Dude, I'm waiting for the apocalypse. I feel it's rather more than just the last 6 years of Repups. The whole concept of the US is unsustainable, whoever's in charge. The whole concept of the US is NOT[/b] unsustainable, whoever's in charge. But I know what you mean. Many elements of our society are unsustainable but the overwhelming "ingenuity and general good will" of the US will probably prevail. Though I'll admit that I do have serious doubts and fears about the future of America. Our addictions seen to be an origin of many of the problems we are facing. Addictions on many levels.
... in order to prevent yourself from slipping into the realm of demagoguery.
hahahahahha. . dan berkman, portland demagogue!!!!!
dan, dont even waste your fingers with this guy.
anthony & rockadelic.....that "only a riot will fix it" mentality, while romantic and pleasing to think in such quick fix absolutes, is a cop out. especially coming form you two, who i doubt will ever be involved in said riot. If you guys think that shit is so far gone that "only a riot will fix it" (and i think its pretty far gone myself) you might want to look at the miles of grassroot work that needs to be done to get shit on the right course and get about to doing that work sedulously. the republicans did it for decades to get back in the positions of power they are now.
fats: we will work hard to get santorum out this novemeber. belee dat! repressed fucking scumbag!!!!
Hey, I???m gonna get you too Another one bites the dust
How do you think I???m going to get along, Without you, when you???re gone You took me for everything that I had, And kicked me out on my own
Are you happy, are you satisfied How long can you stand the heat?
May 9, 2006 Ex-Aide With Abramoff Ties Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy By PHILIP SHENON WASHINGTON, May 8 ??? A former top aide to Representative Bob Ney, Republican of Ohio, pleaded guilty on Monday to conspiring with the lobbyist Jack Abramoff to corrupt public officials and said gifts had been "corruptly offered to and accepted by" Mr. Ney.
In court papers, the former aide, Neil G. Volz, said the gifts included a 2002 trip to Scotland by private jet that included rounds of golf at the fabled course at St. Andrews.
The plea agreement made it clear that Mr. Ney, a six-term House member who is facing a re-election fight this year because of his ties to Mr. Abramoff, remains a central focus of the Justice Department's influence-peddling investigation.
Mr. Volz, 35, who was Mr. Ney's chief of staff from 1998 to 2002, faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine as a result of his guilty plea to one count of criminal conspiracy. Mr. Abramoff, who was once among the most powerful Republican lobbyists in Washington and who recruited Mr. Volz to join his firm in 2002, pleaded guilty to broader corruption charges in January.
Mr. Ney was not identified by name in Mr. Volz's plea agreement, which was filed in Federal District Court in Washington.
But lawyers for Mr. Ney acknowledged that he was the House member identified in the plea agreement as "Representative No. 1." He is accused with other members of his staff of accepting gifts from Mr. Abramoff's lobbying firm, including the trip to Scotland and trips to New Orleans and the 2003 Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., as well as free meals and drinks at Washington restaurants and use of Mr. Abramoff's box suites at the MCI Center in Washington and Camden Yards stadium, home of the Baltimore Orioles.
The plea agreement charged that "Representative No. 1 and others performed official acts at the behest of Abramoff and others, which were motivated in part by the things of value received," suggesting bribery.
The court papers offered a long list of actions taken by Mr. Ney to help Mr. Abramoff, including meeting with his Indian tribe clients and promising to introduce legislation to benefit their gambling operations.
Mr. Volz acknowledged in the plea agreement that he began accepting illegal gifts from Mr. Abramoff while he was working in the House and that as a result he did several official favors for the lobbyist, including having Mr. Ney place statements into The Congressional Record that were helpful to Mr. Abramoff in pursuing his purchase of a fleet of casino boats in Florida.
In a statement released by his House office, Mr. Ney said, "I have always considered Neil Volz my friend," and "I am very saddened to see what happened today."
