Another good report, Jon. Sounds like Situation Normal to me.

The Dems gave up governing a good while ago; they’re now making it official.

I disagree with your view that “The Democrats are playing right into the Republicans’ game plan.” The Dems aren’t playing into the Repugs game plan. The plan is one and the same. There are two wings of the same corporatocracy working for the same masters for the same ends, using different methods to obfuscate the truth and bamboozle the public. That the Democrats are doing this after the mandate of the last election reveals the sham for what it is. The Dems’ capitulation would be depressing if there were more than a nominal difference in the goals of the two “parties,” but there isn’t, as is confirmed on a daily basis. The House capitulation on HCR was the last straw. Not one of the bastards in either party deserves to return in November.

I wonder if progressive voters will ever realize that the modern Democratic Party exists only to further the corporate agenda.

FDR weeps.

The Democrats still want to keep their seats

Semantic evasion is one thing, but not doing their jobs is nothing short of criminal on the part of the Dems, who will, no doubt whine, “You don’t know the half of it.”

You may recall, Jon, that Nancy Pelosi said that, in her “defense” of taking impeachment “off the table”.

Let us, now, invite her to share the “other” half, that we STILL “don’t know” about …

My guess is that she regrets having let down her guard and assumes that the rest of us have forgotten if not forgiven …

Yeah, Dems, actually governing, and doing your effin’ job is just too damn hard, ain’t it?

Then, if that is what you believe, get the eff out of the way, you “house” Dems for you are part of the “problem” and a significant impediment to needful change.

Pathetic.

Excuse my subtlety, please, Jon and the rest of you firedogs.

DW

Suits me to get rid of some or all of the House members but the entrenched old guard in the Senate is where the real problem lies. They are not going to let anything get done. It’s in their DNA.

Word, Twain, word.

What is that is said?

What is the opposite of Progress?

(Con-gress)

DW

Republicans hope to beat Democrats by making them look incompetent and incapable of governing

I question if the Democrats need the R’s help in that area as they’re looking fairly incompetent and incapable of governing completely on their own.

Thanks Jon

“The Democrats are playing right into the Republicans’ game plan.”

Really?!? This is a shocker! It’s not the Republican game plan. It’s the corporate game plan and there’s only one party in the House and the Senate and it’s the Corporatist party. These social issues that keep us divided (abortion, gay marriage) never get resolved because the two sides of the Corporatist party like to use them to keep us divided so we don’t notice we’re all getting screwed.

The Democrats still want to keep their seats

on the chairs at the front of the classroom, in the corner, with their Dunces Hats On

This view:

House Democrats might as well let the Senate act alone. Without reconciliation instructions, every bill that passes from now on will be what the Senate says it must be. It gives complete veto power to the 41 Republican senators and conservative Democrats like Joe Lieberman and Blanche Lincoln.

just acknowledges the reality the House faces. Unless the House is willing to say “NO” to the Administration’s systematic undermining of what used to be a Democratic agenda, the House will just be seen as the enablers of whatever the Senate and Obama will allow. So this tactic by the House is just saying, “we’re not ready to do that.”

The House Dem leadership has to break from the Administration, and they can’t do that before the midterms, I suspect, because it will reveal how badly split the party is and make the midterm defeats even worse.

Yep and it’s been that way for a long time. It’s just easier to see now that’s all.

Everything is on schedule, please move along.

Jon, a question; is it simply a matter of being afraid of losing seats or is there some other benefit Spratt sees by not passing a budget resolution? Is there a WH ploy in not doing so?

What I do know is that for many years, the Dems have let the Repubs frame the arguments and ,despite Obama’s oratorical skills, they still are. Absolutely lousy debaters.

It became readily apparent by Reagan’s second term. And impossible to miss by Clinton’s first.

SNAFU is the complete expression.

This is just another example of the acute spinelessness of the Democratic leadership in Congress. Instead of taking on the Blue Dogs and conservadems directly, they elect to do nothing in the name of party solidarity. But the real problem is more likely just what people here are saying – it’s all the same corrupt Money Party minions deciding to leave the optics of openly screwing the people to the Senate to deal with because Senators have more corporate $$$ to defend themselves with. A pox on all their houses.

“The Democrats still want to keep their seats.”

Righto, even if the rest of us lose our asses.

It’s no skin off “theirs”.

Wrongo.

