It’s no secret that a lot of progressives in America are disappointed with President Obama and the elected Democratic politicians in Washington. As a result, these progressives are threatening to just stay home on Election Day this year. Not only is this anger detrimental to the Party, but it could have disastrous consequences for our country. Mike Papantonio talks with author Paul Loeb, who says that we have to get past our anger or else we could be looking at a Congress that is actually worse then the one we had during the Bush years.
This is a very interesting and meaningful interview!
I like the title: “This Election Needs YOU!”
I hesitate to even quibble with it.
I just Wish I hadn’t read this article about how Obama is being bankrolled by the “New Liberal Super-Rich.” It’s in The New Republic and is by David Callahan. I looked him up – he’s pretty Liberal, I think. So is, I think, the New Republic magazine.
Now, now to be a Downer, here! There’s Much to be heartened by, by having this new “Liberal Super-Rich” supporting the Democratic Party. By-and-Large, they support very good causes such as Gay Marriage, the science behind Climate Change and many other Progressive issues. They are Definitely on Our Side!
They even support raising taxes on themselves – all for improved education, infrastructure, health care and immigration (esp. of people who come to this country highly proficient in the skills of the information age).
It’s pretty good, all way around. I’m not going to be all Debbie Downer, here. I’m not sure why I feel something of a discordant note running throughout this article. A certain, jarring sense of unease…keeps gnawing away at me, for some reason….
It might the idea that Any Group of people basically Buying our elections is a rather discomforting thing – although the wealthy right do the buying, too! Albeit, the far right Super-Rich are a dying breed, if David Callahan is to be believed.
I should think he has a point – In Fact, so Many private jets (of Liberals) “clogged Dulles International Airport”, that a runway had to be closed down to make room for all this private jet traffic, according to Callahan:
“…around 500 (private jets) in total, or almost double the number for George W. Bush’s second inauguration.”
Hmmmm.
Interesting. Well, I’m certainly glad that the Liberal super-rich on Our side supporting health-care and so many other wonderful causes!
Except when they Don’t necessarily, support causes that are not in Their interests – but Might very well be in Our interests – the middle and working class interests – that is.
For instance: “They favor gay marriage and abortion rights.” (Yay!)
And yet, also: “They support free trade – even as it devastate swaths of the American heartland….” (Not…Yay)
On the upside, the Liberal Super-rich support renewable-energy technologies – (All Right! All LEFT!)
But also: they Don’t like “restrictions on corporate off-shoring and out-sourcing” Or “tariffs on imports that could provoke a trade war; and tough new financial regulations that could upend their profits.”
Well, darn. It strikes me as being rather disturbing that people in power get to run things….
Okay, I’ll stop now. I’ve ventured into the realm of the Certifiable Insane!
OF COURSE the wealthy and the powerful run things! Including Politics!
That’s reality. I’m just glad that those on Our side are so darn Liberal and Nice and Good….
except when they’re Not.
Can Anyone say:
Campaign Finance Regulation?
Ha! What a JOKE. We are all so worried about Citizens United, and we Should be (and Get Out and Vote Dem, too! It just *might* make you feel like a High Roller) -
but Really, the ones who have to worry about Citizens United are the Liberal Super-rich people who are on Our Side. THEY are going to have to spend a Heap Lot More, it seems to me, just to keep apace w/all these corporations that they….
own?
Jeez, I’m Confused!
Well, I guess I will just get out and Vote, if only because Sarah Palin and Christine O’Donnell are stupid, disturbing and just plain Insane, period.
Besides, maybe this article is wrong. Although, all those private jets…..
Not much new here. Yada, Yada, Yada. Yes we are voting. But I did disagree with Paul Loeb about us progressives not doing enough. Guess again. There have been rallies for Obama to do the right thing but you don’t hear about them because we don’t have a FOX news backing us up. The only place you’ll hear about what progressives did is if you visit MichaelMoore.com everyday. Otherwise, forget it. When we do tell Obama what we want, he don’t listen anyway. Christ, Lady Gaga couldn’t even get him to listen to her in regards to repealing DADT.
Don’t you just hate it when it seems like these elections are always pre-determined by the MSM and FOX News?
I wonder how much coverage in the MSM Ed Schultz’s progressive march will get. America shouldn’t be all about Republicans, corporations, and teabaggers getting the spotlight.
It’s like why we need to preserve net neutrality like the Fairness Doctrine on TV should have been preserved.
It occurs to me to hope that no one hates me too much, at RoF….
I had said earlier in the year I wasnt going to get involved this election cycle BUT after what I’ve been hearing everyday of what the republicans plan to do, there’s no way in hell Im sitting on the sidelines…Canvassing and phonebanking will be my 2nd job til Nov 2nd
Good for you, Victoria! And welcome (back) to ROFR! The stakes couldn’t be higher in this midterm election. We have the choice to vote for either common sense or that of our emotional impulses.
