Displaying 211 To 240 Of 19,504 Comments A Thoughtful Note to Democratic Voters: Calm the Fuck Down I remember early on in the 2016 race, I saw Stein in a TV interview and she outright lied about the ACA and was lying about the policies she allegedly supported. It was obvious. I think some of the Stein voters may have been Yang or Sanders supporters this time around. There was a self-importance and smugness in those self-destructive voters who blathered about defiantly wanting change and Progressive policies while taking actions to help put a racist, law-breaking conservative dictator in the White House. Like the Trump cultists, I don’t think time or energy should be wasted on trying to get them to vote for the Dem nominee, whoever it is. Stein was at the very least, a Russian-sympathizing fraud as that Moscow event proved, if not an asset. Thankfully, there is no voting base for third party candidates this time around, as in most presidential re-election campaigns. Stein will always be tied to Trump’s election, as will those who voted for her. This year, Dems need to show they’ve learned their lesson and after the primary, come together to elect the Dem nom and send Trump packing to Florida…so he can prep for the avalanche of criminal and civil suits he and his family and business will be buried in. » Posted By AdLib On February 24, 2020 @ 5:04 pm This s the game that Russia and Trump are happy for Dems to play, spurring Dems to fight so desperately among themselves that they lose sight of the real threat, Trump. No question, the government has already been realigned to operate as an autocracy, Congress has lost its checks and balances and Moscow Mitch has collaborated with Trump to sabotage our courts against democracy. We are on the verge of losing our democracy for the foreseeable future and we can’t afford to be freaking out over the primary. As for Warren, I was becoming very disappointed in her as she was sold by her political aids to be the peacekeeper and unity-minded candidate. In other words, bland, quiet and always “on message”. That’s not who she was, not why I liked her and a cynical political tactic I dislike. As she was facing a do or die moment, Bloomberg luckily jumped in and gave her the lifeline she needed, to go for broke and return to her fighter persona. I think she’s learned from that mistake and her rising to 2nd in national polls has to have proved to her that playing it safe is not a path for success. I’m not crazy about Bernie but as we’ve discussed, whoever the Dem nominee is will be the only person to prevent a 2nd dictatorial term of Trump. How is that not the priority? I can’t quite figure out whether the people threatening not to vote Dem if their candidate isn’t the nom are just being petulant right now or really would accept a Trump dictatorship to any compromise? What do you think? » Posted By AdLib On February 24, 2020 @ 1:21 pm Thanks NoManIs A Island! I’ve had my fill of the hysteria, this is not an emergency or a disaster, it’s a primary. There are ebbs and flows in popularity and front runners, the candidate we want may or may not end up the nominee but how does that change the existential threat that Trump is? And what a nightmare a 2nd term would be? I know some people say that’s their reason for panicking, because they fear Bernie would lose and Trump would be re-elected but adding to the panic is self-destructive…especially when being constructive would better convince people to support one’s candidate. If these Dems would just see this atmosphere as toxic and proof that the propaganda wars against the Dems are working, we could be a lot more unified despite favoring different candidates. » Posted By AdLib On February 24, 2020 @ 12:52 pm Hey AlphaBitch! great to hear from you! As you can see, I’m fed up with the reality-televisioning of this primary too. That’s fantastic, building your group like this! You’re doing the good work to make a difference! Walking the walk and not just talking the talk…and freaking out that seems to sweep up so many people. Hysteria just isn’t very flattering. Hope to see you here again soon! Sending thanks and props for all you’re doing for the cause! » Posted By AdLib On February 24, 2020 @ 12:38 pm Hey Sue! I know how sensible and thoughtful you are, you see the big picture. And I agree, we are being flooded with propaganda from all directions and I understand how some people fall prey to it. Russians and their trolls and bots, Trump and the GOP, corporate news (pushing Bloomberg) and extremists. You won’t see it on The Planet but as I browse social media, it is rampant. A majority of posts about the party are displaying fear or anger. Ultimatums flying in every direction, people now proudly saying they won’t vote for the Dem nominee if it’s not their favored candidate, it’s pretty messed up out there. But we’ve sent 4 years criticizing Repub voters for being rubes that were easily played by Trump while now, it seems that many Dem voters are proving just as susceptible to manipulation and propaganda. I too will vote for whoever the Dem nom is to remove the only real threat to our country and democracy. I was lucky enough to get my preferred candidate, Obama, as the nominee in 2008 but it hasn’t always been the case. I favor Warren this time around but if she doesn’t win, it doesn’t change how urgent it is that the Dem nominee wins and Trump is removed. A second term would descend us into an oppressive autocracy, that should be the sole issue for all Dems in the GE. » Posted By AdLib On February 24, 2020 @ 12:22 pm Democratic Primaries and The Art of Pearl Clutching So many great points in your reply to dive into, Kes! First, hope the chaos you’re dealing with calms down very soon! Next, thanks for the kind props. As tentative as I was about Biden, I did think it was sink or swim for him in SC. A big win would re-strengthen him (I would ever have assumed though I hoped for his big victory over Bernie last night) but as I mentioned, I was pretty sure that only Biden, Bernie and Warren would be left in the race for the most part (though I allowed for Bloomberg staying in since he could but he would be de facto out of the running). I am hoping Warren stays in the race though. Here’s why even though she has no path to winning the nom now, 1. In a campaign where the choice would otherwise be between two white 78 year old men, she would represent women in this country and others shut out of consideration because they’re not white and male. It would help the Dems look a little more diverse than the GOP. 2. What if a devastating health issue or a scandal suddenly hits Biden or Bernie? Warren could be the “break glass in case of fire” to step in to help prevent chaos. There are many “what-ifs” that could happen, especially to elderly men. What if one or even both catch the Coronavirus? She could be an important safeguard. 3. The longer Warren stays in and the more delegates she receives, the more leverage she will have when she does drop out. If Warren could get a commitment from Biden to support a Wealth Tax, providing free daycare for all children, student debt forgiveness, etc. as part of a deal to drop out and refer her delegates to him, that will be a victory for all Progressives, including Bernie supporters. It won’t be easy but I would love to see that three-way debate on the 15th! As to your first point, I think the success of Bernie’s campaign at the beginning of the primary really pulled back a curtain on the heavy hands behind the presentation of news from corporately-controlled entities. What was burning me up was, while Bernie was winning and Biden was sinking, the open cheerleading for Bloomberg. It was so corrupt, shrugging off the actual act of a Republicans billionaire literally buying the Dem nomination and possibly even the presidency. Because the corporate bosses badly wanted one of their own in power because he would protect them at the expense of the people. After Warren ground Bloomberg in a Billionaire Burger, they freaked out and stampeded back to pumping Biden…who they had been pushing until he started sinking. Meanwhile, Warren became The Invisible Woman and despite polling showing that she was the most widely acceptable candidate out of all of them, the corporate media kept “disappearing her”. I noticed this began soon after she announced her Wealth Tax and billionaires were coming out publicly to attack her. At the time, she was leading in the polls too then came a concerted effort by other candidates and the MSM to bury her for M4A. She’s never really recovered but did have a big comeback after destroying (rightfully) Bloomberg. After the results from last night, two things are true. The Dem Establishment clearly did step in to narrow the field and promote Biden out of fear that a big win for Bernie o Super Tuesday would cement him as the nominee to be. Yet that isn’t exactly what happened to give Biden the win. It was regular voters, led by black Democrats who came out strongly yesterday for Biden, that decided he was who they want and can best beat Trump. Bernie’s turnout numbers have actually remained steady so it wasn’t as much that he was hurt as much as that he has limited appeal, especially to African Americans. What Bernie isn’t doing is exciting more younger voters to come out and vote, his numbers and those in that demographic that he has claimed to excite and bring out, are apparently not really excited or voting. Meanwhile, I think the worry that Bernie won’t bring Dems together or beat Trump (since Trump and Putin have been trying to help him win because they think his embrace of socialism will be the hammer to destroy him in a GE) has added gasoline to the fire of supporting Biden to defeat Trump. For Biden, this has been a perfect storm, for Bloomberg, a death knell (as his quitting today proved) ad for Bernie, locks his ceiling of support. For all intents and purposes, I think Biden is cementing the nom, I think Bernie is back on his heels (and his rabid supporters have been chastened and quieted on social media, so much nicer!) and unless some unexpected event happens, it will be Biden vs. Trump in November. And Biden would sure do himself well to have someone like Stacy Abrams as his VP, Kamala Harris has also received a lot of talk. To have a woman of color as VP would create the kind of enthusiasm for the Dem base that Biden himself doesn’t create (the excitement and support for him in SC and on Super Tuesday felt more like worry of Bernie…so once Bernie is gone, that motivation is gone). Yes, there will be strong emotion in voters to remove Trump but t be able to have positive feelings to, about a diverse ticket that represents the Dems party, would be ideal. It would be political malpractice to do otherwise. » Posted By AdLib On March 4, 2020 @ 4:15 pm Thanks, NoManIsAnIsland! It’s like watching a herd of animals that think they’re about to eaten by a predator, running together in a panic in one direction then another. The way you lose power is by acting like you have none. Putin and Trump have to be grinning widely at how too many Dems are freaking out. Hence, my companion article to this one that was just published, “A Thoughtful Note to Democratic Voters: Calm the Fuck Down“ » Posted By AdLib On February 24, 2020 @ 10:41 am Thanks so much for the very kind words! We now have had primaries and caucuses reflecting less than 3% of delegates, 97% to go, yet the corporate media and emotionally intensified Dems are red-faced and emphatic as they moan doom and gloom or rail in anger. This is all going to plan as far as Russia is concerned, Americans appear like impulsive children, easily panicked and quick to follow the herd as they stampede this way or that out of fear or righteousness. So, today I am posting a companion article to this one that is a bit more forceful about the need for Democrats to recognize that freaking out isn’t a flattering appearance nor will it convince the undecided voters, who aren’t freaking out, to vote one way or another (though it could alienate or discourage them). There are times when I feel proud of who Americans are and there have been many instances through this Trump nightmare. But this is not one of them. » Posted By AdLib On February 24, 2020 @ 7:39 am Trump Defense Rests After Saying O.J. Simpson’s Glove Doesn’t Fit Him TOCB, I was for impeaching Bush. I was for impeaching Trump while Nancy Pelosi and a majority of Dems opposed it. I’m absolutely for pressing criminal charges against Trump, Pence, Mulvaney, Giuliani, Barr, Pompeo, Perry and Moscow Mitch whose hands are so dirty with Russian collaboration and payoffs. What I was laying out is what I think the Dems in Congress and even in the WH and DoJ may think because, like Mueller, too many establishment politicians show deference to institutions instead of justice and principles. I agree with you, the wrongs perpetrated here against the American people and the Constitution require criminal prosecutions to make a loud and unquestionable statement that you don’t abuse power like this, ever. I do think Giuliani will go down with a Dem president and getting rid of Barr’s puppets in the DoJ. I think NY state will take down Trump and his family, at least civilly but hopefully criminally. Unfortunately, I think Barr, Pompeo, Pence and the other criminals will get away with their crimes. But the statement has to be made that this is still a nation of laws and nobody is above the law. And many corrupt Repubs in Congress should be hauled away in handcuffs, Moscow Mitch, Devin Nunes, etc. First things first though, we need to nominate then elect the best Dem we can. Then the hammers need to fall on the criminals and the laws that will prevent them from running wild need to be instituted. » Posted By AdLib On February 1, 2020 @ 4:27 pm I think that if we could tear away the secrecy behind the election process in states, we would discover that many elections have been manipulated and stolen. I think the 2018 elections for Governor in GA and Senator in FL were likely stolen. And I consider the 2016 election illegitimate because of the Republicans support of Russian interference and Comey’s meddling in the election. I also think it is common knowledge that the 2000 election was stolen from Al Gore and handed to George Bush. That was a spectacular act of election theft and fraud. I believe that at this very moment, we live in a state of suspended dictatorship. That is, the dictatorship has been designed and supported by the Senate to exist. The confirmation of it will be Trump’s next dictatorial act. There is no longer any check or balance or oversight of the presidency by Congress and the courts are also being defied, refusals to abide by court decisions are happening right now when it comes to disclosing documents. What has been clear since before the 2000 stolen election, back to the Civil Rights era and even back to the founding of the nation and making slaves 3/5ths of a person, the white power base in the Republican Party (Democrats back in Lincoln’s day) knows that democracy stands in the way of them having and holding power. Moscow Mitch refused to stand with Obama to announce Russian meddling in 2016 because they wanted and needed it. As all their pro-Russian support in the past three years reflects and this rigged trial with Russian propaganda about Ukraine attacking our 2016 election shows. The only way Republicans believe they can win national elections is to cheat, steal and sabotage democracy. They are enemies of democracy and that’s now wide out in the open. If Dems do win unitary control of DC in November, there needs to be a series of strong anti-corruption laws passed to prevent this kind of megalomaniac madness from ever occurring again. There needs to be a law providing a “rocket docket” for Congress to get quick resolutions to presidents refusing to provide witnesses and documents. There needs to be mandatory disclosure of 10 years of tax returns for any presidential nominee. “High Crimes and Misdemeanors” need to be specifically defined and anti-corruption laws against a president or his staff or cabinet interfering in elections need to be passed. Many more laws come to mind including barring lobbyists from working in government and barring politicians from becoming lobbyists for at least 10 years. Along with that, laws should be passed requiring a judicial nominee to be deemed as “qualified” by the ABA, SCOTUS judges need to be limited to 10 year terms and impeachment rules need to require full and fair hearings requiring witnesses and evidence that are relevant whether or not they appeared in the House hearings. So much needs to be repaired as Trump tears this country apart with the helping hands of Moscow Mitch and the entire GOP. This election is an existential issue for the majority of Americans living under Trump’s rule and ruin. We need to get out and vote like it is. » Posted By AdLib On February 1, 2020 @ 4:15 pm I don’t think it’s far fetched at all to believe that Dems will take over unitary power in Congress and vote to make changes to prevent the kind of corruption we’ve seen under Trump. I can see that and restoring the rule of law and our institutions. What is hard to imagine is criminally pursuing members of Congress even though they have broken their oaths and given aid and comfort directly to America’s adversaries. I think Dems in Congress would worry that pursuing other Congresspeople would look vindictive and like political prosecutions, setting up Repubs to do the same for unjust reasons in the future. Another reason I don’t think a Dem AG would criminally prosecute Trump and his criminal gang…though I could see the State of NY doing that. Trump has trailed in all polls I’ve seen against the top Dem nominees, his approval ratings have ever reached even 50% and are now closer to 38%. Even with all the cheating he plans on doing, he is the odds on loser in November. And rallying people who are the majority and believe in democracy, should put a nail in his political coffin. » Posted By AdLib On February 1, 2020 @ 12:44 pm Thanks so much Kes! As you know, satire in the Trump era is more like writing a news article a day ahead of time. » Posted By AdLib On February 1, 2020 @ 12:38 pm Trump’s Most Faithful Followers…Democrats on Social Media Doctor Who…The Fuck Are You? » Posted By AdLib On January 15, 2020 @ 12:02 pm “The shitting forecast…fuckety bye.” » Posted By AdLib On January 15, 2020 @ 11:57 am And just a thought about our discussion on the tempo here as opposed to Facebook/Twitter/etc. It seems to me that those social media sites have infiltrated a lot of people’s daily thinking and I don’t think that’s a good thing. People check frequently through the day to see if they have likes, are friended, etc., these sites have made people a bit obsessive IMO. Here, folks live their lives and stop in to share thoughts or read and reply to others’ thoughts in an organic way, without the somewhat obsessive frequency that the social media sites drive. I think historians will look back to see how damaging social media became to many aspects of society and resulted in Trumpism, Trump being the very personification of social media. It’s good for people to be in communication, it’s problematic for people to let their lives revolve around corporate-owned, profit-driven sites that rely on exploiting people and their privacy. There are positives to social media sites but if we just think back to a time before social media, we can see that we would be living better lives today (sans Trump and Russian election manipulation, how would this not be a better world?). » Posted By AdLib On January 15, 2020 @ 11:27 am Hey Khirad, you’re so right that the Repubs have no sense of irony or humor. But I’ve seen some folks on the left on a hair-trigger and responding to humor they think is earnest with a lot of hostility. A lot of people have lost their sense of humor in this Trump Era and his cult followers see cruelty as their sense of humor. I think this is a time for people who are principled to simply reflect that in their behavior as role models and representing what we’d like to see in each other. Seeing the rabid and misogynist Bernie extremists tearing into Warren since last night (and before), I do get disappointed in the small-mindedness and hypocrisy of some on the left as well but instead of the exception, that seems to be the prevailing qualities of most Trump followers I’m aware of. We can’t reflect the same ugliness and ignorance of those we claim are objectionable. Nor can we promote their lies and attacks just to vent at them. Propaganda can only be stopped by dying a quiet death. Dems may think it’s serving a purpose to hold up Trump propaganda in public to tear it down but it still injects that poison into public sensibilities. Trump is a creature that needs attention to thrive. Starve him of that and he will implode (let Rudy try to clean up that mess). Cut off oxygen to Trump’s propaganda and it vanishes. Seems simple enough and while not as gratifying as venting anger at his lies, it’s more effective. » Posted By AdLib On January 15, 2020 @ 11:12 am A ‘Sham Trial’ Will Not Exonerate Trump Trump must be throwing tantrums on the hour, not getting what he wants for once in his life. He didn’t want impeachment either. And he’s sure not going to want to see the results from the November election…nor will he want the subsequent ejection from the WH. It’s ironic he keeps playing at his rallies, the Stones, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” He’s not going to enjoy learning that. » Posted By AdLib On January 18, 2020 @ 10:43 am I don’t know, McConnell has chosen the path of political damage repeatedly in pursuit of power over the past several years. Refusing to allow Obama to appoint a SCOTUS judge, killing the filibuster on cabinet nominees, ramming unqualified judges onto the bench, trying to kill the ACA, opposing election security, making a transparent deal to remove sanctions on Russia to get a Russian oligarch to invest in his state and he and his wife enriching themselves by exploiting their positions. Up until this week, McConnell was the most disliked Senator in the country, now in 2nd place behind the unprincipled phony, Susan Collins. I think McConnell doesn’t want to further destroy his reputation and that of The Senate and the GOP but I don’t think those things come first. Keeping his power does and that flows from his alliance with Trump and protecting that criminal. So while I think McConnell may temper some of his terriblenesses and try to mask what nasty things he will do, I think it will still be on display in the trial as he continues to collude with Trump to sabotage a fair trial…as he has already openly stated he would. » Posted By AdLib On January 18, 2020 @ 10:37 am I think you’re right, that McConnell’s favored path would be a quick dismissal of impeachment but the brand new revelations from Lev Parnas makes it much harder for such a cover-up to get support from enough Repubs and even to refuse evidence and witnesses. The delay Pelosi took in delivering the Articles of Impeachment really paid off. Had this started weeks ago, it might have been easier for the trial to have been already dismissed or completed. So Nancy gets a big salute for that. And if more damning info comes out via Parnas? Maybe removal will still be a tough hill to climb but a majority vote against Trump is not unimagineable. » Posted By AdLib On January 15, 2020 @ 6:10 pm The 2002 Authorization Vote on Iraq – The Big Lie I think part of our difference of opinion on why Dems shouldn’t have trusted Bush’s assurances that he wasn’t using the AUMF to go to war with Iraq is that you express a view of how a president’s word should be ideally regarded while my view incorporates how that particular president and his words should have been viewed. Bush was not a generic president. He was not a respectable man. He outright lied many times in his campaign and presidency, he sat back to let his campaign team pervert The Constitution and Democracy through a corrupt effort that was successful in stealing the U.S. Presidency. His VP was as unethical, immoral and criminally-minded a politician as Trump is. Many of his closest cabinet officials were extremist neo-cons who had openly announced their intentions to make the U.S. imperialistic again and begin that “New America” by going into Iraq to force “regime change” (aka war). The writing was on the wall. Bush was not some Masked Singer, we knew who he was and what he and his team wanted. Biden and Clinton and the other Dems chose to believe a liar and a cheat that they knew was a liar and a cheat and that much of the world saw as such. Dick Cheney was not a stranger to Biden and Clinton, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and Perle were not mystery men to Biden and Clinton. They were proud and well-known warmongers with no shame or principles. My point is that someone with wisdom considers the source when they’re told something and when it’s obvious the source has a track record of being devious AND one is aware that they have an underlying agenda that they may be serving, a wise person shouldn’t take them at their word. If Trump came out today with the same AUMF proposal for Iran, would Dems be blameless for believing him and voting to give him the power to go to war which he then used to quickly go to war? He’s a widely known liar and surrounded by warmongers, I don’t see a difference when it comes to believing a known liar and warmonger in 2002 or 2020. Again, I think political concerns may have also been a factor, if Saddam had WMDs and used them and Biden and Clinton had voted against the AUMF, how could they defend that decision if they ran for president? Or, maybe they did suspect Bush would go to war and in this way, they could see that happen but have plausible deniability that they wanted war. In any case, they bear responsibility for giving Bush the power to go to war in Iraq despite knowing he was dishonest and his team’s public declarations of wanting to go to war in Iraq. But just to be clear, while this was a factor in my preferring Obama over Clinton in 2008, I voted for Hillary in 2016 and would not hesitate to vote for Biden this Nov if he’s the Dem nominee (though I prefer and am supporting Warren right now). Sometimes in life, you have to trust in truths and not allow fears or self-interest to alter important decision making. Their “surprise” that a known liar like Bush lied to them reminds me of the old fable Trump has stolen (because he’s been told it repeatedly to describe himself), of the scorpion and the frog: The Scorpion and the Frog A scorpion and a frog meet on the bank of a stream and the scorpion asks the frog to carry him across on its back. The frog asks, “How do I know you won’t sting me?” The scorpion says, “Because if I do, I will die too.” The frog is satisfied, and they set out, but in midstream, the scorpion stings the frog. The frog feels the onset of paralysis and starts to sink, knowing they both will drown, but has just enough time to gasp “Why?” Replies the scorpion: “It’s my nature…” » Posted By AdLib On January 17, 2020 @ 9:44 am As to your last paragraph, I agree that the Dem Congresspeople who voted for the AUMF deserve blame, responsibility is on their hands too but not anywhere to the degree of Bush and his neocon admin who pushed the button and blew up our future. » Posted By AdLib On January 16, 2020 @ 10:49 am What I am addressing is the issue of personal responsibility for one’s own actions. This was a profound decision they made that resulted in exactly what many predicted before the vote yet Biden and Clinton lacked the wisdom and vision to recognize it. I do disagree with you that supporting their decision is supporting peace. The majority of peace activists would disagree with you as well, most were loudly protesting against the AUMF and opposed giving Bush the power to go to war. They knew he would use it, maybe a majority of Americans did, even and especially those who wanted war. So neither gets off the hook by claiming after the fact, “How was I to know?” Most Dems in Congress saw what they didn’t or wouldn’t see. It was a lapse in judgment by Biden and Clinton that most Dems in Congress didn’t have. It’s really a basic proposition. If one wants peace, the best path is to oppose any resolution that allows for war. Voting for a conditional war is still voting for war and that’s what Biden and Clinton did, even if they mistakenly thought the threat of war was the smartest path to peace. It was, not surprisingly, the most direct path to war when granting war powers to warmongers. Did anyone really see Dick Cheney as a peacenik? Or Rumsfeld? Wolfowitz? Perle? Or any of the other neocons who made up Bush’s Admin? They were the ones, as Project for the New American Century (PNAC), who built and controlled Bush’s foreign policy and even before Bush was elected, they declared that their primary focus was regime change in Iraq. Peace activists knew that, Dems in Congress knew that, many in the public knew that, Biden and Clinton knew that…and yet they claim that giving BUSH’S PNAC cabinet the power to go to war in Iraq…would result in peace? Not even mentioning how Bush may have felt about Saddam/Iraq trying to assassinate his father. But Bush would want peace when he could instead use war to force regime change and take their oil? I just don’t see their decision as wise. The potential for the AUMF to lead to war in Iraq was explicit in the document. It was a central complaint by those in the Dem party and some in the media that this was just a ploy for Bush to go to war in Iraq. Biden and Clinton were well aware of this but despite it, they decided they would support it. I mean, I have to question the judgment of anyone who would have seen Bush as trustworthy in the first place. That alone was poor judgment. Let’s take Hillary at her word, that she voted for it because she saw it as the best way to pursue peace. No one can argue, history proves she was very wrong. She made a poor decision despite all