I'm not going to be as nice as David Atkin--the whining of those high rollers who want to buy America because their motives are being exposed is about a lot more than their fragile egos. We're talking about men who make a living by having others carry out their dirty work, men who destroy livelihoods for a few extra dollars, men who don't let their manicured nails ever get dirty, men who close their consciences in the name of free enterprise, men who buy what they want--the costs be damned.
Their despair over the outrage of their attempts to buy our democracy is about gutlessness. It's about cowardice. It's about screwing the American people in the same way they screw their employees and customers, without being able to hide behind the walls of corporate America.
It's about men who aren't men at all.
Peace,
emaycee
Thursday, May 31, 2012
We could be heroes...
There's been a lot of hullaballo (so to speak) over some words spoken by Chris Hayes on his show "Up with Chris Hayes" concerning the use of the word "hero" with regard to those serving in our military. Near as I can tell, Hayes was trying to make the point that we use the word hero perhaps too frequently in terms of the military, and this feeds our too frequent marches to war. He also admits he might be mistaken.
It seems to me much of the charade of anger on the right is because of the god-awful treatment of Vietnam vets upon their return home--there's a lot of retrograde guilt on all sides for what happened, and the right, being good at exploiting, is well, exploiting this to keep the military-industrial complex humming along. This does not mean that Hayes is wrong. Nor does it mean that our service men should be vilified. But in truth, one could make the case that the guy (or gal) going to work each day and paying the taxes that helps support our defense is, in his own way, a hero as well. It also begs the question why we as a nation refuse to give equal praise to those who seek peace.
But in the end, the biggest problem is that it makes it that much harder for another type of hero, a truth teller if you will, to convince the American people that spending more on defense than the rest of the world combined is a travesty, and the good that could be accomplished with the excess of money spent on defense. And that maybe, just maybe, we all might be a lot better off if we concentrated on peace first and more weapons second.
Peace,
emaycee
It seems to me much of the charade of anger on the right is because of the god-awful treatment of Vietnam vets upon their return home--there's a lot of retrograde guilt on all sides for what happened, and the right, being good at exploiting, is well, exploiting this to keep the military-industrial complex humming along. This does not mean that Hayes is wrong. Nor does it mean that our service men should be vilified. But in truth, one could make the case that the guy (or gal) going to work each day and paying the taxes that helps support our defense is, in his own way, a hero as well. It also begs the question why we as a nation refuse to give equal praise to those who seek peace.
But in the end, the biggest problem is that it makes it that much harder for another type of hero, a truth teller if you will, to convince the American people that spending more on defense than the rest of the world combined is a travesty, and the good that could be accomplished with the excess of money spent on defense. And that maybe, just maybe, we all might be a lot better off if we concentrated on peace first and more weapons second.
Peace,
emaycee
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
How not to run a Senate campaign
It was probably a longshot that Pete Hoekstra would defeat Debbie Stabenow this year for the Michigan Senate seat--Stabenow is the incumbent, thanks to Obama's auto bailout and a little buyer's remorse over the 2010 elections Democrat and Independent turnout is likely to be higher, and Stabenow has never been quite the lightining rod for hate that Gov. Granholm was (just quietly goes about her business and gets the job done).
Still, between the racist ad he ran on Super Bowl Sunday and his recent appeal to the birthers....
For a member of a party that advocates less government and less spending...doesn't it seem a bit odd that he'd like to set up a commission to verify the birth records of the Presidential nominees? I mean, couldn't we just take the word of the state's birth records department and FUCKING FACE REALITY?
Just wondering.
Peace,
emaycee
Still, between the racist ad he ran on Super Bowl Sunday and his recent appeal to the birthers....
For a member of a party that advocates less government and less spending...doesn't it seem a bit odd that he'd like to set up a commission to verify the birth records of the Presidential nominees? I mean, couldn't we just take the word of the state's birth records department and FUCKING FACE REALITY?
Just wondering.
Peace,
emaycee
Sunday, May 27, 2012
The same sad echo
It wasn't as if I thought Nolan Finley would ever win a Pulitzer (a Pukelitzer, maybe) for commentary, but Jesus Christ, he and the Detroit News have gone completely off the deep end with their ass kissing of the Antoinettes. His latest diatribe is against all the ballot proposals being worked on here in Michigan--why, heck, if we don't watch out we're gonna end up like all those evil folk in Californey.
Finley's concern is laughable--I certainly didn't hear a whimper from him when republicans were pushing through ballot proposals to enact racism (Affirmative Action Initiative) and Homophobia (Defense of Marriage Act) into law. Methinks Finley's big concern is the ballot proposal to ensure collective bargaining will remain a right for Michigan workers and end once and for all the charade of right to work for less laws. Despite his near constant attempts to turn the UAW into some sort of bogeyman, most people in Michigan are smart enough to realize that the UAW has helped increase all of our wages, and the right to collectively bargain is actually immensely popular. His rants are merely a sop to a bunch of rich white men.
The part that got me the most, though, was when he wrote of the ballot proposal to increase wind power in Michigan (which frankly, isn't high on my priority list) and noted that it was "reportedly" backed by a California billionaire environmentalist.
You know, "reportedly" Nolan Finley has a brain, but when it comes to a piece in a big city newspaper, I'd like some proof, not just Antoinette wishful thinking.
Peace,
emaycee
Finley's concern is laughable--I certainly didn't hear a whimper from him when republicans were pushing through ballot proposals to enact racism (Affirmative Action Initiative) and Homophobia (Defense of Marriage Act) into law. Methinks Finley's big concern is the ballot proposal to ensure collective bargaining will remain a right for Michigan workers and end once and for all the charade of right to work for less laws. Despite his near constant attempts to turn the UAW into some sort of bogeyman, most people in Michigan are smart enough to realize that the UAW has helped increase all of our wages, and the right to collectively bargain is actually immensely popular. His rants are merely a sop to a bunch of rich white men.
The part that got me the most, though, was when he wrote of the ballot proposal to increase wind power in Michigan (which frankly, isn't high on my priority list) and noted that it was "reportedly" backed by a California billionaire environmentalist.
You know, "reportedly" Nolan Finley has a brain, but when it comes to a piece in a big city newspaper, I'd like some proof, not just Antoinette wishful thinking.
Peace,
emaycee
Da Yoopers
The Free Press recently gave front page space to the advocates for the Upper Peninsula (U.P.--for non-natives, it's that section of Michigan above the mitten, separated by Lakes Michigan and Huron) seceding from Michigan and becoming the 51st state. The U.P. is a largely rural area, fairly conservative (though Bart Stupak, a conservative Democrat, did represent them for many years) that's known mostly for being cold (some areas average over 400 inches of snow a year) and barren (less than 3% of Michigan's 11 million citizens live there, and it represents 30% of our land mass).
Needless to say, before I had read the article, it was, "Gee, I wonder what goofy redneck reason they have for that desire?" but after reading it (it remains highly unlikely that the U.P. will secede) you can see that they are raising legitimate concerns that the republicans in Lansing are overstepping their bounds when it comes to mining rights in the U.P.--the article doesn't mention it, but one has to believe the republicans are trying to kiss some corporate ass somewhere on this deal, even though taxes being collected by Lansing are part of it as well.
What was interesting, though, is that it isn't just down here where Gov. Snyder isn't all that popular. I would have figured that the U.P. was one of his safe havens, but judging from the people's reactions (and Gov. Snyder's spokesman's defensive response) he isn't all that popular up there, either.
I still think it's a very longshot that he is defeated in 2014 (too much money, too much of the major media believing the hype that Snyder has actually accomplished something, all evidence to the contrary), but it does give some hope that we might be able to at least make his campaign have to work for it.
Peace,
emaycee
Needless to say, before I had read the article, it was, "Gee, I wonder what goofy redneck reason they have for that desire?" but after reading it (it remains highly unlikely that the U.P. will secede) you can see that they are raising legitimate concerns that the republicans in Lansing are overstepping their bounds when it comes to mining rights in the U.P.--the article doesn't mention it, but one has to believe the republicans are trying to kiss some corporate ass somewhere on this deal, even though taxes being collected by Lansing are part of it as well.
