Vox Populi – 7-9-2010

VegasBabe : Hi Folks. I ama not sure if any of you have heard the sad news about Hume. Apparently he passed away Friday, succumbing to lung cancer I believe.

AdLib : Well, I have a delicious Canwich loitering around the house where I usually stalk. Goodnight all and thanks for another very enjoyable edition of Vox Populi!

AdLib : Sounds great, so good to see ya! Sleep well!!!

VegasBabe : I hear ya Adlib. Course, I think your giving this boy wayyyyyyy to much credit. I don’t believe he set up anything, it was all ESPN hype. They love a story. Anyway, I’ll c’ya next week? Same time, same place? Off to bed now for me. Nite all!

AdLib : VB – What bothered me is that instead of just putting out a press release he set up a big one hour special on ESPN to make his announcement. That reeks of ego. I mean, he did self-title himself “King”. As far as the actual decision, I don’t have anything against him for going to the Heat. As you say, you’ve got one career, you do what you think is best. I’m just a bit tired of all the pandering to one’s own ego from all directions in our society.

AdLib : CL – Wonderful to see you! Get some rest and try a Canwich before bed! Night!

AdLib : CL – My naivete about racism was a problem of subjectivity. Growing up in L.A. where there isn’t open racism (as I grew up, I learned about the silent racism and geographical separations in the city by race), it was not until I spent extended time in the South that I discovered that racism was not dying a quiet death but was alive and well. Obama’s presidency brought the racism out across the nation, like a bear awakening from his hibernation, it had been in our nation all the time. Very sad, the future really wasn’t here.

VegasBabe : I wish you’d stay choicelady but I hear ya. I gotta work tmw so I’m not long either. Sleep well.

VegasBabe : YIKES…say it ain’t so Adlib. He can no more control the media hype than Obama or you or I. He had time to make a decision and he took that time. He gave the Cavaliers 7 years and that’s long enough. My son is waaaayyy up in the high country of Yosemite (he’s 23 and a student) and not only was this big news, but they have no reception up there so he called me last nite to find out what was going on. Apparently, in the sports world, this is really really big. It’s his life, do what you gotta do. Life is short.

choicelady : Dear friends – I’m dragging again. Long day and longer tomorrow. I shall bid you all good night. Hope to talk again next week! Hugs and kisses!

choicelady : VB – I hoped he’d be stand up and STAY with Cleveland. Dance with the one who brung ya. Oh, well.

AdLib : VB – I actually think a lot less of Lebron, not because he went to Miami but because of his massive ego to have this huge event to in essence, elevate himself and diss and stomp the heart of Cleveland in a big media event.

choicelady : AdLib – I’m with you. I tend not to think in those terms, though there are two expressions I have heard people say SO often I need to be on guard. (Never mind which!!) I never was raised that way. Someday I’ll do a riff on how utterly ignorant I was about racism and racial terms. Just for starters, when the uproar occurred over “flesh colored band aids” I understood it – but NOT because “flesh” was the white appropriation of skin but because the COLOR flesh was the ONLY color they came in. I did not know flesh meant skin – it was in my crayolas, so I thought it was just a term for A color. EVen as a kid I thought Bandaids should have come in ALL colors, IMHO – brown, black, sepia, flesh…. So I got the point even when I did not get the point.

VegasBabe : Jenuwin…I see you but your not talking…join in.

AdLib : VB – Assholes are in all races and religions, that word is indeed an equal opportunity one.

VegasBabe : Wow Adlib, that’s really cool. I guess it’s just the LAPD who have the real problems with races then. Not being funnee but they’ve had their share of known problems. Let’s move on and talk of other matters, something more FUN. Lebron’s going to MIAMI….I was routin’ for Chicago, but Miami’s cool, agreed?

AdLib : VB – I can only speak for myself but racial slurs just don’t slip out of my mouth. They’re locked behind razor wire and they don’t get time off for good behavior. Yes, I agree, there can be some people who may have grown up around people who used slurs against others and mess up and feel bad about it. However, I was fortunate to have grown up in this melting pot of L.A. and the usage of slurs was very rare.

choicelady : VB – YES!!!!! The all-encompassing term!!! You just created the color blind society. Asshole! Anyone can qualify! Everyone is equal in their assholedom. Perfect!

choicelady : VB -we’re waiting on your apple martini. ADLib – we’re seeing CA being hornswoggled again with the “outsider” brush on Meg and Carly. We keep doing this – the very person who has the least idea of how to get things done is preferable to the one who has done them. If we lose Boxer and (hold my nose) Brown to Whitman and Fiorina, we’re doomed as a state.

VegasBabe : Oh choicelady, I am the last person to ask that question. I don’t ordinarily know the current terminology. I’d have to ask my son and he’s in Yosemite working for the summer. I honest to goodness don’t know, in all sincerity. when people piss me off, no matter their color, I usually just say ASSHOLE!

choicelady : VB – I’d think that would depend on who *I* was! I[‘m not sure white people can use ANY derogatory term without being at least sure of their superiority uber alles. If you can think of a derogatory term FOR us white people, let me know. “Honky” does not count – we English folks made that up about Eastern Europeans (“Bohunks” – “HUnkies” – Honkey) so we can hardly be insulted by our OWN term. I can’t think of one single term. That says a whole lot about who’s in control.

AdLib : CL – I heard someone on tv ask a great question about this, why so many Americans seem to like a candidate who is not educated or experienced at the job they’re running for. Bush, Schwarzenegger, Palin, Angle, etc. DO they just want someone that they can relate to? Is it vanity, they want to see themselves in a candidate and they know they wouldn’t know anything either?

VegasBabe : ahem…ah..err.. .waitin’ on that amen folks. COME ON….people say stewpid stuff ALL OF THE TIME, and in this instance, Mel is undoubtedly a racist. But if my neighbor gets pissed off for some stewpid reason and mutters…”nigg ers” of if you’ve been RAISED to use that terminology this does NOT necessarily make you a racist. hiccup…just a minute, I need another apple martini

choicelady : VB – I take your point! I guess it’s not Harry’s physical wussiness that people mind, it’s his mental sogginess. I will agree on that. I just see too many good people pushed aside for higher office since they are not ‘telegenic’ enough, and that worries me. I also get upset when I hear or read someone disparaging a candidate’s intelligence. That’s very worrisome.

VegasBabe : and by the way, JUST because you call me a nigger DOESN’T automatically make you a racist. Can I get an amen?

AdLib : VB – Gibson’s father was an extremist antisemitic loon, the nut doesn’t fall far from the tree. Still, as you say, that doesn’t negate that this woman is a nut too.

VegasBabe : YES, where is Kquark. I worry bout that boy, he’s not well. Anything shareable without violating confidences would be appreciated.

choicelady : BTW – digressing – anyone know where KQuark is? I’ve not read things from him lately though I’ve been more out than in on the Planet. Is everyone OK?

VegasBabe : If you gonna get in bed with politics choice lady, then you damn well be ready to fight to the end, no more whiners, no more bleeders. Remember, there elected officials who are fighting for the people. We’re the people, FIGHT DAMN IT, or get the helll outta the way.

choicelady : VB – your view of Mel is kind and honorable. That’s nice to read. Too easy to make a total cartoon of him, and I like your compassion.

VegasBabe : That’s exactly how I feel too Adlib. I would have loved it to be Durbin but, that wasn’t the cards which were dealt, alas.

choicelady : VB and everyone – at what point did we start demanding that elected officials be superpowers? Harry Reid is not strong – but neither were Adlai Stevenson, etc., and it seems to me that over the years we’ve started demanding Star Quality, muscles, designer wear, etc. rather than valuing intelligence. Eisenhower was a wuss but popular. He was NOT a strong leader at all. Yes – good WW track record, but he was a pushover as president. We are looking for a savior. It will never come from a decent person. It will come ONLY from the right – a dictator. And yes, it CAN happen here. Almost did and could do again.

AdLib : VB – I agree about Reid, I have not liked him for some time and earlier in the year, when he was allowing the Senate to destroy the heart of every bill for change, I wasn’t going to be upset at losing him and possibly ending up with a real fighter like Dick Durbin as Majority Leader. Now, I’m concerned about the Dems losing too many seats and no way do I want that insane Tea Angler in the Senate.

VegasBabe : Your right choicelady. But I hate to see someone getting set up….no matter who. It just doesn’t feel right, ya know? It’s not…..honest. Not to say he doesn’t deserve it. Still…it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

VegasBabe : I have met and I like Oscar Goodman, the current mayor Adlib. Rarely do I hear sound criticism about him. And he’s very down to earth too.

choicelady : AdLib – well said – wheel of misfortune! Do you remember when he was FUNNY? When he was NICE? What the hell happened to him? VB – I do understand he’s gotten set up, but what did he THINK was happening to him? No one can run their mouth like that if they are in the public eye. There is always someone listening!

VegasBabe : Well, Reid comes across as…..wishy washy.,…withou t cojones if you will, this is a known fact in these parts. Plus, the mormon thing doesn’t help. Obama has come to support him and this may help. I am not reading anything about it because I am scared beyond belief that he might lose this seat.

AdLib : VB – Sounds so odd for a Hollywood marriage.

choicelady : VB – what are you reading or hearing about why Angle is leading right now? That is beyond scary!

VegasBabe : It’s pretty ugly I admit, the Mel thing. It’s difficult to imagine him recovering from this. I AM NOT DEFENDING his conduct or his behavior. BUT, this skank he got himself hooked up with, imho, set his dumb ass up and he is gonna pay the consequences for a very long time. Meanwhile, he remains a racist, an alcoholic, a troubled soul, and shes gonna walk with MILLIONS. She played her cards right

AdLib : Mel has now attacked Jews, Mexicans, Women, Gays…I wonder if he spins a Wheel of Misfortune each day to decide who’s next.

AdLib : VB – There have been some pretty unusual people as Mayor in LV and running for offices in the state. I knew one, there are some real characters there.

choicelady : But Mel will blame it on the Jews. It’s his best thing. Hell it’s his ONLY thing.

VegasBabe : I’m gonna hope and pray Reid takes it, he’s who I voted for, he’s not my favorite Democrat by far, but he’s what we got.

choicelady : Mel Gibson – Mr. Society of St. Pius X more over the top than Opus Dei – got FIRED????? Well, there IS a God, and she is clearly pissed.

Questinia : Yoiks!

choicelady : BTW VegasBabe -there currently IS no topic at the moment. We all fell off the edge into silliness. You brought us home. Thanks. We’re talking essentially whether the teabaggers can win because voters are just too mad to think clearly. Your state is a case in point (presuming you actually LIVE in Vegas, of course).

VegasBabe : Ah haaa…..Mel had a conversation via the phone with his porn star girlfriend and called said some things, nasty things, even said the way she dresses could get her gangraped by niggers…..anot her faux paux from MG

AdLib : Mel’s agency just fired him, studio execs are quoted as saying he is untouchable and that they’d rather get engaged to Lindsey Lohan. Though maybe that’s for other reasons.

VegasBabe : The state has more conservatives than anyone could imatgine. It’s bizarre, the city of sin and all…go figure.

Questinia : What did MG do?

choicelady : VB – what’s happening in your state with Harry and the Troll? I saw she’s ahead – WHY??????

VegasBabe : Hi choicelady! Sooooooooo….do es everyone here think Mel Gibson is now history (not to change the subject of which I have NO IDEA about hahahahahah)

Questinia : VB, Hi!

VegasBabe : Hey Adlib! Looking good!!

choicelady : Hi VB – good to see you!

AdLib : Hey VB! Great to see you!

Questinia : Woiks poifectly

choicelady : Ques -I do NOT believe you’d fall for salmon mousse in your hair. Nor sashimi helper or any of this.

VegasBabe : What are we talkin’ bout? Salmon mousse? This doesn’t sound good but then, I’m not much of a salmon fan anyway. How’s everybody doing?

AdLib : CL – That woiks!

AdLib : Q: Sashimi Helper –

Questinia : POIFECT!

AdLib : Hey…my skull feels roomier! Cool! Suddenly I want to read The Fountainhead.

choicelady : OK – I’m seeing the link here. The girls who love Sarah would use salmon mousse on their hair and drink loiters of soda, mostly doiet, while eschewing silk stalkings for peep toe shoes. Does this work for everyone?

Questinia : Canned sushi! Sashimi Helper.

AdLib : CL – You think that was bad, the Sushi in a Can was something awful.

Questinia : Yeah, CL, me.

Questinia : And, once again, I’ve successfully derailed the intellectual quality of the website!!

choicelady : Ques – unless you’re talking about a hair product. Are you? “Use this lovely salmon mousse to put body in your hair!” Bet we have a number of suckers we could talk into doing that.

Questinia : Canned salmon mousse.

choicelady : AdLib – sounds disGUSTing

AdLib : “The salmon mousse! You didn’t use the canned salmon?!”

choicelady : Ques – I think we have those running under the house. Don’t know what color they are though.

AdLib : No joke, the Canwich: «link»

Questinia : “It was the salmon mousse”

Questinia : Guys! lol

choicelady : ADLib – eeeuww – in a CAN? I project it’s flabby and inedible like most canned things.

AdLib : Unless that was Glenda, the Greenwich of the East.

Questinia : You guts have taken this to an entirely new level!

AdLib : CL – I think that sandwich in a can business that just tanked called their product, Greenwiches.

choicelady : AdLib – I’ll have smoked salmon and goat cheese on my Greenwich, please…

Questinia :

choicelady : AdLib – isn’t Greenwich a new kind of trendy sandwich?

AdLib : Q: Just joking about being Green(wich) instead of Brooklyn.

Questinia : You were in Greenwich Ct?

choicelady : AdLib – you have identified the issues of justice well. Madoff went to jail because he screwed rich people. Just look at the Oakland verdict – yes, one of the few times a law enforcement person was sentenced, but it was not much of one because he killed a young BLACK man. If he’d shot a prosperous white person, I think criminally negligent homicide would have prevailed or at least voluntary manslaughter. We do belive some victims are less important than others. The few cases of lawsuits that right genuine wrongs are rare and often overturned in monetary terms. Justice flows up but trickles down. Just like money.

AdLib : Q: You should have seen me last night, ate a bit of fish that must’ve been a bit off and I was Greenwich.

Questinia : CL- Not if it’s a loiter of doiet.

Questinia : Silk stalkings!

Questinia : My, we’re so Brooklyn tonite!

AdLib : Q: Me too. That makes us a pair of stalkings.

AdLib : CL –

Questinia : Now….I’m stalking.

choicelady : AdLib – or do you get fat and sick if you drink a loiter of soda every day?

AdLib : And if there is no legit crime and punishment for the wealthy corps, they have and will continue to cover their asses with BS as they concoct new schemes to drain a greater amount of wealth from the majority into their hands. Any question in your mind that they aren’t currently figuring out their next scheme? There’s no one to stop them.

choicelady : AdLib – I always thought you got a loiter from too little thyroid?

choicelady : AdLib – that has always been true, I fear. At least since the early federal period. Corporate interests always prevail. Americans say they disdain the rich snobs – they don’t. They disdain intelligence. Riches they covet and admire. We are not who we say we are.

AdLib : Doesn’t eating a lot of rich foods cause a loiter to develop?

AdLib : I am more of a lurkiloo.

AdLib : CL – I think the sad fact is that the “”nutty” theory that corps own our government is not only accurate, it has been for some time. There is no such thing as crime and punishment for the wealthy or corporations. Yes, there are a few token cases but usually only those who have screwed wealthier people, like Madoff.

choicelady : Just so your lurk doesn’t run out.

Questinia : Loiter before you look.

choicelady : I so respect Obama for being president for every person and respecting all interests, but I think this last 18 months shows you cannot do that yet. If we’re going to save America, he has to be much more partisan and much stronger about standing on behalf of ordinary people. No more attempts at bipartisan cooperation and no more compromises. But because of this, the Dems are losing money from corporations. Proof he has NOT sold out – but not enough proof for the progressives to kick in!

AdLib : Lurk before you leap?

Questinia : Look before you lurk.

AdLib : Q – I was discreet about it.

Questinia : Lurked yurself you say?

AdLib : Q – I lurked myself out of my house once.

Questinia : Now….I’m lurking.

AdLib : Thanks for joining us tonight dildenusa! Have a wonderful dinner!

choicelady : dildenusa – dinner beats politics hands down. Bring a plate back if you can, but any way you do it – enjoy.

AdLib : dildenusa – Yes, that is the sad thing, people allow themselves to be hit with unnecessary suffering because of their apathy and only after they’ve suffered to a severe degree, do they try to stop what’s causing it. A little vision and motivation and they could’ve put out the forest fire when it was a spot fire instead of letting it grow to burn down their home and neighborhood.

dildenusa : Thanks everybody – my grizzly belly is starting to growl.

choicelady : AdLib – yes I recall reading that. What kind of twisted mind creates a financial instrument even the owners of the corporation do not understand? And there were not really any “regulators” to dodge by then. We started to see derivitives back in the 90s, and it went from ridiculous to mind boggling with the complexity. It’s Samuel Insull’s paper empire wrought even larger. It’s ALL a kind of Ponzi scheme. If you did this as an idividual you’d be in prison. Do it as a corporation, and they put laurel wreaths on your head.

AdLib : Patsy – So nice of you to share some of your vacation evening with us! Thanks and have a great weekend!

choicelady : AdLib – I think Reich is correct. I actually think this is going to get MUCH worse. I do not want Obama to be a weenie and let it happen. I kow Congress is mostly to blame, but he needs to take a firm hand with his party.

AdLib : CL – Thanks! Responding to your S&L comment, I don’t think these people truly believe in the BS they present for justifying the schemes they cook up. In fact, the Goldman Sachs guys specifically hired people to come up with BS formulas for derivatives that would be beyond the understanding of regulators. They pretend to believe in the schemes but they paid people specifically to create them as frauds.

choicelady : Patsy – enjoy the charbroiled outdoors! See ya!

PatsyT : I have to go grizzly on the grill I’ll have to catch you all later … Love Ya !!

dildenusa : Choicelady – Robert reich blogged on huff post today about exactly that. That it might lead to a trade war between us, china, brazil and europe.

choicelady : AdLib -hardy har -that’s good!

AdLib : Hey Q! I used to loiter but now I throw all my trash in the garbage can.

choicelady : Questinia = loiter all you like. We’re glad you’re here.

choicelady : Dildenusa – we must have AZ fever. Sacramento is still in the housing doldrums with new developers pitching more, larger, more costly developments all around us. The city loves the idea since it will “turn Sacto around”. Uh huh. Like a dog chasing a flea on his tail. If you can’t sell what you have – why are you making MORE? That’s what happened in ’29 – they cut wages, pumped up production, and no one could buy what was produced. And today’s developers want to be sure to cut the wages of their crews so even they can’t buy. Whoo-eee. We sure do keep fooling ourselves. We won’t let go of the myths!

AdLib : dildenusa – That same insanity in home building was going on out here, was insane in FL, people really lose all reason when they are under the spell of greed.

dildenusa : Adlib- or they see a relative or close family member suffering

AdLib : CL – There are many Progressives, like you, who fight for change and don’t need nor want to be in a defensive position. Unfortunately, Americans, Repub and Dem are generally lazy about politics and can only get motivated when they’re suffering. That’s always been my theory, nothing ever changes for the positive until people have allowed things to get so bad they can’t stand how much they’re suffering.

Questinia : I’m just loitering.

dildenusa : choicelady – I think president Obama is doing the right thing by going after Angle. she is the poster child for the tea bag party

choicelady : Patsy dear – if you do go on a Grizzly rampage, please post pictures!

choicelady : AdLib and dildenusa = remember the S&L crisis where they believed in the ‘evergreen revolver’ when they shipped loans up and downstream expecting them to secretly spawn and multiply like salmon. It blew up in our faces so we did the logical thing – deregulated the BANKS to do the same. So self delusion is a pretty powerful thing – especially when you are the recipient of huge bonuses to purvey that crapola

dildenusa : Adlib – exactly. where I live in northern Arizona we had real estate developers talking about builing 60,000 houses in less than 2 years. so who is going to buy these houses. NINJAs

AdLib : Go Grizzly, Patsy! You should tell them they wouldn’t like you when you’re mad. “GRIZZLY SMASH!”

choicelady : Oh AdLib – I do know that, but if progressives get fired up only in opposition to things and not on behalf of them, then we are always in a state of battle. Where is the state of building and listening and cooperating? Progressives who can get only angry and never get dedicated to a purpose are seriously dangerous to America, too.

AdLib : dildenusa – When I say conspiracy, I mean it as you do, they were all on the same page about accommodating what would be of the most benefit to the banks and the Bush Admin. What legit economist would be in the middle of a ridiculous housing bubble, where prices rise 20% a year and think, “This is normal and sustainable!”?

choicelady : dildenusa – I think you’re correct about that. I used to teach this stuff to my adult students who worked in declining industries. We ALL understood – it’s not a conspiracy, it’s a captive CEO mindset. You cannot budge people who think they have all the answers even when the answers are totally illogical and not grounded in reality.

PatsyT : I got a major grizzly going on!

AdLib : CL – I would bet my money on that, if the Dems lose one or both houses, the progressives will be fired up. The nightmare of a Repub Congress led by corporate tool President Romney would be the end of the America we’ve all known. I’m not exaggerating, those who apologize to BP running energy policy with those who deny climate change and want less regulation on corporations? That’s a hole we wouldn’t be able to dig out of for generations.

choicelady : Patsy – unleash your Inner Grizzly girl!

choicelady : AdLib – all of the people who warned, including some hotshot economist for (I think) Bear Stearns, warned OVER a year before the crash that it was coming. They all were dismissed as naysayers. But remember the S&Ls? Everyone who followed that knew the bank crisis would be worse since they were bigger. No one factored in NON banking financials that were NOT regulated at ALL. So yeah – let’s go BACK to that, huh? It worked soooooo well!

dildenusa : Adlib – I kind of don’t buy in to conspiracy theories but I do believe in unspoken conspiracies of like minded people

PatsyT : Dilden, yes, Greenspan, It makes me want to go mama grizzly on them!

choicelady : dildenusa – AMEN!

dildenusa : Choicelady – if only congrees would do the same

AdLib : dildenusa – Greenspan was in a conspiracy with the banks, Wall Street and the Bush Admin, that seems so obvious. I have a sister who was in the financial world, worked for a big bank, they knew years ahead of time that the crash was coming. It was a scheme and Greenspan knew it, any 1st year student in business school would know that you can’t sell garbage as if it was gold and expect that it would continue forever.

choicelady : dildenusa – I heard that and read it in this morning’s paper. The Fed suddenly is acting responsibly. Who knew?

choicelady : dildenusa = indeed Greenspan, but behind him his mentors, Ayn Rand and Milton Friedman. EVerything Friedman touched turned to dross, but he was lauded to the end. NOW Greenspan has seen the light. Kinda too late, buster.

dildenusa : Adlib- There was a report on npr today that the federal reserve isn’t worried about inflation now and that the bigger problem is a deflationary spiral and the possibility of another depression if congress tries to cut the deficit

AdLib : BTW, NPR is saying that they want to change their name to get rid of “radio” because that is outdated in today’s multimedia world. Didn’t hear about the “patriot” thing but wouldn’t surprise me.

choicelady : AdLib – the cynic in me says if we lose one or both houses MY organization will suddenly get more money from foundations. I’d give it all up, close our doors, and retire to a life of gardening just to have a nation that operates on behalf of all people, not just the few, and that works to remind us that what’s “exceptional” in American exceptionalism is our willingness to cooperate and respect one another. We have LOST that and have retreated to a kind of Social Darwinism!

PatsyT : CL It’s the one thing I saw on the news today – The guy that hosts the Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me Show talked about it today on CNN I do not think he was amused

dildenusa : Adlib – the person I hold mostly responsible for the economic turmoil is Alan Greenspan. His philosophy that fraud was not a problem and the free market would weed out fraudsters turned out to be “pie in the sky.”

AdLib : NPR has become much more conservative since the Bush Admin and that is still in place so no, one is not guaranteed accurate info there either. Yes, I know partisanship is where the money is but can’t we have one source of info that isn’t partisan? That just reports and analyzes the news? You know, what they used to call “journalists”?

choicelady : AdLib and all – I have to agree about Reid. He CAN be bold, but for whatever reason he is not. We need a new leader for the Senate. I just want to KEEP the Senate! If we do then we can dismantle the 60 vote rule first day in Jan. 2011 and go back to majority rule. Then we can get things DONE!

dildenusa : you are absolutely correct about that choicelady.

choicelady : Patsy – you SERIOUS????? Gag me!

AdLib : CL – Although I want him to win to keep the Dems as strongly in control of the Senate as possible, Reid is not someone who has done a good job as Majority Leader and many in his state don’t like him for reasons similar to why a lot of Dems don’t. He is not a guy with backbone, he is a backroom deal maker who can compromise on anything. That was the wrong guy in the wrong place for Obama.

choicelady : All – I think we have to make clear that the GOP are in thick with the corporations that have thrown jobs in the trash and the people with them. It’s not just that they can’t drive the car – it’s that they have already run over most of us first.

PatsyT : CL I know what you are saying about npr and what is with the name change – they want to change the national public radio to just npr Is that so that folks can think the p stands for patroit

choicelady : dildenusa – that worked for more than 30 years. Some of that contract began in the ’30s. When the rapacious growth after WWII slowed, CEOs and banks panicked and that’s when all the trouble started. Labor and domestic production became cash cows to fix smaller bottom lines. And it’s been downhill ever since.

AdLib : CL – I don’t think the Kool Aid Party thinks, they are driven by emotion. There is little reason or facts behind their campaigns. This is not a coincidence, this and the GOP are all about driving people by emotion, they know well that this overrides reason for many, many Americans.

dildenusa : Adlib – at the end of world war 2 the government made a social contract with the returning GI’s. That if people worked 9-5 5 days a week the government would prevent more economic turmoil

choicelady : Everyone – I’ve been listening to NPR regularly. I fear that what I hear there is not a lot better than the RW shows. There is HUGE misinformation, the pundits and commentators on any topic tend to be conservatives. I think that is one venue where we can lean and lean hard. Many progressive think they’re hearing “balance” but they are NOT.

AdLib : dildenusa – You’re right, they’ve bought into the simplistic proposition that if things are bad now and Dems are in charge, then it’s their fault. What these less than stellar thinkers haven’t considered is that the GOP is blocking all spending that would help them. Have they asked, “What is the GOP plan to create jobs?” More tax cuts for the wealthy. I mean, it worked so well after 8 years under Bush, we really should go back to that and less regulation too.

choicelady : AdLib – I think that’s right. I am wondering if Harry Reid “goes to the cots” on EVERY filibuster against reform whether his numbers would not soar. People are sick of the filibuters that are filed while the author goes to Aruba. When he did do this, the GOP caved, things got better. He HAS to do this. People want bold leaders, not wimps. Even I want Harry to get a backbone! EVERY time!

dildenusa : Choicelady – because they have been told by the puindits on the right what their self interest is

AdLib : Looking back, part of what got Obama elected was naturally going to become an obstacle for him. People voted for him because they wanted huge change from the Bush years. Yet, the President isn’t a dictator and can’t just change things because he wants them changed. The real culprit in all of this is the Senate, the Dems in there that were too loyal to the corps to allow real change to occur. And in the end, corporations who happily grabbed tax money to bail themselves out but used that very money to derail change the majority of taxpayers wanted.

choicelady : dildenusa – how can they think the teabaggers represent a challenge to corporate America that brought us down? How can they be so self deluded?

choicelady : AdLib – oh, I KNOW the Dems aren’t voting for the teabag twits but are not VOTING. That’s what they did in 1980.

dildenusa : Adlib – too many people think they are voting their financial self interest by voting in the wing nuts on the right. Most of us today don’t understand the concept of self interest.

choicelady : AdLib – I just read back to your topic – by emphasizing that the GOP/teabag people would get rid of firefighters, then maybe we can show the middle that they still have a great deal to fear. I have a small investment fund – I’m ending it, putting into safe stuff. If the GOP win too much, we’re doomed. Couple them with spineless Blue Dogs – there is NO future for this nation in cowardice at a time like this.

AdLib : CL – BTW, I don’t think Dems are voting for these tea party loons, I think the Kool Aid Party folks are heavily financed and motivated by all the hateful BS and Dems are just more passive and in some cases, de-energized by their disillusion. It is crazy! As if a Repub Congress will make things better?!

PatsyT : AdLib thats just it -narrow the info to what they can swallow

choicelady : ADLib – I’d buy the insanity defense! Only narcissistic twits aren’t insane so much as they are happier as critics than as hard working democrats (small D) who pitch in to help solve problems.

AdLib : Thanks Patsy! I agree, things should be presented as simply as possible to these wishy washy voters who let can’t use critical thinking.

choicelady : Patsy – indeed! Obama needs George Lakoff back on messaging for candidates. Candidates need to grow a SPINE and speak for PEOPLE. If the GOP can stand for the most idiotic stuff, what is the matter with Dems standing for sensible things?

AdLib : CL – I think the problem is simply that a certain segment of the Progressive movement are self-centered purists. On the other hand, I think Angle is ahead for several reasons. First, as I mentioned in my question, people blindly vote against the candidate who would benefit them most out of childish petulance. Voting is not a thought out process to them, it’s an emotional expression. Then there is the connected simplistic mindset that since things aren’t great now, whoever is in office is part of the problem…and the disasters they voted out of office for their horrible performance, now that they aren’t in office, are outsiders who are a good alternative. It could be classified as insanity.

PatsyT : He should bring up the firefighters That is a good analogy

choicelady : AdLib – it just occurred to me that too many progressives are the sub-party of “NO”. What happened to us? This is precisely what got Reagan elected in 1980 – people were “too good” to vote for Carter. When we have a choice of two evils (NOT that it’s Obama at this point) why do we who know better pick the WORSE of the two or allow them to be picked?

choicelady : AdLib – tonight I saw that Angle is ahead of Reid. The teabag people lead in four other senate races. I’m really scared that if progressives toss a snit fit because life is not perfect now, these troglodytes will WIN! What is the matter with us??

dildenusa : Thanks

PatsyT : Hi Dilden Love the artwork!

AdLib : LET’S BEGIN. PRES. OBAMA UNVEILED HIS APPROACH TO THIS YEAR’S ELECTIONS BY FRAMING IT AS AN ELECTION BETWEEN THE PARTY THAT DUG THE HOLE WE’RE IN AND THE PARTY THAT’S DIGGING US OUT. THIS IS PLAINLY TRUE YET US VOTERS ARE NOT THE SHARPEST TOOLS IN THE SHED, THEY SEEM OPEN TO FIRING THE FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE PUTTING OUT THE FLAMES AND PUTTING THE ARSONISTS BACK IN CHARGE. DO YOU THINK THIS APPROACH WILL WORK OR WILL PEOPLE’S KNEE JERK DESIRE FOR USING THEIR VOTE TO EXPRESS THAT THEY’RE NOT HAPPY WIN OUT?

PatsyT : I am not drinking any merlot! It’ just beer for us.

choicelady : Patsy – I envy you that! Big Bear is lovely any time but especially when it’s cool.

PatsyT : It’s cool now

choicelady : Evening, dildenusa!

AdLib : Hey dildenusa! Great to see ya!

choicelady : Patsy – is it cool? It was so nice here for a couple of days, but now it’s hot. Ugh.

dildenusa : schedule changed so I’m here too. Hi!

AdLib : Very cool, Patsy! Love it up there!

AdLib : I’m stealing sips of Patsy’s rose.

PatsyT : Big Bear is nice I am at my sisters home

choicelady : Hi Bito – see you’re logged on! Welcome!

choicelady : That’s “one’s enough”

choicelady : AdLib – I’m for iced tea. Had a glass of wine; on’e enough on a hot night!

choicelady : Hi Patsy!

AdLib : What’s everyone having to drink?

AdLib : Doing well, Patsy. How are you this lovely evening?

AdLib : CL! Great to see you!!!

PatsyT : How is everyone tonight?

choicelady : Evening all! How are you?

AdLib : I can see that glass of rose too. Mind if I have a sip?

PatsyT : Yes you guessed right

AdLib : Are you using a different computer?

PatsyT : I guess I have to post to refresh

AdLib : Microsoft’s easy to understand. MS is for “Monkey Software”.

PatsyT : Well lets see if this works

AdLib : Hi Patsy! Experiment successful?

PatsyT : Ok I just do not understand Microsoft

PatsyT : This is a experiment….Hi

AdLib : Please say “hi” when you arrive!

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