Midday open thread

Coming Up on Sunday Kos ...

• Glenn Greenwald will be here for the liveblogging that had to be postponed from last weekend. He'll talk about his new book, Great American Hypocrites: Toppling the Big Myths of Republican Politics, which mcjoan reviewed last week.
• MissLaura will wonder why there are no women bloggers why the traditional media appears to be incapable of seeing that there are in fact women bloggers.
• DHinMI will review Senate Historian Donald Ritchie's Electing FDR: The New Deal Campaign of 1932.
• brownsox will report on the abundance of credible Democratic House candidates running in overwhelmingly Republican districts.
• Hunter will write about ... something. He's not sure yet. But it will be good, we promise.
• Devilstower will look at the relationship between Aesop's Fables, globalization, and why we might be all just-in-time to see the collapse of the world food market in a post entitled "Grasshopper Planet."

•  What is YOUNGER Than McCain?!?!?!

  by Kdoug on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:35:18 AM PDT

  •  His teeth n/t

    by organicdemocrat on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:36:15 AM PDT

    •  *snerk*

      ZING!!

      by Isara on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:38:35 AM PDT

      •  Obama's Boarding the Train for Change

        nice train

        by Billary Redux on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:40:13 AM PDT

        •  the train nerd in me just screamed,

          "oooh! shiny!"

          I want a toy model now.

          by Isara on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:41:55 AM PDT

          •  You'll love this then

            by Steven R on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:49:09 AM PDT

        •  he is just too damn cool

          I am glad he is having fun
          I think this train idea is brilliant!

          by PalGirl2008 on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:20:53 PM PDT

      •  Its 3am. Do you know where my teeth are?

        by organicdemocrat on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:52:07 AM PDT

  •  Here ya go...

    

    by willie horton on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:38:23 AM PDT

  •  Leaked: ABC's Stephanopoulos interviews McSame

    
    
    
    ````
    peace
    
    

    by peace voter on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:52:23 AM PDT

    •  Oops, great minds...

      by Nancy in LA on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:13:38 PM PDT

    •  Awesome.

      by Sam Loomis on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:16:33 PM PDT

    •  funny stuff

      I like the signoff about George not having the balls to really ask those questions.

      Maybe George will ask why McCain, the onetime POW who left his first wife for Cindy, signed a pre-nup when they married. I guess Cindy's millionaire dad didn't trust his future son-in-law.

      by dannyinla on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:29:01 PM PDT

  •  Younger Than McCain;

    1. Sprintime

    2. God's Auntie

    3. Prostitution

    4. The hills

    5. Joan Rivers' plastic surgeon

    6. My dog (17 years and one day old and still contintent!!)

    7. Network news

    8. The guy who makes Hillary's pantsuits

    9. The Rolling Stones

    10. Pay phones

    by FredNietzsche on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:06:42 PM PDT

    •  Ask McCain: Diapers or Briefs? n/t

      by organicdemocrat on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:17:27 PM PDT

  •  Robert Greenwald/Brave New Films on McCain

    Robert Greenwald's latest is a satirical look at what George S.'s interview with McCain tomorrow might look like:

    Add your own interview questions on Greenwald's website.  (The ones already posted are pretty hilarious.)

    by Nancy in LA on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:12:07 PM PDT

  •  Cindy McCain. n/t

    by dannyinla on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:23:59 PM PDT

  •  He is older than diet coke !

    That is enough reason to not vote for him. That is my vice, diet soda.

    by wishingwell on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:29:53 PM PDT

•  Can't stick around for the wonderful Open thread-

  too nice outside here in CT. 77degrees; and loving it!!

  Have fun---Go 'Bama.

  by Phil S 33 on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:36:21 AM PDT

  •  Snow in Puget Sound. Bah! Humbug!!

    On the other hand, we just spent 20 minutes sitting in the car with our weekend groceries in the back, watching whales off our neighborhood. On balance, worth the snow.

    by Gooserock on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:55:28 AM PDT

    •  thrilling

      one of my very best memories is of three whales (a mama, a papa, & a baby) putting on a show when I was on a deserted beach with the love of my life.
      
