Wish I could be excited about Warren’s announcement. Some how I feel this is some slimy inside deal as payment for her not going on the attack against Obama. I wouldn’t be surprised if she has Obamabot advisors helping her along the way.

I just keep looking at Al Franken and what a disappointment he has been and think Warren will be just like him. Pin all our hopes on these people and then because they all need campaign cash, will let the rich go free and hey maybe we can have another round of tax cuts to make everyone feel better.

Off topic, but..

In the aftermath of the slew of Republican debates, I have to say what I find more troubling than the candidates themselves is the people who attend them. First it was the rampant applause at Rick Perry and how many people he is responsible for killing as governor of my state. Last week it was the heckler in the crowd saying that the 30 year old should die if he was foolish enough to not have insurance.

The horse race loving media loves primary season where all the Republicans have to appeal to the craziness of their base. I’m certain the horror I feel in regards to the sadistic pricks that make up their base they feel towards me when they watched Obama and Hillary both bend over backwards saying how much they are against NAFTA, WTO and how the were for single payer health insurance.

The primary season is all about appealing to the fringe to get the base vote. Just like the Democrats, after primary season is over, their tone will soften and both Republicans and Democrats will appear practically the same, especially with Obama representing the Democrats.

Right now, the Republican side of the house is just a freakshow intended to make the right love their candidates with the unintended consequence of making the left want to push aside any differences they feel towards dear leader and vote for him, even though he is the lesser of two evils.

Evil On Display

Well, the Republican ‘party of life’ was at it again last night cheering on death. After Wolf Blitzer asked Ron Paul whether what Teabaggers fancy ‘a Christian nation’ should let someone who neglects to own health insurance die in the event he becomes gravely ill, Paul nodded stupidly as Bagger audience members loudly endorsed the notion.

Where is the sense of humanity? And where is the sense of proportionality? It’s not that somebody who has a good job and can afford insurance and eschews it anyway is without fault or should be rewarded or encouraged to continue behaving irresponsibly; indeed, one would think maybe we would impose something like an individual mandate on the wayward offender.

But in the Bagger universe, where anything Barack Obama supports is, shall we say, off a shade, an idea better than imposing an individual mandate on those who would impose the cost of their medical care on the rest of us would be to let those people skip buying health insurance and then let them die …

Article:
Evil On Display

Bob Turner’s victory over David Weprin in Anthony Weiner’s solid D, former Congressional District is an ominous indicator for the Obama Administration and Democrats in 2012.

Both NPR and PBS white washed the last debate,
with no mention of the crowd’s `let him die’ moment.
The fact that the TP is a racist, eliminationist cesspool is invisible to many Americans.

I share your suspicions.

A friend of a friend of mine is going to do some edumacation research in Franken’s office, one of those “genius” grants. I made some disparaging remarks about Franken via email, and asked my friend to ask hers, once she’s there for awhile, to check out my “he’s another worthless D.” I’m not sure how gullible these 2 are. I’ve tried to open my friend’s eyes* over the years, but not sure of my success, and though I’ve met her friend once, I have no read on her. We’ll see.

*The most memorable case was when I tried to convince her bef the Iraq invasion that there were no WMDs there. Every time the U.S. troops found a rusty barrel, I’d get an email from my friend: They’ve found the WMDs! Sigh.

1) Yes. Expect frantic spinning from White House flacks today.

2) I’d rather she ran for president.

3) Nothing that a tax cut won’t fix.

4) Nothing that deregulation won’t fix.

5) I’d make a sarcastic comment, but Paul’s statements stand on their own.

Boxturtle (Teachers will only be sweeping until they get their detentions in order)

“Invisibilitating” was the word I made up last night. In a diff context (one of the techniques the RWM PTB use to get rid of half the population), but the technique is also applicable in your context of propaganda.

Agreed. And they don’t even see the disconnect between that and “Party of Life” or “pro life”.

Boxturtle (And congrats for beating the morning bomber to swim)

Rand Paul is way more revolting and sub-human than I was capable of imagining. He truly is too disgusting for words.

on edit; Sorry all, good morning and thanks for the post Blue Texan.

Being the brillant 11-D strategist and masterful tactician that he is, Obama will out right wing the right wing and lead his party to ever growing victories. Eliminating the death tax and abolishing OSHA and the EPA would be the next logical step.

I try not to judge people by their looks, but that Bob Turner sure is uuuugly. He has a Dick Cheney sneer. And Rand Paul is just pitiful.

Mixed feelings about Elizabeth Warren. I’m not quite so cynical as to think she’s got an inside deal, but I think her talents would be wasted in the Senate.

My sentiments exactly. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, did it?

Heh. I go out of my way to speak disparagingly of prominent RWMs looks or attire, since that’s about the only thing that’s talked about for prominent women. Turn about is fair play.

Both father and son are beneath contempt walking pieces of fecal matter.

Good morning BT and firepups,
msmolly,
I owe you and demi an apology, we were talking about KrisAinTex and about the 3 women in his life and how lucky he was and to enjoy the little ones while he can because they grow up so fast.
Anyway, you and demi responded to me and I did not answer because of “honeydo” projects that sent me off the computer. I do not like it when I say something, someone responds and then they get no answer back from me. My fault and my apologies. Sounds like you and I are lucky enough to be spoiling grandchildren. I love it!!!

In that photo, all jr. needs is a top hat. Mad as a hatter. He looks like he is about to start chittering to himself and chewing on his hand.

like oldnslow above, on edit: good morning pupses and thank you BT.

Gah. democracynow reporting from Libya is ridiculous feelgood stuff. Nothing about how there is no there there (i.e., only thing that’s holding opposition together is NATO) nor about how new “govt” is ethnically cleansing black African illegals (1 million in a 6 million population) on the excuse that they are Gaddafi’s mercenaries.

On edit: Most of the black Africans in Libya are documented: they bought their docs from crooked police, etc. They do all the jobs that are beneath the dignity of Libyans.

Kris is a wonderfull guy and his daughters are a true delight.

I’m not quite so cynical as to think she’s got an inside deal,

Well, she got SOMETHING for walking quietly away from that consumer appointment. And for not primarying Obama.

Boxturtle (Even so, I bet that knife in her back still burns)

Just calling him crazy is not enough. Hatefull, mean, petty assholes like him can have no place civil society. I suppose that is more an indictment of us than him though.

Oh, and how badly is the Senate broken if that freshman piece of shit is the ranking member on a commitee

I am slow at making connections here.
If Kris is your son that makes cbl your wife?
If that guess is true, you have a wonderful family and makes you a lucky grandpa too.
Short disclaimer, I was away from commenting on FDL for a few years and when I did come back to commenting it was cbl that made me feel so very welcome and I will never forget it.

The Texas Miracle article was almost too depressing to read. Rooms must be swept within 15 minutes of the end of school, at the expense of meeting with students who might need help? Names taken and read aloud as shaming for not sweeping quickly enough? They are on the fast track back to the days of the one room schoolhouse.

On democracynow, Mahmood Mamdami, one of my heroes who has not yet developed feet of clay, calls BS on the earlier report.

And on Health, to boot.

It sure is. Perry will be president. Boehner will keep the House. Mitch McConnell will head the Senate. Cornyn of Texas will be second in command at the Senate The republicans will own the Supreme Court. During this time they will pass a national voter i.d. bill that will disenfranchise so many people that they will have permanent control. At least you will be rid of those bad old democrats. Texas will rule.

Mornin’, BT, pups

“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” Let’s see how much support she gets from the DSCC, if any, and who her advisers are before we start jumping on the “the fix is in” wagon. We don’t know what transpired behind closed doors between Warren and the WH staff. She’s had a fire in her belly about consumer protection all along and Osterity et al did nothing but pay it lip service. Make sure of your target before you shoot, it may keep you from killin’ a friendly.

Turner’s election is indeed the canary in the mine. Democratic voters are not going to vote for faux Democrats any longer. The Dems are in real trouble this time around and rightfully so. Great Depression II coming up next.

CBL is indeed my partner of 22+ years.

in 2010, there were over 381K millionaires in Texas alone. And yet in their schools, teachers are janitors. And the majority are happy with this.

Boxturtle (If there ain’t nobody smart enough to get to University, Texas will have no football)

That’s why we call this a family blog. *g*

On Warren, I agree with Yves Smith at naked capitalism:

As readers probably know, we believe that Warren has decided to drink a poisoned chalice handed her by the Democratic party hackocracy. The notion of a Senate bid was dangled before her as a bright shiny toy to get her to leave the her role as de facto head of the CFPB gracefully. And she is showing Stockholm-syndrome-style loyalty to the people who used her, offered weak to no support as she was abused by Republican Congresscritters and then fired by the Obama Administration.
. . .
Moreover, her association with the Obama Administration is likely to prove more toxic as the campaign advances. The race for the Anthony Weiner seat is proving how Obama’s devil-take-the-hindmost calculus serves him at the expense of other Democratic candidates. His selling proposition has been reduced to being less awful than the rabid choices on offer from the GOP. That means he can continue to sell out the traditional Democratic base at little apparent cost (although he runs the risk of being defeated by low turnout among supporters-by-default).

Elizabeth Warren to Announce Senate Campaign Tomorrow

Highest uninsured # in the country….Just makes one proud/s

Love the “Stockholm syndrome” characterization. Explains a lot.

Every time the U.S. troops found a rusty barrel, I’d get an email from my friend: They’ve found the WMDs! Sigh.

Now wait just a minute: If someone got a little cut from moving that barrel around (and they weren’t sufficiently inoculated), they could contract Tetanus. That’s kinda WMDey, ain’t it?

Morning BT & Pups of Fire.

I heard this morning that Florida was, with 20% uninsured.

I never get offended. Commenters come and go in the threads, and I don’t expect a reply to every comment.

Nice to “see” you this morning!

unintended consequence of making the left want to push aside any differences they feel towards dear leader and vote for him, even though he is the lesser of two evils.

I don’t think my resolve to shun Osterity is going to change, though, in spite of the fear of the alternative.

I received a begging letter from Nancy yesterday and fired back a one-page letter. Not to bore you, but I did say that I was a high-information voter, member of FDL and the professional left. To make sure she got the message (or some low level staffer, likely) I affixed my letter to hers with one of my FDL stickers. (Waste of a good sticker, but I wanted to be clear about who I was).

The canary in the coal mine?

I tend to think of it more like the dogshit on the front lawn, but I take your point.

Scenes from the Texas Miracle.

Hey Governor Jagoff: Texas Miracle This…

You can have it;), but I heard TX….we do things bigger. Just absurd either way.

They have many very good private schools in Texas. They are building more and more with higher an higher tuition and very lavish campuses. Also there are some excellent public schools in some very wealthy areas. President Perry can make this way of life a dream for everyone.

I heard this morning that Florida was, with 20% uninsured.

They need to calm down and let the miracle of the free market do its magic. Just ask Ron Paul. He’ll tell ya…

I think she decided she wasn’t getting the job and decided to move on. It was clear she didn’t have Obama’s support, so why bother? She had a secure position at Harvard and a lot of public acclaim. Why stick around for a fight she wasn’t going to win? I wouldn’t.

And Kris’s wife is also Kris, which can get pretty confusing.

Your emails prolly go automatically into her spam folder.

At least she will be a vote against President Perry’s agenda. I support her.

We’re about to see disaster capitalism at its finest. If that doesn’t stir the pot I don’t know what will.

Lots of excellent things in very wealthy areas. Just not the poor people who need them the most. Not my idea of a dream, thank you.

Please see #37 above. The who I am part, thanks.

Obama and his party sold the people out for 3 years and now I’m supposed to rush to the polls to vote for him and his lackeys? I’m supposed to reward candidates from either party because they sucked at the teet of big money interests in exchange for campaign cash?

They can go to hell.

As much as I despise the right, I cannot in good conscience vote for the Democrats either. They made their bed and now have to lie in it. It pains me to do this, but how else will the Democrats learn that THEY ARE NOT REPUBLICANS AND BEING LIKE THEM WILL NOT GET YOU MY VOTE!!!

Now for the next year I get to hear about how Obama is all for the poor and how he is for the common man. Let’s sweep away the free trade deals and tax cuts galore. Let’s look the other way on all the times he sold the soul of the Democratic party down the river and hold our noses and vote for this man? NO WAY!

As I’ve said before, while we thought it was the Republicans who needed to be cast out into the wilderness for several years following 2008, it is most certainly the Democrats turn. At ever turn they disappoint. Nice job Nancy on not allowing impeachment of Bush. Nice job Obama on letting everyone get away with torture and war crimes, not to mention all the banksters who killed the middle class.

No, sorry.. The Democrats need to be purged. Republican Lite will not cut it. Unfortunately, that is all they are and all they ever will be. They have no soul and I cannot and will not give them my vote. As I’ve said, it is fortunate I’m in a teaparty happy state where my vote is irrelevant anyways.

Lloyd Doggett on the other hand will not be getting my vote though. What a worthless piece of trash he is.

Yup. The cognitive dissonance floating around in teabaggerland (alone) is gonna be epic, never mind all the sane people.

You are a lucky man and so is your family to have you as husband, dad, and grandpa.

Give. Me. A. Break. Neocon.

True. eCAHN, it truly makes me want to pull my hair out. Pelosi and her ilk have absolutely no idea what it is like to live in the real world. Not only is it willful ignorance, it borders on sociopathic.

Kris is also the name of my oldest daughter.

Apples don’t fall far from the tree or something like that. He is no different than his dad. IMHO

Sometimes ,as in the case of Perry, one of them is very evil.

Have to think about sociopath characterization. It has a ring of accuracy in terms of outcome, but implies that there is some intent to hurt. It looks to me more like bubble behavior, i.e. simply unaware that there is any problem.

I go back & forth on the issue of intent on everything that goes on inside the beltway. Are they stupid or are they evil. Possible could be both.

Make sure of your target before you shoot, it may keep you from killin’ a friendly.

Amen, SD.

Good morning. You had quite the Caturday this week, didn’t ya? I was astonished to go back to it later and see the number of comments!!

Kris is the name of my only daughter. Born Dec 27th, came home in a stocking (courtesy of the hospital) and is Kristin Noelle.

I think pride, greed, and lust about cover it.

If that’s not a snark, you really need a dose several doses of reality.

here’s your first one: Think about what would happen if only the children of the richest 10% get a decent education. Would you want to hire many of the other 90%? Or have one marry your daughter?

Education is a basic right. If we had any sense as a country, we’d support public education through the Bachlors degree.

Boxturtle (I remember field trips when I was a kid. Now you gotta pay to play)

OT farm report. Not intended to sidetrack discussion, so scroll on down and I won’t be at all hurt :)

But COYOTES! At 3:00 this morning David Bowie started crowing, then I woke up and heard them (I have never lived in an area with them, so I was so excited.) Then I got scared about the chickens so I pulled on jeans and boots and got a flashlight and went to the barn. Harley (Great Pyrenees cross, was going wild and I couldn’t take him or he would have pulled me over and chased those critters to the next county. Everyone was fine.

I had forgotten what the sky looks like out in the country. The moon was so full I could just about have read a book, and the stars. Oh, the stars! Looked like someone had smashed a block of ice and hurled the pieces up into the sky. The tiny ones glittered like ice chips far, far above and the larger ones that didn’t make it up that high just blazed and blazed.

After I thought about it, the coyotes probably didn’t even cross the river. I wonder if the strong goat smell of Rodriquez would have kept them away?

That is so special, a Christmas baby in a christmas stocking. Wow!

People are angry and striking out at anything and everything. I’m going to be paying very close attention to the presentation at the webinar tonight.

Yeah, that was really fun. Record setting day.

Just keep one thing in mind about Liz: She is loyal to Obama.

I think they are incapable of caring. That human quality seems to go away in some people after continuous exposure to wealth, power and privilege.

That sounds wonderful. I really miss the sounds of coyotes and wolves at night.

I assumed it was snark, just without the /s tag.

We’ll see.

I didn’t have time to go back and figure out where I’d left off on Sunday and read the later ones (prolly about 200 more). Did a “discussion” break out, or just folks chatting?

On edit: I am going to be paying attention, too. I don’t try to comment, I only listen.

Part of the problem I have in trying to figure out intent is that those people are motivated so differently from me, I have trouble putting myself in their shoes.

Hej, SD. I had forgotten the webinar in all the excitement. I hope I can access it with my laptop. I rarely use it but I suppose it should be the same….I am using John’s WiFi here, will that be a problem, do you think?

Off to swim in the great capitalist cesspool.

US KIA Afghanistan: 1,769

US KIA Irak: 4,474

Iraki, Afghan and Pakistani casualties: estimates vary to over 1.5M

US MBS 2011: 31,744 and counting

Ghostbird

No war but class war

Be good to yourselves, and all other living things

Namaste

Never. Give. Up.

We weren’t smart enough to celebrate her birthday in the summer like many with holiday birthdays do. So every year she had to deal with Christmas celebration and birthday celebration all mooshed together. She’s 42 now so I’m sure it isn’t such a big deal, but it was then.

Pretty much just chatting.

If you have the link they sent you, it won’t make any difference what machine or connectivity you have.

On edit: I had forgotten that you are farm sitting this week. FUN.

and they had just wonderful private schools in hellhole of Dickensian England.

Shouldn’t be a problem at all. You have the confirmation email with the link to the webinar, right?

I thought we have been seeing disaster capitalism the past 3 years. Unless you mean the finest is yet to come. :)

Owe ya a beverage but alls I gotz is iced tea and water.

It’s too early for anything else. You can fill up my mug of tea.

We’ve just been playing on the fringes.

I do have it in my email inbox, yes. Oh good, this is one definitely not to be missed. I need to remember I’m on Central time here, though.

Thank you msmolly!

Comin’ right up. Southern tea so it’s sweet.

yep, and msmolly replied, too. Thanks.

It is snark. I live in Perry land and have had children in school in Texas.

I hear Iceland is wonderful place to live that from a native who I know.

Right – That’s what I am trying to point out. Many people on here say they don’t care if Perry wins as long as Obama goes. I am just trying to warn you that it might not be that beneficial unless you are very wealthy.

There is no place to hide and I’m not the type to run anyhoo.

She reminds me of Nanci Griffith, I’m going back to listen.

Take care, have a good day.

That’s not much different than what we’re gonna get from whoever’s in the WH. The way Congress is shaping up it won’t matter much there either. The PTB are all enthralled with Friedman’s unregulated market theories and those theories benefit only the wealthy at the expense of all others. When Europe’s economy tanks in the next few months ours is not far behind and Friedman’s theories won’t fix anything.

Hi popeye, I like your new avatar, too. Gandalf. Good choice.

I have a cowardly nature (on edit) and my first reaction has always been to run. Working together, though, I bet we can bring the best qualities of countries like Iceland and Sweden and employ them here.

It is daunting.

The NY race is one of those very rare times when spinning doesn’t matter at all.

The GOP now knows it can ignore Obama with no consequence. In fact, it benefits them to ignore him.

He is becoming a sad, pathetic figure. That is dangerous, both here and elsewhere.

Our middle daughter Jodi, was born on the 26th of December and she always insisted that her birthday be separate from Christmas right down to no wrapping her birthday gifts in Christmas wrapping.

That tune from Amanda Shires is REALLY great! I like the style, the voice and the lyrics.

I am going to check out her other music. I’ve never heard of her before.

How did you come across her?

I am a fighter as well. My kids live here and I will fight for them until I die. I am just frustrated that my heath is going and won’t be much good down the line. I am trying to find someone in Missouri to rally with to change the local scene. I have received emails from people who say they are ready to make a difference but then I never hear back. The only difference is the NPA I have volunteered to help them.

Thanks for the thumbs up on the Avatar. Ever since I first saw it on twitter I have used it.

Not sure I agree with everything Yves has to say on this. But one thing is pretty clear to me. Warren has very little chance of winning. But I do think she knew that all along.

Boxturtle at #60 (my reply button is on the fritz again) “I remember field trips when I was a kid. Now you gotta pay to play” (box quotes gone now, too)

Must be the heavy traffic! Go FDL!!

My husband credits his love of classical music to the school trips to the symphony. That is just inconceivable now.

The Democratic Party was already flailing from too much Blue Dog food but I think Obama has delivered the coup de grace. I am really coming to think the party of the people simply isn’t going to make it. I don’t know enough of the details of history but it does remind me of the Whigs who compromised themselves out of existence……. contra Chris Matthews claiming it was the abolitionists who destroyed it.

Either way the Democrats are dying from having their most basic core principles bargained away by Obama. Just what do they have to run on?

Your kids are fortunate to have you for a dad. I am sorry to learn that your health is not as strong as it once was, and I of course hope that you have access to good care. Certainly not a given.

Do you have a fairly strong NPA group?

Friedman is an idiot when it comes to economics. But he is only one of many out there, so who’s counting. Merkel pretty much controls what happens in Europe. If she agrees to some kind of real bailout of the PIIGS then we get past this problem. If she decides to protect German jobs (mistakenly at that) then the crisis worsens. It has already spread some to the US but the recession there necessarily comes over here. That hurts Obama even more. What are the bets on war, north v south in europe?

They have sold out (on edit) their principles away to nothing. Well, nothing but talk, anyway.

Democrats are getting purged and so are minority voters. Voter id will become the law of the land. Glad you want minorities disenfranchised too

The very best of mornings to you all. Hope to see you this evening at the webinar.

Safe travels and safe home….

ohmmmmm

You have not lived with Governor Perry. Dominionism is a serious threat.

late today
just wanted to write that Ron Pauls campaign MANAGER who brought in 35 MILLION dollars
died broke,in debt for 400,000$ and no INSURANCE..nice huh?

Tampa community radio, WMNF. The best little radio station on the planet.

It is a national group (New Progressive Alliance) Anthony Noel is the coordinator. I hope something can be accomplished with them. I just want to help anyway I can. Thanks for the compliment it means a lot. Hvae a wonderful day.

Ron Paul is even more mean spirited than Perry. That is saying something.

Damn good. Thanks for passing that along. I’m heading to iTunes to see what else she’s got.

Democrats are getting purged and so are minority voters. Voter id will become the law of the land. Glad you want minorities disenfranchised too

You’re putting words in my mouth. I don’t want any of the Republican policies, but what options do I have? Reinforce the Democrats and lead them somehow to believe that their policies are effective that somehow I reaffirm that sleeping with the MOTU is acceptable?

Watch the analysis for the two special elections and what people think were the deciding factor. They will always draw the wrong conclusions. Just like in 2010, why do we feel that the lesson was learned was that we wanted austerity and teabagger policies? Why wasn’t the lesson that we had a Democratic majority that was ineffective along with a horrible President that provided little in the way of leadership? The wrong lessons are always learned and I’m not going to play to the lesser of two evils.

You and Thom Hartmann can go on your merry way believing you can “change the party from within” and regardless of what an ineffective piece of shit Obama is we need to vote for him because undoubtably he won’t betray progessive values in nominating judges to balance the court. Which do you think is more likely, he is going to nominate left leaning judges or he is going to nominate who the Republicans are willing to vote for in the name of bipartisanship? Let’s see if three years of idiotic rule has any value, I don’t think he’s leaning our way.

Have not hvae jeeze.

Well said!