Midday Open Thread

• The United Steelworkers Union, which had previously endorsed John Edwards, endorsed Barack Obama on the heels of his endorsement by Edwards.
• Take MoveOn's Bush-McCain Challenge. There's also a McCain vs. carrot round.
• Rich at Michigan Liberal has an account of Obama's Michigan visit, and at the same site, Hazen Pingree offers Obama some tips for winning Michigan.
• dnA uncovers The Buchanan Theorem.
• A sign of relief for us all:

  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As the U.S. economy slowed in 2007, President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney saw their assets stay stable, according to financial disclosure reports released by the White House on Thursday.

  The reports showed little change for Bush and Cheney even as a collapse in the housing market caused a credit crunch and led the Federal Reserve to rapidly cut interest rates.

• McCain's lobbyist campaign consultants and staff continue to link him with dubious foreign governments. This time it's lobbyist and McCain campaign manager Rick Davis, Vladimir Putin, and the Ukraine.
• In the aftermath of what they're calling Schaffer's "Mount Macaca" moment, the DSCC has put together a little quiz for Schaffer.
• In a sign that MI-09 candidate Gary Peters is gaining serious credibility in the local press, the Lansing State Journal blog upgraded the race from "lean incumbent" to "toss-up." In MI-07, Mark Schauer is at "lean challenger." Two progressive candidates with great prospects in a swing state -- what's not to love?
• Darcy Burner fans have two opportunities to catch up with her this week, one virtual, one in person. First, she'll be appearing in Second Life tonight to talk about the Responsible Plan on JayAckroyd's Virtually Speaking which will be simulcast on BlogTalkRadio. More detail in the link above. For Seattle area folks, you can see her and support a great cause at the NW Progressive Institute's Spring Gala. (--mcjoan)

•  Game on, Junior!

  I triple-dog-dare any reporter to ask George Bush about a real Nazi appeaser/enabler. . .

  . . . his grandfather Prescott:

  My Challenge to the Media

  by Crashing Vor on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:31:01 PM PDT

  •  This sure is the pot calling the kettle

    a nazi.

    More we can't make up....

    by xxdr zombiexx on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:36:08 PM PDT

    •  Man, I wish I'd thought of that phrase. . . n/t

      by Crashing Vor on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:37:55 PM PDT

      •  Terry Mcauliffe aka 'Baghdad Bob'

        I got a little dairy up on the comparison of the two if you're bored....

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

        by manumit on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:42:00 PM PDT

  •  Why no News

    About Waxman and Berman coming out to endorse Obama today? Huff Post is all over the story, but nothing here yet.
    This is big.

    by Patrick Egan on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:47:32 PM PDT

    •  We've been doing a super-delegate roundup

      at the end of the day. Otherwise you get all tangled up in constant updates as they trickle out.

      by MissLaura on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:53:20 PM PDT

      •  Hahahaha!

        Oh, as long as it's good news about Barack, go ahead and tangle me up!

        by Patrick Egan on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:56:01 PM PDT

•  Polls

  my diary about polls is still available for comments and questions....

  by plf515 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:31:16 PM PDT

•  BRING IT ON!

  by aaraujo on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:32:26 PM PDT

  •  The General Election Began Today.

    And we are going to kick their asses all the way back to Hoover.

    by Mogolori on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:43:57 PM PDT

    •  Who says Hoovers don't suck.

      by Rex Manning on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:46:47 PM PDT

    •  So nice to see the rec list w/o anti-Clinton

      diaries. Let's continue to kick Bush/Mccain---it is so much more fun!

      by Phil S 33 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:01:32 PM PDT

      •  She's Safe If She Doesn't Join Bushs Nazi Baiting

        When Nazi is being tossed around, even the Clintons get a day off.

        by Gooserock on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:07:50 PM PDT

        •  They're good at it too.

          Bill sure was.

          by Rex Manning on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:42:44 PM PDT

•  MoveON should turn that into an Ad Campaign!

  Remember those old Coke v Pepsi taste test commerciials? Us ethat same styole and vibe to create a Mccain v Bush "test" tapplied to peole at shop[ping malls, supermarkets, etc and film it.

  Show examples of people thinking they are picking Bush and it keeps turning out to be McCain.

  by Hesiod on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:32:38 PM PDT

  •  I like it !!! : )

    by cfk on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:48:48 PM PDT

  •  The Lobbyist tied to Putin

    could be a big deal in parts of Ohio with a strong Ukrainian community (Parma).  The guy was working for the Party of Regions in Ukraine was on the payroll of the corrupt former Prime Minister overthrown by the Orange Revolution.  Hope the Obama campaign is sophisticated enough to use this (the Clinton people are).

    by Night Runner on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:49:58 PM PDT

•  Thanks to everyone who....

  wrote letters calling upon their Senators to make a motion to Censure Bush for his comments in Isreal.

  No, censure is not enough, but we need to go after this criminal cabal in every way possible and from every direction.

  More important, we need to make our voices heard, for as Dr. King said, "In the end we will not remember the voices of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

  Time to come together folks, our new Democratic leader is now under assault from the White House.

  by David Kroning on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:32:54 PM PDT

  •  I forgot to post a comment in that diary

    but I wrote to Sens. Boxer and Feinstein this morning about the censure.

    by writerswrite on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:43:21 PM PDT

•  McCain/ Lieberman

  

  by notquitedelilah on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:33:30 PM PDT

•  Foreclosure Crisis impacting mental health

  Not very pleasant

      just before lunch on Oct. 23, the Donacas closed all their home's doors except the one to the garage and left their 1981 Cadillac Eldorado running. Toxic fumes filled the home. When sheriff's deputies arrived at about 1 p.m., they found the body of Raymond, 71, on the second floor along with three dead dogs. The body of Deanna, 69, was in an upstairs bedroom, close to another dead retriever.

     "It is believed that the Donacas committed suicide after attempts to save their home following a foreclosure notice left them believing they had few options," the Crook County Sheriff's Office said in a report.

  Continued fallout of GOP policies and naked corporate criminality.

  by xxdr zombiexx on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:34:55 PM PDT

  •  To be expected

    someone diaried on that earlier.  Especially sad as there is no healthcare system to support folks in financial crisis.  

    Some will blame the "borrowers" for getting in over their heads - but kids are again, the innocent victims who will be punished regardless.  (And I lay the blame on the banks and mortgage companies for probably 98% of the cases, our society's focus on consumerism for all of them).

    by SarahLee on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:15:00 PM PDT

•  Dear Super Delegates...

  can we please end this before May, 31st? Thanks.

  by blueyedace2 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:35:08 PM PDT

  •  Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease

    pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease
    pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease
    pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease
    pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease

    by xxdr zombiexx on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:38:13 PM PDT

  •  I received a fundraising letter from Hillary...

    in the mail yesterday, even though I have never donated to her before. So I sent it back with $0.00 written in the blank for the money and this message written across the top: Please drop out!!! You are hurting the Democratic Party's chances in November!!! Barack Obama is our nominee for president!!!

    by DemBrock on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:42:15 PM PDT

•  San Francisco values

  I am proud to be a resident of this city today:

  

  

  by gloryous1 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:35:24 PM PDT

  •  You speak for many of us here! :-)

    (But you've got better pictures!)

    by lineatus on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:38:42 PM PDT

  •  Freep the Chron poll

    http://www.sfgate.com/...

    by FoundingFatherDAR on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:40:44 PM PDT

    •  Just remember to copy the link

      and paste it in your browser - don't click and go there directly.

      by SarahLee on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:16:52 PM PDT

  •  Hella Hot in Sactown

    And it's only May.

    You have a sea-breeze though..

    Trade you my oven for an onshore wind?

    ..

    The "Keep Tahoe Blue" campaign is actually working. Hurray for the good guys.

    by SecondComing on Thu May 15, 2008 at 02:21:54 PM PDT

    •  Hot Here, Too!

      It's already 97 here, just east of the San Fernando Valley. Little ridiculous.

      by Patrick Egan on Thu May 15, 2008 at 03:10:47 PM PDT

•  DSCC's Go Code for it is: "Climb Mt. Macaca."

  by Hesiod on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:35:41 PM PDT

  •  DSCC is pretty snarky. n/t

    by Dragon5616 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:50:43 PM PDT

    •  Actually, I'm pretty snarky. ;)

      That was my joke.

      by Hesiod on Thu May 15, 2008 at 03:54:16 PM PDT

      •  It's a good one!

        I was also referring to the stuff on the DSCC website regarding the Republican being "geography-challenged."

        by Dragon5616 on Fri May 16, 2008 at 04:49:22 AM PDT

•  McSame

  by dehrha02 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:36:08 PM PDT

•  Please Help Complete the KOSSANOMICON!

  The Diary of the Names of the Kossaks really isn't complete unless you, yes you Kossak, add your moniker!

  Now I have to go talk to a mad Arab about some things with tentacles.

  by SteamPunkX on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:36:23 PM PDT

•  Are teh tubes going down the tubes?

  CBS to acquire CNET

  Media and entertainment company CBS Corp. is buying CNet Networks Inc., an online news and information provider, for $1.8 billion in cash in its latest bid to expand its reach on the Internet, the companies announced Thursday.

  by FoundingFatherDAR on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:36:48 PM PDT

  •  Very sad news, another trusted site down the tube

    pun intended.

    by SmileySam on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:40:36 PM PDT

  •  Thanks

    You always have the best news links stuck in Open Threads.

    by SarahLee on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:56:44 PM PDT

•  Obama will win Michigan

  Obama will win Michigan, there's no doubt about it. Michigan already trends Democratic.

  We can be a swing State because the vote is almost always pretty close, but this is a trend year. Michigan won't even be close. Obama will trounce McCain here.

  by DAVE DIAL on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:37:22 PM PDT

  •  McCain can win Massachesetts

    In fact, I propose that he spend all his time, resources, and effort in the state.  It'll be well worth it.

    by DH from MD on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:38:54 PM PDT

    •  lolololol

      thanks for the smile...

      by cfk on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:00:18 PM PDT

•  TalkLeft now officially bat-shit crazy

  Some comments on its recent thread: "Sean Penn on Obama: Not Ready to Endorse"

  http://www.talkleft.com/...

  I have to agree with Penn, and his reasoning is partly one reason that I think Obama is dangerous for the Democratic party.  

  I suspect that Mr. Penn, for having the audacity to not climb on the Obama band wagon will now be relegated to the discard pile along with other former Progressive heroes.

  I have a feeling that when Obama falls, Penn will still be standing.  Penn actually demonstrably cares about individuals who are less fortunate.

  sean will take an unpopular stand and take the flack which is more than i have ever seen obama do.

  He's not just  another Hollywood celebrity to me.  He has done more real work for his beliefs than most people in congress, including, dare I say, Obama.

  I am sad that women are afraid to endorse her. I have a feeling that [Natalie] Portman backs Clinton but does not want to alienate her fanbase of young, liberal men.

  by Joe Beese on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:37:29 PM PDT

  •  Wow, that Portman comment is BIZARRE

    I mean Natalie is obviously excited about HRC.

    by SteamPunkX on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:39:31 PM PDT

    •  Um, like, wow.

      That (cropped) would be my new desktop except GF would kill me.

      by Crashing Vor on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:41:58 PM PDT

      •  Which half would you keep?

        by Joe Beese on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:55:42 PM PDT

        •  The top half of course, Joe.

          Hillary's eyes are divine.

          by Crashing Vor on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:05:48 PM PDT

      •  I'm restricted by court order in 7 states

        from keeping pictures of Natalie.

        by SteamPunkX on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:11:24 PM PDT

    •  The White House is strongly air conditioned

      If you've ever been in Washington D.C. in the summer, you'll know why.

      by Joe Beese on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:46:24 PM PDT

      •  Foundation garments are your friends. n/t

        by Crashing Vor on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:50:35 PM PDT

  •  thats exactly why I am not voting for Hillary

    I don't want to alienate all the young liberal men

    by Krush on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:40:13 PM PDT

  •  Wow, there's no shortage of delusion over

    there, huh?

    Obama's never taken an unpopular stand.  Right. Like when he spoke out against the Iraq war when most Democrats were supporting it.  Like when he spoke out against homophobia at black churches.  Like when he spoke out against the gax tax holiday.

    Those people really are living in some kind of a parallel universe, aren't they?

    by writerswrite on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:47:30 PM PDT

  •  Mark Penn is a 'progressive hero'?????

    What kind of cocks are these idiots smoking?

    by fizziks on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:58:38 PM PDT

  •  Sean Penn got punk'd on "Li'l Bush" last night

    I'm still ambivalent regarding that particular cartoon, but anything that makes me giggle..

    I especially like their cartoon rendering of "Condi."

    by SecondComing on Thu May 15, 2008 at 03:09:57 PM PDT

•  Boy, is this a great day or what?

  Bush in Israel.

  McCain on Iran.

  Gay marriage.

  Coming off the Edwards endorsement, delegates declaring left and right.

  This is a great day.

  by CA Libertarian on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:37:45 PM PDT

  •  Not even this heat wave can get me down.

    by lineatus on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:39:43 PM PDT

    •  95 in the shade...

      ...but at least it's a dry heat. ;-)

      by CA Libertarian on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:44:09 PM PDT

    •  I love the heat wave....

      ....because my tomato plants love it.

      by Rex Manning on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:50:03 PM PDT

    •  Unfortunately there are fires

      in El Dorado County.

      by not a cent on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:28:31 PM PDT

  •  I'm thinking we are in store

    for a whole lot more.  Good darn days!

    by gloryous1 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:41:56 PM PDT

•  After 7 yrs they decide to do their job ?

  If you are the dept. charged with all the personnel records for our gov., would you think after 7 yrs they would already have to answers to the following questions ? File this under WTF.
   Where the Appointees Are

  That's what the Office of Personnel Management wants to know. The agency has sent a memo to agency chief human capital officers telling them to provide lists of of their politically appointed positions. The lists then will be passed on to the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees. The agency is required to collect and transmit the information under the 2004 Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act.

  Specifically, OPM wants agencies to list:

     * All positions that are appointed by the president, including the title and description of the duties of each position.

     * The names of the people holding these positions.

     * Any vacancies in the positions, and how long they've been vacant.

     * The date after the election on which an appointment to each position must be made to ensure effective operation of the government.

  by SmileySam on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:39:17 PM PDT

  •  that is wide open for some fun

    * All positions that are appointed by the president, including the title and description of the duties of each position.

    POSITION:

    stooge and shill

    DUTIES:

    lie, obfuscate, spin, lie on TV, gather money in bags

    by cfk on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:05:00 PM PDT

    •  where do I apply?

      do I have to move to DC?  Can I just get my check direct deposited and continue to work as a lobbyist for big oil/pharma/junta?

      by CParis on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:29:54 PM PDT

•  MI is not a swing state

  we've voted for Dems in the Presidential elections since 1992.

  We've given J. Granholm two terms.

  Half of the State Lrgislative body is Democratic.

  Save the Swing State Stuff for Ohio (Zing!!)  :P

  by jds1978 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:39:48 PM PDT

  •  When the Dem presidential candidate gets

    more than 51%, we can talk.

    by MissLaura on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:49:13 PM PDT

    •  Put that on your calendar

      for November, then. ; )

      by not a cent on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:29:58 PM PDT

  •  well, I was up very late

    gritting my teeth for Kerry last time.

    I sure hope you are right...

    I agree things are improving in my area...but...we can't sit back and be complacent.

    by cfk on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:06:59 PM PDT

•  Help Gary Peters in MI-09

  Make a contribution to Gary Peters at ActBlue today!

  by Jordan LFW on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:40:39 PM PDT

•  What is the right response to this?

  I posted a diary last night titled, "Wanda Gibson Fears Obama Because He Is Black." I came back this morning to read and rec any late comments, and I found a bunch of comments by a user named "poolkey." Most disturbing was this one:

  Maybe she is scared because there are 100 black
  on white rapes for every 1 white on black.  When you base an opinion on fact, it is not ignorance.  I for one am tired of black racism getting a free pass.

  I tried to find the source of this claim on Google, but all I came up with were pages titled "Jew-Loosed N-----s Rape 100 White Women a Day" (my redaction, obviously) and "100 Reasons for getting rid of blacks." The last of which had this advice to someone trying to come up with arguments for genocide:

  Don't say the word "violent crime" because the FBI has dumbed down the meaning of it to make it seem that whites commit more of them.

  So, what should be done about poolkey?

  by Michael D on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:41:13 PM PDT

  •  My only reply...

    ...to any poolkey comment was

    "Fuck you poolkey".

    by dewley notid on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:21:36 PM PDT

  •  Report them to an Admin.

    by FoundingFatherDAR on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:29:11 PM PDT

  •  Recipes

    Trolls and idiots tend to crawl back under their respective rocks.

    by SecondComing on Thu May 15, 2008 at 02:11:44 PM PDT

•  so angry I am in tears (Rightious indignation)

  remember yesterday I brought you the words of our moron-in-chief about giving up golf "for the troops" after listening to Olbermann I am so angry so pissed off and so hurt for the over 4000 dead troops and 40K to 60K injured, and 100K to 1.2million dead Iraqis and their familys that I am at work SO mad so angry so pained that I am fighting back the tears. THAT the world sees us as him. That we have this UNFEELING, unknowing SON OF A BITCH, as our leader. there has been alot of "bad" leaders in the free world, but none of them made a nation a nation of war crimes. Son of a Bitch has made us all look like we don't care about anyone else but ourselves, that we will kill anyone for any reason. THAT IS NOT what we are, we aren't FUCKING the NAZI. YOU fucking son of a bitch as a moron-in-chief you sent 100's of thousand men and woman US and Iraqi's to war for no reason, NONE!!!

  sorry I had to get it out... it was causing me pain, thank you for the open thread sorry to talk about something everyone else is.

  by red states blues on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:42:01 PM PDT

  •  Your own Special Comment

    Nice job.

    by gloryous1 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:44:33 PM PDT

  •  Brings back fond memories of Molly

    I can hear her going off just like you have. I sure miss her honesty.

    by SmileySam on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:45:02 PM PDT

  •  RSB, I feel your pain.

    He is an abomination.  Every time someone on this site says they might vote for McCain I want to tell them everything you have just said.  Bush, the neocons and McSame must not be allowed to stay running OUR government.

    by llamaRCA on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:46:03 PM PDT

•  Next R panic button (after Scary Black Preacher)

  Gay Marriage in California!

   What if the Scary Black Preacher starts doing  ... gay marriages IN YOUR TOWN !!!

  by Cartoon Peril on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:42:26 PM PDT

  •  No legs there,

    Next!

    by gloryous1 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:43:24 PM PDT

    •  Dang!

      by Cartoon Peril on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:25:31 PM PDT

•  Invitation to review my diary on Colombia....

  In light of impending events that will no doubt arise from todays' Interpol report that the multiple computers and USB memories captured during the February 29/08 Colombian raid on a FARC encampment in Ecuador, which unleashed an international crisis between Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador, was not manipulated, perhaps it is relevant to all interested Kossacks to go and give a try to my diary, published yesterday, entitled "Colombia: A Regime that Crumbles Under its Own Corruption."

  The diary is here....

  The diary and comments contain interesting materials to form an informed opinion about these issues, about which we all will be, no doubt, hear a lot in the coming days.

  Thanks for your kind attention.

  .

  by Mangrove Blues on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:43:45 PM PDT

•  mccain's med reports were due today

  where are they?

  by griefer grrl on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:43:54 PM PDT

  •  And Princess Cindy's tax filings

    by gloryous1 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:45:11 PM PDT

    •  Hell Froze over?

      I thought that was the condition she'd release them.

      by JML9999 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:53:13 PM PDT

  •  Records Say He has the Heart of a 18 Year old

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    In a glass jar in his closet

    by JML9999 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:00:46 PM PDT

    •  I thought that was Ann Coulter's beauty secret??

      by CParis on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:31:50 PM PDT

      •  Ann and Cindy swap tips from time to time nt

        by JML9999 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:34:56 PM PDT

        •  I think Cindy McCain is attractive

          in that GOP Stepford Wife way.  But occasionally she seems to break out that look (like Laura Bush) that says "remind me again why I married this dumb f*ck?"

          Oh, yeah - the White House!

          by CParis on Thu May 15, 2008 at 02:20:30 PM PDT

  •  UPDATE

    Fox says they are going to be released next week.
    but....in the 90 minute format?

    by griefer grrl on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:21:27 PM PDT

    •  So it's peekaboo then go away. nt

      by JML9999 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:54:23 PM PDT

•  scrolling down too fast : )

  another good one by Jim:

  The Bush Legacy Tour  
  by jimstaro
  http://www.dailykos.com/...

  by cfk on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:47:24 PM PDT

•  Bush's Borah quote spurious, historian says

  I'm a PhD candidate in American history doing my dissertation on Sen Borah and I can tell you that this quote does not appear in any of the three major biographies of Borah. I have spent months in the Borah papers at the Library of Congress and have not seen it there. I searched the New York Times from the era and it does not appear there. Does anyone have any REAL evidence that Borah actually said this....

  5 years of studying William E. Borah for a living!

  http://answers.yahoo.com/...

  Working on double sourcing it.

  by BlueStateRedhead on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:47:48 PM PDT

  •  Maybe that's why Bush omitted the name

    from his speech.

    That could be the reason for the vague "U.S. Senator."

    by Brooke In Seattle on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:53:13 PM PDT

    •  Or because he meant Obama?

      ...this was noticed by another commenter, who responded to me. I am in the weeds of the history of political quotations and hope you will forgive me if I don't h/t the commenter.

      back to double sourcing.

      by BlueStateRedhead on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:49:23 PM PDT

•  Sweetiegate

  Got a nice ring, doesn't it?  The traditional media will think so.  Expect a few weeks of TV pundits bloviating about Obama's newest identity as a sexist pig.

  by stunzeed on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:48:19 PM PDT

•  I know that this is not a political issue

  but I just have to say that I'm thrilled with this outcome:

  Mom indicted in MySpace suicide case.

  The woman needs to be held to account for her thoughtless and cruel actions.  I'm surprised that it has taken this long.

  by Terre on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:48:23 PM PDT

•  VA discouraged staff from diagnosing PTSD

  http://thinkprogress.org/...

  VA discouraged staff from diagnosing PTSD for ‘compensation seeking veterans.’

  VoteVets.org and CREW released an e-mail today that reveals "a Veterans Affairs (VA) employee directing VA staff to refrain from diagnosing soldiers and veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)." The e-mail, dated May 1, 2008, complains about "compensation seeking veterans" and urges VA staff to rule out PTSD and "consider a diagnosis of ‘Adjustment Disorder’"

  by JML9999 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:51:30 PM PDT

  •  A friend who fought for 30 years for his

    claim (Vietnam) was diagnosed by one VA doctor as having residual trauma from falling out of a tree when he was a child.  That, according to the VA, is why he would drop to the ground in firing position when startled.

    Grrrrrrr. . . .

    by Crashing Vor on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:10:58 PM PDT

•  Oh, the irony...

  I loved reading Michigan Liberal's account of Obama and Edwards' appearance yesterday.  The best part was the delicious irony of where they appeared in Michigan:  Van Andel Arena.  That's Jay Van Andel the co-founder of AmWay.  Rich DeVos, former Gov. candidate and the other co-founder of AmWay, must have lost his dinner when he saw that.  And ol' Van Andel's corpse just created a new wormhole in the universe as his grave spinning reached light speed.

  TrumanDem

  Truman's Conscience
  "The Buck Stopped Here"

  by DuvalDem on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:51:53 PM PDT

•  From the oregon voters pamphlet

  
  

  http://www.sos.state.or.us/...

  by soros on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:52:23 PM PDT

•  GET ON THE BUS

  I wrote a diary about Americans United for Change starting a rolling museum of the Bush legacy.

  You can share what the Bush Legacy means to you.

  You can donate.

  Here is the shameless link to my diary.

  The link for The Bush Legacy Tour link is here

   

  by COwoman on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:52:40 PM PDT

•  "Thank you America

  for Supporting Israel in our Time of Need."  This is a line in an advertisement that has been on cable news channels in the last few days.  Can anyone tell me what the thank you is warranted for?  Did Israel have some sort of natural or man-made disaster lately that I failed to hear about?  I'm just curious...

  by Huskadee on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:54:23 PM PDT

•  Deportees Drugged

  Sorry if I'm behind on the news, but this is note-worthy.  Can anyone point me to a diary on this, if there is one??

  From WashPo online :

  Deportees drugged without medical reason

  by mystery2me on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:54:43 PM PDT

•  Newsweek Threatened by McCain Aid

  http://thinkprogress.org/...

  McCain campaign threatened to cut off Newsweek’s access.

  Earlier this week, after Newsweek published a cover story examining the hardball tactics conservatives might use in the general election, Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) "true partner" and longest-serving aide, Mark Salter, fired off a stinging retort that accused the magazine of being "biased." Today, a Wall Street Journal profile of Salter reveals that he also "threatened to throw the magazine’s reporters off the campaign bus and airplane":

     

  He threatened to throw the magazine’s reporters off the campaign bus and airplane, according to people familiar with the matter. Mr. Salter says he expressed the campaign’s displeasure and is talking to the publication about future access.

  Salter’s move to cut off Newsweek’s access is reminiscent of how in 2004, "a New York Times reporter assigned to cover Vice President Cheney was routinely excluded from the press plane."

  Update During his 2000 run for president, Arizona Republic reporter Kristin Mayes "was removed from McCain’s Straight Talk Express campaign bus."

  by JML9999 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:56:23 PM PDT

  •  Eventually all those left on the plane will be

    suspect...sigh.

    by cfk on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:12:54 PM PDT

    •  You can spot them they're slathered in BBQ

      Sauce

      by JML9999 on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:15:14 PM PDT

•  Breaking. There has been a revolt in

  congress. Repukes have voted present and killed the Bill on war funding as a protest to Nancy Pelosi and the democrats.

  They have inadvertently teamed with Liberal Democrats and Killed the BIll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  by notquitedelilah on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:56:43 PM PDT

•  This is weird

  Computer charges against woman whose daughter feuded with victim

  I remember when this first came out, and I thought it was really crazy then.

  by theran on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:57:39 PM PDT

  •  woman deserves punishment .....

    she sickly created a fake myspace page, presenting herself as a teen boy, to flirt with and then dump on a teen neighbor.

    the poor kid, that was the target of this adult woman hanged herself . . .

    ;-( fricking tube abuse!

    by trippinsf on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:19:22 PM PDT

    •  Punishing her is not crazy

      SHE is crazy.

      by theran on Thu May 15, 2008 at 01:23:37 PM PDT

•  Bloggers Unite

  
   This year is the 60th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which the US never signed. There's a big UN DPI/NGO conference (PDF) in September 08 . . . It'll take place in Paris where the Declaration was first signed.
  

  Bloggers Unite For Human Rights challenges bloggers everywhere to help elevate human rights by drawing attention to the challenges and successes of human rights issues on May 15. What those topics may include â€" the wrongful imprisonment of journalists covering assemblies, governments that ignore the plight of citizens, and censorship of the Internet. What is importantis that on one day, thousands of bloggers unite and share their unified support of human rights everywhere.

  Check out 5 Little Things - To Make a Difference for Human Rights
     
  More ways to get involved:
  NBA Cares
  Human Rights Watch (general)
  Human Rights Watch (children)
  Darfur
  China
  Amnesty International
  Racial Profiling
  Violence Against Women
  Torture
  Children's Rights
  Refugees
  Katrina    Survivors
  Restorative Justice
  Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace
  National Peace Academy
  Center for Cooperative Principles
  Peace Partnership International

  by SarahLee on Thu May 15, 2008 at 12:59:36 PM PDT

•  John Stewart's funny

  by lockewasright o