      
      ````
      peace
      
      

      by peace voter on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:58:17 AM PDT

•  From yesterday

  I didn't promote this as much as I've wanted to, but come check out a bunch of cool vids showing whats happening in private spaceflight

  by FerrisValyn on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:36:57 AM PDT

•  how children view elections

  pimping my own Diary, "Fourth Graders for Obama", which is less about the subject line and more about how children become involved in the public discourse, how we can learn from them, and how this is a great thing for our future.

  by Isara on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:38:17 AM PDT

  •  Have you seen this?

    So it was with obvious gravity that 74 fourth graders at Erdenheim Elementary School assembled this week behind the glass and tan brick walls of their classrooms to debate the campaign’s central issues. The children, most 9 or 10, then signaled their preferences for the Democratic nomination in a gradewide straw poll.

    "It’s a battle between man and the environment, and the environment’s losing right now," Michael Kassabian announced to his fellow voters in Renea Boles’s room, before explaining that he was endorsing Mr. Obama at least partly because of the candidate’s enthusiasm for renewable energy sources.

    http://www.nytimes.com/...

    by Youffraita on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:46:36 AM PDT

    •  that's what I blogged about

      by Isara on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 03:51:36 PM PDT

•  Recommendation: More McCain attacks, less Clinton

  McCain really stooped low with his latest attack on Obama, and no one here seems to care:

  http://www.dailykos.com/...

  Maybe I should lie and say it came from Clinton.

  by SemDem on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:38:24 AM PDT

  •  Clinton tougher foe than McCain

    As long as she pretends to be a Democrat, she is  harder to beat than McCain.
    As soon as Primary is over we will take on McCain.

    One battle at  a time.

    by organicdemocrat on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:40:16 AM PDT

    •  We need HRC supporters, not McCain supporters

      The focus needs to be on McCain:

      This is his latest:

      McCain camp says Hamas wants Obama

      (CNN) — John McCain’s campaign sent supporters a fundraising e-mail Friday that claims Hamas approves of Democrat Barack Obama’s foreign policy vision, and is hoping for his victory this fall.

      "Barack Obama's foreign policy plans have even won him praise from Hamas leaders," writes McCain deputy campaign manager Christian Ferry. "Ahmed Yousef, chief political adviser to the Hamas Prime Minister said, ‘We like Mr. Obama and we hope he will win the election. He has a vision to change America.’"

      That uncredited quote is drawn from an interview published Monday by conservative news site World Net Daily, whose current headlines include "District bans 'John 3:16,' promotes demonic leer" and "Lesbian demands custody of Christian mom's 6-year-old."

      The McCain fundraising e-mail says Obama’s stands have earned him "kind words" from Hamas. "John McCain's foreign policy provides a stark contrast to the policies of Barack Obama," writes Ferry. "While Senator Obama would surrender in Iraq and hold talks with the Iranian regime, John McCain will never surrender in the struggle with Islamic extremists. Please join our campaign today by making a generous donation of $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000 or $2,300."

      by SemDem on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:47:46 AM PDT

      •  We need Hillary like a Fish needs a bicycle.

        We do need her more progressive supporters. And we will have them.

        No need to divert fire now to McCain. His turn will come.

        by organicdemocrat on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:50:47 AM PDT

        •  We don't need HRC, we need her supporters

          Don't be arrogant to think we can win this election without those who support HRC.  HRC can't win without Obama supporters, and we can't win without her supporters.

          Right now, McCain is tied or ahead.  McCain is getting a free pass.  The right wing sites are attacking obama and clinton.. and the left wing sites are attacking, guess what, Obama and Clinton (MyDD and DKos respectively).  

          By the time his "turn" comes, it may be too late.  

          by SemDem on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:56:22 AM PDT

          •  PS-where is the outrage?

            McCain just insinuated that Obama loves terrorists and vice versa.

            If someone here said that, it would be ALL OVER Foxnews how this is a hate site and how dare we attack a great patriot.

            But no one cuts up about McCain doing it to Obama!!  If no one here cares, then people are going to buy into that narrative!!

            And there will be a lot more of those ABC News type debates--"Do you REALLY love America?"

            by SemDem on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:58:03 AM PDT

          •  We don't need them all. 80% of them will support

            Obama. That is enough. The rest are DLC trolls. Fuck them.

            by organicdemocrat on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:58:44 AM PDT

          •  Did you read about his "unorthodox" campaign

            structure?

            A little different than what Rove had in place.
            Less centralized.

            I can't wait for our nominee to go full on assault on McSame.  It will be so much fun to join in.

            by Sam Loomis on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:00:07 PM PDT

            •  McCain is a bundle of contradictions.

              You dont spend a lifetime in the Senate without some baggage.

              Find video of him denouncing Bush taxes. Calling Pat Robertson and Falwell an agent of intolerance. And sucking up to Jerry Falwell.

              The McCain of 2000 was a loveable maverick. The McCain of 2008 is a despicable Bush toadie. The two of them can have at each other.

              by organicdemocrat on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:06:23 PM PDT

          •  all we need to do is to show this video

            of McCain singing "Bomb, bomb Iran":

            by limpidglass on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:28:58 PM PDT

    •  Why not multitask?

      This weekend on Sunday Talk, an interview with "The Real McCain" author Cliff Schecter on McSame and his new book.

                       

      by Sam Loomis on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:57:31 AM PDT

      •  Dont ask, dont tell n/t

        by organicdemocrat on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:59:13 AM PDT

•  Afternoon

  Our insulation upgrade is done! And the whole house is already 5 degrees cooler. It turns out that the old insulation in the kneewalls was installed "northern style" according to our installers. That is, it's was installed the way it should be for cold climates, not hot climates. All of the heat was being pulled into the drywall instead of being blocked.

  So, new UltraTouch in the kneewalls and 8 inches of Celbar in the attic. It'll be interesting to see what our electric bills will be this summer.

  Nice to be back on my own computer btw, though I'm trying to think of a clever way to switch monitors with him. ;-) I really love that wide screen monitor.

  So anyway, great show last night kos...but you need to speak more. You seem a bit on the shy side, but you have great insight (screw what some posters say here - there will always be disagreements) and people outside of the blog need to hear it.

  ok, time for lunch.

  Have a great day everyone.

  by Spathiphyllum on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:39:08 AM PDT

•  Sunday Kos

  Finally, I won't be working this Sunday. Yay! I'm looking forward to Sunday Kos. I even have Monday off. A little treat for surviving the tax season.

  DHinMI's will be of interest. I want to learn more about FDR and would like a couple book recs if anyone has any in mind. The link for "Electing FDR" goes to Myths about Catholic Voters.

  I'm trying to think of a topic to suggest to Hunter.

  by OLinda on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:39:26 AM PDT

  •  Someone here said, Clinton was like FDR...

    is that what you're referring to?

    by David Kroning on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:41:35 AM PDT

    •  If Clinton is like FDR Bush is Lincoln.

      And I am the King of England.

      by organicdemocrat on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:44:04 AM PDT

      •  She's IS like FDR

        She wants to rule for life, too

        by kafkaesque on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:46:41 AM PDT

        •  FDR had talent and vision and courage. Except for

          that Hillary is like him.

          by organicdemocrat on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:53:35 AM PDT

          •  I reaalize know I should've qualified

            She's ONLY like FDR in that she wants to rule for life

            by kafkaesque on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:55:06 PM PDT

        •  FDR Only Ruled for Life Because He Died in Office

          Hillary's seeking to be history's only President to complete 4 terms in the White House. Remember because of her experience, she starts with Term 3.

          by Gooserock on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:57:57 AM PDT

          •  FDR was not a liar. But he was cagy.

            Lie to me once, call me a rube.
            Lie to me twice, call me a fool.
            Lie to me thrice and I call you a Liar.

            Lie to me repeatedly and habitually, and I call you a Clinton.

            by organicdemocrat on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:12:38 PM PDT

        •  Hillary Is Like FDR...

