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Open Thread

 

alaska2

Somewhere over Alaska…

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150 Responses to “Open Thread”
  1. 264 Crayons says:

    Louisiana passed a bill called the “Louisiana Science Act” which gives teachers the option to choose “supplemental” materials to provide alternate views on evolution. So that they can challenge “Darwinism”. I’m so happy to live in a racist parish AND the dumbest state. You can bet your booty I’ll be watching what materials are used to promote NON-SCIENCE nonsense!

  2. strangelet says:

    @112 jojobo1: Say it ain’t so. I was born and raised in Milwaukee (Shorewood) and got my BS at Madison. I’ve always viewed Wisconsin as sort of semi-rural, semi-urban progressive (think Bob LaFollette), and certainly as civil as our Minnesota Nice neighbors, and, you know, patriotic in a good way.

    The whole state is going to block the President’s speech? Who even has that authority? How are they gonna keep the Milwaukee schools from showing it? Geez, I thought when they lifted the ban on colored margarine, the last of the old-time nutters were finally gone — and that was a looong time ago.

  3. The news is too depressing with all the craziness lately. So I posted this to lighten it up a bit.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/04/letterman-slams-palin-for_n_277337.html

  4. BigSlick says:

    Do you want more of the same?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_M._Scrushy

    This fellow is the Poster Child for why Public Provider Health Care is a must-have item.

  5. GreatGranny2B says:

    This is a very informative story regarding Texas. They have passed a law that Bible (but no creationism) will be taught in the public schools. Additionally, they are rewriting the history books. There have been other stories about this and it makes one ill to hear about it. The major point in the story, in my opinion, is the impact that Texas has on all other school text books. Happy reading………I think.
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-moore/the-lies-of-texas-are-upo_b_277749.html

  6. honestyinGov says:

    The ADN also has the story about the cost to the State for the EX-GOV quitting.
    Even after quitting Me-GUN Staplegun is still in a ” It’s not my fault ” mode and blasting away for $arah with….

    “Palin’s spokeswoman, Meghan Stapleton, said Friday that suggesting the resignation cost the state is “incredibly misleading.” Stapleton said the resignation ceremony was added to a previously scheduled governor’s picnic and was organized by the lieutenant governor’s office.”
    ———————————
    Gee… I think we have heard these sort of stories/excuses/whining before…?
    Some of the other Legs. as well as Les Gara have some quotes as well and weigh in.

    http://www.adn.com/palin/story/922853.html

  7. honestyinGov says:

    There is a little comments battle going on on the ADN comment story about the latest ethics complaint that was dismissed against Bill McAllister. there is a Bill M argued with some people there. It SEEMS to be the real Bill M., but who can say.

    http://www.adn.com/palin/story/921737.html
    ( a few of the postings below )

    b_mcallister wrote on 09/04/2009 07:09:30 AM:

    Not ashamed, and Halcro got it wrong. The irony is that I was apologizing to Frank for any mistaken impression that I thought a job had been offered, when it hadn’t been, and I knew that.
    But speaking of laughable, why don’t you come out from behind your fake name and present your credentials and standing to comment on all of this? No, I didn’t think so.

    b_mcallister wrote on 09/03/2009 10:02:58 PM:

    http://www.alaskapressclub.com/index.php/awards/2003awards
    Best Government or Political Reporting — 1st, Bill McAllister, KTOO-TV, ”Alaska Week;”
    Best Columnist, large circ. — 1st, Bill McAllister, Anchorage Daily News, ”Poor expected to shoulder burden;” 2nd, Bill McAllister, ABC’s Alaska Superstation/KIMO 13, ”Capitol Ideas;”
    I could go on, but hopefully I’ve made the point.
    As for the fallacious, malicious suggestion that I “asked” the Palin administration for a job well in advance of taking it, wrong. I never asked; I was approached. And I immediately resigned from Channel 2 upon accepting. Think about it; why would I wait months to double my salary? Not very logical.
    ———————————–
    Is the real Bill M. trying to argue with some on a comment board. Sounds a little ‘ petty ‘… like an Ex gov.

  8. minnesotamud says:

    Sad to admit this but Pawlenty is governor of Minnesota – not Wisconsin, my previous home state. Thank goodness comments are against him in the Minneapolis paper: http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/57249992.html
    Many more comments than usual in response to his nuttiness, and quite a few comments compare him to Palin. haha. Looks like the school districts are letting the teachers choose whether to view Obama’s speech.

  9. GreatGranny2B says:

    I don’t have a Facebook page so I have no clue on any rules they might (and should) have. It just seems like Palin’s page would be breaking some rules – all the hatred and then a photo of a child in KKK attire. Is there a complaint system?

  10. GreatGranny2B says:

    @129 – 264 Crayons – Pretty sick joke, wasn’t it? Palin has done a super job of encouraging people to “just make it up”. She certainly has a great deal to atone for, but I don’t see it happening any time soon.

  11. honestyinGov says:

    Follow up on my # 111 post about the president talking to the school kids

    I called the Governors Office ( CA) after seeing nothing about endorsing or having a statement on the Gov’s webpage. I wanted to know where he stood.
    The phone number says the Office is closed the 1 st, 2nd, and 3rd Friday of each month. ( remember that budget problem we have..?) No one home.

    I called the Mayors Office ( City of Sacramento ) after checking his website and seeing nothing there either. It did mention that Arne Duncan was in town 8/3, the day before to see mayor Kevin Johnson. Education is obviously on their mind. I explained Gov’s Office was ‘ closed ‘.. does Mayor has a comment..?
    Where does he stand..? He had No idea how the schools will handle it but I can call the City’s School District. Gave me the number.

    School District Office- Explained Gov, and Mayor have no statement online. How will the schools be handling the speech to the kids…? They had not been getting phone calls and so it was not really a problem. Really just a non-issue. I explained that after reading blogs and comments from other states that some States had a real problem with it like Florida or as reported in Wisconsin with Pawlenty so I was hearing different messages from online.
    Chatted awhile… but it seems there is no issue here. That’s some good news.

  12. honestyinGov says:

    Now when you read this headline you might think I am ” just makin stuff up” because who would ever believe THIS….

    “Rep. Bachmann: Dems Want To Sabotage Me Because I Might Become President”
    { No… I kidd you not }

    “On Mike Gallagher’s radio program yesterday, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) offered a novel theory as to why Democrats want her out of office: They don’t want her to become the first woman president.”

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/04/rep-bachmann-dems-want-to_n_277572.html

  13. Lee323 says:

    264 Crayons – I agree!

    I spent the afternoon tracking down and calling local school boards to give my support for the president speaking to our students. I could tell that some were pretty embarrassed when I asked what part of telling kids to study hard, stay in school, and have high academic goals was “brainwashing” or “subversive indoctrination.”

  14. Silvermoon says:

    Gryphen listing a Sarah sightiong in San Diego. Poolside w/ sunglasses.

  15. 264 Crayons says:

    P.S. I work for a volunteer organization and we had some of our members come in to help mail out a survey. One lady asked what we were sending and if it was anything Obama related she was leaving! I am astounded that people voice their hatred at the President of the United States. It’s one thing to think they’re a dufus or dum@ss or whatever, but these people really hate him. That’s sad.

  16. 264 Crayons says:

    Lee323 – The squeaky wheel gets the grease – we’re too nice! It’s time to shove their b.s. right back at them and be JUST AS VOCAL about the other side of the story.

  17. 264 Crayons says:

    “If it bleeds, the story leads.”

    Seriously it seems all the news channels and outlets have turned to sensationalism journalism…what happen to Friday and JUST THE FACTS MA’AM?

  18. Lee323 says:

    Great follow up link on the media’s problems covering pro-reform events, seattlefan! One of the attendees saw no media present and no follow up news story on this huge Seattle rally!

    Just think what the positive net effect would be on the public if the media covered the health reform issue in DIRECT proportion to the percentages favoring the reform vs opposing it!

    There could be a sense of excitement in this country that positive change is in the future…..instead of this cacophony of shrill nay-sayers, lunatic conspiracy theorists, degrading racist commentary, and doomsday false prophets. No wonder people are confused and upset….

  19. 264 Crayons says:

    “Breaking: Fox reports Obama will use school speech to spell out “Kill Mommy and Daddy in their sleep” using morse-code blinking pattern…”

    that’s a joke, right?

  20. 264 Crayons says:

    The superintendent of our parish sent a letter home stating if you don’t want your child to participate in the Obama speech then they will assign them another project outside the classroom. I sent her a few choice words and probably not a very eloquent email but it’s important that we don’t remain silent on these issues. If all they do is listen to the complainers (she replied that she had been beaten up all day by parents) they will assume the rest of us feel the same way. I DO NOT. I’m sick of the right acting like Obama is the devil – they are full of hate and are passing it on to their kids. NICE!

  21. CorningNY says:

    Wow! Beautiful photo. Nature’s majesty at its finest. (And remember: in nature vs. man, she always wins. She was here first.)

    As for mankind…not so much majesty. The right-wing crazies seem to have taken over the nation. Just got my passport…Hmmm…

  22. GreatGranny2B says:

    Just read this on HuffPost under the article about Fox stating they will not carry Obama’s address to Congress:

    Breaking: Fox reports Obama will use school speech to spell out “Kill Mommy and Daddy in their sleep” using morse-code blinking pattern…

    How sick they are – apparently Murdoch and Ailes have no scruples at all.

