Okay, I admit it - I've been fascinated with astrology since I was 10 years old. Please - let's not get into the “merits or lack thereof” discussion regarding metaphysics. Believe me, I’ve already contemplated this endlessly and can see both sides (I am an Aquarian, after all (that's an astro in joke for you). I find diving into the complexities of the astrological symbol system very soothing to my sometimes fevered brain and whether or not astrology is "real" -I'll leave that to your personal viewpoint.

"My name is EYZ and I'm a dKos junkie."

This is the point where I imagine the entire virtual dKos community looking at me with understanding smiles and saying: "Hello EYZ".

And so now to my sordid tale...

It started innocently enough. Of course I'd heard about dKos in my travels through cyberspace - how it was such a big thing and how it seemed to have some kind of strange and potent hold on left leaning types. Supposedly,  a fair number of mainstream folks and certain well-known media pundits were rumored to be under the influence of dKos too. So sure, I got curious and surfed over to take a look.

I would venture to guess that almost every one of us on this planet knows what it feels like to want to strike out and smash things up when we're really pissed off. Even the most peaceful among us has felt that sharp stab of fury that raises the blood pressure and clouds the mind given the right set of circumstances.

Right now some of you who support Hillary Clinton are feeling the need to give a big fat finger to all of us Obama supporters. Hell, you even want to give that big fat finger to Obama himself - maybe ESPECIALLY to Obama.

As DJShay pointed out in the recent diary titled Chuck Todd: Powerful ObamaNation we, the Netroots, have  made a real impact on the traditional media  with our outspoken reaction to the debacle ABC called a debate. Yes, we shook them up and they have started to take notice.  

The ABC News mailbox has probably already melted from angry e-mails about the questions' tit-for-tat focus. They concerned the gaffes and track-backs that we political elites obsess over but that inflame people who have ready access to e-mail and demand the candidates talk about substance.

-John Dickerson
Slate.com

I decided to re-post this diary given the intensity of the discussion about torture on Kos. However, I think it is important to add some comments first.  I am rather new to Kos and have never re-posted so I apologize in advance for any breach of protocol etc....

My brother-in-law was tortured under the Al-Jaafari regime by thugs from the infamous Iraqi Ministry of the Interior. He told us about his ordeal before over 170 tortured and starved detainees were found in the bowels of the Ministry building. The discovery of these detainees was met with outrage by the media and U.S. government officials at the highest levels including Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

We still don't know the extent of the data-mining and eavesdropping operation that is being carried out by the government. We'll probably never know.  But one thing is certain - real privacy is a thing of the past. Now, many of us feel a growing uneasiness when we talk on the phone, use the internet or even complete a bank transaction. The current administration has tried to mollify the American people by  stepping up the usual  "if you're not guilty you have nothing to worry about" rhetoric. A lot of people (though not those who frequent Kos, I assume) buy into the propaganda - or maybe they don't fully buy into it but it gives them comfort in the midst of an increasing sense of helplessness.

I decided to re-post this diary given the intensity of the discussion about torture on Kos. However, I think it is important to add some comments first.  I am rather new to Kos and have never re-posted so I apologize in advance for any breach of protocol etc....

My brother-in-law was tortured under the Al-Jaafari regime by thugs from the infamous Iraqi Ministry of the Interior. He told us about his ordeal before over 170 tortured and starved detainees were found in the bowels of the Ministry building. The discovery of these detainees was met with outrage by the media and U.S. government officials at the highest levels including Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

First Diary Attempt:

I suppose I should have realized sooner that just because someone is a Democrat it doesn't mean that they are not riddled with the traditional prejudices that are part of the fabric of this nation. But I guess I wanted to believe that anyone who clings to deep, uncontrolled bigotry would shun the Democratic party and be happily ensconced with the Republicans.

It's better to face the truth. If anything, that's what recent events have helped me to do. The reality is that the Democratic Party - the party I have aligned myself with for thirty years - is filled with deep pools of racism lurking just  beneath the surface.