@ adnoto . . .

instead of "casting stones" can we just carry cardboard cutouts of pitchforks and torches? I don't want to hurt anybody just inconvience them to the point they have to use their brains, think, and then hopefully demand and work actively for change.

I don't really see it happening though. Things aren't bad enough for the majority in America. Yet. And it's still too easy to blame the "victims" of America's "values". It took the Depression to motivate people to demand change that benefited more than just "the few".

America is calcified in its own mythology. It's going to take something really big to shatter those bonds.

-- rrheard

Well, as perhaps you should know by now, I wasn't advocating casting stones. I was merely pointing out that, in reality, what represents the far-left in this country actually is GG and the like. That is as far as the spectrum extends for all intents and purposes and thus Davis is really sort of correct.

No, stones needn't be cast. Not to start with anyway. But, as you and I and a few others have come to realize, "casting eyes" is completely insufficient if we want to marginalize the Lanny Davises of this world and bring about any fundamental change.

You keep saying we aren't "there yet" for direct action and that things need to get worse. The only thing I would point out is that that is very passive thinking that, in all likelihood, will end with stones being cast. It might not happen this year. With the dopey populace we have - those who believe that the extremely incremental, marginal "benefits" produced by Obama and the Democrats are making things truly better long term- it might not happen in the next few years. But given the way the establishment elite have decided they are going to play this, it is coming at some point.

It's peaceful direct action/civil disobedience now (near future) or longer suffering and stone throwing later. Why should we wait around for the worst case scenario, when we could attempt to tackle the problem now? Hell, why should we allow the establishment elite to dictate our lives one second more?

There is substantial debate over the role the Obama White House played in the apparent death of the "public option" -- did it happen against their wishes or with their blessing? -- but all one can do is guess at that question because, contrary to his crystal clear and oft-stated campaign pledge, the negotiations that lead to that collapse were completely secret. What one does know is that the pharmaceutical industry is so delighted with what they think will be the ultimate plan that they are spending vast sums of money to advocate for it, preceded by a secret White House deal with that same industry to ensure there are no government negotiations for better prices (a result that, when combined with mandates to buy health insurance, would vastly increase the profits of these industries).

Shocking.

As unpleasant as it is, that's why there's value in casting one's eyes on how Lanny Davis functions. -- GG

Casting eyes isn't going to do much.

I find it hilarious that Davis describes far-left extremists as those who make phone calls and write irritated emails and/or complaining blog posts. That describes the majority of the centrists found here..lol. GG and the incrementalist more-and-better-Democrats-for-change crowd. Those "casting eyes on how Lanny Davis functions."

Lanny Davis doesn't have the first fucking clue what a far-left extremist is. But, then again, perhaps he is correct. In the absence of a leftist movement that is willing to engage in a direct action campaign (or even potentially *gasp* cast stones) which would truly threaten him and his establishment cronies, those that "cast eyes" are the end of the spectrum for all intents and purposes - the "far-left."

Wipe the Jews from the land.

To demonstrate how we feel about tolerance and liberal values.

-- NP NP

Wipe the Arabs and the Persians from the land.

To demonstrate our (American and Israeli) exceptionalism and warmongering conservative values.

Steny Hoyer has been making similar statements in Israel. -- lysias

Look back a few posts. It has nothing to do with having the stones to take on the wingnuts. The Democrats aren't complaining because they agree with the wingnuts.

Please people, until we accept that, on the whole, there is no significant difference between the two heads of the establishment party, we will never be able to defeat them.

Please.

I think absolutely is of value for GG to write about the hypocrisy of the mouthbreathers and the media.

As Glenn likes to say what is "painfully obvious" is that there are two kinds of "criticism" of America--one acceptable, the other not--that can be uttered by Americans on foreign soil.

1) criticism aimed at RW ideology or policies that by definition is never done by a mouthbreather and when done by "teh left(ies)" is treasonous and unAmerican. --rrheard

And it will always be thus. Nothing Glenn Greenwald will write will ever change the minds of people like JITA, NOB, Shooter, Elephantisimo, and the wingnut politicians they support. Nor will it keep them from continuing to be the hypocrites that they are. So where is the value in it? The whole shebang is "painfully obvious." It's not like any of this is new. I guess I just don't see that much value in recording/documenting the obvious. After awhile it amounts to wasted energy. Energy that could be focused in other, more productive areas, no?

The loyal opposition always gets more time -- Old Joe

Pure fantasy.

A) On the whole, there was no real opposition to speak of from the Democrats and B) Even when there was, they were given far less time. Not to mention that those who were truly opposed were often given time just so they could be ridiculed by teh serious people.

Seriously Joe, check your propagandized brain. It needs an adjustment.