    @121 – I guess we can’t expect anything better from some of these racists that follow Palin. I wonder if she will see the photo of a child dressed up like KKK and if it will bother her at all………probably not, right?

  23. seattlefan says:

    3000 attend a Pro Healthcare Rally in Seattle and there is no media coverage!

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/04/pro-reform-rally-in-seatt_n_277859.html

    I didn’t watch local news yesterday so I can’t say if they missed it, but I can certainly say I saw nothing about this anywhere on cable or on the tubes. I read some of the comments on the article and apparently there have been many other rallies not covered. I guess the media only wants to show the insanity of the tea baggers to keep their ratings up.

    Geesh!

  24. Lee323 says:

    @ Rob in Ca # 115
    ———————————
    Very interesting link! Thanks.

    I left the following comment on that post:

    “If it bleeds, the story leads.”

    The media is slavishly following this cliche. It doesn’t matter whether it’s real blood or metaphorical hemorrhaging, the media is on the story with their noses to the ground lapping it up.

    Why else would we get cameras on every right-wingnut and his dog shrieking angrily at town halls … or get the blow by blow assiduously of every divisive and outlandish comment made by the conspiracy theorists, smugly obstructionist legislators, and unabashed r.a.c.i.s.t.s? The word “Nazi” has been bandied about on the news more times in the last month since probably the era of WWII.

    The majority of people in this country are for health care reform and the media are just flat out not reporting it ….. it’s not a bloody enough story.

  25. BooBooBear says:

    Sooooo……. Sarah and Todd and Piper seen in San Diego for the last month? Quitter Queen seen poolside with her lap top. She is out of town for a month and leaves her special needs child at home!!!??? That tells me that she is not the mother of that child. Trig was left at home with his mother? You tell me.

  26. hawk says:

    Sounds to me like $arahs way of lookin’ for a new sugar daddy

  27. Zyxomma says:

    https://secure.healthcareforamericanow.org/page/s/change is the link to sign True Majority’s letter to President Obama that we are committed to stand with him on a public option. Health and peace to all.

  28. lilyf says:

    If you go on to SP’s facebook account, and look at the wall comments, there is one from a person with the screen name “white-full power-full” that uses an icon of a small kid dressed in a kkk costume. It says “we as a country will take our country back. 2012 here we come.” This is just getting scary.

  29. benlomond2 says:

    $25k to have dinner……and double that to have a PI find out where she’s at to collect it …..obviously not a home cooked meal !!

  30. MinNJ says:

    So, the meat and potatoes of the Repuke Party; tasty. Isn’t that just interesting. (HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA)

  31. Miss Demeanor says:

    So, I just heard on the local news Mrs. Quittypants is putting herself up for auction – yup, the opening bid is $25,000.00 for a dinner for five with Buttercup.
    Travel not included.
    Bidding starts Monday.
    Also up – a meal with Karl Rove.
    Ick to both.

  32. BuffaloGal says:

    7ish EST – heading to chat. just mentioned on the other thread that i need to be talked out of ( or seriously IN to ) an idea i’m playing with. I’ll be there for about an hour. Adult children are gone this weekend so I have extra time for work. (yay for long weekends!)

  33. honestyinGov says:

    There is another Health Story on Huffpo as it relates to the Health care speech on Wednesday. Asking What should the President be saying….
    I had an email alert because Geoffry Dunn had commented there and i thought it might have been his story. He only commented… strongly.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-bergthold/what-do-you-want-obama-to_b_277752.html

  34. Rob in Ca says:

    Excellent article by Mike Lux, pointing out that the media is not giving us a balanced view of the true status of the health care fight.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-lux/the-news-big-media-wont-r_b_277434.html

    In fact, he even links to another article that points out there are a majority of Senators in favor of a public option. Who knew that????

  35. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    Who knows which states are banning the Prez speech? I just read Minnesota is just because of the crap calls, which other states?

    This is ridiculous, it’s the newly elected President of the United States who wants to improve our education system, this is one of the reasons I voted for him. For crying out loud, they are going to pound EVERY campaign promise he made. Our tax payer funded public schools are going to block our elected president from talking to them, they are citizens also. where are their rights.
    GAH, time for an adult beverage.

    Let the crazies keep their kids home.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/04/pawlenty-sides-with-extre_n_277672.html

  36. jojobo1 says:

    I also want to hare this from my senatorwho replied to a thank you I sent him.
    Health Care Reform: FACT vs. FICTION
    FACTS ABOUT MEDICARE
    Medicare provides older Americans 65 and older with access to quality health care at a cost that is affordable. Health care reform will not dissolve or radically change Medicare. Most seniors are happy with Medicare. In fact, Medicare boasts a higher satisfaction rate than private insurance. The reform proposals to date will work to strengthen Medicare, and will not make any significant changes to the way seniors receive their health care services.
    Health care reform will replace Medicare and Medicaid.
    This is FICTION. Health reform will not replace Medicare or Medicaid. In fact, the proposals to date work to strengthen both programs and improve their systems.
    Health care reform will cut Medicare and take away choices for seniors.
    This is FICTION. Under health care reform, Medicare will continue to offer seniors the choices they need. Health care reform will also include provisions to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare. But this will not keep you from getting procedures that you need, when you need them.
    The government is creating a “Czar” who will decide what treatments are best for certain conditions and force physicians to treat patients in a certain way.
    This is FICTION. The House proposal includes provisions to fund research that will compare treatments for certain conditions. This type of unbiased, fact-based research will be available to both patients and doctors to help them to make the best individual treatment decisions for each person. In addition, the proposal also explicitly prohibits “denying or rationing” medical care based on this research.
    The House health care reform bill would require doctors to give seniors “suicide counseling.”
    This is FICTION. The House proposal does not tell seniors how to die, nor urge doctors to do so. The proposal empowers seniors to voluntarily make their own decisions on end-of-life care in advance, in consultation with a trusted physician. Part of planning for the future could be creating a living will that includes your wishes for the end of life, so that your instructions are followed to the letter. No matter what your wishes are, the health reform proposal will not take any of those choices away from you. In fact, it helps to make sure that your choices are respected.

  37. jojobo1 says:

    SameOld@29 I remember well the Kennedy years.I was to young to vote for him but he was in every sense my president.I also saw him shot and killed as I did his brother and MLK.What a traversity that we have gone back to those years.
    I just talked to my daughter about maybe keeping my grandson out of school not because the presidents speech will be shown but because it will not be shown in the class room in Wisconsin.She said she got a letter from the school saying it would be shown but I saw today that WI. is one of the states saying they will not allow it to be shown.I was proud of my state for being blue but am now embarrassed by this non showing of a presidents speech.The right say they will keep their children home,I say well let them,who cares.I remember in grade school having to write a piece on the inauguration of IKE I believe it was.It was a home work assignment we had to do or get an F .So we were forced to listen to whatever was said that day.What’s the difference?

  38. honestyinGov says:

    #
    110
    Nan (aka roswellborn) Says:
    September 4th, 2009 at 12:55 PM
    104 & 106
    re Palin’s resignation costs.

    It was the one thing she did that has had an immediate benefit to the state of Ah-lassss-kuh. That’s a terrible thing to be able to say, but I think it’s true.

    109
    I believe it’s six states that will not be airing the President’s speech to the school kids. I am ashamed and embarrassed to say I live in one of them. Where do you go on the state level to complain?
    ———————————–
    Nan,
    I would recommend that you call your own Governor. Let your two Senators know YOUR Opinion as well. ( You did sat they there GOP ers though)
    Maybe ask them directly….Are you really this stupid?
    Are You against education?
    Make them ( their Office )give you some sort of response so you will have them on the record. They need to be held accountable for this stupidity.
    That way you can quote them in a paper later on down the road. Something like Mag the Mick did with the open letter to McCain.

    I am logging off in a minute to call my Governors office as well. I want to know if the Governor/State is going to ALLOW schools in my state to have that option to decide. I am going to ask that the Governor make some sort of a Press release if they leave it up to the schools. Stupidity needs to be called out… just like Barney Frank did. It has to stop. I will tell you what my Governors office says.

    Along with the Healthcare issue… maybe ALL of us online her need to make that phone call today….? ( put them on the record )
    Report back and we will make a list of those States that are not on board. AKM might even compile the list for us as a story. Her own Anchorage School Superintendent has already weighed in on the story from the other day.

  39. Nan (aka roswellborn) says:

    104 & 106
    re Palin’s resignation costs.

    It was the one thing she did that has had an immediate benefit to the state of Ah-lassss-kuh. That’s a terrible thing to be able to say, but I think it’s true.

    109
    I believe it’s six states that will not be airing the President’s speech to the school kids. I am ashamed and embarrassed to say I live in one of them. Where do you go on the state level to complain?

  40. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    I’m going to find out if any schools in my district are banning this speech, if there are they’re gonna hear from me. They can’t listen to just the crazies. I’d suggest we all do this.

    (from my previous link)

    “We reviewed the study materials but didn’t see any mention of controversial issues, let alone any attempt to indoctrinate students in socialism. The pre-K through 6th grade materials said the main ideas of the speech would be “citizenship, personal responsibility, civic duty.” The materials for high schoolers mention “personal responsibility, goals, persistence.”

