It's Up To You This Time

Otter knows.

That's good.

Just had coffee at the bakery where my son works. The staff are all in their 20s and 30s and none of them had heard about Foley. They're all college-educated. They'd been working or "making music." Gave them a primer on what was going on & am hoping they'll take a look at the newspaper when they get a chance.

My friend Ben is an immigrant so can't vote but spent hours registering voters at community colleges. He got 27 new voters at one place in one day, which doesn't sound like a lot, but for one person - it is - if you've ever tried it. He had a Navy friend who is conservative call him from Florida & tell him about Foley & that was his opening to discuss some things. Ben wrote to a Senate candidate here that he's also been doing some work for, & encouraged her to make some speeches at colleges & universities.

Also noticed in the Seattle P-I that some Washington districts that "swing" were discussed with respect to how volatile things are - the "Reagan Democrats" and "Independents" are disgruntled. A life-long Republican approached a Democratic Congressman here and told him to take control of Congress & impeach Bush. This is a conservative Democrat from another part of the state who doesn't even think this is the best use of time. These are interesting times.

There was and article on an urban church that has spread from a few dozen to 5000 members. They do some good social work but I was trying to get a handle on their political bent, ie. have they swallowed the Kool-aid. Noticed also a column by Joel Connelly, who is a "renegade" columnist who writes political things locally and outspoken - early adopter for Kerry when this was Dean & Kucinich country, speaks out against both Democrats & Republicans when they do anything hypocritical & self-serving. I find myself alternatively smiling reflexively or cringeing depending on what he writes. Today he talked about the need to not let the Right monopolize the Church. He said Falwell has been distributing bumper stickers that say "Vote Christian," as though the only Christians are right-wing. I agree with him that this is very wrong.

Then finally I noticed a full-page ad in which a guy in the area between Seattle and Everett (Lynnwood - very "swing" or purple) had placed a full-page ad asking people if they felt safer now than in 2000, at his own expense. I showed my son, who said he wasted his money because the guy should have run the ad in a more conservative paper if he was using up his savings and could only run it once. I immediately left him a phone message, from right there in the coffee shop, asking him if I could cite it or write about it on this blog, so that it could be more roundly disseminated.

My son has a way of shooting down my efforts when he isn't making many himself, but sometimes kids do that to parents. I just called him a "kid" and he's 25. I had gone to see him because I hadn't heard from him in a few days - I was thinking of the moms whose sons & daughters are in Iraq and Afghanistan & their sleepless nights. I had also just read about the four USS Lincoln sailors who were killed on Saturday night as they rounded a sort of "deadman's curve" right here in the city, going 80-100 mph. Their convertible knocked out a utility pole and electricity to 2500, their car skidded for blocks, upside down. I'm 54 and my mother still calls me a "kid."

Yes there are many things we can do but we all need to do something. For me, it's always a combination - writing, photography, blogging, commenting, phoning for candidates, doing impulsive things like stickering - depends on the day. What we can't do is go on acting like everything is normal. Another article talked about how the stock market is still riding ok but wages have been fairly stagnant and there is a new category - "the mortgage mom."

The main thing we need to do is wake more people up & get them doing what they have a talent for. As Bev Harris said once (Black Box Voting) re the fair elections issue - if you have computer skills, find out if voting systems are stable - if you read/write, get that going, if you are inclined to a lawsuit and have one - do that. Use your talents, find your niche, move ahead & prepare for the long haul.

Wowzers! Made the top page and everything! Will wonders never cease.

And with a terrifically appropriate picture, too. Of course, there are those who'd say that given the extra-high level of muck that's being raked around us this year, hip-high rubber waders might be a better choice...

And that's part of the challenge. When we go out to change the hearts and minds around us, we keep bumping up against the same defensive mechanisms on the parts of those who find it easier to remain ignorant. Here's just one for us to discuss and debate here; but I'm sure you can all think of other ones yourselves as well. So what do you hear out there? And more to the point, what do you say in return?

If we hit too hard on the recurring theme of disgusting morals among Republican officeholders, we hear back that everyone's doing it and the Dems are as bad as the Repos are when it comes to sleaze. Well, other than pointing out that at least Monica was a consenting adult of the opposite gender, there's not much you can say in direct reply to that. (After all, if you keep lying down with dogs there ain't enough flea repellent in all the Wal-Marts in all the land to keep you bite-free.)

It's true that there are sleazy, dishonest Dems in office too. There just aren't that many of them as there are Repos, their sins are generally much less egregious, and -- this is the important part -- the facts keep proving that the Repo culture of corruption and cover-up reaches all the way from top to bottom, from the statehouse to the White House, and only a deep and thorough dredging of the electoral mudholes will ever let us wash all of those pigs clean again.

and lest the animal metaphors get out of hand I will quit now and sign this,
Otter

Otter knows.

Posted by: madame defarge at October 2, 2006 02:15 PM

He surely does, and we are all better for it.

I'll see where I can help with GOTV, as I don't even have a Democratic congressional candidate in my district. (As I previously mentioned, I am NOT voting Democratic for federal offices this fall, because well, I can't even if I wanted to.)

Or I simply need to concentrate on state-level issues and work on driving the Gropenator out. Time to go study the new propositions, with a whole slew of proposed taxes (some on businesses - NO, some on smokers and oil companies - YES).

Diane Rehm today:
- Supreme Court Preview
- Elizabeth Edwards

Link to page w/ streaming audio:
http://www.wamu.org/programs/dr/

Otter
It isn't that Democrats don't develop alcohol problems or have inappropriate sex while in office, but that they are less likely to spout off & pass legislation to regulate what others do with their bodies. It is the height of hypocrisy & dangerous besides.

Is this news? Would I be able to find it in the labyrinths of the Congressional Record? Did Condi Rice ignore the danger or were all of them carousing & fornicating? Is it true, as I keep reading, that this stuff wasn't even reported to the 9/11 Commission? How can that be? If so, many heads need to roll.

Jason Leopold: Tenet Warned Congress in February 2001 About al-Qaeda
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/100206Y.shtml
Jason Leopold reports that in February 2001, seven months before 9/11, George Tenet, then the director of the CIA, testified before Congress and told lawmakers that the single greatest threat to the United States was Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda network, according to a little known copy of Tenet's Congressional testimony. During his report to Congress, Tenet eerily described a scenario that seven months later would become a grim reality.

On a different topic, Cindy Sheehan is here at Town Hall tomorrow night, and on Thursday there is the walk-out and protest. What I didn't know is that there will be an all-night sit-in at the Federal Building - til 7 AM.

Florida state legislator Joe Negron is selected to replace in the midterm election former Rep. Mark Foley, who resigned Friday after reports surfaced about inappropriate instant messages he exchanged with former congressional pages.

CNN

But it's still too late to get Foley's name off the November ballot. So a vote for Foley is a vote for Negron. And vice versa. And a vote against Foley, well... you do the math.

as palm beach goes so goes the nation,
Otter

Foley tried to 'deal' with ABC

RAW STORY
Published: Monday October 2, 2006

A Republican strategist attempted to offer ABC news access in exchange for not printing sexually-explicit instant messages sent by Congressman Mark Foley (R-FL,) according to a report buried in the Media Notes section of the Washington Post.

The relevant excerpt follows:

#
On Friday afternoon, a strategist for Rep. Mark Foley tried to cut a deal with ABC's Brian Ross.

The correspondent, who had dozens of instant messages that Foley sent to teenage House pages, had asked to interview the Florida Republican. Foley's former chief of staff said the congressman was quitting and that Ross could have that information exclusively if he agreed not to publish the raw, sexually explicit messages.

"I said we're not making any deals," Ross recalls. He says the Internet made the story possible, because on Thursday he posted a story on his ABC Web page, the Blotter, after obtaining one milder e-mail that Foley had sent a 16-year-old page, asking for a picture. Within two hours, former pages had e-mailed Ross and provided the salacious messages. The only question then, says Ross, was "whether this could be authenticated."

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Foley_tried_to_deal_with_ABC_1002.html

Sheesh.

Just when you think that the Republican capito-culture of copulo-corruption couldn't possibly sink any lower...

...you realize that you're right, it can't.

because it's already there,
Otter

Do what otters do... get out, make it so, stop the mad.... ness... ness.

He loves me like Iraq, oh baby, he loves me.

Here's what I plan to do, among other things. Put this sign in my car window:

Republicans - Proud sponsors of

Torture
Katrina
The Iraq fiasco
Global Warming
Broken constitutional laws
Corporate and goverment greed
Pedophiles in their ranks
Increased terrorism around the world

Feel safer now?
Throw the bums out!
Vote Nov. 7

Here's something else I plan to do - to get out the vote:

http://pol.moveon.org/phone/volunteer/

Posted by: Carol at October 2, 2006 04:34 PM

Add to that list...

Strip Searches of Students.

Did you see this on the previous thread???

Republicans Pass Mandatory Child Strip Search Bill? WTF!

Republicans managed to sneak a bill through recently, and from the looks of it, not many noticed. The MSM didn't seem to notice, and I haven't been able to find mention of it here. It doesn't surprise me though, the bill passed quietly with a 'Voice Vote.'

Read more & the bill text here:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/2/133711/534

BBC is charging (in a documentary) that Pope Benedict was behind a twenty year effort to hide allegations of sexual abuse.

Here's a Progressive voters' guide from Sojourners.

