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Cleaning out the drawer of the Blog Mind
Author: TriSec    Date: 08/23/2008 13:36:48

With apologies to Bob Ryan, from whom I steal this idea from time to time..


Anyway, I checked my phone this morning, and the first words out of my mouth were "that bastard!" I don't know about anyone else, but my message was received at 3:20 EDT (am!) here on the East Coast. Curiously, our own Raine made this call yesterday:

Comment by Raine on 8/22/2008 5:38:13 PM HEy... I just had a thought... wouldn't it be hilarious if we all got the text message from Barack Obama at 3 am?

It's Three Am, and this is barack obama


Dude, can you say "anti-climactic?"



Anyway, there's already an attack story out about it, from the AP:
DENVER - The candidate of change went with the status quo.

In picking Sen. Joe Biden to be his running mate, Barack Obama sought to shore up his weakness — inexperience in office and on foreign policy — rather than underscore his strength as a new-generation candidate defying political conventions.

He picked a 35-year veteran of the Senate — the ultimate insider — rather than a candidate from outside Washington, such as Govs. Tim Kaine of Virginia or Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas; or from outside his party, such as Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska; or from outside the mostly white male club of vice presidential candidates. Hillary Rodham Clinton didn't even make his short list.

The picks say something profound about Obama: For all his self-confidence, the 47-year-old Illinois senator worried that he couldn't beat Republican John McCain without help from a seasoned politician willing to attack. The Biden selection is the next logistical step in an Obama campaign that has become more negative — a strategic decision that may be necessary but threatens to run counter to his image.

Democratic strategists, fretting over polls that showed McCain erasing Obama's lead this summer, welcomed the move. They, too, worried that Obama needed a more conventional — read: tougher — approach to McCain.

"You've got to hand it to the candidate and the campaign. They have a great sense of timing and tone and appropriateness. Six months ago, people said he wasn't tough enough on Hillary Clinton — he was being too passive — but he got it right at the right time," said Democratic strategist Jim Jordan. "He'll get it right again."

Indeed, Obama has begun to aggressively counter McCain's criticism with negative television ads and sharp retorts from the campaign trail.

A senior Obama adviser, speaking on condition of anonymity, said his boss has expressed impatience with what he calls a "reverence" inside his campaign for his message of change and new politics. In other words, Obama is willing — even eager — to risk what got him this far if it gets him to the White House.

Biden brings a lot to the table. An expert on national security, the Delaware senator voted in 2002 to authorize military intervention in Iraq but has since become a vocal critic of the conflict. He won praise for a plan for peace in Iraq that would divide the country along ethnic lines.

Chief sponsor of a sweeping anti-crime bill that passed in 1994, Biden could help inoculate Obama from GOP criticism that he's soft on crime — a charge his campaign fears will drive a wedge between white voters and the first black candidate with a serious shot at the White House.

So the question is whether Biden's depth counters Obama's inexperience — or highlights it?




Moving on, let's talk Olympics for a bit. By most accounts this has been an extraordinarily successful and smooth games. (But hey, staging them under an authoritarian regime has its advantages!) There has not been a major doping scandal...yet. But there have been judging curiosities, disgruntled athletes, and a gymnastics age controversy that just won't go away. But overall, nothing truly bad or controversial has happened. (at least not that we've heard about.)

So this got me thinking about my own Olympic experience. Back in 1984, TriSec was the best at his chosen sport; sleeping! I made the Olympic sleep team, but at the last minute, the IOC decided to can the sport, so I never got a chance to go. Seriously, folks....

The 1976 games were held in Montreal, Canada...a mere 300 miles from my ancestral home of Saugus, MA. We attended for a few days, coupled with many days of traveling throughout the province of Quebec.

We were not in The Forum to see Nadia's perfect 10, but I thought I'd include her routine on the balance beam today.



Watching it now, it struck me how fluid and graceful the routine was, compared to today's emphasis on acrobatics and brute strength. One thing I really noticed about the routine though, watch her feet. Today's gymnasts are always putting a foot back to check where they are on the beam; Nadia has such situational awareness that she doesn't do it once.


We were in the Olympic Stadium for many of the track and field events...we saw Bruce Jenner get the gold in the decathalon, and many of the running events, as well as the long jump, pole vault, and high jump. We also saw a curious event called the "javelin". A vestige of man's primitive days, it's basically how far you can throw a spear.



