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"Obama represents Wall Street faction of the Democratic Party." Is there another faction of the Democratic Party? The Democratic Party is the Left of center arm of the Republican Party. But they both do Wall Streets (wealthy elite) bidding and have since 1776. Peace
Obama and the "Gang of Six"
James K. Galbraith: "Gang of Six" Plan is all about cuts not increased taxes; Obama represents Wall Street faction of Democratic Party
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2959-10k: Just don't know, of course, until it comes out...if it ever does...or if there is anything to come out. Most people are not without fault for something that others are very ready and willing to condemn. There are not too many people who can be the Jesus-like cult figure of perfection that is expected of a politician. In the US, as in a lot of Levant-inspired or leaning countries where guilt is a big part of their mentality, the bar is set pretty low for what is acceptable and what is not. But then this creates many hypocrites who seem to relish condemning others for things they also do..or can't do...or are too meek to do themselves..and are jealous of those who have...but then relish that those who have...are going to burn in hell. It is quite unfortunate, however, in my view, that our attention is diverted so much by these high-expectations...but once the guilt or shame mechanism is used by one side it is bound to be used by all the other sides without end. Some people are more relativist but still, out of self preservation, are forced to into the more moralistic public facade. Look at what happened with Bill Clinton....Many of us progressives are not happy that he buckled under to the Republicans in the Glass-Steagall repeal...but many of us were/are not so condemning for his sexual actions.
The Republicans, big hypocrites that they are, made such a fuss that they managed to trumpet pornography-like news media to many younger ears that they, under other circumstances, had someone else done it, would have burned anyone to a stake for having done the same thing.
There's a lot of seething, tempestuous, hatreds and condemnations afoot by a lot of small-minded, moralistic, quid nuncs who get their jollies by ruining other people. I know I get mine every time I fantasize Bush being convicted of War Crimes...but then being responsible for the mass murder of so many people by lying us into a needless and illegal war, and the deprivation of masses of fellow Americans by wrecking the economy is far, far greater crime than some little sexual tryst in the White House...which really wasn't a "crime" at all.
The Republicans can't be successful trying to do what they are trying to do without the assist of our Republican president. So far the capitalist Obama has given the right wing bourgeoisie everything that it has demanded. Expanded wars (thanks Hillary), Gitmo remains open (thanks warmongers), millions unemployed (thanks corporatists who love the increase in labor productivity), a shrinking standard of living for the middle-class (thanks Mr. Money Bags wealty guy whose wealth has increased dramatically over the past 30 years, and so on. Peace
We need to make these News medias accountable and while I'm on the subject of being accountable , I'm sorry but this president is a mess, from secret prisons, wire tapping and selling out to the big corporations, he is not a friend of me. It brings to mind a statement made to me from one of my older clients, after receiving a bill from a plumber, " I've been took".
And now I know why this president loves president Regan, which I have to admit fooled me too! I vote for him the first time also.Yes I was a Regan democrat, but only on the first vote. I will not vote for the lesser evil every again.
We have big banks and credit card companies fooling us into believing that we are the middle class because we can buy $35,000 cars and $300,00 homes on a $40,000 pay checks. We are not blameless in this show, but it is time to wake up. My husband had a union job which allowed him to retire when his boss, a wonderful man, went under. We are one of the lucky few, we sold in a great real estate market and paid cash for a small home. but we went from $3500 a month to $1800 a month and have to use our credit cards more than is comfortable for me, which has made us much more aware of this country's government and the people who represent us.
People are free to call me what they want to call me! What is most important to me is what I call myself. I am a progressive, a Democratic Socialist, and a Jesus liberal. When I read the New Testament of the Holy Bible, the reading solidifies my belief that Jesus was a liberal and a progressive. Jesus came upon earth to be a role model for you and for me.
For answers to our problems we need to turn our eyes upon Jesus!
http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_6682/alan-jackson/tpx_1158430
I wanted only to love my country. When we speak to God, do we always say "someday?"
http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_6682/alan-jackson/tpx_1159509
The State of Florida must have very stupid people. The Orlando district let this man go from public office.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-alan-grayson/how-to-save-2-trillion_b_905066.html
He is a man for all seasons with ideas!
Palindromedary: I'm pretty sure local credit unions are all FDIC insured, mine certainly is.
A quick thought, Do you think Obama is acting like he has done something naughty that someone on the other side is threatening to expose! Try to have a good day...... I gotta get to work!
Liar's Poker, maybe!
Repeating history will doom America!
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Politicians-Need-a-History-by-John-Basel-110719-6.html
Here is one of the Beatitudes.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. Is my life on this earth focused on the life to come?
Hopefully, born again Christians may want to read the Bible more carefully.