“They” just “want” to keep their seats until there is a musical “change” of “chairs” at some lucrative and cushy lobbyist “post”. That way they are still sitting “pretty” and, having “privileges”, they can go back and schmooze their old “clubhouse” buds who are still “sitting”.

Such a deal.

The golden goose.

Duck! … Incoming! Run quickly and hide behind the Patriot Act, the rubes will never figure it out.

Flagitious Patriots Unite! The country is ripe for plucking.

Have you been plucked over?

We’ve ALL been plucked … over … and … out.

Gee, Obama, living in PA, I can’t thank you enough for saving Arlen’s “seat”.

But just so you know, Barack, ole “Magic Bullet” Arlen doesn’t “set” well with more people than you can imagine. But you’ll get the message soon enough, and we may be assured that you will “read” it the Rahm way.

Righto.

DW

BTW, new poll say Arlen is 5 points behind Sestak.

I propose a new political party, that uses canoe paddles as an symbol of having been sold down the river. Bah! It’s getting worse by the day.

They don’t deserve to return to office in November. The Green Party deserves their seats — each and every one of them. Make an exception for Kucinich if he recants HIR.

That’s a rationale, up with which I will not put!

(Even as I know it’s true!)

Congress, and the House in particular is Evita writ large.

“Don’t cry for us America”?

BTW, new poll say Arlen is 5 points behind Sestak.

and did you catch this statement from Arlen in reference to the Solicitor General position?

“I voted against her for Solicitor General because she wouldn’t answer basic questions about her standards for handling that job. It is a distinctly different position than that of a Supreme Court Justice.”

Not only has his car left the tracks, he’s lost his trolley.

I would save him a seat even if he doesn’t recant HIR. Banishing him for one mistake seems like something Markos would do. And I’m not sure it was a mistake. Without this horrible HIR passing there would be nothing. NO framework to build on. There’s a CHANCE that, when this fails miserably as an insurance giveaway, a public option or Medicare for all will be built into it. Without this bill, there would be nothing there to even build on. In Dennis’s shoes, I’m not sure what I would have done.

Arlen is soon going to look like the girl in The Exorcist – head twisted all the way around. Poor Arlen – bet he can’t find the cloakroom now.

Yep, old ronnie ray gun. I saw his act in Calif. and it’s been down hill from there and then what can you say about bill that already hasn’t.

Without this horrible HIR passing there would be nothing. NO framework to build on.

The bill did not introduce anything more of a framework than that which already existed before the bill, i.e. Medicare.

There’s a CHANCE that, when this fails miserably as an insurance giveaway

Not possible. “Failure” would mean that the insurance subsidies would fail to subsidize. “Success,” on the other hand, is the permanent subsidy of the insurance companies, so that they can continue to fund Congressional campaigns from here to eternity. That’s guaranteed.

Great Image. It will be a great day for the USA when he is no longer on the active payroll. It brings great pain thinking that he’ll be collecting any kind of pension.

And neither Spratt nor his party’s leaders have found a way to please conservative Blue Dogs who want to cut domestic spending and progressives who don’t

Easy. Spend money in the progressive districts and cut federal spending to zero on Blue Dog & Republican districts.

“Success,” on the other hand, is the permanent subsidy of the insurance companies, so that they can continue to fund Congressional campaigns from here to eternity. That’s guaranteed.

A new Goliath is being constructed as we speak. The Teas could use a little help this fall …

I agree a framework of forcing people to buy only private health insurance is not much of a foundation to build on.

Paddles

Yes, and that’s why I keep arguing here that we need to push for a centrist, anti-corporate third party that can probably get a majority now without dwelling on those divisive social issues at all.

Does anybody here agree that that’s a better path than the one we are on?

The Democrats are into looting not governing. This idea that members are afraid of losing their seats, again for many there is no downside to losing a seat. They just move on to a lobbying position, corporate gig, or some thinktank welfare. Nor I should point out has “fear” of losing their seat spurred any member of either House to tell it like it is. Nor has it pushed a majority to enact effective legislation.

Should we ignore issues like abortion when what rights that were hard won are being whittled away by said corporatist party?

I’ve had enough of centrists to last me a life time.

If ya stand for nothing you’ll fall for anything.

Yes, poor ole Magic Bullet Arlen has lost all perspective, librty.

He really, really needs to spend more time with his family.

But that is another thing he does not realize.

