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TheEndoftheReaganErabyDHinMI SunJul06,2008at07:29:41PMPDT
Whatmakesapoliticalera?Intryingtounderstandanyparticularpoliticalera,it'snecessaryto
understandthepreviousera,itsduration,itscharacteristics,whatbroughtitintobeing,what
stressesledtoitsdemise.Intryingtofigureoutourpoliticssincethelatesixties,anddefinitelysince
theearlyeighties,fewbookshavebeenashelpfultomeasacollectionofessayspublishedin1989by
SteveFraserandGaryGerstle, RiseandFalloftheNewDealOrder:19301980
.Intheir
introductoryessay,FraserandGerstlelaidoutthepremiseunderlyingtheirinvestigationofapolitical
order:
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Ournotionof"politicalorder"drawsitsconceptualinspirationfromthenotionof
"electoralsystem"and"partysystem"developedbypoliticalscientistsandthe"new
politicalhistorians"inrecentyears.ThesescholarhavedepictedAmericanpolitical
historysince1800intermsofrelativelylongperiodsofelectoralstabilitypunctuatedby
briefbutintensepoliticalupheavalsandelectoralrealignments.Ineachofthefive
periodsofelectoralstability(1800 1820's,1820's 1850's,1850's
1890's,1890's 1930's,
1930's1970's),themajorpartieshadafixedrelationshiptoanelectoralcoalitionthe
sizeoftheparties'respectivecoalitions,inturn,determinedtherelationshipthat
prevailedbetweenthetwoparties
inparticular,whetheronedominatedorwhether
thetwostruggledonarelativelyequalfooting...
Thisapproachdiminishestheimportanceofparticularpoliticalactors
presidents, senators,andothers
aswellasofthenormaltwo,four,andsixyearelectoralcycles.
Itelevates,bycontrast,importanceofeconomiceventsandsocialtrends.Fundamental
changesinpoliticallifethosewhichproduceachangeinpartysystemsareseenas
issuingfromcrisesinthenation'seconomy,socialstructure,andpoliticalstructure...
[...]
Inprobingwhysuchfundamentalhistoricaleventsarerequiredtochangeparty
systems,thenewpoliticalhistorianshavegenerallyoffered"ethnocultural"
explanations.Americanvoters,atleastfromthemidnineteenthtothemidtwentieth
century,theyhaveargued,viewedpoliticalpartiesastheprotectorsoftheirmost
treasuredbeliefsandvitalinterests:theirreligions,theirethnictraditions,theirfamilies
andtheirneighborhoods.Votersthusdevelopedprofoundemotionalloyaltiesto
partiestheseloyalties,inturn,influencedindividualelectoralbehaviorfarmorethan
rationalreflectionsonaparty'splatformorshort
term,instrumentalcalculationsofthe
likelyreturnoncastingaballotforonepartyoranother.Suchloyaltieswerenoteasily
forsaken.Onlymajoreconomicandsocialcrisestriggeredbroadshiftsinloyaltyfrom
onepartytoanother.
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TheNewDealvotingcoalitionwasanchoredbySouthernwhiteprotestantsandNorthernCatholics
andJews.Membershipinlaborunions,thenasnow,madeonefarmorelikelytovoteDemocratic.
Unlikenow,however,wherethepercentageofworkersrepresentedbyaunionisbarelyover10%,
bythemid1950'sunionmemberswerealmost35%oftheworkforce.WithinashorttimeBlackvoters,
previouslyloyaltothepartyofLincoln,shiftedallegiancetotheDemocrats(althoughtheywere
disenfranchisedintheJimCrowSouth).
AftertheeconomicandsocialdevastationoftheGreatDepressionwhichlastedthroughoutthe
thirties,anddidn'tfullyliftuntilthecountrymobilizedforwarstartinginabout1940Roosevelt,
TrumanandtheNewDealersinCongressusedtaxpolicytolargelyamelioratetheworstinwealthand
incomedisparities.Increasedunionizationledtowagepatternbargaining,whereunioncontracts
raisedwagesforallworkersinthatparticularsector.Inhisbook
TheConscienceofaLiberal,Paul
Krugmancallsthe20yearperiodoftheRooseveltandTrumanadministrations,whentheultrawealthy
becamethemerelywealthyandthemiddleclassexpandedtoincludethemajorityofAmericanseven
ifitincludedfewminoritiestheGreatCompression.
TheUSdidn'tfollowthepathofalmosteveryindustrializednationandcreateasocialdemocratic
welfarestate.ButaftertheKennedyassassinationandthehuge1964Democraticlandslide,the
JohnsonadministrationpushedthroughtheGreatSocietyinitiatives,includingMedicare,togowith
NewDealandpost
WWIImeasureslikeSocialSecurity,theG.I.BillandFHAloanstofurtherexpand
andextendthepartialwelfarestate.
Johnsonalso,ofcourse,finallybroughtthegovernmenttograntfullfranchiseandcitizenshiptoBlack
AmericansbypassingtheVotingRightsandCivilRightsacts.TheseendedtheJimCrowsysteminthe
South.ButprovidingpathsforAfricanAmericanstojointhemainstreamofAmericansociety,according
toFraserandGerstle,contributedtothestressesthatledtotheendoftheNewDealorder:
Thestate'srhetoricalcommitmenttodistributingcivilrightsandeconomicabundanceto
allitscitizensinevitablypushedracetotheverycenterofnationalpoliticsthenation's
growingmilitaryobligationsdiminishedtheeconomicresourcesnecessarytosolveorat
leastmitigatethebrewingracialcrisisandtheimportanceattached(bypurveyorsof
masscultureandideologuesofamodernistdomestiticity)toachievingafulland
expressivepersonallifepredictablyresultedinaninsatiablehungerfor"authenticity"
andautonomyinallsocialspheres...TheNewDealorder'sunabashedlymodernist
characterintensifiedthesetensionsandwasbound,soonerorlater,toprovokethe
moraloutrageoftraditionalists.Asecondsourceoftensionresultedfromthefailureof
theDemocraticpartyandorganizedlabor,inthe1930'sand1940's,totransform,
throughwagelegislationandunionization,theSouth'ssocialstructure.Such
failures...meantthananextraordinarykindofjudicialfiatitself,thoughcloakedin
constitutionallanguage,akindofviolence wouldbenecessarytointegrate
southerners(andespeciallyblacks)intotheNewDealorder.
Assuggestedinthepreviousparagraph,theeraoftheNewDealwasaperiodofgreatchangein
Americanfamilyrelationships.FromtheextendedfamiliesofagrarianAmericathatprevaileduntil
roughlytheendofWWI,throughtheascendancyofthenuclearfamilyastheAmericannorm,tothe
burgeoningoffeminismandtheincreasedintegrationofwomenintotheworkforce,andthereforethe
endofthestay
athomemomastheAmericannorm,manymoresandbeliefsaboutfamilyandgender
profoundlychanged.Aswithanyprofoundsocialchange,itcreatedpoliticaltensionsanddivides.
MuchoftheconflictinAmericanpoliticsfromthelate1960'snearlyuptothepresenthasbeenover
socialandculturalissues,mostrootedinthechangeswroughtbyfeminismandracialintegration.
JohnsonpredictedthatsigningtheCivilRightsActwouldmeanthattheDemocratswouldlosethe
Southforageneration.Inpresidentialpolitics,hewascorrect,andbelowthePresidentiallevel,what
hadbeenthe"solidsouth"becamethegeographicbaseoftheRepublicanparty.IntheNorth,where
thefrontiersofracialintegrationandaccommodationwerepopulatedbyAfricanAmericansandmostly
ethnicCatholicsintheurbanareasandinnerringsuburbs,issueslikeschoolbusingandtheriotsof
thelatesixtieswereuseddeftlybyRepublicanstopryaparttheNewDealcoalitionandcreate
"ReaganDemocrats."Crimeandwelfare,associatedastheywerewithAfrican
Americansintheminds ofmanyofthesevoters,becameproxiesforrace.
Onculturalissues,probablynothingcutthroughtheNewDealcoalitionmoretraumaticallythan
abortion.Butitwasn'tjustabortion,ormorefringeissueslikeprayerinschools.TheDemocraticParty
itselfbecametarredwiththechargeofelitism,whichwas,sinceWallace,associatedwithpointed
headedintellectuals,judgesandbureaucratstellingpeopleespeciallymenwhattheycouldand
couldn'tdo.Manyoftheculturalissuesbecameproxybattlesoverfeminism,andliberalsandthe
Democraticpartybecameassociatedwithtraitsgenerallythoughttobeeffete,ortotaketheroot
wordfurther,feminine.
Reagancamealongandputasunnysheenovertheangeroftheright.Theworkingclass,sincethe
oilshocksofthe1970'sandthedestructionofcoreindustrieslikemining,textiles,heavy
manufacturingandbasicsteel,hadbeenpummeledeconomically.Butthedamagehadbeenmitigated
bytherelativelyuntouchedNewDealsocialwelfaresystem,justrecentlyexpandedbyJohnson.
ReaganfoughtCarterthroughacloseelection,andbyconvincingenoughvotersthathewasn'tcrazy,
surgedtoatenpointwin.
Onceinoffice,ReagancommencedacounterrevolutionagainsttheNewDeal,butthevisibleattacks
tendedtobemostlyinthecontextofwelfareandthelike,whichformostvoterselicitednotionsof
raceratherthanhostilitytowardregulationoftheeconomyorgovernmentinterventiontomitigatethe
harshnessofunfetteredandunregulatedmarkets.Attacksonregulationandthewelfarestatethat
weren'tseenasdisproportionatelybenefitingAfrican
Americanslargelywentunderground.Through
theReaganera,evenupthroughGeorgeW.Bush'scampaignin2004,theRepublicansstuckmostlyto
socialandculturalissues,ortotaxes.Taxeswereanotherproxyforrace,asmanyswingvotersfelt
theirtaxesweretoohigh,andfelttheirtaxdollarswerebeingsquanderedonwelfarepaymentsto
peoplewhorefusedtoworkoronsupposedlyexorbitantforeignaidtopeopleoverseas.Butpublicly
theRepublicanslargelyavoidedfrontalassaultsontheNewDeal.
WiththedemiseoftheSovietUnionandtheopeningupofChina,fearsofwarfadedfromthe
consciousnessofvoters.Thislessenedred
baiting,butitalsoremovedthelastinhibitionpreventing
whatinthe90'sbecameknownasthepoliticsofpersonaldestruction.LedbyNewtGingrich,the
notionthatpoliticsstopsattheocean'sshoreended,andeverything,includingpreviousofflimits
aspectsofapolitician'spersonallife,wasgroundsforattack.
By2000,mostAmericansweredeeplydisillusionedwiththispettyandnastypolitics,buttimeswere
generallygood.AfterthehugeRepublicanwinin1994,RepublicanlostseatsinCongressthenext
threeelections.Otherthanatwo
yearperiodduringtheEisenhoweradministrationan
administrationatpeacewiththeNewDealDemocratshadheldthepresidencyoratleastone
chamberofCongressforseventyyears.Theineptness,hostilitytowardsoundgovernanceand
corruptionoftheGOPhadnotbeenfullyexposedtotheAmericanpubliconlytheGingrich
led
governmentshutdownof1995hintedtocasualobserversthetrueintentionsofthenewmainstream
oftheradicalizedRepublicanparty.MuchofJohnson'sGreatSocietyhadbeengutted,butthemain
legislativepillarsoftheNewDeal,suchassocialsecurity,afterthescares19811983and1995,had
beenleftmostlyintact.Andasoftenhappenswhenthingsaregood,frivolitieslikehowmanytimes
oneofthecandidatessighedduringthedebatebecameabigissue.
AlGore,hissighsandhissupposedexaggerationsweresavagedinthemedia.Nevertheless,hewon
thepopularvote,almostcertainlywontheelectoralvote,andwaskeptoutoftheWhiteHouseonlyby
theinterventionoftheconservativemajorityontheSupremeCourt.AndDemocratswonseveral
upsetsintheSenate,leadingtoatiebrokenonlybythevoteofVPDickCheney.
AsI'vepreviouslyargued(here,hereandhere),Ibelieveweareonthevergeofatransforming
election.Butjustasonecanarguewhethertheendofapoliticaleraendedin1968orwas
interrupteduntil1980becauseofWatergate,onecouldarguethattheendoftheReaganerabegan
in2000butwasinterruptedthenextyearbytheterroristattackson911.RuyTexeiraandJohnJudis
werealreadyrefiningtheirargumentfor
TheEmergingDemocraticMajority,showingthat demographicchangesandlong
termvotingpatternspresagedanendtotheReaganera.But9 11
andtheenvironmentoffearexploitedbytheRepublicanspreventedGOPlossesin2002.Eventhen,
however,theGOPCongressionalgainsin2002and2004(afterTexasredistricting)wereconsistent
withthechangesinapportionment,withmoredistrictsdrawntobeproRepublicanaccountingforthe
GOPgains.
Thenin2005GeorgeBushandtheGOPwereexposed.BushtriedtomountanovertassaultonSocial
Security,precipitatingthedeclineinhisstandingthatcontinuestoday.Thedisastrousresponseto
KatrinashamedmostAmericans.AndthewarinIraqfinallywasseenasanotherdisastermadeby
BushandtheGOP.Democratswentonin2006tobigwins,andallindicationsarethatwecouldbeon
thevergeofmorebigwinsthisNovember.
