Letters to the Editor
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It wasn't really overnight; it just seemed that way
How come the neocons could change course by issuing a command, "hard right rudder," and have the changes occur almost immediately. (or so it seemed to me)
The right wing has been working on this course change for over 50 years by setting up a formidable support apparatus comprising well-funded think tanks, lobbying entities, PACs, court appointments, grassroots local election assistance, and media personalities which liberals have not matched. With that apparatus in place, it was easy to exploit the placement (not election!) of a Republican in the Oval Office. We are really only now beginning to effectively develop the kind of long-term, far-ranging network of resources needed to counter and overcome the reactionary onslaught of the past half-century. There is much more work ahead.
My two cents (not that you asked me!)
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I realize that it's late in this discussion
but I just want to say "Thanks" to Glenn and Kovie (and a special shoutout to Gordon at 2:37 p-m Thursday). I'm an Air Force retiree, a lifelong Democrat and currently unemployed. Recent events/revelations have often led me to ask "Why do I bother?" I call/write/email my senators and congressman, but the scene doesn't change. (And I have a couple of good ones, Sen. Boxer and Rep. Henry Waxman!) The depression hits even when I'm not thinking about not having a fulltime job since April.
But, and this is a big one, just when I think it's time to toss in the towel, especially after reading one of Glenn's recent columns about Blackwater, the RWNM's use of the term "Nazi" and now the newest revelations from the NYT, I get re-inspired by people like Kovie and Gordon and many others (including Glenn himself).
No, change will not come overnight. The Right Wing Bloviators and the Corporate Media have a lot of power. But I won't quit. I refuse to believe that the American people will continue to accept the lies, the corruption and the Fear Agenda of these thugs. I will keep on keeping on because what's at stake is worth it. We can do this it. It takes courage, determination, and time.
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The Same Strategy
IMHO, FWIW, and into the electronic void, the way to reverse course as quickly as possible is to use the same strategy as what got us going this way in the first place. While I appreciate the ideas of protest enumerated here, they all fail in my estimation, due to the likely adoption by only those currently within the choir.
A fundamental precept of marketing is that word-of-mouth marketing only works within a segment whose members reference each other.
The road taken by Bush is littered with discarded, old-school conservatives who were unwilling to subjugate their principles to the Bush Administration onslaught. Brief resurgence of Conservatism creep up and then dissipate. Some have gone Public, others seem to have disappeared, hopelessly hoping that this too shall pass. Baker, Schultz, Will, Powell, Dean, Comey, O'Neil, etc., etc.
We need to form a "bi-partisan" organization that is specifically targeted at restoring the Constitution. It can't be "liberal." It can't be MoveOn. It can't confuse the issue with healthcare for children. It needs to reach out and empower those on the right who disagree with Bush policies. Hell, if that were the case, even Shudder242 and Nebakanezer would be on board.
The MSM will listen to that. The people will listen to that. IMO. FWIW. 01010101010010110
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Perhaps it's Time Your Energies Were Redirected
I don't think there is anybody out there left of center, who has been paying any attention at all politically, that is not fighting this overwhelming compulsion towards defeatism. I certainly am. I don't want to be, but I am, none the less-- in spades. Email traffic amongst my politically aware friends, has dropped to nil. It feels as though nobody knows which way to go. What direction holds the path to cutting out this rot and healing the damage?
All the traditional mechanisms of political self-correction that we learned about in school, and saw-- all told-- functioning rather effectively during our lifetimes, appear to have completely vaporized in 7 short years. And you have articulated this process of vaporization to us so well that we are simply left stunned.
Maybe, to help your hapless readers break this spell, you should focus some of your energies on illuminating for us what paths of political course correction remain. I remember in the movie Apollo 13 the character of Gene Kranz, played by Ed Harris, asks the question "lets look at this problem from a viewpoint of status. Tell me what we have on the spacecraft that works"
Maybe, your readers need to start developing a sense of what still works.
Christopher C. Mills
Boulder, Colorado
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Why do we/tether-thee love this blog?
I've no ideation; and I say, 'No drink frothy White Goose seasonal ail and post about pumpkin hops.
O, why not sing? Heads, shoulders knees and toes- 3 X's. heads shoulder knees and toes: Or, let's all go fly a kite, high as the highest height, and all assure the Goop's reign goes into the cosmic shore, up into the cosmic sphere, or into the the celestial atmosphere--/ Yikes!
O, let's all go fly a kite! Get them out of here...O...then we non-neocon's can experience a collective...Yippee!
O, or will we together can sing: head shoulders knees and toes, heads shoulders knees and toes- Knees & Toes! Or sing.
O, if your not a neocon, and you know your doomed, Ute there is always zucchini...SO, let's all say, "Amen!"...OR:
O, how about: we all wear a banana, in the pajamas, and be a GOP...Or....O, what? Or maybe we can chase a Teddy Bear with no underwear- Yikes !
But- do no Fear a Lady in a zucchini-beckoning. For some delicious lady in a green Zucchini, a Lady in a bikini is coming to the Slalom-
Or, if no- sat, Wiggly-Woo! Oh, put your right front foot in and shake it all about...O, do the hokey-poky- is this, or that, what it is all about? What is America all about? O, shake the right butt all about...O, Hokey poky...o...ya-hoop and stomp.
Go GOP Ta's hell.
The only way to assuage this quarrel, IMHO, is to get the GOP mentality out of town. What a profusion, if not gloom, if more of this daily idiocy!
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Oh- I'll resent This tomorrow- America is in trouble. Where will ya's find Americans to pick 10.000 pounds of apples today? I fear America doesn't know what a turnip looks like? Let's assuage our 21st day quarrels. We are in much trouble...darn shootin'... I agree. I need to cut Zoe's...
I'll regret this expression tomorrow? In ten-thousand years from now it won't matter?
I believe, somber or sober, let's express our Self.