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Author: TriSec    Date: 02/26/2008 11:45:44

Good Morning.

Today is our 1,627th day in Iraq.

We'll start this morning as we always do, with the latest casualty figures courtesy of Antiwar.com:

American Deaths
Since war began (3/19/03): 3972
Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03): 3833
Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03): 3511
Since Handover (6/29/04): 3114
Since Election (1/31/05): 2534

Other Coalition Troops: 307
US Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 483


We find this morning's cost of war passing through: $ 497, 650, 000, 000.00



Looking over the veteran's websites, I find this morning that Iraq Veterans against the War is planning a major event in Washington DC next month called 'Winter Soldier'...

In 1776, Thomas Paine wrote: “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”

In 1971, a courageous group of veterans exposed the criminal nature of the Vietnam War in an event called Winter Soldier. Once again, we will demand that the voices of veterans are heard.

Once again, we are fighting for the soul of our country. We will demonstrate our patriotism by speaking out with honor and integrity instead of blindly following failed policy. Winter Soldier is a difficult but essential service to our country.

Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan will feature testimony from U.S. veterans who served in those occupations, giving an accurate account of what is really happening day in and day out, on the ground.

The four-day event will bring together veterans from across the country to testify about their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan - and present video and photographic evidence. In addition, there will be panels of scholars, veterans, journalists, and other specialists to give context to the testimony. These panels will cover everything from the history of the GI resistance movement to the fight for veterans' health benefits and support.

When: Thursday March 13 to Sunday March 16

For those interested in watching or organizing around the proceedings at Winter Soldier, there will be a number of ways to watch and listen to the event.

* Live television broadcast via satellite tv, accessible through Dish Network as well as public access stations that choose to carry our broadcast - Friday and Saturday only
* Live video stream on the web - Thursday through Sunday
* Live radio broadcast via KPFA in Berkley California and other Pacifica member stations - Friday through Sunday
* Live audio stream via KPFA's website - Friday through Sunday

Please return to the IVAW website for specific details in the coming weeks.


No word on whether other organizations are participating, but stay tuned to this space for more news as it becomes available...



Checking in with our friends at IAVA, they point to a recent editorial in the Washington Times pointing out another way we can help the troops...give them jobs when they get back. If you're in a position to have any influence at all over the hiring and firing practices where you work...make sure they include veterans in the pipeline.

Most aspects of the Continental Army led by Gen. George Washington from 1776-1781 are long gone. Yet at least three remain relevant to the United States military of 2008: It is involved in a protracted war; it is composed of volunteers, not conscripts; and its personnel system features an open-loop, taking in and returning to civil society of more than 85 percent of its membership before age 35.

While members of a "Professional, All-Volunteer Force," very few in the modern American military are lifelong professionals. A majority takes off the military uniform and permanently enters civilian life before age 25. Less than 15 percent of those who start active duty stay the minimum 20 years required for retirement.

Consequently, America's post-service treatment of its young veterans is critical to the health of our volunteer force and the security of our 232-year-old country. The very future of our volunteer force is tied to the interface between prospective soldiers, their parents, and guardians, and the degree of post-military societal support these parents perceive can be expected for their sons or daughters upon departure from the military.

Surveys done for the Defense Department and the U.S. Army Accessions Command in 2007 tell us several important things relating contemporary American society to its citizen-Soldier military Roughly 90 percent of the new, nonprior-service men and women who enlist in our military are between 17 and 24 years of age. Our military must enlist more than 200,000 new recruits a year from this age cohort and any others who can be enticed to consider military service.

Yet fewer than 30 percent of the 4.2 million young Americans who turn 17 this year — and each forecast year through 2015 — will have the requisite set of characteristics for military service: a high school diploma or GED and no pre-existing sole-parent responsibilities, while also satisfying weight, medical and criminal record criteria. More than two-thirds plan to head directly for college, leaving fewer than 400,000 fully qualified young men and women under first-time consideration for military service each year.

These constrained numbers pose a significant wartime recruiting challenge made even more daunting when only 39 percent of parents and guardians report a willingness to support a young loved-one's decision for military service — an all time low.

Controversial efforts by the Army in particular to widen enlistment eligibility criteria over the last couple years haven't solved this recruiting dilemma. Extending the age limit for service entry, more readily accepting those who have a GED instead of a high school diploma, and being more forgiving of petty —as opposed to felony — juvenile criminal records only goes so far. None of these relaxed standards has altered the fundamental fact that parental concerns tell us much about whether our volunteer military will make or break growing manpower requirements.

Parental surveys indicate their most negative impression about military service — outside the understandable fear of death in combat — is that time in the military will not help get their child get a good civilian job. Many parents fear the civilian jobs playing field is not level and see it as skewed against young vets. Here, American businesses and civic organizations have a positive and powerful role to play.

Continued...



With some primaries coming up in Texas and Ohio soon, we'll take a look at another candidate's position on the war. Although probably better suited for "Libertarian Saturday", since Ron Paul is a sitting congressman from Texas, we'll take a look at what he's got to say on the subject.
The United States invaded Iraq under false pretenses without a constitutionally-required declaration of war. Our Founders understood that how we go to war is as important as when we go to war, which is why they vested the power to declare war in the Legislative Branch. The resolution passed in Congress authorizing the president to use force in Iraq said nothing about the U.S. Constitution, but it mentioned the United Nations a dozen times. The United States should never go to war to enforce UN resolutions!

Our continued presence in Iraq is serving as a recruiting tool for al-Qaeda. A recent National Intelligence Estimate found that the U.S. presence in Iraq has had a “rejuvenating” effect on the terrorist group. Proponents of the surge say that we are achieving victory. However, even if the level of our troops being killed has declined, they are still being targeted and the Iraqi government is no closer to stability, meaning that the violence will continue.

While we keep our focus on Iraq indefinitely, bin Laden remains free to plot his next attack, and can continue to portray us as occupiers and recruit more volunteers to his cause. Shortly after 9/11, I voted for the authorization to go into Afghanistan because it told the president to do what he already had the authority to do: go after the ones who directly hit us. I was extremely disappointed that the mission there changed to one of nation-building.

Military experts, including Generals Barry McCaffrey and John Batiste, have sounded the warning that our military is stretched so thin because of Iraq and our other commitments that, as General Batiste put it recently, “our Army and Marine Corps are at a breaking point with little to show for it.” A weakened and over-committed military is a recipe for a national security disaster. Meanwhile, Washington continues to talk about how many other countries it could send troops to.

As if a national debt topping $9 trillion is not bad enough, each day this war is fought, deficit spending increases. To avoid raising taxes and the subsequent anger that would follow come election time, the federal government will continue to borrow money from countries like Saudi Arabia and China, making your children and grandchildren’s futures dependent on the actions of other nations and selling out our national security to the highest bidder.

Make no mistake, as Congress spends more and more, there will be less and less to fund Social Security and Medicare, the programs Washington has made us dependent on, without a massive tax increase. Meanwhile, bin Laden proclaims that our falling dollar is a sign that al-Qaeda’s “bleed-until-bankruptcy plan” is working.

More...



There's plenty to think about today; I'll see you inside!
 

196 comments (Latest Comment: 02/27/2008 07:15:33 by livingonli)
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Comment by m-hadley on 02/26/2008 13:59:17
Mornin' Everybody,

Just wanted to check in and say "hey"

Today the Senate is voting on a piece of legislation sponsored by Senator Feingold that would end the funding for the occupation of Iraq in 120 days - if you have a chance, you might want to give your senators a call and let them know that their constituencies are watching their votes and will cast our votes accordingly in November ...

Cheers,

mfaye

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 14:10:19
Thanks for the heads up Faye. I will make the phone calls!

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 14:13:44
Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 14:19:18
Bay Buchanan has just announced on TV that she will leave McCain's campaign if it is a McCain Obama match up in the General elections...

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 14:20:27
Good morning everyone.

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 14:23:00
Morning Liv! here looks like you could use some more... hey... I could use some more. Woke up at 630 this morning to some terrible storms. About 100,000 people are out of electric here in the Atl this morning.

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 14:23:17
That was a bit of dead air on the Steph stream.

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 14:24:52
Quote by Raine: Morning Liv! here looks like you could use some more... hey... I could use some more. Woke up at 630 this morning to some terrible storms. About 100,000 people are out of electric here in the Atl this morning.


Ooh, rough morning there. We're supposed to get rain here today but not like that. It will probably make driving fun here. As long as you guys are OK.

Comment by starling310 on 02/26/2008 14:27:22
Morn'n Blog. :coffee2:



Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 14:27:55
Good morning

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 14:28:25
Mary is a little hysterical there.

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 14:29:14
OY.



Mary is talking and answering questions that are not even being asked!

Comment by starling310 on 02/26/2008 14:29:23
So what?! Why are people so up in arms that Momma prefers Obama? Seriously. . .



Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 14:29:25
This caller is a little screechy, eh?



She's almost up there with the Hezbollah caller.

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 14:35:53
HEZBOLLAH!!!!!


Comment by velveeta jones on 02/26/2008 14:36:43
Morning ALL!! Its a GREAT DAY!!



Actually we have high wind and severe thunderstorms and its blah, blah, blah!!

But Velveeta is still on a HIGH because her friend has been "found". I spent yesterday with him and will today. He's considering moving here.!!!(YAY). Since he can fly out to do his shows in NY and/or London.



I'm just so happy 'cause I really saw him (from a distance) going downhill fast - I've seen this career take too many people - and I really thought I'd be going to his funeral soon. But not yet!!!



Have a GREAT DAY everyone.



XXxxxxx oooooooo xxxxxxxx







Comment by starling310 on 02/26/2008 14:36:59
Here's an idea; why don't people call and tell us why they are FOR their candidate, rather than why they are against the other?





Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 14:37:23
Quote by starling310: So what?! Why are people so up in arms that Momma prefers Obama? Seriously. . .





It is kinds crazy. Could you imagine if we all got upset at each other when we were all supporting differing candidates? Jeepers creepers. Goodness gosh golly.



Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 14:38:46
Quote by starling310: Here's an idea; why don't people call and tell us why they are FOR their candidate, rather than why they are against the other?



I mentioned that last week as well. I don't understand WHY people can't do that. I ain't a skared to git me sum learnin' from dis here big shoe.



Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 14:39:23
Quote by starling310: Here's an idea; why don't people call and tell us why they are FOR their candidate, rather than why they are against the other?





It seems like most elections people weren't voting for one candidate as much as against another over the last few years. It looked like this year we finally had people who were pro their candidate but there are still others who seem to act like the lesser of two evils.

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 14:39:27
Wow, a period joke. How mature, how classy how unsexist from caller.

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 14:40:10
Morning, Velveeta.



Any particular favorite cheese this morning?

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 14:41:19
Quote by velveeta jones: Morning ALL!! Its a GREAT DAY!!



Actually we have high wind and severe thunderstorms and its blah, blah, blah!!

But Velveeta is still on a HIGH because her friend has been "found". I spent yesterday with him and will today. He's considering moving here.!!!(YAY). Since he can fly out to do his shows in NY and/or London.



I'm just so happy 'cause I really saw him (from a distance) going downhill fast - I've seen this career take too many people - and I really thought I'd be going to his funeral soon. But not yet!!!



Have a GREAT DAY everyone.



XXxxxxx oooooooo xxxxxxxx





I like reading such wonderful news!



Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 14:43:02
Poor ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 14:43:53
Quote by Raine: Poor ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~


He's become the whipping boy of the Stephanie Miller newscast.

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 14:46:02
Foreclosures Up 90% Holy cow!

Bank seizures of U.S. homes almost doubled in January as property owners failed to make higher payments on adjustable-rate mortgages.



Repossessions rose 90 percent to 45,327 last month from the same period a year ago, RealtyTrac Inc. said today in a statement. Total foreclosure filings, which include default and auction notices as well as bank seizures, increased 57 percent.



``The most troubling thing is that we are seeing more and more of these properties actually going all the way through the process and going back to the banks,'' Rick Sharga, executive vice president of Irvine, California-based RealtyTrac, said in an interview.
From Bloomberg.

Comment by m-hadley on 02/26/2008 14:49:28


Raine,

I guess I thought he already had endorsed Obama, perhaps I am suffering from a skosh of Obama-mania Hillary is really pissing me off lately - did anybody else see Jonathan Alter on Dan Abrams last night ? He suggested that the classy thing for Hillary to do would be to withdraw from the campaign. Classy = Hillary - I don't think so, not from what I've seen lately

Cheers,

mfaye



Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 14:50:00
Comment by BobR on 02/26/2008 14:50:20
morning, folks... :coffee:

Comment by m-hadley on 02/26/2008 14:51:02
Quote by Raine:
Quote by velveeta jones: Morning ALL!! Its a GREAT DAY!!



Actually we have high wind and severe thunderstorms and its blah, blah, blah!!

But Velveeta is still on a HIGH because her friend has been "found". I spent yesterday with him and will today. He's considering moving here.!!!(YAY). Since he can fly out to do his shows in NY and/or London.



I'm just so happy 'cause I really saw him (from a distance) going downhill fast - I've seen this career take too many people - and I really thought I'd be going to his funeral soon. But not yet!!!



Have a GREAT DAY everyone.



XXxxxxx oooooooo xxxxxxxx





I like reading such wonderful news!





Velveeta,

That is great news - what a relief and joy you must be feeling :)

Cheers,

mfaye



Comment by velveeta jones on 02/26/2008 14:51:18
Quote by livingonli: Morning, Velveeta.



Any particular favorite cheese this morning?




Glad you asked! Today shall be Manchego a sheeps milk cheese from Spain. Great with a sweet fruity wine, for those that drink. Course, this might be a tad early in the day for wine. :wink:

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 14:52:34
If you can't be with the one you love, honey, love the one you're with.

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 14:55:13
Dick Morris obsessive hatred of Hillary is really disturbing.

Comment by velveeta jones on 02/26/2008 14:55:55
Hey ya'll according to the NYTimes (our liberal media *snicker*) the next new "crunch" will be auto's. Seems people who have been upgrading are now owing more than the cars are worth and going broke!



For any of us that need new (used) cars, this would be the time to get them, but sadly its on the backs of our fellow Americans. :(

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 14:58:42
Quote by velveeta jones: Hey ya'll according to the NYTimes (our liberal media *snicker*) the next new "crunch" will be auto's. Seems people who have been upgrading are now owing more than the cars are worth and going broke!



For any of us that need new (used) cars, this would be the time to get them, but sadly its on the backs of our fellow Americans. :(


My old car is getting increasingly tempermental. That might be the only way I get a new one. Maybe if I had some spare money, I could get a car that was off lease.

Comment by m-hadley on 02/26/2008 15:00:05
Here's an interesting story thast reveals how the surge is really working or not:

it is in the Rolling Stone and it is entitled The Myth of the Surge

Check it out - it shows that the surge is not working - yeah John Methuselah McCain, hang your star on that fiasco - go ahead and claim it, and good luck with that...

Comment by BobR on 02/26/2008 15:00:24
Quote by velveeta jones: Hey ya'll according to the NYTimes (our liberal media *snicker*) the next new "crunch" will be auto's. Seems people who have been upgrading are now owing more than the cars are worth and going broke!



For any of us that need new (used) cars, this would be the time to get them, but sadly its on the backs of our fellow Americans. :(


I've got 6 payments left, and then it's paid off. It's a Toyota truck with <100K miles on it, so I should be good for several years

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 15:03:20
Quote by m-hadley: Here's an interesting story thast reveals how the surge is really working or not:

it is in the Rolling Stone and it is entitled The Myth of the Surge

Check it out - it shows that the surge is not working - yeah John Methuselah McCain, hang your star on that fiasco - go ahead and claim it, and good luck with that...


If Bill Kristol thinks it's going so well, maybe he should go sign up and prove his "patriotism" or does he only want other people to die for his war?

Comment by shelaghc on 02/26/2008 15:08:03
G'morning. I had to take a bus in to work today - well, actually *two* buses.



My mechanic said I could wait until this evening to get my car to him.



He was wrong.



I had to pick up AAA on short notice - was considering renting a car, but I think public trans will do the trick for now. And a friend is coming over tomorrow evening to help with something else so hopefully he can shuttle me out to pick up the jalopy after the work's done.



btw, I saw the link to the stuff about the Pittsburgh TV stations on the blog from last night. Very intriguing. I lived here during that time and was one of those against WQEX being bought up by Pax. I had no idea that McCain had his fingers in that deal.



Comment by wickedpam on 02/26/2008 15:08:24
Morning! :hug:

Comment by shelaghc on 02/26/2008 15:15:59


Comment by wickedpam on 02/26/2008 15:16:17
I had a Timey Tell.

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 15:20:17
Did anyone see the pic I posed yesterday of john McCain't WITHOUT a lapel pin???

Comment by wickedpam on 02/26/2008 15:20:17
Quote by BobR:
Quote by velveeta jones: Hey ya'll according to the NYTimes (our liberal media *snicker*) the next new "crunch" will be auto's. Seems people who have been upgrading are now owing more than the cars are worth and going broke!



For any of us that need new (used) cars, this would be the time to get them, but sadly its on the backs of our fellow Americans. :(


I've got 6 payments left, and then it's paid off. It's a Toyota truck with <100K miles on it, so I should be good for several years




I never understood the whole buy a new car before you pay off the old one thing. I've had 3 cars and I've paid each one off before getting a new one. My little purple Hyndai(sp) has been all mine like a year now. It's got over 100k miles and it runs great.



Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 15:25:24
Good morning Mala.

Comment by wickedpam on 02/26/2008 15:27:03
Hey Liv and everyone!





Raine - I saw it. It's the typical double standard.

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 15:27:34
:banana: Stevie!!!

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 15:30:26
Quote by Raine: Did anyone see the pic I posed yesterday of john McCain't WITHOUT a lapel pin???


I also the picture of Chimpy with his hand on his stomach which ate his heart and just far enough away since he really wanted to do this.

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 15:31:03
Did that Danny Hastert bit hit the hard commercial break?

Comment by starling310 on 02/26/2008 15:34:06
OMG...Icicle Works! Good one producerchris





Comment by wickedpam on 02/26/2008 15:34:29
Truth about Cats and Dogs - I love that movie.

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 15:41:38
Quote by wickedpam: Truth about Cats and Dogs - I love that movie.


O... that is one is one my faves list.

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 15:43:45
OY. another bizzarre caller.

Comment by starling310 on 02/26/2008 15:47:38
Quote by wickedpam: Truth about Cats and Dogs - I love that movie.




: janeane garafolo : "I heard dumb b*tch. I assumed you were talking to me." . . . "Your name is dumb b*tch TOO!?!"



:rofl:

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 15:47:44
http://www.jacksonpollock.org/



I remebered this from a few years ago, I found it posted again. it is truly computer crack! MAke your own Jackson Pollack!

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 15:48:23
What's the deal with the dead air between the spots and PSA's? (For those listening via the Steph Stream).

Comment by starling310 on 02/26/2008 15:49:33
Clever Jamie Lynn Passes GED Exam







Comment by starling310 on 02/26/2008 15:50:43
Quote by Raine: http://www.jacksonpollock.org/



I remebered this from a few years ago, I found it posted again. it is truly computer crack! MAke your own Jackson Pollack!






HEY! I am learning Actionscript as we speak. I will be able to design stuff like this soon. :banana:

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 15:53:14
:wacko: how did we jump from a lapel pin to burning a flag?

Comment by BobR on 02/26/2008 15:53:35
wow - this guy ought to just make love to his flag and get it over with... :wacko:

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 15:54:00
BTW, I like how Sam pointed out yesterday that wearing a flag lapel pin is bad flag ettiquete.



Oh, where's Tri with his handy book on flag ettiquette?

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 15:54:15
They are going to give this man a heart attack with the truth and the flaven.

Comment by BobR on 02/26/2008 15:54:43
People that are this stupid scare me.

Comment by wickedpam on 02/26/2008 15:55:15
Play the tape Steph!

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 15:55:59
OH dear.



Oh Dear.



OH DEAR.... THIS is why we need to make sure that John McCain NEVER gets elected. I love our elders, but our elders seem to quite oft not want to know the truth. My Oma is one of them.

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 15:56:11
He sounds like John McCain with the cranky old man.

Comment by starling310 on 02/26/2008 15:56:20
I got'cher lapal pin right here!

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 15:56:48
Quote by wickedpam: Play the tape Steph!


Producer chris! GET THE TAPE!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by BobR on 02/26/2008 15:57:27
I also noticed how said Dubya "chose" the location to fight al Qaeda. I'm sure the Iraqis are glad we chose their country.

Comment by BobR on 02/26/2008 15:58:12
That caller sounded like he didn't just drink the koolaide, he took a bath in it...

Comment by starling310 on 02/26/2008 15:58:16
Quote by BobR: People that are this stupid scare me.




BOBBER!!! :rofl:

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 15:58:39
OOHHHH! Mimosa Time on the SMS™!

Comment by starling310 on 02/26/2008 15:58:50
Quote by Raine: OH dear.



Oh Dear.



OH DEAR.... THIS is why we need to make sure that John McCain NEVER gets elected. I love our elders, but our elders seem to quite oft not want to know the truth. My Oma is one of them.




Not all of our elders can be as awesome as "Ed in Chicago!" :heart:

Comment by wickedpam on 02/26/2008 15:59:19
Not all the elders - my grandfather, God rest his soul, was a Dem, and a WWII vetran - Pacific theatre was in 7 major battles. He wasn't happy about the run up to war. And he didn't like McCain when he ran before thoght he was more of the same.

Comment by shelaghc on 02/26/2008 15:59:54
Hey, I just got a boon. Someone's willing to drive me to and from work until the car is fixed - which hopefully will be tomorrow evening.



Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 16:00:20
Quote by starling310:
Quote by Raine: http://www.jacksonpollock.org/



I remebered this from a few years ago, I found it posted again. it is truly computer crack! MAke your own Jackson Pollack!






HEY! I am learning Actionscript as we speak. I will be able to design stuff like this soon. :banana:
we may have to use you for future blog projects...



Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 16:01:02
Quote by shelaghc: Hey, I just got a boon. Someone's willing to drive me to and from work until the car is fixed - which hopefully will be tomorrow evening.

Wonderful!



Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 16:02:18
Holy crap... wholesale prices have risen more than 7% in the past 12 months. That is tremendous. Scary and tremendous.

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 16:02:46
Quote by BobR: That caller sounded like he didn't just drink the koolaide, he took a bath in it...


One should not take a bath in Koolaid, it's bad for the skin.

Comment by wickedpam on 02/26/2008 16:06:37
Quote by livingonli:
Quote by BobR: That caller sounded like he didn't just drink the koolaide, he took a bath in it...


One should not take a bath in Koolaid, it's bad for the skin.






it's a cheap way to dye your hair too.

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 16:08:09
USA TODAY/Gallup poll:

Among Democrats, Obama has surged to a double-digit lead, thumping Clinton 51%-39%. It is the first time Obama has topped 50% and the first time he has led Clinton outside the survey's margin of error.



However, the 12-point lead is at odds with a separate Gallup tracking poll, taken Friday through Sunday, that gave Obama a 47%-45% edge.

================================







Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 16:08:59
Maybe Momma can ask him how to be ON dancing with the Stars.

Comment by starling310 on 02/26/2008 16:09:10
: producerchris : ! Have you seen the Burger King commercial with Jr. Whopper and Chicken Sandwich waiting in a corporate office. The "business man " is walking in and yells to his secretary "I love you Stephanie!"



Just sayin. . . you may want to add it to your BOX!



Comment by wickedpam on 02/26/2008 16:09:35
Got a new Wii game this weekend called Playground (it's all schoolyard games like tetherball, dodgeball, paper planes, slot racing and more). Played it last night and my arms are killing me today.

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 16:10:10
:ireland: They just said on the show that Shano is from Pittsford NY.



I think Bobber might have some interesting things to say about that.

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 16:12:06
Quote by Raine: They just said on the show that Shano is from Pittsford NY.



I think Bobber might have some interesting things to say about that.


OK, maybe not.

Comment by starling310 on 02/26/2008 16:12:10
Feist is lovely.

Comment by starling310 on 02/26/2008 16:14:28
Natalie Portman will now do nude roles?!?!?







Comment by shelaghc on 02/26/2008 16:15:50
Quote by Raine: They just said on the show that Shano is from Pittsford NY.



I think Bobber might have some interesting things to say about that.




:-<

Shoot.



Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 16:17:25
Quote by Raine: USA TODAY/Gallup poll:

Among Democrats, Obama has surged to a double-digit lead, thumping Clinton 51%-39%. It is the first time Obama has topped 50% and the first time he has led Clinton outside the survey's margin of error.



However, the 12-point lead is at odds with a separate Gallup tracking poll, taken Friday through Sunday, that gave Obama a 47%-45% edge.

================================



Also McCain 49% Clinton 47%



McCain is saying that if he doesn't convince voters on the War he will lose.



UHM.... how long have we been at war???





So he is banking on a sudden renewed support of the war?





Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 16:17:57
Momma, don't joke about any hepatitas...

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 16:18:32
Nice "anonymous" impression !!!

Comment by starling310 on 02/26/2008 16:20:27
"Politics a la Baseball Game"

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 16:21:32
Quote by shelaghc:
Quote by Raine: They just said on the show that Shano is from Pittsford NY.



I think Bobber might have some interesting things to say about that.




:-<

Shoot.

Well if it makes anyone feel better, Shano lives in the same town Bobber was born. I guess I thought it was cooler than him. (my geekiness level just went up, didn't it... )



Comment by shelaghc on 02/26/2008 16:27:15
Hey, do either Chris or Stephanie read email sent to them during the show?



Comment by BobR on 02/26/2008 16:31:08
Quote by Raine: They just said on the show that Shano is from Pittsford NY.



I think Bobber might have some interesting things to say about that.


I was born in Pittsford, NY, and lived there until I was 8.



How's that for interesting? :lol:

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 16:31:55
Clinton Surrogate says Barack is from Somalia You REALLY have to read this.

HEre is the Video. Shame on HArriet Tubbs Jones.





Comment by BobR on 02/26/2008 16:32:42
Quote by wickedpam:





it's a cheap way to dye your hair too.


Just be sure to stay out of the rain... :P

Comment by wickedpam on 02/26/2008 16:35:06
I just love the term -



"Festival of Ignorance"

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 16:37:18
I still remember when Momma on Fixed Noise called Sean Hannity a "satanic hunk of man meat".

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 16:42:10
I REALLY am not liking ANYTHING hillary is doing these days.

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 16:42:34
Quote by wickedpam: I just love the term -



"Festival of Ignorance"


I think watching Fox News actually makes you dumber. You can just feel the IQ dropping.

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 16:48:03
Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 16:52:56
John Edwards ROCKS!

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 16:57:47
Michael Jackson is a Jehova's Witness, not a Mormon.

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 17:00:04
Since Obama was raised by his mother, wasn't the mother's side of the family Christian?



God, this B.S. has to stop.

Comment by wickedpam on 02/26/2008 17:01:52
Quote by Raine: I REALLY am not liking ANYTHING hillary is doing these days.




Neither am I, and I was leaning her way. I know mom is disapointed, she liked Edwards the best, but I think she wanted to see a woman become president in her life time.



Comment by shelaghc on 02/26/2008 17:02:00
Quote by shelaghc: Hey, do either Chris or Stephanie read email sent to them during the show?







I guess if they do, I was too late.



Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 17:08:32
Quote by livingonli: Since Obama was raised by his mother, wasn't the mother's side of the family Christian?



God, this B.S. has to stop.
It makes me really sick that it is coming from our own party. (see the Harriet Tubbs-Jones segment I posted)



And to Mala, I feel bad for your mom. I can understand that hope. I really can, but sometimes, lately I am actually feeling like hillary is not acting like any woman I know. This crap has to stop. if she can't win being a democratic candidate without all this racist crap, this religious crap this nasty sarcasm, and ALL the stuff we have seen just in the past few weeks, then I actually agree with Jonathan Alter, she needs to leave the race.



Her campaign is dividing the nation, and our party.



I am so sick and tired of this type of politicking. I EXPECT it from the republicans, not from our side. We need to be better than this shit. And Hillary should be better for people like you r mom. My mom, and all the mom's out there that hoped to see a woman president in thier lifetime.



She is not representing Woman or her party well at all.



[/rant]



Comment by wickedpam on 02/26/2008 17:08:50
Quote by livingonli: Michael Jackson is a Jehova's Witness, not a Mormon.






Ya know the only reason I knew that about Michael Jackson was because I had a friend in HS who was Jehova's Witness. She was always sad cause her family didn't celebrate birthdays so every year we get a small cake and presents in the student union.

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 17:10:12
Quote by shelaghc:
Quote by shelaghc: Hey, do either Chris or Stephanie read email sent to them during the show?







I guess if they do, I was too late.



I know that they do read emails during the show, I just think that they need to be sent in ealry.



:hug:



You could always share it in this little corner of the blogosphere!



Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 17:12:41
Rant away, Raine. It's good for you.

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 17:19:16
The sad thing, if it is indeed sad, is that up until recently here and even more so, on the message board, I had backed off on posting this Clinton campaign BS. I did it not because I was trying to be a gatekeeper, but because I know that I will vote democratic come november. But, I am really getting to the point that I think it is important to report about this stuff. I have done too much aver the past few years to turn a blind eye to these shenanigans just because it is a democratic candidate. Shit is shit and it doesn't matter if it on the saddle on an elephant or a donkey.



Hillary and Barack DO have similar platforms. That is not something that I particularly find myself pleased with, but it is what it is.



At this point, to see a fellow Dem do this to one of our own is just repulsive. Just last week she said she was honoured to be on the same stage with Sen Obama, and since that time she showed how nasty she can be.



I don't want this kind of president that says one thing and acts like another person. I find that very disengenuous. I liked her VERY much as my former senator. She did great things for NY. She does a lot a great things in the senate. But this Hillary, the one on the campaign trail is not the same woman. She has put politics, and advisors above the people she says she wants to represent in the general election. That just does not sit well with me.



If that means that I will take Barack Obama by default, then let it be that. I have found him to be articulate, gracious and even more important than anything else between these 2 candidates, he does not insult my intelligence.





Comment by shelaghc on 02/26/2008 17:21:18
I was hoping I could get Stephanie to do a shoutout about Drinking Liberally in Pittsburgh tonight by sending her an email since it's become so hard to actually get through the line. Plus, if it's off topic they generally won't put it through.



I had the same experience with Randi's producer a few weeks ago.



Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 17:39:41
I'm heading out to get some stuff done so I can be back to catch some of the SammyCam since I am off tonight.



Talk to y'all later.

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 17:40:43
BTW, Laura Flanders will be filling in for Thom Hartmann Wednesday through Friday while he's off on the cruise.

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 17:42:33
If I may disagree with Thom, I am NOT glad about Ralph Nader in the Race.





Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 17:44:36
Quote by shelaghc: I was hoping I could get Stephanie to do a shoutout about Drinking Liberally in Pittsburgh tonight by sending her an email since it's become so hard to actually get through the line. Plus, if it's off topic they generally won't put it through.



I had the same experience with Randi's producer a few weeks ago.

Ahhhh......



Does your local Station have a PSA program? Just a thought, Until we can get it shouted out nationally, maybe you could get a local shout out.



Comment by shelaghc on 02/26/2008 18:01:58
Quote by Raine:
Quote by shelaghc: I was hoping I could get Stephanie to do a shoutout about Drinking Liberally in Pittsburgh tonight by sending her an email since it's become so hard to actually get through the line. Plus, if it's off topic they generally won't put it through.



I had the same experience with Randi's producer a few weeks ago.

Ahhhh......



Does your local Station have a PSA program? Just a thought, Until we can get it shouted out nationally, maybe you could get a local shout out.







I called Thom's show and gave them the info to hopefully get a plug. I also emailed Sam about it so he might give it a shoutout too.



Comment by m-hadley on 02/26/2008 19:05:46
Quote by Raine: If I may disagree with Thom, I am NOT glad about Ralph Nader in the Race.



Raine,

I heard Thom say that about Nader, but I must agree with you. Everytime I think about Ralph mucking up the works, my stomach turns - I throw up in my mouth just a little bit BTB, I love it when you rant - rant away, Raine :)



Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 19:16:17
Simple question that I would really like answered...



Why can't the Clinton campaign go with a strategy that is PRO HILLARY platform instead of a "trash obama" strategy?

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 19:19:47
Quote by m-hadley:
Quote by Raine: If I may disagree with Thom, I am NOT glad about Ralph Nader in the Race.



Raine,

I heard Thom say that about Nader, but I must agree with you. Everytime I think about Ralph mucking up the works, my stomach turns - I throw up in my mouth just a little bit BTB, I love it when you rant - rant away, Raine :)

:hug:



AND you know what? if we have Nader supporters here (lurking or otherwise) on the blog, I am still willing to listen to and appreciate thier opinion. I really am.



I don't want to exclude people from this... I just feel the way I do, but that never means I am not willing to have a REAL dialogue.



That being said, I think you all know how I feel about Nader...







Comment by TriSec on 02/26/2008 19:20:52
TriSec's day:



http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7b/W780925-1.jpg/210px-W780925-1.jpg




:kickcan:





Comment by starling310 on 02/26/2008 19:29:30
TRISEC!!!



Oof...you and Bobber today. Making me laugh out loud.



Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 19:44:17
Another heavy blog question:



Am I the only person who finds it strange that the president (whover that person is) has far more power on foreign policy than domestic issues? Could it be becuase Our constitution never really dealt with these things, (due to the fact that our constitution deals with America as a nation in relationship to it's citizens and it policies) and going one step further, should we start to question the consitutionality of ALL foriegn policies with regard to our constitution?



Yeah, it is a radical question. The constitution states that Congress only can give permission for this nation to go to war. So to a certain extent our founding fathers tried to take this into consideration. But, as far as FOREIGN policy, as far as POLICY, how much of this is within the realm of the constitution?



More importantly, WHERE in the constitution does it say that the President of the United States should have more power over foreign policy than Domestic Policy? Where does it state that Congress should have less power over foreign policy? Where are the checks and balances?



Shouldn't any policy remain constitutional when it all affects American citizens, equally? Does it matter if it is Domestic or Foreign?



Just a question, A muse as it were.

Comment by shelaghc on 02/26/2008 19:51:11
Did anyone happen to hear if Thom mentioned my Drinking Liberally thing? I can't listen today.



Comment by starling310 on 02/26/2008 19:51:13
Quote by Raine: Another heavy blog question:



Am I the only person who finds it strange that the president (whover that person is) has far more power on foreign policy than domestic issues? Could it be becuase Our constitution never really dealt with these things, (due to the fact that our constitution deals with America as a nation in relationship to it's citizens and it policies) and going one step further, should we start to question the consitutionality of ALL foriegn policies with regard to our constitution?



Yeah, it is a radical question. The constitution states that Congress only can give permission for this nation to go to war. So to a certain extent our founding fathers tried to take this into consideration. But, as far as FOREIGN policy, as far as POLICY, how much of this is within the realm of the constitution?



More importantly, WHERE in the constitution does it say that the President of the United States should have more power over foreign policy than Domestic Policy? Where does it state that Congress should have less power over foreign policy? Where are the checks and balances?



Shouldn't any policy remain constitutional when it all affects American citizens, equally? Does it matter if it is Domestic or Foreign?



Just a question, A muse as it were.




I am of the opinion that we should have a government, similar to that of a Parliamentary state. I would prefer that we have a "Head of State," responsible for Foreign RELATIONS. . . not Policies. . . we should be RELATING to other countries, not dictating their policy. And, in addition to the Head of State, we should have our Congress and "President" to do the business of the American people.



Comment by BobR on 02/26/2008 20:13:56
Quote by Raine: Another heavy blog question:



Am I the only person who finds it strange that the president (whover that person is) has far more power on foreign policy than domestic issues? Could it be becuase Our constitution never really dealt with these things, (due to the fact that our constitution deals with America as a nation in relationship to it's citizens and it policies) and going one step further, should we start to question the consitutionality of ALL foriegn policies with regard to our constitution?



Yeah, it is a radical question. The constitution states that Congress only can give permission for this nation to go to war. So to a certain extent our founding fathers tried to take this into consideration. But, as far as FOREIGN policy, as far as POLICY, how much of this is within the realm of the constitution?



More importantly, WHERE in the constitution does it say that the President of the United States should have more power over foreign policy than Domestic Policy? Where does it state that Congress should have less power over foreign policy? Where are the checks and balances?



Shouldn't any policy remain constitutional when it all affects American citizens, equally? Does it matter if it is Domestic or Foreign?



Just a question, A muse as it were.


The Constitution states that the President needs a 2/3 concurrence of the Senate to enact treaties. It also gives Congress the sole powers of going to war. It seems like the Congress should have more power than the president in these matters...

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 20:20:06
Miami is currently experiencing Serious rolling blackouts. At first it was reported that it was a huge power surge that caused a massive blackout, but now the state... mostly the Southern portion of the state is having rolling blackouts.







Comment by TriSec on 02/26/2008 20:26:08
From the Palm Beach Post:



Power outages are cascading through many parts of South Florida, with Florida Power & Light and others reporting blackouts in portions of Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Jensen Beach, Miami, Doral, Westchester, Pembroke Pines and Miramar.



The state emergency operations center has been partially activated to deal with the FPL power outage, Florida Office of Emergency Management spokesman Mike Stone said Tuesday afternoon.



Between two and three million FPL customers are currently without power, Stone said, the result of an equipment failure in FPL's power system that caused a cascade. The power company is now trying to bring the system back on-line without creating further outages.



A hazardous weather system including severe thunderstorms and possible hail showers moving through the northern part of the state has put state emergency management officials on alert because it could make the power outage more problematic, Stone said.



"We are trying to isolate (the source of the outage) to determine what other actions we need to take as well," he said.



As of 2 p.m., the power outage appeared to be isolated to FPL customers, Stone said, but he could not identify which parts of the state were affected.



"It's quite an extensive outage right now," Florida Power & Light Co. spokesman Nick Blount said.



Customers from Miami-Dade County to Brevard County - and possibly customers in other areas - are affected, Blount said.



In Washington, officials at the Department of Homeland Security said there was no immediate concern that terrorism was behind the outage, CNN is reporting.



Stan Johnson, a spokesman for the North American Electric Reliability Council, said eight power plants were off-line across the region, but officials believe the outage has been contained.



Both nuclear units at the Turkey Point power plant in Miami-Dade County were offline as of about 2:30 p.m., said FPL nuclear-plant spokeswoman April Schilpp.



The units shut down automatically after off-site power to the nuclear plants was interrupted, Schlipp said. Another, non-nuclear power plant in Miami-Dade County also lost power, she reported.



As of about 2:30, she was not sure if FPL's nuclear plant in St. Lucie County was online.



Palm Beach County Administrator Bob Weisman said he spoke to FPL officials this afternoon, and he was told there was a possibility of further blackouts as far north as Melbourne.



Assistant County Administrator Vince Bonvento said the county's emergency operations staff is closely monitoring the power outages, but has not elevated its emergency management response level.



There are reports of sporadic outages throughout Palm Beach County, including some areas in the southern part of the county, he said. Both the county jail and Palm Beach International Airport report having power. Likewise there are no outages at Florida Atlantic University as of 2:30 p.m. said spokeswoman Kristine McGrath.



The county's emergency management staff is working with FPL to identify areas that have lost power. The county has also been in contact with the state's emergency management office, Bonvento said.



"We are getting an assessment right now," Bonvento said. "We are just monitoring it real closely."



The area of Blue Heron Boulevard in Riviera Beach has experienced power outages, and some traffic signals in downtown West Palm Beach have gone dark at times, County Engineer George Webb said.



"It's very spotty," Webb said. "We don't have an idea yet of the total pattern."

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 20:35:02
Raine dons her hat.



Sounds suspiciously like some serious Enron type shite.



And, if I may, something this administration was warned about after the NorthEast blackout a few years ago. We were warned that we needed BADLY to upgrade our electric grid. This country has since done nothing.







Comment by TriSec on 02/26/2008 20:47:11
Florida Power and Light generally has a good reputation on the Treasure Coast, but you may want to check in with the Jacksonville wing for another opinion.



We've never had any trouble with them in West Palm / Lake Worth in all the years my grandparents and now mama TriSec have been there.

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 20:49:39
"We are trying to isolate (the source of the outage) to determine what other actions we need to take as well," he said.





Interesting,

Florida Sun Sentinal is reporting that is was from power plants going off line. PArticularly Nuclear ones.

Widespread power outages caused by nuke plant shutdown

A nuclear reactor south of Miami was shut down Tuesday afternoon, triggering waves of power outages spreading from South Florida to the Keys and as far north as Tampa and Daytona Beach.



A spokesman for Florida Power & Light said the Turkey Point reactor was shutdown for safety reasons but would not elaborate. The state's emergency operations director estimated that about 3 million customers were affected, but an exact figure will likely not be known for some time. FPL said the outage was affecting several hundred thousand customers.



At 3 p.m., FPL said it expected to restore service to most customers within 2 hours.



In a statement on its Web site, the power company said the system was being restored "in a systematic process to ensure its safe operation." Officials said the system responded as designed to ensure the outage was contained.




WTF is going on?















Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 20:53:02
Quote by TriSec: Florida Power and Light generally has a good reputation on the Treasure Coast, but you may want to check in with the Jacksonville wing for another opinion.



We've never had any trouble with them in West Palm / Lake Worth in all the years my grandparents and now mama TriSec have been there.
I went with my enron opinion as I was watching the MSNBC machine saying that there were *rolling blackouts*... I am now more and more suspicious of this thing as being a possible *incident* at Turkey point. Seems as tho this all came down when the Power plant went off line. Now they are scrambling to get power from wherever they can.



The question is, why did they take the plant offline?







Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 20:57:12
And the real question is WHY are 8 power plants now off line?



Something smells.

Florida is not experiencing storms today. Tonite they will be. But not today.

Comment by wickedpam on 02/26/2008 20:58:31
Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 21:02:47
Miami DAde , according to sources at MSNBC should have power restored by about 5:30 pm. They are saying that about 3 million people are being affected.



I am glad to hear that this should be fixed before dark. It SUCKS BAD to be stuck in the heat, in the dark, in a city with no power.



REAL bad. (flashbacking again)

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 21:06:52
Quote by wickedpam: Craig Accepting Applications for Summer Interns



It writes its own joke
OMG!!!



Perfect! Larry Craig REALLY is the gift that just keeps on giving.



I'd say I have a wide stance on many issues and that makes me qualified for this particular position, But in all reality, I just don't have the cajones to to be able to say that...



Comment by TriSec on 02/26/2008 21:08:41
NRC sez:



Two nuclear reactors at Florida Power & Light's Turkey Point station in South Florida shut down Tuesday afternoon, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said, The St. Petersberg Times reported on its Web site.



Florida Power & Light is a unit of FPL Group Inc. (FPL).



It is unclear if the loss of power caused the massive outages that left millions of Floridians without power or if the outage caused the reactors to trip, the newspaper said.



"Turkey Point temporarily lost off-site power, and both reactors tripped," said NRC spokesman Roger Hannah, according to the newspaper.



The massive power outage left institutions and intersections throughout the state in the dark, the newspaper said.



The cause of the outages remains unclear, Tampa Electric spokeswoman Laura Duda told the newspaper.



She described a "significant disturbance" on the state's electric grid. It could have been a transmission problem, or a large electricity generating unit unexpectedly going off line, or another problem altogether. "We are working with other utilities to figure out what the problem was," she said.



Tampa Electric said 50,000 of its customers lost power between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Power remained down for less than an hour, and has now been returned to the majority of those customers, Duda said, according to the newspaper.



About a half-million people in Miami were also without power, WFOR-TV in South Florida reported. The Miami Herald reported on its Web site that power outages are cascading through many parts of South Florida, with Florida Power & Light and others reporting blackouts in portions of Miami, Doral, Westchester, Pembroke Pines, Miramar and Boca Raton.





But when I plugged "turkey point" into Google News, I also found this. The Cubans did it!

Comment by BobR on 02/26/2008 21:10:22
Quote by wickedpam: Craig Accepting Applications for Summer Interns



It writes its own joke


Preferably tan and buff...



Looking for energetic young men that like to get to the "bottom" of things...



To apply, come to the 3rd stall in the House restroom and tap on the door...

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 21:12:15
HA! Damn you Cubans!!!



Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 21:15:33
OK, Tri, now I have no idea what is going on down there. Something isn't right.



Come to think of it, did we ever get the cause for the NorthEast Blackout?



I remember being told that it was just Grid fatigue. Too many people on the grid, too many people using electric.



Nothing about the utilities preparing for the kind of usage needed to sustain a major metropolitan area being the cause. Nothing about infrastructure preparedness not happening.











Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 21:29:16
Listening to Sammy.... I gotta say, I have no problem saying I am a liberal. None at all.



They never took it away from me, so I don't really need to get it back. What I need for others to realize that they never took it way either. :)







Comment by TriSec on 02/26/2008 21:32:10
I'm heading out in a few...'tis a school nite for me, and Jazz is always good!



Mrs. TriSec has family in the affected zone, we may try to put a call through to see if we can get any firsthand information...





Comment by wickedpam on 02/26/2008 21:46:37
Quote by TriSec: I'm heading out in a few...'tis a school nite for me, and Jazz is always good!



Mrs. TriSec has family in the affected zone, we may try to put a call through to see if we can get any firsthand information...







Hope it's to a cell phone - cause cordless phones are knocked out by power outages :p



Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 21:52:33
I'm back. Did y'all miss me?

Comment by BobR on 02/26/2008 21:55:10
Quote by livingonli: I'm back. Did y'all miss me?


Like the plague....









:P I know, I know... :spank:

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 21:57:11
Thanks a lot.

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 21:57:57
At least the Sammy Cam is on. And I agree, Lauren is a cutie.

Comment by BobR on 02/26/2008 22:26:01
uh oh - Jack Kingston is from GA... :rolleyes2:

Comment by BobR on 02/26/2008 22:27:26
Quote by livingonli: Thanks a lot.


:rofl: just jossin' witcha, man...





:hug:

Comment by Raine on 02/26/2008 22:39:32
Guh I walk away for a little while, and I get to listen to this wingnut tell us WHY Democrats always lose.



Thanks douchbag.

Comment by livingonli on 02/26/2008 22:45:30
Quote by Raine: Guh I walk away for a little while, and I get to listen to this wingnut tell us WHY Democrats always lose.



Thanks douchbag.


Maybe someone needs to go teach these wingnuts a lesson.

Comment by livingonli on 02/27/2008 01:03:58
Rachel mentioned the Four Freedoms speech (no blog/message board though) when she introduced the Paul Reickoff segment tonight.

Comment by Raine on 02/27/2008 01:06:25
watching Olbermann. waiting for the big debate.

Comment by Raine on 02/27/2008 01:08:40
Quote by livingonli: Rachel mentioned the Four Freedoms speech (no blog/message board though) when she introduced the Paul Reickoff segment tonight.


That is very cool. VERY.



IT is things like this that make me happy that we did what we did, not only with the blog, but (and maybe even more so) with the message board.



At one point or another in this nation, we are going to have to figure out how we come together... EVEN when we disagree.



the Four Freedoms are a damn good place to start.

Comment by Raine on 02/27/2008 01:09:48
Rach is gonna be on countdown tonite, btw. :D

Comment by Raine on 02/27/2008 01:15:47
Wow, not really liking this discussion about Bill talking about Hillary's decisions after 9/11... he really alluded to the fact that she was emotional after the event?





I wasn't. I felt like we needed to go in afgahnistan. NEVER EVER felt like IRaq was a part of the equation.



I think bill did a serious disservice to hillary.

Comment by Raine on 02/27/2008 01:19:36
You know whay I love KO? not becuase I learn NEW things, but becuase he confirms in better words than I could how I feel about the days events.



I look forward to the plausible deniability segment...



(and damn, dinner is smelling so good. we are having pork stir fry tonite, with spring rolls, and thai soup--- coconut milk tofu and mushrooms, all made from scratch... )

Comment by Raine on 02/27/2008 01:23:35
I cannot wait to get a hold of the youtube version of that guy who introduced John McCain. That horrible racist pig.





Comment by Raine on 02/27/2008 01:24:21
RACH!!! Talking about the Indian affairs committee! Where is faye???

Comment by velveeta jones on 02/27/2008 01:38:55
Raine!!



Are you blogging by yourself? :lol:



That can be dangerous..............................

Comment by velveeta jones on 02/27/2008 01:52:51
Wow! Google is .................... down!!



Is the world ending?

Comment by livingonli on 02/27/2008 02:01:07
Quote by velveeta jones: Raine!!



Are you blogging by yourself? :lol:



That can be dangerous..............................


I do a lot of things by myself, even if blogging is not always one of them. :lol:

Comment by livingonli on 02/27/2008 02:09:05
Quote by Raine: You know whay I love KO? not becuase I learn NEW things, but becuase he confirms in better words than I could how I feel about the days events.



I look forward to the plausible deniability segment...



(and damn, dinner is smelling so good. we are having pork stir fry tonite, with spring rolls, and thai soup--- coconut milk tofu and mushrooms, all made from scratch... )


Nothing like a good meal before a debate.

Comment by Raine on 02/27/2008 02:22:27
Quote by velveeta jones: Wow! Google is .................... down!!



Is the world ending?


Holy crap! Are you kidding?



And no I wasn't blogging alone, liv was here!



But so far, this deabte is getting me REALLY pissed off. Particularly, hillary. Does she think she can win by talking more than Obama and interupting the moderators???

Comment by Raine on 02/27/2008 02:24:17
Hillary, go on tell us all again how good or bad nafta is.



And then tell us that this is YOUR campaign. Then tell us about tyour experience.





Comment by Raine on 02/27/2008 02:25:20
NEW YORK HAS NOT BENEFITTED from NAFTA...

Comment by velveeta jones on 02/27/2008 02:25:58
Hillary is getting pissed!! She even mentioned the SNL sketch. :rofl:

Comment by Raine on 02/27/2008 02:26:39
Ok, unless as BobR just informed me, if you count WALL STREET. YES, the NYSE HAS made a lot of money from NAFTA.

Comment by livingonli on 02/27/2008 02:27:33
Quote by Raine:
Quote by velveeta jones: Wow! Google is .................... down!!



Is the world ending?


Holy crap! Are you kidding?



And no I wasn't blogging alone, liv was here!



But so far, this deabte is getting me REALLY pissed off. Particularly, hillary. Does she think she can win by talking more than Obama and interupting the moderators???






Computer says yes!

Comment by Raine on 02/27/2008 02:28:59
Quote by velveeta jones: Hillary is getting pissed!! She even mentioned the SNL sketch. :rofl:


Those mean SNF people! HAs anyone told her that Bitch is the new black?? :P

Comment by Raine on 02/27/2008 02:30:51
regarding NAFTA, Hilalry NEVER mentioned workers, Barack did. to me that is huge.

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/27/2008 02:34:33
Howdy all. Good work out soon bed! I will be reading more about the Rieman hypothesis. It is one of Hilbert's problems and the basis of public=key cryptography. So it is hardly trivial stuff!

Comment by livingonli on 02/27/2008 02:35:16
Under Free Trade, all the good paying jobs have gone to the developing world so that the only jobs left are still in the service sector so that all we have are people selling or assisting other people and no one's producing anything.

Comment by velveeta jones on 02/27/2008 02:38:18
Hillary sounds like a loser. Sorry, but she is struggling.

Comment by livingonli on 02/27/2008 02:42:21
I'm also listening to the Mike Malloy Show and he is really ripping into Bill Kristol for challenging Obama's patriotism.

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/27/2008 02:50:09
Hoooweeee! Ah kin win me a bass boat at the Azealea festival! GIT ER DONE!

Comment by livingonli on 02/27/2008 02:50:34
Remember when they didn't have commercial interruptions in debates.

Comment by velveeta jones on 02/27/2008 02:53:33
Oh Hillary!!! DaYam!!!!

Comment by velveeta jones on 02/27/2008 02:54:54
Quote by livingonli: Remember when they didn't have commercial interruptions in debates.




Remember when they were really non-partison and run by the league of women voters?

Comment by livingonli on 02/27/2008 02:55:20
Who got the Stephanie Miller test e-mail?

Comment by Raine on 02/27/2008 02:56:28
ok,here is something that I see. When barack is pissed, I see him take notes and put his hands together... hilary yells at the moderators.

Comment by Raine on 02/27/2008 02:57:30
Quote by velveeta jones:
Quote by livingonli: Remember when they didn't have commercial interruptions in debates.




Remember when they were really non-partison and run by the league of women voters?


God I miss the league of Womens voters debates.



Did I tell you I was a member of them when i was in NY?

Comment by livingonli on 02/27/2008 02:58:05
Quote by velveeta jones:
Quote by livingonli: Remember when they didn't have commercial interruptions in debates.




Remember when they were really non-partison and run by the league of women voters?


Now you're making me nostalgic. We should go back to that and get rid of sponsors like "clean coal".

Comment by Raine on 02/27/2008 02:59:22
Quote by velveeta jones: Hillary sounds like a loser. Sorry, but she is struggling.
Iam not pleased with her so far tonite.





not at all. She almost had me on the forien policy thing, until sheh turned it.



Comment by velveeta jones on 02/27/2008 03:04:51
Whew! Google back up, for those that were concerned.

Comment by livingonli on 02/27/2008 03:12:44
My damn wi-fi keeps bumping my network connection on my laptop tonight.

Comment by velveeta jones on 02/27/2008 03:23:43
I'm being lazy...........going to finish this debate in bed.



Velveeta may be making some travel plans this week!

Comment by livingonli on 02/27/2008 03:53:46
Was everyone bored with this debate?

Comment by m-hadley on 02/27/2008 04:43:01
Quote by livingonli: Who got the Stephanie Miller test e-mail?


I didn't get butt-kiss - what was it all about? Please just let me know...

:)



Comment by m-hadley on 02/27/2008 04:48:24
Quote by Raine: RACH!!! Talking about the Indian affairs committee! Where is faye???


Damn, I'm sorry I missed it - I was working on the Ref Desk late tonight (actually working on the PowWow program for the event that we are hosting this Friday - ya'll come on over and have some corn soup and fry bread - it's on the house :)

Cheers,

mfaye



Comment by m-hadley on 02/27/2008 04:51:33
Quote by m-hadley:
Quote by livingonli: Who got the Stephanie Miller test e-mail?


I didn't get butt-kiss - what was it all about? Please just let me know...

:)



Never mind - I just got a Stephanie Miller Show e-mail... :)



Comment by m-hadley on 02/27/2008 04:52:54
Has everybody else gone to bed/sleep? I notice that I am blogging by myself...

Comment by livingonli on 02/27/2008 05:08:49
My network connection's just been fluttering in and out tonight. I think everyone else seems to have bowed out.

Comment by livingonli on 02/27/2008 07:15:33
I better go to bed.