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November 07, 2006
Get Out and Vote!
I woke up with a start this morning, chest tight, alert but tired, anticipating with part dread, part hope, that the outcome of today’s election would be the beginning of a revolution. After the sickening shock in 2000, and the crushing concession in 2004, if things don’t go well today, I might have to fall on my proverbial sword or move to Costa Rica.
I was going to volunteer for various “Get Out the Vote” campaigns, but the Democratic organizations annoyed me almost as much as the stories about Republican robo-calls (of which I was spared, since I don’t have a landline), or the smutty political ads that spread like mold in a frat house refrigerator. Frankly, I’m disgusted with both parties, and I hope that all the incumbents lose. I realize that this would create a temporary paralysis in Congress, but it wouldn't be any worse than the current moral, intellectual, and incompetent cesspool that is our government.
When I vote today, it will be on a touch-screen machine. Yes, this paranoid tin-foil-hat-wearing kook will watch for any anomalies in my choices, just in case. But, there won’t be any long lines or disenfranchised voters in Pleasantville. We’ll probably get working units and low turnout, since this is an affluent, white bread Republican community. I will vote Democratic for the State offices like governor, attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer. I would prefer to vote Libertarian or Green, but I don’t want that evildoer, election-fixer, Ken Blackwell to benefit from those votes.
I’ll deviate from the “Throw the Bums Out” mission in one race only, and reelect Dennis Kucinich, because he voted against the war in Iraq, against the Patriot Act, and because he always responds to my letters. I’ll vote for Sherrod Brown against that weasel, Mike DeWine, and against Issues 18 and 5 which involve punishing the congregation of the Church of the Holy Smokes. Pick on someone else, for crying out loud! Ohio has a state issue that would raise the minimum wage, for which I’ll vote (our state minimum wage is lower than the national average). And there’s a casino issue that doesn’t affect me one way or the other, so I may abstain.
As far as judges and other races, I’ll default with my usual voting tactic: when in doubt, vote for the woman; if there is more than one woman, vote against the incumbent. It’s a very simple system. Locally, I’m not worried about who is steering the ship. We have a woman mayor (for the first time in history) who was appointed after our former mayor was involved in a nepotism scandal. Yes, even here in Pleasantville we have graft and corruption! But, she’s not up for reelection until next year. I think she’s a Republican, but I’ll put a sign in my yard for her. See, I can be fair and balanced, too.
Since I have so many names and addresses, I get to vote three or four times today. (JUST KIDDING! I wish.) Seriously, wouldn’t it be great if voting was transferable, like a coupon for a free Frosty? If you don’t want to use your vote today, can I use it?
Part II - The Photo Essay:
One lone volunteer willing to stand out in the drizzle to promote Issue #122, which allows liquor sales before 1 pm on Sunday. I told him I'd vote for it. What the heck, let the congregation have their booze Sunday mornings at the Church of the Holy Drunkard.
Innocent looking, isn't it?
Eight (8) voting machines, no lines, but I did have to show ID for the first time, thanks to evildoer Blackwell.
The sparkly new Diebold machines.
After you vote, your abstention votes show up in pink. You have to click on this again to get them to process.
To verify your result, you can check the paper documentation that prints inside the machine. You can't tear it off like a receipt, though. Mine appeard to correspond accurately with my votes.
Comments
Um, excuse my ignorance, but, what is the vote for, today?
Posted by: Mgt | November 7, 2006 11:26 AM
I don't even understand how it works over here. As far as I'm concerned, it should be the number of poeple who vote, not who wins which constituency.
I find it all rather confusing.
Posted by: Mgt | November 7, 2006 11:29 AM
We are having "midterm" elections where about 1/3 of the Congress is running for election or reelection.
The Dems need 6 seats (IIRC) to overtake the Senate and 15 seats to overtake the House.
There are only 2 parties in the US that really get any votes. I would prefer there be 3 or 4 parties that have a fair run, but it never works out that way.
There are a lot of governor's races and other local races as well.
The outcome should be very interesting. If the Dems win both the House and Senate, Bush will be a lame duck for the next two years. He may even be impeached. (We can hope.)
Posted by: loretta | November 7, 2006 11:32 AM
Great! Does that take effect as soon as the votes are counted?
Posted by: Mgt | November 7, 2006 11:36 AM
'Morning, ladies. I voted, now I wait. Heh, I'm wondering how all the re-drawing of Congressional boundaries is working for the GOP.
Posted by: Johnetta Hancock | November 7, 2006 11:41 AM
Sorry, meant to change that earlier.
Posted by: Johnetta Hancock aka Wench | November 7, 2006 11:42 AM
Hello there, Wench! You ray of sunshine, you!
I am 5 hours ahead of this blog, so, can anyone tell me what time the results should be in. I may stay awake. heh.
