Well. Doesn't the Dew Drop Inn look nice this week, decorated to celebrate our Amy's birthday! A very happy birthday to you, Amy, your kindness to those on FR does not go unnoticed! First round on me, and I have the dough made, as well as the sauce, homemade pizza being the order of the day!

What oh what have we learned? Just this: We have tried to warn all of you that Mittens is not a very nice man. If you give him a little bit of power, it goes right to his head, and he likes to use that power against those who do not live as he does.

What am I talking about? When gays were allowed the same right as the rest of the world to marry in MA, in 2003, it came as a HUGE shock to Mittens that they would actually have families. He didn't think that they could. The Registry of Vital Records and Statistics tried to revise their birth form, reflecting these legitimate families in MA, and wanted to change parent to (for example) father, or second parent. What did our hero Romney do? Why he held his breath til he turned purple, and screamed "oh no you don't!" He forced hospitals to get special permission from his office, and each birth certificate WAS TO BE ALTERED BY HAND!

He didn't care that it would mark those children as "different" their whole lives, and potentially, in a security conscious world, cause life long problems for these children as they tried to register for school, get driver's licenses, passports, and register to vote.

No. Romney's attitude about those families is quite simple and what he has said: "some gays are actually having children born to them, it is not right on paper, it is not right in fact.

This should scare ALL of you to death. This is a man willing to take his own prejudice and make life difficult for people who are not him. Think of the damage he could do with the power of the Presidency behind him? This, alone, makes him unsuitable for high office.

You can read this story, from M. Signorile Romney Some Gays are Actually Having Children Born to Them: 10/26/12.

Amy, a very happy day to you, with all good wishes. Mark, Domenico and staff, hang on, the election is drawing nigh! You can get a rest from this soon! My thanks for all your hard work.

Feisty, I am going to stop by the Dew Drop for the party, and then I am headed out on the road the next week. I'll be back in plenty of time to vote, no fears!

Stay safe all of you in the storm's way, and have a good weekend!

Happy Birthday to TWO amazing women - Amy, who turns 29 (that's Feisty's story, and I'm sticking to it!) and to Madame Secretary Hillary Clinton who hits the big 65 today. And since Feisty's already gotten the birthday song going, I'll do with a little something from Keith Urban, who just happens to be celebrating a birthday today too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dtfBxUTXRY

As for the Week Ahead, I've read where both campaigns are already making contingency plans and cancelling some appearances because of Sandy, "The Perfect Storm on Steroids". Since the latest tracks show it hitting land either just below us in Delaware or just above in New Jersey, I kind of think we're screwed either way. Hope everyone stays safe and dry and that the worst thing we have to talk about next week is the campaign silliness.

I'm heading home to start battening down the hatches. And if I see George Clooney in any kind of boat, I'm heading in the opposite direction!

Stay safe, JoAnne!

Well ,it is finally Friday and a wonderful day to celebrate Amy's birthday!

May all your dreams come true, your garden grow, and your enthusiam for life never fade.

A toast to all the folks at the DDI, the First Read hosts, and posters on these threads.

Election Day is just around the corner.

Cannot wait for the announcement that Obama/Biden have been reelected.

I will immediately book my flight to DC to witness in person all the inaugural festivities on January 21!!January 20 is on a Sunday so the swearing in will take place on Monday, the 21st.

To Amy... a very Happy Birthday, may you live a hundred years and prosper along the way. We cherish your wisdom and your perspective from Maine. Love that down East way of thinking and tell you we need more in this world.

Along with that homemade pizza Ndd is bringing, the drinks are ready whatever your choice and the birthday cake is ready to be wished on and will bring all your wishes true as you blow out the candles.

To all my progressive friends, thanks for showing up every day to keep the faith and spread the word. An old Irish saying: May you all be in heaven before the devil knows your dead.

We will prevail and we will survive. Looking forward to a warm fire a few libations of one's choice and good conversation that makes life worthwhile.

BAIL O DIA ORT (the blessing of God on you)

To our hosts, thank you for providing us with a forum to have our say and for all your hard work in getting us the topics in a timely manner. But hear this, if you don't get the gd gremlins fixed you will lose me as a poster. I have limited time to play here, so please make it easier to do that. thanks and have a good weekend.

