The Goodnight Thread

Bully me, baby!

If I had to vote today, I'd vote for John Edwards
by PsiFighter37
Sun Aug 05, 2007 at 05:13:26 PM PDT
Disclaimer: because I don't have to vote today, I'm still undecided. Hopefully, Al Gore decides to run.

The last couple of weeks has been a disconcerting time for the Democratic Party. First, our congressional Democrats abdicated their constitutional responsibilities and passed the White House bill on FISA that gives the executive branch 6 months (at least) of unchecked power to conduct domestic surveillance without a warrant. The debate on the subject eerily reminds me of the run-up to the Iraqi war authorization vote in 2002: Democrats were accused of not providing the tools needed to fight terrorism, and, despite having a majority in at least one house of Congress, complied with what the Bush administration wanted.

What is worse, though, is that, just as in 2004, Democratic presidential candidates feel obligated to 'prove' that they are 'strong' on national security. And just as in 2004, only one serious candidate at this point in the electoral cycle is bucking the trend.

That candidate is John Edwards.

In watching the debate hosted at Yearly Kos, one thing becomes striking: both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama seem to support a continuing pursuit of a 'war on terror'. Clinton made very little effort to hide the fact that she is for continuing a GWOT in some form, calling it a 'war on terrorists' instead. While it was not highlighted much in the yKos debate, Obama seems to have stepped back from a reasonable position on one portion of national security - stating he would talk to leaders of countries without preconditions - to burnishing his credentials on national security with this speech:

It is time to turn the page. When I am President, we will wage the war that has to be won, with a comprehensive strategy with five elements: getting out of Iraq and on to the right battlefield in Afghanistan and Pakistan; developing the capabilities and partnerships we need to take out the terrorists and the world's most deadly weapons; engaging the world to dry up support for terror and extremism; restoring our values; and securing a more resilient homeland.

While the speech was noted in the press for Obama's tough language against Pakistan and its ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, the overall tone of the message was clear: America has a big stick, and I will use it.

That's not to say that the rest of the content in Obama's plan is disagreeable - indeed, there is a lot that folks, including myself, can agree with the senator on. However, it's that he felt the need to make this speech after being lit into by Clinton, the GOP, and commentators in the mainstream media that shows that he is falling into the same losing frame on national security that most other Democrats have been trapped in.

Edwards, however, has shown that he has got it. After a minor flub early on regarding Iran (covered in this interview of Edwards by Jonathan Singer of MyDD), he has been pitch-perfect when it comes to foreign policy, particularly Iraq, Afghanistan, and the 'war on terror' in general. At the yKos debate, he does say that terrorism is a real threat, it needs to be handled, and so forth. But Edwards has not had the same urge as the other top-tier candidates to project hawkishness in his statements on national security. Rather, he focuses more on the root causes that allow terrorists to gain footholds - a long-term view on solving the problem - rather than the short-term solution of what it will take to win the 'war on terror'. From his website:

Terrorism takes root in weak and failing states. Poverty increases the risk to America by providing a safe harbor for instability, extremism, and terrorism. As president, Edwards will attack these root causes with dramatic increases in funding for global primary education, clean drinking water, protection of constitutional and democratic rights, and economic opportunity.

This statement is most easily observable in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hamas, generally regarded as a terrorist group, has nearly overtaken Fatah as the dominant force in Palestinian politics because of what it does for the Palestinian people:

n Israel and around the world, many wish for the downfall of the Hamas government in Gaza, but on the streets, the movement is gaining popularity. As a part of its efforts to strengthen the relationship between the organization and ordinary citizens, Hamas is operating 100 summer camps throughout the Gaza Strip. Tens of thousands of children spend the summer studying the Islamic resistance movement's doctrine.

Hamas regard these camps – which are provided free of charge - as a major project. "These kids are Hamas' future army. Those who think the movement should be destroyed need to view this mighty endeavor that is a production-line of tens of thousands of activists for many years to come," said a Gazan Hamas member.

More here:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/8/5/191919/5358

Submitted by KateAnne on Sun, 08/05/2007 - 8:57pm.
Submitted by KateAnne on Sun, 08/05/2007 - 9:00pm.
---
KateAnne: You caught your "you comments" error but you drove right past the Toronado.

this is much better than a home run record

-M the a-c

Matt Drudge on the blogger convention:

"The bloggers were much funner when they were radical. They are mainstream now. They're boring. The bloggers are boring mainstream reporters now."

-M the a-c

"That covention was like a boring Iowa barbeque."

There was an entry on C&L attacking Bonds a while ago that has mysteriously disappeared after the contributor started complaining that he had been edited in the midst of the numerous responses that were unfolding. It seemed kind of out of place anyway.

has a post up concerning Vick.

It's very difficult for me to wrap my head around.

1) I despise what Vick is alleged to have done - with rage even.
2) Innocent till proven guilty - what about that?
3) Is it wrong to pray for such a person?

Opus!
Submitted by Sunshine Jim on Sun, 08/05/2007 - 8:17pm

But,your link to Old Opus wasn't working.. :)

1) Yeah, dog fighting sucks.
2) Because Vick has been charged with this crime, wouldn't it be better to honor someone else until the matter is resolved? It appears that the SCLC has decided to honor Vick specifically because he has been implicated. Isn't there a single person more worthy for the SCLC to honor this year?
3) Praying for someone is one thing, paying honor to someone charged with a vicious crime is quite another. The SCLC ought to decide which they are doing. They use the words as if they are synonymous. They are not.

BTW, this year's SCLC conference is dedicated to the memory of Jimmie Lee Jackson, a civil rights activist who was shot in 1962 while trying to aid his mother and grandfather who were being beaten with billy clubs by police at a civil rights march. At this conference, Vick seems like a poor choice as someone to honor. But I do agree that Vick needs prayer. And lots of it.

Deborah from Kansas

Riley is gone .... Richard Green is replacing Riley for 2 hrs. and Bree Walker (?), who bought Cindy Sheehan's land in TX (?), is taking the other 2 hrs. What is up with the other Green/AAR owner and Seder? What does he have against humour? Political humour, which Seder and Maron had down to fine art, is rare talent and Green seems to be afraid of it. Now, he's thrown Riley out along with Seder, Maron, and the news crew. I'm heart-sick over the situation. Peace

Submitted by Fernando on Sun, 08/05/2007 - 10:20pm.
(...)
2) Innocent till proven guilty - what about that?
(...)
-----------------------------------------------------
Take your concerns to the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Athletes).

