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jerry/corpus christi texas — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:22:34 GMT

Abortion is a non issue for me, so I don't care about the abortion issue. no wonder they call congress the talking head capitol of the world. If they would listen to the american people this immigration debate would be history.

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JOHNNY JUSTICE ANYWHERE USA — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:24:26 GMT

"GONZO GATE" DAY 112, THE SAGE CONTINUES. STILL SERCHING FOR THE 5,000,0000 MISSING E-MAILS. MAY BE HARRIETT MIERS KNOWS WHERE THEY WE PUT?

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scott, winona mn — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:34:28 GMT

If they have National Prayer Day and they all pray for different things, then what happens? Oh my.

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juan, ft lauderdale,fl — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:36:18 GMT

republicans are getting a taste of their own tastics.... sounds familiar; flip-flop heaped on romney. love it! he's nothing but a panderer now for the right-wing. What goes around comes around.

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Al, KS — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:36:02 GMT

Were the rest of the candidates invited, Reps and Dems, or did they choose not to attend? It seems that you would want to hear from all of the candidates from both parties. Since none of the front runners are there, it makes it a non-story. If they chose not to attend, that was a smart tactic. If they weren't invited, that should be the story.

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Olivia — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:46:06 GMT

scott, mn--Maybe God treats it like a poll.

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Al, KS — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:54:15 GMT

Does Fred Thompson really exist...or has he been manufactured in a film studio somewhere?...maybe in the Chenney undisclosed location. Can't answer questions if you never show up in person, can you? But hey...he's in second place in the polls. Guess it's working.

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David, Tallahasee, FL — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:07:48 GMT

"...nothing is happening in Washington and Congress -- except debating."

To me this is a good thing, as it's a healthy change from the rubber-stamp Congress we had before, that didn't debate giving away our money to the pharmaceutical companies in their health care "reform." Not to menton the money to the mercenaries and armament manufacturers and the precious lives of those who bravely volunteer to defend this country. (They actually show up to their assigned duty stations, unlike our Coward-in-Chief.)

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CJ — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:14:25 GMT

Romney has flip flopped more than a fish out of water.....and it's Republicans who are exposing it. Priceless.

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Russell in Maryland — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:24:52 GMT

Yes Mr. pollster Neil Newhouse (R), the problem with government is that we are engaging in too much thought and debate on the issues before acting. Clearly the congress should cut it out and starting emulating the Bush administration since that has worked out so well. Why with thought and debate we would have never acted on Iraq -- I see your point. I hope the news media continues to consult with such a sage as you.

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Russell in Maryland — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:26:41 GMT

We need a National Reason Day.

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Russell in Maryland — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:28:31 GMT

There is no Fred Thompson, it is really Don Rickles playing joke on us all.

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JOHNNY JUSTICE ANYWHERE USA — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:40:22 GMT

It's the 9th. inning of the Bush presidency. The score is Bush 0 and the american public 0. It's been a tight game, however Babe Ruth is up to bat for the american public and he's pointing at the center field bleachers.And so goes the republican party, it soon will be over.

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CJ — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:43:10 GMT

Hmm..debate is so dissapointing after the constant insults and political voting of the last Republican Congress. Terry Schiavo...no, the approval ratings are low because the Democrats gave to much leeway to Bush on Iraq and has rolled over on immigration. Oh yea, gas prices are still high and I have yet to see the minimum wage hike they talked about(it doesn't apply to my job though).

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Steve Althouse, Jonesboro IN — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:47:08 GMT

I think it's hilarious how the repubs are so busy stabbing each other in the back! And now they have a lazy slob actor who god knows what he stands for stealing the show. Wait to see who floats to the top of the dungheap and swift boat his a**!