Posted by: Mgt | November 7, 2006 11:49 AM
Pelosi, who would probably be House leader if the Dems re-take the House, said there would be no impeachment. I have mixed feelings about that. OTOH, I felt Clinton's impeachment was a crock--especially in light of the Henry Hyde's of the House.
Yeah--I know. He lied. Compare his lies to lying about WMDs to start a war.
Was GWB under oath when he was before the 9/11 committee?
No.
Bush and Cheney did not testify before the panel -- they were not under oath and there was to be no recording made of the session nor a stenographer in the room.
I suppose 9/11 wasn't as critical to the nation as was the affair with Monica.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 7, 2006 12:30 PM
Looks like everyone's out voting. Keep up the good work, people.
Posted by: Nadine | November 7, 2006 01:33 PM
Hiya Mgt. I think that'd be one a.m. for you. Better just wait, hehehe.
Posted by: Wench | November 7, 2006 01:45 PM
And so it starts:
Jean Jensen, Secretary of the Virginia state board of elections, was just on MSNBC saying VA voters were called today telling voters their polling places have changed when they haven't.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 7, 2006 01:49 PM
Continued entry with photo-doc of my voting today.
Posted by: loretta | November 7, 2006 01:49 PM
I vote permanent absentee since they moved our polling place so far away.
Still trying to find a web site that will be posting live results tonight.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 7, 2006 02:03 PM
Joined the other old goats in voting at the firehouse today. Looks like a strong turnout. They had computer voting machines, truely novel here, and a long line trying to use them. I selected a paper ballot, voted straight Republican, and it was scanned into a machine, also new here.
Posted by: Vet4Bush | November 7, 2006 02:31 PM
Good job, Joe. I hope you won't be a sore loser today. heh heh!
I'm feeling very confident.
Posted by: loretta | November 7, 2006 02:37 PM
Dunno about the sore part, but, well...just sayin' as Syndic so eloquently states. Hehehehe, I'm still on a tear here. Positive thoughts for change!
Posted by: Wench | November 7, 2006 02:44 PM
Oh yeah, I feel so much safer:
A two-year-old Emirati boy was briefly held at Dubai airport after he appeared on a list of wanted security suspects.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 7, 2006 02:44 PM
Y'know, CG, I believed that instantly. Normally, a first reaction might be "No way!".
But then, this gov't. isn't normal is it?
Posted by: Wench | November 7, 2006 02:53 PM
Stupidity. My friend David Nelson (Ozzie's boy) has trouble flying because there is a DN on the no-fly list.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 7, 2006 03:00 PM
We've got the hot gov race here in Michigan and they are both awful. We have some important house and senate races as well.
We also have five props on the ballot but only two which are even mildly important. Of course, the wording is awkward and confusing so you have to do your homework before you vote so you know if yes really means yes.
Posted by: Lisa | November 7, 2006 03:00 PM
There's no need to stay up late tonight. Because Mercury is retrograde, it may be days before the final results are certified.
Posted by: Betsy Ross | November 7, 2006 03:03 PM
Here's a live blog on voting in Ohio:
http://www.progressohio.org/page/community/members
Posted by: Betsy Ross | November 7, 2006 03:11 PM
I pulled a straight party ticket, too, Captain.
Lisa is right about the goober-natorial candidates here in MI. I suppose it is a lesser of two evils situation. Our economy bites the big one.
Breezed right in and out at the polls (12:30 pm). No waiting.
They just switched our ballots from the felt tip/complete the arrow to black pen/fill in the bubble forms. We do still have to feed them into the electronic counter.
No ID required.
Pleasantville is getting all fancy schmancy with the computer ballot booths, Loretta. I don't know if my small town could handle that as all our poll volunteers are about 120 years old.
Posted by: Monica | November 7, 2006 03:31 PM
Your neighborhood is lovely, too, by the way Loretta.
Posted by: Lisa | November 7, 2006 03:35 PM
We had a couple who were flappers during the Roaring Twenties, too.
I went at lunch time thinking it might be crowded (and I'd get better pictures), but it was pretty quiet.
I waited maybe 5 minutes before a "key" was free.
Everyone should come here. We also have flu shots readily available.
Posted by: loretta | November 7, 2006 03:38 PM
Reading at Betsy Ross's's's link above, I didn't experience ANY of those problems. I had to show one ID, I took pictures without anyone saying a word to me. A poll worker explained the paper documentation receipt thing to me, I told her I was documenting this for my blog and she smiled at me.
No lines, no broken machines, no hassles, no problema.
I guess it's a good example of a "Red" District in Cuyahoga County.
Posted by: loretta | November 7, 2006 03:42 PM
I thought for a moment that an alarm would go off when I voted "D" so often.
whoop whoop whoop whoop
whoop whoop whoop whoop
Like those sirens on a sinking ship. heh
Nobody messes with us here in the Ville of Pleasant.
Posted by: loretta | November 7, 2006 03:43 PM
So no poll worker choked you and tossed you out the door? Can you believe that happened? Allegedly.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 7, 2006 04:13 PM
From "Black Box Voting" what to watch for in voting anomalies:
Fasten your seat belts.