NowmanyAmericans,includingmanywhogrewupinfamiliesliftedintothemiddleclassbytheNew
Deal,feelintenseeconomicpain.Byhistoricalstandardsunemploymentisnotparticularlyhigh.But
otherthanafewyearsinthelate1990's,earningsadjustedforinflationhavefallensteadilysince
1973.Someofthatlossinearningsandwealthwasmadeupforwithlowandeasycreditand
skyrocketinghomevalues,andhomeownersspentagainsttheirincreasedequity.Butnow,as
people'shomevaluesplummet,foreclosuresmount,creditisunavailable,andwagescontinueto
decline,there'snothingtosoftentheeconomicblowstoworkingfamilies,evenincludingmanywhichin
thepastwouldhavebeenconsideredcomfortablyintheuppermiddleclass.
Asthewageandwealthhitsaccumulate,Americans'economichealthisbeingattackedfromother
directions.Securepensionsarenolongeragiven,and401Kaccountshavebeendevastatedbythe
recentcrashinthestockmarket.Healthcarecostscontinuetorisefasterthaninflation,andthe
numberofuninsuredAmericanscontinuestogrow.Andthecostsofgoingtocollegeorhavingchildren
aretoogreattobearformanyyoungerAmericans.
ThelongperiodofdoingnothingtoaddressAmericans'addictiontogasguzzlers,combinedwith
instability(andmostlikelypricemanipulation)inthepetroleummarkets,hascreatedyetanother
economicstressonAmericans.Asinthe1930's,wheneverythinginpoliticswasdominatedbythe
efforttosubduethedepression,incomingyears,almostallthemajorpolicyproblemsfacedby
Americaourforeignpolicy,thepriceandavailabilityoffoodintheUSandthefooddemandsin
developingcountries,ourdecliningmanufacturingbase,ourbalanceofpaymentstoforeignnations,
wageandincomeinequality,environmentalandclimatechanges,construction,
the"financialization"
oftheAmericaneconomywillbeconnectedtoenergyandclimatechange.
Finally,there'sasensewithmanyAmericansthatthere'ssomethingseriouslywronginAmerica.All
thepollsshowit.TheyounghavebeenvotingDemocraticforthelastthreeelections,andyoung
votersappearreadytovoteinmuchhighernumbersthisNovemberthaninanyelectionsincethevote
wasextendedto18yearoldsin1972,maybeinhighernumbersthaneverseen.Blackvoters,driven
bythecandidacyofBarackObama,appearreadytovoteinrecordnumbers.Latinoscontinuetogrow
asapercentageofthevote,andcontinuetobecomemoresolidlyDemocratic.Butthegreatest
movementmaybeamongworkingclassandmiddleclassvotersnolongermotivatedtovoteonissues
ofrace,socialchangeorculturalissues,butinsteadmotivatedbytheinequitiesofwealththathave
reopenedduringtheReaganera.
AccordingtoNYTReporterStevenGreenhouse,authorofTheBigSqueeze:ToughTimesforthe
AmericanWorker,
thetop1percentofhouseholds,averaging$1.1millioninannualincome,received
nearly22percentofallreportedincomein2005,upfrom9percentin1980.Thatincome
shifthelpedcreatethegreatestlevelofinequalitysincetheRoaringTwenties.
LawrenceSummers,theformerHarvardpresidentandTreasurySecretary,foundthat
wereitnotforthisincreasedinequalitythebottom80percentofAmericanswouldbe
doingconsiderablybetter.Ifthedistributionofincometodaywerethesameasin1979,
Summerssaid,assumingthesamelevelofeconomicgrowthsincethen,incomeofthe
bottom80percentofAmericanswouldbeabout$670billionmoreayearorabout
$8,000perfamily.Formanyhouseholdsinthebottomhalf,thiswouldmeanawelcome
20to30percentincreaseinincome,perhapstheboostneededtoavoidforeclosure.
[...]
Onecanseetheeconomicdividewideninanotherway.Theaverageincomeforthetop
1percentofhouseholdswastentimesthatforthemiddlefifthin1979.By2005,those
inthetop1percentearned21timesasmuchasthoseinthemiddle.Incomeforthetop
1percentofhouseholdsaveraged70timesthatofhouseholdsinthebottomfifth,the
greatestgaponrecord,upfrom23timesasmuchin1979.
Atthepinnacleoftheinequalitypyramidarethenation'sCEOs.Americancorporations
maybetightfistedaboutraisesformostworkers,buttheypaidtheirchiefexecutives
$10.5milliononaveragein2005,includingsalary,bonusesandstockoptions.Thatwas
quadrupletheirpayadozenyearsearlier.ThismeansthetypicalCEOearns369times
asmuchastheaverageworker,upfrom131timesin1993and36timesin1976.
Wehavereachedthepointwherewehaveunsustainableenergypolicy,andunsustainableforeign
andmilitarypolicy,anunsustainablefiscalpolicy,and,asmanyAmericansnowfeelpersonally,
economicinequitiesthataren'tsustainableifwewishtomaintainthebroadmiddleclasscreatedby
theNewDealorder.We'vereachedtheendoftheReaganera,andareonthecuspofsomething
new,hopefullybetter,andcharacterizedbyabold,vigorous,creativeDemocraticpartywithwhich
peoplebondastheydidwiththeDemocraticpartyoftheNewDealera. ::
Tags:2008Election(alltags)::PreviousTagVersions
Permalink |173comments
It'sabouttime (17+/0)
byBustedFlatinBatonRouge onSunJul06,2008at07:32:17PMPDT
Ihopeit'stime.IgetsickenedwhenIthink... (16+/0)
...that2008,like2004,canbetakenfromussocruellyagainbytheRepublicansvia
fear,xenophobia,racism,sexism,younameit.
Inshort,Iwon'tfullyrelaxandbehappyabout"theturningofthetide"untilIseeiton
January20,2009,whenhopefullyaPresidentElectBarackObamaisinauguratedinto
office. BEthemovement.ObamaforPresident. byboofdah
onSunJul06,2008at07:39:39PMPDT [Parent ]
Thatturningtidefeelssostrong (8+/0)
tome.Iliketofollownationalopinionpollsregardingspecificissues.Idon'tknowif
I'veeverseensomanylob
sidedpollsthatpointtoamajorpoliticalshiftinthe
country.Ithinktheneoconshaveoverplayedtheirhand,andeveniftheyuseevery
lastdirtytrickinthebookthisupcomingelection,Ijustcan'tcomprehendthatthey
canforestalltheinevitableanylonger. byBustedFlatinBatonRouge
onSunJul06,2008at07:47:10PMPDT [Parent ]
God,Ireallyhopeyou'reright. (4+/0) IloveJanisJoplin,too,btw.:)
BEthemovement.ObamaforPresident.
byboofdah onMonJul07,2008at01:13:54AMPDT [Parent ]
amen (2+/0)
2008willbearealignment.Thestarsarealigned.
TheRepublicanPartyisneitherpro republicnorpro party.Discuss!
byNathanielAmentStone onSunJul06,2008at07:56:40PMPDT [Parent ]
Iagree,mypersonalobservationisthat (6+/0)
therealignmentwouldhavehappenedthisyearanyway,buttheevidenceoftheBush
betrayalofourcountry,andofhisbasehasacceleratedtheswingofthependulum
awayfromtheright.
Eachpassingdaybringsmorebadeconomicnews,muchofitfallingontheheadsof
theBushpoliticalbase,whichisfinallyawakeningfromits7yeardenialofthefacts
theBushpoliticalbase,whichisfinallyawakeningfromits7yeardenialofthefacts
surroundingtheBushpresidency.
TheRepublicanPartywillbearadicalizedorganizationincapableofwinningelections
becauseitscenterrightmoderateswhoarepragmaticaboutgoverningfromthecenter
arenolongerwelcomeintheradicalizedRepublicanPartyandwillbeforcedtoleave
fortheIndependentorDemocraticranks.
TheBush/Cheney/Neoconadministrationhaspulledthepoliticalprocesssofartothe
rightthatformermoderateRepublicanswillfeelquitecomfortableworkingwitha
Democraticmajoritypartywhichwantstobalancebudgets,avoidwar,forcethe
governmenttolivewithinitsmeans,andtomakeresponsibleinvestmentsin
improvingtheAmericaneconomy,infrastructure,andenvironmentwhichweallmust
livein.TheabstractnotionthatthereisastrongleftinAmericanpoliticsissimply
wrong.Theentirepoliticalprocesshasbeenmovedsofartotherightthatitwilltake
20yearsormorebeforeafullyliberalagendawillbepossibletoimplement.
Stopgappublic/privatehealthinsurancepartnerships,implementationofasomewhat
regulatedmortgageandfinancialmarketandthelikewillbealltheDemocratic
governmentlikelytobeelectedin2008willbeabletomanage.Theinertiaofthe
enactedlegislationandtheconservativeorradicalconservativejudicialsystemwill
makelargemovementstotheleftimprobableand/orimpossibleinthenextfour
years.TheReagan/Bush/BushSupremeCourtisverysimilartothecourtthatFDR
wasforcedtodealwithinthe1930's,andthelitigationpipelinetocontinuethepushto
therightfromthecourtsisfullandcasestoeffectaslowingofapushleftwillcontinue
topreventastrongchangeofdirectionforthenextfewyears.Therightsideofthe
RobertsCourtisfairlyyoungand/orvigorous,andasignificantchangeinthecourtwill
nottakeplaceuntilThomasorScalitoleavethecourt.Thismaytake10yearsor
more.
IthinkthevotersleavingtheRepublicanPartywillfeelbetrayedandwillworkvery
hardtoattackthesourceoftheirbetrayal,andthatistheBushadministrationandits
congressionalsupporters.TheymayleavetheRepublicansinarage,andbethe
strongestproslytzerstheDemocraticPartyhashadforquiteawhile.Ihavebeen
predictingthisforseveralyears.Ihopeithappensin2008.
ItistimetorenouncefearandgooutandkicksomeRepublicanAss byOhiodem1
onSunJul06,2008at08:47:39PMPDT [Parent ]
Importantpoint. (6+/0)
Theentirepoliticalprocesshasbeenmovedsofartotherightthatit
willtake20yearsormorebeforeafullyliberalagendawillbepossible
toimplement.
AnyoneexpectingsweepingliberalchangesevenintheeventofaDemWHand
Congressisinforawake
upcall.Itwilltakesometime.Afilibusterproofmajorityin
theSenatewouldhelp,butIbelievethat'stoomuchtohopefor.Andyourpointre
SCOTUSiswell
taken.ThebestbasicthingtheDemscoulddoisbescrupulouslyopen
andhonestwiththeelectorateandkeeptheirdamnskirtsclean.
Kickapartthestructures. byceebee7 onSunJul06,2008at10:42:12PMPDT
[Parent ]
Itwouldalsohelp.... (3+/0) iftheygrewsomedamnbackbones.
Peoplerespondtosomeonewillingtofightandstandupfortheirconvictions.People
scornsomeonewhotalksbigandthentuckstailandcowerswhensomeonecallsthem
weakinaloudvoice.
It'slikegoingthroughasewerinaglassbottomboat.We'reinthisshitbutclearly
aboveit! byKalakzak onSunJul06,2008at10:46:57PMPDT [Parent ]
You'vemadeabigassumption (2+/0)
You'reassumingthatincumbentDemocratsshareouragenda.
If,ontheotherhand,they'remerelymiddle
oftheroaderswhoAPPEARliberalmerely
byconstrastwiththewingers,they'restandingupfortheirwatereddownconvictions
now.
"Unseen,inthebackground,Fatewasquietlyslippingtheleadintotheboxingglove."
P.G.Wodehouse
bygsbadj onMonJul07,2008at05:49:48AMPDT [Parent ]
IhopesomeDemocratsshareouragenda (2+/0)
IamhopefulthatasolidworkingmajorityinbothhousesandaDemocraticpresident
whowillleadwithaprogressiveagenda,andwhowillsignprogressivelegislationinto
lawwillhelpsomeDemocratsinCongressreturntotheirliberalandprogressiveroots.
ItistimetorenouncefearandgooutandkicksomeRepublicanAss byOhiodem1
onMonJul07,2008at06:43:27AMPDT [Parent ]
Ohmanyofthemdo (0+/0)
Butsomeofthemdon'tandit'snotproductivetoworkourselvesupintoalather
whentheydon'tvoteourway.
Wejustneedtoelectmorecandidatesthatwillgoalongwithus.
"Unseen,inthebackground,Fatewasquietlyslippingtheleadintotheboxing
glove."P.G.Wodehouse bygsbadj onMonJul07,2008at01:41:32PMPDT
[Parent ]
Verysalient (1+/0)
TheideathatourformofGovernmentcanswiftlychangeismorethanamyth.
The24/7newscyclerequiresnewproductconstantlyandthereisalargeandloud
contingentoftheseplayers.
Becauseofthisneed,theAmericanmindisconstantlybeingbombardedwith
messagesofurgencywheninfact,noimmediatesolutionexists.
Wearetalkingabout40yearsofthisnationgoinginonedirectionwiththe
accompanyingstartsandstops,allthetime,marchingtowardsthepoliticalright.
Those40yearswilltakemorethanonePresidentialtermtoexecutethechange.
Electionsin2006areaperfectreminderoftheslownessofourformofGovernment.
SomanyAmericansexpectedmorethanwhatcouldbedeliveredfromwhatis
basicallyaDemocraticMajorityintheHouse,foundtheirimpatienceincreasedand
theirirritationgrowingwiththehelpofthemediaandit'snewscycleneedsplusthe
Republicanoperativeswhorelishedpointingouttheobvious(minusthereason)that
theDemocratswereineffectiveintheiractions.
OurNation'scoursechangehasjustbegun,anditwillbedemographicsthatthateffect
thechange.
That24/7newscyclenowbeingtheconstant,hasalsodevelopedinotherways,
decentralizationofmessaging,nolongercanafewmediaplayersdictatethemessage,
evenwiththeconsolidationofownershipdownintoevenfewerplayerssimplybecause
theirbusinessmodelsdictatesubdivisionofdemographicsandaconcomitantappealto
capturethedemographicbyappealingtotheirwants.
