Pyroxene's Blog

Pyroxene Commented on Wife beaters, soylent green, insurance companies. Now it makes sense. by Pyroxene

2009-08-07T00:31:26Z

Seriously though, in a discussion (loosely defined) today I ran into so many anti-reform talking points it was astounding. Nearly impossible to get past. I really do try, as I would think most people here would, to do due diligence on the pro-reform talking points (trust but verify). I don't get that feeling from the opponents. Is it laziness, or denial? This circles back to the original point, which was only slightly tongue in cheek, about the Stockholm Syndrome like nature of the anti-reform movement.

Good commentary folks. I'm not sure there's an answer, but if the problem can't be defined there certainly won't be.

Pyroxene Commented on Wife beaters, soylent green, insurance companies. Now it makes sense. by Pyroxene

2009-08-07T00:16:39Z

Hmmm. You have a point there dickday.
"A collective is a group of people who share or are motivated by at least one common issue or interest, or work together on a specific project(s) to achieve a common objective. Collectives are also characterized by attempts to share and exercise political and social power and to make decisions on a consensus-driven and egalitarian basis. Collectives differ from cooperatives in that they are not necessarily focused upon an economic benefit or saving (but can be that as well)."

I guess we're all here typing in the TPM online collective!

There are less benign interpretations (reference- see BORG).

Pyroxene Commented on Wife beaters, soylent green, insurance companies. Now it makes sense. by Pyroxene

2009-08-06T17:33:21Z

Good discussion. I'd certainly agree that fear is the most effective attention grabber/motivator, and the Right is expert at it. So how does one effectively oppose this radicalized, scared faction? Screaming back won't work. Having the cops escort the frothers out of town halls will feed into their paranoia. Establish free speech zones away from the meetings? Hah! Just kidding. I don't think new agey sessions where everyone can get in touch with their feelings stands a chance either. My fear is they'll look like, and be treated as, a major movement when they're actually just the loudest (Isn't that how the Bolsheviks made it all happen?)

I see on HuffPo that the AFL-CIO is mobilizing to take the frothers on directly. Hopefully it won't backfire. I don't think the frothers are open to changing their minds, and will just double down. Perhaps shining a light (pointing the camera) at the excessive wackos will motivate people of reason to get off their duffs to support reform. Sure.

Pyroxene Commented on New McCain/RNC Ad In Montana: "Don't Be Bitter. Vote McCain" by Greg Sargent

2008-10-29T00:14:06Z

Here Here!

As a Montanan, most people I know, even if they are CW fans, think HWj is an overbearing interloping ass with more money than sense. His boorish behavior hasn't endeared him to anyone I know in the Bitteroot Valley.

Not the most effective spokesman. Hmm. Maybe he is. For the Obama campaign.

Montana may yield a surprise on election day. I wrote a reply awhile back about visiting friends in north central Montana wheat country. The Obama office in Harlem, a small town of 900, is active, effective, and has had good support from the national campaign. I am amazed by the depth and breadth of the Obama ground game here.

These hardworking, gun owning, tolerantly religious folks aren't bitter. They're pissed. And most of the Montana women I know were insulted by the Palin pick, and think she's a poser.

Pyroxene Commented on Poll: Red State Of Montana Up For Grabs by Eric Kleefeld

2008-10-23T21:15:02Z

Since I live in Montana, I can tell you that McCain has NO ground game here, while Obama has offices all over and a BUNCH of motivated volunteers. I visited friends (wheat farmers) over the weekend in the town of Harlem (Population 900 +/-)up on the Hi Line along the Canadian border. Obama signs were everywhere, and there's a volunteer Obama office on the main street. This is about as rural as rural gets in Montana, but it seems the consensus is McCain is running off the rails, and Palin is an insulting joke (not the ha ha kind either). Montana women know a poser when they see one, and they certainly see one in Palin.

Pyroxene recommended Poll: Red State Of Montana Up For Grabs by Eric Kleefeld

2008-10-23T19:12:54Z

Pyroxene recommended SnowJob SquareGlasses by Pyroxene

2008-09-20T22:58:33Z