home

Friday Mid-Day Open Thread

TChris and I have been focused on crime this morning and Big Tent Democrat is attending to some other matters, so for those of you with politics or other things on your mind, here's an open thread.

< Sledgehammer Injustice | SWAT Assault Leads to Tragic Death >
  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


  • Display: Sort:
    Iran and chess (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by Jlvngstn on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:12:08 AM EST
    Iran is doing a fabulous job at keeping oil prices up with their saber rattling keeping the US at bay on a number of fronts.  It knows that we can ill afford a conflict militarily as we are overcommitted in Iraq and Afghanistan, we can ill afford a conflict that will drive oil to over $200 a barrel based on distressed supply in a conflict.  Keeping the price of oil up also creates a severe strain on the US economy which benefits them financially and keeps the US at bay.

    Ignore Iran, let the EU handle it, they are proving to be much better at negotiating than us....

    Yeah J.... (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by kdog on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:34:13 AM EST
    the conflist between us and Iran does seem to work out a whole lot better for the Iranian oil industry.

    They couldn't have planned a better economic stimulus package for their country if they tried...with an assist to the speculators.

    Parent

    saw this yesterday (5.00 / 0) (#20)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:39:57 AM EST
    The head of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries warned Thursday that oil prices would see an "unlimited" increase in the case of a military conflict involving Iran, because the group's members would be unable to make up the lost production.

    Parent
    "Too bad..... (none / 0) (#29)
    by kdog on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:45:01 AM EST
    she's got you by the balls.  You can't get free at all." - Jagger/Richards, Short & Curlies

    Parent
    or as some rebublican once said (5.00 / 2) (#30)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:49:17 AM EST
    when you have them by the balls their hearts and minds will follow.


    Parent
    this is on Drudge (none / 0) (#200)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 05:32:02 PM EST
    Many of Iran's claims related to missile tests during "Great Prophet III" war games -- appear to be smoke and mirrors!
    The missiles tested DID NOT not have 2,000-kilometer range, the NEW YORK TIMES is planning to report on Saturday.
    Iran DID NOT launch a Shahab-3 missile, able to reach Israel.
    It was an older missile that was out of production, newsroom sources tell DRUDGE.
    And a video showing what appeared to be many missiles being fired -- is actually one missile, filmed from different angles!
    NYT's Bill Broad is planning to quote military insiders.
    **
    who knows if this is true of just backpeddaling because of the issues mentioned above.

    Parent
    Chess is illegal in Iran, though! (none / 0) (#66)
    by MarkL on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:09:44 PM EST
    Really? (none / 0) (#71)
    by kdog on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:19:43 PM EST
    In this prohibition-crazy world it wouldn't surpise me in the least.

    You can't be too careful with the demon chess....zero tolerance is the way to go:)

    Parent

    Can't have a game where..... (5.00 / 0) (#73)
    by Maria Garcia on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:22:38 PM EST
    ...the Queen is the most powerful piece, I guess. ;-)

    Parent
    It's about gambling. The prohibition (none / 0) (#74)
    by MarkL on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:23:12 PM EST
    dates from Khomeini. It may not be in force now.

    Parent
    Now I know..... (none / 0) (#84)
    by kdog on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:46:27 PM EST
    and knowing is half the battle.

    What did liberty ever do that was so terrible that she has so many enemies?

    Parent

    Or a game.... (none / 0) (#101)
    by kdog on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:17:33 PM EST
    where any pawn can become a Queen.

    They spit on their women and spit on their pawns alike...sun god help the female pawns, talk about a double whammy.

    Parent

    yes but there are 2 (none / 0) (#83)
    by Jlvngstn on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:44:59 PM EST
    sets of laws in most countries, one for those at the grass level and one for those who piss on the grass, no matter who is standing in their way.

    Iran is firing missiles to raise oil prices to directly inflict pain on the american economy.  The russians are smiling and depositing the checks.  This is the net of 8 years of pisspoor foreign policy.  Not that Iran loved us 8 years ago by any stretch of the imagination.....

    they will continue with their beligerrence (sp) as long as we are over extended, and inflict their pain of "reverse sanctions".  Despite how i feel about the price of oil personally, I gotta hand it to them for their ability to slap us around without actually hitting us.,

    Parent

    Not everything is all about (5.00 / 1) (#154)
    by tree on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:34:42 PM EST
    us and what we paying at the pump.

     My sister lives in Israel. There has been constant talk there for the last several months (way before the Iranian missile launches) that Israel is planning a strike on Iran this summer. I think it vastly more likely that Iran is saber rattling for Israel's benefit, to remind them that they too are vulnerable to missiles, especially ones that are more accurately targeted than Hezbollah's missiles were. This is intended to discourage Israel from any attack,but then Israel doesn't respond rationally to threats so it might not work.

      The higher oil prices will just be another devastating side effect of an attack on Iran.

    Parent

    there has been constant talk (none / 0) (#160)
    by Jlvngstn on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:44:37 PM EST
    for 7 years about Israel striking Iran.  In fact, there has been talk for decades.  Nothing new there.  What is new is the price of oil based on demand with india and china spiking.  What is also new is that we had a 5 dollar drop and then test fire of missiles which caused a 7 dollar spike.  Don't assume the iranians are stupid, reckless at times but far from stupid.

    Parent
    How (5.00 / 1) (#194)
    by Nadai on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 05:13:55 PM EST
    is saying that the Iranians are testing missiles as a warning to Israel, more than an attempt to ratchet up gas prices in the US, assuming that the Iranians are stupid?  It seems to me that Iranians are perfectly capable of doing both, and neither one is stupid.

    Parent
    Thanks for diaries by you and TChris (5.00 / 3) (#6)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:21:55 AM EST
    this morning, Jeralyn -- although I better go monitor my blood pressure, after reading them.  

    The non-lawyers among us especially benefit from reminders of abuses such as these, the sort of cases that you lawyers see.  Many of us may see the results of these injustices in other ways -- for me, I see some in my students from families that have suffered from societal problems.  

    (I never will forget my record day in office hours of 17 students with crises -- such as one not having taken a test because textbooks were the last thing that a young mother worried about when escaping an abusive husband and getting her children safely to a shelter for battered women and families.  But I first had to take a lot of time to establish "safety" in my office for the student to overcome embarrassment to explain the reasons.)

    So it is helpful to be reminded of backstories that may explain what appears inexplicable in my work as well.  Thanks for fighting the good fights.  And for "translating" these legal cases into readable form for the rest of us. :-)

    I actually have a back story of my own (none / 0) (#36)
    by kelsweet on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:07:57 PM EST
    and really need some council (i think) about an injustice from the DOJ and my own "run in" with them. They absolutely railroaded me into a program called pre-trial program. I have been accused, but never charged of "scheming to defraud the US gov't" they put me into the program before they even told me I was in it. And in order to keep it off my record and to avoid being arrested or charged I had to sign away my rights to a lawyer ( i asked repeatedly if I should contact a lawyer) and jump through their hoops for 18 months, which of course I am doing, as they left me no choice, in the end however I will still owe the social security $36,000.00 according to them. They would never let me see the "proof" they had, which is BS anyway and I am convinced they know it, otherwise they would have arrested me and formerly charged me?????? I only accepted this CRAP because I couldn't chance going to jail even for a minimal amount of time because I have to care for my disabled daughter which is where this all stems from in the first place. They put me in an impossible situation and I will never in this lifetime be able to recover from it. I just want to SCREAM from somewhere in Washington DC that this is what they are doing to people. I want to know how common is this? I already suffer from PTSD over the fact that my daughter's kidney and heart failure was caused by doctor's malpractice (we proved this in court but it was thrown out on a technicality) they claim i was over paid by ssi and they are now rubbing salt in an open wound!
    The injustice is STAGGERING imo. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. I feel trapped. Plus they don't give a sh!t about the fact that I am owed $25,000.00 in child support, and no one in the gov't CARES!  

    Parent
    Anybody else curious as to why (5.00 / 0) (#12)
    by zfran on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:34:50 AM EST
    Obama is not revealing all his big donors as he said he would? See "Obama money trail questioned"
    (link not working)


    maybe (5.00 / 0) (#24)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:43:01 AM EST
    it because of this:

    Needless to say the fundraising was not going well. I mentioned that I had heard that Barack's campaign failed to reach their fundraising goals for the second quarter. She confirmed that this was true.

    Parent

    Got the link (none / 0) (#13)
    by zfran on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:36:24 AM EST
    Obama campaign (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by Josey on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:38:08 AM EST
    projected a $100M June - but they only raked in $30M!

    ABC News -
    http://tinyurl.com/5q2hp7

    "One hundred million dollars this June -- it's definitely within reach," Obama fundraiser Wade Randlett said last month to The Hill.

    At the time the Obama campaign had not yet made its announcement it would not -- despite a previous pledge to the contrary -- make efforts to enter into the public financing system. But clearly it had been gearing up to do so. A decision rooted in a belief the campaign can raised significantly more than the approximately $85 million the federal system would have given it.

    I'd absolutely love it (though I want Obama to (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by tigercourse on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:43:28 AM EST
    win in November) if he isn't able to outraise McCain after backing out of public finance. It would be delicious.

    Parent
    delicious (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:44:04 AM EST
    VERY IMPORTANT READ (5.00 / 0) (#109)
    by flashman on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:28:30 PM EST
    Sorry for the O/T, but you gotta see this.  This is the last straw for me.  I can not support this candidate or this party.  25 years of loyal Democratic support down the f#$%ing drain.

    Parent
    saw that (none / 0) (#140)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:15:44 PM EST
    grrrrrrrr

    Parent
    yep (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:43:37 AM EST
    sorry didnt see this before I posted that^

    Parent
    I've received six calls - (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by liminal on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:16:06 PM EST
    - from Obama telemarketers in the last two weeks, wanting money.  They wanted me to kick in the "average donation" for "your area" (West Virginia) of $150 (which made me guffaw, really).  I didn't donate.  Like tigercourse, I want him to win in November, but I can't see myself donating to him, certainly not in the sacrificial, to the bone manner I used to donate to HRC.  

    And when the DNC calls asking for money for a fifty state strategy, I can't help but laugh.  Maybe I'll give money to the "fifty-state" strategy when the Obama campaign acknowledges that West Virginia is one of the fifty states.  

    Of course, Obama could earn a quick $50 from me pretty easily, just by showing up in the mountain state.  I have an open bet with my dad that Obama won't set foot in WV before the general.  If he doesn't, Dad owes me $50.  If he shows, I owe Obama $50.

    Parent

    guess the Obama-telemarketers aren't worried (5.00 / 3) (#49)
    by kempis on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:45:36 PM EST
    about credibility.

    They wanted me to kick in the "average donation" for "your area" (West Virginia) of $150 (which made me guffaw, really).

    God almighty, I'd have dropped the phone. :D Who on earth would believe that whopper? If true, that only means some bazillionaire in West Virginia made a contribution and inflated the average.

    As for the 50-state strategy, yep that sort of falls apart in the border South: Kentucky and West Virginia, doesn't it?

    Parent

    You and me and many others (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:04:24 PM EST
    on many websites, saying we are waiting to see if we -- not just Clinton, but her supporters -- receive the same respect accorded every major candidate in past in pants, instead of pantsuits.

    This is a major obstacle to "unity," and this is ridiculous.  Makes me wonder just what Obama fears might happen, hmmm?

    Parent

    The latest today (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by standingup on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:17:15 PM EST
    on the VP rumors will make matters worse if it is true.  Ben Smith in Politico today - Wolfson: Clinton not being vetted 'as far as I know'

    Parent
    Well, what would happen (2.00 / 0) (#178)
    by MKS on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:23:34 PM EST
    is an attempt to derail the convention....It would not succeed, but it would make a mess of things and make Obama look bad--which is the whole idea....

    The reason for the roll call vote is to keep the idea alive that Hillary will still be the nominee.  You know that--that is the stated goal....to defeat Obama....

    Parent

    Not so. You guys need to get over it. (5.00 / 1) (#181)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:31:11 PM EST
    Ah, no, (none / 0) (#183)
    by MKS on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:35:05 PM EST
    that is so--according to the guy appearing on FOX....

    Parent
    So, one guy on FOX (5.00 / 0) (#190)
    by nycstray on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 05:08:09 PM EST
    speaks for all Hillary voters?

    News to me.

    Parent

    Ah, according to Fox News. (none / 0) (#189)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 05:06:20 PM EST
    Hokay.  Don't listen to, y'know, us.

    Parent
    Suppose (none / 0) (#197)
    by Nadai on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 05:21:13 PM EST
    just for the sake of argument, that that's true.  So what?  Do you think that none of the non-front-running contenders in the past were attempting to derail their conventions and/or make the frontrunners look bad?  Yet, somehow, they were still permitted to put their names in contention without howls of protest about how very horrible and ununified they were for daring to do so.

    Why is it that only Hillary Clinton gets that sort of treatment?  What's so different about her that it actually seems reasonable to people to demand that she sit down, shut up, and smile prettily?  Whatever could it be?

    Parent

    I called the DNC yesterday (5.00 / 0) (#148)
    by mrjerbub on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:23:27 PM EST
    and was told she would be on the first roll call ballot. The rumor that she wasn't, was just that...but the there's always Donna B. and her cohorts to deal with.

    Parent
    Kinda feel like you can't trust what they (none / 0) (#170)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:06:53 PM EST
    say anymore...no one group has worked harder than the DNC to make sure Hillary didn't get the nomination.

    Parent
    Word. n/t (5.00 / 0) (#186)
    by mrjerbub on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:44:20 PM EST
    I've not had a call, (5.00 / 0) (#195)
    by seeker on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 05:14:44 PM EST
    but I would tell them that I MIGHT donate when my efforts were no longer needed to help retire Hillary's debt.

    Parent
    I read on another site yesterday where (none / 0) (#63)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:05:48 PM EST
    the DNC had given Hillary until the end of July to retire her debt and then moved the date up to the 15th of July, or her name doesn't go on the ballot at the convention.  Anyone else hear this?

    Parent
    See Alegre's corner and Riverdaughter for this. (5.00 / 0) (#118)
    by laurie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:41:52 PM EST
    seems Hill has to cover her debt by July 11, to get her name on the Convention...

    Parent
    Is that even legal? Sounds more like (none / 0) (#122)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:47:48 PM EST
    blackmail.

    Parent
    That's today... (none / 0) (#145)
    by kredwyn on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:21:31 PM EST
    Hmmmmm.... (5.00 / 0) (#144)
    by kredwyn on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:20:58 PM EST
    That looks like extortion to me.

    Went off and bought one of those shirts...

    Parent

    This is great news. Lack of money is the (5.00 / 2) (#79)
    by MarkL on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:29:43 PM EST
    only thing that might wake up Obama to the fact that he has alienated so many Democrats.

    Parent
    I don't think that's right (none / 0) (#37)
    by CST on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:09:16 PM EST
    The Obama campaign hasn't released their number's yet and called the Wall Street Journal article which mentioned 30 mil grossly off mark.

    I'd wait to see.  My guess is it's not 30 or 100 but somewhere in between.

    Parent

    Just when I thought he couldn't disgrace us more (5.00 / 4) (#22)
    by BernieO on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:40:32 AM EST
    Bush pulls this one when leaving the G8:

    His final words to the likes of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy: "Goodbye from the world's biggest polluter."

    That was the report from the British press, citing "senior sources" who said Bush made the private joke as he was about to leave Japan on Wednesday.

    It stunned his partners, according to the Telegraph, which said:

    He then punched the air while grinning widely, as the rest of those present including Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy looked on in shock.

    (LA Times)

    Obama Won't Be Appearing at Netroots Nation (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by Dan the Man on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:51:59 AM EST
    You know where to look for details.  Pretty funny reading the comments defending why he can't go now when he, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards went last year.

    All I can say (5.00 / 5) (#48)
    by standingup on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:43:12 PM EST
    is they are going to have to find their own bus.  I'm not moving over for NN!

    Parent
    As a Liberal tossed off early, I'm in First Class (5.00 / 1) (#93)
    by Ellie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:02:24 PM EST
    ... hanging off the underside like DeNiro in Cape Fear.

    You?

    Parent

    I was one of the first (5.00 / 3) (#133)
    by standingup on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:07:02 PM EST
    tossed under after McClurkin....watched as it pulled forward and backed over us again a few times too.  

    Parent
    Me too (5.00 / 0) (#163)
    by mmc9431 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:49:20 PM EST
    Obama answer to that was totally unacceptable.

    But then I just read this quote from LA Times:

    "As Barack Obama moves to broaden his appeal beyond loyal Democrats, a chorus of anger and disappointment has arisen from the left. But those voices are a distinct minority because the party has a more pressing concern: winning in November."

    So it seems that all Democratic principles can be scrapped if it means a win. Great, it's good to know that it's only lefties that care about core values.

    When it's over what will they have won? A watered down Republican Party.

    Parent

    Obama to sponsor car in NASCAR (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by cmugirl on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:15:01 PM EST
    LINK

    I think he'll get laughed off the track.

    Imagine the looks on the faces (5.00 / 4) (#60)
    by Anne on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:02:56 PM EST
    of the fans when the Obama car can't seem to just drive in one direction around the track.  Look for some 180's, some driving across the track, some braking, and speeches in the pit.

    Hee-hee

    Parent

    ROFLMAOOOOOO (5.00 / 2) (#85)
    by kelsweet on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:53:32 PM EST
    funny mental picture! You're good    ;)

    Parent
    And look for a pit crew of super-delegates (5.00 / 4) (#92)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:59:57 PM EST
    to run out to carry it across the line first. :-)

    Parent
    Wondering if they make jumpsuits out (none / 0) (#99)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:14:35 PM EST
    of silk for Pelosi... :)

    Parent
    Pelosi needs an asbestos suit (5.00 / 0) (#127)
    by Grace on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:01:09 PM EST
    Led by Donna, no doubt. (none / 0) (#100)
    by Maria Garcia on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:15:54 PM EST
    Sponsoring a Toyota - good move (5.00 / 1) (#104)
    by ruffian on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:25:22 PM EST
    Had to read to the end to find what I was looking for - he is sponsoring a Toyota!

    The hard core NASCAR fans I have met here in FL are incensed that non-American cars were allowed into NASCAR this year. One woman I work with cancelled her season pass to Daytona.

    This should be interesting.

    Parent

    That's weird. I thought all campaigns - (5.00 / 1) (#125)
    by liminal on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:52:52 PM EST
    - were hypervigilent about using American-branded cars.  

    HRC made a surprise stop in my town (for Sunday church) during the primaries, and the single local staffer was scrambling the night before to find enough large cars (SUVs, minivans) to carry all the Secret Service personnel and campaign staff traveling with her.  My car was too small, and my parents' minivan - though assembled in the states according to my protesting father - was just too darn furn (foreign) to carry any of Clinton's secret service guys or staffers.  They only ride around in American-brand cars.

    Parent

    Probably figured it did not matter (5.00 / 0) (#138)
    by ruffian on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:14:36 PM EST
    and that all NASCAR cars are created equal.

    The people it matters to aren't going to vote for him anyway, so it probably won't cost him any votes.

    Parent

    toyotas made in the USA? (none / 0) (#179)
    by DFLer on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:25:52 PM EST
    Obama to sponsor car in NASCAR (5.00 / 0) (#158)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:43:40 PM EST
    I hope it has rubber flip flops glued to it.
    or at least pictures of them.

    Parent
    Thing is - NASCAR is an effective monopoly (3.00 / 0) (#182)
    by scribe on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:34:44 PM EST
    and has a lot of money to lose if there's a Democratic president who takes antitrust enforcement seriously.

    When was the last time you heard of a stock car race not associated with NASCAR?

    One needs to remember that NASCAR is a family-owned business which decides which teams get to participate, how much to charge them for the right, whether a particular driver should be disciplined for his road manners, and all the rest.  It resembles nothing more than a traveling carnival exhibition, where all the workers are working for the carnival and the carnival owner is in charge of pretty much everything.  Or maybe pro wrestling.  I'm not sure how many of the tracks are publicly owned, but to the extent they are, NASCAR gets a nice benefit from tax dollars.

    This isn't to say that the races and racing aren't real.  They and it are.  Rather, it's to say that there is no organization truly independent of the family which owns NASCAR to do the accreditation/regulation and run the races.

    That family (Big Republicans, as I understand it) are businesspeople who know which side their bread is (and will be) buttered on.  When Bushie was riding high, Justice Thomas was a regular celebrity guest, as was Rush Limbaugh.  They see Obama and allowing his campaign to sponsor a car as just another way to enhance their profitability and preserve their business (and business model).

    Parent

    I wonder if in any way this comes (none / 0) (#41)
    by zfran on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:17:09 PM EST
    under the equal time reg.

    Parent
    Has he hired "Mudcat"? (none / 0) (#43)
    by tigercourse on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:18:26 PM EST
    NASCAR (none / 0) (#47)
    by liminal on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:24:20 PM EST
    There is a lady in my office, no joke, who believes that God called her to watch NASCAR, and specifically to pray for the health and success of Dale Earnheardt, Jr.  

    Apparently, she was never before a fan, but was somehow watching NASCAR for the first time on the day Dale Earnheardt, Sr. died in a crash and believes that God spoke to her that day and ever since then she has had a vocation from God to be a NASCAR fan and - specifically - the most faithful Dale, Jr. fan in the world.

    Parent

    And people think Flannery O'Connor made stuff up. (5.00 / 3) (#51)
    by kempis on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:49:45 PM EST
    :)

    Parent
    As legitimate as "god" calling you.... (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by kdog on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:58:43 PM EST
    to do anything else I guess.

    I've been called to the trinity of sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll:)

    Parent

    Thats what you (5.00 / 1) (#78)
    by jondee on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:28:48 PM EST
    get for listening to those subliminal messages on Music From Big Pink rather pickin' up the Good Book.

    Parent
    I have yet to regret my choice... (5.00 / 2) (#86)
    by kdog on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:53:58 PM EST
    To quote Billy Joel, who will be rocking Yankee Stadium next week, and will be the last to do so.

    "I rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints."

    Parent

    It's only July 11, and I'm (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by liminal on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:19:38 PM EST
    - already looking forward to August 8, National "Sneak Some Zucchini on Your Neighbor's Porch Day."  I planted zucchini and crookneck squash in my vegetable garden for the first time this summer, just a couple plants each, and holy moly, they are already producing impressive yields.

    Ha. First time I planted zukes (none / 0) (#50)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:49:00 PM EST
    I did "just a couple of plants," too.  Yikes, I don't know why we don't give zucchini seeds to the poor counties to solve world hunger.  It also began my quest to become the woman with the most recipes for zucchini in the world; heck, I even have one for stuffed and fried zucchini flowers.  

    But my fave is zucchini ripiene -- sliced rounds stuffed with essential meatball mixture, then stewed in tomato sauce -- from the late, great Romagnoli's Kitchen show on PBS (I got the cookbook, and if you can find it, get it for many more Italian goodies).  I like it in part because it's good for what to do with huge zucchini.

    I rarely got a chance to use recipes for "small zucchini," though, because those that were small when I left for work in the morning were monsters by the time I came home.  So, yeh, I would bring bagsful to my workplace . . . to put next to the bagsful of zukes from coworkers. :-)

    Parent

    it's like the kudzu of the vegetable world. :) (none / 0) (#53)
    by kempis on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:50:54 PM EST
    Ooooh. (none / 0) (#72)
    by pie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:19:50 PM EST
    That sounds delish!  I have two of their cookbooks.

    I also like a Middle East inspired one with lamb, cinammon, cumin, onions, garlic, and  tomato paste.  Grill meat side down, turn over, top with parmesan and grill until the cheese melts.

    Parent

    p.s. You also may get a gardenful (none / 0) (#54)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:52:58 PM EST
    of slugs, and the Wisconsin Way works: put a low dish in the garden with some beer in it, and the slugs will act like frat boys and come running, fill their little slug guts, belch, but be trapped by those full bellies and can't get out again.  But they die drunkenly happy.:-)

    Btw, as for what to do with the rest of the beer, you know what to do . . . the Wisconsin Way.  Yes, marinate your bratwurst in it!  Or stuff it up the butt of a chicken or turkey to sit on the grill.  Or make beer-and-cheddar fondue.  Or . . . possibilities are endless here, where there even is a recipe for chocolate beer brownies.

    Parent

    Drink it! (none / 0) (#61)
    by liminal on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:03:31 PM EST
     - though, I keep good beer for drinking; I can't put that out for the slugs.  Actually, I don't have a problem with slugs in the vegetable garden - it's not level with any other part of the yard.  I live on a hill, on a subtle downward slop.  The vegetable garden is a small, rigged raised bed.  I do get slugs on my hostas, though, so I might employ the Wisconsin solution to save their tender leaves!

    Parent
    Yeh, well, the recipes here (none / 0) (#67)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:12:07 PM EST
    call for first popping the top of a can of brewski and drinking it while popping the top of another to use in the recipes. :-)

    But thanks, I hadn't thought of adapting this to see if I can spare my hosta from looking like lace full of holes from slugs by late summer.  I bet I can get my guys to help with this sort of gardening:  Take two cans of beer.  Pop the top of  one to sip while popping another to pour for the slugs. . . .

    Parent

    Beer bread. YUM (none / 0) (#201)
    by MyLeftMind on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 05:32:34 PM EST
    I save my eggshells in their boxes, microwave them when they're all empty, then crunch them around the young plants in the garden.  Snails don't like to pass over them, like broken glass on the top of a stone wall.  The following spring, I rototill them into the ground.

    I just hate to waste good beer.

    Parent

    The problem with the beer method (none / 0) (#126)
    by gyrfalcon on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:00:17 PM EST
    is it attracts every slug for miles around to your garden.  Yeah, you kill a lot of them, but you actually increase the numbers.

    Diatomaceous earth works pretty well, but you have to reapply it periodically, especially after a big rain.

    Best and absolutely guaran-dam-teed to keep out slugs is copper tape.  Something weird about their body chemistry means they get electrocuted when they try to slime across it.  You just roll it out on the ground and stick dime store hairpins through it to hold it down, and you have a summer long slug-free zone.  Put a saucer of beer inside the tape to attract and kill any slugs that were in there to begin with.

    I had some lovely hostas in a shady spot that were chewed literally to shreds every year by the end of summer.  Beer saucers had no effect on the damage.  Then one year I tried putting the copper tape around the bed, and the hostas never again got a single bite.  They were beautiful all summer.

    Parent

    I saw an article a few year ago (none / 0) (#76)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:26:45 PM EST
    about hollowing out zucchinis and fashioning them into recreational vehicles.

    It was tongue in cheek...um, I think it was, anyway.  I've grown some large and powerful zucchinis! ;-).

    But yeah, zucchinis are successful little creatures.

    Parent

    I like the monster pumpkins. (none / 0) (#80)
    by MarkL on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:31:49 PM EST
    You COULD ride in one of those.

    Parent
    Mmmm... (none / 0) (#87)
    by NWHiker on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:54:40 PM EST
    I think I may be the only person who has never suceeded in actually getting zukes to grow [hangs head in shame]. I'm not real good with veggies.

    We grill, but the fave recipe, the one I swear my kids would eat every day, is zucchini pancakes.

    Grate 3 medium zukes, medium fine, press as much water out of them as possible.

    Add 2 eggs, 1/4 cup milk, 1/2 cup flour, grated parmesan (real stuff) to tastes, about 2 oz or so. Salt, pepper. Cook like pancakes.

    My kids love them rolled up with catsup... hot, warm or -ugh- cold.

    Sorry, just had to share. :-)

    Parent

    Don't feel too badly (none / 0) (#115)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:35:13 PM EST
    Here in Western Washington, zukes are difficult to grow.  You need full sun, a somewhat dry place, and good drainage, and the three in combination aren't always easy to find.

    Zukes very much like the Eastern Washington desert, though.  Water them, and they grow like dinosaur food.

    Parent

    Ah, and good to do with extra zucchini (none / 0) (#89)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:57:32 PM EST
    in summer is to slice and blanch and freeze it for use in winter in zucchini bread -- mmm, my fave recipe for that actually is zucchini-strawberry bread -- and maybe for those zucchini pancakes, too.

    Parent
    Thanks. (5.00 / 0) (#108)
    by liminal on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:27:49 PM EST
    I'm planning to shred and freeze some zucchini tonight (oh how we party in rural America!), and need to remind self to blanch the shred zucchini before freezing.  

    Parent
    That's how I'll be partying in Brooklyn! (none / 0) (#117)
    by nycstray on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:40:46 PM EST
    lol!~ have to make space for tomorrows produce haul  :)

    Parent
    I'm already overwhelmed from (none / 0) (#97)
    by nycstray on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:12:03 PM EST
    my CSA! I've got several pounds of summer squash and my next share PU is tomorrow. Oy! Has the same thing happen with cucumbers last year. I made a facial tonic out of the cukes last year that was great. This year, I'm canning and will also try and figure out other ways to use up the zuke and cukes. I have a couple recipes for zuke soup that look good and I can freeze (or I think can?). The soups utilize a fair amount of the squash, so that may be my solution this year. I also plan on distributing to my neighbors if it gets too outta control.

    Parent
    Soup is a great way (none / 0) (#131)
    by gyrfalcon on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:05:17 PM EST
    to preserve veg that don't freeze or can well.  The soup freezes very well (although best to just freeze the base, not any thickeners or cream or anything) and it's fantastic to have the knockout taste of summer vegetables in the dead of winter.

    Similar with fruit, btw.  If you cook it up with sugar just enough to soften it and then freeze, it makes a sublime topping for ice cream.  Particularly good are strawberries and peaches.  Ahhhhhh!

    Parent

    Oh! thanks for the soup fereezing tip! (none / 0) (#167)
    by nycstray on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:58:00 PM EST
    I've pretty much only frozen chillies and hearty bean type soups.

    Made Blueberry sauce last night and just got another load today, which I'll just freeze as is. Will be making nectarine sorbet tomorrow :) I think I'm getting raspberries, blackberries and cherries in my farm share tomorrow. They'll prob just go in my mouth or with some yogurt and granola, which I should make tonight if I know what's good for me! Last year I froze berries, peaches and melons. Oh so easy and good in the winter. The melons from the farm were amazing.

    Parent

    absolutely (none / 0) (#168)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:00:11 PM EST
    my family is big into veggie gardens and my Mom used to do this and we would have fresh garden vegetable soup all winter.


    Parent
    Tip for singles: freeze soup (none / 0) (#192)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 05:09:07 PM EST
    or other liquids, like yummy safe (home-grown) tomato sauce, in an ice cube tray.  Then each cube or two is just right for thawing for soup for one.:-)

    Parent
    Celebrate! The first ERA in history, in 1921 (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:01:43 PM EST
    was signed into law on this day in Wisconsin.  It was news nationwide, NYT and more, but here's one local article about it then from online archives.
    including a quote from Alice Paul, who would author the national ERA two years later that has yet to pass.

    Thank you, Mabel Raef Putnam, Wisconsin leader of the National Woman's Party.  She won this law with a remarkable coalition of woman suffragists statewide from all parties -- Socialists, Populists, as well as Republicans (Progressives) -- and even groups such as my fave, the Polish Housewives Association in Milwaukee.

    Few other state ERAs followed, and Wisconsin legislators managed to make a mockery of part of it within a few years, using it to fire some women employees -- but not the state capitol's cleaning women, of course.  

    Still, it was a step forward in other ways, despite half-steps back.  Women served on juries at last, for example, and within months, Wisconsin had its first jury forewoman -- while women had to fight to serve on juries in some states until well into the 1960s.

    I just read (5.00 / 1) (#81)
    by pie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:39:19 PM EST
    Jane Hamsher's post about the NARAL and Planned Parenthood endorsement.  PP stayed neutral in the primary, but I suppose they couldn't do that in the general.  Still, as Jane points out, many of their big supporters cannot be happy about Obama's recent statements concerning the mental health of the mother.  

    Lots of comments about Obama's decrease in donations.  Lots of angry people who have shut their wallets because of his move to the right on the right, but especially his FISA vote.

    The scales have fallen from eyes, that's for sure.

    Edit out (none / 0) (#82)
    by pie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:40:10 PM EST
    on the right.

    Parent
    Pie....did you read the link I posted at (none / 0) (#94)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:04:55 PM EST
    Comment #59?

    Parent
    Just did. (none / 0) (#130)
    by pie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:03:15 PM EST
    also read about the July 11th deadline for Hillary.

    Were candidates in previous years give this ultimatum?!

    Parent

    I've never heard of it (none / 0) (#132)
    by gyrfalcon on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:06:29 PM EST
    Okay, now I read Heidi Li's (none / 0) (#136)
    by pie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:09:57 PM EST
    post, straight from the horse's mouth, so maybe this isn't the case.

    Parent
    Pie....do you have a link? (none / 0) (#171)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:08:00 PM EST
    Yes. (none / 0) (#175)
    by pie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:13:51 PM EST
    Thanks....guess this is another "time will (none / 0) (#177)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:19:57 PM EST
    tell the story" moments.

    Parent
    So sent more money to the Clinton debt bucket (5.00 / 0) (#88)
    by Salt on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:55:35 PM EST
    I hear we are making progress, it's good to know it is we, not Obama's fans, who are clearing this up for her.  

    IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED.... (none / 0) (#124)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:50:04 PM EST
     There is going to be a special on CNN 10 pm EST entitled CLINTONS NEVER QUIT...should be quite interesting and enlightening.

    Parent
    Hagel Going to Iraq with Obama (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by ruffian on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:57:44 PM EST
    Link

    I wish Dems did not feel the need for a Republican chaperone on national security trips. I did not like it when Bill Clinton chose William Cohen as Sec of Def either. It says to me that they either do not trust the judgement of Dem defense experts, or feel the need to bow to the mistaken public distrust of same.

    What do you guys think about (5.00 / 1) (#91)
    by MarkL on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:59:03 PM EST
    Obama's plan to hold a rally in Germany, and the refusal by the Germans to allow it?
    He really is Bush-lite, in his own way, isn't he?
    How clueless.

    His campaign's eye for the dramatic effect (5.00 / 0) (#102)
    by ruffian on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:20:41 PM EST
    is clouding its judgement in this case. I think it looks presumptuous, to say the least.

    Parent
    Perhaps he should schedule a rally (5.00 / 1) (#103)
    by MarkL on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:24:23 PM EST
    in St. Peter's Basilica.

    Parent
    Exactly (5.00 / 0) (#112)
    by ruffian on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:31:04 PM EST
    He'd want to speak from the pulpit.

    Parent
    In red shoes (5.00 / 1) (#135)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:07:41 PM EST
    and put the Secret Service guys in Swiss Guard costumes.  Wearing their shades, talking to their wristwatches.  'Way cool.  I would watch that. :-)

    Parent
    I just read that... (none / 0) (#202)
    by lentinel on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 05:34:50 PM EST
    Obama will be cast as the lead in the new Batman movie, "A Klog Tsu Meineh Somin."

    Parent
    Looks like he is trying to out photo-op (none / 0) (#95)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:06:05 PM EST
    bush.  It is beyond my comprehension that people cannot see that obama is a carbon copy of gwb...it is downright frightening.

    Parent
    It seems the German gov't (none / 0) (#105)
    by brodie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:25:44 PM EST
    -- accd'g to news reports today -- is softening its attitude about holding the speech at the Gate.  The local Berlin authorities have been favorable to it though from the beginning.  So it looks like it might be done after all.

    I'm softening my attitude about it as well.  I didn't like the idea of O doing one too many events straight out of the JFK playbook, but as it turns out Kennedy didn't actually speak in front of Brandenburg Gate (RR did), but instead a few miles away in front of City Hall.

    So now I'm basically on board.  I don't think he could match Kennedy's speech and its reception by that massive crowd, but he could come close.  If he pulls it off without a hitch, that's going to translate into some very positive coverage back here.

    And unlike 2004, and Kerry being too French, I don't think the Repub oppo will be able to counter that Obama is too German.

    Parent

    There is no comparison (5.00 / 0) (#173)
    by bridget on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:09:06 PM EST
    Kennedy spoke out in support of the Berlin people who lived on a small island surrounded by "the enemy." Those few words in German made all the difference for them.

    Apart from talking the usual friendship stuff,
    Obama wants to talk tough and tell the Germans that they should get more involved in the Afghanistan (which they are for years now) and Iraq wars. Who knows what else! Merkel was forced to send troops (ships) in the Lebanon region against the wishes of the Germans.

    It would be nice to hear peace plans from Obama instead. Don't you all agree? Is that even still a subject these days. Peace?

    Whole different story this time and Obama hopes to be a Kennedy but he is not.


    Parent

    But wasn't Kennedy President (none / 0) (#114)
    by MarkL on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:32:36 PM EST
    when he made the speech?

    Parent
    Yeah, June 63. (none / 0) (#116)
    by brodie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:39:37 PM EST
    But there was no need for him to take a trip abroad in the 60 campaign, since there was no question that he'd travelled extensively before and not only knew his FP but knew foreign leaders.  

    Obama is a lot less well traveled, though more than Junior in 2000, and so his campaign not unwisely sees a visit to Europe after Iraq as not only a plus, but a necessary side trip.

    Parent

    Um, side show, yeah (5.00 / 0) (#119)
    by MarkL on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:42:46 PM EST
    This just proves Obama is unready to be President.

    Parent
    The German government is working on a (none / 0) (#166)
    by bridget on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:57:46 PM EST
    compromise w. the Obama campaign people

    thats what I have been reading today. Berlin may have the last word but since Chancellor Merkel is   rightly against the campaign propaganda at the Brandenburger Tor Obama should not push her with this EGO Moment.

    But what else is new? Are we surprised at this latest Obama brouhaha?

    Obama simply loves to be the center of all attention, mo matter what it is - as long as he knows he got the people and media behind him. And a large majority of Germans do support Obama in November. Of course, he knows that. Just as he knew his media support during the primaries and that he could get away w. everything no matter what.

    btw. thanks to the positive and "hopeful" German Obama media coverage (pretty much a translation from US TV and papers AFAIK) the German people expect from him now all the good things which make up pol. change: e.g. helping the poor, stop world hunger, peace, and the climate change world problems are on the very top of the list in Germany. In short, all the things that are NOT on the top of his list but should be.

    Needless to say I am totally against this Obama speechmaking grandstanding at the symbolic Brandenburger Tor. Leave the campaign where it belongs. In the USofA. Make a come-back when elected Prez.

    At this point I still believe everyone will compromise and agree on a different place. And Obama had plenty attention in the meantime.

    As I suggested before, Obama should be a Mensch and visit Knut in the Berlin Zoo. The very last thing Germans want is another "Ich bin ein Berliner" kind of speech but they will approve wholeheartedly of a Knut visit ;-)

    Parent

    That's Confusing (none / 0) (#106)
    by CST on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:26:53 PM EST
    A few things about this, number one, the German's are not refusing to allow it.  The Chancellor has expressed doubts about his use of the Brandenburg Gate, but ultimately it's not up to her, it's up to the mayor of Berlin who is all for Obama's speech.  Obama, upon hearing that the Chancellor disapproved I think is now trying to work something out that they can all agree on, but ultimately, he can still speak there if he wants too.

    Parent
    I wonder if Merkel was getting some (none / 0) (#121)
    by brodie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:45:21 PM EST
    backlash from some of her less Republican-friendly fellow Germans and thought again about the political downside for her continuing to try to nix the event.  If O's approval numbers in Germany are as good as I heard they are in Belgium, then Merkel would be on the wrong side of this issue.  Then there's the separate issue of added tourism dollars and positive pub for Berlin over O's visit, one would think.  

    Or perhaps she wondered if it would be such a good idea, given the political writing on the wall in this country, to disappoint a famous senator who's more likely than not going to be elected president very soon.

    Parent

    German's love Obama (none / 0) (#142)
    by CST on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:19:22 PM EST
    From what I have read.

    So yea, I could definitely see some potential backlash for her.

    I think that's part of why she's softening her stance.  Also, the fact that ultimately it's not up to her, so if she comes out against it, and it happens anyway, and people love it, she's gonna look pretty dumb.

    Parent

    I'm seeing reports too (5.00 / 1) (#150)
    by brodie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:27:14 PM EST
    that BushCo may have pressured Merkel at the recent G8 not to allow it.  That and the standard boiler plate denial by the admin leads me to believe that pressure almost certainly was brought to bear on her.

    I'm even more inclined to like the Brandenburg idea now, given who's probably been pushing against it, and probably would prefer TeamO go ahead and work with only the Berlin authorities, if necessary, to get this one done.

    Parent

    Angela Merkel pressured by a lame duck (none / 0) (#153)
    by pie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:32:29 PM EST
    president to allow something in her own country?

    Yeah, right.

    Parent

    Obama is not President yet .... (5.00 / 0) (#180)
    by bridget on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:26:26 PM EST
    and no matter how many Germans want to see Obama speak wherever he wants, Bush is still the President and McCain could be president in November.

    Just a few weeks ago people who believed Obama would win were not in the majority. It still is not a done deal. Not by far ...

    Angela Merkel knows what happens when the US President doesn't get what he wants. Remember Chancellor Schroeder? Bush wouldn't talk to him for the longest time and not receive him on his visits to the US. Yes, all that because Schroeder refused to start a war in Iraq.

    After 60 years of being the closest US ally                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Germany was being lectured to and ignored by the US government and ridiculed by the US media 24/7 (along w. France) for months. Years. They were tougher on Germamy than on Iraq in the media.

    btw. It's easy to talk from a huge country that has the POWER about a country far away that has none.

    Parent

    BW, se said it was (none / 0) (#155)
    by pie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:37:17 PM EST
    inappropriate because he was only a candidate, not a bonafide leader, as other speakers have been.  That seems like a perfectly sound reason.  Her spokesman also said that a German candidate for office would not think of giving a campaign speech at a Washington, DC site.

    I don't think Bush had anything to do with this at all.

    Parent

    of course he did not (none / 0) (#156)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:40:52 PM EST
    its absurd Obaman spin.
    she said this:

    "No German candidate for high office would think to use the National Mall or Red Square in Moscow for a rally, because it would be seen as inappropriate," Mr. Steg said, though he added that Mrs. Merkel welcomed Mr. Obama's visit.

    Parent

    Maybe (5.00 / 1) (#164)
    by mmc9431 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:52:52 PM EST
    He'll bring along his "seal" so it looks official

    Parent
    In fairness to Brodie (none / 0) (#169)
    by CST on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:06:19 PM EST
    That's not Obaman spin, it was reported in the german news.

    Parent
    in fairness to you (5.00 / 1) (#174)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:09:31 PM EST
    that doesnt mean its not Obaman spin

    Parent
    I don't think it's true (none / 0) (#176)
    by CST on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:17:29 PM EST
    I am pretty sure the treasury department and Merkel contradicted the report, I just don't think it's fair to attribute the report to "Obaman spin".  Obama didn't have anything to do with it.  But maybe I am misunderstanding your comment.

    Parent
    you dont think Obamas (5.00 / 0) (#184)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:37:26 PM EST
    spinners are spinning to the Euro press.
    I could totally imagine them, not necessarily even at high levels but "them", saying something like this to the press.  here or there.
    I am only assuming things based on how they have behaved so far.  I put nothing past them.
    but its just MO.

    Parent
    What looks dumb, at least to me (5.00 / 0) (#151)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:27:25 PM EST
    is ticking off the German chancellor.  Mayors, schmayors.  Why is a presidential candidate doing this to our global relations?  Didn't Carter get called out for less than this?

    But whadda I know.  I don't get the "New Politics" of the Dem Party on the domestic front back home, either.

    Parent

    See my #150 above, (none / 0) (#157)
    by brodie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:42:29 PM EST
    which I managed to sneak in a full 11 seconds ahead of your 151.

    Word is in some news reports that Junior's people at the G8 may have been the ones trying to nix the Brandenburg idea -- and Merkel may have felt enough pressure, for a while anyway, to go along.

    Carter?  Did he ever go to Berlin as prez?  I know he had two bungled foreign trips -- to Teheran (iirc) where he toasted the Shah as a beacon of freedom in the ME, or something spectacularly stupid to that effect; then earlier when he visited Poland and the interpreter from the State Dept turned out to only be familiar with 18th C Polish -- to the great amusement of the Poles.

    Parent

    Re Carter, I was referencing (5.00 / 0) (#193)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 05:11:20 PM EST
    global relations in general, when even a former president and Nobel prizewinner gets called out for causing grief for our State Department with other countries.  See also Jesse Jackson cases in past.  But Obama gets a bye on this?

    Parent
    Refusal? (none / 0) (#134)
    by gyrfalcon on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:07:41 PM EST
    Last I heard, the mayor of Berlin was gung-ho, and he's the one who has the authority to approve or deny.


    Parent
    Merkel ran to Bush when it came up (none / 0) (#185)
    by scribe on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:39:11 PM EST
    asking him what to do.  Now she's got her fingers caught in the car door over that, and German pols are taking it out on her.

    In Europe, Obama is more popular than McCain by something like 76-20, and she's been exposed as a Bush-poodle.

    But, the point that maybe he should be staying home and campaigning here is well-taken.  After all, Germans and Euros don't vote in US elections.

    Parent

    Did you read that (none / 0) (#187)
    by pie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:49:57 PM EST
    Merkel ran to Bush when it came up

    in the Onion?

    Merkel ran to Bush.  Seriously?

    Parent

    So sorry to hear about your friend (5.00 / 0) (#159)
    by Ellie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:44:04 PM EST
    I'm glad that you're sounding the warning.

    I hope they delete that comment (5.00 / 1) (#161)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:48:24 PM EST
    and I will repost it.
    I should not have included the name.  I sent an email requesting it be deleted.
    but yeah.  it is a pet project of mine.  if you ever see two family members go like that, as I have,
    well
    you get the idea.
    the sad part is that it is nearly 100% curable if detected early and nearly 100% fatal if you wait until you have symptoms.


    Parent
    and there is only one way to detect it (5.00 / 1) (#162)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:49:05 PM EST
    Donate to save our democracy. (5.00 / 0) (#172)
    by chopper on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:08:07 PM EST
    If you're interested in donating to save our democracy, here is a link to a Denver Group donation page.

    They are working to make sure democracy prevails at the Denver Convention.

    http://www.actblue.com/page/usa

    For folks interested in viewing (5.00 / 0) (#191)
    by MyLeftMind on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 05:08:42 PM EST
    Obama's recent swings to the right in a different light:

    1. The age old Serenity Prayer.  As usual, a man took credit for something a brilliant woman probably created.

    2. The Audacity of Listening in the NY Times.


    A baking question (none / 0) (#2)
    by SoCalLiberal on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:15:51 AM EST
    Let's say you enjoy baking and you make cookies from scratch.  Let's say you make a little bit too much cookie batter you don't bake off that day, can you take that leftover cookie batter, put it in the freezer or refrigerator and reuse it?  Any thoughts from any of the resident bakers here are greatly appreciated.  

    Sure. Or you could just bake all (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:23:10 AM EST
    the cookies and share with us here.  Mmmmmm. :-)

    Parent
    Youhave baking dough left over??? (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by cmugirl on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:50:02 AM EST
    That you don't eat raw?  Strange concept - I'll have to try that sometime.....:)

    Parent
    I eat raw cookie dough (none / 0) (#203)
    by SoCalLiberal on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 06:27:30 PM EST
    I just want to know what to do when I have a whole lot left over.

    Parent
    Stupid Cookie and Dough Tricks (5.00 / 0) (#113)
    by Ellie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:31:13 PM EST
    The last time I tried uploading the browser ate my Dough, so here it goes again ...

    Put your dough in a plastic back and form a log. Make sure there are no air pockets. Gently push into a clean, empty Pringles container for refrigeration or freezing.

    Whether you cut off just a few or bake the whole batch, you'll have uniform cookies.

    You can also use the empty cardboard from paper towels or TP, or, if you like bigger cookies, a cardboard mailing tube from an office supplies place. (They're 3-5 inches.)

    Check the hardware store out too for plastic tubing and get them cut to your preferred length (and available in diameters to suit your particular baked good need.) Always make sure you line it with a paper bag, as they'll SAY it's food safe but you never know.

    STUPID DOUGH TRICKS

    Freezing pizza, biscuit, flatbread and wet doughs (like for muffins) is good in tubular mode too -- a 'soft' round tin like a coffee container's good. (Clean it with hot water and vinegar so the coffee aroma is out, and be sure to line it with a plastic bag.) It's better to portion and separate it first.

