Open Thread

JIbber jabber.

Recommended diaries at 8 am, Tuesday, May 06, 2008 :

WWII Vet Commits Suicide outside VA Clinic by Brandon Friedman Olbermann sums up "Clinton Rules" re: which states matter by dsharma23 21,000 Hoosiers Cheer Obama Tonight in the Rain - Updated by Femlaw Hillary Failed to disclose $24 Million of Bill's Income by FishOutofWater IN/NC "I Voted" Today OR Early Open Thread (w/Update) by dansac 1,500,000! by The Great Gatsby I am an angry Republican in Indiana by Allenfire This is not exactly first-class treatment of the nation’s warriors by teacherken

•  So.... anything exciting happening today?

  by smash artist on Tue May 06, 2008 at 05:55:58 AM PDT

  •  Yes....

    The Empire Strikes Barack

    Very, very funny YouTube

    by Stand Strong on Tue May 06, 2008 at 05:57:13 AM PDT

    •  This is too good

      Thanks for the uplift early in what will be a long, tense day.

      by livjack on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:00:14 AM PDT

  •  Nah. I'll be in bed

    before the returns start coming in (I'm in France). I hope to wake up to a world where this neverending primary is finally OVER!

    by mofembot on Tue May 06, 2008 at 05:57:43 AM PDT

    •  Well, even if it isn't over

      you're still in France...which means you have access to excellent comfort food...

      by decembersue on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:03:45 AM PDT

      •  And pretty accents

        Ooo-la-la.

        by gchaucer2 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:11:47 AM PDT

      •  Straight to the "midriff" and hips

        these days, alas. It is not fun to have to count calories here. (Stupid menopause!)

        by mofembot on Tue May 06, 2008 at 10:16:18 AM PDT

    •  Give my love to

      Shakespeare& Co in Paris!!! Lucky you.

      by upperleftedge on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:07:15 AM PDT

  •  Yes. Obama on my mind

    

    by notquitedelilah on Tue May 06, 2008 at 05:59:10 AM PDT

  •  Demographic Tuesdays - Election Day Special

    here it is: Demographic (Election) Tuesday Edition: Worst Presidents?

    by DrSteveB on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:01:35 AM PDT

•  My jibber

  is awake but my jabber is still yawning here on the Left Coast.

  by Kestrel on Tue May 06, 2008 at 05:56:52 AM PDT

  •  me wuz awake earlier

    enough to rec. teacherken but then I drank some warm milk and wetn back to Mi Mi.
    Cofffffeeeeeee.....

    by TexMex on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:05:35 AM PDT

    •  Coffee

      Just am having my first few sips now. High octane. I'll crank up here in a few minutes.

      by Kestrel on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:07:41 AM PDT

  •  First cup

    on the upper left edge. I have a feeling it is going to be a good day.

    by upperleftedge on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:08:48 AM PDT

  •  I like

    the cut of your jibber, mate.

    by Crashing Vor on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:30:46 AM PDT

•  In the middle of the primary frenzy,

  please take a moment to check out cosa nostradamus's diary on the Myanmar cyclone and telling us how to help.  Read and rec:  http://www.dailykos.com/...

  by lineatus on Tue May 06, 2008 at 05:57:03 AM PDT

  •  Ack -- the comment below

    yours was supposed to be a response to your comment.  Sorry.

    by gchaucer2 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 05:59:29 AM PDT

    •  Seconded -

      and posting a comment to stretch this thread out so more people see it.

      by pico on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:01:11 AM PDT

      •  Thanks, pico.

        by gchaucer2 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:01:36 AM PDT

    •  Glad I'm not the only one who does that. :-)

      by lineatus on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:01:56 AM PDT

•  Thanks for posting

  this comment -- I was just about to.  Please folks, at least just rec this diary -- it is our one link to information and donations for those suffering Myanmar.  

  by gchaucer2 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 05:58:43 AM PDT

  •  Oy, this comment meant as

    a response to lineatus' comment urging you to read and rec the Myanmar diary.

    by gchaucer2 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:00:03 AM PDT

    •  That's okay

      The more people that see Cosa Nostradomus' diary on Myanmarthe better.

      by donnamarie on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:11:55 AM PDT

•  News that will likely not make Lamestream Media

  http://news.yahoo.com/...

  Iraqi alleges Abu Ghraib torture, sues US contractors

  LOS ANGELES - An Iraqi man sued two U.S. military contractors, claiming he was repeatedly tortured while being held at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison for more than 10 months.

  Emad al-Janabi's federal lawsuit, filed Monday in Los Angeles, claims that employees of CACI International Inc. and L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. punched him, slammed him into walls, hung him from a bed frame and kept him naked and handcuffed in his cell beginning in September 2003

  http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
  http://www.truthout.org/...

     US Seeks Contractors to Train Iraqi Military
     By Walter Pincus
     The Washington Post
     Sunday 04 May 2008
     U.S. commanders in Iraq are for the first time seeking private contractors to form part of the small military teams that train and live with Iraqi military units across the country, according to a notice for prospective bidders published last week.

  [For original story on the last one complete with hyperlinks embedded in text, click on first link.  For story without links, or ads, etc., click on second link.  CACI mentioned in today's article indicating it has been sued for torture at Abu Ghraib is mentioned in Sunday's article.  There is much to be disturbed about within the story; Rummy, et al., are mentioned.  So I don't violate copyright laws, I'm only quoting the headline and first paragraph.]

  by NonnyO on Tue May 06, 2008 at 05:58:52 AM PDT

•  Crazy early voting

  numbers in Monroe Co. IN (where Bloomington is).  Over 10,000 early voters vs. 14K TOTAL voters in 2004 primary.  And this is definitely Obama territory.

  by MLDB on Tue May 06, 2008 at 05:59:19 AM PDT

  •  Bloomington, S. Bend, Indy, Gary

    Those four cities/towns comprise Obama country. Everywhere else is likely to be Hillaryville. (Except perhaps for New Harmony and Earlham College.)

    by Corax on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:05:15 AM PDT

•  McCain want more Alitos & Roberts

  Just a reminder about why any Dem over any Repug:

  http://news.yahoo.com/...

  by DrSteveB on Tue May 06, 2008 at 05:59:54 AM PDT

  •  Very important to remember

    as passions run high and people swear they won't back their candidate's opponent in the general, if they lose the primary.

    We are men of action; lies do not become us.

    by ER Doc on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:50:16 AM PDT

•  A very special (and early) pre-Whore.

  Overnight News Digest- NOW WITH with additional Baltimore Herald content!!!

  by ek hornbeck on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:01:26 AM PDT

  •  Now Open for Business. n/t

    by ek hornbeck on Tue May 06, 2008 at 08:57:21 PM PDT

•  After today, more undecided supers than pledged

  After the primaries in PA and IN are decided, there will be only about 220 pledged delegates left in all the remaining primary contests. Which means that with more than 260 superdelegates undeclared, there will be -- for the first time in the race -- more delegates to be gained among the supers than there are among the pledged delegates.

  Just sayin'.

  by Corax on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:02:16 AM PDT

•  there is an election day Demographic Tuesdays

  here it is: Demographic (Election) Tuesday Edition: Worst Presidents?

  by DrSteveB on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:02:19 AM PDT

•  Myanmar cyclone toll rises above 22'000

  BANGKOK — The death toll from a powerful cyclone that struck Myanmar three days ago rose to 22,500 Tuesday, the government said, and foreign governments and aid organizations began mobilizing for a major relief operation.

  by Rob Cole on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:02:28 AM PDT

  •  UK Times: Estimate may be over 50'000 dead

    Foreign aid workers in Burma have concluded that as many as 50,000 people died in Saturday’s cyclone, and two to three million are homeless, in a disaster whose scale invites comparison with the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

    The official death count after Cyclone Nargis is 15,000, and the Thai Foreign Minister says he has been told that 30,000 people are missing. But due to the incompleteness of the information from the stricken Irrawaddy delta, UN and charity workers in the city of Rangoon privately believe that the number will eventually be several times higher.

