Dark clouds and a sinking feeling..

[kentuck]

There are dark clouds on the horizon. There is a sinking feeling creeping over much of the base of the Party. They do not see progressive solutions in the cards. They see more taxcuts, including extending the Bush taxcuts or making them permanent, because of the weak economy. They see continued wars. They see continued joblessness and worsening conditions because this President and the Congress will adopt conservative solutions to fix the problems. We all know that if that is the case, things will only get worse.

We are only dreaming if we think there will be any progressive programs to put people to work. There will be no WPA-type programs or CCC-type programs to help people keep their heads above the water. It is difficult to be optimistic at this time.

[Broderick]

1. I will wait til he gives the speech

Until then it's all this guy said this and that guy said that. Unnamed sources. Stupid media is too much in love with a Cowboy right now. I fucking hate that song about all we need is more cowboys in the world.

[coalition_unwilling]

3. More cows, fewer cowboys! (Grew up on a small dairy farm where

all our cows -- about 20 -- were like pets. Cows are very decent creatures, much more decent than Repukes or even some Dems :)

[Broderick]

4. I milked cows as a kid

And I bailed hay. The only thing cows ever did bad to me was make me stink.

[badhair77]

2. kentuck, I know it's tough to be optimistic right now.

But I'm trying to hold on to the hope that things will get better. I've always been a glass half-full person. I get down sometimes now myself but we need to hold on. Right now I'm hoping the speech will actually present some new ideas and not just old ones repeated. Hang tough.

[Truth2Tell]

5. I agree. I have come to believe

that everything is going according to plan. By pretending to be a Democrat/Progressive/Liberal he has been able to co-opt all opposition to the right wing agenda he serves. His program of unwinding the New Deal is right on track suckers.

[Little Star]

10. It sure feels that way.

[RKP5637]

6. I'm having a hard time feeling optimistic anymore. My optimistic button is

about worn out. I think the handwriting is on the wall. If there is even a remote hint of WPA-type or CCC-type programs it sure is the best kept secret. I also think the infrastructure of this country is going to totally crumble. The country, collectively, is pathologically ill, mentally disturbed.

My concern is based on my experience with Americans for a long time, many are fools enough to push someone like Perry into office.

[dgibby]

8. Expectations are inversely proportional to serenity.

If you keep your expectations low, then you'll have more serenity. Works for me.

[RKP5637]

13. That's a very good way to look at it ... a very good way. I tend to set my

expectations too high and then get disappointed. I need to do what you do. Thanks!

[dgibby]

14. You're welcome!

Took me years of therapy to learn that!

[Blue_In_AK]

19. I always say

expect the worst, and you won't be disappointed.

[bbgrunt]

7. ...oh, and wait until the "super congress" kicks in its budget deficit reduction plan.

[amborin]

9. totally agree;

we need to develop some organizational power and push Obama leftward

[gristy]

11. The tax cuts may be made permanent, but it won't be because of the weak economy

they will be made permanent to perpetuate the weak economy.

And you knew that, yet you fell into the thinking that the reich wing perpetuates 24/7.

[kentuck]

12. I think you may have misunderstood my point...

or I did not state it clearly enough.

I think they will use the "weak economy" as an excuse to extend or make permanent the Bush taxcuts. I will be surprised if that does not happen.

It is not I that fell into that thinking but I think the White House has fallen into that thinking. The "reich wing" says that there is no certainty in the tax code when taxes are cut temporarily. They need more confidence in the tax code in order to create jobs and get this economy moving again, they say. Amd I think that is the lie that the WH will fall for...

[sad sally]

15. Don't be surprised if in addition to permanent Bush/Obama tax cuts

the 2% get-rid-of-social-security-so-called-holiday-tax, coupled with a 2% same deal for employers, will be made permanent.

If total contributions to social security are reduced from 13% down to 9%, in a couple of years there won't be anything for anybody over 45. Next "logical" step will be to discontinue all contributions and viola, privatizing retirement will be complete.

Too bad for all the poor folks who can't contribute to their own retirement. It's coming, the first phase has been completed this year and with all the yammering that it can't possibly be withdrawn in 2012, and employers need to see a 2% reduction, phase II will start.

[kentuck]

16. That is a real possibility...

We need to get a few DUer involved in the legislative races to challenge the present incumbents in primaries so that we will have some Democrats that are aware of the dangers in this present environment.

[sad sally]

17. Did you happen to catch Michael Moore on Link TV last night?

He was saying the same thing. Said there was no need to start another party, that we just needed to take back the one we have; to get involved, run for local offices, be loud. Was his usual good self.

[kentuck]

18. I missed that but I agree with him.

We need to get more involved.

[obliviously]

20. Dark clouds?

Are we to assume that dark is bad and somehow a lighter color would be more desirable?

[kentuck]

21. Watch it!

You stretching it like a rubber band. Don't let it snap in your face.

WTF!

[CoffeeCat]

22. When it comes to clouds...

...dark is a pain in the ass. Especially if you're washing your car or picnicking on the beach.

I take it you didn't major in meteorology?