Disqus - Latest Comments for riverdog9

Re: Culver: Obama’s coattails could extend into western Iowa

riverdog9 — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:57:27 -0000

Too bad Obama didn't bother to mention Hubler's name at his rally. You would think that he would want the congressional candidates on stage with him for an arms in the air photo as opposed to only mentioning two out of the five of them.

I assume that's Jackie Norris's doing. Or not doing, as the case may be.

Re: Is Rob Hubler missing the Democratic wave?

riverdog9 — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:55:37 -0000

Epitaph? Tombstone? Dude, the election is next Tuesday, not yesterday. Get a grip.

Trippi wrote one lame post on Daily Kos. End of story. He could have done a lot more and didn't. I don't understand why he signed on unless he wants to take credit if the blue tsunami washes King out to sea.

Re: King: Electing Obama could lead to ‘totalitarian dictatorship’

riverdog9 — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:34:33 -0000

This man is Michelle Bachmann without the lipstick. He is one of the most ignorant, bigoted ineffective people in Congress. For video of his wretched remarks, go here: here<.

To contribute to Rob Hubler's campaign to retire King, go here.

Re: Democrats take estimated 30,000-vote lead in Iowa

riverdog9 — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:04:04 -0000

I hope he keeps proclaiming his opposition to ethanol, every day between now and election day. What is he doing in Iowa after that one?

Obama was the keynote speaker at the dedication of the Verasun plant in northeast Iowa. If you're combining corn right now, that's something to think about.

Re: Iowa delegation splits on failed bailout

riverdog9 — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:46:23 -0000

Define "serious challenge." This is the kind of analysis that Stu Rothernberg laid on us not long ago: it's a red district, end ot story.

King is not running any sort of campaign and it is too late to do anything but buy media. McCain has essentially pulled out of Iowa, so he will not be running a big GOTV operation in the Fifth, or any, district.

Meanwhile, Rob Hubler has an aggressive field campaign, is raising money rapidly, and has polling that shows King is really vulnerable. A little more cash for late media and you will be redefining your terms.

Re: King sees some truth in far-fetched North American Union conspiracy

riverdog9 — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:34:53 -0000

No, you dig deeper. If you have any facts to back up your theories, post links to reputable sources that support what you are saying, which is what Doug Burns did.

You and Peggy have been flinging accusations of bias at a reporter who took the trouble to write about what King said, then investigate the underlying facts and report on those, with sources that he disclosed. So far, all I have read here is a lot of empty nonsense about how terrible Burns is, but not one word to contradict any fact he cited.

It reminds me of the Steven Colbert line about how "the facts have a well-known liberal bias." Or the anonymous administration official who declared to Ron Suskind that there was something called "the reality-based community," which would witness them making up their own reality.

The game's up, folks. Bush is leaving, finally. And taking his Cheney and his torture and his eavesdropping on Americans with him. We will see whether the Fifth District of Iowa "doesn't care," and retains one of Bush's loyal footsoldiers to represent their very pressing and serious economic interests in the Congress of the United States.

Re: King sees some truth in far-fetched North American Union conspiracy

riverdog9 — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:27:40 -0000

Translation: I got nuthin'.

Re: King sees some truth in far-fetched North American Union conspiracy

riverdog9 — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:47:42 -0000

I am no one's webmaster. The only things I try to master are facts.

I notice that you tend to take aim at the messenger rather than engage on the message in your comments here. Today is no exception. You have attacked Burns, but are silent on what, exactly, is inaccurate in what he wrote. Did he quote King accurately, so far as you know? Did you read at any of the links he included? Do you share King's beliefs, as quoted here? If so, why?

Here is an excerpt from the SPLC article that I cited. You might want to read the whole thing, then encourage Congressman King to focus his attention on real problems next time you see him.

"The 'North American Union'
Since 2005, the dominant conspiracy theory animating the anti-immigration movement has been the so-called "North American Union," described as a plot to surrender American sovereignty in a planned merger with Canada and Mexico. The plotters are typically said to be various foreign leaders, President George W. Bush and his "neo-conservative" allies, and an array of leading American liberals.

If the John Birch Society (JBS) and others pushing this theory are to be believed, President Bush began ceding American sovereignty on March 23, 2005, at a meeting in Waco, Texas, with Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin and Mexican President Vicente Fox. The meeting ended with the signing of what was called the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), which set up a series of working groups to study cooperation in transportation, energy, aviation, the environment and more.

Most people familiar with the SPP understand that it is a benign and slow-moving attempt to coordinate trade and security policies in a bid to improve the lives of citizens in all three countries. But to the conspiracy theorists, it is a plot that will end with Mexico sending millions more of its citizens to the United States, international courts that overrule American justice, hate crime laws that will send anti-gay Christian preachers to prison, and more. The plotters are said to include the militia bogeyman of the Council of Foreign Relations and are supposedly directed by American University Professor Robert Pastor.

Lately, the paranoia about the SPP process has become so intense that a proposed highway linking Canada, Mexico and the United States is seen as part of evil machinations that will end with the Mexican government seizing control of the key Missouri River port in Kansas City. Other conspiracy theorists fear that a new currency, the "Amero," will displace good, old-fashioned American dollars.

The leader in "educating" the public about the North American Union (NAU) plot has been the [John Birch Society], which says "politicians and internationalists" in America are "effectively destroying the United States." In fact, the long dormant group has been reanimated by the theory, assigning writer Mary Benoit to cover it relentlessly in the JBS magazine The New American. JBS has allied itself on this issue with Howard Phillips, leader of the anti-immigrant Constitution Party, and added nativist leader Chris Simcox of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps to its speakers bureau."

There is also the Google if you would like to add to your knowledge.

Re: King sees some truth in far-fetched North American Union conspiracy

riverdog9 — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:45:01 -0000

Call it what it is.

It a crackpot conspiracy theory promoted by the John Birch Society, Jerome "Swiftboat" Corsi, Ron Paul, and the militia movement. That Steve King believes it says that he is truly on the delusional far right fringe of American politics. There is no basis in fact whatsoever for this theory, but white supremacists and their camp followers, like Michelle Malkin and Lou Dobbs, use this to get their ignorant and bigoted fans all worked up.

The Southern Poverty Law Center discusses these wackos here: http://www.splcenter.org/in...

Re: Rothenberg Report: Absurd for Dems to elevate Hubler race

riverdog9 — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:32:08 -0000

It's absurd for Rothernberg to sound off without knowing anything about this race. I left the following observations for Mr. Rotherberg in the comments section of his sage observations about races he knows nothing about:

You're kidding, right? This is what passes for analysis:

"Hubler, who had only $27,000 in the bank on June 30, is running in by far the most Republican district in Iowa, where McCain will run up a huge margin."

Frankly, Mr. Rotherberg, I expect better effort from you. Hubler's polling shows that King is quite vulnerable. Discussion of the polling appeared here: http://www.dailykos.com/sto...
A 36% approval rating for an incumbent is not good news, I'm told, although I'm no expert like yourself.

June was a 100 political years ago. Do you know how Hubler's fundraising stands now? I mention it because Harkin, Culver, Vilsack, and Berkley Bedell have all been fundraising for Hubler according to press reports. The Progressive Patriots Fund is helping him. Joe Trippi is helping him with media. It was also reported last spring that Obama was ahead of McCain in the Fifth, although I no longer have a link to that and don't have access to Lexis-Nexis. I'll bet you do though.

Lots of folks are polling there now, probably including the DCCC, Harkin's campaign, IDP, the Des Moines Register. Why don't you ask someone to share with you how McCain is doing now, instead of just assuming that past is prologue? Obama has field staff and offices in the district and a strong field effort. McCain has one office and not much else. How will he be getting the vote out?

