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Morning Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:31:13 AM EST
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I'm off to go hold a "Count the Votes!" sign and/or yell at a cloud.

Have a good Saturday.

This is an Open Thread.

Comments closed

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    Morning Open Thread | 192 comments (192 topical)
    Daniel Schor on NPR (5.00 / 4) (#1)
    by Stellaaa on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:35:16 AM EST
    Daniel Schor ( who my mother thought his name was dino saur when he was on tv, I don't blame her, English was her 5th language) without a blink of an eye, accused Hillary of bringing up the assassination and not referring to June.  

    Go figure.  I think my mom was right, he is a Dinosaur.  

    what a bunch of idiots (5.00 / 6) (#2)
    by Kathy on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:37:57 AM EST
    Stellaaa, I just really believe they were looking for something--anything--to use as the "death knell" cry for Clinton.  They way they pounced on this non-issue, the way they still continue to bring it up even though the newspaper board and RFK, Jr have said it is a non-issue, makes me think they are all just so hysterical to kill her (both literally and figuratively) that they have lost all sight of reason.

    (ot: am I the only one who thinks that's a really bad pic of BTD yelling at the cloud?)

    [ Parent ]

    Cloud yelling (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by Stellaaa on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:39:47 AM EST
    cripes now Oprah will have to add it to her repertoire of self help products.

    [ Parent ]
    Right after screaming into the pillow :) (none / 0) (#8)
    by Militarytracy on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:40:21 AM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Tracy, a reply to you from the other thread... (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by jeffinalabama on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:47:29 AM EST
    At least your child wants to go to Auburn-- I'm glad to hear it! My son knows there's one university (he's five, so it's universty) and that's Auburn!

    Guess where he wants to go-- to where Daddy works!

    [ Parent ]

    When they stand on the playground (none / 0) (#37)
    by Militarytracy on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:55:47 AM EST
    and holler Auburn at the kids in the red shirts, it's time to prepay tuition.  I'm sort of impressed with Auburn, not knowing a whole lot about education and the area.  One of our snootier friends graduated from Auburn and swears there isn't any other place to go but, I raise show German Shepherds so I send out for boy swimmers when my girls feel loving.  I also have to have hips xrayed and OFA'd, all sorts of stuff. My vet graduated from Auburn and he's pretty impressive with it all.

    [ Parent ]
    Auburn, UAB, even (gasp, choke) UAT (none / 0) (#41)
    by jeffinalabama on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:00:45 AM EST
    are good schools-- they ain't Harvard, but they don't have Harvard cost, either. Have you looked at some of the smaller schools, like Samford and Birmingham Southern?

    I'd say Auburn all the way-- good education, good quality of life, and close. however, one of my colleagues sent his son to Troy State, and he's now a lawyer in some large firm in Atlanta.  Alabama has some good colleges and universities.

    Now, if he's interested in veterinary or agriculture, Auburn's the school, without a doubt!

    [ Parent ]

    UAB grad here--and Roll Tide ;) n/t (5.00 / 1) (#157)
    by kempis on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:26:02 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    heck, and I wanted to like you! (5.00 / 1) (#160)
    by jeffinalabama on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:28:19 PM EST
    just kidding... congrats.

    6. heh.

    [ Parent ]

    I like how close Auburn is to us (none / 0) (#50)
    by Militarytracy on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:08:19 AM EST
    It is two hours.  Far enough away that your kids can feel independent but close enough that if they start partying naked all day you can show up.  University of Wyoming had a lot of partying naked problems, usually from kids back east.  I think it had to do with the high altitude.  Poor kids would show up, go immediately to their first party and drink and then always end up naked.....and not even naked with others, just naked :).  Josh is very mathematically inclined.  It is impossible to tell what your kids are going to want to do at this stage but I'm betting something along engineering lines.

    [ Parent ]
    Engineering=Auburn in this state (none / 0) (#67)
    by jeffinalabama on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:16:23 AM EST
    excellent to superior engineering program. Ga tech may have more fame, but a lot of great engineers came from AU-- think of the space program, past and present.

    Also, molecular biology, chemistry, physics, all require superior math.

    [ Parent ]

    Well, that sort of cinches it then (none / 0) (#80)
    by Militarytracy on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:23:51 AM EST
    It is nice to know that he innately knew where he needed to start pointing himself.  He's a little mathematical brainiac.  I did very well.  They say that "girls" aren't quite as mathematically inclined but I always held my own and was sadly usually one of the few chicks in my classes.  My husband though is frightening.  Flight school for him was like taking sips of water and when he attempts to explain lift and drag to me as I'm white knuckling the airplane armrest I just want him to shut up :)  Josh is like his father already in his aptitude to grasp things mathematical.

    [ Parent ]
    I believe that (none / 0) (#91)
    by Molly Pitcher on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:31:01 AM EST
    there's a known genetic marker for degenerative mylopathy now--not from the U of Fla.  I hope breeders check: lost a lovely GSD to that once I could no longer get her in the cart safely.  GSDs have always been my favorite, but I promised my last one I'd never again bring home a big dog I couldn't care for.  Got a Swedish Vallhund instead.

