Mike Luckovich

By finch

May 11, 2006 12:02 AM | Link to this

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!

(Oh, by the way… where’s Osama?)

By George

May 11, 2006 12:08 AM | Link to this

He is about to make a hard landing!

By rushncap

May 11, 2006 12:55 AM | Link to this

Hey, I’m just impressed that the “Bush Base” is able to actually think. I was giving up on that concept. Good for them. It won’t stop the cooks on this board from supporting him no matter what he does or why, but hopeully come November, the Repubs will feel the voters’ wrath.

By Fred

May 11, 2006 01:50 AM | Link to this

Let’s hope that that is the finest warship that remains in the US fleet and the chimp crashes the last warplane. Then this country can rendition all the remaining Republicans and install a true Democratic majority that will end our war machine once and for all by disbanding the killing machines masquerading as armed forces.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 04:47 AM | Link to this

Don’t worry George, that is another fake picture the liberals drew for you, come on in.

By Fred May 11, 2006 01:50 AM Let’s hope that that is the finest warship that remains in the US fleet and the chimp crashes the last warplane. Then this country can rendition all the remaining Republicans and install a true Democratic majority that will end our war machine once and for all by disbanding the killing machines masquerading as armed forces.

Did you get a copy on that, voters? Elect Hillary, strip our defenses to the bone.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 04:52 AM | Link to this

Putting truth to the liberal lies:

The latest numbers, as reported this week in Save the Children’s annual State of the World’s Mother’s report, are staggering. Each year an estimated 2 million newborns die within their first 24 hours of life and another 2 million die before they are a month old. That’s 4 million newborns who die each year in the first month of life, most from causes that can be treated or prevented. While mortality rates for children under 5 worldwide have declined significantly in recent decades, little progress has been made in reducing death rates for newborns.

To put this in perspective, 4 million babies are born every year in the United States, but only 16,000 do not survive their first month — a newborn mortality rate one-tenth that of many developing countries {However, the newborn mortality rate in the United States is still behind many other industrialized countries like Norway and Japan.)

How many crack and alcohol babies are in that 16,000 or don’t you libs want to talk about that?

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 05:09 AM | Link to this

You socialists will never figure this out:

Those of us who favor tax cuts can now look proudly at the recent record of tax payments. According to the Treasury Department’s monthly report, tax receipts were up 11.2% for the first seven months of Fiscal 2006. That is $137 billion. In Fiscal 2005 tax receipts were up 14.6%, which is $274 billion. These increases come as a great surprise to those Democrats and Republicans who insist tax cuts cause deficits. Holed up over at the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), their minions issue predictions of puny revenue growth following tax cuts that are always gloomy and always wrong. The CBO’s recent predictions for Fiscal 2006 were $76 billion for the whole year for individual tax receipts and $24 billion for corporate receipts. Seven months into the year the respective figures are already $56 billion and $40 billion.

That’s why you will never be in charge again.

By seeker

May 11, 2006 05:58 AM | Link to this

America has the second-lowest survival rate for infants in the industrialized world—just above Latvia.

Something Hater and his friends can be proud of. Health industry CEOs get rich… babies die.

By seeker

May 11, 2006 06:01 AM | Link to this

The National Security Agency has been secretly collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans, using data provided by AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth, people with direct knowledge of the arrangement told USA TODAY.

The NSA program reaches into homes and businesses across the nation by amassing information about the calls of ordinary Americans — most of whom aren’t suspected of any crime.

This is called a fishing expedition. Sooner or later, federal thugs will amass enough evidence to charge anyone with a crime.

Even you, Hater.

This is how police states are born.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 06:06 AM | Link to this

Since everybody with half of brain already knows that “big oil” makes 8.5 cents per gallon of gasoline and government takes 47 cents from the same gallon, what does this article on the front page of the Atlanta Urinal say about their liberal readership’s mental capacity?:

Big Oil’s bountiful profits turn into a PR nightmar Matt Kempner - Staff Thursday, May 11, 2006

Does the AJC look upon you as a mouthbreathing moron who’s sole accomplishment in life is to jack other people’s names to spread your stupidity? Is the Atlanta Urinal counting on it’s army of halfwit dunce liberals to get the message out?

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 06:10 AM | Link to this

Maybe when Linda gets out of jail she’ll become a democrat, so that the next time she runs afoul of the law Cynthia Tucker will write fawning, sympathetic columns for her, instead of splashing her on the front page:

Schrenko pleads guilty to fraud James Salzer, Beth Warren, Bill Torpy - Staff Thursday, May 11, 2006

By seeker

May 11, 2006 06:23 AM | Link to this

WASHINGTON, May 10 — An investigation by the Justice Department ethics office into the conduct of department lawyers who approved the National Security Agency’s domestic surveillance program has been closed because investigators were denied security clearances, according to a letter sent to Congress on Wednesday.

So the NSA is just “too good” for the Justice Departmen?

This is how police states are born.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 06:36 AM | Link to this

It’s a wonder that the “safe, legal and rare” baby killers would even give a rat’s as-s about the life of an infant, there must be some political angle they think they’ve found, but why won’t they tell us why the babies are dying:

Promising Strategies Focus on modifying the behaviors, lifestyles, and conditions that affect birth outcomes, such as smoking, substance abuse, poor nutrition, lack of prenatal care, medical problems, and chronic illness. Public health agencies including CDC/ATSDR, health care providers, and communities of all ethnic groups must partner to improve the infant mortality rate in the United States. This joint approach should address the behaviors, lifestyles, and conditions that affect birth outcomes. Substantial investments have been made in consultation, research, and service delivery to reduce disparities in access to health care and health status.

Liberalism: Let’s get stoned! Liberalism: Why are the babies dying?

Mouthbreathing morons.

By seeker

May 11, 2006 06:37 AM | Link to this

Voodoo economics lives… in the GOP’s tax cuts for the rich.

To justify the giveaway, President Bush and Congressional Republicans insist that tax cuts for investors benefit everyone — and pay for themselves — by stimulating economic growth. That assertion is seriously delusional. Economic theory suggests that a fraction of the tax cuts’ cost could, perhaps, be offset by higher growth, all other things being equal. But when a nation must borrow to pay for tax breaks, as is the case in the United States today, any ability of tax cuts for investors to spur growth is severely diminished.

Blue smoke and mirrors from the Bushies. The hypocrites who used to blast “tax and spend” are champions of “borrow and spend”, which is a hell of a lot worse.

Assertions that government revenue is “up” are just BS when the budget deficit, now $8.4 trillion, just keeps growing.

No amount of numbers fudging can hide that fact.

And then there’s that annoying Iraq War. The one that “ended” with that “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED” declaration from the First Pooterhead 3 years ago? The projected cost is $800 billion. So far.

Throw the bums out!

By seeker

May 11, 2006 06:48 AM | Link to this

Big Oil’s bountiful profits turn into a PR nightmare - AJC

Hater, do you actually READ the articles you link to?? If you did, you’d see that this one defends Big Oil profits!

The institute highlights the profit margins of various industries, showing the oil and gas industry at 8.5 percent, not far from the average of 7.7 percent for all big public industries.

And it also explains (pay attention now!) that Bil Oil is its own worst enemy in the PR department:

…the head of public relations for the Chrysler Group —- part of the automaking industry that has had symbiotic ties with big oil —- wrote in a company blog that the oil industry has “a history of blowing their exorbitant profits on outlandish executive salaries and stock buybacks, and hoarding their bounty rather than lowering fuel costs.”

While it passes out multi hundred MILLION dollar paychecks to it’s executives, why doesn’t Big Oil just paint a bright bullseye on it’s forehead?

By Kevin

May 11, 2006 06:50 AM | Link to this

Why yes the misson was done…Some one forget tell Iraq n Iran was done n others….At least u look if this was done by al gore n kerry of boats….went to Iraq u hear no bad bashin by U Now if the Rep. party was bashin U all be all over them. Remember Now I knw over 2400 solders been killed that far less then Vietman…But remember This i feel should had more troops in this been better first time…..I sorry if u can’t understand me i sorry i do the best i can

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 06:55 AM | Link to this

Facts versus hysteria, which side do you think I’m on?:

Why America’s Debt Burden Is Declining by Brian M. Riedl

When measured properly, the federal govern­ment’s debt burden is actually below the post–World War II average. It is lower than it was at any time during the 1990s. However, unless Social Security and Medicare are reformed, lawmakers risk allowing debt levels to increase until they cause the highest intergenerational tax increase in history.

This is simple enough to understand, unless your a mouth breather apparently^^, taxes slow growth and decrease tax revenues which raise the debt burden. More revenues, more spending, lesser borrowing ratio, more growth.

When you see the ramshackle public housing projects, that the liberals enslaved the poor to live in, getting knocked down and single owner townhomes being put in their place, you shouldn’t have any questions about the state of the economy.

Unless, of course, you are a dunce liberal.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 07:03 AM | Link to this

Some stories make it on the front page (big oil,) some don’t:

Audit: AGL overcharged customers Margaret Newkirk - Staff Thursday, May 11, 2006

Atlanta Gas Light overcharged and should reimburse its customers $664,810 for an environmental cleanup effort over the past few years, according to a Georgia Public Service Commission audit released Wednesday.

The overcharges included $400,000 related to a bells-and-whistles public relations program run by the PSC chairman’s former campaign manager, the audit report said.

That program, which was the subject of an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article last fall, had raised eyebrows because of billings for activities that included a quail hunt at Carrollton’s Hog Liver Shooting Preserve, parties and gifts and $24 for a fish sandwich. AGL withdrew some of those expenses last year, and this week’s audit doesn’t say which additional costs the staff found excessive and unreasonable.

The audit also said customers should be reimbursed for the cost of putting a contractor on AGL’s payroll, the cost of a regulatory study AGL won’t disclose and the $50 late fee incurred by another AGL contractor who failed to pay his company’s utility bill on time.

The audit let $249,000 in travel, meals and entertainment expenses pass, including a $548 dinner at an Italian restaurant in Savannah —- although it recommends limits on such spending in the future.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 07:07 AM | Link to this

Exercising her “right to privacy”:

Here’s the Buzz on Valerie Plame: She’ll Break Her Silence for $2.5M

The buzz in the publishing world is that Valerie Wilson - the former CIA official and wife of Joseph Wilson, whose outing in a column by Robert Novak led to the indictment of the vice president’s chief of staff, I. Lewis Libby, and the continued questioning of Karl Rove - will break her two-year silence in a memoir, to be published by Crown. The buzz was especially loud because of the size of the advance: a reported $2.5 million.

Check this out, spend your days at work undermining the government you work for, totally miss the biggest terrorist attacks in the history of the nation, lie to the President about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and the drive by pinko media will give you 2.5 mil for your story.

Which presumably they can sell to all the gullible liberals.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 07:12 AM | Link to this

Much of the rest of Ahmadinejad’s letter is devoted to portraying Mr. Bush as an infidel. Given that Mr. Bush is not about to convert to Islam, what the letter presages is, if anything, an Islamic attack.

So why don’t we “convert” Imawhackjob into corpse? Couldn’t we like accidently hit this guy with a hellfire missile?

By Hillary Clinton

May 11, 2006 07:16 AM | Link to this

Have no fear my fellow hate mongering Liberals! I’ll be taking over in two more years and subjugate you under my socialist plan.

Once we’ve established an alliance with the French and Germans, the radical Muslims of the world will take over. So, I’d advise you to start reading the Koran.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 07:30 AM | Link to this

Richard Cohen, trying to soothe the moonbat hurt feelings:

Somewhere in the vast Clinton organization are people telling her she is doing the right thing by moving a bit to the right. The trap for Democratic presidential candidates is that by appealing to the party’s activist and disproportionately important left wing, it makes them unacceptable to more conservative voters. That might explain why Clinton has not called for a withdrawal from Iraq or repudiated her vote authorizing George Bush to go to war. It’s a strategy that assumes she can win the nomination without the support of fiercely anti-war Democratic activists. More and more, this is beginning to look like a dubious proposition.

So Hillary should campaign as someone she is not because who she is can’t win the nomination? Got that?

That just about sums up liberalism for you, fake people, fake polls, fake memos. Name jacking losers who can’t use their own identities because it makes people sick to see who they really are. Wankers.

By griggsy

May 11, 2006 07:46 AM | Link to this

Cheney-Bush are a disgrace as most Americans now realize.Even republicans acknowledge that now it seems.They are anti-science and plutocratic.Their ” Lauffer” is a joke.This is a weak recovery and the debt will increase even more so now.They misnmange both wars-as bad as he was , George H,W, Bush knew how to wqge war. They violate FISA, spy on peaceful groups and do renditions.Rep. Pelosi is right to demand investigations of this admininistration. I hope Rep.Sconyers can get impeachment going. Pelosi as speaker and Hillary as president would undo the administration’s harmfulness and go beyond Pres.William Jefferson Clinton’s achievements. Contrary to the lie, she is tough for the military.S ee ‘BIG LIES” ,THE NATURAL AND THE SURVIVOR ” for truth about Clinton-Gore. The South should once again go Democratic!

By griggsy

May 11, 2006 07:58 AM | Link to this

Tax revenus go up normally anyway but not as much as would have without the tax give aways! An the debt will get worse. Hillary is no socialist or else most Americans are ; we are for the common welfare- aka the American way, fairness.Right-wing stupidity - Americans have had enough of it!

By finch

May 11, 2006 08:02 AM | Link to this

It’s interesting how many wingnuts are taking it for granted that Hillary Clinton will be the ‘08 Democratic nominee.

I’ll bet you 10 mangoes that she’s not.

The perception that Democrats en masse worship the ground that Hillary walks on simply isn’t true.

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 08:05 AM | Link to this

Yes, Lucko— that flight deck is shrinking fast! Not even the $100 kiss-*ss “rebate” offered by Frist and the Repugs has helped W’s numbers… Americans are wising up, slowly but slowly!

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 08:08 AM | Link to this

By griggsy May 11, 2006 07:46 AM

Someday this will all happen, right Professor griggsby? Until then, we enjoy the fruits of a roaring economy that only the ignorant cannot see, we proudly free Muslims from religious tyranny even with the mouth breathing liberals fighting us harder than Al Qaeda does.

By SurroundedbyCrazies

May 11, 2006 08:11 AM | Link to this

Wow…

with my whoppin’ $20 tax break…I can…. get 6 gallons of gas; give it to my sons so they can eat at a fast-food place…

Or I can buy Andy/Hater some meds. Buy him the Blue Pill that apparently even the neo-cons are taking, since Duh-bya’s rating has dropped to 31%-his base is shrinking! Too bad ol crazy Hater is so blind in his hatred for anything remotely resembling reason that he can’t see what apparently 69% of our nation sees.

Take off those blinders!

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 08:22 AM | Link to this

finch, isn’t it hilarious how the Repugs get their pants in a wad over Hillary? Most Dems I know don’t pay her much attention — she needs to stay in NY, save her $$, and represent her constituents there.

By Ricky

May 11, 2006 08:23 AM | Link to this

finch, I don’t think Hillary will get the nomination because she is unelectable. However, the move-on.org crowd and the liberal wing of the Democratic Party make the most noise, so therefore she is getting the most press right now. The Dems would be smart to copy the Republican Party model and start nominating governors, ala Slick Willy. It is hard to get elected from Washington due to the voting records. I think the Dems will nominate Mark Warner or Bill Richardson. I see the Republicans nominating Guilain, Mitt Romeny, or McCain. Either of the three would be formidable.

By Ricky

May 11, 2006 08:29 AM | Link to this

Goldie, Reps don’t get their panties in a wad over Hillary. Most of us want her to run because she is unelectable in a national election.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 08:32 AM | Link to this

By SurroundedbyCrazies May 11, 2006 08:11 AM

Aaawwwhhh, isn’t life so hard when you are an absolute failure? Most normal people would look back and blame their schooling, how they slept in class or perhaps their source of “news.” Not the liberals, they blame the president, how he has anything to do with their utter lack of competence is mystery, but hey, that could explain why they struggle over a gallon of gas, you reckon?

By Wild Sects

May 11, 2006 08:36 AM | Link to this

Poor ‘ol Hater - imagine the angst he’ll feel when the political tide changes as it always does.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 08:37 AM | Link to this

It’s just like a kook liberal moonbat to get all hysterical when the Laffer Curve kicks in, don’t worry, we already knew you were idiots:

April Tax Revenue 2nd-Highest in History

A flood of income tax payments pushed up government receipts to the second-highest level in history in April, giving the country a sizable surplus for the month.

In its monthly accounting of the government’s books, the Treasury Department said Wednesday that revenue for the month totaled $315.1 billion as Americans filed their tax returns by the April deadline. The gusher of tax revenue pushed total receipts up by 13.4 percent from April 2005.

It marked the largest one-month receipt total since the government collected $332 billion in revenue in April 2001, reflecting a boom in capital gains from stock investors lucky enough to cash out their investments before the bursting of the stock market bubble in early 2000.

By getalife

May 11, 2006 08:38 AM | Link to this

Nice toon Mike.

From the Titanic to a row boat, Andy will man the oars.

Good news from the FBI

They even have a web site to report corruption. 2000 cases so far.

By gadem

May 11, 2006 08:44 AM | Link to this

“Conservatives forgave Bush and Congress for our past mistakes because the war on terrorism was so important … but now there is a great deal of unhappiness. What you are going to increasingly see is a divided Republican Party.”

I think everyone is running and hiding except for Andy, RW, Dusty, and BD….it takes all kinds to make up the world.

I think we need to start a pool on how low Bushs’ ratings will go….I am guessing 27%.

By The AJC tolerates shills.

May 11, 2006 08:45 AM | Link to this

I smell paid professional bloviation

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 08:45 AM | Link to this

Oh, this is too funny:

we enjoy the fruits of a roaring economy that only the ignorant cannot see, we proudly free Muslims from religious tyranny…

Now tell us again, who’s enjoying this “roaring economy” you speak of? I mean other than the multi-millionaires on Wall Street — is that who you’re talking about? That club to which most Americans who are middle-class will probably never belong… And which Muslims have we freed from religious tyranny lately? Surely you’re not talking about Iraqis where the sectarian violence is growing exponentially and where the Iranian mullahs are taken over. I fear you’re delusional and need to find some medication quickly.

By JT

May 11, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this

These are just a few of the goals of The Communist Party USA in their 2004 platform. There are others, but these sound so familiar.

Tax cuts for the rich and limitless funds for war are bankrupting our government.

Support the Employee Free Choice Act to allow workers to gain union representation without harassment or recrimination.

Allow bulk government purchase of prescription drugs and re-importation of drugs as an emergency measure. Curb price gouging by the pharmaceutical industry.

No privatization of Social Security or Medicare. Use the Social Security surplus to increase benefits instead of funding the Bush tax cuts and war in Iraq.

Enact the SOLVE ACT (HR 4264/SB 238)to fulfill the goals of the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride including a clear path to citizenship, equal rights on the job and civil liberties protections.

End the United States unnecessary and illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq. Hundreds of young soldiers have been killed, and thousands wounded, along with many thousands of Iraqi civilians, while giant military contractors reap financial benefit.

End the harmful buildup of the military budget. Transfer funds to human needs.

Remove military recruiters from public schools and campuses.

End the policy of promoting regime change in Cuba, Venezuela and other countries.

Enact energy price controls and public ownership with investment in renewable and sustainable energy.

Repeal the USA Patriot Act, which limits constitutionally guaranteed rights to free speech and dissent.

End appointments of right-wing, extremist judges to Federal Courts.

Repeal Bush tax cuts for the rich. Restore tax rates on the rich and corporations to 1970 levels.

Here’s the link, you may or may not like what you see. Idealistic, but it gives way too much power to your Democrat party leaders. They would have you think that it gives the power to the people. Just a matter of time before they take it from you.

By Liberal Texas Democrat

May 11, 2006 08:57 AM | Link to this

Great ‘toon Mike, and now, with regards to yesterday’s blog:

Gosh, you go into town for the day and find out someone jacks your name. The sad part is that whatever potty mouth did this:

“By Liberal Texas Democrat May 10, 2006 04:44 PM | Link to this When I was in Vietnam, I ran the first time we saw the enemy. I should have stayed with my unit cause the Viet Cong caught me right away. I sucked everybodies d-ick so that they wouldn’t kill me. That’s what I did for 15 years, was suck North Vietnamese d-ick. When the democrats surrendered the United States By Liberal Texas Democrat May 10, 2006 04:52 PM | Link to this So now I’m an a-ss master. No more sucky sucky for this old hag. The democrats love the anus, that’s what they do, they say I’m a superstar. They all put a bag over my head and hump me in the behind, all night long, I love liberalism! want to leave cause I like sucking d-ick but the Vietnamese sent me back. They said I was worn out with my face being all caved in from to much sucky sucky.”

is probably known as a sterling Christian above reproach at his/her local church. (S)he probably ignores the fact that the message posted in my name, and the other foul mouthed messages (s)he posts under his/her own name can be accessed by teens and pre teens. In the first steps to exposing America’s future, it’s youth, to obscenity and pornography this person is a gate way drug. This person obviously hates America. This person obviously blogs without conscience and any regards for America’s future. My personal opinion, given past exchanges with bloggers here, is that the person who jacked my name was Andy. I could be wrong, in which case I apologize, however if I’m correct I think Andy owes America’s youth an apology.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 08:59 AM | Link to this

gadem: In most normal situations in the real world, standing behind your commitments and your beliefs no matter how hysterical things seem to get, would be consider a sign of strength and deeply held principles.

But, alas, we are dealing with the maggoty left, with their overwhelming gutless weak sister pinko quiter, a pack of wild dogs that bark but do not bite, that will turn tail and run at the first sign of adversity, shameful cowards who only ask for but do not contribute to the great country that they are eating away at from the inside.

Thanks, but I’m not abandoning my party.

By cindy

May 11, 2006 08:59 AM | Link to this

I agree with “AJC Promotes…” Hilary would make an excellent president. She is very intelligent and has political savvy. She is something this country needs: Leadership and Intelligence. I believe she could heal the wounds inflicted by the current administration on the U.S. citizens and the its allies. Bush has proven that we don’t necessarily need a former military member to be Commander in Chief.

By getalife

May 11, 2006 09:00 AM | Link to this

The economy is great for investors on Wall Street due to lobbyists and laws written to help the out.

Too bad, W could not get the Social Security scam passed to help them out some more.

Too bad the deficit is out of control and today they will add another 70 billion to help them out some more.

Too bad for the young, poor and middle class, the GOP has sold out.

By getalife

May 11, 2006 09:06 AM | Link to this

Yes, LTD, Andy admitted yesterday he is the name jacker or “wanker”, if you will.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 09:06 AM | Link to this

Doesn’t it tell you all you need to know about a person when they announce that all it takes for them to completely abandon their country and their principles is a few low poll numbers? What kind of wormy little people are these liberals? Do we really want to leave the safety and security of the United States to a bunch of poll watchers who will desert their posts at the first sign of negativity, leaving the gates wide open for the enemy to swarm through?

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather be relying on someone with some guts, who will ignore the lynch mob and not go running off with them on some stupid political witch hunt.

Give me a patriot, give me a jingoist, give me someone that loves America more than they love some stupid political office.

Just an opinion.

By finch

May 11, 2006 09:07 AM | Link to this

This is not good:

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Al-Qaeda in Iraq is concerned about disorganization within its cells in the Baghdad area, with one extremist describing them as simply a “daily annoyance” to the Iraqi government, according to documents released Monday by the U.S. military“>http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/iraq/20060508-1509-iraq-zarqawisstrategy.html)

A daily annoyance?

You know me, I’ve never told the truth about anything, but this one is kind of hard to get around. Even my usual condescending arrogant bulls-hit won’t hide the bad news with this one.

We can’t let Al Qaeda lose in Iraq, who will gin up the civil war for us?

Who will we get to kill American soldiers and innocent Iraqi citizens for us?

This is bad, if America wins in Iraq, Bush will be a hero, Rumsfeld will be a genius and I’ll look like a total dumba-ss.

Heck, even Cheney will be a mastermind.

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 09:07 AM | Link to this

To The AJC Promotes… Thanks, but I’m not abandoning my party.

Now that’s a good German! Party before country!

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 09:12 AM | Link to this

LTD: For one who promotes name jacking, as long it is a Conservative’s name that gets jacked, your sermon doesn’t carry much weight.

BTW, it wasn’t me that did that and I have spoken many times before against name jacking against either side. I have asked many times, along with all the other Conservatives in here, to get a sign in policy established to no avail.

It sucks, don’t it? Funny though, how you liberals were giggling about it before it happened to you.

By gadem

May 11, 2006 09:15 AM | Link to this

Andy someone that stands behind their principles also shows a sign of ignorance and unwillingness to change….it can be read both ways. However sooner or later, even the ones that do not possess high IQ’s will go around a wall instead of constantly trying to go through it.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 09:18 AM | Link to this

JT: This whole crowd are nothing but uneducated wormy little socialists without parents to oversee their proper upbringing. I’ve heard these maggots call the 911 attacks “brilliant” and say that we should dismantle our “killing machine” military.

It’s a stupid sad waste of humanity that would even consider promoting an idealogy that has killed over 100 million people in the last 100 years.

Is that what they want for us?

By Libby Dimwit

May 11, 2006 09:18 AM | Link to this

Someone call USA today quick, I have just mined for this information without a warrant.

My goodness a record of call patterns,,,,Oh noooo,,,,Call the Pulitzer commitee if you are allowed to get the number without a warrant.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 09:23 AM | Link to this

Goldielocks: You might want to step back, breathe deeply and check out who it is that is standing up for the United States in here, and who is badmouthing it.

Cause you got it wrong so far.

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this

AJC Promotes— All I’ve seen you do so far is bad-mouth Americans. Where’s the patriotism in that? Explain how that makes you a proud American.

By Liberal Texas Democrat

May 11, 2006 09:32 AM | Link to this

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance May 11, 2006 09:12 AM | Link to this LTD: For one who promotes name jacking, as long it is a Conservative’s name that gets jacked, your sermon doesn’t carry much weight. And a specific example of my promoting name jacking would be? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

By Jesus

May 11, 2006 09:34 AM | Link to this

IMPEACH BUSH NOW!!!

By truthman

May 11, 2006 09:34 AM | Link to this

To AJC Promotes blah, blah, blah!

Please get a job!! The richest one percent of bush’s base are counting on you to fund their brat’s Ivy League education

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 09:34 AM | Link to this

gadem: Last time I looked, the preferred method for correcting bad behaviour was not to take out the whole country.

Pardon me, I’m getting ahead of myself, first you have to accept the fact that when Bush goes to the bathroom he is wiping his as-s wrong, which is exactly what you liberals would have us believe, with your hysterical sky is falling routine, every single solitary day..

Bush isn’t perfect but he is not near enough bad to warrant undermining the very country that you live in causing untold amounts of damage to our future, over some stupid political stunt.

You are the problem with America, not Bush.

By getalife

May 11, 2006 09:37 AM | Link to this

Goldie,

Andy (AJC blah, blah, blah) yes his real name is Andy and he is battling the war in his head with liberals, not the real enemy.

He is sick and steals other peoples names and posts sick crap.

Just letting you know what kind of human you are dealing with.

By Pinko Andy

May 11, 2006 09:37 AM | Link to this

Sicko Andy, When you say; gadem: In most normal situations in the real world, standing behind your commitments and your beliefs no matter how hysterical things seem to get, would be consider a sign of strength and deeply held principles…Thanks, but I’m not abandoning my party.

I seem to recall that someone intelligent once defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result (paraphrasing). What result are you looking for by continuing to support R’s? By supporting the criminals in power, will they magically change their skins and actually begin working for the people who elected them and not the few who contributed to their campaigns? I think you’re truly insane.

Plus, you never answer anyone’s questions. All you know is to insult. Pretty high class.

What’s your opinion on our paying the Chinese, Saudis, UAE, Japanese, etc… banks $27Billion/month IN INTEREST ONLY on our national debt? That’s not counting the principle. Good legacy. Nice job fiscal Repubs.

The only reason I can think that you continue to support this cabal in power is that you make over a $1 million/year. I understand getting value for my money, and if that’s the case than more power to you. Of course you’re still pretty insulting and a bully, which makes you repugnant. But, since you make $1M, you can afford to hire friends or maybe a “posse”.

Oh, and why haven’t we caught Osama yet?

By Curly

May 11, 2006 09:37 AM | Link to this

Unfortunately, there are still plenty of ignorant people out there that do not understand simple math. They’re the ones still calling it a “tax cut for the rich”. This has been explained in terms that even a second grader can understand.

Now you’re trying to claim that the “Mission Accomplished” sign signaled that we had won the war on terrorism. The “Mission Accomplished” sign that was hung aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln was claiming that their mission, the USS Abraham Lincoln, was complete. They, those on board the USS Abraham Lincoln, had completed their mission.

I’m surprised that the lefties have not used that banner to belittle the GOP on failing to win the war on illegal drugs. Hey, to claim that the “Mission Accomplished” sign means we won the war on terrorism is as far fetched as using it to claim that we have won the war on illegal drugs. I’m sorry, let me rephrase that, the war on “Undocumented Drugs”. I do not want to offend the lefties.

When you do not have a clue how to solve a problem, the best course of action is to hinder and bad mouth those that are trying to do something. It would be a pleasant surprise if some of those on the left would provide a viable option, something that the people of this country could actually understand and debate. The rhetoric coming from the left is lacking in anything constructive and meaningful. Bad Bush, Bad Rumsfeld. What is your alternative? Turn control of the USA over to the United Nation? That was what your last major candidate wanted to do. Your next major contribution will probably be Comrade Hillary.

By gadem

May 11, 2006 09:39 AM | Link to this

Oh Andy….have you ever admitted a mistake in your life. Please let me know what Bush has done right! NCLB is a complete and utter failure, personal income is decreasing while personal debt is increasing. The country is divided. Nothing has been resolved in a Republican controlled government….what is wrong with this picture?

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 09:47 AM | Link to this

By Pinko Andy May 11, 2006 09:37 AM Plus, you never answer anyone’s questions. All you know is to insult. Pretty high class. What’s your opinion on our paying the Chinese, Saudis, UAE, Japanese, etc… banks $27Billion/month IN INTEREST ONLY on our national debt?

Really? Wromg again liberal, see what I mean about blaming other people for their mistakes?:

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance May 10, 2006 07:15 PM Many experts argue the Chinese currency is 10 percent to 20 percent undervalued, which means the U.S. consumer is able to purchase Chinese-made goods at a lower price than if the currency traded at its true market value to the U.S. dollar. If an American can buy a Chinese-made product at Wal-Mart for an artificially low price, it means the American consumer has an increase in real income (he or she can buy more with the same income).

By gadem

May 11, 2006 09:49 AM | Link to this

Curly do your self a favor and don’t write any more explanations.

By JT

May 11, 2006 09:49 AM | Link to this

AJC, If it serves their self-interest, that is exactly what they want to do. To hell with those who seek freedom from oppression in other countries. They think it’s none of our business. They (the Democrat Socialist party) wants to keep their money or should I say our money to gain control over the people, big business, all of it.

There’s no way someone can look up at my post and not see the similarities in the arguments of the leftists. They scare the hell out of me.

The Republican Party supports everything that will resist socialist to communist rule. There was a US Presidential candidate on the Communist party ticket quoted as saying that under the guise of liberalism, the American public will adopt socialism without ever knowing how it happened. I’m seeing it happen on this board.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 09:49 AM | Link to this

gadem: You got to be kidding me right? How can you liberals accuse me of being hard headed and then turn around and post some stupid slobbering nonsense like this:

By gadem May 11, 2006 09:39 AM Oh Andy….have you ever admitted a mistake in your life. Please let me know what Bush has done right!

5 minutes ago I just said “Bush wasn’t perfect.” It is there for everyone to see. Does that matter to these degenerate liberals, stuck on stupid? Are they even coherent?

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 09:52 AM | Link to this

Curly, Andy, AJC- whoever you are next post … Patriotism is not measured by who gets in line behind a broken, incompetent set of leaders. You are doing far more damage to America by prolonging a failed administration. The whole world is suffering due to the illegal shenanigans brought on by your beloved W. And during the last Iraqi election, 80% said they wanted America GONE FROM THEIR LAND. Big success in that war, huh? You and your kind have bankrupted this country both monetarily and morally. Yes, you have some kind of frontal-lobe malfunction going on here, but it ain’t patriotism!

By Angry Liberal Guy

May 11, 2006 09:57 AM | Link to this

There’s been some ink spilled lately denigrating so called ‘angry liberals,’ that is, people who have allegedly lost their right to be taken seriously because they are ‘angry.’ And they are ‘liberal.’

Well, I hereby declare myself a charter member in the ALC (Angry Liberal Club).

Sure, at first I felt guilty — what right do I have as a patriotic American to be angry? Or liberal? Oh, I tried to repress the ‘angry thing,’ I tried — if I was asked, I claimed I was a ‘peeved moderate.’ Or a ‘mildly upset centrist.’ But after much work through ‘BIT’ (Blog Immersion Therapy), I stopped feeling the shame. I’m coming out of the closet to announce I am an Angry Liberal Guy. And I am p**.

You might be saying “Man, what are you so angry about, Angry Liberal Guy?”

I’ve compiled a short (and by no means complete) list just so I could see it all in one place:

I’m angry about the shredding of the constitution…illegal wiretaps…falsified intelligence…secret prisons… use of torture as an accepted means of interrogation…Terry Schiavo…the war on science…denial of Global Warming…the fascistic secrecy of our elected officials… presidential signings that declare the President above the law…the breakdown of the wall between church and state…the outing of a clandestine CIA agent for purely partisan political gain…the corrupting influence of K Street… the total sell-out of the legislative process to corporate interests… appointments of unqualified cronies at every level of government…Harriet Miers…Brownie…Abu Ghraib… Scooter …the complete mismanagement of the war in Iraq…the lies about the complete mismanagement of the war in Iraq…the grotesque budget deficits… the pathetic response to Katrina… a civil rights division dedicated to undermining civil rights…an environmental protection agency that refuses to protect the environment… (Take a breath, Angry Liberal Guy.)

And I’m angry about a smug, simple-minded, incompetent, unqualified President, and a press that denies the obvious fact that we have a smug, simple-minded, incompetent unqualified President.

If these things don’t make you angry, I have to ask — what the hell is the matter with you?

And what would it take to make you angry?

By getalife

May 11, 2006 09:58 AM | Link to this

“Bush wasn’t perfect.” is the understatement of the year!

It seems Ann is in some trouble

Poor Republican extremist/hate-monger.

By Andy's Mom

May 11, 2006 09:59 AM | Link to this

Don’t you ever and I mean EVER question my Andy’s patriotism. He may be alot of things, yes mostly bad, but he is Patriotic.

For instance there is a big American flag on a pole sitting right next to my Andy at his desk. Does he use the flag to wipe up with when he is finished? NO, he stands up, takes a step, reaches down, picks up a dirty sock, sits back down and wipes it up. That my folks is Patriotism.

By finch

May 11, 2006 10:00 AM | Link to this

LTD,

It seems Suck is on his usual name-jacing run again today. That 9:07 from me.. isn’t me.

Suck’s constant posting here means he’s not out doing real work for the Dewey Cheatum and Howe crowd (the GOP), but that has it’s pitfalls. If he were working the phones/streets, imagine how many voters he would disgust??

Anyway, it’s fun to call him out on his fudge factor silliness… like this!:

The gusher of tax revenue pushed total receipts up by 13.4 percent from April 2005.

(April 2006 revenues) marked the largest one-month receipt total since the government collected $332 billion in revenue in April 2001…

You mean government income skyrockets in April?? The month when income taxes are due??

Well, DUHHHHHH!!!

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this

Goldielocks: You liberals had 8 freaking years to solve the terrorism problem and what did we get from you? Now you want to sit around and whine about a president who has prevented another attack on this country for 5 years? And you want to put a dollar amount on the safety and security of innocent Americans just trying to live their lives?

By Goldie May 11, 2006 09:52 AM You and your kind have bankrupted this country monetarily.

This is the real sickness. You can have your money, let me keep my family, thanks anyway. Weirdo.

By Jay not jay

May 11, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this

AJC Promotes,

Unfortunately, this board has been flooded with a bunch of foaming mouthed liberal jackals. I can go to moveon and get the same rhetoric. Thanks for throwing some Samsonites out there so they can go apeshit, it is amusing to listen to the silly lib rants over and over and over…They really do HATE Bush.

By getalife

May 11, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this

OMG, how could I miss the biggest story of today

Headline of the USA today.

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 10:03 AM | Link to this

Let be among the first to welcome Jesus to this site. What do you take to control your nausea? While I’m on the subject of posting names, I wish whoever uses AJC’s name to post moderate, thoughtful opinions every now and again would use their own name. I’m sure I’m not the only one who passes over messages attributed to AJC, and some of the fake AJC’s comments are worth reading. As far as the cartoon is concerned, the GOP has been so pre-occupied with its “base” for so long, it seems only poetic justice for them now to be stuck with Dusty, AJC and I suppose the other names Andy uses. (It IS Andy, isn’t it?). The language is all so similar-and SO predictable.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 10:05 AM | Link to this

You liberals want to sit in here and claim morality over me, to scold me for being rude but then you post a load of sh-it like this:

By Andy’s Mom May 11, 2006 09:59 AM Don’t you ever and I mean EVER question my Andy’s patriotism. He may be alot of things, yes mostly bad, but he is Patriotic.

