Good morning. could you please double check your nattering nabobs collections as I do not see Liarman listed. Is this an error or Jewish holiday?

Good morning, pups. It’s Dowd, Friedman, Kristof and Rich today. In “The Naked and the Dead” MoDo opines that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has a new understanding of the rhythm of American politics and why leaders have struggled in their attempts at big changes. The Moustache of Wisdom gives us “More (Steve) Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, Jobs” in which he says we need to start an Innovation Movement to create good jobs by spawning more Steve Jobs — entrepreneurs who will invent new products and services. Mr. Kristof asks “What Could You Live Without?” and says one family found that selling their home and donating half the proceeds to charity made a difference for themselves as much as the people they helped. Mr. Rich, in “After the Massachusetts Massacre,” says neither in action nor in message is Barack Obama in front of the anger roiling the country over the dysfunctional economy and corrupt business culture.

Here they are.

The coffee, tea and hot chocolate are ready, and I picked up chocolate croissants at the bakery yesterday. I don’t know if it’s a Jewish holiday, nomolos, but the collection of Bobo Brooks, Jim DeMint, George Will, Cokie Roberts, MoDo(!), John McCain, Orrin Hatch, John Cornyn x 2, Mitch McConnell and Peggy Noonan ought to make up for him not being around. Gawd, what a depressing collection… It’s enough to tempt me to put a dollop of bourbon in my second cup of tea… Have a great day.

morning, and thanks, Elliott.

Listening to Chris Matthews;
Tweety discussing the teabaggers, Bobo saying it’s all about college education, Tweety asks which sort gets the most abortions? without missing a beat Bobo says oh, two to one, the uneducated.

huh???

Now talking about white voters getting turned off, tribalism is the word Clarence Page uses, panel concludes that economy probably going up, jobs will turn it around, everyone will be in love again. Tweety; Clinton would have the same problem.

Thanks, Marion. Am hoping the left and the WH can get together before we pitch the country back down the drain.

Like my post yesterday, I’m still looking for jobs programs, and it wouldn’t hurt to go back to CCC and WPA, so many things to gain.

I’m beginning to get a really vertiginous feeling that’s coming from the country circling closer and closer to the drain… It’s not making me happy.

O/T, but on Ed Schultz’s radio program Friday, I heard Schultz say that maybe David Gergen or John Podesta would be good candidates to replace Rahm. Considering that Ed Schultz isn’t politically savvy enough to throw that out on his own, I’m wondering if the bozos in the WH are that stupid and politically tone deaf, they’d really consider either of these guys for COS. Well, I know they are that stupid and politically tone deaf, but man, are they ever going to pull their heads out of their asses?

Not happy, either, but feeling like we have to hold onto progressive goals and not ‘send a message’ by joining the wingers in tearing down the gov’t.

From Froomkin: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/23/7-things-about-the-econom_n_433688.html

‘the housing bubble hugely increased household consumption as homeowners borrowed on average $0.25 to $0.30 for every $1 increase on their home equity. Now that housing prices have crashed and credit is tight, the inevitable result, Atif Mian and Amir Sufi write somewhat euphemistically, is a “painful process of household de-leveraging.”‘

I was lucky enough to be raised by a mother who instilled a horror of debt. I have a mortgage and a car loan, but no credit card debt. I can’t imagine what folks who borrowed on home equity and maxed out their credit cards are going through.

Like you, I stayed out of the debt dustbin, but know some who did the refinancing binge, and now are getting by by working instead of enjoying retirement. Too many, tho, went over the edge and lost their houses, moving in with relatives where possible, I assume.

Ed Shultz is a hack for corporate TV considering the way he threw Mike Malloy under the bus the other day.You cannot trust these Rethuglicants,turned Progressive scumbags like Shultz

The mere fact that he put Gergen and Podestas names out there,when there are so many better choices bewilders me,but thats what a hack does so it doesnt surprise me.

Steve Benen notes that it’s McCain’s 19th appearance on the Sunday morning talking heads shows.

