http://www.democraticunderground.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:23:42 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:23:42 [b]2000: The "Al Gore is a Liar" campaign[/b]
The rightwing compiled a whole list of comically ridiculous distortions about Gore, and "writers" (stenographers) at major, serious newspapers repeated the lies verbatim as fact (and then quoted each other -- "the echo chamber"). The Gore campaign react... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/89 Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:46:26 Tools -- things you USE for the ends you want.

What a sorry bunch of deluded morans. A whole lot of fury, emotion, and opinion -- totally heartfelt and invested in -- based on lies and manipulation.

It's puppetry at its worst.

I never much liked the term "tools," applied to people -- but h... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/88 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:24:14 Why should I have to pay for things I don't need? Like public schools - I don't have any kids in school, so why pay for it? Let the kids damn parents pay.

If they can't pay, they shouldn't have children. But don't make me pay for any abortions, either. Stop having sex or use birth control. But pa... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/87 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:08:26 I was miffed to hear this point of view on Scarborough the other morning, but I guess it's a wider stance than I realized. (So to speak.)

The idea is that Republicans have an advantage in making fair, "best-person-for-the-job" judicial appointments, because they aren't saddled with the limitation... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/86 Sun, 03 May 2009 12:26:23 Remember when we were all convinced of the things that are slowly dripping into evidence now -- torture, illegal eavesdropping, vast general disregard for national and international law? What were we called? "Fringe," people who just have personal hatred for the Bush boy, whiners, traitors, people w... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/85 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:18:50 Their blast-faxes are always SO freaking obvious. I'm not paying all that much attention to teevee, and even I am hearing the same parroted lines over and over again.

First, if it's not Rove himself, it's a classic Rove tactic: Find the places where your opponent is strong and you are weak, and m... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/84 Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:06:06 I am far from an expert on any of this, but my hair hurts from reading and discussing it here! There are a lot of fundamental misunderstandings.

First, some background info and analysis:

Here is the argument from Electronic Frontier Foundation:
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/04/obama-doj-w... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/83 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:04:27 Evidently, we're in for a ticket with a VP who has one or more problems:

1. No national security, foreign policy, or military experience

OR

2. Voted "yes" on the IWR, taking away the rationale for Obama's campaign on "judgment."

AND/OR

3. In addition, it may be someone who doesn't hel... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/82 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:14:22 How dare Republicans run year after year on "You don't support the troops!"

How many of those troops would be home with their families instead of in hospitals or graves, if it weren't for this catastrophic fiasco that's STILL being promoted and cheered by John McCain?!? And they continue to expl... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/81 Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:01:28 Previous versions:

We're so much safer now! That's why we need to re-elect Bush/Cheney!
We're in so much danger now! That's why we need to re-elect Bush/Cheney!

We got surpluses -- that's why we need more tax cuts for the rich!
We got deficits -- that's why we need more tax cuts for the rich... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/80 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:30:10 Thank you, General Clark, for telling the truth and not backing down!

I salute you for making the point that McCain's military service, although honorable, does not automatically qualify him to make sound decisions on foreign policy and military strategy.

I appreciate your taking the GOP's ph... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/79 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:29:59 So I was just looking at the list of channels on Sirius, when I saw channel 144: "Sirius Partiot: Conservative Talk."

That's right, [b]"PARTIOT."[/b]

It's quite perfect, actually -- both because it fits nicely with the classic Freeper misspellings we've come to know and love, and because it s... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/78 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:44:15 Last November 2nd, I wrote about "How the Game is Played" in the primaries.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/64

I guess I'm just old enough and cynical enough to see a lot of this as a cycle that gets repeated every time -- and yet, optimistic enough to hope we can help each ot... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/77 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:23:37 1. He isn't a lawmaker. I don't think a Senator should run with another Congressman or Congresswoman. The voting records are too easy to make hay with. Someone with a lot of experience would have a long voting record; someone with a short voting record would be dubbed inexperienced. Neither makes a ... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/76 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:14:35 (Sorry to link to Politico, but I clicked through to this while wondering why the HELL Politico is now featured on Yahoo News next to AP, Reuters and AFP...)

[div class="excerpt"] Why poll numbers skewed: Race effect?

Daniel Libit Fri May 16, 5:55 AM ET

As the nation's pollsters convene thi... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/75 Fri, 16 May 2008 21:04:32 [i]Barack Hussein Obama is a black man.[/i] Is that scary to read?

Supposedly, the fear here is that it's scary to [i]other[/i] people. Paradoxically, it seems the fear of their fear has a lot of Democrats nervous. But racists aren't a big constituency among Democratic voters; they likely wouldn... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/73 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:34:55 All MHO.

1. Neither candidate is as perfect nor as horrible as supporters/detractors have convinced themselves. What they are: Politicians! That means highlighting the absolute worst side of their opponent, and the idealized side of themselves.

2. When this is over, lots of Democrats may need... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/72 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:38:18 From his website, johnmccain.com...

His "Economic Stimulus Plan" starts with a corporate tax cut.

His overall "Tax Cut Plan" includes "control medicare growth."

His "health care reform" plan reforms absolutely nothing.

His page devoted to "Strict Constructionist Philosophy" starts with ... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/71 Sat, 16 Feb 2008 20:49:58 I've always wanted my vote to matter in a primary, and finally it will -- but I don't know who to vote for. My inner dialogue goes around and around, something like this:

Clinton – Has more experience and very slight edge on economic and healthcare proposals, but people love to hate her. With a C... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/70 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:19:45 No, not Hillary Clinton -- Bill Clinton. In 1992, to be exact.

Remember slogans like "A place called Hope?" And "It's time for a change?"

But HRC really can't be, in NH, what her husband was back then. HE was the newcomer, the "change candidate," challenging the "status quo." In may ways, he w... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/69 Fri, 04 Jan 2008 22:11:59 The media's sure at their worst.
For battles, not issues, they thirst.
These coiffed gents and ladies
Can all go to Hades
And Faux ones can surely go first.

... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/68 Mon, 19 Nov 2007 22:01:48 [div class="excerpt"]Bolster Troops on the Ground

A greater military commitment now is necessary if we are to achieve long-term success in Iraq. John McCain agrees with retired Army General Jack Keane that [b]there are simply not enough American forces in Iraq. More troops are necessary[/b] to cl... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/67 Sun, 18 Nov 2007 16:46:09 Speaking to the Federalist Society about "strict constructionist judges:"

[div class="excerpt"]"This organization, probably more than most, understands how crucial that difference will be if a president is elected who has the kind of thinking of a Hillary Clinton or a Barack Obama or a John Edwar... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/66 Sun, 18 Nov 2007 16:29:42 [div class="excerpt"][b]Huckabee: Abortion not states' call[/b]

By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer 15 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee [b]rejects letting states decide whether to allow abortions,[/b] claiming the right to life is a moral issue not s... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/65 Sun, 18 Nov 2007 16:20:22 This primary is unfolding pretty much the way we could expect. It's just the way the game is played. But it's worth thinking about how the game is played so that WE don't get "played," ourselves.

In general, I think it goes like this:

1. The media pretends the frontrunner is "inevitable," and... http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sparkly/64 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 07:24:05