May 17, 2008
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Ono4Hoopono
Recent comments by this user
Clinton Slams Democratic Activists At Private Fundraiser
Like the republicans, the Clintons have to rely on voter apathy and low voter turnout to get elected.
Remember when that Christian Right guy openly stated in the eighties that republicans don't want people to show up, because low voter turnout favors them? Couldn't find his name googling. Anybody know? Anyways, this attitude of Clintons is the same thing stated a different way. Her behavior and her statements have shown she doesn't really want people to "get involved," she just wants us to turn over the reigns of power and leave her alone. No thanks. Been there, done that. posted 04/19/2008 at 15:56:39
Remember when that Christian Right guy openly stated in the eighties that republicans don't want people to show up, because low voter turnout favors them? Couldn't find his name googling. Anybody know? Anyways, this attitude of Clintons is the same thing stated a different way. Her behavior and her statements have shown she doesn't really want people to "get involved," she just wants us to turn over the reigns of power and leave her alone. No thanks. Been there, done that. posted 04/19/2008 at 15:56:39
I had a similar experience, but it happened back in November or December sometime, when it became clear they were going to do this dishonestly. I couldn't believe that after all they went through with the republicans, they would adopt the lowest and cheapest of their tactics, and then even try to take that to a more debasing level. As recently as when Bill did his book tour where he talked about the micro loans, I thought very highly of him as I was still getting to know her. But at every turn, where she had the choice to uplift, she chose to go negative. After disappointment after disappointment after disappointment after disappointment after disappointment after disappointment..., I finally said, "The Clintons are not who I thought they were all these years." The people I defended vociferously for almost two decades, turned out to be basically empty shells to be filled with whatever they thought would get them elected, and with mouths that will do the same. Poseurs. I want the real thing now. I am not willing to "drink the sand" at the foot of the mirage any longer, to use Aaron Sorkin's analogy from "The American President." Farewell Clintons. Into the sunset with you. No more. posted 04/19/2008 at 14:48:25
Like Bush and other demagogues, the Clintons hate boundaries. They have acted repeatedly as though they perceive any attempt by other democrats to achieve fair play as an affront to their false perception of inevitability. Their response is to play the victim, and treat honest brokers dishonestly. In other words, they don't really care to work and play well with others. It's easy to see who the real attempted intimidators are. But it's not going to work this time. We learned our lesson. We're not that naive anymore. posted 04/19/2008 at 14:31:42
Thanks. I was just trying to remember the name of that Snuffly feller. posted 04/19/2008 at 04:02:58
Obama's Ayers Issue
I don't know much about this guy, but I know he's not in prison. So what's up with that. It sounds more like he's being used as a talking point by the demagogues. I mean, Clinton himself pardoned two of these Weather Undergound guys, and Ayers himself, according to Ridley, is a professor now! Did he get off easy or something, I mean really, what's up with that? With our anti-terror laws they way they are, if this guy was a threat, wouldn't we have thrown his ass in jail by now? posted 04/19/2008 at 00:36:16
The big hole in your post that you can drive a truck through, John, is that Ayers actually made his "We didn't do enough" statement BEFORE September 11, not AFTER. That disingenuous claim was debunked several news cycles ago. By promoting this fiction you join the ranks of Sean Hannity who supplied the same disinformation to George Stephanopoulos who studiously "took notes" and then parroted it to Obama during the debate. Should we question every one of your posts through the lens of this newly revealed BFF 'close' association you apparently share with these demagogues? Of course I use this as an illustration of the absurdity of guilt by association.
The fact-check here is that that statement was printed in the early AM BEFORE the tragedy occurred on Sept. 11, and hit the news stands the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, but the interview in which he said it occurred the week before.
I make no excuses for Ayers, but I'm done with calling everyone a terrorist. It diminishes us as a nation and makes us sound uninformed and weak. Obama is right to talk to us as adults and reorient us toward solving our real problems. Aren't you ready for that? The bottom line here is, it is JUST PLAIN DISHONEST to suggest that Ayers callously made those statements on or after September 11th as Hannity, Stephanopoulos, and now you have done. Enough with the demagoguery. posted 04/18/2008 at 22:00:16
The fact-check here is that that statement was printed in the early AM BEFORE the tragedy occurred on Sept. 11, and hit the news stands the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, but the interview in which he said it occurred the week before.
I make no excuses for Ayers, but I'm done with calling everyone a terrorist. It diminishes us as a nation and makes us sound uninformed and weak. Obama is right to talk to us as adults and reorient us toward solving our real problems. Aren't you ready for that? The bottom line here is, it is JUST PLAIN DISHONEST to suggest that Ayers callously made those statements on or after September 11th as Hannity, Stephanopoulos, and now you have done. Enough with the demagoguery. posted 04/18/2008 at 22:00:16
Joe Scarborough Walks Off MSNBC's "Race To The White House" After Exchange With Rachel Maddow
So it was the phrase "emotional immaturity" that hooked you, huh? Laid that fly out there on the water, and...chomp!...right wing trout damn near bit my line clean off. posted 04/18/2008 at 03:28:10
These guys on the right, so many of them, are like the people back in school who couldn't "work and play well with others," [as Rep. Gebhardt said about Bush way back when], but they were unable to take responsibility for it, and have always found a way to blame others for their problems.
It's like they spend their whole lives trying to make up for their inability to connect with people by either getting their revenge on them, or becoming condescending when threatened, as when Joe said "not to be condescending" [which was really a wounded child], and then they take their ball and go home. My way or the highway. With us or against us.
Bottom line, it's emotional immaturity. We've got to get the adults back in charge of our institutions and send these people back to Playground 101. posted 04/17/2008 at 22:42:02
It's like they spend their whole lives trying to make up for their inability to connect with people by either getting their revenge on them, or becoming condescending when threatened, as when Joe said "not to be condescending" [which was really a wounded child], and then they take their ball and go home. My way or the highway. With us or against us.
Bottom line, it's emotional immaturity. We've got to get the adults back in charge of our institutions and send these people back to Playground 101. posted 04/17/2008 at 22:42:02
My Recollection of Hillary Clinton at the 1995 Camp David Meeting
Thanks for the peek inside that world. I'd heard of the salons, and they sounded interesting. Too bad, that as Obama has been saying, they took the wrong lessons from the negativity they experienced.
And I was glad to hear that you saw some real empathy coming from Bill, however one thing that always bothered me about their administration, was that they always sent up trial balloons. They never just had an original thought and went with it without testing it out first. This gave the administration a feel of inauthenticity that stuck with them, and now in this campaign we see it in full bloom, and it has turned out to be a stinking bloom beyond all imagination.
I remember an interview with him just after his first term inauguration, and I thought I saw some of the empathy you spoke of, and I was glad he was president, but then I was never sure I ever saw it again. It's always bothered me. They always seemed so staged. Again, perhaps because they were attacked so viciously, but now they are visiting it upon us. posted 04/18/2008 at 04:03:44
And I was glad to hear that you saw some real empathy coming from Bill, however one thing that always bothered me about their administration, was that they always sent up trial balloons. They never just had an original thought and went with it without testing it out first. This gave the administration a feel of inauthenticity that stuck with them, and now in this campaign we see it in full bloom, and it has turned out to be a stinking bloom beyond all imagination.
I remember an interview with him just after his first term inauguration, and I thought I saw some of the empathy you spoke of, and I was glad he was president, but then I was never sure I ever saw it again. It's always bothered me. They always seemed so staged. Again, perhaps because they were attacked so viciously, but now they are visiting it upon us. posted 04/18/2008 at 04:03:44
ABC Hosts Heckled After Debate: "The Crowd Is Turning On Me"
Transparently wondering aloud thoughts of disinformation in hopes of fooling someone?
I don't think so. We've seen and heard it all before.
You may snag a few people who aren't really paying attention, but demagoguery is not going to work in this election. Building on what Obama said last night and repeating what I've said before, Clinton and McCain took the wrong lessons of the last eight years, Obama took the right ones, as did what we now see are a majority of Americans.
But good luck with the disinformation campaign. It only helps improve our ability to see who really cares and who doesn't. posted 04/17/2008 at 17:17:57
I don't think so. We've seen and heard it all before.
You may snag a few people who aren't really paying attention, but demagoguery is not going to work in this election. Building on what Obama said last night and repeating what I've said before, Clinton and McCain took the wrong lessons of the last eight years, Obama took the right ones, as did what we now see are a majority of Americans.
But good luck with the disinformation campaign. It only helps improve our ability to see who really cares and who doesn't. posted 04/17/2008 at 17:17:57
Seeing that debate reminded me of how quick we forget.
Remember when ABC tried to pull that stunt of airing a revisionist history of what happened in the events surrounding 9/11 that was horrendously biased toward the Bush Administration? They along with the other major network debates hosts thus far, are not interested in having an honest debate, they are interested in getting one of two candidates they hope will give them the FCC they want so they can continue to expand the mega-media empires after the style of the Reagan-Bush-Clinton-Bush media policies, and those two candidates this time are Clinton and McCain, both of whom have deep ties to media industry lobbyists.
Most recently McCain's media lobby connections surfaced with the romantic connection with one who has gone off the radar and whom the media has not asked about since the story broke, and Clinton for the fact that Bill signed the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that essentially gave them the monopolies and along with Reagan's abolishment of the Fairness Doctrine, allowed them to become self-serving propagandistic "opinion" mills instead of serving the public with actual information as they are supposed to do under their original charters.
Last night was another bold move to preserve their march toward monopoly and the total freedom to control the message in their interest. posted 04/17/2008 at 17:02:01
Remember when ABC tried to pull that stunt of airing a revisionist history of what happened in the events surrounding 9/11 that was horrendously biased toward the Bush Administration? They along with the other major network debates hosts thus far, are not interested in having an honest debate, they are interested in getting one of two candidates they hope will give them the FCC they want so they can continue to expand the mega-media empires after the style of the Reagan-Bush-Clinton-Bush media policies, and those two candidates this time are Clinton and McCain, both of whom have deep ties to media industry lobbyists.
Most recently McCain's media lobby connections surfaced with the romantic connection with one who has gone off the radar and whom the media has not asked about since the story broke, and Clinton for the fact that Bill signed the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that essentially gave them the monopolies and along with Reagan's abolishment of the Fairness Doctrine, allowed them to become self-serving propagandistic "opinion" mills instead of serving the public with actual information as they are supposed to do under their original charters.
Last night was another bold move to preserve their march toward monopoly and the total freedom to control the message in their interest. posted 04/17/2008 at 17:02:01
Clinton emphatically says Obama can win White House
Yeah, I was waiting for them to offer Hillary a pillow. posted 04/17/2008 at 01:57:45
And did you see the ad to watch Nightline's 'analysis' of this debate later on? Not a chance.
ABC/Dismal is off my radar. An hour into it and they hadn't gotten to a single policy issue. Unbelievable. posted 04/17/2008 at 01:51:32
ABC/Dismal is off my radar. An hour into it and they hadn't gotten to a single policy issue. Unbelievable. posted 04/17/2008 at 01:51:32
Lieberman: Good Question To Ask If Obama Is A Marxist
Hillary Clinton is starting to behave more and more like old Joe.
Every day she looks in the mirror, and decides she hasn't yet crossed that line, and takes another step deeper into her narcissistic abyss. It is really painful to watch. Especially since we all had such high expectations, and defended them both so vociferously. Remember defending Lieberman in the republican "Sore-Loserman" slogan campaign when they stopped the vote count in 2000? And all through the 90's thinking the Clintons were victims? A distant memory now.
