-
It's that time of year again - our ISP is asking for money. If you have some spare change, please click the Donate link... Thanks!
- About Us
- Search
- Need Help?
- Donate
- Login/Register
Latest Entries
Actions Menu
Blog Roll
- 4F Facebook Page
- Turn Up The Night with Kenny Pick
- Stephanie Miller Show
- The Tim Corrimal Show
- The Rachel Maddow Show
- Angry Americans with Paul Rieckhoff
- Thom Hartmann Program
- Turnips! Fans of Turn Up the Night Facebook Page
- Snopes.com
- Factcheck.org
- Official White House Page, if you must.
- The Brad Blog / Green News Report
- The Poorly Written Political Blog (Joe Santorsa)
8 Years Later
Author: BobR
Date: 09/11/2009 12:30:32
It's been a long 8 years. Back on 9/10/2001, Dubya was a lazy ineffectual president, thrust into office on the heels of a controversial Supreme Court decision, and destined to be a one-term president like his father. When people say "9/11 changed everything", they couldn't be more right. It's the sad height of irony that his bumbling allowed the horror of 9/11 to happen, which likely ensured his reelection 3 years later. The cries of "never again" and "never forget" were used as a bludgeon for some of the worst abuses to rights and common sense we've ever seen.
Over the past 8 years, we've seen:
How could we forget? We were reminded at every turn. There were the bumper stickers proclaiming "we stand united!" (what was wrong with the original "united we stand"?), the yellow ribbon magnets (made in China), everyone asking "I support the troops - do YOU support the troops??" in a passive-aggressive attempt to derail any critical discussion of the war.
Who can forget the demonizing of any country that chose not to get involved in the invasion of Iraq, particularly France? Despite that country's bailing our asses out during wartime on more than one occasion, they were held up for derision by talk show hosts and politicians. A local restaurant poured all of its French wine out into the river. The congressional cafeteria changed the name of "french fries" to "freedom fries".
Anyone who dared question the official story about 9/11 was marginalized or deemed a kook, despite evidence that should raise anyone's eyebrows (anyone who has seen the documentary Loose Change knows what I mean). Cynthia McKinney was drummed out of office for daring to wonder about these things out loud.
Most disgusting, however, is that 9/11 was thrown up in our faces by those with no first-hand experience of the horror (see My 9/11 story). I can't count how many times I had to counter "have you forgotten 9/11??" with "no, I never will - I was there. Were you?". It's interesting that those in NYC and survivors of those who perished were those most likely to want to put it behind them, and/or questioned the official story.
In the supposed effort to prevent another 9/11, and under the guise of "never again", we've lost more soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan than lives were lost on 9/11. We failed to learn the lesson that Russia learned in Afghanistan - that the people there will outlast your ability to pay for your attempts to conguer them.
I hope that anything like 9/11/2001 never happens again. I hope we have a president that actually reads the PDBs with names like "Bin Laden determined to strike inside America". If by some chance it should occur again, however, I hope we as a nation will look back at what transpired the past 8 years and proclaim "never again".
Over the past 8 years, we've seen:
- 9/11 used as an excuse to invade Iraq, a country with no ties to 9/11
- Torture programs implemented with the justification that it was to prevent a "smoking gun from becoming a mushroom cloud".
- Political dissent equated to treason
- Liberalism equated to treason
- Laws passed circumventing the 4th, 6th, and 8th Amendments in the Bill of Rights
- People arrested for exercising their 1st Amendment rights
- Racial profiling, hatred, and legal harrassment against anyone that looked or sounded middle-eastern
- Revolting acts of political posturing by politicians and pundits who never served in the military (chickenhawks)
- A private army outside of the law given free reign in another country, and contractors given a blank check, creating some of the worst war profiteering abuses ever seen.
How could we forget? We were reminded at every turn. There were the bumper stickers proclaiming "we stand united!" (what was wrong with the original "united we stand"?), the yellow ribbon magnets (made in China), everyone asking "I support the troops - do YOU support the troops??" in a passive-aggressive attempt to derail any critical discussion of the war.
Who can forget the demonizing of any country that chose not to get involved in the invasion of Iraq, particularly France? Despite that country's bailing our asses out during wartime on more than one occasion, they were held up for derision by talk show hosts and politicians. A local restaurant poured all of its French wine out into the river. The congressional cafeteria changed the name of "french fries" to "freedom fries".
Anyone who dared question the official story about 9/11 was marginalized or deemed a kook, despite evidence that should raise anyone's eyebrows (anyone who has seen the documentary Loose Change knows what I mean). Cynthia McKinney was drummed out of office for daring to wonder about these things out loud.
Most disgusting, however, is that 9/11 was thrown up in our faces by those with no first-hand experience of the horror (see My 9/11 story). I can't count how many times I had to counter "have you forgotten 9/11??" with "no, I never will - I was there. Were you?". It's interesting that those in NYC and survivors of those who perished were those most likely to want to put it behind them, and/or questioned the official story.
In the supposed effort to prevent another 9/11, and under the guise of "never again", we've lost more soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan than lives were lost on 9/11. We failed to learn the lesson that Russia learned in Afghanistan - that the people there will outlast your ability to pay for your attempts to conguer them.
I hope that anything like 9/11/2001 never happens again. I hope we have a president that actually reads the PDBs with names like "Bin Laden determined to strike inside America". If by some chance it should occur again, however, I hope we as a nation will look back at what transpired the past 8 years and proclaim "never again".
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
BobR on 09/11/2009 12:31:20
BobR on 09/11/2009 12:31:20
This is probably a bit more disjointed than I would have liked, but I had to keep it at a reasonable length...
Comment by 
wickedpam on 09/11/2009 12:45:43
wickedpam on 09/11/2009 12:45:43
Morning 
Comment by 
TriSec on 09/11/2009 12:50:54
TriSec on 09/11/2009 12:50:54
Morning, folks.
I am thankful for a gloomy day in New England. I hate blue September skies on this day. It's also the only day of the year I don't look up at a passing aircraft.
I am thankful for a gloomy day in New England. I hate blue September skies on this day. It's also the only day of the year I don't look up at a passing aircraft.
Comment by TriSec on 09/11/2009 13:04:55
TriSec on 09/11/2009 13:04:55
Worst Persons...
How does Sean Hannity function without a brain?
How does Sean Hannity function without a brain?
Comment by 
Raine on 09/11/2009 13:47:17
Raine on 09/11/2009 13:47:17
Good Morning. 
8 years. 8 friggin years...
8 years. 8 friggin years...
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 13:48:55
Raine on 09/11/2009 13:48:55
I'm with Tri -- I am glad it is overcast down here today. There is a certain kind of Blue Sky I always refer to as 911 Blue.
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 14:10:49
Raine on 09/11/2009 14:10:49
Can someone please re-wire Ban coulters jaw again?
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 14:20:52
Raine on 09/11/2009 14:20:52
It's pouring rain ---- what the hell is a boat doing on the potomac River in restricted waterspace? If you can, turn on CNN. the Coast Guard fired 10 warning shots to a boat there.
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 14:22:14
Raine on 09/11/2009 14:22:14
The Pres is back at the White house now.
Comment by wickedpam on 09/11/2009 14:26:11
its more then likely some idiot who wants a closer look, what they can see from there I don't know I've never boated on the Potomac
wickedpam on 09/11/2009 14:26:11
Quote by Raine:
It's pouring rain ---- what the hell is a boat doing on the potomac River in restricted waterspace? If you can, turn on CNN. the Coast Guard fired 10 warning shots to a boat there.
its more then likely some idiot who wants a closer look, what they can see from there I don't know I've never boated on the Potomac
Comment by TriSec on 09/11/2009 14:30:09
TriSec on 09/11/2009 14:30:09
The local NBC affiliate in DC is attributing it to a "training exercise" at the moment. No other news out there right now...
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 14:31:50
Raine on 09/11/2009 14:31:50
Now they say it was a coast guard training excersise? Seriously?
