Educating the public cannot be left to the Democrats in Congress. That responsibility lies with all of us.

Too many times I've watched as progressives and liberals stand silently by when Right Wingers spew their nonsense. They are allowed to say some of the most ridiculous things with no one calling them on it. In fact they rely on.

We've got to stand up and call them on it, preferably citing facts to dispute their claims. When their nonsense is routinely disputed and their ignorance is highlighted, they won't be as brazen with their words. And others around them won't be so quick to take what they say as gospel.

Thom, thank you for your book "Cracking the Code". That book and your daily show have helped me to take on the Right Wing crazies intelligently and effectively.

I'm reminded that FDR allowed his Administration to be influenced by the ravings of Father Coughlin and America suffered mightily for it just as relief was needed most . . . FDR learned who the enemy of America was and still is BUT President Obama seems immune to learning lessons from history and to reason.

Jerry Brown is expected at Labor Day events on Monday including Sacramento's Labor Day Picnic & Race for Democracy at William Land Park . . . Meg Whitman has other ideas . . . http://www.wallstreetwhitman.com/index.php/game

Sooth said:

http://www.alternet.org/news/148058/the_dems_need_to_speak_to_progressive_values,_or_else_lose_badly_come_november/

The Real Story - By PAUL KRUGMAN

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/03/opinion/03krugman.html?src=tp

When it is business as usual (which is most of the time) there are no leaders, just the people on top (a handful of oligarchs and their minions) and the people underneath (the rest of us). The only time that reality can be changed is when the people underneath stop looking to some politician from above to come along and lead them.

When people stop looking outside themselves for a leader, when people decide that they are going to have to get off their butts and do the leading themselves, that’s when they start getting together and organizing themselves into a movement to press for their own common interest. And the interesting thing is this, once the people are organized enough to lead their own movement, then (and only then) is it possible for political leaders to emerge. This is because a political leader is simply a politician that has realized which way the prevailing wind is blowing and that it is good politics for him to be moving in the same direction.

Case in point the civil rights movement produced leaders sprung out of the people, movement leaders like John Lewis, Medgar Evers and MLK. Only then did a politician like LBJ decide it was safe enough to show political “leadership” by passing the civil rights legislation.

We need to stop looking to Obama to lead us, and start leading ourselves by building our own grassroots movement.

DB

Atheism, is the belief of unbelief. Its sort of like when you choose not to make a choice, you're by default making a choice.

N

If I utter the prayer "Thank you" daily, I'm afraid sometimes it would come out with a sarcastic tone. ;-)

N