clevomon, you said, "those in power never want to give it up"

Fortunately for the sake of our country, this nation was borne out of a contrary impulse. George Washington could have been Napoleon Bonaparte in America. But he wasn't, thank god.

Regarding Obama and FISA, for the sake of the Democratic party and what is left of the progressive movement in America, I hope that Obama understands how critical it is that he eschews the spying power that he has granting the present administration, because it is a political trap. Given the politicization of the Justice Department, is there really any doubt that sleeper cells of conservative ideologues are planted throughout the intel beaurocracy. Career people who would take Cheney's secrets to the grave will start leaking like a sieve and the cries for an independent counsel from the villagers will be deafening.

The charges may by relatively mild, but with the new spying powers looming in the background, something like Clinton's "Filegate" scandal could look like that watergate breakin. The Broderites who willfully ignored the Bush/Cheney power grab will be screaming about the tyranny of the executive. The cable talking heads who complained that this FISA stuff is byzantine inside baseball that nobody cares about will meticulously explain every detail of the Obama administration's culpability to the viewers. Republican authoritarians around the country will rediscover their libertarian streak and put stickers on their cars to sentimentalize loving ones country while simultaneously fearing ones government. The subsequent Sturm und Drang will leave average American with the energy sapping misapprehension that "they are all the same."

Bank it.

Posted at July 14, 2008 9:37 AM in response to Can Progressives Unite, or Will It Be the Same Old Bit-Politics Story?

Dear Hillary Supporters,

Please be aware that there are many, many GOP brownshirts out there online trying to ratf**k the democratic primary by posing as misogynist Obama supporters. They want you to feel disillusioned about the democratic party. They want you to feel bitter. They want you to blame Obama and his supporters.

Don't give them the satisfaction.

Posted at May 16, 2008 2:25 PM in response to Hillary's concession speech planned...early draft leaked

No Jay, you did not accuse anyone of myth and superstition. Wardog did. I agree with you about the creed.

If the Christian left is defensive it is because we may sometimes feel trapped, accused of apostasy by the orthodox and fundamentalists on one side while being accused of either believeing in "myth and superstition" or of not doing enough to properly represent the values we believe in by secular progressives.

I will continue to bring issues of justice, peace and forgiveness into the political arena because I can't let the voice of the Christian right stand alone and misrepresent my faith. I'm sorry if that creates too big a gulf for you.

Posted at February 13, 2008 8:28 PM in response to Why We Should Not Be Easily Satisfied

Instead of "Militant Atheist," let us substitute the the phrase: "Defensive atheist who, feeling judged accuses others of 'myth and superstition.'" I know it's a bit cumbersome but maybe the acronym DAWFJAOMAS will work.

Those of us who consder ourselves part of the "church catholic" (note the small c) are stuck with the Nicean Creed, neo-platonic jibberish and all. Note that it begins with "we believe" not "I believe".

Concerning the last 7 years, I for one have been teaching 13 year olds every Sunday a faith that consistent with social justice and peace. I have taught them that forgiveness is not optional, according to the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount and that holding a grudge and seeking retribution are fundamentally opposed to what he taught. I have tried to bring more attention to people of faith like James Reeb, Bruce Klunder, and Jonathan Daniels, who made a difference in the world. I have also been giving and working for candidates who support my values.

Posted at February 13, 2008 11:44 AM in response to Why We Should Not Be Easily Satisfied

Let's not forget that Joementum's sins go much deeper than his surreal views on foreign policy.

I, for one, will never forgive his duplicity over the cloture vote for the bankruptcy bill and his subsequent attempt to cover his backside.  The bankruptcy bill hurts real people and Joe chose to help out his finance sector benefactors and ignore the plight of the little people.

I hope Joe runs again, so that a real Dem can offer a primary challenge.  When that happens, I will be thinking of all the DLC folks trying to triangulate the party into obscurity when I mail off my check to his opponent.  This is not about idealogical purity, it is about ridding the party of a fox democrat agent provacteur.

Posted at December 12, 2005 12:21 PM in response to Lieberman Update