tom Bearse on Apr 28, 2008 12:09 PM EDT

    New thread.

    Default_user

    - messed up

    By linda b on Apr 28, 2008 12:20 PM EDT

    1. where is the new thread? I don't see it.
    2. It says I am signed in but on the blog posts I have to sign in again.
    3. when I sign in, it sends me to the front page where I am shown as not signed in.
    4. On the comment page there is no toolbar until I post. Then the next post shows a toolbar.
    5. I can't refresh cause it makes me sign in again.
    6 Fix this HQ as it is harder to do this than the last blog.
    7. Look at Dailykos as it refreshes quite well.

    676t107993

    - In Search of the New Thread

    By Tom Bearse on Apr 28, 2008 12:25 PM EDT

    linda wrote "where is the new thread? I don't see it."

    I found it by simply scrolling to the top of this box and selecting "Blog"
    from the series that reads "Home >> Blog >> WIRE for 2/29/08 Workers Memorial Day".

    Photo_124_tinythumb

    - Alternatively

    By Monica Smith on Apr 28, 2008 12:36 PM EDT

    if you have the blog for your start page, you can go up and click on that.  if you get an old post, just keep refreshing to get out of the cache.

    Pict0562_tinythumb

    - By * rdorgan on Apr 28, 2008 11:23 AM

    By Fred from Oregon on Apr 28, 2008 12:30 PM EDT

    Fred -

    Nice pic of you and your daughter.
    =======================

    Thanks, they say she's my spitting image. Doesn't show on this one though.

    Sharon_christmas_angel_119_tinythumb

    -

    By Phil Specht on Apr 28, 2008 3:04 PM EDT

    new thread

    Add your comment

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