How do we know it's not good cop/bad cop?

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Friday December 03, 2010 · 7:25 AM PST

2010/12/03 · 07:25

From what I've read and heard, independent votes are very much in favor of "working together" and bipartisanship. That's what they want to see and despite their schizophrenic flip to the dark side in the last election, cooperation is what they're looking for going forward.

If this be true, could it not be that Obama/Pelosi have devised an old-fashioned game of good cop/bad cop? While Obama seeks common ground, continually offers compromise and conciliation, Pelosi and her gallant band of liberals come roaring through with giant progressive moves (think tax cuts only for the middle class). How do we know they aren't orchestrating this as an appeal to independent voters, the group they need most in 2012?

The Left is at this point almost screaming at Obama. He's a turncoat, he's in the fetal position, he's an appeaser. Really?

ronlysc

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Tuesday November 30, 2010 · 6:25 AM PST

2010/11/30 · 06:25

I've had peace of mind for several days now after jettisoning the main stream media (MSM), and by that, I largely mean cable news.

It occurred to me that cable news is an advertising phantasmagoria, an erstwhile profit machine when I had to listen to my brother-in-law over Thanksgiving dinner rail against Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac as the only-- only-- reasons for the housing crisis and listen to him trash the Ford Motor Company for its models, but praise it for not accepting bail out money.

My comebacks were on the tip of my tongue, but I thought, "All we're really doing is trading talking points from FOX News and MSNBC." Instead, I quoted the recently late George Carlin. "It's bullshit! Bullshit... and it's bad for you."

ronlysc

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Tuesday November 09, 2010 · 5:38 AM PST

2010/11/09 · 05:38

Several diarists are disappointed in Obama's performance on "60 Minutes", basically saying the guy (our President) lacks a pair. He wreaks of "let's work together", "finding common ground", and "we can disagree without being disagreeable".

In the meantime, Mitch McConnell is primarily concerned with ousting Obama in 2012 and Eric Cantor adamantly states, "No compromise!" The newbie Rand Paul sketches his scorched earth federal budget for Christiane Amanpour.

But, all this posturing ends when the rubber hits the road regarding the extension or expiration of the Bush tax cuts. It's an invitation to a down and dirty confrontation.

ronlysc

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Friday October 22, 2010 · 4:58 AM PDT

2010/10/22 · 04:58

Now it's poor Juan Williams. Off with his talking head. O wait, on with his talking head now that he's a bona fide member of Fox. Cut his mike on NPR. (He's got such a cute overbite!)

Let's see, there was Rick Sanchez the other week. Helen Thomas, don't forget Helen. Anyone remember Jimmy the Greek and what he said? How about Howard Cosell? "Look at that [...] run!"

The Juan Williams firing is not so much about NPR as it is about the nature and structure of news these days. Like the following...

ronlysc

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Tuesday September 21, 2010 · 5:25 AM PDT

2010/09/21 · 05:25

Such a statement seems obvious: Tea Party nominees are unfit for office. But, it's really the crux of the matter and we're overlooking it.

Remember when the Yippies in the form of Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin went to the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago and ran a pig for president?

The Tea Party is doing the equivalent with its gaggle of goofball candidates, but it's not satire, not metaphor, not commentary on the system. They're doing it for real and actually getting the public to consider their ding dong idiots as being able to become competent senators and representatives.

The judgment "unfit" should be stamped across every one of their fliers, commercials, and press conferences.

ronlysc

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Monday September 20, 2010 · 6:13 AM PDT

2010/09/20 · 06:13

On NPR this morning, Kokie Roberts interpreted a recent ABC/WaPo poll as indicating that Democrats are screwed for the election. Even whacko Tea Party candidates are doing well in Nevada, Alaska, Wisconsin and Kentucky. Therefore, the Republican mainstream makes no bones about embracing them.