    As Politifact found, Obama’s planned words are pretty innocuous, with a focus on doing well in school and behaving in class. That hasn’t stopped some school districts from refusing to air the address.”

  41. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    The Repubs get a “Pants on Fire” fact check rating from Politico, HAR HAR HAR

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/04/obama-kids-indoctrination_n_277556.html

    “Politifact went to the trouble of investigating a claim made by the Florida Republican Party that President Obama’s upcoming address to schoolchildren will “indoctrinate” the kids with “socialist ideology.” Their conclusion: a “pants on fire” lie.”

  42. nswfm CA says:

    #
    104
    Say NO to Palin in Politics Says:
    September 4th, 2009 at 12:22 PM

    Scarah, Scarah, Scarah…….

    http://www.adn.com/palin/story/922853.html

    “Early estimates put the cost of Sarah Palin’s midterm resignation as Alaska governor at a minimum of $40,000 — and that’s not counting a special legislative session partly linked to her departure.”
    ======
    But it was for the good of Alasssssssska.

  43. Mother Who Thinks says:

    About the President’s speech to school children:

    There’s a huge, unspoken racist element to this new “controversy” being manufactured as a vehicle to pull down our legally elected president. It’s not as simple as “We hate and fear him because he is black, and no black man can be president of MY country.” Offensive as that is, there is a subtext: The American right-wing conservative is really afraid that the young minority population of our country will be empowered and will work hard in school and aspire to meaningful roles in the future of America. They seem to have a sick need to hang on to their perceived “privileged class” at the expense of the future of minority children who should have the right to pursue their dreams with hard work and opportunity. Time to stand up to the right and let the blessings of this land flow on to everyone, whether in education, lifework, or health care. Obama is a wonderful example for all of America’s children.

  44. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    Scarah, Scarah, Scarah…….

    http://www.adn.com/palin/story/922853.html

    “Early estimates put the cost of Sarah Palin’s midterm resignation as Alaska governor at a minimum of $40,000 — and that’s not counting a special legislative session partly linked to her departure.”

  45. honestyinGov says:

    BuffaloGals link to Health Care for America ( through PalinTruthWatch) has some good stuff there. They have a story posted that the ” Gang of Six” seems to be gone. THAT is good news. The GOP on that panel had finally admitted that they were not trying to move it forward and had no reason to compromise. They were merely obstructing… and it was a waste of time. Move on you Dems…. without them. They were that anchor tied to your leg.

    Within that page is a list of people or Organizations that are behind the group which I found very interesting and quite extensive. { Listed by State no less}
    It was under the ” Who we Are ” button.

    If you want to know who you can turn to in your own State to see who is involved or who you might be able to contact to work with them at a local level ‘ within your state ‘ for support or resources… check out the List.
    I assume some of these Organizations within your State might have Newsletters also or ways to communicate with what was happening at a grassroots level where you could let your voice be heard with the rest of them.
    Worth checking out.

    http://healthcareforamericanow.org/site/content/who_we_are/

  46. GreatGranny2B says:

    In case anyone wants to tell him what you think:
    http://broun.house.gov/Contact/

    Broun says Obama is trying to establish an ‘authoritarian government.’
    He told a meeting of the Morgan County Republicans on Wednesday night that Obama already has or will have the three things he needs to make himself a dictator: a national police force, gun control and control over the press.

    “He has the three things that are necessary to establish an authoritarian government,” Broun said. “And so we need to be ever-vigilant, because freedom is precious.”

    Last month, he said that Obama’s *socialistic elitists* are planning to declare martial law. Another nutter…….and he is also an M.D.

  47. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    I hope every US citizen (and the world) realizes how ridiculous this whole Republican scare tactic business is when his speech is made public. It’s going to make those spouting this crap look like the illiterate fools that they are. GAH

    http://www.adn.com/news/education/story/921752.html

    “The White House plans to release the speech online Monday so parents can read it. He will deliver the speech at Virginia High School.

    “It’s not a policy speech,” said White House spokesman Tommy Vietor. “It’s a speech designed to encourage kids to stay in school, which I think is a nonpartisan goal.”

  48. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    hopefully this means Begich is on board with a yes vote.

    http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/922039.html?commentSort=RecommendationsDescending&pageNum=1

    “U.S. Sen. Mark Begich called in from Indiana. He’s driving across the country with his family to Washington, D.C.

    “The goal at the end of the day is affordable, accessible and stable health care coverage for all Americans,” Begich said, drawing huge cheers.”

  49. sdragon says:

    Good for you great granny2b, great letter. Let’s all remember the words of that famous scholar(snicker/giggle)Mr. Red Green, “Just remember, we’re all in this together.”

  50. GreatGranny2B says:

    Toooooo funny!

    http://mediamattersaction.org/blog/200909040004
    Rep. Bachmann: Dems Want To Sabotage Me Because I Might Become President

  51. Say NO to Palin in Politics says:

    hmmmm, wonder what was said, lol. something like Prez to Dems “JUST DO IT”!

    “Today, Obama held a conference call with leaders of four caucuses of House Democrats that favor a government-operated insurance option — the progressive caucus, the Hispanic caucus, the black caucus and the Asian-American caucus, according to a person with knowledge about the call.”

  52. GreatGranny2B says:

    Thanks to all for help on the Chat Room. I’ve registered and will spend some of my *awake-in-the-middle-of-the-night* hours over there.

    Speaking of a Great White Hope for the Dems…….
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/04/franken-calms-down-health_n_277687.html

  53. NMJ says:

    I swear, AKM…you take the most glorious pix! I wish you’d sell prints in your store.

  54. BuffaloGal says:

    Thanks, HIG – I didn’t post too many today. Most of them were re-broadcasted. Don’t know which one you’re referencing. Off to check on it!

    Ok – I agree we need a strong spokesperson to come forward, as GreatGranny2b said. I’ve been rolling this around for days now. Ideally, someone non-threatening to most people. The xtreme will not listen to anyone outside of Palin and even if she got a knock on the head and had an epiphany I don’t think they’d buy into calming down. The best I came up with are all passed away. I was thinking that Walter Cronkite and Eisenhower could make some headway.

  55. honestyinGov says:

    Buffalogal….

    I was just checking your daily PalinTruthwatch links to see what may have come down the pike and see what is Hot.
    There are two links to ” HealthCarefor America” posted. The 2nd one says it is the ‘ corrected ‘ one… but it is NOT working.

    The 1st one is working fine for me,so I don’t know what needed to be corrected.
    Just wanted to let you know.

  56. GreatGranny2B says:

    @74, 75, 80 – Thanks to all of you for the words of support and encouragement! One way or another, we WILL get through this nightmare. I also remembering writing a letter to the president and like you, I hoped and hoped mine would be read.

    When one sees that Joe Scarborough is actually knocking those who are opposing the Prez talking to the kids – THAT is progress!

    My sister and hubby are died-in-the-wool Republicans and very capitalistic with homes scattered around this country and Mexico. It’s gotten difficult and tense to carry on conversations with them. We are seeing so much of this division WITHIN families (to say nothing of everyone else) that is almost like what happened during the Civil War.

    We need one VERY STRONG person to come forward to lead us all out of this morass………but he must be white……..nothing else would be acceptible. There just doesn’t appear to be anyone out there with a lick of sanity and impartiality that would appeal to the masses.

    Obama is plain and simply a nice guy with a good heart and very high hopes. A similar statement was made a few days ago and one of the wingnuts spoke up and said it was just a front, that he was in bigtime with the Chicago mafia and that the stimulus money was working well in NY and NJ because Obama gave it to the mob. If they can’t think of something good to say, they make it up!

    @83 – Thanks and will check out the chat room later. Dogs need their daily ride down to the creekbed and the beauty of the woods will calm me as well.

  57. BlancheMadison says:

    #77 GreatGranny2B–

    ROFL! I love the “channeling” idea (smiling devilishly). But first you’d have to find someone who can type in tongues, then translate what “Sarah” commanded the faithful to do . . .

    Cases of hot Taco Bell food sent to a certain house in Wasilla–or wherever she may be?

    Ripping Levi’s story out of all the VF magazines on newsstands in their area?

    Signing petitions for a Public Option?

    The mind reels!

  58. justafarmer says:

    Great-Granny might show up with a nickname or might show up as a Mibbit.
    If not, then register at the forum and try Chat again (there’s a link to chat all the way up in the right-hand corner of the Forum page.
    I’m over there right now if she wants to give it a try

  59. InJuneau says:

    GreatGranny2B–yeah, the Chat Room is over in the Mudflats Forum (linky things up there ^ in case you’re not already registered there), as BuffaloGal said. I think you have to be registered at the Forum before you can chat, but regular chatters may know if that’s not the case.

  60. lynnrockets says:

    OOOPS! I posted this earlier but forgot the link.

    Remember when George W. Bush was reading “My Pet Goat” to schoolchildren while the nation was under attack on 9/11? Where was the outrage from the right then? Look at this photo and have a laugh. Look closely at Bush’s book.

    http://www.onedigitallife.com/images/bush_book.jpg

  61. BlancheMadison says:

    #76 BuffaloGal–

    I remember seeing the Bush upside down book pic at the time (think it was later than the 9-11 appearance), and I don’t think it was P-shopped.