Miklos Nemeth of Hungary got off a world-record throw that silenced the house....I remember watching it float on and on down the length of the stadium...



We'll finish up on the local front this morning. Perhaps you remember a gentleman named John Kerry? It's been under the radar, but he's facing a democratic challenger in this Commonwealth this year. (The Republicans failed to qualify enough signatures, and their chosen candidate [the brother of a 9-11 pilot] won't be appearing on the ballot.). In any case, they've just agreed to one debate, but the challenger certainly has a long row to hoe.

AGAWAM - Ed O'Reilly worked the crowd at an annual clambake, introducing himself to dozens of potential voters with a jolly optimism that seemed to overlook the stiff odds against his candidacy for the US Senate.

He spoke about the sputtering economy. He asked about local issues. He ate clams with a plastic fork.

Most were willing to hear the pitch from the mop-haired former firefighter and defense attorney who bears a striking resemblance to Joseph Kennedy. Some even said they would vote for him.

Until John Kerry arrived.

Kerry, who has made few recent appearances in this small town next to Springfield, swooped into a pavilion near the Six Flags amusement park with a half-dozen staff members at his side and began shaking hands. Heads turned. Conversations stopped. Cellphone cameras came out.

"He's like the heavyweight prizefighter," said John Auclair, a 51-year-old police captain from Ludlow who made sure to get a photo with Kerry.

The scene demonstrated the struggle O'Reilly faces in trying to unseat a 24-year incumbent and 2004 presidential nominee when Democratic primary voters go to the polls on Sept. 16.

O'Reilly said he is motivated to run because he believes Kerry is out of touch with Massachusetts voters and has not spent enough time focused on the state. But O'Reilly has little experience in elective politics and is massively underfunded, with just 2 percent of the $8.8 million that Kerry has in his war chest.

Yet the scene in Agawam also showed that O'Reilly's surprisingly strong effort is forcing Kerry to get on the local campaign trail at a time when most Democrats of his stature are focused on Denver, not Danvers. Kerry has not faced a Democratic challenger since he won the seat in 1984 and the only serious race of any kind he has faced was his 1996 campaign, when he was challenged by Republican governor William F. Weld.



Our own Tip O'Neill said it best: "All Politics is Local". Don't forget your city and state races, even as we sprint towards the finish line in November!


 

96 comments (Latest Comment: 08/24/2008 05:55:34 by livingonli)
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Comment by BobR on 08/23/2008 13:49:19
top 'O the mornin' to ya... :coffee:

Comment by starling310 on 08/23/2008 14:15:58
Oh Em Gee! Raine, you totally called it. My text, as Tri's, came at 3:24 am.



Maybe he wants America to be ready when the phone rings at 3 am.

Anyhoo, I am excited it's Joe Biden. Screw the haters who will call him a Washington insider. A "Washington Insider" in Obama's new politics would've been someone who didn't wait 5 years to remarry after his wife died and who doesn't take the train back to his home state every night...yaknow, someone like John McCain. Experience doesn't make someone that kind of insider!



Bastids.

Comment by trojanrabbit on 08/23/2008 14:20:38
Good morning all. This will be a drive-by as I'm reading from my sister's place and we're holding a yahd sale.



I do have problems with Biden, as he's beholden to Delaware's biggest industry - credit cards. We'll have to see.

Comment by m-hadley on 08/23/2008 14:29:21
Mornin' Everybody :coffee:

I didn't get a text message, 'cause I turned that feature off on my phone, but I did hear the news on NPR this morning and I think it is a fine choice. Any VP brings some baggage and some questions, but I think it demonstrates Obama's pragmatism. I think he thought it through and picked the best from a qualified group of possible candidates. I worry that this won't ease the minds of the PUMAs, but I am ready to say "screw 'em." Sorry I didn't join in the blog discussion yesterday - it was a hell of a week, but I don't have to go in today, so I'll be around, blogging and watching the TeeVee. Later gators... :P

Cheers.

mfaye

:hug: & :peace:

Comment by Random on 08/23/2008 14:48:17
It's 3 am and some where, a lawyer is getting a phone call from Hillary in her oval designed office.

Comment by BobR on 08/23/2008 14:59:14
Quote by trojanrabbit:

Good morning all. This will be a drive-by as I'm reading from my sister's place and we're holding a yahd sale.



I do have problems with Biden, as he's beholden to Delaware's biggest industry - credit cards. We'll have to see.


