The reality that people in the 21st century would have the unmitigated gall to yell racial slurs at American hero Rep. John Lewis sickens me to my core, but it also breaks my heart. The people who did it are worse than un-American. They’re everything this country fights against. From CNN:
“I haven’t seen heard anything like this in more than 40 years, maybe 45.” Lewis said. “Since the march from Selma to Montgomery really.”
“Yeah, but it’s okay,” Lewis added. “I’ve faced this before. So, it reminded me of the 60′s. There’s a lot of downright hate and anger and people are just being downright mean.”
It’s repellent that Mr. Lewis had to go through any amount of revisiting of what happened to him so long ago.
Back in 1965, John Lewis was part of “Bloody Sunday,” a day when marchers crossed the Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama only to be greeted by Alabama State Troopers and other white lawmen who attacked the marchers violently with billy clubs and tear gas. Lewis was beaten almost to death that day. It happened 45 years ago, two Sundays ago, an historic event Mr. Lewis commemorated by visiting Pettus Bridge.
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver had the “n” yelled at him as well on Saturday, with Rep. Barney Frank hearing “homo” from someone in the crowd, while a CNN producer heard “faggot” yelled at him.
What we are witnessing is an unraveling. How far it will go no one yet knows.
“I think The Republicans have a level of energy but inside that energy they have their own problem and fissures. They’re basically at the behest of a fringe group that’s taken control of their own party and their own leaders are scared of it.” – Rahm Emanuel on “60 Minutes” (video via HuffPost)
With the deal nearly done it is no surprise that the mask comes off the T.E.A. Party Patriots. At first it was the none-too-subtle complaint about illegal aliens at the beginning of the debate. Never mind E.R. can not deny emergency services to anyone, including undocumenteds. But as barely sub rosa bigotry it got the the Republican base fired up.
The undercurrent to Health Care reform opposition from the right has always been resentment of aid given to the poor (read minorities) Wrong wingers have always have had a thing about their money being “stolen” from them to support the urban (non-white) poor.
Again with the deal near done, only the hardcore fringe elements remain out protesting. These are people with, to put it mildly, issues. They are the least politically correct personalities of the T.E.A. movement; a movement that was always abrasive to say the least.
What is a shame is that these people were taken so seriously for so long. The bigotry and racism were never that far from the service. But the Moron Media needs visuals, it needs conflict, to grab eyeballs. The longer the T.E.A. movement is splashed across the screen, the longer they can keep the argy-bargy going, the better the ad rates. Follow the money. It’s nothing personal, it’s definitely not a conspiracy, but it is business.
Keep your eyes peeled gentle readers, the T.E.A. Party is not dead by a long shot. Immigration reform is coming up to the front burner. Tom Tancredo come on down!!
There can be no doubt about the bigotry and racism, but also the class divide that the health care bill is unleashing. Today’s unspeakable behavior is just stunning in the 21st century.
But there are other dangerous elements that fuel a larger majority who are not racist. The economic cliff many Americans stand on is unleashing an ugliness that’s being exploited by right-wing radio.
I had an email conversation with someone I know inside the Dem Party about how unhinged right-wing radio was on Friday. I’ve been following them for 20 years, but I’ve never heard Rush so unhinged. Sean Hannity went on a “swamp” tirade as well, with Hannity’s mini-me Mark Levine parroting Hannity, as usual. I tweeted about Rush and Sean’s shows.
People have been revved up to truly fear for their very economic safety, but also that of this country.
Something is unraveling, today’s spectacle fueled by racism and bigotry, but there’s more out there that’s not and the fury is just as real
Thanks Taylor for pointing out that racism is not the only problem. The problem is much, much larger than that and I think the Dems are making a huge mistake making it soley about racism. This has been my fear that Obama has been so weak that we are heading towards facism with Rush, Hannity et al. leading the way. There are a lot of desperate people out there that the Dems are not addressing and are falling for Rush and Hannity because they think they are on their side when in realilty they arent.
I completely agree Ga6thDem.Like I have said before the american people are on their own. No one is representing them. It is dawning on everyone that this is true. of course this creates fear. History has shown us where that can lead.
I disagree Ms. Marsh. To me it just sems like the mask has finally been tossed aside by the repugnantklan and their true voting base is out there in full voice. Every single asspect of the economy being exploited by the scum getting rich off of the stupidity of the repug/teabagger base comes around to race/minority/urban/undocumented whatever you want to call it,RACE.