    Save the aluminum shells from tarts (or buy a bunch) and flatten into disks. Portion and spread your doughs for biscuits, mini pizza rounds, flatbread for the grill, etc.

    You can let the pizza doughs thaw and cold rise in the fridge and then add fresh toppings (my preference) or top before freezing.

    This is also good for calzones, empanadas and tamales. Just thaw, add the filling to one half and fold over or have an open faced version

    STUPID ESKIMO PIE TRICK

    Get an appropriate sized tube and line it with a plastic back. Layer with cookies and ice-cream or tempered chocolate and scoops of ice cream.

    Separate with squares of wax paper. Let thaw just a little and press down. Label as "Frozen Cat Food" or "Spinach, Soy and Oat Health Drink" to keep spouses and random nephews away from this long enough so you at least get to have one.

    Parent

    Oh, and don't forget Polenta! (none / 0) (#147)
    by Ellie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:22:44 PM EST
    It's even better reheated!

    Get a combination of coarse and fine meal and prepare according to the instructions. Let it reach room temp, bag it, log it and slice what you need. Great fried, baked in a ramekin with toppings or thawed and grilled.

    I put it on an aluminum disk so it doesn't disintegrate on the grill. If you let it warm off to the side, it gets a nice smoky flavor; great with grilled salmon and Tex-Mex grill fare, or under veggie chili for non-carnivores.

    Parent

    Yes. (none / 0) (#4)
    by pie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:20:36 AM EST
    You can do either.  I've even baked frozen dough - obviously just increase the baking time.

    Parent
    Well what about refrigeration? (none / 0) (#16)
    by SoCalLiberal on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:37:11 AM EST
    Or taking the dough out and putting in the refrigerator to reduce the chill?  

    Parent
    Yes you can (none / 0) (#5)
    by Democratic Cat on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:21:11 AM EST
    Put it in a heavy-duty freezer bag so you can squeeze out all the air.

    Parent
    Yes I've been doing that for years (none / 0) (#123)
    by laurie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:48:46 PM EST
    with pizza dough. Saves a lot of time, not quite so good the second time round, but a lot better than frozen pizzas.

    Parent
    IME, yes (none / 0) (#14)
    by Nadai on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:36:33 AM EST
    I wrap leftover cookie dough in saran wrap and freeze it, though I suspect you could just put it in the refrigerator if you were going to bake it soon.

    Parent
    According to Shirley O Corriher (none / 0) (#15)
    by BernieO on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:37:06 AM EST
    author of "Cook Wise" a book about cooking science, cookie dough is improved by letting it sit in the fridge for 12 to 36 hours with 36 hrs giving the best results. This was just written up in the NYTimes and she was also on NPR's Talk of the Nation yesterday. Although she was specifically talking about chocolate chip recipes I understood her to mean that most cookie dough would be improved by this because it helps hydrate the dough more.

    I have always frozen cookie dough, then just baked a few at a time in my toaster oven. That way we are not eating the whole batch in a day and the cookies are always freshly baked.

    You can go ahead and form the dough into balls, freeze on a tray then put them in a zip lock bag, but the dough scoop off have frozen is still soft enough that I can p off what I need without doing that.  

    Parent

    I heard a program on NPR this week (none / 0) (#17)
    by eric on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:37:46 AM EST
    that suggested it was better to refrigerate your cookie dough before baking.  36 hours is apparently the optimum amount of time.  The logic is that cookie dough is a low moisture dough and that resting it allows the moisture - and flavors - to migrate throughout.

    The guest suggested that she has compared dough which was rested for 12, 24, and 36 hours and the difference is noticeable.

    Parent

    Heh (none / 0) (#19)
    by eric on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:38:48 AM EST
    Bernie O beat me by 40 seconds...

    Parent
    True. (none / 0) (#27)
    by scribe on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:43:46 AM EST
    The resting time also allows the fat in the dough to rest. harden and reorganize itself, so you don't have it all melting its way out before cooking the other ingredients while you bake.

    Basically, if you can rest the dough and then keep it really cold before it hits the oven, you'll get a better cookie.  The same principle applies with pie dough, too.

    Parent

    Yes. (none / 0) (#21)
    by scribe on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:40:03 AM EST
    Or, if you have one (some) of those false-bottom tart pans or individual tart shell thingies, you could make (i.e., blind bake) a big tart shell or some smaller individual shells.  The recipe for a classic pate sucree (sweet tart pastry) is really just a soft sugar cookie dough.

    In a pinch, you could reuse a foil pie pan for the tart shell pan.

    And, who says you can't use chocolate chip cookie dough (or other than straight sugar cookie) for a tart shell, anyway?

    With all the fresh fruit now in season, you could hold youself out as being really artistic and all, serving fancy fruit tarts, when in reality you're covering a mistake.

    Parent

    Our modis operandi (none / 0) (#23)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:40:45 AM EST
    when we make chocolate chip cookies is to make the batter, cook a dozen cookies, then leave the rest of the dough in the fridge for fresh hot cookies each day for several days.

    So yep, can be fridged.  I think the longest time we've kept the dough in the fridge is about 6 days.

    Parent

    The comments (none / 0) (#3)
    by pie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:18:18 AM EST
    at EW's post at FDL about Rove are definitely worth a read;  This one especially:

    Perhaps you missed the CBS report and another today indicating that Nancy might actually allow the HJC to have a hearing?

    Wexler jumped on it in a hurry. This just came in my email:

    Capitol Hill is buzzing today with major developments regarding our campaign for impeachment hearings for President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Just today, in what could be described as a perfect impeachment storm:

    • Karl Rove once again thumbed his nose at Congress and the American people by brazenly ignoring a lawful congressional subpoena to testify before the House of Representatives;

    • Judiciary Chairman John Conyers indicated his willingness to use the power of inherent contempt against Rove if necessary;

    • Rep. Dennis Kucinich introduced another article of impeachment on Bush's lies regarding the Iraq war; and

    • Speaker Nancy Pelosi was quoted today saying that the House Judiciary Committee should address the issues that Kucinich raises in the House Judiciary Committee.

    After years of work by so many of you, the time appears ripe to finally hold Bush and Cheney accountable.

    She wouldn't really let this move forward, would she?

    Not going to get my hopes up, but I thought I heard a rumble of thunder.

    Sadly, my response is (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by janarchy on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:22:49 AM EST
    yeah, right.

    It's now the middle of July 2008. The Presidential election is in four months. Bush & Co. are due to leave in 5 months. Even if they considered having impeachment hearings, etc., by the time anything could be set up, let alone investigations, it would be Sept or Oct. What would be the point?

    Maybe if Queen Nancy had chosen to keep impeachment on the table 2 years ago, it would have had some impact. At this point, too little too late. And considering how badly the Dems have been rubberstamping and capitulating to the Republicans, there's no way they'll follow through. Especially when there's an election coming up and some of them may worry about losing their seats if they push too hard.


    Parent

    We spent too much time (5.00 / 4) (#10)
    by pie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:30:35 AM EST
    expecting that the next outrage would be the one that broke open the administration's secrecy and exposed the rotten core.  Surely, this one would do it.  Then the next one, the next one, the next...  Nothing.

    The republicans were scummy, but what does this outcome say for the dems?

    Parent

    That they're (5.00 / 0) (#129)
    by janarchy on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:03:08 PM EST
    a bunch of spineless, lily-livered, pansy-@ssed idiots who are just as bad as the Republicans. This is why I've left the party. 2006 was their last chance with me and in that time, they've done nothing but roll over or whine. They'll eat their own quite handily, but when it comes to their supposed adversaries? Nobody's home.

    Parent
    GOP: Playing politics this close to an election?! (5.00 / 0) (#128)
    by Ellie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:02:07 PM EST
    Give it up already. Dems should have stood their asses up before by now giving into threats of Nuclear Options, shouldn't have allowed stonewalling (or not pass any appt nominees who weren't forthcoming), should have filibustered in the minority and hung together as a majority and strongarmed wobbly Repugs, should have used procedural kung fu etc.

    They shouldn't have taken impeachment off the table, shouldn't have allowed "casual interviews" to replace appearances under oath, and put some fangs and claws behind their subpoenas during the first "100 days" of '06.

    Hell, just one Senator should have stood his or her ass up in 2000 and not certified the election fraud.

    Bush, Cheney and Rove won without opposition.