    [ Parent ]
    GSD's degenerative myelopathy (none / 0) (#110)
    by Militarytracy on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:55:36 AM EST
    It was something that breeders attempted to ignore sadly because some really really great dogs were carrying it and throwing it.  We are getting a lot better about weeding it out finally and being serious about it.  I'm sorry about your dog.  I have never had a dog with it.  Most of my problems continue to be of the skeletal structure variety......it goes hand in hand with the breed and I hear all these arguments that American bred is less defective or German is less defective when in truth they are about the same.  I breed to the American Standard and the Alsatian concept of the herding GSD, so my dogs have the herding gait and the angulation.  Sometimes when people see me walking one of my dogs they'll say, "beautiful dog, too bad about its hips".  Then I tell them that this dog OFA'd Good which is very upper echelon in meeting the OFA criteria and they shrug and look at me like I'm lying through my teeth :)  Oh Well, that's life in the big dog lane.  Don't get to see enough Vallhunds, cute as snot.  Lots of Corgis though lately in the Southeast shows....it's Corgi heaven.

    [ Parent ]
    OT dogs and more dogs (5.00 / 1) (#178)
    by Molly Pitcher on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:45:09 PM EST
    My dog was second generation American--only German working line dogs--bred for Shutzhund work.  My first GSD was born in '67--big (140 lbs. est.), straight back, took 2 flea collars to go around his neck.  Excellent dog that went camping and hiking with 30 girls scouts.  My DM dog had a slight 'banana back' sloping rump; I believe that is precisely where the skeletal issues came from. Went to German lines hoping for fewer health issues; did not know temperament differences then.  I still think a GSD without the sloping back moving along at a rapid clip is about the prettiest thing I have ever seen.

    [ Parent ]
    My husband brought home (5.00 / 1) (#205)
    by magisterludi on Sat May 24, 2008 at 01:14:51 PM EST
    a BIG black dog he saw roaming around the interstate. Obviously abandoned. Big Joe weighed 100 lbs when we took him to the vet- and he wasn't fully grown. He ended up at 220 lbs and lived to be about nine.

    Our vet said he was some mastiff- great dane mix (Joe held the largest dawg evah! record at the clinic). When friends would visit, he didn't sniff just crotches- he sniffed armpits.

    I should post pictures. He's been gone 8 years now and I still get misty.

    [ Parent ]

    here is a better (5.00 / 3) (#7)
    by Kathy on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:40:10 AM EST
    pic of BTD.

    [ Parent ]
    Kathy, (5.00 / 1) (#64)
    by kenoshaMarge on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:15:12 AM EST
    thank you for the picture of BTD. I'm still chuckling and these days I need all the laughter I can get. That is the picture I will carry in my mind every time I see something he posts. :)

    [ Parent ]
    No offense to BTD (none / 0) (#75)
    by cmugirl on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:20:24 AM EST
    But Sam the Eagle reminds me of KO - stern, beaky nose and with a unibrow.

    [ Parent ]
    Not me (none / 0) (#86)
    by Militarytracy on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:26:44 AM EST
    I always thought Sam was cute.  I never thought Olberman was cute and now I just think he's looney.

    [ Parent ]
    Where's his sign? (none / 0) (#9)
    by Militarytracy on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:40:46 AM EST


    [ Parent ]
    doesn't the flag say enough? (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by Kathy on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:42:16 AM EST
    I mean, he is "tepid" after all.

    [ Parent ]
    Not enough. Where's his flag PIN? (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by Cream City on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:10:43 AM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Great... (none / 0) (#10)
    by Stellaaa on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:41:48 AM EST
    I always thought of Homer in the Mumu, remember that Image It's the tent thing that gets me.

    [ Parent ]
    ling (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Stellaaa on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:42:28 AM EST
    Homer

    [ Parent ]
    Hahaha! (none / 0) (#14)
    by Kathy on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:43:34 AM EST
    Oh, me.  Good thing he's off yelling at clouds.

    [ Parent ]
    heh. (none / 0) (#15)
    by jeffinalabama on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:44:00 AM EST
    excellent!

    [ Parent ]
    That is sooooo (none / 0) (#18)
    by kredwyn on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:46:16 AM EST
    him in every way possible.

    [ Parent ]
    He looks stoned. (none / 0) (#137)
    by oldpro on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:12:22 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Amazing! (none / 0) (#206)
    by magisterludi on Sat May 24, 2008 at 01:16:25 PM EST
    He looks just like I thought he would!

    [ Parent ]
    Yeah (5.00 / 5) (#11)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:41:53 AM EST
    but now the Obama supporters are starting to squeal because it sounds like he was accusing Hillary of wanting him gone. It's kind of going back full circle.

    Personally, I think that they are afraid of the decision on the 31st and want to drive her out of the race by then. Forget about it.

    Frankly, if I were Bill, I would start calling every Dem in the party and tell them exactly what I thought of them and threatening to leave the party. What Obama did was beneath contempt. They should have stayed out of it.

    [ Parent ]

    I agree (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by RJBOSTON on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:54:04 AM EST
    Hillary should make a statement telling the media and the Obama camp that they are distgusting for twisting the meaning of her statement. And would love it if she said that the democratic party abandoned her so she'll leave the race for the democratic nomination. But she will not abandon the american people and will run as an independant. I get a thrill up my leg thinking about it ;-)

    [ Parent ]
    I wish she pushed back... (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by Marco21 on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:02:32 AM EST
     on this ridiculous assassination  BS and ripped those pushing it a new one.

    People are deliberately misreading it to help Obama and the hypocrisy is too much for me to bear.

