Kennedy Being Hospitalized Was NOT Funny

I was watching this story unfold all day yesterday, as I had made a "joke" the other day about Ted Kennedy entering the hospital, partly as a "new" Hillary "voodoo" strategy, and partly because the rich, and or politicians have such awesome health care that they can go to the hospital with a headache, stubbed toe, or indigestion, while the rest of us have to think about whether or not we can go, even if we rip a limb off, or are dying of pneumonia.
Anyway, while I still believe some of this is Senator Kennedy's karma returning, I do know he is a stalwart fighter for his causes, and I feel for his family.
I just spent the last two years worrying, and standing by my 22 year old niece as she had brain surgery on a tumor, underwent chemotheraphy, and radiation, so I do understand what is ahead for this family. My neice is 6 months clear, but has to be checked every three months. She had only been married two weeks when she found out, and so far she is cancer free, but the treatments put this 22 year old into menapause so she cannot have children. Her husband is awesome, and as soon as they "know" that she is cancer "free" for awhile longer they will adopt, as there are so many children who need good parents, and they would be excellent parents, so I hope that comes to pass!!
My best wishes to Ted Kennedy and his family in this deadly struggle, and may the public awareness, spur people to get checked sooner, and perhaps it will save lives.
To The Story At Yahoo News:
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy gave a thumbs up to well-wishers and kisses to relatives as he walked out of the hospital Wednesday, a day after learning he has a cancerous brain tumor.
A square bandage at the back of his head marked the spot where doctors performed a biopsy Monday that led them to diagnose the Massachusetts Democrat with malignant glioma. Experts say such tumors are almost always fatal.
Kennedy's dogs, Sunny and Splash, met him at the hospital door. Hospital workers and well-wishers greeted Kennedy with applause. Before he and his wife, Vicki, got into a dark Chevrolet Suburban, he kissed his daughter, Kara, and his niece Caroline Kennedy, and embraced his son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I.

LINK TO FULL STORY

Is Ted Kennedy Being Hospitalized Funny?

I should mention that I am feeling very evil, and very~very overcaffeinated/phenylalanined from several liters of Diet Dew, so the rant below, just seemed to flow from my fingers into the computer and appeared on the screen~~therefore I am apologizing to my liberal, and conservative, friends before you read any further!! For a moment I also thought about just being the nice guy that I am 99.9% of the time, and not writing anything mean or hurtful, but overcame that inclination with another liter of Diet Dew!!~~So for the next few paragraphs I have given myself over to my "demons" to express themselves!!
It is getting to be late afternoon, and it is very boring at the mall. I was reading several bad stories online, concerning China's earthquake efforts, and the Myanmar junta refusing to allow a French aid ship to unload. Then there was a "brighter" story about Senator Edward Kennedy being rushed to the hospital after suffering a seizure. I was going to write about that in an amusing format and basically "blame" Hillary Clinton for using Voodoo to eliminate the Obamanian Superdelegates, and to throw in the Karmic aspects of "his" life, but I thought many people would think it was in poor taste, and I assure you, it would have been!!
Perhaps I'll work that in the early part of next week, with an idea I have for Hillary to "sell her soul to the Devil~~again" for the nomination, only to find out "everyone" sells their souls to the Devil~and she is right back where she is now. I am not sure on that yet, as it may offend religious and political readers, which again would be the sole "soul" purpose, as my ability to offend anyone has not really been exercised since I wrote about our former Drooler-in-Chief~Ronnie Reagan, and found that there were people out there who actually think~~thought he was ~~are you ready?~~a good/great President, and chastised me for my posts condemning him as the evil, lying, did I mention evil, scumbag that he was behind the "grandfatherly" facade.
Oh and many of you already know I actually was a Young Republican, and worked for Reagan's campaign, only to regret it within six months of his Reign of Hell on Earth began, so don't peg me as a lefty liberal, hating on poor Ronnie as he rightly "burns" in Hell!!
There that is enough venting for today~~we'll get back to politics on Sunday, or Monday, but will fill the rest of this evening with jokes, silliness, and maybe some informative posts.
Hope You Enjoy These:)

Hospital Fun
Peter called his doctor’s office for an appointment.

"I’m sorry," said the receptionist, "we can’t fit you in for at least two weeks."

Peter said, "But I could be dead by then!"

Receptionist replied, "No problem. If your wife lets us know, we’ll cancel the appointment. "
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Birthday Message
A man wants to celebrate his wife’s Birthday by throwing a party. So he goes to order a birthday cake. The salesman asks him what message he wants to put on the cake.

Well he thinks for a while and says, "Put 'You're not getting older,' at the top and 'You're getting better' at the bottom."

The real fun didn’t start until the cake was opened the entire party watched the message decorated on the cake:

"You're not getting older at the top, You're getting better at the bottom."
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Cheap Parrot
A woman went to a pet shop and immediately spotted a large, beautiful parrot. There was a sign on the cage that said $50.00. "Why so little?" she asked the pet store owner.

The owner looked at her and said, "Look, I should tell you first that this bird used to live in a house of prostitution and sometimes it says some pretty vulgar stuff."

The woman thought about this, but decided she had to have the bird anyway. She took it home and hung the bird’s cage up in her living room and waited for it to say something.

The bird looked around the room, then at her, and said, "New house, new madam."

The woman was a bit shocked at the implication, but then thought, "That’s really not so bad."

When her two daughters returned from school the bird saw and said, "New house, new madam, new girls."

The girls and the woman were a bit offended but then began to laugh about the situation considering how and where the parrot had been raised.

Moments later, the woman’s husband ‘Keith’ came home from work.

The bird looked at him and said,

"Hi, Keith!"
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Henpecked
Amanpreet was henpecked. He was seeing a psychiatrist about the problem. The doctor told him, "You don't have to let your wife bully you! Go home and show her you're the boss!"

Preet got home, slammed the door, shook his fist in his wife's face, and growled, "From now on, you're taking orders from ME! When I get home from now on, I want my supper ON the table.

"I want you go right NOW and lay out my clothes. I'm going out with the boys.

"And YOU'RE going to stay home where you belong. Another thing, you know who's going to tie my tie?"

Preet's wife replied calmly, "The undertaker?"
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When Snails Attack
A sloth named Herman is walking through the forest one day. A gang of snails approach him and beat him up. He is left at the bottom of a tree with several cuts and bruises.

Several hours later he gathers up enough strength to go to a local police station. Herman walks into the Sergeant's office. "What happened to you? the officer asks.

"A gang of snails beat me up," Herman replied.

"Can you describe what they looked like?"

"I don't know," the sloth says. "It all happened so fast."
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Banged Up
"What happened?" asked the hospital visitor to the heavily bandaged man sitting up in bed.

"Well, I went down to Margate at the weekend and decided to take a ride on the roller coaster. As we came up to the top of the highest loop, I noticed a little sign by the side of the track. I tried to read it but it was very small and I couldn't make it out.

"I was so curious that I decided to go round again, but we went by so quickly that I couldn't see what the sign said.

"By now, I was determined to read that sign so I went round a third time. As we reached the top, I stood up in the car to get a better view."

"And did you manage to see what the sign said this time?" asked the visitor.

"Yes."

"What did it say?"

"Don't stand up in the car!"
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Three Questions
A man calls his lawyer and asks: How much would you charge me to answer three questions?

LAWYER: Four Hundred Dollars

MAN: That's a bit steep don't you think?

LAWYER: I suppose...What's you third question?
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Confessions
To celebrate their 50th anniversary, a husband booked a round of golf for his wife and himself on a trip to famous old St. Andrews' Golf Course in Scotland.

On the third tee, the husband hesitated in teeing off and turned slowly to his wife and said contritely, "Darling, I have to confess something. Twenty years ago I had a brief affair. It meant nothing. I hope you can forgive me."

His wife was hurt but said, "Dearest, those days are long gone. What we have now is far more valuable. I forgive you."

They embraced and kissed.

On the seventeenth tee, the husband was starting his back swing when the wife blurted out, "I'm sorry, darling, I've been so conscience-stricken since you told me, but since we're being honest with each other, I have something to tell you also. Fifty-two years ago I had a sex change operation; I was a man before I met you. I hope you can forgive me.

The husband, froze at the top of his back swing, then threw a fit! He slammed the driver into the ground, kicked the ball into the woods, stormed off the tee, pushed the golf cart over on its side, broke the rest of his clubs one by one, then started on his wife's clubs.

He screamed and ranted, "You liar...you cheat ... you despicable deceiver! How could you? I trusted you with all my heart and soul...and all these years you've been playing off the ladies' tees?!"
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Honest Lawyer
An investment counselor decided to go out on her own. She was shrewd and diligent, so business kept coming in, and pretty soon she realized that she needed an in-house counsel. She began to interview young lawyers.

"As I'm sure you can understand," she started off with one of the first applicants, "in a business like this, our personal integrity must be beyond question." She leaned forward. "Mr. Peterson, are you an honest lawyer?"

"Honest?" replied the job prospect. "Let me tell you something about honest. Why, I'm so honest that my father lent me $15,000 for my education, and I paid back every penny the minute I tried my very first case."

"Impressive. And what sort of case was that?"

The lawyer squirmed in his seat and admitted, "He sued me for the money."
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Off-Duty
An off-duty police officer, familiar with radar guns, drove through a school zone within the legal speed limit when the flash of a camera went off, taking a picture of his license plate.

The officer, thinking the radar was in error, drove by again even more slowly. Another flash. He did it again for a third time, at an even slower speed. Same result.

"This guy must have screwed up the settings," the off-duty officer thought.

A few weeks later, when he received the violations in the mail, he discovered three traffic tickets--each for not wearing a seat belt.
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In Love
A man sitting at the window one evening casually called to his wife, "There's that woman that the guy next door is in love with!"

His wife, in the kitchen, dropped the plate she was drying, ran into the living room, knocked over a vase, and looked out the window. "Where? Where?" she demanded.

"Right over there on the corner. The lady in the blue dress."

"You idiot! That's his wife!"

"Yes, I know," the husband grinned. ;)
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Wasn't that better than reading about despicable politicians, here and abroad?!
Hope You Were Amused~~ HAVE A PLEASANT SATURDAY EVENING!!

Hillary Finally Does One Right Thing

It is probably way to late to have any important impact, but it looks like Hillary Clinton has finally done something right, by accepting the resignation of Mark Penn. There are others in her campaign that should go, but Penn definitely had to go, if she has even the slightest chance of securing the nomination. Here is a story from this morning's Yahoo News:

Mark Penn's exit from his role as Hillary Rodham Clinton's chief strategist likely will portend no dramatic shift in message for the campaign in coming weeks but will bring satisfaction to scores of Clinton loyalists who have wanted the controversial image-meister sacked for months.

Penn's decision to step down Sunday came after a contretemps about his work for a foreign government triggered the latest in a series of public distractions from her presidential campaign.

Clinton's campaign manager Maggie Williams appeared to tie Penn's departure to his meeting with the Colombian government, a client of the public relations firm he leads, about their campaign for a free trade agreement Clinton opposes.

But for Clinton's aides and advisors, the meeting was just the latest in a list of complaints about Penn that began with his strategic decision last year to focus on a message of strength and electability rather than inspiration, and his insistence on highlighting policy over passion. His $13 million in campaign billing and his insistence on maintaining his salary as worldwide CEO of the firm Burson Marsteller were also sources of tension within the campaign.

"After the events of the last few days, Mark Penn has asked to give up his role as Chief Strategist of the Clinton Campaign; Mark, and Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates, Inc. will continue to provide polling and advice to the campaign," said Williams in a statement to reporters early Sunday evening. Williams said Clinton's communications director, Howard Wolfson, and a pollster who recently joined the campaign, Geoff Garin, "will coordinate the campaign's strategic message team going forward."
Few in Clinton's circle foresee a dramatic shift in direction, largely because it is now too late for a dramatic shift in message – voters in the largest remaining state, Pennsylvania, cast their ballots in two weeks. "This was really a function of Colombia, not a referendum on his strategic vision," insisted one senior campaign aide. If there's any immediate consequence, though, it will be to morale inside a shell-shocked campaign where Penn's compensation, his attention to his business, and his gruff demeanor made him a divisive figure.