The few, and they are INCREDIBLY few minority and gay wingnuts are just self destructive/total self centered sell outs hoping to get theirs by turning on everyone else.
The Dems just want to give what’s MINE to them fill in the blank.
This is a real test of whether we can survive as the nation we think we are. Will people recoil in disgust and horror from these hatemongers or line up to follow mob.
Did they recoil in horror at the unmitigated misogny during the primary? On either side? Where were the women’s groups? Where are they now with the Spupak language and the Presidential Statement looming? Have any of them stood on principle or just tried to side with power?
There certainly was little or no recoil against the misogyny.
Many seemeed to love it. (“I got ninety-nine problems but the bitch ain’t one.”)
The bitch could turn out to be karma.
and “bros before hos”. Wonder what that meant.
Excellent point, LL. As bad as the current round of racism is (and it is very bad), the frequent use of misogny during the 2008 election cycle was just as bad. In the last few days, NOW has spoken out against Stupak’s efforts. O’Neil is not Gandy, and though I wish they would do much more, at least it’s a bit better than it was. A bit.
I’ll just add that it’s equally as bad when the LGBT communities and the “illegals” (largely based in racism) are the target.
People have lost their jobs and there are no jobs to be had. So many jobs have now been out sourced. I hear people screaming about big business taking jobs over seas because labor is cheaper. I went looking for a piece of furniture today at a department store. None of what I was looking at was made in America. I ended up going to a small business who makes furniture here in America. It was a bit more expensive but it was beautifully made and unique. People know the government bailed out the financial industry because “it was too big to fail.” I have friends who have lost their business; they received no help from the government to save their business. I guess they weren’t big to get help from the government. Every where I look I see the small businesses I have know for the past twenty-five years going belly up.
Back in the fifties and sixties the NY Times “want ads” were full of jobs. You could walk into a business and get hired the same or next day. Now you go through the internet to apply. And you don’t even know if your application is being looked at.
When the economy goes sour people become ugly and all I hear right now is ugly. But there is no excuse for anyone verbally abusing John Lewis, Emanuel Cleaver or Barney Frank. I’m afraid the people in this country are losing their humanity. I’m very afraid for this country and I fear the possibility of violence.
I think it is almost certain.
Taylor Marsh says:
21 March 2010 at 1:50 am
Hi Taylor,
I listen to Hannity, Mark Levin, and Rush Limbaugh (It’s amazing I haven’t committed suicide yet) and they have been playin up this economic “redistribution of wealth” bit since before President Obama took the oath of office. Time and time again its like a concerted effort on the part of all three of these “men” (And I use the term lightly) that the government is going to take your money and hand it out to the welfare queens in harlem who don’t want to work and now they get to have health care. Thats how they come off every show. They encourage these teabaggers (Who aren’t bright enough to know that they may someday need health care or have someone in their family with a pre-existing condition who can’t get health care) to just say NO to everything simply because they think that if things are bad enough they can regain congress. The teabaggers are starting to get the Press they deserve now…I wonder if Sarah Palin will be at the next rally in which they are screaming racial slurs? Hopefully we can get this health care bill thru so that these teabaggers can get the mental help they so obviosuly can’t afford.
This health bill won’t get them mental health help unfortunately. This bill helps very few people and hurts more people than it helps.
I couldn’t make the link work; hope you don’t mind the cut and paste of the pdf. There was some mental health help in TARP that went into effect January 2010:
MENTAL HEALTH INSURANCE EQUITY
After a complicated back and forth between the House and Senate this passed as part
of TARP (the big 700 billion bill passed near the end of the session) and signed by
President Bush. The key elements of the final law are as follows:
• Applies mental health parity provisions to all group health plans for employers
larger than 50 employees. (applies to Medicare also)
• Adds on to the 1996 parity law standard for annual and lifetime dollar limits.
Expands definition of mental health to include substance use disorders.
• Allows insurance companies to determine which mental illnesses they cover.
This was a point of difference between the House and Senate bills, where the
House bill required coverage for all mental illnesses.
• Defers to HIPA preemption standard, thus forming the floor and not preempting
more restrictive state mental health parity laws.
• Requires a plan to provide parity out-of-network mental health and substance
abuse benefits if it provides out-of-network medical and surgical benefits. This
was a point of difference between the House and Senate bills, where the Senate
bill did not require out-of-network mental health or substance abuse benefits but
requires parity if a plan chooses to provide these benefits.
• Requires plan administrator to make information about medical necessity
requirements and any denial available to any current or potential participant,
beneficiary, or contracted provider.
• Allows health plans that experience a cost increase of at least 1% (2% in the first
year of this Act) as a result of complying with this Act to be exempt from parity
requirements for one year.
• Goes into effect in January 2010
And while I’m still up what is that 16 year old boy, who told “all black people to leave the store” at WalMarts, being taught at home? I don’t accept that it was just a prank. It was hurtful, insulting and derogatory. Where did he even get the idea that he could do something like that?
Go to blackagendareport and read about all the blatent racism being practiced at the University of CA in San Diego or google their campass newspaper…unbelievable.
How sad and ugly its getting out there. I love when people protest, its what makes our country great but I don’t like people screaming out racial slurs and gay slurs at people. I am scared just like other people that our government is not listening to us but don’t degrade people and call them names. I have been called names before like many others and it hurts, thats why I am against it. I am sure not all tea party people are saying these things and that they are scared because of taxes and other things but I hope that other people in the crowd call the others out on it. The name calling is getting worse both on the right and left thats why I don’t listen to either right-wing or left-wing talk radio. I don’t like it when people are calling Rep John Lewis racist names and when people are using gay slurs against Rep. Barney Frank its not right and it needs to stop. I also don’t like it when women such as SOS Hillary Clinton and former Gov and vice presidental candidate Sarah Palin are called sexist names and when one side is calling the other stupid or un-educated because they don’t agree with someones view. This has got to stop and I will call out both sides when they do these sort of things. I really hope things get better but I am not liking what I am seeing and hearing !!
Exactly. Whether based on race, gender, sexual orientation or whatever, and whether from right or left, degrading comments and name calling do harm. And they certainly do nothing constructive toward addressing very real concerns and problems.
i actually gasp saw this sh-t reported on cnn healiner primetime! they covered what frank was called and rep lewis. it was horrid. at some point i fear people are going to get killed- wait we have already seen a suicide bomber go into the irs bldg etc.. i worry for the safety of our pols these days. these tea folks have signs saying they will solve our probelms with guns very soon. scary. im realy worried. and if these people think that shoveling millions into private insruance is socialism then our education system has completely failed!
I heard someone on C-span call in and say we fought wars against socialism!!!
Tells alot about the general inteligence of your average teabagger don’t it.
“we fought wars against socialism”
Can these morons GET any stupider?
It’s a downward spiral. Simple put. It’s not the first time nor will it be the last.
Fairmindedindependant and Jane Austen has it just about right. In these times, in this economic uncertainty and with this political divide, this level of immaturity, this media, a certain environment is set.
An environment that more resembles a playground spat in grade school.
‘Your a booger brain’ is responded by ‘Your a dork’. Not much of a difference; except, on the playground there is someone to put a stop to it. With adults, there is no one.
Reviewing any comment section, on any website that covers politics (whether liberal, conservative, or just a MSM news website) the insults are flying.
Neither side can claim purity. Probably while people are ‘opting out’ and going Independent.
As someone who’s lived in the south most of my life i have to tell you that the GOP has been coddling these people and legitimizing these mindsets for quite a while now. With the current economic situation it’s no surprise this has all exploded. We’re looking at a tinderbox in this country.
Morning to all of my fellow Marshians.
One comment about the MSM – they are exacerbating this fear and ugliness. They could actually help keep the ugly rhetoric to a minimum by changing the tone of their broadcasts. I feel sometimes that they actually do it deliberately so they can keep reporting on the dissension among the people of this country and continue to have “stories to report” just to keep their ratings up. Just once I’d like to hear someone in the MSM say to us that the ugly rhetoric must stop; that it’s destroying the fabric of this country; and that if it continues we may not have a country that is free and democratic.
Of course, I know that isn’t going to happen because you have those “ugly talking heads,” especially on Fox cable who love to rile up the people. I can’t listen to anything anymore on radio or TV, simply because it upsets me to a point that it makes me physically and emotionally ill. I have too many memories of the “ugly” in this country. Once upon a time I believed this country was on its way to embracing those principles laid down in the Constitution. Now I’m terrified about the direction this country is taking.
Pat Schroeder, Congresswoman from CO who ran for President in 1984 (?) said and I am paraphrasing her comment, “that if the apple is rotten at its core, it doesn’t matter how shiny it is on the outside.” I think it was Abraham Lincoln, when he was chosen as the Republican Senatorial candidate to run against the Democratic Party’s candidate, Stephen A. Douglas, who said “a house divided cannot stand.” He was talking about slavery in this respect but I think his words are just as meaningful today when it comes to what is happening in this country.. And what I fear most for this country is that if we cannot come together in this country no amount of money we spend on defense will keep us safe. We will destroy ourselves.
“This bill helps very few people and hurts more people than it helps.”
Okay — I’m getting a little tired of this Rightwing Bullshit.
Please explain to me which segment of this is “Bad”;
(and this is just the benefits in the First Year) __
* Eliminating Caps *
No insurance company will be able to
place a LIMIT on how much they will cover
* Pre-Existing Conditions *
Five BILLION$ in immediate support for people
with pre-existing conditions – and NO
Exclusions ever again for CHILDREN with such
* Donut Hole assistance *
$250 recovery on this prescription gap for seniors
* Dependant Children *
Kids will be able to be included on
their parents insurance – until they are 26 !
* Small Business Tax Credit *
Write-offs up to FIFTY percent of given premiums
* Preventive Care *
New policies must pay for ‘Preventive’ Care
* Independent ‘Appeals’ process *
Those who feel they’ve been treated unfairly
will now have an independent board to
hear them out and make a judgement
You are leaving out one very important point – you can’t actually get the care unless you have a doctor or hospital that is willing to take you.
Sorry. That comment made no sense whatsoever. Maybe you can clarify it.
The point is that none of your points matter if you don’t actually have a doctor or a hospital that will supply you with the care you “have” under this bill. You can get emergency care – a broken arm for example at the emergency room regardless of insurance but if you have cancer or think you have cancer and want to get treated you have to have a doctor – explain to me how doctors will agree to take new patients under this bill. I don’t thnk cancer gets classified as an emergency to anyone except for the person that has it. Many Doctors now won’t take any new patients on Medicare due to reimbursements not covering their costs- why would they take patients under this bill? Several Doctors I know have reviewed their payments from insurance companies and have decided not to take patients with those insurance policies. Having an insurance policy does not guarantee you a doctor or a hospital. What you end up with is a payment for a service that you don’t have access to.
With the preexisting conditions you are going to be thrown into a high risk pool where ther premiums are very expensive. So while technically you can’t be denied coverage for a preexisting condition in reality the insurance companies can make the premiums $5000 a month or pick a number that’s out of the reach of the budgets of middle class americans.
The insurance companies can still refuse to pay any claim. That has not changed with the caps.
The donut hole is currently $2500 and frankly instead of trying to tinker with this they should have just redone it. This type of thing can be gone in the next budget.
Only new policies will cover preventative care. The existing ones will not
Children being covered until they are 26? What’s the big deal about that? So when they’re 27 they wont have coverage any longer?
Small businesses can’t afford the preimums in the first place so a tax credit does no good.
There’s already an appeals process through both the insurance companies and the insurance commissioner that is ELECTED by the people of the state.
Tell me why a bill that forces people to buy a defective product is a good thing.
Ga6thDem –
Your concerns are legitimate –
But can you spell “S-T-A-R-T” ?
The Clintons FAILED at any kind of “Start”.
Obama will not.
Geez. Give a little credit when credit is due.
Hope the koolaid you drank will take care of all your medical problems because the only thing this “START” will do is collect money from everyone and deliver no care.
SueTexas – I carefully listed the ‘facts’ of the benefits in just the first year. Those aren’t Koolaid – except perhaps to the rightwing who can’t face facts. When you can act like an adult and dispute those facts (if you can) – please come back.
Until then – STFU
It’s not a start. I would buy that if the mandates were taken out but they aren’t. This bill is worse than doing nothing. It hurts the majority of Americans. And if all you’re about is pushing this piece of crap through so you can say Obama did something that Bill didnt well, that’s pretty pathetic. This is going to hurt Obama more than failing health care hurt Bill. Bill survived it failing but Obama won’t survive it’s passing because the voters have already said tehy DONT WANT IT. Nobody wants it except teh Obama must pass something anything even crap crowd.
Obama is certainly being a historic president. He is managing to set back race relations to the 1950′s, the banking industry and job market to the 1930′s and the right’s of women to the 1940′s. Soon he will set healthcare back to the 1900′s. Oh – I forgot his Justice Department continues to reset the loss of personal freedom back to the W. Bush Presidency as well as the never-ending war loop. I never thought he would be a good president but I never dreamed he would be such a bad president. I guess I was “hoping” to survive four years of mediocracy. I think the passage of the healthcare (gag) bill will destroy the Democrats for more then a decade.
SueTexas – you remind me of the 7 foot Texan who died. They gave him an enema and buried him in a shoebox.
The election of Obama allowed the KKK a voice again (“You’ve got your Black president – so now we can come out of the closet !”)
Obama’s election didn’t “set back race relations to the 1950’s”. It simply revealed the racists still live. To blame THAT on him – is at least ridiculous – if not utterly insane.
SueTexas – please clarify your comment that “He is managing to set back race relations to the 1950’s.” Just what do you mean by this? Is it because a black man was elected President? I don’t see your argument as making sense. How exactly is he setting back race relations to the 1950s?
Thank you, Jane Austen.
I was beginning to think I’d somehow transported to FoxNews.com LOL
Jane,
Race relations to me are impacted by three key factors – education, economics and culture. Some would say that education and culture are the same – I would say that culture can be impacted by education but first there has to be a desire to be educated and sadly that is not always there even when there is an opportunity to be educated. I don’t know how we can overcome some of the severe culture issues related to race – especially when you see globally how hard it is to over come deep rooted racial prejudices. I don’t fault Obama for cultural failures – I do for he actions on education and economics. While I won’t cite specific articles on either education of non-white americans or economics of non-white americans in this reply (I can get them and no they are not from Fox news) what I have read in books and articles leads me to believe we are regressing in both these areas. The number of blacks who fail to complete high school is increasing by all accounts that I read. The number of blacks who do not have jobs is increasing by all accounts that I read. The number of blacks that are in jail is increasing. All of these to me indicate we are regressing on race relations – I don’t think Obama is to blame for all of these ills but he has done nothing to change these facotrs that in my mind affect race relations. I do not see any activity he is working on that will do anything but cause these to continue to worsen. Even if he does nothing these will get worse – how can relations do anything but regress if a sizable part of your population is undeducated, unemployed and in jail. Except for the last part – isn’t that the way it was in the 50′s? When the civil rights laws gave greater access to education for blacks the made great progress – where are the education advancements now. Where are the jobs? The Black caucus in Congress has been trying to get attention focused on employement but all we get is bank bailouts. This is why I say race relations are going back to the 50′s.
Not withstanding the truth of what you cite.It seems to me that the civil rights laws gave rise to an AA elite who are now doing very well. The same with women. The problem is poverty. It has only increased. When jobs are scarce when resources are scarce people break down into tribes. Mistrust of the “other” becomes paramount.
There will always be people who are not going to excell academically there used to be jobs for them,now there are not.
And even I wouldn’t think he could have undone all the Bush economic mess in a year. Anybody that frequents this blog knows that I am no Obambot – but hold him accountable for what HE has done wrong – like mucking up health care.
Tavis Smiley has been hitting Obama hard, as have others in the black community, for the lack of focus on jobs and economic conditions for African Americans.
It is a real issue that isn’t being focused on, partially because most people get their news from cable where AFrican American talking heads are scarce and so are the topics that impact that community. CNN has done several programs on race, including on economics, but their ratings are dismal compared to Fox.
“SueTexas says:
21 March 2010 at 9:18 am”
KOOL! Apparently we have our own personal talkin point spewing, heaf up their ass(well they DO claim to be from Texas) TEABAGGER!!!
How quaint!
Republican representative BONER (who can’t even pronounce his own last name correctly) claims that passage of this bill is Amageddon ! It’s the end of the World! The SKY is FALLING!
He’s quite correct – in a way.
Couple this historic passage, with the recent ‘splits’ (Tea-Baggers) in the right wing ? – and this will definitely be the end of the narrow-minded Republican nutcases. And as Bill Maher would say, “It couldn’t happen quick enough.”
Rush Limbaugh and his 25% may finally fade into the sunset.
pmichael, I say we take up a collection, maybe even start a politicol lobbying firm to collect donations to pay limpwithnoballs airfare, FIRST CLASS, to CostaRico! If the bloated bag of puss renigs on his stateted intent the money can be used to either make spots pointing out repug/teabagger hipocracy or just to hound limpwithnoballs. Wadda ya think?
