Mon, 10 Oct 2005 18:00:01 -0700
Now anti-up your $10 for WesPAC! This used to be the fine for being the first poster on a thread. Seems to me it's as good a time as any to get it started, again. 
blogs I've visited today, all of the discussion of Levin's op ed and Feingold's interview out today is all about what THEY are doing as something new and different, with Clark completely overlooked. I think it's evident that Levin's discussion in particular is tied into Clark's plan. The word "leverage" is a giveaway.
I just registered at a blog so I can inject Clark's name...I hope everyone here will do the same when it can be done....
Visit www.zianet.com/insightanalytical - Home of the World Media Watch M-W-F, also at Buzzflash.com
NOT funny.
Everyone completely disregards the process; ONE justice does not DECIDE a case, but does so along with all the others; one then is selected to draft a decision, and the others concur or edit.
I really don't like the way Ms. Miers is being portrayed.
Sorry for the rant.
I just don't trust the process of the SCOTUS judicial review board. Besides, it was the "trust me" statement by Bush, that genuinely convinced me that Bush is ready to screw the country again, imo.
"Debate, Dialogue, Discussion, Disagreement - that's not wrong -that's not unpatriotic, that's one of the highest forms of patriotism and love of country, and we need to say it!" - Gen. Wesley Clark (US Ret.)
Hey, Dom.
I think the process would be/has been OK, with honest POTUS. I also have more respect for the Justices than do a lot here.
I was VERY concerned, initially, when we learned how linked she has been to him, but reading more, I'm not sure that it really matters much.
Gotta go.
I am very concerned about her ties to Bush and the knowledge of what he's done maybe going unrevealed. I really don't think people who have been white house counsel should be on the bench anyway. Too much of a tie to the executive branch. She also is an evangelical which is really scary [note* - I am a Christian but...].
I don't think a Repub president should be forced to choose a liberal justice, but someone with knowledge of constitutional law and more mainstream would be better. All this nonsense about a wink and a nod to J. Dobson is a HUGE problem for me. I am very worried but I also realize it could be worse - aka - Janice Rogers Brown. I try and take comfort that Miers is a woman but that still doesn't help to alleviate my concern. I just don't know. I can't wait to see how she holds up in the hearings, though.
In the absence of having any significant background in constitutional law or even some of her philosophical veiw , is Meirs qualified to sit as a justice in our highest court? Given what we do not know about her, can she 'act' to reverse judicial precedence? I respect that you are more familiar in this area, so why do you feel that her vote and positions may not really matter, if appointed as Supreme Court justice?
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"Debate, Dialogue, Discussion, Disagreement - that's not wrong -that's not unpatriotic, that's one of the highest forms of patriotism and love of country, and we need to say it!" - Gen. Wesley Clark (US Ret.)
but I thought the Texas Lottery Board background made this quite funny.
Sorry ellen. Maybe I laugh for the wrong reasons, but I laughed.
You'd be taking them to the Better Business Bureau if you bought a washing machine the way we went into the war in Iraq. Wes Clark, CNN Aug 17 2003
Where is the evidence of her intellectual firepower? You've got to show me that, and I don't see it. A Supreme Court Justice doesn't have to be an ex-judge but they need to have demonstrated a good solid legal mind. I don't see any evidence of that with Miers.
I think that there is plenty of evidence of a strong intellectual mind...
Given a choice between her and someone like Priscilla Owens or John Ashcroft, I'll take Miers (let's face it, Bush is NOT going to pick a 'moderate')
where's the beef? Where's the proof of the intellectual firepower, the understanding of the Constitution that Roberts demonstrated? Hey, Roberts is more conservative than I'd like, but I have zero doubt he's got the intellectual firepower needed to deal with very heavy, deep constitutional issues.
Miers? There's no proof of that. None whatsoever. What cases has she filed briefs in that dealt with these? It's one thing if you're trying cases for Disney and Microsoft, where you've got the assets and the people fighting you don't. But it's another thing entirely when you're being asked to deal with a very difficult constitutional issue.