the voices clamoring for her not to support it, that it would free Bush to take the US to war. Same with Biden. Had the AUMF never been approved, we would not have gone through the Iraq War and all of the disastrous events that followed. These are the stakes when you are a politician and you choose to give the president the power to go to war, as it turned out, endlessly. Wisdom is considering the source of alleged facts and considering whose hands you are voting to put enormous destructive power in. What this vote represented to me and I think a majority of Dems who voted for Obama over Hillary in the 2008 primary, is that she didn’t display the wisdom that most other Democrats in Congress did and thus, it would be preferable to support Obama who opposed the AUMF and did display good judgment. My intention here isn’t to drag Biden or Clinton on this but it is to say that responsibility for one’s own actions and one’s own contributions to something bad happening do not get wiped away because they didn’t have the wisdom that most other Dems did to be very skeptical and concerned that Bush was lying and pushing the AUMF through to go to war against Iraq. And as for Clinton’s claim to being a peacemaker, remember this from the 2008 primary? On the day of a crucial vote in her nomination battle against fellow Democrat Barack Obama, the New York senator said she wanted to make clear to Tehran what she was prepared to do as president in hopes that this warning would deter any Iranian nuclear attack against the Jewish state. “I want the Iranians to know that if I’m the president, we will attack Iran (if it attacks Israel),” Clinton said in an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “In the next 10 years, during which they might foolishly consider launching an attack on Israel, we would be able to totally obliterate them,” she said. These are the words of someone seeking peace with other countries? Hillary Clinton was regarded as a war hawk for years and this type of statement backs that up, I don’t see the portrayal of her as only seeking peace as consistent with this terrible threat. It is correct that 29 Dem Senators voted for the AUMF while 21 voted against it. My point was, opinion among Dem Senators was divided, it’s not like Biden’s and Clinton’s views were overwhelmingly the views of Dems. In fact, in The House, a wide majority of Dems opposed it, 60% of them at 126 against 81 in favor. So that totals up to a total of 147 Dems in Congress opposed it while 110 voted for it. Biden and Clinton were in that minority. What did the majority of Congressional Dems recognize that Biden and Clinton didn’t? Most did see it as moving towards war with Iraq and they were right. Biden and Clinton displayed poor judgement, both in blindly trusting the pretty obvious lies the Bush Admin served up and in perhaps obliviously contributing to the U.S. going to war in Iraq which as I mentioned above, is the biggest strategic mistake in our generation. They were privy to all the information and insights that the majority of Dems in Congress were yet they decided, for whatever reason, to go down the other path. We all need to take responsibility for our decisions in life and the indisputable logic is that their decision ended up supported the destruction of so many countries and people. Yes, there are degrees of responsibility, they and all the Congresspeople who voted for the AUMF are not as responsible as Bush, Cheney and all the warmongers in the Bush Admin who badly wanted this war, regime change and theft of Iraq’s oil. But without the cooperation of those in Congress who approved the ability to go to war in Iraq, it couldn’t have happened. » Posted By AdLib On January 16, 2020 @ 10:46 am On one hand, I can’t say I know what was in Joe Biden’s or Hillary Clinton’s minds when they voted for the AUMF that was the vehicle for Bush launching the Iraq War. To be clear though, many Americans didn’t support it and suspected Bush’s Admin was lying to force this war. There were protests in the US and around the world against it (that the MSM barely covered). The majority of Democrats in The House recognized that it would lead to war in Iraq and did not vote for it. 21 of the 50 Dem Senators voted against it. So Biden and Clinton at the very least showed poor judgement compared to the many Dems who saw it for what it was and opposed it. The two believed an already discredited Bush when most Dems in Congress didn’t. The real question is why did they lean towards believing Bush instead of suspecting his, Cheney’s and the rest of the Admin’s motives? Not recognizing Bush’s motives does reflect on their decision-making abilities. At the time, I was very disappointed in both of them, couldn’t understand why they would believe what seemed like obvious deception and warmongering to me. Then I just figured, they may have been concerned that they might be hammered as “weak” on foreign policy if they ran for president after voting against the AUMF and it turned out Saddam had WMDs or staged some subsequent attack. But the truth is that their vote for and the passage of the 2002 AUMF helped sell the public on supporting the eventual going to war against Iraq. It was a big mistake in judgement, we can look back now and see that. And it is not the case that most Dems in Congress felt similarly, most actually opposed their position and many of them were concerned that it was a ploy to push the US into war. They were right and Biden and Clinton were, at best, misguided. The Iraq War brought about ISIS which brought about the refugee crisis which helped bring about widespread nationalistic sensibilities in many Western countries. It was a disaster that continues threats and bloodshed today so for me, the decision to support the AUMF that led to all of this is a legitimate issue to use to consider the judgement of a candidate. Biden and Clinton may have thought it would move peace forward but de facto, they were very wrong and were on the wrong side of a disastrous chain of events. It