MyDD :: Open Thread

Open Thread

by Todd Beeton, Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 09:06:47 PM EST

Have you contributed to the Road To 60 Act Blue page yet? Do me a favor and throw a few bones toward our excellent senate candidates.

What else is going on this evening?

Update [2008-6-25 21:56:2 by Todd Beeton]:As I've said before, I will only consider our having reached a 60-seat Democratic super-majority as long as Joe Lieberman is not counted among them. As far as I'm concerned, we need 10 new Democrats to reach that threshold, not 9.

I agree with Brave New Films: Joe Must Go!

Sign their petition demanding the Steering Committee remove Joe Lieberman's position within the Democratic Caucus.

We CANNOT tolerate a leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus who supports George Bush and McCain's War in Iraq. We CANNOT tolerate a Democratic chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee who endorses and stumps for McCain. We call on the Senate Democratic Steering Committee to strip Joe Lieberman of his chairmanship and his leadership role.

Tags: open thread (all tags)

Permalink :: 35 Comments :: Post a Comment

Nothing much. (none / 0)

Apparently, my cat loves Frank Sinatra. She won't stop rubbing her head against the speaker. Very entertaining.

Even John McCain lusts after teh engels.

by sricki on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 09:15:36 PM EST

Re: Nothing much. (none / 0)

That's interesting, My cat does the same thing and gets very animated to the music of a group called Crime Mob. For some reason, he likes crunk.

by Steve24 on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 11:05:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Open Thread (2.00 / 1)

you recommend it? yeah, as soon as you send that list...

by zerosumgame on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 09:23:11 PM EST

Obama slipping? (none / 0)

Some thoughts on the most recent polling data:

1. When McCain talks energy, he gains. When he talks trade from Ottowa, he slips. I think Obama's biggest weakness in this election is his
lack of an energy plan. He may have one, but who's seen it?

2. His decision to pass up federal funding may be hurting him also, and could be an error if
his fundraising numbers don't step up. He might
need Hillary on the ticket, after all.

3. This may be trivia, but did the faux presidential seal really ruffled any feathers?

Can't wait for his Iraq trip though.

by esconded on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 09:29:41 PM EST

Re: Obama slipping? (none / 0)

It was a good day of polling for McCain: tie in Gallup tracking and a seven point lead in Missouri, with an outrageous gender gap (crushing Obama by thirty-five points among white men will be McCain's only chance if Obama beats him by eight-ten points among women).

Gallup's daily tracking poll has been weird ever since the primaries ended; it was stable during the primaries but has been suspectible to significant fluctuations post-Hillary. In contrast, Rasmussen's daily tracking poll has been stable (Obama has been at 48 or 49% for some time while McCain fluctuates between 43-44%) whereas it was fluctuating daily during the primary season. So we get a consistent 4-6 point lead for Obama in Rasmussen but a tie-3 point lead in Gallup.

by Blazers Edge on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 10:34:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama slipping? (none / 0)

I don't believe the public financing issue is hurting him. Rasmussen's poll suggested that more people would be likely to vote for someone who rejected public financing over someone who took public financing. The fact that McCain and Graham (whose performance on Meet the Press deserves a place in the Hall of Shame for his histrionics) are pushing the issue suggests to me that Obama is doing pretty well in the polls actually; process doesn't seem like an issue with which the American people would have much interest.

I find it similar to Obama harping on Hillary for Mark Penn's connection to Colombia; it just confirmed to me that Hillary was holding her own against Obama in Pennsylvania because focusing on a process issue seems to be a tactic adopted by one who is losing.

by Blazers Edge on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 10:37:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama slipping? (none / 0)

Then I really think it's the energy issue. McCain has been successful framing it as a security issue, and doesn't Obama sound too much like Jimmy Carter at times?

Just wondering.

by esconded on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 10:42:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama slipping? (none / 0)

The polls don't bear that out though, especially the LA Times/Bloomberg poll and USA Today/Gallup poll (distinguishable from the daily tracking poll), which has Obama ahead of McCain by twenty points on energy issues.

I have no explanation for why it is so close in Gallup tracking. He's up around six points on average in every other poll. I say we wait another week and see where's Obama relative to McCain in the Gallup tracking poll.

I do believe Obama should be commended for taking the principled stand (for now) on offshore drilling.

by Blazers Edge on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 10:44:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama slipping? (none / 0)

Gallup didn't poll on June 18--it's been mostly downhill since then. Did they tweak their poll?

by esconded on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 11:06:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama slipping? (none / 0)

Well, Gallup didn't poll on June 11th either and Obama started going downhill then and experienced a brief resurgence until it started going downhill again after gallup failed to poll on June 18th. It didn't poll on June 11th allegedly because of the flooding but I don't know why it didn't do so on the 18th.

Things are still stable for Rasmussen as it has stayed at a 4-7 point Obama lead. It's weird because Rasmussen was a such a thorn in Obama and Hillary's sides throughout the primary season.

by Blazers Edge on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 11:09:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama slipping? (none / 0)

I could write it for him...

In fact I sent him one back when I wasn't pissed off at him.

Basically every $1 spent on solar nets $0.09 in reduction of trade deficit via displaced oil using tesla electric car efficiency. And 200 billion a year digs us mostly out in 4 or 8 years. And thats priced at the government paying 100% if they match 50% thus making solar/wind/nuke profitable for the buyer they could get $0.18/year per $1.00 spent. This totally ignores the economy of scale and the effect of removing demand would have on the oil market.

In 4 years this policy would cost 800 billion and would have the net effect of stronger dollar equal to buying 360 Billion dollars. Over the 2nd 4 years it would cost an additional 800 billion but the effect over that 4 years would be of buying back an additional 936 billion dollars. At the end of the 8 years the annual trade deficit would be reduced 288 Billion dollars a year because of reduced oil.

Electric cars with new electrical grid spending and power generation in solar or wind will get rid of foreign oil in ~16 years at 200 billion a year.

Basically need to invest ~8 trillion dollars at current $8-9 a watt for solar cells. Nuke and Wind is much cheaper than that.

link
http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/6/22/5385 5/9118#commenttop

Put solar and algae diesel in the sunny states, wind in the windy states, nuke in the cold states It will grow jobs AND reduce the trade deficit.

PS Hillary for VP...

by dtaylor2 on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 10:49:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Obama Fundraising Question (none / 0)

One thing which I've never understood is exactly what percentage Obama supporters are referring to when they say that 80% of his donations are $100 or less. Do they mean 80% of the money he gets is from donations under $100, or that 80% of the people who have donated to his campaign have donated $100 or less? Seems like an important distinction I never got the memo on.

No candidacy is more important than the right to vote.

by hornplayer on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 10:18:42 PM EST

Re: Obama Fundraising Question (none / 0)

I believe it is the latter (80% of the people who have donated comes from people contributing $100 or less). It would be impossible for 80% of the money he has raised to be from donors contributing $100 or less; he would need far more than 1.7 million contributors.

by Blazers Edge on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 10:31:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama Fundraising Question (none / 0)

Thanks. That was what I was leaning towards, I just never had heard anything specific either way. I'm a music major, so to use math in common practice like that doesn't even occur to me. It does tend to make me look silly every so often, though.

No candidacy is more important than the right to vote.

by hornplayer on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 10:36:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

First we have to get to 40. (none / 0)

Democratic Candidate, US Senate, Wisconsin 2012

by benmasel on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 10:56:45 PM EST

Re: Open Thread (2.00 / 1)

I agree 100% Todd. The magic number is 10, not 9. Lieberman is actively campaigning for the Republicans and actively undermining the Democratic nominee... it's obvious where his allegiances are.

And so, may evil beware and may good dress warmly and eat lots of fresh vegetables.

by thatpurplestuff on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 11:32:28 PM EST

Re: Open Thread (none / 0)

I couldn't agree more Lieberman does NOT belong anywhere other than with Bush and McCain. Todd never forgets who the enemy is. Cheers

by Politicalslave on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 02:29:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Open Thread (none / 0)

Ugh, love Todd, hate MyDD.

I posted the petition this afternoon, got 2-3 recs and caught alot of crap.

I really hoped it would have made Rec list.

Maybe one of you guys can give it a crack tommorow.

Anyways, thanks again Todd.

by DemsLandslide2008 on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 02:31:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Open Thread (2.00 / 1)

Murphy's law says we will be at 59 without him. I think I'd rather boot him and try to convert a moderate GOPer like Olympia Snowe... on principle alone.

http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/ McCain Sucks!

by yitbos96bb on Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 11:37:16 PM EST

Pissed about FISA? (none / 0)

Send Chris Dodd's colleagues a message by stuffing his pockets with cash (actually, by helping him retire his campaign debt)

https:/salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/1318 t/59/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=192 5

by BlueinColorado on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 12:03:58 AM EST

Re: Open Thread (1.50 / 2)

I love lurking at the fringe sites and go searching for pearls.

Check out this beaut I dug up:

Comment by ---- | 2008-06-25 21:28:39

From Clintons 4 McCain!

We received information which we verified that the Chinese government has our site, and several other NOBAMA-type websites, blocked in their country. That's right, the despotic communist regime there in China doesn't want its people reading what we write here.

We wonder if Obama gave China and other countries a call, asking that our site and ones like it be blocked. Well, we consider it a high honor that the Chinese government saw fit to block little ole us, and we invite other despotic and terrorist regimes to follow suit!

You're seeing in this the future of our country folks, if we allow Obama and ones of his ilk to have power. They must be stopped, while we still can. Vote McCain come November. Defeat evil in our time.

http://www.clintons4mccain.com/

Welcome to a landslide WITH white working class, latinos, women and holding on sweeties!!!

by spacemanspiff on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 01:03:02 AM EST

Re: Open Thread (none / 0)

honestly, that's one of the more sane and reasonable sort of things your likely to read on these sites.

i enjoy the sport as well, but you do come out feeling very dirty so you can't do it too often.

by falseintellect on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 02:17:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

todd.... (none / 0)

if i want to contact the 'admins' - who does that include? i emailed jerome, is that sufficient?

"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg

by canadian gal on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 01:47:34 AM EST

Re: Open Thread (none / 0)

Well the fact is we need Liberman right now so we have to kiss his ass at least until after the elections are over. After that, we can see where we stand then see what to do with him.

by werd2406 on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 02:04:21 AM EST

Brave New Films (none / 0)

Thank you Todd for recognizing Brave New Films.

It seems alot of members here don't realize how much they are doing for us.

Todd, I hope you are booked for Meet the Bloggers program that is upcoming.

I am very good friends with Cenk and will highly recommend you to represent the FP's of this site.

again thank you.

by DemsLandslide2008 on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 02:24:00 AM EST

Re: Brave New Films (2.00 / 1)

Brave New Films does more for our party than the overpaid consultants our candidates hire.

by Pravin on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 04:56:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

DC Handgun Case to be decided today (none / 0)

Jeralyn at Talk Left has some info on where you can read some live blogging about it. LINK

It should be interesting.

Consider that everything which happens, happens justly, and if thou observest carefully, thou wilt find it to be so. -Marcus Aurelius

by Blue Neponset on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 09:14:18 AM EST

Re: Open Thread (none / 0)

The only reason why Democrats haven't kicked Liberman out of the caucus despite his support for McCain is because Democrats only have a one vote majority and as angry the Democrats are at him, loosing the Senate majority is a price they aren't willing to pay. I say that Lieberman will be kicked out in 2009 because it is almost guranteed that Democrats will have an majority with Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Democrats and we can punish him once and for all. Until then, no petetion will work.

by Jaxx Raxor on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 09:21:56 AM EST

4 1/2 months (none / 0)

Basically, that is all we have left to put up with Joe. Actually by now it is less than that.

Once Congress recesses in October, before the election, that is it. When they come back it is just a lame duck session. It will be interesting to see if Joe tries anything during that lame duck session. He must already see the writing on the wall.

I am guessing that this point he must be praying hard for a McCain victory, because obtaining a cabinet post in a McCain administration is the only hope that he has left for a meaningful existance.

The GOP only likes him because of his stance on Iraq, they disagree on almost every other policy stance, so they are unlikely to give him any leadership if he were to switch. I think he is going to be a very lonely man for the next 4 years.

by monkeyga on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 10:30:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

don't count on it (none / 0)

While anything is possible for the Sen Lieberman, I think the chances of him staying in the caucus in 2009 are much greater than most on the blog community realizes. As someone who has worked in a US Senate office, I have come to understand just how important deal making is up there. As long as Lieberman sticks to his end of the deals which he has made, and as long as he informs the leadership of his plans in advance then they are not likley to expell him no matter how badly the blogs want him out.

by THE MODERATE on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 10:56:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Are you really sure? (none / 0)

If the Democrat party gets a 60 seat majority that they will actually do something? Or will it be cave to the republicans as usual?
I think the last thing Reid and Pelosi want is a majority because then they will have no more excuses for enabling Bush.

by usedmeat on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 09:32:43 AM EST

Images (none / 0)

I searched the FAQs and user guidelines and didn't find an answer, so I was hoping an open thread would be an appropriate place to ask this question. If not, my apologies.

What are the MYDD policies for posting images? Specifically, on posting images that we're not hosting ourselves but are bleeding someone else's bandwidth (especially when someone is spamming a thread with such images)?

by katpee on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 10:39:14 AM EST

Huh? (none / 0)

This is Nuts

We call on the Senate Democratic Steering Committee to strip Joe Lieberman of his chairmanship and his leadership role.

Do this before the election & Lieberman will Caucus with the Republicans, Reid will become the Minority Leader in a flash. We loose the (questionable) advantage of setting the agenda, chairmanships of committees, and all of the other perks of being the Majority.

by NvDem on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 10:52:42 AM EST

Re: Open Thread (none / 0)

I get tired of writing this over and over again, but we seem to have the same stupid discussion about once a week.
At the begginning of each Congress, the Senate adopts an organizing resolution. The one adopted for this Congress names Harry Reid as Majority Leader and Joe Lieberman as Chairman of the Government Operations Committee. To remove either would take a new resolution, which would be subject to filibuster, and therefore require 60 votes for approval.
Lieberman can't be removed from his position as Chairman. He can and should be expelled from the Democratic caucus, effective immediately, but that would not affect his status as the committee chair.
And Lieberman's joining the Republican Party now would not affect Democratic control for the rest of this Congress. Reid and the Democratic committee chairs would keep their positions.

by Ron Thompson on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 12:16:00 PM EST

Re: Open Thread (none / 0)

Road to 60 is exactly the kind of campaign we need - focusing on red states and rural areas rather than eating our own young. I've only ever donated to specific campaigns and the DNC, but at some point this summer I will certainly give to Road to 60.

The Wayward Episcopalian

by Transplanted Texan on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 12:25:32 PM EST

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