Drindl: yes, pretty soon we'll all have to fly to Colorado to go skiing.

Sounds like you had a toned-down Christmas. We had the usual deluge of morning (our house) and evening (my in-laws) present-opening. My three kids are now old enough that I didn't have to spend quite so many hours assembling things and swearing (internally) at the fact that they managed to lose the instructions because I wasn't hovering over them while they opened each and every gift.

Happy New Year to you and yours!

' I actually wonder why there are so few in the remainder of the USA. I am not kidding.'

happily, there are still distinct differences in character of people living in different states, mark--i know quite a few people here in NY who don't beleive a governemnt has the right to take anyone's life. I don't beleive that, I think there are certain crimes -- like the murder or even sexual molestation of children [this would include predator priests] which should be punished by death--especially when there is abundant [i.e. DNA] evidence.

the problem a lot of states have is that too many people are wrongly executed. and of course the fact that it's very expensive to prove a murder case beyond the shadow of a doubt that should be the necessary standard. many would rather spend their money other ways.

in any case, hope you had a pleasant christmas. it's a far smaller deal to us now that our duaghter is older. we used to celebrate the 8 days of chanukah and then christmas and santa claus, she had quite a time--but now we skip the tree and just and just do candle-lighting.

we had our traditional dinner on Christmas with my jewish in-laws, where we talked about the origin of all religious holidays, all going back to the solstices and equinoxes.

This, I think, is far more telling, something I found while researching an article. i read a few months ago that Rove was caught with briefing notes for Guiliani's campaign on a PowerPoint presentation, [I beleive it was Dana Milbank who rported it] so he's been helping Rudy behind the scenes. It appears from every indicaton, that Rudy is Cheney's hand-picked successor and will run the country exactly the way bush/cheney has done -- except with less restraint:

'Very quickly to Rudolph Giuliani who gave the keynote on the first night of the Republican National convention, last night, sitting together with vice president Dick Cheney. You have been on the money trail looking at what Rudolph Giuliani is doing behind the scenes at this convention.

PETER STONE: Giuliani is engaged in fund raising to help members of congress. His PAC has recently been revived and he's raising money. He had a fund-raiser this week that had help congressional candidates this fall. He also did a fund-raiser for John Thune, senate candidate in South Dakota, certainly one of the most important races for the GOP this year. These efforts coupled with many things that Giuliani is doing, mostly to support the Bush campaign this week, are seen as, one of Bush's leading allies at this point. Very important ally, even more, in terms of making the case as he tried to do the other night about bush's effective leadership and the importance of continuing that leadership for another four years.

This week, you know, Giuliani has been seeing many state delegations, also doing visits to groups that are important for potential candidates down the road, such as AIPAC, the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, farm state delegations and some analysts who watched Giuliani think, you know, this could be a harbinger to run in 2008.'

Let's hear it folks --FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS!

drindl, I am not the right person to ask. I am so inured to the executions that I actually wonder why there are so few in the remainder of the USA. I am not kidding.

Internally it looks like this. Because of the lengthy process of appeals of death sentences, Texas always has a "backlog" on death row. The pipeline fills faster than it empties. So someone dies every week.

As for local juries imposing death sentences, I live in Austin where imposition of the death penalty is so rare I do not remember one in forty years. So I do not have a clue about that, either.

I would have thought that many places in the USA had comparable backlogs of death row inmates.

Obviously, I have not been keeping up on my criminal justice reading.

happily, no, judge. they're upstate NY, near buffalo, which is still much colder than it is here in westchester [just 20 north of manhattan]. ski resorts in northern europe tho doing much much worse than here tho, as the warming is happening much faster there. many going out of business -- some are getting creative and turning their businesses into stuff that doesn't involve snow--like year round 'christmas villages' and the like. those that can adapt will survive.somethig we will all have to think about before too long.

yeah, mark -- what is it about texas? i don't really get it. why so violent?

For Christmas 2007, the NYT explains how the nation has fallen woefully behind Texas in that key statistic, executions.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/26/us/25cnd-death.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Drindl: saw that Holiday Valley is losing all their snow. Are you anywhere near them? They've gone from 30+ open trails to 21. A tough business to be in.

If Governor Huckabee wins in Iowa, he'll have a shot in Michigan. If he loses in Iowa and Governor Romney loses in New Hampshire, Congressman Hunter is a dark horse for endorsements by James Dobson and Tony Perkins.

Watch those yale ties:

"About that liberal media
By: Nicole Belle @ 12:05 PM - PST Greatscat!:

From Reuters yesterday afternoon:

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp [..] will sell eight U.S. television stations to private equity firm Oak Hill Partners for about $1.1 billion.

