Happy New Year again

.=.=.=.=.=
Jamesbennett

We were adopted, weren't we?
____
"Religion is regarded by the common people as true; by the wise as false; and by the rulers as useful." -Seneca 4-65 CE
----
One election at a time...

I suppose Kansas looks pretty good...
Submitted by Chubby Bubba on Tue, 01/01/2008 - 4:20pm.
if you're in Missouri!
---------
I oppose self-righteous regionalism for the same reason that I oppose self-righteous religionism.

There have been disturbing people and things everywhere that I have resided.

No single place was "God's Country". Last I checked, God's country is Heaven and the upstate returns haven't arrived.

(That said, warmer climes have an edge.)

disturbing people and things everywhere that I have resided.

Submitted by Crank Bait

So...the only thing that these `disturbing people' and (so-called/alleged) `things' have in common is you observed them?

I'm no Sherlock Holmes, but...

I forgot how sensitive you all can be. I didn't mean no offence, Ma'am.

Show was at 1 eastern... Audio in Open Mic now.

USER NAV

can we all just agree that we're better than New Jersey?

Does that make eberyone happy?

that should be eberybody...not eberyone...

I'm visiting my parents. My dad had been a democrat his whole life after moving out (he was from a faith-healing christian scientist family). He did anti-vietnam war activity really early in '64 etc. But then he started listening to Rush Limbaugh about three months after I moved out of the house, and totally philosophically transformed. He keeps shipping me stupid books from his book club, and is subscribing to 'Commentary' (a neoconservative journal), and this is silly because he doesn't even support foreign interventions, but seems to be hypnotized by the anti-arab racism.

Anyway, I saw he is getting the Washington Times, and he was trying to show me some article where they are explaining the housing bubble by blaming forces other than conservatives. I told him it is a 'moonie paper', and he got angry and acted like that is a conspiracy theory. It's the same thing with the christian science monitor - they don't peddle the religion in the newspaper but it is owned by the church.

my sense of humor to day...

I'll have to call customer service when they open. I wonder if my subscription lapsed?

appoligies
haven't been a regular reader and poster in the past week
been working on a photoshop project and learning zazzle
Slept through New Years... eyes so tired still can't see straight -- giving my visual project a break.
Off to Tempe for a New Years cocktail.
.=.=.=.=.=
Jamesbennett

some of us are still struggling with the ringing effects of a late hangover.

Did you get a computer CB?
USER NAV

holidays
new
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 01/01/2008 - 5:22pm.
==
caller said he was an Edwards supporter but would support mit if Edwards wasn't a choice.

what?...
.=.=.=.=.=
Jamesbennett

just using the one on my desk.

I haven't had much spare time to blog with lately.

Submitted by Chubby Bubba on Tue, 01/01/2008 - 5:09pm.
--------
Nice try but no see-gar.

For instance, during my time in the Caribbean I participated fully as a resident. Yet most residents of any ilk (color, creed, place of origin) complained of the same things.

Those were: Theft (it's a poverty/Third World thing), corruption (ditto), lack of water (it's an island thing), and the unavailability of good jobs.

Shift gears to residing in Missouri. I am in a rural, Bible Belt/Conservative portion of the state. You can fill in the blanks without needing more information about the pluses and minuses.

Shift gears to residing in Houston, Texas. Surely you can guess several of the negatives that disturb residents of Houston, Texas? Similarly, the positives can be found in any big city.

Nothing about anywhere makes it the best or the worst place to live. I can tell you wonderful things about where I live in Missouri and about where I lived in the Caribbean and Texas (and Kansas and Oklahoma and Florida), but I would never attempt to convince you that any of those places are inherently better than the rest of the choices on your plate (no tectonic pun intended).

People who endlessly brag about where they live, or who unrelentingly complain about where they live, are reflecting something more about their circumstances than the geographical location.

And I am not intending to be trite though it might seem so. Sometimes, things don't work out in a location and subsequently leave a sour taste in the mouth (or, otherwise).

My intent is to state that there do not exist absolutely better or absolutely worse coordinates on the planet.

yeah, this early in the cycle there are a lot of people who really don't know anything about the candidates.

my nephew said he liked Ron Paul...until I informed him that Paul is the most anti-universal coverage than all the candidates.

... better or absolutely worse coordinates on the planet.

I still contend you are to blame for all these "disturbing people and things."

Dozens killed in Baghdad blast
The attack occured at a funeral in the east of Baghdad
At least 30 people have been killed after a suicide bomb attack at a funeral in Baghdad.
Another 38 people were wounded on Tuesday in what is one of the deadliest attack in the Iraqi capital for several months. http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/49D1E9DD-4A7E-47EC-8F8E-47ADA6610...

I remember now a column from January 2006:
Molly Ivins: Not. backing. Hillary.

Enough. Enough triangulation, calculation and equivocation. Enough clever straddling, enough not offending anyone This is not a Dick Morris election. Sen. Clinton is apparently incapable of taking a clear stand on the war in Iraq, and that alone is enough to disqualify her. Her failure to speak out on Terri Schiavo, not to mention that gross pandering on flag-burning, are just contemptible little dodges.
The recent death of Gene McCarthy reminded me of a lesson I spent a long, long time unlearning, so now I have to re-learn it. It's about political courage and heroes, and when a country is desperate for leadership. There are times when regular politics will not do, and this is one of those times. There are times a country is so tired of bull that only the truth can provide relief.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/20/ivins.hillary/index.html

Something is clearly wrong with
Submitted by Chubby Bubba on Tue, 01/01/2008 - 5:24pm.
my sense of humor to day...
I'll have to call customer service when they open. I wonder if my subscription lapsed?
----------
--Brrrinnng. Brrrinnng.--

Customer Service: "Jello. Kost-toomer Ser-face."
Rajah: "Yes. Hello. My sense of humor broke."
CS: "Yast, sir. Which version do you half?"
Rajah: "I don't know? It was pre-installed."
CS: "Half you rebooted yourself?"
Rajah: "I've kicked myself from here to Kingdom Come. Nothing's worked."
CS: "King's Damn Come?"
Rajah: "It's what's you call your 'idiom'."
CS: "This hiss no reason for name-calling, sir."
Rajah: "No. I mean, it means 'Heaven'."
CS: "So, reincarnation hisn't goot enough for you?"
Rajah: "What?"
CS: "Never mind. Have you tried a rubber chicken?"
Rajah: "Wha-a-at?"
CS: "To test your humor, sir."
Rajah: "That's funny!"
CS: "Hiss there anything more I can do for you today, sir?"
Rajah: "[Ha. Chuckle.] No. The rubber chicken did the trick. Thanks."
CS: "We are happy to be off service, sir. Call again, anytime. Bye."
Rajah: "Bye."
Rajah (to himself): "[Ha.] Rubber chicken! Why didn't I think of that?"

Thank you for posting Randy Newman's latest, Mire!

"Mankind must put an end to war or war will put an end to mankind." - John F. Kennedy

oh lord, now my dad wants me to watch the 'Global Warming Swindle' BBC documentary which supposedly debunks Al Gore. He also wants me to stop multitasking on the computer and pay attention

Kucinich Backs Obama in Second Round of Iowa Caucus
Tue Jan 1, 3:07 PM ET
The NATION
-- Barack Obama got a boost among progressive Democrats in Iowa today when Dennis Kucinich announced that he was asking his supporters to back Obama in the second round of voting at the caucus.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20080101/cm_thenation/45264482

Global Warming Scrimmage.

The important thing to remember about the issue is, the consequences of being wrong.

If one answer is wrong it leads to calamity. If its not already to late.

The other answer being wrong leads to a sustainable energy economy a little to early, In a post peak oil world.

Global Warming Scrimmage.

The important thing to remember about the issue is, the consequences of being wrong.

If one answer is wrong it leads to calamity. If its not already to late.

The other answer being wrong leads to a sustainable energy economy a little to early, In a post peak oil world.

Submitted by B_Rad_N_Green on Tue, 01/01/2008 - 6:59pm.
...The other answer being wrong leads to a sustainable energy economy a little to early in a post peak oil world.
---------------------
Fuck. You mean that we might waste our national effort on being ahead of the game? What? Are you CRAZY?

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 01/01/2008 - 6:30pm.
oh lord, now my dad wants me to watch the 'Global Warming Swindle' BBC documentary which supposedly debunks Al Gore...
-----
Give him a terrarium. Tell him that he can squirt anything into it he so chooses.

