Very concerned. Senate acts like

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WASHINGTON � What does the president-elect order on his first Saturday afternoon since moving into town? A chili dog and cheese fries.
Barack Obama dropped in Saturday afternoon for a bite to eat with Washington's mayor, Adrian Fenty, at Ben's Chili Bowl, the venerable diner in Washington's U Street district.

Obama said it was his first time visiting Ben's Chili Bowl and "it was terrific." The expectation is that Obama _ already at ease in big cities from his time in Chicago _ will venture into town more than President George W. Bush, who rarely made forays into unofficial Washington.

After Obama's motorcade wandered through the U street district, passing the African-American Civil War Memorial and a flea market selling shirts that bear his face, he and Fenty surprised the restaurant around lunchtime. Patrons shrieked with delight and surprise as they saw his face. A mother blushed as Obama held her baby in his arms. The president-elect and the mayor moved slowly through the restaurant's crowded rooms, shaking hands and getting pictures taken with patrons.

Still, they came there to eat. "Where the food at?" he finally asked the counter staff, drawing laughs from them and nearby patrons.

He and Fenty ordered a house specialty, a Chili Half-Smoke _ a quarter-pound half pork and beef smoked sausage on a steamed bun with mustard, onions and chili sauce _ along with a big helping of some cheese fries.

They found a small table. They had the popular food. They even chatted it up with nearby customers at their tables. But something was still missing: the shredded cheese. Obama yelled for some _ "not the Velveeta" kind, he said _ and it was quickly delivered.

Word must have gotten out he was in the area: After Obama and Fenty had their meal and left the building, dozens of people who had lined up before security barriers cheered him on as walked toward his motorcade.

and STILL not obsessing over some long-ago act that even Monica rarely thinks about anymore . . . .

Congratulations to all of you who have hoped Obama would win. I am very happy to have a black man in office, because of all that represents to so many people. I think that part is a huge historical step in the right direction. I am also disappointed because of the areas where I disagree with Obama. But we can't have it all, and truly neither candidate offered everything I would hope for.

With that said, McCain basically asked us all to unify in his speech last night. And I believe he did so because he knows that if we are to survive as a country, that is what we must do. Whether you believe he wrote the speech or not, he spoke the words in front of everyone....basically the world was watching...and I don't believe he would have said things he did not mean.

On a sad note, a dear friend of mine, who is black, stopped at a gas station early this morning and overhead a white man talking saying, "that n***** is going to run this country into the ground." I was heartbroken to hear that. I know racism goes both ways but we have to encourage everyone we know to not have that sort of attitude!!!!

Later this morning, I myself went into a convenient store. There was an Indian man working the register and a black man buying a lottery ticket, and me, a white woman. I smiled and said good morning. The black man looked at me and said, "I can't let Obama outdo me! I need to win the lottery now!" He was obviously happy that Obama won so I said, "oh, you're looking for a double win!" He said, "yes!" and I wished him good luck but told him my dad would be trying to win too and if he wins I get some money :-) He smiled and the guy at the register smiled...I told them all to have a nice day.

this is all way over my head... anyone make any sense of it who is willing to share?

I thought senate seats belonged to the state that person resided in. And I thought the people who fill the seats are picked by the people of their states in a vote. These DC people are acting as though their seats are to be handed down to their family members as though they are Royalty. Last I knew I didn't think we lived in a Monarchy, but now I'm beginning to wonder. Bill Clinton is now "suggesting" Hillary's old seat should go to Chelsea Clinton? Impeached Bill should have no say in who the senate seat goes to. The Clintons don't want Caroline Kennedy to fill it because Caroline backed Obama. This is rediculous. They think they are entitled to these positions. My feeling is that the senate seat should be filled with someone who is qualified from that state. Not family members of family members of family members. Caroline Kennedy should run for the seat when the time to run comes up. Not be placed there because her name is Kennedy. As for Chelsea? Talk about someone with NO skills or qualifications to fill the position. She has worked for a manager at some Hedge fund company. She is a total id!ot. Just because daddy was the Prez and mommy held the senate position, does not mean that Chelsea is qualified. And certainly just because she attended a lot of mommy's fund raising events doesn't mean she's qualified. Blimey, why not let Obama's daughter take his old senate seat.

I heard someone describe our government as an aristocracy. There are so many people who are qualified for the positions, but they will never get appointed because they are not rich or don't have the "name' or in the club. I also heard that someone is sitting in Biden's old senate seat "keeping it warm" until Biden's son comes back from the service where he will just waltz in and the seat will be his. All I can say is W-T-F??????

Like I say, I thought senate seats were appointed by people who vote for the candidates to fill the seat. Now I'm hearing seats are just being given to the children and relatives of the ones who held the seat before them. Tell me there isn't something wrong with what is going on. Cripes! We got rid of Bill (finally), sort of got rid of Hillary, and now little miss Chelsea is trying to weezle her way into the scene via mommy and daddy to get there.

Now it's on to the House-Senate negotioations. I just hope we can stand this as a nation.

don't let him blindly lead them down that road. We have a national security force now, the National Guard, but of course, they're stuck fighting for our country since the draft was banned.

We need to get back to draft registration like it used to be, then our military will be good and the Guard can stay home and protect us like they're supposed to be doing.

How is it that Obama just "happens" to have these neighbors: Louis Farrakhan, William Ayers, & Rev. Wright?

So are you saying that you don't think there's any involvement with these men in the last 10 years (or less)? If so, you'll be in for a huge surprise as more info comes out. Frankly, I'm amazed at how lethargic the public has been, just accepting anything the driveby media reports (more like FAILS to report)!

The snowball is on a downhill course and picking up speed, probably irreversible at this point.

the control the unions are getting. I know unions contribute to democrats, but the very idea of the Obama administration allowing the unions to have so much during Chrysler's bankruptcy....which isn't the way it should be at all. Obama has literally blown off everyone to make the unions have more control and make money. Now in CA we have the White House telling CA that they cannot cut union wages or they will lose their stimulus money. I just don't see how this doesn't concern people on here. Our government is out of control. I don't know that I agree with Obama wanting unemployment to go up. However, I have to wonder if Obama really cares about what he is doing here. Cap and trade will cut more jobs. Going green will create jobs initially but they won't sustain them. All of these construction jobs and infrastructure jobs he will create aren't sustainable. What happens when the job is done? People are out of work again.

Our government is out of control, unions are gaining more and more control.......I just don't like the way this is heading.

other countries are laughing at us, how our government is spending us into the ground without batting an eyelash about it, how we are more concerned about the treatment of terrorists than we are the potential danger we could put our troops in by showing these memos, etc., how terrorist think we are weak and they continue to hate us no matter whether we torture them or not.

Call me names all you like, but I do believe that Bush and Cheney did what they did to try to obtain information to save American lives. This isn't like T-ball where everyone gets a trophy in the end and there are no winners or losers. This is war.....get a clue!

Hackett has his work cut out for him, but I hope the vets keep running. It is a good sign of potential changes in the WH soon.

Ohio War Veteran Running for Senate

CINCINNATI -- Paul Hackett, the Democratic veteran of the Iraq war who narrowly lost a special election in a heavily Republican congressional district in August, made his official entry into a U.S. Senate race Monday.

He faces a tough Democratic primary with Rep. Sherrod Brown in the race for the nomination to challenge second-term Republican incumbent Sen. Mike DeWine next year.

Paul Hackett, the Democratic veteran of the Iraq war who narrowly lost in a special election in a heavily Republican congressional district in August, announces his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, Monday, Oct. 24, 2005, at his home in Cincinnati, Ohio. (AP Photo/Al Behrman) (Al Behrman - AP)

Hackett's only political experience is a stint as a small-city councilman.

I'm asking all the people of this great state, regardless of political affiliation, to consider my message and to consider joining me in the fight to take back our government from the career politicians and their special interest support groups who have hijacked our government, he said as he announced his campaign at his home in suburban Indian Hill.

Hackett decided to run for Congress earlier this year after completing a seven-month tour of duty in Iraq as a Marine reservist. That special election in southern Ohio's seven-county 2nd District was to replace Rep. Rob Portman, who left his seat to become the U.S. trade representative.

Hackett won the Democratic nomination, then battled Republican Jean Schmidt, a former state legislator, in a campaign in which he linked her to embattled Republican Gov. Bob Taft while sharply criticizing President Bush's handling of the war.

Schmidt won on Aug. 2 with 52 percent of the vote, though Portman had consistently won re-election in the district with more than 70 percent and Bush had carried it in 2004 with 64 percent.

Hackett's strong showing in a state that was a pivotal presidential battleground solidified the attorney as a likely 2006 candidate for Congress or statewide office.

After Hackett decided to oppose DeWine, Hackett was irked when Brown, with three decades of elective politics behind him, decided he also would run.

Brown, a former state legislator and Ohio secretary of state, is in his seventh congressional term, representing northeastern Ohio's 13th District. He's expected to officially launch his Senate race in early November.

Brown said Monday he initially didn't plan to run because of family reasons, but changed his mind with his family's encouragement. He said he wasn't expecting the race for the May 2 primary to damage his chances of defeating DeWine in the general election.

I've had primaries before, Brown said. It makes me a stronger candidate.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00137

stimulus package, I'm getting more furious every hour with some of the senators.

It seems there is no bipartisanship happening except the republicans trying to stop the bloated parts of the package, that which has nothing to do with the stimulus. So far, the amount is up to $990B and growing. One senator pointed out that if it passes the way it is, it will be over $1.7 TRILLION and we can't afford it.

Senator Tom Coburn (R) OK stated the Constitution gave us no authorization to do what we're doing (meddling in business, banking, etc.) He had a wonderful speech. I hope to find it on the 'net later.

Sen. James Inhofer (R) OK states he hopes all republicans stand up and agree this won't work but Sen. McCain's amendment should pass and WILL work. I don't know what's in Sen. McCain's amendment as it's not posted yet.

Now, my absolutely favorite senator (NOT!): Sen. Schumer (D) NY. He stated THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT THIS STIMULUS and sort of threatened in a veiled way that it WILL PASS no matter what the republicans want. I think everybody and their friends and family ought to clog his email with messages of how we DON'T want this package the way it is and since when is he a mindreader? The article I posted is probably the American people he is talking about.

Now there's a guy who really understands the American people. I found a little item on the 'net while I was looking for other stuff and I'm providing the link. Maybe a lot of you saw this before, but this is the first I've seen it. The date is JANUARY 22, 2007, so he knew all along that there was trouble brewing.

According to Schumer and Klobuchar, they are sending a letter to AIG Liddy (sp) to tell them to renegotiate the bonuses or give the bonus money back, or else they will draft a LAW and take immediate steps to impose a tax as high as 91% on these bonuses.

I don't know how they can do that, although I would like to see it happen. But if they can break the contracts for AIG, then they can break any contract at will. That's a bit scary.

language in some of them (books) and felt it inappropriate for their children. This was to help keep bad language away from their children. Not to get rid of them because a certain race, nationality, etc. wrote them. The Nazis burned books written by Jews. This is entirely different." Your words. This is not different at all, and the statement is absurd. Once you take even one book off the shelf, you have invited pure anarchy/tyrrany. This would elimintate my and my children's freedom of speech and expression. Secondly, you want to take away my responsibility as a parent for my children. Thirdly, this kind of gov't would take away all freedom of thought, how we get our information of the world, different viewpoints, different cultures, different ideas, etc., etc., an extremely dangerous slope. For the love of freedom, please don't dictate to me or my kids what we can read, write, think, etc.

that some son of a generally unknown guy expressed the opinion that the Dem convention was run well than the RIGHT AMENDMENT!! What screwed up priorities you have, sista.

Very concerned. Senate acts like

Hackett has his work cut out for him, but I hope the vets keep running. It is a good sign of potential changes in the WH soon.

Ohio War Veteran Running for Senate

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