Happy Birthday Amy.....and of course a big shout out Happy Birthday to our Secretary of State, Clinton!

Feisty, I'm right in the path of that Frankenstorm. We started battening down today just in case. Happy birthday to Amy and sec Clinton, Everyone have a safe weekend.

Feisty, I'm right in the path of that Frankenstorm

Lisa,

I will keep you in my thoughts! What ever you do, please stay safe!

The scariest part is, not a one of us have ever seen anything like it, at least in our lifetimes!

Lisa: Last big storm I went inland to Phila. and they got hit worst than the seashore. Happy birthday to all.

Obama/Biden 2012 & Hillary in '16

Feisty, Thanks for the good thoughts. We are on a barrier island so I may needs those good thoughts.

Stay safe, lisa. Will be thinking of you.

Romney/ Ryan 2012. The right choice.

Joann in Pa, I was up in Bucks County last weekend. You all stay safe there in Pa. those northeasters can be dangerous storms.

Feisty, almost every post has you first. Seriously you need to get a job lady and start paying taxes. Afterall, you don't mind paying more taxes, do you?

Seriously you need to get a job lady and start paying taxes.

Seriously? You little TWIT!

YOU have NO idea who I am or what I do for a living!

STFU and go wash some your white sheets, you dingbat!

Typical Republican, who has her NOSE in everyones bizness!

Happy Birthday, Amy--wishing you the best today and always. I look forward to your posts from Maine and your sense of humor. And just think---in 2016 you'll share a birthday with President-elect Hillary Clinton!

Thanks to Mark, Domenico and crew for all your hard work and bringing us the latest in politics. We really appreciate it.

Hope everyone in the storm's path stays safe.

P.S. Amy---you shouldn't have brought the Maine lobsters to the Dew Drop Inn---the party is in your honor--but they are appreciated.

Feisty, Jersey girls post was offensive. I have seen a northeaster before 1962. It's not pretty and it's on a high tide and a full moon this time. Take care.

Feisty, Jersey girls post was offensive

Thanks Lisa!

I can't wait for this election to be over and the trolls disappear into the woodwork, leaving FR to us "old timers"!

Let's get back basics! lol

In all seriousness, please be safe - I don't care which side of the aisle anyone sits on! ☺

Ah, you guys are the BEST.On behalf of Hillary, and myself, thank you for your birthday wishes! And, everybody, keep safe in the storm, remember, I don't think Mother Nature appreciated what we did to her climate!

Shove it Magic.

jersey Girl....same to you, all you guys have are gripes and whines.....button up!

From FiveThirtyEight.com:

Mr. Obama has led in the polling averages all year in states that would allow him to win the Electoral College, and that remains the case now.

Battleground states:

Obama 9
Romney 3
Tied 2

Chance of Obama win: 74.4%
Chance of Romney win: 25.6%

But only if Dems get out and vote like our future depends on each. Which it does.

Liberal spammers. So childish.

I am sorry John Doe? Do you know what a spammer is? This last thread was boring but finally civil until a few of you trolls showed up. You don't even like MSNBC. Why don't you just go back to your FOX?

Shove it Magic.

Interesting... Magic was born the same day Vermilion Sky was banned?

Coincidence? lol

I ORDER YOU TO STAND DOWN! IT'S ONLY 4 LIVES. IT'S NOT "OPTIMAL" TO SAVE THEM!

+++++++++++++#######
+++++++++++############
++++++++++###############
+++++++++#####++++++++++###
++++++++###++++++++++++++###
++++++++##++++++++++++++++###
+++++++##+++++++++++++++++####
+++++++#+++++++++++++++++++###
++++++##+++++++++++++++++++####
++++++#+++++++++++++++++##++###
+++++##++++++++++++++############
+++++##++++++++++#+++##+####+####
+++++##++++++#####+++#++#####+####
+++++##+++++##+###+++#+++****++####
+++++##+++++++#++#+++#++++++++++###
+++++##+++++++++++++++#+++++++##+#
+++++#+++++++++++++++++#++++++##+#
++++++#+++++++++++++++#++++++####
++++++##+++++++++++++####++++####
+++++++#++++++++++##+###++++++####
++++##+#+++++++++++++++++++++##+#
++++##++++++++++++++++##++++++####
+++++#++++++++++++++######++++##
+++++#+#+#+++++++++##+++#+++++##
++++++#++#++++++++##+++###++++##
+++++++#++++++++++++++++++++#####
+++++++++#+++++++++++++#++++#####
+++++++++++#+++++++++++++++########
++++++++++++#+++++++++++++#########
+++++++++++++#++++++++++###########

.I AM BARACK OBAMA AND I'M COVERING UP THESE MURDERS TO GET RE-ELECTED

PAID FOR BY TAXPAYERS!!!

My "AHA!" moment for the week: At the top of this page, I learn that both Madame Secretary (and our next POTUS after Barak's second term) and our own inimitable Amy B. are Scorpios- well, dang, that explains a bunch, dunnit? (My own's on Tuesday next- I'm one of you AND a southpaw. Double threat!)

Being new to this page, there's a bunch of stuff that I'm not entirely clear on. It's got to do with the basic mechanics of how stuff works, as I am about as computer- savvy as one might expect a plumber to be (but I am a pretty damn good plumber!).

JersyGrl's nasty little snipe reminded me of something I put up on Facebook for my like-minded friends to see; I got a pretty good response, enough to encourage me to throw it out to the general public and see what y'all think.

Look, I'm a working-class guy and don't rake in the bucks hand over fist, OK? Just the same, in order to help out my country, my descendants, and my fellow hewers of wood and haulers of water, I would voluntarily have my tax rate bumped up by a measly little 1%- from about 18.5% to about 19.5%- in order to help our country retire her debt, and leave "a more perfect union" for the next generation. You could call me a "+1%er"- geddit?

All I would ask is that those making over a quarter-mil ($250,000) commit to doing the same.

Maybe there's a math geek out there who could figure out how much of an impact that would have on our debt; sure as heck, I ain't the guy to do the figgerin'. My point is that there's too much of "ME,ME,ME" in our politics these days, and WAY too much of "us against them." Maybe some of us could just step up and say, "I'm ready to take one for the team."

I see that most of my favorite commenters were on here yesterday, so I hope y'all will be back today and will tell me what you think. Many happy returns to Amy, and to everybody on the East Coast: Don't think of it as a natural disaster; it's more a good excuse to stay home and cuddle up! Peace!

.... YOU WANT TO BLAME OBAMA FOR WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE EAST? Not to discount the American loss of those four men killed ... May God bless them and their families ....

THIS IS WHAT BUSH DID or DIDN'T DO ON AMERICAN SOIL ....

What Bush Knew Before Sept.11

"We were trying to figure out what they (al Qaeda) would do. We never had specifics about time, place, MO (method of operation)."
U.S. intelligence official, commenting anonymously.

President Bush was told in the months before the Sept. 11 attacks that Osama bin Laden's terrorist network might hijack U.S. passenger planes - information which prompted the administration to issue an alert to federal agencies - but not the American public.

CBS News National Security Correspondent David Martin says the warning was in a document called the President's Daily Brief, which is considered to be the single most important document that the U.S. intelligence community turns out. The document did not, however, mention the possibility of planes being flown
into buildings.

An agent in the FBI's Arizona office did, however, speculate about that, writing in his case notes about Zacarias Moussaoui that Moussaoui seemed like the type of person who was capable of flying an aircraft into the World Trade Center.

It was the observation of an agent taking notes as he thought about his case - an observation whose significance simply did not register at the time.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer says that while President Bush was told last summer that bin Laden's al Qaeda network might hijack planes, he did not receive information suggesting that airplanes might be used as suicide bombs, as they were on Sept. 11.

Fleischer emphasizes that "until the attack took place, I think it's fair to say that no one envisioned that as a possibility."

The revelation about the president's security briefing comes as House and Senate Intelligence Committee investigators prepare for public hearings beginning next month on whether an intelligence community which spends $30 billion a year should have been able to provide a more specific warning in advance of Sept. 11.

The New York Times reports that an FBI agent in Arizona warned his superiors last summer that bin Laden might be sending students to U.S. flight schools.

Investigators have since Sept. 11 suspected bin Laden's al Qaeda network of masterminding the terror attacks on America, which killed more than 3,000 people.

Republicans don't want to see the bigger picture .... the middle east has been at war since forever ... the attacks on the embassy happened in the middle east .... Bush was for-warned too ... and did nothing and they attacked us AMERICAN SOIL .... HUGE DIFFERENCE .....

