Atlanta Weather

Partly Cloudy

80° F

Pollen 9

Air quality 43

| Traffic

Search
Luckovich cartoon changes address!

Mike Luckovich’s cartoon has moved to a new ajc.com address. Click here to view and bookmark.

The new format features a larger version of Mike’s cartoon for the day and allow readers to vote. There are also links to recent Luckovich cartoons and special galleries.

Bloggers who want to comment on issues in the news are invited to blog at any of our four other Opinion blogs:

Thinking Right

Jay Bookman

OpinionTalk

Woman to Woman

Home > Opinion > Mike Luckovich > Archives > 2008 > March > 13 > Entry

Oil sheik?

By Mike Luckovich | Thursday, March 13, 2008, 06:43 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Permalink | Comments (149) | Post your comment | Categories: Editorial Cartoon

Comments

By AJC Management

March 13, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this

No, but Obambi is a whacko environmental terrorist, which is far worse than any “Arab oil sheik.”

~~~~~

Uh, $4000 for this?

Meet the Governor’s hooker…

Don’t get me wrong, back in the day had I seen this monster alone in some bar, I would have turned on the charm but when she said it’ll be 4K, I would have been like “Git the F outta here.”

You pinkos are so damn weeiirrrddd.

~~~~~

{{{{>>>>Shaken<<<< Spitzer agrees to quit-Urinal}}}}

Yeah, shaken.

She was shaken<<

Snappin her fingers<<

She was up and down and round and round<<

Shaken<<

And if you think the pinko media use of unnecessary adjectives is totally bizarre; check out their heartfelt and lovely cover story for this perv:

{{{{New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, whose rise to political power as a >>>fierce<<< enforcer of ethics in public life was undone by revelations of his own involvement with prostitutes, announced his resignation Wednesday.-Urinal}}}}

Bushie, the most investigated man in the world, has never broken any laws but, despite the largest witch hunt in history, which has found absolutely nothing, the libs still call him a criminal.

Spitzer has NEVER FOLLOWED THE LAW, HE WAS HIS OWN “LAW,” every single solitary case he prosecuted was made from whole clothe, the defendant was coerced by accusations leveled in PRESS CONFERENCES NOT COURT ROOMS and every one of his targets was a rich corporation that could afford to settle out of court, which defines the phrase SELECTIVE PROSECUTION.

And Code Pinko calls him a “fierce enforcer.”

And Angela Tuck says: >>We’re not biased!<<

~~~~~

Guess who:

{{{{One shudders to imagine the sepulchral gloom pervading the Spitzer home this week. At least Hillary would liven the place up with some lamp-throwing.}}}}

By Barack Obama wouldn't have had gotten so far if he wasn't black (Mad As Zell)

March 13, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this

As expected, the demonkrats are pounding each other into an unrecognizable bloody pulpy goo, positioning themselves for another legendary meltdown. The Democraps…a brainless party of chokers. It’s sooooo much fun to watch! We’re all so glad that Hitlery Clinton (the Hilderbeast) and Borak Hussein Osama (Lil’ Osama) are showing their true colors (Commie Red) now and not waiting until the general election. While these two idiots are beating up on each other the country is seeing what a couple of brainless, heartless, volatile marxist morons they are and as a result are turning to the steady and dependable elder statesman, John McCain. As a matter of fact, I think that Hitlery KKKlinton has now come up with the perfect campaign slogan to epitomize what her presidency would do to America: Hillary ‘08- No Vaseline. Bend Over and Pucker Up America!

Barack Obama has a new campaign slogan that expresses his plan for America as well: BoRAT Hussein Osama- Prepare To Be Converted, Jihad ‘08!

Sorry, Demoncrats. Looks like there’s just not much of a market for two facist USA-hating marxists to be President. Sorry.

By AJC Management

March 13, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this

See if you can make any sense out of this:

{{{{The abrupt resignation of the Pentagon’s top Middle East commander has silenced one of the Bush administration’s >>>fiercest opponents of a unilateral military strike against Iran<<<, yet top administration officials themselves >>>do not see real prospects for any kind of military action<<< before the end of President Bush’s term, current and former U.S. officials say.-Urinal}}}}

”If Bushie ever decides to bomb Iran, I’m gonna oppose it, fiercely.”<<

Oh what a tangled web we weave…

By the way the only thing “fierce” about you libs is your breath.

~~~~~

{{{{Doubtless, we shall see more of this uncivic insolence in the years ahead. Yet if both parties have their Casanovas, other news this week makes clear that the Democratic Party has a surprising number of racial bigots and in high places. Geraldine Ferraro’s outburst comes to mind. Moreover, the Clinton campaign’s handling of it is still more evidence of the racial prejudice within the party’s ranks.}}}}

