Menu

TheEndoftheReaganErabyDHinMI SunJul06,2008at07:29:41PMPDT Whatmakesapoliticalera?Intryingtounderstandanyparticularpoliticalera,it'snecessaryto understandthepreviousera,itsduration,itscharacteristics,whatbroughtitintobeing,what stressesledtoitsdemise.Intryingtofigureoutourpoliticssincethelatesixties,anddefinitelysince theearlyeighties,fewbookshavebeenashelpfultomeasacollectionofessayspublishedin1989by SteveFraserandGaryGerstle, RiseandFalloftheNewDealOrder:19301980 .Intheir introductoryessay,FraserandGerstlelaidoutthepremiseunderlyingtheirinvestigationofapolitical order:

Home Diaries dKosopedia Search Createaccount Login LoseYourPassword? wide narrow

Advertising

Ournotionof"politicalorder"drawsitsconceptualinspirationfromthenotionof "electoralsystem"and"partysystem"developedbypoliticalscientistsandthe"new politicalhistorians"inrecentyears.ThesescholarhavedepictedAmericanpolitical historysince1800intermsofrelativelylongperiodsofelectoralstabilitypunctuatedby briefbutintensepoliticalupheavalsandelectoralrealignments.Ineachofthefive periodsofelectoralstability(1800 1820's,1820's 1850's,1850's 1890's,1890's 1930's, 1930's1970's),themajorpartieshadafixedrelationshiptoanelectoralcoalitionthe sizeoftheparties'respectivecoalitions,inturn,determinedtherelationshipthat prevailedbetweenthetwoparties inparticular,whetheronedominatedorwhether thetwostruggledonarelativelyequalfooting... Thisapproachdiminishestheimportanceofparticularpoliticalactors presidents, senators,andothers aswellasofthenormaltwo,four,andsixyearelectoralcycles. Itelevates,bycontrast,importanceofeconomiceventsandsocialtrends.Fundamental changesinpoliticallifethosewhichproduceachangeinpartysystemsareseenas issuingfromcrisesinthenation'seconomy,socialstructure,andpoliticalstructure... [...] Inprobingwhysuchfundamentalhistoricaleventsarerequiredtochangeparty systems,thenewpoliticalhistorianshavegenerallyoffered"ethnocultural" explanations.Americanvoters,atleastfromthemidnineteenthtothemidtwentieth century,theyhaveargued,viewedpoliticalpartiesastheprotectorsoftheirmost treasuredbeliefsandvitalinterests:theirreligions,theirethnictraditions,theirfamilies andtheirneighborhoods.Votersthusdevelopedprofoundemotionalloyaltiesto partiestheseloyalties,inturn,influencedindividualelectoralbehaviorfarmorethan rationalreflectionsonaparty'splatformorshort term,instrumentalcalculationsofthe likelyreturnoncastingaballotforonepartyoranother.Suchloyaltieswerenoteasily forsaken.Onlymajoreconomicandsocialcrisestriggeredbroadshiftsinloyaltyfrom onepartytoanother.

SupportBloggers'Rights!

CandidatesBlueMajorityCandidates

TheNewDealvotingcoalitionwasanchoredbySouthernwhiteprotestantsandNorthernCatholics andJews.Membershipinlaborunions,thenasnow,madeonefarmorelikelytovoteDemocratic. Unlikenow,however,wherethepercentageofworkersrepresentedbyaunionisbarelyover10%, bythemid1950'sunionmemberswerealmost35%oftheworkforce.WithinashorttimeBlackvoters, previouslyloyaltothepartyofLincoln,shiftedallegiancetotheDemocrats(althoughtheywere disenfranchisedintheJimCrowSouth). AftertheeconomicandsocialdevastationoftheGreatDepressionwhichlastedthroughoutthe thirties,anddidn'tfullyliftuntilthecountrymobilizedforwarstartinginabout1940Roosevelt, TrumanandtheNewDealersinCongressusedtaxpolicytolargelyamelioratetheworstinwealthand incomedisparities.Increasedunionizationledtowagepatternbargaining,whereunioncontracts raisedwagesforallworkersinthatparticularsector.Inhisbook TheConscienceofaLiberal,Paul Krugmancallsthe20yearperiodoftheRooseveltandTrumanadministrations,whentheultrawealthy becamethemerelywealthyandthemiddleclassexpandedtoincludethemajorityofAmericanseven ifitincludedfewminoritiestheGreatCompression. TheUSdidn'tfollowthepathofalmosteveryindustrializednationandcreateasocialdemocratic welfarestate.ButaftertheKennedyassassinationandthehuge1964Democraticlandslide,the JohnsonadministrationpushedthroughtheGreatSocietyinitiatives,includingMedicare,togowith NewDealandpost WWIImeasureslikeSocialSecurity,theG.I.BillandFHAloanstofurtherexpand andextendthepartialwelfarestate. Johnsonalso,ofcourse,finallybroughtthegovernmenttograntfullfranchiseandcitizenshiptoBlack AmericansbypassingtheVotingRightsandCivilRightsacts.TheseendedtheJimCrowsysteminthe

South.ButprovidingpathsforAfricanAmericanstojointhemainstreamofAmericansociety,according toFraserandGerstle,contributedtothestressesthatledtotheendoftheNewDealorder:

Thestate'srhetoricalcommitmenttodistributingcivilrightsandeconomicabundanceto allitscitizensinevitablypushedracetotheverycenterofnationalpoliticsthenation's growingmilitaryobligationsdiminishedtheeconomicresourcesnecessarytosolveorat leastmitigatethebrewingracialcrisisandtheimportanceattached(bypurveyorsof masscultureandideologuesofamodernistdomestiticity)toachievingafulland expressivepersonallifepredictablyresultedinaninsatiablehungerfor"authenticity" andautonomyinallsocialspheres...TheNewDealorder'sunabashedlymodernist characterintensifiedthesetensionsandwasbound,soonerorlater,toprovokethe moraloutrageoftraditionalists.Asecondsourceoftensionresultedfromthefailureof theDemocraticpartyandorganizedlabor,inthe1930'sand1940's,totransform, throughwagelegislationandunionization,theSouth'ssocialstructure.Such failures...meantthananextraordinarykindofjudicialfiatitself,thoughcloakedin constitutionallanguage,akindofviolence wouldbenecessarytointegrate southerners(andespeciallyblacks)intotheNewDealorder.

Assuggestedinthepreviousparagraph,theeraoftheNewDealwasaperiodofgreatchangein Americanfamilyrelationships.FromtheextendedfamiliesofagrarianAmericathatprevaileduntil roughlytheendofWWI,throughtheascendancyofthenuclearfamilyastheAmericannorm,tothe burgeoningoffeminismandtheincreasedintegrationofwomenintotheworkforce,andthereforethe endofthestay athomemomastheAmericannorm,manymoresandbeliefsaboutfamilyandgender profoundlychanged.Aswithanyprofoundsocialchange,itcreatedpoliticaltensionsanddivides. MuchoftheconflictinAmericanpoliticsfromthelate1960'snearlyuptothepresenthasbeenover socialandculturalissues,mostrootedinthechangeswroughtbyfeminismandracialintegration. JohnsonpredictedthatsigningtheCivilRightsActwouldmeanthattheDemocratswouldlosethe Southforageneration.Inpresidentialpolitics,hewascorrect,andbelowthePresidentiallevel,what hadbeenthe"solidsouth"becamethegeographicbaseoftheRepublicanparty.IntheNorth,where thefrontiersofracialintegrationandaccommodationwerepopulatedbyAfricanAmericansandmostly ethnicCatholicsintheurbanareasandinnerringsuburbs,issueslikeschoolbusingandtheriotsof thelatesixtieswereuseddeftlybyRepublicanstopryaparttheNewDealcoalitionandcreate "ReaganDemocrats."Crimeandwelfare,associatedastheywerewithAfrican Americansintheminds ofmanyofthesevoters,becameproxiesforrace. Onculturalissues,probablynothingcutthroughtheNewDealcoalitionmoretraumaticallythan abortion.Butitwasn'tjustabortion,ormorefringeissueslikeprayerinschools.TheDemocraticParty itselfbecametarredwiththechargeofelitism,whichwas,sinceWallace,associatedwithpointed headedintellectuals,judgesandbureaucratstellingpeopleespeciallymenwhattheycouldand couldn'tdo.Manyoftheculturalissuesbecameproxybattlesoverfeminism,andliberalsandthe Democraticpartybecameassociatedwithtraitsgenerallythoughttobeeffete,ortotaketheroot wordfurther,feminine. Reagancamealongandputasunnysheenovertheangeroftheright.Theworkingclass,sincethe oilshocksofthe1970'sandthedestructionofcoreindustrieslikemining,textiles,heavy manufacturingandbasicsteel,hadbeenpummeledeconomically.Butthedamagehadbeenmitigated bytherelativelyuntouchedNewDealsocialwelfaresystem,justrecentlyexpandedbyJohnson. ReaganfoughtCarterthroughacloseelection,andbyconvincingenoughvotersthathewasn'tcrazy, surgedtoatenpointwin. Onceinoffice,ReagancommencedacounterrevolutionagainsttheNewDeal,butthevisibleattacks tendedtobemostlyinthecontextofwelfareandthelike,whichformostvoterselicitednotionsof raceratherthanhostilitytowardregulationoftheeconomyorgovernmentinterventiontomitigatethe harshnessofunfetteredandunregulatedmarkets.Attacksonregulationandthewelfarestatethat weren'tseenasdisproportionatelybenefitingAfrican Americanslargelywentunderground.Through theReaganera,evenupthroughGeorgeW.Bush'scampaignin2004,theRepublicansstuckmostlyto socialandculturalissues,ortotaxes.Taxeswereanotherproxyforrace,asmanyswingvotersfelt theirtaxesweretoohigh,andfelttheirtaxdollarswerebeingsquanderedonwelfarepaymentsto peoplewhorefusedtoworkoronsupposedlyexorbitantforeignaidtopeopleoverseas.Butpublicly theRepublicanslargelyavoidedfrontalassaultsontheNewDeal. WiththedemiseoftheSovietUnionandtheopeningupofChina,fearsofwarfadedfromthe consciousnessofvoters.Thislessenedred baiting,butitalsoremovedthelastinhibitionpreventing whatinthe90'sbecameknownasthepoliticsofpersonaldestruction.LedbyNewtGingrich,the notionthatpoliticsstopsattheocean'sshoreended,andeverything,includingpreviousofflimits aspectsofapolitician'spersonallife,wasgroundsforattack. By2000,mostAmericansweredeeplydisillusionedwiththispettyandnastypolitics,buttimeswere generallygood.AfterthehugeRepublicanwinin1994,RepublicanlostseatsinCongressthenext threeelections.Otherthanatwo yearperiodduringtheEisenhoweradministrationan administrationatpeacewiththeNewDealDemocratshadheldthepresidencyoratleastone chamberofCongressforseventyyears.Theineptness,hostilitytowardsoundgovernanceand corruptionoftheGOPhadnotbeenfullyexposedtotheAmericanpubliconlytheGingrich led governmentshutdownof1995hintedtocasualobserversthetrueintentionsofthenewmainstream oftheradicalizedRepublicanparty.MuchofJohnson'sGreatSocietyhadbeengutted,butthemain legislativepillarsoftheNewDeal,suchassocialsecurity,afterthescares19811983and1995,had