"Voting God's Politics - An issues guide for Christians"

http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.display&item=VGP_resources

You can get free brochures in lots of 25 by filling out an order form on line. Send them to your relatives who claim religious superiority! Take them to your church! This is the model the right has been using to get out the vote. Now it's our turn.

Better late than never!

Monkey knows. David Crosby knows. All of you know, too.

Now go do that voodoo that you do so well!

---------------

It's been a long time comin'
It's goin' to be a long time gone

And it appears to be a long,
Appears to be a long,
Appears to be a long time,
Yes, a long, long, long, long time
Before the dawn

Turn, turn any corner
Hear, you must hear what the
people say
You know there's something that's
Goin' on around here,
That surely, surely, surely
Won't stand the light of day

And it appears to be a long,
Appears to be a long,
Appears to be a long time,
Yes, a long, long, long, long time
Before the dawn

Speak out, you got to speak out
Against the madness
You got to speak your mind if you dare
But don't, no don't no, try
To get yourself elected
If you do you had better cut your hair

'Cause it appears to be a long
Appears to be a long
Appears to be a long time
Yes, a long, long, long, long time
Before the dawn

It's been a long time comin'
It's goin' to be a long time gone
But you know the darkest hour
Is always, always just before the dawn

And it appears to be a long
Appears to be a long
Appears to be a long
Time before the dawn

---------------

the less things change the more they stay insane,
Otter

On another topic -

Remember our friend Raed, who was not allowed to get on his JetBlue flight at JFK, unless he covered up his Arabic T-shirt?

Now, saying a simple prayer is grounds for being booted off a flight. At least if you are flying United out of Denver. All it takes is for a Christian drunk to complain to the flight crew.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/08/18/doctor-winnipeg.html

I have tons of frequent flier miles on United. They will definitely hear on this issue from this betrayed frequent customer.

PUTTING PARTY BEFORE PREDATORS: WHY DIDN'T GOP LEADERS STOP FOLEY?
By Cenk Uygur, HuffingtonPost.com
In a scandal that will likely take down the entire House Republican leadership, everyone is wondering why Rep. Mark Foley, Chairman of the Missing and Exploited Children's Caucus was allowed to carry on his predatory behavior with a teenage boy a year after his relationship was revealed to party leaders.
http://www.alternet.org/stories/42410/

THE RIGHT WING SETS ITS SIGHTS ON MOVEON
By Joshua Holland, AlterNet
MoveOn.org's moneymaking prowess is scaring both the GOP and Vichy Democrats alike, and it's become a favorite target for the Right.
http://www.alternet.org/stories/42413/

REPUBLICAN TORTURE LAWS WILL LIVE IN HISTORY
By Larisa Alexandrovna, AlterNet
The recent terror detainee laws passed by the Republican Congress will define the Bush era for centuries to come.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/42414/

THE GROWING IRAQ RESISTANCE MOVEMENT IN THE U.S. MILITARY
By Peter Laufer, AlterNet
One of the biggest 'pockets of resistance' to the war in Iraq is U.S. soldiers who refuse to fight on moral and ethical grounds.
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/42272/

William Rivers Pitt: Condi Rice, 9/11 and Another Nest of Lies
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/100206X.shtml
William Rivers Pitt writes: "Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice may have committed perjury in her testimony before the 9/11 Commission in May of 2004. At a minimum, her testimony was a convenient mishmash of half-truths and omissions which served to paint the White House as innocent bystanders as the attacks of 9/11 unfolded."

Posted by: Ally McRepuke at October 2, 2006 04:52 PM

United Airlines - united by what? Fear and Racism?

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/10/02/foley_and_gop_values.php
Foley And GOP Values

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/10/02/the_marriage_placebo.php
The Marriage Placebo

BBC is charging (in a documentary) that Pope Benedict was behind a twenty year effort to hide allegations of sexual abuse.

Posted by: Cyrano at October 2, 2006 04:42 PM

Pope Benedict: The United States Secretary of Faith.

BMW, Benedict's official car company and main corporate sponsor: Benedict Motor Works.

Posted by: Carol at October 2, 2006 04:56 PM

I guess so, Carol.

As a matter of fact, it's not just the airline, it's the whole damn country. The United-by-fear-and-racism States of America.

Posted by: NonnyO at October 2, 2006 04:56 PM

Re: Foley -

It's time to pull out the Republican Biblical moral laws and actually carry them out on a Republican who swore to make them the law of the land.

Stone/behead Foley.

Ally:

Good point.

All in favor raise your right paws and say "Aye!"

(But he should not feel so alone,
'Cause every 'pubby should get stoned)

dylan for dahlias,
Otter

I need a laugh. We have no water, I called the plumbers & some guys who look like the 3 Stooges showed up. They've been here for 5 hours and keep swearing!

How many members of the Bush Administration are needed to change a light bulb?

The Answer is TEN:

1. One to deny that a light bulb needs to be changed.
2. One to attack the patriotism of anyone who says the light bulb needs to be changed.

3. One to blame Clinton for burning out the light bulb.

4. One to tell the nations of the world that they are either: "For changing the light bulb or for darkness."

5. One to give a billion dollar no-bid contract to Halliburton for the new light bulb.

6. One to arrange a photograph of Bush, dressed as a janitor, standing on a stepladder under the banner "Light Bulb Change Accomplished."

7. One administration insider to resign and write a book documenting in detail how Bush was literally "in the dark."

8. One to viciously smear #7.

9. One surrogate to campaign on TV and at rallies on how George Bush has had a strong light bulb-changing policy all along.

10. And finally one to confuse Americans about the difference between screwing a light bulb and screwing the country.

I read in the Housing section of the Sunday Seattle Times that top housing prices until recently had been around $60,000,000.
Then Donald Trump put his house on the market for over $100,000,000. Then Tommy Hilfiger topped that. Then came Prince Bandar (Bandar Bush of Fahrenheit 9/11 - same guy) at $137,000,000 - all time record for his luxury pad in Colorado.

For months I have posted of the urgency of this election and the response I have gotten is a yawn.
We should be concerned about the perpetual war in Iraq, the US Constitution, and guess what else, yes the US Supreme Ct. Justice Stevens just turned 86 and hopefully he will be around for a very long time and into '09. But what if he doesn't make it and Bush gets to appoint the truly swing vote on the US Supreme Ct. within the next two years or what if things don't work out and McCain gets to make that selection. Do you think that will make a difference in the policies and direction of this country for the next 40 years or longer? Does anyone here believe that Bush will appoint a 40 year old justice like Sandra Day O'Conner; or another Clarence Thomas, Scalia, or Alito? And who do you want as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee? Orin Hatch or Pat Leahy? It takes hard work and sacrifice to win elections and volunterring to do things that might not be easy or convenient. But what other choice do we have? To come here November 8, complain and criticize progressive candidates who lost by 1% point, pointing our fingers at them, or at ourselves, for not doing enough. There are 36 days left and lots of opportunities to help make a difference in Nov. I won't lecture you on who to support, I will just tell you that failure this time around is not an option and not something I wish to be a part of, not this year, not this time. For those not interested in helping with my project that is fine. I just implore each and every political activist who comes here, to wake up every morning for the next 36 days and look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if you did everything within your schedule to make a difference today and each of the next 35 days, to make sure that Bush has no further opportunities to shred the constitution and pack the US Supreme Ct. with ideologues. It starts with the US Senate but your tireless work in Congressional and local legislative races is just as important. Just realize that for those of us who refuse to act or volunteer this time, you are giving Bush, Hastert and Frist another 2 more years of your lives to screw with. Is that what you want?

Happy New Years.

Well Maria and Luigi are still in my basement and it's costing me $50 for each half hour they are there.

I am not talking about Foley again because I don't care about the mid-term elections. It's the opposite. He is just one of many all the way to the top - that need to be made an example of.

Here is some good stuff from Mark at http://www.thepremise.com

Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, today:

Congressman Foley duped a lot of people. He lied to Mr. Shimkus and he deceived his in-state newspaper when they each questioned him. He deceived the good men and women in organizations around this country, with whom he worked to strengthen our child predator laws. I have known him for all the years he served in this House. He deceived me, too.

That’s the last paragraph in a larger statement, but when I read that paragraph a specific word popped into my mind. It’s a word that I think fits the Republican leadership in this country, but I’m not going to use it yet because I want to frame the point.

If you go to Speaker Hastert’s web site, in the right-hand column you’ll see this question:

Who is the Speaker?

Immediately below appears this quote:

The most powerful Republican outside the White House is also the most anonymous. Few seem to notice the existence let alone the large and growing influence of House — Speaker J. Dennis Hastert.

– David S. Broder , Washington Post

I have no doubt that any of that is or was true. It’s also worth nothing that the Speaker of the House is third in line to the presidency. Which is why it’s so odd to me that Speaker Hastert was so easily duped.

But then that seems to be a particularly Republican disease, doesn’t it?

President George Bush, on 9/11:

“Had I know that the enemy was going to use airplanes to kill on that fateful morning, I would have done everything in my power to protect the American people,” Mr. Bush told U.S. Air Force Academy football team members who were visiting the White House on Friday.

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice on 9/11:

“I don’t think anybody could have predicted that … they would try to use an airplane as a missile, a hijacked airplane as a missile,” National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said Thursday.

The facts:

Two years before the Sept. 11 attacks, an analysis prepared for U.S. intelligence warned that Osama bin Laden’s terrorists could hijack an airliner and fly it into government buildings like the Pentagon.

