Howard, standing up to the state of Florida, is first.

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

OK, I've got to get ready for the Edwards picnic.

Bluehamsphire has a diary about this NYT story.  I don't agree with the diary.

What do you think? 

Big Easy struggles 2 years after Katrina

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Two years after Hurricane Katrina, much of the "city that care forgot" still lies in ruins. But Otis Biggs' task as he shuffles his Tarot deck this moist August day is to peer into the future to 2015, the storm's 10th anniversary. ...

..."For every positive that's going on in New Orleans right now, there's a negative, there's a concern," says Reed Kroloff, who until recently was dean of the school of architecture at Tulane University.

The failure of federally funded, state-administered recovery programs to quickly take hold, and the city's struggle to define and fund plans for neighborhood redevelopment, have shaken confidence about New Orleans' short-term future. Mayor Ray Nagin favors a "market-driven" recovery of the city. Critics say he has not made the tough decisions necessary to get planning for the city's future moving into high gear.

New Orleans still struggles with corruption. A congressman is under indictment, a senator has been implicated in a sex scandal and a city councilman thought to be a favorite as New Orleans' next mayor pleaded guilty in August to federal bribery charges and resigned. ...full article: http://dwb.fresnobee.com/24hour/front/st...

----

We Need Reed!: http://www.dfalink.com/campaign.php?id=2...

Ayad Allawi is a terrorist.  He introduced car bombs to Iraq.

Good Morning All

Howard Dean Speaks For ME!!!

Thank you Howard Dean for that ever present backbone. For your continous strong standing on principle and ethics. For not cowering to smears and attacks.

...those others Dem's can't keep blaming others for their hand in things and they surely can't call others out for breaking rules and laws and then wanting to breaking rules and laws. Walk the Talk as Howard Dean, the LEADER of the Democratic Party DOES!

And that is the news today!

Rock on!

And a little bit more of what should be in the news today.

Tim Robbins also speaks for me.

"...."shouldn't there be a rule or a law that say's if you f@ck things up so badly, you can no longer be considered an expert?"

view a great clip from Real Time with Bill Maher here:
http://alternet.org/blogs/video/#60714

Under "Democrats reaffirm their commitment to voting rights..."


DNC Chairman Howard Dean and DNC Voting Rights Institute Chair Donna Brazile issued the following joint statement on the 42nd anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

...


"As part of our ongoing effort to make it easier for Americans to exercise their right to vote, Democrats are conducting a nationwide survey to evaluate the election mechanics in each state. It is our goal to work to flag and prevent potential problems and election administration issues that threaten to deprive citizens of their right to register, vote and have their vote counted."

But now both have disenfranchised the whole population of Florida Democrats, who will rightfully give the hypocrits above named the middle finger.

... and i join them.

BTW that clip of hypocracy is directly from the DNC web site here...

http://www.democrats.org/a/national/elec...

Howard Dean who 'bravely' threw election funding reform in the dumpster, fought for hard by Democrats, now along woththe 'peoples advocates champions' on the DNC now insist that an entire state ignore it's own state law.

Where is it i am missing this? First we want the people to have the power, now we dictate from D.C.

Did Donna or Howard offer to fund a different date for the FL Democrats to have their primary? Will the DNC pay for election workers? How about voting equipment? Venues? Snacks? Advertising?
ANYTHING?????????????

I don't see anywhere that the offer was or is being made.

Hello? All you 'floor he walks on' worshippers need to explain.

Politics is not so easy in Guatemala. Forty candidates have been murdered in this campaign, including a 15 yr. old daughter of one of the candidates who was tortured and killed. Her father said he had been called all sorts of names including communist. It would be interesting to know more, but we may not get the whole story. DU article, AP.

Technically speaking, Deaniac, participants in a political party are not covered by federal and state guarantees of civil rights.  They are governed by the rules of the organization, much as members of a homeowners association are governed by their rules.

Edwards on CBS............his tie makes his eye bluer..............about Iraq.............he he, theyre all in deep ka ka over it............what a mess.............Elizabeth is smarter than him..............

Monica Smith
Sun, 08/26/07
10:38 am

'Technically' is an excuse which Florida citizens, and especially Democrats, don't have the luxury to argue. Please address how a primary happens without funding.

Was it not Howard who opposed No Child Left behind because of funding? Is this his 'No State Committee Left Standing' initiative?

US EPA is reviewing dangerous fumigant pesticides for re-registration and considering what precautions applicators must take to protect the public from the health hazards of these volatile poisons. EPA is currently soliciting public comment on fumigant re-registrations and your input is needed.

Take Action now!

http://action.panna.org/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=693

Pesticides and Autism: New research suggests that children whose mothers lived near applications of the organochlorine pesticides endosulfan and dicofol during the first trimester of pregnancy are at significantly greater risk for developing Autism Spectrum Disorders.

http://www.panna.org/index.html

Bayer to Face Peruvian Families at Court-Ordered Settlement Hearing for 24 Children Killed by Pesticide 

Lima, Peru: On October 22, 1999 in the remote Andean village of Tauccamarca, 24 children were poisoned and killed when they drank a powdered milk substitute as part of their school lunch that had been contaminated by the organophosphate pesticide methyl parathion. Eighteen other children at the school were poisoned but survived, and today suffer the developmental consequences typical of organophosphate poisoning.

In 2001, the families brought a civil action against Bayer S.A., the wholly-owned subsidiary of the.....

http://www.panna.org/resources/documents/bayerSettlement20070411.dv.html 

Linda*in*SFNM
Sun, 08/26/07
9:54 am


Like it or not the Florida residents are going to have the primary according to the new law. All else is whining. The DNC should have been influential somehow prior to that. If they tried and lost, well... that's how it goes.

It's like how everyone wants blame the Iraqi for not having a political solution to the nightmare that we created. I argue that if the people of the U.S., and especially Democrats in that esteemed tank of wisdom Washington D.C., cared for the Iraqi they'd have acted to oust the warmongers when the drums were beating.

NOW is basicly too late to cry... except for impeachment.

Dow Chemical accused of bribing officials in India:

 On August 21, the Indian Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided Dow Chemical offices in seven locations due to allegations that the corporation was "allegedly paying bribes to key Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee... officials to obtain license for the marketing of its insecticide products in India," reports the Hindustan Times. Dow Chemical, having bought 100% of Union Carbide, continues to deny liability for ongoing pollution in Bhopal, India, and continuing illness of tens of thousands who were contaminated when Union Carbide's pesticide plant exploded in 1984. Read more

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=20d994dc-b86b-4091-ada3-d2ac6499d38a

BTW is our hero Howard calling for impeachment?

Take a gander at this guy...WARNING!!!---CRUDE LANGUAGE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKBKdVQqa...

Deaniac

when it happened Florida Democrats blamed it all on the Republicans, are they now saying it was them?

In most places the local party pays for the costs of the method to allocate the delegates to the national convention, the DNC doesn't provide any money to Iowa

why would the DNC pay Florida's costs? 

Seashell what's the new business.

Susan Rowe -- thanx for Wiki entry of DFA -- did you write it?

Deaniac -- I'm not sure who is right or wrong for sure - FL or DNC, but at least Howard is trying to enforce some discipline to those who would ignore the rules and he shows a little BACKBONE which is more than you can say for our Congresssheeple.

I saw this Doug Brinkley article on NOLA featured on Wash Journal this morning -- I think Doug Brinkley writes very well. He stands back and gives an overview - is hard on Bush but more so on Nagin. It's mainly 'do we fix it' or do we continue to ignore it?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...

Free registration required.

20.

Deaniac in GA
Sun, 08/26/07
10:51 am

I believe Howard would consider calling for impeachment beyond his paygrade so to speak.

Deaniac in GA
Sun, 08/26/07
10:49 am
___________________________________________________________________________

Those are pretty challenging words to the Democratic establishment and status quo..............beetr take care, or Fred will be labeling you a "guest" as well..........................

Im a "hick" too.............from the Adirondacks of upstate NY...................I was in heaven 2 weeks ago..........just me, floating down small rapids (no raft or tube)............nobody around............then I lit up my carefully waterproofed and sealed cigar on the riverbank..............................now THAT was peaceful.

About the Biden plan...
This may have worked a couple of years ago.....

...Another problem with the three state proposa, is the Kurdish state will disappear. Turkey cannot afford an independent Kurdistan. The Kurds want us to stay but our exit will abandon them to their fate.
If anyone thinks we can stay in Kurdistan only then please look at a map. Dooming more troops in an isolated area surrounded by those who hate us is as dumb as our going into Iraq in the first place

=======================

dog, this is not a 3-state solution any more than our own United States.  It is federalization, while keeping one country, and it has been passed by the parliament as the way to go in Iraq.  Will Maliki follow this law? That is the question.  Read Biden's speech  

....But they say they are reluctant to “impose” a political settlement on the Iraqis. In fact, my plan “imposes” nothing on the Iraqis; rather, it would implement what is already in their constitution and laws. The Iraqi constitution establishes a decentralized, federal system in Iraq, with extensive powers for the regions and limited powers for the central government. The Iraqi parliament passed legislation, which takes effect early next year, to implement those provisions of the constitution. If my opponents would read the constitution and Iraq’s laws, their concern about fully backing my plan would vanish. I call on them to do so, and to support the Biden-Boxer-Brownback legislation, which would force the Bush Administration to change policy and support the Iraqi Constitution.

http://blog.thehill.com/2007/08/23/like-bush-some-of-my-democratic-colleagues-cling-to-flawed-premise-sen-joe-biden/

None of you are addressing the funding that would have to be there to hold this seperate primary, which is no matter what you think are paid for by state SOS budgets.

Where is the funding for the Democrats in any state at issue going to come from?

Answer the question... is Jim going to put up a bat for that?

Phil Specht
Sun, 08/26/07
10:55 am


Love you, you know that, but that is a dodge.

The DNC didn't say anything about having a Jan 29th Florida Primary just that credentialed delegates to the Denver Convention couldn't come out of that process as per agreed upon rules that were formulated in a calendar consistant with the way it has been done for many years. There was a time and place provided to change the system which Florida and Michigan participated in and unfortunately from their viewpoint weree unable to garner a majority

are those proposing to turn the system into something other than one governed by rules going to pound on doors during recounts like the Republican brownshirts during the 2000 recount?

that is how I view Florida Democratic party officials choice

follow Howard Dean and the DNC or join their brother brownshirts because a disrupted convention is the sure result.

Howard Dean is the best Chair in the history of the party as witnessed by the 06 elections and he demonstrated his fabled backbone yesterday

I am reminding you all that the states of IA and NH make their arguments from the stance of 'state law', which i guess the DNC has adopted.

The law in NH is circa 1978, i believe without gooooogling, how has Dems done by percentage in the POTUS category since then?

Think folks.

Iowa Democrats carry the full cost of the caucuses. any state where it is different have a cozy relationship with the Republicans to have independent taxpayers to participate in taxation without representation

Since Hillary Clinton is far outpolling the other candidates in the State of Confusion Florida, it will be to every Democrat's advantage, whether they know it or not, that Florida's primary votes won't count!

Perhaps that was in the back of Howard's mind in making his decision;)) There is an upside to everything.

I stand with Howard Dean, always.

Phil Specht
Sun, 08/26/07
11:05 am

You still aren't ansewing the question of funding.

But if it would make the DNC happy, you suggest i guess, the Dem Party of Florida would ignore the primary vote of it's citizens - and designate delegates by some other method?

Did i hear you right? I'm calling B.S.on that.

18.

Deaniac in GA

I'm not following you here. In many ways I agree with your argument, only you are aiming at the wrong persons.


I agree, they have to stop whining and deal with the issues. Florida was ignoring the rules set by the National Committee for the Presidential 08 Primary by PUSHING, YES, FLORIDA DEM'S WERE PUSHING (even though now they want to blame the Repub state officials for making the official change-again, they're not accepting responsibility of their own actions) for the too early Primary Electiion.

You surely aren't advocating anyone can ignore the rules set, which is why we are in this mess, are you? AND, AND, when Governor kept asking them not to do this and they ignored him, they made it officials, he stated they would lose their delegates, they "flew to Washington to have a meeting and state their case". Governor Dean then gave them a way out to keep their delegates, EVEN THOUGH THEY CHOSE TO PUSH THE EARLY DATE, and they rejected his offer to have a Caucus then. Then they spend these passed months on a smear and lie campaign to bully their will, even though it is completely against the rules that were set LAST YEAR.

And being Florida has done this, and aren't willing to have a caucus to keep their delegates, where is there left to go?

Indeed, stop whining. These are the known facts, the next question is what are you going to do about it? They chose this path ignoring rules and laws set. The DNC are still offering a rememedy to this debacle Florida Dem's created. Where does the end come...after Florida pushed the envelope, Michigan and Arizona are waiting on deck to do the same..................to be continued.

My arguement is that the cozy relationship may be between monied nominee candidates and the not publicly funded caucuses.

In Georgia, and most states, the folks on the ballot pay a fee to be on the ballot to the state's SOS. The primary is held by the counties under state laws and scrutiny. The various parties' heirarchy is not involved, the candidates campaigns compete according to their own funding.

Deaniac

 please address the basic question of how to allocate percentages of delegates to the nominating Convention of the Democratic Party.

We are talking about how to determine the individual name on the ballot across from DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

a political party is by law in every state responsible for providing a system whereby candidates up and down the ballot are determined

Iowa does have a primary and it is the first week in June, and unfilled ballot slots are filled by convening a special convention of the Democratic Party precinct committee people elected at the caucus, it is the legal basis for our candidates and has been so since the state Constitution was first ratified.

Deaniac, New Mexico added a Caucus to assign Delegates on February 5, and this small population state pays for it.

33.

Joan* In*Florida

That is why Florida Dem's are trying to push.....for Hillary to be annointed, like Kerry was, only even earlier. Then she will lose in the General.

Linda*in*SFNM
Sun, 08/26/07
11:17 am


Address the funding please. DNC? DFA? The candidate's campaigns, which ones will be left by then to give a flying dang?

Both IA and NH have said they would push up their selections if others moved up!!! Wouldn't this negate the difference? We are talking about 8 days here.

Did the DNC need to kick FL in the teeth? Just to show it could? When i listened to Donna Brazile she used the word "I" about five times. Was this all about her? Who all is intimidated by her or her cliche? Apparently not Floridians.

As i've stated before i do not always agree with Howard, my opposition to the funding RULES are a matter of factual history.
I lost that vote, the DNC lost the vote in FL - if that's the way yo look at it.

You can't have it both ways.

oops... s/b

my opposition to the funding RULES being violated by the Dean for America campaign are a matter of factual history

 any Party has rules

how do the Greens allocate delegates to thei nominating convention?

The Democratic Party does it by agreeing to approve rules formulated by each state and then approval is passed  by the National Rules Committee, and formally adopted by the full DNC and before they were even sent to the DNC each and every state ruling body had to approve them.

gather where ever you want outside of those guidelines, just don't expect to be credentialed at the Denver Convention

Why are you arguing for Florida to break the rules Deaniac? don't you live in Georgia?

Phil Specht
Sun, 08/26/07
11:22 am


You are trying to say there may be some actual unexpected result that comes out of Denver. We both know better than that, so does FL, MI, and AZ.

Let's allll hold caucuses is a no starter. You'll be doing good to see even one candidate in most states. You are arguing from the favorite son's point of veiw, not the red-headed step son's. There are at least 30 of those.

How does Georgia allocate it's delegates to Denver?

14.  In the beginning, before everyone realized what a disaster all the testing of children to assess the competence of their teachers was, there was an argument that the law couldn't be complied with because it cost more than the money that was being provided.

sorry--need to change browser

Phil Specht
Sun, 08/26/07
11:34 am


I was born in Jacksonville FL, raised there. Moved as a teen to the thrown of wingnuts, Greenville S.C. Wound up in CA for a large part of my career. Back to N.C. after an earthquake nearly killed my newborn daughter. Then back to FL just in time to listen to that 'sucking sound' Bill Clinton ignored.
Now i'm in GA because then my ex can't claim i'm scary, some 11 hours away. Get it?

I'm only scary in a court of law, or in a debate based on reality and facts.

My political veiw point is maybe, just maybe, at bit broader than some... maybe even Howard's who has resided in how amny states?

IMHO, it would be a really bad precedent to require the political parties to fund primaries.  Of course, we could do away with primaries entirely and have parties select candidates in some other way.  But, that shouldn't happen on a state by state basis for national elections.

NH, for example, has an "open" primary in the sense that any person can register on the day of the vote and can change registration on the spot--which has led to some accusations that Republicans bus in people from Massachusetts who provide false evidence of residency and register to vote in an election that they're not actually entitled to participate in.

Life is not easy. 

One reason I can see for Howard standing up to FL is that there was the threat of a free for all on his hands -- an even more chaotic primary season than it is. I can see where the candidates and their advisors have to almost scientifically decide who is going to be where when before primaries. If that's all thrown up in the air a few short months from now (right? I'm not a year ahead am i) then it would really scr*w up their planning. I agree that the current system is FUBAR, Deaniac. Why do we have a couple of 'middle America' (not speaking geographically) mostly (I think) white folks, prolly Protestants, prolly fairly old fashioned values, no offense Phil, be deciding the next President, which is what happens now with NH and IA. But we need to make the rules ahead - preferably 4 years ahead - for planning purposes.

I also agree with Joan that it's good for us progressives if FL doesn't count since they will prolly go Hillary. Last I heard Hill was not ahead in IA. If she ends up winning IA I will sense that something is rotten in Denmark I mean IA just as I'm not sure at all there wasn't something rotten there when Kerry won. jmo -- and a 'guest' at that (ie an Indy) lol.

Phil Specht
Sun, 08/26/07
11:36 am


It truly doesn't even matter by then. BUT just so you don't claim i'm unknowledgeable.
We go to district, nominate potential delegates closely following diversity rules, then vote on the spot. Done deal and completely democratic.
BUT by then the deal is done, in fact WAY before then.

If i am one this time, i'm walking out with any state that does so because of Donna Braziles initiative.

Deaniac...

You know Howard went down to the Monkey Jungle,(no pun intended), to meet with the Fl. Dems and make another appeal for them to obey the rules. The time was past to change the rules, they were aware. The people of Fl. need to deal with their elected officials. who caused this situation. Howard was reporting and carrying out the rules set up by a comm. appointed by Terry McAuliff. He did good
Love y'all, mean it.

audrey.nc
Sun, 08/26/07
11:53 am


My skin is too thick to let some of what you've said blow me up.lol

That jungle has been necessary to elect every modern Democratic POTUS, period.

True? Us hicks really need your guidance on such things.

Las Vegas hardly qualifies as "protestant" anything and they are the ones getting the shove. South Carolina also loses. move them all up and Iowa and New Hampshire  become even more important

I see this late date shoving match to be an attempt to head off a strong start by Edwards who now leads. 

How can you have a Convention without rules, or a Party?

Phil Specht
Sun, 08/26/07
12:02 pm

Way out of character i recommend you note the analysis of the folk on ABC's panel, especially Fareed's. I'll be at the party celebrating stopping the potential train wreck that comes out of IA and NH by the states with the backbone to show courage against McAuliff's people.

53. Phil my sense is most of Nevada is kinda like Idaho -- Vegas 'guests' you are right.

might be a bit of a shoving match betweeen SEIU (Nevada) and UAW (Mich) going on, more of a AIPAC pushback;and the DLC is also desperate to get to a state where they have clout too

money doesn't matter in the early states and that scares the h*ll out of K Street as well

... hope you all have a great day. Sorry i don't cotton to being shoved from D.C., not even under Howard's leadership.

Love ya'll, mean it!

The service workers of the hospitality industry are the largest faction in the Democratic Party in Nevada, I suspect the Republicans are indistinquishable from Idaho.

In case you haven't heard. Charile Grapski had his bail lowered (to $1500 from $60,000) and has been released from jail. Now the REAL struggle begins...DROP ALL CHARGES.

http://www.highspringsherald.com/articles/2007/08/26/breaking_news/break01.txt

Alachua resident and political activist Charlie Grapski has been released from jail, but according to court documents, he may not talk to Alachua city officials or visit Alachua City Hall or the Alachua Police Department.

Grapski, charged with multiple felonies, had his bond reduced from $60,000 to $1,500 as part of a stipulated agreement with the State Attorney's Office. Grapski had been on a hunger strike for more than a week and was taken to the hospital this past Tuesday with weak vital signs. A day later, he agreed to start eating.

He was expected to go before a judge this Tuesday for a bond reduction hearing, but the stipulated agreement let him out of jail this weekend.

Phil Specht
Sun, 08/26/07
12:10 pm


... oh, that is low. You suppose that all these states aren't paying attention to the candidates positions, don't know which way they voted when it counted, and are waiting for a PR campaign to know.

done here for today

... I'm David Rowan and i endorse my above positions.lol