{{{{Responding to Senator Barack Obama’s status as frontrunner in the Democratic nominating process, Ferraro declared, “If Obama were a white man, he would not be in this position….He happens to be very lucky who he is.” Ferraro is a Clinton supporter. She serves on the campaign’s finance committee. Her indelicacy provoked top Obama adviser David Axelrod to denounce it as part of an “insidious pattern,” which it assuredly is. Remember Bill Clinton’s display of racial bigotry in the South Carolina primary? There he betrayed an apparently deep vein of prejudice, equating Obama’s racially untroubled campaign with earlier racially obsessed campaigns waged by the race hustler Jesse Jackson. For the edification of those of us who have had to endure the Democrats’ boasts to superior tolerance, Clinton was brazenly playing the race card with a constituency that was not supposed to exist in his party, the white bigots.}}}}

~~~~~

Yeah, “global warming:”

{{{{Recent Canadian winters have been mild but this one looks set to break all-time records for snow. One storm last weekend dumped 23 inches on the capital Ottawa and 19 inches on Quebec City, which has already received 210 inches this year.}}}}

By @@

March 13, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this

Barack H. Obama isn’t an oil shiek but he’s proving to be slippery.

By Hitlery KKKlinton: MONSTER (Mad As Zell)

March 13, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this

Isn’t Eliot “Love Bug” Spitzer one of Hillary Clinton’s Superdelegates? Glad to see that Hillary has a deep pool of hypocritical, sociopathic sex addicts from which to draw support for her candidacy (see: Bill Clinton).

Eliot Spitzer- THE LOVE GOV!

Clinton/Spitzer ‘08 for President!

By David Duke, Chief KKKlinton Campaign Strategist (Mad As Zell)

March 13, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this

And we always thought that Hillary would run as George Wallace if that’s what it took to become President, but according to Barack Osama she’s running as David Duke. Well at least Hitlery didn’t forget her white sheets. Introducing your new Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan: Hitlery RATham KKKlinton! What a monster!

By Eeewwwwwwww

March 13, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this

In Ohio, likely a battleground state in November, a fifth of voters in the [[Democratic]] primary said race was an important factor in their vote, according to exit polls. Those voters favored Clinton, 59 to 39 percent — suggesting that about 12 percent of [[Democrats]] there are resistant to a black candidate.

And that counts only voters [[who are Democrats]] willing to tell a clipboard-bearing stranger that race was an important factor in their decision to vote against a black man.

“It says there are some measurable number of [white] [[Democrats]] who consider race and they are voting for Clinton over Obama.”

By IN THE Hussein BOWELS

March 13, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this

“Olbermann aims ‘Special Comment’ at Clinton Campaign”

I guess that when trying to “aim” low Keith Olbermann missed the toilet and hit the floor once again!

By DMac

March 13, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this

I like her smile. She could be telling you that your dog died and that smile…

I don’t know if she’s a monster, but she’s still better than W and John McCan we bomb Iran now?

Party ‘till W pukes.

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

March 13, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this

BOO

By Paul

March 13, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this

IThN 8;13

Another link from which I learned something new:

Keith Olbermann: “I have fought with myself over whether or not to say anything,” Olbermann begins “

KO implies he has self control in political commentary! LOL!

Notice, though: with Pres Bush - it’s always Bush who bears the responsibility because he’s (pick your own vile pronoun). With Hillary, it’s all the advisors’ fault. Tsch.

But I’ll give him credit for criticizing a Dem. For a guy who built his MSNBC career on “I’m not BOR” and “I hate Bush” I was wondering what he’d do past January.

The other 8:13: I’m regularly amazed at how many ultralibs are so much like their ultracon relatives when it comes to conspiracy theories.

@@

That was cute. Re: the other day with Obama and ‘class’ - I was referring to how he responds publicly, little things he does such as helping Hillary get out of her chair after the debates. Even the nose-blowing example you cited. It’s a natural function, like burping. It’s how one handles it. Hey, he was carrying a handkerchief - don’t take a survey of people in that regards to determine class.

But an indepth examination of political issues is quite another matter -

By RW-(the original)

March 13, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this

Oh good, my little puppy is here. Go fetch my news, dude.

Sadly I won’t be here to watch you chase ghosts all day, newsie, but I’ll try to check in at happy hour if my schedule permits.

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

What Democrat scandal would be complete without blaming the real villain? It’s, of course, all George W. Bush’s fault

RW OUT!!!

By IN THE Hussein BOWELS

March 13, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this

((((Having done the dirty work, Ferraro is “stepping down” from the Clinton Campaign.)))) Sounds more like the Clinton Campaign is “going down” on Ferraro. Why does one get the feeling that Hillary Clinton’s payment to Ferraro for her dirty work was a little “girl-on-girl alone time” between two female politicians who clearly have liberal leanings?

Hillary would personally “go down” on every female voter in America and enjoy every minute of it if that’s what it took for her to get elected!

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

March 13, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this

RW @ 8:57

Liar

By Rick

March 13, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this

Cartoon is great today. The punchline is the caricature, as it should be. The text is funny too.

Hillary has to be careful; she’s coming across lately as a ridiculous woman.

The Hadron Collider should confirm part of the Unification Theory which may let us predict more precisely how the universe will end. Dark matter and all that, you know. Mass is accumulated in a particle via that particle’s interaction with Higgs Field. or something like that. If mass is earned by a particle’s interaction instead of being simply intrinsic, then the universe will freeze into one giant icecube and we will all be keeled to death, but we’ll look great.

or something, I dont know, why are you asking me? I googled it. I got nothing. I just wrote the biggest bunch of manure I could think of and you dopes all fell for it. What a bunch of fall guys. I love it.

No, really, we’re gonna freeze, and it’s all Bush’s fault.

By Keith Olbermann, Obama Campaign Press Secretary (Mad As Zell)

March 13, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this

Barack Hussein Obama for President in 2008.

Because Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Louis Farrakhan surely CAN’T BE WRONG!

We all know how much Jesse, Al and Louie love the Jews!

By AmVet

March 13, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this

Sec. of State Rice Admits Iraq Reconstruction Mistakes - Says Administration Should Have Pulled Its Head Out of Its A$$ Much Sooner

Almost five years after the start of the Iraq war, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged Wednesday that US-led efforts to rebuild the country should have begun much earlier.

“I would have to admit, I think we’ve learned that, yes, it is really important to be able to help others build their states, to help others build their nations,” she told US lawmakers.

She was replying to a question on whether the administration of President George W. Bush had changed its mind on the controversial issue of helping other countries with “nation-building.”

By Obama on the edge?

March 13, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this

The issue of security: Which side is right?

“”Al Qaeda and other militant Islamist groups live in a shadow world where they plot to kill you and me. If we expect our intelligence professionals to prevent them from succeeding, we must give them the tools required to get the job done.”“

“”But in recent days, Democratic leaders in the House have not been providing those tools. They’ve been taking them away. There are rank-and-file Democrats who think this is wrong — but in an election year few have been bold enough to dissent loudly or clearly.””

“”Barack Obama’s Web site shows 25 issues — but, again, national security and militant Islamism do not make the cut. Instead, in a section on “Foreign Policy,” he promises to close the terrorist detention facility in Guantanamo (he does not say where the terrorists now housed there would go) and “lead the world to combat the common threats of the 21st century: nuclear weapons and terrorism; climate change and poverty; genocide and disease.”“”

“”Obama does assert that he will “finish the fight against al Qaeda.” He does not specify what weapons he will use to get that job done. Apparently, however, he doesn’t believe a robust intelligence-gathering capability need be among them.”“

Think about it. What will Barry do besides talk about what he will do.

He’s an empty suit with a gift of oratorical rhetoric.

By AmVet

March 13, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this

U.S. Trainer says Afghan War Trend is Worse. Blames Bungler-in-Chief for Go-it-alone Strategy

STOCKHOLM — The tide of the war in Afghanistan is running against the United States and its allies, a U.S. military official and counter-insurgency expert said on Wednesday.

“Afghanistan (is) in my eyes an under-resourced war, a war that needs a whole lot more advisers, a whole lot more economic aid,” Lieutenant Colonel John Nagl told a security conference in Stockholm.

“This war is the war I’m concerned about, a war in which the United States very much needs the help of our friends.”

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

March 13, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this

BOO BOO BOY

You know what you need to do prove you aren’t a liar……

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

March 13, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

Stunning Report On NSA Domestic Spying Confirms ACLU Warnings

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

March 13, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this

AFL-CIO targets McCain’s economic record

By IN THE Hussein BOWELS

March 13, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this

IN THE Hussein BOWELS, how ya doin, buddy? Long time, no diarrhea. What slimy left-wing turds of non-fact do you have for us today? We all know that your use of this blog helps to keep you “regular”. Sounds like IN THE (Hussein) NEWS needs a good fiber laxative of fact to keep her clear of lies.

By getalife

March 13, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this

w crying and whining about demanding corporate amnesty made my day.

Finally, the House stands up to reckless law breaking.

There is hope when they realize corporate power needs regulating and oversight with honest prosecuters.

Gold hit a grand, oil 110, what next?

By where's the luv?

March 13, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this

Where were the fireworks? The chanting “O-Ba-Ma - O-Ba-Ma”?

“I’m still for Hillary,” a young woman told me after Obama finished, “but please don’t tell anyone that.”

Obama worked a rope line. I was shoved back by photographers determined to get a shot. (Tip: Don’t ever duel with a photographer trying to get a shot.)

A campaign guy snapped, “No questions on the rope line!”

Next to me, a woman reached out and Obama briefly grabbed her hand.

“Oh! I just touched Barack Obama,” she said. She seemed in a dreamy state.

Finally, a swooner.

Everyone else got back to work.

By Georgia 74

March 13, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

Obama has presented the Repudilckers the golden goose. All you idiots who support him, take pride in what you’ve done, eight more years of repuds. This guy couldn’t win an election with a snake as an opponent.

By Copyleft

March 13, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this

“Apparently, however, he doesn’t believe a robust intelligence-gathering capability need be among them.”

Apparently, “ROBUST” has been redefined to mean “free to ignore the law.”

‘We have to give up our freedoms to protect our freedoms!’ —Rejected slogan for the Bush administration, dismissed as “too honest”—

By Goldie

March 13, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this

The majority of Dems used to think that Hillary was not a monster, AS FAR AS WE KNEW — but now we’re not so sure anymore. Her plans to destroy the Dem Party certainly qualifies her for monster-hood!

By Soothsayer

March 13, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

The most common characteristic of all police states is intimidation by surveillance. Citizens know they are being watched and overheard. Their mail is being examined. Their homes can be invaded.

—Vance Packard

By admirably in tune

March 13, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

That caricature of Hillary is Pulitzer Prize material, folks.

By DirtyDawg

March 13, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this

