So, how ya'll doing? Enjoy your summer? Do anything exciting? I spent mine watching the awesomeness of our new President do things that grown ups do; bring the U.S. economy back from the brink of a genuine Depression, sign meaningful legislation into law, talk to the American people in polysyllabic words that he knew the definitions of, and generally cause the far-right wing of our glorious country to collectively lose their freakin' minds (see "birthers", "deathers", and teabaggers, oh my!).
Surprisingly, it isn't just the far-right wing who are unsatisfied with our newest President. It's progressives who are showing signs of frustration with Obama. It's been said many times before that the way to know if you're composing good policy is if it pisses off both the right and the left. Moderation and bipartisanship have, in recent years, been the goal of both policy makers and political pundits who cover the major happenings in D.C.. But moderation isn't why so many progressive activists worked their butts off to get Obama elected. We wanted change and in a big way.
I've argued elsewhere that Democratic ideals could be summarized into four basic pillars: environmental, legal, labor, and LGBT issues (technically the LGBT pillar is part of the legal one, but this particular community has such a influential and cash-rich lobby, that I've made it a stand-alone unit). And on each of these pillars, President Obama has failed in some ways significantly and in other ways spectacularly. Case in point:
On environmental issues, his failure to lobby harder for a stronger cap-and-trade bill angered many progressives who feel the final draft was nothing more than a compromise with Congressional leaders who do not grasp the seriousness and urgency of the matter. Yes, it is far better than anything they could have expected from a Republican-controlled Congress, but it doesn't address the issue on a level that will have any substantive impact on the climate change crisis, which was the goal of the legislation.
Legal analysts and progressives have been dismayed at Obama's insistence that the extrajudicial torture regime both Bush and Cheney authorized will likely go unpunished. Yes, Attorney General Eric Holder has opened an investigation of the incidents at Abu Ghraib and Guantánamo Bay, but he appears to be focusing on the soldiers who carried out abuses rather than those who devised the system and those who provided legal cover for it. Additionally, Obama has been less than supportive over the whole process, stating time and time again that he wants to "move forward"; an odd statement for a Constitutional scholar who knows full well what happens when the crimes by members of the state go unpunished (they get repeated without impunity or fear of prosecution).
Labor organizations, like the AFL-CIO and SEIU, have expressed dismay that the President has largely avoided the ongoing argument over the Employee Free Choice Act, an essential piece of reform that unions have been working towards for years that would allow for unions to form easier. It's the one issue, next to health insurance reform, that unions are willing to play hardball on and one that will likely play a major role in the 2010 Pennsylvania Senate race, where the incumbent Democrat Arlen Specter is facing an uphill battle for re-election based in some part on his unwillingness to support it.
Then there is the LGBT issue, a movement that grew out of the legal community, but now has a spirit and power of its own. Obama's campaign for President always had a rocky relationship with this group, as he refused to endorse same-sex marriages (favoring civil unions instead), but opposed states efforts to make them unlawful. At one rally, he even had a pro-LGBT pastor speak back-to-back with an anti-gay one in an apparent effort to court the votes of both ends of the religious community. However, since his election, Obama has steadfastly refused to address the two issues that have mattered most to the community: the repeal of the Clinton-era "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and the Defense of Marriage Act, which legally classifies marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Obama has said time and time again that he disagrees strongly with both, but as yet has declined to do anything about it.
However, these disagreements are eclipsed by the intense debate disagreement over the battle to reform the U.S. health insurance industry and how it delivers services to people. Specifically the battle over a piece of the reform legislation called the public option. For those not following the debate, the public option is a kind of compromise between the current system and the European style of single-payer that many feel would represent true reform, but is seen as politically difficult to pass in the current climate.
Simply put, the public option would create an insurance plan that people not covered (traditionally the lower income class or those unemployed) could purchase at reduced rates. The plan would be paid for from insurance premiums and be deficit neutral. Progressive activists and Democrats are all for it, while conservative and moderate Democrats (known as Blue Dogs) are largely opposed to it. The conflict arises as the Blue Dogs keep coming up with creative ways to kill the idea, from demanding some measure of Republican support so that the legislation can be considered bipartisan, to allowing for "triggers" on when a public option could be created (the triggers proposals would place the financial burden so far in the distance so that a public option could never be activated), or the creation of co-ops, which have no track record of maintaining industry-wide cost controls in the same manner that a public option would.