    I don't know why she continues to support a party that has gone out of its way to insult her and voters (well, its leaders have) but I wouldn't vote for her as an Indy. Not this time around anyway.

    [ Parent ]

    The best way of pushing back (none / 0) (#71)
    by riddlerandy on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:19:20 AM EST
    would be to continue to the analogy at every opportunity

    [ Parent ]
    She mentioned June and Bobby... (5.00 / 2) (#107)
    by Marco21 on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:49:31 AM EST
    before and no one wet their pants. For whatever reason this time people felt the need to deliberately mislead and smear her.

    I wonder why? Slow day in hope and change land?

    [ Parent ]

    but THIS time (5.00 / 2) (#121)
    by Josey on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:03:55 PM EST
    Obama needed something to distract from his flip flops on Cuba and Iran - and his lack of foreign policy experience. (And of course continue his goal to force Hillary out.)

    Rove was good at this. Whenever he knew negative news about the Bush admin would be surfacing, he'd make an obnoxious statement and the media would focus on that.

    [ Parent ]

    Slow news weekend -- maximizes (none / 0) (#177)
    by Cream City on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:45:05 PM EST
    impact as it drags on and on for days.

    Upside of Fridays is that they're good for document dumps, for hiding stuff, especially over longer holiday weekends; regular media staff aren't back until Tuesday, when there will be real news again (with government offices -- police, sheriffs, etc., locally, state patrol, feds -- and businesses open again).

    Downside of Fridays, especially over longer holiday weekends, is that stories normally here and gone can linger on for lack of other news.  Note that the major media frenzy of the Princess Di death was on a Labor Day weekend, so cable went nuts with it for days -- and then it took on a life of its own.

    [ Parent ]

    True (none / 0) (#194)
    by cmugirl on Sat May 24, 2008 at 01:01:53 PM EST
    But many people won't be watching TV this weekend, so hopefully this will die out before next week.

    [ Parent ]
    Promise (1.80 / 5) (#53)
    by uncledad on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:09:22 AM EST
    Frankly, if I were Bill, I would start calling every Dem in the party and tell them exactly what I thought of them and threatening to leave the party.

    That be just fine with me, maybe the Clintons could join Lieberman and back McSame, based on many of the comments on this site I believe many of HRC's supporters are closet conservatives anyway! Didn't Hillary opine about how qualified the old grumpy guy was? Maybe she could be his running-mate!

    [ Parent ]

    Just Another Parrot IMO n/t (5.00 / 2) (#58)
    by MO Blue on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:11:40 AM EST


    [ Parent ]
    If Hagel is on Obama's shortlist, (5.00 / 3) (#65)
    by samanthasmom on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:15:27 AM EST
    why not a Democrat VP for McCain? BTW, if Obama considers choosing a Republican for VP, that means that he says that it's OK to vote for Republicans, right?

    [ Parent ]
    The fact that Obama said (5.00 / 2) (#112)
    by waldenpond on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:57:06 AM EST
    he would consider Repubs in his cabinet, and his praise of Repubs and bashing of Dems (if Dems are so bad, why would I vote for them?) and, and, and....told me it was ok to vote for Repubs.

    [ Parent ]
    Go vote (3.00 / 2) (#187)
    by uncledad on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:56:40 PM EST
    You can vote for whoever you like, this is America, I believe it is in our bill of rights!

    [ Parent ]
    Hagel (1.00 / 1) (#183)
    by uncledad on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:49:57 PM EST
    Big difference between Obama picking a progressive republican as his running mate and a democrat running on a right wingnut neocon ticket.

    And since when did Obama say he was considering Hagel? You watch to much FAUX, don't believe everything you see, hear or read!

    [ Parent ]

    Hagel Is NOT, I Repeat NOT, A Progressive (none / 0) (#207)
    by MO Blue on Sat May 24, 2008 at 01:17:03 PM EST
    Republican. He is an extremely conservative Republican who has verbally stated his opposition to continuing a long term occupation of Iraq but who often still voted in lock step with Bush on this issue when it counted.

    [ Parent ]
    Hagel? Progressive? (none / 0) (#208)
    by magisterludi on Sat May 24, 2008 at 01:19:59 PM EST
    How many moons orbit your planet?

    [ Parent ]
    the question is (none / 0) (#96)
    by seesdifferent on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:35:51 AM EST
    who is providing the financial backing for this destructive campaign? from the FEC filings, it's not small donors, and the big donors don't usually back losers, unless they have some ulterior motive. FEC reports suggest the money is coming from Washington, which means lobbyists or ?. To what end?

    [ Parent ]
    Small donors aren't backing Obama's (5.00 / 1) (#103)
    by RalphB on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:41:01 AM EST
    campaign?  His is the only destructive campaign at this time.

    [ Parent ]
    I e-mailed Hillary yesterday (none / 0) (#23)
    by zfran on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:48:17 AM EST
    and asked her please to run on an independent ticket.

    [ Parent ]
    Yep (none / 0) (#29)
    by rnibs on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:50:56 AM EST
    Politics of distraction.

    Also, I don't really watch TV that much.  It's not clear to me, did Obama actually make a comment that what she was suggesting was inappropriate, or was it just his surrogates.

    Somewhere I got the impression that he himself had commented on it, but I'm not sure.

