2006 is going to go down as the year that Americans began to take their country back. Because of 911 and the way the Bush administration manipulated events, what they call "creating their own reality", the American body politic suffered the equivilaint of a nervous breakdown. As a result of this, we have > 130,000 troops in Iraq and a federal budget defecit threating catastropic outcomes for the economy. Not to get off topic, but both of these conditions are part of the reason gas prices are so high.
The election of 2004 basically told the politicans that they could get away with anything as long as the people remained in fear. But they overreached. Bush's destroy Social Security tour made people think about the direction that the country was headed in. Then Katrina was the eye opener that reinforced the message. The establishment is scared this morning. We progressives will be vilified, stereotyped and, if possible dirty tricked by the Rovian allies of the DLC. But we have one weapon that they don't have, the truth. If we stay on message, speak the truth and promote the idea that America can work for the average person again the seeds can be planted this year that will bear fruit for many years to come. America needs a way out of the darkness of this sorry era. We can be that light.
Posted by herbal tee at August 9, 2006 04:43 AMherbal tee: well said and exactly the message! In the few months ahead before the elections it will be interesting to see how the bell the people in CT rang last night resonates amongst the incumbents and their peers. Will Dems in Congress unite behind this message, they damn well better.
Posted by mainsailset at August 9, 2006 06:45 AMThere's nothing more to say after two such excellent comments.
Connecticut's bell has indeed rung throughout the land---and woe betide the status quo.
Let all patriots hear it, and act accordingly.
Posted by euzoius at August 9, 2006 07:02 AMWhy aren't the Republicans rallying around poor Cynthia McKinney? Why do they only have love for Joedownhillmomentum?
Someone please let Holy Joe know that bipartisan does not mean agreeing with everything the Republicans say. This wasn't a referendum on bipartisanship, it was a referendum on Joe undermining the efforts of the Democratic Party. If a Republican behaved as Lieberman has (can you even imagine a Republican sucking up to Clinton like Lieberman has with Bush?) he'd be lynched by his own party, not just voted off the island.
Posted by ann at August 9, 2006 07:24 AMMissouri politicians sure have problems with small planes going down.
Talent's Desperation Driving Him To Outrageous Behavior
Here's the AP story on Senator Jim Talent's latest desperate attack on Claire McCaskill.
Talent criticized the McCaskill campaign over an FEC report that the FEC didn't receive by the deadline. The McCaskill campaign immediately produced a postal receipt that Melissa Berridge, McCaskill's compliance director, had in her desk showing that she mailed the report on time.
Berridge was killed in a plane crash over the weekend.
By-the-way, McCaskill will run against Talent as of yesterday, despite the dirty trick that Talent tried to pull.
Alright, I hope Steve et al are staying on top of the reactions from the Democratic leadership. I wanna know who says what and who's supporting who now that Lieberman has basically abandoned the Democratic party. Let's not give 'em any room to hedge. I want a clear thumbs up or down on Lieberman from all of them.
Posted by snark at August 9, 2006 07:34 AMsnark, I like this:
“This shows what blind loyalty to George Bush and being his love child means,” said Representative Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, the leader of the Democratic House Congressional campaign. “This is not about the war. It’s blind loyalty to Bush.”
Howsabout this billboard for Mr Independent:
"It's All About Joe.
Never About Connecticut"
Posted by euzoius at August 9, 2006 07:51 AMWhat I can't understand is Leverman's reasoning for holding on to something that the constituents of his party have decided?!
Damn, take your severence package(lifetime Senators pay), lifetime medical care and start a lobby firm!
Someone needs to threaten him like they did Ney. I know the circumstances are different but explain to him that if you don't bail, no will listen when you want to be a consultant!
What an stubborn, classless, arrogant, power hungry little idiot!
Who does that remind you of?
Meanwhile, back at the underground evil lair . . .
Minion: Well, sir. It seems the Connecticut voters have issued a rebuke against our administration. It bodes ill for keeping Congress. What's next?
Darth Cheney: Pay no mind to Congress. Get working on this. [hands out written instructions]
Minion We're going to legalize war crimes?
Darth Cheney Yyyyyeeesss. MUHAHAHAHA!!
Posted by Liveliest Crib at August 9, 2006 08:32 AM7: An enormous ego is a terrible thing to waste.
Posted by TIKI AL at August 9, 2006 08:33 AMYou say open season, fire away in the Dick Cheney - Harry Whittington era?
Everybody duck, I guess.
Posted by Angel at August 9, 2006 08:46 AMWell it's started, the "new" talking points of the party of cut and run. Dems need to dig up a counter for this, even if it's the party of pay and stay.
They're getting swiftboated again, and doing nothing about it. Wake up dems.
Posted by TIKI AL at August 9, 2006 09:02 AMRemember when they said:
"We are an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality – judiciously, as you will – we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do."
Well, I thought a good campaign ad for the Democrats would be those words spoken over a black screen listing the reality they have created for us.
1. Iraq War
2. Gas Prices
3. Bankruptcy Bill
4. Medicare Part D
5. Secret spying on Americans
6. Loss of Freedoms
7. etc.
Guess who is in Iraq reporting, first hand, on the War? Pat Robertson.
Posted by Judith at August 9, 2006 12:03 PMBush's failed policy's drove Mel Gibson to drink, now MSNBC is reporting Robin Williams has entered rehab after 20 years of sobriety.
If Robin can't laugh off Bush's reality horror world without drinking, what chance do we have?
No wonder Johnny Depp lives in France.
Guess who is in Iraq reporting, first hand, on the War? Pat Robertson.
What? Did they find some diamond deposits in Iraq?
Or does he just want to be close to the Holy Land when the rapture begins?
Posted by snark at August 9, 2006 12:09 PMBlackwell in Ohio is at it again.
The Times noted the chilling effect of Blackwell’s rules that make paid canvassers criminally liable for any irregularities on voter registration cards they collect and that PFAW Foundation is challenging in court. By deterring people from working to register voters, the rules have a disproportionate impact on lower-income neighborhoods because unpaid volunteers in those neighborhoods are scarce.
Posted by Judith at August 9, 2006 12:18 PM"What? Did they find some diamond deposits in Iraq?
Or does he just want to be close to the Holy Land when the rapture begins?"
No Snark, he wants to tell his followers how well the occupation is going, and what a great job this WH is doing. Rapture? He hasn't figured out yet that he isn't going.
Posted by Judith at August 9, 2006 12:27 PMWhere's Cheney?
Posted by Judith at August 9, 2006 12:29 PMYes, the chosen ones will be catapulted up to heaven starting in beautiful downtown Jerusalem, radiating in a clockwise motion until reaching the suburbs of Antarctica.
Sadly, Pat Roberts will be one of the first to be left behind, tossed into a stinking pile of burning, rotting hypocrites being eaten by naughty pitbulls.
Posted by TIKI AL at August 9, 2006 12:29 PMJudith,
One nitpick about your list. I wouldn't campaign against Medicare part D. Although it currently causes more problems than it solves, the poorest seniors actually are better off for it. Yes, it needs serious reforms such as allowing the government to negoiate for lower drug prices, but making a flawed but improvable program more unpopular is counterproductive.
Your other points are as solid as can be, good list overall.
Posted by herbal tee at August 9, 2006 12:32 PMYes, the chosen ones will be catapulted up to heaven starting in beautiful downtown Jerusalem, radiating in a clockwise motion until reaching the suburbs of Antarctica.
TIKI, you made me laugh again. I was thinking the same thing, but you said it much funnier.
Posted by iamcoyote at August 9, 2006 12:36 PMcaller to franken:
"Lieberman, Party of One!"
Posted by benjoya at August 9, 2006 12:38 PMGuess who is in Iraq reporting, first hand, on the War? Pat Robertson.
something happened to him. he believes in global warming now, too, and it scares him.
Posted by benjoya at August 9, 2006 12:40 PMGuess who is in Iraq reporting, first hand, on the War? Pat Robertson.
Are you sure about that? I find that he's in Israel which makes more sense for the old guy.
Posted by ann at August 9, 2006 01:15 PMReligious broadcaster Pat Robertson turned war correspondent Tuesday on "The 700 Club" television show as he reported live from northern Israel on the border conflict there.
Herbal tee, it was just points off the top of my head, not meant to be a solid list. Your right about Medicare Part D, except for the donut hole.
Posted by Judith at August 9, 2006 03:51 PMAnn, my bad. You are correct. The two wars are beginning to blend themselves in my mind.
Posted by Judith at August 9, 2006 03:55 PM