I really don’t know why I subject myself to reading these comments…just a masochist I guess. It really is disheartening to read and witness the level of ignorance so often portrayed here…the hate and bigotry displayed…and the worst part is they seem to be so proud of it. You don’t like Democrats, you don’t like Liberals, you don’t like ‘n*s’, you don’t like Mexicans, you damn sure don’t like Muslims, you don’t like Yankees, you don’t like intellectuals, you don’t like - well, I could go on but it’s clearly not necessary. Question is, is there anybody you do like with an IQ over 75? Oh, I forgot, you don’t like ‘retards’ either.

This constant display of stupidity reinforces my belief that Georgia will forever just be another one of those Alabamas, Mississippis or South Carolinas…and these people will still be proud of it. They don’t get it…then again, maybe I don’t. But I at least know that they would be ashamed if they were smart enough to know when to be ashamed.

By Bosch

March 13, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

Good morning bloggers!

Another Hillary cartoon. This time she looks very creepy - just how I imagine how she looks on the inside.

I really liked ITN’s Veruca Salt reference yesterday - I’m going to stick with that.

From last night:

RW,

Spitzer is entangled in a federal investigation, but Pelosi and Waxman have nothing to do with that investigation. I think they have a little more on their plate than to be concerned over a governor hooking up with a prostitute. They have a country to run! Remember?

Seriously, I know that was an exagerration.

Dusty,

Can you explain to me how ——— I’m being a bit hazy right now, I’ll get back to that later.

@@,

How very genuine of you to be concerned over those poor legislators whom Obama is stepping over to shamefully promote himself. What a great woman you are - yes, if more great women like you were so concerned over the injustices incurred by poor state legislators, the world would be such a better place. You’re so inspirational.

[Hmmmm…..I wonder if any of those legislators with Obama boot marks on their heads were running for Prez like Obama - and had a (D) after their name………….nevermind]

You’ve voted for a Democrat before? Was that before or after your cure from the horrors of that liberal disease afflicted upon you ?

“I don’t like injustice Bosch. I don’t like this game of Obama doing unto others and then crying foul when it’s done unto him”

Have you ever known a politician who doesn’t do that? It’s an election for the love of God - if he didn’t cry foul, he’d be accused of being too nice! If he does cry foul, then he’s being too mean. Please, @@, you ask me to be honest?

By Joke

March 13, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

Do these retards really think we care that they copy and paste news stories on this blog, its freaking annoying as heck. Especially since they believe the left wing journalism they put on here as if it were fact.

By Goldie

March 13, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

Forget about race and gender issues — this is what the Dems need to be talking about today, and tomorrow, and every day after that…

BAGHDAD - An explosion killed at least 11 people and wounded dozens on Thursday after a car bomb detonated in a commercial district of central Baghdad, adding to a recent upsurge in Iraq’s violence.

McBush will lose in November!

By Glenn

March 13, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

Mike, I’m telling you, you’re in a slump. Your talents are letting you down. Your muse is fuzed.

You call that a CARICATURE? Hasn’t Hillary had enough makeovers, without YOU gotta go Newsweeking her? Since when did you resort to the airbrush, man?

Let’s draw-by-numbers, shall we? First of all, I realize that the woman keeps lightening her eyebrows to match her hair color du jour, but contrary to your rendering they are not yet as slight and plucked and penciled as Narci Pelosi’s are. And the main thing with the eyebrows is that as Hillary moves toward the center her brows move to the margins. It’s an iterative politico-tonsorial migration, a diktat of a Gerald Rafshoon, or a Naomi Wolf or Ze Christophe. Earrings go up, eyebrows go out, Hillary goes down to where the Little People and their votes live.

Also, the cheeks. You omitted the squirrel pouches. Why? Some people find them cute, though in my view she could do with a couple fewer acorns, but then there’s no accounting, oui?

The hair? No problem. One’s as good as another. You can change the helmets like Mr. Potato Heads.

But overall you’ve lost all sense of distortion, Caricature Boy. This is disturbingly undisturbing. You’ve got to get back your groove if you want to crash the Louvre, dig? Crank it up, Mike! Make her surgeon’s facial zippers show, man! Arch that right brow and crook that side of her mouth the way she does when she’s lying—-excuse me, when she speaks. Don’t center her eyes in a full-frontal; she doesn’t like to look one in the eye when she…speaks. Hillary is NOT Bill! You’ve got to capture her the way the public does, in the oblique, looking out the corners of her latest eyes, the windows of the soul! Bags below, man! And baggage above! While you’re at it, make her face like Silly Putty and PULL this way and that. Show up how she splurged on the mug but skimped on the throat. Give her The Iguana!

You know. I pretty much want the same style you’ve done in these pictures I brought with me here of Bush, and Reagan. Cause if I can’t have that, Mike, then you should know that Christophe has an opening at the end of April.

By Bosch

March 13, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this

Soothsayer,

AND their banks accounts are being watched to see if any transfers are going out to hookers. Remember that folks! If you’re going to be one of the morality police, and hooking up with prostitutes, better get the funds in cash!

You know what is so ironic about this Spitzer thing - I’m sure Spitzer used those same tactics in his prosecutions.

Did anybody, by chance, hear Spitzer’s brother’s comment? My God what a weird a* family.

By GH Glenn

March 13, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

Not sure how to send ideas to Mike so I’ll just drop it here and hope it makes it:

Federal Reserve (holding a cattle prod) is standing over a ‘downer’ cow (labelled ‘US Economy) outside of the slaughter hose. Caption: Fed trys new stimulus package.

OK, a bit pessimistic but…

By AmVet

March 13, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

One of a kind and one of the last big time anti-corporatists.

WASHINGTON — Former Sen. Howard Metzenbaum, an Ohio Democrat who was a feisty self-made millionaire before he began a long career fighting big business in the Senate, died Wednesday night. He was 90.

He was a cantankerous firebrand who didn’t need a microphone to hold a full auditorium spellbound while dropping rhetorical bombs on big oil companies, the insurance industry, savings and loans, and the National Rifle Association, to name just a few favorite targets.

When other liberals shied away from that label, Metzenbaum embraced it, winning re-election in 1988 from Ohio voters who chose Republicans for governor and president, and by wider margins than either George Voinovich or George H.W. Bush.

By luckovichisaheadcase

March 13, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

The fact of the matter is that Geraldine Ferraro, in the context of her entire statement was right. However, she could have phrased it better. On the other hand, Hitlery is a pure hypocrite who has injected race into this campaign at every given opportunity. Barak Obama has actually been quite scrupulous about NOT referencing his race or using it in any way. For this he must be admired. It also shows that he is a whole lot smarter than Jesse Jackson and that he had no racial or racist agenda to begin with in running for the Senate or for the presidency. I will not vote for Obama for President, but I will have to say that he is at least on some level a much more moral person than that pack of hyenas that call themselves the Clinton campaign!

By Paul

March 13, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this

Bosch - you, too, @@

Teherans’ police chief and Spitzer are soul mates!

Link: The Tehran Police Chief, Reza Zarei, was caught in a bed with six—- Yes SIX —-prostitutes

He’s the guy leading Tehran’s modesty crackdown, prosecuting the “offenders.”

Some things just break through all cultural barriers -

By AJC Management

March 13, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this

{{{{RASMUSSEN POLL: Likely Dem Voters Nationwide Black: Obama 81% Clinton 7% White: Clinton 50% Obama 39%}}}}

Ahh, nothing like a house divided, along racial lines, no less.

Will we see the flag of the confederacy flying again before this civil war is over?

What other disgusting tactics do the White Powers have in their bag of tricks?

By luckovichisaheadcase

March 13, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this

AmVet - that was a nice tribute to a man who was a thorough hypocrite. He made shady real estate deals and certainly was not known for his personal generosity. He did not give all of his money to the poor, nor did he shrink away from turning a fast buck. He is yet another example of a limosine liberal a la AlGore who believed in capitalism for himself and socialism for the rest of us. And by the way, the NET PROFIT for oil companies is still at around 8% on each gallon of gas. Taxes are over 60% on average for the price of a gallon, depending on the state. The oil companies get their unrefined oil from the same sources as the rest of the world. You should hear my French and English friends complain about the cost of a gallon of gas - from oil companies owned by their own governments!!!! Yeah, socialism really benefits the poor and downtrodden! You live in a fantasy world. Wake up.

By AmVet

March 13, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this

headcase, thanks for the reply.

If your definition of generosity is giving all of your money to the poor, there are apparently no generous people at all!

He was a very, very smart businessman when he was young and created markets for his novel and marketable ideas.

He saw what was coming: a nation (as Ralph Nader has observed) for the General Motors, by the General Electrics and for the General Dynamics.

That it bothers the faithful none at all is irrelevant.

BTW I very much agreed with your 11:08.

By AmVet

March 13, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this

Curly, you wish everybody was xenophobic like you!

By Bosch

March 13, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this

Mr. Headcase,

I agree. Socialism sucks, and if there were ever ANYONE on this blog that said different, I’d be the first to tell them they are crazy.

Too bad we don’t have ANY pure socialists on this blog, because I’m in the mood to rant and rave today.

By luckovichisaheadcase

March 13, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

AmVet - What Howard Metzenbaum saw coming was a nation that he and his liberal fellow travelers were in the process of creating with an oppressive corporate tax code and horribly burdensome regulations with which only the megacorporations can comply because of the huge costs. It is no wonder that the George Soroses of this world love big government regulations - they help them beat up on the little entrepreneurs and after a while, there will be none left.

The great irony is that all of the aforementioned - which supposedly is to punish the greedy capitalists for making those obscene profits - only adds to the misery of the average fellow because these taxes and regulations only add to the cost of the final product because they are costs of doing business. All of those costs are always passed on to the consumer, and the last I looked the overwhelming majority of consumers are the ‘little guys’. This law of economics even applies when the government owns the businesses - as in the oil companies in Europe and the post office in the United States. One has to make a profit in order to stay in business and to provide the desired goods and services. Government subsidies, taxes, regulations and basic interference in the end don’t help but they hinder commerce. These things must be kept to a minimum. Howeird Metzenbaum was not stupid. He had to know that. But he was a political demagog of the first degree - on the order of Henry Wallace or Georg Wallace. His career has been over for quite a while and his legacy will be the continued decline of entrepreneurial spirit in a nation built upon that very thing. RIP and good riddance!

By Bosch

March 13, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

Paul,

Sorry, hit the post button too soon.

SIX prostitutes?!? Wow. Maybe, he was just interrogating them? I mean, that’s plausible, right?

By Dubya

March 13, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this

Timing. How sad. Spitzer’s silliness & political races consume the talking heads. Bush dodges more corruption bullets that would otherwise be front-page news: (1) The resignation of Adm Fallon who has long been opposed to Bushie’s Middle East madness. (2) The McCain-Airbus scandal is a significant story. (3) The latest Ashcroft scandal is more filth from another holy Christian who covers up statue nipples. All stories reduced to back pages or no pages at all. The uncleansed masses continue on in their ignorance & simplicity. God bluss Murcuh. Allah Akbar!

By Bosch

March 13, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

AmVet,

Aren’t we supposed to hate the French? Mr. Headcase is not a patriot if he has French friends. I need to do my patriotic duty - Where’s the number to the White House…

….we just can’t have that kind of…..

By luckovichisaheadcase

March 13, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this