President George Bush on Katrina:

I don’t think anyone anticipated breach of the levees.

The facts:

Whether or not a “breach” was “anticipated,” the fact is that many individuals have been warning for decades about the threat of flooding that a hurricane could pose to a set below sea level and sandwiched between major waterways. A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) report from before September 11, 2001 detailed the three most likely catastrophic disasters that could happen in the United States: a terrorist attack in New York, a strong earthquake in San Francisco, and a hurricane strike in New Orleans.

Speaker of the House Denny Hastert on Mark Foley:

Congressman Foley duped a lot of people.

The facts:

What are some warning signs that a person we know may be a pedophile?

Above all, you should trust your instincts. If you sense something is not quite right, you should cut off all contact between your child and the person in question, call protective services or the police, and consult with a professional.
They have low social boundaries.
They encourage (instead of setting limits on) inappropriate “potty” talk or sexual talk.
They do not have age-appropriate peer relationships.
Speaker Hastert, one of the most powerful men in Washington, if not the world, wants you to believe that he was powerless to call any protective services or consult any professionals about the conduct of Mark Foley. Which brings us to the word that popped into my mind when I read Speaker Hastert’s defense of his own duping.

Impotence.

The third man in line to the presidency, the most power Republican outside of the White House, and he was impotent to do anything about Mark Foley.

Katrina? Impotence.

9/11? Impotence.

IED’s? Impotence.

Civil war in Iraq? Impotence.

Do-Nothing Congress? Impotence.

And that’s what this Republican Congress and this Republican President are.

Impotent.

Since I hear alot about FOX News (TV), I went to their internet website. The focus was on making sure everyone knew about every scandal involving Democrats in the past, AND THEN they had a story about how Paris Hilton wants to go to space, with a photo. I tried to open something called "The O'Reilly Report" and my computer crashed immediately.

I just turned on the TV for in-state news, but it's past first commercial time, so they had national news on one station.

There was another school shooting, this time at an Amish school in PA and three girls were shot.

Last week it was the 15 yr. old boy who shot the principal in WI.

These are domestic acts of terrorism (i.e., the survivors are left terrified as a result of the actions of a criminal).

So, when is the Bu$h!te administration going to do anything about domestic terrorism...?

What DiAnne said: Impotent....

"I am not talking about Foley again because I don't care about the mid-term elections"

I gathered that. Great Message..Its far easier to just complain and call them all a bunch of crooks.

In psychology we called that Rationalizing

"Congessman Foley duped a lot of people,I've know him for all the years he has worked in this House and he deceived me, too." - Dennis Hastert

Hey Denny, guess who else has duped you and the American public all these years????

Judgement matters.

you are absolutely right and I choose to spend my next 36 days productively..

these were Maureen Dowd's and Otter's words and what I have seen on the ground:

"We're only one month away from what may well turn out be the most watershed national elections of modern times.

And what happens next month is up to you. And me. And all of us."

that is what this thread is about and if it means ruffeling a few feathers here, so be it. This election is just that important and hopefully my earlier post made that point even if not articulately. I have seen a lot of apathy and complaining on the ground and it scares the heck out of me.

"I am not talking about Foley again because I don't care about the mid-term elections"

I gathered that. Great Message..Its far easier to just complain and call them all a bunch of crooks.

In psychology we called that Rationalizing

Posted by: Bubba at October 2, 2006 06:22 PM

Did I fail to be specific with punctuation?

Let me rephrase. I care about the mid-term elections and am making phone calls for a local candidate in a swing district. It is because I care about the mid-term elections that I think it's important for the Foley issue (& other examples of corruption and hypocrisy) to be aired. There is nothing wrong with taking a break to check some news and blogs and comment.

& I thought the operative word was "impotent" (as a framing device for the group who thinks they're All Powerful & Omnipotent), rather than just "crooks."

Posted by: NonnyO at October 2, 2006 06:22 PM

The only thing that matters:

Highlighting foreign Islamic terrorist enemies, real and imagined, earns votes for the Republicans.

Highlighting domestic terrorists, Christian or otherwise, doesn't earn votes.

Don't just blame the Republicans though. The American people are just as guilty, just by falling into this mentality that all terrorists are foreign and Islamic.

I still haven't written my "friends" at United Airlines yet, but when I do, I will definitely ask them about the dangers of terrorists that live in their DOMESTIC and CHRISTIAN destinations, and why they keep flying to those destinations and putting up with the dangers when they deem a routine Muslim prayer too dangerous.

Bubba
Some of us have always had a foot on the ground and a foot on the internet. People contribute in different ways. I have seen not only apathy and complaining on the ground but examples of people not even knowing what was going on. I wrote earlier in the thread about registering young voters & about informing them of the importance of this election, starting with my son who is a political science graduate & wasn't even up on the news.

Some of are working on campaigns and I usually don't be very specific about that on this site. I have been working on two campaigns for at least 6 months, more lately. I am not sure what the point is - like people don't KNOW the next election is critical?! The last Presidential election was critical & most of us worked to bare bones on it. My first campaign was in 1968.

Focus.

The RNC is doing robo-calls in North Dakota. Robo-calls are illegal in North Dakota. They also sent my mother & others voter registration forms with their party affiliation.

like people don't KNOW the next election is critical?!

yep

robo-calls for robo-brains

Ira
I don't mean all people don't know the 2006 election is critical - I mean most people here on this website. How can they not?!

& to put things in perspective (about protecting life & children under this Administration):

After the invasion of Afghanistan, President Bush decided, in violation of the Geneva Convention, that any adolescent apprehended by U.S. forces could be treated as an adult at age sixteen.

Do people actually condone this?

U.S.: Gas prices lowest since February
Prices fall to $2.31 a gallon in government's weekly survey, and could be headed lower.

October 2 2006: 5:25 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- U.S. drivers continued to find more savings at the pump, as the price for gasoline fell for the eighth week in a row to the lowest level since February, the government said on Monday.

more...
http://money.cnn.com/2006/10/02/news/economy/bc.energy.gasoline.price.reut/index.htm?cnn=yes

G. Phuqin-Willikers

Sheesh !
No need for Dems to get ugly with a sleeze campaign this year as reps are killing themselves with these social conservatives. George Allen come to mind as well.
Listented to (briefly)some rhetoric from Brit Hume this am and after hearing their spiel ie:"not so fast Dems as you have to clean up your house too";referring to Barney Frank and other Dems etc. A few months back Randi Rhodes spent her whole three hours of programing and monologue to how awful these "repcons" are r/t to sex scandals,marriage problem,ETOH abuses and affairs, far outnumbering Dems on the HILL.
This Foley thing as Linda E. has said IS just the tip of the iceberg but it IS the gift to the right and reps at this time and this gift will just keep on giving.
The "real" story "they don't want the media to discuss (STATE OF DENIAL) is the lengthy vacation Bush took in 01' with Condi in the loop and that he did have information as to the lure and poison of the Bin Laden events to come.
NOTE:
LSM is only covering the Foley events as sex sells and ETOH abuse is such an "acceptable" cover for the reps and Foley's perversions and prowerness. Saty tuned for MORE on Foley and NOTHING on Bush and his incompetencies.
Fortunately, Batiste is a reputable source and his :"WE MUST CHANGE COURSE" may ring truer for the blue. Let's hope !

RAWSTORY: Calls for Hastert to step down... Developing...

Frist is suggesting the Afghan government include the Taleban.
His ilk suggested much the same recently re amnesty/inclusion into government in Iraq for some who had acted against the government.

Is THAT any way for the party the claims to be protecting us from terrorists to act? Taleban = Al Quaeda protectors, purveyors of poppies for financing.

"The House has to clean up the mess, to the extent that there's a mess,'' White House spokesman Tony Snow said at a press briefing...
-----------
House 'has to clean up the mess'
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2006/10/house_has_to_cl.html

Monkey
From Hastert's press conference:

.. a lot of Republicans suspect that Democrats have held onto this and disseminated it at the last minute just six weeks before the midterms elections. Of course we know the Democrats stand a better chance than ever in the past 12 years of retaking the House. All they need is 15 seats. A lot of people think that they can do that; Republicans whispering to us and among themselves and to us that this was the plant, there's a whole convoluted conspiracy theory that's already forming by Republicans pinning this on Democrats.

(http://www.firedoglake.com)

Yeah right.

Posted by: monkey at October 2, 2006 08:23 PM

Keith is going to be talking about this in a few minutes... I'm sure it's step down from House Speaker, not step down from being a rep. And who knows who they have up their sleeve to try to put in Hasturd's place...

Mexico asks Bush to veto border fence bill
reuters.com link:
http://tinyurl.com/nudyc

and, of course,

"Building a fence to try to secure the U.S. border with Mexico is impractical and would simply lead illegal immigrants to cross elsewhere, according to former Customs and Border Protection agents and other experts..."
----------
Experts see U.S. border fence plan as impractical
reuters.com link:
http://tinyurl.com/rdvv9

Madame defarge
That would still be huge (stepdown from Speaker of the House) at this stage of the game. We needed 15 seats .. now we need 14. If conservative media & bloggers are doing "damage control" I don't think it's a waste of time for some internet & public pressure, given dominance of MSM nowdays & its links with the White House.

from http://www.thepremise.com
Through last Friday, the conventional wisdom was that Republican candidates needed to distance themselves from the Bush administration in order to win, both individually and collectively. Suddenly, with the explosion of the Foley scandal and the intrusion of family and social values into an election dominated by national security issues, Republican candidates may need to distance themselves from their own party.