"It was very demoralizing for the staff that's working 24/7 to see him doing book tours and engaging in private sector activities," said a prominent Clinton supporter. "It was an important statement for the campaign to make to its own team." Penn was the source of a long series of campaign flare-ups. One subsidiary of Burson Marsteller represented the controversial private security firm Blackwater. Another angered unions Clinton was courting by working for companies trying to defeat union organizing campaigns. His firm also collected more than $11 million from Clinton's campaign through the end of February, and was owed $2.5 million more in the most recent filing, though most of that of that sum is said to be expenses for polling and direct mail.

In recent weeks, Penn created additional controversy by suggesting New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson's endorsement – which Clinton had assiduously sought – was meaningless and by his matter-of-fact assertion to reporters that Obama simply can't beat the presumptive Republican nominee, Arizona Senator John McCain. Penn, one of the most influential political advisors of his generation, nevertheless accomplished a great deal as the campaign's top strategist. Clinton began the campaign with obvious vulnerabilities: A high percentage of Americans disliking her; the ambiguous experience of a White House spouse; and little natural charisma.

With his trademark barrage of poll numbers, Penn – who had worked with Bill Clinton since the former president's 1996 re-election campaign — managed to persuade journalists and Democratic voters that the New York senator could actually win a general election. And his focus on her strength – along with her own tough debate performances – erased any lingering doubts about whether a woman would be tough enough to serve as commander-in-chief. That accomplishment revealed Penn at his best--a cocksure advisor to some of the world's most important figures in politics and commerce, with clients ranging from Microsoft's Bill Gates to U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair.

But even as Clinton proved an able candidate, Illinois Senator Barack Obama's soaring rhetoric connected with voters and generated tremendous grass roots enthusiasm, providing a stark contrast between the two. Since Clinton's 2000 campaign for Senate, Penn had argued for a focus on policy over emotion. "Being human is overrated," Penn reportedly joked at a debate prep session last winter, and the remark was, to his critics, his central failing.

Indeed, Penn spent part of 2007 marketing his new book, "Microtrends," which stressed the power of tiny demographic groups, rather than broad messages. The book begins by invoking an old Volkswagon slogan, "Think Small." "It was a revolutionary idea – a call for the shrinking of perspective, ambition, and scale," Penn wrote. But as Clinton thought small and targeted narrow groups – adults who care for their parents, for instance – with specific messages, Obama's broader themes often carried the day. And when it came to organizing on the ground in Iowa and elsewhere, it was Obama who proved more able to focus on the small things.

Penn predicted victory for Clinton in Iowa, and was ridiculed for it to the extent that Bill Clinton rose to his defense in response to a hostile question a few days later in New Hampshire. "You can take a shot at Mark Penn if you want. It wasn't his best day. He was hurt, he felt badly that we didn't do better in Iowa," he said. Penn's internal rivals, including advisor Harold Ickes, never let him forget his Iowa error. "I'm not going to make any predictions. I'll leave that up to Mark," Ickes said on a March conference call with reporters. And the core of Penn's strategy appeared to go out the window after Clinton seemed to turn around the polls in New Hampshire by almost crying in a conversation with a woman at a diner.

Until this weekend, however, Penn remained a central figure in the Clinton campaign. He led strategy calls, headed Clinton's team in post-debate "spin rooms," and was a rumpled, occasionally aggrieved figure on television until a new campaign manager, Williams, forbade him to make any further appearances. The end of Penn's tenure as chief strategist offered immediate satisfaction to his many internal detractors, but the campaign signaled no change from its latest strategic direction, which Penn helped shape: an argument that only Clinton has a good chance of beating the Republican nominee.

Hillary should finish the final contests on a high note, by trying something different. She should do what no one is doing, and that is tell the truth on each and every issue. Not the standard politician truth, but the actual truth, thereby setting a new standard that the others will have to meet. I know the American people won't vote for anyone who tells the Real truth, but it is something that they should hear anyway. That way when their candidate becomes President and can't give them all the benefits, health and otherwise that they "promised" they will understand the "truth" that the "new" Hillary spoke about, was indeed the truth. See how she could change the way people look at candidates for the next election, when they may well "demand" that the candidates, once and for all tell them the "truth" to get their votes. Come on Hillary, give the "Total Truth", and be the better person, and better American for telling us what we need to hear!! You know~~We are Deeply in debt and many programs can not be funded, Iraq has bankrupted us~~financially, morally, and every other way~~Prepare to fend for yourselves as Social Security, and pretty much every other assistance and retirement program is in dire jeopardy of collapse~~If you want services, you must pay for them~~You know~~talk that no one else will say~without fudging it by saying~but I have a way to fix it~that won't hurt~~and tell us Happy Sunshine "truths"~that we pretend to believe, so that we do not have to face the real "truth"!!

Please Hillary, Give it a try~you have nothing to lose~and at least you could earn some respect~which is something you are not getting now~with your~~sniper stories~flip flops~and questionable experience~~You could be the better person and the Better Candidate, but you have to let go~and tell it to us~~Straight~On Everything!! Last Chance~Do or Die Time~~And If/When you do lose~You do it with dignity~~Just like Rocky~~Because Remember~Rocky comes back in the sequel and WINS~And you can Too!!!!

Obama,Clinton Court Iowa Activists

I was just reading a story about the Supporters of Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton who are once again ardently courting Iowa Democratic activists as they vie for the support of delegates pledged to departed rival John Edwards.

Edwards finished second in the state's leadoff precinct caucuses on Jan. 3, but those caucuses are only the first step in a complicated process of picking the state's 45 pledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Denver in August.

The next step in that process are the conventions held Saturday in each of the state's 99 counties, where 13,000 activists gathered to elect delegates to congressional district and state conventions, and sending best wishes to my friend Teresa, who is participating in the conventions, and wants to be chosen as a state delegate!!