Bosch - if you mean communist when you say ‘pure socialist’ I might agree with you. However, those who believe in government forced universal health care and oppressive regulation and confiscatory tax rates as well as regulation of almost every aspect of human life - except of course abortion on demand - then this blog is chock full o’ nuts who believe that socialism is the wave of the future. Anyone who votes for Hitlery or Barak and understands what their policies truly mean for the future are socialists. By the way, I am NOT Mr. Headcase. I have reserved that title for cartoon boy - that is why it is luckovichisaheadcase.

By Paul

March 13, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this

Bosch

Depends upon your definition of “interrogate.”

I fault those foreign news sources, though. They didn’t say if he was a Democrat or a Republican…

By Paul

March 13, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

Bosch,

One more thing - with all these guys carousing with six women, plus so much immorality that the authorities gotta have a morality crackdown, I mean, just where do these theologians think they’re gonna get 70 virgins for each one of these psychos who blow themselves up or die in jihad?

And now that they’re using female suicide bombers, well, how’re they gonna find any virgins at all?

See what happens on a slow news day?

By luckovichisaheadcase

March 13, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this

Bosch - I never got the bulletin about hating the French. Also, you didn’t get the news flash about the French elections last April - the good guys won. However, it will be a long time before the mess left by the French Democrats - le parti socialist - is fixed. I know many conservatives with French amis and even some with friends of Russian or Chinese origine. Again, I don’t know where you get your news, but Bush and Sarkozy are great friends, so you need to get an update.

By AmVet

March 13, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this

{Government subsidies, taxes, regulations and basic interference in the end don’t help but they hinder commerce.}

A VERY complex topic indeed and I am no economist.

I think of these four examples the last one is most to the point.

And the phraseology is such that it is almost Founding Fatherish in nature!

What is basic? What is interference? Lots of grays there.

Government subsidies? I infer you mean the farmers, bankers, and host of other organizations who suck off the individual American tax payers teat for their “profits”?

Taxes. Ah yes! I believe the goal is to enjoy everything the nation provides without paying any. Provided, of course, the necessary “legal” loopholes and “expenses” are in place.

Regulations. That dreaded R word. They are a shame indeed. Had only “free market forces” been even a tiny bit more responsible we wouldn’t need them I fear. You know clean drinking water, seat belts, Love Canal, lying about smoking cancers, etc…

Libs blame these corporations for all of our ills. Even to their own detriment.

Cons hold them completely unaccountable. Even to their own detriment.

The reality is somewhere in between.

But the men who run them know that if their K Street presence is big enough, they have VERY few cares.

And terms like socialism and communism in this country are so far off base as to be rhetorical.

By AmVet

March 13, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

I believe I read where the “conservatives” in France are already in deep trouble, and the pendulum may swing left again.

That it may be this quickly is interesting.

But honestly, I know next to nothing about French politics though…

By Mel

March 13, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this

Headcase: Your ignorance re “universal healthcare” is typical of the insectile mentality of the right-wing goonery that has been shouting that phrase since 1954. same exact words. You know nothing, absolutely nothing of the subject. Just more fear and hate-mongering that you weak-of-mind could not exist without. It is your very sustenance. Would that you and your relatives suddenly need massive amounts of money to deal w unforeseen illnesses. While you vomit forth your culpable ignorance, you might ck out the healthcare systems in Scandanavia and, especially, Japan. Near-perfect systems that totally defy and deny your wingnut repetitious ravings. The U.S. healthcare and research system is one of the worst of all modern nations. Only your blind, goose-stepping stupidity prevents you and those cretins like you from discovering the truth re this matter & others. Been there, been involved in those systems. Don’t bother - I don’t often read your pathetic offerings here. You deserve what you hustle - the rest of the country does not. Just look at the mess that is U.S. healthcare today. That’s asking too much of your likes. Better to simply push your blind ideas and lack of facts. Such a stench.

By cindy

March 13, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

A new official report is out that states pre war Iraq had no ties with Al Qaida. The Pentagon has elected not to post it on the internet, but anyone can request and receive a copy on CD. To obtain your copy go to:

http://www.jfcom.mil/

and choose “contact us” and make your request. The taxpayers will gladly foot the postage bill to send it to you.

By AmVet

March 13, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this

Mel, the “health care” system in this country is hemorrhaging.

That is not in dispute.

The shocker to me is that some want ONLY to apply a market driven Johnson & Johnson band aid (cost 2 cents - sales price $2) on it.

It is time, now way past time, for some BIG changes in this inexcusable situation and that takes vision and courage. And in some cases sacrifice.

But the enormous forces opposing that want none of it…

By @@

March 13, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

“Obama was born in the Hawaiian kingdom,” said Leon Siu, a Native Hawaiian and musician who brought up the issue in a column he wrote on a news Web site. “Not only was the overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom illegal, it was admitted to be illegal by the United States.”

Siu was referring to the “apology resolution” passed by Congress in 1993 acknowledging wrongdoing in the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy 100 years before and recognizing the inherent sovereignty of the indigenous islanders over their land.

Obama supports a proposal pending in the Senate that would formally recognize Native Hawaiians as an indigenous people, but he is definitely a U.S. citizen eligible to become president, said campaign spokeswoman Shannon Gilson.

“The constitutionality of being Hawaiian born and being a citizen is pretty clear,” she said.

Siu maintains that Obama’s actions in the Senate show he takes the citizenship issue seriously.

Obama is co-sponsoring a bill meant to clarify McCain’s eligibility by defining a “natural-born citizen” as anyone born to any U.S. citizen while serving in the active or reserve components of the U.S. armed forces.

If questions arise about Obama’s citizenship, he could count on similar accommodations from his fellow senators, said Siu, who has revoked his U.S. citizenship.

“The fact that he may be trying to cover some bases here means there’s at least some seriousness to the allegations that we’re an independent nation,” Siu said. “I don’t think it’s going to affect the election at all though.”

This is kind of funny when you think about it. Illegal invasion….sovereign nation….demanding apologies.

Proving their point by needling Obama.

I’m quite satisfied that Obama meets the qualifications of a U.S. citizen.

It’s one of those unintended consequence thingies.

By mm

March 13, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

Headcase,

You spew the same sh*t everyday. Same as all republicans, you bash the democrats but never offer up any solutions.

Please offer your ideas for taxes, healthcare, subsidies, regulations, gasoline prices, and smaller government.

And please, show me your source for 8% profit on a gallon of gas.

By Soothsayer

March 13, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

NEWSFLASH! We already have “universal healthcare.” If you have health insurance, you are ALREADY PAYING for those who do not. The poor have learned that health care is as close and the nearest hospital emergency room. By law they cannot be turned away. What do the hospitals do? THE RAISE THE RATES ON THE REST OF US. Got it? When the hospitals raise their rates the insurance companies raise their rates. Got it? If some form of universal healthcare is such a bad idea why on earth would Arnold Schwartzenegger have come out in favor of it? Even the poorest of the poor need to be paying in something. This is not socialism, it is facing reality.

By Auntie Kepila

March 13, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

Now I understand why you Haolies put Hawaiian music in the “International” section at Borders.

By admirably in tune

March 13, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

We aint hardly gonna git no health insurance no how no way.

Dont seem right that sick folks gits to see no doctorin’ up no how no accountin’

Pa done said that he never had no use for no doctorin, said his bible told him so, he did said. He be reckonin’ what folks need is a little sunshine and freshin’ air and a tab of castor oil, and they’s be good as new, I reckon pa knows ‘bout them things, the bible and all, what knows what does what is what all.

i reckon

By luckovichisaheadcase

March 13, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this

AmVet - that is the problem with most people who buy into Democrat policies - they don’t understand economics. They cannot even name the basic laws or even tell you who Adam Smith or Milton Freeman were. Subsidies of any kind are insidious, but especially those in agriculture. Those encourage the worst kind of coroprate abuse. Welfare is never very good. Certain tax ‘breaks’ are called subsidies, but that is a misnomer. Tax breaks are a liberal’s way of saying lower taxes on a business. These tax breaks are given in exchange for a certain type of behavior which the government wants a business to engage in. I have an ideological problem with this because this again skews what the free market would dictate. The result of this, however, proves the third law of economics - the law of self-interest - which NO ONE in his right mind ever violates!

Soothsayer you are right. We do have universal health care right now. However, we don’t have rationed heatlh care, which is what socialize or forced universal health care leads to. 20% of all people who are diagnosed with colon cancer in the early stages in Great Britain end up becoming terminal cases because the care is rationed. The British then brag that they are able to ‘contain’ health care costs. I know that I would not want to take on those kinds of odds. I speak from the heart as a colon cancer survivor.

Yes even the poor should be forced to pay something, but the main problem is the ‘deductable’ portions in health care policies has been set at much too low a level. Because they are so low, the free market is set upon its head and hospitals and doctors can charge outrageous prices for services because most people pay their low deductables of $10, $20 or $30 and think no more about it. Also, this encourages people not to practice preventive care.

The End.

By Bosch

March 13, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this

Mr. Headcase,

Oh, …well, …I see, many of my socialist friends have beaten me to responding.

Dammit, man, will you PLEASE make up your mind? Are we socialists or communists? There is a difference, you know. How am I expected to know which role to play if you keep changing the freaking script! I can not work under these conditions!

Because you see, if I were a communist, and I had two cows, the government would take both of them and gives me part of the milk, unless, of course, they shot me first.

If I were a socialist, and had two cows, the government would take both cows, put them in a barn with everyone else’s cows, I’d have to take care of the cows, and get as much milk as I needed.

Do you see the difference?

“those who believe in government forced universal health care and oppressive regulation and confiscatory tax rates as well as regulation of almost every aspect of human life - except of course abortion on demand”

Okay, if anyone on this blog believes in these things, please say “aye.”

Mr. Headcase,

Seriously, it’s really ignorant to just throw out “you libs are socialist” with no basis to back it up. We may lean towards socialism a little more than you, but it’s really dishonest of you throw those labels out. We could just as easily throw the fascist label right back at ‘cha. But that’s not very productive.

Paul,

Too funny. That is a quagmire - not enough virgins to go around.

OR, maybe he was working UNDERCOVER!!!!! Oh, I’m on a roll.

By Glenn

March 13, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

Aye.

By Apocalypse Hussein

March 13, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this

By CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press Writer

CHICAGO - Democratic Sen. Barack Obama said Thursday that Sen. John McCain reversed his position on President Bush’s deep tax cuts in order to win the Republican presidential nomination, one of his sharpest criticisms yet of the Arizona senator he hopes to face this fall.

Criticizing GOP efforts to extend major tax cuts from Bush’s first term and to eliminate the estate tax, Obama said: “These are all steps that John McCain rightly said were irresponsible when they first came up.”

