Good Morning, I have to bo out early today. Peace, folks.

The idea is that the United States is divided into two classes–the hard-working productive elite, and the indolent masses leeching off their labor by means of confiscatory taxes and transfer programs.

Seems a bit bloody backwards to me. Two classes yes however most of us are pissed off about the lazy rich bastards that live like kings off the sweat of the poor hard working masses.

The Iraqi reporter who threw his shoes at W was released from jail.

Good morning everyone.

Good morning folks. The trolling will be heavy today. It started last night. We need to scroll and scroll.

Do not take the bait.

If they get you mad, direct your energy to a congressional call for a public option.

Why the troll infestation? Was Jane on TV again?

Corporate welfare is the trickle down dream, tho. Get with the program.

klynn is right, ignore them – it makes them wither away.

Heard several economists on NPR yesterday say Obama’s “reform” of the financial industry is nothing more than whitewashing the cracks. Not very optimistic on Obama’s “plans.” He gives good rhetoric but the follow through is weak. I almost expect Ashton Kutcher to pop uo and say, “You’ve been punked!”

Given who’s in charge of Obamanonics, how would you expect anything else. Plus, democracynow is doing a segment on it, pointing out that the Wall St. lobbies will prevent anything meaningful from happening. I think Wall St. was Obama’s biggest contributor,

MSNBC – Biden just landed in Baghdad on a surprise visit.

Wall St. will prevent any meaningful reform. The health industry is attempting to prevent any real health care reform. So what’s changed? A system so corrupt and ossified meaningful transformation would seem to be next to impossible. Of course it never helps to have a weak, unprincipled, self-serving and cynical political ruling class.

great point

one of my best tools in discussion with a wing nut is to point out;

“the wealthy want to just take from those who actually produce the wealth and they don’t want to pay their bills for that wealth

it’s the middle class who produces wealth, the upper class exploits that wealth, it’s fine to take a profit but it’s not fine to take that profit when it costs me money

I want them to pay their bills before they claim any profit, simple stuff”

to which the wing nut has no answer because I am using their terms to critisize their position

I go on;

“when someone taking profit from those who produce it do not pay enough so a man can treat his wife if she gets cancer, fix his kids arm if it breaks and his daughters tooth when it gets a cavity then they are stealing from me because I wind up paying that bill

I don’t want to pay their bill I want them paying their own bills”

they always agree with this line of reasoning, has not missed yet and a I have met some serious wing nuts

Mornin’, BT, pups

Just how hard would it be to re-write Glass-Steagall, updating it to cover Wall St’s easy money shenanigans? More importantly, would Congress pass it?

wall street has two differant types of analysts making decisions, one type wants profit today and doesn’t care about tomorrow, one type wants profit over all and cares less about today

the later is hard to find but they are there

the later will save wall street if they win the day, real change is the only thing that will protect their profit, if our economy collapses, if the dollar collapses all their wealth becomes dust

they don’t want dust

it’s the middle class who produces wealth

I beg to differ. It’s the working class that produces wealth.

how hard to do or how hard to get passed?

so long as there are blue dogs and republicans pretty hard to get passed, simple to write if that’s your question

and we agree, I usually think the working class is the middle class but obviously that’s a stretch

thanx for pointing that out

off to work

Yes, I just put up a diary about that, because AP and AFP are actually using the word “torture” to describe his treatment. It’s torture when Iraqis do it, but “enhanced interrogation” when we do it.

Thanks. I’ll check out the diary.

It’s too early to say if the latter will rule the day. Greed has become the life blood of the economy and there may well be an historical inevitability that the forces arrayed cannot be overcome and dust is looming on the horizon.

I see Max Blumenthal’s Republican Gomorrah is Sat’s Book Saloon. For a preview he was on Terry Gross’ Fresh Air last week. The interview is very good. I’ve ordered the book but there’s no way it will get here and read by Saturday.

Talking about the “torture memos” on democracrynow right now.

Who is the guest?

It’s murder, assassination or “targeted killings” when anybody but the US or Israel do it. When committed by the US or Israel it’s “self defense.”

