Netroots Nation Updates...Open Thread Version

Slugbug...

You definitely make me wish I were there instead of dealing with my fan club tomorrow!

I'd like to know what the Austin people think of the activities there. I guess Austin is a progressive area. I understand the bus is going to go to Crawford. I'd love to hear what happens there.

If you find out...let us know!

I confess you guys...slugbug is probably the only emissery there. But I know many others from other sites who are there too.

Tell Lynn and T that I said hi to them too, please. If this were August, I'd have been able to go. (Wasn't it in August last year?)

I was planning on going, but I couldn't get time off of work. Plus, right now I absolutely can't get time off of work, because my father/business partner has been in Alaska and New York City all month.

I really want to go next year, however - or at least get together with slugbug again!

Howard had actually been to Crawford. I made a video but can't upload it to YouTube using the computer I have here. It was his first time there. I wish there were more progressive Texans but those that there are are simply amazing.

Click on my name for a few of the wierder Austin bits .. right now it's free margaritas and chocolate fondue! & I just met a guy named Wolfman Spike!

slugbug

A generation ago, Texas was solid blue state. It was California that was red (Nixon, Reagan, Howard Jarvis, et al).

Time to bring more blue Texans out of the woodwork.

Sounds like it's a fun night at n.n.!

I saw nyceve has a healthcare forum on Saturday. Also, will you be seeing Wes Clark speak?

Have you decided who you're seeing? If T and L want to blog about n.n. here, let them know we'll be happy to hear from them, ok?

Down Under and the World are waiting and praying for Change, this November God willing. Eight years is to long to wait for a Diplomacy and Integrity to grace the White House.

Michael Collins: Election Fraud and Tyranny: Part 1

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0807/S00133.htm

"Loser Taker All: Election Fraud and The
Subversion of Democracy, 2000-2008"

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Michael-Collins---Election-by-Michael-Collins-080717-730.html

That's not a very good picture .. of Howard or me .. but the other one was worse LOL.

During the afternoon I worked at NW Progressive Institute booth at the Career Fair, to work off my debt LOL (registration.)

In the evening, I heard General Clark & then Howard Dean.

General Clark thanked the "netroots" profusely because when he talked about how he thought the war was going to go (if it were waged) in 2002, and didn't agree with the Pentagon - his wife predicted it would draw him into partisan politics.

He now feels like the majority of the country oppose the war and that, in particular, people had his back on the internet when he spoke out and was taken out of context on Face the Nation.

I feel that he spoke the truth because he said being shot down from a plane doesn't make you qualified to be the President of the United States - and it doesn't.

Howard Dean spoke - at length. He said that we will have to be politically active forever because democracy is new and fragile and someone will historically always try to take it away and return us to servitude.

He said we only get a D if we vote - a C if we contribute, a B if we participate (canvas, blog etc.) and an A if we run for office ourselves, even in some small way (because then we are committed to on-going service.)

He said that if a new president were to negotiate between parties (as was done in the past with N & S Ireland, for example), then we had to provide a moral example and we CAN NOT if we have things going on like Guantanamo. What example can we be to India v Pakistan or Israel v Palestine if we have NO MORAL AUTHORITY.

Then he talked also about the fifty state model and that no one thought it was possible to turn red states purple or purple states blue. He said the media is laughing at him for taking the voter registration bus from Crawford to Austin to Louisiana and Mississipi and beyond.

BUT he pointed out that both Louisiana and Mississippi recently had vacancies in their Legislators go to Democrats. & he talked about how many new voters.

Both Clark & Dean seemed to feel very positively about what Obama can do in the direction of leadership and promoting unity.

There were alot of parties but my phone, camera and computer were out of batteries and the parties were out of food. So I wandered down to 6th street just to see what kind of night photography I can do later and it was an amazing amalgam of night life and behavior - elements of Bourbon St. and Pioneer Square and the younger parts of Vegas - alot of students and alot of drinking. To me, pretty rowdy but colorful and seemed fairly safe just because there were people out everywhere where there could have been dark corners. It's not good to look too obviously like a conventioneer.

