We Hate You We Hate You We Hate You

So I'm thinking of writing a post about what is going on with the HCR debate (some surprise). There are a couple of issues that intrigue me (in the sense that I am just barley able to prevent myself from screaming hysterically and pulling an Oedipus).

Greenwald tackles one aspect in detail and touches on another. His main point is the fact that everybody knew that liberals/progressives in congress wouldn't hold out for anything and so could be completely ignored. Even Dennis caved and got nothing for it other than a ride on Air Force One. The second half of is that those in the liberal blogging community have turned on those of us who continue to oppose a bill that has nothing in it that almost all liberals insisted had to be in it a few months ago in order to support it. As Greenwald says now people like me and those at Firedoglake "are being treated as though they are Pol Pot."

This bill must be passed because because because. As I said before, one points out the real problems with the bill and the serious issues, including questioning whether or not the bill will cover those it's supporters claim it will cover and there is not a refutation of that criticism or even a discussion of the issues, but rather just attacks, including being challenged as being a mere troll out to destroy the community.

Certainly those who are backing the bill have been rewarded by the near insanity of the right wing attacks on the bill. They do look good in comparison, but of course nearly every crazy complaint by the right wing gets the bill changed to accommodate that complaint: Death Panels: we will get rid of counseling concerning living wills. Illegal Aliens: we will also certainly make sure that no illegal immigrants get any health care even though that can harm the health of all the rest of us, if someone who has an infectious disease doesn't go to the E.R.

Not a single one of the issues raised by the liberals have been addressed not a single one of the concerns has been fixed, but still we are told that we must support that bill. Not only that but we have got to keep our peace and not complain else Obama may be harmed. Kucinich said specifically "We have to be very careful that the potential of President Obama's presidency not be destroyed by this debate." Wow just wow, we have got to vote for this bill which literally yesterday I said I couldn't vote for because it had nothing in it that I said it had to have. We have to vote for the bill because the president needs it, not because we need it. Or it will do what it is supposed to do.

We are being told that the bill is the most important piece of social legislation in a generation. Well in a way it may just be, it will have socially engineered our society so that individually we are required to pay a minimum of 20% or so of our GDP for health insurance (I almost wrote health care, but that is a misnomer, it is money paid to insurance companies) and it is at least double what the rest of the world pays.

Remember the Sir Robin in The Holy Grail who always shouts "Run Away, Run Away" at the battle scenes. You know:




I suspect that is closer to what all the liberals in congress are than anything. So once you have invested in these cowards, or are yourself one of them then you are going to be pretty mad at anyone who points that out. Also, in a couple of years you are going to be pretty pissed off at people who tell you "I told you so, you should have listened to me back when there was the possibility of getting something good."

I suspect that will really irritate people. I know I know it is not a very satisfying explanation, but it is all I've got.

Still, I am unable to understand why no liberal has a back bone. Perhaps if I were given incredible power and wealth I might be able to understand why I was unable and unwilling to put it on the line for any principle at all.

Oh yes, I forgot I am apparently one of the 3% of liberals who believe that this bill sucks. Hmmmm. I am awaiting being shown that I am wrong, just like with the WMDs.

The President's Speech

Damn I hate it when I'm right.

Also, I am reminded of Ken Burn's Civil War, quoting someone who said "South Carolina: to small for a nation, to large for an insane asylum."

Damn Flu

So I'm going a little crazy about Brecht and Weill. Stop me before I buy again.

The little woman is just getting over another bout with a fever spike as a result of the flu of a couple of weeks ago. I would be more worried if several friends in Columbus hadn't said that their flu followed the same course.

Oh well.

I Fucking Told You So

We are not going to leave that "country" at all. We are going to stay there and keep a major presence in Iraq until Hell freezes over or until we can no longer afford to do it. We are going to replay, not Vietnam, but rather Indochina. And this time we are not going to be us, but we are rather going to be the French.

WOW

When I am depressingly right, I am apparently immediately depressingly right. And ok, maybe the photo is a little dramatic. No I don't think it is.

The News Just Gets Better and Better

Well, so I guess now we get to bail out European banks with no oversight either. Eventually these hundred billions of dollars start to add up, don't ya know? By the way anybody want to bet on how far the public option in the health insurance bill and card check get and what kind of pressure this administration will put on congress to get either of them passed?

Well fuck it, I am tired of losing while being right.

Ok I want to publicly apologize to anyone who cares for my vote in the last election. I really didn't think that he'd be this bad. I didn't think he'd be great, I just didn't think he'd be awful.

I'm Back

OK, it wasn't this interesting, but still I'd like to leave this image in your minds.

Ok, back from a one day jury trial, where we got our asses kicked. It was what is now known in Ohio as an OVI case (previously DWI or DUI) at any rate, not a good out come for my guy. I had strongly urged him to plea out.

Unfortunately, he blew .180 well over two times the legal limit. His explanation that he had only three beers over a six hour period didn't wash with the jury. Although, they did stay out for about an hour and a half. I have no idea what was with that. I mean the court didn't even feed them.

So now he gets to pay rent on the court room and the way he does that is to serve extra jail days. I must be terribly cynical, as that does not surprise me at all.

I am remembered what another lawyer told me concerning a criminal case he was required by his client to try against the lawyer's strong advice: "All I could think of was that here were twelve people looking at me and trying to figure out how incompetent I must be for telling my guy to take this to trial."

Damn I Hate It When I'm Right

I put up the last post before I saw this. There is apparently no way you can fail without being chosen to work on this administration's financial team. At least under Bush they waited until they were appointed to fail completely.

Given my tax problems and criminal history I should be a natural for some high level administration position. Well that and the fact that I am willing to take a position in a field I know nothing about. I think that I'll put my name in today.

Aw Shit

So what do I see as a headline in the paper today: Administration is open to taxing health benefits. What kind of horse shit is this? The best way to balance the budget is on the backs of those least able to pay for it?

Well gee, I guess it would be an easy way to make sure that unionized workers didn't price themselves out of the market, since they would not be able to afford health benefits and would, what? I guess that they'd have to go out buy their own with what I would guess would be their increased salaries. Sure.

I'm not sure what Obama is trying to do. He keeps doing things that seem to be designed to piss off those who (however misguided they were) were his strongest supporters. Yeah, I did vote for him, but completely understanding that he was hopefully the best of three (counting Clinton) not particularly good choices

Of course that comes in on top of this shit. Giving some insight into what our unelected rulers continue to do. That is they take our money and then spit in our faces. I don't think that people (well at least not good old U.S. American patriot people) are willing to get out their pitch forks and tar and take these assholes out. But it would be nice to see Madam Guillotine up and operating on Wall Street. Not that I would ever seriously encourage something so awful, really. No really.

I am continuously amazed and how little these people seem to understand about what they have done and how little they care about getting it right this time.

UPDATE: Perhaps I was wrong about the health, stuff. On the other hand I am beginning to have a hard time trusting Obama.

Shut Up And Listen, Damn It

You know I've always thought that one of my most endearing traits is my ability to go from complete and utter silence into a full rant in about thirty seconds. Particularly when I think somebody doesn't seem to understand a certain political or economic fact that is clear as day to me. Or alternatively, when a jurist or opposing lawyer has just done something that is clearly beyond the pale.

I often wonder how those in Washington think in the way they do when little ole me here in East Jesus Rural by god Ohio can see things so clearly. Still gullibility or stupidity knows no geographic boundaries. I am still owed a bottle of the most expensive Scotch I can find in this god forsaken area by a judge (unnamed) who bet me that WMD would be found within six months after the end of the "war" in Iraq. Unfortunately, when one practices in front of a judge it is not a good idea to be right about these kind of things. Particularly when the judge in question does not want to "remember" the bet.

I am still surprised at the value stupidity has for those who govern and those who write about those who govern. If it had a dollar value then they would all be rich. Oh wait.

So then I guess intelligence would be the opposite and that would explain why I am poor. I'll go with that.

Doesn't Anybody Know How To Play This Game

So I read yesterday in Greenwald and Hullabaloo about the "new" position on state secrets (that is either irony or sarcasm, I'm not sure which). A position which seems to have more in common with Kafka or Joseph Heller than with the United States Constitution. Although, to be fair perhaps more to do with the Constitution as it is currently interpreted than one would like to admit. No need to really know the evidence against you is there?

Then there are the various things concerning the bailout and a vary scary thing about entitlements which is code for Social Security. When really Social Security isn't an entitlement at all, but is rather earned, something that people pay into to get back their money at a later time (you know like insurance).

Once the market collapsed it was probably not possible for a republican to be elected, but by then there was already a democratic nominee. I was worried about Obama, but I figured that he couldn't be worse than Clinton. I might have been wrong.

Well back to my day job, to try to keep the wolves away. At this point I'm really not sure that will be possible.

Oh Brother How Often Can I Keep Saying the Same Thing

OK, here we go, what I said yesterday. We can't get the votes within a month of our guy being inaugurated. We are indeed fucked.

I had a thought about what Obama and the democrats in congress are doing. They are placing a mattress on the ground for us to jump from a fourth floor window to (pardon my construction, but it is no worse than what is happening in congress -- the construction I mean). No firemen to catch us.

More of the Same?

Well the stimulus package passed the House yesterday with no republican votes after the democrats and Obama gave them most of what they asked for. Now it goes to the Senate. Is there anyone who thinks that more won't be given away? Ian Walsh at Firedoglake has been on this and his stuff is both convincing and depressing and scary.

No matter what is done there is no way to placate the republicans and their enablers in the media.

I am not sure that the country can survive the current cabal in control of the levers of power. They are too bull headed to be reasoned with and are too stupid to realize that they are destroying the goose or calf or whatever it is that provides them their power. The actual people who make this country work. The rulers have every reason to assume that no matter what happens to the hoi poli they will continue to rule. There will always be a few who are able to scramble up through the ranks. They will be pointed out to show that anybody can do it. Kind of like in the Reader's Digest, you know My Most Unforgettable Character.

When Reagan was elected and the recession hit at that time I thought and said that they (meaning our conservative rulers be they democrat or republican) could run the country with 25% unemployment. I now think that they can continue to control and run this country with 50% underemployment. Enough so that people are so scared of losing their shitty jobs that they will do whatever it takes to keep it. If that means standing on the backs of other poor to keep their head above water then they will do that.

We voted for change and now that change is not happening. So we have nothing left to do but eat dog or die. Or vote in the closet fascists who are out there at the door salivating and just waiting to get in to give us a nice pleasant American version of 1935 Germany.

Holly shit am I depressed or what? I hope that what Gore Vidal said several years ago is right and I'm wrong: Middle aged men tend to confuse their own failings and decrepitude for that of the nation. I don't remember what work it was in nor have I quoted it precisely, but I've got the thought right.

I Told Ya So

I had figured that when the Pentagon released figures of the Gitmo "recidivists" there were probably some problems with it. I also figured that there figures were released to put pressure on Obama. Guess what -------- right again.

It's an old joke, but apparently it is still knockin' em dead if you get my meanings, and I think you do. Simply make up the figures most people don't have the ability, knowledge, or willingness to check them or you out. You will get away with it most of the time and in these times with this press you can bet that if you are pushing right wing propaganda you will definately get a pass from the vast majority of the MSM.

Damn I wish I could be right about something good. You know like figuring what stock to take a chance on.

Oh Woe Is Me

OK, maybe I am putting on a bit much.

After rereading some of my posts I'm starting to feel a little like Jeremiah or perhaps Cassandra. Take your pick. Although I am far from the only one. Still it does kind of get old.

What you may well ask, gets old?

Watching the same people who have been wrong about everything politically over the past forty years continue to be wrong in the same way and continue to control the levers of power and make the same mistakes they have made before. Or new people controlling these same levers of power making the same mistakes the old people made. And let's face it, the mistakes are pretty obvious right about now, but the answers are all the same, and are all as wrong as they ever were.