I couldn't help but wonder who was buying up tv stations in an election year, so a quick check of Oak Hill Partners :

Oak Hill Capital Partners traces its roots to Robert M. Bass, one of the four brothers who founded Bass Brothers Enterprises in Fort Worth, Texas.

From Texas, eh? A little more checking as a Texas based company raised my eyebrows right away:

Robert Muse Bass is a Texas billionaire worth approximately $5.46 billion as of 2006.

Bass was born into an extremely wealthy family with an uncle, Sid Richardson, worth $810 million. He and his three brothers Lee, Ed, and Sid Bass all attended Yale University, where they solidified their moneyed and political connections. Ed Bass was a classmate and personal friend of George W. Bush, and the brothers, especially Lee Bass, helped Bush financially both before and throughout his political career.

As Diane points out on her blog, it would be interesting to monitor these stations to see what kind of coverage they offer during the election and what impact, if any, it might have.
"

' have decided to reflect on my beliefs and become a better conservative. According to many here, I guess that means I will be working on getting those gas prices higher, looking for families to divide for personal political or monetary gain, hating those who doesn't agree with me, listening to conservative hate radio and worshipping my money.'

yup. have fun with it, dave! merry christmas to you, too.

bokonon -- we didn't get snow - we got 6 inches of ice pellets. like walking or drving on frozen ball bearings. never saw anything like it. however, the last few days have been in the 50's and my neighbor's daffodils are blooming, but this no longer surprises me since last year the cherry and plum trees bloomed the beginning of january instead of april.

listening to the allman bros. always puts me in a festive mood, dude. have a good one.

funny thing how the rich 'pay all the taxes' i pay 30% of my income in taxes and my friend whose husband was born wealthy and is a career investor, pays 2% of his income in taxes. i guess cons just don't understand simple arithmetic.

so zouk wants Larry Craig for Christmas? I hope his wish comes true! imagine trying to get that wide stance down the chimney, though!

The above is thompson. Mccain answer.

so you got mccain romney (with lawyer arguements), and paul, on the r side.

I really agree wiht paul on most issues. But wha tis he going to do about it? Lock people up? Nope. So he is full of it. HE talks about the lawlessness, but not what he's going to do about it.

Big shock that I like Paul's answer's more than Obama. But Paul is currently FREE'er than Obama. Obama has to walk a fine line right now. I pray he says what he really wants after he is elected the next president of the united states of america

". In what circumstances, if any, would the president have constitutional authority to bomb Iran without seeking a use-of-force authorization from Congress? (Specifically, what about the strategic bombing of suspected nuclear sites -- a situation that does not involve stopping an IMMINENT threat?)

The candidate declined to answer this question.

3. Does the Constitution empower the president to disregard a congressional statute limiting the deployment of troops -- either by capping the number of troops that may be deployed to a particular country or by setting minimum home-stays between deployments? In other words, is that level of deployment management beyond the constitutional power of Congress to regulate?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

4. Under what circumstances, if any, would you sign a bill into law but also issue a signing statement reserving a constitutional right to bypass the law?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

5. Does the Constitution permit a president to detain US citizens without charges as unlawful enemy combatants?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

6. Does executive privilege cover testimony or documents about decision-making within the executive branch not involving confidential advice communicated to the president himself?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

7. If Congress defines a specific interrogation technique as prohibited under all circumstances, does the president's authority as commander in chief ever permit him to instruct his subordinates to employ that technique despite the statute?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

8. Under what circumstances, if any, is the president, when operating overseas as commander-in-chief, free to disregard international human rights treaties that the US Senate has ratified?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

9. Do you agree or disagree with the statement made by former Attorney General Gonzales in January 2007 that nothing in the Constitution confers an affirmative right to habeas corpus, separate from any statutory habeas rights Congress might grant or take away?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

10. Is there any executive power the Bush administration has claimed or exercised that you think is unconstitutional? Anything you think is simply a bad idea?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

"

look slike mitt answer half heartedly. But he was one of the brave ones'. You may not want to hear his answers though

well, maybe huck will answer. Nope. Who will on the gop side? And if they know they are following criminals, how ARE THEY NOT CRIMINALS/TRAITORS?

"2. In what circumstances, if any, would the president have constitutional authority to bomb Iran without seeking a use-of-force authorization from Congress? (Specifically, what about the strategic bombing of suspected nuclear sites -- a situation that does not involve stopping an IMMINENT threat?)

The candidate declined to answer this question.