So I was able to use Andrew's other key to get into the Executive Lounge for free continental breakfast (ate alot of egg whites because I've had so little protein), and saw speakers and press getting ready for the day (good eavesdropping) and now I have found myself coffee, a chair and an outlet. There is no outside coffee allowed but mine was free and it's $4 plus for even a small cup inside this convention center (but usually someone like Friends of the Earth or the ACLU has some for free.)

Lunch today is a debate between Markos & Harold Ford Jr. (it's a rematch) and I'm going to something this morning on what kind of laws the next president will be under and what he should do. Then this afternoon I'm hoping to get in and see Richard Clarke talk about foreign policy. I hope to see Terry and Lynn there. Then this afternoon I work for NPI, this time at the Exhibit place. & tonight I think there is a party with the candidates running for office which I hope will have food.

Somewhere there is a listing of all the free food and I suppose I should go find it. Lodging and airfare went on the credit card - the registration I am working off, and hope to get help with part of lodging - and food and drink are probably my lowest expense. Last night I was hungry and the cheapest appetizer at the hotel was thirteen bucks so I went to bed hungry, which was well worth it.

For dinner last night I had a margarita and chocolate fondue. I don't think that's very healthy.

I am live blogging here as well (as are others) - see story on grassroots - what has happened in four years - from Dean to Obama (Joe Trippi etc.)

http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/

I am about ready to be interviewed by ABC, Austin. A tv camera is pointing at me and I have a mike on. I have just uploaded this photo and can hear Markos talking to people about his upcoming book.

http://www.silencedmajority.blogs.com

I'm at the debate between Markos Moulitzas Zuniga and Harold Ford, Jr., President of the DLC.

Harold points out that Obama will have to have a platform which will attract conservative Democrats and Republicans.

Markos says that people like us here are the mainstream - the majority of people don't think that differently. We need to keep our next president and our new Congress honest, all of them. Representatives need to represent. Democrats should not be afraid to be Democrat. We are not looking for ideological purity (bloggers helped elect Webb, Testor.)

Harold is asked how to counter the allegation that Obama flip flops. He goes on to name the people who voted for FISA. He says that when you run for president of the US, you run to represent everyone. He maintains that there are conservatives and moderates and you must represent them too.

These guys are both pretty smart but they are definitely coming from different directions. He says that the Justice Department is responsible because the telecoms followed their directive. So he is saying the Justice Department should be held accountable.

The moderator is asking my question. HOW can these officials be held accountable?

Harold says anyone can run for office and that those of us in this room would probably be arrested when we left this room, in many countries. & that we have the right not to vote for people we don't agree with. He talks about southern Democrats who will not win unless they vote a certain way on guns. He points out that Stephanie Herseth of South Dakota was elected partly through work of DailyKos but voted for FISA and has a difference stance on energy drilling than Obama.

Markos then is to discuss the role of citizens in holding our elected officials responsible. He then says that it's important to remember that they work for us and we don't work for them. We pay their salary. We all live somewhere and we need to keep our local representatives accountable. When they cease to represent their constituents, they have to move aside for someone who will do it. Others can also travel to those districts and help the locals, send in checks. To do so if provided for in our Constitution.

For example, Joe Lieberman no longer represented Lieberman in Connecticut. Democratic constituents may not like Republicans but they are also very unhappy with what the Democrats in Congress are doing and that needs to be converted into action.

He relates that at the DLC, he blurted out "that asshole Joe Lieberman" without thinking. The funny thing is that the audience reacted the exact same way (as we the audience just now just did, with derisional laughter and scorn.)

Harold says the Democrats can't win without both wings and that when there is too much division, the real winner is not the progressives or the conservative Democrats, but the Republicans. He thus applauds Markos and the progressive netroots (at least publicly today.) He applauds their courage in speaking out to all. He says that the housing and credit crunch and other domestic problems are sured by all wings of the party. All support universal health care and a better energy platform.

Markos admits that the netroots have a long way to go and could be more powerful and muscular. He thinks it's creepy when you have a married couple that doesn't fight or a family that has no disagreements. He feels that enforced unity is weakness. On the stage - a Latino war refugee, a Bangladeshi and an African-American, while the other party looks like - John McCain.

I am going to sign off before my battery is gone and this is being opened up to questions. Alot of this is probably available at C-Span or Kos' site.

slugbug

Great exchange between Kos and DLC - though I still maintain my stance that either DLC or the entire Democratic Party must be dismantled (take your pick).

Herseth is also a huge abomination.

Yes but it wasn't so long ago that people all over the internet supported Herseth. I think that the idea of getting Democrats into Republican places generally happens first and THEN those Democrats can be moved out of the way by even more progressive Democrats or maybe even eventually by Greens or whatever - BUT - first the populace would have to be convinced because the politicians work for the people.

In the Scandinavian countries, the government has been more progressive than the people, who tend toward stanch Lutheranism Protestantism and had to be "sold" on the programs they have.

That's not the way it is in every country.

& in America, I just don't know any more. Kos will tell you that mainstream American is moving left of center and there is polling that shows this. Then someone else can show the opposite.

I just saw the guy speak who wrote NIXONLAND and it gave me some perspective. It used to be that the media wanted to help - to show what happened to civil rights workers or field workers - and to be sympathetic to their cause - educate the public.

When they showed the fascistic police beating on not only demonstrators at the 1968 Chicago democratic convention but also beating on delegates and even journalists - when they showed this to the American people - a surprising number of people supported the police. This allowed Nixon to drive a wedge between the "liberal media" and the supposedly conservative mainstream and WIN.

Republicans have done it ever since and it's even worse now that the that the media is so heavily consolidated and corporate-owned.

If it wasn't for that, we wouldn't all be blogging. Right now I am working at a stand for NW Progressive Institute, with Carla from Blue Oregon and Rick from Vote Vets. It looks like a regular trade fair, superficially - giving out pens and candy and selling t-shirts. & the conference looks like any other conference - water pitcher , signs on the doors telling which sessions are in which ballrooms etc etc - escalators.

slugbug,

What other progressive netroots authors got to get interviewed? Netroots isn't just about Kos. When will Kos spotlight other progressive authors at the Netroots Nation?

Ok..so that's a rhetorical question.

Tell the House Judiciary Committee to hold Karl Rove in contempt and send him to jail.

We call on the the House Judiciary Committee to cite Rove with contempt for failing to comply with a Congressional subpoena. Since Rove regards the law with such contempt, it's high time the law and Congress hold him in contempt as well. We demand the HJC let Rove know he can't decide which subpoenas he obeys and which he ignores.

Send Karl Rove to Jail

http://sendkarlrovetojail.com/?utm_source=rgemail

Sparrow

Markos was in the debate because he was on Face the Nation once with Harold Ford Jr. TV likes to pit people against each other who have different slants - it's good theater.

So they made a deal that Kos would appear at the DLC convention and Jr. would appear at Netroots Nation.

Some of the blog authors I've heard at panels so far include from Huffington Post, Media Matters, quite a few people from Democracy for America etc.

Kangaroo

I did see a video of people from Young Turks, FiredogLake and Huffington Post being asked all about that and the consensus was that Bush would pardon Rove. It would have to be into 2009 that anything would ever happen to Rove and they would have to catch him.

It was prior to 1935 that people used to be held in Contempt of Congress and there used to be a jail below Congress which is now gone. So the woman from FDL suggested he could be held in a shipping crate.

So what forums will you attend?

So the woman from FDL suggested he could be held in a shipping crate.

Seems appropriate, I would go for that.

Rove will probably get away Scott Free. We've only got 5 1/2 months before the next President is sworn in. If Rove gets indicted or convicted Double U will pardon him for sure.

Six months away from a new administration? This jail term has been a long eight years.

You know, I knew things were going to be bad until Double U left office, I simply had no idea that things would get as bad as they are getting. It's kind of scarey. People losing their homes, foreclosures in the hundreds of thousands (and this used to be the middle class in America), gas and food prices going sky high, our dollar shrinking.

Eeek. This is the first time in my life I have ever been so flat broke between paychecks. I used to travel to the city any time I felt like it five years ago. Now it is far and few between trips.

Six months away from a new administration? This jail term has been a long eight years.

You know, I knew things were going to be bad until Double U left office, I simply had no idea that things would get as bad as they are getting. It's kind of scarey. People losing their homes, foreclosures in the hundreds of thousands (and this used to be the middle class in America), gas and food prices going sky high, our dollar shrinking.

