Will They Ever Learn???

Digby sez:

"Someday Democrats will learn that they need to make their own case to the people instead of repackaging warmed over Republican rhetoric. It puts them 20 points behind at beginning of every play."

Well, as I observe this:
* the continued blocking of the likely new Senator from Minnesota;
* the failure to protect workers in this country;
* the dubious claims by 90-something white guys that an executive appointment to fill a Senate vacancy will not be honored (despite the 17th Amendment); and
* the failure to demand criminal investigations into the numerous crimes committed by the outgoing administration;

I have my doubts.

Democrats and Republicans... the 21st Century version of the Whigs and Know-Nothings...

Once again....

The awesome Driftglass distills my fury and disgust with our country's So Called Liberal Media. And its constant worship at the ceramic bowl of "Conservatism"...

"... a belief system that has proven beyond any doubt to be a oligarch’s scam -- whose adherents are botched, cartoonish failures as citizens – and yet inexplicably continues to be treated with respect. Even deference. As if bleeding with leeches were still considered to be a legitimate substitute for heart surgery, or casting out demons was still discussed as a valid, competitive alternative to psychotherapy."

I'm with Driftglass and the rest of the reality-based community of citizens who will "will be a lot more reassured that “we” have finally decided to leave brownshirt politics and suicideonomics behind forever when “we” see the High Princes of Stupidism unemployed and ridiculed instead of nesting comfortably in your employer's Op Ed pages."

As they say, read it all...Dear Bob Herbert

For Christmas

For this Christmas post, I encourage you to click thru to the amazing, thoughtful and inspiring Christmas tale told by retired U.S. Army Colonel Pat Lang (The Huron Carol) and his readers. Over at Old Hickory, Bruce recounts the story of the famous 1914 Christmas truce, held during the holiday that most thought they would be home before. Thirty years later, U.S. forces fought one of the most intensive battles of the Second World War in the Ardennes Forest. And up until the debacle in Holland, they too thought they would be on their way home for their Christmas in '44.

For so many, it is hard to imagine Christmas away from their families, friends and loved ones - much less a Christmas spent in a war zone in combat. Again this Christmas, thousands of our countrymen remain deployed and sadly, far too many of them are serving in combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. Let's hope that they too, today, can enjoy a brief respite from their work.

(Photo: Cross and wreath laid in 1999 to commemorate the 1914 Christmas Truce, Ypres, Belgium via Wikimedia Common)

By Drifty's definition...

... I am a liberal too.

"... people who take an interest in such things believe that power should be used to carve a few acres of justice and fairness out of the jungle of human nature: everybody pays, everybody benefits, everybody sacrifices a little, and so long as those things get done, we agree to stay out of each other’s way."

As they say, read it all. The Age of Bush

Our "Mainstream Press" - Nothing more than Pod People

Over at Old Hickory, Bruce connects the psuedo-journalism of UFO-ology to today's "mainstream reporting" and finds that "our press reports on matters of major public concern with UFO-nut-level journalism. That's no small part of the story of the last eight years."

Earlier this week, Digby penned a superb missive excoriating the media's "passion for worthless speculation and scandalmongering" and noting that it is we, the media's audience that gives "them their power by not holding them to a common standard." Digby's followup yesterday on the mainstreaming of Stuart Taylor's "crusade" against holding this unitary executive, torturing administration accountable for its crimes against the American people further outlines how today's MSM Villagers - especially those inside the D.C. Beltway - will do anything to protect themselves and their powerful position. (Personally, I was always partial to the term "Heathers.")

So it was with great interest I read today's Washington Post Style-section puff piece about the D.C.-area network television Green Rooms - and those that habituate such places. The article is filled with extuisite observations:

* Here in the Washington greenrooms of networks like CNN and Fox, ABC and NBC, unfiltered proximity affords priceless opportunities to exchange business cards, hatch unlikely partnerships, collect some intel, spark romances.

* These across-the-aisle, greenroom friendships can become lucrative propositions.

* By 8:30 a.m. on a recent Sunday, the crew at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant, the Source, has laid out smoked salmon and capers, bagels, bacon, hash browns and quiches in the greenroom at ABC's "This Week With George Stephanopoulos."

