There used to be obscenity laws. If there were, this whole goddamned government would be shut down!
With all of them detained in their beloved torture chambers!

Please, bear with me. I've had a bad goddamned day! I just received a letter from the German government offering me a few dollars in compensation for the two family members of mine they murdered, and the four they imprisoned, during their last Fascist regime. One of them managed to survive and give birth to me! The people in this country have no fucking clue!!!!!!!!!

Brad:

I wonder if you would be so offended if the young daughter you don't have went to a Hollywood G rated movie only to hear the gratuitiously given gotta be heard F word 25 times in the span of 90 minutes.

So the left wing that brought us to Howard Stern, violent & degrading movies, violent & degrading video games, internet pornography, etc. is offended by the BS word said by a GUES on a TV opinion show? Ya sure you betcha.

Come on Brad, can't you find more IMPORTANT things to bitch about?

Teresa:

If not for America, you probably would not be here today. Please remember when you say "we do not have a clue" there are millions of people in America whose relatives were lost freeing your people from the tyranny of Hitler (many of those I might add bitching about our freeing OTHERS from tyranny today). To say we "do not have a clue" is a direct insult to those people. In my small home town every street is named for an American soldier lost in WW2. It is a daily reminder of the cost to us for freeing Germany.

As far as compensation for lost relatives: My family lost relatives in Germany in WW2 also. Most good people settle for a simple but earnest apology from their country for its past wrongful acts. I guess you want $$$$. So be it.

Teresa: You are so right. Most Americans are indeed clueless. Some of them actually think the USA is trying to free the people of other countries. They don't even seem to realize that their own freedoms are being taken away!

Before the US invasion of Iraq, women there had as much freedom as the women in any Middle Eastern country. For instance, they didn't have to cover their heads when they went out in public. Now they don't have to cover their heads, but they are afraid to leave their homes. Some freedom!

One more thing: Please don't pay any attention to the troll. It's quite clear that he's only trying to hurt you. Some people are really very sick and they try to impose their unhappiness on others. It takes a huge effort to ignore them sometimes, but that's really the best thing you can do.

horkus comment #4 LOL

Bando Bling comment #5 "You got gangsters in power and lawbreakers making rules." (Bob Dylan)

atty jimmo comment #8,#9 "Spiritual advisors and gurus to guide your every move,
Instant inner peace and every step you take has got to be approved" (Bob Dylan)

atty jimmo...please ....fall off the face of the planet!!

hm, seems to me we have action begging to happen here.

don't i recall the FCC fining the begeezus out of Howard Stern? don't i recall them also getting their regressive shorts in a wad over janet's right breast? (perhaps they'd have been less offended had it been her left one?)

my point is, why bother to call FOX?? let's inundate the FCC:

Phone:  1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)
TTY:  1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322)
Fax:  1-866-418-0232
E-mail:  fccinfo@fcc.gov

and just for the record, i'm not so much offended by the word...actually, i'm really not at all offended by the word, but i AM EXTREMELY offended by their hypocrisy.

and speaking of hypocrisy, this atty jimmo; yeah, fall off the planet, good idea. i've wondered why anyone bothers to read his hateful, ignorant crap. can we not disinvite him? short of that, let's just agree to ignore him completely. completely; no reference of or comment to him ever again. he adds nothing and clearly does this simply to get our backs up, so he's delighted when they are. so just IGNORE HIM, forever.

atty jimmo in your discussion of the F word you forgot that your freeper VP used it in the senate to tell a distinguished senator to go F himself. If the senate had been in session it would have been illegal cause it is a G rated show.

Why doesn't FUX the NEWS just move its studio over there where neo-con F ers can be immune and do like G man dicky do?

Speaking of TV, I just happen to be reading, "The Nobel Book of Answers" that I bought for my son.

On war Desmond Tutu says, "...it is very important to understand the power of the media at wartime. It is difficult for people to know who they should believe during these times, even as an adult. I recommend that you sit with adults whom you trust and let them be the one's who guide you...War is not a game.

And here we are! Sitting with adults we trust!

Personally, I am not offended by bad words or bare breasts. In fact, at the right moments, I like bad words and bare breasts! I'm a strong believer in sexual freedom and honesty. Although I understand there is a right place and right time for everything.

No need to complain to the Republican Powell son FCC, who along with other so-called Republican Christian Right Dominionist Conservatives are outraged by their children seeing a woman's tit or hearing the freedom of speech we are all protected by.

But that doesn't stop them from polluting our air waves with the glorification of war, hatred, violence, and murder! As they condemn love and sex on one hand, they are the cheerleaders of a Military Industrial Complex that decapitates children, buries thousands of human beings in rubble, and then gives their tearful farewells to our "FALLEN HEROES" without ever showing the face or name of an Iraqi mother, baby, father, child, brother, daughter, sister, son!

No...they want clean airwaves for their young children while their older children massacre thousands! I am sick of the hypocrisy! I am sick of the US ARMY compelling high schools to receive a visit from their $1 million dollar recruiting truck, where our young children, sons and daughters, can get the "cool" feel of a real life video hellicopter assault in their DISNEY WORLD thrill of kill and maim. I am sick of our high schools being compelled to give out the names and addresses of their students so they can get a sales pitch by the military to join their dwindling ranks!

Gee! What if they had a war and nobody showed up?Guess George DUMBYA Bush and his daughters would have to fight! Along with the sons and daughters of oil company executives, multinational corporations, and media moguls. Give them their own weapons of war, death and destruction, and let them fight their dirty little BULLSHIT wars!

Is it any wonder that our great MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX is working on pilotless fighter jets, advanced assasination drones, and other robotics with military application! Yes sireee! Someday we won't need those grunts, just a bunch of video game kids in the basement of the Pentagon killing the comic book enemy on their screens. No FALLEN HEROES, no dead enemy, no embedded media. Just the massacred remains of mankinds advancement in technology.

But don't you dare let that technology be advanced to show a bare breast or a bad word! Or men and women with the natural organs GOD gave them for making love...not war. If we had a $1 million dollar trailer to show high school kids how to make love and have great sex, I'd prefer that than showing them how they can kill and maim, and have fun doing so, just like at the video store in the mall!

But then again, that's my revolutionary opinion!

jimmo! You dazzlingly disinformed moral paragon, you!!
Fuck!! Call me fuckin' crazy, but from where I'm fucking sitting slaughtering the innocent in a fucking country that did nothing to us, not armoring our guys who are fucking dying every day in a fucked-up war, & refusing to fucking investigate allegations that our voting system has been fucked with, is far, far more offensive than any goddamn fucking WORD, you fuckhead!!!

I feel compelled to use a few choice words...sounds like we're on a roll !!!

But I'm not angry. I'm still trying to figure out how the hell (ooops, there it is!) these people got this way. The reason I need to know is that I need to get inside the head, that's how I think. Then I eat, breath, and sleep the stuff and one day I wake up with some sort of answer.

Are these really ONE people or are they TWO who stand side by side in a symbiotic pose? That is, are both views inside the same head...war is good and christian right? Or two? Or three? Three..Three...

I realize I'm at the 101 level whereas you all are far, far more advanced but a peep here and there to point me in the right direction would be much appreciated.

Miss Persistent comment #18

I am reminded of Clint Eastwood's character (the boxing coach) in "Million Dollar Baby".

This character goes to church every week. He has become a pest to his pastor, cause he asks him about the Trinity Doctrine (a three in one concept).

The pastor runs by him the typical "its like this ... " and Clint's character responds, "Oh, like snap, crackle, and pop?"

Freebird comment #16

Personally, I am not offended by bad words or bare breasts.
>>

I like to keep abreast of subjects round me two

;-)

Pretty fucked up.

LOL

To borrow from the Vietnam Era idiom, "What would happen if Fox Network gave a hatefest and nobody came?"

I respectfully suggest ignoring them completely. The only people who take Fox Network seriously are the same ones who shout "Get over it!" when confronted with evidence of vote fraud. They're the same people who call others unpatriotic for opposing the war in Iraq. They believe Saddam Hussein was linked to Osama bin Laden. They don't change their minds and they don't reason. Just ignore them, please, and ignore Fox Network. All this colloquy only serves their malign purposes.

It would be nice to see FOX do an expose on all the CIA and George Bush family links to Osama bin Laden! Seems America and the Bush Family was much closer to Osama than Saddam Hussein ever was...or should I say never was? But i guess we'll never get that fair and balanced news?

PS: Sure wouldn't want all those ghosts from 9/11 coming back to haunt you, would you Mr. Bush?

Hey Brad, it's nice to have you back. And it's strange [or is it a coincidence?] that you should mention the B-word.

Anyone who is offended by it should definitely not read my most recent blog item, which is [coincidentally?] called "The Triumph Of Bullshit".

If you're ok with the title, you should still be warned that it's not kind to anyone --- it rips both the so-called government and the so-called opposition. So if either the title or the attitude offends you, don't click here.

Oh, Dear Brad,

Your outrage is common to all of us at your website. This can't be happening...but it is. The truth of this administration's crimes against its own polity and the world at large MUST come out. The viability of this beautiful, intricately constructed planet is at stake!

We MUST be strong enough to revolt. I have grandchildren. Will they have a viable world? Will they care?

Information in a free world is necessary. The administration is limiting what intellectual property may be coveyed to its young. Soon, I suspect, we will not have a free Internet.

Please keep posting, as long as you can. We are very much in your debt.

Hearing the word 'bullshit' on Foxnews still isn't enough to get me to watch. But if Ann Coulter ever decides to take her clothes off and show her penis, Well then maybe.......

Fox News is a Bush cartel pimp! Period!

No morality! No responsibility in fair news reporting! This is typical........advocates of morality are themselves the most immoral!

I watch FOX because it keeps it green. I turn on that station so I do not forget what has happened to our country, and how it has been corrupted. The disease of ignorance is right there in every phrase and every cheese graphic they use. Every time I watch FOX I know who the enemy really is.

{ed note: Completely off-topic. Deleted}

"Not One Dime Day"  -  Jan 20, 2005 - Inauguration Day

Since so few of our news stations, political and religous leaders are speaking out against the war in Iraq, this Inauguration Day shall be known as "Not One Dime Day" in America.

On "Not One Dime Day" those who oppose what is happening in our name in Iraq can speak up with a 24-hour national boycott of all forms of consumer spending.

During "Not One Dime Day" please don't spend any money. Not one dime for gasoline. Not one dime for necessities or for impulse purchases. Not one dime for nothing for 24 hours.

On "Not One Dime Day," please boycott Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target...

Please don't go to the mall or the local convenience store. Please don't buy any fast food (or any groceries at all for that matter).

For 24 hours, please do what you can to shut the retail economy down.

The object is simple. Remind the people in power (and ourselves) that the war in Iraq is immoral and illegal; and that we must find a way to stop it.

"Not One Dime Day" isalso to remind our elected officials that they work for the people of the United States of America, not for the international corporations and K Street lobbyists who represent the corporations and funnel cash into American politics.

"Not One Dime Day" is about supporting the troops. Now over 1,200 brave young Americans and (some estimate) 100,000 Iraqis have died. We need an exit plan - a way to come home.

There's no rally to attend. No marching to do. No petitions to sign. No left or right wing agenda to rant about. On "Not One Dime Day" you take action by doing nothing.

You open your mouth by keeping your wallet closed.

For 24 hours, nothing gets spent, not one dime, to remind our politicians, religous leaders, and the press of our moral responsibility to end the war in Iraq.