It looks like Iowa may end up being important at the beginning and the end of this process, and how "cool" is that for our small state!!


conventions

Hillary Wins Super Tuesday II

Hillary Rodham Clinton, fresh off a campaign-saving comeback, hinted Wednesday at the possibility of sharing the Democratic presidential ticket with Barack Obama — with her at the top. Obama played down his losses, stressing that he still holds the lead in number of delegates.
Does Hillary's win las night change the dynamics of this race, or just forestall the end. On a night that failed to clarify the Democratic race, John McCain Tuesday clinched the Republican nomination. Clinton won primaries in Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island, halting Obama's winning streak. Obama won in Vermont.

Both Democrats insisted on Wednesday they had the best credentials to go head to head — or as Clinton put it "toe to toe" — against McCain.

Asked on CBS's "The Early Show" whether she and Obama should be on the same ticket, Clinton said: "That may be where this is headed, but of course we have to decide who is on the top of ticket. I think the people of Ohio very clearly said that it should be me."

I should be happy for Hillary, but yesterday after I posted the Is Hillary In Comeback Kid The Sequel, I received a comment from Betty, one of my MySpace friends, whose comment included a Hillary youtube comment, and it was very disappointing to see where Hillary is headed. Betty was a supporter, and now says that this type of person should not be allowed to be in the Oval Office~~and I think she meant Never!!


Hillary

Is Hillary In Comeback Kid The Sequel

In a story I was just reading at Yahoo News it indicates that the polls have been moving back toward Hillary the last few days, and with her political future on the line in today's primaries in Ohio and Texas, Hillary Clinton is getting some last minute hope.

After winning 11 presidential nominating contests in a row, the campaign of Barack Obama has hit turbulence, as key political indicators show a possible momentum change in the race. Obama's campaign still portrays outward confidence about winning today, and says it's nearly impossible for Clinton to catch him in the delegate count. But Obama has not cemented a lead in polls in either of the biggest "Super Tuesday II" states, breaking his recent pattern of racing ahead of Clinton as a state's primary approached.

Internet rumors and maneuvering by the Clinton campaign on issues like trade and ethics have put Obama into a defensive stance -- just as Buckeye and Lone Star state voters are making their final decisions. During a "60 Minutes" interview with Obama, correspondent Steve Kroft said voters in southern Ohio were talking about the untrue rumor "that you're a Muslim." "You know, this has been a systematic e-mail smear campaign that's been going on since actually very early in this campaign," Obama said. "I have never been a Muslim, am not a Muslim.... It plays into, obviously, a certain fear-mongering there."

Lingering rumors, political positioning or just second-thoughts could be swaying momentum from Obama to Clinton. "In the last days, polls seem to be breaking toward Senator Clinton," said John McIntyre, president and co-founder of Real Clear Politics, a Web site that tracks polls and political news. "The lead in Ohio seems to be an expanding lead. In Texas, where five or six days ago Sen. Obama had a lead, she is now ahead in our average." The Real Clear Politics average of Ohio polls has Clinton ahead of Obama by 6 points on the eve of the primary. In Texas, the two were tied, with Clinton ahead by 0.3 percent. If the polls prove to be accurate, the change couldn't come at a more crucial time for Clinton. Democratic strategists say that if she doesn't win both the Ohio and Texas primaries, her chances of getting the party's nomination are close to zero.

Top party officials say that if Clinton loses both big contests, she should quit the race gracefully and quickly -- and believe she will. "If she wins both, they continue on," said Jennifer Palmieri, a Democratic strategist at the Center for America Progress, a liberal think tank. "If he wins both, they're probably done. The messy scenario will be if there's a split decision. I don't think she's going to win Ohio and wake up Wednesday morning and say, 'I'm dropping out.'" But it may be too soon to talk dropping out just yet. Indicators beyond poll data show a neck-and-neck race, with signs pointing in slightly different directions, depending on the information.

On the Yahoo! News Political Billboard, the Yahoo! Buzz Index -- which measures search activity -- is roughly three times as high for Obama as for Clinton. Obama's buzz started in roughly the same place at the beginning of the year, with him slightly ahead of Clinton. After a few peaks and drops, his index soared. Clinton's buzz increased slightly until Super Tuesday on Feb. 5, then flattened. But much of Obama's traffic is about topics he'd rather avoid. Yahoo! analyst Vera H-C Chan says people in Ohio and Texas are still scouting out rumors about Obama, as reflected in queries like "barack obama muslim," "obama's church," "obama antichrist," "barack obama muslim school," and the straightforward question, "is obama a christian or a muslim?"

Clinton's searches, on the other hand, have focused on her "biography" and "campaign," with some searches for her husband Bill and daughter Chelsea, both of whom have campaigned nearly non-stop in recent weeks.

Intrade, a Web-based predictions market that includes political trading, had been showing a strong trend toward Obama. But John Delaney, Intrade's founder and chief executive, said he's seen "a bounce back for Clinton." "He's favored but not guaranteed in Texas, but the momentum is clearly with him as is the longer trend," Delaney said. In Ohio, "the trading has been even up until today -- now Clinton has moved forward."

The two campaigns agree Clinton has a better chance in Ohio, where the rusty economy has produced a rich harvest of the lower income, blue-collar voters who have been her strength. In Texas, she expects to do well with Hispanics and in the rural areas in the south. Obama aims to clean up with African-Americans and big-city voters. Clinton's campaign hopes voters, like the late-deciding women who gave her an upset victory in the New Hampshire primary, will decide the race shouldn't be over yet.

Vermont and Rhode Island also vote today, but are so much smaller that they haven't received a lot of attention. Obama is expected to win a landslide in Vermont, which one Democratic operative calls "the capital of latte liberals" -- the highly educated, high-income Democrats who have flocked to his anti-Washington platform. Rhode Island should be strong for Clinton, although some polls have been tighter than she would have liked.

In the final frenetic days of campaigning, each camp pushed their platforms. Clinton's message has been: Democrats, if you're going to have buyer's remorse, have it now. Don't wait till the fall when we're running against John McCain. David Plouffe, Obama's campaign manager, declared confidently in a memo to reporters and supporters: "While the Clintons gamely continue to try to move the goal posts, at some point there has to be a reckoning. ... No amount of spin can change the math."

By tomorrow morning, we'll know who was bluffing! This should be an interesting night for everyone who loves politics~!!

Clinton, Obama And The Belief In The Magic Power Of Words

The previous post was from the Hillary side of the fence, so below is one from the Obama side. It is titled:
Clinton, Obama And The Belief In The Magic Power Of Words
By Arianna Huffington, Tribune Media Services, being brought to you by Arcamax Publishing, and she writes:


Along with her "ready to lead on Day One" mantra, Hillary Clinton's favored line of attack against Barack Obama is the reincarnation of Walter Mondale's 1984 "Where's the beef?" attack on Gary Hart. In Clinton's version, Obama is little more than a shallow speechifier who believes that words are all you need to lead.

She made it explicit in a speech in Providence, R.I., on Sunday: "I could stand up here and say 'Let's just get everybody together. Let's get unified. The sky will open! The light will come down! Celestial choirs will be singing! And everyone will know we should do the right thing and the world will be perfect!' Maybe I've just lived a little long, but I have no illusions about how hard this is going to be. You are not going to wave a magic wand and have the special interests disappear!"
Last week it was: "Speeches don't put food on the table. Speeches don't fill up your tank, or fill your prescription, or do anything about that stack of bills."

And her chief strategist, Mark Penn, summed up the "just words" meme this way: "She is in the solutions business while Obama is in the promises business."

Now, I agree with Clinton that it's important to look at how each of the Democratic candidates uses words and how rhetoric fits into how they've run their respective campaigns. And if you do, you'll see that one candidate does believe that words are like a magic wand: You utter them and reality changes. But it's not Barack Obama -- it's Hillary Clinton.
Clinton's use of words is disturbingly reminiscent of the way the Bush administration has used words: Just saying something is true is magically supposed to make it true. Call it Presto-change-o Politics.

The examples from the Bush era are so notorious they hardly bear repeating: "mission accomplished," "heckuva job," "last throes," the endless "turning the corner" in Iraq. They were all said with the arrogant belief that merely saying these words was all that was needed: Reality would literally change to fit the rhetoric.

Now let's look at Hillary Clinton's rhetoric and what is says about the campaign she's run. It started with her absurd claim that her vote for the war was really a vote to send inspectors back in. The name of the bill? "The Joint Resolution To Authorize The Use Of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq." Saying it was about sending inspectors back in doesn't mean that was about sending inspectors back in.

And then how about the endless spinning trying to diminish Obama victory after Obama victory? Here was Penn: "Could we possibly have a nominee who hasn't won any of the significant states -- outside of Illinois? That raises some serious questions about Sen. Obama." Mark Penn calling Virginia, Georgia, Missouri and Colorado, among others, not "significant" does not make them insignificant.

Or Clinton's "35 years of experience." She has had a distinguished record of public service, but it's not in any way 35 years of government experience, unless you want to include her time at Yale Law school, or going door to door for George McGovern in Texas, or working at the Rose law firm in Arkansas, as government experience. But her campaign seemed convinced that by repeating "35 years of experience" at every stop she would magically acquire those 35 years of experience.

But as the Bush administration has shown, believing your own words and not being able to see things as they are is not a good thing -- either for a country or a campaign. The New York Times described some Clinton aides as "baffled that a candidate who had been in the United States Senate for only three years and was a state lawmaker in Illinois before that was now outpacing a seasoned figure like Mrs. Clinton."

As Matthew Yglesias says: "Whether or not you think the more 'seasoned' candidate ought to win presidential elections, it seems to me that any campaign staffer who could be genuinely 'baffled' by experience not proving to be a winning issue is demonstrating a scary ignorance of how things work. Is her staff baffled that Joe Biden didn't win the nomination?"

Or how about the Clinton campaign's abracadabra rhetoric, designed to make the reality of what they agreed to about Florida and Michigan -- poof! -- go away. They even set up a Web site (delegatehub.com) that attempts to pull a rabbit out of the electoral hat. The site list several "facts": "FACT: Florida and Michigan should count, both in the interest of fundamental fairness and honoring the spirit of the Democrats' 50-state strategy." As Ezra Klein noted: "It's almost as if they thought putting it after . . . the word 'FACT,' would be like a Jedi mind trick."
Meanwhile, as the Clinton campaign was busy trying to use words to push the idea that losing is actually winning (you know, just like in Iraq), the Obama campaign was actually winning votes. To the extent that anything in a campaign is real, it doesn't get any more real than actual votes.

And, no, he wasn't winning them just because of his "words." He backed up his words with action: old-fashioned grassroots organizing. For instance, as was widely noted in the blogosphere, the Clinton campaign apparently found out only in February that the March 4 primary/caucus in Texas was sort of complicated: "Supporters of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton are worried that convoluted delegate rules in Texas could water down the impact of strong support for her among Hispanic voters there, creating a new obstacle for her in the must-win presidential primary contest."

As one blogger, publius at Obsidian Wings, put it: "While they were busy 'discovering' the rules, however, the Obama campaign had people on the ground in Texas explaining the system, organizing precincts, and making PowerPoints. I know because I went to one of these meetings a week ago. I should have invited Mark Penn I suppose."

Repeat that kind of organizing throughout 23 "insignificant" states, and it turns out you get a pretty healthy delegate lead.

So let's look at how Obama uses words. Contrary to Clinton's charges, Obama never claims his words will somehow magically create change. Instead, he uses his words to ask the American people to demand change. Very little change for the better happens in Washington unless it is demanded by the people. It's instructive that, back in New Hampshire, Clinton discounted the work Martin Luther King did in creating the political atmosphere that allowed LBJ to push though the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act.

Which is why Obama's constant invocation is "Yes we can" -- not "Yes I can." Obama uses words to persuade, to mobilize and to get people to imagine that reality can be changed. And based on how his campaign has been run, on the ground, in state after state, it's clear that he knows that changing reality is not done through magic -- it's done through hard work.

