Good Morning Blog, Good Morning World

Howard Dean is FIRST

Being a Democrat is about more than politics.



We're a group of Americans dedicated to improving our country, both through the choices we make at the ballot box and those we make at home. That's why we're dedicating this year's Democratic Reunion to a challenge we can all tackle together: the fight for a cleaner environment.



This year's Reunion won't be your normal house parties -- we're going to be planting trees, cleaning up local parks and beaches, and kicking off local recycling programs.



Will you host an event on July 28?



http://www.democrats.org/DemocraticReunion

Bloggers, especially in Rep John Boehner's 8th district in Ohio, please try to do whatever you can to push back against his rethug aggresiveness:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070711/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq

Uneasy GOP senators beseech Bush on Iraq

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent

Wed Jul 11, 7:28 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Nervous Senate Republicans beseeched the White House without apparent success Wednesday for a quick change in course on Iraq as congressional Democrats insisted on high-profile votes calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops by spring.

...

I'm hopeful they (White House officials) change their minds," Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said after a meeting that National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley held with several Republicans in the Capitol.

There was no evidence of that — and the House GOP leader, Rep. John Boehner of Ohio, was biting in his criticism of Republicans who have parted company with Bush on the war. "Wimps," he called them in closed-door comments confirmed by an aide.

...

 "The fact is Democrats have offered no plan for success in Iraq, indeed no plan at all other than to leave the country to radical jihadists like al-Qaida," Boehner said in a written statement.

...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio%27s_8th_congressional_district

The 8th congressional district of Ohio is currently represented by Representative John A. Boehner. This district sits on the west side of Ohio, bordering Indiana. The cities of Middletown, Piqua, Troy, Hamilton, Huber Heights and parts of Dayton, Riverside, and Wright Patterson Air Force Base are part of Boehner's district.

...

Overstating Iraq Pullout Worries

The disastrous Iraq War has left policymakers weighing what's worse: the current havoc or what might follow a U.S. military withdrawal. George W. Bush is pinning his hopes for continuing the war on convincing Americans that things could get much worse. In this guest essay, however, Ivan Eland argues that the dire predictions are overstated. July 11, 2007

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2007/071107a.html

And Second is Al Gore

Al's big day



Gore's Live Earth festival rocked, and may rock our world. So long, Hummers. Hello (again), Flower Power!



By Cintra Wilson



Photo: Reuters/Lucas Jackson



Actress Cameron Diaz and Al Gore speak during the Live Earth New York concert at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey





 On Saturday, Al Gore simultaneously took over and saved the world.



It was a historic moment, signifying a vast sea change: the death of the Hummer and the rebirth of Flower Power. Two billion fans, 130 countries, seven continents and Jon Bon Jovi can't be wrong.



Watching the Gore-backed, star-packed Live Earth festival -- which included televised, Web-streamed concerts in New York, London, Johannesburg, Rio De Janeiro, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney and Hamburg -- there was an overwhelming sense that one was seeing the better angels of the human spirit rise lotuslike through the mud and unfold into a better, sober, new counterculture based on a peace, love, understanding and eco-consciousness. Like the '60s, only without so much meth.



Al Gore's barn-burning second act is an effort to raise consciousness about global warming but it is also an affirmation that there are more of us than there are of them -- a demonstration that there is a better Western consciousness at work than the one that has inspired such hair-raising international enmity over the last few years. The strong contention held by Live Earth that thinking about the collective good is simply a better way to do business was at least a nice idea, and at best, a potentially empowering paradigm shift.

 

http://www.salon.com/ent/music/feature/2007/07/08/live_earth/

7.7.07 Live Earth Pledge

I PLEDGE:



To demand that my country join an international treaty within the next 2 years that cuts global warming pollution by 90% in developed countries and by more than half worldwide in time for the next generation to inherit a healthy earth;



To take personal action to help solve the climate crisis by reducing my own CO2 pollution as much as I can and offsetting the rest to become "carbon neutral;"



To fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new generating facility that burns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store the CO2;



To work for a dramatic increase in the energy efficiency of my home, workplace, school, place of worship, and means of transportation;



To fight for laws and policies that expand the use of renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on oil and coal;



To plant new trees and to join with others in preserving and protecting forests; and,



To buy from businesses and support leaders who share my commitment to solving the climate crisis and building a sustainable, just, and prosperous world for the 21st century.