If it’s Sunday…

Oh, he’s a hack, all right. I didn’t catch him throwing Mike Malloy under the bus.

Chris Hayes pointing out on WashJournal that wingers will be fighting programs for employment because 12% unemployment will be the worst thing for Dems.

He threw American workers under the bus– he had a reporter on last week saying we need more H1B visas and Shultz agreed.

Why doesnt Gregory just interview himself?Maybe even better he can bring Chris Matthews on and they can interrupt each other for the hour.What a couple of blowhards.They really take on the tough issues,MY ASS!Wheres Droopy Dog this Sunday?Probably taking a much needed rest after destroying America.

Edit to add: McCain’s 19th appearance since Obama’s inauguration.

David Plouffe is back…and ready to lead the Dems over the cliff.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/22/AR2010012204216.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

He gets it. He writes that this administration heard the message sent by voters in 2008:

“Instead of a government that works for the entitled and special interests, a government that looks out for Wall Street, they wanted a government that works better for them, a government that plays the role it should to help foster the security of the middle class.”

Does Plouffe really believe that after the bailouts, back-room deals and bribes that this administration has any credibility left in it’s promise of changing the way we do business in Washington? The Obama ‘progressive’ agenda is a sham. A cracked veneer that has exposed blatant, corrupt ‘crony capitalism.’

What does Plouffe propose:

Push forward on HCR legislation (in spite of the elections in NJ, VA and MA and every poll showing that a clear majority prefer Congress to do nothing).

Propose a ‘second stimulus’(but this time it will be euphemistically called a ‘jobs package’) and “Make sure voters understand what the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act did for the economy.” Americans know what it did…NOTHING!

He also believe that Dems should not ‘accept any lectures on spending.’ LOL!

The Democratic party will be pulling a “Thelma and Louise” if they take this man’s advice.

This is what mass media has sunken to.Robotic reporters who read teleprompters with scripted dialogue.
C-Span and NPR and PBS are also public broadcasting with a right wing twist.
If there ever was a network that put Amy Goodman on that networks ratings would explode.

OMG, check out this headline from HuffPo:

Obama Endorses Deficit Task Force

I hate to admit that Nader was right– there really is no substantial difference between the Rats and the Pukes.

I hope the WH reads the Rich column (among so many others). It’s about time the bubble Obama has been living in burst.

So who do you think planted the explosives in the World Trade Center? Don’t you think it’s time that David Brocks (former Republican hit man) Media Matters be exposed for the right wing front group it really is? So you put Schultz and Gregory/Matthews on the same level?

This scumbag LT.GOV.Bauer in this right wing state of South Carolina just likened the unemployed and those others on federal assistance programs to stray animals.He says if you give these animals help they will continue to come back endlessly.
There is a difference between the Rats and the Pukes in that the Rats do not ridicule the downtrodden publically

It’s true the Pukes are revolting people, but in terms of policy there is little difference between the parties.

Damn Right,These people do the bidding of their Corporate Masters,plain and simple.
Maybe your misunderstanding where Im coming from,I am against all of those who make it abundantly clear they are not serving the publics interest.
As far as my thoughts on 9-11,I know it was an inside job,but a discussion of that subject on this forum would be ridiculed,so I will leave that be.

AGREED

It would be an improvement.

Maybe someone can get him to open up his eyes.

Morning everyone!

Good morning. Slept in a bit limbering up my mind & my fingers with a second cuppa coffee. Not sure I’m ready for the fray yet.

sad but true

It’s really quite simple. Americans are torn between whether they are a “me” society or a “we” society. Republicans and their allies in the media are very effective in promoting a metastatic individualism, selfishness, fear and greed . Progressives have been very ineffective in promoting the benefits of a “we” society and collective values. By and large Americans are a very selfish people so it’s much easier for the Republicans. Is there any country in Europe that would let a major city drown and then walk away from the rebuilding of that city? Europeans live in a “we” society, Americans “me.” Americans could care less if 47 million are without health insurance and 45,000 die annually for lack of health insurance. Americans could care less if torture is done in their names as long as it’s happening to someone else. Americans have been indoctrinated since birth to think that capitalism =’s democracy. Americans by and large are a very unsophisticated and ignornant people and the Republicans are very effective in exploiting that ignorance.

