We may have no respect for Power, but here is another thought on a Powell endorsement:
Powell can add a strong voice to some key points that Obama has been making, moving ahead. First and foremost, Powell was one of five former Secretaries of State who said we should open up lines of communication with our enemies, without preconditions, to step up the diplomatic efforts to settle the ongoing strife in the Middle East.
Second, Powell has made clear that talking to Iran and Syria is an urgent component to ending this war in the right and responsible way. Reported The Times of London, "Powell believes that a reduction in US forces will have to be accompanied by talks with Syria and Iran. "You have to talk to the people you dislike most in this dangerous world."
And, of course, all of this doesn't even account for the fact that this is the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs -- a man who loves America and loves America's military. For all the smears being hurled about "palling around with terrorists" and "white flag of retreat," nothing can counter that like a Republican former 4-star coming out and saying "This guy loves America as much as me."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-soltz/why-a-powell-endorsement_b_135667.html
Obama is in Saint Louis today with a rally under the Arch. Expected crowd is 50,000. Would love to see him, but can't convince myself to mingle with 50,000 people and spend two hours trying to get out of the City limits.
Posted by Judith at October 18, 2008 06:32 AMIt's 9:30am Saturday in NYC and I'm at the office.
Doesn't happen often for me but I'm glad to say I've got so much work it was unavoidable.
Enjoy the day.
Posted by snark at October 18, 2008 06:39 AM"We may have no respect for Power"
That should have read "Powell." Hadn't had my morning coffee yet. Although, I don't have much respect for the currents powers either.
Posted by Judith at October 18, 2008 06:44 AMI sort of wonder if Powell is doing this big lead in "will he endorse Obama?" and then will follow up by endorsing McCain.
Of course, if he does that his last credibility is shot. No non-partisan military commander would ever dream of handing over the reigns of power to someone like Palin.
But ...
Well, remember he and his family are on Republican corporate welfare. His son has a crony job mismanaging the FCC for Bush, for example.
Posted by Anonny at October 18, 2008 07:13 AMI believe the Pumpkin Festival is going on down the road in Half Moon Bay, which means that Highway One will be clogged.
I'm worried about Proposition 8 passing here, the state proposition/constitutional amendment to outlaw gay marriages. It's leading 48-45 in the last poll.
I suspect that it's so narrowly worded that the constitutional amendment itself may be unconstitutional. That is, if the state supreme court ruled that the state's constitution grants equality to all, and if there is no legal reason to target gays as a target group (for ex, children can't marry for obvious reasons), then the amendment as written is unconstitutional.
If that's so, then imagine the mess when it turns out that a constitutional amendment, passed by the majority of Californians, is thrown out in court.
Posted by Bob In Pacifica at October 18, 2008 08:37 AMIf that's so, then imagine the mess when it turns out that a constitutional amendment, passed by the majority of Californians, is thrown out in court.
Hence the stupidity of government by referendum.
Posted by snark at October 18, 2008 08:48 AMLegislating by referendum that should be.
Posted by snark at October 18, 2008 08:54 AMI've been watching CNN and MSNBC back and forth this morning, and I don't think there's been a single mention of Obama's letter to Mukasey. But I did hear some talking head ask the reporter covering Obama's campaign in MO, out of the blue, if there has been any ACORN problems in their neck o' the woods. Wha?? Like, raids? Or mobs of Mickey Mouses storming the polls? That's exactly the kinda shit Obama's trying to get the DOJ to investigate, innit?
Posted by iamcoyote at October 18, 2008 09:13 AMAm I the only one that thinks the GOP could have planted a few ACORN workers to write in Mickey's name, and then cry foul?
Remember the scandal that ensued a few years back when the famous but insecure mouse asked Minnie if she was "fuk'n Goofy"?
Posted by TIKI AL at October 18, 2008 09:56 AMI'm always amazed to wake up to these types of articles:
Is this witch up for re-election??
Posted by Goyo at October 18, 2008 10:10 AMhaving slept on the Bachman performance on Hardball, I can't help but marvel. Where do these people come from and how sick must a citizen be to elect them? She is a lunatic. The whole GOP is a nest of sick wackos. No wonder eight years of their rule has ruined the World Economy, Destroyed a helpless country (Iraq, not USA), ruined the Judicial system in America and brought worldwide scorn.
And today, al Sadr decided he'd seen enough of the new "agreement" and sent, on a days notice, tens of thousands of Shia into the streets demanding a US withdrawal.