    [ Parent ]

    As Far As I Know (5.00 / 2) (#63)
    by flashman on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:14:31 AM EST
    he has not commented, but like you, I'm off the TV right now.  At this point, I'm saving my comtempt for the media, who has played up this non-story as though it is something important, expeciall the ever more unhinged Keith Bloberman.  I caught the end of his program last night.  It was one of the most disgraceful media specticals I've ever seen.  One thing about his red-eye, spittling diatribe that stood out; he said, "This image should not be invoked, EVER."  We're living in China now, not able to discuss history that King Bloberman has deemd prohibited.  Man, the media is so far out of bounds these days.

    [ Parent ]
    One of the staffers has made (none / 0) (#84)
    by kredwyn on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:25:42 AM EST
    a statement. I think the guy's a high level staffer.

    [ Parent ]
    Bill Burton, spokesman. (none / 0) (#93)
    by lilburro on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:32:19 AM EST
    A statement came out pretty fast.  

    I hope Obama doesn't comment.  Can you imagine?  "Senator Obama, do you think Senator Clinton is waiting for you to die?"  Sheesh.

    [ Parent ]

    I watched two minutes... (none / 0) (#113)
    by Marco21 on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:57:08 AM EST
    of his show and had to change it. What an embarrassment.

    [ Parent ]
    clearly, they're still worried (5.00 / 3) (#19)
    by kempis on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:46:47 AM EST
    After blowouts in WV and KY, if Hillary does really well in Puerto Rico, she may in fact end the primaries with a popular vote lead.

    I honestly think the DNC is orchestrating this end game as much as possible, and Obama has enough pledged delegates for remaining undeclares superdees to put him over the top--no matter what happens in the remaining primaries.

    BUT they must be worried about something, and the only thing I can see that they'd be worried about is that Hillary could win the popular vote and someone in the media who isn't Obama's bestest buddy might actually note that fact.

    If she does, it won't threaten his nomination, but it makes him appear a less stronger candidate--because he is. So, and I may be really wrong about all this, it looks to me like much the battle right now is to keep it possible for people to imagine clothes for the emperor. If his opponent gets the most popular votes, a nomination-by-delegates-only may look like a fig leaf.

    [ Parent ]

    bleah--sorry for typos (5.00 / 4) (#26)
    by kempis on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:48:50 AM EST
    There are several due to arthritic fingers but one due to a brain cramp: "less stronger." To which I say to myself, "WTF?"

    [ Parent ]
    :-) Not to worry... (5.00 / 2) (#89)
    by sleepingdogs on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:30:02 AM EST
    ...it happens to all of us.  Your ideas were still clearly conveyed.

    [ Parent ]
    The pop vote is irrelevant (1.00 / 3) (#42)
    by Seth90212 on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:00:53 AM EST
    I don't understand this argument. Who cares? Besides, your pop vote total is going to be at variance with someone else's.

    There are only 200 SD's left. Unless Hillary can corral all of them, this contest is over. She will not corral even half of them. If trends continue, she'll be lucky to get 5% of them.

    Not that it matters, but PR may not be the pop vote goldmine for Hillary that some believe. PR is not Mexico. It is a Caribbean country whose most popular citizen (Tito Trinidad) is a black man who could pass for Obama's brother. Besides, for the most part, Latinos everywhere are beginning to consolidate behind Obama.


    [ Parent ]

    Once again, from the beginning, (5.00 / 3) (#44)
    by zfran on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:02:45 AM EST
    please site some evidence (other than in Ca) that shows the Latino vote swinging his way. Please post new stuff, or go home!!

    [ Parent ]
    post some new stuff? (5.00 / 1) (#102)
    by seesdifferent on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:40:12 AM EST
    if you take a look at the posts in this thread, you will find sameness.

    [ Parent ]
    This thread is respectful, informative (5.00 / 1) (#109)
    by zfran on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:53:16 AM EST
    and smart. If being for Sen. Obama means resorting to disrespect, vile remarks, trying to control the conversation, making insulting remarks, then I'm glad I'm not supporting Sen. Obama. Others are here. Please, if for no other reason than that, please be respectful.

    [ Parent ]
    Over at SurveyUSA (5.00 / 1) (#203)
    by Valhalla on Sat May 24, 2008 at 01:10:35 PM EST
    McCain's leading Obama 49-42% in California's Hispanic demo.

    [ Parent ]
    Use the Google yourself (none / 0) (#54)
    by Seth90212 on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:09:55 AM EST
    Obama is doing very well among Latinos in all the states with large Latino populations. This is especially true in a match up with McCain. As you may recall, Obama beat or nearly tied Hillary among Latinos in some states. This has mostly been a name recognition problem for Obama, and not some racial schism between blacks and Latinos which some Hillary supporters have gleefully postulated.

    [ Parent ]
    You've got to be kidding me! (5.00 / 3) (#82)
    by zfran on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:25:17 AM EST
    I live in Tejas. The divide is among younger Latinos. The middle and older Latino votes still are Hillary's. My guess is that like many of us, they will, in the end, be just as ticked off as some of us are and not vote Obama. One more note, please, when you add to this post, please add what Obama is for, not what Hillary is against. (IMHO)

    [ Parent ]
    Obama is now doing better than Clinton (1.00 / 2) (#114)
    by Laureola on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:58:45 AM EST
    in CA - thus finally crushing the "big state" myth

    In addition, he is surpassing McCain in Ohio and PA.  Their trend lines are going in opposite directions.

    [ Parent ]

    Hillary also is winning in PA (5.00 / 1) (#118)
    by zfran on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:01:19 PM EST
    and OH against McCain (media reporting yesterday). In Ca a dem will win anyway!!!

    [ Parent ]
    Obama is also beating McCain (none / 0) (#188)
    by mattt on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:56:43 PM EST
    in PA and OH, according to the most recent polls.  If history is any guide he'll get a healthy bump once the nomination is settled.

    I live in CA and McCain has no hope here in November, against either Dem.  None.

    [ Parent ]

    According to one poll. (none / 0) (#134)
    by masslib on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:10:49 PM EST
    Rasmaussen has her and JE at 54-38 in CA.

    [ Parent ]
    Sweetie Alert! (none / 0) (#179)
    by otherlisa on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:46:12 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Also a country (5.00 / 1) (#130)
    by befuddled on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:08:52 PM EST
    where one of Obama's superdelegates was indicted March 23 on mail fraud and various other no-nos, ver much like Rezko. It was a 3-year investigation so preceded this campaign, but there are enough correspondences for any smear ad that someone wanting to play the Latino card (please God, let's not go there)could use. I didn't even know that until yesterday when I was Googling around.

    [ Parent ]
    Down With The People! (none / 0) (#97)
    by flashman on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:36:48 AM EST
    izzat the new political slogan?

    [ Parent ]
    I'm glad she called them out on that VP (none / 0) (#35)
    by Joan in VA on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:54:59 AM EST
    vote suppression scheme. They must be worried as you say.

    [ Parent ]
    Obama uses Rovian tactics to distract (5.00 / 3) (#47)
    by Josey on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:05:57 AM EST
    Newsweek poll: Obama struggles with White voters

    Obama: Hey - look over there! --------->> let's demonize Hillary!

    Another motive to distract - speaking to Cuban leaders yesterday in Miami, Obama flip flopped on his 2004 campaign position supporting ending the Cuba embargo.


    [ Parent ]

    Fox actually called Obama on that (5.00 / 6) (#69)
    by Cream City on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:16:58 AM EST
    and showed videos, then and now, of the flip-flop.

    I continue to be freeked by this parallel universe in which Fox really is the fair and balanced network -- by comparison, anyway.  I keep wondering if everything really will return to normal after November, or will my worldview as well as my world be forever changed.  It's the endtimes for a nooz junkie.

    [ Parent ]

    The balance will change as soon as the (5.00 / 2) (#85)
    by JavaCityPal on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:25:59 AM EST
    democratic convention is over.

    These slow leaks the media is releasing of how Obama's campaign tactics are representative of what a lousy leader he is will begin in earnest the day the democrats begin their convention and won't have the manpower available to fight back.

    They are carefully selecting some very damaging clips and not making much of them, yet. I'm sure that if he is the nominee, they have done this to show they were always giving the viewers what they needed to make an informed decision.


    [ Parent ]

    Has anyone else noticed that (5.00 / 2) (#90)
    by zfran on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:30:08 AM EST
    Obama, non-leader that he appears to be, when photographed on the (use deep voice here) "campaign trail" looks not presidential, but above it all, loving the attention, not interested in creating good sound bites to help his cause, just I'm it, I'm great, I'm chosen, I'm I'm, I'm.  

    [ Parent ]
    Obama Is Creating Sound Bites (5.00 / 1) (#99)
    by MO Blue on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:38:04 AM EST
    and the Republicans are very grateful for them. Dueling visions on Cuba, dueling visions on Iran all within a 24 hour period etc. Kerry will look very consistent by comparison.

    [ Parent ]
    want to kill HRC? (none / 0) (#117)
    by seesdifferent on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:00:44 PM EST
    you are out of bounds there.

    [ Parent ]
    MCMers have been referred to as Villagers by (none / 0) (#55)
    by jawbone on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:10:21 AM EST
    Somerby, not only bcz of the insular nature of working in a company town for many of them, but also a reference to the Village of the Damned (which became Village of the Damned Idiots in the blogosphere) where strange children are born who seem learn and communicate telepathically.

    Our Damned Idiots sometimes seem to be nearly insensate beings whose thoughts are sent out by controllers: the main thought goes out, and they all parrot it. With increasing rapidity and similarity as time goes by.

    Even Daniel Schorr! This is not the first time, btw, that he has been caught up in Villager conventional wisdom this primary or in other news reporting. And it kills me. I knew him when he could buck the trends....

    They are Borg-like in their inability to have original thoughts, and that has spread into the left blogosphere. Those not accepting the New Wisdom must be expelled. Exterminate! Exterminate!

    Hey, whatever works! I didn't think if would happen here, but, then, I did ignore human nature. Movement politics itself is Borg-like--just try to be a contrarian commenter at any blog where the strongest voices in comments have "seen the light." Even contrarians of long-standing are either ignored or blasted. So sad.

    Now, the MCM and increasingly Blogger Boyz have something in common with both Pod People and the telepathic mind-controlling children of Village of the Damned, along with the Borg. We do know that this manner of thinking seems to take over already mature adults, so...which metaphor works best?

