Good morning, all.

The Texas sink hole is moving toward Crawford? What would Rev. Hagee say about that?

Thank you and good morning, Michael.

good morning dpd and sandy. thank god last week bush explained that the price of oil is the fault of polar bears and permafrost and godless liberals otherwise i would think greed and sloth were involved.

Earmarks seem to be the BIG DEAL for McCain’s supporters

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HIS RECORD IS ON THIS BESIDES THE FACT THAT HE NEVER ASKED FOR EARMARKS FOR HIS CONSTITUENTS

What has he ACTUALLY DONE to protect us from the most out of control hidden spending in Congress the last 8 years in the history of the United States of America?

How long has John McCain been in the Senate?
At least for the last 8 years, his party has been in full control and power to pass whatever bills they want---what has McCain done about passing legislation/bills on earmarks? There was no one to stop him?

How long has Barack Obama been in the Senate?
What has Barack Obama done while he was there, against all odds, ie/why has the republican controlled Senate, including McCain blocked Obama’s REAL work/efforts to stop lobbyists and out of control spending, that has tripled in the last 8 years

Hear is just one example:
S. 2261 [109th]: Transparency and Integrity in Earmarks Act of 2006

Barack Obama's Record:

Federal Ethics Reform: Obama and Senator Feingold (D-WI) took on both parties and proposed ethics legislation that was described as the "gold standard" for reform.
It was because of their leadership that ending subsidized corporate jet travel, mandating disclosure of lobbyists' bundling of contributions, and enacting strong new restrictions of lobbyist-sponsored trips became part of the final ethics bill that was signed into law.
The Washington Post wrote in an editorial, "The final package is the strongest ethics legislation to emerge from Congress yet."

Google for Government: Americans have the right to know how their tax dollars are spent, but that information has been hidden from public view for too long. That's why Barack Obama and Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) passed a law to create a Google-like search engine to allow regular people to approximately track federal grants, contracts, earmarks, and loans online. The Chicago Sun-Times wrote, "It would enable the public to see where federal money goes and how it is spent. It's a brilliant idea."

Illinois Reform: In 1998, Obama joined forces with former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon (D-IL) to pass the toughest campaign finance law in Illinois history. The legislation banned the personal use of campaign money by Illinois legislators and banned most gifts from lobbyists. Before the law was passed, one organization ranked Illinois worst among 50 states for its campaign finance regulations.

A High Standard: Unlike other candidates Obama's campaign refuses to accept contributions from Washington lobbyists and political action committees.

Obama wins endorsement of government employees union
By JESSE HOLLAND – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The president of the American Federation of Government Employees says the influential union is endorsing Democrat Barack Obama for president.

AFGE President John Gage — a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention — says he will also personally back Obama. The union endorsement gives the Illinois senator fresh momentum toward capturing the nomination.

Gage said Friday the endorsement was a recognition of the enthusiasm and vitality behind the Illinois senator's campaign.

Obama's candidacy has been picking steam since Tuesday, when he won the North Carolina primary and held rival Hillary Rodham Clinton to a narrow victory in Indiana.

I have a question regarding this posting media.

Why doesn't the DNC consider putting in a real threaded message system such as phpbb or vbulletin instead of this junky blog format.

It's terrible trying to follow a specific conversation on this thing as we switch areas 3 times a day.

By using a decent threaded message system, you guys could appoint moderators that have the ability to delete these danged trolls who keep showing up.

Come on guys, let's get into the 21st century here. These mono threaded blogs are sooooo yesterday. We're progressives for pete's sake.

Installation is NOT hard, I'd even volunteer to do it.

I have a question regarding this posting media.

Why doesn't the DNC consider putting in a real threaded message system such as phpbb or vbulletin instead of this junky blog format.

It's terrible trying to follow a specific conversation on this thing as we switch areas 3 times a day.

By using a decent threaded message system, you guys could appoint moderators that have the ability to delete these danged trolls who keep showing up.

