Ok, we have seen a lot of diaries containing requests for information, such as Age, Job Description, Address, Drivers License number, credit card info etc, etc....

As fun as that pursuit is, some of us, aware of the awesome power of the internets, google, and webarchive.org to index and retain information forever and ever may have abstained from this sharin' and lettin' our hair down and fessin' up activity.

I humbly offer this diary up as an alternative to those of us who crave bonhommie, camaradarie and holiday joie de vivre but desire to retain a figleaf of anonymity.

I was planning on taking off time from work to volunteer at the dem hq, but instead I'm lying in the couch, burning through my sick days in a daze feeeling dizzy, yukky,  and barely able to s l o w l y post a witty riposte. ( try typing with one hand)

I knew about moveon's phone bank operation, but truth told I am incredibly shy about calling people on the phone.  Maybe because I'm afraid that my karma will come back and people will treat ne all the nasty ways I usually treat phone solicitors.

Well, my brother called me twice and sent me an email saying what fun he was having making calls for moveon! Hey, I'm supposed to be the political activist! I thought...

So I finally screwed up my courage and did it...

Earlier this month, Hayworth was named one of the "Backwards 18," "a list of the 18 worst members of Congress up for re-election this November on issues of importance to the American Jewish community" after Hayworth "garnered a great deal of attention as of late in Arizona's Jewish community because of his refusal to distance himself from his previous praises of Henry Ford and his explicitly anti-Semitic theory of 'Americanization.'"

Then this:

J.D. Hayworth bailed on a scheduled campaign appearance Tuesday evening [Source: Arizona Republic, Oct. 17, 2006] only to send in his place surrogates who repeatedly lectured the audience at Temple Beth Israel in Scottsdale and proclaimed that Hayworth "is a more observant Jew" than those present.

Can you send me some links on the ABC movie to help me post in my sports bulletien board?

This is what someone wrote. What links can I send them?

For all you guys ripping this movie without ever seeing it... You are wrong, this was not a pro-GOP flick in any way.

Sure, Clinton's administration looked very, very bad. But Bush's looked just as bad. Cheney looked the worst.

It had some obvious creative license... But when it comes down to it, Clinton's administration deserves a black eye for ignoring pre-attack signals. And Bush's administration deserves a major black eye for not doing much pre- or post-attack.

I sent him the following message (after the flip). What I need are a few more links in the first section, especially on Ashcroft and Bush's failures early on.

Any other comments from anyone who has seen the film would also be appreciated.  And use anything you want from my letter!

Sold as a kind effort to "provide a space" because previous diary has too many comments, along with a touching reference to the fabulous "community" at dailykos.

Most significantly, I've known Jack for about 6 years, and  he has always been a  huge Bush fan (had plenty of Bush memorabilia on his office walls.) And I supported Kerry, (Well, any Democrat would have suited me fine.)

Our differences aside, I have liked him the moment I met him. He is one of the most straight-talking people I have ever met.. That is, he is totally unafraid to speak his mind to almost anyone. and a very funny guy too... Honesty and humor are two qualities that I admire enormously.

If you want to learn more or get involved, come tonight to a discussion and demonstration by Tom Ryan (local Tucson Elections activist, involved in Voter Action lawsuit ) and Jim Marsh of blackboxvoting.org

Or contact John Brakey, 520-578-5678, http://www.auditaz.net

Voting experts to lead election integrity Teach-In.  
A live demonstration will occur, showing how a hacker could change vote totals in the tabulating system which is used by Pima County (Diebold GEMS) - without leaving a trail.

I had heard that Gina was on C-SPAN so I searched the link and am watching it now. It is here now - not sure if that is a permanent link - but scroll down to the 6/8 show for the direct link. Please watch it if you get a chance. Starts at 2:30 into the full program (with Markos' excellent intro also.)

Gina. You. Rock. Basically for 30 minutes on Washington Journal (Thursday, June 8th) she outlined the goals of the convention and answered cold questions from anyone, keeping on message, etc, etc.

Of course the spin machine has gone into high gear, with AP releasing a story which omitted any mention of Colbert, and emphasising instead a schtick Bush did with a Bush imitator. They are doing all they can to bury this part of the story. When CSPAN rebroadcast the White House Correspondents dinner tonight (At 6:50 Central Time), surprise, surprise Colbert was edited out!

So let's do our little guerrilla media part to promote this story.

Suggestions after the flip!

Yeah, yeah, I wish he had said this a long time ago. But you know what I think:
Better late than never.

We gripe about Dems not having a spine, and when they get one, we say "too late."  

He took calls, and responded to questions.

Transcript of part of the show:

Interviewer: Sen Kerry are you concerned by the concerns of Andrew Veysivich and others that if this succeeds in driving Rumsfeld out then you are threatening civillian control of the military?

Kerry: That's just bunk. I mean that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of in my life.

HE'S THE PRESIDENT SO IT'S OK!

And so's you can understand this unitary executive bizness. I bring you a song to sing while you look at the lovely picture which Dood Abides made.

The New, Improved President song!

I'm the President so it's ok!
I sleep all night and I lie all day.

MSM:
He's the President so it's ok!
He sleeps all night and he lies all day.)

I cut down brush. I break the law.
I wiretap your line.
On Wednesdays I get choked up
and eat pretzels with my wine.

USATODAY reports:

More than half of New Orleans still doesn't have phone or Internet access. But that isn't stopping BellSouth from campaigning to shut down a free Wi-Fi service that has become a lifeline for thousands of residents, the city's top technology officer says.

Without this network about half of NoLa would still be in the stone-age communications-wise today. BellSouth has not finished restoring phone service to NOLA let alone internet access.

six months after Katrina, the lack of phone service in many areas is proving to be an obstacle that is difficult and expensive to overcome. The lack of service is hampering some business owners trying to restart operations, forcing them to find alternatives to their regular phone and Internet providers in order to send faxes, process credit cards or order supplies.

In 2005, Supervisor Sancho authorized security tests of the Diebold voting system used in Leon County, Florida. These tests definitively proved election results could be altered without detection using only a memory card. A team of California computer scientists have sinced confirmed the Leon County tests and discovered additional severe security flaws in the Diebold system.

Instead of thanking Sancho for exposing flaws that should have been discovered by state and federal certifiers, state officials are threatening Sancho with legal action, which could include removing him from office.

Florida Elections Commission (850) 922-4539

Essentially, I somehow stepped in the middle of a flame war which I guess has been going on for quite some time at DU http://www.democraticunderground.com/
and here at Dkos.

It is a new game for me, and trying to figure it out is a bit well exhausting.

So I have a couple questions:

I just couldn't take it anymore. I'm gone. I'm not strong enough for this kind of thing. I guess being politically involved is easy for the Abramoffs of the world whose only investment is financial, not personal.

I had called McCain who is purportedly my senator although he in no way represents my views.  The staffer was not polite, and was eager to get me off the phone.

Then I tried Sen Byrd's office. I have been a contributor to his campaign, and also encouraged family members to contribute to him.  I asked how The Senator could have changed his mind to vote for Alito. The staffer bristled "Who said he changed his mind? He comes from a very conservative, religious state" and then hung up on me when I tried to respond.

A Play in Five Scenes, Followed By a Brief Question and Answer Period.
This story is true. However the names have been changed to protect the innocent from wiretaps.

Scene 1:  The "Mountain View" apartments.  (A long-term care center serving 100 residents.)
Wed, Dec. 20, 2005. 6 PM.  

Tom walks slowly into the recreation room, pushing a walker
My friend Tom is a movie buff.  Each week he brings movies to the Mountain View rec room to share. Tonight he brought Casablanca.  He used to be a physician's assistant, and he likes to help out all he can.

Tom has a chronic illness.  Tom's medication keeps him alive. He is on Medicare and Medicaid, as well as an employer plan.   Between Medicaid and the private plan, 100% of his prescription costs are paid.  Tom is as ok as one might be with symptoms such as:  pain, memory loss, (controlled) seizures and vomiting.

(To the flip for Tom's story.)

I was reading the white house press release from two days ago. (I have time on my hands in jail to learn about laws and  the constitution, and stuff, ever since I got busted for selling meth.) Their speechifying made my brain fuzzy. So I translated what Attorney General Gonzales, and General Hayden were saying to plain english to make sense of it.

When I started to get  what they were saying I got mad. Cause basically I agree with them. Sometimes you got to bend the rules to survive. But every time I have tried one of the stunts they are trying to pull I get in trouble.  My parole officer says I have to learn a new way to live. I am totally confused.

My question is: How can they get away with this shit when I can't?

You know, Christmas cards, wedding invites, (and the occasional late night drunken booty call.)  Still I was shocked when he called me earlier today to arrange for me to conduct an exclusive interview on his frank and unexpurgated thoughts on this whole mess.  But what do you say when a President orders you to come over to the office "on the double" and bring a bottle!

You say "Why not?" So I did. And here's the interview. And by the way, he really thinks you kossacks are doing a heckuva job, and says you should keep up the good work!