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Kill The Bill? Some Progressives Say Nothing Is Better Than Senate Health Care Bill (VIDEO)
Commented Dec 17, 2009 at 00:29:04 in Politics
“Howard Dean for President 2012!
Obama has shown zero leadership on healthcare, other than to cut secret deals up-front with the insurance industry and big pharma. He campaigned against Bush's surveillance state and today his DOJ defends these abuses at every turn. And don't even get me started on Afghanistan. We're building up forces there -- now that everyone agrees there are less than a couple hundred Al Qaeda there. Just like we went into Iraq when there weren't any Al Qaeda there.
We elected Obama for Change, and he interpreted this as a mandate for Compromise. I won't vote for him again.”
Obama has shown zero leadership on healthcare, other than to cut secret deals up-front with the insurance industry and big pharma. He campaigned against Bush's surveillance state and today his DOJ defends these abuses at every turn. And don't even get me started on Afghanistan. We're building up forces there -- now that everyone agrees there are less than a couple hundred Al Qaeda there. Just like we went into Iraq when there weren't any Al Qaeda there.
We elected Obama for Change, and he interpreted this as a mandate for Compromise. I won't vote for him again.”
HLL replied on Dec 17, 2009 at 06:12:55
“Right on, benali.
Obama promised radical change but is really just Bush Jr. I won't vote for him again.
I would vote for Howard Dean!!!!!”
Obama promised radical change but is really just Bush Jr. I won't vote for him again.
I would vote for Howard Dean!!!!!”
thrdr replied on Dec 17, 2009 at 02:21:02
“As for your concluding sentence, I concur utterly and unequivocally.
However, Dean should be scrutinized carefully. He's right on on this Senate bill--It's been compromised and twisted up into knots that will only benefit Big Money at the expense of the American public, and progressives should kill it and stop wasting the public's time and energy already--but, unless I'm not up-to-date (which may be the case) on his position re Obama's escalation in Afghanistan, he's a big war strategy supporter. Not good.”
However, Dean should be scrutinized carefully. He's right on on this Senate bill--It's been compromised and twisted up into knots that will only benefit Big Money at the expense of the American public, and progressives should kill it and stop wasting the public's time and energy already--but, unless I'm not up-to-date (which may be the case) on his position re Obama's escalation in Afghanistan, he's a big war strategy supporter. Not good.”
Robobrewer replied on Dec 17, 2009 at 00:45:17
“I would gladly vote for Dean if he ran.”
Tom Friedman: 'After 9/11, I Overreacted' (VIDEO)
Commented Dec 03, 2009 at 00:23:39 in Media
“Mr. Friedman has written insightfully on globalism and economic change. But his foreign policy record is abysmal.
See his NY Times column of just last week explaining what he calls "The Narrative," the warped view of the US preeminent in the Arab/Muslim world. He's quite correct about the defects of The Narrative -- except that his article counters with an "American Narrative" every bit as selective and culture-bound as the narrative he opposes.
Friedman's American Narrative states that "[for] ... two decades in which U.S. foreign policy has been largely dedicated to rescuing Muslims or trying to help free them from tyranny...
Square that with the 100,000 to 1,000,000 Iraqi deaths directly attributable to our actions since 2003, as well as others who have died due to our continuing military actions in Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and even Iran. Mr. Friedman's Narrative doesn't even mention these deaths. What an incredible insult.
Until we fashion an American Narrative that understands why we were attacked on 9/11, and why nationalists oppose us in Iraq and Afghanistan today, our military engagement will perpetuate violence rather than prevent it.”
See his NY Times column of just last week explaining what he calls "The Narrative," the warped view of the US preeminent in the Arab/Muslim world. He's quite correct about the defects of The Narrative -- except that his article counters with an "American Narrative" every bit as selective and culture-bound as the narrative he opposes.
Friedman's American Narrative states that "[for] ... two decades in which U.S. foreign policy has been largely dedicated to rescuing Muslims or trying to help free them from tyranny...
Square that with the 100,000 to 1,000,000 Iraqi deaths directly attributable to our actions since 2003, as well as others who have died due to our continuing military actions in Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and even Iran. Mr. Friedman's Narrative doesn't even mention these deaths. What an incredible insult.
Until we fashion an American Narrative that understands why we were attacked on 9/11, and why nationalists oppose us in Iraq and Afghanistan today, our military engagement will perpetuate violence rather than prevent it.”
jajenkins replied on Dec 03, 2009 at 11:50:10
“Great Post.
And which two decades anyway?
Would that be the same two decades through which the authoritarian regimes of Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Libya (Qaddafi was our SOB before he went rogue), and Iraq (ditto for Saddam Hussein) were funded and supported by the US?
And we wonder why the 'Arab street' isn't falling over itself in gratitude.”
And which two decades anyway?
Would that be the same two decades through which the authoritarian regimes of Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Libya (Qaddafi was our SOB before he went rogue), and Iraq (ditto for Saddam Hussein) were funded and supported by the US?
And we wonder why the 'Arab street' isn't falling over itself in gratitude.”
How Tom Daschle Lobbies In Secret: Influence Laundering
Commented Nov 25, 2009 at 12:05:21 in Business
“Corruption is seeking into the core of our political class, with high-status former leaders like Daschle and Gephardt now promoting special interests over the public interest.
We faced a financial crisis, and leaders like Bernanke, Paulson, Summers, Geithner, Bush and Obama solved it by favoring the financial sector over the public interest.
Every republic faces these problems to some degree. But it appears we have turned a corner and walked down the blind alley we used to regard as the special province of "third-world nations."
Liberal or conservative, it doesn't matter. We must somehow address this corruption at the core of our republic. If the Obama era proves anything so far, it is that the power of the special interests has increased to the point where they threaten our ability to fashion solutions in the national interest.”
We faced a financial crisis, and leaders like Bernanke, Paulson, Summers, Geithner, Bush and Obama solved it by favoring the financial sector over the public interest.
Every republic faces these problems to some degree. But it appears we have turned a corner and walked down the blind alley we used to regard as the special province of "third-world nations."
Liberal or conservative, it doesn't matter. We must somehow address this corruption at the core of our republic. If the Obama era proves anything so far, it is that the power of the special interests has increased to the point where they threaten our ability to fashion solutions in the national interest.”
Jane Andrews, Former Assistant To Sarah Ferguson, Duchess Of York, Escapes From Prison
Commented Nov 24, 2009 at 03:44:32 in World
“Why would they jail someone for life in a "low-security prison?" Not too smart. Maybe Labour figures all the spycams can keep track of her.”
Obama Restores Power To Intelligence Oversight Board
Commented Oct 30, 2009 at 15:09:11 in Politics
“It's important that readers realize that President Obama is actively BLOCKING intelligence oversight and transparency.
Read the articles on this topic at Newsweek's Declassified blog at http://blo
"Barack Obama's Idea of 'Government Transparency' Would Make Cheney Proud"
"Obama Secrecy Watch-- Don't Tread on My 'Executive Perogative
Read the articles on this topic at Newsweek's Declassified blog at http://blo
"Barack Obama's Idea of 'Government Transparency' Would Make Cheney Proud"
"Obama Secrecy Watch-- Don't Tread on My 'Executive Perogative
Democratic Senate Candidates Blast Kirk Over Health Care Comment
Commented Oct 20, 2009 at 20:23:06 in Chicago
“Mr. Kirk loyally voted for Bush for 8 years, and in the last year or two he figured out Bush was unpopular, so he "bravely" moved away from a few Bush positions. Kirk's voting record is not conservative but instead extremist (like any good Bushie). It will be tragic and very embarrassing for Illinoinans if this person is elected to be one of our Senators.”
madHenry replied on Oct 20, 2009 at 21:17:57
“I really wanted Lisa to run for this seat since she put off running for governor. But I will take either of the three Dem candidates over Kirk. Jackson worries me a bit, though since, I'm guessing, she will have little pull downstate.”
Strip Searches Pervasive Despite Huge Settlements
Commented Jul 22, 2009 at 02:07:46 in Politics
“This topic needs MUCH more publicity because the average law-abiding, middle-class American has no clue this is happening.
Back in about 1980 it was a big scandal when it was disclosed that strip searches were routine for *all* females brought in to the Chicago police department between 1952 and 1979. An estimated several hundred thousand women were strip searched when brought in for routine questioning -- no charges filed -- or minor infractions like traffic violations or unpaid parking tickets.
What kind of country lets this activity continue?”
Back in about 1980 it was a big scandal when it was disclosed that strip searches were routine for *all* females brought in to the Chicago police department between 1952 and 1979. An estimated several hundred thousand women were strip searched when brought in for routine questioning -- no charges filed -- or minor infractions like traffic violations or unpaid parking tickets.
What kind of country lets this activity continue?”
zenwhenicanbe2 replied on Jul 22, 2009 at 09:15:48
“I'm running out of things to say... there are so many wonderful people in this country, from our President on down to the common man on the street.... but upon returning from a recent 5 week trip to Europe and beyond I was overwhelmed at the feeling of being in a police state. This occurred upon arrival at the airport, the tension and stress exhibited by my fellow Americans in the customs process was palpable. The compulsory full hand "scan" of foreign visitors' fingerprints, they were informed this was for their protection (uh, no one in any country asked me to provide them with a scan of my handprint or anything of the sort) and the prevalence of domineering high strung officers. These people did not seem well to my perception, I mean, the officers I saw in US customs would have stood out in any of the countries I visited. It made me queasy, I'm serious, not figurative
Hopeington replied on Jul 22, 2009 at 02:12:46
“You should hear what they do if you are charged and convicted by them!!!”
Iraqi Throws Shoes At Bush During Press Conference (VIDEO)(SLIDESHOW)
Commented Dec 14, 2008 at 22:37:07 in Politics
“The American press coverage of this incident epitomizes what is wrong with our national perception of our foreign policy.
The American press reports how our President didn't flinch and even joked about the incident afterwards. Puzzlement ensues about why this Iraqi nut would do such a thing. The press search for possible explanations in the perpetrator's background.
No mention that we've killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis over the past five years. No mention that a fifth of all surviving Iraqis have been displaced. No mention that our government never asked these people whether they wished to sacrifice their lives for our plans.
Iraqis will see al-Zaidi as a patriot who stood up to the invader and occupier. And that he bravely risked torture to do it.
How many 9/11's must we suffer before we learn to see our actions as others do?”
The American press reports how our President didn't flinch and even joked about the incident afterwards. Puzzlement ensues about why this Iraqi nut would do such a thing. The press search for possible explanations in the perpetrator's background.
No mention that we've killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis over the past five years. No mention that a fifth of all surviving Iraqis have been displaced. No mention that our government never asked these people whether they wished to sacrifice their lives for our plans.
Iraqis will see al-Zaidi as a patriot who stood up to the invader and occupier. And that he bravely risked torture to do it.
How many 9/11's must we suffer before we learn to see our actions as others do?”
