Anybody got any opinion on this new New Yorker cover?

I got one: OMFG!  I'm sure it's some kind of joke right?  There's no other ulterior motive to publish cartoons like this right?  They got the new McCain Manchurian Candidate cover lined up for next week right?

This is disgusting.  Might be worth cancelling a subscription or two.

I'll make this short.  My wife was given away for adoption by her birth parents, much like the kids did in Juno (her parents were both 17 according to hospital records.)  She then grew up in an abusive stepfamily. She ran away from her adopted parents when she was 17.

Now, at age 37,  my wife has been contacted by her real birth family, through an agency they hired to find her.  The parents stayed together, and had three other kids, which would be my wife's blood siblings.   We do not know their gender yet, and have no other information.  Needless to say, this is both wonderful, and shocking, and stunning, news.

So I come to the DKos community for advice.  My wife would like to meet the family, eventually, but there is so much to think about.  Any comments would be greatly appreciated... thanks.

From today's Politico Playbook...

President Clinton on Philadelphia's WHYY radio, re his South Carolina reference to Jesse Jackson: "I think that they played the race card on me. And we now know, from memos from the campaign and everything, that they planned to do it along. …

"I frankly thought the way the Obama campaign reacted was disrespectful to Jesse Jackson. And I called him and asked HIM if he found anything offensive and he just laughed and said, 'OF COURSE I don't. We all know what's going on.' … You gotta really go some to play the race card with me - MY office is in Harlem.

"I was stating a fact, and it is STILL a fact. … Do I regret saying it? No. Do I regret that it was used that way? Yes."

Hey Bill, quit whining brother.  IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT...

OK short and sweet diary...

Hillary Clinton in 2000...

Mr. Lazio pledged to release his tax returns soon after entering the Senate race in May, but had not done so, raising suspicions about whether he had the kind of financial problems that have tripped up other politicians in New York in recent decades.

The campaign of his Democratic opponent, Hillary Rodham Clinton, criticized the delay, asking whether he was hiding something.

So what did the Clinton campaign do?  Sent out Howard Wolfson in a clown suit...

More on the flip...

(The joke part)...

AUSTIN — In a surprise move, former Democratic governor Ann Richards of Texas defected from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign on Wednesday and joined a growing list of superdelegates to endorse Sen. Barack Obama for president, his campaign said.

"I'm honored to have earned the support of Governor Richards and am pleased that she'll play an important role in advancing our grassroots movement for change in Houston and across Texas," Obama said in a statement. "She's been a tireless advocate for working families and when I'm president we'll work together to put the American dream within reach of every child in Texas and across our country."

The REAL STORY on the flip...

(Note: I edited this video myself. I am reposting it to give it another chance as I posted it yesterday at 6 in the morning and it quickly disappeared.)

Congratulations to John McCain for his stunning 55-37 Wisconsin victory last night over folksy evangelical upstart Mike Huckabee from Hope, Arkansas.  With only about 200 more delegates to go, McCain has the Republican nomination sewn up.  Mr. Inevitability!

Here's a video of McCain's amazingly eloquent speech from last night, I'm sure you heard it or at least heard OF it, for surely it will go down in posterity alongside such others as MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech and of course Kennedy's "Ask Not..."

Or maybe the Gettysburg Address is a more apt comparison.  Anyway, relive the moment!  (I took the liberty of editing out a few of the fluffier lines, this is the meat here.)

Congratulations to John McCain for his stunning 55-37 Wisconsin victory last night over folksy evangelical upstart Mike Huckabee from Hope, Arkansas.  With only about 200 more delegates to go, McCain has the Republican nomination sewn up.  Mr. Inevitability!

Here's a video of McCain's amazingly eloquent speech from last night, I'm sure you heard it or at least heard OF it, for surely it will go down in posterity alongside such others as MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech and of course Kennedy's "Ask Not..."

Or maybe the Gettysburg Address is a more apt comparison.  Anyway, relive the moment!  (I took the liberty of editing out a few of the fluffier lines, this is the meat here.)

Hat tip to Kos.

Hillary Clinton’s campaign for the presidential nomination has accused Barack Obama of plagiarising a fellow Democrat’s speech when he delivered an address on Saturday night — an explosive accusation on the eve of today’s Wisconsin primary

.
What with Hillary Clinton accusing Obama of plagiarism and all, I put together this little mashup video, with apologies to will.i.am.

Somebody had to do it...

From today's New York Times...

Suddenly, on that May day in 2005, the copter dropped CS gas, a riot-control substance the American military in Iraq can use only under the strictest conditions and with the approval of top military commanders. An armored vehicle on the ground also released the gas, temporarily blinding drivers, passers-by and at least 10 American soldiers operating the checkpoint.

“This was decidedly uncool and very, very dangerous,” Capt. Kincy Clark of the Army, the senior officer at the scene, wrote later that day. “It’s not a good thing to cause soldiers who are standing guard against car bombs, snipers and suicide bombers to cover their faces, choke, cough and otherwise degrade our awareness."

An International convention endorsed by the US banned the use of CS gas as a "chemical weapon".

George Bush gassed his own people.

Can we impeach now?

I had not seen this diaried yet, from Think Progress...

Mitt Romney’s father George was born in Chihuahua, Mexico in 1907, the son of Gaskell Romney and Anna Amelia Pratt. Three generations of Romneys lived in Mexico because Miles Park Romney, a polygamist, moved the family there in 1884 as it became increasingly clear that the U.S. government would not tolerate polygamy in the Utah Territory. The 1882 Edmunds Act stripped polygamists of the basic rights of U.S. citizenship, denying them the right to vote, serve on juries or hold office. Not dissimilar to current immigration raids, U.S. federal agents hunted and arrested polygamists. Polygamists were forced to leave the country or risk jail.

Miles chose to leave the country, bringing his multiple wives and children with him across the southern border.

This is some video I shot yesterday at the WGA strike at Universal Studios in Universal City, CA.  SAG was out in full support, along with the teamsters and WGA members and showrunners.

Support our union brothers and sisters!  For more see wga.org, and United Hollywood has a great blog with updates and inside information.

Never have those two words had more resonance than today.

Fresh from the Westboro Baptist Church - you know, the "God Hates Fags" people led by demented rightwing castrato Fred Phelps, who spread their hate message by protesting at the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq and literally celebrate their death by IEDs - comes a new video, "God Hates The World".  Sung to the tune of "We Are the World", you have to see this abomination to grasp the depths of lunacy the Rightwing Christian Reconstructionist Old Testament Movement represents. This is for real and Jeeeebus.  It is beyond anything you could ever satirize in any Christopher Guest movie...

VIDEO - "GOD HATES THE WORLD"

Remember, this is the fringe element of the sort of Regency College Pat Robertson evangelicals who have now hijacked our Justice Department and our whole government.  Oh and I believe that is Reverend Phelps himself on piano.

God help us.

John Edwards has refused to participate in the controversial Congressional Black Caucus/FOX News debate, which has been under fire amidst charges that Fox News is blatantly racist and a propaganda organ of the GOP. This is an email sent to tpmcafe from Edwards' deputy campaign manager Jonathan Prince:

"We just called the CBC to let them know that we're looking forward to their January debate with CNN but we're not going to participate in the proposed debate with Fox. The CBC champions critical issues that matter enormously to the future of our country, and we look forward to discussing them throughout this campaign and at their debate in January. But we believe there's just no reason for Democrats to give Fox a platform to advance the right-wing agenda while pretending they're objective. If there was any uncertainty as to Fox's objectivity, it was put to rest when they attacked Democratic candidates, Democratic constituency groups, and the Nevada Democratic party when their last proposed debate was cancelled for lack of support."

Great job by Edwards.  Can you say, "leadership"?

I am not a religious person nor particularly sentimental, but I was just over at Steve Gilliard's site and if ever anyone needed some positive energy flowing their way it is former Kos founding contributor Steve Gilliard and his partner Jen, and Steve's Mom. I won't even go into the particulars you can read the details from Jen here..   There have been several diaries updating his progress and right now, as Jen says, it's one step forward, two steps back.  Sincere prayers for recovery offered here and please no tipping.  Contributions to Steve and Jen are possible on his webpage. I was moved to make a small donation but I think what they need now more than ever is prayer.  Thanks.

UPDATE: I hope this diary gets rescued.

Speaking of Two Americas, from USA Today:

Disclosures of substandard housing for troops treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center are prompting Congress to investigate whether the Army is running a plush ward at the complex for VIPs at the expense of ordinary war casualties.
...

The suites have carpeted floors, antique furniture and fine china in the dining rooms. That's a stark contrast to mold- and mice-ridden housing that some wounded troops had been found to be living in.
...

The Eisenhower Executive Nursing Suite, also known as Ward 72, features heightened security, including bullet-proof windows and secure telephone lines. Among the other touches are flat-panel televisions and curio cabinets filled with gifts from foreign leaders.

Don't know if much more needs to be said.  Money that should be spent on medical care for wounded soldiers and upkeep on the rest of the hospital is being spent on luxurious surroundings for officers and their friends.  My guess is Democrats need not apply.

Okay this is the final straw.  I have been a strong supporter of Obama's up until now but this is just too much.
From The Hill:

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) slipped in a compliment — of sorts — about a fellow 2008 hopeful during his appearances on the Iowa stump last weekend.

“I want to wait and hear what John Edwards has to say, he’s kind of good-looking,” Obama envisioned Iowa caucus-goers from the small town of Clinton telling themselves. During an appearance in West Burlington, Iowa, the phrase appeared again, this time with Edwards as “kind of cute.”

More on the flip flop.

"All political appointees can be removed by the President for any reason."

Those are the last words spoken by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales at today's press conference, spoken very pointedly at the very end before he scootered out.  Not only are these words not true according to the constitution, but it is an impeachable offense.

Alsberto Gonzales just nailed Bush.  I haven't heard anyone else mention it so I am diarying it here, I think it is important to hang him with that last sentence.

"All political appointees can be removed by the President for any reason."

Bush did it.

UPDATE: Apparently it is constitutional.  However a poster in another thread claimed that one of the articles of impeachment that were being brought against Nixon included the same charge of political tampering in justice.  Hmm.  Well we'll see, but certainly this implicates Bush.  Originally the White House claimed they were not involved.

UPDATE II: I apologize for what a weak diary this is, I had about 5 seconds to get it out in the flurry of activity after the presser.  Sorry if it offends some.  But as Chuck Schumer said today, Congress was told under oath that the White House had nothing to do with the firings whatsoever.

x

From On Call...

February 21, 2007

Obama Camp Takes Lincoln Bedroom Shot

The Obama camp has responded to Howard Wolfson's demands. From spokesperson Robert Gibbs: "We aren’t going to get in the middle of a disagreement between the Clintons and someone who was once one of their biggest supporters. It is ironic that the Clintons had no problem with David Geffen when was raising them $18 million and sleeping at their invitation in the Lincoln bedroom. It is also ironic that Senator Clinton lavished praise on Monday and is fully willing to accept today the support of South Carolina State Sen. Robert Ford, who said if Barack Obama were to win the nomination, he would drag down the rest of the Democratic Party because ’he's black.’"

Okay Hillary supporters, are you once again going to deny to me that the incident with Robert Ford did not happen?  This is the place to do it.