Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
"Evasive Democratic hacks" and all that...
“What is the question to which my life is an answer?” I will never be able to answer that one. Today is one of those days that I am thinking that all life on this planet is meaningless. BUT, that being said, since there is no alternative, maybe the best we can do is to try to give some meaning to the otherwise meaningless situation that we all find ourselves in. Life is VERY short. Wasting even just one day is a tragedy.
Good morning to all...the attacks on Nader are on the increase. Has everyone seen The Nation’s view on the Nader candidacy? The dems are doing to Nader what the repubs did to Ward Churchill. Tomorrow is Nader’s birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, RALPH!
Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 02/26 at 10:38 AMA dizzying array of quotes again… like that fabled dizziness of freedom. So I was watching tv news with my girlfriend last night and something came on in reference to Ralph’s candidacy and so we kind of got into it a little bit. I was kind of t rying to minimize it, it was late and I wasn’t in the mood for a potentially awkward thing. Basically, the idea of his having thrown the ‘00 election to Bush came up, and I went into how that was not actually what happened, and I tried to be convincing with things I’d read around and heard in the movie last year. But I don’t know, I mean the idea is that we’re supposed to be able to say yeah, so even if he did take too many votes away from GoreKerry, it was worth to prove our point. And no, there truly is not any real difference between Dems and Repubs anymore.
But I just didn’t have the confidence to get into all of it… or maybe it was just late and I was tired. And then something came on about congestion pricing here in the city, and that was another can of worms.
Still in any case, haven’t been sure why he didn’t announce his candidacy earlier-- wouln’t that have been more helpful in building some movement? And I’m not sure how troubling it is whether he works with the Green Party or not.
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 02/26 at 01:12 PMHello, my fellow Expendables. Here’s something on Nader:
http://www.counterpunch.org/colby02262008.htmlPosted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/26 at 01:50 PMHello James and Mickey… Thanks for the Counterpunch link, Mickey.
James, I believe that Nader was hoping that things would not get so bad with the dems that he would have to run himself. Remember, Nader said that Edwards would be sort of acceptable but Hillary would NOT be.
I have a new one up on DissidentVoice - some nice comments there that make me happy and help counteract some of the e-mails. I wonder how many friends I will lose because of my support of Nader. It might be a very lonely election cycle for those of us who are not conforming to the Party line.
Also up on MWC
http://tinyurl.com/2upupnPosted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 02/26 at 03:40 PMGreat article, RMJ. It will be the link I provide when I get those inevitable “ a vote for Nader is a vote for McCain” e-mails.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/26 at 04:10 PMThe article in Counterpunch might be trivial except I think it helps perpetuate the falsehood, enouraged there, that Nader was endorsing Edwards. I thought Nader’s past statements about Edwards were clear enough to conclude that he never saw “see eye to eye with him” on all issues-- Colby gives that impression despite his carefully chosen words.
Thank you RMJ for your article-- it looks like you agree with me about the ideal of a Nader-McKinney collaboration. I am worried that both will fare poorly without each others’ help and defense.
Nader will not benefit by more logic-- which Americans appear to be impervious to. I fear he will choose a running mate that will echo his predilections, someone who might have name recognition and all the credentials (and future potential) but who will be hurt by their inability to fulfill their promise this late in the game.
Nader needs the powerful drive, heart, and Soul Power only McKinney can provide. (And McKinney, an intellectual heavyweight in her own right, needs the sharp and focused “logic” drive that is Nader’s forte.) Both Nader and Mckinney have views needed to be heard because theirs are righteous. I am not sure an alliance is possible given the Roberts-Rules-Of-Order nitpicking of the seriously weakened and misled Green Party today.
I agree with James’ suggestion that Nader’s entrance is tardy. I fear that all it will accomplish is selling more books and DVDs to we true believers. (Excludes me-- still poor!)
And I fear McKinney has been going it alone too long. She has shown herself to be industrious. She keeps a grueling schedule on behalf of people in need.