“Republicans are strong on defense!” may now become, “I’m strong on defense!”

The Republican brand, and everything it stands for, has been badly, badly damaged.

Olbermann to Craig Crawford: "will the republicans have to throw Hastert under the bus to save the election"?
Crawford: "If he fits"

Posted by: DiAnne at October 2, 2006 08:39 PM

I disagree. If the republicans force him to step down from Congress, it will look better for them that they took action quickly.

If they force him to step down from the Speaker position, he's still in the mid-term election race for his district. And Hasturd is the rep of a very conservative/red district. John Laesch, who is running on the Dem ticket against him, is a good candidate, but has a very steep mountain to climb in order to win. And he has hardly any campaign money.

Impressive-- Delay & Hastert within months of each other? Both because of ethics

What will Hastert keep hidden by falling fast on the sword?

Chris Floyd | The Deeper Evil Behind the Detainee Bill
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/100206A.shtml
Chris Floyd writes: "It was a dark hour indeed on Thursday when the United States Senate voted to end the constitutional republic and transform the country into a 'Leader-State,' giving the president and his agents the power to capture, torture and imprison forever anyone - American citizens included - whom they arbitrarily decide is an 'enemy combatant.' This also includes those who merely give 'terrorism' some kind of 'support,' defined so vaguely that many experts say it could encompass legal advice, innocent gifts to charities or even political opposition to US government policy within its draconian strictures."

Robert Harris | Pirates of the Mediterranean
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/100206G.shtml
Robert Harris compares the pirates who attacked Rome's port at Ostia in 66 BC to al-Qaeda. The pirates, loosely organized, were able to spread a disproportionate amount of fear among citizens who had believed themselves immune from attack.

William Fisher | Let's Hear It for the "Mavericks!"
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/100206B.shtml
William Fisher writes: "Ever since the Supreme Court ruled in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld that the president of the United States is not a king, our media has been obsessed with the 'rebellion' of three 'maverick' Republican senators who said they refused to accept the White House version of a new law governing how we treat and detain alleged terrorists. So what happened? On Thursday, September 28, 2006, the 'mavericks' caved."

Battle for Control of Congress Tightens
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/100206D.shtml
As Congress adjourned for a final five-week campaign blitz, polls show voters are unhappy with the direction of the country, dissatisfied with the Republican-led Congress, and more likely to favor Democrats in their local House races. In the past week, Democrats turned public attention back to the unpopular war in Iraq and put the White House on the defensive in a heated debate over a National Intelligence Estimate that said the conflict had fueled Islamic extremism.

Nick Turse | The Militarization of MySpace
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/100206H.shtml
Nick Turse warns us that the militarization of MySpace is just the latest Pentagon effort to occupy a new realm that will put the military product in front of ever more young eyes. The role of "friendly" MySpace.com, taking a desperate military's money to target their hordes of young friends searching for popularity online, is troubling. But it's also typical of the business-side of the military-corporate complex, because it's the civilian firms - producing everything from weapons to web sites - that allow the military to function as it does. In the case of MySpace, the friendly firm is deeply involved in producing the Army's page and will, says Eaton, be "doing the daily maintenance" on it.

Posted by: aimzzz at October 2, 2006 08:39 PM

I still fail to see how a stupid fence will help wildlife species who do not recognize man-made borders... or, for that matter, how a fence will keep illegal immigrants out. Wildlife species will suffer the worst, I'm sure. Humans can always find alternative ways around a bloody fence, as the article points out.

The only thing a fence will benefit is the profit margin of whichever corporation is getting the contract to build the fence.... (Let me guess: Halliburton or one of its subsidiaries...?)

Madame defarge
Thanks for the info (Hasturd). That is certainly something to take into consideration.

Well, my plumbing bill was less than I expected even though it was more than I initially expected. I though the work could be done in an hour and it took seven.

So I donated to a PAC that distributes funds very strategically & belongs to someone I admire deeply who is a team player on every level & very devoted to this country & taking back our country. So I feel good about it.

There are many ways to contribute. Even people who monitor the media & watchdog it on the internet contribute in a way I never could & especially when they write really good LTEs.

Blogging/commenting is itself a volunteer activity. It isn't just mental masturbation or socializing. I go round & round with my son about that but we can all name examples where bloggers have made things happen.

We all have our ways to contribute & we can accelerate them but no one can judge how much time, energy, perspective, money, demands, mobility etc. someone else has. The personal is political and persuasion can be important but so is respect for individuality.

NonnyO
Re the Militarization of MySpace - expected with Rupert Murdoch owning it, but there is also an effort for voter registration on there. Is there a way to put on other kinds of ads & education materials, perhaps MySpace sites where word can get around? Kids are probably doing alot of it for themselves, but once again this is an example of a certain type of "molestation."

I have a friend in Portland area who monitors Craigslist pretty closely. The military has been putting misleading ads on there such as "looking for a drummer for a band" type of thing & then it's a plug to join up. They will stoop to anything & have lowered their standards. They will still fall short. I am still thinking of the three poor young souls who died tragically in a car accident this weekend - from the USS Lincoln. I'm sure I will run into someone at work tomorrow (returning after 2 week vacation) who will have some personal connection with it, as it's a small world.

Aimzz, NonnyO
I think the so-called fence is just a political symbol for people who like to shut others out. I don't think it will be effective at all. People from Mexico tend to come here to work cheap, not to plot terror.

They tried it once before-- remember the "Tortilla Curtain"?

Interesting how BushCo is trying to make a big issue out of Clinton of Fox. They are scraping the bottom of the barrel looking for smoke & mirrors

I don't see any stories on a possible Hastert resignation-- is it highly likely?

Aimzz
Clinton? I think it's a "trigger word" for their base - whether the husband or the wife. You know, I'll bet people actually get kind of bored with it.

Conservatives also seek Hastert's resignation

Brian Beutler
Published: Monday October 2, 2006

Despite denying today that he had any knowledge of the instant message conversations that resulted in Mark Foley’s resignation from Congress, House Speaker Dennis Hastert is being called on to resign by liberals and conservatives alike.

At a press conference today, Hastert read a prepared statement in which he denied having any knowledge about the online conversations from 2003. "No one in the Republican Leadership, nor Congressman Shimkus, saw those messages until last Friday when ABC News released them to the public."

He added that he found the messages "vile and repulsive."

But those statements were not enough to silence an increasingly vocal chorus of critics on all sides of the political spectrum calling for investigations into the House leadership and even for the Speaker's resignation.

Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi harshly criticized Hastert for failing to answer questions, adding, "Republican Leaders admitted to knowing about Mr. Foley's abhorrent behavior for six months to a year and failed to protect the children in their trust. Republican leaders must be investigated by the Ethics Committee and immediately questioned under oath."

Likewise, Rep. Dale Kildee, the Democratic member of the House Page Board, released a strongly worded statement expressing outrage that he had not been informed about the emails at any point after Republicans on the board had been made aware of them: "I was outraged to learn that the House Republican leadership kept to itself the knowledge of Mr. Foley's despicable behavior toward the House pages."

He added that the noticeable Republican tendency of leaving the Democratic member of the board out of any decision-making processes continues even today: "I am now equally outraged to learn that Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert announced today that there will be changes in the policies of the House Page program. Once again, I was not informed of the meeting today, nor was I consulted in any way about any proposed changes."

But liberals aren't the only ones exasperated by the steps Republicans in Congress may have taken to cover up the sex scandal.

Conservative activists have come out strongly as well against those who knew about the emails early on. David Bossie, president of Citizens United, a conservative advocacy group, told the right-wing magazine Human Events, "Speaker Hastert had knowledge of Congressman Foley's inappropriate behavior and chose to protect a potential pedophile and powerful colleague over a congressional page."

He went on: "This inaction demonstrates a lack of leadership on Speaker Hastert's part, and calls into question both his judgment and character. If Speaker Hastert was willing to sacrifice a child to protect Rep. Foley's seat and his own leadership position, then he surely does not share our American and conservative values... Speaker Hastert's calls for an investigation are too late; he has already failed in his duty to investigate and prosecute this matter before it became a public relations problem. This lack of leadership is not only morally repugnant, but it may cost Republicans the House in November. Mr. Hastert should resign immediately."

His thoughts were echoed by colleague Michael Reagan, radio host and adopted son of President Ronald Reagan, who cited his own victimization at the hands of a child predator when calling for Republican resignations: "Any member of Congress who was aware of the sexual emails and protected the congressman should also resign effective immediately. I was sexually abused by a day camp counselor at age eight and also made to be part of child pornography."

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Conservatives_also_seek_Hastert_resignation_1002.html

DiAnne,
In regard to your 8:39 post about Republicans distancing themselves from their own party as well as from Bush, Senator DeWine from Ohio has not admitted in any tv ad that he is a Republican. His ads all say "Independent"(underlined)fighter for Ohio families. This independent fighter votes to support Bush 96% of the time.

Col. Ann Wright told us tonight that the US military has recruiters working overtime in Mexico, the Pacific Rim countries, and even in Africa to drum up fresh human grist for their illegal-wars-of-aggression mills. You don't have to be a citizen to fight for the US, and they've been promised fast-track shortcuts to citizenship if they sign up to wear the shiny black boots that are so busy stomping our country's freedoms into the muddy ground of Iraq.