 

Linda*in*SFNM -

You were 1. then it became 2.

(bouncing blog)

Morning Linda, how are you?

 This is my last day on my current job, I start the new job on Monday.  I'm excited (well, not about the commute!)

... became 3.

Giuliani, aka "America's mayor", is he our next "America's president"  ?:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6294198.stm

The video repeats accusations that failures by the then-mayor of New York led to the deaths of 121 men.

The video says Mr Giuliani failed to provide working radios for crews and halted the recovery effort too soon.

His campaign denounced the footage, saying the union behind it was known to support only Democratic candidates.

Mr Giuliani is seen as one of the frontrunners in the race for the Republican nomination.

'Taking the hit'

The 13-minute footage was made by the 280,000-strong International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

Giuliani: Serious contender?

The video highlights accusations repeatedly made by fire union officials and relatives.

It says Mr Giuliani pushed for a faster clean-up at Ground Zero before all the remains had been recovered, and placed an emergency centre in a building that later collapsed.

It also accuses the former mayor of failing to provide working radios for firefighters, saying it made it impossible for them to learn that the Twin Towers were about to collapse.

"Virtually the whole thing goes back to him with the radios," Jim Riches, a fireman whose son was killed on 9/11, says in the footage.

"He's the guy on the top, and he's the guy you yell at. He takes the hit. And my son is dead because of it."

The video - which also offers testimony from other firefighters and their relatives - says Mr Giuliani is exploiting the disaster as a theme for his presidential candidacy.

...

 DFA endorsed Gillebrand will have a vist today from code pink.  We won't be fooled again !

*rdorgan....yeah, this blog is a trip, big time. I now don't expect it being fixed.

But it sure keeps things....moving. (DOH!)

_____________________________________________

(dare I write) 8. :)

Lynn - Howdy lady. Fare well, downtown, huh? Well, you'll be close to Wild Oats in Mason, and hopeufully you'll be able to AVOID FIELD ERTEL...my NIGHTMARE. That mad me stay away from that region...the traffic!

Muy congrats. AGAIN :) Great job and a major stress release.

Lynn,...from Gerry's round up. :)


CIA Said Instability in Iraq Seemed 'Irreversible'

Last November, CIA Director Hayden painted a far bleaker portrait of Maliki's government than Bush described in meetings with the Iraq Study Group.
Bob Woodward

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...

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

West will fail, says ex-CIA operative
Sarah Smiles and Brendan Nicholson
July 11, 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~
"We in the West are fighting an enemy we have woefully chosen to misunderstand and to whom we are losing hands down and on every front," he said.
Mr Scheuer said the US and its allies continually became involved in Middle East wars because of their reliance on Arab oil supplies and had little other interest in the region.
~~~~~~~~~~~~`
He said the West's biggest mistake in the war on terror was to ignore the grievances of Islamic insurgents.
He said Western politicians, including Prime Minister John Howard, deceived the public by suggesting that terrorists were motivated only by hatred for freedoms enjoyed in the West.
Mr Howard had "warbled" the "wildly inaccurate ditty" that the London bombers were motivated by a hatred of Western culture, Mr Scheuer said.
He said Al-Qaeda was motivated by anger towards US foreign policy in the Middle East rather than by hatred for Western culture.
That included the US military presence in the region, its backing of tyrannical Arab regimes and "unqualified" support for Israel.
Mr Scheuer said the United States needed to increase its troops and take a heavy-handed, "brutal" approach to beat insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan — or leave.
~~~~~~~~~~``

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/w...

So, ABC has been shown to be liars.

After saying they were releasing the names of the DC Madam's phone list and her clients on TV, then retracting that and claiming "there is no one of note" on the list.

Larry Flynt gets the list, releases a prominent Senators name and says he has 20 investigations.

ooops.

Just out of curiosity or whatever, with elections scheduled in 2008, what do people believe would be the ultimate effect of the passage of articles of impeachment and subsequent impeachment proceedings? 

In President Clinton's case, the Special Prosecutor first sought permission from the Attorney General to expand the Whitewater investigation in January 1998.  The House resolution wasn't introduced until October, and the hearings didn't begin until November.  The trial in the Senate took over a month, and ended more than a year after his press conference about sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky.