3. Does the Constitution empower the president to disregard a congressional statute limiting the deployment of troops -- either by capping the number of troops that may be deployed to a particular country or by setting minimum home-stays between deployments? In other words, is that level of deployment management beyond the constitutional power of Congress to regulate?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

4. Under what circumstances, if any, would you sign a bill into law but also issue a signing statement reserving a constitutional right to bypass the law?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

5. Does the Constitution permit a president to detain US citizens without charges as unlawful enemy combatants?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

6. Does executive privilege cover testimony or documents about decision-making within the executive branch not involving confidential advice communicated to the president himself?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

7. If Congress defines a specific interrogation technique as prohibited under all circumstances, does the president's authority as commander in chief ever permit him to instruct his subordinates to employ that technique despite the statute?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

8. Under what circumstances, if any, is the president, when operating overseas as commander-in-chief, free to disregard international human rights treaties that the US Senate has ratified?

The candidate declined to answer this question.
"

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/CandidateQA/huckabee/

HAHAHA. The gop is done.

r

well, maybe huch will answer

"2. In what circumstances, if any, would the president have constitutional authority to bomb Iran without seeking a use-of-force authorization from Congress? (Specifically, what about the strategic bombing of suspected nuclear sites -- a situation that does not involve stopping an IMMINENT threat?)

The candidate declined to answer this question.

3. Does the Constitution empower the president to disregard a congressional statute limiting the deployment of troops -- either by capping the number of troops that may be deployed to a particular country or by setting minimum home-stays between deployments? In other words, is that level of deployment management beyond the constitutional power of Congress to regulate?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

4. Under what circumstances, if any, would you sign a bill into law but also issue a signing statement reserving a constitutional right to bypass the law?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

5. Does the Constitution permit a president to detain US citizens without charges as unlawful enemy combatants?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

6. Does executive privilege cover testimony or documents about decision-making within the executive branch not involving confidential advice communicated to the president himself?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

7. If Congress defines a specific interrogation technique as prohibited under all circumstances, does the president's authority as commander in chief ever permit him to instruct his subordinates to employ that technique despite the statute?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

8. Under what circumstances, if any, is the president, when operating overseas as commander-in-chief, free to disregard international human rights treaties that the US Senate has ratified?

The candidate declined to answer this question.
"

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/CandidateQA/huckabee/

HAHAHA. The gop is done.

I've been reading that questionire I posted. All the d's responded to every question. Look at rudy. Sounds like "I don't recall". but if they realize this president is a criminal, yet follow his path. What does that mean? A party of criminals?

"Home / News / Politics / Special reports
Rudy Giuliani Q&A
Email|Print| Text size - + By Charlie Savage
Globe Staff / December 20, 2007
The Giuliani campaign provided the following statement by Ted Olson, the chairman of Giuliani's Judicial Advisory Committee:

Candidates' answers by question: |Question 1 |Question 2 |Question 3 |Question 4 |Question 5 |Question 6 |Question 7 |Question 8 |Question 9 |Question 10 |Question 11 |Question 12
Read each candidate's answer: |Joseph Biden |Hillary Clinton |Christopher Dodd |John Edwards |Rudy Giuliani |Mike Huckabee |John McCain |Barack Obama |Ron Paul |Bill Richardson |Mitt Romney |Fred Thompson more stories like this"The President must be free to defend the nation. While the Congress has an essential constitutional role in our national defense, the Supreme Court has also recognized that the president has certain core constitutional responsibilities to ensure that our nation can defend itself and our fundamental liberties in times of emergency. Controversies on this question are as old as our Constitution, and have been faced by many of our most respected presidents, and they will not disappear even after we have succeeded in the war that terrorists have declared on our citizens and homeland. Our aim must be to strike a balance between order and liberty that addresses the challenges we face within the bounds of the Constitution."

1. Does the president have inherent powers under the Constitution to conduct surveillance for national security purposes without judicial warrants, regardless of federal statutes?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

2. In what circumstances, if any, would the president have constitutional authority to bomb Iran without seeking a use-of-force authorization from Congress? (Specifically, what about the strategic bombing of suspected nuclear sites -- a situation that does not involve stopping an IMMINENT threat?)

The candidate declined to answer this question.

3. Does the Constitution empower the president to disregard a congressional statute limiting the deployment of troops -- either by capping the number of troops that may be deployed to a particular country or by setting minimum home-stays between deployments? In other words, is that level of deployment management beyond the constitutional power of Congress to regulate?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

4. Under what circumstances, if any, would you sign a bill into law but also issue a signing statement reserving a constitutional right to bypass the law?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

5. Does the Constitution permit a president to detain US citizens without charges as unlawful enemy combatants?

The candidate declined to answer this question.

6. Does executive privilege cover testimony or documents about decision-making within the executive branch not involving confidential advice communicated to the president himself?

The candidate declined to answer this question.
"

All the way down. "the candidate declines to answer." that's what I thought. Now you see why your party is done zouk.

I just realized that by using the word "winter" I have fallen into being portrayed as a seasonalist. since Lord gore realized that seasons are simply the pre-global warming method of dealing with irregular temperatures and can be construed to be hemispherically biased, I retract that terminology and instead prefer to use the phrase

"previously colder portion of the time keeping process based on outmoded cultural norms of average climatology"

- instead of winter.

