GOOD time to help Martha Coakley; also Hillary coming.

Baker is doing much too well for my taste and his war chest and fundraising are both surpassing Martha's.

(I heard the above on WBZ this morning. Sorry, too preoccupied right now to google for a link. )

If you'd rather not re-visit the Romney years, this is the time to pitch in with money and/or volunteer efforts, whatever you can do, esp GOTV.

Also heard this morning, Hillary will be at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston this Friday, October 24, stumping for Martha. Admission is free, but you need to get a ticket from the Coakley campaign.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/17/hillary-clinton-stump-for-martha-coakley-boston/D9iOVGu8CyV4bsUAZca4AN/story.html?hootPostID=78fc986ee9afddc84b7b51335109e5dd

(If you recall, during the Democratic primary for Ted Kennedy's seat, Bubba campaigned for Martha. At the time, it was said that was in return for Martha's work in Massachusetts for Hillary in the 2008 primary, which Hillary won quite handily in Massachusetts. Knowing she would, I voted for Obama anyway.)

Daily Show: Kansas Republican Group opposes Brownback, backs Davis (D)

Turns out, if you give job creators in Kansas tax cuts, they don't hire people they don't need and they don't necessarily create jobs. They just "pocket the money." And the state economy goes to hell in a handbasket and, of course, schools are among the first suffer because all that bloviating about cutting fraud and waste never comes to fruition. Who knew?



http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/6sn82w/sam-brownback-s-conservative-kansas-experiment

Under conservative assault, the Vatican backtracks on gay comments

Source: CNN

Rome (CNN) -- Under furious assault from conservative Catholics, the Vatican backtracked Tuesday on its surprisingly positive assessment of gays and same-sex relationships.

In a report Monday, the Vatican had said that gays and lesbians have "gifts to offer" the Christian community and acknowledged that same-sex couples can give "precious support" to one other.

The statement, an interim report from a closely watched meeting of Catholic clergy here, was widely praised by liberals. It is believed to be the first time the Vatican has said anything positive about gay relationships.

........

But many conservatives complained that the statement watered down church teaching and did not accurately reflect their discussions here, where nearly 200 Catholic leaders are meeting to debate pastoral approaches to modern family life.

One South African cardinal called Monday's statement, which also included positive language about unmarried couples who cohabitate, "irredeemable."

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/14/world/vatican-backtrack-gays/index.html

Russell Brand and Lawrence O'Donnell on The Last Word-Good discussion!

2014 MA Candidates and Ballot Questions: Sec'y of State's Office.

Candidates: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele14/state_election_cand_14.htm

Ballot Questions: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele14/pip14idx.htm

General Info: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele14/ele14idx.htm

Enjoy.

Oh, no, not again. Bill Moyers retiring from PBS Moyers & Co.

The third and final year of Moyers & Company comes to an end on January 2 and I am writing to assure you that this time it’s the real deal. You may recall that we had originally raised the funds in 2011 for a two-year series but when I announced last fall that the end was near, thousands of you wrote imploring us to reconsider. My long-time funders came forward with a renewed commitment to a third year of support. How could I say no?

But as the end of the third year approaches it’s time finally to sign off.

I do so as the luckiest fellow in broadcast journalism for having been a part of public television for over half of my 80 years. I never expected such a full and satisfying run at work I could love so much, and I am deeply indebted to everyone with whom I have been associated on this long and rewarding journey.

As President Lyndon Johnson’s domestic policy assistant I was “present at the creation” when we held the first meeting at the Office of Education to discuss the potential of “educational television.” The Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 became law the year I left the White House to return to journalism. I believe in our mission as strongly as ever, and if you want to be reminded of the importance of what public television does, watch the statement President Johnson made when he signed the Act.

http://billmoyers.com/2013/11/15/special-announcement-from-moyers-company/

It's been a good run. http://billmoyers.com/2014/09/29/good-run/

Nope, Mr. Moyers. It's been a great run. Thank you so much. I cannot imagine who can fill your shoes, but this country sure needs him or her.

Daily Show exposes drug misdeeds of the Food & Drug Administration.

To paraphrase Colbert, "It's not funny, 'cause it's true."

I usually LOL at the Daily Show. However, through no fault of the Daily Show, this is did not make me laugh.

http://thedailyshow.cc.com/

I don't know if any other network, besides the Comedy Network, is doing this story. If not, what a commentary/condemnation on our msm!

Despite the childish memes, I am an adult, realistic, and have no place to raise a pony,

even if someone gave me one. Also, I am very clear that no one is going to give me one, let alone the exact pony that I would choose if I were the pony picker/breeder.


I know there will be deviations from what I would love to see happen in D.C. so I don't have a checklist that I place side by side with a list of anyone's votes and speeches and cross people off my list when I see variances.

Although I am always leery of kabuki, I believe that Elizabeth ia smart, hard-working and honestly gave her very best shot at making student loans more affordable. Additionally, she speaks for the 99% against big business often. For me, those things alone will take her a long way. (Perhaps that is more a sign of my resignation than it is of my realism. Fine line.)

I do wish that we did not have so many barcalounger warriors in D.C. I also wish that Democrats and Republicans did not seem so bent on filling Congress with veterans as seats in the House and Senate open up. But, it is what it is.

IOW, no, this vote alone does not turn me against Warren. On the other hand, if I ever smell a love of kabuki theater, or chronic insincerity, or corruption, she will be toast in my mind. So far, I don't.

Agree. I have criticized Obama plenty, but never said he was just like Bush.

Then again, I have never compared Hillary to him, either.

I would not even compare Dimson to his father or Reagan.

That fucker and that whole fucker of an administration was in a class by itself.

At least I hope and pray so. Never want to see their like again.

Fact is, people did try to get Bernie and others to run in 2012.

Fact is, you know squat about what people who post here do IRL, politically or otherwise.

Fact is, if they had succeeded, they would have faced here the same thing people who are urging Bernie to run as a Democrat in 2016 are getting now, and then some. All the bs about challenging an incumbent being certain to elect a Republican.

Also, please stop pretending that having a staff, all the political and politically inclined celebrities a call away, having billions of dollars lined up via donors, the media in your pocket and an already established organization is the same as being someone who is unhappy with the direction of the Democratic Party since it became the New Democrat Party.

You and those who pretend that same thing while knowing better. Please. Stop.