FAIL
FAIL
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 14:45:39
Raine on 09/11/2009 14:45:39
And here is what happened: Some ham radio nerd was eavesdropping on Coast Guard radio signals & got alarmed. He called CNN which falsely reported shots fired.
Comment by wickedpam on 09/11/2009 14:49:36
wickedpam on 09/11/2009 14:49:36
Do people not understand about Robert's Rules?
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 14:52:30
Sadly, they do not, Mala.
Raine on 09/11/2009 14:52:30
Quote by wickedpam:
Do people not understand about Robert's Rules?
Sadly, they do not, Mala.
Comment by wickedpam on 09/11/2009 14:54:05
damn, now we must issue the Idiot's Guide to Robert's Rules to everyone in the US
wickedpam on 09/11/2009 14:54:05
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
Do people not understand about Robert's Rules?
Sadly, they do not, Mala.
damn, now we must issue the Idiot's Guide to Robert's Rules to everyone in the US
Comment by wickedpam on 09/11/2009 14:55:07
wickedpam on 09/11/2009 14:55:07
right cause google is god and has all the answers 
Comment by TriSec on 09/11/2009 14:59:27
TriSec on 09/11/2009 14:59:27
Ya know, if I want to see people insult their leader, I watch "Commons Question Time".
(and it's a hoot!)
But that sort of thing shouldn't go on in the halls of Congress, I'm sorry.
And speaking of sorry, I'm actually with Mr. Wilson on this now, he apologized directly to the President and everything is alright between them; having another apology on the floor of the House under threat of censure is overkill, IMHO.
(and it's a hoot!)
But that sort of thing shouldn't go on in the halls of Congress, I'm sorry.
And speaking of sorry, I'm actually with Mr. Wilson on this now, he apologized directly to the President and everything is alright between them; having another apology on the floor of the House under threat of censure is overkill, IMHO.
Comment by 
velveeta jones on 09/11/2009 15:03:55
velveeta jones on 09/11/2009 15:03:55
Morning all! Well, show of hands of who thinks that was a "training exercise" on 9/11? (Not that they should ever stopped training.... I just don't believe it for a minute).
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 15:12:19
I shite you not.
Raine on 09/11/2009 15:12:19
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
Do people not understand about Robert's Rules?
Sadly, they do not, Mala.
damn, now we must issue the Idiot's Guide to Robert's Rules to everyone in the US
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 15:13:31
Something aint right with this one.
Raine on 09/11/2009 15:13:31
Quote by velveeta jones:
Morning all! Well, show of hands of who thinks that was a "training exercise" on 9/11? (Not that they should ever stopped training.... I just don't believe it for a minute).
Comment by wickedpam on 09/11/2009 15:31:34
blog confession - I have the Idiot's version
wickedpam on 09/11/2009 15:31:34
Quote by Raine:I shite you not.Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
Do people not understand about Robert's Rules?
Sadly, they do not, Mala.
damn, now we must issue the Idiot's Guide to Robert's Rules to everyone in the US
blog confession - I have the Idiot's version
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 15:45:21
Raine on 09/11/2009 15:45:21
Quote by wickedpam:
blog confession - I have the Idiot's version
Comment by wickedpam on 09/11/2009 16:01:12
At least I have it to be informed with
wickedpam on 09/11/2009 16:01:12
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
blog confession - I have the Idiot's version
At least I have it to be informed with
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 16:11:01
Raine on 09/11/2009 16:11:01
Check out these Stats:
Total expenditure by private insurance companies, 2007: $331 billion
Total expenditure on administrative costs + profits, 2007: $95 billion
Percentage of total expenditure spent on administrative costs + profits = 29%
By contrast, here are 2007 figures for Social Security and Medicare administrative costs:
Social Security = 0.9%
Medicare = 3%*
Total expenditure by private insurance companies, 2007: $331 billion
Total expenditure on administrative costs + profits, 2007: $95 billion
Percentage of total expenditure spent on administrative costs + profits = 29%
By contrast, here are 2007 figures for Social Security and Medicare administrative costs:
Social Security = 0.9%
Medicare = 3%*
Comment by TriSec on 09/11/2009 16:17:18
TriSec on 09/11/2009 16:17:18
A brief update from a local race you're all following intently...