          ...in that she's surrounds herself with racists and is basically indifferent to the sufferings of oppressed minorities? Aside from that, the only thing I can think of is if the lesbian rumors are true and she has an eye for a hot pair of gams.

          by FredNietzsche on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:41:33 PM PDT

    •  referring?

      I'm not sure what you mean.

      by OLinda on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:44:18 AM PDT

      •  It's ok...there was just a thread going on....

        by someone, I can't remember who, who said Clinton would be the best President since FDR.

        by David Kroning on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:45:41 AM PDT

    •  Naw, She's more like Scoop Jackson (D-Boeing)

      Once a DLC hawk, always a DLC hawk.

      by Dump Terry McAuliffe on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:44:46 AM PDT

      •  DLC: Democratic Loser's Council.

        by organicdemocrat on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:54:47 AM PDT

•  If you get enough "mojo" here, can you...

  use it to take over the world?

  Can you exchange it for money? Preferably EUROS?

  What about those cool toys at Chuck-EE Cheese??

  Just curious...

  by David Kroning on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:39:41 AM PDT

  •  1 mojo = 1.8 Flooz

    That according to the exchange rate table in yesterday's Wall Street Journal.

    by Dump Terry McAuliffe on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:43:09 AM PDT

•  Kim Jong-il is an Iranian puppet!

  So is Tanya Harding.

  The wingnuts fancy them selfs the experts on foreign policy and defense, but they either know almost nothing about foreign policy, or they are liars.

  Everything 'evil' in the world is now an Iranian plot.

  There is a diary on Redstate Obama and Hamas - Why He Can't Be Allowed In The White House claiming that Humas is an Iranian puppet.

  If Obama were to attain the office of POTUS, we would be forced to endore more pain and suffering from terrorist activities within our borders. If Hamas wants him, then so does Iran, their puppetmaster.

  Dudes, Humas is a Sunni party that grew out of the Muslim Brotherhood based in Egypt. While they did get funding from Iran, the majority of Hamas funding comes from Saudi Arabia (GlobalSecurity.org: HAMAS Funding). They are not Iranian puppets. It is not that simple.

  Perhaps you were thinking of Hezbollah that does have Iranian ties and grow out of the Da'Wa party. You know the party of Nuri Kamel al-Maliki. The guy Bush invited to the White House. The same guy that was the head of Da'Wa's Damascus office when Hezbollah was formed and when Da'Wa blow up the U.S. and French embassies in Kuwait. The same Da'Wa that has one of the Kuwait 17, Jamal Jafaar Mohammed, as a member of the Iraq Parliament. If you are looking for Iranian puppets, why don't you  start there?

  I don't want to make your heads explode, and I know this does not fit in with your New World Order agenda, but how can I take you seriously on foreign policy when you are either idiots or liars?

  It is your dude (NYT: McCain, Iraq War and the Threat of ‘Al Qaeda’) that  'Can't Be Allowed In The White House'.

  by se portland on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:40:47 AM PDT

  •  Is that one of the community of puppets,,,

    in Mr. Rogers neighborhood?

    by David Kroning on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:42:25 AM PDT

•  taxes

  Some of you may have seen me mention this feature at IRS.gov. On the right menu, select "Where's my refund," put in your SS#, filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.) and the refund amount you are expecting according to your return, and they will tell you the status of your return. I just think it's cool. Even cooler now that I got an answer.

  I mailed mine on April 3, and today they were able to tell me:

  We have received your tax return and it is being processed. Unless we find mistakes or you owe other taxes, you should receive your refund by May 6, 2008.

  by OLinda on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:42:42 AM PDT

  •  Neat, but after dealing with the IRS

    for the more than 25 years I was an active CPA, I can think of many better ways they could have spent $ to improve their services.

    by FoundingFatherDAR on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:11:39 PM PDT