I know the cliche about being crazy (same, same, different result, etc.).

Or perhaps it merely draws into question the general level of intelligence of the electorate. I was told by a sitting magistrate that FDR caused the great depression to last longer because he spent too much money on stimulus programs. Then in the same breath he said that what got us out of the depression was World War II. A war that resulted in a massive amount of deficient spending. How can an otherwise intelligent man hold that we cannot spend our way out of a depression and yet immediately say that we spent ourselves out of the depression through military spending?

So maybe we are fucked. I guess not being listened to didn't stop either Jeremiah or Cassandra. Of course, neither of them ended well.

Obamavilles?

So do you think Obama will do enough to deal with this economic crisis? And with the middle east and our torture regimes now? I am beginning to doubt it. I watched Clinton live up to his campaign promises. That is I watched him govern as the most conservative democratic president since Grover Cleveland (OK maybe Carter was just as conservative).

I figured that I didn't know enough about Obama and I could only hope that he would be progressive, I doubt it now. How narrowly lucky were our parents to get FDR. I guess we will see, if Obama can overcome his roots, but I really don't expect it. I do not want to live the last years of my life in an Obamaville, but I may not have any choice.

When I hear the guy talk about taking on social security and Medicare entitlements. I hear the same people who put Reagan in office. I always figured they could rule with one-quarter of the working population out of work. Perhaps better, because they always had that minority to scare those who are working, all be it at a very suppressed wage. I'm looking at the same thing right now, but with a smiling young black guy saying it.

Jess Local Disasters

Ok, I'm really not up to writing about the same thing I've written about in my last two posts. All I can say is even Greenwald agrees with me (although, since he hasn't read me he doesn't realize it of course). And of course his writing is more nuanced. But other than that he got it from me.

On the home front, the garage door broke; the computer broke and the warranty people say its not their problem; some water pipes in the bathroom broke; the electric is doing some weird stuff in the kitchen; and my car's front end needs several hundred dollars. Not work, it just wants several hundred dollars. All my mechanical pieces of equipment need several hundred dollars periodically. Preferably at a point in time that I don't have it.

I'm just tired.

Damn I Hate It When I'm Right

This is really not good.

So here comes the new boss same as the old boss. How is he gonna twist arms if he completely forgives the most obvious quisling of them all. Lyndon Johnson and FDR knew that there had to be both a carrot and a stick to get anything done of any importance.

Or does he want to be the black Clinton? That reaching out over the asile certainly worked well for Clinton. Look how much he accomplished. How much he helped the poor and middle class. (Yes I am being sarcastic.)

Of course, this is a guy that voted for FISA and the bail out bill. Given where we are historically -- which is swirrling around the top of the toilet ready to go down, I would hope for a more assertive politician. One who would push some seriously progressive programs.

Whee

Well, well, well. I think that I will wait until tomorrow to write to my senators and congressman and congratulate them on their insight in the way they handled the current (oh, I'm sorry, I should say the past) banking crisis. If they hadn't helped in passing the $700 billion bail out bill the stock market might be crashing. Those assholes should be jumping out the windows just like they did in 1929. Although, today they will probably just take a golden parachute and float down.

I set here in Little Burg Ohio and see the facts (as to be fair, do lots of other people in other little burgs), but the big money boys and the deep thinkers continue to fuck things up. They do not even fuck them up in original ways. Bush, or the bankers scream the sky is falling and you've got to do this. This involves massive amounts of money and more power given to the exec. Generally, although not always, it involves killing a great number of brown colored and red neck folk (sometimes, apparently, it only involves financially destroying a great number of brown colored and red neck folk).

Incidentally, those very serious middle of the road moderate folks were totally wrong again as they have been for at least the last eight years and probably have been since 1966.

Does the ride on this rolley coaster get steeper as we get toward the end? Well I"m out to buy some apples whole sale for resale on the street corner up from my office.