That was always my concern for me with him as well. However, his other positions and directness are appealing, so I am willing to accept this flaw considering his other assets.



I've always liked him personally, and I think he's a good match for Obama.



Comment by livingonli on 08/23/2008 15:05:33
Good morning all.



He is a little centrist for my taste. Did anyone listen to Mike Malloy last night? He was going on a rant on the whole moving to the center strategy and how it has made the Democratic Party enablers of fascism. Although at this point the Obama campaign is going to have to go on the attack since that's all that is coming from the McCain campaign as he sold what is left of his soul to run for office in this election.

Comment by Raine on 08/23/2008 15:20:09
Quote by trojanrabbit:

Good morning all. This will be a drive-by as I'm reading from my sister's place and we're holding a yahd sale.



I do have problems with Biden, as he's beholden to Delaware's biggest industry - credit cards. We'll have to see.
I have resolved that issue regarding Biden... An older friend of mine from Delaware explained to me something interesting... those credit card companies in Delaware have a lot of employees... regular folk, as it were, who are his constituents. While he may, and rightfully so perhaps, be perceived as beholden to those companiens, he has worked hard to keep them in his state there for keeping many people from falling into unemployment.



A great example was that wretched Bankruptcy bill. Those companies were threatening to pull out of the state, you see Phil graham changed the entire industry to make it easy for the lobbyists to do so, unless they got that bill passed. I hope that makes sense. I am not saying I like it, but I can understand why Biden was caught between a rock and a hard place, and I think he sided with keeping those jobs in his state...



Unlike that McCain Lobbyist who sided with a dutch company to outsource over 2000 Ups jobs) or was it Fed Ex? -- anyway he lobbied to outsource thousands of jobs away from Ohio.





Good Morning!



Oh, and Liv, While I understand what you are saying, and what Malloy is saying, right now we MUST do what we ever we can to get THESE fascists out of office. Biden is a good choice. We needed someone who would fight back.



Comment by livingonli on 08/23/2008 15:25:19
Just going through my e-mail, the Washington Post alert of the Biden selection was sent out at 1:53 AM. It looks like it wasn't a secret too long. But then again, if Tri was able to track that flight from Delaware we would have been ahead of it.

Comment by Raine on 08/23/2008 15:28:06
Quote by BobR:

Quote by trojanrabbit:

Good morning all. This will be a drive-by as I'm reading from my sister's place and we're holding a yahd sale.



I do have problems with Biden, as he's beholden to Delaware's biggest industry - credit cards. We'll have to see.


That was always my concern for me with him as well. However, his other positions and directness are appealing, so I am willing to accept this flaw considering his other assets.



I've always liked him personally, and I think he's a good match for Obama.

I cannot wait for him to start campaigning.







Comment by Raine on 08/23/2008 15:29:31
Quote by m-hadley:

Mornin' Everybody :coffee:

I didn't get a text message, 'cause I turned that feature off on my phone, but I did hear the news on NPR this morning and I think it is a fine choice. Any VP brings some baggage and some questions, but I think it demonstrates Obama's pragmatism. I think he thought it through and picked the best from a qualified group of possible candidates. I worry that this won't ease the minds of the PUMAs, but I am ready to say "screw 'em." Sorry I didn't join in the blog discussion yesterday - it was a hell of a week, but I don't have to go in today, so I'll be around, blogging and watching the TeeVee. Later gators... :P

Cheers.

mfaye

:hug: & :peace:
Pragmatist is the perfect word Faye.



After 8 years of radicalism, I will take pragmatism.



Comment by BobR on 08/23/2008 15:31:49
Quote by livingonli:

Good morning all.



He is a little centrist for my taste. Did anyone listen to Mike Malloy last night? He was going on a rant on the whole moving to the center strategy and how it has made the Democratic Party enablers of fascism. Although at this point the Obama campaign is going to have to go on the attack since that's all that is coming from the McCain campaign as he sold what is left of his soul to run for office in this election.


I will agree with Raine on this - right now our choices are Obama/Biden or McCain/??? (or Barr or McKinney). The most important thing we can do is get Obama elected, and THEN push him (and our CongressCritters) to do the right thing(s)...



Comment by livingonli on 08/23/2008 15:33:06
Don't forget, Keith will be on at 8 PM tonight for a special Countdown. There will also be a Countdown on NBC August 31st. I guess it offsets all the convention pre-emptions of Countdown that are coming up.

