Displaying 0 To 0 Of 0 Comments Weekend Music Thread – Animal Attraction Yes, Sue–in the car! And Patti Page! » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 12, 2011 @ 12:40 pm This whole thread is so emotional for me. That song was a favorite of mine as a kid. My mom and I used to sing it. There was a TV show we used to watch–I think it was called “Your Hit Parade” and that song was a hit! » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 12, 2011 @ 11:50 am Farmer Hoggett sings to Babe “If I had words” » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 12, 2011 @ 11:38 am Milo and Otis » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 12, 2011 @ 11:31 am The Siamese Cat Song » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 12, 2011 @ 11:24 am AdLib–that photo of your doggie at the drinking fountain is extremely wonderful!! » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 12, 2011 @ 11:03 am Let me try again to see if I can upload from photobucket: » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 12, 2011 @ 11:02 am Sue–that is my all time favorite guilty dog video! I recently watched it again for the hundredth time. 😀 » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 12, 2011 @ 11:00 am I Will Always Love You Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On Lion King – Circle of Life [img]http://s1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd514/Chernynkaya/?action=view¤t=IMGP2722.jpg[/img] » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 12, 2011 @ 10:59 am Many thanks, KQ. The Right –no question–sees us every bit as crazy as we see them. How could they not? But the psychological literature really doesn’t bear that out. There are tons of opinion pieces written by the Right that attempts to show that we are crazy and that our ideology is ruinous, but none that I have found by professionals in the mental health field or in sociology. Actually, I omitted it from the article(and if I didn’t have to leave soon, I’d find it) but one of the studies I cited tried to find comparable analyses of the Left and came out empty. However–and this is important– the Left-wing of our Party is actually no different in their pathology than the Right. They just take a slightly different form. But both have paranoid elements, delusions, refuse to accept facts, are authoritarian, etc. Just think of the Firebaggers and you have the very same personality disorders. » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 11, 2011 @ 12:39 pm Lot’s of us, Em! Some us call ourselves JuBus. 🙂 » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 10, 2011 @ 9:56 pm Kes, your comment made me think of that movie with Michael Douglas. “Falling Down.”
and this scene: There are perhaps millions of Americans who right this minute are feeling like that character. That’s why I say, given the right circumstances on a national scale, with enough psychologically fragile and hostile people goaded and incited for political/corporate gain, our country could become unrecognizable. (Post 2010 elections, it almost was.) The irony is they are creating the exact state they fear. » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 10, 2011 @ 9:54 pm Not at all, Em! I read your reply to kes and you made really outstanding observations. Oh, and I was so fascinated to hear of your religious journey!! » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 10, 2011 @ 9:04 pm Kes– I have often thought the same about people’s distrust of government. (But of course we have both undergone the Vulcan Mind-Meld.) First, let me say that none of the examples you gave are what I would characterize as a pathological fear of, or anger, at government. Again, as you point out things are never so simplistic, and there is a spectrum of pathology ranging from “normal” to dysfunctional. When I am confronted with the positions of the Right I try to see if I have any feelings in common with them–if there is anything there I can at least begin to relate to, and there are some things. As an extreme example, I am pro-choice. But I can see how someone who believes (wrongly in my view) that life begins at say, a heartbeat, would see abortion as murder. And if one believes it is murder, it stands to reason that extraordinary measures must be taken to prevent it (barring another murder). There is a least a logic to it, even as I feel that people cannot be excused for merely believing all kinds of stuff. All I’m saying is that I try to see through their eyes. Or about local government–you are so insightful. I often think about how a small business feels when dealing with a county building inspector–or the DMV! But you know what? Honestly, if our government were run by the Right or Dominionists, I too would have a real fear of it, and who knows where that might take me. » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 10, 2011 @ 8:23 pm Em, that is so appreciated. Well, I am a believer so I have a little–but just a little–understanding of the RR. I think there is a significant crossover when we speak of the Right and the RR. Most are churchgoers and I would bet a lot of money that the churches they attend (of whichever denomination) are of the fundamentalist variety, and beyond that broad brush they likely attend the most authoritarian and “unChristian” of those. As you mention, they are more like cults in their heresy of true Christianity. I have a big concern about fundamentalists of any ilk, but aside from those sects I have more empathy with people of faith. I do think it’s important to be specific and I probably should have at least given examples of who I meant when I mentioned the RR–they are a breed unto themselves. I share your nervousness about most sects associated with the RR and I can tell you that as a Jew they make me triply nervous! But really, it is the personality disorders I wrote about that are, in general and regardless of religion, the real danger because they will be attracted to any number of anti-social activities and groups– the Republican Party and the fundie churches being the most obvious. From my POV, though, their religion is symptom of their psychological disorder, not the cause. » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 10, 2011 @ 8:00 pm Sue, I’m so glad you cited your previous posts because I wanted to include a link to them–can you please post them? I’ll