Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in.Contact us
Follow us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- DorisKing on Open thread 11/22
- Chas on Open thread 11/22
- george on Health care reform would save state money
- satatom on Open thread 11/22
- satatom on Open thread 11/22
- Politico on So they said
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/22
- JWink on Health care reform would save state money
- Politico on Health care reform would save state money
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/22
Open thread
- By Phillip Brownlee
- Posted May 12, 2006 at 12:50 p.m.
- Filed under Uncategorized
- Permalink
- Comments RSS
- Both comments and trackbacks are closed
140 Comments
We don’t have to write about picnics do we?
So, Dusty Foggo resigns as #3 man at CIA, and today the CIA/FBI jointly raid his home and office to remove files in connection with an ongoing investigation into corruption in awarding contracts.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060512/ap_on_go_ot/cia_foggo
But really, Porter Goss’s resignation from CIA was over his ‘turf war’ with John Negroponte. Really.
NOW can we impeach the motherfucker?
I’m in, CF. Impeachment it is.
CF:Do you think having Cheney then in the No. 1 slot is a good thing? Isn’t that worse, if that is possible?
We’d need to impeach them both.
I think that is doable.
That’s the only way Friest would get into the White House, the back door.
Frist, Frost???????
Wouldn’t be Frist – it would be Hastert. Like with Ford in a way.
Ben- Thanks- I though my post looked screwy. Besides, who wants Frist? That guy is already embalmed, and still doesn’t know it.
I wonder how this thread can go without Ed/Ian’s inane ramblings about Jews, that get posted on every other thread no matter what the topic
Trouble is gster, so is Hastert. Definitely NOT the man whose campaign I worked back in IL.
Damn, Dingus.I’ll bet you just jinxed it.
Bush approval rating now 29% – 2 points above Nixon when he resigned.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060512/pl_nm/bush_poll_dc_1
Any body want to bet he will make it 25% by year end? Maybe he can make it to 20%? How low will he go?
gster,
While you make a good point, Cheney’s evident physical decline is such as to seriously undermine his credibility. To say nothing of HIS approval rating (in the high teens, last I recall).
NOW can we impeach the motherfucker?
CF– Who am I to say no?
DD, I heard on NPR that the record low is 22% (by way of Juan Williams’ recollection).
I am not going to be surprised when he adds 20-25% of that back this summer, to end up in the high-40’s at least, thanks to Karl Rove and this summer’s Wall of Wedge Tour.
Given 2004, I figure a US Constitutional amendment expressly banning civil rights for certain Americans (gays), more restrictive federal abortion laws, Iran, etc., will probably have Americans fired up and lined up just the way Karl wants come fall.
If Democrats were smart then right now they’d start making sure all Americans know that, come October, what’s sure to be a VERY ugly, mid-war political dogfight is all courtesy of Karl Rove and Ken Mehlman.
You know, driving wedges among Americans for political gain, all the while waging a putative Global War on Terrorism.
Hey . . . I just thought of something . . . who got nailed for poking around in Democrats’ computer files during the last election? What about the illegal spying on the Kerry campaign?
Who is facing charges for that?
THIS JUST IN–ROVE TO BE INDICTED!
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051206Y.shtml
Hallalujah . . . there may be hope for our democracy after all.
It hasn’t made the main stream news yet, LH, but I glad something it moving along in that Grand Jury investigation.
Taking them forever to move on it. I hope they don’t drag it past November.
This issue needs to be rapped up before the election, Rove and Libby going to jail or not.
Time for Roberts to investigate the damn leaker of Rove’s impending indictment, should bring Bush down a couple more notches. We need integrity in Washington!
Sadly, I’ll believe it when it happens.
Are you getting nervous, Dingus-stein.
Oy-gevalt !!!!Good morning Ed.
Some superglue for Dingus’s tinfoil skullcap?
Always attack Ed, never the point: IE “Human-trafficking tier 2 rating by US State Department for Israel { the land of milk and honey and women and kids, over 900,000 who had no idea what they were in for }
Is that an “insane rant?” US State Department figures. Hmmm
I hope everyone had fun at the meetup. I really, really wanted to go, but I *just* got home from the airport 10 minutes ago. And I’m beyond exhausted. Boo.So, who got tossed in the lake?
A Bush administration CIA appointee, Kyle “Dusty” Foggo, is being investigated for corruption, after steering a contract to former high-school buddy Brent Wilkes, whom self-confessed ex-Congressman and now federal prisoner Randy ” “Duke” Cunningham has implicated for bribing him. Foggo replaced a respected career CIA officer. Interestingly Foggo moved to seal leaks. That’s easier to do when political cronies at the NSA can follow journalists’ and CIA staff members’ telephone records and connect them. Anyone who thinks that the phone-record collections were done to find terrorists is living in la-la land. (Speaking of which, the phone companies that handed the records over without court orders–Qwest was absolutely willing to provide records pursuant to a court order, but the NSA declined to get one, so it could not force Qwest to cooperate, since NSA had zero legal authority to compel production on its own–are being hit with major civil suits, which they are going to lose. Don’t invest in AT&T, BellSouth or Verizon for awhile, unless you like losing money.
It looks like the Republicans’ days of wine and roses are numbered. Too much incompetence plus too much deceit, greed and corruption is a losing combination. The Dems don’t have to do much to recapture the House next January, except avoid shooting themselves in the foot.
Heartlander: What makes you think this is more than it appears on the surface? I did not figure you for one who would push a conspiracy theory.
USA Today takes an article written in December 2005 by the NYT and basically rehashes it. Some have suggested that the motivation for the article was to create problems for the CIA director nominee. All of the sudden a program everyone knew about and initiated in the Clinton administration, is the lastest scandal after the MSM plays it up as something new. What a crock!
If Congress has not given immunity to the phone companies for their cooperation, they should immediately do so. They violated no ones’ privacy. The lawsuits are frivilous because they do not arise out of any sort of damage or injury.
As I mentioned before, I would have been very disappointed in our government if they did not have this type of program in place.
Tara, we missed you! I left about 5:30 (prior family commitments) and at that time, no one was thrown in the lake. I heard someone mention that Nathan was the only right-winger in attendance. Too bad the state and country don’t have the same political balance. ;)
O Boy, an open thread. Time for an information dump. Did any of you Democrats know:Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman and John Kennedy were all elected with the help of the Mob?Google ‘Tammany Hall’ for a history of Mob and Democrat alliances.Mob controlled Unions deliver millions to Democrats.Hillary worked closely with Charles Garry on behalf of the murderous Black Panthers and received an internship with the offices of a Communist Lawyer Robery Treuhaft for her efforts. None of our left wing media has ever asked about her roll in Haven Panther Trials.New York Senator Schumer has also been known to get mob money. One of his recent campaigns leaves over $3 million of his donations Unknown.The DNC has been known to launder a lot of cash to get money for union elections. The investigation was squashed by the Clintons.Republicans are also known for their corruptions and scandals but the ratio is 3 Democrat to 1 Republican. The Republicans generally resign or get voted out at the next election. Democrats are generally reelected even after jail time.But Democrats real forte is accusing an opponent of lying over an over when there is no lie. The most childish has been the WMD lie that wasn’t.I could go on and on but a real democrat has already proudly erased this post.
Rightwingnut,
We appreciate your adherence to truth in advertising.
BUSHCO said it knew there was WMD and where it was–’east, and north, and south of Tikrit, somewhere in there’–and it wasn’t. Typical Repuke lies.
Grow up, little wingnut.
Those are the kind of lies I was talking about. We have found tons of WMD ’stuff’. No stockpiles but lots of stuff. All security agencies in the world said yes to WMDs. Bad intelligence is not LIES you dumb shit.
Okay, you’re not for real, you dumb shit.
You’re one of those people who have no life so you go to chat rooms and invent a persona for yourself.
Go be a seven foot tall Adonis Mensa rocket scientist somewhere else.
Or maybe you’re just the latest incarnation of Gail, the visiting professor from Africa that knows all the right-wing talking points or Ahmad the Turk who can’t speak Turkish.
Amuse yourself someplace else, poseur . . .
True or false: WMD have been found in Iraq.
ANS: Truthy, sez rightwingnut.
This is where the Right will fracture, this issue of WMD. Cognitive dissonance will drive some to insist WMD have been found (or even WMD “stuff”).
Honest conservatives know that if WMD had been found then President Bush would be in a banner-festooned, Rose Garden press conference to announce it so fast that your head would spin. He might even dig out the flight/codpiece suit to wear to the press conference, too. It certainly wouldn’t surprise me if our Prez keeps one handy for just such occasions.
The president is leaking honest conservatives, that’s his problem right now. Even a Rose Garden press conference late this summer to trumpet that WMD “stuff” has been “foundy” in Iraq wouldn’t do any good. After all, the guys who mistake truthiness for truth would gladly mistake “foundy” for “found,” but Bush already has these guys in his pocket.
The president’s own men said they found nothing–first, Kay then Duelfer.
There is no dispute on this.
Rightwingnut is a poseur trying to get thinking people “outraged.”
Nobody can be as dumb as rightwingnut claims to be.
Not even a good try, troll-boy.
I was there, but I had no clue where you guys were at. I thought that somebody was going to post a sign to let people know were you are.
I drove around Watson Park three times trying to find you guys. There were a lot of people there today, so I didn’t know which was which. I even stopped and asked a few people but they didn’t know.
I had Fresca, Lemonade and vanilla cream cookies.
Where was the spot?
WHOA! Looks like the blogosphere scooped the “liberal” mainstream media once again. More at link.
When the Washington Post prints something on this next week, remember you saw it ONLINE first . . .
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051306W.shtml
Karl Rove Indicted on Charges of Perjury, Lying to InvestigatorsBy Jason Leopoldt r u t h o u t | Report
Saturday 13 May 2006
Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald spent more than half a day Friday at the offices of Patton Boggs, the law firm representing Karl Rove.
During the course of that meeting, Fitzgerald served attorneys for former Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove with an indictment charging the embattled White House official with perjury and lying to investigators related to his role in the CIA leak case, and instructed one of the attorneys to tell Rove that he has 24 hours to get his affairs in order, high level sources with direct knowledge of the meeting said Saturday morning.
Robert Luskin, Rove’s attorney, did not return a call for comment. Sources said Fitzgerald was in Washington, DC, Friday and met with Luskin for about 15 hours to go over the charges against Rove, which include perjury and lying to investigators about how and when Rove discovered that Valerie Plame Wilson was a covert CIA operative and whether he shared that information with reporters, sources with direct knowledge of the meeting said
I enjoyed the meet and so did my wife ( she was a bit wary of being around people like me. But soon felt good and she just loves Poultry stories LoL) I even wrote a letter to the editor about the meet.
I was half expecting Nathan to be a six five, 289 pound wall of muscle and no brains. But I found him to be intelligent and easy to talk to. In fact I have to admit I was a bit surprise at most, as they might have been by me. But for so many people with differing views, it was very civil and warm. Boy do I love music and boy do I wish I could play! to quote from my letter: “Can a handful of individuals make a difference? Word spreads one person at a time till finally there is a chorus.” Also “I would rather set alone with anyone one of these people then spend a life time in a world full of people decrying who got lost off of American Idol”.
RD is correct.(By the way, Happy Mothers Day RD). Only Nathan had the manners to come on out. The right was much invited and badly under represented and while often all wet, not tossed into the lake on this occasion. They were not the only folks so. I’ll get back to that.
I’m sorry ya missed it Tara. We missed you but things happen that way sometimes. We did have lots of good things to say about you.
You didn’t show up and eat your fair share!
The meet up was a great success! Yeomans work by Julies husband cooking the food while we chewed the fat.
Farmgrrl made enough good chicken and potato salad to feed an ARMY. Mega snaps for her! I bet Nathan would tell us that her food is better than that Halliburton catered stuff the real troops have to eat. Whatsay ya kfg? Wanna contract to feed the military?
Wish I’d grabbed some more of that chicken to bring home. My Nathan is already asking for more of it.
Maybe Julie can make the deserts for those frrmgrl MRE’s.
XXX and J M brought sausage that was out of this world.