“He made a decision to reverse himself on that,” Obama told reporters as he flew from Chicago to Washington for a series of Senate votes on budget issues.

“That was how, I guess, you got your ticket punched to be the Republican nominee,” he said of McCain. “But he was right then, and he’s wrong now.”

McCain has said he supports extending the tax cuts, which he initially voted against, because the economy is struggling and tax reductions offer some stimulus.

McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said in a statement that if Obama is nominated, “the American people will have a clear choice: John McCain will cut taxes while Senator Obama will raise them, hurting our economy and costing jobs for hardworking Americans.”

Obama has proposed an array of subsidies for higher education, health care and other costs hitting middle-class families. He said he believes he can pay for such plans by closing tax loopholes, placing a new tax on carbon emissions, phasing out the Iraq war and ending the Bush tax cuts for the nation’s highest earners.

“We have identified the cuts that we think are available, or the changes in our tax code that are available to pay for our middle-class tax cut as well as our proposals to fund higher education and so on,” the Illinois senator said.

He said, however, “There will be a lot of special interests and lobbyists that will resist the kinds of changes that I’ve proposed.”

Asked if he would scale back his agenda if some of his proposed tax increases fail, Obama said, “I am a strong believer in pay-go,” a term for avoiding new deficits by paying as you go. “So adhering to pay-go means that if I couldn’t find the revenues or reduce spending in other areas, then I couldn’t pay for my proposals.”

By Soothsayer

March 13, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this

LIAHC, I agree with you—the British model is not the way to go. I don’t propose any change in healthcare, rather how it is paid for. Let’s say you don’t have healthcare coverage and you work. Would you be in favor of a payroll deduction similar to Medicare or Social Security to pay into a fund for medical expenses? If you offer proof of healthcare insurance you would be exempt. What would you be in favor of?

Again, we are already footing the bill for those who don’t have healthcare insurance.

By the way, my Mom is in home hospice and currently on a death watch for colon cancer. I can tell you with absolute certainty that if colon cancer is not caught in the “polyp” stage (colonoscopy) the outcomes are not favorable at all.

By Apocalypse Hussein

March 13, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

Hillary Apologizes to Black Voters….Again

Give it a rest Hillary…….too little too late… You have lost the vast majority black vote forever(not that I claim to speak for all blacks…I certainly am not able to do that as we are not a monolith) but I feel very confident making this statement anyway…

Also, why apologize when you are in front of the black audience only? Why did you not apologize before? You had your chance to apologize to ALL voters on the day this story broke..instead you skirted around the issue and took no real action. Geraldine is still out there running her mouth. Obviously, she is doing so with your approval. Certainly there are white and ‘other’ voters who were offended by what Geraldine stated as well. I think I recall you pulled a similar stunt at a ‘black’ event hosted by Tavis Smiley……….you apologized for your husbands remarks then.

I don’t think you feel it in your heart. You probably do not feel that Geraldine or your husband….or even YOU stated anything wrong or offensive. Yet, you apologize…… Please keep your meaningless apologies to yourself. If you were truly sorry you would not continue to allow your surrogates to make such comments in reference to Barack Obama or allow them to further alienate black voters.

You are proving every day just what a terrible commander in chief you would be…………

By luckovichisaheadcase

March 13, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this

Bosch - there are different degrees of socialism. Marx called his brand ‘communism’ to distinguis it from the less extreme versions. He also was an anarchist in that he believed (poor fool) that the need for government would disappear because his system would end all forms of competition and individual ambition. Socialism in any form, including what you and others who I call ‘liberals’ advocate, which is the social welfare state, does not work. The state will eventually collapse under its own weight, rather like Rosie O’Donnell’s mouth. I am not painting with a broad brush because what you and others are advocating is socialism. By the way, Fascism is a form of socialism as well. The economic policies in the end are the same - the state directs the economy. Freedom is thrown away.

By Apocalypse Hussein

March 13, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this

CHICAGO—Citing his judgment and ability to lead, admirals and generals from the United States Army, Navy and Air Force that together have served under the last nine Commanders-in-Chief today announced their endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for president.

In offering their endorsement, the generals and admirals recognized Obama’s judgment to oppose the war in Iraq before it began, his respect for the Constitution and rule of law, his leadership on behalf of America’s servicemen and women and his ability to conduct the diplomacy necessary to restore America’s standing in the world.

“Those of us who have served, worn the cloth of our nation, and gone into harm’s way know that to be successful we must have the strongest sense of trust in our Commander in Chief. We must be confident that he or she has listened to the best possible advice, that he or she has garnered the best possible information from all possible sources, that he or she has analyzed and weighed all the possible consequences and outcomes, and that he or she has made the decision to exert military force as a last possible resort,” said Admiral (Ret.) Robert “William” Williamson (USN). “Of this I am certain: Senator Obama will do all of those things and much more to ensure the safety and f reedom of our citizens, our allies, and coalition partners. He has all the great qualities and attributes required to carry out the most difficult duties of the Presidency.

“I spent a career involved in coalition warfare, and I am keenly aware of the importance of working with allies,” said Brigadier General (Ret.) James Smith (USAF). “Senator Obama brings a powerful approach to dealing with national security challenges by truly leveraging multinational relationships. He brings a new face of America to the rest of the world.”

“Senator Obama has a profound, even scholarly knowledge of our Constitution and he has the deepest respect for the rule of law. As a career naval officer, I trust his judgment, his temperament, and his ability to analyze complex international situations and relationships and to make military decisions that are in the best long term interests of the United States,” said Admiral (Ret.) Don Guter (USN). “It will take the powerful leadership of Senator Obama to forge the consensus we need to right our ship of state, restore our honorable place in the world, and secure the safety of our nation.”

“As a child of the Greate

By Bosch

March 13, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this

Mr. Headcase,

20% end up as terminal patients? Does that mean 80% don’t? What are the percentage of patients diagnosed with colon cancer in the U.S. that become terminal patients?

Welfare is NEVER very good? Tell that to an 90 year old on fixed income who can’t afford to heat or cool their home.

Tell that to a disabled vet.

Tell that to a sick kid whose parents work 80 hours a week and can’t afford health insurance.

Certain tax breaks are called subsidies?

Well, hell, all this time, I thought a subsidy was financial assistant given by the government. Now, I’ve been clarified by Mr. Headcase that it is just simply a tax break.

Mr. Headcase,

There are many different types of subsidies, like there are many different types of socialism. Pick one, quit being so damn general about things.

By Apocalypse Hussein

March 13, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

Mr.Headcase: The name speaks for itself.

By @@

March 13, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

Bosch @ 10:37:

(((How very genuine of you to be concerned over those poor legislators whom Obama is stepping over to shamefully promote himself. What a great woman you are - yes, if more great women like you were so concerned over the injustices incurred by poor state legislators, the world would be such a better place. You’re so inspirational.)))

Well ^^^ there you go again! “assuming” that I was “insincere” in my opinion. It doesn’t escape me that you are very subtle in accusing others of what you, in fact, are guilty of….knowing what I think…. knowing how I feel….knowing when I’m sincere and when I’m not.

(D) or (R), when somebody works hard to reach a goal, no one should be allowed to rob them of their accomplishments.

Nope! Your vague attempts don’t escape notice by me.

(((if he didn’t cry foul, he’d be accused of being too nice! If he does cry foul, then he’s being too mean.)))

That’s ^^^ what happens when someone like Obama creates a facade. He’s boxed himself in. It’s the Democrats who recoil when he’s too mean, and it’s the Democrats who complain that he’s too nice.

Not my problem. I’m looking for a candidate who is neither. I’m looking for a candidate (black or white) who’s committed to something. Obama doesn’t fit that bill.

Harold Ford, Jr.(D) or Michael Steele (R) would have offered what I’m looking for in a candidate’s “race”.

By Tony

March 13, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

Mel is totally correct re US health care. Our arrogance keeps the truth from our populace. The media does not dare to reveal reality. Nor does our government permit the use of solid proven in-use treatments that currently are taking place in Japan and Europe and are light years ahead of American treatments. Just ask any experienced oncologist or interventionist. In our stupidity we must reinvent that which has already been invented. Then we must “test” it for 2 or 3 years despite it already having been thoroughly tested and utilized broadly. That automatically puts us at least 5 years behind other countries and costs us tens of thousands of lives every year. To argue this point is but to display your own mindless ignorance. The evidence is everywhere one cares to look. I know many people who are alive today only because they have been able to financially afford to travel to Japan and Europe for treatment. Our government keeps this a filthy dark secret, while raving about “breakthroughs” one never hears of again and never seem to come to fruition. I.E., the “cure rate” for pancreatic cancer in the US was 0.0% in 1960. The cure rate for pancreatic cancer in the US in 2007 was 0.0%. This is deadly serious business. You weak-minded Repug Nazi’s are, as usual, out of your league. This subject is waaay over your limited heads and you have no business whatsoever even discussing the subject. You can never compete. You are bound, by your political affiliation, to perpetuate your own gross, evil ignorances and prejudices. You are the very proof of this factual information.

By Apocalypse Hussein

March 13, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

@@,

Be honest. You wouldn’t like Steele or Ford if they where on the verge of removing a Republican out of the White House.

Ford and Obama are best of friends and t** for tat. The difference is Ford is not running for president.

By admirably in tune

March 13, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

The economy of the USA is going through revolution, not really recession, or stagflation, although we are experiencing that. No, this is unchartered territory. The fed is making all the wrong moves, inexplicably, unless one understands the conspiracy of the rich to get out while the market is still relatively buoyed by what trust is left.

I’d bail.

By Bosch

March 13, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

Mr. Headcase,

Um, first of all, I couldn’t give a fvck what Karl Marx said, that is, unless I’m writing an essay on him, which, I’m currently not.

Slobbering out “Karl Marx said this” and “Karl Marx said that” is completely irrelevent.

“Socialism in any form, including what you and others who I call ‘liberals’ advocate, which is the social welfare state, does not work”

Some forms of socialism work very well. We have some forms of socialism right here in our own country.

Let me ask you, by definition of socialism do you simply mean government money? or what the government pays for?

“what you and others who I call ‘liberals’ advocate, which is the social welfare state”

A challenge to you:

Name one time anyone whom you define as a liberal has called for a complete welfare state.

By AmVet

March 13, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this

Soothsayer, first condolences on your mom. That must be really tough on you.

That we all may disagree on the whys and wherefores doesn’t change two things - in our own ways we want what is best for the country and maybe even hopefully for each other.

And we are all in this craziness together…

By Bosch

March 13, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

@@,

You should know by now that you should never, ever, assume what I’m thinking or implying. I don’t assume anything about you. I do find you totally inspirational, don’t you believe me?

