as someone else pointed out yesterday, when you have 0 chance at the nomination, you can do/say pretty much what you want including, gulp, the Truth. Dodd has taken many hard and good stands during the last six months, and has mirrored the feelings and hopes of alot of us on the blogosphere's blue side. At this point, having someone dedicated to simply taking a just stand on the national stage may be the best we can hope for. Of the three leading candidates, only Edwards consistently falls into that category. How do you think Edwards/Dodd sounds?
Posted by T2 at December 18, 2007 06:25 AMi prefer dodd-edwards, but edwards would be a fine president.
it's not only about being able to say anything- kucinich does that; it's also about knowing how to lead, how to work the system, how to get other people on board. dodd's doing all of that.
Posted by Turkana at December 18, 2007 06:29 AMI'm getting good at this precognition thing.
No, I don't support Dodd.
Posted by idiosynchronic at December 18, 2007 07:05 AMI went to the Dodd campaign website last night to make a contribution, but it wasn't accepting my credit card info. I am going to email the campaign today and suggest they open a paypal option as a means to accept donations.
I think they are missing the boat on web fundraising even as they are doing and saying the right thing.
I know that Mr. Biden likes the taste of his shoe, but I like his positions on the important issues. Kucinich is my guy generally, but Edwards, Dodd, Biden also look like traditional democratic candidates. If any of them took off in the polls we might see them moving toward corporate democrat positions because one thing that is clear to me is that the corporate media will skewer any candidate that doesn't indicate in "dog language" that the corporatocracy is going to be respected. Dean is the poster boy for that situation.
Posted by angel at December 18, 2007 07:08 AMAgreed...been leaning for Dodd for awhile (but also don't think he will get the nod)...he just hasn't gotten the valuable face time in the msm he deserves for such leadership...in the pundit presidential annointment world it's the Hil-Bama horse race show on the Democratic side. I'm so tuned out and sick of it...sick of seeing how money and the corporate owned media has tainted the process and so we end up with crapola for choices. The system is fatally flawed.
Having said that, I am thankful for those who do stand up and lead ..thank you Senator Dodd.
Posted by emal at December 18, 2007 07:20 AMangel- try this link:
https://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/1318/t/120/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=1476
Posted by Turkana at December 18, 2007 07:22 AMGreat for Dodd, he deserves the respect of the American people!
mcjoan:
Kudos to the Senators, including Boxer, Kennedy, Wyden, Brown, Feingold and Bill Nelson for engaging with Dodd on the floor on this issue, showing their willingness to stand with him and help in the filibuster, and to Reid for listening to us.
Why the hell did Kennedy and Nelson vote 'yea' on the cloture motion?
Posted by Seven of Six at December 18, 2007 07:24 AMI was for Edwards, and he is still my favorite of the majors. Early on I gave him some money.
But you're right, Dodd is showing leadership right now. So if Dodd is still in the race when California votes, my vote is going to Dodd.
Posted by kaleidescope at December 18, 2007 08:37 AMI do not think the second tier candidates like Dodd and Biden have any chance for nomination even though they will make good presidents. It is going to be between Hillary and Obama. However, if Obama is the nominee, we are going to have a Republican in the Whitehouse. Unfortunately, the midwest and south of our country is not going to vote for a black president.
Posted by suresh at December 18, 2007 09:03 AMThe midwest won't vote for a black president?? Iowa must not be a part of the midwest. Either that or Obama isn't black. Check out the matchups in a general with Obama and the Repugs.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/18/114951/04/298/423801
I'm very impressed by Dodd this year, but if he's elected President, who do we have to stand up in the well of the Senate?
Any Democratic president is going to be faced with withering attacks and obstruction from Republican dead-enders in Congress. We will need good people to oppose them, and people like Reid, Feinstein, et al. can't be left unsupervised.
Dodd is showing how to be a great Senator. I don't want him to stop.
Posted by biggerbox at December 18, 2007 09:26 AMGallup is out with a new poll showing Hillary expanding her lead over Obama for the Dem nomination, yet the same poll shows Obama beating the GOPer's better than Hillary. So the same people who are voting to nominate her don't think she can win as easily as Obama. What's up there? It's nonsensical.
Posted by T2 at December 18, 2007 09:55 AMAfter learning more about how the Iowa caucuses work for Democrats (but it's different for republicans--weird) with this 2nd choice stuff, I think Iowa should pretty much be ignored. The evangelicals will vote in the republican caucus for a godbot and the dems can't even vote for 2nd tier candidates because they need 15% in their precinct to agree. So they basically have a precinct by precinct run-off vote. I respect that Iowans really do pay attention and take this stuff seriously, but it just seems like an odd system and I don't put much stock in it.
An Obama--Huckabee election would be interesting. The two "nice guys" who seem hopeful. Though I think Huckabee has a mean streak like Bush. Another seemingly nice guy who's fun to have a beer with, but really a mean bully.
Posted by CG at December 18, 2007 10:05 AMIn the city I leave, the AM radio station which has good traffic news also carries Sean Hannity (his stupid Stop Hillary Express) in the afternoon and Neil Boortz in the morning. These dimwits are promoting Obama so much in past few weeks anybody with some sense knows it is not because they had a change in the heart. They know that he cannot win GE. Nominating him will put a rethug for another 4 years in the WH. I will vote for him if he is the nominee but I do understand the reality.
It is not as if I am asking to nominate a bad candidate, HRC has the best resume and her voting records indicate she is very progressive and can win the GE. Based on that I think she is the best candidate for this election.
Thanks Turkana,
Like you, I have reluctantly decided that my man Al, is not going to run this year. If not now, I don't see any other time when he would be so appropriate. I too, have been wavering between Edwards and sometimes, another second tier candidate, (as decreed by the never-to-be-sufficiently-damned "media") depending on what they are saying and doing.
I've contributed a couple of times to Edwards, but today I threw a c-note at Chris and thanked him for courageous leadership. As others here have stated, they are only second tier because Republican ball-licking dogs like Lieberman, Kristol, Russert, Brooks, "Kit" Seeleye, Maureen Dowd(y) and the spouting gasbags of Faux Notnews, etc. tell us so.
I also suggested to his campaign that, if not the Presidency, then SURELY Majority Leader Dodd should come to pass. He missed it by one vote to Daschle. Limp wristed Reid had it sewn up (by calling in favors?), so Dodd didn't even contest it this time. What a waste!
In that diary by Hesiod, I realized that, for the first time I've noticed, the first 50 recommenders were all Kossacks with ID numbers below 2500, including some of us here. I think that's quite significant! In New Jersey, we have our Presidential primary on Feb. 5th. I am now torn between Dodd and Edwards as my choice. I still probably prefer Edwards, but I want to reward and encourage anyone in the Congress who actually tries to fulfill his or her oaths and responsibilities. A little heat for Dodd might just put a little heat on the media's First tier candidates as well.
Hillary claims the most experience based on years of being first spouse of a tiny state government and a historically embattled presidency. Oh, and she has 7 years in the Senate. Chris Dodd has that trumped and shows it!
I think he demonstrates what once would have been considered the kind of gravitas and experience that Democrats would be happy to vote for. It's a shame the Murdoch/Moon/Disney media circus have all the dogs riding around the ring on flashy ponies, barking nonsense to get the attention of we, the voters. Citizenship used to mean something. Pity!
Posted by DeminNewJ at December 18, 2007 10:40 AMIn general agreement with kaleidescope above, I think that Dodd did some of the most effective presidential campaigning on the Senate floor Monday. As I am registered "unaffiliated", I can't vote in the primary. But if Dodd makes it to the general election, I'll gladly vote for him.
Posted by jwrjr at December 18, 2007 11:28 AM But if Dodd makes it to the general election, I'll gladly vote for him.
Posted by jwrjr at December 18, 2007 11:28 AM
Yes, and I will watch the sun rise in the west and set in the east.
You folks are getting sillier!
Posted by jj at December 18, 2007 11:39 AM But if Dodd makes it to the general election, I'll gladly vote for him.
Posted by jwrjr at December 18, 2007 11:28 AM
Yes, and I will watch the sun rise in the west and set in the east.
You folks are getting sillier!
Posted by jj at December 18, 2007 11:39 AM
This from someone who still thinks Plame wasn't covert!! Now that is silly!
Posted by Goose1 at December 18, 2007 11:47 AMThis from someone who still thinks Plame wasn't covert!! Now that is silly!
Posted by Goose1 at December 18, 2007 11:47 AM
Desk girl "covert". Nice try though !
Posted by jj at December 18, 2007 12:11 PMDesk girl "covert". Nice try though !
Coming from someone who fetches peter's coffee... she must surely have been a NOC!
Posted by Seven of Six at December 18, 2007 12:33 PMMaybe Al is waiting to be named Time's Person of the Year.
Posted by Seven of Six at December 18, 2007 12:37 PMDesk girl "covert". Nice try though !
ROFLMAO "Desk girl?" You wish.
Posted by Judith at December 18, 2007 12:37 PMHey jj, is your incredible, blind pig-ignorance willful or a result of an actual learning disability? Or just excess Fox News "consumption"?
A mind is a terrible thing to waste, jj.....
Posted by euzoius at December 18, 2007 12:40 PMJJ you are silly! You are calling Gen. Hadden, head of the CIA a liar!! Nice try though
Posted by Goose1 at December 18, 2007 12:48 PMUhhh.. That would be "Hayden"
Posted by jj at December 18, 2007 12:55 PMAnd you might note that "Wide Mouth" Wilson ( that would be her husband ) was a big reason that it was well known in DC what agency she worked for. Mr "Hadden's"- ( that would be Hayden to you Goosie) comments were subtly directed to him as well, whether covert, deskie, or cleaning crew.
Posted by jj at December 18, 2007 01:01 PMhayden is a liar. Why won't he take off his uniform?
Posted by T2 at December 18, 2007 01:02 PMCurious, isn't it? They didn't even ask for the equivalent of a hall pass to leave Driver's Ed and help the Assistant Principal rifle through our lockers:
"There is already an immunity provision in current law that has been there since FISA was negotiated – with the participation of the telecommunications industry – in the late 1970s. The law is clear. Companies already have immunity from civil liability when they cooperate with a government request for assistance – as long as they receive a court order, or the Attorney General certifies that a court order is not required and all statutory requirements have been met.
This is not about whether the companies had good intentions or acted in good faith. It is about whether they complied with this statutory immunity provision, which has applied to them for 30 years. If the companies followed that law, they should get immunity."
Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold
In Opposition to the Flawed FISA Bill, December 17, 2007
http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/statements/07/12/20071217fisa.htm
Thanks for the clarifying reminder, Senator.
Posted by Pvt. Keepout at December 18, 2007 01:07 PMjj:
Her neighbors didn't know who she worked for until Novak outed her. And please back up the assertion that "it was well known in DC" who she worked for. Give us specific people inside the Beltway who knew because of Joe Wilson in advance of the Novak column that she worked at the agency. Who are these people?
Posted by Steve Soto at December 18, 2007 01:08 PMI thought you retired or gave up, Did that guy from Turkey quit already?
I don't know what my neighbors do and live in just a wee bit smaller community Not unusual. ( one guy down the street is said to be a shhh.. a Democrat though)
Are you back for good now?
Posted by jj at December 18, 2007 01:16 PMSteve, don't feed the trolls.
Posted by T2 at December 18, 2007 01:31 PMC'mon give jj a break.
If he finally admits to the truth, then his whole delusional world comes crumbling down. Namely that Plame was working, specifically, on nuclear proliferation issues in Iran/Iraq.
A broken boy is a worrisome thing.
BTW, Heya Steve [g]
Posted by Simp at December 18, 2007 01:47 PM"I know that Mr. Biden likes the taste of his shoe, but I like his positions on the important issues."
Really? Including his view that the United States has the right to partition Iraq not only without consulting Iraqis, but against the will of the majority of them?
No thanks. That is too much imperial hubris for me.
Posted by Shirin at December 18, 2007 02:25 PM"a new poll showing Hillary expanding her lead over Obama for the Dem nomination, yet the same poll shows Obama beating the GOPer's better than Hillary."
And is it that same poll or another one that shows Edwards beating the Republicans better than either Hillary or Obama?
No to Hillary!
No to Obama!
Posted by Shirin at December 18, 2007 02:36 PMConsidering the source, I'll take jj's rather lame attempt to belittle my post earlier as a compliment and a sign that I got something right.
Posted by jwrjr at December 18, 2007 03:03 PMConsidering the source, I'll take jj's rather lame attempt to belittle my post earlier as a compliment and a sign that I got something right.
Posted by jwrjr at December 18, 2007 03:03 PM
Lame is all that was really needed. Did you change your name Goosie? Guess I would have also !!
Posted by jj at December 18, 2007 04:48 PM