I noticed comments were disabled on your latest post, but I thought some on this site might appreciate an open thread to send you our wishes and thoughts.
As someone with two elderly grandmothers (or really anyone with loved ones) can attest, they gave us our parents and occupy a special place in our lives. I can only hope that Eli has the opportunity to meet her, as meeting her great-grandmother is an experience that will last her whole life, even if her memory of the moment is fuzzy and supplemented by her parents reminders.
I have no doubt she is proud of you, what you've done and who you have become. Of your family, your career and your service to your country (even if her's is still El Salvador) both in uniform and in civilian life.
We will miss you while you are away, and look forward to your return, but understand and expect you to take as much time away as you feel appropriate and necessary. The political world will continue...
I posted this last night, just as the debate started, which I think was a mistake. I didn't even keep up much with the diary, since I was watching the debate and reading the threads myself. Since I don't think anyone has revisited it, and in light of the recent spate of candidate music videos, I thought I would add the latest entry from Amigos de Obama. In my view this is the best candidate music video yet, and I encourage you to take it viral. I dare you not to be singing this once you've listened.
My Spanish sucks, but I think I got it straight with help from a commenter. Lyrics and attempted translation are below the fold. If anyone feels like correcting me, I will update the diary.
Since I don't think this has yet made onto the diaries, and in light of the recent spate of candidate music videos, I thought I would add the latest entry from Amigos de Obama. In my view this is the best candidate music video yet. I dare you not to be singing this once you've listened.
My Spanish sucks, but lyrics and attempted translation are below the fold. If anyone feels like correcting me, I will update the diary.
In full disclosure, I lent some time to the candidate whom I am about to endorse, but I've flirted with the campaigns of just about every Democratic candidate at one point or another during this long primary season. I admired Hillary's coalition building in the Senate, Edwards' focus on poverty and Dodd and Biden's records of service. I've even appreciated Dennis Kucinich's contribution to debates by bringing up uncomfortable but important issues the other candidates would rather not raise. As a New Yorker, I will not cast a vote until Super Tuesday (February 5), which gives me both the luxury of waiting and of changing my mind at any time. I have decided, nevertheless, to declare my intentions publicly to the exactly zero of you that care.
After much consideration, I am officially throwing my support behind Barack Hussein Obama for President. He is not the perfect candidate, but he is the best candidate standing and the one who will make the best president for our time. In that way, this endorsement is as much about the man as it is about the times we live in.
I've got to hand it to you guys. That part where you told all your minions to go check out the hate speech on daily kos, yet drove them to a site where even we would have to look for hours on end to find it was genious.
But now I hear you're gonna skip the You Tube Debate. Clearly you can't get a fair shake on that network if you're a Republican.
I mean what could be worse for a Republican. Do you mean to tell me that the average American voter, even one with a funny way of asking can't ask a question as insightful as Sean Hannity?
Frankly I can not think of a better decision you've made for the better part of a decade than skipping this debate. So let me join Mitt Romney, Rudy Guiliani, Fred Thomson and most of the remaining GOP field in saying please Republicans, don't bother answering questions directly from the American people. Noone is looking for you to be accountable.
Oh my, every now and then, when I peruse my old college newspaper, I am reminded that an Ivy League degree is no guarantee of intelligence.
Today's issue of the Daily Pennsylvanian features on such shining example, for which I have forsaken a good chunk of my day to engage. It featured a story on the veritably ignored on Iraq James Baker's commencement address, for which the early days of summer with an apparent internship have driven some recalcitrant wingnuts to engage in a little posturing.
After taking in some comments and suggestions from yesterday's spreadsheet, v1.0, I have created an updated spreadsheet.
Tabs for house, senate and governorships. Sortable by state, district, rating, and poll closing times, so you know when to tune in where.
Latest edition includes autofiltering columns in the house tab (click on the little arrows), a winner column, and a counter at the bottom of each tab (counts the D's and R's in the winner column).
This is a repost of a deleted diary, as the original had some trouble with the link. I apologize to anyone who a) wasn't able to download or b) had thier prediciton comments deleted as a result. I have found a friend to host for me (yay!).
You asked for it, now here it is. Tabs for house, senate and governorships. Sortable by state, district, rating (1 = most likely to change parties, 5 = most unlikely (while still worth watching), S=safe enough not to bother), and poll closing times, so you know when to tune in where
I created this for my election night party, so we could keep track of results as they come in. We'll have several laptops on the job, checking returns throughout the country, and dropping in on Kos of course.
I thought I'd offer it up free for all to download and use. Happy wonking.
In case you haven't troll rated me yet, thank you. Its amazing what you have to do get people's attention in this place.
I don't live in Connecticut, but if I did, I'd be casting my vote for Ned Lamont in two days, like I'm sure many of you are. Then again, I have a feeling some of you may not be.