Eeek. This is the first time in my life I have ever been so flat broke between paychecks. I used to travel to the city any time I felt like it five years ago. Now it is far and few between trips. The money I used to spend on off Broadway productions and the arts is now spent on gas and food. It happened so fast it's freaky.

I have attended forums mostly on media and I'll have to look them up for you but most of all I attended a party. About a thousand of us followed a mariachi band up to Maggie May's and we had cajun music and free margaritas and Mexican food and chocolate fondue.

Here is a photo I took:

Cool picture, slugbug.

Here's a diary about Harold Ford's forum.

And another one about Siegelman's.

In this year's Netroots Nation, I think it's especially important that people got to hear Siegelman.

I am sitting at the back of the hall where I have power and there are so many bloggers that the Internets is slowed to a crawl. Code Pink is here and have promised to be on good behavior as they did not pay to get in. Someone from Austin Energy told me that Al Gore will be a secret guest.

I met the person on the bus who wrote the first question. It was voted to number one. She wants to konw why impeachment is off the table.

Nancy says she supports a Contempt resolution, which is a start. She is surprised they didn't get more votes. She is a smooth talker because she is speaking in favor of the Constitution and against the war. She is referring to the Contempt for Harriet Myers and next Karl Rove. So she is pretty much referring it to Committee.

As a second question, Gina of DailyKos has asked if Karl Rove will eventually be in jail, to wild applause. Nancy says, "As Mr. Conyers said, 'leave it up to me.'"

Next question: the Telecoms.

She reminds us that she is on the committee for Telecoms, because she wanted to protect civil liberties. She says she will not understand how 17 Democrats in the Senate failed to vote properly, and that their options were then very limited. She did not support the bill because the authority of FISA was the exclusive authority, US citizens overseas were not protected and she feels the House bill was better than the Senate bill. I did see people here from the Electronic Frontiers Foundation or whatever it is called. ACLU. The room is pretty silent. She reminds us that some conservative Republicans support the 4th amendment.

She goes on to champion science, universal healthcare and to point out what should be obvious - if you don't believe in abortion, you should support birth control, but this is counterintuitive to the radical rightwing. She has known for a long time that many of the conservative members of the House EQUATE contraception with abortion. She also does not feel that faith and science cannot coexist, as some evangelicals are against war and care about the poor. It is very fashionable to say this now, to take some ammo away from the right.

I have more photos but they are taking forever to upload, with all these bloggers. The room is very quiet today. People are listening, listening. She supports Network Neutrality. She talks alot about technology, innovation, science. That is good.

Next question: Why do our soldiers have to beg for Care Packages that include toothpaste and other sundries?

She says we have been unfair in many many respects and it's emblematic of other needs that have not been met - she has travelled to vet's hospitals and overseas and met alot of soldiers. They are bearing costs in many ways, including when they come home. She then talks about a VA package they passed - the new GI bill - best in 77 years. She says nearly 1/3 of those who have served in these recent wars have post-traumatic stress yet the Administration is in denial and does not want to help. She mentions the long-term cost - not only loss of life but the permanent wounds, the diminishment of our capacity to defend ourselves, the diversion, the blunders but also the long haul - up to 4th deployments, children who have lost these years with their parents - and why? The war must end but we must honor the troops, win the elections, build future.

There was a surprise question from Al Gore, who is bringing down the house talking about the stupidity of drilling in the Arctic and along the coasts, of going to war with Iraq and Afghanistan and of letting the polar ice caps melt and doing nothing. He is truly inflamed when he talks about the environment and relates it to everything else, as everyone else should have done so long ago - but no - we ended up being ruled by oilmen.

THE ALLIANCE FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION - THE ALLIANCE FOR CLIMATE PROTECTOIN - Mobilize ten million grassroots activists across partisan divide. WE CAN SOLVE IT DOT ORG

Al says "We are in this for the long haul. We need your help." He also encourages us to express ourselves through go to Current.com and express ourselves in video - 50 some million reached already. We are to tell our children and grandchildren about being here - that this was the beginning.

Rock star. He is asked if he would accept a position in an Obama administration. He wanted to convey that a position with the administration would be an honor but that he would like to work for a broader sea change in public opinion across party lines, ie. a broader role.