    Andrew Kirkwood, country director of the British charity Save The Children told The Times: "I’d characterise it as unprecedented in the history of Myanmar and on an order of magnitude with the effect of the tsunami on individual countries. It might well be more dead than the tsunami caused in Sri Lanka."

    by Rob Cole on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:04:54 AM PDT

  •  This is the tip of the iceberg

    because of a disfunctional government.  How many will die from neglect and disease?  Repeating again == please visit and rec this diary re: donations to NGOs for aid to the victims in Myanmar.

    by gchaucer2 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:06:30 AM PDT

•  bill????????????????????????????????

  by terrypinder on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:02:56 AM PDT

  •  Hey, I'm just happy to get in b4 Bill posts

    I never get to cheer or jeer anything w/in the first 150 comments since I started watering my garden!

    by SteamPunkX on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:05:57 AM PDT

  •  Huh?

    How dare you interrupt me while I'm windsurfing.

    -

    by Bill in Portland Maine on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:05:59 AM PDT

    •  Wow - Bill, what's the water temp in

      your part of the state - it's still damn-freakin' cold in the mid-coast... Ah to live in Southern Maine!

      by seefleur on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:08:36 AM PDT

      •  40-something, I think.

        No biggie.  I've got a blanket around me.

        -

        by Bill in Portland Maine on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:48:00 AM PDT

    •  Tick tock

      No pressure or anything, Bill.

      by Kestrel on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:09:38 AM PDT

  •  where is that booger?

    up to shenanigans I'll wager.

    by khereva on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:06:09 AM PDT

•  WaPo asks: "8 Questions" on today's primaries.

  Why is the first one about the effing Wright story and Obama???

  Effing media!!

  {linkhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/05/AR2008050502217.html?hpid=topne ws]

  by Phil S 33 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:03:14 AM PDT

  •  Because they are idiots.

    Priorities -- Wright before people dying in Iraq and Myanmar.

    by gchaucer2 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:08:15 AM PDT

•  Today could be the day that it ends

  Visualize a strong Obama showing in Indiana.. and a big win in North Carolina.

  by crystal eyes on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:04:58 AM PDT

  •  I'm visualizing wins in both

    because I'm tired of fearing the worst and want to hope for the best--in honor of Obama.

    What I'm really visualizing, is Clinton's "I'm withdrawing from this campaign" speech.

    by jiordan on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:07:01 AM PDT

  •  Don't bet on it

    Even with huge Obama victories in both states, Clinton will continue. She's already spun herself out of the need to have any justification at all for continuing. "She's a fighter, she never gives up."

    by Corax on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:07:22 AM PDT

  •  Clinton has just upped

    the count for required delegates to 7 million for Obama -- and lowered her count to 12 -- she's won in her mind.

    by gchaucer2 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:09:22 AM PDT

  •  Gawwd I hope you're right, these primaries

    are now becoming so tiresome. The sooner they're over the sooner Obama can start focusing on kicking the shit out of McCain over Iraq (something that Hill could never do, could she?).

    by Lepanto on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:11:09 AM PDT

  •  even if BO wins both IN and NC, HRC won't drop ou

    face it, HRC is in this thing until every primary is over.  the question is NOT when will HRC drop out, but rather will the SDs have the onions to step up and end this thing once the primaries are over.....i have my doubts

    by unruli on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:14:28 AM PDT

  •  I cranked up the Dixie Chicks

    this morning on my way to work.  My 4 y/o son and I were jamming.  He is in love w/ Natalie.  I told him the story about how I became a fan.  Bought my 1st Dixie Chicks album when Natalie articulated what I was thinking.  He said "so they are Democrats and want Obama?".  I said "I'm sure they do!" and we continued jamming.  It increased my positive vibes this a.m. by about a thousand.  I've got to get them back into my rotation (dixie chicks).  

    by jodygirl on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:07:52 AM PDT

  •  It ended Feb 5th

    but everybody's been acting stupid since then.

    by krnewman on Tue May 06, 2008 at 09:32:03 AM PDT

•  Help out feeding Obama campaign staffers

  Sign up to help with the Food Bomb today. It's a great cause!

  by jiordan on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:05:34 AM PDT

•  When Clinton wins IN tonight, listen for this

  She'll say she won an upset in IN, because the Obama delegate spreadsheet forecasted a 7% win. The media will start focusing on the Obama spreadsheet as a predictive module with a fair amount of negative spin if he doesn't win Oregon, MT, and South Dakota by those amounts in the spreadsheet.

  by slinkerwink on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:08:06 AM PDT

•  Wednesday morning Kossak ?

  

  by Lepanto on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:08:28 AM PDT

  •  Where's your underpants???

    Shame on you.

    by gchaucer2 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:10:12 AM PDT

    •  Real Kossaks go commando !

      by Lepanto on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:12:06 AM PDT

    •  That was funny, lol.n/t

      by flumptytail on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:15:54 AM PDT

      •  I'm a huge Bill the Cat

        fan -- and he had the decency to put on his tidy whities.

        by gchaucer2 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:16:41 AM PDT

•  wow- a major news article on Hagee...finally

  it's about goddamn time the media put down their overflowing BBQ plates at Mc Cain's house in Sedona and wrote this up:

  John McCain likes to think of himself as a straight shooter—a man of honor who doesn't duck tough questions. But at least one question does get him bobbing and weaving: why doesn't he renounce the endorsement of Pastor John Hagee, the San Antonio televangelist who has offended Roman Catholics and other groups?

  On the trail, McCain tries to stay away from talking about Hagee. In New Orleans last month, he grew irritated when asked about the pastor's views on Hurricane Katrina. "It's nonsense, it's nonsense, it's nonsense," McCain said when a reporter drew attention to Hagee's 2006 statement to National Public Radio that New Orleans had suffered "the judgment of God" because of its "level of sin." McCain refused to disavow Hagee's support. "Would I consider repudiating his endorsement?" McCain said to reporters on the back of his bus. "I certainly condemn those parts of his remarks. [But] I continue to appreciate his support for the state of Israel and for many of the good things that he and his church have done."

  McCain and his aides draw a sharp distinction between his relationship to Hagee and Barack Obama's ties to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. "I didn't attend Pastor Hagee's church for 20 years," the candidate told reporters on his Straight Talk Express. "And there's a great deal of difference, in my view, between someone who endorses you, and other circumstances." McCain's aides attribute the Hagee controversy to poor vetting. But even some Republicans (not affiliated with the campaign) privately wonder how the pastor's extreme views slipped through without notice. McCain personally wooed Hagee for more than a year. In early 2007, the Arizona senator traveled to Hagee's Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, where the two men had breakfast. They bonded over a shared commitment to the protection of Israel, a meeting that McCain later cited as a sign of his outreach to social conservatives.

  http://www.newsweek.com/...

  I love this line: "And there's a great deal of difference, in my view, between someone who endorses you, and other circumstances."

  WTF?

  by Terminus on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:08:42 AM PDT

  •  If there was truely seperation of church and

    state, no one would care what religion you were. This country will not live up to its ideals until someone becomes President who, when ask what their religion is says, "That is irrelevant to what my policy is and is frankly none of your business."

    by upperleftedge on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:19:38 AM PDT

•  I love the delegate tally at the top of dKos

  This is something we need to reinforce the goalpost for the nomination, and just how close we are.

  But I can totally see the Clinton campaign putting out or promoting their own tally which includes Florida and Michigan that will put the total to win somewhere around 2,200 (not sure what the actual numbers would be)

  by Allenfire on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:08:51 AM PDT

•  Morning

  65 in Houston, but we're supposed to get up to the low 90's by the end of the week.

  More info from Dr. Jeff Masters on WunderBlog about Tropical Cyclone Nargis.

  This quote is particularly disturbing:

  Comments from Chris Burt
  I've been in regular communication about this disaster with Chris Burt, author of the excellent book Extreme Weather. He has been visiting Myanmar every year for 30 years, and has much insight on the situation there:

  Note this: No word yet about casualties from the Mon or Karen States; those areas not in the Delta region but to the SE of Rangoon where a major storm surge and flooding from rains may have occurred.

  The government considers these areas 'minority states' and these states have traditionally been looked down upon by ethnic Burmese, They are heavily populated. I will bet they will be the last areas to receive aid, and the last regions from which we hear news so far as storm damage is concerned.