If it is still alive in one year, you can talk. If not, you can talk.

Yippee! My Little Girl & her hubby just landed at JFK & will be at Ronkonkoma at 8:30 for p/u.

They're our xmas presents for my Muff & I. Two weeks of the whole family together!

*beams*

*

Sammer: Thanks for all you do. We "regulars" will try to keep a lid on the place. That's if we're not the ones trying to pop it off. *snark*

Myla has tres excellent taste in ballet. Take it from a dad who's been thru it: Dance classes & recitials for your daughter are a great investment in her future. Poise, posture & self-confidence are just some of the many attributes Myla will derive from dance classes.

Having two libbie parents like you & Nikki is a big plus, too. ; )

I'm beaming too. My daughter just came home from registering in her first semester of college.

USER NAV

that we don't know?

Any thoughts on why Kucinich is backing Obama and not Edwards?

Run time: 02:28

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9AH-ufAkCU

Free Democracy

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flppearl0101pnjan01...

Couple Finds Rare Purple Pearl In Meal Of Steamed Clams

Lavender gem may be worth thousands
By Rhonda J. Miller | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
January 1, 2008

...Sure, it was the tail end of 2007 when George discovered the beautifully round, lavender pearl in a mouthful of his lunch of steamed middleneck clams on Friday. It dropped out with a plunk into the garlic-butter broth when he thought it was a dental emergency, and had to be fished out and cleaned off...

---------------------------
In 1971 I found a purple clam in a steamy Pearl. It was priceless.

Flake, say or do anything for attention

I remember finding my Aunt Pearl...she was purple and clammy...

Huckabee Too Busy Keeping Up With ‘Britney’ Gossip To Follow Foreign Policy

In an interview with the Quad-City Times yesterday, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee tried to make excuses for his lack of foreign policy knowledge and his ignorance on the most recent National Intelligence Estimate on Iran. He compared the NIE to gossip about Britney Spears, saying he just can’t “keep up with every single thing“:

The point I’m trying to make is that, on the campaign trail, nobody’s going to be able, if they’ve been campaigning as hard as we have been, to keep up with every single thing, from what happened to Britney last night to who won “Dancing with the Stars.”...

"If God did not exist, it would be necessary to create him".- Voltaire

I support much of Kucinich's platform. But it is obvious that he does not have a chance in the electoral arena. What is he getting, %1 in Iowa. If he wants to do more than "go through the motions," DK needs to push a grassroots/streets component.

Jesse Jackson's 2 presidential runs brought in lots of people, and he shook the hell out of the Democrats in 1988. Why can't DK even come close to Jackson's successes?

Flake, say or do anything for attention

You sound like Peter Dragon. I still like Kucinich. I believe his progressive politics are sincere. But why is his campaign not resonating. He gets huge support from netrooters--until poll numbers are released. Do you notice that Hillary get very little support from the netroots, but she is in a good position to win the nomination.

running for VP now?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9V5aUU4hNE

is playing to a crowd. I like him on paper but I think it is just paper. Nobody is going to take him as a VP, maybe an ambassadorship to somewhere unimportant. He'll need a job.

Dave Barry pens the retrospective "An Inconvenient Year." News junkies should not drink milk while reading the following excerpts, let alone the entire piece:
--------
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/21/AR200712...

...In other February action, Democrats in the House of Representatives, after a large amount of talking, pass a nonbinding resolution sternly ordering President Bush to get out of Iraq, unless, of course, he chooses not to. Over in the Senate, Democrats try to pass a nonbinding resolution that would not bind the president to the same course of action that the House resolution did not bind him to. But that one fails, leaving the president, according to political observers, somewhat less nonbound than he might otherwise have been...

...Abroad, French transit workers attempt to end a strike, only to discover that they have forgotten how to operate the trains. Everybody enjoys a hearty laugh and returns to the cafe...

...But the big story on the GOP side is former senator or governor of some state Mike (or possibly Bob) Huckabee, who surges ahead in the polls because (a) nobody knows anything about him, and (b) it's fun to say "Huckabee." Huckabee Huckabee Huckabee.

In Washington, President Bush proposes to ease the subprime mortgage crisis via a two-pronged program consisting of interest rate freezes and water-boarding. Outraged congressional Democrats promise to pass a nonbinding resolution containing language so strong that nobody will be able to look directly at it without sunglasses...

....

The group National Popular Vote has developed an ingenious path around this constitutional obstruction (the electoral college) : States can pass legislation mandating that all of their presidential electoral votes go to the winner of the national popular vote--regardless of the election outcome in their own state.

See David Sirota's article at
http://action.credomobile.com/commentary/2007/12/the_path_to_a_national_...

___
brr

Dave Barry speaks directly to toniD:
-----
...On the economic front, the dollar continued to lose value against all major foreign currencies and most brands of bathroom tissue. There was a major collapse in the credit market, caused by the fact that for most of this decade, every other radio commercial has been some guy selling mortgages to people who clearly should not have mortgages. ("No credit? No job? On death row? No problem!") It got so bad that you couldn't let your dog run loose because it would come home with a mortgage. The subprime mortgage fiasco resulted in huge stock market losses, and the executives responsible, under the harsh rules of Wall Street justice, were forced to accept lucrative retirement packages...

Recall Florida

2003, 55 mins

Directed by Greta Schiller
Produced by Hunter Reno, Greta Schiller, Andrea Weiss
Written and Edited by Andrea Weiss

Available in VHS, DVD

Recall Florida starts out as a road movie, following former Attorney General Janet Reno as she takes to the wheel of her red pick-up truck and cruises the backroads and byways of Florida in her recent bid for Governor. As Primary Day draws near, and the state Democratic Party strenuously opposes her candidacy, the documentary turns into a story on a fundamental right in crisis -- the right to vote and have that vote counted. Recall Florida takes the audience behind the scenes, into the nerve center of a grassroots political campaign, to provide a fascinating inside look at -- and raise very serious questions about -- the election process itself.

Sounds like an interesting movie. Anybody see it here?

Bloggers accuse Obama of slamming Gore, Kerry
Jason Rhyne

Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) is being taken to task by liberal bloggers, who say the candidate unfairly criticized former Democratic presidential nominees John Kerry and Al Gore while campaigning Monday in Iowa.

Bloggers are pointing to Obama comments, as reported by New York Newsday's Spin Cycle and ABC's Political Punch, which seem to suggest that the senator feels Kerry and Gore were divisive candidates that did not attract broad support during their presidential campaigns in 2004 and 2000, respectively.

"I don't want to go into the next election starting off with half the country already not wanting to vote for Democrats," said Obama, as reported by ABC. "We've done that in 2004 and 2000. 47 percent of the country on one side, 47 percent of the country on the other...We don't need another one of those elections."

While some Obama supporters have complained that the articles cited by bloggers were taking their candidate's words out of context, a third -- and seemingly more complete -- account of the comments in the Chicago Sun-Times does seem to indicate Obama offered mild criticism of Gore and Kerry.

"After sustained cheers, laughter and applause," reports the Sun-Times, "Obama added that he would hope to win over enough independents and Republicans in the general election that, 'We aren't going to have 47 percent on one side, 47 percent on the other side, 5 percent in the middle and they all live in Ohio and Florida so you only campaign in two states.'"

The Obama campaign did not immediately respond to a RAW STORY request for comment.

In a Tuesday post at the left-leaning Daily Kos, site founder Markos Moulitsas sharply rebuked Obama for what he characterized as an attack on party allies.

"Psst, Barack, slamming John Kerry and Al Gore is what Republicans do. Not Democrats," wrote Moulitsas. "Last time I checked, Gore won his election. And really, is Obama going to argue now that the nation was divide because of the Democrats' fault? Is that the latest right-wing talking point he wants to peddle?"

Writing at Hullaballoo, Digby suggested the remarks possibly pointed to an Obama electoral strategy.

More Here:

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Bloggers_accuse_Obama_of_slamming_Gore_010...

So do you think Kucinich will lose his congressional seat? I heard something about a Democratic challenger. "Dennis has been ignoring his constituency." I have no way of knowing the outcome, nor do I have anything to gain on either side.

"I don't want to go into the next election starting off with half the country already not wanting to vote for Democrats," said Obama, as reported by ABC. "We've done that in 2004 and 2000. 47 percent of the country on one side, 47 percent of the country on the other...We don't need another one of those elections."
Does this mean that Barack is setting to do the triangulation thing? "Make NAFTA work for everyone."
Oh please don't do that.

One solution may be to get the vast numbers of non-voters to the polls. What is it, more than half of the eligible do not vote. Why don't they cast ballots?

I like the way he talks. It is ok with me if he seems like a flake to you. I think we need more flakes that talk like him. He has had a tremendous impact on the conversation about America and I have way too much respect for that accomplishment to say "on paper".

USER NAV

I am not there to know but the feeling that I get is DK is something like Rudy now, unbeloved on his home turf. I have a feeling his presidential balloon is not going over there and I don't see him wanting to go back to Ohio if he is not in Congress.

Might be the frosting on the cake for me re Obama.

He does seem to be using the right wing language.

He's either bery naive or is trying to be centrist to get the votes.

If he's playing the public, I want nothing to do with him!

UNLV study finds gambling addiction treatable with heroin

.=.=.=.=.=
Jamesbennett

And the question remains: Why did Kucinich throw his support to Obama--and not Edwards? (Or what did he actually say? I have not looked it up yet.)

Kucinich urges supporters to back Obama on second Iowa ballot

Adam Doster

Presidential candidates usually urge their supporters to back a rival after they exit the race officially. But one long-shot Democrat is telling his flock to consider another even before the first vote is tallied.

Dennis Kucinich is suggesting his backers throw their second ballots to Illinois Senator Barack Obama if the Ohio congressman doesn't reach the all-important 15 percent threshold.

"I hope Iowans will caucus for me as their first choice this Thursday, because of my singular positions on the war, on health care, and trade. This is an opportunity for people to stand up for themselves," said Kucinich in a press release. "But in those caucus locations where my support doesn't reach the necessary threshold, I strongly encourage all of my supporters to make Barack Obama their second choice. Sen. Obama and I have one thing in common: Change."

Obama was pleased with the development. "I have a lot of respect for Congressman Kucinich, and I’m honored that he has done this, because we both believe deeply in the need for fundamental change," he said in a statement. "He and I have been fighting for a number of the same priorities -- including an end to the war in Iraq that we both opposed from the start, reforming Washington and creating a better life for America's working families."

The unique mechanics of the Iowa caucus could make this endorsement important. For a candidate to receive any delegates from a specific precinct, he or she must garner the support of at least the percentage of participants required by the "viability threshold," most often 15 percent of participating causus-goers. Once candidates are determined unviable, their supporters can realign, shifting their vote to another politico in the race. And the small size of the caucus population means every vote counts.

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Kucinich_urges_supporters_to_back_Obama_01...

In 2004, Kucinich was not expected to earn many delegates, but made a late deal with Senator John Edwards, helping boost the North Carolina underdog to a second place finish. Kucinich won 1.3 percent while Edwards netted 31.8 percent.

Kucinich made sure to remind voters that his advocation of Obama was limited to Iowa. "This is obviously an 'Iowa- only' recommendation, as Sen. Obama and I are competing in the New Hampshire primary next Tuesday where I want to be the first choice of New Hampshire voters," he said.

Obama received equally encouraging news last night. The Des Moines Register’s final poll of Iowa caucus-goers showed the Illinois Democrat ahead of Senator Hillary Clinton and the rest of the field by seven percentage points. However, a new CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll -- released Tuesday -- shows Clinton with a two point advantage over her rival as the caucus nears.

According to the New York Times, Obama was optimistic on the stump today. “I think 2008 is going to be a good year," he said. "That’s what I think. I think some big things might happen in 2008.”

Read the whole story HERE.

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Kucinich_urges_supporters_to_back_Obama_01...

For the record:

Obama did oppose the bankruptcy bill.

Senator Obama voted AGAINST the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005

(S. 256 which became Public Law No: 109-8).

Vote summary -

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm...

--------------

Floor Statement of Senator Barack Obama on S. 256,

the Bankruptcy Abuse and Prevention Act of 2005 -

http://obama.senate.gov/speech/050228-floor_statement/

--------------------

Bankruptcy Bill Said to Hit Poorest Americans Hardest

Civil rights groups also have rallied to oppose the new law, formally called the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005.

Link:

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0312-03.htm

----------------

However, Obama did vote "Nay" on the following amendment:

Amendment Number: S. Amdt. 31 to S. 256

Statement of Purpose:

To limit the amount of interest that can be charged on any extension of credit to 30 percent.

Link:

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm...

------------

[For the record:
I don't agree with Obama's vote on the amendment. I don't know if Obama voted against it for the reason he indicated.]

Nader throws support to Edwards

By: David Paul Kuhn

MUSCATINE, Iowa — Ralph Nader unleashed on Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton Monday — criticizing her for being soft on defense spending and a chum of big business — and expressed his strong support for John Edwards.

In an eleventh hour effort to encourage liberal Iowans to "recognize" the former North Carolina senator by "giving him a victory," the activist and former presidential contender said in an interview that Clinton will "pander to corporate interest groups" if elected.

Nader specifically accused Clinton of failing to challenge military spending because "she is a woman who doesn't want to be labeled as soft on defense, and she doesn't want to be shown as taking on big business."

As Clinton campaigned through a snowstorm in southeast Iowa, pledging to "bring about the changes we need," Nader accused the Democratic senator from New York of using empty rhetoric.

"[Clinton] has not led the way against the avalanche of military contracting, corporate crime, fraud and abuse," he said. "We want to inform the people of Iowa about Hillary Clinton because all the focus is on, do they have the experience and do they have the personal charisma, and can they cross the aisle" Nader said.

"The issue is corporate power and who controls our political system and it's not who has experience for six years or two years," he said, alluding to an ongoing debate over experience between Clinton and freshman Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7647.html

Why is it that many people thought that Obama voted for the bankuptcy bill?

Was it that amendment that confused people?

That 30% cap is still too high. There were caps of 5% over prime for credit card companies at one point. I believe ir was during the Reagan admin that it was changed.

Submitted by toniD on Tue, 01/01/2008 - 9:55pm.
...That 30% cap is still too high...
----------
toniD,

I think you misread the amendment. It provides for 30% or a kneecap.

Is Obama Really Ahead in Iowa?
By: Jane Hamsher Tuesday January 1, 2008 3:11 pm

There has been much gnashing of the new DMR poll that puts Obama at 32%, Hillary Clinton at 25% and Edwards at 24%. Everyone has an opinion but most people who voice problems with the poll do so based on the fact that they estimate 60% of the caucus goers will be first timers. It's summed up well by desmoinesdem at th Iowa Independent:

ARG had Clinton up by 14, DMR has Obama up by 7.

At least one of those is an outlier, and probably both are, given the number of other polls showing all three candidates within the margin of error.

Two things jumped out at me regarding the DMR poll. One, it predicts that 60 percent of Democratic caucus-goers will be first-timers. I find that simply impossible to believe. I've been working my precinct, where we had 175 at the 2004 caucus. I have found very, very few people who attended in 2004 and do not plan to caucus again.

If 60 percent of the caucus-goers are new, that would suggest a turnout in my precinct of at least 300 people. Seems impossible.

Also, the DMR projects that 40 percent of Democratic caucus-goers will be independents who changed their registration and 5 percent will be Republicans who changed their registration. In 2004 those numbers were 19 percent and 1 percent, respectively.

Obama's lead comes entirely from an assumed unprecedented turnout of first-time caucus-goers, independents and Republicans. I am not buying it, but we'll all find out on Thursday night.

Big Tent Democrat does the math and concludes that if Obama truly if the DMR model is correct and Obama is truly ahead, the majority of his support is not from Democrats. Which is probably one of the reasons he feels at liberty to engage in wink-wink, nudge-nudge derision of them in an appeal to more conservative voters.

Obama gets some help today when Kucinich tells his supporters to vote for Obama on the second ballot.

Meanwhile, Mark Ambinder explains why the importance of John Edwards' lead as a second-choice among likely caucus goers is important.

Tonight's big event will be the Huck'n'Chuck, when Huckabee trots out Chuck Norris to stump for him. Not to be outdone, Edwards has just announced that tomorrow night John Cougar-Mellencamp will appear at a "This Is Our Country" rally at the Val Air Ballroom.

http://firedoglake.com/2008/01/01/is-obama-really-ahead-in-iowa/

I wonder who will do the best job of fact checking during the caucus.

I wonder who will have an inadvertent blunder.

I wonder which candidate will reject an endorsement.

Don't think I'm gonna make it to the primaries with so much anticipation.

USER NAV

but does the criticism of Obama over the bankruptcy bill derive from his cloture vote?

Endgame:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN0oXalNQ1Q

Joe Trippi: Sit and Spin
By: Jane Hamsher Tuesday January 1, 2008 10:30 am

Joe Trippi breezed into a restaurant back room last night filled with several tables full of journalists and grabbed a chair.

"Obama is slamming Gore and Kerry," he said at a volume nobody could have missed before even taking his seat. "If he's this negative when he's on top, I'd hate to see what he does when he's behind."

Trippi was quite obviously spinning the Des Moines Register poll that had come out just shortly before he arrived, which put Barack Obama ahead of the pack and outside the margin of error with 32% of likely caucus voters to Hillary Clinton's 25% and Edwards' 24%. The poll, with its large sampling and local affiliation, commands the kind of respect that few others do and journalists in the room were already consumed with critiquing it.

But I was curious about the Gore comment, having just received an email of a blog post that said virtually the same thing only moments before:

Making an argument for his electability, Obama said, "I don't want to go into the next election starting off with half the country already not wanting to vote for Democrats -- we've done that in 2004, 2000," according to a person at the event (rush transcript).

It came from a blog post on Newsday, and if true had very bad optics for Obama. Not only would it play poorly with people who have strong affections for Gore and Kerry and bitter memories of what happened in those elections, but it reflected that his internals were probably showing quite different than the Register poll suggested. They weren't the comments of a candidate confident in his lead.

But the sourcing was dubious. It was second-hand and unconfirmed, the kind of stuff that gets floated past journalists and bloggers alike and in the final days before the caucus something everyone should be skeptical of without confirmation.

So I went up to the table, introduced myself to Trippi as a blogger for firedoglake and the Huffington Post and asked him about his Obama comment. Where had Obama made the comment? Who heard him? Was there a video?

Trippi said that it was just something he'd heard, and that it was my job to track it down if I wanted confirmation. I told him that was what I was trying to do in asking him.

I showed him the Newsday story on my treo and asked him if that was his source, and told him that running without more confirmation was dicey. He said he really didn't care about the story that much.

laughed and said he'd walked in the room and said at top volume for the benefit of the forty journalists sitting there and had repeated it several times, so obviously he cared about it very much. He said he knew it was true because he'd just been with a bunch of people who were talking about it and they said it was true.

I went back to my table, because that was clearly all I was going to get. But shortly thereafter, Jake Tapper confirmed the story with a direct quote and an attributed source:

In an argument about his electability, Obama compared himself favorably with Sen. Hillary Clinton who is viewed negatively by nearly half the country. Obama is viewed far more favorably by independents and Republicans.

Then he said, per ABC News' Sunlen Miller, "I don't want to go into the next election starting off with half the country already not wanting to vote for Democrats. We've done that in 2004 and 2000. 47 percent of the country on one side, 47 percent of the country on the other . . . We don't need another one of those elections."

Trippi walked into a room full of journalists and spread a story that didn't seem to have much verification for. He got lucky, this one happened to be true, and Barack Obama trashing Al Gore will be the story. But if it hadn't, the way he had interjected it into the collective media wisdom would have meant that there wouldn't be much accountability. There was no downside.

http://firedoglake.com/2008/01/01/joe-trippi-sit-and-spin/

My Vote 1/8/08
by MissLaura
Tue Jan 01, 2008 at 12:32:10 PM PST
Don't call it an endorsement - I have a preference I feel I should be open about, but in the final analysis it's just me. I'm explaining myself, not trying to convince anyone else.

Things I know:

Any of the Democratic candidates (not counting Mike Gravel) would make a fine president. Several could be presidents to be proud of; who knows, even great ones.

On Tuesday, January 8, I will have to vote for one candidate only in the New Hampshire primary.

Being an indecisive person confronted with several choices with much to recommend them and some things to be held against them is a kind of hell.

In the end, my answer is the same as it was in the beginning: Ever-questioning, but nonetheless identifiable, for John Edwards. Here is a bit of my thinking, stripped as much as possible of reference to the other candidates I still would support enthusiastically in a general election. Qualities that appeal to me in Edwards are not necessarily missing in other candidates, but I feel them most strongly from him.

While I could cite specific Edwards policy positions that draw me (healthcare comes immediately to mind), the tipping point for me lies in the style of politics he espouses and has built into his campaign.

I feel a deep urgency about this election. I feel it as someone who recently spent two years with inadequate health insurance, learning the kind of fear you live with every day. I feel it as I watch our dwindling New England winters. I feel it when I read about death after death in Iraq, and torture inflicted by our government.

John Edwards is the candidate I see expressing that same sense of urgency.

I believe, as a general principle and particularly with regard to the Republican party as it now is, that change requires struggle. Powerful institutions will have to be dragged kicking and screaming even into policies that are overwhelmingly popular with the American people.

John Edwards is the candidate I see committing to that struggle, acknowledging how hard he will need to fight for his agenda, and asking for voters to be partners in that.

I believe that electoral politics must be joined with movement politics, and in recent years, no national-level politician has been as committed to the labor movement as John Edwards. Labor is of particular interest to me, but the simple fact of movement involvement is as important to me as the specific issue. And not just working with issue groups, but working with groups in which members, not bureaucrats, set the agenda and create the energy.

More here:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/1/153210/0731/59/428108

MSNBC’s Iowa Coverage: Lock Up!
By: John Amato @ 5:45 PM - PST

CNN and FOX Noise are delivering a ton of politics today even though it’s a holiday because the Iowa caucus is in overdrive mode. I flipped on to see who MSNBC had working the network today and guess what I saw? Repeats of Lockup, Lockup, Lockup, Lockup…Holman—Alabama…

That’s ground breaking political coverage for you…

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/01/01/msnbcs-iowa-coverage-lock-up/

I watched it for a little while after Oberman one night. I can't say that it held my interest.

But it does make me think about how many inmates are sitting in their cells watching the documetary Lockup series

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElQ3xUxSBiU

*

How are you? How's everything going?

their choice in public...Personally I think they'd have been better off remaining silent on this...For now anyway...

Vegetable Egg Foo Yung...it was good...but not going surpass Mexican food to me...

I was real busy at the temp job the last month or 2.

never had chinese food?

I don't get it!

Is that job over? I saw you mention you were going back to school?

That's good.

Star Vox
Submitted by toniD on Tue, 01/01/2008 - 9:55pm.

Why is it that many people thought that Obama voted for the bankruptcy bill?

Was it that amendment that confused people?

_______________

I think there are several reasons.

"The Media!" and Obama's vote on the separate amendment are the main reasons.

Obama was attacked for his vote on the amendment.

The netroots, progressives, and consumer groups voiced their disapproval of his vote on the amendment.

Obama said that he had problems with the technicalities of the amendment and it was poorly written.

(Would Obama have voted for the legislation if it had been written better? This is the question.)

Then some folks lumped Obama's vote against the bankruptcy bill with his vote against the amendment (although the votes were entirely different).

The other reason is that the legislative process can be complicated and complex with the many versions of legislation and separate amendments attached to it.

It's confusing and challenging to understand.

Voting is taken out of context -- especially in elections.

Because Obama voted against the amendment, he was attacked and the media joined in.

The media made it worse. Obama went to some length to respond to the bad media coverage and clarify his voting record.

I hope this helps.

p.s. I am glad that you are feeling better, toniD. I especially hope you have a healthy year. Best wishes, toniD!

Happy New Year to everyone!

-----------

Here’s an interesting article by Sirota about Obama.

Link:

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060626/sirota

Try the veggies in garlic sauce next time. I really like that over vegetable fried rice.

Senator Obama Voting - Clarification
Submitted by Star Vox on Tue, 01/01/2008 - 9:36pm.
==
good use of the medium

.=.=.=.=.=
Jamesbennett

And may the New Year bring you peace and joy.

I really should have checked his voting record myself instead of taking the word of the media. My bad on that one.

I ate Chinese food for the first time today...
Submitted by Alice on Tue, 01/01/2008 - 10:59pm.
--------
One hour later, you're a Chinese food virgin all over again.

would bring it home when I was little...

*
They did have broccoli in garlic, T. and that did sound good. I've eaten veggie eggs rolls a couple times when I'm forced into a Chinese place...but never had an entree til today...now I see in a recipe book that you can 'foo yung' just about anything... :)

http://peaceandfreedom.org/

Here are the names of the candidates whose names have been accepted by California's Secretary of State to appear on the Peace and Freedom Party primary ballot. They are listed below in reverse alphabetical order below:

Dwight Welch
Ralph Nader
Linda McKinney
Cynthia McKinney
Brian P. Moore
Gloria La Riva
Stanley Hetz
Mary Alice Herbert
John Crockford
Eric Thomas Chester
Stewart A. Alexander

We also plan to run candidates for other offices in the state, including congressional representatives. These candidates will be running in the June 2008 primary for the November 2008 ballot. Check back later, and you will find additional information as our candidates file their candidacy papers.

To find out more about Peace and Freedom Party, please check the tabs at the left side of this page and at the top.

Working for a brighter tomorrow,
Debra Reiger
State Chair
Peace and Freedom Party of California

http://thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=322

Shouting Across the Divide

A Muslim woman persuades her husband that their family would be happier if they left the West Bank and moved to America. They do, and things are good...until September 11. After that, the elementary school their daughter goes to begins using a textbook that says Muslims want to kill Christians. This and other stories of what happens when Muslims and non-Muslims try to communicate, and misfire.

Prologue.

In the 1930s, the designer of the U.S. Supreme Court made a frieze to adorn the courtroom walls. It depicted eighteen great lawgivers through ages, including Moses, Solon, Confucius...and Muhammad. The only problem is that Islam forbids such portrayals of the prophet. Host Ira Glass talks to Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, about why the frieze is offensive to Muslims, and what they tried to do about it. (7 minutes)

Act One. Which One of These Is Not Like the Others?

Serry and her husband's love story began in a place not usually associated with romance: the West Bank. That was where the couple met, fell in love and decided to get married. Then Serry, who was American, convinced her Palestinian husband to move to America. She promised him that in America their children would never encounter prejudice or strife of any kind. But things didn't quite work out that way. This American Life producer Alix Spiegel tells the story. (33 minutes)

Act Two. America, the Ad Campaign.

The New York advertising agency where Shalom Auslander works got an assignment from the State Department back in 2001: sell American values to the Muslim world. Now they just have to figure out exactly what to say to millions of people they know absolutely nothing about. Shalom is the author of a book of stories called Beware of God. (15 minutes)

Song: "Walk a Mile," Holly Golightly

Hiya James!

You're right, SV is great and finding specific information...

This is the place that sued Michael Savage, I think.

Crank - no worries on offending me with regard to my former bigness. Nobody shoved that fruitcake, those brownies, that fudge, those Big Macs, the chips and salsa, the steak, mashed potatoes and gravy or the roast with potatoes and carrots down my throat. I got myself there and I fixed the problem :-)

As for tits - I said what men think *with*, not *of*. ;-)

rule # 2 violation!

rule # 2 violation!

rule # 2 violation!

I would never get cranky with anyone who dissed Kansas OR Missouri, although I read today in the paper that if I want to wait 30 seconds less in the checkout line, I need to head for the border and the rest of ya'll need to go pay Crank Bait a visit, because nationwide, Missouri has THE shortest checkout wait time in the nation. Missouri is the fastest state in the U.S. with an average wait time of 2:52 across 10 industries

http://www.mysteryshop.org/wait/

Violation? Are the Seder police coming to get me?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM-Hdn7h7tU#GU5U2spHI_4

Marcel talking about geography with people on the streets of the Bay Area; Stanford University, Los Gatos Farmers Market, Alum Rock Library - San Jose, and Books Inc. Cafe - Mountain View.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42304632@N00/62435797/

Great bit there, grischa - I had no idea about that..my grandparents lived there when I was growing up...

Just sayin'.

2008 - A Year to Forget, by John Ross

Let’s Toast to Ten Good Things About 2007
by Medea Benjamin

Part 1, by Kim Petersen and B.J. Sabri

Tariq Ali - more..1/1/08

...
Some of us had hoped that, with her death, the People's Party might start a new chapter. After all, one of its main leaders, Aitzaz Ahsan, president of the Bar Association, played a heroic role in the popular movement against the dismissal of the chief justice. Mr Ahsan was arrested during the emergency and kept in solitary confinement. He is still under house arrest in Lahore. Had Benazir been capable of thinking beyond family and faction she should have appointed him chairperson pending elections within the party. No such luck.

The result almost certainly will be a split in the party sooner rather than later. Mr Zardari was loathed by many activists and held responsible for his wife's downfall. Once emotions have subsided, the horror of the succession will hit the many traditional PPP followers except for its most reactionary segment: bandwagon careerists desperate to make a fortune.

All this could have been avoided, but the deadly angel who guided her when she was alive was, alas, not too concerned with democracy. And now he is in effect leader of the party.
...

It's midnight and 60 deg.
Gusty wind from the SE

and Alice when Thinking of SF don't forget Chinatown.
:|

.=.=.=.=.=
Jamesbennett

Rob Winder - Al Jazeera

As US presidential candidates battle it out to become the leader of the world's only superpower there is one subject on which they all, in public at least, agree - the US relationship with Israel.

To leading politicians on both sides of the partisan divide the special relationship is sacrosanct, largely due, critics say, to the power of pro-Israel lobby groups.

Those critics also say that pro-Israeli groups are set to a play a major role in the forthcoming election battle, both in terms of funding candidates and by publicly criticising any candidate critical of Israel or the US's relationship with it.

John Mearsheimer, who alongside Stephen Walt is the author of a controversial series of articles and a recent book on the Israel lobby, told Al Jazeera: "Almost all of the major candidates are falling over themselves to demonstrate how deeply committed they are to America's special relationship with Israel.

"Hardly a word of criticism is directed at anything Israel does and that is due to the activities of the lobby."

What is the pro-Israel lobby?

The lobby is made up of dozens of pro-Israel political action committees that draw a large part of their support from the US Jewish community and provide funding to presidential candidates.

But Christian Zionists, who are among the most vociferous supporters of Israel in the US, also play a major role.

They believe that by strengthening and supporting the state of Israel, they are more likely to bring about the 'second coming' of Jesus as prophesied in the Bible.

At the lobby's vanguard is the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), which works mainly in US congress.

It boasts its recent "victories" include the US decision to brand Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation, securing US aid to Israel and freezing US aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority in 2006........

Free Democracy

Tom Gallagher

If you’ve ever watched one of the ongoing series of presidential primary debates and gotten the feeling that there was something a little off about it, well it turns out that on the subject of the war in Iraq at least, you were right.

According to the latest Rasmussen Reports poll, 25% of Americans favor immediate withdrawal of our troops from Iraq. Yet, according to a study by NBC News political director Chuck Todd, the candidates advocating immediate withdrawal, Democrats Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich and Republican Ron Paul, have received 11% (167 minutes out of 1,460) of the speaking time on the eleven Democratic and ten Republican nationally televised debates. Rasmussen also found that another 38% of the country say they want all troops home within a year. However, the chart accompanying Todd’s December 28, New York Times opinion piece indicates that when the time allotted Democrat Bill Richardson, a candidate who advocates one-year withdrawal, is added to that of the above three candidates, a grand total of 19% of the network time has gone to candidates supporting positions held by 63% of the country.

And this mismatch is nothing new, by the way. Rasmussen has been conducting weekly polls in partnership with Fox Television Stations since August, and each one has found support for immediate withdrawal somewhere between 20% to 30% and total backing for withdrawal within a year ranging from 57 to 64%.........

BAGHDAD, (KUNA) -- An Iraqi security spokesman denied here Tuesday that Iranians might be picked up in the country.

Brigadier Qassem Atta, spokesman for the Operation Imposing Law, made the denial following reports that the US-backed Sahwa (Awakening) Group in Al Azmaiya caught three Iranians, making it certain that the arrested persons worked at the Interior Ministry.

But, Maj. Gen. Abdel-Karim Khalaf, chief of operations at the Iraqi Interior Ministry, said that the Multi-National Force would set them free immediately.

"I dismiss that the three persons, who were arrested by US forces yesterday after they were stopped by Al Azmaiya Sahwa Group, may hold Iranian nationality," he told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) "Belonging to the Interior Ministry, they were roaming Al Azmaiya as security forces and Sahwa Councils at the area managed to prevail security there. It is their right as Iraqis to go wherever they want," he said.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - A person working for a telecommunications firm has been arrested for being behind a rumour that Russian President Vladimir Putin would be assassinated in Tehran last October, a news agency said on Tuesday.

Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency, citing an informed official, said the arrest was made last week but did not give details.

"The person behind the Putin assassination rumour ... was identified," Fars quoted its source as saying. "That person was a contractual worker of a telecommunications company and was arrested last week."

Brushing off a Russian news agency report that there was a plot afoot to try to kill him in Tehran, Putin attended the October 16 summit of the five Caspian Sea states. It was the first visit by a Kremlin leader to Tehran since Josef Stalin in 1943.

Iran dismissed the report, calling it "psychological warfare" by Tehran's enemies -- an apparent reference to Western powers -- to undermine Russian-Iranian relations.

http://bluebook.state.or.us/notable/notwood.htm
http://www.powys-lannion.net/Powys/America/Field.htm

where they have lots of Chinese food, and dim sum.

Next time in SF check out the House of Nanking for one. Just let the guy set you up.

Methinks Alice has to be kidding just a little but I won't dredge up that "Cats in the Kettle" video just in case.

TAIPEI--Aggressive military action by China's air force in the East China Sea triggered alarm in Japan that resulted in emergency scrambling by Self-Defense Forces fighter jets on two days in September.

Chinese bombers made more than 40 sorties in airspace around the disputed Chunxiao gas field, known as Shirakaba in Japanese. SDF jets were scrambled 12 times, according to Taiwanese military sources.

Japanese government sources later confirmed the account.

China's action initially was seen as provocative. However, Japanese experts say the exercise could have been part of the Chinese military's readiness in the East China Sea in the event of an emergency situation in Taiwan.........

Are you kidding? S.F. Chinatown is a major Asian city.

is a major Asian city

all of the major cities on the west coast are major Asian cities. SF has by far the most dynamic Chinatown.

The MP3 Jukebox is probably sleeping off her dinner so this is the best I can do

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqu-6O3gG54

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54A6vJlF3iQ

edit

postcard

edit

This is version 2. Been working on the idea since Christmas eve. Hope you like it.

.=.=.=.=.=
Jamesbennett

that sammer will be on thursday night during the iowa caacaa. don't know if this is part of the sammy cam or not.

am at an internet cafe and was thinking of yourll....(though I always do)---hope Kevin tapes the gw impeachment hearings for me pleeze!! will be back soon. am 7 hours ahead of NYC as far as time is concerned. am wondering was Sam thanking me as being "a regular" and wishing me a happy?? teeheehee...not meaning to make you jealous but i am so sun tanned you could lick me!!

postponing the elections till mid feb...aint that sum fucked up shit, musharaff is a piece of art seriously...he first kills the woman now he postpones....well he has gotten away with every thing already all in the name of bin laden!!!

dont buy it in Nyc, i believe there are no more cats left in china town....but here in the old country it is so so tasty you just wont believe it, am not sure about the cats here though!!

times up....later!

Politico on "The anemic state of Republicans"
by Joe Sudbay (DC) · 1/02/2008 08:38:00 AM ET · Link
Discuss this post here: Comments (9) · reddit · FARK ·· Digg It!

Even Ken Mehlman had to admit the GOP is in trouble. As enthusiastic as Democrats are for our candidates, the GOPers are in retreat. It won't get better after they pick a nominee. A lot of Republicans hate every one of their presidential candidates for one reason or another:
Iowans are voting with their feet. While both parties have wide-open nomination contests, crowds for the Democratic candidates in recent days are unmistakably larger and more enthusiastic than those turning out for the GOP contenders.

Around the country, people are voting with their wallets. Early reports on the close of 2007 fundraising put a yearlong financial disparity between the parties on glaring display.

Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, aides said, both raised more than $100 million in 2007, sums that GOP sources say are at least $40 million greater than those of GOP financial leaders Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani.

The anemic state of Republicans will likely become more glaring still on caucus voting Thursday evening.
Anemic. Thinks about this one fact: The Republican who raised the most money in the last quarter of 2007 -- and money was always one of the GOP's strongest suits -- was Ron Paul.

Have to admit, it's fun to read this in The Politico. There's more of this after the break:
It's one thing for Democrats to despised the GOP candidates (and we do). But the most intense loathing of the GOP candidates is coming from other GOPers:
It also highlights a problem that Democrats do not have — significant ideological fissures that may make it hard to reunite the party once a nominee is chosen. Iowa’s top Republican contenders — former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Romney, a former Massachusetts governor — reflect different strands of conservatism.

Many anti-tax economic conservatives loathe Huckabee, who has surged here on the strength of evangelicals who like his social conservatism.

Negative ads, many of them bought by Romney, have flooded the Republican side. Democrats, while taking veiled or not-so-veiled shots at each other in public comments, have not taken aim at each other in paid advertising.

[continue reading...]

http://www.americablog.com/2008/01/politico-on-anemic-state-of-republica...

Big Oil loved 2007
by Chris in Paris · 1/02/2008 04:53:00 AM ET · Link
Discuss this post here: Comments (101) · reddit · FARK ·· Digg It!

It must be nice to have a 57% increase in one year. But don't worry, because Big Oil says their profit margins declined. Sure, anything they say. They can rest comfortably knowing that movement towards efficiency will still take decades thanks to the special interest lobbies in Washington.

Besides auto emissions, we to start looking into the efficiency of appliances. US washing machines, dryers and dishwashers are energy (and water) hogs compared to what is on offer in Europe. American dryers consistently destroy my clothes on every visit and seem to need their own power station to generate furnace-like temperatures. With energy costs increasing for Americans (they're already high here) this area also needs some attention. 2008 probably won't offer much change though I think many are seeking these changes with the new president. In simple dollars and cents, it's just too costly to avoid change.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12400801/

Former 9/11 Commission Co-Chairman Thomas Keen and Lee Hamilton write in The New York Times today that the CIA “obstructed our investigation” when it destroyed interrogation videotapes and “failed to respond to our lawful requests” about “the kind of information that would have been contained in such videotapes.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/02/opinion/02kean.html

After enjoying “a good rest” at his Crawford, TX ranch, President Bush returns to Washington with an “ambitious agenda for 2008,” which includes “tackling the mortgage lending crisis,” “securing more money from Congress for Iraq,” and pushing Congress to “permanently revise the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/01/AR200801...

According to the Washington Times, President Bush “is benefiting from a Karl Rove-free White House and the lower-profile approach of his successor,” Barry Jackson, who is now “the right fit for a president now reliant on Republican legislators sticking with him.”

http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080102/NATION/32...

“The Pakistani election commission, citing uncivil unrest following the assassination of political leader Benazir Bhutto last week, on Wednesday delayed upcoming parliamentary elections until Feb. 18.”

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-01-02-pakistan-election_N.htm?cs...

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — John Edwards says that if elected president he would withdraw the American troops who are training the Iraqi army and police as part of a broader plan to remove virtually all American forces within 10 months.

Mr. Edwards, the former senator from North Carolina who is waging a populist campaign for the Democratic nomination, said that extending the American training effort in Iraq into the next presidency would require the deployment of tens of thousands of troops to provide logistical support and protect the advisers.

“To me, that is a continuation of the occupation of Iraq,” he said in a 40-minute interview on Sunday aboard his campaign bus as it rumbled through western Iowa.

In one of his most detailed discussions to date about how he would handle Iraq as president, Mr. Edwards staked out a position that would lead to a more rapid and complete troop withdrawal than his principal rivals, Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, who have indicated they are open to keeping American trainers and counterterrorism units in Iraq.

Elizabeth Edwards, his wife and political partner, who listened in on the interview from a seat across the aisle, intervened at the end of the session to underscore that Mr. Edwards did not intend to stop all training and was prepared to train Iraqi forces outside of the country. Mr. Edwards continued the theme while acknowledging that the benefits of such training would be limited.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/02/us/politics/02edwards.html?_r=2&hp&ore...

Legal voters thrown off rolls
By Richard Wolf, USA TODAY
Five years after passage of a federal law to create electronic registration databases to deter voter fraud, the new technology is posing hurdles that could disenfranchise thousands of legal voters, a USA TODAY examination finds.
From Florida to Washington, voters have been challenged because names or numbers on their registration forms did not exactly match other government databases, such as Social Security and motor vehicle agencies. "We know that eligible people have been thrown off the rolls," says Justin Levitt, a lawyer with the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law.

POLL PROBLEMS: Process fraught with flaws
The databases are only as good as the information fed into them by applicants and election officials. That can lead to human errors as well as variations from state to state. Colorado, for instance, knocked nearly 20% of its voters off the rolls between the 2004 and 2006 elections. Arkansas purged 3%, according to Election Assistance Commission data.