•  This Thread needs some CSN

  Marrakesh Express (from Woodstock)

  by jds1978 on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:43:44 AM PDT

•  Just watched McCain dodder through his "taxes"

  speeech on CNN. I did better on presentation when I was 12 years old. He e's talking about all these taxes hes going to cut and tax breaks he's fgoing to give and in a whole littany of tax cuts he finishes the list with banning internet tax and cell phone tax  to which the college audience gives a loud cheer. McCain brightens up with a broad smile and says,"and you're gonna like this - I'm going to eliminate the cell phone tax." to a confused smattering of applause. Wow... Wish I had the video.

  by Dave the Wave on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:44:32 AM PDT

  •  I saw it too...my 11-yo daughter can

    give a better speech.  Of course, I'm really proud of her. She wants to be a meteorologist.  Still...

    by David Kroning on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:47:24 AM PDT

  •  McCain is not as formidable as he looks now.

    He is his own worst enemy. All we have to do is to put up his 2000 speeches on YouTube, spliced with the Bush love fest. We have to relentlessly pound his contradictions. For and against Bush Taxes. For and against torture. Even against the new GI bill. People don't know him well  yet. They will.

    Maybe time to collect some video though.

    by organicdemocrat on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:49:23 AM PDT

  •  Is he going to eliminate the

    gas guzzlers tax, too?  <snark>

    by FoundingFatherDAR on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:14:48 PM PDT

•  contests

  My local AAR station sent an email saying to tune in next week and win $100,000. I went to the site and found a couple of details. Check this out!

  When you hear the cue to call, be the 7th caller.  We will ask you for the last four digits of your driver's license.  If those digits match the number in a sealed envelope in our studios YOU WIN $100,000!

  Hahaha, wonder what the odds are.

  by OLinda on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:46:46 AM PDT

  •  I Suspect It's Not AAR but CBS Radio Network

    At least that's who's carrying prog talk in Seattle.

    I can't imagine AAR having any actual money available.

    by Gooserock on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:01:31 PM PDT

    •  AAR

      Yes, they do air CBS news instead of AAR news. So, that's a tip off. :)

      They are the local station that calls themselves "progressive talk" and airs most of the Air America programs. Not all though.

      by OLinda on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:07:45 PM PDT

•  Life is good

  that is all

  by SensibleDemocrat on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:50:02 AM PDT

•  Obama refuses to apologize for Coburn's remarks

  Obama refused to apologize for remarks made by his friend Senator Tom Coburn who once said he supported the death penalty for those who carried out abortions.

  Tulsa World: Obama cites Coburn in debate analogy

  See what kind of reaction you get when you tell your conservative friends about that.

  by londubh on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:50:16 AM PDT

  •  wouldnt hold your breath.

    by EvasDad on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:56:45 AM PDT

•  Somebody MUST have mentioned this

  but because I can't find, I will provide a link:

  Gail Collins of the NY Times was on a major roll today.  I can't give you the full flavor of the piece without violating all fair use standards; here's a snipped from the beginning, but you really need to read the whole op-ed piece to realize how devastating it is:

  "I’m pleased to say that we remain on track to meet this goal," the president said, in a tone that sounded rather belligerent considering this was supposed to be good news.

  Let’s back up here. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always had trouble getting my head around goals that involve reducing the rate at which something is growing. To appreciate the administration’s efforts on the, um, issue, let’s try to imagine it in terms other than greenhouse gas emissions. (As the president noted: "Climate change involves complicated science.")

  http://www.nytimes.com/...

  by Youffraita on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:52:30 AM PDT

•  Shipload of weapons on the way to Zimbabwe

  There's a shipload of weapons on its way to Mugabe's forces in Zimbabwe. They've been turned away by dockworkers in South Africa, and are now seeking another port to offload the weapons to get them overland to Zimbabwe. International attention is needed.

  I posted a diary on this last night, but it was late and it's disappeared. Please take a look, and maybe take a moment out from calling Pennsylvania voters to e-mail an embassy or two, and help save some lives.

  by rcbowman on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:53:32 AM PDT

  •  Kos needs to get us a submarine...

    to run interdictions.

    Maybe he'll let us paint it yellow.

    by David Kroning on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:58:42 AM PDT

•  Bill-O outtake...w/ nice primping at the end..

  by jnhobbs on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:53:49 AM PDT

•  Soulja Boy Presidential Debate Remix

  
  
  
  ````
  peace
  
  

  by peace voter on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:55:20 AM PDT

•  Amusing video

  Just watched some of a video called An Engineer's Guide to Cats. Kinda long, but I laughed out loud a couple times around the 3 minute mark when they were talking about "cat hobbies".

  by Renee in Ohio on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:56:33 AM PDT

•  April 22, VCS Lawsuit in the News:

  National Broadcast on the Crisis in Veterans' Healthcare

  On Tuesday, April 22nd, KPFA/ Pacifica Radio will broadcast a three-hour live national special delving into the crisis in the VA health care system. The special broadcast will include live updates from the San Francisco Federal Courthouse, interviews with veterans’ attorney Gordon Erspamer, advocates from Veterans for Common Sense and Veterans for America, as well as interviews with veterans and their families, including Joyce and Kevin Lucey who are suing the VA claiming their son Jeffrey committed suicide after being turned away from the VA.

  by jimstaro on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 11:59:51 AM PDT

•  1932 REDUX

  It's interesting that a book about the campaign for the 1932 Democratic nomination is coming out now. There are some interesting parallels. For instance, back then, the chairman of the DNC was John J. Raskob, a DuPont frontman & Wall Street Shill. He and his chief lieutenant, former Congressman and Democrat In Name Only Jouett Shouse, were dead set against FDR. Raskob & Shouse wanted the party controlled by the wealthy and corporate interests that were, for all intents and purposes, Republicans. Although today we are blessed with the always excellent Dr. Dean, who wants to build a 50-state organization not dependent on corporations and the wealthy, he and Sen. Obama are opposed by a candidate beholden to lobbyists, PACs, and the big money pigs. Let's hope we have as good an outcome this year as we did 76 years ago!

  by FredNietzsche on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:00:06 PM PDT

  •  FDR Faced No Realtime Mass Media Nor Did He Have

    a military-industrial complex waging 2 or more wars running a candidate against him.

    And he had a Depression clarifying the priorities of the electorate.

    I hope we can come out ahead this time too, but we have no way to come out that far ahead. Options even for 2 strongly Dem branches are much more limited.

    by Gooserock on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:06:18 PM PDT

    •  FDR Today

      You make a good point about today's media and FDR. He'd have been exposed as a paraplegic and a philanderer, although I would hope that the former would not be a setback today, even with Hillary and her kitchen sink/scorched earth tactics. Then again, he was pretty good at getting the media to dance to the tunes he called rather than the other way around. He hornswoggled Hearst and used the latest technology (i.e. radio) to appeal directly to the people over the heads of the traditional media, much as Obama is using the internet to cruise over TV, radio, and the press. And just how strong is today's military/industrial complex? Aren't we outsourcing, i.e. Blackwater and Grumman/Airbus?

      by FredNietzsche on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:21:31 PM PDT

    •  There is only one Democratic Branch

      The DLC branch is just a cover for Republicans. And the Clintons are bringing it down  with them. What the Iraq war and the recession is doing to the Republican Party is being done to DLC by the disastrous Clinton campaign.

      I

      belong to the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party.

      by organicdemocrat on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:27:29 PM PDT

•  Michigan Congressional District Conventions

