Vox Populi – 1-15-10

AdLib : Lots of fun and insights, thanks so much for “bringing it” tonight! See you at the post here: «link»

kesmarn : Thanks, AdLib, that flew by! Goodnight, all!

PatsyT : Thanks Adlib and all – great evening

Khirad : Public Policy Polling 48-47, slim advantage, Coakley.

kesmarn : Cher, yeah, AH has done her share to damage the Dems in MA and elsewhere!

PatsyT : I will do calling for Organizing for America this weekend should be interesting…

AdLib : THANK YOU ALL FOR ANOTHER FANTASTIC EDITION OF VOX POPULI! THE EVENT IS ENDING NOW BUT THE CHAT CONTINUES ON THE RELATED POST, CLICK THIS LINK TO GO THERE: «link»

PatsyT : They need to work the ground game !

kesmarn : Khirad, seriously? Silver thought Brown might win? That’s scary.

Chernynkaya : If Mass goes red, I blame AH.

kesmarn : Polls…gotta wonder…look at the extreme variances on those results. That’s amazing.

Khirad : Last thing I saw from Nate wasn’t overtly optimistic.

PatsyT : Rasmussen and Pajamas .. fishy

Khirad : That Boston Globe poll corresponds to the research 2000 poll.

AdLib : From Rassmussen: A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in the state finds Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley attracting 49% of the vote while her Republican rival, state Senator Scott Brown, picks up 47%.

Chernynkaya : Mass will not go rep. If it does, god help us all.

kesmarn : Don’t know about the other pollsters, but I don’t trust Rasmussen. They usually have a righty tilt. What does Nate Silver say, anyone know?

AdLib : From the Boston Globe: Democrat Martha Coakley, buoyed by her durable statewide popularity, enjoys a solid, 15-percentage-po int lead over Republican rival Scott Brown as the race for US Senate enters the homestretch, according to a new Boston Globe poll of likely voters.

Khirad : The best way to energize Dems in Mass? Imagine the GOP gloating on the national level for months and years to come for taking a Kennedy seat… you thought New Jersey guvs race was bad?

Chernynkaya : She’ll likely win.

AdLib : From U.S. News: • A one-day poll conducted for Pajamas Media of nearly 1,000 likely Massachusetts voters out Friday showed Brown ahead by an amazing 15 points, well outside the slightly better than three percent margin of error. • Suffolk University has Brown up by four–50 percent to 46 percent–in its Thursday poll of 500 registered voters. • Monday’s poll of 1,000 likely voters by Scott Rasmussen had Coakley up by two but, importantly, under 50.

PatsyT : I think Martha will pull it off but this should wake her up!

Chernynkaya : The way i see it, we really have only 57 in the senate that are reliable anyway. They futzed around and didn’t go nuclear and I guess I am sanguine now.

kesmarn : Shooot, I’d be willing to go to MA and drive people to the polls!

AdLib : Will Coakley win?

Khirad : I addressed like three people in that last one, if anyone is confused…

PatsyT : Organizing for America has a calling effort for Mass

Khirad : Cher, they’e begun deliberating about stalling certification – messy stuff. Totally, a woman nude? That’d be the end of it. I got the energized thing, but the raw numbers of registered party disparity (like 3-1 or something?) has got to make up for something, at some level.

AdLib : What if the Dems only have 59 votes in the Senate? What do they do then?

kesmarn : Cher, it might be “fatal medicine” for the Dem causes, though… I sure hope she wins. If only Teddy could have hung in there…

AdLib : Cher – My understanding is that when it’s a temp seat, the winner can take the seat soon after winning the election. So it could be a problem.

PatsyT : I would have loved Vicky!

Chernynkaya : Maybe if we lose the dems will get a wake up call.

Khirad : And are voters stupid enough to be confused by that ‘other’ Kennedy?

AdLib : The GOP has come up strong on “likely voters” even though Dems far outnumber them. This is the issue I was referring to in my last question, if Dems are not energized, even if they are a majority, they could lose.

PatsyT : You know if a woman had a ‘nude’ spread that would be the end of it !

kesmarn : Oh, God (Or Oh, AdLib) if those Mass. dems don’t get out and vote for whatsername–Coa kley?–there should be some serious pain coming their way!

Chernynkaya : When does the winner take office? can they pass it b4?

Khirad : What say people on Dem registration v. GOP numbers, and turnout drives?

Chernynkaya : Adlib– the campaign– he was running against a woman, a black man. No time for toughness. he needs to rinse that bad taste out of our mouths that he gave us by complimenting Grassley, and others ad nauseum. Ok to be angry/tough NOW– Because the country is! He needs to voice our mood.

AdLib : OUR FINAL TOPIC: WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE MA SENATORIAL ELECTION AND IF THE DEMS ARE REDUCED TO 59 VOTES, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE HCR BILL? WILL IT BE NEUTERED BEYOND RECOGNITION TO GET OLYMPIA SNOWE ON BOARD? OR WILL IT PASS AT ALL?

kesmarn : Khirad, “Lord Bankfiend” is priceless! He’s the one the Rep accused of selling a “car with faulty brakes, then taking out insurance on the driver’s life!”

Khirad : You’re right AdLib, sometimes Obama does know best. I, too, was totally wrong about ‘taking the gloves off’. Turns out, they knew what they were doing. I can only hope that’s still the case…

Khirad : I almost thought you said Lord Bankfiend. Is he the one Colbert raked over the coals?

Chernynkaya : Patsy’s my kinda dame!

AdLib : Really, aren’t we fed up with the tap dance around the bullshit? I was wrong in the campaign when I wanted Obama to come out tough against Hillary, Obama was right. He’s probably right here but the Repubs are never shy about bashing the Dems when they’re in the WHite House. And in this case, these GOPers are right bastards. Just once, for me, Mr. President, call Joe Lieberman a “douche”.

kesmarn : LOL Patsy!

Chernynkaya : Can you imagine the response? OMG– he’d be forgiven anything, IMO.

PatsyT : cream pie ?? baseball bat!

kesmarn : Did you see Lloyd Blankfein at those hearings the other day? The embodiment of banker arrogance. Oooooh, for a cream pie in that face…

Khirad : Raise the roof!

PatsyT : Amen !

Chernynkaya : I want to see him TESTIFY!

Chernynkaya : ROFLAO!!

PatsyT : Cher some brutal honesty would really get serious attention

AdLib : Obama: “Say hello to my little friend!”

Khirad : What’s that saying about two ears and one mouth? Hmm… nevermind.

Chernynkaya : LOL__ Do I AMUSE you?

kesmarn : LOL Or maybe: “Are you lookin’ at me? Are you talkin’ to me?”

Khirad : Not bad Cher, send that to one of his speechwriters. Obama: nothing is over!

PatsyT : He needs a big baseball bat !!!

Chernynkaya : How’d THAT be for CHANGE?

AdLib : Obama should do an impression of Joe Pesci in Goodfellas on the GOP, “Fuck ’em! Fuck ’em in the ear! Fuck ’em in the other ear!”

Chernynkaya : Obama: I told you change had come to DC. I told you I would never lie to you. Well here’s the truth folks. Money buys votes in Cong. I need your help. Banks run the USA. Lobbies are too powerful…

kesmarn : This is one area, Cher, where unfortunately I think the “race thing” enters in. If he shows anger, the right will be all over it as “rage,” unfair as that may be

Khirad : Yes, kes, plus, now is the time to do it. Who has a political capital gauge, by the way? Another tangent, I just heard another pro-HCR commercial. About time they started flooding the airwaves.

AdLib : WHoops, make that 49% approve and 45% disapprove.

AdLib : Nellie – Obama approval rating according to Gallup: 49% Approve, 44% disapprove.

Chernynkaya : Why can’t O truly ignore the reps? Think about it– no mattter what they will criticize and hate. Fuckem. say what the middle and the left want to hear.

kesmarn : Maybe after HC reform is passed, O will feel liberated to push harder on the other issues. One decent victory will give him more cred.

AdLib : Cher: It totally is O’s fault for bringing in the same lousy Dems who screwed up things before and are in bed with the major banks and corps, like the DLCers.

Chernynkaya : Adlib, I know– but the left would go silent and then after the shock, would adore him again. Its a fantasy.

PatsyT : GOP F word…… new years eve ……..nnoooooo

AdLib : Cher: This is politics and we know he will brand this HCR bill as historic and fantastic but not perfect. That’s what any president would have to say or be undercut.

kesmarn : Cher, yes, maybe he should admit that it’s not a great HC bill, but the reason it’s not is: THE REPUBS! Get it out there.

Khirad : Good point on being real, Cher. I think that’s a good point. I don’t want a used car salesman for President.

nellie : I’m sorry — I am not perceiving the ‘mess” that you guys do

PatsyT : I wish Obama great success in Mass !

AdLib : kes: I definitely know what you’re saying. But to recover from this mess he’s been in, I think he needs to paint a fresh map of where we are and where we’re going. Then he needs to make things happen and tell the GOP to go fuck itself.

Chernynkaya : Adlib– then it’s O’s fault not his COS.

Chernynkaya : Re HCR and the SOU U know what i wish? Instead of saying we are so proud we passed healthcare, I wish he’d say we did OK but its the best we could do for now. Be honest– it would completely disarm the left if he said– this is OK but I wanted more. Vote Dem for the next phase of reform,

Khirad : Yes, AdLib, he needs to get back to his strengths. He’s made fun of for being the teleprompter by those jealous of his mad skills, and that is what made him so powerful. He was once a masterful communicator. We still get glimpses, but I want him to turn it back on up to 11 for upcoming midterms.

AdLib : Cher: He absolutely does need to serve his constituency much better than he has. I understand his strategy (I think), he wanted to hold off on the stuff the Right would go crazy about until he got HCR done. Okay, once it’s done I am expecting him to use what could be his final year to get a lot done, done.

nellie : Jobs

kesmarn : There’s a certain segment of the population that’s starting to say: “No more soaring rhetoric. Show me the money!”

PatsyT : AdLib that is where he excels I feel like it will be great no matter what.

AdLib : Patsy: Absolutely and holistic. He needs to put all the pieces together and paint the entire mural for the American People. Sharing vision is inspiring, piecemeal policy making and compromises is not. He needs to paint the big picture on where he’s taking the nation in his SOU.

nellie : It’s not that bad of a bill!

Khirad : I hope he has HCR in some form before the State of the Union. That was the plan , no? Claim victory and sell it even if it stinks.

Chernynkaya : AdlIb, that address is necessary but not sufficient– he needs to do more that libs crave.

nellie : When he says he didn’t get elected to let some fat cats on wall street live off the public — I think that’s showing some fury

kesmarn : Khirad–even on the H1N1–that DIDN’T turn out to be a pandemic, BECAUSE of Obama’s and CDC’s efficiency. He got no credit.

PatsyT : AdLib his State of the Union should be potent

Chernynkaya : Nellie– u may be right, but that fury is not evident.

AdLib : I am concerned that the DLCers like Rahm have him in a bubble and he isn’t seeing the Dems and Progressives for how they really feel.

nellie : i think he feels the same fury

Khirad : Yes, kes, we need to be reminded what a return to the GOP would be like, and all that he truly HAS accomplished. They’ve really let the message get away from them on that.

PatsyT : He could catch OBL that may help

kesmarn : I wonder if he understands the fury of the American public at the bankers.

AdLib : Obama needs a major address to the nation, to pull together all of the elements that the stimulus supported, green jobs and environmental protection, infrastructure repair, the jobs of the future, etc. Paint the picture of the future he sees coming together under his policies.

Chernynkaya : Khirad– agree !!

Chernynkaya : He has started to punish the banks –good. He needs to get out of AF/PAk when he said. He needs to fight the right fiercely! He needs to get cap/trade but most impt IMO is financial reform. DOMA< DADT are good but not big enough.

kesmarn : Right, AdLib. It seems hard to get the message out about what he has done RIGHT in his short administration.

Khirad : I think taking on the banks for real is an overarching issue important to the left and main street at large.

AdLib : kes: Absolutely. People do need to feel that Obama is working to help them, even if it’s not helping them at this moment.

PatsyT : I am keeping my Obama/Biden sticker on my car They will turn this around they have their hearts in the right place but they have to get after the banks

AdLib : Again, if we’re talking about bringing Dems back to supporting Obama, we have to take as a given that jobs are unlikely to be a big reason in 2010. So what else can he do?

kesmarn : nellie, yes, people need the impression that the government is at least trying to get people to work. Even if the numbers don’t jump quickly.

Chernynkaya : Even if O fails to provide much job growth, we need to see project the govt made happen. That’s why he need something like WPA, war on poverty, something BIG and VISIBLE.

nellie : What I’m saying is — if we don’t see jobs improve, it’ not going to matter what else this administration does

kesmarn : Good question, nellie. Many different things to many people.

AdLib : nellie, there won’t be much of that this year. If you’re focusing on jobs to turn around in any substantial way, you would have far more optimistic expectations than most.

nellie : Did they ever really know?

kesmarn : I think–sadly–tw o words people have burned out on are “hope” and “change.” They’re not sure what that means any more.

nellie : Getting off the street isn’t soft

AdLib : Cher: Exactly, back on topic folks. The question is, how does Obama pull the disaffected Dems back to supporting him.

nellie : I don’t see how going back to work, putting food back on the table, paying the mortgage again is soft

AdLib : Jobs as a standalone issue seems far too soft to change any minds. And let’s be realistic, there is not going to be any hige change in jobs this year, we’re still on the downslope, the best we could see is a leveling off and maybe a slight gain. That is not going to make people rush out to vote for Dems.

Chernynkaya : The Q wasn’t about most of the country, but about the Left, no?

Khirad : We have two things here. For the left: a cause. For indies: jobs.

nellie : I agree

kesmarn : Cher, yes! WPA, CCC, exactly.

nellie : 7 Million

nellie : So many people have lost jobs

kesmarn : I’m all for regulating the banks like they’ve never been, but to an unemployed person even that is secondary.

nellie : So!

nellie : Maybe os

Chernynkaya : OK about jobs– he need a WPA or CCC something big that peole can SEE.

nellie : They need to earn a living

AdLib : I believe that Obama needs a far more visionary plan to present to America. Even if he can’t get it passed, IMO, the way to get them excited again is to have Hope and believe in Change in a big way.

nellie : People want to work

nellie : Not to most of the country

Chernynkaya : Jobs is not the answer– its about standing up to those we hate– righties. Its about torture trials, banksters, and another liberal rallying issue.

PatsyT : Getting control on the to big to fail will go far in the minds of so many

Khirad : Yes, more outrage at the bankers. It’s good optics, at the very least.

kesmarn : Cher, well put. People want a bit more push from Obama.

PatsyT : Nellie Jobs YES and getting a grip on the Bankers

nellie : But people know when they’re working and when they’re unemployed

AdLib : nellie: Theoretically you may be right but the MSM can’t make a 5% increase in jobs as sexy to viewers as “Obama is betraying his core voters!”

nellie : Yes, Kes

Chernynkaya : Adlib– the left doesnt mind if he loses the battle they want– they want him to fight. Its about the fight. They will forgive a loss but not what they see as either weakness or centrism

nellie : I’d love to see DOMA and DADT this spring

kesmarn : I’m with you, nellie. People are desperate out here. I mean like total panic. They’re going under.

Khirad : DOMA and DADT, would be a nice touch to get the base. Tough call, whether to do it before midterms though. Does it help or hurt more (electorally speaking)?

nellie : I disagree. Jobs is THE answer, IMO

AdLib : I don’t think “jobs” is the answer. It will help but he has little control over the economy and job growth will not be explosive enough to make a big difference to those upset with the big issues.

PatsyT : If he kicks some bankers butts he may gain back some cred

kesmarn : Well, he could remind them that nobody got everything they wanted, but that would assume that they were mature adults….iffy.. .

Chernynkaya : Yes he can but honestly, he MUST give something to the left. He has not. He has done a good job, but he needs his base– the base that worked for him were not centrists. he really must get some populism, some fire against the Reps and he must try to do something the left wants!

Khirad : Obama needs a fireside chat with the children, on what it’s like to live in the grown-up world.

nellie : Once people start working again, it won’t matter what the extremes say

AdLib : What can Obama possibly do to counter the pandering and much more attractive option to wailing that “I didn’t get EVERYTHING I wanted!”

nellie : Jobs is next after health care

PatsyT : Can he call it out? Can he be about the bigger picture?

nellie : And the cynics, like HP — Who knows what Arianna’s up to. Sometimes I think she’s trying to be Oprah Winfrey.

Khirad : I hope after HCR, if we can get it before any possibly lost Senate seat, that the left might be “burnished”, as someone put it.

kesmarn : The administration needs to get some jobs programs going that put a lot of people to work, not just road construction. That would help.

nellie : I think it’s the extremes on both sides

nellie : I don’t think it’s the moderates

PatsyT : That is a big one AdLib

AdLib : BTW, WHEN I SAY DEMS, I AM NOT REFERRING TO ARIANNA OR HUFFPO.

nellie : Don’t dispair, Cher!

Chernynkaya : Ofetn I dispair– too many people too tired, self distracted to care.

AdLib : ONTO A RELATED TOPIC. OBAMA IS GAINING A NUMBER OF ENEMIES ON THE LEFT. HUFFPO IS LEADING THE CHARGE BUT IS JOINED BY A GROWING NUMBER OF OTHERS. CAN OBAMA TURN THIS SELF-DESTRUCTIVE ATTACK BY DEMS AROUND AND IF SO, HOW?

nellie : The fourth estate is what protects our power to self govern

kesmarn : Cher, at least AS scary. And in the case of Fox, the media and the nutz are one and the same.

nellie : Information is the coin of the realm

PatsyT : I hope we can have an effect on the media at some point

nellie : I agree w tha

Chernynkaya : It seems to me we have collectively decided tonite that the media is scarier than the nutz– at least in their impact and venality. No?

Khirad : Well, the OJ thing changed car “chases” forever. Now we’ll follow any SUV with a pseudo-celebrity in it.

kesmarn : Patsy, that’s more accurate!

nellie : I think the OJ trial changed cable news

Chernynkaya : Yes AL. That and more. Look who owns Fox, and other outlets– clearchannel, etc. They have an agenda that surpassed making money. hearst got us into the Sp/Am war fer chissakes. It would be easier now.

PatsyT : kes lots of info but not the important stuff

AdLib : Khirad, exactly, the crawl came in then. And there was a surge in immediate and unapologetic guessing about everything from talking heads.

kesmarn : Khirad, lotta sensory overload now and not much info…

PatsyT : Walter Kronkite

nellie : We read the newspaper

Khirad : I still remember life before the crawl. How did we ever get by in such primitive times?!

AdLib : Cher: So if they could at the very least, give moral support to extremists who wanted to “start the revolution” to “take this country back” wouldn’t they do so?

PatsyT : AdLib I would not put anything past them. They are defending their dogma

nellie : We’ve been dealing w bad media for a very long time

nellie : Don’t forget the impeachment of Bill CLinton and Whitewate

kesmarn : I find it hard to believe the people closest to Cheney would do it. But I think there are fringers who would and Cheney would quickly capitalise on it.

AdLib : Patsy, 9/11 changed the MSM into what it is today!

Chernynkaya : AdLib– they are trying to do so now. I wouln’t put anything past them.

Khirad : I bet they can think of far more horrific things. Both theirs and our own. Two words: Secret Service.

PatsyT : Hate to say- but 9/11 big rateings boom for the MSM

AdLib : Okay, this is total fiction but if the neocons behind Dick Cheney, along with him, saw an opening to sabotage Obama by helping destabilize the nation, would they?

nellie : I can’t even put it into words

Chernynkaya : Not only lack of reprting- but sensational reporting, incendiary

nellie : That was …

nellie : I can’t think of anything more horrific than dropping the World Trade Towers

kesmarn : Khirad, good point. They are the Barney Fifes of terrorism…at least I hope so.

nellie : Well, bad media and the Koch brothers brought us a second term of Bush

AdLib : Nellie, I’m talking about monuments being blown up, federal buildings, Democratic politicians, that level of terrorism.

nellie : Than from violent groups

nellie : From lack of reporting

Chernynkaya : Nellie– we didn;t fall apart, but voting for Bush 2nd term is damn close.

nellie : We have more to fear from bad media

nellie : This country is strong

nellie : We had Oklahoma City.

nellie : We have hate crimes

Chernynkaya : I really don’t think the enemy per se are the loonies, but that the 24/7 corporate news. The 1st amendment trumps sanity, and safety. And the common good.

Khirad : I’m not sure the right-winger religious nuts here are that patient to plan something that big and complex like 9/11. And, can they get college-educated people to pull it off?

nellie : We have clinics being bombed

kesmarn : Guess we might as well go down fightin’, huh?

nellie : We have doctors being murdered

nellie : We already have that

AdLib : nellie: So, do you think if there were periodic domestic terrorist attacks in the U.S., Americans would not become more and more fearful?

nellie : lol, kes

nellie : We had bad leadership

kesmarn : nellie, why do I find that oddly consoling…?

nellie : We didn’t fall apart after 911

nellie : I don’t think so, AdLib

nellie : The left is armed, too. Don’t believe otherwise

AdLib : nellie: That’s my point, only 19 people who were terrorists brought this nation to the brink of temporary insanity. The same number of extremist right wingers could do similarly.

Chernynkaya : Nellie, too few see distinction.

kesmarn : nellie, really? I have this impression that the right is armed to the teeth…

Khirad : If it’s secession, that’s one thing. If it’s war, then we need to get the best generals.

nellie : make that corporatists

nellie : We can be capitalists w out being corpatists

nellie : Kes — I don’t think we’re outgunned

PatsyT : French Revo – I would like to knit something while rush gets ……

Chernynkaya : USA will never fight corporations. Its embedded in us from 1st grade that we are capitalists– yea! #1! all that crap.

nellie : They are just terrorists

nellie : But AdLib — they never become a real force

kesmarn : nellie, but we are massively out-gunned by “them.”

AdLib : There wouldn’t be a true civil war but I can imagine the extremists on the right becoming terrorists…the re is a history there: The Abortion Clinic bombers and assassins, the Atlanta Olympics bomber, Timothy McVeigh, the Smithsonian shooter, the list goes on and on.

nellie : We need our own version of the French Revolution — w out the guillotines

kesmarn : I’m beginning to think that capitalism-Ameri can-style is the enemy!

nellie : People who want to be aristocrats, looking down on the plebes

PatsyT : So true Nellie

nellie : We are at war w corporate CEOs

nellie : I think it’s corporatism

Khirad : What happens to Miami, an enclave like Kaliningrad?

Chernynkaya : Nellie, we are talking about either civl war or secession. They can stay, but may not want to.

nellie : Lefties have got to be more sophisticated about politics

PatsyT : Cher LOLOLOL !

nellie : Austin is fabulous — maybe we can airlift Austin to California

kesmarn : I have really lefty friends who are losing faith in Obama. I argue with ’em, but it’s frustrating. Look at the alternatives!!

Khirad : Don’t forget places like Athens and Austin guys. A refugee crisis!

Chernynkaya : As I said, I’m ready to water the tree of liberty! With blue bloods and red necks. See, I can be every bit as obnoxious when pushed.

AdLib : nellie: It was just a fantasy, in reality, in the South, there are Dems, minorities, gays and all kinds of good who aren’t right wing assholes we wouldn’t want suffering under Southern dictatorships.

nellie : I think we have a distorted impression based on too much HP

PatsyT : I often have the feeling that much of this has been started from a effort by the vast right wing (as Hilary used to say) disguising themselves as progressives and going off on Obama

nellie : RFLMAN!

nellie : LOL!

nellie : I don’t think people want to leave their homes

kesmarn : nellie, we’ll have to airlift the AAs and Latinos out of the South! )

Chernynkaya : Nellie– time for political refugees to the north.

nellie : The American Indians don’t want to go anywhere either — lots of them in the south

nellie : We really need to have a real news program

Khirad : Hey all. I wasn’t lurking, just late.

kesmarn : Hey Khirad!

AdLib : Cher: Totally agree. With Rush and the GOP turning on Obama, the MSM will turn it into the biggest grudge match in history…probab ly making it PPV.

nellie : And Hi Khirad!

PatsyT : Hi Khirad

nellie : They don’t want to go anywhere

nellie : But what about all the African Americans and Latinos in the south

kesmarn : I’m seeing the teabaggers gain ground here, not on the terror thing, but on the economy.

Chernynkaya : Ad– i know U R talking about a small % but that doesn;t really bother me– what does is that the media will blow it up for ratings and really turn us agaisnt each other.

AdLib : Hey Khirad!

Khirad : Rush might be overplaying his hand here, I agree.

AdLib : Cher, I am totally down with letting any states in the South that want o leave the union, do so. Not that it could ever happen but what a wonderful nation it would be.

nellie : They’re the fringe of the fringe

nellie : The wingnuts are not the country

kesmarn : Cher, on the secessionist thought, I’ve had the same feeling. What if Lincoln had said: “bye!”?

nellie : If we can get behind a do nothing guy like Bush, we can get behind Obama.

PatsyT : Is there a campaign to boycott RL advertisers ?

AdLib : I don’t know about that, nellie. In a time of terror, people turn like sheep to leaders and with all the poisoning of minds there has been against Obama, I think a portion will turn to Rush and Beck and Palin.

Chernynkaya : ADlib– yes, God– smite ’em.

kesmarn : I think Rush overplayed his hand on this one. Pretty soon he’s gonna alienate even the dittoes

Chernynkaya : Honestly, sometimes I think we should have let the So. secede. Or at least reconstruction should have been dome better.

nellie : STFU

nellie : And I think Rush would get teh same kind of response he’s getting now

nellie : I think the country as a whole would get behind the leadership — no matter who it is

AdLib : Nellie: so how do you think the nation would respond to another coordinated attack of epic proportions?

PatsyT : Would these baggies come to this state of mind by themselves or did it really start with Dick Armey and such?

nellie : Like the Detroit flight

nellie : We’re not going to put up with it

nellie : And we’re not the same country

Chernynkaya : Kes. nellie– you got it! Why I’ll…

AdLib : Cher: The Righties will have a whole Planet against them.

nellie : 911 was such a shock to the country, but we know now that something like that can happen here

kesmarn : Hey, Cher! Fired up, ready to go!

AdLib : Night nicole!

PatsyT : Yeah you tell em Cher !!

nellie : Just try to start something

nellie : Me, too, Cher.

AdLib : It only took 19 deranged people with box cutters to terrorize an entire nation and send it spiraling into a loss of rights and economic turmoil. How many Teabaggers or right wing nuts would it really take, especially in the aftermath of an Al Qaeda attack, to impact the nation?

Chernynkaya : Hi all– I’m lurking. But if the far right wants a revolution– don;t start it without me. I’m itching for a fight with the righties.

kesmarn : Night, nicole!

nicole473 : Night Nellie, Patsy, adlib, kesmarn……sle ep tight!

kesmarn : Wonder if Palin or Beck would become the “leader” for the wacko extremist movement or someone else? Or are they leaderless?

PatsyT : Kes, that is creepy

PatsyT : Nighty night Nicole

nellie : Nite Nicole!

nicole473 : Well, I hate to go, but i have to. Good night all. This is fun!!

nellie : I think average Americans will have none of that

kesmarn : I’m creeped out by the righties who have those “bible verse” tee shirts implying O’s days are “numbered.”

nellie : People are fed up

AdLib : nellie: I agree the extremists would be easily slapped down but if it went on like they conducted the bombing campaign against abortion clinics, there could be a long period of terrorist style events in the name of “taking our country back”. If you’ve read some of these right wing blogs, you’ve seen the raving maniacs out there so desperate to get the country back in their hands.

nellie : That’s why I think the teabaggers better know their place

PatsyT : C Mathewes had a two bagggers today and asked them about how to get to a smaller government What would they cut? What department? they could only say Commerce and Education

nicole473 : Nellie, I feel the same way.

nicole473 : Adlib, I agree with your assessment.

nellie : Hell. To. Pay.

nellie : Yep

kesmarn : nellie, people would be rioting in the streets, i think, if Obama were harmed.

nellie : Just talking w my family and friends about the threats to Obama — we’re all saying… Nothing had better happen to that man.

AdLib : nicole: I don’t think the GOP would but I think a small segment of the most extreme people on the right could believe that the moment is now to take the country back. COnsider the fear and terror that followed 9/11, now imagine extremists at the edge affected by that. Again, consider the anthrax killer who saw 9/11 as the greenlight to kill and create more terror.

nellie : Honestly, I think that if the teabaggers tried anything, they’d be put down very quickly by the average american

PatsyT : What can little old me do to help this ?

nicole473 : Adlib, do you believe that the right will stage a coup under the circumstances you described?

kesmarn : nicole, totally agree. Dangerous precedent. If there were another attack, what form do you all think it would take?

AdLib : nellie: what I mean is that if there is a terrorist attack and the GOP uses that as a time to attack the president as too weak to protect us, couldn’t that be a signal for the separatists and teabaggers to try and start the kind of revolution they dream of? I’m not saying they would have a prayer of success but might it not encourage them to act? As 9/11 encouraged the anthrax killer to act?

nicole473 : kesmarn, we should never have allowed a PRIVATE standing army to operate on American soil. Never.

kesmarn : Xe needs to be unplugged and investigated…y esterday!

PatsyT : How can these people have so much hate in them?

nicole473 : kesmarn, I believe that is true re xe.

PatsyT : That is frightening AdLib

kesmarn : I have a friend who is very worried about Blackwater (Xe)–calls it a “shadow army” ready for a coup

nicole473 : Bush used Blackwater in the aftermath of Katrina. Ostensibly to protect, but the reality was different.

nellie : I don’t understand what you mean, AdLib…

AdLib : We have a segment of our nation that is rooting for its destruction. They can’t be reasoned with. Won’t the private militias and teabaggers use such a situation to act?

PatsyT : Sometimes I think we buy into the divide that is being stirred up out there and MSM makes a nice $$$ off of it

nellie : That’s what I think

nicole473 : Nellie, probably what they want.

nellie : They always do == that’s Naomi Klein’s thesis, and I think she’s right

nellie : And they’ll benefit from the disarray

nellie : The middle class may decline into disarray — but the corporations will survive

kesmarn : We’re getting close to an “at last sir have you no decency” moment with these guys. Neo-McCarthyites .

AdLib : But what money and power will there be if our nation declines into disarray?

nicole473 : I don’t know if we can recover. It really is like we are two different, very diff, countries right now.

PatsyT : I hope they wait forever

nicole473 : I agree that the rushpubs are waiting with baited breath in hopes that there is an attack.

nellie : Money and power

nellie : It’s always about money for them

AdLib : Even if we’re talking about 15% – 20% of the nation that would attack Obama and refuse to pull together, how do we recover as a nation with part of the nation stabbing into the wound?

nellie : I mean;… Money

nellie : MOne

kesmarn : You have to wonder what Cheney et al think they will have “conquered” when all the dust settles.

nicole473 : Adlib, thanks. I am half asleep here.

PatsyT : We have to be a stronger country at home to help with these places in the world

nellie : I don’t know how we come together as a country as long as someone like Rush Limbaugh has a following. Did I mention that I loathe Rush Limbaugh?

AdLib : What I mean is that those followers of Rush and Cheney WANT another attack and will use it to tear the country apart.

nellie : I don’t know. how we recover.

kesmarn : I think if Cheney expressed glee at an attack, it might be the final blow to what little cred he has…

PatsyT : Its as if they (rushpublicians) want to see a big T event

nicole473 : Adlib, what do you mean when you say a portion is on the side of the terrorists?

kesmarn : There are some saltines over there…

AdLib : OKAY, FIRST TOPIC: THE POLITICIZATION OF SOMETHING AS STRAIGHTFORWARDL Y TRAGIC AS HAITI’S EARTHQUAKE SHOULD LEAVE NO DOUBT THAT WE ARE NO LONGER A NATION THAT CAN COME TOGETHER OVER A CRISIS. IF THERE IS ANOTHER TERRORIST ATTACK WHILE OBAMA IS PRESIDENT, HOW CAN THIS COUNTRY RECOVER IF A PORTION IS ON THE SIDE OF THE TERRORISTS?

nicole473 : Kesmarn……… don’t be greedy now,girl!

nellie : Helped me get a lot of temp jobs during school

nellie : I took a typing class when I was 14

PatsyT : I learned on a manual !

kesmarn : nicole, smfrmmsdrmfd…. sorry mouth is full…whaddya say?

nicole473 : I never took typing either, alas…

nicole473 : Kesmarn, save me some shrimp, please!

kesmarn : Patsy, I never took typing….no fair!

nicole473 : kesmarn, very fast!

PatsyT : I am glad I aced typing in high school not spelling though

nicole473 : Backatcha Nellie and Adlib!

kesmarn : nicole, it is fast and fun!

PatsyT : Back at you Nellie

nicole473 : Not sure I can keep up with this. lol.

kesmarn : Hey, nellie and all!

kesmarn : Good point. I’m standing by the shrimp cocktail tonight.

nellie : Hey patsy!

nellie : Hi nicole! Hi Kesmarn!

AdLib : Hi Nicole!

AdLib : kesmarn, yeah, but you get first crack at the dip before everyone’s double dipped.

nicole473 : hellooo everyone……

PatsyT : No worries AdLib

AdLib : Sorry Patsy about the false start!

kesmarn : Hi AdLib, it’s always embarrassing to be the first one to arrive at the party!

PatsyT : Yippie its working

AdLib : Good to see you, nellie!

nellie : I’m here

AdLib : Hey kesmarn! What up?

kesmarn : Helloooooooo…. {{{echo}}}

AdLib : Hey folks! Sorry, just turned on the chat function, you will need to exit this page, clear your cache then return to see the comment entry box. Sorry!

AdLib : Hi All! Vox Populi will start shortly. Please say “hi” when you get here!