Didn’t catch the name. Someone who just wrote a book about it. I’ll listen for the name & let you know.

So, as asked by ECahn, why are we expecting trolls?
Why is Biden in Bagdhad? (New sitcom on Fox?)
And, does enhanced interrogation create wealth?
Guess I woke up with a few questions.

David Cole is the guest.

eCAHN. Boy, did I get that assbackwards. Sorry, dear.

And very good Qs they are. I haven’t had enough coffee to be as clever as you at this time in the morning. I can’t even think of any As.

Not to worry, I’ve been called worse.

Why is Biden in Bagdhad? (New sitcom on Fox?)

Obama has discovered that this is the bestest way to keep him from sticking his foot in his mouth.

Treehugging,beekeeping Lady who leaves her purse at her nieces and gloves on the train?
It’s only 6 am here. And, I don’t charge extra for clever. Ha.

The contradictory views of America perfectly aligns with the ideological perspective of the view. The left sees the upper class as sucking off the hardworking lower classes and the right see the upper classes having their wealth confiscated to support those of the lower classes who can’t take care of their own needs.

I don’t see that wealth has been exploited or the value added that has been extracted from workers (the lower and middle class) to create their wealth. They have an obligation to take care of their slaves!

Those who are unable to support themselves need to be cared for because it’s the decent human thing to do. Are there people who will take advantage of their station? YES at all levels. Avoiding taxes is no better or worse than cheating on “welfare”.

Regardless, it appears that capital has won at this stage of the match. Not quite check mate yet, but labor and working people are in check.

Geez, do you keep notes or is your memory just phenomenal?

Good Morning, Mike. I was wondering something close to what you said. But, I love Joe. He’s got such nice hair, teeth and smile. He does.

I almost said, Like an elephant, but that wouldn’t work well here. I’ll go with Like a steel trap. And, I can’t tell you why. I’m sure I’ve lost a few brain cells here and there. *g*

There have been learned economic tomes written about actual U.S. slavery, arguing that it was good for slaves since their owners had every incentive to look after the slaves’ welfare. However, in reality, not so much.

My memory’s like a steel seive.

I like him too but sometimes there are things that should not be said like the danger of spreading germs on planes.

Off to swim in the great capitalist cesspool.

US KIA Irak: 4344

US KIA Afghanistan: 830

Be good to yourselves, and all other living things.

Namaste

“Some thought we had in Mr. Lincoln the nerve and decision of an Oliver Cromwell; but the result shows that we merely have a continuation of the Pierces and Buchanans.” -Frederick Douglass after Lincoln’s first inaugural address. (Cited by Doris Kearns Goodwin in Team of Rivals)

Ultimately, Douglass’ assessment seems to have been a little overly critical. It’s probably good that abolitionists didn’t consider all lost and commit group suicide at that point.

Wrong post. Never mind.

I have no idea. My guess is that we are making a dent with our calls and we need to keep strong. It is viewed that this health care policy push is a “final battle” against progressives as opposed to solving health care.

The more success we have, the crazier others get. Jane was correct yesterday:

Remember, they need 40 votes. We held 32 on the supplemental, and were expressly told at that time that there was no internal caucus whip effort.

Jed says:

On the face of it, passing the public option should be about the easiest no-brainer in politics.

But it’s not. And that fact poses a real test for progressives — and a real opportunity. Progressives can finally change the power dynamics in Congress by proving that they will hold their ground. Getting the public option would be one kind of victory, but proving that progressives area potent political force would be another.

And the potential for that victory is one of the most important reasons that the public option matters so much. We can’t give up the fight.

No, we can’t. It’s going to be a big week — for the public plan, for progressives, for people who want to take the government back from the lobbyists.

No we can’t. No we can’t. No we can’t.

So they will be here in force. Every time they interupt the thread, please make a call and write a comment about your call. Push yourself to avoid the bait and just make a call every time someone visits here to troll.

A troll visit means: go make a congressional call or send a letter to the editor.

And go here for some great policy points for those calls and letters.

Scroll and call. Scroll and call.

The trollers are calling, too.

Mr. Sheri Plays The Race Card