If preliminary hearings begin now, would it be reasonable to expect any kind of trial to begin before next year?  If  Bush and Cheney are both named, the trial will be lengthy.  If the vote is successful, which will be a feat because a two thirds majority is required, Pelosi would be acting President.  What would be the fallout of this development in the soon to be held elections?  Would she become a late entry nominee?  Would this stuff even conclude before the summer conventions?  Would any substantive legislation get passed in the interim in the midst of these sensational events?

This is how Democrats and 'diversity' get a bad name in the South.

This morning in a 5 to 4 vote the Hamilton County Commission voted to increase property taxes on it's citizens, while for years giving breaks to big business and building infrastructure for new real estate explosions. Despite campaign pledges and claims of 'cutting fat', which hasn't happened in any announced fashion, the increase came in despite huge public outcry.

A developing story is that one of the Commission, an AA gentleman, formerly opposed to it changed his vote when jobs were promised to AA persons... specifically one individual. sheeeeez, just what our side needed

http://chattanoogan.com/articles/article...

Voting in favor were Curtis Adams, Richard Casavant, Greg Beck, Warren Mackey and John Brooks. Opposed Larry Henry, Fred Skillern, Bill Hullander and Jim Coppinger. County School Board member Rhonda Thurman, who led an anti-tax fight, said immediately after the vote, "Our tax money was used to bribe commissioners for votes. The whole thing stinks."

 Stock market looks like a bulltrap, except for hydro-carbon & gold.     Impeach !

Tom Bearse
Thu, 07/12/07
9:54 am

__________________________________________________________________________

Youre right Tom as always...............skip impeachment.............just arrest em, install pelosi as emergency interim prez..........stand down all US forces in the persian gulf.............then hold elections................

Its not we are dealing with someone sane in the WH..............this is the big worry...........

13. HR 333 only provides Articles of Impeachment for Cheney. A separate resolution would need to be introduced to impeach Bush. The trials could proceed separately, but it is likely that one investigation could provide the evidence for both trials. Impeaching Cheney first would give Bush a chance to nominate a new VP, but knowing that he was also likely to be removed from office should present some urgency that he should attempt to appoint someone who would be easily confirmed so as to avoid Pelosi's promotion to the Presidency. This would also prevent the appearance that impeachment was a direct power grab by Pelosi and Congressional Democrats.

Whether or not the trial begins before next year, or even whether or not it concludes before January 2009 is less important than beginning the process. We must not allow the actions of this administration to simply not be addressed. And whatever the investigations may uncover can be used in a criminal trial after they are either removed by Congress or by the next election. In any case, we must also consider the possibility, however small, that Bush might invoke Executive Order 51 and declare a national state of emergency, that the executive branch is in control of all aspects of government, and that elections will be "postponed."

Bush:"So we can sustain a presence in Iraq"....Uh HA! Admitted GOAL. NOW LEAVE.

There is no "progress for Iraq" because he wants to stay. That is not supposed to be our mission or role.


OUT OF IRAQ NOW

16. Certainly, if we can find a prosecutor to form a grand jury, there should be enough evidence to indict and initiate a criminal trial. I'm not sure at what point we could actually arrest them, though.

Scott wrote "Whether or not the trial begins before next year, or even whether or not it concludes before January 2009 is less important than beginning the process. We must not allow the actions of this administration to simply not be addressed. And whatever the investigations may uncover can be used in a criminal trial after they are either removed by Congress or by the next election."

I follow that, but impeachment proceedings aren’t necessary to achieve it. The administration can and should be investigated by the proper Congressional oversight committees for improprieties or misfeasance, consistent with their constitutional obligations and authority. I have two overarching concerns: 1) impeachment would be a rallying point for beleaguered Republicans who otherwise have nothing going for them now and 2) it would be a totally predictable, foregone conclusion that neither party would be convicted by two thirds of the 100 Senate jurors, giving some veneer of vindication for them that would certainly be virtually unobtainable in Congress and Senate hearings. Moreover such hearings may also have the salutary effect of giving the majority an impetus to pass legislation that actually helps thwart the administration’s malevolent plans, instead of grinding the Congress to a halt the way impeachment hearings would.

Bush: 'Al-Qaida wants to hurt us here — that's their objective'

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

The guys a kook....................the average American stands more of a chance of getting kiled on the freeway by some soccer mom in an suv talking on her damn cell phone or some bubba in his truck munching on a Big Mac..................

On thread topic:

I'm going to try downloading Sicko to my linux box and see if it plays on the opensource VLC player.

Eventually, I'd like to be able to burn a DVD and then show it as a houseparty event for candidates.  We could invite people to see the movie and the schedule a candidate to come later and answer some health care questions.  We need to keep in mind that a program would have to be set up by the Congress passing the appropriate legislation.  All the executive needs is to be willing to implement.

At present, the total U.S. health care expenditures for a year are at $2 trillion +.  Compare that to the Defense budget of $500 + billion.   The two trillion includes capital outlays and the already federalized Medicare, Medicaid, VA, DoD.  I don't know what percentage of the whole those add up to, but in any case, making health care a responsibility of the national government will add a big chunk to the federal budget, even as it reduces other budgets.

I don't agree with the state-by-state proposals because I think that Americans freedom to travel and to move or relocate wherever they want is one of our basic liberties and should not be tied to access to health care and medicines (as the prescription program tries to do).  What we need to keep in mind is that even well-meaning bureaucrats have a strong preference for citizens staying put for the simple reason that it makes their jobs a lot harder if people keep moving around.  So, bureaucrats are coming to the health care issue with an ingrained prejudice of which they may not even be aware.

We set up government to deal with the unexpected but probable negatives.  Our agents of government prefer to minimize the unexpected.  This is understandable but should not control our decisions.

There is an alternative to public financing of campaigns that politicians are not keen on. Because it involves regulating the behavior of their own kind and they'd all prefer regulating other people.  Still, I think it's the actual and potential public officials whose acceptance of "gifts" should be limited.  If a candidate is unable to round up a minimum number of supporters who are willing to fund his candidacy and get the word  out, then that's evidence that the person has no support.  Giving him public funds to pass on to the media strikes me as a waste of money. 

22.

... but those bj's were certainly worth all the trouble. Heh?

Funny that our government didn't implode following the House exploring the evils of Richard Nixon, which he pursued despite winning his election handily.

Your argument lacks the support of history, and enforces the idea that the application of our laws exempts the mighty, and most corrupt, in our society.

... not saying you are a troll or anythin' tho. LOL

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/2...

A Senator Speaks Up

Submitted by davidswanson on Wed, 2007-07-11 19:52. Congress | Impeachment

Barbara Boxer: "Impeachment should be on the table" - Ed Schultz Show 7/11/07

She was the only Senator who cared to examine the credibility of the election results in Ohio. She is the only Senator willing to stand with 54 percent of Americans for the rule of law now. What would we do without Barbara Boxer?

Please call her at 202-224-3553 and thank her, and ask her to please speak with Nancy Pelosi.

Email Sen. Boxer here.

Email Sen. Boxer here.

http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/email/po...

There is a fresh new thread, again.

14.

There is absolutely no reason to think that African Americans are more or less susceptible to being bribed than anyone else.

We make a mistake when we think that persons who have been disadvantaged or been part of a disadvantaged group are going to be more sensitive and not contribute to the disadvantagement of anyone else.  More likely, any residual resentment will lead them to either seek revenge or conclude that if they could over-come the disadvantage, so can everyone else.

There is a difference between excluding people on the basis of obvious personal characteristics and including them on the basis of personal characteristics they acquired by birth, but both are discriminatory in a way that provides no real benefit to the community at large because the talents on which the success of a community depends are not visually evident.  The proponents of diversity intend to reduce the exclusivity to which many populations seem inclined.  But, reducing exclusive behavior won't insure that the necessary talents are available in the larger pool; it just insures that they won't be kept out by artificial means.

There are no guarantees. 

bush is certifiable.

see him this a.m. smirking, laughing, yea it's all a game w.

keep kicking the can. and the press corp is so funny, ha ha this is woopass fun.

putzes all.

stone all of them

22. Tom

"I have two overarching concerns: 1) impeachment would be a rallying point for beleaguered Republicans who otherwise have nothing going for them now"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It didn't work for Republicans in 1976. It didn't work for Democrats in 2000, and they certainly had more of a case for unreasonable persecution.


"and 2) it would be a totally predictable, foregone conclusion that neither party would be convicted by two thirds of the 100 Senate jurors,"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If the investigations and prosecution present sufficient evidence, it might be political suicide for the 22 Republican Senators facing reelection NOT to convict


"instead of grinding the Congress to a halt the way impeachment hearings would."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Because Congress is achieving so much now?