My blog is worth $1,693.62.
How much is your blog worth?
Jazz trumpet great Freddie Hubbard passed away at the age of 70. Here he is with Herbie Hancock playing "Cantalope Island."
IHT: Freddie Hubbard obit
Rick Warren calls people who object to his equating homosexuality with pedophilia, bestiality and incest "christophobes."
You know I thought Warren's recent softer approach was mending some fences. But this latest diatribe by him is just over the top. For those who don't have cable, Rachel Maddow sums it up nicely:
Updated:
I found something on the web that I thought was pretty powerful.
C&L: please-dont-divorce
I hope you all are having a great night.
Festivus was such a hit, Frank Constanza brought it to Congress-
What a great idea this is....
1)Corporate Elitists. Safely amongst the most despicable people alive. They represent greed, sloth, pride, gluttony, et.al., and are the primary movers behind virtually everything else we consider to be public/social ills --corruption, hegemony, constitutional abuses, war crimes, et.al. People who "make" money simply because they have money and because they spend money to grease politicians represent the absolute pinnacle of the entitlement culture.
2)Joe the Plumber. The third-class intellect who barged into the national discourse when he miserably failed to ambush Obama on tax policy during a photo op. His misrepresentations about himself, his shameless and moronic shilling for the McCain ticket, and his later attempts to land himself a country music deal showed that one doesn't have to run for office to be entirely full of shit. What a disgrace. What good was he other than post-Palin proof that any fool can become the darling of the GOP?
3)Brazilian Beer Barons. Over the years, the STL has lost many companies because they got bought out by bigger fish from other cities. However much those losses sucked, it was always comforting to know A-B would always be a STL icon. This one hurts me more because A-B never started planning to defend a hostile takeover until it came and because InBev got off on the cheap because of the weak dollar. It's like it never needed to happen. Damn.
4)The Rams. This year, I shall call you "The Lambs." I have nothing brilliant to say except it's just damn sad. I guess it's a shame too. Like, get better please. Sad.
5)"Real Americans". Anyone who considers themselves this cannot be a patriot. To believe that some parts of America, or that some Americans, are any more or less legitimately American is to disregard the essential wisdoms of our founding fathers that we are all equal and all that bullshit. If the mark of a patriot is the flying of flags or the sporting of pins, they should display the stars alone or the stripes alone to serve as a visual aid in explaining which parts of America don't count and why. The whole lot of them can go fuck themselves.
I have more, but I'm going to hold them deep deep inside me until they become suffciently hateful and twisted to be shared publicly.
Well this is interesting. Apparently a car jacking in St Louis goes for a minimum sentence of at least 5 years while a scooter jacking carries a penalty of at least 25 years.
Thoughts?
I will be composing my "Airing of Greivances" during the day and suggest you do likewise. Because after all, Festivus is for the rest of us.
Festivus: Rules and Rituals
Updated-
In accordance with tradition, I submit my list for the Airing of Grievances. The following have disappointed me over the past year:
1. My cat Vory. I plucked you out of the ASPCA and paid $125 for you and all I get are scratches and bites. Would it kill you to try to sit quietly in my lap and just purr every once in a while? I know I wanted an active cat, but not one that would physically assualt me.
2. Elliot Spitzer. Dude I believed in you. You were smart. You were on the ball. Bad guys would go into fits when they heard “Spitzer is on the phone.” Why did you have to go thinking with your d*ck?
3. The Senate Democrats-particularly the ones in good health like Leahy and Reid. WTF is wrong with you jerks? We won the election. Stop playing ball with the GOP who only want to destroy you. You can’t negotiate with people who want to kill you.
4. Randi Rhodes formerly of Air America. Look Randi…I know you were doing stand up. But really, you called HRC a whore. Was that necessary? I understand she was running a campaign that wrote the smears McCain would eventually use, but honestly…a whore? She’s a senator for crying out loud. I loved you on Air America. Now I only listen to Ed Schultz only because that’s really the only quality liberal programming I get.
5. St. Louis Craigslist the Rants and Raves section. I warned you about the flagging didn’t I? I told you content made that place and after the out of control flagging, there is little to no content.
6. My Dad. That’s between him and me. He knows what he did.
7. John McCain. You know I actually liked you once. Sure I thought you were kind of corrupt after the Keating scandal, but I thought you were a better candidate than W in 2000. I thought after going through the nastiest smear campaign I’d ever seen in 2000, you wouldn’t do likewise. Well I guess you thought you figured out what works from that. That was the wrong lesson John. I’m really disappointed in you. And thanks for introducing Caribou Barbie to the mix. Yeah that’s what we needed was some dumb wackadoodle on a power trip.
“I have a lot of problems with you people.”
I'm really starting to hate the Christmas musak. If I hear "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime" one more time, I'm going postal.
In other news...Obama is hiring the leading minds of the scientific community to handle guess what-science policy.
And don't forget, just because we won the last election, doesn't mean we stop shaming, mocking and deriding Conservatives. Let's remember they were pro Iraq quagmire, deniers of climate change, pro teaching creationism in science class and pro trickle down economics. Their ideas suck and they need to be continually reminded.
You can rant and rave about whatever here.
In other news, Al Franken is ahead of Norm Coleman in Minnesota by 250 votes. Finally the Senate will have a professional comedian in its ranks.
Hallelujah! I am so happy to see the fed finally dealing with this. I quit using Citibank years ago when they sent me a bill for 23 cents after I had paid in full the month before. They failed to explain to me how that was not deceptive and I am just lucky I caught it before they charged me a late fee and raised my interest rate. I cut the damn card up and mailed it back to them along with a check for 23 lousy cents - and demanded they close my account. I had had that account for over 10 years and they did nothing to correct the incident or otherwise try to keep me.
Now Citibank is "repricing" "certain" customers anywhere from 6% to 19% due to no fault at all on the part of the cardholder. What a sham!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, I think these new rules are a pretty good holiday present, even if they dont go into effect until July 2010. I give the fed 2 snaps up for this!
*SNAP!*
*SNAP!*
Now in handy gif form.
Update:
There are reports coming out today saying the journalist who threw the shoes was beaten by the Iraqi police. Like others in the blogosphere, I agree that Bush actually handled this very well when he pointed out that stuff like this happens in a free democracy. In that spirit I hope you make a call to the White House- 202-456-1111 and express your wish that Bush ask the Iraqis for leniency for the journalist al Zaidi.
Looks like they have finally found poor Caylee Anthony's remains. I am actually relieved since all signs pointed to her being dead- and I was afraid her (insert worst adjective in existence and multiply that by infinity) mother was going to get off if they didnt find a body.
Still I am sad. Relieved, but sad. I wonder what that (insert worst adjective in existence and multiply that by infinity) woman will lie about next.
The Illinois Governor was caught on court authorized Federal wiretaps trying to sell Obama's senate seat. This morning the FBI seized Blagojevich at his home in Chicago.