He’s already *cowered* away from that claim, Sec. But in some ways, we need that ‘Grand Marshall’ of the white-sheet Right. It makes the ‘followers’ easier to identify.
pmichael says:
21 March 2010 at 9:16 am
I agree with you that these are good things. I think there were mistakes made from the get go that prevented a better bill from happening, but this is a start. I’m convinced we need this comprehensive start, however imperfect. I hope the bill will grow and get fixed along the way. I am really in disagreement with the Stupak language, however, hoping it doesn’t make its way forward.
Okay, I know this is offensive to some _
But it’s time to just put it out there _
EVERY time you hear the phrase “MY country” ? – or the concept of “Take Back MY(‘our’) country!” – ??
This needs to be Openly Identified as a ‘wish’ to return to the days when we could watch TV for hours without seeing a Black person (unless he/she was the butler[slave] or maid – see Jack Benny’s Rochester). Just go back to the TV shows of the 1950′s and you will quickly see the “My Country” they (sickenly) shed tears to return to. Just watch the ‘Tea-Bagger’ marches – and you will witness the ‘Petticoat Junction’ they are so fond of – when them ‘colored people’ knew their place!.
SueTexas, you are a *fool* if you think these people are somehow the fault of Obama. His election simply – somehow – gave them the excuse to raise their ugly, hateful heads again.
And the first step toward curing an “infection” – is exposing it.
Hopefully —- the ‘children’ of such people are totally ashamed.
Okay. I’m done.
The TM bitchfest can continue __
Sadly pmichael the children of these people are commandering intercom systems in Walmart stores and ordering all black people out.
Yeah, no sh*t, Lake Lady.
We knew these people existed. But some of us were hoping they would quietly go away.
It’s going to take a while, I guess.
They have to have someone to blame for their fear.I don’t know the stats but I would guess that there are more poor whites than minorities.If not now then in the immediate future.It’s tribalism. Our great experiment cannot work in this environment when no leaders are doing the right thing for the whole,when all leaders of all institutions are serving only their our narrow interests.
Thank you Lynnette.
It IS “progress” – though it may be far from perfect.
As I’ve previously pointed out – the (famous) ’64 Civil Rights Bill was preceded by a ‘beginning’ in 1957.
We need this ‘beginning’.
Some people just don’t get that.
and BTW, some people – in charge of this forum – think one of the most intellectual of our DC people was “bought” by simply giving him a plane ride.
I’ve never heard anything so stupid in a long long time.
pmichael says:
21 March 2010 at 10:52 am We need this ‘beginning’.
Some people just don’t get that.
I understand and I believe it is progress, too. I’ll be relieved when this passes. There are many other issues waiting to be worked on.
You got THAT right, Lynnette. (“many other issues”)
But while the mainstream media is Bitching –
– note that a NEW Bill was just signed which created a quarter of a million JOBS.
Yet the MSM doesn’t say much about That.
It’s like NASCAR.
Wrecks are a lot more fun.
I agree with Taylor we are seeing an unraveling of society. For the US the 21st century is going backwards not forwards.
I love the bubble I live in but it is surrounded by a poor rural county that just became a whole lot more poor because of the shutting down and moving to Mexico of a Crysler plant. Not a week goes by that our little paper is not highlighting a fund raiser for some family struck by medical problems they cannot begin to afford.Every gas station has a donation jar for some child or adult who needs medical treatment.They have not had insurance for years. Yet if you got into a conversation with them they will tell you that socialism is bad and will hurt this country and that Obama is a socialist. They will defend small government and individualism. They will defend Rush and Hannity. When it all comes down they are going to be on the wrong side for the wrong reasons.
rep slaughter’s office attacked, brick thrown into it. what will happen in the days ahead in this contry?
http://www.rollcall.com/news/44443-1.html
Are we entering an age of terrorism from within?
we did under clinton aka oklahoma city. but this is worse way worse. im cocnerned for the lives of members of congress. it feels like something si about to snap.
I don’t condone the violence, but I am sure the British thought the same thing during the revolutionary war. I don’t agree with violence by either the left or right, Democrats or Republicans, etc. but I am annoyed with people on both sides that declare the horror of it all but then make excuses when their side does it. I commend Taylor for always keeping a level perspective. Thanks for sharing the latest on violence as it relates to this issue. Sorry if it looks like I am accusing you of anything – not my intent – sometimes I just don’t write elegantly – this is a comment on perspectivies -not on you.
The American Revolutionary War was not fought on the streets and amongst the citizens of Britain. They traveled a mighty piece to engage the revolutionaries.
I hardly have seen the left engaging in the hateful behaviors of the right….. Hating people because they have a different language or pigmentation.
