MARK KARLIN BUZZFLASH EDITOR’S BLOG

It's Thanksgiving, a holiday when we count our blessings and bask in warmth of family and friends.  It's a uniquely American celebration of peace, when native-Americans and the Puritans who emigrated to North America nourished each other with food and friendship.

This year, our autumnal feelings of gratitude are disrupted by a ghastly terrorist attack in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) by a fanatical Islamic group of as yet uncertain origins.  But we do know this, residents of the U.S., the UK, and Jews were specifically targeted (although the bulk of those killed will almost certainly be Indians), and despite it happening on foreign soil, if it had occurred on January 21, 2009, the right wing GOP talking point chamber would have blamed Obama.

MARK KARLIN BUZZFLASH EDITOR’S BLOG

On November 18, the Democratic caucus will decide, by secret ballot, whether to strip Joe Lieberman of his Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee chairmanship.  (Yes, that's a mighty important position in terms of our national security, and Lieberman has spent the last couple of years making sure that his committee did nothing to enhance our national security by being a yes man for the Bush Administration's dead end, incompetent policies.)

Yesterday, I debunked the notion that Lieberman is needed for a potential 60-vote "filibuster proof" Democratic Senate majority, if three of the outstanding senate races go Democratic. 

First of all, Harry Reid recently defended Lieberman's "value" to him (while also giving him a perfunctory scolding): "Joe Lieberman votes with me a lot more than a lot of my senators. He didn't support us on military stuff, and he didn't support us on Iraq stuff. But you look at his record, it's pretty good."

MARK KARLIN BUZZFLASH EDITOR’S BLOG

The corporate media and even progressive Internet sites are holding out the possibility that the Democrats, with three undecided senate races, may still reach the magical number of 60 Dems in the Senate to attain a "filibuster proof" majority.

There's only one problem with this universally-held assumption that 60 Democratic votes would give them the power to stop obstructive and destructive Republican filibusters: it's wrong.

Sometimes math triumphs common sense and this is one case that illustrates this. Yes, technically with 60 votes, the Democrats could prevent ongoing GOP filibusters to prevent America from progressing forward. But there is a difference between a technical threshold and the reality of how Democratic senators vote.

Patrick Fitzgerald, DOJ Special Counsel for PlameGate, came within a hair of indicting Vice-President Dick Cheney and Karl Rove. He was relentless and the model of integrity in pursuing the prosecution of "Scooter" Libby.

Many political junkies forget, however, that his job as PlameGate Special Counsel was really a moonlighting position for his ongoing role as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. And rest assured that Fitzgerald, a legendary workaholic and the son of a New York doorman, is still punching a 24-hour a day time card in his role as lead DOJ prosecutor in the Land of Lincoln.

The Infamous Bush-Lieberman Hug and Kiss Session after Bush's 2005 State of the Union Address

MARK KARLIN'S BUZZFLASH EDITOR'S BLOG

Of course, we don’t approve of Harry Reid getting all wimpy on a Sunday political gabfest by indicating that Lieberman was both a Benedict Arnold and a fine progressive. In short, Reid was signaling that he wasn’t going to unilaterally strip "Joementum" of his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee or toss him out of the Democratic caucus.

Reid seems content to let Joe get by with a mere public expression of disapproval for avidly supporting McCain, and being John’s "brain double" on foreign affairs.

Say what?

Let’s put it simply, Lieberman’s acts of betrayal and bizarre alliances aside (he not too long ago praised fruitcake, bigot John Hagee as another Moses, which kind of is insulting to both Moses and Jews, even if Lieberman is Orthodox), he’s become a schlimazel.

MARK KARLIN'S EDITOR'S BLOG: Another BuzzFlash Perspective on Our Homestate Illinois Politics.

As the oldest and largest news and commentary progressive website (since May of 2000) between the coasts -- and headquartered in Chicago -- our readers know that we have a lot of insights into the new Obama administration, especially since he appears headed toward taking a lot of our local Democratic Party talent with him.

MARK KARLIN'S EDITOR'S BLOG: Another BuzzFlash Perspective on Our Homestate Politics.

Everyone knows that governors appoint replacements when Senate seats become vacant.

In fact, just yesterday, BuzzFlash focused on the strong possiblity that Sarah Palin would appoint herself senator if convicted GOP felon Ted Stevens wins re-election (which appears likely, although the absentee ballots are still being counted) and then is forced out of the senate or resigns  This would give her a national forum for her ignorance, but in her eyes provide her a platform for running in the Republican primaries in 2012.

So, what about the governor from our BuzzFlash home state of Illinois? Who will Rod Blagojevich appoint to replace Barack Obama?

Well, Blagojevich had a news conference yesterday in Chicago in which he announced that he might not make a decision until the end of the year. Blagojevich, a former Congressman, declared that he was not interested in appointing himself, but don't rule that out. Don't rule that out at all.

Blajojevich has an approval rating in Illinois, according to a recent Chicago Tribune poll, of 13%! Yes, you read that right. 

MARK KARLIN'S EDITOR'S BLOG

November 5, 2008

Almost every mainstream newspaper and television station highlighted that this was a historic victory because America has elected its first African-American president.

That is, of course, a historic milestone, but more importantly -- regardless of race -- democracy, which was on the verge of being hijacked by the dark shadows of fascism, has been restored.

Obama happens to be of mixed black/white ancestry, whatever that means -- and it certainly means a lot to the McCain-Palin red meat eating bigots.

MARK KARLIN'S EDITOR'S BLOG

November 3, 2008

Due to GOP voter suppression, God can't vote on November 4.

That's right, because Republicans have implemented laws that require showing a driver’s license or the like in order to vote in many states, God would be turned away at the polls.

November 1, 2008

Call it the final stake in the myth and destructive path of the Reagan era.  On the evening of October 31, Ron Reagan -- son of the Gipper -- officially endorsed Barack Obama for President.