    After nearly having the back of my head blow off for two days between the healthcare debate and the unbelievable protests over Pres. Obama’s school pep talk, I read a great comment over at HuffPo dealing with this issue. When I checked, there were over 12,000 replies for the story–no, I didn’t go thru them all! 🙂 The poster remarked that truly wingnutty parents could be afraid that their kids–inspired to learn and actually THINK for themselves by an intelligent President who actually gives a damn about education–would eventually see their parents as the ignorant, hateful bigots they are, and strive to be exactly the opposite. I’m not quoting verbatim, but you get the idea.

    If that’s “indoctrination,” I’m all for it.

  62. justafarmer says:

    BTW, all….
    opening bid at the auction for dinner with “her” is $25,000…
    sounds sorta elitist to me.

  63. justafarmer says:

    samper:
    I’ll be camping out at my mailbox!
    Tell Brian to give you a foot massage…
    🙂

  64. BuffaloGal says:

    GreatGranny2b – You can reach the chat room by clicking here:

    https://themudflats.net/forum/index.php?action=chat

    There will be a box that you can type your screen name into. From there, you’ll be good to go.

  65. GreatGranny2B says:

    @#69 – mo – THANKS! That was a new site to me and I surely needed some laughs!

  66. Martha says:

    Here’s something you all can do, if you so choose, please sign the petition below:

    PETITION TO PRESIDENT OBAMA: “We worked so hard for real change. President Obama, please demand a strong public health insurance option in your speech to Congress. Letting the insurance companies win would not be change we can believe in.”

    http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5649/t/4951/content.jsp?content_KEY=2793&tag=pod_huff1

  67. Lee323 says:

    @ GreatGranny2B
    —————————–
    I remember 40 years ago when I was in middle-school, we had an assignment to write a letter to the President of the USA. We were thrilled and gratified to think the prez might read OUR letters! Since then, my two daughters had similar assignments when they were in middle-school. They had the same reactions.

    Unbelievable that the right-wingnuts have so twisted an experience which I and my girls found so elevating! Their idea that writing letters to PO is somehow a conspiracy and plot to brainwash their kids is breathtaking in its lunacy and paranoia.

    I called my local school boards and emailed my Senators. Called it what it is….blatant racist hysteria.

  68. nswfm CA says:

    76 BuffaloGal Says:
    September 4th, 2009 at 9:49 AM

    That explains pretty much the rest of his term.

  69. nswfm CA says:

    Samper, my last little bit of funny from that Portugal/Spain trip. In one town on the Mediterranean, we were looking for a place to eat. My friends said pick where you want to eat since it’s harder for you to find food that is vegetarian. We went and looked at probably 8 restaurant menus in this one area. They all had baby squid, octopus, etc., but one had Baby, Baby Squid. At that point, I didn’t care if I didn’t eat, I wanted my friends to order the Baby, Baby Squid so I could see what that looked like. They ordered it, I got 1/4 of an iceberg lettuce with a slice of tomato and didn’t care because of the huge laughs we still get over the Baby, Baby Squid.

    The rest of that trip is top secret from here on out….

  70. GreatGranny2B says:

    Any posters on here with plenty of time and imagination? It’s come to me that we need a plan of attack against the fan-atics on Palin’s Facebook page. Maybe if some of us could be convincing enough that we have visions, or can channel, or we went to a fortune teller, or read the tea leaves……..and then we slowly impart info that Sarah has had some visions of her own and she wants her faithful followers to do this…. or do that…..
    Couldn’t be anything too drastic and too quickly…….but can you imagine how many would jump on the bandwagon if they really thought someone had been in contact with Sarah through one of those methods?

    OK – there’s my dream for the day, but it has been so depressing and so many of us on here are feeling down and don’t know what else we can do to make it better.

    I had a folder on my desktop with about 30 links of news and blogs that I checked almost every day, and I agree with several of the posters – need to take a break. So I only have one link on my desktop now and it is for the mudflats and the rest of the folder has been deleted. So unless I see a recommended link on here, I’m not going looking for any more headaches. Thank God for all of you!

    QUESTION: Can anyone tell me more about the Chat Room that I’ve seen mentioned? Is it open to everyone?

    THANKS!

  71. BuffaloGal says:

    LynnRockets – ha! I had forgotten about the Bush book reading fiasco. Did they ever prove whether it was photoshopped? It seemed too likely it was the actual truth. Funny!

    Here’s a link:
    http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jzPZ9X5yd5Q/SBxIYUVzmqI/AAAAAAAAANM/b8pATqpvZYs/s400/bush_bookupsidedown.jpg

  72. BuffaloGal says:

    GreatGranny2b – I think we’re all right about where you were when you let it all out. I think we’re about to see more if it where you came from.

    G. Bush II was only reading a nice little book to the kids. No room for outrage there, right ? But I’ll bet a million dollars that if Obama were to go into one of those Texas schools to simply read , “Poky Little Puppy”, these folks would go unhinged. Now THAT would be test, wouldn’t it? How could they explain keeping kids out of school if he were there just bringing cookies and reading a book. Oh you betcha they’d keep their kids home but this time, it’d be done quietly. You’d see the quickest outbreak of flu that ever hit a school.

    Better yet, I’d love to see the President go for a “surprise visit” to one of those schools just to say hi and shake hands. The ER would be filled with stroke victims the minute the kids came home with, ” President Obama came to school today. He shook my hand. He was awesome!”

  73. jc in co says:

    #65 Fan from Chicago, thanks for the info. I will definitely purchase the new Vanity Fair and most likely read it cover to cover. Of course, discovering that during the jfk administration things were burning just as hot doesn’t comfort me at all. The end result was in the top three most heart breaking events that occurred in my country in my life time. Hopefully history will not repeat itself. The secret service needs to be more diligent than ever.
    #68 Greatgranny2B, good for you girlfriend, you walk the walk & talk the talk, you should be proud of yourself for speaking up. We need to follow greatgranny’s example, you’ll note the wingnuts have no problem speaking up. We’ll be better though, we won’t be screaming and spewing hate at townhall meetings, we’ll be informed and calmly state the facts like greatgranny did.

  74. nswfm CA says:

    Lynnrockets, where is the photo?

  75. nswfm CA says:

    Just talked with fellow traveler who started getting blisters when we were in Lisbon, and she still has the package as a souvenir. I was wrong, it’s “bandages for wounds CAUSED BY SHOES!” We still crack up, every time, even though the two of them were in pain back then. I did buy 4 pairs of shoes in Spain, two of which I still have including the one I consider my lucky pair. Both were made in Europe, and I could walk from Wall St. past Grand Central after a whole day of work, they were that comfy and a classic style.

  76. lynnrockets says:

    Remember when George W. Bush was reading “My Pet Goat” to schoolchildren while the nation was under attack on 9/11? Where was the outrage from the right then? Look at this photo and have a laugh. Look closely at Bush’s book.

  77. The Rubber Room Hotel says:

    AKM I love looking down at the mountains from the air, it is one of the only things I like about flying.
    I also like the flight from Anchorage to Fairbanks when Denali is still higher than the plane.

    I have also pretty much come unglued over this last batch of hate coming out of the right. The Presidential speech to school kids in this country to be politicized like this is just to much. I have been in a two day rant with an old friend on facebook the last to days that just has me steaming, there is no rational arguments coming out of this person who spouts bible passages everyday.

    I can’t thank all you Mudpups enough for helping me feel that I am not alone and that we do have some sane rational people in this country!

  78. mo says:

    GreatGranny2B – I hope you’ll share my glee over Tintin’s beautifully incisive comment at Sadly, No!

    “And, of course, these are the same f***wits who want to put prayer back in the schools. Indoctrination (even if that were what Obama was up to) is okay as long as it’s indoctrination that they like.”

    http://feeds2.feedburner.com/SadlyNo

  79. GreatGranny2B says:

    Well, I blew my normally cool top today! Most of the time, I will think things out, read and revise before I post something. Not this time – after seeing just how Kentucky is responding to having the President speak (or in this state – NOT), I was able to create an account and get onto our local TownHall.com – a conservative website. My message actually posted, but I wonder how long before it gets deleted and my account closed……..which is what happened to me last year when I posted about lies circulating during the campaign season. Anyway – thanks for letting me copy Reagan’s speeches for posting on there! And here’s what I said to the local wingnuts:

    I am absolutely appalled at the statements and attitudes being taken by elected and school officials. This is nothing but BLATANT RACISM at its best. To even suggest that OUR DULY-ELECTED PRESIDENT
    is attempting to “indoctrinate” our children into “socialism” is utter nonsense. People like this are causing massive divisions in this country and leading us down a VERY DANGEROUS path.

    If people don’t want their children to hear the President speak of things they SHOULD be hearing, and if educators don’t want to allow the speech to be carried, then those children should be put into private schools, not tax-payer funded schools, and those educators ought to find themselves other jobs. As for our ELECTED officials, they have done nothing but OPPOSE anything and everything that President Obama has attempted, and have blamed it all on him and the Democrats.

    Please read these speeches that President Reagan gave – they are more POLITICAL and with SCARE TACTICS, plus talking about TAXES and WAR, yet you want to oppose Obama’s encouragement to children to stay in school and work hard!

    SHAME ON ALL OF YOU THAT ARE OPPOSING IT. What sort of a lesson are we teaching a children? One of hatred and rebellion for elected authority? Whatever happened to the respect we all were taught as youngsters. There seems to be no respect and civility left anywhere.