Come on guys, let's get into the 21st century here. These mono threaded blogs are sooooo yesterday. We're progressives for pete's sake.

Installation is NOT hard, I'd even volunteer to do it.

Oooops

It would also lose the double post problem...

:-)

Posted by Joeh on May 9, 2008 at 09:58 AM
Do you mean one of those blogs that keep splitting and splitting and you have to go back and forth and track down all the threads like on SlashDot?
Maybe I'm just having an ADD moment, but I like this mono thread with all the different topics going at once. It's like being in a party and picking up on different conversation.
The trolls are annoying, but that's what they're getting paid for, and they're ignorable.

Obama picks ups 3 superdelegates, union endorsement

Link

Add one more union and superdelegate for Obama.

I think the comment thing broke. (testing)

Posted by highserenity on May 9, 2008 at 09:52 AM

Sorry, did not see you posted the info already.

Well, the proverbial cat is out of the proverbial bag. I heard that Elizabeth was supporting Hillary, and although he didn't officially endorse yet, this may have coat tails.

Breaking: John Edwards Voted For Obama

joah, most of us have finally figured out how to get those great kitten and yarn ball screen savers on our machines so we don't want no new fangled fancy latte drinking elitist software around here!!

test

Support the teacher who was fired for "Wizardry" in Florida for making a tooth pick disappear, and reappear. Teachers all across this country must support the elimination of being fired for wizardry.

Congress support workers in demanding a work related reason for Termination, "Wizardry" or things like Liberal Arts are not reasons to Terminate workers giving them a scar for life on resumes. Also support the Free Speech use of their homes.

McCain McShame Cheney oil prices of Bush recession and Cheney inflation of Bush's Republic endorsement of McCain inheritance.

Government asks court to block wider testing for mad cow

Link

It seems the Bush Administration is stopping a meat company from testing for mad cow disease for it international customers. What is wrong with this picture?

The Texas sink hole is moving toward Crawford? What would Rev. Hagee say about that?

Posted by SandyH on May 9, 2008 at 09:41 AM

Just in time for Jenna's wedding!

Pastor Hagee, yesterday, was slamming "Counterfeit Christians" of whom, by his definition, I am one!

He also took a mild (for him), slam at "the Whore of Babylon" again (that will make our Catholic friends happy and garner McNuts a lot of Catholic votes).

He has not commented (that I'm aware of), I turned him off early on) on the Twxas sink hole.

He will no doubt claim it is God's retribution on Daisetta, Texas because they once had a mad cow that met his definition of homosexuality.

morning all,

Thanks for putting that up YP:

By SAM HANANEL, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is urging a federal appeals court to keep meatpackers from testing all their cattle for mad cow disease.

Government lawyers told a three-judge panel Friday they should reverse a lower court ruling that allowed Kansas-based Creekstone Farms Premium Beef to conduct more comprehensive testing to satisfy overseas customers.

The Agriculture Department currently tests less than 1 percent of slaughtered cows for the disease. It argues that more widespread testing does not guarantee food safety and could result in a false positive that scares consumers.

Creekstone claims the Agriculture Department has no authority to prevent companies from using the test to reassure customers.

No one can speak with authority on Mad Cow or BSE but the FDA pretends to be and claims safety. Whom would you believe about the safety of food, an FDA corrrupted by the beef industry?

This is similar to the Monsanto suits to prevent milk producers from claiming growth hormone free product. Like the Alar laws, that put the business interests of the food producers ahead of public safety.

Any food business in the US can incidentally poison the heck out of consumers pretty much legally, because of lax chemical safety laws, and you get arrested if you even mention it in the press in many states. Disparagement protections. Look at what happened to Oprah and her burger bruises. She had to stfu.

Ooooh,

May I direct you call please?
-----------

US advertises on Google to snare surfers

By Daniel Dombey in Washington

Published: May 6 2008 23:31 | Last updated: May 6 2008 23:31

If you are searching the internet for information on terrorism in the Middle East, you might come across the US state department.

The department is using Google’s AdWords service to draw in internet surfers searching for particular words – such as “terrorism” – and redirect them to its own website.
******
Other words and phrases that trigger the adverts include “Middle East peace”, “human rights”, “press freedom”, “renewable energy”, “food aid” and – apparently the most popular search the administration has paid for – “US elections”.

The worst thing the Clinton campaign has done is to keep trying to intimidate the party leaders for trying to enforce party rules.

Threats, intimidation, bluster directed at a party chairman for following the rules.

JoeH,

The trolls do not show up until nighttime, when our moderators are home and not in the office.
I guess when they weigh the cost of paying someone for 24/7 moderating against opening another office in a Red State---the Red State wins.

Morning {{{JohnBoy}}} I went out earlier, so missed your post. there was an estate sale in the next town and I wanted to get there early.

What is John McCain's RECORD?

to this question I say, the ONLY thing that McSame has to run on is the fact he got shot down and sat in a prison ! He is trying to make that into some kind of hero. And his 'reaching across the aisle' bull crap is getting old too. He is not bringing up the Team of 14, saying look how good that worked out! YEAH, for the Repugs ! They went ahead and appointed all the right winger zealots we were supposed to oppose !! Because the Dems led by Lieberman backed down!

Some record!

Well, if Edwards has voted for Obama earlier this week, I guess I'll switch my support to him too just as soon as Hillary withdraws. I have to keep myself involved in her campaign until the last moment.

But one thing still concerns me. With the awe that Obama has created and so many Democrats holding him in such high esteem (he's JFK incarnate; he's the 2nd coming; etc.), how is it possible for Obama to deliver what Dems expect from him? If anything, I would hate to be in his shoes right now. How are we going to feel when he has a failure of some sort where he cannot deliver. Will we as Dems, voters, supports, turn on him the way so many have turned on Hillary? Sometimes, you guys scare me.

“Torture Team”: British Attorney Philippe Sands on the White House Role in Sanctioning Torture
******

PHILIPPE SANDS: Sure. Well, if you remember, we talked about a month ago, after a piece I had written for Vanity Fair came out. That piece, I’m told by Congressman Conyers, catalyzed his committee into focusing on the role of the lawyers, and they began the process of setting up hearings. Yesterday was the first hearing. They’ve issued letters of invitation to all of the lawyers that I’ve written about and several other individuals. All, I understand, have agreed to come voluntarily, with one exception, and that’s Mr. Addington, who was the Vice President’s lawyer at the time, now his chief of staff. He has indicated, however, in a letter of the 1st of May, that if subpoenaed, he would attend, and it is likely that he will now attend next month.

AMY GOODMAN: And what did you raise in your testimony before the congressional subcommittee?

PHILIPPE SANDS: Well, I think—I raised a number of issues, but the heart of this story is that the administration has spun a narrative that this was a bottom-up thing, they were simply reacting to requests from people on the ground. And what I’ve discovered, and what was the center of the gravity of what I said to the subcommittee, is that’s a false narrative. It came from the top down. A crime was committed in relation to the detainee that I’m looking at. The Geneva Conventions were violated. He was abused. He was probably, almost certainly, tortured in violation of international law. But the biggest story may well be the cover-up, the spin, that this came from the bottom up, when in fact it was top-down. And that seemed to have resonated with the committee.

www.democracynow.org/2008/5/8/torture_team_british_attorney_philippe_sands

Conyers, you're on your honor. Challenge the media with the truth and rule of law. World is watching.

Break the false narratives of the bottom-up dodging weasels, and kick em into the pokey if they come up liars and lawbreakers.

And make them politically unpardonable.

Re above post, correction: supports should be "supporters". Sorry.

Further, if Obama does have a failure of some kind, all I envision is when the villagers descended upon Dr. Frankenstein's castle to lynch him for the monster's dasterdly behavior.

Obama is an empty suit, its funny how you asshats try to fill that empty suit with all your hopes and dreams but come September, you will find out it is all BS.

