I like to see hate mongers waste their money. The greatest horror for the neocons is that their tired, discredited narrative has finally beenmarginalized, where it belongs. I know its too soon to celebrate, but good news sure has been a longtime coming. I've been waiting since Bobby died.

Posted at September 27, 2008 9:01 AM in response to Rightist Israeli Group To Flood US With 28 Million Hate Videos To Tip Election

Isn't moral hazard what Mike now(pre-crisis) faces because his irresponsible action of allowing a high risk loan to go through can have no negative consequences for him? The hazard is that his morals are too easily corrupted if he does not face consequences. It's why God created hell, or so they say.

Posted at September 22, 2008 9:56 PM in response to Moral Hazard

Communitarianism, that's the ticket! Why don't they just admit that they were wrong about globalization(it's really about cheap labor), the invisible hand and deregulation(its a fantasy, like communism - contrary to human nature, greed is not a virtue), and trickle down theory(too slow and miniscule to be of much use). Economic conservatism is just another failed ideology. Even those who purported to adhere to it, never dared or cared to try it.

Changing your tune after 30+ years of getting extreme, disproportionate, often unjustified profits and sneering at the less fortunate does not qualify you to be community organizers. How long before they are blaming this crisis on the 60s? They would help the American community every bit as much as the Southern aristocracy helped African Americans at the end of Reconstruction.

Posted at September 17, 2008 9:51 PM in response to "The Social Animal" Revisited

A possible explanation for the avalanche of lies cascading from the McCain campaign fits well with your description of the 'up for grabs' voters. Many of them, unknowingly, are looking for an excuse not to vote for Obama and the same buttons will not work for all of them. A reasonable, if false, assumption is that McCain couldn't possibly be lying about everything. Everyone has their own 'narrative', with its own vulnerabilities and it would be very human for them to be most blind to deception in areas of special emotional concern.

I recall in 2000, my intelligent, elderly mother who knew Gore was by far the better man voted for Bush for fear of a tsunami of late term abortions if Gore won.

Posted at September 14, 2008 11:50 PM in response to Why Undecided?

The issue should not be restricted to the African-American position. Should the left be happy if AAs are losing their homes only at the rate that WASPs are? There is no question that they suffer more, but the issue transcends race,creed,etc. Class warfare is the issue. I wont bother to iterate the reasons why this is happening. We all know them. Given the current situation, how can we make America a country again?

Posted at November 14, 2007 7:48 PM in response to The Plunging Homeownership Rate for African Americans

The way to deal with the boomer problem, in terms of single payer, is to make an age related diminishing amount of coverage. Very much of the total cost of health care is incurred during the last couple weeks of life. If you want 2 more weeks of life, clean up your act. You will feel better too.

Posted at April 12, 2007 1:49 AM in response to Why Real Reform is Necessary--and Politically Possible.

Woman is the n****r of the world
J. Lennon

Posted at April 12, 2007 1:31 AM in response to Imus With Tears

Expect a huge economic boom in Cuba when it becomes capitalist and, at least ostensibly, more open. The artificial exclusion of Cuba from American markets, has cost the average Cuban a great deal and kept Fidel's revolution from attaining a much more dynamic, and therefore unacceptable, socialist alternative.

Tourism will flourish and there will be a flood of outsourcing of American jobs. Cuba's well educated and healthy population, willing and able to work for less, will make Cuba seem like eden to American corporations. Once more, the American working class will pay the price for globalization.

It will be interesting to see how Cubans feel about having non-universal health care and education. The right-wing, free market propaganda machine will have a hard time selling that bill of goods.

Posted at August 1, 2006 2:22 PM in response to Question of the Day: After Castro?

Bagmen does the trick. It's succinct and accurately descriptive.

Posted at January 24, 2006 4:00 PM in response to Department of Semantics

The friend of my enemy is my enemy. These empty suits have no place in a liberal party. They should drop the charade and join the Republicans. At least there they might be a moderating influence. If a minority party cant have integrity, it can never expect to convince the majority. If the left cant have the courage of its convictions, it deserves to stay on the fringe. Practical considerations limit how big a tent can be and still be functional.

The difficulties our country faces are more than stimulating subjects for Georgetown salons or vehicles for career advancement. Diletantes are of little utility in this struggle.  

Posted at January 18, 2006 11:34 PM in response to The Enemy of My Enemy--Still My Enemy