Some one should do a really mushy sendup video and rewrite of the song "True Colors" featuring Lieberman and the Clintons in their most self-serving moments. Here's a start:
I see your true colors shining through
NAFTA and the War vote, That's why I don't trust you
Bu one thing's for sure, you'll change them whenever
Your true colors, true colors
Are creepy like a shadow.
[My most sincere apologies to the original songwriters, Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, who wrote the real beautiful song sung by Cindi Lauper.] posted 04/14/2008 at 20:02:44
Every day she looks in the mirror, and decides she hasn't yet crossed that line, and takes another step deeper into her narcissistic abyss. It is really painful to watch. Especially since we all had such high expectations, and defended them both so vociferously. Remember defending Lieberman in the republican "Sore-Loserman" slogan campaign when they stopped the vote count in 2000? And all through the 90's thinking the Clintons were victims? A distant memory now.
Some one should do a really mushy sendup video and rewrite of the song "True Colors" featuring Lieberman and the Clintons in their most self-serving moments. Here's a start:
I see your true colors shining through
NAFTA and the War vote, That's why I don't trust you
Bu one thing's for sure, you'll change them whenever
Your true colors, true colors
Are creepy like a shadow.
[My most sincere apologies to the original songwriters, Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg, who wrote the real beautiful song sung by Cindi Lauper.] posted 04/14/2008 at 20:02:44
Doctor Faust in 2008
Regarding your statement: "Destroying the artifacts of the first written language, the first number system [when we invaded Iraq], the first coded laws in an invasion does not change this."
Reminds me of the grandiosity of Mussolini paving a grand highway across the old roman forum, and his redesign of Bernini's Collonade at the Vatican. posted 04/15/2008 at 11:55:54
Reminds me of the grandiosity of Mussolini paving a grand highway across the old roman forum, and his redesign of Bernini's Collonade at the Vatican. posted 04/15/2008 at 11:55:54
Well put. I too am voting for Obama. He's got far more emotional intelligence and character than either of the other two combined, and I do believe he would make informed, considered and appropriate decisions when as you say so well, "disclosure obligations are at cross purposes," should he become president. And I would trust him to do so by the way he has run his campaign.
Thanks for the exchange. I'll look forward to your future posts. Best regards. posted 04/15/2008 at 11:40:26
Thanks for the exchange. I'll look forward to your future posts. Best regards. posted 04/15/2008 at 11:40:26
True. I agree it was the first of many treasons in the last 28 years, or one of many in 50 for that matter. Thanks for clarifying. posted 04/15/2008 at 11:38:28
And the bottom line is, any responsible leader would at least have back channels open for any and all groups, if possible. The whole thing of "We don't negotiate" and all that stuff, is for public consumption. The sooner we realize it, the sooner we'll get an adult in charge of the White House and all our executive branch functions, even Congress.
Even though I found the Reagan "arms for Iranian hostages" thing repugnant on its face, especially since the republicans instigated it before the election to undermine it, I understood that those things are sometimes necessary, though we don't like to talk about them. The thing is, I think, all options must be on the table at all times. You don't limit your ability to respond in a crisis, and if you have those back channels open, you may have an option you can play more quickly and more creatively when the time comes. If you never establish those channels, you are a sitting duck in a crisis. I'm sure the intelligence communities of all countries, US and Israel included, are all over this kind of stuff, so we should grow up and face it.
Heck, Kennedy even did a back channel deal with Kruschev during the Cuban MIssile Crisis, secretly agreeing to take outdated US missiles out of Turkey in exchange for the Russians backing down in public.
We need to stop the kind of "OMG" narrow thinking that makes us more easily manipulated by "low road" politicians. posted 04/14/2008 at 22:12:29
Even though I found the Reagan "arms for Iranian hostages" thing repugnant on its face, especially since the republicans instigated it before the election to undermine it, I understood that those things are sometimes necessary, though we don't like to talk about them. The thing is, I think, all options must be on the table at all times. You don't limit your ability to respond in a crisis, and if you have those back channels open, you may have an option you can play more quickly and more creatively when the time comes. If you never establish those channels, you are a sitting duck in a crisis. I'm sure the intelligence communities of all countries, US and Israel included, are all over this kind of stuff, so we should grow up and face it.
Heck, Kennedy even did a back channel deal with Kruschev during the Cuban MIssile Crisis, secretly agreeing to take outdated US missiles out of Turkey in exchange for the Russians backing down in public.
We need to stop the kind of "OMG" narrow thinking that makes us more easily manipulated by "low road" politicians. posted 04/14/2008 at 22:12:29
Clinton Heckled, Obama Cheered Over 'Bitter' Remarks
She has so many lie "tells," it's a wonder she keeps at it. Isn't there anyone around her to tell her it's not working?
You can just hear the manure truck backing up...
Beep!...Beep!...Beep! posted 04/14/2008 at 18:30:19
You can just hear the manure truck backing up...
Beep!...Beep!...Beep! posted 04/14/2008 at 18:30:19
Watch: Obama On Annie Oakley
Refrigerator magnet I once saw:
God: "Don't you make me come down there!" posted 04/14/2008 at 21:27:17
God: "Don't you make me come down there!" posted 04/14/2008 at 21:27:17
The whole joke was that she's acting like SHE thinks she's Annie Oakley. She has not earned the stripes to be Annie Oakley. And I'm sure Annie Oakley was a heck of a lot more honest than Hillary Clinton.
But please be honest. Obama was referring to the fact that Hillary was, like Dukakis in the tank, acting like she'd like us to THINK she's someone she's not, which us almost always her modus operandi. As in the Bosnia sniper lies, the Martin Luther King book bag throwing incident which you could tell was also untrue because all her lie "tells" were flashing red. In this case she was trying to pander to gun owners by pretending to be a gunslinging all-American duck killer, and she caricatured HERSELF, like Dukakis in the tank.
So no, in fact the situation is quite the reverse. It is you who are taking his comments and assigning meaning that is nonexistent to what he was saying.
She ain't no Annie Oakley. She should be such a straight-shooter. But to put an end to this silliness, she should stop pretending to be something or someone she's not. It's been her problem all along. posted 04/14/2008 at 19:29:23
But please be honest. Obama was referring to the fact that Hillary was, like Dukakis in the tank, acting like she'd like us to THINK she's someone she's not, which us almost always her modus operandi. As in the Bosnia sniper lies, the Martin Luther King book bag throwing incident which you could tell was also untrue because all her lie "tells" were flashing red. In this case she was trying to pander to gun owners by pretending to be a gunslinging all-American duck killer, and she caricatured HERSELF, like Dukakis in the tank.
So no, in fact the situation is quite the reverse. It is you who are taking his comments and assigning meaning that is nonexistent to what he was saying.
She ain't no Annie Oakley. She should be such a straight-shooter. But to put an end to this silliness, she should stop pretending to be something or someone she's not. It's been her problem all along. posted 04/14/2008 at 19:29:23
Bush Security Adviser Stephen Hadley Can't Tell The Difference Between Nepal And Tibet
It's plain from the people they've chosen for important posts, that these guys don't give a rip about running the country, they've shown from their behavior they are just frontage for what is really going on behind the scenes; letting their pals in the back door to rob us blind and subvert the Constitution so they can get away with it. Counting the days.
Honest republicans, I know you are out there, because some of you are my aunts and uncles and cousins who are good and well-meaning people. Please start paying attention and taking responsibility for what your half-attentive votes in the past have wrought. Vote for the good democrats, or at least true and honest republicans, [not the neocons] this time so we can put this country back together. You have been lied to, but it is your responsibility. Don't hide in shame, as some republicans I know are doing. Join us in making this right. posted 04/13/2008 at 16:19:26
Honest republicans, I know you are out there, because some of you are my aunts and uncles and cousins who are good and well-meaning people. Please start paying attention and taking responsibility for what your half-attentive votes in the past have wrought. Vote for the good democrats, or at least true and honest republicans, [not the neocons] this time so we can put this country back together. You have been lied to, but it is your responsibility. Don't hide in shame, as some republicans I know are doing. Join us in making this right. posted 04/13/2008 at 16:19:26
Clinton Becomes A Gun Lover
Now there's an image for the YouTubes. The yellow pantsuit, wide stance, third or fourth boilermaker in hand. It's 3 AM, do you know where your president is?
But I kid Hillary. I wish she just would have run on her abilities. Is she that insecure? It really says a lot that you have to constantly make stuff up to try to FOOL people into thinking you're a strong candidate. What was wrong with her credentials they way they stood, as a starting point. It's all wrong. It's all backwards. But now we know who she really is. And through the lack of emotional intelligence she's shown, it's clear she's really not presidential material. It's sad. Every time she lies she digs herself in deeper. A lesson in authenticity, and how a lack thereof soon becomes transparent, and eventually intolerable. posted 04/14/2008 at 21:15:31
But I kid Hillary. I wish she just would have run on her abilities. Is she that insecure? It really says a lot that you have to constantly make stuff up to try to FOOL people into thinking you're a strong candidate. What was wrong with her credentials they way they stood, as a starting point. It's all wrong. It's all backwards. But now we know who she really is. And through the lack of emotional intelligence she's shown, it's clear she's really not presidential material. It's sad. Every time she lies she digs herself in deeper. A lesson in authenticity, and how a lack thereof soon becomes transparent, and eventually intolerable. posted 04/14/2008 at 21:15:31
Obama has done no such thing as "back-pedaling." He acknowledged the language might have been a little clumsy, but he's sticking to his point, and he's right. Clinton and McCain will regret that they tried to tell Americans they don't feel negative feelings about what has been done to us and in our name, by the Reagan-Bush-Clinton-Bush administrations. They aren't going to be able to put this genie back in the bottle. People are appreciative that Barack Obama gets it.
The NY Times has endorsed Hillary. To put THAT misrepresentative story on the front page is where the bias is, if in fact the story is as you suggest. The news here on HuffPo is yet another Clinton "Dukakis in the tank" image, and story, which you have to admit is pretty funny. Hillary out shooting ducks when she was a kid? posted 04/13/2008 at 13:29:56
The NY Times has endorsed Hillary. To put THAT misrepresentative story on the front page is where the bias is, if in fact the story is as you suggest. The news here on HuffPo is yet another Clinton "Dukakis in the tank" image, and story, which you have to admit is pretty funny. Hillary out shooting ducks when she was a kid? posted 04/13/2008 at 13:29:56
Is she now bitter about Obama getting the message right again, so she's resorted to going into her closet to cling to her gun?
This is so silly, is there anyone with a firearm in their house who is buying into this? posted 04/13/2008 at 13:22:13
This is so silly, is there anyone with a firearm in their house who is buying into this? posted 04/13/2008 at 13:22:13
Also, these pollsters make news, and therefore money, out of having interesting or controversial poll results, and so it is in their interest to make things exciting.
They can always rationalize it that the election is the only poll that really matters, and so a little fudging and push-polling here and there to make a few bucks doesn't really hurt anybody. posted 04/13/2008 at 13:07:00
They can always rationalize it that the election is the only poll that really matters, and so a little fudging and push-polling here and there to make a few bucks doesn't really hurt anybody. posted 04/13/2008 at 13:07:00
Rasmussen isn't exactly the best source of stuff like this. They couldn't possibly have processed accurate polling information that quickly. You have to read their procedure, which is hard to find on their website. Also, the polls are so easily manipulated, and the daily tracking polls fluctuate statistically and are spread out over several days, and only people with nothing better to do participate in them.
