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06/21/08--16:40: Disappointment (chan 1633777)

In the wake of the FISA and Obama's complicit role in it what was a level of excitement and enthusiasm for Obama and this election has curdled and turned into nothing but sour disappointment.




07/01/08--07:28: Enough lame strawmen (chan 1633777)

I'm fed up with the mindless back and forth.  Concentrate for a minute, read and understand this post and then realize there's no reason to be attacking your fellow Kossacks.




07/04/08--12:40: Credulous Newsmedia at Work (chan 1633777)

So on Digg right now a story about a supposed 100+ mpg Mustang has hit the front page.  Stories like this are the perfect illustration of how our news media has degraded into the organizations that repeat the Bush administration's lies.




07/08/08--13:14: Murderball and the Cost of the War (chan 1633777)

So today I watched Murderball for the first time.  I had been meaning to see it for a long time but never had the opportunity until today.  It's a really great and moving film, and if you haven't seen it, go watch it.  But there was something at the end that caught me totally off guard.




07/31/08--10:20: Why McCain's Ad Strategy ISN'T Brilliant (chan 1633777)

Because it's not working on anyone who wasn't going to vote for him anyway.  His anti-Obama rhetoric is completely uninspired and as that other diary says, playing to the base.

But the base was already going to vote for McCain.  For all their hemming and hawing, they will end up going with their party.

Yeah, it may be doing what it is intended to do -- shore up the resolve of the GOP faithful -- but that's really a waste of time and money.  Which is great for us.

I just hope our guys don't pull the same thing and waste time and money on ads playing to us.




08/26/08--08:53: White Supremacist Mutants (chan 1633777)

Why do white supremacists always look like this guy?

It amazes me that these cretins can look in the mirror and say the phrase "master race" without drowning in the irony.  Obviously their xenophobia is fueled by self hatred.

I mean, I don't really have anything more to say.  Michelle's speech sure was great huh?  Teddy's too!




09/04/08--06:24: Where is the accountability? (chan 1633777)

Other than this nice AP article calling out a few of the GOP "exaggerations", the traditional media seems totally uninterested in calling the RNC speakers out.

I had to turn off MSNBC's coverage when I watched it there on Tuesday, because after watching about an hour of non-stop lies there was nothing but praise from the panelists.  And that trend seems to have continued on Wednesday.




11/04/08--07:32: Kos You've Caused a Serious Problem (chan 1633777)

Along with all the tremendous success of DKos and the netroots as a whole, there has been a huge problem that until now has gone unaddressed.  It's one that affects a large but shrinking group of our movement.  If you are part of this group you can't help but come face to face with it on an almost daily basis.




03/25/09--13:22: Rush fan Kossacks UNITE (chan 1633777)

Rush is not simply Ayn Rand set to prog rock.  As I said in the comments to the mid-day open thread, they have long been champions of secular humanism.  There is definitely an objectivist bent to some of the early stuff but can you honestly tell me the most famous songs such as "Limelight", "Tom Sawyer" and "Freewill" have any more to do with Atlas Shrugged than they do to our own movement?




04/15/09--13:39: Wrong is Wrong (chan 1633777)

Ok so I was perusing Crooks and Liars as is my wont and I saw this video entitled "Somalia Piracy Began in Response to Illegal Fishing and Toxic Dumping by Western Ships off Somali Coast".

First off let me say I think Amy Goodman is great and Democracy Now does important work, wakka wakka wakka.  But fuck this shit.  This is the kind of garbage that give the right wing wackaloons their "Blame America First" fuel.




06/06/09--12:12: "HOME" - A Liberal Critique (chan 1633777)

For those that don't know "HOME" is a ~90 minute film available for viewing for free on Youtube in HD.  It's about the dire environmental situation we're in and has some beautiful footage both of civilization and of nature.

Let me say up front I completely recognize the dire situation we are in and am not arguing that we aren't.  I am to the left of Obama on all issues, please read my critcisms of "HOME" with that in mind.




06/23/09--15:54: I've got a hunch about Sanford (chan 1633777)

I could be wrong, my immediate thought when learning about Sanford skittering off to Atlanta to catch a flight was, "Did he go to Alaska to meet with Palin?"  They're both far right loonies, they're like peas in a pod.




06/25/09--19:54: HAY GUYS I KNOW WHO MJ WUZ 2 (chan 1633777)

Hay guyz can I have a Mikul Jaxin diary on da rec list?!?!? I heard his songs too!  I dunno y he called that 1 "bad" i liked it kinda.




06/27/09--06:22: Morbid Obesity as Child Neglect (chan 1633777)

I just read this article about a mother being jailed for failing to take care of her 550 lbs 14 year old son.  Generally I think one of the core principles of our country is individual liberty.  Freedom of speech, right to privacy, etc.  I'm no libertarian by a long shot (they're just corporate shills) but I am one of those progressives who would rather see 10 guilty people go free than to jail one innocent person.




07/10/09--14:49: Superficiality != Sexism (chan 1633777)

I think this is a big enough issue to warrant its own diary.  I see this mistake made a lot, not just in the diary currently on the rec list.

Personally, I do not usually make superficial insults unless it's as a joke.  I think there's plenty of substantial reasons to rip on Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Sarah Palin, George Bush, etc.  But sometimes I will do it in jest.  I will go out on a limb and say that the vast majority of DKos members have probably at some point made some comment about the physical appearance of some conservative.  Whether it's calling Bush "Chimpy" or referrencing Bill-O the Clown's giant head.  I see it done casually all the time on here.




07/14/09--08:34: Palin as the GOP's Nader? (chan 1633777)

As has been mentioned on Crooks and Liars and many other places, the current word on the street is that Palin is at least contemplating forming her own party.  Or knowing her intellectual abilities, maybe she's planning to take the Alaska Independence Party national.

As far as Nader goes, regardless of personal feelings I think we can all recognize that his main role was that of a spoiler.  It would have been nice if some of his more progressive ideas had made it into the mainstream.  It also would be nice if my kitchen faucet knobs were labeled "Maker's Mark" and "Grey Goose".




07/17/09--14:45: How Buchanan's Rant Demonstrates the Future of Race (chan 1633777)

There's plenty of diaries ripping on Buchanan's bigoted ravings on the Rachel Maddow show last night.  Also that good one on the rec list pointing out that we white men are pissed off that people like Buchanan presume to speak for us.

But there's a subtext to Buchanan's rant that has -- as far as I can tell -- gone unrecognized by other diarists.  If you can get past the ugly racism on the surface, there is a core of acceptance and inclusion in the center.

I know, I know, bear with me a second.




07/21/09--09:54: Reining in Food Addiction (chan 1633777)

I've contemplated sharing this story a lot.  I generally don't post diaries about personal stories, I like to address "bigger issues" than just myself.  But inspired by Jill Richardson's diary about the policy changes needed to address the obesity epidemic, I thought I should share what I've been doing to address it on a personal level.

One other warning, I am not a nutritional expert, not a doctor, not a trainer, etc.  I am only telling my personal story, it may or may not be applicable to you.




07/27/09--06:49: Coca-cola, "What is nature, really?" (chan 1633777)

The Coke spokesman went on, "I mean it is a fact that human beings arose as part of nature.  We are agents of nature.  Therefore anything we do is natural, isn't it?"

"And if you include 'natural flavors' and ingredients which at one point were a result of natural processes then it's extra-natural right?"




08/01/09--07:33: We've all been thinking it.. (chan 1633777)

..but I'm going to be the one to say it.  Carla Neggers you need to change your name.  It's way too close to being an offensive word and that offends me.  It's like when people only use one asterisk for censoring the F word.  That's very offensive.  Really you should use a minimum of three asterisks, or preferably you should just say "the F word" so those naughty asterisks aren't even there taunting you.




08/10/09--17:02: Enough w/the anti-White Dude Racism (chan 1633777)

Ok guys, there are plenty of racist, old white men out there.  We all agree on that fact.  A surprising number of them also have shows on Fox News or speak into a microphone plated with gold.

But lately there have been a number of diaries such as the one currently on the rec list basically saying all the raving right wing loonies are white men feeling their reigns of power slipping away.

To me that comes off as laughably ridiculous.




08/14/09--05:28: Brita/Clorox Withdrawing From Beck? (chan 1633777)

The day before yesterday I used the contact form on Brita's website to contact them about their sponsorship of Glenn Beck.  I noticed that Brita is owned by the Clorox company and thus addressed my complaint to them as a whole.  




08/15/09--07:17: Re: Obama, Golf, Hamburgers and Religion (chan 1633777)

Last night's Real Time ended with the closing New Rules rant focusing on Obama golfing, conspicuously eating hamburgers and highlighting his religious involvement.

Bill criticized Obama for these and said that he'd rather Obama go back to playing basketball, and eating arugula.  Usually I agree with Bill's rants pretty heavily, but this was one of those times where I thought he missed the mark.




08/17/09--10:49: Are the Dems Going to Betray Me? (chan 1633777)

Last year I gave money to Obama and other Democratic candidates who were in contested fights (including Franken) in the hopes that they would come into power and start putting through some good reform.  I didn't and still don't have a lot of spare cash, I currently work two jobs (one full time, one part time.)

The loss of the public option feels like a personal betrayal.




08/22/09--11:10: Dear President Obama (chan 1633777)

Dear President Obama,

I hope you are having a wonderful vacation.  I sincerely think you deserve it, and hope you, Michelle and the kids enjoy it fully.

Like many years before this one, I will not be taking a vacation.  My job doesn't give me paid vacation time.  It doesn't give me paid sick time either.  I don't get any days off.  I also don't have health insurance.  I haven't seen a doctor outside of the ER in many years now.  Luckily I'm still fairly young (31 next month) and feel good, so I'm not worried yet.




08/26/09--13:48: WHEE - America's Most Wanted (chan 1633777)

Ok so maybe I should call it "Dave's Most Wanted" since really I can only speak for myself.  But I tend to follow the mantra that I am not a unique snowflake, and in general other people have more commonalities with me than they do differences.

WHEE (Weight, Health, Eating and Exercise) is a community support diary for Kossacks who are currently or planning to start losing, gaining or maintaining their weight through diet and exercise or fitness. Any supportive comments, suggestions or positive distractions are appreciated. If you are working on your weight or fitness, please -- join us! You can also click the WHEE tag to view all diary posts.




08/29/09--08:36: Law Enforcement Needs Rehabilitation (chan 1633777)

I need a break from the depressing Health Care debacle.  I was just reading this story about the colossal fuck-ups (both noun and verb) involved with that girl who was missing for 18 years.  I encourage you to read the article but the short version is:

1. The guy who kept her was a registered sex offender who law enforcement were tasked with keeping an eye on.

2. He kept her and the two daughters he had with her in sheds and tents in a fenced off "hidden" section of his back yard.

3. Police were called to the house 3 years ago about young girls living in squalor in his back yard and the police didn't even look at the yard.




09/06/09--06:42: WHEE - "You could start out with some sawdust, add calcium or Vitamin A and meet the criteria” (chan 1633777)

Friday the NYT posted this story about the Smart Choices label that is starting to appear on products in grocery stores.  This is a huge scam by the processed food conglomerates, and a perfect example of why libertarians have their heads up their asses.

(I didn't see a Sunday AM WHEE diary so I am going ahead and making this one, since I didn't see this topic covered in any diary yet.)

WHEE (Weight, Health, Eating and Exercise) is a community support diary for Kossacks who are currently or planning to start losing, gaining or maintaining their weight through diet and exercise or fitness. Any supportive comments, suggestions or positive distractions are appreciated. If you are working on your weight or fitness, please -- join us! You can also click the WHEE tag to view all diary posts.




