Not Your Daddy's Democrats

5 Comments:

Anonymous said...

Nor have they lived through a great depression or a World War. They have been born in the richest nation in the richest time in history. Current US poverty would be considered luxury in the 1930's and the 1940's. The question remains: Does this generation have the stomach to be a world power? Some feel that there is never a call to fight. Some feel that if it isn't effecting me personally then I can turn my head. Some feel that it's just "not my job". We are the fattest nation ever...while entire Continets burn with famine and genocide. We pay atheletes millions but research scientists have to beg and even lie in order to get funding. These are times when leaders are born and made. But are we strong enough? Are we the nation we say we are? Do we have the stomach to lead?

Are we so selfish to think that only WE matter?

Are we red and blue..or red white and blue...
10:49 PM, November 13, 2006

REB 84 said...

Well said anonymous.

It is a question of priorities. As George Carlin said we are very good at "blowing shit up!" Now lets see if we can put things back together again.

Its all a question of our priorities. We have the ability. Do we have the will?
7:45 PM, November 14, 2006

Cal Trask said...

Indeed Reb, Are we the polarized nation that the Media says we are? or are we the nation who can work together and get things done. Will the new Congress work with the President to invoke real and meaningfull change, or we be voting them out in 12 years like the we voted the Republicans out this time. This was a victory for the mainstream and the center. Hopefully things will start to happen soon.

BTW REB, I'm going to post something on the Ted Haggart Scandal on my blog soon. I'll let you know...
11:36 AM, November 15, 2006

REB 84 said...

Hello Cal,

I look forward to your post on Haggart. I will be happy to cross post it at QuestionItNow and Bring It On!

I have been pleasantly suprised with the civil talk coming from Nancy Pelosi, Harry Ried, and even John Conyers. They know we are up to ours ears in problems at home and abroad.

The new Dems appear to realize the USA is in a crisis. They need to work with the President if anything is to be accomplished. I wonder if Bush/Cheney will play along?
11:42 PM, November 15, 2006

Ohiodem1 said...

Anonymous - I object to using poverty in the 1930's and '40's as the yardstick for how we measure poverty today. Kids in Harlem suffer the highest rate of Asthma anywhere in America, and perhaps the world, and the cause has been identified as cockroaches. The yardstick for measuring poverty in America today should be, what does it take to live safely, with food and shelter, and in good health? If these things are not in the posession of all of our people, then they are in poverty by today's standards. I do not buy that perspective argument.

Cal Trask - I think we are the polarized nation the media says wer are. The polarization is being fed by a belligerent right wing media machine whose goal right now appears to be one of doing all in its power to tear asunder any shred of bi-partisanship that the voters have demanded of our leaders.

Talkers on the left are not helping either.

The president is not helping either, and he seems intent on picking a fight with Congress, challenging the Democrats to be "obstructionist" by filibustering judicial candidates previously rejected by Congress, and some who were rejected in the Gang of 14 deal. Similarly, John Bolton, and several other idealog candidates for other positions in government. Despite concilitory words, his actions do not match the rhetoric. The Lame Duck congressional session appears to be set up for another partisan donnybrook. The American people have spoken, and they have had it with partisan gridlock. It does not appear that the president is working to change that.
1:36 PM, November 16, 2006

REB 84 said...

OhioDem1,

I find myself in a rare disagreement with you. I realize my disagreement is in perception, so this can neither be proven nor disproven. But I tend to believe that we are not as polarized as the media and the extreme talkers on the right or left would have us believe.

Dirty Dozen Defeated points to the success of the League of Conservation at targeting candidates for defeat who have a poor record on the environment. They also championed the cause of pro-environment, pro-health candidates and were very successful. This seems to indicate that average Americans want clean air to breath, safe food, and clean water.

Don't let big media fool you, 'We the People' are out in front of the talking heads and the candidates on so many issues. I strongly believe that blogs helped break down the BS that got us into Iraq. They also help to shape the argument. I know you did your part with How to Sell a War.

BTW - I just did a Google search of "How to Sell a War." Your PDF came in fourth out of 500. I would argue that your analysis of progaganda used from WWI to the present day is non-partisan. It concisely points out how the propagandist operates. This is valuable knowledge for any American, regardless of party affiliation.
10:20 PM, November 16, 2006

Will America Lead?