The Unraveling - Random Thoughts
Sat Jun 28, 2008 at 09:52:52 PM PDT
Two ways the economy can go. A peaceful drift into the next great depression (bad enough)...or things could become more dramatic. The credit crisis will continue to worsen once the effects of the home mortgage debacle, then vehicle loans, then credit cards and finally the cost of the wars come home to roost. (If you don't believe that we're headed for depression, I would suggest FinancialArmageddon.com, Dollarcollapse.com or the Royal Bank of Scotland).
Let's take a look at some of the events that are a given at this point:
- People continue to lose homes in numbers that make the current foreclosure rate look tame by comparison.
- Construction people and those who support them flood the job market, unemployment becomes much higher, wages become lower.
- People lose their cars first and then their available credit, many are bankrupt.
- The dollar continues to fall against the only international currency that matters, oil. The necessities of life (primarily food and fuel) become unaffordable for many.
(More Below)
Super Delegate Poll
Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 05:27:58 PM PDT
If this election comes down to the breaking point because of the absolute closeness of these two candidates for nomination from the democratic party to run for president of the united states it may come down to the super delegates being the deciding factor in this race.
Nick Henck's "Subcommander Marcos"
Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 03:11:13 PM PDT
This is a review of Nick Henck's book on Sup Marcos, the military leader of the EZLN, the subversive movement in Mexico.
(Photo from the account of Whodisan215)
(Crossposted at Docudharma)
The Debtors' Revolt
Wed Dec 12, 2007 at 05:52:17 AM PDT
cross posted from Gapersblock.com - GAPERS BLOCK – THE DEBTORS’ REVOLT
I think a lot about those early human societies, the very earliest ones. The first humans who realized they were thinking about their thoughts—how much that must have freaked them out. And when they realized, upon seeing people around them die, that they, too, were going to die. And the weather; and feeling rejected by the opposite sex; seeing mental illness and birth defects. It must have been terrifying. This is the "state of nature" Hobbes wrote about: where life was nasty, brutish, and short. Poor early people.
Condi's Diplomat Draft -(new cartoon)
Tue Nov 13, 2007 at 08:43:11 AM PDT
Hello Friends,
Today's original Headzup cartoon deals with the revolt at the State Department, with diplomats refusing to go to Iraq out of fear for their lives.
Revolt of the Generals
Sun May 13, 2007 at 09:12:03 AM PDT
Hints of a major Constitutional crisis in the wind:
CYNTHIA TUCKER, ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION:
"Look for a revolt from active-duty generals if September rolls around and the president is sticking with the surge into '08. We've already heard from retired generals. But my Atlanta Journal-Constitution colleague Jay Bookman has lots of sources among currently serving military officers who don't want to fall by the wayside like the generals in Vietnam did, kept pushing a war that they knew was lost." MediaBistro 11 May 2007 Preview of The Chris Matthews show
They are making plans
Thu Sep 14, 2006 at 09:11:28 PM PDT
I write long rambling emails to my family and then they yell at me to put them somewhere where other people might read them. Mainly I suspect because they assume that if I have a public outlet I will stop bothering them. THey are wrong. but here is a rant I sent to them for everyone to read. This is in repsonse to a link my sister sent me to elicit exactly this sort of response:
http://msnbc.msn.com/...
Operation Purple Revolt...Redux
Sun Sep 03, 2006 at 12:27:34 PM PDT
I believe this idea is worth posting again!
I cannot take credit for this idea, I heard it on The Randi Rhodes show on Thursday, August 31 (Thom Hartman guest hosting). I just made the Logos -- which anyone may use as they see fit. A caller told Thom that he had an idea that on election day 2006, anyone who votes to out one of the lock-step crowd should somehow color their index finger purple to make a statement that they have voted for change. I embrace this idea and hope that the word will get passed around. I apologize for not remembering the person's name or place of residence, but I'm sure the show can find out. I ask that all of you start passing this along. Malloy mentioned it could be a "Purple Revolution." Perhaps it could be called "Operation Purple Revolt?" Anyone with me on this?
Operation Purple Revolt
Thu Aug 31, 2006 at 09:20:38 PM PDT
I cannot take credit for this idea, I heard it on The Randi Rhodes show tonight (Thom Hartman guest hosting). A caller stated that he had an idea that on election day 2006, anyone who votes to out one of the lock-step crowd should somehow color their index finger purple to make a statement that they have voted for change. I embrace this idea and hope that the word will get passed around. I apologize for not remembering the person's name or place of residence, but I'm sure the show can find out. I ask that all of you start passing this along. Malloy mentioned it could be a "Purple Revolution" and perhaps it could be called "Operation Purple Revolt." Anyone with me on this?
Why a Rural Revolt Won't Help
Sun Aug 13, 2006 at 10:49:23 PM PDT
Frankly, I think the front page post about a "rural revolt" is a losing message, and if the democrats hitch their wagon to that train, they're in trouble. It's pretty simple math, really: In the
2000 census, it was reported that
79% of americans live in urban areas.
Yes you read that right: 4 out of every 5 people in the US live in cities or suburbs. The real America is skyscrapers and strip malls.
So why do we persist in pandering to the rural areas? Why do we prop up this hokey, idealized version of rural life and "Heartland Values"? Who exactly does it resonate with?
New Bush crimes about to be revealed?
Sat Jul 08, 2006 at 06:51:26 PM PDT
There have been many suggestions that the intense campaign of intimidation against the New York Times has been intended to suppress press reaction to soon-to-be-disclosed crimes of the Bush administration. This story suggests that the moment of truth is close at hand:
http://www.rawstory.com/...
The Hamdan decision has closed off Bush's legal avenues of retreat, and any further revelations of illegal spying will put him in jeopardy of impeachment. What are the secret programs that might be revealed? Here are some possibilities:
Conservatives are Revolting - danger for Democrats
Mon May 22, 2006 at 11:53:42 AM PDT
I hope, but sadly doubt, that Democratic leaders, politicians, candidates and activists are noting what is going on in the recent outbursts by conservatives against the Bush/Cheney junta and understanding the real threat.
The threat is that conservatives will brand themselves the anti-Bush before Democrats do, thereby taking the wind out of any change message the Democrats put out there.
This meme will destroy us.
So exactly what were the mistakes in Iraq? (2)
Sat May 06, 2006 at 11:38:34 AM PDT
The big mistake from my perch was launching a preemptive war based on faulty and hyped intelligence. Preemptive war is a Buck Turgidson doctrine that needs to be grubbed out of the ground like a diseased vine. The American people can be carried along only so far by fear-mongering. In the end, I am confident, they will not sustain such conflicts. Number two. The SECDEF did not anticipate the insurgency that followed? Did not anticipate? Or chose to ignore what now seems to have been an inevitable result of invading a country with a long history of internecine struggle? This--shall we call it--willful ignorance among this war's architects was a factor behind the Generals' Revolt. The military knows how to fight and win an insurgency. But it can't be done in three months and it can't be done on the cheap. General Shinseki tried to point this out to Congress at the onset and for his efforts got the bum's rush.
So exactly what were the mistakes in Iraq?
Fri May 05, 2006 at 04:48:23 PM PDT
I, like many others, were momentarily heartened by the Generals' Revolt. These six generals were instrumental in implementing Rumsfeld's Iraqi war, and their credentials are impeccable, as has been duly catalogued elsewhere. Recently, Colin "Powell Doctrine" Powell offered his more cautious assessment in support of the generals. If I were commander-in-chief and such big brass demanded the head of DEFSEC, I would be afraid, very afraid, that some mistakes may have been made. But, of course, this administration doesn't own up to any mistakes and certainly would never fire one of the Inner Circle. That would be a-count-a-Bill-i-tee. THAT means, oh never mind. For three weeks before the Revolt, the Admin had started the drumbeat in the media against Iran with carefully orchestrated "leaks"--same demonizing, same WMD (though term scrupulously avoided).
Twelve Angry Generals (new poster)
Sat Apr 29, 2006 at 04:44:10 PM PDT
Silencing of the Military Retirees?
Fri Apr 28, 2006 at 10:32:30 AM PDT
A Department of Defense directive released on April 18 of this year states that Donald Rumsfeld has the authority to call military retirees back on active duty.
Under the break: thou shalt not criticize...
Revolting Generals, Hey! Who's In Charge Here
Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 01:03:29 PM PDT
In their editorial "The Generals' Revolt" dated April 18 The Washington Post took several of the disgruntled general officers to task for telling tales out of school. It seems to be their position that by speaking publicly of their displeasure with Donald Rumsfeld they somehow do a disservice to present and future civilian commanders in chief and defense secretaries.
"If they are successful in forcing Mr. Rumsfeld's resignation, they will set an ugly precedent. Will future defense secretaries have to worry about potential rebellions by their brass, and will they start to choose commanders according to calculations of political loyalty?"
A Confederacy of RedState Dunces
Tue Apr 18, 2006 at 10:56:18 PM PDT
I go to RedState on occasion to see what the opposition is saying. The Director's Editorial on Rumsfeld says a lot. It's so pathetic I have taken the time to put the salient points in a diary.
On the generals now speaking to Rumsfeld's incompetence and hubris...
Donald Rumsfeld rubs many the wrong way...These former officers are finding new support from a handful of weak-minded and easily-swayed conservatives...cheap and irresponsible second-guessing (by the generals) that does not befit any member of the armed forces, particularly in wartime."
I think William F. Buckley's head just exploded. He must be so ashamed of these so-called conservatives who equate losing ANOTHER war or long-term international instability with a policy dispute on...oh, say, wheat subsidies.
But here's where they get down to it, dismissing Abu Ghraib as a minor prison food fight instigated by a few guards...
