Help me out here: who are the meanest, toughest, baddest advocates for the 95%?

[MannyGoldstein]

I understand that some on DU feel that Obama and the bulk of our elected Democrats are powerful, effective Progressives. If you're a member of that group, you should probably stop reading this post, you won't like it.

I grew up in in the 1960s, in a slightly-rough section of New York City. Archie Bunker's very neighborhood, in fact. Jewish, bookish, and pudgy, I was a nice target for the Catholic toughs in the neighborhood (sorry, I know this is not PC, but that's how the neighborhood broke down in that time and place). After being on the receiving end of a good ass-kicking (scumbag was kicking me in the head when I was already down and bleeding), my dad decided it was time I learn how to fight.

Dad sent me to boxing lessons and Judo, and I learned how to defend myself pretty well, and I started winning fights. But the very most important thing that I learned, by far, was the psychology of dealing with a bully. Dad said "First thing you do, you hit the bully over the head with a 2x4, and you tell him "That's for nothing! Just wait and see what happens when I'm pissed!"

Bullies need to understand that fucking with you will cause their lives to suck. Until they understand that, they will bully you. Sounds fairly simplistic, I'll admit, but dad has a PhD in Psychology, and he grew up in the South Bronx, so he's qualified to give such advice. And I've seen, time and time again, that his advice works. In fact, it's the only thing that works with bullies.

Our national crisis, right now, is that we are being ridden roughshod by a gang of bullies: a group of wealthy malevolent thugs represented by their Republican mercenaries and a cast of useful (to them) idiots. And the folks representing our side either have zero clue as to how to deal with these swine, or they personally gain from letting them run rampant - but either way, nobody's taking a 2x4 to the bullies, and they fuck with us nonstop, with absolute impunity. Certainly, by now, only a few can still believe that giving gold stars to Republicans when they fail to totally suck is a winning strategy.

Remember when the HIV/AIDS crisis was in its infancy, slaughtering gay men with brutal efficiency? A group of New Yorkers decided that wringing their hands was not the way to go - they formed ACTUP, and raised all kinds of holy hell:



and scared the NIH and Big Pharma into researching and developing HIV treatments ASAP. HIV quickly went from being a quick death sentence to a treatable chronic disease. A friend of mine is an MD/PhD in infectious diseases. Back when ACTUP was acting up, he told me that because of ACTUP, vast pools of money were being unleashed to researchers. He and many others in his field switched their research towards treating AIDS because that's where the money was, and sure enough, treatments came quickly.

I'm tired of watching today's bullies run roughshod over the 95%. I want to join up with like-minded folks who also want to end this reign of thugs and crazies, and who are willing to go to the mat. I want to join an ACTUP for working America, a group that understands that it needs to be feared in order to win back our country.

So here's my question to the good denizens of DU: are there any groups who represent the 95%, and who really want to play to win? Anybody out there that I can hitch my wagon to? Any and all suggestions most welcome.

Thanks in advance!

[Angry Dragon]

1. KICK & REC for exposure

I know of none.............sorry

[chervilant]

92. Freedom Plaza

October 6. Be prepared to encamp indefinitely. Rest assured they'll try to beat us into submission, and arrests will be rampant.

But just think: if every one of the unemployed could make their way to DC this October, the MILLIONS of us would be nigh impossible to incarcerate. AND, we would be impossible to ignore.

[Stinky The Clown]

2. If only

K&R

[bigwillq]

3. K and R (nt)

[csziggy]

4. I think we may have to start our own

Because I don't see anyone willing to step up to do it.

Maybe Alan Grayson would - but for the moment he is not out in front of cameras, raising hell.

And I say "we" but I am barely a joiner and have never been an organizer.

[MannyGoldstein]

5. I'm game - you in Massachusetts by any chance?

I'd rather join something that exists, but I'll be damned if I get called out on strikes while looking.

[csziggy]

7. No, I am in Florida and feeling particularly depressed these days

Aside from the psychological battering I get anytime I read about what pRick Scott is doing to my state, I am getting less and less able to get around. I think I will be looking into knee replacement very soon.

So I am not a good candidate to help with any organization.

[MannyGoldstein]

15. Knee replacements rock

Find a surgeon who does only knees, or only hips and knees, or similar. Practice makes perfect!

[csziggy]

28. I hope so because I am so tired of not being able to walk

The only advantage I have found for living in a town with a big university football team is that there is a major first class orthopedic clinic here. Each of their surgeons specializes in a particular joint. The knee doctor has already removed cartilage from both my knees so he already knows my case. Their shoulder guy completely rebuilt my left shoulder in 1993 and refurbished the right one a couple of years ago. The hand guy has manged to avoid cutting open my hand so far with injections.

So it's really just a matter of when I can't handle the knees any longer - and convincing the surgeon and the insurance company to do both at the same time because I am tired of surgeries!

[MannyGoldstein]

31. My dad has a friend who had both knees replaced

then continued to play tennis! Dad went to the same surgeon to have his first hip replaced. He's since had the other replaced too.

Good luck!

[csziggy]

36. I've talked to lots of people who've had theirs done

And nearly all are very happy. I need to check with the man who I buy my hay from - his dad had both his done this past winter and two weeks after the operation he was very unhappy. I hope once he healed that he is happier. He's a nice guy and I'd hate to find out he had a bad result.

[MannyGoldstein]

40. I'm guessing that one at a time is the way to go

More surgeries, but incremental progress always seems better to me.

[csziggy]

47. I've had five major surgeries in the last ten years

It's getting harder and harder to come back from them. I want just one more for my knees and then I will hope I never need another one. I think the cumulative effects of the anesthesia as well as getting older are aggravating the cumulative effects from my four concussions and a lifetime of injuries.

I've known a number of people who got both knees done at the same time, and they did pretty good. The good part is that you only have to go through the therapy once.

I'm afraid if I have as hard a time recovering as I did from the last surgery, I will never go back in for the second knee. And both knees are very painful, so they both need to have something done.

[Maraya1969]

93. ROFL This is why nothing ever gets done. You start a thread about

how you want to change the world and 2 minutes later you are talking about knee replacement surgery!

I'm not mad at all and I really am laughing but there might be something hidden in this that explains why us Democrats end up being the ones bullied and not the bullies. Maybe we just have a short attention span!