...tonight :0 ... ;)

Sam's voice sounded different on today's show. Not as raspy, and very subdued. Was it really him?

•Four million Iraqis – 15 percent - cannot buy enough to eat.

•70 percent are without adequate water supplies.

•28 percent of children are malnourished.

•92 percent of Iraqi children suffer learning problems.

•43 percent of Iraqis live in "absolute poverty," earning less than one dollar a day.

•More than two million people have been displaced inside Iraq.

•A further two million Iraqis have become refugees, mainly in Syria and Jordan.

Jeremy Hobbs, Director of Oxfam International, said: "The terrible violence in Iraq has masked the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Malnutrition among children has dramatically increased and basic services, ruined by years of war and sanctions, cannot meet the needs of the Iraqi people. Millions of Iraqis have been forced to flee the violence, either to another part of Iraq or abroad. Many of those are living in dire poverty.

http://www.oxfamamerica.org/newsandpublications/press_releases/nearly-a-...

Save Iraq? It's just not a feel good, popular cause. Lets all save Darfur instead. Does anyone else see the hypocrisy and the disconnect here?

Deborah from Kansas

I see the disconnect. Was there a disconnect at the YearlyKos between them and the "war" in Iraq? I heard there wasn't much mentioned about the "war." Was there? Peace

I have to ask Alice. I think she will know.

Alice, please go to:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Gentle%20Breeze/50/163/22

I'm thinking about renting a space to give us a different place to meet for special occasions.

RIP

This thread is still open is being spammed to Hell and Back ...

If we had three hours
Submitted by SEDER on Sat, 05/19/2007 - 9:25am.

Okay .. that's all ... Night everyone.
Hardly Anonymous

by Dover Bitch

Personally, I thought this part was pretty good while it lasted:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
*******
The Democrats have seriously alienated a significant portion of their base and they will not replace those voters with the Fox News viewers they sought to appease. It's not easy to win an argument (if it's possible at all) against people who claim there's no difference between the parties. Right now, the results are the same as they were seven months ago.

The goal, however, has to be to change the composition of the Democratic Party. There is no alternative that has a better chance of success. The only other choice is to give up. Why do that?

We need better Democrats. There are too many right now who are totally worthless!

Link

Hardly

7 Brooklyn shootings leave two dead, 10 injured

Out for Milk, Brooklyn Father Is Fatally Stabbed

Cops Asking for Help in Identifying Two Sets of Remains

Brownsville residents boot dealers & rats, reclaim homes

Drug thug's ig-Noble tyranny was legend

FISA Bill,Impeachment,whatever.Please keep the preasure on your Congressional Bots!This Madness needs to Stop.......Thanks. :)

Link

A spill grows in Brooklyn

you don't know me but,with all that crime there.Keep your head down,stay safe! :)

♫♪♫♪Give PEACHES A Chance♫♪♫♪

**
"Parodies for Peace Movement"
(It's called a protest movement.)
PEACHES (aka "Soft and Fuzzy Anonymous")

:)

Defects reported in 70,000 US bridges

http://www.richard-seaman.com/Wallpaper/USA/Cities/BrooklynBridgeAtNight...

Howdy NC

//you don't know me but..//

The whole place stinks.

Teenagers lined up and shot at school

4 killed as a night of gunfire shakes Newark

At least we don't have to worry about terror attacks on bridges - they'll collapse from neglect..

http://cryptome.quintessenz.at/mirror/nycbnt/ny-bridges-tunnels-07.jpg

♫♪♫♪Give PEACHES A Chance♫♪♫♪

**
"Parodies for Peace Movement"
(It's called a protest movement.)
PEACHES (aka "Soft and Fuzzy Anonymous")

Man Found Shot Dead In Bronx Apartment

Bronx man busted in girlfriend's slaying

Two teenagers shot in Queens

Queens man charged with murder and gun possession

Cops probe grisly Staten Island skeleton find

Police Arrest Man in Rape Of Staten Island Woman, 70

Girl Is Shot In Manhattan While Bending Over To Tie Her Shoelaces

Police searching for suspect in Upper West Side murder

I thought of something like that but HA ... standing and flying, if I am lucky -- but still cool. http://slurl.com/secondlife/Gentle%20Breeze/50/163/22

Make a place and someone will come, just don't expect me. HaHaHa. Alice, I think she'll know ... ;)

AhhhhAhhhhhAhhhAhhh Summer Wine... RIP, Travel Well Lee ;)

I missed it... I was on the road.
I'd really like to hear it!
Sam? Lauren? Pleeez.
Under The LobsterScope

Huffington Post:
Posted by Defyant.

Never forget the dog on the roof. If Mitt is elected President, we could all wind up metaphorically, becoming the dog on the roof.

Look at Bush's family background. A grandfather who supported fascists. Now we are entering an era of American fascism.

It is the little things that speak volumes about a man.

This is the best I can do for you..
am1090seattle-Sam Podcast-Link:)

http://podcast.rbn.com/airam/airam/download/archive/2007/08/aass080507.m...

Podcast receiver (freeware):
http://juicereceiver.sourceforge.net/

Feed for Sam Seder Show:
http://www.airamerica.com/premium/podcast.php?pid=4

Other free Air America podcasts:
http://www.airamerica.com/premium/podcasts.php?type=free

Information:
http://www.airamericaplace.com/donate.php

THIS IS NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR PREMIUM

This archive is not intended to compete with Premium. Premium holds episodes for about 30 days, so if you want a show that was broadcast within the last month or so, you will need to subscribe to Premium. I intend to keep this archive up to date, so as shows fall out of the Premium system, I will upload them here every week or so.

This archive is completely free to use, but here is the rub. If you are going to use it, I humbly ask you to donate a few dollars every month or so. I am paying for this completely out of my own pocket, with no help from Air America. I also ask that you donate appropriately. If you only download several shows a month, a dollar or two every month or so is fine. If you intend to go on some mass downloading spree, please donate considerably more.

[snip]

If I do not get enough in donations to cover the monthly cost, I will shut the archive down. This is only fair as it will either mean that there is not enough interest or most folks are not stepping up to help. The username is "please" and the password is "donate". If you have any questions, or if you would like to send a donation via snail mail, please inquire using the following email address: deepaudioarchive at gmail dot com.

in the 3 podcast-related posts above, blame Cat Chew ;)

O Taa..per Eddie Murphy as Buckwheat. :)

Watching c-span. It's repubs only about the repub debate.