Posted by: loretta | November 7, 2006 04:52 PM
I hope everyone's voting experience went well. I'm a permanent absentee voter, so I'm doing other things today.
Yay, no more political phone calls! Even with an unlisted number, we get lots of them.
Posted by: Nadine | November 7, 2006 05:34 PM
I am waiting eagerly to see the outcome of the elections today, but knowing some of the people that I do, and seeing how utterly desperate they are to get out the RWR,religious "nuts", and other like-minded factions, I have my doubts.
I truly hope for some kind of change, but it just seems to me that over half this country is brainwashed to some extent or another.
Posted by: Spellcaster | November 7, 2006 05:39 PM
MSNBC has Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann doing election coverage. Just started.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 7, 2006 06:03 PM
Isn't there some way we can warp ahead to see the results?
Posted by: Deege | November 7, 2006 06:12 PM
Posted by: CountryGal | November 7, 2006 06:41 PM
We have ballots that have blocks to fill in with a pen. Then you feed them into a machine. Because of that there was no waiting. Some people had to wait in line for a minute to feed the ballots into the machine but that was it. It was a snap.
And that's as far as I'll go to discuss politics among friends. It's a policy that I won't break.
Posted by: Barbara | November 7, 2006 06:48 PM
I just hung up on Ahhhnold. Hung up on Clint Eastwood yesterday.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 7, 2006 06:51 PM
They're showing our good buddy's area of the country on the news right now. Wow! The flooding is unbelievable! I'm thinking of you my friend.
Posted by: Barbara | November 7, 2006 06:52 PM
We had George, Laura and Guilliani call our house.
Posted by: Barbara | November 7, 2006 06:53 PM
Big surprise! Glitch in Missouri. 2 counties near Joplin have run out of ballots. Twice the turnout than expected. THROW THE BUMS OUT!
Posted by: CountryGal | November 7, 2006 07:22 PM
Nifty electronic machines here, very quick process.
Now, the wait begins. WEBB just has to beat George Allen with the widest margin in VA voting history! George walks around in his cowboy boots and has that same lofty attitude and sneer as the other George.
He was Governor, now Senator and thinks he has a shot at the Presidency one day. Aack! Stop him now!
Posted by: Jo Ann in VA | November 7, 2006 07:24 PM
Posted by: CountryGal | November 7, 2006 07:26 PM
It took Hubby 1 1/2 hours this morning and I was in there just over an hour.
It was the first time I didn't mind standing in line.
There wasn't problem with anything just a huge turnout. Thank heaven. I've always said, that if you don't vote you don't get to complain. There was another word I was going to type intstead of complain, but wanted to keep it rated "G".
Go voters!
Posted by: Mary Poppins | November 7, 2006 07:40 PM
CNN projects Strickland wins Ohio governor race.
Whoo hoo!! Tremendous. Now, let's keep on keepin' on.
Posted by: loretta | November 7, 2006 07:44 PM
Those 2 counties in SW Missouri that ran out of ballots tried xeroxing ballots but the voting machines won't scan them. Now they are filling them out and someone will have to transfer them by hand to a real ballot before they can be counted.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 7, 2006 07:52 PM
Ohio voting extended
Ohio was one place where malfunctions led a federal judge to extend voting.
The Ohio Democratic Party requested the extension in Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland, saying that at least a dozen polling places opened late because of early problems with voting machines. The U.S. District Court granted the extension from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Ohio Elections chief Michael Vu said earlier that some machines did not work and there were some cases of technicians either not showing up or being unable to get the machines working right away.
An unknown number of voters were turned away until about 20 precincts began using paper ballots to be counted by optical scanners.
The Democrats also had asked the court to order Cuyahoga County officials to count those paper ballots —the county did not know how many were cast — Tuesday night. Earlier, the elections board said it would not count them until Nov. 28, when the results are made official.
The party claims the delays disenfranchised voters and that not immediately counting the paper ballots is wrong because they are regular ballots cast by valid voters.
From this story:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15590530/
Posted by: loretta | November 7, 2006 08:07 PM
Two flipping years since the last election fiasco and this stuff is still happening.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 7, 2006 08:13 PM
NBC projects Casey beats Santorum.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 7, 2006 08:28 PM
Thank you, Jesus!
Posted by: loretta | November 7, 2006 08:32 PM
NBC projects Democrat Menendez re-elected to Senate in N.J.
Posted by: loretta | November 7, 2006 08:34 PM
I hope this turns out to be true:
NBC projects Democrat Sherrod Brown defeats DeWine for Senate in Ohio.
You go, Sherrod. Dang. It feels like Christmas!
Posted by: loretta | November 7, 2006 08:46 PM
NBC projects Democrat Senate wins: Stabenow, Mich.; Klobuchar, Minn.
Welcome to the REVOLUTION! The people have spoken.