Firedoglake: Blago indicted
Good riddance I say. Corruption in our politics should never be tolerated no matter which party does it.
Yesterday, November 28, 2008, the FDA issued an update on a synthetic plastic called melamine on their food safety website entitled, Update Interim Safety and Risk Assessment of Melamine and its Analogues in Food for Humans. The article provides the FDA’s maximum acceptable concentration of melamine (1 part per million) for baby formula manufactured in the US . In addition, the FDA confirms that US domestic sources of infant formula are safe. The alert comes after the tragic illnesses and four (4) deaths in China of babies exposed to melamine-contaminated powdered infant formula that was manufactured in China. It also comes over a year after the illnesses and deaths of pets in the US and subsequent FDA recalls of human and pet food products in the US that had contained wheat gluten from China that had been contaminated with melamine. The US FDA prohibits any melamine directly added to any US food products that are consumed by humans or by animals.
Melamine-contaminated food products on the FDA’s September 2008 recalls list for humans included: milk and milk-derived products that came from China and which contained melamine.
The FDA Human Food Recalls list included: White Rabbit Candy, the chinese candy with the white rabbit logo on the front which I relished a few years back; the fresh and crispy Jacobina biscuits, the philippino biscuits with many layers in them; and the Koala's March creme filled cookies, the cute japanese cookies shaped like a koala. For animal lovers who also love eating desserts, this has been a blow to their enjoyment of two loves packed into one dessert. The cartoon character and small size of these desserts hold great appeal to both children and adults. For a more comprehensive list of human foods with melamine (cute or not cute looking, such as Mr. Brown coffee), see: FDA Nov 28 update. All kidding aside, the melamine outbreak is actually quite serious and extended to even greater populations.
Pet Owners, do you remember the Pet food scare? Over a year ago (March 15, 2007), the public scare about melamine occurred in the US over a completely different and separate incident, when pets were getting sick or dying. It was determined in all cases that the pets ate pet food whose normal vegetable protein ingredient had melamine mixed in it. Pet food companies reported to the FDA about many kidney failures and deaths of dogs and cats that their customers relayed; the common thread among all the pets was they ate the same types of pet food. Not all pet foods on the US market had problems. On May 4, 2007, the LA Times reported that the FDA received 17,000 calls from people. The FDA reported in January 3, 2008 that 1950 deaths of cats and 2200 deaths of dogs were reported from these calls. This number does not include the number of reported deaths provided by pet food companies.
The American Veterinarian Medical Association issued a press release in May 2007 over the incident, and was collecting data via online surveys.
Among the melamine-contaminated pet foods, all contained wheat gluten imported from China that contained melamine and all had melamine in the food. In addition, some fish and farm animals used for the human food supply chain were given animal feed that was contaminated with melamine; these animals were later processed to make human food. The FDA then authorized a national recall for destruction of all pet foods, animal feed, fish feed, and vegetable proteins that contained melamine. On April 28, 2007, the FDA announced that hog meat and other meat were still safe to eat by humans; there would be no recalls on these processed animal meats[Source: FDA April2007] Between May 1, 2007 and June 2007, the FDA launched some protein surveillance audits across the US , to ensure that the US food and feed were safe from melamine contamination. [Source: Groter FDA 2007 report] Justice arrived for the unnecessary animal losses on February 8, 2008, when the FDA indicted one (1) Chinese company, its two (2) Chinese nationals owners, one (1) US company, and the owners (2 people) for importing products into the US that were contaminated with melamine when they were sold purely as "wheat gluten," which is made of many different ingredients, none which include melamine. [Source: FDA pet food site and Source 2: FDA indictment Feb 2008]
At that point, there were no questions, or questions were skirted about possible high melamine contamination in the human food supply and their effects.
Now in 2008, we are seeing the effects of melamine on the human food supply. It was not until September 11, 2008 that the FDA heard that melamine might have been found in powder baby infant formula manufactured in China . This sparked an international controversy in the press. Even more chilling, what did not get leaked to the press so quickly was the September 21, 2008 safety alert that the FDA learned, that as of that date, China had 52,857 reported cases of nephrolithiasis (and, in some instances, renal failure) "linked to consumption of this contaminated powdered formula" [Source: FDA website, October 3, 2008 alert] Nephrolithiasis is a medical term for kidney stones (renal calculi). It is rare for humans to develop kidney stones at such an early age. Renal failure means that the kidneys no longer worked, and they could not perform their basic bodily functions as natural and unnatural toxins build up in the blood as a consequence in either a chronic or even worse acute renal failure. What is most disturbing is that all the cases occurred in infants, who are still undergoing stages of development in their body systems, such as their renal systems. In addition, the powdered baby formula might have been the primary source of food for these infants, thereby exposing a vulnerable system to increasingly high concentrations of melamine in a body that does not yet have the full capability of removing the substance in the first place.
This essentially means that levels of melamine in a baby internally experiences levels that are potentially toxic, even potentially lethal. In fact, the FDA website noted "13,000 hospitalizations" in China from melamine contamination. One Chinese hospital reported 16 infants between the ages of 5 months to 11 months who had kidney stones, and some of these infants developed renal insufficiency. "3 deaths" of infants were reported in China from melamine exposure as of October 3, 2008. Have there been any more reported deaths since then? Not sure, but the World Health Organization has reported a 4th death in China on its website, and the WHO will discuss the melamine contamination worldwide in an international conference on December 4, 2008. The FDA's data feature prominently on the website. The Netherlands has also found melamine in the Koala brand cookies imported from China. Korea has located melamine in their Nabisco Ritz cracker cheese sandwiches that came from China. Other countries are checking their food supplies, see USA Today.
In case you were dozing off, here are the numbers again from the FDA and from China:
Animal cases in US:
-17,000 phone complaints to FDA
-1950 deaths of cats reported from phone complaints to FDA
-2200 deaths of dogs
Human cases in China:
-52,857 reported cases of nephrolithiasis (and, in some instances, renal failure) "linked to consumption of this contaminated powdered formula"
-13,000 hospitalizations
-4 deaths[Source: FDA website, October 3, 2008 announcement and WHO website]
Is melamine or some related contaminant with melamine the cause of this toxicity? Or is something reacting with the melamine to cause the reaction? The FDA is still investigating this question but has noted that melamine is inert on its own. Melamine and its derivative cyanuric acid combine together to form crystals. When the crystals block the flow of urine and other substances that naturally flow through kidney tubes, kidney damage and kidney failure result.
Definitely, these chemical interactions indicate that high levels of exposure (as found in a contamination) to melamine, combined with high levels of cyanuric acid, over a continuous, long period can lead to potential nephrolithiasis, kidney problems, kidney failure, and potential deaths. [Source: WHO website] The WHO even posted a website on clinical detection, diagnosis, and treatment of melamine contamination. Both melamine and cyanuric acid have been detected in the pet food from China . Only melamine has been detected, and there is still no information about cyanuric acid levels in the September baby formula scare in China. [Source: WHO website] So far, no human adult problems have been reported from exposure to melamine anywhere worldwide. [Source: WHO link2].
Just because human adult problems have not been reported does not mean they can't exist, making the numbers a potential departure from reality. It is easy to imagine being an adult who does not live in the US, and who loves constantly eating Nabisco Ritz cheese crackers, Pocky Men's chocolate cigarette biscuits, Cadbury chocolate, non-dairy creamer, M&Ms, KitKat, Snickers bars, and munches on rice crackers. While that is one unhealthy person who loves snacks, that is a potentially realistic scenario. No one can resist that snack attack. Now people around the world will have to hold back on that snack attack.
Ordinarily, melamine is used industrially in cleaning products, resins, foams, and pesticides. So, why would people illegally add melamine to wheat gluten, milk and milk-derived products? What value does adding melamine have? According to the WHO and European Union, melamine (chemical formula C3H6N6) has nitrogen content in it that can be utilized deceptively. Protein has nitrogen, and food testers use methods to measure the amount of protein in a food product. If a food product is originally made with less protein content than it is supposed to have, melamine can be added to inflate the amount of supposed protein in a food product and fool the measures used during the testing process. [Source: WHO link and EU link].
Surely a human life, baby or adult, cannot be considered cheap enough to hurt or kill in order for someone else to dodge some protein measuring standard. A pet's life cannot be considered cheap enough either in order to dodge some protein measuring standard.
Which foods utilize ingredients from China that contain melamine, aside from White Rabbit candy, Koala cookies, and Jacobina biscuits, snack items mainly Asians and Asian foodies only know? I just wonder whether the noodles I buy, which contain wheat gluten, as safe. What I wonder about are foods that contain milk-derived ingredients. Milk-derived ingredients are ingredients that include whole milk powder, non-fat milk powder, whey powder, lactose powder, and casein. Hopefully, FDA will continue testing of all kinds of foods. In their June 2008 report, the FDA identified many potential sources food products for humans, like soybeans, pie filling, soy milk, gelatin, whole grain, wheat and rice flour, rice, and corn, to name a few [See Groter on FDA website]. The reason is clear to me, as these are items that someone could easily substitute melamine into ingredients as a way to artificially increase the protein quota during testing.
This has food safety ramifications on vegan fans like myself, who try to eat less snacks and eat more healthy, more "natural" foods. Well, this situation turns the natural into something quite unnatural. Have the FDA and health authorities for other countries considered this consumer population?
As for baby formula produced in the US , while the FDA does not approve baby formula, the companies that manufacture baby formula must register their formula with the FDA, are under FDA's jurisdiction and must follow federal nutrient requirements. [Source: See FDA link].
In its November 28, 2008 report, the FDA announced that while no amount of melamine in baby formula is tolerated (Oct 3 alert "zero tolerance" policy), the scientific measure of 1 part per million (1 ppm) of melamine in baby formula is the maximum concentration that can be considered safe. The European Union and Canadian health authorities have not made such strong statements as the US FDA on what they will not allow. A few weeks ago, the FDA found traces of melamine in infant formula below the 1 part per million standard of one major U.S. manufacturer named Nestle Nutrition and cyanuric acid in the formula of a second major manufacturer named Mead Johnson. The melamine and cyanuric acid ended up in the formula unintentionally during the manufacturing process [Source:
FDA website]. As the samples did not contain both melamine and cyanuric acid, the formulas have also been acceptable and no cause for recall. Is everyone in agreement with this? The jury is still out on this one. Let's see how sales look after a few months for these companies.
So, I guess I'm lucky I'm not a baby and can eat other things.
In its October 3, 2008 report, the FDA noted that "melamine, in its chainlike 'polymerized' form, has been used to manufacture dishes, plastic resins, and components of paper and paperboard that may come in contact with food. Additionally, trichloromelamine is approved for use as a sanitizing agent on food processing equipment and utensils, except for milk containers and equipment, and it readily decomposes to melamine during such uses. FDA estimated that the cumulative dietary concentration from these approved food uses would be less than 15 µg/kg (0.015 ppm). This is an estimate of the average concentration of melamine in food from approved uses; it is not intended as an estimate of the acceptable maximum level of melamine in an individual food. Additionally, individual products may contain more or less melamine than 0.015 ppm of melamine as a result of approved uses. The levels would depend on the type of food and the conditions of the approved uses." [Source:FDA link]. Ever think about that? That your plastic wrap or plate could have substances like melamine that mix in with your food? The governments in other countries have followed in the US' footsteps, providing data from the FDA on their test results on melamine. Canada and the European Union have posted websites about melamine and their countries' standards of melamine exposure on the human population. [Source: Health Canada link and EU link].
It sounds like more melamine testing will continue around the world. This will not be the last word on food products and melamine. The solutions to this international problem rest in the continuing transparency or openness about any cases that arise, whether at the supplier, consumer, or service medical level. While the reports are heartbreaking, transparency and fast reporting are the only ways of identifying sources, thereby providing the necessary corrective actions towards ensuring the safe health and lives of everyone, both man and animal. The melamine outbreak is affecting those populations who cannot really speak for themselves or fully understand what is going on with their health--infant children and animals, those that are pets or food supply chain animals. It is up to those who care for these vulnerable populations to listen, pay attention, and protect their rights, safety, and welfare. It is also up to the governments to hold accountable those people who contaminate food supplies.
-Reported by the Boldly Liberal Intern
Like those at SadlyNo! I'm thankful I'm not B. Daniel Blatt.
I'm also thankful I'm not in Mumbai where thankfully the siege ended.
Like those at 23/6 I'm thankful for many things including: Obama will be able to place many liberal judges on the bench, even rich folks agreed to that it was a good idea to spread the wealth, the socialist takeover of banks happened on Bush's watch and Bush is probably drinking again.
Have a good thanksgiving. And now a totally gratuitous childhood memory jogger...
My apologies for the Popeye video with the messed up audio. This Tom & Jerry video is just fine. -Mr Bold
I've been getting the distinct impression from everyone on the right wing squawking on my TV, that Obama has been the President for the last 4 days.
Who knew that President Elect had this much power?
see Sarah Palin pictures
Warm and fuzzies? Yeah I got 'em.
I just read a fascinating piece I came across via Crooks and Liars. David Neiwert (Orcinus) highlighted this piece by Nate Silver over at 538:
538: Did-talk-radio-kill-conservatism?
This really grabbed me right here:
There are a certain segment of conservatives who literally cannot believe that anybody would see the world differently than the way they do. They have not just forgotten how to persuade; they have forgotten about the necessity of persuasion.
Apparently half of the Americans who took this failed it.
Take the quiz here.
I got 31 out of 33. Go a head and try to beat my score ; ).
Well the Missourians of 2008 broke their state's 52 year long streak of voting for the winner in the Presidential elections.
Progressives still have a lot of work to do in Missouri.
Here they are doing "Mouth For War."
You know while the pundits are all talking about Hil for Secretary of State...
If you're listed as a contributor here and there are blogs you regularly follow, shout them out to me and I will add them to the blog roll. It doesn't have to be about politics. I'd like the site to reflect the diversity in our authorship.
Thanks,
The Management
Click here for article
I cannot believe this article. Our religious freedoms are already protected. This is just anti-abortion language artfully disguised. It makes me furious, and I am glad that our President Elect is going through motions to see that it is nullified.
The Senator who gave us the bridge to nowhere has lost his bid for re-election. Former Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich will take Senator Ted Stevens' seat.
We'll miss good ol' Teddy-boy. He had cajones that were unmatched. Here he is arguing with a prosecutor about a gift he got:
He said he considered that chair a loan.
"And the chair is still at your house?" prosecutor Brenda Morris asked.
"Yes," Stevens said.
"How is that not a gift?"
"He bought that chair as a gift, but I refused it as a gift," Stevens said. "He put it there and said it was my chair. I told him I would not accept it as a gift. We have lots of things in our house that don't belong to us."
Playing to the jury, Morris appeared confused.
"So, if you say it's not a gift, it's not a gift?" she said.
"I refused it as a gift," Stevens replied. "I let him put it in our basement at his request."
Tomorrow there is going to be protest against Prop. 8 across the country. St. Louisans are going to assemble at the Old Courthouse at Market and Broadway at 12:30 pm. Show up and show solidarity.
Find out more here
Click here for article
Personally, I agree with this guy. I think the bailout was a terrible idea in the first place, and he's right, it will just open the door for more greedy corporations to "beg for government help".
+ video. Rant and rave about whatever you feel like.
Featured Artist-Casandra Wilson doing The Beatles hit "Come Together."
Came across this article on CNN:
Read all about it here
Amazing. Our government, in their infinite wisdom, made these men sign non-disclosure agreements to keep them quiet about these atrocities. Could you imagine going through something like that and then not even being able to talk to your family about it? That would make me go insane. No wonder so many veterans are in desperate need of psychological care.
I hope this guy publishes his diary. I'd like to read it, as morbid as that sounds.
I overheard a Mexicano looking dude listening to "I'm Proud to Be an American" by Lee Greenwood on his IPOD on my way home. Upon further reflection, that was probably a youtube video opportunity that passed me by.
Oh well.
Rant and rave about whatever you feel like on this thread.
ps-Obama is killin' it yo's.
Some Army recruiters are using Obama's victory as a recruitment tool:
via
Thinkprogress
There are three names floating around right now, although there are some "unnamed others", apparently: Timothy Geithner, Lawrence Summers and Paul Volcker.
This is such an important decision at this point in time. I think that either Geithner or Volcker would be a great choice. They've already weathered some financial crises, and seem to me to have a wealth of experience.
I was reading Wikipedia articles about each of these men, and Lawrence Summers scares me the most. He's a very vocal sexist pig, and is extremely controversial. I think he'd be the wrong choice for Obama's administration, and this position in particular, considering the economic mess he would have to clean up and his seemingly argumentative nature. I sincerely doubt that he would be an easy man to work with. And then there's this:
"In the fall of 2001 the US national media focused their attention on a private meeting in which Summers criticized prominent African-American Studies professor Cornel West, for missing too many classes, contributing to grade inflation, and neglecting serious scholarship. West, who later called Summers both "uninformed" and "an unprincipled power player" in describing this encounter in his book Democracy Matters (2004), subsequently returned to Princeton University, where he taught prior to Harvard University." - from the Wikipedia article on Summers
Seems as though he's not only a sexist pig, but a racist as well. I just hope he is showing his true colors to our President Elect.
She's a total trainwreck, I know, but she's an amazing singer. I love this song. Hope you all enjoy!
A wingnut thoughtfully points out:
"I know many of you are still drunk with elation that the Messiah has won but there still is a real world out there."
"Once Obama was declared the winner, the stock market faced its biggest drop in history."
"Russia is placing missiles on NATO borders and ordered its fleet with ballistic missile jamming capabilities out to sea. Putin is pushing for the Presidency again with a new six year term."
"Our enemies are as happy as can be. November 4th 2008 will be remembered as the day America died. Welcome to the real world."
I know many of you are still drunk with elation that the Messiah has won but there still is a real world out there. Once Obama was declared the winner, the stock market faced its biggest drop in history. Russia is placing missiles on NATO borders and ordered its fleet with ballistic missile jamming capabilities out to sea. Putin is pushing for the Presidency again with a new six year term. Our enemies are as happy as can be. November 4th 2008 will be remembered as the day America died. Welcome to the real world.
If you've followed the St. Louis or the Lisbon page *cough *cough, you are familiar with At My Desk. She's been a regular there for at least a year if not longer. She's always been a consistent voice for the underdog and other Liberal causes. I look forward to reading her first post.
Welcome aboard At My Desk.
We are becoming The Establishment. My hope here at BoldlyLiberal is to stay on top of debunking the right wing smears and myths that get thrown up to defend the top 1 percent.
There is no way McCain can win this thing. The race I'm watching now is Franken/Coleman in Minnesota.
Update 9:18 Franken is beating Coleman 44% - 39% on MSNBC.
This is a general public service announcement:
Happy Election Day!!
Just a reminder that Drinking Liberally will be hosting an Election Night party tonight at Premium Lounge beginning at 6PM. (Don't skip voting for the drink specials! Polls are open until 7PM and you can vote if you?re in line then.) The Lounge will be offering buy one-get one rails and beers from 6-8PM and you can get patriotic with red/white/blue shots! If you haven't been to Premium Lounge, it has plenty of cushy seating, free wi-fi, and a ginormous flat screen- a perfect place to gather with your Liberal friends for this exciting night.
See you tonight!
-Vanessa
P.S. If you have any problems voting call 1.877.MO.CHANGE
Our condolences goes out to the Obama family. I am sure there is some wingnut like Jerome Corsi starting some whisper campaign accusing Obama of murder.
This is amazing:
Amanda Jones, 109, the daughter of a man born into slavery, has lived a life long enough to touch three centuries. And after voting consistently as a Democrat for 70 years, she has voted early for the country's first black presidential nominee.
Well howdy y'all. I just flew back from Wilmington, North Carolina and boy are my arms tired.
When I was down there I discovered well...fiddle-dee-dee those d*mn Yankees denied me an Internet connection. I want to thank those that contributed to this blog and kept it going over the week end. I promise beers all around when I see ya.
This is an open thread. You can write about whatever you feel like in the comments below.
I recently saw a jester costume that reminded me of this video. Funny, the video seems so much more low tech now than it did back in the day. Still way trippy though. Here's Dead Can Dance with "The Carnival is Over".