Hubler is running hard. King has barely showed up in the district, has no campaign staff other than his son, and no campaign. He refuses to debate, and is off grandstanding on immigration again, with a phony hearing on immigrant crime. Meanwhile, people in the Fifth District have real issues they are worried about when they wake up in the morning.

Get out of D.C. and go take a look. Or don't write about what you don't know.

Re: GOP’s Reed says Harkin backs marriage of man and horse

riverdog9 — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:19:44 -0000

What is it with Republicans and bestiality? Rick Santorum (R-formerly PA Senator) brought us "man on dog sex." Now it's marrying horses.

It shows that an obsession with other people's personal lives is not healthy.

Re: King dismisses Hubler, but wants to debate Obama

riverdog9 — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 10:58:11 -0000

HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahem.

Are there no limits to this man's dreams of grandeur? He lectures T. Boone Pickens on the oil business, wants to debate Obama, and whats next? Maybe he could show Bruce Springsteen how to play the guitar, advise Bill Gates on Microsoft's business plan, and cook up lunch for Emeril on live TV.

He could warm up for his Obama encounter by debating his actual opponent, Rob Hubler. Just saying. Unless he's too chicken.

buk buk buk bugawk!

Re: King casually compares Three Mile Island to an X-ray

riverdog9 — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:52:31 -0000

Riverdog pats Peggy on the head and suggests that if she can't address the actual substantive issues raised by Mr. Burns' article perhaps she could run along.

Re: King casually compares Three Mile Island to an X-ray

riverdog9 — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:15:15 -0000

Cocinero notices that all this talk of radical terrorist scientists and climate deniers is an effort to distract from the point that was made in the article above. King is wrong on the facts. The actual facts are laid out in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. King's views are in line with nuclear industry talking points.

Re: King casually compares Three Mile Island to an X-ray

riverdog9 — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:11:07 -0000

A group founded nearly 40 years ago has three original members on the board, so it is clearly the same group.

It was founded by professors at MIT, a notorious institution of higher learning devoted to (horrors!)
science.

At a rally in 1969, one of the speakers was associated with a radical anti-war group. Therefore all the members of the Union of Concerned Scientists, from 1969 to present, are radicals and terrorists.

David Lochbaum is a member of UCS therefore he is a terrorist.

Six degrees of separation as played by Joe McCarthy. He would be so proud. This is the kind of drivel you write when you got nuthin'.

Re: King casually compares Three Mile Island to an X-ray

riverdog9 — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:20:15 -0000

Peggy is attacking the messenger. In the Bush administration, anyone who questions rampant crony capitalism is a "far left environmentalist extremist." Also, anyone with any scientific knowledge who contradicts the politically-based talking points is not to be believed. So, using that Google Thingy, I asked: Who is the messenger?

(I would also ask: "Who is Peggy?" But she is not disclosing her affiliations. Since she is one of the global warming deniers we can surmise which industry teat she is attached to.)

From Senate testimony in 2006, there is this:

"My name is David Lochbaum. After obtaining a degree in nuclear engineering from The University of Tennessee in 1979, I worked more than 17 years in the nuclear power industry, mostly at operating reactors in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Connecticut. I joined the Union of Concerned Scientists in October 1996 and am the Director of the Nuclear Safety Project. Since nearly its beginnings in May 1969, UCS has maintained an interest in nuclear power plant safety. UCS is neither an opponent nor a supporter of nuclear power – our interest is that of a nuclear safety advocate."

And it turns out that he is a whistleblower:

"In 1992, he and a colleague identified a safety problem in a plant where they were working, but were ignored when they raised the issue with the plant manager, the utility, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. They decided to go to Congress, and the problem was eventually corrected at the original plant and at plants across the country. Concerned about nuclear safety and frustrated with the NRC's complacency, Lochbaum joined UCS in 1996."

So on the available evidence, Lochbaum is someone that Chuck Grassley would stand behind, as a stalwart supporter of whistleblowers. But Steve King would not, as a reliable lapdog for the nuclear industry. Any questions?