    ……….thanks to all of your super folks on Mudflats for letting me vent – and giving me the ammunition to do so! Happy Labor Day to all.
    AND I HOPE YOU DO THE RIGHT THING – which is to ENCOURAGE everyone to attend school and to ALLOW the President’s speech to be aired. THIS WHOLE SITUATION IS UTTERLY DISGUSTING!

  80. InJuneau says:

    samper–prop those feet up at the end of the day, while enjoying your ouzo or retsina or whatever with your souvlaki; it should help. Also, if you can stand it, soak them in a tub of cold water. Sounds like a good plan to look for a “best of”!

    And that better be a darned big olive, if you’re only looking for “an olive”! 😉

  81. Lee323 says:

    @ sameOld # 58
    —————————
    I have no problem with constructive criticism of our administration.

    While I can appreciate and agree with most of your post, I must admit that I don’t like being called “undemocratic” and “smothering opinions” for just stating my own opinion about a link that was offered up for our consideration in this blog.

    Unless PO has stated that his style of governing and policy-making are driven by a personal ego-need of being “the most liked politician in Washington,” then outside observations to that effect are indeed speculative and judgmental opinions which I think undermine our cause and credibility. That’s my opinion…..nothing undemocratic or smothering about it.

    Thanks for your response.

  82. A Fan From Chicago says:

    jc in co #24 – In the “Levi issue” of Vanity Fair, the cover story is about Jackie Kennedy and the author William Manchester who was chosen to write the definitive book about the assassination. The passage below describes the atmosphere in Dallas at that time. It is really eerie in the parallels to today. Guess the Republican/redneck playbook has been around for a while.

    Manchester also discovered that Dallas “had become the Mecca for medicine-show evangelists … the Minutemen, the John Birch and Patrick Henry Societies, and the headquarters of [ultra-conservative oil billionaire] H. L. Hunt and his activities.”

    “In that third year of the Kennedy presidency,” Manchester wrote, “a kind of fever lay over Dallas country. Mad things happened. Huge billboards screamed, ‘Impeach Earl Warren.’ Jewish stores were smeared with crude swastikas.…Radical Right polemics were distributed in public schools; Kennedy’s name was booed in classrooms; corporate junior executives were required to attend radical seminars.” A retired major general ran the American flag upside down, deriding it as “the Democrat flag.” A wanted poster with J.F.K.’s face on it was circulated, announcing “this man is Wanted” for—among other things—“turning the sovereignty of the US over to the Communist controlled United Nations” and appointing “anti-Christians … aliens and known Communists” to federal offices. And a full-page advertisement had appeared the day of the assassination in The Dallas Morning News accusing Kennedy of making a secret deal with the Communist Party; when it was shown to the president, he was appalled. He turned to Jacqueline, who was visibly upset, and said, “Oh, you know, we’re heading into nut country today.”

    Manchester discovered that in a wealthy Dallas suburb, when told that President Kennedy had been murdered in their city, the students in a fourth-grade class burst into applause. For Manchester, who revered Kennedy, such responses, encountered throughout Dallas, were deeply offensive and would influence the book he was about to write.

    Manchester also learned that in 1963 there had been 110 murders in Dallas—“Big D”—in what he described as the city’s “dark streak of violence.” “Texas led the United States in homicide, and Big D led Texas,” he wrote. He would come to believe that Dallas’s charged political climate had been a factor in the assassination, helping to further unhinge the already unstable Lee Harvey Oswald.

    He also discovered that Kennedy had been warned not to make the trip. “Evangelist Billy Graham had attempted to reach Kennedy … about his own foreboding. The Dallas mood was no secret,” he wrote. And Senator William Fulbright, the liberal senator from Arkansas, had pleaded with Kennedy: “Dallas is a very dangerous place. I wouldn’t go there. Don’t you go.” Manchester learned that the last words Kennedy probably heard were spoken by Nellie Connally, the governor’s wife. Delighted by the enthusiastic crowds along the motorcade route, she turned around in her seat and said, “Mr. President, you can’t say Dallas doesn’t love you.” And then the first shot rang out.

  83. samper says:

    If by “experience”, they mean a headache deciphering her word salad…

    OK, it’s an “EXPERIENCE”!

  84. samper says:

    nwsfm: Blisters on interior of 2 toes…. ouch! But not so bad (YET) that I can’t walk.

    Ice water and elevation is what it’s ALL about tonite, except for gazing at the Parthenon from the rooftop again.

    Heard about the two that parished before leaving. Many prayers to the families and much thanks for the sacrifice.

    So…. a quick scroll makes me think that SP is “offering up” a fascinating meal with herself for auction!

    Barf!

    Really? Someone would PAY for that?

    Yuck!

    Til the morrow, my friends!

    XOXO

  85. lexky says:

    justafarmer
    hang in there girl. just channel shannyn, we need to paint this red state blue.
    no lips mitch will get his.

    samper
    just have a blast and no worries.

  86. nswfm CA says:

    Samper, CA fire in LA was arson, about 1/3 controlled, two firemen died (friends of my parents’ neighbor), memorial for them in Dodgers Stadium.

    I like your idea on taste testing. I did that with flan in Spain, that and gazpacho. There were definitely regional differences.

    Soak your feet in cold water and make sure you have band aids for blisters. When we were in Spain, my friends who lived in the Bay Area needed “bandages for wounds on the feet” which is EXACTLY what the package said. We still crack up about that perfect description.

  87. Paula says:

    “a dinner experience with former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.”

    Dinner EXPERIENCE?

    No, she won’t even need to be there. How weird.

  88. mo says:

    BuffaloGal – just a quick thanks for those two posts at 33 and 34. You’re onto something, for sure.

    I think I’ll re-read Mistakes Were Made, But Not By Me, although it was scary enough the first time through. How, indeed, to deal with “such troublesome people” impervious to rationality…and who think it’s OK to even think about killing anyone not in lockstep with them.

  89. SameOld says:

    Lee ….my point is if bees are swarming, it is stupid to poke a stick at them.

    There are only so many battles that can be fought at one time. Wasting energy on something that was bound to concentrate the wingnuts, detracts energy and concentration on more important things. I submit that whether school children see their President at this minute in time is irrelevant compared to destroying health care for Americans.

    Also trying to smother “judgmental speculation” is undemocratic. If progressives hadn’t threatened and screamed don’t you think Bush Lite would be the issue of the day? It was certainly looking like it. It is always wise to remind the elected how they got there and why. They do work for us. Remind them and remind everyone else. If Obama seems to value the act of bipartisanship over the content of policy I think we are having a love affair of form over substance. I don’t like it. Many people don ‘t like it and they should say so.

  90. Paula says:

    I have almost gotten to the point where I cannot read the news. I spent about a week where I refused to read the news, look at anythingonline, or at a paper or magazine or make a comment. I struggle between being an active citizen and protecting my own sanity. The whole thing is out of and. Obama needs to buck and and be the tough guy.

  91. naughtymonkey says:

    Just put this up on Digg. Eerie. Just what a typical Sarah Palin speech to the upcoming CLSA economic convention in Hong Kong this month would sound like if delivered in Palinese.
    http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aqsoicAfau7I

  92. A Fan From Chicago says:

    I”ve been thinking about this scene from “The American President” the past few days. About half way through it talks about how the Republicans try and scare people and then tell them who to blame. A lot like what’s going on today.

    Wish to hell the President would give a speech like this next week.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWRVbWMvi7c&feature=related

  93. jwa says:

    debinOH – ” If someone said that Obama said we should all brush our teeth these people would let their teeth rot right out. Best analogy I have seen yet!”

    Agreed. Kind of a moot point though, since many of the knuckledraggers have long since let their teeth rot out anyway….

  94. debinOH says:

    jwa – If the republicans were in office right now they wouldn’t hesitate to walk all over the dems. In fact, they would be quivering from excitement because of it. I think the hardest thing that Obama has to overcome is NOT starting a war in this country. I monitor a lot of these crazy blogs & I am telling you that these people are absolutely frightening.

    I really don’t think there is anything he could do & one of the best things I saw today was something like – If someone said that Obama said we should all brush our teeth these people would let their teeth rot right out. Best analogy I have seen yet!

  95. jc in co says:

    #26 sdragon & #29 SameOld, thank you for your advice, support and comments regarding the jfk administration. I truly appreciate it, just got off the phone from making plans for the weekend. You’re right, sdragon, it gets to be overwhelming after awhile! I wish the president would have presented his plan as “medicare for all” not fifty million pages the congress came up with. Simple is better, especially when dealing with the wackos that twist everything anyway. Of course, there would have been nay sayers but not to this degree. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend.

  96. Freakout in Kansas says:

    Here’s Ronnie Raygun talking at the elementary school my kids went to in Columbia, MO (they weren’t there…they didn’t attend until later on).

    http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=34021

    6th Grade

    “Now, there is a terrorist group in another country, Lebanon, that we believe also sort of may not take orders exactly, but it gets its direction from the Ayatollah Khomeini’s government. And they are holding some Americans as hostages. They’ve kidnaped them, and they’re holding them there. They’ve had them there more than a year. And we thought this was an opportunity—if we could establish a better relationship with these people in the Iranian Government who wanted to have a better relationship, or said they did. And, so, we sent some people over to start talking to them. And they wanted us to prove that we really were serious. And, so, they asked us to sell them some weapons. We hadn’t been doing that because they’re engaged in a war. But these people said they were opposed to the war themselves, and they would like to see it ended. So we agreed, but on a basis that we said you can prove your qualifications, as you’re asking us to prove ours, by seeing if you could get this terrorist group to free our hostages. And we would each do this for each other.