Feel free to pass this message on.

re: comment #22

It's a really difficult question, Robert. If we ignore the people who keep putting bullshit on this board, then this board will become just another place full of bullshit. I don't think we should acknowledge the obvious trolls, but it doesn't hurt to correct some of the fiction they try to pass off as history.

The folks who are learning their American history here would be much worse off if we ignored everything the trolls had to say. And the people who are being abused by the trolls would be worse off if we didn't show our support for them.

I think we have to be careful not to let idiots control the agenda here, and it's good to remember that their name-calling and slander don't require responses. But their distortions of historical fact are not theirs alone; such misperceptions are shared by millions of other Americans, and if we can help some of those people to learn more about what their country really does, and really stands for, then so much the better.

... in my opinion.

"Wake up Americans"...... while you sleep the Super Rich Republicans have stolen ...."YOUR GREAT AMERICAN DREAM"

We've entered a new period in America where lying for profit is OK. It’s encouraged, supported and sanctioned by the US government with the blessing of the Super Rich whom control the vast majority of wealth in the USA and/or world.

The general population of this great country is now considered an "expendable infinite resource". We exist only for the capricious ideas and whims of Super Rich Republicans that control the media, banks, telecom, industrial, financial empires and now ... the US government. This group controls our past, present and future while making business decisions favoring their personal needs, business or political interests and banks accounts at our expense … the cost being monetary or human life.

While Americans focus on a phony war in Iraq and/or the middle east .... the real battle is on their own soil. There should be a middle class "Civil War" in the USA . Americans should take back “their country” from the Super Rich Republicans that have stolen it from them.

G.

Brad, I take offense you used My Lord and Savior's name in such a foul way. I have supported your site, turned people onto your reporting and fought ATT JIM on the immportant issue of NEE and YANG (which still is being ignored by even the people here). I'm disgusted that you have the nerve to (quite rightly) criticize FOX for cursing then hyppcritically take Jesus' name and urinate on it. I'm a Christian (non-denominational) and IMO people like BUSH disgrace him. Your comment is offensive, racist and makes me look like an ass to the people I suggested this site to.

You lost me today. Friends of mine wrote to me after they saw your filthy and repugnant verbal assault on Christianity.

I don't want to feed the troll, but what the FUCK is Jimbo talking about? Everyone is talking about media hypocrisy and his best idea is "don't legalize drugs"??? I would laugh, but for FUCKs sake! Didn't he read the warning label that says "If your head remains up your ass for over 48 hours seek immediate medical assistance"?

Sheesh! OK, back to more pertinent things...

Sorry, but I have to respond Attey Jim, He's making these semi-logical Limbaugh arguments that fool the Limbaugh listeners and Foxnews viewers. Left wing politics didn't give us violent games, movies, Howard Stern, or internet porn. It's called the free market capitalism. The kind of free market capitalism that highly sexualizes the Rupert Murdoch owned FOX network. Have you ever listened to Howard Stern? He's no bleeding heart Liberal.
As far as WWII goes, the Germans were defeated by the Allies, not by the U.S. alone. The German war machine was so strong, it took a team of nations to defeat them.
And concerning the Netherlands, easing the rules against drugs and taking financial power away from organized crime, thereby lowering the violent crime rate? Yes that would be stupid, we want our violence in the streets, not on T.V.

NEE JERK -

Apologies for the offense offered. I assure you it was not meant as such. But rather as a satirical comment on those who would say one thing and do another.

I hope you (and your friends) will understand that in the spirit in which it was meant.

It was also meant as a comment on the freedom of speech, which --- while sometimes hard to tolerate --- must be supported at all costs. Even if that means we see/hear ugly things from time to time. That was one of those ugly things (of which I may not like myself, but find it necessary to tolerate on behalf of the greater good).

I hope we don't lose either you or your friends. Though I respect your right to stand on your personal principles in the matter.

You (and your NEE JERKING) are quite welcome here, as you have been making a very valid point with your various comments. Points that have not been lost on me, and I hope others as well.

Haven't gotten caught up with ALL the other comments here over the 12 hours or so, as I'm busy working on some VR things which always take more time than I had hoped.

But I'd like to be open by Monday as planned, so please forgive me if I'm not watching as closely as usual or posting new Blog items for the moment...

(I will eventually get back and look at everything...And I suggest that ATTY JIM back off on his tasteless and insensitive comments to other users here. I suggest that those other users do the same, and simply ignore him. He will be dealt with in due time, but you guys can help by not taking the bait he offers...No matter how slimy and offensive it may be!)

I can somewhat and belatedly understand nee jerk's knee-jerk reaction (#30), but since when does uttering (or rather typing) "jesus fucking christ" make him a "racist"? An irreverent heathen potty-mouth maybe, but "racist"???

Besides, I'm sure that deep down he meant it in the most reverential sort of way...

brad - do us a great favor and dive into one of the overflowing drainage canals. hold your nose and count slowly to five thousand, as in one, two, three, etc.

Hi Guys,
According to an article in the Seattle weekly written by a vote counter for the Dems. in our statewide recount for the Govs. race, each day of the hand recount the Repubs. would all gather in a special room during counting breaks and pray!!!Gag me. Since God abandoned them and they lost the recount they are now crying VOTEFRAUD!!!! LOL! Since they are now challenging the hand recount and are calling for a revote please help us out here folks. If you could please call our toll free Legislative Hotline here in Olympia Wa. and tell them to "Certify the election of Christine Gregoire Democrat for Gov. THANKS ALL.

Whops, here is the #1-800-562-6000!

All you religious folk need to chill! I understand you don't like being offended in your various faiths and passions, but you shouldn't take an off handed remark by Brad as an attack on your religion or Jesus Christ...who himself preached tolerance and forgiveness.

I'm a natural spiritualist who enjoys reaching out and understanding all religions and faiths. Even though I write the name GOD here and elsewhere, and speak it at times, I don't use GOD as the word I would describe the spiritual essence of the Universe. Quite frankly, because I became tired of everyone declaring that GOD was on their side in this war or that, or to justify this crime or that one. Or to suggest their GOD was better then your false GOD, as some Republican Pentagon Generals have been known to say!

Humanity existed for millions of years before organized religion, before Jesus Christ and the Ten Commandments, and before the Bible. As always, I'm sure there were good people and bad people and even bad people had good traits while some good people had bad ones. Either way, they survived and many did good things and led balanced and honorable lives without the guidance of religions, books, or prophets.

Religious division, prejudice, and hatred has led to more wars and violence in the world than any other cause! Our wars in the Middle East right now can very well be considered religious wars, and not just by Islamic Jihadis, but also stoked by Crusading Christian fanatics right here in America. Just listen to them sometimes, from Ann Coulter to televangelists to ordinary Christian households. Some of the language of division, prejudice, and hatred...even violence...is what they are embedding into their children, which in the larger scheme of things, are also "our" children!

And when we are led by one of those Christians who honestly believes that if you don't know Christ, "his" Christ, then you are not going to Heaven, then who is the leader of "all the people"? Of course this narrow belief leaves out billions of humans. I couldn't disagree more with their self-serving declaration. And if Heaven is only being saved for the George Bush's and Tom Delay's of the world, I think I'll pass! Sorry!

And it is not just outside Christianity, but within it. So when my brother comes over after being converted to some right-wing Christian Church and tells our own elderly Mother and Father they're not going to Heaven because they're Catholics, and will only be saved by converting to "their" Christian Church, well my friends, let me just say I greatly enjoy telling right-wing Christians what I think about them.

And is not just Christianity! Look how Muslims have their Sunnis and Shias fighting, and the Jews have their divisions, and the Hindus, or so on! We are all one family folks! We are all the children of one Mother Earth. And it saddens me that not only my personal family is divided, but my human family is!

So the next time someone offends your prophets, your religions, or your books, just remember that we were always one family of man and woman from the beginning, all flesh and blood, long before we became so hopelessly divided by blind faith and ignorance that even religions within religions cannot heal.

PEACE BROTHERS & SISTERS!

PS: Now you all know what I was talking about when I explained how the Founding Fathers were secularists who did not want religious divisions, passions, and wars to jump from Europe to America, and why the separation of Church and State was and still is so important!

I took Brad's comment as an exclamation of extreme frustration which most of us are feeling right now and can deal with that a lot better than I can the Bush lies that are swallowed hook, line and sinker by adoring Bushit fans. Sometimes I just want to SCREAM, "how can you be so willfully blind and willfully ignorant?". If this lying, murdering, cheating thievery is an example of "christian behavior, I don't want any part of it! What a dis-service to Christianity and disgrace to Christ most neo-cons are. A little vulgarity while not commendable is less destructive than what we've become accustomed to from this administration!

Freebird, you amaze me. Thank you for that...we needed it. Peace...

Well, I think it's my daily turn for a few observations. Yes, it's been obvious to me that atty jimmo is simply baiting everyone here, and thinks he has a 'gotcha' every time someone responds. So the matter isn't improved when you do.

But then there is the question of WHY he is like he is, and I think you have to realize that he, like so many others who ride that bandwagon, are living a pretty challenging fantasy world. They think this is still the country that it was in days of WWII. They close their eyes to the changes that have since taken place. They pour an increasing and incredible amount of psychic energy into HOLDING THAT FIXATION.

Well, feel sorry for them. They are sick, they stick together for mutual comfort and 'reality support', and they will resist every effort to show them what is really out there. Their very sanity (if you can call it that) depends on preserving the illusion. As someone who had a difficult time breaking free of that illusion (it took me half my life!), I'm not just throwing words around.

The second thing I want to say a bit about is that I worked through those hangups some 35 years ago, thanks to the influence and support of a young generation that showed me how empty and hypocritical was everything being said by the Nixon crew (the Bush crew of that day). I thought, then, that we finally had a generation that was going to rip the roof off of all those false values, and that I would finally see a country newly headed on a decent track of consciousness and integrity.

Well, lo and behold, it didn't happen that way. Along came the mid-'70s and the bulk of the counter-culture turned tail on their OWN values, proceeding to become the same sort of money-chasing assholes that they had so brilliantly exposed just a decade earlier. Having, myself, COME OUT of that world, I had sense enough not to return to it, so I have lived somewhat as an 'outlaw' (not literally), ever since.

The moral in all of that is that you have to pay damn close attention to where your 'revolution' is headed, and be determined enough to see it through to completion. It is not a game, nor a short-term diversion. They, too, in the '60s, spoke of revolution . . . and they made a good start at it, but fell apart before they could follow through.

Enough for now...

P.S.
Freebird:
I found a lot in your post to agree with. Can't help but wonder what communication server those that claim a direct line to authority in heaven are using especially when they pray to God to let them win a football game or war or any other of their worldly pleaures.

Freebird, I'm jealous because SeattleDem beat me to the punch with her last remark. Thank you for having your head screwed on straight, not cross-threaded like so many cranky, flickering bulbs.

And Val, that's exactly how I took Brad's exclamation too. And I can hardly bring my own lips to form or fingers to type the F word.

Please all. Remember what we are fighting for! Al Gore (the REAL and LEGITIMATE President!) said that the struggle is "The People versus the Powerful." I have no problems with neo-cons per se (in fact, they rather amuse me!)

Where I get angry is them saying that I am not patriotic, assisting the terrorists, etc. because I do not subscribe to their particular point of view.

The Velvet Revolution needs to be inclusive, as suggested by Freebird. Everyone has a voice (even annoying "attorneys") and their voices must be heard. Where we can be different from the neo CONS is to never force someone to either change to be like us or to be one of "them."

That reminds me so much of Nazi Germany. Anyone want to compare and contrast Georgie with Adolf? If you investigate deeply, you may find some surprising similarities.

Lets see a truly "Fair and Balanced" news organization run that baby!

Peace to all. We all have a long hard war ahead of us. And we will prevail!

MrBlueSky

Personally, I find nothing more offensive than people constantly taking offense.

You know the only thing that pisses me off more than racism?

The Irish!

Oops. I'm Irish.

G #29 you describe the Matrix I.

The writer of that movie is a genius.

America is controlled by the Matrix ...

now Mr. Anderson ... what is this about a conspiracy?

irvthom (#42) is dead-on correct. Only one thing, though. We "revolutionaries" aren't, in general, unformed youth. I'm a grandmother who, I admit, had the advantage of growing up in the very liberal household of two college professors, my parents, and professors before them as far back as the tree can be climbed. So I had help opening my eyes from day one. I remember my father's expletives at televised McCarthy hearings (audited at a neighbor's house). I remember lots of things, truths that I grew up with.

I also remember well enough to state that this crisis we now face is far graver than any since WWII. And I'm pretty sure we all know it. Even under Nixon at his worst, we would never have dreamed that a reincarnation of Hitler would arise under our very noses and steal our country (our planet) out from under us.

I hope I'm right in believing that none of us here will ever abandon the fight against THAT.

Thank you Irvthom.

Sweet little summary of what has gone on since the 60's. For those of us who remember the Nixon era, first hand, let's hope that the Bush administration has its own "Deep Throat," a few John Deans, and the old Washington Post who encouraged reporters like Woodard and Bernstein to dig as deeply as possible.

The movement did weaken, however let's hope that what we're seeing here and elsewhere is the beginning of renewed unrelenting questioning, requesting full accountability by those in office, and others, who are orchestrating a continuation of a "democracy" gone awry.

Paul Wellstone was one of the vocal and active few in office we could rely on. Now we have the courageous Representatives and Senator Barbara Boxer. Let's not let them down. Support them and encourage them as much as possible, and let our own voices be heard millions strong. If your children were able to show you the light and open your mind, we can do the same for so many more.

People need to learn about the Carlyle Group, the Barrick Corporation, Halliburton, Adnan Khashoggi, the Bin Ladens, Five Star Trust, and the all of the other players who call the shots. Do research everyone and know who these people are, and how they overlap. It's a very small group who has one "hell" of a lot of power.

Standing up for the Democracy in which we all believe, sadly shouldn't be a revolution, it should be our basic civic responsibility exercised by each and every citizen of the United States.

But for the time being, if it's called revolution, then let it begin.

winter patriot~
I just read "Triumph of Bullshit"--it is eloquent & dead-on accurate. Sadly, sadly. I am passing it on.
January 6th, 2004 opened my eyes. I did not realize, did not want to believe, just how MANY steaming buckets there were.
I don't think I will vote again. That avenue is indeed over. But I cling to the hope....we will see.

I'm happt to see other George Carlin fans here! What kind of society reacts this way to words? The real obscenity, I think, in the deeds of a murderous illegal war, and the deed of democracy thieves. Words are words. Wow, what a journey I am on.To think I had never turned a computer on until Nov.4th. The solidarity is comforting. To find so many people with my own views is empowering.

correction- I'm happy, (this is hard to do with one hand)

I've heard hints on "AirAmerica" that Al Gore may be involved in launching a 24 hour T.V. cable news channel with a progressive slant to balance out the not so fair and balanced news coming from all the other chicken shit Coperate media outlets. Anyone heard this as-well??

Comment #2 Winter Patriot

I read your blog, "The Triumph of Bullshit". You are right on. Sad, but true.

To all, I recommend reading it.

Whoops-missed the r. sorry guys.

You all are the best.

Lori, this may be how they all overlap: Hill & Knowlton.

Freebird, I have witnessed one church-going neighbor pick a loud fight with another church-going neigbor about whose or whose church was more or less hypocritcal. The irony disturbed me. I do not go to church. I was raised catholic. It took me many years to get over that. At this time, there is nothing more private to me than my own personal spirituality.

I have told my 11 y.o. son all about Ohio, Conyers, Boxer, Blackwell, about disenfranchisement, voting on Nov 3, how hard the bloggers worked, how the media avoided, about how we made history! He was very pleased.

My son has visited a variety of churches with friends after an overnight, and has attended Jewish ceremonies and parties with a close neighbor. The more love the better. I prefer he study religion in college and not before then.

But then my son asked me two things this evening at dinner:

1) What religion was the person who killed Jesus?,
2) Can they have video surveillance cameras while voting?

I promise to keep him thinking about what is right. He's the guy who threw a game while pitching nice to a special needs kid so that the special needs kid would have the best chance at success. Coach was mad but...we never thought twice. Everything in its own time. I don't know what happened to the 60's crowd....but I'm teaching peace from the start.

Brad,

Your apology is without conviction. The remark remains at the site.

You defiled what is most sacred to me, and you know you're doing that.

I can't support that. It doesn't really cause me any pain. But it makes you look like a hypocrite, doesn't matter what your "intention" was. Nobody wants what's holy to them spit on. Until we can live in a society where we have mutual respect, we will have bloodshed. I'm all for keeping Jesus out of the Government, keep your profanity away from what's sacred to others.

Have some respect, and integrity. Or not, choice is yours. But it is a choice.

My stars!

Joan..comment#17
Very well put. I like the clarity.

The problem is... none of these ridiculous men posing as leaders should be followed. Certain childish, follow the right wing persons, need daddies. If you've noticed, most bloggers here don't worship any one of them. Quite the opposite. We think for ourselves and act on our own. We are strong and independent and rightfully enraged at our thoroughly misguided leadership.
We are the frikking hope of the future.

Any frippin', BSing, A-hole can see that!

hey miss p are you saying Catholics don't go to church?

Dear Nee Jerk: I am sorry you are upset. But , my understanding of what Brad has said is he is outraged (as many of us are) by people like Ed Rollins who pretend to be Christians, bowing their heads in the name of "Jesus Christ", and in the next breath implying that torture did not take place at Abu prison and elsewhere, AND using profanity. All lies and hypocracy. Pictorally, an absolute debasing of the essence Christ with acts of torture followed by lies to cover up. Verbally: Jesus F......Christ. Brad, in fact, is outraged by Ed Rollin's life as Jesus F......Christ. I sincerely hope I haven't made things worse. And frankly, I think Jesus would be more angry with Rollins behaviour than with Brad's bad language. Nee Jerk, life is pure imperfection - one needs to figure out what is important and critical, and what is not.

Well here we go again...I'm so sick of organized religion I could puke! I can't imagine why people claim that wars are caused by religion. My god is my own very personal & private business and I worship her in any way I choose and I don't give a damn about what any one else says or how they worship just as long as it's not a part of our government.

It's a question of mutual respect. Brad has none for me or people like me.

I'm sick or organized religion too.

I'm sick of intolerance.
I'm sick of insensitivity.
I'm sick of lack of integrity.
I'm sick of Brad.
I'm sick of this world.
I'm sick of people not loving one another.
I'm sick of hate.
I'm sick of evil men killing murdering and torturing while wearing Jesus on their bloody sleeve.

They are not Christians. They are murderous barbarians seeking to discredit his living by these words

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

I don't feel welcome here.

Miss P. - You're "talking" to some of the "60's crowd" ( and the 50's and the 70's and the 80's, I assume). We're all enraged people together here at BradBlog. Keep up the good, openhearted parenting! I have two great, thoughtful descendent families to gloat over, so I know it can be done.

Nee Jerk - pc actions speak much louder than pc words.

Oh, but Nee Jerk, you are VERY, VERY welcome!!!!

Nee Jerk-
You are welcome here. Please stay.

Nee Jerk-

We are all older adults and have heard many unpleasant remarks in our lifetimes. I understand your concerns ...but do not find Brads remarks, nor yours, offensive.

However, I do find your statement naive and simliar to what I expect to hear from my barber, members of my own family, my friends, neighbors or business associates .... and that does worry me.

As a Christian, ask yourself if you are prepared for what lie ahead???

Then .... seek out the old Jews who survived the "Camps". Talk to the old Americans, Italians, French or German citizens who lived in, fought and survived World War II. Seek out the American's who fought in Vietnam and the Vietnamese citizens who survived it. Talk to our military in Iraq and the Iraq citizens. All played parts in terrible, terrible wars ... so "ask them if they were prepared"?

I'll answer the question for you ....None were prepared...... I said "NONE".... "0".

If left unchallenged ..... what lies ahead for all of us.... is far, far worse then anything you, I or Brad could ever post on this board.

So .... "focus on the problem" .... do not create side issues or fight amongst ourselves ... let the Republicans do that.

G.

Nee Jerk - and furthermore, your objections stem not from prejudice or intolerance but from personal preference for civility. We all, I think, share that preference. A little leeway is allowable at times though for utter outrage to express itself. Forgive...

Right-On G.
Let's focus on the problem. The way I see it the problem is we've lost our vote and we've almost completely lost our voice (aka the media). Let's start with that...
Nee Jerk-stay OK?

Wow! Many new people have been commenting here lately, and making big contributions. Things are much more interesting now than they were when I started hanging around. I would like to thank you all individually, but of course if I start listing people I will certainly forget somebody.

So for now, I'll confine myself to a few remarks on the excellent comment from irvthorn (#42). In my view, what we have here is very different than the resistance movement of 35 years ago (which irvthorn mentioned), and in some ways it is much better.

The 'counter-culture' movement of the late 1960's and early 70's was a makeshift coalition of activists who were protesting against the war in Vietnam, pushing for civil rights at home, and trying to raise awareness about the plight of our natural environment, among other things. But primarily it was an anti-draft movement. Young guys who were afraid of being drafted made up the bulk of the movement, and their concerns were primarily selfish, in the sense that they were mostly concerned with their own safety.

Therefore, when the draft was stopped, much of the steam was taken out of the movement. I still meet people who think the Vietnam War ended in 1973. It didn't. It was the draft that ended in '73. The war went on until '75. The people who think that the war ended in '73 have confused the draft with the war. Maybe it was always the same thing to them. Maybe all they ever cared about was the fact that they were in danger of being drafted.

I don't want to paint everybody who opposed the war with the same brush, because that would be very wrong. But if I am right in thinking that most of the hippies of the 60's were primarily concerned with their own futures, then it is no surprise that once they were no longer in mortal danger, they bade farewell to the movement and drifted over to the stock market, where they could concentrate on enriching their own lives.

This time, we don't have a draft. Not an official one, anyway. And most of us here are not primarily concerned with our own lives. We worry about our kids, and in some cases our grandchildren. We're concerned about everything, not just the war, and certainly not just ourselves. If the war in Iraq ended tomorrow [yeah, I know it won't, but if it did], we would still be here, raising hell about everything else that bothers us, and trying to find constructive ways to change our country for the better.

In other words, the current resistance movement has a much 'harder core' than the movement of the 60's, and this gives me hope. I may not be very optimistic, at least not all the time, but I do remain hopeful. And one of the primary sources of my hope is the community I see forming around Brad and his blog. So please keep it up: the furious rants, the history lessons, the supportive comments and the wry jokes are all very good, and very necessary.

Abraham Lincoln said it much better than I ever could:

It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this ... that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Hey NEE JERK:

Is this the right room for an argument?

People under stress sometimes say things that have hurtful consequences, without intending any harm. Brad has been working very hard for a long time, doing a good job of keeping us informed, and getting exhausted in the process. I've been reading him for a long time and I have never seen him take a cheap shot at anyone who didn't deserve it. Not intentionally, anyway.

So I think he may have spoken without thinking very hard, and you may have overreacted. Believe me, if he wants to show disrespect for you, he'll do it in a way that leaves no room for doubt.

As for you, I believe you are under stress too. We all are, and sometimes we all need to take a deep breath and think slowly for a while. You have been making big contributions here too, and the blog would be a poorer place without you. So I join with all the others who are urging you to stay.

You can be a powerful force for good, by continuing to urge everyone here to treat one another with respect, regardless of their religious beliefs [or lack thereof].

And besides, we don't have nearly enough Python fans around here.

Knights who say NEE? You try and tell the young people of today that, and they won't believe you!

Nee Jerk, I have many friends who are Christians who feel the same outrage that you and I do about the situation this country is in. I have nothing but respect for them and you. Billy Graham is a Democrat for cryin out loud...

Miss P, Peg C, Seattle Dem, and all,

Thanks for your kind thoughts and feedback, and yes Winter Patriot's Blog article was excellent with some uncannie timing with Brad's FOX BS story.

NEE JERK: Don't leave offended, we all love you just as Jesus loved everyone, especially those who stood together to challenge great injustice. Jesus walked into many places that called him names, yet he would never abandon those that did! Please remember that in the spirit of his name! In spirit as in life, words may offend but in deeds do we mend!

Miss P: I am happy your small boy is getting a good education, political and otherwise. I remember working on my first political campaign at age 8! I was helping manage a US Congressional campaign by 19, meeting Jimmy Carter, and riding in the limmos of US Senators. What a thrill, but I was already a wise old man by then! LOL

Even a young Bob Graham heard of my work and asked me to run the Central Florida campaign for his first run for Governor. I turned him down to go to Law School, thinking he didn't have much of a chance! I didn't call that one right! LOL It was also in Florida that I met an elderly Jewish couple that took me under their wings and became mentors to my "liberal" education. I know they are flying around up there right now wondering why we're not storming the Bastille! LOL )

But I'm always interested in how the young develop and are influenced politically and religiously. I know I was exposed to many different cultures and ideologies, as well as places to see. So from Amish farms to old Catholic Latin Masses (GOD I HATED MISSING MY SUNDAY MORNING CARTOONS!) to my Baptist Preacher friend who took me to Billy Graham Crusades to my old friend who is a Holy Man at an Apache Indian reservation. Out of all these and many other experiences, I began to feel and understand the whole of our parts, both human and natural. It's amazing how much more and better we can educate the young, yet fail to do so.

As was taught to me by my Indian friend, you can go to any place of worship in the world and feel spiritual power. And when I photographed some of the oldest cave drawings in America and took them to him, I always marveled at his ability to have great and revealing perspectives that dealt with all things natural and human in a spiritual as well as practical context. He never went to college, yet he had so much to teach and it has always been a great honor to know him.

We can learn so much through diversity because in many ways that diversity is in all of us, physically, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and sexually, the five great aspects of our humanity. Which brings me to what a scientists told me recently. That other than our outward appearances, that we are all very much alike and that our DNA is almost identical to the point, that indeed, we are one big family!

Hopefully, we can remove the divisions, prejudices, hatreds, and violence separating that family by those who exploit all of us in order to protect their wealth and power. By staying in touch, LEARNING, EDUCATING, and ORGANIZING, we will make a difference! The very diversity they use to keep us divided will someday be turned to be what brings us together through the curiosity of little boys like your own and other children, of all ages, who still dream of peace and happiness in a better world!

PS: Rent FACING WINDOWS movie when you can, Italian with English subtiles. Great and relevant flick!

Freebird,
Thank you again my friend. Your words have given me (at least for tonight) back a ray of hope for the future. With guys like you and all the other amazing souls here in Bradville on our side we will take back our democracy. I'm certain of it now.
Night all-

I agree with SeattleDem, Freebird. Thanks again for all your fine contributions here. We shall never surrender!

Winter P,

I like what you said about the hard core difference of this resistance movement from the 60's. We aren't waving signs and making up slogans.
I think that this is also a more intelligent one, due to the internet, which is expanding our minds even more than we know. It is a fascinating new political tool, and since we have no previous model, we are in a brand new kind of revolution. I hope we will be able to avoid violence, and use our genius, instead. Our way makes these thugs look even more clumsy and primitive. They are behind the curve.

In regard to the "Velvet Revolution": The term originated here in Prague, and seen from the outside world it sounds lovely. But one caveat: The commies saw that a change was coming and cynically prepared for it, so that when it did happen the only chage was in appearances. The thugs who used to run the country still do! So while preparing for our own revolution, we would be wise to be aware that the bad guys (neo- or not, a con is still a con) may well be preparing for it, as we speak. Let's make sure that when it comes it will truly change the status quo!

Really, czaragorn? Originated there? What is the symbolism?

T (#59) I was saying I was raised Catholic and I don't attend church. My spirituality is private that's all. I like to take the best of all words of wisdom.

Peg C (#63) Thanks, I'm still trying to figure out how to teach my son both tolerance and fighting for what is right in the same breath. It's a bit of a pitfall to be a live and let live person with a cause for change...

Winter Patriot (#69) Thank you, your view is very encouraging. This is a counterculture with a heart beat.

Freebird (#72) Wow, you've been everywhere, thank you for your wise words and inspiration. Have you read, Raising Little Tree"? I recommend it to everyone!

My words of thanks don't really do justice to you all but I have absorbed your thoughts and words into my soul. Sometimes (most of the time) I can't find exact words for these feelings.

Here's a poem I wrote the other day:

Life's rainbows are hard to come by
Cloud seems to thwart all gain.
But such is the sustenance of rainbows
That readiness of rain.

Dear Teresa #79,

In November of 89 the good people of Czechoslovakia gathered in Wenceslas Square in Prague (and many other places in the federative rupiblic) to jingle their keys, signalling that it was time to go for the "authorities," who knew they were right - but they didn't go far

To answer your question a bit more directly, Teresa, they called it "velvet" because no heads rolled - it was pretty cynical, when you think about it - after all, if heads don't roll, is it really a revolution? But then isn't that what PR is all about?

PS That doesn't mean blood should be shed, but people must be held accountable for what they have done

Great prose freebird! Hang in there NEE, it aint nuthin but a thang. I will allow a little humiliation or even a left jab to my jaw, but I'll never take my eyes off the prize. I don't think you will either.

Hey NJ,

I think you will find that the good folks here believe in the things that Jesus stands for as much as you do. We are a bit of a fighting bunch, though, and sometimes in the heat of emotion, we say things without measuring every word. Some phrases are cliches, and shouldn't be taken literally, and you shouldn't be too sensitive to all that people say. You will suffer too much. Judge us by our deeds. Our intentions are as good as they get, and adhere completely to true Christian philosophy. You remind us of that.
I don't blame you at all for being sick of phony Christians desecrating Jesus' name. I, personally have reached my limit when it comes to hypocrisy.
It is important that all of us of like mind stick together now as we face the task of transforming our country into a kinder place.

Hey NEE,

Brad's a jew, he don't care about pissing on Jesus.

He's an insensitive hypcrite. He wants to be taken seriously as a journalist but he's got the mouth of a hate mongrel. It's disgusting what he said, and he doesn't have the courage to admit it.

Many people, actually, have no ojection to Jesus, but have no strong feelings about him one way or another.

Attorney Jimbo-

I find "your" remarks in post #84 offensive.

Nice try.

But put a lid on it.

G.

Nee~
I hope you can take to heart all the kind words offered by the good people here, and stay. Brad's remark was intended as humor, not deliberately meant to offend. You write "...it doesn't matter what his intention was..." but do you really believe that? Just compare Brad's comments & his reasons for them with #84's: low, ugly & hateful, having no basis in truth, & deliberately intended as a venomous insult. Wouldn't you agree that the two shouldn't be weighed on the same scale?
Oh & thanks, by the way, to the writer of #84 for providing such a stunning example for me!

I'm humbled by & grateful for the scholarship of many of you here. Keep educating me, please! I started out as a 16-year-old "hippie-chick", as we said back in the day, writing poetry against the war, & ended up studying art; so I don't quite fit wp's definition, but close enough.
One bright spot (bright in a twisted, sputtering-candle-against-the-dark kind of way) in our current sad situation is that throughout history some powerful art was created as testimony against tyranny & opression. I'm thinking of Goya & Daumier, but there are others of course. Picasso's "Guernica". Speaking truth to power.
So I guess I have my work cut out for me. I'll do my best.
Peace & goodnight, all.

To all who have written kind and encouraging words to NJ while I have been too busy to get caught up with all of the comments, thank you. I am now caught up. On this thread at least.

NJ - If you are still checking in on this thread...I would have liked to have touched base with you privately via Email after your original note, but you don't leave an Email address with your posts.

Since then, I have now seen your followup notes, and I would encourage you to drop me an Email at your soonest convenience. Click here to send me a note

I would like to talk to you privately. I know what it is that you did here. And I am very concerned about it, and about you.

I have no hard feelings, nor animosity towards you, but I do have concerns. So please touch base via email if you read this comment.

The conversation, I assure you, will remain private.

Thanks.

Peace, Joan, and, Amen.

I came too late to the party. I am just overwhelmed by all of you. I've never seen so many smart, angry, wise people all being smart, angry, and wise in unison.
#3, Peg C. worries about internet freedom. I do too. Does anyone know what kind of danger there might be and how imminent a threat it is? Do we want to have a plan for keeping connections if one day we face a blank screen? Not only for the eloquent Bradblogger's but for anyone who's tired of dictator ass in their face. Maybe Brad has a suggestion.
#4, Winter Patriot, I read your blog. Our anger is our gold. Silence won't do at all. Thanks for announcing to the world that we won't take it. I hope some misguided people who think we'll sit meekly and allow ourselves to be demonized read this blog.

I want to put an informational car sign on my car, what d ya think of these?

The Constitution Restoration Act of 2004:
restores your right to be stoned for adultery
IT'S FOR REAL
go to www.yuricareport.com

The divine law bill gives "being stoned" a whole new meaning.
FIGHT BIBLICAL PUNISHMENTS!
go to www.theocracywatch.org

The divine law bill:
it'll kill democracy
and it could kill YOU!
go to www.yuricareport.com

In debt? you could face SLAVERY.
It says so in the bible.
NO Constitution Restoration Act of 2004!
www.theocracywatch.org

What bill has the House already passed once?
The CONSTITUTION RESTORATION ACT of 2004.
When it passes what will happen?
BIBLICAL PUNISHMENTS will be the law of the land:
What does that mean?
death for "blasphemers" and gays.
death by stoning for adulterers.
slavery for debtors.
the end of religious freedom
THINK I'M JOKING?
go to www.yuricareport.com
CALL CONGRESS TODAY

Yeah, Bluebird. "The divine law bill gives 'being stoned' a whole new meaning. Like that.
These people, if I can call them that, are desperate. I think they sense the end of their stranglehold. After all the scandals in the Catholic church, and people's natural evolution away fron Christian dogma, these archaic zealots are screaming in their death throws.
I don't think we will be heading all the way back to the middle ages, even though we have temporarily slipped in our forward progression.

But, man, these people are sick. God forgive'em.

I also love this..." our anger is our gold".
Yes.

Teresa, thanks for the feedback. See ya' on the next blog.