What was interesting, though, is that it isn't just down here where Gov. Snyder isn't all that popular. I would have figured that the U.P. was one of his safe havens, but judging from the people's reactions (and Gov. Snyder's spokesman's defensive response) he isn't all that popular up there, either.
I still think it's a very longshot that he is defeated in 2014 (too much money, too much of the major media believing the hype that Snyder has actually accomplished something, all evidence to the contrary), but it does give some hope that we might be able to at least make his campaign have to work for it.
Peace,
emaycee
Friday, May 25, 2012
Peace, love, and dopes
A while back I was sent this online training by Move.on for the 99% Spring. There is the call for non-violent action, training tips on how not to appear threatening, how to peacefully capture the attention of the powers that be, etc., etc.
Frankly, it's a whole hell of a lot of hogwash.
To be blunt, I had a lot of hope for the Occupy Movement, but unfortunately, it was misplaced. The Occupy Movement is already done. I think it's really great that here and there they are keeping folks from being foreclosed upon or that they're disrupting shareholder meetings with valid questions, but in the end, it's been about as effective as stopping a flurry of bullets by swinging a baseball bat at them. You might get lucky and hit one or two, but in the end, you're going to lose.
The powers that be seemed to have little trouble dispatching the Occupy Movements in numerous cities. As we're seeing right now in Wisconsin (I hope I'm wrong, but I have a feeling this movie is not going to have a happy ending--in fact, I think we're going to lose so bad that it's going to be an embarrassment of major proportions), them that has the gold makes the rules. Last month's Liberal darling, Ilya Sherman, went down quite easily in Illinois. This month's, Norman Saloman, is well behind in California.
Digby noted earlier this week that we're fighting an uphill battle--the truth is, as much as we might not like it, most American just don't hold Liberal views. Don't think so? House republicans passed a budget that cut 25% from aid for the poor to not have to cut defense spending (where we spend more than the rest of the world combined)--and the outrage, except among the usual suspects (Digby, Daily Kos, Think Progress, etc.) has been exactly where? David Atkins posits that part of it might be that we Liberals just don't do as good of a job as consevatives of appealing to the masses' hearts. It may be the massive amounts of money being made by the powers that be--corporations are showing record profits and CEOs have reached a point where the average worker would have to work 244 years to make what American CEOs make in one year. That kind of money can't just buy material goods beyond the pale, but people's votes and opinions, too. I'm sure it doesn't help that major media outlets are no longer forces for the greater good (or journalism for that matter) but businesses with managers instead of writers. How else to explain The Detroit News and The Detroit Free Press both writing editorials within days of each other extolling the urgency of fixing Social Security now, when, even if the economy stays this bad (highly unlikely) we can pay full benefits for the next twenty fucking years.
In addition to the 99% Spring, I was also treated to this post linked by Digby as being a vital read on what should be our election strategy. Don't get me wrong--the writer makes a lot of good points concerning stealing republican tactics like winning at the local level, taking over the Democratic Party, and being cutthroat with errant members. In the end, though, the piece is basically an advertisement for Norman Saloman, who sounds like he would be a wonderful member of the House, but unfortunately we need about 175 more of him and about 40 more of Bernie Sanders in the Senate, and one President, to boot. Meanwhile, in the light years it will take to accomplish this, more and more of the middle class will find the American dream farther and farther out of reach, and for the poor it will become like trying to take a flying leap and landing on the moon.
Whatever can we do?
The first thing we can do is give up on the whole "What's so Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding?" strategy. Non-violent action worked wonderfully for Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. because there was a solid base of rational people that could be won over to counterbalance those that couldn't be. Frankly, right now in America, Sarah fucking Palin would draw 45% of the vote for President even though she has as much business being President as Tom Thumb does of being the starting center for the Los Angeles Lakers. And with the amount of money being tossed around on campaigns, it's not so hard to find a willing media and a few more percentage points on any issue or candidate (Willard Romney being a fine example--as brutal as he is as a candidate for the Presidency of the United States it's nothing short of amazing it's even a race). Fuck this turning the other cheek--when we get slapped we need to respond with an elbow to their fucking teeth (or, like Sean Connery in The Untouchables, "...the Chicago way."). Second, it's the economy, the economy, the economy--we spend far too much time gnashing our teeth over saving the planet, gay marriage, or the advantages of being a vegan. They are all noble goals, they help keep the base together...but honestly, if it comes down to eating Elsie or putting your kids through college, which one wins? And that comes to our last one--winning hearts. I see all kinds of well written, fantastically logical, faultlessly researched pieces...zzzzz. Hell, I'm a believer and I skim or completely skip so many of them because they just don't grab me--how the hell do you suppose those on the fence are going to react?
In the end, though, the only way we'll win is to go medieval on their asses. Guillotine a few Wall Street bankers, execute a few hedge fund managers, and we'll be amazed at how quickly sharing their wealth won't seem like such a burden. Marie Antoinette didn't go down in history as a hero for her "let them eat cake" quip. She ended up on the wrong end of a sharp blade, and a lot of people were a lot better off for it.
Peace,
emaycee
Frankly, it's a whole hell of a lot of hogwash.
To be blunt, I had a lot of hope for the Occupy Movement, but unfortunately, it was misplaced. The Occupy Movement is already done. I think it's really great that here and there they are keeping folks from being foreclosed upon or that they're disrupting shareholder meetings with valid questions, but in the end, it's been about as effective as stopping a flurry of bullets by swinging a baseball bat at them. You might get lucky and hit one or two, but in the end, you're going to lose.
The powers that be seemed to have little trouble dispatching the Occupy Movements in numerous cities. As we're seeing right now in Wisconsin (I hope I'm wrong, but I have a feeling this movie is not going to have a happy ending--in fact, I think we're going to lose so bad that it's going to be an embarrassment of major proportions), them that has the gold makes the rules. Last month's Liberal darling, Ilya Sherman, went down quite easily in Illinois. This month's, Norman Saloman, is well behind in California.
Digby noted earlier this week that we're fighting an uphill battle--the truth is, as much as we might not like it, most American just don't hold Liberal views. Don't think so? House republicans passed a budget that cut 25% from aid for the poor to not have to cut defense spending (where we spend more than the rest of the world combined)--and the outrage, except among the usual suspects (Digby, Daily Kos, Think Progress, etc.) has been exactly where? David Atkins posits that part of it might be that we Liberals just don't do as good of a job as consevatives of appealing to the masses' hearts. It may be the massive amounts of money being made by the powers that be--corporations are showing record profits and CEOs have reached a point where the average worker would have to work 244 years to make what American CEOs make in one year. That kind of money can't just buy material goods beyond the pale, but people's votes and opinions, too. I'm sure it doesn't help that major media outlets are no longer forces for the greater good (or journalism for that matter) but businesses with managers instead of writers. How else to explain The Detroit News and The Detroit Free Press both writing editorials within days of each other extolling the urgency of fixing Social Security now, when, even if the economy stays this bad (highly unlikely) we can pay full benefits for the next twenty fucking years.
In addition to the 99% Spring, I was also treated to this post linked by Digby as being a vital read on what should be our election strategy. Don't get me wrong--the writer makes a lot of good points concerning stealing republican tactics like winning at the local level, taking over the Democratic Party, and being cutthroat with errant members. In the end, though, the piece is basically an advertisement for Norman Saloman, who sounds like he would be a wonderful member of the House, but unfortunately we need about 175 more of him and about 40 more of Bernie Sanders in the Senate, and one President, to boot. Meanwhile, in the light years it will take to accomplish this, more and more of the middle class will find the American dream farther and farther out of reach, and for the poor it will become like trying to take a flying leap and landing on the moon.
Whatever can we do?