You have no right to say anything about my conduct, while you ignore this sh-it.

By Dusty

May 11, 2006 10:08 AM | Link to this

Hey, Andy, JT and Curly,

Keep up the good work. Seems the liberal lunatics are all running on caffeine high jags this morning. At least I think it is caffeine. They haven’t hit any security blocks with their cars yet.

But Luckovich did score ONE point. He remembered that Bush was a pilot in the military. And that tiny “base” looks a lot like a Democratic Dung beetle lying on the runway. Bush’s plane is going to crush that poor little beetle lying on its back with its feet in the air. Poor lil thing.

By gadem

May 11, 2006 10:08 AM | Link to this

I just asked you what has he done right. He must have done something right for you to blindly follow him. And I know that noone on this Earth is perfect, so that statement did not even have to be made.

By Fed Up

May 11, 2006 10:12 AM | Link to this

The only politician that will ever get my vote is the one that comes up with a plan to completely scrap No Child Left Behind. Bush, Kennedy and the rest of the idiots that thought up this stupid, simple minded legislation should be forced to attend schools that are dealing with this load of CRA_.

Welcome to America - the land of mediocrity - where everyone is equally stupid.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 10:13 AM | Link to this

What’s the matter, finch, are you a slave to the short order griddle?

That would fit your template, that’s for sure. I’ll bet you have lots of time flipping those pancakes to dream about how you are better than everyone else, even though you have to lie like a rug just to come up with anything to post.

Lucky for you in the land of the failure you have company, spastic retards that don’t need facts for them to issue stupid slobbering meaningless statements mimicking something they heard from Michael Moore or Jay Bookman.

You really are a smart popular guy there griddleman, now get back to work.

By Fred

May 11, 2006 10:16 AM | Link to this

Curly, Andy, AJC-, I don’t know why you are complaining about my pointing out that the American military is simply a band of cold blooded killers. It was proven in 1971 when a great hero from Viet Nam testified before Congress. That same hero proved again last year that our military was still kicking down doors and terrorizing women and children.

How big an idiot do you have to be not to see that disbanding our killing machine and turning over the ones that haven’t been trained to kill to the UN would instantly make us safe and secure? Plus we would finally be respected in the world.

I bet you’re too stupid to realize that if we would just outlaw guns we could get rid of 90% of the police force and turn a few prisons into humanitarian aid stations, because crime would be almost non-existent. I don’t have the time to wait for your troglodyte response since I actually work for a living so I’ll come back later to laugh at your Brownshirt response.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 10:17 AM | Link to this

gadem: From 5:00 am till 9:00 pm damn near everyday, I post good things about America and good things about the president. I guess this begs the question: Can you read?

I’m out of here for a bit, so when your fellow pinko goes to posting it’s hate and racism hiding behind my name, I know you liberals will get a good, stupid moron giggle, but you’ll be laughing at yourself.

Enjoy!

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 10:23 AM | Link to this

ANDY’S NOT A PATRIOT. To call him so is an insult to patriots.
I’ve yet to see a single post from that child that exhibited anything but mean-spiritedness and ignorance of even the concept of anything espoused in the Consitituion.
As far as I’m concerned, he is a verbal terrorist who would be more at home in the Germany of the thirties than the America of the two-thousands.

By Eric

May 11, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this

Another GREAT cartoon. I love this one.

By Jewish and Proud of It

May 11, 2006 10:28 AM | Link to this

What’s the matter, finch, are you a slave to the short order griddle

What’s wrong with being a short order cook? IHOP RULES!

By getalife

May 11, 2006 10:32 AM | Link to this

Looks like USA today got the scoop on Colonel Clink’s database story.

This shows how Congress is not doing their jobs and should be purged from office.

Our government needs reform.

By Dusty

May 11, 2006 10:33 AM | Link to this

OK Fred,

You are so busy condemning the US military you forgot to mention what America is going in Darfur. Do you realize that USA has given most of the food supplies there? That the UN is frantically calling on other nations to help out? We are talking about millions of starving people.

That the USA offered even more supplies so there would be enough during the rainy season when transport is almost impossible?

Your anti-war reasoning does not work for me because it is all ANTI-AMERICAN. Don’t fool yourself because you don’t fool those that support this country.

You are so stuck inyour rabid mindset you are blind. Iraq is getting a new government and pulling itself together, painfully. It isn’t doing it under a dictator. But it is doing it and making its own beginner mistakes while growing.

By Dusty

May 11, 2006 10:36 AM | Link to this

Joe Roman,

Don’t worry about Andy. NOBODY is going to call YOU a patriot.

By Pinko Andy

May 11, 2006 10:38 AM | Link to this

Classic, Arrogant, Powerhungry, Lies.

[http://streaming.americanprogress.org/ThinkProgress/2005/smearsliesvideotape_medium.320.240.mov.html]

Remember that game “connect the dots”? the picture is becoming clearer, and it’s a Democratic Senator holding an impeachment document.

By Cynthia

May 11, 2006 10:40 AM | Link to this

All politicians have flaws; as well as all people. The liberal fun at watching Bush’s nose dive is that he thought he was above everyone else and the law. My biggest complaint on him is how he has divided this country. Just read the preceding comments to see how much hatred he has raised. That is not the sign of a good leader. Let’s look at the citizens internally to see how strong this country is; not to the military. “Divided we fall” — Bush has done more than any extemist to create that divide. This column is proof.

By getalife

May 11, 2006 10:43 AM | Link to this

Joe Roman is a patriot.

I guess Colonel Clink is DOA.

By getalife

May 11, 2006 10:44 AM | Link to this

Yep , Feingold was right just like Murtha, True patriots!

By Curly

May 11, 2006 10:48 AM | Link to this

Gadem, thank you. You just proved my point. Nothing constructive, just more empty words. This type response makes it hard to have an intelligent discussion or debate. Try making a comment or statement that defines something… anything. Did you find something false in my comments?

Good Day gadem.

Curly do your self a favor and don’t write any more explanations.

By JT

May 11, 2006 10:49 AM | Link to this

California will be this country’s first Socialist state. Hell, it already is, what was I thinking. Schwarzenneger (A Republican) has been trying to turn it around, but too much damage has been done under Democrat leaders.

Big business works like this.

I know, I know…..Big pharmaceutical companies are the enemy. Let’s put the burden on government. It’s so successful, like in California dudes.

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 10:50 AM | Link to this

I won a Bronze Star in Vietnam, Dusty. What are your qualifications? No, being a rightwing jerk doesn’t factor into the qualifications.

By Tony

May 11, 2006 10:50 AM | Link to this

TAKE THAT, it’s not your Mommy’s press room anymore.

By Dusty

May 11, 2006 10:51 AM | Link to this

Pinko Andy (not the real Andy but an imposter),

You ARE a bit dotty this morning. That DEMOCRATIC congressman isn’t holding an impeachment document. He is holding a POLICE CITATION FOR RUNNING INTO SECURITY BLOCKS with his car.

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 10:55 AM | Link to this

Joe Roman IS a patriot — and an old friend of mine from the 80’s in the ATL! Great to see you “writing the good fight”, my buddy… hope you’re doing well these days!

By JT

May 11, 2006 10:55 AM | Link to this

Fred, You’re a disgrace to any party when you refer to brave soldiers fighting for freedom as “cold-blooded killers”. You may find yourself in need of their protection one day. I hope they can forgive your ignorance and not pass you by.

By finch

May 11, 2006 11:00 AM | Link to this

getalife,

Hand in hand with the USA Today story on the NSA’s wholesale subpoenas of phone records without cause or evidence comes this “shocker” from the NY Times! Seems the NSA is refusing to let the Justice Department look at the legality of its’s wireless phone taps, because JD’s lawyers don’t have security clearance!

“With Access Denied, Justice Department Drops Spying Investigation”

“(New York Democratic Congressman Maurice) Hinchey said the denial of clearances was “hard to believe” and compounded what he called a violation of the law by the program itself, which eavesdrops without court warrants on people in the United States suspected of ties to Al Qaeda.”

Somewhere in the afterlife, Richard Nixon is laughing his butt off.

By Dizty

May 11, 2006 11:04 AM | Link to this

Ha ha ha, ain’t that the truth.

By harold

May 11, 2006 11:06 AM | Link to this

I need everybody to drive V8 SUVs to work so Canada warms up so I can move there. K, Thanks!

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 11:06 AM | Link to this

I do love the IHOP! :>)

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 11:08 AM | Link to this

Take a look at Richard Brooks’ column in today’s NYTimes. He’s predicting 2008 will be a return to Third Way moderation and fiscal responsibility on both sides. For those you unfamiliar with Brooks, he’s a true conservative, mainstream Republican.

By The AJC tolerates shills.

May 11, 2006 11:10 AM | Link to this

How much you want to bet that the knucklehead who has had 25 posts from 6:01 this a.m. (and it’s a daily pattern) is some low level crony bureaucrat who’s supposed to be really working at a job our taxes dollars pay for?

By Dusty

May 11, 2006 11:12 AM | Link to this

Joe Roman,

My qualifications hold that one requirement, i.e. I am a loyal American citizen. I wouldn’t change that for the world.

I appreciate anyone who has fought for this country. Many in my family have. But you are the one who so often acts like they do not appreciate being an American.

You want to treat the president of our country like he is dirt. But he was also in the military whether you liked where he served or not.

You also started this “He’s not a patriot” this morning. Don’t start squawking and complaining about this country and its government and citizens if you don’t want to be called on it.

But Goldie will support you. Maybe Goldie will not even call you a Nazi or “German” for your patriotism.

By True Patriot

May 11, 2006 11:14 AM | Link to this

Does anyone know a single soldier that was awarded a high combat honor that would make this statement?

I won a Bronze Star in Vietnam, Dusty.

Some of you are calling Joe Roman a patriot, lying sack of sh-it seems more like it.

By Kevin

May 11, 2006 11:15 AM | Link to this

Rumsfeld’s got your number and that’s why you people can’t win an argument. Everything you argue is based on opinion and speculation. No facts.

I didn’t know there was another Kevin on this board. I don’t think I’ve been namejacked, I’m not here often enough to warrant one.

I noticed Daniel didn’t stop in to dissect AJC’s analysis of China’s economy in relation to the U.S. dollar. I’m sure I know why. The saddest part is Daniel doesn’t know why. All the liberals commend him for his thoughtful posts and that’s sad too. You don’t need facts, just emotion to garner support in the world of a lib.

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 11:16 AM | Link to this

Thanks, Goldie. I’m in Baltimore now, but I keep up with the AJC because I still love the city, especially Luckovich and The Braves.
I hope to be in town for the Grease Band reunion at the Variety Playhouse on June 2nd.

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 11:18 AM | Link to this

Joe, David Brooks may be calling himself a true “conservative” now, but where was he in March 2003? I seem to remember him writing some columns promoting what a great idea the invasion of Iraq was — or am I getting him confused with some other NYT writer who was fed all of the propaganda by Rove and wrote it as the truth, a la Judy Miller?

By getalife

May 11, 2006 11:23 AM | Link to this

finch,

Yes, I read that story earlier.

Here is the kicker, Fox, CNN, AJC, etc… has this sory headlined while the WaPo and Times do not.

I left them a note here

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 11:26 AM | Link to this

You pay good lip service, Dusty. If you feel that way, why aren’t you in Iraq? If you believe a patriot never questions his country’s policies, what exactly do you think “defend and protect the Constitution” means? The oath says nothing about about defending office holders or their blunders.

By Liberal Texas Democrat

May 11, 2006 11:28 AM | Link to this

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance May 11, 2006 09:12 AM | Link to this LTD: For one who promotes name jacking, as long it is a Conservative’s name that gets jacked, your sermon doesn’t carry much weight.

And a specific example of my promoting name jacking would be? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

By Buy Danish

May 11, 2006 11:30 AM | Link to this

Finch,

I don’t have time to log on much today, but you are really slipping. In fact, it is Dunce hat time.

That report you try to dissemble compares LAST APRIL (tax time) to this APRIL (tax time) and revenues are UP since …the same time last year.

DUH yourself!

BTW, your passion for treasonous Dana Priest and her communist/Marxist/Socialist enabling husband is nauseating.

Those would be the same Communists that you pooh-poohed yesterday, claiming they don’t matter. And her husband would be the same one who claimed that Pol Pot’s slaughter of millions happened while he was taking them to find food.

Stalin. Pol Pot. Mao. Castro. Chavez. Mugabwe. What a nice bunch the peace-marching wing of the Dem party ally themselves with.!

Goodfellow and Castro, who are supporting Chavez (self-declared enemy of the U.S.) and Morales (who is siezing corporate assets for the government) have not gotten that “communism is dead” message yet.

By getalife

May 11, 2006 11:32 AM | Link to this

finch,

They both just posted the story.

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 11:33 AM | Link to this

He was bamboozled like so many others, Goldie. I wish he and the many others would admit it, but don’t hold your breath. After all, look most of the Democrats in the Senate who won’t. Don’t you wish more politicians respected our intelligence and our powers of forgiveness? On the other hand, it’s easy to see why they don’t.

By Dusty

May 11, 2006 11:34 AM | Link to this

About David Brooks,

He is on Lehrer News Hour every Friday night along with a liberal-learning commentator. They have a substantive discusssion of political events in an intelligent conversation. It is informative and “balanced”. No fireworks. Most enjoyable. This part of the New Hour usually lasts fifteen minutes.

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 11:36 AM | Link to this

Hey Joe, I seem to remember hearing that you’d left town… I’ll mark down June 2nd @ the Variety, and maybe I’ll see ya there!

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 11:41 AM | Link to this

To author a post like the following is like telling the whole world that the space in between your ears is a vast empty wasteland available for development:

By Fred May 11, 2006 10:16 AM How big an idiot do you have to be not to see that disbanding our killing machine and turning over the ones that haven’t been trained to kill to the UN would instantly make us safe and secure? Plus we would finally be respected in the world.

Selfish, scumbag liberal:

Sex-for-food by aid workers alleged in Liberia MONROVIA, Liberia - Aid workers and U.N. peacekeepers are trading food for sex with young girls in Liberian camps housing those left homeless by years of war, an aid group said Monday.

Hey, never mind the “protection” scumbag Fred is offering to the oppressed children of the world, this “patriot” liberal is insinuating that our brave soldiers, those men that put their lives on the line everyday to protect you, are bloodthirsty murderers.

Isn’t that nice to know?

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 11:47 AM | Link to this

Cynthia: As I recall, Bill Clinton was quite efficient at dividing the country himself. Does this make him a failure as a president?

Besides which, as soon as one thing that you liberals accuse Bush of doing actually comes true, don’t you think that would be the time to pompously strut around your theory? Doing an end zone celebration without scoring seems awfully arrogant.

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 11:49 AM | Link to this

You’re right, Joe— forgiveness is important. I think most Liberals understand that, too. And maybe we’ll even forgive “Andy-Curly-AJC” someday. After all, he “knows not” what he does!

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 11:50 AM | Link to this

It’s war! (It’s about time!):

Snow issues detailed rebuttals to media coverage of the president

WASHINGTON - New White House Press Secretary Tony Snow is starting off in a combative mode against the press by issuing detailed rebuttals to what he considers unfair coverage of Bush.

“The New York Times continues to ignore America’s economic progress,” blared the headline of an e-mail sent to reporters Wednesday by the White House press office.

Minutes earlier, another e-mail blasted CBS News, which has had an unusually rocky relationship with the White House since 2004, when CBS aired what turned out to be forged documents in a failed effort to question the president’s military service.

“See BS News misleadingly reports that only 8 million seniors have signed up for Medicare prescription drug coverage,” Wednesday’s missive said. “But 37 million seniors have coverage.” On Tuesday, the White House railed against “USA Today’s misleading Medicare story.”

“USA Today claims ‘poor, often minority’ Medicare beneficiaries are not enrolling in Medicare drug coverage,” the press office complained. “But by April, more than 70 percent of eligible African Americans, more than 70 percent of eligible Hispanics, and more than 75 percent of eligible Asian Americans are enrolled or have retiree drug coverage.”

Yyyyeeeeesssssss!!!!!!!!!

By Dusty

May 11, 2006 11:50 AM | Link to this

Joe Roman,

There you go with the queasy old propaganda line… Why aren’t you in Iraq? I’m not qualified. That’s why. How about you? My question is just as good as yours.

You don’t “question” your country and your government. You condemn it. That is the difference.

Don’t tell me about your present “patriotism”. You don’t have to. You smear it across this blog frequently.

By Buy Danish

May 11, 2006 11:51 AM | Link to this

Don’t you wish more politicians respected our intelligence… On the other hand, it’s easy to see why they don’t.

JoRo,

ROTFL. No kidding! Maybe because your intelligence is a deep dark secret, hidden from all but you and your pal Goldie?

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 11:51 AM | Link to this

I do enjoy the Lehrer Report, too. But my fave show is still “Real Time With Bill Maher” — I always try to remember to record that one on Fridays!

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 11:53 AM | Link to this

Well, actually, he’s not running for any office, so he doesn’t have to lie to y’all:

Statement by Matt Foreman, Executive Director National Gay and Lesbian Task Force “Governor Dean is wrong about what the Democratic platform says about marriage equality. Disturbingly, this is not the first time he has misrepresented this important and affirming plank, and he has been asked before to correct the record and to cease making these misleading statements.

By RE

May 11, 2006 11:53 AM | Link to this

Another GOP rep under investigation? Can anyone keep up with this, the names are too long to list

“Federal prosecutors have begun an investigation into Rep. Jerry Lewis, the Californian who chairs the powerful House Appropriations Committee, government officials and others said, signaling the spread of a San Diego corruption probe”

By Billy

May 11, 2006 11:58 AM | Link to this

I’m a new guy here. There are some very intelligent comments on this Blog. Except that guy who uses the newspaper name. What a jerk! Just passing through.

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 12:11 PM | Link to this

Welcome, Billy — please remember to keep your hard-hat on… there’s some flying debris coming from the far-right here in GA! Some real ugly stuff sometimes…

By getalife

May 11, 2006 12:12 PM | Link to this

Nice comments by W today.

Too bad nobody believes him.

Well there are a few.

By Dusty

May 11, 2006 12:15 PM | Link to this

Goldie,

Condescension is not a good way to impress people. As you “look down from your precarious perch of imaginary superiority”(from Dr. S. Thiederman) to talk about forgiveness is a bit …well…snooty. Or didn’t you notice?

By getalife

May 11, 2006 12:15 PM | Link to this

RE,

I posted this earlier, there is an FBI site dedicated to corruption

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 12:17 PM | Link to this

USA Today NSA Scoop Not News

The USA Today “scoop” on the NSA’s massive telephone surveillance program isn’t really news at all - though liberal media outlets have been blaring the story as a shocking revelation all Thursday morning.

But as NewsMax noted in December - back when the New York Times tried to ballyhoo a similar story about the NSA’s terrorist surveillance program - CBS’s “60 Minutes” blew the lid off the agency’s domestic wiretapping in Feb. 2000, when the Clinton administration was using it for all sorts of unauthorized purposes.

By Scooter

May 11, 2006 12:21 PM | Link to this

Yeah Billy, the “right” has the corner of the market on hateful speech.

Is it time to shoot up again?

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 12:23 PM | Link to this

Not qualified, Dusty? Maybe you didn’t know, but they’ve lowered the education and GT score requirments considerably. Oh, I get it. You are too young. I should have known from reading your posts. My excuse? I’m 61 years old!

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 12:24 PM | Link to this

Dusty, thanks for sharing… You should try forgiveness of others yourself sometimes — it’s a real cleansing of the soul.

By griggsy

May 11, 2006 12:25 PM | Link to this

Cindy , Cynthia , others an dI know that the ” Laugh-er ” curve is nonsense.It promotes fiscal irresponsibility and just promotes jobs in the private sector rather than in the public one.One laughs at the job creation numbers : under the responsible Pres. Clinton jobs fluorished double the amount in a year.Right-wing morons delight in weakness as a sign of strength! Pres. Bozo takes credit for the weakest recovery on record.Had not Congress approved his irresponsible tax giveaway, just maybe we would have had a real recovery. Gee, most will receive around 20$. Tax hikes and cuts determine where jobs go.Under Reagan ,we had the biggest tax hike of all time -the Reagan-Dole of 83.Then Pres. Bonzo appived 7 more tax hikes. Then Pres.G.H.W.’S tax hike and Pres. Responsible’s tax hike . These tax hikes did not harm the economy . I like the attention I get; I like being called professor [ in England I a m Lord Lynn]. MORGAN-LYNN LA MBERTH ,AUGUSTA O h, do read ” THE NATURAL,” THE SURVIVOR” , and “BIG LIES” to learn about a good president and republican nonsense!Cheerio!

By Daniel

May 11, 2006 12:29 PM | Link to this

RE: 1) The “Duke” Cunningham thing has legs. Before the “Dukestir” caved the Feds. had him wired! Watch this: a number of California Congressmen will be leaving or under investigation. 2) Also, Abramoff is singing like a canary, the FBI has no less than 24agents on that one. 3) We’re watching “Hooker Scandal #2 with interest. FEMA paid 20 million to a felon to run a limosine service. Duke ran his buddies up the Watergate Hotel to get laid. 4) The Plame debacle will never end. Nasty George Bush had to hurt Valerie to get back at Joe for telling Americ the truth. Your Christian Conservatives in action!

By getalife

May 11, 2006 12:34 PM | Link to this

Andy,

It is a story, a headline story. W had to comment about it and you are wrong as usual.

I hope you will not resort to name jacking today.

Wanker.

By Dusty

May 11, 2006 12:35 PM | Link to this

Err Goldie,

When are you going to try all this advice you give to others? That might be a good idea. You could stop calling others rats, Germans and Nazis.

By Republicrat

May 11, 2006 12:36 PM | Link to this

Like I have said before that is why I call myself a Rebublicrat. I am not ignorant enough to let some party tell me who to vote for, I will admit I voted for Bush. It was not so much as I liked him and I certainly don’t like everything he has done. It was just that I didn’t like who the Democrats ran against him. I am hoping I can vote Democratic next time but I can tell you right now I will not vote for Hilary! Please Democrats run a good candidate this time.

I will say one thing for Bush though, Medicare part “D” was a good thing. Remember when Bill was there and Hilary was going to do something for the Seniors?

By Liberal Texas Democrat

May 11, 2006 12:44 PM | Link to this

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 12:17 PM | Link to this

USA Today NSA Scoop Not News

The USA Today “scoop” on the NSA’s massive telephone surveillance program isn’t really news at all - though liberal media outlets have been blaring the story as a shocking revelation all Thursday morning.

But as NewsMax noted in December - back when the New York Times tried to ballyhoo a similar story about the NSA’s terrorist surveillance program - CBS’s “60 Minutes” blew the lid off the agency’s domestic wiretapping in Feb. 2000, when the Clinton administration was using it for all sorts of unauthorized purposes.

And there you have it. The morally weak, corrupt, and greedy conservatives can not prevent themselves from doing everything Clinton did. Sigh, were it not for this serious flaw perhaps they’d offer hope for the future. But, no such luck, they just seem to be bent of doing everything Clinton.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 12:44 PM | Link to this

getalife: You’re right, I was missing some info about my 12:17 USA Today post, not only is it repackaged old news, I forgot to include that is is purposefully misleading-

The NSA program reaches into homes and businesses across the nation by amassing information about the calls of ordinary Americans — most of whom aren’t suspected of any crime. This program does not involve the NSA listening to or recording conversations. But the spy agency is using the data to analyze calling patterns in an effort to detect terrorist activity, sources said in separate interviews.

They are not listening in on conversations, all they are doing is collecting phone numbers. USA Today is outlining their bogus story so that you sap liberal think Bush is the heavy breathing you think you hear in the background.

Moron.

By RE

May 11, 2006 12:47 PM | Link to this

Partial list that needs to be updated of the GOP members under investigation/ indicted:

Link

I am trying to find a similar site for the dems for comparison

By getalife

May 11, 2006 12:49 PM | Link to this

Riiight Andy,

You have to be the most gullible person on the planet or just doing your job.

Which one is it?

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 12:52 PM | Link to this

I appreciate your sentiments, Republicrat, but elections are always about choosing the lesser of the two evils.
I wasn’t that fond of Kerry myself, but he sure beat the heck out of the Chickenhawk-in-Chief. Don’t discount Hillary (two l’s) until you see who runs against her-assuming she even gets the nomination, which is far from a sure thing. By the way, being so adamant about you WON’T vote for raises questions about the sincerity of the rest of your comment. You dont have to choose until you close the curtain. That’s what a real bi-partisan moderate does.

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 12:52 PM | Link to this

Herr Dusty, as soon as you cease supporting W and his incompetent cohorts, you may find yourself forgiven of all kinds of sins. God’s watching!

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 12:53 PM | Link to this

LTD: Perfect timing, Clinton did listen in on his opponents phone conversations, did use the FBI to search the backgrounds violating their privacy and did use the IRS to look into their financial matters for any mud he could sling. Clinton was a pervert little pric-k, just like you pinkos.

We have risen above all that.

By Paytriott

May 11, 2006 12:55 PM | Link to this

Hey, lay off my good friend and fellow paytriott Andy. He’s just trying to prove that TYRANNY KEEPS US SAFE!

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 12:57 PM | Link to this

headcase getalife: As I see it, there is a 50/50 chance that I’m wrong, but then I look at the CBS/ Dan Rather embarrassment, I see Jason Blair, I think of CBS’s slanted polls, I remember all of the things I read in the Atlanta Urinal, and I know that I’m right and you’re wrong.

Not even close.

By RE

May 11, 2006 12:58 PM | Link to this

updated GOP scorecard

By Daniel

May 11, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this

JoRo: Thanks for the sage observation.

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 01:04 PM | Link to this

Oh, and Herr Dusty— I believe I said y’all were “good Germans”. Ya know those that line up for party ideology before country.

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 01:06 PM | Link to this

If CBS’s polls are slanted, how come they mirror all the other polls? Dan Rather was two years ago. Jason Blair was five years ago. The whole idea of the internet and such sites as these is immediacy. We’re talking about now. Of course, now is an inconvienient time for Bush apologists, isn’t it?

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 01:09 PM | Link to this

I like this Tony Snow guy:

Setting the Record Straight: AP’s Misleading Military Recruiting Article

The Associated Press: “Army Guard, Reserve Fall Short Of April Recruiting Goals.” (Lolita C. Baldor, “Army Guard, Reserve Fall Short Of April Recruiting Goals,” The Associated Press, 5/10/06)

But The Army National Guard, Air Force Reserve, And Marine Corps Reserve All Have Exceeded Or Achieved Their Year-To-Date Recruitment Goals.

The Army National Guard Has Recruited 103 Percent Of Its Year-To-Date Goal.

The Air Force Reserve Has Recruited 105 Percent Of Its Year-To-Date Goal.

The Marine Corps Reserve Has Recruited 100 Percent Of Its Year-To-Date Goal. {Department Of Defense, “DoD Announces Recruiting And Retention Numbers For April,” Press Release, 5/10/06)

By getalife

May 11, 2006 01:12 PM | Link to this

Andy,

I know that in the mind of the wacky world of Andy, it is lies and Clinton’s fault.

I think W deserves the same outcome Clinton received, just to be fair and balanced.

Karma, ain’t it a b-itch?

By griggsy

May 11, 2006 01:12 PM | Link to this

Clinton acted according to law! I t is one the big lies that are told a bout him.Read the three books I listed for truth to dispel right-wing lies.I expect the liars to really go after Hillary even more so than they do now in’08.And they claim they defend morality from us liberals!What chutzpah!

By Fred

May 11, 2006 01:13 PM | Link to this

AJC moron, I said they weren’t all trained killers and we need to immediately turn the ones that aren’t over to the UN for peace keeping you idiot. How the hell else do you think we will ever regain our respect in the world? At least you realize disarming the people will make us safer here. Maybe there is still hope for you.

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 01:16 PM | Link to this

Yeah, Tony Snow… now we’ve witnessed the real merger of Fox News with the White House!

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 01:18 PM | Link to this

Yeah, O.K., when Gasbag Blather got busted See BS swore that they would forthright be honest little pinkos from here on out, I seemed to have missed that press conference. Shees, Katie “Eva Braun” Couric is rabidly anti Bush, if you want to smear her lip gloss and eye liner just bring up Rumsfeld.

Freakin liberal stooge.

By Brian Curtis

May 11, 2006 01:23 PM | Link to this

So, now that there’s even MORE irrefutable proof that Traitor Bush has lied to the people… will there still be a few desperate hangers-on supporting him here?

I wonder if you’ll keep supporting him when he sacrifices a live chicken on national TV and dances naked in the Oval Office to appease his Satanic Master? You’ll probably call that “a demonstration of deep faith in a time of crisis.”

This should be great fun to watch as the neocon ship continues sinking.

By JT

May 11, 2006 01:25 PM | Link to this

Liberal Texas Democrat, Sigh, if it were not for the liberals failure to offer anything concrete to support their crazy rants, there would be hope for the Democratic Party.

For too many years, they’re platform has been to denegrate their opponents policies, push social programs that enslave the voters to government, while offering nothing of substance that offers hope for a future of freedom from government. The American people see it, know it and really don’t want to have to vote for it or pay for it.

And by the way, Republicans actually love people like you.

By Reebok

May 11, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this

Very funny one today, Mike. Nice job. I’m afraid to link mye e-mail address…apparently the Boy King and his toadies have decided that we actually have no right to privacy…don’t want to wind up at Gitmo.

By Dizty

May 11, 2006 01:29 PM | Link to this

I personally find that offensive.

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 01:31 PM | Link to this

Hey Brian Curtis, we’ll see if the pseudo-patriots still supporting W will ever understand the chaos we’re dealing with now. I do believe there’s a frontal-lobe problem of some kind with that remaining 31%… but keep fighting the power!

By JT

May 11, 2006 01:35 PM | Link to this

Deficits have been overcome in the past and this one will be overcome as well. But that can only happen if you believe in good old “yankee ingenuity” which you liberals have clearly indicated, you don’t.

See ya!

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 01:39 PM | Link to this

Ask yourself: Would the Altar Valley be a war zone if McCain lived here? If Kennedy’s Hyannis Port compound were magically transplanted to southern Arizona, how long do you think it’d be before he rewrote his bill? The first time Kennedy saw 30 illegals dashing across his property, he’d trip over his Guatemalan lawn guy rushing to the Senate floor to demand enforcement.

That’s one of the American tragedies at play here, the abandonment of ordinary citizens by our country’s elites, and most strikingly, the abandonment of the very laws they themselves have written.

“We did that with the Boston Tea Party,” she says. “We were taxed without representation and we rose up and changed it. I think the students in the streets and these young ACLU individuals here are being used. When you talk to them you realize it’s all emotion. There’s no logic. They don’t have a clue.”

Perfect summary of liberalism, a bunch of panty waists that feel they are doing good but are really doing harm.

By getalife

May 11, 2006 01:42 PM | Link to this

Reality check wingnuts.

Are you going to tell me there are millions of Americans involved with terrorists?

Not.

By Midori

May 11, 2006 01:46 PM | Link to this

Andy,

the more I read this blog, the more convinced I become that you are a complete moron.

Your buddy JT isn’t too far behind.

By Passing through

May 11, 2006 01:49 PM | Link to this

I’ve noticed that when President Bush had high approval numbers the libs all said it was Al Qaida that really liked him. Maybe the press is only polling Al Qaida and they don’t like him so much since he’s been killing them all.

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 01:51 PM | Link to this

The creepy thing about the 31% is it pretty much matches the percentage of what has always been “the base” to which all the energy of the Republican Party has been directed since 1980.
Unless Bush and Cheney are found in bed together with Tom DeLay and Ann Coulter by Laura live on Fox news, I think 31% will be about as far as Bush’s numbers fall. The good news is that all the moderates and ‘undecideds’ have bailed, thus setting the stage for campaigns based on making American a better place and getting things done instead of playing political games.

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 01:51 PM | Link to this

Yes, you’re right JT — it’s been the Dems who’ve shown “good ole ingenuity” in correcting the deficits the Repugs always leave our country in. Fiscal conservatives, my *ss! A bunch of charge & spend idiots is what that party is full of! At least we’re in agreement that it won’t be the Repugs that will fix this mess either…

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 01:52 PM | Link to this

headcase getalife: This may be over your head but you have to analyze the phone number of every telephone conversation to be able to catch the one or two from Osama Bin Laden.

One would normally as-sume that you want us to make sure Osama isn’t calling here, but I am forced to wonder about that.

You hoping we get hit again?

By Napo D

May 11, 2006 01:53 PM | Link to this

Passing Through, that’s like, pretty much the dumbest thing anybody’s said all day! Gosh.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 01:56 PM | Link to this

Midori: Hopefully you won’t be offended if I tell you that your opinion matters to me about as much Joey Roman’s does.

Maybe even less.

By Dusty

May 11, 2006 01:59 PM | Link to this

Goldilocks,

Now that you have excused and explained yourself TWICE for calling names, you still want to give advice to others.

I won’t be ON the blog this afternoon to read your petty repertoire. No doubt you will be telling liberals how great they are. The others you will be calling rats and Nazis.

By Brian Curtis

May 11, 2006 01:59 PM | Link to this

Ignorance and Hate: Thanks for explaining about the illegal phone-tapping. Now that we know it’s to “fight Al Qaeda,” it makes perfect sense to spy on Americans without due process and trample the Constitution along the way. It’s to defend freedom, you see.

That makes it all worthwhile. What a country!

By Passing through

May 11, 2006 02:00 PM | Link to this

Napo D-Why don’t you raise the IQ level here by talking about sucking off somebody’s chapstick then?

By Throwing Up

May 11, 2006 02:00 PM | Link to this

Golly gosh darn jeepers ‘Passing through’, that sure was swell. Libs, Al Qaida and the press, all in just 2 sentences! Well done wing-nut.

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 02:03 PM | Link to this

Joe, Unless Bush and Cheney are found in bed together with Tom DeLay and Ann Coulter by Laura live on Fox news, I think 31% will be about as far as Bush’s numbers fall.

I’ve just got to get my TiVo working again — I’m ready to see it, as disgusting as that visual is! :>)

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 02:06 PM | Link to this

And Joe, did you also read Bob Herbert’s column in today’s NYT, called “Where’s the Beef?” I just read that one and really enjoyed it myself…

By Kleenex

May 11, 2006 02:07 PM | Link to this

Dusty may I offer you my services?

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 02:11 PM | Link to this

The liberals hate it when you involve the facts and the truth, watch them get all excited:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

O.K. who wants to second that it is unreasonable for our government to want to know who’s calling Al Qaeda during a time of war?

Not listening in to the conversation, mind you, but checking the number you called to see if it belongs to our enemies.

By getalife

May 11, 2006 02:12 PM | Link to this

Andy,

OBL uses human couriers, 10 million Americans do not talk to terrorists.

Man, you are so gullible and scared to death.

By getalife

May 11, 2006 02:16 PM | Link to this

Andy,

Why are you wanking again?

You dish it out, can you not take it?

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 02:17 PM | Link to this

Bye Dusty — have a great life!

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 02:17 PM | Link to this

RE: The foursome: Sorry Goldie, but politics is about thinking the unthinkable. It ain’t a pretty picture. RE: Herbert: I think the only ‘action plan’ the Democrats need is to repeat these words like a mantra: “WE ARE NOT THE REPUBLICANS!” It’s the same action plan that got Dorothy back to Kansas.

By Dusty

May 11, 2006 02:19 PM | Link to this

Goldie Kleenex,

You are not too good at these name change posts. But keep trying. Bye now.

By griggsy

May 11, 2006 02:23 PM | Link to this

Gee, no right wing moron has replied to my remark. O f course not, they know that they lie or then they are morons! Isn/t name calling delicious? Right wingers think with their favorite body part-what they sit on. Seriously, some democrat will have to rectify the Cheney-Bush debt. The next generation will pay higher taxes for the tax giveaways.Why do Bushies adhere to Spencer-Rand ” idiotology” [ SOCIAL DARWINISM]. They just love cutting programs for the poor,but love boondoggles galore.They take the bootstrap from the poor in order to give it to those who already have many,many bootsraps. They want to divide us in to producers and parasites.They think that private charity will help the poor ,when they give lip service to the poor.Man, I dig their class warfare.Poverty is rising and the median wage is down ,but they go roof tops to bark about the success of their failure. Under the moral leadership of Clinton ,poverty went down and we had a real budget.Bush is worse than his father and historians are already counting him as a great failure!Gee, I tell it like it is!

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 02:25 PM | Link to this

headcase getalife: The proper word is cautious.

When the Georgia lottery tells you that you can’t win if you don’t play, what do you think that means?

Kind of like you can’t find his phone calls unless you look for them?

Maybe that’s where Clinton went so wrong in letting 9/11 happen, he was looking for couriers when he should have been on the phone?

Sucker.

By RE

May 11, 2006 02:27 PM | Link to this

Good post from Peggy Noonan, maybe it will help some of the dead enders here understand the frustration with GWB is not part of some grand Communist/ Maoist/ Al Queda operation, it is just about an incompetant government that does not act on the ideals it proclaims.