The calls are interesting this AM. There are the wingers, but, this am there are normal sounding repubs calling. Many like Ron Paul and some are disgusted with the lot of candidates.

One woman said that we are going toward socialism right into totalitarianism. And then she said that the constitution keeps big government in check. (my opinion) Not when this president is trying to shred the constitution and give more powers to the exec office which would be more like fascism and a dictatorship.

Has anyone reccommended Balance?

The repubs, yesterday were pushing fair tax. What exactly is fair tax?

This is from a couple of days ago, but, it is finally getting some attention.

Reposted: Thousands of US weapons missing in Iraq

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reposted from Aug 1 | The US government cannot account for 190,000 weapons issued to Iraqi security forces. According to the July 31 report, the military "cannot fully account for about 110 000 AK-47 assault rifles, 80 000 pistols, 135 000 items of body armour and 115 000 helmets reported as issued to Iraqi forces."

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_World&set_id=1&click_id=3&ar...

CNN finally addressed this this morning.

Bush signs controversial wiretap bill, calls for permanent fix

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush signed a controversial bill Sunday that temporarily revises federal electronic surveillance laws.

"This law gives our intelligence professionals this greater flexibility while closing a dangerous gap in our intelligence-gathering activities that threatened to weaken our defenses," Bush said in a written statement issued by the White House.

The new law gives the attorney general or the director of national intelligence the authority to approve surveillance of suspected terrorists overseas.

The bill went through Congress over the weekend after heavy pressure from the Bush administration, which demanded that lawmakers remain in session until it passed.

Congress responded by approving the revisions for six months.

The measure updates the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which governs electronic surveillance in intelligence cases. Watch how the House was pressured to pass the bill »

"Over the past three decades, this law has not kept pace with revolutionary changes in technology," Bush said. "As a result, our intelligence professionals have told us that they are missing significant intelligence information that they need to protect the country."

Bush sought changes to FISA after a classified ruling by a court set up under the law to hear wiretap requests.

That ruling concluded that FISA required a warrant for eavesdropping on communications between people overseas because so many phone calls and e-mails are sent through U.S. switching centers, U.S. officials said.

The administration initially proposed to give the authority only to the attorney general, but agreed to add the director of national intelligence after Democrats objected to putting more power into the hands of embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Top Democratic and Republican senators have accused Gonzales of giving misleading testimony to Congress about a U.S. no-warrant eavesdropping program, the existence of which Bush acknowledged in 2005.

Critics say the program -- which included the monitoring of communications into and out of the United States by people suspected of having links to the al Qaeda terrorist network -- violated FISA.

FISA was passed in 1978 after Watergate-era abuses by intelligence and law enforcement agencies that were wiretapping within the country. Early this year, the Bush administration agreed to submit the program to the FISA court.

Bush insists the program protects the civil liberties of Americans.

But Democrats and the American Civil Liberties Union objected to provisions in the GOP-backed bill that grant the attorney general and the director of national intelligence the authority to approve all wiretaps -- even if one party is in the United States -- with minimal court oversight.

Bush said Congress will need to pass a more comprehensive reform bill when it reconvenes in September after its August recess. Congress will be called to address what Bush called "meaningful liability protection" for those who took part in the eavesdropping program.

The ACLU says the administration's proposals would effectively "gut" FISA. And Rep. Rahm Emanuel, the third most powerful Democrat in the House, said lawmakers "are not going to leave Alberto Gonzales as the gatekeeper on American civil liberties."

"That's the fundamental problem, and we're going to fix it when we come back," Emanuel told reporters Sunday.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/05/bush.surveillance/index.html?eref...

G'morning, Toni!

Near as I can tell, it's a national sales tax. They want to eliminate taxes that the wealthy pay and replace it with a sales tax that'll result in poor to middle income folks paying much more. They are also promoting it as "progressive" since the more you buy, the more you pay, but the point is, unearned wealth gets a free ride.

Disclaimer: Dammit Jim, I'm not an accountant, I'm a blogger!

Doesn't seem fair to me!!

They were also pushing the flat tax!

I don't like that one either.

Morning blog!
Submitted by toniD on Mon, 08/06/2007 - 7:47am.
What exactly is fair tax?

___________________

Good morning!

I recommend the Fact Check site. It is worth reading their comments about the debates.

For more information:

“Unspinning the FairTax”

We look at the numbers behind the numbers.

Link:

http://www.factcheck.org/taxes/unspinning_the_fairtax.html

-----------

How "Fair" a Tax?

Excerpt:

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee praised a "fair tax" without noting what it actually would do: impose a stiff retail sales tax on all goods and services sold in the U.S., easing the tax burden on the richest Americans.

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

Link:

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/gop_candidates_debate_round_2.ht...

is fair to the rich only.

The states are already using sales tax, so that means we will have two sales taxes. One Fed and one State. Not a good idea. Ths does hurt the poor and dwindling middle class the most.

We used to have a VAT tax years ago that was used on expensive things. That was done away with. That also hurt the poor people.

about flat tax in it.
Flat tax came up during debate.godammitkitty's mic has some good info on that..With a sense of humor..

godammitkitty- Not-so-live blogging the GOP debate, Part I: "Sex, Guns & the Return of Karen Hughes"
Link

This tax percentage they speak of is just like the interest rates for banks and home loans. If you see a bank rate that says AAR or Annual Adjusted Rate, it's the same thing.

I was a Realtor and I worked in a bank so I am veru familiar with these percentages.

Added to my bookmarks:
http://www.factcheck.org/

Also just added btchakir's blog Under The LobsterScope to my bookmarks. His current top post mentions something that also caught Toni's eye (The MSM finally caught this little gem) and reminded me of this old story:

Published on Friday, October 29, 2004 by the Los Angeles Times
Weapons for the Taking in Iraq
by Jon Lee Anderson
It now seems highly likely that a group of well-organized looters made off with the missing cache of 380 tons of powerful explosives at Iraq's Al Qaqaa military site after it was visited by invading U.S. troops in early April 2003.
More here

Seems the Republicans are really excellent at arming our enemies. If they can't sell them weapons, they'll just give them away.

Also got a giggle from btchakir's juxtaposing the Simpsons and the GOP candidates. That's entertainment!

Star Vox
Submitted by toniD on Mon, 08/06/2007 - 8:49am.
This tax percentage they speak of is just like the interest rates for banks and home loans. If you see a bank rate that says AAR or Annual Adjusted Rate, it's the same thing.

