Open thread

Submitted by James on

No matter what you think about Barack Obama, you have to feel for any guy who will inherit this freakin' mess.

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This is your open thread.

Comments

Sacrifice

Submitted by Goldie on

One of the lowest points of the past 7+ years was the moment that Bush responded to a question after 9/11 about whether he would call on the American people to make sacrifices, and he famously called on us to go shopping. Obviously, we need a different kind of leadership to deal with the eloquently named "freakin' mess" we have on a lot of fronts.

Another low point

Submitted by James on

was when the Decider decided he had to give up golf because it looked bad for mama's of dead soldiers seeing the Commander in Chief out on the links. AWOL George was lying there too. He didn't give up golf at all.

This is why he gave up golf.

Submitted by Robert P. on

Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me

Davy Lowman

Submitted by Jerimee on

Davy Lowman is going to win a district that in the past has been written off. This is smart, decisive, and kind man who can make positive change for his district, and thereby benefit North Carolina as a whole. If you get a chance to help him out I hope you make good use of it.

thanks for the open thread ;)

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McCain - The Third Bush Term

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http://twitter.com/Jerimee

Davy Lowman

Submitted by Frank Eaton on

Davy Lowman

I got the opportunity to spend a day last week down in Gastonia with Davy Lowman. This gentleman is the genuine article.

Go Davy!

Our new - unexpected - addition

Submitted by Linda on

Heeeere's Lucy! She's about 8 weeks old. Someone dropped her off (with a small bowl of food at a friend's house. So of course, she came to live with me.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors

She is a sweetie.

Submitted by Linda on

She's taken her new housemates - 3 humans, 4 dogs, and 1 really cranky elderly cat, in stride. And if you could bottle the feeling you get from holding her while she falls asleep, no one would need prozac again.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors

All I have to say is

Submitted by crowbar317 on

even if my political future is toast, this is what I think of Hillary Clinton at this moment.

I offer no apologies, and could care less if her supporters sit at home and let McCain bomb the Middle East. She has no shame and no class.

Ok, Clinton people: What is she doing?

Submitted by Frank Eaton on

Two boats. Obama boat and Clinton boat. Obama boat real big. Passengers on Obama boat very friendly and looking for more people for conga line.

Clinton boat sinking. Listing to starboard. On fire.

Capt. Obama out there on the deck of Obama boat saying "We've got plenty of room left here on the Obama boat. Seriously. You guys are totally welcome to hop on up here. No big deal. We'd be glad to have you."

Capt. Hillary addressing her passengers through bullhorn: "Ok folks, I congratulate the Obama boat for not being on fire and sinking. But I know I speak for all of us who love THIS boat. OUR boat. A boat we've all been on for a very LONG time.

**Clinton boat passengers applauding soundlessly underwater**

"And I know I speak for all of you when I say to Capt. Obama and all of his passengers that we're not going anywhere before we see MY accommodations on Obama boat."

Sunburned, white-haired gentleman floating in life preserver tethered to the rigging: "He should let her wear his Capt. hat sometimes!"

Capt. Hillary: "I cast my memory back to the day we left port. We had a better boat then and we still have A REALLY GREAT BOAT!"

Obama passengers lowering lifeboats and using hooks to snag Hillary boat refugees as they float by. Making room on deck. Mixing boat drinks.

Clinton boat people, covered in a slick of burning diesel fuel: "Let her wear the HAT! Let her wear the HAT!"

dare you to film it

Submitted by Linda on

seriously.

dare you to.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors

I'll add my thought here..

Submitted by Grace on

Yes, it will piss off some. But this is something I can't shake..

Hilarious.

Submitted by Christopher on

via kos

Oh Captain, my captain.

Submitted by Linda on

I've been thinking about you, too, my friend. Hold on, now. Just hold on. We're still going to have a better world.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors

Feel for him?

Submitted by lawso017 on

Feel for us. We're all on the same boat, we've all inherited the mess, and it's just getting started.

Granted, some will do better than others:

LMT Lockheed Martin faulted for failure to control costs - Washingtonpost.com (107.83 )

Washingtonpost.com reports that LMT failed to follow military guidelines to track and manage costs on major weapons programs, according to an internal Pentagon document released yesterday by a government watchdog group. The co did not comply with 19 of 32 guidelines, which led to a lack of controls on the cost and schedule of multibillion-dollar programs including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the F-22 and F-16 fighter jets, the Defense Contract Management Agency said in a Nov 2007 report made public yesterday by the Project on Government Oversight. The DCMA's report came as senators questioned government auditors and Pentagon officials about how 95 of the military's largest weapons programs are $295 bln over their original projected cost, bringing their total estimated cost to $1.6 tln. "This undisciplined approach to program management and towards the maintenance of the EVMS, will ultimately jeopardize the long-term stability" of LMT's aeronautics program "and diminishes the purchasing power of the Department" of Defense, the report said.

William (B.J.) Lawson
Congressional Candidate, North Carolina's 4th District

William (B.J.) Lawson, M.D.
Congressional Candidate, North Carolina's 4th District

Feel for us?

Submitted by James on

Of course, BJ. It breaks my heart to see the incredible destruction wrought by the Bush administration in seven short years.

But the burden on Obama is going to be unlike anything any president has inherited in almost a century. The good news? There's no where to go but up. The bad news? The Republican minority in the House and Senate will prefer to see Obama fail than to see America succeed.

Once again, Democrats get to clean up the mess.

Submitted by Robert P. on

Didn't we already clean up after these kids once? After the glorious Reagan years wasn't it a Democratic President that put us back in order.

Jesus Swept ticked me off. Too short. I loved the characters and then POOF it was over.
-me

In the encyclopedia

Submitted by Locomotive Breath on

Thanks for the laugh of the day.

In the encyclopedia 50 years from now the Reagan entry will have a picture of the fall of the Berlin wall (yes, yes, it was actually pulled down just after he left office).

The Clinton entry will have a picture of a blue dress.

“It’s liberal trial lawyers that many of us in business...

Submitted by loftT on

“It’s liberal trial lawyers that many of us in business have problems with,” McHenry said.

Uh, what business is that Patty?

McClellan book

“Based on what they say, I question the veracity of what he has written,” McHenry said. “It’s interesting that he never spoke up about the issues he is writing about in the book. The book is an example of what is wrong in Washington.”

McHenry has never met McClellan, but knows people who worked with him.

More gems here:

Hickory Daily Record article

Progressive Democrats of North Carolina

Skip Stam is crazy

Submitted by Blue South on

h/t to Laura Leslie

Skip Stam opposing raising the marriage fee to pay for domestic violence shelters: “Domestic violence is not caused by marriage. People who live together can beat each other up just fine - it doesn’t touch them.”

"Keep the Faith"

"Keep the Faith"

I found a way to end domestic violence in my life.

Submitted by Linda on

I divorced the bastard.

Skip Stam is crazy. Of course, he wouldn't have to raise the marriage fee to pay for shelters, if he'd just let same gender couples pay the same fee for the same right. Think of the revenue that would generate!

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors

Tricia Cotham and foster kids

Submitted by Jerimee on

Cotham is doing a feasibility study to figure out if we can place foster kids in non-smoking homes only. It's sad that there is a shortage of people willing to take children in, but I guess that's a pretty big commitment to take on. I wonder if you have to be married . . .

What's cool is that apparently one of the legislative interns at the capital provided the inspiration for the bill. Quick read if you haven't already read it:

http://www.newsobserver.com/front/story/1095652.html

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McCain - The Third Bush Term

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http://twitter.com/Jerimee

You don't have to be married.

Submitted by Linda on

I wonder if you have to be married . . .

You just have to be able to provide a stable, drug free environment for a child. Info is here.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors

moral gauntlet

Submitted by Jerimee on

Well then it looks like yet another moral gauntlet has been thrown. I think I'm off the hook for now because my apartment is too crummy for minors, but still . . .

Did you know that private for profit companies are licensed to take care of foster children? I'm sorry to be so clueless, but I found this to be quite a surprise. I'm glad knowledgeable people are paying attention to these issues.

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McCain - The Third Bush Term

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http://twitter.com/Jerimee

Yes, I did know that.

Submitted by Linda on

Private, for profit companies are licensed to care for children in child care, too. "For profit" doesn't necessarily mean they're bad. The state is getting a lot better about regulating, and enforcing regulations. I know there are a lot of people out there who don't think it's right to regulate the raising of children, or even the care of them - but if there's one thing we need to watch over, it's our weakest and most vulnerable citizens.

And if you're interested in being a foster parent, don't put yourself out of the running just because you think you're apartment is crappy. If you are really interested in it, go for it. There are children out there who need caring adults in their lives.

One of my favorite democratic couples adopted their children when they were 9 and 11 (the children, not the couple!) the kids are fantastic, the mom and dad are awesome.

If it's something you want to do, check it out.

If you don't think you can be a full-time foster parent (it is a 24/7 commitment), there are other ways you can help children who need a caring adult. The Guardian Ad Litem program helps children who are involved in the court system. You don't become the child's guardian, but you work with a specially appointed attorney to make sure the child's best interest is followed in court.

Could you step in and speak up for a neglected or abused child in court? Could you spare a few hours a week to help build a child's future?

If so, you could become a Guardian ad Litem volunteer. This year in North Carolina an increasing number of children will need someone to give them a voice and see that their best interests are served. Because the number of cases has grown tremendously in recent years, more volunteers are urgently needed.

A Guardian ad Litem is appointed by the juvenile court and paired with an attorney to investigate the case, to make recommendations to the judge regarding a safe place or special services. You can champion an abused or neglected child and prevent them from suffering future harm.

It's something I've always wanted to do, and I think I just might make the call. The website says that volunteers are urgently needed in all 100 counties.

There are many companies that will give you time off for volunteer hours - this is a good volunteer thing to do.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors

Those Guardian ad Litem folks

Submitted by Leslie H on

do the work of angels on earth, and they are all just normal regular people. I love them.

"It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." - Harry Truman

"They took all the trees and put them in a tree museum Then they charged the people a dollar 'n a half just to see 'em. Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone? They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."

Some help please?

Submitted by James on

Over at the Dome.

My guess is that Jack Hawke has geared up his paid bloggers to guard against anyone going after McCrory (which I intend to do every day). It's sort of like watching termites come out of the ground. Creepy.

Be careful what you ask for...:)

Submitted by scharrison on

Don't be surprised if you get an e-mail from Ryan like this: "Thanks a lot for inspiring that nutcase scharrison to start posting on my blog!" :)

I am so proud of you, Steve

Submitted by Betsy Muse on

You didn't tell anyone to go fuck themselves. :D

Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.



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Vote Democratic! The ass you save may be your own.

Dang it.

Submitted by scharrison on

I knew I forgot something.

:)

YES

Submitted by nctodc on

I know it's wrong.

I know I should respect decorum and all that.

But this...

This...

Makes. My. Fuckin'. Day.

Obama Takes Lieberman Aside

Roll Call reports that during a Senate vote today, Sen. Barack Obama "dragged" Sen. Joe Lieberman "by the hand to a far corner of the Senate chamber and engaged in what appeared to reporters in the gallery as an intense, three-minute conversation."

"While it was unclear what the two were discussing, the body language suggested that Obama was trying to convince Lieberman of something and his stance appeared slightly intimidating."

"Using forceful, but not angry, hand gestures, Obama literally backed up Lieberman against the wall, leaned in very close at times, and appeared to be trying to dominate the conversation, as the two talked over each other in a few instances."

"Still, Obama and Lieberman seemed to be trying to keep the back-and-forth congenial as they both patted each other on the back during and after the exchange. Afterwards, Obama smiled and pointed up at reporters peering over the edge of the press gallery for a better glimpse of their interaction."

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There are people in every time and every land who want to stop history in its tracks. They fear the future, mistrust the present, and invoke the security of the comfortable past which, in fact, never existed. - Robert F. Kennedy

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There are people in every time and every land who want to stop history in its tracks. They fear the future, mistrust the present, and invoke the security of the comfortable past which, in fact, never existed. - Robert F. Kennedy

I'm at a loss for words.

Submitted by Christopher on

How in the world did he not hit him? That's been, like, my DREAM for quite some time now. I mean, at least hit him with the old acceptable "fuck off" a la Cheney-to-Leahy.

Obama is already beginning to throw a new twist into how things are done in Washington.

I'm ecstatic.

Kos on Lieberman

Submitted by gregflynn on

Lieberman: "Democrat Party"

Joe Lieberman, doing everything he can to lose his committee chairmanships next Congress, is now sending out emails to McCain's supporters and using the pejorative "Democrat Party" language:

To: Fellow McCain Supporters
From: Senator Joe Lieberman
Date: June 5th, 2008

Today, I asked Senator McCain if I could create and chair a new grassroots organization, "Citizens for McCain."

Report validates what we thought......

Submitted by denno on

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/05/divided-senate-committee_n_105374.html
But, what is also significant about this important report was that it was not reported on any TV media that I know of. I watched it on C-Span being reported by J. Rockefeller, the chairman of the Senate Intel committee, a Democrat, and also the guy who brought on the FISA bill with Telecom immunity. So you know this guy bends over backwards to help Bush out. But the documentation was so overwhelming on this 'rush to war', that it was voted with bipartisan support. And they tried to remove Clinton for a BJ? Amazing!