gaja's Comments (156)

“I agree - exactly what I was thinking after reading Plouffe's response to Arianna... This article says it all. They've missed the mark. I sincerely hope they start listening to their base and regain their "North Star" once again... Otherwise, they will not only be blowing the single biggest opportunity the Dems have had in years to create real change for average Americans - they will be also be pushing away people who have never before been so involved in the political process... That would be a bigger travesty - since that was the real miracle of Obama's campaign...”

“Staying home solves NOTHING. We, as citizens, need to be ON TOP OF the WH and Congress on every issue and bill that gets passed. How many people have no idea whatsoever what their representatives are doing or voting for? I have been extremely disappointed with many of the Dems in Congress, as much as the Repubs --and I've been a lifelong Democrat/Progressive.
Keep sending letters, emails, phone calls and MAKE OUR REPRESENTATIVES DEFEND THEIR RECORD... When the vast majority of Americans support the Public Option - and we STILL can't get the Dems or WH to stand behind it without equivocation, there is a big problem.”

“I agree - the hard work started after the election. But, I don't consider what Arianna is doing is sitting back and "whining." Or that informed pressure on our Congressmen, is just "whining" from the left... If the American public wants "real change" --then we need to hold our representatives accountable --NOW. Arianna's point is, don't sit back and lament our apparent helplessness in the process - continue to get involved and keep reminding the WH exactly why they were elected and WHO they really represent. They are not there for more "business as usual." They are there to create fundamental changes. Without the voices of Progressives, the only voices that would dominate the media are the voices of the people in the fringe right --who continue to lie and misinform average citizens... So, informed voices (like Arianna's) keep the President and the WH honest and heading toward the goals of the majority...

His campaign really ignited people, of all walks of life, in a profound way. It really transcended the typical "issues" and ideologies that dominate our process. Some things are not a question of "left, right, or center..." They are issues that affect us all. Global warming is not a "left issue." Scientific principles shouldn't be a "left issue." The wingers would like to politicize everything - but it is up to American citizens to make sure our representatives do what they were hired to do --NOW, while they still can...”

“Hilarious - your post includes NO references whatsoever, and yet you ask for references? It's well-documented. Turn off the faux news and as I said, read something of substance.”

“I know I shouldn't bother, because your post is completely nonsensical --but I'll state the obvious. You need to look up the words "communist" and "socialist." Despite what Beck and Limbaugh want you to believe - these are not similar ideologies in any way shape or form. So, calling President Obama a "socialist/communist/marxist" is just name-calling and something any 5 year old can do... And right now, who in this country is actually "hoping" for another emergency like 9 - 11 --so the government can "take over everything"? Not the President --it's Cheney, Bush, and the tea baggers... Cheney's actual words are --"the only hope for America is another 9-11" --I can't think of anything more treasonous to say in public during a time when the soldiers that HE SENT to Afghanistan are dying continuously due to his own incompetence. If you want to criticize Obama on something substantive, that's one thing... But to continue to believe and repeat such nonsense and gibberish is ridiculous. Read a book!”

“Most people wouldn't be so angry with insurance companies if they PAID legitimate claims as they are supposed to do, and were properly regulated so they could not invent new conditions to deny coverage. The same happens in auto and life insurance as well - but it's not as easy to see as medical insurance where everyone is affected on a day to day basis.”

“I disagree - Moore has done quite a bit for working class people including distributing his movie for free and supporting charities in the hardest hit areas within the Midwest. And there's a big difference bet what documentary movie producers make & what Hollywood execs make w/ their endless "blockbusters." I doubt anyone would call people who work at pbs - greed mongers..
2nd, in the movie he discusses the endless greed that is promoted by our capitalistic system. In every biz school in America, this is exactly what is promoted - short term profits & the "illusion of profits" over long term sustainable gain. Accountants are taught - layoff millions, and "write off debts." Execs are taught to find ways to outsource everything - leaving the American worker in the dust. This is considered "success" in America. We need to change that! What he is promoting is that people (including Congress and Obama) to STAND UP and create the changes we seek... I for one applaud him...”

“only obnoxious to the "you betcha - wink wink " crowd... too bad AP can't hire more "articulate" journalists to write something actually "investigative"...”

“I agree completely - I love your article Arianna and the fact that you highlight the force of Biden's arguments; but I want Biden in that room making the case as strongly and as long as he can. I think you have assumed that his efforts will be in vain and he will be as impotent as Powell was. I think the difference now is that the American public is much more tuned into what the Administration and Congress is doing... It will be a lot harder for them to continue down this path, the more pressure they receive from the public to withdraw.”

“If they weren't against peace, they would not endorse torture, they would not accuse anyone who wanted to employ diplomacy instead of brute force as "anti-American" and "an enemy of humanity..." , they could not and would not support Bush after he FAILED miserably at every single thing he did in office. If you relate to the party that regularly brings out imagery of Obama as Hit ler and Obama as a fascist, then you either have no grasp on reality or you've been brainwashed by their ugly rhetoric long ago... The only good thing about all this vile talk from "the right" is that it makes it crystal clear that they don't care about America succeeding or having any standing in the world. The ONLY thing they care about is "defeating" Obama or de-legitimizing him in any way they can... And what a pathetic ugly goal to have...
Meanwhile, the rest of the world and the majority of Americans who do love and want peace, are celebrating today...”

“I agree! I've watched Walmart and other "super-sizing" companies push their way into small countries like South Korea where there is literally NO ROOM for huge stores with endless rows of products... Instead of going to the local market and supporting organic farmers as they've done for thousands of years, they are now being encouraged to "Americanize" and buy processed foods in bulk. It's terrible for the environment and terrible for their health and economy. Now we are exporting our way of life, greed, and consumerism abroad to our "partners" as well... This is not the definition of "success", in my opinion. Although just about every MBA program in the states will tell you that it is...”

“Fanned!”

“I think Dem voters, myself included, are looking for Progressives to replace the Conserva-Dems, not looking to go to the GOP (which would make no sense at all). Unfortunately, Obama seems to be more of a Conserva-Dem than a Progressive much of the time... That is certainly not the platform he ran on and not where the country is headed as a whole.

I hope, though, that the American people will continue to fight and push our leaders to realize how detrimental it is to EVERYONE to continue to promote bigotry in all of its forms... There are many many vets and servicemen who think "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is a stupid irresponsible policy - particularly when we are fighting wars on multiple fronts. But I'm with you on the disappointed front...”

“Nicely stated.”

“I applaud Harry for reminding the Administration that New Orleans is still in a shambles -- that fact is truly tragic... --but I don't think you can equate that with Obama "doing nothing" - Bush spent nearly his entire 8 year presidency at Camp David and at his ranch in Texas --so let's not even go there... He needs some time to, even if it's a couple days, to rejuvenate...
And if you look at his leadership style, I don't think you can say that he's not listening to his generals --if anything, he seems to be gathering many opinions and weighing them carefully. Ask McChrystal who listened to him more, Obama or Bush? What do you think his answer will be. He
already answered that question recently in an interview --he feels much more "heard" now, even if he can't get troops right away...
My question is - why aren't more people upset that New Orleans and Ground Zero have not been re-built and why couldn't that have been one of the "shovel-ready" projects that was addressed with the stimulus? This was a missed opportunity that could have put a lot of needy people to work and also raised the hopes of people all over the country...”

“I agree - I can't smile at the fact that Fox routinely continues to be used as a tool for wingnut propaganda, and the Dem's respond by letting go of great people like Van Jones and playing into their screaming tantrums like exhausted parents giving in to 2 year olds...

The hate mongering, blatant racism, and constant spewing of lies is like a toxic waste to people's minds... It used to be considered shameful to be so blatantly racist in public... Now it's broadcast 24/7 on tv/radio and it is tolerated... Dem's have to spend more and more wasted time trying to refute all the lies --that it takes away energy that could be spend actually helping this country out of a deep hole...

If we had a more educated populace, I might not worry... But the fact that half the population has no clue how many branches of government there are in this country - makes me think having constant negative and false information fed to us every single minute of the day is no less insidious than N Korea... it's just voluntary here --”

“if you were truly a "good conservative" --then i assume you have to repudiate the behavior of the right wing which seems to have lost all ability for rational thought, moderation, and fiscal responsibility? there may be "good conservatives" in this country (or at least people who believe in small govt) - but they certainly aren't the ones yelling for revolution or talking about birth certificates and making up wild lies and accusations every day on F A U X news...

the people don't trust him? 70% of Americans support the public option and health care reform. the majority of Americans think Obama is intelligent, reasonable, and a strong leader. how did they feel about GW? his approval ratings were in the 30's --and S T I LL can't show his face in public... sorry, but noone feels more lonely in Congress right now than Olympia Snowe --who just wishes there were more moderate conservatives leading her party instead of the rabid few we see on the tv station that puts the National Enquirer to shame every day...”

“if that is your main complaint with media - then you clearly have not comprehended anything you've seen on F A U X which continues to make a mockery of real journalists everywhere...

Cronkite is rollling over in his grave --watching the circus the MSM has become in service of the fringe...”

“I agree - this will be the GOP's blueprint to kill everything else --”

“Of course people should continue to contact their Congressmen --the Conserva-Dems in particular.

But Pres Obama and all the surrogates in the White House and the DNC absolutely need to stop wavering and draw a line in the sand. You're absolutely right - the President cannot do this alone. That is precisely why the Progressives and his base need to KEEP UP THE FIGHT!”

“Thank you Mike Elk --what a moving letter... I felt exactly the way you did during Obama's campaign - and I hope that he remembers how extremely important it is to listen to those who worked tirelessly for him, believed in him, and are the reason he and so many other Democratic Congressmen hold office today...

We need people with real courage now...”

“:D LOL... you are sooo right...”

“Evaluated, yes, but trying to "quantify" everything is what gets us into trouble in this country... Evaluating a teacher's utility this way is like saying I'm going to evaluate a psychologist based on the number and % of students that he cures... Sounds good in theory, but then, there are different definitions of "curing someone" just like there are different ways to define whether a child has been "educated" or not. In other words, t's not all about test scores... And what if a psychologist or a teacher is doing his best work when he works with the "hopeless cases" --the ones that are the most difficult to handle... Should he be downgraded or discouraged from doing this because it ruins his "stats?" This is what is happening to a lot of good teachers today who are working in terrible conditions... So, yes, teachers always need to re-evaluate whether they are meeting the needs of their students, but in this case --there's no simple calculation that can be made to determine that...”

“I feel exasperation toward anyone who claims to be Independent yet clearly holds Republican views and just doesn't want to publicly embrace all the crazy wingbat ideas and downright dirty tactics that are now being promoted and embraced by their "party leaders."

It's laughable to bring up the "blatant favoritism of the press" and the "impulse to insult the voters" -when there are very few media outlets AT ALL that haven't been completely bought by the right wing - faux, abc, cnn, ... It was obvious during the elections and it's obvious today. And it is the right wingers that have called Obama and Democrats --socialists, fascists, nazis, a baby killer, the list goes on and on ... I'm disgusted with the behavior of those that would continually think that obstruction and drowning out our representatives at town halls - is the "right tactic" during a time of war and national crisis. If the right wingers get what they are begging for --we'll either have another 9.11 - so they can claim that Obama is responsible for "weakening" the country... or there will be such a prolonged recession that we will be utterly destroyed economically. Rooting for that is suicidal and completely backward.”

“i think if you read the book "The Geography of Bliss" --you'd really enjoy it. it's about a really grumpy journalist who travels to different parts of the world in search of "happiness." his findings are really funny and interesting. i think maybe the problem is thinking that we have "one calling" and we need to figure it out by the time we're 18 --so we can be on the "right track" or our lives are doomed. this author found that in other countries, people think it's perfectly normal to have 15 different callings and they don't focus so much on the title or the status. what they focus on is a feeling of peace, fulfillment, and growth... we Americans are so goal-oriented. maybe we need to slow down and enjoy the ride --wherever it takes us...”