The Weekly Watch

Unconventional

I managed to avoid most of the DNC convention other than a few clips on Rising and Jimmy Dore. What I did see was hollow, vapid, and without substance...full of platitudes and no policy. All they got is 'we ain't Trump'. Perhaps the inept response to the pandemic will be enough to sink Trump, but this sure rings of 2016. We'll see. I find myself in agreement with Caity and her view that this isn't normal...

So abnormalize the status quo. Abnormalize it every chance you get. Abnormalize it by holding a clear idea in your mind of what a healthy society would look like, then point out all the bizarre deviations from that vision at every opportunity. Remind people that this is crazy. Assure them that it doesn’t have to be this way. That the only thing keeping it this way is the fact that the powerful keep pouring vast troves of wealth into manipulating us into thinking that we should.

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Did you see the new study this week suggesting Greenland ice is past the tipping point?

The melting of Greenland's ice cap has gone so far that it is now irreversible, with snowfall no longer able to compensate for the loss of ice even if global warming were to end today, according to researchers. "Greenland's glaciers have passed a tipping point of sorts, where the snowfall that replenishes the ice sheet each year cannot keep up with the ice that is flowing into the ocean from glaciers," said a statement from Ohio State University, where several authors of a study published August 13 in Communications Earth and Environment are based.

As California is burning...

CA fire map.png

And much of the western US has been in triple digits for several days.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/08/18/california-heat-em...

Here in the SE we have two tropical systems, Marco and Laura, headed to landfall this week
https://www.wkrg.com/tracking-the-tropics/tropical-storm-marco-forms-in-...

Meanwhile the DNC decided to support subsidies for fossil fuel extraction. Jimmy explains-

11 min

Regenerative Agriculture and Massive Planting of Trees is Our Only Hope – Earl Katz
Podcast with transcript...
https://theanalysis.news/interviews/regenerative-agriculture-and-massive...

I was worried about it from having interacted with Paul Ehrlich and understanding the science. The main message of the Monton statement is that all of mankind’s problems are inextricably related. And, you know, from pollution to poverty to, you know, all of our problems are in health.
They’re all inextricably related. And the point of the Monton statement was that a necessary precondition for solving the panoply of problems facing mankind is the cessation of war.
...
So the only way we can really deal with climate change now is to stop doing the destructive things that are causing it. It’s very, very late. In fact, I think it’s too late because of something called latent heat that we can go into that later. And I’m not the only one that thinks it’s too late, but whatever we can do to ameliorate the problem, we should be doing. But as long as we are a warrior nation, as long as we’re killing one another, we’re not going to be saving humanity or the planet itself.
Possibly there’s a good chance this planet can turn into Venus with the runaway climate change.
...
I don’t have that much faith that anything can really be done. I think the die has been cast because the greenhouse gases that are in the atmosphere will continue to heat the planet for as much as thousands of years. And the only way we can possibly, possibly survive is through regenerative agriculture, which is bringing the carbon down from the atmosphere and putting it back into the soil.
Naturally, reforestation that made it was done on a massive global scale, we might survive, and I say might, but there’s no political will for that. You’re taking on industrial agriculture.

How regenerative farming can help heal the planet and human health | Charles Massy | TEDxCanberra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et8YKBivhaE (17 min)

Here's a fun clip about the use of goats to reclaim, regenerate, and improve natural systems. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9yiclBCxMo (12 min)

Mark Hyman put together some clips of interviews asking "how we can support farmers".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f04wyxMNA74 (10 min)

The average age of a farmer in the United States today is 58 years old. And it’s been projected that about 40% of the continental United States’ farm and ranch acreage will have changed hands between 2015 and 2035. However, young people who are looking to get into farming are unfortunately faced with a number of barriers to entry, including difficulty accessing land, education, and financing. This is why it is so important that we begin to spur business innovation and create policy supports to bring in the next generation of farmers, and innovators in the food system.

But as Earl Katz says the first step is to stop wars not create new ones...

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The Coming War on China is John Pilger's 60th documentary. Pilger reveals what the news doesn't - that the world's greatest military power, the United States, and the world's second economic power, China, both nuclear-armed, are on the road to war. Pilger's film is a warning and an inspiring story of resistance.
2 min trailer or the 2 hour film
Caitlin had a recent review https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2020/03/23/the-coming-war-on-china%e2%80%8a...