Hey SueTexas.
I really appreciate when dissenting voices have the courage to speak their mind around here.
We need more sides chiming in to get a representative snapshot of what’s going on around this country.
“Can these morons GET any stupider?
SueTexas, THANKS for answering my question!!!!
” I don’t agree with violence by either the left or right, Democrats or Republicans, etc. but I am annoyed with people on both sides that declare the horror of it all but then make excuses when their side does it.”
You don’t get away with making an assinine statement equating the two sides like that and then just dance happily away.
WHAT violence by the left or progressives or Democrats or Liberals has happened that the aforementioned groups ” make excuses when their side does it”!!!!!
The RIGHTWINGNUT side has bombed abortion clinics, MURDERED abortion providers, BLEW UP the Federal Building and a couple of hundred innocent AMERICANS in Oklahoma City,FLEW A PLANE into an IRS Building WHICH REPUGNANTKLAN ELECTED OFFICIALS JUSTIFIED, Blown up Gay nightclubs, MURDERED gays.
And most recently spit on and called N—– and HOMO Congresspeople of the United States trying to get to their offices to do the peoples buiness.
When some dim bulb like yourself mouths these absurdities you do us a favor by showing just how far up your own asses you delussional wackjobs have shoved your own heads.
exec order from obama lanaguauge to be released to demcaucus very shortly. but hell what can they do? degette has an agreement here to accept this. i just worry about it. hyde is law sadly. what good does it do to do some exec order onthis i have no clue. this bill if passed will need improvements liek the pub opt, drug price controls etc.. but i agree it should pass. ive done alot of research on this with mental health advocate, disabilities advocates etc and it will improve their lives. most imp to me as a progressive:
1. expansion of emdciaid by 16 million, improvmeent in payments, govt taking up mroe fo the funding itself for it. for 1st time signle adults with no chilcren will have access to it who arent disabled.
2. funding of 10,000 comm health centers chcs. sanders got this in. we will never have a good system without pub health. these new comm centers will serve 25 mil americans! they will be one stop shops with mental helath, prikmary etc.. fudnign also for pub mental health clinics something we badly need.
3. the mvoe towards preventative care ina merica will save lives and our pocketbooks. ins must provide with no cost sharing prev care ie wellness exams, mammograms etc.. colonospies. provide anti obesity counseling, diabetes help.
4. class- this after u put in for 5 yrs 60 buck, would provide 27 grand and services if u become disabed. also grants for states to imrpove dsiability communites quality of life.
anyoen got anything else progressive this bill does via govt programs?
ooops many typos sorry.
“ When it all comes down they are going to be on the wrong side for the wrong reasons. Lake Lady
So true.
This is actually fairly simple to define.
On the Right, we have people who are living in the past – when population wasn’t elbow to elbow, and individual power was an asset (even when it was based on racism) –
and then there is the “liberal” view (Taylor says not to use the word “left” *L*) – which recognizes the future – including the eventual homogenization of all races – as well as all ‘countries’.
My 2010 Census form is ready to mail back. In the ‘Race’ section ? – I have checked “Other” – filled in by the simple word “HUMAN”.
I urge you to do the same.
Ha! I love the thought,unfortunately I have already sent mine back or I would follow suit.
i jsut cannot get obama’s speech from yesterday to the caucus out fo my head and im no big obama fan either. ive thought about it all morning andim sure many reps are too. anyone else ehard the speech and thinkign about what he said?
cnn reports bill clinton has been working several dem holdouts poss marion berry of ar as one since last night. all hands on deck.
You know Texas I wish I could be ulifted by Obama I really do.
I agree with you that the community medical centers are a big deal and a very good thing.Do you know if there is any funding for primary care doctor education to work in these clinics?
i think so. i knwo about funding to get mroe drs into practice and trained without those big loans. we need mroe primary care if we are to suceed.
Funny, I keep thinking about what he said as well. And in my opinion, if he were true to his words, we would have a totally different bill. A much more progressive bill.
Ramsgate,
What people often forget (and this applies in MANY areas) – is that even Obama has to ‘play by the rules’ he’s been given.
I’m quite sure he would love to just “mandate” whatever he wished –
But that just isn’t reality in the DC world.
PM, I will never forget how giddy I was at the beginning as I am sure we all were, but I will not dwell upon that.
