Live from FDL…it’s Thersaturday night!

sathersday!

Evening all. Sorry if this one is a bit low on Teh Funny.

gotta concert hangover from last nite?

A bit.

But then I was writing tonight and thought I would go someplace else, but then discovered this was what actually wanted to say. Happens like that on occasion.

i understand that. gotta go where the muse takes ya dood

I’d like to see Bernie Sanders filibuster for single payer. Then I could vote for him in 2012.

sathersday!

Shiza ya beat me to it Suz!!!
Drive by hello… still 95 ugh!

see ya all later for da late late nite & toonz… & of course the late late nite fun in discussions & music!!!
thers is still a left at http://www.youstreet.org where YOU can start to make a difference just a little but if everyone does…….
I love ya EDIT!!!

He never told the right what they most wanted to hear.

He never told the left what they most wanted to hear, either; some of the left told itself that. And he does have a nemesis: it’s the conservative majority in the Senate–Republicans plus Democrats. If the Senate were equally split between progressives and conservatives, I think we’d see a very different presidency.

Next, the Senate.

Hear me, oh booze!

Muse! I meant Muse!

Good luck with that.

If HRC had won I’d be writing the same damn post about her, too, and tell me different and I will be irked.

I used to think Kucinich was too far left for me, but I’m liking him more and more. I agree though, Obama needs strong challenges from the left. Personally, I think we’d be better off with someone left of Obama.

What I’d love to see is Instant Run-off Voting. If we had it last election I may well have voted for Kucinich.

Certainly he has no rivals on the right (a bunch of third stringers at best). I also have to agree that there is no visible presence on the left in the power establishment. I think we the people are going to have to find better ways to make our voices heard and our presence felt.

That detention memo is currently looking a bit sketchy. It would appear that there are some in the administration who want to do this, but it is not at all clear that Obama himself favors it (or doesn’t for that matter). Some power plays going on here and we are not seeing what is behind the screen.

I never had much more than a smidgeon of cautious optimism for an Obama Administration. I’ve voted in every presidential election since 1980 and that is probably the most enthusiasm I’ve ever managed to muster. When it came down to the nitty gritty though, it was yet another lesser of evils vote.

Well, we can forget about the right — they’re insane and are happy to be so.

The thing that killed me though about last year’s primaries was the sheer naivite of those mistaking personality for movement. Like I said…

The problem is that the “we the people” you refer to are not far-left extremists. Recent Gallup poll showed that 75% of Americans are self-described conservatives or moderates and only 21% liberal. That is why there are Blue Dogs and moderate Democrats. Look at the states they are from. Have you ever been to Louisiana outside of New Orleans?

Rahm and Barack get this — it’s a shame FDL doesn’t.

we gotta get better d’s so we can push from the left. after decades of r’s declaring liberal is a curse word, we gotta get that turned around and remind everyone that america was founded on liberal principles.

‘Zactly.

What I’m saying.

Yah, way too many Blue Dogs.

Thers ! Suz !

I’ll tell you what, if Jane and Friends can use the momentum from the last couple of weeks to give strength to the Progressive caucus and get those messages into the public domain, BlueDogs will lose in ‘10 & ‘12. The rest will veer left, to hold office. By then BO will be in his second term and it will be perfect timing to ram some truly progressive ideas through Congress.

I think it personally helps that I tend to be skeptical of politicians generally (comes from living in Oklahoma and Chicago) and that I really was not committed to either of the finalists (both much to far to the right for my tastes). I agree with Suzanne as well, but I do not see how we do that unless we can get the big money out of politics and nobody in congress is about to vote for that. My own senior senator has been getting an earful on healthcare reform from his constituents, but is completely ignoring us. A majority here want a public plan and we could really use it as 17% have no insurance and two companies control 85% of the market.

Some Blue Dogs are better than others…

This one is OK as well, but the rest need to take a permanent vacation.

Thers blogs, but this is my therapy for the political insanity. Even had company (she was standing about 20 feet away).

This one isn’t bad.

sweet eye candy dood

That is a superb pic of Granny on the Indian…

Ellen Tauscher had the Gavel yesterday, during the ACES “debate” in the house. She totally lost control and allowed Boner to run amok. She did rap Waxman fingers quite sternly a couple of times, to raucous cheers from the Repugs. Ellen should be ashamed to sit in that Chair as a Dem !

That’s my point: we need a movement, not a savior. And we’re on our way, but it will be a generational shift, if we get there.

The problem is, the planet may not have a generation left to go. Which is, I’m afraid, not hyperbole, but a likelihood.

That is my paternal grandmother. It is 1920 and she is 16 years old. She left school at 14 to work in a factory (common at the time). Apparently a bit of a wild child in her youth and always smart, strong, and a force of nature (good to know I come by it naturally).

I fear you are correct about all of that.

I think the planet has more than a single generation left, although quality of life will likely deteriorate for many humans (and non-humans). Anyway, I’m going to play it safe and remain too poor and unattractive to reproduce…

these are very dicey times indeed thers. i hope that jane’s whip tool is helping to kickstart the progressive movement into something we can be proud of.

I also use that picture in my anthropology of gender class. Impresses the students.

I should say so. In 1920 is would have been scandalous for a woman to be seen wearing pants. Good for her!

I think it is one of several initiatives that are showing promise and give me some hope that we can accomplish something and change the system. We just aren’t there yet.

Jane’s on the side of the angels.

It’s a great photo, Dr…Dick.
Looks like she was quite a character.
FunnyWheelieDiva

Because we don’t have a left in this country — or at least, a left with an insider media and DC villager presence, which amounts to the same thing.

That is what Gorbachev thought about his country. We are still emerging from our era of stagnation.

We are still emerging from our era of stagnation.

Yeah, the first 233 years is always the hardest.

dr dick – my dad drove an indian until he crashed it into the long beach fountain one weekend on shore leave

Almost asleep. Niters.

8-)

Night, Thers

Suz, that ‘cycle crash must be a good family story?

FWDiva

g’nite thers

Sleep the sleep of the just.

The early models were constructed entirely of divining rods, nearly impossible to steer away from water.

Seriously though, I hope he came through it unscathed.

G’nite.

yup – dad used to say he was drunker than a skunk and that is probably what saved him. the ‘35 indian, on the other hand, was a total loss.

G’nite Thers !

Are the trolls all tucked in safely under their bridges or still plotting to add Reagan’s mug to Mt. Rushmore?

hahahaha divining rods :) he stayed off motorcycles after that figuring he had used up all his m/c good luck with that crash.

I think they are still plotting, but nobody is paying any attention. You know how it is with guys that live under bridges and loudly mutter to themselves all the time.

based on the recent increase in those under bridge visitors, the whip it health care push has them quite concerned.

We all left after he directed a stupid comment towards katymine.

I never would have owned a motorcycle while my dad was alive. As a cop he’d seen too many riders that had to be scraped off the pavement, it would have worried him to death. By the time of his passing too many of my peers had checked out that way and I no longer had any interest. Very glad to hear your dad caught a lucky break.

Hmmm. Sound like you need to replace your Troll-B-Gon. After a while they lose their kick.

she sliced and diced him up pretty good in return.

Ow, I’m sorry to hear that happened. I hope she was able to take it in stride.

i kinda figure trolls mean we are doing our job.

I am way to much of a klutz and also had a friend who spread himself and his chopped Harley over a quarter mile of Appalachia highway. Made an unbeliever out of me.

katymine was great but his comment @ 105 was inane and no one replied, which I think speaks volumes.

The little plastic trolls back when I was a kid were so cute. Too bad these wingnuts are undermining the brand.

Thank goodness…… those idiots literally had no clue….

Hi everyone….. it was 110 degrees today…… went grocery shopping and did errands…. at one time the car temp was reading 119….

i loved them – esp the one with electric blue hair and the purple haired one

With a couple noteworthy exceptions, most of the people I’ve known who checked out on motorcycles were not at fault. Usually the result of some driver not seeing them.

Don’t tell anybody but I still own a couple.

dang katy – i would forking melt. i had a lovely day of 75 here and it is a very pleasant 56 outside now.

I am coming to the opinion that it is probably not the best idea for fat old men to hike five miles the day after they hiked eight mile. Heading out to contemplate my mortality. Take care all.

shhhh my lips are sealed – i won’t tell a soul

g’nite dr dick

Hi katymine! What kind of wine should be served with troll?

Had one friend taken out that way as well, but the guy on the Appalachian highway was going way too fast for the road.

Sleep well.

Ripple…. nice fresh ripple…..

One guy I knew was racing on the interstate, clocked over 140. Survived a spill in the median and staggered onto the road in time to be taken out by the trooper pursuing at 100+ mph.

Not something cheaper?

used to crack me up when one of our motor officers would refer to motorcycles as donor-cycles. he just didn’t see the irony.

even two buck chuck is now three dollars…….

It really cracks me that someone would question my knowledge on health care……

Bob has had his jammies on for more than an hour, giving me the evil eye for keeping him up past his bedtime. Wishing a splendid evening to all.

yanno katy – i’ve been thinking that it might be a good idea for you to do a series of ox diaries about the health care and cost experiences. you have good insurance. you are a health care professional. you know the ins and outs and still have a fucking quagmire that you have to negotiate.

{{{{{katy}}}}}

So glad you’re here. I know you’re fighting cancer, and even that it was serious. But I had no idea it was as it is.

I’m sorry that DL troll got you wound up earlier.

Just wanted ya to know.

g’nite ratfood

That is the best way to take it. The ignorant will always be with us, just have to keep trying to make things better whether they like it or not.

Have a wonderful evening, katymine. Enjoy your hot weather. After a week in the 90s I am looking forward to the low 80s we have been promised.

nurses called them suici-cycles….

Oh, but he always wore his cute little 3/4 helmet, right?

Today is was 105 here. Tomorrow it will be 107 or more. Our AC is broken but we have two window units in the bedrooms. I have spent most of the day in my room with the door shut tightly. The dogs begged to go out and lasted about 30 seconds. They didn’t even get out of the shade of the front porch.

no shit.

full helmet

{{{{{ katymine & elmore }}}}}

i’m so glad i moved outta ca

actually I enjoyed it….. I needed the stimulation…… mostly I just laughed….

trolls do not handle it well when laughed at

and laughter is good for us katy

I used to ride. I’m thinking about getting a bike again, must be staring at 55 or something. I’ve always believed that the best full-face helmet you can buy and always wear might be good enough.

Personally, I think that riding without a helmet should constitute implied consent for organ donation.

To Katy: as long as you enjoyed it, then it’s good. I just wish knuckleheads that one would actually go Galt, get out of our way so we can accomplish some things that need doing.

Elmore is camping with his youngest son and his girlfriend….. they are over near Bend Oregon…. at Blue Lake….. they went to the high desert museum and walked the lava tubes….

The troll’s still down there spreading its cr*p all over. We’re not buying it, but it isn’t quitting. It thinks it can win. I think it’s time to turn it into a pinata.

i’m sure freep will be along shortly to finish it off.

The troll just took a dump in my Oxdown diary comments. He’s getting aggressive — says we won’t have a working majority after 2010. He really ought to not watch so much Faux Noise…

One must do what one must do.

i sure hope he aint getting paid more than min wage. he is a rather tiresome pest isn’t he

Go to it PJ….

Elmore was a big bike rider, for years until he move to Waterloo Iowa and the snow and cold just made riding way too miserable.

Do you think he’s getting paid to harass us?

i can’t say for sure. i can say that we are seeing an increase in trolls lately and i think that is because of our whip action. we scared the crap outta them with the supplemental and now they know we have health care in our sites. i think back to when we would get the obvious gop trolls back during previous calls to action and can not help but wonder.

First, some late nite this is. Y’all are gone by 9.35.

Redfish: “Recent Gallup poll showed that 75% of Americans are self-described conservatives or moderates and only 21% liberal.”

My theory: The poll isn’t really describing conservatives, moderates, or even liberals. It seems similar to the past 15 -25 years that young women have rejected the idea that they are feminists. But it’s just the word they are afraid of, not the philosophy. It’s merely sophistry. I think. I’m guessing. I hope.

There’s evidence that you’re right.

When people are given descriptions of positions, they more often line up with liberal/progressive positions than conservative positions. I can’t lay my hands on the research reference at the moment.

You are so right. How the questions are framed is very important. If you don’t ask conservative or liberal association questions but questions of values then you get a much higher percentage of liberals. Sort like when the news was “liberal”. It was simply that telling the truth about what is really happening seems to have a liberal outcome.

Wow. I’m part of something that scared the GOP? Far-freaking-out.

This is the start of payback for all the fear Incurious George and his buddies have inflicted on me and Mrs BC since 2001.

Me thinks I owe you a coka cola.

The truth does seem to have a liberal bias … and for sure, the truth isn’t ideological.

Diet, please. Or better, a Sam Adams Black Lager.

But of Course… They know who inhabits the Lake and they would like nothing better than to get under our skins… maybe Lurk could do something to make this bothersome crud go away??? Don’t mess with our lake!!

I don’t see the benefit in trying to rationalize or explain away polls you don’t like — the US is not a country that is representative of the general political ideology represented on FDL.

What momentum is that? FDL pushed as hard as they could against the supplemental and lost. I think the far-left blogs trying to threaten and intimidate Democrats backfires 90% of the time.

(WP) “Activists say they are simply pressing for quick delivery of “true health reform,” but the intraparty rift runs the risk of alienating centrist Democrats who will be needed to pass a bill”.

(Dian Feinstein)”I do not think this is helpful. It doesn’t move me one whit, they are spending a lot of money on something that is not productive.”

(WP) “One Democratic strategist who is working full-time on health reform was apoplectic over what he called wasted time, energy and resources by the organizations. The strategist, who asked for anonymity because he was criticizing colleagues, said, “These are friends of ours. I would much rather see a quiet call placed by Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel saying this isn’t helpful. Instead, we try to decimate them?”

obama’s too cool to realize his hubris . he has one very inportant rival and that’s the depression economy . we are looking at sarah palin 2012 . by then we will be completely finiished . sorry guys .

I stopped liking obama the day he bailed on the constitution and fisa

I was hoping he was playing along till he got into office but that was a rediculous hope

so here we are, we have with us a man who would have won the republican primary if he ran with his agenda under their banner

I want him to be a one term president

Perris, thanks for being honest, proving my point and validating my contention. Many FDL participants like yourself are so far to the left, so far outside the mainstream of political thought in this country that it defies credulity. Unfortunately for you and fortunately for “real progressives” like myself and millions of others like me, Barack Obama was elected President and not Code Pink.