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JIrby, Colorado — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:56:26 GMT

First Fred Thompson appears on FOX News Sunday, then he speaks at a national right to life convention. By my brand of fuzzy math, that means his next move will be to address a national carnival geek's convention where he will demonstrate the proper way to bite the heads off live chickens and swallow them, to the tune of "I'm all out of love" by Air Supply which the Repub far right is proposing as the new national anthem.

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HMY — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:04:33 GMT

I disagree with Matthews---Thompson is not handsome and sexy to women.More like an old saggy and bald man.4 years of looking at Bush is more than enough ----I am sure he will not have his hair patches on like has on in L and O----On Leno he sure had on a cheap and shiney suit eeeesh

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John Doe, The Peanut Gallery — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:21:28 GMT

The problem with expecting swift action from Congress is that gridlock is actually not a bug of our political system it is a feature. No one should want swift federal action. When the government acts quickly you get things like the Patriot Act and the Iraq occupation. That investigations take longer than most people would like is regrettable. But I would rather have a Congress that moves slowly and deliberately than one that just rubber stamps every whim of the President.

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H P Boston — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:32:28 GMT

The Republican National Anthem,

"IT'S MY PARTY AND I'LL CRY IF I WANT TO"

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Lee Holmes — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:17:52 GMT

Not so fast HP.You are ramping up the hearse while the corpus still walks free.The conservative GOP is holding the line on border enforcement,and has the vast majority of Americans in all polls conducted[week of June 11,2007],backing their play.[Hillarys and even Bushs ''comprehensive amnesty-without-enforcement''is now DOA].John Boehner,the House minority leader, forced Democrats to the wall in demanding that earmarks be made public.A service that benefits all Americans who demand oversight and a brilliant manouvre between he and GOP Rep.DeMint to keep the pressure on.This is how a minority party operates in its best environment particularly in the House.

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John B, Des Moines, IA — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:53:42 GMT

Lee, public acknowledgement of earmarks was part of the Democratic campaign last fall and the House followed through on that promise the first day of the new session. Pretty brilliant of them to force the majority to do what they planned anyway. Now if they would force Democrats to start withdrawing troops from Iraq they could make some real gains.

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Kato in Des Moines — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 19:36:40 GMT

Johnny: The game I'm watching has the American Public ahead of Bush by a score of four to one in the eighth.

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Still Crazy After All These Years — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 19:38:16 GMT

H P boston, I prefer "Onward Christian Soldiers"

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bobf — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 20:32:36 GMT

John Doe I could not agree more. Our current political system is geared to be slow and with compromises. I am glad nothing is getting done. That means the republican machine is being grounded to a stop. You are so right about the patriot act and the Iraq war. That is what happens when one party controls all branches of government. It is allowed to happen because of an easily manipulated president, that does not think for himself. Remember God talks to W and the reason we invaded Iraq was with his god's blessing. So facts, reason , and opposing opinions mean absolutely nothing to this president. He has stated he wants to rule like a dictator. Just sit back and think about W having god in his ear and all the power of a dictator. This is what republicans want. Thankfully the rest of america woke up and started taking his power away in the 2006 elections. He is to busy covering his own ass instead of screwing up more things. Investigations are just the tip of the iceberg. Once we find out how decisions were actually made in the white house: I guess Ouija board, modified to talk directly to god. Oh god, I want to piss off liberals, that is my mission in life. Start wars and give tons of money to the rich. This God sounds like one sick puppy. Remind me to never pray to his god. He is one evil fellow.

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Carrie, NW Iowa — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 20:35:52 GMT

John Doe - You are exactly right. If you study the party affiliations of the WH and Congress throughout history, you will see that more often than not there is divided government. I have yet to be convinced that the average American intends to do that, however.

