Vox Populi – 3-6-2015

Hey Ad–How are you? May I just say I think republicans stink!

glenn

Hey Ad, glenn, what are those dastardly villains doing now?

pinkpantheroz

BRB

pinkpantheroz

Hey PPO–I know you’re not here right now, but the thing that is frosting me now is that only one republican member of the House of Representatives will be attending the 50th commemoration o the march on Selma this weekend. Of course, they’re not attending because the commemoration has to do with civil rights, so republicans can’t be seen to be for civil rights of ALL Americans.

glenn

So, Ad–what’s your take on the SCOTUS? Think they’ll vote against the subsidies?

glenn

Getting very lonely here tonight!

glenn

Bloody Typical, glenn! The GOP couldn’t alienate themselves more from the 99%, but they keep trying!

pinkpantheroz

I think that SCOTUS will keep the tax subsidies in the other states, as they wouldn’t want to be seen disenfranchising millions of people.

pinkpantheroz

PPO–yes, they keep trying. I have a feeling it’s part of that history they don’t want taught in the schools.

glenn

PPO–Well from some of the comments I’ve read from right-wingers lately, they (the right wingers) are saying that the law has those five words that negate the whole thing. And, of course, we know that the right wingers are always for the letter of the law.

glenn

Just watching a smugmug compilation of photos from a cousin in Boston. Unbelievable! He tells me that the garbos take up all the space-savers, but as soon as they’re gone, they replpace tham!

pinkpantheroz

Sorry, those few words; I really don’t know how many there are.

glenn

glenn, I think it is 4 words, which specify State exchanges, but don’t mention Fed exchanges.

pinkpantheroz

PPO–Okay, I give up. What are “garbos”? My step granddaughter lives in Boston and she’s putting up with all the snow, too. However, she’s in med school, so she’s not outside much–too much studying!

glenn

Sorry, glenn! Garbos are what we call the garbage collectors here.

pinkpantheroz

Trash collectors

pinkpantheroz

PPO–I figured that’s what it was, but I wanted to make sure.

glenn

PPO–I always like to learn new words, so thanks.

glenn

So what did you do with AdLib, PPO?

glenn

Yes, Aussies love to shorten things to either, – o or ie , like Milko – milkman, Barbie – BBQ etc. It catches on, sometimes! Adlib is probably penning a scathing comment on just about anything!

pinkpantheroz

….or maybe he’s fallen asleep at the keyboard! WAKE UP AD!!!

pinkpantheroz

Hi good folks. I hope everyone is well!

sabreen60

Hey, sabreen, Beatlex.

pinkpantheroz

What was Hillary thinking? She had to know this would come out! Hi everyone!

Beatlex

Yeah, Americans shorten words all the time, too, PPO.

glenn

Hey Sabreen, hey Beatlex

glenn

Beatlex–Apparently Hillary either wasn’t thinking, or didn’t care. She has that tendency sometimes, I think (to not care what anybody thinks).

glenn

Beat – just another furphy from the GOPers. All emails sent ot staff are already archived at thei end. Just anothe excuse to bleat BENGHASI

pinkpantheroz

Sorry, fingers falling off!

pinkpantheroz

PPO–Well, you can be sure that when the State Department finally releases the emails, the repubs will go over them with a fine tooth comb!

glenn

glenn, I keep hearing that the law re private emails didn’t go into effect until after she left the Dept. Then I heard the law was in effect half way thru. But I do know that the law was not in effect during Colin Powell.

sabreen60

If anyone keeps complaining, just mention that consummate liar, Colin Powell

pinkpantheroz

And, of course, they’ll have to have at least 10 hearings to “discuss” what’s in them. BENGHAZI!

glenn

Hillary should hand over that server and get it over with

Beatlex

Sorry, sabreen, we crossed. I didn’t know there was no such directive during Powells stint as SecState

pinkpantheroz

Sabreen–yeah, I heard that about the law, too. I thought it was passed in 2009, so that was just when Hillary became SOS.

glenn

Beatlex, Hubby who is IT says it’s ridiculous to think she had the actual server in her home. She wouldn’t need the server.

sabreen60

Sab, maybe to encrypt before heading out the door?

pinkpantheroz

Sabreen–Ha! When I first read your post about hubby, I thought you meant he was “it”–you know the cat

glenn

Oops–you know, the cat’s meow. Then I realized you meant he is a technology guy!

glenn

Glenn, not Cousin IT?

pinkpantheroz

glenn

sabreen60

PPO–No, I didn’t think of cousin IT.

glenn

This is from “Little Green Footballs”: he Associated Press story assumed that because these emails were sent from clintonemail•com, they had to be coming from that domain. What they apparently didn’t realize (but any competent web developer could have told them) is that the ISP that hosts these emails, Cablevision, lets business customers configure their accounts to route email through Cablevision’s email server, but still use the customer’s domain name.

sabreen60

BRB – smoke-o!

pinkpantheroz

Sabreen–okay that sounds good, but what does it mean in English? That Hillary was using her own account or an official one? And, to quote–what difference does it make?

glenn

Also, I think AP has backed off the “homebrew” server.

sabreen60

glenn, that is talking about having the actual server in her home. The AP called it a “homebrew” server. It appears that she did not have a government email account. But used this private email to serve that purpose.

sabreen60

Sabreen–okay, I’ll bite. Why didn’t she have a government email account? And, I really am curious–what difference does it make if she uses a government account or a private account? Is there a difference?

glenn

glenn, If in fact she used Cablevision as her server, all her emails would be on their server. Therefore, they are available. If she had a private server, then should could destroy the emails and the server for that matter.

sabreen60

Sabreen–thanks. So will they be able to determine if she destroyed emails? I’ve always heard that even if you delete things on your computer, a tech can find out what you deleted. Is that true?

glenn

glenn, There is a law that says she should have used a government email account. At least that’s my understanding. I’m going to make an assumption that a government email account may be more secure than a private email account. But I certainly don’t know that for sure.

sabreen60

glenn, There are ways for a tech to recover info on your hard drive. Sometimes, they can’t get everything. But if you are using a web based email account, your emails are sitting on their server.

sabreen60

Sabreen–I’m still not sure what my reaction to all of this is. I do know it’s just more “tarnish on her polish” for a lot of people.

glenn

Sabreen–thanks for being so patient with me. One more question…so if she was using Cablevision as her server, then even if she deleted them, they could be recovered?

glenn

glenn, Absolutely. Did she know about the law? If not, why not? Why didn’t someone on her staff know? If she did not and decided to ignor it, why? All questions, that she’s gonna have to answer.

sabreen60

Sabreen–oops, I lied. I have more than one more question. What are the emails that the State Department is going through to release? Are they from that server? And, did the State Department have access to all of her emails at the time she was sending /receiving them?

glenn

glenn, If Hillary didn’t have the server sitting in her closet, but did use Cablevision, then her emails are on Cablevision’s server.

sabreen60

Sabreen–so are those the 55,000 pages of emails that the State Department has?

glenn

glenn, It is my understanding that she has turned over emails. Now whether, she’s turned them all over I don’t know. I also don’t know if the-powers-that-be have asked Cablevision for all her emails.

sabreen60

Sabreen–so, here we go again. Lots of questions to be answered, and you can be sure the republicans are going to be asking them. Along with a lot of Dems. That’s one of my biggest problems with Hillary. I thnk she is extremely arrogant. Not that she doesn’t have good reason to be; she is a very accomplished woman, IMO, but I think sometimes her arrogance gets the best of her.

glenn

Let me just say, I am repeating “Little Green Footballs”. I don’t know if someone built a server in Hillary’s home or not. But in order for the emails to be completely private, she would need her own server.

sabreen60

Sabreen–you can bet that lots of people are going to be asking about that server. And, even if it’s never found, this mess, too, will follow her around forever.

glenn

glenn, I don’t think there’s ever a reason to be arrogant. Of course, that’s just my opinion. But sure the Republicans are going to jump all over this. She’s going to have to response. Or else she may be another “Kerry” who didn’t fight back.

sabreen60

Sabreen–perhaps arrogant isn’t the correct word; maybe it’s more like condescending. And, I truly don’t think she’ll be like Kerry and not fight back. I think she wants the presidency too badly. I could be wrong; but I just don’t see her taking this without fighting back.

glenn

And…she certainly won’t be able to ignore it, either.

glenn

glenn, sabreen, maybe it’s to do with stopping leaks out of the State Dept.

pinkpantheroz

So…on to another subject. Spandan has a fantastic, if some lengthy, article about President Obama’s handling of the banking industry and how and why 31 huge banks passed the stress test and should be able to withstand another Great Recession without taxpayers bailing them out.

sabreen60

PPO–then she’s going to have to prove that there were leaks and that’s why she used a private account instead of a government one.

glenn

Oh, Spandan is over at The Peoples View.

sabreen60

Sabreen, pity no one has gone to jail over their criminal activities.

pinkpantheroz

Sabreen–I check TPV often. Is this a new article? I love Spandan’s articles!

glenn

Folks! Adlib is really Hillary Clinton!

pinkpantheroz

Ad–does that mean you’ll be setting up your Presidential PAC in anticipation of your quest for the presidency?

glenn

Adlib for President!

pinkpantheroz

PPO–Oh, that Ad is a sly one!

glenn

PPO – Well I think a couple did. But from what I understand because of Bush, a lot of what they did was legal. Anyway, President Obama made them pay all the money back with interest. Remember Bush & Paulson had some 3 page document with no strings that they wanted Congress to sign. And PBO and the Democrats said no way.

sabreen60

Ad–my lips are sealed. And especially so around Bill!

glenn

glenn, Yes. He’s been absent for a while. But he’s written 2 or 3 recent articles.

sabreen60

glenn, an unfortunate choice of words! Isn’t that why he gon into trouble in the first place???

pinkpantheroz

I am communicating with you via my secret server which I have cleverly disguised to appear as Firefox with a Yahoo appendage….

murphthesurf3

Hiya Murph. Glad your sercret server is working!

sabreen60

Ad–emailing yourself? Is that the techie version of talking to yourself? ‘Cause I do that all the time–talk to myself, I mean. Is that the only way you get intelligent emails?

glenn

Hey, Murph! Didn’t know Yahoo made appendages. Where can I get one?

pinkpantheroz

Sab….shhhhh.

murphthesurf3

PPO–Actually, it was a deliberate choice of words; just wondered if anyone would catch it! Being naughty, tonight, I am!

glenn

PPO…if you have to ask you can

murphthesurf3

Hey Murph–well, we all know how clever you are.

glenn

glenn, You know the commercial “It doesn’t work that way. None of this works that way”

sabreen60

PPO if you have to ask….you can’t have one.

murphthesurf3

Sabreen–you mean emailing yourself? BTW, I love those old ladies in that commercial!

glenn

Awww, murph.

pinkpantheroz

PPO- message got lost…if you have to ask then you will have to apply to the Super Secret Squirrel Society….

murphthesurf3

PPO–If I knew what in the hell they were talking about with all these servers and such, I’d let you have one.

glenn

I’t all Hellenic to me!

pinkpantheroz

glenn, What do you use for your email?

sabreen60

Sabreen–comcast

glenn

PPO–LOL!

glenn

PPO

murphthesurf3

Murph–If I promise to never reveal what I know about servers, which is nothing, then can I join the Society, also?

glenn

Murph–Do we get a secret decoder ring? Or a hat with eyeholes cut into the brim?

glenn

Thanks, Murph, that clarifies things to the bottom level of a coal mine 2000 feet deep! I’m an ignoramus about modern PCs. I used to operate computers using punch cards and paper tape, the good ol’ days!

pinkpantheroz

BRB

glenn

Glenn….the society has strict admission standards but I am certain you would qualify. You don’t mind having a GPS planted in your big toe do you?

murphthesurf3

glenn, Ok. So I think it’s save to assume your email is “web based”. Which means every email you send and receive is sitting on Comcast server. Police/FBI/Secret Service, etc. can get it. Other than that it’s suppose to be safe.

sabreen60

Murph, glenn, the only servers I know are those in restaurants!

pinkpantheroz

PPO – Did you use to “keypunch”?

sabreen60

PPO….it is good to know servers…

murphthesurf3

sabreen, yes, and verifiers, sorting machines and all that great stuff!

pinkpantheroz

Oh my goodness, PPO. So did I and was damn good, if I do say so myself.

sabreen60

Sabreen, couldn’t we make those things sing, or what? 7 years in IBM Ireland

pinkpantheroz

SO…..seriously….I heard an interview today with a former tech at Dept of State who said that the servers there are infamous for leaking like sieves and that Clinton was well served in not trusting them.

murphthesurf3

Murph, I suggested that might be the case earlier.

pinkpantheroz

PPO, I didn’t do it that long. I was in school and working full time at AT&T. Actually, I liked the verifer. But really didn’t care for the job and AT&T was horrible. Talk about racist. But that was in the the late 60’s early 70’s. I put up with a lot of crap because I was on my own and needed the job.

sabreen60

PPO…ah….he pointed out that DOS was hacked numerous times in the last 8 years but none of the hacked material leads back to Clinton’s server which he says means her firewall was better than the DOS main firewall.

murphthesurf3

Murph, to me there’s the justification in a nutshell, and bugger the whingers

pinkpantheroz

Murph, But was she using Cablevision’s server or did she have a server in her home?

sabreen60

Sab, I started as a trainee operator and finished at IBM as a Customer Engineer

pinkpantheroz

Howdy!

funksands

PPO- reading all of the commentary, she ignored/violated standards but did not break the law. AND it would appear that since State did not challenge her and the WH did not challengeher there was some agreement there.

murphthesurf3

I’m back, just read all the conversations about the early days. I used to work in a small town weekly newspaper and I was the first person in the US to use something called a “CompuServer”. I was the one who “set all the copy for the paper; the compuserve was this huge behemoth of a machine that used film that rolled on big drums. I just typed and the machine did the rest. Then my boss, the publisher, would take the drums to the printer to be printed.

glenn

Hiya Funk!

sabreen60

Sab, I have read that she her ownserver.

murphthesurf3

Hey Kitty~

funksands

Hey funk….we are revisiting the issue of Hillary’s e mail. Your thoughts?

murphthesurf3

BRB

pinkpantheroz

Don’t give a shit.

funksands

Hey Funk!

glenn

Funk, why?

murphthesurf3

Seriously. Bad form Hillary. Next legitimate issue please

funksands

Funk, do you regard this whole thing as a nothing being made into a something by her rivals, enemies..and nothing more.

murphthesurf3

Nearly every single government official during the time she was there was using personal email for some or all of their official correspondence. Some still are.

funksands

Murph–that’s the thing I don’t understand. If the DOS and WH knew she was not using government issue email, then it wasn’t a big deal, right? Of course, I know many people won’t see it that way.

glenn

Yes. She shouldn’t have done it. Next.

funksands

Funk–not trying to be snarky. How do you know that about the personal email?

glenn

This is simply the opening salvo in the batshit drooling feces-tossing insane-world crazy town that is going to be our political landscape over the next two years

funksands

Funk. My man! Ok, what about AG Holder’s DOJ report and his speech?

sabreen60

Funk, I agree with your perspective on this and add that I saw an interview with a tekkie from DOS now retired who said the DOS servers are notories sieves, not updated and badly managed. He said she was well served by her own firewall.

murphthesurf3

Sabreen–that DOJ report is hard to take, isn’t it?

glenn

Glenn, they admit it. Some still have personal email addresses on their official stationary

funksands

Funk–oh, okay, thanks. As you say, it won’t stop the feces throwing, though.

glenn

As you all know, I live in the St Louis/Ferguson area….the police here are in full defensive mode…..

murphthesurf3

Murph–any protests going on?

glenn

glenn, Yes it is. The Obama Diary had several excerpts that I read before reading the report. I actually burned part of my dinner, because I got so involved in reading. I really wanted to weep.

sabreen60

funksands

Glenn….no protests but for the first time real meetings to plot a political future for the majority in Ferguson….maybe this time they will get serious about the exercise of the franchise.

murphthesurf3

FUNK- THAT IS FREAKING BRILLIANT…WHERE CAN I FIND IT!

murphthesurf3

Murph, if nothing else comes from this fiasco, please let it be that the citizens of the town rise up and participate in the running of their town

funksands

Sabreen–I haven’t read the whole report–just some of the excerpts, but it’s so maddening to think that this kind of shit is still happening. I just don’t understand why blacks, who are US citizens just like everyone else, are treated this way.

glenn

Murph, its right there. Take it.

funksands

FUNK- got it (I think)

murphthesurf3

Funk, so when will gowdy begin the investigation of Chaffetz?

glenn

Glenn, oh any moment now.

funksands

I am much more concerned about how Hillary is going to exercise her executive power to coerce the GOP into passing laws that help anyone other than the rich and powerful

funksands

Funk–I’ll be sure to watch on C-Span.

glenn

Glenn, drink lots of coffee!

funksands

Funk, I’m with you there. I am really uneasy about Hillary.

sabreen60

The media and both parties and their presumptive front-runners want this election to be about ANYTHING but serious issues. It’s all horserace/ fluff/ or bullshit

funksands

Sabreen, there’s plenty to be uneasy about. She’s playing this perfectly. She will not lift a finger to run until all of the easy money and support is forced to gravitate to her. O’Malley and Bernie won’t be able to raise a damn dime or get any media traction until Hillary makes and announcement.

funksands

Funk–is there anyone who can coerce the gop into passing laws that help anyone other than the rich and powerful? And, what about all those abortion laws they have passed to help women? And, all those voting laws so that poor people have the right to vote? Oh, and speaking of that. None of those bastards/bastardettes (don’t know what you call a female bastard) who aren’t attending the commemoration in Selma this weekend? MInority outreach, my ass!

glenn

I’m scared there will be no debate, and the country will be forced to accept a Presidential race between a center-right corporatist hawk and whatever lunatic the GOP trots out.

funksands

Funk- I am not a Hillary fan. I will vote for her because there will be no other choice. Can you take me down the road to enthusiastic support?

murphthesurf3

Glenn, probably not. We’ve had a very expensive $12 Trillion lesson on how much little domestic political power the President has against a determined Congress/w/o earmarks available.

funksands

Dammit! Just as things get interesting, I gotta go out. Sorry. See you all next week.

pinkpantheroz

Funk et al, I think it was over The Peoples View, but am not sure – an article about all the good and progressive stuff that’s happened in the last 6 years under PBO – but is never talked about in the media. Nor are the problems we’re still facing talked about in the media. It’s unfortunate that we have no 4th Estate.

sabreen60

PPO–have a great weekend. Good night!

glenn

BUT, that said. I’m not a purist. I’d trade a yes vote on Keystone for a yes vote on American Jobs Act in a hot second.

funksands

Bye PPO

murphthesurf3

Good Night PPO.

sabreen60

No Murph. I’m right there with you unfortunately.

funksands

Nite Pink!

funksands

Funk…dang!

murphthesurf3

Funk…I have met no one in my circle who is Happy for Hillary. Ready is about as good as it gets.

murphthesurf3

She has modified her positions on some issues, but it’s still not awesome. I’m really really hoping that Sanders runs or Warren gets drafted if for not other reason that to force the debate where it needs to go.

funksands

Yep

funksands

Murph–do you think Sanders will run? And, if he does, what do you think that will do the Dem vote? Will it split it so that we end up with another republican president? OMG, those words are so hard to type!

glenn

Glenn, I wholeheartedly support a Bernie run as a Democrat. I will never support him if he runs as an independent.

funksands

O’Mally, Sanders and Warren on the stage with her would be good for all us….how to make it happen…that is the issue.

murphthesurf3

She’s running W’s 2000 playbook to the T. It’s great strategy.

funksands

Funk..can you say more about the playbook?

murphthesurf3

The ONE guy that can force her hand is Biden, and he doesn’t seem like he’s in much of a hurry to declare one way or the other.

funksands

Funk, That’s my fear, too. This looks like a coronation for Hillary. She’s too hawish for me and I really wanted to see some folks to her left throw their hats in the race. But she’s sucking up all the money and the oxygen.

sabreen60

Murph–do you think that if any of those people did try,that Hillary would still get the nomination? Is there any possibility of another candidate?

