« What Did John Conyers Want? | Main | The Two-Plus-Way Street »
A Somewhat Unusual Request
"Dear DCP people: please come and rip this website to shreds. Thank you."
Well, that's a bit of a deliberate oversimplification, of course. But it's a legitimate request nonetheless.
It's been a heck of a
But it's time for a thread change anyway, and somebody's got to fill it until something more earth-changing comes along. So I'm going to take advantage of this opportunity to hijack the ongoing discussions of what's wrong (or right) with the world and ask y'all to tell me what's wrong (or right) with a particular website instead.
As most of you already know, a few weeks back I accepted an upcoming full-time gig as Online Writer Guy (which immediately morphed into Overall Online Content Guy) for the new in-house website team that's remaking johnkerry.com.
(Yes, for the record, that does in fact create a specific conflict of interest. So yes, for the record, I will no longer be serving in the capacity of managing-editor-and-bottle-washer for the DCP site after July 31. It's been fun and it's been an honor to serve, but now it's time for somebody else to take the helm here. And that is as it should be, too.)
Anyway, at the end of last week the new i-team at jk.com launched their newly-redesigned version of the old www.johnkerry.com website. For various reasons involving server issues and all various other related schmatte that we really don't need to get into here, the site as it went live last week was still a couple of weeks ahead of being officially ready for launch.
This is not entirely a bad thing, though, because it gives you guys the chance to stick your respective $.02's in at a time where it can really make a difference to how the new site looks and feels moving forward. Doing that would make it a better site. And doing that would be a big help to me in my new gig, too (since I have to live with the site every day, ahem). So here's what I'm asking y'all to do:
Please go over to to http://www.johnkerry.com and tear it apart in your minds' eyes -- looking for both positive and negative aspects of the new redesign -- and then let me know what you think so I can push for the relevant improvements there. You can comment on it in the threads here, and/or email me at ralbertson(at)johnkerry(dot)com -- either will work.
(PLEASE NOTE: this is not about politics, John Kerry, or any of the issues that he's involved with or the positions that he takes on anything per se. This request for input is purely about the functional/creative/surfability aspects of the new web design on his eponymous site, not about The Tall Guy himself.)
The folks who come here to the DCP have various levels of expertise in dealing with politically-oriented websites, but you're all quite focused on using them for purposes of online community. And this, to my mind, makes you a perfect focus group audience in terms of making the new jk.com site more attractive, useful, and user-friendly.
So talk to me about the look and feel of the site, please. Do you like the new layout? The new colors? Are the fonts the right size and shape? Does the top page make you want to look deeper into the site? Is it easy to find the parts of the site you're looking for? Is there stuff you want to look for but can't find? Is there stuff you wish would be right there on the top page but that seems to be missing?
How about the more nuts and bolt elements of the site? If you want to learn more about a given subject or statement by JK, can you find it there? Should there be more pictures, more video, more audio, more explanatory text and articles? What kind of online community stuff do you want to see there -- comments, forums, videos, user-generated content areas, etc.?
If you were a newbie who'd never heard of JK but wanted to learn more, does what's on the site tell you what you need to know? And if you're an experienced old politico maven, does what's there tell you what you want to know more about? If not, what can be added to the site to make it work better for you? How can the site help you feel like JK is connecting with you personally, not just as some abstract Beltway insider who appears on C-Span from time to time?
I'm not looking for kudos here, friends, though of course you're welcome to include those in your responses if you want to. What I'm really looking for is to get a good sense of what you DCPers from all spectrums of the geek-driven political blogosity think is good about the site, bad about the site, and what could make it better.
Don't worry about pulling any punches or about how feasible a suggestion of yours might or might not be to implement, just lay it all out on the table. Because after you've done so, and the dust has finally settled, the new jk.com website will be a much better website for your input having been included in its restructuring. Of that I have no doubts.
This is a rare opportunity for folks like you to have direct, hands-on input into what the new form & function of a politician-driven site like www.johnkerry.com can and should be. There's a window of a couple of weeks here in which your opinions will be weighed and found worth acting on, so don't be shy about speaking up. Grab it and growl.
In other words.... jump right on in and rip this website to shreds, please. Thank you.
If it was anyone elses site but John Kerrys, I would help ya out, but....
Honestly I would rather see how successful I could be at choking myself unconcious.
