Does Anyone Else Think That...?

We'll start with an easy one.

Does anyone else think that Owen Wilson and Ellen DeGeneres are identical twins?

Now let's delve a little deeper.

Does anyone else think that the pesky fly who buzzed around Condoleezza Rice's talking head during last Sunday's interview on ABC was less annoying than Condi was? One wanted to swat the lady and let the fly buzz on unimpeded. The fly was not lying, the lady was.

Does anyone else think that the WGA strike is absolutely just in the writers desire to have a share of the DVD and internet profits - their future - and that this strike stands as a symbol for the inequality in rewards seen throughout our society? CEO's who drag a business to financial ruin are rewarded with multi-million golden goodbyes and the average decent worker struggles to keep above water. Does anyone else think that the network heads that remain determined to deny the talent on their broadcasts a small, fair share of the rewards are perfect symbols for the American dream gone awry?

Does anyone think that our most brilliant bloggers on The Huffpost are giving in to premature despair? That starts with the gloriously witty Nora Ephron and the brilliant Jane Smiley and continues through the post recently. The war goes on, the President and the Vice go on un-impeached, and the Dems can't seem to stop it with their small majority and their timid leadership. I am not asking my fellow worriers to jump with joy after every Democratic Presidential debate, or every equivocating Democratic vote in the Congress, but I do ask for a little proportion. The campaign has just begun and the election is not over.

And yes, believe me - all the Democrats in this contest - and that includes the ones who have racked up free mileage from their rides on flying saucers - all of them are infinitely superior to their Republican opponents, and that includes the much criticized and condemned Hillary who seems to provoke a condemnation disproportionate to her sins. She is not Dick Cheney. She is not even Lynne. She is not my candidate but I do hate the word triangulate applied to her. Yes, it reveals a compromising and equivocating person who uses those qualities to appeal to the broadest number of voters - something she is - yet the word reminds me of my stupefying days in geometry class and it would be a blessing if it was dropped, if not for her, for me.

How's this for a wakeup call? Does anyone else think that this country will be bored to death should we elect a President Thompson grumbling for four years without his Law and Order writers to give him some decent lines and some fresh ideas? How about President McCain in his new surge suit cozying up to the religious right, or God Help us, President Punch Giuliani dragging out his adoring Judi for a kiss whenever he wants to put on a show of his non-existent tender side, and President Romney flashing his smiling sons and his Olympic management skills like a salesman who can never stop selling, even if it means selling out the principles on which this country was founded?

Does anyone else agree that we are in for four more years of hell and war and a country brought to economic and social ruin by the next Republican President should one of these bozos be elected. The weakest of the Democratic candidates would outperform any of these quadrangulating, quintangulating, septangulating lying characters who have three wild cards in their hands - race and terror and taxes- and will play them ruthlessly to win any election. And if they can't win with those cards they always have the untested electronic voting machines; machines as rigged as the slots in a casino.

Remember the Republican push to privatize Social Security? Their easy renaming of waterboarding as a Republican form of a pop quiz rather than as torture? The War in Iraq? And the corruption of our Justice Department? Toss in health care for poor kids? Hell, health care for all of us. Remember their exploitation of "terror" their branding of 9/11 as a Republican triumph rather than a tragedy for everyone and a Republican failure to secure the country under a Republican President and a Republican Mayor - their capitulation to the religious right - the loss of habeas corpus for prisoners that might well extend to all of us - and their inability to speak a word of truth as they feverishly work to undo the Constitution in the name of saving it?

Imagine the next batch of "strict constructionists" who a Republican will put on the court - and think not only the end of Roe vs. Wade but Brown vs. the Board of Education of Topeka. Gals, Guys, you are losing perspective. And so do I from time to time. Does anyone else think that in our search for the perfect Democratic candidate we are forgetting the good and the possible, and the awful consequences of a Republican victory in '08?

Comments

[eshalom]

I'd agree the criticism of Hillary Clinton in the Huffington Post is way disproportionate. But about "triangulation." According to Wikipedia it means "being above and between the left and the right sides of the political spectrum." In other words, it describes the process of seeking common (sometimes higher) ground with the opposition party in order to actually solve a problem " the only way anything is ever accomplished in a democratic political system. The media however prefers to pour gasoline on controversies rather than solve problems. I guess that must attract more readers.

[iluvsam]

"Does anyone else think that in our search for the perfect Democratic candidate we are forgetting the good and the possible, and the awful consequences of a Republican victory in '08?"


I think people are definately forgetting. I've been saying this for a few weeks now. We Dems have to keep the eye on the prize and realize that it is always the best COHESIVE TEAM that wins, not the team with the best individual players. If we stay a cohesive team and STOP the GOP on 4th and 10, we can get the ball back, score a touchdown, and win the game. You may not like the members of your team personally, but if you are going to win, you have to work, and work well, with them to reach the final goal. I am going to vote for Hillary in the primary, but if she does not win the nomination, I will support any of the Dem. candidates with all my energy, because I REFUSE to live under the GOP for another 4 years. This has been 6 years of hell.

[realitytrumpsbull]

Um, so who DO you support for the election? Why not write about that, instead?

[dgrffy]

I"ll try again, since my last post isn"t showing up. This article is indicative of the problem in today"s dialogue. The same tone and contempt can be found on right-wing posts. It does no good to say, "That idiot"s a jerk because he called me dumb." The rhetoric, name calling, and general attacking the icing with endless buzz-phrases while ignoring the cake of the issue is getting us nowhere and getting us there fast. When I read this - and some of the accompanying posts - it makes me realize there is little difference between the Republicans and Democrats, between those on the right and those on the left (issues not withstanding; I mean between them in terms of respect and dignity). And the reason is, there is little difference between their bases.

[23000Days]

Where are the Kucinich supporters tonight?

The comments here certainly sound republican.... Loquatious drivel centered around the pub's favorite enemy.

KUCINICH '08!

[JimReed]

Does Anyone Else Think That...?

There might be Republicans pretending to be otherwise here on huffingtonpost encouraging Democrats to fight among themselves.

[radmul]

That is the same type of logic that the cowardly Senator from California gave us in voting to confirm the new inquisitor at the justice department. Hillary is a pathological liar and will sell us out to her cronies in an instant. The Bushies have been a disaster but I don't forget that it was under Clinton that we were sold out to the free traders shipping the manufacturing overseas. It was the Clintons that gave us don't ask bigotry instead of civil rights for all and it was the Clintons that reformed welfare to keep poor women from getting the higher education they need to lift them out of poverty. If you want a better world get behind Kucinich and forget the neodems

[BUSHsurvivor]

I've been saying this for a while.

JUST VOTE DEMOCRAT 2008!

[BTN]

I still don't think she has given straight answers on the Global Warming issue:

http://theglobalwarmingtruth.com/

[maxdenn]

If Obama and Hillary are the cream of the Democratic Party, then my party is in trouble.

[maxdenn]

Oh gee whiz. If you say Clinton triangulates, takes big money from big pharma, votes to help the WH lunatic achieve his goals in Iraq and votes for Kyle-Lieberman, refuses to debate the peace candidate in her last election (Tasini) and is a Leadership Team member of the DLC, your "Hillary bashing". I'm sorry Hillary. I should know better.

[williamwilliam]

What's up with this "Hillary bashing" and "Hillary hate" meme that so many posters seem to spread? Why do her supporters, including her husband, make her out to be some kind of martyr?

The Senator's voting record is well known.

Her complete lack of leadership during this crisis period in American history is self evident.

Her ties to the corporate kleptocracy are not disputed, even by her supporters.

Is the Senator competent? I think so.

Is competence the single quality we as voters should require from a Presidential candidate?

Of course not, particularly at this moment in history when American Democracy is in its 'last throws'. No, basic competence in and of itself doesn't cut it, especially now.

Speaking out against such a candidate, regardless of her nominal party affiliation, is not an example of "bashing", or "hate".

Its an example of common sense.

Yet, after seven years of the left complaining about the Republican dirty trick of presenting false choices for political gain, supporters of Senator Clinton seem happy to present a false choice of their own: Its either Clinton or four more years of Republican fascism.

To those who support Senator Clinton for president, a suggestion: Rather than whining about "bashing", (which by the way, not so subtly plugs into an inexcusably sexist subtext), demonstrate how your candidate's actual record qualifies her for the Presidency of what still remains of The United States.

If you discover you can't do that, then reconsider your take on "Hillary bashing", and Senator Clinton's candidacy.

[trailrunner9]

I want to clarify my typo - I would NOT vote for that woman if you paid me to do so.

Hillary Clinton does not deserve to represent the people of this party.

[trailrunner9]

I disagree entirely with your premise. I had no expectations for Dick Cheney and though nobody could have predicted outlandishness of this administration's agenda, I didn't have a good feeling coming into this thing.

However, as a New Yorker and Democrat, I had high hopes and expectations for my new senator.

However, she betrayed all of us, because we know that she made a choice. Instead of sticking to the Democratic principles she once had, she decided to sell out on issues of earth shattering importance, even life and death itself, for political favor and a resume and quite obviously at this point to the lobbyist's agenda of those who have a lock on policy in this country. I would vote for that woman if you paid me. She as I said betrayed us and our trust to represent the values of those she served and she continues to betray us to this day as evidenced with her Iran guard vote and the NAFTA expansion vote. If people support what has happened over the past 7 years, then vote for Hillary Clinton, because she and her wreckless, dangerous judgment are one of those highly responsible for the tragic reality this country finds itself in today. Sorry, not buying your spin. Apparently we are not seeing things quite the same way. Apprently, you are not as outraged by what has occurred over the last 7 years as I am. She along with others have sold this country very soul from underneath it and we continue to spiral downward.

[OhPlease2007]

Sherman, you write:

"but I do hate the word triangulate applied to her"

Triangulation is about a candidate trying to cleverly take a stand on both sides of a given issue, while trying to act like they are not, right? In regard to the Iraq war, one perception in regard to Hillary is that, she is trying to pander (for votes) BOTH, the hawk -&- dove demographics. If Hillary is truly a dove, like many of her supporters 'choose to believe', then why did she [Hillary] make the statement that "we have to be preparing to fight the new war", to veterans? That is NOT a statement a dove would use.

I don't use the word triangulation in my comments, and I don't think Hillary physically looks like Lynne or Dick Cheney, but when it comes to saying one thing to pander to doves, and saying another to pander to hawks, she arguably 'acts' like the Cheney's to some. Because of this, for better or worse, I believe the term 'triangulation' is a credible term in regard to Hillary Clinton's politics.

Source: The Huffington Post (Hillary Sandbags The Ani-War Movement, Sen. Mike Gravel, August 21, 2007)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-mike-gravel/hillary-sandbags-the-anti_b_61346.html