Great move to try to turn Wisconsin and Minnesota. We came close last time!

I live in the Twin Cities and if the Republicans think they will ever win this state they are dead wrong. I mean, we were the only state in the union to voted Modale/Ferraro for christ sakes. No big deal, our cities will take their (dirty) money, but they still won't win here...

I'm glad that the GOP FatCats are coming to the heartland for their convention.

The heartland people know that the GOP is full of it, and that they have been locksteping,and lying with George W. Bush,and Dick Cheney for the whole time that the W. gang has been in office,......thanks again to you CCCarl Rove

Of course the "Staterun" Fox News Agency has been cheerleading for them during this entire disgracful time in our Country's history,and they will continue to do so.

Gee, I was certain the GOP would want to help New Orleans recover and W could unfurl that "Mission Accomplished" banner again. :-) Instead they're headed "up river" where many of them belong.

NYC was still recovering too when it hosted the last GOP convention, but after extra security, etc, etc it was a net loss for Gotham. I suspect the hotel rooms in NY are pricier than in St. Paul, and yet it still netted red ink and a cut in Homeland Security this year, despite ongoing code orange since 9/11. So it didn'y help politically either, despite a GOP mayor and governor -- unusual for NY.

Perhaps they'll take advantage of Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome across the river, or they'll be arriving in their private jets at the Humphrey Terminal at the airport.

Flashback. Hello, 1968. Welcome to Chicago....

As a resident of Wisconsin I am sad to learn that I will have to put up with twice as much republican propaganda this election. I'll not vote Republican, no matter where they campaign from, even if it was my very own city. I'm sure I'm not the only one that feels this way. Hopefully potential voters will see through this very transparent tactic to the truth of the matter.

What's the matter Mister Whirley. The "hipsters" in Uptown don't like Republicans?

I'm actually surprised they chose MN. Good people, but definitely some left leaning people.

"The heartland people know that the GOP is full of it, and that they have been locksteping,and lying with George W. Bush,and Dick Cheney for the whole time that the W. gang has been in office,......thanks again to you CCCarl Rove

Of course the "Staterun" Fox News Agency has been cheerleading for them during this entire disgracful time in our Country's history,and they will continue to do so."

John E. have you been drinking? You normally just post dumb things, not incoherant things.

It will be good for St. Paul to see what really money is, God knows they haven't put any into updating downtown.
Most of the Reps will have stay across the river if they want to be in a decent hotel. Don't worry, it isn't that far!!
They probably are wasting their money in MN. Oh by the way, what party does your Governor and a Senator belong to?
Jessie "the Gov" doesn't count, most of America will forgive you for him.
After him, who knows who you crazy mud ducks will elect!

It is great to see the GOP coming to Minnesota - Maybe my old home state will finally wake up! The economy is going strong - Dow near record high! - gas prices are down (if you are going to blame President Bush for the high gas prices, you must thank him for the lower prices!) - housing is looking good (the bubble has yet to burst) - unemployment is low! It is time for Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa to wake up! Kudos this administration!

The GOP is doing the smart thing! Stay with your base and forget the lefty big cities.Go to the heartland where people have courage and love this country,not like the lefty idiots in New York that love the anti-american senator Hillory Clinton....and(B.J.)
Let the dems go to New York and enjoy their hate america base.They deserve it!
Paulo

Paulo,

You've outdone yourself in your simplistic geopolitical map of America. Commies and Wall Streeters to the east, slaughterhouse butchers, brewers and farmers in the midwest, and filmakers (more commies) and electrical engineering geeks in the west.

The real American fabric is more like burlap than silk. America has moved on, why don't you? Leave your prejudices and distain at the door.

I once knew a southern woman who used the expression, "Don't be ugly." I should introduce you.

Let's can the vitriole for a second. I am no fan of the Republicans, not by any stretch, but how can anyone seriously criticize them for making political calculations as to where they should hold their convention? The goal of the RNC is the same as the one for the DNC, getting as many from their respective parties elected. Of course they are going to choose a location that gets them the biggest bang for their bucks. Our side is going to do the same. Let's not bash just to hear ourselves bash. Lord knows there are so many justifiable things to criticize as far as our Republican brethren are concerned. Can't fault them for wanting to win. Lighten up people. if you really believe in our platform then be comfortable with the substance, not the melodrama.

Thanks,

Monty in Old Town

Bill R.,Raving Loon,John E.,C.Morris
OHCD,Jack,Janet,
I think you guys rock,you really know your stuff.

I will be graduating from Northwestern in December with a political science degree.
I have used some of your comments to promote discussions in some of my classes,and the comments make me look brilliant,thankyou very much for the help,and don't give up the fight.
The NeoCons have a dream of making our country a one party rules system forever,and I am not the only one on campus who looks at it this way,it's a vast majority of students,and professors.
Of course, we also have the "young republicans" on campus,that group is a widely ignored bunch of silverspoon kids.

SWEET NEO CON
The Rolling Stones - I love this song -

You call yourself a Christian
I think that you're a hypocrite
You say that you're a patriot
I think you're full of it

And listen,I love gasoline
I drink it everyday
But it's getting very pricey
And who is going to pay???

HOW COME YOU'RE SO WRONG MY SWEET NEO CON

It's liberty for all
Cause democracy's our style
Unless you are against us
Then it's prison without trial

But one thing is certain
Life is good at Haliburton
If you're really so astute
You should invest at Brown and Root

HOW COME YOU'RE SO WRONG MY SWEET NEO CON

If you turn out right
I'll eat my hat tonight

It's getting very scary
Yes,I'm frightened out of my wits
There's bombers in my bedroom
Yeah, and it's giving me the stuff

HOW COME YOU'RE SO WRONG MY SWEET NEO CON

Keep Rocking you guys!!!!

I'm a Wisconsin ex-pat currently living in Japan. Having lived in Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Chicago for the vast majority of my life, I can tell you that any political tactic usually falls on deaf ears here in the real Midwest. The GOP is going to need to talk about issues, and back off the mudslinging if they want to win the hearts and minds of midwesterners. The political mentality of the region is results, not image based. The GOP hasn't been doing too good in the results department lately, and Midwesterners will know it.

I would have thought that the GOP would have chosen Lousiana,Alabama,or Mississippi.

They're platform is more conducive to that part of the country.

"Do you love me Do you surfer girl,my little surfer girl"

One of my all time favorites.

Doesn't sound like it's rock-solid to me.

"Minnesota had backed Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts with 51 percent of its vote in 2004 and gave President Bush 47.6 percent. It was even closer for Kerry in Wisconsin, razor-thin, and similarly close for Bush in Iowa --making it a region in play in '08."

" I have used some of your comments to promote discussions in some of my classes,and the comments make me look brilliant,thankyou very much for the help,and don't give up the fight."

SurfGirl,

Thanks, glad to help out!
Edward Abbey said that changing the direction of ship only a very small fraction of a degree can make a huge difference in the long run. Same true of the ship of state. The Cons understand this.

Got Young Republicans at NW? Is one of them named 'aroo'? Just wondering how he is walking today. (see Bush Declassifies Intel Blog)

I wrote a small bit regarding the Young Republicans using the old 'long forks parable'. Actually got it printed with a by-line.

***************
A Day in the Life of a Young Republican:

Denny, age 16, awoke with great anticipation in his heart. Today he would join the Young Republicans! He quickly showered, put on his best charcoal gray suit and red tie, then hurried down stairs to have breakfast.

But instead of finding Mom with the usual steak, egg, biscuit, gravy, bacon, sausage and pancake breakfast waiting for him he saw a complete stranger sitting at the table looking at him intently with a hint of sadness on his face.

“Who are you!”, Denny demanded.

“I am the ghost of Tom Joad.” replied the man.

“Why do you haunt me!”, cried Denny.

“I have come to show you the Great Hereafter.”, said Joad.

Joad snapped his fingers and the kitchen vanished and they stood at a door labeled ‘The First Circle of Hell’. Upon entering Denny noted two long tables, one on the left and another on the right, both filled to the breaking point with meats, poultry, salads, sweet cakes of every description.

Around each table were many people, all with three foot long forks attached to one hand with the other hand tied behind their backs.

With sudden horror Denny realized that the diners on the right were emaciated and starving. They were frantically trying to feed themselves, but because the forks were so long they could not get the food into their mouths!

Then with even greater horror he began to recognize the people; He saw Tom DeLay trying to eat a pork roast, Helen Chenoweth trying desperately to eat canned salmon, Rush Limbaugh trying to eat everything, Ann Coulter looking....well, just like always, and George Will pretending to be ‘well mannered’.

Denny then looked toward the table on the left and to his astonishment everyone looked healthy and well fed. Instead of trying to selfishly feed themselves they were feeding each other, thus defeating the handicap of the long forks.