Chris Cillizza in a Huff Post article cites a NY Times/CBS poll that despite the dislike of Democrats, Republicans aren't fairing any better. He quotes a GOP polster who states, "the party poised to take control has not improved its image"; namely the Republicans.

Hang onto your hats. Even if we lose, the fuse of the American electorate appears to be shorter than a twice smoked cigarette butt.

ronlysc

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Wednesday September 15, 2010 · 7:11 AM PDT

2010/09/15 · 07:11

Regardless of whether or not the Republicans take over the U.S. House of Representatives and/or the U.S. Senate, some very interesting ramifications are possible because of the present growth and insurgency of the Tea Party into the Republican Party.

Or, maybe we should just forget about all this and worry about the lives of celebrities, like normal people. I wonder what Paris Hilton...

Nah...

ronlysc

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Friday September 10, 2010 · 5:32 AM PDT

2010/09/10 · 05:32

Yes siree, it's you and me, it's anyone of us and the country as a whole who find ourselves in one helluva jam. The Everly Brothers and then later Paul Simon so well captured the notion of "oh-oh, we're in trouble now", but cast it in an upbeat melody with the attitude of "Happy days are here again", despite the pickle they're (we're) in.

"Whatta we gonna tell your mama
Whatta we gonna tell your pa..."

Is there an opportunity to "make a silk purse out of a sow's ear", lemons/lemonade, go Pollyanna and "make hay while the sun don't shine"?

ronlysc

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Wednesday September 08, 2010 · 5:37 AM PDT

2010/09/08 · 05:37

The news is really gloomy about November, but then I got to thinking, maybe it's not so good that we win in November. I mean to sustain the current atmosphere for another two years? That doesn't sound so good and Obama running for re-election in a climate like this doesn't look so good either.

However, if the Republicans take charge and nothing happens for another two years, then what? A Mussolini-type emerges from the Tea Party and a huge chunk of the country goes fascist? That sounds wild, but not out the realm of possibility.

More likely the Republicans would be repudiated and liberals/progressives sweep back in. Obama's second term has many of the changes we've been looking forward to.

So, what the hell! They can't repeal health care, just not fund it. So we wait two years. We've waited a hundred since T.R. first introduced the idea. We can wait two more.

ronlysc

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Saturday September 04, 2010 · 6:09 AM PDT

2010/09/04 · 06:09

I just finished a book on George Washington called "The Ascent of George Washington" by John Ferling. It largely demythologizes Washington and makes the basic point that the country was founded by wealthy and powerful men who simply wanted to gain more wealth and power.

Self interest, of course, is the well spring of human activity. But, I'm startled by how absorbed I've been into so many myths, believing them and even after seeing through their crap, still remaining emotionally attached.

"The best"... "the greatest"... "the most"...

ronlysc

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Friday September 03, 2010 · 6:45 AM PDT

2010/09/03 · 06:45

A great deal of what we think depends on the information we get and where we get it from (obviously).

I've been rummaging around websites that provide cable news ratings and network t.v. news ratings.

We tend to think that "the whole world is watching", everybody's "mad as hell and not gonna take it anymore", and Fox News is burying us in a steaming pile of lies.

However, there are some interesting observations and generalizations to be made.

ronlysc

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Wednesday September 01, 2010 · 6:20 AM PDT

2010/09/01 · 06:20

Isn't it eerie how the religious right or right wing moralists have grown so silent about same-sex marriage?

I'm sure they're out there. I wonder what they're thinking?

They say it's important to walk a mile in someone else's shoes if you really want to understand.

Here's an opportunity:

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How do we know it's not good cop/bad cop?

Jettisoning the MSM

Bush tax cuts: invitation to a confrontration

Juan W., a symptom of douchie cable news

Tea Party nominees are unfit for office.

Take heart-- the right is just as screwed.

Observations on the Tea Party insurgency

"Wake up, little Susie, wake up!"

Maybe winning in Nov ain't so great

Prepping for the bloodbath

Getting Fox News in perspective

Proposing a dilemma for a right wing moralist