What about jewish conservaitves? what about black conservaitves that pratice,something other than chrsitmas? Asians?

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA

Not everyone has to be jsut like you zouk. that is what america is about. That's why you people are traders.

You said somethign right for once. Don't go to church this week. conservatives, don't take up the place of REAL chrsitians. go worship at your bank. That's all you can about anyway (to those who STILL call themselves gop memebers). I see a lot of churches turning into banks.

MONEY. the God of the gop.

What does it mean to be a chrsitian? These poeple have no idea.

Dave, like you I have to punch out of the Exxon/rudy blogger campaign office early today, hop in the Porsche and head over to the bank vault for midnight mass. since my yacht is being transported to St Martin for New Years, I have to go home to my family later. but it will be OK because I cashed in my parents whole life policy (after sending them to a dog food eating old folks home porch to die) and will be rolling in the money to celebrate. I love the smell of fresh money, especially when borrowed from the chinese and steeped in the blood of naive jingoistic youths.

to my Lib freinds - I wish you a non-denominational and supine anti-american winter vacation period and a Western slanted notion of calendar change,although not belittling other time keeping systems.

to my conservative friends - Merry Christmas and Happy new Year.

I hope Santa brings me a ho, ho ho. Preferably with a wide stance.

Like krisna, krishnamurti was the eighth child. Hmm.

The Great Bruce Lee turned me on to J Krishnamurti. You want to mock and talke about him also. Anything to discredit your "opponets". Right zouk. The "thing" or word does matter. only crushing your opponent. But you cannot crush me, or any other man/women who chooses truth.

the truth is all that is needed to crush you. That's it. i don't need to do anything ele. just show you for the propogandist you are. And I'm good at it :)

you can't win. You fascists have already lost. The fight was waged many years ago. You are fighting a moot battle you cannot win. Get back in the basement for 30 years. Let the big boys take over. elementary school play time is over, foot tappers. Get with the program or get left in the wind.

When bush and his enablers go to jail, what will you say then? How will you justify your treason to your children? Think about the future. Thinka obut your children.

In the time of christmas it is important to remember what Jesus did and who he was, if your a christian. For the son to redem the father, and the father to be redeemed by the son. Enact that in you rdaily life. That, along with following the teachings of Jesus, are what it means to be a TRUE christian. But you wouldn't know anything about that, would you gop?

The 'religous" right and the whole of the gop are nothing but FASCIST HYPOCRITES. We see you now. Enjoy your irrelevance for the next generation. You've earned it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishna

type in Krishna in google. You will see Krishna and Jesus walking hand and hand.

That is the differance between indians hindu's buddists and christians. Many chrsitians know what it means to be chrsitians, yet they refuse to BE a christian. There is the differance. The hindu's and buddists actually practice what they preach. What a novil concept. This is why the "religous right" in this coutnry are not chrsitians at all. The "christian" church of america has been hijacked by republcain politicains. At least now we know. And knowing is half the battle :)

Mock all you want. You show your face to religous and independant thinkers.

As long as you are outside of your safe little box, zouk, I'm doing my job. As long as you are thinking for yourself and not parrotign rush limbaugh's talking points. I'm good. Read, learn grow. Better to look tot the future than live in the past. i'm glad to see you are growing zouk.

About time.

Rufas - what is your first language?

CC, I hope you get your GPS - I got mine as an early gift this year and love it. What a great idea.

I will be traveling the next week and will be on infrequently, if at all. With my time off I have decided to reflect on my beliefs and become a better conservative. According to many here, I guess that means I will be working on getting those gas prices higher, looking for families to divide for personal political or monetary gain, hating those who doesn't agree with me, listening to conservative hate radio and worshipping my money.

All that evilness will take up a lot of my time but I will still find the time to wish you all, regardless of your political persuasion, a safe and happy holiday season. Cheers!

rufas was reading this verse today from the Bhagavad Gita chapter 9....Srila Prabhupada's comments at the end of the purport are very inspiring:

"Therefore, the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare should be continued without stoppage. This will protect a devotee from all accidental falldowns. He will thus remain perpetually free from all material contaminations."

Hare Krsna.
e.g:
So.. I once drove a car for 18 hours, only stopping for fuel etc.

Chanting the maha mantra aloud (nearly ) the whole time.. it is near impossible to stop... do not wish to stop.. why stop.

...though when you eventually do.. one can still hear the very clear audible sound vibration...

so then chanting.. not aloud... is really very easy to still maintain clarity and thus continue to hear the trancendental sound vibration.. in your own voice.

then no fall down huh ?

Chant, chant and more chant.. oh and please continue 16 rounds aloud per day as dear srila prabhupad instructs.

maybe this is how the advanced devotees/chanters began.. well it works !
Hare Krsna

Rufas

http://connect.krishna.com/node/994

this website is written in the "rufas" style. coincidence?

"The most important poll of the year is the one in the Boston Globe, Sunday, cited here by the Indian fellow who often capitalizes inappropriately and who sometimes makes no sense whatsoever.

Posted by: MoreAndBetterPolls | December 24, 2007 02:24 PM
"

i can just do me. Peopel have told me here "I've never heard that". Like I can post based on what others know or do not know. We're living in the age of Fox news when a large portion of the votign public does not know much, due to lies misinformation and propoganda. Not my fault. I put in the work. If you do not know or understand. Read mroe, dig deeper. I cannot help you. I can merly help you, help youself. I, and those like me, can cut your chains. But you, youself must walk out of the cave. Cut chains does nothing without the courage to want change.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory_of_the_cave

PS. Someone type Ann Coulter in google and see what pictures come up. Hystericl.

play you rmind games with yourself. It's much better to make up imaginary scenarios and point the finger than to look in the mirror.

Make up your imaginary games and who I am. Whatever helps you sleep at night. i am an american. Born and raised in the bay area. White man. Just trying to take responsiblity for my ancestors past and current tansgressions. If they will not hear me, then who?

the cow folk authoritarian gop is dying out. People like me are why. Respect what you don't understand, do not fear it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiddu_Krishnamurti

r

:(

i'M A WHITE MAN :)

Just trying to spread the good word. Take it easy authoritarian gop. It's chrsitmas eve, for pete's sake

His first name is Hari
he has a ponytail and can be seen in airports giving out pamphlets. the little finger cymbals are cute.

The most important poll of the year is the one in the Boston Globe, Sunday, cited here by the Indian fellow who often capitalizes inappropriately and who sometimes makes no sense whatsoever.

thanks, Drindl - merry xmas/season's greetings to you as well. I'm sure you were inundated with snow last week in NY just as we were up here... but it's mostly melted now, and I spent the morning driving around, finishing my shopping and listening to a live bootleg of the Allmans playing "Mountain Jam" from 1971 (or sometime in that vicinity). It put me a little more in the Christmas spirit, although everything I saw was still just as expensive. Enjoy your holidays!

btw when does NY vote? are you in with the super mondo mega Tuesday folks, or are you later?

The Democrats in Congress, despite a year in the majority and facing a president whose approval ratings are historically low, have been spectacularly unsuccessful in achieving items both small and large on their agenda. A combination of overreaching and incompetence on their part and savvy prevent defense by President Bush and Congressional Republicans has spared the country untold grief.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24062

point by point report card for failing Lib congress.

their desire for surrender and capitulation overseas translated to surrender and capitulation on every one of their domestic shenanigans. why do Dems love losing so much? If you doubt me, consider that neither Hillary nor Obama can win the 2008 national election. its like deja vu with Kerry and gore all over again.

Santa is giving us our gift for next year early - Feb 5th to be exact.

A new report by the Congressional Budget Office shows that Buffett and Clinton have their facts quite wrong. Indeed, the "super-rich," the top 1 percent of households, are now paying a record 27.6 percent of federal taxes1 and a record 38.8 percent of income taxes. By contrast, the bottom 80 percent of households--representing 90 million households--pay 31.1 percent of federal taxes and just 13.7 percent of income taxes.2

In other words, the top 1.1 million American households pay a greater share of the income tax burden than the bottom 90 million combined

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/88xx/doc8885/12-11-HistoricalTaxRates.pdf

Whatever games you have to play in your head to justify your twisted dream lnad. You are playing games with yourself. I have to value your opinion for your games and tricks to work on me. HAve fun

hahahhahaha

you are a joke. Enjoy your irrelevance.

:)

HAHHAHAHAHAHA

Couldn't get through a day without crying , could ya zouk. Hopefully you get a vist from the ghost of christmas tonight. Did you see the article zouk from the american conservative? Your boy in a nazi outfit? good luck with you rprognostication. You are never wrong. HAHHAHAHAHAH.

What HAVE you been right about? Check the archieves. What is a blogger with zero credibility? A propogandist? If they are professing fascist principles, are you then a fascist propogandist? Yes you are.

Is rudy/exxon paying you double time today?

And Rufas checks in after ingesting perhaps a bit too much eggnog.

all we need is Loud and dumb for a remake of:

Punch Drunks ( 1934 )
Drindl (Curly) gets fighting mad whenever he hears the tune 'Pop Goes The Weasel' (Or the name rudy) - of which fight manager Moe (rufas) plans to take full advantage.

I see the head jackel drindl doesn't take any time off of her despicable ranting for the wickan solstice.

then she makes a fool of herself as usual by playing fast and loose with the "facts" she cuts and pastes from her fellow loony moonbat hate sites:

1 -the middle class pays for the war - ignore that the "rich" already pay all the taxes.
2 - Pakistan is our enemy - ignore N Korea, Iran, syria - they are harmless and wish us merry Christmas. Instead, invade our allies - Pakistan, Israel, Turkey, India, Jordan, Quatar. Wacky Lib policy that got us into this mess - talk, talk, talk. Retreat if challenged - just like the Lib domestic methods.

Hey Harry, I heard you now think the surge is working. will you be issuing a retraction of your previous idiotic statements.

Hey fact-challenged drindl - will you be issuing an apology for accusing Rudy of malfeasance for the mistress bodyguard finance "scandal" - which was retracted by the NYTimes on friday?

this will give you time to explain clinton's chinatown fundraising efforts better. how do dishwashers afford to max out while they can't pay for their own health care? Are budhist monks still fertile ground for Dem fuindraising?

OK, I forgot about "no controlling legal authority".

for zouk, sense no one is working today

"Declaring Forever War

Giuliani has surrounded himself with advisors who think the Bush Doctrine didn't go nearly far enough.

by Michael C. Desch

Like most Americans, I knew little about Rudolph Giuliani, save that he had been the very successful mayor of New York City catapulted to iconic status for his cool-headed demeanor after the Sept. 11 attacks. I was curious about where he stood as a presidential candidate, so in April 2007, I joined nearly 3,000 other Texas A&M faculty and students to hear him speak.

After saying some nice things about his host, President George H.W. Bush, Rudy launched into a stemwinder about the "war on Islamic fundamentalist terrorism" that basically repudiated everything the former president stood for in his foreign policy. Moreover, in the space of 40 minutes, Giuliani never once mentioned Osama bin Laden, the man who masterminded the attack on his city.

I was so appalled by the mayor's simplistic message that terrorists were attacking us because they "oppose our freedom and ... want to impose their ideology on us" that I ignored protocol and challenged him during the Q&A. To the accompaniment of hisses from the rabidly pro-Rudy students, I reminded the mayor that Islamic fundamentalists in Saudi Arabia, Iran, and elsewhere in the Middle East have taken our side against al-Qaeda at various times. Like the students, Hizzonor was not amused, and I got five minutes of unvarnished Rudy chiding me for just not getting it.

"

better yet. Straight from the horses mouth :)

http://www.amconmag.com/2008/2008_01_14/cover.html

drindl. Check out the AMERICAN CONSERVAITVEs. Picture of rudy:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/?last_story=/opinion/greenwald/2007/12/24/various_items/

that will give zouk fits. Rudy in a nazi unifrom with a band that says "9-11". Wow. from the american conservative? finally they are shunning fascism. only took half a decade. And still, I'm not so sure. Read that article above and you will see that the rest of the gop is jsut as bad. They just refuse to answer the questions. "I don't recall".

Most important piece in the WaPo today:

For two years, military officials, defense experts, lawyers and Iraqi officials tried to warn the U.S. against relying so heavily on unaccountable private security contractors in Iraq. Until Blackwater's fateful September shooting at Nisour Square, the U.S. answer was always the same: meh. One reason the Pentagon didn't care: one of its chief advisers on security contractors was on the contractors' payroll.

Steve Fainaru of The Washington Post -- who's dogged Blackwater ever since the shooting -- delivers a taxonomy of unheeded warnings. The pattern is fairly simple, and rather Blackwater-specific. (The Blackwater brand has become a generic signifier for security contractors in Iraq -- the Q-Tip or Kleenex of contract security.) Blackwater's guards shoot someone. People complain. They warn that impunity for security contractors jeopardizes the U.S. mission. U.S. officials do nothing. Nothing changes. More Iraqis get shot. Repeat. T.X. Hammes, a top-shelf counterinsurgency expert and ex-adviser to the Iraqi army training mission, told Fainaru, "I still think, from a pure counterinsurgency standpoint, armed contractors are an inherently bad idea, because you cannot control the quality, you cannot control the action on the ground, but you're held responsible for everything they do."

So why did it take widespread Iraqi outrage over the Nisour Square debacle for anything to change? One reason, Fainaru reports, is a man named Lawrence W. Peter. The Pentagon allowed the security contractors to regulate and police themselves. Peter, a Pentagon consultant, helped keep it that way. Only while he delivered that advice, he worked for a security contractors' lobby.'

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/23/AR2007122302442.html?nav=rss_world/mideast/iraq

Some christmas reading. Where does your candidate stand on presidential power/dictatorship?