Op-Ed Columnist

Yes We Can

By BOB HERBERT

As I was listening to Al Gore on the telephone, I was thinking: “Uh-oh, the naysayers will have a field day with this one.”

The former vice president was giving me an advanced briefing on the speech that he delivered on Thursday, calling on the United States to behave like a great nation and actually do something real about its self-destructive and ultimately unsustainable reliance on carbon-based fuel for its 21st-century energy needs.

“I’m going to issue a strategic challenge that the United States of America set a goal of getting 100 percent of our electricity from renewable resources and carbon-constrained fuels within 10 years,” he said.

“One hundred percent?” I said.

“One hundred percent.”

Mr. Gore’s focus is primarily on solar, wind and geothermal energy. His belief is that a dramatic, wholesale transition to these abundant and renewable sources of energy is not just doable, but essential.

My view of Mr. Gore’s passionate engagement with some of the biggest issues of our time is that he is offering us the kind of vision and sense of urgency that has been so lacking in the presidential campaigns. But the tendency in a society that is skeptical, if not phobic, about anything progressive has been to dismiss his large ideas and wise counsel, as George H. W. Bush once did by deriding him as “ozone man.”

The naysayers will tell you that once again Al Gore is dreaming, that the costs of his visionary energy challenge are too high, the technological obstacles too tough, the timeline too short and the political lift much too heavy.

But that’s the thing about visionaries. They don’t imagine what’s easy. They imagine the benefits to be reaped once all the obstacles are overcome. Mr. Gore will tell you about the wind blowing through the corridor that stretches from Mexico to Canada, through the Plains states, and the tremendous amounts of electricity that would come from capturing the energy of that wind — enough to light up cities and towns from coast to coast.

- more -

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/opinion/19herbert.html

My post at The Times:

"Gore is choosing to assume the role of an authentic American visionary, and God-Goddess bless him for that. Somebody has to lead in this nation, and sometimes it’s better if that person isn’t running for President - or has little if anything to gain politically. Gore has set the agenda, and let’s see candidates for every Federal office, and not just the Presidential candidates, take a stand in support or against this vision.

"We have Republicans in Texas advocating for policies on the state level that are in harmony with what Gore is proposing we do nationally. It’s time that Americans collectively stood up to the special interest in either party, and demanded that America put energy security and independence at the head of our national agenda.

"This isn’t a Republican issue; it isn’t a Democratic issue; it’s an American issue."

— Posted by HPLeft

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/al-gore-is-special-guest-star-at-netroots-nation/

Andrew
Thanks for posting those! There is nice coverage by Andrew at Northwest Progressive Institute (I'm travelling with them) and by Ari Melber of the Nation. Your articles summarize what Al Gore said today. It's good to witness Nancy Pelosi listening to it. She did talk alot about technology, science, and the future.

I came back to the Hilton because it is impossible to use the internet functionally over at the convention center with all the bloggers! It's right across the street but coming back involves a convoluted walk in the sun.

Ironically, it appears that Austin is having to dig up train tracks that it once buried under concrete so that they can have some light rail out here. Why did cities all over the country do this? Why did we curtail alot of passenger train service all over the US? What were our forefathers thinking?!!

Andrew?

slugbug

Why did we curtail alot of passenger train service all over the US? What were our forefathers thinking?!!

Answer: to fatten the pockets of the oilmen as well as General Motors and Ford.

Then GM and Ford stopped innovating, and the evil Toyota empire reaped the benefits.

Speaking of trains, California has a ballot initiative this November that will sell bonds to start work on a European/Japanese-style bullet train line between San Francisco/Sacramento and Los Angeles/San Diego. It's Prop 1, and I'll support it.

Sparrow..

"Andrew?"

I meant "Matthew" - thanks to him for posting the Gore articles.

I guess I had "Andrew" on the brain because he was trying to corral me to work in the NPI botth in the exhibition hall and the names are similar.

Blogger conventions are informative but in format they aren't that different from any convention - the exhibit booths, vendors, variable quality/interest presentations etc. etc. People wander off to have a good time and in Austin I am seeing alot of hung over people dragging around in search of a free brunch.

It's winding down.

