Astroworld

I'm happy to be the first to be able to comment on this article, Sally, as it is particularly lyrical, evocative, and ultimately hopeful.

After watching Biden's riveting speech in Springfield, I couldn't agree more that he is, and will continue to become, even more of a nightmare for the Rethugs as the campaign intensifies after Labor Day.

He is exactly what the Dems need now: someone who can speak in plain and powerful language from his gut/heart with authenticity. No matter to what extent one might like or disagree with many of his political views, he is a fighter, and lord knows that is what has been sorely needed, and totally lacking on the national ticket since 2000. "Scrappy" is the right word here I think...

What particularly impressed me is his seeming recognition and willingness to communicate to the voters that this election is NOT "business as usual" and that a Republican win could quite likely assure the quick demise of the U.S. in any recognizable form. I believe the economic/financial/geo-political events now playing out for the U.S. are certainly dangerous enough, without having McInsane's hand on the nuclear trigger to likely make it so much worse.

"I heard on CNN that there was some trouble with protesters and the police downtown today, but I was downtown at that exact time and there wasn't any trouble. There was a big welcome party in Civic Center Park with music and food and drink, I went down to wander around a bit and came home to find out there was more going on with CNN than in Denver."
If you think that all that is happening in Denver this week is pundit blah blah on CNN, consider that it's only Sunday afternoon, Denver time, and already a wide variety of peace protests have taken place today in the Mile High City.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/codepink-this-should-be-a_b_120996.html

At noon Sunday a spirited CodePink demonstration set out towards Union Station from CodePink headquarters at the Mercury Cafe. Marchers chanted: "Dems, Pay Attention! This Should Be a Peace Convention!" They were greeted warmly by passing pedestrians and motorists.
Did you miss the "Pinks", Sally or is "trouble" defined by the eye of the beholder. I always Love the show put on by the Pinks!
The days are getting shorter, a few branches are turning early because of dry weather..........it is many years since I felt the anticipation of a new school year. You have evoked the delicious feeling of possibility with your article.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12777.html

Barack Obama's campaign is hoping for a surprise convention appearance from Sen. Edward Kennedy.

DENVER — Ted Kennedy is in Denver.

The senator’s arrival, reported by NBC news, added a note of surprise and an emotional high to what’s typically a carefully staged affair. Barack Obama's campaign is hoping for a surprise appearance in the convention hall by the ailing party elder who has sought to pass his family's torch to the young senator from Illinois with a January endorsement that electrified his campaign.

Thanks Grizzley, it was so late last night when I wrote this, I was exhausted and I am afraid to look for errors but I will soon.

There is a group of Hillary supporters today trying to challange Senator Biden's name as VP and place her on the ballot, that should be interesting to watch and cause a bit of a dust up with supporters and non supporters alike.

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002940495

I am off to the VIP reception for CH2MHill and then their Sustainability Fair at Invesco. Willie Nelson will be singing at a small reception tonight and I will stay for that. Geeze, my first event, I'm excited. This is almost like The People's Fair Denver has in the Summer. The People's Fair, a Taste of Colorado, Renaissance Fair, World Youth Day, the Mardi Gras, the Olympics, the Democratic Convention; it's all the same, all the same vendors, the same faces just different names, the same words arranged into a speech, it's all the same but they really are a fun punctuation to life, and they happen all across the world in every big or small town. Most time we watch the big events on TV, but if the "big event" ever comes to our town we have the option of participating in some manner, we may not get to be one of the Cool Kids but we can walk around them and like we did in school, pretend that when we grow up we might be a "Cool Kid." I even bought a new pink shirt to go with a very old outfit I'm wearing today and I am going to go as the quiet kid and watch them.

Wish I could be either up in Denver or there in New England with qop watching the leaves turn.

From the way CNN et al. has it, Barack could use all the good energy he can get. They're sure focusing on all those disenchanted Clinton supporters who are angry she wasn't chosen, and how an anti-choice, anti-birth control Republican is now shamelessly wooing them. How crass can they be?

From what I'm reading about the paid plants trying to bring back 1968, there is no end to Republican crassness. There is no bottom to that well.

Some of the Clinton supporters are mad because she supposedly "wasn't even vetted" for VP. The way I understand it, to use a school analogy, if you don't turn in your paper, you don't get graded. The story, as I understand it, is that the Clintons didn't want to release their papers, including the donor list for the presidential library, to the Obama campaign. She wasn't vetted because she couldn't be.

I still think that the most important day is going to be Wednesday, coincidentally, when Bill Clinton speaks. Repeating what I posted before, the most important times, for me, will be:

Time that Obama's name gets put into nomination;

Time that roll call vote begins;

Time that Obama reaches the number of delegates required (also note the state that puts Obama over the top);

Yesterday, I read that the roll call vote is going to be scheduled BEFORE prime time, between 5:30 and 7:30 pm EDT. If that schedule holds, I'll feel much better about our chances in November, no matter what the polls are saying now.

On a personal note, I didn't see her listed, but I got an email from my friend Margie Perez, and she will be speaking at the convention for three minutes on Monday night between 6 and 6:30 pm MDT time. Margie lives in the Musicians Village in New Orleans. I'm really excited for her.

Thanks for that very descriptive and informative piece Sally, and do enjoy yourself at the events, but take care too. I heard that a few tornados touched down in Colorado yesterday. Hope that doesn't set the tone for the DNC. I was looking at a slide show of the preparations for the DNC on Yahoo, and I saw that there were a couple of demonstrations near the DNC center, but they didn't say what the protests were about. Should be an interesting next few days ahead. Have fun, but be safe.

I love the Pinks QOP and the Mercury Cafe is the perfect spot for them to start, that's why I bought a pink shirt. Gee I wonder if the Pinks get in trouble if I will be thought of as one of them. Hmmmm.

You daredevil you, Sally. Haha. Go Pinks!!!!

There was a tornado Crystal and one of them was right over my daughter's house in Castle Rock. She was scared to death, I couldn't get to her at all as all roads into her division were closed so we talked on the phone until it had passed. She had taken the babies and was in the basement, they were screaming and she was crying and then calmed down for her kids and we just kept talking. The tornado didn't touch down over her house but they got a ton of hail and rain with floods. Hope that doesn't happen again. She lives South West of the city and then there was another one South East of the city making perfect bookends to Denver itself.

Oprah is in town and renting a house about a block and a half from me, not sure of which street, actually I think I could figure it out.

Denver itself is such a small city and this is the biggest thing we've had since the Pope came to town on World Youth Day and the G8 Summit three years after that. Maybe the excitement here can drown out CNN for Obama/Biden.

I saw this quote on Cosmic Path this morning, and I believe it so much, that I decided to re-post it here:

"A mind at peace, a mind centered and not focused on harming others, is stronger than any physical force in the universe.”
Wayne Dyer

Oh Gina,
I am not outside watching the leaves turn.........
I'm inside doing a virtual trip to Denver!

Gee Sally, that's a beautiful place you live in!
Cspan is filming live all week! As an adjunct I have Denver on google maps, bookmarked.
You be careful Sally don't get arrested in that pink skirt! Is Marilyn the owner of the Mercury Cafe, in her pigtails, a Gemini? Good guess?

Glad the family was safe in the tornado!
ANd if you have to have religion.........Rev. Leah Daughtry DNC CEO, makes it more inspiring than all others!

I'm not sure if she is a Gemini QOP and it did used to be an Astrology gathering place, it isn't anymore but it is a funky and fun place to go for an evening and absolutely the best place for Pinks.

Crystal, I love your Wayne Dyer quote. It's a good thing to remember.

So here I am at home watching TV ads, seeing the 'enetertainment' as the framework for the info on the multi-national globalists. Last night I saw an ad for bariatric surgery.I mean this is really frigtening no reality except what the corps want to sell.

You betcha clymela! If they provide a free phone number for sales, I frequently call and tell them how awful they are!
I never watched TV until I was 57, back in school, with a roomate who had limited cable (networks, CNN, Cspan PBS, Me & NH)
SHe used to tape Days of Our Lives and we'd watch with our supper. I though I had fallen down the rabbit hole.
OK heeeeere we go Howard Dean is kicking it off!

Qop, what's happening? Anything fun?

I'm on MSNBC and it's all Clinton, Clinton, Clinton...yuk.

Oh turn to cspan, no pundits just one
HELL of party!
They 're all rockin' old white women, young ones, black and white, in funny hats. Music is great,
I want the drummer with the white dreadlocks!
SHarod Brown is talking now. introducing a panel to discuss the economy.
( guess the music & dancing was vamping while people came in from dinner?)

According to Huffpo, Ted Kennedy will make an appearance at about 9"15, after the film clip he made.... if he is up to it. He was a little poorly today, but I bet the "Old Lion" will muster it!

Hey saw Margie Perez speak!! Film about Katrina, yup on Cspan.

When? Was that with Jimmy Carter?
( I ran the vacumn while Madame Speaker was speaking...............)

Caroline Kennedy is OOOOOOOn!

WHat are the planets doing? A moving watershed moment!
Teddy had Biden in tears, followed by a 100 watt smile.
He promised to be at the Inaugural! Kennedy I mean.

omg I saw Maria Shriver tear up with Teddy on stage and there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

Maria Perez was just before Jimmy Carter.

Margie Perze, doh! Had Maria Shriver on the brain.

Yeh! I was teary here too!

Now Michelle has the audience intears too!

Including the old white women who are supposed to be to be Hillary supporters...............
My God E=DEms are finally catching up with the Repugs when it comes to showmanship.
What a close; Sasha & Malia video talking to Dad!

qop it was great, Michelle was spot on, how can anyone not love her?! The girls talking to their daddy, I'm still teary.

Hope we hear from Captain Sally, looks like the place is clearing out.

Caroline just got "annoyed" with BLitzer...He saidf "Just walk us through this decision."
Her response ( with a smile but emphatic! "NI, I won't walk you through this!"
Oh she IS SO ABOVE THEM!
She wrapped with "I just want to be with the best political team on television!"
She's Sag. wpomnder if her ,merc is scorpio!
She's sharp!

Nicolle Wallace DID IT TOO!
Maybe you ought to switch back to CNN , the female Dems are getting them back for the tedious manufacture of the conflict between Obama & Clinton!

Nichole said she didn't think WOlf ever slept but just hung upside down for a few hours at night!

Now that's funny "Nichole said she didn't think WOlf ever slept but just hung upside down for a few hours at night!"

Caroline Kennedy's Mercury is in Sagittarius in the first house conj. her Asc. In fact she is a double Sag. That's where here smart mouth comes from.

Got home a bit ago, met lots of luminaries tonight but my daughter was standing in a hotel lobby when Teddy Kennedy walked in the door. She said he stopped and waved, smiled at everyone, looked tired and fragile but I thought he looked great tonight. She said he signed autographs but she didn't ask for one because she thought it was in poor taste to keep him standing there when he had been so sick.

I met the woman running for Gov. of Vermont on the Democratic ticket, her name is Symington if anyone is in Vermont. She was very down to earth and fun to talk to, really interesting. Wed. night I will meet Michelle Obama and Hillary. Everyone where I was tonight is sick to death of Hillary and the Puma's, they just want to get on with it all and move McCain and this administration aside.

Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama brought tears to my eyes for different reasons sort of, Ted trying for what might be his last shot at leaving the Kennedy legacy in the hands of someone he believes will carry on their legacy of community and service to the people and Michelle trying her best to show people that they aren't any different than everyone else, that there isn't anything strange or out of step about them. African/Americans still pleading for a "white" nation to give them a chance. For the life of me I do not see how an Obama and a McCain could possibly be running neck and neck in the polls.

THEY AREN"T SALLY!
The polls are as crooked as most everything else that has keep us enslaved for the past ?? years.
Since I was rejected by AP ipsos for being over 65, therefore not in the "proper category to ask my opinion.....the day before Supertuesday, and since NO ONE HAS CALLED TO ASK ME SINCE.........
even tho the damned things change on a daily basis........
Not that I have been very out & about, with so much to do here at home...........but I still haven't seen a single bumper sticker for McINsane.and there are quite a few cars from away at the market this time of year. Nor have I encountered ANYONE ( former Bush territory here) who supports him!
Good for your daughter...I wanted them to stop applauding & cheering TK, so he could finish his address and go lie down, but he has spent a lifetime earning that accolade and he loved it!
Watching last night was like having a very bad boil lanced.............that CNN was still trying to stir up the poisonous muck at midnight last night was so revealing after watching the joyousness of that celebration.
One critic on Huffington Post thought it unfortunate that the Kennedy tribute centered on water; reminding HEr/him of Chapaquedik, but the man is a Pisces, water has always been his balm & his bete-noir.........
WHere is the Maine delegation seated? The peanut gallery I bet but stage left or right or center?

"The Kids Are Coming" was the perfect analogy for the first day of the convention, Sally. After two minutes of watching the intentionally manipulative coverage on CNN we switched to CSpan. And yes, qop, it was a rolicking good party, the music terrific, emotional moving speakers, some flops. There's an energy about this far different from the past. I cannot yet put my finger on it, but unless the US populous attempts to incorporate the expansive qualities available, this shift in consciousness will be thrust upon us in a more shocking way.

Oh what a night(same as the song). I watched it on PBS, and it was the best and most complete coverage I could find, except for David Brooks (neo-con) commentary.
Highpoints of the night were tribute to President Carter, and follow-up interview with him - love this man. Such a humanitarian, and he's on top of everything. Tribute to Ted Kennedy, and his follow-up speech. Barack's sister's speech! What a beautiful and articulate woman. So cultured, and well-educated. Jim Lehrer, the PBS announcer said that great oratory must be in their (brother & sister) DNA. Jesse Jackson's son's speech - a rising star, great oratorical skills. He's a member of Congress. Heard he might be running for Obama's senate seat if O becomes the next president. The Republican guy from Iowa (Leach I think it was) gave a good bi-partisan speech, and last but not least Michelle Obama! It's the best I've seen her look - the color she wore was very flattering, her hair nicely done, speech perfect, and the two little girls - adorable, and precious. I love those little girls to death, and so do their parents.

Crystal you are so right about the speeches and I had friends in the Hyatt Regency Bar downtown who stayed there to watch the speeches and they said you could have heard a pin drop for both speeches. People just sat there spellbound and then huge applause for both of them. There wasn't really anything to say but "wow" after they were done. I agree with you about Michelle she looked perfect last night and deserved star status.

Karen, I also agree with you regarding the shift in energy and you can feel it, you can feel it throughout the whole town. Where I was yesterday was filled completely with DNC and Obama people, there were a few GOP CEO's there but no one talked about this presidential race or this candidate or the other or issues (except environmental) It seems as if the media and the police are trying to drum up violence with the protesters. There was an anti-war group of about 200 and the local reporters said they were all just walking along chanting and carrying their signs, no one yelled at anyone. All of a sudden the police charged the group pepper spraying them and dispersing them. It was ridiculous. I'm thinking we are tired of hating, really tired.

QOP here is the seating map at the Pepsi Center, Maine has a pretty good spot.

http://www.demconvention.com/assets/downloads/DNCC-State-Seating.jpg

Thanks for the seating plan Sally, I should be able to identify a few people, if I know where to look!
It's reassuring that you and karen have noticed the shift in mood as I did, especially you on the ground there.
And karen you are right, change will be forced if we don't embrace it.
I didn't realize last night when Nicolle Wallace, is a high up comapigner for McCain. Significant that Caroline K and she, both women, joined together to bash Wolf!

I saw the convention on four different channels last night: C-span, PBS, CNN and MSNBC. If I hadn't been watching C-span, I would have missed Margie Perez altogether.

MSNBC had way too much talk, and not enough speakers. But I did enjoy it when Chris Matthews, of all people, exposed three Hillary4McCain women for the nutbars that they were. They said they had a congressional report nailing Obama, but they couldn't name the congressman who supposedly put it out.

I don't know if the broadcast networks even showed Ted Kennedy, or even Jim Leach. They just assume that everybody has cable. Senator Kennedy's and Michelle speeches were beautiful.

Is anybody doing charts on these speeches?

I did check Ted Kennedy's speech to see where it would fall for him. His Mercury and Mars were in the first house giving him his vigor for the speech. He had a great response and it actually strengthened him and I expect it will last all week for him. This speech will be considered one of Ted Kennedy's greatest speeches. It wasn't but it was the huge effort he made and the obvious love he has for this country and his party, that's why it will go down as one of his best.

I wasn't able to record the time for Michelle Obama because the phone rang and I had to pause the TV so it was a while before I got back to her introduction. I think it was about 9:05 when the video in advance of her speech started, then her brother spoke so she was probably not until 9:20 For Michelle, her words will not be remembered or recorded as a great speech, but it will be her presence that remains as a positive and perceived as a positive influence.

By the time either of them spoke the Moon had gone out of VOC so that was good, very good and the Moon in Cancer was aspecting both of them favorably, that's why people will remember the night as one feeling the strength of these people. I wish I could have heard Claire McCaskill

NO MICHELLE'S speech doesn't fall into the
great speeches" catagory.........
But I can't remember any first lady with the same approach.
I would call it her Queen of Pentacles speech, pragmatic, warm earthy, confidence inspiring......
I think her birthday is the same day as the Designer who mentored me after I split with my husband. I could always count on her to give good directions to a clients house, quoted a good price, come up with good designs, backed me with the client.she never let me down.

Kucinich got more response from the crowd than Teddy!

Dear Sally,
I'm just very glad your children and grandchildren are safe.
Pluto/moon. Possibility of very dirty tricks. Factor in the transiting Mars.
Well, as Rachel Madow said, "Hillary Clinton is being used" by the thugs. I can't imagine why she doesn't speak up against this BS.

Did I hear correctly? Mark Warners solution for creating jobs is to send our kids to places like Bangelore India?

qop, no clue, I fell into a deep sleep while he was speaking, sorry can't help ya there.

Mark Warner was terrible, does he think we are just living through a tip toe through the tulips?

I wasn't far behind you..........glad he isn't the VP choice!

Oh did you see, Bill CLinton is flanked by Bil Gwatney;s widow and Stephanie Tubbs Jones son Merven Jr.

Really is that who is with him. Well if anyone can make you feel good it is Bill Clinton. Hillary did a good job, I actually liked her again.

Hi everyone, well I got to watch tonights speeches with no commercials on CNN - no cspan here unfortunately.
qop, I interpreted what Warner said more-or-less as: that if the internet infrastructure were put in place for people in remote rural US areas, and they're given the chance to work, there would not be any need to outsource the jobs to india.
I thought Hillary gave a terrific speech.

Thanks kiwijeanie, I did get dozy ...........He isn't that compelling a speaker.

For me Mark Warner was exhausting but my daughter thought he laid out the issues very well, he just didn't have any suggestions coming from the Dems to solve some of those problems.

Hillary was superb and couldn't have done better, I listened to a panel after the event on PBS and they were struggling to find anything to discuss regarding her speech. That initial Moon Pluto opposition that marked the beginning convention worked as the people holding power and Pluto giving it right back to them. The entire theme of this convention has been "we have to work together to get this job done." Pluto has laid down a challange to the people and we will have to step up in ways we haven't had to in the last several generations.

Re: Hillary's speech. Hillary Clinton has become a powerhouse. She actually memorized that speech last night(or so it looked) and she went through it so fast & confidentally (I guess I'd be confident too if I had 18 Mil supporters) that I was thinking she must have a really high IQ. I think she did unite the party as much as possible. The only problem is that she was too good. Maybe there was a hint of "look how terrific I am" - vote for me in 2012? Bill's emotions were totally written all over him and Chelsea's pride and amazement were also wonderful to see. However, some of her supporters have this logic that if McCain wins in '08, Hillary can take it in '12, and if Obama wins in '08, he either wins again in '12 or may encounter so many problems that can't be handled easily, that we'll get a Republican again in '12. Hillary's speech was so strong and presidential that I'll bet it only reinforced that logic.

Forget about Mark Warner. The real keynote speaker/rabblerouser last night was the Govermor of Montana, Brian Schweitzer. He's got Sally's moon in Aries. He certainly rallied the troops last night. Love those crazy Westerners. Got to move back to the west. I like what Al Giordano says about the Democratic Party too! Stick-in-the-mud. If you can't access the article in the first link, you can access it in the comments section of the second link.

http://narcosphere.narconews.com/comment/reply/2458#comment-

http://raginguniverse.blogspot.com/

Forgot to add, the second link I provided above, is a good review too of last night - worth a read.

Sharon, if we lose in '08, we lose Roe.

At the very least, we'll have to pray for the good health of our Supreme Court Justices every night from now to 2013.

I'm also praying that Gustav doesn't repeat what happened to us with Katrina, and that it will do no worse than keep Bobby Jindal home.

And God, PLEASE--let this roll call vote be DONE BEFORE 6:13 pm MDT tonight.

Has anybody seen a schedule for the roll call? Last I saw from CNBC's website, it was going to be early, from 3:30 to 6:30 pm Mountain Time. Does anyone know if that's still the case?

Man, I just watched Brian Schweitzer's convention speech again, and talk about energizing a crowd? He brought them to their feet roaring! That's the kind of excitement and motivation the Democratic Party needs! Yep, I'm fired up (yet again), and ready to go!!!

Man, I just watched Brian Schweitzer's convention speech again, and talk about energizing a crowd? He brought them to their feet roaring! That's the kind of excitement and motivation the Democratic Party needs! Yep, I'm fired up (yet again), and ready to go!!!

I AM GETTING THE BIGGEST KICK OUT OF THE liberals confronting the CNN personel.
After all they have intruded themselves on OUR convention, after favoring McLame & sowing devisivness in the Dem. Primary for over a year.
High time they have a little job stress!

Vigilance is needed by the Democrats, and it looks like we're gonna have it.

http://news.yahoo.com/story//ap/20080827/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_gop_convention_democrats

Good! It's time we fought back!

Brian Schweitzer was fabulous. I watched him and wished he had been the keynote, he had them roaring. He was not just great but explained the energy and oil issues so that one could really understand them. I loved him. I remember the first time I ever saw him interviewed when he was running for Gov. in Montana and thought he was great then, I hope he goes on to the Senate, between he and John Tester they could really put Montana on the map.

crystal-I ave hbeen loving Brian Schwitzer for a bit now since the first time I heard him speak. This man is a Democrat from Montana. god he should be leading the Dems instead all we get is the Central Banks/globalists pick. I am sickened by this convention. Where is the change in having Madeline Albright and Warren Christopher? Oh Madeline who thinks that it is okay for us to slaughter thousands of Iraqi children ( I guess her beloved grandchildren are not endangered) I just see that everything will continue only now we will go to Afghanistan and praise our actions as legitimate.
Perhaps I am to influenced by strong drugs (surgery) and the heat but Brian Schwietzer and his kind speak for Americans or at least those of us who live on our wages. some of us are in the middle-class but most of us are not.