But then with even greater horror Denny recognized the people at the table on the left.

He saw Bill and Hillary Clinton, George McGovern, Frank and Bethanne Church, FDR and Eleanor, and Jimmy Carter who was also using his fork to build a small hut!

At that moment Denny began wailing and rubbing his face in anguish when suddenly he was back in his own kitchen! Mom was there with breakfast and everything was good again.
It was just a bad dream all along.

Denny wolfed his breakfast down, stealing his little sister’s sausages, and ran out the door to join up, all the while repeating ‘Thank God Tom DeLay is alive!!”.

My apologies to Dickens, Steinbeck and whoever came up with the long forks parable.

Wasn't there a curious FBI agent in MN who wondered why Middle Eastern men would want to learn how to fly planes but not land them? What did the Bush DOJ do about that?

SouthernCal SurferGirl,

I have been reading your posts also,and you strike me as a VERY WELL INFORMED young woman,my hat's off to you.

I hope that you will take your education,and run for a political office someday,this country could use a few honest,well educated politicians nowdays,after the awful run we've had with the current Republicans in the Whitehouse,and in Congress.

Myself and C.Morris are big music fans also.
I like the first few lines from this song,I think it sums up Dubya and Co. perfectly:

Nirvana
Smells Like Teen Spirit

Load up on guns
Bring your friends
It's fun to lose
And to pretend

Rock on Surfer Girl!!!!!

JohnE, Surf Girl,

I propose we only communicate by song lyrics/poetry.
Even Bill (without the r) likes the idea, I think. I laid some Pink Floyd on 'aroo', and he still can't walk right.

Check out Politician Man (Cream) in the 'Fat Cats' blog.

Any time is Cream time.

"Wasn't there a curious FBI agent in MN who wondered why Middle Eastern men would want to learn how to fly planes but not land them? What did the Bush DOJ do about that?"

Not much Jethro because by law (imposed by Clinton's Jamie G.) a virtual wall was built between the FBI CIA and other agencies.

Read all about it in the 9/11 commission report.

It was the general consensus amongst the bi partisan commission that this "wall" is why we weren't able to "connect the dots"

These "walls" have since come down, thanks in part to the infamous patriot act which is so demonized by the left.

So Jethro, do you now have the answer to your question?

CM,I think Dale is at the "Crossroads" and Paulo belongs in the "White Room".

Rave,

Yeah, 'Where the shadows run from themselves'

Minnesota to GOP aspirations:

I saw her today at a reception
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she would meet her connection
At her feet was her footloose man

No, you can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
And if you try sometime you find
You get what you need

I saw her today at the reception
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she was gonna meet her connection
At her feet was her footloose man

You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you might find
You get what you need

Oh yeah, hey hey hey, oh...

And I went down to the demonstration
To get my fair share of abuse
Singing, "We're gonna vent our frustration
If we don't we're gonna blow a 50-amp fuse"
Sing it to me now...

You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes well you just might find
You get what you need
Oh baby, yeah, yeah!

I went down to the Chelsea drugstore
To get your prescription filled
I was standing in line with Mr. Jimmy
And man, did he look pretty ill
We decided that we would have a soda
My favorite flavor, cherry red
I sung my song to Mr. Jimmy
Yeah, and he said one word to me, and that was "dead"
I said to him

You can't always get what you want, no!
You can't always get what you want (tell ya baby)
You can't always get what you want (no)
But if you try sometimes you just might find
You get what you need
Oh yes! Woo!

You get what you need--yeah, oh baby!
Oh yeah!

I saw her today at the reception
In her glass was a bleeding man
She was practiced at the art of deception
Well I could tell by her blood-stained hands

You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you just might find
You just might find
You get what you need

You can't always get what you want (no, no baby)
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you just might find
You just might find
You get what you need, ah yes...

I posted earlier that all Stones fans should read "Old Gods, Almost Dead." I think the Tribune wouldn't post it because I linked it at Amazon. But, really, if you want to read a great Stones book I highly recommend it.

Surfergirl, always a pleasure to meet a fellow Wildcat. I'm Medill, class of 2002.

C.Morris,

Re: The saga of Denny 16

Thanks for another smokin' post!

Perhaps a little Pink Floyd for you leftys:

What do you get for pretending the danger's not real
Meek and obedient you follow the leader
Down well trodden corridors into the valley of steel
What a surprise!
A look of terminal shock in your eyes
Now things are really what they seem
No, this is no bad dream.

