I posted this on another thread, but think it relevant to this open thread:

Why do autoworkers have to build autos? Why do we need to add more cars, even hybrids, to the already clogged roads and highways of this nation? How many of these workers could be retrained to work in the alternative fuel industries, building solar panels/photovoltaic cells, wind generator technology, installing these machines where they could begin abating our gluttony for fossil fuels? In the meantime, over-compensated corporate executives could live on what they have in reserve for years, until they also found a way to contribute to the real wealth of this nation, not the faux wealth of paper trading in stocks and bonds. Bring "real jobs" home. Train the military people in "real jobs" that are productive, not destructive. Defense is only necessary to the degree that people feel deprived of their rights and think that attacking their perceived enemies is the solution. This is not an easy answer, but it is effective over time. President-Elect Obama is demonstrating the wisdom of cooperation and communication, and the inclusion of all parties to the issues that face us.

Peace is possible in our lifetimes if we give up the notion that we have to be "right" to be happy. In many cases, the choice of happiness means giving up being "right:.

I am committed to Oneness through Justice and Transformation
peace,
st john

Joe Scarborough's judgment is so bad, he can get politics and arithmetic wrong in the same sentence.

I'm missing something. How is his arithmetic wrong? Begich 58, Martin 59, Franken 60. Is the argument that Sanders and Lieberman don't count because they only caucus with the Dems?

Even Pat Buchanan gets it.

Buchanan suggested that with his next Cabinet pick, "he ought to give someone to the Daily Kos ... the people who supported and elected him."

It's odd that Buchanan shows more respect for the left than leading Democrats do.

Too many Democrats seem to think the first thing they should do when they get power is display contempt for their base.

As long as Reid is majority leader and Lieberman is in the Democratic caucus, the DSCC can, per the colorful saying, see which hand fills up first.

The news out of Salt Lake County is astounding. The state had been very red when I left it in 1990, and only seemed to be getting worse.

It's hard to believe that they used to have a Democratic governor when I was in high school.

I really think people ought ot be pushing back on this "60 votes, veto-proof majority" crap. If that is allowed to be come set as a meme, then the next step is Democrats, even with a veto-proof majority can't get anything done." Because, as we all should know, the 60 senators in the Democratic Caucus will NOT all always vote the same way. Especially with the example of Weepy Joe not getting any punishment.

that ziegler interview with fivethirtyeight is an instant classic....he keeps claiming that nate won't publish the complete transcript..bet he wishes he had been right..

in "the something to add" department....the lake sarah palin lives on is dead....

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/19/palin/index.html?source=rss&aim=/news/feature

Wow, that account about the Lieberman vote sounds like they were all just exhausted-- along with Obama's expressed wishes--along with the lack of venue to express their dissent--sounds like crummy timing which allowed this potent threesome to thrive.

Harry Reid must be the weakest Senate majority leader in history. Well at least in my memory and I'm almost 50.

St. John, check this out:
http://www.thevenusproject.com/

I think (hope) that the Lieberman issue will be a non issue soon. It is a test case though for other decisions, support, initiatives that Obama institutes.

Despite our good wishes and general approval for this President elect -- there is a fair amount of distrust and cynicism in our opinions that belie our assertion that we are ready to let Obama lead and give him the benefit of the doubt for a while, to do so. There seems marginal support for letting him pick his team HIS way, much less initiate any strategies or decision making without being second guessed and pessimistacally spun by OUR side. At this rate, we should see Republicans happily taking both sides comfortably even supporting our most progressive ideas -- that fail -- to further deepen our sense of Obama betrayal and failure to be "ALL THAT WE EXPECTED"

---and he hasn't even been sworn in yet.

Imagine once he is....

With friends like us.....

Salt Lake County has been slowly swinging Democratic for a while. The Dem gubernatorial candidates won the county in 2000 & 2004 even though the R's won in landslides in the rest of the state. I thought Obama would win SLCo and was ticked off when he didn't at first, so this was a pleasant surprise for me.

Bill O'Reilly has a holiday reading list? That's funny!

Military recruitment up? I'm not surprised, but not because of the reasons given here. It entered my mind last week that Obama is a President for which I could give my life to support. I've never felt that way about any President...mainly because I'd never trusted another CinC to spend my service wisely.

The pitbull bitch can't even go fishing without telling a lie...

From dj spellchecka's link:

"Sarah," a recent biography of Palin by Kaylene Johnson, features a photo of a beaming Palin, sitting in a rowboat on Lake Lucille clutching a fishing rod. But, according to local fishermen, the Republican vice-presidential candidate would have to be very lucky to reel in something edible. The Alaska Fish and Game Department dutifully stocks the lake with coho salmon and rainbow trout each year -- but the fish don't last long.

Paul Krugman offered up yet another healthy dose of reality regarding the economy and the big three--he continues to be my hero.

I hope Rachel Maddow will use Krugman, Fineman and Alter continuously.

All three are so able to just tell it like it is, and with good research to back them up--SO refreshing!

Yes, oft times quite depressing, but in my view, it's better to tell the truth than to dance around it and pretend otherwise.

I feel dignified when the likes of Paul Krugman and Howard Fineman and Jonathon Alter are reporting. I feel like they are truly being honest.

What do others think?

What do others think?

I think Krugman should be treasury secretary

I am still outraged at the mega-millionaire CEOs who want us to bail them out because, despite their six-figure incomes and jet-setting perks, have failed miserably at their jobs. When a sports team fails miserably, you FIRE the damn coach. The coach does not go to the Commissioner and beg for additional players, or rule changes, or weaker competition. He or she is fired, period. How about you and me? What if our business' fail? Too damn bad. What if we suck at our jobs? We are fired. We, as a nation should help the workers, (you know, the people who always get screwed by poor mgmt decisions and illegalities) retrain them, offer public works programs, give them unemployment insurance for a limited time, etc., , and let the mighty, mighty CEOs, who think they are so damn important and special, use their own money and brains instead of yours and mine. You CEOs made your bed, flying and laughing all the way to the bank for years, now you lie in it.

Thanks citizen_pain for the link to the Venus Project. Looks very interesting and what I am proposing. Nothing short of Transformative Change will resolve current issues. As Einstein said, many decades ago, you cannot solve a problem from the same level as it was created. Though none of us is perfect as humans, there are those who come along who have the charisma and vision to see through the false illusions of the present into a future that is healing and beneficial to all. Obama is such a one; however, he cannot do it alone and is not supposed to. We are all players in the play of life, and have equal power from the inside out. A leader like Barack Obama has a gift to awaken us to that power. It is up to us to accept the guidance and use our innate awareness to step into our power.

Transcend the myths of political impotence imposed upon us and speak your own truth for the healing of all.

I am committed to Oneness through Justice and Transformation
peace,
st john

I agree that there is no rush in handing the car makers bail out money. IT wouldn't hurt them at all, to shutter every single factory they own, and stop all production for at least 6 months.

There will be ample inventory left not to worry about running out of 'new' cars.

During World War II there weren't any new cars made, because most of the production was geared to making military equipment. During that time everybody understood the necessity.

I don't see any reason why America HAS to keep producing cars, just for the sake of producing cars.

Get rid of the Union contracts - contracts that are unreasonable, and convert some of those car factories assembly lines into 'green' energy assembly lines: solar panels, wave generators, wind turbines, energy efficient generators, etc....

Apropos of nothing in particular here, just a quick note to tell you folks I really like the quick hits approach.....lots of little nuggets and links to let you further peruse the ones of interest. Nice job consistently. Thanks.

Obama should try help for the auto industry with one little string.

All bail outs as of Obama's new term are required to initiate a new minimum Universal Health Care change over.

Here, America has the potiential to convert the largest manufactoring concern. Actually all compamies that are related to do business with the auto makers must convert to Universal health care also.

Where As we the people say, hey you, auto industry want our tax dollars to party on well here is a little catch.

What? The DOW under 8K? How horrible! Maybe I shouldn't mention anything about "under 65 by Christmas."

Oops! How careless of me!

*evil laughter ensues....