Look what I just found... Handy Dandy List of Senators
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Posted by: Christy at July 26, 2007 10:47 AM
@@@@@@@
What would be nice is a list of the Senate seats up in 2008... I will check C-Span for a list..
Dems call for a special prosecutor to look into Gonzo's perjury.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/26/101931/269
Rick
I will be honored to go spend more time over there and will do it as soon as I finish camp.
I treasure all my time I spent with johnkerry.com and wish you all the best.
Dems calling for Special Prosecutor to investigate Torture Boy.
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Senate_Democrats_seek_special_prosecutor_probe_0726.html
OOOPs Sparrow, sorry, my comp way slow today.
Posted by: Christy at July 26, 2007 12:05 PM
Did you download the new McAffee? I did and it's been a lot slower ever since. (I also downloaded the new exlorer 7 and they both have slowed it up.)
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has written a long letter to Hillary Clinton in which he confirms that "planning is taking place" for withdrawal from Iraq.
While the fact that such contingency planning is underway of course doesn't mean that withdrawal is imminent, it's noteworthy that Gates confirmed this. Clinton had repeatedly asked for confirmation of such planning, resulting in her standoff with the Pentagon last week.
This letter represents Gates' official reply to Clinton's criticism, and it appears to be the first time that Gates has publicly acknowledged that such planning is underway.
"[Y]ou may rest assured that such planning is indeed taking place with my active involvement as well as that of senior military and civilian officials and our commanders in the field. I consider this contingency planning to be a priority for this Department," Gates writes in the letter, which was obtained by Election Central.
http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/jul/26/breaking_in_letter_to_hillary_gates_confirms_planning_taking_place_for_withdrawal
Nah, no new programs, might be my connect.
Not sure yet since I do not speak computer. If I can ever get my man away from tinkering on oil rigs, he can tinker with it, I am sick of this stupid comp.
Tom Hartman talking to Bob Barr talking about the corporatization of America. (Since it's the conservative vision to shrink government.)
Posted by: Christy at July 26, 2007 12:24 PM
You want some help? If so, then email me at the address you had before, and maybe I can help you.
(Believe it or not, Dw is not the only techie anymore. My computer skills are 100% better than they were in 2004 when I first discovered the jk site.)
Good!!! Tom Hartman is talking about the terror people have about health care. And of course, Barr is going back to the 'high taxes' Europe and Canada have.
OH MY. Barr is telling Hartman to CONTRIBUTE MORE to the taxes if he likes public funding so much!
I LOVE that argument! IF I can contribute more, then take ALL my money and WITHDRAW IT from the Iraq occupation AND withdraw it from Bush, Cheney, and Gonzalez's paycheck. Because I didn't buy those crooks!
FWIW, the Pentagon has been working on contingency plans as far as withdrawing our troops from Iraq since they first went into Iraq back in 2003. Along with plans for most other contingencies, these plans are always been updated regularly. Hillary, being on the Armed Services Committee, is well aware of this. Which is why Gates' reply to her isn't particularly meaningful, and also why her trying to make this an artificially-enhanced issue at this time is just so much self-serving showboating on her part meant to giver her political cover for shifting public perception of her as someone who's been a war hawk all along.
ooooooooo I missed this portion.
Barr called for impeachment investigations.
You know it's funny, cause my man is totally a-political. He lets me go on and on and just smiles. Hes a reformed republican who is now a registered dem. He votes just to reserve his rights to have an opinion on it.
Through all of it he has seen what a loser georgie is, but he never really got... concerned... about it.
Until the other day when I showed him that new Executive Order. And the other that I think NMP linked me too.
He actually frowned intensly. I mean a real frown. I think he may have gotten angry for a moment, but since I have never seen him angry, I can not be sure.
It was so exciting!
I knew in that moment, georgie ain't getting out of this without making an enemy of every good man left.
And there are lots of good men left.
What do you wanna bet when he is impeached and his war crimes laid out in full, not one decent person left will let georgie get away with it?
I am so looking forward to defeating evil.
Bring. It. On.
What would be nice is a list of the Senate seats up in 2008... I will check C-Span for a list..
Posted by: Ralpheh at July 26, 2007 11:36 AM
----------
Ralpheh, the information you're looking for is already right there on the list on the Senate site. You'll notice that each senator has a 'class' number next to their name. If you look at the list-sorting dropdowns at the top of the list, you'll see a link labeled "what is a class?" Clicking on that link will leave you with your question answered.