Whilecontrollingthespigotsofinformationandcommentary,themediagiantsopen
thespectrumtodiversityofthoughtandcommunicationthatisprovingtobebeyond
theireditorialcapabilities.
HistorianswillpointbacktothedawningofCablenewsoperationsandthenthe
Internetandthetimethelidcameofthebox,astimewillhavewrittenthestoryof
personalizedmasscommunicationandpublishingbecominguncontrollable.
StoriesemergingabouttheintenseeffortsChinaisundertakingfortheOlympics
underscoretheisuesthatconfrontthosewhoattempttocontroltheexpanding
inventoryofthoughtdeliveredinincreasinglyuncontrollablemannersduetotheirsize
andportability.
WhileAmericanmediawillsurelyfocusontheespionageangleofthisevent,
promotingtheideathattheChinesearesetuptointerceptandstealanyinformation
possiblefromallwhoenterintotheircountry,thelikelihoodthatinformationtheyseek
toprevententeringChinawillinfiltratetheirdefenseslikewaterpouringthroughfilter
paperisgreater.
BacktotheUSA,thisnationnowhashadover100millionlivebirthssincetheCivil
RightsActpassedduringJohnson'sAdministrationandover130millionshavebeen
born.
Thenumbersofeligiblevotershavingbeenbornsincethenarenowintothesecond
generationJohnsonspokeabout.
ConcurrentlythenumberofAmericanvoterswhoweresucceptibletothepullof
Reaganismhavediminshedthroughdeathandforotherspersonalgrowth.
InthewordsofthelateJOHNNYCASH"ICANHEARTHETRAINACOMMIN".
InthewordsofthelateJOHNNYCASH"ICANHEARTHETRAINACOMMIN".
PoliticalpardonsareunacceptableMrBush,andsoishidingyourdaddy'ssecrets
behindexectutiveorders,freethetruthnow.Econ3.50&Soc.5.79
bywmc418onMonJul07,2008at09:02:14AMPDT [Parent ]
Iwouldsayyou (4+/0) arevery optimistic:
...asignificantchangeinthecourtwillnottakeplaceuntilThomasor
Scalitoleavethecourt.Thismaytake10yearsormore.
Maybe20,even25years.Wehaveaseriousproblemwiththecourt,andwehavea
casethatthecourtisnotwhatitshouldbe.Weshouldnotsettleforitasitis.Although
itcan'tbereversed,thebasicallyillegalfashioninwhichthecurrentcourtwas
constitutedmustbeaddressed.Congresshasthepowertodothat,andweshouldn't
stopuntiltheydo.Bushlostthe2000election,andthenthecourtappointedBush,who
inturnbeefeduptheradicalrightwingofthecourtwithAlitoandRoberts.Toanyone
capableofreasoning,thereisablatantconflictofinteresthere.Ithinkweneedtwo
morejusticesonthecourt,foratotalofeleven,orperhapseventhirteenanditwould
beonlyfairtohavethemappointedbyBarackObama,withnoconservativelip,fully
andunconditionallyforcedbyaDemocraticsenateinthespiritofcompensationforthe
unfairwayinwhichthecurrentcourtwasseated.
IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays
werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onSunJul06,2008at11:09:08PMPDT
[Parent ]
Courtpacking! (2+/0)
Ithinkweneedtwomorejusticesonthecourt,foratotalofeleven,or
perhapseventhirteenanditwouldbeonlyfairtohavethem
appointedbyBarackObama,withnoconservativelip,fullyand
unconditionallyforcedbyaDemocraticsenateinthespiritof
compensationfortheunfairwayinwhichthecurrentcourtwasseated.
Willitreallyhappenthistime?Orwillitserveasmeanstoconvincethecurrentcourt
togivegroundonkeyissues?
WhatdoweseeObamaattemptingtodothatwilllikelybeblockedbythecourt?The
elementsoftheNewDealthatObamawouldliketorecreate(ieGreenCorps,
increasedprotectionforunions,attemptsatinfrastructureimprovementprojectsetc)
arenowlesscontroversialthaninthe1930's.Willhehaveoppositionhere?Orperhaps
theoppositionwillbetowardsmoreinnovativeideasthatObamamighthave,perhaps
onesthathehasn'tproposedyet. byscotths
onMonJul07,2008at03:31:09AMPDT [Parent ]
Let'shopethecourtreadsthepapers. nt (1+/0)
ItistimetorenouncefearandgooutandkicksomeRepublicanAss
byOhiodem1onMonJul07,2008at06:52:47AMPDT [Parent ]
Thisisnot (0+/0)
aboutObama.ThisissomethingprogressivesshouldpursuethroughtheSenate.This
courtisgoingtohurtalotofpeople.Theyaregoingtocausealotofpainand
suffering.Youcanbettheyarenotgoingtogoaway.Wehaveafewotherproblems
relatedtouncheckedauthorityinthiscountry,andthiscourtwasseatedwiththe
expresspurposeoflookingtheotherway.Wehavearighttoexaminethevalidityof
howthecurrentcourtcameabout.
IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays
werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onMonJul07,2008at11:11:44AMPDT
[Parent ]
howitcameaboutisan (1+/0)
interestingquestion...WhileIagreethisisaproblem,itseemsasifitwouldbehard
tobeprovethatinvalidity.Especiallysincethecourtdecisioneffectedaracethatwas
verynearlyatie.PartoftheproblemIthinkisthatsomuchisdecidedinabinary
functioninourcountry.Iftheelectionhadgonetheotherwaybyjustasmallnumber
ofvotesinFloridaandentirelydifferenthistorywouldhaveresultedandtodaywe
wouldhavedifferentjustices.Suchasmallnumberofvotesshouldn'tmakesucha
largedifferenceinthecourseofevents.I'mnotsurewhatthesolutionisexactly,but
whenthecountryisveryclosetotied(asitwasin2000)thegovernmentshould
reflectthisrealityandideallythepoliciesitcreatesshouldbesomewhatnearthe
center.Thesystemasitstandsnowallowsthepartywhichwinsbythetinniestof
marginstopushthepartyfarinthedirectionitwantsto.Thisleadstosituationssuch
asthis,whenwehaveasupremecourtthatdoesnotreflecttheviewsofmost
Americans.Ithinkitalsoleadstostrongerpendulumswingsasthepartiesviefor
controlthenpushashardastheycanwhentheyobtainit.
I'mnotsurewhatthesolutiontothesupremecourtproblem.Thesupremecourt
seemstomeanuglyinelegantcreation.WeelectanewPresidentevery4yearsanda
newcongressevery2.Thecourtisasmallbodywhichwaitsforjusticestoretireon
theirownordie.Thusthecompositionofthecourtdependsgreatlyonwhenjustices
endtheirtermsandwherethishappensinrelationtothependulumasitswingsback
andforth.Thus,luckycanlanduswithacourtthatstronglyreflectsonepartyorthe
otherand/orlagssignificantlybehindtheviewsofthecountryatlarge.Iunderstand
thatthepointofthisistoensurejudicialindependenceandprobablyalsotoensure
cautiononthepartofthecourt.Iwonderifthereisanotherwaytoaccomplishthis.
PerhapstermlimitswhichalloweachPresidentasetnumberofcourtappointmentsper
term.Atleastthiswouldlikelyleadtocourtmemberswhoseidealsreflectequallythe
individualsthepublichaschosenasPresident.(Ratherthenemphasizingafewlucky
Presidentswhogetmorethantheirfairshareofcourtappointments).Itdoesseema
difficultproblem.... byscotths onTueJul08,2008at03:22:15AMPDT
[Parent ]
Thepurposeofthe (0+/0)
lifetimeappointmentswastoinsulatethecourtfrompoliticalwhimtomakeit
stable.Unfortunately,whentheappointmentprocessistamperedwith,asithas
beenlately,thatstabilitycanbefixedinanextremestate,sothecourtisnow
extremist,yetstable.Itispermanentlybroken,sortoflikesomethingthatgets
supergluedtogetherinthewrongway!
Asfarasthelargeeffectsofsmalldifferencesinvotes,unlessthepartyincharge
illegallyoverstepsitspower(asBushhas),thencloseracestendtoleadtofrequent
shiftsinpowerandrandomdistributionofdifferentpartiesinthethreebranches
(sometimescalledgridlock whichisasortofbuiltin"braking"mechanismfor
whenthecorrectcourseisn'tclear).TheRepublicanshavecarefullyand
intentionallycreatedthis"perfectstorm",andillegallymanipulatedthesystemto
createafalsedirection.Eventhoughtheintenseandoutlandisheffortrequiredtodo
itdestroyedtheirpartyreputationtemporarily,theyreallyhavewoninabigway.
Thatiswhytheyarenotsoupsetaboutthefacttheymay"lose"inNovember(with
emphasison"may",becauseweDemocratsstillhaveouroldknackforsnatching
defeatfromthejawsofvictory). Theconservativeshavefreeze
driedthegovernmenttotheirownliking,intheir
owndistortedfashion,foratleast30years.Theywereabletodoitthrougha
carefulcombinationofarrogantillegalactioncombinedwithtechnologicaladvances
incommunications,thelatterofwhichthefounderscouldnothaveclearlyforeseen.
Ittookthem30yearstodoit,butnowtheycantakeabreakandenjoyspending
themoneywhilewetrytoregroupandfigureoutwhathappened,andtrytogetour
democracyback.Theproblemispoliticalawarenessandvotereducation(which
conservativesusedtechnologytodestroy).Althoughliberalshavebeen
uncomfortablewithwhatwasgoingonforalongtime,theyerroneouslythought
theycouldcorrectitquicklywhentheygotthetime,becausetheydidn'tpay
attentioningovernmentclass.Unfortunately,theywerewrong!
Thepointis,ifeverybodyplaysbytherules,thenclosevoteshavetheintended
effect.Thesystemworks.Somebodyhadtobreakthelawinordertobreakthe
system.Andthatcomestomypoint:WehaveacasetomaketoCongressthat
interventionisrequired,andthatitispreciselycasessuchasthisthattheyare
empoweredtointervenein.Theconservativeshavecheated.Correctiveactionis
necessary,anditreallyisouronlyhope.
IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays
werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onTueJul08,2008at10:04:39AMPDT
[Parent ]
courtsandrandomness.... (1+/0)
Asfarasthelargeeffectsofsmalldifferencesinvotes,unless
thepartyinchargeillegallyoverstepsitspower(asBushhas),
thencloseracestendtoleadtofrequentshiftsinpowerand
randomdistributionofdifferentpartiesinthethreebranches
(sometimescalledgridlock whichisasortofbuiltin"braking"
mechanismforwhenthecorrectcourseisn'tclear).The
Republicanshavecarefullyandintentionallycreatedthis
"perfectstorm",andillegallymanipulatedthesystemtocreate
afalsedirection.
Theproblemisthatthesamplesizeistosmall,only2.5electionsperdecade.
Themeansifthecourtconsistsof4decadesofappointments,only10elections
wereinvolvedatmost.Someoftheseelectionsweren'tcloseinthepast4
decades,(the80'sforinstance).Thus,themakeupofthecourtdependsona
fewcloseelections.Therepublicansmayhavebeenabletoswingthosetotheir
favor,buteveniftheyhadn'ttheycouldverywellhavewonthoseelectionsby
smallmargins.Ifeachelectionwasacoinflip,thechancesof2coinsinarow
comingouthead'sisonly1in4.Bypurechancealonetheoddsofthe
republicanswinningbothtimesarenotthathorrible.Thisofcoursedoesnot
considerthedistributionofthejudgesdeaths/retirementswhichmakethe
problemworse.Itislikeapollthatdoesnothavealargeenoughsamplesize
togiveanaccuratereading,bypurechancealonethecourtcouldwinduptoo
stronglytoonesideortheotherinsuchawaythatitisnotreallyreflectiveof
theopinionofthepopulation.
TheRepublicanshavecarefullyandintentionallycreatedthis
"perfectstorm",andillegallymanipulatedthesystemtocreate
afalsedirection.Eventhoughtheintenseandoutlandisheffort
requiredtodoitdestroyedtheirpartyreputationtemporarily,
theyreallyhavewoninabigway.Thatiswhytheyarenotso
upsetaboutthefacttheymay"lose"inNovember(with
emphasison"may",becauseweDemocratsstillhaveourold
knackforsnatchingdefeatfromthejawsofvictory).
Thetimestheyareachangin....We'llwininNovermber...Itisn'tlikethose
othertimes....
Theconservativeshavefreeze driedthegovernmenttotheir
ownliking,intheirowndistortedfashion,foratleast30years.
Theywereabletodoitthroughacarefulcombinationof
arrogantillegalactioncombinedwithtechnologicaladvancesin
communications,thelatterofwhichthefounderscouldnothave
clearlyforeseen.Ittookthem30yearstodoit,butnowthey
cantakeabreakandenjoyspendingthemoneywhilewetryto
regroupandfigureoutwhathappened,andtrytogetour democracyback.
I'mnotsurewhatyoumeanhere....Wearenotgoingtoberegrouping.We
haveregrouped!Wearetakingpower.Theyneedtoregroup.Theircoalitionof
socialandfiscalconservativesisbroken,whileourpartyisstrongerand
growing.TheMillennialGeneration(those525,thelargestgenerationinthe
historyofAmerica)favorthedemocratsbyatleasta2:1margin.Theywerean
importantpartofthe2006gainsandarelikelygoingtobeanimportantpartof
anObamavictoryandmoregainsincongress.In4yearstherewillbemore
Millennialsintheelectorate,and4yearsafterthatevenmore.Thisisn'tashort
termpendulumswing,thisisan80yearlongpendulumswingingbackthrough
thecentertotheleft.Itisn'tmerelythatconservatismfeelstomuchofthe
countrytobetiredanddead,itisn'tmerelyreligiousfolkswhowanttofocuson
povertyandenvironmentalconcernsratherthangaysandabortion,itisn't
merelywesternlibertarianswhonolongertrusttherepublicanstoprotecttheir
civilrights,anditisn'tmerelytheshortandlongtermdamagetherepublicans
havedonetotheirparty.Allthosethingswouldleadtoatleastashortterm
pushtotheleft,butthisismuchbiggerthanthat.Therepublicanswillbethe
onesregroupingandfiguringoutwheretherepartyisgoing,thedemocratsare
goingtobefiguringoutwheretostartcleaningupthemess!