Tensions reportedly are brewing between Palin and the McCain advisors but I think its all a ruse. I predict that McCain will dump her as his VP choice and replace her with another practically unknown VP days before the election. He will be shiny and new- and on the surface be everything the conservatives are looking for. Those who were planning to vote for Obama due to being put off by Palin will come back to McCain- and he will also clench the swing voters with is refreshing new VP choice before we've had any time to get to know him. And I do believe the new pick will be a man. Maybe a hispanic.
Who wants to place some bets McCain dumps Palin? And when? I think he will do it November 1st.
Well, it seems the woman who claimed she was mugged and attacked at an ATM for being a McCain supporter MADE THE WHOLE THING UP.
I. Am. Stunned.
(NOT)
Her imaginary attacker was a tall black man who wore dark clothes and "shiny shoes"
You dont say! O Rly!
Sung to the tune of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA."
Startin' tomorrow all my things will be gone,
I'd worked for my whole life
And on the 4th we'll start again
when we elect a new president
I'd thank my lucky stars
to still be a livin here today
Cause the flag now stands for torture
And they haven't taken me away
Cause I'm proud to be a Bush hater,
Cause that helps me stay sane,
And I won't forget the Hell on Earth,
That Bush made this place to be.
And I will gladly stand UP
next to you and think with you today
Cause there aint no doubt Bush screwed this land,
He screwed the U. S. A.!
I see Smiley Mike is here today. Mike, this section will let you go into length about anything you want to talk about. Chat Box only lets you post small comments.
Sorry I’ve been away for so long. I’m kind of leading a life in transition right now and barely have the time to keep up with all the shit let alone talk about it. I’ll just start by saying that this whole election thing is locked up. Looks like Obama might even have as many as 60 friendly senators and an overwhelmingly friendly House to help move things along. We’ll have a very bitter and vocal minority to contend with once it’s time to start governing in January, so the fight is really only beginning. I’d like to see Obama et al work towards building a real mandate from the people not just so we can get things done, but also that more Americans might enter the expected financial shitstorm with some degree of confidence. Maybe things won’t be so bad.
Poor John McCain. His faustian gambit to oust his long time staffers in favor of the apostles of Rove/Bush came up snake eyes. And, I bet nobody ever claims the strategic credit for choosing Palin, like ever. She has truly proven herself to be a whack job of the highest order. Saved against witchcraft? Are you fucking kidding me! Back in the day, I never would have expected such a willfully nasty McCain campaign ever being run, especially after the way he got Bushfucked in South Carolina back in their 2000 primary. Sad. What they forgot is that the bullshit attack tactics lose their shock value when the voters fear other things more. We saw this same thing back in 1992, when the personal attacks against Clinton never got traction against the fears people had about that year’s Bush-inspired economic unpleasantness. If enduring all their nastiness this year has any measurable upside, it’ll be the warm glow we feel inside knowing that neither John McCain nor Sarah Palin will ever command a god damn thing inside the Oval Office.
I still sometimes wish that Obama would not have opted out of the public funding. That decision will make it so much harder to ever legislate a real public financing system that can really retard the influence of the special interests and corporate power brokers. This year is an anomaly in that we’re usually on the bad side of the fundamentally corrupt fundraiser system we currently have. So, Obama can make it up to me by using some of that 3 or 4-to-1 money advantage to build broad public support for things like health care reform or investing in education. Why not raise more money to do so after the election? Many corporate interests are weak right now, but not so weak that they can’t spend insane millions of dollars on ads to defeat anything we try to do that might require them to sacrifice too. Everyone who gave to Obama’s campaign helped put the right players in place to make change happen, but they’ll need to keep giving if we’re going to capitalize on the juice we’re going to have these next two years.
Hopefully I’ll be able to be around again in time to enjoy this thing with everyone. It’s sure to be an interesting ride. Later y'all.
A "Guest" on our chat widget put forth this proposition about Joe the Plumber:
[D]oes it really matter what license joe the plumber has? All that matters in the content of his question, but you are to blind to see that.
Chamber of commerce weather day, Oh and just over 100,000 people show for the event. Amazing turnout for a St.Louis crowd.
Joe the Plumber's story sprang a few leaks Thursday. Turns out that the man who was held up by John McCain as the typical, hard-working American taxpayer isn't really a licensed plumber. And court documents show he owes nearly $1,200 in back taxes.
Click here for story
I cant believe it. One minute, we are all stuffing ourselves on the wonderful breakfast the secretaries made for bosses day and the next minute we heard an thunderous boom. The fire alarms started going off and we all wondered if it was for real or another false alarm. I decided not to take any chances, grabbed my blackberry and my purse and headed for the stairs.
On my way down, I saw blood all over the floor of the parking garage on level P6. Someone said one of the maintainence men was all bloody. I called the secretaries from my cell and told them this is not a joke and they need to get out now.
Once outside, the firetrucks showed up and they blocked off the street and told us to get far away from the building. Then, they wheeled the guy out on a stretcher and he was all bloody, and he was not moving. He was still holding his hands out as if he was still holding something. He was about 50-60, grey haired and in a button down shirt. It was so upsetting to see.
An intern saw the whole thing happen- the guy was getting into his car and found a package next to it. He picked it up and it blew up in his face.
After I heard that, I started walking home and calling/texting/emailing everyone I know for a ride. My car is still in the garage where the bomb went off and we cant go back in for many hours at least. After hoofing it about 2 miles, a friend picked me up and took me home. Not sure how I will get back to work tomorrow....if they let us back in.
See coverage:
MyFoxSTL
KSDK local coverage
STLtoday
I guess if you're the Michelle Malkins/Sean Hannities of the world you're happy with McCain's performance tonight. I imagine the wingnuts are only pissed off that he didn't run with it sooner.
It doesn't matter though. Americans could care less about some hippie radical from the 1960s. It's 2008 and the Nixon strategies don't work.
And if I picked "Joe the Plumber" as a drinking word I would be too soused to write this.
Luckily for me I picked "middle class." Thanks O for bringing them up a couple of times : )
You can rant and rave about whatever you want to here.
I'm looking into starting an open generic discussion board to replicate rants and raves.
And Maddow remains unflappable through it all.
Frum tries to advance the argument that right wingers and left wingers are equally guilty of coursening and dumbing down our national dialogue. This is an argument you will find whenever you bring up the sheer visciousness of right wing attacks.
Give it a watch and tell me what you think.
Craigslist instituted a 5 posting limit across the board today. With that final nail and the unethical flaggers, I think it's safe to say at this point what used to be a vibrant often foul, sometimes golden stream of collective consciousness is dead.
Oh well.
It's the TGIF edition.
*We are coming up to the last 100 days of the Bush/Cheney era. Check the clock on the right for the exact moment. I wouldn't encourage you to drug yourself enough to the sleep through the finale, but I'd understand.
Mr Bold 6:21 pm.
Did you know that Sarah Palin thinks humans and dinosaurs coexisted? That's right. She thinks the Flintstones was a cartoon portraying some time in the distant past.
You should ask yourself, "Do I know anyone I would consider smart who thinks dinosaurs and humans coexisted?"
Me neither. And I bet most of the Republicans who argue with you don't either.
Looks like "At My Desk" is reading on "Boldly Liberal". This is a open post to say anything you want here. Chatbox will only post small comments, so if you have more to say do it here. Who you voting for "At My Desk"?
Draw with edge for Obama.
McCain repeated the same points he made in the first debate. It's a short script he has in his head it seems. I haven't heard how McCain expects to pay for the promises he's making.
Obama stood his ground. He let some McCain zingers go by without response. But then just about everything out of McCain was a zinger.
Retired navy chief. I know both express support for Israel, if Iran attacks would you wait for approval from the sec council before moving?
JM-We obviously would not wait for the UN. Both Russia and China would pose significant obstacles. The Iranians are posing a threat. It's not just Israel but entire mid east. The tensions would be ratcheted up. Calls your country a stinking corpse. BO wants to sit down with them. If we join with our allies in posing tough sanctions to modify their behavior. And join a league of democracies. You know what it's like to serve.
BO-We honor your service. We cannot allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon. We will never take military options off the table. And we will never provide veto power to the UN. But we must use all the tools to prevent that senario. If we can work diplomatically. right now Iran imports gas even though they have oil. If we can stop gas going into there that would stop their economy. We need to make clear that if they don't change their behavior there are consequences. If they change it, then they can rejoin the community of nations. Not talking has created a nuclear korea.
Last question.
What don't you know and will you learn it?
BO-My wife could give you long list and most time I'd ask her. One of things we know about the Presidency is the challenges we don't expect. Here is what I do know. I know I wouldn't be standing here if it wasn't for this country giving me my opportunity. I come from modest means. My mom collected food stamps. Despite that i was able to succeed and that is true for Michelle. And the question is are we going to pass on that American dream to our children. The dream has diminished. People dont' have the money to go to college. We can't do the same thing we've done for 8 years and expect something different.
JM-I think what I don't know is what all of us don't know. What I don't know is what the unexpected will be. I know what it's like in dark times and what it's like to keep on fighting through dark times. I know what it's like to have your comrades reach out and pick you up and put you back into the fight. I believe in this country. It's been my great honor to serve it. And I'm asking for another opportunity. Steady hand at the tiller.
should the US respect pakistani sovereignity and follow al qaeda?
BO-we have a difficult situation in Pakistan. We had bad judgement by going into Iraq. Ultimately OBL escaped. They are now raiding. Destabilizing the situation. That's why I think it's important to reverse course. they are plotting to kill americans right now. Part of the reason I think to end the war in Iraq is to put more troops in Afghanistan and pressure Pakistan. I propose to encourage democracy in Pakistan and expand our aid to that country to increase cooperation. If we have al qaeda in our sights, and Pakistan won't act. We have to act.
JM-My hero is a guy named Teddy Roosevelt. BO wants to talk loudly. He has announced he wants to attack Pakistan. When you announce your going to launch an attack in pakistan it turns them against.
We drove out Russia Afghanistan and we left. Taliban moved in. The borders are being held by those tribes and taliban has safe haven. We need to help Pakistan go into Waziristan to get them to turn against the cruel taliban.
BO-look I want to be clear. No one called for invasion of pakistan. What I said was the same thing I said here. If Pakistan won't take OBL out we should. They are threatening to kill more Americans. Now JM wants to paint me as green behind the ears. He sang Bomb bomb bomb Iran. Next up Baghdad. He doesn't speak softly. The popular opinion soured in Pakistan because we were not promoting democracy. These are policies that undermine our war on terrorism.
JM-not true. I have supported those efforts and i have opposed those that I didn't think so. I was joking with an old veteran about Iran. I know how to handle these crisis. I'll get OBL my friends. And I know how to do it. but I'm not going to telegraph my punches [if you know it you better share it.]
tb-the Sr. british cmdr said we are failing in Afghanistan. We need an acceptable dictator. How do you reorganize afghan strategy?
BO-We withdraw our troops from Iraq responsibly. McKiernan in Afghanist is desperate for help. We will have to work with the Karzai gov't. We want a democracy and it has to be responsible.
JM-Petraeus just took over the whole area. BO is correct on some things. We have to expand our presence there. We have to have the same strategy that we used in Iraq that BO won't even admit he was wrong about. So I have confidence that Petraeus will again succeed.
TB-How can we apply pressure on Russia?
JM we're not going to have a cold war in Russia. But they're behavior is outside of the lines of acceptable behavior. I saw Putin's eyes. i saw KGB. he has oppressed the liberties most nations in that class don't. We got to advocate for Ukranian membership in NATO. We got to show them that this naked aggression in Georgia will not be tolerated. The russkies must understand these kind of activities is unacceptable.
BO-The resurgence of Russia is a central issue in next presidency. We can't just provide moral support. We've also got to provide them with financial and concrete assistance to rebuild they're economies. We also got to see around the corners and anticipate these problems. I wrote in April that the situation in Georgia was unsustainable. Part of the job of the next cmder in chief is to anticipate. We tend to be reactive. Energy is going to be key with dealing with Russia. If we reduce our oil demand they earn less petrodollars.
TB-yes or now is Russia an evil empire.
BO-they're not the old russia but they are doing some evil things.
JM-maybe. Energy is going to be a big factor. That's a reason why it's in our interest. They got to understand they are facing a firm America.
How will our economic stress affect our nation's ability to act as a peace maker in the world?
JM-well strong nations have to have a strong economy. We heard about a lot of criticism about America's foreign policy. America is a force for good. we shed our blood in defense of others. The challenge is to know when America can beneficially effect an outcome. That question can only be answered by those with experience and judgement when it can prevent genocide. Going back to our marines in lebanon. my judgement is something demonstrated in my record.
BO-Well JM suggested that I don't understand. It's true I don't understand how we could invade Iraq when OBL is in Afghanistan. JM suggested it would be quick and easy. That was the wrong judgement. On of things with Iraq is that it has put an enormous strain on our troops and our budgets. We spend close to 700 billion there and over a trillion if you follow McCain. Iraq has a surplus. And McCain hasn't explained how he is going to pay for anything he is proposing. The strain that has put on our alliances and it has constrained us to act on somehting like Darfur. That's going to change when I'm prez.
TB-let's establish the obama doctrine and mccain doctrine. Take the congo or rwanda. What is the conditions for use of force?
BO-If we could have stopped rwanda surely if we had the ability that is something to consider and act. If ethnic cleansing is going on and we are standing idly by. That has to be a part of our interest. But we will not be able to be everywhere at the same time.
JM-let me follow up my friends. If we would have done what Obama would have done in Iraq, we would have withdrawn and al qaeda would have come back in Iran would be stronger. I will bring our troops home with honor. We must do what we can to prevent but we must do what we can do to benefit the situation. In lebanon I stood up to Reagan [you're really freaking old] and asked how could we beneficially affect this situation.