Breaking:
Rove and Jennings Subpeonaed
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/26/12237/2287
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/leahy-issues-subpoena-for-rove-e-mails-2007-05-02.html
http://rawstory.com/
Holy crap Otter!
Thank you! That is so freaking cool.
http://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/class.htm
Now I get it...Oh Duh.
"Terms for Senators in Class I expire in 2013, Class II in 2009, and Class III in 2011"
More:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19975387/
Also a rough transcript from a Kossack:
Leahy's speech on the sentate floor (bear with me here; I took this down in shorthand and its been a while since I've done that! I know I missed a good bit and got some words wrong, but you'll get some main points here.)
This is not a step I take lightly It is over four months since we sought the cooperation of Karl Rove and Scott Jennings; the WH stonewalled every request, withheld documents even from former officials, resists to answer questions and provide documents. Political considerations factored into the firing of the 9 USAs last year. The WH is involved - Rove and jennings. Today I subpoena Rove and Jennings.
Obviously the reasons ... were part of a coverup.
---
Federal law enforcement part of a political effort. Senior US officials for Washington DC will not be allowed to take part of the law in prosecuting this claim of privilege. It is the final word, no court can review, the this WH is above the law.
During the recent hearing with AGAG, the senior senator from PA asked AGAG, "do you think the constitutional government in the US can survive". executive privilege, and then act to bar the congress (from being properly informed).
his administration wants to instruct the justice department not to pursue... to conduct investigations... constitutional duties. Told not to carry out your duties.. or the law.
The president recently abused pardon power for Libby. Stonewalling on congressional investigations. This administration refuses to abide by the rule of law. Ever going series of coverups and scandals. They value loyalty over justice, secrecy.
(Sara Taylor) told us she took the oath to the president. It should be to the constitution, not to the president or any political party. (Senator Byrd asks Sen. Leahy to "say this again", and he does.)
Every president since George Washington has sworn to protect the constitution of the US. ... my oath is not to the political party, not to the senate.
Independent law enforcement is (very important to this country).
Each house of congress can certify contempt. It is a duty to bring it for action. It is an insult to the rule of law, the law on the books since 1857.
The fact that we are subpoenaing Rove and Jennings - I though that the whole senate should know. I urge them to reconsider their course of cover and move forward together to restore trust and confidence.
(that's the best I could do - hope it helps!)
http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2007/7/26/12237/2287/200#c200
WASHINGTON -
Senate Democrats called for a special counsel to investigate whether Attorney General Alberto Gonzales lied under oath and subpoenaed top presidential aide Karl Rove Thursday in a widening probe into the dismissal of federal prosecutors. ....
They dispatched the letter shortly before Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., announced the subpoena of Rove, the president's top political strategist.
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/26/ap3956424.html
OMG! Did you guys know that the Democrats are considering asking for a special prosecutor to investigate Gonzales yet?? Hey, and they're going to subboena Rove, too!!
Posted by: Otter at July 26, 2007 12:58 PM
:0)
I'll check out the jk site and let you know what I think, furry friend.
Posted by: Otter at July 26, 2007 12:58 PM
But...but..but...what's happening with Lindsay & Britney???
What I love about the new site is the accessibility to Kerry's statements, positions, and missions. It looks easy to use, and has alot of info.
I love the fact that we can watch video statements and listen to audio ones as well.
Looks like he'll finally get to say what the media blocked out in '04.
Congratulations, Rick. They picked a great person for the task.
Go gettum JK!!!
Posted by: sparrow at July 26, 2007 12:23 PM
I find the "planning" letter amusing in a snarky sense....
"Planning" for withdrawal doesn't mean any kind of withdrawal is going to actually happen before oil runs out.....
The Cons (PNAC, oil corporations, those who support the 'unitary executive' - aka dictatorial president) are planning on staying in Iraq for many years to come. There is no reason for them to leave Iraq until the oil runs out and there's no reason to control the source of oil....
I get irritated on my commute as I see more Dodge 4x4s as I go further north, usually with one person in and no dirt on them (ie. they aren't used functionally, just for show) and they practically push me off the road and when they park they generally (purposely) take up two slots ..
Well this morning I saw one with a bunch of those lights on the front for blinding innocent rabbits and it had a big "IMPEACH BUSH" bumper sticker on it. A strange sight to behold and it could be contagious and reach a tipping point. Who knows ..
Back to work and get Gonzales for perjury & frog march Rove!!
But...but..but...what's happening with Lindsay & Britney???