Posted by: loretta | November 7, 2006 09:02 PM
DeLay (isn't he supposed to be in jail?) has coined a new phrase: "Lame duck majority."
We'll see who the lame ducks are.
Posted by: loretta | November 7, 2006 09:26 PM
Rhode Island Senate went to Whitehouse over incumbent Chafee.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 7, 2006 09:33 PM
LOL--fix my typo! I'm so excited I can't type on this laptop.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 7, 2006 09:34 PM
CNN projects Democratic win in Rhode Island, beating incumbent Lincoln Chafee, giving the Democrats three of the six pickups they need to take control of the Senate.
I think everyone agrees the House takeover is a slam dunk.
Posted by: loretta | November 7, 2006 09:35 PM
JINX, CG! I was posting the same thing. I know what you mean, I feel like we're in the 7th game of the World Series and up 6 runs in the bottom of the 7th.
I can't imagine the GOP machine being able to screw this up. It's too wide of a margin for them to rig it.
Posted by: loretta | November 7, 2006 09:39 PM
At this point (and it's time stamped), I predict at least a 50 seat majority in the House (including a couple of liberal Independents) and a 10 seat majority in the Senate.
I hope I'm wrong. I hope it's even a bigger blowout than that; but, I'm not greedy.
Posted by: loretta | November 7, 2006 09:44 PM
I am anxious to find out what the turnout was today. To me, that is the important part of this whole thing. People voting!!
Posted by: CountryGal | November 7, 2006 09:49 PM
This is another race I'm watching in Ohio:
House District 15
75% of precincts reporting
Kilroy Dem 62180 52%
Pryce Rep* 58242 48%
~~~~~~~~~~
It's too close to call, yet.
My incumbent Congressman, Dennis Kucinich, has already won easily with something like a 3:1 margin.
Posted by: loretta | November 7, 2006 09:54 PM
Projected new House (NBC):
D=231 (+29)
R=204 (-28)
Posted by: CountryGal | November 7, 2006 11:03 PM
It could be a tie in the Senate, but I'm still hoping for a majority by 1 or 2 seats, including the Independents. I wish we had 10 Independents.
I'm still holding out for a +40 majority in the House. It's still early.
Posted by: loretta | November 7, 2006 11:07 PM
Hey mahn, oui vote permanentoid absenthe-tee and like it and smoke it. We will be up all night long waitin for the cally tally.
John had is 2nd sturgeon of the left foot today and we just had the follow-up call from the sturgeon and all is wail. Pot of chicken-saffron soop on dee stobe and glory, glory and glory again. . . my only conservative dawter in Wyoming voted a straight liberal billete today and I pronounce that she has finally come of age and her sisters rejoice!
All in all it has been a spectacular weather day in peery-dice. Ire push comes to shove locally about the Ataxidermy City Council, as oui, ire-selves and us dew knot want a super-Walmark on ire propitty of the city limits. No No and No. Keep WalMark out of paradise. The rest will be known manana. hasta leggos ya'll. moire
Posted by: meehatmahghosties | November 7, 2006 11:32 PM
There will be a recount in Virginia. Looks like the Senate won't be settled tonight. Less than 7K difference.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 7, 2006 11:34 PM
I can go to bed BLUE once again!!! Yaaaaay! My faith in sanity has been rewarded. Looks like a clean breeze is blowing through this country at last. Nytol!
Posted by: Wench | November 8, 2006 01:20 AM
Good morning!
Things are looking good! The world is as it should be, today.
God Bless America!
Posted by: Mgt | November 8, 2006 04:05 AM
You certainly live in a pretty part of the country, Loretta.
The seasonal States have a special something.
over here, the weather is drizzling and dull. Just for a change!
Posted by: Mgt | November 8, 2006 07:46 AM
G'mornin' all. Thanks for the positive thoughts. This weather is wreaking havoc with the long commute. Our area (SW mountains) is not so hard hit as the coastal areas, but we are experiencing a number of rockslides. Makes the drive interesting, hehehe.
On a lighter note, GO BLUE!!!!!
Posted by: Wench | November 8, 2006 09:00 AM
I'm a happy camper!
Posted by: vero | November 8, 2006 09:26 AM
Things are looking better!
I am more than happy to have been wrong about the people being somewhat brainwashed. I am, however a bit surprised about the William Jefferson outcome in LA. After all, during the hurricane evacuation, he went to his home to retrieve $90,00.00 from a freezer, no less. The outcome of that particular election sends a bad message to the country about the character of many in LA.
The House is now Demo, and Montana may or may not come through. If so, it looks like the Senate will be Demo as well.
I've voted across party lines many times based on constitutionality, principle, and just plain right and wrong, and I suspect many Republicans did that as well.
Now, for the "damage control" before the big change.
Posted by: Spellcaster | November 8, 2006 10:15 AM
Good grief, the Church of the Holy Smokes got hammered yesterday. Both Issue 4 (banning smoking pretty much everywhere but your basement utility room) and an extra 1.5 cent tax on cigarettes to fund "culture" in the County were passed.
