About the Republican Accusation that Liberals Hate America

"Even Islamic terrorists don't hate America like liberals do. They don't have the energy”. – Ann Coulter

It infuriates me to hear hypocritical Republicans spout off about how “liberals hate America”. In the first place, it’s a meaningless and stupid thing to say, because the phrase “hate America” (or “love America”) can mean so many different things. But saying that “liberals hate America” makes a damn good sound bite, and there are many voters who are swayed by that phrase, under the principle that if you hear something said enough times it must be true. And anyhow, what else do Republicans have to talk about?.....more

Strong Signs of Rift Among Democrats

"This is a fight for the soul of the Democratic Party," said Marshall Wittmann, a senior fellow at the centrist Democratic Leadership Council. "It will have repercussions for the 2008 presidential campaign and whether centrists will feel comfortable within the Democratic Party." ......more

The Law of Competitive Balance, Howard Dean, and the Democratic Party's Washington Establishment

Dean is the first Democrat to think "globally" by acting "locally." The key to power and a better nation is by strengthening state parties and taking the country back one precinct at a time. It's basic blocking and tackling in the ground game that has eluded the Democrats for a generation, as the establishment prefers to mobilize the same special interests coalition and rally behind the politics of expediency......more

Bush Can't Satisfy Howard Dean on Immigration Reform

The president "has stood on the sidelines while allowing extremists in his party to hijack the debate" over immigration reform, according to Dean......more

The Jimmy Carter attacks continue

I highlighted MAF's idiotic ad campaign to censure Jimmy Carter the other day. We have big problems in this country and Melanie Morgan handles it by going after Carter. R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr., who is the founder of American Spectator magazine, just wrote a piece called Jimmy Carter pens the worst book of 2005. It seems that there is a concerted effort to attack him. I guess we can call them the "Blame Carter Coalition."......http://www.crooksandliars.com/

Kenny Boy

From comfy corner offices, they engaged in chicanery that fleeced shareholders and pensioners....more

The Revolution Will Be Blogged

It’s one big progressive soapbox out there on the Internet.
This story, for example, is about how the progressive cause is advancing thanks to BLOGS....more

WMNF Heatwave Pics.....here

E-Mail From One Of Stogie's Conservative Friend's

Hey Stogie,

Thanks for the great picture of our fearless, gun-toten number 2 guy. I
need
you to step away from the mushroom tea and get real!!!!

I had a good laugh, but I'd like to see you socialists/communists help
the
nation get a fair tax installed so we rich, money making Republicans
can pay
the same tax as you rich, money making (ie Howard Dean) leftist do and
then
neither side can complain about "tax breaks". Check it out, dude....

Is it Football season yet?

KT sr

First: The Stogie is getting old. the only tea Stogie drink's now is Green Tea.

Second: What would give KT the idea The Stogie is a socialist or a communist? I think The Stogie makes it very clear where he is coming from.....is this just a typical right wing response?....The GOP, and everyone else is a communist?......In case KT forgot, there use to be a strong second party in this country. and by the looks of things they might be on their way back.

Third: Tax Cuts? Who are you fooling? You guys have been putting it to the rest of us since 2000. The latest here ......The last 6 years here. Thanks for looting the treasury and putting our children's future in debt.

Fourth: The Stogie has been to many DFA meeting's, and he doesn't remember many rich folk's there.

As for http://www.fairtax.org/

Stogie is still researching

luv ya, The Stogie

Dean on the Senate's Immigration Legislation

"We congratulate Senate Democrats for their continued leadership, led by Leader Harry Reid, on the important issue of comprehensive immigration reform. Democrats have consistently fought for immigration reform that strengthens our borders, protects U.S. workers and their wages, reunites families and allows hard-working immigrants who pay taxes and obey the law the opportunity to earn the right to apply for the responsibilities of citizenship......more

MARY CHENEY: BLISSFULLY WELL-ADJUSTED SECOND DAUGHTER

Mary Cheney:What the fuck are you talking about? In "Now I'm Turned On", I say how–
Mary Matalin:"Now It's My Turn."
Mary Cheney:No, it's my turn to talk, bitch!
Mary Matalin:No, that's the title of the book I, ur, you wrote. "Now It's My Turn." ....more

UK Police Target Anti-War Protester

"It was shocking. I would not have believed they could stoop so low. I thought they going to do it decently, to do it through the courts, when they came like thugs in the night. They have completely destroyed all the expressions of people who opposed the war in Iraq," he said."It seems I am going to die in this place now because I'm going to be fasting and praying. What else can I do as a Christian?......more

Journalist on Trial for Calling Putin “Russia’s Phallic Symbol”

The Prosecutor’s Office has launched criminal proceedings against the editor-in-chief of a Russian Internet newapaper for calling President Putin “Russia’s phallic symbol”.....more

Dean: Dem's Legal Woes Don't Compare to GOP Corruption
Randy HallStaff Writer/Editor(CNSNews.com) -

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said Wednesday that there is no comparison between the ethical problems faced by U.S. Rep. William Jefferson (D- La.) and what he termed the Republican "culture of corruption" in the nation's capital. A GOP spokesman dismissed Dean's criticism as "trying to sell a fundamentally flawed campaign slogan.""There's a difference between the involvement of Congressman Jefferson in activities for which there's been no indictment and the culture of corruption that extends throughout the White House, the vice president's office and both houses of Congress," Dean said during a press conference at the DNC headquarters in Washington, D.C......more

Democracy for America

Raised $20,000 for Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont within three hours of posting the endorsement on its Web site.....more

Stogie Remember's The Good Old Day's

During the administration of William Jefferson Clinton, the U.S. enjoyed more peace and economic well being than at any time in its history. He was the first Democratic president since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a second term. He could point to the lowest unemployment rate in modern times, the lowest inflation in 30 years, the highest home ownership in the country's history, dropping crime rates in many places, and reduced welfare rolls. He proposed the first balanced budget in decades and achieved a budget surplus. As part of a plan to celebrate the millennium in 2000, Clinton called for a great national initiative to end racial discrimination......from whitehouse.gov....click here

Florida Democrats Find Their Cojones (Maybe A Little Bit).......more

Got Cojones?......click here

DNC Chairman Howard Dean on the Passing of Senator Lloyd Bentsen

"Today, we mourn the loss of Senator Lloyd Bentsen, a great Democrat, dedicated public servant, war hero and family man. A favorite son of Texas, Senator Bentsen never hesitated to say what he believed in and showed that Democratic values can resonate anywhere and everywhere in the country......more

Matt Drudge works the gay vote in the French Quarter.....More

Drudge 'retracts' story on Howard Dean after receiving letter from DNC lawyer

DNC communications director Karen Finney said the move came only after the Committee's lawyer had penned a note to Drudge asking him to take the story down.
"Because of the seriousness of the inaccuracy and the reckless disregard of the facts I did ask our lawyer to send a note to Drudge asking him to take the story down," Finney told...More

Rapper MIA denied entry to U.S.

Roger roger do you here me over!!!! the U.S immigration wont let me in!!!!! …Now Im strictly making my album outside the borders!!!!
"so il see you all one day, for now ill keep reportin from the sidelines. to my people who walk wiv me in the America, dont forget we got the internet! Spread the word! or come get me!!!!!! ill be in my bird flu lab in china! liming and drinkin tiger beer with my pet turtel.....More

Ned Lamont has won the support of DFA.....More

Backing Away From Bush
Some Republican Candidates Avoid Ties With Unpopular President
By John D. McKinnon / Wall Street Journal

President Bush goes to Pennsylvania tomorrow to campaign for embattled Republican House members in the Philadelphia suburbs. But one of the candidates isn't expected to be there.

Mr. Bush "is really doing poorly in our state," says Rep. Curt Weldon, explaining why he won't be on hand and hasn't asked for the president's help. "I've got to win this by myself."

Well, almost. Mr. Weldon did invite Arizona Sen. John McCain to his district last month to help him campaign and raise money, and he is thinking about doing it again.....More

On Sale Now

I'd rather have a smaller following of really cool people who get it, who will grow with us as we grow and are fans for life, than people that have us in their five-disc changer with Reba McEntire and Toby Keith. We don't want those kinds of fans. They limit what you can do.".....Martie Maguire

"They will sell 2m copies, tops".......Bill O'Reilly

Rising Ocean Temperatures Threaten Florida's Coral Reef
by Rick Lyman

KEY LARGO, Florida - If global warming summons images of polar bears clinging to shrinking ice floes, this is its face in the Florida Keys: a sun-dappled stretch of shallows along the turquoise reef line, where scientists painstakingly attach russet polyps of regenerated coral to damaged reefs.

"When I first came here snorkeling, in 1985, it was amazing, the forest of coral was so thick," said Bill Goodwin, a resource manager for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. "Just look now," he said, gesturing to the few small brown patches amid an elephant's boneyard of skeletal remains at the foot of the Carysfort light tower in the roiling Atlantic waters seven miles off Key Largo......More

FOX News Poll: Clinton-McCain 2008 Race Would Be Nail-Biter
By Dana Blanton

NEW YORK — If the 2008 presidential race were between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain, the country could be in for another nail-biter. The next presidential election may be more than two years away, but the politicking has already started and many consider Clinton and McCain the front-runners for their respective political parties.
In the latest FOX News national registered voter poll, McCain bests Clinton by a slim 4-percentage point margin — 46 percent to 42 percent — in a hypothetical matchup. Given the poll’s 3-point margin of error, that means this race could go either way......More

Is Bush a Lunatic?
By Molly Ivins, AlterNet

I hate to raise such an ugly possibility, but have you considered lunacy as an explanation? Craziness would make a certain amount of sense.

I mean, you announce you are going to militarize the Mexican border, but you assure the president of Mexico you are not militarizing the border. You announce you are sending the National Guard, but then you assure everyone it's not very many soldiers and just for a little while.

Militarizing the border is a totally terrible idea. Do we have a State Department? Are they sentient? How much do you want to infuriate Mexico when it's sitting on quite a bit of oil? Bush knows what the most likely outcome of this move will be. He was governor during the political firestorm that ensued when a Marine taking part in anti-drug patrols on the border shot and killed Esequiel Hernandez, an innocent goat-herder from Redford, Texas.

That's the definition of crazy -- repeatedly doing the same thing and expecting a different result. ......More

Harry Reid: Daschle Redux?
Tom Bevan Mon May 22, 9:13 AM ET

Sherman Frederick, the publisher of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, writes that Harry Reid's kowtowing to the Pelosi wing of the Democratic party has made him unelectable in Nevada:
And finally, Harry Reid has never been a thoroughbred racehorse on the track of Nevada politics. He's been more like a stubborn mule who never gives up, never gives in. And, in the heat of past races, he's been known to kick a few opponents in the head.
"Landslide Harry" is used to close races. Races that can be decided by a few thousand, and even a few hundred votes. But those were races before Harry became the top Democratic dog in the U.S. Senate. Before he disappeared as a conservative Democrat from Nevada. Before he started eyeing Nancy Pelosi's wardrobe.
Nevadans elected the Harry I've hiked the desert with in blue jeans and dusty work boots. But on national TV they see a guy in a capri and sandals.
Not pretty.....More

Storms and Blair on the attack

No love was lost between Hillsborough's school leaders and County Commissioners Brian Blair and Ronda Storms during Wednesday's debate over raising assessments on new homes to pay for schools.Storms and Blair, on the losing end of a 4-2 vote to raise impact fees from $196 to $4,000 over the next two years, fired off scathing shots at school officials."I have no faith in any of its numbers or any of its spending habits," Blair said......More

"Immigration is the big issue right now. Earlier today, the Senate voted to build a 370-mile fence along the Mexican border. ... Experts say a 370-mile fence is the perfect way to protect a border that is 1,900 miles long." ..........Conan O'Brien

Day of Action: Tampa, Florida
Debbe Kelley is one of the organizers of DFA Tampa Bay.

The Tampa DFA Team got lots of support for two great candidates who will be on the ballot here in November. Charlie Justice is a Democrat currently serving in the Florida House and running to represent us in the heavily Republican Florida Senate. We're counting on Charlie take this open seat away from them.

Mary Mulhern, also a Democrat, is running for an open seat on the Hillsborough County Commission. This group of local law-makers has made the national news lately for its track record of intolerance and Mary is just the person to represent the enlightened voters of Hillsborough.

There are many of us here and we were out in force Saturday morning! We collected signatures to get Charlie and Mary on the ballot, registered several new voters and celebrated to hear from the many Republicans and Independents who said "It's time for a change" and "Enough is enough!" We had such a great time that we're having another event this Saturday. Can't wait to get back out there!

—Debbe Kelley

Human Rights member quits over governor's veto of bill

BURLINGTON, Vt. -- The last member of the Vermont Human Rights Commission appointed by former Gov. Howard Dean has resigned over the veto by Gov. James Douglas of a bill that would have outlawed discrimination against people based on their gender identity of expression.
In a letter to the governor, Charles Kletecka said he resigned to protest the veto.
"Vermont has a long and proud tradition of protecting the rights of those among us who are most vulnerable to discrimination," Kletecka wrote......More

Ned vs. Joe

We’ve always understood the amount of grassroots support this campaign has in Connecticut and across the country, but tonight’s results displayed an impressive amount of institutional firepower backing that up. This is how a movement changes the direction of our country.....Ned Lamont

Ned Lamont: 505
Joe Lieberman: 1004
Total Needed for Ballot: 15%
Ned Receives: 505 (33.4%)

......More

Democratic Activists Seek to Punish Their Own for Backing Bush

Democratic activist groups that mounted an aggressive campaign against President George W. Bush in the 2004 election have a new target: Democrats who support his policies.
A loose network of organizations, ranging from women's groups to Internet bloggers, is pressuring incumbents such as Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut and Representatives Jane Harman of California and Melissa Bean of Illinois, in some cases by backing insurgent candidates in primary elections.
The groups charge that these and other Democrats have been too supportive of Bush on issues like Iraq and trade, and say they're trying to energize voters disillusioned with a party that has failed to draw clear distinctions with Republicans.....More

Brave Soul In Dunedin Fl.

PENNSYLVANIA: PROBLEMS FOR THE GOP?

Analysts looking at Tuesday's shocking primary -- a day in which an astounding 15 state legislative incumbents lost their primaries (nearly all Republicans) -- could be a bad omen in the state for Republicans in November. The vote was largely a backlash by GOP primary voters against GOP incumbents who backed unpopular, hefty payraises for themselves. Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer (R), who lost his primary, called Tuesday "a dramatic earthquake in Pennsylvania." Club for Growth President Pat Toomey (R-PA), a former Congressman, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the "message you have to take away is that rank-and-file Republican voters are very angry with incumbents. It's a mistake to conclude this was all about the pay raise. This has been brewing for some time and it's about dissatisfaction with elected Republicans who have abandoned a commitment to limited government." Toomey went on to explain to the New York Times that angry Republicans were free to express their disgust with Republican incumbents in the primary by voting for challengers -- but that he expected many of these angry Republicans to simply stay home in November because they don't want to vote for Democrats. Toomey also added that many Republicans serving in Congress had "lost their way" by backing "a fiscal culture of deficits and pork barrel spending." In another interesting development, it appears over 21,000 Republicans who voted on Tuesday skipped the top of the ballot by declining to vote for US Senator Rick Santorum (R) in his unopposed primary -- although these same voters cast ballots for Lynn Swann for Governor in his unopposed primary.......More

Mayor Pam Iorio’s Riverwalk

project is in full swing and after ballparking anticipated expenditures, officials have slapped on a price tag of about $40 million. Although intimidating at first glance, the investment could yield immense profit for downtown Tampa, but who will carry the cost?.....more

I4 And 21th st. Ybor City

Tampa Bay's Independent Streak

New voter registration statistics are burnishing the Tampa Bay region's reputation as the home of swing voters, the persuadables who are independent-minded and not tethered to either party.

Since Feb. 26, when the state state kicked off an aggressive effort to register voters, more than 19,000 people have signed up in the five-county region that includes Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, Hernando and Citrus counties. In all, new Democrats outnumber new Republicans by 7,106 to 6,844, but the total number of voters who registered as NPAs, or no party affiliation, is 5,781, far above the statewide NPA average of about 20 percent......More

This Guy Love's Bush So Much He Had To Tell Everyone. Apparently His Neighbor Does Not Feel The Same Way.

Dangerous Liaison
by Robert Kuttner

Shame on Hillary Rodham Clinton. Rupert Murdoch, the right-wing publishing mogul, is hosting a fund-raiser in July for her Senate reelection campaign. Her explanation is that Murdoch, based in New York, is an important constituent: ''I'm very gratified that he thinks I'm doing a good job."
Murdoch runs Fox television, home of Bill O'Reilly and company. No far-right media enterprise has been more relentlessly dishonest in its efforts to destroy American liberalism in general and the Clintons in particular. Fox was prime cheerleader for the bogus Whitewater investigation and the impeachment campaign against Bill Clinton. Fox exists to oppose every liberal principle that Senator Clinton is accused, perhaps falsely, of standing for.
Murdoch also publishes the tawdry, viciously anti-Clinton New York Post and the more sober ideological print organ the Weekly Standard. You can't imagine the opposite kind of deal happening in American politics, because a left-wing Murdoch doesn't exist. That's why the man is so powerful, and such a nemesis to principled liberals.
Politics may make strange bedfellows, but for sheer cynicism and mutual expediency it's hard to beat this alliance. Maybe the Hitler-Stalin pact.
What's in it for Hillary? First, obviously, the money. By raising mountains of campaign cash, she hopes to make herself the inevitable 2008 nominee........More

Democrats Have Opportunity but No Strategy
by David Rossie

There is this television commercial in which a boy standing in a wooden tree hut asks a man playing an exterminator if it's true that termites eat wood. When the exterminator says it is indeed true and describes the little pests' appetites, the kid replies: "We're doomed."
"Not necessarily," the man says, reassuringly, and explains how he can prevent it.
In a case of life imitating art, I was approached by a woman following a talk last week. She began reciting a litany of all the ills that have beset this once proud and respected country since the Cheney, Bush and Rumsfeld Gang took it hostage, and concluded by saying: "We're doomed."
Not necessarily," I replied, although not reassuringly, because I'm far less confident than that pretend exterminator.
"But we've got to put up with them for two-and-a-half more years," she protested.
"Not necessarily," I said again, starting to sound like a stuck record......More