I am quickly becoming a very discouraged space cowboy. 

 

Ever increasing job losses while the rich have their wealth protected, promised reform not delivered on by politicians who really don't care that it won't be (Diane Feinstein: "I remain unmoved"), nothing being done for the other 98% of us, a President more concerned with bi-partisan comity than the audacity of hope, our troops dispersed all over the globe and still dying, GITMO remains open with no concrete plans to close it, a MSM which is supposed to be our watchdog on the corporate payroll, domestic spying continuing and even increasing, basically as far as I am concerned just a continuation of the last administration.  Nothing has changed and I am having serious doubts anything ever will.

 

But I am gonna head down to Atlantic City to hopefully have an enjoyable weekend partying with some friends.  Time to reflect and reassess whether all of what we are trying to do here is all in vain and a waste of time.  It seems the more things change the more they stay the same...and the sheep are still the sheep.

 

But seeing I will not be around for at least this weekend have a happy holiday weekend everyone!!!

So with the Al Franken finally being declared the winner in last year's Minnesota Senatorial election the Democrats are going to have their 60 seat super majority in the Senate.  They have a huge numerical advantage in the House and of course have the Executive Branch.

In short they can't make excuses anymore.  The American people voted for change.  On climate change, new energy policies, health care reform (universal health care in fact), a 180 degree change in foreign policy, ending the war in Iraq, stopping the torture of detainees in our custody, etc, etc, etc.  In fact between the 2006 midterm elections and 2008 the Democrats were given a mandate for change.  Are they going to listen to the people and have a nice long stay in power or remain beholden to the same corporate interests that they and the Republicans have been serving and be voted out post haste? 

The time for talk is over it is time to walk the walk.

All I keep on hearing out of democratic senators is we need '60 votes to pass this' and 'we need 60 votes to pass that'.  But I wonder what the story would be when Al Franken is finally seated?  What would be the claimed obstacle to passing health care and climate change reforms then?

I am sick of the 'it has to be bi-partisan to be passed' dodge coming from the Democrats in the US Senate.  These are very crucial times in terms of potential long needed reforms being enacted.  Why aren't Harry Reid and the Democrats pushing harder to get Franken seated?  First, and most importantly, the State of Minnesota is not being properly represented, but secondly, decisions that will affect the future of the American people for decades to come are being decided right now and the dems are ceding their strategic/numeric advantage by not having Franken there in the Senate.

I've noticed here at TPM we have great coverage of Israel and Israeli politics.  I love the discourse and love the authors contributions.  They are usually always thought provoking, salient and provide informed comments.

What I don't see around here are many posts about the other Arab countries.  There was just an election in Lebanon where Hezbollah took a bit of an unexpected beating.  Of course what is currently going on in Iran.  The state of affairs in Pakistan is very troubling/concerning.  And Turkey definitely merits coverage in terms of their clout in the region and how they are a bridge between Europe and the Middle-east.  I think covering what is going on in the region might give some context into better understanding and discussing a whole host of regional issues.  Now I'm not talking about the main TPM site.  I think Josh has been doing a great job staying on top of the post election unrest in Iran.  I am talking about Cafe contributors.

Are there bloggers out there who could provide us with some expertise on the whole region who might be willing/could be asked to contribute here?  And preferably people who currently reside or have lived in the countries in the recent past.  It is a very complex, fascinating and important region of the world to keep up to speed on.  Thoughts anyone?  I would love to see and welcome it.

If it is true that there was widespread and massive fraud in the Iranian elections I think the US, through the auspices of the UN, should push for international review to check the legitimacy of the results. 

If the election was fixed it is a serious misstep for the ruling mullahs in Iran.  It damages the credibility of a government it appears the Iranian people are growing tired of.  If the current regime in Tehran can be taken down by the Iranian people themselves before their current government's nuclear aspirations come to fruition it would be a best case scenario.  This is a golden opportunity to weaken a regime, and hasten its demise, without US forces having to fire a single shot.  And if the US can push this issue with the UN and the world on behalf of the Iranian people. I don't think it would be viewed as US meddling by the Iranian people but as a welcome assist.  And probably even engender a higher level of goodwill towards the US from the Iranian people.

The US, through President Obama's Inauguration Address and his speech in Cairo, extended our hand to the Iranian people and the Iranian people weren't allowed to unclench their fist and grasp that hand even though they wanted to.  This is definitely a case where a wrong should be attempted to be righted...and keep extending our hand to them and let them be safe in the knowledge that we know they tried to reciprocate.  Eventually they will push aside what is preventing them from taking the first small step in the journey they want to take on what will still be a long path to peace.

So let me get this right.  It seems we define freedom, and the amount of freedom we enjoy, now by how deregulated an economy is.  That is the story I seem to be getting.  We can't nationalize the banks?  Why?  Because then their ability to operate at a profit will be hindered and by extension their 'freedom'...it is Socialism don't you know.  And we know that Socialism is what Russia had, right?  Probably not but that doesn't stop it from being said.  Can't have public financed health care.  It is un-American if profit can't be made off of it...more socialism.  Any talk of regulation or higher taxes on highly wealthy individuals...socialism and the loss of the American Way.  We measure the freedom in other countries by how open the markets are.  Not by having a freely elected government, nor their adherence to civil rights, nor of their observance of the Rule of Law.  As long as they are part of the 'global marketplace' that represents freedom.  And the more deregulated their economy is the freer they are. 

When did the 'Freedom' train go off the tracks?

It was the mantra of the 'Reagan Revolution'...the government is the problem and not the solution.  Well right now government is the problem not because the Reagan ideology was ignored but because of it.

We have dangerous products on the market which contain substances like lead which are poisoning us.  There are so many diseases making their way through our food supply that it would put the CDC lab to shame.  Every week it is something new, Salmonella, E-Coli, etc.

The reason the government is the problem is because of what Reagan, his conservative minions and many Democrats did to gut the effectiveness of government.  All for the almighty buck.  The regulatory agencies have been gutted.  There are no longer enough people left in government who oversee industry to make sure that the products we buy don't poison us, the food we eat doesn't sicken us, the air we breath doesn't choke us, the water we drink doesn't kill us and that our financial institutions don't bankrupt us...

What we are now witnessing is the maturation of the conservative ideology as espoused by Ronald Reagan and we are paying a heavy price.  Time to make sure government doesn't allow some people to put the American people needlessly at risk for the sake of a fistful of dollars.  Time to restaff agencies like the EPA, FDA, SEC, and other regulatory agencies and give them the authority to enforce the laws already on the books and any that may/should be passed in the future.

I have seen some people that aren't completely thrilled with Arlen Specter joining the Good Guys.  Sure he doesn't vote the way each of us would like him to...but which Democratic Senator ever does? 

Everything else pales in comparison to the symbolic significance.  Specter was a longstanding high profile and well respected member of the GOP who turned his back on his party because his party turned their backs on him...and the American people.  The Democrats can sit here till the cows come home and rant to the American people about how out of touch the GOP is...now all that is needed to be said is 2 simple words, Arlen Specter.  That is the BIG picture.  The GOP is being rejected by their own...

The S.S. Wingnuttery drifts farther and farther from shore...soon they will hopefully disappear from view and forever be lost at sea.  Time to turn up the heat on Snowe and Collins.  Complete the trifecta...

Why would anyone seek compromise when their position is that of the stronger one? 

If need be you compromise with other reasonable people to achieve a goal but never with people whose only goal is to obstruct you in an effort to make you fail.  Right now all that that remains of the conservative movement is unreasonable obstructionists trying to further their failed political agenda.  There are times to compromise...but this isn't one of those times nor are the current conservatives opposition to compromise with. 