glenn

Funk–but if he runs as an independent, don’t you think he’ll still split the Dem vote?

glenn

Murph, suck up every available dime available to Democratic candidates prior to even declaring your candidacy. Other donors won’t risk giving to others while you are still on the sidelines. PBO jumped in 2 fricking years early to avoid just that issue.

funksands

Funk, not to mention that Bill will have a 3rd term.

sabreen60

Glenn, no doubt. Liberals would flock to him. GOP would win the White House if he stays in to the end. Great for the debates, great for the conversation in the nation, great for long term narrative, ensures a GOP President

funksands

Funk–but the good thing is that PBO got the nomination and Hillary didn’t. Do you think anyone else has a chance? And, do they have to declare soon?

glenn

Sabreen, you and I both know what kind of President Bill Clinton was. People joke that he was the best Republican President we ever had. I think he was the third worst in the last 70 years

funksands

Funk…you think Biden is still in. If so, I add him to my dream team.

murphthesurf3

Glenn, anything is possible. But Hillary is going to have to screw it up, OR Warren would have to run. Biden, O’Malley, Sanders don’t have a prayer.

funksands

Funk, I agree about Bill. I try to soothe myself by believing that even Hillary & Bill would be better than a RWNJ.

sabreen60

Murph, I think he’d like to, but he’s not a strong candidate, and he’s actually a bit long in the tooth. He doesn’t strike me as a guy that looks like he’s preparing to run either.

funksands

BRB

sabreen60

Funk–that’s my fear, too. I wish Bernie would run as a Dem. I think he would crush Hillary in debates and in moving the conversation forward. I really don’t want another republican president, nor do I really want Hillary as president,but I’d rather have a republican lite like her than a republican like the ones running now.

glenn

Funk, my reading as well.

murphthesurf3

I don’t think Biden’s much better that Hillary to be honest. I like him more. I like him a lot, I think he’s a good man. But his positions aren’t that different than Hillary’s. I think Hillary is a good person too BTW

funksands

Funk–I don’t think Biden will ever win the nomination, much as I like him. He’s just getting too creepy in his old age, with his hands all over women!

glenn

Glenn, Bernie running as a Dem would be fantastic. Just what the doctor ordered. I think he may just do it. He’s angry enough, he’s running out of opportunities, he’s never been more popular or more well known.

funksands

Glenn, Joe is definitely the embarrassing uncle at the party. My wife and I have called him Uncle Joe for 6 years now.

funksands

Funk–perhaps those people who are urging Warren to run should be urging Bernie instead.

glenn

Glenn, there is a significant, organized political movement that is already on the ground in Iowa and New Hampshire to basically force Warren to run.

funksands

Nothing like that for Bernie.

funksands

Bernie doesn’t have any name recognition outside of the liberal left.

funksands

Funk–it’s a shame, because I think without that baggage, Biden would make a good candidate. Don’t know much about his positions, though, since he doesn’t get trotted out much.

glenn

Unless the country has really changed, I don’t see Bernie or Warren winning a GE. Could be wrong, but I don’t see it.

sabreen60

Funk–Do you think Warren will run? And, why won’t people take at her word that she doesn’t want to run? I firmly believe she is right where she needs to be now, and if she truly doesn’t want to run, she shouldn’t be forced to run.

glenn

Sabreen–why?

glenn

Sabreen, Warren maybe, Bernie definitely not. Hillary is the best bet. I’m hoping she’s really thinking hard on how she wants to play this. I think she plays it as safe as she’s allowed and probably wins. The attacks on her will be so negative, even more than Obama, that I think she’ll get a lot of sympathy and energy directed to her campaign

funksands

Glenn, I think she correctly thinks that she has more influence on policy as a Senator.

funksands

To be perfectly honest, I think the pragmatic candidates don’t stand a change either – because they are black (Deval Patrick, for instance) or unknown (O’Malley). I don’t see another black candidate standing a snowball’s chance in hell winning the presidency any time in the forseeable future.

sabreen60

Funk–and I agree with her; even with a republican Congress, she holds her own.

glenn

I don’t care if they run for real but I want Warren, Sanders, OMalley on the stage with Hillary pushing and poking her. Biden can cheer from the sidelines if he wants OR join the crew as long as he does not plan to dominate.

murphthesurf3

Sabreen, what about RealBen™?

funksands

Funk–who is RealBen?

glenn

Murph, I’m with you. I’m hoping Bernie runs with the intention of burning the whole goddamn thing to the ground.

funksands

Glenn: Ben Carson

funksands

We need a Howard Beale in this election (minus the mental breakdown)

funksands

Funk…of course, we know that Bernie is a walking taking example of “When all is said and done, a lot more gets said than done.” Even so, his ideas are worth vetting and airing.

murphthesurf3

Funk–Someone said it best; seems like ben has performed brain surgery on himself, and it didn’t turn out too well.

glenn

Murph for sure

funksands

Oh Funk. Ben Carson just breaks my heart. Really. I read his autobiography years ago and even gave it to my son to read. The man has completely lost his mind.

sabreen60

Sabreen, I think that may actually be accurate. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him running around in traffic in a bath robe in a few years

funksands

Sabreen…I agree, black candidates will be disadvantaged by the Obama experience- nothing he did but what wad done to him.

murphthesurf3

We’ve taken a serious step back in the political dialogue in this country. We had a moment, a brief crack in the wall to make some serious changes, and the GOP sealed it up while the Dems watched. The only change worth having is going to come from the bottom-up. That’s how the crazies took over, and how normal folk are going to have to get it back

funksands

Sabreen, Murph, Funk–do you think someone like Corey Booker will run?

glenn

Glenn, I don’t know what to think of Corey Booker. I view him one moment as an insincere ladder-climber, the next as an earnest yet centrist reformer-lite.

funksands

There will be a gathering in Selma this weekend and only token GOP presence…they are THAT confidendent that the black vote does not count and their white voters would resent their being at an event recalling THAT man

murphthesurf3

Funk–do you think there are enough normal folk left to be able to make a change?

glenn

glenn, I’m no Cory Booker fan, but I don’t think he’ll run.

sabreen60

Booker is a long way from being emotionally mature enoughto fly the flag.

murphthesurf3

Glenn, how do you feel about Hillary? I’ll vote for her against any GOP candidate 100% of the time, but what about you?

funksands

Glenn, for sure. They’re just lazy, cynical and dissilusioned

funksands

I hear too many people on Twitter talking about how they’ll not vote or vote for a Indy if Hillary is the nominee. This scares the hell out of me. It seems too many people haven’t learned a damn thing on the years.

sabreen60

Sab…civic illiteracy is a cancer on the body politic.

murphthesurf3

Funk–I’m with you on HIllary. I’ll vote for her if she is the Dem candidate, but I certainly would like to see someone challenge her. I only mentioned Booker because his star rose so quickly (it seemed) and now you don’t hear much from him. I think if he had some backing, he would make a good candidate, but I truly don’t know that much about him.

glenn

Sabreen, you KNOW that is the case. That’s what’s depressing

funksands

The country won’t be lost to the fascists due to armed takeover, it will lost due to lack of interest

funksands

Murph–I am so frosted about those g-damned republicans. Trying to rewrite history with reagan, then won’t even acknowledge the struggle for civil rights. What a bunch of assholes! Congressman and women who won’t attend one of the most important events in the history of the US!

glenn

Unless a charismatic, brilliant, honest clone of PBO comes forth, it’s going to be Hillary. I just have to get use to it. I’ve held my nose in the past to vote for Dem candidates because they were better than Republicans, so I can do it again. However, I do want to see other candidates running in the primaries.

sabreen60

Glenn, I think he’s really following Al Franken’s example. Shut your mouth and get to work. Good on him. Al however needs to start getting more visible

funksands

Glenn could not agree with you more…my favorite right wing line… The Dems are the racists, we GOP pushed the civil rights legislation.

murphthesurf3

Funk- that is how I read Booker as well.

murphthesurf3

Sabreen–I agree. I’d like to see others running in the primaries.

glenn

Sabreen, you are probably right about that

funksands

Funk–now there’s another candidate I’d like to see–Franken. I think he’s brilliant and certainly can hold in his own in a debate.

glenn

All of this said, the Presidency is the least of our worries on a domestic level. Unless we start taking some state legislatures back, nothing on the federal level matters save for foreign policy.

funksands

Congress hasn’t done a damn thing for 5 years, and Americans just keep trucking along. The real damage is being done in the statehouse.

funksands

Funk–I agree completely. As you say, normal people are going to have start voting, or we’re all going to be like Wisconsin, with no representation at all.

glenn

Funk…do you know about the Red Map Project? The “independent effort” to turn Blue States Red…..it has been been working remarkably well.

murphthesurf3

Funk, I totally agree with you re state legislatures. But with that agreement, I’m going to say good night. I would like to discuss that, but I’m all in. Everyone have a great and safe week.

sabreen60

Good night Sab.

murphthesurf3

Sabreen–g’night. Take care.

glenn

Glenn, for sure. I am really really impressed by the Senator he’s become. I think the trio of Patty Murray, Warren and Franken will kick the crap out of the results of the Reid/Schumer era

funksands

night sabreen!

funksands

Funk–With all this nonsense about bill o’reilly lately, someone posted a video clip of Franken and o’lielly at a book conference after Franken wrote his book about liars, o’lielly being one of them. As usual, billo just tried to talk over Franken, and Franken woldn’t let him. It was beautiful to watch.

glenn

Oddly enough, I am much more impressed with Dems that remain in Congress now than were there before. I have a lot of optimism about the future of national Dem politics, but it won’t matter if the GOP controls every school board, county commissioner and Governorship in the country

funksands

The O’reilly business shows how powerful the Fox Svengali is…ratings bigger than ever.

murphthesurf3

Glenn Franken (pardon my language) is no pussy. He’s more than willing to mix it up with anyone that wants a fight. And he does it so deadpan and effortlessly it really is a pleasure to see.

funksands

Funk–I agree. National Dem politics is in fairly good shape. The national committee has to start working on the local levels, though.

glenn

Glenn, the people that are taking over the statehouses for the GOP now have been in training for 20 years, moving up through the ranks. It’s gonna get darker before the dawn.

funksands

Funk–no pardon necessary. I really like watching Franken. Maybe instead of recruiting Bernie, Dems should work on recruiting Franken.

glenn

Again, I cite the efficacy of the red map project. We need a blue map project.

murphthesurf3

Murph it clarifies the perception that it only matters that you utter the holy words. Your actions and deeds matter not.

funksands

Redmap. Check it out.

murphthesurf3

Glenn, I think Franken has even less interest in running than Warren. Again, I think he correctly understands that he has more domestic power as a Senator

funksands

Murph–I couldn’t agree more regarding the blue map project. And on that note, I’m going to say good night. Hope you all have a great weekend, and see you next week!

glenn

Murph, I’ve seen that. Very impressive. What do we do? Start a super-pac. *Sigh*

funksands

Glenn….good night…this was a great discussion…..thanks you for it.

murphthesurf3

Night Glenn! Have a great weekend!

funksands

I’ve got to mow my lawn again tomorrow. ….

funksands

No winter this year in Seattle. Last 7 days have been 60 and sunny

funksands

Funk…citizens united gave them the advantage they needed..unlimited super pacs

murphthesurf3

Funk–just have to put in my last two cents worth–I used to have a principal who had a sign in his office that said, “Words are deeds.” And, once again, I say good night.

glenn

Thanks, Murph, I always enjoy discussions with you.

glenn

Murph, that helps a lot ONCE you have the ground troops, the infrastructure and the game plan. Combined, it’s nearly unstoppable. I don’t think the Dems want to admit that they have LONG haul ahead of them.

funksands

Funk, with that cheery, but oh so honest and realistic assessment, I leave you to your lawn….take care.

murphthesurf3

We’ve got 1 chance in 2020 to stem the tide. Everything, and I mean everything has got to be thrown at winning every single winnable race from local to the Presidency prior to the redistricting.

funksands

Murph, take it easy buddy. Great talking to you as always.

funksands

Funk…with you on 2020…..

murphthesurf3

Not far behind you…

funksands

Ad, are you still here?

killgoretrout