Voters who have problems at the polls can cast "provisional" ballots. Election officials rule later whether those votes were properly cast and should be counted. But even that backup system varies greatly from state to state.

More than nine in 10 provisional ballots cast in New Jersey, Oregon, Maine, Montana and Alaska were approved in 2006. Michigan, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Delaware and Hawaii counted fewer than 25%, the Election Assistance Commission says.

After Florida's "hanging chads" in 2000 and Ohio's long lines in 2004, registration problems "could be the sleeper issue of 2008," says Doug Chapin of electionline.org, which tracks voting issues. "These new databases make it possible to make more mistakes faster," he says.

A day before voters begin choosing the next president, there are signs of database troubles. In Wisconsin, Elections Board Executive Director Kevin Kennedy says, "the users keep complaining that it's too complex." In Texas, Henderson County opted out of the database after voters griped about being dropped from the list. "I was just afraid to trust it," says voter registrar Milburn Chaney.

Perhaps the worst problems are in Florida, where a Gannett News Service analysis found more than 14,000 people whose voter registrations were disputed by the state because they didn't match other databases; about 75% are minorities. A federal district court ruled last month that the state couldn't deny registrations based on database matching.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-01-01-voting-rol...

Monday, December 31, 2007
Top 10 Challenges Facing the US in the Middle East, 2008
10. Helping broker a deal in Lebanon between the March 14 Movement and the Shiites so that a new president can be elected and a national unity government can be formed.

Lebanon's economy was badly damaged by the Israeli war on the poor little country in summer of 2006. Tourism is a big part of that economy, and is being hurt by the continued political instability. Given historically high oil prices, Iran will probably make $56 billion from petroleum sales this year. That gives it lots of carrots to hand out in Lebanon. If the Lebanese were better off, foreign oil money would not be as important to them. Likewise, the country's poverty breeds social ills. Hizbullah militiamen might be harder to find if there was well-paying work for young men in the south. The dire poverty of Palestinians in camps such as Nahr al-Bared near Tripoli has made them open to predations by Mafia-like groups linked to al-Qaeda. Just a couple of weeks ago, Lebanese security broke up a plot to blow up churches in Zahle on the part of a small group of jihadis. An economically flourishing Lebanon would be less likely to be beset by these ills. The Levant is not that far away from the US or its major interests, and it is very unwise to allow the pathological situation in Lebanon to fester. A prosperous, healthy Lebanon is good for US security and is less likely to become the cat's paw of regional powers hostile to US interests.

9. The US should exercise its good offices to encourage continued dialogue between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The capture of Baghdad by the Shiites and the ethnic cleansing of most Sunnis from it have set the stage for a big Sunni-Shiite battle for the capital as soon as the US troops get out of the way. It is absolutely essential to Gulf security, and to American energy security, that Saudi Arabia and Iran not be drawn into a proxy Sunni-Shiite war in Iraq. Keeping in close contact with each other and with Iraqis of the other sect is the best way for them to avoid a replay of the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s. Those in the Bush administration who dream of an Israeli-Saudi alliance against Iran are playing with fire, a fire that is likely to boomerang on the US. If the Persian Gulf goes up any further in flames, the resulting unprecedentedly high petroleum prices will likely finally produce a bad impact on the US economy. Instead, the US should be attempting to bring Iran in from the cold, now that the NIE has absolved it of nuclear-weapons ambitions.

http://www.juancole.com/2007/12/top-10-challenges-facing-us-in-middle.ht...

Eased Rules on Tech Sales to China Questioned
By STEVEN R. WEISMAN
WASHINGTON — Six months ago, the Bush administration quietly eased some restrictions on the export of politically delicate technologies to China. The new approach was intended to help American companies increase sales of high-tech equipment to China despite tight curbs on sharing technology that might have military applications.

But today the administration is facing questions from weapons experts about whether some equipment — newly authorized for export to Chinese companies deemed trustworthy by Washington — could instead end up helping China modernize its military. Equally worrisome, the weapons experts say, is the possibility that China could share the technology with Iran or Syria.

The technologies include advanced aircraft engine parts, navigation systems, telecommunications equipment and sophisticated composite materials.

The questions raised about the new policy are in a report to be released this week by the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, an independent research foundation that opposes the spread of arms technologies.

The administration’s new approach is part of an overall drive to require licenses for the export of an expanded list of technologies in aircraft engines, lasers, telecommunications, aircraft materials and other fields of interest to China’s military.

But while imposing license requirements for the transfer of these technologies, the administration is also validating certain Chinese companies that may import these technologies without licenses.

Five such companies were designated in October, but as many as a dozen others are in the pipeline for possible future designation.

Mario Mancuso, under secretary of Commerce for industry and security, said the new system of broadening the list of technologies that require licenses, but exempting some trustworthy companies from the license requirement, results in more effective protections.

“We believe that the system we have set up ensures that we are protecting our national security consistent with our goal of promoting legitimate exports for civilian use,” he said in an interview. “We have adopted a consistent, broad-based approach to hedging against helping China’s military modernization.”

But the Wisconsin Project report, made available to The New York Times, asserts that two nonmilitary Chinese companies designated as trustworthy are in fact high risk because of links to the Chinese government, the People’s Liberation Army and other Chinese entities accused in the past of ties to Syria and Iran.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/02/technology/02techtransfer.html?ei=5089...

Bush signs bill to expand transparency
Move aimed at giving public and media greater access to information

CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush on Monday signed a bill aimed at giving the public and the media greater access to information about what the government is doing.

The new law toughens the Freedom of Information Act, the first such makeover to the signature public-access law in a decade. It amounts to a congressional pushback against the Bush administration's movement to greater secrecy since the terrorist attacks of 2001.

Bush signed the bill without comment in one of his final decisions of the year.

The legislation creates a system for the media and public to track the status of their FOIA requests. It establishes a hot line service for all federal agencies to deal with problems and an ombudsman to provide an alternative to litigation in disclosure disputes.

The law also restores a presumption of a standard that orders government agencies to release information on request unless there is a finding that disclosure could do harm.

Agencies would be required to meet a 20-day deadline for responding to FOIA requests. Nonproprietary information held by government contractors also would be subject to the law.

The legislation is aimed at reversing an order by former Attorney General John Ashcroft after the 9/11 attacks in which he instructed agencies to lean against releasing information when there was uncertainty about how doing so would affect national security.

Dozens of media outlets, including The Associated Press, supported the legislation.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22456870/

Broke Britain: millions face struggle to stay afloat as financial crisis hits home
By Martin Hickman, Consumer Affairs Correspondent
Published: 02 January 2008
Debt experts are predicting a record number of personal insolvencies this year as excessive Christmas shopping, rising mortgage payments and soaring food and fuel costs force thousands of people over the financial edge and into bankruptcy.

More than nine million individuals in Britain are now believed to be struggling to pay credit card bills and mortgages, with the average owed by problem debtors hitting £30,000.

In alarming figures to be released tomorrow, the accountancy firm Grant Thornton predicts the total number of personal insolvencies will jump to at least 120,000 this year, almost triple the equivalent figure in 2004, when just under 47,000 people went bankrupt.

Insolvency experts say people have been readily loading large amounts of debt on to credit cards and personal loans, despite the economic slowdown.

High-street shops and online retailers reported higher-than-forecast takings in December, while the new year sales have also been busier than expected. One commentator described the Christmas shopping spree as one last hurrah before a tougher 12 months ahead.

Although the economy is still vibrant and employment plentiful, the supply of cheap and easy credit that has revved the economy for years is being turned off as a result of the sub-prime lending crisis in the United States. Fewer mortgages are being granted to people in Britain with poor credit records. Credit card limits are being lowered and personal loans are becoming harder to obtain.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article3300968.ece

Former CBS Newser Defies Court, Won't Reveal Sources

When Jim Stewart stepped down from CBS News in November 2006 after some 16 years of reporting on a range of topics for the Tiffany Network, the longtime Washington-based correspondent retired to the warmth of Florida. Now, depending on a judge’s ruling in an ongoing case, Mr. Stewart could be spending a part of his golden years in a much less sunny position—namely in contempt of a federal court.

In legal documents filed on the eve of the holidays, Mr. Stewart, citing promises of confidentiality, continued to defy a judge’s order to reveal the names of his sources for a series of reports he produced in 2003 for CBS News about the F.B.I.’s investigation into the domestic anthrax attacks of 2001.