Ribs? CF didn’t bring ‘em didn’t need ‘em. He is just as sharp in person as we all see here. He, Rage, and Walker got their act together quick and treated us to some pretty good impromptu acoutstical rendition. “WEbloggers uplugged”? promises to get only better.
JOE WILLIAMS??
Put a sock in it….or on it.
We were there for 4 hours. It is a small park. There are less than a half dozen shelters. Did you confuse us with the childrens birthday party that was the only other group at our shelter? You never posted any serious questions as to where we were gonna be. Only JULIE did. And SHE was the first one there even before me! Sorry Joe Williams, I call BS. That or you are way more confused than any of us figured. Your loss.
There were signs. They didn’t hold up well. My bad. Yours is the first complaint despite the fact that 2 people attended from OUT OF STATE.
THE MEETUP sans JOE WILLIAMS
Writerdog told us about his difficulties getting an Editorial posted. If the little excerpt he gave is an indication, I’d suggest the EDs consider carefully his submission RE the meet up.
See? He was THERE! The Editors chose not to attend and not to even respond to repeated blog and even direct email invite. Bad on you editors. I’d say writerdog is your best hope for a “man on the scene” for an event important to the only relevant forum you have left. He is well written and I’d strongly suggest you print his editorial. I trust him to speak well of us and for us.
rightwingnut,
Lies are lies, you fucking dumbshit. Read the fucking Downing Street Memos, which dispel the lie that the Administration was any sort of an ‘honest broker of false information’ that was done wrong by bad info. Here’s a nice Minority Report from the House Gov’t Affairs Committee that rounds up the raft of Administration LIES and BULLSHIT.
http://www.house.gov/reform/min/pdfs_108_2/pdfs_inves/pdf_admin_iraq_on_the_record_rep.pdf
Or how about the State Department’s report to the CIA, 16 days before Bush’s 2003 SOTU speech, warning that the reports of Iraq’s attempt to procure uranium in Niger were, in fact, false?
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/35133/
If you REALLY want to stir up some shit, Rightwingnut, keep calling me names without providing documentation. You’re a dumbshit who is in WAY over his head. I advise you to quit before you get too much further behind.
Glad it went well JR. Sorry I was not there. Who besides JM came from out of state?
DD
My BAD. Kinda like my badly made signs. I hope they only got JOE WILLIAMS lost.
J M was from out of state. Farmgrrl was from in state but far away. I stand corrected.
We missed you DD. But you do good and imporatant work and you get a pass.
The silent editors DO NOT get a pass.
We were honestly to a person left and right more than a bit ticked off by their no say no show.
I wonder if their is a way to show them that?
As for the meetup, good times. No, great times.
Joe Williams was sorely missed, as Brer Rabbit was itching for someone to throw in the briar patch, and there was lots of GODLIKE sausage that was waiting for a hungry Joe Williams to pitch in and consume it. The appetites of Tara, Darwin’s Disciple, and Ben Huie were also sorely missed.
Jwink shared his stories of spending an extended period of time hanging out and conversing with former President Harry S. Truman while living in Independence, MO in the 1960’s. It was at this point in the conversation that CF insisted on shaking his hand.
Nathan drank his share of Starbucks coffee, and invited CF to a future meeting at one of the three Starbucks locations on Rock Road. Right neighborly, if you ask me.
J R’s mom and son were perfectly charming in their respective knowing and innocence. And kudos to J R for making this thing happen.
Julie’s husband Roy would be intimidating as hell if he weren’t such a capital fellow, and so obviously a devoted husband and father–not to mention so generous with his cigars.
Ksfarmgrrl is about as tuned in as it’s possible for a human being to be. Anyone who reads this blog knows that’s no surprise. And both she and Rage surprised CF by informing him that his nome de plume was no match for the powers of Google. However, they reassured him that they’d NEVER reveal that his real name is, in fact, Bruce Wayne.
And the editors? Well, if their comfort level remains stuck at benign neglect, and if they are content to be absentee landlords, I can think of worse things. But it’s worth noting that my confrontation with Nathan lasted about three seconds, after which we played nice. So if that’s as bad as it gets, y’all are the ones missing out.
All in all, a hell of a day.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060512/ap_on_re_us/candidate_holocaust
gotta love those southern Democrats
The obvious thing to say is that if this guy wasn’t news because his views are so at odds with those of the Democratic Party, he wouldn’t be news.
Oh, btw, the running joke today at the meetup was that whenever a new person showed up, it MUST be CrusaderX. People were waiting for some Brer Rabbit / CrusaderX / Briar Patch action. I know I was.
As ever well said CF.
Even at 4 hours, ya miss a little ya miss alot.
I wish I’d caught that Jwink conversation. I heard XXX lament that he didn’t get to know CF better.
There was a “confrontation” between CF and Nathan? I musta missed that too.
CF had a friend on the phone. He knows who he is and it’s his business. I’d like to tell CF’s friend that we all missed meeting him.
Julie is a sweet as ya please. I hope she forgives SOME of us including me our misgivings of her. I think it is not in her nature, but she could be as confrontational as she wished with a husband that could easily step on me and anyone else there!
I must admit here that mrcontroversy also had difficulty in finally finding us. If my signs and directions failed others I accept full responsibility. Jed is in recovery from illness and found us. I take solace in that.
Thanks CF your kudos. I’d like to thank all who attended the kindness to my Mom and my son. But I didn’t make this happen. I just “herded the cats”. WE made it happen. And we did it without the editors help, involvement, or even interest.
I wonder what else we could do without them.
Hi All,I had such a good time with you at the lake! It’s so good to be able to put a face to a screen name, and all the food and conversation and music made it the perfect afternoon! Not to mention the weather, which couldn’t have been better.Thanks,Jed
You are very welcome Jed. The weather was luck. The rest is credit to those who came out. I’m glad you enjoyed it and let’s hear more from you.
Rove indicted? http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051306W.shtml
All I know is that from now on it will be nothing but nice and friendly posts with Julie… LOL
It was a good time.
I always have fun doing stuff like this though.
Roy was a great cook, KFG brought plenty of wonderful fried chicked and potatoe salad (which I got to take some home!), CF JW & Rage played live music which was pretty good, I got to meet many good folks…
The one thing missing?
THE WE EDITORS!
For goodness sake, you would think that for all the bragging they do about how wonderful this blog of theirs is that the least they could do is send some lacky intern down to our picnic to say hi?
Hello?
We know you are there WE editors.
I know you all have such horrifically busy schedules and all, but if you want to keep bragging about how great this blog is and how great the turnout here is then maybe humor us with your presence?
I know it is not that hard to take a measley hour or two out of a day. Draw straws or something. We are not that bad. If we can survive having liberals, conservatives, and confused together twice now I somehow think it is safe for you too.
Sigh…
Oh, thanks to JR for putting it together too!
Here’s a little more on the Rove indictment:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0605/S00056.htm
I’m having a fit of tee hees over all of this. TEE HEE
JR, thanks for the Mother’s Day wishes and for setting up the terrific picnic!
Joe, even I, in my constant state of confusion, found the group. Sure, it took me 2 trips past them, but I made it. All I remember is everyone staring at me when I walked up and me not knowing what to say. You know, something simple like, “Are you the WE bloggers?” Well, duh!
I had a wonderful time and wish I hadn’t had to leave. I did so want to hear more music.
All in all, it was a great pleasure to finally meet everyone there! Thanks all!
Where were you guys? Exactly where were you guys? I would really like to know.
Besides the obvious birthday parties or the hispanic get-to-togethers, every single pinic table in the park was full.
If you guys saw a white commerical van with a company logo on the side driving around the park, that was me. I was driving my work van.
There was a cardboard box out there sort of by the sheltered picnic tables right by the dock that I thought maybe a sign, but there wasn’t anything written on it.
I swear on my mothers eyes that I was there. No BS! I don’t know what you guys look like or what you drive.
I can prove that I was there and made the attempt. Even a reciept from Dillions on 47th and Broadway just minutes before I arrived at Watson Park.
My fault was that I didn’t go to every single picnic table to eventually get to you guys sooner or later. After going around several times at the park, we just decided to go to RiverFest instead.
Maybe next time guys, but I honestly did want to meet all of you, and I was there.
Good to hear it RD. It was good to meet you. I also wish Julie a happy Mother’s day.
Sometimes Rage is cursed with insomnia. I guess tonight it is my turn. It has been a good but also frustrating day.
Again,I didn’t make this meetup happen. I just asked questions and got everyone to agree on what was best as to time and location. I seem to have failed at least one poster.
But there is a growing sense that all of us whether we could attend or not were failed by the editors.
They read us. They follow what we post. I hope it is not lost on them when I post as to Nathan’s last post HERE HERE!!
They follow us enough I think to know I’ve not much said that.
What do we get from the editors? Oh if we ask loud enough and in big enough numbers we get a thread we ask for. They gave us the “open” around the time of the first meet up. We thank them that.
But what do we get for what we post here?
Randy addresses us directly now and again.But that is about the most interaction we get from the high and mighty editorial board. We don’t see them weighing in as to our posts their threads. There are great posts here. But they never acknowledge them. Even excerpts our blog no longer appear on the Eagles pages.
I will presume for just this instance to speak for left and right on the blog.
Print media is dying. I for one don’t want it so. Your hope is in tying into the internet. You get your ads seen there, you keep your paper afloat.You post threads to how many hits we get.GOOD! You post a thread about how another paper is copying your success with the blog. Also Good.
But with two meetups of the bloggers that get your paper noticed nationwide, you are absent involvement, participation, or so far notice.NOT GOOD. Intolerable in fact.
I get undeserved credit from my fellow bloggers for the meet up you should have SUPPORTED AND ATTENDED. I’ll humbly take it. But the real credit is theirs.
What say you fellow bloggers? Isn’t it about time the Eagle gave us some notice and respect?
JR, you didn’t fail. I did. I’ve never been to a meet up or really met people from the Internet before. I didn’t know what to expect nor could I have spotted something like that out from the crowd.
I guess Nathan invited CF to a Starbucks. I don’t drink coffee, but I wouldn’t mind coming. I really want to meet some of you guys so I can put a face and a person behind these postings we do.
What I should have done is e-mailed you JR or somebody else and asked for a mobile phone number. That way I could have called and had no excuse.
Yo. friends. JM here posting at XXX’s place. What an awesome day. Met new people, refreshed friendship with some from the last meet, had some awesome BBQ, thanks to Ray’s da great chefster, did some jamming with Rage and CF ( you guys play very well. Look forward to next time and a dedicated list!!) Got to meet KFG’s (book report:=)) friend from Houston, and her dog, Talked music with Jed (I’ll be in touch, bro).
Missed all the conservatives, except Nathan. Where were you guys? These are great people here, you gotta meet them next time. Excuses not allowed. Same for the editors. Hey dudes, it’s your blog, but we make it happen. Without us, it wouldn’t be. Get it together and be there next time.
Joe, you missed us because we are ordinary folk. We ain’t got spiked hair, were weird clothes or carry large WMD:=)
Joe I passed the shelter twice! I finally got in touch with my feminine side and stop to ask directions. I lucked out the first time as the shelter I stop at first was the right one. LoL I guess the group at the South end just looked out of place with the birthday party at the North end! The guns and heated words…the group at the South end had none to these so I figured they might be the WE bloggers! I wish you had made it, I have been impressed and at time confused by your post lately and wanted to meet you. But I met so many of the other that I wanted to meet it worked out. Maybe next time? Normally I try to stay home on Saturday because it is the last day off of the week for me. But this was a great way to spend my last day off of the week.
Ok, since I stop taking bets on wheither the WE will print my letters here is the letter I sent to the editors, thank you JR but I am not sure how good it is:
I am certainly glad I went to the meet-up of the bloggers of WE, a lively group in deed and civil considering the differing views. I felt totally welcome and was at ease with everyone. It was a pleasure and I must admit I was somewhat surprised at the diversity. As the names rolled off, JR, XXX, J.M. Walker, Kansas Farm Girl, Rage, Nathan …. the list goes on. It felt more a family reunion than a bunch of people that only knew each other from some words and disjointed names.
The views differed as much as the faces, but they all have the same thoughts in mind. They all had the same goals insight and the same desires in their hearts. What is best for America, the love of this country drew them together in one place. Not happy to set silent while the world spins by, nor be distracted by what is on the T.V. It was America, people of different lives, different views but all together, different believes all wanting a common thing. This country to thrive, will a hand full of individuals make a difference? Word spread one person at a time, till a chorus is heard. I would rather set alone with any one of these people then to spend a life time with a world full of those berating the latest to fall off of American Idol.
R.D. Liebst“Writerdog”
Am I getting all mixed (it has happened before) or WriterDog, did you used to post under your name? Do you work at Walmart?
Hope this is not an embarrassing Alzheimer’s moment.
Regardless, thanks for sharing the letter.
I could tell you…But then I would have to kill you! Your memory is not failing.
I’d like to have my life spared, please. Aren’t you the person who wrote that excellent Rosa Parks letter to the editor – to the Eagle?
For those of you who missed the picnic tough luck…it was great! Many thanks to JR for setting it up. It was nice to see so many people from the blog. Meeting CF in person was a real trip! very interesting guy. Jwink, writerdog, Jed, Julie, KFG, and the rest were great to visit with. Meeting KFG’s significant other was a special treat. Didn’t get to talk to RD much, to my dismay. Julie’s husband made me feel like a little guy (I’m not used to that). Nathan was great to visit with as usual. He’s a great guy and that makes it all that much harder to tear him up on the blog, lol. (don’t worry Nathan, I’ll find a way)
Dear editors:
I for one don’t appreciate having you ignore us. Since this is your blog, I’d think you could have at least been represented at our picnic. It’s almost like you’re too good for us. This blog gets a lot of hits, and it’s us bloggers that make it happen. WE editors could at least show a little respect and support.
Bloggers, maybe we should stage a blog boycott for a day or 2. Maybe that will remind WE editors who we are.
Great picnic and get together. To all who showed up, It was my pleasure to meet so many interesting people.
Speaking of Wal-Mart above, have you ever visited one on a lazy Saturday afternoon and noticed Batman shopping in one aisle, Superman browsing in the shoe section and Spiderman waiting quietly at the checkout counter. I got that strange feeling yesterday when meeting you WE bloggers with the oddly familiar names, face to face. I had trepidation whether it would be a good thing to meet the people with whom we debate issues. After all, its about the issues.
But it was a great get-together and the food was delicious. But to my everlasting disappointment, I forgot to bring my camera for the official WE bloggers portrait at that point in time on the beautiful afternoon of May 13, 2006.
“I’d like to have my life spared, please. Aren’t you the person who wrote that excellent Rosa Parks letter to the editor – to the Eagle?”
I did write a letter to the editor about Rosa Parks, as to how excellent it was is not for me to judge. But I am R.D. Liebst and have written letters to the editor. If I am the author of the letter that you think was excellent. I thank you.
WD,You’re welcome. I recall the Rosa Parks letter as seeming especially inspired. I believe you out did yourself on that one.
She was an inspiring person, I think it is a sad occurrence that today there are so few that can inspire like that. BUt thank you again.
I see the First Lady doesn’t believe her husband’s low poll numbers: “I don’t really believe those polls. I travel around the country. I see people, I see their responses to my husband. I see their response to me,” she said. “As I travel around the United States, I see a lot of appreciation for him. A lot of people come up to me and say, ‘Stay the course’.”
Maybe that’s because when she travels around the country, she only sees and hangs out with his supporters, and never has to go face to face with anyone else?
Hey Y’all, my sweetie and I havent had so much fun since, well… heheh… Cheney shot an old man in the face.
Even Beasley the dog had a great time, and she sends a happy woof woof to “not that nathan”. She was sad that the chicken and potato salad didnt come home with us, but we bribed her with a burger and all was well.
The last meetup was great, but this one was MOST EXCELLENT. I could go on through the list of characters, but I think the “family reunion” description is most apt. Everyone was really kind and generous. Hey to “mrs. writerdog” too!!
My partner is very shy and quiet, doesnt socialize much, so it was a real big deal for her to attend. And surprise, she had a GREAT time and cant wait to come to Wichita for the next one.
We both loved the music and hope this will be a regular feature of meetups. Seriously, there are some UNBELIEVABLY talented people on this blog, and their talents extend waaaayyyy beyond bloging. All distinguished in their own way.
And julie…. best. brownies. ever.! Best bbq chef too. Julie is very much for real and sweet and funny too. I think we need a shower for the blog baby to be!!
And JR… dude you ROCK for putting this thing together. I loved yo mamma and son too, and hope to see them again soon.
Sorry to have missed you Williams, we had trouble finding it too, but we hope to see you next time. And Ben Huie, my honey wants a rain check on talking science stuff with you.
We missed many of you that didnt make it… but not all of you.. heheheheh.
I’d say I was right my earlier trust for you to represent us re: the coverage of the meet up writerdog. Your submitted editorial as posted above is pretty good.
I’m getting an awful lot of credit for just putting out the info, inviting folks, and renting a shelter.
Truth be told it really was not that hard to do. What little I learned I just shared.
The “cost” of this event was paid and then some by the participants. WE(Wichita Eagle) could have rented the shelter. We bloggers paid that and with a surplus. WE could have provided the food. We bloggers fed ourselves and each other.
In any capacity of respect I have earned as an “organizer”, I lend my efforts the growing call above for a bit more consideration on the part of the WE editors.
XXX’s call for a boycott was a theme among us at the meet up. This may be a good idea for all the bloggers on this forum to consider. If the WE editors choose not to associate with us, perhaps we should leave them some time to talk amongst themselves.
What say you bloggers?What say you editors?
Well said KFG
(she always gets alot well said while I am typing!)
Kfg’s partner was a delight to meet. I understand writerdogs wife is a bush voter? But her and my mom got on famously.
Editors? You’ve truly no idea of the scope of talent creativity and intellect of your bloggers. You’d do well to err on the side of overestimating us.
JR:”We bloggers fed ourselves and each other.”
