Being: In the right place at the right time

Spiritual: In the highest place all the time

Demonic: In the meantime and all over the place

Me2: In the street and on both sides now

.

I would like to take this opportunity.

Thank you! Uncle TREE

I now let go of worn-out conditions and worn-out things. Divine order is established in my mind, body and affairs. Behold, I make all things new.
~~Florence Scovel Shinn~~

Welcome back, Keith.
So your time was divided!
but, at least for me
you were here in spirit.
It's just that I won't speak for others!

A Poem for the "Horse Whisperer"
Who may or may not like this.

She Had Some Horses
---Joy Harjo

She had some horses.

She had horses who were bodies of sand.
She had horses who were maps drawn of blood.
She had horses who were skins of ocean water.
She had horses who were the blue air of sky.
She had horses who were fur and teeth.
She had horses who were clay and would break.
She had horses who were splintered red cliff.

She had some horses.

She had horses with eyes of trains.
She had horses with full, brown thighs.
She had horses who laughed too much.
She had horses who threw rocks at glass houses.
She had horses who licked razor blades.

She had some horses.

She had horses who danced in their mother's arms.
She had horses who thought they were the sun and their bodies shone and burned like stars.
She had horses who waltzed nightly on the moon.
She had horses who were much to shy, and kept quiet in stalls of their own making.

She had some horses.

She had horses who liked Creek Stomp songs.
She had horses who cried in their beer.
She had horses who spit at male queens who made them afraid of themselves.
She had horses who said they weren't afraid.
She had horses who lied.
She had horses who told the truth, who were stripped bare of their tongues.

She had some horses.

She had horses who called themselves, "horse".
She had horses who called themselves, "spirit". and kept their voices secret and to themselves.
She had horses who had no names.
She had horses who had books of names.

She had some horses.

She had horses who whispered in the dark, who were afraid to speak out of fear of the silence, who carried knives to protect themselves from ghosts.
She had horses who waited for destruction.
She had horses who waited for resurrection.

She had some horses.

She had horses who got down on their knees for any saviour.
She had horses who thought their high price had saved them.
She had horses who tried to save her, who climbed in her bed at night and prayed as they raped her.

She had some horses.

She had some horses she loved
She had some horses she hated.

These were the same horses.

Vitality lifts one into space of lightness. Sluggishness holds one down like the weight of gravity.

Upward focus and intention keeps one moving as fog lifts and vital sun rays penetrate. This cycling and circling creative process moves one again and again lifting sluggishness into transformation. Emotions are more porous now as Light filters through.

Heaven above, Earth below is how I used to see the world. Yet now my experience reveals a new middle ground. The picture has changed. Heaven above. Middle Earth. And...Heaven below? What is this new dimension? What are these new lines of connection?

Many questions, many mysteries yet knowing that all parts are sacred in One Field of Love.

It's as if Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine gave birth/is giving birth to a new entity which I welcome but cannot yet discern.

The sweet magic of it all!

Trish~~

Info omitted from post #3:

Joy Harjo is a Native American poet of myth and the subconscious. The search for freedon and self-actualization considered central to Harjo's work is particularly noted in her third book of poetry,She Had Some Horses. In the title poem, "She Had Some Horses," one of Harjo's most highly regarded and anthologized poems, she describes the "horses" within a woman who struggles to reconcile contradictory personal feelings and experiences to achieve a sense of Oneness. The horses are spirits, neither male nor female, and through them, clear truths can be articulated.

Wah, Bonnie, thank you for sharing that. Its honesty made me shiver.

There was a poem from Steve Toth yesterday, which you can find here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/warriorpoets/message/11708

After reading it several times, I searched out material about writing, so I could understand why I reacted so strongly to it.

I found an essay on technical style by Robert Louis Stevenson, of Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and The Master of Ballantrae fame. Written over 100 years ago, the concepts are still fresh and valid. Here's an excerpt:

"...The conjurer juggles with two oranges, and our pleasure in beholding him springs from this, that neither is for an instant overlooked or sacrificed. So with the writer. His pattern, which is to please the supersensual ear, is yet addressed, throughout and first of all, to the demands of logic. Whatever be the obscurities, whatever the intricacies of the argument, the neatness of the fabric must not suffer, or the artist has been proved unequal to his design. And, on the other hand, no form of words must be selected, no knot must be tied among the phrases, unless knot and word be precisely what is wanted to forward and illuminate the argument; for to fail in this is to swindle in the game. The genius of prose rejects the cheville no less emphatically than the laws of verse; and the cheville, I should perhaps explain to some of my readers, is any meaningless or very watered phrase employed to strike a balance in the sound. Pattern and argument live in each other; and it is by the brevity, clearness, charm, or emphasis of the second, that we judge the strength and fitness of the first..."

This is the most powerfully-stated argument I've ever read, on the concept that contrast is required to make for good writing.

I think this is true for conversation, too.

Bonnie, thanks again for that Harjo peom, for several reasons. One is I'm completely unfamiliar with her work. Another is it gave me courage to share that I had a strong reaction to that Steve Toth poem, which is an unusual one for him.

Hi, Keith, Edmund, and Trish -- good day / evening to you all!

love, h

(click on my name to find the entire RLS piece, which is called The Art of Writing... the language is pretty dense and old-fashioned, but it sings, too.)

Hi heath,

Some of her poems are very powerful and personal, especially that one.

I have just recently begun to read Steve Toth's poems, thanks to you and others here on IB. Going to read the one you just posted now.

Hi everybody and welcome back Keith!

bonnie

FYI: Obama is related to 6 US Presidents. Here's the link

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23797072/?GT1=43001

Love, Char

I was kind of missing Igor. He was a smart guy, a sweet heart, too. I think he just needed to improve on his sense of humour. Here at IB you either get assaulted or you laugh your blissful head off.

ref. 9...

and he will be the next and 44th....prez of these united states! whoa!

yes Li'l Dakini

To make a good salad is to be a brilliant diplomatist--the problem is entirely the same in both cases. To know exactly how much oil one must put with one's vinegar.

#3 Yo Bonnie, that's a *beaut*
I don't envy the Horse Whisperer :)

#7 Hi Heath,
Oh that's a Toth alright...none other...I ducked and weaved all the way with him.

Bliss!

dear mister,
I had the second dream before the first. I deemed it's presentation so inimical that I dismissed it as a bad dream instead of a vision. Nevertheless since you mentioned it, it's symbolism being of a serpent and so did WY Evans Wentz, a serpent and a lake, then I have to say : well all rightey then.

Dear Edmund, if you are tipsy, then the world looks tipsy. Who can say then quite rightfully, how the world truly is?

Dear mister,
"If you don't know me by now, you may never ever ever know me at all-ahhh-all." It's a song you moron. Could we get any closer? 11:16 Second time in over a year. Think I'll bow out and get my head straight, about that serpent in the lake thing. Love anyways.

Dear lily of the field,
I'd offer you a drink.....in polite circles over here it's:- "What's your poison?" You'll have read about royalty.

On a different note...

Zrii means... Light... Luster... Splendor... Beauty... Love... Joy... Happiness... Peace... Good Fortune... Prosperity and most of all Wealth!

Click the Link above and find out why the "first" ever Chopra Center endorsed product could change your life.

Happiness Lily S.

Never let it be said the Irish are soft...

Winter surfing, in Ireland!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/world/europe/27surfers.html

This is from a recent post on my blog about my experience of going into silence. I'm new to this site and I'm wondering if others have gone through similar experiences.

Kevin

My Experience of Being in the Present

Living in the present moment can be difficult because we are so conditioned by our egoic mind. For myself I have had glimpses of what it means to be present and live in the now. Year's ago I was studying Eastern Spiritual Philosophies including Buddhist to Hindu practices of Meditation. At the same time came across an audio CD from Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer. Deepak's message was to learn meditation (or silencing the mind). Being a person who lived in the Western World with no desire to give up my possessions and go and live in a cave Chopra talked about the idea of simply going into silence. This meant doing every day things but being quiet - no speaking but instead learning to listen and observe your thoughts. For most of us who live busy lives this is difficult. When I drove across Canada from Toronto to Vancouver back in 1995 it was a perfect opportunity for me to go into silence. On that journey I drove my car, turned off the radio, did not speak to anyone except when I had to check into a hotel or buy some food. Even then I kept the conversation minimal. As I went on my journey I listened and became aware of my thoughts.