Mara,
In regards to your article by David Callahan. Some of the things mentioned were good but anytime a rich individual uses their money to influence a political party’s agenda, it’s not always good. Consider the Blue Dog Dems who are getting paid off by big business. You know how badly that turns out.
PS….Mara, I don’t hate you. I’ve ruffled a few feathers with my posts as well. And I don’t care.
This Election Needs YOU! is the name of this video. This means we’re supposed to get fired up? Well, watch this interview with Michael Moore on Keith and you’ll see why this election is already over and the Reps will take back control in November.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#39336016
..anyone who hasn’t seen Olberman the last two days might be able to KID themselves that Dems will DO the right thing now..
personally, as I said when I began here, I see the only reason
Dems don’t DO the BUSHIT TAX legislation BEFORE November is because DEMS are bought and sold, and competing with Republi$$K$$ans for corporate campaign contributions…
it’s totally time to vote for good candidates that are 3rd, 4th, 5th party..
I read the “Pledge for America”, and after vomiting and taking a shower I am happy to share the ideological content of this T-bug manifesto for ROF bloggers. We all know by now that the repug plan is to privatize everything in this country, so not withstanding the fact that there is no “plan” in the pledge other than killing the Health Care Bill, extending the Bush tax-cuts for the filthy rich, rolling back federal spending to 2008 pre-TARP levels, killing Wall Street Reform and cutting federal jobs and agencies, etc. while increasing spending for missile defense – I’m trying to get inside the heads of the crafters of this document – here’s my handy-dandy guide to sinister segues and ominous overtones.
This document starts out by proclaiming America is more than a country – it’s an idea – which is the set-up for what their idea of America is. After a brief insincere usurping of America’s guarantee to life liberty and happiness, etc. they start their cynical carping:
“Whenever the agenda of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to institute a new governing agenda and set a different course”
READ: Whenever government gets hip our scams, Citizens United gives us “the power of the people” to complete the corporate coup and set up the suckers for good.
“An unchecked executive, a compliant legislature, and an overreaching judiciary have combined to thwart the will of the people and overturn their votes and values, striking down long-standing laws and institutions and scorning the deepest beliefs of the American people.
READ: This one can be turned 180º around! What we have here is a strange mishmash of deep projected paranoia and guilt of the Bush years including 2 stolen elections, perhaps rage at attempting to regulate the financial sector and insurance industry or the abolition of slavery (by Lincoln – a Republican) and obviously Roe v Wade thrown in for good measure!
“An arrogant and out-of-touch government of self-appointed elites makes decisions, issues mandates, and enacts laws without accepting or requesting the input of the many.”
READ: The smart black guy swept into office and the house and senate majority can’t do s**t when we just say NO and whip up the media with our T-bug dawgs.
“The American people are speaking out, demanding that we realign our country’s compass with its founding principals and apply those principals to solve our common principals for the common good.”
READ: Riding the backs of our manufactured base with xenophobic hate-mongering we can obsfuscate principals for the common good and apply that political capital to solve our principals of profit for good.
“We pledge to honor families, traditional marriage, life, and the private and faith-based organizations that form the core of our American values.”
READ: We pledge to economically eviscerate families, ban gay marriage, stop abortions, deregulate business and tar and feather anyone who ain’t a fundamentalist Christian.
O’Donnell and her Palin-endorsed ilk do not intend to govern, they’re just door openers for the Red State/Corporate Coup of government. Voting is important but it will be the least of what will have to be done in the near future.
All true, Flick..but did you see the Olberman segment tonight?:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#39335981
…better yet, Rachel Maddow’s version shows that Oil and AIG
LOBBYISTS WROTE parts of the “PLEDGE”…:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show/#39336480
Colleen,
Excellent interview w/Michael Moore, by Keith Olbermann. Great stuff!
Here’s what Moore said that I Love the Most:
“How do we help save the Democrats from Themselves” –
Uh, YEAH! How DO we do that?
It might be too late and if so the blame is squarely on the Dems. People like Victoria are doing above and beyond and Lord Knows, everyone here who is commenting on this thread, thus far, is going to vote Dem -
Also: I’m happy for Michael Moore to be wealthy and supportive of the Progressives and Dems. He’s a working guy, at heart, so he Knows what matters to working class people – but really: No One should be buying these elections.
Fantasy Land, given all the corruption, so we better be grateful that at least Some of the wealthy ones are more on Our Side than not!
Flick,
Thanks for that analysis! Btw, you might enjoy reading Norman Goldman’ take on the Pledge sh*t – the Pledge to Screw US Badly –
It’s on Huffington Post and his website and it’s called: “A Pledge To Finish Off America”
http://www.normangoldman.com/blog/blog-details.asp?BID=146
You know, Folks -
I don’t believe that the Democrats don’t have a spine, are too weak, etc etc.
I’m thinking: that makes no sense. They Know how to fight – look where they got to in their political lives. I guess many of them skated by, but Not Barack Obama. He knows how to fight.
He knows how to win.
Too bad he’s working for the Other Side to the extent that he’s causing this irreparable harm to our country by basically throwing these midterms under the bus.
Inflammatory language? Well, is it any More so than blaming the voters for what’s going to happen in November?
C’mon, who’s in control, here? The people “running the ship” as Moore said (running the sh*t?) or US? Have we Ever been in control? No!
As to people who are of the conservative bent, I read that when you grow up in a household with a lot of economic insecurity, you tend to be a person who overly values authority.
The republicans know how to Use that – and make people Afraid.
Fear IS a strong message and motivator but the Democrats could be Inspiring US – not w/mere rhetoric, but by taking a Hard Stand and Backing it w/Action!
Like Rep. Alan Grayson did, w/the Republican’s take on Health Care.
He Shocked People – in a Good Way – but cutting through all the garbage and going Straight for the Jugular.
I’m So Angry at people on RoF and elsewhere, who Blame the Voter, Harass the Voter, Hector and Scold and Shame the Voter!
Is that the ONLY way to encourage people to vote?????
Well, Yeah, maybe, if you trying to defend a bunch of Wussies called The Democratic Party.
Or, no, Not Wussies. Not Weaklings.
Half-Corrupt people who are in a War w/Themselves and We are Supposed to “save them from themselves.”
Well, I sure hope we Can, by voting, but it’s an uphill battle, when the Democratic Party keeps shooting themselves in the Foot.
They keep missing and We are Taking the Bullets.
I will add that I am Just as Furious w/those would-be voters who are saying that they are going to sit this one out.
NO! That’s Wrong!!!! If you know Anything about politics, you Have to Know what’s at Stake by Not voting – Not Voting is Voting! Voting for the Far Right.
Now. Here’s what *I* would do, right now, if I were President Obama.
I’d give a big speech, to the American People – I’d say just enough but not too much – and keep it simple and direct.
My message would be:
I know I have Failed You in Many Ways. We, the Democrats, have been a House Divided – We’ve been Too Much in Cahoots W/the Same Corrupt energies has those that have COMPLETELY taken over the Republicans.
But, Folks, too much is at stake to ride this one out. We NEED your Support -
(here, briefly tout your half-a$$ed, yet Still important reforms and regulations, then Make Say):
Here is My Pledge, Directly to You, the Ameican People:
Things ARE going to get better in Wash. I am Now working for You, the People, 100%. Give me Another Chance. Don’t let the Tea Party take Over, Don’t Let Sarah Palin Take Over -
Give Me Another Chance.
You Need To Do This for Your Country and Yourself and I need to Be the President that All Of You have Elected!
~
Then, have several small meetings, televised, just like that town hall meeting you did, where that nice lady took you to task and said she was getting tired of trying to defend YOU.
Have people crying, angry and screaming (a bit) of how you failed them – and use your compassion and skills and Honesty to assure them that you Will Do Much Better, This Time.
that you’ve Learned Your Lesson the Hard Way – you Can’t Go Bipartisan on an Out-of-Control Party.
then, get rid of the $$%! Filibuster as soon as you can.
That’s what *I* would do and I would MEAN IT and DO IT. It would be rewarding. I’d go down in history as a Heroic President for the People. A Slayer of Dragons. A President who Pulled US back from the Brink of Republican Insanity.
My favorite character in The Wizard of Oz is the Cowardly Lion, who Learned how to be Lion-Hearted! I LOVE him – the ScareCrow is a close 2nd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98W7zg2ByKY
This Simpsons clip may tell in a nutshell how ugly this election will really get between the dems and the reps:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/25705/the-simpsons-both-wrong
Chris,
I watch Keith and Rachel every night so I know the score. The links you left are must sees. The Dems and Reps are one in the same and fighting for the money…they are not fighting for the people. The people are on their own. I don’t know what I’m going to do after November. Life will just be all completely downhill from there. It didn’t have to be this way.
Mara,
Thnaks for viewing the Michael Moore clip. This is a sad time indeed. You made some great points in your posts as well.
Flick,
Great explanation of “The Pledge” or “Lemon Pledge” as Keith calls it. It’s the shit that makes one puke, as you stated.
NR,
The Simpsons clip you left says it all.
With Christine O’Donnell in mind being involved in “anti-masturbation witchcraft” it seems just about as contradictory of a cult as “Jews for Jesus.” It reminds me of how much this Family Guy clip doesn’t make much sense:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRSrbjvndFQ
..forewarned is forearmed; I think people should realize, given the incredible division (divide and conquer politics)
generated by U.S. media and wealthy financial sector who actually control U.S. government, that the ONLY “way” to repair that division is more false flag “terrorism”…
so we should all be on the lookout for “terrorism”..scapegoat
politics..
reading James Bamford’s NSA revealing “Body of Secrets”, we see Eisenhower administration under stress to create a false
flag operation so U.S. forces could invade Cuba.
Reading the incredible CIA expose’ by William Blum, “Killing Hope” (which feeds-documentes right into Naomi Klein’s, “The Shock Doctrine”), we see CIA assassination teams-operations, including “Operation Phoenix” in Vietnam.
We simply cannot put it past those in “power” in this country
to continue to play the “terrorism” card..as U.S. government is losing all control over the Ameri$K$an population..
..it might be best to view the U.S. government at this point in history, as ALLOWED to continue, only so long as it HAS
“control” over the Ameri$K$an population..
as the U.S. government is obviously NOT acting in the interest
of the American people…
right on! NR….and since Nov 2nd is my birthday, im hoping for a positive outcome for the Democrats….if not, Im moving to Canada!!!!!
NR – good Simpsons clip and *Hilarious* Family Guy clip!!!!
Colleen – I don’t think the Dems are AS bad as the Republicans. I believe in the message of voting AGAINST the Republicans. That’s an important distinction that I strongly feel we should keep in our awareness. I know you often say the 2 parties are the same – but I sense that you are not Completely of that way of thinking.
NR,
That Family Guy clip was off the wall!
Mara,
Look at the links Chris has here. There is nobody speaking for us. The Dems have a winning hand and they are NOT using it. That party is pathetic and that’s why the Reps are taking back control in November.
The Blue Dog Dems are as bad as the Reps! That’s where I’m getting that both partys are almost the same.
Colleen,
I hear you. I disagree, that’s all. It’s a matter of *degree*. But that degree Matters. The Republicans are COMPLETELY NUTS.
The Dems? There is still hope for them. Of Course, I agree w/you about the *Blue Dog* Dems!
Mike has compared the right to Hitler, if I recall correctly, and Norman Goldman is doing that, as well.
Whatever the failings of the Democratic Party – and there are Many – they are not Hitler Raising. Most of them are not – but the Republican Party is falling under the trance of Fascism.
Rising. I Meant to write: Hitler Rising.
Mike Papantonio – he is my Hero. I hope that’s clear. Even though I get angry, at times.
Colleen,
I Do agree w/you that there is Much too Much corruption in the Democratic Party – for instance, I just learned that -
The Koch Brothers do not Only contribute to the Republican Party.
They throw a lot of $$$ to the Democratic Party, as well.
Sad to say.
Mara,
This is exactly the point I was trying to make. The Blue Dogs run the agenda. That’s why Harry Reid didn’t even bring the tax cuts to a vote.
I know, Colleen, as best I can. But….there’s still lots of Good Democratic politicians, too.
What more can I say? One party (Republicans) is Evil, one (Democrats) is Half-Corrupt. We agree 100% on the first and tend to argue on the 2nd.
We’re not REALLY arguing, though. You are Angry w/the Dems. And your anger is VALID.
You’re a good person Colleen – and you have a very Cool Mailman!!!!
Where I live, the friggin mail man is probably just another tea bagger. I don’t know. It seems that Everyone around me is a tea bagger, more or less. EVERYONE.
Another family function. I don’t want to go. I can’t stand the politics that come out, in small ways and very overtly.
We must not forget that Fascism is taking over. It’s not going to get easier, Colleen, it’s going to get Tougher. It’s going to be Very hard to Not abandon the Democrats – out of fatigue, fear and despair.
Contrary to Mike’s extremely hurtful words, the: “damn Angst” of Progressives, that he insists everyone get over is more entrenched that his hot words of anger can dislodge.
But. He has a point. It’s VERY important: we Must Not Give UP, particularly when that option of despair seems like the most pressing one to chose.
Thank you Mara. You’re a good person, too.
I feel your pain because what it sounds like to me is your surrounded by people like the type I clean for but with one difference–I get to leave them after I clean for them. Your existence makes me think of “Invation of the Body Snatchers.”
And sadly YOU are surrounded by the Pod People.
Good luck at the family function. My thoughts are with you. I know you’ll come out of that family function even stronger!
You wrote:
“We must not forget that Fascism is taking over. It’s not going to get easier, Colleen, it’s going to get Tougher. It’s going to be Very hard to Not abandon the Democrats – out of fatigue, fear and despair.”
So true.
Colleen,
I’m just not going, this time. A difficult choice. Time is so short, to spend w/loved ones for all of us – life is too short, no matter how much time you or your family have w/each other. I’m keenly aware of this. But I just don’t need the aggravation and resulting depression, at this point. It’s a beautiful day, and I Do feel alone, but I’d rather Be alone, then have my thoughts invaded by the “pod people”!