Maybe Joe sensed that this picnic was a leftist, socialist plot and missed it for that reason. :-)
If you go to a libertarian picnic you can only eat the food that you yourself bring and you shoot anyone who tries to eat what you brought. As Al Franken says: Libertarians have a hard time playing with and getting along well with others.
I declah, ole Brer Rabbit done met hisself some fine folk at da pic-i-nic! Dey wernt much bah way o briars round, but dey was dat nice lake. Ole Brer don lik bein throwed inta nothin, but dis ole rabbit done swim lak a fish! Why, Ah members one time, ole Brer Rabbit bin sittin on da bank o da pond, an long come ole presnit Jimmy Carter hisself! In da flesh! Ole Brer Rabbit don got all excited an jess right frenly goes a swimmin out ta say howdy ta da Presnit of dese hear Nighted States! But ole Jimmy got hisself all agitated. Why, he bout took mah head clean off wit dat paddle. Ole Brer Rabbit din even get ta say howdydo! But he throwed half a six-pack o “Billy Beer”, so I’m a guessin he was jess in a hurry. Jes wish he hadn’t hit me on mah head wif it.
But back to da pic-i-nic. Boy, dat Walker an Rage an CF was a smokin on da music! Dey was a playin lak dey knew what dey was doin. An dat Rage boy, he jes sang up a storm.
Ole Brer Rabbit gotta gab wif both dem Nathan boys. Dat youngun o JR’s is a rait good young fella an is a fine reflection on his pop. An da other Nathan, das da start of a good ole boy, jes needs ta be hit upside his head once in a while wif a stick. But dat young fella be fixin ta de-ploy ta Iraq, so ole Brer Rabbit be puttin in a good word wit da Lawd fo dat young Marine.
Dang, dey was so many kind folks at dat meet-up. An dey jes stuff po ole Brer Rabbit plum full o vittles! Now Dat miss KFG done brought nuff vittles to feed an army!
Yas sir re, ole Brer Rabbit done enjoy hissef rait fine, an ex-tends his respecs ta all dem WE bloggers what went to da pic-i-nic.
And here’s something to brighten your day:
Poll: Clinton outperformed Bush
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/05/12/bush.clinton.poll/index.html
I couldn’t find anyone either. I was there from 3 to 3:30, and still no luck. I had the plates and utensils with me; I hope their absence didn’t cause any problems. I’m sorry I missed it.
G
“The Editors chose not to attend and not to even respond to repeated blog and even direct email invite. Bad on you editors.”
Folks, some technically difficulties on my end. I didn’t Phillip’s note until much later. He sent a note Friday afternoon that graciously noted they had prior committments, but I didn’t see it until much later.
Bad on ME.
That was me.
THE NOTE*********************Rage: Thank you for the official invitation. I checked with my staff and, regrettably, none of us will be able to attend. I and another staffer will be out of town that day, and the others have prior commitments and schedule conflicts. We would have liked to come and are disappointed it won’t work out. I’m still hoping to host one of these gatherings in the future. Thanks again for the invite. Let me know how the picnic turns out.Phillip Brownlee
DD said:
“If you go to a libertarian picnic you can only eat the food that you yourself bring . . .”
You are referring to objectivists, not libertarians. Libertarians would allow anyone who wanted to bring food for others to do so. It’s about choice. An objectivist would make judgments about the choices made. Which is reminiscent of the conservatives and socialists who would not only make a judgment but also go a step further and force you to make the proverbial proper choice.
Folks, a little too busy to post today, but I thought I would say that I, too, had a great time at the picnic! And, considering what a green guitarist I am, I’m glad folks liked like music! :-)
Okay, TRACY, we’re probably more-or-less done! ;-)
This is the litmus test question form PM. Is there a legitimate government authority above the Sheriff of a county?
Sigh…..
The best laid plans…
Apparently my signs did not hold up well as there seems to be a concensus that we were hard to find. I’m sorry.
If I had it again I’d out a big day glow pink sign on the shelter (like was done at the first meet up) I did stop to try and purchase one, but could not find what was needed and was running late. Lessons learned.
Gster? You were just a little bit early. Julie arrived around 3 and I around 3:15. Again, I shoulda had this blocked out better.
I believe ya Joe your honest desire to attend. Your idea of a contact number for future meet ups is a good one.
Oh ok Rage.
At least ya got a response. That shows promise.
We might have expected a posted response in this forum from the eds a little earlier…..
These meetups seem to be very popular if a bit mangled in preparation. If the editors ARE interested in hosting us, I’d say they would have a very warm response. Hint Hint
How about a blog birthday party? The archives from our beginnings are not accessible anymore so I don’t know the exact date they lit this fire. (Again hint hint) But I think it was late June.
Submitted for your approval.
Viva la WEblog meet ups
Hmmm. . .to play DD’s game or not to play. . .I choose to let him wonder.
PM,It is not a game, it is a diagnostic test and the differential is:
1) a somewhat radical philosophy that some sane people can sympathize with,vs.2) something different.
JR– I must have just missed you– when ,not if, there is a next one, I have the plates and utensils for 50 people. It sounds as if I really missed something, and I play guitar also.
G
Wow! That was a great picnic. I had some reservations at first but I am so glad I got to meet all that showed up and hope to meet more at future meetups.I have forgiven those who thought I was a troll or someone I am not – HOWEVER being a woman (yes a real one) I reserve the right to bring it up at my advantage at any future date ;)The big man is thinking about checking us out and possibly putting his $0.02 in too (however as those of you who got to talk to him – he is rather verbose and it might be more than $0.02)Nathan, please darlin’ don’t take it easy on me – I fight my own battles. He just takes care of my light work ;). And my prayers are with you as you face deployment and during your duration there.I’m already craving more potato salad and it was pure joy meeting KFG and KFG’s bee-yotch (inside joke).Everybody was so well spoken and more importantly well mannered (well, except for that cru-x joke – sorry KFG – not my idea)it was a pleasure – truely.And I’m glad that brer rabbit and Nathan were able to take care of some excess snickerdoodles and brownies for me.Big hugs all around.
There was a pinic table with a few bikers and they had their motorcycle parked in the grass. But I didn’t think that was you guys.
Also, there were a lot of children, and I wasn’t for sure if this was going to be a family gathering or just adults, and I figure it might have been just adults so I skipped all the ones that look like children were around. If that was a mistake I appoligize.
I hope you guys plan one soon. Late June might be great.
So Nathan IS getting called up and deployed . . . my son has been back for about a year.
He was all gung-ho too.
Now he’s just counting the days till he gets out for good . . .
JoeThat’s a good idea for late June.And Nathan, as someone that has been thru that stuff a long time ago, take care of business and watch your 6 and via con Dios (sic).
Hey Julie we didn’t HAVE to tell ya about our earlier suspicions. Making fun of ourselves a bit I think. I’m glad you enjoyed. Your hubby and kfgs partner are welcome and encouraged to post here.
Does anyone know if potato salad can be frozen? An entire full tub was left behind and JM and XXX made me take it. After feeding a few neighbors there is still much left!
You blew it Joe. The “bikers with their motorcycles on the grass” group you saw was US!Next time stop and say hi!
XXX,
The purple chicken invites you to a game. KFG Rage and JM can play too.
Joe Williams, I hope Bikers aren’t on your “list” too. Believe it or not, a lot of us Hog riders are liberal. Like my friend “Reaper” says, you’ll like us or else, lol.
Ditto what gster said Nathan.
Joe Williams?”I skipped all the ones that looked like children were around.”
Damn Joe everyone knew my son was gonna be there. Maybe he was down by the lake when you passed. What time were you by? My bike has a side car (for my son) did you see it?
Joe, I think I saw you in the white van. If I’d known it was you, I would’ve stopped, and we both could’ve hunted together. I was in the black Neon minus a front bumper. Long and somewhat embarrassing story, that.
I was sure the spot was the big shelter house on the McLean side of the park, but when I got there, I wasn’t so sure. They really should try painting the shelter number on one of the posts. shelter #3 had one, but I couldn’t see it on #1 or any of the others. I’m glad I was brave enough to walk up and find out if it was the right group. Through trial and error, we’ll get the directions and everything else right. You still did a super job, JR.
JRGood get together and thanks for the invite.You are all a very impressive, unique group.Walker, Rage & CF, your music was great.XXX, Walker, you ought to be ashamed of yourselves, betten up on an old man in golf.
Nathan, I give you the same advise I was giving my nephew who was a helo pilot with the 1st air cav. and in Iraq for almost three years. “KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN!!!!!” And ON if you please and your wits about you. I am sure I can take the liberty in say if we could get an e-mail addy you will hear from some of the people back home. The ones you share a home with on these pages I mean, hell if you can brave the meet up, them insurgents will be nothing! Be safe son and come home and one more thing: IF THAT GOD DAMN BUSH GET YOU KILL I WILL DO SOMETHING RASH!!! I will switch party affiliation or something! LoL You can rest assured that the support you show for G.W. is minor compared to the support you will receive from us. Again, taking liberties for the rest, we are proud of you! And proud to know you!
K E E PY O U RH E A DDOWN!!!!!
Writerdog.
Nathan,I second writerdog here. We may not agree on everything but you’re part of the blog family. We may be a bit of a dysfunctional family and we squabble amongst ourselves but we back our own to outsiders!!God Bless!!!
gfun,You should be ashamed for letting a couple of bums beat you at golf:-)
Nathan,Be safe bro. Stay in touch.
Joe Williams,I was the guy riding a custom trike and wearing a tarbaby outfit. How could you miss me?
I think if my partner posts here, she may go by geojane, (NOT the inside joke name… heheh) and in any event, that is what I will call her here.
Nathan, even if we agree on virtually nothing, I appreciate your service, as I do the service of all americans. And I wish for you to return safely, unscarred in any way.
Now I hate bush even more for putting YOU in harm’s way, even if you dont mind. :)
Bush is going to announce that Nat’l Guard troops should help patrol the Mexican border (more than now).
Now that “terrorist” has lost its punch, he’s switching to “immigrant.”
Nice.
LH -I think it’s diversionary tactics to take the focus off Iraq.
Let General George lead the way– he still owes the Air Force the time he ran away from on his initial enlistment.
Nathan, Iraq deployment? News like this always leaves me a bit saddened and with little to say, except that my thoughts will be with you, along with prayers that you’ll be safe and return home soon.
We have a friend stationed in Bagdhad right now (Camp Victory, I think), and my youngest keeps in touch with him via MSN Messenger. I hope you’ll be able to stay close to your family in much the same way. I think that helps everyone, both those here waiting and those of you abroad.
You will know they are REALLY in trouble next week when they rachet up the gay hate in congress again.
Even war and mexicans dont stir up the base quite like a constitutuional amendment to keep those pesky queers in their place.
gster, I agree 100%.
Is that border photo-op not the silliest shit ever?
Can you say ‘Battleship Potemkin’? Can you say ‘a flailing White House now in full panic/damage control/diversionary mode’?
NOW can we impeach the motherfucker?
The secret of this Administration and the GOP is multiple failures in many areas. Never enough time look at one before another diversion pops up.
And of course when they get real desperate they go to the baser instincts.
Watch for the “protect the flag” stuff next.
Did anyone catch SNL Saturday night? I missed it, but I listened to an audio file last night, and it’s something the more liberal here might want to hear.
Al Gore hosted, and his opening was killer!
http://www.crooksandliars.com/
Scroll down until you see SNL: If Al Gore were President
Then click on the Windows Media Player or QuickTime link and watch. Great job, Gore!
Sorry, that link is to the VIDEO file. Have fun!
“Everybody was so well spoken and more importantly well mannered (well, except for that cru-x joke – sorry KFG – not my idea).”
Julie, what I did to JR was a LOT worse! I don’t know if you were aware of this, but when he came back with Walker, I walked right up to him, and asked he was JR. When he answered yes, I said “I’m CrusaderX, and I brought my gun!” You should have seen the look on his face! (Sorry, JR, but DID you kinda inspire that one, ya know!). I think Walker was a little freaked, too.
Nathan, I third writerdog’s sentiments, though I suspect you didn’t need to be told. :( Be careful out there.