On the first day the chatter in my mind seemed like a massive wall of sound. Thoughts were constantly coming into my head - things that happened last week, last month, last year, past thoughts of my family, friends, relationships, future thoughts - the chatter was endless. The first day was the most difficult and it was tempting to turn on the radio to break the silence with more chatter. Deepak's advice was to listen to the thought, become aware and then let it go. This was my project. On the second day the chatter was less intense. There were more gaps where I could feel the presence or silence. By the 3rd day there was almost no chatter at all and by the 4th day as I drove through Calgary and into Rocky Mountains all the chatter had stopped. The last 2 days of my trip felt like bliss and I remember as I reached my destination not wanting the trip to end.

God is polishing his mirror
To see what he looks like today.

Shine on.

Lucifer is grinding a mirror
To show God how silly he looks.

Buff me.

Endeavour re-enters Earth's boundary
It's amazing!

Dear Mieke and Mi'Lady North,

Today...when I finally made it home and pulled up the driveway,

my eyes told my brain that there was a large, white envelope in the mailbox.

After lighting up my memory joints, the bank told me that it was surely

the lovely labor of two wonderful women come to fruition.

What transpired after that is that which is still being processed.

Please stay tuned for further updates as time will allow.

The sneak preview tells me that I will most certainly

cherish and appreciate this gift forever and a day!

Really...love you two! Thank you so much! Wow! It looks fabulous!

Luvz and hugz! ("Gratitude" looks to be an early fav!)

Has anyone had problems logging in to comment through TypeKey through some computers? Some go through the process of loggin in but return one to the same page that says to sign in. An infinite loop. From other computers it worls fine, I tried everything to figure out what was different and everything Typekey suggested. It occurs on different operating systems and different ISPs.

Perhaps the universe wants me to use only particular computers?

Dear Edmund,

Per #2--now, I have to wonder--Florence was how old when he said that?

With Heath speaking of contrast, I'm imagining him to be 100 at the time. Ha!

Meister Eckhart's Creation Spirituality allows for one's soul

to become younger as one's physical self grows older.

Now that I am 50, both of me tend to agree, but only one of me likes the idea.

Whuddha ya thank? Have yuz hoyd duh gid nooze?

The clintons are showing their true colors...they genuinely feel they have a right to entitlement...and will play blood sport to win...at all cost...

this clan will go into deep depression when barack prevails...in a few weeks time...but before all that they are gonna get real ugly to the finish line ...and McBush is just luvin' it...he's getting a free pass...at the dems expense...

Hi Richard,

I am thinking about your problem to sign in from TypeKey.

At least, be sure to accept cookies and Javascript on the browsers your are using.

Have you installed a security program lately on these computers? Some can block cookies and Javascript codes.

Are you using a different Proxy to connect on internet?

I hope this can help.

afrer a long, harsh winter on a desolate, cold riverbank...the old tree springs to life, the buds are bulging all around and the birds are chirpin louder as the warm days lenghten...

nearby is that lady tree, spreading her new, green foliage and swaying in the wind as if to beackon to the old stump...look at me...u wanna party before the birds begin to build their nests on us anew? damn!

Re: 26, 23

It might also be due to some old versions of the web browser on a particular computer; specially when it is the Internet Explorer. And perhpas the OS. Like jean says, enabling the browser cookies is the key, of course. Try the latest IE or a much better idea to use Firefox, which is very much compatible with the Typekey login.

If you are using a public computer at a Library, Univ. or at Kinkos etc, you may not be able to install, update or change settings on a PC though.

Dear Keith,

#22: Enjoy :)

Love, Mieke

Blue Majority Endorses Obama.

Blue Majority sites (dKos, Swing State Project, and Open Left) added Barack Obama to our ActBlue fundraising page. Daily Kos passed the super-majority threshold a few weeks ago, SSP and Open Left did it yesterday.

Chris Bowers at Open Left gives his rationale, and four reasons for the move:

...my rationale for endorsing Barack Obama goes beyond his status as the overwhelming favorite to win the nomination. As a progressive, there are two key ideological markers that I believe make Barack Obama a better choice than Hillary Clinton: the Iraq war and the DLC. First, Barack Obama opposed the invasion of Iraq from the start, and rejected the neoconservative principle of pre-emptive warfare as one of his main reasons for opposing the war. Being able to identify the invasion of Iraq as a colossal mistake makes Barack Obama far more qualified to lead our country than candidates who both were, and still are, unable to recognize why the war was such a bad idea. Comparing Obama's and Clinton's statements on the death of 4,000 American soldiers in Iraq, it seems clear that Hillary Clinton still believes in the neoconservative vision for Iraq, while Barack Obama does not. The second ideological marker is the Democratic Leadership Council, an organization formed to push the Democratic Party and the national political debate to the right on a variety of issues. While Hillary Clinton is a member of the DLC's leadership, Barack Obama has repeated refuses to be associated with the group.

There are numerous other reasons, too. Here are the four that mean the most to me:

* First, many people have said that there are few policy differences between Obama and Clinton, but the truth is that their telecom policies could hardly be further apart from each other. Obama proposes exactly the sort of transformative, open telecommunications policy that we need to transform the media landscape in America, while Hillary Clinton's telecom proposals are nothing more than heinous corporate welfare. Without a transformed telecommunications landscape, we are going to have an extremely difficult time building a progressive America or passing any of our other legislation.

* Second, in terms of electability, in order to win the general election a candidate must first become the nominee. Simply put, I don't see many ways for Hillary Clinton to pull that off. Further, in order to win the general election, Democrats will need time to define McCain, and time to heal the party once the nomination contest is over. However, Hillary Clinton's only path to the nomination is through the convention in late August, and also through a intra-partisan civil war. In other words, Clinton's path to the nomination renders her unelectable in the general. There simply won't be enough time to heal the party and define John McCain.

* Third, how a candidate campaigns is a strong reflection on how that candidate governs. For example, we could tell from the 2000 election that George Bush would govern through a series of power grabs, Orwellian language, and with a total disregard for popular opinion. Barack Obama, by contrast, is campaigning through unprecedented national grassroots organizing, speeches that are becoming the stuff of legend, and the manifestation of a new political coalition that moves us away from the political alignment of 1968-2004. Too often, I have heard from the Clinton campaign and its surrogates about states and demographic groups that don't matter. Such statements are a stark reminder of a recent version of the Democratic Party that takes its base for granted, and only campaigns in a select few swing districts. We need a Democratic Party that organizes and governs based on Barack Obama and Howard Dean's campaign styles, rather than one that is based on Hillary Clinton's and Terry McAuliffe's.

* Fourth, coattails and movement building matter. In both of Blue Majority's victories so far in 2008, Donna Edwards in MD-04 and Bill Foster in IL-14, the energy and activism brought to bear by Barack Obama were key. The activism in support of Barack Obama has the potential to greatly enhance the political reach of the progressive movement, and also to provide Democrats with sweeping downticket victories. I once called this progressive movement symbiosis, and I still believe it is the most promising path to a truly progressive governing majority that I have seen in my lifetime.

#24 Good Lord, Keith, whatever made you think Florence was a man?

New to me, as well:-

>>>>WHO WAS FLORENCE SCOVEL SHINN?......
Ms. Shinn was an artist and a metaphysics teacher in New York in the early part of the 20th century.
Her books are truly incredible. They are relatively short, but they are profound. In her books she shows that we can enjoy a winning streak of health, prosperity, and happiness. She shares real-life stories with us from her many clients to illustrate how positive attitudes and affirmations invariably succeed in making one a "winner" in life--able to control life's conditions and release abundance through a knowledge of spiritual law. Florence Shinn is one of last century's most popular Success teachers. Apparently, she had quite a following in her "heyday" too, for her lectures were well attended and her books were popular not only in America, but also abroad.

