Most of the people at these rallies are middle age and seniors who
fear that an expansion of medicare will dilute their coverage,

In 1980, I knew a woman on welfare who voted for Reagan, because he would “get rid of the welfare queens” and then there by more money for her and people like her.

When elite institutions – a cable television network or a medical corporation, for instance – intentionally incite extra-legal or illegal mob action and even violence, what should we call it? And what should be done about it?

1) “Inciting to Violence”

2) “Criminal Syndicalism”

3) “Making Terrorist Threats”

Prosecute.

I think what happens is their white guilt, that I think nearly all of us white people carry but are mostly unaware of, is stimulated. This is implied by our vehement insistance that ‘I didn’t do slavery and Jim Crow, why am I blamed? When, in fact, no one is currently blaming them.

Clark is a very savvy state senator who’s the assistant majority leader. Bachmann eked out a victory (re-election; WTF were those people THINKING?) in 2008 against the unfortunately named Elwyn Tinklenberg, whom many believed to be a principled and capable adversary for Michele Belle. Tinklenberg recently announced his intention to run again, and more recently, dropped out.

I recently read that Michele Belle is on the NCRR’s endangered species list (I don’t remember their euphemism for that).

So all of this is by way of saying we are hopeful that MB’s days as the laughing-stock of Congress are drawing to a close. Then she and Sarah Palin can pal around, doing bobble-head-speak wherever anyone will have them. St. Louis Zoo, maybe?

Somewhat on topic, I wrote a letter to Cornyn on Friday which recognized that he would opposed my view, listed the many instances through our history of successful federal actions, from internal improvements to Medicare, and ended with the following:

“Accordingly, I ask that you, as an educated, civic minded, public servant, refrain from using loaded terms, such as “socialism.” As you know, federal, state, and local governments have always served the function of pooling the funds of citizens to provide the services necessary to realize the stated purposes of the Constitution.

Moreover, in light of recent development, I would ask that you publically discourage the kind of hooliganism which has been employed lately to disrupt the free exchange of ideas at congressional listening sessions. You and anyone who truly believes in representative government have to be embarrassed and ashamed that anyone professing to care about our form of government would use tactics most often accompanying the rise of despotism. Finally, I know you understand that no plan under consideration will encourage elderly citizens (of which I am one) to end their lives, promote public funding of abortion, or would institute health care “rationing” to any greater extent than do the current “high option plans” and “low option plans” available through private insurance companies.”

I guess he hadn’t read it yet by Saturday.