One of the oldest tricks in the propaganda books is called, "Misuse of Statistics." Check it out on google and you can spot it a mile away. Here's a place to start; a Wikipedia article entitled, coincidentally enough, "How to Lie With Statistics." 2nd hit on Google.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Lie_with_Statistics
Doesn't mean Rasmussen is necessarily pumping results, it can be innocent, though at times I have been suspicious of their methods, but as you'll see in the article, it's not necessarily the pollsters that misuse statistics, sometimes its the people who read and promote the results without proper context. posted 04/13/2008 at 13:03:51
One of the oldest tricks in the propaganda books is called, "Misuse of Statistics." Check it out on google and you can spot it a mile away. Here's a place to start; a Wikipedia article entitled, coincidentally enough, "How to Lie With Statistics." 2nd hit on Google.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Lie_with_Statistics
Doesn't mean Rasmussen is necessarily pumping results, it can be innocent, though at times I have been suspicious of their methods, but as you'll see in the article, it's not necessarily the pollsters that misuse statistics, sometimes its the people who read and promote the results without proper context. posted 04/13/2008 at 13:03:51
Alberto Gonzales Finding It Tough To Land A New Job
Wouldn't it be something if it turned out that it was the REAL lawyers and the Bar Association that saved this country by disbarring these people, when the Congress and the courts and the press failed to do their jobs? posted 04/12/2008 at 21:37:37
Elitist My Ass
I think this is the turning point in the election. Clinton and McCain will regret their knee-jerk dismissal of what Obama said, because you are right. Obama is right on. When I heard it, I thought...OMG, he's done it again. He's tapped into what is really up with our country. Thank God for Obama, and for your beautifully articulated insights, Erin.
If one is not pissed off right now, one is not paying attention. It's as simple as that. And I agree, you turn to religion when things get tough, and when you can't provide for your family, you can go hunting with your gun to help out. I recall our sustenance being supplemented in that way when I was a kid, and people still hunt for food. I don't, but I respect someone's right to, and I'm an Obama supporter.
The framers of the Constitution, in Pennsylvania, put specific mention of rights for freedom of religion and gun ownership specifically because of the independent spirit of Americans. These things help us to stand on our own, but we deserve a government that lives up to its responsibilities, and the last several Reagan-Bush-Clinton-Bush administrations haven't.
Obama, and you Erin, [my new favorite blogger], are absolutely correct. posted 04/12/2008 at 21:54:51
If one is not pissed off right now, one is not paying attention. It's as simple as that. And I agree, you turn to religion when things get tough, and when you can't provide for your family, you can go hunting with your gun to help out. I recall our sustenance being supplemented in that way when I was a kid, and people still hunt for food. I don't, but I respect someone's right to, and I'm an Obama supporter.
The framers of the Constitution, in Pennsylvania, put specific mention of rights for freedom of religion and gun ownership specifically because of the independent spirit of Americans. These things help us to stand on our own, but we deserve a government that lives up to its responsibilities, and the last several Reagan-Bush-Clinton-Bush administrations haven't.
Obama, and you Erin, [my new favorite blogger], are absolutely correct. posted 04/12/2008 at 21:54:51
Clinton Pollster: Obama Comments "Fair Game" For Attack Ads
Obama sat down with the editors of the Chicago Tribune for 90 minutes, after saying he would stay until he had answered every question about Rezko to their satisfaction. It took 90 minutes, but he would have stayed longer. He stayed until they were out of questions and had been totally satisfied. Get it. It's over.
The Chicago Tribune even endorsed him over Hillary, and in their endorsement, they said they had been investigating him as a local and national politician for over "12 years," Twelve years!!! Get it?! It's over with the Clinton lying and making stuff up and wishful thinking on the matter. And if you read their investigations, many of which I have, you will see that initially they had a total bias against him, letting his enemies bad mouth him in the first few paragraphs and only getting to his response after the jump, somewhere buried deep in the paper where most people don't bother to read. Then over time he won them over. He EARNED their endorsement.
You only make Clinton look worse by keeping this up. The lying ship has sailed for the Clintons. It is not going to bear them any more fruit. It's a one note samba for them, a sign of a rigid brain, not a healthy elastic creative brain like Obama's. I can't be any clearer. It's over. Let it go....already. posted 04/13/2008 at 15:54:38
The Chicago Tribune even endorsed him over Hillary, and in their endorsement, they said they had been investigating him as a local and national politician for over "12 years," Twelve years!!! Get it?! It's over with the Clinton lying and making stuff up and wishful thinking on the matter. And if you read their investigations, many of which I have, you will see that initially they had a total bias against him, letting his enemies bad mouth him in the first few paragraphs and only getting to his response after the jump, somewhere buried deep in the paper where most people don't bother to read. Then over time he won them over. He EARNED their endorsement.
You only make Clinton look worse by keeping this up. The lying ship has sailed for the Clintons. It is not going to bear them any more fruit. It's a one note samba for them, a sign of a rigid brain, not a healthy elastic creative brain like Obama's. I can't be any clearer. It's over. Let it go....already. posted 04/13/2008 at 15:54:38
Regarding your statement: "What I hear from some detractors [i.e. Clinton and McCain et. al.] is, "I understand what he [Obama] is really saying but those stupid people won't understand and Obama is going to pay for putting to much faith in them. ""
This is brilliant. One of the best and most concise distillations of exactly what the right and now the Clintons have been doing to us for years. posted 04/13/2008 at 12:52:23
This is brilliant. One of the best and most concise distillations of exactly what the right and now the Clintons have been doing to us for years. posted 04/13/2008 at 12:52:23
"Clinton Pollster Unloads"
Get out of the way folks. Here it comes!
Beep...Beep...Beep! posted 04/13/2008 at 03:17:47
Get out of the way folks. Here it comes!
Beep...Beep...Beep! posted 04/13/2008 at 03:17:47
Obama 'Small Town' Comments Draw Fire, Support
Thanks Willowbarcelona, I appreciate your comments. This is going to turn in Obama's favor, and from the response, it seems it already has. Every time the republicans and the Clintons lie, they dig themselves in deeper. I'm amazed anyone can support them with a straight face.
By the way, I read some of your stuff. Very insightful with a lot of fresh ideas. Best regards and thanks for dropping by. Ono4Hoopono posted 04/12/2008 at 21:31:00
By the way, I read some of your stuff. Very insightful with a lot of fresh ideas. Best regards and thanks for dropping by. Ono4Hoopono posted 04/12/2008 at 21:31:00
Biased? You act as though you believe a lie is just another point of view to take under consideration while deciding who to vote for.
I have an idea. If you can look yourself in the mirror and say Hillary and Bill aren't lying their asses off, then we both have our answer as to what you are really doing here. In fact, your answer to that question will tell us quite a lot. I don't think you're really looking for "examples" everywhere as you present yourself to be doing. The job is called, detractor. posted 04/12/2008 at 21:20:31
I have an idea. If you can look yourself in the mirror and say Hillary and Bill aren't lying their asses off, then we both have our answer as to what you are really doing here. In fact, your answer to that question will tell us quite a lot. I don't think you're really looking for "examples" everywhere as you present yourself to be doing. The job is called, detractor. posted 04/12/2008 at 21:20:31
You should not try this argument. It will backfire bigtime. The Clintons, more than any president in the last 60 years, have sent up trial balloons before committing to anything. In fact, they practically invented focus group politics.
If you remember the Clinton years, it was always, "Someone in the Clinton administration said they were thinking of doing this." And then if there was a hue and cry, they would come out and deny it, but if it got wide acceptance, they would say, "Yeah, we're thinking of doing that."
Don't even pretend that sounds anything like Obama. posted 04/12/2008 at 15:07:17
If you remember the Clinton years, it was always, "Someone in the Clinton administration said they were thinking of doing this." And then if there was a hue and cry, they would come out and deny it, but if it got wide acceptance, they would say, "Yeah, we're thinking of doing that."
Don't even pretend that sounds anything like Obama. posted 04/12/2008 at 15:07:17
She's saying, "I won't acknowledge the truth about what has been done to you. I'll pretend it's not a problem and try to supply you with another self-image that I can more easily manipulate. Deep down, I'm afraid that Obama is getting through to you so I'll do anything to obfuscate and confuse you, so I can rip your vote from your hands." posted 04/12/2008 at 15:03:06
Here's one going on right now.
She's pretending we didn't hear what Barack Obama actually said. She's acting like we're too stupid to figure it out for ourselves. She's going to misinterpret it for us. She took him out of context and thinks we won't notice.
That's a lot of talking down to someone, in fact it is the definition of the worst form of talking down to someone.
This is going to turn for Obama, big time. This is going to be the end of both the Clinton and the Obama campaigns, because people know Obama is on to something, and he's not afraid of going straight to the heart of the issue. He's not afraid of the "elephant in the room," and he's not going to be swift-boated by these liars. And the American people have his back. posted 04/12/2008 at 13:53:38
She's pretending we didn't hear what Barack Obama actually said. She's acting like we're too stupid to figure it out for ourselves. She's going to misinterpret it for us. She took him out of context and thinks we won't notice.
That's a lot of talking down to someone, in fact it is the definition of the worst form of talking down to someone.
This is going to turn for Obama, big time. This is going to be the end of both the Clinton and the Obama campaigns, because people know Obama is on to something, and he's not afraid of going straight to the heart of the issue. He's not afraid of the "elephant in the room," and he's not going to be swift-boated by these liars. And the American people have his back. posted 04/12/2008 at 13:53:38
Thank you, Walldog. You saved me from having to write similar sentiments, and you did it better than I would have.
I think this is a real opportunity for honest democrats to seize the day. Obama is already showing the way. This is the place Democrats distinguish ourselves from the Republicans, and Obama from the Clintons.
Don't back down Democrats, don't apologize for getting it right. Take it all the way downtown. posted 04/12/2008 at 05:46:02
I think this is a real opportunity for honest democrats to seize the day. Obama is already showing the way. This is the place Democrats distinguish ourselves from the Republicans, and Obama from the Clintons.
Don't back down Democrats, don't apologize for getting it right. Take it all the way downtown. posted 04/12/2008 at 05:46:02
Bill: Hillary Told Me To Shut Up About Sniper Tale
True. Opinions are already formed about the Bosnia thing, so they have nothing to lose. It's a perfect smoke screen. posted 04/11/2008 at 18:14:37
I don't trust this story. Is it a distraction for something else? What's going on with their tax returns? What's up with that fire in their headquarters today? How convenient that Hillary gets to tell her husband off in public and take back the microphone to look like she's in charge, just when legitimate concerns are arising about the nightmare of a Hydra-like Clinton two-headed presidency.
Look for it to somehow play to their advantage in the MSM, who are trying to make this about her and McCain. Some guy was just on MSNBC's "Hardball" saying it showed her "matriarchal strength," and how that would play better against McCain in the fall as a "strength to strength" campaign vs. an Obama-McCain race of "change vs. strength." Hmmmm. I'm just saying, they seem to be playing four-dimensional chess here to steal my vote. It's enough to make me want to vote for Obama. Oh, that's right, I already am. posted 04/11/2008 at 17:37:09
Look for it to somehow play to their advantage in the MSM, who are trying to make this about her and McCain. Some guy was just on MSNBC's "Hardball" saying it showed her "matriarchal strength," and how that would play better against McCain in the fall as a "strength to strength" campaign vs. an Obama-McCain race of "change vs. strength." Hmmmm. I'm just saying, they seem to be playing four-dimensional chess here to steal my vote. It's enough to make me want to vote for Obama. Oh, that's right, I already am. posted 04/11/2008 at 17:37:09
Tavis Smiley Reportedly Quits Radio Show Over Obama Hate
Publicity stunt? posted 04/12/2008 at 03:57:37
Begala: "Nothing But Contempt" For Penn, Compares Him To Rumsfeld
Thanks for for your calmness in debunking, Indie17. It's an inspiration. Sometimes it's not so easy to be calm when the charges are just so misrepresented and purposely taken out of context. You remind us of "the angels of our better nature."