Max and Stacy chat to investor Lawrence Lepard about ‘money printer go brrrr’ in an age of ‘when government spending knows no limits’. He suggests we might avoid a war if China (or Russia) issues a gold based currency. Interesting conversation...
https://www.rt.com/shows/keiser-report/498401-money-hyperinflation-fix-m...

Sadly a Biden administration will not provide improvement...

Earlier this year, Biden published an article entitled “Rescuing U.S. Foreign Policy After Trump” in the March/April issue of Foreign Affairs. In that article, he declares, that “to counter Russian aggression, we must keep the alliance’s military capabilities sharp.” At the same time, the United States needs to “get tough with China.” The “most effective way to meet that challenge is to build a united front of U.S. allies and partners to confront China.”

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/08/22/pers-a22.html

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Nor will a democratic congress...

The bottom line: at least 34 Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives have a primarily military-intelligence background, up from 30 in 2018, as well as three of the party’s 35 candidates for the US Senate, compared to zero in 2018. For each branch of Congress, this represents about 10 percent of the total.

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/08/20/ciad-a20.html

Speaking of CIA, Lee Camp had a good conversation with Ray McGovern this week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfqrD3vd14I (17 min)

Colin Powell at the Democratic National Convention: Democrats prepare administration of militarism and war
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/08/19/pers-a19.html#pk_campaign=si...

Jimmy agrees War Hawks Endorse Biden At DNC Convention! (11 min)

Cornel West understands...
https://www.democracynow.org/2020/8/21/biden_dnc_cornel_west_ben_jealous

But you’ve got to move on up from poverty. And in order to do it, you’ve got to talk about poverty. If you’re going to move on up from Wall Street greed and Wall Street crimes, you’ve got to talk about Wall Street greed and Wall Street crimes. If you’re going to move on up from the Pentagon militarism around the world, you’ve got to talk about it. Those are the taboo issues that we don’t get serious wrestling with. So when you really talk about the soul of America and the battle for the soul of America, much of that soul has been evacuated by the Pentagon greed and the Wall Street greed and the inability of the police and other institutions to treat Black people and Brown people, Indigenous people as human beings.
...with the decline and fall of the American Empire, it looks as if the system is unable to generate enough energy to seriously reform itself. It remains sanitized, superficial. We’re getting Lawrence Welk’s bubbles rather than Prince’s Revolution. I want to go to Prince’s Revolution concert. I want fundamental change.
... the distinctive features of a decline of an empire, military overreach — 53 cents of every dollar is going to the military, 53 cents of every dollar in the city of Chicago goes to the police — militarism domestically, militarism abroad

Part of the problem is we don't know our history. We have been taught the 'myth' of America. Excellent conversation with Chris Hedges and Professor James W. Loewen about the teaching of history as a form of indoctrination.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdVNX_NUocI (27 min)

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There's been some good news on the COVID front. John Campbell has a 30 min clip called a "Torrent of Good News" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5Z6wdu1eI0

Chris echos John sentiments suggesting 50% of us may be immune
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7TWiweluwA (50 min)

A recent study shows that covid-19 may not be as "novel" a virus (i.e., never encountered before) as previously thought. And as a result, 20-50% of the population appears to have a degree of "pre-immunity" to the virus.

and in his second clip he says...

Wow! We have even more good news to share in today's video. We could get used to this...

First: several quick, cheap tests for covid-19 are rolling out. Finally, we should be able to do widespread testing that's not overly invasive, too expensive, or takes forever to get results.

Second: Ivermectin continues to show statistical effectiveness against covid-19. It may be effective at later stages of infection than HCQ.

Third: the XYZ+ Hypothesis is holding up strong as more data comes in. It really does seem that the world may indeed be past the worst of the deaths from this pandemic.

In the US, cases...

cases_1.png

deaths...

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and hospitalizations... (lines are age groups...the older, the more hospitalization)

hospitalizations.png

are all trending downward.

This is normally the weekend for the big country dance here on the mountain. COVID has affected many things. I miss the music sessions. As a reminiscence, I'm posting this clip. I've been lucky to learn old time music from folks like Charlie.

4 min

I think we better cherish our days and celebrate what we have. I find solace in Rumi, 13th century Persian poet and a Sufi mystic. (about 3 min)

Wishing you and all the human family peace, love, and contentment.

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Comments

gulfgal98's picture

2020 has been the year of depressing news. I used to check the COVID numbers in my home state of Florida and my home county every day, but it got to the point that it became pointless. Some local governments are doing their best to keep it under control, my home county being one of them. But the governor is doing everything he can to push for school and business re-openings including going to court to make the schools re-open. Money speaks louder than good sense.

Here in NC where I am now, things are a little saner. There is a statewide mask mandate that requires everyone to wear one indoors in all businesses and public buildings. Unfortunately enforcement is left up to the businesses themselves.

Dr. West is so right on point, like he usually is. The corruption of our elected officials will be the death knell for us all. We are a nation run by sociopaths and in real time, we are watching the fall of the empire and the death of our planet to sustain life. And they do not care. It cannot be emphasized enough, foreign policy is domestic policy. The greed and plundering of the earth via war is exacerbating climate change and all the other ills we face.

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

Lookout's picture

@gulfgal98

Georgia may be worse than FL in inept COVID policy. We technically have a mask mandate in AL but many ignore it. I've ordered some new protective masks...
https://n95maskco.com/collections/n95-masks

Our N95 masks were developed to be at the forefront of cutting-edge innovation in personal protective equipment (PPE). Each of these bacteria-fighting masks have four secure layers capable of blocking 95% of small (.3 micron) particles, but inactivates up to 99.9% within minutes. This way, transmission of one (or more than one) human pathogen(s) by antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral activity is markedly decreased keeping you vitally protected. Furthermore, rigorous validation testing has been performed on our antiviral masks to ensure they comply with GLP regulation and can therefore block a wide range of pathogens, bacteria and fungi so you can feel safe and secure when you venture out.

I'll review them when I can.

I bet the music scene in Brevard has been impacted. Singing is evidently an excellent way to spread the virus.

Take care and be well!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

enhydra lutris's picture

watch. I just used c99p as the test URL to test a site isolation site and you are what came up, must be top of the fp.

be well and have a good one

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Lookout's picture

@enhydra lutris

Hope your trip went well this week. The garden and place have occupied my time. Took my little '92 GEO tracker (my main vehicle) in for what I hope are minor repairs. I'll be glad to get it back. Sure is handy to use around here. Been using the electric golf cart instead, which is also handy. Makes transporting the produce from the garden to the house easy. Still lots of tomatoes, okra, and peppers... squash is fading but have a few spaghetti and butternut squash ripening. Still have peas to harvest and shell, but plan on waiting till this wet week passes. We had another inch yesterday. So plenty of processing and storing to do. Managed to plant the fall seedlings and seed before the rain came in. I plant with the weather, but it ended up being in tune with the moon too. So perhaps that bodes well.

Be well and happy!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

enhydra lutris's picture

@Lookout
and a nice morning the following day. After that we became not merely ringed by fires, but by visible msoke plumes and even some flames. We bailed and headed home at about 8 pm, and later fund out that the place where we were was evacuated later that night, wo it is good that we left when we did.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Lookout's picture

@enhydra lutris

Hope all is well at your home. eyo said it was too smoky to open her windows. We've had that here too....though we just have understory fires. One year they had to postpone the FLA Folk Fest due to fires. This year they are not even rescheduling it....probably for the best given the situation in FLA.

Stay cool!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

enhydra lutris's picture

@Lookout
that'll give you a reading for anyplace by name or zip code. Right now eyo is solid red unhealthy and we've slipped back down to moderate thanks to the onshore breeze blowing it all out into the valley.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

@enhydra lutris thanks for looking me up. sheesh i coughed watering the dirt patch this morning. ouchy. lol it still hurts if i cough but doesn't feel so broken. but what smells it is really foul. worse than the camp fire air when it settled here. every year the disasters get closer. tubbs kincade now waldberg. go away

the headlines are like a war zone every one on alert. the neighbors are all packed with the camper ready to go. you guys know theres no way in hell on gods green earth that i can evacuate right. im a goner if the hi lo siren blares. they have no assistance for mental patients cause were all mental patients now. austerity budget

think good thoughts
thanks

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@eyo talking to myself yeah. that headline there was the big stink if it wasnt fake news. more toxic plastic melt. benzene breath

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/walbridge-fire-destroys-560-s...

Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, confirmed during the same press conference that President Donald Trump had signed a disaster declaration related to the fires, opening up key funding for residents in need of assistance and government entities now grappling with the costs of multiple protracted disasters.