Well, okay, so the factpoints are hers and the excess editorializing is mine. But You Do So Know What I Mean.

Home-grown mercenaries and foreign-born dupes, that's who's fighting our wars these days. Lady Liberty has been hooded, waterboarded, and nailed to a cross. Our nation has been mortgaged and re-mortgaged and sold so far down the river that our great-grandchildren will still be struggling to pay off the debts incurred by only 6 years of these neocons' murderous, wanton spending sprees.

Think all that stuff kinda sorta sucks, do ya? Yeah, me too.

impeach the entire administration already,
Otter

kay good to see you here. Plain Dealer says its the economy stupid in Ohio. I am just waiting for Dewine to talk about Values in Ohio. Its would be risky for Sherrod but with today's stories would be interesting. Still hear no message from Dems regarding Privitizing Social Security. The words civility and decency need to be thrown out in Ohio b/c Dewine's demeanor showed neither on Meet the Press. Hopefully Sherrod will press for Hastert to resign. Change and Turning Around Ohio needs to be your final message. Good Luck.

Waiting On The World To Change
by John Mayer

me and all my friends
we're all misunderstood
they say we stand for nothing and
there's no way we ever could
now we see everything that's going wrong
with the world and those who lead it
we just feel like we don't have the means
to rise above and beat it

so we keep waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

it's hard to beat the system
when we're standing at a distance
so we keep waiting
waiting on the world to change
now if we had the power
to bring our neighbors home from war
they would have never missed a Christmas
no more ribbons on their door
and when you trust your television
what you get is what you got
cause when they own the information, oh
they can bend it all they want

that's why we're waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

it's not that we don't care,
we just know that the fight ain't fair
so we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

and we're still waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting waiting on the world to change
one day our generation
is gonna rule the population
so we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

My 85-year-old father called me up a little while ago to tell me that he was watching Bob Woodward on Larry King Live, and he wanted to make sure that I'd heard about Woodward's new book called "State of Denial."

I replied that yes, I believe as how I've heard that one mentioned once or twice lately and that I really should make a point of finding out more about what it has to say sometime. :0)

like otter like son,
Otter

Any info on this man?

Council Backs South Korean for UN Secretary General
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/03/world/03nations.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin

Monkey:

15 House seats, no waiting.

step right up kids,
Otter

"I don't think this is so much about Foley as it is about the handling of this," Rick Davis, a Republican strategist, [snip]

"The question becomes who's getting thrown overboard besides Foley to get this to go away," said Tony Fabrizio, another GOP consultant.
__________
Analysis: What Did GOP Know About Foley?
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2519364

One of the Sisters said to me tonight that it would be almost sinful if the Repos' house of cards came tumbling down because of some sleazy little sex scandal rather than because of their war crimes and megalomania.

I replied that no, what would *really* be almost sinful is if they were to somehow squeak by and keep their grip on the reins of power again this November.

Do I recognize the colossal, nay, cosmic levels of irony involved in the very notion that the entire entrenched House leadership could finally be brought to its knees (so to speak, ahem) by something as minor and meaningless as covering up the permitted presence of a pervert pederast just because he sent out a few naughty emails?

Of course I do. In fact, I revel in them. And as far as I'm concerned, if that's what it takes to finally get though to Mr. and Mrs. Sixpack in Bobbaloo, North Dakota... then I'm all for it.

As long as those bastids finally get ridden out of town on a rail, I really don't much care who or what chased 'em there.

good riddance to bad repos,
Otter

Told ya all torture is to abstract to move scared people, who are willing to believe anything those in power say for the illusion of safty. However talk to those same scared people about a child preditor in their sphere of control and they will wake up and pay attention. Now some of these other issues will get residule traction. Now it can be cast in a bigger context. Democrats and Indepents have a chance to get peoples attention and hold it now. Well at least till Rove Cheney and Bush bomb Iran or whatever other equally scarey and terrifing Oct surprise they have up their sleaves cause there is one coming I feel it in my bones and its going to be a doosy.

WSJ article (free)
__________

As the scandal over former Rep. Mark Foley has expanded to entwine Republican leaders who knew of his suggestive emails to underage male House pages, the party has new reason to worry about two key constituencies: Christian conservatives and suburban soccer moms.

Long before the disclosure of the Foley emails last week and the six-term Florida Republican's resignation, Republicans were fretful that many conservatives would stay home on Election Day, turned off by high spending, illegal immigration and inaction on a number of social issues. Moderate suburbanites, meanwhile, complain of a party agenda that is too conservative on issues such as support for medical research using embryonic stem cells, which President Bush vetoed.

Now the Foley fallout has united both Republican voter groups in anger, just five weeks before midterm elections that will determine whether the party holds its House and Senate majorities...
________________
Scandal May Further Alienate Republican Base
wsj link: http://tinyurl.com/mxtn5

Thats all the energy I have for Politics today. I only did it for Angie she loved my involvment and the fact I paid attention to what she called the important stuff, meaning the things that affected her,her sisters, friends and future childrens futures. Night All

Night, April!

April:

Angie was correct. That's why all of us here do this, actually: for people like her, her sisters, friends, and future childrens' futures.

keep passing it forward,
Otter

Posted by: DiAnne at October 2, 2006 09:13 PM

I have never even searched for or visited MySpace since I'm not a teenager... it's not in my age bracket. However, the part that offends me is that the military would put ads on the web site - or any other web site. Bad enough they have such easy access to high schools and colleges. The decision about whether to join the military or not should be left up to the individual AFTER they turn 18 (IMHO).

Voter registration info is good... but since each state has different rules and regs and laws about voter registration, that may be a false way of getting info to send to the US military. Does the site advertise registering online or not? I do not know about other states, but in MN I don't think it's legal to register online. I know when it gets near voting day, there are always links on local TV network web sites that link to the secretary of state's office to get voter info. But... we do have same-day registration at the polls (with proof of residency), so no one really has to worry about early registration here. Other states I'd worry about, but here most people know about the same-day registration if they're paying even remote attention to TV in-state snooze close to election.

As far as that fence... the wildlife I worry about. It's really only human stupidity that can mess with the animal kingdom....

Posted by: Otter at October 2, 2006 10:36 PM

I would not hold my breath waiting for Hasturd or any of the other ass-coverers to resign - unless they're caught in bed with someone other than their spouses and there are blackmail photos published online or broadcast in Lamestream Media, they will hang on to their power positions at ANY cost; otherwise, whatever it takes to accomplish getting those *%#@$*#$* out of office, I'll take....

A Dem win in Nov for a majority in the House and Senate would be the stuff of political wet dreams....

Then we would need to blogswarm or phoneswarm the newly elected Dems to 1) start impeachment proceedings, and 2) get them to repeal the torture bill, the 'patriot act' and the other legislation that has infringed on our rights and privileges for the past five years, and get us back on the track of being something our Founding Fathers would recognize for a nation that upholds the Constitution they gave us, the Bill of Rights, the Geneva Conventions, US laws that forbid war crimes... et cetera, and 3) put the guard and reserve troops on the first planes home, and redeploy the regular troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, and 4) get this country back to some semblance of working like we have "leaders" with some kind of common sense. Lamestream might have to follow the leader, but they could be brought around eventually, even if it's not until after Jan. '09 when they're forced to deal with reality if a Dem gets elected for prez and we may still have a Dem majority in Congress.

It may be an uphill battle all the way.... so if sex and sleaze scandals bring the neoCons down, fine. Once we have the kool-aid drinkers' attention with sex and sleaze, then we have to hit them over the head with the newly enacted dictatorship... they will NOT want a Dem to have the same power as Herr Boosh (their demi-god) just got. Yes, I know. They don't think ahead farther than tomorrow, but if they're reminded that the next prez would be dictator, too, and it might be a Dem prez with the same powers (assuming Herr Boosh doesn't cancel elections and declare martial law or destroy us all with nuclear war and actual war on this continent), they just might pay attention for five seconds and think of things like "consequences...."

I can still daydream, can't I? I haven't heard any thought police pounding at my door... yet....

Any info on this man?

Council Backs South Korean for UN Secretary General
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/03/world/03nations.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin

Posted by: aimzzz at October 2, 2006 10:07 PM

He is the reunification minister of the Republic of Korea government, the government that the neocons and their Korean-American puppets label as "COMMUNIST," but in fact is as democratic and autonomous as South Korea has ever had. (In fact, there are currently rallies and church prayer meetings popping up in Koreatowns all over the US, including the large ones here in SoCal, to ensure that South Korea will once again be a brainless puppet of the Republicans.)

This man's victory will be a political victory for the current leftist regime in South Korea - a regime that W tried to get rid of through impeaching President Roh Moo-hyun. I consider Roh to be the Hugo Chavez of Asia.

Roh is not a good economist though, and is expected to be succeeded by a right-winger who will take orders from W. Most likely, it will be Park Geun-hye, the daughter of 1970s fascist dictator Park Chung-hee, partly because the elder Park was good at creating wealth - even though he never was good at distributing it.

Correction - Ban is the FOREIGN minister, not the reunification minister. The US equivalent position would be the Secretary of State.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200610020013?src=item200610020013
Limbaugh: Democrats "set Foley up ... it's all coordinated"
From the October 2 broadcast of The Rush Limbaugh Show:

LIMBAUGH: I'm just thinking out loud here. What if somebody got to the page and said, you know, we want you to set Foley up. We need to do a little titillating thing here. Keep it and save it and so forth. How would you get a kid to do that? Yeah, who knows? You threaten him or pay him. There's any number of ways given the kind of people that we're dealing with and talking about here.