Yes, it is the Democrats doing that now, because we’re not in the general election now, are we? No, were not. Why in the world would the Republicans be crying foul now? They’ll have their turn, and if you think they won’t? Well, you know the answer to that question. Ooops, sorry, didn’t mean to imply that I know what you think.

Obama doesn’t fit your bill - does McCain?

By Bosch

March 13, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this

@@,

Oh, and I loved this statement:

“Nope! Your vague attempts don’t escape notice by me”

You little watchdog you - I’m sure they don’t! I could almost see your blonde ponytail whishing around when you wrote that.

By George

March 13, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this

So what won’t Hillary do to get elected? It has got to be a short list because I can’t think of one.

By Bosch

March 13, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this

Paul and @@,

I forgot to mention this to you earlier. I’ve been getting those email alerts from Stratfor for about six months now, reading them, considering their content, etc. etc. and suddenly they stopped coming and I couldn’t figure out why -

Then I checked my “junk mail” folder, guess what? There they were!

By getalife

March 13, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this

“Obama’s close pastor of 20 years says blacks should sing ‘God Damn America’ and says US brought on 9/11 attacks Sen. Barack Obama’s pastor says blacks should not sing “God Bless America” but “God damn America.” Including the assertion that the United States brought on the 9/11 attacks with its own “terrorism.”

Game over.

By @@

March 13, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this

Not you too Apocalypse! I’ve never doubted your honest and enthusiastic support of Obama. I am being honest.

Steele is a Republican, and with him there would be assurances of a traditional approach to government. Harold Ford, Jr. is a Democrat who’s pretty conservative on the issues. I’m not surprised they’re friends, Obama stumped for Ford. I read an article written by Ford, and he had this to say about Obama (keep in mind Ford is a Democrat holding some position within the party):

(((Who is best in helping hard-working Americans achieve their full potential and a piece of the American Dream? Who is best to lead us in restoring discipline to our federal budget, reducing our federal debt and reforming runaway entitlement costs?)))

You did see where I posted Obama’s earmarks didn’t you? I think it was in the neighborhood of $300 million.

Somethin’ ain’t jiving here Apocalypse.

It’s not so much the individuals as it is their practical approach in solving the problems. Ford’s were very practical. Giuliani’s were very practical. Steele’s are very practical.

I like a well-defined pragmatic approach. Obama offers neither.

Bosch:

Do I believe you?

NO.

See how easy it is to just come right out and say what you mean.

No skin off your nose and no skin off mine. It’s an anonymous blog afterall.

You’re a “Shady Lady” Bosch. I can be a tramp when the situation calls for it.

By admirably in tune

March 13, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this

Socialism is as undefined as conservatism, which is Y both are dead. Sen. Craig sounded taps with his flag at half mast, and andy cool in the breeze on his knees.

By Apocalypse Hussein

March 13, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this

getalife,

The game is over when that Pastor is running for President. Not Obama.

By @@

March 13, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

Oh, and by the way Bosch…

I’m a brunette.

Why wouldn’t you just come right out and say “I think you’re a blonde bimbo @@?”

I think you’re a freudian fraud who’s way in over your head.

Off to Stratfor’s “junk” mail.

By AmVet

March 13, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this

admiral, I love it when you keep repeating the mantra “conservatism is dead” and sooner or later one of the usual suspects goes batsh!t crazy about it!

I’m not sure when it died but wondered if it wasn’t aborted on demand back in the 80’s…

By Webster

March 13, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this

definition of a Bosch:

People,

People who need people

Are the luckiest people in the world

We’re children needing other children

And yet letting our grown-up pride

Hide all the need inside

Acting more like children than children

sing it Babs!!!!!!!!!!!

By AJC Management

March 13, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

{{{{By getalife March 13, 2008 2:20 PM “Obama’s close pastor of 20 years says that the United States brought on the 9/11 attacks with its own “terrorism.” Game over.}}}}

al-Gitmo: Not only that, this “pastor” is now a consultant to the Obambi campaign.

By mslee50

March 13, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this

The comments made here are really scarey. Are there that many brain dead, ignorant, racist, Knuckle dragging idiots in ths world??????? Communism is DEAD Stop flogging it. Bush has almost brought this country to financial ruin and tarnished our reputation around the world and you still defend him. Why??? He does not care about you unless you own a big corporation. If you do not he steps on you.It is going to take years to dig ourselves out of the mess this one man has wrought.

By admirably in tune

March 13, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this

There, there, @@. You donts needs 2B thinking nuthin, cause thinkin and you is too strange bedfellers, like pa toad ja, you aint fit for scrounging fleas off a dogs patootie.

Now gits.

By Ms Li 50

March 13, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this

Allow me to repeat myself.

BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH.

BUSH.

BLAH.

Thanks for listening.

By luckovichisaheadcase

March 13, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this

Admirably - Conservatism as it is defined in America means free enterprise and freedom. It is very much alive. Socialism is also very much alive even though intellectually bankrupt as an economic theory. However, Barak and Hitlery are both devotees. I also find your attempts at humor and your patronizing and condescending attitude to be rather tiresome. I think you need a real hobby, like whittling on the porch or counting to twenty one with your clothes on!

By admirably in tune

March 13, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this

MsLi50, you donts needs 2B blatherin on and on likes dat. U needs 2B using a mop somewhere near your kitchen cause a man is likely to show up soon expectin’ dinner in a clean kitz.

Word.

By admirably in tune

March 13, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this

i needz rub and tug with happy endingz from MsLi50.

By @@

March 13, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this

This will be an interesting little experiment to determine if offering something better can change radical extremism:

(((Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that his government plans to invest as much as $12 billion in Turkey’s predominantly Kurdish southeast.)))

(((But there is also a larger strategy in play. Turkey is on a path toward expanding its regional prowess. For the first time in a long time, the Turks possess the combination of a stable government, a large and competent military and a solid and fast-growing economy. The Turks also have a bit of a breather from major foreign policy challenges: with membership in the European Union looking more and more unlikely, Turkey doesn’t have to worry about conflicting membership requirements; the Turkish leadership is developing an informal truce with its historical rival, Greece; and since the Soviet Union is no more, Turkey has more bandwidth to assert itself vis-à-vis NATO and the United States.)))

(((Before Turkey can break out into this brave new world, however, it needs to secure its internal political stability. And building roads, dams and Western fast-food chains in the Kurdish southeast is a good place to start.)))

No matter the prosperity, the freedoms, the overall well-being…..

we’re still fighting radical left extremists here in the U.S. It’s never enough for them. They’re always itching….unable to get scratch.

Mmmm mm mmm mm mm. What’s a country to do?

By admirably in tune

March 13, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

I never knew definitions of socio-economics like yours was possible.

You really should write a book, no better, they oughta put you on the radio.

Oh wait, we already have rushannity.

So hush, child!

By Bosch

March 13, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

@@,

I think your a pious b!tch. Yeap, that was pretty easy! But still, totally inspriational. Sorry if you don’t believe me.

A tramp with no stamp, huh? You need one, a picture of a bowl of grits, and over it says, “Kiss My.”

A freudian fraud whose way in over my head? WTF? You really do take this blog too seriously.

Now, if I were talking quantum physics with rushncap, then I’d be in way over my head. Or if I were debating the military strategy of Patton during WWII with Paul, then, yes, I’d be in way over my head. Or, if I were even trying to get my dog to sit up and beg for a cookie, I’d be way over my head.

Debating you? Hardly. You’re an easy tramp.

By admirably in tune

March 13, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

let me play my skin flute for all of you.

better yet, let me tell you about my grand children.

By electric dragon

March 13, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this

we tramp stamped bosch with an obama face.

why do you think she is so popular?

By @@

March 13, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this

Bosch:

Now that’s more like it! I know who I’m dealing with.

Anyhoo, blogging through…

(((Tehran is also waiting until a change in the U.S. administration before deciding whether to continue talks on the nuclear issue, a French diplomatic source told Naharnet. In talks with the United States, Tehran would want to discuss Iran’s role in Iraq in return for discussing Iranian nuclear activities.)))

Remember what I said? Ahmadenijad made no progress in negotiations over Iraq. He’s waiting to have tea with Obama, but he’ll be facing McCain.

By Bosch

March 13, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this

I do have a tattoo, but it’s no tramp stamp - I’ve never understood women who get tattoos in a place they’ll never be able to see it. It just doesn’t make sense to me. If you are going to go through all that trouble, and slight pain, then I want to see it!

By Bosch

March 13, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this

@@,

I thought you’d appreciate that. Some of the best women I know are pious b!tches - I meant that with the utmost of respect for you.

Gee, it does feel good to just say it like it is!

By Paul

March 13, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

@@

“(Before Turkey can break out into this brave new world, however, it needs to secure its internal political stability. And building … Western fast-food chains in the Kurdish southeast is a good place to start.)”

So bring in western fast-food chains, take the people from mobility to immobility and achieve stability!

Still think I contribute to Stratfor?

:-)

Here’s an article you might find interesting. “A casual onlooker might have understandably concluded that the intelligence bill recently vetoed by President Bush was crafted with the intention of prohibiting U.S. intelligence agencies from ever water-boarding terrorists or using other aggressive interrogation techniques not expressly approved by the United States Army Field Manual.

That conclusion would be wrong.

The real intention of the bill’s architects was not to conclusively prohibit water-boarding or aggressive interrogation of terrorists, but to create new opportunities for Democrats to politically water-board their partisan adversaries.”

Seems the Army Field Manual is controlled by the Executive, so the Executive can change it at any time and still be in compliance with the law. What were those Democrats thinking?

Link: A worse than meaningless intelligence bill

By Bosch

March 13, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this

Off to a soccer game……….have I ever told you that I love soccer?

I love soccer.

Have a great evening all!

By @@

March 13, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this

Bosch:

(((I meant that with the utmost of respect for you.)))

Backsliding so soon?

(((Gee, it does feel good to just say it like it is!)))

May as well, you’re lousy at your chosen alternative.

Paul:

(((Still think I contribute to Stratfor?)))

Sorry, but not with the mobility, immobility, stability schtick. Friedman displays a “wicked” wit in his “George Friedman Writes Back” albeit not often enough. The anticipation makes it worth the wait.

(((The real intention of the bill’s architects was not to conclusively prohibit water-boarding or aggressive interrogation of terrorists, but to create new opportunities for Democrats to politically water-board their partisan adversaries.)))

So the democrats’ intention was to mislead their constituents for political advantage? How very admirable. /sarc/

I’ll take a President who sticks his neck out in the true interest of national security, not party politics.

By AJC Management

March 13, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this

{{{{On the Clinton call earlier, Mark Penn said, “We believe that [the Pennsylvania primary result] will show that Ku Klux Rodham is ready to win, and that Sen. Obambi really can’t win the general election.”}}}}

This coming from the second place kandidate.

The White Powers really don’t think much of you black people, do they?