Posted by: madame defarge at July 26, 2007 01:41 PM
They are getting subpoena implants...
White House press secretary Tony Snow defended Gonzales on Thursday but would not talk about the subject of the 2004 briefing.
“Unfortunately we get into areas that you cannot discuss openly,” Snow said. “It’s a very complex issue. But the attorney general was speaking consistently. The president supports him. I think at some point this is going to be something where members are going to have to go behind closed doors and have a fuller discussion of the issues. But I can’t go any further than that.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19975387/page/2/
Hmmmmm....
Monkey
.. no one knows .. what goes on .. behind closed doors ..
Posted by: monkey at July 26, 2007 02:27 PM
Ah, the booby prize I guess...
Lindsay is snorting subpoenas and Britney wiped her hands on a Chanel subpoena
WHAT A WEEK!!! THINGS ARE REALLY SHAKIN' IN D.C.
(I wonder what will be the Friday "news dump" the Bushies don't want the press to cover...)
Carried over from the previous thread:
Man does this look like TIME MAGAZINE is carrying water for Bush and the Warhawks. The feature story in the mag this week maintains, in essence, that the U.S. cannot withdraw "precipitously" from Iraq. All kinds of bad things will happen. Michael Duffy of TIME seems to be arguing the administration's position. In fact, Duffy uses the word "precipitously" at least three or four times in the interview.
http://www.c-span.org/videoarchives.asp?CatCodePairs=Series,WJE&ArchiveDays=30
The clip is from C-Span's Washington Journal which features Duffy.
Posted by: Ralpheh at July 26, 2007 08:04 AM
Posted by: not my president at July 26, 2007 02:02 PM
The other day, I saw a Ford 4x4 near San Diego, driving north. It had Oregon plates, and also had a "He's NOT My President!" bumper sticker, just like the one on your Beetle.
So they're out there. Definitely a change from those numerous "OFF-ROADERS FOR BUSH" bumper stickers just a few years back.
The question is, what are the Dems doing to court these off-roaders (and motorists in general)?
Rick,
I am looking at the Kerry site right now, and will navigate it for a bit.
If I have any useful suggestions, I will post it here.
Ah, the booby prize I guess...
Posted by: madame defarge at July 26, 2007 02:59 PM
In more ways than one. :)
Or the crotch prize, even.
Just think, if Lindsey Lohan just comes out and says how cute Karl rove is and how the xy generation should mindlessly follow him no matter what, I bet she could get a presidental pardon.
Maybe even be a Medal Of Freedom recipient.
HAHAHA!
Why Can't They Impeach The Entire Republican Party?
Some of us have been slow to board the Impeachment Train. We've held back as our fellow Americans have organized and led movements to impeach Bush, Cheney, and/or Gonzales. We were reluctant to have the political process subsumed with hearings that distract the country from the many other ways our current leadership has failed it. But after the latest testimony from Gonzales and the flagrant disregard of Congressional subpoenas by Bolten and Miers, there are only two words left to say:
Enough, already.
The shameful fact that no Republicans joined today's call to investigate Gonzales raises a question: "Why can't they impeach the entire Republican Party?" After all, the utter lawlessness of the last six years could not have occurred without the active complicity of the full GOP leadership. They have chosen to react in a partisan way to both unconstitutional usurpations of power and simple acts of criminality, and have benefited as the perpetrators seized and held office through unscrupulous means.
Impeachment of the entire GOP may sound like a partisan suggestion meant to protect the Democrats. Actually, rebuilding the Republican Party from the ground up may be the only way to save the two-party system (though many of us feel that it's in need of serious overhaul.) Unless the Republican Party is restructured, our only options may be one-party rule or permanent political paralysis.
How does a President with 25% approval ratings continue a war that has 30% approval ratings? How does a deceptive Attorney General keep his job? We've learned lately that some things are surprisingly easy, if people are shameless and utterly cynical -- and if their own party isn't willing to confront them.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/why-cant-they-impeach-th_b_57971.html
Torture Boy should have just pulled a Miers. It may have actually been less damaging.
No one will ever want to be a republican again.
Good riddance.
Christy
I have another idea how a celebutard could serve his or her country but I'll be damned if I'll put it on the internet. Hint: There is a precedent for impeachment.
Ally
The way things are going, alot of the off-road vehicles will probably be repo'd anyway.
Stock market crashed a little today. Credit will be tight.
Ralpheh
The last few years I can hardly open up US News and World Report or TIME, for the lack of objectivity.
Bush-serving articles probably can be accounted for by the special meeting Bush had with a bunch of conservative writers recently. They had begun to jump ship over the immigration issue and a few other things.
Posted by: not my president at July 26, 2007 07:47 PM
Not only that, but these "free-market" conservatives should well know that the modifications they put into their 4x4s are a very poor return on investment. Modifications to a car are usually worthless at resale time.
Posted by: not my president at July 26, 2007 07:49 PM
Some Republicans' (and their supporters') stupidity over the immigration issue never ceases to amaze me. They had had the immigrant vote locked up with their social conservatism.
Posted by: Christy at July 26, 2007 05:51 PM
Thanks for sharing. I quite agree that a one-party rule, whether by Republicans (as was the case for the past 6 years) or by Democrats, is not healthy.
We need at least two viable, vibrant parties that are accountable to the people. A corruption-free Republican Party that actually cares about the average voter, is in our best interests.
Three or more political parties sharing power - even better.
If you want to look at one-party states, look at Japan (Liberal Democratic Party) and pre-2000 Mexico (Industrial Revolution Party, or PRI). Both were notoriously corrupt, and slow to change. Mexico did put another party in power since then, but that party - National Action Party (PAN) - is no more than a puppet of our Republicans, and hardly any better than PRI.
Posted by: Christy at July 26, 2007 05:31 PM
I do believe Lohan said something (it was posted on NMP's blog) about wanting to go entertain American troops in Iraq, like Marilyn Monroe did in Korea.
Whether that could happen in place of jail term is another question.
My bet is that Lohan will leave jail early, like Paris Hilton. People here in Los Angeles are enraged at our Sheriff, Lee Baca, giving out lenient treatment to these wayward celebs. I can vote for a challenger the next time, and I will.
If you can stand more shameless lying by high placed Bushies, go to Tony Snow (job)'s press briefing from yesterday. Snow's response to the Gonzales scandal is "What's the big deal? He's testified. Other witnesses have testified. Documents have been produced. We have been cooperating fully." blah blah blah.
Now Snow is going to be doing the White House Snow Job treatment (on full throttle) before the press for every briefing.
Remember when Bill O'Reilly called Daily Kos bloggers a whole bunch of hatemongers, akin to KKK and the Nazis?
Daily Kos is striking back.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/26/183529/674
And here are the corporate advertisers we'll go after:
http://www.newshounds.us/2007/07/24/advertisers_on_the_oreilly_factor_update_707.php
Benedict Motor Works (BMW) is the most prolific offender. If you drive one of their products, or were looking forward to buying one soon, please write them to voice your concerns. I'm certainly writing to them tonight.
gabriella.molteni@bmwna.com
If it helps, I am willing to put my own car on the line to stop the fascist sponsorship.
And here's the letter I wrote to BMW (also posted at DKos):
Dear Ms. Molteni,
I recently bought out the lease on a 2004 3-series - my first BMW - and am very happy with the vehicle. Until now, my intention was to return to BMW and keep buying 3-series models for a long time to come.
That was until I have been alerted to Bill O'Reilly's attacks on left-of-center Internet-based activists, as their clout grows on the national political scene. O'Reilly has compared them to hate groups such as the KKK and the Nazis, while allowing his own website to carry such hateful rhetoric as bombing San Francisco.
A watchdog by the name of NewsHounds reports that BMW was the most frequent advertiser on O'Reilly's program.
In addition, O'Reilly's network, Fox News, is notorious for carrying partisan propaganda, and even distorting the facts - such as intentionally mis-labeling Republicans who don't follow the party line or who get into scandals, as Democrats.
Your support of O'Reilly and Fox through advertising is cause for concern. I live in a city, Los Angeles, where "you are what you drive," and extremist politics, on both left and right, is usually frowned upon. If BMW continues to advertise on O'Reilly, and supports his rhetoric of seeing his opponents as hatemongers (while leaving his own hate speech unchecked), I will have no choice but to identify the BMW brand with extremism, and move on to another brand. I will also stop recommending BMW products to my acquaintances, many of whom depend on me for automotive advice.
The 3-series is one of the best cars in the market, but the corporate practices of the company behind it also matters. There are other great cars, such as the Toyota Prius, the Hyundai Tiburon, and the Ford Mustang, that I refuse to buy due to their manufacturers being bad corporate citizens.
Please stop advertising on O'Reilly and supporting his partisan hate speech. Either that, or at least advertise also on O'Reilly's target, DailyKos.com, to balance things out. An "independent-minded" company, which BMW claims to be, can definitely do better. Thank you.
Sincerely
Ok. I have to say this out loud. Finally.
“This war is so fucking illegal.” Pat Tillman
The first time I read that I thought, Wow, what if he was killed because of something he said or was about to say...?
But I dare not say it aloud, cause that is all different than anything else thus far discussed.
And now we come to find out Pat Tillman was shot 3 times. In the forehead. At close range.
Enemy fire my ass.
That is an execution.
"• In his last words moments before he was killed, Tillman snapped at a panicky comrade under fire to shut up and stop "sniveling."
Soooo.
Seconds before he was shot, he was in a verbal confrontation with someone, where he was chastising them for ....crying.
Man this is starting to sound worse than I could imagine.
Posted by: Christy at July 26, 2007 11:29 PM
It looks like Tillman was gunned down for doing the right thing - or as the Mann would say, being the ultimate American male.
Of course, when Tillman's doubts about the war were known, the Mann was not happy.
We do not know that was the reason. His words that is.
It really makes you wonder. He could have seen his fellow soldiers doing something. It would explain a lot.
Everytime I think of Tillman I ask myself a question, and I do not know where it came from.
'Was Pat Tillman the type of man, who if he saw something bad, like a war crime.... Is he the type of man that would have exposed it? Would he have participated in something like that himself in the heat of battle?'
All these stories about him makes him seem very principled, but...war is HELL.
At first the Tillman story was not a big thing for me, just a footnote on the lousy circumstances we leave the families of the dead in. But the more that comes out the more I just need to know wtf happened that day.
They would not have gone this far just because a high profile soldier had an opinion.
It is rotten from top to bottom.
I am glad to know I am not the only one with such creepy thoughts. Atleast if I am crazy I am not alone.
"In other words, Pat Tillman was most likely murdered in the field. In cold blood. By other US soldiers."
http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/07/26/late-nite-fdl-a-whole-new-level-of-horror/
Ally
Yeah Lohan did compare herself to Marilyn Monroe, an icon to entertain the troops. Hilton also called herself a once-in-a-decade blonde icon. (paraphrasing) Delusional.
Loved your letter to the Beemer folks! That's exactly the spirit in which I love the letters of boycott and purchasing intentions to be written - clear connection to the media-related problem that the sponsor is endorsing by participating with the program and that purchasers are endorsing (perhaps without really thinking about it) when purchasing.
I saw an SUV tonight with a "Who Would Jesus Bomb" bumper sticker. That was strange.
Christy
I have had the same sort of thoughts about Tillman ever since I first heard he was killed. On the way home I listened on NPR about the trial for those guys who tied up a man in Iraq, threw him in a hole and shot him, raped his daughter, terrorized his family, ruined his house. That one was a plot, with some of the younger soldiers intimidated into participating because otherwise they would be called "cowards," something a good Marine is brainwashed to react strongly to. Suspected insurgents apparently were being let go because there wasn't enough to stick them with, so these guys took it upon themselves to make an example of an Iraqi, but they couldn't find the one they suspected of being behind some explosions etc. so they just picked a random neighbor. They figured that any Iraqi male over the age of 12 or so was suspect. It made me sick and ashamed. I don't like to speak against troops and I don't know how some of them ended up over there, so generally I just keep my mouth shut sometimes. This type of behavior, however, will get more personnel killed, prolong the war and increase terrorism there and here. It is a severe breakdown of military discipline.
Well, I think I will finally head over to Johnkerry.com and take a look and head to bed. One more day of camp and work and I want to reward myself with Sicko and The Simpsons Movie.
I am too exhausted to do a good job with feedback - have to sleep but the graphics and colors look great, and easy to access everything from the mainpage. Too often people don't know how to get to a "blog" from a mainpage even though it is right in front of their face, but the "recent blog posts" part helps.
I have directed people to items on DCP blog before and heard "I can't find it" even though I told them to click on "Discuss" then "Blog" - it's amazing the helplessness (such as my brother LOL).
NMP,
Normally I'm not the one who jumps at the opportunity to write letters of boycott. When I am not a customer of the company in question, my voice carries less weight.