Mr. Ney's spokesman, Brian Walsh, said in a separate statement that the plea deal with Mr. Volz was "thin at best" and that "the congressman is more confident than ever that he will be vindicated in this matter." Mr. Walsh said that "if Neil crossed an ethical line, he did so without Congressman Ney's knowledge."
Ohio Democrats have seized on Mr. Ney's relationship with Mr. Abramoff in seeking the lawmaker's defeat, and he is considered one of the most vulnerable Republicans in Congressional elections this year[/b]. A former Ohio state senator who was elected to Congress in 1995, Mr. Ney had previously won re-election to his House seat from the 18th District of Ohio by a comfortable margin.
REP's won't lose the house because of anything the DEM's are doing. DEM's really just need to stand back and let the Republican base just not show up to vote.
Things like this might just keep Republicans away. They are starting to feel like they are getting fucked over.
starting to feel like they are getting fucked over.
they are. we are.
Maybe.
But it's one thing to piss off ur opponites and their supporters. It's another thing to alienate ur own base. Which things like the above mentioned are doing.
I think ur going to see many republican supporters just not vote. Some thinking, just let the Dems hold the reigns for awhile and see what happens down the road.
starting to feel like they are getting fucked over.
they are. we are.
Maybe.
But it's one thing to piss off ur opponites and their supporters. It's another thing to alienate ur own base. Which things like the above mentioned are doing.
I think ur going to see many republican supporters just not vote. Some thinking, just let the Dems hold the reigns for awhile and see what happens down the road.
True and their base rests on three* two political views that are fundamentally incompatible: free market capitalism and theocratic regulation.
I think that Ralph Nader has done some very admirable and incredible things; I think he's also shown himself to be just as self-absorbed and out of touch as the two parties that he likes to rail against.
I think that Ralph Nader has done some very admirable and incredible things; I think he's also shown himself to be just as self-absorbed and out of touch as the two parties that he likes to rail against.
I agree. I'd like to add that he is not suited for political office.
I think that Ralph Nader has done some very admirable and incredible things; I think he's also shown himself to be just as self-absorbed and out of touch as the two parties that he likes to rail against.
I agree. I'd like to add that he is not suited for political office.
I think that Ralph Nader has done some very admirable and incredible things; I think he's also shown himself to be just as self-absorbed and out of touch as the two parties that he likes to rail against.
I agree. I'd like to add that he is not suited for political office.
Yes, I agree with that too.
Thanks to this "ignore user" thing and these kinds of conversations, it looks like I'll never have to worry about beef on this board again.
God... I was raised ultra liberal Democrat style by two parents who knew what was up. When the LAUSD desegregated I was bused to the inner city from my lilly white suburb. I would not have a nose for jheri curl privates if my parents were not open minded, cultured, and your typical borderline Commie Hollywood Democrats.... In fact they came from a long line of Democrats.
With that being said times have changed and I say fuck the Democrats and the Republicans. They are two sides of the same coin conspiring to distract the American people with partisan bullshit while they fuck up the world with evil power moves.
Yes I will vote Democrat in the fall but I am just sick of this bi-partisan con game period. It is a joke and if I have to hear one more dumb ass Westsider rant about how honorable the Democrats are and how evil Bush is I will barf... Yea... I know Bush is evil you jerks... Go to Haiti and help some people out or something. Don't just sit here and preach. And no I won't sign your save the world voter checklist outside of Whole Foods so leave me and my family alone please... The system's broke and only a riot will fix it.
It's the postmodern world people wake up. The brown people of LA are here, were always here and are here to stay... You Thousand Oaks jerkoffs can pay $17 for your Baja Fresh soft taco if dont want these hard working honorable people here to serve you... as if you had a choice... There are no more borders you fucking assholes.
This is not directed to anyone on soulstrut... This is just a rant.
rant over... sorry about this.
Amen. Thats like, exactly where im coming from dude.
Has anyone here heard of something called "instant runoff" or something like that?
It's supposed to be a different method of voting whereby third party candidates get a better shake...
I had a friend try to tell me about it this weekend. Apparently it helps prevent spoilers, but I have to do a bit more research to know more...
I say we just throw a lawn dart at a room full of rich yale fucks and whoever gets hit wins. I mean the same types of shitheads will end up in office, but at least they will be maimed in some way. The possibility of a president with an eye patch is intriguing to me.
I say we just throw a lawn dart at a room full of rich yale fucks and whoever gets hit wins. I mean the same types of shitheads will end up in office, but at least they will be maimed in some way. The possibility of a president with an eye patch is intriguing to me.
this will only encourage future leaders to play the veil tormented dictator role.
I'm all for keeping our leaders with dual eyesight, it's the only hope for America
Has anyone here heard of something called "instant runoff" or something like that?
It's supposed to be a different method of voting whereby third party candidates get a better shake...
I had a friend try to tell me about it this weekend. Apparently it helps prevent spoilers, but I have to do a bit more research to know more...
Isn't that where rank candidates by preference (1st choice, 2nd choice, 3rd etc...), as opposed to one single all-or-nothing vote? That way you can vote for a third-party outsider who may ideally represent your values, instead of settling for a mainstream imitation. All without the dilemma of TOTALLY stealing a vote from the "lesser of two evils".
I like the way things are looking but I hope all of this done deal type talk doesn't keep a lot of people from going to the polls, because if that happens it will not be good for the dems. People need to feel a sense of urgency about voting. I think this shit will be really close.
God... I was raised ultra liberal Democrat style by two parents who knew what was up. When the LAUSD desegregated I was bused to the inner city from my lilly white suburb. I would not have a nose for jheri curl privates if my parents were not open minded, cultured, and your typical borderline Commie Hollywood Democrats.... In fact they came from a long line of Democrats.
With that being said times have changed and I say fuck the Democrats and the Republicans. They are two sides of the same coin conspiring to distract the American people with partisan bullshit while they fuck up the world with evil power moves.
Yes I will vote Democrat in the fall but I am just sick of this bi-partisan con game period. It is a joke and if I have to hear one more dumb ass Westsider rant about how honorable the Democrats are and how evil Bush is I will barf... Yea... I know Bush is evil you jerks... Go to Haiti and help some people out or something. Don't just sit here and preach. And no I won't sign your save the world voter checklist outside of Whole Foods so leave me and my family alone please... The system's broke and only a riot will fix it.
It's the postmodern world people wake up. The brown people of LA are here, were always here and are here to stay... You Thousand Oaks jerkoffs can pay $17 for your Baja Fresh soft taco if dont want these hard working honorable people here to serve you... as if you had a choice... There are no more borders you fucking assholes.
This is not directed to anyone on soulstrut... This is just a rant.
Ironically, I find Chomsky's analysis disempowering. In a nut shell, his message is that there is this giant machine that controls everything. Nothing could be more daunting than an individual taking on that machine. It is no conincedence that you will never see Chomsky talk about organizing. It would show the weakness of his message. He makes a decent living as a talking head and that's where his commitment ends. I am beginning to think he's a corporate plant, designed to derail any constructive organizing efforts at universities and grateful dead cover band shows.
I would suggest that people go out and learn about the levers of power in their own community first hand. Get involved in your schools, local politics. It will become apparent that there is far more going on then business men cutting up slivers of the pie (although you will run into that constituency too). On my street the families are organizing around schools and the results have been very heartening.
Why would you find his message to be disempowering? If anything, I find it to be quite the opposite. Your own statement referring to going out as individuals and finding things out about the levers of power are exactly what Noam Chomsky is talking about (IMO). He never claimed to be a leader or organizer of the working class. He is however, dropping science. Offering a keen insight into the political machine. It's up to the people to pick up that info and run with it.
I simply disagree with his analysis (with some exceptions). I do not think that the business cabal is totally in control of the political process (though I do believe they are often a negative force), nor do I think that everyone is a "willing" servant who is turned off by corporate control. Most Americans are too busy trying to make ends meet and keeping their families functioning to have time for politics. Chomsky probably would say that corporations are responsible for that too but I ain't buying.
I simply disagree with his analysis (with some exceptions). I do not think that the business cabal is totally in control of the political process (though I do believe they are often a negative force), nor do I think that everyone is a "willing" servant who is turned off by corporate control. Most Americans are too busy trying to make ends meet and keeping their families functioning to have time for politics. Chomsky probably would say that corporations are responsible for that too but I ain't buying.
Corporations and advertising do play a large role in keeping people in debt. In a constant state of stress, fear and consumption due to media manipulation. Also, a large number of people simply don't have the level of interest in government necessary to effectively question what's going on. For example, if every sports fan or record collector, or film buff, etc. showed the same interest in politics as they did to their escapist pursuits, the state of this country would be very different. Just like anything else, it's ALL in the details. Researching every bit of minutiae and sooner or later, an informed opinion is made. It's not that the status quo is made up of dullards, or stupid people, it's that we are being entertained, placated.... so that very few will be able to question the decisions that are being made.
I think it's very evident that people no longer have a say in their government. We're being systematically lied to and stolen from on an almost daily basis.
You get no argument from me that we are not be governed by the best and the brightest at this moment. You get no argument that the current administration is totally corrupt and is handing over the national treasury to Bush's family friends. But Chomsky is saying something much more ominous.
I have always found his analysis overly simple. For example, his take on the the cold war. noam's cold war theory I find his thinking on the subject ridiculous. He is in essence saying that America kept the Cold War going when it could have settled things amiably. That it was another ploy to keep the man down. Notice how he almost excuses Soviet eastern bloc aggression when talking about prague and berlin. Notice that he does not mention communist client states in the west like Nicaragua, Cuba or in Africa (Angola, Mozambique) Why because that would imply that the Soviets weren't being nice little boys either. He simply cannot get his head around the fact that it is a far more complicated world than we would hope. So though I think he makes good points (for example, that end of the cold war would bring on imperialistic tendencies in the west), he throws the baby out with the bath water everytime to prove his tired theory of total corporate dominance.
Many people have two visions of the world. Their own and one they attribute to anybody who dissents from their vision in even the minutest capacity. Im glad you seek to portray me as a fascist nazi super biggot. Its this attitude which keeps the left marginalised. As long as you remain wallowing in the self satisfied piousness of your ideology and condemn anyone who disagrees as either having a serious character or intellectual flaw you will remain largely irrelevant.
Comments
The whole concept of the US is NOT[/b] unsustainable, whoever's in charge. But I know what you mean. Many elements of our society are unsustainable but the overwhelming "ingenuity and general good will" of the US will probably prevail. Though I'll admit that I do have serious doubts and fears about the future of America. Our addictions seen to be an origin of many of the problems we are facing. Addictions on many levels.
hahahahahha. . dan berkman, portland demagogue!!!!!
dan, dont even waste your fingers with this guy.
anthony & rockadelic.....that "only a riot will fix it" mentality, while romantic and pleasing to think in such quick fix absolutes, is a cop out. especially coming form you two, who i doubt will ever be involved in said riot. If you guys think that shit is so far gone that "only a riot will fix it" (and i think its pretty far gone myself) you might want to look at the miles of grassroot work that needs to be done to get shit on the right course and get about to doing that work sedulously. the republicans did it for decades to get back in the positions of power they are now.
fats: we will work hard to get santorum out this novemeber. belee dat! repressed fucking scumbag!!!!
-off to work
Another one bites the dust
How do you think I???m going to get along,
Without you, when you???re gone
You took me for everything that I had,
And kicked me out on my own
Are you happy, are you satisfied
How long can you stand the heat?
Things like this might just keep Republicans away. They are starting to feel like they are getting fucked over.
they are. we are.
Maybe.
But it's one thing to piss off ur opponites and their supporters. It's another thing to alienate ur own base. Which things like the above mentioned are doing.
I think ur going to see many republican supporters just not vote. Some thinking, just let the Dems hold the reigns for awhile and see what happens down the road.
True and their base rests on
three* two political views that are fundamentally incompatible: free market capitalism and theocratic regulation.*the neocons have jumped ship.
I think Ralph Nader is a patriot.
Do you?
I think that Ralph Nader has done some very admirable and incredible things; I think he's also shown himself to be just as self-absorbed and out of touch as the two parties that he likes to rail against.
I agree. I'd like to add that he is not suited for political office.
Yes, I agree with that too.
Thanks to this "ignore user" thing and these kinds of conversations, it looks like I'll never have to worry about beef on this board again.
Amen. Thats like, exactly where im coming from dude.
It's supposed to be a different method of voting whereby third party candidates get a better shake...
I had a friend try to tell me about it this weekend.
Apparently it helps prevent spoilers, but I have to do a bit more research to know more...
I say we just throw a lawn dart at a room full of rich yale fucks and whoever gets hit wins. I mean the same types of shitheads will end up in office, but at least they will be maimed in some way. The possibility of a president with an eye patch is intriguing to me.
this will only encourage future leaders to play the veil tormented dictator role.
I'm all for keeping our leaders with dual eyesight, it's the only hope for America
Isn't that where rank candidates by preference (1st choice, 2nd choice, 3rd etc...), as opposed to one single all-or-nothing vote? That way you can vote for a third-party outsider who may ideally represent your values, instead of settling for a mainstream imitation. All without the dilemma of TOTALLY stealing a vote from the "lesser of two evils".
Is Peterdabadoo still BAN?
Does anybody else want any?
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/washington/raceprofile_INDEX.html
I like the way things are looking but I hope all of this done deal type talk doesn't keep a lot of people from going to the polls, because if that happens it will not be good for the dems. People need to feel a sense of urgency about voting. I think this shit will be really close.
I would suggest that people go out and learn about the levers of power in their own community first hand. Get involved in your schools, local politics. It will become apparent that there is far more going on then business men cutting up slivers of the pie (although you will run into that constituency too). On my street the families are organizing around schools and the results have been very heartening.
Corporations and advertising do play a large role in keeping people in debt. In a constant state of stress, fear and consumption due to media manipulation. Also, a large number of people simply don't have the level of interest in government necessary to effectively question what's going on. For example, if every sports fan or record collector, or film buff, etc. showed the same interest in politics as they did to their escapist pursuits, the state of this country would be very different. Just like anything else, it's ALL in the details. Researching every bit of minutiae and sooner or later, an informed opinion is made. It's not that the status quo is made up of dullards, or stupid people, it's that we are being entertained, placated.... so that very few will be able to question the decisions that are being made.
I think it's very evident that people no longer have a say in their government. We're being systematically lied to and stolen from on an almost daily basis.
I have always found his analysis overly simple. For example, his take on the the cold war. noam's cold war theory I find his thinking on the subject ridiculous. He is in essence saying that America kept the Cold War going when it could have settled things amiably. That it was another ploy to keep the man down. Notice how he almost excuses Soviet eastern bloc aggression when talking about prague and berlin. Notice that he does not mention communist client states in the west like Nicaragua, Cuba or in Africa (Angola, Mozambique) Why because that would imply that the Soviets weren't being nice little boys either. He simply cannot get his head around the fact that it is a far more complicated world than we would hope. So though I think he makes good points (for example, that end of the cold war would bring on imperialistic tendencies in the west), he throws the baby out with the bath water everytime to prove his tired theory of total corporate dominance.