beenleftmostlyintact.Andasoftenhappenswhenthingsaregood,frivolitieslikehowmanytimes oneofthecandidatessighedduringthedebatebecameabigissue. AlGore,hissighsandhissupposedexaggerationsweresavagedinthemedia.Nevertheless,hewon thepopularvote,almostcertainlywontheelectoralvote,andwaskeptoutoftheWhiteHouseonlyby theinterventionoftheconservativemajorityontheSupremeCourt.AndDemocratswonseveral upsetsintheSenate,leadingtoatiebrokenonlybythevoteofVPDickCheney. AsI'vepreviouslyargued(here,hereandhere),Ibelieveweareonthevergeofatransforming election.Butjustasonecanarguewhethertheendofapoliticaleraendedin1968orwas interrupteduntil1980becauseofWatergate,onecouldarguethattheendoftheReaganerabegan in2000butwasinterruptedthenextyearbytheterroristattackson911.RuyTexeiraandJohnJudis werealreadyrefiningtheirargumentfor TheEmergingDemocraticMajority,showingthat demographicchangesandlong termvotingpatternspresagedanendtotheReaganera.But9 11 andtheenvironmentoffearexploitedbytheRepublicanspreventedGOPlossesin2002.Eventhen, however,theGOPCongressionalgainsin2002and2004(afterTexasredistricting)wereconsistent withthechangesinapportionment,withmoredistrictsdrawntobeproRepublicanaccountingforthe GOPgains. Thenin2005GeorgeBushandtheGOPwereexposed.BushtriedtomountanovertassaultonSocial Security,precipitatingthedeclineinhisstandingthatcontinuestoday.Thedisastrousresponseto KatrinashamedmostAmericans.AndthewarinIraqfinallywasseenasanotherdisastermadeby BushandtheGOP.Democratswentonin2006tobigwins,andallindicationsarethatwecouldbeon thevergeofmorebigwinsthisNovember. NowmanyAmericans,includingmanywhogrewupinfamiliesliftedintothemiddleclassbytheNew Deal,feelintenseeconomicpain.Byhistoricalstandardsunemploymentisnotparticularlyhigh.But otherthanafewyearsinthelate1990's,earningsadjustedforinflationhavefallensteadilysince 1973.Someofthatlossinearningsandwealthwasmadeupforwithlowandeasycreditand skyrocketinghomevalues,andhomeownersspentagainsttheirincreasedequity.Butnow,as people'shomevaluesplummet,foreclosuresmount,creditisunavailable,andwagescontinueto decline,there'snothingtosoftentheeconomicblowstoworkingfamilies,evenincludingmanywhichin thepastwouldhavebeenconsideredcomfortablyintheuppermiddleclass. Asthewageandwealthhitsaccumulate,Americans'economichealthisbeingattackedfromother directions.Securepensionsarenolongeragiven,and401Kaccountshavebeendevastatedbythe recentcrashinthestockmarket.Healthcarecostscontinuetorisefasterthaninflation,andthe numberofuninsuredAmericanscontinuestogrow.Andthecostsofgoingtocollegeorhavingchildren aretoogreattobearformanyyoungerAmericans. ThelongperiodofdoingnothingtoaddressAmericans'addictiontogasguzzlers,combinedwith instability(andmostlikelypricemanipulation)inthepetroleummarkets,hascreatedyetanother economicstressonAmericans.Asinthe1930's,wheneverythinginpoliticswasdominatedbythe efforttosubduethedepression,incomingyears,almostallthemajorpolicyproblemsfacedby Americaourforeignpolicy,thepriceandavailabilityoffoodintheUSandthefooddemandsin developingcountries,ourdecliningmanufacturingbase,ourbalanceofpaymentstoforeignnations, wageandincomeinequality,environmentalandclimatechanges,construction, the"financialization" oftheAmericaneconomywillbeconnectedtoenergyandclimatechange. Finally,there'sasensewithmanyAmericansthatthere'ssomethingseriouslywronginAmerica.All thepollsshowit.TheyounghavebeenvotingDemocraticforthelastthreeelections,andyoung votersappearreadytovoteinmuchhighernumbersthisNovemberthaninanyelectionsincethevote wasextendedto18yearoldsin1972,maybeinhighernumbersthaneverseen.Blackvoters,driven bythecandidacyofBarackObama,appearreadytovoteinrecordnumbers.Latinoscontinuetogrow asapercentageofthevote,andcontinuetobecomemoresolidlyDemocratic.Butthegreatest movementmaybeamongworkingclassandmiddleclassvotersnolongermotivatedtovoteonissues ofrace,socialchangeorculturalissues,butinsteadmotivatedbytheinequitiesofwealththathave reopenedduringtheReaganera. AccordingtoNYTReporterStevenGreenhouse,authorofTheBigSqueeze:ToughTimesforthe AmericanWorker,

thetop1percentofhouseholds,averaging$1.1millioninannualincome,received nearly22percentofallreportedincomein2005,upfrom9percentin1980.Thatincome shifthelpedcreatethegreatestlevelofinequalitysincetheRoaringTwenties. LawrenceSummers,theformerHarvardpresidentandTreasurySecretary,foundthat wereitnotforthisincreasedinequalitythebottom80percentofAmericanswouldbe doingconsiderablybetter.Ifthedistributionofincometodaywerethesameasin1979, Summerssaid,assumingthesamelevelofeconomicgrowthsincethen,incomeofthe bottom80percentofAmericanswouldbeabout$670billionmoreayearorabout $8,000perfamily.Formanyhouseholdsinthebottomhalf,thiswouldmeanawelcome 20to30percentincreaseinincome,perhapstheboostneededtoavoidforeclosure. [...] Onecanseetheeconomicdividewideninanotherway.Theaverageincomeforthetop 1percentofhouseholdswastentimesthatforthemiddlefifthin1979.By2005,those inthetop1percentearned21timesasmuchasthoseinthemiddle.Incomeforthetop 1percentofhouseholdsaveraged70timesthatofhouseholdsinthebottomfifth,the

greatestgaponrecord,upfrom23timesasmuchin1979. Atthepinnacleoftheinequalitypyramidarethenation'sCEOs.Americancorporations maybetightfistedaboutraisesformostworkers,buttheypaidtheirchiefexecutives $10.5milliononaveragein2005,includingsalary,bonusesandstockoptions.Thatwas quadrupletheirpayadozenyearsearlier.ThismeansthetypicalCEOearns369times asmuchastheaverageworker,upfrom131timesin1993and36timesin1976.

Wehavereachedthepointwherewehaveunsustainableenergypolicy,andunsustainableforeign andmilitarypolicy,anunsustainablefiscalpolicy,and,asmanyAmericansnowfeelpersonally, economicinequitiesthataren'tsustainableifwewishtomaintainthebroadmiddleclasscreatedby theNewDealorder.We'vereachedtheendoftheReaganera,andareonthecuspofsomething new,hopefullybetter,andcharacterizedbyabold,vigorous,creativeDemocraticpartywithwhich peoplebondastheydidwiththeDemocraticpartyoftheNewDealera. :: Tags:2008Election(alltags)::PreviousTagVersions

Permalink |173comments

It'sabouttime (17+/0)

byBustedFlatinBatonRouge onSunJul06,2008at07:32:17PMPDT

Ihopeit'stime.IgetsickenedwhenIthink... (16+/0)

...that2008,like2004,canbetakenfromussocruellyagainbytheRepublicansvia fear,xenophobia,racism,sexism,younameit. Inshort,Iwon'tfullyrelaxandbehappyabout"theturningofthetide"untilIseeiton January20,2009,whenhopefullyaPresidentElectBarackObamaisinauguratedinto office. BEthemovement.ObamaforPresident. byboofdah onSunJul06,2008at07:39:39PMPDT [Parent ]

Thatturningtidefeelssostrong (8+/0)

tome.Iliketofollownationalopinionpollsregardingspecificissues.Idon'tknowif I'veeverseensomanylob sidedpollsthatpointtoamajorpoliticalshiftinthe country.Ithinktheneoconshaveoverplayedtheirhand,andeveniftheyuseevery lastdirtytrickinthebookthisupcomingelection,Ijustcan'tcomprehendthatthey canforestalltheinevitableanylonger. byBustedFlatinBatonRouge onSunJul06,2008at07:47:10PMPDT [Parent ]

God,Ireallyhopeyou'reright. (4+/0) IloveJanisJoplin,too,btw.:) BEthemovement.ObamaforPresident.

byboofdah onMonJul07,2008at01:13:54AMPDT [Parent ]

amen (2+/0)

2008willbearealignment.Thestarsarealigned. TheRepublicanPartyisneitherpro republicnorpro party.Discuss! byNathanielAmentStone onSunJul06,2008at07:56:40PMPDT [Parent ]

Iagree,mypersonalobservationisthat (6+/0)

therealignmentwouldhavehappenedthisyearanyway,buttheevidenceoftheBush betrayalofourcountry,andofhisbasehasacceleratedtheswingofthependulum awayfromtheright. Eachpassingdaybringsmorebadeconomicnews,muchofitfallingontheheadsof theBushpoliticalbase,whichisfinallyawakeningfromits7yeardenialofthefacts

theBushpoliticalbase,whichisfinallyawakeningfromits7yeardenialofthefacts surroundingtheBushpresidency. TheRepublicanPartywillbearadicalizedorganizationincapableofwinningelections becauseitscenterrightmoderateswhoarepragmaticaboutgoverningfromthecenter arenolongerwelcomeintheradicalizedRepublicanPartyandwillbeforcedtoleave fortheIndependentorDemocraticranks. TheBush/Cheney/Neoconadministrationhaspulledthepoliticalprocesssofartothe rightthatformermoderateRepublicanswillfeelquitecomfortableworkingwitha Democraticmajoritypartywhichwantstobalancebudgets,avoidwar,forcethe governmenttolivewithinitsmeans,andtomakeresponsibleinvestmentsin improvingtheAmericaneconomy,infrastructure,andenvironmentwhichweallmust livein.TheabstractnotionthatthereisastrongleftinAmericanpoliticsissimply wrong.Theentirepoliticalprocesshasbeenmovedsofartotherightthatitwilltake 20yearsormorebeforeafullyliberalagendawillbepossibletoimplement. Stopgappublic/privatehealthinsurancepartnerships,implementationofasomewhat regulatedmortgageandfinancialmarketandthelikewillbealltheDemocratic governmentlikelytobeelectedin2008willbeabletomanage.Theinertiaofthe enactedlegislationandtheconservativeorradicalconservativejudicialsystemwill makelargemovementstotheleftimprobableand/orimpossibleinthenextfour years.TheReagan/Bush/BushSupremeCourtisverysimilartothecourtthatFDR wasforcedtodealwithinthe1930's,andthelitigationpipelinetocontinuethepushto therightfromthecourtsisfullandcasestoeffectaslowingofapushleftwillcontinue topreventastrongchangeofdirectionforthenextfewyears.Therightsideofthe RobertsCourtisfairlyyoungand/orvigorous,andasignificantchangeinthecourtwill nottakeplaceuntilThomasorScalitoleavethecourt.Thismaytake10yearsor more. IthinkthevotersleavingtheRepublicanPartywillfeelbetrayedandwillworkvery hardtoattackthesourceoftheirbetrayal,andthatistheBushadministrationandits congressionalsupporters.TheymayleavetheRepublicansinarage,andbethe strongestproslytzerstheDemocraticPartyhashadforquiteawhile.Ihavebeen predictingthisforseveralyears.Ihopeithappensin2008. ItistimetorenouncefearandgooutandkicksomeRepublicanAss byOhiodem1 onSunJul06,2008at08:47:39PMPDT [Parent ]

Importantpoint. (6+/0)

Theentirepoliticalprocesshasbeenmovedsofartotherightthatit willtake20yearsormorebeforeafullyliberalagendawillbepossible toimplement.

AnyoneexpectingsweepingliberalchangesevenintheeventofaDemWHand Congressisinforawake upcall.Itwilltakesometime.Afilibusterproofmajorityin theSenatewouldhelp,butIbelievethat'stoomuchtohopefor.Andyourpointre SCOTUSiswell taken.ThebestbasicthingtheDemscoulddoisbescrupulouslyopen andhonestwiththeelectorateandkeeptheirdamnskirtsclean. Kickapartthestructures. byceebee7 onSunJul06,2008at10:42:12PMPDT [Parent ]

Itwouldalsohelp.... (3+/0) iftheygrewsomedamnbackbones.

Peoplerespondtosomeonewillingtofightandstandupfortheirconvictions.People scornsomeonewhotalksbigandthentuckstailandcowerswhensomeonecallsthem weakinaloudvoice. It'slikegoingthroughasewerinaglassbottomboat.We'reinthisshitbutclearly aboveit! byKalakzak onSunJul06,2008at10:46:57PMPDT [Parent ]

You'vemadeabigassumption (2+/0)

You'reassumingthatincumbentDemocratsshareouragenda. If,ontheotherhand,they'remerelymiddle oftheroaderswhoAPPEARliberalmerely byconstrastwiththewingers,they'restandingupfortheirwatereddownconvictions now. "Unseen,inthebackground,Fatewasquietlyslippingtheleadintotheboxingglove." P.G.Wodehouse

bygsbadj onMonJul07,2008at05:49:48AMPDT [Parent ]

IhopesomeDemocratsshareouragenda (2+/0)

IamhopefulthatasolidworkingmajorityinbothhousesandaDemocraticpresident whowillleadwithaprogressiveagenda,andwhowillsignprogressivelegislationinto lawwillhelpsomeDemocratsinCongressreturntotheirliberalandprogressiveroots. ItistimetorenouncefearandgooutandkicksomeRepublicanAss byOhiodem1 onMonJul07,2008at06:43:27AMPDT [Parent ]

Ohmanyofthemdo (0+/0)

Butsomeofthemdon'tandit'snotproductivetoworkourselvesupintoalather whentheydon'tvoteourway. Wejustneedtoelectmorecandidatesthatwillgoalongwithus. "Unseen,inthebackground,Fatewasquietlyslippingtheleadintotheboxing glove."P.G.Wodehouse bygsbadj onMonJul07,2008at01:41:32PMPDT [Parent ]

Verysalient (1+/0)

TheideathatourformofGovernmentcanswiftlychangeismorethanamyth. The24/7newscyclerequiresnewproductconstantlyandthereisalargeandloud contingentoftheseplayers. Becauseofthisneed,theAmericanmindisconstantlybeingbombardedwith messagesofurgencywheninfact,noimmediatesolutionexists. Wearetalkingabout40yearsofthisnationgoinginonedirectionwiththe accompanyingstartsandstops,allthetime,marchingtowardsthepoliticalright. Those40yearswilltakemorethanonePresidentialtermtoexecutethechange. Electionsin2006areaperfectreminderoftheslownessofourformofGovernment. SomanyAmericansexpectedmorethanwhatcouldbedeliveredfromwhatis basicallyaDemocraticMajorityintheHouse,foundtheirimpatienceincreasedand theirirritationgrowingwiththehelpofthemediaandit'snewscycleneedsplusthe Republicanoperativeswhorelishedpointingouttheobvious(minusthereason)that theDemocratswereineffectiveintheiractions. OurNation'scoursechangehasjustbegun,anditwillbedemographicsthatthateffect thechange. That24/7newscyclenowbeingtheconstant,hasalsodevelopedinotherways, decentralizationofmessaging,nolongercanafewmediaplayersdictatethemessage, evenwiththeconsolidationofownershipdownintoevenfewerplayerssimplybecause theirbusinessmodelsdictatesubdivisionofdemographicsandaconcomitantappealto capturethedemographicbyappealingtotheirwants. Whilecontrollingthespigotsofinformationandcommentary,themediagiantsopen thespectrumtodiversityofthoughtandcommunicationthatisprovingtobebeyond theireditorialcapabilities. HistorianswillpointbacktothedawningofCablenewsoperationsandthenthe Internetandthetimethelidcameofthebox,astimewillhavewrittenthestoryof personalizedmasscommunicationandpublishingbecominguncontrollable. StoriesemergingabouttheintenseeffortsChinaisundertakingfortheOlympics underscoretheisuesthatconfrontthosewhoattempttocontroltheexpanding inventoryofthoughtdeliveredinincreasinglyuncontrollablemannersduetotheirsize andportability. WhileAmericanmediawillsurelyfocusontheespionageangleofthisevent, promotingtheideathattheChinesearesetuptointerceptandstealanyinformation possiblefromallwhoenterintotheircountry,thelikelihoodthatinformationtheyseek toprevententeringChinawillinfiltratetheirdefenseslikewaterpouringthroughfilter paperisgreater. BacktotheUSA,thisnationnowhashadover100millionlivebirthssincetheCivil RightsActpassedduringJohnson'sAdministrationandover130millionshavebeen born. Thenumbersofeligiblevotershavingbeenbornsincethenarenowintothesecond generationJohnsonspokeabout. ConcurrentlythenumberofAmericanvoterswhoweresucceptibletothepullof Reaganismhavediminshedthroughdeathandforotherspersonalgrowth. InthewordsofthelateJOHNNYCASH"ICANHEARTHETRAINACOMMIN".

InthewordsofthelateJOHNNYCASH"ICANHEARTHETRAINACOMMIN". PoliticalpardonsareunacceptableMrBush,andsoishidingyourdaddy'ssecrets behindexectutiveorders,freethetruthnow.Econ3.50&Soc.5.79 bywmc418onMonJul07,2008at09:02:14AMPDT [Parent ]

Iwouldsayyou (4+/0) arevery optimistic:

...asignificantchangeinthecourtwillnottakeplaceuntilThomasor Scalitoleavethecourt.Thismaytake10yearsormore.

Maybe20,even25years.Wehaveaseriousproblemwiththecourt,andwehavea casethatthecourtisnotwhatitshouldbe.Weshouldnotsettleforitasitis.Although itcan'tbereversed,thebasicallyillegalfashioninwhichthecurrentcourtwas constitutedmustbeaddressed.Congresshasthepowertodothat,andweshouldn't stopuntiltheydo.Bushlostthe2000election,andthenthecourtappointedBush,who inturnbeefeduptheradicalrightwingofthecourtwithAlitoandRoberts.Toanyone capableofreasoning,thereisablatantconflictofinteresthere.Ithinkweneedtwo morejusticesonthecourt,foratotalofeleven,orperhapseventhirteenanditwould beonlyfairtohavethemappointedbyBarackObama,withnoconservativelip,fully andunconditionallyforcedbyaDemocraticsenateinthespiritofcompensationforthe unfairwayinwhichthecurrentcourtwasseated. IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onSunJul06,2008at11:09:08PMPDT [Parent ]

Courtpacking! (2+/0)

Ithinkweneedtwomorejusticesonthecourt,foratotalofeleven,or perhapseventhirteenanditwouldbeonlyfairtohavethem appointedbyBarackObama,withnoconservativelip,fullyand unconditionallyforcedbyaDemocraticsenateinthespiritof compensationfortheunfairwayinwhichthecurrentcourtwasseated.

Willitreallyhappenthistime?Orwillitserveasmeanstoconvincethecurrentcourt togivegroundonkeyissues? WhatdoweseeObamaattemptingtodothatwilllikelybeblockedbythecourt?The elementsoftheNewDealthatObamawouldliketorecreate(ieGreenCorps, increasedprotectionforunions,attemptsatinfrastructureimprovementprojectsetc) arenowlesscontroversialthaninthe1930's.Willhehaveoppositionhere?Orperhaps theoppositionwillbetowardsmoreinnovativeideasthatObamamighthave,perhaps onesthathehasn'tproposedyet. byscotths onMonJul07,2008at03:31:09AMPDT [Parent ]

Let'shopethecourtreadsthepapers. nt (1+/0)

ItistimetorenouncefearandgooutandkicksomeRepublicanAss byOhiodem1onMonJul07,2008at06:52:47AMPDT [Parent ]

Thisisnot (0+/0)

aboutObama.ThisissomethingprogressivesshouldpursuethroughtheSenate.This courtisgoingtohurtalotofpeople.Theyaregoingtocausealotofpainand suffering.Youcanbettheyarenotgoingtogoaway.Wehaveafewotherproblems relatedtouncheckedauthorityinthiscountry,andthiscourtwasseatedwiththe expresspurposeoflookingtheotherway.Wehavearighttoexaminethevalidityof howthecurrentcourtcameabout. IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onMonJul07,2008at11:11:44AMPDT [Parent ]

howitcameaboutisan (1+/0)

interestingquestion...WhileIagreethisisaproblem,itseemsasifitwouldbehard tobeprovethatinvalidity.Especiallysincethecourtdecisioneffectedaracethatwas verynearlyatie.PartoftheproblemIthinkisthatsomuchisdecidedinabinary functioninourcountry.Iftheelectionhadgonetheotherwaybyjustasmallnumber ofvotesinFloridaandentirelydifferenthistorywouldhaveresultedandtodaywe wouldhavedifferentjustices.Suchasmallnumberofvotesshouldn'tmakesucha largedifferenceinthecourseofevents.I'mnotsurewhatthesolutionisexactly,but whenthecountryisveryclosetotied(asitwasin2000)thegovernmentshould reflectthisrealityandideallythepoliciesitcreatesshouldbesomewhatnearthe center.Thesystemasitstandsnowallowsthepartywhichwinsbythetinniestof marginstopushthepartyfarinthedirectionitwantsto.Thisleadstosituationssuch asthis,whenwehaveasupremecourtthatdoesnotreflecttheviewsofmost Americans.Ithinkitalsoleadstostrongerpendulumswingsasthepartiesviefor controlthenpushashardastheycanwhentheyobtainit. I'mnotsurewhatthesolutiontothesupremecourtproblem.Thesupremecourt seemstomeanuglyinelegantcreation.WeelectanewPresidentevery4yearsanda newcongressevery2.Thecourtisasmallbodywhichwaitsforjusticestoretireon theirownordie.Thusthecompositionofthecourtdependsgreatlyonwhenjustices endtheirtermsandwherethishappensinrelationtothependulumasitswingsback andforth.Thus,luckycanlanduswithacourtthatstronglyreflectsonepartyorthe otherand/orlagssignificantlybehindtheviewsofthecountryatlarge.Iunderstand thatthepointofthisistoensurejudicialindependenceandprobablyalsotoensure cautiononthepartofthecourt.Iwonderifthereisanotherwaytoaccomplishthis. PerhapstermlimitswhichalloweachPresidentasetnumberofcourtappointmentsper term.Atleastthiswouldlikelyleadtocourtmemberswhoseidealsreflectequallythe individualsthepublichaschosenasPresident.(Ratherthenemphasizingafewlucky Presidentswhogetmorethantheirfairshareofcourtappointments).Itdoesseema difficultproblem.... byscotths onTueJul08,2008at03:22:15AMPDT [Parent ]

Thepurposeofthe (0+/0)

lifetimeappointmentswastoinsulatethecourtfrompoliticalwhimtomakeit stable.Unfortunately,whentheappointmentprocessistamperedwith,asithas beenlately,thatstabilitycanbefixedinanextremestate,sothecourtisnow extremist,yetstable.Itispermanentlybroken,sortoflikesomethingthatgets supergluedtogetherinthewrongway! Asfarasthelargeeffectsofsmalldifferencesinvotes,unlessthepartyincharge illegallyoverstepsitspower(asBushhas),thencloseracestendtoleadtofrequent shiftsinpowerandrandomdistributionofdifferentpartiesinthethreebranches (sometimescalledgridlock whichisasortofbuiltin"braking"mechanismfor whenthecorrectcourseisn'tclear).TheRepublicanshavecarefullyand intentionallycreatedthis"perfectstorm",andillegallymanipulatedthesystemto createafalsedirection.Eventhoughtheintenseandoutlandisheffortrequiredtodo itdestroyedtheirpartyreputationtemporarily,theyreallyhavewoninabigway. Thatiswhytheyarenotsoupsetaboutthefacttheymay"lose"inNovember(with emphasison"may",becauseweDemocratsstillhaveouroldknackforsnatching defeatfromthejawsofvictory). Theconservativeshavefreeze driedthegovernmenttotheirownliking,intheir owndistortedfashion,foratleast30years.Theywereabletodoitthrougha carefulcombinationofarrogantillegalactioncombinedwithtechnologicaladvances incommunications,thelatterofwhichthefounderscouldnothaveclearlyforeseen. Ittookthem30yearstodoit,butnowtheycantakeabreakandenjoyspending themoneywhilewetrytoregroupandfigureoutwhathappened,andtrytogetour democracyback.Theproblemispoliticalawarenessandvotereducation(which conservativesusedtechnologytodestroy).Althoughliberalshavebeen uncomfortablewithwhatwasgoingonforalongtime,theyerroneouslythought theycouldcorrectitquicklywhentheygotthetime,becausetheydidn'tpay attentioningovernmentclass.Unfortunately,theywerewrong! Thepointis,ifeverybodyplaysbytherules,thenclosevoteshavetheintended effect.Thesystemworks.Somebodyhadtobreakthelawinordertobreakthe system.Andthatcomestomypoint:WehaveacasetomaketoCongressthat interventionisrequired,andthatitispreciselycasessuchasthisthattheyare empoweredtointervenein.Theconservativeshavecheated.Correctiveactionis necessary,anditreallyisouronlyhope. IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onTueJul08,2008at10:04:39AMPDT [Parent ]

courtsandrandomness.... (1+/0)

Asfarasthelargeeffectsofsmalldifferencesinvotes,unless thepartyinchargeillegallyoverstepsitspower(asBushhas), thencloseracestendtoleadtofrequentshiftsinpowerand randomdistributionofdifferentpartiesinthethreebranches (sometimescalledgridlock whichisasortofbuiltin"braking" mechanismforwhenthecorrectcourseisn'tclear).The Republicanshavecarefullyandintentionallycreatedthis "perfectstorm",andillegallymanipulatedthesystemtocreate afalsedirection.

Theproblemisthatthesamplesizeistosmall,only2.5electionsperdecade. Themeansifthecourtconsistsof4decadesofappointments,only10elections wereinvolvedatmost.Someoftheseelectionsweren'tcloseinthepast4 decades,(the80'sforinstance).Thus,themakeupofthecourtdependsona fewcloseelections.Therepublicansmayhavebeenabletoswingthosetotheir favor,buteveniftheyhadn'ttheycouldverywellhavewonthoseelectionsby smallmargins.Ifeachelectionwasacoinflip,thechancesof2coinsinarow comingouthead'sisonly1in4.Bypurechancealonetheoddsofthe republicanswinningbothtimesarenotthathorrible.Thisofcoursedoesnot considerthedistributionofthejudgesdeaths/retirementswhichmakethe problemworse.Itislikeapollthatdoesnothavealargeenoughsamplesize togiveanaccuratereading,bypurechancealonethecourtcouldwinduptoo stronglytoonesideortheotherinsuchawaythatitisnotreallyreflectiveof theopinionofthepopulation.

TheRepublicanshavecarefullyandintentionallycreatedthis "perfectstorm",andillegallymanipulatedthesystemtocreate afalsedirection.Eventhoughtheintenseandoutlandisheffort requiredtodoitdestroyedtheirpartyreputationtemporarily, theyreallyhavewoninabigway.Thatiswhytheyarenotso upsetaboutthefacttheymay"lose"inNovember(with emphasison"may",becauseweDemocratsstillhaveourold knackforsnatchingdefeatfromthejawsofvictory).

Thetimestheyareachangin....We'llwininNovermber...Itisn'tlikethose othertimes....

Theconservativeshavefreeze driedthegovernmenttotheir ownliking,intheirowndistortedfashion,foratleast30years. Theywereabletodoitthroughacarefulcombinationof arrogantillegalactioncombinedwithtechnologicaladvancesin communications,thelatterofwhichthefounderscouldnothave clearlyforeseen.Ittookthem30yearstodoit,butnowthey cantakeabreakandenjoyspendingthemoneywhilewetryto regroupandfigureoutwhathappened,andtrytogetour democracyback.

I'mnotsurewhatyoumeanhere....Wearenotgoingtoberegrouping.We haveregrouped!Wearetakingpower.Theyneedtoregroup.Theircoalitionof socialandfiscalconservativesisbroken,whileourpartyisstrongerand growing.TheMillennialGeneration(those525,thelargestgenerationinthe historyofAmerica)favorthedemocratsbyatleasta2:1margin.Theywerean importantpartofthe2006gainsandarelikelygoingtobeanimportantpartof anObamavictoryandmoregainsincongress.In4yearstherewillbemore Millennialsintheelectorate,and4yearsafterthatevenmore.Thisisn'tashort termpendulumswing,thisisan80yearlongpendulumswingingbackthrough thecentertotheleft.Itisn'tmerelythatconservatismfeelstomuchofthe countrytobetiredanddead,itisn'tmerelyreligiousfolkswhowanttofocuson povertyandenvironmentalconcernsratherthangaysandabortion,itisn't merelywesternlibertarianswhonolongertrusttherepublicanstoprotecttheir civilrights,anditisn'tmerelytheshortandlongtermdamagetherepublicans havedonetotheirparty.Allthosethingswouldleadtoatleastashortterm pushtotheleft,butthisismuchbiggerthanthat.Therepublicanswillbethe onesregroupingandfiguringoutwheretherepartyisgoing,thedemocratsare goingtobefiguringoutwheretostartcleaningupthemess!

Althoughliberalshavebeenuncomfortablewithwhatwasgoing onforalongtime,theyerroneouslythoughttheycouldcorrect itquicklywhentheygotthetime,becausetheydidn'tpay attentioningovernmentclass.Unfortunately,theywerewrong!

Whycan'tliberalscorrecttheproblems?Ifyoumeanthecourtwillbea problem...Well..itwasinthe1930'saswell,andweovercameit.Wecandoit

again.....

Thepointis,ifeverybodyplaysbytherules,thenclosevotes havetheintendedeffect.Thesystemworks.Somebodyhadto breakthelawinordertobreakthesystem.Andthatcomesto mypoint:WehaveacasetomaketoCongressthat interventionisrequired,andthatitispreciselycasessuchas thisthattheyareempoweredtointervenein.Theconservatives havecheated.Correctiveactionisnecessary,anditreallyis ouronlyhope.

Ithinkmypointaboveisthatclosevoteswon'tnecessarilyhavetheintended effect(becauseofsmallsamplesize)andperhapswewouldbebetteroffwitha systeminwhichthatwasmoreguaranteed.Ithinkthiswouldbeatoughcase tomaketocongress.WithKennedyatthecenter,isthecourtgoingtobeso difficulttoworkwithastostopObama'splans?I'dbecuriousastowhereyou thoughtthestumblingblockswouldbeifyoufeelitwillbe.Perhapsthe legislativeandexecutivebranchwillhavetobemorecarefulindraftinglaws andpoliciestoensurethatourconstitutionalrightsareprotectedifwecan't countonthecourtstodothisforthetimebeing.I'mmoreconcernedabout whatthecourtsmightdotoblockessentialplansweneedtomovethroughthe comingcrisis...toredevelopourphysicalinfrastructure,regulatebusinessand finance,redistributewealth,providejobsandopportunitiesfordisadvantaged individuals,moveusentirelyoffofoil,dealwiththepotentialenvironmental catastropheetcetc. byscotths onTueJul08,2008at10:54:38AMPDT [Parent ]

Oh,talk (0+/0)

dirtytome!Idesperatelyhopeyouarecorrect.Pleasemakeitcometrue! Iwillcomebackonthesamplingandthecourt,though.Thewholepointis thatthecourtisnotintendedtoberepresentative.Myargumentisnotthat thecurrentcourtdoesn'trepresent me.Myargumentisthattheyare biasedbecausetheywereappointedincorrectly,andtheywereappointed forthespecificpurposeofrepresentingsomeone (therightwing).Theyare supposedtobetheleastrepresentativeofourofficials.Theyarenot supposedtobeappointed,theoretically,onpoliticalgrounds.Thatiswhy theyareinnowayelected.Theyarechosenbythemosthighlystable representativesfromtwobranches,andtheyaresupposedtobeneutral, becauseitissupposedtobeacompromiseamongallbiases.Youcouldget somemorerepresentativenessintoitifyoucountthesenateelections, becausethesenateisnotsupposedtobetherubberstampthattheDems lethappenthistime.Theywerenotsupposedtobeharassedinto submissionbytheillegalthuggeryoftheBushadministration thethreats ofrulechanges,andalltheextremismofthosedayswhenBushstillgothis waybysimplythreateningtantrumsandyelling"nationalsecurity". Thejusticesaresupposedtobepeoplewhoeveryonefeelssafewith, enoughsothattheyarebeyondtheneedtobeheldaccountablethrough elections.Wedon'twantthemissuingrulingsforvotes,thewaystate judgessentenceinnocentpeopletodeathandlifeimprisonment,fully knowingtheyareinnocent,becausetheydon'twanttobeaccusedofbeing softoncrimecomeelectiontime. Thatisn'thowitworkedthistime.Bushappointedhighlypartisan,highly biased,highlypoliticaljustices(AlitoandRoberts),whowouldhave normallybeenscreenedoutthroughthesenate.ButoursenateDemswere preoccupied,spineless,complicit,anddefensive,sotheyignoredtheir responsibility.Theywerebeingterrorizedbyanillegalexecutivewithno respectforlaw. TheBushadministrationwasn'tevensupposedtobetheretobeginwith, anditisveryrelevanttomycasethatthecourtitselfinstalledhim!The processhiccuped,andthecourtgotcompromisedinafewshortyearsof someunprecedentedhankypankyandinbreeding.AllIwantisforustoget thebalanceback.Imightevenbepersuadedifoneofthosenewjustices madesomefaintsignofbeingimpartial,buttheyseemtobeshameless. Obviously,theconstitutionsimplydoesn'tmeantothemwhatitmeansto commonpeople,andtheydon'tseeusasdeservingofanyprotection underthelaw. Yes,thecourtcanbeslowlydrugalongwithmassivesocialchange.Butwe areinadangeroussituationnow,andwehaven'tthetimetowaitonthat process.Wecouldtipintomilitarydictatorshipatanyminute,andthecourt couldn'tbereliedontostopit.IthinkCongressshouldact. Kennedyisnotacentrist.Heisanhonestconservativewhotendstobe fair.Herulesagainsttheinterestsoftheleftmoreoftenthanforus.

IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinkthe Bushdayswerethegoodolddays! byphaktor onTueJul08,2008at12:39:19PMPDT [Parent ]

IhopeIamnotoverlyoptimistic (0+/0)

RobertsandAlitoarefairlyyoung(bothintheir50's,Ithink),Scaliais73andIamnot sureofThomas'age,buthemustbeover75. IjusthopeJusticeStevenswillsurviveuntilwehavePresidentObamaintheWhite House. GWBwillgetnonewSCOTUSappointments,butaseriesof4 4tiescouldstillworkto advancetheradicalrightagenda,byaffirminglowercourtdecisions. YouareabsolutelyrightthatRobertsmaysitintheChiefJusticechairfor30yearsor morewithAlitoashisrighthandman.Whatanuglythought. ItistimetorenouncefearandgooutandkicksomeRepublicanAss byOhiodem1 onMonJul07,2008at06:51:05AMPDT [Parent ]

ClarenceThomasis60 (1+/0) Born23June1948.

Firstsummerinmyfamily'snewhousejustWofBellaireTX.JustafterLyndon JohnsonhadwonaDemocraticrunoffbyjustahandfulofvotes,withwhatmany consideredtobefraudulentvotesinthecountiescontrolledbypoliticalbossGeorge Parr. byscott5js onMonJul07,2008at09:09:02AMPDT [Parent ]

Ohdear (0+/0)

GladamIthatImissedsharingabirthdaywithhimbyafewhours. 8.38,7.49 bypapercut onMonJul07,2008at10:13:35AMPDT [Parent ]

Thekeyisracism. (1+/0)

Thevoterwilllietopollstersabouttheirvotes.Rememberthe"TomBradley"effect. RushandFauxcontrolthemasses. bymikeofelctown onSunJul06,2008at08:41:08PMPDT [Parent ]

Really? (4+/0)

Well,theBradleyeffectdidnotexactlymaterializeinthe2006TennesseeSenaterace (HaroldFordactuallyoutperformedhispollingnumbersthere),nordiditmaterializein thevastmajorityofthe2008primarycontests,asObamaactuallydidbetterthanthe pollingshowedinalargenumberofallwhitestates. AndtheonlypeopleRushandFaux"control"aretheright wingbase,whowouldvote RepublicanregardlessoftheraceoftheDemocraticcandidate. byechatwa onMonJul07,2008at02:44:57AMPDT [Parent ]

The12mostfrighteningwordsintheEnglish... (12+/0) ...language:

Hi.I'maRepublican,andI'mheretosaveyoufromthegovernment.

bydaulton onSunJul06,2008at07:35:37PMPDT

Imean,13.n/t (3+/0)

bydaulton onSunJul06,2008at07:36:41PMPDT

[Parent ]

Nevertrustsomeonetorunthegovernment (12+/0) iftheirstatedgoalistodrownitinabathtub.

byBustedFlatinBatonRouge onSunJul06,2008at07:37:11PMPDT [Parent ]

GroverNorquist'sBathtub (21+/0)

Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:40:10PMPDT [Parent ]

Irememberseeingthisatthe9/05WDCrally... (2+/0)

...itwasalargerthanlifeposterdisplayedinfullviewonornearConstitutionSt., whenmemoriesofKatrinawerestillfresh,anddoubledtheangerthatmostofus alreadyfeltattheBushAdministrationfortheirfuckingupcolossallyinbothIraqand inourowncountry. BEthemovement.ObamaforPresident. byboofdah onSunJul06,2008at07:44:44PMPDT [Parent ]

WhataboutjustdrowningtheGOP (9+/0)

Inthebathtub.Wearehelpingthemslimdowntheirmembershiptothepointwhere whomeverisleftwillfitintoafullbathtubverynicely.Allwehavetodoistohelp themwiththefirst"dunk". Weareatthemomentwhenourlivesmustbeplacedonthelineifournationisto surviveitsownfolly.MartinLutherKing. byEyesWideOpen onSunJul06,2008at07:53:43PMPDT [Parent ]

IwishGroverNorquist... (0+/0)

...wouldslip,fall,anddrowninhisownbathtub! Floatlikeamanholecover,stinglikeasashweight.JohnMcCain=OldBoatAnchor byJeffWonSunJul06,2008at09:09:53PMPDT [Parent ]

ThiscountrycannotaffordtoEVER (5+/0)

andImeanEVER,allowanotherRepublicannearthePresidency.Ifwehaveto physicallyrestrainthemfromruiningourcountry,thensobeit. NEVER.EVER.EVER.AGAIN. Theyhavedonesomuchdamage,wewillnotbeabletorecoverforanother30years. WeneedtoABOLISHtheRepublicanParty,anddeclaretheRepublicanPartyUn American. Weareatthemomentwhenourlivesmustbeplacedonthelineifournationisto surviveitsownfolly.MartinLutherKing. byEyesWideOpen onSunJul06,2008at07:46:02PMPDT [Parent ]

Saveyoufromthegovernment? (0+/0)

Agovernmentoccupyingacountrythousandsofmilesaway.Agovernmentthatwould crimnalizeabortion.Agovernmentthatdoesnotgiveequalprotectiontosame sex marriages. byscott5js onMonJul07,2008at09:12:58AMPDT [Parent ]

TherecentstatementsfromPIMCO'sCFO (10+/0)

ConcerningBush'sattemptstomimictheeconomicstrategyof"anotherera"should putagoodnailinthatcoffin. WhenWilliamGrossistellingyouthatcuttingtaxesfortherichandderegulating marketsiskillingtheeconomy,thingshavechanged. byDevilstower onSunJul06,2008at07:35:56PMPDT

AsIWroteAboutHowEnergy... (6+/0)

...willdominatealmosteverypolicyareaforyearstocome,Ithoughtofyourpost fromlastnight,andhowmaybeIshouldwrite"resource"insteadofenergy. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:37:20PMPDT [Parent ]

Thebestenergypolicywillbeindependentof (5+/0)

resources,andbe dependent ontechnologies.Imean,ifsomethingislimitless, withoutborders,andcan'tbetrulymonopolized(solar,wind),thenmaybeitdoesn'tfit theclassic,historicaldefinitionofaresource.Hereisthelitmustestcanyoufighta waroverit? Gentlemen,youcan'tfightinhere!ThisistheWarRoom! bybigtimecynic onSunJul06,2008at07:48:55PMPDT [Parent ]

Well,IsupposetheChinesecould... (2+/0)

...threatentobuildabigumbrellaoverNorthAmericatoblotoutthesunandwecould fightoverthat. Kiddingaside,thewhole"windandsolarasanantidotefortheresourcewars"isa provocativeideathatI'veneverseenanyonementionbefore.Thanksforthe brainfood. Thegoalisnottobringyouradversariestotheirkneesbuttotheirsenses. Mahatma Gandhi bykingubu onSunJul06,2008at08:12:45PMPDT [Parent ]

Theproblem (3+/0)

isthatinvestmentfollowsthelineofmaximumprofitpotential,soit'sentirelypossible thatmorewillbeinvestedincontrollable(i.e.,higher profit)technologies,andthis meansthosetechnologieswillgrowfasterandhaveagreaterlikelihoodofbecoming thestandard. Asolarthermaldishcontainingnothingbutasiliconmirrorandastirlingenginemight becheapasdirtandsimpleastic tactoe,butthatmeansanyonecouldbuildonewith alittlemoneyandminoralterationstododgeyourpatent.Plentyofcompanieswill pursueit,buttheirprofitmarginswillberazor thiniftheyexistatall,andwillnotscale

asfastasthecompetition. ACIGSpanel,however,isnottrivialtechnologydespitepromisingcheapunitcosts, anditinvolvesexoticelementslikeindiumandgallium.Ifthatbecametheglobal standard,indiumandgalliumwouldsimplyreplaceoilasthepreciouscommodity peoplekillanddietocontrol.Thetrivialtechnologieswouldnotseesubstantialgains againstthehigherprofittypesuntilresourceshortagesyetagainforcedachange.It's tortoiseandhare. Theupshot:Whateverisbothscarceandimmediatelynecessary,nomatterhowfar removeddownthesupplychain,willbeamotivationforwar.We'llchipawayatthe listofthosemotivations,butevenifenergywastakenentirelyoffwe'djustbefighting overlife extensiondrugs,orrocketfuel,orcontrolofanorbit,etc.etc. Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onSunJul06,2008at09:06:55PMPDT [Parent ]

Gonnahafta... (1+/0)

...startlookingforasteroidrichinthemfancyschmancymetals! Floatlikeamanholecover,stinglikeasashweight.JohnMcCain=OldBoatAnchor byJeffWonSunJul06,2008at09:12:15PMPDT [Parent ]

TheMoonwouldbeeasier. (1+/0)

It'snotexactlydrowninginthem,butit'sclose,itstaysclose,andithasdecentgravity tooperatein.Ofcourse,seafloorminingwilltakeofflongbeforelunarmineswould becosteffective. Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onSunJul06,2008at10:34:34PMPDT [Parent ]

AfellownamedMing... (1+/0)

oncetriedmovingthemoonclosertousforeasieraccessbutsomemaniac quarterbackgotaburrinhisjockstrapandstoppedhim. It'slikegoingthroughasewerinaglassbottomboat.We'reinthisshitbutclearly aboveit! byKalakzak onSunJul06,2008at10:55:41PMPDT [Parent ]

Godawfulmovie. Butclassiccamp. (1+/0)

Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onMonJul07,2008at01:49:12AMPDT [Parent ]

Thetechnologyandthematerials (0+/0)

willbecometheresource.Copper.Semiconductormaterials.Raremetals,etc.The reasonwehadoilisbecauseofit'ssimplicity.Theequipmentforsolarisvery expensive,andtosomeextentconsumed.Manyofthematerialsarethemselves becominglessabundant.Neverhidethecostoftheequipmentwhenlookingatsolar. IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onSunJul06,2008at11:15:18PMPDT [Parent ]

Link?n/t (0+/0)

BruceinLouisville Visitmeat brucemaples.com bybmaples onMonJul07,2008at01:38:20AMPDT [Parent ]

TheReaganeracouldn'tendquicklyenoughto (9+/0)

suitme.Itwasaneraofunbridledgreedandabsolutecontemptfortheconceptof diversitythathadhistoricallymadeAmericasoinvitingandstrong. "Ifafreesocietycannothelpthemanywhoarepoor,itcannotsavethefewwhoare rich."JFKJanuary20,1961 byrontunonSunJul06,2008at07:36:44PMPDT

Itdid,however,spawn... (2+/0)

agreatseriesonHBO.IhavefondmemoriesofNotNecessarilytheNews. It'slikegoingthroughasewerinaglassbottomboat.We'reinthisshitbutclearly aboveit! byKalakzak onSunJul06,2008at10:57:15PMPDT [Parent ]

IftheReaganeratrulyends (14+/0)

itwillbeprimarilybecausetheeconomybecomesmoredemocratic.Thatrequiresa resurgentlabormovementaboveallelse,Ithink. Idowanttonote,whileanotherwisegreatpost,I'mconcernedaboutthecomment thatbasedonhistoricalrecords,unemployementisnotveryhigh. AsKevinPhillipsnotesinarecentarticle everyoneshouldread,Presidentsfrom NixontoBushII(includingClinton)havemanipulatedfiguresandredefinedthe ConsumerPriceIndextomakethenumbersreflectbetterontheirrespective administrations.Sotheofficialnumbersareactuallybullshit:

Therealnumbers,tomosteconomicallymindedAmericans,wouldbe afacefullofcoldwater.Basedonthecriteriainplaceaquarter centuryago,today'sU.S.unemploymentrateissomewherebetween9 percentand12percenttheinflationrateisashighas7oreven10 percenteconomicgrowthsincetherecessionof2001hasbeen mediocre,despiteahugesurgeinthewealthandincomesofthe superrich,andwearefallingbackintorecession.Ifwhatwehave beensoldinrecentyearshasbeendelusional"PollyannaCreep,"what wereallyneedtodayisapictureofoureconomyexdistortion.For whatitwouldrevealisanationindeepdifficultynotjustdomestically butglobally.

Riselikelionsafterslumberinunvanquishablenumber. Shakeyourchainstoearthlike dew,whichinsleephadfallenonyou.Yearemany theyarefew. bycruz onSunJul06,2008at07:37:52PMPDT

ButWe'reNotAtFiguresLikeThose... (3+/0)

...seenintheDepression(whereover30%wereunemployed)oreventheReagan minidepression,whereunemploymentwentuptosomethinglike1617%.Evenifyou addinthosewhoaredefinedasnotactivelysearchingforjobs,Idon'tthinkwe're over10%.10%isbad,realbad,butnotasbadasinsomeofthoseprevious economiccrises. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:42:08PMPDT [Parent ]

Myguessistherealunemploymentraterightnow (5+/0)

issomewherearound12%(ifyoucountthe#ofpeopledefinedasnotactively searching)... Butnextyearisgoingtoreallystink,andObama'sgonnagetcrushedforit.Hopefully theeconomytakesanupturnby4Q2009or1Q2010... 4.63,4.41 bydpinzowonSunJul06,2008at07:45:12PMPDT [Parent ]

Addintheunder employedandyougetamore (5+/0) accuratepicture.

"Nothingismorepowerfulthananideawhosetimehascome." VictorHugo

bylordcopper onSunJul06,2008at07:46:46PMPDT [Parent ]

Underemploymentisthekey (2+/0)

ThestatisticconcerningthegapbetweenCEOpayandtheaveragesalaryworkeris thetelltalesignofunderemploymentanditisdoingallthedamageofunemployment andperhapsmoreb/cofitsinsidiousness.The"haves"bestargumentisthatthereis fullemployment,andariseinrealwageswouldthreatenthatfigure,thisisacrockof shitthatwehavebeenspoonfedsinceReagan'svoodooeconomicsbecamethe drivingforceinAmerica.LOOKaroundtheworldpeople,theUSisn'teveninthetop 10inaveragestandardoflivinganymore,manycountriesthatemploymore progressivewagestructureshaveamuchhigherstandardofliving,Sweden,Iceland, Germany,Canada, thesecountrieshavenotsuccumbedtothe"greed"isgood notionthatAmericaneverletsgooff.CEO'soffailingcompanies(HomeDepot)are showeredwithmillionsastheyleave,asureasignasanythatourcountryisstuckin poverty,thegovernmentsent"stimulus"checksof$600,tofamilies,expectinga "bump"intheeconomy,theveryfactthat$600DIDhelpagreatmanypeopleat $4.00agallongastimes,isallthetestamentthatIneedthatthericharecontentwith thegrowinggap,andmerelywanttheproletariattoshutupandwatcht.v.PAYUS WHATWEAREWORTH!!!! "Ishereadytolead,myanswerisno,BarackObamaisagifted,eloquentyoungman [whoshouldknowhisplaceandstaythere]Joe"Racist"Liebermann by4CasandChlo onMonJul07,2008at07:25:48AMPDT [Parent ]

Nobodywilllistentothemedia (1+/0)

iftheytrytoblameObamafornextyear.Notjustbecauseit'spreposterous,but becausehisboldnessandintelligenceasaleaderwillmarksuchastunningchange thatpeoplewillthinkhimblindinglygloriousforsimplyfailingtobeavillain.Andhe willdoconsiderablymorethanjustrefrainfromevil. Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onSunJul06,2008at09:22:58PMPDT [Parent ]

Agreed.Partofourcurrentproblemis (3+/0)

thedifferencebetweenincomeandwealthattheupperend.Unemploymentisnotas badasthedepression,buttaxationeffectsmakethedisparityinincomeworse.The middleclassisnolongeranywherenearthemiddle,andtheygettaxedatahigher ratethantheincreasinglysmallupperclass. Itisn'tthatwehaveunemploymentsomuchasthefactthatemploymentdoesnot guaranteeafamilysufficientincomeforaplacetoliveorhealthcare,forinstance.The Reaganrevolutionhasbeenamassiveshiftofwealthtoaverysmallpartofthe population.ThepollyannacreepinthearticlebyKevinPhillipshasallowedthisto happenwhileclaimingthateverythingisfine. Thanksforthispost. Outsideofadog,abookisaman'sbestfriend.Insideofadogit'stoodarktoread. Marx(nonotthatone,Groucho) bymarketgeek onSunJul06,2008at08:00:39PMPDT [Parent ]

Niceplacetostopfortonight (1+/0)

Itgoesbackmuchfurther,suggestingthattheleft,wheninpower,isjustasdeceptive astheright. Question: HasObamachangedhispositiononanythingsinceClintonconceeded? byURMissTaken onSunJul06,2008at07:54:41PMPDT [Parent ]

Iwouldargue (4+/0)

thattheonlytimethelefthaseverbeen"inpower"wasforabout15minutesinthe 1930s.Maybe. Butasidefromthat,Iagreecompletely. Idon'texpectanythingfromObama,andIthinkanyonewhodoesisafool.Sorry,but it'swhatIbelieve.WhatIdoexpectisforustogetorganizedandapplyan unbelievableamountofpressure,likewedidinthe30sand60s(butwithtacticsand

unbelievableamountofpressure,likewedidinthe30sand60s(butwithtacticsand methodssuitabletothepresent),topushObamaandahopefullymoreprogressive Congresstoact. Buthewillthrowbullshit/deceptionatus,makenomistake. (Andno,I'mnottrashingtheman.I'marealistandastudentofhistory.) Riselikelionsafterslumberinunvanquishablenumber. Shakeyourchainstoearthlike dew,whichinsleephadfallenonyou.Yearemany theyarefew. bycruz onSunJul06,2008at08:16:18PMPDT [Parent ]

ObamaRepublicansanyone?n/t (2+/0)

You'vegottobecou rageous,toplaytheoddsthatlovewillwin.Whatevercityyou're in.Was/NotWas byNoodles onSunJul06,2008at07:39:01PMPDT

Howabout"ConstitutionalRepublicans"instead? (1+/0)

Thatgivesthemalittlepatonthebackintheprocess,andhelpsdefinetheir counterpartsforwhattheyare not. Gentlemen,youcan'tfightinhere!ThisistheWarRoom! bybigtimecynic onSunJul06,2008at07:52:26PMPDT [Parent ]

Right.LeadthemfirstawayfromtheGOP, (0+/0)

andletthemmakeuptheirownmindsaboutwheretheyshouldgo. Forinstance,toBobBarr.Anywhere,justawayfromMcSame. byNimbusonSunJul06,2008at07:56:29PMPDT [Parent ]

AsanantidotetoReagenDemocratsthis (0+/0)

isameme,orframe,ormovementorwhat have youwhichwouldmoreeasilystickin people'smindsasawelldefinedstatementofwhatweareasaparty.NordoIseethis somuchasacultofpersonalityaboutObamaawhatherepresentsintermsofthe correctdefinitionofliberalism,awordbadlysmearedoverthelast30years.An antidotetowhatReaganrepresentedwhentheNeoconmovementstarted. You'vegottobecou rageous,toplaytheoddsthatlovewillwin.Whatevercityyou're in.Was/NotWas byNoodles onTueJul08,2008at10:19:07AMPDT [Parent ]

greatarticleD (2+/0)

it'seitheryourconclusion(hopefully)orit'sgoingtobechaosandworse. Iamquitesurenowthatoften,veryoften,inmattersconcerningreligionandpoliticsa man'sreasoningpowersarenotabovethemonkey's.MarkTwain byroute66 onSunJul06,2008at07:39:14PMPDT

Proxybattlesre:feminismalsofueledhomophobia (4+/0)

Manyoftheculturalissuesbecameproxybattlesoverfeminism,and liberalsandtheDemocraticpartybecameassociatedwithtraits generallythoughttobeeffete,ortotaketherootwordfurther, feminine.

WhichiswhyitwassoeasyfortheRepublicanstograspontothesame sexmarriage issuewithsuchsuccess,becausetheywereabletoframeDemocraticmen(andmore specifically,Democraticmalepoliticalcandidates)as"effete,""feminine,"and thereforetehgay. The49orsopercentofAmericanswhostillthinkofourgovernmentintermsofthis womanhating,gaybaitingmindset(andkeepingthewomenandtheirgay "counterparts"down)trulyfrightenme.

BEthemovement.ObamaforPresident. byboofdah onSunJul06,2008at07:43:10PMPDT

Definitely (2+/0)

Gayissuesaredefinitelylinkedtoit.However,Idon'tthinktheRepubsreallyhadas muchsuccesswithgaymarriageasmanythink.Sure,theywontheinitiativesuntil lastyearinAZ,butIdon'tthinkitwasreallybecauseofhostilitytowardgaysasmuch asnotionsaboutmarriagebeingtiedtochurchesandsuch.Ifyouaskpeopleif they'reOKwithsame sexcoupleshavingalistofrights,andyoulistalltherightsof marriage,andyoujustdon'tcallitmarriage,majoritiesarefinewithit.It'sahang up overwhatyoucallit. AndIdon'tthinkgaymarriagedidanythingin2004exceptmaybeginuptheturnout amongconservativeandfearfulelderlyvoters.Idon'tthinkitchangedvoters'votes forpresident. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:47:24PMPDT [Parent ]

Fortunatelyforus... (1+/0)

thepredatoryclosethomosexualswhomakeuptheGOP'smostdevotedcadrescan't seemtostayoutofthenews. Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onSunJul06,2008at09:32:15PMPDT [Parent ]

That'smybiggestconcern (2+/0)

Itsureseemslikethewormhasturnedontheeconomyinthesensethatthe electorateiswakinguptothefactthattheGOPhasnointerestinprovidingtrue economicbenefittoanyclassotherthanthewealthiest3%whopatronizeandfund partyoperations. However,thesocialdivisionsarestillthere.Thosedivisionshavebeenusedsince Nixon(andmuchfurtherback)todividetheworkingclassandconvinceittovote againstitsowneconomicinterest. Ithinkdivisionsbasedongenderhavelargelyabated.Ithinkthatdivisionsbasedon sexualpreferencearestartingtoabate. Iquestion,however,whetherdivisionsbasedonracearemuchbetter.Ithinkthatthe potentialexistsforObamatobreakuptheracialdivisions,atleastamongtheyounger generationofvoters.Idon'tholdoutmuchhopeforwhite50+y/o'sthey'regoingto voteGOPregardless. However,thepotentialforObamatobustuptheseracialdivisionsisgoingtodepend largelyonhowsuccessfulaPresidenthewillbe.Ifhepresidesoveraprotracted, bloodypulloutofIraqandtheeconomycontinuestogosouth,therightisgoingto painthimaslivingproofthatblackpeoplecan'tgetthejobdone. Obamaisgoingtoneedtobeasuccessfulpresidentforthiselectiontobetheendto anera. "Unseen,inthebackground,Fatewasquietlyslippingtheleadintotheboxingglove." P.G.Wodehouse bygsbadj onMonJul07,2008at06:06:15AMPDT [Parent ]

Theonlyproblemwithyourthesis (4+/0)

onthecuspofsomethingnew,hopefullybetter,andcharacterizedbya bold,vigorous,creativeDemocraticparty

isthatthisboldness,forthemostpart,isfoundincommoncitizensandnotin Democraticpoliticians.Butthen,contrarytowhathistorybooksteach,"leaders"very rarelylead.Theyoftenjustfollowthegroundswelltheysenseinthecountry.ButIdo senseachangeinthegeneralpopulation.Sohere'stohopingthatthesheepin Washingtonwillfollowalongdutifully. Gentlemen,youcan'tfightinhere!ThisistheWarRoom! bybigtimecynic onSunJul06,2008at07:44:21PMPDT

Roosevelt... (5+/0)

...ranaverysafeandrisk aversecampaignin1932 . Asyousay,partofleadingisfollowing,andassumingObamawins,wewon'tknow wherehe'llgountilhegetsintooffice.Also,theCongresshehaswillbecrucial,and onthatscoreI'mfairlyoptimistic,becauseIthinkwe'regoingwinbigmajorities. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:50:41PMPDT [Parent ]

Peopleforget (0+/0)

ThattheDemocraticparty(Southernpart)thatRooseveltledweregenerally conservative.SomeoneoncecommentedtoSen.WalterF.George(D)ofGeorgiathat "Rooseveltwashisownworstenemy."TowhichtheSenatorreplied"NotsolongasI amalive." byedbb onMonJul07,2008at05:02:18PMPDT [Parent ]

Soifracism/xenophobia (3+/0)

isnolongereffectiveenoughtowinelectionsforRepublicans,whatwillbetheirnext scaretactictotrytoregainpower? Weshouldbeabletodeliverbottledhotwatertodehydratedbabies. byTFinSF onSunJul06,2008at07:45:55PMPDT

IDon'tKnow,andNeitherDoThey (5+/0)

They'reatanimpasse.Manyofthemthinktheirproblemsarebecausetheyhaven't beentruetotheiridealsandtotheirbase,whichmeansthatnexttimethey'lljustget longerrunningstartsbeforebashingtheirheadsintoawall. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:53:09PMPDT [Parent ]

Theproblemisconservatism (3+/0)

thelast8yearshasbeenconservativeideologybeingexposedbyempiricism. Iran,Russia,SaudiaArabia,andNorwaywillnolongerbeoilexportersby2030.Link byaztecraingod onSunJul06,2008at07:56:36PMPDT [Parent ]

Theywillcontinuetoappealtothe (2+/0)

richandtheevangelicals,Ithink.TheywillalsotrytohoodwinktheLatinocommunity intovotingforthem. Theywillcontinuetodowhattheyalwaysdo:Lie,cheat,steal,rape,andpillage. Ireallydon'tseetheRepublicanPartycontinuingasapartyverymuchlonger. Weareatthemomentwhenourlivesmustbeplacedonthelineifournationisto surviveitsownfolly.MartinLutherKing. byEyesWideOpen onSunJul06,2008at07:57:20PMPDT [Parent ]

Twopotentials,notmutuallyexclusive: (2+/0) 1.

Radicalization .Yes,Iknowthey'realreadybatshitwingnuts,butthey're spinelessbatshitwingnuts.Beingforcedintothewildernesssosoonafter tastingabsolutepowerwillcreateanincrediblelevelofbitternessonthe right,andofcourseitwillbedirectedagainstusratherthanthemselves.For nowit'sabstract,butwhenPresidentObamaispilingsanityonsanity,one rationaldecisionafteranother,theirragewillprobablyboilover.Expectthe reemergenceofanunprecedentedlevelofright wingdomesticterrorist activity,someofitpossiblywithunofficialGOPsanction.

2.

Clintonization .BillClintonpretendedtobealiberalwhilegivingtheGOP 90%ofwhatitwanted,andRepublicanscandoexactlythesamepretendto bereasonableandstillget90%ofwhattheywant.Expecttosee"Green Republican"asthenew"compassionateconservative."Thesejokerswould

expresstheirprofoundangeranddeepsadnesswhenevertheirmoremilitant comradesmurderorkidnapsomeone.Theywould"feelourpain." Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onSunJul06,2008at09:57:48PMPDT [Parent ]

MostLikelyRadicalization (2+/0)

They'regoingtobewipedoutintheHouse,andtheonlyonesremainingwillbefrom solidlyRepublicandistrictswheretheelectionismostlyoveraftertheprimary.There won'tbemanyleftwhohavetobotherpretendingthatthey'remoderate.Andinthe Senate,eveninthefaceofwhat'scomingatthem,thereareonlyafew,likeSpecter, Snowe,SmithandCollinswhoevenpretendtonotbewaytotheright. Afterfeedingthebasealmosteverythingitaskedforthelast15years,theywon'tbe abletoquicklyshiftgearsandmoderatethemselves.Thosewhotrytomoderatewill gettakenoutinprimaries. Theironlyhopeofmoderatingthepartywillbeiftheynominateamoderategovernor orsomeotherDCoutsiderforPresidentin2012.Idon'tknowwhothatwouldbeoff thetopofmyhead,butIdon'tthinkthepartybasedinCongresswillbeabletoshiftto amoremoderateorcentriststance. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonMonJul07,2008at01:03:27AMPDT [Parent ]

Good. (0+/0)

Ifthey'reradical,wepwnthem. Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onMonJul07,2008at02:17:34AMPDT [Parent ]

ThenwhyisBushcontinuingtodismantle.. (2+/0) programslikeMedicare,SS,etc.?Whatarewemissinghere?

WhyareDemocratsinCongresscontinuingtogoalongwithabandoningtheMiddle Class,theConstitution,andstandingbywhileBigOilrakesinthecashattheexpense ofAmericanworkersandfamilies?WithsupportingFISAandimmunityfortelecoms? No,Idon'tseetheReaganeravanishing,Iseeitbeingbolstered,andpropagated forwardbyboththeGOPandtheDemocrats. Goodluck. byquantumspin onSunJul06,2008at07:46:39PMPDT

HeFailed (3+/0)

He'snotstilltryingtodismantleSocialSecurity.Hetrieditin2005,anditfailed miserably.That'soneofmymainpoints. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:54:09PMPDT [Parent ]

OnepointofangerthatIdohaveisthatthe (1+/0)

Democratsbackthendidn'truntheirownversionoftheinfamous"HarryandLouise" ads.IwishthattheyhadruntheirownadsprotestingBush'splans. byoceanstar17 onSunJul06,2008at08:06:49PMPDT [Parent ]

Iwouldhavebeengreat,but... (2+/0)

...the"HarryandLouise"ads(whichwereactuallyonlyonecomponentofthe overallcampaigntodefeathealthcarereform )weren'tpaidforbythe RepublicanpartytheywerepaidforbyHIAA(theHealthInsuranceAssociationof America).Thatis,bythecorporationsthatstoodtoloseprofitsinour"forprofit"health (non)caresystem. WhowouldhavepaidfortheequivalentcampaignagainstSocialSecurity"reform"? LowerincomeworkingfolkswhowillreallyneedSocialSecuritywhentheyretire? Theydon'thavethatkindofmoney.TheDemocraticParty?Theyweren'texactly

awashinextracash,andaren'tlikelytobewhenthecostsofgettingDemocrats electedremainssoobscenelyhigh. Likeyou,Iwouldhavelovedtohaveseenitandnotjustbecauseitwouldhavehelped beatbackattemptstoprivatizeSocialSecuritywhichfailedinanycase butbecause itwouldhavedonesomelongtermdamagetotheRepublican"mefirstandtohellwith you"modelofhowoursocietyshouldfunction. Butthat'salwaystherub.Thesmallgroupofthewealthyandthepowerfulhavethe resourcestoshapethedebate.Therestofus...notsofar.We'rehopeful,ofcourse, thattheinternetwillprovidetoolstoshapethedebateinanewway,butthetraditional mediaisstillverypowerfulandwhatreachesmostAmericans.Weshallsee. Iamnotgoingtosithereandbeanidlespectatortothediminution,thesubversion, thedestruction,oftheConstitution.BarbaraJordan byJanetStrange onSunJul06,2008at09:03:41PMPDT [Parent ]

ThereWEREAdsonSocialSecurity (0+/0)

Theyweren'trunnationally,oratleastiftheyweretheyweren'trunheavily,butthey wereusedtotargetmembersofCongresstokeepthemfromsigningontoBush's plan.Theywereusedinatargetmanner,andtheyworked.Andtheywerelargely paidforbyorganizedlabor. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at09:15:17PMPDT [Parent ]

That'sgood,butstill... (0+/0)

...asyoupointoutyourself,unionmembershiphasfallendrastically,soorganized laborhasmuchlessclout(andmoney)thanitusedto.(SadlyI'maunionmember myself.) I'mgladthattheydidthis,andthatitworkedinthoselocal,targetedareas,butIdon't thinkit'sinanywaycomparableto"HarryandLouise"andthatwholecampaignthat completelyshiftedtheconversationabouthealthcareinthiscountry. Asaresultofit,thatconversationshiftedfrom"howcanweimproveaccesstohealth carethroughgov'tprograms,asMedicaredid,"toabjectfearthatwhateverwehad (andmostvotersdidhaveatleastdecenthealthinsurancecoverageatthetime)any gov'tinitiativetoexpandhealthcarewouldresultinthelossofbothaccessandquality ofcareforthemajority.HarryandLouise=gov'tiscomingtotakeawayyourhealth care!!!Waitingforyearsforsurgery!NoMRI's!Can'tchoosemydoctor gov'twill assignmeone! Therebyveryeffectivelyprotectinginsurancecompanyprofitsforanother15years. Anditseffectsarestillstrongandwillmakehealthcarereformextremelydifficulteven nowwhenmostAmericansaredisgustedwithourcurrentfor profitsystem.Theyknow thecurrentsystemsucks,butb/cofH&L,they'restillscaredthatanygov'tplanwill makethingsworse. Ijustdon'tseetheadsyoumentionhavingsuchaprofoundimpactonthenational consciousnessasH&L,etc.Goodon'em,andhopeweseemore,buttheothersideis stillmuchmorepowerful. Canwefightbackagainstsuchmoneyandpowerwithgrassroots/netrootsactivism?I hopeso,butwecan'tunderestimatethedifficultyofit. Iamnotgoingtosithereandbeanidlespectatortothediminution,thesubversion, thedestruction,oftheConstitution.BarbaraJordan byJanetStrange onSunJul06,2008at10:02:26PMPDT [Parent ]

ThePointWasThatWithSocialSecurity... (0+/0)

...itreallywasn'tallthatnecessarytoshifttheconversation.There'sneverbeen supportforrollingbackSocialSecurity.TheHarryandLouisecampaignwasto preventtheadditionofamajorpillartothewelfarestate.Itbuiltonfearsofmaking thestatusquoworse.WithSocialSecurity,people'sonlyfearisthatitwon'tbe around.Buttheydon'twantitprivatized.Thus,theeffortneededwasmuchlessthan whathappenedwithhealthcare. Thereasonsconservativesaresoterrifiedofnationalhealthcareisthattheyknow onceitpassesthatitwillalmostcertainlynevergetrepealed.Bushevenconceded thatwiththeMedicaredrugbillin2004,whichmostmovementconservativeshated becauseitfurtherexpandedtheprogram,onetheywantrepealed.Andtheirmodelof theclassiccaseofsomethingthatonceimplementedwillprobablynevergetrolled backbecausethepublicgrowsaccustomedtoitisSocialSecurity. Wedidn'tneedHarryandLouisetokeepSocialSecurity.Theconservativeswerethe

oneswhoneededtocomeupwithacomparableefforttoattackSocialSecurity,and theycouldn't. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonMonJul07,2008at01:10:00AMPDT [Parent ]

SocialSecurityPrivateers (0+/0)

Thevariousbubblesdissolvedanysupportfordismanatlingsocialsecurity.Atthe heightofaWallstreetbubble,401KAmericansareeagertogettheireasymoney. BarakHusseinObama GodBlessAmerica. byodenthal onMonJul07,2008at08:12:40PMPDT [Parent ]

Notsofast... (7+/0)

I'dsaythisisawonderfuldiary.Thoughtful,worthreading,informativeevenfor historicalandpoliticaljunkieslikeourselves.Arareacheivement. Thatsaid,Iamamongthepessimists.Mysenseisthatwearestillfirmlyinthe Reaganeraandwillbeforsometimetocome. Inessence,oneofthehallmarksoftheReaganeraisthedegreetowhich conservativeconceptsandmoralcodeshavedeterminedthediscourseofthedebate and,byproxy,thelocationoftheOvertonwindowofpoliticallyacceptablepolicies.We arestillinanerawherethecentristsarethedominantpowersamongdemocratsand theworldisstillveryverysafeforarchconservatives.Arch liberalsarestillderided viciouslyinawayconservativesarenotinthemainstream. Thecoretosomedegree,IwouldargueisAmericanthinking.Althougheconomics andsocialchangesareobviouslyhugelimportant,culturalvaluesystemsunderpinthe meaningtheelectoratemakesofthosechanges.Isthevastriseininequalitythe hallmarkoframpantlysuccessfulcapitalisminitspurestform,orofsavagely rapaciouscapitalisminitsvilest?Americans,Ibelieve,stillbelievetheformer rhetoric,andthat,isstillwhat'swrongwithKansas.Untilthatchanges,thekindof socialsystemthatsupportspoliciesthatvalueslookingafterallAmericans(to guarantee,say,universalhealthcare,orhighertaxesasaformof"doingourparts") willnottakeholdfullyenoughtotransformthepoliticalerainwhichwelive. Unfortunately,thenotionthat"wedon'tleaveoneofourownbehind"appliesin militarysituations,butisnottranslatedintoasocialethicofsocietyasawhole.Weare notanationofpeoplewhofeelthemselvesourbrothers'keepers.Untilwedo, Reagan,withhisresoundingdenunciationofsocialresponsibility,willbebeamingdown upontheAmericansocialproject. Mostrespectfullyyours, G. Likecommunismandfascismbeforeit,fundamentlismwillnotrestuntilitisthoroughly discreditedortheentireworldisunderitsyoke. byGuinhoonSunJul06,2008at07:47:54PMPDT

TheProblemWithYourPremise... (3+/0)

...isyou'reusingthatOvertonWindowstuff.Overtonisafarrightcrankatathink tankbackinmyhomestateofMichiganwhotriedtoconvincepeopleifyoukeep pushingmoreextremepositions,themore"moderatelybad"positionswillbeadopted. It'safinetheoryifrealityneverintrudes.LookatIraq.Theypushedextreme positionsuntilitfellapart,andnowthewarisdeeplyunpopular.Ontheeconomy, theymosthidtheirintent,andwhentheyactuallytriedtopushthingsonSocial Security,therewasamassivebacklash. Spinanddeceptionworksforawhile.Butrealitieslikelosingyourjob,yourhouseor yoursonincombatintrudeanddestroythecompletelyunempiricalandprovenfalse theoryofthatOvertonthing. Idon'tmeantobeharsh,especiallysinceyouweresocomplimentaryofmypost,but IreallywishpeoplewouldstoppushingthatOvertonWindowstuff. Therevolutionwillnotbetelevised,butwe'llanalyzeittodeathat TheNextHurrah . byDHinMIonSunJul06,2008at07:59:13PMPDT [Parent ]

Aminorreference... (1+/0)

IappreciateyourinformationabouttheOvertonwindowidea.Ireallyhadnoidea, andyouputittobedwell.Toacertainextent,I'mnotsuretheconceptisn'tauseful heuristic.Since1980,I'veseentherightpushevermoreextremevisions,untilwhat

seemedradicalisnowcommonplace.Maybethat'sjustanillusioncreatedbyamore generalrightwardtilt.Afterall,thatwouldmaketheevermoreacceptableright leaningstuffthedriverofarightwardmovingwindow,nottheresultofit.Thanksfor bringingthatup.Ihadn'tthoughtofit.Certainly,thatovertonwindowstuffhas converselyfailedmiserablyontheleft.Wecertainlyhaveourfairshareofcrankstoo whoneverseemtomakemoderateleftproposalslikesinglepayerseemacceptable. NowthatIthinkaboutit,Iwishthetheoryactuallyworked,sincecomparedtothe BurningManeconomicssomeespouse(astrawman,ifyouwillforgivetheabsolutely dreadfulpun.Ihaverealrespectforburners.),thenareturntobalancedbudgetsand thecreationofasimple,progressivetaxpolicywouldbeaneasysellifOvertonwere right!Damn! Overall,though,thisisanothercasewhereI really hopeyouarerightandIam wrong.Still,itseemstomethatmanypeopledon'tmaketheconnectionbetweenthe taxpolicyofBushandtheirdifficultiesinmakingendsmeet,ortheconnection betweenthedeificationofforprofitcorporationsandtheiroffthechartshealthcare costs(sotospeak) Asineconomics,politicsseemstobeallaboutthefailuresthatcomeaboutfrom boundedrationalactors(orsomedeviationfromperfectrationality)actingon imperfectinformation. Thanksagain!nowIoweyoutwice! Likecommunismandfascismbeforeit,fundamentlismwillnotrestuntilitisthoroughly discreditedortheentireworldisunderitsyoke. byGuinhoonSunJul06,2008at08:34:35PMPDT [Parent ]

Likealltheories, (0+/0)

itworkswithinlimits.Itissurelyagoodexplanationofhowwegotthisfar.Wetendto assumethecontinuumisinfinite,butitisn't.Therearelimitsatwhich,asyousaid, realityintrudes. IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onSunJul06,2008at11:24:27PMPDT [Parent ]

TherewasaDiarytheotherdayaboutOverton (0+/0)

WhichdidagoodjobofdescribingthetheoryoftheOvertonWindow.Regardlessof Overtonbeingacrank,whichI'minnopositiontoargueeitherway,sinceIhaven't readhiswork,Idothinktherearesomeobvioustruthsbehindthetheory,ifnotinthe author'sconclusions. Theproblemis,theconceptoftheOvertonWindowdoesn'tflyexceptinextreme macro trends,andcertainlynotinaspecificincidentsuchasthetrumpedupIraqwar. Macrotrendsaremuchtoolargetobemanipulatedbyanybody,sincethetrendistoo amorphousandtoosubtletobeseenfrominsideit.Extremeradicalsthatcouldpusha trendforwardwouldbythenatureofbeingfaroutsideconventionalsocietywould neverhavethepowertoperformtheirhistoricaltaskonpurpose,butwouldonlybeen seentohavedoneitinretrospect. Forthistheorytoworkonasubstantivelevel,andbythatImeanforradical individualsorgroupstodrivechangeinthewaytheOvertonWindowsuggests,they wouldhavetohavebeenpoliticalgeniuseswiththemoralsofaMarvelComicsvillain. Suchagroupwouldhavetohavebeenabletoidentifyaverylargetrendinsociety, identifydemographicandhistoricalelementsofit,andtakeactiontopushexactlythe rightbuttons,withoutregardforanyoneelse. Iagreethisisunlikelyintheextreme.Still,it'sausefulwaytolookathowtrends begin,andhowsmartpoliticiansmanipulatepeoplecaughtupinthem. Here'sanexampleofwhatImean. Intheearly1960s,therewasalreadyanidentifiablemovementtoendsegregation, andtosecurepoliticalandhumanrightsforBlackpeopleinAmerica.Themovement hadbeengrowingslowlyoveralongperiodoftime.However,asthepolitical environmentbecamemoreunstableinthe1960sand70s,notjustMLKandthe nonviolentmovementmadestrides,buttheBlackPanthersandmoreaggressive movementsscaredtheshitoutofthe"silentmajority."Antiwarprotesters Yippies, etc.mademiddleAmericaveryuncomfortable.TheWeathermen,andotheranarchist orantigovernmentgroupsscaredjustabouteveryone. Iamofthatgeneration,andIbelievethattheradicalsofthe1960sandearly1970s playedaveryrealroleinmovingourculturemuchfurtherleftthanitwouldhavegone withoutthatpush. Ibelievethatradicalfeminists,forinstance,cantakeprideintheRoevs.Wade decision,whichwouldneverhavebeenmadewithouttheinfluenceofthem. InthiscontexttheOvertonWindow,inretrospect,explainsalot.

Now,theOvertoneWindowlosescoherencywhenonerealizesthattheBlackPanthers, forexample,couldnothavepredictedtheresultsoftheiractions.Asapoliticalforce forBlackPower,theywerebettersymbolsthanpoliticians(despitethefactthatsome ofthemlaterbecameextremelyablepoliticians).Theiraffectontheoverallmovement wastodriveitforwardbyforcingpoliticiansandsocietyingeneraltobecomeawareof theirissues.Thiswasn'ttheirintent,though.Theintentwastocreateaunifiedand powerfulBlackcommunitywhichtheywouldleadbyafusionofforceandpolitics.At thattheyfailed. SoOvertonwouldseethePanthersastheprovocateursthatpushedaleftward movementtowardracialequailtywhileignoringtheactualhistoryoftheirsuccesses andfailures. TheonlycurrentradicalsIcanthinkofatthemomentthatfittheOvertontheoryare theMiddleEasternfanatics,suchasOsamaBinLaden,whouseterrorismtogain noticeoftheirgrievancesbytheworldatlarge.Theirgranddesignisunlikelyto succeed,buttheireffectswillbestudiedforages. Obviouslywedidn'tidentifythescaleofterrortheywouldproveabletoinflict,butthey didn'trealizetheextentofthedamagetheywouldcause,andtheycertainlycouldn't haveaccuratelypredictedbeforehandwhattheidiotsintheBushadministrationwould donext. So,IfindtheOvertonideainteresting,andagoodwaytolookathowmovementspick upsteam.Thefirstproponentsofsubstantialchangearealwaysoutaheadoftheworld theylivein,andarealmostalwaysmisunderstoodandderidedintheirday,butturn outtohavebeenrightlater. Beyondthatmitsallacrapshoot. FWIW IsupportBarackObama,notforhisoratory,norforhispositionsnorhislifestory,but becauseofhisgeniusforleadership. byDHinIAonSunJul06,2008at11:50:03PMPDT [Parent ]

Brother'sKeeper. (0+/0)

Reaganmocked"brother'skeeper",liftinginsteadthe"moralmajority" god'schosen, whovote!Welfarequeens,unions,thecourtsandgovernmentweretheenemy. JesseHelmswasgoingtostandinthedoor."Workingfamilies"havebeenwithus since. ReaganyankedoutNewDealgovernment,leaving"his"democratsontheirown clingingtotheirgunsandreligion.God,andthemarketwillprovide.Getagun,a 4wheeldriveHummer,prayonlythestrongwillsurvive. MoreGOPcrap:"Withalevelplayingamericanscancompetewithanyone".We competewhileCEOsselloffeverythingtothenewlandlords. TheReaganfantasywasthat"rampantlysuccessfulcapitalism"wouldbestowits blessingsuponallwhofullyembracedthe"greedisgood"ethic.Untetheredfrom welfare,unions,entitlements,theindolentandtheweak,thefaithfulwouldfloatupin their401KbubblesalongsidenewneighborsontheReaganranch,orwithBushesin Kennebunkport.The1000pointsoflightaresobeautifulfromupthere. Bush2kepthisfootonBrother'sKeeperwith"compasionateconservatism"Double Speakmeaningcrueltobekindwouldcontinue. 911didtriggercompassiontowardfellowAmericansbutwasquicklyhijackedintowar lust. Katrinadidnotrestoreasenceofcommunityitwaspackagedasablackproblem. EnergycrisisIIImayrestoresomesenseofcommunity. Whatdoesthe"partyofideas"offer?GOP,humblysuggestsoildrilling. HopefullyDemswon'tdissolveintorecycling,compostheaps,andtiltingatwindwills. Obamaisn'ttiedtoideology.Hewillrestoreasenseofcompromise,asenseof community,ablendofmarketandgovernment.FinallyburyReagan. BarakHusseinObama GodBlessAmerica. byodenthal onSunJul06,2008at09:20:16PMPDT [Parent ]

Let'shope (1+/0)

becauseIforoneandtiredofbeingtrickledon. IguessinthelastfewdaysthatI'vemadeupmymindthatwe'vecreatedafalse choicebetweenstandingforprincipleandwinning.Obamawillrestoreasenseof compromise,sure,butcompromisewillnotachieveanything.I'llreachforthe ridiculousHitleranalogy.IfyouarecompromisingwithHitlerwhatdoesthatentail?

Killinghalfasmanyjews,gypsies,gaysanddissidents?Colormeunimpressedby that. Likecommunismandfascismbeforeit,fundamentlismwillnotrestuntilitisthoroughly discreditedortheentireworldisunderitsyoke. byGuinhoonSunJul06,2008at09:40:37PMPDT [Parent ]

Inevergot (0+/0)

trickledon.Iamstillstandingherelookingupawards,palmsandmouthwideopen, completelydry. IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onSunJul06,2008at11:25:24PMPDT [Parent ]

TheendoftheReaganerabeganbackin1996 (2+/0)

withthesocalled"ContractwithAmerica."BecauseatthattimetheGOPbeganits declineintouttercorruptionandideologicalthuggery.WhentheSCOTUSforcedBush onusin2000,theendwasaccomplished.Therapeofanyshredofdecency,values andintegritythatRonaldReaganhadenvisionedfortheGOPwascompleteatthat point.SonowwehavethisrecentpronouncementbyMedvedev,onelittlesignthat theReaganeraismorethanoverinternationally: http://www.nytimes.com/... ReaganRepublicanismdiedalongtimeago. byconcernedamerican onSunJul06,2008at07:48:12PMPDT

Justtoclarify I'mnotsayingIthinkReagan (0+/0)

wasdecentorhadintegrity I'mjustsayingthat'showhesawhimself,andthat'show hisimmediatefollowersandacolytesworshippedhim,andthat'sbecomethebasisfor hisidolization. byconcernedamerican onSunJul06,2008at07:50:05PMPDT [Parent ]

Thanksforthat.:) (0+/0)

"Bettertolightonecandlethancursethedarkness."TheChristophers'motto byKlick2con10ue onSunJul06,2008at08:01:23PMPDT [Parent ]

BushtoursAmerica. (2+/0) http://www.youtube.com/...

byBushBites onSunJul06,2008at07:49:05PMPDT

ThatwasHILARIOUS! (0+/0) TRUE.SAD.But,Hilarious!

Weareatthemomentwhenourlivesmustbeplacedonthelineifournationisto surviveitsownfolly.MartinLutherKing. byEyesWideOpen onSunJul06,2008at08:11:03PMPDT [Parent ]

onecouldargue (0+/0)

onecouldarguethattheendoftheReaganerabeganin2000butwas interruptedthenextyearbytheterroristattackson9 11.

ThatonewouldbeKevinPhillips.Somewherebetweenthehijackingofourdemocracy onDecember12,2000andthehijackingofourplanesonSeptember11,2001,he wroteanopedpiecethatarguedthatwhatwewereseeingintheBushadministration wasnotthefinaltriumphofconservatism,butitslastgasp.Itwasacomforting thoughtatthetime.

"I'mnotnegative I'mANGRY!" HowardtheDuck byRoddyMcCorley onSunJul06,2008at07:49:42PMPDT

HeWasn'tPayingCloseEnoughAttention (0+/0)

Cheney,Rumsfeld,therestofthecrew,theywereprimedforaliteraltakeoverand launchofglobalwar.Theybarelyhaveanyotherskills. Wearecalledtospeakfortheweak,forthevoiceless,forvictimsofournationandfor thoseitcallsenemy....MLKing"BeyondVietnam" byGooserock onSunJul06,2008at07:52:40PMPDT [Parent ]

Phillipsis/wasright (0+/0)

HeauthoredtheEmergingRepublicanMajority.Buttheendofthe1968GOPcoalition startedwithClinton'swinin1992,whenhebrokeintowhathadbeen60%Republican suburbsjustfouryearsearlier.ClintonservedtohavebeentheEisenhowerofthat era.JustlikeEisenhower,whobrokeintothesouthandothersolidDemocraticeras andstartedsofteninguptheNewDealCoalitionduetogrowthintheSunbelt,Clinton brokeintotheGOPdominationofsuburbanAmerica. byoceanstar17 onSunJul06,2008at08:02:50PMPDT [Parent ]

IwasshockedtoseethevictorofGulfWarIlose (0+/0)

WhydidBush1lose?Thewarwasahugesuccess.Inandoutwith~50casualties. SchwartzkoftandPowell,Patriot.v.scud.Nintendowarfare.Oilkeptflowing. Perot'sgiantsuckingsound,inthevotingbooths?Wimpfactor/visionthing? WhydidGOPhateClintonsomuch?BecausehebrokeuptheReaganparty? BarakHusseinObama GodBlessAmerica. byodenthal onMonJul07,2008at08:23:39PMPDT [Parent ]

Itwasboundtohappen (0+/0)

Theissuesthatfusedthecoalitionof1968hadstartedtofraybythe1990s.Withthe endoftheColdWarandwiththememoryof1968furtherback,andcombinedwiththe factthattheDemocratsdidn'tnominatesomeonefromNewEngland,itwasthe electioncyclefortheDemocratstowinback. byoceanstar17 onMonJul07,2008at08:52:33PMPDT [Parent ]

pendulum (0+/0)

nowthecyclesays...democrat. Soweoscilateonan8yearperiod,aroundatrendline?Progressive,conservative?Is thereanarch,theriseandfalloftheAmericanCentury? The68coalition.Responseto60'sexcesses,culturalvertigo,anendlesswar.Civil rightsandwomen'srightsweretoomuchchangetoofast? Gorewasn'tfromNewEngland.ThoughheseemedtorejectTennesee.Avictimof timingorClintonexcesses? Americaadrift.200yearsofwesternexpansion.100ofimmigrantassimilation.75 yearsoftechnologicalpioneering.What'snext?Conservation?Yawn. Maybecarbontrading?Wealreadyhaveahousebuiltonbankcards,flimsyfinancial gimmicksdisconnectedfromriskandreward.Carbontradingseemsdoublydubious sellingindulgenceslikebaseballcardsortulips.Ifyoupolluteyoupay. Anywaykeepswingingforthefences. BarakHusseinObama GodBlessAmerica. byodenthal onMonJul07,2008at10:24:04PMPDT [Parent ]

AnAwfulLotofEnergyIsSquanderedDiscussing (2+/0)

theReaganandlatererasofglobalcrimesyndicatetakeoverinhistorictermsof politics.

It'sreallyalotsimplertodescribeitintermsoftheheistofwealth,opportunityand governingpowerthatit'sbeen. Wearecalledtospeakfortheweak,forthevoiceless,forvictimsofournationandfor thoseitcallsenemy....MLKing"BeyondVietnam" byGooserock onSunJul06,2008at07:50:55PMPDT

HopefullyObamacomesup (1+/0)

HopefullyObamacomesupwithsomethinglikethe'NewDeal',aswe'vediscussed herebefore. Ireallybelieveyou'reright,thatthiselectionwillbelikeFDR's. AcatchynameforhisagendawouldhelpinNovember. :P McCain:USeconomicwoes'psychological' byDAVEDIALonSunJul06,2008at07:56:34PMPDT

I'vebeenhavingthatthoughtmyself. (2+/0)

Ofcourse,it'stooearlyforpithinessitwouldjustgrowstalebeforetheelection.But whateveritis,itshouldbeevocativewithoutbeingtorridhard hittingwithout bombastandleaveRepublicansnoeasyavenueofridiculeforthename.Definitely needstobetwowordsintwosyllables,thatmuchisclear. Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onSunJul06,2008at10:14:29PMPDT [Parent ]

TheProgressiveMovement, (0+/0) theNewDeal, theGreatSociety, andthenthe__________.

IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onSunJul06,2008at11:27:34PMPDT [Parent ]

Heshouldcallhisprogram"AmericaAlive." (0+/0) 1. Alliterative(alwaysgood). 2. Containsthecountryname. 3. LetterAlooksniceandassertive. 4. Justtherightbalanceofpromiseandwarning. Freedomisinthefight. byTroubadour onMonJul07,2008at02:54:28AMPDT [Parent ]

Ihopeitstrue (0+/0)

We'vereachedtheendoftheReaganera,andareonthecuspof somethingnew,hopefullybetter,andcharacterizedbyabold, vigorous,creativeDemocraticpartywithwhichpeoplebondasthey didwiththeDemocraticpartyoftheNewDealera

Yes...butisthisgoingtobetheelectionthatsetsthenewagenda,orarewegoingto seeatransitive,placeholderelectionthatkicksthecandowntheroadwiththepolitics oftriangulationandRepublicanlite? ThemoretheDemocratsvotewiththeRepublicansandembracetheirpositions,the harderitisgoingtobetodistancethemselvesfromtheRepublicanswhenitreallyhits thefanandthepeasantsshowupatthegatewiththeirpitchforks&torches.Itmight evenbetoolate. Whathappensifthereisnogas?nofood?nojobs?DowegetbetterDemocrats...or doesthecountryembracefascism? Iputmyfaithinthepeople,Butthepeopleletmedown. SoIturnedtheotherway AndIcarryon,anyhow RareEarth,IJustWantToCelebrate

bySpiny onSunJul06,2008at08:00:57PMPDT

Probablythelatter.n/t (1+/0)

bysrkp23 onSunJul06,2008at08:11:13PMPDT [Parent ]

WethrowtheBumsout! (3+/0)

Andthenweinstallpeoplewhocangovernwithoutcriminality.AndNO,Fascismisn't anoption. Weareatthemomentwhenourlivesmustbeplacedonthelineifournationisto surviveitsownfolly.MartinLutherKing. byEyesWideOpen onSunJul06,2008at08:13:12PMPDT [Parent ]

Withprejudice!!!!!! (0+/0) CLEANOUTTHEBARN!!!!!!!!!

IfMcCainmakesthenextSupremeCourtappointment,wewillthinktheBushdays werethegoodolddays! byphaktor onSunJul06,2008at11:28:21PMPDT [Parent ]

TheRepublicansarewheretheNewDealCoalition (0+/0)

wasin1968.After1992theystartedlosingthe"ReaganDemocrats"andwhiteethnics inthesuburbs.WhatkepttheGOPcoalitiontogetherforseveralmoreelectioncycles wereClinton'smisstepswithMonicaLewinskyand9/11.Icouldwritemoreaboutthis andhave,buttheissuesfacingthecountryin1968arenotthesameasnow.Andwhat broughtthatcoalitiontogether angeroverthewelfarestate,crime,theVietnamwar, theCivilRightsarea,riotinginourcities,taxes,inefficientgovernmentandsoforth arenolongerincontention. TheGOPbasicallyisprobablygoingtobeleftwiththe170orsoelectoralvotesthat BobDolereceivedin1996.TheEmergingDemocraticMajoritywascorrectinits argumentsitsauthorswerejusttwoorthreeelectoralcyclesaheadofthemselves. byoceanstar17 onSunJul06,2008at08:01:15PMPDT

Reallyinteresting,DH. Thanksmuch. (0+/0)

byLithiumColaonSunJul06,2008at08:04:11PMPDT

AtleastwithBushtheturningpointforhim (1+/0)

wasprobablythe"politicalcapital"commentthathemaderightafterthe2004election. Hefailedtorealizethathisre electionwasmoreofavoteAGAINSTKERRYthanitwas forhisownpolicies.Hisattempttoprivatizesocialsecurityprobablywillonedaybe rememberedinthesameveinasClinton'shealthcareplan.Althoughitdidn'tgetasfar asClinton'splandid,thepublicrespondedinthesameway.BeyondthatI'dhaveto saythattheultimateturningpointwasprobablyKatrina.Toseethegovernment mishandlethefirstmajornaturaldisasteronthescaleof9/11since9/11inthat mannerreallyhurtBush. byoceanstar17 onSunJul06,2008at08:05:51PMPDT

Progressivecapgainstax (4+/0)

I'manEnrolledAgent(taxperson),soItendtoseepoliticalproblemsthroughatax prism. Ihumblysuggestmakingthecapitalgainstaxrateandthetaxondividends progressive.IfyouareaWalmartheirlivingon10milliondollarsayearofdividends, youshouldnotbepayingata15%taxrate!Capitalgainsanddividendsforverylow incomeindividuals(whorarelyhavesuchgoodies)shouldbezero,andforBillGates andtheveryhighnetworthfolks,theyshouldbepayingatleast50%.Thiswon't affectverymanypeoplebutitcouldraiseagreatdealofrevenue,anditmightstartto correcttheincomedisparitybymakingsuchobscenelyhighincomelessattractive.. byDoubleBonus onSunJul06,2008at08:08:41PMPDT

Alongsimilarlines,whendidthe"DeathTax" (7+/0) becomesuchanissuetobluecollarworkersearningunder~40K/yr?

Thepeople"hurt"bytheestatetaxare...thechildrenofwealthypeople,whoare "disadvantaged"inthatthereisareductioninthepilesofmoneythereceivewhich theymayhavedonelittleornothingto"earn".WhereIcomefrom,mostfolksaren't bigfansof"trustfundkids",butnowthememeis"youworkedhardallyourlife,and nowwhenyoudiethebigbadgovernmentistakingyourmoneyfromyou". Er,no,you'redead.It'stakingitfromyourkidswhomaynotbeabletopartyquiteas hardontheirparent'smoney. Andre:dividends,itusedtobethatthefirst$Xwherenottaxed,andonlyamount abovethatweresubjecttotaxation(atordinaryincomerates).Thiseffectivelygavea taxbreaktomanypeoplewhohadonlyalittledividendincome,whilefolkswho receivedlargeamountsofdividendincomeandwereinhightaxbracketsstillpaid theirshareoftax. Ifyoulookatthebigpicture,almosteverythingtheBushAdministrationhasdone regardi