I guess Perry’s prayer solution is a bust…

Good morning BT and Margaret,
Waiting for the grandkids to wake up for a another day of running.
Margaret, I have never had a chance to ask how the job is going?
Fine I hope.

The militarization of American life continues apace:

Disaster response military leaders get new duties
Commanders will lead active duty and National Guard troops

The Defense Department is grooming a new type of commander to coordinate the military response to domestic disasters, hoping to save lives by avoiding some of the chaos that plagued the Hurricane Katrina rescue effort.

The officers, called dual-status commanders, would be able to lead active-duty and National Guard troops — a power that requires special training and authority because of legal restrictions on the use of the armed forces on U.S. soil.

Sorry, Mr. Franklin, we didn’t.

BT, I think that Tchaivovsky piece is great enough to be appropriated by anyone who wants to. There is a universal quality there surpassing the agenda when it was written.

It’s not my own favorite, though. The best performance I ever heard in my 64 years was in 2009 at the DSO in the Meyerson — in May rather than July. Spectacular!

I think it’s going fine. It’s hard to say because of work politics which is worse at this place than almost anywhere else I’ve worked and I refuse to play work politics.

The 1812 Overeture is as rock and roll as ZZ Top. That’s why.

But I always have wondered: why do we play the 1812 Overture on the Fourth? It was written by a (gay) Russian to commemorate the Czar’s victory over Napoleon. So when those canons start going off, they’re saying, “Hurray! Russia wins!”

LMAO! More than a quarter of Americans don’t know what we’re celebrating on the fourth of July so it’s a bit much to expect most to know anything about Tchaicovsky, Russia, or 1812.

Good for you on staying above the fray.
I had some of that in my days and it is never pleasant.

The myth of Posse Comitatus. . .

http://www.homelandsecurity.org/journal/articles/Trebilcock.htm

In short it can be changed, reinterpreted, as in the past.

Amen to that. I’m pretty sure we can like whatever music we want. It’s that freedomy thing.

LOL. I would think that a site that espouses such Socialist tripe as I find here on FDL would embrace a little Russian music on our great country’s birth.

It does sometimes seem like everyone here is of one mind , but in fact there are individual voices and we’re not all in agreement about everything all the time.

The Tsars were a lot of things but “Socialist” was not one of them. Read a book.

Conservatives don’t really get nuance demi. Good morning! :)

But you have to admit, the Russia of the 19 th century is
a hell of a lot closer to the founding principals of this site than to the founding principals of this country.

It’s not my favorite style of music, but I thought of this Holiday song this morning.
Plus, it’s got a nice idea, and one can get up and move through the livingroom with glee. Move your body!

founding principals

Not surprised you confuse principal and principle.

But you have to admit, the Russia of the 19 th century is
a hell of a lot closer to the founding principals of this site than to the founding principals of this country.

No it wasn’t! Russia under the Tsars was a study of a post Feudelist monarchy. Power vested in one strong leader and his/her immediate court is pretty much the antithesis of what this site is about.

Morning BT & 4th of July Pups of Fire:

There will be no fireworks in Texas this year because of the worst drought in over a century, and because Governor Perry’s hair is a straight-up fire hazard.

Fixed it for ya.

More than Russia, principles of FDL more closely align with those of America post Triangle Shirtwaist Factory and pre-Reagan*.

Google is your friend.

*Nixon was far more liberal than Obama.

Thanks for the history lesson, Meg. I guess you’re right. This site is much more attuned to the events of the Lenin years and his Socialist agenda.

“workers of the world unite” and all that?

Good Morning, Shoto
Is it muggy where you are too? I read that we might have a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Our very own natural fireworks. (And, I wouldn’t have to turn on the hose to water my garden.)
It would be so nice (continuing with my Madonna theme this am).

Every time you touch your keyboard, you reveal your abysmally uninformed ignorance. Nothing I type can destroy any shreds of your credibility any more eloquently than you. So type away! Maybe next you can tell us how this site resembles the principles of Pol Pot or Idi Amin. I wait with rapt attention.

Give one example of Socialism that Obama has instituted which has changed the life of littledom.

Give one example of Socialism that Obama has instituted which has changed the life of littledom.

His taxes went down. Curse you socialism!

why do we play the 1812 Overture on the Fourth?

It ain’t like we don’t have a buncha composers that are home-grown.

What’s wrong with some Copland on the 4th?

Pay no attention…quite dull!!

Perhaps a Native American Rain Dance is in order.

Morning Demi: Yes, it is muggy around here. Was yesterday, too.

Dude, the whole approach of pitting the rich (really? $200k a year in this day and age and suddenly you’re a jet owner?) as those who can afford to pay more so that the down-trodden can pay less (more likely, nothing) is about as socialist as you can get. Then let’s talk about taking the means of production out of the hands of the people and placing them, by force, in the hands of the state.

But I wasn’t talking about obama. I was talking about this site. It’s nothing BUT class warfare and vilifying “the rich”. Those other guys.

Good morning all. No fireworks in NM either due to drought. At least in Albuquerque anyway.

So I’m wondering: Do you hit the pipe after you drink the Kool Aid, or the other way around? I’m taking a survey.

Use of the 1812 Overture is especially ironic since the United States was fighting on the side of Napoleon in what we call the War of 1812. But the sound of cannon fire so stirs the American soul.

Thanks for the Copeland, Shoto. Opened in a different window so I can stay here. I think I might break out Billy The Kid, Rodeo and Fanfare For The Common Man later. Great ‘Merican music.

Speaking of appropriating foreign music, the Star-Spangled Banner’s tune comes from a British drinking song, “To Anacreon in Heaven.” From Wiki: “The song was commonly used as a sobriety test: If you could sing a stanza of the notoriously difficult melody and stay on key, you were sober enough for another round.”

Happy Fourth!

I know this will be difficult for you, but put on your thinking cap and try to keep up.

The only “Socialism” that we’ve seen under the current administration is in the form of $Trillions in taxpayer dollars shoveled into Wall Street coffers. As for the average person…not so much.

It’s a Big Club. And you ain’t in it.

Dude, the whole approach of pitting the rich (really? $200k a year in this day and age and suddenly you’re a jet owner?) as those who can afford to pay more so that the down-trodden can pay less (more likely, nothing) is about as socialist as you can get.

Some noted socialists:

The man of great wealth owes a peculiar obligation to the State, because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government. — Teddy Roosevelt

“Another means of silently lessening the inequality of property is to exempt all from taxation below a certain point, and to tax the higher portions of property in geometrical progression as they rise.” — Thomas Jefferson

We’ve had the progressive tax in this country for about 100 years. It was extremely steep from 1933 until the late 80s. You knew that, right?

Dig out the 3rd symphony. Very 4th of July sounding piece…

Good Morning, Bev. Got any special plans for the day.
I’m thinking about making a big bowl of potato salad.
Since we live up on an alluvial fan, we can go up the road and watch fireworks all over the valley. It’s quite spectacular. And, Free!

It’s a great tune filled with bombast.

That’s enough for me.

Highest Tax bracket under Eisenhower was 90 percent. Eiesnhower spent that money to build Interstate 95. That was Socialism.

Roads are Socialism. The infrastructure in the USA is crumbling.

Production is outsourced. Where do you see The State forcefully taking over any production? In what world?

Okay. Thanks.

If Ike hadn’t built that highway, we could all have had roads like Louisiana….;)

Happy Back at you…finding ways to be cool. We have had absurd heat. Some of it from hotair from the Gov/Hair and the Lege….

So far we know that littledom knows nothing of Russian history, American history, the meaning of several words and phrases or what this website represents. I’m guessing that individual quotes are going to be way out of his/her ken.

Wow. You found some neat quotes from some big names. Founding fathers and all. That doesn’t make them my heroes nor does it mask the fact that the people and corporations that fund this government are over taxed. That whole special advantage we receive? We receive a lower return on our dollars than the welfare broodmare and the worker on unemployment for 2 years who apparently can’t even get a job at burger king.

And the historical tax rate argument is pure BS. The average tax rate is higher now than in those glory days of 90% marginal rates. That means that the Laffer curve is validated yet again. You simply can’t raise overall revenues by overtaxing the rich.

And shoto, I hit the kool aid AFTER I hit it with your momma.

Jefferson was a slave owner, too.

More like Fascism. The collusion of Gumbint and Big Business. Finance, Big Oil, Telecom, Homeland Security, The MIC, Private Education, Private Prisons, Privatization, Rampant Militarism…

We need some Socialism.

Do you have an air conditioner? We installed one in the LR last night. It’s much more efficient than running the central air and we can just cool the air in the one room. I’m rather pleased.

And your point would be what, exactly?

Yes, thanks for asking….

Founding fathers and all…That doesn’t make them my heroes…

Ummm…Teddy Roosevelt wasn’t a founding father…

Uh, by your own criteria you just called Thomas Jefferson and Teddy Roosevelt socialists. You also are ignorant of the fact that taxes haven’t been this low for 50-60 years, depending on your metric. Moreover, you ignore that a progressive tax — which you call socialism — has been a feature of the government for over 100 years.

I’m afraid I’ve come to the conclusion that you’re a troll.

But I always have wondered: why do we play the 1812 Overture on the Fourth?

tis okay, for the same reason I suppose a drinking song called “The Anacreontic” became the national anthem

I’m afraid I’ve come to the conclusion that you’re a troll.

And not an especially challenging one.

Ironic that today’s “picture” of the U.S. is evocative of Wilde’s novel, “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” The U.S. has had an image of itself as the always “handsome” and ever youthful beacon of hope. All the while there was a hidden picture of a rapacious, mean spirited and small minded people. That second picture has now been exposed to the light of day so that one now sees the alternate nature and character of the U.S.. It’s no longer a pretty picture. After 235 years the nation is looking very atrophied, sclerotic and gasping for breath. Without radical, transformational change the nation will be headed for a hospice facility.

the Laffer curve is validated

Now I understand. You’re trying out your new comedy material. Not up to professional standards yet, but if you keep working the act, they might let you sit in during open-mic night at the Barstow bowling alley. Maybe.

Whatever happened to Do Not Feed?

I see your problem. You label progressive taxation “socialism.” I suspect it’s a matter of ignorance rather than attempted deception. Socialism occurs when the government owns the means of production. (No, that’s not communism. Under communism the state is supposed to wither away as the workers take over the means of production directly.) There are examples of socialism in the U.S. Some municipalities own electric utilities. Mass transportation systems are often owned by governments. Progressive taxation, good or bad, has exactly nothing to do with socialism.

Nationalizing the oil industry would be about as socialist as you could get.

As Warren Buffet once noted, “If there’s a class war going on, my side is winning.” For a conservative troll to accuse FDL of class warfare is akin to the Japanese complaining about American aggression at Midway.

This troll had a lousy beginning on yesterday; you may have missed it. No treat there. A narcisstic, self-centered R….with poor grammar.

The corporations have socialism. Why can’t the “people” have a little socialism as well.

you really couldn’t be more misinformed could you, your post demonstrates how easily corporate media and propaganda gets you to not only vote against yourself, your wife, your kids and your grandparents, they’ve also got you advocating for them

man, I’ve seen marionettes on the internet but you are in the top five

for your information, there is FAR greater return on tax dollars then you could POSSIBLY realize if private industry provided you with the things that make this country great

the roads, the bridges, clean air, water to your house, electricity to your house, police, firement, the beach, the parks and school

ALL available through private industry but ALL far more expensive

you know, there are countries with lower and next to zero tax rates, you might want to move to one of these beacons of comfort

the very best things about this country are the things you want to give to private profit…party on little dom

(I love feeding the trolls, they so easily help make the important progressive points crystal clear)

Conservatives have no need or desire for actual facts or knowledge. Limbaugh and Boortz give them all of their material free of charge. I’ll bet they keep a link to conservapedia at the ready.

why, it’s ok for the corporations to feed off of our labor for their roads, their electricity, why SHOULD they pay their bills when they can get little dom telling us they don’t have to.

Thanks. Shooting for the number 1 slot!

Of course, that’s always what a narcissist wants after being born on 3rd base…..

Speaking of Fireworks. Here in New Mexico, I’m sure you’ve all heard of the Los Alamos fire? NO?
Well, FEMA has and they were Johnny-on-the-spot with this thing; national security you know?
Plus a previous burn that some joker set off in high winds about 10 years ago and got fired ( no pun) helped a lot to contain it.
It doesn’t seem they are too concerned with the pueblo of Santa Clara burning down, however.

So, the worst fire in our history because of TA-DA-BOOMITY-BOOM GLOBAL WARMING and the governor can’t ban fireworks due to some arcane law that the fireworks lobby put in place, I don’t know when…maybe when Bill Richardson banned them a couple of times over the last 10 years of TA-DA-BOOMITY-BOOM GLOBAL WARMING.

Any how’s, you should have seen the trolls on HuffPo yesterday! They were nearly panicky in their anti global warming hysteria. It was funnily pathetic. Of course, the grow-ups conversed amongst ourselves as grown-ups do when the children try to make a scene.

That said, I’m pretty proud of the people in my state that there WEREN’T more fireworks last night; even tho the fireworks sellers/purveyors of death and destruction, “anticipated brisk sales”!

Now, we might lay it down to dire poverty, which is certainly a factor, along with GLOBAL WARMING!
But, I think people just didn’t want to lose their homes for a few brief spasms of pretty CO2 igniting in the air.

Many of us were very afraid of the morons who would set off their stuff in this VERY dry state and that it would go up like a torch; maybe burn down a few major cities!
So, we’ll see tonight. but last night I heard a few little firecrackers and that was it.

The governor, in a rare moment of sapience, has been heard to want to legislate so that a ban can be enforced when necessary.
I think that’s really, really a GOOD IDEA

I was debating a guy on C&L and he said that I espoused that Obama was a Socialist and he was going to destroy this country with socialism. Why do they use that as a counter punch in defending Obama? It’s amazing to me that anyone would say even in trying to rebuke me that Obama is a socialist.

the original words to the tune of the star spangled banner, hard to figure out how these words fit but here they are;

To Anacreon, in Heav’n, where he sat in full glee,
A few sons of harmony sent a petition,
That he their inspirer and patron would be;
When this answer arrived from the jolly old Grecian –
Voice, fiddle and flute,
No longer be mute.
I’ll lend ye my name, and inspire ye to boot…
And, besides, I’ll instruct ye, like me, to entwine,
The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’s vine.

Ye sons of Anacreon, then, join hand in hand;
Preserve unanimity, friends and love.
‘Tis your’s to support what’s so happily plan’d;
You’ve the sanction of gods, and the fiat of Jove.
While thus we agree,
Our toast let it be.
May our club flourish happy, united and free!
And long may the sons of Anacreon entwine,
The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus’s vine.

The only thing the kid knows about political philosophy is what he learned from Rush. His “hero” is most likely Mussolini but of course he doesn’t even realize that.

I didn’t miss it.
We used to hear Do Not Feed. I was just wondering if the rules had changed. Oh, I know, their not so much rules, as “guidelines.” :)

Red an white–blue suede shoes– Im uncle Sam–how do you do.

I guess we all get our kicks in different ways.

they have developed an interesting tool popyey;

obama is actually a corporatistm the polar opposite of a socialist, yet they attack him for being something he is nowhere near

just like the yellow bellied draft dodgers attacked kerry for his war record

they find something to say and go with it especially when the truth is nowhere to be found in their claim

I believe it’s an iteration of “begging the question”

Do not think there’s been a change…some times irresistable….dontcha know?

Because like Christianity, bipartisanship, compromise, fascism, etc, they don’t know what it means. All they know is what the conservative mouthpieces tell them those things mean.

That means that the Laffer curve is validated yet again.

