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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
You've spurred me on--I'm going to try finding that speech. I recall it being prime-time, national, perhaps even at a Democratic convention? Anyway, he fairly well debunked the myth that "all welfare recipients are evil lazy people" and made the point that abuse of the system is grossly exaggerated.
Mario was the real thing, I agree. (Though I'm sure we'd have some dissenters, of course.) I was wanting him for President back then, but I give him credit--he probably didn't want the freakin' headache of that job!
I haven't followed Andrew's career closely by any means; just seems that when I do hear of him, he's doing some good. I didn't know about the capital punishment stance. I'm with you, against that. Maybe new thinking on his part now...? Maybe not. No perfect packages, I guess.
After the past eight years, I wouldn't even extend to my own Aunt Klytie the "benefit of the doubt."
And if he picks somebody else, THAT'S the right choice!
We disagree on a great many things, but I definitely agree with you on Krugman. I don't think Obama will do it however, but pissing off Goldman-Sachs seems like a great idea to me.
I am infuriated that we gave all that money -- Yes, I call it a BAILOUT to investment bankers with no oversight mechanism in place to make sure that the money actually went to lending.
Rise 'o rise Hillary
Like a lump of yellowing yeast
Brandish your hickory switch
And yoke the whole Mid-East...
I feel my paranoia returning. Perhaps my friends who convinced me to cast my vote for Obama/Biden rather than for the Greens can convince me that I don't need to feel like a traitor for four more years.
I supported Obama during the primary since I felt that Clinton was too 'establishment.' After the primary, and Obama's sharp turn to the right, I found Cynthia McKinney, whose Green platform overlapped substantially with the Libertarians. Last minute, deferring to friends, and living in Florida, I voted for Obama. Please help!
If President Obama plans to hire the Clinton administration, why didn't we elect the real thing? The Clinton administration looks really good when looking back over the past eight years. A more rational look might not be so kind.
The Empire did just fine under W. J. Clinton. Contrary to some of the conversations Bush Elder had with Boris Yeltsin, Clinton's regime had no problem militarizing the vacuum left by the collapse of the Soviet Union. Bombs rained in Iraq and the Balkans, not to mention the aspirin factory in the Sudan. The architect, Madeline “if we got it let's use it” Albright, is back. Zbigniew Brzezinski the architect of the destruction of Afghanistan has been resurrected. Will the Obama “anti terrorist” team invade “slam some crappy little country against the wall” just to show the neocons that he hasn't strayed too far? Trinidad-Tobago might work here: I understand they have some tar pits that shouldn't fall into the hands of somebody or other.
Perhaps I'm too harsh. Perhaps a Secretary of State Clinton could work toward a foreign policy that won't necessitate a new war as soon as we can rebuild a military to wage one. Perhaps President Obama, with Rahm Emannual a combat veteran of the Israeli Army at his side, could finally demand that the Israeli government finally adhere to some of the UN demands. Please help me believe that maybe, just maybe, backstage, behind the hacks and vested interests, there might be some of the people we hoped would bring some really new ideas.
I came up with two keynote Democratic convention addresses by Cuomo. I still know there's a speech I heard which gave more info/stats toward welfare programs (that's just my own grrrr over lost brain cells over the years; obviously welfare is not the major issue of the day). As he was my governor for quite some time, I'm probably recalling a more local/regional speech. Still, these keynotes are (IMO) worth revisiting and rather interesting in light of our current political state and president-elect and--the Clintons! I also added a URL with some pithy quotes.
Mario Cuomo--1984 Democratic National Convention Keynote Address (URL includes audio and video)
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mariocuomo1984dnc.htm
Mario Cuomo speaks at the Democratic National Convention, August 27, 1996
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/convention96/floor_speeches/cuomo.html
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mario_cuomo.html
Obama says, "Drink your Kool-Aid, Joan."...and because Obama says it, she drinks it. All of it. Gulping it down. To the last drop. Good girl...cuz Obama says so...that makes it right.
Joan...you weren't just writing a satire, were you? Ha ha ha...it sounds a lot like that's what you were doing there...ha ha ha.
*MoodyRiver*
Let us not forget that before Madeline Uptight there was Warren "wishy washy" Christopher.
I voted for change, not for the same cast of clods with different names.
Again, good points. Basically, what needs to change is the political climate where such language, whether hateful or merely overheated, is viewed as effective rhetoric for a political candidate to employ. In other words, what we gotta work on is this culture where someone can say some of the crap that has been said because they think it's a good idea to do so. As you and I both know, that will take time and patience in educating the public. I'll be honest; I had the typical American ignorance about the Middle East in general, and the Israeli-Palestinean conflict in particular, until 9/11 and my subsequent befriending of a wonderful and knowledgeable Bangladeshi gentleman (and I use "gentleman" in a literal sense) who patiently and generously educated me on the true nature of the Palestinean issue. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to have been exposed to him and people of other cultures whom have taught me not to generalize and demonize people.
My hope, and it is perhaps a naive one, is that the election of Obama will serve to remind those abroad that Americans, while sometimes ignorant, are well-intentioned, and, at heart, a good people. On our end, my hope is that as our nation becomes smaller, more people will have the chance that I've had to interact with those who were born in other lands, but whom, in many ways are what America is truly all about.
Forgive my Kumbaya moment there :)
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Once seen as a lunatic fringe, reactionary anti-women groups are courting respectability
Salon headlines in your mailbox