It is Clinton who uses words to deny reality, and expects them to magically change it. Haven't we had enough of that over the last seven years?

Again, May you Have A Great Weekend!! :)

New Poll Has Obama Ahead

In a new poll being released today, Barack Obama moved ahead of Hillary Clinton in the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination, and is in a dead heat in a general-election fight against Republican John McCain, who enjoys an advantage on national- security issues

A Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times survey shows Obama is preferred by Democratic primary voters 48 percent to 42 percent, the first time he has overtaken Clinton in a Bloomberg/Times poll. In a general-election match-up among registered voters, McCain is 2 points ahead of Obama, within the margin of error; he beats Clinton by 6 points.

So all you Obamaniacs, it looks like your guy is going to be the Democratic Presidential Candidate, so the next question is "Who will he pick as a running mate?" Please drop me a comment if you have any guesses or informed suspicions of who that person will be!! Thanks and Have A Great Day!!


new poll has obama ahead of hillary

Which Hillary Will Show Up For Tonight's Debate

As Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama prepare to square off tonight in what could be their last debate, one of the key questions is which Clinton will show up.
Will it be the conciliatory Clinton, who said at a debate last Thursday that she was "honored" just to be on the stage with Obama?
I was just reading a story which pretty much sums up the stakes for Hillary Clinton in tonight's denate with Barack Obama.

Will it be the scolding Clinton, who on Saturday charged that her opponent's campaign literature was misleading, waved it in the air and said, "Shame on you, Barack Obama"?

Or will it be the sarcastic Clinton, who on Sunday ridiculed Obama's speeches and rallies, which draw thousands, likening them to the empty promise of a huckster evangelist: "The sky will open, the light will come down, celestial choirs will be singing"?

The answer is crucial and the stakes are enormous as Clinton, a New York senator, strives to hold her lead in Ohio and shore up her standing in Texas, two states that she must win in order to have any chance of slowing the Illinois senator's momentum.

As the March 4th Super Important Tuesday Primaries in Texas, and Ohio, draw near, this last debate will be Hillary's last chance to convince voters why they should vote for her and not Obama. The fact is that Obama, just needs to not make any major mistakes or gaffes, and he may be nearing having the nomination sewn up by next week. Perhaps not in delegates, but definitely in momentum!! Should be a Fun Debate (8:00 to 9:30 CST, on MSNBC & NBC affiliates in Ohio), so grab a drink, and some snacks, and settle in as it will may be a "Showtime Event, with a little Ready To Rumble, thrown in" Tonight!!


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CLINTON-OBAMA BATTLE GETS ROUGHER

I was just reading how White House contenders Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama Monday hurled barbs over foreign policy and fought over an alleged anti-Obama smear, heading into do-or-die contests for the former first lady.

A day before a crucial debate in Ohio, Clinton used a speech here to portray her Democratic rival as a risky choice on foreign affairs, implying Obama would need a beginners' guide to the world's hot-spots if elected president. Before the speech, an Obama aide had already said sound judgment was the most important presidential attribute, highlighting Clinton's Senate vote in 2002 to authorize the Iraq war.

The policy sparring came as a photograph emerged of Obama in African dress, at the start of the candidates' final week of campaigning before primaries in Ohio and Texas on March 4 that are must-win nominating contests for Clinton.

So tomorrow is the Big day for both Clinton and Obama, though for Hillary it is All important that she win, and win big!! It shall be an exciting Tuesday!!


TUESDAY

Hillary Calls Out Obama On Misleading Mailers

Hillary is getting tough with Barack Obama, as Tuesday draws near, and the "must" win states Texas, and Ohio are up for grabs.

Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton said Saturday that a pair of mailings sent to voters by rival Barack Obama's campaign criticizing her health care plan and trade views are false, misleading and a betrayal of his pledge to practice a new style of politics

"Shame on you, Barack Obama. It is time you ran a campaign consistent with your messages in public, that's what I expect from you," Clinton said angrily, waving the mailings in the air. "Meet me in Ohio, and let's have a debate about your tactics," she added.


But the New York senator saved her toughest words for Obama's mailings, saying she refused to see the campaign "polluted" by such tactics. "Enough about the speeches, and the big rallies, and then using tactics right out of (former Bush political adviser) Karl Rove's playbook. This is wrong and every Democrat should be outraged," Clinton said.


Clinton's advisers have repeatedly criticized the Obama campaign's health care mailing, which says her plan for universal coverage would "force" everyone to purchase insurance even if they can't afford it. Her plan requires everyone to be covered, but it offers tax credits and other subsidies to make insurance more affordable.

I think Hillary may have waited too long to bring out her big guns, but she is a Clinton, and they have a way of "winning" elections! This week looks to be one of "fighting" words, and we the spectators get to enjoy the "show"!!


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McCain And Clinton Ready For Battles

In what was surely a sad day for the Republican yesterday, Senator John "Manchurian" McCain,(former Vietnam P.O.W. & collaborator), won the South Carolina primary, leading to him being in a position of leading the Republican pack as they get ready for Florida. Seantor Hillary Clinton huge win in Nevada, has strengthened her momentum as she heads for a showdown with Barack Hussein Obama, in next Saturday's South Carolina primary.

Republican John McCain and Democrat Hillary Clinton looked on Sunday toward the next battles in an unpredictable White House race after scoring tough wins in the first major presidential voting in the U.S. South and West.


McCain narrowly defeated rival Mike Huckabee on Saturday in South Carolina -- a state where McCain's presidential hopes were destroyed in a bitter 2000 battle that set George W. Bush on a path to the White House.

The race is going to be racing faster and faster toward the Super Duper Tuesday contests of February 5th, where the Democratic Nominee, and possibly the Republican Nominee will be decided!! It should be a great week for all of us political "junkies". Thanks and Stay Warm....current Coralville/Iowa City, Iowa temp. is 2 degrees!!:(


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Hillary And Mitt Win Nevada

For all his flash and endorsements, and chicanery, Obama was not able to overcome Hillary's experience. Mitt Romney easily outdid his opponents in Nevada, and is in pretty good shape to keep going.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton won the Nevada caucuses Saturday, powering past Sen. Barack Obama in a hard-fought race marred by late charges of dirty politics. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney coasted to an easy win in the Republican contest.