Ha Ha.

Let's just cut to the chase. Suppose that the Democrats somehow manage to actually win control of the House and say we put a Dem in the White House. The Republicans have become so proficient at destroying and disrupting their competition the democrats have little chance of accomplishing anything. Hell, they even do it to themselves. (Bush v. McCain) The Dems will be busy defending themselves, before they even get to office. Swift-boating, Willie Horton, and Monica .... It reads like a Republican greatest hits list.

Even dems and the left have to be impressed with the Republican machine. And even dems and left have to recognize when you are overmatched.

JD,
You are not thinking right. That "wall" prevented the CIA from informing the FBI that a target it was tracking entered the United States. In this case an FBI agent became concerned about suspicious activity taking place on US soil. Your excuse doesn't explain why the FBI didn't follow up on the lead. Does the FBI have to check w/ the CIA for all crimes it investigates? No. I think you are trying to spin too hard. The FBI could have reacted. Instead it was only documented and buried in paperwork. So much for the Bush administation concerned w/ keeping America safe at all costs.

JD,
If that law was so harmful, why did the mighty Republican House of Reps approve it? And why, if they were so upset w/ how the Clinton admin handled terror, didn't they act to change the law as soon as they had control of the House and Presidency? Please help me understand why they did not do more?

JD:

I don't take fecicious jokes about dead Americans kindly. Each one is a son and a daughter, with a telegram delivered to a next of kin. Like the W's joke about finding WMDs under the sofa cushions, its distasteful. What I think about that and your joke is not fit to print.

The answer to your question is a resounding NO. Iraq will not be stable and secure in 15 years. Or 30 years. I won't spend another U.S. dollar or have one more casualty in that hell hole.

You want to stablize? Mobilize this nation, raise taxes, and start up a non-exempt draft. And be prepared to stay there 50 years, just to keep the status quo. General Shinseki said 500,000 troops, and your guy Rumsfeld fired him. That Rummy, he's doing a heck uva job, isn't he? Because you've taken over from Saddam, and he had 30% of the population behind him. Sorta like W. Ironic, isn't it?

Now, I want your answer in print. Is another 10,000 US dead, 200,000 US wounded, and $3.9 Trillion in 15 years worth it? If not, what' YOUR timeline?

Posted by: Jack | Sep 27, 2006 9:34:24 PM

You know, for some reason you weren't willing to respond. So I'll ask you again.

Bill,
Thanks for sending in that 'clarity' thing you do every now and then with the Stones. Stick with it! There is common ground, somewhere.
If you posted late last night it probably got 'dropped. I have lost several submissions that went in late at night.

Doug Z,
Thanks, I loved writing the ballad of the long forks. You can 'localize' the names. SWEET.

JD,
Check the Pink Floyd song for 'Jack A.' in today's lead Abramoff post.
It could be yours, too.

Jack,
are you foaming at the mouth? Glad I'm hear to be a part of your left wing delusions.

I thought you challenged me to point out what was false about Joe S's analaysis.

Now you are pointing out that part of it is false.

DO you even remember what you wrote or asked in your original post?

Also, C. Morris, Surfer Girl and John Easy E.

Why don't you just cut to the chase and post the lyrics to Imagine and drool over its communist utopia themes.

We can update the song with:

"Imagine everyone believed humans caused global warming" "Think of all the auto manufactureres we could sue"

"You might think the asbestos law suits were good money" "Yeah, but I'm not the only one" "I hope some day you will join us" "We can worship mother nature and live as one"

Jack,great post.That non-exempt draft would change a lot of minds in regards to this fiasco real quick.

Sometimes I think these war mongering kids played to many nintendo games,they think this conflict is @#%*ing game.

JD,

I plan on using Imagine at the proper moment.

Truth, knowledge, understanding of life are not found in your bank statement, stock prospectus, or net worth statement.
(hey 'aroo'! Think of me as Spock or Yoda! Look for the klooz, dood!)

It's found in art, poetry, music, books.

I've enjoyed every posting of lyrics, myself. A nice interlude, a good way to see what someone actually 'is', whatever 'is' means.

JD:

Real simple question:

"Now, I want your answer in print. Is another 10,000 US dead, 200,000 US wounded, and $3.9 Trillion in 15 years worth it? If not, what' YOUR timeline?"

You gonna answer or cut and run?