The more I have read about Biden, the more I like him. His state relies on the financial industry for jobs, so he has to play ball. But I read about a Biden who commutes by train every night to be with his family, a man who bought a house for $200,000 and spent his weekends in a moon suit taking out abestos.

5:08 ET-session has started.

Richard Dryfuss was on MSNBC earlier today and he gave a quote from William F. Buckley the famed conservative writer and he said before he died "if the Democrats cannot win this election this year, they need to go into the woods and cleanse themselves." I agree

I am loving CSPAN. I have Hillary making her motion to elect Obama at 4:46 pm mt, motion accepted 4:48 pm mt, and Obama accepts 4:51 pm

Well, this was a very exciting evening for me, and a first - it's the first time that I've been so involved in an the electoral process, the first time I'm witnessing how a Democratic National Convention is conducted, the first time I've seen the nomination of an African-American for President of the US. I can just imagine how proud all African-Americans felt at that historic moment.

I love living history, I remember when I was seven years old my father taking me outside to see Sputnik. I painfully remember the 1964 race riots in LA as a tweleve year old Beatlemanic I had to give up seeing the concert to dangerous (maybe that 12 year old will eventually snag a McCartney concert), and the Rodney King riots in 1992, MLK, JFK, and RFK. African Americans have come a long way baby, now its time from Latino and Latina, Native Americans catch up. Though there are a log of Latino/Latina in government I'm not sure there are any Native American, the last one I think was a Republican, go figure.

I was especially proud to see the Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley stand with Arizona and cast the Navajo Dine vote, made me really feel good.

I'm having to work late so haven't run any charts. Billy Boy should be speaking in about 10 minutes. Harry Reid gave the GOP hell, very nice.

Okay so far looks like we have the good Bill.

He is doing it 150% !

lol really really good Bill, and it looked like he was speaking from the heart.

I walked in from diner in time to hear him say, Obama's "International" experience would add to his Presidency, and Yes he IS READY TO BE PRESIDENT!
Brilliant speech, just the right words!

ANd Kerry is really hitting a home run!

Beau Biden, man grab the kleenex. Not a dry eye in the house.

Including Robt Wexler!

Well now..........which one is the party of family values?

My husbands point exactly, qop, family values.

ha ha Rachel Maddow has Tweety sweating, he's working hard. Joe Biden knocked this out of the park!

DO you think the black McCaine daughter will be allowed out next week?

Hey remember that whacko pastor in Colorado who was praying for rain? Well looks like Gustav will arrive for the weekend and his two siblings, Hanna and Ike, are stirring in the Atlantic Basic to visit our shores during the week of the Republican Convention...they're getting their rain. Who knows maybe the remains of Fay will damper the Twin Cities in Minnesota.

qop I'd think so, though I don't think his first kids are along for the ride.

The Dems have done a good job putting on this convention so far. I loved Melisa Etheridge tonight. But still like the original Born in the USA. Loved Dylans 'Times They are A-Changin' as in 2008 as it was in 1963.

I'm not exactly sure of the exact time but there was a man on Charlie Rose who said it was 6:48pm in Denver when he bacame the nominee. We will have to try and track that down exactly because Morgana has a different time.

I do know that I was at a big party and I'm not sure when they broadcast it. You could have heard a pin drop where we were. The first African/American became the standard bearer of the Democratic Party for the President of the United States; that would be the United States of America. Where I was men and women were silently crying, tears streaming down their face without a sound.

There were some high profile people there, but in the crowd of 800 to 1000 at that dinner it was mostly everyday folks and mostly white and we just stood their and cried. Then someone started singing "We Shall Overcome." At the end of the song some man said "part of America has done a good thing and we got to see it." It was very powerful and emotional and so happy.

I couldn't help but notice that all the speeches were very populist in nature tonight, including Biden and Clinton. Kerry was great as was Biden's son, but it was the most populist convention that I remember in a long time.

At 4:48pm there was a 11 degree Capricorn Ascendant with its ruler Saturn in a trine and Jupiter conjunt it; the mid-heaven was at 5 degrees Scorpio with the Sun in a sextile. The Moon in the 7th house at 27 Cancer was in a sextile to Mercury which was in a square to Pluto from the 9th to the 12th house. I think there can't be a political moment without hidden agenda's someplace. That Mercury/Pluto square would indicate some type a secret yet to be told, but the Mercury is in a trine to Obama's Saturn so it would be his secret.

The first black man to rise to an opportunity to be President of the United States of America, I wonder if 45 years ago Martin Luther King imagined in his wildest dreams that this would have happened, was that what he saw when he went to the mountain top and had his dream?

Sally, I have 4:48 pm MDT for the time Obama's nomination was completed. At 4:51 pm, Speaker Pelosi announced that he accepted.

The roll call began at 3:20 pm and ended with Obama nominated by acclimation at 4:48 pm MDT, 6:48 EDT.

I also have Joe Biden nominated at 8:19 pm MDT. At 8:33 pm, he accepted. The moon was VOC for Biden's nomination, but I don't see it as affecting Obama's chances for victory.

Interestingly, at the time of Biden's nomination, the moon trines the moon in the Inauguration chart (1/20/09, noon, Washington, DC) but squares Biden's natal moon.

I think the Democrats have an excellent chance of winning this thing. It won't be easy, but, to quote a slogan, yes we can, win.

The convention gets better with each night. The mood was celebratory last night. I didn't hear all the speeches, but from what I heard, Joe and Beau Biden's was particularly moving. Bill Clinton gave a fantastic speech, and redeemed himself in the process, but the real surprise was John Kerry who delivered an unusually fiery speech attacking McCain policies. Not even when he ran for president, did I see any spark of fire in his speeches. There were also surprises in the audience too - Joe Biden's mom (a feisty Irish lady), and Obama's great uncle (a WWII hero), and the final surprise was Obama's appearance onstage towards the end. It was indeed a family night at the convention, and they appropriately played that song "We are Family". I think Sly and the Family Stone sang that back in the 70's.

Bill Richardson will be speaking tonight, so for those who like him, don't forget to tune in. I thought he was going to be a no show, but from what I heard, it's the Clintons who will be the no show. Apparently there are still some hard feelings there. Of course the climax of the convention, and the piece de resistance, will be Obama's acceptance speech. I don't see how he can top his 2004 convention speech, but he just might. Go Dems!!!

I did think Michelle Obama was and has been a bit rigid since Monday even right after her speech. I don't know if it was or is the Clinton's I wonder if this run for the presidency has taken a toll on their lives. She wasn't even smiling that much at him last night.

I am so happy Morgana had the correct time because the Moon was not VOC at 4:48pm in Denver, it was still in a Sextile to Mercury.

I did think the Clinton's did a great job, as did Kerry, Kennedy, Schweitzer, Kuchinich, Michelle Obama, Biden and his son and a host of other speakers. Last night everyone was talking and wondering who the GOP had that could speak so well, particularly measure up to Kennedy, Michelle Obama and the Clinton's. No one could come up with a name.

There is a lot of feminine energy or power here. Women are leading the panels on energy, finance and women's issues. Lots of young women all over the place, very political young women, even those too young to vote. One such woman who was 16 has been taking classes for women in politics already she is going to major in political science. Michelle Obama, Boxer, Hillary Clinton, Dee Dee Myers, female Democratic Governors, Pelosi have been all over the place speaking and interacting, although it has been a lot of men speaking at the convention, it's the women who are running this and you can feel their power and their rising influence

To enlarge on Sally's earlier post concerning what tonight's formal acceptance of the Democratic Party nomination by Obama means to blacks in America, especially those who were witnesses to the Civil Rights demonstrations in the 60s - a touching NY Times article:

DENVER — She figured this dream for dead so many decades ago.
»Dezie Woods-Jones plans to stand Thursday night with her California delegation in a stadium here and listen to Barack Obama, the first black major-party presidential nominee in the nation’s history, give his acceptance speech. Ms. Woods-Jones, now in her 60s, is one of a tiny handful of delegates who on the same day in 1963, Aug. 28, stood with hundreds of thousands at the March on Washington and heard a young minister, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., deliver his soaring “I Have a Dream” speech.......

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/us/politics/28race.html?hp

As usual, I've been playing around with the numbers again (as in numerology), and here's what I found.

MLK's speech was made on August 28, 1963 = 8+1+1 = 1

Obama's speech tonight August 28, 2008 = 8+1+1 = 1

Now, I know the DNC could have orchestrated the month and day of Obama's speech to coincide with MLK's, because I don't know how they arrive at their convention dates, but the year? I don't think so. Is that destiny, or what?

Wouldn't you be in her shoes? Sally? This woman of slave ancestry..........
Google Michelle Obama thesis.
" Princeton Educated Blacks and the Black Community." A wealth of material there....................................
Princeton sequestered her thesis but then had to make it available again.
The very fruition of her thesis, has the possibility of stripping her bare!
SHe has moon conjunct venus in aquarius..... ( not exact calculation)& mars in aquarius..so her being is about righting injustice.
Jupiter in fiery Aries and Neptune in watery scorpio..... all else earth & air.
Her mate not easily replaced! SHe's got her 1 in a million and knows it!
I wasn't aware of this buzz, were you? The fundies racists & morans are RIGHT ON IT, passing around e-mails..........
I got one.a Lou Dobbs immigration special, fro m the friend who long ago invited me to a magic mushroom party at Rutgers...............I sent back a reply all, with a link to a story about
Bush's plan for the North American Alliance and got one response back. "I don't know you, please take my name off your mailing list!"
Michelle was a Princeton Student when I was dating that Princeton Grad(?) he never rewrote his thesis, it is listed on the website as unfinished. He got his degree from Rutgers after attending PU for 4 four years!
SO I was attending football games and parties there as well as painting several murals gained in my own right not thru the boyfriend. Curious, I haven't been anywhere near Princeton since!
Michelle is doing VERY WELL!

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.""

I have listened to many speeches through the years but the speech from which that quote is taken is, for me, the most passionate, inspiring, and heartwarming I ever heard.

Listening to it never fails to fill my heart and bring tears to my eyes. Do yourselves a favor and go here:

http://tinyurl.com/6rlul5

Bob

PS - I have 2 charts in my files for the date of the speech but did not note the sources. The times are for 2 pm, EDT and 4:40 pm EDT. Does anyone have the time he started the speech? It was only about 16 minutes long.

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.""

I have listened to many speeches through the years but the speech from which that quote is taken is, for me, the most passionate, inspiring, and heartwarming I ever heard.

Listening to it never fails to fill my heart and bring tears to my eyes. Do yourselves a favor and go here:

http://tinyurl.com/6rlul5

Bob

PS - I have 2 charts in my files for the date of the speech but did not note the sources. The times are for 2 pm, EDT and 4:40 pm EDT. Does anyone have the time he started the speech? It was only about 16 minutes long.

The energy has changed in the new venue...... It's feeble tonight!
Oh thank God Sheryl Crowe is being replaced by Stevie Wonder, How do she get a grammy? Oh wait, How did George Bush wind up PRes? twice............
Waiting for Al Gore!

WHat the Hell is that imagery on the screen? WIth a crystal ball, a cross, fuschia & navy...............If Barack steps out of it I am going to vote for Nadar!
Oh good it belongs to the singer.......
We need CHANGE in music in this country..
Michael McDonald needs vocal lessons.....and some nasel spry!

Well I knew he would list the specific changes tonight!

Wow. That's all I can say right now. That may have been the best political speech in at least a generation. He nailed Bush, McCain and the GOP on all of Rove's infamous "wedge" issues and tied everything back to King and the Civil Rights March on Washington in the 60s. If Obama can carry and project this energy forward for the next few months, McCain might as well bow out now. A candidate who can't even remember how many houses he has is HISTORY vs. THIS movement.

Obama even closed his speech to COUNTRY music! How ironic is that? They totally owned the GOP tonight.

Wow,the Sun on his n. Pluto, rocked it. I so love CSPAN. Obama accepted the nomination 8:14 pm MT.

Best I've ever heard, he so gets it. It is the movement that will make the man.

I agree, Morgana. I watched it on CSPAN, too. You don't have to put up with commercial interruptions or any of the inane commentary of pro-corporate/GOP "reporters" although I think even most of these folks had to give some respect to Obama tonight.

Hard to see how McCain can match the significance and energy of this night, much less top it. He is simply outclassed and overmatched. His millitary/POW status means nothing when he can't even connect with the experience of the average American as his multi- home ownership blind spot illustrates perfectly. Even the GOP realizes this, amidst their talk of postponing the convention with the looming threat of not one but two hurricanes in the Gulf and Atlantic. They probably are looking to buy extra time just to cook up some sort of a meaningful comeback. It will be next to impossible if people see that Obama is carrying the torch of Martin Luther King, the Kennedys and the spirit of change and renewal from the 60s. McCain's only torch is a burden, and that of the Bush and Cheney years of mayhem, maliciousness and misery. Obama said it best: Eight is Enough!

This was an amazing speech, an amazing night. I cannot imagine what the GOP can or will do to top this except roll out fear and attack drawing a very sharp line exposing in stark contrast the difference facing us today.

Tonight's Sun was conjunct Obama's Pluto and T-Pluto was on the Mid-heaven. Lots of power here.
Venus ruling the second house of this chart and positioned in the 7th in a square to tonight's Pluto points directly to open enemies (no surprise there) and jealous ones at that. Jupiter was also in the 10th house retrograding back to a close trine to Saturn, that's a fairly solid success, at least for the close of this convention. The NN and Chiron in the 12th in Aquarius relate back to the Feb. 7th Eclipse at 17/18 Aquarius. That was the eclipse that brought so much success to Obama on the Super Tuesday, his natal Ascendant is 18 degrees Aquarius, bringing him more success tonight.

The GOP cannot compete with his ability to write and deliver a speech, few can compete with that, so attack they will have to do. They cannot run on their record, they don't have anything or anyone remotely at this level of competency. I've mentioned this before but the Aug. 11, 1999 Eclipse at 18 degrees Leo, forming a grand fixed cross was predicted as the precursor to massive change in the world, a massive breakdown of structure and re-building; Barack Obama is part of that cataclysmic change and is the signal for us as we go forward. In some kind of karmic fashion (and I have not figured it out yet) he comes forward from the energy of the past to be a part of reshaping the future. Not an easy task and maybe not a welcome task for him or any of us as this country, this world faces enormous challanges in the year ahead. If one looks at yin and yang principle, maybe he is some kind of gift for us after having endured the last 8 years of the worst presidential administration in the history of this country

It was fabulous.............
However the bounce, has ended for me........
It is 4AM, the smoke alarms are screaming, NO WAY to turn them off! ( hardwired!)
It's NOT a fire, just an electrical malfunction.
They have been disabled for 3 years because the roof leaked into one of them; one week ago the electrician. ( 2 hours away) replaced that one.
THE CIRCUIT BREAKER DOESN"T TURN THEM OFF!
The Mental HEalth Line is busy............( are all the repugs calling in this am?) But 911 is sending the fire dept.
MY house hates me! It has interrupted the flow of creativity for 17 years now. "Its the Gift of the Maggi" I am surrounded by the scenery I want to paint.....but something keeps interrupting me.

The fire dept came! Nice guys......they figured out how to stop it! But I have to call the electrician............ wiring job was a free bee 4 years ago (Grant/Loan to the town)the FD guys, say its not right, get them back!
Meanwhile the check I wrote for switches at the hardware store went over the top, and cost me a $30.00 bank fee. I'm supposed to go buy all new batteries ( 5 ) BUT SS payday is 4 days away.......
I HOPE Obama/Biden wins!

qop, hope the smoke (literally and figuratively) clears soon. It might be worthwhile to talk to your bank about waiving that $30 fee. Sure can't hurt.

Just skimming Firedoglake and their links re McCain's possible VP choice and it hits me that it may be Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin

She certainly sounds more attractive than the usual bozos mentioned.

Palin was born in Sandpoint, Idaho Feb. 11, 1964. Family moved to Alaska when she was very young.

I thought Obama's speech last night was Perfect! And apparently, so did the crowd, How I hope he wins.

I think it is Sarah Palin Mayfly. Well it's a risky choice for McCain since she is under investigation right now, but Pols seem to have a way of covering up those nasty little details. She is attractive and I seem to remember that she is a popular governor (but I am not sure about that) She has a son in Iraq and a son with downs syndrome and three girls in between, I think she might prove to be an attractive candidate and one that will be hard for the Dems to attack. It's hard to attack the record or a Mom with a son in Iraq and one with Downs. I've never heard her speak so I don't know about that one. I did know that there was a fairly substantial abuse of power a few months ago and that is why she's under investigation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin
What a joke, a moose eating, former Beauty QUeen U of Idaho grad! The Hilary supporters would wet themselves laughing!
Once again the Repigs, go for the "feely good" emotion rather than common sense. I'm sure she is a very nice person, and I hear moose meat is delicious.........I'd have a beer & a mooseburger with her in a blink of an eye..........
but it ia a twisted reasoning attempt to trump the new Obama Biden Family Values look!
Talk about too young and lacking experience!
I heard this morning from a widow of a Red Cross Exec. ( DC based) who worked on prisoner of war, release, that McCain is truly crazy!
Reading through the first chapter of Shock Doctrine about the shock treatment experiments at McGill U in the 50's, It's a pretty educated guess, that McCaine has been altered as a result of his much vaunted POW experience!

Thanks for the wish oldmayfly......my patience is really being tried...... another rerun of the eyetest just so I can get eyeglasses I can use,paid for a pair last year I can;t use. I didn't like the way he tested. the opthomoloigist ran a ver GOOD test...... That makes 6 eye tests to get a pair of glasses that work!
The well has to be dug up...........the water is actually dirty, lake sediment in the bottom of the pan....... Argh!

It's Palin CNN breaking news! Knew it!

Last night I was taken aback by the CW music and then I started thinking "hello!, Pluto in Cap."
why is Joe Scarbrough pretending to love the Dems?? Probably none of you are crazy enough to listen to MSNBC in the morning but I heard him say "this is like my own family who always voted Democratic". I was just surprised and then he had on creepy Peggy Noonan-I think she was the model for the wicked step-mother in Snow White- well she went right to work trashing Obama and Biden

My first thought(s) about Sarah Palin? They're really betting the farm on McCain's health, aren't they?

And an Aquarian? Another Aquarian as a Republican VP pick? That's three straight (Quayle, Cheney, and now her). Every fiber of my being is going, "ick." She, of all people, could be not just the first woman president, she could be the one to appoint the deciding vote against Roe. Please don't let disaffected Hillary voters fall for this.

God, I hope I'm wrong about this. Please let me be wrong about this one.

It's bad enough that these bastards are trampling all over the third anniversary of Katrina, but to continue this pattern of deception and division is over the top.

Maybe I should watch their announcement and hear what they're saying, but I think I'll leave that to others. Besides, I've got other things--like another hurricane--to deal with.

Time. To. Step. Away. From. The. TV.

Gina you are in N.O. or thereabouts ? Keep Safe. Is the storm anyway near? CNN is so obcessed with PAlin they are NOT reporting.

Gosh, Gina, as an Aquarius I'm unhappier than you are. I like to believe that we water-bearers have a smaller percentage of "bad guys" than some other signs--but maybe that's just the famous Aquarius daydreaming.

More about Palin--she has said she is "pro-life" and that she believes Creationism should be taught in public school sciences classes. She also favors drilling in ANWAR and opposes equal rights for same sex couples.
Someone posting on Daily Kos said her husband works for big oil, but I don't know the details on that. I still think she is attractive--fascism with a smile.

I looked at her chart (don't know time of birth) and saw that she has Sun, Mars, and Saturn conjunct. Probably a strong willful personality.

OldMayfly

Oh she's on she's brilliant nt, The economy is terrific in Alaska they have a surplus in the State budget! Of course they do SHe may have stopped that bridge from being built..but they still got the money!
20 % of the Alaskan fishermen affected by Ex Valdez, have passed away!

See my post @ 3:11 I posted her wiki. Yes her husband works for oil.

God! MCLAme can't even control the crowd,they are leading him. They have sung Happy Birthday 3 times.
I worried about that last night wtih Obama but he
skillfully cut it short when he was ready.

The Democrats have a far better Presidential team. The only way I see the GOP winning in Nov., is with electoral fraud, and you know how good they are at that. Watch closely what goes on in Ohio this year. Wonder what kind of voting machines they are using? I don't even trust the Dem. Governor (Strickland) there. Anyway, the Obama campaign has superior election strategy, but I feel that the Saturn-Uranus opposition on election day will result in a showdown between the 2 parties, but this time the Dems will be prepared to fight.

The vibe I get? Poppy Bush's selection of Dan Quayle comes to mind.

Let's face it. McCain HAD to do something to try and stop Obama's momentum after last night. Announcing his VP choice today was probably planned months in advance, even if the actual choice was made only within the past few days. The fact that it turns out to be a controversial one definitely gets people talking about something today other than Obama and his awesomely successful delivery last night.

Palin is definitely a controversial choice. Whereas someone like Mitt Romney would have probably gotten a shrug by many people for being just another white male, albeit a Mormon at that, in a party hopelessly tied to the ambitions and delusions of OLD, especially anglo protestant WHITE MEN, McCain chooses a 44 year old YOUNG WOMAN as his running mate. That turns heads and makes people stand up and take notice, at least initially.

Still, it poses something of a double-edged sword and a gamble for McCain. One one hand, on the surface at least, he is challenging his stodgy old party with something different, a Woman for Vice President. Consider that for a moment.

Okay, that moment is over. This could also backfire on McCain because the GOP has become the very antithesis of anything new or different. There are a lot of Republicans who simply do not want to see a woman in ANY leadership role of any sort.

Also, McCain can no longer legitimately attack Obama on the experience factor, or the age factor, because after playing this card against Obama for months, he just turned around and selected someone who has similarly limited political experience.

It might force Biden to tie one hand behind his back in a manner of speaking in a debate with Palin, because he could be viewed as too blunt and forceful with her to the point of coming off looking like a bully. He will have to be more tactful than perhaps what he has been used to being.

After the dust settles, I think the burden will be on McCain to show that his selecting Palin was meant as more than just a distraction. And it might just cause his party to go even further into division and revolt against him. The key for Obama and Biden will be to keep the focus on issues of substance.

Fascism with a smile. Well said, Old Mayfly.

Behind that smile and that apparent intelligence is a bats**t crazy fundamentalist who knows nothing about foreign policy, and would use it and the public treasury as the same political football we've had for the last seven-and-a-half years. Just what America needs. Ha!

Hey, I know what you mean about some Aquarian "bad guys." This is what I've been dealing with for the last eight years as a Cancer. My natal Sun is only one degree from Dumbya's.

The triumph--and the tragedy--for America with Aquarians is that they are often the trailblazers in America. Maybe it's because the US Moon is in Aquarius and thus corresponds to the US Sun. Lincoln, FDR, Reagan, Jackie Robinson, and Hank Aaron were all Aquarians. Trailblazers all--not that I'm a fan of Reagan; they're trailblazers, for good and, all too often, for ill.