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/12/22/candidates_on_executive_power_a_full_spectrum/

Oh btw, did you know that britney and jamie lee spears' mom was writing a book on 'christian parenting' until jamee lee [16] got pregnant by her 19 year old [statuatory rape] boyfiriend? mom dropped the book project when she found out they could make more off a photo shoot of the new baby for a magazine [$1 million]

now there's true repubican/christian family values. the only they worship is money.

bokonon - don't bother... zuok is unable to process information/think/cognate. all he is able to do is parrot bizarre radical rightwing propaganda he reads on the internet or listens to on Hate Radio. you are just wasting your time. better to do something more productive with it -- take out the garbage, perhaps.

You coulda just figured it -- Christmas Eve and all the republican ranting, hateful ghouls are out in force. zouk, whom i just scroll past because i know it will be some false shill screed that mainly involves venting hatred for anyone who doesn't agree with him, is Scrooge without the possibility of redemption. here's a story for you -- here's anotheer black hole where american [middle class] tax dollars are getting flushed down the toilet, and providng aid and comfort to our enemies:

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- After the United States has spent more than $5 billion in a largely failed effort to bolster the Pakistani military effort against Al Qaeda and the Taliban, some American officials now acknowledge that there were too few controls over the money. The strategy to improve the Pakistani military, they said, needs to be completely revamped.

In interviews in Islamabad and Washington, Bush administration and military officials said they believed that much of the American money was not making its way to frontline Pakistani units. Money has been diverted to help finance weapons systems designed to counter India, not Al Qaeda or the Taliban, the officials said, adding that the United States has paid tens of millions of dollars in inflated Pakistani reimbursement claims for fuel, ammunition and other costs."

remember how gwbush was going to 'jawbone' his buddies the saudis into keeping gas price low? that sure worked out well, didn't it? what a tragic failure he is, along with the modern conservative movement--crumbling before our eyes. good riddance!

and republicans no longer can say anything about adultery without making laughingstocks of themselves -- please. no one is worse than your boy rudy.

mark-- sorry to hear you're working. jimd, bokonon, and judge if you're on -- merry christmas to you!

Zouk, my take on what I feel is your misrepresentation of progressive ideals.

abolition of private property (socialism)

-I'm sure you're just waving a red flag here, and completely without justification. No one is proposing the abolition of private property. Keep in mind that those of the political persuasion you mock include some of the wealthiest in America.

prohibition of Christianity and/or propagation by the political elite of a new civil religion to replace it

-again, where do you get this? All the D (and, of course, R) candidates are Christian, with the possible exception of Mitt Romney (depends on how you view Mormonism), and none have any compunction about discussing it on the trail, with the possible exception of your candidate, Giuliani.

confiscatory taxation, especially at death

-All taxation involves the return of private money to the public trust - money that was earned in the context of an economy, legal system, infrastructure etc. (insufficiently) funded with tax dollars. Taxes are (ideally) the shared investment we as citizens make in order to ensure the continued health of the society which makes wealth possible. And it's interesting that you choose as an example the inheritance tax - money the earner of which can no longer spend, invest etc.

regulation of political speech to limit the ability of certain individuals or classes to affect politics

-here you refer, I assume, to campaign finance laws, I do not feel it to be unfair to keep those with huge sums of money from drowning out the opinions of those with less or no ability to contribute. Your statement would seem to indicate that you believe that, even in a supposed democracy, the votes/opinions of those with more money SHOULD outweigh the votes of those who do not have as much.

the takeover of education to instill new values and moral habits in the population

-you can't be serious... unless you refer to the unfortunate growth in Christian right and other "charter schools," whose main objective too often has more to do with the indoctrination of students in a specific creed or ideology.

confiscation of privately held firearms

-No one is talking about keeping people from hunting in-season, or target shooting. If on the other hand you refer to stiffer oversight of gun shows, stringent licensing requirements, and a ban on the private ownership of military weaponry, I am happy to plead guilty as charged,

gradual phasing out of the nation-state

-Easy, Trigger. There is absolutely NO justification for your saying this. To what do you refer?

displacement of the traditional family in favor of child-rearing by an enlightened governmental elite

-The government has no interest in raising your children. The government's interest is in producing an educated, law-abiding population which will play a productive role in the US economy. To the extent that the traditional family is under attack, it is largely from economic pressures.

and the inversion of sexual morality to elevate recreational sex and reduce the prestige of procreative sex

-Sir, you're tripping if you think 1. the government has any role in making Americans more or less interested in sex. That's genetics/human nature/instinct; and 2. procreation just happens, independent of the government. Maybe you didn't get the memo? or are you referring to the ending of additional welfare payments for additional children? That was in the '90's, under a Democratic administration, and it didn't really succeed in lowering the birth rate that much as I remember.