Now, the congregation of the CotHS should all QUIT.
That'd show 'em.
Let them tax Little Debbies or Pepsi or something.
Posted by: loretta | November 8, 2006 10:26 AM
Little Debbies, Pepsi AND extra-wide computer chairs. I vote for a 50% hike on the latter, hehehe.
Posted by: Wench | November 8, 2006 11:44 AM
LHAT, Wenchie!
So two seats still up for grabs in the Senate. Hope the results come in soon.
More ticked off people in the US than they counted on, aren't there. Love it!
Posted by: Deege | November 8, 2006 11:48 AM
The winds of change. Ciao, everybody
Posted by: Mgt | November 8, 2006 11:52 AM
Those are cracking pictures, BTW.
Posted by: Mgt | November 8, 2006 11:52 AM
Prop 86 here failed. It was to add $2.60 per pack of cigs and give to HMOs and Healthcare companies.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 8, 2006 12:11 PM
A local guy who owned a cigar shop was going to have to close. It was a lifetime dream but he couldn't afford to stay open if 86 passed because the state would immediately come in a tax his current inventory up front and that would put him out of business.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 8, 2006 12:17 PM
MSNBC saying Democrat Jon Tester apparent winner of Montana Senate race.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 8, 2006 12:49 PM
RUMSFELD stepping down!
It's Morning In America!
Posted by: CountryGal | November 8, 2006 12:50 PM
MSNBC just reported that AP is staying Rumsfeld is stepping down!
Posted by: Deege | November 8, 2006 12:51 PM
Yep. Now, if Cheney would resign, my cup runneth over.
Posted by: loretta | November 8, 2006 12:53 PM
Jinx CG! LHAT
Posted by: Deege | November 8, 2006 12:53 PM
I watched a podcast of Tom DeLay this morning, and I swear, he is either on some major psychotropic drugs, or he's had a nervous breakdown and is delusional.
Or, both.
Posted by: loretta | November 8, 2006 12:55 PM
Mine too Loretta. Darth Cheney needs to retire.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 8, 2006 01:03 PM
I wonder who will replace Rummy?
Posted by: Nadine | November 8, 2006 01:06 PM
Oh jeebus, he's putting a Spook in charge of the Pentagon.
Acccckkkkk. What a mess.
Posted by: loretta | November 8, 2006 01:08 PM
Such BS! To our enemies, don't rejoice. WTF! I guess he just told the American people what he thinks of them.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 8, 2006 01:10 PM
Robert Gates, former head of the CIA, to replace Rumsfeld.
Sheesh.
Posted by: Nadine | November 8, 2006 01:15 PM
Jeebus! What a train wreck.
Posted by: Vet4Bush | November 8, 2006 01:17 PM
Morning!
Posted by: Thumper | November 8, 2006 01:24 PM
And what a morning it is, Thumper.
Posted by: Nadine | November 8, 2006 01:25 PM
Yes it is, Nadine!
Posted by: Thumper | November 8, 2006 01:32 PM
Pick a lane, NadThump, bwwwwaaahhhaaaaaahhhhaaaaaa!
Posted by: Wench | November 8, 2006 02:03 PM
Well, don't rest on your laurels. We are the managers of Congress. We are their boss. When you hire someone new, do you leave them in the corner and say, "Ok, buddy, fend for yourself!"
No. You train them. You give them the agenda. You oversee them and supervise them.
We have to make sure our new Congress does what we sent them for.
That's what writing letters and getting up their ass is for. We the people, remember?
It's our responsibility to make sure they do their jobs and represent us. If not, throw them out, too!
If the idiots in Congress don't get a clue that they are there to represent the people; and, concurrently, if the people don't make them accountable - that's when you get the catastrophe that is Bush II.
It's our job to get in their faces. Luckily, my senator (newly-elected Sherrod Brown, whom I know personally) and Dennis Kucinich are already on the same page as I am. We need to write to Pelosi, the chairs of the committees (when decided), etc.
What are you going to do, sit back and let the lobbyists take over?
Posted by: loretta | November 8, 2006 02:10 PM
Pick a lane? I'm rooting for the Demos.
I wasn't thrilled about Ahhnold for Goobernator again, but the Dem choice, Angelides, was really lame. I wouldn't have minded seeing Camejo (which is who I voted for) get it. It isn't easy being Green, right?
Posted by: Nadine | November 8, 2006 02:18 PM
LOL, I mean which is it, Nadine or Thumper? Too funny.
Posted by: Wench | November 8, 2006 02:38 PM
So, this is the guy that invented the electronic handprint ID? Jeebus! He could be worse than Rummy. If the Dems get the Senate, can he be rejected?
Posted by: vero | November 8, 2006 02:38 PM
I don't know, Thumper. Who's on first?