    From Wiki about the 1960 movie: They dress impeccably, always walk as a group, speak in a very adult way, are very well-behaved... but they show no conscience or love and demonstrate a coldness to others. SNIP They begin to exhibit the power to read minds when expedient, or to force people to do things against their will, the latter accompanied by an alien glow in the children's eyes. SNIP

    ...the children are all placed in a separate building where they will learn and live. Gordon [Village leader] learns that the Soviets have used nuclear weapons to destroy their village containing the mutant children. As the children's evil nature becomes more and more clear to Gordon, he takes a hidden time-bomb to what he expects to a session with the children, and tries to block their awareness of the bomb by visualising a brick wall. His "son" David scans his mind - showing an emotion (astonishment) for the first time - "You're not thinking of atomic energy, you're thinking of ... a brick wall!" The children exert force to try to break down Gordon's mental wall to learn what he is hiding from them. They discover his actions just a moment before the bomb detonates.

    The final scene is ambiguous and could be interpreted as the survival of the children in non-corporeal form. Their glowing eyes appear in the debris of the flaming building and move out of shot.

    Cue eerie music....

    (Note: I am not advocating the bombing of MCM locations. Practically speaking, there are too many, and, more importantly, I don't believe in that kind of violence. Just making this clear, m'kay?)

    [ Parent ]

    Obamamites are so much like Bushies (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by Josey on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:22:40 AM EST
    hyping disinformation and engaging in character assassinations for the purpose of "winning."

    This latest stunt by Obama exploiting Robert Kennedy's death, coupled with the many physical threats of violence from Obamamites and media pundits toward Hillary -takes hypocrisy to a whole new level.


    [ Parent ]

    tell us about threats to HRC? (1.00 / 3) (#106)
    by seesdifferent on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:43:29 AM EST
    and how the assassination issue was a stunt by Obama?

    [ Parent ]
    Non-issue (5.00 / 2) (#123)
    by waldenpond on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:04:56 PM EST
    jumped on by Obama's resident sleaze Bill Burton.  Faux outrage is the Obama modus operandi.

    Interesting strategy for the primary but I don't think the whine strategy is going to work on indies and repubs for the GE.

    I know I got sick of the Obama campaign's whining very early.  It was a demonstration of a weak candidate.  People don't complain about it as much because we have learned to tune it out.

    [ Parent ]

    The whine strategy will go the way (5.00 / 1) (#131)
    by Practically Lactating on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:09:01 PM EST
    of the boy who cried wolf. When there is really something to whine about, he will not have any credibility left.

    [ Parent ]
    Obama Making Hay (none / 0) (#147)
    by daring grace on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:21:24 PM EST
    out of Sen. Clinton's comment?

    I don't see it.

    I hear a lot of other pundits, bloggers et al keeping this alive.

    But aside from Burton's comment which read to me like political boiler plate-and I've seen similar ones out of Clinton's campaign when he gets embroiled in something-the only other comment I heard was Axelrod's on Hard Ball where he refused to get sucked into a pile on.

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=SfSCLZbRQKA&feature=user

    Has Obama or someone else in his campaign said something other than these two comments? maybe I missed it.

    [ Parent ]

    Obama issued one sentence - (5.00 / 1) (#200)
    by Josey on Sat May 24, 2008 at 01:07:16 PM EST
    Hillary's remarks had no place in the campaign (something like that).

    Obama interpreted Hillary's comments as "bad" and his followers and the media took it from there - interpreting it as Hillary suggesting physical harm to Obama.

    Obama appears above the frey while Obamedia and Obamamites spread disinformation. Perhaps they'd have some credibility if any of them had once denounced the many violent threats against Hillary by media pundits and Obama bloggers.
    But instead - they encourage it with their vitriol against her.

    [ Parent ]

    I Guess Where We Differ (none / 0) (#209)
    by daring grace on Sat May 24, 2008 at 01:31:03 PM EST
    (aside from which candidates we support) is that I draw a distinction between the candidates, their 'official' campaigns (i.e. their spokespeople and recognized surrogates like supers and spouses) and the zillions of people in the punditocracy, blogosphere etc with two bit opinions and an abundance of free time.

    As an Obama supporter, I don't hold Senator Clinton responsible for the verbal excesses of her supporters although I do repudiate some of those excesses just as I do the excesses of Obama zealots.

    Frankly, online, I'm never sure if it IS a Clinton or Obama supporter or rather some Repub mischief maker or even some random nutcase.

    As for the Obama campaign's one line statement: It reminds me (as I said before) of such statements  the Clinton campaign has issued when Obama said something that was leapt on by the media--like the "bitter" comments which he later said were a misstatement.

    I didn't like it when she made hay out of it, but I understand it. It's politics. Considering Axelrod's later comment, their campaign has reacted pretty neutrally.

    And you know what? That's probably politics too. They know they don't have to--the media and blogosphere is running with this. But also it seems to me their plan right now is to try and find conciliatory ground going into the May 31 DNC meeting and their expectation to win the nomination. It looks to me like they're working pretty hard not to pick fights with Senator Clinton right now.

    [ Parent ]

    Obamamites' violent threats to Hillary (5.00 / 1) (#145)
    by Josey on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:19:08 PM EST
    All you need to do is read Obama blogs and watch TV. Remember the 'fatal attraction' comment this week?
    But foremost is the hatemongering for Hillary spewed by those site owners and the consequential comments advocating violence toward Hillary.
    Oh - those comments may later be "hidden" - but the site owners continue inciting hate.

    Obama benefiting himself by exploiting Robert Kennedy's death is just another Obama Drama to demonize Hillary.
    He did the same with Hillary's historical comment about LBJ and MLK, Jr.
    And Bill Clinton's remark about Jesse Jackson.
    And Hillary citing exit polling data that the white working class doesn't support Obama.