Althoughliberalshavebeenuncomfortablewithwhatwasgoing
onforalongtime,theyerroneouslythoughttheycouldcorrect
itquicklywhentheygotthetime,becausetheydidn'tpay
attentioningovernmentclass.Unfortunately,theywerewrong!
Whycan'tliberalscorrecttheproblems?Ifyoumeanthecourtwillbea
problem...Well..itwasinthe1930'saswell,andweovercameit.Wecandoit
again.....
Thepointis,ifeverybodyplaysbytherules,thenclosevotes
havetheintendedeffect.Thesystemworks.Somebodyhadto
breakthelawinordertobreakthesystem.Andthatcomesto
mypoint:WehaveacasetomaketoCongressthat
interventionisrequired,andthatitispreciselycasessuchas
thisthattheyareempoweredtointervenein.Theconservatives
havecheated.Correctiveactionisnecessary,anditreallyis
ouronlyhope.
Ithinkmypointaboveisthatclosevoteswon'tnecessarilyhavetheintended
effect(becauseofsmallsamplesize)andperhapswewouldbebetteroffwitha
systeminwhichthatwasmoreguaranteed.Ithinkthiswouldbeatoughcase
tomaketocongress.WithKennedyatthecenter,isthecourtgoingtobeso
difficulttoworkwithastostopObama'splans?I'dbecuriousastowhereyou
thoughtthestumblingblockswouldbeifyoufeelitwillbe.Perhapsthe
legislativeandexecutivebranchwillhavetobemorecarefulindraftinglaws
andpoliciestoensurethatourconstitutionalrightsareprotectedifwecan't
countonthecourtstodothisforthetimebeing.I'mmoreconcernedabout
whatthecourtsmightdotoblockessentialplansweneedtomovethroughthe
comingcrisis...toredevelopourphysicalinfrastructure,regulatebusinessand
finance,redistributewealth,providejobsandopportunitiesfordisadvantaged
individuals,moveusentirelyoffofoil,dealwiththepotentialenvironmental
catastropheetcetc. byscotths onTueJul08,2008at10:54:38AMPDT [Parent
]
Oh,talk (0+/0)
dirtytome!Idesperatelyhopeyouarecorrect.Pleasemakeitcometrue!
Iwillcomebackonthesamplingandthecourt,though.Thewholepointis
thatthecourtisnotintendedtoberepresentative.Myargumentisnotthat
thecurrentcourtdoesn'trepresent me.Myargumentisthattheyare
biasedbecausetheywereappointedincorrectly,andtheywereappointed
forthespecificpurposeofrepresentingsomeone (therightwing).Theyare
supposedtobetheleastrepresentativeofourofficials.Theyarenot
supposedtobeappointed,theoretically,onpoliticalgrounds.Thatiswhy
theyareinnowayelected.Theyarechosenbythemosthighlystable
representativesfromtwobranches,andtheyaresupposedtobeneutral,
becauseitissupposedtobeacompromiseamongallbiases.Youcouldget
somemorerepresentativenessintoitifyoucountthesenateelections,
becausethesenateisnotsupposedtobetherubberstampthattheDems
lethappenthistime.Theywerenotsupposedtobeharassedinto
submissionbytheillegalthuggeryoftheBushadministration thethreats
ofrulechanges,andalltheextremismofthosedayswhenBushstillgothis
waybysimplythreateningtantrumsandyelling"nationalsecurity".
Thejusticesaresupposedtobepeoplewhoeveryonefeelssafewith,
enoughsothattheyarebeyondtheneedtobeheldaccountablethrough
elections.Wedon'twantthemissuingrulingsforvotes,thewaystate
judgessentenceinnocentpeopletodeathandlifeimprisonment,fully
knowingtheyareinnocent,becausetheydon'twanttobeaccusedofbeing
softoncrimecomeelectiontime.
Thatisn'thowitworkedthistime.Bushappointedhighlypartisan,highly
biased,highlypoliticaljustices(AlitoandRoberts),whowouldhave
normallybeenscreenedoutthroughthesenate.ButoursenateDemswere
preoccupied,spineless,complicit,anddefensive,sotheyignoredtheir
responsibility.Theywerebeingterrorizedbyanillegalexecutivewithno
respectforlaw.
TheBushadministrationwasn'tevensupposedtobetheretobeginwith,
anditisveryrelevanttomycasethatthecourtitselfinstalledhim!The
processhiccuped,andthecourtgotcompromisedinafewshortyearsof
someunprecedentedhankypankyandinbreeding.AllIwantisforustoget
thebalanceback.Imightevenbepersuadedifoneofthosenewjustices
madesomefaintsignofbeingimpartial,buttheyseemtobeshameless.
Obviously,theconstitutionsimplydoesn'tmeantothemwhatitmeansto
commonpeople,andtheydon'tseeusasdeservingofanyprotection
underthelaw.
Yes,thecourtcanbeslowlydrugalongwithmassivesocialchange.Butwe
areinadangeroussituationnow,andwehaven'tthetimetowaitonthat
process.Wecouldtipintomilitarydictatorshipatanyminute,andthecourt
couldn'tbereliedontostopit.IthinkCongressshouldact.
Kennedyisnotacentrist.Heisanhonestconservativewhotendstobe
fair.Herulesagainsttheinterestsoftheleftmoreoftenthanforus.
IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinkthe
Bushdayswerethegoodolddays! byphaktor
onTueJul08,2008at12:39:19PMPDT [Parent ]
IhopeIamnotoverlyoptimistic (0+/0)
RobertsandAlitoarefairlyyoung(bothintheir50's,Ithink),Scaliais73andIamnot
sureofThomas'age,buthemustbeover75.
IjusthopeJusticeStevenswillsurviveuntilwehavePresidentObamaintheWhite
House. GWBwillgetnonewSCOTUSappointments,butaseriesof4
4tiescouldstillworkto
advancetheradicalrightagenda,byaffirminglowercourtdecisions.
YouareabsolutelyrightthatRobertsmaysitintheChiefJusticechairfor30yearsor
morewithAlitoashisrighthandman.Whatanuglythought.
ItistimetorenouncefearandgooutandkicksomeRepublicanAss byOhiodem1
onMonJul07,2008at06:51:05AMPDT [Parent ]
ClarenceThomasis60 (1+/0) Born23June1948.
Firstsummerinmyfamily'snewhousejustWofBellaireTX.JustafterLyndon
JohnsonhadwonaDemocraticrunoffbyjustahandfulofvotes,withwhatmany
consideredtobefraudulentvotesinthecountiescontrolledbypoliticalbossGeorge
Parr. byscott5js onMonJul07,2008at09:09:02AMPDT [Parent ]
Ohdear (0+/0)
GladamIthatImissedsharingabirthdaywithhimbyafewhours. 8.38,7.49
bypapercut onMonJul07,2008at10:13:35AMPDT [Parent ]
Thekeyisracism. (1+/0)
Thevoterwilllietopollstersabouttheirvotes.Rememberthe"TomBradley"effect.
RushandFauxcontrolthemasses. bymikeofelctown
onSunJul06,2008at08:41:08PMPDT [Parent ]
Really? (4+/0)
Well,theBradleyeffectdidnotexactlymaterializeinthe2006TennesseeSenaterace
(HaroldFordactuallyoutperformedhispollingnumbersthere),nordiditmaterializein
thevastmajorityofthe2008primarycontests,asObamaactuallydidbetterthanthe
pollingshowedinalargenumberofallwhitestates.
AndtheonlypeopleRushandFaux"control"aretheright
wingbase,whowouldvote
RepublicanregardlessoftheraceoftheDemocraticcandidate. byechatwa
onMonJul07,2008at02:44:57AMPDT [Parent ]
The12mostfrighteningwordsintheEnglish... (12+/0)
...language:
Hi.I'maRepublican,andI'mheretosaveyoufromthegovernment.
bydaulton onSunJul06,2008at07:35:37PMPDT
Imean,13.n/t (3+/0)
bydaulton onSunJul06,2008at07:36:41PMPDT
[Parent ]
Nevertrustsomeonetorunthegovernment (12+/0)
iftheirstatedgoalistodrownitinabathtub.
byBustedFlatinBatonRouge onSunJul06,2008at07:37:11PMPDT [Parent
]
GroverNorquist'sBathtub (21+/0)
Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat
TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:40:10PMPDT [Parent
]
Irememberseeingthisatthe9/05WDCrally... (2+/0)
...itwasalargerthanlifeposterdisplayedinfullviewonornearConstitutionSt.,
whenmemoriesofKatrinawerestillfresh,anddoubledtheangerthatmostofus
alreadyfeltattheBushAdministrationfortheirfuckingupcolossallyinbothIraqand
inourowncountry. BEthemovement.ObamaforPresident. byboofdah
onSunJul06,2008at07:44:44PMPDT [Parent ]
WhataboutjustdrowningtheGOP (9+/0)
Inthebathtub.Wearehelpingthemslimdowntheirmembershiptothepointwhere
whomeverisleftwillfitintoafullbathtubverynicely.Allwehavetodoistohelp
themwiththefirst"dunk".
Weareatthemomentwhenourlivesmustbeplacedonthelineifournationisto
surviveitsownfolly.MartinLutherKing. byEyesWideOpen
onSunJul06,2008at07:53:43PMPDT [Parent ]
IwishGroverNorquist... (0+/0)
...wouldslip,fall,anddrowninhisownbathtub!
Floatlikeamanholecover,stinglikeasashweight.JohnMcCain=OldBoatAnchor
byJeffWonSunJul06,2008at09:09:53PMPDT [Parent ]
ThiscountrycannotaffordtoEVER (5+/0)
andImeanEVER,allowanotherRepublicannearthePresidency.Ifwehaveto
physicallyrestrainthemfromruiningourcountry,thensobeit.
NEVER.EVER.EVER.AGAIN.
Theyhavedonesomuchdamage,wewillnotbeabletorecoverforanother30years.
WeneedtoABOLISHtheRepublicanParty,anddeclaretheRepublicanPartyUn
American.
Weareatthemomentwhenourlivesmustbeplacedonthelineifournationisto
surviveitsownfolly.MartinLutherKing. byEyesWideOpen
onSunJul06,2008at07:46:02PMPDT [Parent ]
Saveyoufromthegovernment? (0+/0)
Agovernmentoccupyingacountrythousandsofmilesaway.Agovernmentthatwould
crimnalizeabortion.Agovernmentthatdoesnotgiveequalprotectiontosame
sex marriages. byscott5js onMonJul07,2008at09:12:58AMPDT [Parent
]
TherecentstatementsfromPIMCO'sCFO (10+/0)
ConcerningBush'sattemptstomimictheeconomicstrategyof"anotherera"should
putagoodnailinthatcoffin.
WhenWilliamGrossistellingyouthatcuttingtaxesfortherichandderegulating
marketsiskillingtheeconomy,thingshavechanged. byDevilstower
onSunJul06,2008at07:35:56PMPDT
AsIWroteAboutHowEnergy... (6+/0)
...willdominatealmosteverypolicyareaforyearstocome,Ithoughtofyourpost
fromlastnight,andhowmaybeIshouldwrite"resource"insteadofenergy.
Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat
TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:37:20PMPDT [Parent
]
Thebestenergypolicywillbeindependentof (5+/0)
resources,andbe dependent
ontechnologies.Imean,ifsomethingislimitless,
withoutborders,andcan'tbetrulymonopolized(solar,wind),thenmaybeitdoesn'tfit
theclassic,historicaldefinitionofaresource.Hereisthelitmustestcanyoufighta
waroverit? Gentlemen,youcan'tfightinhere!ThisistheWarRoom!
bybigtimecynic onSunJul06,2008at07:48:55PMPDT [Parent ]
Well,IsupposetheChinesecould... (2+/0)
...threatentobuildabigumbrellaoverNorthAmericatoblotoutthesunandwecould
fightoverthat.
Kiddingaside,thewhole"windandsolarasanantidotefortheresourcewars"isa
provocativeideathatI'veneverseenanyonementionbefore.Thanksforthe
brainfood.
Thegoalisnottobringyouradversariestotheirkneesbuttotheirsenses.
Mahatma Gandhi bykingubu onSunJul06,2008at08:12:45PMPDT [Parent
]
Theproblem (3+/0)
isthatinvestmentfollowsthelineofmaximumprofitpotential,soit'sentirelypossible
thatmorewillbeinvestedincontrollable(i.e.,higher
profit)technologies,andthis
meansthosetechnologieswillgrowfasterandhaveagreaterlikelihoodofbecoming
thestandard.
Asolarthermaldishcontainingnothingbutasiliconmirrorandastirlingenginemight
becheapasdirtandsimpleastic
tactoe,butthatmeansanyonecouldbuildonewith
alittlemoneyandminoralterationstododgeyourpatent.Plentyofcompanieswill
pursueit,buttheirprofitmarginswillberazor
thiniftheyexistatall,andwillnotscale
asfastasthecompetition.
ACIGSpanel,however,isnottrivialtechnologydespitepromisingcheapunitcosts,
anditinvolvesexoticelementslikeindiumandgallium.Ifthatbecametheglobal
standard,indiumandgalliumwouldsimplyreplaceoilasthepreciouscommodity
peoplekillanddietocontrol.Thetrivialtechnologieswouldnotseesubstantialgains
againstthehigherprofittypesuntilresourceshortagesyetagainforcedachange.It's
tortoiseandhare.
Theupshot:Whateverisbothscarceandimmediatelynecessary,nomatterhowfar
removeddownthesupplychain,willbeamotivationforwar.We'llchipawayatthe
listofthosemotivations,butevenifenergywastakenentirelyoffwe'djustbefighting
overlife extensiondrugs,orrocketfuel,orcontrolofanorbit,etc.etc.
Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onSunJul06,2008at09:06:55PMPDT
[Parent ]
Gonnahafta... (1+/0)
...startlookingforasteroidrichinthemfancyschmancymetals!
Floatlikeamanholecover,stinglikeasashweight.JohnMcCain=OldBoatAnchor
byJeffWonSunJul06,2008at09:12:15PMPDT [Parent ]
TheMoonwouldbeeasier. (1+/0)
It'snotexactlydrowninginthem,butit'sclose,itstaysclose,andithasdecentgravity
tooperatein.Ofcourse,seafloorminingwilltakeofflongbeforelunarmineswould
becosteffective. Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour
onSunJul06,2008at10:34:34PMPDT [Parent ]
AfellownamedMing... (1+/0)
oncetriedmovingthemoonclosertousforeasieraccessbutsomemaniac
quarterbackgotaburrinhisjockstrapandstoppedhim.
It'slikegoingthroughasewerinaglassbottomboat.We'reinthisshitbutclearly
aboveit! byKalakzak onSunJul06,2008at10:55:41PMPDT [Parent ]
Godawfulmovie. Butclassiccamp. (1+/0)
Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onMonJul07,2008at01:49:12AMPDT
[Parent ]
Thetechnologyandthematerials (0+/0)
willbecometheresource.Copper.Semiconductormaterials.Raremetals,etc.The
reasonwehadoilisbecauseofit'ssimplicity.Theequipmentforsolarisvery
expensive,andtosomeextentconsumed.Manyofthematerialsarethemselves
becominglessabundant.Neverhidethecostoftheequipmentwhenlookingatsolar.
IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays
werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onSunJul06,2008at11:15:18PMPDT
[Parent ]
Link?n/t (0+/0)
BruceinLouisville Visitmeat brucemaples.com bybmaples
onMonJul07,2008at01:38:20AMPDT [Parent ]
TheReaganeracouldn'tendquicklyenoughto (9+/0)
suitme.Itwasaneraofunbridledgreedandabsolutecontemptfortheconceptof
diversitythathadhistoricallymadeAmericasoinvitingandstrong.
"Ifafreesocietycannothelpthemanywhoarepoor,itcannotsavethefewwhoare
rich."JFKJanuary20,1961 byrontunonSunJul06,2008at07:36:44PMPDT
Itdid,however,spawn... (2+/0)
agreatseriesonHBO.IhavefondmemoriesofNotNecessarilytheNews.
It'slikegoingthroughasewerinaglassbottomboat.We'reinthisshitbutclearly
aboveit! byKalakzak onSunJul06,2008at10:57:15PMPDT [Parent ]
IftheReaganeratrulyends (14+/0)
itwillbeprimarilybecausetheeconomybecomesmoredemocratic.Thatrequiresa
resurgentlabormovementaboveallelse,Ithink.
Idowanttonote,whileanotherwisegreatpost,I'mconcernedaboutthecomment
thatbasedonhistoricalrecords,unemployementisnotveryhigh.
AsKevinPhillipsnotesinarecentarticle
everyoneshouldread,Presidentsfrom
NixontoBushII(includingClinton)havemanipulatedfiguresandredefinedthe
ConsumerPriceIndextomakethenumbersreflectbetterontheirrespective
administrations.Sotheofficialnumbersareactuallybullshit:
Therealnumbers,tomosteconomicallymindedAmericans,wouldbe
afacefullofcoldwater.Basedonthecriteriainplaceaquarter
centuryago,today'sU.S.unemploymentrateissomewherebetween9
percentand12percenttheinflationrateisashighas7oreven10
percenteconomicgrowthsincetherecessionof2001hasbeen
mediocre,despiteahugesurgeinthewealthandincomesofthe
superrich,andwearefallingbackintorecession.Ifwhatwehave
beensoldinrecentyearshasbeendelusional"PollyannaCreep,"what
wereallyneedtodayisapictureofoureconomyexdistortion.For
whatitwouldrevealisanationindeepdifficultynotjustdomestically
butglobally.
Riselikelionsafterslumberinunvanquishablenumber.
Shakeyourchainstoearthlike dew,whichinsleephadfallenonyou.Yearemany
theyarefew. bycruz onSunJul06,2008at07:37:52PMPDT
ButWe'reNotAtFiguresLikeThose... (3+/0)
...seenintheDepression(whereover30%wereunemployed)oreventheReagan
minidepression,whereunemploymentwentuptosomethinglike1617%.Evenifyou
addinthosewhoaredefinedasnotactivelysearchingforjobs,Idon'tthinkwe're
over10%.10%isbad,realbad,butnotasbadasinsomeofthoseprevious
economiccrises.
Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat
TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:42:08PMPDT [Parent
]
Myguessistherealunemploymentraterightnow (5+/0)
issomewherearound12%(ifyoucountthe#ofpeopledefinedasnotactively
searching)...
Butnextyearisgoingtoreallystink,andObama'sgonnagetcrushedforit.Hopefully
theeconomytakesanupturnby4Q2009or1Q2010... 4.63,4.41
bydpinzowonSunJul06,2008at07:45:12PMPDT [Parent ]
Addintheunder employedandyougetamore (5+/0) accuratepicture.
"Nothingismorepowerfulthananideawhosetimehascome."
VictorHugo
bylordcopper onSunJul06,2008at07:46:46PMPDT [Parent ]
Underemploymentisthekey (2+/0)
ThestatisticconcerningthegapbetweenCEOpayandtheaveragesalaryworkeris
thetelltalesignofunderemploymentanditisdoingallthedamageofunemployment
andperhapsmoreb/cofitsinsidiousness.The"haves"bestargumentisthatthereis
fullemployment,andariseinrealwageswouldthreatenthatfigure,thisisacrockof
shitthatwehavebeenspoonfedsinceReagan'svoodooeconomicsbecamethe
drivingforceinAmerica.LOOKaroundtheworldpeople,theUSisn'teveninthetop
10inaveragestandardoflivinganymore,manycountriesthatemploymore
progressivewagestructureshaveamuchhigherstandardofliving,Sweden,Iceland,
Germany,Canada, thesecountrieshavenotsuccumbedtothe"greed"isgood
notionthatAmericaneverletsgooff.CEO'soffailingcompanies(HomeDepot)are
showeredwithmillionsastheyleave,asureasignasanythatourcountryisstuckin
poverty,thegovernmentsent"stimulus"checksof$600,tofamilies,expectinga
"bump"intheeconomy,theveryfactthat$600DIDhelpagreatmanypeopleat
$4.00agallongastimes,isallthetestamentthatIneedthatthericharecontentwith
thegrowinggap,andmerelywanttheproletariattoshutupandwatcht.v.PAYUS
WHATWEAREWORTH!!!!
"Ishereadytolead,myanswerisno,BarackObamaisagifted,eloquentyoungman
[whoshouldknowhisplaceandstaythere]Joe"Racist"Liebermann
by4CasandChlo onMonJul07,2008at07:25:48AMPDT [Parent ]
Nobodywilllistentothemedia (1+/0)
iftheytrytoblameObamafornextyear.Notjustbecauseit'spreposterous,but
becausehisboldnessandintelligenceasaleaderwillmarksuchastunningchange
thatpeoplewillthinkhimblindinglygloriousforsimplyfailingtobeavillain.Andhe
willdoconsiderablymorethanjustrefrainfromevil. Freedomisinthefight.
byTroubadour onSunJul06,2008at09:22:58PMPDT [Parent ]
Agreed.Partofourcurrentproblemis (3+/0)
thedifferencebetweenincomeandwealthattheupperend.Unemploymentisnotas
badasthedepression,buttaxationeffectsmakethedisparityinincomeworse.The
middleclassisnolongeranywherenearthemiddle,andtheygettaxedatahigher
ratethantheincreasinglysmallupperclass.
Itisn'tthatwehaveunemploymentsomuchasthefactthatemploymentdoesnot
guaranteeafamilysufficientincomeforaplacetoliveorhealthcare,forinstance.The
Reaganrevolutionhasbeenamassiveshiftofwealthtoaverysmallpartofthe
population.ThepollyannacreepinthearticlebyKevinPhillipshasallowedthisto
happenwhileclaimingthateverythingisfine. Thanksforthispost.
Outsideofadog,abookisaman'sbestfriend.Insideofadogit'stoodarktoread.
Marx(nonotthatone,Groucho) bymarketgeek
onSunJul06,2008at08:00:39PMPDT [Parent ]
Niceplacetostopfortonight (1+/0)
Itgoesbackmuchfurther,suggestingthattheleft,wheninpower,isjustasdeceptive
astheright. Question:
HasObamachangedhispositiononanythingsinceClintonconceeded?
byURMissTaken onSunJul06,2008at07:54:41PMPDT [Parent ]
Iwouldargue (4+/0)
thattheonlytimethelefthaseverbeen"inpower"wasforabout15minutesinthe
1930s.Maybe. Butasidefromthat,Iagreecompletely.
Idon'texpectanythingfromObama,andIthinkanyonewhodoesisafool.Sorry,but
it'swhatIbelieve.WhatIdoexpectisforustogetorganizedandapplyan
unbelievableamountofpressure,likewedidinthe30sand60s(butwithtacticsand
unbelievableamountofpressure,likewedidinthe30sand60s(butwithtacticsand
methodssuitabletothepresent),topushObamaandahopefullymoreprogressive
Congresstoact. Buthewillthrowbullshit/deceptionatus,makenomistake.
(Andno,I'mnottrashingtheman.I'marealistandastudentofhistory.)
Riselikelionsafterslumberinunvanquishablenumber.
Shakeyourchainstoearthlike dew,whichinsleephadfallenonyou.Yearemany
theyarefew. bycruz onSunJul06,2008at08:16:18PMPDT [Parent ]
ObamaRepublicansanyone?n/t (2+/0)
You'vegottobecou
rageous,toplaytheoddsthatlovewillwin.Whatevercityyou're
in.Was/NotWas byNoodles onSunJul06,2008at07:39:01PMPDT
Howabout"ConstitutionalRepublicans"instead? (1+/0)
Thatgivesthemalittlepatonthebackintheprocess,andhelpsdefinetheir
counterpartsforwhattheyare not.
Gentlemen,youcan'tfightinhere!ThisistheWarRoom! bybigtimecynic
onSunJul06,2008at07:52:26PMPDT [Parent ]
Right.LeadthemfirstawayfromtheGOP, (0+/0)
andletthemmakeuptheirownmindsaboutwheretheyshouldgo.
Forinstance,toBobBarr.Anywhere,justawayfromMcSame.
byNimbusonSunJul06,2008at07:56:29PMPDT [Parent ]
AsanantidotetoReagenDemocratsthis (0+/0)
isameme,orframe,ormovementorwhat have
youwhichwouldmoreeasilystickin
people'smindsasawelldefinedstatementofwhatweareasaparty.NordoIseethis
somuchasacultofpersonalityaboutObamaawhatherepresentsintermsofthe
correctdefinitionofliberalism,awordbadlysmearedoverthelast30years.An
antidotetowhatReaganrepresentedwhentheNeoconmovementstarted.
You'vegottobecou
rageous,toplaytheoddsthatlovewillwin.Whatevercityyou're
in.Was/NotWas byNoodles onTueJul08,2008at10:19:07AMPDT [Parent
]
greatarticleD (2+/0)
it'seitheryourconclusion(hopefully)orit'sgoingtobechaosandworse.
Iamquitesurenowthatoften,veryoften,inmattersconcerningreligionandpoliticsa
man'sreasoningpowersarenotabovethemonkey's.MarkTwain byroute66
onSunJul06,2008at07:39:14PMPDT
Proxybattlesre:feminismalsofueledhomophobia (4+/0)
Manyoftheculturalissuesbecameproxybattlesoverfeminism,and
liberalsandtheDemocraticpartybecameassociatedwithtraits
generallythoughttobeeffete,ortotaketherootwordfurther,
feminine.
WhichiswhyitwassoeasyfortheRepublicanstograspontothesame
sexmarriage
issuewithsuchsuccess,becausetheywereabletoframeDemocraticmen(andmore
specifically,Democraticmalepoliticalcandidates)as"effete,""feminine,"and
thereforetehgay.
The49orsopercentofAmericanswhostillthinkofourgovernmentintermsofthis
womanhating,gaybaitingmindset(andkeepingthewomenandtheirgay
"counterparts"down)trulyfrightenme.
BEthemovement.ObamaforPresident. byboofdah
onSunJul06,2008at07:43:10PMPDT
Definitely (2+/0)
Gayissuesaredefinitelylinkedtoit.However,Idon'tthinktheRepubsreallyhadas
muchsuccesswithgaymarriageasmanythink.Sure,theywontheinitiativesuntil
lastyearinAZ,butIdon'tthinkitwasreallybecauseofhostilitytowardgaysasmuch
asnotionsaboutmarriagebeingtiedtochurchesandsuch.Ifyouaskpeopleif
they'reOKwithsame
sexcoupleshavingalistofrights,andyoulistalltherightsof
marriage,andyoujustdon'tcallitmarriage,majoritiesarefinewithit.It'sahang
up overwhatyoucallit.
