Obama's back ...

Upie

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday July 17, 2018 · 10:13 AM PDT

2018/07/17 · 10:13

to tell us to step back and reflect where we’ve come from, before we boldly step into the future.

YouTube Video

Mad King Donald

Upie

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday June 04, 2018 · 11:04 AM PDT

2018/06/04 · 11:04

Just after he was elected, I was asked by an American about Trump. ‘Mad King Donald’ was the first thing in my mind and I said so.

Today it seems my fears are starting to solidify. An administration, a president gives out a statement about his infallibility. He, as the chosen one, can dictate right from wrong.

As with any royal court, the really frightful elements are the courtiers, sycophants and hangers-on. The ones who say nothing and judge their strategy against reality. Those that are supposed to ‘uphold the constitution’ and be there for their ‘constituents’ will stab you in the back, without a blink, live-streaming. The Rapture is being packaged as ‘America first’ and his faithful Fly-over country is going down the drain, because no one likes to buy from an asshole with an attitude.

As an European, it is nothing new, this kind of behaviour by the ‘rulers’ (or their clique and the system they instal). For centuries we’ve lived by, suffered under, fought against and ultimately developed into the Europe we are today. Not perfect, but working on a future together, hopefully. Our countries have seen the horrors, the pain and corruption unlimited power will unleash.

So, now it’s your tun to deal with a ‘Mad King’.

'He's walking into a bone-dry forest with a naked flame'

Upie

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday December 06, 2017 · 12:14 PM PST

2017/12/06 · 12:14

This is a quote by Jonathan Freedland in The Guardian about Trump’s Jerusalem statement. A warning about an immense stupidity that’s going to happen. He writes more about the utter folly:

But here comes Trump, oblivious to precedent and indeed history – even in a place where history is a matter of life and death – stomping through this delicate thicket, trampling over every sensitivity. The risk is obvious, with every Arab government – including those loyal to Washington – now issuing sharp warnings on the perils of this move, almost all of them using the same word: “dangerous”.

And Freedland is right. How can any (sane) government be so shortsighted, so blind to facts and religious feelings (save their own)? Obviously there is no counterweight in the fractured political system in the ‘United’ States of America. All parties are complicit and have (internal) factions arguing about it someway or another.

How incendiary is that statement going to be? I don’t know, but my gut feeling is bad, really unforeseeable bad. Like Freedland states, speeches/symbols matter and Mr T. is going to screw the world:

But that is to forget that in the Israel-Palestine conflict, symbols matter. Which is why other world leaders, and senior US politicians, need to close ranks in saying this act is wrong and does not speak for them. They need to signal that a saner policy might prevail once Trump has gone. The trouble is that by then, given the way violence in that region can spread and escalate, it might be too late.

This is really bizar...

Upie

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday September 17, 2017 · 4:19 PM PDT

2017/09/17 · 16:19

On my news stream this turd floated by. After seeing it a couple of times, I was, as the British say, flabbergasted. Dumbstruck and frightened by the possible reasons and thus consequences of his behaviour. I’m searching for answers …

For the clip:

The US First Lady introduces her husband on stage at an event at Joint Base Andrews. He thanks her with a handshake. pic.twitter.com/fPQNoMpnWa
— Caitriona Perry (@CaitrionaPerry) September 15, 2017

A question for Bill Maher

Upie

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday January 30, 2016 · 10:06 AM PST

2016/01/30 · 10:06

Dear mr. Maher,

Tonight I saw your show online (thanx for the free opportunity) and it felt a bit strange. First, a doctor with a remarkable story (and haircut), suitable for a Nobel prize if only it didn’t feel like … I don’t know, a quack? Someone with a compelling story, a heartfelt compassion and just enough unknowns to make it interesting for a follow-up. A Rasputin mayby?

Then, going on in your acerbic banter, you tore into Islam again. For the record, I’m an ‘hard agnostic’ (as they say) and have always liked your caustic views on organized religion.

But, you’re going over the line. You’re bleaching Islam into black and white. An act you yourself ridicule in ‘Religious’ when ‘intolerance in his name’ is propagated. All organized religions have freaks, zealots and fundamentalists. In your wholesale condemnation of Islam, you’re no better than Republicans going on about abortion or ‘the loss of God in our lives’. Worse even, you seem to be on the side of scaremongering, the uninformed, the deranged. And that surprised me: a liberal icon has a bad, intolerant streak.

Nuance is the key to understanding each other, wether it’s a religion, family or politics. Or satire, humor, a simple joke. So, mr. Maher, my real request is to chill, relax, smoke sativa instead of indica. And slow down in your condemnation of Islam, because as you’ve shown in your movie, it’s no worse than other (organized) religions. They all have the same potential for evil, because of the inherent belief of being right.

The same applies to you ...

Regards,

Mourning CNN

Upie

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday July 23, 2014 · 12:11 PM PDT

2014/07/23 · 12:11

Today we, The Netherlands, received the (first) remains of those who died in the crash of MH17. Our country mourns, not just for our loses, but for all that were on that flight. As it was happening, a huge outpouring of empathy flowed through our collective souls, brought live on TV. Not just in my country, but around the world. It was neutral, respectful, without a distinct religious flavor. As a Dutchman I know that one of the fundamentals of our society is: 'Not to get high-jacked by religion'. We learned the hard way and the U.S.A. is one of the results of it.

And then I watched CNN...

Upie

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday October 09, 2013 · 10:52 AM PDT

2013/10/09 · 10:52

WTF are you, the US of A, doing? Are you out of your mind? Why does a country go 'kamikaze'? If it needs that, well, it has already lost. And it's not about your future only, it's about mine as well. I'm not trying to blame or be partisan. It's about the world, the rest of us, like me, an European. I live thousands of miles away, but your stupidity hits me where it hurts. Just the realization that my future, that of my struggling company, is determined by a battle between Earth and the Borgs is out-of-this-world scary.

Upie

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday October 06, 2013 · 10:25 AM PDT

2013/10/06 · 10:25

Had a day off and read a lot of things. Mostly about the American State of 'Union'. Two things stayed on my mind: 'Linz' and the '14th'. Why those? Because they interact, they are a consequence of each other and both show a crucial weakness of the American political system.

Upie

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday October 04, 2013 · 10:04 AM PDT

2013/10/04 · 10:04

For some time I've seen American politics excel (the politics of a sensible president) and at the same time a slide down an ominous path (the Republican takeover by the Tea Partiers). During the Crimean War (long time ago) the poet Tennyson wrote a poem about 'The Charge of the Light Brigade'. A suicidal charge, based on wrong intelligence, line of command errors and an outdated idea of 'warfare'. Sounds familiar?

So I tried a snarky adaptation:

Upie

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday August 19, 2013 · 12:08 PM PDT

2013/08/19 · 12:08

Now that the GreenWald Flame Wars are raging on DKos between those who know and those who don't, I came about an interesting article in the Daily Banter. Bob Cesca has two interesting and valid points:

First, about this whole Greenwald/Miranda/etc-thing. I didn't get the feeling he has a bias one way or the other, but he asked some valid questions, based on facts. And they deserve an honest answer.

But that's not really the reason for my diary. No, the reason is this insane tit-for-tat about Greenwald's Word on the DKos. And especially the zealots on this site are becoming fiercer and more vicious (as I will find out).

Bob Cesca has this '24 hour'-rule on this Greenwald-Snowdon, but it is applicable anywhere (even on this site):

*The 24 Hour Rule: 1) A wild claim is made via a news article, most often The Guardian, about the U.S. government or related entities. 2) The article sparks wild fits of outrage. 3) Then, within 24 hours, a mitigating detail is added, undermining or totally debunking one or more of the central claims contained with the article.
Related quote: “A lie can travel half-way around the world before the truth gets its pants on.”

So, perhaps we should all take a deep breath and step back a bit. It would help the discourse.

Oh, this is going to be so good!

Upie

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday June 17, 2013 · 10:38 AM PDT

2013/06/17 · 10:38

Sorry for the short diary, but when I read it I had to think about the impact on US Politics and it's Dance Macabre. It's the online interview Snowden gave to the Guardian today. It's enlightening, but at the same time it also gave me some anticipation of what's to come:

"The US Person/foreigner distinction is not a reasonable substitute for individualized suspicion, and is only applied to improve support for the program. This is the precise reason that NSA provides Congress with a special immunity to its surveillance."

Just get the popcorn out and let it come ...

Update: I included the full sentences of the quote

Can you let a convicted criminal 'go'...

Upie

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday March 05, 2013 · 11:54 AM PST

2013/03/05 · 11:54

Today in my country (The Netherlands) a child molester had one of his days in court. Accused of many, many cases of child abuse, he said that he wanted to have 'euthanasia'. He wants to die, instead of a life in prison. But he wants us to to it for him.

Poll

20 votes Show Results

Should a person with a (multiple) life-sentence have the right to kill him/herself?

20 votes Vote Now!

Should a person with a (multiple) life-sentence have the right to kill him/herself?

Yes

13 votes

4 votes

Depends on the crime

1 vote

At least it would save money

2 votes

Newer
Older

RSS

Obama's back ...

Mad King Donald

'He's walking into a bone-dry forest with a naked flame'

This is really bizar...

A question for Bill Maher

Mourning CNN

Can't take it anymore

Linz and the 14th

The Charge of the Idiot Brigade

The 24 hour Rule

Oh, this is going to be so good!

Can you let a convicted criminal 'go'...