have a good one.

:)

... but it's Senatorial. I've never been to capital hill, but I imagine these puffed-up suits might rather get home early, or run for president, or brainstorm some earmarks ... than actually do their job. Sen. Dodd is an exception ... Feingold. Maybe Boxer. I think filibusters must actually be filibusters ... like you gotta drink less water, wear comfortable shoes, and actually fight on your feet. But, that takes a little effort. Seems few of these folks are accustomed to working.

I just read this from Salon contributor Joe Conason. His article appears today in the New York Observer, and I saw the feed through realclearpolitics.com:

For many months, both Sen. Barack Obama and former Sen. John Edwards have been tossing out attack lines that they hoped would bring down her formidable numbers. Obama has not hesitated to use harsh language to question her character, her sincerity, her fitness to serve and her capacity to govern if elected. He has reserved his toughest rhetoric for the Democratic front-runner, while suggesting that he will find common ground with the Republicans. That may explain why Obama has won endorsements from a panoply of Republican operatives and spokespersons, including former White House political boss Karl Rove and David Brooks, the neo-conservative voice on the New York Times Op-Ed page.

I see no such endorsements. I read the article written recently by Brooks, and shockingly ... there is no such "endorsement" of Obama. I googled "Rove" "endorsement" and "Obama" ... nothing. Conason's words are at minumum, breathtakingly misleading. At worst ... intentional lies.

I can't argue with facts about the misleading characterizations that Obama has "attacked" with "harsh language" Clinton's "character" "sincerity" or "fitness to serve." I suppose someone with the emotional intelligence of a newt could say this about Obama. Maybe Joe Conason is emotionally a newt. But perhaps he is spinning an agenda ... a fact-less one.

I post this here because I wish Glenn's amazing abilities to evaluate dysfunction could be applied in this forum. Will you help with this, Glenn? I hope your special interest in working here doesn't preclude that. I really do.

Thanks for that. I must be google-feeble.

I am still upset by these characterizations from "one of our own." There is no trademark on the term "endorsement" ... but I think most would agree that Conason's ability to relay accurate information is compomised. Due to .... stupidity? an agenda? laziness? I find it repugnant.

you are a kinder person, perhaps, than i am around this.

what i find "repugnant" is that Conason is /supposed/ to be a "friendly" one. he writes a weekly column here.

perhaps he did make a "mistake" ... just like Bill Shaheen and Bob Kerrey made "mistakes." i think otherwise, with all honesty.

I don't your accuracy in posting this this (I presume) translated quote ... but I recall a huge brew-ha-ha around Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying he wanted "Isreal wiped off the map." Or ... so most thought ... and so he was widely quoted.

Salon contributor Juan Cole wrote of this:

But the actual quote, which comes from an old speech of Khomeini, does not imply military action, or killing anyone at all. The second reason is that it is just an inexact translation. The phrase is almost metaphysical. He quoted Khomeini that "the occupation regime over Jerusalem should vanish from the page of time." It is in fact probably a reference to some phrase in a medieval Persian poem. It is not about tanks.

Is it possible this is happening here? Inflamatory language from Iran fans the neocon fires.

I just got this amazing e-mail to rally the troops. Well done Glenn & Jane:

It isn't often we get a victory like we did on Monday, when Harry Reid pulled the telecom bill from the Senate floor.

It's safe to say that without the leadership of Chris Dodd and the efforts of people like you who signed the petition to Harry Reid and made your voices heard, the Senate would have voted to give telecos retroactive immunity by now and we'd be likely never know the extent of the Bush Administration's illegal spying against American citizens..

We deeply appreciate your help.

But when the Senate returns from the holiday recess, the battle will begin again with renewed vigor.

What can you do?

1) Support Chris Dodd. Say thank-you for his willingness to give up campaign time in Iowa to come back to Washington DC to defend the constitution. He was the only member of the Senate currently running for President willing to do so. You can contribute to his campaign here:

http://chrisdodd.com/firedoglake

2) Tell your friends. In the coming weeks, we'll be working with other blogs and organizations to mobilize people online to action to continue the fight against retroactive immunity for the telecoms. Chris Dodd has said he will continue to lead the fight and we will let you and others know how you too can take action in support. You can help by letting them know here:

http://action.firedoglake.com/page/invite/actionalerts

Look for email updates from us over the next couple of weeks once a clear strategy becomes clearer for improving our opposition still further.

Happy holidays to you and your loved ones. Let's plan now to join together to fight for the constitution and the restore the rule of law.

Jane Hamsher & Glenn Greenwald

Does anyone have a simple summary to send (without alliteration) to less political friends and relatives? Glenn's analysis is amazing, but I think the details can overwhelm those who don't follow this stuff daily. Anybody has good ideas about how to market this more broadly?