Florence Scovel was born Septemer 24, 1871, in Camden, New Jersey. Her mother was the former Emily Hopkinson of Pennsylvania. Her father was Alden Cortlandt Scovel, and he practiced law in Camden. Besides Florence there was an older daughter and younger son. Florence was educated in Philadelphia at the Friends Central School and studied art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts from 1889 to 1897. It was there that she met her future husband, Everett Shinn (1876 - 1953), who was a fairly celebrated painter of impressionistic canvases and realistic murals. Although Florence was educated at the art Academy, her pen and ink drawings are the result of her natural talent and not technical training.<<<

Last sentence endears me.

It's interesting to me, Keith, of the people I know who have dreamed of loved ones who have moved on, they've been surprised that all the ravages of time so evident when said loved ones slipped the sheath had been restored to a youthful splendour.

Now that doesn't prove a thing, but, yes, I grant you an untarnished mirror, quantum soup not forebearing. You are not a messy eater, are you. (no question mark ;)

Clinton's Exaggerations: The Domestic Record

Senator Clinton’s claims about her visit to Tuzla, Bosnia—and the footage disproving her account—have created quite a stir. And with good reason. As the Associated Press wrote yesterday: “What makes Clinton's situation unique—and the Bosnia embellishments so damaging—is the fact that the New York senator has built her candidacy on the illusion of experience. Any attack on her credentials is a potential Achilles heel.”

Unfortunately, Clinton’s fantastic invention of a sniper-raked landing is only one in a growing list of instances in which she has exaggerated her role as First Lady, particularly with respect to domestic policy.

Clinton has credited herself with “creating” the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and “helping to pass” the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Like the Tuzla story, both of these claims turn out to false—raising serious questions not just about the rationale for Senator Clinton’s campaign, but about her willingness to adhere to the truth.

“Creating” the State Children’s Health Insurance Program?

Ø Question: Did Hillary Clinton “create” SCHIP as First Lady? That’s what her web site says. But it’s not what the program’s congressional sponsors say.

On her website, Senator Clinton goes so far as to laud what she calls “her successful effort to create the SCHIP Children’s Health Insurance program.”

“Create” SCHIP? Once again, Senator Clinton’s claim simply doesn’t hold up.

The Boston Globe recently conducted an investigation into Clinton’s purported role in the legislation, concluding that: “Hillary Clinton, who has frequently described herself on the campaign trail as playing a pivotal role in forging a children’s health insurance plan, had little to do with crafting the landmark legislation or ushering it through Congress, according to several lawmakers, staffers, and healthcare advocates involved in the issue.”

Not only is Senator Clinton’s claim of authorship false, but the White House actually opposed SCHIP during it’s creation: “But the Clinton White House, while supportive of the idea of expanding children’s health, fought the first SCHIP effort, spearheaded by Senators Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, and Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah…”

Representative Henry Waxman, a leader on the bill who remains unaffiliated in the race, said he has no memory of any involvement by Clinton: “It was a bipartisan bill. I don’t remember the role of the White House,” said Representative Henry Waxman, a California Democrat who has not endorsed a candidate in the presidential race and who was the chief Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which deals with health matters. “It did not originate at the White House.”

And Senator Kennedy, the Senate’s undisputed leader on universal health care and one of the actual creators of SCHIP, does not agree with Clinton’s assessment: “Asked whether Clinton was exaggerating her role in creating SCHIP, Kennedy, stopped in the hallway as he was entering the chamber to vote, half-shrugged. ‘Facts are stubborn things,’ he said, declining to criticize Clinton directly. ‘I think we ought to stay with the facts.’”

Leadership on the Family and Medical Leave Act?

Ø Question: Did Senator Clinton “help to pass” FMLA? Her White House schedules and the timeline of the bill’s passage call that claim into question.

Clinton claims on the trail and on her website that she played a significant role in “helping to pass the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to enable new parents to take time off without losing their jobs…” But there is no evidence that this is the case.

For starters, the bill was signed into law only 16 days after Bill Clinton took office—not much time for the new First Lady to play much of a role. On top of that, the Associated Press reported that an existing version of the bill that had already been passed “by majorities in the last Congress” was altered only slightly and “recycled for enactment” [AP, 2/9/93].

In addition, Senator Clinton’s recently released White House schedules show that she didn’t have a single meeting on the bill she now touts. And in her own autobiography she discusses FMLA without making any mention of having a role in its passage.

Now that she’s running for President, however, the facts seem to have changed. Or at least her allegiance to them has.

Experience: Foundation of the Clinton Candidacy

The refrain that Senator Clinton “has the experience to lead on Day One” has been repeated endlessly since she entered the race. On closer inspection, the claims Senator Clinton makes turn out to be little more than stories.

With the next primary less than a month away, it’s time for Senator Clinton to finally face the “vetting” she’s so fond of discussing. Badly trailing in delegates, votes, and states won, she’s going to need more than a new script to win the nomination. But if she wants to regain the trust of the American people, it would be a good place to start.

#28 Welcome back Irvine.

Two, important issues that came up this week are Iraq and Economy.

Clinton showed her character again in regard to the War as being noble and the mission justified for bringing "freedom" to Iraq. Hello! its not just about her vote. Its a consistent pattern of Clinton that shows her support of the central neo-con idea of the War. She doesn't think it was wrong. Of course, doesn't agree with how it was handled by Bush, and how to withdraw troops now that the mission has been 'misguided into utter failure by bad management'.

As per Economy, it is a grave mistake if you associate Clinton's 8 years of economic boom in 90's with their principles and acuity in that region. Bill Clinton's flawed and failed NAFTA was an example of his dumbness and economic arrogance.

Her recent solution to the housing mortgage crisis, is...Alan Greenspan! When in crisis either in war or economic she seems to embrace Republican solutions. She also say .."don't ask me how it works,", "I don't know", but "I have been told it works." She like McCain should enroll in economics 101.

Paul Krugman, a stauch suporter of Hillary Clinton, blasted her for this...

"OK, this is pretty dumb. Hillary Clinton wants a high-level commission to analyze ways to resolve the mortgage crisis — including Alan Greenspan.

Yes, I know people still listen when Greenspan speaks — and John McCain once joked about taking Greenspan’s advice even if he’s dead. But for those in the know, AG is a key villain in the whole affair."

For a change, consider Obama's solution on the same issue.

To note, Washington Post analyzed the Economic plans of Obama, Clinton and McCain and gave them ratings of A-, B, D+ . Even Blomberg appreciated Obama's plan, and blasted the plans of Clinton and McCain.

Thank you, Edmund, for that off-shoot!

That restorations are possible for one's idea's is also reassuring.

Immortality: Time acts funny when the stage is spacey.

See yuz! (Really, I though someone might add to my deally-dangy in #1.)

.

Moron: Better late than never, I guess.

John, to take one point in your #34, can you tell us how NAFTA is flawed and failed, and how much of it "belongs" to Bill Clinton, in the sense of how much of its intent and execution he was directly responsible for, and how it could have been done better or differently? I know this is a complex multi-part question, but anything you have to say in this area would be interesting to read.

#22-Keith; so glad you received your copy of our book!! May it warm you, and bring you smiles, and some awesome inspiration to write poetry too, and share them!!

I've been busier than Mother Nature.. aging gracefully with the dance of time. Ok, maybe not gracefully((smiles)) but certainly I have a dance in my heart this "time".

Been working on a myspace layout design for a friend who's hubby is a professional drummer! I'm just waiting on his musicology bio and pics! Then, I can begin to create a background image, etc. I am reaching back into my memory for that "rock and roll" persona to incorporate.

Keith..thank you for your interest in our book!

MRSA superbug virus.. read up on it folks! 2300 in Canada died from it in 2006.

Love to ALL--always, all ways;
North

"failed" could be a misleading term (it certainly had/has its benefits) but it certainly is "flawed", not judging by its results in certain pockets of the US where working families were hit hard many years later, or the economic benefits it brought in many other pockets of the US, but from the way it was pushed and passed by the Clinton Administration. It could have been better handled. The major criticism I can have about NAFTA is not regarding "free-trade" in regard to the world economy but in not taking into account, fully, the economic disparities in Canada, Mexico and the US in regard to how NAFTA was approached. In theory it would work wonders with the current European Union. Mexico certainly benefited from NAFTA and they like Bill Clinton for it. I am not against NAFTA, it is in the way the Clinton admistartion approached it. You can do further research, on why the Clinton administration handled NAFTA unwisely.

"I have a dance in my heart"

Good to know that North.

"I am reaching back into my memory for that "rock and roll" persona to incorporate."

Oh well, you are forever young in heart! lol!

Thanks for the Canada superbug update. I wonder though, how many bugs are still to be discovered and held responsible in third world countries where research is scarce and the govt. doesn't cares if you die by natural causes...

"how much of it "belongs" to Bill Clinton"

See...if you take credit for the good things that happened, you got to take credit for the bad things as well. Its not whether Clinton is greatly educated in Economics, but in the way he handled his team and used his acumen to use the ideas he got from his select advisers, that shows his economic and political wisdom.

Hillary Clinton now claims that NAFTA was a bad idea then and she didn't support it, she says she "never understood" why the Clinton administration "was approaching it with urgency." Her husband role in NAFTA is certainly hei legacy and it "be;longs" to him as much as the Iraq war handling belongs to Bush and the current housing mortgage crisis belongs to the economic handling of Bush.

Well, John, thanks very much for your replies.

I know NAFTA is wildy unpopular in many areas of the US. I don't know enough details of the implementation of it, to judge if it could have been done better.

But here's my view: we're moving towards a global economy. That means busting holes in strong economies so the leakage can seep into weaker ones. The stronger economies will suffer for a while and the weaker ones will benefit for a while until things get more evened-out. In a century, if we've managed to keep population and pollution of all kinds under control, and the Earth is still populated with living human beings, it may be that NAFTA is looked at as a wise, courageous act that helped get the shift to a true global economy working faster.

HC doesn't claim NAFTA is all bad, she just acknowledges it has hurt some areas of the country pretty badly, including upstate in New York State, which she represents.

Do you agree that, looked at from a global economic perspective, NAFTA is a good policy?

#27 Now that's the stuff, Diab!

#35 Off-shoot, damn! it's my job to put roots on such. We called them clones long before Dolly Parton.

You been/are being hardened in the fire, man.....like a fool for Christ's sake...Francis was a sissy!

"Do you agree that, looked at from a global economic perspective, NAFTA is a good policy?"

Of course, the idea behind NAFTA is good. The criticism is only about how it is formulated and and its implementation. Its good not because, it is good for the overall World economy, but it is good for the American economy as well.

The fact remains, that if you don't make a case for the self-interest(short term and long term) then nothing gets passed politically in America. You might talk about Bush's aid to Africa for Aids, famine etc, but any Military insider will tell you that the costs that they invest in such areas is nothing compared to the money that will require to stop a humanitarian crisis that arises out of poverty, illness and breakdown in social order. This is not just a moral responsibility but it is also economically wise, and good investment for an image in the world as well. And everything is eventually beneficial to your own countries' self-interests.

Had the Clinton Administration foreseen the bad things that could have happen(not to forget the good things of course), they wouldn't had been able to pass the legislation in its current form.

"HC doesn't claim NAFTA is all bad, she just acknowledges it has hurt some areas of the country pretty badly,"

That's what every Dem candidate says. No one says its all bad. She says she was a "strong critic" of NAFTA from the very beginning. Which wasn't the case as the evidence shows. Actions speak more than what she claims to have believed privately.

And it is a joke if anyone thinks Clinton or Obama will banish NAFTA. They just make changes to it, for better. Obama or Clinton and also McCain are supporters of free-trade, they are not protectionists. But its in how they approach the economic policies that brings out the differences.

So what, specifically, was bad about NAFTA from a global perspective?

"Global" includes "Amercia". If America is not healthy, that reflect on the globe as well.

I meant, "its good not JUST because, it is good for the overall World economy, but it is ALSO good for the American economy." That's Group theory in Economics. Point is, EVERYONE would have benefited MORE had it been formulated and implemented properly.

If you think Bill Clinton is having his economic policy for the betterment of the world EVEN at a possible expenses incurred to America, you are mistaken. Protectionism is known to hurt you badly in a changing global economy. That's why China was offered the most favored nation status during Clinton Administration. Human rights violation of China weigh zero to economic self-interests.

I disagree -- for the rest of the world to become healthier, the US will have to be come less healthy. That means temporary suffering on all sides, but it will have to be, if things are to improve. The rest of the world should not be looked at as a pool of markets and resources for the US. And the US should no longer be be looked at as the primary market for other countries. Those views are old non-global realities, and they're why we're hurting now.

Indian Economy opened up to Globalisation only in the 90s and you can see the tremendous benefits since then. China opened up much earlier, and benefited more. Protectionism in Amercia or anywhere else in world doesn't work. And Amercia is not going to take a step backwards in that regard. Such talk may be heard from certain neo-cons but the conservative economic policy and that of liberals has been that of Laissez-faire Capitalism. Bush or the republicans don't mind shipping jobs oversees as much as the Clintons do or Obama does, as long as it benefits the over all Amercian Economy.

Yes, just so. These are the very reasons I think that, from a global perspective, NAFTA will prove to be beneficial. The US needs to suck it up, economically.

"for the rest of the world to become healthier, the US will have to be come less healthy. That means temporary suffering on all sides, but it will have to be, if things are to improve. The rest of the world should not be looked at as a pool of markets and resources for the US. And the US should no longer be be looked at as the primary market for other countries. Those views are old non-global realities, and they're why we're hurting now."

Of course Amercia will suffer economically in comparison to other rising economies that will benefit more. But it will suffer more if they don't address changing needs. That's self-interest again. That's why we need wise economic polices, which acknowledge these facts. While this change is inevitable, America also has a responsibility to take some wise domestic initiatives to keep the fabric of American society intact from domestic turmoil.

Amercia still has got the coutril of the best brains who hae the best facilies to put them to use in universities and reserch labs. Countries like India and China may rise economically, but Amercia, Europe and Japan have got the head start on science and technology. Because of this will even major players for years to come. Amercia still attracts some of the best brains in the world and nurtures them. As long as this is the case, Amercia will continue to be the world power.

I'm tired and weary. The symbolism of the past few days imploded like a tiny star in the heavens. Had a panic attack and a mental shakedown yesterday while babysitting my granddaughter. Thankfully her presence distracted me. Got home a few hours later and took some medicine.
I was thinking of Igor because there was something I needed or wanted , rather, to discern and discrimminate. Now you may say, why not ask my guru. Well, if your teacher taught you how to play the piano, would you then ask her to perform your recital?
Keith, why must we fight? And what's up with salad, Bonnie? I sort of missed the point so I had an emotional reaction to it and took it out on Keith. If it resembles something Oprah or Dr. Phil said, well maybe Diablo is interested, but not me. There is a difference in salad dressings. That's amusing: I like russian best. Ouch.

Ref. 52

Sorry for the typos,

the last paragraph in that post reflects what the Indian Finance Minister told during a discussion organized by BBC about the world Economic crisis, a few months ago. He said hat Amercia will incur loses, but India will not be effected the that much due to the Crisis. He says, the current Indian administration has this concept of "inclusive" growth, which takes into consideration growth at every level of Indian society, by distrubuting the fruits of Economic groth of teh country. This is to avoid the rich getting even richer and the poor getting poorer while the economy is growing, which has been a problem in the past in India. Such non-inclusive economies are very vulnerable to economic crises.

This progressive idea of "inclusive" growth should be incorporate into American domestic economic policy as well. Traditional Republicans and Bush have different idea of how Economy has to be handled, they believe, by continuing to give tax benefits to the very wealthy, they will help he economy as whole. McCain opposed Bush Tax cuts to the few wealthy, but as he ran for the presidential nominee he reversed his position to reflect his party position. Obama clearly reflects the progressive ideals and politics in his economic policy.

multiple is back at his old, boring gig of endless cut and pasting...

dude do u have an original opinion?

In Major Speech, Obama Calls for Modernizing Our Regulation of Financial Markets

NEW YORK, NY—In a major economic address at Cooper Union today, Senator Barack Obama called for immediate relief for homeowners hit by the housing crisis, modernization of our regulatory framework, and an additional $30 billion stimulus package to jumpstart the economy and help protect families from the economic slowdown. As confidence in our financial markets wanes and Americans struggle in the face of a mortgage crisis, Obama stressed the importance of pushing back on the special interests and honoring our obligation to one another—and that doing so is not just a matter of altruism but a matter of self-interest.

“Under Republican and Democratic Administrations, we failed to guard against practices that all too often rewarded financial manipulation instead of productivity and sound business practices,” Senator Obama said. “We let the special interests put their thumbs on the economic scales. The result has been a distorted market that creates bubbles instead of steady, sustainable growth; a market that favors Wall Street over Main Street, but ends up hurting both.”

Obama was introduced at Cooper Union by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a legendary business executive who has shown deep commitment to community and family prosperity as mayor of America’s largest city.

In his speech today, Obama made the case that while markets are the engine of American progress, the government’s role as umpire and steward is critical to the function of the free market. For too long, he said, special interests have been able to bend the rules to maximize their profits on the backs of hardworking Americans.

Obama pledged to restore confidence in the markets, tackle the housing crisis and protect families from the economic slowdown by:

Ø Creating 21st century standards for transparency and oversight of the financial system in order to prevent future abuses and crises.

Ø Providing immediate relief to homeowners hit by the housing crisis.

Ø Enacting a second stimulus package to stabilize and strengthen the economy, provide aid to homeowners and states hardest-hit by the housing crisis, and extend and expand unemployment insurance.

A fact sheet detailing these steps, as well as Obama’s principles for modernizing the regulatory framework for our financial markets, can be found (PDF)HERE. http://my.barackobama.com/page/-/HQpress/Fact%20Sheet%20NY%20Economic%20Speech%20FINAL.pdf

A document containing statements of support from leading finance experts can be found (PDF)HERE.http://my.barackobama.com/-/HQpress/Statements%20of%20Support%20Cooper%20Union%20FINAL.pdf

“Under Republican and Democratic Administrations, we failed to guard against practices that all too often rewarded financial manipulation instead of productivity and sound business practices,” Senator Obama said. “We let the special interests put their thumbs on the economic scales. The result has been a distorted market that creates bubbles instead of steady, sustainable growth; a market that favors Wall Street over Main Street, but ends up hurting both.”

***

Now that's what the Indian Finance minister calls "inclusive growth" which is strong and stable and benefits all people.

...there is talk again of Obama-Bloomberg ticket.

#53 You are such fun, li'l Dakini. It's hard to discern your pain. Empathising better now, thank you.

Sherry, be filled with a sense of all good things. Way up there in or near Saratoga, you live in one of earth's heavens. How I envy you!

Diablo and John, can we talk about pragmatism versus idealism, in the context of the Democratic race for prez?

it is clear that McBush and right-wing wingnuts will use fear-mongering to scare dum-dums into voting repblican...and then they will try swift-boating...which JK did not respond to...which is why he lost...

but this time our man barack ...will fight back like a man ...and nott it like a sissy...and he will crush that aging grandpa from zona!

and that is pragmatism! u hear!

Yup. And that is within the race. But what about after, when if he wins? :)

li'l Dakina
Russian dressing is good :)
Vira brought to mind though that, whatever the dressing, it must be balanced, so as not to spoil the salad.

We're all a salad, metaphorically speaking that is.

Thank you guys. You're all so sweet. I'm feeling better today.

Thanks for reminding me that my horse awaits training. I almost forgot, and somewhat reluctant.

Mortality awaits either way. I might as well eat the tiny flowers that grow on the high cliffs of the Himalayas, not knowing if they be poisonous or not, than drive the highway in a snowstorm to Appleby's restaurant and hope the cook didn't cough in my food.

Sorry to be a bummer. Faith is a matter of trust. It's like if you follow along, picking up the bread crumbs left behind by Hansel and Gretle, then you know even before looking up, that there they will be found, stuck in a cabin in the woods.

We're all organisms, too, so let the cook cough. The French have pretty decent health in part because they're not as clean as we are -- their immune systems are challenged regularly, and they stand up to the challenge. Take care driving in the snow. If I ever move to the country, Saratoga is one of the top three places I dream of living.

I think Bonnie's salad was about the art needed to bring things into back balance, in response to your "Here at IB you either get assaulted or you laugh your blissful head off." (Getting assaulted or having to defend against an assault being the vinegar, I think, though I may have misinterpreted.)

Oh fo, I missed Bonnie's comment about salads! Sorry, Bonnie!

it's not easy to predict the outcome of a chapionship finals...u'll just have to watch the match and see how it plays out(same for our prez)...but u can always wager a bet!

enuff of the clintons! we need a fresh start in washington...and that means no clinton, no bush, no MacCain...

and what's up with BJ Billy spewing his mouth off that ..."My family is not big on quitting." really, dude? even if it means handing the prez to the dino from zona? damn! get a grip? or a life dude?

billary got caught in a big, fat lie about coming under sniper fire in bosnia and running and ducking to the car...which begs the question...what else is she lying about? hmn!

To go along with our garden variety of friends, I give you...

from the makers of "Brain Salad Surgery", Emerson, Lake and Palmer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nUId91rPF4&feature=related

"pragmatism versus idealism" "But what about after, when if he wins? :)"

That's an either or fallacy. Both are a Must for good politics. I don't label one person pragmatic and the other idealist in the dem race, although some choose to perceive it that way. I will give an ex. Hillary Clinton's health care reform during the 90s show that she was not willing to listen to her own democratic members, which eventually led to its utter failure. Is that pragmatism? is that idealism, or is that lack of both? I tell you what, you won't see that happening in a Obama Administration, he might fail but it won't be due to lack of pragmatism or in compromising with those principles that are Universal rather than labeled Conservative or Liberal. Will you see more of the famed Clinton "triangulation" when Obama come to power. Nope.

Hey Grandma! If you don't know me by noon tomorrow, I'll swear!

Surely Sherry, surely, you project instead of awkwardly detaching.

Not to be confused with///hatching the egg that was never yours.

Faith (if you must ask me) is a side-effect caused by swallowing

grace by the capsule in a moments notice. It's a given.

You're more receptive than you let on, I'm willing to bet.

In the street and bobbing for boobies, babe. Yes!

Fight? Fight? A 10 hour day I know, for sure.

I pray for strength and that's enough.

Grace comes whether one deserves

it or not. That's good, huh?

Inflation concerns more

than just bulging

logos egos.

Smile!

Me2

The nomination is done. Without instigating a coup by super delegates and a civil war within the party, or by hoping wishfully for some spectacular debacle from her rival, there is little chance. The sooner the Clinton realizes this, the better it is for the party and the war against Repubs. You got to work as a team member, and realize when to quit. Sure enough there will always be some rabid supporters who will encourage to soldier on and not give up till the final whistle is blown, but Clintons are shrewd politicians and they know they can handle such supporters and convince them of their decision. Whatever their decision, Team Hillary is not doing anything good for their party by attacking Dean, Richardson and now Pelosi with the backing of their rich donors. Oh, and these select donors who wrote a letter threatening Pelosi with their fat wallet have donated more than 20 million to the Dem party over a period. And it seems that 30% of them slept in the Lincoln bedroom (while Clinton used White House facilities for fund raising), and 50% of them supported and donated to Joe Lieberman's(who was an independent but now embraced McCain in his war mongering, and could be his running mate) for his 2006 campaign!

Republicans got a bad name due to Bush catering to the extreme religious right and the failed Iraq War, but they are still a party that shows unity. That's one thing I like about them. McCain has been an anti-thesis to everything Conservative in the Republican party for decades. No doubt there will be a lack of enthusiasm in the right wing cultural conservative public, nothing compared to the energized democratic base, and disappointment among conservative commentators but the party with his many critics are unified behind him.

Do you want more of this?

In a brilliant essay on what he called "the eyewitness fallacy," British writer Malcolm Muggeridge identified public figures of strong conviction throughout history who, in giving eyewitness accounts, saw what they wanted to see. Muggeridge suggested that many eyewitnesses see things with the "glass eye" they have fixed into their skulls -- and then fervently believe what this glass eye registers. Surely John McCain was seeing with the "surge is working" glass eye he has fixed in his skull when he told a town hall crowd this week, "We're succeeding. I don't care what anybody says." And McCain backed up his claims with what he clearly considers his trump card: "I've seen the facts on the ground." Or was he merely seeing what he wanted to see?

more:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/john-mccain-iraq-and-th_b_93721.html

Now Team Hillary is going to attack Dodd as well?

[It seems that the Hillary campaign has been standing by the harsh letter to Pelosi by her fat cat supporters, who apparently invested a lot for favors. More than a million donors for Obama, who donate in l0's and 100's don't ask favors and have to wonder if they have any say in deciding the race.]

In a new interview with National Journal, Sen. Chris Dodd says that continuing the Democratic primary race for the next several months would be "devastating," and that over the next several weeks, Democratic leaders "have to step up to the plate and say enough is enough."

A few excerpts from his interview:

Chris Dodd:

...Look, we've got five more months to go before the Democratic convention at the end of August and, candidly, we cannot go five more months with the kind of daily sniping that's going on and have a candidate emerge in that convention. My hope is that it will be Barack Obama, but if it's Hillary Clinton, she too will suffer, in my view, from this kind of a campaign that I think is undermining the credibility and the quality of the two candidates that we have. We have two very strong candidates. So I'm worried about this going on endlessly and to a large extent, Linda, the media, a lot of these cable networks, are enjoying this. It's what is keeping them alive financially. The fact that this thing is going on forever, back and forth every day, all night -- I don't think it's really helping the candidates or the political institutions.

...Well, the solution is -- look, we've got a contest coming up in Pennsylvania and one in North Carolina and Indiana very quickly afterwards. In my view, the outcome of those three races will determine -- I think the race has been determined, anyway, at this point. I think it's very difficult to imagine how anyone can believe that Barack Obama can't be the nominee of the party. I think that's a foregone conclusion, in my view, at this juncture given where things are.

But certainly over the next couple of weeks, as we get into April, it seems to me then, that the national leadership of this party has to stand up and reach a conclusion. And in the absence of doing that -- and that's not easy, and I realize it's painful. But the alternatives, allowing this sort of to fester over the months of June, and July and August, I think, are irresponsible. I think you have to make a decision, and hopefully the candidates will respect it and people will rally behind a nominee that, I think, emerges from these contests over the next month. That's my suggestion. That's what I would do.

...I mean, if a person wants to stay in the race, stay in the race. But if you have enough people rallying behind what appears to be the likely choice, and I believe the choice is Barack Obama, and I believe that will be the choice over the next several weeks, then I think you have to step up to the plate and say enough is enough. We want this to be over with. We want to get behind this candidate, and we want people to pull together to win that election in November, to build those majorities in the House and the Senate if we can, and then start doing the work on health care and Iraq and all these other issues that demand our attention.

Full interview here:

http://nationaljournal.com/onair/transcripts/080327_dodd_chris.htm

Obama survives Wright, Clinton fares poorly on credibility

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/27/16957/0333/565/485563

NC poll, another big Obama lead

Insider Advantage:

Obama 49
Clinton 34

The problem for Clinton is that for the Democratic primary, the white vote will be skewed heavily by the Research Triangle's "creative class" -- educated professionals who make up a significant chunk of Obama's base. Obama has cleaned up similar places like Seattle, the SF Bay Area, and Austin. Clinton will lose it big. And given that African Americans are expected to make up a third of the primary electorate, I'm seeing a 20-point Obama victory in NC.

Indiana, split between the half that's sort of like Illinois, and the other half that's sort of like Ohio, is more fertile ground for Clinton. But North Carolina? Not a chance.

i can understand why the clintons are willing do to whatever it takes to win...even stooping to deep lows...because...

1...power is sweet...it comes with a lot of perks and privileges.

2...but they do....most important...realize that the dem nominee will almost certainly win in november...based on the excitement and enthusiasm of voters in their party...

go barack!

See a difference between Obama and Clinton support, for whatever it is worth:

http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/leadershipboard.html?category=25

Intentbloggers can "Heed Stephen's call to help public schools in Pennsylvania through his DonorsChoose.org challenge!"

\

Celebrate The Democralypse!

When Stephen Colbert ran for president, supporters donated $66,000 to South Carolina classrooms in his honor. Do Senators Clinton and Obama have the keystones to do for the Keystone State what the Colbert Nation did for the Palmetto State? Let's find out.

Click one of the challenges below to support a Pennsylvania classroom in honor of your favorite candidate.

The Stephen Colbert Pennsylvania Straw Poll That Makes A Difference

Clinton Challenge Progress:

Goal: $66,001
Donated: $13,138
Needs: $52,863
Donors: 114
Students Impacted: 2779

Obama Challenge Progress

[Obama supporters and citizens of the Colbert Nation have blown through the original $66,001 funding goal, so Stephen Colbert challenges you to reach the increased goal of $100,001!]

Goal: $100,001
Donated: $81,024
Needs: $18,977
Donors: 1202
Students Impacted: 14225

Yo Keith!
#68

"Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends......"
I almost posted that myself. :)

bonnie

25% of Anti-Obama Dems Think He's a Muslim

All the smear tactics aimed at Barack Obama appear to be working with key segments of the voters who support Hillary -- no matter how false the charges. The Pew Foundation reports today, while noting that Obama is weathering the Rev. Wright storm:

"White Democrats who hold unfavorable views of Obama are much more likely than those who have favorable opinions of him to say that equal rights for minorities have been pushed too far; they also are more likely to disapprove of interracial dating, and are more concerned about the threat that immigrants may pose to American values. In addition, nearly a quarter of white Democrats (23%) who hold a negative view of Obama believe he is a Muslim."

So when Hillary Clinton said in an interview that Barack Obama was a Christian..."as far as I know," that signal gave indirect credence to the Barack-as-Muslim smears circulating on the Web and elsewhere during this campaign season.

Now those lies appear to be taking root with some voters -- many of those who may bolt to McCain if Obama is the nominee.

To smear artists everywhere, it's a job well-done.

http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=407

Nationally, only a month back 15% believed that Obama is a Muslim, and it seems many average Americans couldn't comprehend how he has come so far being a Muslim, but that figure may have come down with the Wright controversy, where the words Christan, Church and Pastor have been repeated so many times to be picked up by contradicting co-smearers and the low info public.

the old tree stump is feeling a wee bit perky and young again by that quiet, forlorne riverbank where there's a lot of bird dodos and bird dodos...whoa!

The 3 million member strong MoveOn weighs in on Hillary campaign's 20 fat-cat's threats:

Intentbloggers go please sign the petition:

Dear MoveOn member,

This is pretty outrageous: a group of Clinton-supporting big Democratic donors are threatening to stop supporting Democrats in Congress because Nancy Pelosi said that the people, not the superdelegates, should decide the Presidential nomination.1

It's the worst kind of insider politics—billionaires bullying our elected leaders into ignoring the will of the voters.

But when we all pool our resources, together we're stronger than the fat cats. So let's tell Nancy Pelosi that if she keeps standing up for regular Americans, thousands of us will have her back. And we can more than match whatever the CEOs and billionaires refuse to contribute. Clicking here will add your name to our statement:

http://pol.moveon.org/democracy

The statement reads: "The Democratic nomination should be decided by the voters—not by superdelegates or party high-rollers. We've given money—and time—to progressive candidates and causes, and we'll support Speaker Pelosi and others who stand up for Democracy in the Democratic Party."

We're launching it today with our friends at the blog OpenLeft.com. Our goal is to deliver tens of thousands of signatures to Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders later this week.

A few weeks ago, Speaker Pelosi told ABC News, "If the votes of the superdelegates overturn what happened in the elections, it would be harmful to the Democratic Party."2

She's right, but Clinton's top fundraisers want her to back off. According to the New York Times, their letter "carries an ominous tone, which stops just short of delivering a threat. The donors remind Ms. Pelosi that they are 'strong supporters' of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee."3 Their language was careful, but their implied threat was universally understood. (Roll Call carried this headline: "Clinton donors threaten Pelosi and DCCC."4)

They're the old guard, and this is how the Democratic Party used to function—the big donors called the shots. But the small donor revolution has changed that. The 20 people who signed this letter have given Democrats an average of $2.4 million per year over the last 10 years.5 Small donations now dwarf that: In February alone, Obama and Clinton raised $47 million in small donations.6

Still, old habits die hard. We need to send a strong signal that we, the small donors, will back Democratic leaders who have the courage to stand up and do the right thing. Please sign our statement today.

http://pol.moveon.org/democracy

Thanks for all you do,

–Noah, Justin, Ilyse, Wes, and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team
Thursday, March 27th, 2008

Sources:

1. "Clinton Donors Warn on Superdelegate Fight," New York Times, March 27, 2008.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/us/politics/27dems.html

2. Ibid.

3. "Clinton donors ask Pelosi to Back Off," New York Times Caucus Blog, March 26, 2008.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3534&id=&t=240

4. "Clinton Donors Threaten Pelosi and DCCC," Roll Call, March 26, 2008.
http://www.rollcall.com/issues/1_1/breakingnews/22683-1.html

5. "Pelosi's hecklers gave $24 million," Politico, March 27, 2008.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3535&id=&t=242

6. "February Fundraising Frenzy for Presidential Candidates," Campaign Finance Institute, March 21, 2008.
http://www.cfinst.org/pr/prRelease.aspx?ReleaseID=187

LiL D,
you are home now where you belong,
feel safe and nourished.
love to you,
~ Kate

Love to you li'l D

Thanks for the memories:

Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, March 11, 2003 – "The Iraqi people understand what this crisis is about. Like the people of France in the 1940s, they view us as their hoped-for liberator. They know that America will not come as a conqueror. Our plan – as President Bush has said – is to remain as long as necessary and not a day more."

Vanity Fair writer Christopher Hitchens on Jan. 28, 2003: "This will be no war – there will be a fairly brief and ruthless military intervention. ... The president will give an order. [The attack] will be rapid, accurate and dazzling ... It will be greeted by the majority of the Iraqi people as an emancipation. And I say, bring it on."

Hours until Mister Bush leaves the White House: 7147.5

Direct cost per hour of the Iraq occupation: $16.68 million

AOL Sports: Scouting Obama

It's well known that Barack is an avid basketball player and fan who still finds time for pick-up games while on the campaign trail. Earlier today AOL Sports took an in-depth look at Barack Obama the basketball player. AOL Sports interviewed Craig Robinson, head coach of Brown University men's basketball team and the first ever two-time Ivy League Player of the Year, who just happens to be Barack Obama's brother-in-law.

Since we hear so much about Obama playing pick-up wherever he goes on the campaign trail, and as we stand in the midst of March Madness, we thought we might find out from someone who knows first-hand (and with solid expertise) if Obama the ballplayer is like Obama the candidate, how much game the Democratic presidential hopeful actually has and whether we may be close to having the first president who can dunk?

DAVE HOLLANDER: Bill Bradley says you can learn a lot about person by playing pick-up basketball. What did you find about Barack Obama the first time you played pick-up?

CRAIG ROBINSON: The first time we played, I found that he was confident without being cocky. And our circumstances for playing were a little (pauses) different. My sister had asked me to take him to play. And, I’m used to playing with guys who are pros or almost pros so he was playing in a group of guys who were pretty good. What I found was that he was a real team player. He was confident in that he knew what he could do, and he would do that -- and not try to do things he couldn’t do in order to impress people. That’s a tell-tale sign of a lot of people who play pick-up basketball. Also because he was playing with his girlfriend’s brother, he didn’t pass me the ball all the time trying to suck up. I was very impressed with that.

DH: What his overall court awareness?

CR: He understands the game and the object of the game is to win. The object is also about passing and moving. He can see the court really well. It’s less peripheral vision and more being able to see a step ahead of what’s going on.

DH: You’ve played in the NCAA Tournament twice. In what ways has this Democratic primary been like March Madness?

CR: Like any kind of competition that has a long time frame, if you’re trying to make an analogy to a game, you have to break it into two halfs, four quarters what have you. The thing to remember is that there’s always going to be times where you’re going to have a run and the other team is going to have a run . The guy who wins the game withstands the other guy’s run. You have to withstand their run and stay within your game plan, which I think Barack has done tremendously well in this primary. He’s up against a formidable opponent who’s coming at you with all kinds of things, and he’s been able to sort of handle and stay above the fray, on message, whatever the colloquialism you want to use. That’s very much like participating in the NCAA Tournament. Each time you win you’re going to have another and often harder challenge the next game. You have to be able to withstand that next team’s challenge and move on.

Read the full interview . . .

http://sports.aol.com/ncaabb/story/_a/obama-earns-hoops-vote-of-confidence/20080324190609990001

The Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament kicked off tonight. Barack picked 10 of the 16 remaining teams.

" March 20 (Bloomberg) -- Barack Obama and John McCain are picking the University of North Carolina to win the national college basketball championship, while Hillary Clinton told reporters she needs to check with her sage, Bill Clinton.

The former president, perhaps cognizant of the voters' passions for home teams -- including those in the politically important states of North Carolina, Indiana and Pennsylvania -- is taking a pass. "

I am a big fan of Duke, partly because I have been to Raleigh, NC -- seen the passion while the fans were camping for tickets -- while visiting my sister's family; her husband and two in-laws did their Phd from Duke's Fuqua School of Business. More importantly due to J.J. Redick who impressed me most with his talent.

North Carolina is got to be the best team, but I am hoping for a Duke upset over UCLA and then in the finals between the Carolina arch rivals, who knows!

#70 Hey Keith, content #70; a branch of your own flourishing, leaves according to sunshine quotas.

But help me; I have a friend, too, you met her down paradox alley...remember? ....no matter. She understandeth me not on the personal issues and, indeed I suspect I was an example in the 'paradox diatribe.' Again, no matter.
My question; Why do we speak in riddles and thingees?! Perhaps you can explain it better than I. (you usually do) I have been asked. and.....and well "Speak to me like a fool," she says, "for I surely am a fool." ("and wish to be":) Paradox?
(Two fools shouldn't make a fight) grin.

Today's (morning)Washington Post has an article on the Obama campaign's use of internet advertising to help bring new supporters into the political process, and the success that has resulted:

When Christen Braun decided it was time to learn more about the presidential candidates, the 28-year-old high school teacher from suburban Pittsburgh turned to Google -- right where Sen. Barack Obama's campaign was waiting for her.

Her search triggered an ad for Obama's Web site, which prompted Braun, a Republican, to sign up for the Democratic senator's e-mail list -- and then to make her first political contribution, for $25.

Such transactions help illustrate how Obama has shattered fundraising records and challenged ideas about the way presidential bids are financed. While past campaigns have relied largely on support from small circles of wealthy and well-connected patrons, Obama has received contributions from more than 1 million donors. He raised $91 million in the first two months of 2008 alone, most of it in small amounts over the Internet.

... Obama aides say their goal has been to "build an online relationship" with supporters who will not only give money but also knock on doors and help register voters for the candidate.

... "Anytime you can reach 1 million donors with the click of a mouse, you redefine the way campaign finance is done in American politics," said Philip A. Musser, a Republican political strategist who serves as a consultant to Google.

... The schoolteacher described herself as "one of those apathetic people who always felt, 'What does my single vote matter?' " But Braun wanted to learn more about Obama's education programs, so she relented.

Then the e-mails started to arrive.

...Of the dozens of e-mails she received, only a handful directly asked for money.

The approach paid off. This year she made four $25 contributions, and she also persuaded her father, a lifelong Republican, to register as a Democrat so he could join her in voting for Obama.

Read the full article . . .
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/27/AR2008032702968_pf.html

Yes, Ed, yes. I do remember the trippy lady's voice.

"If a fool would but continue in his folly, he would become wise."

I don't know who said that, Ed, but two fools do not make the fight right.

I also know that we have options, as in--3 lefts actually do make that right.

3 lefts and a right hook, now there. We shall get down on our knees.

Gibberish, Lah-Lah Landings and zippity-doo-dah days are ahead

for those who lack the intelligence to speak and write clearly.

Besides...if we say, "Besides that...", we are making justifications again.

Must we always have a good reason for doing things?

Damn! I could be in trouble. Better go now, Bye bye!

John, you brought up either's and or's, assumed my positions on both sides, asked questions using that false basis, and answered them yourself... I hope to have the time to rebut later today.

I understand, I "assumed." Never mind the rebuttal(s). They are not necessary.

Or rather "unnecessary."

You can of course write whatever you like to if you have time on your hands, and express yourself. You don't have to start that from my "false assumption" about your position. Just to clarify, I wasn't rebutting your unstated "position." That was just an observation about an obviously fallacious "assumption" to put some light on the debate, which I am sure a critical thinking person would agree with.

#88 Ha, you mean I should have left it, left it and left it again. Jeez, that's what I have been doing. Trouble is, as our Carly Gustaver once said, three inevitably evokes a fourth and then I run out of math(s) ;)

I have no fight with you, Sir Keith. No contest!

Keep safe,
Ed.

Not necessary is fine, too, and scans better in that comment. Now I'll ask of you what I asked of DK yesterday: please have some mercy... don't try to cover every base yourself, if you really want debate. You must leave incompletenesses and openings, if you intend debaters to engage.

When you frame something as "This vs. That" you are apparently creating a false choice. My point was only about the semantics regarding "vs." -- pragmatism 'and' idealism in politics are not mutually exclusive. Only Obama with the tremendous grassroots activism has the real chance to win by a landslide and help create a working majority for the dems in House and Senate, which is crucial to get things done.

Actually, I don't 'want' anyone to engage in a "debate." in an open forum. Like DK believes, (Socratic)"dialogue" is the best way to move forward in such topics as spirituality, philosophy, global challenges or politics.

#91 Hi John, so you're a critical thinking person.
I know that much. Damn! I wanted to show you my etchings ;)

In a dialogue, you don't take a "position" and then argue for it like in a debate; you try to listen to everyone's or every view point expressed and partcipate wit your own views, which may be contradicting at times, and allow this dialogue to possibly bring a better awareness for yourself and for others.

"... don't try to cover every base yourself, if you really want debate. You must leave incompletenesses and openings, if you intend debaters to engage."

I think you are confusing a "debate" with a "dialogue" and vice versa. In a dialogue, you always have open endings, even if the dialogue starter or some later participant seeks to have an inclusive set of debate(s) within the superset of the ensuing dialogue. Any objections and subsequent observations are part of the dialogue as well!

FYI...

Obama is the bigest reason for the huge surge in interest on the Dems side...

if the supes deny him the nom...most of the newcomers will stay home...it will be a real tragedy if billary gets it...and what a scary and depressing thought that is!

i cannot understand how anyone could vote for this iritating individual...damn!

Gooood morning all you misanthropes filled with animus. This is WWUR-Here with your favorite songs - and like, we know! That was the Pointer Sister's singing "I want a man with a slow hand, I want a lover with an easy touch, Some one to spend some time, not come and go in a heated rush" Well sister, buildings end in destruction, meetings in separation, .. so tough luck. But the reason I'm talkin' religion is because it is Genuine Friday. That's the first Friday after Good Friday and in our studio today is French Louie, a Jesuit monk from up Montreal way.

French Louie, how old are you?

Ah, monsieur, je suis, ah somewhere ..104 meybe.

Wow! And you came down here to visit Lac du St. Sacrement?

Oui, oui and too de Father Isaac Joques statue. Ee was a Jesuit, you know, eh?

Yes that's right. We all know of the statue in the park. Story was he got his fingers bit off by the Iroquois.

Oui, curious, even de fingers end in separation.

Ah huh. You were listening to our first song.

Unh hunh.

Well, isn't that a bit irreverent?

The Divine Romance, monsieur.

Well, French Louie, our listeners would probably like to know what benefits you've gotten from 80 years of contemplation.

Moi? nut-ting, je pense.

Then what was the point?

The point was, I was not doing anything else. Je suis-It, eh?

OK, French Louie, hope you enjoy your travels. There's the door. The one with the exit sign over it.
For you folks at home , here's Rod Steward's "If you think I'm sexy and you want my body, come along and tell me so"

Quest qu c'est? The body of Christ?

French Louie! Thanks! It's alright! We're good!

Intent, monsieur. That's what it was all those 80 years. Intent and Right Mindfulness.

OK, French Loui. Hey! Why don't we do lunch later. OK? Good. Swell. Meet you in the park. Darn!
Sing it Rod!

Mon Dieu, I've finally lost my duality.

gone forever, Edmund
never to be seen again?
no more duels

~ Kate
i-e

Obama vindicated on law-school title

As the first in a bill of particulars titled "Just Embellished Words: Senator Obama’s Record of Exaggerations & Misstatements," the Clinton campaign charged earlier this week: "Sen. Obama consistently and falsely claims that he was a law professor. The Sun-Times reported that, 'Several direct-mail pieces issued for Obama's primary [Senate] campaign said he was a law professor at the University of Chicago. He is not. He is a senior lecturer (now on leave) at the school. In academia, there is a vast difference between the two titles. Details matter.' In academia, there's a significant difference: professors have tenure while lecturers do not. [Hotline Blog, 4/9/07; Chicago Sun-Times, 8/8/04]."

But the University of Chicago Law School has now posted a statement declaring his claims semantically sound: "The Law School has received many media requests about Barack Obama, especially about his status as 'Senior Lecturer.' From 1992 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004, Barack Obama served as a professor in the Law School. He was a Lecturer from 1992 to 1996. He was a Senior Lecturer from 1996 to 2004, during which time he taught three courses per year. Senior Lecturers are considered to be members of the Law School faculty and are regarded as professors, although not full-time or tenure-track. The title of Senior Lecturer is distinct from the title of Lecturer, which signifies adjunct status. Like Obama, each of the Law School's Senior Lecturers have high-demand careers in politics or public service, which prevent full-time teaching. Several times during his 12 years as a professor in the Law School, Obama was invited to join the faculty in a full-time tenure-track position, but he declined."[Politico]

Okay? Now lets talk about "sniper fire" in Tuzla, your role in "bringing peace to Ireland" which was termne dsilly by the Irish Nobel laureate for his role in Peace, your helping "open up borders" in Macedonia, your being a strong critic of NAFTA from the very beginning, your domestic record (Ref. 32) in "creating" SCHIP, and your leadership on the Family and Medical Leave Act.

You "misspoke" and was "sleep-deprived" not once but 4 times when you made the statement about running with your heads down under sniper fire?

Isn't the truth enough for you? Are you so insecure that you need to over compensate for being sidelined in your husband's administration to a ceremonial role after your failure with the health reform bill?