All I know is, as I listened to him yesterday, I could not help but think as he doled out advice to congress about how they should stand strong and be courageous, and act for “the American people”, why couldn’t he have “been true” and act with the same courage instead of caving to the Insurance companies who sucks the blood of the very same people he says he cares about. Why didn’t he think of the 10 letters he receives daily when Baucus, Grassley and Enzi were jerking him around for 6 months? Where was “truth” when Lieberman held him up and Nelson wanted a reprehensible deal? Truth took a back seat to pragmatism and he caved to all these people. That was seen as good politics. He was supposed to be grown-up.
So, here’s my problem. Throughout this long arduous process, there were very few points, if any at all, IMHO in which he displayed any courage, and yet, he had the unmitigated gall to stand there and ask others to be courageous. That’s so hypocritical to me, its bordering on being Republican.
Courage? You’re suggesting that a black man running for the presidency wasn’t being courageous? Peace
I feel he’s a pretty good actor, but it didn’t ring true with me either.
Dictate would be a better word than mandate.
Why is everyone so surprised to learn that we are in the middle of an age old ideological struggle? It manifested itself quite similarly under Lyndon Johnson. He passed Civil Rights legislation and the Voting Rights Act and the racist Southern Democrats all became Republicans. (The irony of every racist in the USA swearing allegiance to the party of Lincoln was breathtaking.) The T-baggers have been using vulgar invective and epithets since they first showed their ugly heads. All of us on the Left are “socialists” and “communists” hell bent on “destroying America.” Boner said yesterday that todays vote by the Democrats to start us on the road to universal health care was “armageddon for America.” How about the cancer sufferer who sat down in front of a group of these ignorant racists in Ohio and was cursed out and accused of all manner of horrible things by that Christian mob? There are very few, if any, actual Chriatians or patriots among those who call themselves Republicans. They should all be ashamed of themselves but they’re too hate filled to repent. Peace
“There are very few, if any, actual Chriatians or patriots among those who call themselves Republicans. They should all be ashamed of themselves but they’re too hate filled to repent” Imhotep
All you have to do is ask yourself which particular group resisted the abolishment of slavery.
Correct me if I’m wrong – but I do not believe this included many people who called themselves ‘liberals’ or ‘progressives’.
You be right. John Brown was a religious liberal who was cut from the same cloth as was the Christ who also spoke out against slavery I believe. The Christ also wanted to heal the lame, cloth the naked, feed the hungry, house the homeless and so on. Sounds like a dyed in the wool communist to me. Peace
Please referance the verse where Jesus speaks out against slavery.
All the other stuff he spoke out about frequently and loudly. I am unaware of Jesus having much to say about slavery.
However both South Africans and Southern Slave States BOTH used the Bibles admonision that slaves should be loyal to and obey their masters as justification for slavery. Along with crap about Blacks skin color as the “mark of Cain”.
The mosy reprehensable, absurd crap becomes possible when you base your world view on what you see through the filter of superstition.
texan4hillary says:
21 March 2010 at 12:10 pm
What did you think of the speech? I thought the President hit it out of the park. (If only he had done this a year ago on things like the public option, etc. but maybe it was already done).
Sans Emanuel and Axelrod he would have done it long ago. He was being held back by these two idiot advisers. Peace
He only does what he has top do to cover his own interersts it seems to me. He didn’t want significant health care reform – would be good for his funding.
“wouldn’t be good for his funding”
Why assume that he even needs any funding? Everybody knows him and sees what he’s doing. He needed lots of money in 2008 because he was running against known quantities. And against Hillary who wouldn’t give up even when it became quite clear that their was no way that she could win. What Obama is trying to prevent is a civil war. To do that he is aware that he can go only so far, then stop and consolidate and then move forward again. Tactics. Peace
I am quite aware of his tactics. It is clear that in his first year in office he would not want to offend his big business funders. Can we remember the early months and his Pharma deal. Peace.
Pharma deal? Who negotiated that? Rahm and Axelrod? Those two clowns weren’t convinced that Obama could get any health care bill passed through the Congress in any form. We should also keep in mind that bush damn near destrioyed our economy and put us into a Great, Great Depression. So going hard after the capitalists right off the bat would have beeen a huge tactical error. Peace
“against Hillary who wouldn’t give up”
– what we admire about Hillary…
Pilgram..yup!
Imhotep,
Is Obama responsible for today’s healthcare bill,or would that be Rahm and Axelrod accomplishment??You take being an Obama apologist to new heights!!
What GREAT comments and an incredible discussion. Wow. Thanks to all of you who chimed in.