Suz
I don't have any link for posting to the front page and I'll be coming in late and working at a camp on Monday. You can put something up if you want or I'll do it Monday after work.

xoD

Cindy Sheehan Opens New Campaign Headquarters in San Francisco

Virtually ignored by the establishment media, the famous antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan opened her new campaign headquarters yesterday in San Francisco.

The date of her headquarters opening coincided with the date John Lennon was assassinated in New York 27 years ago. Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, hoped his passing would be remembered by people everywhere imagining a world of Peace and Love.

San Francisco
December 9, 2007

Except for a short factual broadcast by Don Knapp of local television station KPIX Channel 5, Cindy Sheehan's official opening of her new campaign headquarters in San Francisco yesterday was virtually ignored by the establishment media. There was no coverage in the San Francisco Chronicle. If one searches "Cindy Sheehan" from Google's news page and glances over the search offerings, one might even get the impression that Cindy had given up her activism. But it isn't so. Far from it.

Especially since yesterday afternoon-- when many friends and supporters met Cindy and her surviving children (her son, Casey, was killed in Iraq) at 1260 Mission Street in San Francisco. There, Cindy addressed the issues that spurred her to directly challenge California District 8 Congressional incumbent Nancy Pelosi, considered by many as the third most powerful person in America today behind George W. Bush and Richard Cheney.

Pelosi has famously vowed to "keep impeachment off the table," and has disappointed most of her constituents and many people around the nation for not helping bring an end to America's involvement in Iraq. The Washington Post reported yesterday that under Pelosi's "leadership" Democrats will have for the third time since they took control of Congress failed to force Bush to change course in Iraq. Tomorrow, they plan to give Bush a half-trillion-dollar spending package that will include billions of dollars for the war in Iraq without timelines for the withdrawal of combat forces. http://tinyurl.com/2jj7y5

During Cindy Sheehan's Campaign Headquarters Open House, Cindy expressed her contempt for such measures which suggest that the Democrats are colluding with the Bush administration and not presenting a true opposition that reflects the will of the people-- particularly in San Francisco where Cindy is now running as an independent. She also expressed her desire to implement healthy changes which will begin by bringing American troops home from a war that is universally known today as having been founded on lies.
http://www.cindyforcongress.org/

Any news at all on what is happening with Cindy Sheehan's campaign, I haven't been able to find anything

Karma came around and blessed Al Gore, and bit the Bush administration in the arse. And may they forever be seen as they truly are for all history to observe.

Legacy?

Payback is a b*+ch.

Hi Kangaroo,

How you going?

Haven't heard anything on Cindy Sheehan other than what you posted a short while ago. I wonder why the media is blacking her out?

Fox's Chris Wallace talked to Sen. Joe Lieberman and Sen. Evan Bayh about Sen. Barack Obama's plan to withdraw troops from Iraq. Lieberman described Obama's plan as "retreat and defeat."

Lieberman said, "If Barack Obama's policy in Iraq had been implemented, he couldn't be in Iraq today, he was prepared to accept retreat and defeat and that would mean today al Qaeda would be in charge of parts of Iraq, Iranian-backed extremists would be in charge of other parts of Iraq. There'd be civil war and maybe even genocide."

Sen. Bayh responded saying, "Barack Obama was not for losing in Iraq. Barack didn't want the war to begin with. John McCain opposed surging troops in afghanistan until last week. Was john for losing in afghanistan? I don't think so. Now you have Maliki, even President Bush, are moving toward Barack Obama's position."

This video is from Fox's Fox News Sunday, broadcast July 20, 2008.

more...
http://rawstory.com//news/2008/Lieberman_Obama_prepared_to_accept_defeat_0720.html

Re: Benedict Lieberman saying "If Barack Obama's policy in Iraq had been implemented, he couldn't be in Iraq today", I know for a fact McCain said exactly the same thing, almost word for word, just last week, heard it with my own ears.

Aside from the parroting from the obvious Republican daily talking points memos, ummm, how many congressman and senators have actually gone to Iraq BEFORE today?

The Joeker

The entire point of the Murtha strategy was to propel the Iraqis to get their butts in gear, and take control of their own destinies. It was not "retreat and defeat".

We are losing ground both in the war of ideas, and in the war on the ground, at least in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Iraq has been somewhat stabilized by the surge - but nobody knows at this point if what we're watching is merely the calm before the storm or a legitimate move towards long-term stability. That can only come through political reconciliation.

Meanwhile, the Israelis are moving foward with talks with virtually all of their enemies. What do they understand that the reactionary right here in America does not?

July 21, 2008
Iraq sees hope of US troop withdrawal by 2010
By BRIAN MURPHY
Associated Press Writer
Iraq's government welcomed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Monday with word that it apparently shares his hope that U.S. combat forces could leave by 2010.

The statement by Iraq's government spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, followed talks between Obama and Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki — who has struggled for days to clarify Iraq's position on a possible timetable for a U.S. troop pullout.

Al-Dabbagh said the government did not endorse a fixed date, but hoped American combat units could be out of Iraq sometime in 2010. That timeframe falls within the 16-month withdrawal plan proposed by Obama, who arrived in Iraq earlier in the day as part of a congressional fact-finding team.

"We are hoping that in 2010 that combat troops will withdraw from Iraq," al-Dabbagh told reporters, noting that any withdrawal plan was subject to change if the level of violence kicks up again.

As he departed from talks with al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani in Baghdad's heavily protected Green Zone, Obama said, "We had a very constructive discussion." Obama also plans meetings with U.S. military commanders who will outline recent progress in the war he has opposed from the start.

This was the third stop on a foreign tour designed to gather information while burnishing the Democratic contender's foreign policy credentials. National security issues are the one issue area in which Obama trails Republican John McCain in the polls.

- more -

http://breakingnews.nypost.com/dynamic/stories/O/OBAMA?SITE=NYNYP&SECTION=HOME

I saw that on the wire Matthew, wonder how McCain is gonna try and sping THAT one!

Hey, is it just me, or does it seem lately that the Iraqi government is flipping the bird at Bush as he exits (mercifully) the world stage?

Fowl Up

Freewill
by Rush

There are those who think that life
Has nothing left to chance
With a host of holy horrors
To direct our aimless dance

A planet of playthings
We dance on the strings
Of powers we cannot perceive
The stars arent aligned ---
Or the gods are malign
Blame is better to give than receive

You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill
I will choose a path that's clear
I will choose freewill

There are those who think
That they were dealt a losing hand
The cards were stacked against them
They weren't born in Lotusland

All preordained
A prisoner in chains
A victim of venomous fate
Kicked in the face
You can't pray for a place
In heaven's unearthly estate

You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill
I will choose a path that's clear
I will choose freewill

Each of us
A cell of awareness
Imperfect and incomplete
Genetic blends
With uncertain ends
On a fortune hunt that's far too fleet

You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill
I will choose a path that's clear
I will choose freewill

Change of topic:

Constitutional ban on gay marriage is losing in California. Apparently all the Moonie money and personnel will not be enough to sway the Golden State.

I am not letting my guard down, however! I know the Moonies have deep pockets and can still distort the discussion at will.

PDF report from the nonpartisan Field Poll:
http://field.com/fieldpollonline/subscribers/Rls2278.pdf

Is the media being unfair to McCain?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25785158/?GT1=43001

Gimme a f'ing break - the media is indeed being unfair to McCain, unfairly nice! Otherwise who can explain all the flip-flopping he's been doing as of late (and unnoticed by the media)?

Iraqi backing of Obama plan irks White House
Says Baghdad may be using U.S. election as leverage in negotiations

WASHINGTON - The White House expressed unhappiness Monday about Iraqi leaders' public backing for Barack Obama's troop withdrawal timetable. And it said that Baghdad may be trying to use the U.S. presidential election as leverage in talks about the future of American's military presence and obligations in the war.

Washington and Baghdad probably will miss a July 31 target for reaching an agreement, said White House press secretary Dana Perino, characterizing the negotiations as "hard-driving."

"We don't think that talking about specific negotiating tactics or your negotiating position in the press is the best way to negotiate a deal," Perino said after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was quoted in a magazine article supporting the 16-month troop withdrawal timeline proposed by Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate. "However, we understand that they're a sovereign country and they'll be able to do that," Perino said. "We're just not going to do it on our end."

-snip-

The Iraqi statements suggested that Iraqi officials were setting the agenda on the timing of U.S. troop withdrawals and forcing President Bush to make concessions. "Let's squeeze them," Al-Maliki was quoted by The Associated Press as telling his advisers. Bush last week reversed course and agreed to set a "general time horizon" for bringing home more U.S. troops, based on Iraq's ability to take care of its own security.

"The key issue," Perino said, "is that they understand it will not be arbitrary; it will not be a date that you just pluck out of thin air; it will not be something that Americans say, `We're going to do — we're going to leave at this date,' which is what some have suggested," she said.

more...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25786952/

Kangaroo
I didn't get the 100 MoveOn bumper stickers I paid for - last time I'll donate to them. I do have some Obama ones and I now bought something fun for you guys in Austin (Bush-related) so on the weekend I'll try to find your address and try to also figure out how to sen dit.

Kangaroo

Third parties don't get alot of press in US until they become viable enough, like Ross Perot in the 90s.

So we may have Socialists, Greens, Independents, etc.

If you go to Google and hit News, most of the press on Cindy Sheehan is from small publications in the San Francisco area.

If she can really give Nancy Pelosi a run for her money in the local primary there, then she would begin to get national press.

Anyway, that's how I think it would happen.

I'm not sure I trust Al-Maliki. I will go back in and research what I knew about him before. If I were him, and I changed camps, I'd be looking over my shoulder.

I am also concerned with McCain and Bush adopting Obama's position on Iraq. I never thought they would stoop that low. Maybe they figure at this point what have they got to lose.

Talking about this last weekend, someone said "The American Public doesn't have that short of a memory." I said "I'm afraid they do."

Barack Obama's team should set up a site where they email all of Rove's list about the virtues of Obama.

This week's Newsweek has a picture of Obama at prayer on the cover, with an article titled "Faith and Politics, What He Believes."

Suck Eggs McSame McBush

Who is Presidential? Obama That's Who

Is this excitement and joy?

Senator Obama With U.S. Troops in Kuwait

Senator Obama Opening Remarks in Kuwait

Obama Meets Afghan Leaders, Makes Stop in Kuwait

Anyway, that's how I think it would happen.

Thanks Slugbug

Hey TSP How you going from Down Under

Talking about this last weekend, someone said "The American Public doesn't have that short of a memory." I said "I'm afraid they do."

Just look at the last eight years. "I'm afraid they do."

Hey Roo,

I am going okay. Reeling from gas prices and food prices going through the roof, but am still kickin' it.

"I'm VERY afraid they do" myself. It is scarey. I don't like McCain and Bush taking Obama's position on the Iraq war. Because too many people either don't remember the last long 7 1/2 years, or they might think Bush and McCain "won" the Iraq war by the surge. I can't stand those kinds of insincere, manipulative, control freaks.

If McCain gets in we are in for a world of hurt.
Let's see, he's a senator who has "ahem" spent time with many lobbiests, ran around on his first wife, married a 26 year old Beer Heiress
when he was in his mid forties, calls people gooks, is reported to have a bad temper, can't speak in public worth a darn, is really bad with telepromters, mumbles (I had to CRACK UP
I'm telling you!, the day they interviewed him about women not getting their contraceptives paid for by their insurance when men get Viagra paid for by their insurance.) He himmed and ha'd and mumbled alot. Why should he worry, he and his wife have enough money for Viagra and contraceptives and their own private plane.

If that clip is on UTube you should go look it up. It is just funny.

(When I look at McCain, all I can think of is that he should have some kind of a clear plastic sheath over his head. If you get my drift.)

Obama meets with King Abdullah of Jordan

Senators Obama, Reed and Hagel at the press conference this morning

A Palestinian baker in the West Bank city of Ramallah prepares for Obama's visit to the area

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/19/photos-and-video-from-bar_n_113843.html

(When I look at McCain, all I can think of is that he should have some kind of a clear plastic sheath over his head. If you get my drift.)

All I can think of, is that atrocious speech he gave, the night of Obamas Victory speech. It is ingrained in my mind

Bush: Wall Street was drunk, House Hunting in Dallas

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/banned-bush-video-surface_b_114363.html