The first thing we can do is give up on the whole "What's so Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding?" strategy. Non-violent action worked wonderfully for Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. because there was a solid base of rational people that could be won over to counterbalance those that couldn't be. Frankly, right now in America, Sarah fucking Palin would draw 45% of the vote for President even though she has as much business being President as Tom Thumb does of being the starting center for the Los Angeles Lakers. And with the amount of money being tossed around on campaigns, it's not so hard to find a willing media and a few more percentage points on any issue or candidate (Willard Romney being a fine example--as brutal as he is as a candidate for the Presidency of the United States it's nothing short of amazing it's even a race). Fuck this turning the other cheek--when we get slapped we need to respond with an elbow to their fucking teeth (or, like Sean Connery in The Untouchables, "...the Chicago way."). Second, it's the economy, the economy, the economy--we spend far too much time gnashing our teeth over saving the planet, gay marriage, or the advantages of being a vegan. They are all noble goals, they help keep the base together...but honestly, if it comes down to eating Elsie or putting your kids through college, which one wins? And that comes to our last one--winning hearts. I see all kinds of well written, fantastically logical, faultlessly researched pieces...zzzzz. Hell, I'm a believer and I skim or completely skip so many of them because they just don't grab me--how the hell do you suppose those on the fence are going to react?
In the end, though, the only way we'll win is to go medieval on their asses. Guillotine a few Wall Street bankers, execute a few hedge fund managers, and we'll be amazed at how quickly sharing their wealth won't seem like such a burden. Marie Antoinette didn't go down in history as a hero for her "let them eat cake" quip. She ended up on the wrong end of a sharp blade, and a lot of people were a lot better off for it.
Peace,
emaycee
How stupid, indeed
It seems we here in Michigan have ended up with a bit of a budget surplus--and if one were to read strictly the Free Press, one would think the republicans in the Michigan House were being stand up sorts about this extra money. A little for education, a little for roads, cutting the state income tax--hell, they're even putting a little back into the movie credit and putting just a touch for glamour back in the Wolverine State.
Not so fast bucko. Thanks to my weekly update from State Senator Gretchen Whitmer, I was linked to this piece by Susan J. Demas which lays to waste the bullshit Michigan House republicans are shoveling. The cut to the state income tax? Should have started at the beginning of this year and anyway, will only add up to about .50 cents a week (or less) for those of us making less than $50,000. Michigan republicans pushed through a $1.4 billion tax increase on the poor and middle class while giving corporations a $1.6 billion tax cut (still waiting for those good paying jobs). Demas correctly notes the tax bill those of us without deep pockets got stuck with this year--Michiganders definitely either sent much bigger checks to the Secretary of State last April or saw a much smaller refund (both the Beautiful Girl and I can attest to this one).
The thing that really bothers me, though, is why this fact based piece by Ms. Demas isn't being featured in the Free Press, instead of the vanilla pudding bullshit we were fed. I'm sure there are many newspapers that continue to do fine work for the greater good--the Free Press just isn't one of them. It's become a victim of his convention wisdom short-sightedness, and one has to wonder how much longer it can sustain its failure to serve its customers best interests.
Peace,
emaycee
Not so fast bucko. Thanks to my weekly update from State Senator Gretchen Whitmer, I was linked to this piece by Susan J. Demas which lays to waste the bullshit Michigan House republicans are shoveling. The cut to the state income tax? Should have started at the beginning of this year and anyway, will only add up to about .50 cents a week (or less) for those of us making less than $50,000. Michigan republicans pushed through a $1.4 billion tax increase on the poor and middle class while giving corporations a $1.6 billion tax cut (still waiting for those good paying jobs). Demas correctly notes the tax bill those of us without deep pockets got stuck with this year--Michiganders definitely either sent much bigger checks to the Secretary of State last April or saw a much smaller refund (both the Beautiful Girl and I can attest to this one).
The thing that really bothers me, though, is why this fact based piece by Ms. Demas isn't being featured in the Free Press, instead of the vanilla pudding bullshit we were fed. I'm sure there are many newspapers that continue to do fine work for the greater good--the Free Press just isn't one of them. It's become a victim of his convention wisdom short-sightedness, and one has to wonder how much longer it can sustain its failure to serve its customers best interests.
Peace,
emaycee
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Hazarding a guess
kos noted this week that it seems awfully odd that President Obama and Willard Romney are running neck and neck nationally, but when lining up electoral votes, Obama has a fairly comfortable lead.
I'm certainly not an expert, but if I had a guess, it would be that the states Obama is going to lose, he's going to lose a lot worse this time around and that may be why Willard's numbers are looking better on a national level. I think a fair amount of people voted for Obama out of fear of the economic catrastrophe caused by the Bush the Lesser administration that probably hadn't ever voted for a Democrat before and probably won't again.
Not sure that it matters (except from perhaps it causing a change in perception, but I think a close race will bring out voters from both parties)--if Obama loses West Virginia 65-35 instead of 60-40 it makes it look like Romney did better than McCain nationally, but adds absolutely zero electoral votes over what McCain won in 2008.
Peace,
emaycee
I'm certainly not an expert, but if I had a guess, it would be that the states Obama is going to lose, he's going to lose a lot worse this time around and that may be why Willard's numbers are looking better on a national level. I think a fair amount of people voted for Obama out of fear of the economic catrastrophe caused by the Bush the Lesser administration that probably hadn't ever voted for a Democrat before and probably won't again.
Not sure that it matters (except from perhaps it causing a change in perception, but I think a close race will bring out voters from both parties)--if Obama loses West Virginia 65-35 instead of 60-40 it makes it look like Romney did better than McCain nationally, but adds absolutely zero electoral votes over what McCain won in 2008.
Peace,
emaycee
Sunday, May 20, 2012
You gotta love that Nancy
So Nancy Pelosi thinks if the elections were held today the Democrats would take back the House.
I kind of doubt it--thanks to the debacle that was the 2010 elections, republicans have control of far too many statehouses and have lined up too many districts to be safely in their column.
Still it's nice that Pelosi is out there trying to project confidence for the good guys, and reminding us all (yeah, me, too) that it's not just about re-electing President Obama this year.
See? It's not all bad news here.
Peace,
emaycee
I kind of doubt it--thanks to the debacle that was the 2010 elections, republicans have control of far too many statehouses and have lined up too many districts to be safely in their column.
Still it's nice that Pelosi is out there trying to project confidence for the good guys, and reminding us all (yeah, me, too) that it's not just about re-electing President Obama this year.
See? It's not all bad news here.
Peace,
emaycee
A heartbeat away
After a whopping year and a half as a Senator, Marco Rubio--mind you, that's only a year and a half more as a Senator than I have, and I, at the very least, have a brain--has decried that President Obama is the most divisive figure in recent American history.
Let me see...off the top of my head...Ronald Reagan for starting the class war that the poor and middle class have been losing for the last thirty years, Newt Gingrich and his Contract with (Corporate) America and impeachment of President Clinton, Lee Atwater and his racist ads, Karl Rove for just about everything he's done politically, George W. Bush and the politicization of 9/11, and Mitch McConnell for declaring his prime job to be defeating Obama in 2012.
I have many problems with President Obama, but the man has probably been the least divisive President in my lifetime. His administration has been corruption free (despite republicans best efforts to drum up bullshit like Solyndra), he's bent over backward to work in a bipartisan fashion which has hurt him (and us) a lot more than it's helped, he's a model family man, and quite frankly, is a more decent human being than any republican on the planet. The republican party has shown time and again that their only goal in Obama's Presidency is to be as divisive as they can be, the American public be damned.
Rubio? The only thing he's proven in a year and half is that he's been a "Senator" is that he's far too ignorant to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency.
Peace,
emaycee
Let me see...off the top of my head...Ronald Reagan for starting the class war that the poor and middle class have been losing for the last thirty years, Newt Gingrich and his Contract with (Corporate) America and impeachment of President Clinton, Lee Atwater and his racist ads, Karl Rove for just about everything he's done politically, George W. Bush and the politicization of 9/11, and Mitch McConnell for declaring his prime job to be defeating Obama in 2012.
I have many problems with President Obama, but the man has probably been the least divisive President in my lifetime. His administration has been corruption free (despite republicans best efforts to drum up bullshit like Solyndra), he's bent over backward to work in a bipartisan fashion which has hurt him (and us) a lot more than it's helped, he's a model family man, and quite frankly, is a more decent human being than any republican on the planet. The republican party has shown time and again that their only goal in Obama's Presidency is to be as divisive as they can be, the American public be damned.
Rubio? The only thing he's proven in a year and half is that he's been a "Senator" is that he's far too ignorant to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency.
