StephieL's Comments (204)

“With all this controversy going on, I can't wait to get the DVD. ;-)”

“I quit watching the channel after it was decided that wrestling was an appropriate programming choice for a network which was designed to showcase science fiction and other similar types of programming. Now, it's become a muddled collection of lame "reality" shows and even more of those crappy made-on-a-shoestring-critter-of-the-week movies.

I much prefer watching DVD's of classic sci-fi TV shows, thank you!”

“While it's true that, as Mr. Lux writes, "there is no question that progressive-minded folks have also engaged in political violence. The Revolutionary War, the Civil War and World War II were all led by progressives and you don't get much more violent than a war (not that I would have opposed those wars, I would have supported them).", what separates the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and World War II from the domestic terrorism which claimed the life of Dr. Tiller, is that these wars were fought on the foundation of the principle of the "General Welfare", which is the bedrock of our nation's Constitution.

Dr. Tiller's murder was premeditated, cold-blooded murder, but what makes his murder so stunning is the air of rejoicing within the conservative "Religious Right". The psychology of the "victim" is very much alive and well, and Christians who see themselves as "victims" of a society which has "forced" them to accept such things as abortion, gay rights (including marriage), embryonic stem-cell research and other medical technological breakthroughs, secretly yearn for someone who will exact payback upon society for having "persecuted" and "victimized" them.

When someone is murdered on the specious principle of "payback for persecution", then, what's to stop the level of political violence which some in the right-wing media openly advocate from escalating to the point where a person can be murdered simply because he doesn't believe in the prevailing doctrine of the day?”

“It's weird, but every time someone talks about Jon and Kate, the phrase "watching a train wreck" keeps coming to my mind,

Although I don't watch the program, the fact that this couple and their "reality" T.V. show has so captured the attention of a vast majority of Americans, while at the same time, the nation's healthcare system and economy are in a rapidly progreessing state of deterioration and collapse, is a reflection of the rampant, unashamed narcissism which has saturated our culture, and has created the 21st Century version of ancient Rome's "bread and circuses".

Makes me wonder if someone from ancient Rome would feel right at home if he/she were to visit America in the 21st century.”

“The point I was attempting to make was that over the past 8 years, these groups and organizations have managed to use their powers of emotional manipulation to exploit the legitimate anger of the American people, and they've gotten highly skilled at manipulating a fickle, easily angered and easily frightened population.

Since these folks know the American people can be emotionally manipulated very easily, their tactics will be stepped up even further as this financial crash spirals out of control, while the American people demand real solutions to this crisis which are, as yet, not forthcoming from the Presidency, and President Obama goes before the cameras to portray himself as the "righteous indignant", and yet he still refuses to get tough and play political hardball with AIG, and those members of Congress, like Nancy Pelosi, Chris Dodd and Barney Frank, who spent the past 8 years aiding and abetting these financial criminals.”

“It's obvious that the American people are infuriated by AIG executives getting big bonuses for a speculative financial derivative Ponzi scheme, but I'd like to bring up something that's going to become more obvious as time goes on. As public anger over the financial bailout grows, many organizations who occupy the farthest ends of the political spectrum will attempt to exploit and manipulate the justifiable anger of the American people..

According to an article published last Friday in the Washington Post, Post senior columnist Jim Hoagland expressed deep concern over the gathering forces of radicalization and social explosion in the U.S., and warned that if the government didn't "get in front of what could become a destabilizing public anger," and explain what happened, that anger will be used by groups on both extremes of the Right and the Left to induce the American people to engage in an armed insurrection against the government, which would reduce the U.S. to the level of a chaos-ridden "banana republic" where laws are enforced at gunpoint. This is not what we need. What's needed is for the American people to put feet on their anger and make their voices heard by both houses of Congress and by the President. A great moment is upon us, so let's not blow it by choosing to become small people who allow their anger to be manipulated by those who would destroy the nation.”

“What I find ironic is that his arrest comes on the day after the Gov. boldly stated that Illinois would no longer do business with Bank of America and Tribune Company files for bankruptcy.