Supervisor James Gore, who represents north Sonoma County and parts of west county the Walbridge fire has torched, said he expects the blaze to continue for days and weeks. However, it doesn’t compare to the October 2017 Sonoma County wildfires, or even the 2019 Kincade fire, wind-fed monsters that set upon the countryside with an almost unprecedented pace.

“These are very different events,” Gore said, explaining Walbridge is being fed by excess vegetation rather than powerful winds that drove the earlier fires. “Those Diablo Winds turn a wildfire into an absolute natural disaster. Those dry, hungry, devouring winds, those are shock and awe moments. This is a hungry beast that has food everywhere. … I have a feeling this thing is going to keep eating for a couple of weeks. That’s what firefighters say.”

days and weeks. capital a n d. wtf i think my guy gore needs a leave of absence he doesnt sound right. never did. permanent leave would do us all a solid.

mcguire so useless spending all his capital on a dumbfuck tourist trail hasnt helped. and a freight train deal to subsidize those smart grifters. sonoma marin area rapid transit failure promotion. ex politicians cashing in and out the revolving door. cant even run a service across two counties and its not rapid. it is a suicide trap for our deaths of despair. thanks a lot democrats. all yall.

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Lookout's picture

@eyo

I hate it for you and your neighbors. Nothing like the anxiety of the fire danger coupled with the toxic air. Take care friend!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Azazello's picture

Yes indeed. Here's a little chart from my local newspaper:

They could have done a similar chart for the morning low temps, same thing, normal +10 degrees. Here's a piece form the WaPo about the fires in Siberia: Record Arctic blazes may herald new ‘fire regime’ decades sooner than anticipated

McCarty has searched through the scientific literature from Arctic nations as part of a report she is co-authoring for the Arctic Council. “This is the type of fire event that would be described by these worst-case modeling scenarios that were supposed to occur mid-century,” she said, adding that we may be 30 years early in seeing such fire impacts, which would require a reevaluation of how the Arctic is responding to global warming.

This is the scary part. Global warming is taking place much faster than predicted by even the most pessimistic estimates of just a few years ago. The Western US may now be experiencing changes that were not supposed to occur until 2030 or 2050.
More from the Borderlands:
NYT, How U.S. PolicyTurned the Sonoran Desert Into a Graveyard for Migrants
AZ Daily Star, Border-wall fundraising scam part of broader border con

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We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.

Lookout's picture

@Azazello

...is weather. I think you are correct...

Global warming is taking place much faster than predicted by even the most pessimistic estimates of just a few years ago. The Western US may now be experiencing changes that were not supposed to occur until 2030 or 2050.

We consistently underestimate the rate of change...but hey we gotta subsidize the very industries driving it.

The Bannon story is interesting. Thanks for the AZ daily star link...

Bannon’s game has long been to talk like an American populist while living like a member of the global elite. Bannon was arrested Thursday on board a $28 million yacht, anchored off the coast of Connecticut — a yacht owned by an exiled Chinese billionaire.

Stay cool my friend! There's plenty to get heated about.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Azazello's picture

@Lookout
We're trying to unload our '96 Geo Metro. She wants it out of the driveway.
Condition ? It ran when I parked it.
I'm pretty sure I can put a charge on the battery and it'll start right up.
Those little Suzuki engines will run forever.

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We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.

Lookout's picture

@Azazello

Gets 40+MPG? If I was closer to you I would be a player, or in a non-COVID time I might fly out and drive it back. But the truth of the matter is we both already have a car and truck each, and 4 tags, insurance, and so on is all (maybe more) than I want.

I like those little cars though. A fellow had a $400 convertible model for sale a couple of years ago. I like driving little cars...around here in the boonies anyway.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Azazello's picture

@Lookout
especially around town. We replaced the Metro with a FIAT 500.
Not as good on the gas mileage but surprisingly roomy and easier for older folks to get in and out of.

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9 users have voted.

We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.

@Lookout @Lookout

Hybrids with the little 3 cylinder 1 liter engines
Still getting 70 mpg.
That's 600 miles to a 10 gal tank.
5 speed stick shift
aircon and power steering
tight as a drum
all aluminum, hand made frame
very light, rear wheel skirts
and full underbody shield (plastic)

love the little devils
but gotta sell
my state won't renew registration
unless the 'check engine' light goes out

wonder how the old classics get away with spewing
unleaded gas, while mine you could almost
suck the tailpipe for fresh air

oh, well

onward ... irregardless

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Lookout's picture

@QMS

The way a hillbilly fixes the check engine light is with a piece of electrical tape placed over the light. We have no state inspection of cars here.

To pass inspection you might try finding the wire to the light and cut it. Hope you can keep your functional cars!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

travelerxxx's picture

@QMS

QMS, many, if not most, auto parts stores will do an electronic diagnostic check on your vehicle for free. I think the Honda Insights have the standard OBDII port, which may be on the passenger side of the center console on older models; drivers side on newer ones. Anyway, it's a free check. The parts stores will know where to find it and what to do.

If you want, you can purchase a scanner yourself. They can be pretty cheap and, unless you're a mechanic, not much sense in spending much for one.

Further, your owners manual may give a troubleshooting chart wherein you count the number and sequence of light flashes from the check engine light (after following a prescribed initiation procedure to begin the diagnostic flashing-light check). When doing this, you simply count the flashes and time between a sequence of flashes. After noting these, you compare what you saw to a troubleshooting chart. Often, you can find instructions for doing this, including the charts, online.

You may have a very simple problem. Even a no-longer-sealing gas cap can give you a check engine light. In any event, if you do require a shop to do the work, at least you'll be showing up with information. That will impress the shop folks ...and that might matter.

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Lookout's picture

@travelerxxx

Great tips.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

@travelerxxx

The local dealer ran a diagnostics check on it. They found codes P0505, P1165 & P1600.
I know the 1600 relates to the IMA system. The other two are for IAC valve sticking and intake manifold leaking. The IAC valve is back ordered and costs about $800, they estimated $1400 for repairs.
That is more than the car is worth. Ovals49, who lives pretty close to here, has expressed an interest in the vehicles. I may go that route. Not too good at tinkering with the little stuff anymore.

Thanks again!

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travelerxxx's picture

@QMS

Worried that the "IMA system" light means end-of-life for the battery. Yeah, not cheap.

I'm all for keeping stuff running as it's usually cheaper than new (for sure!), but not necessarily cheaper than replacement with used.

It might be economical for someone who's handy with this type of thing, but not for folks with average skills and/or facilities. Most people are not too familiar with hybrid autos.

It's possible that special care may be needed when replacing the big battery. My brother-in-law's house was burned down when his Tesla burst into flames after being submerged by rising water during Hurricane Harvey. (Yeah, he's a wealthy attorney...) Anyway, I gained even more respect for those batteries after that incident.

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@Azazello
IOW exposed animals will die! (including humans without shelter & cooling)

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I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

The Liberal Moonbat's picture

All they got is 'we ain't Trump'.

Now, by selecting Biden, they don't even have that.

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In the Land of the Blind, the One-Eyed Man is declared mentally ill for describing colors.

Yes Virginia, there is a Global Banking Conspiracy!

Lookout's picture

@The Liberal Moonbat

Well actually worse than nothing. We get war mongers, polluters, profiteers, and fascism.

Oh boy! Whatta future.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

The Liberal Moonbat's picture

@Lookout ...is that's him talking to THEM on OUR behalf, not the other way around.

Even if we have to put up with another 4 years of Donnie Dotard, the Jackass Party deserves to lose so bad.

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11 users have voted.

In the Land of the Blind, the One-Eyed Man is declared mentally ill for describing colors.

Yes Virginia, there is a Global Banking Conspiracy!

Pluto's Republic's picture

@The Liberal Moonbat

...that it was my first ever issue-free presidential campaign. I was quite astonished that Hillary was running on nothing. She was standing for no particular policy. Had already trashed Bernie's policies. She had platitudes and demanded votes. It was insulting, actually. Trump was runnning on anything he could think of, but the only thing that stuck was his meaningless slogan.

Now it's 2020, and this is my second issue-free presidential campaign. Again, two worthless candidates, neither of whom represent the will of the People. Not a single meaningful policy being discussed. It's all about their self-serving reactions to the colossal mess that our greedy, War-Mongering Overlords have created. Nothing for the people.

I can't help but wonder where these corrupt, traitorous politicians think they are going to hide when the reckoning comes.

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
Lookout's picture

@Pluto's Republic

... two worthless candidates, neither of whom represent the will of the People. Not a single meaningful policy being discussed. It's all about their self-serving reactions to the colossal mess that our greedy, War-Mongering Overlords have created. Nothing for the people.

This system has failed us...it has failed the world.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

@Pluto's Republic

Most of them will be thrown to the angry mobs as the oligarchs take off for their luxuriously appointed New Zealand bunkers. Especially, I think, the black and brown ones.

