rlc478464's Blog

rlc478464 recommended On Kicking Ass, Taking Names by Matthew Locke

2008-11-07T20:22:36Z

rlc478464 Commented on 185 Diebold Touch-Screen Voting Machines Impounded by Judge in PA County by astral66

2008-11-08T02:46:50Z

A hugely important, vital issue that doesn't get the full attention it deserves, and remains in need of resolution. Concerns tend to flare up every four years then fade away. What are the most effective avenues for maintaining citizen pressure to find a better solution? Thanks for the post.

rlc478464 Commented on Sometimes A Burden Goes Undetected...Until It's Removed by Bussta Brown

2008-11-08T00:14:29Z

The burden is the pain of dehumanization, the lifting of the burden is the ecstasy of humanization. In choosing humanization, we are again a trascendental nation, in harmony with our best American ideals. Everyone understands this: it is why a person could vote for McCain, and yet be glad that Obama won. The world will again look to us for this reason.It is the best of the Democratic Party; a reference point for all of us, and as we go forward we may fall short at times, but now at least we know what we are falling short of.

rlc478464 Commented on Palin's Future by ConcernedCanadian919

2008-11-07T05:36:39Z

Give her a talk show, with golden handcuffs. She is truly scary.

rlc478464 Commented on Is That All? On Puppies and Burying Red vs. Blue by Desidero

2008-11-05T17:27:34Z

Democrats have a lot to look forward to, and we all know we have big problems to face. Having an inspirational leader, and being mobilized and organized is a huge plus. The mood of the country is one of change, an awareness America has been "on the wrong track" under Republicans, esp. Bush. My concern is that we don't mistake the victory as a mandate for progressive extremism. The country is ready to believe and hope, rather than fear and loathe, which gives Obama an opportunity. However, I think the election reflected a national "common sense" consensus that the Bush crowd is incompetent in all areas, as well as a questioning of the fundamental tenets of Republican conservatism, more than anything else. I hope that the country is ready to believe that government can work to the benefit of the people, and demands constructive, not obstructive, action on the part of Congress. Yet it would be a mistake to think that people are in the mood for a "progressive utopia". Trying to force this on the average American failed in the 60s. The Republicans have just failed in their attempt to create "a permanent majority" (Conservative utopia). A return to common sense culture, and the commonality of citizens, respect for each other and resposibility for improving the culture would be a vast improvement.

rlc478464 Commented on Remember LBJ, Mr. President: Go For It All The First Year by M.J. Rosenberg

2008-11-05T17:06:45Z

Start quickly with do-able highly symbolic gestures like: close Guantanamo Bay; then an action to symbolize a return to the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. Agree that restoration of habeas corpus, or revision of the Patriot Act would be useful. I think that some sort of economic stimulus in the form of investment in infrastructure, creating jobs would be well-received. Lastly some tough action with the "banking community", like: don't just sit on all the bailout money the taxpayers just gave you, would be well-received. Keep the connection with the people; government can and must work for the people.

rlc478464 Commented on Obama's Win: A Death-Knell For 1960s Cultural Politics? by Greg Sargent

2008-11-05T16:40:31Z

I don't know about a death knell, but I do feel that there is a healing in this election, different than any election I can recall since the 1960s. Didn't feel it with Clinton or Carter, though was glad the Dems won. In this election I got out and canvassed in Boulder, with my 11 year old son; my neighbor worked full-time at the Univ. of Colo. to register students, and my 77 year old mother in Pittsburgh, PA was proud to say she made over 1000 phone calls on behalf of Obama's campaign. We won because we overcame the apathy and cynicism and got on the phone and knocked on the doors to get out the vote, because we were inspired and felt the hope again. That hope, that activism on behalf of our better nature as citizens, is what John Kennedy inspired; that was the best part of the 1960s; that was a positive aspect of the 1960s culture, which died a terrible series of deaths, leaving us a frightened, disillusioned, grieving, cynical nation ripe for the taking by purveyors of negative politics. I am proud to be an American today, and I am going to remain active, in a hopeful, but forceful way, demanding better and doing my part to make it happen. And that is a part of the 1960s I knew, spoken to us by the John Kennedy that I remember, that I will carry forward into the new millenium.

rlc478464 Commented on More Anti-Obama Hate at Palin Rally outside Las Vegas by eades

2008-10-26T18:57:24Z

I had a conversation with someone the other day, pretty conservative guy, whom I respect and who respects me. We enjoy arguing political issues, and I, for one, learn a bit about his point of view each time. He has overcome a lot in his life. He remarked that could accept certain things about an Obama Presidency, but he drew the line when it came to abortion and would "be one of those guys that would shoot a doctor who performs abortions". I paraphrased his comment to be saying: "I will kill you because you kill people". Is suicide the rational endpoint of such philosophy? He ultimately admitted he was speaking hyperbolically.