Even when I am a customer, if I am only a marginal customer, I tend to shy away. Case in point: when United Airlines was caught booting a Muslim off the plane, I didn't write, as I am not one of their ELITE frequent fliers. (Elites fly 25K+ miles per year, whereas I am lucky to fly even 5K. United can definitely afford to lose me if I complain too much.)
But with BMW, I had to pounce. I not only drive their bread-and-butter product, I am young enough to buy several more examples over my lifetime. I also happen to be the person many people come to for car advice - and I have recommended BMW countless times. If I stop supporting BMW, it will lose at least a quarter million dollars of potential business.
And there are plenty of other progressives driving BMWs, and if they all take their business elsewhere, BMW loses millions. That'll definitely get BMW thinking.
Ford ticked me off with its heavy contributions to W (and a crappy car), and they lost me for life. I hope BMW is smarter than this.
I have directed people to items on DCP blog before and heard "I can't find it" even though I told them to click on "Discuss" then "Blog" - it's amazing the helplessness (such as my brother LOL).
Posted by: not my president at July 27, 2007 12:21 AM
You can just give them the direct blog address: :)
democracycellproject.net/blog
(the /blog part is important)
Posted by: not my president at July 27, 2007 12:21 AM
Posted by: Ally McRepuke at July 27, 2007 01:20 AM
Yes, I was one of the "Ok, I'm in the foyer. Now what? I mean where?" and luckily while I was stumbling about I came across an intelligent looking otter directing traffic. I've been here ever since. I'm afraid to move elsewhere in case I lose my way again.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/07/26/al-qaedas-best-publicist-george-w-bush/
Al Qaeda’s Best Publicist: George W. Bush
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/07/26/jon-stewart-climbs-alberto-gonzales-bullhit-mountain-of-lies/
Jon Stewart Climbs Alberto Gonzales’ Bull$hit Mountain of Lies
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/07/26/colbert-applauds-oreilly-for-smearing-kos/
Colbert Applauds O’Reilly For Smearing Kos
{{{Caveat for the last two links: Put down your food and drink before viewing! :-) }}}
"Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons, and you will find that it is to the soul what the water bath is to the body." - Oliver Wendell Holmes
Tonite, we radiate.
http://www.jibjab.com/view/125614
And, in case you haven't seen the original that the jibjab kid is portraying, it's here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjS0FKS05QE
Christy,
I think the creepiest part of this Tillman story as it unfolds is that last week Bush claimed executive priviledge on the White House documents regarding Tillman's death.
Even if they knew it was murder, why cover it up now? How far up the chain did this thing go? Was the shooter acting on his own, or was there an order?
I hate to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but why would the White House hold back those documents? Even if it is just that they were involved in the coverup....well...maybe that would explain it.
The depths they have sunk to are astounding.
According to Rawstory, Michael Moore announced on Leno last night that he's been subpoena-ed by the Bush admin. regarding his trip to Cuba for Sicko.
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Michael_Moore_says_hes_been_served_0727.html
The white house is in denial...just like an alcoholic. There are 3 branches of Enablers, all taking what they can from the bumbling drunk before he finally collapses.
Cheney is like the alcoholics employer, trying to squeeze every last dollar out of him, every last possible shred of value before cutting him loose.
Congress is like the slob uncle, coming over when the weather is too hot to play in the pool, to enjoy the benefits by bringing a bottle of the drunks favorite brew.
Supreme Court is the blinded family member...refusing to believe the drink they placed in his hand is the cause of the drunkards life.
~ Its a Madhouse ~
Great analogy chinatool.
Posted by: Carol at July 27, 2007 08:52 AM
Yes, and we know his lawyer. He has a good one! ;)
Emails Detail RNC Voter Suppression in 5 States
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/072607A.shtml
Truthout's Jason Leopold and Matt Renner report, "Previously undisclosed documents detail how Republican operatives, with the knowledge of several White House officials, engaged in an illegal, racially-motivated effort to suppress tens of thousands of votes during the 2004 presidential campaign in a state where George W. Bush was trailing his Democratic challenger, Senator John Kerry."
Posted by: not my president at July 27, 2007 09:59 AM
The news just keeps getting better and better.
NMP - I found that song I asked about the other night. It still makes me laugh. I couldn't find it at JibJab.
http://www.madblast.com/funny/1492_bin-laden-has-nowhere-to-run-nowhere-to-hide.html?page_id=206188
** I can has new thred? **
(hat tip to http://icanhascheezburger.com )