The victory marked a second-straight campaign triumph for the former first lady, who scored a New Hampshire primary upset last week and is locked in an historic, increasingly tense struggle with Obama.

Sorry for repeating the main elements of the story, but I just am enjoying this political process so much this year...And Now onto to South Carolina, and an exciting primary there as well!!


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Hillary And McCain Win

I have been unable to get online until now, and I want to Congratulate Hillary Clinton, for kicking some Obama Butt, in New Hampshire, after the media darling did not do as well as the media news outlets wanted him to, and offer my regrets that Manchurian McCain, did so well against Romney.

Led by Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain, candidates fanned out across the country on Wednesday in a U.S. presidential race dramatically reshaped by their comeback wins in New Hampshire.


Clinton, the New York senator and former first lady, defied the polls to narrowly upset Barack Obama in New Hampshire on Tuesday and set up a tough Democratic nominating battle that now heads to South Carolina and Nevada.

Onward to the next contests as we head for the February 5th Super Tuesday and the day that may decide the nominee of both parties. A Wonderful Week of politics! Totally Cool and Fun!!



win

Return Of Carville And Begala?

The polls are not even closed yet in New Hampshire and the "rumors" are already flying that their will be a radical shake up in Hillary's campaign, beginning with the return of two old campaign pro's.

The official denials have been issued, but the buzz all around the Hillary Clinton for president camp is that Jim Carville and Paul Begala, will ride to the rescue of a campaign that is expected to suffer a serious loss in today's New Hampshire primary.


The strategists behind Bill Clinton's 1992 "comeback kid" presidential race will try to forge a comeback for the New York senator in a contest where her "star power" is being eclipsed by Illinois Senator Barack Obama's surging candidacy.

If they are back, is the War Room far behind, (only this time will it be used to destroy Obama, instead of just knocking down charges and allegations against Hillary, as it had to do with Bill, and the "Bimbo Eruptions"-from Jennifer Flowers, on down.)?!! This race is going to get a lot more interesting after tonight, as these "boys" play "down and dirty" politics like no others! Bye, Bye, Barack, You will meet the enemy, and it will be Carville & Begala, and your life will be dissected "like a forensic pathologist autopsying a body"!!

So far it's just rumors, but if it is true this race is going to get real fun, real fast!!


hardball

Clinton Retools Campaign And More

I am still surprised by the win of Barack Obama ( or as Senator Ted Kennedy would say "Osama Obama"), over Senator Hillary Clinton. Is this an indication of Obama's appeal, or is it a lack of understanding of who this man really is! If you have read his book "The Audacity Of Hope", you might get the impression that he is a reasonable person, but his underlying core is one of leftist, socialistic beliefs, and no amount of sugar coating, will make his medicine go down any easier.

Fighting back from a devastating loss in Iowa, Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton tried to recalibrate her campaign in New Hampshire Friday by promising to answer as many voter questions as possible.


New Hampshire could make or break Clinton's candidacy. A good showing in this snowbound state may be her only chance to stem the bleeding from Thursday night's Iowa caucuses, where voters resoundingly rejected her message of experience in favor of a charismatic newcomer, Barack Obama.

I have some Republican friends who said they attended the caucuses as "Democrats" to mess with the system, by supporting Obama, and put a hitch in Hillary's candidacy. If this is true, this win could be an illusion. If any of you know this to be true, please leave a comment, and let us know if this type of "politics" was being practiced yesterday.

New Hampshire was Bill Clinton's "Come Back Kid, Win", when he ran for the Presidency, and it could be asked if this will be Hillary's lot as well. She is a seasoned politician, and if she feels threatened, she will lash out and tear little Obama to shreds, "figuratively" of course, so if she does have "information" that can hurt him, we shall surely see an example of it coming out as the first primary arrives!!

As for Governor Huckabee winning the Republican caucus, it was surely a good win for him, but more importantly it was a stinging defeat for Mitt Romney, as he had spent alot of time and money here, to end up so poorly, and sadly it gives Manchurian McCain another shot at the candidacy, as he moves up in the polls in New Hampshire. A strong showing there will upset the Republican applecart, and the race will be open for anyone left standing by the February 5th, (Super Tuesday) caucuses and primaries. Scary times indeed!!


shake up

Hillarys Hostage Crisis Ends

The hostage crisis ended without bloodshed, and the stories coming out reveal that Mr. Eisenberg was having troubles before the hostage taking.

Leeland Eisenberg was already in trouble before he walked into one of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign offices. Three days earlier, his wife had filed for divorce; he was due to appear in court with her for a domestic violence hearing in about half an hour.

Police say Eisenberg went to the office Friday demanding to talk to Clinton about helping him get mental health care and ended up taking at least five people, including an infant, hostage. Night would fall before the last one walked free and the hostage-taker peacefully surrendered.

It is good that things turned out well, as many times we have seen that bloodshed, i.e. murder and suicide, is the way that these hostage crises end up. Congratulations to the state police negotiator, and the Rochester police department for their professionalism, and the good outcome!


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Hostages In Hillarys Office

This has been a day of hostage holding, first I was held hostage all day by Panera's lack of wifi signal, and then a deranged man (Not Rush Limbaugh), wearing what appeared to be a bomb strapped to his chest walked into a Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign office Friday, took several hostages and demanded to speak to the candidate, authorities said.


The man released at least three hostages as the afternoon wore on, but nearly four hours after the standoff began, police said they were still dealing with a hostage situation and the man had not been taken into custody.

The story indicates that the suspect was an older man known around the town to be mentally unstable, the law enforcement official told the AP. He walked into the campaign office and opened his jacket, revealing what appeared to be a pipe bomb.

The law enforcement official confirmed the name of the man as Leeland Eisenberg and said Eisenberg demanded to speak with Clinton. But authorities did not know what Leeland wanted to talk to Clinton about.