Look for Sarah Palin to appeal to the US gut--the son in Iraq, the baby son with Down's Syndrome--as well as appeals to false fiscal responsibility and our collective anxiety over oil (Neptune). One thing's for sure, she's no Hillary Clinton.

he just turned around and someone who has similarly limited political experience."
Cripes! O went to HArvard Law school, & is a constitutional lawyer,......... Palin graduated from U of Idaho, and is a journalist/ex-beauty Queen. SHe would be right at home at Tuesday club or Friends of the Library here,hotbed of petty competitive smallness, ( both of which I avoid!)
SHe's a rank conservative,pro-life, went through with the Downs baby.....( Notice her older daughter got to hold him during the announcement, she didn't look too happy about it.
And I think Bidenis aware of the high stakes and is smart enough to handle it well! He IS a scorpio!

I don't think you can compare Obama's experience with Palin's lack thereof. She's definitely not in Obama's league. But guess what? The despicable Bill Kristol picked Palin for McCain's VP back on June 30 in a fox News interview. Please watch video.

http://palinforvp.blogspot.com/2008/06/kristol-predicts-palin-nomination-palin.html

Oh yeah--speaking of emotional appeals--also look for Sarah Palin to try to turn lemons into lemonade over pressuring the firing of the ex-brother-in-law state trooper. (Is there also a state commissioner she had fired, too? You know, the one in charge of state troopers?)

The state trooper who was fired was in the middle of a messy divorce with Palin's sister. He's accused of beating her. This is messy, and so not pretty in any way shape or form.

I'd look for Palin to give something like a "Checkers" speech. She could real turn this lemon to lemonade if we're not careful.

I knew I should have previewed that post before I sent it.

I meant "She could turn these lemons into lemonade if we're not careful." No "real," and very little reality, about it. Not when you're talking about power.

I'm 48, and I don't remember Nixon's famous "Checkers" speech. But it was famous enough to hear about it. Also, Nixon was 41 when he was tapped to be VP.

I expect something similar from Sarah Palin when this issue of political firings comes up. That is, if the corrupt Alaska state government doesn't clear her of wrongdoing.

Oh yeh, this babe speaks with forked tongue!
SHe is meeting with the DOI about Polar bears on the endangered species list. SHe PArsed words about the importance of science ( she believes in creationism) and never once let on that she
prefers snowmobiling.
Governor Sarah Palin Has What It Takes To Be The Next Dick Cheney
"I strongly believe that adding them [polar bears that is, not scientists] to the list is the wrong move at this time. My decision is based on a comprehensive review by state wildlife officials of scientific information from a broad range of climate, ice and polar bear experts."

The polar bears weren't drowning. They were hanging themselves in their cells.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-kelly/governor-palin-has-what-i_b_103702.html

It must have been a Rove pick!

OK, here's another correction:

Nixon was 39 when he was tapped. Quayle was 41.

That said, the Obama-Biden ticket has so much more going for it than McTrainwreck/Palin. Moreover, Daily Kos seems to have enough oppo research on both of them to fill up yet another football field. The danger for the Dems is overplaying their hand, and underestimating the GOP's attempts to appeal to women's votes (while hiding just how bad for women conservative Republican policies really are).

Hey, Sally, are you charting the timing of this pick? Did I miss that post?

Gina,
12:28 Dayton, Ohio.

12:28 pm doh!

What a pretty arm piece, Cindy is looking old and seedy comparatively. Betcha she makes the old man smile, shake off some of the crypt dust.

See comment below. It was taken from a list of comments posted under an article entitled "Why Sarah Palin?" from the website I posted for the Kristol/Palin video. It's a good argument for the Dems against choosing Palin for VP. One could probably collect some valuable right-wing info from the site.

"With McCain's medical history already causing great concern and at age 72,and the VP only a heartbeat away from the presidency, the chance that anyone with as little experience as Gov. Palin could take over running our country scares me to death, given the current unrest in the rest of the world and our involvement in 2 wars already. There is no way I could vote this ticket, no matter how strongly I felt politically"

Yep, she might be a good choice for decrepit Mc Same, but not for the Party.

12:28 pm EDT, Dayton, OH. Hmmm.

I may be stating the obvious, but this is an incredibly cynical pick.

Hope America is smart enough to see through this one.

Oh lots won't; she is the equivalent of the "ladies club" guy you want to have a beer with. Charming false and very narrow!

This is not agood move, and why now, just 2 months before the GE? Agter all, who uses the internet more, Mc Cain supporters, or Obama supporters. By far, the Obama supporters.

http://news.yahoo.com/story/ap/20080829/ap_on_hi_te/comcast_internet_cap;_ylt=AhwoOpID67Bo1Lly68xI5WVH2ocA

Way up North, way up north, North to Alaska......remember that song North to Alaska? I think there was also a movie by the same name. Now, what do they do up there for entertainment? Dog sledding perhaps? Two journalists from Alaska were interviewed on PBS tonight, and they weren't exactly the brightest bulbs in the pack. They couldn't answer the simplest questions about Sarah Palin without floundering. Seemed like they did not do much preparation for the interview. I wonder if Ms. Palin has ever travelled abroad? Anyway, I was doing some research on her husband, and here are a couple of things on him

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/316352.html

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/29/155145/681/530/579154

More on Sarah Palin:

http://www.dailykos.com/

Good morning AW!
I guess the freakin things are going to scream at me until I have $ 25. to invest in batteries! That would be Tues night Weds. A.M.
Our Fire chief just left.........he got the one these old fingers can't squeeze & twist. he's not too pleased with the set-up either!
SO I will join those letter writers to Sanders & Allen both having requested ( on the ground stories ) I didn't before because I am not starving, freezing, or homeless...........) But because it was a Town loan grant, by electricians 2 hours away, using less than state of the art appliances.........and insufficient SS income,.....I am forced to evacuate my home in the we small hours everyh mornign until I can afford a-batteries. Shock Doctrine in action!
Not very conducib-=ve to creativity. But gives me some fuel for the direction of my artwork........ain;t gonna be pretty landscapes.

The Town Fire chief just bought new batteries and helped me put them in.

http://www.mahalo.com/Sarah_Palin_Pregnancy_Rumors?s=1
1. Adn.com: Secret's out: Palin pregnant (March 6, 2008)
2. Reddit: Gov. Palin Announced She Was Pregnant. Local Rumors... (March 2008) Comments
3. Campaign2008VictoryA:: Sarah Palin Versus Hillary Clinton | Family Photo (March 2008) Family Photo in March
4. Daily Kos: Who's Your Mama, Trig Paxson Van Palin? (August 29, 2008)
5. Democratic Underground: Sarah's 16 Year-old Unmarried Daughter (August 29, 2008)
6. Daily Kos: Palin's Faked "pregnancy"? Covering for Teen Daughter? (August 29, 2008)
7. SeattlePi.com: Alaska's governor delivers a surprise: She's pregnant (March 5, 2008)
was your first child, in which case labor is notoriously usually much longer. In addition, you remained comfortably at home, but easily in reach (I assume) of the hospital.

In Palin's case, this was her (if it's hers) 5th child, which means he would normally have been born quite quickly (as you saw yourself with your second child). In any case, if it was before term, and she knew in advance it was to be a Down syndrome baby, it would have been totally reckless on her part, and risky for the child, for her to remain in Texas all that extra time, and then take a long fight back home. She should have gone straight to a hospital. Also, might she have had labor pains during her speech? What would that have been like? How could she have known labor wouldn't have started then and there, in the midst of the forum, or maybe on the plane?

Also, but there is something to be said about a Down syndrome child being born to a very young mother. The probability of Down syndrome in mothers under the age of about 20 (I don't remember the exact age) is just as high as for those over 40. But this fact is generally not publicized, and girls that young (or their doctors) usually don't even think of getting an amniocentesis done. In this case, the baby's condition would have come as a total surprise to the parents and grandparents, being recognized only once he was born, and there would be no "heroism" (or truth) in the story of Sarah Palin's stoically accepting to continue with the pregnancy, "walking the walk" of a pro-life (i.e. anti-choice) proponent. There would, instead, be proof of the hypocritical, calculated construction of a heart-tugging myth in order to save a political career.

I don't like to spread rumors, but if there is some truth here, it should come out, if for no other reason than to nip the Republican myth-building process in the bud as quickly as possible. As well as simultaneously giving a wake-up call to Palin's self-righteous "family values" supporters. IOW, have they been played?

Palin - plus or bust for Mc Cain? From what I've seen and heard from her, I would say bust. More hockey-mom than professional.

http://news.yahoo.com/story//bloomberg/20080830/pl_bloomberg/aulhaumcz6l0

QOP, glad to hear everything is under control.

Hi everyone, I live in a suburb just west of Minneapolis, and wanted to share some breaking news about four raids on RNC organizing houses last night and this morning. Or, as Dharmaruci from AstroTabletalk said, "Goodbye Fundamentalism, Hello Big Brother."
For up to the minute REAL news about the RNC, check out http://www.minnesotaindependent.com/ and http://theuptake.org/
All the best to my online friends, Janet

Presidential scholars weigh in on Sarah Palin's credentials.

http://news.yahoo.com/story//politico/13001

At the dawn of w's rule Don King used to claim that he considered himself a Republican. Makes me wonder if he's secretely in charge of McCain's campaign. A choice of this Alaskan Goody Two-Shoes... well, that would be right up his alley. Create a good hype and an average Joe(I suppose they are gunning for Jane this time though) will pay you top buck for a lousy pay-per-view fight... or, in this instance, give you his vote...

Do they really think that Hillary's supporters would be so dumb not to see an obvious hook hidden inside that bait?!!

And just how do they expect her to remain on her two feet(even by leaning against the ropes) in a debate with Biden??!

And Gustav is looming on the horizon. Said to possibly become a Category 5 before reaching their oil-refineries. Its landfall could coinside with their convention. Is it Nature's wake-up call to them? Or is it already an omen of thier future?

Don't underestimate this Palin Gal. SHe is McCain's Brittany/Paris celeb. ad! SHe reminds me of Brittany Spears.........It's not the Hillary supporters; who are smart enough to see through it, its the average bored young burger flipper, who will see a heroine in Sara......Hillary is too lofty for them to identify with!
SPread those truths, sooner someone is going to find that babies birth certificate and post it on line.

If they postpone the convention they gain because McCain has a limited time to spend campaign funds.......... it would allow then more time to make commercials.
(((((((Gina))))))) (((((((Nolasharon))))))))Stay safe throught the hurricaine.
Cybear too if you ever read in here!

Qop, my husband mentioned that Palin was a Dominionist, the evangelicals will eagerly support her. I'll get the link from my husband for that tidbit.

It is so hard to imagine a woman being a dominionist (so I won't) & having any healthy self-esteem whatsoever. Must not ID with being a woman...which she probably doesn't but does with her animus. Oh, nasty-blasty & bleary-teary. Male "is the power" so she must "become male." Namaste, everybody!

QOP,
That burger-flipping reference just triggered a scary thought in my mind. I tried to put together an image of that proverbial bored burger-flipper and it wasn't easy. Reason being that I probably haven't seen one for a while. See, many of those types of jobs here in Chicago have been staffed with Hispanics(whether legal or not is a coin flip, though they usually have properly-looking papers) as of late. Now, burger flipping aside, put together Palin and Hispanic voters and it's not looking good at all. Not your all-American blond and blue-eyed grown up Barbie-type Republican maiden, she's just perfect for the role of a siren who can hypnotize Hispanics all the way to the polls with her "family values" singing. I'm not worried about Hispanics around big northern cities. They can figure out who is who fairly quickly. And besides they are already in the states that will go blue anyway. It's those that are out west that concern me, since they are not pro-Obama to begin with.

Thanks, QOP, I'll also be praying that everyone is safe.

Hi Janet, welcome and thanks for the link to the Minneapolis GOP Convention. It's a challenge reporting from the "up the down staircase" I would think. Last week the aspects for the Dem convention were just awful, heck Gustov was just letting people know that he was born, alive and darn well kicking. But the Convention could not have run smoother or better for the Democrats. Beautiful weather, little protests, loads of free events for the Colorado residents every day, lots of access to the Senators, Representatives, Candidates and/or their wives, lots of access to the media types. It was great and extremely well organized

This week the aspects for the GOP Convention are great at their beginning and here we are with Gustov looking like he's going to throw such a tantrum the convention will be called off and New Orleans have to play host to McCain and his running mate, like they need that. Ron Paul is holding a parallel convention with nearly 10,000 supporters coming to town, the GOP are up in arms over Palin (and I agree with you qop, don't take her for granted, she could make big waves and end up being marketed and sold better than folks think)

I have the worst feeling that we are all still down the rabbit hole with this whole thing and the Mad Hatter's Tea Party continues in full swing.

outsider, you are the one who said "don't take her for granted" I thought it was qop, at any rate I think you are absolutely correct.

Joanna, you are back, you've been so missed hope you have been perfectly well and prospering every day. Good observation about Palin and the Dominionist church, and you are right. I never ever knew a woman from that church with any self esteem or even independent thought of her own. It's said that in Alaska it's her husband who pulls the strings, so McCain, Rove and Bush get a perfect puppet. Creepy. Her mother in law said she was for Obama. One big happy family.

Yippee Joanna is back woot woot! Missed you!

Sharon stay safe.

Palin is a scary piece of work. Gives me the willies.

Let me also welcome Joanna Oregon back to astroworld. I remember how impressed I was by all your great comments when I first started posting on this blog...

...Morgana and Sally, before I saw your last comments I was just about to post my gut feeling about Palin, i.e. something is very, very wrong here in my opinion. Though not an astrologer or psychic, my instincts about people are usually not bad, and even her voice creeps me out. It scares me that over the years I have been able to bring myself to listen to Bush, Cheney, Condi, Rummy, Gonzalez, Ashcroft, Chertoff, Feith, Perle, etc., but literally cannot watch or listen to Palin. She gives a whole new meaning to the concept of "the banality of evil".

In my opinion (warning, tin foil ahead) I think that its Rove's perfect play: McCain is in very poor health, knowing he perhaps has a couple of years left. Bushco/Rove says OK, we'll support your candidacy, so you can at least taste the presidency, and of course you'll issue blanket pardons for us all, attack Iran, expand the spying program on U.S. citizens, give more tax breaks to Big Oil, billionaires, etc., etc. Then after your demise, we'll have our own hand picked perfect puppet in place...

QOP

I agree that its never particularly pretty to spread rumors, BUT if (and the rumors have been spreading fast and furious on the net) it is true that this baby belongs to her daughter,
it will be a huge, and perhaps fatal blow to Palin's credibility, as well as to McInsane's (really Rove's probably) judgment for not carefully enough vetting her before making the final decision.

It would even be more devastating to this ticket, I think, than in the 1972 election when Tom Eagleton had to bow out as McGovern's Veep pick because of the revelation about the electric shock 'therapy' he underwent for past mental health problems, which he never disclosed to the McGovern campaign.

don't take her for granted I said Don't underestimate.....same dif!
HI joannaO, I've missed your pithy unique comments.
Grizzly, We're on the same page as usual, BUT I go you one step further. I don't think it was a case of poor vetting, I believe it was a cynical intentional choice. A Trojan Horse!

QOP

Thanks, and I do agree with you about the "same page" stuff, but in this case I'm not sure I know exactly what you mean by Trojan Horse.

I just read somewhere recently that perhaps Rove forced the Palin pick on McInsane to keep him from choosing his first choice (and love) Lieberman, whose pro-choice and past Dem credentials could totally alienate the religious right and assorted other Rethug nut jobs in Rove's opinion.

Then I read in another blog that Rove wants to have McInsane so embarrased by the Palin pick (like because of the faux baby story which Rove supposedly knew about!) that McInsane would then have no choice in shame but to decline the nomination at the last minute, opening the door to a candidate Rove perceives as more electable (Romney?).

I mean the whole scenario and speculation just gets curiouser and curiouser very quickly now.

Sally, it was actually qop who wisely warned not to underestimate Palin.

Initially I was naive enough to think that it would be a bulldozer(Biden) vs. an ant(Palin) match-up. Unfortunately it's beginning to look like we're an ant and they're a bulldozer yet again.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080831/pl_politico/13016
--- Rush Limbaugh, who exulted on the air this week, summed up the response he’s gotten from his loyal listeners: “Home f***ing run.”

“Palin=Guns, Babies, Jesus,” he wrote in an email. “Contrast that to Obama's bitter clingers. Obama just lost blue-collar, white Democratic voters in Pennsylvania and other states.”

And, he said, the line that the pick was aimed at picking off Democratic women who backed Hillary Rodham Clinton doesn’t get it right.

“[The] choice is to shore up the conservative, pro-drilling base,” he said. “This is an aggressive, on-offense pick, not a defensive pick.” -----

I can't ever bring myself to listen to that creature. But whenever I run into his quotes I get this feeling of complete hopelessness helplessness.

Anyway, looks like they are on the march again, ammo up to their gills and buyonets attached, while we only got peace signs to defend the few remaining trenches.

joannaoregon,Grizzly-so welcome you are. Missed you so much.
Dominionist?!! these people plan to take over and they have creeping tendrils all over our government!! Creepy, creeping retrograde christians.
My concern over the Palen nomination rests in conversations I have over heard at work among those growing up in the Reagan world or even born when Reagan was President. These people have a completly different scale they are working with. The astrologer in me is fascinated by the differences in the collective. I fear that she speaks to these people.
I am resolved to volunteer for the Dems and to take my supervisor's advice: take a deep breath and pray.She had to leave El Salvador because her family was considered dangerous to the right-wing forces there-her entire family is here now and are US citizens.

Sally, you said, "This week the aspects for the GOP Convention are great at their beginning and here we are with Gustov looking like he's going to throw such a tantrum the convention will be called off and New Orleans have to play host to McCain and his running mate, like they need that."

I think that's exactly what they needed, this is a true blessing. Now, they don't have to have Bush and Cheney appear at the convention and have it broadcasted into the nation's living rooms. Out of sight, out of mind. This is excellent for the republicans, Palin can bring that kind, gentle and compassionate b.s. to their photo ops. It reminds me of Lady Di and Vanna White (sorry to insult Di and Vanna), we're suckers for beautiful women and forgive them everything. Interestingly enough, she's polling better with men - it's all a football game and she's going to be their cute (eye candy) cheerleader. Pathetic!

We underestimate her at our own peril.

Trojan Horse: fooling the Dems who are sitting around making jokes about the folly of McCain's pick! Stephanopolous did reveal today the the pick was...drum rolllll, Rush Limbaugh's!

Her Appeal to the IGNORANT NRA, PRO RE-BIRTH LIFE, After BIRTH let em die, Totally hot, gun totin' huntin babe, the dumb guys are going to fall like flies, ( as long as THEY aren't married to her) the lesser Hillary supporters also, NOT Hill's pioneers,It's the female version of the "guy I want to drink a beer with"
The "liberal" media of course, traitors as usual;
are just ENTHRALLED WITH HER> What a great personal story............... yeh, a small town provincial chick from a very remote small frontier town in the edge of nowhere, that has onlu jhad the rule of lwaw for 48 1/2 years, clawing her way up & out by being a beauty queen. and a liar!
U of Idaho/journalism vs Harvard/ CONSTITUTIONAL LAW?????? I think she achieved her "reform" wih a buncha lawless cowboy thugs, and it wasn't a high minded thing it was just a battle for power!
David Gregory was lost in admiration that she chose to have the Down baby and is running for VP. Heroic to take a plane to Alaska, while in labor..DUh. I hope we can find the proof to expose THAT lie!
Obama's international experience before age 12 doesn't count.
Boenner, "SHe has more executive experience than Obama & Biden together "? We will need a lot more than peace signs unless they have razor sharp edges!
I could go on & on ....but I am going to go try to channel Molly Ivans to write some opeds!

AND SHE KILLS ANIMALS!
Her childhood home, decorated by Blood Baths & Beyond" credit sfexpat2000)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3883129

It's interesting to me that Gustav (I've been misspelling him) formed on the same day as the Democratic Convention and they both ended the week facing a perfect storm and the impact of that storm is yet to be seen. More interesting is three more storms backed up behind Gustav, they are still tropical storms, not hurricanes yet, but could turn this good week for the GOP into something not so good and they didn't see them coming. This whole election season will be punctuated by "perfect storms" for both parties and we will be left bruised and exhausted by the time it's over and it doesn't end at the election.

Ms. Palin's Mars conj. Saturn in Aquarius is trouble. Her Mars at 23 degrees (Saturn at 25) is conjunct the US progressed Retrograde Mercury and T-Neptune is conjunct them both, with Chiron close behind. That could be lies revealed or lies covered up. The US progressed Venus just passed over her Jupiter in Aries a couple of years ago, while the energy is diminished it's still there. Depending on her time of birth her Moon could be conjunct the US progressed Pluto at 29 degrees Capricorn.

There are some strong positive aspects to both the GOP and Dem Party charts of election day with a slight advantage to the Dems.

I agree with Grizzley, there is something wrong, very wrong here with her but I do think Obama and Biden's political instincts are far superior to what people think.

Astrology is a map of energy as it relates to countries, people, events, groups of people such as political parties. I've said before one cannot look at just one thing or just one person and get a complete picture; an example would be a successful bank robber, aspects on any given day could be horrible for a particular bank and great for the bank robber enabling him to get away with the money. Six months later, aspects are terrible for him and great for the bank and they get their money back. Success and failure shift and change with the changing of energies. It concerns me that so many, including liberals and conservatives are worried about Ms. Palin, like we were about Bush. There is an unconscious fear of the "collective" out here that McCain will win and she will end up being President either way we would have a continuation of what we've had the last 8 years only worse.

Watch Gustav, if this storm weakens that's a good sign or if Hanna (behind Gustav) intensifies, that's a good sign. Both Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden count John McCain as a good friend, I wonder if Obama has been blind-sided.

McCain has the GOP nomination locked up, yet he still had to shore up the GOP right-wing theocratic base. So he's done that with Palin. I'm sure Phyllis Schafley is delighted.

Meanwhile, Palin is so unknown generally, that the "internets" are just abuzz trying to find out more about her. Knowing that she is a creationist, abstinence-only sex ed, rapist's sperm more valuable than rape victim true believer, is enough for me. And then there is this--was this woman really crazy enough to get on a plane for an 8+ hour trip after her water broke? Or, has she instigated a deception for appearances' sake? Neither possibility is good.

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-69834

A speaker (don't remember who) at the Democratic Convention said, "Next year we'll have a president and vice-president who believe in science." Well, we're all working for that.

Whether it is the weather or the politics I have to take the TV pundits in small doses--what gas bags! Just now one "reporter" showing video of the evacuation of NO, asked the other "reporter", "Where are these people going? Where are they taking them? Do you know?"