~~~~~

{{{{The average temperature across both the contiguous U.S. and the globe during climatological winter (December 2007-February 2008) was the coolest since 2001, according to scientists at NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.}}}}

Fewer hurricanes, no rising sea levels, glacial ice has increased above normal, colder winters.

Aren’t we glad we let the environmental terrorists put their gun to our heads?

Itty bitty tiny death trap cars, soaring energy costs causing economic disaster, rising food prices, for what????

When are we going to learn?????

These POS liberals have an agenda and it ain’t good for the U.S.A. in any way shape or form, but yet we still allow these scare mongers to speak instead of kneecapping their as-ses the moment they open their whiny little mouths??

How many times will we be fooled by these idiots.

I’m sorry, my bad, how many times will YOU be fooled by these idiots.

By Paul

March 13, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this

@@

Schtick can be fun. Sometimes a groan’s more satisfying that a laugh. Sometimes just realizing people go “huh?” is reward in and of itself. Not everything makes it past the draft stage. Entertainment ensues when that which was cut somehow finds its way back in before publication -

Once as an up-and-comer I wrote a draft titled “Staph Meeting Minutes.” No one caught it -

One thing I’ve said about Pres Bush - he does what he thinks is in the best interest of the country, regardless of polls. One may disagree with his views, actions, or the speed with which he does or does not update given new information, or with the timeliness with which he changes course, but he does not take action solely based upon political self-interest.

Back to the Obama thing. Many of his supporters emphasize personality, which, I believe, is what is motivating the personality attacks on Sen McCain - “he has a nasty, violent temper” nonsense. Much of the electorate seems to buy it. McCain’s challenge, which I think he can meet, will be to stay above the fray - much as Obama does - while strongly emphasizing nonpersonality themes, particularly if he can translate it into a hopeful vision of what he wants to accomplish and how it would be different from the Bush Administration. He already has enough of a record to build upon that theme - versus Obama, who’s putting forth much more of a vision starting from scratch.

By AJC Management

March 13, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this

Look at this pinko boiling our national interests in Iraq down to some stupid political election:

{{{{Here is their unenviable task: to tell the American voter that his or her confidence in America’s ability to win at last is misplaced; to convince them what we need to do instead is pull our troops out and call for a troop surge in Afghanistan. Even more challenging for the Democrats is that time is not on their side. As recently as September 2007, only 42 percent of Americans believed the U.S. would succeed in Iraq. That number jumped 11 points in five months. The Democratic national convention is another five months away, and >>>>the benefits of the troop surge continue to mount.<<<< Just imagine the presidential nominee having to tell 64 percent of the country that they’re wrong about American victory.}}}}

These POS don’t care if we are succeeding they just want to look sweet so they can grab power.

Sick. In the head.

By @@

March 13, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this

Paul:

I have no problem with a temper. It displays passion on a point. McCain’s built already. Somewhere in the neighborhood of Bush, but not next door. I think that most in this country are moderate through necessity. Conservatives and moderates alike have problems with Bush but they’ll never go for a liberal.

Obama starting from scratch? Therein lies his problem - “the scratch” as in someone’s back or someone’s ear? It leaves a mark, and on McCain there are ZERO other than the ones he suffered in captivity while serving to defend his country.

We’ve only begun to scratch the surface on Obama and I’m afraid the infection of politics is deeper than he would have us believe.

I’m not buying Obama. Do you need a hankerchief? (ISH)

By Glenn

March 13, 2008 5:36 PM | Link to this

@@,

“Whoa man!” That cracks me up. Reminds me of Meyers tripping bad Beat in back of Specs! We were over at Vesuvio’s when they shot the externals for that scene. What a gas, kitty-kat!

Too great. (And you probably have no idea what I’m talking about…)

By Paul

March 13, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this

@@

Thanks, but I’ve one in my pocket.

I find this a fascinating political season. Many of the pundits have been wrong at nearly every turn. Yet still they portray themselves (and people accept) as the wisdom of what is and will be.

Many saw the fight for the middle coming. Many on the far left and right feel abandoned, yet don’t seem to realize they were the first gates the candidates had to get through. Let me qualify - except McCain. He pretty much kept with his views (Obama’s on Iraq - the Issue Above All Else for the farleft - were not an issue), adjusted where he responded to a broader base (immigration) and where some criticize - tax cuts - well, I’ll still be surprised if it isn’t modified a bit for the top-tier (one tenth of one percent or so) earners.

“Conservatives and moderates alike have problems with Bush but they’ll never go for a liberal.”

As a general rule. But I do think Obama has shown strength with “traditional” voters. I’ve mentioned my wife - she’s just sick of the whole Washington scene and wants something done. It’s an emotional reaction, so we don’t discuss it much. McCain’s people need to factor in such sentiments.

I see pluses and minuses with both. Hillary, too. But it does appear it will be Obama v McCain. As I said, fascinating.

By AJC Management

March 13, 2008 5:40 PM | Link to this

Have the liberals ever been right about anything?

{{{{New science also has upended the debate over federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research. It is now clear that the pursuit of federal funds for embryonic stem-cell research is not only unnecessary, but with the advent of embryonic-like adult stem cells, it is now counterproductive, since it would displace money for more promising research. One of the scientists responsible for recent adult stem-cell advances predicted an end to our stem-cell wars. As James Thompson told the New York Times: “A decade from now, this will be just a funny historical footnote.”}}}}

You just know these pinkos hate the internet:

{{{{No wonder Mrs. Bush didn’t have anything more persuasive to say about her husband’s position on (embryonic) stem cell research. It is a ludicrous policy for which there is no enlightened defense. So what Mrs. Bush is really doing is making a persuasive case for upending her husband’s restrictive policies, which have severely limited research on therapeutic cloning in this country.-Cynthia “Wrong Again” Tucker, Urinal, 2004}}}}

Bwa.

By @@

March 13, 2008 6:11 PM | Link to this

Glenn @ 5:36:

I could only offer my bestest guess. You’re from Cali so….

“On the Road Again” with Jack Kerouac at Vesuvio’s Cafe in L.A..

You’re a challenge, that’s for sure Glenn. Sometimes “your point” gets lost in your “baggy clown pants.” Nothing personal mind you.

Paul @ 5:39:

Obama has only now begun to receive “serious” scrutiny, and if you want to say he comes off as “a politician” in the traditional sense as we’ve come to know it/them, we can finally agree on Barack.

He just doesn’t stand out for me. He’s just one of many in a long line of traditional politicians. His solutions to problems are vague - something that I would expect from a liberal.

By @@

March 13, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this

Glenn:

AXE THAT! I just googled. I’m married and it’s allowed. (IWH) <—-(Insert wink here)

By AmVet

March 13, 2008 6:19 PM | Link to this

{I find this a fascinating political season. Many of the pundits have been wrong at nearly every turn. Yet still they portray themselves (and people accept) as the wisdom of what is and will be.}

Paul, are you sure you don’t mean What is and What Should Never Be? (Led Zeppelin II)

Fascinating indeed! I’m loving all the twists and turns!

So perhaps a little John Lennon instead?

Everybody’s talking and no one says a word

Everybody’s making love and no one really cares

There’s nazis in the bathroom just below the stairs.

Always something happening and nothing going on

There’s always something happening cooking and nothing in the pot

They’re starving back in China so finish what you got.

They’re starving back in China so finish what you got.

Nobody told me there’d be days like these

Nobody told me there’d be days like these

Nobody told me there’d be days like these

Strange days indeed strange days indeed.

Everybody’s runnin’ and no one makes a move

Everyone’s a winner and no one seems to lose.

There’s a little yellow idol to the north of Katmandu.

Everybody’s flying and no one leaves the ground

Everybody’s crying and no one makes a sound.

There’s a place for us in movies you just gotta stay around.

Nobody told me there’d be days like these

Nobody told me there’d be days like these

Nobody told me there’d be days like these

Strange days indeed

Most peculiar Mama.

Everybody’s smoking and no one’s getting high

Everybody’s flying and never touch the sky

There’s UFO’s over New York and I ain’t too surprised.

Nobody told me there’d be days like these

Nobody told me there’d be days like these

Nobody told me there’d be days like these

Strange days indeed most peculiar. Mama.

By Glenn

March 13, 2008 6:28 PM | Link to this

Yes, I know you’re married, @@. It’s become the central fact of my life.

Now. Fortunately YOU can take a joke. Me, I’m shy. And sometimes I hide my lamp on purpose. It’s more fun when only those who want to come looking for it. Hence the baggies.

And did you know that I once lay spread-eagled on a driveway in Berkeley beside Wavy Gravy in his best anti-war paint—-just Wavy & Me—-blowing bubbles up at the phalanx of Blue Meanies hovering over us in full riot kit?

Now if that don’t represent a hidden dirk, I just don’t know…

By Paul

March 13, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this

AmVet

I missed American Idol last night. That kinda made up for it.

Kinda.

By AmVet

March 13, 2008 6:35 PM | Link to this

Paul I had to use the Internets and the Google, to catch your gist!

Am I to infer newbies butchering Beatles Songs?

I just cannot do tard TV…

By Jesus

March 13, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this

IMPEACH BUSH NOW!!!

By Paul

March 13, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this

AmVet

Yup. Beatles week. And they’re doing a redo.

Hmmm, if I woulda said “is now and ever shall be” you mighta found yourself back in church (relax. Led Zep wrote about a stairway to heaven). Or on a cathedral tour.

When @@ gets back you can ask her, “Suzy Creamcheese, honey, what’s got into you?”

By Apocalypse Hussein

March 13, 2008 6:46 PM | Link to this

Mar 13, 2008 5:04 PM Women for Barack - postcard campaign Ohio Women for Obama is coordinating a national postcard campaign to help efforts in Pennsylvania. check it out:

Women for Barack - Postcard Campaign

By @@

March 13, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this

So tell me Glenn…is your dirk a cut-down version of the s-word or is it intact.

I have a good friend who wears his kilt on occasion. At a party he once revealed what it was he wore under the plaids. In his best Scottish dialect, he looked at his wife and screamed…

“IT NEEDS ITS FREEEEEEEDOM LASSIE.” Funny guy. His plans are to enter politics. First local, then state, then national. He and I talk every chance we get.

He’ll succeed. I have no doubt.

By Paul

March 13, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this

Jesus,

We’ve missed you while you’ve been doing your gig in Dilbert. Welcome back.

Apocalypse

Is Bill gonna sell them his mailing list?

too easy…

By Glenn

March 13, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this

Paul, it’s the end of journalism. It’s historic, and it’s happening all around us, every day. It’s a very particular and peculiar feeling—-isn’t it—-being a part of a vast ebbtide, feeling the offshore claw and the tow asunder. Submerge? Tread water? Or swim like hell against it? Do you know the way out? Because I do. Some very good people showed me a long time ago. Just in case there’d be days like these.

By RW-(the original)

March 13, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this

Looks like my puppy caught his tail about 9:30 this morning.

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

Bosch,

The Spitzer case involves wiretapping and certain federal privacy issues with regard to banks ratting out money transfers, so you’re probably right Congress should stay out of it and call in a few more ball players to check their butts for needle marks.

Pelosi and Reid are running the country????? Where did you learn Civics? See if these things mean anything to you. Legislative Branch, Executive Branch….

By AmVet

March 13, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this

Ahhh, “is now and ever shall be…” sounds familiar.

Was it at my last exorcism?

Sweet Jesus…

BTW,

AmVet Jr. is home on leave. What a hoot!

He’s definitely drank long and hard of the USAF Kool Aid.

Talks about code of honor and sacrifice before self!

Proves the old adage - live long enough and you’ll see it all (over again)!

By Apocalypse Hussein

March 13, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this

Paul,

Good one. That was suppose to be a link, but I screwed it up I guess.

By Apocalypse Hussein

March 13, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this

At this point we know that 1) Obama will end the contest with the most pledged delegates, 2) Obama will likely end the contest with the popular vote tally, 3) Obama will end the contest with the most money and greatest fundraising potential, 4) Obama will end the contest with the most states, 5) Obama will end the contest with the best poll numbers against McCain, and 6) Obama will end the contest with the most primary state victories and caucus state victories.

So what’s left for Team Clinton? She has to convince a majority of the super delegates to cast their vote for her, so how does she get those supers to ignore all of the above Obama advantages in order to cast their ballot for the candidate who is losing?

Apparently, it’s a two-pronged strategy.

The first is what we’ve been seeing this week — tear down a candidate who has inspired and given hope to millions by appealing to white resentment and turning him into the “black candidate”. It’s ugly and revolting, but the Clinton campaign is banking on it scaring people away from Obama. And by “people”, I mean “super delegates”.

So the Clinton campaign is left arguing that Obama, because of his lack of “experience” and his blackness can’t win the nomination, flying in the face of all evidence to the contrary, evidence that suggests that Obama, unlike Clinton, will be a map changer. Clinton, on the other hand, is already fighting last cycle’s battle (which in turn — as Jerome Armstrong and I mocked in Crashing the Gate, was an effort to refight the 2000 battle).

The second is to discredit the process of the campaign. You see this over at MyDD, were Jerome refers to the Obama campaign as the “process-powered candidate”. Clever, I’ll grant. But it’s odd to suggest that playing by the rules is supposed to be a bad thing.

That the primary system needs reform is obvious. It would’ve been nice to have Team Clinton’s support in the last few years as I railed against the caucus system. But you don’t change the rules mid-game. You change them after the election.

Still, the Clinton campaign is desperate, in “Hail Mary” territory, thus they’re reduced to disparaging any state that didn’t vote for her and minimizing the importance of its delegates — whether they be small states, or red states, or

By Paul

March 13, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this

Glenn

Go with the flow. Way out? It’s a continuum.

I’m getting this longing for the 60s. Where’s getalife when you need him?

By Paul

March 13, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this

AmVet

Exorcism? Did it work. Can you eat split pea soup and keep it down?

RW-(the original)

From a night or two back - the Spitzer thing - my understanding was that he was transferring the funds to the accounts designated by the service - not that he was setting up his own shell accounts. The first was dumb enough, the second would have been moronic.

Whoever said two heads are better than one?

By N-GA

March 13, 2008 7:00 PM | Link to this

None of the remaining candidates has any depth of experience in turning the economy around. Right now each candidate wants to roll out retired officers touting the candidate’s military leadership qualities. Only McCain has military service, and he was a fighter jock (thank you John, but ‘nuff said). His last military assignment was liaison to the US Senate. Yeah, it is more than his opponents, though.

By the time November rolls around, the voters will be more interested in how the candidates intend to breathe life into a suffocating economy. Maybe one of them will offer to nationalize foreign-owned corporations bought with cheap dollars (sarc).

I only hope that we don’t continue to hear the B.S. about how corporate America does things so much better without government oversight. Do we need to be reminded of: the S&L meltdown, the need for the Chrysler bailout, Enron, sub-prime loans, Adelphia, Global Crossing, Tyco, WorldCom, etc. There are really too many to list.

I know…these failures are the failures of individuals. But it is greed that precipitates each of these, and too many are more than ready to bring their companies down just to grab the brass ring. Perhaps the risk is really worth the huge pay-off? Cynical? You bet!

By Apocalypse Hussein

March 13, 2008 7:00 PM | Link to this

6:53 cont…. whether they be small states, or red states, or states with black people, or states with coffee shops in them. In fact, Clinton herself makes a curious distinction:

There are elected delegates, caucus delegates and superdelegates, all for different reasons, and they’re all equal in their ability to cast their vote for whomever they choose.

Why differentiate between “caucus delegates” and “elected delegates”? They are all pledged delegates, and they are all “elected”. It may be subtle, but the implication is clear — delegates elected at caucuses aren’t “elected”. They are … something less.

Remember, Clinton can’t win based on the math. The rules — the “process” — are her enemy. The only way she can win is by having the super delegates ignore all of Obama’s clear advantages — a coup by super delegate. And the way that coup is by tearing Obama down and discrediting the process that gave Obama those advantages.

But here’s the rub — the “process that gave Obama those advantages” includes latte drinkers, and black people, and young people, and red state Democrats, and small state Democrats, and blue states that voted for Obama.

So it’s a sort of Catch-22 — she needs the super delegates to abandon the winner for her loser campaign, but the way she’s trying to win them over is by insulting their very states and constituencies. Harry Reid, for one, is tired of her antics.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Wednesday defended his state’s January caucus, saying it created a “tremendous sea change on how politics are looked at in Nevada.”

His comments came as the campaign for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has increasingly criticized the caucus system, which has favored Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in the two senators’ quest for their party’s presidential nomination. Clinton won the popular vote in the Nevada caucus, but she has fallen short on a number of other caucuses, including Saturday’s in Wyoming.

And as Democrats around the country see Clinton insulting their states and constituencies, don’t think they’re not taking that into consideration as they mull their own votes. And don’t think the matter of coattails — witness IL-14 — is going unnoticed.

Rep. David Sco

By Apocalypse Hussein

March 13, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this

Paul,

getalife is out somewhere trying to help Clinton steal this election from the Democratic Nominee.

By Glenn

March 13, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this

It sounds as though you collect good men @@, possibly in spite of yourself. A very dear friend, now dead from the plague, promised me in his healthy days that if I would make him the Groom’s Maid of Honor he would show up at my wedding, from halfway across the globe, in full Highland regalia, wearing the tartan of my hereditary protectors. He was a dead ringer for that character in “Four Weddings”. The only gentleman I ever knew who was a slob. But what a bon vivant!

On his deathbed he told me, in the presence of his partner, “It was San Francisco got me.” Then he asked for a second Blood Mary. I pointed out that, mixed with his morphine, it might kill him. “Indeed!” he replied.

By AmVet

March 13, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this

..lypse, to your point at 6:53,

First hanging chads, now this.

I say we get Florida to secede. Or more accurately re-secede.

The north is just the trash left over from south Georgia. And the south is a bunch of press 1 for English (NOT!) Cubans.

In between they’ve got the brain-dead octogenarians and the cultural Neanderthals.

And they can take Michigan with them.

By Paul

March 13, 2008 7:12 PM | Link to this

N-GA

Well, that brought us back on track. Good judgment? That comes from experience. Experience? That comes from bad judgment.

Many of the laws we have are the result of what people/companies/corporations do when there aren’t laws to tell them what to do. ‘Nuff said about the advisability of no gov’t control.

Cynicism’s what Obama’s tapping into. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Or a calculating thing. Attitude precedes the action -

By Ohio State bleachers

March 13, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this

OOOOOOOhhhhh,

WE DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE WHOLE STATE OF MICHIGAN,

THE WHOLE STATE OF MICHIGAN,

THE WHOLE STATE OF MICHIGAN.

WE DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE WHOLE STATE OF MICHIGAN.

WE’RE FROM O-HI-OHHHHHHHHH!

By RW-(the original)

March 13, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this

Paul,

As with all stories the details will change rapidly since our illustrious media does such a pathetic job of being reporters and such a great job as rumor mongers, but the way I understand the money transfers was that Spitzer set up a dummy corporation in the Washington area and used it to wire funds to the New York shell corporation of the prostitution ring.

Commenting is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. M-F

Post a comment



Remember me?

You may use the following formatting:
Bold: **this text will be bolded** = this text will be bolded
Italic: *this text will be italic* = this text will be italic
Link: [text to be linked](http://www.ajc.com) = text to be linked



There will be a delay of up to 5 minutes before your comment appears.


*HTML not allowed in comments. Your e-mail address is required.

 

Kudzu.com: Mosquitos are breeding. Ready for the bites?
Today's deal from DealSwarm.com
AJC Breaking News Updates