If U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton decides in the coming months to hold Mr. Stewart in civil contempt for his defiance, the case, which lately has been unfolding largely under the news radar, could become one of the more tortured—and high-profile—media soap operas of the new year.

And, in the wake of the Valerie Plame affair, in which The New York Times’ Judith Miller served jail time for her own refusal to give up sources, it could offer additional ammunition to advocates of a federal shield law—which would increase journalists’ legal right to protect their sources in court. Norman Pearlstine, the former editor in chief of Time Inc. who earlier this year wrote a book about confidential sources, media law and his pivotal role in the Valerie Plame affair, told NYTV that Mr. Stewart’s case “is a perfect example of why we need a federal shield law.”

Some back story: In the summer of 2002, Attorney General John Ashcroft named Steven Hatfill, a former government scientist, as a “person of interest” in the government’s criminal investigation into the anthrax attacks. Roughly a year later, Mr. Hatfill filed a civil lawsuit alleging that by talking about him to reporters, FBI and DOJ staffers had violated his rights under the federal Privacy Act—a 1974 law that restricts the public disclosure of certain information about government employees.

http://www.observer.com/2008/former-cbs-newser-defies-court-won-t-reveal...

If anyone was curious - the new version of Blade Runner is worth the price of the DVD. Blade Runner has always been a favorite movie of mine but the new "Final Cut" version makes it a genuine masterpiece far and away superior to the original. I got the set with four discs in it, which includes the original theatrical release plus the 90's video tape version and some new documentaries about the making of the movie. Watching the "Final Cut" last night was the first time the movie moved me to tears. A good part of that, i think, is that Ridley Scott has lessened a lot of the jarring Vangelis soundtrack - toned it down so it doesn't interfere with the movie. It's still there but used more sparingly.

Watching it this time, probably the 12th time I've seen the movie in its various versions, I had more of a sense of the tragic lives the replicants were living and how heroic they were for trying to cling to life, in spite of the tragedy.

I've yet to see another Rutger Hauer movie after all these years but his performance as the lead replicant is stunning - should have won an Oscar but the Academy rarely recognizes science fiction as serious work. Sean Young, too, is brilliant - and the new version accents just how wonderful she is in this movie.

To view the latest on Voices for Creative Non-Violence’s campaign of civil disobedience please visit the following report on the occupation of Huckabee’s Des Moines campaign: http://www.desmoinescatholicworker.org/huckabeearrests.html

How was your trip?

dan on Wed, 01/02/2008 - 8:37am.
I think it is part of Sammycam Thursday night. TYT will have a lot of guests though. I hope Sam goes to them when he has to and provides commentary between spots here.

I'm very curious about the caucus process. I'm not real sure how it works. Sounds like a bit of a circle jerk.

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the last best guess i heard was south africa which seems consistent with being 7 hours of ahead of us on the clock.

Edwards Calls for Pullout of Troops Training Iraqis
Submitted by toniD on Wed, 01/02/2008 - 9:30am.

As the Caucus nears, he moves further Left (from his early IDENTICAL position on Iraq to Clinton and Obama...that of troops remaining until atleast 2013).

And the reason?...because if he loses Iowa...he's crippled. If he comes in third to HRC and BO, he's toast. No bounce into New Hampshire and he's polling TERRIBLY in South Carolina (for a guy from next-door neighbor NC).

So..."amazingly" as he gets into the final stretch of Iowa...he's suddenly sounding like Dennis Kucinich (who just endorsed Obama).

And yet, progressives will continue to think the man isn't a Pander Bear!

I always think of Mexico where my parents were born, even when Europeans or Chinese people talk.

Look what I found: A primer on caucus FAQ

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If Edwards was desperate to win Iowa, he'd move to the right. Iowans seldom go for the Lefty in the race.

Could be this man you seem to loathe so much is actually standing on principle - instead of hiding behind some middle of the road mantle.

i still don't understand why we would let a handful of people in iowa decide the future of the country. maybe there ought to be a rule requiring candidates to stay in the race for the duration.

“tackling the mortgage lending crisis,” “securing more money from Congress for Iraq,” and pushing Congress to “permanently revise the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.”

ELITES CREATE ENEMIES IN ORDER TO RE-ORDER SOCIETY IN THEIR OWN TYRANNICAL IMAGE. THEY DO SO BY COMMITTING ACTS OF TERRORISM AGAINST THEIR OWN BUILDINGS AND BEAURACRACIES, THEN CHOOSING THE SCAPEGOAT.
USED FOR THE SAME PURPOSE: TO BRING ORDER OUT OF CHAOS.

me thinks you got peanut butter in your ears if you believe that.

“tackling the mortgage lending crisis,” “securing more money from Congress for Iraq,” and pushing Congress to “permanently revise the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.”

i understand what you're saying about bringing order out of chaos but i think you got the wrong person. bush is the tail wagging the dog at this point. that pelosi and reid cave in to him is part of some misguided strategy being pushed by the hillary and the blue dogs.

is afraid that Edwards will win in Iowa.

I have to go to work or I'd argue this point further.

Doesn't matter at this point because the repubs are going to lose anyway.

Even the repubs don't like the choice this year!

Is this the best plan we have? Most uninsured people would love to have health insurance. They don't have it because they can't afford it.

But now I keep hearing that the grand solution is to fine people if they don't have health insurance. Forcing them to buy some crappy insurance they might conceivably be able to afford, which isn't going to help them much at all if they need real coverage at some point.

Is this the best that we can do?

And I guess there'll be more government red tape involved. If I can't afford health insurance I'll probably have to go to some government office to beg for government assistance and they'll force me to take some horrendously crappy job that offers insurance so I won't get a fine from the state.

For chrissake, it's enough to drive me to the libertarians.

A bit of Champagne with my daily Meds put me in a Sleepy Coma ! (The Best Kind!) :)

So missed Maron v Seder.. Was it a good one ? Hope it was..
Any video yet ?
I see Fernando has the Audio..Thanks Fernando !

I hope everyones doing ok !

Sandy,were you in the Hospital ? Poor girl !
You and, Toni need to Rally !
Maybe the gang here needs to do a Rally Dance here for Ya ! This Evening..Or,the next..
We post some MP3's here and,everyone Who Can Dance,dances and sends you and,ToniD some Healing Energy.
Us kindof Non-Heathens can Pray then Dance !Hee !Or,Dance then Pray..(I don't know,I'm making this up as I go along here!) :)

Thought it might be fun ! And,to show you 2
that we care and,love you guys !

Let me know what you guys think ! Except Ono,ofcourse ! I kid,I kid ! ;)

Get Well Soon,Toni and Sandy ! :)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

One election at a time...

Huckabee said there were an estimated 2,000 attendees at the Val Air Ballroom, where the former governor was joined by his wife and Chuck Norris. Huckabee supporters said before the event they were thrilled by the crowd size given the near-zero temperatures outside.
Norris announced that he and his wife will host a virtual barbeque fundraiser for Huckabee on Jan. 20, with a goal of raising $10 million. Huckabee faces a series of crucial test before then, beginning with the Iowa caucuses Thursday night.

What the heck is a virtual barbeque?

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Nothing good on the video unless you like looking at two guys who just rolled out of bed. I don't think Marc had brushed his teeth yet and was in his PJ's for the show. The stills tell all the story you need.

Thank goodness they haven't invented smellavision.

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I think that the Obama and Hillary Healthcare deal is the one forcing you to have healthcare.

Edwards wants Universal Healthcare which is an expansion of Medicare. Might have to buy a medigap though.

Something to look into.

open

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well, you start by getting a tub of this:

and then i suppose you log in to a freeper site. it helps if you have a cross floating in your window.

Well it's still free,Fernando.. ;)
And,AM New Years day..So....
Besides,with my wireless I can't watch the Video very well,as it is.. :(
I'll have to play your audio here in a bet..Thanks again !

I need to wake up still !
Coffee,Coffee.. I ordered some Coffee here! Now Please ! ;)

What was the boys topic yesterday ? Thanks.... :)

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

lucille was very cagey about it - but now she gave us a major clue - i don't know about south africa - that is a relatively new country, unless lucille was thinking of africa as a country (ah ah)

lucille is a french name (not her real name probably but you would think she would choose a nik from the old country or something)

but i don't know, i have a feeling it is in the middle east (many old countries over there), so I would guess Israel - and if not either Spain or France, with Greece as a possibility as well