Comment by BobR on 08/23/2008 15:36:55
Lost amidst all the clamor of the Obama VP pick and other campaign news:



Documents reveal PR push for Iraq war preceded intel findings



Impeach, Impeach, Impeach...

Comment by trojanrabbit on 08/23/2008 15:37:51
Quote by Raine:

Quote by trojanrabbit:

Good morning all. This will be a drive-by as I'm reading from my sister's place and we're holding a yahd sale.



I do have problems with Biden, as he's beholden to Delaware's biggest industry - credit cards. We'll have to see.
I have resolved that issue regarding Biden... An older friend of mine from Delaware explained to me something interesting... those credit card companies in Delaware have a lot of employees... regular folk, as it were, who are his constituents. While he may, and rightfully so perhaps, be perceived as beholden to those companiens, he has worked hard to keep them in his state there for keeping many people from falling into unemployment.



A great example was that wretched Bankruptcy bill. Those companies were threatening to pull out of the state, you see Phil graham changed the entire industry to make it easy for the lobbyists to do so, unless they got that bill passed. I hope that makes sense. I am not saying I like it, but I can understand why Biden was caught between a rock and a hard place, and I think he sided with keeping those jobs in his state...



Unlike that McCain Lobbyist who sided with a dutch company to outsource over 2000 Ups jobs) or was it Fed Ex? -- anyway he lobbied to outsource thousands of jobs away from Ohio.





Good Morning!



Oh, and Liv, While I understand what you are saying, and what Malloy is saying, right now we MUST do what we ever we can to get THESE fascists out of office. Biden is a good choice. We needed someone who would fight back.



Fair enough, Raine (HA)



Of course, Obama doensn't have to worry about whether I'm voting for him or not.



The debates can't start fast enough for me.



Got rid of a couple of old rims, an old receiver and CD player so far at the yahd sale. Lotsa traffic, but few stoppers/lookers.

Comment by Random on 08/23/2008 15:41:01
Quote by BobR:

Quote by livingonli:

Good morning all.



He is a little centrist for my taste. Did anyone listen to Mike Malloy last night? He was going on a rant on the whole moving to the center strategy and how it has made the Democratic Party enablers of fascism. Although at this point the Obama campaign is going to have to go on the attack since that's all that is coming from the McCain campaign as he sold what is left of his soul to run for office in this election.


I will agree with Raine on this - right now our choices are Obama/Biden or McCain/??? (or Barr or McKinney). The most important thing we can do is get Obama elected, and THEN push him (and our CongressCritters) to do the right thing(s)...



Is this the point where i get booed off the island for saying that i believe Centrist is the correct way to go?

Since, theoretically, it would be a mish-mash of both left and right ideas. Which is what this country was kind of founded on, and probably the ideal way of running such a large and diverse group of people.



Comment by Raine on 08/23/2008 15:52:12
Quote by Random:

Quote by BobR:

Quote by livingonli:

Good morning all.



He is a little centrist for my taste. Did anyone listen to Mike Malloy last night? He was going on a rant on the whole moving to the center strategy and how it has made the Democratic Party enablers of fascism. Although at this point the Obama campaign is going to have to go on the attack since that's all that is coming from the McCain campaign as he sold what is left of his soul to run for office in this election.


I will agree with Raine on this - right now our choices are Obama/Biden or McCain/??? (or Barr or McKinney). The most important thing we can do is get Obama elected, and THEN push him (and our CongressCritters) to do the right thing(s)...



Is this the point where i get booed off the island for saying that i believe Centrist is the correct way to go?

Since, theoretically, it would be a mish-mash of both left and right ideas. Which is what this country was kind of founded on, and probably the ideal way of running such a large and diverse group of people.

You don't get booed off the island at all.



I have long held the belief that IF I, as a uber progressiveliberal leftie...:P , won't tolerate centrist-- which I still do not believe we have, then I am a hypocrite.



Obama is not a centrist. he is a moderate at best. He is still farther left than Bill Clinton was, and he is not DLC...



And truthfully, I don't see 'right' ideas from Barack Obama. he just isn't ultra left. He is a full blooded Democrat. It has been a LONG time since we have had that, and I think we are just not used to it.

(editied to add a VERY important word that I left out)





Comment by Random on 08/23/2008 15:56:18
Quote by Raine:

Quote by Random:

Quote by BobR:

Quote by livingonli:

Good morning all.