AndIdon'tthinkgaymarriagedidanythingin2004exceptmaybeginuptheturnout
amongconservativeandfearfulelderlyvoters.Idon'tthinkitchangedvoters'votes
forpresident.
Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat
TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:47:24PMPDT [Parent
]
Fortunatelyforus... (1+/0)
thepredatoryclosethomosexualswhomakeuptheGOP'smostdevotedcadrescan't
seemtostayoutofthenews. Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour
onSunJul06,2008at09:32:15PMPDT [Parent ]
That'smybiggestconcern (2+/0)
Itsureseemslikethewormhasturnedontheeconomyinthesensethatthe
electorateiswakinguptothefactthattheGOPhasnointerestinprovidingtrue
economicbenefittoanyclassotherthanthewealthiest3%whopatronizeandfund
partyoperations.
However,thesocialdivisionsarestillthere.Thosedivisionshavebeenusedsince
Nixon(andmuchfurtherback)todividetheworkingclassandconvinceittovote
againstitsowneconomicinterest.
Ithinkdivisionsbasedongenderhavelargelyabated.Ithinkthatdivisionsbasedon
sexualpreferencearestartingtoabate.
Iquestion,however,whetherdivisionsbasedonracearemuchbetter.Ithinkthatthe
potentialexistsforObamatobreakuptheracialdivisions,atleastamongtheyounger
generationofvoters.Idon'tholdoutmuchhopeforwhite50+y/o'sthey'regoingto
voteGOPregardless.
However,thepotentialforObamatobustuptheseracialdivisionsisgoingtodepend
largelyonhowsuccessfulaPresidenthewillbe.Ifhepresidesoveraprotracted,
bloodypulloutofIraqandtheeconomycontinuestogosouth,therightisgoingto
painthimaslivingproofthatblackpeoplecan'tgetthejobdone.
Obamaisgoingtoneedtobeasuccessfulpresidentforthiselectiontobetheendto
anera.
"Unseen,inthebackground,Fatewasquietlyslippingtheleadintotheboxingglove."
P.G.Wodehouse bygsbadj onMonJul07,2008at06:06:15AMPDT [Parent ]
Theonlyproblemwithyourthesis (4+/0)
onthecuspofsomethingnew,hopefullybetter,andcharacterizedbya
bold,vigorous,creativeDemocraticparty
isthatthisboldness,forthemostpart,isfoundincommoncitizensandnotin
Democraticpoliticians.Butthen,contrarytowhathistorybooksteach,"leaders"very
rarelylead.Theyoftenjustfollowthegroundswelltheysenseinthecountry.ButIdo
senseachangeinthegeneralpopulation.Sohere'stohopingthatthesheepin
Washingtonwillfollowalongdutifully.
Gentlemen,youcan'tfightinhere!ThisistheWarRoom! bybigtimecynic
onSunJul06,2008at07:44:21PMPDT
Roosevelt... (5+/0)
...ranaverysafeandrisk aversecampaignin1932 .
Asyousay,partofleadingisfollowing,andassumingObamawins,wewon'tknow
wherehe'llgountilhegetsintooffice.Also,theCongresshehaswillbecrucial,and
onthatscoreI'mfairlyoptimistic,becauseIthinkwe'regoingwinbigmajorities.
Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat
TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:50:41PMPDT [Parent
]
Peopleforget (0+/0)
ThattheDemocraticparty(Southernpart)thatRooseveltledweregenerally
conservative.SomeoneoncecommentedtoSen.WalterF.George(D)ofGeorgiathat
"Rooseveltwashisownworstenemy."TowhichtheSenatorreplied"NotsolongasI
amalive." byedbb onMonJul07,2008at05:02:18PMPDT [Parent ]
Soifracism/xenophobia (3+/0)
isnolongereffectiveenoughtowinelectionsforRepublicans,whatwillbetheirnext
scaretactictotrytoregainpower?
Weshouldbeabletodeliverbottledhotwatertodehydratedbabies. byTFinSF
onSunJul06,2008at07:45:55PMPDT
IDon'tKnow,andNeitherDoThey (5+/0)
They'reatanimpasse.Manyofthemthinktheirproblemsarebecausetheyhaven't
beentruetotheiridealsandtotheirbase,whichmeansthatnexttimethey'lljustget
longerrunningstartsbeforebashingtheirheadsintoawall.
Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat
TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:53:09PMPDT [Parent
]
Theproblemisconservatism (3+/0)
thelast8yearshasbeenconservativeideologybeingexposedbyempiricism.
Iran,Russia,SaudiaArabia,andNorwaywillnolongerbeoilexportersby2030.Link
byaztecraingod onSunJul06,2008at07:56:36PMPDT [Parent ]
Theywillcontinuetoappealtothe (2+/0)
richandtheevangelicals,Ithink.TheywillalsotrytohoodwinktheLatinocommunity
intovotingforthem.
Theywillcontinuetodowhattheyalwaysdo:Lie,cheat,steal,rape,andpillage.
Ireallydon'tseetheRepublicanPartycontinuingasapartyverymuchlonger.
Weareatthemomentwhenourlivesmustbeplacedonthelineifournationisto
surviveitsownfolly.MartinLutherKing. byEyesWideOpen
onSunJul06,2008at07:57:20PMPDT [Parent ]
Twopotentials,notmutuallyexclusive: (2+/0) 1.
Radicalization
.Yes,Iknowthey'realreadybatshitwingnuts,butthey're
spinelessbatshitwingnuts.Beingforcedintothewildernesssosoonafter
tastingabsolutepowerwillcreateanincrediblelevelofbitternessonthe
right,andofcourseitwillbedirectedagainstusratherthanthemselves.For
nowit'sabstract,butwhenPresidentObamaispilingsanityonsanity,one
rationaldecisionafteranother,theirragewillprobablyboilover.Expectthe
reemergenceofanunprecedentedlevelofright wingdomesticterrorist
activity,someofitpossiblywithunofficialGOPsanction.
2.
Clintonization
.BillClintonpretendedtobealiberalwhilegivingtheGOP
90%ofwhatitwanted,andRepublicanscandoexactlythesamepretendto
bereasonableandstillget90%ofwhattheywant.Expecttosee"Green
Republican"asthenew"compassionateconservative."Thesejokerswould
expresstheirprofoundangeranddeepsadnesswhenevertheirmoremilitant
comradesmurderorkidnapsomeone.Theywould"feelourpain."
Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onSunJul06,2008at09:57:48PMPDT
[Parent ]
MostLikelyRadicalization (2+/0)
They'regoingtobewipedoutintheHouse,andtheonlyonesremainingwillbefrom
solidlyRepublicandistrictswheretheelectionismostlyoveraftertheprimary.There
won'tbemanyleftwhohavetobotherpretendingthatthey'remoderate.Andinthe
Senate,eveninthefaceofwhat'scomingatthem,thereareonlyafew,likeSpecter,
Snowe,SmithandCollinswhoevenpretendtonotbewaytotheright.
Afterfeedingthebasealmosteverythingitaskedforthelast15years,theywon'tbe
abletoquicklyshiftgearsandmoderatethemselves.Thosewhotrytomoderatewill
gettakenoutinprimaries.
Theironlyhopeofmoderatingthepartywillbeiftheynominateamoderategovernor
orsomeotherDCoutsiderforPresidentin2012.Idon'tknowwhothatwouldbeoff
thetopofmyhead,butIdon'tthinkthepartybasedinCongresswillbeabletoshiftto
amoremoderateorcentriststance.
Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat
TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonMonJul07,2008at01:03:27AMPDT [Parent
]
Good. (0+/0)
Ifthey'reradical,wepwnthem. Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour
onMonJul07,2008at02:17:34AMPDT [Parent ]
ThenwhyisBushcontinuingtodismantle.. (2+/0)
programslikeMedicare,SS,etc.?Whatarewemissinghere?
WhyareDemocratsinCongresscontinuingtogoalongwithabandoningtheMiddle
Class,theConstitution,andstandingbywhileBigOilrakesinthecashattheexpense
ofAmericanworkersandfamilies?WithsupportingFISAandimmunityfortelecoms?
No,Idon'tseetheReaganeravanishing,Iseeitbeingbolstered,andpropagated
forwardbyboththeGOPandtheDemocrats. Goodluck. byquantumspin
onSunJul06,2008at07:46:39PMPDT
HeFailed (3+/0)
He'snotstilltryingtodismantleSocialSecurity.Hetrieditin2005,anditfailed
miserably.That'soneofmymainpoints.
Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat
TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:54:09PMPDT [Parent
]
OnepointofangerthatIdohaveisthatthe (1+/0)
Democratsbackthendidn'truntheirownversionoftheinfamous"HarryandLouise"
ads.IwishthattheyhadruntheirownadsprotestingBush'splans.
byoceanstar17 onSunJul06,2008at08:06:49PMPDT [Parent ]
Iwouldhavebeengreat,but... (2+/0)
...the"HarryandLouise"ads(whichwereactuallyonlyonecomponentofthe
overallcampaigntodefeathealthcarereform )weren'tpaidforbythe
RepublicanpartytheywerepaidforbyHIAA(theHealthInsuranceAssociationof
America).Thatis,bythecorporationsthatstoodtoloseprofitsinour"forprofit"health
(non)caresystem.
WhowouldhavepaidfortheequivalentcampaignagainstSocialSecurity"reform"?
LowerincomeworkingfolkswhowillreallyneedSocialSecuritywhentheyretire?
Theydon'thavethatkindofmoney.TheDemocraticParty?Theyweren'texactly
awashinextracash,andaren'tlikelytobewhenthecostsofgettingDemocrats
electedremainssoobscenelyhigh.
Likeyou,Iwouldhavelovedtohaveseenitandnotjustbecauseitwouldhavehelped
beatbackattemptstoprivatizeSocialSecuritywhichfailedinanycase
butbecause
itwouldhavedonesomelongtermdamagetotheRepublican"mefirstandtohellwith
you"modelofhowoursocietyshouldfunction.
Butthat'salwaystherub.Thesmallgroupofthewealthyandthepowerfulhavethe
resourcestoshapethedebate.Therestofus...notsofar.We'rehopeful,ofcourse,
thattheinternetwillprovidetoolstoshapethedebateinanewway,butthetraditional
mediaisstillverypowerfulandwhatreachesmostAmericans.Weshallsee.
Iamnotgoingtosithereandbeanidlespectatortothediminution,thesubversion,
thedestruction,oftheConstitution.BarbaraJordan byJanetStrange
onSunJul06,2008at09:03:41PMPDT [Parent ]
ThereWEREAdsonSocialSecurity (0+/0)
Theyweren'trunnationally,oratleastiftheyweretheyweren'trunheavily,butthey
wereusedtotargetmembersofCongresstokeepthemfromsigningontoBush's
plan.Theywereusedinatargetmanner,andtheyworked.Andtheywerelargely
paidforbyorganizedlabor.
Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat
TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at09:15:17PMPDT [Parent
]
That'sgood,butstill... (0+/0)
...asyoupointoutyourself,unionmembershiphasfallendrastically,soorganized
laborhasmuchlessclout(andmoney)thanitusedto.(SadlyI'maunionmember
myself.)
I'mgladthattheydidthis,andthatitworkedinthoselocal,targetedareas,butIdon't
thinkit'sinanywaycomparableto"HarryandLouise"andthatwholecampaignthat
completelyshiftedtheconversationabouthealthcareinthiscountry.
Asaresultofit,thatconversationshiftedfrom"howcanweimproveaccesstohealth
carethroughgov'tprograms,asMedicaredid,"toabjectfearthatwhateverwehad
(andmostvotersdidhaveatleastdecenthealthinsurancecoverageatthetime)any
gov'tinitiativetoexpandhealthcarewouldresultinthelossofbothaccessandquality
ofcareforthemajority.HarryandLouise=gov'tiscomingtotakeawayyourhealth
care!!!Waitingforyearsforsurgery!NoMRI's!Can'tchoosemydoctor
gov'twill assignmeone!
Therebyveryeffectivelyprotectinginsurancecompanyprofitsforanother15years.
Anditseffectsarestillstrongandwillmakehealthcarereformextremelydifficulteven
nowwhenmostAmericansaredisgustedwithourcurrentfor
profitsystem.Theyknow
thecurrentsystemsucks,butb/cofH&L,they'restillscaredthatanygov'tplanwill
makethingsworse.
Ijustdon'tseetheadsyoumentionhavingsuchaprofoundimpactonthenational
consciousnessasH&L,etc.Goodon'em,andhopeweseemore,buttheothersideis
stillmuchmorepowerful.
Canwefightbackagainstsuchmoneyandpowerwithgrassroots/netrootsactivism?I
hopeso,butwecan'tunderestimatethedifficultyofit.
Iamnotgoingtosithereandbeanidlespectatortothediminution,thesubversion,
thedestruction,oftheConstitution.BarbaraJordan byJanetStrange
onSunJul06,2008at10:02:26PMPDT [Parent ]
ThePointWasThatWithSocialSecurity... (0+/0)
...itreallywasn'tallthatnecessarytoshifttheconversation.There'sneverbeen
supportforrollingbackSocialSecurity.TheHarryandLouisecampaignwasto
preventtheadditionofamajorpillartothewelfarestate.Itbuiltonfearsofmaking
thestatusquoworse.WithSocialSecurity,people'sonlyfearisthatitwon'tbe
around.Buttheydon'twantitprivatized.Thus,theeffortneededwasmuchlessthan
whathappenedwithhealthcare.