Obama, while stating publicly that he supports the public option, has had his aides privately telling lawmakers that he's willing to negotiate on the issue and wouldn't be opposed to a final bill without it. For many progressives, that is the last straw. Creating a reform package that mandates everyone purchase exorbitantly expensive private health insurance plans, absent costs controls, will only increase the financial devastation that many families are already experiencing. A recent study indicated the number one reason why people are facing home foreclosure in the U.S. is the inability to pay their health care bills. How bad do you think it will get if people are forced by law to purchase health insurance they can't afford?
Now I'm not saying that Obama is necessarily a bad President, or that we'd be better off had McCain won, but he is not the man many progressive activists campaigned for. When they were told change was coming, they wanted transformational change, not nipping around the edges of policy or playing the triangulation game Clinton was so famous for.
However, unlike Clinton, Obama's team has little to fear in terms of a backlash that will reward the GOP in 2012. Their bench of potential Presidential contenders have been self-imploding so much in the last few months, they're likely to be left with either Mike Huckabee, a guy who couldn't even beat McCain, or Mitt Romney, a man most far-right Republicans can't tolerate. But what the President's campaign advisers are overlooking and should be fearing aren't the conservative Democrats, the political pundits, or the GOP. The two words that should keep them up at night are Ralph Nader. Nader, who campaigned as a Green party candidate against Gore and Bush in 2000, is largely blamed for splitting the Democratic vote, prompting Bush to the White House and into eight years of the most incompetent governmental leadership this country has seen in decades.
While Nader himself couldn't possibly hope to win a national election, it's what he represents that should cause a great deal of consternation among the Obama staff. Republicans could potentially regain the White House in 2012 if Obama finds himself under attack by either a credible progressive challenger during the primary which could tarnish his reputation enough to leave him vulnerable during the general election, or by an independent candidate who could force Obama into defending his left flank through both a primary and general election.
All the GOP would then need to do would be to run a moderate Republican (say someone like Michael Bloomberg who has spent close to $100 million of his own money in his bid for a 3rd term as New York's mayor) who might appeal to voters tired of watching Democrats fighting amongst themselves, and Obama could very well enter the club that few enjoy membership to, the One-Term Club.
hey mardod does freelance politico mean you still live in your mom's basement wich coincidently is where that obama poster that you so enjoy jacking off too hangs while you sit at your little computer desk and write bs left wing propaganda hoping that your lord obama will read it someday and give you the privilege of sucking his nuts?
Added: 4 days ago by Daffybastard
Hubbard calling earthlings. Come in earthlings. Hubbard calling earthlings. Come in earthlings...This is your revered, omnipotent, kind, non-fraudulent, spiritually rich (financially so as well) ever living master! I mean leader. Lord of MEST (Matter Energy and Space Time) L. RON (The Don) HUBBARD! Prophet, sage, humanitarian, immortal, He-Man, Dianetician, saviour of mankind, QUINTILLIONAIRE! And don't you forget it.
As you are all well aware I chose to leave my earthly body behind, having seen the truth of my own existence, and I have become a Supreme Being manifesting itself as an energised ball of dollar bills traversing the many properties of spacetime. I have been to infinity and beyond, and am now an omnipresent somatic thetan floating about 6 feet above your universe (it looks like a dog chasing its own tail by the way). And it has come to my attention - even at the delivery speed of your universe: light, news still takes a while to get here - that a French court has ruled that certain practices by the Church of Scientology have been classified as fraud under French law. Fraud? French law? Those are two things I always avoid. The French can go suck an onion, backwards, through a baguette. Who the hell do they think they are compared to ME! I eat Stephen Hawking's crackpot theories for breakfast! When I fart a newly christened child is given a life sentence in pain! I vacation at the most extreme place in the universe - the event horizon of a black hole, and I live in a singularity! It's a b#stard walking the dog.
Anyway, what is this talk of "law"? I AM the law. It's all part of this cancerous growth of SP (Suppressive People) - that horrid 2.5% of the population who have antisocial personalities, impeding our progress, sewing their malignant seeds of doubt, fear, rational-thinking and common sense, leaving the PTS (Potential Trouble Sources) to grow. If you know an SP, I don't care if it's your own mother, spouse or your newborn child, you must disconnect and sever all ties with them (it worked for me).
And if you're still being affected then you'll have to spend some time at our lovely health spa in Los Angeles, known affectionately as the dreaded Rehabilitation Project Force, where you'll be physically debilitated through the euphoria of unrelenting labour and intensely extreme deprivation. And if that therapeutic course of salvation doesn't work, then my friend, colleague and operating thetan David Miscavige will use physical violence. Anything to help you. That's the Scientology way. Even if it means ostracising you from your friends, family, ideals, beliefs, sanity and physical health - we're that dedicated. We'll do anything but go to jail.
