Ondelette,

Thanks for the tutorial. Lakoff I’m familiar with, Fauconnier not at all. The way you’ve stepped it out makes perfect sense to me. I don’t think you’re rambling – ‘course some might say, my sayin’ so is no endorsement.

This:

Hence Klein's constant recruiting of standard frames (Dems soft on security, partisanship ruining Washington,...) to write, whether or not they fit any facts. Up until someone like Glenn nails them, they are comfort food that sells magazines by convincing the reader that the reader is well informed since magically everything the reader has absorbed as true in the past turns out to be easily true in the present.

taken with Glenn’s last update, and shotgunfreude's insight, might be the truest, most dispiriting thing I’ve read all day. Then, I can only argue this fundamental betrayal ought to disqualify the press from the privilege it wants to claim.

Paul,

Okay, Hippies. Every time you’ve linked to the Merle Haggard piece, I’ve read it. Going on round 4, now, I think.

…A vague populist annoyance with big stores and big shots is one of the themes that have led Haggard to "change labels,"…, but Haggard has decided to support Hillary Clinton!? …"The thing that gets under my skin most about George W. is his intention to install fear in people,"… We're changing the Constitution out of fear…, but Klein rants on about the rights he firmly believes RESTORE affords to terrorists? There’s an inherent conflict there, isn’t there? And, is it Haggard’s conflict or Klein’s? Or, is that your point? The conflict doesn’t belong to Merle Haggard, the conflict is solely Klein’s?

Anyway. Thanks, guys. You’ve given me another way to look at it all. Having multiple lenses by which to evaluate what is, is helpful.

And, Bebop… I hear you. I respect. But, Grrrr.

Your work on this item and so many others is inspiring to me and many others. It's heartening to see that there are still those on the public stage capable of critical thought, research and insight. Maybe someday the mainstream press will go back to the kind of reporting this country desperately needs to keep the powers that be honest, but I doubt it.

I deeply wish I hadn't cancelled my Time subscription years ago so I could cancel it again.

This was a letter from Bebop on another GG thread today. After reading it, can you still tell me that Bebop isn’t needed and very relevant to what all of us strive to do on GG’s threads?

· AlLupin. Thanks. I wonder also?

Your name reminds me of a doused and saturated 'Nam veteran who is now deceased. I am glad your alive. Thanks for a memory.

The vet was in the First Air Cav. He had to wear dark shades, and a Ahab the Arab looking veil hanging over the back of his neck. A yellow construction hat shielded the summer sun. He'd worked construction work most of his life, and even wore long shirt sleeves if it was a fire-blaze consuming heat. The sensitive skin would blister. Agent Orange gave ya's blisters and sores in war.

It was not acne puberty.

Docs misdiagnosed diagnosed him and many others as one who was ill from Lupus. But he really was doused in war with Agent Orange. Monsanto etc., and other Wall Street money makers concocted a war's chemical soup.

It was doused-sprayed, and dumped from planes and helicopters. The nasty poison defoliated lush mountain tree canopies, and poisoned the food supply the rural peasant grew. Yuck. Who likes to eat poison Vinaigre on salad greens, a bowl of rice, and stir-fried duck egg, chicken loo minh? George W. Bush and Candie's pro-war team? I hope not. No.

His legs were swollen like the legendary gunslinger Dillinger. He joked he had Elephantitis. He teased he had a little pinkie. He said his wife, who stood by him all the years, could vouch he did not lie. I never asked.

The weekend before my 'comrade' died, he told me he was weary of suffering. The canned Budweiser beer was not quenching his thirst like it use to, and he'd upchuck from his his guts until he'd bleed. Pain was reaching the maximum endurance level. His wife and children gave him permission to die. He was okay and needed peace and rest.

This is all a true story. I remember Theresa Heinz Kerry visited the Martinsburg Public Hospital a few day previous to his death-- The weekend Dexter Lacey died at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Martinsburg West Virginia, I had teased to van-shop with him. The plan was to kidnap him from his death bed and go car-van-shopping.

The last of my visit-- Dexter teased he wanted to get a van with a wheel chair ramp, and build a small hut on some ocean front land in Nova Scotia. He said he knew a corn-mash Moon Shine recipe. He teased. Dexter blamed poor-health and partial blindness on some moonshine he shared with me years ago. I saved a small quart jar for years. The reason for his rot-gut health condition, Dexter Lacey "insisted" was a bad brew-batch. Humor? Ya's darn tooting.

I miss his spirit this damn rain morn.

Nature, Oh! Ah!

O,

Bless Old Dexter Lacey.

D.L., may ya's sleep well,

like a mad mallard duck. huh.

Well- I said before he croaked, "Dexter, be thankful. Ya's could be one of those returning Middle East soldiers. Some return to tell America of the Great War Success stories. Listen.

Dexter Lacey, howdy you like to return home with no arms, no legs, a jarred yellow jello brain, no legs, no eyes, and no wife to itch your big fat ear if you had a ear itch. Suppose you needed to blow your big nose? Count your blessings"

He never wore a frown.

He was always strong in spirit.

And now I grieve to remember Lies cut him down.

He smiled. The pro-war mongers are despicable beast.

-- bebop-o

Tuesday, November 27, 2007 03:20 AM