Now, folks, I don't want to be misunderstood here. I'm not trying to mount any kind of a defense. That's a bad word. I'm not trying to get into a defense of what Mark Foley did. Please don't misunderstand. I'm just telling you that the -- the -- the orgy and the orgasm that has been taking place in the media since Friday and with the Democrats is -- it's all coordinated, and it's all -- it's all oriented toward the election. There's no concern about the kid -- no concern about the children.

There is -- there is -- there's not even any real problem with what Foley did, as we've discussed. In their hearts and minds and their crotches, they don't have any problem with what Foley did. They've defended it over the -- over the years.

{{{So, it's all a big "Lib-rul Conspiracy," eh? Then why was it the FauxFox religious reich ABC who released the story??? Oh, Rushie McLimpDick (with the Viagra in your suitcase that was prescribed for someone else), get over yourself!!! Your "logic" has more holes than your underwear. You can't put a positive spin on Foley's illegal, unethical, and immoral folly any more than the Catholic church could put a positive spin on their priests who are pedophiles (and the other priests who used their position to coerce women into sex), and neither can the "leaders" in the House who knew about this months ago, or the "ethics" committee that will never meet on this!}}}

Good morning everyone.

It's one a.m. here on the west coast, and today is the day of my mother's service. I appreciate all your kind thoughts and words.
Please be sure to send them today still, it might be a tough day.

We are blessed to have people come from all over the U.S., my son flew in from New York, his brother is here also, and all the cousins are getting to hang with each other and they are having a great time catching up. My nephew who is the Marine was able to come up from Camp Pendleton with his wife.

People have come from the east coast, and from Denver, Arizona, Wyoming, and California. The ones who didn't come are the "Christians" from North Dakota who are her sisters. Figures, doesn't it?

Very well written motivational words, Otter. Ira, I understand your angst. It is baffling that most people seem like they are "in the dark". Being here in the city I see alot more people hustling and bustling around, in the casinos gambling, riding in their big fancy new SUV's (Reno seems to have alot of "money" living here.), working and buying and not appearing to be worrying about the state of our country and what this administration has done to it.

My son is VERY upset about the detainee bill. He said "Mother do you realize that "they" can just label you a terrorist and lock you away and torture you and you wouldn't have any rights?" He is VERY freaked and angry about it.

An older person in my parent's retirement village was out in the garden area last week and told another retiree here that if he could he would, well, you know. I went to that person and told them not to ever say that to anyone, and told him what they do to people who say that.

My son says it is as bad as Germany was before WWII.

April, Angie is so proud of you for keeping her wishes alive. It IS important.

I wish I could do more. One thing at a time, and when I get past this, some things will change.

Keep on keeping on for me cuz I can't right now (other than talk to folks), and I know how crucial it really is. Freaky how crucial it is.
This election.

Thanks Ira and everybody who is working so hard to make a difference. I pray to God it will work.

As far as the sex scandals go, we all know a good sex scandal involving people at the top would blow the pubs out of the water. Rove had to have been behind the Lewinsky matter, with Linda Tripp and all. You can neglect and starve and abuse and torture people, and you can slander them and lie to them and steal from them and people will vote for you anyway if you are a neocon. But put sex in the equation and that WOULD do it. I guarantee you. Why, they might even not care if someone caught Bush drinking or doing coke again, but if anyone close to him was caught in a sex scandal it would be all over. Problem is, probably nobody wants to have sex with Bush. Ha ha.

Keep the vibes coming today, please, my virtual family. We have loved ones all around, but it will be a very sad day.

Lots of love and thanks,

Carol,

I think that card or flyer the religious left is putting out is wonderful. Rove is so organized he has worked on doing that for at least seven years now. He has church lists too.

Someone mentioned they were doing robo calls to North Dakota now. During the '04 election they called and trapped me by asking me if I was pro life or pro choice. I told them I felt other people should be able to make their own decisions about it, and the lady said "so you are NOT pro life?" They are trained professionals to mess with people's heads.

Please God, I beg you with all begness to please let this reign of terror with this reich end in one month. I can get on my knees, and I will.

Well I need to get some sleep. I will be getting up again at 5:30 a.m. to take care of some last minute odds and ends. I am riding with my two sons, my youngest son's girlfriend and my best friend since Jr. High. They will be a big comfort.

DiAnne,

Don't remember if I told you but they did offer me my job back, and said I could do it in the city or out in the country where I was. I kind of want to stay here, but the cost of living is very high here. So I have some very big decisions coming up.

P.S. My eldest son is reading a funny book by Bill Maher called "New Rules". It's quite clever.

Oh, and April, I hope you are wrong about your gut feeling about an October surprise. There might be one though, depending on how the polls look in a week or two.

The funeral home has a "Remembrance Registry Guestbook" at the website of: www.waltonsfuneralhome.com

Posted by: Truth Shall Prevail at October 3, 2006 05:07 AM

... and it was about this time, 4 years ago to the day, that my mom left this planet without warning.

I feel your pain.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korea said Tuesday that it will conduct a nuclear test as part of measures to bolster its self-defense amid what it calls increasing U.S. hostility toward the communist regime.

"The DPRK will in the future conduct a nuclear test under the condition where safety is firmly guaranteed," the North's Foreign Ministry said in a statement, using the country's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The statement gave no precise date of when a test might occur.

Pyongyang has said it has nuclear weapons, but is not known to have conducted any test to prove its claim. It has not mentioned a nuclear test in previous public statements.

"The U.S. extreme threat of a nuclear war and sanctions and pressure compel the DPRK to conduct a nuclear test, an essential process for bolstering nuclear deterrent, as a corresponding measure for defense," said the statement, carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency.

The North's "nuclear weapons will serve as reliable war deterrent for protecting the supreme interests of the state and the security of the Korean nation from the U.S. threat of aggression and averting a new war and firmly safeguarding peace and stability on the Korean peninsula under any circumstances," the official English translation of the statement said.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/10/03/nkorea.nuclear.ap/index.html

Lives of simple faith
The Amish are conservative Christians who shun all modern conveniences, even electricity. All is simplicity.

They do not drive automobiles but instead use horse-drawn buggies. Their farming equipment also is horse-drawn and has metal wheels instead of rubber tires.

They stress humility, family and community, and separation from the world. They dress plainly -- the women in long, solid-colored dresses, and the men in dark colors and wide-brimmed hats.

One of their deepest-held tenets is a devotion to peace and non-violence. They do not customarily fight back when attacked, heeding Christ's instruction to turn the other cheek.

In death, as in life, simplicity is evident.

According to "The Amish & The Plain People," a Web site that provides an overview of the Amish in Lancaster County, an Amish funeral is plain but reverent:

"A plain wooden coffin is built ... it is very simple -- no ornate carving or fine fabrics. ... The tone of the two-hour Amish funeral service is hopeful, yet full of admonition for the living. There are no eulogies. Respect for the deceased is expressed, but not praise. A hymn is spoken but not sung. There are no flowers.

"The grave is hand dug in an Amish church district cemetery. There will be only a simple tombstone to mark the spot, much like all the other tombstones in the cemetery -- in death as in life, we are all equal and do not elevate one person above another."

In the coming days, horse-drawn carriages will carry five young girls to Amish church cemeteries in Pennsylvania. Their loved ones will take comfort in their faith in the life and the world to come, perhaps drawing strength from 1 Corinthians 15:55:

"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/03/penn.shooter/index.html

Check out the DCP family forum for the links on Truth's mom and leave a note for her in the memorial guestbook...

http://www.democracycellproject.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=1504

dkos diarist brings to light a new organization that's looking for people to sign up indicating they support the organization.

EFORA: New grass-roots organization to restore integrity to US science Hotlist
by Puskara [Subscribe]
Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 04:55:48 AM EDT

Scientists & Engineers for America is a new grass-roots oraganization dedicated to electing public officials who respect evidence and understand the importance of using scientific and engineering advice in making public policy.
~snip~
So if you are like me and are pained by the politicization of science these days, by the sheer ignorance of our elected officials regarding matters of science, and by the pseudo-scientific miss-information machines being used to cloud the public debate in regards to scientific matters then SEFORA is the place for you.

Be sure to check out their Bill of Rights for Scientists and Engineers ( http://www.sefora.org/pages.php?submitted=1&id=97 ). They were featured yesterday on the Colbert report and on Wednesday they will be hosting a press-conference to announce their major supporters and endorsements. Obviously the more members they have at this time the more buzz they will draw online and in the media so if you agree with their principles go and sign up now.

read the rest...
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/3/45548/6051

DW, I got an error message with that link, so I will leave my message here for Truth:

Truth, this will be one of the hardest days of your life, and there's no point denying that. Embrace it. The sadness is a measure of your depth of feeling, your ability to love, your deeply caring nature. It is part of who you are, part of how your mother helped shape you, and part of makes us all admire you and proud to call you friend.

My mother died three years ago last month. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of her. Some days it's a laugh, some days it's tears, some days it's frustration, some days it's thinking about the serenity of her graceful nature that fills me with gratitude for her life and mine--all in all, not that much different that when she was alive.