I was a Realtor and I worked in a bank so I am very familiar with these percentages.

_________________

toniD,

Yes, the so-called "Fair Tax" is a bad idea.

However, it is interesting to learn which of the Republicans support such a bad tax policy. It's difficult to decide which Republican would be the worst candidate for the Republican Party nomination.

Stay tuned for the next debate and future revelations.

Did you read about how the Bush administration was against a so-called "fair" tax? Yes, it's that bad of an idea. The information is at the following link.

Link:

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/gop_candidates_debate_round_2.ht...

Thanks, Star Vox
Submitted by Cat Chew on Mon, 08/06/2007 - 9:08am.

Added to my bookmarks:

http://www.factcheck.org/
________________

Cat Chew,
Good morning!

It is an excellent resource to help unspin the spin in the debates. Good to read you on the blog.

how is it possible that "richard bay/sea/ocean" whatever the hell his name is, like i give a shit...is getting his own show and Sam cannot? someone care to answer that question, that old men, that were ok in the 60's are now coming to AAR, but Sam cannot get a slot? this is crazy seriously...

I just don't get it. I'm terrified at the answer I can imagine thou.

Hot!
Submitted by Nicky Rose on Sun, 08/05/2007 - 9:12pm.
Bully me, baby!

*

I missed the whole show yesterday...

that, by big majorities of Democrats, just gave Bush all he wanted on wire-tapping....

is going to turn around and impeach him in the next year?

We've been screwed with our pants on!

Time to go listen to some Lewis Black, so my head doesn't explode!

wasn't really impressed with Yearly Kos. And next year it has a new name. It will be called NETROOTS NATION next year.

Teddy SanFran said:

I want the revolutionary, angry, Establishment-challenging, rabble-rousing netroots back. If Netroots Nation sees its new mission as pleasing Traditional Media, or allying with it, or making nice, or merging the two into some amalgam that pleases anyone in the Establishment: then it’s not my Netroots Nation. I’ll just sit over here on the Left Coast and take well-deserved potshots at people who insult our Constitution, insult journalism, and insult the First Amendment. I’m sure they’ll enjoy the cocktail weenies while I do.

Here's the link and why he/she feels this way:

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/08/05/sunday-late-nite-home-sweet-home/

And Siun says:

Losing Our Edge?
By Siun on Sun Aug 5, 2007 at 06:08 pm

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/08/05/losing-our-edge/

In Need of a Civics Lesson
By Scarecrow on Mon Aug 6, 2007 at 06:50 am

Michael Tomasky notes in a Sunday Washington Post op ed that in the recently ended Yearly Kos convention, there was not a single panel dedicated to the question of impeaching President Bush and Vice President Cheney, a fact that would likely astonish those in the media who might have thought impeachment would be the first item of discussion if not the only one. Tomasky goes on to argue that attempting impeachment would be the worst mistake Democrats could make, because it would split the country, convince the public that Democrats were vindictive partisans and undermine their otherwise excellent chances of substantial gains in the 2008 elections.

Although I believe the Democrats would be in a much stronger position today, and better able to stand up to Bush if they had initiated an impeachment investigation months ago, I’m not really up for arguing with Tomasky about impeachment now, given that the Democrats have allowed their substantial momentum coming out of the 2006 elections to dissipate and then virtually destroyed their credibility this weekend by shamelessly cowering before Bush on the FISA vote. That vote shows that about 41 Democrats in the House and 16 in the Senate don’t have the courage or self respect to blow their own noses without asking George Bush’s permission. The notion that these pathetic sheep might have the courage and wisdom to use an impeachment proceeding to fight for the Bill of Rights and Congressional prerogatives under the Constitution’s separation of powers is just laughable . . . or sad.

What we know now is that we have to reestablish the fundamentals within our own party — starting with the wisdom and necessity of having a Constitution and limits on government power — before we can ask our party to exercise the mechanisms our Constitution gave us for correcting egregiously unconstitutional behavior. Quite simply, many members of our party need a civics lesson, and quickly. We’re talking about grade school stuff, here, followed by accelerated progress into graduate courses in American constitutional history. Too many in our own party simply don’t know why this country was founded with a Constitution and why that history is relevant today.

So while I’m not going to argue about impeachment per se, I object to Lieberman’s Tomasky’s notion that the country hungers for a return to bipartisanship in the sense that it requires the Democrats to accommodate the Republicans on the range of public policy issues now facing the country. Where has Tomasky been? That view, when applied to the extreme radicals who now dominate the Republican Party, is precisely what has hurt this country, weakened the Democratic party and turned many of them into sheep who are incapable of defending the most basic democratic principles.

More here:

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/08/06/in-need-of-a-civics-lesson/

I am very disappointed in the ignorant Democratic party members (I expect them to know better) and all the Republican party members who voted for more power for the attorney general, buying the lie that they were voting in the interests of national security. This piece of crap legislation expires in six months. I think I'm going to start reminding folks that our intelligence gathering was fine before 9/11, it was just that the current crop of fools chose to ignore it, and allowing them to eavesdrop and spy more will not correct that huge, basic problem.

Transcript of the August 6, 2001, presidential daily briefing entitled Bin Laden determined to strike in US. Parts of the original document were not made public by the White House for security reasons.

Don't even get me started on the fact that they knowingly destroyed an intelligence network devoted to gathering information on Iran's weapons capability by exposing the identity of covert agent Valerie Plame.

Republicans just plain stink at national security. They don't care about it except that it's a handy tool to use to further their agenda.

can you give me AAR number or something man, i have had it with them for true....

A Nation Represented By Sheep
By Scarecrow on Mon Aug 6, 2007 at 05:15 am

The verdict is in and the Washington Post actually gets it right: the Democrats allowed themselves be be stampeded into passing a wholesale gutting of FISA that goes far beyond any rationale the President’s misleading statements covered and far beyond every description the President has given of his Terrorist Surveillance Program for the past two years.

To call this legislation ill-considered is to give it too much credit: It was scarcely considered at all. Instead, it was strong-armed through both chambers by an administration that seized the opportunity to write its warrantless wiretapping program into law — or, more precisely, to write it out from under any real legal restrictions.