RL: It's called the bravery of being out of range (per Roger Waters). But you can always smell their fear when the attacks get personal.

Where are you getting your numbers Jack?

Have you calmed down yet?

Of course no one wants to see people get killed (except for those EEEVIL Republicans right?)

I didn't want to see any innocents or US soldiers die in Afghanistan when we invaded after 9/11 but they did Jack, because that is what happens in a war, and I'm intellectually mature enough to know it sucks, but was worth the cost. If you want to get all emotional and throw around #'s of dead as the only way to "prove" your point, that is your problem. Go ahead and get yourself all worked up.

I already answered you Jack. If we can stabalize Iraq, as you stated was true, but now say is false, ( You didn't happen to vote Kerry did you?) in 15 years, I think it may be worth going for.
If you don't think it can happen, than are you ready to Cut n' Run?

..and if so, what happens next?

There you go, Jack. I've answered your question. Care to answer a few of mine?

It's not my fault you didn't comprhend the Joe S. article and now are backtracking from what he wrote.

Now, you're getting all Michael Moore on me.

JD:

Let's revisit what the original questions and premises, shall we?

I quoted Joe S's column, in which he indicated "Generals are predicting that it would take 15 years to stablize Iraq". True?

You responsed that you would stay the course for 15 years if it does indeed stablize Iraq. True?

What you did was to invent something that I didn't say, and then use it to say I'm flip-flopping. Funny you should bring up John Kerry, because that what Rove did to him too. You learned well.

I merely put forth for you the numerical side of this stay-the-course for 15 years:

In the past three years in Iraq, the U.S. has taken 2700 KIA and 20000 WIA.

In another 12 years, that would sum up to KIA of 13500 and WIA of 100,000.

Any problem with that math? Let me know if you're confused OK?

Now for the sake of blind optimism and ignorant enthusiasm (much like the Iraqi occupation plan, don't you think?) we'll say it'll only take 6 more years to STABLIZE the country.

In that case, the human cost would be 8100 KIA and 60,000 WIA.

I'm not staying this course. Are you?

Now for the sake of argument, let's say that Iraq is STABLIZED after 6 more years, after 8100 American KIAs and 60,000 WIAs. Congradulations, you've just created post-WWII Yugoslavia. Welcome home, Tito. And you remember what happend after Tito died, don't you? That's what'll happen after America leaves. There's a thousand years of religious and tribal dynamic working in there, you think we're going to change it in 9 years?

America has done it's job there. We overthrew their dictator, and gave them THREE elections. If we leave now, they'll deal with Al-Qiada in Iraq (nobody likes foreigners coming to their country and bombing the natives. Really.) on their own, then they'll have it out amongst themselves. Then the Shiite majority govenment will align itself with Iran, and we hope for the best. But if we pull out now, we can start rebuilding the Army and NG/AR now.

If we pull out in 9 years, we'll have died and bled to deal with Al-Qaida AND Iraqi nationalists, and then have the exactly same thing happen - they'll have it out amongst themselves. Then the Shiite majority govenment will align itself with Iran, and we hope for the best. With a shattered Army.

If you think anything different will happen, you live in a dream world.

Jack,
Ok, I'm glad you are making sense now.
I see what you are saying, but your points are debatable.

Yeah, it would be great if Iraq could rise up and fight al Queda on their own if we left tomorrow.
The Bush Admin thinks Iraq is not ready to handle security on its own...and I 'm not comfortable with "hoping for the best"

If you feel we will have a "shattered" Army after 13,500 casulties, over 15 years, then we have no business being anywhere.

If Generals feel we have a realistic shot at stabalizing the country with in 15 years, I still feel its worth going for instead of "hoping for the best"

JD:

If you don't understand the meaning of "casualty", you have no business posting opinions on decisions and policies that affect them.

"Casualty" means those killed, wounded or captured. In this case, since we're dealing with 15 years, casualty projection is 113,500.

For your information, the current authorized strength of U.S. Army is 540,000. Yo're talking 20% casualty rate.

The problem is that W and his lieutenants have decided to fight a war, an extended war with a peace-time volunteer army. They lack the moral fibre to say "We screwed the pooch on planning this thing and now we need more than we thought we would."

In 15 years, many U.S. unit would have been through 8 tours of Iraq occupation duty. Now, what would be your definition of "Shattered"?

OK, Jack.
You've sold your doomsday scenario. I'm now going to move to Montanna and hope for the best.

Gee if that's not the epitome of cut and run....