This is a reply to "stopgap #6."

Yes! The "I don't want to know" theme is permeating our culture. Just watch us get a chance to vote on whether we want to know if there are GMO's in our food. We have been voting "NO!" every time. It is so hard to believe that so many people can be brainwashed by Monsanto's propaganda commercials into voting that they don't want to know! Now we don't want to know about how we tortured. Gee, things are so bad all around, let's just stick our heads in the sand.

Lindsey Graham says torture has been effective for 500 years. Linsey should know. For him torture is more effective than Viagra. The root of America's problems is that we embrace perverts like Graham. The perversions of prudishness and puritanism have poisoned the American experience for almost 400 years.

Roland

The comment about the plague leading to the Rennaissance should be proclaimed across the land. Unstated was that the plague also removed a lot of parasites, er, aristocrats. Likewise, the New Deal brought forth the greatest period of prosperity the world has ever seen, while Reaganomics has taken us back to the nineteenth century. Removing the OASDI (Soc. Sec.) income cap and taxing income over $10,000,000 at a 90% marginal rate, while guaranteeing a $25,000 annual income to every adult would go a long way toward reducing the National Debt. "Job Creators" like David Kock would kvetch, but the reality is that Koch has never created anything but misery. The traitor John Robertws on a gibbet might help too.

Roland

Barry Goldwater proposed something similar: a negative income tax. Of course, this was before the CIA (and Ed Walker) whacked JFK and the Repugs went stark raving looney with Ray-gun.

Roland

Quote 2950-10k:stecoop01....I'm sure Jesus is rolling over in his tomb wondering how these bigots could get his teachings so wrong. ..... He's thinking.... WTF??? ...give me some more wine!

You're probably right...but there isn't enough wine on the planet to block the reality of what these 'christians' are doing.

What was supposed to be a slow decline and fall of the American Empire (sic) has become an avalanche. Absolutely everything that is done in the political, medical, educational, business, agricultural etc. spheres is to the detriment of the people of the United States. Thom, your conversations with great minds tonight was excellent, as usual, and it was noted that Obama is looking over his shoulder at all times at JFK and MLK, hoping he is doing what will not put him on this list. This means granting the things the Republicans and especially the Pentegon and Wall Street are determined to get. I expect he hopes that the next election will allow these wrongs to be righted, but I for one hold out no hope........... after all George W. stole two elections because enough of the electorate voted for him that this was possible -- how very very sad.

Thom, keep up the great work.

With all due respect, Thom, your comment isn't a serious critique of what Bruce said. Suggesting that the public image or status of victimhood is being romanticized isn't at all the same as saying that actually being victimized is "cool." For instance, there's widespread admiration for POWs, especially those like John McCain who were tortured. This is why some politicians have been caught making false claims along these lines. You could call this a romanticization, but it in no way implies that anyone thinks it's cool to be tortured.

I've attended a few Take Back the Night rallies, and I've noticed that typically, after someone gives their personal testimony about being sexually assaulted, they're applauded. Of course participants will say that it's not their victimization that's being applauded, but rather their courage in coming forward to talk about it. Nonetheless, it could be argued that this is a social environment in which people are given an incentive to self-identify as victims, even if the facts may not warrant it.

In fact, at the first TBTN I attended, one of the participants implied a man had drugged her to unconsciousness in order to take her, even though the very fact that he called her about it the next day, as well as what he said in that call, indicated he'd perceived her as conscious and willing, and had expected her to remember the encounter. When I wrote the campus paper about this discrepancy, the reply by a student anti-rape leader consisted of stock rhetoric while ignoring or distorting all the factual points I had made, such as by pretending that my pointing out the difference between blacking out and passing out was somehow equivalent to saying no one ever passes out from drinking. She was too preoccupied with reaffirming a party line to actually read my letter for comprehension. (You may be able to find these letters, along with my rejoinder, in the online archives of the Daily Pennsylvanian.) Similarly, it seems the Rolling Stone reporter was too doctrinally sure about what had happened to the woman she interviewed, to remember the normal journalistic standards about fact-checking.

I must say I noticed a similar two-step in the remarks of your recent NOW guest. I'd heard previously about traumatic memories' being stored differently -- but never from feminist representatives in the context of an actual rape trial. In those circumstances, what you always hear, without any qualification, is "Believe women," "Women don't lie about rape," and cries of outrage any time a defendant is found "not guilty" in spite of the victim's (traumatically unreliable) testimony.

This could be considered an example of what's been called the "motte-and-bailey doctrine" (http://slatestarcodex.com/2014/11/03/all-in-all-another-brick-in-the-motte/): the strategic equivocation of making a very dubious or totally indefensible argument to those who are sympathetically inclined; then, when criticized for it, saying, "All I mean is [something totally uncontroversial and obvious]"; then going back to the extreme and indefensible claim as soon as the critics go away.

Warren & Sanders are liberals who actually care and work FOR we the people Doesn't that tell you something about parties ?

It just seems it was Obama's agenda. He had priorities he pushed by using his Chief of Staff and VP. I'm sure he believes we lose in the Big Picture(plug) by fighting this. I watched that vote in the House yesterday, the one that passed. I couldn't believe what I saw, and then to watch Boehner's attitude after being bailed out? Merry Christmas he yells, to flaunt he's going home and his job is done. Then today, I watched Bernie Sanders on your show and on the Senate floor, again making strong case. I watched Elizabeth Warren's strong statement and layout for those watching of just what had and has been taking place. The GOP allowing Citigroup to write their own Amendment basically, and that I feel is illegal, I watch Harry Reid stalling votes, knowing he will probably cave. I see clips that Jamie Dimon was allowed to directly lobby his position. Then I hear the open admission by Lindsey Graham that this is retaliation for Obamacare and Obama's Executive Orders as if punishment disregarding the feelings of the people he will be and is hurting with these actions. Put that Black man back in his place was the feeling I had. His open attack directly at Elizabeth Warren like the man putting the woman in her place. It was definitely rubbing faces in the mud, and there is nothing immediate that can be done with no backbone of Democrats and Obama. I now understand the consequence that must take place to bring havoc on the GOP, and make no mistake, it will take havoc of mass demonstration. Multiplied effect of the Occupy demonstrations on all issues. Quite frankly, the 60-70's type of involvement but further damage will be done Economically and on climate. I've been blogging answer to Senator Inhofe's answer on climate that God will and has been taking care of this. I try to put mindset that if his answer is God, that God would have certainly put responsibility to us to take care of our own home and he was just lazy. Anything to counter the smugness and create thinking minds within people who say they're mad but fail to vote and get involved. No doubt this bill will get passed and signed but it leaves the worst taste in my mouth than I have ever had. I read your book Crash of 2016, enjoyed it immensely, and fall in line with your thoughts. I also now salvaging is out of the question unless civil disobedience occurs. That is unlikely since people won't even get out to vote. I am left disturbed and fit for battle.

agelbert, I fear that you are right. The GOP takes over in January and even though Obama will still be in office for 2 more years, he has done nothing except cave into the most obstructionist House in history. Don't expect the next 2 years to be of much use for us. We are screwed and if I were not so old and tired would seriously consider moving to another country because this one isn't working anymore.

Aliceinwonderland

Don't think it is any other party which would be any better. I changed my affiliation to NPA (no party affiliation) years ago but do not like all of any of them Only 2 on my list of likes right now are Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. All others suck bit time - and in the case of Obama, maybe literally in order to cement his future with CitiGroup and Jamie Dimon

Frosty46

Can we apply for political asylum in some other country because what is happening in this one sure the fuck is not what I signed up for and not what MY copy of the Constitution is about. Liars are

1, Cops

2. Politicians

3. Lawyers

4. Doctors

5, Preachers, priesta, Imams, etc

6. ANyone in the GOP