Peace,
emaycee
Amateur Hour
Wow--how to do major damage to your political bona fides in just a few short minutes. Well done, Mayor Cory Booker! At the start of today, you were a rising star in the Democratic Party, but after appearing on Meet the Press and calling President Obama's attack ads on Mitt Romney's record at Bain Capital "nauseating" you've pretty much lost the base--permanently. You can't be a progressive on some issues and not on the ones that matter most--mainly looking after the 99%--and expect our support. That's exactly the problem we have with the "Liberal" media.
I have no doubt you'll probably move on to bigger and better things--but today you've cost yourself a lot of money over the years (the base donates) and quite a few votes (the base shows up in huge numbers). But even more important, you've lost their hearts. We fight a lot harder when we believe.
Nice try on walking back those "nauseating" comments you made--when you end up as republican fodder for Willard's campaign, it's way too little, way too late.
Peace,
emaycee
I have no doubt you'll probably move on to bigger and better things--but today you've cost yourself a lot of money over the years (the base donates) and quite a few votes (the base shows up in huge numbers). But even more important, you've lost their hearts. We fight a lot harder when we believe.
Nice try on walking back those "nauseating" comments you made--when you end up as republican fodder for Willard's campaign, it's way too little, way too late.
Peace,
emaycee
The price of American citizenship
One of Facebook's founders, Eduardo Saverin, has renounced his American citizenship in a move widely viewed as a means to avoid paying taxes on the Facebook IPO this week. Saverin's Facebook shares are estimated to be worth more than $3 billion, and by renouncing his American citizenship he is expected to avoid at least $67 million in taxes. Needless to say, this has drawn quite the outrage on the Democratic side with Sen. Chuck Schumer and Sen. Bob Casey putting forth legislation to stop such shenanigans in the future.
It's entirely predictable that Forbes magazine would defend Saverin by denouncing U.S. tax policy saying it drives entrepreneurs out of the country (really? tell it to Bill Gates and Warren Buffett) or that Rush Limbaugh would declare it's not unpatriotic (um, bullshit, it most certainly is), but what's surprising is that John Boehner would go on TV today and say he would support the legislation (though he believed another law already on the books accomplished the same). I almost waited a couple of days on this post to see what kind of a backlash he drew and how quickly he'd withdraw his support--but then I remembered it was an election year and letting a multibillionaire get away without paying a pittance of his earnings in taxes wouldn't win a lot of Independent votes....
Besides, it will be fun watching republicans choke on this one for a few days because you know there isn't a goddamn one of them that wouldn't sell their American citizenship for a whole hell of a lot less than $67 million--especially when it comes to paying taxes.
Peace,
emaycee
It's entirely predictable that Forbes magazine would defend Saverin by denouncing U.S. tax policy saying it drives entrepreneurs out of the country (really? tell it to Bill Gates and Warren Buffett) or that Rush Limbaugh would declare it's not unpatriotic (um, bullshit, it most certainly is), but what's surprising is that John Boehner would go on TV today and say he would support the legislation (though he believed another law already on the books accomplished the same). I almost waited a couple of days on this post to see what kind of a backlash he drew and how quickly he'd withdraw his support--but then I remembered it was an election year and letting a multibillionaire get away without paying a pittance of his earnings in taxes wouldn't win a lot of Independent votes....
Besides, it will be fun watching republicans choke on this one for a few days because you know there isn't a goddamn one of them that wouldn't sell their American citizenship for a whole hell of a lot less than $67 million--especially when it comes to paying taxes.
Peace,
emaycee
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Glieben, Glauben, Globen
Can someone please explain to me what the fuck it means when someone says that a U.S. citizen's share of the country's debt is "$50,000?" It's about as meaningful as saying the moon is made of cheese or that mermaids swim the deep blue sea. This "debt" is never coming out of anyone's pocket and is merely some lame-ass republican effort to put the problem in terms most conducive to the dim-witted.
Besides, if these people were truly concerned about their kids and this "debt" they'd raise taxes on the wealthy so we could hire more teachers and put more Americans back to work on public projects which would increase the tax revenue.
But let's be truthful--the kids are the last thing on their minds. Letting the wealthy get wealthier and propagating an American aristocracy is their only motive.
Peace,
emaycee
Besides, if these people were truly concerned about their kids and this "debt" they'd raise taxes on the wealthy so we could hire more teachers and put more Americans back to work on public projects which would increase the tax revenue.
But let's be truthful--the kids are the last thing on their minds. Letting the wealthy get wealthier and propagating an American aristocracy is their only motive.
Peace,
emaycee
Maybe not so much
John Derbyshire, a proud racist (his words) and conservative (surprise!) had this to say: "...white Europeans have made a better job of running fair to stable societies than has any other group."
Keeping in mind I'm neither a historian nor a political scientist, this is the list I come up with off the top of my head: King George III, Napoleon, Lenin, Stalin, Kruschev, Brezhnev, Franco, Tito, Milosevic, Ceausescu, and of course, the worst leader in World History, Hitler,
Obviously, the converse is true as well--there have been many great white, European leaders, but Mr. Derbyshire has an awful selective memory. And to call a man like Hitler a mere "blot on the record" shows that he's also divorced from reality.
Peace,
emaycee
Keeping in mind I'm neither a historian nor a political scientist, this is the list I come up with off the top of my head: King George III, Napoleon, Lenin, Stalin, Kruschev, Brezhnev, Franco, Tito, Milosevic, Ceausescu, and of course, the worst leader in World History, Hitler,
Obviously, the converse is true as well--there have been many great white, European leaders, but Mr. Derbyshire has an awful selective memory. And to call a man like Hitler a mere "blot on the record" shows that he's also divorced from reality.
Peace,
emaycee
Monday, May 14, 2012
Depressing, Part II
"Democrats never agree on anything, that's why they're Democrats. If they agreed with each other, they would be Republicans."--Will Rogers
The above quote is one of those quaint little things we like to pat ourselves on the back for, all the while getting our asses kicked again and again by republicans. Instead of discussing Obama's stance on gay marriage in a positive light--i.e., what it can do for Democratic victory in 2012, how it rallies the base, Digby wants to discuss semantics.
David Atkins on the other hand, takes a nice little piece of propaganda for the good guys and lets himself get all hot and bothered because we passed laws outlawing the banning of interracial marriage, but doggone it, we still have people who are prejudiced and the people who were against it were never held accountable.
We are not Jesus--we are not going to feed the multitudes with a handful of fishes and a few loaves of bread. In a perfect world, Obama would take a strong stance on marriage equality and no one would be prejudiced. That is not the world we live in, and the self-righteousness of Digby and Atkins doesn't do a goddamn thing to advance the agenda.
Over the past couple of years, we've had a chance to see what sweating the small stuff has gotten us--Gov. Walker in Wisconsin, Gov. Scott in Florida, Gov. Kasich in Ohio, and Gov. Snyder in Michigan. It's also gotten us statehouses that are full of republicans free to pass their agenda because of overwhelming majorities because we "Progressives" would rather stand around and have a circle jerk of ideas.
Frankly, they can blow their self-righeousness out their asses: I'd rather fucking eat.
Peace,
emaycee
The above quote is one of those quaint little things we like to pat ourselves on the back for, all the while getting our asses kicked again and again by republicans. Instead of discussing Obama's stance on gay marriage in a positive light--i.e., what it can do for Democratic victory in 2012, how it rallies the base, Digby wants to discuss semantics.
David Atkins on the other hand, takes a nice little piece of propaganda for the good guys and lets himself get all hot and bothered because we passed laws outlawing the banning of interracial marriage, but doggone it, we still have people who are prejudiced and the people who were against it were never held accountable.
We are not Jesus--we are not going to feed the multitudes with a handful of fishes and a few loaves of bread. In a perfect world, Obama would take a strong stance on marriage equality and no one would be prejudiced. That is not the world we live in, and the self-righteousness of Digby and Atkins doesn't do a goddamn thing to advance the agenda.
Over the past couple of years, we've had a chance to see what sweating the small stuff has gotten us--Gov. Walker in Wisconsin, Gov. Scott in Florida, Gov. Kasich in Ohio, and Gov. Snyder in Michigan. It's also gotten us statehouses that are full of republicans free to pass their agenda because of overwhelming majorities because we "Progressives" would rather stand around and have a circle jerk of ideas.
Frankly, they can blow their self-righeousness out their asses: I'd rather fucking eat.
Peace,
emaycee
Depressing, Part I
After the ass kicking that was the 2010 elections, one could argue that the Wisconsin uprising in the winter of 2011 went a long way toward resurrecting the Democratic Party (the 2012 republican primaries certainly didn't hurt, either) to at least a level of respectability, and gave us somewhat of a chance in this year's elections.
Which is why the lack of funding from the President and the DNC for the Scott Walker recall effort is so disappointing. A win for the Democrats could have major repercussions this November--it gives the Dems momentum, issues to hang their hats on. If nothing else, it puts Wisconsin more likely into the Dem column.
The fact that the numbers in this race are so close has always bothered me--Walker has corruption issues, the state is getting clobbered in jobs, and Walker isn't exactly Mr. Charisma. But getting outspent 20 to 1 is likely to make an ogre look a lot more like Brad Pitt.
Peace,
emaycee
Which is why the lack of funding from the President and the DNC for the Scott Walker recall effort is so disappointing. A win for the Democrats could have major repercussions this November--it gives the Dems momentum, issues to hang their hats on. If nothing else, it puts Wisconsin more likely into the Dem column.
The fact that the numbers in this race are so close has always bothered me--Walker has corruption issues, the state is getting clobbered in jobs, and Walker isn't exactly Mr. Charisma. But getting outspent 20 to 1 is likely to make an ogre look a lot more like Brad Pitt.
Peace,
emaycee
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Happy Mother's Day
The San Francisco Chronicle ran a piece on inspiring mothers--examples: Cher, Hilary Clinton, Tina Fey. I hate to sound like a crotchedy old fart (though I am growing more so every day), but please give me a fucking break. Inspiring from what? Most of them became mothers after they became fabulously wealthy. How fucking hard can that be--personal nannies, house cleaners, private schools. I don't begrudge these people their success and they all are probably wonderful mothers. But inspirational?
You want inspirational? How about my Mom, raising three kids, most of it while living month to month financially, watching two different places her husband worked go out of business and having to uproot and move to unknown cities and states, and beating breast cancer, to boot? How about my ex-wife, also living paycheck to paycheck while raising two kids and working to get her doctorate? Or my Beautiful Girl also living paycheck to paycheck, watching her good job go away due to no fault of her own and raising a child with ADHD and run of the mill medical insurance?
Those people are inspirational because they kept fighting the good fight despite not having a silver spoon in their mouths. They made, and are making, a difference despite the odds. It might not be on fucking TV, but it's every bit as important and one whole hell of a lot harder.
Peace,
emaycee
You want inspirational? How about my Mom, raising three kids, most of it while living month to month financially, watching two different places her husband worked go out of business and having to uproot and move to unknown cities and states, and beating breast cancer, to boot? How about my ex-wife, also living paycheck to paycheck while raising two kids and working to get her doctorate? Or my Beautiful Girl also living paycheck to paycheck, watching her good job go away due to no fault of her own and raising a child with ADHD and run of the mill medical insurance?
Those people are inspirational because they kept fighting the good fight despite not having a silver spoon in their mouths. They made, and are making, a difference despite the odds. It might not be on fucking TV, but it's every bit as important and one whole hell of a lot harder.
Peace,
emaycee
Friday, May 11, 2012
Pat Robertson must be so jealous
When your membership is plummeting and you're trying to dig yourself out from a child molestation scandal, nothing says "Yes, we really are batshit insane!" like questioning the agenda of the fucking Girl Scouts and forfeiting the boys state high school baseball championship in Arizona because a girl plays for the other team.
Sometimes you have to wonder who's the most piss poor leaders--the Catholic bishops or the numbnuts on Wall Street who got us into the financial meltdown. Combined, I'm not sure both groups could match the I.Q. of a gnat.
Peace,
emaycee
Sometimes you have to wonder who's the most piss poor leaders--the Catholic bishops or the numbnuts on Wall Street who got us into the financial meltdown. Combined, I'm not sure both groups could match the I.Q. of a gnat.
Peace,
emaycee
A master campaigner
Say what you will about President Obama coming out in favor of gay marriage, but as is often the case with his election team, it was a masterstroke of campaigning. To wit:
I've seen a few who think this will hurt Obama--it may cost a vote or two, but I highly doubt it will be significant. The people most against marriage equality weren't going to vote for Obma anyway, under any circmstance. And this isn't 2004--gay marriage isn't quite the bogeyman it once was.
Now if we could get the President to lead and govern the way he campaigns--we'd really have something then.
Peace,
emaycee
- It takes the sting out of the crushing loss Amendment One suffered in North Carolina.
- Because it's an election year, Willard Romney will look like the lame-ass he actually is trying to answer questions about it without looking like a bigot.
- Makes republicans look wasteful--a constitutional ban against same sex marriage? Really? Because for a party that swears austerity is the way to go, spending millions to get this voted on when there is so much more we can be spending the money on makes republicans seem a tad hypocritical.
- Makes republicans look intolerant--could the Catholic Church possibly put a worse face forward than the Catholic League's Bill Donohue? He wants the law to discriminate against gay people? That ought to help with Independent voters--and shore up the Church's sagging parishioner numbers.
- Makes republicans look petty--too many bozos to comment on.
- Makes republicans look overwrought--Santorum thinks it's a "tragic" day for America? What the fuck? Let me tell you, November 22, 1963 was a tragic day for America. September 11, 2001 was a tragic day for America. That one-sixth of our population lives in poverty is tragic. That foreclosures are at all-time highs is tragic. That we have more hunger in America than since the Great Depression is tragic. The President supporting equality in marriage? Not so much.
- Shores up the youth vote--voters who overwhelmingly support marriage equality.
- Provides red meat to the base (who turn out to vote in the biggest numbers)--I lost count of all the "attaboy" e-mails I've collected in the last two days, from Move.On to the ACLU to Democracy for America. Turnout counts and this definitely will help Dems on election day.
I've seen a few who think this will hurt Obama--it may cost a vote or two, but I highly doubt it will be significant. The people most against marriage equality weren't going to vote for Obma anyway, under any circmstance. And this isn't 2004--gay marriage isn't quite the bogeyman it once was.
Now if we could get the President to lead and govern the way he campaigns--we'd really have something then.
Peace,
emaycee
Monday, May 7, 2012
Michigan numbnuts of the week
Not sure if it's Ron Dzwonkowski for wasting our time with this lame piece or Rep. Frank Foster (R-Petoskey) for wasting our tax dollars on his idiocy.
We need to look at knife laws? Fucking really? How many knife collectors could there possible be in the state--a couple hundred? Near as I can tell we don't have any knife factories here. Let's see--very little trade or commerce potential, no new jobs...what exactly is the upshot of revisiting these laws?
Oh--Rep. Foster gets in good with the American Knife and Tool Institute. Campaign cash and such.
Think small, stay small. And speaking of tools....
Peace,
emaycee
We need to look at knife laws? Fucking really? How many knife collectors could there possible be in the state--a couple hundred? Near as I can tell we don't have any knife factories here. Let's see--very little trade or commerce potential, no new jobs...what exactly is the upshot of revisiting these laws?
Oh--Rep. Foster gets in good with the American Knife and Tool Institute. Campaign cash and such.
Think small, stay small. And speaking of tools....
Peace,
emaycee
A bit of levity
"Dinosaurs may have farted themselves to extinction, according to a new study from British scientists."
This may be a bit of bullshit as it was posted on the Fox News website, but the Beautiful Boy and I haven't laughed like we laughed after reading it since, well, we saw this painting by Andy Warhol.
The sense of humor of a seven-year-old--you gotta love it.
Peace,
emaycee
This may be a bit of bullshit as it was posted on the Fox News website, but the Beautiful Boy and I haven't laughed like we laughed after reading it since, well, we saw this painting by Andy Warhol.
The sense of humor of a seven-year-old--you gotta love it.