    The netroots gave the Dems every possible support they needed but Dems were never going to do anything. The ruse that they had to have the White House means they'll do even less to restore lost constitutional rights.

    Parent

    Waning power. (none / 0) (#188)
    by pie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 04:58:25 PM EST
    From The Hill:

    President Bush is expected to lose a hard-fought battle with Congress over Medicare legislation as nine key Senate Republicans say they intend to vote to override his veto.

    Eight of the GOP senators say they will stand by decisions to switch votes from no to yes when the bill came up this past week. Another senator who voted against the bill says he plans to support the override when the bill comes back after being rejected by Bush.
    ...
    The development is another sign of the waning influence the White House has over congressional Republicans, who are worried that their party's poor approval ratings will lead to major losses during the November elections. Switching their votes to sustain Bush's veto could open them up to attacks from groups representing doctors, the elderly and military veterans, three constituencies they can ill afford to lose in November.

    The nine repubs would bring the override total to 69, more than enough to guarantee a Bush defeat.  However, the title of this article is:

    Bush likely to lose on Medicare

    Hmmmm.


    Parent

    I fear that sound you here (5.00 / 3) (#9)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:24:27 AM EST
    is just the trucks backing up to buildings in D.C. to load up boxes on boxes of records we won't see.

    Parent
    Seems some obama followers are (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:02:52 PM EST
    catching on and getting restless...

    link

    Parent

    Well, regarding his records (5.00 / 0) (#64)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:06:46 PM EST
    the questions are more about what happened to all of the boxes in Springfield, Illinois, as it seems that he can't produce them from his state senate years.

    As a historian, I just shudder at the laxness on all this.

    Parent

    Being an IL resident (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by mmc9431 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:13:21 PM EST
    I wouldn't think he would have a lot of boxes to find. His term in Springfield was as impressive as his term in Washington.

    Parent
    Half time job too. (none / 0) (#141)
    by oculus on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:19:17 PM EST
    I just think its funny that Richardson is... (5.00 / 0) (#70)
    by Maria Garcia on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:17:51 PM EST
    ...Obama's defender in chief in that article. Guess he's still angling for a job.

    Parent
    Anybody think this might hurt Richardson (none / 0) (#98)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:13:07 PM EST
    down the road?

    Parent
    Richardson (5.00 / 0) (#111)
    by mmc9431 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:30:21 PM EST
    I actually gave him a couple of chances during the primary. But he could never keep his foot out of his mouth during the debates. He came off as a totally bumbling fool.

    Parent
    That article really shows Richardson (5.00 / 1) (#75)
    by shoephone on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:23:38 PM EST
    for the unprincipled apologist that he is.

    And I must say, I am so tired of every article on the FISA bill claiming that Bush approved the warrantless spying after 9/11 when we know for a fact that the WH and the NSA first proposed it to the telecoms well before 9/11 -- in February of 2001, just about three weeks after Bush was inaugurated. The mainstream media is still the lapdog, the American people are still being screwed out of their consitutional rights and I am still a woman without a country.

    Thanks again, Dems. Superb job.

    Parent

    He's a real piece of work! (none / 0) (#196)
    by zfran on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 05:20:07 PM EST
    I fear for all of us in this country!Why should he review something he voted to enact after "he is pres." Can't you just hear the conversation with himself in the oval office: Hmmm, let's review, take powers from me, or give me more powers. Hmmmm!

    Parent
    McCain's citizenship (none / 0) (#33)
    by cmugirl on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 11:58:20 AM EST
    Back in the news once again. I don't buy this guy's argument (and neither, apparently, does anyone else), but this is just weird.

    NY Times

    "The analysis, by Prof. Gabriel J. Chin, focused on a 1937 law that has been largely overlooked in the debate over Mr. McCain's eligibility to be president. The law conferred citizenship on children of American parents born in the Canal Zone after 1904, and it made John McCain a citizen just before his first birthday. But the law came too late, Professor Chin argued, to make Mr. McCain a natural-born citizen."


    So if McCain's citizenship (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by zfran on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:01:14 PM EST
    is in question, and perhaps Obama's citizenship is in question, does that negate both of them and we can start over? Or, would they just cancel each other out, thereby bypassing, again, the constitution. How many bypasses of the constitution does each candidate get!

    Parent
    I know that Obama's citizenship is (none / 0) (#38)
    by MsExPat on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:13:06 PM EST
    in question. But the articles I've read don't mention this: Where was Obama supposed to have been born, if not the U.S.? It seems unlikely that his American mother would have given birth abroad.

    Parent
    I think he was born in Hawaii (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by CST on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:17:35 PM EST
    Which I don't think was a state at the time (I haven't checked the dates though).  

    I am confused though, in both McCain and Obama's case, if one of your parents is a U.S. citizen at the time of your birth, doesn't that automatically give you citizenship?

    Parent

    Hawaii became a state in 1959 (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by zfran on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:20:59 PM EST
    Obama is 46/47.

    Parent
    Hawaii was a state (5.00 / 1) (#107)
    by ruffian on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:27:37 PM EST
    when he is born.  The questions arise because the birth certificate he has released is a duplicate, not the stamped, selaed original, which he cannot find. Some are speculating that he was not actually born in Hawaii.

    Parent
    Oops (none / 0) (#45)
    by CST on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:19:59 PM EST
    I just read the first post, the American parent rule only applies to Obama then?

    Parent
    Toronto appears to be at the top of the (none / 0) (#65)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:07:29 PM EST
    list, as his mother was on a flight back to America from Toronto about the time of his birth.

    Parent
    Obama Town Hall in Dayton, OH? (none / 0) (#35)
    by sallywally on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 12:06:20 PM EST
    Does anyone know if this was another closed meeting? His speech was in the article twice.

    Free Slurpies today at 711. (none / 0) (#96)
    by Joan in VA on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:06:35 PM EST
    If anyone's hot and thirsty...

    Also, free iced lattes (none / 0) (#110)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:30:03 PM EST
    at McDonald's.

    Parent
    Funny, Slurpies and lattes, the ying and yang (5.00 / 0) (#137)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:11:40 PM EST
    of the Democratic Party.

    Parent
    Here's a heartwarming story about (none / 0) (#120)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 02:44:04 PM EST
    brother and sister holocaust survivors meeting up again after 66 years...

    link

    Wonderful. Good on the American Red Cross (5.00 / 0) (#139)
    by Cream City on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:15:39 PM EST
    and its volunteers working through these records, reuniting 50 other families' survivors, too.  Thanks for the story to remind us of some happy endings to so many sad stories.

    Parent
    In case anyone is wondering.... (none / 0) (#149)
    by kdog on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:25:49 PM EST
    what data gets saved and stored and sun god knows what else when a business scans your id, here's a clue.

    I try to avoid such businesses that use scanners...I just want a six-pack dude, not a mortgage...you don't need a scan of my signature, my address, my hair/eye color, and what organs I'm donating.  Jesus H.

    They scanned your organs??? That's pretty harsh (none / 0) (#165)
    by Ellie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:57:30 PM EST
    It bugs the hell out of me how business and sales personnel react when I ask about privacy and databasing before I'll give up info "for registration and warranties" yadda yadda.

    I'm amazed at what people will turn over without knowing where the info's going or even asking. I use a corporate credit card and give the business PO box, and/or my accountant's office as my address.

    I als got tired of disinfecting my computer of nosy Mac, Real Player and AOL borgware that were tracking my tune plays. I discovered the pesky corps were downloading Album Art for tunes I ripped from vinyl and my own CDs.

    Now I keep my music on a separate, untethered drive. Jeez, get out of my face already.

    Parent

    Good grief. (none / 0) (#152)
    by pie on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 03:29:47 PM EST
    A friend just sent me this article about Bush in the Telegraph.

    George Bush surprised world leaders with a joke about his poor record on the environment as he left the G8 summit in Japan.

    The American leader, who has been condemned throughout his presidency for failing to tackle climate change, ended a private meeting with the words: "Goodbye from the world's biggest polluter."

    He then punched the air while grinning widely, as the rest of those present including Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy looked on in shock.

    I wish someone would wipe that grin off his face.

    Yawn... (none / 0) (#198)
    by lentinel on Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 05:22:25 PM EST
    It looks like the war in Iran is being put on the front burner.

    What's on tv?