09/16/09--09:54: The Baucus Sh-t HAS to be Rope-A-Dope, Right? (chan 1633777)

There's no way anyone could expect us to really accept that pile of garbage.  Who on earth could be so out of touch, so ignorant of reality that they wouldn't realize the consequences of passing a steaming pile of horse crap and calling it reofrm.  Anyone who can spell their own name has to know that passing a mandate with no public option, no real controls on costs, and not only that, harsh penalties and other give-aways to the insurance industry would result in people taking to the streets with torches and pitchforks, right?




10/04/09--12:10: Ann Arbor infested with Anti-Choice Dipsh-ts (chan 1633777)

So I just got home from having brunch and hanging out with some friends, and what do I see coming down Washtenaw but dozens of anti-choice dumbfucks holding signs like "Abortion Kills Children" and "Jesus Forgives".




10/05/09--19:04: McDonald's Advertising to Tea Baggers?! (chan 1633777)

I could not fucking believe my eyes when I saw this shit.  I am working right now and wanted to listen to Joe Jackson's "Right and Wrong", Youtube pulled the video a while ago so I found it over at Daily Motion.  But what's this banner above the video?




10/09/09--07:38: Coca-cola Crosses the Line (chan 1633777)

Two days ago an op-ed by Muhtar Kent, CEO of Coca-cola appeared in the Wall Street Journal.  In it he not only -- as expected -- argues against the proposed tax on sugared beverages, he argues that soft drinks like Coke play little to no role in the obesity epidemic.

In doing so he has crossed the line from merely being an advocate for his business into distorting the truth to continue to harm consumers for the sake of profits.  As a representative of Coca-cola he has now crossed that line which the tobacco manufacturers long ago crossed; knowing full well the damage his products are doing, and lying to avoid any possible damage to his bottom line.




10/14/09--10:31: I'm not Doubling Down (chan 1633777)

Maimonides' rec'd diary states that he's doubling down on the President.  He reasserts his faith that Obama and Rahm will follow through and deliver us a strong public option.

I am pretty skeptical at this point, however, and have been for some time.  Things have been pretty bleak so far this year on the health care debate, and you could accurately say that I disagree with the way it has been approached by the administration.  I think Obama starting from the compromise position of a Public Option, rather than starting from the position of "Medicare for All" was a big mistake.  And I think so far the insurance companies and the GOP are winning in the Congress, though they are not winning in the hearts and minds of our fellow citizens.




11/03/09--05:27: The Wingnut Assault on Digg (chan 1633777)

I'm guessing a lot of other Kossacks also frequent Digg.  Probably not everyone, but we're a pretty internet savvy bunch, I think.  If you are one that has been for a while, and checks Digg pretty regularly you've probably noticed the marked increase in wingnut propaganda articles making the front page.  These articles are popping up several times a day now.

In case you don't use Digg, it works a lot like the Reclist here.  But instead of people writing diaries, they submit links to articles found elsewhere on the net.




11/13/09--12:59: You Call Yourself Progressive? (chan 1633777)

Right now there are two separate diaries addressing the "boycott of Obama", or more accurately, the campaign to get Obama and the rest of the elected Democratic officials to follow through on their party platform and campaign promises to the LGBT community.

Both of those diaries purport to be from progressives, but to me they both strike me as at best middle of the road.  Much of the sentiment of those diarists and many of the commenters is blatantly ridiculous.




11/19/09--08:39: Sullivan is a Jackass (chan 1633777)

So I often see progressives cite Andrew Sullivan as a level-headed and intelligent conservative.  A voice of reason and concerned, rational former Republican.

I can see where they can easily fall into this trap, since he does have the sense to call Palin what she is, and in the later years of the Bush administration, he woke up to the horror of what he had formerly supported so vociferously.

But in reality, Sullivan is a stupid jackass.




12/11/09--13:31: Internet Discussion 101 (chan 1633777)

A ridiculous amount of calls of "straw men" have been arising lately, and I think the majority of them are actually justified.  There's a lot of really bad form going on.  Maybe part of this is people getting emotional instead of rational and thoughtful, but I think just as big is the portion of people who have never learned to properly engage in discussion online.  I see a lot of people who appear to be oblivious to even the basic rules.

I thought it would be good to share some of those rules as a refresher course for those who know them already, and as an important primer for those who don't.