BTW, we do not attack his wife and kids, but I guess because you have nothing to run on, you have to go after familys, how sad.

I really think that the only reason why Hillary is staying in a losing battle it's because she and Bill are in the headlines. She's looking more and more silly every day! I heard someone say that all she and Bill want to do is cause trouble for Obama. If that is the case, I would think the party leaders would pull her in. She's killing us.

OBama lack of experience is exactly why we should vote for Hillary. Don't you understand you couldn't get all the experience Hillary has had on this message or any of the other messages.

Hillary has worked her way up. No one gave her anything.

Hillary would make this Nation rise quicker and smoother than anyone running. WHAT A CHANGE THAT WOULD BE.

The Rebublicas war profiteering method of supporting the soldiers on the ground:
---------------

Contractors Gone Wild

News: Theft, hookers, melting down Iraqi gold to make cowboy spurs—all in a day's work for private military contractors in Iraq?

By Bruce Falconer

May 2, 2008
****
The practice of stealing equipment and supplies destined for the U.S. military was so pervasive that KBR employees invented a slang term to describe it: "drug deals." But thefts were not limited to military supplies, said Linda Warren, another former KBR employee who testified at the hearing. Upon her arrival in Baghdad in 2004, she was shocked by the number of contractors involved in criminal activity. "KBR employees who were contracted to perform construction duties inside palaces and municipal buildings were looting," she said. "Not only were they looting, but they had a system in place to get contraband out of the country so it could be sold on eBay. They stole artwork, rugs, crystal, and even melted down gold to make spurs for cowboy boots." Like Cassaday, when she complained to her superiors about the thefts, she was punished. She said her vehicle was taken away, her movements were closely monitored, and her access to phones and the Internet were cut off. Eventually, she was transferred out of Baghdad.

www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/05/contractor-fraud-and-theft-in-iraq.html

pug - it'll be hard for Obams no doubt because the republicans have trashed this country to the degree that it's as bad as I've ever seen it! But we must go with the promise of something new. Hillary can' t even finance her own campaign, how in the heck could she run this country? And do we really want to rehash all of the Climton's dirty laundry? They had their moment, it's time for someone new!

No Comparison: McCain and Obama

There is simply no comparison between John McCain and Barack Obama. This is why the republicans would prefer not running against him, but they are going to have to.

A vast majority of Americans disagree with not just the handling of the economy and this war, but with those who have justified it all. John McCain has done this and because he continues to do this will not win the people's vote.

At the same time, Barack Obama will continue to offer solutions to both the economy and the Middle East, which are connected by the way. Obama will remove tax breaks from the wealthy individual and highly profittable businesses that have no need of such breaks to begin with. At the same time he will meet with the leaders of nations with whom the Bush administration and many others disagree with and for that reason are willing to use threat first. And in this way Barack may just be able to return some sanity to our policy concerning the Middle East.

Of course those who wish to defeat Obama will claim that there is no plan in place at all, we expect them to. But there is a plan nonetheless and likely one that his opponents disagree with for personal reasons. (Likely because the bulk of their support comes from these priviledged folk.) In the meantime, Obama stands with the people who know, in spite of the smokescreens, that a solution is within our reach which does not involve acceptance of another's superior intellect.

Obsurd isn't it, that we are having this conversation after those who claim to know better stood behind the failing policies and the results we are now forced to address?

Kathy, I don't think Hillary is killing us. She's keeping the Democrats in the news on a daily basis and fuel for the opinion media (like Tweeter, Keith, et al.) until the convention. Let her be the mudslinger right now. That is of course as long as Obama presents himself as above it and doesn't sling back. He doesn't need to. He and his campaign have to concentrate on the convention and fall campaign strategy. There's no doubt now, he's got the nomination.

Posted by YoungPoet on May 9, 2008 at 11:19 AM
This seems to be in the "more of the same, and piled higher and deeper" department.
A couple of years ago, Gov Brian Schweitzer and the State of Montana went through something similar over the importation of Canadian cattle. The State of Montana decided that it was going to require testing for all Canadian cattle coming into Montana. (In case no one's noticed, one of Montana's major exports is cows, either dead, as in beef for export, and live as in calves for feedlot operations.)
Finding Mad Cow in Montana can badly damage the state's economy.
The Feds immediately went into action and started shutting down in state slaughter houses on bogus complaints. It turned into quite a battle, but the Feds backed off, and Canadian cows get tested.
My question is "Who owns Creekstone Farms?" It definitely sounds like Big Agra is trying to pull afast one.

As soon as I switch over my allegiance and donations to Obama, my goal will be to go after the Hillary voters to switch their allegiance and donations as well. The narrow-minded voters that say they won't vote for a black man and the same people who wouldn't vote for a woman. Even if we only capture 60% of Hillary's voters for Obama, it's still a Democratic win in November.

I think the only thing that would sway me in a different direction if by some miracle, Gore or Edwards become the nominees. Praise the Lord!

Violence in Lebanon: Is this evidence of the Regional Conflict we were warned about?

Sunni and Shiite face off in Lebanon just as they face off in Iraq. These are the groups that caused Bush Sr, acting on the advice of Dick Cheney and James Baker, to avoid an Iraq invasion in 1990. And they also happen to represent the major divisions which both Iran and Saudi Arabia have used to influence events in Iraq.

Looks like the beginning of something to me, just as Saudi and Iranian involvement in Iraq seemed when those two sides first began to clash around U.S. forces. Of course we're paying off Sunni forces now, the same forces we accused of attempting to bring back a Saddam Hussien type government, and the same forces responsible for the bulk of those cassualties we have suffered. So what then if they continue to go after Shiites in Iraq?

Well, this has something to do with stability. You remember that thing Bush claimed to want in Iraq? Also, there are the innocent civilians caught in the middle who have no where to run, or even our own military forces who attempt to play referee. And so what if Bush and others have diverted our attention from the Saddam government and those who supported him and to go after the Iranian government and those Shiites in Iraq who may or may not have ties to that country?

I don't know about you, but I think that the administration long ago lost control of this situation and the battles in Lebanon are a backlash of the growing ethnic conflict that exists in Iraq.

Good afternoon, all.

How are we going to feel when he has a failure of some sort where he cannot deliver. Will we as Dems, voters, supports, turn on him the way so many have turned on Hillary? Sometimes, you guys scare me.

Posted by puggles on May 9, 2008 at 01:00 PM

Hi, Laura.

We have lived through so many disappointments, why do you think that one more would break the camel's back? I personally expect mistakes.

I look on the next generation as young colts unsteady but learning to find their gait. I know that there is great potential to draw from; and if they are groomed and given the right trainers, they will achieve.

We are moving through uncharted waters. I guess that's what my main problem has been with The Clintons. They act like everything is the same as it was in the 1990's when they left office...that all we have to do is roll back the clock and pick up where they left off.

It's not that simple. The country has been gravely wounded. The very Constitution and democracy of which we draw our strength is on life support. We can't address this situation with conventional means. It will take new ideas and approaches.

While Hillary says she understands this. Her actions during this primary season have indicated the opposite. She has employed Republican tactics and said that this was just practicing politics as usual.

Americans are sick of politics as usual. I'm not confortable with leaving my children and grandchildren at the mercy of an assumption that everything will work out for the best...that all we have to do is return to power and magically the old methods will work again after so much destruction.

We need to move forward and I truly believe the next generation should have a big say in how it happens. We are saddling them with enough of our own mistakes. It's time to let them chart their own course.

I can see Hillary being a big asset in helping them. She knows the power of hard work and her determination is unequalled. But she must realize that they had eight years to accomplish what they wanted...that's a lot more than some get in life.

They made their mark. Bush tarnished it. It's time for change.

I believe the most powweful thing we can do at this time is pass the torch and help Obama and his administration when they fall down...knowing that we were there once ourselves.

I believe in the future. I think you do, too, in your heart.

Go after us all you want we will vote for Hillary or not vote at all!

Posted by oneforall on May 9, 2008 at 01:42 PM

You are not interested in her experience. You just want the conflict to continue. I personally think it has made them both stronger which is not what Rove and Limbaugh intended.

Posted by oneforall on May 9, 2008

"Us"? "We"? You some kind of king or emperor or something? What you are is useless. Dry up and blow away.

Marine: In all reality, did the Bush administration ever HAVE control of the situation?
If I remember correctly, I was hearing about revenge killings even as we went into Baghdad. Before the Dubya, the little wannabe, did his phony piece on the aircraft carrier.

Osama bin Laden - Sunni Arab
Saddam Hussein - Sunni Arab

Can someone tell me then how, when we were focused on preventing the growth of Al Queda or Insurgencies in Iraq, we could ignore the major influx coming from Osama's home country of Saudi Arabia?

Also, knowing this information, how could we then allow the Bush administration and others to make the claim that Shiite in Iraq represent our greatest threat and thus the nation of Iran from which a smaller influx of Shiites comes?

None of this makes any sense, if one believes the administrations original claims. Neither should it make sense to all those who have taken up their arguement which places Iran at the top of our list of priorities while those actually responsible for the attacks of 911 continue to increase their numbers and influence. After all, the only outcome we could expect to come of this is an additional enemy to confront and defend ourselves against.

This is not the way a war is won. It ignores the potential for alliances within the region itself, and it ignores some very basic principles of engagement. Momentum is our friend in times of war, but the Bush administration has completely ignored this by diverting forces to Iraq before the war in Afghanistan was won, now spreading to Pakistan. And now, they have done it again by refusing to take the advice of the Iraq Study Group who insisted that Iran would make a better ally in Iraq than an enemy.

These are not decisions based in sound military policy.

Off topic for a moment and an alert to all of you about Wallgreens pharmas.

I've been filling scripts for one particular med that I've been taking now for the past 8 years. I also requested label (i.e., brand) vs. the generic because the generic didn't work as well and it produced some uncomfortable side effects. Unfortunately, I didn't realize the expensiveness of the label because the health coverage I had was a $10 co-pay. With my current employer (for past 3 yrs), I have to meet an annual deductible ($500) before the insurer picks up a penny of the tab. Therefore, the med costs me approx. $150+ a month for the first 3 months of the year and then the insurer picks up 80% but I have to continue to front the cost each month before it reimburses. Because of so much out of pocket costs, I refilled the script for generic just to try it again. It was approx $100+ savings. Low and behold when I open the medicine bottle at home, Walgreens filled it with the more expensive label that I previously got. Thought it was a fluke or mistake of some sort. The next month's refill, I was given the label brand at the generic price. Spoke with the manufacturer and my doctor and learned there were no changes or patent in place that would protect it. Walgreens has been charging me the brand price with a "generic" for the past 3 years! The only proof I have are the receipts that I paid the higher price -- not the product to compare. I am furious!! Have spoke with some attys about this (I work at a large lawfirm) and have been told that if I want a long protracted legal battle with Walgreens, I have a case even though it would be a discovery nightmare because we would have to tackle their records and we don't know what is their file retention length. The cost differential of the moneys I overpaid would be insignificant. Another thing to do is notify the insurer about all this because they certainly would want their money back. So, sure, I could probably win this but at what and whose expense.

Sorry for the length of this. It just frosts me that yet another big corporation wins over the consumer's pocket.

It's why I will be voting Democratic in November no matter who the nominee is.

Posted by Kathy_from_Indiana on May 9, 2008 at 01:35 PM

No one can ever really know what is in another person's mind or why they do things. There is always the reason given, the one that sounds good, the one designed often to deceive and then there is THE REAL REASON!

Could it be that Hillary is so pissed off by this upstart Barack Obama stealing the Democratic nomination away from her that she has worked for and schemed for all these years that she is out for revenge? "If I can't have it, then neither will he" sort of mind set?

Or is it that Hillary realizes that if Obama wins the presidency, she would have no shot at defeating him in 2012 and has decided to so damage him that he loses to McCain and that gives her a real shot at McCain or his replacement in 2012?

That would be smart strategy, no party can hold the presidency forever, and after a third Bush/McSame term, she could beat anyone the Republicans put up there.

If that is the case, then Hillary is not only willing to destroy Obama to satisfy her personal ambition, she is willing to also destroy the Democratic Party.

The nest few days should make her motivations very clear to everyone.

Posted by SandyH on May 9, 2008 at 02:16 PM
Well said!
Obama will make mistakes, he's a human being, and human beings make mistakes. He will also have to make compromises, because I know for a fact he will have to continually deal with those, even some within the Democratic party who will want to continue with business as usual. Because there are those who will continue to pander to non-sustainable short-sighted Big Business, and not care to understand that we cannot afford to continue the way we are going.
I really believe that Obama can change the direction of this country before we go over that particular cliff.
I may be a grandma, but I'm voting with the kids.

Thanks, SandyH. I know mistakes will happen. They always do. The trick is how fast can those mistakes be reversed. And yes, the generations that follow us deserve a better America, but so do we! We've been here contributing to the system for a lot more years and we deserve to get something back for our efforts. The Dems will need to stay in office leading this country for many years to come before we can let the dim wit Repubs back in charge.

Posted by SandyH on May 9, 2008 at 02:16 PM
Well said!
Obama will make mistakes, he's a human being, and human beings make mistakes. He will also have to make compromises, because I know for a fact he will have to continually deal with those, even some within the Democratic party who will want to continue with business as usual. Because there are those who will continue to pander to non-sustainable short-sighted Big Business, and not care to understand that we cannot afford to continue the way we are going.
I really believe that Obama can change the direction of this country before we go over that particular cliff.
I may be a grandma, but I'm voting with the kids.

OBama lack of experience is exactly why we should vote for Hillary.

Posted by oneforall on May 9, 2008 at 01:42 PM

This is such a lame arguement. ANY of the candidates will be choosing a CABINET of experts in every area. These are the people who will advise in the areas of foreign policy, economy, defense, etc. No President has ever gone it alone . Obama will choose smart intelligent people who will run this country well. As well as Clinton and her cabinet could.

Uh, Michael -- are we broken again??

Or, did I just clear the room again?

Here's another way those lousy Republicans treat the Troops! ALL FOR LIES !!! wonder who these soldiers will be voting for come November????????

US Army's "Stop-Loss" Orders Up Dramatically Over Last Year
By Julian E. Barnes
The Los Angeles Times

Washington - The number of soldiers forced to remain in the Army involuntarily under the military's controversial "stop-loss" program has risen sharply since the Pentagon extended combat tours last year, officials said Thursday.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates was briefed about the program by Army officials who said that thousands of new stop-loss orders were issued to keep soldiers from leaving the service after Gates ordered combat tours extended from 12 to 15 months last spring.

The Army has resorted to involuntary extensions of soldiers' enlistment terms to prevent them from leaving immediately before a combat tour or in the middle of a deployment.

However, many soldiers subjected to the stop-loss policy consider it a backdoor draft. Critics argue that once soldiers have completed the enlistment period they agreed to, they should be allowed to return home. The involuntary retention program is so unpopular that it helped inspire a recent movie called "Stop-Loss."

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050908C.shtml

Looks like Michael has been busy and we now have an afternoon open thread!

Ok pug - I understand what you' re saying about Hillary not killing the party and this just keeps us in the headlines but there has got to be a given time that enough iscenough and the healing begin. If the party waits too long those people who are so upset with the way the party went will be that much harder in getting on board with Obama.

With that, I'm out of here. Everone have a great weekend and as usual......

Keep On Rockn'