  We elected our Congressional District Delegates and Alternates to the DNC today (assuming they get seated). There's a thread about it up on Michigan Liberal.

  by ScottyUrb on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:01:34 PM PDT

•  Bill admits Hillary needs a blowout

  Former President Clinton told a small crowd in Wilkes-Barre that his wife can win if her supporters come out. The outcome "is basically going to be determined by whether you want it bad enough," he said. "You give her a big vote out of here, she'll wake up in a different world, and so will you, and America will have a better tomorrow."

  http://news.yahoo.com/...

  by Joe Beese on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:12:56 PM PDT

  •  And Hillary Admits Bill Needs A...

    OH MONICA!! COME H'YAR GAL!!

    by FredNietzsche on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:33:53 PM PDT

•  Earth Day weekend dilema

  Do I drive 40+ miles (RT) to drop off a microwave oven for recycling?  

  by FoundingFatherDAR on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:18:51 PM PDT

•  BREAKING: Clinton Advisor quits over "low road"

  From Politico

  China-bashing costs Clinton an adviser

  A policy adviser gets tired of the rhetoric, my colleague Lisa Lerer reports:

  A top expert on China has resigned as an informal adviser to Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign in the wake of the candidate's increasingly harsh anti-China rhetoric.

  Richard Baum, a political science professor at the Center for Chinese Studies at UCLA, resigned in light of what he called "grossly misguided accusations" made by Clinton about China.

  "As a lifelong Democrat, it saddens me that Sen. Clinton has chosen to take the low road in her effort to gain our party’s presidential nomination," Baum said in an e-mail to Politico.

  by MAORCA on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:19:22 PM PDT

  •  Who knew?Clinton took the low road! She lies too?

    by organicdemocrat on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:22:52 PM PDT

  •  kudos to Mr. Baum for seeing the light

    and getting out of her campaign.

    by wishingwell on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:37:23 PM PDT

•  How would you spend $50 mil in 6 months?

  Ex-city prosecutor guilty of embezzlement

  A former San Francisco prosecutor who inherited a role overseeing a multimillion-dollar trust has been sentenced to an 8 1/2-year prison term and ordered to repay the $52 million in trust funds he misappropriated and spent in just six months in Alaska, authorities said.
   {snip}
  Avery illegally borrowed against the trust and spent the money on a ragtag fleet of vintage war machines, including World War II planes and a fleet of fighter jets in Alaska, prosecutors said.

  by FoundingFatherDAR on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:21:56 PM PDT

•  Jeff Gannon - still an a**hole

  I pretty much forgot about Jeff Gannon, but just stumbled across this

  April 15, 2008

  Barack H*****n Obama

  Democrats have tried to score points with Sen. John McCain's recent flub during which he momentarily confused Sunni and Shia.

  Please tell me then, which one is Obama, Sunni or Shia?

  http://www.jeffgannon.com/

  by dannyinla on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:22:59 PM PDT

  •  Oh, that Gannon/Guckert is a card

    What a droll fellow.

    by Dump Terry McAuliffe on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:27:02 PM PDT

  •  He May Be An Asshole But...

    Remember Bette Midler's quote from an aging working girl: "Shut your hole honey, mine's making money." I'm sure Mr. Gannon is well compensated by such Hillary friends as Richard Mellon Scaife, Rupert Murdoch, and John, no, better make that Cindy "Secret Tax Returns" McCain.

    by FredNietzsche on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:31:16 PM PDT

•  Great diary on world agriculture reform,

  courtesy of Asinus Asinum Fricat, who discusses the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development.

  by pico on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:23:47 PM PDT

•  Jed's latest

  
  
  
  `````
  peace
  
  

  by peace voter on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:28:12 PM PDT

•  Who Will be Thrown Under the Clinton Bus Next?

  Without Move On, she would not be Senator Hillary Clinton. She would be the wife of disgraced-and-removed former President Clinton. If there is one group that doesn't deserved to be tossed under the bus by the Clintons, either in public or private fundraisers, it's MoveOn...

  Who's next? In a third Clinton term, who will be the next core constituency to be steamrolled when the Clintons think the situation calls for it? Labor? Latinos? Who knows?

  But, if this tape proves anything, it's that, indeed, the Clintons learned the wrong lessons from the 1990s, and that everyone should watch their backs.

  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

  by Joe Beese on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:50:45 PM PDT

•  Danny Federici dies

  Danny Fererici, long-time E Street Band organist died Thursday of melanoma. Same week as Springsteen endorsed Obama. A heavy week the Boss.

  From the NY Times

  The Boss's site

  I saw Springsteen in Seattle on March 29th. He said Danny said "hi" to the fans. I was surprised he left us so soon.

  by dgb on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:59:21 PM PDT

•  I hope to post a really big diary

  on all congressional races that were close (less than 10 points) in 2006

  by plf515 on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:59:24 PM PDT

•  This is kind of sad

  It’s not that big a deal. This isn’t going to affect a voter’s choice in the booth(unlike Obama’s "cling" comments, IMO).

  She did get the detail about Afghanistan wrong, MoveOn was not against that, and since this is now getting play, I hope she will correct herself and apologize(unlike Obama who only dug deeper).

  But the rest of the statement is 100% spot fucking on, especially about the caucus intimidation.

  http://www.correntewire.com/...

  How do you tell an adolescent that Mom doesn't really love them; she's only using them to get back at her ex-husband.

  by Joe Beese on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 01:02:50 PM PDT

•  Bio-diesel and ethanol cannot be from food.

  Bio-fuels need to be made from waste products, recycling of vegetable oil and agricultural cellulose waste not from primary food crops such as corn and soybeans.

  Brazil's claim that it's sugar cane based ethanol is not food based is not entirely accurate because while sugar is not a complete necessity (some sugar production is requires), it is grown in place of food crops.

  Bio-Diesel and ethanol from waste products can probably provide about 5% of our Diesel and gasoline requirements while they help in recycling to cut waste and pollution.

  by Tuscany on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 01:04:53 PM PDT

•  Not sure if anyone pointed this out...

  Even Fox Sports going after ABC's debacle of a 'debate'....

  From Hit List-Kevin Heach regarding the NFL Draft

  7. The interviews

  Oy. Just when you thought it couldn't get any more boring than Goodie reading names at a podium, here come the interviews with the players. We know, you're very excited, it's a great opportunity, blah, blah, blah. Most of these guys don't need the NFL's tutorial on how to say nothing to media. They're already experts. You know what would jazz this up? Having Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos ask questions that have nothing to do with football. "You've just been selected with the number one overall pick, but I notice you don't wear a maize and blue lapel pin. Do you hate your alma mater?"

  http://msn.foxsports.com/...

  by greeninca on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 01:08:38 PM PDT

•  Hillary not waering her wedding ring today.

  I wonder why, did she forget her prop.

  While she was stumping in York, PA, I noticed she did not wear her wedding bands.

  just thought it was an interesting tidbit.

  by calalaila2008 on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 01:13:20 PM PDT

  •  Correction: wearing

    by calalaila2008 on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 01:13:46 PM PDT

•  My VIDEO and Photos of Philly rally

  http://www.dailykos.com/...

  by free speech zone on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 02:09:49 PM PDT

•  Snipers

  by pinback on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 02:14:03 PM PDT

•  Probably too late to promo, and

  I know I published it waaaaay too early, but what the heck:

  "From This Day Forward..."

  ...or, after eight years of Bush Republicans, why I'll never view marriage vows the same way again...

  Never, never brave me, nor my fury tempt:
    Downy wings, but wroth they beat;
  Tempest even in reason's seat.

  by GreyHawk on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 03:11:41 PM PDT

•  NYT isn't "mainstream media"

  The FRONT PAGE of yesterday's New York Times had a story about bloggers discussing personal relationships.

  http://www.nytimes.com/...

  They ran pictures of Penelope Trunk, and Tricia Walsh Smith; both of them appear to be female. If you follow the link to Jennifer Neal's site, the pictures show that she's definitely female. (Some people think Jen's site is NSFW, but if that's true for you, you need a better job.)

  by Harl Delos on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 03:22:59 PM PDT

•  Alan Keyes quits the Republicans

  to join the Constitution Party.

  by Kimball Cross on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 05:48:38 PM PDT

  •  Sorry, that link doesn't work any more.

    See if this one works.

    by Kimball Cross on Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 05:55:11 PM PDT

•  TV news coverage of the Pope's visit

  is remarkably devoid of the potential political overtones on the timing of his visit. The images of 9-11-2001 are being revived just before the crucial Democratic primary in Pennsylvania ... and this seems to be not commented on at all .....

  by jfdunphy on Sun Apr 20, 2008 at 08:25:13 AM PDT