Both Nader and McKinney “show up”. Americans overlooking their voices in this election year would be a tragedy.
Cindy Sheehan’s campaign against Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco (an important turn-key campaign) thus far is being seriously overlooked. The media (and the type of liberals Colby describes) have left her behind. Late last year, Cindy had hopes of a Peace Summit, which was abandoned perhaps because it seems everyone wants to go it alone-- and is cynical.
This is a huge tragedy.
At an inscrutably tarnished Green Party presidential debate held in San Francisco earlier this year-- there was an opportunity for McKinney and Nader-- and Sheehan to connect in a substantial way. Maybe it was a missed opportunity-- might there be other chances? Too many people buy their flight tickets too far in advance. One wonders if productive in-depth dialog between persons even possible today given the demands of our instant gratification culture.
The Peace and Justice Movement which I see ipso facto including socialists, 9/11 truthers and anti-corporatists all have talented and resourceful individuals desirous of making an impact.
The pressure is on everyone who does not buy the eternal war and fear scenario to line up behind Barack Obama-- I feel that tug. But I see Obama as a Rorschach, a candidate possessing a vacillating character and unplumbed integrity.
Horace Walpole: “Life is a tragedy for those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.”
Roseanne Roseannadanna: “If it’s not one thing, it’s another!”
Posted by Robert B. Livingston on from San Francisco, California 02/26 at 05:40 PMMZ’s #3 link to CP is worth a read: “Fundamentalist Liberals” is the quote of the year thus far.
The Boston Globe editorialized against Nader this AM, and what weak-kneed rubbish *that* was—I just love it when august First Amendment outlets allow that anyone can stand for office if they so choose. Nader attacks bring well-informed responses that generate momentary interest in the op-ed pages, but not even a ‘grazie’ for Ralph.
Pet Peeve: Nader being called ‘self-absorbed.’ He’s got a phalanx of the most overwhelming public wants on his campaign list, supported by crushing poll numbers. But he’s “vain,” “concerned about his legacy,” and “hungry to spoil Democratic chances.”
My head hurts. (Captcha sez ‘always’)
Posted by Zen Prole on from Urth 02/26 at 05:46 PMMy head hurts too, though these articles and comments here help some. I guess that in the days to come there’ll be an answer as to whether he’ll work with the Green party or not or what kind of real movement will development. And then I stumbled on this just googling him out of boredome and it caused me some anxiety. Even if there’s an answer to most or all of it, it still made me a little queasy:
http://www.realchange.org/nader.htm
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 02/26 at 06:02 PMGreat stuff all around here. Isn’t it just neat that Nader is an ego-maniac for his White House bid but the others are somehow altruistic? That sound you hear is Orwell spinning at warp speed.
And James, of course Nader has his faults. If we only voted for perfection, well...you know the rest.
All these liberal hypocrites say we have to vote for Obama because Nader can’t win but Nader can’t win because so-called lefties are voting Democrat. Nader would be elected in November if every Obama supporter woke up and voted for Ralph...or if every eligible voter that usually stays home, shows up and picks Ralph. The only reason Nader gets so few votes is because those who profess to be progressive choose corporate candidates instead.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/26 at 06:16 PMHello to you, Mickey, Rosemarie, James, Robert B. Livingston and Zen Prole from a sunny Daylesford. Here’s HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RALPH to me as well! Full disclosure: I’m still a bit of an ABB person but the more I hear and read about either Hillary or Oback, the more doubts gather in my mind.
And in case you want to listen to an interview with the one and only Australian Oscar winner (she talks about the current administration being a ‘bunch of war’ criminals at the 4:13 mark btw), here’s the link:
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/breakfast/stories/2008/2172887.htmKeep up the good fight!
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 02/26 at 06:21 PMHi Zen, Robert, Mickey....
James...About your link...It seems to me that much of the criticism is not backed up by fact. Most it is ad hominem. All candidates should be judged on their history of achievements for the public good and their position on issues. Nothing else is important to me as a voter. I don’t care about their personal lives. I don’t care about their “personality type”. I don’t care about their gender or sexual orientation. I might be the only one here who does not even care about their religious views. I don’t care if they face Mecca and pray 10 times a day or if they are atheistic and never pray. I don’t care if they wear dresses, burkas, or bikinis. I don’t care if people say that they cheat on their spouse (because that would most likely be hearsay.) To me the question to a candidate would be very simple - what have you done for humanity in the past and what are your plans for humanity in the future.Even IF there was a Democratic candidate who answered my question satisfactorily, I would still have a problem. His/her association with the Party would be an issue for me. Being a member of the Democratic/republican party implies a condonation of the war crimes.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HELGA! HAVE A TALL COOL ONE FOR ME.
Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 02/26 at 07:06 PMHappy Birthday Helga and yes Mickey and RMJ, I didn’t take that site too seriously, but it just felt troubling in all these hours of random websurfing during the day… I really do hope he’s not attacked as much as I suppose he will.
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 02/26 at 07:25 PMJames....I think he and WE will be attacked. The dems can be vicious when they don’t get their way.
Are you going to watch the debate tonight?Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 02/26 at 07:29 PMAnother Coke vs. Pepsi debate tonight, huh?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/26 at 07:34 PMLast night I read at Dave Lindorff’s site about how USA today botched reporting on Julie Christie which made me curious about the relationship of glamor to politics.
http://tinyurl.com/2ehguo(Poor Bo Dereck… just a digit.)
http://tinyurl.com/26w39wThen I somehow surfed into reading about Valerie Bertinelli-- and watched this spooky video (interviewed by Maria Shriver, Arnold’s wife!):
http://tinyurl.com/32p82vIt made me wonder (thinking about how people so stupidly label Nader), why can’t most people read character?
All the warning signs are evident in Van Halen’s and Bertinelli’s relationship-- and Shriver “professionally” promotes a human-disconected fantasy world as ultimately dangerous to its subjects as the FearComplex/Consumer Consumptionist fantasy that is foisted on us relentlessly.
Posted by Robert B. Livingston on from San Francisco, California 02/26 at 07:50 PMHello to all and happy birthday, Helga!
James, funny...I had almost the exact same conversation with my brother last night about Nader.
He brought it up, and got very angry about Nader. I tried to use Nader’s argument that he actually took more votes away from Bush than he did the democrats. He didn’t believe it...I guess he needed proof.
Then I said...have you heard Nader’s views. He said yes. Who do you agree with more...him or Clinton and Obama...he admitted that Nader actually said a lot more than he agreed with, but he would never win, so he would vote for Obama.
I said, I am voting for the person I agree with...Nader’s policies match mine best. He paused...then said that makes sense.
Posted by JOS on from Oak Park 02/26 at 07:59 PMHey JOS. As Eugene Debs sez: “I’d rather vote for something I want and not get it than vote for something I don’t want, and get it.”
Did Helga say it was her birthday or was she just wishing Ralph a good one? Just in case: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HELGA
Robert: I’ll get to yout links in #15 shortly.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/26 at 08:17 PMYes, I am watching the coke vs pepsi debate...sad I know...yes, Obama just verified that he would reinvade Iraq if “Al Qaeda” reestablished itself there or anywhere else in the world. Psychotic.
Posted by JOS on from Oak Park 02/26 at 09:51 PMvery sensitive subject here...one I’ve had to struggle with myself, and in then end decided to rid myself of completely...yet doctors continue to prescribe like handing out candy on Halloween:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23348068/
Posted by JOS on from Oak Park 02/27 at 07:08 AMGood morning JOS, Mickey, Robert, James, Helga, joe, Zen, and all…
The debate was again very frustrating to watch. I did enjoy the popcorn though. The worse part is always the questions that don’t get asked. Such as, what about a Single Payer system. What about the profits of the insurance companies. What about eliminating NAFTA immediately (as Kucinich said) and then starting with a new and fair trade agreement. I think shoveling snow is less frustrating than watching the dems…
The Exxon Valdez case is now in its 20th year and still going. Many of the plaintiffs have died during the long drawn-out process. One more reason we need a “Nader” to straighten out the judicial system.
Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 02/27 at 09:27 AMJust had another exercise in when to choose your battles… my co-worker mentioned so matter-of-factly how 3rd parties are just a wasted vote. I said that’s one way of looking at it, a little more, then thought… no. Don’t wanna deal with this at work. Prudence, or lack of confidence?
Oddly, this came up because his rabidly conservative brother decided he’s abstaining from voting this year, because McCain’s just too liberal for him. I suggsted he vote for some conservative 3rd party, Buchanan or whatever, and was told it was too much trouble.
Hell, handbasket, etc....
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 02/27 at 12:09 PMJOS - interesting how news travels fast - (always wonder what the subtext is). The Guardian had a very complete story: http://tinyurl.com/2zp39e
I’ve always been a fan of Dr. Peter R. Breggin - a sincere and smart doctor attacked by the Pharmaceutical industry as much as Dr. Morando Soffritti has been attacked by the food industry.
Breggin has been outspoken for years about the unknowledgeable over-prescription of drugs: prozac, ritalin, etc. Once I sought help for a serious depression, but I had a knowledgeable doctor who conceded to my wish not to take drugs-- informing me that studies showed regular excercise had the same rates of success for people similar to me. I am a firm believer that suicide should be taboo-- I always say we are butterflies-- if I must suffer in the end so be it-- I prefer to live no matter what. What difference in the end? (Also what possibilities?) I am pretty resilient-- studies show that as people get older they tend to cope better. I am proud to be a battler. And I have known many joys since.
Sofritti is a critic of Rumsfeld’s drug: aspartame. His studies show that it can cause tumors-- which the FDA and its European counterpart stomped on. I’ve read that it can cause confusion in some individuals-- and eliminating seemed to work for me: just one anecdote, that’s it. But I would eliminate it anyway because of Rumsfeld’s involvement with promoting it.
Breggin has many very good books worth investigating. My favorite is one in the field of international relations: Beyond Conflict. (The most captivating book I know about conflict resolution.) Unquestionably, Breggin’s ideas reinforced my own-- we both happen to share a strong respect for Erich Fromm.
Anyway-- thought my two cents might be interesting-- but that was not why I came back--
I wanted to find out what Mickey meant by “shortly"-- and also to share this cartoon:
Ta
Posted by Robert B. Livingston on from San Francisco, California 02/27 at 12:41 PMHi James, Robert and all…
I am in a rush. My computer is going in the shop shortly so I will be out of touch for a day or 2. Just want to comment on the drugs...the FDA is nothing more than a lobbying outfit for the pharmaceutical companies. I will never forget my doctor telling me to drink all of the artificially sweetened soda I could whenever I got hungry. This is when I was pregnant with my daughter many years ago. In those days the fake sweetner was cyclamate - later to be found to be very toxic. Never trust the experts.Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 02/27 at 01:33 PMWord of the day:
myrmidon
Going to bed…
Posted by Robert B. Livingston on from San Francisco, California 02/27 at 01:50 PMEvening all. The Myrmidons were Achilles’ troops at Troy. Can’t remember if I learnt that from the Illiad or the Brad Pitt movie…
I was prescribed Citalopram/Cipramil 7 or 8 years ago, and had a thoroughly miserable experience. Not sure what the hell it was supposed to do, but it prevented my mood from changing at all, up or down. Horribly undignified, having your brain chemistry messed with.
Posted by Mew on from clophill 02/27 at 03:14 PMThanks for your birthday wishes, Rosemarie, James, JOS and Mickey - they are premature, however, as my birthday is actually on 8 March, on which day I’ll be in Melbourne. Never mind - I am not superstitious.
So many interesting links here; I simply HAVE to click on some. And good luck with your computer repairs, Rosemarie!
Ciao all,
HelgaPosted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 02/27 at 06:39 PM
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