I don't like to beat a dead horse, but the most important thing that we can do right nwo is to email Senators and Bush about the SCOTUS nomination, and the sooner the better. While we're obviously not going to get a liberal, the more we can do to deter a truly noxious nominee, the better. There are some sample emails and contact forms below the fold, with the parts to personalize indicated. If you know someone in PA, make sure (s)he emails Specter, or either Senator in Maine, or Chafee in RI...
I know this doesn't applies to most of us, but enough of us to be worth a diary. [Rant]
Most Republicans are not fascists or Nazis. Most Republicans do not want a theocratic state. Most Republicans are not eagerly awaiting the apocalypse. Most Republicans do not want to kill all gays. Most Republicans do not want to kill all Muslims or Arabs. Most Republicans are not thugs. Most Republicans are not racist (at least consciously.) Most Republicans do not want to imprison all liberals or try us for treason. Most Republicans do not want to repeal the 1st Amendment. Most Republicans do not approve of election fraud.
Link is here, via MSNBC. As always with Israeli Peace news, the rule is "believe it when I see it." But this is still promising. If Rice had a big part in this, as stated by the article, kudos, but I think this is more happens when Abbas replaces Arafat. This is an indication that he is consolidating power behind the scenes. Still, this is some of the best news I've heard in awhile, hopefully.
It seems that the terms include a cease-fire by Fatah by the Palestinians in exchange for a $40 mil check and Israeli considering more prisoner releases.
[UPDATE by Croatoan] -I'm gonna add some quotes below the break, and the second paragraph here
According to highly placed sources within the internets, many LIBRUL bloggers are involved in a corrupt bribery scandal. Those accused include Josh Marshall, Jerome Armstrong, Duncan Black and Markos Moulitzadijas Zúnijaralga. It is unknown what other LIBRUL commentators may be on the take, but it is safe to assume that they are probably guilty as well.
A private investigation totaling $3 million, funded by centrist, mainstream groups, such as the Heritage Foundation, Americans for Tax Reform and the Club for Growth, found that these bloggers received advertising money from LIBRUL politicians and organizations. They would then comment upon political events, even those involving the same political actors. They heinous nature of this crime speaks for itself.
In spite of Bush's record of falling economic numbers and an increasingly unpopular war, he won. Here's the main reasons why, in order of importance. Sorry if some of these are rehashes-missed much of the blogging:
1) It must rock to be an War President. They can't lose, short of...well, nothing - they're invincible. They trump the 50 Percent Rule. They trump the Redskins Rule. They trump the Nickelodean Rule. They trump the Dow Jones Rule. Henry Ford once said history is bunk. As a history major, I'm inclined to agree.
(And note to Kos: Shouldn't the 300 character limit include extended entry text?)
In my quest for masochism, I found this little bit from a Blogs for Bush addressed to African-Americans.
We are, however, working on it and we hope that in future years we will earn more and more of your votes - after all, there's not a dimes worth of difference between the views of a white and a black conservative Christian.
That's right. Only Conservative Christian Blacks need apply to the Republican Party. Oh, and all whites are now Christians and Conservatives. Is there something that I'm missing here?
Ed Gillepsie has been going around the Sunday Morning talk shows, and at least on MTP, saying "In one state, we saw people with fake names, Dick Tracy and Mary Poppins registered. And I can tell you this, Dick Tracy and Mary Poppins are voting for John Kerry." The problem is, there actually are people named Dick Tracy and Mary Poppins.
The real question is, why do Republicans think people with famous names should be disenfranchised?
Although I was too young to remember Hart's runs in the 80's, the more I hear about him, the more I like him. It's a shame he decidided not to run for President, but he should be the pick for VP.
Besides the pure political reasons for him to run - he immediately makes Colorado much more likely to go Dem, and helps the Senate and House races there - he would make an excellent addition to a Kerry ticket and administration. Also, he endorsed Kerry from the early going.
His policies are quite good, though he hasn't fleshed them out in full, so there will be little conflict with Kerry. He was against the Iraq War. He talked about nationwide health care, community service, an Apollo-style program to become independant from foreign oil, a consumption tax, and a helluva alot of other wonkish politics that would make alot of sense.
Seems Gov. Dean chose his candidates to focus on this cycle. He also announced he's not endorsing any incumbents, for now. Lot of local politicians on the list. They are:
Mary Ann Andreas for State Assembly in California. The 80th Assembly District has some of the highest unemployment rates in California, so it's all about jobs for Mary Ann in her race against the Republican incumbent. www.andreasforassembly.com
Ken Campbell for South Carolina State House. A Dean inspired candidate! Oconee County has a chance to put a real community activist and small business owner to work with Ken Campbell. www.takebackoconee.com
Vice-Presidential candidate Former General Clark wrote a must-read in the Washington Monthly. It is very well-written, and spot on (especially the last section.) It is pretty long, though. Why shouldn't this guy be VP again?
It seems Andrew "Jingoist-In-Chief" Sullivan is wavering mightily against Bush because of his misprosecution of the War. This could be a big deal, not just because alot of people who read his blog could be turned towards Kerry or away from Bush, but I feel he reprsents Republicans that can be turned to Kerry. This guy was one of the chief blogger-hawks, remember. Here are some quotes from his most recent post (emphasis mine>:
I'm wondering how many bigwigs - elected officials/candidates/media members/etc. read blogs. If you're one, feel free to take the poll, and, even better, let us know who you are.
I was checking out the Weekly Standard's letters to the edtior, and I found an interesting one from one Carol Cox, of BlondFromBirth.org She was writing to object to Paris Hilton being called a blonde, as she apparentally dyes her hair.
A blonde myself, I was curious to see what this site says:
The purpose of Blond From Birth is to spread awareness of blond haired people and increase their rights in todays society. We have goals of promoting awareness and of ending the racist stereotypes of blondes that the Media propagates with the assistance of hair dye companies.
Up to now the fakes get the press while we are muted. The Dye-jobs worked in packs while we were isolated. BFB is here to change that. Right now, fat people and sex freaks have more civil rights than blonds. BFB and all blond people must fight that...Yet we Blonds are supposed to accept the dye-jobs because we are both 'white'. There is no such thing as a 'white race'. History shows Europeans have always hated each other and fought each other. They never held hands and sang songs of their white family.
Just...wow. Rather than posting letters from GLADD or the NAACP, we get blonde rights. I, for one, am glad to see that the Standard has is focusing on the real problems of discrimination in this country. Take the Poll.
I'm sick of hearing that Bush has been doing an excellent job on the War on Terrorism. Let's come up with a list of the ways Bush has been messing up the War. Off the top of my head:
