The teabaggers will be content being the dancing monkeys to the corporatist organ grinders.

Is it now time to march on Washington? or do we wait a little longer?

something wrong with monkeys?

Fact is, and I sound like a broken record, Nader warned people TEN years ago about corporate fascism and no one listened. Well, he was right. We are now living the nightmare. We desperately need a third party.

We ought to make that a point to the teabagger people. Maybe, just maybe, a few of them will get the message.

In the wild, no. At the end of a leash, yes.

No. I are one.

What we need is the second part of your handle.

So basically we are all (individually) worth less than slaves were at the beginning, by law.

This is indeed a sad day. What exactly can we do about it? Is there anyway at all we can change this short of a constitutional amendment? It may be all we have left is the streets.

Must we fear the future?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB_2oIKUVks&feature=PlayList&p=9BCBE62F049CC6F5&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=18

Hey, I admire Nader for his insights. But his candidacies didn’t really help the causes he believed in. Of course, that can be said about many Democratic candidates and officeholders.

Is it too late to throw my lot in with the corporate doods?

Thanks Glenn for clear, sad truth….it is hard not to be depressed. This one was so predictable.

It’s the new feudalism everyone has been talking about.

B. Frank said it will be dealt with in the finance committee cause they can make new laws governing the corps. Anybody believe this will happen?

Yes. By law. That is the effect of the ruling. Pardon while I ramble off some immediate practical concerns as they appear in my emails or pop into my head:

A corporation today could buy all the political advertising slots the six weeks before an election and deny targeted buys to their opponents. Period. They’d never miss the money.

I mention this because it’s just one of the very, very minor consequences (minor in the context of total political devastation).

Nader belongs in a think tank. He makes a terrible candidate… he’s irascible and completely lacking in any kind of charisma that would attract ordinary voters.

He really needs a make-over, or maybe a girlfriend, but the make-over would probably have to come first.

Great post, Glenn Smith!

Congress is already in the pockets of the corporations. All today’s ruling does is codify the obvious.

The other thing that makes me shit my pants is the neoliberal austerity measures that Obummer is working on: http://motherjones.com/mojo/2010/01/obama-puts-social-security-chopping-block

The Obama corporatists literally want to put our grandmothers on the street, by eviscerating Medicare and SS.

Even if it does as soon as the pukes can they will reverse it.

Have you seen John Kerry lately? He looks like he was hung by his ankles and dipped into a vat of wax.

No, it’s much much worse than that.

I have been worried about that for some time. Crap. I possibly got divorced for nothing.

Weren’t we accused of cynicism when we didn’t believe that Chief Justice Roberts,Inc. and his fellow corporatists would uphold precedent even though
they SWORE to their Christian God that they would?

Can we impeach these people?

I heard him, and I’m not certain it can happen. I’m not certain they could meet the court’s standard and restrict corporate speech.

Also, Dave Johnson suggested that corporations might find themselves in a legal bind because they have to justify spending to stockholders. For instance, they’d have to admit political money was spent in return for specific financial benefits, and that would be bribery. Or,if they didn’t expect financial benefit, they’d violate their legal fiduciary responsibilities. The problem with this is corporations are already very skilled at dodging these kinds of bullets. Language is their friend. They are our enemies.

I’m sure Hollywood can find a reality makeover show for Nader. Popular culture is always looking for ways to elevate the masses.

I’ve said for some time the only way the government will work for average Americans will be if we can pay officials larger bribes than their corporate sponsors.

Maybe every disenfranchised American should band together to form a super-duper mega-corp, then Washington will finally have to listen to us.

If you had any doubt about the corruption that has infected the very bloodstream of American politics, look at today’s ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court.

Exactly! And this is why we should actually be glad for this ruling — I know, I know — because it puts this on the wall in 100-ft. tall letters. Things are in a helluva mess, but some people need convincing, and a lot more people need to get really, really, REALLY mad.

The bad guys jumped the shark here. Now everyone can see.

Did anyone see Olbermann’s special comment tonight?

Thanks! And I agree about Nader.

18 months ago, I wrote this post because I saw the FISA flip-flop as a huge extension of government/corporate power, and didn’t like what I saw then.

Today, it makes me shudder that I was even that close to what just happened TODAY!

As a gay man, when I see what US Christian Dominionists exported to Uganda, in the form of the “Kill the Gays” bill, that Palin and the C-Streeters are a part of that export; that FISA is still in EFFECT! AS well as the Patriot Act; add to that, SCOTUS makes this decision today I become a bit physically ill.

I have been fired by Corps and thrown out of housing for the gay thing, beaten by thugs more than once, and am hated by Fundamentalists.

Yeah, I’m nervous. Make that anxious.

Their God is power and money. Anything else is just a smokescreen.

There’s a bit George Carlin just before he died saying basically they are coming after your Social Security–and they’ll get it.

As I just posted over on Crackbook:

Let’s go beyond the current above-the-fold focus (corporate campaign cash). What about, now, all manner of law and regulation pertaining to lobbyists? Are those now unconstitutional? Free-speech infringement on the 1st Amendment right to get “redress of grievances” by corporate “people”?

Don’t doubt that that will get tested.

Yes, it was great. I want to add here that I spoke to many Republican-leaning friends and family members today about this. All were outraged. It took no persuasion. There is an opportunity here, but we have to act. And act fast, before corporations buy 500 FireDogLakes of their own and then pass laws saying their work must be taught in the schools.

What stare decisis?

A friend of mine from Hungary had this observation on our political system.

He said “The funny thing with you guys is that you treat Capitalism like it’s a Political system rather than an economic tool. We embrace capitalism too but we have learned that in and of itself, it does NOT work as a long-term sustainable economic tool.”

It has been apparent to me for a long time now that most Americans are indoctrinated to believe this:

Capitalism is synonymous with Democracy
Socialism = Anti-Capitalism which = Anti-Democracy

The decision by the Supreme Court has essentially solidified this philosophy. We are clearly devolving.

The man has Bell’s Palsy. I don’t give a shit about how he looks. He speaks the truth.

I am sorry for the bigotry directed at you.

Time for a Coporation of Public Influence.

The revolution is now. There are no proceduralist, neo-liberal solutions to this. See you at the barricades!

You left out the best part, what’s to keep foreign entities from now deciding American elections?

America according to Mao anyone?

I was thinking about that today when I was reading Teddy and the trial. Women will be mushed back under the glass ceiling back to secretarial days. It won’t even be glass but plastic. Gays? Black? Hispanic? Fuck all of you. Muslim? bad bad. Problem is that “they” will have everyone else as enemies. Can they fight all of us? Even the teabaggers will figure it out. But, of course, they will manage to keep some fools fighting for their agenda. Perhaps “they” were the ones that founded the new all white basketball league.

Shit.

Don’t be. People think the world is nicer than it is, and it ain’t.

My point is, it will be the same; for you.

Well, there could be a silver lining. If French corporations bought the U.S. Congress and Presidency then perhaps there might actually be universal health care. After all French corporations recognize that universal health care is good for the bottom line.

Is the Commerce Clause (and all law and regulation stemming from it) now “unconstitutional,” being in conflict with the First Amendment?

Why do the Supremes hate us?

They suspect some of us don’t have jobs, some may be enjoying sex, some of us don’t even believe in the Pope’s infalibility. I don’t know.

I guess I can understand why they hate me, but why do they hate America?

Good point.

I’m fired up. We can win this, believe it or not. We’ve lost a lot to the corporate personhood thing, and we could win much of that back and put them in their place.

What do we do? First things: we have to keep talking about it with every friend, family member, colleague, neighbor etc. I mean with all the time and energy we can.

I had much success today talking with more-or-less conservative friends and family. They particular liked the humorous stuff like, “Can a Corporation Be President Now.” All the absurdity is easy to communicate. Then we follow with the devastating consequences.

Act now.

The 5 conservatives on the SC hate democracy and the people or the rabble as they say behind closed doors.

you’ve never been to any Nader events, must be talking out of your derriere.

Kelly, I’m a white dude with a black kid. I know a thing or two about bigotry. This ain’t my first rodeo by any means.

The Republican SCOTUS justices would have sided with the British East India Company in 1773 (see May)

#teabaggerirony

Read the majority opinion, if you can.

It’s extraordinarily well reasoned (written by Kennedy).

If you think you like liberal justices, consider that Breyer, Souuter, Ginsburg and company ruled that the city of New London, Connecticut had the power to seize individual homes and turn them over to developers.

You all hate conservative supreme court justices.

I’m to the left of any of you.

But I beleive in conservative supreme court justices.

Clarence Thomas brought up Prop 8 in this decision.

He dissented from Roberts on one section of the decision, because he even wanted anonymity! Yep, and based on the “threats” that public testimony “might” have had on the witnesses.

So yes, there was the prevailing argument for corps to plow all their cash, and Thomas wanted them to have anonymity too!

How does this change anything?Corporations and unions have always funded elections.They have just been laundering the cash through PACs.Individual donations are like the office petty cash.China launders big dollars here.They use places to run the $ through, that could never be traced.I would rather have my opponents out in the open.

If a foreign company is going to buy us, I hope they are from the Duchy of Grand Fenwick.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mouse_That_Roared

why

HERE! HERE! VIVA LA REVOLUTION!

And I am NOT joking. Remember, the Constitution gives you three important things, specifically designed to keep things like THIS from ever happening again.

The RIGHT to Free Speech
The RIGHT to Assembly
The RIGHT to Bear Arms

I know, I know, Liberals would never go for that and I personally loathe firepower so I am not suggesting that we all head to D.C. packing heavy metal.

But, I am suggesting that the dudes that wrote the Constitution gave us the right to defend ourselves against Feudalism and oppression.

If we choose not to exercise those RIGHTS, well then my friends, we are all getting what we settle for.

He was!

It is true that democracy is not their ideal. They believe in rule by elite. It’s all over their legal and political philosophy. Not even hidden. Read appeals court judge Richard Posner’s books. He’s their hero. Actually one of their more articulate heroes.

I have been as nice as pie with you on the other thread, and you never answered my on the merits.

Please do so.

All great ideas but a presence has to be felt and seen on the streets of DC. A critical mass has to be reached.

Old adage Keep the powder dry!

Your children must be gorgeous!!

Then you already know.

It’s chilling.

or Monaco.

liberal justices fucked with eminent domain, fuckers!
Corporate personhood? – what fictional cartoon are we fucking living in?

I agree about that. Visibility and physical presence is necessary.

Are there any restrictions on corp speech re: “citizenship”?

So like Gazprom or Saudi bin Laden Group or Baidu could start spending in our elections?

What about say large corps based in Houston but registered in off-shore tax havens.

I’m telling you, this is why Cheney went duck hunting with Fat Tony. We weren’t thinking evil enough.

Hard to figure isn’t it? Why did Rome have slaves? why did we? Some folks like it thataway, I suppose. Only thing changes it historically is something about the tree of liberty.

NOW you are talking.

Except we aren’t about 100 gazillion dollars in debt to France.

Art, you’re merely a contrarian starved for attention.

why aren’t corporations limited to donations of 4300 dollars, like real people are?

This isn’t a democracy. If you have top down authoritarian rule (corporations and the pols who represent them.) Which we have. That’s why libertarian socialism is the only true democracy. Radical egalitarianism. No masters, no gods! That’s democracy, my friends.

AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…

Citizen Glenn W. Smith and the Firepup Freedom Fighters:

I am afraid that the rot in the guts of America goes back a lot longer than this day of infamy. The corruption of political compromise with basic human values goes back, dear friend, all the way to the original Constitution and the unholy alliance made between enlightenment freethinkers and the unmitigated evil of slavery and the slaveholders. That we have an oligarchy that traces its lineage directly to the families of ante bellum slave supporting presidents like Benjamin Franklin Pierce (Barbara Bush) or directly to the ante bellum slavocracy and Confederate military (John McCain) is a continuing truth that we as self-righteous children of affluence and power spend our waking hours actively forgetting.

But while history, like the righteous God of the Old Testiment, is unforgiving and immutable, it is also dynamic and affords us this moment to stand up to the mirror of our collective experience and do right by the opportunities we have squandered to advance the condition of our fellow man and fight the injustice and continuing evil of imperial exploitation even as we shudder in the dark shadow of the tyranny of wealth. In fact, all we have is this moment and if we don’t commit ourselves to standing up to the evils of our own making then we will surely be discarded in the dustbin of broken promises.

All we have left is the struggle against the evil we have known and been living with for over 200 years and I for one am not gunna go quietly into that good night and neither am I gunna take any more bullshit from the cynics and liars who pretend to understand everything and know absolutly nothing. Don’t cry in terror to me folks and don’t tell me there is nuthin’ ta do…I don’t have time to be understanding of fear anymore , I owe that much to my children and grandchildren.

So don’t cry the beloved country folks, rise up and change it or die tryin’!

KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, TOO MANY HAVE DIED IN THE NAME OF CHRIST FOR ANYONE ELSE TO HEED THE CALL!!

Excellent Comment. Also, he interviewed Rep.Alan Grayson who is authoring 5 bills to counteract some of this. Rep. Grayson spoke about the website:
http://www.savedemocracy.net for petitions & to help get these bills passed.

Thanks.

Lost the elder one to cancer 11 years ago.

:(

“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.” Thomas Jefferson

I think we can do that and I look forward to the battle.

Iam sorry for your treatment.It is reprehensible.However Sarah Palin has nothing to do with Uganda.

So don’t cry the beloved country folks, rise up and change it or die tryin’!

Brilliant. And beautiful.

And, of course, you are right. The jackboots date back a ways, but so does the resistance.

In an attempt to come up with a response to today’s Supreme Court decision, may I recommend my own Seminal Diary efforts of:

A Suggested Congressional Response to the Supreme Court’s “Citizens United v. FEC” Decision

El Supremos may think they have the last word, but remember there are 2 additional equal branches of our constitutional government.

This story ain’t over!

The question is who is providing the leadership and coordination? The unions, civil rights, civil liberties organizations, anti-war groups, environmental groups. Or will it merely happen spontaneously? Highly doubtful without someone/something lighting the spark and fanning the flames.

I was trained in law in the time period 1967-1970.

I got a classical, beautiful, Socratic education in law from some some great law professors.

I believe in the law.

Great Jefferson quote, and I’m with you, standing against the flood, Twain.

Will you marry me? I happen to be free (sort of).

Whoa! Christ, Guns, the fight against Evil, Old Testament…..

Um, I think you need to swing by the recruiters office friend, we have that kind of “crusade” already going on in Iraq.

I have been talking with leadership of some groups today. Don’t want to put them on the line here, but I believe some are about to step up.

I am really quite jealous. Every movement needs rivalry though.

May I touch the hem of your garment, sir?

hey norske

Well said.

The enemy of the corporate state is the progressive movement.

The supreme court decision is just another action to kill the progressive movement.

This is also more of Bush Handy Work.

All politicians are going to start to look like Nascar drivers walking around wearing various corp patches.

The one thing that progressives got going for them, is that like Bush the conservatives on the Supreme Ct. are not that smart.

What if China want to buy the USA congress via corporate fronts? who is going stop a another nation from buying the USA congress.

What if Iran wants to buy a Senator? they can now.

What if the Catholic Church wants to buy some House Members? they can now.

This decision is going to lead to a lot of strange bedfellows.

What if SAUDIA ARABIA wants to buy the President of the USA, they can now

We’re effed. Tell me these 5 brigands on the Scotus weren’t handsomely paid for their decision. I said these 5 crooks effected a coup in 2000 with the Bush decision. That now looks like child’s play. We’re effed. Think BHO is a Corp tool? You ain’t seen nothing yet. We’ re effed.

Okay, now there’s some solidarity being built here, marriage proposals (See #87) and hem touching….

and a majority on the SC says that is their right.

But I trust you will keep us informed…..

No why do you believe in conservative supreme court justices. Your education may have something to do with your understanding of the law but why do you believe in conservative justices? And are these people true conservatives?

I would appreciate it if you would – like totally dood – answer the question.

The coup began with Bush v. Gore and today their move was checkmate if we let it stand.

Citizen commonsensor:

Stick it Citizen, you’re wastin’ precious air.

Before anointing Palin during the August 16, 2005 event Thomas Muthee detailed, in a short speech, the Seven Mountains mandate, an organizing and inspirational concept for Peter Wagner’s movement which encourages believers to win positions of power and influence in key societal sectors such as government, business, education, and media. The 7-M Mandate is also promoted by College of Prayer Uganda President Juliius Oyet. As Os Hillman, one of the members of Peter Wagner’s International Coalition of Apostles (ICA) and a friend of Julius Oyet’s has described, in 2006 Oyet traveled to Dallas, Texas, to meet with ICA leadership.

The Uganda Anti Homosexuality Bill has also been linked to the Washington D.C.-based evangelical group known as The Family. The globally influential group is the subject of a 2008 book by journalist Jeff Sharlet, The Family: Power, Politics and Fundamentalism’s Secret Elite.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-wilson/group-behind-uganda-kill_b_385705.html

And Watch Rachel Maddow’s segment here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n98ofQYB8yM

We might be able to work something out.

Bunk! My joys are your evil.Your joys are my evil.Please don’t try to save me from evil,and I will extend the same courtesy.Its all relavent.

*gentle reminder*

disagree with the message but do not attack the messenger

Talk about walking in your shoes, my close friend is a Gay White man with a Black son (long story about how THAT happened) living in AZ.

He lives completely closeted for the safety of his child and I wonder every day WHY it has to be this way? IN THE YEAR 2010 FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!

I tell his son all the time when he feels singled out because he stands out, that kids like him got a special kiss from God, that’s why kids of mixed race are so beautiful….but don’t repeat that to the other kids, it will hurt their feelings and they can’t help being all white.

He’ll thank me for that when he’s grown! :)

What are your thoughts about the US constitution?Just a curiosity.

Good points. Here’s another one. What if the bin Laden family corporations wish to buy themselves some congressbots? Make some laws? Crazy?

Citizen ART45:

If you can sit here amongst us, in the face of the truth of the lie of the American system of justice and the failure of the idea of equal justice under the law, then all your “…classical, beautiful Socratic education from…some great law professors” is just so much musty air. Even John Adams acceeded to the truth that justice was an idea that had to be fought for, though it did take him a bit longer to acknowlege it.

Talk about a game change.

It just got crazier.

late night upstairs

Is that comment addressed to some topic/comment specifically?

No kiddin’.

Norske, grow a sense of humor and please let someone kick you in the balls so they will drop.

Take a chill pill why you are at it!

Mary,

As a law student, and later as lawyer, perhaps, you study the First Amendment.

Maybe I would chase you as a fox.

Citizen Suzanne:

Bless your heart, Sister Sue, but if someone tries ta dump on me with tired old clever bullshit…they will be fed it back. Sorry dear, it’s like when a moderator makes a mistake and censors free speech without a reason and then lies about it…I make no appologies and don’t expect any but don’t fuck with me either.

What happened to the marriage proposals and the hem touching? :)

But that still is not telling me why you prefer conservative justices. I am sure that some lawyer types feel the opposite. I just want to know why.

Well, it isn’t as if this wasn’t telegraphed:

On December 12, 2000, The Wall Street Journal reported that O’Connor was reluctant to retire with a Democrat in the presidency:“ At an Election Night party at the Washington, D.C. home of Mary Ann Stoessel, widow of former Ambassador Walter Stoessel, the justice’s husband, John O’Connor, mentioned to others her desire to step down, according to three witnesses. But Mr. O’Connor said his wife would be reluctant to retire if a Democrat were in the White House and would choose her replacement. Justice O’Connor declined to comment.[41][42]

Dennis Kucinich’s comments to Raw Story are certainly spot-on tonight:
“People elected Democrats in 2008 to change the country’s direction,” he told Raw Story in a nearly hour-long interview.

“And the same entrenched interests that George Bush could not shake, this current White House is having great difficulty in shaking. One could suggest they might be more entrenched than ever.”

Kucinich staunchly defended liberalism but alleged that Democrats are not behaving like liberals.

“There’s nothing liberal about the bailouts. There’s nothing liberal about standing by and watching banks use public money to get their executive bonuses. There’s nothing liberal about giving insurance companies carte blanche to charge anything they want for health care… Since when did that become liberal?”

“There’s nothing liberal about letting coal and oil write climate change legislation,” he added. “Are you kidding me?”

” can we impeach thesee people?”

This would be eminently appropriate, but is it possible, if the politicians we need to do this are already “owned” by the corporations?

Or,how can we tear them away from the craporations?

Considering that the Bushies have already made moves to restrain public unrest (and that BO has done nothing to reverse this), it would seem that massive boycotts, strikes, refusal to pay taxes……and then into the streets, in massive numbers, are what we are reduced to.

Uh, I think they already have.

Doesn’t Saudi Arabia own about 15% of our economy right now?

Citizen commonsensor:

…..

What part of Arizona?I have a gay grandson,2 mixed race and one lesbian neice,and a native American grandaughter.We live pretty much as we please.

How old are you? 12?

How funny that only yesterday the Mod was harrassing me for asking to discuss revolution.

Seems like the times have overtaken that boundary. So quickly.

I’m usually further ahead of my time.

Senator, I’ve been down that road with this witness. Won’t answer, so there’s no possibility of redirect.

i was issuing a gentle reminder to all the pups norske

You are very, very right. What is it again that falls from a people’s eyes?

Agreed. I think we really do have to take to the streets. I don’t see any other way to deal with this. This is totally scary shit. I think even some teabaggers could be convinced to join in.
Barney Frank is talking about some kind Corp limits. Nice guy – don’t make me laugh.
Bad news!

Thanks Suzanne,

Duly noted!

What a great family ! Enjoy them because they are precious.

scales. the scales of justice.

Tempe

But I think the mixed race thing is less scary for him actually, it’s being a Gay man that I believe makes him most fearful for his son.

Yes it was specific to post 76

“The law” sometimes makes some horrendous mistakes. It should have been part of your training to recognize them.

Everybody knew this was coming. I felt like one of the reasons O had backed away from his promises was to see what the court would do. He didn’t want to be on the wrong side of the power elite. Or maybe I am selling him short. He made a lot of noise today about not liking it. But he has been known to give a good speech.

When Norske’s balls finally drop, give him a call!

Probably. I was thinking more about Osama bin Laden, himself, having the ability to actually make laws here. Nuts. Don’t forget how much China owns us too. Maybe I’ll start learning Mandarin.

It will be very hard for politicians to waffle on this one. Doesn’t mean they won’t, but there’s not much wiggle room. This is the end of popular democracy, and they know it.

Citizen Suzanne:

OK dear…but we can take care of any ad hominem bullshit without gettin the pages dirty…and thanks for your work here, Sister. Ya got any tunes up for tonight, I think I might hafta stay up past my bedtime?

*ahem*

I understand when children are concerned.Hopefully someday we will all live in a much more loving world,or at least one where we respect our differences.

Leave it alone Suzanne, this one is wound too tight!

thank you for reminding everyone

got a great one tonight to pick up the spirits (hard to be grumpy when your head is bopping)

norske is a valued long time commenter here

Good point. Certainly felt like something was going on with bho. He’s not stupid; he may be a crook; but not stupid. It’s about which of the bread to butter.

Ok, I’m trying not to laugh because actually truth may be stranger than fiction but did you know they are remaking “RED DAWN”

Only this time the invader is CHINA!

I kid you not!

Actually, that isn’t so funny…..

Seems to me that the Dems are scared, as well they should be. And re your title, I think the gov’t has been making monkeys of us all for years.

It is no coincidence that Adam Smith, the father of all this, deeply admired the particular brand of slavery in pre-revolution Haiti. (It was similar to Speer’s in the 3rd Reich — feed them starvation rations work them until they died, the get more.)

Year of Our Ford ! babies

I snark half heartedly, this is truly horrible, we have to do everything to stop this pathogen

firedogs were talking about some kind of Congressional action along the lines of AUMF, and I had to leave just as Congressman Grayson was getting in to it with us. Six different bills, haven’t read them yet. ah but firedogs, we have had several months of basic training – at the deep end no less – so I see more people sign on to passage, much sharper in our targeting and coordination – a lot more of us up to snuff on the basics so a whole lot less reinventing the wheel

I hope many firedogs will sign on to what Congressman Grayson is doing, it’s the only thing out there, and we are all we’ve got

Great Nations are always destroyed from within!

Forget 9-11 terrorist attacks

The USA has real enemies around the world.

The NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE USA is at risk.

The Chinese, Russians, Iran, Saudia Arabia, can now destroy the USA from within and they are going to do this.

No other intelligent nation on the planet earth, lets other nations buy their govt.

In 20 years we may all have to speak MANDARIN.

This is why you can never let MORONS run stuff.

The ignorance of the GOP is going to destroy all of us!

I think the founding fathers of USA define a person as someone who drinks water and walks.

Keith Olbermann said it best.
The Supreme Ct. decision just wipe out Rush, Glenn Beck, Fox News, in the Corporate State there can be no critics of the State.

Absolutely. Totally frightening. Makes Cheney look like your loving & kind grandpa. Sadly most citizens won’t get just how friggin serious this is.

Citizen Mary McCumin:

Don’t waste any of your precious energy on preening narcissists like commonsensor, he’s just mad ‘cuz he doesn’t have anything to contribute to intelligent conversation. Saw a lot like ‘im in the military when there was a draft…they didn’t last long and neither will he in this place.

Mary,

The Constitution is not about outcomes.

It’s about the power granted to the three branches of the U.S. government and the relationship between the federal government and the states.

Sorry,I got the number wrong, it was to that other post real near.Im just going to pass and keep walkin

Actually, I’ve talked with many today, bright, semi-engaged, many conservatives. They were outraged, too. Does that hold, I dunno. It’s our job to reinforce it.

Money equals speech. Was the court perhaps suggesting lawyers could offer cash instead of arguments?

Done!

I was thinking about him the other day, as some kind of electoral vampire: shows up every four years, convinces some fraction of the left that he’s actually liberal/progressive, takes their votes, and leaves them in return only some kind of belief that he’s actually a good guy.

(Nader is actually more of a libertarian.)

Tim to read the Declaration of Independence.

Night, all. I close the book on this foulest of days.

The tradition of legal pragmatism — it has its own faults — nonetheless does make outcomes central. The Constitutional is itself adaptable to outcomes, theoretically, Jefferson’s revolution every generation and all that…

Citizen Suzanne:

Remember how we deal with trolls? Well, my wife has been teachin’ first graders and trainin teachers for 31 years…she deals with pre-adolescent males the same way we treat trolls. Some stop talkin’ long enough to figure out that nobody’s listenin’ and some like Citizen commonsensor will never get it.

Too bad the only really conservative ones are in the minority on this decision.

Damn fine point. I’m going to steal that one.

That’s next. Great idea.

wife.. hmmm looks like mary mcc is gonna have to stay sorta single

Suzanne, Norske, Mary

There’s a saying: When you ASSUME you make an ASS of U and ME!

Your assumptions are laughable – I think you guys are Huffpost rejects!

Exactly. The effen Republics just tossed all under the bus. It’s so insane that I can barely wrap my head around it. Not good at all. I keep thinking of Nikita Kruschev (for some reason) saying “we will bury you” & I imagine him laughing somewhere at us & our cildish foolishness.

that is your opinion and nothing i say will change it so i’m not gonna

I believe the Vatican already owns several members of Congress. Look at Stupak ….

This is a troll test. Do not attempt to control your monitor. The icky feeling in the pit of your stomach will soon be resolved by the act of
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baby.

hi everyone, didn’t know folks were still here

had a conversation with a guest in my restaurant just this afternoon – can’t imagine two souls more ideologically different, different everything, but we were sympatico on people mattering less than corporations, hell this woman said she saw revolution. it was stunning how much she sensed.

my poorly made point, just as with healthcare, majority of folks only had the TradMed broad outlines, but they knew the deal sucked and was a gift to Corporate America – and many will soon sense the ominous nature of today’s events

The Supreme Court’s majority was carefully crafted to achieve the desired result. Every bit of this corporatism spawned in Reagan’s administration. This is precisely what they wanted, and they knew the day would come when they’d triumph like this.

We have GROSS TAXATION!!! We have ZERO REPRESENTATION any more!

Our voices are forever drowned out in the sea of corporate cash breaking on our shores.

Imagine the glee in boardrooms around the planet as corporate executives grab their CFOs and head for Washington. Unbelievable.

America was put to rest on January 21. 2010. Welcome to the ultimate in fascistic delights: Washington is for sale! And WE GET STUCK WITH THE BILL!!!!!

We get it coming and going. These so-called “citizens” spec out toxic goods the EU won’t accept, so WE get the lead and cadmium in our toys, cosmetics, vitamins, etc., etc., while they TAX us to PAY FOR THEIR FAILURES!!!

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! We need to take this country back, and if it means marching the entire population into Washington with torches and pitchforks, so be it.

TAXATION without REPRESENTATION is TYRANNY!!!

“The Court said corporations can spend unlimited amounts to influence the outcome of elections.” Good-bye, democracy. So long, America. Nice to know ya.

Unless the people force their law-makers to stop this madness, treating corporations a people with individual rights.

This Decision by the SUPREME COURT may have gave OBAMA a second Life!

This SUPREME CT. DECISION will bring the right,the left, independents, together!

The masses of the USA need to know that their kids could become the slaves of CHINA and JAPAN due to the 5 conservative MORONS on the Supreme Court.

And where did you float in from?

(We don’t follow HuffPo much here; it’s way too lightweight for us. And full of really stupid trolls, too.)

The teabaggers know that the corporations are keeping ACORN and the unions from destroying freedom in American. Lots of luck changing that.

They can’t actually vote. Yet.

This is my experience today as well. It’s one reason we need to keep talking with others person-to-person. Really, almost like canvassing. We can spread and reinforce the outrage. I’m not having to do any persuading on this, even with conservatives I’ve spoken with.

I’m willing to join forces with anyone who’s interested in fighting for our riggs. Icould be wrong but I think that some conservatives I know will not agree with this. The only issue is breaking thru their ingrained resestance to agreeing & joining with dreaded liberals. I’m willing to try. We have to fight this!

They will start paying people to vote their way. Here is a $1000 and free groceries for a week if you vote for the devil.

Have the crooks overplayed their hands?

You’re welcome to it.

Citizen commonsensor:

You poor thing, you musta had a bad kindergarten teacher…but there’s hope for you, just not here.

The jackboots are here. They have been for a while. I just wonder when they’re going to close the noose on the rest of us.

I was thinking about not buying their crap… boycotting, but it is tough to boycott the energy industry, or Military industrial complex, or the media… I can’t help but believe that we need a Constitutional Amendment, if even that will work. We could get that elusive bi-partisan support, maybe…

“I believe in America”.

In the end it will be the same old story,
its a shame that there will be what will be.
So much for progress- creationist teabaggers
are right in a way after all- evolution is just a theory.

(In the room the women come and go,
while technocrats quibble details,
their details piped in ditties
on a fiddle, over a tanoy,
just before the fire
licks it to liquid market plastic
running down the palace walls,
chartered rivers, hearses, and all.)

Well, is it nicer to be at the tail end of Camelot or at
the beginning?

Work with what you have, like everyone ever has.

Either way, the view is the same,
its only the lying horizon that changes.
The times themselves,
are equally as interesting.

I am sitting here thinking of one positive, and I think powerful, thing we can count on and incorporate as much as possible in strategy,

That is the power of the human to human interaction. It is responsible for the ultimate failures of really all efforts to demonize enemies and mechanize workers etc. So incorporate as much human contact with those who write the laws as possible. Marches in Washington – terrific, individual and small group visits to lawmakers, legislate town halls be a part of national campaigns etc. Most of all trust that power and use it. Maybe we need to limit the Internet and texting time in favor of meetings in bricks and mortar buildings. I am not saying abandon the online communication. It is vital but to not exclude face to face. We can do commercials as well as the corps, I think better. We can’t get them on MSM but really YouTube is near as powerful for young and middle aged,,,,, and a few old crones like me.

Don’t let them make our nation into Metropolis. If you haven’t seen this ancient movie do.

Courage

I’ll repeat what I wrote last month:

…we do have a Supreme Court, with probably more than a few sociopaths, heading one of our three branches of government. At what point do we decide to confront the issue head-on?

http://firedoglake.com/2009/12/20/washington-should-listen-to-the-wolf/#comment-2038254
http://firedoglake.com/2009/12/20/washington-should-listen-to-the-wolf/#comment-2038263
http://firedoglake.com/2009/12/20/washington-should-listen-to-the-wolf/#comment-2038291

Roberts lied to Congress about respecting precedence. That’s what sociopaths do.

- Tom

you are trying to reason with tea baggers

that makes you dumber than them

they are pawns

the capitalists control these people like children.

wasting your breath.

nations almost always self destruct from within

in my life I have been allowed to watch a nation go from greatness to self destruction in one life cycle.

never seen before in the history of nations or empires.

was anyone on here dumb enough to believe roberts?

he lied right to the top

a true capitalist and bet he is religious also

you cannot be a capitalist and a christian.

impossible but few will understand my words very few.

Yea, but some people sparkle.

King Arthur: One of what we all are Penny. Less than a drop of the great blue motion in the sunlit sea. But it seems that some of the drops sparkle, Penny. Some of them do sparkle. [To Tom]: Run Boy! Run boy! Run! Oh, run, my boy.

Wise words, TalkingStick. Thank you.

To quote Mel Brooks, “It’s good to be the king.”

hey ppd — serf sucks tho…

surf or serf? Waves have been bitchin’ past two days on the bay.

been gnarly up here too — high surf advisory every day this week

Lively discussion tonight earlier on eCAHN’s diary post … heavy hitters playing The Biggest Political Loser … good times.

been busy day at the lake — been a busy forking week to be honest…

I know the feeling, Suz — hope you’re feeling well. Alot of people have come down with this nasty virus.

steph has both the flu (mild case per the doc) and strep throat. lotsa folks get sick in january — all the holiday traveling and stresses of the season

After Tuesday’s MA special election result, I think I will begin referring to Mr. Obama as President Who.

With the cast of con-men and whores populating this administration, Abbott & Costello’s “Who’s on First” almost writes itself.

I hope everyone takes two of “these” and blogs me in the morning.

John Roberts and gang didn’t think ahead did they?

China holds $2.4 TRILLION in foreign reserves. They can use these funds to purchase controlling interest in foreign or US corporations, and then funnel funds into US campaigns.

What’s to prevent them? Nothing.

I’m waiting for this to dawn on the Teabaggers and Republicans. Any guess on when they’ll figure it out?

As I think about the implications of this decision, if it is enforced, it is hard to envision any other path for the US but a long slide into totalitarianism. I suppose some would argue that we are already there…

The good news is that the Supreme Court has mastered time travel.

The bad news is that all the gears on their DeLorean are broken except reverse.

A reactionary move, but I don’t think it’s the end of the world. There are other routes to balance the campaign finance mess.

Every other issue on the table seems minuscule in comparison to this bomb. I think this issue will set off a revolution. I feel like 1. Leaving the U.S. completely. or 2. Waiting for it to all come crashing down.

Total spending on 2008 Presidential Election by both candidates McCain and Obama = about $1.1 billion:

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/

Exxons 2008 Corporate Profits = $45 billion

http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/30/news/companies/exxon_earnings/index.htm

These numbers hammer the point home that as it currently stands even one corporation could easily excercise almost complete control over the media during the run up to any election.

May I trouble some of the more brilliant minded here to explain something to me? I absolutely understand and support any move to protect and preserve free speech. Here, however, the court seems to think that barring an entity from ONE AVENUE of speech is equivalent to denying their right to speech and silencing them completely.

There are abundant ways for an entity (corporate or individual) to express themselves that do not involve a given political campaign–especially for corporations whose deep pockets make their alternatives even more broad. If an entity makes the argument there is absolutely no way to say what they want to say EXCEPT in a political campaign ad, isn’t that an indication that “communication” (or exercising their right to speech) isn’t their true intent but influence the outcome of the election? It just seems to me that, for corporations especially, genuinely depriving an entity of speech rights would require law far more outlandishly draconian than anything the court struck down or that has ever even been proposed. Yes, no, maybe?

You have made a very good point. There’s an unfounded rationalization that television advertising, for instance, is exactly equivalent to conversational human utterance. No more and no less persuasive. Now, everyone knows this is a lie. The billions spent on advertising proves it is a lie. The Framers, of course, didn’t know of such irresistible media. In any case, the court has made money = speech, another ridiculous equivalence, since the very equation implies great disparity in the freedom they then say they are protecting. Those with more money have more speech. What the court has done is destroy the freedom of speech of those with less money.

The interesting part about your observation is the court opinion — and the earlier Buckley V. Valeo — carries with it a secret assumption that advertising is a more powerful medium, otherwise there’s no need to make money and speech equivalent. But that assumption is then denied to hide the loss of “free speech” by those who have no money.