Now that the Republicans plan on making HCR THE issue of the November elections with their concern troll statements about feeling bad for the Dems, it is about time to start framing this as it should be.

Lets make Republicans have to answer for their NO vote on the most significant social legislation since Civil Rights. Lets ask them how it feels to be on the wrong side of history. Point out that they denied health care to 45 million hardworking Americans. How they voted to deny insurance for people with pre-existing conditions. And how they voted for the insurance industry rather than hard working Americans.

Like how the Republicans keep using the same phrases like "Government Take-over", "job killing" and other phony phrases and adjectives meant to distract and distort the truth, the Democrats can start using phrases such as "denying health care to the greatest generation" or to the most "vulnerable" in society.

It was the steady drip, drip, drip of their distortions that have tried to move the public opinion in the last year. Now Democrats, or at least Democrats with a pair, can start talking like Allan Grayson and call it for what it is.

How about it???

I am watching the final days of the HCR debate (still??) and I was struck by the fact that those on the right continue to repeat over and over again that the "vast majority" of Americans are against this bill. They keep repeating 73%. But watching the Daily Show, one of the few places where facts and lies are pointed out, many polls, no make that most polls show the majority of Americans are FOR the bill.

This morning on one of the morning shows Harold Ford and Laura Ingraham were on and they were talking about reconciliation. I sat there silently praying that Ford would debunk Ingrahams lies right then and there quoting the NYT  and other polls but he sat there like a stone, debunking nothing.

When the facts are on our side, how come it is only the people who read blogs like this know the actual truth?

I understand about the right-wing noise machine and Fox News etc, but you would think that one or two more people like Alan Grayson can be heard above the din. Why isnt Harry Reid, Pelosi and virtually everyone pointing out (no make that shouting from the rooftops) that this will be immensely popular and when people get through the lies they back it with a clear majority?

As you may remember, the "tea party" movement (which will always be the teabaggers in my sick mind) relied on intimidation, obstruction and veiled hints of violence. This is what brought the media to events when a small minority of ill-informed people (not necessarily voters I might add) showed up at Congressional Town Hall meetings to simply yell, scream, whine and complain that their rights are being shredded. The bottom line was that the Republican puppet masters let them run amok with their attempts at intimidation, while the media, always looking for a sound byte instead of a story, gave them great coverage. It was actually like the hockey highlights on our local news, showing the fights but little of the real action that took place.

If our Democratic members of Congress do the right thing and vote for a majority-rule enactment of the legislation, you can rest assured that Boehner, Cantor and the like will stand aside and let their minions grab the nightly news with more of the same.

My question is what is our response. By that I mean, what should be the response of the majority of the American people that truly desire health care reform?

What about our own Progressive Tea Party movement. Can you show up at a town hall meeting and scream "I want my country back"? Why cant we show up at these meetings as tea-party patriots, real patriots who want to advance the standard of living in America. Why cant we show up as people who want to hear facts, not Sarah Palin lies and distortions?

We did something close to this at the 2008 elections when we rallied millions people, who were never involved in the political process. We need to do this again for the 2010 elections. Personally I am tired hearing that the Republicans are looking for big gains in November with nothing to back them up other than sadly misinformed retirees and folks who use this as a veil for their own regressive political views.

So, can we do this again? Can we party like it is 2008 in 2010? Can you show up at a town hall meeting saying you represent the Burlington Progressive Tea Party and scream that you want your country back from the corporate shills in the Republican Party?

I can and will...

Join me.

I think it is time to call Joe Lieberman on the damage he has inflicted on the Democratic Party and more importantly on our nation.

For those of us who were around in 2000, back when Josh put up his first tentative posts, during the Florida recount, Joe Lieberman was no where to be found. When Dick Cheney and the Republican pitbulls (no lipstick) were spewing their venom, Joe Lieberman was AWOL. The VP nominees sole role in the run up to the election is to be the guy carrying the big stick. But good ole Joe, couldn't even swat Dick Cheney in the debate when he was serving up softballs like how he made all of his money in the private sector (no mention of the government contracts he got for Halliburton, feeding from the public trough). Nor did he stand up to the Republicans when they were breaking every rule on ballot eligibility for things like ballots being faxed in AFTER election day. Yes, Joe must have been thinking of himself even then.

So, where did Joe's inaction lead us? Well for starters, President Bush, 9/11 (President Gore would have read the memos), the Iraq War, Guantanamo, eavesdropping on American citizens, Enron, and the massive failure of the investment banking industry (Al Gore was a populist before it was popular). Yes, one could lay all of this and more on the doorstep of Joe Lieberman because he wasn't the tough, loyal Democrat that was needed back in 2000. And I do.

Kick him off his committee chairs NOW. If he has any remorse for his actions he will still caucus with the Democrats, but to be honest, Joe only cares about Joe. So lets all man up and give Joe what he deserves. 

I think it is time to call Joe Lieberman on the damage he has inflicted on the Democratic Party and more importantly on our nation.

For those of us who were around in 2000, back when Josh put up his first tentative posts, during the Florida recount, Joe Lieberman was no where to be found. When Dick Cheney and the Republican pitbulls (no lipstick) were spewing their venom, Joe Lieberman was AWOL. The VP nominees sole role in the run up to the election is to be the guy carrying the big stick. But good ole Joe, couldn't even swat Dick Cheney in the debate when he was serving up softballs like how he made all of his money in the private sector (no mention of the government contracts he got for Halliburton, feeding from the public trough). Nor did he stand up to the Republicans when they were breaking every rule on ballot eligibility for things like ballots being faxed in AFTER election day. Yes, Joe must have been thinking of himself even then.

So, where did Joe's inaction lead us? Well for starters, President Bush, 9/11 (President Gore would have read the memos), the Iraq War, Guantanamo, eavesdropping on American citizens, Enron, and the massive failure of the investment banking industry (Al Gore was a populist before it was popular). Yes, one could lay all of this and more on the doorstep of Joe Lieberman because he wasn't the tough, loyal Democrat that was needed back in 2000. And I do.

Kick him off his committee chairs NOW. If he has any remorse for his actions he will still caucus with the Democrats, but to be honest, Joe only cares about Joe. So lets all man up and give Joe what he deserves. 

As it becomes more and more apparent what a catastrophic pick Sarah Palin has been for VP, one wonders just how long she will be on the ticket. I think it is pretty safe to bet that she will not be there on November 4th. But how will they dump her? Will she choose to spend more quality time with her daughter? Will she decide she is too much of a distraction for Senator McCain?

What do you think and when do you think the hammer is coming down.

Here is my prediction: By September 7th, Palin will have stepped down from the nomination for VP. Her reason will be twofold. 1.) To spend quality time with her daughter. 2.) She will go on about how she now understands what HRC went through and says that it is those mean liberals who are making her step down, just like they drove HRC from her candidacy.

Mark my words...

Fade in to a black and white picture of Joe Biden working into the night in his Senate office....

Voiceover lists Biden's many accomplishments within the Senate and concludes "Qualified"

Fade into a sign that says (whatever the town that Palin was the mayr of), Population 5,844. Camera drives through the quaint little town...Voiceover says "3 term mayor"....and concludes "Qualified???"

 

 

As Duncan Black would say... "What Digby Said" http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/dont-want-to-say-i-told-you-so.html Sheesh... I am troubled by this move to apologize for a rational statement by General Clark. We as Democrats have got to quit falling for the scare tactics of these bloviating blowhards on the right. Until we stop, we will have another election like 2004.

For anyone whose support of Senator Clinton is wobbling, for whatever reason, just read this commentary and watch the video.
Just watch this

I am renewed.

 

I really wonder how many people actually saw Senator Clinton and the now famous "as far as I know" moment on 60 minutes. To be honest, I didnt until today. Like many folks posting on this site, I assumed what I heard was true. But I was shocked when I actually saw it on YouTube.

You can see it here.
Shame on ANYONE who thinks this is anything more than someone hounding Senator Clinton  for an answer they were hoping for. I challenge any Obama supporter to explain this for anything other than what it is. Of course you have to actually view the video first. It takes exactly 1 second for Senator Clinton to say "no, of course not". But that isnt enough for Steve Kroft. The most important thing is to listen to the intonation of Senator Clinton. Just listen. And I challenge anyone to explain your previous scurrilous remarks.

Many folks have decided on their vote for today, Super Tuesday, as a chance to make history. And indeed we will. What I am looking for in a candidate is this:

I want a president who will be able to withstand the Right Wing Hate Machine (RWHM).
I want a president will read the memos.
I want a president who is a policy wonk who makes decisions not based on their gut but based on research and close advice.
I want a president who has already made difficult decisions and who can withstand the flak for them
I want a president who understands that hope is great but grasping the reality of politics in America is greater

My candidate is Hillary Clinton. I dont care who the RWHM wants to run, I am going to vote for the most qualified candidate. And Senator Clinton; when the hate machine fires up its engines, dont worry, because I got your back. The American people will have your back. Because we are tired of it and we wont stand by this time.

Cheney will retire for health reasons before 2008, he has become such a liability not only for Bush's legacy but for America that he will need to go. Rice moves to VP and Negroponte will move to State. He has taken a deputy position there recently in preparation for these moves...

Remember, you heard it here first!

If we have a resounding, overwhelming victory at the polls, what do you think the President's reaction will be? For my money I think he will continue to be the spoiled frat boy he has been for his entire life. Anything that goes wrong will be blamed on the fact that he now has those 'terror loving' Democrats in the House and Senate. Of course, now he has the perfect excuse to pull out of Iraq and blame the entire mess on the 2006 election results. The grand Wurlitzer of right wing talking points will do nothing but back him up of course. Bottom line: Look for an increasingly petulent little wise-ass in the White House. Bitter over the rejection and out for revenge where ever he can take it.

It seems the Bush administration has done nothing but encourage the story that we havent been attacked since 9/11, when Al Qaeda declared war on America. It is true, we havent been attacked on American soil since then and that is an important fact, but the jihadists declared war on America much earlier than 2001. They actually declared war on America back shortly before the first attack on the WTC. It was that attack that marked their first offensive move on American soil. What the right does not want you to know is that there was no attack on American soil again until 9/11. That was the SECOND attack on America by the jihadists. But what people dont seem to want to admit is that it was 8 years between attacks with constant vigilance keeping them at bay. This includes the Bojinka conspiracy that is being bandied about in the media now. The new administration wasnt in office for 9 months when 9/11 happened. They were warned but refused to take terrorism seriously. Cheney took his time convening the new terrorism task force he insisted on chairing and Bush's response to the PDB of August 6th, is legend now...back to vacation and upbraiding the messenger with "well you have covered your ass now". 9/11 was on Bush's watch. Period! Just incredible how the legend has grown about Bush's vigilance versus the sad reality.