    Well, this is what we started. And I’m afraid it wasn’t carried out the way we had thought it would be. It sort of settled down to just trading arms for hostages, and that’s a little like paying ransom to a kidnaper. If you do it, then the kidnaper’s just encouraged to go kidnap someone else. And finally, all of this came out into the open. Up until then, we’d had to keep everything very secret because we felt that the people who were talking to us from Iran would be executed by their government if they were found doing this. And it all came out in the public. I don’t know what has happened to all those people there or not. And I have to say that I still think that the idea was right to try and establish a friendly relationship, try and bring about peace between the two countries that are at war, and try and get our people freed. But it kind of deteriorated into something else, and as I said the other night on television, I won’t make that mistake again.”

    3rd Grade

    “You see, what they’re all teasing me about is the fact that our government is spending more than it takes in. And each year the debt gets greater. And I would like to say back to them—because they’re trying to tackle me because we’re having deficits now—we’ve been having deficits in our country for the last 56 years, spending more than we’ve been taking in. So, we now owe over $2 trillion. And what we’re trying to do right now in Washington, people like the Secretary and myself, is persuade the Congress to get back to where we’re not spending more than we take in. Because if you did that with your orange stand, you’d be out of business the first day.”

    Nope…no discussion of public policy here!

  97. Paula says:

    If you live in an area where the school REFUSES to show the Obama speech, keep your kids HOME, so they can watch it.

    The wingnuts are over the top -and every time I say that they top their top. Hope that healthcare covers the psych ward.

  98. debinOH says:

    C.Rock – I rarely ever wander over to the unmentionable site, but I was dying when I saw what the grand prize was. Carl Rove was also a hoot too! How can people be so dumb?

  99. jwa says:

    SameOld – I respectfully disagree. Just because there is stupidity on the other side, does not mean the President should run away and allow them to dictate his actions. Especially when it comes to something as basic as encouraging children to do well in school. By continuing to be “Presidential”, Obama reveals how crazy the right wing is and they just keep marginalizing themselves among the reasonable people in this country.

    I refuse the back down and allow the idiots to dictate how this country will be run and to set the agenda for the rest of us.

  100. Lee323 says:

    .@ BuffaloGal #18
    “President Obama has to stop dreaming of being voted the “most liked” politician in D.C.”
    ——————————————

    Realistically speaking, PO has to stop dreaming of bipartisanship.

    Judgmental speculation regarding PO’s personal psychological motives (such as the quote above) only undermines our cause and credibility…..and somehow seems petty to me.

    Interesting link. Thanks.

  101. samper says:

    Brian sez he misses you guys and that he’s not a pain in the butt… he’s just suddenly “too important” to walk on his own.

    Wouldn’t a “gentleman” invite a “lady” to ride piggy back up the slope?

    To look at me, you would think I was 9 months pregnant with quads… my ankles are UNBELIEVABLY swollen from the miles and miles I’ve put in.

    Feels good… feels hearty… feels … ummmm… PAINFUL (BUT a “good” kind of pain…. like the pain the liars who have gone through childbirth try to convince me of!) 🙂

    It’s really weird… I’ve had GALLONS of water recently and only pee minimally… guess I’m sweatin’ it out (and OH YES, I’m sweatin’! NOT a pretty picture, but Stavros STILL thinks I’m pretty! 🙂 )

    Sorry to be so far way big off topic, but these are the thoughts of the moment… had to check in with BF on the homefront and you guys were the natural progression…. That said, when one PAYS for internet, one doesn’t waste time browsing every comment. NO OFFENSE!!!

    JUSTA: Look for a surprise in the mail!

    INJUNEAU: Going to the market tomorrow to see about an olive!

    I’ve decided to order souvlaki everywhere I eat out to compare and enter a “best of” report on Trip Advisor. Today’s was bland and tough while yesterday’s was perfectly seasoned and tender!

    I miss my kitties (but, surprisingly, not BF!). BF says Killer the Kitten is really going in for ruling the roost. “Not on MY watch!”, BF says!

    LOL! He just doesn’t want another box to clean out!

    Brian and I are going to ride the Metro around tomorrow and get out of Athens Proper. Will stroll markets and hit the archeological museum, which is pretty far from hotel.

    Relative to the intense “sight seeing” past 2 days, tomorrow will just be very casual and comfortable. If my ankle swelling goes down!

    Worried about CA fires. Haven’t seen news. Are they out or at least controlled?

    MANY prayers extended for quick relief!

  102. mae lewis says:

    I find it strange that one minute Sarah’s Flying Fingers were twittering away, and suddenly both arms are tied behind her back. Sarah has never missed an opportunity to flash a smile at a photo op. And respond to Levi– she (or her spokespeople) hurled some terrific insults at him when he showed up on TV. Where’s the outrage, where’s Chuck Heath or Meg? anybody? And silence? Even if Sarah is in a secret undisclosed location, she can still phone in an interview with one of her favorite conservative radio hosts– nothing! For someone so obsessed with getting her name out there, not matter what, the silence is deafening! As icy cold as those beautiful snow capped mountains.

  103. Lighthouse says:

    An incredible photo that makes all of us who would love to visit Alaska very envious!

    Thanks for sharing.

  104. C.Rock says:

    justafarmer Says: oops…not an auction for $P,,,but first prize is dinner with her!

    $P will be a NO Show……….What dinner? No one told me about a dinner…..

  105. sandra in oregon says:

    Whenever there is a major change, someone will be displaced. We are seeing years of entrenchment being pushed out. When you are losing position, you fight back with deflection. You find a scapegoat and blame it for the turmoil.

    The powerful aren’t so concerned about race but the change in power. But they know that the uncaring masses can be moved by stirring up hatred for the scapegoat. Fortunately there is some protection for out and out racism, but it can be called something else.

    More and more we are hearing the word, “Communist.” That is the old hate word that was being used in the 50’s and 60’s. Nobody understands what it is, and the world is no longer threatened by communist governments. It is a symbol of what people fear. People like Beck can equate communism and fascism and noone seems to see the irony.

    The town hall meetings remind me of football rallies. Everyone can be unhinged and yell with his friends. It doesn’t matter who the other team is; it’s “other.”

    I takes courage to stand against a well directed tide. We need to support each other and not give into frantic fighting.

  106. justafarmer says:

    oops…not an auction for $P,,,but first prize is dinner with her!

  107. SameOld says:

    BuffaloGal you don’t have to imagine anything. The Republicans stole the election of 2000 with the help of the Supreme Court. Dems were upset but they didn’t try to bring the country down.

  108. Country Girl says:

    Mornin’ All,

    Now, this is REALLY OT!

    GreatGranny2B. How do I get in touch with you? You wrote recently:

    “My father’s parents were French-Canadian (and Catholic) immigrants who came down to work the New England mills around the turn of the century.”

    I would love to talk with you about this. How do I get in touch with you? My mother’s parents were French Canadian, lived near Port Neuff, Quebec. Like your father’s parents they also migrated turn of the century to New England – Maine – to work in the woolen mills. My grandfather told me of walking all the way beside the wagon. You can click on Country Girl to get my embryonic still under construction website, that would give you my address.

    Off to the barn to milk our dairy goats, then off to town, but will be back later today. Thank God and AKM for Open Threads! XXXOOO

    If you are both signed up to the Mudflats Forum (link on sidebar, and in tab up top) you will have access to the “pm” (personal message) system which will allow you to talk to each other. 🙂 AKM

  109. nswfm CA says:

    Justafarmer, I hope you will call that jerk on the BS of the check in a letter to the editor. And then let all your animals pee on the newspaper, because the editor doesn’t sound like he’s doing a great job.

  110. justafarmer says:

    oh my! There’s a “charity auction” planned for $P.
    One of the prizes is a “Rob Lowe Autographed Dodger Jersey from the recent Hollywood Stars game”.
    These people are such clueless hypocrites!

    For anyone wondering what I mean, do a search with the keywords “Rob Lowe arrest”.
    Sarah must be soooo proud!

  111. VTJen says:

    This is what I posted on my Facebook in response to a “friends” no vote on a poll asking “Should President Obama be allowed to do a nationwide address to school children without parental consent?” Frankly, it disgusted me and I wanted to spit back “you are a racist” but took a deep breath and asked my like minded colleagues to help me with a response. Here it is;

    >>Next time, please think before you post stuff like this. As a Principal of a school you have the opportunity to have the President of the United States address your children directly. This is an honor and has been bestowed by past Presidents, G.H.W. Bush & G.W. Bush. I am surprised that an educator would not avail herself and her students to this wonderful opportunity. It’s important to keep an open mind. <<

    I need some encouragement on this because the whole thing truly depresses me. Enough of this hate! We must show the world we are not a bunch of haters.

  112. SameOld says:

    It is the Republican way to demonize and work the idiots up while Rome burns, so to speak.

    If you are freaking out about stupidities, you aren’t noticing that employment is still tanking, credit card companies are still stealing you blind, insurance companies are still killing people, you kid can’t afford to go to college (besides college is for stupid elites), the K-12 system is getting worse and the locals think teachers should be paid minimum wage (if that), libraries are closing (but who needs books?).