The man I aim to replace, School Committee Chairman Bob Cincotta told the Waltham News Tribune on Wednesday that he was "surprised" by the decision of Superintendent Peter Azar to censor the President.
Apparently, Mr. Cincotta, along with the rest of the school committee, found out about it Tuesday morning when the story was published in the paper. So far, there has been no word of investigation or retribution, but the entire school committee is steamed.
Further, on Wednesday it was stated that the speech "had been reviewed" and "there was no issue with it", so it was put out to the local cable channel (WCAC) to be aired repeatedly over the next few days. Unfortunately, they messed up and didn't show it at the scheduled time yesterday.
In a blistering letter to the editor, I accused Mr. Azar of making an arbitrary and dictatorial decision, and declared that "in a few days, this will all be forgotten and it's likely the speech will never be shown to Waltham students." Sadly, this is apparently the way it's playing out.
The man I aim to replace, School Committee Chairman Bob Cincotta told the Waltham News Tribune on Wednesday that he was "surprised" by the decision of Superintendent Peter Azar to censor the President.
Apparently, Mr. Cincotta, along with the rest of the school committee, found out about it Tuesday morning when the story was published in the paper. So far, there has been no word of investigation or retribution, but the entire school committee is steamed.
Further, on Wednesday it was stated that the speech "had been reviewed" and "there was no issue with it", so it was put out to the local cable channel (WCAC) to be aired repeatedly over the next few days. Unfortunately, they messed up and didn't show it at the scheduled time yesterday.
In a blistering letter to the editor, I accused Mr. Azar of making an arbitrary and dictatorial decision, and declared that "in a few days, this will all be forgotten and it's likely the speech will never be shown to Waltham students." Sadly, this is apparently the way it's playing out.
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 16:18:19
Interesting... huh?
Raine on 09/11/2009 16:18:19
Interesting... huh?
Comment by 
Mondobubba on 09/11/2009 16:19:17
When I was a wee Mondo in 5th grade we had a series of civics lessons where we learned Roberts' Rules. It was very interesting and whole lotta fun we got to thing in the way grown up did.
Mondobubba on 09/11/2009 16:19:17
Quote by wickedpam:
Do people not understand about Robert's Rules?
When I was a wee Mondo in 5th grade we had a series of civics lessons where we learned Roberts' Rules. It was very interesting and whole lotta fun we got to thing in the way grown up did.
Comment by 
livingonli on 09/11/2009 16:28:06
livingonli on 09/11/2009 16:28:06
A belated good day to everyone. 
Late night at the salt mine and doing a few things afterwards meant I didn't get to sleep until late. I only caught the tail end of Momma, did Jim go all today?
Late night at the salt mine and doing a few things afterwards meant I didn't get to sleep until late. I only caught the tail end of Momma, did Jim go all
today?
Comment by livingonli on 09/11/2009 16:32:03
livingonli on 09/11/2009 16:32:03
I don't like how you can't type in all the emoticons anymore.
Comment by Mondobubba on 09/11/2009 16:32:07
Man today here is like was eight years ago. It is absolutely perfect. The sky is blue the sun is shining. The summer humidity is starting to break. It does that a lot this time of year.
One of the thing I had to do was calm down a co-worker who was completely freaking out. She was blurting out every up date she was reading online. It was getting everybody around her more upset. I just to her aside and said, "Look, I know you are really upset and scared, we all are. What you are doing is starting upset (insert names of coworkers here) can you pull it together for all of us?" Then I gave her a little hug. All she wanted was somebody to tell her it was gonna be okay.
Mondobubba on 09/11/2009 16:32:07
Quote by Raine:
I'm with Tri -- I am glad it is overcast down here today. There is a certain kind of Blue Sky I always refer to as 911 Blue.
Man today here is like was eight years ago. It is absolutely perfect. The sky is blue the sun is shining. The summer humidity is starting to break. It does that a lot this time of year.
One of the thing I had to do was calm down a co-worker who was completely freaking out. She was blurting out every up date she was reading online. It was getting everybody around her more upset. I just to her aside and said, "Look, I know you are really upset and scared, we all are. What you are doing is starting upset (insert names of coworkers here) can you pull it together for all of us?" Then I gave her a little hug. All she wanted was somebody to tell her it was gonna be okay.
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 16:34:59
you can-- you just have to put a space before and after them.
<--see?
Raine on 09/11/2009 16:34:59
Quote by livingonli:
I don't like how you can't type in all the emoticons anymore.
you can-- you just have to put a space before and after them.
<--see?
Comment by livingonli on 09/11/2009 16:39:20
I did that to put in the sleeping emoticon but the blog removed the spaces after I typed them in.
livingonli on 09/11/2009 16:39:20
Quote by Raine:Quote by livingonli:
I don't like how you can't type in all the emoticons anymore.
you can-- you just have to put a space before and after them.
I did that to put in the sleeping emoticon but the blog removed the spaces after I typed them in.
Comment by livingonli on 09/11/2009 16:42:14
Somehow he does. As long as he has GOP talking points, he is able to function.
livingonli on 09/11/2009 16:42:14
Quote by TriSec:
Worst Persons...
How does Sean Hannity function without a brain?
Somehow he does. As long as he has GOP talking points, he is able to function.
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 16:44:19
I fixed it -- you did not have a space after...
Raine on 09/11/2009 16:44:19
Quote by livingonli:Quote by Raine:Quote by livingonli:
I don't like how you can't type in all the emoticons anymore.
you can-- you just have to put a space before and after them.
I did that to put in the sleeping emoticon but the blog removed the spaces after I typed them in.
Comment by BobR on 09/11/2009 16:46:52
"the blog" does not do that. A carriage return is not a space.
BobR on 09/11/2009 16:46:52
Quote by livingonli:Quote by Raine:Quote by livingonli:
I don't like how you can't type in all the emoticons anymore.
you can-- you just have to put a space before and after them.
I did that to put in the sleeping emoticon but the blog removed the spaces after I typed them in.
"the blog" does not do that. A carriage return is not a space.
Comment by Mondobubba on 09/11/2009 16:47:45
Mondobubba on 09/11/2009 16:47:45
What.The.Fuck?!! Glenn Beck's latest conspiracy theory. ACORN & SEIU were behind the levee failures in NoLa.
Media Matter Link
Media Matter Link
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 16:53:20
Raine on 09/11/2009 16:53:20
Glenn is just totally insane totally.
Check out that video I posted before... He is doing the VERY same thing he called the Ron Paul supporters out for.
Check out that video I posted before... He is doing the VERY same thing he called the Ron Paul supporters out for.
Comment by 
Will in Chicago on 09/11/2009 16:53:22
Will in Chicago on 09/11/2009 16:53:22
Good morning, bloggers!!
This is a very somber day for me, as I reflect on this day eight years ago.
BobR, thank you for an excellent post. I think that we saw national leaders use a tragedy to push their agenda and cast doubts and aspersions on any who questioned them. Sadly, a lot of this thinking still persists in our country.
This is a very somber day for me, as I reflect on this day eight years ago.
BobR, thank you for an excellent post. I think that we saw national leaders use a tragedy to push their agenda and cast doubts and aspersions on any who questioned them. Sadly, a lot of this thinking still persists in our country.
Comment by livingonli on 09/11/2009 17:00:43
When is Glenn Beck getting a rubber room?
livingonli on 09/11/2009 17:00:43
Quote by Raine:
Glenn is just totally insane totally.
Check out that video I posted before... He is doing the VERY same thing he called the Ron Paul supporters out for.
When is Glenn Beck getting a rubber room?
Comment by TriSec on 09/11/2009 17:07:14
TriSec on 09/11/2009 17:07:14
Just for a little perspective....
