Hi!  I just made a loan to someone in the developing world using the revolutionary website called Kiva.  Kiva is not unfamiliar here on Kos. But, it's always good to get a reminder. Everyone is busy trying to change the world by donating to their favorite Presidential candidate. But, we can make a profound change right now, right here tonight. A "Kiva-raiser" anyone??

Former Senator Fred Thompson has a reputation, rightly or wrongly, as being lazy. Some even went so far to say it was part of the reason he has waited to jump into the fray on the GOP side of the Presidential primary battles. But, Thompson seems to be getting in at just the right time for obvious reasons. The current contenders have been burning through money for months and beating each other up with really no clear "inevitable" candidate. And, post Labor Day is the more traditional time to launch a campaign in the year before a Presidential election. Despite numerous debates and speeches a lot of Americans haven't tuned in yet. So, the conditions for someone with high name ID to jump in "this late" are perfect for Thompson. While Thompson has a lot to prove, he is unquestionably in as good a position as any other GOP candidate to win the nomination, despite his "late entry." Although the field is deeper on the Democratic side, with 3-4 current candidates that can with the nomination and the general elecection, there is a striking similarity of conditions.

(more...)

I'm on the "Board of Advisors" for a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit called "Music for Troops" which sends donated music to our Troops who are serving both here and abroad.  The program is all about supporting the Troops and is not about sending political messages (in either direction).

But, in an to get publicity, someone from the organization called the Rush Limbaugh show today. Eventually, after around 10 attempts, he got through. He doesn't know if he was on the air, and thinks, but is not 100%, that it was Rush himself that he spoke too.

The organizational rep quickly told the person he thinks was Limbaugh what the nonprofit was about and asked that Rush mention it on his show.  The response was not terribly surprising.  A flat denial.

How many "horse race" articles have ran already on CNN and elsewhere for the 2008 Presidential cycle? Quite a few, relative to the distance we are from actual vote casting.  

How many have even mentioned General (ret.) Wesley Clark as a possible candidate? Very few, considering his qualifications, netroots support and tireless campaigning for Democratic candidates since he dropped out of the primary.

Finally, Clark's possible 2008 bid is receiving some CNN attention. Currently, the following is featured on the front page:

http://www.cnn.com/...

more...

Let's face it, John Kerry has ruined, as unfair as it may be, any shred of hope that he'd be the 2008 nominee. And, yes the GOP knowinly misrepresented what he was doing with the Bush jab. Too late to fix that.

But, what he can do is start sending money anywhere he legally can like the Webb, Lamont, Tester and other competitive races out there for the final push.  This short, simple diary may not be long enough for "recommend" status, but I do think the short, simple idea of Kerry spreading some more cash to the ground games around the country will be his best way to make a meaningful contribution to real change in this country.

Republican Senator Conrad Burns, a close ally of President Bush, said yesterday at a campaign event with Bush, that the U.S. is threatened by  a "faceless enemy" of terrorists who "drive taxi cabs in the daytime and kill at night."

http://www.cnn.com/...

Please stay clear of taxi cabs for your own safety! And, urge the White House to engage tactical strikes against all taxis now!
How has the government allowed these taxis to roam our streets if Burns, and presumably other officials he works and spends time with, have known that terrorists are killing at night after their taxi shifts?  Talk about weak on security...

I've been coming here since the old days of Haloscan comments, several months before Dean-mania took hold on the site.  I was instantly a "Clarkie" when I learned about the "Draft Clark" movement and reading up on the man.

But, after Clark held off from jumping in early dKos was Howard Dean country. By the time Clark jumped in, this was not only Dean country but it seemed at times as if no one else was welcome.

We had the so-called "Dean-Clark" wars here on Kos where Deaniacs called Clark a Republican and Clinton schill. Things got so heated for me I went away from the site for awhile and even changed my username. But, Clark soldiered on and has more than proven himself as a progressive and Democrat. He'd already proven himself as a great American, but that wasn't enough for some.

I only wish he'd jumped in earlier and people would have given him a chance. Those of you who got to see him last night now understand how foolish Bush would have looked next to him in Presidential debates.

But, that opportunity is gone. Perhaps we'll get another shot...even a VP slot would be nice and deserved.

I thought the dKos crowd might be in the mood for some Friday fun.  My music blog has a got a cool contest going on, I set it up myself with the company reps and its totally legit.

You can win the complete Beatles catalog, digitally remastered: Please Please Me, With The Beatles, A Hard Day's Night, Beatles For Sale, Help, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Magical Mystery Tour, The Beatles (White Album), Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road and Let It Be.

Enter here:
http://www.earvolution.com/...