didn’t and doesn’t disqualify either of them from running for president but it is reflective of their decision-making and valid in terms of voters’ considerations of the judgement of candidates in the primary. Biden has been on the right side of many major issues but also on the wrong side of big issues. Personally, I do not have the greatest confidence in his decision-making but if he is the Dem om, I will fully support him to beat Trump. » Posted By AdLib On January 15, 2020 @ 6:04 pm Here is video of the protest at the university in Iran after the government admitted shooting down the Ukrainian plane: » Posted By AdLib On January 11, 2020 @ 5:09 pm I watched Bandersnatch many times, exploring many of the paths, it was intriguing to me. Absolutely, it really did delve deeply into the issue of determinism vs. fatalism. Very cool. Tik Tok continues the devolution of attention spans to 15 seconds. IMO, as Twitter has done, it trivializes and forces the simplification of thought. Plus, Tik Tok isn’t co-financed by the Chinese’s government and hasn’t already went used by them to gather personal data. But it’s fun to make a meaningless 15 second video on Ann app a foreign country isn’t using to steal your privacy. The internet used to be fun. Before corporations, political agents, con men and nations learned how to exploit users for their gain. Letters and phone calls and in-person contact are a level of connection so critical to feed our humanity. Is it a coincidence that the country is so polarized as our communication, especially between different types of people, has migrated to electronic and distant forms? I have my periods of cynicism and disillusionment but I also see people of conscience doing meaningful work. I saw voters come out in record numbers in 2018 to give Dems the House and this, oversight over Trump Andre Impeachment. Bad things happen, over a third of this country are amoral racists and Americans who could prevent so many political and social disasters don’t vote or don’t fulfill their civic duty to be informed and involved in their democracy. But despite that, we have and will prevail. It just shouldn’t have to be so hard to stop assholes from getting into positions of power. The Planet may not be as fast paced as the corporate social media sites but that’s kind of what sets it apart. It’s not about constant emotional stimulation at the expense of thoughtful and substantial conversation. As for Tulsi and Bernie, there is a difference between them but neither of them or their rabid supporters are good for Dems or beating Trump. Tulsi is a blatant Republican and Russian asset while Bernie is all about railing against the 1% but doesn’t know how to bring other pols to work with him. And his supporters are often horribly obnoxious, turning off more voters than support him. Warren look best to me right now. » Posted By AdLib On January 11, 2020 @ 1:02 pm Arguments can indeed stimulate focus but I think the insidious nature of hate-inspired arguments (almost always from the Trump cultists of course) is that the focus can be gravitationally pulled over to hatred. Since issues are rarely argued with them in good faith and their intent seems more to just throw rocks at the heads of the “non-believers”, it seems self-defeating. And pulls people down into that syndrome you describe, getting hooked on the conflict and being diverted from arguing the principles we wish to share and debate. These social media sites have spent fortunes on analyzing the minds of people to exploit their psychological needs and weaknesses. They rely on distracting and addicting people, not to substance and worthwhile discussions but to more trivial and primal things. I think a keyword folks should keep in mind when thinking about huge, corporate social media sites is “exploitation”. And as you describe very well, one can become overwhelmed after a while by the ganging up and hostility that one receives for posting an opinion on a platform that allows abuse. It actually can inhibit free expression, especially if one is not in a combative mood. It’s like playing a sport where there are no rules and you can be attacked when you’re just trying to play your best game. After a while, would one really be focused on playing their best or instead, protecting themselves or attacking the opposing players? I don’t think folks in the majority should play their game and that’s what these pointless social media battles are. Their kind of game, their demeaning of issues to namecalling and harassment, trying to make “them” upset and thus, “own the libs”. Screw them. I think good folks need to keep their eye on the prize as the saying goes, it’s stripping these hatemongers and their leaders of power and steering this society back to sanity. Yes, I liked Smithereens too. I too have many favorite episodes of Black Mirror and really enjoyed the interactive Bandersnatch. I do think Black Mirror does a great job of illustrating how behind the curve we are with where technology is taking us. Things have been moving so quickly. For example, the quick adoption of Alexa and other voice control devices is kind of scary. In past science fiction films and tv shows where people had voice control over devices, the concept of losing one’s privacy never came up. Now, even with stories about how most everyone’s personal data is being exploited by social media and other corporations and even how Alexa and other services have been caught recording private conversations of unassuming users, it has proliferated. Does privacy really exist anymore? It is a bit less busy here than you may remember but the quality of conversation is what it’s always been and we have seen members returning here and there. Facebook and Twitter attracted a lot of blog members from most sites and while I wouldn’t predict that reversing hugely, there does seem to be a disenchantment with the social media giants that is leading to folks coming back to the more user-run sites. I can attest from personal experience to the difficulty of today’s kids disconnecting from their phones and addictive, devious apps like SnapChat. We’re standing by as a society as our kids are preyed upon by technology companies. As Elizabeth Warren has proposed, the tech companies need to be broken up to be smaller and need to be regulated because they profit from betraying their users’ privacy. Yes, I really do understand about how these social media sites get a hook into people, they’ve spent so much money learning how to make people become psychologically reliant on being on their sites, it’s no less intentional than the tobacco companies or opioid manufacturing pharma companies getting consumers hooked on their products. Not something that belongs at The Planet. » Posted By AdLib On January 8, 2020 @ 7:20 pm Khirad, sounds like you’ve been living through quite challenging events in your life but very glad you’ve come through it all intact and with your wit and conscience intact. So you are doing some serious cooking with that knife roll? The Planet remains an island of sanity, especially in contrast to Facebook. I’ll expand more on this at a later date and I say this merely as more of an outsider from Facebook (PlanetPOV has a page there simply to notify of new posts here but we don’t participate much more than that). Facebook is a poison apple, IMO. It has the sweetness of sharing thoughts and photos with friends and family but it is a malicious actor in the world. It allows itself to be used and/or participates in corrupting democracies and nations while pillaging the private data of over one billion people. That is James Bond evil villain territory. Not to mention the abuse and hatred that it has and continues to stoke, bringing out the worst that festers in the human psyche. On the other hand, there are lots of nice pictures of cats. So pulling away from Facebook, whether planned or unplanned is in my mind, a good thing. As for the whole Trump Hate game, I think it is like a contagious disease. Seeing Trumpers hating so disgustingly outrages fair-minded people, who launch themselves at those enemies of decency. This is a natural reaction for many who hold principles closely in their lives but it seems to be playing into the game. Whether it’s true or not, the Trump Cult feels that every time they can instigate the outrage of decent people, a devil gets its horns. They thrive on this pulling down of everyone into their gutter so no one has the moral high ground over them anymore. I don’t agree with that mindset, they remain morally inferior even so but they do succeed in controlling the slimy location of the conflict which they see as a win. Freedom in America does not extend to abuse. While we are free to make choices, we don’t have the right to use our freedom to take away that of others. Whether it’s physical, verbal or written harassment, it should not be taken for granted that being subjected to that is the price of freedom. As Harvey Weinstein is finding out. It seems a simple zero sum game for the Trump Cult. They hate anyone and everyone who isn’t one of them and following Trump like beaten dogs. They hate every policy or function of government that isn’t Trump’s and cheer on everything that Trump favors with no critical thinking involved. They are true cultists who need Trump emotionally to dominate everyone they fear. And making this just a matter of us against them is as far as their minds go (and Biden keeps saying they will all work with him if he wins? Biden knows better, he was there with Obama as the Repubs executed their absolute opposition to everything including the ACA and SCOTUS picks, Biden is being dishonest about this.) And engaging hostility towards these Trump Cultists doesn’t accomplish anything. I join you in imagining the gratification of punching Trump in the face (or Mike Pompeo, Bill Barr, etc.) but my next thought is that this is how the Trump Cultists looked at Obama, Pelosi, etc. So, I think it is natural to become angered at the corrupt and vicious rodents that follow Trump but it allows their venom to seep into one’s mind to battle with them. They can’t be convinced, those reading along already see them as adversaries or fellow cultists and no opinions can be changed. I think the mission has to be recognizing that the way to punch them all in the face is to take away their power. Communicating instead with the majority who share our outrage at where things are in this country and building a bond and enthusiasm between like-minded, decent-minded people. As for Black Mirror, have been a big fan of it for years now and anxiously await an announcement for the next season. And if you recall the “Nosedive” episode that savaged Facebook and social media, “mirroring” China’s actual use of social scores to control who can travel, get employed and in essence, be seen as an acceptable member of society (or shunned by people afraid to see their social score hurt by being too close with someone with a poor social score), there’s another great argument about against being judged or judging in social media by “likes”. And psychologists have found it addictive, the pleasure of getting likes. A site driven by this, as most social media sites are, looks like a dysfunctional present. Once again, welcome back! I just gave you a 5!
» Posted By AdLib On January 8, 2020 @ 4:52 pm PlanetPOV 2019 – The Year in Graphics Thanks so much, Kes! A very, very Happy New Year to you too! This will be a big year for all of us! » Posted By AdLib On January 1, 2020 @ 3:39 pm A 2019 Christmas Carol From PlanetPOV! Or Ignorant Quacks? » Posted By AdLib On December 26, 2019 @ 8:08 pm Thanks Kalima! Trump is the only president whose glove size matches his IQ. If Trump delivers the 2020 State of the Union by speaking in tongues with complete nonsense words, his moronic cultists will say he has a 170 IQ…even though they’re so stupid that they think IQ refers “Intelligence Quarts”. » Posted By AdLib On December 26, 2019 @ 4:09 pmComments Posted By AdLib
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