There's more to September 11 than SEPTEMBER 11!.
It's actually a fairly historic day. Lots of celebrity/history birthdays today, too.
There's more to September 11 than SEPTEMBER 11!.
It's actually a fairly historic day. Lots of celebrity/history birthdays today, too.
Comment by livingonli on 09/11/2009 17:11:18
I know a number of people who will bring up the CIA backed Chilean coup in 1973 happened on that day.
livingonli on 09/11/2009 17:11:18
Quote by TriSec:
Just for a little perspective....
There's more to September 11 than SEPTEMBER 11!.
It's actually a fairly historic day. Lots of celebrity/history birthdays today, too.
I know a number of people who will bring up the CIA backed Chilean coup in 1973 happened on that day.
Comment by Mondobubba on 09/11/2009 17:20:09
Very cool, thanks Tri
Mondobubba on 09/11/2009 17:20:09
Quote by TriSec:
Just for a little perspective....
There's more to September 11 than SEPTEMBER 11!.
It's actually a fairly historic day. Lots of celebrity/history birthdays today, too.
Very cool, thanks Tri
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 17:43:52
Raine on 09/11/2009 17:43:52
This 9/12 march is ill thought out. Large Numbers of angry white men converging on a black man’s home? 
Comment by wickedpam on 09/11/2009 17:43:57
wickedpam on 09/11/2009 17:43:57
Comment by Mondobubba on 09/11/2009 17:47:17
Eat one, or the terrorists win, Mala!
Mondobubba on 09/11/2009 17:47:17
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
9/11 Cake Wrecks.
why did someone shoot the donut holes?
Eat one, or the terrorists win, Mala!
Comment by livingonli on 09/11/2009 18:13:16
Sounds like a scene from Birth Of A Nation.
livingonli on 09/11/2009 18:13:16
Quote by Raine:
This 9/12 march is ill thought out. Large Numbers of angry white men converging on a black man’s home?
Sounds like a scene from Birth Of A Nation.
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 19:17:47
Raine on 09/11/2009 19:17:47
Keerist... Listening to Randi -- Rush is disgusting. The president calls for today to be a day of service and rush flips it into something evil.
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 19:18:52
Mala-- did you bake a 911 cake??? 
Raine on 09/11/2009 19:18:52
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
9/11 Cake Wrecks.
why did someone shoot the donut holes?
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 19:21:00
here is my fave: 1906 – Mahatma Gandhi coins the term "Satyagraha" to characterize the Non-Violence movement in South Africa.
Raine on 09/11/2009 19:21:00
Quote by TriSec:
Just for a little perspective....
There's more to September 11 than SEPTEMBER 11!.
It's actually a fairly historic day. Lots of celebrity/history birthdays today, too.
Comment by livingonli on 09/11/2009 19:23:03
Rush is an enabler of evil.
livingonli on 09/11/2009 19:23:03
Quote by Raine:
Keerist... Listening to Randi -- Rush is disgusting. The president calls for today to be a day of service and rush flips it into something evil.
Rush is an enabler of evil.
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 19:23:34
Raine on 09/11/2009 19:23:34
What the hell? Did anyone hear that caller who claimed that Katrina was an inside job?
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 19:29:05
Raine on 09/11/2009 19:29:05
Randi talking about the ACORN Story. I am VERY happy that she is talking about this. I saw the videos and the time stamps don't match.
Comment by Will in Chicago on 09/11/2009 19:29:15
I am listening to the Jeff Farias Show on KXXT 1010 AM.
Hurricane Katrina illustrates the incompetence and indifference of the Bush administration, as evidenced by people who drowned from Louisiana to Mississippi. Much of the death and suffering could have been averted. The recovery was mismanaged, and in many places was a recovery of casinos, condos and cronies replacing the homes of local residents.
Livingonli, I will go so far to say that Rush Limbaugh is evil -- he perpetuates hatred and division for profit.
Will in Chicago on 09/11/2009 19:29:15
Quote by Raine:
What the hell? Did anyone hear that caller who claimed that Katrina was an inside job?