P.S. JR–I agree with Walker. Game? The purple chicken looked around and, finding nothing, furrowed his feathery brow in confusion. I missed a large number of threads since Friday, so maybe I missed the explanation, too? ;-)
Or maybe it’s in the same place in my Inbox that Phillip’s letter was (ahem. . .). Should I recheck?
Rage, it was SO nice to finally meet you! Thanks for playing John Prine. I am just vain enough to think that song was about, I mean FOR me!!!
Rage and Walker
XXX musta lost the purple chicken. I’ll get right on that.
What Rage doesn’t mention here is that it was my plan to pull the exact same stunt on him! He beat me too it.
Nevermind…..there are other games afoot.
“I am just vain enough to think that song was about, I mean FOR me!!!”
Well, I did make a point of learning for the meetup. . . :)
. . .and I still have that bad of leaving out. . .
I’m listening to a Carly Simon CD as I work/blog and guess what song was playing as I read KFG’s “Rage, it was SO nice to finally meet you! Thanks for playing John Prine. I am just vain enough to think that song was about, I mean FOR me!!!”Yup! That’s too funny.:)
WAY off topic, even for Open Thread, but it’s good for brightening the day and absolutely NON-political.
Evolution of Dancehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg
Julie, good music choice!
I’ll have to look up Prine. Had never heard of him until KFG brought him up.
RD,(It was great to meet you)You know us… even when we’re on topic we’re way off topic!!!:)
I’ll get you next time Rage, Maybe hit ya with a purple chicken.
RD, I HIGHLY recommend the investment in John Prine’s boxed CD set.
He has released some things since (I love “Jesus, the missing years”) but the set is worth it. The profound nature of his lyrics will affect your heart forever. Funny guy too!
Walker has recommended Terry Reid. Dont know that music, but if Walker recommends it, that’s good enough for me.
And thanks for the song Rage. I love live music, miss Austin, and you guys totally reminded me of home. Especially with the aroma of Mountain Man’s bbq and Walker’s sausage.
I think Mountain Man got one over on all of us JR. I was speechless.
I’ll just let that sink in for a moment….
KFG,It was JR and Rage that came up with the idea of MM being the fake cru-x on you.And you handled it with grace.
The Mountain Man as Crux was my gag kfg. Me and Walker I think.
If you were speechless you didn’t show it. I don’t know when you finally got tipped but I was floored that you weren’t floored. He introduced himself as Crusader X and you didn’t bat an eye!
yeah it was me and Rage.
Me and Walker were trying to figure a way to get ya though.
JR,I spilled the beans when KFG asked if my hubby was able to make it. I’m not a good liar and I don’t lie to direct questions. KFG looked a mite releived when she found out that MM wasn’t really cru-x.(Supposedly cru-x is a big boy but I don’t think he’s that big).
You really dont want to play poker with me….
I have been shocked, SHOCKED I say, so many times that I can keep smiling all the while wondering how fast I can make it back to my truck.
Julie,”I think it’s diversionary tactics to take the focus off Iraq.”Everything Bushllit’s done has started off as a diversionary tactic to take the focus off the failure of the previous diversionary tactic!
Yeah, Joe W., I wasn’t wearing my leathers that day, but I think I saw you as I was parking my hog.
What happened?
Rage
I bet he was by while Walker and me ran up to …ick…Wal mart. You got there while we were gone. So there was just the two bikes I think.
kfg I hope I didn’t shake ya up TOO much. You sure didn’t show it.
That was the table? Ah Man! Honestly I wouldn’t never guess that one, but it did catch my attention.
I hope you guys plan another one. I actually kind of regretted going to Riverfest instead of trying harder to find you guys, because I got sunburned pretty bad. *Ouch*!
That was the one Joe (I think) You musta been by early. There were lots more people later on. You missed out on kfgs fried purple chicken.
Sorry you missed us. No sign was my bad. You should have come up and asked. That is what everyone else did.
I have an experience with these two meet ups that I wonder if others share.
For the folks I’ve met, I sorta see their faces and even hear their voices in my head (among the other voices) when I read their posts. It’s interesting.
Anybody else get that?
kfg I hope your friend can bring her bike next time.
JR,yeah, I get it too. Before meeting the people I did I had my preconceived notions of how y’all looked and speaking voice. I was right on the money for a few (KFG, RD, XXX and Walker) and I was SO off it wasn’t funny on a few (Nathan, JR, Mr.Controversy, GFUN).But now that I’ve met the people I do “hear” them as I read their posts.
Meow! (sorry had too – still thinking of you herding cats) :-)
Julie, I batted zero, but that’s normal. :)
Interesting thing came in the mail today. It’s a survey from AFSC (American Friends Service Committee) aka the Quakers. They are definitely not pleased with the way this country is being run, evidenced by the wording of the survey questions.
For instance:The war in Iraq was a tragic mistake that has taken thousands of lives and provided too little benefit to anyone.Choices are:Strong Disagree (1)Disagree (2)Undecided (3)Agree (4)Strongly Agree (5)
In all, 8 questions. I’ll be happy to post them if anyone is interested.
Really Julie? How DID you expect me to look/sound. Or do I wanna know?
Sure RD might be interesting to see those questions. Quakers are anti war as a matter of faith. I think Seargent York was a Quaker.
Heheh. JR. Yep, she is a biker chic even if she doesnt look like it. BIG BIKE! Heheheh.
AFSC VALUES SURVEY(All possible answers are what I posted above along with the first question.)
2) As a strategy in the “war on terror,” the Iraq war has backfired, inspiring anger around the world and making Americans less safe at home.
3) The administration’s attempts to hide the sight of flag-draped coffins are disrespectful to those who gave their lives in service to our country.
4) The Patriot Act has eroded our civil liberties and is stifling free speech.
5) Abuse of prisoners in Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, and detention facilities in Afghanistan is unacceptable behavior–establishes a dangerous precedent for American prisoners of war.
6) By recruiting low-income youth into military service with lies about benefits, training, and safty, our nation is essentially creating a “poverty draft” to power the engines of war.
7) There is nothing unpatriotic about expressing a dissenting opinion in this country. In fact, it is the most fundamental exercise of our right to freedom of expression.
8) Eleanor Roosevelt said “It isn’t enough to talk about peace; one must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it; one must work at it.”