Everyone knows that the post Solicitor General is so much more critical than any SCOTUS Justice … right?

(BTW, librty, your comments are stellar and the cut of your jib much appreciated.)

DW

Most appropriate, SD.

Where is this place?

(Besides everywhere, now …)

DW

C’mon SD, that last line is a slogan that is meaningless in this context.

Centrist means “not extreme right or left.” It includes good, clean, accountable govt and strict adherence to rule of law for everyone. No foreign adventures. People over corporations. Budget and fiscal discipline. Those are real things, worth fighting for, and a huge improvement over what we have now.

The divisive social issues can be set aside for awhile. They certainly won’t get resolved to our liking in the present envirionment, so preserving the status quo on them while we fight for the things that are more basic to good govt and our very survival as a nation, would be a wise, and even a noble, shift of strategy for us.

Right now, we are General Custer, alone and surrounded by Sioux, demanding that they surrender unconditionally. In the moment before he gets wiped out, as we are just a moment away from being wiped out.

Think about it. You can’t go directly from wher we are to a socialist paradise. First, fight to regain the center of the political spectrum. Then, see if we can move further left.

Shit, man, we may not even be able to achieve a move back to the center. Half a loaf is BETTER than no loaf. This counrty is ready for some boring but hoonest pragmatists that take caree of the basics.

Dunno. It was with a post somewhere a few years ago an’ I saved it. Goes along with my Round Tuit.

Primaries, primaries, primaries. We need a progressive leader. Calling Al Gore!

what does said centrist non-corporate party look like?

Damn, I can”t wait to get a Round Tuit.

I used to have a couple, somewhere, SD.

And they ALWAYS came in handy.

;~DW

the centrist people’s party – environmental regulation. work safety regulation. financial regulation. alternative energy support and research. that’s what i’ve got to start.

off to a neighbor’s to take a look at a couch he’s got for sale. bbl.

What’s it going to take to finally get you guys to stop typing complaints and start planning some direct action that will cost the investor class some money?

Nothing is going to change until the investor class is the ones whining about the money they are losing.

Farm Aid? What’s a John Mellencamp concert audience look like? Pink Houses Party?

What have you in mind, Adam503?

General strikes and boycotts?

Takin’ it to the streets?

We is all ears, but do not assume that complainin’ is all folks here “do”.

Lots of us are in the streets talking with people every day, and listening to their fears and worries, part of the “EDUCATIONAL” process, if you will.

What are you “doing”?

DW

I’ve laid out my thoughts on that several times in comments in the last few months. Not that I’m such a political genius that I should be left alone to completely design the concept lol. BUT, it is a concept the essence of which strikes me as being uniquely powerful for our time and place and current dire political prognosis.

So, I have sketched out some of it in response to Southern Dragon at Comment #37 above. I made a more comprehensive stab at describing the concept in Comments #49 and 51 to David Dayen’s May 8 post on Bob Bennett getting ousted. I welcome you and anyone else to read it, add your own refinements, and give me some feedback on whether you think what I am putting out makes any sense. (I wish I had enough computer skills to transfer it here directly, but I don’t, and I need to learn how to do lots of things that other Firepups do so readily.) If I could really get my act together, I’d like to try and write it up in a diary sometime, but I’m still trying to fully refine the concept in my own mind.

I am already firmly convinced, however, that we are on thhe slow road to hell, becoming a faster road every day, and that we must find a way to get the people’s needs and wishes addressed without constantly being triangulated and divided and conquered until we are completed quarantined from the levers of power.

I’ve been popping up here and there every couple of months since Nov. 2000 trying to remind people their history of creating real change with direct action over last 150 years. A history many powerful people want forgotten.

We are about 15 legitimate justifications overdue for a general strike. It should have happened 2000 when the Supreme Court ordered the counting of election ballots stopped in FL. Or Ohio. Or the Downing Street memo. Or Katrina. Or…

A general strike? What, you think this is France? We can’t get 50% of the people in the country to vote for Christ’s sake and you’re calling for a general strike? Give. Me. A. Break.

I’ll be out with A.N.S.W.E.R. on Wednesday. What will you be doing?

Inertia rules on our side of the political spectrum. Even the Tea Party outdemonstrates us.

But you are right, of course. Direct action is required if any change is to happen. Amazing how some people refuse to get that.

We have a centrist party.
What we need is a left-of-center party.