I am listening to the Jeff Farias Show on KXXT 1010 AM.
Hurricane Katrina illustrates the incompetence and indifference of the Bush administration, as evidenced by people who drowned from Louisiana to Mississippi. Much of the death and suffering could have been averted. The recovery was mismanaged, and in many places was a recovery of casinos, condos and cronies replacing the homes of local residents.
Livingonli, I will go so far to say that Rush Limbaugh is evil -- he perpetuates hatred and division for profit.
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 19:30:07
Raine on 09/11/2009 19:30:07
I saw the tapes, and I never saw where they mentioned that the el salvadorans girls were children. I am STILL looking for it.
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 19:43:29
Raine on 09/11/2009 19:43:29
Randi is on a roll today. Rightfully so...
Comment by Raine on 09/11/2009 19:48:43
Raine on 09/11/2009 19:48:43
Here, Seriously-- This is about the MOST NOT WORK SAFE thing I have EVER posted on the blog. I heard about this right when we were leaving for Oklahoma. NPR covered it a bit... This is seriously lord of the flies shite.
After Abu Graib, tell me why this was not all over the news?
Click at your own peril
After Abu Graib, tell me why this was not all over the news?
Click at your own peril
Comment by Mondobubba on 09/11/2009 19:49:43
My fav:
9 – The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest ends.
Yep the German tribes (freedom fighters) put the smack down on the emerging hegemonic, expansionist Romans.
Mondobubba on 09/11/2009 19:49:43
Quote by Raine:here is my fave: 1906 – Mahatma Gandhi coins the term "Satyagraha" to characterize the Non-Violence movement in South Africa.Quote by TriSec:
Just for a little perspective....
There's more to September 11 than SEPTEMBER 11!.
It's actually a fairly historic day. Lots of celebrity/history birthdays today, too.
My fav:
9 – The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest ends.
Yep the German tribes (freedom fighters) put the smack down on the emerging hegemonic, expansionist Romans.
Comment by Mondobubba on 09/11/2009 19:51:56
Oh the drunken frat-boy types eat potato chips out of each others ass cracks? Seen it! Dr Maddow had a whole segment on late last week. Wow, what a bunch of louts.
Mondobubba on 09/11/2009 19:51:56
Quote by Raine:
Here, Seriously-- This is about the MOST NOT WORK SAFE thing I have EVER posted on the blog. I heard about this right when we were leaving for Oklahoma. NPR covered it a bit... This is seriously lord of the flies shite.
After Abu Graib, tell me why this was not all over the news?
Click at your own peril
Oh the drunken frat-boy types eat potato chips out of each others ass cracks? Seen it! Dr Maddow had a whole segment on late last week. Wow, what a bunch of louts.
Comment by TriSec on 09/11/2009 20:00:03
TriSec on 09/11/2009 20:00:03
Soooo.
Did the guy who OK'd the AF One overflight in NYC sign off on the CG boat exercise today?
Did the guy who OK'd the AF One overflight in NYC sign off on the CG boat exercise today?
Comment by Will in Chicago on 09/11/2009 20:11:31
Will in Chicago on 09/11/2009 20:11:31
Here are some thoughts from Rabbi Michael Lerner of Tikkun and the Network of Spiritual Progressives on Obama's speech on health care.
Building on the Hopeful Aspects of Obama’s Health Care Speech and Helping Him Get Beyond His Internal Contradictions
by: Rabbi Michael Lerner on September 10th, 2009
Media analyses of President Obama’s health care speech were divided on whether he had indicated serious support for a public option or had, instead, cleverly tossed a bone of “recognition” to the progressives while simultaneously demanding that they drop their insistence that the health care reform undercut insurance company profits.
The confusion, for once, is not with the media but with the incoherence of a centrist politics. Obama wishes to relieve the suffering of Americans, but he does not wish to challenge the profit-uber-alles old “Bottom Line” of the competitive marketplace. Unfortunately for him and for most Americans, he can’t have it both ways. FDR recognized that — and so was willing to stand up to the vested interests of the class from which he emerged, not only rhetorically, as Obama is willing to do at some rare moments like his Health Care speech, but in the actual policies he promoted.