Posted by: Nadine | November 8, 2006 03:09 PM
Jeebus! He could be worse than Rummy. If the Dems get the Senate, can he be rejected?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It seems there always has to be a big fat wormy apple somewhere in the barrel.
Posted by: Nadine | November 8, 2006 03:11 PM
Was this the October surprise? Rove's way of stealing the thunder from the a$$-handing they got yesterday? Rummy should have "stepped down" ages ago.
Bush said just a few days ago that Rummy and Darth were going to be there through the end of the term.
Now he says he couldn't replace him until he had a chance to talk to his replacement? And he did that Sunday at the ranch?
How scary is this guy? He chats with Gates on Sunday and ok--here ya go! Take over the DoD in war. Great job, Rummy. Catch my eyes please!
Posted by: CountryGal | November 8, 2006 03:43 PM
We're going to need bigger nets, CountryGal.
Posted by: Nadine | November 8, 2006 03:56 PM
Oh I feel better now.
Rush feels liberated because he was tired of carrying water for people who didn't deserve it.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 8, 2006 04:01 PM
If the Rummy move doesn't work next move is Cheney is to "retire" because of "heart problems" and be replaced by Powell. What a train wreck!
Posted by: Vet4Bush | November 8, 2006 04:20 PM
Since when was Limpbaugh appointed "waterboy"?
Posted by: Nadine | November 8, 2006 04:34 PM
I'd take Colin Powell over Cheney any day.
Posted by: Nadine | November 8, 2006 04:36 PM
Won't work. Darth doesn't have a heart.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 8, 2006 04:59 PM
After the Prez's press conference (where he was unscripted and said the usual idiotic stuff), I watched some of the analysis before I had to leave again. I'm sure that canning Rummy was a gesture that he couldn't refuse. I doubt he did it without kicking and screaming.
He's putting Daddy's buddies in charge, now - Baker and ex-spook Gates.
There will be Senate confirmation hearings during this session, I would imagine.
Posted by: loretta | November 8, 2006 06:28 PM
Lesa sent me some articles about a murdered pregnant woman in Raleigh (not Durham), our old stomping grounds, crime-wise, and it looks like a good candidate for Spouse Murrrder Theatre.
I am going to do some homework about it. The husband did many fishy things right out of the domestic homicide playbook.
The victim was Michelle Young, 5-months' pregnant, murdered by bludgeoning.
Posted by: loretta | November 8, 2006 06:35 PM
Robert Gates. Now That is one scary guy. I don't necessarily see this as an improvement to Rummy!
what's you all's take on a spook running that show?
Posted by: Spellcaster | November 8, 2006 07:17 PM
Some info on Gates:
Gates left the CIA in 1974 to serve on the National Security Council staff but returned to the CIA in late 1979. He was named the Director of the DCI/DDCI Executive Staff in 1981, Deputy Director for Intelligence in 1982, and Deputy Director of Central Intelligence from April 18, 1986, to March 20, 1989. He was nominated to become the Director of Central Intelligence in early 1987, but withdrew the nomination after it became clear the Senate would reject it due to controversy[6] about his role in the Iran-Contra affair. Senate members later queried the nomination for the additional reason that Gates allegedly passed intelligence to Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Gates
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Good golly, he sounds like a real winner.
Posted by: Nadine | November 8, 2006 07:45 PM
Posted by: CountryGal | November 8, 2006 08:07 PM
Olbermann is cracking me up tonight. I won't ruin it for anyone but he is getting in some really good shots.
Posted by: Thumper | November 8, 2006 08:26 PM
I just love Olbermann. He ROCKS.
Posted by: Nadine | November 8, 2006 08:31 PM
Looks like 41 is pulling all the strings in the WH and Pentagon now. At least Rummy was his own man. Gates sounds like an @$$ kisser to me and I know all the generals are boot lickers. I wonder who will call the shots on Iraq now, Cheney, Baker?
Posted by: Vet4Daddy'sPuppet | November 8, 2006 08:31 PM
Did anyone see the press conference with Rummy this afternoon? I missed it.
Any thoughts you care to share would be appreciated.
Posted by: Thumper | November 8, 2006 08:44 PM
I would have to say Cheney is going to be running that show from the shadows now, baby. He is the prototype spook/Henchman/Wiseguy, despite his origins, and he's proven himself to be just shady enough to perpetrate the kind of terrors that are going on, and will be until they're all given the boot.
Posted by: Spellcaster | November 8, 2006 08:47 PM
The AP is declaring Webb the winner in VA.
Posted by: Thumper | November 8, 2006 08:49 PM
I wouldn't be surprised if Cheney fakes his own death here in the next two years if the heat goes up.
I always thought there was something fishy about Wm. Casey's sudden death during the Iran-Contra hearings.
Oh, and welcome to Spellcaster - belatedly.
Posted by: loretta | November 8, 2006 08:51 PM
He is the prototype spook/Henchman/Wiseguy, despite his origins, and he's proven himself to be just shady enough to perpetrate the kind of terrors that are going on, and will be until they're all given the boot.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excellent point, Spellcaster. Like CountryGal said earlier, he doesn't have a heart.