Posted by T2 at October 18, 2008 10:30 AMWilliam Ayers was no “domestic terrorist.” This is just another lie perpetrated by McCain and Palin and their right-wing sound machine. William Ayers had been a peaceful anti-Vietnam war protestor in the late 1960s until he got so frustrated in his inability to stop the American terrorism against the Vietnamese people that he and others resorted to vandalism and property destruction as a form of protest. In Chicago, they blew up a statue (twice!). This was a statue dedicated to the policemen that had been active in the ongoing brutal suppression of union organizers in the Chicago area in 1866. This was vandalism and property destruction. No one, to my knowledge, was “terrorized.” Not the right-wingers who supported the war on Vietnam, nor the Congressmen who voted to fund the war. The U. S. war on the Vietnamese people continued on, unabated. I was an anti-Vietnam war protestor myself in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Anyone with a conscience was an anti-Vietnam war protestor back then.
However, John McCain was a terrorist in Vietnam. He bombed Vietnamese peasants in the northern part of Vietnam from 25,000 feet in the sky. It was a cowardly and vicious act. These bombings were war crimes and acts of terror.
Bush is the biggest terrorist in the 21st century, with his many acts of terror and aggression against the Afghani and Iraqi people. Bush has terrorized over one million Iraqis into their graves. Bush is a war criminal. McCain has been cheerleading and supporting Bush terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq. McCain has even advocated using military terror against Iran, which his infamous “Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.”
Today William Ayers is respected education professor in the Chicago area. He was appointed to serve on the board of directors of the Woods Fund of Chicago, the same educational foundation board as Senator Barak Obama by William Annenberg, the former U. S. Ambassador to England under President Ronald Reagan.
Mr. Annenberg created the Annenberg Foundation, which sponsored the brilliant and innovative “French in Action” language learning series which has appeared on PBS television for many years. This is the same Annenberg Foundation also sponsors the current PBS television show, Washington Week in Review.
Posted by james k. sayre at October 18, 2008 10:58 AMRolling Stone Magazine is doing it's part to dig out some truth before Nov 4....here's a telling excerpt:
With the Bush administration focused on the war in Iraq, money poured into Afghanistan from Al Qaeda and other Islamic extremists, who were eager to maintain a second front against the American invaders. The Taliban — once an isolated and impoverished group of religious students who knew little about the rest of the world and cared only about liberating their country from oppressive warlords — are now among the best-armed and most experienced insurgents in the world, linked to a global movement of jihadists that stretches from Pakistan and Iraq to Chechnya and the Philippines.
George W. Bush, guilty of the deaths of 100,000 innocent Iraqi citizens is as horrid a terrorist as this world has seen. Once again, Iraq did not have WMD nor did they participate in 9/11, nor did they harbor Al Qaeda.
Posted by T2 at October 18, 2008 01:29 PMjames sayres, exactly. Just another rightwing frame like the "war" in Iraq.
Here's the game: Right winger Rovers frame something in a wildly false way, the corporate MSM parrots it immediately, unconditionally and without challege, and Dems accept the frame without comment or question, even though the frame is wilfully false and always chosen to harm them. Then they wonder why they can never get any "traction" and why Repub numbers keep mysteriously holding up.
Repeat ad infinitum......
Posted by euzoius at October 18, 2008 01:44 PMWow, where is everyone?!
I have some quick hits.
Bachman Backlash It is truly awesome to see what happens now that the people are paying attention.
Voting Rights Division? What voting rights division? It's only Jim Crow on a massive scale and it targets all Democratic voters (not just the brown ones.) Dicks.
God Bless [Rural, Republican] America land that they love.
Posted by Anjha at October 18, 2008 01:46 PMAnd a couple more before getting back to house cleaning (it is amazing how gross the house in when the sun shines through the windows for the first time in weeks.)
McTactic Too bad John McCain does not understand the difference between a strategy and a tactic.
Poor McCain, I guess that his honeymoon with the press is over. Too bad he let that affair dwindle and wither...just like the....uh, nevermind.
John McCain said that Palin inspires people; since when does fomenting hatred count as "inspiring?"
Posted by Anjha at October 18, 2008 01:58 PMObama draws 100,000 today in St. Louis. Pictures on Kos.....amazing. If these pics hit the Mainstream News tonite and the Talk Shows tomorrow.....
Posted by T2 at October 18, 2008 02:05 PMfollow up....HufPo has a pic. What is amazing is that judging from the stage layout in St.Louis, Obama's camp was expecting a much smaller crowd...the podium faces away from the MASSIVE crowd that spontaneously flooded the Arch area. So far, no mention on the Media. My guess, this will be downplayed, and tomorrow McPOW will use the photos to brand Obama as similar to Hitler in drawing huge crowds.
Posted by T2 at October 18, 2008 02:28 PM"George W. Bush, guilty of the deaths of 100,000 innocent Iraqi citizens"
Try multiplying that number by ten and you will be a lot closer. 100,000 is nothing compared to the reality.
And then add to that the 5-6 million Iraqis whose lives have been utterly destroyed, then add to that at least another ten million whose lives have been turned topsy turvy, but not completely destroyed. Then add to that an entire generation of children who will never have normal lives...
Posted by Shirin at October 18, 2008 03:01 PMShirin, yes I'm sure 100k is low. But even if it were 10,000 the criminal Bush should be held accountable his crimes against humanity. And while we are talking...Powell with him.
Posted by T2 at October 18, 2008 03:12 PMThe Taliban are not insurgents. Whatever they are, they are not insurgents.
I REALLY dislike the ever-expanding misuse of that word.
Posted by Shirin at October 18, 2008 03:20 PMYes, T2, I agree with you. Even if it were 100 dead it is a crime that Bush, Powell, and others should have to pay for.
And never will.
Posted by Shirin at October 18, 2008 03:23 PMJames, further more, Ayers never killed anyone, although Palin is saying he bombed and killed Americans. Of course Ayers was not a terrorists, but the media continues to ignore the facts, as does Ms. Lying Palin.
TIKI AL, I am sure that it was the GOP that had a hand in ACORN. There is too much outcry from them, which makes me suspicious. Dirty Tricks? You betcha, (in the words of Palin).
The rally here drew 100,000 people, the largest crowd to date (other than his acceptance speech numbers). Good going Saint Louis. We will turn you blue yet.
Posted by Judith at October 18, 2008 04:42 PMOver 35,000 have signed the petition to censure Bachman. In 24 hours.
Over 100,000 raised for her opponent to beat her in less than 18 hours.
Unbelievable.
Posted by Anjha at October 18, 2008 06:11 PMI signed the petition to censure Bachman and didn't write a very nice note to go along with my petition. Americans are tired of people like Bachman, Palin, Coulter, O'Lielly, Rush, and FOX.
It's time to use Bachman as an example that we are no longer going to be silent when these people speak.
After the warm fuzzies, look at this.
I am seriously amazed at the contrast between Obama events and McCain events. The people who support Obama vs. the people who support Palin and McCain.
How can their disgusting actions be good for this country?
How can Palin and McCain continue to spread their hate and continue to encourage this?
Is there anyway possible that McCain has not seen these videos? If he has seen them, how can he still look in a mirror?
Posted by Anjha at October 18, 2008 06:25 PMAlmost a half million dollars in 24 hours. Wow!!
Posted by Judith at October 18, 2008 06:26 PMJudith, thanks.
We need to let the Republicans know that their days of extremism and biggotry are over. I am so tired of these facist assholes.
Those videos are terrifying.
Posted by Anjha at October 18, 2008 06:48 PMThe Taliban are not insurgents. Whatever they are, they are not insurgents.
I REALLY dislike the ever-expanding misuse of that word.
How do you like the term "detainees"?
This term was invented in 2001 to describe the prisoners captured in Afghanistan. But the Bush administration wanted to pretend that they were not subject to the Geneva Conventions so they invented this term. Which the world press dutifully uses.
Or how about the term "ethnic cleansing"?
This term is like referring to dead civilians as "collateral damage" and was invented by the Serbians in the 1990s. Stunningly it caught on, and has been used by the world press to describe similar acts in Baghdad and throughout Iraq. It does carry with it a negative connotation, but not at negative as what the act implies.
Orwell warned us about all of this, of course.
Hence the stupidity of government by referendum.
It's a good sounding idea that is horrible.
At least in California they have the legislative analyst, who by law describes in real terms what the proposition actually does. That helps a bit, but even so California's constitution is now so hamstrung by scores of ill-conceived propositions that it is impossible for anyone to govern the state adequately.
It's worse elsewhere. Here in Colorado all we have to go on is the wording on the ballot. The anti-affirmative action proposition, for example, doesn't contain the words "affirmative action" or even hint that is what it's purpose is. In fact, it sounds very civil-rightsy until the very end, where it adds a clause that prohibits using race/gender/etc for any use at all in government business. As written, it actually prohibits the collection of data to determine if discrimination is occuring.
Reading it I became suspicious because I thought "doesn't the constitution already guarantee what this proposition claims to do"? Only when I researched it online did I realize the real purpose.
There is no f*cking way that this kind of thing should be foisted on a general public. Without context it is just blatantly deceptive.
The referendum system should be banned. Or, if that's not possible, referenda should require 2/3rds popular vote, not a majority. Since we are modifying the state Consitution, that makes sense anyway.
Posted by Anonny at October 18, 2008 08:43 PM