RogerHWerner's Comments (2045)

“And such a victory would be for you Pyhrric. Of what possible value would it be for the Progressive movement if it loses leaders who have consistently supported progressive causes? One vote doesn't make a career and it shouldn't determine how progressives feel about their representatives. Progressives sometimes lose perspective: Congressman and Senators represent many interests not all of which are progressive. Like everyone else, these leaders need to attain some semblance of balance. I'mm all for fighting to unseat most of blue dogs and all of the political whores like Max Bacus and Ben Nelson, who so clearly represent interests of corporations. Even if a political leaders who support non-progressive causes can be good people. I think progressives need to ask why certain votes are cast the way they are before writing off a political leader. As we do this, progressives might also then ask themselves what alternatives do we as progressives have? Would our causes be better served by Republican majorities? On their worst days, the bluest of the blue dogs is better than a typical Republican on their best day.Democrats. We shouldn't lose sight of this important detail.”

“She was a very pretty women when she was younger and she was pretty at the age of her death but I prefer the younger Brittany with natural hair and a little weight on her. She looked fine and it's too bad she felt the need to change any thing.”

“I think you grossly over estimate the security of China. The Chinese government is probably the least secure of any modern economic power and Chinese leadership knows it. 30 years ago, Deng opened the economic genie and China exist only because the Communist party maintains a stranglehold on power. Approximately one third of China would just as soon disassociate themselves and establish separate countries. Unless Chinas figures out a way to share the wealth and placate nationalist sentiments in Sinkiang and Tibet, it has no future at least not as it exists today. China also has virtually no domestic market. Why? because the great majority of its people are dirt poor and can't afford the cheap goods made in China.”

“Well, if you're an economist at Columbia and looking at statistics sure there's been economic growth-2.8%. But when you look at where this growth has been generated, it's plain to see that the great majority of the American population hasn't felt it. I've talked with a few hundred people this shopping season many who work in stores and not a single person expresses any belief that the recession is over. It isn't over and I don't give a crap what economists or politicians claim.”

“The Federal government has the ability to directly create jobs. This happened in the 1930s and it can happen today. This is what Indra is referring to...ever hear of the CCC? Just Google the letters. It was one of the most successful and popular New Deal programs. The problem Americans face today is that we don't want to face the reality that our economic situation is at least as bad as it was in the 1930s but for different reasons.”

“Regretfully, the US economy is nothing at all like your home economy and that's the mistake too many people make in trying to understand what something very complicated. Stop spending money...yea right. And what do you propose government cut out? If they were to eliminate ALL discretionary spending and foreign aid, it would dent our deficit. The only way out of this deficit is economic growth period. This is what government is counting on. Whether that will happen is debatable. We'd better hope it does or we're going to be in deep do do. And not just the US but anyone who depends on American consumption, foreign aid, or our incessant borrowing. The geniuses who run the world have created a monster called the world economy and our economy represents some 35% of it. Simplistic ideas aren't going to solve the massive problem we face.”

“It seems to me that this is a not so obvious way for Ford to kill the UAW at Ford. Fortunately, I suspect that most workers aren't going to bite at this not so great deal. Those close to retirement could make out well however.”

“I think you're seriously deluding yourself if you think anyone can live well in China for $250. If one examines Chinese demographics it's plain to see that the great majority of those who live well live in the major coastal cities and in Beijing. The millions of people living in rural areas had been commuting seasonally to the coast for low paying factory jobs, which no longer exist because Americans aren't consuming at their former rate. Point being is that very few people in China as a percentage of their 2 billion people live well. The social safety network that existed during the socialist era has disappeared and people are essentially at the mercy of capitalists who would have given the Victorians are run for their money in terms of ruthlessness.”

“Actually, I'd buy the good hammer because I know the value of a decent tool. Most foreign made tools are little better than crap. Use a hammer made in China for 6 months and then examine the head. It will be misshapen and probably nicked. You always get what you pay for with tools. The only thing a person needs to ask is how often am I going to use it. If you intend to use a tool once and can but it for a buck then buy it for a buck., Something like a hammer is going to be used repeatedly over a lifetime so buy a quality one of the appropriate weight.”

“Kind of the way US air lines treat their passengers. But then hey, passengers are really just steerage., You want luxury charter your own jet or fly on an airline that caters to high end business travelers ($28,000. round trip from a private airport near Beverly Hills to a private airport near a major East Coast city (includes limo rides to and from your destination and five star meals plus drinks enroute). For a couple of hundred bucks you get steerage and all the amenities.”

“Something about Christmas and snow. We actually got a few flurries in central California for the first time in 20 years. I actually saw a few but they melted when the hit the ground. It's been a frigid 55 degrees brrrr. Snow is lovely when you don't have to shovel it, drive in it, or deal with it. It's great for winter sports and for ambiance otherwise no thank you (except at Christmas!).”

“Then maybe people should just go to Surrey huh.”

“Maybe the developed world has become too used to immediate gratification. The horror a whole day to get from London to Paris. Not too long ago the trip might have taken longer than that and you know the world didn't end. How long would it take to ride a horse from London to Dover, take a ferry from Dover to Pas de Calis and then ride from Pas de Calis to Paris? Perhaps a few days. If we as in the human race doesn't figure out a way past our addiction to oil we may yet get to travel this way again. My suggestion is for people to just deal with the matter and stop whining about the inconvenience. Whining isn't going to fix the problem.”

“110 MPH is lame to be sure. The US can spent a million dollars a day on soldiers some pointless Asian war but when it comes to doing something useful within the US all we get are lame proposals and excuses why we can't do better.”

“Such weather is exactly what one would expect if the Gulf Stream slows or stops. What do you think keeps Western Europe from having arctic conditions dip wad? The Gulf Stream. If you want to get some understanding of what I'm talking about watch the movie 'The Day After Tomorrow.' The story is rather extreme but the concept is based on real science. Stop the Gulf Stream and Western Europe becomes frigid. You might consider reading something about the subject of global warming rather then merely parroting FauxNEws talking points.”

“Krugman is correct about the dysfunctionalality of our government. The Founders established an elegant system with safeguards to ensure that no one branch of level of government could ever become dictatorial. Sadly, the counted on the government occupied by rational people who had the nation's best interests at heart. They didn't figure on two corrupt, entrenched political parties controlling the debate and they certainly never counted on the Senate to establish extra constitutional rules that effectively abrogates majority rule. There's nothing wrong with our system that a serious house cleaning wouldn't fix. The problem of course is with the details: How do we rid ourselves of the two parties when SCOTUS handed control of government to corporations? The value of the franchise has become virtually worthless as a consequence.”

“If a person is born with a heart condition and they die of heart failure at 32 guess what? That's death by natural causes. If a perfectly healthy person age 32 with no heart condition dies of heart failure that's suspicious. Give it a rest will you especially since you don't know what you';re talking about.”

“Dean is right: Kerry and the rest of the Senate sell outs should be ashamed of what they are considering. The Senate bill is worse then doing nothing at all. I trust true liberals and progressives will steadfastly and strongly oppose this sticker of a bill. For Kerry to even play acting in support of this crappy legislation doesn't speak much for his integrity and it simply adds fuel to the belief that the man left the liberal fold some time ago.”

“My attitude has always been and it continues to be that Democrats should simply ignore the GOP and the few reactionaries within the Democratic PArty, focus on developing a bill that addresses the majority of the health care problems, and pass it using reconciliation with 51 votes. The Senate and House can then work on ironing out their differences. The notion that the Administration and Democratic Party leadership remains committed to working with health care reform adversaries is beyond comprehension. Joe Leiberman should be immediately stripped of all his leadership functions and if he wishes to become a Republican my thought would be let him.”

“Torte reform is a red herring. At what point will people like you understand this. Torts account for less than 10% of all healthcare costs. That's 20% less than the 30% insurance companies skim off the top to keep themselves fat. Yes, tort reform would be a good thing. SO would publicly funded education for doctors willing to under served regions. A true removal of all lifetime cost caps. A true elimination of recession. A true elimination of pre-existing condition denials. And a real method for providing competition. The present Senate bill is a gift by the Senatorial whores to their masters.”

“Otherworldly is right...she looks like an alien. I don't find her the least bit attractive clothed or nude. Not sure why this is such a big deal. Half the world's population has tits. So what? Maybe it's about time Americans grew up and accept this reality.”

“Tom Harkin may propose a change to the filibuster rule. Why should a few dinosaurs trump a clear majority? The 60 vote rule is being abused and it's about time someone stated that publicly. To hell with the filibuster rule. It's not in the Constitution and it can be changed by a simple majority vote in the Senate.”

“Ahmen to that sentiment. Hillary Clinton wouldn't have been any real improvement over Obama because she would still be dealing with a legislative leadership that is largely playing by the DLC game plan. I almost regret the system didn't crash completely since that's likely what it will take for real reform.”

“The money always trumps the vote, which is why it is going to be very hard indeed to reform the present mess from within. I've come to believe that the present system really can't be reformed and so the situation is going to have to get so bad that people simply end it.”

“I disagree. Obama didn't sell out progressives because he was never really a progressive. Hard to be a sell out when the man never supported a progressive agenda. Obama is a centrist. He said he was going to focus on Afghanistan and that's what he's done. He had a stated aim of affecting healthcare reform and that's what he's for. He never had a stated reform position. I oppose virtually every policy he's established. I have to say that the vehemence of my attitude has grown. Nevertheless, presently progressives have few options at the national level. If people really want change then what's needed is some form a massive protest and not in middle America. The protest is needed in DC. I suspect that if a few million pissed off voters showed up they would be noticed. What really astonishes me is that no progressive organization has made a real effort to get people organized nationally. Candle light vigils are feel good efforts but they do little good. Look at the PR a bunch of teabaggers gained last August.”