12/14/09--12:32: The King of All Strawmen (chan 1633777)

So today I once again saw the King of All Strawmen rear his misshapen, flaxen head.  This time conjured forth by the words of Matthew Yglesias directed at Taibbi for his recent rant.

The King of All Strawmen is basically this:

Obama doesn't have magic powers, he can't enact the changes you want with a wave of his hand!  He has various and sundry obstacles in his path.




12/21/09--07:54: Please Stop LYING (chan 1633777)

I've seen President Obama and now Senator Franken in a diary on this very site claim that the new bill is going to provide 31 million americans with access to insurance.

To me that wording comes off as a lie.  At least in my case as one of those 31 million it's assisting me but it's assisting me at the barrel of a gun.




12/25/09--07:24: Fighting Depression on X-mas (chan 1633777)

Being a miserable misanthrope, I'm usually single on X-mas, and find myself (like today) battling severe depression.  Watching "The Squid and the Whale" last night and finding out the news that singer/songwriter Vic Chesnutt made a suicide attempt yesterday (not clear if he's dead yet or not) this morning are only compounding it.

So in the interest of helping an fellow Kossacks facing a similar situation, I thought I'd share some ways I'm fighting it today.




01/21/10--19:30: I haven't abandoned Obama (chan 1633777)

He abandoned me.

We have been calling on him since before he even won the election to stick to his promises.  To stick to his rhetoric, which we naively assumed he actually meant at the time.




03/17/10--10:14: How am I going to afford the mandated insurance? (chan 1633777)

Alright, so I understand the logic behind the mandate.  If they can get fairly young and healthy people like me (31 and run 25+ miles per week) insured, then that helps profits because I probably won't cost a lot.  That's the theory, and I guess it makes sense if you assume that the insurance companies are having a problem making a profit.  Which just isn't true.

But the thing is, I'm not uninsured because I want to be.  I'm uninsured because my employer doesn't provide insurance and I can't afford the insane rates the greedy insurance companies are charging.




06/11/10--12:14: Insurance Buyer Beware (chan 1633777)

On 05/23/2010 I was coming home on a lovely sunny day here in Ann Arbor, MI enjoying the day and some tunes coming through on my car stereo.  I saw a red Miata behind me in traffic, a good friend of mine had recently gotten one and I glanced to see if it was him in the driver seat.  It wasn't.  At the moment I realized this I also realized that the car in front of me had suddenly stopped at the intersection as the light turned yellow.  Cars in the lane to our right were still going through.

I stomped hard on my brakes, which had never failed me before, however there just wasn't enough time or distance and my car slammed into the back of the one in front of me at about 40 miles per hour.




07/27/10--12:48: Re: Poutrage (chan 1633777)

So kos linked to this post on Balloon Juice in the Mid-day post, calling the article "pretty compelling".  I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with him on that.

First of all I'd say that there's nothing special about that post compared to the usual "Stop criticizing Obama! Support him more!" arguments that have been going on since his campaign started.  Those posts came in response to criticism of his support of the FISA bill in 2008, they come back every time anyone says anything critical.

The post also unfortunately engages in the lame belittling of the other side that does no one any good.




07/30/10--16:20: Dear BP (chan 1633777)

Dear BP,

I know your plan all along was to make Tony Hayward the face of the catastrophe in the gulf, and that once you felt public interest was waning you thought you could just fire him and then swipe your hands together and declare that you are done, but I have news for you.

You are not fucking done.

Now taking bets as to whether our supposedly progressive government actually steps up and holds these motherfuckers accountable...

Unfuckingbelievable.




09/10/10--06:30: Save Your Breath (chan 1633777)

I'm going to keep this short, because my point is short, but I feel it needs to be made.  It's not a comment because it's not in response to a single diary, but in response to dozens of diaries that get posted here daily.

Save your breath.

I'm talking to the diarists who are scolding people who won't vote in November.  I'm talking to the diarists preaching doom and gloom of what will happen if/when the GOP takes majorities in November, as if alerting us to this fact for the first time.