After telling Congress and the public that the reason they needed to revise FISA was to ensure they could spy on foreign-to-foreign communications that might be routed through US facilities (to close an alleged loophole created by a FISA court ruling that such surveillance required a warrant), the White House went for broke. The New York Times now reports that the Administration actually had very different reasons to make wholesale changes in FISA:

Congressional aides and others familiar with the details of the law said that its impact went far beyond the small fixes that administration officials had said were needed to gather information about foreign terrorists. They said seemingly subtle changes in legislative language would sharply alter the legal limits on the government’s ability to monitor millions of phone calls and e-mail messages going in and out of the United States.
. . .
“This more or less legalizes the N.S.A. program,” said Kate Martin, director of the Center for National Security Studies in Washington, who has studied the new legislation.

Under just some of the revisions, NSA can spy on any call you make to or receive from another country (or a place the AG reasonable believes is to/from another country), without a warrant, as long as Alberto Gonzales and the Director NSA claim they reasonably believe it involves “foreign intelligence.” There doesn’t have to be any connection with a foreign power with whom we are war or terrorist group. Just you and your foreign friends is enough. The FISA court may examine the overall process in some undefined, rubberstamp way, but it cannot consider the reasonableness of your individual case. Any pretense that the 4th Amendment applies is gone.

So you can be involved in totally innocent calls or e-mails with a friend or your cousin in London, and the government can spy on your communications without a warrant, without your knowledge and without the knowedge or approval of the FISA court. You can’t get access to what they learned or what they did with that information. All you’ll know is that you or your friend/cousin/kid/colleague can’t get on a plane. Or someone disappears. Oh, and as a result of the 6th Circuit Court overturning a District Court’s ruling that the original TSP was unconstitutional, you don’t have standing to challenge this wholesale eviseration of the 4th Amendment. No court review; just Alberto and Rove.

Bear in mind that every time you open up the comments section of Firedoglake, you are in communication with other readers in other countries. Facebook is now a venue for spying. Or maybe your kids are travelling in Europe and want to call or e-mail home. Or you order something from a Danish firm. Would you trust Alberto Gonzales to decide whether spying on you was reasonable, knowing he never had to be accountable to anyone? Do you trust Karl Rove to deal with the information they gather?

Virtually every Republican, plus 41 Democrats in the House and 16 in the Senate think saying “no” to giving the government such unchecked powers in violation of the 4th Amendment was either unreasonable or would have jeopardized their reelection.

We are a nation represented by sheep.

For more details on the FISA changes, start here and here.

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/08/06/a-nation-represented-by-sheep/

In an editorial entitled, “Warrantless Surrender,” the Washington Post writes that Congress was “stampeded into another compromise of Americans’ rights.” The Post adds the bill was “as reckless as it was unnecessary” and “was scarcely considered at all.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/05/AR200708...

Most Americans disapprove of the Iraq war and of exporting democracy by force, yet neoconservative proponents of those policies advise the leading Republican presidential hopefuls. “There is an overwhelming presence of neoconservatives and absence of traditional conservatives that I don’t know what to make of,” said Richard Allen, former Reagan White House national security adviser.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070806/NATION/108060047/1002

The Huffington Post has introduced FundRace, a new online tool that discloses who is funding and influencing the 2008 presidential election. The feature allows users to easily find the names and addresses of contributors to presidential candidates.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/08/05/huffington-posts-fundrac_n_5920...

“Declaring a new direction in energy policy, the House on Saturday approved $16 billion in taxes on oil companies, while providing billions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives for renewable energy and conservation efforts.”

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070805/D8QQNQM00.html

And Bush said he will veto this bill!

Palmer withdraws EEOC nomination. “David Palmer, whose nomination to chair the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had languished for nearly a year, withdrew his name over the weekend, bitterly complaining that partisanship in the confirmation process has gotten out of control.” Former Justice Department colleagues opposed Palmer’s nomination, and he was “the subject of at least one complaint of employee abuse in his supervisory role at the Justice Department.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/06/palmer-withdraws-eeoc-nomination/

for Lucille:
If you want to comment on Air America Radio Programming, use these methods:

Voicemail: (212) 871-8150
E-mail: comments@airamericaradio.com

http://www.airamerica.com/helpdesk/new_ticket.php

I'm sure others have better contact info.

I'm so depressed about the future of the progressive agenda.
I'm having a hard time finding the words.

From ToniD's link:
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070805/D8QQNQM00.html

Wild! We need lots of energy in this country (because we're spoiled), and this anonymous (I admit I'd be too ashamed to let myself be quoted if I said something like that) thinks it's not because we need lots of cleaner energy sources, it's because we hate the oil giants?

Will Market, Housing Plunge Lead to Recession?
As the Markets Dip, a Financial Analyst Says the Bottom Is Yet to Come

The financial fallout from a deteriorating housing and lending market is flooding over into the stock market. Wall Street is bracing this morning for another day of turbulence after Friday's sell-off — the third worst one-day drop this year.

Home foreclosures are up 59 percent from last year while loan defaults continue to mount, and that has mortgage lenders zipping up their once generous coffers.

"This was a classic case of irrational exuberance," said Alan Murray, the executive editor of the Wall Street Journal. "Lenders were giving away way too much money on easy terms. People borrow too much. They bought houses they shouldn't be buying and now they are paying the price for that."

Is a Recession Imminent?
For those in the market for a new home, you can say goodbye to those easy-access, no-money-down loans so prevalent a few years ago.

There are growing concerns that trend will have a ripple effect on loans for other big-ticket items. Sales of those products have boosted consumer spending as of late.

Consumers aren't the only ones seeing the money pit dry up. Friday, a top executive at Bear Stearns, a major investment banking firm, called this the worst credit lending market he'd seen in 22 years.

The bottom line is, if there is little money to loan, consumers and companies will have little money to spend.

"You've seen housing prices fall. You see stock prices fall. People have less money, eventually that can cause the economy to slow down, less job creation. That'll really hurt people in their wallet," Murray said.

How Low Will It Go?
The Federal Reserve meets Tuesday and investors are hoping to hear reassuring words about the problems plaguing the markets.

But Mellody Hobson, "Good Morning America's" financial contributor, doesn't think the worst is over.

"We've gone on for nearly five years without the stock market having a 10 percent correction," Hobson said. "Those are natural and normal and we haven't had one. So even though the market has gone down quite a bit, we still aren't at 10 percent and I would expect at some point this year we'll get there."

More here:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/MellodyHobson/story?id=3450907&page=1&CMP=OTC-...

Eight Million Iraqis in Need of Urgent Aid
Submitted by dada on Mon, 08/06/2007 - 12:08am.

Save Iraq? It's just not a feel good, popular cause. Lets all save Darfur instead. Does anyone else see the hypocrisy and the disconnect here?
_______________

dada,

Thanks for the Oxfam post. Oxfam is an outstanding organization and I support their work.

I agree with you. Your post reminded me of a good discussion that we had about Darfur and the role of the international community.

Unfortunately, the international community is not saving Darfur or Iraq. I could add Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and other countries.

However, I will add the Gulf Coast to the list. Oxfam has been providing assistance to the United States through the Gulf Coast Recovery Fund.

From Oxfam:

“We continue to address the recovery needs of thousands of working families across the Gulf Coast who lost homes, jobs, and communities due to Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.

Oxfam America is working with trusted local partners to help people put their lives back together and rebuild stronger than before, as well as to protect the rights to a fair working environment for those engaged in the rebuilding process.”

Does anyone else see the hypocrisy and the disconnect here?

Oxfam Campaign:

Tell the Candidates: Keep America's Promise to the Gulf Coast

"Two years after the devastation brought on by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Gulf Coast is still hurting. Tens of thousands still live in temporary housing. Schools are closed. Businesses are struggling.

With our leaders suffering from Katrina amnesia, the current presidential campaign is our best chance to bring Gulf Coast recovery back into the spotlight.

With your help, we can make sure the new leadership in the White House recognizes that, even though the issue isn't on the front pages anymore, the recovery is NOT over-and we can't yet close this chapter of our history."

Take Action:

http://act.oxfamamerica.org/campaign/gulfcoastpetition

Yearly Kos morons wonder: Should bloggers unionize?

How else are they going to squeeze a living wage out of the imaginary employers who pay their imaginary salaries? Seriously, are they so enthralled with the idea of the proletariat that they’d rather pretend they don’t own their own businesses?

Or is this actually a proposal to form a Blogads consortium and force advertisers to buy from all if they want to buy from one?

I've been wanting to send the old bat a "what the hell are you guys doing,now!"To put it nicely,
email..But,have not been able to connect to her site since yesterday.
Hopefully,her site has been overwhelmed with emails!
I can dream,can't I?

The internet whore weighs in
Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 08/05/2007 - 9:50pm.
Matt Drudge on the blogger convention:
"The bloggers were much funner when they were radical. They are mainstream now. They're boring. The bloggers are boring mainstream reporters now."
--------------------------------
Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 08/05/2007 - 9:51pm.
"That covention was like a boring Iowa barbeque."
--------------------------------
That was fun to read. This year, O'Reilly is working overtime to make dKos bloggers look like a lunatic fringe, and the really big news is that the folks at dKos are just plain, boring folks with average concerns who decided to get involved. :)

.
Bibliomulas are mules toting mini-libraries to remote communities in Venezuela in an effort to encourage reading. Sometimes, the mules also carry projectors and laptop computers. A BBC News reporter recently took a trip with the Bibliomulas through the foothills of the Andes. From the BBC News:
Anyone who was not out working the fields - tending the celery that is the main crop here - was waiting for our arrival. The 23 children at the little school were very excited.

"Bibilomu-u-u-u-las," they shouted as the bags of books were unstrapped. They dived in eagerly, keen to grab the best titles and within minutes were being read to by Christina and Juana, two of the project leaders.
con't

"That convention was like a boring Iowa barbeque."
--------------------------------
...sedately brought to you by IBP via Tyson and its thousands of Hispanic employees.

I am too, this morning Fernando---extremely depressed, do not even wish any longer to partake here, I just dont want to hear about any thing anylonger....I am thinking about moving to Canada, where all the birds fly too!

What,and miss another day of Vacation?Please!

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=102...

*

Morning, Toni..Blog..

That's fun MM...I just did a piece in my newsletter at work about camel book delivery...there's this site called bookboat.com (I think)..it tell about all the unusual ways books are delivered to people. That would be fun to live on a book boat...delivering books to ports of call

Do you know which of the house dems voted for it. I am so sick i want to puke seriously..Jim Webb voted for it too and ofcourse bless her tiny little pink heart---Diane F----. Can someone get someone to run against her, she is truly getting on my nipples seriously!! I am too too sick this morning---I CANNOT STAND THEM!

Has anybody been able to connect to speaker.gov?
Submitted by MMRules on Mon, 08/06/2007 - 10:34am.

___________

MMRules,

If you are not a constituent of the 8th district of California, and would like to e-mail Congresswoman Pelosi in her role as Speaker of the House, please e-mail her at:

AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov

or click here for a contact form

http://www.speaker.gov/contact

(which appears to be temporarily down).

Reference:

http://www.house.gov/pelosi/contact/contact.html

When men on the chessboard
Get up and tell you where to go

THANK YOU I AM CLIMBING IN HER ASS RIGHT NOW!!! PUSSY CATS FOR REAL!

PLEASE SUPPORT CINDY SHEEHAN, FOR THE PELOSI POSITION...THANK YOU!

House OKs Record $460 Billion Pentagon Budget....<----- doesn't include the wars....

Show mp3

*

"Roll it up and smoke it again..." Peeping Tom - Mojo

Ipecac.com

First album: Peeping Tom Is: MIKE PATTON

# Featuring: DAN THE AUTOMATOR

# BEBEL GILBERTO

# NORAH JONES

# KOOL KEITH

# MASSIVE ATTACK

# RAHZEL

# DUB TRIO

# ODD NOSDAM

# AMON TOBIN

And more..

for 6 months and allowed Gonzales to be in charge.

Why?

Were they in a hurry to go on vacation or was there another reason? Does Gonzales have to report to the Senate and House committes for what is allowed?

Have to look into this more because it doesn't make sense at all!

Oversight on DOJ and Gonzales and then put him in charge of spying? Something is way wrong with this picture.

November...?

No.

please crack a joke or something, i cant take these sad news anylonger

House Vote

Senate Vote

The following video is a recent news report from Al Jazeera on the growing importance of the Latino community to the U.S. presidential race.

I emailed pelosi and it was returned so something wrong there

as american as the democratic party!!

you can say that again that is exactly what i called and told them too!!!

Congress passed the Fisa Act bill
for 6 months and allowed Gonzales to be in charge
Submitted by toniD on Mon, 08/06/2007 - 11:19am.
----------------------
That's what they did. I'm guessing what some of them thought they did was allow the lesser evil of snooping to prevent the greater evil of terrorist attacks. Also, if something bad happens, the press will report it to be the fault of folks who didn't allow the government more power to snoop, rather than the fact that the current government doesn't know what the frack they're doing, as evidenced by Bush ignoring the PDB delivered to him by Harriet Meiers while he was on vacation in August of 2001.