Use the Bully Pulpit Mr. President.  Make the tough choices that need to be made while you still have the political capital, it is not only the right thing to do morally it is the right thing to do electorally.  Not too long ago the conservatives thought they had a permanent majority and their hubris did them in...political power is fleeting.

Since WWII we have been on war footing, allowing our government to have extraordinary powers which it does not deserve to have.  Our efforts to combat terrorism is no more a 'real' war than is the 'war' on drugs.

We are not at war, there are no reasons that our government should be allowed 'war powers' to operate in secrecy, our rights should not be limited to protect our 'safety' and no government official (elected or otherwise) is above the law and they need to be held accountable if they violate the laws of our land.

Time to insist that our government become transparent, accountable and starts answering to 'we the people' again. Stop the domestic spying, prosecute torturers, put the constitutional safeguards back in place that protect our rights...and never allow them to be taken away again.

Political compromising is virtue.  Compromising one's principles is a vice.

Porn stars can be cultural icons.  Marilyn Chambers was an example of this and may she R.I.P.

Curling is nothing more than Bocce on ice.

The Platypus is one weird creature.  Did God drop 3 hits of Purple Haze that day?

The Democrats should give Bernie Sanders a leadership position.

There is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over. (Frank Zappa)

Insanity (part 5): Steve King (R-IA)

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I am a staunch supporter of President Obama.  But he has made some regrettable decisions of late.  Instead of ending the domestic spying program directed at the American people as a whole it seems reports say the abuses in the program have been worse since he took office.  His decision not to prosecute people who possibly/probably committed crimes while working for the government, or contracted with the government to work on its behalf, by torturing detainees in our custody further damages the Rule of Law, and what our country stands for, as we know it.

It strengthens the Bush/Cheney Administration's misguided idea of a 'Unitary Executive'.  It allows the government to continue to operate above the law even if President Obama chooses not to have the government operate that way.  Nothing has been changed if the wrongs of the past are not addressed.  We therefore have not learned from history and will be condemned to repeat it in the future.

These decisions need to be questioned in the harsh light of the implications they have on the Rule of Law and not have the queries be dismissed in some sort of noble, but wholly misguided, attempt to move forward politically. 

Which isn't the same as randomness, lol.  I didn't have a specific topic to post about but felt like rambling a bit...

Easter was great.  Spent it with my tight Italian-American family, and seeing as my parents are getting a bit older (both will be 80 this year) I cherish these holidays more and more.

I am completely pumped to see this band on May 16th in New Jersey.  Right now they are probably my favorite band.

What a great group of people we have here.  Great topics, informed/provocative contributors, lively discussions and time enjoyably spent.  Even the posters I don't always agree with (MiddleClassBill, Lalo, et al) are decent people who I enjoy debating the issues with.

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I just found out this morning that my sister and brother-in-law had to put down their Siberian Husky named Casey last night.  I was there the first day Casey became part of our family when she was a puppy.  She was crazy as a loon, happy-go-lucky and spoiled bitch, who never failed to bring the love and the smiles...she was an important member of our very close immediate family, who will be sorely missed, and who always couldn't wait to see her 'Uncle John'.

If there is a doggy heaven I hope she is getting all the tummy rubs and Frosty Paws she could ever want...

:( :( :( :(

There is one issue where me and the political right agree.  Strong protections of the 2nd Amendment.  It might raise the hackles of my liberal compatriots but I am a staunch civil libertarian.  I feel all of our rights need to be protected lest any of them can come under attack.

Are there problems in America with gun violence?  There sure are.  We have inner city criminal elements often using illegally obtained guns in violent crimes.  We have some very unhinged members of society go on killing sprees, usually using legitimately obtained guns which are legal to own, ending many lives and destroying families.  Guns, purchased here in the US are being smuggled across to the Mexican border and are sold to criminals there who have killed thousands. Absolutely there are problems in our society so free that we enjoy the right to arm ourselves to the teeth.

But...

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