HC's words that I loved tonight:

"For everyone here in Ohio and across America, who's ever been counted out but refused to be knocked out and for everyone who has stumbled but stood right back up, and for everyone who works hard and never gives up, this one is for you..."

(yeah, except for the Ohio bit, that's me, baby!!)

and

"Americans don't need more promises. They've heard plenty of speeches. They deserve solutions, and they deserve them now."

Yep. :)

love, h

Hi Heather,

Agreed :)

So now it might perhaps be the right time for all the candidates to start a real constructive dialogue.

It is obvious that people want change in America and now it is time that the presidential candidates are going to show the Change they are themselves :)

Up till now politics had a too fervent duality in my humble opinion, the majority of a party could push it's will through, no matter what. And this reflected itself also in the speeches of the different presidential candidates.

Wouldn't it be great if politics could become a more constructive dialogue, one that builds on the opinions of either one candidate, opinions that could be interwoven in a constructive dialogue building itself up into a mutual consensus.

It certainly starts by really listening to one another without the prejudice of one's own opinion in the mind, so that people in dialogue can reflect on each other's opinion before arguing one's own vision against that one of the other.

I remember that this was the way of debating in High school in our days.

If one wants to be the change, one starts with oneself and there are 3 guidelines:

- It needs listening with an open mind without prejudice despite one's own conviction.

- A discussion is a healthy one when both aspects are brought in.

- In this way a constructive building up of a dialogue is possible and consensus is reached in a more satisfactory way for both parties.

I guess this might become very important during the dialogue of the two final candidates for presidency.

Lol, this sounds very much like a socratic dialogue, nothing new under the sun.

Nevertheless in times like these it might work.

Love, Mieke

Hi Bloggers,

I can see a big smile across the face of Ruth, and Heather, while Diablo is sulking quietly over there in the corner, planning his next tirade.

Congrats to H.C. I think she is one hell of a Dynamic Woman! My advise still stands to Her and Barrack. You both should go have a quick game of paper,rock, sissors. who ever wins two out of three will be the next President and the loser becomes the Vice President. Hurry up and make this deal, before you piss each other off so much you can't work together.

Craig,

Nice post you had in the last open thread about what you are trying to do. All the best to you Brother, and don't worry about Ambasteve he isn't a quitter and will be around swinging his verbal bat with and at the best of us.

Kind Regards Everyone
Stan

I see rally caps
in the seventh inning

I hear cheers of approval
as the lioness comes roaring back

Who will go down
In history...or her story

The Game of all games is on once again
And yet...we have not begun to play

We are still busy attempting to choose
the person who will throw the first pitch

In the running for presidential candidacy...do you feel candidates lose their sense of intention towards bettering the country; under the weight of their determination... to win?

Does such determination to win... support a good intention, or an egoic "need"?

Where is the fine line; between obligation to country, and satisfaction to self in making history?

At this point; I am wondering these things; because when it comes down to this particulary all-important, unprecidented election...

do Obama and Clinton have their best interests "for the people" or, for themselves, to make history?

Love,
NOrth

Dear Admin...

It's time to send this parasitic nusance Skeptisch out of here for good...

This pathetic pest presently guises as Chris, Irvine Welsh, John, Igor, Michael, Vanessa, Danielle and many, many others...

He has an obsessive, compulsive fixation with IB...he has made it his "home"...he regularly attacks without provocation...he's is the only who doesn't understand what a cancer he is...he has driven many of the regulars away...and if he keeps it up, he may be the only one left...it's hard to imagine that there are people like him in the world...wow!

Hey, Irish!!

Howyadoin' this morning? :D

love, h

Updated (but not final) delegate count from Tuesday
by kos
Wed Mar 05, 2008 at 08:23:28 AM PST
DailyKos

These are still not final numbers, since all counting of the Texas caucuses -- stuck at about 35% -- has yet to resume. But for now, Clinton has picked up a few delegates.

Vermont (15 delegates)

Obama 9
Clinton 6

Rhode Island (21 delegates)

Clinton 12
Obama 8

Texas

Primary (126 delegates)

Clinton 65
Obama 61

Caucuses (67 delegates; tentative results based on a straight percentage from 36% reporting -- 52O 48C)

Obama ~35
Clinton ~32

Total (Nowhere near final)

Clinton ~97
Obama ~96

Ohio (141 delegates)

Clinton 76
Obama 65

Clinton got lucky in several districts, just barely meeting thresholds to gain an additional delegate. The vote totals will likely change enough to surrender some of those delegates back to Obama (especially in the Texas caucuses). But for now, the current results, before the Texas caucuses are fully tallied, are Clinton 191, Obama 178 -- a better showing than last night's single delegate lead.

So the stark reality remains -- even in this best-case scenario, Clinton only chipped Obama's pledged delegate lead from 159 to 148. Yet last night offered more than 1/3rd of remaining delegates, 370. Only about 560 remain in the contest.

If Obama can show he's not collapsing under the weight of Clinton's assault, there will be no reason for the super delegates to overturn the will of the voters (in both pledged delegates and the popular vote).

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/5/10254/37195/375/469481

goodafternoon everyone,

hey Irvine over at Huffpo there is a good blog on why the claim of Barak supporter's and the Hillary Hating club members are wrong in thinking "their" delegate count will be better than Hillary's therefore he will be awarded the nomination...actually, I think there might be two articles covering the delegates situation....feel free to inform yurself....

Stan, you are right....I am smiling. I turned off the TV before the results started to come in because I couldn't bear to listen to the HH club members plan her concession speech for her...so, I was quite surprised when I woke in the early am and checked the results...I could only say YES, YES, YES.

Heather, those are nice quotes...I didn't hear or see her speech....

I am relieved with a captal R. The only thing I have against Barak Obama, besides the fact his supporters have him on some kind of "moral/purity pedistal," is that I think his INEXPERIENCE is too great of a risk for a Nation that has been through he-l and high water for eight long years. If ever a time we need an Experienced Democrat in the White House it is NOW. Let her use her knowledge to get this Nation back on the right track...Let Barak Obama continue to work and learn and be a strong voice in the Senate so Americans can get a better feel for his actual capabilities.

A point well made by a Washingtonpost opinion piece was that Barak Obama's campagin did send a list of accomplishments and qualifications to him when asked, and, it was, in his words, "very slim." Barak Obama apparently has never really been in a tough fight, politically, actually didn't show for a lot of the difficult votes, hasn't, in fact, been tried and tested when push comes to shove, political party against party..his INEXPERIENCE has been successfully veiled by his amazing ability to "inspire" many with his style of speechmaking.

So, yes, I understand the disappointment that Barak Obama supporters are feeling, I have felt it all through this campaign, and it is not over, yet, we still do not know who will ultimately take it...

I like that Hillary Clinton comes with baggage, just like everone one of us, her baggage doesn't frighten me, nor does my own, I accept her lack of "moral/purity" as I accept my own, she doesn't inspire me with her speeches but I have great respect for her political know-how and intelligence, most importantly EXPERIENCE, and her determinaton to put herself in the middle of an abyss of Hate and keep on ticking n order to fulfill her very real political ambition, an ambition that matches any man's even Barak Obama's...(whoops..I called him ambitious, and I think that might be a no-no, I do not think his supporter's have attributed any human faults to his characer, yet.:)

anyway....last nite was a good night and I hope we have more to come...

have a great day everyone, ruth

Thanks for the encouraging words Stan.

Positive intent . . .

Positive intent . . .

Is there a money clause I am not seeing here?!?!

;) ;)

peace to all!

I am late today in saying congratulations to Hillary!

I would like to put a big ditto on Heather's #1 Oh yeah!

derek

If you are reading today, I wanted to say you are anything but silly. Don't change your open and honest approach to life. It's refreshing.

Much love.
bonnie

"If you are reading today, I wanted to say you are anything but silly. Don't change your open and honest approach to life. It's refreshing."

Perhaps "honest and open" approach is Bonnie's approach. People don't agree with her approach they are totally "silly." Great! You are so self centered and self righteous. Your behavior is utter disgusting. I seriously wonder what kind of people keep around you in real life. I guess, not many.

Obama Wins Delegate Fight in Texas

AUSTIN -- Obama Texas State Director Adrian Saenz issued a statement on the projected primary and caucus results that show Senator Obama won more Texas delegates than Senator Clinton.

“By fighting the primary to a near-draw and earning a resounding victory in the caucus, the people of Texas have moved Barack Obama one step closer to claiming the Democratic nomination for president,” said Adrian Saenz. “Texans in both parties and of all ages sent a clear message that the American people are ready for the kind of change that Barack Obama will bring to Washington, DC as our 44th President."

Because of the close finish, Senator Clinton will likely net only two delegates up-for-grabs in the Texas Primary. Based on a large sample of caucus results in all 31 state senate districts, Senator Obama is projected to post a substantial victory in the Texas caucus and, thereby, net at least seven delegates. This means that Senator Obama will win at least five more pledged delegates from Texas than Senator Clinton.

Obama Wins Delegate Fight in Texas

AUSTIN -- Obama Texas State Director Adrian Saenz issued a statement on the projected primary and caucus results that show Senator Obama won more Texas delegates than Senator Clinton.

“By fighting the primary to a near-draw and earning a resounding victory in the caucus, the people of Texas have moved Barack Obama one step closer to claiming the Democratic nomination for president,” said Adrian Saenz. “Texans in both parties and of all ages sent a clear message that the American people are ready for the kind of change that Barack Obama will bring to Washington, DC as our 44th President."

Because of the close finish, Senator Clinton will likely net only two delegates up-for-grabs in the Texas Primary. Based on a large sample of caucus results in all 31 state senate districts, Senator Obama is projected to post a substantial victory in the Texas caucus and, thereby, net at least seven delegates. This means that Senator Obama will win at least five more pledged delegates from Texas than Senator Clinton.

btw, I suppose having an "open"(and honest) approach to life is also showing a willingness to "change" approaches towards particular issues. Other wise you are neither being 'truly' open nor being 'radically' honest with yourself.

Attacks will be addressed by Facts. Hold on baby (she is willing to risk the general election at the expense of winning the Democratic nomination by not releasing her taxes):

The Clinton campaign today maintained that “the vetting of Barack Obama has just begun.” The truth is, more than a year into this campaign, some very simple vetting of Hillary Clinton has yet to start.

In the face of her unwillingness to release her tax returns, Hillary Clinton has made the false case in this campaign that she is more electable because she has been fully vetted. When it comes to her personal finances, Senator Clinton’s refusal to release her taxes returns denies the media and the American people the opportunity to even begin that process. Though her campaign has tried to kick the issue down the road, Democratic voters deserve to know, right now, why it is she is hiding the information in her tax returns from last year.

The Clinton campaign has said that they have released copious amounts of financial information but there are many questions about their private dealings that could be answered in their tax returns but not in the information that is currently available. For example, here are eight pieces of information that could be learned from her tax returns, the accompanying schedules, and attachments:

* Effective tax rate – including whether or not any tax shelters were used to reduce it
* Amount of income for spouses by source
* Amount of stock gains and losses
* Gross income for the couple
* Amount earned from stock dividends
* Amount of household employment taxes paid
* Personal exemptions taken
* Charitable contributions made

Senator Clinton has also claimed that she is too “busy” to release her tax returns. Given the fact she is able to loan her campaign $5 million, you would think the Clintons would be able to hire an accountant. The reality is that she wants to keep this information hidden from voters. The people of Wyoming, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and the rest of the country should wonder why.

The Clintons’ record on releasing tax returns:

FEBRUARY 2008: Clinton Reiterated That She Would Not Release Her Tax Records Until She Is The Nominee And Not Before Mid-April. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton says she won't release her tax returns until she has the Democratic presidential nomination in hand, and not before tax filing time comes in mid-April. "I will release my tax returns," Clinton said during the debate. "I have consistently said I will do that once I become the nominee, or even earlier." Pressed about the timing of releasing her tax returns, campaign aides were more reticent Wednesday, indicating that Clinton would not release the sensitive financial data during a hotly contested primary, but only at tax filing time. [AP, 2/27/08]

JUNE 2007: Clinton Does Not Plan to Release Her Tax Returns Until Next Year. According to the Washington Post, Clinton said through a spokesman that, “like past presidential candidates,” she will “release tax information in the election year.” [Washington Post, 6/19/07]

APRIL 12, 1996: Clinton Released His Tax Returns. President Clinton and his wife earned $316,074 in 1995, including the president's $200,000 salary, according to tax returns released Friday by the White House. The public release of the tax returns, three days before the April 15 filing deadline, shows that Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton are owed a refund of $5,656 on the $81,093 they paid in taxes, and will apply that refund to their 1996 income taxes. [UPI, 4/12/96]

April 15, 1992: Bill Clinton Made His Tax Returns Public. APRIL 15, 1992: Bill Clinton made his tax returns made public. [Los Angeles Times, 4/16/93]

Bill Clinton Released His Tax Returns In 1992 But Refused To Release Their Tax Returns From Before 1980. During the 1992 campaign, the Clintons claimed to be coming clean by releasing their tax returns from 1980 forward. But they steadfastly refused to release their returns for prior years, and only later did we learn that 1978 and 1979 were the tax years when Mrs. Clinton reported her 10,000% cattle-futures trading profit. [WSJ, 2/22/08]

btw, Fact: JFK won the Whitehouse after losing the Ohio primary. (FDR too)

Irwin

Re your #13

Your response and projections seem a bit odd to me, but underneath your pain shows.

I send you as much Love as I can 'muster' at this time.

bonnie

Thanks for whatever unconditional Love you can/cannot muster. I send my love to you too.

Quote of the Day: “You Can Xerox Your Tax Returns”

“There is no reason she cannot release her 2006 returns. Talk about change you can Xerox. You can Xerox your tax returns. She has been a habitual non-discloser on this and other issues.” -Obama advisor David Axelrod

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0308/Sparring_on_disclosure.html

Quote of the Day: “You Can Xerox Your Tax Returns”

“There is no reason she cannot release her 2006 returns. Talk about change you can Xerox. You can Xerox your tax returns. She has been a habitual non-discloser on this and other issues.” -Obama advisor David Axelrod

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0308/Sparring_on_disclosure.html

Ruth writes..."delegate count will be better than Hillary's therefore he will be awarded the nomination."

He won't be "awarded" but he will win democratically by winning the pledged delegate race, popular vote and also the Super delegate's hearts and minds.

"Dear Admin...

It's time to send this parasitic nusance Skeptisch out of here for good...

This pathetic pest presently guises as Chris, Irvine Welsh, John, Igor, Michael, Vanessa, Danielle and many, many others...

He has an obsessive, compulsive fixation with IB...he has made it his "home"...he regularly attacks without provocation...he's is the only who doesn't understand what a cancer he is...he has driven many of the regulars away...and if he keeps it up, he may be the only one left...it's hard to imagine that there are people like him in the world...wow!" Diablo

Dude, it is time again for you to go back to your real life and do the things you need to do, instead of practicing escapism at Intentblog. Take care.

Welsh #33:

FLASHBACK Clinton Campaign Release:

February 13, 2008
The Path to The Nomination
By Mark Penn
To: Interested Parties
From: Mark Penn, Chief Strategist

Re: The Path to the Nomination
This election will come down to delegates. Votes are still being counted and delegates apportioned, but Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are separated by approximately 40 delegates right now - that is, barely 1% of all the delegates to the Democratic convention.

Change Begins March 4th. Hillary leads in the three largest, delegate rich states remaining: Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania. These three states have 492 delegates - 64 percent of the remaining delegates Hillary Clinton needs to win the nomination. According to the latest polls, Hillary leads in Texas (IVR Jan 30-31), Pennsylvania (Franklin & Marshall Jan 8-14) and Ohio (Columbus Dispatch Jan 23-31). After March 4th, over 3000 delegates will be committed, and we project that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will be virtually tied with 611 delegates still to be chosen in Pennsylvania and other remaining states.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/02/the_path_to_the_nomination.html

***

"Virtually tied"? LOL!

He is leading by over 150 delegates(and in popular vote) with 611 to go! And he is gaining among super delegates too! More than 3 joined after his loses yesterday.

(In the Tuesday's primaries, Hillary is projected to win single digit net delegate lead.)

Only a couple of weeks ago Clinton was leading by over 20 points in Texas and Ohio but that lead came down to 3 and 10 points, as she managed to keep her coalition of women, elderly, Hispanic and the working class. She did not make any inroads into Obama's coalition of younger, well educated, African American and Independents. If she still wants to go negative, that will isolate many super delegates and this time Obama camp may hit back.

Hey Bonnie
Thanks
I may change but I will always stay as open and honest as I can.

My wife helped me out on the joke, which of the seven dwarfs, yo.

peace and many more laughs

derek

"Dear Admin...

It's time to send this parasitic nusance Skeptisch out of here for good...

This pathetic pest presently guises as Chris, Irvine Welsh, John, Igor, Michael, Vanessa, Danielle and many, many others...

He has an obsessive, compulsive fixation with IB...he has made it his "home"...he regularly attacks without provocation...he's is the only who doesn't understand what a cancer he is...he has driven many of the regulars away...and if he keeps it up, he may be the only one left...it's hard to imagine that there are people like him in the world...wow!" Diablo

Dude, it is time again for you to go back to your real life and do the things you need to do, instead of practicing escapism at Intentblog. Take care.

24. Posted by Irvine Welsh on March 5, 2008 05:20 PM

Whoahahahahahhahahahahahahahaha!

The IB bullshitter is depressed with Obama's losses. The loser invested so much emotional energy into his campaign or so it seems...but he is not a true Obama supporter who would volunteer and get involved in the grassroots movement...

(oh and we won big in Houston. Clinton won among the Hispanics who came out in unprecedented numbers in Texas. But still Obama is all set to win the delegate race in Texas. He won by a huge lead in the caucuses.)

Maybe the depressed dude should go back to his cocoon and recuperate...

Politics depresses the best of us.

It is indeed sad. Sad, sad, sad...

This playground...

This background knowledge...

All littered up...

Non-shredded papers in wait...

A death sentence has been imposed...

Confetti completes the transformation...

The end of civilization is marred with needless waste.

The true regs are UT, kate, north, tammy, heather, ruth, ed, doodoman, stan, mieke, emperor, bonnie char 4 and a handful others...all the others are that parasitic troll from British Colombia, Canada....tsk, tsk....

Diablo(No. 30), are you the real one or the fake one?

You sound like the fake one. The real diablo, the witty, caring, jovial one whom the community used to love in the past was different...

who the hell are u? another of his alter egos? damn!

I have been posting here for many months. And I know something about "fake" IB impersonator diablo and so called "real" diablo having read the comments and having followed the dialogue. I could be wrong and I do wonder if the "fake" one is the lovable one, and the "real" one if it is you is the one filled with anger, hate and low intellect.

You seem to have made the Open Thread your home and don't post much in the regular threads, and I don't post much in the OT. You can see my posts in Grace's thread:

http://www.intentblog.com/archives/2007/11/whos_listening.html

florida and michigan...

1...billary wants those votes to count...gee...how low can u go? it just shows she has no class, no integrity...u cannot change the rules after the game has started...shame on u billary..

2...the votes in those two states was not a fair contest...many democrats stayed away becoz they understood their votes wud not count...in a year of record voter turn out...democrats have out voted repubs in all but 4 states...those states are..arizona, utah, michigan and florida...surprise?

3...why are republican commetators clammerin' to vote for billary in the primaries? becoz BushCain can beat her in the general but lose to obama...it is not becoz they luv her..

4...it's time for barack to hit her back hard...she's an attack dog! a pittbull...

5...do u want 4 more yrs of the clintons in the O.O.? damn...she has not seen a republican proposal she didn't like...she does not represent change...but more of the same!

6...now here comes the IB troll with more of his venom...

You guys are nucking futs.

har har

says emperor..."You guys are nucking futs."

whoahahahahahahahahahahahaah....whoa...

Let us eat together,
Let us live together,
Let us meditate together,
Never shall we betray each other,
Never shall we entertain negativity.

Rig Ved

It is funny that if you work in any part of the U.S. weapon making, selling, using industry you are a good tax-paying citizen or even a “genuine” American hero; but if you sell weapons to “our” enemies you are a terrorist or merchant of death.

America’s number one export, and domestic industry, is war and weapons, and yet everybody else is the terrorist.

2 funny. Except for the people “we” kill or help to kill. Nucking futs man . . .

O Babylon, America that is, thy fall is imminent, and the blood of thy Saints and martyrs shall fill the earth with dread! O yeah baby!!!

pax vobiscum

goodthursday all,

I was a bit bored so I thought I would wander the online sites and I came across this little tid- bit....it seems Barak Obama is unhappy with his press coverage press :(...."Yesterday in a media avail on his plane, he accused the media of being complicit in Hillary Clinton's "kitchen sink" strategy and allowing themselves to be "persuaded that you had been too hard on her and too soft on me." This, Obama seemed to feel, was clearly an injustice and had resulted in the press' abdication of their duty: "Hopefully now people feel like everything's evened out and we can start actually covering the campaign properly." Oh, snap! Step up, media, you really dropped the ball this time. (See video below.)

I am soooo beginning to LOVE this guy and his "just plain AUDACITY."

Barak Obama has had the absolute "marshmallow" of a political campaign thus far while Hillary has been associated with just about every negative adjective the press and media could spew(that word is lovely) in a sentence, and he COMPLAINS!

The man just came rolling off how many WINS? with thousands standing in line to attend his rallies and here his political "sermons on the mount"...while they toss out "I love you Barak, we love you Barak, the universe loves you Barak...all with the help of the press and media who, also, love him....

gee, Mr. even tempered Barak Obama gets hit with a "feather" and calls it a "kitchen sink." I guess he is just sensitive....so.....maybe the World Leaders and the world press should be put on notice....if he in fact wins.....be....gentle...with our Barak Obama...he is just a bit more sensitive than your typical President or Prime Minister, in fact, he is just a bit more in every possible positive way...all wonderfully righteous, of course...

You know, I am finally realizing what has bothered me about Barak Obama from day one....his haughtiness....not that I am without my share of it....or others too...it is just that he and his supporter's mistake it for....let's say wisdom..knowledge beyond his years....a manner that is a 'cut above' the average joe shmoe political candidate....not to deny his actual intelligence...his actual well-intentioned desire to serve his Nation...or his good character...but it comes nothing close to deserving the pedistal of unscrutinized acceptance he has received.. and, certainly, he does not deserve to be handed the keys to the "control room of this Nation," because we have a mass of voters..."who have fallen head over heals "in love with Barak Obama and his speech making abilities.

and he says this.."and we can start actually covering the campaign properly." can you believe the haughtiness in that sentence? He has the AUDACITY...to actually SCOLD the press and media who have served him nothing but the finest accolades while his rival has had to make do with grunt or two of acknowledgement thrown her way...so what he is really saying in his SCOLDING of the "not as smart at he" press....let's get back to the business at hand.....my Barak Obama Love Fest....

god, when will folks wake up and send this VERY JUNIOR Senator of a Politician back to class and tell him to go SCOLD his fellow Senators and come back in four years and we'll take a look at his grades, see how well he is growing and then maybe we will talk about the presidency, maybe.

have a great evening, everyone, ruth

go ruth!

* * *

Desh, you are so cool! (regarding comment elsewhere)

* * *

this is for IW:

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

* * *

TheShadow... knows

* * *

Danke, North and Chris for liking my prose elsewhere. Chris, vff. I like your second option, though I'd never write it.

love, h

I love Kay Kay, and this is the cutest song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY_ThVp3jvE

Another Kay Kay song...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-V7aJEwqug

Who Called the Canadian Embassy? Someone Should Ask Jim Blanchard
by DHinMI
Thu Mar 06, 2008

Someone should ask Jim Blanchard if he had anything to do with the flap about NAFTA involving the Clinton campaign, the Canadian embassy and a false press report accusing the Obama campaign of something instead done by the Clinton campaign.

...In 1992 he was active with the Bill Clinton campaign. He apparently hoped to get a good spot in the administration—supposedly he coveted the job of Secretary of Transportation—but instead he was appointed Ambassador to Canada.

Blanchard is now with the Washington law firm of DLA Piper, where he chairs the firm's Government Affairs practice:

...Jim Blanchard has extensive connections with Canadian political, business, legal and media leaders. He would understand Canadian concerns about US threats to renegotiate NAFTA, and as a former governor of Michigan, he would also understand the political fallout in a Democratic primary from being seen as "soft on NAFTA" in a struggling industrial state like Ohio. If the Clinton campaign needed someone to help them reach out to Canadian leadership, few are as well suited to do it as Jim Blanchard. And if the Clinton campaign tried to create a controversy to put Barack Obama on the defensive over NAFTA, Blanchard would be well suited to help with that as well. And while he may not have been involved, someone should ask him if he was, since he has also endorsed Hillary Clinton.

Oh, one other thing. In 2002 Blanchard tried a comeback, and ran for Governor of Michigan. He finished third in the Democratic primary, behind winner Jennifer Granholm and second-place finisher David Bonior. His pollster on that losing campaign? Mark Penn.

Who Called the Canadian Embassy? Someone Should Ask Jim Blanchard

DailyKos

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/6/131942/6208/326/470547

shame on the clintons...an immoral family...BJ Billy droppin' his pants in the O.O. to get ....from fat intern! shame on this filthty family! if u vote for them u are just as filthy...yuk!

now MSNBC are reporting that it was the clintons who approached the Canadains about NAFTA...whoa!

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/03/06/738264.aspx

The lede of the story above, which is on the main page of MSNBC, reads "Did Clinton camp start NAFTA-gate?" This implies the story will prove that the Clinton campaign was the source of the NAFTA stuff. *But* if you read the story itself, there is *nothing* in the story to support that implication in lede. In fact, the story says no one really knows who told what to the Canadian government.

This is just one more example of how the media is tough on Clinton and soft on Obama.

This story on MSNBC says confused reporting on the Canada-NAFTA issue was the media's fault, not Clinton's, *and* there is a flat denial from Clinton's campaign *with* their challenge to the Canadian government to reveal the name(s) of those who "reassured" the Canadian government about NAFTA.

(In my experience, a challenge to tell the truth isn't issued unless there's a sureness that the truth will benefit the person issuing the challenge.)

If it's gossip, not real news, why not cite it as gossip??

Either you didn't read the article, or you didn't read it carefully.

When I read your dissing of Bill Clinton for his sexual fooling around, I have to remember he's the first man who ever did that. You never fool around, I know, right?

Bill Clinton isn't running. And HC didn't like what her husband did. Why would you smear her for her husband's human failings?

Listen, both Clinton and Obama are politicians. They're human, too. If you ever looked under the covers of BO's life, I don't know what you'd find, but you would not find an angelic human being.

You have BO love blinders on, Irish.

love, h

Diablo is a dimwit. Why pick on him?

I already posted every side of this story in the Red Phone thread. Interested parties is can read and educate themselves. You can't blame the media for being pro or anti, they simply look for sensationalism,...(and anything to prolong this race, media loves this great story of race and the ratings) . Scientific studies show there was no undue advantage of media for Obama over Hillary. But this won't stop people from making blanket statements of Media bias against their candidate.

The CBC exonerates the Obama campaign:

According to CBC, all the details were wrong. Canada contacted the campaigns. Michael Wilson was not involved. And, most damning, they are now admitting that the memo at the heart of the controversy "may not accurately reflect what they were told".

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3/5/112926/0842/300/469572

Read the in depth analysis of events...

There could be more to the story as h reported in 42, 43. But the damage has already been done to one candidate. And ridiculous, shamelessly, Clinton ran the "NAFTA fake news report" Ad.

IW, I'm not picking on D, I'm conversing with him.

Your labeling him a dimwit reflects negatively on you. If don't like his characterizations of you, you can ignore them. By endlessly skirmishing with him, you lend his presumptions credence.

I don't read your copy and paste posts. I go to the cleanest sources of news I can find, and form my own opinions.

If you ever write your opinions, citing whatever your sources are but not extensively copying and pasting others' words, I'll be pleased to converse with you, if you wish.

love, h

Hillary and McCain 2008 ticket; the establishment has had enough of this nonsense about Muslim niggers "running" for president, and us good Americans must now realize this is a 1 party state, for the rich, by the rich, and only the rich - and all the rest of us are just

niggers.

But hey better a free slave rather than a crucified anarchist!

pax vobiscum

# 40 Skeptisch from British Columbia, Canada...

your fixation with IB and ur penchant for posing here as a million different people, including women, shows that you are not well! u could do us all a favor and mind ur own damn business up there and stop cut and pastinging us to death and pretending you are an expert on our political scene...gee i wonder, are u wearing pantyhose and a pink dress while u pester us to death and do u use ur comuter a pillow, low life?

and are u still seeking luv by accessing Asian women on internet sites? damn...

that shud be # 48..

that is "free" slave slave of course

my bad

peace

My friends, I won't be posting here from March 7 morning 7.OO AM PST till March 18 7.00 AM PST

My friends, enjoy your MSM spins...

I will miss reporting March 8 Wyoming and Mississippi results. Also keep a watch on Illinos election on March 8, Democratic Bill Foster(Particle Physicist and Businessman) running in one of the reddest districts. Obama is running an Ad for him. The republicans are spending heavily and are desperate to keep their seat tahtw as vacated by the House Speaker. The latest polls show Bill is leading by 10 points. If he wins its going to be huge morale boost anda hint of things to come for democrats running in Red states come November.

For this and more, yeah and the other big things that don't get attention as it should on MSM, the FISA bill, follow the events at the largest liberal and the most authentic political blog DailyKos.com (and OpenLeft), and all the spin about presidential race at the conservative political blog Politico.com and liberal blog HuffingtonPost.com. AndIf you feel the need to vomit visit the rightwing blog TownHall.com

My friends, my fiends take care, I will be back in about 10 days time. Meanwhile keep the heated political discussions down. Just ignore the daily rants by ruth and diablo, and any mean, attacking or arrogant posts by other regulars.

My friends, discuss spirituality, science, art, love... and share your insights and experiences...

My friends, my friends, I will be back in about 10 days.

take care now,
so long!

You have fun IW, and stay out of trouble brother

peace

Yeah, and there will be more fuel for fear mongering by McBush and co with the Jerusalem attacks and the Time Square bombing... enjoy.

Okay, okay. Let's stop this infantile badgering! I love free press as much as any American, but you guys are driving me up the wall with these long diatribes re: Clinton and Obama. I don't know where this Irvine Welsh came from and Diablo does not write like the Diablo I enjoyed previously. All the long, long boring cut and pastes I just skip over--probably others are doing the same. Cut out the garbage and begin to keep the conversation short and use some manners. I got out of sick bed last Tuesday just to vote only on the presidential primary. So, please let's use some common decency.

Yo, thanks Craig!

Linda dear, my good wishes for your health.

I promise no long cut & pastes from me. I shall also downsize the frequency of my posts when I am back... and there shall be little politics if any. So that intentBlog doesn't take up the flavor of a single poster and there be diversity in a spiritual blog as in life, that was meant to be...

Yo, thanks Craig! be safe, bro.

Linda dear, my good wishes for your health.

I promise no long cut & pastes from me. I shall also downsize the frequency of my posts when I am back... and there shall be little politics if any. So that intentBlog doesn't take up the flavor of a single poster and there be diversity in a spiritual blog like in life, as was meant to be...

"My friends, I won't be posting here from March 7 morning 7.OO AM PST till March 18 7.00 AM PST." #55 the IB troll Skeptisch...my friends? u have friends?

really...weren't u supposed to be gone in the land down under for the winter? i suppose u'd have to be as naive as the emperor to believe such bull....

and while u are at it...y dont u drag ur million other egos along for the ride...for good?

I am not Skeptsich. Let everyone be fore-warned, the dumb diablo who is posting vitriol here is perhaps the fake intentBlog's impersonator, or who knows...Kopra.

"TheShadow... knows" #40

Hey midget MyShadow why don't you pick a fight with dwarf-killer Goliath, Bonnie? LOL! It was fun MyFriend.

John McCain’s crude Chelsea Clinton joke

John McCain made this odious joke about Chelsea Clinton back in ‘98:

Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno.”

– Sen. John McCain, speaking to a Republican dinner, June 1998.

Not only is McCain’s hideous attempt at humor about 10 times more tasteless than what Shuster said (as the David Corn article notes, newspapers that reported on the joke wouldn’t even print it), but while the newsman’s ill-conceived comment was at least spontaneous, McCain’s joke was a prepared remark to a public audience.

Maybe McCain has more in common with Limbaugh than Rush thinks. The straight talk express should be ashamed of himself.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/

***

It's not good to have spats with those you admire, those with whom you share so much, those you think of as your friends. Recognizing this, Hillary has decided to reach out to her fellow candidate and aim her ire at their mutual menace.

"I think it's imperative that each of us be able to demonstrate we can cross the commander-in-chief threshold," the New York senator told reporters crowded into an infant's bedroom-sized hotel conference room in Washington.

"I believe that I've done that. Certainly, Sen. McCain has done that and you'll have to ask Sen. Obama with respect to his candidacy," she said.

Yes, the reporters will have to show some respect to Barack Obama's candidacy, since it's clear that Hillary has none.

"Calling McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee a good friend and a "distinguished man with a great history of service to our country," Clinton said, "Both of us will be on that stage having crossed that threshold. That is a critical criterion for the next Democratic nominee to deal with."

Oh, Hillary has crossed a threshold, all right.

Still, it's good to know that she won't let little things like jokes about her daughter being an ugly bastard keep her from kissing McCain's ass.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/6/173850/2679/115/470750

And they think people really are going to believe that the Hillary-McCain presidential race is going to be the most civilized campaign ever as Bill Clinton put it while hypocritically accusing Obama of attacking her? No, the Clintons will go after McCain and so will McCain and surrogates with teh ugliest of tactics. Its called playing the game in a group, and optimizing one's chances. Pity on people who buy such spin.

Bill Clinton's Midas touch

By Andrew Zajac | WASHINGTON BUREAU

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-clinton-financesmar04,0,5935166.story

***

After reading this, it looks like there might be a lot of interesting things in those Clinton tax returns. Bill has sure made a lot of money while keeping the details secret:

"Since leaving office in 2001, Clinton has wiped out millions of dollars in legal bills and become a multimillionaire through a brisk schedule of speechmaking and book-writing, as well as a pair of consulting and investing agreements that have yielded as-yet-undisclosed sums.

Clinton also raised more than $362million for his foundation through 2006 and secured pledges for billions more.

Interest in Clinton’s financial dealings has intensified since Hillary Clinton lent her presidential campaign $5 million in January. She has been asked in nationally televised debates whether she would disclose tax returns or persuade the former president to release information about his charitable pursuits.

But evaluating the transactions is difficult because both Clintons, while complying with legal filing requirements, have somewhat limited disclosure of their finances."

***

The Obama campaign has issued this statement on Clinton’s tax returns. They just don’t buy the argument that she is too busy:

"Senator Clinton has also claimed that she is too “busy” to release her tax returns. Given the fact she is able to loan her campaign $5 million, you would think the Clintons would be able to hire an accountant. The reality is that she wants to keep this information hidden from voters. The people of Wyoming, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and the rest of the country should wonder why."

***

Newsday notes that Clinton didn’t always believe it was acceptable to keep tax returns secret:

http://weblogs.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/politics/blog/2008/03/flashback_hrc_once_thought_tax.html

A trip down memory lane:

"Eight years ago, when Hillary parachuted into NY to become our Senator, she and Howard Wolfson became completely obsessed with opponent Rick Lazio’s tax returns, which he did not release until the end of August..

They talked about them at every opportunity. In early July, Hillary called it “frankly disturbing.” A guy in an Uncle Sam outfit was dispatched to be a nuisance at various Lazio events in August. Howard himself showed up once to try to rattle Lazio by offering him a copy of some Chappaqua property tax receipt after Lazio said he’d release his state returns as soon as Hillary released hers (which didn’t exist, because she had just moved up here).

This produced a lot of coverage. We’ve copied one of the stories after the jump, if you’re interested. But obviously, what brings it to mind is the current discussions of when, if ever, Clinton and Wolfson will release her tax returns as she runs for president this year. Their attitude has been, basically, when they feel like it.

Pressed again today by the Obama campaign, Wolfson said: “Their tax returns since they left the White House will be made available on or around April 15.”

Maybe a reporter could, like, actually risk getting Wolfson mad by trying to pin him down on whether “on or around April 15″ will definitely be before the Pennsylvania primary on April 22, and why a 2001 return from a sitting NY senator can’t be copied by, say, March 15?

Without being too cute here, the question is why Clinton and Wolfson were so obsessed by Lazio’s returns that they were disrupting his events, but they now treat it as an irrelevancy when Hillary’s returns are requested. There’s occasionally the suggestion that different standards apply to a primary. But that makes no sense, especially when you’re already an officeholder. Republicans are entitled to see Hillary’s returns before making their decision, but not Dems?"

All about NAFTAgate with relevant links and sequence of events:

Did Clinton Win Ohio on a Lie?
by Paul Loeb

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-loeb/did-clinton-win-ohio-on-a_b_90254.html

Chris Bowers at OpenLeft writes...

Clinton yesterday:

"Asked on CBS's The Early Show whether she and Obama should be on the same ticket, Clinton said: "That may be where this is headed, but of course we have to decide who is on the top of ticket."

Clinton today:

"In a Cabinet-style setting, surrounded by retired military leaders, Sen. Hillary Clinton said the public should ask whether Democratic presidential rival Barack Obama has met the criteria needed to become the nation's commander in chief.

"I think that since we now know Sen. (John) McCain will be the nominee for the Republican Party, national security will be front and center in this election. We all know that. And I think it's imperative that each of us be able to demonstrate we can cross the commander-in-chief threshold," the New York senator told reporters crowded into an infant's bedroom-sized hotel conference room in Washington.

"I believe that I've done that. Certainly, Sen. McCain has done that and you'll have to ask Sen. Obama with respect to his candidacy," she said.

Calling McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee a good friend and a "distinguished man with a great history of service to our country," Clinton said, "Both of us will be on that stage having crossed that threshold. That is a critical criterion for the next Democratic nominee to deal with."

To imply to Democratic voters "it's OK to vote for me, because I'll pick Obama as VP," and then to turn around and imply that "Obama is not qualified to be President, but John McCain is," is both contradictory, self-defeating, and, shall we say, not entirely forthcoming. Maybe someone should ask Clinton why she would pick a Vice-President who she thinks is not qualified to become President. Or, maybe someone should ask her why she wouldn't pick McCain as her Vice-President, since she thinks he is so well-qualified on national security issues.

Another thing that bothers me about this attack is how it is not based in policy. Why are ideological concerns, such as whether or not you think we should bomb Iran, not considered "qualifications" to be Commander In Chief? Conservatives have rammed a couple of Supreme Court Justices onto the highest court by arguing that it doesn't matter what they decide, it only matters if they are experienced judges. That, of course, is hogwash. Ideological interpretation of the Constitution, and foreign policy judgment, are absolutely part of what makes someone "qualified" to become either a Supreme Court Justice or Commander in Chief. If judgment played no role, then Bush would be far more qualified to be "commander in chief" than any of the candidates running.

Clinton's hawkish foreign policy has always been a reason why I leaned toward other candidates in the nomination campaign. That Obama consistently argues foreign policy judgment on issues like Iraq are main qualifications to become commander in chief is one specific reason why I favor him in the campaign.

This is a MUST READ for all Intentbloggers involved in political discussions. At least we can all -- Obama and Clinton supporters -- AGREE on THIS?

GlennWSmith at OpenLeft on The Reason Some Are Being Hateful To One Another....

(I also agree with Matt that 'much of the tone in the campaign comes from the top'[http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4370], and is based on the 'campaign largely not breaking on issues or ideology'[http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4357], but usually there is more than one reason for everything. - promoted by Chris Bowers)

There is a name for the phenomena many of us are wrestling with, the frequency of hate-filled comments and flame wars among Clinton and Obama supporters.

That name is infrahumanization, what sociology researchers call the tendency for in-group members to strip out-groups of full human emotions and capabilities. It's not as dramatic as "dehumanizing," but it can be just as dangerous and destructive. I wish this research told us the tendency was limited to the close-minded and the bigoted. Sadly, that is not the case.

As you can read in just one of the many google-able studies here, the html version, or, here, the pdf version, this reduction of outgroup members to less-than-human status seems to be rather universal.

A perfect example is the "cult" accusation against Obama supporters. This is a handy way to strip the Illinois senator's supporters of full human reasoning and emotional stability. Making them less-than-human makes it far easier to justify one's attacks upon them, because we can reassure ourselves they won't hurt like we'd be hurt because they aren't exactly like us emotionally. We can and do suspend our empathy.

But I have been guilty of this myself, starting sentences off with, "Clinton supporters just don't get it..." I may not have written that exactly, but my tone has sure enough carried the implication.

There is some good news in what researchers have found. Physical proximity usually mitigates against the infrahumanizing tendency we all seem to share.

Obviously, we don't have the advantage of physical proximity in our online conversations with one another. And I think that's one reason why we seem so vicious in our criticisms of our opponents' candidates and camps.

What made me return to these studies I came across a few months ago was the politeness and courtesy the two camps have shown one another in our personal encounters through the campaign and primary in Texas. Some may suggest we managed to get along because of timidity or fear. But I don't think so. I think we were proving just what the sociologists have discovered. It's a lot harder to paint as less than human someone you are looking in the eyes.

Now, of course there are other reasons to get angry with one's opponents. It's not that every profound disagreement is turned into a instance of infrahumanization. This isn't a plea for universal peace.

In the progressive online community, we didn't have quite so much of this in the past because we shared an outgroup -- the Right Wing. Sharing an enemy is one frequent way of defining an ingroup. Now we are at odds with one another over serious matters. There are differences in the candidates, there are real concerns about what's best for the country, the world, and us individually.

The differences need open discussion, and the blogosphere allows us to have those discussions with thousands of people we used to be isolated from.

What's the answer? I don't have one, except to say we should all take a deep breath and maybe whisper to ourselves that the person we are about to loudly disagree with is, after all, a human being just like us. It may tone down the rhetoric some.

http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=7536844FAAC39E02EF2043EAE9B24C72?diaryId=4380

In the spirit of the post above, and in solidarity with Irvine's absence(he will be missed), I shall refrain from participating at Intentblog for a couple of weeks (or at least try.)

Have a blast my friends and foes(also my friends.)

See ya!

Chris

I had a dream that I went to sleep and never woke up, and then, and then I woke up.

No fair! The power of postive intent! The power of positive intent . . .: o well.

Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One . . .

Let's change the subject NOW!

Go here: http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/thirdjesus/thethirdjesus.pdf

for a free download of excerpts from the book of Deepak Chopra: "The Third Jesus"

Have an "enlightened" weekend :)

All the best from the heartphone

Mieke

Wow! what a thrill to wake up and find out I am a dwarf-killer Goliath. Yo! I am such a big bad girl.

Irwin, I hope you find peace with yourself wherever you are.

love
bonnie

The way to go Bonnie :)

Irvine, I hope that you have passed your exam with an A lol.

You receive a tripple A from me :)

All the best to you, from the heartphone

Mieke

dear Craig,
I had a dream last night too,
and I did awake,
just as you did
My dream was about my Dad.
(he sleeps in slumber, where ... oh where, my dear One father ...)

Irvine,
have a great time on your away time.
Chris too.

Hi Mieke and Bonnie,
It's an overcast afternoon, hinting at rain,
a perfect gift -
for the spring flowers
:)

love,
~ Kate

Hi dear Kate,

Your dad has surely met mine by now :)

They both are embracing us and bow

Towards a new way of love, to the heart phone

And you and I will never ever be alone :)

I walked in a wonderful land the other day

A sunny sky, birds singing. trees blossoming

And on the grassy ground, snow there lay

Now, it is raining here too, today :)

Lots of love, from the heartphone

Mieke

thank you dear Mieke,
I walk
with you!
:)
love always,
~ Kate

what?

Mieke

Hugs dear lady. :)

Kate

It is so nice to have rain again here.
Looking forward to my gardening
this spring. Will save a watermelon for you. :)

Love
bonnie

goodfriday everyone,

I guess I just had to mention it....:) the M word...spoken, today, by a Barak Obama campaign spokesman....oh, my god...the big slip....they think she is a MONSTER! ergh...scary, ugly, mean MONSTER...:))))))))really, I had to chuckle at that term used by the campaign spokesman...they mention HER MONSTROUS tactics.....:))))) I guess they would seem monstrous to the passive aggressives....that make up the Barak campaign...I mean all they have had to do this whole campaign is sit back, approach the podium and SPEAK...the world at their feet in awe...AND as far as negatives go they didn't have to dirty their little feet because the media and press took care of all that...messy...dirty...N E G A T I V E stuff for them ....they could take the so -called high road that was freely paved by the media and press only to happy to splatter the airwaves with all the reasons why HE...is sooo saintly and she....so monstrous....yes, Barak Obama the man of higher standards has not a problem soaring on the splatterings of Hillary Clinton's hate club.....but....all is fair in love, war and politics....I mean, he, the man of sooo much integrity, had to take notice of how well he was being treated, since day one, by the media and press...he could have said something about it..like ....lay off...fellas....go ahead give me as good as you are giving her...after all, I am the man running on integrity, change and truth...I can handle some truth....if only you fellas would fling some at me....but he didn't...he ate up every bit of flattery served him and deposited into his Presidency account...and became a very rich...Candidate(popularity wise)....hey.... little white fibs are necessary in order to win your battles and your war...right.

anyway...the use of the Monster word by this Barak campaign spokesperson was very telling indeed....god, you would think Hillary stole into their campaign headquarters, bound and gagged them, held them at gunpoint and therefore caused them to lose 3 state primaries....what a scary, lowdown -itch she is...poor, poor Barak has to put up with such a meanie. sniffle sniffle....please someone give him a kleenex...

now, they say that for this campaign spokesperson to have attacked her so personally is a no-no and really....she had to go.....but, I think Hillary could have taken the high road here and let it roll of her shoulder....for her and her campaign to say Barak had to let her go....is....well....sad. She can well afford to be big about this....an opportunity missed on her part......

really she can well afford to trust in herself. Here she is a Woman with experience and an sass kicking resume but is fighting for her political life against a youngin, a male, with 1/2 her experience, in everything that would pertain to doing this particular job, with very slim pickings when it comes to his actual record in the Senate... this from a washingtonpost article...."The Obama campaign has sent journalists eight pages of examples of his reaching across the aisle in the Senate. I am not the only one to note, however, that these are small-bore items of almost no controversy"......voters really know nothing about Barak Obama's actual leadership capabilities, actual strengths and weaknesses, actual ability to act under extreme pressure, stress, confusion, whatever...but....they know he can give good talk....he is I N S P I R A T I O N A L.....swave....cool....young....not unfortunate in the looks department either....we like cute, and young in America......so I guess for Hillary Clinton to TRUST that she is in fact GOOD enough...she CAN rely on her record, strengths, resume is really just a nice thougth becasue the actual reality....is telling a much different story..

have a great evening everyone, ruth

I hear you Kate!

Peace

"Irvine,
have a great time on your away time.
Chris too." says kate...well, well!

katie...this is the same person who called u and i names just two nights ago...as in " low-intellect nitwits" whoa! i hope he will not attack unprovoked again...as he has done so many time recently...u can be sure that when he does, the response will be swift...cheers.

Hi Mieke, Kate, North et all!

One Gurvinder Singh from India asked me some questions about enlightenment. I directed him to read the book "Talks" about Ramana Maharshi's conversations with his visitors which one enlightened desciple was wise enough to record for posterity. Gurvinder Singh bought the book but on reading found some answers of Ramana difficult to comprehend and requested me if I would clarify their meaning for him. I agreed but asked him to begin a blog for the purpose so that some other interested persons can also get benefit from the clarifications if it is there. So Gurvinder has started the following blog:
http://shriramanamahrishi.blogspot.com/

If you feel like you may visit the blog, make comments, ask questions etc. Just to inform you. Thank you.

Hi Harb,

I have been reading the blog just now.

This one on one conversation is very straightforward and I immediately found myself back in your book lol

Very good, I will be back there, it is good to read you both :)

Love, Mieke

HI Harb..that's great...to create the blog

Happy Saturday everyone!!

We were told on the news to expect a storm, with up to 30m of snow!!

Alas, it is bright blue sky out there and sunny!

Hurray!! The weatherman was WRONG! lol

Love,
North

just came in from the cold....and ice...and sleet and pouring rain....all in a few hours time....brrrrr.....I'm dripping, soaking wet from cleaning off the car after every errand stop....what fun!! ahhhhh to be warm and toasty and inside...it looks like after all this, the wind will pickup, and then more snow....

anyway....it looks like Barak Obama is going to win Wyoming....boy, what a MONSTER!! :)))))))))))

have a warm and dry afternoon if you live in the northeast today......ruth

Well North, it seems your lucky sunny day :)

Also here the weather was very okay

I hope the storm will go away

Before it reaches your pathway :)

Dear Ruth,

Let Obama keep his pride

And Hillary be invincible

Together they are just incredible !

Keep it warm and dry inside :)

For the coming days here in our part of the world we better do the same, cause they predict a lot of wind and rain.

Wish you both a warm, cosy weekend!

Mieke

HI Mieke.. I stayed quite busy indoors with cleaning; but enjoyed all the sunlight with curtains open. My plant is full of buds, and I can hardly wait until they open, as each bloom, creates a cluster of seven star-shaped, puffy little star flowers, with a pink spiky crown in the center... so lovely to see!!

Well, I am tired out from my daily chores, and hereby will go stuff face with food, and stretch out in front of the tv.. then up and do more chores until evening..

Ruth, did you call Obama a MONSTER? or the storm you are having? (((giggles)))

ciao,
North

O but just in case my sarcasm is not effectively conveyed Ruth don't worry I could never vote for McCain; and while I do not think Hillary is much, if any, better, as she will keep the war machine ceaselessly expanding, and maintain the status quo

only Ron Paul a seemingly genuinely caring man (old white man at that) who is a "true" republican, and the hopelessly idealistic Barack Obama offered any chance at peace.

The rest are just mouthpieces for the warmongers.

Anyhoo . . .

peace

Craig

I don't totally agree with your assessment of Hillary, although she has the misfortune of being too closely identified with the past.

What I do agree with though is that, if we really wanted transformative change in the political system[as opposed to what a politician can *give* us so we don't have to change,]more attention would have been paid to both Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich's critiques of the kinds of government leadership and policies that has failed us in the past.

danashields and I came up with the ticket early on in this election for Ron Paul and D. Kucinich to be co-presidents. :) hi dana!

bonnie

1...congrats barack on getting back on track...nice win in Wy...oming..

2...he has, for the most part, ran in clean, positive campaige... and it will pay when all is said and done..

3...and don't for get to spring ahead one hour tonight before u go to bed!

D.

Yes Bonnie I just wikied Kucinich, and I, the few times I heard him speak, you know like in the debates when they would hardly even ask a question of Paul on the repub side or Kucinich on the dem side, I liked virtually everyting he had to say, and now reading up on him, I really like what he was trying to say: too bad the "powers that be" would never allow a Paul or Kucinich to be president as they would assuredly be assasinated first, by their fellow Americans nonetheless . . .

Yeah

peace sis

Politically Conscious Intentblogers, CELEBRATE the physicist Democrat victory against all odds!

Democrats Win Back Hastert's Seat
Sat Mar 08, 2008
Daily Kos

Democrat Bill Foster has won the special election in IL-14, and by a stunning margin.

This is a red district. Former Speaker of the House Denny Hastert represented this district since 1987, winning reelection by huge margins.

This district includes the city of Dixon, which is the birthplace of Ronald Reagan.

This is a district that President Bush won twice, and in 2004 he received 56% of the vote.

The NRCC poured over $1 million here to hold onto this seat -- nearly a third of its cash on hand.

John McCain actually took time from his presidential campaign to come to Illinois and hold a fundraiser for Oberweis and formally endorse him.

This was an important race. Despite the inevitable spin from the GOP tonight, the fact is that Bill Foster ran in a deeply red district, against an opponent and a Republican machine that blanketed the airwaves with attack after attack. Republicans fought tooth and nail to keep this district, and they lost.

Congratulations to Bill Foster, and to the team of dedicated volunteers both in Illinois and around the nation that pitched in to help turn this seat blue.

Barack Obama also deserves a shout out, not just for cutting an ad for Foster and helping with the GOTV effort, but also for proving that his coattails can help even a political newcomer win in a red district. If Obama is the nominee in November, this will be a key element of building on a Democratic majority throughout the nation.

Foster will be seated soon, and will face Oberweis again in November.

For now though, Foster's win is sure to keep Republicans up at night. As DCCC Chair Chris Van Hollen explained:

"Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said a Foster victory in the "rock-ribbed" GOP district would "send a shock wave through the political system that people are absolutely fed up with the status quo."

Welcome the newest Democratic member of Congress, Representative Bill Foster!

Follow the discussion at Daily Kos:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/8/212426/1482/327/472580

1...i hope u are all having a good Sunday morning...did u forget to reset ur clock(s)?

2...most people are now saying that barack will be the nominee...i hope they are right...

3...there is a large number new voters...young and old, republicans and independents and dem too who are inspired by barack....and there is real concern that they will not bother to vote if he is not the nominee...

4...it is incredible that anyone person would want the dels from Michigan and Florida to count when it was not a fair contest...by any standard...for Billary to claim those delegates raises question of her charactor...u cannot change the rules after the game has started...can u?

5...exciting days are ahead! does Billary stand a chance? i doubt it!

time is fast running for florida and michigan...

1...if the Democrats hope to win in november...those two states must be included..

2...the right thing to do, in my opinion, is to do a revote because the first one was not fairly contested...

3...and they betta decide soon or the repubs will be the beneficiary in november...i cannot see why the DNC are dragging their feet on this important, crucial issue...wow!

Hello to all who have shown interest in North and mine Inspired designs/poetry booklet.

You can all have a preview of the animated cover of the book at North's site:

http://www.myspace.com/northdesigns

I will have all the copies in my possession probably on Friday. On the Open Thread of coming Wednesday I will place my message again with all relevant other information.

Love, Mieke

Hello, Mieke!

I checked out North's site to see the cover. Very nice!

It's vintage Mi'Donna, for sure, and I love the butterfly's!

Do keep us informed. You two are for real!

That's so nice to know, really.

A head of Time...thanking you for sharing!

Luvs & hugz! Keith

Hi there, Keith~
I have just spent an hour walking at the park and watching the sun's glow along the river, and the extra hour this afternoon - is oh so nice. The cool air is refreshing and I love the way the sunlight sparkles when it hits the treetops and river's edge.
Hope you have had a nice Sunday.

I too thank Mieke and North for sharing their artwork and poems, a collaboration, begun here at IB :))

love to you,
~ Kate

More Hillary Clinton stupidity:

The Threshold

Hillary Clinton, on the qualifications of John McCain to be President of the United States:

'“I think that since we now know Sen. (John) McCain will be the nominee for the Republican Party, national security will be front and center in this election. We all know that. And I think it’s imperative that each of us be able to demonstrate we can cross the commander-in-chief threshold,” the New York senator told reporters crowded into an infant’s bedroom-sized hotel conference room in Washington.

“I believe that I’ve done that. Certainly, Sen. McCain has done that and you’ll have to ask Sen. Obama with respect to his candidacy,” she said.

Calling McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee a good friend and a “distinguished man with a great history of service to our country,” Clinton said, “Both of us will be on that stage having crossed that threshold. That is a critical criterion for the next Democratic nominee to deal with."'

Let us leave aside for the moment the disturbing fact that Clinton is praising the presumptive Republican nominee while simultaneously attacking the Democrat who very well may be his opponent. Let's examine instead the very notion of the "threshold" Clinton presents as a qualification for president.

John McCain served his country in Vietnam. He was captured and was kept as a prisoner of war. He has served on committees in the Senate dealing with foreign policy and military affairs. In short, he has decades of experience with military issues, intelligence issues, and other matters which one may fairly say fall within the "commander in chief" sphere.

But what has been the result of these decades of experience? What does John McCain present today that pushes him past the "commander in chief threshold"?

Is it his joking and singing about bombing Iran? Is it his promise that "there will be more wars"? Is it his belief that the nation's spying apparatus should be turned upon its people?

What proves that McCain has "certainly" crossed the threshold?

His claim that we should remain in Iraq for 100 years? His dishonest accusations that his political opponents want to "wave the white flag of surrender"? Or is it his insistence on sending more troops into a quagmire?

Clinton's "threshold" appears to be more about quantity than quality. McCain has been involved for decades in military or national security affairs, and thus, according to her logic, he apparently crosses the "threshold" to be commander in chief.

This definition of "threshold" though is both troubling and dangerous. Using this definition, Donald Rumsfeld would "certainly" cross the threshold. Colin Powell would "certainly" cross the threshold.

By focusing on the quantity of years in the national security arena rather than on the quality of judgment which has been evidenced during those years, Clinton compacts the most important role of the president into a numbers game which is blind to political philosophy or governing ideology.

Yet it is precisely the use (or abuse) of political philosophy and governing ideology which should be the "threshold" for being commander in chief.

McCain brings decades of "experience" to the table, but he also brings a decades-old "us vs. them" mentality and a loyal belief in the unitary executive. It is this mindset which makes Clinton's assertion that McCain is "certainly" qualified to be commander in chief utterly absurd.

To emphasize the absurdity of her statement: let's remember that McCain's commander in chief philosophy is no different than that of President Bush.

Clinton repeatedly refers to Bush's legacy as a "failed presidency." She calls the president's decision to keep troops in Iraq "the height of irresponsibility." And yet, a man who wholeheartedly embraces both the policies of that "failed presidency" and the irresponsible idea of keeping troops in Iraq for 100 years receives Clinton's stamp of approval.

Had the founders desired years of military-related experience to be a "threshold" for commander in chief, they would have drafted such a requirement into the Constitution. Instead, a 35 year old natural born citizen who has resided here for 14 years can assume that role. And the only "threshold" that exists is gaining the approval of the American people, by proving to them that you have the judgment necessary to fulfill the duties of the office.

It is that threshold that qualifies a person to be commander in chief. It is a threshold of trust. A threshold of judgment. And against that threshold, McCain's record shows that he falls far short. http://tinyurl.com/24zsnc

What a coincidence, my dear, Kate!

As soon as I finished #95, I sent you an e-mail.

And here you are...or there--suddenly--you were!

Back in the time that sprouted a head this very day.

How did you know where and when? It's like...I've been found out.

You natural-born psychic you! Whaassupp?

Thanks for posting the info that's at my site Mieke. I hope everyone receiving a copy, will enjoy our creative endeavours!

You should receive the autograph cards this week, maybe close to same time as recieving the books. It is all falling into place...

Thanks for showing interest in our creative dream.. everyone at IB... many of my designs were inspired by moments spent here..

Love, North

Attention MSNBC

We ask so little of you; to keep us informed on the custody status of Britney's kids, to let us know, assuming she's white and pretty enough, that somewhere a young woman was tragically killed, and of course, updates on just how often Roger Clemens used steroids. And to your credit, you are all over these vital stories that affect millions of Americans, so kudos for that. But just one small quibble; could you take some of the journalistic zeal and attention to detail that you invest in those stories and use them in your reporting of the 2008 presidential primary race?

This morning, MSNBC's political reporter John Yang was asked what was next for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, following Obama's victory in Wyoming. Said Yang:

"And what happened in Wyoming means that Barack Obama is again adding to his delegate lead, his lead in the delegate count, and erasing at least some of the gains that Hillary Clinton made in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island last week. And that means this see-saw battle is going to go on."

First of all, Obama gained more delegates in Texas than did Hillary. Second, a see-saw battle would imply that the lead keeps changing hands. It hasn't. Obama remains ahead in the pledged delegate count by approximately 100 delegates. Third, the only way Hillary will be able to overcome that deficit is if Obama falls victim to the old, "found in bed with a live boy or a dead woman." So please, get over your dream of an epic battle to the convention and report the facts. Oh, and by the way, John W. McCain is not a straight talker. FYI. http://tinyurl.com/32vfdn

Andrew Sullivan: The Clintons, a horror film that never ends
From The Sunday Times

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/andrew_sullivan/article3510778.ece

I kinda feel like Marty Kaplan . . .

http://[DELINKER]www.huffingtonpost.com/marty-kaplan/its-all-my-fault_b_90611.html

Don't forget to take out the [DELINKER]

pax vobiscum

How's that for Obama's "bad week" actually a delegate win?

194-193

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/10/11748/6707/563/473353

Orange sparks
Coming on light-flashes
From inner-deserts

And yet, it was just a beginning

Next, in a split-second
Flying across mountains
Caressed gently by dry-winds
I landed on nowhere-sands

The wind undressing i