[MannyGoldstein]

115. Or maybe we care about each other? nt

[Maraya1969]

117. I am not saying anything bad about it. It just looks funny when you read the whole thread

[Is It Pointless]

151. No, i think you're right

I think people harbor a distorted view of what lasting and substantial change requires. I'm not saying that the elite class consists of better human beings, necessarily, but they are certainly more driven. At the places in which we work, we're all aware that there are people who kick ass, and then there are those who slide by, don't improve their skills, don't contribute more year after year, and who expect to be taken care of by the company (and ironically, these are the ones, usually, who end up getting fired). They're not bad people, but they're not burning the midnight oil either. Contrast this with the guys in the corner offices, with the expensive suits and the win at all costs, no matter what it takes attitude, and therein lies the difference between the upper and middle classes. Deny this all you want, but you thwart logic when you say that the elite don't work harder and fighter harder when it comes to getting what they want. They don't sit around and complain -- they take action, and not only do they take action, they take effective action. Do you think the most powerful people sit around complaining on web site forums about how displeased they are with things? No. They pick up the phone, they maximize their influence, they call a meeting, they do research, they learn, they strategize -- THEY ACT.

The general populace may feel in large part that their plight was handed to them and they're pretty much powerless to change things, but therein lies the reason why they are the general populace. They accept reality. The elite first envision an alternate reality, make a plan, and then change it. Until people embrace this, there will be lots of mindless and ultimately meaningless droning and complaining that doesn't change a damned thing. The most pitiful aspect may be that the incessant complainers feel they're at least doing SOMETHING by complaining. But the irony is, they might as well ignore politics all together and live happier lives of willful ignorance of all things political. The end result would be the same.

[Maraya1969]

142. I hope I did not say anything to upset you. I was just kidding around.

Someone pointed out that my message might be confusing so if that is true I apologize. :hug:

[snot]

147. I'm glad you said what you said.

Don't mean to be rude, but to me, it's a bit like turning on the news and getting nothing but "human interest" stories, instead actually useful news about what our gummint's doing to our ability to afford knee surgeries.

[The Doctor.]

111. I'm going to need new ones by the time I'm 50.

Any positive feedback is appreciated.

Meanwhile, I'm quite keen on taking these bastards down some. I even have a strategy for it. Problem is; can't share the whole thing out of the gate for what should be obvious reasons.

We should chat.

[CleanGreenFuture]

110. But do you have a telephone? Perhaps you could help by making and taking calls.

[LiberalEsto]

122. Make sure the part they are putting in

has a good track record. I recently read that hip replacements made by Johnson & Johnson have a 49% failure rate.

[chervilant]

95. Freedom Plaza

October 6. Organizationally, I'm bringing lots of non-perishables (peanut butter, crackers, apple sauce, etc.), and my portable camping equipment that I use to primitive camp. I'll have multiple signs stashed in my trunk, and am already exploring easily accessible, long-term parking options.

Since I'm unemployed, I might consider it a perk to spend nights in the Chez de DC Police...

[chervilant]

97. Freedom Plaza

October 6. Organizationally, I'm bringing lots of non-perishables (peanut butter, crackers, apple sauce, etc.), and my portable camping equipment that I use to primitive camp. I'll have multiple signs stashed in my trunk, and am already exploring easily accessible, long-term parking options.

Since I'm unemployed, I might consider it a perk to spend nights in the Chez de DC Police...

[calimary]

154. Yeah, Alan Grayson is no more, and now Anthony Wiener is no more either.

I can't think of any. Which SUCKS! Randi Rhodes maybe? Cenk? Keith (with his piddly little microphone now, unfortunatetly)? Rachel Maddow? Maybe some of the folks on MSNBC? We don't have any bench strength, though. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz is too ladylike. We have no attack dogs. Sucks. And we DESPERATELY need some!

[RKP5637]

6. K&R

[socialist_n_TN]

8. Marxists. Those are the ones that the PTB fear most of all

because they're the only ones that are unabashedly and unashamedly on the side of the working class. AND THEY ARE NOT PACIFISTS. They know that it will take struggle, and maybe violent struggle, to stop the capitalists from running roughshod over the rest of us. There just needs to be more of us to scare them.

Personally, I'm more of the Trotskyist variety as many of you know. But ALL true Marxists are of the same mind when it comes to the class struggle. Or they're not Marxists.

[MannyGoldstein]

11. Hadn't thought of that.

Believe it or not, I started out as a Republican way back when. But I quickly observed that while Republican theories made sense to my young mind, it was clear that Liberal policies actually led to better outcomes. I'm not proud - I admitted my mistake and switched sides.

Now you want me to become a Marxist? Oy! How does one find out about such a thing (other than the Google, of course)?

[socialist_n_TN]

16. Start here. ..........

www.workerspower.net. I've got a couple of articles on this web site under the byline of Marcus Otono. Then just read. Lenin, Trotsky, and of course Marx and Engels.

Probably ask some of your older relatives too. I think that the Trotskyist group, the Socialist Workers Party (SWP), was pretty popular with American Jews during the 30s.

[socialist_n_TN]

18. BTW, don't worry about having to come a long way

The BEST recruiters for Marxism are the capitalists. :) The more they do, the more we grow.

[TBF]

61. lol - there is a lot of theory to read

and I maybe understand 50% of it on a good day. But I do know that capitalists will not stop until we force them too, and the system of capitalism itself is the problem rather than bad actors (of course there will be "bad" behavior if that's what the system encourages and rewards).

Marx's Communist Manifesto and Lenin's Imperialism are a good starting point. This is the library where you read for free: http://www.marxists.org/archive/index.htm (some of these, like the Manifesto, are free or cheap on Kindle too).

Communists/Socialists have been driven out of this country by both repubs and dems historically (look up Palmer Raids and McCarthyism), because whenever they make inroads with working folks it threatens the status quo.

Many of us are convinced some sort of socialism is the way to go, but even if you are still thinking you like the market to some extent you should be grateful for the work of Marxists. We are the ones hitting the bullies over the head with the 2x4s.

[socialist_n_TN]

79. Which I think would qualify us to be the

toughest, baddest advocates for the other 95%. Everybody else is "compromising" WITH the PTB. We're wanting to end their reign totally. :)

That's also a good point you brought up in your last paragraph. If you WANT the "compromise" you're NOT going to get it until the bullies are worried that they're going to lose it ALL. A strong Marxist movement is the only thing that will threaten them with losing it all.

[themadstork]

148. Right on

We are scum within contemp US political discourse, and that's because we hold the least regard for the capitalists' stolen wealth. Only those who can be counted on to play safe and let them keep their toys are allowed in. I love how socialism/marxism/anarchism have become dirty words here - leaves no doubt as to where loyalties lie btwn worker/owner.