This is a Democratic site, and, at least for the next 48 hours, Joe Lieberman is a Democrat. If my guy loses, I may even have to become a Lieberman supporter again, since my guy will not run as an independent.
Surely there are some here, quitely afraid to come to Joe's defense. Heck, I'm sure there are even a few Republicans who might be reading this.
This diary is my request that you be heard. Vote in the poll -- make the case for Joe in the comments -- reccommend even if you are a curious Lamont supporter. Inquiring minds want to know.
I initially posted this as a comment, but I thought on this seemingly dark day, my words of encouragement (and possible talking points) could help provide some perspective to my greiving Kossaks. Remember, that coal in our stocking can be turned into valuable clean burning fuel...
As you've all heard by now, according to Rove's lawyer, Karl Rove will likely not be charged in the coverup connected to the outing of Valerie Plame.
While the right wingers will certainly be celebrating the apparent escape from danger by their patron saint today, (and many of us on the left are understandably disappointed) these are the facts they will hope you forget:
According to CNN and other sources, shots have been reported fired in a federal office, across the street from the US Captiol.
The story is still breaking as I write this, but I thought I could provide an open thread on the subject.
Let's start with when the newscasters will start completely unfounded speculation on the subject.
UPDATE III: Briefing at noon. Check back here for details.
Search focuses on House gym after report of gunman
Capitol police are searching a House office building gym after two women said a man with a gun was in the building, a senior official tells CNN. Earlier, police said they received a phone tip that shots had been fired inside the garage of the Rayburn Office Building, where some members of the House have their offices. One woman was seen being taken away from the scene in an ambulance, but Capitol Police said there had been no reports of injuries.
ABC News reports, according to current and former intelligence officials and supervisors, that the US does indeed employ "enhanced interrogation techniques", including some that may or may not violate international law.
Put aside whether or not you find the idea of our governent engaged in such activities as morally or legally sound. What have such techniques achieved thus far?
I'd be willing to bet there are some sweet costumes out there in Kos-land. Let's see/hear about what sorts of things you came up with/came accross this weekend.
Here's mine:
And yes, I did bring a Swingline stapler with me.
Please read Kos FAQ on scaling large images before posting, otherwise this diary will be impossible to load.
Beware. The RW Noise Machine is drumming up some new perversion.
Drudge Headline:
ANTI-WAR PROTESTERS TARGET WOUNDED AT ARMY HOSPITAL
The "Scoop"?
Anti-war protestors besieged wounded and disabled soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C, a new web report will claim!
CNSNews.com is planning to run an expose on Thursday featuring interviews with both protestors and veterans, as well as shots of protest signs with slogans like "Maimed for a Lie."
The conservative outlet will post video evidence of the wounded veterans being taunted by protesters, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
Developing late...
Excuse me if I don't sound sound impressed, but...
That's right... Fox has decided not only to cover the Downing Street Memo, they have also pointed out that the media here has largely ingored the memo and even included a link to the memo itself.
What does this mean? Are we getting through? Will the author be fired by week's end? Is this another set-up? Will I be banned from KOS for even suggesting a glimmer of hope for FoxNews? (A note on that last one, I have not gone soft of Fox... this is indeed an unsual story for them.)
Indecency complaints have jumped from fewer than 350 in 2001 and 2002 to more than one million in 2004. This increase however, is almost entirely thanks to one organization: The Parents Television Council. Indecency is not limited to liberals however, and it's time we fought back.
Let's make sure the power and the pressure of the FCC is wielded in a fair and balanced manner.
Even if you don't support the FCC's crackdown, you should be able to get behind this. It will remind right-wing blowhards everywhere that free-speech is not a liberal/conservative issue limited to Hollywood elites, and it will force the FCC to spend some time reviewing complaints from a whole new set of sources.
We can start with Rush Limbaugh's most recent comments, and keep an ear out for the rest of them.
As an American, and yes, a liberal, I've been pondering the recent news concerning budding democracy around the world. Whether or not these developments exonerate the actions of this administration may be debated forever. I know we all hope that these promising developments take hold.
Let me beigin by offering some congratulations. To the Iraqi people for voting at a rate unheard of the United States. 59 Million voted for Bush, 56 Million for Kerry, and 75 Million for nobody. I know some of you didn't feel safe enough to vote, but boy, a lot of you showed up. Those fingers looked pretty cool too. You may be paying a high price for this freedom, but your example did not go unnoticed even in the Arab world. Credit to a smooth transition in Palestine. Credit to the Lebanese who protested the Syrian occupation. Credit to the Syrians who, led by Hezbollah or not, protested in favor of the occupation--a democratic expression at least, as opposed to a violent one. A lot of people are taking credit for all of you, and I think its time you some for yourselves.