Now as I understand it my dear religion - which is practically a science - is getting a bit of a bad rep down there on Earth. I'm trying to save you humanity, you ungrateful pagan rats. I knew my teachings were too advanced for the small-minded cluster-ridden anti-social personalities called mankind, who use such ludicrous terms as scientific proof, reason, logic, truth, independent thought and...I can barely say the word, I'll have to spit it out: psychiatry - a nefarious disgusting discipline. Our nemesis, dear auditors: N-E-M-E-S-I-S. As I say that word imagine the colossal cosmic fury of a supernova shrinking a million times the size of earth in less than a second, and you will gage a fraction of the level of hate I feel for that loose collection of deluded fantasies laughable called a "science".
But if they want a galactic war, then by Xenu's tyrannical nutbag they've got one. We will MASSACRE them! We will F#CK. THEM. UP! Those SP muthf#ckers would have to be ready to take on the might of our tens of millions of followers (just to clear this little matter up, this figure is gained from the potential followers of The Bridge To Total Freedom, whether they have come into contact with Dianetics yet or not - you see, simple mathematics.) who are world, nay, universe wide.
Like our man on terra firma, close friend, ally, most powerful celebrity in the world, and winner of the coveted and prestigious award that many actors lust after their whole careers. That's right, I'm talking about none other than the famous Freedom Medal of Valor and I'm talking about Tom Cruise - who kindly, modestly, based his performance in Tropic Thunder on moi, but obviously toned it down (thanks Tommy!) - our celebrated solo-auditor, the most dedicated Scientologist I know, OP VII (that's Operating Level 7 - keep up) and star of one of the most important films ever produced - that 10 minute Scientology video that was leaked on YouTube. A f#cking PR disaster.
I mean who doesn't want to live on a compound, barely sleeping, eating scraps and speaking in mind-numbingly incomprehensible acronym jargon. That's the price of spiritual freedom.
Oh, Dave, just one quick simple task, could you go over to the Treas Sec PAC and see the ASHO and AO and get the Dissem Secs from WUS. We need to get the EUS T&P BMO lists for SBC promo pronto. Tell Mary she needs the GI cycle for the stats on the SOB to get ready for the annual BS. Cheers ears.
Anyway, we all know the way to a person's enlightenment is through their wallet. And their bank account, their car, money they can borrow off friends, the remortgage on their house, the shirt on their back, the sink in their kitchen, and anything that isn't nailed down that can be sold quickly. Because Xenu is out there my would-be-auditors, poisoning you with engrams, and it's up to you to join the elite and stop him. Look at it as your sacred duty as a potential money river for the Church of Scientology. Scientology cannot live by donations alone. We need to take what is rightfully ours: what's yours.
I'll tell you what I'll do, if you sign up right now, I'll make sure you get a phone call from the man himself, TC, that's the honourable Mr Tom Cruise most powerful-celebrity-in-the-world to you. How about that? Before you know it you'll be moving ashtrays with your mind and travelling the majestic spiritual plans of Operating Thetan. But be careful, for they are extremely powerful and not for the uninitiated, or those with a low bank balance. The grave consequences of premature exposure to them could be catastrophic. You are likely to die of pneumonia.
So remember, you are an immortal alien spiritual being trapped in a physical body on planet Earth covered in clusters of BT (Body Thetans) which contain painful memories. With my moderately priced advanced course at $10,000 you can know the hallowed secrets and rid yourself of these regressive memories which will reincarnate as individuals. Now tell me, what's so unbelievable about that?
I remain
Lafayette the Magnificent
Ps. Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health is available in all good book stores and online.
is that true...
***************************
jack brosnan
<a href="http://www.campertrailersoffroad.com.au" rel="dofollow">camper trailers</a>
Added: 11 days ago by jackbrosnan
One of the unexpected benefits of the current scarcity of original ideas in Hollywood is the surprising migration of documentaries from the high number Sky channels to the art house and, even, the multiplex cinemas. I still think it rather strange to sit down in the cinema to watch a documentary; after all, aesthetically they aren't particularly suited to Dolby surround and massive screens. My own guess is that as the majority of Hollywood movies have become such slaves to the "high concept" ideal I've began to crave stories that are more focused on something relatable.
A way of cleansing the palate after swallowing the latest exercise in noise and sparkle that's been marketed down my throat. And I find it curiously pleasing that there are more interesting and varied stories out there in the real world than in the studios portfolio of comic book adaptations and horror remakes. (I just checked to make sure I wasn't raving there and out of 19 movies on at my local omniplex there are only 4 that are original stories, and one of those is Couples Retreat...).
So if you're looking for something other than the increasingly pornographic sensibilities of modern cinema here are some alternatives to the uninspired fantasy of Hollywood.
