I’d especially like to respond to Crosstimber’s comment: “You’ve encapsulated the constitutional issues which seem like they ought to be apparent to every adult American.” Ought to be, but aren’t because half the population doesn’t know what the constitution guarantees, the media doesn’t cover these “process” issues, and the public is told over and over that such things are boring. But Tom Brady’s every syllable is momentous. Sunday’s NY Times did not say word one, in news or op-ed sections, about these impending votes and the underlying issues of legality and rights. I guess Risen’s subpoena stopped any further discussion–at least until after McCain’s inauguration. America needs a cold shower. Gatorade, anyone?

Thank you. Very good question. I wish to see Bush answer it.

Hope and a need to “hang in there and keep trying” is said many times here and on numerous other progressive blogs. But discouragement has started to take hold at a level that is new even to this blog.

So working on the belief that actions speak louder than words, I would to like to reintroduce a suggestion that I have made a couple of times before, on this and a few other blogs. A country wide boycott or strike, on purchasing anything other than that which is essential.

As is so happens, having such a boycott would fit in nicely with the current economic crisis, since people have fewer dollars to spend. But more importantly, it would affect primarily those who are making money off of other people labor. And if the concern is that people would be laid off because demand is less, that is happening already.

Since consumer spending constitutes a large percentage of GDP, a month of so of boycotting would indeed get the attention of politicians and the business world. But most importantly, it would tell the American public that indeed, they do have power, and if wielded effectively, can have a very profound and positive effect.

sometime i focus too much on the details of the argument (argument as in analysis NOT argument as in fight), and forget that people (me too!) will naturally take comments personally. it doesn’t matter much if i don’t mean it personally, when i haven’t communicated that.

anyway, it’s been a long time (too long) since i last said thank you.

thank you christy! thank you for all your posts and all your work behind the scenes (about which i have no doubts, unlike some body i mentioned above).

please, please don’t think my love of argument is any way expressing dissatisfaction – on the contrary, it’s the way i learn the best – when my perspective is questioned and i question alternative perspectives. i know that i really need to find a way to express that clearly up front, instead of explaining after i’ve already caused aggravation.

…. and i don’t know if you caught my comment a few days ago… but really do hope that some day you write a book about all your experiences that you are going through now. especially the stuff you feel you can’t talk about now – maybe someday you will be able to. in any event, please take good notes now… just in case!

more just trying to explain why i’m not quite with you on this one… maybe i will be tomorrow. especially as i find more time to read. i don’t think the process of convincing someone (me or anyone else) usually happens in one discussion or one post… it’s a process – and i promise to try to keep an open mind. because your opinion is one i take very seriously, even when i think i disagree.