The Republicans talk about cutting spending, but they increase it—a lot. They stand for making government smaller, but they keep making it bigger. They say they’re concerned about our borders, but they’re not securing them. And they seem to think we’re slobs for worrying. Republicans used to be sober and tough about foreign policy, but now they’re sort of romantic and full of emotionalism. They talk about cutting taxes, and they have, but the cuts are provisional, temporary. Beyond that, there’s something creepy about increasing spending so much and not paying the price right away but instead rolling it over and on to our kids, and their kids

By gadem

May 11, 2006 02:30 PM | Link to this

Andy, you know it is quite possible for them to miss their April recruiting mark, but still be ahead year to date…

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 02:31 PM | Link to this

By griggsy May 11, 2006 02:23 PM Gee, no right wing moron has replied to my remark.

Gee, maybe the only morons here are from the left?

In defense of any right wing morons that do happen to show up, replying to this loonbat would be like talking to a lamppost. One can just imagine this kooksby out there in the fever swamps with Jay Bookman, no can do.

By JP

May 11, 2006 02:33 PM | Link to this

Guess what? It just nosedived again!

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 02:33 PM | Link to this

JT__

The American people see it, know it and really don’t want to have to vote for it or pay for it.

You would be right if you’d said today’s Repugs don’t want to pay for anything — just like they don’t want to pay for the Iraq war- regime change- spreading democracy- thing that is only allowing a very select group of war profiteers to suck up all of our grandchildren’s futures… such selfishness!

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 02:40 PM | Link to this

What Peggy Noonan really said:

Of all the bad poll numbers for the Republicans, I think the worst is the right track/wrong track numbers, which continue to trend downward. A majority of the American people think we’re on the wrong track. How can this be when the American economy is in a boom? When the Dow Jones Industrial Average is approaching its all-time high, when annual growth is almost 5%, when unemployment is low, and so is inflation?

By finch

May 11, 2006 02:44 PM | Link to this

“O.K. who wants to second that it is unreasonable for our government to want to know who’s calling Al Qaeda during a time of war?

It’s unconscionable for the NSA to open up dossiers (and KEEP them open) on millions of Americans without probable cause enough to justify warrants.

When I was a kid during the “Red Scare”, we were taught that relentless snooping for no reason was what the Russkis did, and that’s why we were better than them.

Suck’s clearly too young to remember that.

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 02:44 PM | Link to this

There’s a very interesting live interview going on with Richard Perle on Air America Radio — he’s so disgusting… he’s still claiming that Cheney was correct in saying that “there’s no doubt” about WMD in Iraq— regardless of what the 9/11 Commission’s Report might say! Once again, everyone else is to blame for this mess, according to Perle! And this was going to be the party for “accountability” - HA!!

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 02:47 PM | Link to this

Hillary eagerly pounces on her political opponents’ supposed betrayal of their values, but what about her values? Far from walking in the footsteps of the Good Samaritan or “Jesus himself,” Hillary has consistently revealed a personal and political character the core values of which are ruthlessness, unbounding arrogance and endless ambition.

One of us had the surreal experience of being confronted by Hillary — self-declared feminist and champion of “women’s rights” — as she protected her husband Bill against the charge of rape. Another of us worked with the Clintons prior to being sexually assaulted by Bill Clinton, and witnessed her dismissive, contemptuous interactions with others whenever the cameras weren’t present. Our experience of Hillary Clinton as ruthless and vindictive is validated in a newly released book, “I’ve Always Been a Yankees Fan: Hillary Clinton in Her Own Words,” by Tom Kuiper.

Hillary professes to be “a voice for America’s children,” yet at an event with preschoolers at the governor’s mansion as first lady of Arkansas Mother Clinton was overheard on the intercom system saying, “I want to get this s—- over with and get these damn people out of here.”

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 02:47 PM | Link to this

One silver lining behind the cloud that is the Bush administration is the way true conservatives are standing up for their country. The White House is being persistently pressured to come clean on how many times Jack Abramoff met with Bush. Who’s doing the pressuring? None other than Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group. What visitor logs they’ve gotten so far “appear to be incomplete”. They also say “similar logs released during the Clinton administration included far more details”. This is from an AP story. In related dead meat neocon news, Jerry Lewis, chairman of the House appropriations committee, is being linked to the Duke Cunningham corruption probe. By the time this is all over, the re-election posters for Republican House members will show them all in orange jumpsuits.

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 02:52 PM | Link to this

WHO was it that said “I don’t know how long the war will take… it may be 6 days or 6 weeks — I doubt it will be 6 months.”

Was that our great war-planner, Rumsfeld? The guy that had so many CIA reports coming to him saying that there would be an Iraqi insurgency if we invaded? The same guy that was dumbfounded by the looting and rioting going on during the first month of our invasion?

WHO put Rummy in charge of this blood-letting we find ourselves in now?

By getalife

May 11, 2006 02:53 PM | Link to this

I just read this thought about disposable cell phones that can’t be tracked.

Technology like karma is a b-itch.

By finch

May 11, 2006 02:53 PM | Link to this

Wiretap revelations strike a nerve at the White House! When faced with facts… lie!

“Making a hastily scheduled appearance in the White House, Mr. Bush did not directly address the collection of phone records, except to say that “new claims” had been raised about surveillance. He said all intelligence work was conducted “within the law” and that domestic conversations were not listened to without a court warrant.””

Tsk tsk tsk… how do we know when President Bush is lying? His lips move.

In a related development…

White House unveils new Presidential medal.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 02:57 PM | Link to this

Goldilocks: There was WMD in Iraq.

finch: It’s unconscionable for the NSA to open up dossiers (and KEEP them open) on millions of Americans without probable cause enough to justify warrants. Even if this wasn’t a bald faced lie, we are talking about the same government that sent Mohamed Atta his greencard 6 months after he piloted a Beoing 757 into WTC 1. I seriously doubt if they are able to open any “dossiers” nevertheless keep them open.

Maybe you don’t understand how things work in the world, being a senile old man and all.

By RE

May 11, 2006 03:02 PM | Link to this

ANdy, not to go back and forth with you but that was the questions Noonan asked, which she answered in detail by describing how the GOP has said one thing and acted a completely different way.

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 03:03 PM | Link to this

Excellent point, Finch! We hear so little of the post-McCarthy era when respect for individual rights was couched in that “we’re better than that” rhetoric. In many ways, the sentiment that arose in Eisenhower’s second term set the stage for the idealism of the Kennedy administration. I believe there is reason for optimism that a similar re-birth of American idealism and perhaps even religious idealism will grow out of the ashes of the Bush administration. We have seen what their opposites can do.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 03:03 PM | Link to this

I just had a thought of Goldilocks perusing her kook drive by media stories: This fake story is too cold, this fake story is too hot, this fake story is just right.

Someone’s been leaking in my bed!

By RE

May 11, 2006 03:16 PM | Link to this

Andy, I saw your post of the 4th admendment:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Just so you know, you cannot just stop reading when you find the part you like, that is not how the law works. It is reasonable to try to track Al Queda in the US, I do not think anyone is argueing that. But the other part is that you need probable cause, and specific items to be searched supported by a warrant. See, that is the part he is having problems with. A warrant is more than just a crappy 80’s band, it is a legal document

By finch

May 11, 2006 03:17 PM | Link to this

Suck, you’re not even clever.

Goldilocks: There was (sic) WMD in Iraq.

President Bush says there weren’t. Now, who are you going to believe??

And what do dossiers based on illegal wiretaps have to do with Mohammed Atta’s Green Card?

I’ll answer that for you. Nothing.

Please please take your meds….

By griggsy

May 11, 2006 03:18 PM | Link to this

By getalife

May 11, 2006 03:21 PM | Link to this

Damn Andy,

After that post, I wonder if Midori is right about you.

Yes.

It was highly unusual for W to make that statement about what Andy would call a lie.

W did not deny the story and the number of Americans spied on does not match the rhetoric.

Feingold has a good case and we should be happy that one member of Congress has some balls.

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 03:25 PM | Link to this

finch, the American people can never believe anything W says anymore. If he says he’s working “within the law”, then we all know he’s surely lying. The law clearly says that spying on American citizens without a warrant is illegal. We need to reclaim Congress back for the Dems in November so that we have SOME KIND OF OVERSIGHT over the crimes committed by the White House!

By JT

May 11, 2006 03:31 PM | Link to this

Goldigger, The Republicans think in long-range terms about what is good for this country. We don’t live in isolation. There are no global borders anymore. There are radical world leaders, Abouttodoit in Iran. He’s only the most recent, there are others who strive for influence and power against the U.S. because of jealousy and resentment for what you casually dismiss.

Are they angry with us, do they voice that anger? You bet they do, it serves their purpose.

Here’s a breakdown:

Welfare and Defense

The rapid projected rate of growth of future welfare spending can be illustrated by comparing welfare to defense. The President (Bush) has promised to make defense spending a priority. Under his budget plan, nominal defense outlays would increase for the first time in a half decade. Defense spending would rise by 17 percent over five years from $299 billion in TY2000 to $347 billion in FY2005. During the same period, however, welfare spending is scheduled to rise by 31 percent.

That’s 17% vs 31%, which one do you think will destroy this country first. It has been on the rise since LBJ suffered loss of brain matter. Probably due to all the hysterics of the looney left during Vietnam, who knows. There will not be enough people to pay for this lunacy. The government was never meant to administer welfare on this grand a scale. They’re lousy at it. Inefficient, incompetent. And nobody is more incompetent at it than the Democrats.

Here’s the link, look it over for yourself in it’s entirety. I doubt you will though, because you want yours today and screw the future of America.

Midori, When you post something worth reading, I just might give you some credibility. Otherwise, I tend to overlook your insanity and give you a pass.

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 03:33 PM | Link to this

Good Move, RE! By quoting the Fourth Amendment in its entirety, you not only showed up Andy for the shallow clown that he is, you also put a spotlight on an often used tactic of the wingnuts. Just cherry pick what you want of information and rely on people’s short attention spans to believe what you say. It doesn’t seem to be working as well as it used to, does it?

By JT

May 11, 2006 03:40 PM | Link to this

By the way Goldigger, kill the free market with government restrictions based on the demands of the people and there won’t even be any low paying jobs to be had. You’ll be completely controlled by the inept government you complain about.

Good luck with that.

By Midori

May 11, 2006 03:42 PM | Link to this

JT,

Go suck a mango.

It has to be a vast improvement over Bush’s anus.

By RE

May 11, 2006 03:45 PM | Link to this

Hey JT, I read your post that describes welfare costs, which include medicaid and medicare. A little dated, but the underlying facts are sound. It would seem to me that a great way to reduce the cost of this expenditure would be to allow medicaid and mediare to negotiate percription drug prices. It almost seems like a free market kind of idea. Why do you figure that the legistlation written by the GOP congress and signed by GWB does not allow that?

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 03:47 PM | Link to this

JT— Goldigger, The Republicans think in long-range terms about what is good for this country.

Oh, you’re really getting funny now — you don’t mean this, do you? When exactly have the Repugs done what’s good for America by bankrupting it? When have they not charged up the deficit spending so that we owe all of our sweet-patooties to other nations? And right now, it’s the Chinese government that we’re in hock to — try explaining that one to your kids!

And how are you going to explain to them how you’ve supported funding terrorist nations because of your energy policy — or rather, lack of an energy policy? How exactly is that “thinking in long-range terms”?

Another delusional one on our blog here!

By Midori

May 11, 2006 03:47 PM | Link to this

typical lying scumbag conservative. do as I say, not as I do.

By griggsy

May 11, 2006 03:57 PM | Link to this

No loon bat here,just a neurotiC! I made points and then I named called rightly so,but you cannot defend the Cheny -Bush misadministration ! Its ratings will never significantly rise and historians will , indeed rate it the pits! Gee, once more those who speak of social ism are against fairness, Americanism! They ignorantly call us liberals pinkos ; they do not understand that we liberals make use of good ideas form any quartier .Pres. Clinton took Republican emphases and ran with them to the dislike of the great unwashed.His historical ratings can only rise. Gee, I was thin-skinned ,but now thanks to you morons I can take it as wel l as give it.Bless you. Fairnes is the bane of the right!

By dubya

May 11, 2006 04:05 PM | Link to this

So far today, 4 more GI’s murdered in Iraq by Bush and his white trash supporters. Congrats. Stand proud.

By Buy Danish

May 11, 2006 04:08 PM | Link to this

It’s unconscionable for the NSA to open up dossiers (and KEEP them open) on millions of Americans without probable cause enough to justify warrant

finch,

I guess you were with Bob Barr on this then? Shucks - too bad you can’t prove it.

It’s called Echelon, as part of Data Mining - does that ring a bell?

May 27, 1999-Lawmakers Raise Questions About International Spy Network

In short, they’re not DOSSIERS! Your spin is getting ludicrous.

Getalife,

In this case no one is blaming Clinton as you brayed earlier, just pointing out that it’s nothing new.

Google and has a record of every link you go to. Does that bother you too?

By finch

May 11, 2006 04:09 PM | Link to this

JT,

“The government was never meant to administer welfare on this grand a scale.”

Your first mistake is lumping Medicare and Medicaid with programs that (according to critics) pay people for not working. Medical assistance by the government is nothing of the sort, no matter what you think of other “welfare” programs. It’s preventive maintenence healthcare. We can pay for it now, or we can pay lots more later, when people are really sick.

And since Medicare and Medicaid have administrative costs of around 2%, compared to 30% and up for your typical for-profit medical plan, I hardly consider it to be wasteful.

I’ll just paraphrase your claim, with a few important adjustments.

The private sector is lousy at providing health care. Inefficient, incompetent. And nobody is more incompetent at it than the Republcan backed private health care system..

By Tom

May 11, 2006 04:26 PM | Link to this

A typical BSing hate monger, little DUSTY tells us he’s a scientist working in a lab. How impressive, eh. He’ll be fortunate to discover his own little wee-wee. How does this brain find time to spend his “life” on this blog?? Pitiful creature.

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 04:28 PM | Link to this

I’m still laughing hard at Lucko’s cartoon for yesterday— W is sitting there at his desk, with all of those pencils stuck in the ceiling over his head. The man’s just miserable at his job— surely there’s something we can do to alleviate his misery. Any suggestions?

By OedipusTax

May 11, 2006 04:37 PM | Link to this

The AJC is losing subscriptions at an unprecedented rate. It is very easy to see why.

By JT

May 11, 2006 04:51 PM | Link to this

RE, I’m getting ready to hit rush hour traffic. I don’t think anybody here has heard me say that everything the Republican party has done is flawless. Hell, show many any politician who is flawless. It’s an imperfect system, but necessary unfortunately. About the Prescription Drug Benefit Program. I’m not old enough to be in the program. I know that with the dwindling population, we will not be able to sustain the cost of the present program for long. There are some who are in the program already with mixed reviews.

I especially liked this lady’s comment:

“I have not signed up. I cannot seem to get over my outrage long enough to read further. If I had the energy, I would organize a senior opt-out group big enough to affect this silly program.”

When you put it in the context of this perspective, I would hate to think that pandering politicians & media have frightened that poor woman enough where she may miss out on what others are benefitting from.

Why are so many ignoring a program specifically designed to save them money? Perhaps it’s because the newspapers and airwaves are filled with criticisms that the drug benefit is just not good enough. A recent poll found that an astounding 41 percent of drug benefit enrollees thought that political attacks on the program made other seniors less likely to sign up.

The program can be tweeked for improvements at anytime in the future, and it is encouraging competition in the industry. Competition benefits the consumers.

Midori, you still remain incredible. Take that as a compliment or an insult. I really don’t care thus far.

Goldigger, You’re still arguing about “what ifs” and President Bush is the first president I’ve seen since Jimmy Carter (one of yours) who seems serious about pursuing alternative fuels. You’d have to go back and blame it on all preceeding administrations and the pressures they succumbed to under the environmentalists (yours again). I’m all for being reasonably responsible for our environment. If you’re implying that this war is about oil, that’s only speculative thinking on your part. Right now, the insurgents are stealing the oil to fund their atrocities. Stealing it from their own people. The U.S. military is stepping up actions to prevent the theft of the Iraqis greatest source of income. The Iraqis will need it to rebuild their country. I can link to that fact as well, but I’m out of here for now.

By Republicans Only Talk Trash

May 11, 2006 04:53 PM | Link to this

With each day that passes, the Republicans grow more bitter, hostile, and angry. All they ever say now is pinko, commie, and Clinton.

If they had positive acheivements of their own to call attention to, they wouldn’t have to keep mudslinging the Democrats. But what is the only thing they ever do- mudsling the Democrats.

In November, the Republicans will find out that the general public and moderates in particular have lost all patience with trash politics.

By Midori

May 11, 2006 04:53 PM | Link to this

Well, another one just bit the dust. Just heard that Kentucky Gov Ernie Fletcher (R) has been indicted.

I know the republicans claim to have a “big tent”, but who knew that tent was in the shape of a penintentary?

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 04:57 PM | Link to this

This is so far out there, so weird that I can’t even respond to it:

By finch May 11, 2006 04:09 PM The private sector is lousy at providing health care. Inefficient, incompetent. And nobody is more incompetent at it than the Republcan backed private health care system..

I just guess that finch must be a welfare queen who has never used the private sector health care.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 04:59 PM | Link to this

To win—in the eyes of the media—the insurgents don’t have to take the city or the airport or the radio station. All they have to do is commit an act of random terrorism. They can count on the media directing outrage not at them but at President Bush. Bush—not they—is responsible for the carnage.

Which makes the drive by media their allies.

By getalife

May 11, 2006 04:59 PM | Link to this

This NSA thing maybe a good thing.

Politician calls and communications should be monitored all the time.

Of course we would have to build more federal prisons.

By SamX

May 11, 2006 05:06 PM | Link to this

I agree, I now consider myself an independent. I’am sick of the right wing wackos. When someone asks I tell them I’m an ex-Republican, a conservative. This blog sure makes it clear I made the right choice.

By Pay Triott

May 11, 2006 05:08 PM | Link to this

It’s NOT fascism, it’s PAYtriotism when WE do it!

By Liberal Texas Democrat

May 11, 2006 05:09 PM | Link to this

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance May 11, 2006 09:12 AM | Link to this LTD: For one who promotes name jacking, as long it is a Conservative’s name that gets jacked, your sermon doesn’t carry much weight. And a specific example of my promoting name jacking would be? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Has anyone seen Bueller?

By Goldie

May 11, 2006 05:10 PM | Link to this

JT— not talking about “what ifs”, just talking about how there’s been no focus on alternative energy sources since President Carter (one of ours). One of the first things that Reagan (one of yours) did when arriving in 1981 was to un-install all of the solar panels that Pres. Carter (ours) installed in the White House. Reagan sent a clear message saying “take that, you alternative-fuel supporters… no stinking solar panels in MY White House… our party will remain in the pockets of BIG OIL.” That’s the message sent out to the world by Reagan (yours).

What I was specifically talking about was not the fact that this war is “about oil”, but the fact that W has never promoted anything other than oil as our energy plan… no alternative, nothing, NADA besides oil. And we’re buying most of it from terrorist nations such as Saudi Arabia, adding $$$ to their coffers which support Al Qaeda and such. It should’ve been very clear on Sept. 12th that we needed to direct our energy needs elsewhere in order to stop funding the terrorists. But not with this administration… and then W has the gall to go on national TV and say “America is addicted to oil” — well, DUH! Tell us something we’ve known since the Carter administration.

Now, try to explain how this oil policy is “long-range thinking” on the Repugs’ part and how this will benefit America.

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 05:15 PM | Link to this

I’m surprised you missed out on this opportunity, Midori. The Republicans haven’t created a Big Tent, but they’ll soon find themselves in the Big House in ever-increasing numbers. Was that really you who made the mango remark? If it was, please leave that kind of stuff to the wingnuts.

By Clinton DIDN"T do it!!

May 11, 2006 05:25 PM | Link to this

But W did. Too bad Goldfinger left this part out.

By finch

May 11, 2006 05:33 PM | Link to this

Suck,

“This is so far out there, so weird that I can’t even respond to it:

And then you did.

You REALLY have to work on your attention deficit problem.

By Whistlin' Dixie

May 11, 2006 05:35 PM | Link to this

You f*-got libs might win the ghettos, barrios, and crack houses but by God’s good grace, white men of honor and decency are still the majority of the voting public.

JEB BUSH FOR PRESIDENT 2008!

By Matthew

May 11, 2006 05:38 PM | Link to this

I don’t think Goldfinger is much into research before proving her stupidity. Maybe she doesn’t care how we see her.

Hysterical!

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 05:43 PM | Link to this

It was kind of funny, Goldie. When using an alternative word for nothing, you accidentally uncovered one of the other culprits in the calculated perpetuation of our oil addiction. NADA is the acronym for National Automobile Dealers Association. They along with our Big Three automakers and the U.A.W. are standing in the way of more rigid C.A.F.E. standards on the grounds of safety and job protection. Poor fuel economy makes cars safer? Making cars that will effectively compete with those of Japan and Korea will COST jobs? Does anybody buy into either of those rationales? It’s typical short-sightedness on the part of the car sellers. The alarm bells have only been going off since 1970. In the case of the car workers, it’s just further evidence of the principle reason unions are faring so poorly in this era-really stupid leadership and and rank-and-file that follows them. They’ve been hearing the alarms for just as long.

By Jewish and Proud of It

May 11, 2006 05:46 PM | Link to this

headcase getalife: This may be over your head but you have to analyze the phone number of every telephone conversation to be able to catch the one or two from Osama Bin Laden.

One would normally as-sume that you want us to make sure Osama isn’t calling here, but I am forced to wonder about that

Question for you AJC…when the US is datamining these phone numbers looking for Al Queda or Usama, how do we know which ones are his? Honestly, without listening in on the conversation, how do we know who’s on the other end of the conversation? Does the NSA know Usama’s private number? I’d just like to know what the NSA is looking for if they’re not listening to the conversation…

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 05:52 PM | Link to this

By Goldilocks May 11, 2006 05:10 PM JT— not talking about “what ifs”, just talking about how there’s been no focus on alternative energy sources since President Carter (one of ours). One of the first things that Reagan (one of yours) did when arriving in 1981 was to un-install all of the solar panels that Pres. Carter (ours) installed in the White House. Reagan sent a clear message saying “take that, you alternative-fuel supporters… no stinking solar panels in MY White House… our party will remain in the pockets of BIG OIL.” That’s the message sent out to the world by Reagan (yours).

Goldilocks, hun, it’s like the next to last thing you have to do for a Conservative here on Earth is remind him that Ronald “May God Bless His Soul” Reagan was a Republican. Trust me, we know this, he’s the Greatest President ever, restoring America’s strength and pride after it was trashed by you liberals.

You are reading way too much into this solar panel deal, it’s just like a pinko to hysterically over react, I believe he took those down because he was freezing his a-ss off and needed some gas fired heat.

He blew the sweater lobby off.

By Daniel

May 11, 2006 05:53 PM | Link to this

Let us all give thanks to the great American Liberals who love their country more than money and power. We should all endeavor to oust the greedy fat cowards who have hijacked the republican party. Repeat this twice and see how good it makes you feel!

By @@

May 11, 2006 05:53 PM | Link to this

Dangit! I didn’t check in this morning. Is ml drawing faster than usual?

Anyway, my critique! The “little boat” is one of those secret weapons our military is working on with Israel. It’s really a “submarine/aircraft carrier. It will surface with a substantial landing deck for that plane in the next presidential election.

November? I’m not sure, but checks and balances have always been O.K. with me. I just don’t want it to too much in favor of the Democratic Party as it exists today.

For that person who worries about whether I work hard enough. I’m making costumes after work for the end-of-the-year play at my school. They’re so cute! So there!!! Shoot me.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 05:55 PM | Link to this

By Joe Roman May 11, 2006 05:43 PM It was kind of funny, Goldie. When using an alternative word for nothing, you accidentally uncovered one of the other culprits in the calculated perpetuation of our oil addiction. NADA is the acronym for National Automobile Dealers Association. They along with our Big Three automakers and the U.A.W. are standing in the way of more rigid C.A.F.E. standards

Joey: It might be because that conservation bulls-hit has led to three dollar a gallon gas and the normal people are sick of it, you reckon?

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 06:02 PM | Link to this

By Jewish and Proud of It May 11, 2006 05:46 PM Question for you AJC…when the US is datamining these phone numbers looking for Al Queda or Usama, how do we know which ones are his?

Excellent question, JPOI. From captured Al Qaeda laptops and documents. Most of the time the intelligence is only good until word of the terrorist’s capture gets out and his buddies stop using those numbers. That’s why secrecy is so important to people that love freedom and hate terror, unlike the drive by media and their leaks, because you can catch some serious operators if no one knows a person has been caught.

Most of the time these terrorists are too stupid, they are allies of the liberals after all, and don’t realize their number has been had. That’s why monitoring calls here can catch some people.

By Craig

May 11, 2006 06:11 PM | Link to this

Jewish and Proud of It,

A call routing spectrum doesn’t go looking for an individual number as much as it looks for calling patterns. For instance if suddenly there are dozens of calls from a geographic area to a known suspect location it’s time to beat feet into that area and find out why. This “new” report is nothing more than this despite the typical liberal hysteria. There is simply nothing to this except sound intelligence work.

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 06:12 PM | Link to this

Uh, AJC, if people are sick of paying three dollars a gallon for gas, how does that explain-or relate to-the U.A.W.’s resistance to requiring better fuel economy? Wouldn’t having cars that make better gas mileage mean buying less gas? Talk amongst yoursleves.

By RE

May 11, 2006 06:14 PM | Link to this

@@, does that mean that GWB would be the little man standing in the boat?

By Daniel

May 11, 2006 06:15 PM | Link to this

In August, 2001 George W Bush was told Al Qaeda intended to ram airplanes into American buildings. He was on vacation in Crawford, Texas. Bush did nothing. He finished his vacation.

By RE

May 11, 2006 06:17 PM | Link to this

ok, did Andy really just try to say that conservation leads to higher gas prices?

MORON!

By getalife

May 11, 2006 06:27 PM | Link to this

Where is the outrage wingnuts?

W is crashing a plane into a…..

rowboat.

See how silly that is?

BTW, where did this latest leak come from?

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 06:27 PM | Link to this

RE: Yes I did. We, that being America, foolishly believed another liberal fallacy that all we had to do was cut back and prices would fall and gas would be plentiful! (Violins playing in background)

Meanwhile, we neglected, excuse me, you liberals obstructed our domestic energy production industry, which is in shambles now, so we are forced to buy seriously overpriced oil from maniacs that want to kill us.

Sounds like something the democrats would plan, don’t it?

Anything else I can help you with?

By Midori

May 11, 2006 06:33 PM | Link to this

Bush is such a liar.

Ron Wyden (D), Intelligence Committee is on right now with Lou Dobbs.

He categorically denies being briefed by Bush or anyone concerning the phone tapping program.

No wonder the guys poll numbers are in the sewer.

No one believes him about anything. Yet he continues to lie, lie, lie.

Joe Roman - I’ll try.

By Scooter

May 11, 2006 06:34 PM | Link to this

Daniel, Would you like to tell me which one of us is being misled?

We have not been able to corroborate some of the more sensational threat reporting, such as that from a … (redacted portion) … service in 1998 saying that Bin Ladin wanted to hijack a US aircraft to gain the release of “Blind Shaykh” ‘Umar ‘Abd al-Rahman and other US-held extremists.

Nevertheless, FBI information since that time indicates patterns of suspicious activity in this country consistent with preparations for hijackings or other types of attacks, including recent surveillance of federal buildings in New York.

Outside of the fact the intelligence turned out to be wrong on Iraq, what in those statements, or the link to the text, would have led you to foresee 9/11 in that 2001 memo?

By Daniel

May 11, 2006 06:36 PM | Link to this

George W Bush now admits he lied to the American People regarding Valerie Plame. He now concedes that he and Cheney orchesterated an effort to discredit an American covert CIA agent. This is vintage Bush. Joe Wilson told the truth about Niger. Bush sulked. He wanted Wilson, a republican and husband to Plame, to lie. Wilson, an honorable man, told the truth. Bush, a spiteful weasel, then directed the American government to hurt Joe’s wife! Then he lied to the American people. Now, we know Bush lied to us. Irving Libby said so under oath in Court documents. Libby hired a liberal democrat for his attorney.

By RE

May 11, 2006 06:39 PM | Link to this

*By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 06:27 PM | Link to this

RE: Yes I did. We, that being America, foolishly believed another liberal fallacy that all we had to do was cut back and prices would fall and gas would be plentiful! (Violins playing in background)*

Now this Moron is coming out againt the law of supply and demand. Get back on the meds and change your tinfoil diaper, you are stinking up the place

By Daniel

May 11, 2006 06:40 PM | Link to this

Scooter: Google: Colleen Rowley/The Bombshell Memo. Read it. Let’s talk.

By Cryin'Bubba

May 11, 2006 06:41 PM | Link to this

Haye thar wislin’dixie, won thaing the Republicans hav is Meth yousers. I knoww I was won.(cleen now fer allmoost tew deys now. We must help hour rurrel Republican brothors. Bush gaught the meth vote. not good. Yew’r rite thoo abbout the libs thoo.ha

By Midori

May 11, 2006 06:43 PM | Link to this

ROFL, RE - That comment will only make him cut and paste more. :)

By Midori

May 11, 2006 06:44 PM | Link to this

Daniel,

they all hire liberal Dems to defend them.

Rush did, Delay did, Rove did too.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 06:45 PM | Link to this

I am Andy. As you can see by the pile of scandals and failures of this administration, president Bush could be found on crack molesting children with dead hookers in the closet and I would still support him, you piece of sh-it liberal pinkos. That is what’s known as patriotism in my book. Stand behind your man, even if he is standing behind a bent over male prostitute with white powder under his nose. Why do you hate America, you dumba-ss liberals?

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 06:46 PM | Link to this

Well, heck, if we’re just going to revise history, all panty waist Daniel, then let me take a shot at it:

Hillary Clinton had Vince Foster killed because he was fixing to give up on travelgate, file gate and cattlegate, plus he was going to tell the world Hillary was a d**.

I’m probably closer to the truth then panty waist is.

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 06:49 PM | Link to this

By RE May 11, 2006 06:39 PM Now this Moron is coming out againt the law of supply and demand.

That’s nice but I’m wondering. Could you tell us what you think the word “production” means?

Meanwhile, we neglected, excuse me, you liberals obstructed our domestic energy production industry, which is in shambles now, so we are forced to buy seriously overpriced oil from maniacs that want to kill us.

Hint for the dimwit: Supply!!

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 06:52 PM | Link to this

Oh sure, “obstruction of domestic energy production” is a liberal plot. Domestic energy production if completely unfettered would not satisfy demand to any appreciable degree. On the other hand, if the oil companies would occasionally make some capital investments and build more refineries, they would be in a position to command fixed crude prices via large bulk committments. Instead, we haven’t seen a new refinery built in over forty years! On the other hand, they have no incentive. We consumers do nothing to control our consumption in large part because so many in the Congressional and Executive branches are bought and paid for by the oil lobby that we are led in the opposite direction. When our leadership plays ball with the car companies by implying that purchasing a gas guzzler is somehow a way of showing how great we think our country is, we might as well go to work in Saudi brothel. Consumers in the cocaine and heroin markets show remarkable restraint compared to the average soccer mom in her Ford Explorer. Again, the alarm has been screaming since 1970 and hardly anyone is paying attention.

By Daniel

May 11, 2006 06:56 PM | Link to this

Midori: Thanks for the uptake. This is the most indicted group in American history. The interesting ditty to watch follows the wiring of “Duke” after they caught him. Jerry Lewis R. Cal. is under investigation by the FBI. “Duke” had Hookers in the Watergate Hotel. We know these awkward fat cowards don’t know how to get laid. “Duke” had a limosine service bring the bozo’s to the Watergate. The limo service was owned be a felon who had a contract with FEMA for 20 million. The FBI is on this one too! I’m glad these corpulent toads are learning to screw. I’d rathr they did it to the hookers than the country. Christian conservatism? Anyone?

By The AJC Promotes Hate And Ignorance

May 11, 2006 06:57 PM | Link to this

For you liberals that are too slow to see that your fellow pinko has to use my name to spread their hate, which of course is approved by Mike Luckovich and the AJC, 6:45 is not mine.

P.S. I’m out of here, have fun playing with your little peckers, liberals.

And get ready for it.

By RE

May 11, 2006 06:59 PM | Link to this

Tell me if this goes through, this pic is always how I pictured Andy

By getalife

May 11, 2006 07:06 PM | Link to this

This guy reminds me of Andy

By Midori

May 11, 2006 07:06 PM | Link to this

RE,

Unfortunately, it didn’t go thru.

By RE

May 11, 2006 07:15 PM | Link to this

You know, I feel bad for that guy. Pointing out what a moron nutcase he is really doesn’t help. And now I am sure he went out to yell at his kids or kick his dog or something

By RE

May 11, 2006 07:17 PM | Link to this

Wow, getalife is hanging out with Jeff Gannon. Just kidding, I am sure it was jacked

By RE

May 11, 2006 07:17 PM | Link to this

One more time, here’s Andy.

By getalife

May 11, 2006 07:18 PM | Link to this

Andy,

Stop wanking.

Wanker.

By Scooter

May 11, 2006 07:18 PM | Link to this

Daniel, you truly are misled and I’m tired of providing corrections to hysterical and emotional (hat tip JT) reactionaries. Call me an apologizer if you must, but I still have not been convinced Plame was “covert” within the last five years. We all know today’s “media” would love to provide the covert status if they had it.

And Wilson’s Report didn’t say anything about Saddam did not try to obtain yellow cake, it simply said that acquisition would have been supremely difficult. Because, of three or four (?) governing countries that control the uranium mines. At least that is what I remember from the transcripts back then. Did you read those?

Anyone who is eating the corruption charge up is rabid. All politicians, especially the party in power, are corrupt.

I will be back later to see if anyone has provided any objective, convincing sources. Call me crazy, but I’m looking for another job in this “terrible” economy and starting a business with my other half.

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 07:22 PM | Link to this

I appreaciate your effort, RE, but Andy does such a good job of lampooning himself. Other than a pretext for those of us who think to post our notions, he’s pretty pointless.

By Midori

May 11, 2006 07:26 PM | Link to this

awww,

isn’t that cute?

Andy’s 7:18 pretending to be me?

Just goes to show what a sorry excuse for a man he is - has to hide behind a woman’s skirt.

Getalife: good job on the photo. Classic!! :)

By RE

May 11, 2006 07:28 PM | Link to this

Scooter, Plames role as covert is debatable, the CIA sure thinks she was covert, but may not meet the standard for outing an agent. Now the real damage was the revelation by Novak of her front company Brewster Jennings

Do you believe that was covert, I sure do. And revealing that put a lot of people working to defend us at risk

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 07:32 PM | Link to this

Yep, I’m the most intelligent person on this blog, if you don’t believe it then just ask me and I tell you how great I am. Been coming to this board for years, ain’t left one intelligent post here yet, I’m just getting warmed up for my real show. Till then, I’ll just sit in a dead room like an idiot posting to no one in particular while there is a new cartoon up.

By RE

May 11, 2006 07:34 PM | Link to this

Did my link for Andy go thru? Not the Washington one, Andy put that one in there

By getalife

May 11, 2006 07:37 PM | Link to this

Thanks Midori,

Just like Baghdad Bob, Andy does not see what is right in front of him.

He has been getting nastier lately.

By Midori

May 11, 2006 07:39 PM | Link to this

RE,

it most certainly went thru.

you sure have Andy pegged :)

By Buy Danish

May 11, 2006 07:43 PM | Link to this

The Left showed the way in the cultural invasion department, and now it’s the Muslim Brotherhood’s turn. Don’t say I didn’t warn you:

What makes The Project so different from the standard “Death of America! Death to Israel!” and “Establish the global caliphate!” Islamist rhetoric is that it represents a flexible, multi-phased, long-term approach to the “cultural invasion” of the West. Calling for the utilization of various tactics, ranging from immigration, infiltration, surveillance, propaganda, protest, deception, political legitimacy and terrorism, The Project has served for more than two decades as the Muslim Brotherhood “master plan”.

By Midori

May 11, 2006 07:56 PM | Link to this

RE, Getalife and Joe Roman,

now the moron is pretending to be us posting on the new cartoon.

By Joe Roman

May 11, 2006 08:34 PM | Link to this

Thanks, but I’ve already noticed, Midori. The way they underestimate the intelligence of those involved in this site is the giveaway. They can use any name they want. The difference in style and substance gives them away every time. They’re just a bunch of children (perhaps even just one poor kid named Andy) trying to yank our chain.
They serve as a catylist to stimulate discussion, but other than that, there is no point in addressing them directly. I’m beginning to wonder if there were ever any legitimate rightists posting on this site ever. In the end, we’re just talking to ourselves, but this is only a blog so it’s no biggie. Right? Maybe we should turn this into a singles dating service.

By Buy Danish

May 11, 2006 08:51 PM | Link to this

The way they underestimate the intelligence of those involved in this site is the giveaway

JoRo,

There is no estimating going on in your case. It’s stone cold science. Even the squirrels have you nailed.