I'm still not sure how Bush came to get his second term. I think it's a combo of cheating by people like Blackwell, and the release of a Usama bin Laden video just prior to the election. I do know that promoting fear can move reasonable folks to do really stupid things. I also think that "Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security" but who cares what dead presidents say?

Rick James aura....or "Hold my drink, bitch"....
Submitted by Alice on Mon, 08/06/2007 - 10:56am.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=102..

I'm Rick James bitch!Just kidding.Dave Chappele's(sp?)too funny. :)

MMRules, thanks for showing the votes on the FISA bill. The majority of Democratic Party members opposed it. The majority of Republicans embraced it. I was a card carrying member of a third party for a couple of decades. Now, I'm not a Democratic Party member but, I'd vote a for a gerbil before I'd vote for anyone on the GOP ticket.

MMRules
Submitted by Lucille on Mon, 08/06/2007 - 11:27am.
I emailed pelosi and it was returned so something wrong there
-------
Speaker of the House - Pelosi
Submitted by Star Vox on Mon, 08/06/2007 - 11:01am.
Has anybody been able to connect to speaker.gov?
Submitted by MMRules on Mon, 08/06/2007 - 10:34am.

___________

MMRules,
If you are not a constituent of the 8th district of California, and would like to e-mail Congresswoman Pelosi in her role as Speaker of the House, please e-mail her at:
----------
Yep,something definitely wrong with speaker.gov website.Thanks for the help! :)

I LOVE Charlie Murphy! I'd like to go see him live sometime...if he ever gets anywhere near me...

I appreciate it.
Under The LobsterScope

Thank you for the really good posts!Your on Fire!
I'm a Democrat but,have been a Independent before.Primary voting etc..
I didn't know Richard Geer was on the Ballot! ;)
Sorry,couldn't resist..

I hear ya!
I also Love the one with Wayne Brady!!That's a Classic! :)

Enjoy your blog and your Open Mics here. My bookmarks are already a bulging chaotic mess, but I had to add Under the Lobsterscope to them. The original content is well written and informative and entertaining. Apologies for not leaving comments when I've stopped by.

MMRules:
I didn't know Ricard Geer was on the Ballot! ;)
You are a very bad boy, but fun!

Later, sweethearts! Have fun!

Cat Chew: "...but who cares what dead presidents say?"
-----------------------
I do, depending upon how many of them you're offering.

You are also a very bad boy, but fun!

You don't know why Congress does what it does because you are not real Americans. Your goals are in opposition to the goals of the American people. Your frustration comes from the fact the you have not yet come to grips with your place in the political system. Once you come to understand how far out of step you are with reality, you will find peace in the fact that the system has rejected you and accept it.

thanks mmr

110
1st
U.S. House of Representatives
836
S 1927
On Passage
YEA-AND-NAY
Passed
4-Aug-2007
10:20 PM
Protect America Act

Altmire" party="D" state="PA" role="legislator">Altmire< legislator>Yea
Barrow" party="D" state="GA" role="legislator">Barrow< legislator>Yea
Bean" party="D" state="IL" role="legislator">Bean< legislator>Yea
Boren" party="D" state="OK" role="legislator">Boren< legislator>Yea
Boswell" party="D" state="IA" role="legislator">Boswell< legislator>Yea
Boyd (FL)" party="D" state="FL" role="legislator">Boyd (FL)< legislator>Yea
Carney" party="D" state="PA" role="legislator">Carney< legislator>Yea
Chandler" party="D" state="KY" role="legislator">Chandler< legislator>Yea
Cooper" party="D" state="TN" role="legislator">Cooper< legislator>Yea
Costa" party="D" state="CA" role="legislator">Costa< legislator>Yea
Cramer" party="D" state="AL" role="legislator">Cramer< legislator>Yea
Cuellar" party="D" state="TX" role="legislator">Cuellar< legislator>Yea
Davis (AL)" party="D" state="AL" role="legislator">Davis (AL)< legislator>Yea
Davis, Lincoln" party="D" state="TN" role="legislator">Davis, Lincoln< legislator>Yea
Donnelly" party="D" state="IN" role="legislator">Donnelly< legislator>Yea
Edwards" party="D" state="TX" role="legislator">Edwards< legislator>Yea
Ellsworth" party="D" state="IN" role="legislator">Ellsworth< legislator>Yea
Etheridge" party="D" state="NC" role="legislator">Etheridge< legislator>Yea
Gordon" party="D" state="TN" role="legislator">Gordon< legislator>Yea
Herseth Sandlin" party="D" state="SD" role="legislator">Herseth Sandlin< legislator>Yea
Higgins" party="D" state="NY" role="legislator">Higgins< legislator>Yea
Hill" party="D" state="IN" role="legislator">Hill< legislator>Yea
Lampson" party="D" state="TX" role="legislator">Lampson< legislator>Yea
Lipinski" party="D" state="IL" role="legislator">Lipinski< legislator>Yea
Marshall" party="D" state="GA" role="legislator">Marshall< legislator>Yea
Matheson" party="D" state="UT" role="legislator">Matheson< legislator>Yea
McIntyre" party="D" state="NC" role="legislator">McIntyre< legislator>Yea
Melancon" party="D" state="LA" role="legislator">Melancon< legislator>Yea
Mitchell" party="D" state="AZ" role="legislator">Mitchell< legislator>Yea
Peterson (MN)" party="D" state="MN" role="legislator">Peterson (MN)< legislator>Yea
Pomeroy" party="D" state="ND" role="legislator">Pomeroy< legislator>Yea
Rodriguez" party="D" state="TX" role="legislator">Rodriguez< legislator>Yea
Ross" party="D" state="AR" role="legislator">Ross< legislator>Yea
Salazar" party="D" state="CO" role="legislator">Salazar< legislator>Yea
Shuler" party="D" state="NC" role="legislator">Shuler< legislator>Yea
Snyder" party="D" state="AR" role="legislator">Snyder< legislator>Yea
Space" party="D" state="OH" role="legislator">Space< legislator>Yea
Tanner" party="D" state="TN" role="legislator">Tanner< legislator>Yea
Taylor" party="D" state="MS" role="legislator">Taylor< legislator>Yea
Walz (MN)" party="D" state="MN" role="legislator">Walz (MN)< legislator>Yea
Wilson (OH)" party="D" state="OH" role="legislator">Wilson (OH)< legislator>Yea

why does congress do what it does? why does it have a cranal anal insertion the likes of which have never been seen? who do i pray to so that i can become a real american?