Posted by: Nadine | November 8, 2006 08:53 PM
Vet, Rummy was his own man, with a black heart.
I find the thought of Gates to be frightening. I don't remember much about Baker from Bush Sr.'s presidency.
Posted by: vero | November 8, 2006 09:02 PM
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/08/election.bush/index.html
I'm obviously disappointed with the outcome of the election and, as the head of the Republican Party, I share a large part of the responsibility," Bush said during a East Room news conference at the White House.
"I told my party's leaders that it is now our duty to put the elections behind us and work together with the Democrats and independents on the great issues facing this country." (Read a transcript of Bush's comments)
I wonder what he really meant here.
Posted by: spellcaster | November 8, 2006 09:02 PM
He meant, try and get the Independents on the R side.
He meant, put his intel buddies to work finding the skeletons in every Democrat's closet.
He meant figure out how to steal the power back.
Posted by: vero | November 8, 2006 09:05 PM
Everything you ever wanted to know about Bush 41 and his cronies is in this book:
http://www.tarpley.net/bushb.htm
Absolutely riveting reading, if your up for it.
Posted by: loretta | November 8, 2006 09:06 PM
Whenever Dubya's lips are moving, it's a good bet he's lying.
I think he is sweating bullets.
Posted by: loretta | November 8, 2006 09:08 PM
Well that shot down the 50/50 with Darth as tie-breaker.
Posted by: CountryGal | November 8, 2006 09:09 PM
I hope Allen concedes so we can get on with the celebration.
It's a lost cause. His aspirations for 2008 are kind of down the tubes, now.
I can't see McCain running, either. He won't get past a few primaries. He's too old, and he's in ill health. He's just not going to cut it.
But, I'm not going to worry much about 2008 right now. A lot can happen between now and then.
Posted by: loretta | November 8, 2006 09:12 PM
NBC says Webb won!
Posted by: vero | November 8, 2006 09:15 PM
"Gates’ curriculum vitae is a near perfect match, as he was neck deep in Iran-Contra and is nothing short of a Bush crime family sycophant. Gates was, according to Israeli intelligence officer Ari Ben-Menashe, involved in the “October Surprise,” the secret agreement between Iran and conniving Republicans, led by Bush Senior, to release the hostages after the November, 4, 1980 elections, thus providing Reagan with election time boasting points.
Although Gates denied firsthand knowledge of Iran arms sales profits illegally diverted to the Contras, evidence demonstrates that he received a report on the diversion during the summer of 1986 from DDI Richard Kerr. “The issue was whether Independent Counsel could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Gates was deliberately not telling the truth when he later claimed not to have remembered any reference to the diversion before meeting with [national intelligence officer Charles E. Allen, neck deep in the muck of the Iran-Contra crimes]” on October 1, 1986, notes Wikipedia."
For the rest of the article:
Posted by: loretta | November 8, 2006 09:45 PM
Vero
Baker is a Houston lawyer, was a "fixer" or button man for the Bushes in several capacities. No telling all the favors he's done for daddy Bush.
Posted by: Vet4Daddy'sPuppet | November 8, 2006 10:41 PM
Here's a coincidence, John Heinz, Terayzer's hubby, and John Tower killed in airplane crashes on consecutive days.
According to researcher Rodney Stich in Defrauding America, when George Bush Sr. and CIA Director William Casey engineered the October Surprise to bribe Iranian officials into retaining US hostages until after the 1980 elections, two of the passengers on Bush’s BAC 111 flight to Paris were Senator John Heinz, along with Senator John Tower from Texas.
Even more intriguing is the fact that John Heinz chaired a three-man presidential review board that probed the Iran-Contra affair and had in his possession all the damning documents from that sordid affair, while John Tower led the infamous Tower Commission that investigated a variety of different CIA criminal activities and dirty dealings. Coincidentally, both John Heinz and John Tower died in plane wrecks on successive days in 1991 – Tower in Georgia, and Heinz in Montgomery County, Pa. Once again I must ask: what are the odds of such an occurrence, especially when both men had close ties to George Bush Sr., who was a former CIA director in the mid-1970s? Did both of these men uncover information that they refused to keep silent about any longer?
Posted by: Vet4Daddy'sPuppet | November 8, 2006 10:47 PM
Wow, Vet!
I thought I'd been down the rabbit hole! LOL!
I know--it's not funny. It's tragic, for those two men, and for this country.
Posted by: vero | November 8, 2006 11:21 PM
Hey Vet4D's Puppet - you're sounding like my kind of conspiracy theorist! Welcome! Here's your tin foil hat.
I love consiracies.
Posted by: loretta | November 8, 2006 11:22 PM
consPiracies. I can type. not.
Posted by: loretta | November 8, 2006 11:22 PM
Interesting point, Joe. Definitely worth a deeper look.
