Dean is still first.

Keeps the rest of us from getting swelled heads. 

The Progressives Unites topic (two down) never loads for me and hangs up my system.

swelled heads.....

that could hurt.........

So, is this now acting Republican, or are we surpassing their actions. Hey but don't worry, they're (d)emocrats, so I'm sure Tim Burke has a grreat reason to protect citizens from possible bad men for his reasons.


***note to DFA hq...you're having training in Cincinnati May 10?...where asbestos gloves if you shake hands with Tim Burke.

Looks like Greg Harris, has learned to run as an Inde this time. This is what these (d)emocrats are doing to progressives.

Party deal limits voter choices
BY HOWARD WILKINSON AND SHARON COOLIDGE | HWILKINSON@ENQUIRER.COM AND SCOOLIDGE@ENQUIRER.COM
E-mail | Print | digg us! | del.icio.us!

In an unprecedented last-minute deal, the Republican and Democratic parties have decided not to compete against each for the two Hamillton County commission seats up for election this year.

Republican sources say that Democrat county commissioner Todd Portune will have no Republican-endorsed opponent this fall; and that the Republicans’ choice to replace Pat DeWine as county commissioner, current clerk of courts Greg Hartmann, will be given a free pass by the Democrats.

• Talk about this on the Politics Extra blog
• What do you think of this deal?



Democratic Party chairman Tim Burke would not comment on the deal this morning.

The deal between the Republican and Democratic parties does not, however, preclude independent candidates from entering the race after the March 4 primary. Ed Rothenberg, an anti-tax activist, has filed as a Republican for the Portune seat, but he won’t have the party’s backing.

Thursday night, both parties were prepared to run candidates in the county commission race – Greg Harris, a city council candidate last fall, was to have filed petitions by today’s 4 p.m. deadline to run against Hartmann; and Green Township trustee Tracy Winkler was to have run for the Portune seat.

Both have agreed to withdraw, sources say.

The Democrats also agreed not run anyone against Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters and 10 of the 12 common pleas judges running for election, according to sources.

The Republican and Democratic parties in Hamilton County have been making deals for decades, but never before involving county commission seats, considered the highest rung of the food chain in county politics.

Most of the deals have involved judgeships, such as the long-standing agreement not to challenge each other’s African-American judges, a deal which was broken several years ago when Democrat Cheryl Grant challenged Republican incumbent Kim Burke for a municipal court seat.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said Friday he heard that he and Democratic coroner O’dell Owens would not have opposition. But nothing was certain, Deters said. Last month he raised $250,000, at a $500-a-plate dinner at the home of Reds vice chairman Tom Williams.

“I don’t think I was any part of any deal that involved Todd or Greg,” Deters said.
Deters said talks between parties are not unusual.

“People may object to lack of choice, but usually when there’s a problem with an office, a choice arises,” Deters said. “And usually they are successful.”

Deters pointed out running in a county-wide race is time consuming and costly.

“It makes it difficult,’ Deters said. ”Take O'dell. Not many doctors want the pain of a campaign that would most likely be unsuccessful. There is no upside to losing an election. It’s winner take all.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...

In an unprecedented last-minute deal, the Republican and Democratic parties have decided not to compete against each for the two Hamillton County commission seats up for election this year.

You gotta wonder what took Dems and Reeps so long to finally realize they don't need voters anymore; to just sit down and divide the spoils amicably. When they're being bribed by the same people, it's a natural turn of events.

It reminds me of how they did elections in the USSR. 

sitka

thanks for honoring your bet

wonder of Fox will come by telling us how wonderful the economy is today?

at least there should be pretty good support down around 12-3, 12-4 on the Dow

Hillary might just as well run on a return to the 90's as to pretend to be a change agent

I would love to see "Hillary unplugged" just cut her off from the triangulating pollsters and run on her core beliefs

thanks for honoring your bet

Wouldn't think of bushing on it. 

8. LOL

...and one more thing...on Progressives and for some to think that includes Obama and that all the money that Obama has received from the special interests won't control his votes. First, they already have, second, even look at his NOT Universal Health Care. And if providing Universal Health Care for all means Progressive and Single Payer means Liberal, he doesn't fit with either and has the WORST of the plans, including Ms. Clinton who doesn't get the title as Progressive.

Think about this before it's too late. Not that there hasn't been time before the Caucus, but at least before it's finalized.

I would love to see "Hillary unplugged" just cut her off from the triangulating pollsters and run on her core beliefs

Her and Bill's core belief is power.

I must say how happy I've been with the number of replies from the advertisers on ABC.

...not that it will go anywhere, but they have noticed and responded.

I wonder if it's Bill or Mark Penn directing Hillary to pull the *9/ll* card on the NH votes. She said there are *terrorists plotting to kill us right now* because she sees the intelligence. She has lost all credibility now. Tell me how she differs from Romney, McCain or Giuliani?

votes s/b voters.

12. Cute, Sitka. I overheard my son telling my daughter when she asked who won - he said *that Huckleberry dude*...

The hearings about the standards for science in Florida schools were yesterday.  It was the meeting in which teaching evolution was discussed.  It got interesting.

"In my lifetime, I've never seen an ape turned into a human." Florida hearing on science standards.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1736

Hillary tried being tough. Then she tried being nice. Then she tried being nasty. Being a fearmonger is the last desperate progression.

"In my lifetime, I've never seen an ape turned into a human."

It would be a comedown for the ape. 

17.

floridagal .
Fri, 01/04/08


"In my lifetime, I've never seen an ape turned into a human." Florida hearing on science standards.

http://journals.democraticunderground.co...
---------
Oh jeez!!!!!!! - the Republicans have been successful in dumbing down our citizens. Scary that.

*that Huckleberry dude*...

Hillary articulated the best economic plan in her Dubuque major speech on the subject; and then moved away to the poll tested freeze interest rates as a answer to the mortgage crisis and the single biggest economic disaster in my lifetime was the Nixon wage and price controls to a similar economic climate (stagflation).

Mark Penn is a p*ss poor economic advisor

her immigration mail piece was five different poll tested talking points two of which were in direct contradiction

I'd be just curious if she would just come out and campaign from her heart what would happen.

I offer this because her team is such a disaster I feel sorry for her.

Phil wrote"

"I would love to see "Hillary unplugged" just cut her off from the triangulating pollsters and run on her core beliefs"

I she were allowed to go with her core beliefs is there anyone here that does not doubt that she would toss Bill to curb and start fighting for herself.  Imagine the divorce fee for that one. Some lawyer would be lining up a new house in the Hamptons.

An astute candidate would link the dangers from another 911 to supporting the Bush invasion and subsequent roll-overs to fund the war.
Here is a link to Obamas voting record and here is what he has to say about Iraq funding:

--------------------------
http://votesmart.org/voting_category.php...
--------------

Speaker: Senator Barack Hussein Obama Jr. (IL)
Title: Obama Statement on Iraq Spending Bill
Date: 2007-11-16
Location: Washington, DC

Obama Statement on Iraq Spending Bill

U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement after Republicans filibustered consideration of the Orderly and Responsible Iraq Redeployment Appropriations Act of 2007 (H.R. 4156). The Senate failed to invoke cloture on the bill by a vote of 53 to 45.

"I will not support funding for a failed policy. It is long past time for the Republicans to stop filibustering a responsible removal of our troops from Iraq, and for the President to stop threatening to veto anything that is not a blank check for his failed strategy.

"Our troops must not bear the burden for the failure of Iraq's leaders to reconcile, nor should they be kept in Iraq to counter Iran.

"Our national security depends upon a fixed timeline for the removal of our combat troops from Iraq that will finally pressure the Iraqi government to reach a political accommodation, and allow us to restore our military and renew our leadership around the world. Regrettably, Republicans appear unwilling to allow the Senate to consider these important matters."

http://obama.senate.gov/press/071116-oba...

There's total Kos Konfusion tonight as their hero and financial benefactor, the infamous, deplorable Keith Olbermann, is getting decidedly mixed reviews from the Kossacks. It seems they're finally tumbling to what we have known all along: he's in Hillary Clinton's pocket.

check it out the blogs on Kos, Olbermann is in hip deep with the anointed one.

23

Good to see some current info. Helps to bust up the myths still being posted here.

21,
That has always been Hillary's problem. She always has to poll advisors to see what she should do.
She has no real political instincts as they have been replaced by her inability to take a stand on her own.
She must really be very insecure in her beliefs. Maybe that is what being married to one of the world's most famous skirt chasers does to your physic.
To get any traction, Hillary should consider muzzling Bubba, and benching her advisors. Whenever Hillary talks about the economy with Bill present, think of NAFTA, CAFTA and the rest of the job exports. Bill never understood that once the job exports starts, it doesn’t stop unless forces that keep the movement going are removed. I talked about the fallacy of comparative advantage because the new jobs may not benefit those who lost their jobs to outsourcing, the compensation package may be considerably less, and the new jobs may disappear also. Hillary doesn’t understand this. I bet Edwards, Obama and Huckabee do.

Freezing home interest rates at their current level and not allowing them to reset is what Bush proposed. That is not enough. Both lenders and borrowers must be both punished and helped out. So lenders must not be allowed to foreclose on people who are loosing their homes because of stagnant prices and high interest rates. Lenders must do the diligence to insure the loaners are capable of paying their loans back. Loaners have the responsibility of paying off the loans they have with lower interest rates then the reset rate. There can be payment mitigation, which reduces the payment for more mortgage payments.

The 911 fear mongering is a perfect example of advisors gone wrong. Any halfway intelligent politician would see the danger sign of aping Bush and the rest of the warmongers. She hasn't figured out that is the last things Dems will support.

Here's Clinton's fear-mongering quote (from Daily Kos):

Clinton usually only talks about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks when she speaks of her work helping Ground Zero workers cope with medical problems.

But in an airport hangar this morning, she said: "We have people who are plotting against us right now, getting ready to repeat the atrocity of Sept 11. We know it, I see the intelligence reports."

She also said, "I don’t think there has ever been a more important decision for the citizens of New Hampshire."

Perhaps Obama sensed what was coming because he used the *hope not fear* line in his speech last eve. My goodness, the Clinton's are desperate indeed.

27,
An astute politician wold acknowledge the risk and how it can be mitigated by leaving Iraq and stop bullying the world. Maybe remind everyone that Bush policies got us into this mess and continuing the same policy will make us worse.

One last quote just for fun:

Referring to his new status as the Democratic front-runner, he said: "This feels good. It's just like I imagined it when I was talking to my Kindergarten teacher."

Obama does come up with some zingers without getting down and dirty.

4.  Well, it was amusing to hear Huckabee on the New Hour talk about the voters and then have Mark Shields intone that "elections aren't about the candidates; they're about the voters."  Fortunately, I'd already finished eating.

So, they like this new story line better than John Edwards.  Although they had a clip of him speaking in New Hampshire, they had no banter/dialog to go with it.  The Obama/Clinton script still has legs.  Although Mark Shields making reference to JFK and RFK and MLK--all dead guys--was eerie.

The campaigns being run by consultants are all in trouble.  Of course, Huckabee is disingenuous with his "run against" the Club for Growth that's funded by the guy who's also the biggest donor to his campaign.  It's amazing how much sympathy $85,000 can buy. 

I see the intelligence reports.

The question is, does she put on her glasses and actually read them?  Does she ask questions?  It's always struck me that if we know what they are saying and thinking, we ought to be able to arrest them.

Sometimes it seems like our "intelligence" is on a par with the product of a court stenographer whe takes down every word of testimony but hasn't a clue what the import is. 

32,
good point Monica as she never read the Iraq intel reports before voting to go to war. She blamed the lack of info on one of her aides. I don't think aides have the necessary security clearences to view these reports.

It is still the economy.

The populist message is taking hold because the economy continues to head into the dump.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22476544/

With rising oil and falling home prices, consumers are scared about the future so they are slowing down the spending. Remember, this was Bushes solution to the economy after 911; go shopping.

The Fed is stuck. As oil prices rise, they work their way into all products that use them and inflation occurs. The Fed remedy for inflation is raising interest rates.
As the housing market stalls and folks removed a lot of equity out of their homes and spent it, the remedy is lowering interest rates.
The Fed doesn’t know to crap or go blind so they are closing one eye and farting.

Obviously, the answer is not the Fed. The answer is lowering government spending on the war and war supplies.
The answer is raising taxes on families making more then 150K per year; coupling that with some war savings; and providing seed money for new energy products and public works projects. Get people working and spending money again.

The only thing Bubba did that was solid economic policy in the 90’s was grant tax abatement for companies that expanded their capabilities and hired more people. That is solid tax investment and is guaranteed to work. If Hillary had any brains at all, she would suggest this. Edwards and Obama should leap on this.

I forgot who wrote this:  "If we are to ever get anything meaningful done in Washington, it will be because Obama will have actually reached across the aisle to represent all Americans.

In the same way that Pelosi said she was going to reach across the aisle?  LOL

We need a prez capable of being not quite so nicey nice as Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Reid.

I agree that we need veto proof majorities and I'll be working to remove Gordon Smith.  

Has anyone been able to reach Keith yet?  Does anyone know how much money Edwards has pulled in since he place SECOND?

Obama appeals to the idealists; Edwards to the compassionate realists.  Hey, that's a good handle for him.   Nothing wrong with being idealistic, but it's time to realize that we're involved in a fight for the country and it can get down and dirty, as it should.  Not name calling, but forget the sweet compromises...with foreign countries, yes, but with our own lovely neo-cons and fundis, no.  They are vicious.  They want to drown democracy in a bathtub and make us all take Jesus as our personal savior.  

Edwards as prez  and a veto proof congress would help us. Dodd as VP. 

Ok...one more thing Bubba did that was good..
Clinton allowed accellerated depreciation on new plants and equipment which was an incentive to companies to go on a remodeling binge.
Bush did this also but the process expired and wasn't renewed.
A Dem candidate should allow special accellerated depreciation incentives for all manufactures hoping the big 3 automobile companies bite.

Also, push now for some sort of universal health care which will lower anxiety among people and lower the price of American-made goods.

35,
pretty much agree with you except a simple majority and the Pres is adequate.
If minority Repubs protest, the Pres can sign the bills wanted.
If we lose the Pres again, then a super majority is needed.

Too bad the spirit of compromise is gone. I did it all the time in business. Both sides must trust each other to give up something they want to get something else they want more.
The idea is to see what you get, see what you lose, weigh the difference, and look for unseen circumstances or risks.
This means you have to know all the players, their needs and how far they can go.
So everyone wins a little and everyone loses a little and everyone accepts it.

That hasn't happened since 1994 when we lost Congress under Clinton. Since then, Repubs have been very succesful in overpowering the opposition.
Dems are still trying the old give and take tactics and Repubs are strickling saying no; I'll take it all!

If you care to catch a repeat tonight, Oprah has a great show today about going green - great tips and information about recycling, water bottles, etc.

www.earth911.org is a helpful website

38,
I am surprised by my."..we lost the Congress under Clinton..."
From 1980-2000, I was a Repub who worked hard to stop the Dem policies and was happy when Congress flipped. Now I am working to stop Repub policies.

Edwards on Keith tonight.

Yea, right, he likes Hillary.  LOLOLOLOLOL 

I was a Repub who worked hard to stop the Dem policies and was happy when Congress flipped. Now I am working to stop Repub policies.

It's too often impossible to tell the difference between Dem and Repub policies these days. 

woooooot!  what a night!  progressives rule!

************

clinton sent a mailing after thanksgiving, revving up her political machine in calif.  she might be in for a real shocker here, especially since the clintons have relied on their ol' standbys such as donors in the entertainment communities, many of whom consider her to be unelectable, and local democratic leaders like the mayors of san francisco and los angeles, who have broken zipper problems.  and empowered by howard's campaign, dfa people make up a remarkable part of the democratic party leadership.  lol!

on new year's eve, ron paul's supporter left a glossy card on my front doormat.  i agree with about 2/3 of his platform, which is libertarian. 

our progressive candidates need to understand that streak in western regional culture, which unites democrats and republicans--live and let live; no land grab; don't mess with my water; don't spoil my environment; get your f*cking nose out of my email, financial records, etc.  eg, the tiny conservative community of potrero vs blackwater, inner city communities vs walmart, and calif congressional reps [diane feinstein, who has caused us enough grief, understands this as a californian] vs the bushies who planned to sell the pricey westwood real estate where the VA sits to corporations for condominium development. 

my advice to obama and edwards........bone up on the constitution and bill of rights.

**************

scientists are keeping an eye on the presidential candidates' platforms, according to an article in science.  huckabee, btw, is a creationist.  he bears watching!

the creationists are morphing ["creationists are proof of evolution," says eugenie scott of the ncse] and resurfacing in austin, texas.  read THE WASHINGTON SPECTATOR piece, 'is darwin losing the battle with god?' jan 1, 2008.

*****************

american journal of public health has devoted its dec 2007 issue to health care for veterans.  pass this info along to vets, their families, and organizations which serve them.

*******************

to all, have a happy, healthful, and memorable 2008!!!

Yea, right, he likes Hillary.  LOLOLOLOLOL 

Our resident righty just wants to turn us against the most vocal and effective raker of Bush's muck. 

As for what's being said at kos, any website with so many regulars is bound to have a few fools (often starting with Moulitsas himself).

Edwards referred to Obama as the "philosophical" candidate.  Good and accurate choice of words.

We don't need philosophy and oration; we need a fighter, a doer, a guy with fire in his belly.

Keith was wonderful by asking why the  CMWs were downplaying Edwards.  *&^(*_&*(s

And he apologized to Mike Gravel.

Good man, that Keithie.  

Let's send some more money to Edwards.  How do I find out how much money he raised since last night?  Anybody? 

thumbscale sketch IndySteve:

record turnout more than double four years ago

45/150 had to register as Democrats to participate, independents and younger for Obama, older gender biased Republican crowd for Hillary

Obama won going into re-alignment, won after re-alignment, best organization for delivering the supporters

a rowdy enthusiastic crowd for Obama that ate all the refreshments brought by Hillary supporters while they were in the gym electing their delegates lol

the lone Kucinich supporter was elected precinct committeeman, a woman for Richardson won precinctcommitteewoman; we elected a Biden person to Committee on Committees  

our progressive candidates need to understand that streak in western regional culture, which unites democrats and republicans--live and let live; no land grab; don't mess with my water; don't spoil my environment; get your f*cking nose out of my email, financial records, etc.

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

either will need to balance a ticket with a westerner 

What the candidates say of each other is probably the least reliable of all the disinformation spread in campaigns.

on new year's eve, ron paul's supporter left a glossy card on my front doormat.  i agree with about 2/3 of his platform, which is libertarian.

If I wanted something I like 1/2-2/3 of the time I would have stuck with the Democrats. 

SF Chronicle interesting article about the California Feb. 5th primary and how each candidate may fare.

http://www.sfgate.com/flat/archive/2008/...

Victories by Sen. Barack Obama and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in the Iowa caucuses mean there's a better chance that Californians will cast a ballot that matters in their Feb. 5 primary - and they could see campaign TV commercials and mailers within days.
What's helping to keep California relevant among two dozen other states holding Feb. 5 elections is that upward of 44 percent of its 16 million registered voters are expected to cast ballots by mail, which are scheduled to arrive in voters mailboxes early next week.
Most mail-in voters submit their ballots in either the first week after they receive them or the week before the election, analysts say, so a victory in Iowa and the next few days of media buzz will be a boon in California too.

6:25 PST and it's still raining like crazy here. Almost like El Nino but hopefully it won't go on for months like in '98.

Yep, I've seen fire and I've seen rain all right.

Billy Bragg - My Father's Mansions Play Stop POPUP Favorite      http://hypem.com/track/458117

http://hypem.com/track/311531       Billy Bragg & Wilco - Christ For President

my hero , dorothy hammill has breast cancer.

I love her.

Take care Dorothy. such a tragic life.  truly.

Dorathy...

"I'd like to rest...my heavy head"  Billy Bragg & Wilco - California Stars Play Stop POPUP Favorite on http://hypem.com/track/374263

NASHUA, N.H. -- The 9/11 card. The legacy card. The trial-by-fire card. Hillary Clinton just flashed them all today.

Five hours after her chartered flight from Des Moines landed in New Hampshire, Clinton gave what may be the most striking speech of her campaign so far. Reeling from her surprisingly big loss in the Iowa caucuses, she is clearly reaching for a bold new way to combat winner Barack Obama -- though it doesn't appear she has settled on a consistent argument.

Clinton usually only talks about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks when she speaks of her work helping Ground Zero workers cope with medical problems.

But in an airport hangar this morning, she said: "We have people who are plotting against us right now, getting ready to repeat the atrocity of Sept 11. We know it, I see the intelligence reports."

>

Well, that last line...well, I agree, and fear too many Indes and Dems don't.  I won't argue her political calculus (none really should.  Just engage it, if you will), but I do THINK that the war (declared by the Islamists) is not over. 

'ever!

Billy Bragg & Wilco - My Flying Saucer        http://hypem.com/track/452074

Denise this is for your Mom lol:

Barry Manilow closes out 2007 once again ranking in the Top Twenty Concert Tours and with a top ten single. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” hit the radio charts at #7 and marks Manilow’s 41st Top Forty single.

(from the Manilow "Hotline")