Howard Dean is first

this is the letter I sent

Dear ABC Advertiser,

You may not yet be aware, but ABC TV has been given the opportunity to host the final Presidential Debates this coming Saturday before the first Primary election is held. ABC has announced a decision to choose for the voters whom they will allow in the debate. Their method is to allow only 4 Candidates that is ranked in the top of the Iowa Caucuses to be moved to the next round. No, this is not a Reality Show and yes, this does not sound like Democracy in The United States of America.

I'm sure you understand the outrage citizens across the country are experiencing. An abuse of rights to our airwaves and their license to choose for citizens who they deem worthy for voters to see and hear to select their preferred candidate to vote in their election. As ABC has decided to shut out Presidential Candidates and to practice fascism in our own country, viewers across the country will decide to block ABC. As an advertiser with ABC, your brand may suffer, from either being associated with ABC or paying to advertise with them unnecessarily when many viewers will not be watching their programming.

As ABC Shuts Out, viewers will Black Out and you will lose out. I hope this situation is remedied quickly, so loss will be minimal. But if ABC does not correct their decision, so will citizens across the country.

Thank you for your attention on this matter.

Even though he keeps giving help to some candidates, we would prefer seeing him gone forever.

But still a nice little ditty and a great way to start the year, at the expense of the NeoCons
http://current.com/items/77537621_goodby...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173f     freedom to facism watch to movie

For fans of Radiohead and Alternative music,

Current tv provides the video to the hour long special they taped for New Years Eve on Current of the new Album in Rainbows
http://current.com/items/88803042_radioh...

Here is the alledged faux-pas committed by Obama:

Bloggers are pointing to Obama comments, as reported by New York Newsday's Spin Cycle and ABC's Political Punch, which seem to suggest that the senator believed Kerry and Gore were divisive candidates that did not attract broad support during their presidential campaigns in 2004 and 2000, respectively.

"I don't want to go into the next election starting off with half the country already not wanting to vote for Democrats," said Obama, as reported by ABC. "We've done that in 2004 and 2000. 47 percent of the country on one side, 47 percent of the country on the other...We don't need another one of those elections."

You've got to be kidding.....THIS is what's got "liberal bloggers" in a snit?  I don't understand why they refer to idiots as "liberal bloggers".  These people are idiots.

 While some Obama supporters have complained that the articles cited by bloggers were taking their candidate's words out of context, a third -- and more complete-- account of the comments in the Chicago Sun-Times does seem to indicate Obama offered mild criticism of Gore and Kerry.

The Obama campaign did not immediately respond to a RAW STORY request for comment. 

Good for the Obama campain--not worth responding to. 

You know Linda -- I wonder what country we're living in especially when I hear wingers say *freedom aint free*. Are we really all that free? Not since Bushco took over.

6

cChal, thanks for confirming that I'm not as thick as I thought!

Barrel scraping for dummies

Hmmmm....

http://firedoglake.com/2008/01/01/joe-tr...

Although I'm glad Obama is the recipient of Kucinich's back door deal - I find it like horse trading and I just don't like it. I didn't think it was right last time around when he advocated votes traded for Edwards nor do I think it is a good thing this time around. I wish it was just a bloody primary.

Obviously it's a matter of opinion. I think most took it the way he said it and it was an incorrect slam on the Gore 2000 campaign and his facts that he chose to use as a false argument were incorrect.

As even the Chicago Sun Times noted.

I leave the barrel scraping to others.

And yes, If I was Obama's campaign, I wouldn't want to respond to it either, after claiming he calls Al Gore about every 3 weeks for advice. The only thing he could sayd is "taken out of context"...."Obama has regard for Mr. Gore"...or what ever rhetoric seems fitting at the time.

Happy New Year everbody.

 Sorry I've been away so long, but with my Gizmo research and final season in the subway, I've been stretching my limits.

 Hope all is well 

10. Mary, that will hurt him elsewhere, like here. Especially after the latest email I received from a very visbible and know activist and email list. His positions don't jive.

Happy New Year, subway!!!!!
-------
Here's some poll anaylses some might be interested in - particulary Tom and rdorgan.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1...

Howdy Subway...May it be a good and healthy 2008.

Off for a late dinner.

My bialy's are just out of the oven.

Linda...first Gravel, now the rest not knighted by the dollar...sad but we knew it was coming. Controlling the masses...they've got it down to a science. When control of the media was in their grasps, things when sour real fast.

Daniel...your link didn't work...try this
video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173

I'd stick around a bit but need some sleep before hitting the roads again.

Happy New Year back atcha Subway.

9.

Denise
Tue, 01/01/08

Reply to this
Hmmmm....

http://firedoglake.com/2008/01/01/joe-tr...


Guess KOS is just being a repeater of Trippi spin. There were a number of diaries on KOS this morning protesting KOS's headline saying Obama was 'slamming' Gore (I think that was the word.) Much ado about nothing -- I hope it comes back to haunt both Trippi and KOS. And glad Obama has not honored it with a comment.

guess I messed it up too...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...
I've had this movie as one of me shows... lots of good info

18. For example, http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/1/1...

Thanks Annilow - wasn't much here on the news about it, either (my last night in Chicago). I couldn't believe he'd say such a dumb thing and I would have been pissed if he did.

Trippi is goofy sometimes

vb wrote  "I didn't think it was right last time around when he advocated votes traded for Edwards nor do I think it is a good thing this time around. I wish it was just a bloody primary."

I agree with you about primaries.  Read Christopher Hitchens on the subject at Salon.com if you want to get an earful.

As to ceding supporters to a second candidate, I have no complaint in principle with Kucinich's misdeeds in 2004.  Why shouldn't a candidate direct his or her supporters towards a viable candidate whose views he or she regards as sympathetic?  My problem was the stupidity of recommending that these supporters caucus with the co-sponsor of the Senate authorization bill, rather than the fellow candidate who opposed the invasion from the outset.  Maybe Kucinich has learned his lesson.

9pm CT and the snow has finally stopped, but it sure is lovely.

I hope my flight isn't too delayed tomorrow cuz I miss my sweetie somethin' fierce!

Idiots and dummies? hmmmm. Should have made note of some of the names given to Kucinich supporters here over time. It would not be a very Howardly looking display of political discourse. Of course, Kucinich is looking much better today since he's sort of temporarily looking like he's supporing the "right guy".

Anybody playing the "centrist" card this early gives me the willies. That's a game I thought Hillary had copyrighted, lol!

Linda wrote "I think most took it the way he said it and it was an incorrect slam on the Gore 2000 campaign and his facts that he chose to use as a false argument were incorrect."

I can't find the incorrect facts.  I suppose Gore and Kerry might both have an argument that their percentage of votes were closer to 48% than to 47%. 

As to ceding supporters to a second candidate, I have no complaint in principle with Kucinich's misdeeds in 2004.  Why shouldn't a candidate direct his or her supporters towards a viable candidate whose views he or she regards as sympathetic?

Sitka wrote "Edwards and Kucinich sympathetic in 2004?"

In no way.  That's why I wrote that "I have no complaint in principle with Kucinich's misdeeds," but that "my problem was with the stupidity of recommending that these supporters caucus with" Edwards and not Dean.

For you poll watchers - here's another one fresh off the presses. Again, Obama is up.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1...

Breaking: Kucinich urges supporters to make Obama second choice

 - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - -- 

Solid and smart 

More possible horse-trading favoring Obama. There must be a lot of anti-Hillary sentiment with many of these candidates.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail...

Sitka wrote "Edwards and Kucinich sympathetic in 2004?"

In no way.  That's why I wrote that "I have no complaint in principle with Kucinich's misdeeds," but that "my problem was with the stupidity of recommending that these supporters caucus with" Edwards and not Dean.

Let me get this straight Tom,

you say that Edwards and Kucinich were not sympathetic to each other?

And what were Kucinich's misdeeds?

Gee, I don't get it. He supported Edwards and not Dean?

So now he supports Obama... meaning what?

---------------

Just curious, why do you address 'former' as Ivan?

10:42 pm ET

Obama never voted for the war. good for ten points in any state. if Edwards beats him it means eleven points more on current message

27.

Tom Bearse


Tom wrote: I can't find the incorrect facts. I suppose Gore and Kerry might both have an argument that their percentage of votes were closer to 48% than to 47%

LOL, No Tom, I wouldn't suspect you would. No matter what.

"I don't want to go into the next election starting off with half the country already not wanting to vote for Democrats," said Obama, as reported by ABC. "We've done that in 2004 and 2000", Barack Obama.

Half the country didn't not want to vote for Mr. Gore and he won the popular vote, along with the Electoral. Only unable to serve because the Supreme Court stopped the recount.

31. Solid and smart for who? LOL

Maybe Iowa DK supporters are different, but all the ones I know here and in Ohio would never vote for Obama. Odd, huh?

Phil - I remember you saying quite some time ago that only a candidate who did not support the war would win? So I think I'm hearing possibly Obama but maybe Edwards due to other concerns (economy). I think Edwards probably has more solid support than the polls are showing.

And of course ...

 I wish everybody a Happy New Year~

10:49 pm Et

Obama is being criticized for going to the right of current candidates this past week and see his latest as another effort in playing to the Republicans to get their support in Iowa caucuses.

Edwards has hit a chord. but he did vote for the war or he would be running away with it

I'm off.

I do hope people will call and email starting tomorrow (if they haven't already started). This is truly horrible......WHO EVERY YOUR PREFERRED CANDIDATE IS. Killing Democracy and giving our airwaves to fascism. Obviously the FCC isn't doing anything (Bush).

I really spent alot of time getting and making the links cliickable. It's so important. Thank you.

I forgot the :)
(42)

Obama is being criticized for going to the right of current candidates this past week and see his latest as another effort in playing to the Republicans to get their support in Iowa caucuses.

That's just it..

if you want to be president of the usa you need majority support.

There just aren't enough progressives to have a majority in America. That's a sad fact.

10:57 pm ET

Linda, please keep posting the links, twice on each thread if possible.

You're doing a great service! 

Edwards has been setting the agenda here for months starting with his health care plan, but Obama has a powerful trump card in his war vote.

the fact that there are many choices leaves Hillary still in play but her stance on the war is even less popular

but all three of the front runners have created movements while the others have made the vote about them as individuals like they were interviewing for a job and all of us here know the power of we

There just aren't enough progressives to have a majority in America. That's a sad fact.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

who knows?!! they have never been appealed too

a majority don't vote because they don't see a difference between the parties

Gore ran on "The people not the powerful" and as Linda points out won the election.

I think the majority ARE progressives.

Stem cells, climate, jobs, health insu., choice etc.

Most Americans are still not so crazed that they can only think of hell, fear, terrorism and the bible...but they're getting there. 

Religion and the bible have polarized us, much to our loss, and putzco has encouraged this.  Clinton would continue right on.  God, she's one scary woman. 

Nothern lights tonight were spectacular coming back from the barn, a bennie that goes with the polar air

Monica Jackie Dodd and the girls went sledding Sunday, I think they really are Iowans now. We'd be happy to keep the Dodds as Hawkeyes.

Dodd is not a populist and has a very different appeal coming across as simply qualified and Presidential. I don't think Edwards would be the second choice of many of his supporters.

same with Biden, so maybe since those are also anti-Hillary votes in some respects they will caucus together to become viable

you would really have to know which first choice matched with which second choice to make a prediction and no polls do that

Edwards and Obama will be viable everywhere so the fact that many are each others second choice means nothing

Respectfully, Phil, Dodd does not make his campaign about himself, but rather the Constitution.

He should be in play big time in IA.  The fact that he isn't says volumns about the lack of discernment and knowledge of Iowa voters.  Money should have nothing to do with it.  Iowa voters, being first, should be combing the  newspapers every day, reading everything about the issues, examining the records of the pretenders to the throne.   They should not be paying attention to the CMWs. 

They should be some of the most informed and educated citizens of the land.  And they 're not.  Some don't even know you have to have primaries before elections..maybe that also exists in NH as well. 

The closer we get to Thurs, the grumpier I get...and now with ABC trying to edge out even Dodd....Iowans should be livid and caucus just for him to show our CMWs just who's boss. 

Come on, Iowa.  Stand up to the Register and to ABC and to putzco.

I don't know why I even bother.  Until this corrupt DLC caucus system is destroyed, we really will never have a country again.  

below zero here so I found out exactly where the remaining shrapnel is in my thumb

now that I've warmed up the map has disappeared

like I saw from the forecast ten days ago the cold front will make it to the citrus groves

break out the smudge pots, this is cold air

nite all

Nite, Phil. The Norther lights sound beautiful. Blair said Colorado is very cold but beautiful with all the snow...

s/b Northern

They should be some of the most informed and educated citizens of the land.

~~~~~~~~~~~

they are

Dodd has not created a movement of defenders of the Constitution that is larger than himself.

if he would stay in the race he might get to that stage

he started late

Solid and smart. Wow, I should bask in the glow of so much praise here for Kucinich. I would except I'm ticked off at him for supporting, even temporarily, a Corporate Dem. proof of which has been posted here regarding his votes and donations. A pass is given O, who has done little in his short span in the senate except miss a lot of votes he didn't want to commit on. someone here said he did that in the Ill Sen. too. I'm glad some like K now, too bad they couldn't like him for all the good work for us he's done in his 6 terms in Congress. same old, same old.

the same with Biden

he never figured out that this is about more than just which candidate has the best credentials

they have to call us together around them

Hillary kind of fell into it with women, Obama and Edwards have created movements

they lead for the right reason

audrey

you have discerned the difference between Edwards and Obama and so have Iowans so Obama has to go into the middle for his support.

Phil......

Obama never voted for the war, but he favors and votes for all funding. I don't get it. Sounds like more of his wanting to be noncommital about everything. It's like somebody said here, that they heard him speak and when he got home he tried to think of what he said and couldn't think of anything.
How does this get him labeled the anti-war candidate....a lot of hype and spin.

Kucinich never voted for any funding and will continue to do so.

So if it's not about who has the best credentials, it's about who is rich and organized.

I have neighbors who would qualify for that much.

Seems to me that Iowans want to be spoonfed and mollycoddled.  What awful choices they face in a few days....see no evil, speak no evil or hear no evil....the 3 top pretenders.

Jesus, Al, get in already!

Dennis, shame on you.  Take the Constitution outta your pocket since you obviously can't stand on principle and throw your votes to Dodd. 

I'm getting so cranky, it's time for a hot bath.  LOL

Phil, you are an infinitely patient and kind man.  Good on ya.

63.  Good idea.

New thread. 

Edwards has hit a chord. but he did vote for the war or he would be running away with it

I can't accept that at face value. After all, Kerry and Edwards ran away with Iowa and the rest in 2004. And this time Hillary and Edwards comb