Of course you’re aware that Laffer’s half-bright, 100% quack economic theories have been thoroughly and completely discredited, right?

Everything they need to know they learned from Rush.

Alrighty, then.
I hope everyone has a good day.

And also to you…take care ;)

I’ll make every effort.

sorry everybody, I can’t let this bit of misinformation go by unaddressed;

You simply can’t raise overall revenues by overtaxing the rich.

“the rich” pay less taxes then the labor class in case you didn’t know it, there are “regressive taxes” which do not get paid by “the rich” they are only paid by the labor class, but of course the uninformed don’t know anything about “regressive taxes” because your puppeteers don’t want you to know about them…do some research for yourself and your family, you WILL change your mind

when you “think” progressives want to “tax the rich” more then everyone else, you are flat out misinformed, the progressive movement wants to equalize the tax burden so the wealthy aren’t stealing from the rest of us.

now, for those of you who think I am feeding trolls with this post, I am more giving information even progressives don’t use in their arguments and have to begin using.

we cannot continue using counter productive arguments like “tax the wealthy”, we NEED to begin framing this for what it actually is;

“equalizing the tax burden so the wealthy do not pay less”

anyway, off for some tennis

Later dem.

M: Every good luck in staying out of office politics….a losing game and can be avoided. Enjoy your success….

I am a progressive. While your description of the current state of affairs is accurate, I see nothing wrong with a “progressive” tax structure where, as income goes up, so do marginal tax rates.

Emphasizing that people of great wealth now pay smaller percentages of their income in taxes than middle class workers may be a better way to form a winning coalition and changing the tax code so that the wealthy had to pay the same percentage as the rest of us would be an excellent start.

Well, it thinks this is still “The Land of Opportunity” and that if it WORKS HARD for the bosses, it will be RICH some day too.
So it’s guarding it’s future wealth, you see?

of course we need a progressive tax rate but we have to understand the very reason that progressive rate needs to exist

it’s not because “the wealthy have more to spend”, that argument is counter productive

it IS because the labor class pays a disproportionate percentage of their wage to regressive taxes

THAT’S the very reason the progressive tax was invented in the first place, to equalize that tax burden a little more, it never really worked, we ALWAYS payed more in over all taxes

yes, we need a progressive tax rate so the wealthy does not steal from us but a better solution would be to take the regressive taxes and distribute them across the board so the labor class doesn’t shoulder the majority of the burden

THEN we need to apply “TRUE” useage fees to the corporations that use a disproportionate percentage of our economic resources;

if a corporation enjoys a certain percentage of our economic assets then they need to OBVIOUSLY shoulder at least that percentage in economic expenses.

THAT is the way we need to frame this discussion, NOT as if we want more then our share but the fact that we don’t want the wealthy paying less

This is true. And I’m glad to have Littledom here. If the youngster keeps comming ’round, she’ll be Progressive within a year, I believe. Before she’s 20, at any rate.

Jefferson? Owned slaves?? You’re shitting me! Jeez, learn something new every day, huh?

How about the music for the award ceremonies for state high school athletic events. “We are the Champions” Queen……in Nebraska.
It used to be some of the award recipients sported a wry grin They got it.Their elders didn’t

Now, they’ve forgotten Freddy Mercury, who will live on in all our hearts as the true genius he was

why do we play the 1812 Overture on the Fourth?

Beats me, why do American’s use the section of Pomp and circumstance march no 1 for graduation that is the tune to “Land of Hope and glory”?

Confuses me no end every time I hear it. It would be like Brits graduating to “America the Beautiful”.

Mind you since we use the UK national anthem for the tune to “My country ’tis of thee” I wouldn’t be surprised.

Ummm…Teddy Roosevelt wasn’t a founding father…

Sure he was! Just like John Quincy Adams!

Hopefully the governor’s security team will keep anyone with a bic lighter or matches away from the governor’s hair…I shudder to think what a conflagration that would cause.

Apparently so. :)

Thanks it’s really frustrating to try and carry on an intelligent debate with them. You try and be civil and they still attack you.