He is a little centrist for my taste. Did anyone listen to Mike Malloy last night? He was going on a rant on the whole moving to the center strategy and how it has made the Democratic Party enablers of fascism. Although at this point the Obama campaign is going to have to go on the attack since that's all that is coming from the McCain campaign as he sold what is left of his soul to run for office in this election.


I will agree with Raine on this - right now our choices are Obama/Biden or McCain/??? (or Barr or McKinney). The most important thing we can do is get Obama elected, and THEN push him (and our CongressCritters) to do the right thing(s)...



Is this the point where i get booed off the island for saying that i believe Centrist is the correct way to go?

Since, theoretically, it would be a mish-mash of both left and right ideas. Which is what this country was kind of founded on, and probably the ideal way of running such a large and diverse group of people.

You don't get booed off the island at all.



I have long held the belief that I, as a uber progressiveliberal leftie...:P , won't tolerate centrist-- which I still do not believe we have, then I am a hypocrite.



Obama is not a centrist. he is a moderate at best. He is still farther left than Bill Clinton was, and he is not DLC...



And truthfully, I don't see 'right' ideas from Barack Obama. he just isn't ultra left. He is a full blooded Democrat. It has been a LONG time since we have had that, and I think we are just not used to it.





I guess i've come to believe that neither left nor right is wrong or right. In essence, both want to accomplish the same goals. Just each side has radically different beliefs how to accomplish those goals.

(Goals of course do not include issues that are meant as push buttons for racists and bigots)



Comment by m-hadley on 08/23/2008 15:57:35
Quote by Raine:

Quote by m-hadley:

Mornin' Everybody :coffee:

I didn't get a text message, 'cause I turned that feature off on my phone, but I did hear the news on NPR this morning and I think it is a fine choice. Any VP brings some baggage and some questions, but I think it demonstrates Obama's pragmatism. I think he thought it through and picked the best from a qualified group of possible candidates. I worry that this won't ease the minds of the PUMAs, but I am ready to say "screw 'em." Sorry I didn't join in the blog discussion yesterday - it was a hell of a week, but I don't have to go in today, so I'll be around, blogging and watching the TeeVee. Later gators... :P

Cheers.

mfaye

:hug: & :peace:
Pragmatist is the perfect word Faye.



After 8 years of radicalism, I will take pragmatism.







Raine,

Thanks for responding to my comment - I always worry that if I'm off the blog for a day or two that I've lost my groove I basically agree with everybody's comments this morning, of course I haven't ventured into any other blogs (other than HuffPo which I check along wih the NYTimes and WashPo every morning), so I don't know what the PUMAs are saying, but as I've said before "screw 'em" if they can't or won't get with the program. I think the McCain camp's response is so predictable and doesn't hold much credibility in its predictability. And I, for one, am thrilled that Johnny McSame is so clueless when it comes to how many houses he and his wife own

Cheers,

mfaye

:fbump: & :hug:

Comment by Raine on 08/23/2008 15:57:36
I have come to believe that the policies from the right are devastating to our country. There is a reason why the middle class is shrinking. ;)







Comment by livingonli on 08/23/2008 15:59:19
Although if the modern Republican Party is any indication, the right just want power for itself and they want it to enrich themselves and their buddies. The Republican Party these days has moved to embracing full-blown fascism. That's why I believe we need a strong Left in this country to counteract it and move the political discourse away from the Far Right where it's pretty much been for the last two decades.

Comment by Raine on 08/23/2008 15:59:24
So, Momma Psychic was kinda, well how do I put this... WRONG!!!!



:rofl:


Comment by livingonli on 08/23/2008 16:01:50
Quote by Raine:

So, Momma Psychic was kinda, well how do I put this... WRONG!!!!



:rofl:


But didn't the psychic predict an Obama victory?


Comment by Raine on 08/23/2008 16:05:06
Quote by livingonli:

Although if the modern Republican Party is any indication, the right just want power for itself and they want it to enrich themselves and their buddies. The Republican Party these days has moved to embracing full-blown fascism. That's why I believe we need a strong Left in this country to counteract it and move the political discourse away from the Far Right where it's pretty much been for the last two decades.
no doubt about it.



A President Obama will become the leader of the entire nation.. left and right, and that is why the left must always be there to make sure we regain BALANCE in this nation.



Comment by Raine on 08/23/2008 16:05:44
Quote by livingonli:

Quote by Raine:

So, Momma Psychic was kinda, well how do I put this... WRONG!!!!



:rofl:


But didn't the psychic predict an Obama victory?


:thud:







Comment by clintster on 08/23/2008 16:07:21
Mornin' everybody! I was just checking out Facecrack, and saw that had made his status message to read "is glad Obama picked someone as clean and articulate as Biden" for Veep. I immediately flashed back to last year, when Senator B made that awkward remark regarding Barack, and the little firestorm it lit. Pretty cool to see that Barack was able to look past that gaffe to see the goodness within Biden. I'd have personally picked Gov. Richardson, but I'm trusting the next President here.

Comment by Raine on 08/23/2008 16:08:20
Quote by m-hadley:

Raine,

Thanks for responding to my comment - I always worry that if I'm off the blog for a day or two that I've lost my groove I basically agree with everybody's comments this morning, of course I haven't ventured into any other blogs (other than HuffPo which I check along wih the NYTimes and WashPo every morning), so I don't know what the PUMAs are saying, but as I've said before "screw 'em" if they can't or won't get with the program. I think the McCain camp's response is so predicateble and doesn't hold much credibility in its predictability. And I, for one, am thrilled that Johnny McSame is so clueless when it comes to how many houses he and his wife own

Cheers,

mfaye

:fbump: & :hug:
The groove is like a bicycle, faye!



Screw the PUMA's. Time and time again I see that they are all repubs. The media is eating them up becuase it makes a story and the media NEEDS a story.

Comment by clintster on 08/23/2008 16:16:14
BTW, last night I took Ian to his first sports event; a preseason NFL game between the Falcons and the Titans. He loved it up to the point when the Falcons scored their first TD, and fireworks went off in the Georgia Dome. He freaked out and said he wanted to go home.



We went, and I listened as the home team won their first preseason game. When I got back, however, Mrs. C informed me that I had to go to her office and get her passport to use as ID at a test she's taking today. She would've gone but she had a pretty strong migraine. I got back in the car and drove all the way back to the ATL to get her passport. Somewhere during the trip, my driver's side windshield wiper stopped working and I had to drive in a drizzle looking out the passenger side. How I made it back home I have no clue.

Comment by livingonli on 08/23/2008 16:22:40
clintster, sounded like you're having that kind of day.

Comment by m-hadley on 08/23/2008 16:23:26
Quote by clintster:

BTW, last night I took Ian to his first sports event; a preseason NFL game between the Falcons and the Titans. He loved it up to the point when the Falcons scored their first TD, and fireworks went off in the Georgia Dome. He freaked out and said he wanted to go home.



We went, and I listened as the home team won their first preseason game. When I got back, however, Mrs. C informed me that I had to go to her office and get her passport to use as ID at a test she's taking today. She would've gone but she had a pretty strong migraine. I got back in the car and drove all the way back to the ATL to get her passport. Somewhere during the trip, my driver's side windshield wiper stopped working and I had to drive in a drizzle looking out the passenger side. How I made it back home I have no clue.




Clintster,

I am just so glad to hear that you did make it home okay - get that wiper fixed asap :)

As much as I enjoy looking at fireworks, I don't enjoy the sound. That was driven home as I sat in my sister's yard on the 4th of July this year and sat through her redneck neighbors "fireworks show" that was nothing but the sound of incoming fire power - we kept on yelling "incoming" and ducking our heads, so I can empathize with Ian :airhump:

Cheers,

mfaye :hug:

Comment by Random on 08/23/2008 16:31:35
Hello everyone!

Random thinks to hard...he going to go back to being a attention something or other.

Comment by Mondobubba on 08/23/2008 16:32:40
I was up kinda late checking the Interwebtubes and there was the announcement on the AIM/AOL site. That was about 3 this morning, the actual announcement was made late last night according to what I read.



As far Biden being beholden to banking guess who else voted for the bankruptcy reform act? Yep Sen. Obama. One of the powerhouses in Illinois is Household/HSBC a big, big big credit card company. Check your wallets, you might have a card they issue. Best Buy, Orchard Bank, GM MasterCard, a whole slew of credit cards with union imprints. All those bloggers in the Midwest they handle the cards for Carson Pirie Scott, Bergners, Younkers, Herbergers. Auto loans, check. Maybe a mortgage? Yeah they are there for that too.



You might be wonder how a bank based in Britain came to own Household? HSBC was looking to expand into the USA. :Wayne's World flashback hand gestures:They are biggest frickin bank in the world but have no footprint in the US. There is Household Bank reeling from the ginormous settlement/fine from an NY Attorney General investigation into their predatory lending practices, the share price in the toilet the rep a shambles. Here comes the multinational juggernaut that is the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank Corp PLC. to the rescue! HSBC bought Household at a fire sale price in 2003 and the rest is history.

Comment by IzzyBitz on 08/23/2008 17:06:34
Biden for Veep? Well, tickle my ass with a feather. I don't know nuthin' bout psychics, but I had this one pegged. I think it's a good choice. He will give the right wing fodder for their ridiculous TV ads, but the other potential candidates have some flaven, too. So tits to the wind and let's win this thing!



My head is fuzzy. I got nuthin'



:gobama: and BIDEN!

Comment by livingonli on 08/23/2008 17:25:34
Good morning Izzy. How was your thing last night?

Comment by Raine on 08/23/2008 17:41:14
heya Clint! glad you got home safe as well!



I am with Izzy! Tits to the Wind! Let's Win this thing!

Comment by Raine on 08/23/2008 17:42:21
you know this means most likely that Bill Richardson will be our next secretary of state!

Comment by livingonli on 08/23/2008 17:46:25
Quote by Raine:

you know this means most likely that Bill Richardson will be our next secretary of state!


That would be a good choice. But, who would be AG if John Edwards is now no longer viable?

Comment by Shane-O on 08/23/2008 17:49:10
Quote by Raine:

Quote by livingonli:

Although if the modern Republican Party is any indication, the right just want power for itself and they want it to enrich themselves and their buddies. The Republican Party these days has moved to embracing full-blown fascism. That's why I believe we need a strong Left in this country to counteract it and move the political discourse away from the Far Right where it's pretty much been for the last two decades.
no doubt about it.



A President Obama will become the leader of the entire nation.. left and right, and that is why the left must always be there to make sure we regain BALANCE in this nation.





Is it balance? Or is it evolution? Political evolution, the slow movements from left, to right and back again?



The Bush years have seen a lurch to the far right - a quick jump to the far left could be equally unpalatable to the majority of Americans who are conservative (SMALL "C"!) (Consider that that is why Republicans constantly try to paint Obama as far left when he clearly is NOT...) The only way to get from where we are now as a nation (politically) to where I'd like it to be (as a left-wing, socialist, ok, "wacko") would be via revolution. And those aren't much fun, to say the least.



Baby-steps away from the far right are needed. That's what Dem's now have. In four years, we can see how much further we can progress.







Comment by Shane-O on 08/23/2008 18:03:11
And, I probably should have reintroduced myself before commenting - I've been a bad 4fer over the last few weeks.



Hi. My name is Shane.

Comment by livingonli on 08/23/2008 18:06:00
Just remember when Reagan was running in 1980, there actually were people who thought he was too far to the right and now the Republican Party is dominated by people even further to the right than Reagan. The perception that Goldwater was too right-wing was the big contributor to his big defeat in 1964 but now he is considered too liberal by today's Christian Right dominated Republican Party.

Comment by Shane-O on 08/23/2008 18:12:09
Quote by livingonli:

Just remember when Reagan was running in 1980, there actually were people who thought he was too far to the right and now the Republican Party is dominated by people even further to the right than Reagan. The perception that Goldwater was too right-wing was the big contributor to his big defeat in 1964 but now he is considered too liberal by today's Christian Right dominated Republican Party.


It call all be explained by the Overton Window.



And that window is very far to the right at this moment in American politics.



See also, the discussion at the Daily Kos on this theory.



...[T]he GOP knows that the middle DOES matter. They know that by playing to their base in very well-crafted ways, they can shift the very definition of what the middle is. By introducing radicalism into the public discourse (and taking initial heat for it), whatever used to be radical within this context becomes moderate by comparison.




Comment by livingonli on 08/23/2008 18:24:48
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/209/480445981_edce25a843_o.gif


Comment by livingonli on 08/23/2008 18:29:00
Quote by Shane-O:

Quote by livingonli:

Just remember when Reagan was running in 1980, there actually were people who thought he was too far to the right and now the Republican Party is dominated by people even further to the right than Reagan. The perception that Goldwater was too right-wing was the big contributor to his big defeat in 1964 but now he is considered too liberal by today's Christian Right dominated Republican Party.


