emsique's Comments (58)

“I'll second or third that.

Not only do we spend over half our discretionary spending -- everything outside of entitlements (like Social Security and Medicare) and interest on the national debt -- on the military, but worse
sustaining a global national security apparatus insures that we will be in essentially permanent wars. Obama draws down Iraq, only to find himself trapped in Afghanistan. We've still got troops in Korea, in Bosnia, and in some 800 bases across the world. We patrol the oceans, so we fight the growing war against pirates. Meanwhile, the tankers laden with goods line up at US ports, and return to China and elsewhere filled with scrap paper, one of our leading exports.”

“Exactly.Be­tween that spending and the banks I don't know why anyone is just now shocked at the size of the deficit. Obama at least acknowledges the wars in the deficits. Bush and co. didn't even include them in the budgets. And I don't know how Republicans are screaming for more tax cuts since those would also not be paid for unless we were to change our war policy and have real health care reform. You know all the measures they oppose.”

“Agreed. And no one looks at the portion of the national wealth devoured by the pentagon above and beyond the wars. If anyone is serious about curbing deficits they'll start by cutting defense spending by at least 20%.”

“that and the sl.ave. labor and cheap dangerous material they use. who are you kidding?”

“Don't carry a balance and this won't be a problem. You are aware that credit card companies can alter the rate when you get the card. You are also aware of it when you run up balances buying things you can not afford. LIfe is full of descisions­...sounds like you've made a few bad ones.”

“Oops - I posted this under the wrong comment last time...

Interest rates are being jacked up on most of us.

I've never been late on a payment...­paid my car loan off a few months ago...and also paid off thousands of dollars of credit card debt (about half of all that I owed) - and most of my credit card companies have sent me notices in the past month or so, that my APRs will be doubling or tripling. When I called them - they said it's being done "across the board" to all of their cardholders. I suspect the "uber-wealthy" may not be experiencing this "APR" issue, but lots of "normal people" are!!!

Congress really needs to do something about this.”

“Taking all of the risks and none of the consequences.

I'm appalled.”

“I'm with scrooge on this one. I listened to a few seconds of a couple of those songs which was all I could take. What ever possessed Dylan to do this? Lets face it he's never been much of a singer. The reason to put up with his off key vocals is that you get to hear his beautiful poetic lyrics and music. But there is nothing poetic or beautiful in the lyrics and music of "here comes santa claus" or any of the other christmas muzak songs here. If I have to listen to weird christmas music I'll dust off the Alvin and the Chipmunks christmas album.”

“If you say so, Scrooge”

“I'll never forget the day of my political awakening. My father, a die hard Republican, received a mailer regarding the fight for passage of the civil rights bill, asking for a contribution. I remember him going off on a rant, stuffing toilet paper in the envelope, saying he'd be sending it back with his "response.­" It was that day that I vowed I would never "be" a Republican. What's odd was that my father was the kindest and most caring person; he'd give the shirt of his back to anyone in need. All of his life he worked in NYC, side by side with people of ALL colors and races, rode the bus and subway with them every day and one on one had NO issue with anyone of color, speaking with great fondness of this black fellow or Hispanic woman at work, saying what a nice person he/she was, how hard they worked, etc. I blame his strange brand of racism on the brainwashing he got when he emigrated here from Sweden; I don' think he had ever seen/met a black person before! When he went to rent our first home/Northern NJ, the real estate agent "steered" him from certain neighborhoods, explaining why he wouldn't want to live "there." What's so ironic, is that in the end he became a die hard Dem. after Nixon/Wate­rgate...an­d came to love as a son, my Japanese American husband!”

“I am moving back to the US in a month and I will not let this disappoint me. For me this is a struggle that I can see by the sidelines. To the right wing trolls who are against reform I say: bring it on.”

“Goes to show that you can't substitute a wishbone for a backbone.”

“The mentality of the majority dicatates.­...

NO!

Now get back in your bread line, Comrade! Your chocolate ration has been increased to three grams from five grams.”

“Do you people really think that Obama assumes he can solves these daunting problems alone? That he wanted to give us that impression? The congress has just as much responsibility as he does, if not more, to get the country back on track. We have dealt with the most despicable, crime-ridden, immoral, unethical and incompetent group of politicians in memory, and survived: if we can deal with such a mess as this, we can deal with anything. We should be able to give future president Obama the benefit of the doubt and believe that he has the welfare of us all at heart, even the pompous, unrealistic know-it-alls who criticize someone who hasn't even had a chance to show us what he is capable of. This negativity is a result of the harm that Bush and Cheney have done to us all, and now Obama has to deal with the fallout from it. He has a hell of a job, and is a hell of a brave man in his willingness to fight for the opportunity to right the hideous wrongs that have made America and Americans the laughing stock of the world. He is a brave man, not perfect, but brave as hell.”

“THIS IS WHAT I DON'T LIKE... PEOPLE LIKE LAFRANCE WHO SAY THAT OBAMA IS A "GREAT WISE MAN" WITH A " STRONG FAITH IN GOD" WHEN HAS OBAMA DONE ANYTHING GREAT OR WISE? HE ISN'T EVEN PRESIDENT YET. HE'S WEASELED HIS WAY INTO OFFICE, THATS TRUE... AND STRONG FAITH?!!! EVERY TIME REVEREND WRIGHT SAID SOMETHING RACIST, OBAMA WAS SUSPICIOUSLY 'ABSENT' FROM THAT SERMON. HE MUST NOT BE AS FAITHFUL TO GOD AS ONE WOULD THINK... AND GAS WAS ONLY WAY UP FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS AND NOW AT AN ALL TIME LOW FOR BUSH'S TERMS. YOU AND ALL DEMS ARE IN FOR SOME SERIOUS HEARTBURN WHEN YOUR SAVIOR DOESN'T DO 1/3 THE THINGS HE PROMISED. WAKE UP, FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!!!!”

“emisque: I think your comments are so right on! Thanks for stating your opinion so well.

What i haven't read in people's comments(although admittedly I haven't slogged thru all 8 or more pages of them) is any reference to the other clergy person, Joseph Lowery's, presence. The Rev Joseph Lowery, founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference along with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., someone who has been around the block a time or two when it comes to the fight for civil rights. The Rev. Joseph Lowery who is, in fact, in favor of gays and lesbians having the equal right to marry, but somehow his presence is inconsequential?

Lee Stranahan I do say "Amen", and said it many times as I read it, thank you for your article!”

“Except the gays have to sit at the kid's table (but of course no kids will be allowed to sit with them)”

“See infinity's remarks above for reaching across a divide.”

“As a resident of the most liberal state in the US,Kerry is my senator & he's done a great job yet I think Sec of state would be such a great job for him.
So,when can he report for duty?
Thanks.”

“Well said, especially about the token Hispanic part. Look at his resume it's absolutely boffo. But it certainly wouldn't be bad to have a highly visible position with a highly powerful Latino to serve as inspiration for the millions of Hispanics out there that never see any Hispanics on television as if they don't exist. He's a good role model for ALL Americans with his dedicated service to this great country.”