"Yes," said the male reporter in that "we know all this stuff and will explain it to you" voice:

"They are going to Other Places in the state and in other states."

Over to you, Sally. And thanks so much for this site and your insights.

Sally thank you so much for your latest "editorial" although you left me gasping: is there a real possibility that Obama has been "blind-sided"? I was disturbed when he referred to expanding the war in Afghanistan and then seemed to hint at global war. I can't believe that people would be surprised that the right-wing Muslims are organizing world-wide. Hello!!?? Has anyone noticed what we have done to Iraq? and what about all the missing Muslims stolen off streets and moved to other countries to be tortured?
I am so sorry but I don't see or hear any change-maybe a little less pain for those of us who still have jobs with benefits

I just want to let you guys know that I evacuated yesterday (Saturday) afternoon. I'm now holed up a little farther north, a little deeper in Jesusland (oops, I meant Butler, AL).

I won't be posting much for at least a few days, if not longer, but I'm enjoying all of your posts, for the time being.

I was hoping that the Pubs would postpone their convention till next week, when the aspects look downright abysmal. Oh well.

Hi, Gina,

Hope all will be well with you.

I have heard that the levees in NO are no higher than they were before Katrina, and that the Army Corp of Engineers were given neither the money nor the mandate to strengthen the levees after Katrina. Is that right, to your knowledge?

Don't know where Butler is, but when I worked for the Feds in the '70s I visited Veto, Alabama, where a resident explained to me that I was mispronouncing my family name. I shot back, "Usually I don't even speak to people from Veto, Alabama."

No offense meant--my in-laws, the kindest and best people in the world--all live in Alabama.

Hilarious Palin satire from none other than Maureen Dowd in her NY Times column.

Snippet:

The movie ends with the former beauty queen shaking out her pinned-up hair, taking off her glasses, slipping on ruby red peep-toe platform heels that reveal a pink French-style pedicure, and facing down Vladimir Putin in an island in the Bering Strait. Putting away her breast pump, she points her rifle and informs him frostily that she has some expertise in Russia because it’s close to Alaska. “Back off, Commie dude,” she says. “I’m a much better shot than Cheney.”

Then she takes off in her seaplane and lands on the White House lawn, near the new ice fishing hole and hockey rink. The “First Dude,” as she calls the hunky Eskimo in the East Wing, waits on his snowmobile with the kids — Track (named after high school track meets), Bristol (after Bristol Bay where they did commercial fishing), Willow (after a community in Alaska), Piper (just a cool name) and Trig (Norse for “strength.”)

“The P.T.A. is great preparation for dealing with the K.G.B.,” President Palin murmurs to Todd, as they kiss in the final scene while she changes Trig’s diaper. “Now that Georgia’s safe, how ’bout I cook you up some caribou hot dogs and moose stew for dinner, babe?”

Much more at the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/31/opinion/31dowd.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Daily Kos has it right - John Cole nails it:

The nicest thing for me about the Palin pick is that I don’t even have to think twice about her to know I oppose her- I simply am done supporting religious nutjobs. I went along with the silliness when I was a Republican because I respect the give and take of coalition building, but now that I am not in the GOP, I don’t have to tolerate the BS. Think evolution is “just a theory,” you are not getting my vote. Think abortion should be illegal no matter what, even in cases of rape and incest- not getting my vote. Think intelligent design should be taught in science classrooms- not getting my vote.

So for me, at least, I don’t have to even bother with the issues of experience and her complete lack of knowledge regarding foreign affairs and well, hell, the fact she didn’t even know what the VP did a few weeks ago. I don’t have to think about any of that, as her extreme religious views already disqualify her in my eyes. No more social conservatives. Ever.

Having said that, it really does seem there is something to this trooper stuff:

We rely on elected officials not to use the power of their office to pursue personal agendas or vendettas. It’s called an abuse of power. There is ample evidence that Palin used her power as governor to get her ex-brother-in-law fired. When his boss refused to fire him, she fired him. She first denied Monegan’s claims of pressure to fire Wooten and then had to amend her story when evidence proved otherwise. The available evidence now suggests that she 1) tried to have an ex-relative fired from his job for personal reasons, something that was clearly inappropriate, and perhaps illegal, though possibly understandable in human terms, 2) fired a state official for not himself acting inappropriately by firing the relative, 3) lied to the public about what happened and 4) continues to lie about what happened.
These are, to put it mildly, not the traits or temperament you want in someone who could hold the executive power of the federal government.

Actually, Josh, after watching the Bush administration queer the Justice Department, those are precisely the traits Republicans want.

Another hit out of the ball park for Frank Rich.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/31/opinion/31rich.html?hp

Psychic Elizabeth Joyce's prediction sounds eerily like a Mc Cain win. The consolation is that she hasn't been very accurate about anything else, but there is no way she could have known of Mc Cain's pick at the time of her prediction.

"My psychic sense tells me that not only will a woman become the nation’s first Vice President at the 2008 election, but she will be sworn in as president when the male president is forced to step down due to serious health issues or worse. I have also psychically stated that we will have a one-term president in 2008."

Follow-up to the above post: the same psychic above, makes this prediction on another website at the beginning of 2007, which conflicts with her other prediction, so which is it? Still none the wiser.

"The new president will be a young man, mainly inexperienced. He will be in government, but has not served for too long. There will be a female vice-presidential candidate on each ticket - but a Democrat takes office in January of 2009."

That's called covering some/all bases, yes Crystal?! Hahaha (or whatever)!

Hallo again, dear Seestas & Bros, especially Sally. I've been away because last year June (or was it July?) a vein blew in my brain from a congenital blob of those kinds of veiny mishookups...shld there be one. I found out they're not that uncommon. Burnt out by laser. Doc said I'd be good as new..."no," he amended, "better than new!" Have taken him up on that. ;O) In the "old days," it wld've meant drilling thru the skull &... (groan). Now it's been a process of allowing memories that was my life's story to surface...rather like putting together a huge jigsaw puzzle...oh, & strengthening the body. Very strange experience incl 2 mos in the hospital & the over a year in a nursing home. Now in my own apt once again not too far from where I started out. Unfortunately, I was an "Old Curmudgeon" at the NH, too. But folks have been exceedingly kind to me I can tell you that...particularly the beautiful men & I do have them (thank the Great Cosmic Mother!).

MyGod! joannaO...........really glad you made it through all that! That's the down side of this long distance friendship........if somone stops posting we are clueless!
DOuble welcome back!

JoannaO yeow!!! What a rough ride, glad you made it through and are here with us.

Gustav is playing tiddly winks with all those oil rigs out there. I hope it weakens fast!

A fine Charlie Reese with a little real background history...that's HIStory and not HERstory. Women couldn't do more insane at this point I don't think. http://www.lewrockwell.com/reese/reese356.html

Thinking of ((((all of you)))) in Gustov's path ... hoping your lives won't be too disrupted ... best wishes.

((((((joannaoregon))))), so nice to hear from you - what a trial you have been through - wishing you all the best for the future also. I'm so glad you are still in this world and able to share your wonderful insights with us mortals.

Palin accepting McCain's offer feels bizzare. I cannot imagine why a person with a 4month, special needs, infant would agree to SUCH a demanding job. Hocky mom indeed!

Marjorie Orr has some interesting comments - here's one post from her:

Sarah Palin From: Marjorie. (30 Aug 2008 19:11):
She''s a horror the more I look at her. Against abortion even for rape and incest? Her general line on abortion is women should take responsibility for their bodies but being responsible for being raped? That''s positively Saudi Arabian. Her Mars in Aquarius is very afflicted and it can be exceptionally contrary if not downright perverse in my experience. She''s happy to see creationism taught in schools - what an oddity. Her views on environmental issues are all likewise very skewed and contradictory.
She has a very driven, very masculinised chart and she does compare herself to Margaret Thatcher, who also hopped straight out of giving birth into non-stop go, go, go. Both MThatcher and SPalin had exceptionally strong, hard driving fathers - MT had a Mars, Pluto, Jupiter father and SP has a Saturn Mars Neptune one. And as someone pointed out on ADB Palin''s North Node is in Cancer which is the feminine energy she''s supposed to be reaching towards and yet she''s sliding back into all the Capricorn stuff of outer ambition etc.
I think it will backfire badly on McCain who has handed away his one trump card against Obama - of lack of experience. And no one can possibly want what''s virtually a municipal politician that close to taking over the top job. It''s like the plot for a bad comedy movie. I reckon her Neptune transits may well yet prove to have a very undermining effect on her as the media gets to work.

Oh, it gets better Kiwi, take a look at her church, it's part of the network of militant "christians" You remember the camp for kids in Idaho teaching them to hate anyone that wasn't their brand of Christians, to kill them if necessary. Lovely people, and seemingly all over the place in their "stealth" campaign to rule the world. Dobson is one of their "leaders" and there are others, but Dobson is a king pin. As for John McCain, he has so sold his soul for this job. It's sad really. I am glad to hear you say from your objective perch in NZ that you think it will backfire on them, I think so too but we aren't as objective here, so one never knows from whence one's opinions spring. I felt an immediate "something's not right here" when I saw her.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/29/163234/559/495/579213

Joanna, all I can think of to say is just above a whisper "Joanna." I would have given a whole lot to have been there to help you out. The likes of you just cannot fade away, hardly anyone else around like you.

Morgana who is a first class storm tracker has been watching Gustav since he first sprang to life and she predicted all this for NO all last week, just where it's going to land, wish it would shift toward Texas and away from NO.

Tomorrow at about 4:00am ET the Moon moves into placid, balancing Libra and the storms should calm down. They are predicting a storm surge of several feet, so my light and energy goes out to NO.

HI, Good morning all..............It is now 4:18 A M EDT. Here we go again..........................
2 out of 5 smoke alarms still screaming. I did manage to turn off 3 of them. I can't squeeze & twist the one over the bed to get it off.............and damned if I am going to stoop crouch in the basement to turn that one off.....
OH THANK GOD IT STOPPED! Ok for almost 1 hour at 3:30 Am. And my electrician is an in state long distance call..which has been turned off even tho I called & made an agreement & sent them a check!
???But I rna into the local grave/well digger inthe market and he is coming over Tues. to deal with that. He sounded quite knowledgeable on that situation!
Good input on Palin......babygate isn't even needed. Boy the cybercommunity is all over this one!

Good Morning QOP. Did you get your electrician and is he ok? I mean did you harm him in any way like push a fire alarm where the sun does not shine?

JoannaO-i of course had no idea of your situation. I love your grouchy thoughts and I have missed you so much. Welcome back and let us know if there is any way we can help now.
QOP- JEEZ this is nuts about the smoke detectors. Do you need so many? Is the house large with more than one floor? Also-I believe the full impact of our economic reality shows when we are limited to the real money and that happenes to all of us sooner or later.
Sally- thank you for the update on McCains VP. I continue to jump up and down trying to alert people to the Dominionists- I lost my ONLY high school friend to them after she went through a time of deep family tragedy-I couldn't believe what happened and she would not speak to me because I belong to the lost ones.

From DU (regarding Ms. Palin):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6854376

Guys - I just got this from a friend with an Alaskan connection - about sarah palin

One of my fellow mom friends in the neighborhood just sent me this. Turns out I know the author of the original email - another fellow mom from our same elementary school. I've never had reason to distrust her word, OR the word of my close friend who sent this.

To All:

I received this from a friend whose former classmate is from Alaska and thought it should be passed around. xo Wendy

Dear Classmates -

As an Alaskan, I am writing to give all of you some information on Sarah Palin, Senator McCain's choice for VP.

As an Alaska voter, I know more than most of you about her and, frankly, I am horrified that he picked her. The most accurate description of her is red neck. Her husband works in the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay and races snow mobiles. She is a life time member of the NRA and has worked tirelessly to allow indiscriminate hunting of wildlife in Alaska, particularly wolves and bears. She has spent millions of Alaska state dollars on aerial hunting of these predators from helicopters and airplanes, dollars that should have been spent, for example, on Alaska's failing school system. We have the lowest rate of high school graduation in the country. Not all of you may think aerial predator hunting is so bad, but how anyone (other than Alaska wolf-haters, of which there are many, most without teeth) could think this use of funds is appropriate is beyond me. If you want to know more about the aerial hunting travesty, let me know and I will send some links to informative web sites.

(insert from calimary: see The World Wildlife Fund, Defenders of Wildlife, and other worthy organizations)

She has been a strong supporter of increased use of fossil fuels, yet the McCain campaign has the nerve to say she has "green" policies. The only thing green about Sarah Palin is her lack of experience. She has consistently supported drilling in ANWR, use of coal-burning power plants (as I write this, a new coal plant is being built in her home town of Wasilla), strip mining, and almost anything else that will unnecessarily exploit the diminishing resources of Alaska and destroy its environment.

Prior to her one year as governor of Alaska, she was mayor of Wasilla, a small red neck town outside Anchorage. The average maximum education level of parents of junior high school kids in Wasilla is 10th grade. Unfortunately, I have to go to Wasilla every week to get groceries and other supplies, so I have continual contact with the people who put Palin in office in the first place. I know what I'm talking about. These people don't have a concept of the world around them or of the serious issues facing the US. Furthermore, they don't care. So long as they can go out and hunt their moose every fall, kill wolves and bears and drive their snow mobiles and ATVs through every corner of the wilderness, they're happy.

I wish I were exaggerating. Sarah Palin is currently involved in a political corruption scandal. She fired an individual in law enforcement here because she didn't like how he treated one of her relatives during a divorce. The man's performance and ability weren't considered; it was a totally personal firing and is currently under investigation. While the issue isn't close to the scandal of Ted Steven's corruption, it shows that Palin isn't "squeaky clean" and causes me to think there ay be more issues that could come to light. Clearly McCain doesn't care. When you line Palin up with Biden, the comparison would be laughable if it weren't so serious.

Sarah Palin knows nothing of economics (admittedly a weak area for McCain), or of international affairs, knows nothing of national government, Social Security, unemployment, health care systems - you name it. The idea of her meeting with heads of foreign governments around the world truly frightens me. In an increasingly dangerous world, with the economy in shambles in the US, Sarah Palin is uniquely UNqualified to be vice president. John McCain is not a young man. Should something happen to him such that the vice president had to step in, it would destroy our country and possibly the world to have someone as inexperienced and inappropriate as Sarah Palin.

The choice of Palin is a cheap shot by McCain to try to get Hillary supporters to vote for him. when McCain introduced her today, Palin had the nerve to compare herself with Hillary and Geraldine Ferraro. Sarah Palin, you are no Hillary Clinton. To those of you who, like me, supported Hillary and were upset that she did not get the nomination, please don't think that Sarah Palin is a worthy substitute. If you supported Hillary, regardless of what you think the media and the democratic party may have done to undermine her campaign, the person to support now is Obama, not Sarah Palin.

To those of you who are independent or undecided, don't let the choice of Palin sway you in favor of McCain. Choosing her shows how unqualified McCain is to be president. To those of you who are conservative, I guess you have no choice for president. But please try to see how the poor choice of Palin tells us a great deal about McCain's judgment.

While the political posturing inherent in the choice of Palin is obvious, the more serious issue is the fact that the VP is, literally, a heartbeat away from the presidency. Sarah Palin is totally and unequivocally unqualified to be vice president, let alone president. I know this is a lengthy and emotional email, but the stakes are high. I thought it might help for all of you, regardless of political affiliation, to know something about Palin from someone who has to live with her administration in Alaska on a daily basis.

Jackie S

I think this paragraph from above is worth repeating and emphasizing more than anything else:

Sarah Palin knows nothing of economics (admittedly a weak area for McCain), or of international affairs, knows nothing of national government, Social Security, unemployment, health care systems - you name it. The idea of her meeting with heads of foreign governments around the world truly frightens me. In an increasingly dangerous world, with the economy in shambles in the US, Sarah Palin is uniquely UNqualified to be vice president. John McCain is not a young man. Should something happen to him such that the vice president had to step in, it would destroy our country and possibly the world to have someone as inexperienced and inappropriate as Sarah Palin.

Palin's 17 year old daughter 5 months pregnant.

http://news.yahoo.com/story//nm/20080901/pl_nm/usa_politics_palin_dc

Well & I don't feel that the denizens of monster nether world ever intend to "win" this election--they have all their mechinations in place now after at least the last two "elections". At this point, they can throw out dead rotted herring-candy to thrill the hard right & it'll mean nothing except lots of yammering amongst all the livers in the daylight world. Bah. Humbug.

GOP convention turns to appeal for hurricane aid (hahahahahahahaaaaaa!) http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jQD-Ub1QQZgszKZ4ddpQBmVCevOQD92U29G00

Very upbeat for those of us who enjoy that sort of thing! http://www.whatsuponplanetearth.com/latest.htm

Hi - I'm reading the "Twitters" of the RNC mayhem from the safety of my computer. Also I watched Jason Bermas' just released 9-11 film "Fabled Enemies" on Google this a.m., aren't the internets grand?
Ron Paul supporters are having a convention here too, tommorrow they'll fill the Target center for 12 hours of speakers and entertainment.
My, those Palin women are certainly fecund! Andrew Sullivan is on the case.
http://twitter.com/mnindylive
http://twitter.com/minnpostnow
http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2008/08/31/3225/ron_pauls_rally_the_other_political_convention_in_town
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/

JoannaO!!! A special welcome back to you. So happy to have you back - I was wondering what became of you. Sorry to hear of your ordeal, but glad to hear that you're well along the road to recovery, and back to your ole feisty self. You were never far from my thoughts. Funny, but I quit my job right around the time you became ill, and haven't worked since. Not healthy for the pocketbook, but my life has since been stress free.

Yup, Crystal...there's more than one way to live all right & stress-free is a very nice one. Good on you! Thank you so much for your healing thots!

In my earlier post, read "thots" instead of "thoughts" - a little tribute to JonnaO. Hahaha.

Wow Joanna! I posted my message before I read your last one. Keep those "thots" coming.

Those "thots" on whatsuponplanetearth website are very uplifting. Wish I could believe them all. I do need to find a new "career" soon though. Got burnt out by my old one. Also hope Obama even gets a chance to fulfill some of those lofty ideals she speaks of.

The Repubs are so transparent with all their stagecrafting, in their effort to reverse the damage done to their administartion in the wake of Katrina 3 years ago; but alas and alack, it's too late, and I'm sure everyone sees through their charade.

The Repubs are so transparent with all their stagecrafting, in their effort to reverse the damage done to their administartion in the wake of Katrina 3 years ago; but alas and alack, it's too late, and I'm sure everyone sees through their charade.

GOP Poll: Who is a better VP Choice - Palin or Biden?

The result? Palin 6% - Biden 94%

http://www.gop.mfbiz.com/#/newpalinbidenpoll/4530692820

Palin On Abortion: I'd Oppose Even If My Own Daughter Was Raped

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/01/palin-on-abortion-id-oppo_n_122924.html

And it's looking more and more like McCain's poor decision making in choosing Palin for VP has backfired...

GOP Pollster's Focus Group Sees Palin As "A Gimmick"

http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/08/focusedthe_sequel.html

Another week, another Frank Luntz/AARP focus group of undecided voters--this one in Minneapolis and with some bad news for John McCain: they don't like the choice of Sarah Palin for vice president. Only one person said Palin made him more likely to vote for McCain; about half the 25-member group raised their hands when asked if Palin made them less likely to vote for McCain. They had a negative impression of Palin by a 2-1 margin...a fact that was reinforced when they were given hand-dials and asked to react to Palin's speech at her first appearance with McCain on Friday---the dials remained totally neutral as Palin went through her heart-warming(?) biography, and only blipped upwards when she said she opposed the Bridge to Nowhere--which wasn't quite the truth, as we now know.

Then there was this, from a woman named Teresa, who went to the Democratic Convention as a Hillary delegate and is leaning toward voting for McCain--obviously the target audience for the Palin pick: "His age didn't really bother me until he picked Palin. What if he dies in office and leaves us with her as President? Also she leans toward the rigid right, and I always thought he was a moderate...You know, I change my mind almost every day, but right now I"m wondering where the John McCain I really liked in 2000 went, what happened to the moderate? This John McCain has the look of someone who is being manipulated--probably by Karl Rove."

More at link... and interesting comments afterwards.
http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/08/focusedthe_sequel.html

It gets even better:

SECESSIONIST Sarah: VP pick Sarah Palin and the Alaska Independence Party

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/1/4231/18477/878/581881

Isn't this why you are supposed to vet your VEEP candidates first??

I am sure that the more the Repubs learn about the Palin family, the more they are regretting their VP pick, and I don't believe John Mc Cain knew about the daughter's pregnancy when he vetted her.

Numerology-wise, Sarah Palin has a lot of 2s around her. Her birthdate - Feb 11, 1964 = 2/2/2, and she's the 11th governor of Alaska. Her son also enlisted in the army on Sept. 11th. Lots of 11s. Don't know what it means though. Just thought I'd throw it out there FWIW.

I was reading on the internet that Sarah Palin eloped with her husband to be on Aug 29(there's that 11 again, 1988). Later, she said it was to save their parents the expense of a wedding, but the truth was that she was pregnant. Their first child Track was born on April 20, 1989, less than 8 months after they eloped. Maybe that's the way they do it up in Alaska.

It is just too weird how the number 11, and 2 feature in this woman's life. John Mc Cain announced that she was to be his running mate on Aug. 29 (11). Ok, that's the last of my numerology posts. I'm sure everybody is fed up of me by now.

Crystal,
Unfortunately those 'all 2s' - with 11 thrown in - are very bad... for us that is.

This is someone who was, is, and will continue to cut through life as a knife would do through a cream-cheese that's been out of the frige for a few hours. There are no barriers on her way. As long as she doesn't become lazy and keeps her eyes on the prize, she will get anything she ever desires. This is the sort of person who excells at compromising and deal making. And whlie initially her opponents think they came out ahead or at least even, she eventually gets the best end of the deal when the time passes.

An insular circle of family, friends, co-workers is what keeps her afloat. But she is as important to them as they are to her. She's to them as mother-hen is to chicks. They can't exist without her, and she fulfills her purpose in life through having them. This is not a pubic servant on the grand scale. She can listen well and understand quickly. But when it comes to planning, doing and achieving results, her solutions are great for a homogeneous population of say 50,000. But serving the needs of a diverse population numbering millions is above and beyond her. A person like that is likely to attempt to gently force(yes, this is the type that can combine this two words as she acts, and can be fairly successful at it) everyone into the same mold.

If she's destined to play a major executive role, the period between ages 39 and 48 is when she's extremely likely to do so. This is also the time when she's prone to base her decisions and judgements strictly on ambitions and cold logic. As I've said she rarely faces barriers and opposition, so it possible that there won't be anyone around to stop or even warn her when she crosses the line between right and wrong.

I'm sorry, but it doesn't look good at all. If anyone ever sees a photo of her waving her handwhere the palm is clearly visible(I realize those are very rare, but just maybe), please post a link, I would really like to look at that.