tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post1649024298440934385..comments2024-03-27T18:00:02.032-04:00Comments on Sardonicky: Bootlicking for DollarsKaren Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612731479365562803noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-35669841813787987632012-02-17T23:52:51.232-05:002012-02-17T23:52:51.232-05:00@All--
I first saw Lt. Col. Daniel Davis's st...@All--<br /><br />I first saw Lt. Col. Daniel Davis's story in an on-line editorial that appeared in <i> Armed Forces Journal, </i> a respected periodical that circulated in a group in which I served in the latter part of my career in the defense industry:<br /><br />http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/2012/<br />02/8904030<br /><br />That's not to say that I can confirm that his story is totally accurate, but I <i> <b> do </b> </i> have great respect for the journal that published his account of the situtation in Afghanistan.<br /><br />Take that for what it's worth.Zeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-73470821090022346602012-02-17T20:07:08.483-05:002012-02-17T20:07:08.483-05:00Thanks Valerie, this story was just broadcast on t...Thanks Valerie, this story was just broadcast on the PBS News Hour too, very important information. Lt. Col. Davis has two years to retirement, he is risking everything by going public.<br /><br />http://www.pbs.org/newshour/Neilhttp://yousue.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-46636966118339409422012-02-17T18:23:00.203-05:002012-02-17T18:23:00.203-05:00Not sure if anyone is still reading this thread bu...Not sure if anyone is still reading this thread but I just saw an article in TruthDig about Lt. Col Daniel L Davis who had the integrity to stand up to the military brass and the MIC and tell the truth about the disastrous war in Afghanistan. I would wager this guy is a decent, caring, honest Republican. Yet another I can like and respect.<br /><br />http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/truthdigger_of_the_week_lt_col_daniel_l_davis_20120217/Valerienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-67050079428107081402012-02-17T00:21:40.540-05:002012-02-17T00:21:40.540-05:00@ DreamsAmelia
Yes, and Blagojevich was convicted...@ DreamsAmelia<br /><br />Yes, and Blagojevich was convicted of corruption and sentenced to 14 years in prison, while Obama will likely be reelected, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize while waging war in Irag, Afghanistan, the Special Ops stuff, Gitmo, and torture. <br /><br />BTW, the Appalachian Trail can get pretty cold, at least in Pennsylvania and points north, and it can be hard finding down wood to make a fire, as I learned one winter. <br /><br />You are not the only one with a life cut short by adversity. But short or long, it matters what you do with that life, not mere longevity. <br /><br />Keep Fighting.Neilhttp://www.yousue.org/2012-election/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-52527968348164054312012-02-16T19:34:56.000-05:002012-02-16T19:34:56.000-05:00@ Neil--funny, I too keep thinking of Blagojevich ...@ Neil--funny, I too keep thinking of Blagojevich and the faux outrage he provoked--he was hung in the press before trial, just like it is an absolute given that we "know" who Al Queda is and they are Veddy Veddy Veddy bad so we will drone nuke and fry 'em from far away. And if someone slaps that label on your head, no matter what your skin color, heaven help you defend yourself! We never hear specific allegations in the press, nor concrete crimes, they just have to be Al QUEDA!!! (Tune in thundering Darth Vader Strikes back music....)<br />Sad, 'cuz Blagojevich channeled a kinda likable indie film-maker or song-writer in his brief press appearances. Though all the girls said Ted Bundy was pretty fetching too, so we know appearances are a big booby trap... <br /><br />But yes, I can't just skip over the $38,500 price tag in any article or blog post about the fundraisers without ruminating on how many people could survive for how long on that sum of money. I reckon I could hobo Jack London style the rest of my (albeit, necessarily cut short by adversity) life on that sum. You can live free on the Appalachian Trail, and there are lots of free piles of clothes at community recycling centers and dumpsters near the Shenandoah National Park. <br /><br />Sad that our politicians' definition of thinking in survival mode does not entail trying to live on the most minimal food and shelter but rather in terms of billions of dollars, for which even a million here or there is a rounding error. The finances alone should be argument enough that we are ruled by Queens & Kings. Maybe then it would sink into people's heads that both the Dems and Repubs are two sides of the same Oligarchy card. <br /><br />Meanwhile, the few of us who do get it are busy flying kites and jumping in the lake, waiting for the day...DreamsAmelianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-80449320622134374552012-02-16T18:54:59.426-05:002012-02-16T18:54:59.426-05:00@Zee wrote:
"Certainly, the Looney Right has...@Zee wrote:<br /><br />"Certainly, the Looney Right has characterized OWS and the 99%ers as a violent, radical, left-wing, anti-capitalist movement. <br />But I think that David Intrator sees OWS and the 99%ers much more clearly, having, in many ways, very conservative goals; I agree with everything that he says in this video:<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3bhHYQ7i7w<br />So again, I see nothing incompatible with being a conservative and a 99%er, even if a prerequisite for joining the 99% Club is being sympathetic to many of OWS’ concerns and objectives."<br />You are SO right, Zee! This movement should appeal to every fair minded, reasonable person in America – and it would if the right wing and main stream media outlets weren’t demonizing it on behalf of their corporate sponsors. Fairness, rewarding hard work and charity were values my conservative Republican father drilled into us from the time we were small children. That is what Occupy is all about.<br />We are not alone in thinking this way. At first I was wondering why Bill Moyers was having so many Republicans (who would consider themselves Conservatives) as guests on his show but I think I have figured it out. He is showing all Americans who care about fairness and democracy that decent, thinking, compassionate, reasonable liberals and decent, thinking, compassionate, reasonable conservatives have a hell of a lot more in common with each other than they do with their zombie brethren who are buying the corporate Obama and Romney agenda hook line and sinker.<br /><br />@Karen<br /><br />Thanks for posting your NYT comments here. I know you are modest and reluctant but many of us appreciate not having to pour through a useless paper to find the few jewels.Valerienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-57496287808559304302012-02-16T16:37:35.414-05:002012-02-16T16:37:35.414-05:00You said it, Kat! Labels mean nothing. Pretty much...You said it, Kat! Labels mean nothing. Pretty much everything that Obama has done has been for the 1% and against the interests of the 99%. His administration is just one big extention of the Bush/Cheney administration. What matters is integrity and most of the politicians on BOTH sides of the ailse don't have it.<br /><br />I would wager, many of those AG's who were unwilling to settle with the banks were Conservatives with a black and white sense of fairness.Valerienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-59440813621966443822012-02-16T14:01:36.387-05:002012-02-16T14:01:36.387-05:00@James,
I'll take the conservative Andrew Bace...@James,<br />I'll take the conservative Andrew Bacevich over liberal Hilary Clinton any day.<br />We should forget labels.Katnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-42778269615301867552012-02-16T11:17:20.216-05:002012-02-16T11:17:20.216-05:00@James Singer--
‘"conservative... 99%ers&qu...@James Singer--<br /><br /><i> ‘"conservative... 99%ers"? You jest, sir.’ </i> --James Singer<br /><br />No. Why would I be jesting?<br /><br />Although a few weeks ago @Anne Lavoie decided that I’m merely a run-of-the-mill Democrat, I view myself as quite conservative, which, I hope, will become more apparent with time. And from a purely economic standpoint--income, accumulated wealth, <i> etc. </i> --I’m definitely part of the 99%. <br /> <br />So, there you have it, a “conservative 99%er.”<br /><br />Now, I realize that the term “99%er” was coined by the Occupy Wall Street movement, and may have connotations beyond mere economic status. <br /><br />Certainly, the Looney Right has characterized OWS and the 99%ers as a violent, radical, left-wing, anti-capitalist movement. <br /><br />But I think that David Intrator sees OWS and the 99%ers much more clearly, having, in many ways, very conservative goals; I agree with everything that he says in this video:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3bhHYQ7i7w<br /><br />So again, I see nothing incompatible with being a conservative <i> and </i> a 99%er, even if a prerequisite for joining the <i> 99% Club </i> is being sympathetic to many of OWS’ concerns and objectives.Zeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-90710169200911383012012-02-16T10:26:00.512-05:002012-02-16T10:26:00.512-05:00$38,500 for a "small dinner" with BO is ...$38,500 for a "small dinner" with BO is outrageous. Seems like buying political access, with an implied expectation of a political favor in return. Not much different than what Rod Blagojevich did, other than being better choreographed to make it "legal". <br /><br />$38,500 could feed a typical family of four for about three years. The amount solicited for access to the president is obscene, especially for a so-called Democrat president. <br /><br />Maybe someone could attend the dinner wearing a wire and micro camera to record the event, then post it online, so the rest of the world could watch. This is what democracy looks like, right? <br /><br />Good information on the Volcker rule too.Neilhttp://yousue.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-63861457065502544962012-02-16T08:08:35.277-05:002012-02-16T08:08:35.277-05:00Off topic, but some of you have requested that I r...Off topic, but some of you have requested that I reprint my NY Times comments here. This one is in response to Gail Collin's piece on Congress....<br /><br />The Congress critters have proven themselves to be complete fakes in agreeing to the payroll tax/unemployment extensions. Suddenly their pathological concern about the deficit has gone. Poof! disappeared into the rarefied air of the bubble dome faster than you can say Eric Can'torWon't. <br /><br />But don't despair. The reactionaries have started another phony battle out of thin air. The Culture Wars, long considered a vestige of the dark ages of Bush, are back with a vengeance. Darryl Issa is actually going to have a hearing on the evils of birth control, at which only anti-contraception fanatics will be allowed to testify. Maybe his cohort will be hedging its insider bets on the price of Ortho-Novum and Yaz before the Stock Act goes into effect.<br /><br />Or maybe they'll invest in drug testing companies, since they also want unemployment beneficiaries to submit to chemical vetting before they are allowed to collect on their own insurance policies. Anything to make hardship seem like a crime. It wouldn't surprise me if they even tried to make debt a felony punishable by jail time - in one of the private prisons they also have a stake in. They'd charge room and board to the prisoner, and even make room for the entire family. Shades of "Little Dorrit."<br /><br />A commenter on the Firedoglake blog nailed it when he called the conservative agenda "a thousand points of blight." Dickensian Britain was a paradise compared to the fantasy lives of our political sadists.Karen Garciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15612731479365562803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-41672908325228425052012-02-16T02:51:56.636-05:002012-02-16T02:51:56.636-05:00OBAMA’S LAMENT
I have to waste some pawns now and...OBAMA’S LAMENT<br /><br />I have to waste some pawns now and then to protect my precious rooks. I have to straddle the fence to keep my options open. I have to kiss the elephant’s ass to save my donkey’s ass. I have to chip away at the Bill of Rights in order to bring it up to date. I have to attend those fat-cat banquets to get you some generous crumbs. I have to lie, quite honestly, for the sake of the cross-my-heart truth. I have to humble your Main Street to provide more confidence to Wall Street. I have to promote the plutocracy in order to strengthen democracy. And like the Good Shepherd whom I try to emulate, I have to forsake the 99% to rescue the 1% -- after all, we’re ALL Americans. I have to strip mine the globe to preserve our way of life. I have to foster the wars to prove I’m tough and to counter the sly blackmail behind that purist Nobel Peace Prize. I have to send drones to their weddings and funerals to win their hearts and minds. I have to kill their turbaned men to liberate their burqa’d women. I have to gamble with the present in order to win the future. I have to smile this much just to cheer you up. I have to play the game, which is the only way to stop it.Jay–Ottawahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10360356126450612113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-45937466755975046262012-02-15T21:40:36.180-05:002012-02-15T21:40:36.180-05:00Dinner music will be provided by the Goldman Saxop...Dinner music will be provided by the Goldman Saxophone Orchestra with vocals by the Cash Brothers.4Runnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02582762546159637023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-10663367342197203362012-02-15T19:29:03.377-05:002012-02-15T19:29:03.377-05:00"conservative... 99%ers"? You jest, sir...."conservative... 99%ers"? You jest, sir.James Singernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-40005913982119445742012-02-15T15:50:18.217-05:002012-02-15T15:50:18.217-05:00Ya think that in the interests of providing "...Ya think that in the interests of providing "equal time" for dissenting opinions <i> a la </i> Cass Sunstein and Bill Clinton, the Prez will offer a few discounted tables to Conservative--or even Progressive--99%ers?Zeenoreply@blogger.com