What I like more and more about Obama is the commitment to dialogue. This is the real challenge we face and the only solution. Imposing your view on others doesn't work, nor does brainwashing the populace through media control and propaganda. Fight via the ballot box, then prepare to talk. Hopefully he doesn't get paralyzed considering too many irreconcilable points of view. 2/3 of marital arguments are irreconcilable according to studies of couples. Are political arguments so different? It is my hope that a dialogue is the only way forward, but my concern is that the arguments may be irreconcilable.

rlc478464 Commented on Republicans Are Sick: Radio Host Fantasizes Obama Murdering His Own Grandmother by eades

2008-10-26T05:50:50Z

The total lack of respect and the aggression allowed by the dehumanizing/delegitimizing process is disheartening and frightening. Hard to see how the extremists can be be related to. Hopefully more people are seeing this for what it is. I have very little faith in the media when it comes to this kind of issue.

rlc478464 Commented on More Anti-Obama Hate at Palin Rally outside Las Vegas by eades

2008-10-26T05:14:03Z

I tend to think you are right, although the fact that so many people believed that Iraqis were behind the 9/11 terrorism is powerful evidence of the effectiveness of administration/right-wing propaganda in an age of media consolidation. I really think it is a combination of racism, deep fears about the uncertainty of our future and a media portrayal which demagogues and dehumanizes him. The Republicans are corrupted by power, addicted to it and have no interest whatever in bipartisan government or dealing with the fact that they are not a majority party. Their "final solution" is to remove the Democratic alternative from the political process, to destroy/delegitimize the Democratic party; Karl Rove has acknowledged this. Voter suppression, gerrymandering and intimidation of the MSM are all manifestations. I think there is tacit, probably overt high level approval for dehumanization of Obama as the ultimate delegitmization of the the Democratic Party via casting the symbolic figurehead as "other", "anti-American" a "socialist" a"tyrant", "a terrorist". The level of acceptable aggression towards him at rallies, or in the right wing media is remarkable, far more than I recall with Kerry, Gore, even Clinton.

rlc478464 recommended I want my country back... by Young and Idealistic

2008-10-25T23:51:01Z

rlc478464 recommended I'm Going to Miss Him--Not! by rlc478464

2008-10-25T22:12:15Z

rlc478464 Commented on Oh, the Irony by clearthinker

2008-10-19T14:56:10Z

I was canvassing in Boulder for Obama yesterday. I got generally positive and supportive feedback from the people I met, but there was one woman, in her 50s, who, when I asked "Can I count on you to vote for Barack Obama?" proceded to tell me "No", and described her concerns about his voting record on abortion rights, weaving this issue into a broader perspective of "being on the wrong side with God". At the end of the conversation I thanked her for taking her time to talk to me and she replied "Yeah, thanks for blasting you", almost apologetically. I said: "I don't look at it that way. You are telling me what you deeply believe in and I am out here doing this because it is what I deeply believe in. It is a free country". She agreed this was true and important. Later I thought I might have added "But consider this: We can differ, but a Democrat is not going to tell you that you must be an idiot, going to Hell or both for disagreeing". I think this is true, but maybe not.

I am a mental health professional and all I do each day is figure out how to understand and talk to people--it is hard enough when they pay you for your help! It is truly a daunting task when it comes to the beliefs that divide people politically at this time, but it is the most worthwhile one, the most important. I agree that the blog arguments can illustrate this point. Unanimity of view is not necessary, in fact the danger is in requiring unanimity of view to belong to the club. And yet the social process can become so messy when people disagree strongly. I don't see how things can get better until some way of talking constructively about the national interest can be brought about. I am doubtful that the media can help in this endeavor, and I am not sure that I see solutions in the "blogosphere" right now either. Name-calling makes you feel better for a moment, but doesn't really do anything helpful. Condescension is no more useful, in my opinion.

Forcing an extreme progressive agenda on the country will not succeed; this was attempted in the 1960s and led to the current distrust of the Democratic party by many people who are socially moderate--things have to get really bad for them to reconsider the Democrats. The success of FDR in bringing about radical change involved people finding a common purpose, ultimately an external enemy. The problem addressed in this blog is "the enemy within", the tendency to demonize, which is really to dehumanize, whether we are talking about an enemy within America, or even within the Democratic party during the primaries. It was sobering to see how quickly things broke down between fellow Democrats during that time. I got into it myself a bit, I confess. I had to back off after a point to get a grip.

Chamberlain illustrated what not to do in response to fascist movements. Clarity and decisiveness may be needed, but not of the fascist sort. What examples can we turn to as leaders who could negotiate the difficulties, the chasms dividing people of different beliefs and move them forward together? Nelson Mandela? Lincoln? How can we take this responsibility upon ourselves, at this time, as Barack says "to be the change we need"?

rlc478464 Commented on The Neo-con Merry Go-Round Runs Down.... by Jim Sleeper

2008-10-18T16:40:24Z

Great Post. I agree that this crowd is who to truly fear, whether they are aligned with the Democratic or Republican party. Always dark, always wrong, arrogant, fascist-leaning if necessary to impose their "better way" on the country. A problem since WWII, proponents of an unmitigated string of disasters, dating at least to the Viet Nam a war, they are a true minority who has hoodwinked the country, since the days of Ronald Reagan, if not LBJ. I think of these folks when I recall the Eisenhower farewell address warning about the "military-industrial complex" and the danger to the republic. These are the true believers, the think tank ideologues and propagandists of the press. What is the best book on the history of this group?

rlc478464 recommended The Bloody Hand of Karl Rove by rlc478464

2008-10-14T18:43:11Z

rlc478464 Commented on Interesting Article by Tracie Lee

2008-10-13T15:33:46Z

Yes and my thought is that Karl Rove's fingerprints are all over the McCain smear and delegitimize strategy; it is the only one Mr. Rove knows, and he is certainly the master of it. Obama will need to be dehumanized in the process and this will increase the likelihood of violence towards him in the form of physical attack or an ongoing political assault as occurred with Clinton.

rlc478464 recommended Interesting Article by Tracie Lee

2008-10-13T14:02:19Z

rlc478464 recommended Republican Reptile Friend(s) becoming disheartened by RWN

2008-10-07T02:02:38Z

rlc478464 recommended The Histrionic President: a mistake we can't afford to repeat by rlc478464

2008-09-29T19:14:57Z

rlc478464 recommended Interesting Essay/Letter by Frank Schaeffer by rlc478464

2008-09-20T04:33:58Z