    I hate to be cynical but does anyone remember poor Carter sinning in his heart? Forget about Vince Foster and Kenneth Star? Forget that Clinton was accused of murdering AR state troopers? It goes on and on.

  113. BuffaloGal says:

    http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1988/111488c.htm

    President Reagan’s speech to the kids via C-Span. ( i sort of want to scream but I don’t think I have the oomph to do it )

    >>>>PRESIDENT REAGAN: Well, thank you very much. Please, be seated. You know, this is a real treat for me, having you here, and to have in a little while the chance to answer some of your questions. Let me also offer a special hello to those of you who are watching on C-Span, or the Instructional Television Network. Thank you for inviting us into your home or your school today …

    And that is a vision that goes beyond economics and politics, it’s also a moral vision, grounded in the reverence and faith of those who believe that with God’s help, they could create a free and democratic nation …

    Because you see, the taxes can be such a penalty on people that there’s no incentive for them to prosper and to earn more and so forth because they have to give so much to the government …

    There was talk about having a gun ban in California. It didn’t go through. But I got a letter from a man in San Quentin Prison. And from the prison he wrote me the letter to tell me he was in there for burglary, he was a burglar. And he said, “I just want you to know that if that law goes through, here in San Quentin there will be celebrating throughout the day and night by all the burglars who are in prison.” <<<<

  114. Emily Litella says:

    What’s this I hear about the Republicans putting a black man in charge of healthcare? I mean there’s already a black man running the county. And I think they’ve got one in charge of their own party. I believe in integration, but it’s not like there’s not plenty of other things for them to do. There’s always a need for more basketball players and jazz musicians. Why healthcare?

    Daily Kos: Talk Grows of a Healthcare Trigger
    Firedoglake: Will Trumka Kick the Triggers Football?

    Signed,
    Emily Litella

  115. BuffaloGal says:

    debinOH – the scary thing is that I can imagine Palin doing it ! If somebody would’ve plunked her down there in June, pre-handler days, I think that’s almost exactly the speech we would’ve heard !

    Doing a lot of thinking about the widening divide we are seeing recently. I’m trying to get into their heads (tho I’m afraid of not being able to get out!)
    In doing so, I asked myself how I would feel if $P was our president. Just that thought alone gives me the willies. Now how would I feel if she was planning to talk to my kids directly and I knew for sure she was going to slip her religious wingnut coding in there, telling my kids to be bold warriors, etc. What if there was a question in the lesson plan that asked my child to write an essay about what they were going to do to help her efforts for the country.

    I gotta say, I’d be upset about it. I would certainly not react with the hysteria that’s being exhibited but I know I would want to see a copy of the video and I’d be talking to my child about it one he/she was home. I would have NO respect for her being president and I would be teaching my kid that the office of president and our country deserve respect but that it’s ok to disagree with the person holding office.

    These folks really believe that President Obama is out to destroy America, that he is surrounding himself with communists and marxists and that is, quite possibly, the anti-christ. (and, let’s not forget, he’s not white) They’re being pumped up in the church , by the wingnut politicians and media and by each other. If I’d be having a really tough time with $P talking to my kids, knowing her place in this crazy dominionist movement, then this reaction from the wingnuts makes perfect sense. There’s no logic being used. It’s entirely emotional.

    If we can get into their heads and understand where they’re coming from, maybe we can figure out an effective way to combat the craziness.

    Just thinking / typing outloud here…

  116. justafarmer says:

    over at HuffPo, there’s an article about the Russellville, Arkansas, townhall meeting where a woman was carrying on about the communists in the Obama Administration, also saying: And wasn’t it suspicious that Obama had all these czars working for him–that was a Russkie commie term, wasn’t it?

    Loved this reponse in the comments:
    “I guess in her internet searches, she missed the part where the communists executed the Russian czar.”

  117. boodog says:

    oh, Happy Day in Greece, Samper! (I hope you can get in a ‘sneak touch” without being arrested)

  118. boodog says:

    You know when you step on a line of ants and they go crazy, running around frantically, trying to decide where to go? Well, $P’s fans were doing just that having no twitters to lead them. Just when some doubters were starting to freak, a lightbulb went off in an empty head and they decided the FB entry telling them to watch Beck was a sign. Either Beck was to be followed till she was ‘ready to come out with her war plan’, or maybe he was to take over for her. These people are all armed up for a revolution with no leader. Even the ones that questioned Beck before are rallying behind him now. We need to keep pressure on the sponsors(it IS working). And check out Misfit in Tex’s link. We have work to do!

  119. SameOld says:

    jc in co

    I was a freshman in San Antonio when JFK was murdered. I saw him at the space training center the day before he died. I saw him shot on TV at the time. I saw it all on TV. Remember that Lee Harvey Oswald was shot while surrounded by 70 cops and FBI. It was beyond horrifying to be in TX and listen to the praise for the murderer.

    It was HORRIBLE in TX. In fact people thought he was crazy for going to TX and as it turned out, it was lethal. Dallas was forever embarrassed and should stay embarrassed. I am speaking of open death threats, swastikas, children clapping in the schools when his death was announced. Texas has a lot to atone for and is as bad as ever.

    The Republicans did this for every Democratic president in this century. That includes FDR. It is their way and they are practiced at it. The Obama people are beyond stupid not to have planned for this. I think the plan to speak to school children shows a tin ear extraordinaire. Like duh. Sounds like this White House has created their own stupidity bubble of wishful thinking. They just keep walking into it.

  120. Enjay in E.MT says:

    Happy Friday & everyone have a Safe Labor Day Week-end

  121. justafarmer says:

    AKM, thanks for the photo…it kinda makes up for the miserable start to my day when I started reading the Lexington Herald-Leader:

    A poll indicates that barely of of Kentuckians believe President Obama was born in the USA.
    The head of the Kentucky Department of Education is urging all schools to provide alternative activities to the President’s address.
    Mitch McConnell is deadset against any healthcare reform, labor unions, or anything meaningful.
    McConnell was in the county just west of me this week to hand over a $2.5+ million check for renovating a building, taking credit for it even though it comes from the stimulus funds that he raged and voted against.

    I had to quit reading…

  122. sdragon says:

    jc in co, I’ve been reading about this whole school thing this morning. I think these loons(that’s one of the nicer names I have for them) expect everyone to get fed up & retreat. You’re so right, it is depressing. It’s so ridiculous. What exactly do they want, another civil war with Americans killing American? Why? Because they’re having a little temper tantrum? I really do wish President Obama would realize that the right will never step up & act like humans & just ignore them & do what is best for the people of America. Don’t let them get you down jc. Sometimes it helps to just walk away from the computer for a day or two. I know my blood pressure could use a break. So take a break, calm down, regroup. Take this weekend &have a little fun with the friends & family.
    I heard this song the other day, sing it loud & proud!
    Well I won’t back down, no I won’t back down
    You can stand me up at the gates of h#ll but I won’t back down.
    Gonna stand my ground, won’t be turned around
    And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down, but I won’t back down.
    thanks Tom Petty
    Everybody take a little break & have a great weekend!!!!

  123. debinOH says:

    Buffalogirl – Thanks for that link. I could just picture Tina Fey doing this in a skit on SNL! After all this BS on Obama’s speech to children I needed a laugh.

    Does anyone else feel like they are in the Twilight Zone? I just can’t believe what people like Rush, Beck & Palin are doing. Honestly, the natives are restless enough & it is just a matter of time before someone starts bombing our federal building, etc.

    I agree also, too that Obama needs to play hardball with these republican morons that are in congress. I swear anyone who votes for Michelle Bachmann & the rest of her nitwit friends they need to move out of our country & find one they like.

  124. jc in co says:

    I, too, woke up to the front page of our conservative bird cage liner rag headlines that most school districts will not be showing the president’s address to the school children. Stated there were too many parents up in arms. Of course, I live in the shadow of focus on the family, and they still rule this area. I’m sad, I am starting to get depressed about the whole situation. The fact of the matter is that this all boils down to one thing, blatant racism. These wackos making all the trouble come up with something new to b*tch about every few weeks, it’s merely an excuse to be mad when in all reality they can’t stand the fact that a man of color is in charge. The president is using up his political capital on the health care reform and I’m not sure it’s going to get pushed through with a public option. I wish he hadn’t tried to reason and work with the party of no. They never had any intention of working with the president. This is all politics on their side & most of them couldn’t careless about the people they’re supposed to represent. I guess President Obama just isn’t a ruthless enough b*stard to steamroll these creeps. Like #20 twain12 I wonder if there has been such turmoil in this country. I hear it was close to this during the Kennedy years, but I was just a kid and don’t remember how bad the political climate was. I could ask my 99 y.o. mother-in-law, but since she’s a life long repub & doesn’t like the president, I don’t know if I’d get an honest answer. Are there mudpups here that were aware of what was going on during the Kennedy administration? If so, please share. I worry a lot about the safety of our president.

  125. Mac says:

    AKM – if I didn’t come here every day to read your amazing writing, I would come just for your pictures! Theyjust keep getting better and better! Thank you so much.

    OMG – I was going to post a link to that same story in the Washington Post! It’s just unbelievable, isn’t it? How the crazies are twisting perfectly rational plans to make them sound like something bad? The saddest part though is that instead of investigating when something doesn’t sound right, so many people just take it as gospel…

  126. laprofesora says:

    I’ve been so discouraged reading all of the hysteria over the President’s address to school children. What has happened to this country??? Whole states banning the broadacast??? Then I remind myself that we have elected a black man as our leader. Was I really naive enough to believe this accomplishment would go unchallenged? Of course the right wingers will fight every move this man makes, even if he walks on water. I still have to believe this country is headed in the right direction, and all this backlash is an exaggerated, hysterical, overwrought form of growing pains.

    So everyone enjoy the long holiday weekend. Hope it’s happy, fun, and controversy-free!

  127. Irishgirl says:

    Winkwink, BuffaloGal and Twain12,
    I absolutely agree with everything you say. The White House needs to start controling this quickly or it is all going to end up in tears.

    Samper, enjoy your holiday.

  128. twain12 says:

    I’m no history buff and to be honest i never really paid attention until now but was there ever such a blatant show of disrespect and hatred (if i can call it that ) for any President this early in their presidency ?
    The Dixie Chicks where almost thrown out of the country for saying what they did and now it is almost a sport to see what people can get away with. from the outside it is not a pretty picture 🙁

  129. sdragon says:

    I just read the post link. There’s a great comment, the second one down, called nut soup. You should read it, what a hoot!!!
    OT, trisha, where in Iowa did you live?

  130. BuffaloGal says:

    http://blog.buzzflash.com/node/9350 VERY good read – The Toxic Pathology of Right Wing Facism and the Failed Communications Strategy of the White House

    >>>Now, the White House’s passivity to the imminent danger of a toxic pathology out of control has resulted in media attention once again distracting us from the issue at hand — healthcare –by covering a right wing, GOP, Corporate PR Firm “boycott” of a speech by President Obama encouraging students to study hard and take education seriously.

    Of course, Reagan and Bush spoke to students, but the “white is right” crowd had no objections then.

    The White House and President Obama are to be faulted for thinking, once again, of some bipartisan heaven that can be attained on earth when you are struggling against the type of destructive and potentially violent movement that has in the recent past led to fascistic governments of “purity.” (Look at Chile and Argentina during the Reagan years, or Central America at the time.)

    President Obama has to stop dreaming of being voted the “most liked” politician in D.C. That aspiration was rendered impossible when he was elected, because the corporations, the GOP, and the white right wing racists were going to go after him with a machete of hate whatever he did.<<<

  131. samper says:

    Hey, Pups!

    OK, I’ve got a collection of GReek Adonis’ to bring home to all ya’all.

    I shlepped up the Acropolis and guess what!? They have a freakin’ GESTAPO up there to make sure you don’t set your bottle of water down on an “important” rock AND to make sure (God Forbid) you don’t TOUCH THE PARTHENON!

    The Gestapo is on the hit list.

    Brian is a lazy butt. Not only is he a media whore, but now he’s demanding to be CARRIED everywhere!

    Have some AWESOME photos of Brian doing everything from enjoying local wine to seeing the Parthenon!!!!

    Can’t help but think of all of you everytime I drag him out for a photo op!

    XO
    Samper

  132. winkwink says:

    All this people who want to keep their kids home don’t think of Obama as the Pres. , all they see is as ” black man” in the white house and they don’t want a ” black man’ talking to their kids or telling them what to do. That’s it, RACIST- PLAIN and SIMPLE! They make me sick, Fox, Hannity, Rush, Palin, all of them, all these so called Conservative Christian people are tearing our country apart.

  133. trisha says:

    great link.

  134. Misfit in Texas says:

    RE: OMG Says:
    September 4th, 2009 at 3:39 AM
    A very important article that needs to go viral (about health care reform):

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/03/AR2009090303833.html?hpid=topnews
    —————–
    I totally agree this should go viral!!!
    Thank you so much for sharing that link.

  135. the problem child says:

    From BuffaloGal’s link imagining a $P speech:

    “You know, Hong Kong and Alaska are a lot alike, really. I mean I don’t see myself grabbing a rifle and hunting up there on Victoria Peak — though, what a vantage point! Both places have lots of ferry boats. Both were seen as outposts on the way to bigger places. And both places are all about economic freedom.

    Because as you good folks well know, economic freedom is under assault. In my country, President Obama wants to turn America into a socialist state with his government-controlled health care, death panels and no more free choice. It’s like he’s trying to turn the greatest economy in history into a communist, uuuhhhhh, I mean, you know — less of a free-market place. As I have said before, only dead fish go with the flow. I’m no dead fish. And since Hong Kong is surrounded by a big lake, I reckon you’ll see what I’m gettin’ at.

    I understand that the business of Hong Kong is business. I love it. Back home, the Washington establishment is waging a war against business — and the free and unfettered markets that have made my countrypeople so wealthy. What Washington and the media will never understand is that it’s about country first. Which is why I quit Alaska and came abroad.

    Whoops, sorry, I got all carried away. I’m supposed to offer something useful to you investment types in Asia to practice your freedom in the markets. Some thought-provocative nuggets about this here Asian decade. Well, luckily, I’m all out of time. Thank you, Hong Kong. You guys rock! “

  136. BuffaloGal says:

    Ooops – sorry – in the link @11, scroll down to “OPINION” and click on ” Sarah Palin can see China from her house, too”

    Morning, all. Happy Friday !

  137. BuffaloGal says:

    Ok- gotta question:

    Has there been a recent change to the mod filter? After many months of never, ever having a post sucked into the moderation ducts, the past 2 weeks I’m seeing at least a post a day getting pinged. I’ve reread the mod rules and can’t for the life of me figure it out. I’m so confused! Did I miss something? I saw someone post the other day that all they said was , ” i like snow” in a post and , whoooosh! , it got sucked up.

    Here’s the link I was trying to post, but without the quote. VERY funny guess at what Palin’s speech might sound like. It’s eerily dead on:

    http://www.bloomberg.com/?b=0&Intro=intro3

    Apologies to anyone who is being abused by the filters. Sometimes they just get a mind of their own. I know it’s annoying at times, but trust me it’s less annoying than letting all the stuff that’s supposed to be in there, out here. I usually go through comments a couple times a day, and I thank everyone in advance or retroactively for their patience. 😉 AKM

  138. lemonfair says:

    So don’t we think SP is just somewhere where there’s no good cell or internet service?

  139. BuffaloGal says:

    Wow – this is funny but also, really, really creepy because it sounds to me exactly like a real Palin speech:

    http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aqsoicAfau7I

    It’s a piece wondering just what in the world Sarah’s going to say if she shows up in Hong Kong –

    >>Hello Hong Kong! How ya doin’? You know, I want to thank you Hong Kongians for being such gracious hosts. And I want to thank you for explaining to me how this country is now a part of China again. Wow, who knew? Anyhoo, it’s nice to be here. And I’m lovin’ the food. Had me some of that feng shui stuff for breakfast this morning. Jeez, that was tasty!

    Arriving at your superduper airport was a shock for two reasons. The first, it’s really modern for Asia, home to so many developing people. Anyone who’s been to JFK in New York or Dulles near Washington knows what I’m talking about. Good goin’ guys! Second, everyone looked so surprised to see me — like I wasn’t gonna show up. There they go again, listening to the liberal media back home that I don’t honor my commitments. <<

    Really, read the rest of it. As much as it'll make you chuckle it also makes you cringe a bit, imagining what she might actually say.

  140. Sher says:

    I just got my morning paper, opened it up and on the front page was this article: Obama won’t air in ##ISD, District sees wave of opposition to Tuesday address. The superintendent says, ” We’ve been absolutely inundated from commmunity members who don’t even have kids in our schools, as well as parents. No one has said they want their kids to watch this; everyone said if we were to show this they would keep their kids home.”

    This really disappoints me that people are so misinformed (and let’s face it, racist) here. I expected it though.

    I live in a town of a little over 100,000 people and “nobody” wants their kids to watch it?

  141. GreatGranny2B says:

    Oops – any…….meant to say ANOTHER! Sorry, need another cup of caffeine!

  142. GreatGranny2B says:

    Any glorious picture – is it the *Sleeping Lady”?

    Stopped briefly on MSNBC to see what they were laughing about. Thank goodness they see the stupidity of Beck’s latest rant that Rockefeller Center is Communist and all that. Beck is certifiable, but exactly what Murdoch wants and needs to promote his own agenda.

    Joe is actually putting down those who think their children are being indoctrinated by our president speaking to children.

    I pray today is not as full of insanity as the last few have been.

    Best wishes that everyone have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!

  143. OMG says:

    A very important article that needs to go viral (about health care reform):

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/03/AR2009090303833.html?hpid=topnews

  144. Aussie Blue Sky says:

    FACT CHECK: Biden ignores problems with stimulus

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090904/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_stimulus_fact_check

    Isn’t it extraordinary that there is absolutely no mention of factcheck.org in this piece?

    There is also no mention of facts. Or checking.

    Yahoo at work. For Yahoo.

  145. lemonfair says:

    Oh man, I love it, I love it, I love it. I want to live up there in the sky where I get this view

  146. lexky says:

    wherever it is its amazing.

  147. Irishgirl says:

    Another lovely photo. Keep them coming. 🙂

  148. Cynamen Winter says:

    Happy Friday everyone…and thanks for sharing the journey AKM!

    😉