Molly Ivins---Republicans wake a sleeping giant

[dogday]

AUSTIN, Texas -- Dec. 16, 2005, is a day that will live in infamy in the Hall of Fame of Unintended Republican Consequences.

A bunch of the guys were just noodling around in the House of Representatives in Washington, see, kind of fooling around with the idea that they might get some traction out of immigration as a hot-button issue. The old hot buttons have kind of cooled off here lately, with people up in arms about Iraq, oil, health insurance and all this other stuff that makes the boys say, "Who me?" Where's a good divisive social issue when you need one? They weren't that far wrong -- some variation on the race card usually works.

Trouble is, they played the card, tried to make every illegal worker in the country a felon and woke up the Sleeping Brown Giant, instead.

Who knew? Unions, organizers, community workers, priests and preachers, and Lord knows the Democrats have been trying to wake the Sleeping Giant for years. That it would happen someday was an article of faith when I first started watching Texas politics 40 years ago. Who knew all it would take was one softly played, very ugly, very nasty little piece of racial political pandering. And there was the Giant, out on the streets in the millions. For those who know the Latin emphasis on respect and dignity, maybe it's not such a surprise after all.

http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=20750

[leveymg]

1. This man warned about waking sleeping giants, too.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

2. "As another noted

...economist said, we are becoming a nation of private opulence and public squalor."

Very true, and it's a recipe for another great depression.

[pnorman]

16. "we are becoming a nation of private opulence and public squalor."

I like that quote, and was able to Google it to J. Kenneth Gailbraith. who died just a few days ago: http://stocksandnews.com/searchresults.asp?Id=513&adate=8/3/2001

Here's another of his quotes: "The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness."

pnorman

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

18. Thanks for the research...

...I wondered why Molly didn't name the "noted economist."

[progressoid]

29. Maybe she was hoping that we would do just as has happened here on DU:

Research said economist and get to know him better? :shrug:

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

33. Maybe. She's a wise woman. nt.

[progressoid]

34. She certainly is!!

[Stockholm]

3. My confession

I adore the writing of Mrs. Ivins.

K&R

[jazzjunkysue]

4. The good woman is just never wrong. Another blunder for the GOP.

The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight.

[warrens]

5. Nailed it

As usual, Molly cuts to the chase. The Repukes just lost the Latino vote for decades.

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. But it's not the votes that count, it's who counts the votes.

I predict a number of squeekers next fall, with the repubs being victorious, and claiming it was because the caught the Hispanic vote - by emphasizing the immigration issue it became obvious to the legal Hispanic community that the republicans have their best interests at heart, and to protect their own legal status they came out strongly against the illegals by supporting the republicans.

It will be bullshit. We know it will be bullshit. They know that we know it will be bullshit. But it will be flogged to death, and when the results are in people may wonder if the repubs were right after all.

And the CEO of Diebold will look upon it, and smile.

[BeFree]

7. just like they blamed the gays for electing the captain of the blimp

Nothing much has changed. The same machines, only newer and improved, are gonna count your vote. There's even more of them now.

I guess the Dem leaders are quiet because they have been promised to win in 2008?

[marions ghost]

8. aaak don't say the Dems

would be in on the rigging...but I am worried about the election. I think the Repugs would try to steal it again. Maybe the machines will screw up worse than ever.

I like your "captain of the blimp" --where's Swamp Rat to do a bombastic rendition of The Helmsman of the Hindenberg?

[BeFree]

10. Yeah, where is Swamp Rat?

Ya know, I wish I had taken that screen name. But he wears it well.
============

Ghost, I understand your reaction at saying the Dems are in on it, but it makes sense, eh?
Why are they so silent?

[marions ghost]

11. Holding their breath? Maybe? I hope?

But not in collusion...if so that would just about do it for me and the Dems. But after what we've seen, I don't doubt ANYTHING is possible. Yeah, I know why you'd speculate--it is somewhat fishy that the Dems have NOT been in the forefront of election reform (to say the least). When I look back at 04, I think they were bowled over by it, I think they underestimated the degree of possible theft...so it seems to me they might still be trying to figure out how best to deal with it. That's giving them a lot of benefit of the doubt (sigh). Wish I didn't have to say that.

Yeah--where's Swamp Rat? He pokes his head in...still in college and maybe no time? But we do NEED a Swamp Rat graphic featuring the Hindenberg.

[Swamp Rat]

22. merci beaucoup

:D :hi:

[Cleita]

23. But if the Repukes start voting for Democrats and I see the tide

turning in my county already, which is a majority of Republicans, then they won't even be able to cheat their way to victory. Republicans in my area not only pissed off with the price of gas but other things like the failure of the Iraq war, and the unleashed spending by the Bush White House. No one can say the phrase, "tax and spend Democrats" anymore.

[Ms. Clio]

9. that's exactly what all the racists and xenophobes are so afraid of

"today we march, tomorrow we vote."

Suck on it.

[BeFree]

13. Bravo, Ms. Clio

People First!

[Ms. Clio]

15. Solidaridad!

gracias :)

[Cleita]

25. Hehe!

The time I think has come. Payback is a bitch.

[WI_DEM]

12. Now if they'll only vote--Democratic--in November.

[hogwyld]

14. The pukes are in their death knell

Now that the sleeping giant has awoken, I don't forsee the pukes controlling anything within my lifetime. The only things they're going to win are the cattle boards in Kansas! I hope we have 375 seats in the house, and about 80 seats in the senate. That way, the goon squad can't even filibuster!!

[WI_DEM]

17. I love your wild optimism

[hogwyld]

19. One can dream still in *'s Amerika!

Hope is about the only thing I have left after 6 years of this idiot!

[Tom Joad]

30. If only the Democrat office holders will vote pro-worker.

That comes first. When they start talking seriously about repealing NAFTA, about getting a decent wage for everyone, when they stop talking about Guest workers and about amnesty, then they will earn people's enthusiasm and vote.

It is not becuase of laziness that people don't vote, but they see no one representing their interests. Why should they bother?

[Cleita]

20. Repeal NAFTA and repeal the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947.

Then we will have a foundation to reform labor issues in this country that can include immigration without hurting American citizens.

[Tom Joad]

26. The Democratic Party does not support those pro-labor stances.

With a few exceptions.

[Cleita]

27. Democrats actually do. It's our leadership that has become

pro-Corporate and it's time for the electorate to change that. I just got my sample ballot and for once Dianne Feinstein has opposition in the primaries, which she never did before. She kissed one too many corporate and Republican asses and her once secure seat isn't so secure anymore. Even if I have to vote for her in November to keep the seat Democratic, I am voting for another candidate in the primaries. Every Democrat I talk to is doing the same. Dianne better take notice. The tide is changing.

I really see some change coming in our party and it's a change for the better rather than the previous trend of trying to become Republican Lite.

[specimenfred1984]

21. Last Week it was all AIPAC's Fault, This Week a Rabbi Speaks!

It's so lame how it's always minimalized into "it's all the Jew's fault" or "it's all the Muslim's fault" or "It's all the Christian's fault".

The fascist traitors in power always play people against themselves, it's called divide and conquer and it's as old as the hills.

Why's Ivans playing into this BS? To sell papers, like the rest of the presswhores.

[Tom Joad]

28. Molly did not say "it was all AIPAC's fault".

She rightfully pointed to AIPAC's influence when it comes to US policy regarding Israel. AIPAC says they have influence in that regard. AIPAC's 65,000 members think it has influence, it ain't a just a social club. That is not "blaming Jews" for idiotic policy in the Middle East, it just says that AIPAC makes a difference.

Many Jews do not support AIPAC. Many Right-wing Christians *do* support AIPAC. Some non-religious nominally Christians support AIPAC extremist policies.

In that same vein, many European-Americans are very much against the anti-immigrant hysteria, and join with the beautiful demonstrations on the streets. This is really about joining people together to fight for justice, and that is what Molly Ivins stands for.

[Tom Joad]

24. I wish more people at DU would really listen to Molly, and not obsess

on the election only, but focus on the issues.

"it does not take great economic acumen to realize that Mexico was damaged by NAFTA, that the surge in immigration has been caused by our own selfish and stupid trade policies, which benefit few of us, also. And domestic policies, I might add. The conservatives have been preaching this “Me First” stuff as though life were a race to the finish and the only object is to pick up as much money as you can. It doesn't work -- not even if you wind up with a lot of toys. As another noted economist said, we are becoming a nation of private opulence and public squalor.

Look, we all do better when we all do better. You raise the minimum wage, it works for everyone.
______________________________________

This is what it will take to win. It is not *all* about suspect voting machines. It is about changing course set by both the Clinton (NAFTA supporter) and Bush administration. Make sure people have good jobs with justice and dignity. Make displacement unnecessary. Treat all workers equally. The Repubs won't like this. The DLC won't like this. But the millions on the streets will demand this, and they sure as hell better get out of the way.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

31. "..with freedom and justice for ALL." Including immigrants.

[stepnw1f]

32. The GOP F*cked Up This Time

with the wedge issue, and now it comes to bite them in the ass. Everything they try to do now turns to shit. I love watching them dig their own grave.

[Twist_U_Up]

35. Molly is a Saint !! We need more like her. Rec.

[Bluebear]

36. Mobilize. Organize. get out the vote! nt

[dusty64]

37. I LOVE Molly!

:kick: