Howard Dean is first no matter what!

Impeachment is off the table. It is a divisive issue and would never prevail anyway. Forget about it. Move on!  There are more important issues.

When everything else takes precedence over the Constitution, and we're not interested in protecting our grand children from having to endure maybe an even worse presidential administration, then we might as well pack it in. We're over.

Resolution for initiation of impeachment proceedings http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/22143...

LOL, Kucinich is  a wate of time. 

- - - - - - - - -- - - - - -- -  

Kucinich asks federal authorities to investigate Cimperman stunt

Cleveland Councilman Joe Cimperman hoped to get noticed by showing up with a camera-toting campaign worker two weeks ago at the Lakewood congressional office of his rival, Rep. Dennis Kucinich.

Instead, Cimperman got the unwanted attention of federal authorities, who questioned him this week about the visit.

Kucinich, who is trying to defend his seat against Cimperman and three other Democrats in the March 4 primary, asked a federal agency to investigate the camera stunt, saying it broke federal law.

New Bush Coins http://blip.tv/file/520347

clip... Election integrity activists in New Hampshire are finding all kinds of problems with the electronic vote count in last week's presidential primary, after a first day of recounting the Democratic vote. But the problems so far have not changed the outcome of the race that Hillary Clinton won.

http://www.alternet.org/democracy/74102/

This blog is a microcosm of what's going on in the country.  So sad.

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

I've come to suspect that Sitka is being paid by some corporation to trash Edwards. 

Look at this case of Sitka's fixation:  

"Do we agree that the record of Obama's FISA vote coming up is an important test?

He'd better vote against Bush in my book.

But I'm sure Edwardniks will forgive him if he doesn't, so long as he apologizes afterward.

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

I wager that, if Edwards is forced out, his supporters will go to BO, and few if any to HC.  Do the math.  We need Edwards in the race to force HC either out at least marginalized. 

Clean coal? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL  Yeah, right! 

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

You bet I'll be watching BO's vote AND willingness to filibuster. 

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

Rachel Maddow just summed up the Democrats choices in terms easy to understand.

IF you want someone who is a Democrat, who will operate the machinery, vote Hillary.

IF you want someone who will break the system and change things in Washington, vote Edwards.

IF you want someone who is likeable, good personality, vote Obama.

Manchester, NH / Washington, DC - Project Vote Smart has released the results of its Presidential Political Courage Test, which showed 55% of presidential candidates were willing to expose their positions on issues of obvious concern to citizens. This represented an 8% decline in the candidates’ willingness to provide such crucial information to citizens since 2004. This also demonstrated the candidates’ increasing interest in controlling the public’s access to information regarding their intentions on issues.

Most startling, only three candidates receiving major media attention were willing to provide specific issue information to voters:

* Chris Dodd
* John Edwards
* Mike Gravel

http://votesmart.org/blog/?cat=28 

LMAO about Sitka being a troll or paid to post here.

Thanks I needed that in the middle of a busy afternoon.

Jo in lovely Vt - thanks for posting the news about the recount. We shall see....

this is interesting - I hope you all don't mind if I share some local politics.  I mentioned earlier today that Vermont REALLY NEEDS A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR!!!  this just popped into my email box from the VT Dem party:

Yesterday, Peter Galbraith reiterated he is seriously considering running for governor in an appearance on Vermont Public Radio.  In response, I've received a flood of inquiries asking for more information about Peter.

I've put together this snapshot of Peter to help you get to know him better:

• Peter is a long-time resident of Townshend, Vermont.
• In 1993, Peter was appointed the first U.S. Ambassador to Croatia.  He negotiated the peace agreement that ended the Croatian War in 1995 and was part of the negotiating team that ended the Bosnian War that same year.
• Peter was chair of the Vermont Democratic Party from 1977-1979 - he was chair when Gov. Madeleine Kunin was first elected Lieutenant Governor.
• Peter worked full time for Gov. Phil Hoff's 1970 Senate campaign, going door-to-door throughout Windham County.
• Peter was a delegate for George McGovern to the 1972 National Democratic Convention from Vermont.  He was co-chair of Morris Udall's Vermont campaign in 1976 and was a Udall delegate to the National Convention that year.
• Peter wrote the critically acclaimed national best seller The End of Iraq: How American Incompetence Created a War without End.
• Peter was effectively the deputy administrator of East Timor when the United Nations ran the country.  In that role, he helped rebuild the economy and the country's infrastructure, created jobs and designed the first transitional government and the process to write East Timor's permanent constitution.  The East Timorese made him a member of the country's first cabinet and he created East Timor's National Park System.
• In 1983, Peter wrote the principal U.S. legislation to protect biological diversity worldwide and was twice a member of the U.S. delegation to the U.N. Environment Program Governing Council - Indeed, he's won awards for his work to protect the international environment.
• Peter is the principal in Windham Resources Group, LLC, an international business based in Windham County.
• Prior to being appointed Ambassador, Peter served as Senior Advisor to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.  Among many other things, he exposed Saddam's genocide against the Kurds and led the Senate to pass severe sanctions against Iraq.
• Pakistan awarded Peter its highest civilian award in recognition of his work to promote human rights and restore democracy.
• Four days after the first American troops arrived in Baghdad in 2003, Peter arrived as an ABC news consultant.

As I have learned more about Peter over the past few months, both from the many conversations he and I have had and from others who know him well, one thing stands out: All of Peter's many accomplishments are infused with his unshakable values. I am confident that Peter's leadership can deliver real change rooted in those Vermont values.

I feel like I'm having deja vu - wasn't some of this stuff already posted yesterday? I recall Rachel Maddox being referenced with those three descriptions, as well as the Vote Smart poll on political courage.

At a town hall meeting on a day that took Obama from Nevada to Los Angeles, a man who said he did not use illegal drugs wanted to know if Obama would end the "drug wars."

"You've had experience yourself, where if you were arrested when you were a teenager, you would never be elected to the presidency," the man said.

Obama did not acknowledge the personal reference. "I am not interested in legalizing drugs," he said.

"What I am interested in is putting more of an emphasis on the public health approach to drugs and less on ... incarceration." He said too many "first-time nonviolent drug offenders" were locked up "instead of diverting them into programs where they can get treatment, and all we do is give them a master's degree in criminality."

http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/74524...

Jo in Vt.....

You didn't mention any relationship Peter might have had with Howard Dean.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_7998936

Barack Obama meets with single moms in San Francisco

audrey - what I posted was in an email - I've heard of Galbraith, but more for his writings and work in non-proliferation.  I was just reading a recent article about him and Bhutto - they were friends in college and she was pleading with him to find her 'jammers' to help with her security because Pakistan wasn't giving her good security equipment.   I'm sure Howard and Peter know each other, but I'm not certain of their association.  Peter sounds like quite a guy, tho!  I'll check it out and let you know.

http://www.johnedwards.com/splash/

Russert with Brian Williams

"If Edwards wasn't in this race it would be very good news for Hillary Clinton"

Jo in Vt.,.....

Thank you. I've gotten to where our candidates attitude and support of Dean means more to me than their blathering about the issues. It tells me more about how strongly they might support the Dem Wing of the Party. That's why I'll vote for Nancy Skinner for instance.

Is there anyone here who doesn't like John Edwards for Prez?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Linda,

Me Linda..............but I dont like any of them. I simply advocate for him because IMO I think he stands the best chance of winning against Mccain.............his domestic programs are good, foreign policy terrible but thats par for these candidates......none of em get it so thats a lsot cause...............pickingone of these candidates reminds me of high school gym clas, where the two captains had to pick teams.............all the good athletes went early, and the bad ones were left.................I think i already made this reference a few weeks back...............

Out of the 3, Hillary is the worst.........an most dangerous. 

http://www.johnedwards.com/issues/

Re: the recount, perhaps Monica will keep up informed as the process continues. She is counting votes.

20,

Russert with Brian Williams

"If Edwards wasn't in this race it would be very good news for Hillary Clinton"

Both Russert and Williams are hardcore Republicans. They have no knowledge at all about what is on Democrats minds because they could care less.

They want to influence Dems. Hopefully those days are gone for good. They are only wishful thinking now -- sooooo hungry to have Clinton as a nominee.

If the Repugs lose in Nov. which they surely will, they want the closest thing to a Repug as possible.

Gettysburg PA has a large and active DFA chapter. Thanks for that resolution.

actually Joan it was a discussion of poll numbers and it was an informed judgement

news anchors are very highly paid and won handsomely with the Bush tax cuts and it might shade their judgement

9. seashell - I think that's a little silly. Why is it when others don't agree with whom we're supporting they're somehow paid by others or trolls -- I'm not talking about Republicans either.

Joan - Believe it or not Russert is a Democrat.

well, we were right - tweety has been kissing up to Hill lately to avoid a lawsuit or something.  he spent the first five or so minutes of Hardball giving a public apology to her for comments he made the day after NH.  I had heard him when he made the comments and thought it was stupid of him at the time (but that's nothing new!).   he said she was where she was because of Bill's fooling around and proceeded to lay out her political history starting with the sympathy she gained from that.

We all recognize the real trolls when they drop by.

lol - not to give you a hard time Phil, but 'poll numbers' and 'informed decision' are mutually exclusive, dontcha think?

oops - sorry - 'informed decision' s/b 'informed judgement'.

33. I knew Tweety was in trouble when he started getting all corn syrupy about Hillary. It must have gotten really bad if he had to issue an apology. Hope this doesn't help her campaign. LOL

just a heads-up - I heard that Jon Stewart was especially tough on the neocons last night - the rerun is on at 8 pm eastern.

lol - not to give you a hard time Phil, but 'poll numbers' and 'informed decision' are mutually exclusive, dontcha think?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've seen enough polls to think they give a pretty good snapshot of the day in question if well done, and the networks are desperate to gain an understanding of the public mood so they can then shape it..

as valid as just a talking head saying whatever

California Young Democrats & California College Democrats

Press Release

For Immediate Release: Thursday, January 17, 2008

FROM: Claire Conlon, Communications Director, California Young Democrats

Contact: (916) 266-1006, cconlon[at]youngdems[dot]org

College Democrats in CA Targeted by Campaigns

Seeking Youth Vote

Clintons Crisscross State Trying to Draw Youth Voters

Because of the increased importance of the youth vote, California college students are witnessing incredible attention from Democratic presidential candidates.

In Iowa, Senator Barack Obama treated young people as voters, not just campaign volunteers. His strategy paid off. In Iowa more than 65,000 people under the age of 30 (more than triple 2004) showed up to vote for a change. After tremendous youth turnout in Iowa, Senator Hillary Clinton was determined to attract young voters to her campaign saying: “I’m going to, in the next five days, do as much as I can to talk about my record in creating opportunities for young people.” With both the Obama and Clinton campaigns targeting young voters in New Hampshire, youth turnout increased by an astounding 43%. In both of these contests it was crystal clear that when campaigns invest the resources to target young voters, it pays off. All of the Democratic presidential campaigns are realizing that the youth vote is truly going to be the margin of victory in 2008.

This week, all three Clintons are running up and down California targeting the youth vote. Tuesday night, January 15, President Bill Clinton spoke to an audience of about 7,800 people at University of California Davis. Thursday, January 17, Senator Clinton has scheduled two rallies at college campuses in California: the first at California State University Northridge, and the second at University of California Santa Barbara. All three events are co-sponsored by their campus’ College Democrats chapter. Additionally, last week Chelsea Clinton visited with college-aged Democratic voters at University of California Los Angeles, University of California Hastings College of Law in San Francisco, and Stanford University.

The California College Democrats are thrilled that Presidential hopefuls are realizing that the shifting political landscape demands they pay attention to the youth vote. “Many young Californians are still undecided and we’ve seen that when a Presidential candidate shows us they care about young people and the issues affecting us, we respond by turning out to the polls,” said Nick Warshaw, President of the California College Democrats. “With over 4.6 million young people in California, young people will be the key demographic for campaigns to target on February 5th. I implore all the Presidential candidates to continue to reach out to young people, throughout California, as young people will be the margin of victory this November.”

###

as valid as just a talking head saying whatever

yup!

thanks, Jo, for the heads up on Steward.

**********]

9. seashell - I think that's a little silly. Why is it when others don't agree with whom we're supporting they're somehow paid by others or trolls -- I'm not talking about Republicans either.

I don't care if s/o doesn't support JE.  It's the continual trashing that makes him sound like a troll.   MOO (my opinion only)   There's little to no trashing of BO here.

Money to JE helps stop Hillary and STILL keeps BO in the running for prez.  What's not to like about that?

Denise, you're paying attention!  :-) I love Rachel Maddow and consider her mind one of the best in talk radio and her opinions astute.  She keeps it simple and that's where the truth is found.

31.

Joan - Believe it or not Russert is a Democrat.

Mary,

That really surprises me. Maybe that's why I do like him.

If he is a Dem, he does an excellent job of hiding the fact. He always seems to lean right.  But that could be because of the right wing media who dictates much of the context.

I think I just heard a clip announcing that Keith is going to ask, "Who's the most electable to fix the economy?"

Maybe the word was likeable...it was something "able."

:-) 

Phil, is tomorrow the big push to raise money for JE or is it today?

My credit card is panting! 

28.

actually Joan it was a discussion of poll numbers and it was an informed judgement  

Phil,

Not an informed judgment, it was an insinuation that if Edwards dropped out, those votes would go to Hillary.

IMHO, which is just as informed as anyone else's, most of the votes would go to Obama. Hillary is on one side of the war fence, Obama and Edwards on the other.

another point: Hillary is running only against Obama right now. She claims he doesn't have as much experience as she does, which of course is not true. But, Edwards has even less experience that either Clinton or Obama..

Why isn't Hillary attacking Edwards on that???

Answer: because if Edwards was to be the only thing standing in her way in the unlikely event that Obama would fail, she knows Edwards would be so easy to knock out of the race in her struggle for power.

Just MHO. Off to watch Keith

Way OT.

Has anyone here heard/read about the book, "The God Dimension?" 

seashell :-)
Thu, 01/17/08

Reply to this

I think I just heard a clip announcing that Keith is going to ask, "Who's the most electable to fix the economy?"

Keith is openly an Edwards supporter so I think I know where that will go. He really shouldn't be weighing in on the subject anyway.

Did I hear correctly that Obama would rather want to appear to be "Reaganesque" as opposed to "Clintonesque".......................

If this doesnt tell the tale i dont know what does..............thats right democrats, stay enamoured with the republicans...............i tell ya

Oh my!  BO's invoking  (positively) Reagan is going to bite him in the a$$ should he be the nominee.  I think he may have lost the election today ... should he be the nominee. 

I'll say this about BO.  He's a good chess player.  Do we want a player or a doer?  He's trying to please all the people all the time, whereas JE is very clear about who he's going after.  One tells us what we want to hear in mostly airy language...the other tells us what we likely don't want to hear.

Realism vs Idealism?  Maybe.

Joan* In*Florida
Thu, 01/17/08
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Joan,

keith is a very smart man..............he, and others know better............

Just got back from a photo shoot of about 60 young kids/wrestlers. What a nice group of kids.

There is hope in this country. These kids were well mannered. From all backgrounds and races.

I love the kids when we do pix. The parents. Well..................................

Prices on all my support products going up, up, up. we have kept our prices low to help parents and  stifle the competition.

Will continue.

Volume, ya know. got the kids through college.

Uh oh!  There's some buzz about McCain choosing Lieberputz as his VP. 

So we not only have to stop HC, but we have to elect s/o who can beat McCain.  

This is getting very serious .. a battle for the soul of the democratic party AND the country.

Keep JE in.

Contribute to John Edwards...stop HC and McCain

seahell, thanks for the info.

JE is the man

Phil, what power could JE actually wield as kingmaker?  A VP slot? Cabinet position?  Platform changes? 

I have a positive mind-set for JE/BO. 

This blog is a microcosm of what's going on in the country.  So sad.

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

I've come to suspect that Sitka is being paid by some corporation to trash Edwards.

...

+++

seashell -

In all due respect, there's not a conspiracy going on everywhere, LOL.

Jo...Vermont needing a Dem. gov. is an understatement. I feel like Vermont has a miniature copy of the train wreck called the Bush administration in the state house. Douglas with his veto pen in hand is all too similar to Dubya. There's two candidates I think can unseat him...Pollina & Galbraith...though Pollina is running on the Progressive ticket and may split the vote again which is how we ended up with Douglas in the first place. Pollina is going to be in Brattleboro this Sunday...I'm probably going to miss the Pats game to attend. I missed a small meeting with Peter Galbraith on Monday because of this last storm...I was so looking forward to it too. On the 26th of this month is the State Committee meeting and Peter is on the agenda. Weather permitting I'll get a chance to hear him.

I wasn't planning on doing all this stuff 'till after retirement...me job comes first sad to say.

Jeez, well I see there's alot of bloggers here who seemed ot have gotten their dandruff up today.

Well, I'm off to enjoy a rare night off from my second job, whilst I read a good book.

Hello everybody--

Sorry to disappoint, but ballot counters don't get to see the whole picture and we didn't get to see the totals from the other seven groups.

Yes, there were eight groups of ballot counters today.  Each group had two counters, individuals hired by the Sec. of State on a per diem basis because of their familiarity with the process (there are recounts annually for some of the legislative or town elections), who were observed by at least two volunteer observers from the campaigns.  Actually, I was only aware of Kucinich and Clinton people, but only Kucinich is paying for this exercise.

The group I was in did two voting precincts totaling about 1000 ballots.  First we watched the separation of ballots as they were taken out of the "sealed" boxes the election supervisors had forwarded (cardboard boxes of various sizes that were sealed with packing tape and had a certifying placcard with official signatures attached so they had to be cut to open the box.  The ballots are on stock of various thicknesses, even among the official ballots.  Some places obviously ran out of Democratic ballots and ran some off on xerox machines of regular paper which couldn't be counted by the opti-scans and had to be hand counted at the voting place.  Because they'd already been counted by hand, they tended to already be sorted by party and saved us some time.  But, because the paper is thin, they're more difficult to count by hand.  Many of the ballots as they came out of the boxes were rather bent and wrinkled and one suspects that running them back throught the opti-scans for a machine re-count would not work real well.

After the Dem ballots were separated and the Rep ballots put back into boxes and sealed and witnessed, the counters read off the names of the candidate marked and after showing the ballot to the observers placed them in stacks for Clinton, Edwards, Obama, Kucinich, Richardson, other, write-in and anomalies (double votes and no votes)

Our second batch from the town of Pelham had more write-in votes for Romney and McCain than Kucinich got.

After the ballots from a district or town were all sorted and the anomalies were photographed (a check mark next to a name, rather than the oval being filled in, e.g.) each of the stacks was counted by one counter into stacks of 25 and then recounted by the other counter to verify.  And as each candidate was done, the ballots were totaled and recorded on a sheet with the names of all candidates.  The votes for Vice President were not counted or recorded.  When all ballots were recorded they were put back in boxes and taped and resealed to go back into storage.

I understand that the SoS is putting running totals up on the web site.  The information wasn't provided to the workers and volunteers.  There were a few news people around today.  I saw Bev Harris in the morning and Mainefem's Jean Hay Bright.  It's my understanding that the Republican candidate's check has been received and deposited and the count will take place after the Dem count is done.

The Clinton campaign has send a huge contingent of observers, but it's my understanding that for all their interest, they're not putting any money into the pot.  Neither are any of the verified voting groups.

Maybe more tomorrow.  I'm tired now. 

31.

mary vb
Thu, 01/17/08


Russert is a coporate media pundit, period. Who signs his pay check? It sure isn't the Democratic Party or the American people.

Thank you for all you do Monica...and thanks for being here and sharing.

46.

seashell :-)
Thu, 01/17/08

Yes and God is all dimensions. Dimensions are made up of the wisdom and nature of God. All of them.

Did I hear correctly that Obama would rather want to appear to be "Reaganesque" as opposed to "Clintonesque".......................

Hi all.

 Before posting it you should confirm that he said it.  If he did, I'd have a problem with it.  Big one.

typo - who seemed ot   s/b - who seemed to

58.

Monica -

Get some rest and thanks for all the work involved with reporting you're doing on this NH recount. 

and now to reading that book --

ciao

But which 2008 presidential candidate argued that Reagan "transformed the culture" as "a very successful president ... partly because at the end of his presidency, people, I think, said, 'You know what? We can regain our greatness. Individual responsibility and personal responsibility are important.' "

Correct answer: Democrat Barack Obama.

OK, that was a trick question. OK, so when Obama paid that tribute to Reagan 15 months ago on NBC's "Meet the Press," he also pointed out that he "did not agree with him on many issues."

Yet it's reassuring to know that Obama, a gifted speaker whose uplifting, unifying message could eventually make him America's next "Great Communicator," respects our last one.

Here's what Obama said in his own words...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP1esS0AE...

Our country was ready for the path Reagan put us on...I THINK NOT!!!

Impeachment is off the table. It is a divisive issue and would never prevail anyway. Forget about it. Move on!  There are more important issues.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Amazing Joan............I going to asume you and Tom are alike.....so called political savvy types, with much more political "experience"  and involvement than I could ever wish for...............this is the ad element in this democracy i feel.........many of you are too busy doing the politically correct thing than the right thing..........ad this is where this country has really failed..............

I would have thoght you people would have learned something from Nixon not getting impeached..............that led to the new brand of politiciian in Rove and the other to come along and break the laws, start a false war, break the laws and ditch the constitution..............Bush and Cheney not paying for this ha simply opened the door for the next bunch of crooks to pull off the same thing...............

No wonder the smartest  people in this country..stay out of politics.

Get me a break. Bill Clinton used the same stuff when he ran. Obama is running against the Clinton machine what do expect him to say? Bill Clinton is constantly on the campaign trail for his wife. Which is not a very wise choice in my play book.

the rest of that article goes on to say:

OK, that was a trick question. OK, so when Obama paid that tribute to Reagan 15 months ago on NBC's "Meet the Press," he also pointed out that he "did not agree with him on many issues."

Yet it's reassuring to know that Obama, a gifted speaker whose uplifting, unifying message could eventually make him America's next "Great Communicator," respects our last one.

...and the article is from the Charleston Post and Courier {{eye-roll}}. 

*** cChalfonte***
Thu, 01/17/08
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Like i said, i only caught  glimpse of that on Chris mathews and do not know the details.............it simply had "Reaganesque"  Clintonesque" with a picture of Obama in between both words and Chris mathews questioning it.................

 rdorgan
Thu, 01/17/08
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Football predictions tomorow...............Ive already completed NY/GB and half way thru SD/NE.........and i only had 3 crowne royales and 1 cigar!

I got this from the CWA today.

---

Chamber to 'Populist' Candidates: We'll Bite You Until You Bleed The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has issued a warning to those pesky "populist" candidates for president: If you consider workers' rights anywhere near as important as the right of businesses to make money hand over fist, we're going after you.

No, those weren't the exact words of Chamber President Tom Donohue. These were: "We plan to build a grass-roots business organization so strong that when it bites you in the butt, you bleed," Donohue told the Los Angeles Times last week in a story about the Chamber's plans to spend more than $60 million to defeat any candidate it deems "anti-business."

Donohue told the Times the Chamber plans to be active in 140 congressional districts, nearly four dozen state attorney general and supreme court races, as well as the presidential race.

"I'm concerned about anti-corporate and populist rhetoric from candidates for the presidency, members of Congress and the media," Donohue said. "It suggests to us that we have to demonstrate who it is in this society that creates jobs, wealth and benefits -- and who it is that eats them."

Hi ,

Just a drop in and that's it for me tonight.  cChalfonte and Reed in VT, good on your for the exact words.  Obama was correct in the sense that Reagan changed America.  I didn't hear him say that everything that Reagan did was good for America, but that he changed it.  That's true.

From our perspective, or at least mine, Reagan did lots of harm, but in terms of the image of a New Day, optimism, business, international relations, Obama is correct.  I saw Keith wanting to spin it and I have to say that his commentator, Lawrence O'Donnell, was pretty fair in not letting that happen..

The other question is what was Obama's purpose in saying this?  They both said that Obama  was looking towards Califonria, and that may be true.  The other thing they said, was nothing was predictable or standard in this election.

Wouldn't it be great if politicians could speculate, make statements that weren't campaign slogans and just talk and not be denigrated or written off for it?  Rmember George Romney and how his campaign ended when he came back from a Vietnam tour and said he was brainwashed?

Anyway, just my opinion, but Reagan made a huge impact on this country.  His hagyographic funeral (sainthood) was certainly evidence of it, so on the face of the comment, what Obama said was true.

We don't have to trash candidates, merely question, examine, discuss, and verify.  I'm still wondering if John Edwards' supporters have asked if he helped the family that he said he knew with respect to their daughter.  By making it public, it is open to scrutiny.

Night folks, I appreciate all the good discussion, humor, and personalities here. 

70.  I expect him to refrain from canonizing one of the worst presidents in modern history.

Thanks for asking, Susan. 

Football predictions tomorow...............Ive already completed NY/GB and half way thru SD/NE.........and i only had 3 crowne royales and 1 cigar!

>

Mike, if it helps speed your predictions, I'll do a few Crowne Royales for ya. 

New thread

 But, Edwards has even less experience that either Clinton or Obama..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

more years in the Senate than Obama, more years in the real world than Clinton, Joan

just what kind of experience?

                 Congrats Gettysburgh Pa. DFA, You're True Patriots!

                  Here's a previous post of mine that's with the thread.

                             To All House And Senate Members
 
   I support House Resolution # 799 calling for the impeachment of Vice President Richard Cheney. I also support the impeachment of George W. Bush. As your constituent, I am writing to insist that you and the rest of the  House of Representatives carry out your constitutional duties to defend the Constitution of the United States. It is unconscionable that the House has obstructed an open discussion of the activities of the President and Vice-President. This administration has taken this country into a criminal war, is threatening to start a new war, and has violated the constitutional rights of the American people. It is time for the House to fulfill its constitutional obligations in response to these impeachable offenses

  Please support Rep Kucinich and HR # 799. It's the right and necessary thing to do.
 
  I watched the T.V. news on May 23, May 26, Sept.25, and again on Oct. 27, looking forward to seeing the Impeach Bush crowds give both Bush and Cheney hell! No News station, Network or Cable, carried anything about either demonstration. Although I did hear all about Paris Hilton's latest ordeal, Brittany's comeback, the latest episode of American Idol....

  This administration has committed so many Impeachable offenses (Defying the Geneva Conventions, Torturing detainees, Guantanamo Bay, The suspension of Habeas Corpus, The Military Commissions Act, The Patriot Act, NSA warrant less spying on innocent Americans, citing Executive Privilege to cover up their own law breaking.... yet our leadership in the Congress and Senate completely fail in their duty to uphold and defend our Constitution, and Impeach.

   I like what Rep Kucinich has to say. I applaud and fully support his resolution #799 which calls for the Impeachment of VP Dick Cheney for High Crimes and Misdemeanors. Congress should find the guts to start the long overdo Impeachment process.  We are now five and a half years older since Pres Bush declared "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq. The evidence now clearly shows that Intelligence was cherry picked, manipulated, and sometimes even just made up, to sell the American people and Congress the necessity for why Iraq posed such an imminent threat to the U.S., a preemptive invasion was necessary. The office of VP Cheney seems to clearly be where the War plans originated, and where the intelligence was cherry picked and manipulated.

  The best thing for America would be to finally get some accountability from this administration. Taking responsibility for the numerous laws they've broken, both Domestic and International. The numerous Constitutional, Civil, and Privacy Rights Violations, over the past six and a half years. Accountability for their deeds would also send a good message to the rest of the alienated and worried World, that accountability, Justice, and Democracy, are still alive and well in the U.S.

   Rep. Dennis Kucinich shows Real Leadership for going against the flow and saying what he truly believes. Holding the Bush administration responsible for all it's Abuses of Power, is the right and necessary thing to do. 1.) The lies and intelligence twisting and cherry picking leading up to the invasion of Iraq. 2.) The Patriot Act, NSA warrant-less spying program, Military Commissions Act, Suspension of Habeas Corpus,using Executive privilege to cover up their own law breaking, Guantanamo Bay, Torturing Enemy Prisoners, Secret CIA Worldwide Prisons.... Dennis has spoken out against these and many other questionable Bush Administration Policies. Thanks Rep Kucinich for this display of Courage, Sanity, Social and Fiscal Responsibility, and Moral Clarity.

                             Bush To Ask Congress For Another 190
                              Billion Dollars in War Funding For Iraq!

   Wasn't 124 billion dollars just given in May? Now another 190 billion? The debt to be paid that we are handing off to our children and grandchildren is becoming obscene. All because Bush clings to a tiny thread of hope that his Presidential Legacy wont be considered one of the worst ever, which it will. Bush seems to be just trying to run out the clock and pass his created mess off to the next President. The next President most likely being a Democrat who will have to make the tough decision that enough is enough. My guess is that the spineless Democrats and blindly loyal Republicans will waste another 190 billion dollars on the Bu$hCo disaster of choice in Iraq. The Democrats afraid once again of being accused of not supporting the troops. The Republicans once again putting loyalty to the party over loyalty to their Country.....And sure enough..... that's what happened just before the Holiday break!.. The continued funding of this disastrous, unnecessary war in Iraq!

 The Republicans think Americans don't understand that their obstruction to any legislation to end this disastrous war is why the new Democrat majority Congress can't get it done. The Republicans think Americans will blame nothing changing on the Democrats. The Republicans are mistaken, and will pay even more dearly in 08 for their continued blind loyalty to King George ll and his failed policy in Iraq.

  If the Democrats would only show some courage, unite, and get behind HR # 799, they would see their dismal approval ratings rise quickly. The majority of Americans have wanted this administration held accountable, and have been on board with Impeachment for some time already. Would Congress PLEASE find the courage to start the long overdo process of Impeaching the entire Bush Administration. Hey House Speaker Pelosi, it's time to re-set the Impeachment table.

 Sincerely,

Jeff Morris-Saugerties, N.Y.-  DeJaVu57

I don't think a visionary is what we need now. The most uninvolved American knows in what direction we need to be going, and that would be opposite.

Obama talks about vision, because he has little experience with the nuts and bolts, and one doesn't need experience to have vision.

I don't want to pay someone to sit and look out at the clouds, while others unknown to us will be pushing the papers, as he refers to the operation of the Exec. There are a lot of important things, that affect my life in those "papers". I wan't the Pres. to have more than second hand knowledge of them. The person who has their finger on the "button" needs a great deal more than a dream. A vision is necessary, but it can only guide, and the fight ahead is formidable.

 But, Edwards has even less experience that either Clinton or Obama..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

more years in the Senate than Obama, more years in the real world than Clinton, Joan

just what kind of experience?

Experience is a subject they should all downplay.

Edwards 6 years in the Senate (enabling Bush)

Hillary 7 years in the Senate (enabling Bush) and living on the public dime for decades.

Obama 4 years in the Senate. 

I don't think a visionary is what we need now.

What we really don't need is a collaborator on the worst of Bush's agenda.

The least he could have said was that Reagan changed the country for the worse!  The repugs will have a hay day with this clip; BO comparing himself to a new day, a new morning, giving the country what it yearns for....Big misstep, BO.  He was just ambiguous enuf to appease his supporters into covering for him.

It's amazing how people who love and admire Keith one day will accuse him of spinning the next.  

Jeff Morris.....

Thank you for sharing your excellent letter.

I've met Sitka in "real life."

He doesn't seem like the kinda guy that works for a Corporation.  Hell, he barely seems like the kinda guy who works at all. :)

Just Kidding, Sitka.

 To audrey.nc,

            Thank You too. Hope you liked ,and mostly agree with it!    Jeff-NY

Experience is partly a sum of life time experiences that may test an individual,
broaden,educate and toughen. I think Edwards has a good sense of what he wants to do and the strength of resolve to do it.

Of our choices, Edwards is what we need. Unless, of course, Howard changes his mind.

Jeff Morris.....

I do mostly agree with it. I have stopped calling her office latel, but it's time to start again. The last time I called I told her staff person to relay the message that I'm asking her to resign.

Edwards is what we need.

Yeah. Like a..... 

Sitka.... You're getting silly, lol

cC No, they are talking about what Obama said in a Reno interview the other day.

"I don't want to present myself as some sort of singular figure. I think
part of what's different are the times. I do think that for example the
1980 was different. I think Ronald Reagan changed the trajectory of
America in a way that Richard Nixon did not and in a way that Bill Clinton
did not. He put us on a fundamentally different path because the country
was ready for it. I think they felt like with all the excesses of the
1960s and 1970s and government had grown and grown but there wasn't much
sense of accountability in terms of how it was operating. I think people,
he just tapped into what people were already feeling, which was we want
clarity we want optimism, we want a return to that sense of dynamism and
entrepreneurship that had been missing."-Barack Obama