I understand we have to say never again to rwanda. but we should leave and make the situation worse
Ingrid Jackson-"We saw that Congress moved fast in an economic congress. I want to know what your going to do to get Congress to move fast on environment?"
JM-I disagreed strongly with Bush on this issue. The best solution on nuclear power. Nuclear power is safe and clean. It creates 100ks of jobs. the french do it. BO opposed that. We can do that because we're the best innovators.
BO-This is one of the biggest challenges of our times. It is absolutely critical. If we create a new energy economy. We could easily create 5 mil news jobs in the same way computers did. It takes an investment in the same way the internet was created by gov't scientists. I've called for investments in solar, wind, thermal and nuclear. JM and I agree on something. The big problem in D.C. is that for 30 years no one did anything. For 26 years he didn't do anything. He voted against alternative energy [a whole lot]. We can't drill our way out of the problem. And we can't burn more fossil fuels in response to global warming.
TB should we fund a manhattan project for this or something like silicon valley?
JM-I think straight R&D by the gov't is appropriate. Oil drilling now is vital so we can bridge the gap between imported oil and it will reduce the price of oil because when there is more supply out there the price goes down.
Selling health care in America has become a profitable industry. Do you believe health care is a commodity?
BO-it's breaking family budgets. If you have insurance you've seen your premiums go up. One of things I said from the start is that we have a moral imperiative to do something about this crisis. If you got hc already you can keep your plan. We will work with your employer to reduce your premium. If you don't have hc then you'll be able to buy the same pool of insurance that McCAin and I enjoy. JM has a different kind of approach. He is going to tax your hc employer benefits. One hand giveth and one hand taketh away. That is fundamentally the wrong way to go. The United States Chamber of Commerce said his plan will lead to the unraveling of the employer based HC system.
JM-co payments go up. Skyrocketing costs. And we need to do all of things to put health records online. But what is at stake here is a fundamental difference between the two. He talks about gov't this and that. He wants gov't to fine you if you don't provide insurance. I want to provide a transferable hc plan that you can transfer across state lines. If you put the tax on it and you add 5k do the math. 95% of american people will have increase funds to buy the insurance of your choice. The point is we got to give people the choice and not mandates. [you should have the freedom to screw your worker].
tb-is hc a privilege, right or responsibility.
JM-it's a responsibility. but gov't mandates I am nervous about. BO has never mentioned the fine.
BO-let's talk. .it's a right. In a country like ours people shouldn't go bankrupt over medical coverage. Number 1 if you got a plan you like you can keep it. There is no mandate. Small business do not have a mandate. I am giving them a tax credit. You are going to have to make sure your child has hc. kids are cheap to insure. He voted against SCHIP that is responsible for making sure kids have Hc now. Mandates. It's is absolutely true that our gov't has to crack down on insurance companies. And you know about this state by state shopping idea? Ins. Cos will find a state that has loose laws. He believes in deregulation in every circumstance.
BO-Can I respond to that?
TB no-Would you give Congress a date certain to reform soc sec and medicare in two years?
BO-we're going to have to take on entitlements. I can't guarantee I'd do it in two years. But maybe in the first term.
But the straight talk express got derailed there. I want to provide a tax cut for 95% of Americans. A small percentage of businesses make over 200k a year. And I will provide a tax credit for small businesses can't afford insurance. So I will help them. McCain want's to give a 200 billion tax cut to CEOs and corporations. If we get our tax policies right so it's good for the middle class..then we'll be in the position to deal with health care.
JM-I'll answer the question. It's not that hard to fix soc security. We know what the problems are. We got to sit down across the table. Vote up or down..to many special interests.
Now back on this tax. BO has voted 94 times to increase your taxes or against tax cuts. I fought higher taxes. I fought higher spending.
Since WW2 we haven't had to sacrifice. What sacrifice would you ask us to make to get out of this morass we're in?
JM-I first proposed a long time to eliminate every agency that's not working. I know Defense spending isn't working. I believe we have to eliminate those earmarks. They will have to undergo the same scrutiny. I recommend a spending freeze. [holy shit he wants to shut down government again].
we can't do this behind closed doors. I want to go back. We can attack health care and energy at the same time. I'm not going to tell you're going to have to wait.
BO- You know a lot of you remember 9/11 and how all of the country and make enormous changes and to make us a better country. bush did some smart things at the outset. He said though...go out and shop. That's not the kind of call to service. The American people are hungry for the kind of leadership. There is going to be the need for each one of us to rethink how we use energy. We need to tell those oil companies that all those acres they've granted to start using those. But we need to give ncentives to you the consumer. To buy fuel efficient cars...appliances. I think the young are especially interested. I want to increase the peac corps and domestic peace corps.
TB-Bush said Wall Street got drunk how would you break those bad habits of too much debt?
BO-I think it starts with D.C. If we're running up these debts people think that there is easy money out there. It's starts at spending. But also revenue side. Earmarks account for 18 billion of our budgets. When he's propose giving your average ceo 700K in tax breaks, that's not asking for someone to contribute.
I disagree with the across the board spending freeze. that's a hatchet and I want to use a scalpel.
JM-Nailing down BO's tax proposals is like nailing jello to a wall. There's been like 6 plans. BO's secret is that you don't know, is that his tax increases will raise taxes on 50% of small businesses. Lets not raise anyone's taxes. I am in favor leaving the tax rates alone. There will a 5K tax credit for insurance. Let's not raise anyone's taxes.
How can we trust either of you with our money when both parties got us into this global economic crisis?
BO-If less money is coming in you do less. You are right there is enough blame to go around. But let's remember some history. When G Dub came into office we had a surplus. We doubled our debt. While it's true no one is completely innocent, but we have had the biggest increases in history and JM voted for 4 out 5 of those budgets.
You may have seen your premiums going up. And we are sending money overseas. We also got to make spending cuts. I am cutting more than I'm spending. It will be a net spending cut.
JM-Well Theresa. The system in D.C. is broken. I have been a consistent reformer. I've reached across the aisle. I've worked with [crazy] Joe LIEberman. Let's look at our records and not just rhetoric. Go to some of the watchdog organizations that watch us. BO has the most liberal big spending record. BO is proposing 860 billion in new spending. He voted for every increase in spending while we were working on eliminating pork. Do we need to spend money for projectors? [huh?]. We are looking for the kind of reforms that get our economy moving again. Energy independence is one way to do that. I know how to fix our economy.
TB-there are new economic realities. What are your priorities?
JM-Health, entitlement, energy-we can all three at the same time.
We are going to have to sit down between Rethug and Democrat. I remember Reagan and Tip O'Neal. [yeah because you're really old]. We can do all of this as Americans. Health care everyone is struggling. That's the next issue. We can do them all at once.
BO-We're going to have to prioritize- Energy we have to deal with today. You are paying 3.80 in Nashville. It's important to our security. I've called for 15 billion a year investment. 10 years we could be free from Mid East oil. Health care is priority #2. It's bad for families. And 3 Education.
One more thing looking through records. I want to go through line by line and eliminate programs that don't work. We also have to look at where are taxes are going. He wants to give corporations tax breaks taking money out of the system and not working for you.
It's a townhall format. TB = Tom Brokaw moderator. BO = Barack Obama and JM = John McCain.
TB Since you last met at Ole Miss the world has changed. The economy. BO is going first.
Allen Schaefer- "What's the fastest way to bail out the people at the bottom?
BO- worst crisis since Great Depression. You are worried about sending kids to college. it's a failure of policies of last 8 years. Deregulation hasn't worked out that way. Step one make sure the package passed last week works properly. Perform oversight. AIG went on a 400K junket after bailout. Middle Class needs a rescue package. It means help for homeowners...loan projects...fix healthcare...fix energy. You need some working for you and not just those with lobbyists.
JM-you go to the heart of Americans' worries tonight. My plan has to do with energy independence. We have to keep taxes low. Lets not raise them on anybody. You know we laid a 10 trillion debt to our kids? I think this has become so severe we have to do something about home values. As President I would order treasury sec. buy up those mortgages.
How do you pay for this without revenues John?-me
TB - obviously Paulson's powers are expanded who would put there McCain?
JM-not you Tom. I think the first criteria is someone Americans ID with. Meg Whitman E Bay. The point is somoene that inspires trust and confidence. We don't have trust and confidence in our institutions.
BO-Warren Buffet is a good choice. The key is making sure that the next Treas. Sec doesn't just help those at the top and hope it trickles down. Part of the problem is for many of you wages have flat lined. It's getting harder to save. I want to provide a tax cut to 95% of Americans. Sen. McCain is right about stablizing housing prices but wages are also a priority.
TB- Oliver Clark "Well through this crisis most have had a difficult time. What started this?"
JM-Bailout is the right word. One of the real catalysts..really the match is Freddie Mae and Mac. They are the ones with the encouragement of Obamam's cronies and friends. We tried to stop that greed and excess. Meanwhile some Dems and members of Congress. Meanwhile they were getting all kinds of campaign contributions. BO got the most of their lobby money.
The bailout is not enough. Fanny Mae was the catalyst.
BO-As a pratical matter...the credit market has frozen up. And companies use that for payroll. We shouldn't have been here in the first. I have to correct McCain's history.
It was about the deregulation of the system. I said two years we have a subprime lending crisis. I wrote letters to Paulson and Bernake and nothing happened. With respect to Fannie Mae. I never promoted Fannie Mae. In fact McCain's campaign advisor is a lobbyist for Fannie Mae. This is the beginning of the process. And the next president has to make sure that you and not banks get bailed out.
TB- Are you saying the economy is going to get worse?
BO-I am confident about the American economy...but we still have an archaic 20th century regulatory powers in this modern financial environment.
JM-I think if we get rid of the special interest. I'd like you to see a letter I wrote...Senator Obama's name is not on that letter. America's economy is the best exporters. Best workers in the world. We got to give them the chance to do their best again.
McCain is promising to take the gloves the off. So far that means lying about your opponent with abandon and inciting lynch mobs.
Think of this as watching an old politician strangle his political career.
Well everyone in my office is talking about last night's debate. That in itself is pretty cool.
Feel free to write about whatever you feel like here.
If she talks in coherent sentences she'll be fine. She's really only aiming for a draw here with Biden I imagine.
Honestly, I think the odds of that happening are mediocre at best. Therefore I predict Palin loss and endless replays of snippets of her sounding as dumb as she did with Katie Couric will be on the news.
Let's hope for comedy gold tonight.
Poor little Kathleen Parker of the National Review Online got a taste of the bile she's been spewing over the years...and imagine that...she doesn't like it.
I am a traitor and an idiot. Also, my mother should have aborted me and left me in a dumpster, but since she didn't, I should "off" myself.
"Those are a few nuggets randomly selected from thousands of e-mails written in response to my column suggesting that Sarah Palin is out of her league and should step down.
"After 20 years of column writing, I'm familiar with angry mail. But the past few days have produced responses of a different order. Not just angry, but vicious and threatening.
You have to see this example of Fair and Balanced reportage from FauxNews:
Yeah 95% of the room in favor of Obama is what Mainstreeters would call "split." Sure...
Obama has opened up a ten point lead in DKos's R2K poll. The data was collected over the week end, so you're starting to see the effects of the debate in the polling.
That's what we're seeing. Monday started with a crisis on Wall Street. Bush and Congress were telling us that we needed to do something big in response. And what does McCain do? He announces he's suspending his campaign and may not even show up to the debate on Friday to give full attention to the bail out.
But he didn't really suspend his campaign. His surrogates went out and Palin did a god awful interview. McCain commercials aired on TV.
On Thursday he goes to the White House and blows up the deal that the House Dems and Teasury Secretary Paulson worked out. McCain does all this without even offering a plan of his own or indicating he's even starting working on one. It should be noted that the House Republicans are against the proposed plan too, but their plan, instead of being some viable rational alternative, is nothing but more tax breaks for corporations without addressing any of the causes for this mess in the first place.
On Friday McCain shows up to the debate. There's no bailout plan. There is no plan operative right now at all. McCain flip flopped in 24 hours with nothing to show for it.
Whether McCain had a stroke or not, he is acting very erratically. And that's not good.
Paul Newman lost his battle with cancer.
Huffington Post reports
The world just got a little darker.
McCain came across like a crazy old man that never listened to anyone.
That's just me though.
It's being reported that he was alert and conscious. He called 911 because he wasn't feeling well. Let's hope it's not serious.
Take a look. See what you think.
McCain stroke rumor spreading
They were leaked to the Colorado Independent.
McCain talking points memo leaked
H/t to Dday on DailyKos-
Dday's diary on DailyKos
That's right McCain. There is absolutely no valid excuse to cancel Friday's debate. John McCain is a C-H-I-C-K-E-N. That's right chicken.
He knows he's going to get his butt wooped by Obama and he is cynically using the current crisis as an excuse to not show up on Friday. It's transparent and it's shameless.
There are no flaggers here either.
wabah58 said...
If anybody wants to watch the new Michael Moore movie "Slacker Uprising" I have posted it below.
Click Here
September 23, 2008 4:20 PM
The song "The Art of shredding" One of my favorites. Sorry guys.
No official video, can you believe that?
I checked the DKos poll and it's Obama 49-McCain 43. The Palin bounce is over as voters get better informed of her views. McCain still looks like a continuation of Bush policy which has led to record deficits and a failing economy.
And let's not discount Obama. He's swinging hard at McCain-
That's what someone who lives in reality sounds like on the campaign trail.
I realize this is the second time Coldplay is getting featured by me, but in this case it's special. I'm celebrating an anniversary today and this is the song I associate with her.
Here is Coldplay performing "Clocks."