I know what you mean. Just one cup of coffee and I took a running leap and jumped in.

Think I’ll make fudge (first time) and read a whodunit. Avoidance as a coping technique.

Think I’ll grade some quizzes and make some soup.

yeah, somehow “us” became a bad thing.

I SEE NOTHING IN YOUR WORDS WHERE I WOULD DISAGREE.NUFF SAID

Made soup yesterday. Mushrooms & carrot dill. In the freezer for future consumption.

I made soup too…just chicken noodle but it is yummy. Rainy and chilly here in NW Indiana, so soup hits the spot. The talking heads? Not so much.

Doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a hack, just means he’s dim.

Good morning, everyone.

Last evening I read Obama’s “I’m fighting for you” speech (I can’t bring myself to listen to his voice, but that’s a form of “equality’,actually, because I counldn’t listen to Bu$h either).

Anyhoo, Obama was going on about how, from the beginning, he was fighting big business and all those nasty corporations that have been beating on the American public (Can I say that? Even though I’m just paraphrasing the President, it sounds kind of violent?) and trying to shine a light on the evil-doers.

Now, either I’m having a “senior moment” or Barack Obama, the President of the United States is a true fabulist.

I have to admit that I’m worried about having shared these thoughts with you, because, obviously, I am not agreeing with the official “view” of this recent history, and Cass Sunstein has made it clear that one, and only one version of history is gonna be acceptable …

So I am concerned that Sunstein, professor of Law, Harvard, will accuse me of starting an “actionable” rumor.

Since I’m not “too big to fail”, they could easily find me guilty of, in essence, having no (real) money and having no power, which basically covers the entire range of criminal behavior in our country, at the moment.

Should I be worried?

How do you all remember this first year of the Obama presidency?

Is my mind going?

Your feedback wouild be much appreciated.

DW

Nw Indiana. Used to live in Valparaiso.

Ah ha! I decided not to do the Confession Time diary that I mentioned yesterday. But, I did post one for sharing….Soup Recipes. You must have read my mind, eCAHN.
A whodunit? I’m proud of you. I thought it was non-fiction only.

David Brock planted the explosives at the World Trade Center? Media Matters is a Republican front group? What was in your morning coffee? Yes, Brock was a right winger who recanted and became critical of his earlier reporting. But I read Media Matters and never see a shred of evidence that what you state is true or accurate. Sorry, no sale.

Americans could care less if 47 million are without health insurance and 45,000 die annually for lack of health insurance

See, therein lies the problem. Neither Dems or Rethuglicans get it. Americans aren’t dying because of lack of health insurance. They are dying due to lack of healthcare. Neither party wants to change that. Mandating people to buy insurance, won’t change that. If a man has no feet, you can’t force him to buy shoes. Those without money or jobs, can’t be forced to buy for profit insurance. It’s a catch 22 with an easy fix, but nobody wants to go there. Get rid of health insurance companies and pay for healthcare completely with taxation, by cutting the massive unnecessary military spending for one. You either spend the taxes on killing people, or healing them but you can’t do both.

I am in South Bend, Bluetoe2. Have been to Valpo a couple of times, not recently.

Good morning, Demi! Soup recipe? Gonna go check it out.

Geez, I’m all stocked up on soups. I’ still be eating them a year from now. Too bad your diary wasn’t a little sooner. As for reading, it’s mostly nonfiction, not only nonfiction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyYZUhSeRYc
For you David, and anyone else who wants to smile and tap a toe.

Brit Hume: Bernanke getting thrown under bus

Yeah, too bad. :O
We went out for dinner last night and had a nice minestrone. But, when we got home, the dogs had trashed the place. Again. I was fuming. I threatened that they were both out! Today’s a new day and they may get a reprieve. Grrrrrr.

There’s a lot to be said for HGTV and the Food Channel this morning. At least after watching you’ve learned something useful.

It was sarcasm in response to an earlier comment.

Thanks, demi;

A genuinely human and necessary perspective.

The uplift of the heart and soul …

;~DW

I rarely watch the Sunday Talking Heads. If there’s any bombshells lobbed, I’ll hear about it later. A little less talk and a lot more food.

Democracy Now on Fri. had Amy Goodman at the epicenter of the earth quake in Haiti.

She was all over the place interviewing. All the organizations + the UN are afraid to go in. But Amy was there interviewing. A helicopter went over and dropped two loaves of bread. I guess because the “rescuers” were afraid of the browns.

Katrina aftermath repeated in Haiti. I am getting frustrated at the stars who continue to do fund raisers and the money does not get to the people who need it most. The people in Haiti are dying of untreated medical problems , thirst and hunger. Digging out their communities with hammers.

Airports clogged by US military. US history. Native Americans can’t own land because they are heathens.So it is ok to just steal it.

In one sign of how worried the White House is, President Barack Obama called the Democratic Senate leadership on Saturday to make sure Bernanke’s confirmation was on track.

A senior administration official said the senators had assured Obama that Bernanke would be confirmed.

It’s from Reuters. He isn’t getting tossed under any bus. Rethugs and Dems luv this corporate tool.

Tough days indeed and we all need as much uplifting as possible.
If I wrote a book about this past week it might start with It was the worst of times and worser times. So, I’ve got to find things to smile about.

shades of the Tsunami overseas…lots of money raised, little went to the “poor brown people”…….although the hotel chains received lots of money to help them rebuild! And of course the big organizations pointed out the fine print in their donation drives, that hey, they’d help there, but it didn’t mean the money would go to that cause.

But that’s how Brit Hume sees it.

David Dayen sees support for Bernanke

eCahn, some neighbors and I had a soup supper last year. I provided the soup (had 3 kinds in the freezer) and they contributed salad, bread and dessert. It was lots of fun and a chance for us to get together in winter when we’re usually shut up in our houses and don’t see each other. Someone mentioned a progressive dinner so we may try that, too.

OK, sorry. Missed the snark.

Excellent title.

Well, demi, ya got my smile muscles functioning and they certainly aren’t in the shape they ought to be, not atrophied, but needing exercise, which you done encouraged superbly.

“It was a dark and stormy time, even the sun refused to shine … yet demi persisted and, in due time, a smile broke out, and recognizing its freedom for what it was, it went forth spreading good cheer and fellowship, and people even started to laugh, before long, there was riotous goodwill bursting forth like flowers in the springtime …”

DW

That’s lovely. Since our emotions are contagious, and since there is already an abundance of catastrophies, I usually try to contribute something positive here rather than add to the negative pile ons.

You succeed, demi, most delightfully, in your efforts, and that is one reason why I always find it to be a true pleasure to encounter you here at the lake.

You’re too sweet. I think I’m going to go read my current book right now. It’s called Prayers For Sale. See you around, then.
((((David))))

So that’s how they do it.

Friday’s Democracy Now is classic. Showed Amy going all over the place, courteous and being treated with the utmost courtesy in return.

The two loaves of bread falling from the sky..and all the military and UN etc. afraid to go in.

Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder about the work of Dr. Paul Farmer in Haiti is one of the best books I ever read.Couldn’t believe that one of their publishing houses was in a cross roads community very close to where I was living. Seemed like the kind of place that is common here in ME ..about 600 residents tops. Yet have this wonderful publishing house.

Tracy Kidder summers in ME. One of the reasons I liked this book so much is that it concentrates on the good guys. Makes you feel good about being human in this day and age.A book that can do that is really something!

I like Kidder’s work. Will have to read his Haiti book, thanks for the recc’d. Have seen him in reports on the devastation there.

I agree -

Health ins if comprehensive and cheap together with price controls that mean no/little out of pocket means more enter the health care system.

But just more health ins means little.

A single payer is cleaner and its must accept for basic care rule means no out of pocket

The part that Amy exposed that I found so frustrating is Obama ordering troops in to provide security only (hey – we always invade Haiti without all the t’s crossed and i’s doted as to the invitation), Obama is not allowing the military to help with the rescue and recovery work – just “security”. Is the lesson that Obama will protect what is left of the assets of the rich in Haiti because they are friends of the rich in the US?

Really Ed Schultz is the other side of the corporate center the two ass coin Right side Rush Limbo Left side Ed Schultz for the center corporate to dum down The People.These center talking heads are there to keep You The People off subject.

Okay the Comedy Hour has started – Carly Fiorina “I’m running for Senate because…”

Mike didn’t care about Ed Schultz’ comments and largely deflected them. There still is suspicion on the “left” of Ed’s overall positions. You don’t hear that often enough but its out there. Its seems Big Eddie supported both Wars full stop and never question 9/11. To his credit he put his foot down on Health Care Reform when most of the other shows steered around it.

Maddow focused (still does) on National Security and the “Cultural War” inside of that.

Keith attacks whatever way the wind blows while occasionally pushing the “Ah Ha!” movement in the news.

Keith gave some insightful comments about Health Care, he still never said, we need Single Payer, that’s it, that’s all full stop.

The reason why Malloy, Hartmann and Goodman seldom get on the boob tube is because the larger Democratic Party string pullers don’t want the message dragged so far “Left” that they would actually have to DO something.

But basically it goes like this -

Hartmann is a commie

Mallory is a Marxist

Mark Thompson (Sirius Left) is a racist

Goodman nobody trust because she tells the truth (see Haiti Coverage)

Those are all “bad” things

Carly Fiorina is a piece of work, I know she wants the Republican nomination badly, but when she claims to be her own person (deflecting questions about her links to the McCain campaign) I can’t help but start laughing.

I found plenty of fodder for those concerned about the US reaction to Haiti online. I found it funny that people in America with some knowledge about France’s roll in Haiti were quick to dump on France (another round of “Freedom Fries”) when they pointed out that the US is actively trying to militarize the relief effort and turned back aid aircraft to allow Military transports with troops to land first.

The UN jumping behind the overblown concerns about safety was laughable too.

I don’t feel powerless, but I do feel anything I say its pointless, something like spitting in the wind. All this money is getting funneled to Haiti only to end up where it always ends up not in the hands of poor Black people, but rich and connected people.

Like I said after the ground stop moving, watch the US fuck this up, just like Katrina but in not so obvious way.

I have been reading these threads and come to this conclusion. Progressives want a govt. controlled society. But it has to be a progressive controlled society. Now I am not knocking progressives here. I am knocking govt. It does not work. Limited govt. is the answer. Governments have historically tried to control man. It aint gonna happen. Start realizing the history of govt. and you will see this. The American people are the most generous on earth. Yet you hate Americans. Or you think Americans are stupid. Either way, progressives are in the minority. This is a good thing. Have you read the history of Woodrow Wilson? Not a good man. Your founding is based on eugenics. Not good. Forced sterilizations. The Kaiser Wilhelm inst. Did you know Mengele was part of this progressive movement? Before calling your self progressive, read your history. You will label your selves differently. I am not saying any of you are like the founding progressives. But a name change may be in order.

In a better world most of these talking heads would be on trial as war criminals.

Ed Schultz? Never felt good about him. For those wanted to excuse him or others, just remember that the ruling elite have enough money and energy to narrowcast to any discernable political slice of the spectrum. Last week’s hero of the revolution is selling someone out next week.

By the way, if with 59 votes in the Senate the Dems can’t pass a good healthcare bill, what changes in a year? There’ll be even more Repubs in both houses, and they’ll love to have the shitty health care bill, where squeezing more blood out of the working class has been institutionalized, remain there as exhibit one for how bad Demos are. Oh, the Repubs will no doubt throw out the exception of labor unions right away. But otherwise, this stinking pile will be preserved as is to kill unions and Dems.

Thanks, Obama. Good work.