It call all be explained by the Overton Window.



And that window is very far to the right at this moment in American politics.



See also, the discussion at the Daily Kos on this theory.



...[T]he GOP knows that the middle DOES matter. They know that by playing to their base in very well-crafted ways, they can shift the very definition of what the middle is. By introducing radicalism into the public discourse (and taking initial heat for it), whatever used to be radical within this context becomes moderate by comparison.




Then like the right has done for years, the left needs some people on the outside to push the discourse away from the extreme right and show how bad the right-wing policies really are and why we need progressive solutions and not reactionary ones. If progressives had the funding of the think tanks and media the way the right has for the last 30 years, the political discourse in this country wouldn't have been so poisoned and many right-wing policies probably would never have been enacted. This also would have made it difficult for the DLC to have taken control of the Democratic Party and shift it rightward like it did during the Clinton years.

Comment by Shane-O on 08/23/2008 18:39:10
Quote by livingonli:

Quote by Shane-O:

Quote by livingonli:

Just remember when Reagan was running in 1980, there actually were people who thought he was too far to the right and now the Republican Party is dominated by people even further to the right than Reagan. The perception that Goldwater was too right-wing was the big contributor to his big defeat in 1964 but now he is considered too liberal by today's Christian Right dominated Republican Party.


It call all be explained by the Overton Window.



And that window is very far to the right at this moment in American politics.



See also, the discussion at the Daily Kos on this theory.



...[T]he GOP knows that the middle DOES matter. They know that by playing to their base in very well-crafted ways, they can shift the very definition of what the middle is. By introducing radicalism into the public discourse (and taking initial heat for it), whatever used to be radical within this context becomes moderate by comparison.




Then like the right has done for years, the left needs some people on the outside to push the discourse away from the extreme right and show how bad the right-wing policies really are and why we need progressive solutions and not reactionary ones. If progressives had the funding of the think tanks and media the way the right has for the last 30 years, the political discourse in this country wouldn't have been so poisoned and many right-wing policies probably would never have been enacted. This also would have made it difficult for the DLC to have taken control of the Democratic Party and shift it rightward like it did during the Clinton years.


YES! Absolutely - great point!



But should they be the people running for President and Vice-President - in my opinion, no. Not that it wouldn't be great to have that in the White House, but because they wouldn't make it there - in the current political climate.



But Dems running in more progressive districts - damn straight! Other political, non-elected surrogates - you bet! Push the discourse to the left. That's the evolution.



Comment by IzzyBitz on 08/23/2008 18:56:16
USA women win basketball gold! Whoo hoo!



HA! My "thing(ies)" was great last night, Liv. Someone kept filling my glass with wine. I swear it wasn't me.



Tits to the wind. Let's win this thing!



p.s. We need a new Gobama/Biden emoticon. I have no idea how such things are made.

Comment by m-hadley on 08/23/2008 19:27:50
Quote by IzzyBitz:

USA women win basketball gold! Whoo hoo!



HA! My "thing(ies)" was great last night, Liv. Someone kept filling my glass with wine. I swear it wasn't me.



Tits to the wind. Let's win this thing!



p.s. We need a new Gobama/Biden emoticon. I have no idea how such things are made.






G'Day Izzy,

I watched the end of that game and was really impressed with how the US team played :D. I'm watching Biden speak at the moment, and he seems to be hitting all the right (er, correct :P) notes with me, anyway... Are you tuning in???

Cheers,

mfaye

:hug: & :peace:



Comment by Random on 08/23/2008 19:50:22
I wanna vote for Biden!

Comment by Shane-O on 08/23/2008 19:53:37
Quote by Random:

I wanna vote for Biden!


Post-game - just drop the word "literally" and he's good to go...



Seven kitchen tables... So great to have a big, passionate, gun.



Comment by m-hadley on 08/23/2008 20:00:45
Quote by Random:

I wanna vote for Biden!




Random,

You can - that's the beauty of it: Vote for an Obama, get a Biden for free :P

Cheers,

mfaye





Comment by livingonli on 08/23/2008 21:40:52
So, now who will Grampy have? Mitt "millions" Romney. Joe "you complete me" LIEberman. Or will it be Bobby "crazy exorcist" Tyndall? Or a surprise pick like Adolf "9-11" Ghouliani?