Ramble

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I’m not super worried about Obama. Why? Perspective.

He is still the politician with most favorable rating. Higher than the Democrats. Even higher than the ‘thuglicans. All throughout all the screaming, whining and tantrums, he and his administration remain cool, calm, on script. McChrystal? Who? Spy swap? Handled, European crisis? Weathered. Health-care reform? Passed. Finreg? Signed next week. DADT? Getting there. Oil spill? Not so good, but being managed. China? We’re talking with them. Russia? Ditto. Israel? Same sh**, different crisis.

Overall demeanor throughout? Calm, handled. In control.

Is he perfect? Name a president who was. Learning? Looks like it.

Bonus: much of what he promised is done. Energy and immigration come next. Energy gets to debate soon. I think he’s going to do some lame duck trickery on immigration. Stay tuned.

You know what you do when a youngin’ throws a tantrum? Most times you just let it go until the energy runs out. Once the screamin’ inevitably falls on deaf ears, the real conversation begins.
More on http://www.huffingtonpost.com:80/news/barack-obama“>Barack Obama
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Where has NOW been throughout this entire debate? The abortion issue should be the final straw, but there are other issues women’s groups shirked . Insurance companies discriminate by charging more for a woman’s policy. Since most single-parents end up being women, they not only have to deal with their own issues, but their children’s as well. Since women do not have as a secure place in the job market–there’s that perception that they’ll leave to have babies–they face discrimination on that front, too. And yes, women have more complex health issues to address than men do. As a man, there are likely other issues I overlook; complete the list if you must.

Yet, throughout the entire debate we have heard not a peep out of NOW, the League of Women Voters or other feminist organizations. Why? Are they still bitter about Hillary? If so, that sure seems petty since no or poor health-care reform, per the reasons laid out above, affects women more than men. I am not sure that is the answer, but I certainly puzzled as to why, except for a few peeps after the Stupak amendment passed, very few prominent women have not advocated for one of the biggest changes in our culture in a century.

I can’t help but thinking that the public option would have had a much better chance if women’s voices were more loudly heard through the organizations that represent them.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wendy-button/will-one-senator-stand-up_b_399557.html“>Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

I’m still working on Paraddox2140:Progress, a comprehensive, interactive way of viewing our future. My contention is that Progress offers the same degree of conundrum pre-modern Europe faced over the too political, greedy Church without destroying it, in other words, the paradox of their time. This view will make more sense when fully explained.

For now I just want to point to an Economist cover article: http://www.economist.com/printedition/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=15108593” target=”_blank”>The idea of progress, onward and upward. I should have much more on Paradox2140 later. For now happy reading.

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Yes, I have many ideas.

We need to reorient ourselves to the post-modern world; realize that many of our ideas and notions come from our first foray into industrialism. Think to yourself: Who are our moral leaders? The answer to that question points to where the right-wing finds guidance. Overall, however, who provides societies’ moral guidance and you’ll find few answers. Who defines right and wrong in the modern business world? the laboratory? the classroom?
In case you think this comes a religious nut, please know I’m an agnostic who finds religion unnecessary.

Our modern world emerged from religious strife and uncertainty. We have not replaced what we probably lost.
More on http://www.huffingtonpost.com:80/news/morning-joe“>Morning Joe
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I so disagree with the ‘Obama is weak; he squandered the summer’ mantra put forth in this article. Obama is Obama, not Roosevelt, not Reagan, not LBJ, not Lincoln, not the Messiah. He is Barack Hussien Obama, No Drama Guy. He has a plan and a modus operandi. He works the way he works; he is who who is. Let’s look at August as an example as why you got to let him do what he does. It also points to where Frank Rich is 100% wrong.
The RepubliCan’ts and their insurance backed Astro-turfers shot their load throughout August. They screamed and bliovated, nazi-ized, socialized, turned a black man into the Hitler and Chairman Mao. They overshouted people in wheelchairs with crushing health related financial burdens, intimidated CongressCritters and made some Americans seem really savage to outside observers. For all of their efforts did they really gain a thing? I doubt it. If anything RepubliCan’ts seem even crazier. Do we get the Publc Option? I doubt it, but I doubt the Townhall Riots had anything to do with it. A bunch of uneducated thugs got to blow off steam and leaving RepubliCan’ts responsible I classify as a win not a loss.
Mr. Obama gives one 45 minute speech, unites the Dems and a RepubliCan’t CongressCritter, who has trouble reading from a teleprompter, becomes the stooge who represents the lying vitriol that should make any citizen cringe.
Let Obama be Obama. He doesn’t know how to be anyone else.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/13/frank-rich-obamas-squande_n_284868.html“>Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

On Obama’s Joint Session Speech on Health Care Reform

It was an historic, game-changer. About what I expected.

I never shared the opinion that his reform faced trouble. The process looks messy because it is messy. Overall, facing a tricky position–in trouble with the left in his party for tepid support of public option, facing trouble with the Blue Dogs because they represent shaky districts–Barack managed to strong-arm the latter and reason with the former. And now even RepubliCants campaign against pre-existing conditions.
My overall hope is that he understands he must pass reform in the world we live in, not in the dream we liberals prefer. Single-payer IS the best option. But in the USA where a sizeable minority beliefs our president is not a citizen? Good luck with that. Health care reform that begins to solve our problems even if not ideal beats the status quo. His job is to get the best bill possible. I think he proved in early September 2009 his suitability to that task.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-begala/why-i-loved-obamas-health_b_281567.html“>Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

BooHoo. Barack is having a difficult time passing reform that NO ONE HAS SUCCESSFULLY PASSED IN ABOUT 100 YEARS. In a time when we are still on the precipice of a depression that he has probably kept us from falling into, while he struggles to contest two wars he inherited during a time when his very election reignited the silly culture war Americans have over race, you want to abandon him? You abandon him because it LOOKS LIKE the reform process is not going well, when he has already secured some type of reform? All this is crazy talk.

If you are going to show the Dems ‘what for’, are you out backing Green Party members to run for Congress? After 8 years of Republicans selling us out, you really will risk giving them additional power? In the minority they still manage to gum up the works. What do you think with more seats?

Sounds like people like you are giving into hysteria. Yes, he has probably made mistakes. But when was the last time you had a perfect year? Criticize in hope of his improving, but abandon him for a worse option? Why? There are better ways to transmit the message.
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The French rose against the Crown because most nobles had figured out how not to pay taxes. The nobles had inherited power but really controlled little. They didn’t control the business sector, the media or the education system. Now, those who figured out to not pay their fair share control most of these.

Just sayin…
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The middle-class voted in Reagan and Bush, cheered them on as they stole from the middle-class. The middle-class feeds into the “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” b.s. They bought the SUVs and oversized homes our planet and society cannot afford. They shop at Walmart and support shallow media culture. Unless the middle-class wakes and demands real solutions like health-care reform, stronger support for labor and stops feeding into materialist solutions to fill the voids it tries ignore, the middle-class will have no one to blame but themselves.
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Absolute Nonsense! The problem is that so many have declared the premature death of health reform when it is about 80% complete. How can anyone expect that a reform process that began in 1912 under Teddy Roosevelt reach resolution in eight months? Astroturf opposition, allied with people who want to shoot our president, paint him as Hitler and “fight socialism”, burst on the scene because some type of reform will arrive soon. Barack holds back, as usual, ready to smack down like he did right before the election.
Remember then? He had so much money in the bank, the struggle became how to spend it–he had to buy an infomerical! Meanwhile, McCain could literally not buy time on any network–Barack had purchased all available. He had him surrounded. Does this sound like a gentlemen who thinks in limited dimensions? Remember how many doubted his abilities then.
Please CALM DOWN. Health care reform is on the way. Yes, he probably made a mistake by seeking bipartisan support before too long. Tell me this. When was the last time you had a perfect year at work?
Oh yeah. Beyond bringing our economy back from the brink, trying to solve Guatonamo and inspiring Muslims, Obama looks readies a Middle East Peace deal, with the Russians and French ready to hold Iran in check: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/25/obama-on-brink-of-deal-fo_n_268916.html” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/25/obama-on-brink-of-deal-fo_n_268916.html.
The man thinks in 8 dimensions. Sorry, you only see 3.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/25/thomas-frank-health-care-_n_268958.html“>Read the Article at HuffingtonPost