The smartest among them probably see it coming. The dumbest among them think that their employers donors are their friends--all one big happy family united against the proletariat.

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"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

magiamma's picture

and all

quick check in. All okay here but preparing for possible evacuation. Very unlikely but necessary. Will probably read this at 3 am tomorrow morning. Many limbs to cut before I rest.

Hope all is well with those who are dealing with fire. Be safe, be well, take good care.

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Stop Climate Change Silence - Start the Conversation

Hot Air Website, Twitter, Facebook

Lookout's picture

@magiamma

...and be safe. I hate that y'all are on fire.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

snoopydawg's picture

I constantly see centrists blaming the voters for Obama's huge wipe out in 2010 without acknowledging how much Obama let republicans walk all over him. And now those same voters are saying that Joe Biden is THE person we need in the Oval Office to stop Trump's destruction of America. Well I ask where the hell was that Joe Biden when he and Obama did not stop the destruction started during Bush's tenure? Did they roll back the Bush tax cuts? Nope and the diary shows what they gave up and what the GOP got.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2011/9/2/1012951/-President-Obama-just-stop-with-the-Republican-Talking-Points

Enough is fucking enough.

Really it is.

President Obama thinks that we have too many regulations in regards to CLEAN AIR and just want to toss them to the wind?

How Republican is that?

This White House is playing on a very dangerous ground.

Their position is that everyone will run and rally to them next year, no matter what, because we have no where to go.

Well, that position is dangerous if he continues down this slippery slope.


This White House has a pattern and everyone might as well get use to it. It is called negotiating everything that is a Democratic principle away.

This White House put the Big 3 on the table for cuts. A Democratic White House. In doing so, with no explanation, it has angered many in the Democratic Party. While we witnessed President Obama's chicken dance with the Republicans and watched President Obama state that he will not sign any bill without both tax cuts and tax hikes, we again saw him cave to the wind and sign the bill that the Republicans wanted. A bill with pure tax cuts. Remember, Speaker Boehner was proud to state he got "98% of what he wanted", while you heard no rebuttal from the White House.

Keep playing this dangerous game Obama White House. We already know you don't have a pot to piss in when it comes to your disastrous performance on the economy, but you need people to help you win next year. You need enthused voters. You need folks to call people up. You need boots on the ground. You need poll watchers. You need a whole lot of shit to win next year's "Scare you to the polls campaign". But all this shit you are doing NOW, will not help many to help you next year, period.

Shame on you Barack Obama for adopting the GOP talking points on regulatory rules within the EPA on smog. You just lost some votes here, sir.

We just watched the first bipartisan democratic convention where the democrats elevated pro industry republicans over anyone with a leftist bent in the political ideas which pretty much tells you that a Biden administration will be a return to the Obama administration of letting the GOP call the shots even though they are the minority party like they were during O's tenure. How people can change their way of thinking that big is mind boggling don't you think?

The comments are interesting because it seem very few members remember that Obama when they look fondly back at his presidency. Too bad this didn't include Obama's disastrous foreign policies that people are now giving him a pass for. Libya was one of the most prosperous countries in Asia until Obama decided that he would continue PNAC's goals in the middle east. And now for around $400 you can buy a slave in an open air market there. Think of that: The first black American president is responsible for slavery in Libya. Now that's some fucking legacy. Joe Biden own that history too.

Obama sacrificed Main Street in favor of Wall Street; and he's still doing it.

The Deadman's avatar is

Wall Street was bailed out.
Main street was sold out.
99%

How prophetic. His comment: well, maybe the greens will put up someone decent

This person saw a Trump coming:

Sorry, but I can't
A repub will be our president after the next election.
It's just a question of whether the repub will be totally-fucking-insane, or just a wanker.

Imagine what will come after Biden if he does win. Shudder, but then what will be left of the US that they can f'ck up?

That comment thread is great.

He's discrediting himself and our party so badly that if he wins in 2012, Democrats have NO chance at the Presidency in 2016. None whatsoever. Zero.

This fits in well.

apologize if it's been posted previously. I'm behind on my web wanderings. Somehow my alarm clock zipped ahead an hour during the night so I slept in way late....

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18 users have voted.

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

snoopydawg's picture

@snoopydawg

It's interesting to read how people finally started seeing through Obama by 2011, but now his bad history has been whitewashed and the remaining members see him as someone he never was.

I never thought I would say this - ever - but maybe the democrats need to lose the presidency in 2012. I say this as a 58 year old man who has voted (democratic) in every presidential election. Obama is doing enormous damage to the democratic party, I don't know anyone who isn't extremely disappointed and ANGRY at him.

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16 users have voted.

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Lookout's picture

@snoopydawg

Went on steroids with Billy Clinton and his corporate turd way. Count the ways...
NAFTA
the Crime Bill privatizing prisons and 3rd strike your in jail
Telecommunications bill putting the media in the hands of 6 corporations
eliminated welfare
eliminated 500,000 federal jobs
eliminated Glass-Stegal and brought about the financial collapse of 2008
and ....

We know from the Podesta emails that Citibank selected Obummer's cabinet

...and how about his meeting with the bankers after he took office...

This is only the latest—and by no means the last—of the bank bailout schemes initiated by the Bush administration and continued under Obama. Before it is all over, upwards of $10 trillion will be handed over to these institutions.

On Tuesday, during his prime time press conference, Obama insisted, "The rest of us can't afford to demonize every investor or entrepreneur who seeks to make a profit. That drive is what has always fueled our prosperity, and it is what will ultimately get these banks lending and our economy moving once more."

As the administration works with Wall Street to make the banks—and the personal portfolios of the bankers—whole, Obama is preparing a massive attack on the working class. During his press conference, the president repeatedly stressed his determination to tackle "high health care costs" and implement "Entitlement reform"—i.e., cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2009/03/bank-m28.html

I didn't catch on till his Nobel prize speech...When he essentially said war brings peace, so I'm increasing troops in Afghanistan.

There is no "our side".

war is peace_1.jpg

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16 users have voted.

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

@snoopydawg took place after Sept 2011.

And that I was still there to weigh in at the time:

Not so astute observers like me have been hearing Obama use GOP talking points for over two years. Astute observers were years ahead of me.

Guess the New Democratic Party is 'mo betta Republican.

Sad that so many felt so hugely let down by Obama. The choice in 2007-2008 was always clearly warmongering Republican Clinton v. maybe not warmongering and maybe not Republican Obama. Thus, Obama was never more than a slim chance to move away from the warmongering, neoliberal DP. Slim is better than none. However, that open question was answered within months of Obama winning and so few were willing to see him for what he was at that point and begin making lots and lots of noise.

Occupy began two weeks after this diary and thread. 17 September 2011. Too late (still worth joining in on). It seemed clear to me that Obama has secured his second term more than a year before then because there were too few discontented Obama '08 voters (hence no primary challenger) and big money was too happy with him. Plus the GOP bench was moribund. 2011 was a good time to get working on 2016.

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6 users have voted.
Shahryar's picture

pretty obvious "they" met and decided they were going after disaffected Republicans, thinking that actual Democrats would vote for Biden no matter what. This meant they had to punish the left, otherwise those Republican targets might not come onboard.

"they" must have done some math and come to the conclusion that there are more Republicans to be gained than lefties lost. And they can always try shaming for the lefties.

It's stupid, cynical, disgusting. It might work but if it does they'll govern that way. And if it doesn't work, if they lose, they'll blame us.

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18 users have voted.
Lookout's picture

@Shahryar

How did that work out? However, the pandemic is the primary issue for people in this moment, and it has been totally mismanaged. Reminds me of McCain saying the economy was sound a week before Lehman went under. Another big issue is rigging of the vote. Stalin gets credit for the quote "it's not how the people vote, but how the votes are counted". That's the truth no matter the credit.

Hope all is well in your corner of the world!

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12 users have voted.

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

@Lookout

a Biden/Harris loss would have been quite likely--always assuming they don't have election fixers better than Trump's.

With the pandemic, a Biden/Harris win is likely--always assuming Trump doesn't have spectacular election fixers rather than just competent ones.

I will get nothing out of it regardless. It's demoralizing and horrible to watch the Democratic Party, in its current state, swallowing the movement for black rights and justice. They must have searched long and hard for a Black woman who made her money and her name putting other Black people in prison for marijuana possession and keeping them there despite changes in the marijuana laws so she could extract unpaid labor from them for the state. A Black woman who rose to power through the prison industrial complex, who made it crystal clear that our criminal justice system is indeed the extension of slavery by other means.

Though I'm sure it also helped that she kept Steve Mnuchin out of jail. That sort of thing plays well in the Hamptons.

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2 users have voted.

"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver