So, how have things been? It seems things are heating up quite a bit over here.

[Colobo]

Please post some updates- been out of the country for 2 weeks missing DU like you don't know what. :)

[avrdream]

1. I just commented to you in the other thread.

Welcome back. It's just as silly here as always. I use the hide thread option a lot these days. Not all are as reasonable as you.

[emilyg]

2. Welcome back sweetie.

[Colobo]

6. Thanks, emily! Nice to see you!

:hi:

[Lasher]

3. Same as always

Everybody's real nice as long as you always agree with us.



A little more focus on Iowa than 2 weeks ago, methinks.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3896563

Lots of concern right now about Bhutto's assassination, check the front page.

Welcome home.

[Colobo]

9. Thanks, Lasher! Glad to be back!

:hi:

[IndianaGreen]

4. Welcome back, Katz!

I was wondering what became of you.

[Colobo]

8. Hey Indiana, how have you been? Happy to see you again!

[IndianaGreen]

19. I got a full plate this coming year

Like many others here, I am waiting to see who will be selected to run in a special election to fill the vacant seat of the late, and much beloved, Congresswoman Julia Carson. Whoever wins the special election will have to face the voters again in November.

I am doing some volunteer work for former Congresswoman Jill Long, who is running for governor. If she wins the May primary, she will be facing Little Hitler, Mitch Daniels. He used to be Bush's budget guy, the man that pissed away the Clinton surplus. As governor he pissed away the surplus painstakingly build by 3 Democratic governors.

As you can guess, by the time we hold our primary in May, we would have a presumptive nominee. I hope to the gods that it is not Hillary! I can live with just about anyone else.

As to Iowa, I have serious reservations as to any outcome from Iowa. The current system should be scrapped altogether, replaced by rotating regional primaries. For all the crap one hears on the virtues of retail politics, the fact is that the general election is run at the wholesale level. A candidate that does well at the retail level in Iowa or New Hampshire may easily flop on the big show. A regional primary system would mirror the general election. A candidate that does well in such system, will also do well in the general.

Welcome back!

[silverweb]

5. Welcome back, Katz!

I hope your travels were entirely pleasant and that you're equally glad to be back.

It's been the usual here, from DU's treasure-trove of insight and information, to the mundane, to the outrageous, to the absurd.

My ignore list has been growing, unfortunately, but the primary season will be over before we know it -- and then everybody starts fresh.

Most of all, Obama's been doing great!

So... are you Fired up and ready to go?

[Colobo]

7. Thanks, silver, and yes: FIRED UP! READY TO GO!

[silverweb]

13. To make you laugh....

My daughter is one of Obama's imported student team in Iowa and she said the "fired up and ready to go" meme seemed "lame" at the start.

However, before they even left California, it became a standard morning greeting... even before caffeine infusions. For example:

Caller: Fired up?

Answer: _{Uhhh... ready... uhhh, ready to... uhhh... go?}

Caller: Fired up?

Answer: _{Uhmmm... ready to gooooo...}

Caller: Fired up!

Answer (now sitting up): Ready to GO!

She swears this really happens on a daily basis and I believe her. :D

[Catherine Vincent]

10. Welcome back!

:hi:

[juajen]

11. Welcome back. We missed you lots.

I know how you feel. I was sick for three days and couldn't wait to get back on DU to see what I missed. We are sorta addicted, aren't we?

[JohnLocke]

12. "Silly season" is in full swing.

Welcome back, Katz. A new member of the Forces of Rationality is always needed. We seem to be outnumbered. ;)

[TeamJordan23]

14. welcome back. get ready for hourly obama attacks. nm

[MadBadger]

15. Well, Benazir Bhutto was assasinated today and the board blew up

No pun intended. With Axelrod making comments and Evan Bayh making comments today, the board was pitted Clinton vs. Obama in some of the worst ways Ive seen. Probably worse than Oprah Day a few weeks about.

[Perry Logan]

16. The big news is Axelrodgate.

[youthere]

17. Welcome back katz...

hope you had a refreshing and wonderful vacation. I missed you...I really did.

[Adelante]

18. Good to see you, Katz

:hi: