Search Results for 'Ba'

[Tish]

I don’t understand why you think that Obama will be pummelled and not Hillary. As Noonan said on his blog earlier today:

“Mrs. Clinton is stoking the idea that Mr. Obama is too soft to withstand the dread Republican attack machine. (I nod in tribute to all Democrats who have succeeded in removing the phrase “Republican and Democratic attack machines” from the political lexicon. Both parties have them.) But Mr. Obama will not be easy for Republicans to attack. He will be hard to get at, hard to address. There are many reasons, but a primary one is that the fact of his race will freeze them. No one, no candidate, no party, no heavy-breathing consultant, will want to cross any line–lines that have never been drawn, that are sure to be shifting and not always visible–in approaching the first major-party African-American nominee for president of the United States.

He is the brilliant young black man as American dream. No consultant, no matter how opportunistic and hungry, will think it easy–or professionally desirable–to take him down in a low manner. If anything, they’ve learned from the Clintons in South Carolina what that gets you. (I add that yes, there are always freelance mental cases, who exist on both sides and are empowered by modern technology. They’ll make their YouTubes. But the mad are ever with us, and this year their work will likely stay subterranean.)

With Mr. Obama the campaign will be about issues. “He’ll raise your taxes.” He will, and I suspect Americans may vote for him anyway. But the race won’t go low.

Mrs. Clinton would be easier for Republicans. With her cavalcade of scandals, they’d be delighted to go at her. They’d get medals for it. Consultants would get rich on it.

The Democrats have it exactly wrong. Hillary is the easier candidate, Mr. Obama the tougher. Hillary brings negative; it’s fair to hit her back with negative. Mr. Obama brings hope, and speaks of a better way. He’s not Bambi, he’s bulletproof.

The biggest problem for the Republicans will be that no matter what they say that is not issue oriented–“He’s too young, he’s never run anything, he’s not fully baked”–the mainstream media will tag them as dealing in racial overtones, or undertones. You can bet on this. Go to the bank on it.

The Democrats continue not to recognize what they have in this guy. Believe me, Republican professionals know. They can tell. “

Enough said.

[WSB]

Just one contribution and then we step back out: Having been on somebody else’s payroll going back to age 16 … with a nice health-insurance policy, mostly employer-paid, for most of that time … I didn’t really appreciate how bleak the picture was for those not so lucky, until we went into business for ourselves with WSB. Just finally found something that will at least (knock wood) be there for coverage if one of us gets seriously ill or injured … but otherwise, its deductible is so high that it’s not good for anything else. To get an individual policy without a high deductible, there seems to be no way to avoid paying an incredibly high price — four digits per month for a family of three — which is what I would have had to pay to continue my old work policy thru COBRA. Really never walked a mile in these moccasins before, but now I can feel every stone on the path. And yet at that, I know I’m still one of the “lucky ones” … at least we can afford that high-deductible policy … its cost would be out of reach for many families just getting by.

[JoB]

this was just sent to me.

i scanned the printout of the broadcast (you can watch or listen) and learned a few things.

You can bet i will go through it more carefully before tomorrow:)

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/2/8/examining_clinton_obamas_stances_on_the

[BobLoblaw]

Clinton will certainly have a harder time in debates with some things. Her health care plan would be targeted because it is the most opposite of the Republicans. Her ties to Bill (58% of voters in Iowa or someplace — I forget where and think polls are a bit weak to go by — say they liked her because Bill was her husband) would be brought into play. Her record on approving $$ for the war over and over again would be questioned — although not by Republicans, obviously :-)

Overall, however, I think the Republicans will eat Obama alive. They are one well-oiled, polished political machine. “Our” best chance is to throw somebody into the battle who has some experience and meat behind the rhetoric.

Just my opinion, btw. I was soooo happy to see people who were not old, white, male (or a combo of all) around Key Arena I nearly cried. You are the future of this country. And seeing that somebody has kicked young people and the African-American community into gear is fantastic.

[MissK]

Gosh you know I have always liked McCain but a possible *Gasp* McCain/Huckabee ticket. NO WAYYY!! All the candidates have their “downfalls” or “failures” do you not think Hilary doesn’t get her panties in a bunch??? You are kidding yourself if you don’t.

I think I wasn’t clearly thinking in regards to the Supreme Court. If that is the case then Obama just gained another vote. I just hope he can deliver on his promises.

[Ken]

Lest we forget. There is plenty of time for the current administration to do irreparable damage to the country. These people live in an alternative universe where everything is backwards. The difference between what they say, and what they do, can be breathtaking.

Today Cheney spoke to the CPAC, “the conference for people for whom reality is just an illusion foisted upon them by a cold and liberal universe.”

As conservatives, we believe in a government that takes up a smaller share of the national income, that treats tax dollars with respect and restraint. And we believe in a government that keeps to its limits under the Constitution, never expanding beyond the consent of the governed.

As Hunter at daily Kos put it:

“And then, he farted candy and rainbows. And all the little woodland creatures came out from under the floorboards to help sew him a magnificent new dress for the ball.”

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/8/155824/2111/744/452848

[beachdrivegirl]

Bob,

As a young voter, the biggest reason why I think I will go to the Caucus tomorrow and support Obama is not on what I think he can do better or more efficiently than Clinton, but because there are so many individuals that despise Clinton out there I fear that if Clinton is on the ballet come November, we will have another depressing election and another four years with a Republican in office.

[BobLoblaw]

Just back from Obama, trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. He is a great speaker and gives hope to many. He should have a pulpit to orate from. That pulpit should be in the Senate for a while longer. There was no meat in what he was saying.

That didn’t matter to the 10,000 19-24 year-old women at the rally. But I bet many of them aren’t even registered to vote. And there are, what, 20 people on the WSB who contribute regularly? Most of us are like-minded and will “settle” for either one of the two if it came right down to it. Of course, the best person for the job, based on all the evidence, is Edwards. But he has a snowball’s chance at this point.

Go to the caucuses tomorrow. Challenge the Obama folks to talk about issues and specific actions instead of “hope,” “change,” “reunite,” etc. They are just words. And while they are powerful, and delivered with grace, they are not a plan and do not address anything other than our heartstrings.

Love,

Bob

[JanS]

I totally agree…I can’t wait until spring. I think sunshine is underrated…hehe. I was diagnosed this winter with a severe Vit. D. deficiency..go figure – lol. I could drink gallons of milk, and still need some…:) We probably all have a deficiency and don’t know it. Erik – another poster on here – is going to spring training…I say we all go with him ;-)

[JanS]

Kayleigh…I’m with you. Have you seen the article that was in the PI about a week or so ago re: McCain, his growing up, his heritage from his father, grandfather, and his anger problems even going back to then? Interesting reading. I’ll see if I can find it…

[acemotel]

My major long-term concern is the disappearance of the working middle class, who have lost income and buying power in the last twenty five years, while the top 1/10th of 1 percent of income earners have seen increases of almost 500 per cent. The trend is a threat even to our economic system, as we lose the market for consumer goods, not to mention the overwhelming social ills we leave for our children. The only one who can respond to this trend is Obama, in my mind. Clinton is too close to the source, and McCain, it goes without saying, would exacerbate the problem.

[Ken]

I am torn as to whether to post this here, or in the Chuckle forum…

It is a short, succinct analysis of the worst case scenario some republicans are already advocating.

Snagged from daily Kos front pager Hunter.

---

McCain-Huck: You Got Your Christian Crusader Rhetoric In My Crazy-Ass Foreign Policy

by Hunter

Fri Feb 08, 2008

There’s talk on the Republican side of a McCain-Huckabee ticket? Seriously? Because Huckabee is doing so well, and McCain needs to prove his right-wing social credentials, and CPAC-styled movement conservatives need their heads to spin a little more vigorously, I suppose?

I have to admit, it sounds like a brilliant plan. In the middle of a hugely unpopular war, take the most aggressively pro-war candidate and make him Commander in Chief. Then, what the hell — add a heavy dose of hardcore, far-right evangelical Christian rhetoric to the mix. “Bombs for Jesus”: doesn’t that sound like the bestest idea ever? The whole problem with Bush, you see, was the annoying subtlety with which he pursued his highly complex and well-thought-out positions. Can’t we just distill that down to even more explicit support for unending “preemptive” military action, and explicit declarations of Jesus-based manifest destiny? Why have Bush when we can have a double-dose, Mecha-Transformer-Wonder-Twin-Powers-Activate-Super-Bush?

Hey, why the hell not? Here’s another idea: let’s get everyone in America to drive a six-inch railroad spike into the back of our heads. That way we’ll all have a place to hang our raincoats.

I love modern conservatism. No matter how disastrous any outcome of conservative policy is, there’s only one possible response — let’s do more of it!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/8/144617/5311/186/452389

[karen]

I’m with you! And they canceled the wind advisory? It hasn’t stopped blowing here for three days.

That first night was really bad here. It was an awful lot like last winter’s winds.

I’m ready for spring. My pumpkin and Zuke starts are ready to go outside and so am I!!

[Keith]

Three nights of garbage cans rolling around the alley, vent covers banging away and my neighbor’s gate refusing to stay shut. PLEASE NO MORE CRAZY WIND.

[Huindekmi]

I agree with the need for a D in the White House, if only because of the effect on the Supreme Court.

Justice Stevens is already the second oldest Justice to sit on the court in history. He’ll be 89 when the next president takes office.

Justice Ginsberg, while 13 years younger than Stevens, is in poor health. Stevens, who reportedly still plays tennis a couple times per week, is actually in better health. She successfully battled colorectal cancer 8 years ago, but is still frail and often needs help entering/exiting the stage at recent speaking events.

The Supreme Court has already tipped too far to the right. The last last thing we need is for these two to be replaced with more justices with an ultra-conservative agenda. We the people can not stand by and continue to let our personal liberties be eroded by a court that thinks the government should tell them how to live their personal lives or believes that individuals should have no recourse against illegal actions by huge corporations.

Voting for McCain would likely be a death knell to the middle class.

[Ken]

I am not sure where this came from. Found in my archives:

More facts. Join our cause. Make a huge contribution.—More than 98 percent of convicted felons are bread users.—Fully HALF of all children who grow up in bread-consuming households score below average on standardized tests.—More than 90 percent of violent crimes are committed within 24 hours of eating bread.—Bread is made from a substance called “dough.” It has been proven that as little as one pound of dough can be used to suffocate a mouse. The average American eats more bread than that in one month!—Bread has been proven to be addictive. Subjects deprived of bread and given only water to eat begged for bread after as little as two days.—Bread is often a “gateway” food item, leading the user to “harder” items such as butter, jelly, peanut butter, and even cold cuts.—Newborn babies can choke on bread.—Bread is baked at temperatures as high as 400 degrees Fahrenheit! That kind of heat can kill an adult in less than one minute.—Most American bread eaters are utterly unable to distinguish between significant scientific fact and meaningless statistical babbling .

Frightening statistics! We propose the following:—No sale of bread to minors.—A nationwide “Just Say No To Toast” campaign, complete with celebrity TV spots and bumper stickers.—A 300 percent federal tax on all bread to pay for all the societal ills we might associate with bread.—No animal or human images, nor any primary colors (which may appeal to children) may be used to promote bread usage.—The establishment of “Bread-free” zones around schools.—Eliminate subsidies for farmers engaged in the growing of wheat.—Health hazard warning labels to be placed on all packages of bread.

How can you help?—Make a huge contribution.—Put us in your will.—Tell your friends, strangers and coworkers.—Contact your Congressman and demand action now.—Organize “bread lines” in your neighborhood.—Join this organization for a mere one-time fee of $1000.

[Ken]

Some people fall in love with candidates or even specific issues.

Love often defies rational explanation.

Sometimes only time can fix it. Sometimes even time cannot.

I try to keep some distance between my soul and political issues and candidates since the long term effects of what we do in the near term can be devastating.

The long term issue is supreme court justices.

This was also the issue in 2004 but too few paid attention to it so we now have 5 hard right christianist ideologues 4 of whom are young enough to outlive many of us and warp the republic out of shape for our children.

It might be hard to wrap your mind around, but Bush is not incompetent. He accomplished exactly what the hard right neocons and theocons wanted of the long term game plan. (The theocons are finally noticing how they have been used by the neocons and the corporate core of the GOP) The country is in a war that is draining the treasury at a far faster rate than simple tax cuts and wild industry subsidies could have done. New Orleans will be rebuilt by developers and real estate speculators into a reliably white southern city with the Dem (if a little bluedoggish)majority dispersed to the winds.

The coming economic melt down was engineered by giving the global corporations and wall street financiers all the rope they would take. History shows they have no restraint of their own so the repeat of the Robber barons was inevitable.

If we do not have in place our FDR (or as close as we can get) then the reactionaries will indeed strip government and the social saftey net down to the size that Grover Norquist want, small enough to drown it in the bathtub.

The failure we see is in republican, or more exactly, ultra conservative policies and an authoritarian world view.

http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/

Neither Hillary nor Obama are going to appoint far right wing justices to the court.

McCain will not be able to resist doing so even if he is (a big question) more moderate than the current pResident in the Whitehouse.

So I will support either one in the General but because I could not entirely filter out Obamas soaring rhetoric, I will probably end up there at the end of the caucus. (I try to stick to print media just so I am not effected by crafted PR hype and oratory)

Here is a quote for inspiration. It really applies to us all whether we are black or white, if we want a progressive future for our children and grand children.

J.C. Watts, a former congressman, African-American, and a Republican, inspired this comment from his father:

“A Black man voting for the Republicans is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders”

[MissK]

I have liked McCain for years and think he has the perseverance that we need. Just a few months ago they were saying he was washed up in the election and he was running out of money. Now look where he is at. Now if he can work some of that magic for our economy.I do have issue with a few of his stances (a womans right to choose, and the war in Iraq.)

I have never voted Republican and never agreed with the party or their outlook.

I do think that McCain can work side by side with both parties and is actually respected by both parties. Clinton I feel is constantly talking in circles. Barack I think is a great orator, but I think he might cave if pressured enough.

At this point I am heavily weighing towards McCain.

[Huindekmi]

My wife has taken that position. She’s a staunch Clinton supporter. But will vote for McCain if Obama get the Dem nomination. She has never voted for a Republican presidential candidate in her life.

And I don’t get it.

[Kayleigh]

Interesting. I don’t think we can solve the health care crisis with private insurers who make decisions based on profit rather than health and welfare. Which is something that Edwards understood.

Maybe it will work to make the change to a single payer gradually over time, in increments. It’s a compromise, though, not a solution.

[charlabob]

Kayleigh — yup; no matter how often they say, “Universal Health Care” they all support Universal Health Insurance. Barack says he would have favored single-payer back when it started but now it’s too big a leap.

As I understand it, Hillary’s plan mandates insurance (everyone has to buy–it’s like Romney’s plan in Massachusetts!); Obama’s plan is optional.

[karen]

Hi. I am a mom of an ADHD child. I wondered if there are any other parents in the West Seattle area that are working with this. OK, there must be! I am sure I’m not the only one.

Anyhow, it would be nice to meet up with other parents who understand some of the challenges and joys that ADHD bring to any activity.

I have one child in second grade who is diagnosed and one in preschool who probably will be soon!

Any one out there wish to converse, meet or play?

[charlabob]

I’m really impressed by the knowledge, passion, and civility of the political discussions on these forums. So, I have a question — could someone who thinks (s)he will vote for McCain if <Hill/Barak> is the dem nominee please explain how (s)he came to this conclusion? I’m really trying to understand — OK, so I can argue more effectively.But I do want to learn :-)

[k]

She WILL do it! Obama would be a great VP. He’s just not ready yet. His resume is weak compared to Clinton. We need her now! We don’t have time. Tonight was great! It was a diverse crowd that made me proud.

[JoB]

Wow.. i just finished watching the hillary speech on a King 5 webcast.

Her plan for universal health care alone is worth electing her.. and it’s doable.

Would you like to have the choice of the Congressional Health plan regardless of what insurance you currently have? She would make that possible. Premiums would be subsidized for those who couldn’t afford them… but the same plans would be available for the rest of us.

Think of it. Our current insurance companies would have to compete in both premiums and service to keep our business.

The customer would once again become nearly as important as the stockholders. what a concept!

And that wasn’t her only good idea tonight…

I will still watch Obama.. at the key arena or at home by webcast… but i have to say.. i don’t see how he could possibly offer America more.

Yes, i think she could do it.