Posted by: Wench | November 8, 2006 11:26 PM
It's even more squirrelly. There were rumors that Heinz was getting ready to blow the whistle on Arlen Specter, who concocted the magic bullet theory in the Kennedy assassination, before he was killed in the aircraft accident.
Posted by: Vet4Daddy'sPuppet | November 8, 2006 11:29 PM
But I digress, I'm a real nut on the Kennedy assassination theories.
Posted by: Vet4Daddy'sPuppet | November 8, 2006 11:33 PM
Here's a coincidence, John Heinz, Terayzer's hubby, and John Tower killed in airplane crashes on consecutive days.
Holy Cow.
We're going to need another roll of tinfoil.
Posted by: Nadine | November 9, 2006 02:48 AM
Good morning.
Nothing surprises me about the Bush family, anymore.
But Vet4 really surprises me. I thought he was a Bush supporter, or, am I even more confused than I thought?
Very intriguing stories, Vet.
Posted by: Mgt | November 9, 2006 05:12 AM
Vet has been let down by this administration. I think he has blamed the garbage on those surrounding the prez, and given bush the benefit of the doubt. However, his (Vet's) new nic suggests that he has been disillusioned.
The Kennedy conspiracies got too complex for me, but I still don't believe in the Magic Bullet. I just can't see how his head could jerk back (in the Zapruder film) without being hit from the front.
Anyway, that's a different rabbit hole.
Nadine, I can send you a link to a really good tinfoil hat.
Posted by: vero | November 9, 2006 08:53 AM
Glad to see that Jimmuh Cawtuh's son lost in Nevada.
Posted by: Vet4Daddy'sPuppet | November 9, 2006 10:21 AM
I Jimmuh was too busy helping socialist Ortega win to help his son.
Posted by: Vet4Daddy'sPuppet | November 9, 2006 10:23 AM
Ciao, everybody.
Posted by: Mgt | November 9, 2006 11:44 AM
Yeah, I have always wondered who the eminence grise was behind Bush. Rove is certainly one candidate, and 41 and his handlers James "the velvet hammer" Baker, Brent Scowcroft are others. But I think it may be someone else, maybe some oil sheik or someone with pictures of his granddad and Hitler together.
Posted by: Vet4Daddy'sPuppet | November 9, 2006 12:57 PM
Bandar Bush
Posted by: CountryGal | November 9, 2006 06:03 PM
Gates has links to VoteHere:
> Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfield will resign, reportedly to be
> replaced by former CIA director Robert Gates.
>
> Gates was on the board of directors of VoteHere, a strange little
> company that was the biggest elections industry lobbyist for the Help
> America Vote Act (HAVA). VoteHere spent more money than ES&S, Diebold,
> and Sequoia combined to help ram HAVA through. And HAVA, of course,
> was a bill sponsored by by convicted Abramoff pal Bob Ney and K-street
> lobbyist buddy Steny Hoyer. HAVA put electronic voting on steroids.
(From an email I received.)
Posted by: loretta | November 9, 2006 07:02 PM
More on VoteHere:
http://www.bbvforums.org/cgi-bin/forums/board-auth.cgi?file=/1954/45174.html
Posted by: Betsy Ross | November 9, 2006 08:48 PM
Gates ran death squads and torture teams in Central America by the CIA in the 80's. He also gave Saddam chemical weapons that he used on the Kurds. He also supplied Osama with Redeye missiles. He also was good at twisting intelligence for political purposes for Reagan. I don't think many of the Dems are going to vote for this guy. From what I hear Harkins of Iowa will raise a stink in any hearings for this guy.
Posted by: Captain Joe | November 9, 2006 10:11 PM
He sounds like a real winner. I can't imagine hime being able to slip through with all that behind him.
Posted by: Nadine | November 9, 2006 10:13 PM
Interesting that Saddam's been sentenced to death for his crimes.
If Gates helped Saddam by supplying chemicals used on the Kurds, shouldn't he be on trial for war crimes too!
What a slimeball.
Posted by: Nadine | November 9, 2006 10:55 PM
Good morning!
What the heck is wrong with Dubya? Doesn't he know anyone who isn't a crummy sleaze-bag?
Tony Blair is now looking like a prize idiot. Still defending the occupation of Eeraaq! Give it up, Tony!
The Cash for Peerage investigations look like they will be the least of his worries. Let's get to what he knew about Iraq, and, when he knew it. He squandered our taxes! Bas*ard!
Our Prisons are overflowing, because the police and public services are over-strapped. Geez! Don't get me started on the delays in the National Health Service.
Okay! Sorry. I'll stop now.
Posted by: Mgt | November 10, 2006 03:42 AM
Wishing you all a bright and sunny weekend.
Ciao!
Posted by: Mgt | November 10, 2006 11:33 AM
BIG life insurance settlement for GerEgo's clients from NY Life:
Ouch.
Posted by: loretta | November 10, 2006 04:01 PM