By Discounted Liberals

May 11, 2006 09:17 PM | Link to this

I hate to break the news to you Joe. You are the most Discounted Liberal on this blog. You’re a joke.

I know you’re big in your own mind but that kind of makes you look small in comparison to intelligent minds. You’ve never posted anything here that caught my eye or made me want to discuss anything with you.

No original ideas although you do try hard. There just not there. The liberals have no independent thought. Too bad. You seem like a nice enough guy, just stupid.

By Buy Danish

May 11, 2006 09:48 PM | Link to this

In the end, we’re just talking to ourselves, but this is only a blog so it’s no biggie. Right? Maybe we should turn this into a singles dating service.

Midori,

Are you game? You lucky girl you!

By WashingtonState

May 11, 2006 09:51 PM | Link to this

Great cartoon. The truth shall out.

By finch

May 11, 2006 10:39 PM | Link to this

RE,

That image of Suck is priceless. Such a toothsome devil!

By Buy Danish

May 12, 2006 08:15 AM | Link to this

Maybe the computer maintenence staff at the AJC could grow some ears and listen to a reader’s complaints:

Your server sucks. Every website I go to works just fine, except this one. Maybe you should outsource the work to qualified technicians.

Do whatever it takes, by any means necessary. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

By RE

May 12, 2006 01:06 PM | Link to this

I think they shut the 5/12 down for a while

By Midori

May 12, 2006 01:58 PM | Link to this

Buy Danish,

what in the world are you talking about?

do “you” even know?

By Midori

May 12, 2006 02:01 PM | Link to this

Buy Danish,

if you are so “concerned” about the servers, perhaps you shouldn’t egg on that moron Andy and try to talk some sense and manners into him.

By RE

May 12, 2006 02:12 PM | Link to this

Andy won I guess, he got the site shut down for the day

By Midori

May 12, 2006 02:12 PM | Link to this

in case you missed it on the other thread:

Tony Snow Melts during first gaggle

By Craig

May 12, 2006 02:18 PM | Link to this

You braindead liberals are too much. You spam the blog and blame Andy. It’s pretty easy to see you egg each other on and try to get conservatives to blast him for something you are doing. If there is any benefit from your childishness, maybe they really will hire some pros to fix the thing.

Anybody that reads should pay attention. When you see the blog getting spammed you will always see getalife, Midori, RE, Daniel, and Lord Help Us cheering it on and a few others jumping in. Just remember the only thing a moonbat hates worse than America is free speech.

By RE

May 12, 2006 02:19 PM | Link to this

Well, looks like Andy finally went over the edge, 3 hours uninterrupted posting of useless crap, he usually stops after 2 hours and thats usually in the morning

By The AJC Sucks Blame Bush

May 12, 2006 02:20 PM | Link to this

God as my witness, another one of you liberals jacks my name and uses it to sexually assualt children, I will get this whole thing shut down.

By RE

May 12, 2006 02:24 PM | Link to this

Good point Craig, team loyalty. No matter what happens, blame the other side, I guess that is why the US is so united today. Then throw in some name calling for good measure

By Dusty

May 12, 2006 02:25 PM | Link to this

Well, the other blog is shut down and good riddance. I thought this rhyme might be a little better than saying “rabid dogs” as was mentioned by someone else referring to extreme liberals.. Maybe not.

X-TREME LIBS

The idiots write and rant and rave In hopes that this will somehow save Their anti-American “cut an’ run”, Their vile notorious political scum.

Down with America if Dems can’t rule, Thus cries every demented X-Lib fool. How short their memory about elections, When a majority voted in our true selections.

And you, Osama, don’t call any more. Just read this blog and plan your gore. The idiots write and rant and rave. They push America toward its grave.

By RE

May 12, 2006 02:34 PM | Link to this

Flashback to 10th grade, there is nothing worse than a girl who wants to read you her poetry

By Dizty

May 12, 2006 02:38 PM | Link to this

I’m guessing that was a rhetorical question?

By Buy Danish

May 12, 2006 02:45 PM | Link to this

Midori,

When I wrote my comment to the AJC, I didn’t know that a spammer was the problem. I couldn’t get that far into the website.

I bet you a million mangoes that Andy is not the spammer.

It’s your shameless buddies who are the prolific nic-jackers, so why don’t YOU talk some sense and manners into THEM.

And I hardly think that you are in any position to call Andy an Idiot.

By getalife

May 12, 2006 02:48 PM | Link to this

Wow, wingnuts proud to shut down freedom of speech.

Amazing.

I guess all the people killed to protect our freedoms was a big waste just like the Iraq war.

By Dusty

May 12, 2006 02:49 PM | Link to this

RE,

There IS one thing worse than bad poetry. It is rabid comments against one’s own country and government.

By Buy Danish

May 12, 2006 02:49 PM | Link to this

Midori

I see why you might be confused. I neglected to attribute the quote in my 9:48 to the guy who wrote it - your not so secret admirer - JoRo!

By RE

May 12, 2006 02:56 PM | Link to this

Ok so if we are making a list of bad things dusty, #1 is saying bad things about the US, #2 is your poetry, #3 and on is everything else, death, taxes, cancer…etc.

I would say your poetry is not as bad as cancer, give yourself more credit. Maybe worse than getting a flu, but not cancer

By Craig

May 12, 2006 02:59 PM | Link to this

Is that the guilty moonbat, RE, I hear barking? You stupid libs can’t even keep your talking points straight. You’ve been saying the country is now united in it’s irrational hatred of Bush. I guess deep down you must know that’s another of your lies. Take the high road on the calling, punk. I know you would never do such a thing. Go back to jacking with your friends unless you have something worth saying.

By Dusty

May 12, 2006 03:05 PM | Link to this

Oh, I contacted the AJC.com management also. I didn’t mention names. Just asked that there be some control of length and spamming on 5/12.

Anybody that thinks that first wild stuff on “Ears” was Andy’s is simply trying to incriminate him. He is not a crazy liberal. He simply tries to remind the crazies that we have a great country and a strong president. Andy did not cause the blog to shut down.

By Dusty

May 12, 2006 03:10 PM | Link to this

Well, thanks, RE.

I won’t list your “shortcomings”. I don’t need to. They are quite apparent.

By getalife

May 12, 2006 03:12 PM | Link to this

Go back to spamming Craig er Andy. It shows how y’all feel about free speech.

By RE

May 12, 2006 03:13 PM | Link to this

Is that a form letter you guys use Craig? It sounds the same everytime. I think you left out that I was unpatriotic and secretly supporting the terrorist/ maoist/ aclu cabal. Actually, I never have used any other name, I just couldn’t bother with it.

Ok, Here is something you may or may not consider worth saying, by having a weak leader in office, it puts the US at risk. It is similar to what happened during the clinton admin with Monica. Although no attacks occured in the US after the first WTC attack in 1993, the domestic fueding kept us preoccupied and distracted from the growing terrorist elements like Al qaeda. Now with Bush at such low numbers and the GOP divided against itself, we are missing the formation of a China-Russia partnership that will challenge our interests in Asia including the middle-east. Iran is not a threat to any country right now, an Iran that brings together Russia and China to protect it is a much greater threat. What negotiation power do we have with the chinese if they own 20% of our debt. We cannot demand anything from them, they dump thier bonds, and our market crashes. Any ideas for that, or are we more secure owing vast sums to foriegn nations?

By Buy Danish

May 12, 2006 03:16 PM | Link to this

Getalife,

Who are you talking to in your 2:48? Because the recent history at this blog has been Libs trying to shut up everyone else, and one of their favorite tools is nic-jacking, with Andy being a favorite target.

If were were betting on this, I would put my money on N-GA as the culprit. His hatred for Andy is intense.

By Buy Danish

May 12, 2006 03:21 PM | Link to this

RE,

What part about Ray McGovern acting as a spokeman for N.I.O.N., a Communist group, don’t you get?

Is it that you don’t believe he knew that they are Communists (which would make him the dumbest CIA employee ever), or that he knew full well but you don’t care?

Because the third possibility, that they aren’t a Communist/Maoist group is incorrect.

Which is it, RE?

By Buy Danish

May 12, 2006 03:25 PM | Link to this

RE,

P.S. Here’s the scoop on the ACLU.

Co-founder Roger Baldwin stated, “I seek social ownership of property, the abolition of the properties class, and sole control of those who produce wealth. Communism is the goal.”

By RE

May 12, 2006 03:28 PM | Link to this

Wow, the compulsory denial phase has set in.

It wasn’t andy, it was someone else, a liberal!

Where have I heard all this before? Delay being prosecuted for his politics, Rove and Libby never had a part in outing Valerie plame, and if they did it was legal anyway. The WMD were in Iraq, they were just moved before we got there. Duke Cunningham is just caught up in a dem witchhunt. GWB is allowed to obey the laws he chooses to, that is what signing statements are for, and any law 20 years old can be ignored.

Reality has such a liberal bias

By Craig

May 12, 2006 03:30 PM | Link to this

Being accused of using a form letter by a clueless parrot is downright high-larious. Why don’t you take Monica’s place next time you idiot. I bet you were one of the same people babbling that America was done because the Japanese were buying us out and taking over our economy in the 1980’s.

Tell you what, once you get ONE thing right I might listen to you. Until then you are just the loudest jacker in sight at the moment. getalife, Midori, come lick on RE’s wounds and babble about how mean everybody that isn’t a flaming anti-American moron is. Jesus you people make me sick, please keep talking.

By getalife

May 12, 2006 03:33 PM | Link to this

BD,

I was talking about this:

By The AJC Sucks Blame Bush May 12, 2006 02:20 PM | Link to this God as my witness, another one of you liberals jacks my name and uses it to sexually assualt children, I will get this whole thing shut down.

By Andy's Mom

May 12, 2006 03:34 PM | Link to this

Well, we finally got Andy sedated. The dog has a broken leg. I’m taking a nap.

By RE

May 12, 2006 03:35 PM | Link to this

BD, thats what I am saying, Craig left out the vast ACLU/ Maoist/ terrorist conspiracy. Make sure he gets that same notes you have.

By Buy Danish

May 12, 2006 03:35 PM | Link to this

RE,

Maybe this will help you see why it matters:

Fidel’s Left-hand-man Chavez has not limited his own Marxist revolutionary ambitions and franchise to Latin America. He reportedly befriended then-Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and aided Osama bin Laden’s 9-11 terrorist group Al Qaeda. According to one defector, Chavez gave $1 million to Al Qaeda.

Chavez also reportedly put a Hussein supporter in charge of Venezuela’s passport agency. Since he did this, a number of official Venezuelan passports and other legal identity papers have been found on fleeing Saddamites, and others from Islamic nations such as Syria, Pakistan, Egypt and Lebanon, and on persons linked to international terrorism. Such documents can give as much aid and comfort to terrorists as can a gun or bomb.

By Shoop

May 12, 2006 03:40 PM | Link to this

Midori I’m right here. I’m not Andy and I’m still pretty sure you’re behind this mess. Why aren’t you working today? Is this more fun? It took me forever to find your name in here. My son finally showed me how to edit. I’m glad he did.

I don’t like you Midori. I think you’re crazy and mean.

By Buy Danish

May 12, 2006 03:47 PM | Link to this

getalife,

That is obviously someone jacking Andy’s name.

Think about it. Andy does not want to shut this blog down, anymore than you or I would want to do that.

RE,

What are your ranting about? You’re starting to talk to yourself, like JoRo.

By Matthew

May 12, 2006 03:50 PM | Link to this

I think what you have here is some Kos bloggers recruited by someone here. I’ve been to other sites where it was done. I left. I guess I’ll leave this one too. They really don’t like somebody here and I guess it’s the AJC guy who posts.

All you have to do is go back and look for subtle messages between some liberal posters. That’s the shout out.

By RE

May 12, 2006 03:52 PM | Link to this

In the 80s I was in Highschool and not all that concerned about much aside from football and Metallica. ok, here is a football metaphor:

say you are down, oh I don’t know, 29-71 in the 3rd quarter. Who do you look to, you have the cheerleaders like BD and Dusty who will see no wrong and keep saying we will come back. You have the diehard fans who keep blaming the ref for bad calls and that the other team is playing dirty, kinda like you. Seeing as you are down so far, most of your less supportive fans have left the stadium, not because the are rooting for the other team, but they just don’t like the way that thier team is playing. then you have some that have always hated the coach going on and on about what happened in the first 3 quarters, you would call them the liberals. Now the problem is what happens in the next quarter, the team is beaten up and the coach doesn’t seem to have a plan. I don’t think anyone right now is looking at what is going to happen next, they are in a moment to moment mindset.

ok, to finish the metaphor, and I know it was a little rambling, we should probably start thinking about getting the coach out of there if he cannot handle the game properly.

By Zookeeper

May 12, 2006 03:53 PM | Link to this

ANDY’S COMPANY TRUCK!

By Dusty

May 12, 2006 04:01 PM | Link to this

Buy Danish,

It looks like RE is trying to compare Clinton’s weakness to Bush’s strength and call it equal. That is an impossible act to pull off.

But oh the blame, the blame is the name of the game.(Sorry, that rhymed. RE encouraged me so much that I can’t stop.)

By Midori

May 12, 2006 04:01 PM | Link to this

Shoop, Shoop, Shoop.

I knew you couldn’t stay away from me for long.

By finch

May 12, 2006 04:03 PM | Link to this

Admitting the obvious at the Whiite House:

President Bush admits that Iraq is kind of, sort of on the verge of civil war.

“WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush said Friday that militias are the biggest roadblock to Iraq’s effort to getting a unity government up and running…”

Militas made up of Iraqis killing other Iraqis. Not US soldiers. Militas that never existed until the US invasion inflamed sectarian tensions.

“Bush spoke at the White House where he met with 10 former secretaries of state and defense from both Republican and Democratic administrations to discuss Iraq and the broader Middle East.”

“”Perhaps the main challenge is the militia that tend to take the law into their own hands and it’s going to be up to the government to step up and take care of that militia so that the Iraqi people are confident in the security of their country,” Bush said.”

It’s either that or civil war. This is something that the invading US forces never expected. Poor planning.

By Buy Danish

May 12, 2006 04:03 PM | Link to this

RE,

A football analogy is going to go right over my head. Just like facts about people like Ray McGovern and Hugo Chavez go right over yours.

By Matthew

May 12, 2006 04:07 PM | Link to this

I came back to tell you about something else you might look for. A slew of unfamiliar names bombarding the site with liberal posts. That’s them, Daily Kos bloggers.

See you people. It was interesting for a while.

By Craig

May 12, 2006 04:09 PM | Link to this

RE, OK bud now you have removed any doubt of what a raving moonbat you are. The intricacies of running a country, it’s government, and world affairs are complex things that require leaders (you may want to look that word up, because the poll taker isn’t the leader). Anybody that would put them in the context of who happens to like the way the “home team” is playing that day is a simpleton that couldn’t possibly grasp the world around them. Grow up High School boy and talk about important things when you have purchased a clue.

By RE

May 12, 2006 04:11 PM | Link to this

BD, I know sweetie, they maoists are about to take over and it is all the ACLUs fault. Just stay calm, put the tinfoil snugly back over your head, and they will not get you.

By Andy's Mom

May 12, 2006 04:12 PM | Link to this

Although organizing in Mississippi might not seem important to Pelosi and Reid — after all, the state won’t have competitive House or Senate races this year — at some point, conservative Democratic Rep. Gene Taylor will retire, and then the House Democratic leadership may see the wisdom of their party already having a presence in southern Mississippi. When Republican Sens. Thad Cochran and Trent Lott retire, the Senate Democratic leadership just might have a similar revelation. Keep in mind that if Lott had opted to retire at the end of this year, as many had expected, Democrats would have had a pretty fair shot at winning that seat by running former state Attorney General Mike Moore.

The Democratic congressional leaders’ shortsighted, penny-wise/pound-foolish complaints show why their party has become bicoastal. Congressional Democrats have trouble winning in many interior states, in part because leaders like Reid and Pelosi have failed to appreciate the importance of maintaining a strong national party apparatus. The Democrats’ inability to consistently win elections in places where gun shops outnumber Starbucks is a big reason the party controls neither the House nor the Senate.

Right now, one of the biggest obstacles to Democrats’ taking the House back is their failure to recruit strong candidates in many Republican-held districts that ought to be in play. Party building means lining up a solid team — organizing and winning lower-level offices that give the party a talented bench from which to draw for higher contests.

Dean’s view — that Pelosi, Reid, and their party committees have their jobs and he has his — is the one that he ought to stick to.

::

Tags: Paul Begala, Howard Dean, DNC, 50-state strategy (all tags)

Permalink | 290 comments

Comments: Expand Shrink Hide (Always) | Indented Flat (Always)

Daily Kos Help

In this climate (19+ / 0-) Recommended by:wozzle, trillian, Dr Van Nostrand, TealVeal, assyrian64, Natural Anthem, joby, dash888, maggiemae, Pithy Cherub, buckhorn okie, peraspera, Shaniriver, RaulVB, 3goldens, sodalis, Easterling, Brodiewankenobi, condoleaser While “picking their nose” we could pick up a few seats— in both state legs. and Congress.

Shortsighted a*****.

Bush will be impeached.

by jgkojak on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:31:14 AM PDT

In all fairness… (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:Hlinko, boadicea, buckhorn okie Begala’s definitely not the worst of the D.C. Dem establishment, and I rarely see him act like a dumbass.

This comment, though, is pretty absurd. Show some loyalty for Dean, Paul, and shut your mouth.

Pacific NW Portal - Regional Politics At Your Fingertips

by MountOlympus on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:46:00 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

He’s just afraid (7+ / 0-) Recommended by:gogol, buckhorn okie, peraspera, Shaniriver, RaulVB, 3goldens, Shotput8 he and his ilk are going to be on the short end of the dollar stick for the elections.

It is a little like the adult children who start to see every expenditure by mom and dad as a p** away of their inheritance.

If you want something other than the obvious to happen - you’ve got to do something other than the obvious…Douglas Adams

by trillian on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:59:04 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

I just donated $50 to the DNC (5+ / 0-) Recommended by:ubikkibu, savvyspy, dannyinla, Easterling, AmericanRiverCanyon because of his stupid remark. He should be worried. Anyone have his email address?

“…give no quarter; fear no shadows; and make the mountains tremble.” Dr. William F. Schulz

by Shaniriver on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:03:36 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

A donation to the DNC from me too! (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:ubikkibu, savvyspy, Shaniriver I’d rather spend my money on the DNC’s 50-state strategy than Begala and Carville’s book.

Out to pasture indeed!

by dannyinla on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:14:47 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Might one suggest (0+ / 0-) …that y’all invest in Mississippi as well? Might not the best justice be to raise the visibility and relevance of the 50-state strategy by helping us progressives in the crimson hinterlands elect actual progressives into office? We have the chance and a golden opportunity to do so in this very election cycle.

I’d had a diary up about this a week or so ago, about a true, blue, progressive candidate running to unseat Roger Wicker from the house. His name is Ron Shapiro.

If you’re a voter in Mississippi’s first congressional district, I highly recommend you take a look at this man.

The Thorn Papers…this blog kills fascists…

by mitch2k2 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:51:40 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Thanks for the heads up (0 / 0) Maybe someone can send your diary to Paul Begala.

by dannyinla on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:56:58 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

I just recommended your man… (0 / 0) to Russ Feingold’s PPF with this note on why:

Because the DNC has a 50-state strategy that Paul Begala ridicules.

“What he has spent it on, apparently, is just hiring a bunch of staff people to wander around Utah and Mississippi and pick their nose.” ( Paul Begala on DNC Chair Howard Dean’s spending, CNN, 5/11)

If the PPF wants to send a mission statement that they are “supporting candidates all across the country” this would be a step in that direction.

by dannyinla on Fri May 12, 2006 at 01:03:19 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Carville sleeps with the enemy n/t (0 / 0)

Take the House. Take the Senate. Take them Now.

by skywriter on Fri May 12, 2006 at 01:00:36 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

What he’s afraid of (4+ / 0-) Recommended by:Ducktape, savvyspy, mjd in florida, dannyinla Begala is afraid that Dean’s 50 State strategy might increase the number of elected Democrats that aren’t indebted to the beltway establishment and consultants like himself.

by David Moore on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:18:59 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

I always thought he was a jerk! (0 / 0) Maybe some of our politicians should use their backbone and mention that he doesn’t speak for them! If any of them besides Feingold, Murtha ,Conyers, Kerry and a couple others have one! I truly worry about so many of them and their counterparts and the media being so complacent with the Bushco corruption. I sure hope we have a “HERO” whistleblower with this “NATIONAL PHONE/E-MAIL monitoring. That person should be awarded a national “Saved America” award.

by mjd in florida on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:33:16 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

you got that right (0 / 0) the last thing people like paul begala want is state party engagement. he and his ilk much prefer the top-down model where, as oneof the wdc suck-ups, they dictate and control who runs, who gets hired and where those fat consultancy contracts end up.

f*** him.

by bkny on Fri May 12, 2006 at 01:05:05 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

rarely? (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:Do Tell, Easterling i completely disagree with this assessment.

begala is gross. all-too-often.

by essexgreen on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:02:32 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Begala (0 / 0) The thing is, how to get the Begalas of the party (who hold a lot of the money and are the alleged “brain trust”) to understand the shift in the wind, that it’s OKAY and more, NECESSARY, to abandon old, failed principles and step into the new era? As tempting as it is to call Begala a clueless a***** (which in many ways he, like the rest of the tired “centrists,” is), we’ve got to look for ways to engage them, convince them that the New Dem is a tough sonofabitch who MUST counter every Republican BS statement with a strong, reasoned counterattack. We can’t afford too much internal Dem-bashing. We must build bridges with these people and pull them along to the other side. One way the Republicans have succeeded so well in their coup is by marching in lockstep, never deviating. That doesn’t mean we accept (or god help us, work for) spineless “in the bag” candidates like Hilary RC. But we must engage the Begalas and DLC types in a way that encourages them to feel “safe” in becoming the kick-a* Dems who will win elections and try to undo the multi-level mess the present regime has put in place. Ideas, please!

“The world has cracked its whip. Where will it descend?” — Virginia Woolf

by ivycompton on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:05:35 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Beg to differ (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:Jett, tinfoilhat, Trixter What I remember about Begala so well was his reaction on Crossfire when Jon Stewart ripped the show a new one.

I sure hate Tucker Carlson as well as anyone else here, but at least he recognized that Stewart was attacking the foundations of the only kind of discussion he knows how to have. Begala, on the other hand, just sat quietly and laughed about it, as if it had nothing do to with him. He sat there and watched Carlson build into apoplexy, while he never for a second countenanced the thought that he was just as much a target of Stewart’s accuasations.

Seriously, the guy is militantly unaware of the world around him.

Do the Democrats really need a someone who is measurably dumber than Tucker Carlson to help them plot strategy? I sure hope not. It suggests that there are people on their staff who are even worse.

—- IMPEACH

by dspiewak2634 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:21:40 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Asdf (0 / 0) Begala smugly mocking someone for trying to bring more choices to all the people of the US really p** me off. Dean is doing something that will pay huge dividends in the future, while Begala is simply a being an anchor around the Democratic Party.

People in Mississippi deserve Democrats and are going to get them whether corrupt DC blowhards like Begala like it or not. Paul, go cry over a beer with Richard Cohen. Leave the future to us.

-6.25, -5.18

“If you treat people right they will treat you right - ninety percent of the time” - FDR

by assyrian64 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:48:09 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Southerners do have a lot to answer for (0+ / 0-) Recommended by:ohiolibrarian Like what the hell were the people of alabama thinking when they voted for jeff sessions? My god…did he just walk off the set of Deliverance? Jesus Christ! Every time he opens his mouth it makes me want to pour s** in my ears and gouge my eyes out with pencils.

by TheRover on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:55:28 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Ken Blackwell has the same effect on me n/t (0 / 0)

“Help us to save free conscience from the paw — Of hireling wolves whose gospel is their maw.” —John Milton

by ohiolibrarian on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:57:42 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Not buying the concept of the 50 state strategy (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:gogol, CAL11 voter and thinking the 50 state strategy is being done poorly (and thus not worth doing) are two entirely different things though I think they tend to get conflated.

Certainly the staffers are being put to good use in a lot of states. OTOH, I’ve heard they’re being wasted in others where the state parties are so emasciated that they don’t know what to do with field people. Hence the “nose-picking” comment, I’m sure. I only have direct knowledge of a couple states so I obviously don’t know for sure.

I think 50-state is a great idea for exactly the reasons Charlie Cook laid out. I also have no idea whether it’s working or not. Are we just throwing people at the problem with little guidance or accountability? I know it’s a long-term strategy and we won’t see results right away but those are the main criticisms I’ve heard.

Before automatically leaping at the throats of critics, maybe someone here could do some research to see how they’re being used in each and every state? Actual data and facts will go a long ways in convincing skeptics.

—- My opinions are my own and not my employer’s.

by Aexia on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:16:46 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Is the $10 million balance criticism unfair… (0 / 0) or is there something to it? Will that sum plus the amounts raised before November be enough to meaningfully help regain the Congress this year? How much should the DNC have in reserves at this stage of the game? If you have an opinion, of course.

-1.25, -1.33

by CAL11 voter on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:33:45 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Well said….. (0 / 0) As I said above, thinking that we are going to make massive inroads in the south is worse than p** in the wind. The people down here are about as stupid as you can get. Do I have proof of this, you ask? jeff sessions……need more?

by TheRover on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:57:48 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Here Here! (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:Natural Anthem, RaulVB, dewey of the desert You’re right on the money!

by luvlibrul on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:31:53 AM PDT

F*** DLC (10+ / 0-) Recommended by:SteveLCo, gogol, Categorically Imperative, buckhorn okie, RaulVB, boofdah, Do Tell, Easterling, dewey of the desert, Trixter F*** ‘em.

They are the reason Democrats are in such pathetic states.

They are still doing 1992.

by fugue on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:32:00 AM PDT

And take that idiot ‘bullmoose’ Whitman too. (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:RaulVB, CarolynC967 Jeebus, that guy is such a tool.

He who gives up liberty in exchange for security is deserving of neither

by joby on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:33:24 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Heard him on Imus this morning (12+ / 0-) Recommended by:SteveLCo, Natural Anthem, meg, maggiemae, Aquarius40, RaulVB, 3goldens, Shotput8, sodalis, Do Tell, Easterling, condoleaser after he was off, Imus played the Clinton clip of “I did not have sexual relations…”

You’d think Begala would not snivel up to folks who like denigrating him or his former boss…

Blogatha! The political, the personal. Not necessarily in that order.

by ksh01 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:32:05 AM PDT

Begala is a Clown (0 / 0) A clown like Begala loves that type of stuff…

by RaulVB on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:33:33 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

The only thing Begala is good for… (8+ / 0-) Recommended by:Dr Van Nostrand, maggiemae, buckhorn okie, wader, RaulVB, Shotput8, Do Tell, BarbaraB is beating up on republicans on TV. When he tries to strategerize about what Democrats should do to win elections, he is in over his head.

by Alvord on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:36:43 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

That’s a liberal for ya! (0 / 0) Just don’t get it. Think that evil doers can still be your friends.

by TheRover on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:59:07 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Ouch (13+ / 0-) Recommended by:joby, maggiemae, buckhorn okie, Bearpaw, RaulVB, gsbadj, 3goldens, Shotput8, dannyinla, CAL11 voter, condoleaser, Trixter, AmericanRiverCanyon I suppose it is just a matter of being petulant that he and his ilk are not in control. I mean Begala’s got to be a smart guy, but this comment (Utah and Mississippi) is just plain stupid.

by Natural Anthem on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:32:28 AM PDT

Jerky (4+ / 0-) Recommended by:Natural Anthem, rmwarnick, NJwlss, AmericanRiverCanyon Does this jerky even realize that two MS congressmen and one UT congressman are Democrats? That only three years ago, the governor of MS was a Dem? That if Trent Lott had retired this year, a Dem would have been in exceptional position to replace him?

Crikey, talk about blue state elitism. Just because these states won’t vote for a Dem presidential candidate doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of Democrats there.

Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News

by DavidNYC on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:01:16 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

And racist? (0 / 0) I don’t have time to google what percent of the population in MS is African-American, but I’m guessing it’s significant. And how many vote Republican? How many just stay home because they have more sense than to EVER vote R, but they’re heartily sick of being invisible to the D’s.

There are a lot of “Democrats” who just don’t see Black people. Say Mississippi to them and all they can envision is white rednecks.

All I know is just what I read in the papers, and that’s an alibi for my ignorance. - Will Rogers

by Janet Strange on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:42:12 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

See above (0 / 0) We’re fighting like hell in Mississippi, to elect true progressives into office (actually fighting harder to get them on the Democratic ticket right now).

See here, above.

The Thorn Papers…this blog kills fascists…

by mitch2k2 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:55:03 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Begala and Carville will stay for decades to come (8+ / 0-) Recommended by:xerico, buckhorn okie, PaulVA, 3goldens, Do Tell, jsamuel, Easterling, Washington Hotlist They will stay as long as the Clintons stay on the public scene, sorry to tell you.

And the Democratic Party will pay the cost of it.

by RaulVB on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:32:28 AM PDT

Nothing is written in stone (5+ / 0-) Recommended by:tmo, buckhorn okie, Easterling, dewey of the desert, BarbaraB If the 50-state strategy works—and Bush seems to be doing everything he can to make it work—then we really could have a new axis of power in the Democratic Party.

More broadly, this defeatism just doesn’t make sense to me. If we’re doomed no matter what, why post here? Why not go out, try to earn as much as you can, spend like a sailor, and have a good time?

I believe, too, that Begala is mostly (completely) a journalist at this point, so is he really even significant, or just a bloviating has-been? I say the latter.

by Natural Anthem on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:36:51 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Err… (5+ / 0-) Recommended by:xerico, gogol, buckhorn okie, 3goldens, Easterling I believe on Dean’s strategy, but I also believe that the Clintons will try their best not to cooperate with his efforts.

The Clintons (and their people) are in this for their own benefit, that is my point, and they happen to be Democrats, that’s all.

by RaulVB on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:41:54 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Re: Err… (4+ / 0-) Recommended by:gogol, buckhorn okie, RaulVB, Easterling Sadly, I’m beginning to agree that “The Clintons (and their people) are in this for their own benefit.” I see Begala as basically losing his cool, saying something stupid because he didn’t get his way, and his way is collecting huge sums of money for consulting. Basically, people start to get riled up when money’s involved.

My main point was that you just don’t know that these Clinton folks will stay “for decades to come.” That seems to me like doomsaying. Isn’t it just as likely that Hilary could run in ‘08 and pull a Phil Gramm, who raised a crapload of money for his Presidential bid and got about seven votes, and fade into the woodwork?

In the same vein, if the 50-state strategy works, if Dems, as historical trends indicate (based on Bush’s approval), pick up a huge number of seats in the House and Senate, then the axis of power in the party will be re-aligned, and even if folks like Begala continue to exert influence, they’ll still act like they (to quote Monkey In Chief) where “behind it all along.”

by Natural Anthem on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:59:18 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Point taken (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Natural Anthem I agree with your opinion.

by RaulVB on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:01:28 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Nope (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:gogol They will claim that by intruding in primaries to keep the wrong type out, they caused it all. They’ll never credit the 50 state for anything, they’ll claim it was all their own brilliance that did it.

by ElitistJohn on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:21:19 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Human Nature (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Easterling It could swing either way: Claim that they were on board all along or claim that it was their brilliance. If the former, I say welcome them with open arms. If the latter, they’ve just (further) marginalized themselves.

The beauty is that Begala is a talking head in the MSM and we’ve shown via Colbert (among a multitude of examples) that we can do an end-run around the MSM.

In short, the Begalas might have to get on board if they want to matter, and I can forgive them for being slow to the party.

by Natural Anthem on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:29:08 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Dennis Miller 101 … (0 / 0) Begala like most humans worships $$$$$ … TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN … I probably would? Call it MSM Gold Fever.

LIVE FREE OR DIE

by Easterling on Fri May 12, 2006 at 01:01:51 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

consultants (7+ / 0-) Recommended by:gogol, Natural Anthem, Sherri in TX, buckhorn okie, Aquarius40, RaulVB, Do Tell Once the 50-state strategy starts paying dividends, the consultants will tell you they were behind it all along. This is how consultants work whether they are politcal consultants or corporate consultants. Consultants in any arena are almost always a pox as their only mission is to obtain for more consulting fees.

by Monkey In Chief on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:46:06 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Don’t lump ‘consultants’ together (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:Natural Anthem, buckhorn okie There are good ones, and there are s** ones. Both at the national level, and at the grassroots level.

Make Lust, Not War!

by Hlinko on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:52:56 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Okay, but can you allow just ONE consultant joke? (5+ / 0-) Recommended by:Jett, gogol, tinfoilhat, Hazardman, AmericanRiverCanyon A shepherd was herding his flock in a remote pasture when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of a dust cloud towards him. The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses and YSL tie, leans out the window and asks the shepherd, “If I tell you exactly how many sheep you have in your flock, will you give me one?”

The shepherd looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing flock and calmly answers, “Sure. Why not?”

The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer, connects it to his AT&T cell phone, surfs to a NASA page on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite navigation system to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo.

The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany. Within seconds, he receives an email on his Palm Pilot that the image has been processed and the data stored.

He then accesses a MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet with hundreds of complex formulas. He uploads all of this data via an email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes, receives a response.

Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer and finally turns to the shepherd and says, “You have exactly 1586 sheep.”

“That’s right. Well, I guess you can take one of my sheep.” Says the shepherd. He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on amused as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car. Then the shepherd says to the young man, “Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my sheep?”

The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, “Okay, why not?”

“You’re a consultant.” says the shepherd.

“Wow! That’s correct,” says the yuppie, “but how did you guess that?”

“No guessing required.” answered the shepherd. “You showed up here even though nobody called you; you want to get paid for an answer I already knew; to a question I never asked; and you don’t know crap about my business.”

“…Now give me back my dog.”

Best.Podcast.Ever.

by Nonie3234 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:20:46 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Don’t lump ‘consultants’ together. (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:sagra Why? It’s fun!

Lump consultants together. Push over cliff. Drive home.

Slap it. Shoot it. Kaboot it.

by adios on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:33:30 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Right they protect their backsides (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:Hlinko, buckhorn okie from failure, and then claim victory with the rest of us…sounds like…they could be ANYONE?!?! :)

I think its a matter of convincing them. Like I said below, Begala is a doubting Thomas not a Judas.

Lets not be so quick to throw them all overboard. Individuals like Begala are VERY helpful when they are signed on.

General and Supreme Commander of the 82nd Chairborne: I’ve killed people for less!

by patsprouseyo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:57:42 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Again… (0 / 0) Nope…see my response, above.

by ElitistJohn on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:22:57 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Now why an earth (7+ / 0-) Recommended by:Natural Anthem, RaulVB, 3goldens, tinfoilhat, Shotput8, Do Tell, AmericanRiverCanyon Would we ever Trust the Judgment of a man that voluntarily chose to wed Mary Matlin anyway?

Knowledge is power Power Corrupts Study Hard Be Evil

by Magorn on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:40:19 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Ha, Ha, Ha!!! (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Do Tell Seriously, I look at Carville and I really wonder about that, I mean, James!…what were you thinking!

by RaulVB on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:43:13 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Perfect match… (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:RaulVB, Easterling Carville and Matalin are made for each other …unfortunately they bred sucessfully …

by pitsniff57 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:47:04 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

perhaps … (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:RaulVB … beer goggles had something to do with it? BushIsWeak.com … somebody really ought to register this domain name …

by wystler on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:01:20 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Um, there was 92 and 96 (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia, buckhorn okie, PatriciaVa Hey, I think Begala was wrong on this one, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that the Democratic Party has won two presidential elections since 1976, and Carville and Begala were key.

Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. Begala may be wrong on this, but getting rid of Carville and Begala is NOT what we need to build a winning Democratic majority in this country.

Make Lust, Not War!

by Hlinko on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:48:15 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

92 and 96 (4+ / 0-) Recommended by:rick, 3goldens, Do Tell, Easterling I have little love for Clinton’s “legacy”

Which is…Hillary.

Sorry!

by RaulVB on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:52:49 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

‘…Carville and Begala were key.’ (6+ / 0-) Recommended by:xerico, rick, gogol, RaulVB, 3goldens, Easterling Um…let’s give credit where credit is due.

Ross Perot Bob Dole Newt Gingrich

Slap it. Shoot it. Kaboot it.

by adios on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:54:14 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Nope (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia, buckhorn okie, PatriciaVa If you’d said “Bill Clinton,” I’d agree, but you can’t take away full credit from Carville and Begala.

If getting rid of them was the answer, we would’ve won in 2000 and 2004.

I’m not saying to raise them to exhalted status, but I am saying that if we think C&B are the reason we’re not winning, we are smoking a collective crack pipe.

Make Lust, Not War!

by Hlinko on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:57:15 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

That thinking is so 1996. (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:AmericanRiverCanyon It is 2006 and let’s talk about what they are doing NOW, not what they did in their glory days.

by Do Tell on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:10:03 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Sorry, friend (6+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia, Natural Anthem, buckhorn okie, Aquarius40, NJwlss, PatriciaVa But Ross Perot did not affect the outcome of the 1992 presidential election. Exit polls showed that, had he not been in the race, one third of his voters would have gone to Clinton, one third to Bush, and one third stay at home/other.

Perot was a wash.

Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News

by DavidNYC on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:02:39 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Thanks DavidNYC (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia It drives me nuts when our side uses this Republican talking point.

Look, the Republicans attempt to deify Reagan by naming airports and highways after him, but when we have an equally popular and less flawed President a significant number of Democrats keep repeating the Republican “Perot handed the election to Clinton” talking point.

Even if it were true, why bring it up? And it’s false!

For all their stupidity and incompetence, this is the kind of mistake Republicans don’t make, and we can’t either.

by Natural Anthem on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:24:55 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

I’m sorry too. (0 / 0) Exit polls showed that, had he not been in the race, one third of his voters would have gone to Clinton, one third to Bush, and one third stay at home/other.

Were those the same exit polls that heralded President Kerry? This business has been ruminated over extensively since 1992, and many disagree with you (and those polls). Perot’s constituency was largely white, socially conservative, elderly, and angry. Disaffected Republicans, in other words. Nobody has any idea what they would have done and how the dynamic of that campaign would have developed if the Perot wild card hadn’t been played; these things don’t take place in a vacuum.

Don’t believe I dismissed the C & B contribution to Clinton’s victories, just questioned whether he would have won with no Perot in ‘92 and a strong, non-elderly, non-grouchy, non-get-off-my-lawn opponent in ‘96 (and no Gingrich alienating everyone).

…you can’t take away full credit from Carville and Begala.

If getting rid of them was the answer, we would’ve won in 2000 and 2004.

Too many non sequitirs to deal with there…

Slap it. Shoot it. Kaboot it.

by adios on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:51:18 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

‘…Carville and Begala were key.’ (0 / 0) Sounds about right.

Bill Clinton and his team (which, rather noticeably, included Hillary)had nothing to do with it.

by Blue Democrat on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:18:20 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Perot a NonFactor in 92 and 96 (0 / 0) I’m sick of people, even our own, believing that Perot was a factor in the 92 and 96 elections.

Anyone who has seen War Room can see Stephanopolous cite a poll, the day Clinton was accepting the nomiation, in which his Clinton’s lead sig. increased when Perot announced his departure from the race.

President Clinton would have won both elections with a majority, had it not been for Perot. For anyone to believe otherwise is to be in denial.

http://www.fairvote.org/…

Plurality Wins in the 1992 Presidential Race: Perot’s Contribution to Clinton’s Victory

In 1992, Democrat Bill Clinton defeated Republican incumbent George Bush, with a comfortable Electoral College victory of 370 to 168. The size of that margin masked the overall closeness of the race, however. After polling above 50% in the summer, Clintonís winning percentage was reduced to 43%. Independent candidate Ross Perot won a full 19% of the vote, a larger margin than had been won by a non-major party candidate since popular former president Teddy Rooseveltís ìBull Mooseî Progressive Party challenge in 1912.

Political scientists and practioners have vigorously debated the role of Ross Perot in Clintonís victory. Exit polls showed that Perotís voters apparently split their preferences between Clinton and Bush nearly equally, although approximately a third of them likely would not have voted without him on the ballot.

by PatriciaVa on Fri May 12, 2006 at 01:04:47 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

not really (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:buckhorn okie, RaulVB, 3goldens 92 was in large part a function of H. Ross Perot and the idiocy of Bush the first.

And 96? That was due in large part to the strategy of “triangulation”. And look where that took us headed into 2000 and onwards. BTW, “triangulation” was Dick Morris.

by Politburo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:55:38 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Perot (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia, Natural Anthem, NJwlss Again, no.

Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News

by DavidNYC on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:03:04 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

2000 was not C&B’s fault (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia, Do Tell Disagree on 92 — the fact they got through the primaries was a miracle. And Perot did not hand Clinton the victory, unless you believe that 70% of Perot’s vote would’ve gone to Bush.

2000 was Al Gore’s fault. Well, the Supreme Court’s fault, but Al Gore’s fault for making it so close.

I say this as someone who really likes Gore, and hopes he will run in 2008. But the fact is, his 2000 campaign was not his finest moment.

Make Lust, Not War!

by Hlinko on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:04:11 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

right (0 / 0) I didn’t mean to blame traingulation wholly for 2000. And in fact, I blame Dick Morris if you read correctly.

by Politburo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:19:34 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Yup on triangulation (0 / 0) Very short sighted strategy.

Make Lust, Not War!

by Hlinko on Fri May 12, 2006 at 01:02:40 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Begala and Carville (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia, NJwlss Don’t really do American campaigns anymore. They both realized that once you win the presidency, everything else is downhill from there. I don’t think they do very much legwork these days to directly help candidates. (Maybe fundraising and non-profit stuff.)

Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News

by DavidNYC on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:04:07 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Carville became increasingly tainted by Matalin (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:RaulVB, AmericanRiverCanyon He is not well respected anymore, and Begala is not far behind.

When was the last time either of them really stood behind Democrats and against Bush?

by Do Tell on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:07:20 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

trust the experts (12+ / 0-) Recommended by:Dr Van Nostrand, TealVeal, wystler, Categorically Imperative, buckhorn okie, AndyT, hhex65, RaulVB, greenskeeper, Shotput8, Brodiewankenobi, NancyK If the Democrats would just go along with nuking Iran, then we could get back to discussing domestic policy. If we’re discussing domestic policy the Dems win, right?

If you are interested in the politics of Proviso Township in Cook County, Illinois, visit Proviso Probe.

by Carl Nyberg on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:32:31 AM PDT

Wow. (5+ / 0-) Recommended by:SteveLCo, Sherri in TX, buckhorn okie, fgentile, dewey of the desert I usually Paul Begalla as he loves to rip apart right wingers on CNN, but if he’s not on board with the 50 State strategy, then he’s an idiot.

by djtyg on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:32:32 AM PDT

sure (4+ / 0-) Recommended by:buckhorn okie, peraspera, dannyinla, Do Tell But it’s understandable—he’s carrying water for Hillary, and Hillary benefits from a Democratic Party stuck in 18 states/a handful of urban areas. The notion that someone other than a Clinton guy will be the one reponsible for getting the Democratic brand back on its feet scares the p** out of the Hillary set, because the only thing she’s got going for her as a candidate is the notion that she might be the “savior” much as her husband was. (In that sense, Kos got his op-ed a*-backwards: Hillary isn’t the wrong choice because she’s too much like her husband, who was anything but a failure, it’s that she shares only the last name. The last thing we’ll want in ‘08 is a robotic personality with a sense of entitlement and a stranglehold on the money machine—but I digress…)

by KevStar on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:01:50 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Are all of those who support Hillary against (0 / 0) the 50 state strategy?

Just asking.

by Do Tell on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:12:17 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

I dunno (0 / 0) It’s an illuminative question, actually. I suspect they’re actually in favor of the 50-state strategy, or something like it, just that they envisioned Harold Ickes carrying it out. It’s the same reason Begala and Carville perpetually mis-state Dean’s fundraising: this is just an internecine p** match and not a fundamental disagreement on strategy.

Who knows, maybe Dean really isn’t the best guy to carry this out. Maybe Ickes’ contacts in the labor world and deeper credentials as a guy who can bridge insiders and activists would be serving us better. But I do know for sure, Dean is the guy we have now, and he’s been a fantastic transition from the old-fangled world of Terry McAwful to the new reality. Maybe this sort of undercutting and backstabbing makes for a useful parlor game for the adults (and let’s not kid ourselves, Dean engaged in a little bit of this to vault himself ahead of the insider candidates for chair), but those of us who consider ourselves activists or rank and file Democrats or whatever shouldn’t swallow Begala’s rhetoric.

by KevStar on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:47:48 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Huh? That makes me want to donate more (8+ / 0-) Recommended by:TealVeal, wystler, ubikkibu, Categorically Imperative, joby, maggiemae, buckhorn okie, peraspera to the DNC. In fact, I think I’ll do that right now. With Rupert Murdoch fundraising for Clinton, the Begala/Clint point of view is the last thing I want to hear!

“…give no quarter; fear no shadows; and make the mountains tremble.” Dr. William F. Schulz

by Shaniriver on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:32:58 AM PDT

The Clinton era people (6+ / 0-) Recommended by:SteveLCo, buckhorn okie, RaulVB, HillaryGuy, dewey of the desert, luvlibrul will not be going anywhere anytime soon. Especially with Hillary running in ‘08. Think she’s going to disassociate herself with everyone from the 90s? Think again…

Joshua P. Rosenstock is the Managing Editor of WashingtonHotlist.com

by Washington Hotlist on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:33:04 AM PDT

You’re so right! (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:buckhorn okie, 3goldens, Washington Hotlist … but what a pity it has to be this way. Will the Clintonistas ever learn?

by luvlibrul on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:36:46 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

This a good thing (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:maggiemae, 3goldens, AmericanRiverCanyon If they all hop aboard the SS. Hillary, then they can all be taken out at once when we sink her in the primaries

Knowledge is power Power Corrupts Study Hard Be Evil

by Magorn on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:41:28 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

You better hope so (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:buckhorn okie because she won’t win the general election.

1.13 -3.79

by dave3172 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:00:14 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

The Clintonistas didn’t lose us the last few (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia elections!

2000 wasn’t lost by the Clintonistas, and 9-11/Iraq/fear mongering can hardly be blamed on them either!

1994 was hardly a result of those that had just risen to power (Clintonistas).

Lets get our facts straight before we start assigning blame.

General and Supreme Commander of the 82nd Chairborne: I’ve killed people for less!

by patsprouseyo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:00:49 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

sadly (0 / 0) If she runs, it will take a truly transformative brand of politics, and a candidate with stratospheric charisma, to beat her. Could happen, but understand if she runs she’ll be the prohibitive favorite and not just because she’s the only one the fawnign a***** in the media want to talk about.

by KevStar on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:04:30 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

My firm belief (0 / 0) is that especially If John McCain becomes their nominee, the only way we win this is with something like a Clark/Edwards ticket. The war will not be going away as an issue and the only way to be a Charismatic Legitimate war hero, is with an ex-military man all our own.

Knowledge is power Power Corrupts Study Hard Be Evil

by Magorn on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:45:06 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Correction… (0 / 0) I should have said “I usually like Paul Begalla.”

by djtyg on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:33:12 AM PDT

operative phrase here is (18+ / 0-) Recommended by:Ed in Montana, tmo, SteveLCo, Categorically Imperative, Sherri in TX, joby, maggiemae, Aquarius40, AndyT, Bearpaw, RaulVB, PaulVA, Catte Nappe, Shotput8, sodalis, Do Tell, NancyK, AmericanRiverCanyon We tried their way and look where we are.

i don’t know any other industry in the world that would pay people with these track records to do things the same way over and over

By Andy's Mom

May 12, 2006 04:14 PM | Link to this

Look North to Detroit (8+ / 0-) Recommended by:Ed in Montana, maggiemae, Pithy Cherub, AndyT, Bearpaw, 3goldens, tinfoilhat, Shotput8, quixotic That seems to be the management philosophy for Ford, Chrysler, and GM as well.

by greenskeeper on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:35:45 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

hmmmm (0 / 0) point taken. ok. i don’t know any industry that hasn’t been bailed out by washington or won’t be bailed out shortly that expects…

;)

-8.13, -6.21

by quixotic on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:37:26 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Bingo. (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:3goldens, quixotic Markos and Jerome hammer this point home in CTG.

M’thinks they be right.

He who gives up liberty in exchange for security is deserving of neither

by joby on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:37:27 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Sports and soap operas, actually (4+ / 0-) Recommended by:Luetta, quixotic, NancyK, Washington Hotlist Both are notorious for hiring the same failed managers and showrunners and being surprised when the former doesn’t bring home a trophy and the latter doesn’t improve ratings. Radio stations do it too with managers. I could go on. There’s a lot of simply recycling the old blood forever in more fields than politics.

There’s too much premium put on “experience”, whether that experience has been successful or not.

by Black Knight on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:37:42 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Isn’t that… (6+ / 0-) Recommended by:Pithy Cherub, PaulVA, quixotic, Do Tell, dewey of the desert, AmericanRiverCanyon the definition of insanity:

Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

How will you ever get new political leaders if you don’t train them? It’s not like a great D candidate will just appear from thin air in Utah and Mississppi when Repblicans retire from office. They must be nurtured, trained and supported.

“It is possible for one side to be simply wrong.” - biologist Richard Dawkins

by duck on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:39:56 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Why they don’t want a 50 state party (16+ / 0-) Recommended by:Ed in Montana, tmo, wystler, Natural Anthem, peraspera, Bearpaw, RaulVB, Catte Nappe, CA Amy, boofdah, jorndorff, Shotput8, esquimaux, dannyinla, Do Tell Because 50 active state parties gives more power to the grassroots-

When there are 18 strong state parties and the DC crowd, there are fairly few number of people that make decisions.

Also, look at what the Montana Dems have done. They’re pushing a genuinely progressive agenda, something that spells trouble for all those fat corporate checks…

which happen to pay for fatcat consultants like Paul Begala.

Greed a*****.

Bush will be impeached.

by jgkojak on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:33:25 AM PDT

Thank you (10+ / 0-) Recommended by:MissLaura, gogol, Dems2004, boadicea, peraspera, Bearpaw, RaulVB, Shotput8, BB10, NJwlss For the Montana complement.

Remember, it took nearly a decade of hard grassroots work for the Montana dems to retake the state legislature and sixteen years and the extraordinary candidate of Brian Schweitzer to retake the governor’s mansion. We have been extremely fortunate to always have had a somewhat functioning (and today very strong) local democratic party.

Inside the Beltway consultants had no part in it.

Fire Burns in 2006!

by Ed in Montana on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:48:15 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

The next couple of election cycles (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Shaniriver will resound with the death rattle of the “democratic warlords” (E.J Dionne?) Dean will continue to build on his netroots 50 state strategy and these guys will be left in the dust. Their posturing and positioning really hurt Kerry. The grassroots of the Democratic Party will be the saving of us all and these guys will be irrelevent. “Had enough? I say to the democratic establishment enough of the personal power agendas- get out of the way and let us get the job done. Dean is right on target with a clarity that comes across very simply and effectively. Give it a chance to work. I wholeheartedly cast my fate with Dean- he really gets it.

by dewey of the desert on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:07:24 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Boot ‘Em (10+ / 0-) Recommended by:Ed in Montana, SteveLCo, Natural Anthem, Categorically Imperative, maggiemae, Aquarius40, tinfoilhat, Do Tell, NancyK, Washington Hotlist The Clinton-era plan of looking like Republican Light in order to carve off the Big Donors was a a brilliant plan… in its time. Times have changed and guys like Begala are still stuck on 1992.

Destiny: A tyrant’s authority for crime and a fool’s excuse for failure. —Ambrose Bierce

by kingubu on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:33:31 AM PDT

Right On (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:kingubu It’s a classic mistake, fighting the last war, and understandable. But it’s also potentially disastrous.

It is interesting: Off the top of my head, it seems like Democratic strategists retire, effectively becoming talking heads, after their heyday, but people like Lee Atwater and Karl Rove stick around to give us headaches.

I wonder if this is evidence of some killer instinct on the part of Republicans? I say it is, and that we’re stuck in the position of having to emulate them if we believe in our policies. That takes a strong character to be ruthless without selling one’s soul.

by Natural Anthem on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:41:28 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Lee Atwater is dead (6+ / 0-) Recommended by:Dems2004, cookiesandmilk, RaulVB, kingubu, Shotput8, Do Tell And probably in Hell, but his college roommate Karl Rove remains outside of Lucifer’s Gates to continue to torture the living.

Fire Burns in 2006!

by Ed in Montana on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:51:21 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Whats’ wrong with this picture? (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Shaniriver Bush-Clinton-Bush-__(2008)

Do any of us truly in our heart of hearts think the country, under the current cloud of corruption is going to fill in that blank with another Beltway Big Name like Clinton?

I wouldn’t expect anyone but the Clintonista’s to vote to put another Clinton backin office…not in 2008.

Nothing short of an aroused public can change things, nothing less than democracy is at stake- Bill Moyers

by maggiemae on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:12:32 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

There are no stakes for Begala (6+ / 0-) Recommended by:tmo, gogol, mini mum, RaulVB, Shotput8, Do Tell After all, from a financial standpoint, he’s probably never been better off. He gets to write all these books about “taking back” the country. He may have really cared once, but his self-interest is clearly getting in the way of his analysis.

Absolute Horror: The Best in Bad Horror Movies

by dansac on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:33:55 AM PDT

Kind of Predicatable (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:RaulVB It’s not just the GOP that’s losing face…

“What’s in the name of lord, that I should fear; To bring my grievance to the public ear?” - The Crisis, January 13, 1777

by TPaine on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:34:10 AM PDT

What happend to the original title? (0 / 0) It changed from Begala = ? to what it is now…

by blairv on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:34:19 AM PDT

You NEVER, EVER (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:RaulVB, boofdah see or here the turds criticizing each other. Begala’s an a*****.

by SteveLCo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:34:25 AM PDT

Who cares what Begala thinks? (4+ / 0-) Recommended by:tmo, Shotput8, Do Tell, luvlibrul He’s a has-been, if he was ever a “is-being” to begin with.

Rather than getting angry, let’s just set our minds to proving him wrong.

by looty on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:34:49 AM PDT

Right on! (0 / 0) Now that’s the spirit!

by luvlibrul on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:37:33 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

He is also the a***** (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:RaulVB, Do Tell who dismissively said, “Oh, only a few way out on the left want impeachment!”

I got news for you jackoff!

by One P** Off Liberal on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:34:55 AM PDT

What a dumbass… (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:RaulVB, 3goldens It will be a good day for this country when Begala and his ilk are booted from any position of influence in the US, if that ever happens.

“I don’t put my political party ahead of America. Why do you?” - C. Fitch

“I’m not part of a redneck agenda…”

by SoulCatcher on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:35:01 AM PDT

the part that bothers me most (7+ / 0-) Recommended by:rick, wystler, gogol, Shaniriver, RaulVB, 3goldens, esquimaux is that the Clintons agree with him. The Rupert- Murdoch-Daddy-Bush-loving, privatizing, fund=raising Clintons. My senator.

by Tulip on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:35:48 AM PDT

Oops (0 / 0) Let’s not make the same error with the Presidential nomination.

“What’s in the name of lord, that I should fear; To bring my grievance to the public ear?” - The Crisis, January 13, 1777

by TPaine on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:36:26 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

I long for the 90’s (4+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia, RaulVB, CarolynC967, Washington Hotlist I don’t know about you, but Howard Dean on the 700 club made me ill. Our party needs to principled not compromising.

“A party of order or stability, and a party of progress or reform, are both necessary elements of a healthy state of political life.” John Stuart Mill

by Captain Killjoy on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:36:34 AM PDT

Howard didn’t compromise, still principled (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:ETinKC What Howard said (after his mistake about the platform):

“I think where we may take exception with some religious leaders is that we believe in inclusion, that everybody deserves to live with dignity and respect, and that equal rights under the law are important.”

What the 2004 Democratic party platform said:

We support full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and seek equal responsibilities, benefits, and protections for these families. In our country, marriage has been defined at the state level for 200 years, and we believe it should continue to be defined there. We repudiate President Bush’s divisive effort to politicize the Constitution by pursuing a “Federal Marriage Amendment.” Our goal is to bring Americans together, not drive them apart.

Howard in September 2002:

“As president of the United States, I will recognize civil unions, which will then allow full equality under the law as far as the federal government is concerned,” Dean said in a speech to the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association convention in Philadelphia.

Dean said it was not the federal government’s role to become involved in marriage statutes. He pledged that if elected he would do all he could to undo the Defense of Marriage Act, passed during the Clinton administration, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing marriages between any couples except one man and one woman.

He made a point of emphasizing he was not advocating full marriage rights. Nor was he pressing other states to enact civil union legislation.

“What I am not going to do is tell every state they have to pass civil unions,” he said.

Liberal: “I still think it’s a respectable word. Its root is “liber,” the Latin word for “free,” and isn’t that what we are all about?”—Mary McGrory

by mini mum on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:53:46 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Are we not allowed to engage our enemies over (0 / 0) there so we don’t have to fight them overhere?

Seriously though, the 700 club appearance was one that I don’t think actually does our party any good. We are pandering to the Religious Right (all segments of our Party) in order to get a footing on the “Religious Values” voters. I think that is an ill advised strategy. Those voters will probably never vote Democratic, and they are such a tiny segment of the total voting eligible population.

The secret to gaining “religious voters” is focusing on the 230 million or so other non-fanatical religious folks. And getting them to the polls.

The reason the “Religious Right Wing” has so much swing in the voting booth is because they are 10 million strong voters who are basically brainwashed to vote a specific way. Depending on turnout, that could be 10-20% of those that cast a vote! Thats a huge disadvantage. Our best bet at success is to get others to vote to offset them, not try to convert them.

General and Supreme Commander of the 82nd Chairborne: I’ve killed people for less!

by patsprouseyo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:45:02 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Colorful and Insulting, yes (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:AndyT, haveaduff2, made1ntaiwan Got that from Carville no doubt. But wrong? I think debatable. All things considered, I am on the Kos side on this matter, and in any case it is moot because Dean was elected to do precisely what he’s doing. But it’s hardly a slam dunk. In most years, it would be a dunk — of course you rebuild your basic capacity everywhere, in hopes of someday making a comeback even in Mississippi and Utah. But this is looking like a special year. A paradigm shifting year. That being the case, there is certainly an argument to be made that you put all your chips on the table because it’s the only way to achieve that massive, maximum pay out. And that means temporarily suspending red-state capacity building in favor of fully funding the 50 or so federal races that would turn a nice Dem year into “Hello, Speaker Pelosi.”

Kos is being way too doctrinnaire on this. Begala (and others) have a point. Debate it, and I think you win. But don’t dismiss it.

by ColoDem on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:36:35 AM PDT

nah (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:gogol, peraspera, Shaniriver 2006 means what?

Impeachment?

We need 67 senators to make removal happen. Can we hope to get that??

The long view is the correct one. The real problem - the one that’s worth fighting and winning - involves reapportionment, which comes after the 2010 census. At that point, a win would involve state legislature control in states with more than one House member (and, in some states, requires the governorship).

This isn’t about winning Capitol Hill for one term. It must be about evolving political culture at the most basic level. That’s where long term momentum is built and where the party’s bench grows. Look at the folks in Congress now. Lotsa V.I.P. Democrats over 60, and quite a few in the Senate pushing 70. There will be a huge number of open seats over the next decade on both sides of the aisle.

The early backlash against the 1994 Gingrich revolution (96 & 98) were noteworthy. No matter how well Dems do in 2006, there’ll still be a GOP administration in place, and if the Dems approach to the kind of legislative gridlock (Dem bill passes; vetoed by Bu$hCo) involves the same kind of half-assed PR message work that has been flowing from DC (Begala et al.) continues, there’s a likely GOP backlash in 2008 unless Dems can start collecting dividends on their investment in Mississippi, Utah, Arizona, and a host of other locales that benefit from the 50-state strategy.

Begala knows old style: Raise big bucks for big media buys. Imagine how badly Kerry would have lost if there hadn’t been a huge grass roots effort. (hint: start by putting WI, MN, WA and OR in the redstate column, and keep going from there).

Let’s be guided by patience and wisdom here. Here’s hoping that the scales drop from Mr. Begala’s eyes.

BushIsWeak.com … somebody really ought to register this domain name …

by wystler on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:59:32 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Not that this will be popular (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia, CarolynC967 But I understand what Paul meant. While I don’t like the way he said it….and I think ColoDem got it right…Begala is focused only on ONE thing.

Winning in November the House and maybe The Senate

Dean was hired for a different job. Is it the best use of resources when we are faced with an election that could determine the course of our Constitution, as I said yesterday in a reply to John Kerry,?

That might be debatable. Why? Because the resources, ie $$, being used might be better used to WIN SEATS. Maybe.

I don’t disagree with the effort to rebuild the Party nationally and that’s why I advocated a multi-cycle effort by the Grassroots in The Insurgent Political Campaign blog and podcast. And I think Gov. Dean is doing a fine job at his task.

There are, however, two sides to the coin. What if, as usual, we Democrats run short of money again?

So there is a debate. It shouldn’t be a Demonization. Begala is into winning races. He, in this cycle, doesn’t look beyond that reality.

Gov. Dean was hired to build a Party. Are they mutually exclusive? No. But one can impede on another depending on how they are handled. That’s a truth too.

It’s only a matter of tactics not the desired end results. Both want the same thing.

And Begala, after hanging around James all these years, was too colorful!

So, as someone in the trenches with two races I see both sides. And both have value (altho I think Begala’s language leaves something to be desired!).

We have to have a long-term strategy to re-build the party and we MUST win back The House this time! So both men are right in their own way once you get past the language.

Let’s attack Republican’s.

The Political Dogfight and Stuart O’Neill’s Political Interviews

by BigDog04 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:03:28 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Begala (5+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia, Aquarius40, peraspera, Shaniriver, NJwlss Well, it’s Begala’s attitude that I object to, not his “language.” Dean acknowledges, “Yes, we need to win right now and we also need to plan long-term.”

Begala doesn’t offer any respect for Dean’s vision. He just dismisses it (nastily). If Begala had said anything along the lines of what you said, BigDog, then I wouldn’t have had a problem with it. Even if I had said, “Look, I appreciate what the governor is trying to do, but I think we should prioritize this year’s elections,” I would have been cool with it.

But no, he had to go call Gov. Dean an idiot. And he also had to insult the hard-working staff in MS and UT.

You more than anyone else are a proponent of the idea that you must pay people to do good work. (I agree.) But s** on them - especially people working in such unforgiving red states - really hurts that objective.

Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News

by DavidNYC on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:10:35 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

When will Clinton come out in favor (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:Ed in Montana, dash888 of the 50 state strategy? I heard he was on board. You’d think that would cause Begala and Emanuel to think twice before they trashed Dean.

“To any sheriff or peace officer of the State of Texas; Greetings: You are hereby commanded to arrest: Thomas Dale Delay” -Warrant for Tom Delay

by who threw da cat on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:37:07 AM PDT

Disappointing (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:3goldens, Do Tell, BarbaraB I saw Begala and JC Watts together. Begala is winging it, Watts is struggling to remember his talking points. In the end, Watts stays on message whereas Begala is sort of bouncing off the walls, expressing three different opinions on each issue.

He needs to cut back on the caffeine and slow down and think before he speaks. He is not on “Crossfire” anymore and the dumb things he says will have more legs than they previously did when he was just on an entertainment show. Now he has to at least pretend to make sense, like Watts is doing. By the way, what a dolt Watts is. Begala ought to be able to run rings around him, if he puts his mind to it.

by arthura on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:37:17 AM PDT

Did I mention (11+ / 0-) Recommended by:Ed in Montana, Dr Van Nostrand, ubikkibu, Dems2004, dash888, AndyT, peraspera, high uintas, Catte Nappe, Shotput8, sodalis Salt Lake City has a Democratic mayor who led anti-Bush protests?

If now isn’t the time to build up the party in Utah and Mississippi, there is no time.

Far-Shooting Politics: www.hekebolos.com

by hekebolos on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:37:22 AM PDT

Dean’s cousin= Mayor of Salt Lake City (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:high uintas Peter Carroon, a Democracy for America supported candidate, is Howard Dean’s cousin, and now mayor of Salt Lake City.

pfft! Take that DLC! With more to come…

by roonie on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:27:57 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Between Begala and Aravosis… (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:wystler, roonie, mini mum …I can’t say who’s been scummier to Dean.

Grand Moff Texan has the details.

Mercury Rising: http://phoenixwoman.blogspot.com

by Phoenix Woman on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:37:31 AM PDT

Aravosis who? (0 / 0)

by roonie on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:28:36 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Conservative Base erosion—Make it PERMANENT! (5+ / 0-) Recommended by:gogol, dash888, boadicea, Shaniriver, BB10 Right now is the perfect time to be comitting resources to “unwinnable” states such as utah and mississippi. If we can win local elections this next cycle, we can ensure that this erosion of the base will last longer than the bush administration. Obviously we will never win the lunatic fringe right wing voters, but too often the Democratic establishment forgets that the majority of people who live in red states are sensible. The only reason they are red is because our party has forgot about them.

Dukakis ‘08

by Brodiewankenobi on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:37:50 AM PDT

Begala is wrong by why attack Clinton? (0+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia I think Begala is wrong. 100%. I think his words were poorly chosen. If he disagrees he can do so in a more constructive manner. I have agreed with Dean on the 50 state plan since he first pitched it. It is the only way the Democrats can regain a lasting majority in the House and Senate.

However, I simply do not get many around these blogs that are so dismissive of Clinton and his 8 years in office. Who was the last Democrat before Clinton to serve two terms? Who is the most popular Democrat on the face of the planet? Look at the facts and ask yourself why these things are the wy they are.

(I posted my reply to this thread under the open thread first … by accident)

by dpANDREWS on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:37:59 AM PDT

and BTW, the GOP is in trouble in Miss. & UT (0 / 0) for the first time in as long as I can remember. I don’t think anyone was wandering around, picking their nose.

“pulp is fiction, blogs are hope, long live electricity”

by dash888 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:38:28 AM PDT

Not a fan of Begala (5+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia, Steve4Clark, RaulVB, Timoteo, Do Tell But as a gay man I am certainly not a fan of Dean either, especially after he has now decided to throw us under the bus.

How much more stupid can Dean get?? Why does he have to go on the Robertson 700 show of all places and lie about the Democratic Party positon on same sex marriage? He is not going to win any allies there and only p** off people who would otherwise support the democrats.

Between Dean’s boneheaded bigoted comments and his sacking of vocal gay critics I know that my loyalty is quickly and rapidly waning.

I think its time to sack both the Carvillians and the Deaniacs.

by smoosh21 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:38:39 AM PDT

Not 100% behind that, but… (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:CarolynC967 … I have been really, really disapointed at the visible effort people have gone to here to avoid even talking about this issue.

We have this item recently:

Democratic Party Chair Howard Dean fired the party’s gay outreach adviser Donald Hitchcock on May 2 less than a week after Hitchcock’s domestic partner, Paul Yandura, a longtime party activist, accused Dean of failing to take adequate steps to defend gay rights.

And then, of course, this quote of what he said on The 700 Club:

He added, “The Democratic Party platform from 2004 says that marriage is between a man and a woman. That’s what it says. I think where we may take exception with some religious leaders is that we believe in inclusion, that everybody deserves to live with dignity and respect, and that equal rights under the law are important.”

SO, before the flames start:

Everything aside, the 50-state strategy is a good strategy, and Begala is an idiot to criticize it. Dean, like everyone, is human and can not morph to follow every liberal position every time BUT - I’ve lost some of my faith in the “reality-based” objectivity here on DKos over this even. Face it, if HILLARY or JOEMENTUM [who I don’t like] had done either of these things, the ensuing diary blood-bath would have taken at least a week to die down. Just my 2 cents…

Those who fail to learn from history…are invited to submit an application for a position in the Bush administration.

by Timoteo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:01:07 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

BTW - (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:CarolynC967 I actually DO support Dean, and I’m gay, and I think there is room for argument, and I think he done a good job overall.

But I’m also damn sure nobody gets a “free pass” on civil rights support if they want to be a leader in the Democratic Party - at least not in any Democratic Pary I can see myself supporting.

Those who fail to learn from history…are invited to submit an application for a position in the Bush administration.

by Timoteo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:03:44 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Huh? (0 / 0) I fail to see anything bad in either of those. He sacked a guy, and people claim it was because his partner criticized him. However, it’s impossible to tell whether this was a factor at all, there was probably more going on: their working relationship was probably already bad, prompting his partner to criticize him. In the case of a bad working relationship, firing someone may be in order, doesn’t matter who or what they are.

In the second quote, Dean simply states the Democratic platform, and, in fact, what he has always said: he supports equal rights (through e.g. civil unions), but not gay marriage. You may not agree with him there (I know I don’t), but don’t pretend like this is something new: it’s always been his position, and as DNC chair it is his job to defend the Democratic party platform. And this is/was in it.

I do not have my own blog.

by Frank on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:34:14 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Dean hasn’t thrown anyone under the bus (4+ / 0-) Recommended by:Frank, roonie, ubikkibu, ETinKC That talking point has got to go.

Why does he have to go on the Robertson 700 show of all places and lie about the Democratic Party positon on same sex marriage?

Lie? That implies intent. I’d like to see someone, anyone, travel as much as he does, give as many interviews and speeches as he does, and retain an extraordinary amount of information as he does and not screw up at some point. Enough.

He is not going to win any allies there and only p** off people who would otherwise support the democrats.

Here is why he’s talking to “them”:

“I think it’s important, and I think it’s a good idea for the Democratic Party anyway,” Dean said. “Even if we didn’t even need evangelicals to win, we ought to be communicating to the evangelical community for two reasons. First, you shouldn’t [exclude them], and [if you do], you’re not going to do a good job. You shouldn’t govern if you’re ignoring a whole section of the population.”

Between Dean’s boneheaded bigoted comments and his sacking of vocal gay critics I know that my loyalty is quickly and rapidly waning.

“Sacking of vocal gay critics”? You have no proof, especially when it sounds like the DNC traded up when it hired Brian Bond.

If I won’t tolerate Republican memes being regurgitated all over the blogosphere I sure won’t tolerate them on our side, either.

Liberal: “I still think it’s a respectable word. Its root is “liber,” the Latin word for “free,” and isn’t that what we are all about?”—Mary McGrory

by mini mum on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:04:01 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

What’s your beef? Is it really Dean or the Democr (0 / 0) atic Party?

I think the Democratic Party must support gay marriage. If it doesn’t, then you can’t get mad a Dean for saying what the Democratic Party’s position is.

Feingold supports gay marriage, he got re-elected… even after voting against the Iraq War and the Patriot Act.

Democrats have to realize that if you don’t support your argument, no one else will either.

by jsamuel on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:25:48 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

And Remember (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:wystler What did he ever accomplish that he thinks gives him the right to Monday morning QB any way?

Remember the Lousy results achieved by these “experts” from the Clinton era and their supposed poltical brillianc:

Bill Clinton never managed to get 50% of the vote in any election. He was only President because of the votes bled off the GOP by that lunatic H. Ross Perot.

Not only that but their electoral brilliance also was unable to stop to Newtie’s infamous putsch in 1994.

If it weren’t for Republican overreaching and the enormous personal magnetism of Bill, they’d be rightly remembered as incompetent clowns and not ensconced in the Washington establishment.

Knowledge is power Power Corrupts Study Hard Be Evil

by Magorn on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:38:47 AM PDT

I’ll say it now. (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Ed in Montana Back during the primaries, I was not someone who ever thought I’d be saying thank goodness for Howard Dean. But thank goodness for Howard Dean.

And why is this comment entry box showing up old-school?

by MissLaura on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:38:54 AM PDT

the comment box? (0 / 0) perhaps you right-clicked to open in a new window?

BushIsWeak.com … somebody really ought to register this domain name …

by wystler on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:08:59 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

I don’t think I’d have right-clicked (0 / 0) or not without noticing, anyway, since it involves not just right-clicking but scrolling a bit. Better theory than I’d come up with, though.

by MissLaura on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:58:13 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

give it a rest paul (0 / 0) What?? And, in a few more than a few months, he’s gonna come back ‘round and as us all to line up behind Hillary, no?

Kick us all in the teeth Paul. That’s one hell of a way to get us on board and keep us there …

BushIsWeak.com … somebody really ought to register this domain name …

by wystler on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:39:22 AM PDT

Whether or not we actually win elections (5+ / 0-) Recommended by:Ed in Montana, tmo, RaulVB, BB10, NJwlss one cannot underestimate the importance of having a base in every state. We need people who are going to have the courage to stand up to Red-Staters, and one cannot write off the momentum we get everytime Americans see that 66% of their fellow citizens disapprove of Bushco.

Last I checked, they do poll in Utah and Mississippi, too. I wouldn’t want people to support the President there simply because they perceive there is no one who has their back….

Thou shalt not worship graven images—even if they do have 50 stars and pretty colors.

by RickBoston on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:39:37 AM PDT

OK, but … (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia this is a zero sum game. That is, there is a finite amount of resources to spend on Democratic politics. If you spend a few hundred grand a year to maintain a Democratic party staff in Mississippi, and then multiply that by, what, about 20 “red” states, and you’ve got a bunch of millions that will NOT go to helping Amy Klobuchar, or Diane Farrell, or Jon Tester beat Republicans, win a majority, and ensure investigations into Bush next year.

Make the choice. But don’t pretend we can have our cake and eat it too.

by ColoDem on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:43:53 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Except that’s assuming (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:wystler, peraspera money sent to the DNC for the 50-State strategy would indeed go to these campaigns.

I wouldn’t send a dime to the DNC (and didn’t before Howard Dean’s tenure) that won’t stand up against the Republicans wherever they are.

It’s not a zero sum game. The more we extend our reach into red state the more resources we can develop.

