March 30, 2009 08:30 PM
Open Thread
I'm glad my version of the Ed Henry thing was a little too off-color for open thread because this one is great. From The Full Ginsburg. Open thread below...
About Bluegal aka Fran
Executive Producer of The Professional Left Podcast. On staff at Crooks and Liars since 2007. Master's degree from Harvard. Happy wife of Driftglass. Mother of three geniuses. Obsessive knitter. Blogs at http://bgalrstate.blogspot.com. .
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Although Beck and Hannity and Limbaugh and all the other talking heads are purely entertainment driven, his popularity hints at a deeper problem with this country. The ever increasing polarization of America's population. It reminds me of an old revolutionary slogan "United we Stand. Divided we Fall." Now more than ever the people of America need to stand together and demand change that does not damage this country further.
As many of you know I am opposed to the direction that Obama is taking, evidenced further with his pressuring of GM CEO to resign. However, I am just as opposed to the radical partisan sentiments proffered on this blog. When a person, or a group of people, think that their opinion is the only one that matters and strive to bully opposing opinions into silence and failing that revert to unabridged hatred of that person and their opinions our country is doomed to fail.
If we give up the exchange of ideas. If we exclude those who we don't agree with. If we build up walls around ourselves to protect us from others then how, as a civilization, can we hope to survive.
I say that this trend that I am seeing, heightened by most of my interactions with people on this website, is the greatest destructive force our country has ever seen. It surpasses that of the Civil War, most of whose participants in the south felt they were fighting for their homes and not political idealism.
The exchange of ideas, the discussion and growth of individuals and as a result the systems that we have created, is the most liberal goal one can strive for. Everything else is communism, not the political system but the insulation of like minded people into communes that feed on each others hatred of anything outside that commune.
So I lay a challenge before you today: don't be leftists or rightists, democrats or republicans, be liberal.
On Wednesday morning I will get interviewed by Wes Brain at 10am EDT (7 am PDT) on a radio station in Oregon but which also broadcasts on the web.
I will talk about my strategy to enact the employee free choice act, a 10 dollar an hour minimum wage, single payer universal health care, a new effective prescription drug benefit in Medicare Part B, and an accelerated end to the Iraq war.
How will we do this? By stopping doing business with some major Republican campaign contributors and telling Mitch McConnell that we demand such legislation and until we get that legislation a section of the population that wants this legislation will no longer buy their products.
Put the following link in your Windows Media Player.
http://audio1.kskq.org:8080/studio.m3u
and listen Wednesday Morning 10am Eastern Daylight Time on the web.
You can go to http://write-congress.democratz.org and send the letter to Mitch McConnell for free by fax. Do it now. Get your friends to send the fax. This movement will not succeed unless you get your friends to send the fax and their friends to send the fax.
Why do monkeys fling poo at each other !
If somebody was being charitable, they would say they knew no better.
Who did Obama's voice on your version? Amazing!
I actually think that his address to the DNC was his greatest speech to date and whose message is unsurpassed.
yeah and who ever wrote it for him was well paid!
this is true but can't the words mean something no matter who wrote them?
id assume they ment, lookit heres you next annointed leader!
maybe. one thing for sure is that it catapulted him into the national spotlight.
it was ment to, ragun could read a good script allso!
Not many people realize Raygun prob spent more days asleep or senile, than Chimpy spent on vacation.
Did we donate to and elect Obama to continue on with the b*stard GWB's policies !?
Withdraw all troops from Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere.
America first, we don't need to be the world's imperial bullyboy.
Its not appreciated by the various ungrateful natives and makes us unloved.
from an audio book. He's got some good ones...
Barack Obama is tired of your motherfucking shit
me-oww!
cassano of AIG apparently set-up dozens of separate companies some off-shore to handle transactions
effectively keeping them off the books and out of sight of the regulators in the u.s. and u.k. any contracts by AIG were moved off-shore for the express purpose of getting out from under regulation and TAX evasion for corporations and private clients. nyork attorney general cuomo is really going to work on this.
The VA is helpful in giving our vets hepatitis through contaminated equipment. AT&T decides to be the RIAA's lapdog. Is the recession leading to more gun-nuttery? The post office is broke.
Vermont's Senate legalizes gay marriage. Warships get ready for WWIII with N. Korea. A scumbag in the Army gets 35 with possibility of parole for the war-crime of murdering four Iraqis. The Cambodians get ahead of the neo-cons in cashing in on the "legacy" of their country's war crimes. The Senate has a problem with HMOs charging extra for out-of-network doctors. Many at Gitmo are innocent. A teen gets tasered to death by a cop. For a country rocked by drug-related violence, Mexico doesn't seem to want our involvement. IBM honors the employees who helped them weather a tough year by giving them pink slips. If you're middle-class and unemployed, good luck getting benefits. China has no problem hacking into U.S. state computers. The CIA uses the radio to hire more nazis, er, agents. O'Reilly brags about boycotting Sean Penn and his McCarthyist witch-hunts against other celebrities. An analysis on why Barry shows tougher love to GM than AIG is that the latter group has the economy by the balls.
rather amusing in a shocking way. Worlds largest imperial 'war machine' and they only found out some of their computers were compromised during a software upgrade.
Wednesday is going to be interesting too, with that Conflicker worm infesting millions of PCs, what will happen !
All I'll say for now is that the Westboro Baptist Church/Phelps family is truly fucked up. The fact that they delight in telling people they're going to hell is sickening.
Altho I did feel sorry for the little Phelps boy who had a drink thrown at him by adults (I hate to say this, but I agree with Shirley Phelps, it was cowardly for them to do that). I feel sorry for the little Phelps children in general...
"The greatest tyranny is censoring information in order to be better able to control people." - Cristina Saralegui
Were the parents out of range?
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
Of course. There is a funny video on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8cN2pB3MCE
They have quite a songbook of 'hate' songs. Some are quite funny in a bang yer head against a wall way.
kids, until the incident happened, and Shirley went to check on him. They threw the whole cup at him, actually. Poor little guy was shook up, and it was very uncomfortable to watch Shirley stop being the hatemonger long enough to be a nurturer...
"The greatest tyranny is censoring information in order to be better able to control people." - Cristina Saralegui
Typical Westboro cowardly bullshit. Who took the kid to the protest in the first place?
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
They might have salmonella.
butter.
Guess I will have to replace worrying about peanut butter with worrying about pistachios. Mind you, I saw them in the store today, and was tempted. :S
"The greatest tyranny is censoring information in order to be better able to control people." - Cristina Saralegui
somebody with a company and a FDA job ?
I saw a warning on the cantelopes yesterday that the need to be washed before cutting into them as there may be salmonella on the skin.
Is salmonella now part of the food pyramid? What is the recommended daily allowance of it? It's become like flouride in the water.
Everyone is doing it.
or having it.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
[Deleted. Quit calling other posters out. This isn't fight club-Sitemonitor]
sniff.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
we've gotten to sample lately--pepper, peanut, cantaloupe, pistachio. Only in America...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmm salad.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
Maybe better hygiene - ie work breaks, toilets, place to wash up - for the field workers, would fix this.
Just my guess.
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
with sinks for hand-washing nowadays. Kinda surprised that CA at least hasn't required upgraded facilities in light of recent outbreaks.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
'profits before people'
Here in Monterey ( Huge Ag industry) they bring along an outhouse with them nowadays. Everywhere.
But still, they're not sanitary. They can't be. Ever been in one of those? Sanitation in those things, can't be done.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
Handicapped ramps, little sinks, etc. Seen 'em at some concerts, other public events. I'm sure they're pricier that the standard dump boxes, but they help.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
Lets say that the field workers aren't super hygienic. (Just for conversations sake)
The produce gets washed several times before it ends up in your bag at the check out.
Something is up. Something that they're not telling us.
Modified foods. So, we go back to the modified food source again. I would imagine that some illness's have shown up in the past.
But since this new modified food source, it seems that more of this kinda thing is showing up more often.
we're fucked.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
I'm guessing that it's more likely cost-cutting by processors and inspectors than anything else. And really, port-a-heads are a decided improvement over how things were done in the "good (bad?) old days". The villainization of farmworkers in any of this is really disgusting, IMHO.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
I've seen some pretty pissed off field workers here.
I'm not going to blame them for this.
But you can't rule it out.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
All the critters that roam those fields either. We have lots of those too.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
oh noes!
And possibly rodents too...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
Wild pigs, deer, raccoons( thems some nasty critters) possums, rodents, badgers and an assortment of wild cats and dogs.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
Thank you, the United Farm Workers had to fight tooth and nail just to get proper and sanitary bathroom acommodations for the farmworkers. It wouldn't surprise me, however, if the owners of the farms were allowing for substandard working conditions again.
They have to go through a lot of indignities and injustices just to pick all our fruits and veggies for us. The children's cancer clusters in McFarland, a town 5 miles from here, will attest to that.
So as not to end this comment on a negative note, it's going be Cesar Chavez Day here in about 80 minutes from now! As the daughter of former migrant farmworkers, I'd like to celebrate by joining in on the local memorial march, but won't be able to. I'll have to see what I can do tomorrow! :)
"The greatest tyranny is censoring information in order to be better able to control people." - Cristina Saralegui
Hope they get a good turn-out.
I wonder what sort of celebrations, if any, will go on here in South FL. I'm not far from Immokolee, where tomato pickers were trying to push Burger King for an extra penny per pound picked. Was a big local labor issue here a couple of years ago.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
They should, the weather is nice, and people are used to walking everywhere, so the march, which starts a couple blocks from here (where the original march to Sacremento, and also Cesar's funeral march took place), and ends at the 40 Acres compound, won't be too hard on people.
Hmm, I remember the tomato pickers' struggle. I do remember writing some letters to Burger King about it. Hopefully they have some little celebrations, if they can!
"The greatest tyranny is censoring information in order to be better able to control people." - Cristina Saralegui
There are things an idividual can do to make them more sanitary. I worked construction for about 10 years. I always had hand sanitizer in my truck. Also carried a jug of water and soap to wash up before lunch.
Good old soap and water is best.
far left loon >.<
Some bacteria is good and necessary. Hand sanitizers ARE NOT A GOOD IDEA.
far left loon >.<
it makes us all so more safe and secure.
It's the unregulated, "responsible" free market that keeps us so safe and secure.
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
...an assassination attempt against George W. Bush with a dud hand grenade? A reference was in a story I was sent in the UK Guardian. Here's a copy of the letter I wrote to that paper asking for confirmation...
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
I remember it .. Google it ..
For instance:
Bush grenade scare: Man confesses
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/may/19/g...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
I say that this trend that I am seeing, heightened by most of my interactions with people on this website, is the greatest destructive force our country has ever seen. It surpasses that of the Civil War, most of whose participants in the south felt they were fighting for their homes and not political idealism.
=====================================================================The greatest destructive force to our country is not the disagreements we have here but the MSM that alloows the voices of the neocons and the right wing consertives dominate the airways and all of the rest of the media outlets. We can disagree at times but that is not always destructive and can be constructive.
I should have replied to Chris Yoder with this.
Bricks don't listen.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
even the thickest of walls.
That sounds kinda kinky.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
if you wear a super penetrating condom.
.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
I used to do masonry work. :)
What is your conceptual, continuity?
appreciates those job skills, even with the slowdown in the construction trade...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
For ....... pleasure. :)
What is your conceptual, continuity?
I created another monster.
yep, you betcha!
What is your conceptual, continuity?
hey mudshark... 'sup?
me-oww!
Just havin some fun on an open thread.
It's all rons fault. He started it. ;)
What is your conceptual, continuity?
(Republican response) you did it first.
I'll take the blame.
And pass it off to you ron.:)
What is your conceptual, continuity?
Hahahahahaha!
Theres plenty of disillusioned people there, and they are not being polite about it.
The American people dont expect miracles and immediate resolve of the financial crisis, but a few Wall Streeters dangling from lamp-posts would be a good start, and an end to the MIC and the overseas adventures is a must.
that there is only one o in allows... ;)
Rubbish! That's communism, I tell you! Communism!!
Barry saves some trees. Madoff gets his own trading card. The U.S. finds a place for one of its detainees.
"It's been our position throughout that medical doctors are not to be detained as combatants,"
My gripe is with the following statement in the article:
So not surprising they
shreddedkeep the paperwork secret.I also believe there is not much paperwork is a lot of the cases there, they kept them incarcerated, tortured them and didn't keep records per se, or nothing that is intelligent. There was mention of no organized database of casework at Gitmo, CIA kept it elsewhere and secret.
Then theres the case of KSM and the big names all refusing legal representation, and all being segregated and not being able to communicate with each other, yet all pleading guilty and saying the same thing. Akin to something from Kafka or the Texas legal system when that happens.
"Papers filed last year in the case charge Batarfi twice met bin Laden, the second time at the fierce battle at Tora Bora between U.S. forces and al-Qaida. Bin Laden allegedly asked the doctor to provide medical treatment to wounded fighters, and he agreed."
http://news.aol.com/article/bernie-madoff-lot...
Maybe covered here earlier? If so, sorry. Been on the road a lot lately...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
http://www.donovantalk.com/2009/03/clinton-sa...
guarding pipelines and oil facilities, maybe?
I don't know this, but it's come to light that a Bakersfield pastor is a convicted rapist. The main pastor of his church says that a) the girl was 17 and b) the girl lied... ugh...
Prior to this, another Bakersfield pastor was arrested to assault on a child because he paddled a twelve year old boy in front of his congregation. Word is he is known for paddling children and grown women in front of the congregation if they're "disobedient." :S
"The greatest tyranny is censoring information in order to be better able to control people." - Cristina Saralegui
They're forgiven on Sunday. They're born again when they need it.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
That's exactly what's so sad about the whole thing.
"The greatest tyranny is censoring information in order to be better able to control people." - Cristina Saralegui
It's been a good night.
I might be a little silly, I might have crazy ideas, but when AIG shares were 50 cent I thought a short term investment maybe a good idea. now 95 cent a share isn't that double your money now? hmmm silly little stoner. :) Wonder how long it will last? How high it might go?
From Yahoo:
Have you guys heard about this crap?
Md. mom pleads guilty in cult starvation death
BALTIMORE – A former religious cult member pleaded guilty Monday to starving her 1-year-old son to death after making an unusual deal with prosecutors: If the child is resurrected, her plea will be withdrawn. Ria Ramkissoon, 22, also agreed to testify against four other members of the now-defunct religious group known as 1 Mind Ministries. All four are charged with first-degree murder in the death of Javon Thompson.
According to a statement of facts, the cult members stopped feeding the boy when he refused to say "Amen" after a meal. After Javon died, Ramkissoon sat next to his decomposing body and prayed for his resurrection.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090331/ap_on_re_...
Crazy People and their Religion.
It's still only the dead ender 28 percenters who supported Bush who still blame Obama for the economy.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/...
There are Dem supporters that would never blame a Dem for any bad decision. Every political party has diehard supporters. That's what is wrong with so-called "democracy".
we are still being used by the bush cheny thugs!obama was the best thing that ever happened for the repig party, the final destruction of the middle class, and its happening with the approval of the middle class, four more years , the rich get richer the poor get screwed ,more war for fun and profit, more destruction of the unions , dont look for any prosicution of the bush cheny gang, the obama teams in now for the second half giveing you more 911 bs, afganistans the good war , bushes only mistake ! not being a good enough dictator, well obama will see about doing it right this time, 911, osama bin forgotten and general betrayus, and gates will make sure obamas a winning war presnut! and liberals are in short supply these days , as long as a presnuts able to speak well and read a good speach your more then happy,
Ontario's provincially mandated minimum wage increased today to $9.50/hour!! Now people that work at McD's, Walmart, and the local Tim Horton's coffee shops, can afford to put in that new pool!!
AND
If they smoke, they only have to work a little more than an hour for a pack! Case of beer? Little over 4 hours for cans! Oh my, the wealth that is being shared is just way too much.
at Ave Maria University:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1609...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
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