Peace,
emaycee
Sunday, May 6, 2012
The dreams of aging hippies, part 2
Digby has another piece today on the legacy of the 60s/early 70s wherein she quotes Tom Hayden of SDS fame on the Port Hurton Statement. This is the part of interest:
"In case you think it was all a big fat failure though, consider this:
"The achievements that came from participatory democratic activism in the years that followed the statement's publication were considerable: the ending of the Vietnam War and the draft, the enfranchisement of Southern blacks and young people, the rise of the feminist movement, the Roe vs. Wade decision, the growth and strengthening of public employee unions and California farmworkers, Richard Nixon's unsurpassed environmental laws (in response to the first Earth Day), the Americans with Disabilities Act (in response to activists in wheelchairs occupying federal buildings), and much more. Former Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg remembers carrying her copy of the statement to study groups during the free-speech movement, and Carl Wittman, a Port Huron-era activist who was closeted in 1962, later drew on it for inspiration in writing 'A Gay Manifesto.'"
While I wouldn't call it a complete failure, I think Mr. Hayden has been asleep for a couple of years....
1) End of the Vietnam War/End of the draft--give credit where it's due on the end of the Vietnam War, but the end of the draft has been a mixed bag. I don't think we've fought a war since Vietnam ended, except for perhaps the Afghanistan War (and I have my doubts about that one), that there is any way in hell the American people would have supported knowing their sons/daughters were being sent off to their possible death. The end of the draft made it much easier for Washington to get us engaged in unnecessary wars.
2) Enfranchisement of Southern Blacks/Young People--it's hard to argue with the enfranchisement of Southern Blacks, but it also hurt us electorally--Nixon/Campaign Aides developed the Southern strategy and the only thing that could possibly put those states back in play is the rapid growth of the Hispanic population. Note also that all states get two Senators and not only do we lose electorally, we've lost the chance at Senate seats in the South which makes it even harder to pass legislation. I'm not suggesting it was wrong to enfranchise Southern blacks--just that it came at a great cost to the rest of the causes. Young people are notoriously bad at voting and their enfranchisement has been a mixed bag at best--they support a lot of our ideals, but don't vote regularly and are easily disappointed (not that Obama helped the cause).
3) Rise of the Feminist Movement--again hard to argue with, but we're still fighting battles over fucking birth control and women only make .70 cents on the dollar compared to men and we're still fucking fighting that battle, too. Granted, a lot of other strides, but still...a long way to go.
4) Roe v. Wade--they've been chipping away at this for years and even worse public opinion is manipulated quite easily with the right words. If the Supreme Court can declare a coporation a person, they can overturn this one easily.
5) Strengthen public sector unions/California Farmworkers--public sector jobs have plummeted and their unions are under siege. Anti-immigrant fervor is widespread and I can't imagine too many people trading in their jobs for the life of a California farmworker.
6) Nixon's Environmental Laws--granted, have done a lot of good to clean our air and water, but like the public sector unions are under siege and corporations have too much money and own the media. Not likely to get any better.
7) ADA--after thirty years of working for corporations, I can flat out tell you (like "green" initiatives) corporations love shit that costs little money and makes them look like they give a shit about their customers (they don't--they just like the appearance).
Hayden mentions current events as giving hope, notably the Dream Act (has odds of passing only slightly better than those of winning the lottery), the Occupy Movement (fading fast), and the Wisconsin uprising (it may be Koch money, but the recall effort looks pretty weak--and if it fails, it would be an utter disaster).
The thing that bothers me the most about Hayden patting himself on the back is his complete lack of recognition of the losses suffered economically over the last thirty years. For all the good the Port Huron statement has accomplished, welfare reform was a disaster, union membership has dropped like a shotput in a beer barrel, poverty is at unprecedented levels, McJobs rule the day, and the middle class has eroded. Mr. Hayden mentions those behind the statement being "...bred in at least modest comfort..." and perhaps this explains the lapse, but still....
I'm not trying to be a Donnie Downer--there is an awful lot of good that came out of the movement--but we're kidding ourselves if we think we won't continue to lose ground by patting ourselves on the back for small gains without helping people to put food on their tables, keep a roof over their heads, and clothe and educate their children.
Peace,
emaycee
"In case you think it was all a big fat failure though, consider this:
"The achievements that came from participatory democratic activism in the years that followed the statement's publication were considerable: the ending of the Vietnam War and the draft, the enfranchisement of Southern blacks and young people, the rise of the feminist movement, the Roe vs. Wade decision, the growth and strengthening of public employee unions and California farmworkers, Richard Nixon's unsurpassed environmental laws (in response to the first Earth Day), the Americans with Disabilities Act (in response to activists in wheelchairs occupying federal buildings), and much more. Former Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg remembers carrying her copy of the statement to study groups during the free-speech movement, and Carl Wittman, a Port Huron-era activist who was closeted in 1962, later drew on it for inspiration in writing 'A Gay Manifesto.'"
While I wouldn't call it a complete failure, I think Mr. Hayden has been asleep for a couple of years....
1) End of the Vietnam War/End of the draft--give credit where it's due on the end of the Vietnam War, but the end of the draft has been a mixed bag. I don't think we've fought a war since Vietnam ended, except for perhaps the Afghanistan War (and I have my doubts about that one), that there is any way in hell the American people would have supported knowing their sons/daughters were being sent off to their possible death. The end of the draft made it much easier for Washington to get us engaged in unnecessary wars.
2) Enfranchisement of Southern Blacks/Young People--it's hard to argue with the enfranchisement of Southern Blacks, but it also hurt us electorally--Nixon/Campaign Aides developed the Southern strategy and the only thing that could possibly put those states back in play is the rapid growth of the Hispanic population. Note also that all states get two Senators and not only do we lose electorally, we've lost the chance at Senate seats in the South which makes it even harder to pass legislation. I'm not suggesting it was wrong to enfranchise Southern blacks--just that it came at a great cost to the rest of the causes. Young people are notoriously bad at voting and their enfranchisement has been a mixed bag at best--they support a lot of our ideals, but don't vote regularly and are easily disappointed (not that Obama helped the cause).
3) Rise of the Feminist Movement--again hard to argue with, but we're still fighting battles over fucking birth control and women only make .70 cents on the dollar compared to men and we're still fucking fighting that battle, too. Granted, a lot of other strides, but still...a long way to go.
4) Roe v. Wade--they've been chipping away at this for years and even worse public opinion is manipulated quite easily with the right words. If the Supreme Court can declare a coporation a person, they can overturn this one easily.
5) Strengthen public sector unions/California Farmworkers--public sector jobs have plummeted and their unions are under siege. Anti-immigrant fervor is widespread and I can't imagine too many people trading in their jobs for the life of a California farmworker.
6) Nixon's Environmental Laws--granted, have done a lot of good to clean our air and water, but like the public sector unions are under siege and corporations have too much money and own the media. Not likely to get any better.
7) ADA--after thirty years of working for corporations, I can flat out tell you (like "green" initiatives) corporations love shit that costs little money and makes them look like they give a shit about their customers (they don't--they just like the appearance).
Hayden mentions current events as giving hope, notably the Dream Act (has odds of passing only slightly better than those of winning the lottery), the Occupy Movement (fading fast), and the Wisconsin uprising (it may be Koch money, but the recall effort looks pretty weak--and if it fails, it would be an utter disaster).
The thing that bothers me the most about Hayden patting himself on the back is his complete lack of recognition of the losses suffered economically over the last thirty years. For all the good the Port Huron statement has accomplished, welfare reform was a disaster, union membership has dropped like a shotput in a beer barrel, poverty is at unprecedented levels, McJobs rule the day, and the middle class has eroded. Mr. Hayden mentions those behind the statement being "...bred in at least modest comfort..." and perhaps this explains the lapse, but still....
I'm not trying to be a Donnie Downer--there is an awful lot of good that came out of the movement--but we're kidding ourselves if we think we won't continue to lose ground by patting ourselves on the back for small gains without helping people to put food on their tables, keep a roof over their heads, and clothe and educate their children.
Peace,
emaycee
Saturday, May 5, 2012
The dreams of aging hippies
Digby wrote a nice piece on the anniversary of the Kent State murders, though the piece she referenced by Jesse Kornbluth is actually worth the time and gives a little more detail.
