I live in Minneapolis, and I'm a bit tired of the pundit blather -- including here on Daily Kos -- that claims Minnesota is a swing state.

Doing so would require a pretty broad definition of "swing state" in my opinion. Here are the real stats from Wikipedia about how often Minnesota is a "blue state," and how often its a "red state":

The conventional wisdom is that Clinton is posturing to try to get the VP nomination, and will hold the party hostage until she does. She's sending them message, "give me what I want, or I'll make you lose in November, and I'll run in 2012!"

Some folks have dubbed this the Tonya Harding option, and it scares a lot of Democrats... because she's exactly the kind of power-obsessed psycho to try it.

But, what if in 2012 she was no longer a Senator? What if, like Lieberman, she lost the primary battle for her Senate seat in early 2012? What would her odds for election be in November 2012?

Perhaps its time for Obama supporters to plan a preemptive strike... making the Tonya Harding option no longer viable. So much so, that if she so much as tries it, she will be immediately hurting the one she loves the most: herself.

I light of Bush's recent comments about appeasement, not to mention constant comparisons between Democrats and Nazi-Appeasers, I feel obligated to point out the obvious facts:

In World War II, Republicans tried to appease the Nazis; it was the Democrats who insisted on war.

I do not have a problem with public bailouts of private companies... some of them are vital institutions and give me valuable services. I'd be at a loss if my airline or bank went under.

However, it bothers me when we do bailouts and get nothing in return. One company begs for a bailout, and threatens us with a loss of jobs and services if we don't comply. Then they get the bailout, and proceed to cut jobs and services anyway, and a pack of CEOs get golden parachutes.

Shame on us for not insisting on a return for our investment.

Some may not remember, but one of Senator Fred Thompson's first roles (according to IMDB) was as the cruel boss who fired Rosanne Barr.

I found the old videos on YouTube:

Rick Wren noticed that the right wing has a new talking point about chickenhawks. It's pretty effective, so I thought I'd share:

Illegal immigration is a complex issue... we need immigrants in this country to boost our economy, but its difficult to absorb a flood of cheap labor. Plus, the lack of jobs adds to racial tension.

After a bit of thought, I came up with a skeleton of a plan to allow illegals to become citizens by not offering amnesty, and simultaneously increasing jobs:

  1. Allow any and all illegal immigrants to become citizens, but
  2. levy an addition -- permanent -- tax on people who become citizens in this fashion, then
  3. give some of the revenue to small, local entrepreneurs to create jobs, and
  4. issue the remainder as a "tax rebate" to the poor and jobless

While the rest of the mainstream media gushes over the "genius" of Rove, the Atlantic monthly gives an honest evaluation that is amazingly insightful and fair. This is despite the fact that The Atlantic Monthly went to print several days before Rove announced his retirement...

And although the Atlantic did not call Rove a liberal's ally, his policies may have led to the downfall of "conservatism," and the country's realignment to the left.

According to the Miami Herald, early voting has exposed some serious problems with their voting machines. In at least one situation, the machine would not let the person cast a vote for the Democratic candidate for governor:

Debra A. Reed voted with her boss on Wednesday at African-American Research Library and Cultural Center near Fort Lauderdale. Her vote went smoothly, but boss Gary Rudolf called her over to look at what was happening on his machine. He touched the screen for gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis, a Democrat, but the review screen repeatedly registered the Republican, Charlie Crist.

To make matters worse, there is not a consistent process for voting judges to deal with broken machines. Sometimes they call somebody to "fix it." Sometimes they take it out of commission, and put a seal on it.

The Velvet Revolution has an interesting idea:

http://www.velvetrevolution.us/...

Offer a $250,000 reward for tips on election fraud that lead to a conviction. One problem: I doubt they have the cash for it right now.

but... Hillary Clinton is sitting on a big pile that she doesn't need...

How about this for an idea: Hillary Clinton and Eliot Spitzer pony up a cool $1 million as a reward for election fraud whistleblowers.

The mere presence of such a reward will make fraudsters think twice. Especially any organized fraud that requires telling multiple people about your plans. Can they be trusted to not stab you in the back for a cool $1 million?

Sure, that money might be better spent on tight election races... but the last minute get-out-the-vote is all for nothing if they rig it again.

What do you think?

All this talk about Congressman Foley made me wonder...

How many innocent young boys are being sodomized in secret CIA torture prisions?

Sodomy was one of the many abuses that occurred at Abu Gahraib prision... and since very few people were punished for the abuses, it probably still happens.

Extending upon my earlier diary about Karl Rove possibly ordering wiretaps, I'd like to call you attention to this article by Paul Craig Roberts:

http://www.counterpunch.org/...

Roberts believes that Bush has been using illegal wiretaps for YEARS to silence critics in the media, and perhaps even Democrats. That would explain a lot... Judge for yourself.

FYI, Roberts held editiorial positions in both the Wall Street Journal, and the National Review, and was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration. He's no liberal lackey. And he remains well connected in the media. Although I'd be more convinced if he had some hard evidence.

The committee hearing on the illegal wiretaps were interesting, but nobody asked the million dollar question:

Did Karl Rove directly or indirectly request that the NSA spy on his political enemies?

As we all know, Harry Reid suggested to Bush that he nominate Miers. He said, with the ambiguity of an oracle, that Democrats would not block her. As it turns out, the Republicans are doing it instead. We suspect Reid knew this, and credit him for expertly manipulating Bush.

However, Bush is not a forgiving man. He is sulky and petulant. After this, he may never talk to Reid again, much less trust him. Reid could have slyly manipulated Bush for the next 3 years. But no. He spent every ounce of trust he had to get Bush to nominate Meirs.

Why? For what ultimate purpose? The 2006 elections? Getting the media to cover his cronyism? Heap one more scandal on the Republicans?

No. I suspect that Reid's machinations are truely Machiavellian. I believe Reid is manuvering towards impeachment.

This came as a shock:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/08/30/national/w124551D09.DTL

====

President Bush on Tuesday answered growing anti-war protests with a fresh reason for American troops to continue fighting in Iraq: protection of the country's vast oil fields that he said would otherwise fall under the control of terrorist extremists.

Have you heard something along these lines from a war hawk? It a common belief. We must 'stay the course' and 'solidify our resolve' and allow more deaths, otherwise all the sacrifices will be in vain.

Perhaps, but what does that then say about Vietnam?

Doesn't that mean that Mr War Hawk believes that our Vietnam soldiers died in vain?