But I have come to understand one thing finally. When I say my mother is still with me every day, I know that in a very concrete way now. She gave me so much of herself, that I could not be me, without also experiencing what she gave me as a parent each and every day. She and my father (god rest his soul) taught me how to live every day until I die. When I parent, I think of them. When I think about being married, I learned alot from them. When I think about what makes life important, i learned how to make those choices with critical thinking, from them.

Your parents, if you wish, never really leave you. Their love can be found every day in how you live your own life. And I think that your mom must have indeed been special--for you are very special indeed, Truth.

So my family will keep you and your in our thoughts and prayers, and I hope our mothers meet and have a laugh or two together.

And for today, a prayer for you, sent with love and light:

--Fill not your hearts with pain and sorrow, but remember me in every tomorrow. Remember the joy, the laughter, the smiles. I’ve only gone to rest for a while. Although my leaving causes pain and grief, my going has eased my hurt and given me relief. So dry your eyes and remember me, not as I am but as I used to be. Because, I will remember you all and look on with a smile. Understand in your hearts, I’ve only gone to rest a while. As long as I have the love of you, I can live my life in the hearts of all of you.--

Peace,

Casey and Family

Moonpie...

Resign, Mr. Speaker

TODAY'S EDITORIAL
The Washington Times
October 3, 2006

The facts of the disgrace of Mark Foley, who was a Republican member of the House from a Florida district until he resigned last week, constitute a disgrace for every Republican member of Congress. Red flags emerged in late 2005, perhaps even earlier, in suggestive and wholly inappropriate e-mail messages to underage congressional pages. His aberrant, predatory -- and possibly criminal -- behavior was an open secret among the pages who were his prey. The evidence was strong enough long enough ago that the speaker should have relieved Mr. Foley of his committee responsibilities contingent on a full investigation to learn what had taken place, whether any laws had been violated and what action, up to and including prosecution, were warranted by the facts. This never happened.

-snip-

House Speaker Dennis Hastert must do the only right thing, and resign his speakership at once. Either he was grossly negligent for not taking the red flags fully into account and ordering a swift investigation, for not even remembering the order of events leading up to last week's revelations -- or he deliberately looked the other way in hopes that a brewing scandal would simply blow away. He gave phony answers Friday to the old and ever-relevant questions of what did he know and when did he know it? Mr. Hastert has forfeited the confidence of the public and his party, and he cannot preside over the necessary coming investigation, an investigation that must examine his own inept performance.

more...
http://washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20061002-102008-9058r.htm

Posted by: monkey at October 3, 2006 07:59 AM

There have been increasing calls for several people in House Leadership to step down over this, they are hoping if the sacrifice Hastert it will quench the lust for blood most Americans are feeling. Something tells me Denny boy loves power to much to ever resign or stepdown as leader. He is a representation and a stark one at that of what the Republican Party has become under Neo Con and Ubber Conservative Rule. This is just one tiny little example but its one most Americans will pay attention to, unlike the others.

A lot of coverage about how Democrats get away with stuff Republicans can not.

Here is what I think of this, chase a Popular President down impeach him because he had sex with someone who was of age and oh lied about big surprise he was married after all most married men would be a little reluctant to say yes I messed around on my wife especially if they wanted to stay married.

When you do this you better have NO ONE doing anything close in your party and you definatly better not have someone who is chasing underage children around Duh pretty simple. There is no double standard as some are claiming, the Republicans have set their own standards and the American people are just demanding they live up to them. If they are going to be the so called Moral Majority then they better at least be Moral as far as sex goes since that is the only way they seem to define morality. Goodness knows they are as amoral as it gets in every other way.

Notice how Democrats havent launched investigations into Condi and Bush. You know why? Because its not the biggest most important question of the day to us. Most of us frankly hope Bush starts to get a little on the side not to be crude but he has a major brain fart maybe due to sperm retention. (My husbands theory)

Republicans have set their own standards and the American people are just demanding they live up to them.
April

Exactly.

And in other news How the US has worked at making friends and Influance people.

N. Korea 'to conduct nuclear test'

(CNN) -- North Korea, citing American belligerence and pressure, said Tuesday it will conduct a nuclear test.

The North Korean Foreign Ministry issued the comment in a statement published by the Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA -- the communist country's official news agency.

"The field of scientific research of the DPRK (North Korea's official name) will in the future conduct a nuclear test under the condition where safety is firmly guaranteed," the statement said.

A date and time for the test was not issued.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday that if North Korea proceeded with a nuclear test, "the international community would respond harshly."

"Any form of nuclear testing by North Korea would be unacceptable," Abe told reporters.

South Korean Foreign Minister Taro Aso said "we can't flatly rule out the possibility" of such a test since North Korea "in the past" said it would "do something" and actually has done it "a moment later."

It is the first time North Korea has made an official announcement that it is going to conduct nuclear tests. Previously, it said it had the right to conduct such tests.

"The U.S. extreme threat of a nuclear war and sanctions and pressure compel the DPRK to conduct a nuclear test, an essential process for bolstering nuclear deterrent, as a corresponding measure for defense," the Foreign Ministry said.

read the rest at

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/10/03/nkorea.nuclear/index.html

A little snippet of what some are saying about the article Monkey posted this frankly amazes me I thought no one and I mean no one would ever accuse Hastert of being a Moderate. But evidently thats how some Conservatives are labling him now.

*********************************************8

The Times editorial could be a signal that conservative Republicans are growing tired of the moderate Hastert.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/03/foley.scandal/index.html

Today's George Will editorial would be hilarious if not so sad, is titled: "If this wasn't about war, it really would be hillarious".

Many here will want to attack Will but his added voice may help bring a resolution in Iraq.

He said:

" While leading the hunt for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq in the summer of 2003, David Kay received a phone call from Scooter Libby, Dick Cheney's chief of staff who wanted a particular place to be searched.The vp wants to know if you have looked at this area. We have indications--and here are the geocoordinates--that something is burried there". Kay and his experts located the are on the map. It was in the middle of Lebanon."

"Where's the leader, Bush asked according to Woodward he exclaimed? Where is George Washington, Thomas Jefferson John Adams? For a president to ask that question about Iraq, that tribal stew, is enough to cause one to ask it about the US?"

Excerpted from George Will's 10-3-06 Editorial as printed in the Houston Chronicle

With the 24 hour news focusing on Foley, lets not forget to focus on the folley known as Iraq. Will's statements quoting Woodward, speaks volumes of this administration's obsessions with Iraq, and overwhelming incompitence.

" While leading the hunt for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq in the summer of 2003, David Kay received a phone call from Scooter Libby, Dick Cheney's chief of staff who wanted a particular place to be searched.The vp wants to know if you have looked at this area. We have indications--and here are the geocoordinates--that something is burried there". Kay and his experts located the "area" on the map. It was in the middle of Lebanon."

Posted by: Bubba at October 3, 2006 09:23 AM

Regarding both posts.

Any voice who starts questioning the Administration and its statement and lies is welcome I would not critize someone who adds their voice to the discussion no matter how late in the game.

Better Late than Never.

Bush: Don't trust Dems to control congress
West Coast fundraising trip aims to make anti-terrorism opponents pay

(AP)STOCKTON, Calif. - As he continues raising money for Republicans in Congress, President Bush is trying to make Democrats pay for opposing his anti-terrorism measures.

He says voters should remember that Democrats opposed his plans for trying and questioning top terror suspects and conducting warrantless wiretapping.

Campaigning in Nevada, Bush said Democrats want to "wait until we're attacked again."

The president will appear in California today on behalf of Congressmen Richard Pombo and John Doolittle.

Battling 'culture of corruption'
Both got campaign contributions from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Democrats have sought to paint them as part of a GOP culture of corruption. But both are in heavily Republican districts.

Doolittle also has taken money from Mark Foley, who resigned from Congress last week over sexually suggestive messages to teen-age boys. Doolittle's Democratic challenger says he should return the money.

The president, on a three-day campaign swing in the West, is telling voters that the Democratic Party is weak-kneed on national security and shouldn't be trusted to hold the reins of Congress.

"If you listen closely to some of the leaders of the Democratic Party, it sounds like - it sounds like - they think the best way to protect the American people is, wait until we're attacked again," Bush said Monday at a $360,000 fundraiser in Reno, Nev., for state Secretary of State Dean Heller's congressional campaign.

"That's not the way it's going to be under my administration. We will stay on the offense," the president said. "We will defeat the enemy overseas so we do not have to face them here at home."

more from the prickster himself...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15114468/from/RS.3/

Bubba I believe you are thinking we have forgotten whats important we havent, not at all. We went through several days of tears and sadness that the "Torture Bill" passed the house and senate we have mourned because of it. Here is the problem we can yell to high heaven and if no one is paying one whit of attention get no results. But if our leadership(I say that losely in most cases cause I am not real sure we have any) can frame the argument in the broader scoop to encompass everything, Bush and the Administrations Lies and yes thats what they are, congress wanting to hold power reguardless of the cost and so on, then we will have peoples attention, they will be shooken out of the fear mode if only for a moment and we can enter their brains by a back door, Maybe Just Maybe they will start to look at other issues and see how they all connect and get the bigger picture.

Goodness knows we need to get people out of the fear mode they have been operating in since 9/11 someway.

Posted by: monkey at October 3, 2006 09:33 AM

I love that Bush doesnt trust Dems, thank goodness he doesnt. What he doesnt trust is that he can control them the way he does the Republicans in congress and we might actually get some oversight with them in control its not a trust thing for him its a Fear thing he is scared out of his mind that we will win in November and start asking the hard question Republicans have chosen not to.

campaign bumper sticker seen this morning on new Volvo station wagon, entering hospital parking lot in Cambridge, MA:

REPUBLICANS FOR VOLDEMORT

Posted by: mbk at October 3, 2006 09:48 AM

LOL love it.

My post and typo correction, April, regarding Iraq developed from a discussion several of us had on sunday's irc about the National Guard and trying to bring back the ddiscussion about the debacle in Iraq.

My theory is that we have forgotten the homefront, fires, floods and our communities crying out to bring our Guard back to take care of the homefront. Instead what we have seen is that the only thing we have brought back from Iraq is school violence.

Will's words should remind us all that when the right's, Scarborough, Tucker Carlson and now George Will tell us of the incompitence in Iraq, Americans may start to listen and that is why I belive that while the Foley story is entertaining to the media hounds(that is my nice word) that voters I have been contacting, have one question and one question only: what is your cndidate going to do to help us unwind from Iraq. I am hearing that question not only from Progressives I have called but Republicans who tell me that stay the course is just not an option. That was my point April.

Ah, yes, the ever-popular 'Republicans For Voldemort' meme.

It's been around for a few years now (I posted links to it several times on the old Kerryblog, and the original online comic strip panels that created it are located at http://goats.com/archive/030808.html if you'd like to see its genesis.) But the RFV campaign has taken on a new lease on life again this year, and especially this past month, for obvious reasons.

You can order your very own RFV bumperstickers, t-shirts, stickers, ball caps, hoodies, etc. from Goats.com at http://goats.com/archive/030808.html -- and while you're there be sure to read the ongoing comic strip itself, because it is absolutely a *stitch*.

what can I say I just love those guys to death,
Otter

Mom used to nail this one on the 88's...

Sunrise, Sunset
from "Fiddler On the Roof"

(Tevye)
Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?

(Golde)
I don't remember growing older
When did they?

(Tevye)
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he get to be so tall?

(Golde)
Wasn't it yesterday
When they were small?

(Men)
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze

(Women)
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

(Tevye)
What words of wisdom can I give them?
How can I help to ease their way?

(Tevye)
Now they must learn from one another
Day by day

(Perchik)
They look so natural together

(Hodel)
Just like two newlyweds should be

(Perchik & Hodel)
Is there a canopy in store for me?

(All)
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

(Love & Miss You, Mom)

This is the opening salvo of today's editorial in the Washington Times, a rigidly right-wing publication, entitled 'Resign, Mr. Speaker':

"The facts of the disgrace of Mark Foley, who was a Republican member of the House from a Florida district until he resigned last week, constitute a disgrace for every Republican member of Congress. Red flags emerged in late 2005, perhaps even earlier, in suggestive and wholly inappropriate e-mail messages to underage congressional pages. His aberrant, predatory -- and possibly criminal -- behavior was an open secret among the pages who were his prey. The evidence was strong enough long enough ago that the speaker should have relieved Mr. Foley of his committee responsibilities contingent on a full investigation to learn what had taken place, whether any laws had been violated and what action, up to and including prosecution, were warranted by the facts. This never happened."

--- Full editorial is available in situ at: http://washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20061002-102008-9058r.htm

I mean, is there any doubt left that this late-breaking scandal could finally be the straw that breaks the elephant's back?

As previously noted, I'll take that straw anywhere I find it. If this is what's required to call those sleazeweasel reich-wing bastids to account, no matter how oblique it may be when compared to their real crimes and misdemeanors, then so be it.

paging doctor foley, paging doctor foley,
Otter

(And tossing off that last tag line reminded me that I'm glad I'm not working at the hospital these days... I'm not sure I will ever be able to write "Foley catheter" on a patient's chart with a straight face again.)

As I recall Hyde had his own ethical scandals a few years ago.

"The Washington Times ed board suggests replacing Hastert with retiring Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) for the three months remaining in this Congress and to oversee a "full and exhaustive" investigation."

In 1973 there was a phrase I remember we heard over and over again about Watergate, follow the money. I suggest that we too may want to follow the money and this mysterious $100,000 made by Foley to the RNC just three months ago. July as I recall reading was about the same time the RNC leadership heard about the final Foley email. Am I wrong about this potential link?

Hush Money?

The Hill's Jonathan Kaplan on GOP lawmakers, including Reps. Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.), Clay Shaw Jr. (R-Fla.), and Deborah Pryce (Ohio), getting rid of Foley's campaign contributions. Kaplan Notes that the NRCC will keep Foley's $100,000 donation made in July

Okay, it's official. I just heard the snoozereaders refer to it as "Foleygate."

Bubba is correct. As always, follow the money.

Also worth noting is that the Washington Times' editorial editor, Tony Blankley, was former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's press secretary back in his dubiously-titled 'Contract With America' days. So it's not like this is an unfamiliar bailiwick for him, nor can he ever be accused of being a bleeding-heart liberal media whore.

impeach 'em all, let their dog sort them out,
Otter

Posted by: Otter at October 3, 2006 11:20 AM

"Oh, yer not falling for the banana in the tailpipe trick?" - Axel Foley

... and somewhere in Rovetown, a tails dog is wagging as we speak.

Posted by: monkey at October 3, 2006 11:02 AM

My grandma's favorite song as well. I miss her too. I still remember when she was still alive how she would glare at Bush's face on the tv and just glare. She sensed his evilness even though she passed away before 9-11.

Her birthday was in September as well. I still miss her.

Just say arf.

otter have you heard the total silence from Pat Robertson, Dobson and Jerry Falwell and Jim
Baker this week? Nothing absolutely nothing.

I think I heard a pin drop.

Yes, that is rather interesting, isn't it, Bubba? Another case of the Holmesian dog not barking, as it were. (Although it was worth smiling at that Paul Begala and Bay Buchanan were both on the same side of something for once, when they emphatically denounced both Foley & the House leadership's cover-up activity on MSNBC yesterday...)

better pins than page pants,
Otter

And this one's for Ally (and marc):

http://goats.com/archive/050608.html

Posted by: Bubba at October 3, 2006 10:00 AM

Ya gotta go with what plays in Peoria. And what's playing in Peoria now is Foley's follies. That's what's resonating with people because they get it.

None of us are forgetting one thing on the exhaustive list of reasons to vote these bums out, but we've got to use the gifts that are given us when they're still new.

I agree, defarge its the gift that keeps on giving, and we should just run with it...the money angle and the silence by Dobson-Robertson-and Robertson may make this story last til Nov 7.
It will be interesting when I resume my SKYPE calls this evening whether the Virginia voters want to engage me in coversations about Foley.
Curious your thoughts about their now wanting Hyde to now replace Hastert, and his own picadelos. I supect I know your answer to that rhetorical question..

Posted by: Bubba at October 3, 2006 12:57 PM

You know me too well...

Actually I read somewhere-I think TPM-that DObson was blaming the FOley thing on our "over sexed" society...

If they are going to be the so called Moral Majority then they better at least be Moral as far as sex goes since that is the only way they seem to define morality.

Posted by: April at October 3, 2006 08:57 AM

Well, they're not. Many of them, at least. I'm not saying the majority, but many. I know these things. I used to do alot of counseling in churches. I think alot of it has to do with DiAnne's theory of repression coming out and biting someone on the a$$. (Sorry, couldn't help it...)

All they need is to be caught. We need to do Rovester's works back at 'em. It's easy. He just digs and sniffs until he has some dirt on anybody who even looks like they have potential and attacks without provocation. Smears and lies and does it in a big way. As I said, I was heavy into ministry in a large church for years, and counseled many people. They are just.....people.
Dems, Repubs, Independents, doesn't matter. They itch and they scratch.

... and somewhere in Rovetown, a tails dog is wagging as we speak.

Posted by: monkey at October 3, 2006 11:43 AM

Well, Bush was here in Reno yesterday. Arf.

Posted by: Casey Morris at October 3, 2006 07:34 AM

Casey,

Thanks for the encouragement. Actually, it turned out to be a beautiful day. Was supposed to be cold and rainy but instead we had sunshine and bright clear blue skies. The autumn leaves are turning and just beginning to fall. So pretty.

Actually, the support of all our family and friends meant so much at this time. I never quite understood the importance of it until I was on the receiving end of it today.

The service was absolutely beautiful and gorgeous. My great aunt is quite a pianist and she came out from Denver to play a couple of hymns that have been both my mother's and my favorites. Alot of people came, friends of the family from decades back. My parents had alot of very close friends that they stayed close to for over 55 years.

My sister made a DVD with pictures of my mom on it from a young girl until recently, and pictures of our family together with cute, touching, and sometimes quite funny captions on them. It was a nice touch. My dad held together really well.

Several people got up and gave touching words about knowing my mom since her teen years and about our family. Her casket was a beautiful mauve or dusty pink with rosebuds around it. It was sweet and elegant at the same time.

Tonight the cousins are partying hardy again (they haven't all been together for ten years), my dad was encouraged because so many of his longtime friends came to the service and over to the house to visit with him afterward.

The neatest part: My mom looked SO AT REST. SO peaceful. I was pretty much fine after I saw that. She is no longer here. She is free.

Of course I had my sons on each arm and holding my hands, and my best friend in back of me. That always helps.

Glad it's over. Life is good. And we move forward.

Thank you for letting me share, I know it is definately off topic.

Monkey, April, and Casey, you were all on my minds in a big way today.

Blessings,