Digby notes that Kent State is a lesson that though it's often long and painful, change does happen. In one of the few times I'll ever be more negative than she usually is, I think most of the change from that era has evaporated and I don't see it coming back anytime soon. If the second Depression wasn't enough to swing more Americans into our corner, I don't see it happening again. The only lesson from Kent State is that the U.S. military will always be forgiven even when they kill innocent Americans. And maybe that Americans were as dimwitted about the powers that control us as they are now--how 58% of Americans could conclude it was the student demonstrators fault when they were a hundred yards away and retreating is beyond me.
Kornbluth makes the comment that he doesn't believe another Kent State could happen because of the revolution in technology that makes news coverage instantaneous and ubiquitous. He's either naive or delusional. All one needs do is read the right-leaning comments posted after his piece and one could easily imagine it happening again, especially with regard to the Occupy Movement.
I was ten when Kent State occurred and really don't remember much about what people were saying when it happened. One could only imagine the field day on the right if it happened again--Limbaugh, Coulter, Savage, ad nauseum.
One great song a revolution does not make.
Peace,
emaycee
Digby notes that Kent State is a lesson that though it's often long and painful, change does happen. In one of the few times I'll ever be more negative than she usually is, I think most of the change from that era has evaporated and I don't see it coming back anytime soon. If the second Depression wasn't enough to swing more Americans into our corner, I don't see it happening again. The only lesson from Kent State is that the U.S. military will always be forgiven even when they kill innocent Americans. And maybe that Americans were as dimwitted about the powers that control us as they are now--how 58% of Americans could conclude it was the student demonstrators fault when they were a hundred yards away and retreating is beyond me.
Kornbluth makes the comment that he doesn't believe another Kent State could happen because of the revolution in technology that makes news coverage instantaneous and ubiquitous. He's either naive or delusional. All one needs do is read the right-leaning comments posted after his piece and one could easily imagine it happening again, especially with regard to the Occupy Movement.
I was ten when Kent State occurred and really don't remember much about what people were saying when it happened. One could only imagine the field day on the right if it happened again--Limbaugh, Coulter, Savage, ad nauseum.
One great song a revolution does not make.
Peace,
emaycee
Could
The key word in this guest commentary on eliminating the personal property tax on industrial equipment is "could"--Mr. Johnston states that with the corporate tax reform enacted last year that eliminating this business tax "could generate 20,000 to 45,000 jobs."
What a load of horseshit. The business tax cuts enacted last year have created zero jobs in Michigan. The auto bailout created the ones we have had. Eliminating the business tax on personal property will also create zero jobs--but services will be cut for Michiganders, our infrastrcture will continue to crumble, and people will continue to leave the state in droves.
This is another in a long line of corporate welfare ploys that results in worse living and working conditions for 99% of us, and only enhance the wealth of those who already have too much.
How many more of these pieces by lying sacks of shit will the Free Press continue to run? I'm sick to death of being deluged with pro-business bullshit with no alternative pieces while the Free Press thinks it's covering its left flank by publishing pieces by Leonard Pitts a few times a week.
Give me a fucking break.
Peace,
emaycee
What a load of horseshit. The business tax cuts enacted last year have created zero jobs in Michigan. The auto bailout created the ones we have had. Eliminating the business tax on personal property will also create zero jobs--but services will be cut for Michiganders, our infrastrcture will continue to crumble, and people will continue to leave the state in droves.
This is another in a long line of corporate welfare ploys that results in worse living and working conditions for 99% of us, and only enhance the wealth of those who already have too much.
How many more of these pieces by lying sacks of shit will the Free Press continue to run? I'm sick to death of being deluged with pro-business bullshit with no alternative pieces while the Free Press thinks it's covering its left flank by publishing pieces by Leonard Pitts a few times a week.
Give me a fucking break.
Peace,
emaycee
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Subverting Democracy in Michigan
Why it took a piece by Rachel Maddow--not a Michigan native, not a show based in the state--to bring the republicans in Michigan's legislature subverting of democracy (and the state's constitution) with their failure to follow the state's immediate effect law to the forefront of Michigan news (lame, page 7, he said/she said journalism) is beyond me. It's not often the Free Press, usually as lily-livered as far too many of the Dems in the nation's capital, is to be commended for their editorial stands, but they hit the nail on the head with this one.
Still, outside of the Progressive blogs (Daily Kos here, Digby here--and Digby wonders why there hasn't been more of an outcry from Michigan Dems, the simple answer is that's what happens when your party is lead by a DINO, State Party Chairman Mark Brewer, whose claim to fame is leading Michigan Democrats to their greatest defeat ever in 2010) there hasn't been nearly enough outrage and eventually it's going to come down to how the Michigan State Supreme Court decides it. Since it's in the republican advantage (4 justices to 3), I'm really looking forward to their ruling explaining to us Michiganders who own a calculator how two-thirds of 110 equals 63 (note to those who suck at math: it doesn't, two-thirds of 110 is 73).
Ought to do wonders to help those state test scores in arithmetic soar, though--remember kids, percentages equal whatever you want them to!
Peace,
emaycee
Still, outside of the Progressive blogs (Daily Kos here, Digby here--and Digby wonders why there hasn't been more of an outcry from Michigan Dems, the simple answer is that's what happens when your party is lead by a DINO, State Party Chairman Mark Brewer, whose claim to fame is leading Michigan Democrats to their greatest defeat ever in 2010) there hasn't been nearly enough outrage and eventually it's going to come down to how the Michigan State Supreme Court decides it. Since it's in the republican advantage (4 justices to 3), I'm really looking forward to their ruling explaining to us Michiganders who own a calculator how two-thirds of 110 equals 63 (note to those who suck at math: it doesn't, two-thirds of 110 is 73).
Ought to do wonders to help those state test scores in arithmetic soar, though--remember kids, percentages equal whatever you want them to!
Peace,
emaycee
Shock: Another republican dipshit in Michigan
"If you love Greece right now, you're going to love the second term of Obama." Bill Schuette, Michigan Attorney General
Leaving aside the fact that being Attorney General of the state of Michigan makes one as qualified to discuss economic policy as the village idiot to explain string theory, I don't know if I can take another six months of republican lies that by some miracle will get through to 45-49% of American voters who will actually cast their ballots for the party that's guaranteed to make their economic well-being worse.
Even the Europeans are beginning to see the error of their ways--economic contraction, runaway unemployment, double dip recession. Not that if anybody in a position of power had been listening to Paul Krugman for months, and probably years, we'd probably be in much better shape economically than we are now. The last action we need to be taking while still in the throes of an economic downturn is to be cutting government spending--we should be spending money to prop up the economy. But true to form--much like their benfactors, corporate America--the republicans will continue to be penny wise and pound foolish.
And Americans will continue to suffer needless economic hardship because of them.
Peace,
emaycee
Leaving aside the fact that being Attorney General of the state of Michigan makes one as qualified to discuss economic policy as the village idiot to explain string theory, I don't know if I can take another six months of republican lies that by some miracle will get through to 45-49% of American voters who will actually cast their ballots for the party that's guaranteed to make their economic well-being worse.
Even the Europeans are beginning to see the error of their ways--economic contraction, runaway unemployment, double dip recession. Not that if anybody in a position of power had been listening to Paul Krugman for months, and probably years, we'd probably be in much better shape economically than we are now. The last action we need to be taking while still in the throes of an economic downturn is to be cutting government spending--we should be spending money to prop up the economy. But true to form--much like their benfactors, corporate America--the republicans will continue to be penny wise and pound foolish.
And Americans will continue to suffer needless economic hardship because of them.
Peace,
emaycee
Who are the idiots?
As I was driving the Beautiful Boy home from school yesterday, I happened to drive past a booth on a sidewalk off the main drive with a group of clowns advocating the impeachment of President Obama. They were asking drivers to stop to impeach President Obama, and their makeshift booth had a picture hanging off the side with pictures of numerous Democrats with the word "Idiots" above their photos.
I relate this because to my knowledge, President Obama has committed no acts that could lead to his impeachment. Trust me, as hated as he is, and after watching republicans try to impeach Bill Clinton for lying about a blow job to protect his family, I am utterly certain that if republicans in the House had any reason to impeach Obama, they would have already. Second, the last time I checked, Presidential impeachments begin in the House, and all the signatures in America (a bit unlikely) are not reason to impeach a President.
But the truly moronic facet of their impeachment drive is that even if they were capable of getting the House to start impeachment proceedings, it's highly unlikely at this point they'd be concluded by the elections in November, and thus republicans, you know, those of the austerity bent, would end up spending millions of taxpayer dollars for an outcome that could be reached with a Willard Romney victory. I mean, don't you think their time would be better spent trying to get Willard elected?
Idiots, indeed.
Peace,
emaycee
I relate this because to my knowledge, President Obama has committed no acts that could lead to his impeachment. Trust me, as hated as he is, and after watching republicans try to impeach Bill Clinton for lying about a blow job to protect his family, I am utterly certain that if republicans in the House had any reason to impeach Obama, they would have already. Second, the last time I checked, Presidential impeachments begin in the House, and all the signatures in America (a bit unlikely) are not reason to impeach a President.
But the truly moronic facet of their impeachment drive is that even if they were capable of getting the House to start impeachment proceedings, it's highly unlikely at this point they'd be concluded by the elections in November, and thus republicans, you know, those of the austerity bent, would end up spending millions of taxpayer dollars for an outcome that could be reached with a Willard Romney victory. I mean, don't you think their time would be better spent trying to get Willard elected?
Idiots, indeed.
Peace,
emaycee
The dice are loaded
There was a strange stench in Michigan--then I realized Scott Walker was here to raise money for the recall election in Wisconsin next month. The piece said he received standing ovations--for attempting to destroy the middle class' only hope these days, unions, for denying women equal pay, for sticking the government in a woman's womb, and for leading Wisconsin to the worst job growth in the fifty states last year.
One supposes the good folks at Walker's fundraiser would cheer the villain who puts out his cigar in the starving children's gruel and then kicks the family dog on his way out the door.
It's sad but predictable that there are Michiganders stupid enough to think the worst governor in America is worthy of their cash, but what's worse is this poll showing the recall election in Wisconsin to be a toss up. We've seen an uptick for Willard Romney since he became the likely republican nominee for President, and perhaps the same will happen for the Democrats in Wisconsin after next week's primary, but still it's somewhat disheartening that this race isn't all but over. It's amazing what tons of Koch brothers cash can do for a really bad candidate, and despite The Daily Kos cheery outlook for Dems this November (and President Obama here), it's news like this that makes me very wary of what will happen come November.
Willard in the White House--let the Hunger Games begin....
Peace,
emaycee
One supposes the good folks at Walker's fundraiser would cheer the villain who puts out his cigar in the starving children's gruel and then kicks the family dog on his way out the door.
It's sad but predictable that there are Michiganders stupid enough to think the worst governor in America is worthy of their cash, but what's worse is this poll showing the recall election in Wisconsin to be a toss up. We've seen an uptick for Willard Romney since he became the likely republican nominee for President, and perhaps the same will happen for the Democrats in Wisconsin after next week's primary, but still it's somewhat disheartening that this race isn't all but over. It's amazing what tons of Koch brothers cash can do for a really bad candidate, and despite The Daily Kos cheery outlook for Dems this November (and President Obama here), it's news like this that makes me very wary of what will happen come November.
Willard in the White House--let the Hunger Games begin....
Peace,
emaycee
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
This is racism
All you really need to do is look at the title of Nolan Finley's recent column: "Is Detroit ready for white mayor?"
What the fuck? I mean, really? Really?
What Finley is saying--based on nothing more than skin color--is that a white mayor would be better for Detroit. And that's racism, pure and simple. Because I don't remember a Finley column in 2008 asking, "Is America ready for black president?" And I'm not holding my breath waiting for his column in 2014 asking, "Is Michigan ready for black governor?"
Am I the only one who is disgusted that this shit appeared in the newspaper of a major American city? And probably even worse, no one will even bother to call them out on it.
Liberal media, indeed.
Peace,
emaycee
What the fuck? I mean, really? Really?
What Finley is saying--based on nothing more than skin color--is that a white mayor would be better for Detroit. And that's racism, pure and simple. Because I don't remember a Finley column in 2008 asking, "Is America ready for black president?" And I'm not holding my breath waiting for his column in 2014 asking, "Is Michigan ready for black governor?"
Am I the only one who is disgusted that this shit appeared in the newspaper of a major American city? And probably even worse, no one will even bother to call them out on it.
Liberal media, indeed.
Peace,
emaycee
The madness of centrism
Brian Dickerson weighs in on two of our more curious brouhaha's currently happening in Michigan and, surprise of all surprises, somehow manages to conclude that even though the republicans are, in a nutshell, fucking subverting democracy, the Democrats are equally to blame.
Fuck me to high heaven.
The first, I've already discussed, concerning the unpopular Emergency Financial Manager law and the ballot initiative failing (though under review by the courts) due to an incorrect font size despite having more than enough signatures. Which brings to mind the old Harold Laski quote, "When the rules of the game prove unsuitable to victory, the gentlemen of England change the rules." In America, we call that cheating.
The second involves Michigan's Immediate Effect Law, written into our constitution, which basically states that no law passed by the legislature can go into effect until three months after the end of the legislative session unless it is agreed to by two-thirds of the House (and Senate, where Republicans have two-thirds of the votes). The republicans currently have a 63-47 advantage, which fortunately, leaves them 10 short of the two-thirds they need. But true to their nature, republicans are basically ignoring the law and pretending they have the two-thirds they need.
How the fuck the Democrats are at least partially to blame for either of these, as Dickerson implies, is completely beyond me. This is republican obstruction and partisanship, and the Democrats should be commended for calling them out for their attempts to bypass the will of the people instead of looked at as part of the problem.
And herein lies the problem with centrism--those who believe in it are so enamored of their fair selves that they've lost all contact with the truth, reality, and placing blame where it belongs.
Peace,
emaycee
Fuck me to high heaven.
The first, I've already discussed, concerning the unpopular Emergency Financial Manager law and the ballot initiative failing (though under review by the courts) due to an incorrect font size despite having more than enough signatures. Which brings to mind the old Harold Laski quote, "When the rules of the game prove unsuitable to victory, the gentlemen of England change the rules." In America, we call that cheating.
The second involves Michigan's Immediate Effect Law, written into our constitution, which basically states that no law passed by the legislature can go into effect until three months after the end of the legislative session unless it is agreed to by two-thirds of the House (and Senate, where Republicans have two-thirds of the votes). The republicans currently have a 63-47 advantage, which fortunately, leaves them 10 short of the two-thirds they need. But true to their nature, republicans are basically ignoring the law and pretending they have the two-thirds they need.
How the fuck the Democrats are at least partially to blame for either of these, as Dickerson implies, is completely beyond me. This is republican obstruction and partisanship, and the Democrats should be commended for calling them out for their attempts to bypass the will of the people instead of looked at as part of the problem.
And herein lies the problem with centrism--those who believe in it are so enamored of their fair selves that they've lost all contact with the truth, reality, and placing blame where it belongs.
Peace,
emaycee
Pure Michigan
First, we have some numbnuts in Grand Rapids posting flyers on parking meters featuring President Obama next to a swastika and proclaiming that a new holocaust is coming.
Second, we have Pam Geller's "Human Rights Conference" in Dearborn which purports to be a meeting to help Muslim women, but in reality is an anti-Islam rally which refuse admittance to Muslim women seeking to refute the conference's claims.
Because you know, nothing attracts talent to a state, nothing makes its young people want to stay here after graduating college, like lunacy, idiocy, and bigotry.
Our new state motto: We're Just Like Mississippi (Only Colder). We're all so proud.
Peace,
emaycee
Second, we have Pam Geller's "Human Rights Conference" in Dearborn which purports to be a meeting to help Muslim women, but in reality is an anti-Islam rally which refuse admittance to Muslim women seeking to refute the conference's claims.
Because you know, nothing attracts talent to a state, nothing makes its young people want to stay here after graduating college, like lunacy, idiocy, and bigotry.
Our new state motto: We're Just Like Mississippi (Only Colder). We're all so proud.
Peace,
emaycee
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