Neil Young has never been shy about speaking out via his music. "Southern Man" and "Ohio" are just two examples of several politically tinged tunes he's put out in his illustrious career.

Now the Canadian rocker is ready to devote an entire album to protesting George W. Bush and the Iraq war. Reports even have one tracked named, "Impeach the President."

Rest is here: http://www.earvolution.com/...

By now the Britney statute is old news, but recent photos of the posterior view have surfaced. Fairly graphic photo is here: http://www.earvolution.com/...

Olbermann had the "artist" on the other night to make his case as to why this was a pro-life piece. He said abortion is usually framed by two sides, pro-life and pro-choice and that having the baby was not representative of choice. Olbermann completely missed it and didn't follow up with the obvious question about her "deciding" to have the child as an issue of choice.

"A nude Britney Spears on a bearskin rug while giving birth to her firstborn marks a "first" for Pro-Life. Pop-star Britney Spears is the "ideal" model for Pro-Life and the subject of a dedication at Capla Kesting Fine Art in Brooklyn's Williamsburg gallery district, in what is proclaimed the first Pro-Life monument to birth, in April."

Full story here.

Photo on the flip.

I wrote this diary last night to see what the Dems would do if this ran. The ad is now on the net and Fox has Lawrence Eagleberger (sp?) on saying its about time the GOP took aim at the Democrats.

Here's the diary from last night

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

Of course Fox does not have any Democrats on while they show the ad - and yes Fox is calling it an ad - and discuss it fully and the "shortcomings" of the Democrats.

The shots have now been fired. And, the Right Wing machine, are trying to inflict further damage?

Will the Dems complain or fight back?  My suggestion is to fight back. Get the Fighting Dems on some viral ads ASAP. Get some chickenhawk viral videos going.  Just do something besides complaining about i

Matt Drudge is reporting that " Republican National Committee will provide state parties with a web video prior to release tomorrow afternoon that shows a white flag waving over images of Democrat leaders making anti-war remarks."

http://www.drudgereport.com/...

Yeah, Drudge is not the best source. But, he does have strong ties to the GOP and WH so he may be right on this.  This would be interesting to see mainly to see how the Dem leadership responds.

my suggestion on the flip...

According to this recent diary:
http://www.dailykos.com/... - there is no Democratic candidate for Congress in Delaware.

The diary points out how important it is for none of these seats to simply go unchallenged.  And, Delaware is certainly winninable. Now, if it is true that no one has stepped up in the First State...I hereby nominate our own "Delaware Dem" for Congress.

He's always been a passionate and articulate patriot here on Kos and I know he's a lawyer, but we won't hold that against him! ;)

Step for Delaware Dem and see if we can't convince one of our own to take the fight to Washington.

Imagine several hundred or even thousand Kossians canvassing Delaware? It'd be Democracy in action personified.

Any of you want to help me interview the Cowboy Junkies for a podcast? They have a new antiwar record coming out to stores in a couple of weeks.

Also, Mugshotscoffeehouse.com is doing a fundraiser for NARAL - PA on Aug 11.

P.S. - I know this isn't really a proper diary, but I didn't see an open thread and if I keep typing long enough about why it isn't a proper diary maybe it'll turn into one?

Not surprisingly, Americans opened their hearts last week to our British friends in the wake of the barbaric attacks in London. We saw many expressions of support, but the most common was along the lines of "We are All British today."  I myself have a particular fondness for the British and felt the same way after the attack.  But, where is the outpouring of emotion for others lost to terror?

Today - as with many days the past several months - we awake here in America to a terrible car bombing claiming more innocent lives. This time the news is that 27 Iraqis were murdered by a car bomber, most of them children.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/07/13/iraq.main/index.html

more on the flip...

The Cowboy Junkies have long been one of my favorite bands.  So, I was thrilled last year when I got to interview bassist Alan Anton. Now, I'm equally thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with Michael Timmins, who along with Alan and siblings Margo and Peter, round out the line-up of this multi-platinum group of indie legends.  The topic of conversation focuses on their latest effort "21st Century Blues" which is described as "an album that is as passionately, intelligently and eloquently anti-war in its intent as anything rock music has come up with in 50 years of trying."

The Cowboy Junkies have long been one of my favorite bands.  So, I was thrilled last year when I got to interview bassist Alan Anton. Now, I'm equally thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with Michael Timmins, who along with Alan and siblings Margo and Peter, round out the line-up of this multi-platinum group of indie legends.  The topic of conversation focuses on their latest effort "21st Century Blues" which is described as "an album that is as passionately, intelligently and eloquently anti-war in its intent as anything rock music has come up with in 50 years of trying."