MIDDLE EAST - 4 KILLED

AMERICAN SOIL - 3000 KILLED .... YES REPUBLICANS EXPLAIN THAT ONE .....

MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA .... AND AMERICA VOTE FOR OBAMA 2012

FoxTrotsky,

Welcome to First Read.

I enjoy your posts immensly.

I am all for letting the bush tax cuts expire. Lets raise some revenue, cut some spending and pass a real jobs bill to fix our crumbling infrasructure.I am with you as a +1%

BTW, Plumbers are a noble profession. Wish I had more in my family tree instead a bunch of lawyers.

I am hoping some of my granchildren become plumbers and electricians, mechanics, folks who can use both their hands and brains.

Amy -- A very Happy Birthday to you! Enjoy!

Fox -- Ditto Northstar's welcome. Keep posting. I enjoy them as well.

>>> lisa s and Exit0 - From what I've been hearing yesterday and today, your neck of the woods is going to be right in the thick of things. Hope you both stay dry and safe, and if they start mandatory evacuations, hope you've got somewhere safe to go. Would offer to have you come hang out in Delaware County, but as Exit0 says, I doubt things are going to be all that much better here. Hope you'll both check in as soon as it's safe next week and let us all know how you made out. Take care!

FoxTrotsky : " it's more a good excuse to stay home and cuddle up! Peace!"

Sounds like a plan to me! I was out this morning getting all the essentials - peanut butter, popcorn, chocolate, wine, and the special non-allergenic kitty food the two furry ones need. Have lots of batteries and enough candles to last till at least Thanksgiving. Time to hunker down and wish it was snow instead of rain. And in case I'm not back online by Tuesday, well, Happy Birthday to you, too - you Scorpios and us Pisces tend to get along famously!

My kindest thanks to you all! Northstar, I lived in the state next door to yours (South Dakota), and I'm bound to say that the thing I liked most about it were the people; it's a fact that you won't find a friendlier, harder-working, or more honest bunch anywhere than our Northerners. 'Minnesota Nice' is something that has to be experienced at first hand to truly be appreciated. (Also, your state gave us both Paul Wellstone, may his memory be a blessing, and Al Franken! Maybe it's the water in those 10,000 lakes?)

DCIA, I always look forward to watching you charge into battle against the Forces of Darkness; I imagine they hate to see you coming.

JoAnne in PA, you're a wonderful counterbalance to somebody who unfortunately shares your name, but missed out on your wisdom and humanity. My best to your little folk- mine are 'confined to quarters' until after Halloween, and my tom, the one I call our "Weapon of Mouse Destruction", is going seriously cabin-crazy.

Amor y paz to you all!

FoxTrotsky,

Loved Paul Wellstone! We had a beautiful gathering yeterday in honor of the the 10 anniversary of the his tragic death.

Senators Franken, Harkin, and Kloubucher talked about their memories of Paul.

He was the type of politician who would do bus campaigns. He would get a s city bus ride it to the end of the line and talk to folks on the bus about what they wanted out of their elected officials, what are their concerns, their hopes etc. He was a true public servant of all.

FoxTrosky -- Just happy to see another warrior out here! Ha!

Sure, Amy's 29.

And I'm 19.

Please.

God, no jo: way to keep it classy.

There is just no low you won't hit, is there?

LOL njnbnj.

Only nojo and her cohorts would think that funny. Typical, say anything as long as you say something. Boy you guys know how to suck the life out of anything, what miserable humans.

No Joe might be 19 in dog years.

Which reminds me: Cats for Obama---28 more years!!

s'ok. I could get away with being 29 online if I didn't keep talking about how much I miss Walter Cronkite.
Not to mention voting in my first Presidential election - for Gerald Ford.

Walter Cronkite. Gosh, I miss him too.

See my entry below. Soldiers are pooling their money to buy Anti-Obama ads to run during this National Geographic ''movie''. The movie is sponsored by one of those 1%ers that Obama doesn't care for. Guess he likes them when they help him out. Maybe Trump could put 2016: Obama's America on the air. It would certainly do more than his last lame attempt to do something. I've seen 2016: Obama's America. It's something that everyone should have an interest in seeing if they are not too scared that it would remove their blinders.