add edit them in, because I didn’t really discuss the RR other than in passing and they are even crazier. One point of clarification though. What you cited is undeniably true and important to understand, but that describes the behavior and the mindset; I was trying to provide various explanations as to how they got this way from a psychological perspective. What the Religious Right exhibits are symptoms of underlying pathology. » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 10, 2011 @ 5:17 pm Agrippa, they certainly won’t go away; these types of personality disorders afflict a certain percentage of the population everywhere. But when the media and other opinion makers fail to acknowledge that these folks are abnormal–when they are euphemistically called “the fringe” for example–their toxic ideas take hold in the general population. It’s not so much that mental illness is exactly contagious, but in a way it creeps into society and the behavior becomes more and more acceptable. » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 10, 2011 @ 5:11 pm I’m glad you liked it, Sabreen. I knew they were “crazy” but I never realized that they are also considered pathological by many professionals. It doesn’t change anything about them, but at least we can take some comfort in the fact that it’s official. » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 10, 2011 @ 5:06 pm Hey funk, I appreciate that. I knew when I was writing it that this was nothing we didn’t already know, but for me, it helped to see that the Right today is actually ill, and that professionals see it too. » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 9, 2011 @ 9:03 pm Right, bito. That’s what I was trying to say above. The Kochs are in no way being punked by Cain. They don’t think he can possibly win but they don’t care. They know that the R base is comprised of fanatic and ignorant sheep. As I’m sure you’ve read, most of the base thinks 999 will lower their taxes! » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 5, 2011 @ 2:45 pm As I mentioned earlier, I think Maddow made a really clever case for Cain being a gigantic performance artist, when you add up all of this. She brilliantly deconstructed his whole campaign! But the more I think about it, I think it is one of those instances where humans seek to find patterns in everything–as a way to make sense out of chaos. As for me, time and time again I try to make sense of the Right and wind up twisting my mind into pretzels just to attempt to find something that is logical–something I can relate to as one human being to another. I just can’t find anything though. It would be unbelievably awesome if Cain was punking us all! But he’s not. I think the fact is that he really did steal all his stupid ideas from pop culture (not because he’s joking us but because that is all he is capable of); that he is an incredibly LUCKY moron; and that he is a puppet for the Kochs used to infuse putrid anti-American ideas into presidential debates. He also accomplished something even more demoralizing (at least to me) than seeing the spectacle of Repub obstructionism: He has shown me and the world that a significant percentage of Americans are repugnant droolers, who actually need a tyrant to govern them. So it’s a two-fer for the Kochs–they have shown many people that the government is incapable of governing, and they have shown that the American electorate is too stupid to be self-governing. I doubt that their truly evil plot will work. I have to believe that. » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 5, 2011 @ 12:34 pm Em–It’s all falling in to place! It’s like the way Repubs think Colbert is a conservative–how delicious to think the Right is being punked! The only piece that doesn’t fit is the Koch connection. I don’t think they’re joking at all. But whether this is performance art, a joke on the stupid voters or what, it makes us all a laughingstock and makes a mockery of presidential elections. » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 4, 2011 @ 6:15 pm Em, did you read that excellent piece (not posted here) by Jonathan Capehart? It made so much sense to me. Essentially, he wrote that people of color had to work “twice as hard” and Cain denigrated the high level of expectation and preparation demanded by his mom. He then suggested that white Republicans feared making critical comments towards Cain because of his race. » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 3, 2011 @ 1:26 pm Yeah, KT, Pauly wasn’t the brightest crayon in that box. He was no Big Pussy. Not a even Bobby Bacala! » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 3, 2011 @ 1:23 pm You are ONLY 322,349,521 people older than me! Since the dawn of people that’s like, what, a minute? Anyway, in another billion people, well both probably be wizened. And no segue here, but I hope your back is better! It’s good to see you and I hope you are on the serious mend. » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 3, 2011 @ 1:21 pm Oh, Kalima, thank you. That is gorgeous, and true. I never read any of Bronte’s poetry and what a find. » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 3, 2011 @ 9:22 am Kes, it was a favorite of mine too. Begala shredded Perry better than my Cuisinart on a head of cabbage! Anytime one uses “stench” and “Bush” in the same sentence wins. Also, he did make some important points about the role of debates recently, as well as the best use of attack ads. Great finale too: “…take a good hard look at the empty head in your mirror.” I should tape that to the bathroom medicine cabinet! » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 1, 2011 @ 4:12 pm CL, just another tangential observation, or opinion, from me about any Dem on the Super cutting benefits: You make a good case that NO Dem would dare cut benefits, although as I mentioned elsewhere, I have my doubts about Baucus. But here’s the thing. Even if it were only one Dem it would be disastrous for ALL Dems. I am convinced that the public only believes memes and generalities, not nuances not even facts. We can point out all kinds of truth and subtleties and it won’t matter–all the voters will hear is that a BIPARTISAN committee cut Medicare or SS. And then all our justified insistence that there is a huge difference between the Parties will be worthless. I can only pray–and I do mean pray, it’s that important–that no Dem compromises on real benefits to entitlements. I think we could actually explain that Part D and other items are NOT cuts to beneficiaries, but even that will take a lot of explaining to the public. And many on the Left will provide lots of false info. » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 1, 2011 @ 3:52 pm Oh, Khirad, thank you so much for posting that! It’s the best news I’ve heard today and really needed that. I kind of figured someone would adopt them, and that family sounds really nice. » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 1, 2011 @ 3:35 pm Bah!indeed! But there is one Dem on the Super I have real concerns about: Max Baucus. He could cut benefits, I’d bet. However, ol’ Max sends me emails (when I pretended to be a constituent a while ago). Here it is, and it looks like he’s more interested in cuts to defense–but I still don’t trust him! Fellow Montanans, » Posted By Chernynkaya On November 1, 2011 @ 3:29 pmComments Posted By Chernynkaya
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9nPf7w7pDI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGTm8UfWHAM&feature=related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX07j9SDFcc
And I understand your point about how some religions can be the cause ans well as the symptoms for pathology. A child raised in those environments certainly will have feelings of powerlessness> guilt> hostility>and then the need for authoritarianism. In those cases, the religious upbringing was the cause of the dysfunction. Max Blumenthal articulated it really well, as did Frank Schaeffer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Schaeffer) who was raised by a fundie preacher.
I can even relate to feeling that the Right has about illegal immigrants, or even food stamps. I have seen situations where immigrants abused the system and received benefits which I needed but was not entitled to; I have witnessed wealthy women in the market using food stamps while dripping in diamonds. But the difference is in our reactions to those occurrences, and what we extrapolate from them. I figure that, yes, there are some abuses but the greater good is just that–greater. Not so the pathological Right. And you make a valid point: that the differences between my reaction and that of the Right boils down to a willfulness; a self-centeredness, and a anti-social personality.
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We are at a pivotal moment in history. Here at home and all across Europe, economies are struggling under mounting debt. The world is watching to see what America will do.
It’s up to us to show the world that America can rise to this challenge and lead by example.
That’s what we’re trying to do on the Debt Committee. We are meeting day in and day out, burning the midnight oil to find solutions to get our debt under control.
As I’m working, I am fueled by the words of Montanans, who’ve told me over and over again: Max, get it done.
There is no doubt that getting it done will include serious spending cuts. And a balanced solution should also include revenue measures to make sure everyone is chipping in their fair share.
As we examine spending on the Committee, we think about it in two categories.
The first is mandatory spending. As the name suggests, mandatory spending accounts for programs that are required by law, like Medicare.
The second category, which I want to talk more about today, is called discretionary spending. Discretionary spending is the money we choose to spend on additional priorities from year to year.
Discretionary spending includes important programs for Montana like highway construction.
But, more than half of discretionary spending is for defense. And a big chunk of that half goes towards the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Last week marked the 10th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan. As we take stock of the challenges we face here at home a decade later, we can’t ignore the role war spending has played in our budget crisis.
I salute our men and women in uniform and their families – especially the brave Montanans who have volunteered for service at greater rates than anywhere else in the country. Because of their sacrifices, Osama bin Laden is dead and Al Qaeda is on the run.
Our American military is the best in the world. But it can’t do everything. And we’ve stretched it too thin. It’s time for Afghan forces to take responsibility for their own country. It’s time to bring our troops home and focus on building a stronger future here in America.
Several of you have shared this same concern with me in your letters and during our tele-town hall.
Today, even our military leaders tell us that the biggest threat to our national security is here at home.
Straight from the mouth of the Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen:
“Our national debt is our biggest national security threat.”
When our military leaders speak, we should listen.
We spend more on military spending now than at any time since World War II, including the peak of the Cold War, and the wars in Korea and Vietnam.
Congress has approved more than $1.2 trillion for Iraq and Afghanistan – all deficit spending. And that’s not just military operations. It also includes reconstruction and foreign aid.
We have borrowed money from China to build up Iraq and Afghanistan, while our own infrastructure and economy are suffering here at home.
To put it into perspective:
$1.2 trillion could double the number of public elementary schools in the United States.
It could build the US interstate highway system we have today- five times over.
And $1.2 trillion is enough to meet the obligations of the Debt Reduction Committee.
Our troops have done an amazing job over the last decade. Thanks to their efforts, our world is now safer than it was 10 years ago. And we will never forget the price our troops have paid while fighting for our country – especially the thousands who have given the ultimate sacrifice.
We must remain vigilant in fighting terrorism. We’ve also got to heed the words of Admiral Mullen, and be just as vigilant to get our debt under control.
When it comes to nation building, it’s time to focus on America.
It’s time to bring our troops home, and make this century the American century.
All the best,
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