Interesting timing, hmm?”

“Thank you, Arianna, for so beautifully summing up what Obama's Presidential victory will mean for America and the world.

We had no vision from our current President; just eight years of fear, hopelessness, demoralization and despair, and we were about to perish under a dreadful and unnecessary war, an economic crisis which enriched the few at the expense of the many, and the politics of division, antagonism and suspicion.

Barack Obama has the opportunity to change all of that, and I pray that he will give us a clear vision not only of who we are, but, most importantly, what we can become. I am neither cocky or excited, but I realize that we need to summon our confidence and faith in ourselves if this Presidency is going to succeed, because Obama already made it clear that his Administration is going to be a partnership where all of us work together for the "common good"... and when was the last time you ever heard a President lay down this kind of challenge to the American people?”

“Yesterday, I spoke with a friend of mine who is a dyed-in-the-wool Republican, and when I asked him who he was planning to vote for in the upcoming election, he told me (much to my surprise) that he was going to cast his vote for Barack Obama, instead of John McCain.

When I asked him why he was voting for Obama, he told me, "Steph, after having watched McCain go through three debates where he came off as mean-spirited, abrasive and a little too hot-headed for my liking, I want a President who will listen toother viewpoints, who will use diplomacy to make positive change, rather than boming a nation out of pettiness, and who realizes that the wealth of our nation doesn't come from the things we own, but through the development of the nation's citizens, and will empower the American people to move toward a bright future. Sen. Obama presents that vision of a better America in a powerful and persuasive way, where McCain doesn't.. I agree with Gen. Colin Powell -- Barack Obama's the right man to become our next President, and I'd feel a lot safer with him in the White House, rather than John McCain."

It was certainly a surprise to hear my Republican friend tell me this, and it was incredibly refreshing to hear how intelligence was able to overcome fear.”

“Thank goodness there's someone in the MSM who understands that the media's primary job is to be the nation's political "watchdog", instead of being Corporate America's "lapdog".

Way to go, KO! Bravo!”

“Not only did the CCC provide six million unemployed men and teenaged boys with meaningful work, but they were also much healthier, due to the regular meals they were served, as well as the hard physical labor they exerted performing vital tasks of infrastructure rebuilding.

When we consider the troubling issue of rampant obesity among American teenagers, a CCC-type program which includes physical labor, including the rebuilding of various infrastructure projects, as well as providing educational programs for men and teenaged boys who dropped out of high school, would go a long way towards improving the physical and intellectual health and well-being of millions of Americans.”

“It's bad enough that many senior citizens, disabled people and single mothers with young children -- the ones who rely most on Medicare and Medicaid -- have seen budgets for both of these programs be ruthlessly slashed by four Presidents, and now McCain, for all intents and purposes, wants to get Medicare and Medicaid to the point where they will be shells of the programs they once were.

Obama got it when he stated that health care is a "right" to which every American is entitled to. Under McCain, health care would become a luxury which fewer and fewer Americans would be able to obtain, let alone afford.”

“Once again, Arianna, you hit the nail on the head with your accurate assessment of this second Presidential debate.

Obama presented himself as a calm, cool, extremely reasonable and quietly confident man who gave serious, thoughtful answers to the questions posed to him, while McCain's answers were mean-spirited, petty and petulant, especially when he referred to Obama as "that one". His rudeness and hostility were plainly evident, and I give Obama credit for refusing to lower himself to the same type of infantile "Romper Room" politicking which has become more and more obvious with each new election cycle.

I've got to give this second debate to Obama, hands-down. His confidence and grace under pressure was both refreshing and impressive.”

“At this point, if Obama decides to pledge his allegiance to Wall Street, instead of Main Street, by wholeheartedly embracing the proposed "bailout", while McCain plays the "maverick" card by boldly defying his own party and declaring that he's standing with Main Street against the "bailout", there's a very good chance that Obama's current supporters -- as well as those voters who are currently undecided -- will flock to McCain due to the perception that he's showing "leadership" in dealing with the economy by refusing to go along with the bailout.