It is a hopeful sign that he released three hostages, but law enforcement said that the hostage situation has not been concluded, but he is confident that he has the resources to end the crisis successfully. Our hopes are the same, and good luck!!


hostages

Hillary Is Right?

It is a shame that she has said a truth, but Senator Hillary Clinton said on Thursday, the New York senator told supporters in Concord that she could defeat any Republican nominee, in part because she already knows how her opponents will go after her and because she is good at handling the unexpected. But, if there is another terrorist attack before the election, the Republicans will win. This is not only a truth, but a certainty, because the al-Qaeda Democrat Party is not a "choice" in defending this country from attacks, as they have done everything they can to "assist" in getting americans killed.

An internet aquintance of mine, Lionus Unleashed has an excellent post on MySpace.com about why Hillary Clinton is the Republican's candidate of "choice". If you get a chance please read it and you may concur with his conclusions. I am a Independent/Republican by nature, so I am not the one to say who should be the Democratic candidate. I kind of liked Hillary before she recanted her vote for the war in Iraq, as I thought it would be fun to watch all of the "my" age white men having heart attacks if she was elected President in 2008. That hope was purely for the entertainment value, rather than a political reason, as sometimes I have a sadistic nature as well.

Right

Veto Part Deux

We are going to revisit the Bush veto as we heard from the President and the nonsense that the Democrats are going to pull by only funding the troops until July is not going to go anywhere.
The warnings came as Gates also told reporters that his evaluation of force levels in Iraq in September will not lead to a rapid troop withdrawal, and that at least some U.S. forces are likely to be in Iraq for a protracted period of time.
He said he didn't know if it will take 25,000 troops or another number, but it would probably include intelligence officers, logistical support and air power, and they would be needed to maintain stability in the war-wracked country.
"The evaluation in September will not lead to a precipitous decision or actions, but would point us in a new direction ... either because the surge is working, or because the evaluation is that it's not," said Gates. Earlier Wednesday he told senators he would consider reducing U.S. troop levels in Iraq in the fall if the Iraqi government begins to make progress.
The developments occurred as officials disclosed that 11 moderate House Republicans had met unannounced with the president and top aides at the White House on Tuesday. Several participants described a remarkably blunt discussion in which lawmakers told the president the war was unsustainable without public support and was having a corrosive effect on GOP political fortunes.
Rep. Charles Dent of Pennsylvania said he told the president that many of his constituents are "impatient, and in some cases have a sense of futility" about the war.
Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia said he presented recent polling data from his suburban Washington district showing Bush's unfavorability ratings exceeded his approval ratings.
"We asked them what's Plan B. We let them know that the status quo is not acceptable," he said. Davis said the president responded that if he began discussing a new strategy, the current one would never have a chance to succeed.
Defiant Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill, meanwhile, wrestled with how to support the troops but still challenge Bush on the war. Bush has requested more than $90 billion to sustain the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through September.
"With this latest veto threat, the president has once again chosen confrontation over cooperation," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
House Democratic leaders are pushing legislation that would provide the military $42.8 billion to keep operations going through July, buy new equipment and train Iraqi and Afghan security forces. Congress would decide shortly before its August recess whether to release an additional $52.8 billion to fund the war through September.
"In essence, the bill asks me to run the Department of Defense like a skiff, and I'm trying to drive the biggest supertanker in the world," Gates told senators Wednesday. "And we just don't have the agility to be able to manage a two-month appropriation very well."
The veto threat came from White House spokesman Tony Snow, traveling aboard Air Force One with Bush to tour tornado damage in Kansas.
"There are restrictions on funding and there are also some of the spending items that were mentioned in the first veto message that are still in the bill," Snow said.
House members planned a vote Thursday, just two days after David Obey , D-Wis., chairman of the Appropriations Committee, briefed White House chief of staff Josh Bolten on the plan.
The stern White House response reflected the high stakes involved for Bush, who is struggling to beat back congressional skepticism about his Iraq strategy. In recent days, Bush has tried to shore up support by personally reaching out to moderate Republicans and Democrats.
Democrats face their own uphill battle. Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nev., say they want to provide troops the resources they need. But other Democrats are pushing to cut off funds for the unpopular and costly war.
Democratic leaders acknowledge the new Iraq bill might pass in the House only to sink in the Senate, where Democrats hold a slimmer majority and are more reluctant than their House counterparts to restrict war funds.
In testimony before the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Gates left open the possibility of bringing troops home soon, even as the Pentagon orders deployments that could maintain a buildup of U.S. forces in Iraq through the end of the year.
"If (we) see some very positive progress and it looks like things are heading in the right direction, then that's the point at which I think we can begin to consider reducing some of those forces," Gates said.
Senators pressed Gates on when a decision will be made.
"What are the prospects for having some light at the end of the tunnel, to see some encouragement which would enable the Congress to have the fortitude to support the president and go beyond September and the full funding of the $500 billion?" asked Sen. Arlen Specter , R-Pa.
Gates replied: "I think that the honest answer is, senator, that I don't know."
Gates told the panel that proposals for a short-term funding bill would be very disruptive and "have a huge impact" on contracts to repair and replace equipment. And if Congress votes in July to pull the plug on war funding, "I would have to shut down significant elements of the Department of Defense in August and September because I wouldn't have the money to pay salaries."
So we can see by this turn of events that they should not even waste our time to play more political games. The troops have already been treated with such contempt and disrespect by the Democrats over this issue that there should be no more showboating.
I sent an email to Hillary Clinton over her recent remarks to undo the war and told her in no uncertain terms that a once strong supporter is no longer a supporter. She is humiliating herself by kowtowing to the hollywood elite cowards and the far left nut bags who think you can reason with the terrorists. They want to kill us! Do not let yourselves believe that if we surrender and leave Iraq that these people will stop killing americans. Just the opposite will be the effect. There will be open season on all of us and this time they’ll be coming to our homes to kill us, not on the other side of the world.
There are brave men and women trying to keep that from happening and they deserve our support and the funding that they will need to see this through to a successful, stable Iraq.
Write your representatives and Senators and tell them to stop disrespecting the troops and fund them. If they want to fight with Bush that is fine, but not on the backs of our troops in harm’s way.