Whereas this comment appears first on the thread, Dean is first.

Howard Dean is first.

10:18 AM EDT

lets see, I'm an American white male of Irish descent, who has served in the U.S. military --

who didn't wear anything green this past St. Patrick's Day --

who didn't fly the Stars and Stripes on this past Veteran's Day --

is anybody from the media going to question me on that ?

Jeez, if I had to be involved with every Irish and military memorial event in America, I'd have to quit my job, sell my house and buy a RV.

Whereas that comment did appear first on the thread at one time, rdorgan.

10:21 AM EDT

kudos to Obama for, in the words of Spike Lee, Do The Right Thing :

http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/04/03/exclusive-clinton-and-mccain-set-to-share-the-stage-tomorrow-in-memphis-will-obama-join-them.aspx

Posted Thursday, April 03, 2008 2:11 PM

EXCLUSIVE: Clinton and McCain Are Set to Share the Stage Tomorrow in Memphis.

Will Obama Join Them?

Andrew Romano

...

Friday is the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination, and McCain is scheduled to honor him with an appearance in Memphis. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton has put out a press release saying she too is trekking to Memphis "in remembrance" of King's death--and that there are "additional details to be announced."

...

This will be the first time the Democratic and Republican rivals have appeared on the same stage since posing for a photo-op in between the back-to-back Republican and Democratic debates in New Hampshire on Jan. 6.

...

UPDATE: No Obama. “While he would have enjoyed participating in the event in Memphis, he had a prior commitment to the North Dakota Democratic Party that he is also looking forward to attending," says spokesperson Jen Psaki.

10:21 AM EDT

I want a president who spends more time honoring prior commitments than one who does things on the spur of the moment, like --

-- showing up on SNL or dashing off to Memphis.

10:22 AM EDT

Obama is today where he's supposed to be:

http://in.barackobama.com/page/s/ftwayne

...

Wayne High School Gymnasium
9100 Winchester Rd
Fort Wayne, IN 46819

Friday, April 4th
Doors Open: 9:00 a.m.

The event is free and open to the public

...

10:23 AM EDT

sorry Tom about the bump

Howard indeed, and the DFA anniversary, are first

Howard Dean's gift to America is first. 

to all my once/still fellow Deaniacs across the globe, thank you for answering his call.  thank you for continuing his efforts.  thank you for pushing to prove that WE do have the power.  and thank you, Barack, for taking his 50 state strategy and running with it (and us).

we live in interesting times; may they also become healing times.

Here's a list of Hillary's unpaid debts:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4...

A reader at Ben Smith's blog notes that Obama has raised enough money (240MM) to buy Bear Stearns. Yowser!

Obama’s pledge to “re-focus” on Afghanistan (instead of Iraq) has not left un-noticed by this administration. (Some should be careful what they wish for..., lol).

Don’t get fed with illusion that Policy (foreign and domestic) CAN be redefined WITHOUT redefining the enemy!

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

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/i...

U.S. looks to send more troops to Afghanistan in 2009
Fri Apr 4, 2008 11:00am EDT

By Andrew Gray

EN ROUTE TO MUSCAT (Reuters) - The United States expects to add a "significant" number of extra troops to NATO's mission in Afghanistan next year, President George W. Bush has told fellow alliance leaders.

Bush told the leaders about the expected troop boost when they discussed Afghanistan at a summit in the Romanian capital Bucharest on Thursday, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said.

"The president indicated that he expected in 2009 that the United States would make a significant additional contribution," Gates told reporters on his plane on Friday as he flew from the summit to the Gulf state of Oman.

Bush leaves office in January 2009. But Gates said the war in Afghanistan against Taliban insurgents enjoyed broad political support in the United States and he expected the next president would honor the pledge.

"I believe this is one area where there is very broad bipartisan support in the United States for being successful and I think that no matter who is elected they will want to be successful in Afghanistan," Gates said.
"I think this was a pretty safe thing for him to say."
..........

Gates said it was too soon to put a figure on how many more U.S. troops may deploy to Afghanistan or define their role or likely location.

The United States has urged allies to redouble their efforts in Afghanistan in the face of rising violence there.

Some European allies have been irked by the public U.S. exhortations to do more in a war they believe the United States neglected to focus on Iraq.

But the leaders at the summit pledged a long-term commitment to the mission.

Asked if a troop boost for the force next year would depend on the United States being able to draw down further in Iraq, Gates said: "I think by '09, it would be independent of that."
............
"

I didn't watch Leno last night (seldom do) but I am wondering if anyone who did watch it remembers if the audience laughed when Hillary said her sniper gaff??

Following is an interesting bit:

People who have been watching this primary campaign have spent so much time talking about how Barack Obama is using the Internet that it almost seems like a waste of breath to mention something else.

But these numbers for February (compiled by WebGuild) are so striking that I've got to bring them up.

Click 'ere to go (d)'ere 

'ere's another interesting post from The Democratic Strategist:

Marking the 40th anniversary of the assassination of his father, Martin Luther King III has an op-ed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution proposing a cabinet-level officer "whose responsibility will be to make a measurable impact on eradicating poverty." King explains further that,

http://www.thedemocraticstrategist.org/strategist/2008/04/kings_son_calls_for_antipovert.php

The Obama campaign is sending out a youtube video about a high school in the Bronx.  But, it doesn't work.

See the video on the index page, down in the right hand corner.

http://www.barackobama.com/index.php 

11:53 AM EDT

http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/.element/img/1.3/pipeline/keyframes/128x72/stream3.jpg

12:01 PM EDT

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid900881681/bclid900480414/bctid1478199102

while obama was talking this a.m.- another great speech, they had a video of mccain at the hotel where king was shot.

this from a man that voted against a holiday for dr king.

go home ol man.

12:09 PM EDT

try this link for Bronx:

linda b,

Thanks for posting about McCain voting against Dr King holiday.  Too bad the media doesn't pick up on it.

Thank goodness for Obama. 

12:17 PM EDT

linda -

Correct.

Arizona and New Hampshire, were the last states to honor MLK with a holiday (Illinois was the first).

Well, AZ and NH are wins in Hillary's column -- ditto John's column.  The comeback kids

and

We've all long known that Republicans were in denial on just about every aspect of Iraq. They love to wave the flag, swear that things are getting better daily, chant "Support the Troops!"TM at every opportunity, and even go out of their way to sing the praises of the private "security contractors" we use to do our dirty work.

But what happens when one of the big-mouthed weasels takes an Army joy ride over there to play tough guy?

McHenry: Surge is working
Congressman impressed with progress during trip to Iraq
BY JENNIFER MENSTER
RECORD STAFF WRITER
Monday, March 24, 2008

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Congressman Patrick McHenry ate lunch with North Carolina soldiers stationed in Iraq on Saturday. McHenry was one of four members of Congress who went to Iraq over Easter weekend.

Now, here's McHenry telling the story of his reaction when his life was horribly disrupted by the tragedy of war-torn Iraq... when he was denied entry into the gym at his Green Zone compound. (h/t to Think Progress for the transcript.)

We've all long known that Republicans were in denial on just about every aspect of Iraq. They love to wave the flag, swear that things are getting better daily, chant "Support the Troops!"TM at every opportunity, and even go out of their way to sing the praises of the private "security contractors" we use to do our dirty work.

But what happens when one of the big-mouthed weasels takes an Army joy ride over there to play tough guy?

McHenry: Surge is working
Congressman impressed with progress during trip to Iraq
BY JENNIFER MENSTER
RECORD STAFF WRITER
Monday, March 24, 2008

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Congressman Patrick McHenry ate lunch with North Carolina soldiers stationed in Iraq on Saturday. McHenry was one of four members of Congress who went to Iraq over Easter weekend.

Now, here's McHenry telling the story of his reaction when his life was horribly disrupted by the tragedy of war-torn Iraq... when he was denied entry into the gym at his Green Zone compound. (h/t to Think Progress for the transcript.)

http://www.dailykos.com/

I didn't watch Leno last night (seldom do) but I am wondering if anyone who did watch it remembers if the audience laughed when Hillary said her sniper gaff??

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

Hillary used some vague and general terms about how the people of Michigan and Florida need to be represented, implied that some kind of arrangement was made to do that and Barack opposed it - no details or specifics.

Classic Clinton bullshit spin

We've all long known that Republicans were in denial on just about every aspect of Iraq. They love to wave the flag, swear that things are getting better daily, chant "Support the Troops!"TM at every opportunity, and even go out of their way to sing the praises of the private "security contractors" we use to do our dirty work.

But what happens when one of the big-mouthed weasels takes an Army joy ride over there to play tough guy?

McHenry: Surge is working
Congressman impressed with progress during trip to Iraq
BY JENNIFER MENSTER
RECORD STAFF WRITER
Monday, March 24, 2008

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Congressman Patrick McHenry ate lunch with North Carolina soldiers stationed in Iraq on Saturday. McHenry was one of four members of Congress who went to Iraq over Easter weekend.

Now, here's McHenry telling the story of his reaction when his life was horribly disrupted by the tragedy of war-torn Iraq... when he was denied entry into the gym at his Green Zone compound. (h/t to Think Progress for the transcript.)

Also heard the great white hope, John McCain, blurt out that Obama knows nothing about business and finance and should not be suggesting things on the crisis.

I guess he is appealing to the black stereotype image whites have that those blacks are only experts on music dance and sports.

What the hell did McCain ever do?  The accounting for the Viet Cong?  I guess he doesn't know about Obama's finance and business research job in New York, working with currency exchange, interest rates, etc, a job fresh out of college for about a year or so, working daily with such things, having his own office and his own secretary.

Americans are more dissatisfied with the country’s direction than at any time since the New York Times/CBS News poll began asking about the subject in the early 1990s, according to the latest poll.

Graphic

I am watching the Martin Luther King miniseries made quite a few years ago. 

As always it shocks me when I watch the clip of Sen Byrd and his racist statements. 

I had always admired Sen Byrd, unaware of his racist background.  I believe he has sincerely changed his views.

But you know it still bugs me.

wasn't Hillary supposed to release her taxes this morning?

Randi calls 'em like she sees them...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/03...

[snip]
Air America host Randi Rhodes called both Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton "whores" in a recent appearance, seen below.

12:51 PM EDT

having cake and eating it too ? :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/04/hillaryclinton.uselections2008?gusrc=rss&feed=worldnews

• Elana Schor in Washington
• guardian.co.uk,
• Friday April 4 2008

Hillary Clinton's chief strategist met with Colombian officials to promote a controversial US free trade deal - one day before Clinton told Pennsylvania labour unions she opposes the pact, it was reported today.

Mark Penn serves as Clinton's campaign guru while keeping his job as CEO of the international lobbying firm Burson-Marsteller, which has a $300,000 contract with the Colombian government.

The Clinton camp said Penn was representing his Bogota clients and not the Democratic candidate during the meeting, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The White House is pushing for congressional approval of the free trade deal this spring, but most Democrats have refused to back the pact until Colombian president Alvaro Uribe puts a stop to attacks on trade unionists in his country.

Nearly 475 workers have been killed since Uribe took office in 2002.

...

The line between lobbyist and campaign adviser is a potentially perilous one for Penn, whose firm has also offered public relations help to Blackwater, the security contractor accused of killing Iraqi civilians, and Countrywide, a major lender of risky subprime mortgages.

...

McCain: 'I was wrong, I was wrong' to first vote against MLK Day David Edwards
Published: Friday April 4, 2008

|
Print This  Email This 

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. "seems a bigger man" than he did 40 years ago on the day of his death, Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Friday as he stood outside the motel where the civil rights leader was slain.

"The quality of his character is only more apparent. His good name will be honored as long as the creed of America is honored," McCain said in front of the balcony where King was shot in 1968.

All three of the presidential candidates marked the anniversary of King's death. Although McCain, who once voted against creating a national holiday on King's birthday, was the only one to accept an invitation to speak at an observance of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King headed.

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/John_McCain_speaks_at_MLK_commemoration_0404.html

BUT MCCAIN DID VOTE AGAINST THE MLK HOLIDAY.

AND NOW HE SAYS HE IS SORRY. WON'T FLOAT. GO HOME GRANDPA.

Hi Jo. She didn't release her taxes this morning out of respect for Dr. King - lol !

I watched most of Senator Clinton's speech while I was on the exercise bike. It was a nicely delivered speech. I don't mind applauding her when she sticks to the issues or delivers a good, progressive speech.

 If she conducts herself through the rest of the campaign like this, a lot of the distaste which has been building in my heart for her might be washed away.

And, as always . . . . . .

1:10 PM EDT

some aspire to change, others only come to change when the heat is on:

http://www.factmonster.com/spot/mlkhistory1.html

The History of Martin Luther King Day

by Shmuel Ross and David Johnson

...

Arizona voters approved the holiday in 1992 after a tourist boycott. In 1999, New Hampshire changed the name of Civil Rights Day to Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.

Martin Luther King, Jr. assassinated; Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., introduces legislation for federal holiday to commemorate King

Illinois is first state to adopt MLK Day as a state holiday

Congress passes, President Reagan signs, legislation creating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

1986

Federal MLK holiday goes into effect

1987

Arizona governor Evan Mecham rescinds MLK Day as his first act in office, setting off a boycott of the state.

1989

State MLK holiday adopted in 44 states

The NFL moves the 1993 Super Bowl site from Phoenix, Ariz., to Pasadena, Calif., because of the MLK Day boycott.

Arizona citizens vote to enact MLK Day. The Super Bowl is held in Tempe, Ariz. in 1996.

For the first time, MLK Day is held in some form—sometimes under a different name, and not always as a paid state holiday—in all fifty states.

1999

New Hampshire becomes the last state to adopt MLK Day as a paid state holiday, replacing its optional Civil Rights Day.

Utah becomes the last state to recognize MLK Day by name, renaming its Human Rights Day state holiday.

South Carolina becomes the last state to make MLK Day a paid holiday for all state employees. Until now, employees could choose between celebrating it or one of three Confederate-related holidays.

Your a very generous person David.

She is play acting.

I will never forgive her for the hateful campaign she has run.  Never, ever.

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.

Yes we can.

It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.

Yes we can.

It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.

Yes we can.

It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.

Yes we can to justice and equality.

Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.

Yes we can heal this nation.

Yes we can repair this world.

Yes we can.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY

Your a very generous person David.

She is play acting.

...

+++

To me, Hillary acts like she's bi-polar.

I want a emotionally and politically consistent leader as our next president.  I don't want one who is driven by polls and by the spur of the moment.

32 thanks for the info on MLK day.

Thanks Fred,

I did catch a little glimpse of a little Clinton replay of Leno's show last night and saw her comment about why she was late because of snipers!

The woman has no shame no any inkling of what's going on.

Obama gave a MLK speech today from his Fort Wayne town meeting. Excellent! It was live and for once wasn't cut off short on MSNBC whereas CNN did cut it off.

Clinton later gave an indoor speech from somewhere in Memphis which I promptly turned off.

An MSNBC ad about tonight's Olberman show indicated they would be talking about "How Hillary Clinton can win the nomination."  Pleeessse, don't tell me even Keith is pretending Hillary has any chance of winning anything without convincing a whole lot of unwilling super D's that only SHE can win in Nov.

Is even Keith whoring for his network to somehow keep the campaigns alive for their own network's benefit? I hope that isn't what tortured script he has planned for us tonight!!

David,

As is the case with McCain, Hillary Clinton wears a different personality every single day in her effort to confuse and trap every unsuspecting listener who doesn't know the real score.

Both the Clintons have shamed themselves by lying and trying to use their once more powerful presence in D.C. to intimidate anyone who was willing to be a victim.

There is nothing they could EVER do to win me or hubby back again. I hate their guts and everyone around them, except their daughter who may be able to escape with her life if she gets out of the mess now.

What the hell did McCain ever do?  The accounting for the Viet Cong?  I guess he doesn't know about Obama's finance and business research job in New York, working with currency exchange, interest rates, etc, a job fresh out of college for about a year or so, working daily with such things, having his own office and his own secretary.

Fred,

It's all in his book. McCain probably doesn't read well either -- like he doesn't know finances.

I think Obama hasn't talked of his financial experience  (that I know of) and is waiting to drop the bomb onto McCain sometime in September:))

A years' financial experience for Barry may be equal to eight years of same for McSame.

Arizona and New Hampshire, were the last states to honor MLK with a holiday (Illinois was the first).

To people of AZ's credit, voters made it a holiday by referendum after the politicians had refused to.

Phil wrote: Annilow we beat that Yoo memo to death here months ago at BFA, my question is, where was the rest of the blogosphere?

Phil it just got released.

This week, an 81-page memo, authored by John C. Yoo, who was a deputy in the Office of Legal Counsel at the Department of Justice at the time of its creation, was declassified and made public.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/03...

Hillary Clinton wears a different personality every single day

Today in Memphis she used her sweet, vulnerable, whispery, voice. 

This morning on Wash Journal, Bill Press was pimping his new book. A caller maybe my age called from I think what she described as 'the most conservative county in Ohio' and proceeded to give Bill heck -- Peter Slen cut her off when she told Press he could 'kiss my a**'. A little later Peter was referring to the caller to Bill Press and said the one who 'give you your instructions' -- it was hilarious - I think they both thought so too. I'm so glad CSpan doesn't have the time delay (at least they didn't have when Brian was running things). It makes for better TV. Although they also had some good old fashioned racists call in during the half hour of 'what MLK means to us.'

An MSNBC ad about tonight's Olberman show indicated they would be talking about "How Hillary Clinton can win the nomination."  Pleeessse, don't tell me even Keith is pretending Hillary has any chance of winning anything...

Don't undersetimate KO. It may be one of his popsicle stick puppet theaters. 

McCain: 'I was wrong, I was wrong' to first vote against MLK Day David Edwards

That will further endear him to nutjobs on the far right. 

new thread

http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/24754...

Regarding Keith's show tonight. It's telling the subject matter since Rachel Maddow (who I typically admire) is guest hosting this evening. She's been really bugging me lately about the primary process. I can't put my finger on it but she keeps talking about how Obama and Hillary are going after each other and not McCain, etc. She seems to somewhat favor Hillary and implies how she can win. Does this make sense?

Hey, Congratulations Glens Falls!

from all of us here at Hunterdon DFA (4.5 yrs), and NJ for Democracy.

Thanks, Rossi! Congratulations to you and everyone in New Jersey, too!