Grrr :)

This is WiccanDruid (eye-roll)

Democrats introduce Bush, Cheney, Gonzales censure resolutions in House and Senate Nick Juliano
Published: Monday August 6, 2007

Democrats in the House and Senate have introduced resolutions calling for the censure of President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Sen. Russ Feingold sponsored two resolutions in his chamber calling for the legislative action against the administration officials because of they misled the country in pursuing war with Iraq and have undermined the rule of law, he said.

"These censure resolutions will let future generations know that Congress stood up to the destructive policies of this administration that have weakened our national security, cost more than 3,600 American lives, and undermined the principles on which our country was founded," Feingold said in a prepared statement.

Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) introduced companion legislation in the House.

“From misleading this country into invading Iraq to establishing a warrantless domestic spy program, this White House has continuously misled and deceived the American people while disregarding the rule of law that guides our democracy,” Hinchey said in a prepared statement. “The Bush administration has placed an extraordinary burden on this and future generations to recover from the damage done to our Constitution and national security."

One set of resolutions, aimed at Bush and Cheney, condemn the pair for misleading Americans about threats posed by Saddam Hussein's regime and the dictator's links to al Qaeda and 9/11. The resolution also claims the president and vice president inadequately prepared for the invasion and its aftermath, stretching military forces thin.

Another set of resolutions says Bush and Gonzales should be censured because of their authorization of a warrantless wiretapping program, improper treatment of foreign detainees and their obstruction of investigations into the firing of US Attorneys.

The censure resolutions have 19 co-sponsors in the House. Both are co-sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) in that chamber, and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) has signed on to the resolution regarding Iraq.

Developing...

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

After wiretapping victory, Bush says he wants more authority from Congress Michael Roston
Published: Monday August 6, 2007

The day after President George W. Bush marshaled political forces in Congress to grant him greater authority to engage in counterterrorism-related spying, the president stated that he would seek greater changes to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act when the legislative branch returns to work in September.

"While I appreciate the leadership it took to pass this bill, we must remember that our work is not done," the President said in his Sunday statement. "This bill is a temporary, narrowly focused statute to deal with the most immediate shortcomings in the law."

The President said next month he would focus on further immunizing private companies that cooperate with government wiretapping. However, he used complicated language to describe these activities.

"When Congress returns in September the Intelligence committees and leaders in both parties will need to complete work on the comprehensive reforms requested by Director McConnell, including the important issue of providing meaningful liability protection to those who are alleged to have assisted our Nation following the attacks of September 11, 2001," he said.

One constitutional scholar derided Bush's reasoning, particularly the tortuous language in his statement.

"Apparently 'allegedly helped us stay safe' is Bush Administration code for telecom companies and government officials who participated in a conspiracy to perform illegal surveillance," wrote Yale Law Professor Jack Balkin in a Monday morning blog post. "Because what they did is illegal, we do not admit that they actually did it, we only say that they are alleged to have done it."

Balkin also offered another amusing interpretation of Bush's words.

More here:

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/After_wiretapping_victory_Bush_says_he_080...

GOP voters respond positively to idea of universal health care David Edwards and Muriel Kane
Published: Monday August 6, 2007

When Fox News asked on Monday "Who came out ahead?" at the GOP debate in Des Moines, Republican pollster and consultant Frank Luntz answered that the participant who "surprised voters the most" was second-tier candidate Mike Huckabee.

Luntz monitored the responses of 29 Republican voters on a moment-by-moment basis throughout the debate and found that "Mike Huckabee in his communication, in the language that he used, took voters who for the most part had never even heard of him and turned them into Huckabee supporters." Luntz highlighted in particular how his electronic graphs "climb when Mike Huckabee talks about the changes that are needed to American health care."

"If you want to know how to fix it, I've got a solution," Huckabee said at the debate. "Either give every American the same kind of healthcare that Congress has or make Congress have the same kind of health care that every American has." As he spoke, the electronic graphs rose dramatically for both moderate and conservative Republicans, from a neutral reading of 50 into the 80's.

"Health care is an issue that transcends politics and transcends ideology," commented Luntz. "Democrats are more willing to support universal care. Republicans are still focused on the free market system. But when Huckabee talked about giving health care, the same benefits, to the average American that Congress has, that really scores."

Last May, Huckabee criticized Michael Moore's Sicko and even took a cheap shot at Moore's weight, saying, "Frankly, Michael Moore is an example of why the health care system costs so much in this country. He clearly is one of the reasons that we have a very expensive system."

However, a week ago, Huckabee wrote to Moore, suggesting they meet to find "common ground" and saying, "The two of us may have something in common: a passion for reforming the health care system in America ... While I respect your efforts to call attention the health care crisis in this country in your movie 'Sicko,' I feel that your view that all would be improved with free universal and government provided health care is simplistic."

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

Giuliani's daughter supports Obama
Caroline's Facebook reveals preference. 'Gays for Giuliani' release ad.

http://www.slate.com/id/2171730/fr/rss/

Signs of faltering
US economy surface

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For one, it's looking as if the downturn in housing is spreading to other parts of the economy. Investors, watching this happen, are becoming increasingly nervous and more selective with their loans.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0806/p02s01-usec.html

The signs have been there since 2002!!

Edwards takes jabs
at beloved President Clinton
Democratic presidential contender John Edwards on Monday criticized former President Clinton, arguing that he allowed corporate insiders to shape the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement that has cost U.S. jobs.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070806/ap_on_el_pr/edwards_trade;_ylt=AjeEI...

Korean troops
exchange fire along border

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Korean soldiers fired several shots toward a South Korean guard post in the eastern part of the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Korean Peninsula. South Korean soldiers immediately returned fire, a statement said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070806/ap_on_re_as/koreas_border_shooting;_...

new thread up & running!

Flashback: Aug. 6, 2001. Six years ago today, President Bush received a classified intelligence briefing that warned bin Laden was determined to strike inside the U.S. Bush was described as being “carefree” on the day he received the briefing at his Crawford ranch in Aug. 2001. Condoleezza Rice later dismissed the urgency of the briefing, claiming it was “not a warning” but rather an “historical memo.”

Carpetbagger has more.

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/12444.html

Html test: The excitement excrement is building!

What does code do?

OK, strike doesn't work. How about

line