Before you win, you have to fight. Come fight along with us at TexasKos.

by boadicea on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:52:54 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

no it’s not a zero sum game (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:peraspera Energetic, forward thinking leadership will energize the grassroots/netroots and bring out more money. Speaking personally, I think I’ve donated more money to politics so far this year than in my whole life before. This money has gone to Howard Dean and to a number of specific progressive candidates, several of them that I first heard of here on dkos. I agree with Dean that every nickel of this is for beating republicans and winning a majority - now and for the future.

The Four Horsemen of Bushism: War, Corruption, Hypocrisy and Greed

by esquimaux on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:54:37 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

I could not disagree with you more (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:peraspera I could not disagree with you more. This is NOT a zero sum game. Investments in infrastructure pay back many times over. Jon Tester may beat the Republicans because of the investments in Montana’s infrastructure the DNC is making. And the infrastructure investments are making people so excited that it’s generating more money coming in.

Your argument is a common one, akin to the economic lump of labor fallacy, also known as the “zero sum” fallacy. That fallacy states that there is only X amount of work to be done in a society, and when those jobs get filled everyone else is out of luck. The amount of work available in a society isn’t fixed, and neither is the money available to the DNC. People are able to find amazing amounts of money under their sofas when they’re inspired.

A word after a word after a word is power. — Margaret Atwood

by tmo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:04:28 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

It’s Not Zero Sum (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:peraspera Your mistake is in assuming dollars donated to dems is a constant, while one of the key elements in the 50 state approach is that it will explore and discover new resources.

Why not pursue more voters and donors in Mississippi and Utah (and Arizona and Kansas and Oklahoma and …)?

BushIsWeak.com … somebody really ought to register this domain name …

by wystler on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:12:03 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

I sure hope you’re right (0 / 0) and you might well be. But what if you’re not? What if we miss out on winning the House this year because a critical dozen races or so are underfunded?

by ColoDem on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:32:11 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

considering the FACT… (6+ / 0-) Recommended by:rick, ayoosilver, boadicea, Catte Nappe, klk, tomzultant that the democratic party hasnt done so well under the CLinton Era constutant strategy since clinton left office Begala might want to embrace Howard Dean’s strategy and quit whining that Dean actually took the money WE donated to him and used it to do what he told us he would IF we donated that money.

Imagine that…a political person who actually kept their word to the people who he asked for money from…no wonder the beltway dems are furious…

but I have something to say to Paul Begala….the money Dean is using for his 50 state strategy was donated to the DNC for Howard Dean to use in his 50 state strategy and I now have even MORE respect for Mr Dean because he didnt take the money I gave him for his 50 state strategy and use it for something else.

I made a decision to financially support Howard Dean’s 50 state strategy and if Begala, Rahm and Schumer dont like that Dean didnt turn my money over to them…to damn bad.

If i had wanted to donate that money to the dccc or the dscc i would have but i didnt so they should quit whining and leave Howard Dean and MY donations alone.

“if all the world’s a stage, who is sitting in the audience?”

by KnotIookin on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:39:50 AM PDT

Lets be clear (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia, Ed in Montana Clinton’s people retired with Clinton.

Gore’s campaign was not a Clintonista campaign, and Kerry only brough on Lockhart et als after his ship was sunk by the Swifties.

I think the indictment of Clinton’s crew is both premature and not wholely based on the facts.

Was Bob Shrum a Clintonista? I think not! And Donna Brazile doesn’t really count either, since she was not an intricate part of 92 or 96.

General and Supreme Commander of the 82nd Chairborne: I’ve killed people for less!

by patsprouseyo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:46:35 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

the ONLY thing I agree with in your post… (0 / 0) is that Donna Brazille doesnt count.

Begala on the other hand has been the voice of the Democrats on cabel TV for years…right up until the day Jon Stewart spoke the truth about crossfire ON Crossfire and it was finally canceled…

But Begala has kept right on talking anyway….and, in my not so humble opinion, he is irrelevant to the conversation these days.

“if all the world’s a stage, who is sitting in the audience?”

by KnotIookin on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:26:22 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Ok…so please explain how anything (0 / 0) you just wrote refutes my point?

Shrum doesnt count either Please address how it IS the Clintonistas fault if you disagree (I actually am curious as to your line of thinking) Being a voice on cable TV does not equate to losing in 2000, 2002, or 2004. John Stewart did not get Crossfire canned. Being on a TV show that was canned does not invalidate your arguments or point of view. You’re right, Begala still IS on TV and still IS a voice for Democrats. So how does that make him irrelevant? Disagreeing with our/your point of view does not equate to irrelevance. There is still a large segment of the party that agrees with Begala. Getting Begala (who is our ally) to see things our way, and speak our view on TV seems to be a much more worthy goal than “troll hunting” out allies doesn’t it?

General and Supreme Commander of the 82nd Chairborne: I’ve killed people for less!

by patsprouseyo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:38:57 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

You nailed it. (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:KnotIookin, dannyinla I never gave to political organizations before, only specific candidates, but after Dean came along, I started donating to the DNC when I could because I knew he would use the money the way he said he would, and in a manner that I agree is critical. I have said it before in other diary comments, but I will say it again. The so-called pundits have no idea what is really taking place out here in the every day America, and I think they will be surprised to find out what is being accomplished at the grassroots level. Those that disagree with the 50 state strategy strike me as self-serving egotists who can’t let go of their tenuous grasp of power. (Hmm, now who else does that remind me of?)

by klk on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:52:11 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

we made OUR first donation cause of Dean too (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:klk, BB10 and my once totally and completely apothetic to politics husband actually broke down and registered to vote JUST so he would be able to vote for Howard Dean in the primary ….he never got that chance though but he does take Dean’s donation emails seriously and he has made quite a few donations to DEAN causes…

maybe Begala, Rahm and Schumer think the Dean Money is beltway BIG DONOR money that Dean is withholding from them….maybe they dont realize we are the ones sending Howard that cashola…in small amounts, little by little, as he asks for it in order to fund specific plans?

Dont Rahm and Schumer realize that IF Howard Dean just turned the 50 state strategy monies over to the beltway boys the money from us might start to DRY UP????

Howard Dean was belittled, dismissed and laughed at by the party biggies back in 04….now they demand he turn HIS successful funding booty over to them? on principle alone I think Howard should give them the finger…had they listened to Dean 2 years ago we might already hold a majority in the house

“if all the world’s a stage, who is sitting in the audience?”

by KnotIookin on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:32:36 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

True. (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:Ed in Montana, Do Tell I heard Begal speak back in 2004, before the election. He took the opportunity then to slam Dean for his “temperament,” while saying how he liked Bush personally. I almost got up and left.

Begala and his best bud Mr. Matalin can screw off. None of these guys give a real flying f*** for anyone outside the political class.

The only thing 9/11 changed is the standard of presidential failure.

by thinkdouble on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:39:59 AM PDT

regarding Begala, then Dean (0 / 0) with Begala, it occurs to me that a consultant is only as good as his candidate.

As for Dean, I think the local focus is one of the best things about his chairmanship, but I wonder if he couldn’t use a co-chair, as there was a few years ago: Let someone else do the TV appearances, someone who is a little smoother and the media isn’t determined to make look bad.

by BlueinColorado on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:40:46 AM PDT

Bleah (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:Ed in Montana, Dems2004 Co-Chair equals 2 time the drama.

Dean does well, and the media is slowly coming to show Dean some respect. The Republicans will never like Dean, nor lay off him, all you do by adding a co-chair is:

give the Republicans more fodder to fire at Dean Take away the authority Dean has over the party, and allow his successes to me mittigate and credit shared add to the infighting within the Democratic party when we need strong centralization and unification

General and Supreme Commander of the 82nd Chairborne: I’ve killed people for less!

by patsprouseyo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:49:32 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

50-state strategy IS working (12+ / 0-) Recommended by:Ed in Montana, tmo, ayoosilver, boadicea, peraspera, Shaniriver, Shotput8, Do Tell, BarbaraB, BB10, NJwlss, AmericanRiverCanyon Screw Begala.

Here in the 3rd Congressional District of Minnesota (western suburbs of Minneapolis), the new DNC organizer is a great guy named Dustin Trice. He is originally from the area and has committed to spending several years on the job. He has already done so much in just a couple of months, and everyone is excited and invigorated that we have a full-time, year-round person to help us.

We are making huge strides here in the western suburbs. We shocked the Repubs in 2004 by electing my friend Maria Ruud to the state legislature and then again last fall when we elected Terri Bonoff to the state senate in a special election that drew national attention.

For the upcoming elections, we have some great local candidates, including Andrew Borene, an Iraqi veteran and fighting Dem, who is running for state senate.

And just last Saturday we endorsed former Air America Minnesota radio host Wendy Wilde to be our congressional candidate against Republican Jim Ramstad. Although she is getting into the game late, Wendy is the first credible candidate we have ever had to run against Ramstad. See her web site at http://www.wildeforcongress.com/

We also just elected Marge Hoffa as our new congressional district chair. I first met Marge (and Maria Ruud) three years ago at a Dean Meetup.

On the ground, where it counts, Howard Dean’s 50-state plan IS working.

I repeat, screw Begala.

by reade on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:40:58 AM PDT

Minnesota’s not a Red State (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia This debate is about states like Utah and Alaska, not Minnesota.

by ColoDem on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:45:52 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

In Utah (7+ / 0-) Recommended by:tmo, wvillmike, peraspera, God loves goats, BB10, NJwlss, AmericanRiverCanyon We have the mayor of Salt Lake City and thanks to Dr. Dean we have the mayor of Salt Lake County, Peter Corroon. Dean came here to campaign for him and for other Utah dems. Also, I have friends in Pocotello Idaho, Dr. Dean went there and spoke to the local Dems and my friends were able to go. They were so excited and energized afterward, they’ve become more involved both financially and by attending meet-ups and other activities. His 50 state project is working.

Say no to Domino’s!

by high uintas on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:57:18 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

You should let Paul Begala know that (n/t) (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:high uintas

A word after a word after a word is power. — Margaret Atwood

by tmo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:05:31 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

You are right (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:tmo I’m going to look for how to contact him now!

Say no to Domino’s!

by high uintas on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:19:32 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Hi High (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:high uintas haven’t seen you here since we met while Markos was in town. Now I remember why I stopped drinking.

zzz….Wha…? How did I get in this handbasket?

by God loves goats on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:09:01 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Hi goats!! (0 / 0) I’ve been looking for ya. Don’t worry about the beers, I had to quit drinking years ago for the same reasons, that’s why I was drinking diet coke and coffee :)

Say no to Domino’s!

by high uintas on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:18:24 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Minnesota was trending red (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:Shaniriver, NJwlss, AmericanRiverCanyon It’s time to stop that. I believe that the 50 state strategy will do that. It’s also to shore up the establishment in states that you don’t want to go further to the dark side.

On another front it’s also to change the political culture and the dialogue in red states. How can you do that if there’s no presence? A state presence gives you more candidates, more faces on local news and in local press, quick response to repub distortions and lies on local news and other things. The positive to the fifty state initiative far outweighs the quick fix that the DCCC and DSCC want to have. If they need more money, they should go out and fundraise more aggressively, not take the money from the DNC.

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.” Mark Twain

by dougymi on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:10:11 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

It’s the opposite (0 / 0) I agree on the 50 state strategy, but ultimately it means taking resources out of states like Minnesota to send them to dark red states. I still believe it is the right thing to do, but Minnesota turning red is not a reason to support a 50 state strategy.

If there is anything I have learned from Scooby Doo, it is that the only thing to fear is crooked real estate developers.

by JakeC on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:32:34 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Actually (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:dougymi I think it forces the GOP to spend money in their “safe” states.

I think that negates any impact that there might be from spending less money in blue states. And overall, it’s better to not give them any “safe” room, as it just keeps us further and further in a defensive circle.

(0.00,-3.13) “I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it.”

by Steve4Clark on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:43:09 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

bunk (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:NJwlss It’s not a 16-state strategy. It’s not a red-state strategy. It’s a 50-state strategy.

Minnesota’s a purple state. It had elected a knee-jerk reactionary pro wrestler as governor. (Sort of a poor man’s Ahnold, if you bother to think about it.) The state Dem party had been in shambles, with a severe lack of bench talent, an had been trending redward for several cycles.

A Congressional seat now held by any GOoPer is a proper target.

And, by the way, Illinois is in trouble at the state level. Keep your eyes on next Tuesday, when a major announcement will hit, with an independent slate of legislative (and perhaps executive) candidates will be released that will tap Dem votes in the African American community.

BushIsWeak.com … somebody really ought to register this domain name …

by wystler on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:22:28 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

MN’s 3rd CD has been Solid Red for many years (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:ayoosilver, AmericanRiverCanyon It’s home to many affluent suburbs, old-line wealth, and corporate execs. The district also has a sizeable cadre of Reagan Dems and bleeds off into Exurbs and the remains of prairie.

No Dem candidate for Congress broke 30% of the vote until 2004. And in the last two years, the dem legislative pickups were all in Red or Purple areas of the district. Almost all of these gains came from grassroots organizing and increased dem visibility throughout the district.

Minnesota is an interesting case to look at because it has areas that are Ultra Blue and other areas that are very comfortable with the politics of Kansas and South Dakota.

Minnesota’s also been pimped by the Republicans to give them a national bench of northern republicans who are for all intents and purposes bought and paid for by Bush, Rove and the wingnut zoo; people like Tim Pawlently, Norm Coleman, Mark Kennedy, and Michelle Bachman. It’s a great statement for the R’s, the land of Humphrey, Mondale, and Wellstone now sending hard-right Rs to Congress and the Statehouse. Without a 50 state republican strategy Minnesota would never have become a key chapter in the GOP’s 2006 - 2016 playbook.

MN’s a prime example of the Republican 50 state strategy in action.

by northcountry on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:25:53 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

More like Purple (0 / 0) Ramstad is a moderate -> liberal Republican. He’s an enabler. But when it comes to s** which would give the left ammo back home, he usually votes with the Democrats.

I noticed like a week or so ago he voted with the Dems on one of the house reform bills. I don’t recall the specifics now. But, he likes the power. If the GOP loses the House you may see him try to switch parties.

(0.00,-3.13) “I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it.”

by Steve4Clark on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:48:44 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

In doesn’t matter (0 / 0) if Minnesota is a Blue state however not all of the state are Democrats just like here in NJ. Although the Majority are Dems in the State Legislature we still need to compete in the western part that borders PA where it is dominated by GOP from Mayor City Council, and Count Exec. So irregardless of whether Blue or not we must let them compete locally and explain their position.

by ayoosilver on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:59:47 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

their way (0 / 0) We tried their way and look where we are

It seems to me that a great deal of damage was done in ‘94 with the rethugs’ “Contract on America”. I’m not sure how any type of democrat could be blamed for that. You can’t blame even the rep-lite dems, because they were replaced by even worse villians. It’s like blaming the old coach for losing some games now that the new coach is losing even more games. You can blame him for his own screwups, surely. But not for the screwups that came after he was replaced.

We are just now really starting to feel the effects of the changes that took place a decade or more ago. The SUV boom. The outsourcing boom. The consolidation boom. The deregulation boom. And soon, the ARM mortgage boom.

by Censor me too on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:41:29 AM PDT

I wonder if they (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:wystler somehow have it in their heads that a broad, all-out (50-state) assault is somehow “not clever as a strategy.”

They’re infatuated with strategizing, reading tea leaves, and trying to concentrate their influence in places they feel are going to be crucial: that’s what they get paid to do.

Just saying “Let’s do it all” is too easy. Not clever. Not worth paying brazillions of bucks for. So they denigrate it.

They’re not really interested in winning. They’re interested in being whiz-kids.

-9.25, -7.54

Catecholamines: Can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em.

by Marc in KS on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:42:04 AM PDT

great point (0 / 0) Begala’s favorite tool must be his calculator, and he seems to be way aware of just how many seats Dems must win to take back the majority in the House.

But he’s driving me bonkers with his placement of this wonkish calculation out in public. People hear of “experts” doing the math, and tend to think “conniving” …

DC-based pundits will always place ultra high priority in federal-level results, but the long-term trend is driven by down-ticket state and local races that define the future “bench”. My own faithfully blue Congresscritter won’t be around forever. Somebody’s going to replace her sometime. I’d much rather see quality home-grown indie Dem candidates succeed than settle for whoever the Cook County Dem organization deigns to gift us with when that time comes.

BushIsWeak.com … somebody really ought to register this domain name …

by wystler on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:36:47 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

On behalf of Texas and the great city of Austin (6+ / 0-) Recommended by:tmo, AndyT, Shaniriver, RaulVB, Do Tell, AmericanRiverCanyon I apologize for this a*****. This guy is ours- though NJ hatched him initially.

Somebody else is going to have to take the heat for Carville.

Before you win, you have to fight. Come fight along with us at TexasKos.

by boadicea on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:42:20 AM PDT

Harris Wofford and Zell Miller? (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:patsprouseyo The main thing Carville gave us was the quote…

“When your opponent is drowning, throw the son of a b*** an anvil.”

and for that I thank him.

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.” Mark Twain

by dougymi on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:14:40 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Or, have Jon Stewart Pay another Visit (0 / 0) I hear MSNBC wants to create an 11:30 spot!

That guy gets on my nerves…

:::

“Let’s put a shoe in there!” ~ Haywood Nelson

by nowheredesign on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:42:45 AM PDT

Egh…Begala serves his purpose (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia Is he being obtuse by not buying into Dean’s 50 state strategy, yes!

But does that mean he has nothing useful to contribute? No! I think the insinuation is wrong, but the critique is right.

We need to get people like Begala on board, not throw them overboard. He has so much energy and knows how to pull the levers of the machine. Begala isn’t the same sort of obstruction to rebuilding the party as say, Bob Shrum, or Donna Brazile. Its just a matter of convincing Begala of the strides we are making. He sees none right now, but I will bet you that if we show successes in 2006, and/or 2008 with the 50 state strategy Begala will come around.

He’s a doubting Thomas, not a Judas.

General and Supreme Commander of the 82nd Chairborne: I’ve killed people for less!

by patsprouseyo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:42:46 AM PDT

Assuming that happens (0 / 0) How would he help then? What levers do you speak of? He’s a self-serving pundit. And the people on the ground doing the work in Utah and Mississippi, while he sits in front of a camera and complains, have 50 times his energy.

He can go now and shut up while he’s at it.

-8.38, -8.00 Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice. —Thomas Paine

by hyperstation on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:05:57 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Assuming that happens (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia Begala IS a Democrat pundit who gets airtime, and unlike tools like Joe Klein, he is truly a party supporter. In other words Begala has a megaphone! As smart as some of the “new breed” activists are, Begala is just as smart, and has more experience. Just because he doesn’t agree 100% with Markos (or any other young activist) doesn’t mean he has to go, nor that he won’t be a great resource in the future, or a good ally. I think this line of thought; “all operatives not signed on to the 50-state, net roots, new-activist movement should go” is just as obtuse as Begala’s boneheaded “picking their nose” comment. The lever are those that are already in power. An ally like Begala will help us get those obstinant obstructions like Brazile and Shrum to move out of the way. The old gaurd listent to people like Begala or Carville, and Begala and Carville are also smart enough to sign on to a movement when they see it actually gaining successes. Right now this new movement’s successes are very much limited. We claim things like Paul Hackett not losing by TOO much as a success, which it is, but it is not a “SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE” type of success.

General and Supreme Commander of the 82nd Chairborne: I’ve killed people for less!

by patsprouseyo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:15:11 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

yeah we need to keep him (0 / 0) and he’ll eventually come around. it’d be nice if we could convince him sooner rather than later though. darn consultants being too short sighted

by made1ntaiwan on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:17:50 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Tell’em Kos! (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:tmo Why on earth wouldn’t they want a presence in those states? Kerry’s bright idea was to gaff them off and look how well that turned out. There are Dem’s in those states and with what Dean is doing we can convert more. As an aside, if you look at all the things Dean said during his run for president, he was correct. So to hell with the DLC and everyone in it!

if you don’t know where your going, any road will take you there.

by mrsarvis on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:42:52 AM PDT

question (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia, tmo Why is it okay to call Begala an “a*****”? Crashing the Gate berates groups for not backing Dems who weren’t 100% behind their particular issue. I’m not saying he’s not wrong in this case, but he is definitely on our side.

Ha, ha. Well that was fast. The “a*****” comment was removed from the headline.

Thanks.

by kometes on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:42:55 AM PDT

Take (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:3goldens Begala, Brazille, Shrum and all the rest and toss them back into the 1980’s.

We don’t want them!

by CW Wisconsin on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:43:00 AM PDT

Hey Begala, I hear Lieberman needs help (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:tmo, peraspera, RaulVB …with his campaign.

What a useless dimwit.

We haven’t forgotten the truth about Iraq.

by boofdah on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:43:46 AM PDT

He might go for it (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:God loves goats, RaulVB, boofdah he did work for Zell Miller in the past.

Say no to Domino’s!

by high uintas on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:59:22 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Kevin Drum. (19+ / 0-) Recommended by:DavidNYC, tmo, Dr Van Nostrand, roonie, ayoosilver, Sherri in TX, cookiesandmilk, BaconGreaseKid, Pithy Cherub, boadicea, AndyT, peraspera, Bearpaw, Shaniriver, Catte Nappe, dave3172, dannyinla, Do Tell, BB10 Drum ran this yesterday.

About 6:30 this evening, a young

By RE

May 12, 2006 04:15 PM | Link to this

Well Craig, I did try to put something out there that I think is an issue. Perhaps you have found the solution though, just deny it is happening and insult anyone who brings it up. Good plan. By the way, do you have anything interesting to say or are you just going to go off on the standard liberals are bringing down the country rant and offer no admission of problems faced or solutions to them?

By Andy's Mom

May 12, 2006 04:16 PM | Link to this

About 6:30 this evening, a young lady rang my doorbell. She was canvassing for the DNC, going door to door talking to people and collecting small donations. We chatted for a while about this year’s elections, Karl Rove, possible presidential candidates, and so on.

Now here’s the thing: I have lived in blue and not so blue states in my life (and currently in the reddest of red states, Georgia) but this is the first time anyone representing the party has come to my house. What does she get for it? OK, I gave her some cash, but what is more interesting is what she found at some other houses in the neighborhood — Republican ones. Some of them gave her cash too. Others said they couldn’t give money since it would put them in a bad position with the party, but that she was getting their vote this year. I can’t help but think that this was worth whatever the DNC is paying her. She is creating new Democrats.

“I was Rambo in the disco. I was shootin’ to the beat. When they burned me in effigy. My vacation was complete.” Neil Young. Mideast Vacation.

by Mike S on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:45:02 AM PDT

Watch out for the Begalas (0 / 0) They don’t “get” us, so they don’t understand how Dean achieved his power. They actually will state that it’s a fluke, and keep up the nasty quotes, esp. ones playing up fear of Dean’s so-called naivete, but the truth is they fear their own inexorable slide out of the power structure because they can see that Dean’s way works and theirs is irrelevant. The quotes are not the worst of what they can do/are doing. They must be countered at every turn.

Begala, you’re gd right we have native progressives on the ground in UT and MS. Concede no territory. Look at the fear Charlie Brown is striking into the supposedly unstoppable Doolittle because run-of-the mill Dem voters have stopped listening to that DLC reasoning and have started working for Brown like their lives depend on it.

Still taking my party back.

by CA Amy on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:45:56 AM PDT

not to mention (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:peraspera, RaulVB A 50-state strategy inherently acts as a check on the worst tendencies of Republicans. I suspect the GOP could only have gotten to its current embrace of extremism b/c there has been zero Democratic presence in these states to at least remind people of the other sides of the various debates. A national presence acts as a natural break on extremism — even Coburn or Cornyn would have to resist their worst tendencies if they had a mass of vocal opposition from their states inundating their offices with calls.

by hillbilly on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:46:50 AM PDT

The old adage (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:RaulVB that the entity to create the problem cannot be the one to fix it works on so many levels. Begala’s best days, ideas and analysis are behind him. He is now a nit on a gnat’s a* speaking recklessly on CNN. His buddy Rahm’s temper tantrum doesn’t reflect well either.

Every time history repeats itself the price goes up - Anon.

by Pithy Cherub on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:47:35 AM PDT

How can they NOT know (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:RaulVB, NJwlss That being shortsighted is a bad policy?

How can they NOT know that long-range planning is acutely needed in the Democratic Party?

Think about it - haven’t the Conservatives in power today done so because of a 30 year effort? An effort that they planned for years to build up support? They lied about the liberal slant to the media for enough years that many believed them, then they pushed conservative media on them, and hampered the ability of the MSM to do its job - do you think that happened overnight?

And don’t we see the damage that the shortsightness of the Bush Administration is doing to our nation today?

How can they not know this in the bowels of the Democratic Party?

I am glad that Howard Dean sees it.

…but not your own facts.

by slouise217 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:48:11 AM PDT

Old practitioners, practice old (0 / 0) Begala, when he was more than a pundit, had successes through his trials and errors. He developped his outlook and political philosophy on his own.

He won’t sign on to an idea that is so foreign to what he’s experienced easily. I understand his skepticism, but when we produce results there is no doubt Begala will sign on board (as a supportive pundit now-adays), lets “show him the money (money being votes) thats really what he wants to see!

Lets agree, he’s not a shill, nor a Benidict Arnold, but he is shortsighted on this issue.

General and Supreme Commander of the 82nd Chairborne: I’ve killed people for less!

by patsprouseyo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:51:52 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

asdf (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:Do Tell, AmericanRiverCanyon Why is this so frickin’ difficult for these idiot consultants to understand? (Answer: because Dean is taking money out of their pockets.)

Too-f***-shay

by Montague on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:48:56 AM PDT

How about… (0 / 0) …we take any Democrat who speaks ill of another Democrat out back and beat the s** out of him?

For God’s Sake! What possible good does it do to give this awful administration one friggin’ iota of support, even obliquely? All hands on deck here, folks!

You know, it’s hard to type and also clench one’s fists. Enough of this f*** s**. Shut your f*** mouths, you clueless, spineless Beltway hacks. Just help us stop this f*** administration, huh? Or so help me, we’ll kick your finely dressed asses to Mars.

The only thing 9/11 changed is the standard of presidential failure.

by thinkdouble on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:49:19 AM PDT

Let’s take Georgia as an example. (6+ / 0-) Recommended by:Dems2004, boadicea, RaulVB, dannyinla, Do Tell, AmericanRiverCanyon I know Georgia politics. I have lived in Georgia my entire life.

Georgia is a blue state. It has been for almost 150 years.

The elections in 2002 and 2004 were anomolies. Errant blips on the radar screen.

We are going to move Georgia back into the blue category. Mark my words.

Help from the DNC would be helpful.

by attydave on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:49:41 AM PDT

Huh? (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia Since most people define the red states and blue states by Presidential results…

Since Carter, Georgia has voted Democratic once, 1992. Every other year, went for the Republican.

And, if you want to argue that Red and Blue should be defined more broadly than just Presidential results and should look at other elections, fine, but then be sure to define by ideology, not party- saying Georgia is blue because it used to elect a lot of conservative Democrats doesn’t really have anything to do with the present day, when the parties are much more ideologically pure.

If there is anything I have learned from Scooby Doo, it is that the only thing to fear is crooked real estate developers.

by JakeC on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:23:46 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

begala (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Do Tell he was the only one yesterday willing to tie the NSA-telco data mining net to the net neutrality debate.

But this is an unforgivable piece of stupidity. Especially since he’s a Democrat from TEXAS.

And Clinton’s signed on to the 50-state strategy, no? I thought he met with Deana and discussed it.

D-Day, the newest blog on the internet (at the moment of its launch)

by dday on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:51:08 AM PDT

I would tell Begala to come to SLC (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:CJB, wvillmike And kiss my jack-mormon a*, but would cut into nose-picking time with my 3 wives. Jerk.

zzz….Wha…? How did I get in this handbasket?

by God loves goats on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:52:45 AM PDT

We fight them there (5+ / 0-) Recommended by:ferg, Pithy Cherub, boadicea, peraspera, dave3172 During the 04 primaries, Bill Moyers interviewed an observer of American politics on NOW. He (can’t remember his name—sorry) said that by avoiding the “red” areas the Democrats enable the republicans who will then craft a moderate message for the blue states suburbs. The advice that this person gave was that while you may not win in the “red,” the party must force the campaign there. By doing so, the republicans must feed their wing-nuttiest base which will scare the moderates country-wide.

I think there is much truth to this idea. Also, we still compete and win many local elections in “red areas” because when it comes to pot-holes and schools, the difference in the parties is obvious. It is with the identification on the national scale that we lose. Begala seems bent on maintaining the status quo when he uses his mic to make fun of Democrats on TV.

Did he forget that life-lesson: “Don’t hang dirty laundry in public?” Or maybe he does know and just wants to topple Dean? Hmmmm?

(note: posted earlier)

ClarkCast Listen & Speak Out

by Donna Z on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:52:54 AM PDT

You forgot Rahm Emmanuel’s temper tantrum (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:peraspera These guys can’t think long-term. I can’t be grateful enough for Dean’s renewed emphasis on building local and state parties.

Here’s Rahm on his recent childish act in Dean’s office:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of crisis, remain neutral.

by ten10 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:53:55 AM PDT

Rahm’s a (0 / 0) “recreational ballet dancer”? Who knew?

(-6.75, -6.24) George W. Bush deserves a fair trial.

by CJB on Fri May 12, 2006 at 01:01:58 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Meh (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:quixotic When has Begala EVER actually cared about Democrats that weren’t going to get him a job? by withthelidoff on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:55:11 AM PDT

Respect for a rejuventated Democratic Party (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:Pondite, RaulVB My goal, as part of my campaign for Congress, is to allow people to see Progressive Democrats as a responsible, forward thinking, vibrant, respectable group of people, capable of earning the respect of the average American and being entrusted with leadership.

“A*****” is only a word.

My girlfriend calls me that at least once during the day.

But my girlfriend and I are very much in love and use the word between ourselves lovingly.

I have in the past used the word on the streets, when I was much younger; and occasionally in the more recent past to some rude driver when sheer momentary rage has overcome my more matured sensibilities and Zen training.

I have no problem with epithets, and in fact, consider myself quite a master in the use of the word “f***.” It really is quite an art to use the word properly in all the subtle nuances to which it can be applied.

But, since I have been in the public eye, I tend to watch my language. I tend to use a more formal word for what the colloquial implies.

Maybe I’m just in Tennessee now, and much of the Bronx street kid has left me over the past fifty or so years, and wouldn’t be appreciated by my very polite hardworking constituents.

I spoke with a group of Young Democrats in Elizabethton High School yesterday.

I was rather blunt in my approach and words, but never found it necessary or appropriate to throw an epithet or two in just to make a point. They were still very much impressed with my very direct and down to earth ideas, attitude and approach.

Hopefully, this site is only read by Democrats, and not some lost, disheartened Republicans, who have very good moral non-religious values who are looking for new leadership and a new home. Kos,

Much of the vernacular used on this site to describe the President of the United States and his cabinet, and now even a fellow Democrat, demeans are our intent and our potential. .

I don’t know that respect for civility and the values of others is such a lost concern that we can afford to ignore it.

I very much respect your work, but I believe the immature street language used as shorthand for serious concerns is unnecessary and defeating of our mutual goal of guiding a strengthened Democratic Party back to Washington.

Respectfully,

Joel

Joel Goodman for Congress.

by Joel Goodman for Congress on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:56:10 AM PDT

Reposting what I wrote on Begala earlier today: (10+ / 0-) Recommended by:Frank, peraspera, God loves goats, RaulVB, quixotic, dannyinla, Do Tell, looty, BB10, NJwlss People can disagree with Dean’s strategy, but I find cracks like this from guys like Begala — a consultant who used to be the beneficiary of DNC largesse under Terry McAuliffe — to be a bit suspect.

My response to Begala would be simple. If “winning elections” is how you “build a party,” why did we lose so much influence in the House, the Senate and Executive under the guidance of guys like you? How did we completely fall out of power under the tutelage and spending habits of Terry McAuliffe’s DNC and the consultancies of folks like you and Carville and Schrum and Brazile?

How embarrassing for him.

The problem with guys like Begala and Carville (and the DLC, for that matter) is that they all made their names riding on Bill Clinton’s back. They aren’t geniuses. They just happened to attach themselves to most talented politician of the last 30 years. They’re like those little sucker fish that attach themselves to whales.

But every single one of these clowns wnats to claim, “Bill won because of me!”

A guy like Begala’s self-deception is so deep, he can’t even see what a fool he’s making of himself.

And no sense of irony, apparently…

Visit Satiric Mutt — my contribution to the written cholesterol now clogging the arteries of the Internet.

by Bob Johnson on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:56:23 AM PDT

i know (0 / 0) it’s all about who gets to be a consultant and where the money comes from.

that’s an excellent point.

“No, I understand that. But I - I would really like to have a chance to discuss what you keep telling me what I’m not discussing.” — Rep. Barney Frank.

by BiminiCat on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:06:23 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Obtuse (0 / 0) …

Visit Satiric Mutt — my contribution to the written cholesterol now clogging the arteries of the Internet.

by Bob Johnson on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:10:01 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

not at all (0 / 0) you outlined a very real set of motivations.

what you didn’t prove is how that set of motivations only applies to one group of people.

“No, I understand that. But I - I would really like to have a chance to discuss what you keep telling me what I’m not discussing.” — Rep. Barney Frank.

by BiminiCat on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:18:19 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

One group of people. (0 / 0) The topic was Begala and other DC consultants who made their names off of Bill Clinton’s success.

Visit Satiric Mutt — my contribution to the written cholesterol now clogging the arteries of the Internet.

by Bob Johnson on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:20:51 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

and other groups of people (0 / 0) fighting for control.

why can’t they be motivated by many of the same things you bring up??

“No, I understand that. But I - I would really like to have a chance to discuss what you keep telling me what I’m not discussing.” — Rep. Barney Frank.

by BiminiCat on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:32:55 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Irrelevant. (0 / 0) The guys who cry the loudest are the guys who are not getting their checks (anymore).

Visit Satiric Mutt — my contribution to the written cholesterol now clogging the arteries of the Internet.

by Bob Johnson on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:40:55 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

or perhaps (0 / 0) (yet).

“No, I understand that. But I - I would really like to have a chance to discuss what you keep telling me what I’m not discussing.” — Rep. Barney Frank.

by BiminiCat on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:47:03 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

There is always that possibility, isn’t there? (0 / 0) But they can’t get their checks if the money has been spent.

There’s always that reality.

Visit Satiric Mutt — my contribution to the written cholesterol now clogging the arteries of the Internet.

by Bob Johnson on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:48:46 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

yep (0 / 0) there is always that possibility.

that was pretty much my point.

“No, I understand that. But I - I would really like to have a chance to discuss what you keep telling me what I’m not discussing.” — Rep. Barney Frank.

by BiminiCat on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:51:41 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

And the funny thing is.. (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:ayoosilver Reportedly, Bill Clinton talked to Dean and agrees with his strategy (I forgot if it was a diary or a frontpage post, and I’m too much of a lazy bum to search for it).

I do not have my own blog.

by Frank on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:12:50 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

No sense of irony? (0 / 0) And no sense of irony, apparently…

Oh, yeah, like you’re one to talk.

“Stay the course” isn’t a plan. It isn’t a principle. It’s a tantrum.

by Nowhere Man on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:12:53 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

That’s tellin’ me (0 / 0) I guess…

Visit Satiric Mutt — my contribution to the written cholesterol now clogging the arteries of the Internet.

by Bob Johnson on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:17:13 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

It was meant as an ironic comment :-) (0 / 0)

“Stay the course” isn’t a plan. It isn’t a principle. It’s a tantrum.

by Nowhere Man on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:40:22 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

I’m lame. (0 / 0) Enbarrassingly so.

Visit Satiric Mutt — my contribution to the written cholesterol now clogging the arteries of the Internet.

by Bob Johnson on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:49:33 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

No sense of irony ;-) (0 / 0)

“Stay the course” isn’t a plan. It isn’t a principle. It’s a tantrum.

by Nowhere Man on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:52:08 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Someone will quote on that…n/t (0 / 0)

-1.25, -1.33

by CAL11 voter on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:57:52 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Hope so. (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:CAL11 voter Some folks need a little help.

Visit Satiric Mutt — my contribution to the written cholesterol now clogging the arteries of the Internet.

by Bob Johnson on Fri May 12, 2006 at 01:00:22 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

‘Pick their nose?’ (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:RaulVB, quixotic, NJwlss Ah, I rarely say this, but: F*** you, Paul Begala.

And the moron didn’t even use proper grammar.

Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News

by DavidNYC on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:56:49 AM PDT

Its a big collective nose :) (0 / 0)

General and Supreme Commander of the 82nd Chairborne: I’ve killed people for less!

by patsprouseyo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:52:56 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

The problem is that (0+ / 0-) Recommended by:quixotic long-time Washington denizens get used to thinking short-term: 2-, 4- and 6-year cycles. They cannot “concern themselves” (sarcasm intended) with thinking about party-building or who will eventually run for Lott’s seat. In their short-term world, there’s no payback for investing time in that pursuit.

Republicans avoided this for the most part because, for a long time, they weren’t the party in power. They had no choice but to build the organization over time, which resulted in their 1994 win.

