But I have my very serious doubts.

I think one of the most salient traits of the American mentality is the rock solid certitude Americans have about themselves - especially the right-wing - and it's only getting worse.

Just one example is our idea of Democracy and our noble mission to spread it across the world. Pretty much since the Spanish-American War, all we've have done is spread a really pernicious form of Capitalism, and supported really evil dictators in the noble cause of "Democracy" - and continue to delude ourselves right up to the present regarding this country's place in history.

I think Sarah Palin is just another example of the leftist feminist ideal being co-opted by reactionary right-wingers that Sue Faludi wrote so eloquently about over ten years ago (yes, I read Backlash). Palin: no stay at hope and bake cookies kind of mom she.

But I agree with Kos in that we must go three steps forward, two steps back, four steps forward, one step back, etc. in order to gain our left-wing victories. I see the fact that we are openly discussing issues like Gay liberation and marriage equality, and think nothing of a woman potentially becoming president (regardless of her politics) or the fact that we have an Afro-American Secretary of State as a real measure of our agenda's success.

It's sad that we may end up yet with an amendment which prevents us from freely burning the American flag for which that flag stands for.

Never mind. *blush*

A Palin in hand is better than two in the Bush.

John McCain apparently wanted Joe Lieberman as his running mate - regardless how you may feel about his politics - one would assume he was pretty "clean" in respects to any vetting issues. But no! Karl Rove wisely shot this down, 'cause Lieberman is a Jew, and hence a Jesus Killer!!!!

Right-wing ideologues, reactionaries and all the other fundie types are capable of rationalizing ANYTHING; that's their most salient attribute. And whatever they do, they have God's name to sign to it - and anyone else not of their ilk, they have Mr. Satan's name to sign.

Sorry. Sarah Palin? No vetting necessary.

Because the sad truth of the matter is that it's not the Bush administration, nor the venal corporatists and their ugly functionaries that are to blame, it's the American electorate. It's especially the American electorate that elects to vote by not voting at all. (Almost 50 percent - correct me if I'm wrong.) That's right: don't vote and you're voting anyway; by giving you're vote away through negation, or at least a portion of it, to someone else who may not have your interests at heart.

With all due respect, how can one expect Americans to understand - let alone care - about acronyms like PSI and IRRF and SIG, if they can't do the simple math on mortgage contracts.

I've come to the sad conclusion that this country's citizens do not deserve the country they live in.

Exactly!!

People, unfortunately, are like little puppies who have just done a no-no on the rug: you have to rub their noses in their inconsistencies and give them a loud painless whack with a rolled up newspaper until the lights come on.

Sadly, America's newspapers - and the rest of the media - are no longer available to do any whacking - they have become part of the problem.

Those sentiments are nice. But honestly, I don't think anyone here is picking on Palin's daughter or her family. The issue here is what seems to be at issue with right-wingers in general: they use both their external sphincters to communicate their wacky ideas.

My theory is the that discontinuity between the old and the new testament in the Bible seems encourage this problem with the fundie set.

Just a theory.

Leave Bristol ALONE!!!! *sob*

If you're going to be poor, make sure you live in a good climate.

I have friend who lives in ugly San Fernando valley. Last time I saw him he - with his nose stuck up in the air - said: oh, you don't do much traveling, do you? I bit my tongue and kept my trap shut.

I don't have a car because I don't need one; I pay around $15 for my PG&E bill; My job is a fifteen minute walk from my doorstep; Golden Gate Park is 5 minute walk from my doorstep; I live in possibly the most beautiful city in the world. I do pay over a third of my net income on small but very attractive and nicely appointed studio - big deal. I pay off my two credit cards every month and have absolutely no debts. *neener-neener-neener*

Wealth, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

Thorstein Veblen's 'Theory of The Leisure Class' should be required reading for anyone graduating high school... Suckers!!

P.S. If I am ever forced to leave OZ, it will be a moment too soon.

Biggest cash crop in California. Maybe that's why we're not in a full blown recession? And I'm not even going to mention the other illicit substances that are popular with ALL political spectra.

Once upon a time those levees were probably adequate, but with the erosion of the delta which has occurred over the past few decades - an nanosecond in geological time - they will probably fail (please, may I be wrong). But, this is indicative of a larger failure, just look at the Sacramento valley.

Interestingly, I just finished reading Joan Didion's 'Slouching Towards Bethlehem'. There's an essay inside called 'On Going Home'(Sacramento is Didion's hometown) where she discusses the worry and acceptance of the fickleness of the levees surrounding Sacramento. Um... We're talking about fifty year ago. Needless to say, the demography of the area is a bit different now.

Maybe it's time to start really doing something about it now. Why does it always have to be penny wise pound foolish?