tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post8689623128889283332..comments2024-03-27T18:00:02.032-04:00Comments on Sardonicky: Commentariat CentralKaren Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612731479365562803noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-26958924245325795212015-08-18T10:20:56.155-04:002015-08-18T10:20:56.155-04:00Re the "religious nut" who hijacked Bern...Re the "religious nut" who hijacked Bernie's Social Security speech.<br /><br />I had been paying little to no attention to what I consider to be a side issue and distraction, another method of "divide and conquer." It is all of a piece with the swiftboating of both Bernie and the BLM movement. It's in the same vein as the hysteria on the alleged black ops infiltration of the Occupy movement as a technique to weaken it.<br /><br />Who cares if a disturbed person has latched on to BLM? There are disturbed people,and people with less than pristine motives and bona fides in every social justice movement. I think it's awful that so-called liberals are castigating this obviously troubled woman. I cringed when one of the more "liberal" Times commenters referred to her as a "thug." I mean, ouch. <br /><br />Let's face it, there is plenty of racism and xenophobia amongst so-called progressives. I can't count how many times I've been castigated for writing sympathetic commentary on the plight of migrants and refugees. "I'm as liberal as all get-out, but these people should just go back where they come from," is the gist of their reactions. <br /><br />This is one reason Donald Trump is so popular among even some Democrats of my acquaintance. He makes it safe to be a xenophobe. It also explains Obama's continuing popularity: he enables liberals to feel like they're not white supremacists as long as they support the First Black President and defend him against the right wing attack machine. They could not care less that he drones people to death and imprisons Latino women and children in border gulags.Karen Garciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15612731479365562803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-54346210392298822492015-08-18T02:44:17.871-04:002015-08-18T02:44:17.871-04:00I look forward to these threads. I miss so many of...I look forward to these threads. I miss so many of your comments because I can't be bothered with the NY Times very much any more. It is also good to see what others are writing.<br /><br />I think you are doing a good job synthesising what is really going on around the Bernie Sanders popularity - which seems to baffle all the pundits and the DNC. <br /><br />I suspect they threw Bernie Sanders out there to draw in the "extreme" wing of the Democratic Party only to discover that there are a lot more of us than they expected. I must admit, hope springs eternal. Even after the traitorous Obama turned on the constituency that elected him, true Liberals want a leader they can trust and support. You are right, Karen, we long for an FDR. I don't know if Bernie Sanders is it, but he has a good voting record and he is established enough to not be wowed by the promises of wealth and being part of the "cool crowd" as both Clinton and Obama have been. I didn't originally give Bernie a lot of hope, but as his popularity increases, I am getting more hopeful. <br /><br />In case people don't know, Jimmy Carter - my favourite president - has been diagnosed with cancer. He is 91, so it is probably not promising that he will beat it. It is with great sadness that I read the news. He has been courageous in speaking truth to power and epitomised the conduct of a Nobel Prize winner. <br />Valerienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-7299503289716257082015-08-18T00:35:20.628-04:002015-08-18T00:35:20.628-04:00Karen, nice sarcasm to Dowd. She can’t resist DT C...<br />Karen, nice sarcasm to Dowd. She can’t resist DT Celebrity...she and Bruni both made sure we know they dined with Donald. Wonder what the menu was. It’s status...pundits and candidates are mutually dependent. <br />I’m rather vague on the identity of the other celebs cited by Dowd. It’s wasted on me. <br /><br />I’m sorry Charles Blow can’t find the occasion to write a supportive Sanders column. Maybe someday. <br /><br />Re the BLM main interrupter---I read she’s a Sarah Palin fan and a religious extremist. How many of the Gop line up has she aimed her ammunition at? She’s not representative of BLM is my impression. <br /><br /><br />Re China/Krugman..... excellent line, Karen---“ Whether the state runs the "markets" or the markets run the state is moot. Losses are socialized, profits are privatized.” Are US politicians now only fronts for big business? Rather a source of confusion for the US masses, that Krugman does nothing to clear up. He stays far away from it, so he looks good. <br /><br />Meredith NYCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-91467062608257832012015-08-18T00:15:46.642-04:002015-08-18T00:15:46.642-04:00Mr. Liberal, Krugman bravely defends SS from radic...<br />Mr. Liberal, Krugman bravely defends SS from radical Repub attacks! What an easy column for a Nobel winning economist, who never mentions raising the absurdly low SS tax cap. Strange he avoids this. Typical---razz the repubs, but never offer positive proposals. <br /><br />Krugman might explain Karen’s crucial point---“the difference between "socialism" (Marx, Lenin) and "democratic socialism" (Sanders, Scandinavian countries with a strong social safety net, most aspects of FDR's New Deal.)” Karen, please use this in a comment. Sanders should explain this in every speech of the campaign. <br /><br />But, shocker---Krugman finally mentions that Big Money plays a role! Has he noticed that our candidates practically apply for the position of Presidential nominee by offering themselves for vetting by the big donors?<br />That most of the rw parties abroad don’t attack their nation’s basic safety nets goes unmentioned here. <br /><br />Seems today’s seniors may be the last generation to have guaranteed pensions with their SS. <br /><br />Krugman might also mention the US marriage of big money, and religion—unique among democracies. This contradicts separation of religion and govt. But so what? God makes them trash SS. <br /><br />Item: the Gop debate ended with Fox host Kelly asking if any of the candidates had “received a word from God...on what they should do and take care of first.”<br /><br />“Cruz said he hears from God daily via the Bible. Kasich said he believes in miracles, and God wants America to be strong. Rubio said God blesses the US, and the Republican party. Scott Walker said “it’s only by the blood of Jesus Christ that I’ve been redeemed from my sins.”<br /><br />But aren’t these candidates sinning----asking for the votes of millions, but planning to cut funds for their basic needs? What would you know who say?<br /><br />Only in the US would a major party ask for votes by pushing cuts to the main source of support for millions. God is texting them the message to do it? <br />Gop trash politics-- crazier even than Trump Trash. In fact a NYT op ed, by Peter Wehner, July 8, said Trump criticized Repubs for attacking SS, Medicare, Medicaid. And he likes Single Payer h/c!<br /><br /><br /><br />Meredith NYCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-56684697599743727042015-08-17T22:06:16.420-04:002015-08-17T22:06:16.420-04:00In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth i...In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.<br />-- George Orwell<br />Pearlnoreply@blogger.com