It's the "OMG!!!!! He abandoned his white grandmother!!!!!" moments that we have to be most careful of, because that is the very moment, in our concern for a beloved old imperfect Grannie, that we are most vulnerable to them trying to rip the vote right out of our hands. posted 04/11/2008 at 21:07:33
So Clinton will be a good president in..."opposite world?" I'd rather have a good president in the real one.
She's made bad choices, regarding personnel and her over reliance on disinformation at a time when we have shown we crave the truth. That speaks directly to judgement, and perhaps a fear that she's not good enough to run on truth.
There's no amount of lipstick that will make that pig fly. [Pardon my mixed metaphors.] posted 04/11/2008 at 17:22:47
She's made bad choices, regarding personnel and her over reliance on disinformation at a time when we have shown we crave the truth. That speaks directly to judgement, and perhaps a fear that she's not good enough to run on truth.
There's no amount of lipstick that will make that pig fly. [Pardon my mixed metaphors.] posted 04/11/2008 at 17:22:47
I'm probably not the first to wonder this, but if Begala thinks Penn is like Rumsfeld, then who does that make Hillary? posted 04/11/2008 at 16:05:06
Begala is a Clinton supporter so I think you're right, some or all of this is to take the heat off Hillary.
But what concerns me most is that this is Clinton's "judgement" and "experience" in action. This is the kind of person she picks to surround herself with and take advice from.
Between Bill's overbearing personality and Penn's campaign which she bought into, and her visible falseness every time she gives a speech, it shows she is a very outer directed person afraid to trust her own sense of who she is, and who may not even know who she is. We need an inner directed person, someone with a sense of who they are, who chooses to build their campaign based on inner wisdom instead of outer poll-crunching and posturing.
Obama will attract the best and the brightest because he is one of them and he has shown he will give them a chance to shine and actually be heard. He does not pretend to know all the answers and expects the citizenry to be involved. Check out the "mypolicy" section of his website where you can submit policy ideas and interact with policy experts in shaping Obama policy. Expect to be involved and expect to have a voice no matter where you are on the political spectrum, as opposed to a 'veneer' presidency that is constantly shape-shifting to fool you into thinking they are looking out for you. No comparison. posted 04/11/2008 at 15:54:16
But what concerns me most is that this is Clinton's "judgement" and "experience" in action. This is the kind of person she picks to surround herself with and take advice from.
Between Bill's overbearing personality and Penn's campaign which she bought into, and her visible falseness every time she gives a speech, it shows she is a very outer directed person afraid to trust her own sense of who she is, and who may not even know who she is. We need an inner directed person, someone with a sense of who they are, who chooses to build their campaign based on inner wisdom instead of outer poll-crunching and posturing.
Obama will attract the best and the brightest because he is one of them and he has shown he will give them a chance to shine and actually be heard. He does not pretend to know all the answers and expects the citizenry to be involved. Check out the "mypolicy" section of his website where you can submit policy ideas and interact with policy experts in shaping Obama policy. Expect to be involved and expect to have a voice no matter where you are on the political spectrum, as opposed to a 'veneer' presidency that is constantly shape-shifting to fool you into thinking they are looking out for you. No comparison. posted 04/11/2008 at 15:54:16
Obama: No Surprise That Hard-Pressed Pennsylvanians Turn Bitter
I think this is Obama showing he has the courage, once again, to directly address an issue that has been an unspoken "elephant in the room" that has divided our country. Whether he gets it exactly right upon first bringing it up is immaterial, and people who chide him for not getting it exactly right, are pretending he is aiming higher than he is to try to make his attempt to address the issue into a failure or some kind of folly, before the issue even has a chance to be honestly aired and considered. The real question is, do we, as a nation, have the fortitude to address these issues with him.
For years, people have catered to the "Guns and God" people, who have shown they aren't always the best people to choose candidates or make policy, and they have shown themselves to be easily manipulated, which is why the republicans and now the Clintons and McCain have chosen to make political pawns out of them.
Obama has a point. These people have been used and abused by Clintons and Bush's and Reagan for the last 28 years. Their world has gotten smaller through plant closings and jobs going overseas, while the true elitists who cynically manipulated them and gotten rich off their misfortune, have treated them like children. If they are smart, they will recognize that through Obama, they are finally being taken seriously by a presidential candidate for the first time in 28 years. posted 04/12/2008 at 05:24:19
For years, people have catered to the "Guns and God" people, who have shown they aren't always the best people to choose candidates or make policy, and they have shown themselves to be easily manipulated, which is why the republicans and now the Clintons and McCain have chosen to make political pawns out of them.
Obama has a point. These people have been used and abused by Clintons and Bush's and Reagan for the last 28 years. Their world has gotten smaller through plant closings and jobs going overseas, while the true elitists who cynically manipulated them and gotten rich off their misfortune, have treated them like children. If they are smart, they will recognize that through Obama, they are finally being taken seriously by a presidential candidate for the first time in 28 years. posted 04/12/2008 at 05:24:19
"Big Tent" Re-Opens: Obama Campaign Reverses CA Delegate Purge
He's already answered questions about it, and the Tribune has since endorsed him over Hillary. They did an exhaustive "twelve year" investigation of him, as they said in their endorsement; a several part investigation where they gave him no quarter whatsoever, and as I said, ended up endorsing him.
If you read many of those old articles about him, you'll see they were not friendly to him in the beginning. Often they let rivals mouth off about him in the first few paragraphs, and then put his response somewhere after the jump. Of course, the first few paragraphs are the only part most people read, so the paper's initial bias against him shows there. I don't know if they did this to create scandal and sell papers, or to just be hard on him because he was new, but after their top to bottom investigation of him, they still endorsed Obama.
Here is the link. It got truncated somehow above. If this doesn't work, copy the whole thing into your browser. Note the date of the article is April 3, 2007, before they ended up endorsing him. It is part of their tough series on him in which they left no stone unturned, and satisfied themselves.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070403obama-ballot,0,1843097.story?,page=1
You will note that in the tradition I mentioned, the first page is all people giving their opinions of what happened, and Obama doesn't get to really respond until starting on page 2. posted 04/11/2008 at 20:52:18
The Alice Palmer story has been debunked a long time ago, but I urge you to google and convince yourself.
For anyone who doesn't know the situation, Palmer gave up her office in order to run for something else, Obama asked Alice Palmer if she was going to run again just to be sure because they were friends. She said no, so he ran WITH HER BLESSING. Then, she changed her mind last minute after Obama had already committed his campaign funds, and turned in a bunch of illegitimate signatures to get on the ballot. SHE KNOWS SHE PUT OBAMA IN A TERRIBLE POSITION AND ADMITS THAT. She could have kept her word not to run, but decided to violate the friendship herself. Obama was very torn, and decided he had the right not to be victimized by her wanting it both ways. She could have bowed out, but didn't. She wanted to fight. She says he was justified doing what he did. He didn't sue her, he sued to get illegitimate signatures removed from her petition; signatures even she admits were illegitimate.
Alice Palmer knows Obama was honorable, and that she caused it. At the end of the Tribune article she said SHE DID NOT HOLD IT AGAINST HIM AND SHE WOULD STILL CONSIDER VOTING FOR HIM FOR PRESIDENT.
Reminds me of the old Mark Twain saying, "A lie travels half way around the world before the truth gets its pants on."
The Tribune ended up endorsing Obama. posted 04/11/2008 at 19:10:02
For anyone who doesn't know the situation, Palmer gave up her office in order to run for something else, Obama asked Alice Palmer if she was going to run again just to be sure because they were friends. She said no, so he ran WITH HER BLESSING. Then, she changed her mind last minute after Obama had already committed his campaign funds, and turned in a bunch of illegitimate signatures to get on the ballot. SHE KNOWS SHE PUT OBAMA IN A TERRIBLE POSITION AND ADMITS THAT. She could have kept her word not to run, but decided to violate the friendship herself. Obama was very torn, and decided he had the right not to be victimized by her wanting it both ways. She could have bowed out, but didn't. She wanted to fight. She says he was justified doing what he did. He didn't sue her, he sued to get illegitimate signatures removed from her petition; signatures even she admits were illegitimate.
Alice Palmer knows Obama was honorable, and that she caused it. At the end of the Tribune article she said SHE DID NOT HOLD IT AGAINST HIM AND SHE WOULD STILL CONSIDER VOTING FOR HIM FOR PRESIDENT.
Reminds me of the old Mark Twain saying, "A lie travels half way around the world before the truth gets its pants on."
The Tribune ended up endorsing Obama. posted 04/11/2008 at 19:10:02
Randi Rhodes Blames Air America's New Owners On Larry King: "This Is Really About Them Wanting To Change My Contract"
Yeah. Here's the link if you want more info. Chuck Hagel was on today, but I missed it unfortunately. But you can pick up the podcast here:
http://www.michaeljacksontalkradio.com/ posted 04/10/2008 at 19:28:23
http://www.michaeljacksontalkradio.com/ posted 04/10/2008 at 19:28:23
Randi, you know you've got a lot of very appreciative listeners. Thanks for all that you do.
The good that could come out of this is that she could turn up on another station, perhaps one that mixes political perspectives, so we eventually end up with stations that represent more than one point of view, and are ultimately less partisan. People who listen to the station will hear more than one perspective. Michael Jackson (the talk radio host) is doing this on a station in Los Angeles, KGIL 1260 AM, and he's great. They have some right leaning stuff, too, and it's nice that the station is not all one voice all the time.
She'll keep her audience and turn up somewhere else, maybe even on TV. Randi...You go girl. posted 04/10/2008 at 13:33:54
The good that could come out of this is that she could turn up on another station, perhaps one that mixes political perspectives, so we eventually end up with stations that represent more than one point of view, and are ultimately less partisan. People who listen to the station will hear more than one perspective. Michael Jackson (the talk radio host) is doing this on a station in Los Angeles, KGIL 1260 AM, and he's great. They have some right leaning stuff, too, and it's nice that the station is not all one voice all the time.
She'll keep her audience and turn up somewhere else, maybe even on TV. Randi...You go girl. posted 04/10/2008 at 13:33:54
Clinton Blasts Media Double Standard
I heard the interview. When Michelle Norris pressed her, twice, to be specific about what "double standard" was in place, she balked, and hedged, and tried to talk around it. She didn't expect to have to be specific, she was hoping it would just lay there and she could play the victim again. She "overstepped" and tried to minimize the damage.
She finally said that basically, he hadn't gotten all his delegates either, and they should ask him the same questions they are asking her as though that was some kind of double standard, but she's got a 12% chance of winning the nomination to his 88%, it's not a "double standard."
"Double standard" implies 50-50, the math here is more like 90-10 Obama. But I think she has every right to stay in the race, I just think she should stop misrepresenting facts and pretending it's something it's not...She's basically trying to fool us into nominating her. Not a very strong strategy. posted 04/08/2008 at 22:20:23
She finally said that basically, he hadn't gotten all his delegates either, and they should ask him the same questions they are asking her as though that was some kind of double standard, but she's got a 12% chance of winning the nomination to his 88%, it's not a "double standard."
