We need to figure this out

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Saturday March 31, 2007 · 9:40 PM PDT

2007/03/31 · 21:40

In 2000, we watched as enough voters bought the good-ole'-boy crap and turned their back on prosperity, peace and intelligence. Sure, our idiot president was there when 9/11 struck but this administration used propaganda like nothing I have witnesses in 40 years. So in 2004, they used the hot buttons of fear, hatred and religious bigotry to squeek out another victory. I really think the rest of the world expected us to come to our senses in 2004.

Carlsbad

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Wednesday March 21, 2007 · 11:36 AM PDT

2007/03/21 · 11:36

John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt are furthering the debate in this country about U.S. foreign policy as it relates to the Middle East with a new book that will expand on their earlier article: http://www.thecrimson.com/...
Here is their original article:
http://www.lrb.co.uk/...

The book should continue the discussion started with former President Carter's book "Peace Not Apartheid." The debate is long overdue. Every Democratic and Republican presidential contender should be asked about the role of this lobby as it relates to a balanced foreign policy in this critical region.

Judgement is critical

Carlsbad

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Tuesday February 13, 2007 · 1:46 PM PST

2007/02/13 · 13:46

I submit that those that were hoodwinked into launching this insane war lack the judgement necessary to be the next president. If I had my way, anyone in Congress that supported the war would resign at the end of their term and the pundits all fired. That won't happen.
But we can raise the bar so that the next Democratic presidential candidate will have opposed the war. Of those mentioned and/or running, that leaves Gore, Feingold, Dean (hmmmm), Kucinich. Am I missing someone?
But according to the polls on this site, we are about to nominate candidates that not only supported this war of choice but also are very much part of the status quo. If that happens, I welcome a third-party candidate. In the meantime, I am going to send my money and support to Kucinich who represents the kind of change I think is necessary. He is an unabashed liberal and stands on principle although I concede his is probably not electable for cosmetic reasons.

Carlsbad

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Thursday February 08, 2007 · 2:41 PM PST

2007/02/08 · 14:41

We may have a historical opportunity-- let me explain. What if the Netroots got behind Hagel with financial support. Hopefully this would carry him through enough of the primaries to win against the regligious right candidates. Hagel would be our fall back candidate. I know, there are problems with this, but think about what this would open up.
Instead of supporting and fielding a middle-of-the-road Democratic candidate chosen only because we think that candidate can manage a slim electoral victory, we would be free to select a truly progressive candidate that will run on a full-on liberal platform.
Then we could have a real debate on the future course of the country. A clear choice between a moderate Republican and a liberal Democrat. For the last several cycles the fear of a right-wing Republican presidential win has forced us to moderate or water-down our candidate choice. I think we could trust Hagel to engage in a fair and honest debate.

Carlsbad

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Monday January 29, 2007 · 5:17 PM PST

2007/01/29 · 17:17

We are spending roughly 2 billion dollars daily on our military. It is hard to grasp just how vast our military empire is and why we would need augment it with an additional 100K troops. Our closest rival spends a fraction of that amount.
There are approximately 2,685,713 men and women in the armed forces. We keep hearing that our military is being "stretched too thin." Could it be that we are not using our armed forces effectively?
As of 2003, the United States occupied military bases in approximately 130 different countries including Germany (69,395), Japan (35,307), South Korea (32,744), Italy 12,255, and United Kingdom (11,093). The list goes on and on. A Democratic candidate that proposes a strong defense based on 21st century military realities and a realistic assessment on how best to use our military empire, could challenge conventional wisdom, inertia and provide real national security.

Carlsbad

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Friday November 10, 2006 · 6:33 PM PST

2006/11/10 · 18:33

Not to throw cold water on this important election, but we need to face reality sooner than later. I agree that controlling the agenda, subpoena power, and the ability to stop another right-wing zealot from gaining a deciding seat on the Supreme Court, are important, so time and again I vote for the least objectionable candidate. In my district, Busby(D) was campaigning on repealing the "death tax." This is what the Democratic Party has come to be.
My biases are clear, the two parties are more alike than we care to admit in these giddy post-election times. Read this post from Muckraker.com http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/... Will Democrats put these kinds of tainted people in positions of power. Murtha's record on earmarks is horrible. We loved him when he told the truth about Iraq, but should we reward his corrupt behavior? Read More

As we dive down into the abyss

Carlsbad

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Wednesday July 26, 2006 · 10:20 AM PDT

2006/07/26 · 10:20

I can't help but wonder why there is such silence from progressive as we watch Middle East violence on all sides escalate to dangerous levels. From a self-interest point of view, the current one-sided United States policy is creating new terrorist daily that will threaten us far into the future. Again the MSM does not seem to be doing a very effective job of objectively informing the American people.
It is note worthy, that yesterday some Democrats talked of boycotting the Iraqi Prime Minister's Congressional speech because he spoke sincerely about the facts on the ground.
Juan Cole http://www.juancole.com/ had a great post today that helps explain the Prime Minister's DAWA background-- information otherwise not easily accessable-- and referred to the boycotters as AIPAC Democrats. Most in this country could not even understand the comment. Here is a fact-filled informative document from two leading authorities that sheds further light on AIPAC, our foreign aid policy, and questions if we as a country are acting in our best interests.
Read More

Immigration is working for the right

Carlsbad

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Friday July 21, 2006 · 7:03 AM PDT

2006/07/21 · 07:03

I just got back from visiting friends and family in MI which was home for most of my life. Much was the same but it struck me just how effectively the right-wing noise machine was working. Read More

Busby-- we have to cease this nonsense

Carlsbad

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Saturday May 27, 2006 · 12:55 PM PDT

2006/05/27 · 12:55

I received a flyer from Busby today, she boldly states she will "Eliminate Budget Deficits," "Cut Taxes," and "Weed out Waste." Further down and not quite so bold, she promises to "Fight to lower gas prices now," "Balance the budget and no pay raise for Congress until it's done," and of course the obligatory, "Eliminate government waste and slash the National Debt."
If those goals don't put a majority of voters to sleep, insure a low turnout keep voter cynicism at an all time high, the big bold headline that is the lead campaign promise is to "Permanently Eliminate the Death Tax." Great, the top half of one-percent can rest of assured Busby is on her side.
I am so tired of these juvenile campaigns targeted at the lowest common denominator of American politics. This is the problem! A win here is not a win. We must stand on principles. Read More

15 Senators understand the problem

Carlsbad

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Friday May 26, 2006 · 9:33 AM PDT

2006/05/26 · 09:33

Today's vote to confirm Hayden seems like a Profile in Courage moment that Democratic Senators failed miserably. Only 15 Democrats could muster the integrity to cast a vote to uphold the rule of law.
This illustrates the failure of targeting a key race here and there in order to gain control of a chamber or to significantly change the political landscape. The Democratic Party is gone. Thirty-nine Democratic Senators don't deserve their seats. The enormity of the problem suggest we need to start from scratch with a new political party.
Even if the Democrats gain a chamber or even two in November, what would we have gained? Sure we can moderate the next Supreme Court nominee (how many Democrats voted for Roberts and Alito?)and we can win some concessions on policy but the current Congress is overwhelming on the side of Republican policies and prisoners of the "war on terror" and part of the fear campaign that is being used to weaken our civil liberties. I can't vote for Feinstein and resent that as the only choice to put Democrats in charge. We need a new party.

How do we get change

Carlsbad

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Thursday May 25, 2006 · 10:47 AM PDT

2006/05/25 · 10:47

Time and again leading Democrats vote with Republicans on key issues. The latest example was Feinstein and Levin who both enjoy almost certainly safe seats voting for Hayden in the face of all we know.
What makes those votes all the more frustrating was the email I received from the DNC just a day before asking for a signiture on a petition opposing Hayden. When the vote goes to the floor more Democrats, with their votes, will endorse the illegal activity by the NSA. The systems works to keep voter apathy high.
In CT we see some Democrats making an incumbent pay for this disloyal behavior in an effort to send a message. In reality the system is designed so that making encumbents pay the price is not very realistic or much of a tool.
Read More

Public Financing of Elections

Carlsbad

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Saturday May 06, 2006 · 7:45 AM PDT

2006/05/06 · 07:45

Public funding is an almost revolutionary reform of our election system. In one fell swoop we eliminate the influence of anti-democratic forces on our candidates.
We would also make election cycles shorter (less money available) and more focused.
Everyone is disgusted with our current system of monied candidates in which we are fast approaching the time when only rich (mostly) men, run for office.
Public funding cures many ills while making the process sensible, broad based, and open. Why wouldn't we make this an issue for 2008?

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We need to figure this out

Fixing our foreign policy

Judgement is critical

Support Hagel-- then...

Do we need 100K troops?

Cold Water?

As we dive down into the abyss

Immigration is working for the right

Busby-- we have to cease this nonsense

15 Senators understand the problem

How do we get change

Public Financing of Elections