Deliver Us From Evil
Although the presentation of this doc is rather pedestrian - lots of slow sweeps over photographs and memos, too many talking heads sitting in office cubicles - this unintentionally serves only to reinforce what Hannah Arendt called "the banality of evil." As the story of paedophile priests unfolds the mind is left reeling at the way such despicable crimes are rationalized and dismissed by the Catholic Church. Interviews with victims are among the most disturbing things you'll ever see, I couldn't watch the screen when a father breaks down, half screaming, half crying, "Not molesting...Raping! He raped her. At 5 years old." Watching Father Oliver O'Grady walking through the park describing how he picked his victims while a child walks past in the background will redefine what you think a horror movie really is.
Touching the Void
Moving as far from the traditional documentary template as possible Touching the Void is the story of two mountaineers whose adventure up the Siula Grande turns into the most amazing story of survival. Utilizing a mixture of interviews and extremely well made dramatic reconstructions, this is an incredible edge of the seat thrill ride. It's testament to the skill of director Kevin Macdonald that he manages to keep an atmosphere of mortal peril even though the protagonists are both obviously alive and well, telling their story in a studio.
Earth/Planet Earth
The camera, high above, tracks along a river towards a drop off. The roar of water grows until we're swept past and turned to see the awesome sight of the 1000ft high Angel Falls, the world's highest free-flowing waterfall complete with rainbow slicing through the ephemeral mist. It's a hairs-on-the-back-of-the-neck moment. Even the most visually inventive directors must throw their arms up with despair as the BBC's Natural History team conjured up breathtaking sight after breathtaking sight simply by pointing a camera in the right direction. CGI may have given us Middle Earth but it's not a patch on the real thing.
Anvil: The Story of Anvil
It's the ultimate buddy movie, it's a real world Spinal Tap, it's a Chicken Soup For The Soul for people who don't read inane bullsh#t, and its f#cking METAL dude! Maybe the claims that you don't need to like the music to like the film are a bit optimistic, but they're not entirely without merit either. There's a wonderful bromance between Steve and Robb, an eye opening look at the rock and roll lifestyle for the ones who don't make it, and so many funny moments that comedy writers must be left feeling impotent next to the delicious ironies of the real world. It's particularly soothing if you're currently going through the annual torture of the X-Factor (or American Idol) with your girlfriend.
Dark Days
Marc Singer spent 2 years living with New York's homeless population and offers this magnificent, unflinching view of their world. Again it's strange that in Hollywood for a tramp to be interesting he must be a forgotten violin maestro or green beret when the real stories are so powerful and dramatic. [Ed -it also has a soundtrack by DJ Shadow.]
Gimme Shelter
The Rolling Stones' 1970 film following their 1969 tour, which culminated with the fateful era-ending clusterf#ck at Altamont is so much more than a concert video. The fly on the wall camera captures all the behind the scenes dealings and egos as they unwittingly head for disaster. It's remarkable for one other thing too, it's the only band documentary that I know of where the subjects don't come across well. Especially nowadays band docs are pretty much just 90 minute long glorified adverts, reverential to the artists and asinine in production. Gimme Shelter pulls no punches with Jagger and co. They really don't come out of it well. It would be nice to see some other bands with the same balls to show themselves warts and all. The tunes are good too.
Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!
Watching this film will give you at least three hilarious behind the scenes movie stories to impress your friends with, to avoid spoiling them I'll just hint at one. Dennis Hopper was banned not only from driving any car in Australia but also from being a passenger...Besides the great anecdotes there's a ton of charm in this exploration of the cheerful and deeply crazy Australian movie scene. Quentin Tarantino loves it, it's pretty much movie geek heaven and much like the movies it's about, it's a wild ride.
A word on Michael Moore:
Michael Moore makes stupid documentaries. He reduces complicated issues to simple ideology re-enforcing agitprop for liberals. And on one hand I think, why not? I mean Christ, the right has got a whole gang of misrepresenting f#ckwit agitators, they've got their own news channel in America but it doesn't mean that Moore's hammering of easy targets and surface skimming threads are worthwhile. Adam Curtis makes the documentaries that Moore should make. So go and watch them.
i think it's funny when liberals bash fox news as a right wing network. i watched cnn for 20 years growing up. have you ever watched this idiot chris mathews on msnbc. liberals have had a free ride in the media since before the vietnam war. now they're pissed that finally there is one news source that may not be in the bag for the liberal side. you guys are babies. at lease fox presents both sides of the issue so you now how each side stands. you guys are just pissed that fox is the highest rated cable news network on the air.
Added: 3 days ago by scoobym3