[socialist_n_TN]

158. Hey it's past time for a "Whose side are you on?"

question. Marxists ASK that question.

[Scruffy1]

120. You are so right.

I have seen a big change in the ideology of the people I know in the last ten years, including myself. I also believe
the continuing economic malaise has caused more than the progressive left to reassess its ideology. For myself I've given up on "reformist" beliefs and come to the realisation that they always remake or break any rule that gets in the way of profits. The great disparity of wealth in the USA does not allow for democratic government and representative democracy represents the capitalist class, even if some of these are liberal in their views we will always be thrown under the bus when push comes to shove.
I think the home foreclosure crises has got many to question the basic tenants of capitalism. For me watching this whole mess come down so hard on the poor has driven me completely away from liberalism and I have become a strong believer in socialism and worker control of all means of production.
Thanks for the link.

[socialist_n_TN]

129. Great post scruffy............

I know that I've become more radical in the last decade and it's with good reason. I've always been a "salon" Marxist in that it's the ideology I've believed in, but had not tried to put into practice simply because it seemed so far from realization. But these last 10+ years have REALLY shown the bankruptcy of bourgeoisie "democracy". Or the dictatorship of capital.

What good is voting for change when your choices are corporate candidate A or corporate candidate B? Either way you elect a corporate candidate. Now that doesn't mean I won't vote. It just means that I don't expect my vote to effect change.

[olegramps]

63. What is ironic is that Jesus was the first Communist crusader.

The Acts of the Apostles described the first Jewish-Christians as a totally communistic group who pooled their resources and cared for each equally. It is truly ironic that the Evangelical Christians along with the Fundamentalists and now the Catholics are some of the most vicious people who despise the the poor and worship wealth. They call themselves Conservatives but in reality are nothing more than greedy hateful wolves in sheep's clothing that Jesus warned against.

[themadstork]

149. Reading a book related to this development

To serve god and walmart - bethany moreton. interesting so far.

[cliffordu]

37. When was the last time a Marxist did ANYTHING of value here??

And, if they are NOT PACIFISTS...(your words)


When did I see Marxist blood in the street, fighting for the workers????

Complete bullshit.

[TBF]

62. If your party didn't completely purge our ranks every 30-40 years

maybe you'd see more Marxists in the street. Granted we are fairly unorganized right now but there are groups working to become more active.

And, of course with the reality of the Capitalist's latest austerity programs things may change very quickly as to the organization in the streets.

[socialist_n_TN]

80. Yep. The best recruiters for Marxism

are the capitalists.

[socialist_n_TN]

77. Well the 30s were the obvious prime example

but the Communists were also part of the civil rights and antiwar movements of the 60s. So yes, it's been a while. That doesn't change the fact that of ALL the groups mentioned in this thread, Marxists ARE the ones who argue for system change. System change to the benefit of the working class, NOT the owners or some sort of "compromise" WITH the owners.

Now, it would be stupid to go for the full fledged "revolution" until the time is right for it, but that doesn't change the ultimate end of Marxist thought and effort.

Anyway, the OP asked for the strongest advocate for the other 95% around. That would be the Marxists. They are at least the MOST MILITANT in their anti corporatism and in their advocacy for the working class.

[kenfrequed]

87. Yeah

How about the 1934 teamsters strike in Minneapolis? Trotskyites were crucial in agitating and pushing the strike.

But really without the specter of Marxism and the fear of workers taking over the entire government, do you honestly think that labor would have accomplished nearly as much or leveraged what they did out of the government without the threat of revolution?

[cliffordu]

116. Woops. Sorry -

How about in the last 70 fucking years????

[kenfrequed]

118. really?

Well I could make a damned list but I think that would take quite a while and waste both of our times. Needless to say people with socialist ideals, socialists, and socialist thinking has been engaged in almost every progressive movement of the last 50 years.

Aside from that the very foundation of what we have come to expect as the social contract would not have been possible without the agitation and actvism of the hard core left which included all manner of communists, socialists, trade unionists, anarchists, wobblies, and all manner of other left wingers. Weekends, an end to child labor, the civil rights movement, the sufferage movement, the feminist movement, ... etc etc.

If the moderate squishy conservative democrats had it their way many of the things we take for granted would be gone.

A good starter would be:

"The "S" Word: A Short History of an American Tradition...Socialism" John Nichols

[socialist_n_TN]

128. What you said ken^^^^^^^

If it weren't for the communists and the socialists we wouldn't even have the MODERATE social safety net that is currently under threat of dismantlement. And although we've been in eclipse for the last few decades, SO HAS LIBERALISM. ALL left ideologies have been under attack and have been paying defense.

[chervilant]

139. And,

one has to wonder why so many 'democrats' don't have a CLUE why the PTB have worked so hard for so long to vilify socialism...

[socialist_n_TN]

141. EXACTLY! Because we ARE the ONLY unabashed,

unashamed, and uncompromising advocate FOR the working class. A working class solidarity under a Marxist banner is the ONLY thing that really WILL scare the PTB. Which is why they've spent SO much money and SO much time to demonize us for SO many years.

[Enthusiast]

67. It is no coincidence

that the fascists have only ramped their campaign to rein in democracy after the decline of the Soviet Union. Although the Soviet Union isn't good example it at least served as sort of a counterbalance to the world as envisioned by the fascists.

[eridani]

137. The PTB might fear them if they did anything other than talk theory to each other n/t

[socialist_n_TN]

140. It wouldn't surprise me to find Marxists in ALL the

recent actions all across the country. I ran into 3 other Trotskyists just at our rallies in Nashville. THAT'S IN TENNESSEE. Republican state Hell. So yes, we actually DO things. Unfortunately, we're not a large group at this time, so we wind up working in united fronts with other groups.

But to answer the OP's question about the baddest advocate for the other 95%, it's legitimate to call Marxists that. We're the ONLY ones calling for an overthrow of the SYSTEM itself in order to benefit the other 95%. Not even liberal Democrats will do that.

[themadstork]

150. Whereas echoing corporate swill is really going to scare the pants off them. . .

[flvegan]

9. I hope you'll read this

quick, as I think it may well get deleted. Considering what I've done, I always appreciate folks that are looking to do this sort of thing. Wish I knew a group that was already doing this. I've been talking to some folks about a thing to put together about kids that get bullied because they're gay, but that is in infancy.

If you want to know how to bring a bully to it's corporate knees, I suggest you Google and read up well and deep on Huntingdon Life Sciences and SHAC. I've been recommending this education to the GLBT and other movements for a long, long time now. Just be smart about it.

Good luck to you. You have my respect and well wishes.

[MannyGoldstein]

13. Thanks - I made my own copy just in case

I don't see why your post would get yanked, but I'm often clueless on such things.

[flvegan]

23. Some folks

have done, in SHAC's name, some stupid as fuck things.

[loudsue]

17. What is SHAC? Google didn't have anything.

:shrug:

[flvegan]

19. Really?

SHAC didn't show anything? Ooookay.

Try Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty. Both the Brits and the USA folks.

[loudsue]

22. Oh gawd. I found SHAC in the Wikipedia entry on Huntingdon.

Holy shit that stinks!! They moved from England to the USA so nobody would know who their shareholders were? While they torture animals? Slime bags. How can those people sleep at night?

[Brickbat]

20. It's only the first hit.

[chervilant]

99. Freedom Plaza

October 6. Organizationally, I'm bringing lots of non-perishables (peanut butter, crackers, apple sauce, etc.), and my portable camping equipment that I use to primitive camp. I'll have multiple signs stashed in my trunk, and am already exploring easily accessible, long-term parking options.

Since I'm unemployed, I might consider it a perk to spend nights in the Chez de DC Police...

[loudsue]

10. I grew up in the 60's, too, Manny. And I keep wondering where all the liberals went.

I don't even recognize this country anymore. I said to my husband tonite that I thought we should leave the USA. It's gotten too fucking crazy around here, and people are into the faux news cult until it's making me crazy.

K & R

[MannyGoldstein]

21. Agree 100%.

But I'm pugnacious and stubborn. Not quite ready for Canada yet.

[Enthusiast]

68. Me too.........nt

[Historic NY]

136. They got the McMansions in the burbs with the Infinity & Mercedes...

they became what are known a Limousine Liberals.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

143. I think they all moved to Vermont

[Luminous Animal]

12. Code Pink.

Men are welcome.

[MannyGoldstein]

14. Hadn't thought of that, either, thanks!

Why does the thought fill me with fear? I may not be evolved enough yet.

Interesting.

[Melissa G]

96. >>Why does the thought fill me with fear?

:rofl: If your evolved enough to notice the fear, that's pretty damn good! :thumbsup:

[MannyGoldstein]

112. Aww, shucks.

That makes me feel better, thanks.

[EFerrari]

52. I met Medea at a fundraiser for Chris.

Then, I started running into CP over impeachment stuff.

If I wanted someone to cover me, she would be the one and of course, I'd eat anyone that tried to mess with her or any of our Code Pink people.

[Le Taz Hot]

70. Good suggestion!

[tularetom]

24. The last guy that was the baddest meanest guy around got busted for tweeting his weiner

So I doubt if you'll see anymore wussy Democrats sticking their neck out to stand up for anybody.

Even if they didn't tweet their weiner. They know the other guys just make shit up.

[maddiemom]

108. We need some badasses on the left

And the other guys can make stuff up with no repercussions from the Dems. I personally don't care about politicians' sex lives as long as they get stuff done.

[MannyGoldstein]

25. Hey unrec-ers

Don't click this, it will make you melt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nuElu-ipTQ

[Enthusiast]

69. Great speech,

great President.

[chervilant]

102. Indeed...

Tonight I call the roll—the roll of honor of those who stood with us in 1932 and still stand with us today.

Written on it are the names of millions who never had a chance—men at starvation wages, women in sweatshops, children at looms.

Written on it are the names of those who despaired, young men and young women for whom opportunity had become a will-o'-the-wisp.

Written on it are the names of farmers whose acres yielded only bitterness, business men whose books were portents of disaster, home owners who were faced with eviction, frugal citizens whose savings were insecure.

Written there in large letters are the names of countless other Americans of all parties and all faiths, Americans who had eyes to see and hearts to understand, whose consciences were burdened because too many of their fellows were burdened, who looked on these things four years ago and said, "This can be changed. We will change it."

Franklin D. Roosevelt, OCTOBER, 1936

Freedom Plaza, October 6. Be there, for all of us.

[annabanana]

90. (doing my best to tweet & facebook this around today). . .n/t

[Raksha]

26. K & R for a lot of reasons. Here's just one of them:

I'm a Brooklyn girl and I know EXACTLY where you're coming from. I too was bullied, and learned the hard way that there's only one effective way of dealing with bullies. The fact that I was too small physically to put what I learned into practice doesn't mean I didn't learn the same lessons you did. You'll never catch me advocating turning the other cheek to bullies.

[MannyGoldstein]

32. Thanks!

Sorry you had to go through that!

As adults, we should be smart enough to pull together and stop the bullies.

[cameozalaznick]

27. How about US Uncut...

They started in Britain and have moved over here.

[MannyGoldstein]

33. Interesting

Thanks!

[BzaDem]

29. I think much of the reason of why it appears that Democrats are ineffective is because of the

structure of our government. To put it simply, our government requires any affirmative change to run through many veto points: both houses, many committees within each house, the President, future Presidents (in terms of enforcement), the courts, etc.

To make such affirmative changes requires that all of the above veto points agree. But to achieve negative change (defunding, cutting, refusing to enforce effectively, etc) only requires a single veto point to say no. This gives a huge structural advantage to the forces that want to shrink government, and a huge disadvantage to those who want government to be on the side of the people.

To be sure, such hurdles can be overcome sometimes, when there exists overwhelming power to do so. FDR, with his triple digit majority in the House and 2/3 of the Senate (due to in large part the alliance between real Democras and southern rascists), was able to enact significant parts of his program.

But what would you have said if, back in the thirties, there was no alliance between the South and the rest of the Democratic party, and as a result, we didn't have near the majorities we actually did under FDR? My guess is that you would have been just as pissed at FDR as you are with Obama.

I am not saying that ALL of the country's problems (and the Democrat's problems) are due to these strutural problems. But certainly they are in large part. Furthermore, this structural bias in favor of less government is in part responsible for the political dynamic we have in this country today, where self-identified conservatives outnumber self-identified liberals by 2-1.

I know you might argue that there are really more liberals than those who self-identify, and that some self-identified conservatives actually support various liberal policies. But that doesnt mean much if they reflexively vote for the Republican, which they do. Part of the reason Obama feels he has to do these "grand bargain" deals to win over independents is because many independents don't look at particular policies to decide who to vote for, but rather who the media paints as more "moderate." Conservatives vote Republican, liberals vote Democratic, and the balance is decided in part by low information voters who look to the media to figure out who looks subjectievly more "reasonable" (regardless of the policy). This political dynamic is reinforced by the structural dynamic above, that prevents the Democratic party from showing the country that truly liberal policies simply work better for the 95% than conservative policies.

It is far different than in most European countries, with parliamentary systems that basically let the majority do what they want (or are at least far closer to that than to our system). In those systems, the parties can really enact their vision, and voters have a real opportunity to select which vision they prefer --based on OUTCOMES. Not surprisingly, most such countries are far more liberal.

[MannyGoldstein]

30. The Republicans get whatever the hell they want.

Why can't working Americans get what we want?

[BzaDem]

34. Did you read my reply? I thought I laid out precisely why I think Republicans are more likely to get

what they want (structural factors, mainly tons of veto points, biasing policy in favor of negative change over affirmative change, and biasing politics to be more personality-focus rather than policy-focused). This is in direct contrast to other countries, with few veto points and (I would argue consequently) more liberal policy.

Though I do not agree that Republicans get whatever they want. When they want to enact affirmative change, they often fail. (See Bush's entire second term legislative agenda).

[MannyGoldstein]

35. So how did Republicans get the Bush Tax cuts?

And a couple of insane wars? And batshit crazy Supreme Court justices? And, in a month or so, deep cuts to Social Security?

Because the Democrats rolled over, no?

[BzaDem]

39. Much of that would have happened even if all Democrats voted no.

The tax cuts passed by reconciliation. I also think that the Republicans would have removed the filibuster for judicial nominees if the Democrats blocked every one of Bush's nominees (and I think Reid would have done the same had the Republicans attempted to filibuster Obama's SCOTUS nominees). I actually think the filibuster is eventually doomed, since it is currently unstable. (The more each party tries to get around it, the less powerful the force of precedent holding it in place.) I think this is a good think in the long term, though in the short term it potentially saved SS as a government program. Removing the filibuster ultimately reduces the structural problems we have somewhat, and that is (in the long run) a good thing.

War, on the other hand, is much more unilateral. In that respect, we are similar to other countries. I dont think it is very controversial to say that Bush would have gone to war regardless of what Congress had to say about it. My argument was more focused on domestic policy, where Congress is paramount.

As for SS, in general terms, I talk about at the end of my first reply why Obama has a political incentive to make "grand bargain"-like deals, due to in part the structural barriers to a policy-focused politics (rather than a personality-focused politics dominated by low information voters). But as to your specific prediction of imminent deep SS cuts, I think you have been wrong enough times on this up to this point that it probably makes sense (at the very least) to wait and see on that.

[Melissa G]

152. I disagree with you.

Republicans win because they act like bullies. They have also, up to now, been more organized, plus their agenda is more aligned with the agenda of the Owners, (PTB), so media is stream lined to support their message.

Dems could have used reconciliation to get more of what we wanted. They chose not to.

I don't see a single FDR type Dem in leadership. President Obama is to the right of Nixon by action, regardless of whatever the apologists want to say and regardless of what candidate Obama said.

I get it, if President Obama actually did what Candidate Obama said- getting us out of war instead of starting more wars, fighting for single payer, abolishing torture, etc., he might have been taken out by the PTB, like they took out Kennedy. (Yes, I do believe They did, and my tinfoil is a lot less crazy than your belief in the magical path of that zigzag bullet if we disagree.):tinfoilhat:

I'm willing to believe The PTB sit presidents down (at least, metaphorically) and tell them how it is going to be and that if they disagree that they have Kennedy to reflect upon. Yes, I am willing to believe that.:tinfoilhat:

But regardless of my crazy or not beliefs, we NEED an FDR. We Need a media that is not owned by the Powers that Be. We Need an educated, informed, voting populace and we need the courage of our convictions. We need to be Democrats again, not watered down Republicans. None of this will be easy.

[Cresent City Kid]

41. You got it

Paraphrasing Van Jones on Olbermann, "The human body only has four cheeks, and I've turned all of them." The Democratic Party leadership may turn around one day and find no one behind them. It's one thing to court the moderate voter, but chasing the middle when the middle is on a train to the right is unacceptable.

I wish you well on your quest.

[Enthusiast]

71. I like Van Jones.....nt

[Selatius]

42. Because Democrats do not agree on policy. You have right wing Dems vs. left wing Dems.

It's a party where you simultaneously have folks like Barbara Boxer next to people like Ben Nelson.

Get enough right-wingers in the Senate, and you can enact right-wing policy. Even if the Senate is split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, it could easily be the case where you have 60 center-right to far-right senators in the chamber vs. the other 40 who lean left. It's just that 10 Democrats are right-leaning.

In such an environment, it would be fairly easy to pass tax cuts for the top 1% of income earners. You just have to tack on a tax rebate or tax cuts for the working poor on top of that to win over leery center-rightists who also happen to have a "D" behind their name. Once that's done, it's fairly easy to pass the bill.

[zalinda]

101. And yet the dem party supports them

If you have a D after your name, but mainly support repub, what's the difference. When a real dem tries to run, the DNC tries everything it can to squash the candidate, for example the re-election of Liberman. If the DNC didn't support the right wing hacks, they couldn't win. So the dem party is exactly where it wants it to be.

zalinda

[karynnj]

58. Here's what I remember on the Bush tax cuts

Both Bush and Gore were planning to use some of the surplus to cut taxes. Gore's plan was to far smaller and targeted mostly at the lower end.

The Democrats "succeeded" in adding the checks than most people got that refunded some of their taxes as part of the same bill. This addition and the reduction of taxes at the low end made the tax cuts for the wealthy more popular. Consider that it is not hard to sell tax cuts when there appears no cost for doing so.

As to the SC, blame the Democratic leadership, Reid, Schumer, Clinton etc, who decided that it would look bad if they filibustered Alito. Kerry and Kennedy did everything they humanly could have to try to convince them that he was well out of the mainstream. Many of the leaders voted for the filibuster, but only after making it very clear that it was not going to succeed. (Biden may have won the price for silliest announcing he would vote to filibuster once and just once - which means if he were the last vote needed - he was useless - as they would simply call a second vote.)

On SS, I hope you are wrong.

[Armstead]

45. It boils down to public relations relations and winning hearts and minds

Democrats generally suck at that, and Republicans are good at it.

And -- tragically -- when there are Democrats who are good at it, like Obama and Clinton -- they don't really have tge piwer of conviction, and sell our asses out.

The structural barrier could be overcome if Democrats were actually willing and able to make a clear case for progressive populism. But they don't so we ger screwed.

[rhett o rick]

64. I think the reason is that the greed got the best of Republicans and the Democrats

became complacent. Just look right here in DU city. Many here are happy with the status quo (it could be worse).

[tomp]

166. they are only veto points because...

....the politicians are owned by the corporations, because the media is owned by the corporations, and taken together with outright vote theft, these things control who sits in the chairs at the "veto" points. in other words, there is nothing wrong with the government. per se, except that it is owned by the corporations. it's really that simple.

[The Midway Rebel]

The Coffee Party are somewhat organized.

And active of Facebook.

[The Midway Rebel]

38. The Coffee Party are somewhat organized.

And active of Facebook.

[hay rick]

43. K&R

[LoZoccolo]

44. "Only the Dull and Stupid Fight Head-on: Some Strategic Thoughts"

From the author of The 33 Strategies of War:

http://powerseductionandwar.com/only-the-dull-and-stupid-fight-head-on-some-strategic-thoughts/

[Armstead]

46. You mean like those dull and stupid conservatives, who keep winning?

[LoZoccolo]

54. They actually do almost everything but fight head-on.

Their emphasis of wedge issues and fearmongering distracts from their economic agenda.

[awoke_in_2003]

48. Can't think of any...

they get targeted before they ever get a chance at power.

[MikeMc]

156. Bull hockey.

Marcy Kaptur, John Conyers, Maxine Waters, Poke Waxman, Charles Rangel, Al Franken, Barbara Boxer, Barney Frank, ...

Shall I continue (q mark)

Maybe Manny is talking Dem 'groups' or 'orgs', but you and I both know a ton of good individual elected Dem politicians.

And there are a lot of good Dem groups and orgs that back those politicians.

[awoke_in_2003]

159. I will take exception on two names...

Conyers- good when you need a strongly worded letter sent. Rangel- essentially neutered since his ethics investigation, and you know the repubs will target him again.

[MikeMc]

161. Let's agree to disagree, a_i_'03.

It's like the Beto's vs. DiSalla's controversy.

Rangel reached out to help Weiner, when precious few elected Dem officials would. Conyers and Rangel will keep getting sent back to Congress, by their constituents, and both should be sent back to Congress. Waters is having her own 'ethics' problems, which are all bullshit, like the case against Rangel.

Conyer's 'What Went Wrong In Ohio' book and investigation are seminal, in terms of vote integrity and voter protection. He will be in Pgh., with Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ) and my rep. (Mike Doyle), on behalf of the House Progressive Caucus, July 18. He's on my team, he's a fighter, and he's in it to win it.

That's my opinion, but there again, it's 'Betos vs DiSallas', so there you go.

It's always nice to hear from you, despite our differences.

You wanna start a 'loose nukes and pizza' forum (q mark)

[awoke_in_2003]

162. No controversy...

Beto's is clearly superior :rofl:

[MikeMc]

163. Howdy do, awoke. Good to hear from you.

Now, about that 'loose nukes and pizza' forum. You game(q)

[awoke_in_2003]

164. I am right there with the pizza....

but I draw the line at loose nukes :hi:

[MikeMc]

167. Spoil sport.

[MikeMc]

170. The crust isn't the issue, the sauce and cheese are.

Beto's has a good 'stewed tomato' type of sauce (good spice and olive oil mix in the fresh tomatoes), like Chicago deep dish. DiSalla's has (had) a pureed pizza sauce (good olive oil and spice mix). Both are gas oven cooked, but DiSalla's used a high-quality mozz and prov cheese mix, and Beto uses a cheaper mix (hence the mountain of cheese).

Loose nukes are very pertinent, vis a vis our Mae Brussell original discussion.

[DeSwiss]

49. K&R n/t

[Armstead]

50. Bernie Sanders and some Progressive Democrats

The problem is they get drowned out by the muddle of the road Democrats.

We need more of them to shift the power to the left.

Supporting them and looking for more would be the baddest thing we could do politically.

[hay rick]

51. First step: identifying the bullies.

The bullies are the super-rich. Elected Republicans are merely their henchmen.

[EFerrari]

53. Another vote for Code Pink.

In San Francisco, I kept running into the same people no matter what the issue was, no matter what the job was. And they all turned out to be Code Pink. :party:

[pnwmom]

55. All the "bullies" are hearing the same message from their fathers:

slam the other guy first.

How is what your father said any different from what the bullies heard from their fathers?

[zalinda]

103. The bullies probably didn't hear anything like that from their fathers

Their fathers may have been too busy beating them up. There is a difference between the bullies and those who fight back. The bullies want to cause damage, and those who fight back want the damage to stop.

zalinda

[jannyk]

56. Kick & Rec

[citizen blues]

57. Join us in taking back our democracy from corporate bullies!!!

I grew up in a white middle class neighborhood where the block bully was a Republican congressman's son. His dad was usually gone and his flakey mom was full of bullshit excuses when it came to her son's bullying ways. He was older, bigger, and stronger than most of us but we finally figured out the only way to get him to leave us alone was for us to stick together. So a bunch of us (mainly girls) all got together and beat the snot out of him. It worked.

Now the bullies we're facing are the corporations. They've bought our politicians and supreme court justices. Enough!!!!

I've recently joined a group called Move to Amend (movetoamend.org). These folks are taking the fight directly to the people at the grass roots level and truly fighting back to stop the bullies. They are working towards a constitutional amendment that would reverse the Citizens United decision and remove corporate personhood. It's an issue that cuts across all political views. And almost every major challenge we face today from our dysfunctional health care system to the never-ending wars can be attributed to out-of-control corporate greed.

Check out the website: movetoamend.org

Join us in taking back our democracy!!!!

[Enthusiast]

72. Welcome to the DU.

I will check out movetoamend.org

[midnight]

59. K&R End the reign of thugs and crazies....

[Somawas]

60. Alan Grayson is as close as anuybody I can think of.

[dgibby]

65. Check out these guys.

http://other98.com/

[mdmc]

66. Nader, yo..

Think about corporations and the two parties..

[Enthusiast]

73. Kicked and recommended................nt

[blindpig]

74. Communists.

One of the provisions of Taft-Hartley was the expulsion of Communists from positions of union leadership. The AFL-CIO agreed, and thus most unions complied. This provision, one of many in T-H, was solely designed to cripple the expansion of unions, commies were in the front lines and the most committed and radical of organizers. This is because commies most clearly understand the nature of the struggle.

[bongbong]

75. Replies on this thread

Quite a few of the replies on this thread suggest specific progressive groups - but they're all different. I can even think of another one right away - the Progressives United group started by Feingold. There are probably many more.

I don't know what to do about this, but unless these groups all work together, it will dilute any large effort against the anti-American corporate tools & Fat Cats. Note I said "large effort" - I realize that small groups can accomplish small/medium things, and even sometimes large things. But the anti-Democracy people in this this country are all united, and have billions & billions & billions & billions to finance their takeover of the world. They also have the media, so no one ever hears about any anti-fascist demonstrations, etc. This is very powerful, since individual people feeling the Fat Cats have too much think they believe an aberrant idea. If there hadn't been coverage 24x7 of anti-Vietnam demonstrations, but instead the equivalent of today's "corporations are warm fuzzy pussy cats" media barrage, many people that hated the Vietnam War would've thought themselves nutty.

I don't know why so many folks seemingly want to start their own group - maybe too many people want to be the director and/or leader. :shrug:

[Atypical Liberal]

94. PROGRESSIVES UNITED.

I am a charter member.

[MannyGoldstein]

113. I'd like to have a single huge Liberal group called "The Democratic Party"

However...

[citizen blues]

160. Choosing between so many groups

is an issue I've had too. I finally chose Move to Amend because no matter what issue I was concerned about, I always saw some corporation opposing progress. This group is where I believe we need to start. Unless we can start reigning in corporate power, we're lost. Step one is to strip them of corporate personhood, which means they will no longer be able to hide behind front groups in spending unlimited amounts of money in political campaigns.

No matter what group you belong to, we've got to work together like several are this summer with the Democracy Convention in Madison Wisconsin August 24-28.

"The Democracy Convention is a project of the Liberty Tree Foundation and co-convened by the Alliance for Democracy, Center for Media and Democracy, Progressive Magazine, and Move to Amend." democracyconvention.org/about-convention

[dotymed]

76. As an Army Brat, constantly relocating,

I too had to learn the "bully lesson."

Bernie Sanders seems to know this lesson also. We Progressives, unless we begin to actually be pro-active, will disappear.

[neoralme]

78. Thank God for people like you, Manny. If we don't start fighting

fire with fire, we will be burned out more than we our now. I won't be going to the thing in October because of the way it's being presented. But if you can come up with something where, if, resisted forcefully, we will fight back, then I am interested.

[MilesColtrane]

81. In general I'd say worker's unions.

You've really can't rely on anyone else. You've got to do it yourself.

In the bad old days if that meant busting some scab heads, so be it.

[TBF]

86. Agree - it's no accident that the owners are relentless in their union busting. nt

[pscot]

82. Great post

The Republicans have got Obama's number. He's just a guy who can't say no. Except to people who actually voted for him.

[Tom Rinaldo]

83. Michael Moore and Bernie Sanders are our best high profile ones

And of course our handful of progressive cable TV hosts. There are many great progressive voices in America but very few that get the chance to be heard by a large national audiance. That's why Anthony Weiner going down was such a blow.

[zentrum]

125. Go over to Bernie's

...Website and sign his open letter to Obama.

http://sanders.senate.gov/petition/?uid=c1fd7f9b-abd8-4e7a-a370-1867881259d8

[Melissa G]

153. Done.n/t

[lobezen]

84. Norman Goldman

Norm kicks ass. He knows how to effectively deal with bullies AND he has a legitimate plan to rescue America! Rally together with him I believe we defeat the crazies.
http://www.normangoldman.com/

[lobezen]

85. Oh yes Bernie Sanders & Michael Moore

AND the Vermont Progressive Party platform is very much worth adopting:
http://www.progressiveparty.org/

[pansypoo53219]

88. so true.

the GOP is a pack of bullies and obama is trying to REASON w/ them. 2x4 time!

[bertman]

89. Agree 100%, Manny. REC. Will let you know when I think of a group.

[kd45music]

91. I wish...

The problem is that far too many people haven't been bullied enough yet. People seem to lean toward a strong, tough guy image, even if like George Bush, he is only a paper tiger. Obama has such a wimpy image that people think he's a pussy and go for the tough guy. So many uneducated voters vote for republicans for that reason, even though they are voting against what is best for them. Nothing short of an all-out revolution will change things. I read where there is a call for a general strike in Greece. That would be a good place to start, just shut the fuckin' place down for a day or two. Nobody go to work, butso much as a damned cracker, or turn on the tv. That might deliver a wakeup call to the pricks.

[chervilant]

104. hmm...

I have long wanted a general strike, and have posted about it on DU before. We could plan ahead, and strive for more than a few days. We could bring the entire global economy to a halt.

The most frequently mentioned issue in the posts hereinabove is solidarity. Our myriad, disparate groups need to pledge to a common goal AND to a HUGE protest.

October 6. Freedom Plaza. If every single unemployed person could make it to DC, our numbers would be staggering. We could not be ignored.

[RaleighNCDUer]

98. k & r

[tpsbmam]

100. Democratic socialists.

I have problems with classical Marxism -- too many precepts with which I disagree. The Democratic Socialists of America are much closer to my beliefs and, based on reading over the years, a large section of DU.

K&R You're on a roll, Manny!

ETA: they may not be mean, tough or bad but with a whole lot of new blood, maybe they could become all of that and more!

[bvar22]

105. Look South for a Blue Print.

The Populist Reforms sweeping across Latin America are nothing short of (near) bloodless revolutions.
Our neighbors in Central/South America have show us HOW to take back the government from the RICH.
They have even been able to overcome a Right Wing Media completely owned by the RICH,
but they did have one tool we don't have here:
Transparent, Verifiable, Monitored Elections.
Rigged elections will be hard to overcome, but not impossible.

"The worst enemy of humanity is U.S. capitalism. That is what provokes uprisings like our own, a rebellion against a system, against a neoliberal model, which is the representation of a savage capitalism. If the entire world doesn't acknowledge this reality, that nation states are not providing even minimally for health, education and nourishment, then each day the most fundamental human rights are being violated."
----Bolivian Reform President Evo Morales

(FDR said much the same thing in 1944 with his Economic Bill of Rights.)

I don't know of an active organization in the US that is currently working along those lines,
and those that emerge will be quickly targeted by "Homeland Security", and demonized by the Status Quo Political Parties,
so this won't be easy.


Aside from Kucinich, few inside the Democratic Party want to change the election laws to produce Transparent, Verifiable Elections even though it is an issue supported by 92% of the American people.....and THAT should tell you something.

When the Working Class & The Poor realize we have more in common with each other
than we have in common with the Ruling Class Leadership of BOTH political parties,
we can have "change" too.

Look outside the box to find the Common Ground.
Listen for those who are being demonized by the Political Leadership and their rank & file followers,
and decide for yourself if their issues are legitimate.

"Change" in Latin America began with word of mouth in the neighborhoods and slums,
and the realization that NOBODY in their governments gave a damn about them.
Things will get worse before they get better,
but America is definitely moving in that direction.
It CAN happen here.

VIVA Democracy!!!
I pray we get some here soon.

"who are the meanest, toughest, baddest advocates for the 95%?"

Feingold, Grayson, Weiner, Wellstone immediately came to mind,
and you saw what happened to them.

Jim Hightower, Thom Hartmann, Amy Goodman (Democracy NOW), even Mike Malloy and a few others,
maybe even Keith Olberman....but these are media figures, and have to be careful.
They can spread the message that "If you Work for a Living, You are being SCREWED by the Rich",
but they can't actually DO anything.

THIS is the Common Ground:
"If you Work for a Living, You are being SCREWED by the Rich",
and neither political party is looking out for you.
The Democratic party will either Move Left (I still have that "hope") and begin working for US,
or be left behind.

Start local. Spread THAT message among you friends & neighbors.
Most will agree with you.
Spreading THAT message locally is Goal #1.

YOU are the meanest, toughest, baddest advocate for the 95%?


"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for,
at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."
--- Paul Wellstone

[maddiemom]

106. Bullies

Wow! Tell us how you really feel! (Actually I couldn't agree more.) Where do we sign up?

[LoisB]

107. Baddest

Mike Malloy, Norman Goldman

[lark]

109. MoveOn's Recreate the American Dream?

This is just in it's infancy, but sounds good so far. At least their hearts are in the right place.

[myrna minx]

114. K&R n/t

[libmom74]

119. US Uncut and Power Shift

[zentrum]

121. ELLIOT SPITZER

...thinks, talks and walks just like our century's FDR. He needs to be urged to get back into political office.

I think the movement you re talking about is underway in Wisconsin. Support and join them and bring it to your state.

Don't forget Russ Feingold and his current attempts to organize a movement.

[mitchtv]

123. Was Archie Bunkers neighborhood Jackson Heights

by any chance?

[MannyGoldstein]

132. I lived in Glendale

Although I just looked up "All in the Family" in Wikipedia, and while the opening credits showed my neighborhood in Glendale, the show "took place" in Astoria. So I suppose that I'm only partially right about being in Archie Bunker land. But I can definitely confirm that the locals were Archie Bunker-esque.

[mitchtv]

146. heh , I know it

Astoria was right next door to JH, and a bit tougher. I often suspected we were in Bunkerland.

[zentrum]

124. PLEASE SIGN BERNIE SANDERS LETTER

...To Obama:

http://sanders.senate.gov/petition/?uid=c1fd7f9b-abd8-4e7a-a370-1867881259d8

[MannyGoldstein]

133. I did, but why share more sacrifice?

We've made all of the sacrifice so far - time for the 1% to take a hit.

[democrank]

126. The majority of our elected "leaders"

who are supposed to stand up for the 95% are busy appeasing bullies or in meeting with their corporate owners.

There are a very few leaders I`ll even listen to anymore, but I`ll stop and pay attention when any of these folks speak: Howard Dean, Bernie Sanders, Jimmy Carter, Mario Cuomo. Elliot Spitzer also has some interesting ideas.

[swilton]

127. Here's the meat of what you said

"And the folks representing our side either have zero clue as to how to deal with these swine, or they personally gain from letting them run rampant - but either way, nobody's taking a 2x4 to the bullies, and they fuck with us nonstop, with absolute impunity. Certainly, by now, only a few can still believe that giving gold stars to Republicans when they fail to totally suck is a winning strategy."


I agree with everything!

But in answer to your question - Bernie Sanders and Dennis Kucinich are the only ones that I can come up with.

[ccinamon]

130. I also want to know who REALLY wants to Play To WIN!

I've been yelling and screaming how republicans are bullies on a playground for the past 15 years.

It is PAST time to fight back....using their tactics only twice as hard, twice as often, and twice as fast!

Going nuclear and taking no prisoners!

[20score]

131. Progressives United, PDA, Veterans for Peace and here are 500 more...

Broken down by category:

http://www.startguide.org/orgs/orgs00.html

Hope that helps.

[Faygo Kid]

134. Of course, nonviolence. But I will take Spencer Tracy, "Bad Day at Black Rock"

Great scene. I hate cheap, cowardly bullies (this means you, Rush).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhUBH6gpXV8

[janet118]

135. You forgot to say richest . . .

Money talks . . . marches, not so much.

[WillyT]

138. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

:kick:

:hi:

[Maraya1969]

144. Some information. This group is active.

http://www.usmlo.org/


Voice of Revolution
Publication of the U.S. Marxist-Leninist Organization

USMLO • 3942 N. Central Ave. • Chicago, IL 60634

www.usmlo.org [e-mail]

Google link: http://www.google.com/search?q=marxists+organizations+in+united+states&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

[Taverner]

145. There was this Rep named Anthony Weiner...you may have heard of him

Big supporter of not just the 95%, but the 99ers

But he took a picture of his wee wee, so we're supposed to hate him now

[readmoreoften]

155. A bunch of people who play to win are meeting next week.

http://www.socialismconference.org/info

Hope to see you in Chicago.

[MikeMc]

157. House Progressive Caucus. Or Black Caucus, or Hispanic Caucus, or Women's Caucus. NT.

A bit of a stretch will help your arthritis out, Manny.

[MikeMc]

169. Dang, Manny. Don't be a snob.

You could at least say 'hi'.

(I guess I'm 'kicking' this o post. No way to tell, for sure.)

[RagAss]

165. I like what you said, Manny. And when the bullies are finally confronted it will happen suddenly...

There will be no warning. It will all go down in days or at most weeks...not months or years.

"The Left explodes, it never drips a warning."

[Name removed]

168. Deleted message

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