I ain't seen it yet, and her public statements ain't bolstering my opinion of her.
Are these Constitutional issues REALLY all that difficult? Seems like the people who originally wrote this stuff found many truths to be 'self-evident'
....in fact just one justice does and has decided the majority of the most important cases. O'Connor was the swing vote on the court and in many instances cases were argued directly and specifically to her because all the other judges were so predictable.
That's why O'Connor's seat is so important and Roberts as so irrellevant. To me it was the PROCESS of his confirmation that was important and I believe we failed in that regard.
Make no mistake about it, she will indeed decide SCOTUS cases and they will be the big ones....except of course Roe v Wade which is safe as the GOP's carrot on a stick for the religious wrong.
...although odds are 14,000,000:1 against us, ...that she'll make the right decision. (btw. she's lost alot of weight since then.)
"Debate, Dialogue, Discussion, Disagreement - that's not wrong -that's not unpatriotic, that's one of the highest forms of patriotism and love of country, and we need to say it!" - Gen. Wesley Clark (US Ret.) 1
"One of the embarrassing problems for the early nineteenth-century champions of the Christian faith was that not one of the first six Presidents of the United States was an orthodox Christian."--The Encyclopedia Brittanica
...my first impression was that someone what trying to characterize the Big Man's testicles.
Leadership means lifting people up. --Wes Clark
testicles.
LOL, sorry, couldn't help myself. It's always tickled me that patriarcal societies (whence our current "holy books" originated) insist on gendering the genderless, as male.
I am typing from kinkos since I don't have a computer at home right now. However, I just wanted to let everyone know General Clark did very well tonight. I went to both the rally at the Work Play Theatre and the reception at the AL Sports Hall of Fame. He spoke at both and gave what are more rallying type speeches rather than policy ones. [I love to hear him give more diplomatic speeches and wanted to ask him my question regarding China but then again I'm selfish. I have to remember these were not all necessarily Clark obsessed people like we are and it was to fire up the democrats not a speech to be given at the Council on Foreign Relations.] Although, he was to talk about southern strategy with some people later so maybe that is the more meaty discussion. Overall, I thought he did great considering the venue styles. I didn't take notes, I wanted to listen, but trying not to put words in his mouth he commented on Iraq and the need for a logical strategy, China and economics, better education for Americans to keep up with rest of world, how democrats are strong on national security, the need to take the prisoner abuse issue seriously, he endearingly had us all say the pledge to the flag which I thought was a really nice thing to do, and he talked about how morality isn't all about sex related issues such as gay rights and abortion but involves being smart and caring about the well-being of all Americans (e.g. healthcare, the environment, good economic policy to help the less fortunate). He did use the G. Gecko analogy to distinguish btwn. Rs & Ds which I don't really follow. :P It was amusing, though. I also got to speak to him and, although I was more nervous the cameraman would film me than actually speaking to the General, my mouth was dry from the antibiotic I'm taking so I could barely talk and I felt like I was taking up other peoples' time to talk to him so I turned away somewhat abruptly and I hope it didn't seem rude. He was very nice and I thanked him for coming to B'ham so I could drive up and hear him speak. I just really wish I had a chance to talk to him longer and ask my questions. Oh well, for a peon I'm satisfied just finally getting to meet him after waiting four and a half years. Well, it seems everyone is asleep but I just wanted to make a small report about our awesome general. Maybe someone else went and can give a more detailed report? THANKS and KUDOS GENERAL CLARK!!!!!!! 2008!!!!
It's so great to know Wes is out there, working for his country, making the rounds. The man works so dang hard. And I'm thrilled you got a chance to meet him. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Leadership means lifting people up. --Wes Clark
at Kinkos and giving us a little glimpse of the evening!! Very happy you finally got to meet General Clark!!
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right. -Hunter/Garcia
Your enthusiasm and account is very refreshing to read, esp when we hear a Clarkie from the land of Dixie, no less, meeting the General for the first time! He really rallies and invigorates the crowd.
Also, as I recall from others who posted his earlier speeches, Clark made an anology between the values of Repubs (the R's) vs the Dems (the D's). In the movie "Wall Street", Michael Douglass played Gecko who represented the values of the R's that 'Greed is Good!" In contrast, Clark said that Dems (D's) stood for higher values that represented the "Common Good" -- by providing health care, education, a strong economy and jobs for all Americans.
"Debate, Dialogue, Discussion, Disagreement - that's not wrong -that's not unpatriotic, that's one of the highest forms of patriotism and love of country, and we need to say it!" - Gen. Wesley Clark (US Ret.)
wish you'd put this on a separate blog so we could vote it up to Best of Blogs. I'd hate for anyone to miss it :-)
but glad you posted it anyway and especially appreciate the effort since you don't have a computer at home.
You'd be taking them to the Better Business Bureau if you bought a washing machine the way we went into the war in Iraq. Wes Clark, CNN Aug 17 2003
I love posts telling about Wes appearances. Thanks for this one. Be bolder next time I suppose, though maybe I would be tongue tied (not one of my normal virtues, but conceivable in certain situations).
We need a Dixie strategy.
...that you finally got to meet him!! I've meet him a couple of times now but I always feel like I'm about to interview John Lennon or something!
Thanks alot for stopping by and giving us your report - it means alot to us junkies!!!
All the other blogs have them, so I put one up here:
http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/1649
Go vote!
Bush showcases progress in New Orleans with swanky dinner and overnight at a luxury hotel
October 10, 2005 8:23 PM EDT
NEW ORLEANS - President George W. Bush got a taste of some of New Orleans' finest, dining in the French Quarter and staying at a luxury hotel to showcase progress in the hurricane-battered city even as much of it remains in ruins.
http://start.earthlink.net/article/top?guid=20051010/4349e740_3426_1335020051010-2049158805
Still, many of New Orleans' stores and businesses remain closed, relatively few people are on the streets and many areas remain uninhabitable, even if mostly dry.
The president, accompanied by his wife, Laura, saw little of that on Monday. They chose to emphasize the improvement.
I see there's been some changes made again since I've been away. Back to using General Discussion. Is this temporary or for good? I also like the tags we're given to use in our comments. Cool.
I love it!
It's "permanent" until we get the new and improved CCN, which I think is around January.. maybe..
They've also changed what you get when you hit More... under recent blogs. You get 25 now which is a lot better than 10 (2.5 times better, actually!) And the comment ratings work, but nobody's really using them.
I've turned off the rich-text formatting. I find it's too slow to load all the buttons gif's. Maybe that's what you're seeing at the bottom of your screen. If you either don't want to do any formatting or you're comfortable with html tags, you may as well just turn it off. It's on the options on my account, called turn off tinymce or something.
I noticed however that once I've refreshed my screen, I show a message at the bottom saying Transfering to securingamerica....... as tho it's still searching for site. Why is that?
Yeah, self-generating GD threads, one at 8pm eastern and one in the early afternoon, I think? Not sure about the transfer message you're getting?
I gotta go. My doggie hurt her leg today - the one she's already had knee surgery on... not good but I'm praying it's just sore from running crazy in the woods today with another dog and not anything serious...
g'nite everyone.
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right. -Hunter/Garcia
Tristero guest blogging at Digby:
There is a much discussed report by The Third Way Middle Class Project called "The Politics of Polarization" that purports to analyze the plight of the Democrats and suggests concrete measures to focus the party. Based on a reading of the executive summary, the conclusions, and some skimming through the report, those of us who are liberals will find at least some food for thought. But it has several major flaws in its reasoning which led the authors to conclude, wrongly, that the Democratic Party should advocate "centrist," actually center-right, positions.
Two of the flaws are uwarranted assumptions on the part of the authors. First, they deride "the myth of mobilization;" it is a mistake, they say, to assume that by energizing liberals and getting them to the polls in record numbers, Democrats can win. They argue that since conservatives outnumber liberals 3 to 2, "Democrats cannot win the game of “base” ball, except in those rare circumstances in which conservatives are discouraged and demobilized."
Let's not argue with their stats for now. What they fail to take into account is that perhaps liberals may not be a dependable base for the Democratic Party.
-more at: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right. -Hunter/Garcia
Reg stretched the blog for me. Sorry to complain.
I want to hear Miers confirmation hearings. Then she deserves a vote, just like the ad the right wingers have been playing on CNN, before they knew who the nominee would be. Live with it suckers. Let the lady speak for herself. If she doesn't come across as qualified, she'll get a vote on way or the other.
John Roberts is pretty much an Ashcroft clone as far as I can tell. Nobody bashed him, just kept saying how brilliant he is. I heard about the questions he asked in that Oregon case. He's no Sandra Day O'Conner. She asked intelligent questions. He went on about doctors being able to perscribe steroids to athletes. The point about that isn't the doctors, it's the athletes have a responsibility to compete fairly. Roberts apparently doesn't understand that and believes big brother needs to stick be involved in everything. I think he's to the right of Clarence Thomas.
If Meirs is as W says, a person who will not "grow" or "change" over 20 years on the bench, that's a real problem for any adult IMHO. To not grow through experience is a sign of dementia as far as I can tell. I don't want a senate cofirming anybody who won't "grow."
The ads used to call for a fair hearing and the opportunity of an up-or-down vote. Isn't it interesting how the righteous right changes its tune when things aren't going the way they like?!
Leadership means lifting people up. --Wes Clark
On the last GD everything was fine, but this one is going real wide on me. And I have a 17" monitor. Any ideas as to why this is happening?
*************
************* :I
************* ...but tends to happen, when Clarkies post the total picture
looks good for me on my 21" at 1280x1024 resolution using Internet Explorer but under FireFox there is a big space on the whole left side and it is w i d e. I hope they get that fixed cause I would preffer to use Firefox.
I see Dixie Clarkie beat me to the punch on an account of Clark's visit to AL. OH MY GOD -- it ROCKED!! Wes talked about all kinds of things -- not just about Iraq!! It sounded just like a campaign speech -- swear on a stack of bibles!! Speaking of religion -- he asked everyone at the Sports Museum who went to church -- just about everyone raised their hands -- then he basically said -- well don't tell me that the republicians ave a monopoly on that subject!! It was great. Met John Saxon -- the AL head of Wes's 2004 campaign. Oh and ICB.. your buttons were a HUGE hit!!! They just flew out of my hands -- they were gone in about 10 minutes. And Maria -- you will be happy to know I gave 2 buttons to Lucy Baxter -- she is running for Gov. Dixie Clarkie failed to talk about some loud mouth (uhm) yelling "RUN WES RUN". I probably embrassed the crap out of Wes but I just cannot help it!! Wes just inspires me SO much!! There was a question/answer session after the WorkPlay event and someone asked "how to make AL blue"?? And that loud mouth again (uhm) yelled out "nominate Wes." WHAT!!!?? IT JUST SLIPPED OUT!! bahahaha Well had a couple of people come up to me later stating they like my enthusiam. WOO HOO woot woot woot --
I hope to make a offical BLOG entry tomorrow when I can think of everything he said AND post pics.
Love to all you Clarkies
Clark is DA MAN Clark2008
Thanks for the report.
You'd be taking them to the Better Business Bureau if you bought a washing machine the way we went into the war in Iraq. Wes Clark, CNN Aug 17 2003
And thanks for being a "loud mouth"--that's okay, you said what needed to be said!
Woot woot woot to you and Dixie Clarkie too, for your reports!
I'd say that the [[[((((BLOG))))]]]] has forgiven you ;)
"Debate, Dialogue, Discussion, Disagreement - that's not wrong -that's not unpatriotic, that's one of the highest forms of patriotism and love of country, and we need to say it!" - Gen. Wesley Clark (US Ret.)
You were shouting for all of us! I LOVE these first person accounts. And I am so thrilled to hear of Wes getting such a warm welcome everywhere he goes around the nation. And especially in Alabama. Isn't it in Alabama that the Ten Commandments Judge is running for governor? Or is that Mississippi?
Leadership means lifting people up. --Wes Clark
Gonna read a bit of the Dalai Lama's new book on science and spirituality before falling asleep. I can only read so many pages at a time, because I have to pause and think about what he says after nearly every sentence or paragraph. He has such an interesting point of view.
I saw it at the bookstore, the last time I was there. But was determined to buy only ONE book since I already have so many at home I haven't had time to read. I bought Harold Bloom's new book "Jesus and Yahweh: The Names Divine." I love Bloom's literary works, especially his books on Shakespeare. In his new book he is approaching concepts of Yahweh, the historical Jesus, and the theological Christ from a literary approach. Fascinating.
I was so incredibly heartened when an intellect with the stature of Bloom endorsed Wes in the pages of the Wall Street Journal in an editorial/essay he entitled "Cometh the Hour...". It was one of my favorite written pieces of the campaign. If anyone missed it: http://tinyurl.com/aak3j
There were also summaries/accounts of the endorsement in various papers/blogs we are familiar with: http://tinyurl.com/cc2pb http://tinyurl.com/arn9p
And this is the opinion of Wes by another writer with a literary bent - ah, the memories!!! http://tinyurl.com/e39u6
Leadership means lifting people up. --Wes Clark
needs some love, down to three on the list right now.
Can a few of you vote up some of the good recent individual blogs? I've done a few.
You'd be taking them to the Better Business Bureau if you bought a washing machine the way we went into the war in Iraq. Wes Clark, CNN Aug 17 2003
that I've rated up a few recent blogs. not that I've done a few good recent ones. 
You'd be taking them to the Better Business Bureau if you bought a washing machine the way we went into the war in Iraq. Wes Clark, CNN Aug 17 2003
A Washington state woman intends to press a civil-rights case against Southwest Airlines for booting her off a flight in Reno after fellow passengers complained about a message on her T-shirt.
Lorrie Heasley, of Woodland, Wash., was halfway home on a flight Tuesday that began in Los Angeles, wearing a T-shirt with the pictures of President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and a phrase similar to the popular film, "Meet the Fockers."
Heasley said she wore the T-shirt as a gag. She wanted her parents, who are Democrats, to see it when they picked her up at the airport in Portland, Ore.
"I just thought it was hilarious," said Heasley, 32, a lumber saleswoman.
And she felt she had the right to wear it.
"I have cousins in Iraq and other relatives going to war," she said. "Here we are trying to free another country and I have to get off an airplane in midflight over a T-shirt. That's not freedom."
It says a phrase similar to the film "Meet the Fockers." Change that last word.
Who said you've got the right to wear t-shirts with obscenities on them?
I agree with her sentiment, believe me. But she's got no case and Southwest is well within its rights to boot her.
I hope no democrats back her up. We look like idiots when we do and we give the right wing nuts ammo to use against us.
If the shirt did use the actual F word then I agree but Allen Lichtenstein, lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union in Nevada, said Heasley's T-shirt is "protected" political speech under the Constitution.
I really wish the reporter gave us the actual full t-shirt text or atleast said the shirt used an obsentity......as far as I a concernd censoring news print just spreads disinformation. What if the shirt said "Dirty Rotten Fockers" or "Meet Our Fockers". "Meet the F-ckers" would make more sense but you can never be sure by 'similar'. Reading between the lines is not always fact. News print should be fact and not inference.
otherwise she wouldn't have been thrown off. I'll check with the people I know at Southwest. I'm very confident it contained profanity but I'll verify it.
And if that is the case, then the woman ought to drop the case -- profanity is NOT protected speech -- and the ACLU ought to shut up so we don't give the right wing nuts any fodder.
to Dixie and Bev for your great accounts! General Wes ROCKS!
"...the measure of success is not 'Can you win?' It's 'Can you get your ideas adopted?' " ~ Wes Clark
I've been reading MS in LA site, and I'm up to the Chapter on what can I do. She mentions that Bev Harris has suggested posting the results on the precinct door before they are sent to the central tabulator. We always do that here in my district in Pennsylvania. We use the lever machines, and after the polls close at 8 PM, they count the votes and post a tally on the windows of the fire department (our polling place) at about 11 PM. You can go up and check the total votes if you want. They keep them up there for at least 24 hours I think.
Hi! Just popped in and saw this.
I believe Bev's idea is to have the numbers used beyond the posting at the precinct levels...she would like the Press to capture them, and then afterwards to use these totals in comparison to the final tallies produced from the County tabulation systems for verification. As in GEMS tabulators, the precinct spot checks are generated from the 1rst columns' numbers (the unadulterated column)-- but the Final Results are pulled from the hackable, dirty second column. This was a suggestion to better verify totals btwn precincts and county.
I don't mind the lever machines that much. They too can be rigged but it doesn't impact near the numbers of votes you can change in the electronic systems.
By the way-- Thank you for reading all that! I'm impressed!! I think we are right at 1000 hits which is not bad for only 2 weeks being up.
I think this idea comes from the standard practice in WA. Each polling place tapes the second tape summery to the door or window of the polling place. In this years instructions to the poll judges, the option to take the tape home is added. Why, I don't know.
This brings up another issue. Even here in Seattle, many of the poll judges are repub in overwhelming Dem districts. The repubs organized volunteers for this purpose long ago. That is one of the reasons I show up at poll opening and make sure they know that I am a legal poll watcher/observer and verify that they know what I am allowed to record per the state law.
We need to recruit poll judges from the Dem voter base in each jurisdiction.
I use a digital camera to record the tape at poll close and copy the sign in sheet without disturbing the workflow of the poll workers.
In WA, people who vote at polls make up only about 25% of the vote. Some counties have moved to vote by mail entirely. This moves the poll results into the "exit poll" range as a predictor of the final results.
"One of the embarrassing problems for the early nineteenth-century champions of the Christian faith was that not one of the first six Presidents of the United States was an orthodox Christian."--The Encyclopedia Brittanica
We could surely use more poll judges-- good thing to start working on now for 2006-- I'm telling you we are all going to wake up one day and it will be Election Day- saying "Already? Where did the time go?"
Thanks for observing with camera. Observing itself is getting more and more difficult as the vital counting functions are removed from view.
it happened yesterday also. I'm going to watch tomorrow to see if it only happens on the 9 PM General Discussion.
Everyone be on the lookout for terrorists today = 10-11 and tomorrow = 5 year anniversary of the USS Cole attack. No reason to get scared...just be aware of your surroundings and bring some duct tape...just incase.
"One of the embarrassing problems for the early nineteenth-century champions of the Christian faith was that not one of the first six Presidents of the United States was an orthodox Christian."--The Encyclopedia Brittanica
as there's almost no-one else around, do you think you could rate up a few individual blogs to see if we can fatten up Best of Blogs. Poor old BoB's looking a bit starved and stale at the moment.
You'd be taking them to the Better Business Bureau if you bought a washing machine the way we went into the war in Iraq. Wes Clark, CNN Aug 17 2003
Best of Blogs needs you :-) Vote early, vote often!
You'd be taking them to the Better Business Bureau if you bought a washing machine the way we went into the war in Iraq. Wes Clark, CNN Aug 17 2003
There is nothing like a first-hand account posted to the GD to "lift people up!"
Thank you so very much for sharing your accounts with us. The emotion and enthusiasm in your words came shining through with such brilliance that we all might need blog shades for the rest of this thread.
((((DIXIE & ROCKETCITYBEV))))
woo hoo!