Goodness knows Obama has tried. He understands the suffering caused by the military-industrial complex’s insistence that American security can only come through economic, military and diplomatic domination of the world, and would like to alleviate it. He would prefer a world of peace. But he can’t get that without challenging the fundamental equation of security with domination and presenting an alternative, e.g. that security might best be achieved through generosity and genuine caring about the well-being of others around the world, manifested in the kind of G-8 funded Global Marshall Plan that has been introduced into Congress by Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN). So, instead, he has escalated the war in Afghanistan.
Obama is aware that unless we can get down to not more than 350 particles per million of carbon emissions that life on the planet is finished. Standing up to the corporate interests that have resisted this and managed to eviscerate his environmental program into a corporate-giveaway called “cap and trade” would require championing a carbon tax that he fears would make him unpopular with the corporate polluters and with the public whose consciousness these polluter are able to shape through the media.
Comment by Will in Chicago on 09/11/2009 20:14:02
Will in Chicago on 09/11/2009 20:14:02
Has President Obama Abandoned You and His Own Vision of the Caring Society?
ditorial by Rabbi Michael Lerner
My response to the question "Has Obama abandoned us?" is really "NO, the problem is that we have abandoned him by being too passive and expecting him to be who we want him to be without having created an ongoing movement that can push and support him in that direction."
Implicit in most of Obama's campaign talks about "change," "sweeping out the power of the lobbyists and special interests from Washington, D.C.," and "YES, WE CAN" (and a major factor in most people's support for him) was his vision of a new way of being together: an alternative to the selfishness, materialism, and militarism that had led to a disastrous war in Iraq and the meltdown of the global economy. It was a vision of what we at Tikkun will label "the Caring Society." Americans truly hunger for a world in which their lives have a higher meaning and purpose than accumulating money or power. If they thought it possible, they would gladly embrace a world based on love, generosity, peace, and social justice -- a world in which people feel a strong responsibility to take care of each other. It is our task now to give President Obama the push he needs to feel that he can carry through and make the Caring Society vision that won him the presidency into a reality that guides his administration at every level. This editorial is in part our contribution to helping generate the kind of movement that could really support him.
I cannot remember a president who has inspired us spiritual progressives more than Barack Obama. (Check out our Core Vision at www.tikkun.org or our Spiritual Covenant with America at www.spiritualprogressives.org to see what we mean when we say we are spiritual progressives. Hint: you can be an atheist and still be a spiritual progressive.) We want to do everything we can to support Obama to have a successful presidency. Sure, we would be cautious anyway to critique the first elected African American president, because we are well aware of the racism that he continues to have to fight. And we're doubly cautious because we see the absolute intransigence of the Republicans in Congress who seem oblivious to any form of rational discourse apart from a determination to make sure that Obama's programs fail. And America's elites are using their control of the media, the "influence" they've gathered through donations to candidates (in other countries they call these bribes), and their powerful array of lobbyists and think tanks to do all they can to stop any progressive aspect of legislation on health care, the environment, or economic recovery. Given all this, the last thing we wish to do is help sabotage the president.
And yet, we've seen President Obama take steps that we believe are sabotaging himself and undermining the huge public enthusiasm with which he started his presidency. We've seen him support policies that are likely to fail or that go against the spirit and sometimes even the substance of what he promised to stand for when elected.
Comment by TriSec on 09/11/2009 22:45:19
TriSec on 09/11/2009 22:45:19
It's Friday, damnit. I'm-a havin' FOUR Oreos instead of three tonight.
Comment by livingonli on 09/12/2009 02:26:43
livingonli on 09/12/2009 02:26:43
You know how to live, Tri.
Comment by livingonli on 09/12/2009 02:46:46
livingonli on 09/12/2009 02:46:46
Brad Friedman is filling in for Malloy tonight and he's been talking about 9-11 and now the pigman.