    Lots of faux outrage over nothing - but the elite Washington establishment and media supporting Obama hype it and on cue Obamamites follow.

    Obama's reactionary remarks are very immature and non-presidential.

    [ Parent ]

    and KO's diatribe about (5.00 / 2) (#150)
    by zfran on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:22:18 PM EST
    taking Hillary in a back room and she doesn't come back out~

    [ Parent ]
    Didn't Jeralyn ask (none / 0) (#185)
    by mattt on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:53:48 PM EST
    not to discuss the RFk reference?

    I'll raise a question about the point Clinton was supposedly trying to make: that nomination contests often go deep into the Summer - whether the example is 1968 or the really more applicable examples of 1980 and 1984.

    How did the general election go for the Dem candidates in each of those years?

    Does anybody care about that anymore?

    [ Parent ]

    Thanks to you (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by andgarden on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:38:39 AM EST
    I'm going to have Vitameatavegamin in my head all day!

    That's Vita-meata-vegamin (5.00 / 3) (#30)
    by zfran on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:51:35 AM EST
    It's so tasty too!!!

    [ Parent ]
    Ha..ha... (none / 0) (#6)
    by Stellaaa on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:40:10 AM EST
    was that your first time?  

    [ Parent ]
    hell no (5.00 / 2) (#16)
    by andgarden on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:44:41 AM EST
    Lucy is timeless.

    [ Parent ]
    I was going to walk around the lake (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by Militarytracy on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:47:37 AM EST
    but it is already too hot here and with the humidity and two miles......well, I'm going to have to start at 7:00 am now.  I have to go to a toddler birthday today and it is too late to give myself poison ivy.  I don't have any toddlers anymore, why am I still being invited to these birthdays.......hmmmmmmm?

    Are you nuts (5.00 / 5) (#25)
    by Stellaaa on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:48:47 AM EST
    just buy a toy that makes really obnoxious noise, they will never invite you again.  

    [ Parent ]
    My 2 Kids Are 14 Months Apart (5.00 / 2) (#45)
    by MO Blue on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:03:37 AM EST
    I was 8 months pregnant with my daughter and my dad bought my 13 month old son a large parrot for Xmas that had this gawd awful obnoxious squawk. My son loved that parrot and the sound drove me completely up the wall.

    Come to think of it the sound that parrot made reminds me a lot of the Obama supporters over at the big orange and on MSNBC.   Just as shrill and obnoxious IMO.

    [ Parent ]

    I could just give them Josh's parrot (none / 0) (#60)
    by Militarytracy on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:12:58 AM EST
    Birds have always loved my son but not me.  I used to babysit for people who had one sent from South America and he hated me.  He was allowed to fly free in the house and would leave his perch the minute I opened the door and swoop at my head.......ick!  I held out for as long as could but finally I agreed that my son could have a bird.  We got a handfed baby quaker parrot.  He/she is cute as heck, friendly and comical, but so noisy at times that I think the bird could mysteriously disappear.

    [ Parent ]
    Not Clear In My Original Comment (none / 0) (#88)
    by MO Blue on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:29:25 AM EST
    It was toy parrot that was as big as my 13 month old son. It walked around the house squawking loudly with each step. I tried removing the batteries but that only made my son squawk. Needlessly to say, my dad was not my favorite person when the bird was doing its thing.

    [ Parent ]
    God, I wish "brother" was only a toy! (5.00 / 1) (#139)
    by Militarytracy on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:13:46 PM EST
    "Brother" is a mommy guilt loaded bird too.  Josh wants a brother but his mom told him that she was retiring from baby making.  So we bring this little bird home and with great big guilt loaded eyes Josh names him "brother".  I'm stuck with this bird for life :)

    [ Parent ]
    Lake Tholocco? (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by jeffinalabama on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:50:52 AM EST
    It was empty last time i was there, lol, the dam broke!

    [ Parent ]
    Our subdivision has a couple of lakes (none / 0) (#40)
    by Militarytracy on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:00:13 AM EST
    we live on the biggest one and if you walk the road around it, it is two miles.  The whole neighborhood walks it.  We are the walkinest neighborhood, but I notice today that it got hot fast and we were all behind the powercurve.

    [ Parent ]
    Shouldn't Obama be in PR, (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by lilburro on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:52:05 AM EST
    Montana, SD?  

    If my opponent was pushing a popular vote argument hinging on PR, I would want to get a lot of votes in PR.

    He is in PR. (none / 0) (#120)
    by Laureola on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:03:11 PM EST
    eom

    [ Parent ]
    First rain in almost 2 months (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by Stellaaa on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:52:42 AM EST
    now that they declared drought and cut me back to 19% even though I have done every PC thing in the last three years, I still get cut and all that the people with big lawns have to do is top watering the lawn.  So much for being earth friendly.  

    but, they're in the creative class, and they have (5.00 / 3) (#38)
    by jeffinalabama on Sat May 24, 2008 at 10:55:48 AM EST
    to give up their LAWNS!
    Oh, the humanity!

    [ Parent ]
    Nah, if Richardson has his way (none / 0) (#77)
    by Cream City on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:22:32 AM EST
    they'll just creatively drain my Great Lakes, further lowering the worrisome water level, so that lawns will live in the Southwest while our fish and fowl and tourism industry dies.  This is a huge issue in this area, the Great Lakes compact among many states and Canada to save our extraordinary natural resource as large, all together, as an ocean.

    Reason number one why Richardson, after that quote that so angered us here, cannot be on the ticket: Dems will need the Great Lakes states.  Add to that Obama's geographical confusion, in which he put one of our Great Lakes in Oregon, and the GOP can have a field day with funny attack ads here.

    [ Parent ]

    Wow did I ever miss something that Richardson (none / 0) (#140)
    by Militarytracy on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:15:25 PM EST
    has said.  I have no idea what you are talking about.

    [ Parent ]
    As our leading local blogger (none / 0) (#190)
    by Cream City on Sat May 24, 2008 at 12:57:20 PM EST
    on the environment wrote back then, last fall:

    Richardson is a Democratic presidential candidate who is also auditioning for his party's vice-presidential nod. But he's has hurt his standing in the heavily-Democratic Great Lakes cities -- Chicago, Detroit, Gary, Milwaukee, Cleveland and others.  Throwing "Bill Richardson Great Lakes" into the Google search engine produces 921,000 hits.  Not all are about this controversy, but relevant listings still show up on the 66th page: a big and embedded gaffe for Richardson to overcome - - and a continuing boost to efforts to push the Compact forward where stalled, including Wisconsin.

    Here's the quote, with more Midwest commentary:

    . . . .Richardson told a Las Vegas newspaper that he would bring northern states into the discussion of how to help water-starved states in the Southwest. . . .  "I believe the Western states and Eastern states have not been talking to each other when it comes to proper use of our water resources," he told the Las Vegas Sun.  "I want a national water policy. We need a dialogue between states to deal with issues like water conservation, water reuse technology, water delivery and water production.  States like Wisconsin are awash in water."

    The water levels of the Great Lakes have dropped, and local politicians have lashed out at the proposed "water-sharing" plans of Richardson. Lake Superior's September average level was 1.6 inches lower than the previous record for the month set in 1926. Huron and Michigan are losing water three times faster than previously believed, according to a study by a Canadian group.

    "Don't get us wrong. Mr. Richardson and his constituents in New Mexico are welcome to reasonable use of Great Lakes water," said Hugh McDiarmid Jr. of the Michigan Environmental Council. . . .  "All they have to do is move to the Great Lakes region. They'll be free to enjoy all our best beaches, trout streams and great-tasting municipal water."

    Reporter Jim Lynch of the Detroit News reports that U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, R-Harrison Township [said] . . ."It's outrageous, but not surprising," Miller said of Richardson's comments. "I've heard members of Congress from that part of the country express similar sentiments, so we need to be extremely vigilant.  The unfortunate reality is we are continuing to lose political clout with each census update. And a lot of that clout is going to places in the Southwest."



    [ Parent ]
    Oh Boy! (5.00 / 0) (#199)
    by Militarytracy on Sat May 24, 2008 at 01:06:03 PM EST
    I'm from Colorado and we have known about our water problems for a very very very long time and we have failed to take those problems seriously ourselves or do anything REAL about them.  If the area will not support any more growth that's the facts of life.  My family ranches east of Colorado Springs and has had to redrilled all of our wells because the aquifer continues to drop due to overuse.  So the answer is to rob someone else and not deal with our own problems?  Oh Boy!

    [ Parent ]
    Anybody (5.00 / 2) (#46)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:04:49 AM EST
    see the article in Politico where they talk about McCain's likely EC blowout against Obama? The GOP seems to be pretty confident they can win against him especially since his disenfranchisement of MI.

    They also state that the increase in the AA vote would only amount to 1% at the most in states, a margin that could easily be overcome.

    Paul Maslin, a dem pollster, said that this is the year we couldn't lose but apparently we might.

    Altogether now: The DNC wants to lose apparently.

    Link? (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by Kathy on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:09:14 AM EST
    Nothing new, really.  I mean, we've been saying this same thing for months here.  Now that they think Obama has it wrapped up, they are suddenly "realizing" that he has problems?   I don't think so.  they've known all along; they've just been waiting until they think he's the nominee to spring it.

    Let's see what happens, though, because if this was over, Clinton would be home now.  I think that both candidates have been told that there is a certain metric they must reach in order to win.  Otherwise, the SDs would have ended this a long time ago.

    [ Parent ]

    Saw that.. (none / 0) (#83)
    by waldenpond on Sat May 24, 2008 at 11:25:27 AM EST
    I liked the Repubs statement... no disrespect to the other candidates, but if it was anyone other than McCain, we'd be toast.

    There was also a piece by Chuck Todd (thru RCP) about what a loss would mean to the Repubs and the Dems.  Amazing that articles are being written about the Dems losing.

    [If Obama loses, then it's because he lost it somehow. Maybe it'll be because he's too easily painted as an elitest. Maybe it'll be because he doesn't seem up to the job. Or maybe it'll simply be a function of racism.]

    BTDs has the media darling theory.  I have/had the 'what gets the most ratings' theory.  The best story line was to take out the Clinton's and then take out the Dems.  gasp how could they lose.

    I laughed when I was this from Chuck Todd:

    [The Clintons, and now Obama, have become catnip for the media and a divisive "he said, they said" fight about how the Democrats lost the unloseable election will actually mask likely gains for the party on the House and Senate level.]

    Oh the drama, oh the angst... losers.

    [ Parent ]

    Latest Flap Follows Ferraro Dynamic Exactly (