Palindromedary is right about class warfare. I would like to say class battles because the winners of the class war will be undecided until Judgment Day. To the winners the prize will be Heaven.
America and Americans would benefit more from being like Ian.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Play-of-the-day-Selfless-young-fan-returns-ball?urn=mlb-wp13421
Non-elected persons are bringing down our country. Who are these persons - Norquist, the five Mafiosos on the Supreme Court, the Military-Industrial Complex, and the Koch Brothers as examples. If these persons read the New Testatment of the Holy Bible, we and the country would be better off. Here are two chapters and verses that need to be embedded in the American brain - Matthew 25: 31-46 and Matthew 5: 1-12.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/fast-fix/fast-fix-grover-norquist-effect-debt-ceiling-234453212.html
Yeah, I think Obama is playing chess while the republicans play checkers. Problem is, Obama is playing chess against US, not against the republicans. The problem is, if he finishes this game and screws us out of social security, medicare, and medicaid, how many Americans will ever trust the government again? How many people will quit voting democrat? Lots. And how many of the people who quit voting democrat, will vote republican? Almost none, because the republicans are clinically insane. So, where does that leave us? What choices are they leaving us? Starve to death while being homeless and sick and not able to afford medical care or drugs? That sounds like a good option for loyal, patriotic Americans. The rich can watch us die on tv, from their gated communities. That should amuse them.
2950-10k: That's an excellent idea about the local nonprofit credit unions. I don't think they are FDIC insured and have their own kind of insurance...but it is certainly worthwhile to check it out. I really don't think FDIC insurance is worth spit anyway..if many banks go under...and I think they will sometime soon. But I keep thinking about the Savings and Loan scandals not that they have anything to do with Credit Unions. I don't know if it would be safer to just bury your money or keep it under a mattress....and hope no one does a home-invasion robbery...or burglarizes you when you are away. And if we did that....pull our money out of any of the institutions en masse...the government would probably declare our green-backs worthless because they will print a new style and unless we act by a certain date to put our money back into the system we lose anyway. Of course a run on the banks would be terrible but if you can't trust the government (FDIC) ? ...they have certainly given us good reason not to trust them!
And not only not having more time...working people have to be rather covert about their feelings and beliefs and activities. Employers everywhere are spying like crazy on their employees...hiring companies to check out what their employees are saying on line and on the social media.
Palindromedary: Due to the intense heat I delayed my after work-workout and was briefly online early hoping it would cool down.....notttttt.....anyway I survived! I like your boycott idea and would also encourage everyone if they have any savings or equitys to deposit into local nonprofit credit unions.
What about organizing more recalls across the country? I'm thinking about getting a group together to run a big ad in the local paper to expose how my tea-bag rep "Hanna" has voted against all of our best interests and then try to get a recall going as soon it's possible to do it. I wish I had more time, I really think thats one factor that really helps the rich guys, they know most of us working people are too busy to fight back.
Wake up Congress !!! The American middle class is not as stupid as you think it is. We know far better than you what is in the best interest of America. If you oould just once stand up for the American people, instead of bowing to your corporate masters, some of the stench associated with American politicians would be lifted.
If we would all vote against the incumbent in every house and senate race in 2012, we could change the face of American government.
Al-Kubra wa Al-feel (The Lark and the Elephant)
from an ancient Persian Tale:
One day an Elephant, thinking he was so big and powerful that he ruled without question, trod down a path not particularly watching where he was going. As he often staggered off the path, he managed to destroy the little animals and birds that he couldn't help stepping on. He didn't care because he was king and he was heartless as the little things cried out in agony.
Every day he would take this path to the watering hole and along the way he carelessly stepped on other little birds and animals.
One day he stepped on the nest of a mother lark who had laid her newly hatched eggs in with cheeping little ones awaiting the mother's return to feed them.
The horrified mother Lark was horrified and really, really ticked off and began making her plans to do something about this lumbering, arrogant, murdering bastard of an elephant. She called all the animals and birds together and they made their plans.
The next day, they were ready. As the elephant came down the path, the crows launched their attack..and pecked out his eyes blinding him. The elephant continued down the path and thinking he was at the water hole, because the frogs had been stationed around the hole rather than the pond, fell into a deep hole dug by the beavers and gophers. The Lark flew over and spoke to the Elephant...you thought you were too big and powerful and that we were too weak...what do you think now, Mr. Elephant?
The moral of the story...You are really not too big to fail! Just look at Rupert Murdoch now! Let's do the same thing to those who believe they are too big to fail. But lets first use one that thinks it is too big to fail as a tool to squash those other right-wing businesses. Yes, it will certainly help Walmart, in the short term, till the laws are brought back and enforced... which will eventually force even Walmart to comply.
Well, that was a kind of bastardized version from what I could remember. The actual story is part of a larger work of ancient related Persian and/or Indian tales (Panchatantra) that found it's way into Arabic literature in the Tales of Kalila wa Dimna that are recursive in nature...IE: one tale seems to lead to another and then makes references back to previous characters in previous tales...tales within tales. Found a copy.
Here's a more accurate version:
http://www.sunna.info/Lessons/islam_1353.html
I'll confess...I'll tell you anything you want to know....just don't hurt me!
dannahancock23: Thanks for that information. For anyone else interested...here's a web site with that study/report...
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB27/01-01.htm
Maybe we all should read this because...who knows what is in store for us? But I also wonder if they haven't already been doing a lot of this on our airwaves over the years...covertly..subliminally!
Ever try to hear and understand everything that is being said in a debate or panel discussion where people are always talking over one another? That is torture enough...and confusing! Remember some of the torture techniques we heard about in Gitmo or the US Torture chambers in Iraq...where they would do these things...like blast you 24 hours a day with loud rock music...changing frequencies and other sound effects. They did this with Noriega in that Church in Panama. And then there is the Good Cop Bad Cop ploy where the Bad Cop roughs you up (at least verbally) and then the Good Cop comes in and pretends to be nice and understanding...the cops end up getting what they wanted...a confession (maybe). That's what I think the whole charade of the two party system is...the Republicans and the Democrats are really both working for the same wealthy powers and we, the voters, are "roughed up" by the Republicans then when our heads are about to explode and ready to rebel...they feed us the lie, the hope, that the Democrats will save us. But of course, they don't...and the wealthy get what they want anyway...only slower...and without massive violent rebellion. What a slick operation! But it's not working for them anymore...at least, I hope, people are starting to see it.
levin.the.dude: ". Boycott is a great idea, but much more will have to happen"
Agreed...but you gotta start somewhere...and without getting into too much violence...in fact, none at all...a boycott is a lot better than just complaining. It is doing something that puts the visceral hurt on the people who are hurting us.
I agree that they have tried to keep us all happy and entertained (diverted)...the Romans used to keep their people diverted from their problems by throwing people to the lions in the Colosseum and Gladiators killing each other in the arena. Maybe our ruling elite will get around to that sooner or later as well. Nothing like watching someones bowels being ripped apart by a lion to make you forget about your little problems...like hunger...or where you will find shelter for the night. But I guess Nancy Grace will have to do for now!
I'm feeling really beat up. If I had not received the torch of advocacy from the first generation of women with the right to vote, I might just throw in the towell, and enjoy the rest of the summer in ignorant bliss. I havn't been this frustrated and angry since the build up to the Iraq war. Wow, and we progressives were on the right side of history there too. Anyway, come to find out there's a name for this psycho-torture:
from “KUBARK Counterintelligence Interrogation” (CIA torture guide) dated July 1963:
The aim of the Alice in Wonderland or confusion technique is to confound the expectations and conditioned reactions of the interrogatee. He is accustomed to a world that makes some sense, at least to him: a world of continuity and logic, a predictable world. He clings to this world to reinforce his identity and powers of resistance.
The confusion technique is designed not only to obliterate the familiar but to replace it with the weird. Although this method can be employed by a single interrogator, it is better adapted to use by two or three. When the subject enters the room, the first interrogator asks a doubletalk question — one which seems straightforward but is essentially nonsensical. Whether the interrogatee tries to answer or not, the second interrogator follows up (interrupting any attempted response) with a wholly unrelated and equally illogical query. Sometimes two or more questions are asked simultaneously. Pitch, tone, and volume of the interrogators’ voices are unrelated to the import of the questions. No pattern of questions and answers is permitted to develop, nor do the questions themselves relate logically to each other. In this strange atmosphere the subject finds that the pattern of speech and thought which he has learned to consider normal have been replaced by an eerie meaninglessness. The interrogatee may start laughing or refuse to take the situation seriously. But as the process continues, day after day if necessary, the subject begins to try to make sense of the situation, which becomes mentally intolerable. Now he is likely to make significant admissions, or even to pour out his story, just to stop the flow of babble which assails him. This technique may be especially effective with the orderly, obstinate type.
The idea just occurred to me that...what if Obama really is...on our side...and his big master plan is to go along with the Republicans..knowing that it will lead to such ticked off people that they will be compelled to even riot in the streets and, perhaps, start boycotting or doing something more active than just voting every 4 years and complaining. This may be giving Obama way too much credit...but it would be pretty devious and brilliant IF the alternative way of butting heads with the Repubs all these years would not have gained much. But, aside from that flight of fancy, I digress back into my original beliefs which seems to be what a lot of people are starting to believe...that Obama has just been selling us out.