Also, with Congressman Dennis Kucinich taking a bold, principled stand by proposing real solutions and reforms to the economy which were the hallmark of FDR's solutions to the crisis, wouldn't it be a major shock to Obama's Presidential aspirations if some of his more influential supporters broke away from his campaign, and launched a grass-roots campaign to get Kucinich reinstated as the real Democratic Presidential candidate instead?”

“I give Barack Obama credit for refusing to yield to the politics of emotional manipulation which the Republicans have turned into an art form by doing a political ad which is thoughtful, rational, honest (a rarity these days) and which insists that the American people be ready and willing to become involved in the welfare of the nation by supporting him and his economic plans.

Would I love to see more specific ideas from him concerning the rebuilding of our economy? I think we all would, and I hope we'll hear a detailed explanation regarding his economic policy during the upcoming Presidential debates. Bill Clinton won rather handily against George H.W. Bush with "it's the economy, stupid!", and it's time for the Obama campaign to revive this line, and use it against McCain and the same old failed economic policies with a vengeance.”

“To be absolutely honest, we have two Presidential candidates who don't have a clue about how an actual economy works, but should this revelation come as a big surprise when the vast majority of Americans have absolutely no clue about how an actual economy works?

It's a case of the economically illiterate attempting to lead the economically illiterate, and all of them will fall into a depression which will be even worse than the 1930's..”

“Thank you, Mr. Penn, for this insightful, thoughtful and equally thought-provoking article.

It's unfortunate that so many Americans have confused emotional responses, perceptions and reactions with actual knowledge, and no longer use their fast-fading powers of cognition and reason to make thoughtful, rational, important decisions when choosing a President, especially when the futures of the nation, themselves and their descendants are in serious danger of ceasing to exist if these current economic, financial, military and international policies (or more accurately, non-policies) remain in place..

Sadly, the McCain camp isn't focused on "issues" which are of real importance to the American people, but on easily generated emotional reactions, perceptions and responses designed to whip up the voters into such an emotional frenzy to the point where they will "vote" based strictly on emotional reactions, perceptions and responses, and not on which candidate has the ability, desire and political will to lead us out of this economic, financial and military quagmire which threatens to engulf our nation and the rest of the world.”

“HECK, YES! ;-)”

“Our national economy is in a massive freefall -- from the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the massive federal bailout of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and AIG to the precarious state of Washington Mutual Bank -- and at this juncture, there seems to be no end in sight to this crisis which threatens to not only pull America into the abyss, but the whole world along with it.

And what is John McCain doing? Is he providing the American people with real, workable solutions to the economic/financial crisis, we're in? Absolutely not! Instead, he's attempting to provoke a viciously negative emotional reaction from voters by regaling them with tales of the "elitist" Sen. Obama and his "celebrity" friends, and how political fundraising in the presence of celebrities is a sure sign of Obama's percieved "elitism".

Considering that the working men and women of Ohio (and elsewhere) are bearing the full brunt of this massive economic collapse which has been caused, in part, by eight years of Bush/Cheney economic mismanagement, how any sane person could vote for McCain and more of the same stupid economic "policy" is beyond me.”

“Excellent article, Arianna, and you've definitely nailed it when you bemoaned the lack of righteous anger coming from Sen. Obama's campaign. This silly doctrine of "political correctness" is the WORST thing which has happened to American politics in the last one hundred years. Now, Sen. Obama can't bring forth the "righteous anger" and indignation which Dr. King so masterfully used to galvanize a nation to rally for civil rights for the least of America's people because it might "offend" a certain segment of the population, and the emotional reaction to what he said would be used by the Republicans into "scaring" America's 'Casper Milquetoasts" into embracing McCain, Palin and the same old politics wrapped in a prettier package.

"Political correctness" has managed to neuter and water-down bold, intelligent political discourse to the point where American politics has degenerated to the level of shallowness, and pure, unashamed emotional pandering to Americans' worst fears about themselves and each other. When will we stop yielding to what's "politically correct" and have a Presidential candidate who is willing and able to pay us the highest compliment there is by telling the truth, even when that truth is what we may not like to hear, and not being afraid to show righteous anger concerning what he/she truly believes in?”

“In the end, it all boils down to emotional perception, and how the American people have been conditioned to "think" with their emotions, rather than reason. When McCain and the media engage in their customary "Obama-bashing", especially when they see people in European nations flocking to him like a group of thirsty travelers who've finally found a pool of fresh, clear water after eight years of drought and deprivation, they're attempting to stir up those fears, suspicions and uncertainties about Sen. Obama's judgment, while at the same time, pandering to the latent xenophobia within the American population which never completely disappeared after the Sept. 11th attacks.

Europeans have had to suffer through eight years of George W. Bush, including his rudeness (remember his disgraceful conduct during the G8 summits?), blatant anti-intellectualism, and his "lone cowboy" mentality, and they're desperately hoping that Americans will finally elect a President who is ready, willing and able to listen to the nation's allies, instead of dismissing them with a curt "screw you", and going off on his own pecular tangent. For them, Barack Obama is the U.S. President they've been yearning for, and they've made their desire to see him as our next President clear in no uncertain terms. Instead of complaining about it, we ought to be glad that Europeans have enough confidence in Sen. Obama to express the hope that he will become our next President.”

“While the Iraq War may be important, it's not as important to the vast majority of the American people who earn less than one-hundred thousand dollars a year. For these Americans, Topic #1 isn't the Iraq War; it's the economy, and this is what Obama must focus upon, tackling economic issues in the same way Hillary Clinton did during her candidacy. Also, another thing which Obama should focus on is the dismantling of the illegal, clearly unconstitutional Bush/Cheney "Unitary Executive" government, because no program to rehabilitate and strengthen the American economy will be effective as long as the "Unitary Executive" apparatus is able to undercut and cripple those necessary economic and political reforms.”

“There are those within certain political circles who insist that Hillary Clinton has to take this fight all the way to the Democratic convention in August due to the fact that by the time the Democratic Convention is held in August, the country will have been hit with a series of massive crises beyond belief. The entire financial system is coming down, and nothing is being done about it -- certainly nothing is coming from the Bush Administration or Congress. By November, the crisis will be far worse. The majority among the lower 80 percent of the American population see Hillary Clinton as their candidate, and they would see the failure of her party to defend their vote as a betrayal of our nation.

The problem is even if the Democratic Party did defend the majority's vote by allowing Hillary Clinton to keep plugging along to the Democratic Convention, the biggest hurdle would be getting those in the lower 80 percent who voted for Obama to support Hillary's campaign and to vote for her in the general election. While the majority of the 80 percent who voted for Hillary have the upper hand, if Hillary's convention fight succeeds in alienating those who supported Obama, they could very well vote against Hillary by becoming "McCain Democrats", voting for a third party candidate or simply refusing to cast a vote, and the Democratic Party would be wracked by the kind of political civil war never seen before in American politics.”

“Part of the "virtuous victim" mind-set which seems to permeate the minds of so many Americans is this need to exact some type of revenge against the "bad guys", and there have been far too many times when Hillary Clinton's campaign speeches sound more like "I'm a victim, just like you, and I'm gonna get rid of the bad guys because I want to be your "savior" ", instead of challenging Americans to stop playing the role of the insecure, paranoid "victim", rise up to the challenges which face us and to overcome them.

Sen. Obama is -- at least -- making an effort to challenge us to stop being victims of (and in) life and to rise above being mere "victims", and I wish he'd do it more often, because we need to be challenged to rise above our self-inflicted, passive "victimhood" and become the bold, innovative, confident people the Founders hoped we'd become..”

“Fascism is already here, wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross and going on national television in order to make itself palatable to an American population which see themselves as "virtuous victims" of a mean world, and who are eager to see the Almighty exact "payback" against America's percieved "enemies".”