Thereasonsconservativesaresoterrifiedofnationalhealthcareisthattheyknow
onceitpassesthatitwillalmostcertainlynevergetrepealed.Bushevenconceded
thatwiththeMedicaredrugbillin2004,whichmostmovementconservativeshated
becauseitfurtherexpandedtheprogram,onetheywantrepealed.Andtheirmodelof
theclassiccaseofsomethingthatonceimplementedwillprobablynevergetrolled
backbecausethepublicgrowsaccustomedtoitisSocialSecurity.
Wedidn'tneedHarryandLouisetokeepSocialSecurity.Theconservativeswerethe
oneswhoneededtocomeupwithacomparableefforttoattackSocialSecurity,and
theycouldn't.
Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat
TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonMonJul07,2008at01:10:00AMPDT [Parent
]
SocialSecurityPrivateers (0+/0)
Thevariousbubblesdissolvedanysupportfordismanatlingsocialsecurity.Atthe
heightofaWallstreetbubble,401KAmericansareeagertogettheireasymoney.
BarakHusseinObama GodBlessAmerica. byodenthal
onMonJul07,2008at08:12:40PMPDT [Parent ]
Notsofast... (7+/0)
I'dsaythisisawonderfuldiary.Thoughtful,worthreading,informativeevenfor
historicalandpoliticaljunkieslikeourselves.Arareacheivement.
Thatsaid,Iamamongthepessimists.Mysenseisthatwearestillfirmlyinthe
Reaganeraandwillbeforsometimetocome.
Inessence,oneofthehallmarksoftheReaganeraisthedegreetowhich
conservativeconceptsandmoralcodeshavedeterminedthediscourseofthedebate
and,byproxy,thelocationoftheOvertonwindowofpoliticallyacceptablepolicies.We
arestillinanerawherethecentristsarethedominantpowersamongdemocratsand
theworldisstillveryverysafeforarchconservatives.Arch
liberalsarestillderided
viciouslyinawayconservativesarenotinthemainstream.
Thecoretosomedegree,IwouldargueisAmericanthinking.Althougheconomics
andsocialchangesareobviouslyhugelimportant,culturalvaluesystemsunderpinthe
meaningtheelectoratemakesofthosechanges.Isthevastriseininequalitythe
hallmarkoframpantlysuccessfulcapitalisminitspurestform,orofsavagely
rapaciouscapitalisminitsvilest?Americans,Ibelieve,stillbelievetheformer
rhetoric,andthat,isstillwhat'swrongwithKansas.Untilthatchanges,thekindof
socialsystemthatsupportspoliciesthatvalueslookingafterallAmericans(to
guarantee,say,universalhealthcare,orhighertaxesasaformof"doingourparts")
willnottakeholdfullyenoughtotransformthepoliticalerainwhichwelive.
Unfortunately,thenotionthat"wedon'tleaveoneofourownbehind"appliesin
militarysituations,butisnottranslatedintoasocialethicofsocietyasawhole.Weare
notanationofpeoplewhofeelthemselvesourbrothers'keepers.Untilwedo,
Reagan,withhisresoundingdenunciationofsocialresponsibility,willbebeamingdown
upontheAmericansocialproject. Mostrespectfullyyours, G.
Likecommunismandfascismbeforeit,fundamentlismwillnotrestuntilitisthoroughly
discreditedortheentireworldisunderitsyoke.
byGuinhoonSunJul06,2008at07:47:54PMPDT
TheProblemWithYourPremise... (3+/0)
...isyou'reusingthatOvertonWindowstuff.Overtonisafarrightcrankatathink
tankbackinmyhomestateofMichiganwhotriedtoconvincepeopleifyoukeep
pushingmoreextremepositions,themore"moderatelybad"positionswillbeadopted.
It'safinetheoryifrealityneverintrudes.LookatIraq.Theypushedextreme
positionsuntilitfellapart,andnowthewarisdeeplyunpopular.Ontheeconomy,
theymosthidtheirintent,andwhentheyactuallytriedtopushthingsonSocial
Security,therewasamassivebacklash.
Spinanddeceptionworksforawhile.Butrealitieslikelosingyourjob,yourhouseor
yoursonincombatintrudeanddestroythecompletelyunempiricalandprovenfalse
theoryofthatOvertonthing.
Idon'tmeantobeharsh,especiallysinceyouweresocomplimentaryofmypost,but
IreallywishpeoplewouldstoppushingthatOvertonWindowstuff.
Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat
TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:59:13PMPDT [Parent
]
Aminorreference... (1+/0)
IappreciateyourinformationabouttheOvertonwindowidea.Ireallyhadnoidea,
andyouputittobedwell.Toacertainextent,I'mnotsuretheconceptisn'tauseful
heuristic.Since1980,I'veseentherightpushevermoreextremevisions,untilwhat
seemedradicalisnowcommonplace.Maybethat'sjustanillusioncreatedbyamore
generalrightwardtilt.Afterall,thatwouldmaketheevermoreacceptableright
leaningstuffthedriverofarightwardmovingwindow,nottheresultofit.Thanksfor
bringingthatup.Ihadn'tthoughtofit.Certainly,thatovertonwindowstuffhas
converselyfailedmiserablyontheleft.Wecertainlyhaveourfairshareofcrankstoo
whoneverseemtomakemoderateleftproposalslikesinglepayerseemacceptable.
NowthatIthinkaboutit,Iwishthetheoryactuallyworked,sincecomparedtothe
BurningManeconomicssomeespouse(astrawman,ifyouwillforgivetheabsolutely
dreadfulpun.Ihaverealrespectforburners.),thenareturntobalancedbudgetsand
thecreationofasimple,progressivetaxpolicywouldbeaneasysellifOvertonwere
right!Damn! Overall,though,thisisanothercasewhereI really
hopeyouarerightandIam
wrong.Still,itseemstomethatmanypeopledon'tmaketheconnectionbetweenthe
taxpolicyofBushandtheirdifficultiesinmakingendsmeet,ortheconnection
betweenthedeificationofforprofitcorporationsandtheiroffthechartshealthcare
costs(sotospeak)
Asineconomics,politicsseemstobeallaboutthefailuresthatcomeaboutfrom
boundedrationalactors(orsomedeviationfromperfectrationality)actingon
imperfectinformation. Thanksagain!nowIoweyoutwice!
Likecommunismandfascismbeforeit,fundamentlismwillnotrestuntilitisthoroughly
discreditedortheentireworldisunderitsyoke.
byGuinhoonSunJul06,2008at08:34:35PMPDT [Parent ]
Likealltheories, (0+/0)
itworkswithinlimits.Itissurelyagoodexplanationofhowwegotthisfar.Wetendto
assumethecontinuumisinfinite,butitisn't.Therearelimitsatwhich,asyousaid,
realityintrudes.
IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays
werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onSunJul06,2008at11:24:27PMPDT
[Parent ]
TherewasaDiarytheotherdayaboutOverton (0+/0)
WhichdidagoodjobofdescribingthetheoryoftheOvertonWindow.Regardlessof
Overtonbeingacrank,whichI'minnopositiontoargueeitherway,sinceIhaven't
readhiswork,Idothinktherearesomeobvioustruthsbehindthetheory,ifnotinthe
author'sconclusions.
Theproblemis,theconceptoftheOvertonWindowdoesn'tflyexceptinextreme
macro
trends,andcertainlynotinaspecificincidentsuchasthetrumpedupIraqwar.
Macrotrendsaremuchtoolargetobemanipulatedbyanybody,sincethetrendistoo
amorphousandtoosubtletobeseenfrominsideit.Extremeradicalsthatcouldpusha
trendforwardwouldbythenatureofbeingfaroutsideconventionalsocietywould
neverhavethepowertoperformtheirhistoricaltaskonpurpose,butwouldonlybeen
seentohavedoneitinretrospect.
Forthistheorytoworkonasubstantivelevel,andbythatImeanforradical
individualsorgroupstodrivechangeinthewaytheOvertonWindowsuggests,they
wouldhavetohavebeenpoliticalgeniuseswiththemoralsofaMarvelComicsvillain.
Suchagroupwouldhavetohavebeenabletoidentifyaverylargetrendinsociety,
identifydemographicandhistoricalelementsofit,andtakeactiontopushexactlythe
rightbuttons,withoutregardforanyoneelse.
Iagreethisisunlikelyintheextreme.Still,it'sausefulwaytolookathowtrends
begin,andhowsmartpoliticiansmanipulatepeoplecaughtupinthem.
Here'sanexampleofwhatImean.
Intheearly1960s,therewasalreadyanidentifiablemovementtoendsegregation,
andtosecurepoliticalandhumanrightsforBlackpeopleinAmerica.Themovement
hadbeengrowingslowlyoveralongperiodoftime.However,asthepolitical
environmentbecamemoreunstableinthe1960sand70s,notjustMLKandthe
nonviolentmovementmadestrides,buttheBlackPanthersandmoreaggressive
movementsscaredtheshitoutofthe"silentmajority."Antiwarprotesters
Yippies,
etc.mademiddleAmericaveryuncomfortable.TheWeathermen,andotheranarchist
orantigovernmentgroupsscaredjustabouteveryone.
Iamofthatgeneration,andIbelievethattheradicalsofthe1960sandearly1970s
playedaveryrealroleinmovingourculturemuchfurtherleftthanitwouldhavegone
withoutthatpush.
Ibelievethatradicalfeminists,forinstance,cantakeprideintheRoevs.Wade
decision,whichwouldneverhavebeenmadewithouttheinfluenceofthem.
InthiscontexttheOvertonWindow,inretrospect,explainsalot.
Now,theOvertoneWindowlosescoherencywhenonerealizesthattheBlackPanthers,
forexample,couldnothavepredictedtheresultsoftheiractions.Asapoliticalforce
forBlackPower,theywerebettersymbolsthanpoliticians(despitethefactthatsome
ofthemlaterbecameextremelyablepoliticians).Theiraffectontheoverallmovement
wastodriveitforwardbyforcingpoliticiansandsocietyingeneraltobecomeawareof
theirissues.Thiswasn'ttheirintent,though.Theintentwastocreateaunifiedand
powerfulBlackcommunitywhichtheywouldleadbyafusionofforceandpolitics.At
thattheyfailed.
SoOvertonwouldseethePanthersastheprovocateursthatpushedaleftward
movementtowardracialequailtywhileignoringtheactualhistoryoftheirsuccesses
andfailures.
TheonlycurrentradicalsIcanthinkofatthemomentthatfittheOvertontheoryare
theMiddleEasternfanatics,suchasOsamaBinLaden,whouseterrorismtogain
noticeoftheirgrievancesbytheworldatlarge.Theirgranddesignisunlikelyto
succeed,buttheireffectswillbestudiedforages.
Obviouslywedidn'tidentifythescaleofterrortheywouldproveabletoinflict,butthey
didn'trealizetheextentofthedamagetheywouldcause,andtheycertainlycouldn't
haveaccuratelypredictedbeforehandwhattheidiotsintheBushadministrationwould
donext.
So,IfindtheOvertonideainteresting,andagoodwaytolookathowmovementspick
upsteam.Thefirstproponentsofsubstantialchangearealwaysoutaheadoftheworld
theylivein,andarealmostalwaysmisunderstoodandderidedintheirday,butturn
outtohavebeenrightlater. Beyondthatmitsallacrapshoot. FWIW
IsupportBarackObama,notforhisoratory,norforhispositionsnorhislifestory,but
becauseofhisgeniusforleadership.
byDHinIAonSunJul06,2008at11:50:03PMPDT [Parent ]
Brother'sKeeper. (0+/0)
Reaganmocked"brother'skeeper",liftinginsteadthe"moralmajority"
god'schosen,
whovote!Welfarequeens,unions,thecourtsandgovernmentweretheenemy.
JesseHelmswasgoingtostandinthedoor."Workingfamilies"havebeenwithus
since.
ReaganyankedoutNewDealgovernment,leaving"his"democratsontheirown
clingingtotheirgunsandreligion.God,andthemarketwillprovide.Getagun,a
4wheeldriveHummer,prayonlythestrongwillsurvive.
MoreGOPcrap:"Withalevelplayingamericanscancompetewithanyone".We
competewhileCEOsselloffeverythingtothenewlandlords.
TheReaganfantasywasthat"rampantlysuccessfulcapitalism"wouldbestowits
blessingsuponallwhofullyembracedthe"greedisgood"ethic.Untetheredfrom
welfare,unions,entitlements,theindolentandtheweak,thefaithfulwouldfloatupin
their401KbubblesalongsidenewneighborsontheReaganranch,orwithBushesin
Kennebunkport.The1000pointsoflightaresobeautifulfromupthere.
Bush2kepthisfootonBrother'sKeeperwith"compasionateconservatism"Double
Speakmeaningcrueltobekindwouldcontinue.
911didtriggercompassiontowardfellowAmericansbutwasquicklyhijackedintowar
lust.
Katrinadidnotrestoreasenceofcommunityitwaspackagedasablackproblem.
EnergycrisisIIImayrestoresomesenseofcommunity.
Whatdoesthe"partyofideas"offer?GOP,humblysuggestsoildrilling.
HopefullyDemswon'tdissolveintorecycling,compostheaps,andtiltingatwindwills.
Obamaisn'ttiedtoideology.Hewillrestoreasenseofcompromise,asenseof
community,ablendofmarketandgovernment.FinallyburyReagan.
BarakHusseinObama GodBlessAmerica. byodenthal
onSunJul06,2008at09:20:16PMPDT [Parent ]
Let'shope (1+/0)
becauseIforoneandtiredofbeingtrickledon.
IguessinthelastfewdaysthatI'vemadeupmymindthatwe'vecreatedafalse
choicebetweenstandingforprincipleandwinning.Obamawillrestoreasenseof
compromise,sure,butcompromisewillnotachieveanything.I'llreachforthe
ridiculousHitleranalogy.IfyouarecompromisingwithHitlerwhatdoesthatentail?
Killinghalfasmanyjews,gypsies,gaysanddissidents?Colormeunimpressedby
that.
Likecommunismandfascismbeforeit,fundamentlismwillnotrestuntilitisthoroughly
discreditedortheentireworldisunderitsyoke.
byGuinhoonSunJul06,2008at09:40:37PMPDT [Parent ]
Inevergot (0+/0)
trickledon.Iamstillstandingherelookingupawards,palmsandmouthwideopen,
completelydry.
IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays
werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onSunJul06,2008at11:25:24PMPDT
[Parent ]
TheendoftheReaganerabeganbackin1996 (2+/0)
withthesocalled"ContractwithAmerica."BecauseatthattimetheGOPbeganits
declineintouttercorruptionandideologicalthuggery.WhentheSCOTUSforcedBush
onusin2000,theendwasaccomplished.Therapeofanyshredofdecency,values
andintegritythatRonaldReaganhadenvisionedfortheGOPwascompleteatthat
point.SonowwehavethisrecentpronouncementbyMedvedev,onelittlesignthat
theReaganeraismorethanoverinternationally:
http://www.nytimes.com/... ReaganRepublicanismdiedalongtimeago.
byconcernedamerican onSunJul06,2008at07:48:12PMPDT
Justtoclarify I'mnotsayingIthinkReagan (0+/0)
wasdecentorhadintegrity
I'mjustsayingthat'showhesawhimself,andthat'show
hisimmediatefollowersandacolytesworshippedhim,andthat'sbecomethebasisfor
hisidolization. byconcernedamerican onSunJul06,2008at07:50:05PMPDT
[Parent ]
Thanksforthat.:) (0+/0)
"Bettertolightonecandlethancursethedarkness."TheChristophers'motto
byKlick2con10ue onSunJul06,2008at08:01:23PMPDT [Parent ]
BushtoursAmerica. (2+/0) http://www.youtube.com/...
byBushBites onSunJul06,2008at07:49:05PMPDT
ThatwasHILARIOUS! (0+/0) TRUE.SAD.But,Hilarious!
Weareatthemomentwhenourlivesmustbeplacedonthelineifournationisto
surviveitsownfolly.MartinLutherKing. byEyesWideOpen
onSunJul06,2008at08:11:03PMPDT [Parent ]
onecouldargue (0+/0)
onecouldarguethattheendoftheReaganerabeganin2000butwas
interruptedthenextyearbytheterroristattackson9 11.
ThatonewouldbeKevinPhillips.Somewherebetweenthehijackingofourdemocracy
onDecember12,2000andthehijackingofourplanesonSeptember11,2001,he
wroteanopedpiecethatarguedthatwhatwewereseeingintheBushadministration
wasnotthefinaltriumphofconservatism,butitslastgasp.Itwasacomforting
thoughtatthetime.
"I'mnotnegative I'mANGRY!" HowardtheDuck byRoddyMcCorley
onSunJul06,2008at07:49:42PMPDT
HeWasn'tPayingCloseEnoughAttention (0+/0)
Cheney,Rumsfeld,therestofthecrew,theywereprimedforaliteraltakeoverand
launchofglobalwar.Theybarelyhaveanyotherskills.
Wearecalledtospeakfortheweak,forthevoiceless,forvictimsofournationandfor
thoseitcallsenemy....MLKing"BeyondVietnam" byGooserock
onSunJul06,2008at07:52:40PMPDT [Parent ]
Phillipsis/wasright (0+/0)
HeauthoredtheEmergingRepublicanMajority.Buttheendofthe1968GOPcoalition
startedwithClinton'swinin1992,whenhebrokeintowhathadbeen60%Republican
suburbsjustfouryearsearlier.ClintonservedtohavebeentheEisenhowerofthat
era.JustlikeEisenhower,whobrokeintothesouthandothersolidDemocraticeras
andstartedsofteninguptheNewDealCoalitionduetogrowthintheSunbelt,Clinton
brokeintotheGOPdominationofsuburbanAmerica. byoceanstar17
onSunJul06,2008at08:02:50PMPDT [Parent ]
IwasshockedtoseethevictorofGulfWarIlose (0+/0)
WhydidBush1lose?Thewarwasahugesuccess.Inandoutwith~50casualties.
SchwartzkoftandPowell,Patriot.v.scud.Nintendowarfare.Oilkeptflowing.
Perot'sgiantsuckingsound,inthevotingbooths?Wimpfactor/visionthing?
WhydidGOPhateClintonsomuch?BecausehebrokeuptheReaganparty?
BarakHusseinObama GodBlessAmerica. byodenthal
onMonJul07,2008at08:23:39PMPDT [Parent ]
Itwasboundtohappen (0+/0)
Theissuesthatfusedthecoalitionof1968hadstartedtofraybythe1990s.Withthe
endoftheColdWarandwiththememoryof1968furtherback,andcombinedwiththe
factthattheDemocratsdidn'tnominatesomeonefromNewEngland,itwasthe
electioncyclefortheDemocratstowinback. byoceanstar17
onMonJul07,2008at08:52:33PMPDT [Parent ]
pendulum (0+/0)
nowthecyclesays...democrat.
Soweoscilateonan8yearperiod,aroundatrendline?Progressive,conservative?Is
thereanarch,theriseandfalloftheAmericanCentury?
The68coalition.Responseto60'sexcesses,culturalvertigo,anendlesswar.Civil
rightsandwomen'srightsweretoomuchchangetoofast?
Gorewasn'tfromNewEngland.ThoughheseemedtorejectTennesee.Avictimof
timingorClintonexcesses?
Americaadrift.200yearsofwesternexpansion.100ofimmigrantassimilation.75
yearsoftechnologicalpioneering.What'snext?Conservation?Yawn.
Maybecarbontrading?Wealreadyhaveahousebuiltonbankcards,flimsyfinancial
gimmicksdisconnectedfromriskandreward.Carbontradingseemsdoublydubious
sellingindulgenceslikebaseballcardsortulips.Ifyoupolluteyoupay.
Anywaykeepswingingforthefences. BarakHusseinObama GodBlessAmerica.
byodenthal onMonJul07,2008at10:24:04PMPDT [Parent ]
AnAwfulLotofEnergyIsSquanderedDiscussing (2+/0)
theReaganandlatererasofglobalcrimesyndicatetakeoverinhistorictermsof
politics.
It'sreallyalotsimplertodescribeitintermsoftheheistofwealth,opportunityand
governingpowerthatit'sbeen.
Wearecalledtospeakfortheweak,forthevoiceless,forvictimsofournationandfor
thoseitcallsenemy....MLKing"BeyondVietnam" byGooserock
onSunJul06,2008at07:50:55PMPDT
HopefullyObamacomesup (1+/0)
HopefullyObamacomesupwithsomethinglikethe'NewDeal',aswe'vediscussed
herebefore.
Ireallybelieveyou'reright,thatthiselectionwillbelikeFDR's.
AcatchynameforhisagendawouldhelpinNovember. :P
McCain:USeconomicwoes'psychological'
byDAVEDIALonSunJul06,2008at07:56:34PMPDT
I'vebeenhavingthatthoughtmyself. (2+/0)
Ofcourse,it'stooearlyforpithinessitwouldjustgrowstalebeforetheelection.But
whateveritis,itshouldbeevocativewithoutbeingtorridhard
hittingwithout
bombastandleaveRepublicansnoeasyavenueofridiculeforthename.Definitely
needstobetwowordsintwosyllables,thatmuchisclear.
Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onSunJul06,2008at10:14:29PMPDT
[Parent ]
TheProgressiveMovement, (0+/0) theNewDeal, theGreatSociety,
andthenthe__________.
IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays
werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onSunJul06,2008at11:27:34PMPDT
[Parent ]
Heshouldcallhisprogram"AmericaAlive." (0+/0) 1.
Alliterative(alwaysgood). 2. Containsthecountryname. 3.
LetterAlooksniceandassertive. 4.
Justtherightbalanceofpromiseandwarning. Freedomisinthefight.
byTroubadour onMonJul07,2008at02:54:28AMPDT [Parent ]
Ihopeitstrue (0+/0)
We'vereachedtheendoftheReaganera,andareonthecuspof
somethingnew,hopefullybetter,andcharacterizedbyabold,
vigorous,creativeDemocraticpartywithwhichpeoplebondasthey
didwiththeDemocraticpartyoftheNewDealera
Yes...butisthisgoingtobetheelectionthatsetsthenewagenda,orarewegoingto
seeatransitive,placeholderelectionthatkicksthecandowntheroadwiththepolitics
oftriangulationandRepublicanlite?
ThemoretheDemocratsvotewiththeRepublicansandembracetheirpositions,the
harderitisgoingtobetodistancethemselvesfromtheRepublicanswhenitreallyhits
thefanandthepeasantsshowupatthegatewiththeirpitchforks&torches.Itmight
evenbetoolate.
Whathappensifthereisnogas?nofood?nojobs?DowegetbetterDemocrats...or
doesthecountryembracefascism?
Iputmyfaithinthepeople,Butthepeopleletmedown. SoIturnedtheotherway
AndIcarryon,anyhow RareEarth,IJustWantToCelebrate
bySpiny onSunJul06,2008at08:00:57PMPDT
Probablythelatter.n/t (1+/0)
bysrkp23 onSunJul06,2008at08:11:13PMPDT [Parent ]
WethrowtheBumsout! (3+/0)
Andthenweinstallpeoplewhocangovernwithoutcriminality.AndNO,Fascismisn't
anoption.
Weareatthemomentwhenourlivesmustbeplacedonthelineifournationisto
surviveitsownfolly.MartinLutherKing. byEyesWideOpen
onSunJul06,2008at08:13:12PMPDT [Parent ]
Withprejudice!!!!!! (0+/0) CLEANOUTTHEBARN!!!!!!!!!
IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays
werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onSunJul06,2008at11:28:21PMPDT
[Parent ]
TheRepublicansarewheretheNewDealCoalition (0+/0)
wasin1968.After1992theystartedlosingthe"ReaganDemocrats"andwhiteethnics
inthesuburbs.WhatkepttheGOPcoalitiontogetherforseveralmoreelectioncycles
wereClinton'smisstepswithMonicaLewinskyand9/11.Icouldwritemoreaboutthis
andhave,buttheissuesfacingthecountryin1968arenotthesameasnow.Andwhat
broughtthatcoalitiontogether
angeroverthewelfarestate,crime,theVietnamwar,
theCivilRightsarea,riotinginourcities,taxes,inefficientgovernmentandsoforth
arenolongerincontention.
TheGOPbasicallyisprobablygoingtobeleftwiththe170orsoelectoralvotesthat
BobDolereceivedin1996.TheEmergingDemocraticMajoritywascorrectinits
argumentsitsauthorswerejusttwoorthreeelectoralcyclesaheadofthemselves.
byoceanstar17 onSunJul06,2008at08:01:15PMPDT
Reallyinteresting,DH. Thanksmuch. (0+/0)
byLithiumColaonSunJul06,2008at08:04:11PMPDT
AtleastwithBushtheturningpointforhim (1+/0)
wasprobablythe"politicalcapital"commentthathemaderightafterthe2004election.
Hefailedtorealizethathisre
electionwasmoreofavoteAGAINSTKERRYthanitwas
forhisownpolicies.Hisattempttoprivatizesocialsecurityprobablywillonedaybe
rememberedinthesameveinasClinton'shealthcareplan.Althoughitdidn'tgetasfar
asClinton'splandid,thepublicrespondedinthesameway.BeyondthatI'dhaveto
saythattheultimateturningpointwasprobablyKatrina.Toseethegovernment
mishandlethefirstmajornaturaldisasteronthescaleof9/11since9/11inthat
mannerreallyhurtBush. byoceanstar17
onSunJul06,2008at08:05:51PMPDT
Progressivecapgainstax (4+/0)
I'manEnrolledAgent(taxperson),soItendtoseepoliticalproblemsthroughatax
prism.
Ihumblysuggestmakingthecapitalgainstaxrateandthetaxondividends
progressive.IfyouareaWalmartheirlivingon10milliondollarsayearofdividends,
youshouldnotbepayingata15%taxrate!Capitalgainsanddividendsforverylow
incomeindividuals(whorarelyhavesuchgoodies)shouldbezero,andforBillGates
andtheveryhighnetworthfolks,theyshouldbepayingatleast50%.Thiswon't
affectverymanypeoplebutitcouldraiseagreatdealofrevenue,anditmightstartto
correcttheincomedisparitybymakingsuchobscenelyhighincomelessattractive..
byDoubleBonus onSunJul06,2008at08:08:41PMPDT
Alongsimilarlines,whendidthe"DeathTax" (7+/0)
becomesuchanissuetobluecollarworkersearningunder~40K/yr?
Thepeople"hurt"bytheestatetaxare...thechildrenofwealthypeople,whoare
"disadvantaged"inthatthereisareductioninthepilesofmoneythereceivewhich
theymayhavedonelittleornothingto"earn".WhereIcomefrom,mostfolksaren't
bigfansof"trustfundkids",butnowthememeis"youworkedhardallyourlife,and
nowwhenyoudiethebigbadgovernmentistakingyourmoneyfromyou".
Er,no,you'redead.It'stakingitfromyourkidswhomaynotbeabletopartyquiteas
hardontheirparent'smoney.
Andre:dividends,itusedtobethatthefirst$Xwherenottaxed,andonlyamount
abovethatweresubjecttotaxation(atordinaryincomerates).Thiseffectivelygavea
taxbreaktomanypeoplewhohadonlyalittledividendincome,whilefolkswho
receivedlargeamountsofdividendincomeandwereinhightaxbracketsstillpaid
theirshareoftax.
Ifyoulookatthebigpicture,almosteverythingtheBushAdministrationhasdone
regardi