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Olivia — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 20:47:15 GMT

Here's some important news out of a part of the country that, not being New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina, or anyplace else that either has an early presidential contest or is one of the much-sought vote-heavy states, is being treated as if it doesn't exist. Per an article in the Times-Picayune, cash-strapped New Orleans is asking foreign countries for rebuilding help as federal dollars remain slow to flow. According to Kenya Smith, director of intergovernmental relations for Mayor Nagin, city leaders are talking with more than 5 unidentified countries and added that the city is "very serious" about pursuing foreign help. For months, Nagin has complained that bureaucracy is choking the flow of much-needed federal funds to New Orleans--slowing her recovery. As of June 8, the city said she had gotten just over half of the $320 million obligated by FEMA for rebuilding city infrastructure, etc. And that doesn't include other improvements such as raised neighborhoods meant to help build the stronger city promised by Nagin and his recovery director. It's high time the candidates and the media who cover them started treating Katrina and its aftermath and the need to rebuild New Orleans and the rest of the affected area as a substantive campaign issue instead of "wagging the dog" with relative trivia.

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H P Boston — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 20:59:28 GMT

SCAATY How about..."Nearer My God To Thee"

Help to rush the Christian Soldiers along ya think.

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Still Crazy After All These Years — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 21:25:24 GMT

H P Boston, "Nearer My God To Thee'-is the current Supreme Court

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Lee Holmes — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 21:25:23 GMT

John.Insofar as the House is concerned they reneged on that promise the moment that they captured the majority.Thus they ''planned to do''nothing.Obey had the lock on earmark divulgence and was not going to let it go until the GOP ganged up on him.Ask yourself why it has only taken six months for the Dem majority to look even worse than the GOP did in twelve years.

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H P Boston — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 22:41:53 GMT

Still Crazy, The Supreme Court I pegged as...
"HOW LONG HAS THS BEEN GOING ON"

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Dar — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 00:31:37 GMT

Thank you for mentioning that Ron Paul was at the candidate forum at the National Right to Life convention on Friday. I wonder what Dr. Paul had to say.

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Barbara, TN — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 03:23:36 GMT

Olivia, I think everything in NOLA is at a standstill until FEMA collects the overpayments that were illegally collected. I think the figure is about $450 million paid out to crooks taking advantage of a bad situation.

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Mel, Illinois — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 04:14:56 GMT

'There must be a thousand voices trying to get through" - Supertramp

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jerry/corpus christi texas — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 13:38:40 GMT

Olivia, call Nigeria, all that money they are making from their telephone scams, they ought to kick some of it back, and will keep Ray Nagin's promise that New orleans will be a chocolate city.

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JOHNNY JUSTICE ANYWHERE USA — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 02:25:45 GMT

"GONZO GATE" IT ISN'T JUST YOUR EVERYDAY SCANDLE ANYMORE.

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Independent,Texas — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 13:13:00 GMT

John Doe, The Peanut Gallery (Sent Friday, June 15, 2007 12:21 PM)

You must be a part of my industry. Yes, indeed, gridlock can be seen as a "feature". Beautifully put.

I hate that gridlock most often manifests as purely political posturing (love alliteration) but, the benefit as another blogger said, is that we are spared purely knee jerk reactions which, then, have to be healed over decades. In addition, it reflects a true branch of government rather than the rubber stamp congress we had until the last election.

The downside, of course, is that, once we do have decisions, much of the time these decisions are the result of compromises that water down to almost nothing the resulting legislation.

It is a price I am more than willing to pay if we can avoid another Patriot Act.

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John B, Des Moines, IA — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 14:37:59 GMT

Lee, tell me when the GOP ganged up on Obey. Must've been the first day of the new session because that's when the rules were changed.

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Still Crazy After All These Years — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 15:06:18 GMT

"Number 9"-Beatles

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Lee Holmes — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 18:59:33 GMT

John.Try last week.[led by Bohner,DeMint,Ensign and Coburn].If the ''rules were changed'',then explain this.Chicago Tribune,June 19,2007[thats this morning]-''Expose The Earmarks''.Obey is specifically singled out for criticism as the 08 budget is now up to 32,000 earmarks of which not ONE has been publically released.Obey is keeping all of them secret.Why?