  I might add this is indicative of just how bad the situation in Burma is. People who are not aware of the isolation of Myanmar, one of the largest most populated countries in the world, will not be able to grasp the gravity of this disaster. It is a country under the thumb of complete ignorants: the leaders of this county have NEVER traveled outside of Burma before. They have no education whatsoever. They live in a dream world of astrology and have maintained their control by funneling all the nation's vast resources to crony patronage and the military. China is their only steadfast friend in the international arena. Even Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and India who do business with this regime do so at hands length.

  If you can understand what I am saying here you will understand just how bad the situation is.

  by Spathiphyllum on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:09:19 AM PDT

•  Can somebody explain this to me?

  Ok, a lot of Obama's supporters are independents and cross-over/former Republicans*. If Hillary is the nominee, then many of these supporters will probably not vote for her. They're not Democrats; the only reason why they're voting Democratic, is to support Obama.

  *unlike the Operation Chaos cross-overs, these Republicans are sincere.

  A lot of Hillary's supporters are women who've been Democrats all their lives. But if Obama is the nominee, then many of these lifetime Democrats will vote for McCain.

  These lifetime Democratic women would rather vote for someone who'll stack the Supreme Court bench with anti-choice justices, because....why?

  by xynz on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:11:39 AM PDT

•  Important elections today

  Obama will pick up more delegates but Hillary wins anyway.

  She makes up the rules as she goes along - Of course she wins.

  I'll just bet she was a holy terror on her elementary school playground, and never lost even a game of checkers.

  by SecondComing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:13:34 AM PDT

•  I'm trying to find a copy of georgia10's .doc

  "Eye on Ohio: The Informed Citizen's Guide to the 2004 Elections"

  Anyone know of an active link?

  by Buckeye BattleCry on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:14:25 AM PDT

  •  You can try sending an email to georgia...

    ...via the contact form. She may still have a copy she can send you.

    by Spathiphyllum on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:19:27 AM PDT

    •  Might have to do that

      I found a .html version that should be OK for now.

      by Buckeye BattleCry on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:26:09 AM PDT

•  Harry Reid silent, may support Hillary

  http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/...

  Reid may break from the conventional wisdom on the Hill, and end up supporting the candidate who may not have the most pledged delegates once primary season ends next month.

  Well, he knows he definitely should be backing Hillary to win the nomination, or else she'll go back to the Senate and start lobbying for the job of majority leader.

  by obligatorydiscord on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:14:41 AM PDT

  •  And if Obama wins,

    perhaps his supporters will lobby heavily to replace Reid and block Hillary.  Obama doesn't need to be undermined by spoil-sport losers.

    by gchaucer2 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:18:03 AM PDT

  •  Now Harry Reid matters!?

    by gregoryjames on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:57:48 AM PDT

•  I voted at 8am in a small rural Indiana town

  outside South Bend. It is a perly white area and the turnout was twice what it was Nov 06.  I was the 114th voter, compared to the 64th then. This is a big deal!  

  I know a Hillary supporter who JUST YESTERDAY switched to Obama due to Obliterate-gate.

  Folks, I think Obama is gonna win Indiana.

  by elbamash on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:15:37 AM PDT

  •  From your keyboard to Gawd's ear n/t

    by SecondComing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:47:06 AM PDT

•  It was on this day 71 years ago..

  by soros on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:22:36 AM PDT

•  Apropos nothing

  I am sooooo frustrated w/ my "independant" friend I might have to abandon her during this political season.  Anyone who voted for Bush twice and is probably going to vote for McCain, as well, cannot be considered an "independant", in my opinion.  I give up.  Its a lost cause but it makes me sad because she is a family counselor like myself and I am mystified by this leaning she has.  I won't really abandon her but I am going to have to make a pact to no more political talk.  I am too invested to not get emotional.  To her, it is just politics, to me it is the future of this world we live in.  The end.

  by jodygirl on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:01:49 AM PDT

  •  You're a better person than I

    I severed ties with two Republican friends several years ago because I grew intolerant of their  intolerance (gays and others they deemed "inferior") and unwillingness to consider facts.  I decided I would rather remember our good times together than let it get to the point that I began to hate them, not just their political beliefs.

    by FoundingFatherDAR on Tue May 06, 2008 at 09:14:54 AM PDT

    •  luckily

      she is NOT intolerant otherwise we could never be friends.  But her other viewpoints are taking their toll.  I don't want to be intolerant of her beliefs but I feel that these beliefs are contributing to all of the problems currently facing the world.  We both have young boys and I just don't understand her inability to comprehend how more McCain is going to perpetuate these problems and effect their lives.

      by jodygirl on Tue May 06, 2008 at 09:33:32 AM PDT

•  I officially denounce and reject Edwardses

  After Kuchinic dropped I went to Edwards as the closest on policies and held on til he dropped then went to Obama. I now, somewhat bitterly, regret my previous support of Edwards. I feel he deceived us, and is in fact a fraud, and a gutless, grubby opportunistic one at that.  As he fades away, I don't think I'll miss him. But I will recall the disappointment that he turned out as I feared he would.

  by krnewman on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:04:35 AM PDT

•  Hillary: I will obliterate OPEC

  http://www.politico.com/...

  There are no limits on what Hillary will say to try to grab votes.  Last night, she said she would take on OPEC.  She infers that OPEC is hoarding oil to push up prices.

  She pretends to ignore the economics and realities.  Most OPEC countries do not have any excess capacity.  Saudi Arabia is the main country that is working to increase their capacity.

  The problem is greatly increasing demand with a stagnant supply.  Not only are large amounts of oil being used in China and India and the 3rd World, but also the Persian Gulf countries have greatly increased their own demand.

  One of the main reasons for the increased prices is because the US dollar has such little value against other currencies.  

  The largest suppliers of oil to the US are actually Canada and Mexico.  Much of the US Alaskan oil is shipped to Japan.

  The retailers and refiners of gasoline actually are not making high profits.  Sunoco, which only retails and refines gasoline and does not extract it, is doing poorly.  Exxon's refining and retail divisions are not doing well - they are making all of their profits from oil extraction.

  by JPZenger on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:04:52 AM PDT

•  McCain talking...

  Complaining about judges. If he was in charge there would be no Brown vs. Board of Education.

  That is the difference between us and mccain. The courts are the last refuge for people who suffer injustice by the tyranny of the majority.

  Unbelievable.

  by jfs1000 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:23:35 AM PDT

•  New Book on Al Qaeda: author on radio

  visit website later for archived version. Extremely helpful to understand Muslims today:

  The Al Qaeda Doctrine

  Gilles Kepel, professor and chair of middle east studies at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris and co-editor of" Al Qaeda in its Own Words," talks about the evolution of Al Qaeda through some of the key texts of the major figures from whom Al Qaeda has drawn its direction.

  http://www.wnyc.org/...

  by LNK on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:25:02 AM PDT

•  Feeding Volunteers today in NC and IN

  http://www.dailykos.com/...

  by refinish69 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:25:32 AM PDT

•  This diary needs your help

  Food bomb II for Obama IN and NC staffers-Help feed the crew

  http://www.dailykos.com/...

  We need to get this on the rec list & keep it there today!  

  by Fineena on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:37:25 AM PDT

•  Colombia's Uribe hoisted by his own petard

  I have just published a small diary on the latest sally by Colombia's narco-president in order to build up interest for a diary I will publish this week on the current "para-politics" scandal.
  .
  As the first paragraph of my teaser diary today states

  "Alvaro Uribe, current occupant of the presidential palace in Colombia, who was elected with the substantial help of the paramilitary death squads he helped create and which he promoted and defended when he was governor of  the province of Antioquia, is feeling the heat in the ongoing "para-politics" scandal, which has more than 60 Colombian congressmen/women under investigation or in jail for their involvement with the paramilitary death squads in corrupting the electoral process and in attempting to take over every political institution in Colombia."

  .
  Hopefully you will have a minute to go and look at it and maybe answer the poll I attached.
  .
  I appreciate all feedback and expressions of interest, as long as this does not take you away from the more important issues at hand today.
  .
  The diary is here
  .
  Thanks, MB.

  by Mangrove Blues on Tue May 06, 2008 at 08:15:58 AM PDT

•  Cop's death reignites fight on assault weapons

  Link to photo of SKS assault rifle photo:

  http://i18.tinypic.com/...

  www.philly.com Philadelphia Inquirer

  "NOBODY KNOWS more about the gruesome carnage caused by five blasts from a Chinese-made SKS assault rifle than Thomas Krajewski Sr., the Port Richmond man who cradled Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski as the cop lay dying outside his home Saturday.  "There is absolutely no reason that anyone should be carrying around military-style assault weapons," he said. "I mean, we saw what a weapon like that did to a human body. I mean, I own guns and my sons and I hunt as well, but I don't have assault rifles or anything. There's no need for it."

  "They are very cheap, selling for $100 to $300," said Tony Robbins, assistant special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives here. "There's a ton of them out there. They can lay some heavy firepower. We see them periodically being used by street gangs and drug organizations. It's a pretty menacing gun."

  After an SKS was used to kill a police officer in Ceres, Calif., two years ago, the Washington-based Violence Policy Center said that federal authorities have identified the weapon as "the rifle model most frequently encountered by law-enforcement officers."  Yet despite that, the SKS was not among 19 weapons prohibited in a 1994 federal ban on certain kinds of assault rifles. That law expired in 2004 under President Bush and the then-GOP-controlled Congress. The SKS has been included in several federal bills aimed at renewing the ban, but all those measures have failed.

  What's more, Robbins noted that the ATF was able to trace the SKS rifle used to gun down Liczbinski to a gun show in Fayettville, N.C. He said that because it had been bought at a gun show, the owner did not have to undergo a background check - another proposal that's been blocked by the gun lobby."  

  by JPZenger on Tue May 06, 2008 at 08:51:23 AM PDT

•  Poor Krugman

  wonder what it feels like under than bus? He's seen her do it to millions of people. What made him think he'd be different? "But my sycophancy is special, I'm so much better at slavish butt kissing, she would NEVER throw me under that bus." Well, guess what, Paul? You're under the bus. We tried to warn you, but you wouldn't listen. Let us know when you've gone through anger, shock, denial, acceptance and such and are ready to come back, having learned your lesson. Really, we feel your pain. Chump.

  by krnewman on Tue May 06, 2008 at 09:30:49 AM PDT

•  Punk the RNC Conference Call

  From GOOPER HQ:
  As campaigns jump into high gear around the country, we will be here with all the information, talking points, updates, and experts to help you navigate this historic election year. We will continue the monthly Pink Elephants Conference Calls this Tuesday, May 13th with our special guest, the Victory 2008 Chairman, Carly Fiorina.
  In March 2008, Carly Fiorina was appointed Victory '08 Chairman for the Republican National Committee.  In this role, she is the primary advocate for John McCain and the Republican Party.  Utilizing her vital business experience, she will travel the country speaking on behalf of Senator McCain and will emphasize his efforts to create jobs for working families and set the conditions for economic growth.

  CALL IN INFORMATION:

  Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2008
  Time: 6:00 p.m. EDT
  Phone Number: (800)-475-0486
  Passcode: RNC
  Leader: Jo Ann Davidson

  by drz on Tue May 06, 2008 at 10:10:37 AM PDT

•  The End of My Diary Silence

  Difficult as it has been, I have maintained a diary moratorium since the PA primary. Disgusted as I was that I had gotten sucked into the MSM dialogue, I had to punish my weak ass sheepish self. Now I have decided that tonight, after the NC primary results look definitive, I will post anew.

  Truthfully, it was a nice thing, this diary vacation, especially since it was accompanied by a MSM vacation.

  I have no idea what the networks think, but I do know this... it's really, really, REALLY over when Obama wins NC.

  NC is the fat lady, and she will be singing tonight.

  Tomorrow the Superdelegates will be applauding.

  by gregoryjames on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:56:41 AM PDT

•  Breaking: Gingrich warns of Rep fall catastrophe

  See

  http://thehill.com/...

  by Belvedere Come Here Boy on Tue May 06, 2008 at 12:10:43 PM PDT