...three of whom are endorsing HRC?

Stephen Schlesinger at HuffPo has a post about that story

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-schlesinger/hillary-and-rfk_b_83856.html

and includes a link to today's LATimes and op-ed they have written. Also very eloquent...

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-kennedy29jan29,0,1618955.story

An excerpt:

While talk of unity and compromise are inspiring to a nation wary of divisiveness, America stands at a historic crossroads where real issues divide our political landscapes. Democrats believe that America should not be torturing people, eavesdropping on our citizens or imprisoning them without habeas corpus or other constitutional rights. We should not be an imperial power. We need healthcare for all and a clean, safe environment.

The loftiest poetry will not solve these issues. We need a president willing to engage in a fistfight to safeguard and restore our national virtues.

We have worked with Hillary Clinton for 15 years (and in Kathleen's case, 25 years) and witnessed the power and depth of her convictions firsthand. We've seen her formidable work ethic, courage in the face of adversity and her dignity and clear head in crisis. We've also seen her two-fisted willingness to enter the brawl when America's principles are challenged. Her measured rhetoric, political savvy and pragmatism shield the heart of our nation's most determined and most democratic warrior.

She has been an uncompromising and loyal ally for each of us in our battles to protect the environment and to promote human rights around the world and juvenile justice in America. Hillary is a problem-solver, listening to people and then achieving solutions by changing attitudes.

Her transformational leadership was on display when she ran for the Senate seat in New York that had been held by our father, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. She faced rabid, heavily funded attacks from the far right and the challenge of prevailing in traditionally Republican upstate New York. Traveling with her, we watched admiringly as she persuasively articulated an inspiring and unifying vision rooted in American values and history. Then, through patience, hard work, leadership and political acumen, she transformed many of those rock-solid conservative counties into solid Democratic strongholds.

There's more, and it's worth reading, if only because it is such a rare opportunity to read an op-ed by three Kennedy offspring.

What is most interesting to me, though, is that it can no longer be a surprise to anyone that the Democratic primary is such a hot race. Anyone might have predicted a split in the Democratic Party, but who among us could have predicted a split in the Kennedy family?

Not I.

So, just because they don't like the Clintons.... it's okay for the folks at MSNBC to dis the Florida Democratic Party's voters, by not reporting the results. Surely, the turnout is of interest (if only for what it "predicts" about November) and reporting that would require a count.

Ditto.

That EFF link is great. One of the best for ease of use, too. I especially appreciated how easy it was to edit the template letter.

Obviously, you're no stranger to most of us, which makes the transition appear more seamless from the viewing/reading perspective. Welcome!

A worthwhile reason to read the Politico regularly.

No headache here, but then, I was consuming soup. Two kinds. One that I cobbled together from an asian rice noodle packet with some frozen peas & corn and leftover chicken added. And some leftover vegetable soup that I made myself. Still, a couple of really good cocktails would have been welcome.

I think she was talking over GWB's head to the rest of America. I sincerely doubt that she thinks he's going to change his MO at this late date. Wouldn't you agree?

* * *

That's it for me tonight... Night!

It doesn't have to be Telecommunications immunity. But it might as well, be. For what it stands for, don'tcha think?

Yep. As Chris Dodd said in his speech on the senate floor the other day (near the end, I think), just pulling on that one thread [FISA/Immunity] has the potential to unravel the whole thing (meaning this scandalous maladministration), but I'm paraphrasing....

I agree that it's always better not to do these things (like watch the SOTU) without some kind of company. Oftentimes, the online company is far superior to any other that is readily available.

Yeah, after David Brooks gave Sebelius props for her demeanor, and her unifying message, he did complain about her singling out the pundits... "...are we not human; do we not bleed..." or something like that. I just smiled.

a word cloud of Bush's speech

Wonkette's "The State of Your Liver" (8th annual SOTU drinking game)

a pre-buttal by two of the 30-something Democrats

Chris Shays kissing GWB (What is it about those guys from CT and their fascination with W's cheeks? Didn't Shays see what hay was made from Lieberman's kissing W?)

And for posterity's sake, Think Progress's fact-checking of W's speech. I'll bet the whole thing must be 3 or 4 times longer than the speech if they really did a thorough job.

There's more, but I don't want to give it all away...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/28/bushs-final-state-of-the_n_83718.html

I was watching PBS, which is usually pretty good about responses and other speeches... They had Sebelius covered. David Brooks even gave her high marks for her delivery, noting how hard it is to sound "natural" under those circumstances.

...and, just for the record, it was not the screen that I wanted to slap.

Is it over yet?

The speech is done. Toast, even. But we still have another year to survive of hearing that man's excruciatingly irritating voice. I don't know how much more I can take. Surely, that sound should be defined as torture under the Geneva Conventions? Or at least under the Uniform Code of Military Conduct? Something? Somewhere?