tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856837.post1717351182365495177..comments2023-10-24T09:06:30.200-04:00Comments on No More Mister Nice Blog: Steve M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11963290427258439242noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856837.post-80610011599930840482013-08-31T12:19:26.697-04:002013-08-31T12:19:26.697-04:00It is tempting to blame Republicans for a misguide...It is tempting to blame Republicans for a misguided Democratic foreign policy, illegal police-state surveillance, failure to prosecute criminal behavior in the financial sector, and so on.<br /><br />Those Democratic policies have been in place for over 5 years, though. Democrats, and yes, Obama, have continued and even expanded our programs of "murder by drone," continued to permit a ruinous unregulated financial system, expanded the government's unconstitutional, unmanaged search and seizure, have moved very little on climate change, and... the list goes on and on.<br /><br />The GOP has clearly staked out its position as hostile to little people. While I too would like to think the Democrats are on the side of the angels, the actual facts suggest otherwise.<br /><br />Democrats own their own policies. If they don't walk the talk, they haven't met their responsibilities. We can't blame that solely on a simpering desire to avert Republican talking points. That's certainly a (pitiful) factor, but it's not enough to justify many of the damaging policies the Obama administration has promoted. Some, like NSA surveillance, have been entirely covert, not even subject to discussion.White Hathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12051232164267483296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856837.post-59357727498927606612013-08-31T08:49:15.419-04:002013-08-31T08:49:15.419-04:00Kerry's speech yesterday wasn't a campaign...Kerry's speech yesterday wasn't a campaign speech?<br /><br />Hillary isn't going to run. I don't know why this is such a disappointment though we are indeed, as Vic alludes, of the same cohort and tend to similar drift. They may be running scared, but The Vast Reich Wing Conspiracy never.the.less has a massive momentum. We are already reliving the Clinton years in overdrive, from the institutional obstructionism to the chicken-shit little Israeli Military Industrial Complex wag the dog war. Unless we truly are to devolve squabbling nation.states we cannot do that to ourselves again. <br /><br />Not to mention that the Rodham family, as in Hillary Rodham Clinton, is as old school money, as Robber Baron, as the Bush, Kennedy and Rockafeller. Old school, skull and bones...<br /><br />Skull and Bones John Kerry's speech yesterday, his Colin Powell moment, certainly struck me as a campaign speech. Ten Bearshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06594307610015584119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856837.post-67123081786251275432013-08-31T08:03:06.834-04:002013-08-31T08:03:06.834-04:00"But I'm wondering when, if ever, we'..."But I'm wondering when, if ever, we'll see an A-list Democrat who's not terrified of deviating from centrism on defense or economics."<br /><br />We're almost the exact same age, Steve, and I hate to say this, but - not in our lifetime.<br /><br />We had 3 liberal/progressive Presidents in the last 100+ years:<br />Teddy.<br />Franklin.<br />And, Lyndon.<br />Hoover had the best of intentions, imo - but his actions, based on the people who surrounded him, give a lie to that statement.<br /><br />And so, there you have it:<br />Three.<br /><br />None of the Democrats after LBJ was liberal/progressive - and, of course, none of the Republicans.<br /><br />And in the 19th Century, the only ones who come to mind who were, are Lincoln and Garfield.<br />The former got shot and killed in the beginning of his 2nd term - and the latter got shot and killed just as after he got elected. <br />And, in reality, we have no idea how Garfield would have governed - but he was considered to be pretty progressive for his time.<br /><br />I won't go back before Lincoln, because the issue of slavery hung like 'the sword of Damocles' over every President's head, from Washington, until Lincoln was finally confronted with what his predecessors all feared the most - a Civil War.<br />So, whatever liberal/progressive things were accomplished, were done by avoiding the billion-ton secessionist starred-and-barred gorilla in the room. <br /><br />To sum-up - not exactly a lot to hope for, based on prior history.<br /><br />And so, people like me end up supporting centrist Democratic squishes, because we fear the Manichean Christian & Bircher lunatics, Fascists, and Nihilists, in the Republican Party.<br /><br />I'm no great fan of Hillary.<br />BUT, if she's the nominee, I will work like a dog to get her elected - and the same for anyone with a "D" next to their name.<br /><br />To do anything else but support the Democratic nominee, to support anyone else running as a 3rd Party candidate, could/would result in the Republicans winning, and, I believe, the death of representative democracy in this country.<br /><br />We can say "Goodbye" to squishy, imperfect, representative democracy, and say "Hello" to Manichean Theocratic Fascism.<br /><br />America could become a Plutocratic Banana Republic, where the Christian churches act as God's and the Government's police, judges, and jury.<br /><br />Am I carrying things to an extreme?<br />Maybe.<br />But, remember, on the other side of the aisle, we are faced with nothing BUT extremists!<br />And to think they would rule as anything but extremists, is to ignore the new billion-pound gorilla in the room - today's Manichean, Theocratic, Fascist, Republican Party.<br /><br />Victorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06609452382111686086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856837.post-62296596932874335482013-08-31T07:18:05.864-04:002013-08-31T07:18:05.864-04:00If they're singing an old Wobblie - Internatio...If they're singing an old Wobblie - International Workers of the World - tune the left's roots haven't been entirely forgotten and, I would argue, that the "right" - your Reaganites, the Republicans, the Capitalists, the <i>Fascists</i> - haven't quite "won" yet. They know it and it scares the shit out of them.<br /><br />You're either with us, or against us. Whose side are you on?<br /><br />No fear.Ten Bearshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06594307610015584119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856837.post-9031506234494778932013-08-30T23:43:18.162-04:002013-08-30T23:43:18.162-04:00Steve Nelson.
I'm always intrigued with how on...Steve Nelson.<br />I'm always intrigued with how one can <br />a. BE 'left' on social issues and 'right' on economic issues, as if the two were in different bubbles with no linkages or influences from the other.<br />b. Then again I can't see the sense/ logic of being on one side or the other. As if either side has the monopoly of sound thinking on either topic.<br /><br />Then again I think the problem with the average westerner is that they see the world in terms of juxtaposed extremes or in absolutes.<br />Personally I'm depressingly a post structuralist in that I just accept that the world is just too complex to draw any camps (definitive dogmas). Rather I address each issue on it's context/merits.<br /> Examinatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08990595916031900662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856837.post-89939901841343708992013-08-30T18:51:17.393-04:002013-08-30T18:51:17.393-04:00You really should re-read HRC's 10-10-02 Senat...You really should re-read HRC's 10-10-02 Senate speech on Iraq, and remember that GWB assured the Senate Democrats the authorization of force resolution was only to force Saddam to let the inspectors back in. It might change your perspective.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17516065349693480312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856837.post-59348747238585639282013-08-30T17:29:02.787-04:002013-08-30T17:29:02.787-04:00Left on social issues and right on economic issues...Left on social issues and right on economic issues? I confess myself tired of those who continue to voice such a tired, tired cliche. The right's ways and means do more than merely contribute to most of our social ills/problems-they lead directly to these problems. The days are long gone whence one could hold both ideals. As they are singing in the Capitol building in Madison- "Which Side Are You On Boy, Which Side Are You On?".<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13380629798455302215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856837.post-7467128949761277522013-08-30T17:23:54.480-04:002013-08-30T17:23:54.480-04:00We don't need your help speedy. Go be with the...We don't need your help speedy. Go be with the log cabin republicans.Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05429309964648275918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856837.post-91517071999982345582013-08-30T15:00:07.368-04:002013-08-30T15:00:07.368-04:00I agree with the Democrats on social issues, but I...I agree with the Democrats on social issues, but I like that Obama has a beefy foreign policy, I voted for him because he kept talking about entitlement reform, and I want that grand bargain... all of it.<br /><br />If Democrats moved to the left on economics and foreign policy issues... I could probably swallow my hatred of the Jesus crowd and vote Republican.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com