After hundreds of years of 'manifest destiny' and 'divine stewardship' the tables begin to turn, and it doesn't feel so awesome, does it? Some of the old guard would say 'The End is Nigh' but more likely it's just the birth pangs of a new culture.

That seems to be the "solution" that we have now.

No matter how he screams and shakes, the junkie must be denied.

But that's too bitter for most.

Alas, I think that is the one sure way to Stephanie's heart!

She may have specific tastes that I don't always concur with (UP included), but she knows how to skewer a film properly, and for that I'll keep coming back.

Ever lie, distortion and bloviation needs to be vigorously refuted and reflected negatively back upon its source. Make them fully accountable for their stupidity and perhaps they will learn to be quiet at the risk of losing the last iota of their credibility. The mentality that "no one really believes this claptrap and therefore it's harmless" in part led to the eight-year circus of horrors we just suffered through. Never again, please.

Erosion of juris prudence was "letting the terrorists win"; the fact that the the wingnuts were (and are) blinded to that little detail is telling. What is the point of having laws if you cast them aside for the sake of expediency? No one said this process is easy, but the alternative was the slippery slope that we've been headed down the last eight incompetent years. And truly, if you now feel "threatened", there are plenty of autocratic nations to choose from if you find the reestablishment of the rule of law a hindrance to your supposed safety.

Yet the damage is done. Eight years, folks! I hope we get some accountability now (for the past and the future).

Fantastic film. Fellini's genius was to capture the upheavals of his youth and impart that emotional essence onto film in an incredibly compelling, quintessentially Italian, and extremely hilarious manner (as referenced by the subject of this post).

Reminds of the Monty Python sketch at the end of Meaning of Life, "It's Christmas in Heaven".

Couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of bigots.

Yea, it's right in the title. Any retirees in that crowd returning their checks? Even McCain receives a $1900 check from the SSA every month. Their hypocrisy is so blatant and multifaceted--but of course it's not about rational discourse, is it?

How long before someone crops the picture to have the last three "lettermen" plus John McCain?

perhaps her memory was erased?

"MY MEMORY BANK CONTAINS NO RECOLLECTION OF AFOREMENTIONED EVENT"

Were these lyrics generated by a mad-libs-type country-western song generator?

"They're gonna fix this country"? With what? Down-home charm, lipstick and hate politics?

next!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N8_u1FLu30

I look at Palin and think "here we go again" (hopefully not). Wasn't there a certain folksy, non-partisan governor who was going to clean up Washington eight years ago?

Whatever happened to that guy?

My faith in Pastafarianism is unshakable.

Nice try!

Ramen, brother.

Q: Who here is currently working for a political campaign?

...and debt is going to get us out?

When the tent cities start growing exponentially, people will wonder where it all went wrong for them. Revolutions have started for less--a lot less. The "genius" of debt allowed everyone--politicians and regular folks--to defer pain until it's far too late to do anything. Would we be in Iraq if each American was forced to pay a piece of the bill each month? Insane fiscal policy has been the norm for years, no reason to stop now.

...for change? McCain's *personal* economy is fundamentally strong--I'll grant him that.

Before that I had never even heard of him, but immediately I noticed he had that disturbing Stepford-wives quality about him that seems to be so common amongst his ilk. What up with that?

So I guess we're right back to "Our dogma is better than your dogma" (we never really left I suppose).

Well that's one value that Republicans share with Hollywood and Environmentalists: reduce, reuse, recycle!

meet Floor.

Gives a whole new spin on "Labor" day, too.

...and your beans--more please!

I've always felt that the post-911 economy has been Fed vaporware (not worth a hill of beans, as it were), so I played it accordingly. But we're all going to feel some pain from it, and maybe it's not the worst thing.

Heather, you didn't mention your modern local library. A veritable treasure trove! (shhh!!!)

There's a sort of slow-motion inevitability to this fiasco. All the hot air won't stem the tide.

And really, when was the last time the government made a real "difference"? And I mean in a good way. The short-sighted actions of government, a certain pseudo-governmental agency (read Fed) and the Law of Unintended Consequences got us here. Why should more of the same help any?

Darn tootin'.

What I still find unfathomable is 59% of republicans still support this "wrong turn." What does it *take*?

People will be voting this year who have never known a President without one of these surnames. That alone is enough of a negative for my tastes. But regardless who "wins," they will be inheriting a recession, a war, massive debt, a failing education system, and who knows what else. There will be a lot of fingerpointing (as usual). Good luck.

This economic monster has been growing for years, obvious to anyone who wasn't drinking the delicious Kool-Aid; that won't change the fact that people are still doing everything to avoid the massive hangover. At this late stage it's political suicide to give a realistic assessment of the situation.

"The people who have conquered the world now have only two interests -- bread and circuses."

--Juvenal