MERRY CHRISTMAS. HAPPY HOLIDAYS. And a happy new year.

to the conservative fascists out there. think of all the families you divide for personal political or monetary gain. Hopefully the ghost of christmas visits you guys and gets your minds right. God will judge you. WWJD?

If you are a christian. WWJD?

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year's, Season's Greetings to all. I hope you all have a happy and prosperous 2008. I know it will bring a lot of very interesting developments for us political junkies.

Jeffrey Bell, writing in the Weekly Standard, offers a great Christmas gift for all of us on the right with this masterful summary of what the left really wants -- a total repudiation of St. Nicolas and his strictness, a hot revolution that would melt the North Pole faster than you can say Al Gore:

"The goal of the left is the liberation of mankind from traditional institutions and codes of behavior, especially moral codes. It seeks a restoration (or achievement) of a state of nature, one of absolute individual liberty--universal happiness without the need for laws. The proposed political way stations chosen by the left in its drive toward this vision have [included]: abolition of private property (socialism); prohibition of Christianity and/or propagation by the political elite of a new civil religion to replace it; confiscatory taxation, especially at death; regulation of political speech to limit the ability of certain individuals or classes to affect politics; the takeover of education to instill new values and moral habits in the population; confiscation of privately held firearms; gradual phasing out of the nation-state; displacement of the traditional family in favor of child-rearing by an enlightened governmental elite; and the inversion of sexual morality to elevate recreational sex and reduce the prestige of procreative sex."

Some list, huh? It adds up to the exact opposite of "be good for goodness' sake."

Zouk, I am certainly not a Clinton supporter, but in re: gas prices, I believe we have the same president now we had when they began to shoot up, and have had a mostly GOP congress when they were at their height.

But hey, it's the holidays. Merry Christmas, Mr. Potter!

and of course to the rest of you as well.

I am on my tea break at work, which is no fun today. Composing a demand letter on Dec. 24th is brutal, in its own way. Better than receiving it on December 27, I guess. Also, my secretary is off, so I am the telephone guy and the stenographer, too.

If Karl Marx had seen how American small business actually works [management gets paid after the employees and vacations for the owner are a joke] he never would have written about "bourgeois" repression of the working class.

On a lighter note, did everyone notice how CC's voice trails up into falsetto when he becomes excited? I had to equalize on the computer to catch it all. But then, as the Eagles sang in "Desperado", I'm "losing all my highs and lows".

I sure am gonna leave early. Happy Holiday of your choice.

I heard today that Santa clinton is promising that gas prices will be reduced under her watch due to the entire world suddenly realizing that she is serious about alternative energy.

Even the Libs certainly can't fall for this chicanery. they promised low gas prices if elected last election and it went up 80%.

More Santa clinton gifts for you, (only if you vote for her):
free health care
free retirement
free college
free gasoline
free pre-school
free 401K
free mortgages
free ice cream
free safety from attack
etc.

the sooner these criminals ride off into the sunset, the sooner we can start talking seriously about solutions.

Major Hillary Blogger Abusive on Dailykos:

http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2007/2/1/143437/8887/281#c281

It's like here

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=internet_applications&articleId=9053303&taxonomyId=168&intsrc=kc_top

December 17, 2007 (Computerworld) -- Less than a month before the first presidential primary in New Hampshire, a liberal blog in the Granite State has banned six usernames traced to an IP address belonging to Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign...."The Blue Hampshire blog traced two usernames to the IP address, along with four usernames that had registered with the blog within minutes of one another that were used to recommend a pro-Clinton post noted Dean Barker, managing editor of the blog, last week.

This is how th clintons manage media.

Paul Krugman is hitting Barack Obama AGAIN. In a fascinating dynamic, the NYT columnist now blasts Obama for criticizing the 527s that are helping Edwards in Iowa and saying he is helping Republicans. Link: http://www.campaigndiaries.com/2007/12/527-controversy-heats-up-and-paul.html

And the only folks who DON'T see "character" as being an important consideration are those who believe that "winning" is the important thing, regardless of the cost.

Clinton (and her husband) have both shown that they have no shame in their personal lives that matters more than their need to be in power. In her case, there's the added burden of having demonstrated no sense of self-worth (sorry, but any person who stays in an emotionally abusive relationship for 30 years is to be pitied, not admired).

Anyway, it won't matter. Come mid-January, and her team will be flailing away trying to keep Obamania from gathering even MORE strength, and come early Feb, she'll be able to slink back to the Senate and her undistinguished Senatorial career.

Don't you wish? The only people who seem THAT interested in Bill C.s extra-marital "affairs" are repressed Repugnants. Don't you clowns have a love life?

Clinton is probably also hoping her husband can keep his snake in it's cage for the next few weeks... Any new hint of some on-the-side shenanigans from the lovable serial philanderer will surely see her campaign come to an end... it's only a matter of time...

Merry Christmas all.