I’ve had enough of ‘centrist’ politics in the last two years to convince me it’s another euphemism for ‘give the conservatives whatever they want, and kick the DFHs some more’.

Inertia rules on our side of the political spectrum. Even the Tea Party outdemonstrates us.

True and a sad fuckin’ commentary on the left.

With respect, I don’t agree that the Tea Party out demonstrates left/progressive demonstrations. It’s just that the powers that be, aka the obscenely wealthy corporate overlords who run the show, have agreed at this point to highlight the Tea Party (as manipulated by and doing the bidding of the Koch Foundation by way of Dick Armey) demos wherever possible. And said media of highlighting of said events tends to be skewed and highly inaccurate.

There have been plenty of left/progressives demos over the past 6 months or so, including one as a counter protest to the April 15 Tax day tea party thing. Did you ever SEE anything about that??? There were actually quite a few people at such counter rallies in various cities across the country, including Wash DC.

Therein lies the issue: when the left demonstrates, there is a giant news black-out, and it’s even difficult to find anything on the Internet after the fact. I heard about the counter-Tea Party Tax day rally on NPR (amazingly), but I had a heck of a time finding anything else about it.

Hence, boots on the ground is all very well, and I continue to march, myself, when I can. But I expect very little from it these days, bc the media is all owned by wealthy people who control what info gets out.

Primarying is a good goal, and may be more effective at this stage.

Well then. The Democrats give up on governing. So what do YOU do in response?

That’s right. Give up on the Democrats, completely. Cut them all off. Every single one. And start a new movement, a new party, a completely uncontaminated brand. And then drive them to the early extinction they have so richly deserved.

It’s no good moaning about them. You cannot change them. You can do nothing from ‘within’. It has to come from outside. And it is perfectly possible to do under the present political constellation.

Good post and worth putting out for the educational value of those who just starting to wake up to the fact that they’ve been “had.” House Dems “give up” on governing??? I had to laugh (ruefully) at that headline. Since WHEN have House Dems actually, you know, governed at all? the early 1970s???

I gave up on Dems a loooong time ago. Horrible that they make money offa my tax dollars. THAT’s where there’s real govt waste.

I’m pretty sure we are defining “centrist” differently. Please see my Comment #37 above, and, for a fuller description, my Comments #49 and 51 to David Dayen’s May 8 post on Bob Bennett getting ousted in Utah.

We don’t have centrist now. We have corporatist now, and that is right-wing or fascist as I measure the political spectrum. I would never advocate for more of that.

You are certainly right about the media. I don’t know what the left has done that stayed below the media radar, but I do know that we need a demonstration that will paralyze commerce and shake things up if we want to get any attention. Demonstrations should not demonstrate how well-behaved and civil we are. The overlords love it when we are well-bahaved, it lets them now we pose no threat to the current order. So they can and will safely ignore us.

[Mod Note: And we won't be going further down this path]

Absolutely. When you’re getting abused, the first thing you should do is stop enabling the abuser.

razorbrain:

We must NEVER create a circumstance where the Power of death and destruction may appear to be legitimately unleashed on the people.

While we must not continue obsequious politeness to the jackals and hyenas, non-violent civility MUST be our collective intent. For as long as it takes.

A pitched battle between the “authorities” and the people must not be allowed to occur from OUR actions, ever.

For believe me, such an “excuse” will be made use of, and the consequences will be grim, indeed, and once begun, police violence will be very hard to stop before much slaughter has occurred.

There will, likely, be violence, but let it be recorded that the people did not start nor condone it.

We must be conscience, not irrational vengeance, or we will defeat ourselves and begin another cycle of violence, destruction, and the justification of same.

Even if we “WIN” we LOSE.

DW

To do what you suggest, razorbrain, @56 is precisely to “enable” the “abuser”.

For then, anything goes.

Those who have wealth and power, to the extent our abusers do, are loathe to give up even a little and attacking the people would simply amuse and embolden them.

And they are far too “bold”, and blatant, already.

Let us not play into their hands.

DW

Yeah… about those DC Protests.

Haven’t you guy figured out the powers that be are ones that wants the political left kept busy taking cross-country bus trips and walking all over DC under the cameras and eyes of the only FEDERAL police department in the country.

They want you under the control of the only municipal police department the President’s can issue orders to marching and yelling, but actually DOING NOTHING.

As far as the ANSWER coalition, you really think the powers that be would let real Marxists control anything in this country for more than a few micro-seconds? I don’t know what US Intel agency is running ANSWER, but one of them clearly is. There’s no way we hear so much from the right about ACORN, but never hear from the Right about the only organization that does actually claim to be Marxist.

Southern Dragon see Post 60 regarding DC Protests and the ANSWER coalition, with the additional reminder that Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck have never gone off on a rant about ANSWER? How is it possible the only actual self-proclaimed Marxists in America have been ignored by the entire right wing noise factory even though they been marching through DC every other month for DECADES!

found it and went over there and left a comment.

Thank you for looking, and for your thoughtful additions. I’m more caught up with the general concept at this point, rather than all the specific details. If it gets too detailed, it might become self-defeating, but I certainly agree that your suggestions, each on its own, should certainly command majority approval from decent, reasonable people.

I hope others will read what I wrote, and provide feedback as well. I just can’t get over the feeling that we are demanding what we can never get from our present position, and that we are thereby making ourselves completely irrelevant.

We’ve got an extra reason to get a lot more serious about our organizing. Citizens United gives unions the same waiver it gives corporations.

If we find a union for everyone on political left to join, all that additional dues money can be used for progressive candidates.

…..One last point. I was on the street for a general strike a couple years ago HERE IN THE USA. The first Day Without Immigrants. There were millions in the streets. The political right lost their minds for a whole week on ever single channel for a whole week before the first Day Without Immigrant. It was huge success. Si Se Puede!

Adam503;

SD might know of just such a union.

In fact, I know he does.

Much of what you say is true.

May I respectfully suggest that you listen to what is being said, not simply today, for there is much history with which you are, apparently, not familiar.

Some of the finest strategists for real and genuine change frequent this site, and you might come to recognize them … if you listen as well as speak.

DW

I was going to say something profound, but you summed it up too accurately

“Show them why you deserve to return to office in November.”

Too late, Elvis has left the building

My Comment #63 was meant to be directed to you.

Instead of using the best tool at their disposal, reconciliation, to overcome Republican/ConservaDem anti-democratic and anti-Constitutional filibusters, House Democrats have instead chosen to hide in the corner like scared children.

You assume they WANT to overcome filibuster threats. This is just another way for them to shrug “gosh darn, what’s a poor progressive to do?” They are doing what the White House has asked them to do, that’s what.

Obama made the House Democrats eat the Senate Health Insurance Bill. What won’t they eat? How can they show their face? They should just go home. Fuck them.

Two facades, one elite serving party

The two party system is a lie and the wars are about greed of the few, not safety. The two party system is a never ending loop of illusion in which two parties pretend to be in opposition but always agree that the people shall be ruled by the Elite. Mothers against the Two Party Illusion.

I agree with Adam503, and I’m a bit dismayed at some of the comments here that have been directed at him. It smacks too much of “Sit down and shut up, sonny, and let us old-timers do what’s best.”

I’m sorry, but traditional strategies aren’t working very well anymore, in my opinion. History is all well and good, but if you don’t learn from history, then it’s useless. Rather than all of you people telling him you’re going out “educating” others, why don’t you take some time to educate ADAM? Why don’t you educate ME?

While I agree this isn’t Europe, and a general strike probably wouldn’t work here, I also don’t think hanging out on blogs and bulletin boards and going out with community organizations is all that effective. Too many people, here and elsewhere, simply make phone calls, write letters, grouse, and start all over again. Going back to the tried and true is *predictable*, and everyone knows it. So if there’s some wonderful, magic strategy being cooked up, I for one would love to hear it. Because every fifth comment I’m seeing here lately is from people saying, “I’m at my wit’s end, and I don’t know what I can do anymore. It’s just too much, it’s too depressing.”

When there are protests, they aren’t focused. This is why the Civil Rights movement and other similar movements succeeded, because they take ONE single message and repeat it over and over, person by person. Nearly every single protest I’ve been to in the past few decades has protesters with signs that run the gamut from eliminating nuclear power to reducing oil dependency to the ubiquitous “Free Palestine” posters. It’s a chaotic jumble, and becomes meaningless.

It’s why the Vietnam War protests were so successful; everyone who was draft age was freaked out they were going to be called up. When you put those people together with the genuine leftists, it was a successful combination. You didn’t have a lot of people with signs and posters calling for twenty different changes; they were, for the most part, anti-war, period.

Once the tide turned, the self-preservationists, some of whom were actually moderate to fairly conservative, scattered, and those who were left moved on to the next thing, and the next, and the next… until you ended up with the protests I just described.

Anyway, that’s just one example of why I’m frustrated. I re-read Naomi Wolf’s essay today, and I think it’s worth a re-read by everyone. She wrote it three years ago, but in all the three years of wonderful “strategy” I’ve seen here, I don’t see much that’s changed. Do you?

Don’t get me wrong; I come here because there are a lot of intelligent, informed people here, and Jane, EW, Christy, et al are excellent writers and leaders. But I’m pretty near the breaking point, and ready for the next step; I suspect Adam is too. I’m afraid that being principled and taking the high road isn’t always going to be possible. This country is turning more and more fascist by the day, and there aren’t too many options to turn that around.

I think it’s pretty simple. Republicans stop everything in the Senate, so there’s no real governing to be done by Congress. Thus, we’re in campaign mode. What do you do in campaign mode before going out on the stump to give speeches? You give speeches in Congress and you push your own agenda to make the public realize the Republicans are the people preventing gov’t from working properly.

So, in that context, the budget is too important to play games with and can be put on hold. After the elections we’ll know who the big dog is and that will decide what the budget will be.

Still, it’s time to pound the Republicans with offerings of good legislation they have to turn down.

I second your comments, sir, as strongly as possible.

Everyone here should take a step back and look at the big picture for a moment. We are losing ground steadily, have little left to lose, yet we keep doing the same things over and over and pretending they will get us some victory someday. The facts and evidence say otherwise, and say it quite convincingly. I enjoy mental masturbation as much as the next person, but there is a country being lost out there while we indulge ourselves, and it’s going to take a lot more than what we’ve been doing to keep the loss from being total and final. What we’ve been doing is failing, folks. It’s a bitter pill, but let’s swallow it and then focus on finding something that works.

Do as you will, Mr Sandman, but bring no harm to others and do not betray the humanity of those who are your allies.

So far, my only measure of you is one comment.

My measure of the competence thoughtfulness and responsibility of those you appear to disparage is lengthy and deep.

Yes, I am old.

And Sandman, I have been waiting for decades for the CONVERSATION, in this nation, to reach the point that it has these last two years.

Yes things ARE different and here is why.

More people understand today, what you speak to and rightfully are weary of, than understood yesterday … that is how progress is measured.

But here is the “kicker”, people know what they DON’T want.

Yet who is saying, clearly, what it is that we DO want?

It is not enough to say “This is bad.” If you cannot cogently provide details of what would be good, and, most importantly, what this good place would FEEL like.

Before we leave “where” we are, should we not have some idea “where” we are going?

Who among us has taken the time to build a clear and sharable vision of where we would like to go?

Why is this important? you might well ask. It is important because we are going to have to convince most everybody else that where we would like to go is, also, someplace where they would like to go …

Otherwise, without some idea of where we wish to go, someone else WILL supply AN idea and it may well NOT be a place where you or I would like to go.

Our society is teetering on the edge of collapse, and if we do not understand ALL of the ramifications, or as many as we may, which arise from that reality, then we will contribute to the destruction of the only real possibility before us … unforced (from our efforts) changes in the understanding of our fellow citizens … they have been abused quite enough, and now they need genuine hope and the conviction that reason and humanity do matter and that that really is all we have to work with.

But yes, no one’s skin is too precious to put on the line.

Not mine, not yours, not anyone’s.

DW

Thank you.

May I make a small suggestion? Pick an issue, ONE issue. Say, the incredible latent anger that’s out there towards Wall Street. Channel that, and throw all this vaunted strategy that way. We all like to talk about populism and progressivism, and I’m all for it, but let’s find a narrow, viable target and give it all we’ve got. Hammer away about Wall Street corporatism and corruption on every relevant issue. You can do it now, with the Kagan nomination [Goldman Sachs!], with Meg Whitman [Goldman Sachs!] here in California, with tons of pols– make Goldman Sachs the most loathed name in every household in the country, and wrap them around every corporatists’ neck. Link Goldman to other corporatist entities, and apply the same force. Lather, rinse, and repeat.

Because when you get down to it, it’s money that’s at the root of a lot of these issues. Money and political will or the lack thereof. Sure, there’s many issues that are complex, and have other root causes, but remember the average household in this country either doesn’t have the time or the grey matter to look behind the curtain. We need to follow the Yellow Brick Road, and *only* the Yellow Brick Road, and stress that to everyone we meet as we travel down… the yellow brick road.

It’s time to expose the Wizards in DC for what they are.

When you’re in a hole, the first thing to do is to stop digging. We need to agree on the need to stop digging the hole we’re in. Then, when we’ve stopped digging the hole we’re in, and only then, we will be free to focus on considering our other options.

Patience and persistence are not virtues when they are only yielding bad results.

Ah, Mr Sandman, we will meet on the road, the yellow brick road.

I salute you, for you do understand.

Its is not violence, it is presence … it is conscience.

It is daring to risk your skin, your livelihood, and your life.

Namaste

Why is this important? you might well ask. It is important because we are going to have to convince most everybody else that where we would like to go is, also, someplace where they would like to go …

I agree with you, sir. The problem is while we’re all waiting to be on the same page, we’re descending into darkness. I’m pretty much convinced this country is going descend into fascism and we’re going to have to suffer through that a while before there’s enough of a collective consensus from a crucial percentage of the population to reverse things. I’m just not sure I care to live through that, or be content to sit back and let it get that far.

I’m curious though; what is it YOU think we should be doing? I genuinely would like to know what it is you think we’re going to accomplish, because I’m seeing the energy and passion from two years ago getting squelched by the corporatist in the White House, and the younger generations once again turning away from the discourse; additionally, we’re all enveloped in the economic morass of the present, and I’m seeing too many people consumed by their own pain and desperation to be able to have this “conversation” you speak of.

No, not violence, not yet, although that is an option, a regrettable, but very human option. I too would rather avoid that until it’s unavoidable. But I also don’t see the traditional means of political processes we’ve been engaging in working.

I’ll give you an example: I’m seeing here and elsewhere people talking about the need for a third party, but I don’t see anyone doing anything about it but merely disparaging the existing parties and party structures. It’s why I was enthused by Dean’s “Fifty State Strategy”- while that fit within the existing political structures, it points us in the right direction. I think it’s going to come down to building from the bottom up a new political structure in one or two states, then leveraging that to affect national outcomes.

Maybe I’m wrong on this, but we’re going to need to learn to abandon comfortable, familiar ways of doing things, and learn new methods. Considering the changes coming due to Peak Oil and other realities, it’s a paradigm we should start to cope with, because change is coming, whether we like it or not.

WE must look within, Sandman.

As Mason, who comments here, once said.

When we know who we are, then we will know what to do.

First we find our humanity.

Then we encourage others to find theirs.

Only when enough understand may we hope for success in confrontation.

The “enough” is the question, both of time and of people.

I have seen failure in poor timing and in the willingness,of some, to send others into harm’s way …

Too much is at stake, too little is clear.

Moving too quickly dooms many and sets back momentum.

We are not yet ready for revolution of the type we must have, for it must come from the understanding of individuals not the dictates of a “savior”.

Among the “things” that are changing is the notion of “leadership”, and our society has not fully grasp (enough of) that truth.

You and I may well be “ready”, but the time and the people are not.

This is for keeps, it is what we have spent our whole lives, whether we know it or not, preparing for.

WE, you and I have things to discuss yet, first, before action.

I say that as an equal and mean it as a friend.

I respect your courage and your depth.

DW

You are spot on.

Sir, I sincerely hope you will continue to make your presence known on these pages. I find you to be very much a kindred spirit, and most welcome as such.

Change is better chosen than forced upon.

Culturally we’ve little practice of that, “disaster capitalism”, being calamity itself, is purely interested in force, finding “choice” of value only on the “merchandise” end of things …

But changes to our “lifestyle” is a brutal given, it cannot be sustained, but changes in our consciousness must be sustained or we simply will not survive.

Evolution now, in spite of the the Powers That Be imagine is not about force but about understanding.

Understanding our selves and appreciating the paradise we actually inhabit.

So, we should all read, “The Human Race” by Willy Maykit and Betty Whoant.

Which will clear all things up to everyone’s complete satisfaction.

Except for the blank pages …

Which IT IS UP TO US (Proposed change to motto on American coinage) to fill in … if we’re up to it.

Namaste

DW

DW, thanks for the responses. Even if we don’t see completely eye to eye, it’s good to listen to other voices and other perspectives.

razorbrain, I’ve been coming here for ages. I just lurk most of the time, partly because there are so many others who have already stated what I would have said, or have said it much more succinctly. Additionally, I don’t have the luxury of time to hang out and ingratiate myself much. I used to blog, but it’s been a while, for sundry reasons. I most certainly will comment here from time to time, though.

A number of fairly like-minded people seem to have congregated here tonight. Is there some appropriate place to continue the conversation rather than simply chance on meeting each other again in some unspecified future thread?

Thanks Mr. Sandman.

The powers that be have gotten away with pretending there is no left in American politics for long enough. The next time I hear about Rahm Emanuel cussing at somebody, it better be some real American war criminals that deserve to be cussed at, not good fellow Democrats.

Just pointing out again, the first Day without Immigrants WAS a general strike. That’s the organizers called it “The Day without Immigrants. While they were marching, everyone else was doing all the work those immigrants normally do. It worked great. So general strikes are on the table, as they should be.

I think it’s time for us lefties to spend a lot more time and resources on some form of direct action. I think the most effective tactic for now is letting all those right-wingers with microphones to do our PR for us. We plan direct action that costs right wingers money, and the Right wingers howl and whine about all the money those “communists” just cost his business because of that latest direct action we took.

What we’re doing now is spinning our wheels. It’s time to change tactics. I’m pretty flexible in what we try to different. It’s got to be different, though.

I started up a social network/groupsite to continue this discussion….

http://pinkhouse.groupsite.com

That’s as good a progressive/left site name as I’ve come up with in a while. Someone else might come up with better one. I doubt I will.

” Republicans hope to beat Democrats by making them look incompetent and incapable of governing. They have done this by adopting a strategy of endless obstructionism that has shut down legislating and prevented Democrats from passing laws. It has worked beautifully to undermine public trust in elected Democrats.”

Yes, but the D-Party faithful are utterly convinced that the way to win elections is to to play the victim and have people feel sorry for them, because they have to deal with those mean, obstructionist Repugnants.

This is clearly the 2010 game plan. In 2012, Bam will play victim against the mean, racist Tea Baggers…um, they’ll still be around, right?

“How is it possible the only actual self-proclaimed Marxists in America have been ignored by the entire right wing noise factory even though they been marching through DC every other month for DECADES!”

They’re waiting for just the right moment.

No, nosotros no podremos.

“Just pointing out again, the first Day without Immigrants WAS a general strike. That’s the organizers called it “The Day without Immigrants. While they were marching, everyone else was doing all the work those immigrants normally do. It worked great. So general strikes are on the table, as they should be.”

That’s not a strike. A strike shuts everything down and costs the capitalist money.

BP had its employees making up the results of safety tests because actually doing the tests shuts the well down for a few minutes. Can’t have that.

Some white college kid making beds at the Holiday Inn? Clipping my shrubbery? Well, that’s just cute. If I were management, I’d just love that. Giggle all the way to quitting time.

Save the whales!!

And yet, how many visitors to this site will vote them in AGAIN come Nov.?

It’s an old refrain. Forget the democrats. Support greens and left independents!

I believe this is the first time I’ve seen your handle, and I am here a lot. So, I assumed you were new. Either way, I’m glad for your presence.
What you say resonates with me.

Can’t speak for anyone else, but I haven’t voted for them since 2002 (with one regrettable overly-optimistic exception in 2006 I’ve been voting for progressive third-party candidates and otherwise leaving national ballot slots blank).

However, this is the first year that I’ll be voting Republican for national offices in my efforts to kick them out: it took the past 16 months (especially the way they handled health-care ‘reform’) to convince me that they had actually become the GREATER of the two evils (by lacking any decisive differences with Republicans and in addition hogging the portion of the political spectrum that otherwise progressive third parties might be able to grow to occupy).

Electing more Democrats in 2006 and 2008 sure didn’t help, but destroying the party might (or alternatively might make them shape up for pure self-preservation – either works for me). Beats just waiting for the revolution, IMO (which is not to say that one couldn’t work on both at once).

I think the Dems are a dying Party. Their candidates will get slaughtered in the Fall, and the Republicans will take the House. And the Democrats will deserve their defeat because of their gutlessness. The failure to get a budget resolution is just another manifestation of that gutlessness.