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Open Thread – Moment of Zen

mistymorning

I woke up Sunday morning to this sight – a mixture of morning fog, and smoke from a cabin’s wood burning stove. It only lasted about five minutes, but it was absolutely riveting, watching the smoke and mist swirl and begin to burn off in the morning sun.

Comments

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Comments
186 Responses to “Open Thread – Moment of Zen”
  1. My calendar says 11th of September. Taking time out.

  2. @VernD – it is kinda gross, kinda real, but it is a joke. Look at god´s hitlist, place number 2, then you have no doubts anymore.

    Looking at the comments though, there are either very good jokers or an awful lot of people who think it is serious. Oj weh.

  3. dowl says:

    A moment of Zen:

    Sarah Palin will be red meat prime at some point at the corporately sponsored 9-12 march on Washington Tea Party to formally announce that she is, in fact, the rightful president of all real Americans. She will incoherently assert that she is sort of the Popess of the new Theocracy and she speaks for all nominal Christians. Murdock, Rove, Cheney, et al, ad nauseum will support her claim. Todd said he’s okay with that.

    Don’t laugh.

  4. VernD says:

    So with the Glen Beck spoof site in my mind, I can’t tell if the Shelly the Republickin site is a hoax as well.

    http://shelleytherepublican.com/2009/09/02/time-to-defend-glen-beck-he-did-not-murder-a-young-girl-in-1990.aspx

  5. jojobo1 says:

    Way to go Shannyn Woo Hoo.
    Michigander that is also something I have been worried about and have not seen addressed.Why so long to implement.The public option could use the same as medicare does,IMO as soon as it is passed it should be started and implemented. Taking 3 years to implement a program is nus,why what would take so long?Sounds like a compromise with the opposition,not good.
    And yes I have been posting everywhere I can about what I call palins death panels,vouchers.The elderly should run not walk away from palin and her GOP cohorts.maybe this will show the elderly who actually is opting for death panels and it is palin and cohorts

  6. Enjay in E.MT. says:

    Margaret & Helen have a new post up — about Wilson
    Wonderfully descriptive in their writing

    And Shannyn’s article on HuffPo is an excellent read also.

    Love Love Love the picture AKM – kept going back to it today when on a break from — OMG an insurance audit (and we came thru it very nicely – now I am prepping for sales tax audit next month…..)

  7. mommom says:

    Link to article from abc news.com about Palin and other Repugs wanting to voucherise Medicare.

    Why is this not headlines everywhere?

    http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2009/09/palin-ripped-by-dnc-for-proposing-to-voucherize-medicare.html

    Sarah Palin may have handed her opponents a big weapon on Wednesday when she proposed voucherizing Medicare in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal.

    My colleague, Teddy Davis has more:

    Sarah Palin came under fire from national Democrats on Wednesday for proposing to convert Medicare from an open-ended entitlement that guarantees seniors almost unlimited access to care into a voucher system that provides retirees only a fixed sum of money to purchase private health insurance.

    “It would end Medicare as we know it,” said DNC communications director Brad Woodhouse on a conference call with reporters. “To say that we’re going to do away with Medicare and go to a voucher system where seniors would be depending on the very insurers who today are discriminating on the basis of pre-existing conditions is scurrilous, it’s risky, it’s scary, and it has no place in this debate.”

  8. michigander says:

    karen in OR – Yes, I was agreeing, sorry I came on in a panic/freakout. I seldom talk about personal stuff and am not good at clarifying my meaning. I try not to worry but it is scary, thank you for caring.

  9. jojobo1 says:

    Welcome back home samper hope you had a greaqt time even with the hotel issues.
    AKM have been meaning to say what a beautiful picture.
    I thought you guys were kidding about the e-bay deal,you meant it is for real.With any luck maybe rove will be in jail with Cheney by the time it ends,the biding I mean.LOL going on E-bay and selling yourself Thats a new one for me.

  10. curiouser says:

    Nina Trick and Martha Unalaska Yard Sign – I thought I heard Begich walk sideways around the public insurance option. I was expecting him to say what we had previously heard…that he would support the public option if the bill was cost neutral. I don’t think he did that.

    I need to know if I’m losing my mind?

  11. jojobo1 says:

    What a heartfelt letter from Ann Strongheart,Thanks for bringing it to my attention I don’t always read every where.Ann stay strong for both you children and yourself and accept help that is offered with love and affection.

  12. karen in OR says:

    Posted by Michigander
    “karen in OR – I am pleased with Pres Obama’s speech but waiting 4 yrs. for the public option doesn’t help me nor my son’s family at all unless I am missing something. We already have catosrophic ins. but it is 1/4 of our income. I think it will help others and is a step in the right direction.”

    —————-

    Hi Michigander,
    You referred to me in a post above and I think you are agreeing with a complication I mentioned earlier regarding the gap of time between NOW and when a health plan goes into effect (2013?). I just hope you were not thinking that I am not in favor (great favor) of this reform.

    I’m very concerned about what the insurance companies will do to consumers in the time before they will have to deal with real competition. Credit card companies are KILLING card-holders who still struggle with a balance by clobbering them with sudden and enormous interest hikes. They did this because they know they will have to reform in a year (can’t remember time, but they had ample warning) I’m thinking the insurance companies will do the same thing by drastically raising their rates now that they have several years notice of regulations. I hope this can be addressed some way, this will be much more horrific, before it gets better. I’m sorry to read things have been so rough for you Michigander, that really stinks.

  13. Martha Unalaska Yard Sign says:

    Way to go Senator Begich on the Rachel Maddow show!

  14. boodog says:

    Yep, I agree Aussie. I think there were too high expectations at the beginning of the president’s term. There would be no way anyone could live up to EVERYONE’S expectations. Whatever anyone says, I think this man is to be respected for what he has done with his life and our country so far. And he has done it with a grace I am not so sure I could have had. Besides, we will never really know how large a bullet we dodged with the economic crisis; some top economists have estimated it to be quite a large bullet. Big job cleaning up after the Bush/Cheney disaster I think..

  15. Nina Trick says:

    Hey! I just watched Begich on RM! He was great!

  16. MinNJ says:

    Aussie, that is so good to hear.

  17. Aussie Blue Sky says:

    Garrison Keillor, who had a minor stroke today, wrote this from his vacation in London two weeks ago:

    “Nobody is so ready to embrace martyrdom as my fellow liberals, and here they are, seven months after Mr. Obama took the oath, crying out, “Where did it go, the glory and the dream?” Get a grip. Solid majorities in the House and Senate and yet a few puffs of smoke from the other side and Democrats are full of consternation. If they back out on this young president, and if this Congress cannot pass the public option and meet the basic human needs of our people, what does this say about us?

    Here in London, people are amused at the wild paranoid fantasies of the right. I don’t care about that, I hold weak-kneed Democrats responsible, and if they get spooked by a few hecklers, then it’s time to find replacements.”

    Obviously nothing wrong with Mr Keillor’s spine. He says he’s currently in the hands of “smart and compassionate” people – and can’t wait to get away from them.

  18. Lee323 says:

    118 aha Says:
    September 10th, 2009 at 10:54 AM
    “The story of america isn’t about the people who quit when things got tough. It’s about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.”

    ————————————————————–
    Thanks for posting this great quote by PO from his speech last night. I’ve used it on other sites as well.

    Gorgeous photo, AKM! One of your best.

  19. jay says:

    Hello All…

    I have a question, which I’m sure has been addressed…but can someone explain if Obama’s proposal lifts the ban on buying insurance from outside states? (Is there a term used when referencing this?) In last night’s speech, the President referenced a southern state, saying there were two providers for the entire population. This is one point I’m trying to get clarity on. Thanks!

  20. MinNJ says:

    Honesty, so well said.

    AKM, such beauty.

  21. honestyinGov says:

    It’s too bad some of those people in Wasilla and all over Alaska don’t have the same type of mindset and mental toughness that Shannyn Moore has expressed in her recent Huffpo story she just posted. She has NAILED IT!

    Fellow Alaskans… it’s time to speak out. Don’t be afraid of the ‘ Guy behind the curtain’. She’s not pulling the levers anymore.
    Use your Brain, have a Heart, get some Courage.

  22. Bill Hess says:

    Nice photo.

  23. michigander says:

    karen in OR – I am pleased with Pres Obama’s speech but waiting 4 yrs. for the public option doesn’t help me nor my son’s family at all unless I am missing something. We already have catosrophic ins. but it is 1/4 of our income. I think it will help others and is a step in the right direction.

    We run an LLC small business and have to pay our own premiums. One son and family qualifies for Medicaid and is fine. Hubby and I have had increasing cost every year for at least the past 8 and last yr. had to switch to catostrophic ins. with a $10,000 deductible (HSA, which we don’t have after losing our slim retirement fund). We had to because we can not afford more than 1 week’s pay to cover a monthly premium. Nothing is covered, we have pre existing conditions, can’t afford the tests, so we don’t go to the doctor save for when my sons and I have forced my husband when he couldn’t breathe. That doesn’t even count toward our deductible. The premium will go up soon, I know, it does every year and we will have to change again.

    My daughter-in-law had to have gall bladder surgery, supposedly covered. Coverage denied months later after being pre-approved – they said she lied about pre-existing condition from going to the Dr. for severe menstrual cramping a year prior. They got cut off and had to pay it back. My Grand-daughter has had serious health issues, my son and daughter-in-law have had to pay out of pocket and we have had to help making it impossible for us to help ourselves.

    I am not even touching on the bulk of our personal issues but by the time the Public Option becomes available my husband and I will probably be dead.

    The Joe Wilsons and Sarah Palins of this world could not care less. Somebody damn well better do something before my kids end up dying before THEIR time.

    I want President Obama to push this through and he needs our help. I am willing to beg for it. When over half of your income goes towards housing and ins. premiums how do you pay the rest of the bills let alone eat? Done ranting and sorry.

  24. AKM, I think that’s the best photo yet – and that’s saying something. You’ve posted some great ones.

    We were flying back from Tennessee today, and on the first leg I sat by the window. But I wasn’t able to get anything very spectacular – too much haze and the wing was taking up half my picture.

    Thanks for sharing that one today. Gorgeous.

  25. GreatGranny2B says:

    BECK IS SUCCESSFUL AGAIN!
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/10/glenn-beck-strikes-again_n_281986.html

    Join ColorOfChange to get even more sponsor off Beck’s show and maybe even away from Fox:
    http://colorofchange.org/beck/

  26. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    oh lookie……..

    “Former state Rep. Andrew Halcro announced this morning that he intends to challenge longtime U.S. Rep. Don Young in next year’s Republican primary.

    Halcro announced his candidacy at a gathering of the Alaska Support Industry Alliance, a petroleum and mining industry group.

    “I’m running for Congress because I agree with Don Young, and he said seniority matters and right now,” Halcro said later. “After the last election, he was stripped of his committee chairmanships and he’s basically become an 18-term freshman.”

  27. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    our tax dollars at work in the right places.

    http://www.thetundradrums.com/news/show/7188

    “Emmonak’s funds are part of $172.5 million in funding for water and environmental projects that the United States Department of Agriculture allocated. In total, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is expected to bring more than $1 billion to Alaska over the next two years, creating or sustaining some 8,000 jobs.

    “After being signed 200 days ago, the Recovery Act is continuing to help improve communities across Alaska,” Begich said. “These funds are welcome as they will help improve safety and sanitation in the community and create needed jobs.”

  28. honestyinGov says:

    “” Email Alert “”
    Shannyn has just posted a new story on the Huffpo.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shannyn-moore/mrs-palin-quit-makin-thin_b_282760.html

  29. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    Obama to appear on ’60 Minutes’

    By MICHAEL CALDERONE | 09/10/09 5:31 PM

    President Barack Obama, who has made “60 Minutes” a regular stop, will sit down with Steve Kroft this Sunday.

    Read Michael Calderone’s blog post.

  30. Pepper1939 says:

    nswfm suggested a Christmas/Holiday card from the beautiful photo that AKM is showing. That is a great idea. Can we get them for Christmas??? Hurry AKM….get this going.

  31. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    Scarah’s just trying to ‘establish’ her foreign affairs and security expertise by cashing in on 9/11, gah, disgusting.

  32. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    honesty in Gov, yeah, I figured out the other day Stossel was a repub when his example of creating green jobs was the same as throwing a bottle (when he shows) through a window, money for the glass co, installer and clean up, gah. When I googled to find out, sure enough. Good, he should go where he belongs. I wonder if he was pushed out?

    I haven’t paid much attention to him for years.

  33. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    yes, welcome back Samper, can’t wait to hear about all your adventures.

    Apparently Scarborough call the heckler an dumb*ss, before he knew it was his ‘friend’ Wilson. lol

    The Prez had some more to say after meeting with the blue dog dems which included Begich. He asked that the debate be done with less fever, and that the media could help by focusing more on the issues and less on the loud and shrill, lol.

    My guess is that Scarah falls in that feverish, loud and shrill category, lol.

    good for him, less circus and more practical problem solving. My advice to Scarah, if ya don’t have better ideas to contribute, sit down and shut up.

  34. honestyinGov says:

    Very soon Fox’s ‘ Info-tainment ‘ Channel will have a new Talking Head.

    “John Stossel is leaving ABC News for Fox, where he’ll host a weekly show on Fox Business and host a series of specials for Fox News.”

    This is the same John Stossel who believes the whole climate change theory is a rumor. He thinks like $arah Palin.
    He even did a whole show with his ‘ experts ‘ that he brought on to make his point.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/10/john-stossel-leaving-abc_n_282291.html

  35. pacos_gal says:

    Just took a look at Rob Miller’s ACTBlue and it is at over 490,000. 🙂 It was at 380,000. last time I looked. I think he’ll be at over half a million within 24 hours of Wilson’s big mouth opening last night.
    Now that my dears, is some pissed off people.

  36. pacos_gal says:

    samper – I am so glad that you are back home, safe and sound. I missed everything that happened this weekend, but am going to try to be in chat tonight. Take care. Welcome back home

  37. InJuneau says:

    samper–WHAT?!?! Well, welcome home anyway (even though it sounds like a bunch of the trip was a drag). I can’t be in the treehouse for the chat tonight at 10 EDT, as I’ll be at a board (bored) meeting. Please let me know what happened.

  38. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    Scarah should call Sanford, explain how he can save his state a lot of money in a tight economy, resign. He’s also trying to pull the ethics abuse card. That’s so Scarah.

    Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27004.html#ixzz0Qk1Yb1qQ

    “It is not ok to short circuit an ethics process to try to get the result that you want,” he said. “It’s not ok to short circuit the process where you get full control of South Carolina with no checks and balances from the executive branch.”

    Sixty-one of the state House’s 72 Republicans signed a letter Wednesday calling on Sanford to resign. The day before, Republican state House Speaker Bobby Harrell also called on Sanford to step down.

  39. boodog says:

    Samper! Welcome back..
    NY Dem, smartypants…!

  40. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    this should tork those who have Blue Shield coverage, there’ a lot more money abuse in the article, gah……..it’s 2009, why aren’t audits done at the very lease every other year.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/09/blue-cross-blue-shield-ex_n_281282.html

    “BISMARCK, N.D. — Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota used premium payments to fund $15 million in employee bonuses, cover $35,000 for a retirement party and pay for other questionable expenses, according to a state audit released Tuesday.

    Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm said he ordered the company to make changes after insurance examiners found inappropriate or excessive expenses paid with policyholders’ dollars. He said the nearly inch-thick report raised questions about compensation, travel policies, investments and severance packages.

    Hamm said the report showed “a lack of judgment” by board members and senior management. It was the first audit of the nonprofit company since 2004.”

  41. samper says:

    All who participated Saturday night in my release from HOTEL HELL:

    Please go to live chat at 10PM EDT tonite… There is FRAUD information! I’m out $851, plus what I owe you AWESOME pups and it’s UGLY! US EMBASSY is involved.

    I’m home safe and sound, thanks to you guys, but truly, there is a story to tell that you couldn’t make up with the BEST imagination!

    Don’t want to tie things up here with it.

    AKM: Got a photo of Brian with Olive Trees, just for you!!!! Still have to download the camera, but dealing with alot of accounting issues first.

    Brian had a blast, but come to find out, he’s a bit of a lush… many photos of him with glasses of wine! He’s also a diva… wanted to be CARRIED everywhere!

    Also, he LOVED the Acropolis and can’t wait to share those photos and story as well.

    The caldera on the island was stunning and Brian agrees… many of those photos as well.

    Until tonite, my very, very good friends!

  42. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    mudpups, please tell people to be careful of scammers!

    Auditors have estimated that $50 billion of the $787 billion program could eventually wind up in the hands of swindlers and thieves, MarketWatch reported in June.

  43. samper says:

    GRAMIAM: SEE PM! URGENT!!!

  44. MadCity Chick says:

    Everyone needs to go hit Politico right now and take quiz on homepage regarding success of speech to congress. Palin crazies and the rest of the crazies have negative opinion up to 57% right now.

    Poll at the bottom right of the homepage.

  45. Marnie says:

    I know Christmas gifts are a ways away (wonder if that’s way’s away?). Anyway.
    Would there be a way to make mouse pads of some of you photos? And raise a little money also too?

  46. jc in co says:

    Funny thing I read today regarding “pay for a date with silly sarah” shouldn’t this be on craig’s list instead of e-bay?

  47. NY Dem says:

    Mayberry is a fictional community in North Carolina which was the setting for two American television sitcoms, The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D. Mayberry was also the setting for a 1986 reunion television movie titled Return to Mayberry. It is said to be based on Mount Airy, North Carolina, where Andy Griffith is originally from.

  48. boodog says:

    jc, wow AND ahhhh…

  49. Marnie says:

    Wow.
    Or maybe
    Ahhhhhhhh.

  50. jc in co says:

    Here’s my thought of the day. It’s a sad state of affairs when you refer to lindsey graham as “the sane one” when referring to SC politicians.

  51. jc in co says:

    Here’s my question of the day. Why didn’t McCain vet princess winky as good as princess winky is vetting her dinner date/dates?

  52. Gardenslug says:

    Here’s another rumor on the internet about the evil sockpuppet:
    Sarah Palin is…Orly Taitz. Yup, same crazy, disguised as two separate identities. Note how evil sockpuppet disappears when Orly appears with yet another Kenyan birth certificate to prove our president is a foreigner.

  53. Grandma68 says:

    Gramiam. Hatriots! Luv it.

  54. Grandma68 says:

    BuffaloGal, you’re right about SC, although the largest concentration of fundies seems to in the Greenville-Spartanburg area, around 75 miles from where I live in NC. I remember a website I saw 3 or 4 yrs ago in which they were recruiting people from out of state (quite a few jobs in the area then) and were running them for local offices at the time in order to put the “christian dominionist” layer on politics in that area. Haven’t been down that way in years, though, since my aunt died in the mid-90s. Even then, it was all Wally World, fast food joints, all you could eat buffets (and they took advantage of them!), churches and a residential building boom, along with a BMW plant, and lots of industry you wouldn’t want near you, like chemical plants. Not much on education (unless it’s “christian”) and very few liberals. The Chamber of Commerce types pretty much run the area.

  55. not that sarah says:

    Gramiam, I love that word– I’ve been using it for a while now:-) it must be a good one, since so many are adopting it!

  56. honestyinGov says:

    Some of the other shenanigans that the Beckster is up to is in this story.
    It points out the names of some people that he wants his listeners to ‘ go after ‘.
    Will have to catch Media Matters or TPM to follow up and see what he is up to since there is No way I am watching Beckster.

    Is he still going through his ‘ withdrawl symptoms ‘ on camera lately.
    Or did Murdock sign up Sarah & Glenn on one of those ‘ Group Family Plans’ Insurance policy’s.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/10/glenn-beck-strikes-again_n_281986.html

  57. Leota2 says:

    Was anyone checking out Mark Sanford doing the delusional dance and
    vowing never to be taken alive (or with his brain intact) as they try to drag him out of the SC governors mansion? What is with SC?

    God knows I live in Ohio with Boehner and Schmidt so I know how most of the GOP is not using the mental health portion of their medical insurance.

  58. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    buffalo gal, no it’s not a big connection, but it is a government funded organization who, if this stuff is true, has screwed up, me thinks some heads had better roll and some federal investigations should be done, books should be looked at. It’s stuff like this that is bad for all taxpayers ie wasteful spending and got people into housing perhaps that shouldn’t have, not cool.

    What really bothers me is the child activity, illegal smuggling bs that they were willing to turn and eye and ear from, perhaps they were going to get info and turn them in, I don’t know, but they should have called the FBI to watch the two proposing the crappy money making idea.

  59. Gramiam says:

    A blogger friend of mine coined a new word today for the Right wing bigots. HATRIOTS!

  60. Seagull Junker Palin says:

    Max Blumenthal will be talking about his book today on Terry Gross/Fresh Air/NPR

  61. sdragon says:

    I think Mayberry was in N.c. & yes Buffalogal, I’d love to go with you. Maybe we could set up a double date with Guber& Gomer.

  62. not that sarah says:

    BuffaloGal, yes, husband and I talking seriously about relocating to south of france or northern france/german border area.

    I’ve driven thru SC and worked there often enough to report hanging effigies of our POTUS in front yards, among other travesties. There are certainly wonderful people there, but predominantly the state was taken over by fundies who moved there years ago to affect the primaries.

    Now they have a license plate that says :”In God We Trust” with the Christian cross. Very upsetting.

  63. BuffaloGal says:

    Boodog! Why would you want to take my “happy place” away?? Thankfully, I was able to rework my brain wiring to convince myself that Mayberry is like the Brigadoon of SC and exists in another dimension where everything remains untouched by the crazy world we have now.

    Whew – you rattled me for a moment! Aunt Bea and Andy would hate Joe Wilson and would’ve locked him up for yellin’ at the president of these here yooonighted states.

  64. Seagull Junker Palin says:

    Breitbart is the guy who said horrible things about Sen. Kennedy minutes after they announced his death. Do not believe a thing he says, and do not go to his website. My opinion!!

  65. boodog says:

    Buffalogal, wasn’t Mayberry in S. C.?

  66. boodog says:

    Beautiful photo! Thanks AKM, it makes the phrase ‘drill, baby, drill’ sound obscene, no?

  67. aha says:

    just re-listening to President Obama’s speech to the students the other day and thought Sarah ‘The Quitter’ could have used a lesson here at 17:00 – 17:12 mark.

    “The story of america isn’t about the people who quit when things got tough. It’s about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.”

  68. BuffaloGal says:

    Thanks NT Sarah – I never really followed the ACORN thing. Seemed like a bunch of hooey trying to tie Pres. Obama to it. After a few of the fact checking sites said it wasn’t a big deal I just tuned it out.

    But! We know for sure that Beck and the crazies are flying about spitting and peeing right now out of pure excitement.

    I want to move to Mayberry and live next door to Aunt Bea. Anyone wanna come with ?

  69. Grandma68 says:

    What a gorgeous picture! Wow, can’t believe you need heat already. It’s still in the 60s here in NC at night.

    Meanwhile, over at HuffPo, Billy Kristol & his NeoCons (sounds like a band–a bad one) have $$$arah signing a letter to Pres Obama re Afghanistan. She’s a foreign policy expert now!! You should see the comment section.

  70. not that sarah says:

    sorry about the voter fraud rant! Sore subject since the media never covers the GOP fraud and they run around whining about Acorn 24.7.

    President is clear of Acorn:-) John McCain had more interaction with Acorn back in the day…

  71. not that sarah says:

    Buffalogal — Oh, heavens:-) thanks for the update. sounds like a set-up since there were cameras there. Well, they would love to bring Acorn down. It gives them something to do, I guess. They need to place that hate somewhere.

    Ugh.

  72. BuffaloGal says:

    Sorry, Not That Sarah – I forgot to include a clip from that news piece about ACORN. Not voter fraud . Link to full article is @108

    >>Officials with the controversial community organizing group ACORN were secretly videotaped offering to assist two individuals posing as a pimp and a prostitute, encouraging them to lie to the Internal Revenue Service and providing guidance on how to claim underage girls from South America as dependents.

    The videotape was made public Thursday on BigGovernment.com, a political blog launched by Andrew Breitbart as a companion site to his BigHollywood.breitbart.com blog.

    In the videotape, made on July 24, James O’Keefe, a 25-year-old independent filmmaker, posed as a pimp with a 20-year-old woman named “Kenya” who posed as a prostitute while visiting ACORN’s office in Baltimore. The couple told ACORN staffers they wanted to secure housing where the woman could continue to maintain a prostitution business.<<

  73. not that sarah says:

    @buffalogal, acorn did not do the voter registrations for Obama. He had his own ground teams (which I was a part of!), and he chose to do this on purpose, so he could control the organization.

    While Acorn has had a few problems in being cheating by it’s paid recruits, none of those fake registrations were ever used to vote. (I am not going to the Fox link, so if I’m behind the times here, sorry).

    On the other hand, the GOP had several instances of voter fraud and election fraud this past year. One was a guy they hired to do their voter registrations. First the guy registered to vote in CA even though he didn’t live there, and then he ran an organization in CA which defrauded voters into signing a petition he said was to keep child molesters in jail, but was in fact switching their voter registration to Republican.

    THe large amount of new Republican voter registrations in CA then was used for fund-raising, among other things.

    This same guy was found guilty in 2006 of voter fraud, but the GOP hired him again.

    They project constantly. And Fox has the Acorn fits.

  74. Irishgirl says:

    honestyinGov Says:
    September 10th, 2009 at 10:01 AM

    IrishGirl…. it is not by accident that these men are not called military men, troops, soldiers… etc
    Talking to her ‘ religious cult ‘ again… they are HER ‘ warriors ‘. The C-Street followers….This is her mindset.
    ——————————————————————
    Thanks. I hadn’t picked up on that….it makes more sense to me now why she is always invoking the military.

  75. mommom says:

    It looks like that dinner with the Quitter being autioned off is being bid on by people who normally resell tickets on Ebay.She may be very surprised by who actually shows up after the dinner,.

  76. karen in OR says:

    I have a healthcare reform question that’s really bothering me.

    Listening to this morning’s Diane Rheam program, a caller stated that she is currently paying $1,000 a month to insure herself and family. She just received notice from Blue Cross that it will be going up NEXT MONTH by $300, 30% in ONE MONTH!

    Since the new health plan will not go into effect for about 3 years, it seems reasonable to assume that this will happen to most everyone. Just like the credit card companies who stuck it to their card-carriers NOW, since they’ve had adequate warning that they will have more restrictions in the future.

    I’m very lucky and grateful that I am finally on medicare, but what about all those who are (so far) still managing to pay for their own coverage? This could be truly devastating and 3 YEARS is a dang long time.

  77. BuffaloGal says:

    Just say NO @98 says
    sorry to post this, but it’s gonna hit the airwaves soon.
    ———————–

    Yep – it’s hitting :

    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,548827,00.html?test=latestnews

    Correct me if I’m wrong but Pres. Obama’s connection to ACORN is not all the big, right ? I know they endorsed him and that he had some crossing of paths back a number of years but is it more than that?

    And, so far, it’s Faux news and WSJ that are carrying it along with some small publications.

  78. honestyinGov says:

    Posted on the Comedy Page at Huffpo.
    A new website popped up overnight to mock Joe Wilson.
    “Joe Wilson is your Pre-existing condition”.
    A link there also redirected to Act Blue’s Donation page.
    The new Donation total for Mr Miller his challenger is $340K.
    That Joe Miller sure can ‘ motivate ‘ people. What you send out… comes back at You. It’s Karma Joe

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/10/joe-wilson-is-your-pre-ex_n_281860.html

  79. nswfm CA says:

    It figures:

    South Carolina Congressman Who Screamed at President Obama Fought to Keep Confederate Flag
    By: Blue Texan Thursday September 10, 2009 10:30 am
    by eyeliam

    Long before Joe Wilson (R-SC) made a complete ass out of himself and his party on national television, he fought to keep the Confederate battle flag flying over South Carolina.

    http://firedoglake.com/2009/09/10/south-carolina-congressman-who-screamed-at-president-obama-fought-to-keep-confederate-flag/

  80. silverfox67 says:

    I found this video of Little House on the Prairie titled “WHISPER COUNTRY. The episode aired the day of the Presidents speech to school children although it was filmed in 1978. I thought it is so relevant today and also wondered why they aired it on this particular day….

    It is a good watch for everyone…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB7pEPx7_W4&feature=PlayList&p=CD5CBEB44900A891&index=73

  81. not that sarah says:

    Well, I wrote an article on Joe the Liar in which I asked for him to be censured and lose his health insurance:-)

    The guy is a real piece of work (racist, funded by insurance, etc). I also wrote Pelosi, asking her to censure him and wondering if all R’s regret the Revolutionary War, or just the or funded folks. Where’s our representation?

    We need to address this, but not let it turn the debate into the veracity of his outburst (that’s their goal). We need to stay focused on our wonderful POTUS and our mission of healthcare for ALL.

    Click on a few of the positive stories re last night, please:-) otherwise we feed the “if it bleeds it leads” inanity of the msm.

    had a blast in chat last night (first visit).

  82. karen in OR says:

    I love it that my MSN homepage has headlines:

    “America, Meet Rep. Joe Wilson”

    I hope this is portentious of more responsible reporting on mainstream news.

  83. BlancheMadison says:

    Don’t know if anyone has posted this link, but here’s some Joe Wilson comic relief. Warning: some of the language is a little, ah, crude–but it’s amazing how quickly they 1. acquired the domain name and 2. put it together:

    http://joewilsonisyourpreexistingcondition.com/

    Just keep clickin’!

    And everyone is right–AKM, you should sell prints of your excellent work. This photo is stunning.

  84. honestyinGov says:

    69 Irishgirl Says:
    September 10th, 2009 at 8:06 AM
    She is on her FB again.
    Ride 2 Recovery has launched an online auction to help our nation’s wounded warriors.
    ————————–
    IrishGirl…. it is not by accident that these men are not called military men, troops, soldiers… etc
    Talking to her ‘ religious cult ‘ again… they are HER ‘ warriors ‘. The C-Street followers….This is her mindset.

  85. Ruth says:

    Wow! Thank you for sharing that beautiful photo.

  86. nswfm CA says:

    # 71 Pepper1939 Says:
    September 10th, 2009 at 8:43 AM

    AKM How about a poster offering of the absolutely beautiful picture. I’ll pay for one. The picture is superb.
    +++++
    #76 Lilybart Says:
    September 10th, 2009 at 8:54 AM

    I would love a print of that photo. Do you ever sell your photos??
    ============

    AKM, this is a beautiful shot, and I would recommend you turn that into a Christmas/Holiday Card and sell it on this site.

    (I once took a late winter photo after a snowstorm in Central Park, made it into Christmas cards that December and one of my friends asked me to print it as large as I could and frame it and bought it from me. And hung it next to some great BW photographers that she collected. It was an honor, but the funny thing was I shot it in color; it’s just that everything in CP was pretty much “black” and white in the photo.)

  87. aussiegal77 says:

    Palin (as usual) posted on FB about President Obama calling her death panel lies….a lie….by saying that it was “irresponsible” and “a lie”.

    Clearly the ghost writer is off work today and Palin is holding down the fort. It’s good to see her usual counter argument of “I know you are, but what am I??” is in full swing!

    Hey Sarah, you idiot, instead of just parroting insults like some deranged cheerleader, you may try finding some FACTS to back up your arguments! Oh wait. You don’t have any facts. Ok then, carry on with the histrionics, it’s all you’ve got, I get it.

  88. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    Well, sigh, ya all might as well know the crummy sh*t that is going to hit the fan soon. How utterly disappointing. I can see a ‘madame’ biz, but no way on the other, how could they screw up so badly and not expect to get caught? It’s like the stupid polititians who have affairs do other crazy sh*t and don’t expect to get caught.

    If this is all true, it’s very disturbing on so many levels. sorry to post this, but it’s gonna hit the airwaves soon.

    http://biggovernment.com/2009/09/10/chaos-for-glory/#more-274

  89. Star says:

    AKM~ Beautiful picture..
    Our President accepted J. Wilson’s apology…
    He just ceases to amaze me…
    $carah could never even come close to having his good manners and ability to give speeches that always seem to give you hope…

  90. NY Dem says:

    Interesting that of all the other Sarah Palin auctions on EBay, almost all of them have absolutely NO BIDS on them – including the BIG ONE – the President Sarah L. Palin.com domain name – which has a “Buy It Now” option of only $700,000 !!

    Just go to EBay and type Sarah Palin in the search box – then sort by highest price first.

  91. @Martha #60: Thanks for the link. I sent Mr. Wilson an email.

  92. Barbara Snowberger says:

    POTUS called a meeting this afternoon with 16 Dem Senators. among them Mark Begich. Is he not committed to Health care Reform. How should we address our e-mails and faxes to him. will appreciate your input. Thanks..I am halfway through the list and just got to his name and thought you might be of some help.

  93. skip from Asheville, NC says:

    Let’s be constructive by organizing an effort to get Palin off Facebook. It is a social network not a political site. Orangize like what happen to Beck’s advertisers. I want Palin to at least pay for a web site or blog to get her lame messages out to the public. She is using a free social network where she can send out junk and the media gives it legs.

    August 14, 2009

    Mr. Mark Zuckerberg
    Facebook
    156 University Avenue
    Palo Alto, CA 94301-1605

    Re: Politicizing of Facebook by ex-Governor Sarah Palin

    Dear Mr. Zuckerberg:

    Today I have posted a note on your Facebook Wall that states:

    “Since Facebook is designed to be a SOCIAL networking site, do you consider it appropriate that ex-Governor Sarah Palin, is using it as a platform for a partisan political referendum? I do not and would like someone to tell her to take her views to a more appropriate venue. Thank you.”

    I have no objection to a political viewpoint, but Ms Palin is using Facebook to issue political policy statements. I do not believe this is in keeping with the mission of Facebook to be a community network of like-minded friends sharing family photos, and events, enjoying games and participating in interesting groups, and the like. Frankly, such behavior spoils Facebook for me, and I find it offensive.

    Like every other private citizen, Ms Palin is entitled to be a blogger and express her opinions, however, I do not feel Facebook is a proper place to do so. Setting up a website where she could join the rest of the Internet blogging community would be more appropriate, I think.

    I respectfully ask you to request that she desist in her efforts to politicize Facebook.

    Very truly yours,

  94. Country Girl says:

    In light of the inexcusable rudeness directed toward our President last night, I suggest that anyone who has the time read David Brook’s piece on DIGNITY and the Dignity Code. It starts out: When George Washington was a young man, he copied out a list of 110 “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation.” I do wish there was a way of sending this to S.P. Bless our president for his exemplification of dignity while under attack. Here’s the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/opinion/07brooks.html

  95. Martha says:

    Here’s the link if you rather donate to Rob Miller, Wilson’s Opponent, instead of having dinner with Sarah Palin, or lunch with Turd Blossom, aka Karl Rove:

    http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/19079

  96. Martha says:

    Update….$297,000!!!……………Martha

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Rob Miller, Wilson’s Opponent, Raises Over $100,000 Off “You Lie”

    Rep. Joe Wilson’s (R-S.C.) untoward outburst Wednesday night has had a positive effect for at least one person. Rob Miller, a Democrat planning to run against Wilson in 2010, has taken in more than $100,000 through the website ActBlue.com since his opponent heckled the president.

    About half the money has come from Daily Kos readers through a group called “Defeating the man who yelled ‘liar’ at Obama.”

    Miller ran against Wilson in 2008; National Journal called it the congressman’s “first serious challenge.” A retired Marine and an Iraq veteran, Miller ran without any help from national Democrats as a social conservative and critic of the Bush administration. During that campaign, he blogged for the Huffington Post about his reasons for running:

    I never thought I would run for Congress — or feel like I had to. I have always thought of myself as a Marine. I started thinking that way not long after my father died when I was 14 years old. Since I enlisted at the age of 20, the Marine Corps has been my extended family and I couldn’t imagine that would ever change.

    But it did after my second tour of duty in Iraq — where I fought to maintain the peace, but also to enable Iraqis to build better schools, improved hospitals, to help create jobs and, where possible, a stable economy and civil society.

    When I returned home to my wife and six year old son, I saw that the politicians in Washington were not fighting for these same things at home. Worse, the congressman who represented the second district where I live — Rep. Joe Wilson — was part of that elite circle of George Bush loyalists who chose to enact a radical agenda, never mind the lives and wellbeing of the constituents he was pledged to represent.

    Miller lost 46 percent to 54 percent

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/10/rob-miller-wilsons-oppone_n_281931.html

  97. mae lewis says:

    Sarah asking her fans to bid on the $$$dinner with $arah auction reminds me of another fund raising business at the unmentionable website, when they tried to raise $500,000. for somebody’s legal bills. In a 10 day period, they raised one fifth of the hoped-for amount, and previous donations could be counted. At the same time, Celtic Diva needed and collected the funds necessary to get some pricey public documents.

    Someplace, someone showed the fine print regarding how much of the auction donation actually ends up with the charity; it didn’t appear to be 100% after all. Some of the other items up for auction include: lunch with Karl Rove, lunch with Frank Luntz, Meet & Greet at Sean Hannity Show (with Sean Hannity and Frank Lutz)– sorry, no lunch, another Fox Meet & Greet with Bret Baier & Steve Hayes. There’s more, but it would be interesting if Karl Rove went for more money than Sarah Palin. I wonder if he has to pre-approve his lunch partner(s), too. And, the paragraphs of rules regarding photos, gifts, no recording devises, no talking about dinner with Sarah is laughable. In fact, it is so juvenile that Sarah must have written it herself! Finally, something that we know that Sarah really wrote.

  98. Wurzelhexli says:

    Shades @#79: Wow! Only pre-approved bidders allowed?!? WTF???
    Three bidders so far, each trying to outbid each other. Their blacked-out ‘handles’ look suspiciously similar – e***r, f***l, y***o… Murdock, Sean Insanity and Rush Limpballs ?

  99. Gramiam says:

    I just visited the site to donate to Joe Wilson’s Democratic opponent. Latest donation count is very close to $300,000. Everybody is digging very deep. Also, I posted this e-mail to his Congressional website.
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    Just wanted to let you know that I just contributed $*** to your opponent in the 2010 election. After your incredible stupidity of last night, you shame the office you hold and should leave. Another point that apparently you missed is that you violated Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice by your outburst. If you were not retired, you would be subject to court marshal. I’m looking into the possibility there may yet be some punitive consequences even in retirement for your unspeakable outburst. Finally, you shamed your four sons, who I understand, are all Eagle Scouts. How dare you!

  100. Enjay in E.MT says:

    an interesting FYI regarding Joe Wilson

    “Colonel (Representative) Joe Wilson’s conduct last night is a breach of military protocol and represents a further departure from the historic good order and discipline I expected, in the past, to see from the GOP, pre-conservative talk show entertainers. Recent GOP performers have proven embarrassing to the New Republican Party.”

    read more @ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/major-general-paul-d-eaton/breach-of-discipline_b_282136.html

    part of my comment @ HuffPo

    I didn’t realize that Mr. Wilson is also a Col. Wilson in the Armed Forces. A person who has been trained in discipline, respect for ranking Officers, and Commander in Chief. Perhaps if he is unable to control his opinions or mouth at such an event, he should resign from his office or limit his attendance to “bar room brawls” and “town hall meetings” not the floor of the Senate

  101. Martha says:

    79 Shades Says:
    September 10th, 2009 at 9:07 AM
    Ooops, sorry Martha, you beat me to it.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

    Thanks for the e-bay link so we can check out the “preconditions!

  102. Irishgirl says:

    Seagull. Yes, the bidding started at 25K. Strange that she is asking her “friends” to bid…..you wouldn’t think they would have that sort of money. Maybe they do, if so I would recommended using it to further their education. 🙂

    As regards the photo….I think it has to be my favourite. It is stunning. If I had woken up to that scene I would have thought that I had died and gone to heaven.

  103. Wurzelhexli says:

    Alaska will face rolling blackouts this winter… and more dire predictions for the next years…

    Palin got out while the getting was good and left Parnell holding the bag

    http://tinyurl.com/mwkxo5

  104. Shades says:

    Ooops, sorry Martha, you beat me to it.

  105. Shades says:

    Did you guys see that ebay has a dinner with Palin up for grabs? Right now the high bid is over 37K. Check the fine print. If you don’t meet her standards, she can refuse.
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260474255847

  106. Martha says:

    Sarah Palin is definitely Rupert Murdoch bit(h, but she continues to prostitute herself on a much smaller scale. Nothing is too low for Sarah. Must be a habit she picked up under the bleachers at high school and she just can’t seem to break. She is in good company, because Turd Blossom, aka Karl Rove is selling himself for a lunch.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Sarah Palin Ebay Dinner Offered — With Disclaimers

    Hey kids! Do you happen to have $25,000 dollars or the equivalent in Euros rattling around inside one of your recession-era bank-mattresses? Well why not go for broke — literally! — by placing a bid in this online auction to win a private dinner with Sarah Palin! You, along with four of your friends, will be whisked away to have dinner with the former Alaska Governor and her husband. It’s basically the premise of Charlie And the Chocolate Factory except in this story, Willy Wonka manufactures death panel lies instead of everlasting gobstoppers!

    You can place a bid, right now, on eBay, the very site that Sarah Palin pretended to use to sell that plane.

    Your money will go to Ride 2 Recovery, which is a charity benefiting wounded veterans, not some ornate legal defense fund. So, really, there’s no reason for you not to do this! Be warned though: there are plenty of reasons why you might not be allowed to do this!

    According to the lengthy disclaimer, bidders must pass a mandatory background check, like you were buying a gun or something! Palin will determine the site of the dinner — probably a picnic table right next to her favorite Alaskan turkey-grinding machine — and reserves the right to bring three guests of her choosing, in case you totally start boring her or asking tough questions about domestic policy. Also, the winner may only bring “one item of reasonable size” to the dinner, so…no, Sarah Palin will not be autographing your Beanie Baby collection, sorry.

    Also, there’s this:

    Dinner shall last no more than four hours, but could be less, in the sole discretion of Sarah Palin.* Governor Palin reserves the right to refuse dinner with a winning bidder if, in her sole discretion, the winning bidder is not a suitable bidder based on her subjective standards of suitability, professionalism, background and other factors.

    So, in other words, don’t get any funny ideas, Levi Johnston

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/10/sarah-palin-ebay-dinner-o_n_281959.html

  107. Lilybart says:

    I would love a print of that photo. Do you ever sell your photos??

  108. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    Don’t the Scarah cult think it’s rather odd that they have not seen anything, nadda, zilch of Scarah? writing a book doesn’t put a person in ‘secret hiding’ for over a month, lol. You’d think they’d find something strange about that little detail of no sightings.

    Too Also, Also Too……….if the only support she’s getting in the news is from Santorum, lol, that’s not sayin much.

    When is the media going to say something about no hide nor hair of her, and is it really her making those facebook entries? or maybe Murdoch is waiting for exactly that, then use it as see! silly media pickin on her again.

  109. cronopio says:

    Hey, Writing From Alaska, we could use a little Gandalf right now! I’d like to see him standing in front of Joe Wilson the next time he tries to enter the House Chamber…You Shall Not Pass!

  110. mae lewis says:

    Last night was not the first time that Congressman Wilson has made a fool of himself, and then had to apologize for it. Talking Points Memo has a story that describes Wilson’s reaction to the surprise announcement of Strom Thurmond’s out-of-wedlock bi-racial daughter. Wilson told a local South Carolina paper that she should have kept her shameful secret to herself (his words, not mine). Later, he had to apologize to the woman and her family.

    If ill mannered jerks like Wilson are the visible face of the GOP, he does wonders for Obama’s Health Care Program. All that they have are insults instead of solutions. And, if Sarah is their spokes-model, one day she will have to make a public appearance and discuss the stuff that she has been ‘”writing.” I wonder if she can remember all of her talking points.

  111. Seagull Junker Palin says:

    Irish #69 – she’s asking her “friends on facebook” to bid? Isn’t the starting bid like 25K?

  112. Pepper1939 says:

    AKM How about a poster offering of the absolutely beautiful picture. I’ll pay for one. The picture is superb.

  113. Somehow I expect to see Gandalf, Strider and the hobbits coming out of the trees as there boats magically drift to shore to carry them to their next journey.

  114. Irishgirl says:

    She is on her FB again.

    Ride 2 Recovery has launched an online auction to help our nation’s wounded warriors. Todd and I are so happy to help such a worthy organization. Please click on this link to view the auction and begin bidding – and, as always, thanks for all your support.

    -Sarah Palin

    100% of proceeds from this auction will benefit the Ride 2 Recovery program whose mission is to improve the health and wellness of wounded warriors by providing a life changing experience that can impact their lives forever.

  115. Richard says:

    That is a stunningly beautiful photo.

  116. sdragon says:

    What a beautiful pic, smoke on the water.
    This morning, after turning on the news & blowing off a little steam, my husband, the saint,(saint because the poor man has to listen to me) walks by & pats me on the head & says “You should be Queen of the world.” I said to him, at least I would be honest & fair. He said, ” I know, that’s why you should be Queen of the world.” What a man!! I am the storm, He is the calm. Lucky me.

  117. trisha says:

    Until McCain calls out Palin for her lies, hate and her belief that she is “proposing policy”from her facebook page, he gets no respect from me.

  118. karen in OR says:

    I’ve learned to be very cynical of any calls for civility from McCain.

    They’re always followed by underhanded, wrong-headed attacks on Obama policies afterward. He returns to his primary goal which is to attempt to be seen as a sincere hero by all sides. He’s a pathetic sham.

  119. txgirl says:

    #60 Martha

    Thanks for the link. I just sent Joe a little note.

  120. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    about Senator Wilson…….

    http://dyn.politico.com/members/forums/thread.cfm?catid=1&subcatid=2&threadid=2984590

    “House Majority Whip James Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat, said the remark was the latest in a long line of political attacks by Wilson.

    “Joe Wilson took our state’s reputation to a new low. I thought Mark Sanford had taken it as low as it could go, but this is beyond the pale,” Clyburn said.

    “Joe is very confrontational,” he added. “He held his first town hall meeting three blocks from my house at my kid’s high school. Now why would he have this town hall meeting in my congressional district, three blocks from my house in my kid’s high school? It’s not in his district.”

    That’s the kind of guy Joe Wilson is. He loves confronting people. So he was confronting the president, just as he was confronting me.”

    Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, predicted that Wilson’s outburst would have consequences.

    “The person who said it will pay a price,” Durbin said. “I think the average American thinks that the president and the office deserve respect and that was a disrespectful comment. They’ll pay a price in the court of public opinion.”

  121. Cynamen Winter says:

    AKM….today’s image in absolutely captivating! Just the inspiration we need to get it done…

    Enjoy the day everyone.

    😉

  122. Martha Unalaska Yard Sign says:

    AKM – that picture looks like how I felt after the President’s Health Care speech. It’s how I feel this morning, even though the rain is driving and pounding loudly on my house. Thank you!

  123. Martha Unalaska Yard Sign says:

    Here is a link to send your thoughts to Joe Wilson – I’m not going to use his title because he’s a jerk (and I had fun telling him so with this form):

    http://www.house.gov/formwilson/IMA/issue.htm

  124. Misfit in Texas says:

    UNBELIEVABLY BREATHTAKING!!!!!

    AKM you ability to really capture the moment is outstanding!

  125. Paula says:

    Thanks for the laugh Janet.

    If you play Palins speeches backwards it says, “I’m an idiot, I’m an idiot, I’m an idiot.”

    Maybe the neocons need to play the message backwards to truely find out the hidden healthcare & speech to school kids agenda, “Republicans are idiots, Republicans are idiots, Republicans are idiots.”

  126. Lilybart says:

    BuffaloGal: it will only get worse now when the SCOTUS overturns campaign finance laws and corporations will fund all politicians.

    We might as well start calling them….Palin (R) Exxon etc….

  127. MountainWatcher says:

    AK, your photographs are treaures–please keep making and sharing them. A soothing introduction to the day before we get all worked up over politics. I thought that after the election was over, there wouldn’t be enough to keep me coming back from Tennessee, but you have done a great job of keeping me interested in what you have to say and show.

  128. Lilybart says:

    SayNotoPalin: are the scarah cultists upset over her call to end Medicare?

    THAT is the story.
    vouchers???
    How much?
    How much would insurance cost my 93 yr old MIL wtih a history of breast cancer, inner ear tumors (benign) and a host of age issues?? Is it even possible to be insured in the private market if you are OLD????

    stupid stupid stupid

  129. Janet From Another Planet says:

    Morning everyone: This just in from the Bangor Daily News COMMENTS column on Obama’s speech to school kids: “The speech has been thoroughly analyzed, yet I know there’s some secret hidden subliminal messages in there”-theothermaine.

    I’m laughing like mad hoping this really is sarcasm but I’m fearing it’s not. The loony bin Limbaugh conservatives give a whole new meaning to paranoia.

  130. MI~Annie says:

    Here is an article By Micheal Wolff, the fella who wrote one of the most recent books on Murdoch, The Man Who Owns The Media:

    http://www.newser.com/off-the-grid/post/267/sarah-palin-is-back-and-out-for-blood.html

  131. MonaLisa IS MY NAME! says:

    What an image… great eye, AKM!

    Joe Wilson’s opponent for 2010 (USMC & family man Rob Miller) has received $159K so far (over $75K from Daily Kos alone!) http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/19079 $60,000 of which in just the last 3 hours!

    What’s that little saying, about keeping your words soft and sweet, ‘cuz one day you may have to eat them?

    Oops… oh, my! NOW it’s $174,770.

    CHEW ON THAT, JOE! 😉

  132. who me? says:

    That was weird. I got blocked by the SPAM filter for saying that the photo was fabulous. I wonder if this will go through.

  133. who me? says:

    Fabulous photo. Absolutely fabulous.

  134. pacos_gal says:

    AKM – you have taken many awesome photos, this is just…Wow. Love it.

  135. pacos_gal says:

    I think Paula is correct. We need to beat the Republicans in 2010, for them to get the message that their brand of hate isn’t working. If we don’t then it will just continue and get even more extreme.
    I am feeling really positive that Wilson’s opponent has raised so much in so little time based upon a single disrespectful act. That is good. That means that there are quite a few people out there just as disgusted as the rest of us about the road taken by a few to the detriment of the many.
    Obama needs to give plenty of speeches, it is what he is good at. He can make the people feel again, feel positive, feel like they can make a difference and that the President cares about them.
    People are bombarded constantly with the Republican message of hate, anger and fear. We have to remind them why they wanted President Obama in the first place and why they Didn’t vote for McCain.

  136. MI~Annie says:

    From David Corn @ MotherJones:

    http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2009/09/neocons-ride-again-sarah-palin

    “Here come the neocons again—and this time with Sarah Palin.

    A group of conservative foreign policy advocates—including a bevy of neoconservatives—this week sent President Barack Obama a letter urging him to stand firm in Afghanistan and vowing their support for him (on Afghanistan) if he did so. The letter was organized by the Foreign Policy Initiative, a think tank put together by leading neoconservatives Bill Kristol and Robert Kagan, and signers included the pair and such neocon stalwarts as David Frum, Max Boot, Robert Kagan, John Podhoretz, Clifford May, Danielle Pletka, Randy Scheunemann, Dan Senor, and Gary Schmitt. But two high-profile right-wingers also added their names: Sarah Palin and Karl Rove.”

  137. daisydem says:

    I am very upset this morning, just an overall bad feeling because I just don’t understand the overall rowdy, disrespectful behavior of the Republicans in Congress last night listening to a speech by the President of the United States. Have they no decency? In part I understand Barney Frank’s position to not make Wilson a cause celebre, but then, when does it end? Nothing is ever said? No one is made to suffer consequences from misbehavior? (If you are a Republican, apparently). SP is still getting a platform – why is that? Who takes what she writes on Facebook and posts it in the news? I am so tired this morning and so afraid. I had my purse on my shoulder and was headed for the door to come back to my office and send a fax to Wilson last night because his phone lines were busy or overloaded with messages, his email went nowhere, and apparently his webpage crashed. I figured no one was probably sending faxes. Then I heard he apologized so I stayed home. I think I am going to send those faxes this morning. My angst may be only partly assuaged if I do, but I have to do something. On a more positive note: I loved hearing President Obama speak last night, but then that is always the case.

  138. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    The Scarah cult are mad that the press isn’t talking about and covering their crazy woman leader. They’re asking everyone to email Fake News, Rushbag, Beckbag, gah. They are serious, lol. Like quitter who has no face gets to have a say in policy making? really? like the world is supposed to believe it’s her typing on facebook? lol. They are upset she is not being taken seriously, she has ‘the’ answers and is being ignored, how terrible.

    the outrage is hilarious, some are complaining she’s not being listened to and others are complaining the Prez attacked a ‘private citizen’, lol. so which is she to them, a politician qualified to give opinion or a regular private citizen who, or is she a politician hiding behind a private citizen label so she can say whatever she wants, oops, the man behind the curtain can say whatever he wants through private citizen Scarah, lol. too much

    and apparently Beck has guaranteed another victim tonight, more crazy man entertainment.

    and they think Andree is off the deep end, well I personally think Andree called it like it is, absurd, outrageous, unbelievable, ridiculous and obviously pointless.

  139. BuffaloGal says:

    How The Right Wing Pundits Would Spin News That President Obama Rescued a Small Child from Drowning : http://tinyurl.com/msfngf

    >>>Michelle Malkin: Why didn’t Obama save every child from drowning? Why just one? This myopia stems from his old, outdated liberal-elitist sensibility which states that the only drowning child worth saving is the one who has the connections and the wherewithal to be in the general vicinity of America’s so-called Swimmer-in-Chief. <<

    Very clever piece. Unfortunately, once again, it's a little too close to the truth!

  140. Carol.Seattle says:

    Photo of a beautiful country! Visited my son at Christmas time several years ago when he was on Kodiak Island. I love the nature… that’s still here… in Washington state. But Alaska, is spectacular in it’s beauty, everywhere one turns.

  141. weaver57 says:

    Wow! What a photo. That is a once in a lifetime sight.

  142. trisha says:

    Isn’t it time to turn up the heat on the state of Alaska to release Palin’s emails?

  143. NY Dem says:

    Post # 32 –

    SP did not write that – there is no way possible that she could string together anything that coherent. My guess would be possibly Hannity, or someone else at Fox News; or possibly some Republican strategist writes everything that has her name attached.

    And the MSM has got to recognize this too – why aren’t they jumping all over this ghost-writing ?

    I also like how Repubs always tout the fact that she has “over 700,000 followers” on Facebook – bragging it up whenever they get the opportunity – How many are ACTUALLY followers ? And how many are just curiosity seekers, opposition research people, etc ??

  144. lilly says:

    you are a talented photographer with a good eye.

    Great stuff.

    I love it.

  145. the problem child says:

    Just lovely the way the sunlight comes through the fog and kisses the water. Outstanding job on the photo, AKM.

  146. teutonic13 says:

    Ditto

  147. lexky says:

    this is my favorite picture so far

  148. Aussie Blue Sky says:

    About Joe the Goober:

    During the 2004 presidential campaign, he demanded an apology from Democratic candidate John Kerry, who served in Vietnam, for criticizing the conduct of some soldiers in Vietnam in 1971 when he returned from the war. Former Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga., who lost both his legs and an arm in Vietnam, dismissed Wilson as a “chicken hawk” who never went to war. In 2009, Wilson became the ranking Republican on the Military Personnel Subcommittee at Armed Services.

    In 2008, he faced his first serious challenge for re-election against Rob Miller, a retired Marine and an Iraq veteran. Without any help from national Democrats, Miller spent $624,365, half of what Wilson spent, and ran as a social conservative and critic of the Bush administration. He prevailed in Richland and four of the rural counties, but Wilson got 65% of the vote in Lexington to win overall 54%-46%.

  149. Eyes Wide Open in Pgh, PA says:

    Reminds me of the President speaking before Congress last night. A bright sunshine cutting through the fog and darkness.

  150. nswfm CA says:

    I loved Bloomberg (and couldn’t stand Rudy) when I lived in Manhattan for 9 years. After Bloomberg was elected, though, the local media used to whine that he was the Billionaire Mayor. Yeah, so? I thought he was very good at what he was doing and wished the media would have focused on his results rather than his wealth.

  151. London Bridges says:

    The dems should have only one statement or answer when they answer the others on all the “debate” issues”

    “Why don’t you want each and every American to have health insurance?”

  152. teutonic13 says:

    An amazingly beautiful picture AKM-

    Contrasts sharply to yet another response from SP to last nights Obama speech-

    “Finally, President Obama delivered an offhand applause line tonight about the cost of the War on Terror. As we approach the anniversary of the September 11th attacks and honor those who died that day and those who have died since in the War on Terror, in order to secure our freedoms, we need to remember their sacrifices and not demonize them as having had too high a price tag.”

    I just want to say- WTF???

    How does he “demonize” our troops? She is a POS and I look forward to when the worm turns for her- and she is finally confronted by someone- face to face.

  153. Lilybart says:

    NY Dem, I like Anthony Weiner. Unfortunate name of course. I thought he could be mayor but I like Bloomberg right now because of our economic problems. I appreciate that Bloomberg has not been divisive or a grandstander like Giuliani. We have had NO police-race incidents under Bloomberg,

    Weiner is getting better and better and will be great.

  154. NY Dem says:

    I like how the Republicans seemed to be shoved over into one little corner of the House Of Representatives last night. That section seems to be dwindling year by year.

    Let’s keep doing the job until there are just a handful of Republicans left.

    Obama – 2008 – 2016

    Anthony Weiner (possibly – I really like him) – 2016 – 2024

    Unknown at this time Democrat – 2024 – 2032

    Another Democrat – 2032 – 2040

    Etc

    Etc

  155. GreatGranny2B says:

    @21 Lemon Fair – Yes, I saw Barney Frank and I agree with you. Then John Dingle JR also said pretty much the same thing. With all the hype against him, I don’t think he stands a chance of having a minutes peace and celebrity-unless he goes on Fox!

    @25 Paula – I know what you mean about high BP! I’ve had to stop reading most websites, especially those that lean to the right. I just can’t tolerate their absolute hostility and stupidity. Biggest problem is those who most need to look at another side of an issue (and maybe learn something) are the ones who will never look further than Fox or listen to any but Rush, et al.

    I thought kind thoughts about McCain when he spoke out against Joe Wilson last evening. Reversed the kind thoughts this AM when he decided to run down the overall speech and complain about lack of bi-partisanship. It’s time for he and Kyl to have some serious contenders in AZ.

    Until someone exposes Murdoch and his shenanigans, to include his hold on Palin, Kristol, the media, and so many corporations, then it will continue and probably get worse. We can only each try in our own little way to have our voices heard through signing petitions, writing to congress, and making donations wherever possible.

    We can also hope that the wonderful speech POTUS gave last night will re-energize folks and get more politicians behind him and speaking. So hang in there Paula – we must keep the faith that better days are ahead!

  156. BuffaloGal says:

    Ann Strongheart’s post , “Accepting help – easier said than done”

    http://anonymousbloggers.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/ann-strongheart-accepting-help-easier-said-than-done/

  157. Bea says:

    Rob Miller, Joe ‘You Lie’ Wilson Opponent, Raises $75,000 In One Night

    http://www.zimbio.com/Rob+Miller/articles/3-Ono0rl06T/Rob+Miller+Joe+Lie+Wilson+Opponent+Raises

    (And I read on HuffPo that it’s actually up to $100K now! )

  158. Irishgirl says:

    (((Paula)))
    I know how you feel. I went to bed last night after the speech and I lay awake for hours. I was so livid with Palin and Wilson I could literally feel my blood boiling!

  159. Paula says:

    GreatGranny-

    once we have them all in one place, can we spray them with swine flu?

    See what this topic does to me…

  160. Paula says:

    I still visit here daily but I rarely post anymore. I read about the Palins, Wilsons, Becks, etc. of the world and I can actually feel my blood pressure shoot through the roof. Any peace and harmony I have is gone and replaced by seething anger, frustration and hate. It truely amazes me that an entire party could be such classless clureless rude crude racist white trash. I can only hope that the saner Republicans ran like heII and are now reg independents. If we can whoop the Republicans in 2010 maybe they’ll get the message… they seem to have missed it the first time around. And now I just feel totally sad. Argh.

  161. GreatGranny2B says:

    I can’t believe John Roberts on CNN! He’s got that Katie Abrams on again. She’s the one who made headlines at a town hall “wanting her America back” – all the media had her on as some simple, concerned housewife. Then she was outed for being one of Beck’s 912ers………and now he’s catering to her again. UGGGGHHHHH.

    Speaking of Beck’s 912ers – that march on DC is growing and well supported. It appears from some of the blogs and articles that many of the fringe elements, including the gun-toting radicals are being bussed in for the rallies. I surely hope security is ready for them as I think they are wanting a confrontation.

  162. lemonfair says:

    Aussie BLue sky – isn’t it amazing what people will elect?

  163. lemonfair says:

    Great Granny: Barney Frank last night on Rachel was very laid back about Wilson’s heckle – free speech and all. I think he doesn’t want to turn Wilson into a cause celebre. Let people think he’s rude and forget about it, is my guess. Rather have the focus on the speech, rather than Wilson. Republicans would rather have the focus on the Democrat’s response to Wilson.

  164. Aussie Blue Sky says:

    14 lemonfair Says:
    Sure, “you guys getting upset has distracted my colleagues. It’s not that I did anything wrong, mind you.”
    ———————————-
    Oh, you know those Republicans. I bet the devil made him do it.

    Here is the actual footage. Apparently the guy has always been a sleaze.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2GKqTeBlAg

  165. twain12 says:

    gorgeous picture 🙂

  166. Aussie Blue Sky says:

    11 honestyinGov Says:
    These ‘ plants ‘.. were looking like 6-7 foot Christmas trees.
    —————————-
    A few years ago before glaucoma medication was subsidised we grew a plant from a seed for a sufferer. It grew to at least 7 feet and was shaped just like a Christmas tree. Apparently it was the ‘wrong’ gender.

  167. GreatGranny2B says:

    I could wake up to that sight and the smell of wood smoke everyday!

    Few interesting tidbits from early morning reports:

    CNN instant poll showed a favoring of President Obama’s speech at 67%, up 14 points from their last poll.

    Ellen DeGeneres is going to be the 4th judge on American Idol. I’ve never watched AI, but Ellen is interesting and funny, so may finally watch AI from time to time.

    Current bid for Dinner for 5 with Sarah Palin is now at $37,700 – 14 bids so far. Will be interesting to see who she actually approves. The info states that 100% goes to Road2Recovery…….until you click on the learn more button and it states the following will be deducted, so how the heck can they legally even SAY 100%???
    “20% of the initial $49.99 donated ($10) + 15% of the initial $50-$199.99 donated ($32.50) + 10% of initial $200-$999.99 ($112.50) + 5% of initial $1,000-$4,999.99 ($312.50) + 3% of remaining donation”
    That brings it to somewhere around $1500 off the top (based on the current bid) – always a catch somewhere for someone else to get their take.

    Anyone wanting to read the full letter that Ted Kennedy wrote just before his death that POTUS mentioned in his speech:
    http://politicalwire.com/archives/2009/09/09/kennedys_letter.html#031244a

    Morning Joe came on before I could change the channel, so listened for just a minute – he agrees that Wilson was rude, etc., but he doesn’t think he should be censured and started his typical anti-Democratic rant. Unfortunately, CNN isn’t much better, so decided to start my day with less stressful viewing on food network – lol – paid programming on weightloss.
    Guess I’ll just shut it off and read!

    Super day to all.

  168. moseyon says:

    stunning lol

  169. moseyon says:

    AKM: That photo is stunnig.

  170. lemonfair says:

    Aussie Blue Sky and HonestyinGov:

    Sure, “you guys getting upset has distracted my colleagues. It’s not that I did anything wrong, mind you.”

  171. lemonfair says:

    AKM – that must have been a wonderful place to be for those 5 minutes

  172. dowl says:

    Jay @#6
    ‘Magnificent’ Holy Smoke…and posted on 09-09-09. Thanks AKM.

    Change happens. Hope is.

  173. honestyinGov says:

    As well as our scumbag Conservative GOP Politician Duvall making the news this story was the other headline today.
    “Officials search suspected pot operation in Nevada County”

    The News of course had video footage at the location. It showed the various agents dragging the plants across the ground to be loaded up.
    These ‘ plants ‘.. were looking like 6-7 foot Christmas trees. They were HUGE!
    Nothing like some little plant growing in some flower pot.

    http://auburnjournal.com/detail/129097.html?content_source=&category_id=&search_filter=&user_id=&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&event_ts_to=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=1&sub_type=&town_id=

  174. honestyinGov says:

    Geoffrey Dunn weighs in on Joe Wilsons actions.
    The GOP will probably say this is an ‘ over-reaction ‘ but like Mr. Dunn points out… Van Jones was probably right last week. Don’t you think….

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/geoffrey-dunn/rep-joe-wilson-is-an-assh_b_281640.html

  175. honestyinGov says:

    4 Aussie Blue Sky Says:
    September 9th, 2009 at 11:27 PM
    California GOP lawmaker quits over taped sex comments
    ———————————
    Aussie….. our local news stations, both ABC and CBS were all over this story tonight right after the Presidents speech. He definitely MADE the news.
    Craig Ferguson just loved covering the story as he spent at least 10 minutes of his monologue tonight covering all the details… quite gleefully and giddy I might say. As he mentioned in his comments… I havn’t had this great of a story since Dick Cheney shot that guy in the face.
    Ferguson’s jokes will be out there somewhere in the CBS archives… I am sure.

  176. strangelet says:

    This is an open thread, right? So I’m going to insert here, also too, that I have a brief (2,700 words) summary of HR3200 posted at HR3200

    It’s just too long for a comment. Please don’t laugh — it’s the only thing on the blog.

    Anyhow, HR3200 is the House bill, and is the closest approximation to what the President referred to this evening as “his” bill. Except for the tort reform, which is pretty much “Okay, fine”.

  177. strangelet says:

    Now, that is a hell of a photo. You make some 16 x 22 (or whatever it is) prints of that, there’s a bunch of art & wine festivals in CA where it would sell.

    Great picture.

  178. jay says:

    Holy Smoke?

  179. Irishgirl says:

    Love the photo. Alaska looks spectacular!

  180. Aussie Blue Sky says:

    California GOP lawmaker quits over taped sex comments

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A Republican state lawmaker from Southern California resigned Wednesday amid growing outrage over a videotape that caught him bragging in graphic detail about having sex with a female lobbyist and another woman.

    Assemblyman Mike Duvall, whose votes on family oriented legislation received high marks from conservative groups, said in a statement the furor over his comments had begun to divert attention from the work his fellow lawmakers were trying to finish during the final week of their session.

    http://tinyurl.com/anotherlyingparasite

  181. A fan from CA says:

    Great photo.

  182. Your pictures make me like Earth!

  183. ds55 says:

    Gorgeous. Your photos make me want to visit Alaska.