* the columnist George F. Will is sitting in his private version of a backstage greenroom -- you can't miss it, the sign at the door reads "GFW." He gets a special room because he's a regular on the show and because, well, he's George Will.

Wait a minute. You mean those rhetorical combatants are friends, business associates and even lovers? How is that possible?? And why are the viewers never told about this? The Post's editors must have gotten lazy or forgetful to allow this much "truth" to escape from behind the scenes.

America's media has failed the American people. Of course, some will argue that "the Media" was just giving the People exactly what they wanted - worthless speculation and scandalmongering." To me, that is no different than than saying the Big 3 only sold giant SUVs because that is all the consumer wanted? There is truth to this point - people did (and maybe still do) want giant SUVs and crappy media - yet, how much of that desire exists outside the works of marketers and purveyors of the "conventional wisdom"?? And how much desire is there when the broader "truth" is known?

Today, due to the miracle of "teh intertubes," we are fortunate to find, and easily find, some of the broader truths out there. Or at least broader points of view beyond what the clueless, access-driven puditocracy would have us observe. So thank you, Digby, Bruce, Bob, Drifty, John and Steve, Josh and all the others who are doing what the MSM could be doing - and should be doing.

(P.S. - I would be remiss if I did not point out that there are a couple "MSM" outlets out there that still retains journalistic integrity, solid reporting and a focus on public enlightenment and good:
* McClatchy
* Bill Moyers and PBS Frontline
* Harpers (and especially, Scott Horton and Ken Silverstein)
OK - you're right, none of these are mainstream media! What a sad sommentary about journalism in America today. I guess at least there is Keith.)

"This is a farewell kiss, dog..."

"Hey, don't throw those stinky things at my friend!"

(Photo from AFP.)

Those are the words uttered by an Iraqi patriot as he hurled his size 10's at President George W. Bush during another unannounced visit to Iraq.

Describing how he felt after coming under direct attack for the first time in his life, W. noted that "It doesn't bother me."

Iraqis, last seen tossing shoes at another famous politician, were largely unfazed. The shoe tosser, however, is now in the hands of Iraq's "freedom-extractors."



Bush. As popular overseas as he is at home!

Just in case we need a reminder

It's hard to believe we are still exactly where we were a couple of weeks ago.

I guess I should not be surprised that the opposition to helping fellow American workers continues to emanate from the vindictive, spiteful, loser frothing of neo-confederate senators from the South. It's to be expected". Over at the Hullabaloo, Digby and DDay both describe better than I can the insanity and ridiculousness. What's more disappointing to me is the apparent spinelessness of the Democratic Party leadership in this sordid affair.

Suffice it to say, its well past time for the UAW to spend some of its money to help its members partake in direct, in-person workers action against Shelby, Sessions, McConnell and Corker and hound these hounds until they cry UNCLE.

Barring that, when the bottom does fall out of the rest of the economy as flagship U.S. manufacturing interests go into default (and the billions, perhaps trillions, of credit default swaps that start trading hands as a result), I advocate tossing these four pogues from the People's lifeboat first. Of course, hoisting these fellas on the stabby ends of very, very sharp sticks would work just as well.

Oh, and when that next hurricane comes crashing through Alabama, FYYFFs!

When John Stewart Speaks...

... Congress should listen.

Of late, very few issues have infuriated me more than the ongoing "bail-outs" of various segments of the U.S. economy by our government.

Don't get me wrong, I am not some sort of "free-market" disciple or one who holds crazy beliefs on the Randian variety that the role of government in the economy is no role at all. That's just crazy talk!

Government must play a role in our economy. Critical elements of that role are protecting geographic area of economic activity (also known as national security), developing the "commons" where no single company dares to tread for fear of losing money (also known as infrastructure like roads, bridges, etc.) and supporting the citizens so they can participate and benefit (and sometimes be protected from) all that economic activity going on (this is promoting the general welfare).

To do all these things, government has to be funded (why we pay taxes), organized (this is where our Constitution comes in) and led (preferably in a manner agreeable to the majority of citizens as well as cognizant and protective of the minority who oppose the governments activities).

For the last several decades, however, these basic principles were corrupted, discarded, and simply not taught to younger generations. How else to explain the insanity observed when the citizens’ representatives deliver TRILLIONS of current and future tax revenue to the hands of financial swindlers while ignoring even the most basic duties of government?

Now that the financial ponzi scheme that was masquerading as the U.S. economy is imploding, the rush to the lifeboats by the well heeled has been unseemly and downright breathtaking. An objective observer may conclude that it is nothing short than outright theft by the moneyed interests from the last of the workers who actually create tangible, valuable products (and not simply leveraged paper transactions). So breathtaking in fact that when those who manufacture products, now crushed by the financial implosion, seek some assistance from the government that serves them as well, they’re told to forget it, their products suck anyways, they should throw themselves on the mercy of bankruptcy, or simply, we don't care about you. Our Congress and inept Administration today doesn’t care about you and is happy to throw you to the wolves.

Well, unless and until we figure it out that the United States actually has to once again make things of value, our economy is going to suffer and the number of citizens harmed by it will swell.

All of this is a long and rambling way to say you have to watch what America’s best “newscaster” and “pundit” had to say to Congress earlier this week.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Autoerotic Explanation

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Let me repeat: “Wall Street lost $7 trillion without selling anything -- at least when Detroit loses money, we get cars.”

Thank you John.

Friday Nite Points

OK. It's been a long week and I'm tired. Mostly, I'm tired of being outraged at how poorly the People's Servants in Washington are actually serving the People. So, some short takes.

One. Digby catches this great quote by Barney Frank: "Having lived with this very right wing Republican group that runs the House most of the time, the notion of trying to deal with them as if we could be post-partisan gives me post-partisan depression." Well Barney, I can sympathize with how you feel. Now, get motivated and get some real help to real Americans in the manufacturing sector, eh?

Two. If this (Worst month for job loss in 34 years) isn't enough motivation, then maybe putting some thought into what the default of any of the Big 3 would mean in the fantastical credit default swap market may be in order. B over at Moon of Alabama has done just that. An automaker default translating into hundreds of billions in CDS losses ... now that is leverage I can believe in!

Three. By the way, we should take heed to what this guy has to say (h/t B). Especially when he says this:

People, especially Americans, started believing that they can live on other people’s money. And more and more so. First other people’s money in your own country. And then the savings rate comes down, and you start living on other people’s money from outside. At first it was the Japanese. Now the Chinese and the Middle Easterners.

We—the Chinese, the Middle Easterners, the Japanese—we can see this too. Okay, we’d love to support you guys—if it’s sustainable. But if it’s not, why should we be doing this? After we are gone, you cannot just go to the moon to get more money. So, forget it. Let’s change the way of living.

Four. This is simply bullpuckey! And if it were so dang important, how come no one sought to question the citizenship of "Panama" John McCain? Over at Stonekettle Station, Jim calls it a "Conspiracy of Stupid." I know the fevered swamp dwellers want nothing more than this to be true... but give it up already! YGTBFKM!

Five. China Hand is looking behind the blaring soundbites of last week's Mumbai attack (has it been a week already) and sees that not everything is as simple as you may think it is. What is simple is that two nuclear armed nations are moving towards a confrontation and defusing the tension will not simply happen because the U.S. advocates calm and caution. If that is what we are advocating.

Six. I started to put some of my own thoughts down about what Bruce Miller has been writing lately about the impending Afghanistan escalation. Suffice it to say, take a few moments to read and reflect on his pleas for a real strategy ("How many times to we have to watch this movie?" and Afghanistan and Pakistan).

Seven. Glenn Greenwald gets up in Tom Gjelten's grill for the sloppy reporting and commentary Tom and NPR broadcast in the wake of John Brennan's withdrawal from consideration as Director of the CIA. Be amazed at the power of teh "left-wing bloggers"! Never mind that Brennan had some other issues that made any potential vetting and confirmation run a bit dicey. Besides, who needs that kind of controversy? Way to go Glenn! Stay on it!

Eight. I think Col Lang is becoming fed up with the global ineptitude in dealing with those scurvy sea-dog pirates of Somalia. His readers certainly are and its a lively discussion!

Nine. I'm with Athenae. Only a few more weeks to wait for this!

Ten. And lastly. Enjoy the snark that emerges from the Rising Hegemon.