"Double standard" implies 50-50, the math here is more like 90-10 Obama. But I think she has every right to stay in the race, I just think she should stop misrepresenting facts and pretending it's something it's not...She's basically trying to fool us into nominating her. Not a very strong strategy. posted 04/08/2008 at 22:20:23
New Book: McCain Once Physically Attacked Fellow Congressman
Continued from above post...
Doesn't mean PTSD can't be treated though, so when the soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan et. al. come home they must not be ostracized like the Viet Nam vets were for their particular challenge of mostly untreated PTSD, which will be great. It can be treated, but it takes time, and McCain hasn't done the work, you can tell. He acts like those who've tried to go on like it never happened, the worst thing you can do. The pressure needs to be carefully released over time, with desensitization and an unbinding of all the emotions that were "disconnected," and all that just isn't going to happen in time for him to become president.
Ironically, McCain showed that disconnect in what are possibly other "It don't mean nothin'" moments, like when he incongruously voted AGAINST legislation to help these returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans on multiple occasions! Including funding for the Veterans Administration that treats the vets, and their education, to wit his active opposition to the current G.I. Bill before Congress. There is a self-loathing factor to people who avoid treatment; they inflict it on others. They are intolerant of others for what they hate in themselves, and that is a concern in addition to the risky behavior-disconnect syndrome. Without treatment, the tendency is to act out in ways that are unacceptable in a Commander-in-Chief. posted 04/08/2008 at 15:50:00
Doesn't mean PTSD can't be treated though, so when the soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan et. al. come home they must not be ostracized like the Viet Nam vets were for their particular challenge of mostly untreated PTSD, which will be great. It can be treated, but it takes time, and McCain hasn't done the work, you can tell. He acts like those who've tried to go on like it never happened, the worst thing you can do. The pressure needs to be carefully released over time, with desensitization and an unbinding of all the emotions that were "disconnected," and all that just isn't going to happen in time for him to become president.
Ironically, McCain showed that disconnect in what are possibly other "It don't mean nothin'" moments, like when he incongruously voted AGAINST legislation to help these returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans on multiple occasions! Including funding for the Veterans Administration that treats the vets, and their education, to wit his active opposition to the current G.I. Bill before Congress. There is a self-loathing factor to people who avoid treatment; they inflict it on others. They are intolerant of others for what they hate in themselves, and that is a concern in addition to the risky behavior-disconnect syndrome. Without treatment, the tendency is to act out in ways that are unacceptable in a Commander-in-Chief. posted 04/08/2008 at 15:50:00
Actually, this post is continued from my post that appears below...somehow it didn't end up as a reply to my original as intended...Ooops. posted 04/08/2008 at 15:42:09
Continued from above post...
Doesn't mean PTSD can't be treated though, so when the soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan et. al. come home they must not be ostracized like the Viet Nam vets were for their particular challenge of mostly untreated PTSD, which will be great. It can be treated, but it takes time, and McCain hasn't done the work, you can tell. He acts like those who've tried to go on like it never happened, the worst thing you can do. The pressure needs to be carefully released over time, with desensitization and an unbinding of all the emotions that were "disconnected," and all that just isn't going to happen in time for him to become president.
Ironically, McCain showed that disconnect in what are possibly other "It don't mean nothin'" moments, like when he incongruously voted AGAINST legislation to help these returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans on multiple occasions! Including funding for the Veterans Administration that treats the vets, and their education, to wit his active opposition to the current G.I. Bill before Congress. There is a self-loathing factor to people who avoid treatment; they inflict it on others. They are intolerant of others for what they hate in themselves, and that is a concern in addition to the risky behavior-disconnect syndrome. Without treatment, the tendency is to act out in ways that are unacceptable in a Commander-in-Chief. We need a real president this time. posted 04/08/2008 at 15:37:53
Doesn't mean PTSD can't be treated though, so when the soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan et. al. come home they must not be ostracized like the Viet Nam vets were for their particular challenge of mostly untreated PTSD, which will be great. It can be treated, but it takes time, and McCain hasn't done the work, you can tell. He acts like those who've tried to go on like it never happened, the worst thing you can do. The pressure needs to be carefully released over time, with desensitization and an unbinding of all the emotions that were "disconnected," and all that just isn't going to happen in time for him to become president.
Ironically, McCain showed that disconnect in what are possibly other "It don't mean nothin'" moments, like when he incongruously voted AGAINST legislation to help these returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans on multiple occasions! Including funding for the Veterans Administration that treats the vets, and their education, to wit his active opposition to the current G.I. Bill before Congress. There is a self-loathing factor to people who avoid treatment; they inflict it on others. They are intolerant of others for what they hate in themselves, and that is a concern in addition to the risky behavior-disconnect syndrome. Without treatment, the tendency is to act out in ways that are unacceptable in a Commander-in-Chief. We need a real president this time. posted 04/08/2008 at 15:37:53
Yup. I have great sympathy for what he went through. The guy was in a pressure cooker for what, 6 or 7 years? And we know what happens when you take the top off a pressure cooker. Besides the obvious symptoms like trauma flashbacks, which can be debilitating and last for days at a time, PTSD also makes it difficult to prioritize and to connect consequences with actions, because you feel like nothing matters because you know from experience that it could all be over in an instant. This is why a lot of PTSD people engage in risky behavior. Can we afford that in a president?
That difficulty prioritizing comes from the PTSD "disconnect" that brought forth the phrase from the Viet Nam War, "It don't mean nothin'," and McCain's "100 years war" comments, and "Bomb, bomb, Iran." Humor, maybe a little, but it also shows that disconnect. You can go ahead and feel like, "It don't mean nothin'," but we know it DOES mean something. No matter what happens to you, you still have to behave responsibly, and he isn't behaving responsibly. It DOES matter that our potential Commander-in-Chief makes disconnect-jokes about bombing thousands of people, maybe more over that 100 years if it comes true.
Continued in reply below.... posted 04/08/2008 at 15:29:39
That difficulty prioritizing comes from the PTSD "disconnect" that brought forth the phrase from the Viet Nam War, "It don't mean nothin'," and McCain's "100 years war" comments, and "Bomb, bomb, Iran." Humor, maybe a little, but it also shows that disconnect. You can go ahead and feel like, "It don't mean nothin'," but we know it DOES mean something. No matter what happens to you, you still have to behave responsibly, and he isn't behaving responsibly. It DOES matter that our potential Commander-in-Chief makes disconnect-jokes about bombing thousands of people, maybe more over that 100 years if it comes true.
Continued in reply below.... posted 04/08/2008 at 15:29:39
Bill Kristol: Republicans Expect Obama To Be Next President
I think at some level these republicans NEED a real president like Obama or FDR every so often to resuscitate the goose that lays the golden egg that is Americanism. They have had their way with the country for essentially 28 years now. At some level, they know we need a real president to rebuild the nation, its infrastructure, and the middle class to ready us for the NEXT wave of looting, when we've forgotten their crimes and are malleable once again to voting against our interests.
So to false Neocon republicans, take your loot and your empty glory of a war you were uninterested in fighting for yourself, and get out of town for awhile and fatten yourselves on your spoils until the hollow bliss of gluttony wears off. Leave us the Constitution and the mess you've left behind, and we'll put this nation back together. When you've had enough of offshore accounts and Margaritaville villa parties and $15,000.00 umbrella holders, of torture, un-photographed coffins and unaccounted civilian deaths, and you've found none of that brings you happiness, we'll welcome you home and have a party in your honor, when hopefully the prodigal son that is true republicanism returns, and you will be alongside us once again dedicated to liberty and justice for all. From that day on, perhaps there will be no more looting of our treasure, the dreams of our youth, or the illegal taking of our blood and our liberty. posted 04/07/2008 at 13:36:53
So to false Neocon republicans, take your loot and your empty glory of a war you were uninterested in fighting for yourself, and get out of town for awhile and fatten yourselves on your spoils until the hollow bliss of gluttony wears off. Leave us the Constitution and the mess you've left behind, and we'll put this nation back together. When you've had enough of offshore accounts and Margaritaville villa parties and $15,000.00 umbrella holders, of torture, un-photographed coffins and unaccounted civilian deaths, and you've found none of that brings you happiness, we'll welcome you home and have a party in your honor, when hopefully the prodigal son that is true republicanism returns, and you will be alongside us once again dedicated to liberty and justice for all. From that day on, perhaps there will be no more looting of our treasure, the dreams of our youth, or the illegal taking of our blood and our liberty. posted 04/07/2008 at 13:36:53
Obama: No Need For Foreign Policy Help From V.P.
Obama will make a far better foreign policy person and commander in chief than either Clinton or McCain, and he is right to claim he does not have to balance himself out in that regard. In fact, since he can bring in whatever experts he wants, and by his brilliance and his demeanor can attract the best and the brightest, he will be incomparably better than the other candidates on many levels.
Additionally, Obama is by far the most emotionally intelligent, and the most brain-healthy person running, and on those two facts alone will make the best Chief Executive. From the latest brain research, it is evident Obama shows the hallmarks of one with high brain "plasticity," i.e. the ability to remain nimble of thought and grow and learn when presented new information and new challenges. He stands in stark contrast to the rigidity displayed by both Clinton and McCain, whose behavior reveals they are stuck in deeply entrenched, even destructive thought patterns that limit their ability to respond creatively to crisis.
Throughout the campaign, and indeed his life, Obama has responded positively to crisis. He learns and grows stronger. Clinton in crisis reflexively falls back on attacking with disinformation and demagoguery, taking direction from her strategists as though gripped with fear at trusting her own abilities. McCain in crisis reflexively clings for life to outdated military experience and ever-weakening claims of "straight talk."
There is simply no comparison. Obama will be a real president. posted 04/07/2008 at 14:36:49
Additionally, Obama is by far the most emotionally intelligent, and the most brain-healthy person running, and on those two facts alone will make the best Chief Executive. From the latest brain research, it is evident Obama shows the hallmarks of one with high brain "plasticity," i.e. the ability to remain nimble of thought and grow and learn when presented new information and new challenges. He stands in stark contrast to the rigidity displayed by both Clinton and McCain, whose behavior reveals they are stuck in deeply entrenched, even destructive thought patterns that limit their ability to respond creatively to crisis.
Throughout the campaign, and indeed his life, Obama has responded positively to crisis. He learns and grows stronger. Clinton in crisis reflexively falls back on attacking with disinformation and demagoguery, taking direction from her strategists as though gripped with fear at trusting her own abilities. McCain in crisis reflexively clings for life to outdated military experience and ever-weakening claims of "straight talk."
There is simply no comparison. Obama will be a real president. posted 04/07/2008 at 14:36:49
Who Can Beat McCain?
Alec, I really don't get the sense that people dislike Hillary because she's a woman. I just plain don't see it...anywhere. Sure, there may be a few, but she's so established, that her identity is really that of just another politician, with woman being a descriptor somewhere far down the scale, well below card-stacking disingenuous propagandist, disinformation freak, and person lacking emotional intelligence, et. al. These things have come to define her more than anything else.
They only time the idea of misogyny enters my mind or any one else I know, is when a Clinton supporter uses it in a sentence. That doesn't make it so. Cynically, Clinton gets mileage out of claiming she's oppressed, and that's the last thing she is. And I think it does a dis-service to the truly oppressed and disenfranchised to try to upstage THEM with her false claim.
The reason she is losing this election is her head-banging reliance on dishonesty. Psychologically, she acts like an empty vessel with a shape-shifting image painted on the outside. It's tragic, really. Obama had the courage to take the road less traveled, and it caught her off guard. We're not falling for the "gotcha" and "OMG" fear and smear politics anymore, at least those of us who are trying our darnedest to pay full attention in spite of our busy lives. I wish her well, but she's not mature enough to be the kind of president we need now. posted 04/10/2008 at 14:39:00
They only time the idea of misogyny enters my mind or any one else I know, is when a Clinton supporter uses it in a sentence. That doesn't make it so. Cynically, Clinton gets mileage out of claiming she's oppressed, and that's the last thing she is. And I think it does a dis-service to the truly oppressed and disenfranchised to try to upstage THEM with her false claim.
The reason she is losing this election is her head-banging reliance on dishonesty. Psychologically, she acts like an empty vessel with a shape-shifting image painted on the outside. It's tragic, really. Obama had the courage to take the road less traveled, and it caught her off guard. We're not falling for the "gotcha" and "OMG" fear and smear politics anymore, at least those of us who are trying our darnedest to pay full attention in spite of our busy lives. I wish her well, but she's not mature enough to be the kind of president we need now. posted 04/10/2008 at 14:39:00
SNL Returns: Clintons, Dodd And Christopher Walken's Tongue
So has the world "truth decayed*" to the point that Eat The Press has now turned a wink and a nod to honest media criticism, and become a promotional arm of mega-media in support of Hillary? This feels like a trust boundary has been crossed, like a pre-emptive strike against anyone who would criticize SNL in the opening lines, combined with a cheeky wishful-thinking kind of "See, SNL is still funny...like here, and here, and here...and look...lots of video...lots of video everywhere...not just on eat the press...I swear...must be a good show...people are chatting it up...like everywhere....really!" I always thought of Eat The Press as a send-up of media ridiculousness, not the very ridiculousness itself!
Come on, Rachel....Jeez...You're wasting your talent again on spin and disinformation. Please do some real media criticism. You're better than this. I'm telling ya...You and Tucker Carlson, a couple of terribly bright minds to waste. Imagine that talent getting some truthout about what's really going on here. Lorne Michael's brand is getting trashed, and I don't think he's doing it, unless he's cashing it in for a position in the administration. This just doesn't add up.
* "truth decay," chyron under Hillary during discussion of her latest truthiness Monday night on "Countdown" with Keith Olbermann. posted 04/08/2008 at 07:00:06
Come on, Rachel....Jeez...You're wasting your talent again on spin and disinformation. Please do some real media criticism. You're better than this. I'm telling ya...You and Tucker Carlson, a couple of terribly bright minds to waste. Imagine that talent getting some truthout about what's really going on here. Lorne Michael's brand is getting trashed, and I don't think he's doing it, unless he's cashing it in for a position in the administration. This just doesn't add up.
* "truth decay," chyron under Hillary during discussion of her latest truthiness Monday night on "Countdown" with Keith Olbermann. posted 04/08/2008 at 07:00:06
Thank you mponti. What Michelle said is actually a very thoughtful observation on the state of our nation, which has lost its way, as 81% of the people now agree that we have, as of this past week.
She's saying how great it is that we are waking up and taking responsibility for this incredibly awesome country of ours; caring for it as it should be cared for, instead of shopping our way to oblivion, as some would have us do. For someone, anyone to try to take that out of context, is to do this country a great dis-service, and it betrays their disinterest in our nation's welfare. posted 04/06/2008 at 21:10:39
She's saying how great it is that we are waking up and taking responsibility for this incredibly awesome country of ours; caring for it as it should be cared for, instead of shopping our way to oblivion, as some would have us do. For someone, anyone to try to take that out of context, is to do this country a great dis-service, and it betrays their disinterest in our nation's welfare. posted 04/06/2008 at 21:10:39
Yes, they're hoping that those who like many of us are only half paying attention, will buy into the notion that the Clintons' book money is the issue, which as SNL knows, has been public knowledge for some time. They are trying to get out in front of this story, which was "dumped" on a Friday, as is all bad news in politics. They are counting on us to take SNL's version as the standard, and tune out any further developments as reporters get a chance to dig in and find out what's up with Ron Burkle's 15 million dollars he paid Bill, and the fudging of the line of charity $$$ that went to the Clinton library, neither of which were mentioned on SNL, which as the article below notes, is the only real news to come out of their release so far.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/04/what-did-bill-do-to-get-1_n_95189.html posted 04/06/2008 at 21:03:24
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/04/what-did-bill-do-to-get-1_n_95189.html posted 04/06/2008 at 21:03:24
I didn't get the sense they were even trying to be funny in their opening. It was totally agenda driven, and almost an FU to anyone who objected to their obvious pro-Clinton bias in recent skits? It's too bad, because I have been a diehard fan, but SNL has disappeared down the same road Dennis Miller took in his two failed attempts at a comedy show on Faux News, and the Faux News Channel's "Half-Hour Comedy Hour," the right wing's failed attempt to make a republican "Daily Show," proving once again that a dishonest political agenda just isn't funny.
What I saw last night on SNL was a blatant attempt to assist the Clinton camp in getting out ahead of the tax return story by pretending there is no "there" there before the press really gets a chance to examine the returns, which were just released Friday, and anything relevant was still buried in big numbers that will require some forensic accounting to get to the bottom of, giving them some time to spin the story. I wonder if Lorne Michaels has been over-ridden in this, because I can't believe he would let the SNL brand that he built be trashed in this way. It smacks of bigger money taking over the show so NBC's parent company will be granted the bigger prize of a mega-media-merger friendly FCC under either the McClinton's or McCain.
That being said, Christopher Walken was as always, brilliant. posted 04/06/2008 at 20:31:17
What I saw last night on SNL was a blatant attempt to assist the Clinton camp in getting out ahead of the tax return story by pretending there is no "there" there before the press really gets a chance to examine the returns, which were just released Friday, and anything relevant was still buried in big numbers that will require some forensic accounting to get to the bottom of, giving them some time to spin the story. I wonder if Lorne Michaels has been over-ridden in this, because I can't believe he would let the SNL brand that he built be trashed in this way. It smacks of bigger money taking over the show so NBC's parent company will be granted the bigger prize of a mega-media-merger friendly FCC under either the McClinton's or McCain.
That being said, Christopher Walken was as always, brilliant. posted 04/06/2008 at 20:31:17
Gay Paper: Obama Refuses To Talk With Gay Media
Like many pro-Clinton media moves, this is aimed at the people who like many of us, can't or aren't paying full attention. The Clinton media people are looking to create a headline that supports their gay community whispering campaign, which this is looking very much like at the moment. These campaigns are going on in many circles, not just among gays. If someone hears a rumor, and then sees a headline that backs it up, often that is all that is needed to change the mind of someone who is only half paying attention.
To protect your vote from being ripped from your hands by this tactic, please fact-check diligently anything that changes your mind, especially when you have the "OMG" reaction. Clinton history has shown us that it is either a complete fabrication, or it is taken out of context to stack the deck of facts against the truth. Don't fall prey to it. posted 04/05/2008 at 16:58:03
To protect your vote from being ripped from your hands by this tactic, please fact-check diligently anything that changes your mind, especially when you have the "OMG" reaction. Clinton history has shown us that it is either a complete fabrication, or it is taken out of context to stack the deck of facts against the truth. Don't fall prey to it. posted 04/05/2008 at 16:58:03
Gavin Newsom had other problems. He and his wife were an amazing power couple that seemed to have the world on a string, and he blew it with his immaturity and philandering.
And also, not coincidentally, both Willie Brown and Mayor Newsom are backing Hillary.
http://www.sfbayguardian.com/printable_entry.php?entry_id=5550
From that Article: ""It boils down to this: are you part of the Willie Brown, John Burton political machine, in which case you're with Hillary, or are you part of the free-thinking folks who really want to see change?" Board of Supervisors president Aaron Peskin " who considers himself part of the latter group and has endorsed Obama " said to the Guardian."
And from the same article: "Newsom,...[has] endorsed Hillary Clinton for president." posted 04/05/2008 at 16:49:20
Yeah, I wondered about the headline. It did seem way out of balance, timed, and highly assumptive, and therefore, suspicious as propaganda. Thanks for the context. posted 04/05/2008 at 16:33:53
I agree with you about the way she delivered those comments on where she was when King was killed. All her lie "tells," the little behavioral nuances that betray when someone is lying, were flashing red, horns blaring. The thing I don't get about her, is that she seems to feel she has to manufacture a story about everything. Isn't it enough to just tell the truth about what you feel about King, or about going to Bosnia? It betrays her own insecurities in her abilities and how we will perceive her. This is not the strategy of a strong person. It is the strategy of a weak, unself-realized person. It is painful to watch. I feel for her, but cannot suffer her as our next president on that basis. posted 04/05/2008 at 16:23:57
Exactly. This has the ring of one of the many Clinton "whispering campaigns" of disinformation. Don't believe anything that has the "OMG" feel to it without fact checking, especially when the person "whispers" it as here, and doesn't provide any link or facts. posted 04/05/2008 at 14:52:48
Me too. Well put. posted 04/05/2008 at 14:16:31
I have the feeling this paper is pro-Clinton anyways, and is another part of the kitchen sink brigade, and is trying to be antagonistic. If you listen to Obama and grasp his level of emotional intelligence which is unmatched among the other candidates, and you judge his actions in full context, you can see that he speaks to and respects the individual more than any other candidate, and that includes the LGBT community, which I personally respect for their own special kind of courage, and embrace as one of the many kinds of people our mutual creator endowed with the privilege of this one precious life, and by that alone deserve the full measure of inalienable rights equal with any and all, no further discussion required.
And as SShaw490 very rightly points out, Obama's campaign is not allowing itself to be waylaid by the specific wedge agendas of individual special interest groups, no matter how vocal. Thus he may seem to embrace contradictions, but that is what emotional intelligence is, you can embrace seemingly disparate points of view in the interest of finding common ground, and withstand each proponent's emotionalism without being governed by it.
If we truly want to unify our country, then this is what it looks like. We respect our differences, we respect the individual including our own individuality, we own our differences ourselves, and don't have to have them pandered to in a special forum. posted 04/05/2008 at 14:14:30
And as SShaw490 very rightly points out, Obama's campaign is not allowing itself to be waylaid by the specific wedge agendas of individual special interest groups, no matter how vocal. Thus he may seem to embrace contradictions, but that is what emotional intelligence is, you can embrace seemingly disparate points of view in the interest of finding common ground, and withstand each proponent's emotionalism without being governed by it.
If we truly want to unify our country, then this is what it looks like. We respect our differences, we respect the individual including our own individuality, we own our differences ourselves, and don't have to have them pandered to in a special forum. posted 04/05/2008 at 14:14:30
April 4, 1968
Thanks for laying this out in context. We've felt that "drop by drop upon the heart" for forty years. And now a light in that yonder window breaks. posted 04/05/2008 at 01:41:22
"Those whose hearts are never touched in this way cannot be the best leaders." Well said, so true. posted 04/05/2008 at 01:32:18
Clinton Says Obama Wants to Stop Votes
Thanks Midwest...and just one classroom. The key is that the kids' perception of themselves has changed as a result of the candidacy of Barack Obama. And I think that is true for everyone touched by his campaign. We have seen that we are not as racist a country as we've been told for so long, that people actually can learn and grow. And when we have good information from a candidate willing to focus on reliable information, honest reasoned assessments and thoughtfulness, and we focus on those things ourselves instead of being sidetracked by fear and falsely inflamed prejudices, we have shows we will come down on the side of truth and justice, more often than not.
Hoping and thinking vs. fear and withdrawal back to the way we've been told its always been? No comparison. posted 04/01/2008 at 12:47:06
Hoping and thinking vs. fear and withdrawal back to the way we've been told its always been? No comparison. posted 04/01/2008 at 12:47:06
Not Until the Fat Lady Sings
Well said. The very best reason to be paying attention right now. posted 04/01/2008 at 13:51:16
Once again, thank you for putting into words so brilliantly the paradox of feelings we have for the Clintons, those of us who supported them so vociferously before they, or "she" as you say, "...shied away from greatness, so as to hold on to power."
This is the tragedy of it. The missed opportunity. It is a lesson for us all. The human drama of refusing to see how selfishness that in proper measure can be a strength, gone unchecked can mean ruination. It is the challenge in the second half of the Faustian bargain that we all face, especially around midlife and later, where the Devil makes a deal that Faust can have whatever he wants as long as he doesn't get too distracted by any one thing, where essentially moderation is the key. They were too seduced by power, and leaned too heavily on the their genius of demagoguery to achieve it. We all have blind spots, I just didn't think the Clintons would have such a big and blaring one as this. It is almost a textbook tragic flaw on the epic scale of those found in the characters of Greek tragedies. All that said, I really do feel sorry for them, even as I think it would be a worse tragedy if we allowed another person to be elected who shamelessly played on our fears. posted 04/01/2008 at 05:04:43
This is the tragedy of it. The missed opportunity. It is a lesson for us all. The human drama of refusing to see how selfishness that in proper measure can be a strength, gone unchecked can mean ruination. It is the challenge in the second half of the Faustian bargain that we all face, especially around midlife and later, where the Devil makes a deal that Faust can have whatever he wants as long as he doesn't get too distracted by any one thing, where essentially moderation is the key. They were too seduced by power, and leaned too heavily on the their genius of demagoguery to achieve it. We all have blind spots, I just didn't think the Clintons would have such a big and blaring one as this. It is almost a textbook tragic flaw on the epic scale of those found in the characters of Greek tragedies. All that said, I really do feel sorry for them, even as I think it would be a worse tragedy if we allowed another person to be elected who shamelessly played on our fears. posted 04/01/2008 at 05:04:43
`Killing Fields' Survivor Dith Pran Dies
Dith Pran had such a strong impact on people. What courage. I hope he found some peace in America with his family. Indeed, what courage. posted 03/31/2008 at 03:52:41
Hillary Vows to Stay in Race 100 Years
Andy, you crack me up. Incredible parallels. As I've said before, it is the comedians and the comediennes who are going to get us through this. Glad you're posting here. posted 03/31/2008 at 03:17:51
Why Is Edwards Still Sitting On The Fence?
This article presents too cut and dried a case to be believable. I just don't buy it that Obama "got in a fight" with Elizabeth Edwards, and then Hillary swooped in and was all convincingly charming. It doesn't fit the litmus test of, "Yeah, life is like that." It sounds more like an attempt to diminish Obama's strengths while minimizing Hillary's weaknesses, at a time when she needs a boost. posted 03/30/2008 at 20:11:20
I hope not. I like this place, but I'm growing weary of that of which you speak, and starting to wonder if it's a waste of time. Sometimes a post is banished to oblivion, 17 pages in and becomes irrelevant. Could be increased traffic. Still reserving judgement, hoping it will be fixed. posted 03/29/2008 at 22:17:39
Shiite Leader Al-Sadr Defies Iraq Gov't
SoGladImNotTheOnlyOne. posted 03/29/2008 at 22:52:05
Hagel: Barack Best to Unite Country
On that I agree. Almost makes you wonder if he's got a former prisoner power-control thing going on. And that temper of his. And more recently, his seeming lack of cogency. Not a good combo. posted 03/30/2008 at 03:05:17
John Adams vs Tom Jefferson = Hillary Clinton vs Barack Obama
Thanks, Surfbro, but I know that cynicism. It is a sign of a good and thoughtful person, and since people all around are feeling that, it is a good place to start the dialogue. Let's not give this up. It can be done. And even if your vote cancels out mine, so be it. I wouldn't want it canceled out by a lesser person than yourself. The point is we need people who give a shit and who are paying attention to vote, whatever their party affiliation. I can deal with whatever the outcome if I know my fellow Americans have done their own research and cross-referenced facts from several sources and informed themselves and then, whatever is done is done. All that being said, I look forward to having a thoughtful republican contributing over here; nothing like a bunch of democrats stewing in their own juices.
Gerry Lopez is king. posted 03/31/2008 at 02:56:07
Gerry Lopez is king. posted 03/31/2008 at 02:56:07
That old saw? It was a republican ploy to force the democrat's hand to get them to sign on to the war...again, so they could use it against them if they didn't. Once again, Clinton took the bait and went for appeasement, Obama didn't take the bait. Again, backbone. posted 03/29/2008 at 21:34:33
Obama often goes "against the grain," as when he vociferously opposed the drumbeat to war when there were heavy political consequences for doing so, consequences Clinton chose to avoid which showed her lack of character and backbone. He also goes against the grain by running a highly positive campaign, and by speaking openly about issues we have kept under the rug, and he does so in a way that encourages dialogue, instead of the common "with the grain" approach, which is to try to shut people up when they bring up the difficult issues. The backbone and character Obama has shown is the stuff of great leaders, and positive reformers. posted 03/29/2008 at 15:09:56
A republican with long hair who surfs and who thinks of the founding fathers as more than just another object to be manipulated in the neocon quest for world domination can't be all bad! This is where we start to reach across the great divide to find our common ground.
We agree Hillary is no John Adams; too selfish. But I beg to differ about Obama. Listen carefully to his speech in Philadelphia, and you will hear a person of great creative and emotional intelligence that puts him in a category of leader we have not seen for some time, nor will likely see for a very long time if we blow it and end up with McCain or a McClinton. And I agree we Boomers have definitely disappointed. But you have to realize that Boomers were deeply jaded by the sixties assassinations. You were probably too young to fully grasp the impact of that. No generation is perfect, not even the "greatest." One of Obama's strengths is that he has reawakened the sense of the possible, giving Boomers a second chance and a second wind, reconnecting them with the today's youth. For your generation, the challenge will be to recognize YOUR weakness, your source of jadedness before it is too late.
'Til then, surf's up at Obama's There's a set coming in, sun coming up...lining up nicely. I'll take the left, you take the right, we'll meet on solid American soil and put this country back together. posted 03/29/2008 at 14:33:14
We agree Hillary is no John Adams; too selfish. But I beg to differ about Obama. Listen carefully to his speech in Philadelphia, and you will hear a person of great creative and emotional intelligence that puts him in a category of leader we have not seen for some time, nor will likely see for a very long time if we blow it and end up with McCain or a McClinton. And I agree we Boomers have definitely disappointed. But you have to realize that Boomers were deeply jaded by the sixties assassinations. You were probably too young to fully grasp the impact of that. No generation is perfect, not even the "greatest." One of Obama's strengths is that he has reawakened the sense of the possible, giving Boomers a second chance and a second wind, reconnecting them with the today's youth. For your generation, the challenge will be to recognize YOUR weakness, your source of jadedness before it is too late.
'Til then, surf's up at Obama's There's a set coming in, sun coming up...lining up nicely. I'll take the left, you take the right, we'll meet on solid American soil and put this country back together. posted 03/29/2008 at 14:33:14
Dean Says Attacks Getting Too Personal
Great post. Thanks for the info. I think it is what we always knew about the demographics of the disinformation crowd. And you're right, "why are we taking these people so seriously." A friend of mine once said that if you take away the people on either extreme, you are left with the majority of people who are basically reasonable and can be brought together. Obama's strength is that those are the people he's talking to, and he is widening the reach of his message by respecting and listening to the positive intent of those closer to the fringe. He is respecting them and letting them know he knows he doesn't have all the answers, and that he is open to discussing anything with anybody. Everybody has a chance to be heard. That is true leadership. That is a real president. We need a real president. posted 03/28/2008 at 19:48:42
They can set a standard of behavior of what are and are not acceptable modes of campaign behavior, and then cite a candidate who resorts to them. This would give some objectivity to the process and provide a means for it to be monitored, with bad behavior being identified as such by the party as moderator. If everybody understands what the bad behavior is, then it can be identified and labeled. The problem is, no one within the party has identified what is acceptable and what is not, leading to a free-for-all.
This could be a problem in the gneral of course, because the republicans will use every ugly technique imaginable. So democrats would have to go on a campaign of educating the entire American public, including republicans, on disinformation and propaganda and how it works, in order to save our union from the grip of the unscrupulous.
Here is two places to start to identify and define bad campaign behavior:
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0111500/proptech.htm
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Propaganda_techniques posted 03/28/2008 at 15:42:38
This could be a problem in the gneral of course, because the republicans will use every ugly technique imaginable. So democrats would have to go on a campaign of educating the entire American public, including republicans, on disinformation and propaganda and how it works, in order to save our union from the grip of the unscrupulous.
Here is two places to start to identify and define bad campaign behavior:
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0111500/proptech.htm
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Propaganda_techniques posted 03/28/2008 at 15:42:38
Chairman Dean,
I'm glad to see you weighing in here, but I think it is a mistake to whitewash the Clinton fear and smear tactics by pretending there is some sort of moral equivalency here for the sake of keeping the peace. Whether intentional or not, you are providing cover for Clinton behavior by pretending Obama is somehow complicit in this, and that is simply not accurate. It's like trying to keep peace with a tyrant in the house by pretending everybody has been behaving badly, its just not going to get the desired result. It would be far better to address the elephant in the room.
We need to recognize that a lie is not "just another point of view" to be weighed equally with the truth, it's a lie, plain and simple. The democratic party I want to be associated with, will recognize this and deal with it.
Though still somewhat out of balance, your point has some traction about the rhetoric being thrown around by supporters. Whether it is disinformation or agitation, we need not to take the bait, but should answer these posts with calm, talking to the person behind the posts, and not simply responding to the rhetoric. And ultimately, we should all do our own research so we don't fall prey to it. We would all be well served by that summary behavior. posted 03/28/2008 at 15:28:32
I'm glad to see you weighing in here, but I think it is a mistake to whitewash the Clinton fear and smear tactics by pretending there is some sort of moral equivalency here for the sake of keeping the peace. Whether intentional or not, you are providing cover for Clinton behavior by pretending Obama is somehow complicit in this, and that is simply not accurate. It's like trying to keep peace with a tyrant in the house by pretending everybody has been behaving badly, its just not going to get the desired result. It would be far better to address the elephant in the room.
We need to recognize that a lie is not "just another point of view" to be weighed equally with the truth, it's a lie, plain and simple. The democratic party I want to be associated with, will recognize this and deal with it.
Though still somewhat out of balance, your point has some traction about the rhetoric being thrown around by supporters. Whether it is disinformation or agitation, we need not to take the bait, but should answer these posts with calm, talking to the person behind the posts, and not simply responding to the rhetoric. And ultimately, we should all do our own research so we don't fall prey to it. We would all be well served by that summary behavior. posted 03/28/2008 at 15:28:32
Hillary's Honorable Future: A History Lesson
If she quits now, and she really proves her party loyalty by genuinely getting her base to support Obama, then this could happen for her, but if she tries to sabotage him in any way, she's toast for the scenario you suggest. She's too emotionally immature to be president, that is clear. If she takes the right lessons from this, which she has failed to do in past learning experiences, she could possibly have an honorable career. Interesting and optimistic thought. We'll see. posted 03/27/2008 at 19:53:43
Clinton Promises to Produce Income Tax Returns Next Week
Well done! I so need to here that "it smells like...democracy," from where a citizen journalist such as yourself sits. We'll support you guys, I hope you know. The MSM has proved worthless. A new paradigm of people like yourself could inspire a whole new generation of independent Woodward and Bernsteins. I enjoyed your post.
By the way, there's a great beach out in Hawaii on O'ahu on the windward side that has your name "Bellows" on it. Run by the military but has a public side. Any relation? All the best...Ono4Hoopono posted 03/28/2008 at 02:57:09
By the way, there's a great beach out in Hawaii on O'ahu on the windward side that has your name "Bellows" on it. Run by the military but has a public side. Any relation? All the best...Ono4Hoopono posted 03/28/2008 at 02:57:09
Regarding the suspicion they are being doctored, that could be her ploy. Hold them up until just before the election, and then release a sanitized version that she can use to say, "See, there was nothing wrong you paranoid freaks." Then, after a little sigh of relief bump from the faithful, a more accurate picture will emerge after the primary, but by then she the deception will have had its impact, as with the Canadian NAFTA disinformation campaign right before Ohio and Texas, and it will be too late. So whatever it is, don't buy it.
If she's not cooking the books, she'll come up with a talking point crafted just to keep the faithful from jumping ship, and maybe snag a few people who are not paying attention, and maybe give her superdelegates something to save themselves some embarrassment. Like some republican talking points, it won't make sense to anybody else, but those who don't believe it won't be the target audience.
But as for today's announcement, I think they're floating this today because the polls are moving against them and they're desperate to slow their descent. Gotta love today's desperate comment by Wolfson: "You know, why was there delay in Senator Obama's making his returns available....? " Really? A delay? Obama put his out in plenty of time to get fully examined before the election, and they're available online. They can continue down that desperate road. But if they do, we don't have to believe it. posted 03/27/2008 at 20:49:16
If she's not cooking the books, she'll come up with a talking point crafted just to keep the faithful from jumping ship, and maybe snag a few people who are not paying attention, and maybe give her superdelegates something to save themselves some embarrassment. Like some republican talking points, it won't make sense to anybody else, but those who don't believe it won't be the target audience.
But as for today's announcement, I think they're floating this today because the polls are moving against them and they're desperate to slow their descent. Gotta love today's desperate comment by Wolfson: "You know, why was there delay in Senator Obama's making his returns available....? " Really? A delay? Obama put his out in plenty of time to get fully examined before the election, and they're available online. They can continue down that desperate road. But if they do, we don't have to believe it. posted 03/27/2008 at 20:49:16
If history is any indication, what we will see is enough released to give them a talking point to get them past the next primary, but not enough to truly get a sense of who their money is coming from.
They did this shell game with the hold-up of the Hillary's secret white house papers. Bill sent a letter to the Archives pretending to ask for document release to be speeded up, but actually named huge categories of documents to be withheld and gone over by his lawyer, which of course has been accomplished at a snail's pace, and kept the documents tied up several years past their legal release date.
And to answer in advance the usual comment that it isn't their fault, here's the newsweek coverage of the issue, which includes in the text a link to a scan of the actual letter Bill wrote so anyone wondering can read it for themselves and come to their own conclusion about this:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/57351
Following this deceptive pattern, they just released some of the records, but they were mostly surface skimming appointment books, and many pages were blank. Whatever happens, don't buy their talking point. Do your own research and really find out what they did and did not release. posted 03/27/2008 at 20:15:49
They did this shell game with the hold-up of the Hillary's secret white house papers. Bill sent a letter to the Archives pretending to ask for document release to be speeded up, but actually named huge categories of documents to be withheld and gone over by his lawyer, which of course has been accomplished at a snail's pace, and kept the documents tied up several years past their legal release date.
And to answer in advance the usual comment that it isn't their fault, here's the newsweek coverage of the issue, which includes in the text a link to a scan of the actual letter Bill wrote so anyone wondering can read it for themselves and come to their own conclusion about this:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/57351
Following this deceptive pattern, they just released some of the records, but they were mostly surface skimming appointment books, and many pages were blank. Whatever happens, don't buy their talking point. Do your own research and really find out what they did and did not release. posted 03/27/2008 at 20:15:49
Clinton Campaign Stands By Harsh Letter To Pelosi
Hillary Clinton is basically turning into a Lieberman right before our eyes. A person who is so destructive in the party, and you try and try to work with them until you finally figure out that they're in it for themselves, and they're not really in the party, or worse, they're ACTUALLY a mole working for the other party.
Whichever it is, the party needs to cut her loose, and her twenty donors. Let her go be McCain's running mate. They do not represent us any more, and perhaps like Lieberman, they never really did. They may have been actual republicans from the very beginning. Bill backed Reagan's media reforms, and gave us NAFTA which was a give away to big business that took an equal amount out of the pockets of the middle class.
There may be other Lieberman-Clinton-like candidates in the party, so to prevent our hard earned donations from going into their hands, I recommend donating only to individual candidates you believe in until they clean up this mess. For me, that would be Barack Obama and Al Franken, Sibelius, McCaskill, etc., otherwise your blanket donations to the party could flow into the campaign warchests of other self-aggrandizing politicians who are playing the triangulation game with our constitutional rights, our soldiers lives, and our livelihoods, like Clinton and Lieberman. posted 03/27/2008 at 19:31:39
Whichever it is, the party needs to cut her loose, and her twenty donors. Let her go be McCain's running mate. They do not represent us any more, and perhaps like Lieberman, they never really did. They may have been actual republicans from the very beginning. Bill backed Reagan's media reforms, and gave us NAFTA which was a give away to big business that took an equal amount out of the pockets of the middle class.
There may be other Lieberman-Clinton-like candidates in the party, so to prevent our hard earned donations from going into their hands, I recommend donating only to individual candidates you believe in until they clean up this mess. For me, that would be Barack Obama and Al Franken, Sibelius, McCaskill, etc., otherwise your blanket donations to the party could flow into the campaign warchests of other self-aggrandizing politicians who are playing the triangulation game with our constitutional rights, our soldiers lives, and our livelihoods, like Clinton and Lieberman. posted 03/27/2008 at 19:31:39
Reuters: "Somebody Forgot To Tell Hillary Clinton The Democratic Presidential Race Is Over And Barack Obama Won"
Well said. Thanks for the clarity and nuance. posted 03/28/2008 at 03:11:58
It is so destructive to make up inflammatory stuff about race and throw it around. Everyone's experience is different, you simply can't quantify it like that.
Obama is from Hawaii, one of the most multi-racial and integrated places in the country. His experience is much broader than anyone who hasn't experienced it can imagine. He grew up there with children of many races all playing together, with race being spoken about much more openly than it is on the mainland. It is a unique experience, and I'm sure it is at least part of what made his speech on race so insightful. Part of what we heard was deep wisdom coming from immersion in multiculturalism from a very young age. We can thank Obama for essentially putting the spirit of Aloha on display in his speech for everyone to experience. It is a gift from Hawaii to the world that is unique. Obama has it, and that is part of what people responded to, I believe. posted 03/27/2008 at 19:08:30
Obama is from Hawaii, one of the most multi-racial and integrated places in the country. His experience is much broader than anyone who hasn't experienced it can imagine. He grew up there with children of many races all playing together, with race being spoken about much more openly than it is on the mainland. It is a unique experience, and I'm sure it is at least part of what made his speech on race so insightful. Part of what we heard was deep wisdom coming from immersion in multiculturalism from a very young age. We can thank Obama for essentially putting the spirit of Aloha on display in his speech for everyone to experience. It is a gift from Hawaii to the world that is unique. Obama has it, and that is part of what people responded to, I believe. posted 03/27/2008 at 19:08:30
In media circles, the deal is that the news organizations are making a fortune out of hyping the horse race because people are glued to their sets, ranting at the injustice of it all. Presidential politics has traditionally been a boring loser for them, but this year it is interesting and they are trying to keep the 'neck and neck' narrative alive. And since the next ratings period is in May, look for them to continue to "help" whichever candidate is losing, to rebalance it and keep it neck and neck until after May. If we want them to stop, we need to tell them we will boycott their coverage, and their sponsors.
Ignore the polls, ignore the OMG news moments, and do your own due diligence research on the candidates. The MSM are in it for themselves. And by the way, Bill Clinton along with Ronald Reagan changed news organizations from being patriotically obligated founts of balanced news and truth with actual budgets to finance independent investigations, into being profit centers who rely on candidate news releases without even checking them, and who mix news with opinion into a soup of obfuscation. You used to have to run "Editorial Comment" under the speaker when they gave an opinion. Reagan did away with that when he abolished the "Fairness Doctrine." Clinton signed the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which created Right Wing domination of 90% of the airwaves. The MSM and Clintons are not our friends. posted 03/27/2008 at 14:30:03
Ignore the polls, ignore the OMG news moments, and do your own due diligence research on the candidates. The MSM are in it for themselves. And by the way, Bill Clinton along with Ronald Reagan changed news organizations from being patriotically obligated founts of balanced news and truth with actual budgets to finance independent investigations, into being profit centers who rely on candidate news releases without even checking them, and who mix news with opinion into a soup of obfuscation. You used to have to run "Editorial Comment" under the speaker when they gave an opinion. Reagan did away with that when he abolished the "Fairness Doctrine." Clinton signed the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which created Right Wing domination of 90% of the airwaves. The MSM and Clintons are not our friends. posted 03/27/2008 at 14:30:03
Obama-Bloomberg Ticket? MSNBC Points Out Potential
Now that's interesting. Bloomberg seems like a free-thinker like Obama, and he shows a healthy balanced interest in both business and public well-being like Obama as well. That's good. And I was thinking of backing him anyway over Clinton if it came to that. This is a combination that could make sense. Before fully jumping on board however, I would need to do my due diligence research on Bloomberg like I did on Obama. It is smart for him to start floating VP candidates to round out the picture. posted 03/27/2008 at 14:01:58
Hillary's Approval Rating Plummets In NBC/WSJ Poll
Craig Crawford, Nora O'Donnell... posted 03/27/2008 at 01:36:11
It's gonna happen. What honest person in the world would sanction their behavior. They've gone up in flames in their own "Bonfire of the Vanities." I feel bad for them. They're people, for sure, but it's sad that they just don't get it. We're done with the lying and cheating and stealing and ripping votes from people's hands by making them fearful. Done, done, donesky. posted 03/27/2008 at 01:32:23
We Americans can be manipulated by the unscrupulous, but we do have a conscience. That is one of our strengths. Give us good information, and more often than not, we will come down on the side of justice. posted 03/27/2008 at 01:27:37
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Well said, Ork. That's it in a nutshell, not just for Clinton, but for McCain and the Bush republicans as well. This is the very definition of "politics as usual" that Obama has successfully dedicated his campaign to moving past.
I distinguish between Bush republicans and true republicans, because if we can get the honest and good republicans to take charge of their party again, then when the next election rolls around, maybe we'll have people on all sides who honestly love this country more than their own self-aggrandizement, who will truly work together in an environment of mutual respect and the free flow of ideas. posted 04/19/2008 at 16:08:27