Dean obviously understands this and is trying to rectify it. The problem is that almost every other Dem in an authority position refuses to see it.

1.13 -3.79

by dave3172 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:57:24 AM PDT

Not necessarily, kos… (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia Though I agree in principle with Howard Dean (as well as your premises in CTG), I believe our sole focus at this time must be winning majorities in both houses of Congress come this Nov. Nothing is more important to our nation at this time. The 50-state strategy works to the extent that we should challenge all seats everywhere — especially, however, where we stand a snowball’s chance of actually winning.

As far as Utah and Mississippi go, it is important to challenge their House and Senate seats to extent that we are causing the rethugs to expend resources. I do believe that to seriously expect to win Democratic seats in either of those states, at this time in history, is fantasy. Therefore, key personnel and finite dollar resources are more valuable being focused on seats we can actually capture (e.g. Ensign, Kyl, Burns, Santorum, Chafee, 20-30 truly vulnerable and electable House seats, etc.)

Begala is wrong to belittle Dr. Dean’s strategy and efforts. But if his intent and impact is to draw tighter focus on where we can score tangible gains, then he serves a purpose, albeit perhaps tangential. I think Begala is one worth keeping, even if only for his consistent, stinging rebukes of Bushco.

Bottom line is we absolutely positively MUST take back one or both houses this Fall. It’s gonna take new blood and old blood and every other red, white and blue cell in our systems to beat back the expected (Diebold) and unexpected dirty tricks. Any purge can wait till then.

Just my two cents worth.

“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense.” Winston Churchill 29Oct1941

6.21, 4.30

by bigbruin81 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:58:06 AM PDT

Corpocrats (0 / 0) To me the key is getting the Democratic party to be one stop shopping for America’s poor and middle class.

When Clinton betrayed people and pushed NAFTA, then the WTO, the China PNTR, fast track…

they lost voters because there was no more “one stop shopping” that the Democrats would vote in the national interest and in the economic interests of the average American.

We still have massive mixed messages, plus we have this snobby defeatist attitude coming from these “paid Democratic consultants” who frankly need to get in their luxury car, drive around and talk to people and get a clue. If you’re going for the corporate class, sure there is no 50 state strategy, if you’re going for the American people, there sure as hell is. People from fundamentalist Christians to socialists have had it with corporate America running the nation.

http://www.noslaves.com http://forum.noslaves.com

by BobOak on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:59:34 AM PDT

Football Analogy (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:Pondite, RaulVB, Do Tell Begala and Carville have turned into the political version of the 1985 Chicago Bears. One big win and they find a way to milk it for a lifetime.

This is simply about protecting one’s turf and “genius” status among the centrist/DLC/offend-no-voter/inside-the-beltway Democratic elites whose strategy has doomed us for three consecutive elections and given George W. Bush the most unchecked and unbalanced Presidency in the history of the country.

How many more elections do the Begala/Carville/Shrum/Cahill crowd want to blow before deciding that maybe it’s worth trying some new ideas?

Howard Dean understands that we’ll never be a majority by being Republican-lite. If our entire party understands that, then half the battle is already won.

I’m a man who discovered the wheel and built the Eiffel Tower out of metal and brawn — Ron Burgundy

by IndyScott on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:00:08 PM PDT

I was watching CNN when this was said… (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:3goldens, Do Tell -it was a ‘last word before you and JC Watts are out the door’ kind of thing, and so Begala got his vicious lick in. JC Watts wanted to jump right in and add to the piling on, but Wolf would not allow it… only for lack of time.

I was stunned at Begala’s incredibly short-sighted ignorance and elitist stupidity (why fight in states the media have declared unwinnable? why build a national party when all we need is these 19 states plus one?)… but then… Begala has probably been clicking cocktails with the GOPers and beltway insiders for so long that she might as well be Joe Klein or Richard Cohen as a ‘floating media Democrat’.

What I think needs to happen is this:

The liberal blogoshphere needs to keep an even better record of these comments and attacks on us ‘allegedly’ by “us”. We need a ‘hall of shame’ sort of deal (because we all know that Begala, Klein, and all the other wankers who are supposed to represent ‘us’ in the media will do this again and again) to refer back to and ramp up the barbs directed at these clowns even more when they sin and slur again in the future.

I think we need to move beyond the blog diary equivelent of ‘wah-wah-wah—-waaaaaah’ forehead smacks, rants in outrage, and frustrated sigh posts and really track and smack a Begala for these outrageous groin kicks against Democrats who are not content to be ‘I can’t wait for my friends to be on the ins again’ Democrats.

Imagine what a section of ‘who said and what, where, why, and when’ files would do to fighting back? Anybody could then throw their words back and them and that would make pushback all the more powerful.

I nominate Paul Begala’s latest attack for a Daily Kos Hall of Shame.

“Email is the drive-by shooting of the common man.” -Richard “Civility” Cohen

by LeftHandedMan on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:00:42 PM PDT

begala is only in it for the money (0 / 0) and the c**. he has no overriding principles otherwise.

by essexgreen on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:03:44 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

left wing cabal/pundits (0 / 0) Joe Klein, Richard Cohen, Begala, Brazille, McMahon, all weak and ineffectual. Just can’t stand not to hear a rational, enraged argument from the left, constantly. What a f*** nit-wit club it is.

“Rapturists. Suicide bombers. What’s the diff?” Plato

by steelman on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:09:32 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Klein, Brazille, and McMahon (0 / 0) are in their own world.

Honestly Cohen isn’t in that crew at all, and neither is Bagala.

This “what have you done for me lately” pile on on Begala is somewhat dishonest. Kos made a good point in the fact that Begala is stupid because he can’t see the benefit of the 50 state strategy, but that was a real critique.

This Begala=Rove bunk is mouth frothing and slightly disturbing. We don’t need to be rabid attackers of our allies!

General and Supreme Commander of the 82nd Chairborne: I’ve killed people for less!

by patsprouseyo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:57:02 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Begala gets a salary to pontificat (0 / 0) His “consulting” money on US politics was made years ago. This line of attack on Begala doesn’t hold water, his check is cut from CNN not campaign mangers.

General and Supreme Commander of the 82nd Chairborne: I’ve killed people for less!

by patsprouseyo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:54:07 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Oops, missed this typo: (0 / 0) Begala has probably been clicking cocktails with the GOPers and beltway insiders for so long that he might as well be Joe Klein or Richard Cohen as a ‘floating media Democrat’.

Sorry. Typing too fast and mad, certainly not using gender as a perjorative.

“Email is the drive-by shooting of the common man.” -Richard “Civility” Cohen

by LeftHandedMan on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:04:21 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

I know where a pasture is that’s (0 / 0) pretty far removed from just about anything. Anybody got a salt-lick I can use as Begala-bait?

YearlyKos is gonna ROCK.

by wvillmike on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:01:29 PM PDT

The 50 state strategy in action (9+ / 0-) Recommended by:tmo, Neutron, savvyspy, ayoosilver, Pondite, fgentile, 3goldens, tomzultant, Do Tell My wife, Kristen Ward, is one of those so-called “nose pickers;” you know, the state political directors that Dean hired and that Begala doesn’t have much knowledge of. Just to give you an idea of how far off base he is, Kristen and I were married this past Saturday…and she was back at work on Thursday (so was I for that matter, for Brad Miller.

There is no end to her job. She is constantly on the road (in her hybrid, you go girl!), meeting with party activists and officials in the 29 counties she covered. She is training folks on how to use the state party’s database, teaching them the skills necessary to organize precincts, doing the nuts and bolts work that will be the difference in Brad getting re-elected, Larry Kissell beating Robin Hayes, and our down ballot Democrats winning in November.

I haven’t been to Utah and Mississippi in a long time, and so I can’t say whether or not Dean’s strategy is producing there. But it is producing here in North Carolina; I hear about it every night.

PJ Puryear Campaign Manager Brad Miller Congressional Campaign (919)834-2343 pj@bradmiller.org

by PJ Puryear on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:01:37 PM PDT

You should let Paul Begala know this (n/t) (0 / 0)

A word after a word after a word is power. — Margaret Atwood

by tmo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:08:13 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

I salute you. (0 / 0) Keep up the good work — and don’t let the Begalas of the world get you down. It’s an endorsement, if anything!

Loyalty comes from love of good government, not fear of a bad one. Hugo Black.

by Pondite on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:11:32 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Is this what you do while I’m in Washington? (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:Do Tell, NJwlss Blogging?

by Brad Miller on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:20:46 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

JUST WIN BABY!! (0 / 0) -Al Davis

if you don’t know where your going, any road will take you there.

by mrsarvis on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:27:09 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Wait a second! (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Do Tell I thought we were all a bunch of wild-eyed, crazed ultra-left hippies, what the hell are we doing cheering on Dean for spending money in Mississipppi?

I saw this on (of course) FoxNews and they were all having a good old time guffawing and cooing about it. How much money did John Kerry end his campaign with? Seriously after hearing about that I will never give any money to him again. They sound like a bunch of morons ‘what the hell is Dean doing spending money where we won’t win!?’ Hey d*******, guess which party the South used to vote for as a united bloc until another party that had no chance there started spending money?

Bookmark it, print it, read it on the toilet, whatever you do, just read it”

by scionkirk on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:02:23 PM PDT

a good ground operation (0 / 0) should include education reform as well

a long term strategy and one the repubs have a huge headstart on

it’s not merely a matter of “enlightening” voters to the culture of corruption that is the US government

people need to learn to think - and not with their pocketbook

the rule of “me first” and “long as I get mine” unthinking deference to authority anti-intellectualism and selective and ideologically biased education need to change

adults can learn too of course but it sure would be a lot easier if they didn’t have to be deprogrammed first

who’s on the school board in your city? I couldn’t tell you in mine … and it’s no real excuse that I don’t have any children

and it’s not even that we need to teach children to think in critical relation to the world and complexity … they have the ability, it just needs to be encouraged (as opposed to stunted, squashed or crushed which is much of what mainstream education seems to do)

“There is no limit to what you can do if you have the power to change the rules.” -Josh Marshall

by grollen on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:02:25 PM PDT

If the dems don’t take the house, blame Dean (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia, MrBurns17, Do Tell Hate to say it, but the next few months are the absolutely best chance the dems will have to take back congress. If they don’t take it back, its because the 50 State Strategy spent money in places they couldn’t win.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the strategy for the long run, but when a once in a decade opportunity comes along, your f**king jump on it! Spend where you can win for the next five months, then get back to the 50 state strategy.

Come on people, play to win.

by jgaleza on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:05:26 PM PDT

that never ends (0 / 0) the next election will always seem to be the most important. If you abandon the 50 state strategy now, what’s going to happen in 2008?- the same argument will be made that you can’t spend resources in states like Utah and Mississippi in a Presidential election year, when they are badly needed in swing states, and could make the difference in the next President.

And so it goes.

If there is anything I have learned from Scooby Doo, it is that the only thing to fear is crooked real estate developers.

by JakeC on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:15:34 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

While I’m a strong supporter of Dean’s Strategy (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia, Steve4Clark I won’t take Markos at face value because of a consistent tendency of his to take quotes out of context to whip up the usual frenzy/circular firing squad.

There’s no link to any article or interview in this front paged story. Just one isolated quote.

Gee, i think i’ll post an isolated quote of Howard Dean’s:

“The Democratic Party platform from 2004 says that marriage is between a man and a woman. That’s what it says.”

of course that proves how much that a***** hates just really hates gay people.

NOT

A quick google search, and I’ve found references to begala and Dean’s 50 state strategy that are very complimentary indeed.

On Imus on Jan. 6, Begala was very supportive of a 50 state strategy.

Nice try, Markos.

“No, I understand that. But I - I would really like to have a chance to discuss what you keep telling me what I’m not discussing.” — Rep. Barney Frank.

by BiminiCat on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:05:32 PM PDT

Here’s the transcript. (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:NJwlss You’re not a very good detective.

Begala with Wolf Blitzer, May 11, 2006

Visit Satiric Mutt — my contribution to the written cholesterol now clogging the arteries of the Internet.

by Bob Johnson on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:12:15 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

thanks (0 / 0) it’s not my job to go find the link when stones are being thrown.

“No, I understand that. But I - I would really like to have a chance to discuss what you keep telling me what I’m not discussing.” — Rep. Barney Frank.

by BiminiCat on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:17:21 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Ha! (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:The Termite, NJwlss You question kos’ credibility (essentially throwing stones) and when proven wrong, you claim the other guy was “throwing stones.”

Geez, that’s humorous.

Visit Satiric Mutt — my contribution to the written cholesterol now clogging the arteries of the Internet.

by Bob Johnson on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:18:48 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

ok…. lets look at everything that was said (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia, Steve4Clark, savvyspy BEGALA: No. I think Candy’s report was spot on.

He — yes, he’s in trouble, in that campaign managers, candidates, are really angry with him. He has raised $74 million and spent $64 million. He says it’s a long-term strategy. But what he has spent it on, apparently, is just hiring a bunch of staff people to wander around Utah and Mississippi and pick their nose. That’s not how you build a party. You win elections. That’s how you build a party.

if Candy’s report was spot on, lets look and see what Candy said…

BLITZER: But isn’t it part of a bigger picture, also? Howard Dean has this 50-state strategy to try to win support for Democrats. And Schumer and Rahm Emanuel right now, they don’t have that big strategy. They want to narrowly win the control of the House and the Senate, and they want Democratic money to be focused in that direction.

CROWLEY: Absolutely.

I mean, it’s and it’s also — it’s a difference in emphasis. I mean, neither side says the other side is full of it. I mean, Howard Dean says he recognizes, you know, that they have to win elections.

But what this comes down to, said one Democratic aide, was that Dean is — quote — “fixated” on a 50-state strategy, whereas Rahm Emanuel and Chuck — Chuck Schumer believe Democrats have got to be where you actually have a race.

So, they say, listen, you know, it’s great to say that you are building the party infrastructure in 50 states. But, you know, you spend $100,000 to get organizers in Idaho, when we would like to spend some money on a race in Ohio.

BLITZER: We are out of time. But is Howard Dean’s tenure as chairman of the DNC in trouble?

CROWLEY: It doesn’t look like it. One person said to me, look, there’s no divorce here. We’re just having words.

There’s no doubt there are some people that want Howard Dean out as DNC chairman. But Howard Dean has the support of those state party chairmen and most of the people who put him in office in the first place. It looks like he’s there to stay for a while.

Begala has had complimentary words about Dean’s 50 state strategy. He has no complimentary words about spending 90% of your money on Utah and Idaho when there’s an election to win in Ohio.

And so. A lot of campaign managers and candidates are p** off at him.

To say he’s a pathological foe of a 50 state strategy is as much of a lie as anything else. And I’m calling Markos on that lie.

To say he thinks too much money is being devoted to that strategy and more immediate campaigns aren’t getting enough.

now we might be getting somewhere.

and havind a discussion.

“No, I understand that. But I - I would really like to have a chance to discuss what you keep telling me what I’m not discussing.” — Rep. Barney Frank.

by BiminiCat on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:31:52 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

You just make s** up… (0 / 0) He has no complimentary words about spending 90% of your money on Utah and Idaho when there’s an election to win in Ohio.

Huh? Where did you come up with the “90% on Utah and Idaho” number?

To say he’s a pathological foe of a 50 state strategy is as much of a lie as anything else. And I’m calling Markos on that lie.

Huh? Did Markos say “he’s a pathological foe of a 50 state strategy?” Where did you come up with that gem from Markos’ post?

Like I said, you just make s** up.

I can never figure out why you hang around here when you hate the place (and most of the people) so much.

Very weird.

Visit Satiric Mutt — my contribution to the written cholesterol now clogging the arteries of the Internet.

by Bob Johnson on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:39:34 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

he said (0 / 0) These inside-the-beltway a***** really hate the thought of Howard Dean building a 50-state party. I mean, they really, really, hate it.

ok… you’re right. he didn’t say pathological foe. i was wrong.

Crowly: … He has raised $74 million and spent $64 million….

64 / 74 = 86%.

so i was wrong. it was’t really 90%.

you’ve proved your point, bob.

pls accept my apologies.

“No, I understand that. But I - I would really like to have a chance to discuss what you keep telling me what I’m not discussing.” — Rep. Barney Frank.

by BiminiCat on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:45:40 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

No, you said Dean was spending (0 / 0) … “90% of your money on Utah and Idaho.”

And you love to criticize hyperbole…

Visit Satiric Mutt — my contribution to the written cholesterol now clogging the arteries of the Internet.

by Bob Johnson on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:47:42 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

nope (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia not just on Utah and Idaho.

you’re right.

you’ve cut right through the heart of what i said in the most literal sense you can imagine and crushed my argument to bits.

v. well done.

i do apologize, sir.

“No, I understand that. But I - I would really like to have a chance to discuss what you keep telling me what I’m not discussing.” — Rep. Barney Frank.

by BiminiCat on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:50:26 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

My point was that you love to criticize hyperbole (0 / 0) And, yet, there you go.

Visit Satiric Mutt — my contribution to the written cholesterol now clogging the arteries of the Internet.

by Bob Johnson on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:52:59 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

and if you can conclude from that (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia there’s a legitimate point behind markos’s hyperbole, and you can conclude there’s a legitimate point behind my hyperbole, then we might be ready to have a discussion about some questions that remain open to debate.

if you didn’t understand what i meant when i only said Idaho and Utah (or whatever red states i could have listed to make my point), then again, i have already apologized.

i must confess i didn’t know what markos really meant when he said Paul Begala, that a*****, really really really hates Dean’s 50-state strategy??

what do you think Markos meant??

“No, I understand that. But I - I would really like to have a chance to discuss what you keep telling me what I’m not discussing.” — Rep. Barney Frank.

by BiminiCat on Fri May 12, 2006 at 01:03:20 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

I am curious… (0 / 0) Why DO you hang around here when you obviously dislike the proprietor and most of the people who post here?

Masochism? A sense of heroism and bravery? A belief that your truth must be spoken? What is it that keeps you here?

Visit Satiric Mutt — my contribution to the written cholesterol now clogging the arteries of the Internet.

by Bob Johnson on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:56:17 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

BiminiCat is right (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia, CAL11 voter Just admit it, kiss and make up.

(0.00,-3.13) “I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it.”

by Steve4Clark on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:58:16 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

I miss you so. (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:CAL11 voter Nice to see you again. Looks like you’ve gained some weight.

Visit Satiric Mutt — my contribution to the written cholesterol now clogging the arteries of the Internet.

by Bob Johnson on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:59:23 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

complete, total agreement (0 / 0) Hey Paul!

Lead, follow, or get the heck out of the way…

Loyalty comes from love of good government, not fear of a bad one. Hugo Black.

by Pondite on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:06:43 PM PDT

50 States and Elitism (0 / 0) I’ve long wondered how the Republican charge of “liberal elitism” ever got legs under it, considering the source for the charge. Well, the “blue-state strategy” has definitely helped that label to stick. The Republicans don’t have to explicitly say “Hey! Those Democrats don’t think you’re good enough for them? Well, we do!” It’s subtler than that, but no less effective: Call the Democrats “elitist”, let the folks in those states notice that there aren’t even any Dems around to try to refute the charge, and of course the charge will stick.

And so the meme takes root, and spreads from the states that the Dems have abandoned, to the ones that the Republicans would like us to abandon…

“Stay the course” isn’t a plan. It isn’t a principle. It’s a tantrum.

by Nowhere Man on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:10:34 PM PDT

Diary Whoring (0 / 0) Did a related diary on this just yesterday, that posed the hypothetical to people as to how they would choose between building the long term strength of the party and pushing hard for gains this year. The voting came down solidly on the 50 state strategy, but the commments were pretty much down the middle.

If there is anything I have learned from Scooby Doo, it is that the only thing to fear is crooked real estate developers.

by JakeC on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:11:39 PM PDT

so true (0 / 0) As someone who lives in gunshop-heavy, starbucks-light flyover country, I can tell you that we were abandoned long ago and we feel it keenly.

I totally support the 50 State Strategy and I’m going right now to buy another Democracy Bond.

See you in Las Vegas!

“Histories make men wise….” Francis Bacon

by Klio on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:12:46 PM PDT

Dissent (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:Aexia, Epitome I’d choose Begala over Dean any day of the week. The fact is immovable that there are simple some places where our message and values will not sell. How can we be viable in Utah and Mississippi and stick to our principles at the same time? I saw screw those people in Utah and Mississippi. They are freaks whose suppport I can live without. And last I checked Howard Dean was rejected. Why so many people around here remains on his jock is beyond me. Until he is proven right I will remain cynical and skeptical.

Kos’ anti-Clinton beef is just lame, tiring and stupid.

Winning is all that matters - www.thehillaryreport.blogspot.com

by BRockNYLA on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:15:28 PM PDT

Total up (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:roonie all the states, all the districts that you want to write off.

In all those areas, the GOP is then allowed to reduce spending and resources.

In all those areas, the GOP will continue to win those Congressional seats, and Electoral College votes.

In all those areas, the GOP is allowed to focus (or distort) their message to their maximum benefit without any challenge.

Then they can take the extra money and manpower and spend it in “soft” GOP areas.

Writing off entire sections of the country is a recipe for disaster.

1.13 -3.79

by dave3172 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:32:09 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Is this the same Mississippi that Katrina (0 / 0) devastated?

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/…

Gazzo is not alone. According to the office of Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, of the 431,000 households who have registered for disaster assistance with the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), 77 percent are staying in the ZIP code in which they lived before the storm hit.

One reason so many Mississippians are staying is that they have few resources and few alternatives.

“I have 126 dollars in my bank account, Gazzo said. “Not a lick of flood insurance.”

According to the 2000 U.S. census, Mississippi is the third poorest state in the nation. About 20 percent of the population lives below the poverty level, compared to 12 percent nationwide.

And how many of these people might be converted from Bush voters to Democratic voters?

Our presence in Mississippi is crucial at this time, as Katrina misery = Bush.

by Do Tell on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:43:49 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Paul! We could’ve finished last without you. n/t (0 / 0)

by Mo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:16:18 PM PDT

Has anybody spoken to Mr. Begala…. (0 / 0) About the fact that Democrats are leading the polls by 10 points. The leadership must be doing something right and if targeting swing states is off then he should let us know what would be more productive

“Running For Progress”

by Abraham Running For Congress When I Turn 25 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:18:47 PM PDT

Lets no lay the credit solely at Dean (0 / 0) I am a huge Dean fan, but his work is much more effectual for the big Presidential campaigns. The successes we are seeing but yet to achieve (lets count our chickens when they hatch) are not just comming from the DNC, they are coming from the DSCC and The DCCC too! And Rahm seems to be a bit more of a Begala than a Dean.

Our party is working in acord, lets not start claiming Dean’s victory for something that is shared. 2008 will be Dean’s turn to really shine! After all, everything is REALLY about that.

General and Supreme Commander of the 82nd Chairborne: I’ve killed people for less!

by patsprouseyo on Fri May 12, 2006 at 01:00:50 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

What’s with the Frickin’ Frackin’ (0 / 0) You sign a civility pledge or somethin’?

Ignorance is never random. - Gunnar Myrdal

by ThomasAllen on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:24:34 PM PDT

Idealism vs Pragmatism (0 / 0) Markos I agreee that Begala and (unfortunately) Carville should either shut up and retire, or jump in the frey and help some House candidates. The long view (50-state strategy) is the correct one. Given the dynamics of this election cycle however, the best tactical decision would be to focus our resources on competetive races. That is not to say that districts in MS and UT should be ignored beyond this election cycle. The gerymandering that has taken place in most states has left a finite number of incumbent seats vulnerable. Judicious allocation of our resources will be key in November; that should have no effect

By Andy's Mom

May 12, 2006 04:18 PM | Link to this

Did you know that voter registration lists are public record? Typically they are maintained at a State or County level under the jurisdiction of a Board of Elections or Secretary of State. And they are available for purchase. Interesting, no?

Here some sample links

Want the list of voters in Baltimore County, MD? How about the entire State of South Carolina? Here’s a list of every Republican in Licking County, OH for just 1¢ per name.

Poke around your local government web sites and make a few phone calls. I’m sure you can get these for every county in every state.

So I say we get them. And then we post them.

Full page ads in newspapers in Ohio and North Carolina and Montana and Kentucky and Louisiana and any other so called “red-state” that helped enable this criminal syndicate and now has a little 29% regret. Take up a little collection. These ads can’t be more then a few hundred unless you’re looking at WaPo or WSJ or NYT or something. But I’m talking about local papers in towns and cities with bold-faced ads that read:

ATTENTION PEOPLE OF (insert state/city name here)! Here are the people registered as Republicans in your neighborhoods. Ask them if they still support their government now. Andofjustafter then small column column a whole print after after list names column column

Break it up A-L and M-Z if you have to, run it installments, split it between pages… who cares?!

A little “Megan’s Law” for the criminally conservative. As a citizen, I would certainly like to know what kind of any past or potential wingnuts are living in my neighborhood or that have access to my children (if I actually had children, that is).

But Wisp… aren’t there laws about this? Well, yeah… some. (although it would be tempting to just reply with “Aren’t there laws about spying on Americans?”)

There are laws that say you can not use these lists for commercial gain or for solicitation. Okay, we won’t sell anything. Or that you can not publish personal information without permission. Okay, we’ll just list names. No addresses. No phone numbers. Or that it must be used for political purposes. I would call exposing the slimy Republican support structure a “political purpose”, wouldn’t you.

It is time to call them out. Expose them for what they are.

Thinking men can not be ruled. —Ayn Rand

by Wisper on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:21:32 AM PDT

Qwest (0 / 0) No chance of signing up in Maryland. Dammit!

Bloggin’ with a bar of soap and my car window IMPEACH -8.75 / -6.10

by Alegre on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:22:35 AM PDT

President 29%? (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:turquoise Did I miss a poll? I don’t recall hearing champagne corks popping all over the U.S., nor did I see ponies wandering the streets…

Thou shalt not worship graven images—even if they do have 50 stars and pretty colors.

by RickBoston on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:24:23 AM PDT

Front page post last night (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:turquoise Simply titled “29 Percent.”

by SusanG on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:28:11 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Thanks. (0 / 0) Was heavily involved in a war with a troll last night.

Thou shalt not worship graven images—even if they do have 50 stars and pretty colors.

by RickBoston on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:51:35 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Bush goes below 30%! (0+ / 0-) Recommended by:Gooserock New Harris Poll here.

“Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition” - Monty Python

by MadRuth on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:25:03 AM PDT

OOOOO— A 2nd 29% Poll!! (0 / 0) (Isn’t it?)

We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for victims of our nation and for those it calls enemy….—ML King, “Beyond Vietnam”

by Gooserock on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:38:50 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

29? (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:Revel, grrr, turquoise 29%. I cannot believe that after all my hoping and wishing it’s actually happening. Now I’m going to start hoping and wishing he hits the “teens.”

19%…. here we come!

Lisa

Jesus is still a liberal

by Boston to Salem on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:25:13 AM PDT

You survived the sniper fire, welcome to the USA (0 / 0) Psstt…can we interest you in joining our army?

AP: Bush to Speak About Immigration on Monday

President Bush plans to address the nation Monday night on the immigration debate, trying to build momentum for legislation that could provide millions of illegal immigrants a chance to become American citizens.

[…]

On Thursday, Senate leaders reached a deal to revive a broad immigration bill that had appeared doomed just several weeks ago.

CNN: Pentagon Eyes Ways to Use Military for Border Security

Faced with growing pressure from southern states, the Bush administration wants the military to come up with ideas to help solve security problems along the U.S. border with Mexico.

In back-to-back moves this week, the Pentagon began exploring ways to lend support at the southern border, while the House on Thursday voted to allow the Homeland Security Department in limited cases to use soldiers in that region.

by Hypnosis 101 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:27:48 AM PDT

What sniper fire? From whom? (0 / 0)

by USAFguy on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:29:02 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

from soldiers protecting mexican border. (0 / 0) Although I guess this is the one thing that might be better than having minuteman or militia groups guarding the border.

by Hypnosis 101 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:31:55 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Sick & disqusting comment. (0 / 0) I can’t understand your level of contempt for the soldiers. by USAFguy on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:33:29 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Does the Pentagon (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:trashablanca have a secret cloning program, too? Coz last I heard, most of the National Guard aren’t available to protect American soil. They’re busy being shot at in Dumbya’s illegal war overseas.

by Fe on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:29:15 AM PDT

Yes, clones… (0 / 0) I hear Darth Cheney started a new cloning program on Planet Kamino. He’s going to start cloning Jango Fett to provide us with enough soldiers to replenish the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, have a nice big invasion force for Iran, and have enough clone troopers to guard the border from Separatists and “illegals” South of the Border. All hail the new Empire!

GOP = Spies, lies, borrowing & binging. Punky Chips Ahoy sez IMPEACH! Oi! Oi! Oi! Econ: -4.63 Soc: -6.92

by MamasGun on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:54:14 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

cartoons, entries, tv alerts galore (4+ / 0-) Recommended by:wozzle, Yoss, SusanG, dharmafarmer

TV alerts Sunday Talk adapted from Hotline (listings subject to change):

Meet the Press: Newt Gingrich and the roundtable consists of Wall Street Journal’s John Harwood, Newsweek’s Jon Meacham and PBS’ Judy Woodruff. Face the Nation: NSA Stephen Hadley, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA). This Week: Sens. Joe Biden (D-DE) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Laura Bush. New York Times’ David Brooks and Dem strategist Donna Brazile join the roundtable. Actress Reese Witherspoon is the voices segment. Fox News Sunday: Laura Bush and Mary Cheney. Their power player is Art Buchwald. Late Edition: Hadley and Senate Maj. Leader Bill Frist. Future (mostly political, media) guests (subject to change):

The View: Oprah Winfrey on 5/12; John Stossel on 5/12 Real Time with Bill Maher 5/12: Madeleine Albright Conan O’Brien: Sen. Barack Obama on 5/12; Mike Wallace on 5/16; Larry King on 5/19; Tim Russert on 5/24 Tim Russert Show on CNBC 5/13 (7PM, 10PM): David Gregory, Kelly O’Donnell, and Chip Reed discuss a variety of issues. Road to the White House 5/14 at 6:30 PM on CSPAN: John McCain’s speech at Liberty and Newt Gingrich’s IA visit. 60 Minutes 5/14: SEIU Pres Andy Stern Selected Entries

The Political Environment 2006: The Shift on the Issues That Matter to Americans The only qualifications that matter to Bush: That you like him and will do his bidding. Hispanic voters souring on Bush, just like the rest of the country Media News Monday 5/8/06: Media says IOKIYAR In this edition: CourtTV goes to Washington; Stephen Colbert making a splash; here come the vloggers; Republican asks TV news stations to falsify photo; April cable ratings; more WHCAD coverage; Jill Carroll update; censorship; David Brooks, David Frum and other right-wingers get fact-checked; NY Mag’s influential media people list, Goss coverage props and demerits and more… (including some of the better media-related editorial cartoons) 08 Watch: the Republicans and the Democrats (both posted 5/6/06 and with cartoons) Other random 08 news bits posted in between 08 Watch updates. This Past Week in Jokes and Funnies (posted 5/6/06)

Visit my blog Penndit. Media, politics, campaigns, and political communications.

by Newsie8200 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:30:41 AM PDT

more tv alerts, entries, a cartoon (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:Yoss, dharmafarmer

More TV Alerts

The Daily Show: Howard Dean on 5/15; Denis Leary on 5/16; Willie Nelson on 5/18; re-runs The Colbert Report: MSNBC’s Chris Matthews on 5/15; energy researcher Tyson Slocum on 5/16; Jonathan Alter on 5/17; zoologist Ted Daeschler on 5/18; re-runs for two weeks; CNBC’s right-wing talking point Lawrence Kudlow on 6/5; CNN’s Christiane Amanpour 6/6; Mars scientist Steve Squyres on 6/7; science writer Steve Johnson on 6/8 MSNBC 5/16 from 9-10PM will air live national coverage of runoff debate between Nagin and Landrieu in New Orleans mayoral debate. Leno: Ex-WH Press Secretary Scott McClellan on 5/16 Letterman: Dixie Chicks on 5/22 2006 Campaign Updates

2006 Campaign News Update: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado (posted 5/9/06) 2006 Campaign News Update: Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming (posted 5/8/06) (with cartoons) 2006 Campaign News Update: Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota (posted 5/6/06) 2006 Campaign News Update: New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon (posted 5/3/06)

Visit my blog Penndit. Media, politics, campaigns, and political communications.

by Newsie8200 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:31:57 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

It’s Friday dammit (0 / 0) Where is the frogmarch? What is the GJ doing? KKKarl needs a long vacation at Greybar Suites.

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” J. Lennon

by trashablanca on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:30:43 AM PDT

Obama (0 / 0) LINK

Obama mocked the “idea that somehow if you say the words plan for victory' andstay the course’ over and over and over and over again, and you put these subliminal messages behind you that say victory' andvictory’ and `victory,’ that somehow people are not going to notice the 2,400 flag-draped coffins that have arrived at the Dover Air Force Base.”

Yeah, I’m trying out this blogging thing, too.

by MLDB on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:31:36 AM PDT

Ok folks, on the count of three… (0 / 0) pick up that landline and call 1-555-F*******-UNSA.

by dharmafarmer on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:31:53 AM PDT

Just read the linked (0 / 0) story regarding Qwest denying NSA customer call records. Interesting that the ex-CEO is facing numerous charges now.

When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends. Japanese Proverb

by Esjaydee on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:32:09 AM PDT

SUSAN OR OTHER SITE ADMINS (0 / 0) [Posted in a previous Open Thread, but no reply. Please excuse the dup.]

Rumor has it that Autoban is on the fritz. Boy, do we need it these days!

Is it on the fritz? If so,

—Could someone please follow up on getting it fixed?

—Should we report ultra-troll-rated users who would normally be subject to Autoban?

——-If we should report them, should it be to any site admin in particular?

I’m still hoping to see a list of site admins’ names and, if applicable, e-mails addies. If I use the “feedback form,” I’m never sure whether anyone will see my message or to whom I should address it.

Thanks!

Dean Democrat

by Rita in DC on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:33:12 AM PDT

29 Percent (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:wozzle, dharmafarmer Not just Harris Interactive as reported here yesterday, but the WSJ. And it’s front page Yahoo News (AP). The more important poll number, however, is the right track/wrong track reading, sitting now at 24/69. That is some serious f*** bad news for incumbents.

“It’s the Supreme Court, Stupid!”

by Kestrel on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:33:44 AM PDT

Begala wrong ….BUT (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Mcguffin I think Begala is wrong. 100%. I think his words were poorly chosen. If he disagrees he can do so in a more constructive manner. I have agreed with Dean on the 50 state plan since he first pitched it. It is the only way the Democrats can regain a lasting majority in the House and Senate.

However, I simply do not get many around these blogs that are so dismissive of Clinton and his 8 years in office. Who was the last Democrat before Clinton to serve two terms? Who is the most popular Democrat on the face of the planet? Look at the facts and ask yourself why these things are the wy they are.

by dpANDREWS on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:34:34 AM PDT

He Won With a Great Personality (0 / 0) but one thing people don’t like is that he was a solo act. He did lose both the House & Senate in his first middterm. And his admin was succeeded by Bush.

LBJ was succeeded by Nixon but at least he left enough of a Democratic government for impeachment.

We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for victims of our nation and for those it calls enemy….—ML King, “Beyond Vietnam”

by Gooserock on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:44:20 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Cheney falls asleep - AGAIN (0 / 0) The Huffington Post has the pics up. Pretty funny. All Cheney is missing is the drool hanging off the corner of his mouth …. or maybe some audio of Cheney sawing wood!!!

Funny stuff it is … the 2nd. most powerful man in the world sleeping during meetings dealing with security issues and the like.

by dpANDREWS on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:36:15 AM PDT

(Republican) Party line. (0 / 0)

Slap it. Shoot it. Kaboot it.

by adios on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:39:00 AM PDT

BUSH WILL RESIGN BEFORE NOVEMBER… (0 / 0) At the request of Republicans…if these polls keep dropping…

You simply can not go into an election with a low 20% approval rating and not damage your party…NOT to mention the naiton!

Bush needs to consider going back to Texas early—to “cut brush” or whatever it is that people like him do…

http://news.yahoo.com/…

Read, Think, Write: CabinFeverBooks.Com

by BALTHAZAR on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:40:17 AM PDT

not a chance - think - President 18% Cheney? (0 / 0) Far more likely that he’ll go, particularly if Rove, to stay out of jail, has given Fitz one or more additional peoplein Cheney’s office.

Then Bush gets to bring in someone who to boost his numbers and prepare a successor. I don’t think he can even try Jeb, so it becomes either Condi or mcCain.

If he were to resign before January 20th, that person would only be able to be reelected in 2008, clearing the decks for Jeb in 2012.

Those who can, do. Those who can do more, TEACH!

by teacherken on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:52:48 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Republicans do not s** without a plan (0 / 0) Have you noticed that Jed Bush’s name apearing in Republican polls now. Sleepy Dick could be replaced any time now, That is why he has been showed sleeping twice now it will be real easy now to tell the world Dicks heart is so bad that he can not stay awake,( REMEMBER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DOSE NOT FART UNLESS IT IS PLANED)then he will be retired and replaced by Jed Bush and dumb Bush will not be replaced till Jeb is well tested to see if he is a good puppet then the Republican Party will let Jeb Bush more or less save the world and the Republican Party will have another puppet in the Wwite house - If dumb was light Bush would be brighter than the sun Walk through VA Cemetery tour a VA hospital then say you are over taxed

by roxnev on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:19:17 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Is Rove Running the Fumblerooski? (0 / 0) http://www.dailykos.com/…

by JiggyFlunknut on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:43:35 AM PDT

a diary on Jim Webb event last night (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:BarbaraB I posted it very late. You may not have seen it. It explains why I think Virginia Senate race is over. And the best news is you can even still recommend it if you are so inclined (I am being silly, but you can).

here’s the link

Those who can, do. Those who can do more, TEACH!

by teacherken on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:45:05 AM PDT

Thanks, teacherken. (0 / 0) I contributed to Jim Webb and now get invited to all his events. I haven’t managed to get to one yet (the fact that I live in Florida may have something to do with that) but it’s good to hear the campaign is going so well.

by BarbaraB on Fri May 12, 2006 at 01:01:44 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Well, (0 / 0) looks like the honeymoon is over, & the Snow is melting….

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…

Slap it. Shoot it. Kaboot it.

by adios on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:45:53 AM PDT

Hoping For Something Karate-Related (0 / 0)

We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for victims of our nation and for those it calls enemy….—ML King, “Beyond Vietnam”

by Gooserock on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:27:54 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

PA Gov poll (0 / 0) I heard on NPR today that Rendell is ahead of Swann 55-33. Good news. I didn’t catch who did the poll, but it is good no matter, I guess.

Rendell has been running a series of great ads about his accomplishments as Governor. They really are upbeat and accomplishment-focused. I’ve seen two different ones, so there might be more.

Just thought I’d share…

Closed minds should come with closed mouths.

by Pennsylvanian on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:46:42 AM PDT

border patrol & posse comitatus (0 / 0) I’m really surprised they haven’t used the issue of border security to finally kill off posse comitatus once and for all. (Or maybe it’s already dead and I just dont know it!) I’ve been expecting a big fight on this issue…. a fight we’re almost sure to lose.

by Censor me too on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:47:19 AM PDT

Passe comitatus n/t (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:wozzle

Democrats give you the Bill of Rights; Republicans sell you a bill of goods!

by barbwires on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:58:08 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

it’s not just Kathy now…sort of (1+ / 0-) AP via the local fishwrapper:

TALLAHASSEE — Peter Monroe, a developer who helped manage the government’s savings and loan bailout, qualified today to challenge U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris for the Republican senatorial nomination in Florida.

Gov. Jeb Bush and other Republican leaders have been looking for someone to take on Harris because she trails incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson by about 30 percentage points in public opinion polls.

Bush said earlier this week that he didn’t believe Harris could beat Nelson.

Monroe, of Safety Harbor in the Tampa Bay area, managed the liquidation of more than $400 billion in real estate assets from failing savings and loans while heading the Federal Resolution Trust Corp. Oversight Board in the early 1990s.

State Rep. Dennis Ross of Lakeland also said he may enter the Republican primary. Noon today is the deadline to qualify for federal offices.

I’ve been beating on the Secretary of State’s site for the last 15 minutes, and there’s no recent update to the list of senatorial candidates or their statuses. The race has been closed for two hours, so I don’t know the hold up.

Neither of these clowns has any statewide name recognition, so I think it’s Nelson’s race to lose. How Chesty Kathy does in the primary will at least be good for a laugh.

by BaconGreaseKid on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:48:58 AM PDT

asdf (0 / 0) Anybody have thoughts about this dialogue? (0 / 0) As we have conversations about distinguishing between trolls and folks we just disagree with, here is a dialogue where I disagree with this person…a lot…(my answers are in regular lettering, the person who I answered is in italics. I will not reveal the person’s moniker)…sorry this is so long…

I am writing for two reasons - 1. I believe his arguments are wrong - but want feedback. 2. I want to explore the issue of the tension between sincere disagreement and deliberate obfuscation…

The Tea Party (0+ / 0-)

was about taxation without representation. I’m pretty sure the fight against that is a Republican position. I’m not sure you want that to be the iconic representation of Democratic action. It was against (a very reasonable) tax instituted without the consent of those being taxed. Most Republicans I know would say that’s why they vote Republican, because Democrats are all about the non-taxed voting representation into office that will tax the already taxed even more, and redistribute the revenue to the untaxed.

*

[new] The non-taxed ?? (3+ / 0-)

Democrats are all about the non-taxed voting representation into office that will tax the already taxed even more, and redistribute the revenue to the untaxed.

Does this mean people on govt subsidies? Do you believe people who are disabled should just starve?

Or is it that you feel able-bodied people should work? Well, that’s fair if so…

but I assume, then, that you also believe that people should be given a chance to be paid a living wage for working fulltime, right? So that means you believe the government should either

be serious about enforcing antitrust legislation to break up corporate oligopolies that fix prices and keep wages down. OR

insist on a decent govt mandated living minimum wage. And you believe that children deserve to go to good schools where they aren’t at risk of violence by some thugs in an inner city school? Or do children pay the wages of sin of their parents by going to dangerous schools with poor teaching and inadequate educational tools?

Sorry I sound upset, but what you wrote feels harsh towards Americans who need help…

by grrr on Thu May 11, 2006 at 05:11:11 PM PDT

[ Parent | Reply to This ]

Sorry to have harshed your groove (0 / 0) There is no such thing as a living wage, not one anyway. The cost of living in 90210 is substantially different from the cost of living in 73106 (zip codes). I have recommended that Wal*Mart as an example put a kettle at the exit, and anyone who wanted to pay more, with all proceeds going to the wages, or healthcare, pick your poison, could just drop it in. Very democratic, no limits on contributions. Nobody thinks that’s a good idea. Everybody is free to send more to the feds, and I’d be in favor of legislation ensuring that directed donations be used as directed. In Massachusetts they have this kind of plan. Two tax rates, one higher, one lower. Everybody has a choice. Even John Kerry chooses the lower. If even the best intentioned won’t participate, why do you think we have democratic agreement on this?

I have never met a conservative who does not want to help the needy. There is considerable disagreement about the definition of needy.

Almost nobody works for minimum wage if they stay in the same job more than a few months. The minimum wage meme is a ruse to raise the pay for folks whose wage is determined by an add-on or multiplier to the minimum wage. It would also centainly cause a rise in inflation (definitional inflation, paying more for the same thing makes the money worth less) and in the related cost of living.

Half of tax filers (around 65 million folks) pay a total of 3.5% net of the federal income tax (an average of $656 per filer) (almost 170 million Americans don’t file at all). That’s folks making less than $29K/year. The average person in the bottom half of income tax filers pays about 2.2% (I call these folks non tax payers). They do pay local taxes and state taxes and annuity and insurance taxes like Medicare and SS, but they also can collect on these programs., they will get SS, and Medicare, and they drive on the streets and are consumers of civil services, etc. So 55% don’t file, of those that do, 50% pay an average of 2.2% of income for federal services and support.

The Bush tax plan has proven to be even more progressive than that which proceeded it.

I think if we are serious about reducing risk we need to stop coddling criminals, stop with politically correct excuses for inappropriate and criminal behavior, and reduce illegal immigration which strains the resources of our schools and civil service providers.

by grrr on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:00:58 PM PDT

Been Hearing This Stuff for Years. (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:grrr The Tea Party was about taxation without representation. I’m pretty sure the fight against that is a Republican position. No, it was against the global East India Tea Company’s monopolistic trade, supported by government ministers who owned a lot of company stock. This is the kind of government and market practice that the Halliburton Republicans have been leading the fight to impose on the people.

Wal*Mart as an example put a kettle at the exit, and anyone who wanted to pay more, An wet-dream Conservative solution since a) it’s sales tax, the most regressive type we have and b) this particular customer base is one of the most regressive populations we could select. It wouldn’t even be seen by 100 top-5%’ers a year.

I have never met a conservative who does not want to help the needy. And yet conservatives and religion had 12,000 years of failing to improve the problem, but the only time we actually moved masses out of need into a large global middle class it was modern liberalism that did it in one generation over the virulent objections of conservatives.

Almost nobody works for minimum wage if they stay in the same job more than a few months. Even better!—then a raise will cost society almost nothing.

The Bush tax plan has proven to be even more progressive It’s not a cut, it’s a tax increase, and it’s the most regressive in modern history, because the children of the bottom 90% who are getting almost no cuts will have to pay tax, and the poor non tax payers will have to sacrifice benefits, to repay both the present tax-cut debt plus the future interest on those tax cuts.

I think No, as Marc Maran says, “it just feels like thinking to them.”

I think if we are serious about reducing risk we need to stop coddling criminals, Such as doctors, who accidentally kill as many Americans every couple of months as terrorism does every decade.

reduce illegal immigration All the terrorists who have hit us so far entered the country legally. Although personally I favor reducing illegal immigration to a negligible flow in combination with expanding legal immigration sensibly and dealing humanely with the established undocumented population.

We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for victims of our nation and for those it calls enemy….—ML King, “Beyond Vietnam”

by Gooserock on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:51:19 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Our Enzi bill ‘thank you’ diary (0 / 0) Read our ‘thank you’ diary for your help on the Enzi bill (we won last night!) here:

http://www.dailykos.com/…

by Families USA on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:05:27 PM PDT

Angry Man’s Wavering Hand (0 / 0) http://apoeticjustice.blogspot.com/…

Poetic Justice-Don’t burn the flag! Wash it!

by prime63 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:06:39 PM PDT

Twenty. Nine. Per. Cent. (0 / 0) Ha-haaaaa…I like it. I’m going crazy just thinking about how low it can go…

Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right

by darthstar on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:14:40 PM PDT

Republicans and education (0 / 0) Embracing idiocy

Visit Hughes for America, the Worldwide Leader in Web Log Technology for 50 Years!

by BobcatJH on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:17:31 PM PDT

Tony Snow !st Briefing ‘A mess’ (0 / 0) http://www.cnn.com/…

Press Secretary and former Fox News talking head held his first press briefing and fiddledy flumoxed his way through it.

It’s apparently a real shock to some people that this guy and the rest of the Fox morons can’t intellegently discuss real news about real policy.

Once again a lesson in te fact that these coo coo clocks in the White House are just too stupid to govern.

by Chillier on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:25:16 PM PDT

What Does Anyone Do About People Who (0 / 0) fall through the cracks in our health care system?

“We fill in the cracks” says the GSK employee.

Hour after hour, day after day, a typical example of the information environment that campaign reforms can’t touch.

We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for victims of our nation and for those it calls enemy….—ML King, “Beyond Vietnam”

by Gooserock on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:29:23 PM PDT

‘Breaking’: (0 / 0) “Dusty” Foggo’s home being searched by the FBI,. Is this the Friday scandal of the week? http://www.insightbb.com/…

“At Delta House we have a saying:Don’t Get mad, Get even.” Daniel Simpson Day

by irate on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:31:03 PM PDT

I’m back! (0 / 0) I took a 2.5 week vacation to NYC and had a blast. I checked Dailykos periodically, but I missed you all.

Let’s rock!

by HellofaSandwich on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:35:47 PM PDT

Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month (0 / 0) Here is a diary link from earlier today…

http://www.dailykos.com/…

It went down the list so fast, I just wanted to let more people take a look.

(and there is a poll, so go vote - haha)!

Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth. -Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1939 [-4.38, -3.18]

by peteri2 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:36:48 PM PDT

the unread letter (0 / 0)

By Zeke

May 12, 2006 04:25 PM | Link to this

So our gay Dusty has a new lover, name of Craig. We’re all happy for you both. Hog Man Danish finishes this off into a neat threesome.

By Andy's Mom

May 12, 2006 04:26 PM | Link to this

Did you know that voter registration lists are public record? Typically they are maintained at a State or County level under the jurisdiction of a Board of Elections or Secretary of State. And they are available for purchase. Interesting, no?

Here some sample links

Want the list of voters in Baltimore County, MD? How about the entire State of South Carolina? Here’s a list of every Republican in Licking County, OH for just 1¢ per name.

Poke around your local government web sites and make a few phone calls. I’m sure you can get these for every county in every state.

So I say we get them. And then we post them.

Full page ads in newspapers in Ohio and North Carolina and Montana and Kentucky and Louisiana and any other so called “red-state” that helped enable this criminal syndicate and now has a little 29% regret. Take up a little collection. These ads can’t be more then a few hundred unless you’re looking at WaPo or WSJ or NYT or something. But I’m talking about local papers in towns and cities with bold-faced ads that read:

ATTENTION PEOPLE OF (insert state/city name here)! Here are the people registered as Republicans in your neighborhoods. Ask them if they still support their government now. Andofjustafter then small column column a whole print after after list names column column

Break it up A-L and M-Z if you have to, run it installments, split it between pages… who cares?!

A little “Megan’s Law” for the criminally conservative. As a citizen, I would certainly like to know what kind of any past or potential wingnuts are living in my neighborhood or that have access to my children (if I actually had children, that is).

But Wisp… aren’t there laws about this? Well, yeah… some. (although it would be tempting to just reply with “Aren’t there laws about spying on Americans?”)

There are laws that say you can not use these lists for commercial gain or for solicitation. Okay, we won’t sell anything. Or that you can not publish personal information without permission. Okay, we’ll just list names. No addresses. No phone numbers. Or that it must be used for political purposes. I would call exposing the slimy Republican support structure a “political purpose”, wouldn’t you.

It is time to call them out. Expose them for what they are.

Thinking men can not be ruled. —Ayn Rand

by Wisper on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:21:32 AM PDT

Qwest (0 / 0) No chance of signing up in Maryland. Dammit!

Bloggin’ with a bar of soap and my car window IMPEACH -8.75 / -6.10

by Alegre on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:22:35 AM PDT

President 29%? (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:turquoise Did I miss a poll? I don’t recall hearing champagne corks popping all over the U.S., nor did I see ponies wandering the streets…

Thou shalt not worship graven images—even if they do have 50 stars and pretty colors.

by RickBoston on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:24:23 AM PDT

Front page post last night (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:turquoise Simply titled “29 Percent.”

by SusanG on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:28:11 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Thanks. (0 / 0) Was heavily involved in a war with a troll last night.

Thou shalt not worship graven images—even if they do have 50 stars and pretty colors.

by RickBoston on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:51:35 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Bush goes below 30%! (0+ / 0-) Recommended by:Gooserock New Harris Poll here.

“Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition” - Monty Python

by MadRuth on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:25:03 AM PDT

OOOOO— A 2nd 29% Poll!! (0 / 0) (Isn’t it?)

We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for victims of our nation and for those it calls enemy….—ML King, “Beyond Vietnam”

by Gooserock on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:38:50 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

29? (3+ / 0-) Recommended by:Revel, grrr, turquoise 29%. I cannot believe that after all my hoping and wishing it’s actually happening. Now I’m going to start hoping and wishing he hits the “teens.”

19%…. here we come!

Lisa

Jesus is still a liberal

by Boston to Salem on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:25:13 AM PDT

You survived the sniper fire, welcome to the USA (0 / 0) Psstt…can we interest you in joining our army?

AP: Bush to Speak About Immigration on Monday

President Bush plans to address the nation Monday night on the immigration debate, trying to build momentum for legislation that could provide millions of illegal immigrants a chance to become American citizens.

[…]

On Thursday, Senate leaders reached a deal to revive a broad immigration bill that had appeared doomed just several weeks ago.

CNN: Pentagon Eyes Ways to Use Military for Border Security

Faced with growing pressure from southern states, the Bush administration wants the military to come up with ideas to help solve security problems along the U.S. border with Mexico.

In back-to-back moves this week, the Pentagon began exploring ways to lend support at the southern border, while the House on Thursday voted to allow the Homeland Security Department in limited cases to use soldiers in that region.

by Hypnosis 101 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:27:48 AM PDT

What sniper fire? From whom? (0 / 0)

by USAFguy on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:29:02 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

from soldiers protecting mexican border. (0 / 0) Although I guess this is the one thing that might be better than having minuteman or militia groups guarding the border.

by Hypnosis 101 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:31:55 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Sick & disqusting comment. (0 / 0) I can’t understand your level of contempt for the soldiers. by USAFguy on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:33:29 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Does the Pentagon (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:trashablanca have a secret cloning program, too? Coz last I heard, most of the National Guard aren’t available to protect American soil. They’re busy being shot at in Dumbya’s illegal war overseas.

by Fe on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:29:15 AM PDT

Yes, clones… (0 / 0) I hear Darth Cheney started a new cloning program on Planet Kamino. He’s going to start cloning Jango Fett to provide us with enough soldiers to replenish the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, have a nice big invasion force for Iran, and have enough clone troopers to guard the border from Separatists and “illegals” South of the Border. All hail the new Empire!

GOP = Spies, lies, borrowing & binging. Punky Chips Ahoy sez IMPEACH! Oi! Oi! Oi! Econ: -4.63 Soc: -6.92

by MamasGun on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:54:14 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

cartoons, entries, tv alerts galore (4+ / 0-) Recommended by:wozzle, Yoss, SusanG, dharmafarmer

TV alerts Sunday Talk adapted from Hotline (listings subject to change):

Meet the Press: Newt Gingrich and the roundtable consists of Wall Street Journal’s John Harwood, Newsweek’s Jon Meacham and PBS’ Judy Woodruff. Face the Nation: NSA Stephen Hadley, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA). This Week: Sens. Joe Biden (D-DE) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Laura Bush. New York Times’ David Brooks and Dem strategist Donna Brazile join the roundtable. Actress Reese Witherspoon is the voices segment. Fox News Sunday: Laura Bush and Mary Cheney. Their power player is Art Buchwald. Late Edition: Hadley and Senate Maj. Leader Bill Frist. Future (mostly political, media) guests (subject to change):

The View: Oprah Winfrey on 5/12; John Stossel on 5/12 Real Time with Bill Maher 5/12: Madeleine Albright Conan O’Brien: Sen. Barack Obama on 5/12; Mike Wallace on 5/16; Larry King on 5/19; Tim Russert on 5/24 Tim Russert Show on CNBC 5/13 (7PM, 10PM): David Gregory, Kelly O’Donnell, and Chip Reed discuss a variety of issues. Road to the White House 5/14 at 6:30 PM on CSPAN: John McCain’s speech at Liberty and Newt Gingrich’s IA visit. 60 Minutes 5/14: SEIU Pres Andy Stern Selected Entries

The Political Environment 2006: The Shift on the Issues That Matter to Americans The only qualifications that matter to Bush: That you like him and will do his bidding. Hispanic voters souring on Bush, just like the rest of the country Media News Monday 5/8/06: Media says IOKIYAR In this edition: CourtTV goes to Washington; Stephen Colbert making a splash; here come the vloggers; Republican asks TV news stations to falsify photo; April cable ratings; more WHCAD coverage; Jill Carroll update; censorship; David Brooks, David Frum and other right-wingers get fact-checked; NY Mag’s influential media people list, Goss coverage props and demerits and more… (including some of the better media-related editorial cartoons) 08 Watch: the Republicans and the Democrats (both posted 5/6/06 and with cartoons) Other random 08 news bits posted in between 08 Watch updates. This Past Week in Jokes and Funnies (posted 5/6/06)

Visit my blog Penndit. Media, politics, campaigns, and political communications.

by Newsie8200 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:30:41 AM PDT

more tv alerts, entries, a cartoon (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:Yoss, dharmafarmer

More TV Alerts

The Daily Show: Howard Dean on 5/15; Denis Leary on 5/16; Willie Nelson on 5/18; re-runs The Colbert Report: MSNBC’s Chris Matthews on 5/15; energy researcher Tyson Slocum on 5/16; Jonathan Alter on 5/17; zoologist Ted Daeschler on 5/18; re-runs for two weeks; CNBC’s right-wing talking point Lawrence Kudlow on 6/5; CNN’s Christiane Amanpour 6/6; Mars scientist Steve Squyres on 6/7; science writer Steve Johnson on 6/8 MSNBC 5/16 from 9-10PM will air live national coverage of runoff debate between Nagin and Landrieu in New Orleans mayoral debate. Leno: Ex-WH Press Secretary Scott McClellan on 5/16 Letterman: Dixie Chicks on 5/22 2006 Campaign Updates

2006 Campaign News Update: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado (posted 5/9/06) 2006 Campaign News Update: Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming (posted 5/8/06) (with cartoons) 2006 Campaign News Update: Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota (posted 5/6/06) 2006 Campaign News Update: New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon (posted 5/3/06)

Visit my blog Penndit. Media, politics, campaigns, and political communications.

by Newsie8200 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:31:57 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

It’s Friday dammit (0 / 0) Where is the frogmarch? What is the GJ doing? KKKarl needs a long vacation at Greybar Suites.

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” J. Lennon

by trashablanca on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:30:43 AM PDT

Obama (0 / 0) LINK

Obama mocked the “idea that somehow if you say the words plan for victory' andstay the course’ over and over and over and over again, and you put these subliminal messages behind you that say victory' andvictory’ and `victory,’ that somehow people are not going to notice the 2,400 flag-draped coffins that have arrived at the Dover Air Force Base.”

Yeah, I’m trying out this blogging thing, too.

by MLDB on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:31:36 AM PDT

Ok folks, on the count of three… (0 / 0) pick up that landline and call 1-555-F*******-UNSA.

by dharmafarmer on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:31:53 AM PDT

Just read the linked (0 / 0) story regarding Qwest denying NSA customer call records. Interesting that the ex-CEO is facing numerous charges now.

When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends. Japanese Proverb

by Esjaydee on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:32:09 AM PDT

SUSAN OR OTHER SITE ADMINS (0 / 0) [Posted in a previous Open Thread, but no reply. Please excuse the dup.]

Rumor has it that Autoban is on the fritz. Boy, do we need it these days!

Is it on the fritz? If so,

—Could someone please follow up on getting it fixed?

—Should we report ultra-troll-rated users who would normally be subject to Autoban?

——-If we should report them, should it be to any site admin in particular?

I’m still hoping to see a list of site admins’ names and, if applicable, e-mails addies. If I use the “feedback form,” I’m never sure whether anyone will see my message or to whom I should address it.

Thanks!

Dean Democrat

by Rita in DC on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:33:12 AM PDT

29 Percent (2+ / 0-) Recommended by:wozzle, dharmafarmer Not just Harris Interactive as reported here yesterday, but the WSJ. And it’s front page Yahoo News (AP). The more important poll number, however, is the right track/wrong track reading, sitting now at 24/69. That is some serious f*** bad news for incumbents.

“It’s the Supreme Court, Stupid!”

by Kestrel on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:33:44 AM PDT

Begala wrong ….BUT (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:Mcguffin I think Begala is wrong. 100%. I think his words were poorly chosen. If he disagrees he can do so in a more constructive manner. I have agreed with Dean on the 50 state plan since he first pitched it. It is the only way the Democrats can regain a lasting majority in the House and Senate.

However, I simply do not get many around these blogs that are so dismissive of Clinton and his 8 years in office. Who was the last Democrat before Clinton to serve two terms? Who is the most popular Democrat on the face of the planet? Look at the facts and ask yourself why these things are the wy they are.

by dpANDREWS on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:34:34 AM PDT

He Won With a Great Personality (0 / 0) but one thing people don’t like is that he was a solo act. He did lose both the House & Senate in his first middterm. And his admin was succeeded by Bush.

LBJ was succeeded by Nixon but at least he left enough of a Democratic government for impeachment.

We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for victims of our nation and for those it calls enemy….—ML King, “Beyond Vietnam”

by Gooserock on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:44:20 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Cheney falls asleep - AGAIN (0 / 0) The Huffington Post has the pics up. Pretty funny. All Cheney is missing is the drool hanging off the corner of his mouth …. or maybe some audio of Cheney sawing wood!!!

Funny stuff it is … the 2nd. most powerful man in the world sleeping during meetings dealing with security issues and the like.

by dpANDREWS on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:36:15 AM PDT

(Republican) Party line. (0 / 0)

Slap it. Shoot it. Kaboot it.

by adios on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:39:00 AM PDT

BUSH WILL RESIGN BEFORE NOVEMBER… (0 / 0) At the request of Republicans…if these polls keep dropping…

You simply can not go into an election with a low 20% approval rating and not damage your party…NOT to mention the naiton!

Bush needs to consider going back to Texas early—to “cut brush” or whatever it is that people like him do…

http://news.yahoo.com/…

Read, Think, Write: CabinFeverBooks.Com

by BALTHAZAR on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:40:17 AM PDT

not a chance - think - President 18% Cheney? (0 / 0) Far more likely that he’ll go, particularly if Rove, to stay out of jail, has given Fitz one or more additional peoplein Cheney’s office.

Then Bush gets to bring in someone who to boost his numbers and prepare a successor. I don’t think he can even try Jeb, so it becomes either Condi or mcCain.

If he were to resign before January 20th, that person would only be able to be reelected in 2008, clearing the decks for Jeb in 2012.

Those who can, do. Those who can do more, TEACH!

by teacherken on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:52:48 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

Republicans do not s** without a plan (0 / 0) Have you noticed that Jed Bush’s name apearing in Republican polls now. Sleepy Dick could be replaced any time now, That is why he has been showed sleeping twice now it will be real easy now to tell the world Dicks heart is so bad that he can not stay awake,( REMEMBER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DOSE NOT FART UNLESS IT IS PLANED)then he will be retired and replaced by Jed Bush and dumb Bush will not be replaced till Jeb is well tested to see if he is a good puppet then the Republican Party will let Jeb Bush more or less save the world and the Republican Party will have another puppet in the Wwite house - If dumb was light Bush would be brighter than the sun Walk through VA Cemetery tour a VA hospital then say you are over taxed

by roxnev on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:19:17 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Is Rove Running the Fumblerooski? (0 / 0) http://www.dailykos.com/…

by JiggyFlunknut on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:43:35 AM PDT

a diary on Jim Webb event last night (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:BarbaraB I posted it very late. You may not have seen it. It explains why I think Virginia Senate race is over. And the best news is you can even still recommend it if you are so inclined (I am being silly, but you can).

here’s the link

Those who can, do. Those who can do more, TEACH!

by teacherken on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:45:05 AM PDT

Thanks, teacherken. (0 / 0) I contributed to Jim Webb and now get invited to all his events. I haven’t managed to get to one yet (the fact that I live in Florida may have something to do with that) but it’s good to hear the campaign is going so well.

by BarbaraB on Fri May 12, 2006 at 01:01:44 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Well, (0 / 0) looks like the honeymoon is over, & the Snow is melting….

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…

Slap it. Shoot it. Kaboot it.

by adios on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:45:53 AM PDT

Hoping For Something Karate-Related (0 / 0)

We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for victims of our nation and for those it calls enemy….—ML King, “Beyond Vietnam”

by Gooserock on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:27:54 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

PA Gov poll (0 / 0) I heard on NPR today that Rendell is ahead of Swann 55-33. Good news. I didn’t catch who did the poll, but it is good no matter, I guess.

Rendell has been running a series of great ads about his accomplishments as Governor. They really are upbeat and accomplishment-focused. I’ve seen two different ones, so there might be more.

Just thought I’d share…

Closed minds should come with closed mouths.

by Pennsylvanian on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:46:42 AM PDT

border patrol & posse comitatus (0 / 0) I’m really surprised they haven’t used the issue of border security to finally kill off posse comitatus once and for all. (Or maybe it’s already dead and I just dont know it!) I’ve been expecting a big fight on this issue…. a fight we’re almost sure to lose.

by Censor me too on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:47:19 AM PDT

Passe comitatus n/t (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:wozzle

Democrats give you the Bill of Rights; Republicans sell you a bill of goods!

by barbwires on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:58:08 AM PDT

[ Parent ]

it’s not just Kathy now…sort of (1+ / 0-) AP via the local fishwrapper:

TALLAHASSEE — Peter Monroe, a developer who helped manage the government’s savings and loan bailout, qualified today to challenge U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris for the Republican senatorial nomination in Florida.

Gov. Jeb Bush and other Republican leaders have been looking for someone to take on Harris because she trails incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson by about 30 percentage points in public opinion polls.

Bush said earlier this week that he didn’t believe Harris could beat Nelson.

Monroe, of Safety Harbor in the Tampa Bay area, managed the liquidation of more than $400 billion in real estate assets from failing savings and loans while heading the Federal Resolution Trust Corp. Oversight Board in the early 1990s.

State Rep. Dennis Ross of Lakeland also said he may enter the Republican primary. Noon today is the deadline to qualify for federal offices.

I’ve been beating on the Secretary of State’s site for the last 15 minutes, and there’s no recent update to the list of senatorial candidates or their statuses. The race has been closed for two hours, so I don’t know the hold up.

Neither of these clowns has any statewide name recognition, so I think it’s Nelson’s race to lose. How Chesty Kathy does in the primary will at least be good for a laugh.

by BaconGreaseKid on Fri May 12, 2006 at 11:48:58 AM PDT

asdf (0 / 0) Anybody have thoughts about this dialogue? (0 / 0) As we have conversations about distinguishing between trolls and folks we just disagree with, here is a dialogue where I disagree with this person…a lot…(my answers are in regular lettering, the person who I answered is in italics. I will not reveal the person’s moniker)…sorry this is so long…

I am writing for two reasons - 1. I believe his arguments are wrong - but want feedback. 2. I want to explore the issue of the tension between sincere disagreement and deliberate obfuscation…

The Tea Party (0+ / 0-)

was about taxation without representation. I’m pretty sure the fight against that is a Republican position. I’m not sure you want that to be the iconic representation of Democratic action. It was against (a very reasonable) tax instituted without the consent of those being taxed. Most Republicans I know would say that’s why they vote Republican, because Democrats are all about the non-taxed voting representation into office that will tax the already taxed even more, and redistribute the revenue to the untaxed.

*

[new] The non-taxed ?? (3+ / 0-)

Democrats are all about the non-taxed voting representation into office that will tax the already taxed even more, and redistribute the revenue to the untaxed.

Does this mean people on govt subsidies? Do you believe people who are disabled should just starve?

Or is it that you feel able-bodied people should work? Well, that’s fair if so…

but I assume, then, that you also believe that people should be given a chance to be paid a living wage for working fulltime, right? So that means you believe the government should either

be serious about enforcing antitrust legislation to break up corporate oligopolies that fix prices and keep wages down. OR

insist on a decent govt mandated living minimum wage. And you believe that children deserve to go to good schools where they aren’t at risk of violence by some thugs in an inner city school? Or do children pay the wages of sin of their parents by going to dangerous schools with poor teaching and inadequate educational tools?

Sorry I sound upset, but what you wrote feels harsh towards Americans who need help…

by grrr on Thu May 11, 2006 at 05:11:11 PM PDT

[ Parent | Reply to This ]

Sorry to have harshed your groove (0 / 0) There is no such thing as a living wage, not one anyway. The cost of living in 90210 is substantially different from the cost of living in 73106 (zip codes). I have recommended that Wal*Mart as an example put a kettle at the exit, and anyone who wanted to pay more, with all proceeds going to the wages, or healthcare, pick your poison, could just drop it in. Very democratic, no limits on contributions. Nobody thinks that’s a good idea. Everybody is free to send more to the feds, and I’d be in favor of legislation ensuring that directed donations be used as directed. In Massachusetts they have this kind of plan. Two tax rates, one higher, one lower. Everybody has a choice. Even John Kerry chooses the lower. If even the best intentioned won’t participate, why do you think we have democratic agreement on this?

I have never met a conservative who does not want to help the needy. There is considerable disagreement about the definition of needy.

Almost nobody works for minimum wage if they stay in the same job more than a few months. The minimum wage meme is a ruse to raise the pay for folks whose wage is determined by an add-on or multiplier to the minimum wage. It would also centainly cause a rise in inflation (definitional inflation, paying more for the same thing makes the money worth less) and in the related cost of living.

Half of tax filers (around 65 million folks) pay a total of 3.5% net of the federal income tax (an average of $656 per filer) (almost 170 million Americans don’t file at all). That’s folks making less than $29K/year. The average person in the bottom half of income tax filers pays about 2.2% (I call these folks non tax payers). They do pay local taxes and state taxes and annuity and insurance taxes like Medicare and SS, but they also can collect on these programs., they will get SS, and Medicare, and they drive on the streets and are consumers of civil services, etc. So 55% don’t file, of those that do, 50% pay an average of 2.2% of income for federal services and support.

The Bush tax plan has proven to be even more progressive than that which proceeded it.

I think if we are serious about reducing risk we need to stop coddling criminals, stop with politically correct excuses for inappropriate and criminal behavior, and reduce illegal immigration which strains the resources of our schools and civil service providers.

by grrr on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:00:58 PM PDT

Been Hearing This Stuff for Years. (1+ / 0-) Recommended by:grrr The Tea Party was about taxation without representation. I’m pretty sure the fight against that is a Republican position. No, it was against the global East India Tea Company’s monopolistic trade, supported by government ministers who owned a lot of company stock. This is the kind of government and market practice that the Halliburton Republicans have been leading the fight to impose on the people.

Wal*Mart as an example put a kettle at the exit, and anyone who wanted to pay more, An wet-dream Conservative solution since a) it’s sales tax, the most regressive type we have and b) this particular customer base is one of the most regressive populations we could select. It wouldn’t even be seen by 100 top-5%’ers a year.

I have never met a conservative who does not want to help the needy. And yet conservatives and religion had 12,000 years of failing to improve the problem, but the only time we actually moved masses out of need into a large global middle class it was modern liberalism that did it in one generation over the virulent objections of conservatives.

Almost nobody works for minimum wage if they stay in the same job more than a few months. Even better!—then a raise will cost society almost nothing.

The Bush tax plan has proven to be even more progressive It’s not a cut, it’s a tax increase, and it’s the most regressive in modern history, because the children of the bottom 90% who are getting almost no cuts will have to pay tax, and the poor non tax payers will have to sacrifice benefits, to repay both the present tax-cut debt plus the future interest on those tax cuts.

I think No, as Marc Maran says, “it just feels like thinking to them.”

I think if we are serious about reducing risk we need to stop coddling criminals, Such as doctors, who accidentally kill as many Americans every couple of months as terrorism does every decade.

reduce illegal immigration All the terrorists who have hit us so far entered the country legally. Although personally I favor reducing illegal immigration to a negligible flow in combination with expanding legal immigration sensibly and dealing humanely with the established undocumented population.

We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for victims of our nation and for those it calls enemy….—ML King, “Beyond Vietnam”

by Gooserock on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:51:19 PM PDT

[ Parent ]

Our Enzi bill ‘thank you’ diary (0 / 0) Read our ‘thank you’ diary for your help on the Enzi bill (we won last night!) here:

http://www.dailykos.com/…

by Families USA on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:05:27 PM PDT

Angry Man’s Wavering Hand (0 / 0) http://apoeticjustice.blogspot.com/…

Poetic Justice-Don’t burn the flag! Wash it!

by prime63 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:06:39 PM PDT

Twenty. Nine. Per. Cent. (0 / 0) Ha-haaaaa…I like it. I’m going crazy just thinking about how low it can go…

Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right

by darthstar on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:14:40 PM PDT

Republicans and education (0 / 0) Embracing idiocy

Visit Hughes for America, the Worldwide Leader in Web Log Technology for 50 Years!

by BobcatJH on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:17:31 PM PDT

Tony Snow !st Briefing ‘A mess’ (0 / 0) http://www.cnn.com/…

Press Secretary and former Fox News talking head held his first press briefing and fiddledy flumoxed his way through it.

It’s apparently a real shock to some people that this guy and the rest of the Fox morons can’t intellegently discuss real news about real policy.

Once again a lesson in te fact that these coo coo clocks in the White House are just too stupid to govern.

by Chillier on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:25:16 PM PDT

What Does Anyone Do About People Who (0 / 0) fall through the cracks in our health care system?

“We fill in the cracks” says the GSK employee.

Hour after hour, day after day, a typical example of the information environment that campaign reforms can’t touch.

We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for victims of our nation and for those it calls enemy….—ML King, “Beyond Vietnam”

by Gooserock on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:29:23 PM PDT

‘Breaking’: (0 / 0) “Dusty” Foggo’s home being searched by the FBI,. Is this the Friday scandal of the week? http://www.insightbb.com/…

“At Delta House we have a saying:Don’t Get mad, Get even.” Daniel Simpson Day

by irate on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:31:03 PM PDT

I’m back! (0 / 0) I took a 2.5 week vacation to NYC and had a blast. I checked Dailykos periodically, but I missed you all.

Let’s rock!

by HellofaSandwich on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:35:47 PM PDT

Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month (0 / 0) Here is a diary link from earlier today…

http://www.dailykos.com/…

It went down the list so fast, I just wanted to let more people take a look.

(and there is a poll, so go vote - haha)!

Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth. -Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1939 [-4.38, -3.18]

by peteri2 on Fri May 12, 2006 at 12:36:48 PM PDT

the unread letter (0 / 0)

By Craig

May 12, 2006 05:03 PM | Link to this

Christ you libs are impossible losers. I’ll come back later to read all the cheerleading from the usual moonbats. getalife, Midori aka Andy’s Mom, RE strap on your mascot costumes and have fun.