American Democrats for Obama

A Very Useful Link

Lee — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:49:41 EDT

I just found a very useful link to a site called PolitiFact.com. It is operated by the St. Petersburg Times and Congressional Quarterly.

Fact check on Palin speech last night...

Lee — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:08:22 EDT

I am posting a lot today...I read a fact check on Sarah Palin's speech last night. It caught a few more misrepresentations...here is the link. -Lee

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080904/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_fact_check

Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence. John Adams (1735 - 1826), 'Argument in Defense of the Soldiers in the Boston Massacre Trials,' December 1770

The Republican mind set...

Lee — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:50:31 EDT

I was just reading my email and got to an email from a member of Women for Obama. The article I am posting came out of my email...sorry, I don't know the link...Lee

Psychopathology of The Republican
By Richard Greene

Fear, Domination, The Reptilian Brain and The Non-Goodness of Man

Republicans are different. We must understand them in order to reason with them.

As proud Republicans begin their convention in earnest in Minnesota today it might be a good time to reflect on why a dedicated, patriotic, intelligent adult would choose to be a Republican.

It was a question that always haunted me - until Dennis Prager, super dedicated, super patriotic and unbelievably intelligent Republican - answered it, ironically at the Democratic Convention last week in Denver.

Thank you, Dennis

The answer came at the beginning of a debate I moderated at the Seachange Ideas Forum at The Starz Green Room, a refreshingly deep and cordial debate between Dennis, famed right wing talk show host and Thom Hartmann, my colleague on Air America, one of the most brilliant Progressive minds in the country.

What I learned helps me understand why Republicans are hawks, why they still give George W. Bush a 67% approval rating compared to 29% from the public at large (USA Today/Gallup Poll, August 23, 2008) and why FEAR plays such a vast role in the lives of Republicans. Here is a summary and some analysis.

Basic Belief About Mankind

Underlying everything, Dennis Prager made this bold statement:

"I don't think we're basically good, as it happens/ And that is at least a theoretical political divide . . . It is so obvious to me that people are not basically good that I stand in awe of those who think that people are basically good. You have no evidence for it. . ... . Babies are not good . . . What is so good about a baby . . . This notion that we are born good is nonsense . . . We don't start off good. This is fantasy . . . We aren't basically good. People stink as a rule. . . ."

Forever On Guard Against Evil

If Dennis Prager speaks for most or all Republicans and Conservatives, there are huge practical consequences to this life philosophy. As a result of this core, existential belief, Republicans/Conservatives must, above all, always be on guard against evil. Saddam Hussein, Hitler and others. then, are overwhelming evidence that, if not vigilant and fearful, the inherent non-goodness of mankind could erupt, like a bad case of herpes, the virus lying dormant, for ever, in the collective nervous system of mankind.

Dominate (Before You Are Dominated)

Having to be on guard, leads to another core belief, according to famed author Rianne Eisler. She writes, in "The Power of Partnership" that fear leads to a life philosophy and political philosophy of "Domination" rather than the less fear based and more evolved "Partnership" model. Dominate before you are dominated. Fear partnership because, as Dennis explained, individuals are NOT good and, ultimately, can not be trusted, no matter what "agreements" you might negotiate.

The Party of Domination

The Republican Party is a party of domination, not partnership. Dominate the earth - drill, excavate and justify all and any penetration and exercise of control by denying that we humans could even contribute to climate change. Dominate Iraq, because they and their evil leader could someday dominate us. Dominate/attack Iran for the same reason. Fight for your interpretation of The 2nd Amendment because only by having unlimited access to guns can we dominate if and when necessary to suppress those that want to hurt us. Use Lee Atwater tactics and, now, Karl Rove tactics to try to control all branches of government. And, for some who may be even more desperate, use corrupted electronic voting machines and steal elections (on the ground or from The Supreme Court) because it is necessary. All is justified because only "we" are strong enough and understand the true threat of domination that others present. Being dominated is not an option.

It is Republicans, Not Democrats, Who Are Inherently Weak and Need A Strong Protector to Feel Safe

And that leads us to the ultimate irony about Republicans. They are hawks, they are tough, they go nuts about the concept of negotiating (unless there are preconditions that can preserve the domination and superiority) and appeasement . . . precisely because they are afraid. They are afraid and Democrats, those "weak," "Neville Chamberlain loving", "pacifist tree huggers" are actually LESS afraid.

But isn't it always the case. Rush Limbaugh, the bombastic hawk, got a deferment from service in Vietnam. So did Dick Cheney, five times and we all know that Bush, the cowboy who is genuinely afraid of horses, did not choose to go into battle when he had the chance. And just like the many gay Republicans who lashed out against homosexuality over the years, it is this unwillingness to face one's own nature and one's own demons that threatens our country. It is always the case that the bully is more insecure than those he bullies.

Sincere, win-win negotiation and partnership with our enemies and the world is, without question, the least fearful and most effective way to eliminate war and to make our country and the world safer. Yet, the specter of putting down the implements of warfare and adopting a softer approach so ignites the "Oh Daddy, protect me from the bogeyman in the closet" fears of those who are fearful and weak, that they must lash out against it. One would think that Neville Chamberlain was even more evil than Hitler - that is how scary it is for Republicans to not have a strong father running the show to protect them. Dr. George Lakoff brilliantly discusses this in his fine work yet the perception of Republicans as "tough" still remains.

Bush, Thompson, Guiliani, Palin, McCain Speeches

Watch for this recurring theme in all of the Republican speeches and even Joe Lieberman who has adopted the fear of his Republican brothers and sisters. You will hear three major things that come from this underlying philosophy of "mankind is not good", "we must dominate so as not to be dominated".
1. We must "Win" the "War on Terror"
2. Our opponents are "weak." This will be communicated in dozens of different ways.
3. Only we are strong enough to put "Country First" and protect America.

The Republican/Reptilian Brain

But the Republicans have to emphasize and re-emphasize these themes because, in reality, Barack Obama is, tougher than John McCain. Obama's foreign policy is not one that acts out of childish fear but one who is, himself, afraid, can never see this through their overriding screen of fear. The neurology of the human brain, as Dr. Drew Westin and so many neurologists teach us, is such that when you can make people afraid, nothing - not rational thought, nor any other emotion except fear - can be engaged in or experienced. The Hind Brain, popularly called "The Reptilian Brain" responds first and overwhelms the higher Limbic and Neo Cortex parts of the brain. And as long as the "Fight or Flight" response of our Reptilian Brain is triggered, we, as individuals and as a nation, can never escape the fear pattern. Abraham Maslow understood this many years ago with his Hierarchy of Human Needs which says, among other things, that human beings will be frozen in their development as long as they feel they do not have safety or security.

And having Osama bin Laden out there, un-captured, as the eternal bogeyman, is one way to keep that Reptilian brain activated.
A dear friend of mine, a very successful person in the media who is otherwise very socially liberal confirmed this for me. This very savvy man admitted to me that he is "obsessed with" and "petrified by" Osama bin Laden. He even did so publicly on my radio show.

I do not believe that babies or even adults are not good, Dennis. I believe that human beings are, indeed, inherently good and given the right soil, sunlight and water, will blossom into productive and caring members of society, participating and contributing in positive ways. It is the role of that other thing you are afraid of, "Government", nothing more than the collective of our individual assets and desires, to help cultivate that soil and provide the opportunities and the social justice to bring out the inherent good. Promulgate fear and prejudice and we lay the seeds for the weeds of the lesser qualities, of individuals and our country, to take root and grow.

The Republican psychology, or psychopathology, is borne of fear and weakness and, thus promulgates both. As one of our strongest Presidents, a Democrat who won a real war with a legitimate enemy said, "The only thing to fear is fear itself." Well, today, in light of the continual "boogeymaning" of the country, we might paraphrase President Roosevelt. "The only thing to fear is fear itself and those who stoke it and those who profit from it. In other words, the only thing to fear is . . . those who reject the basic goodness of man, those who huddle in St. Paul this week and many of those who call themselves "Republicans".

Our response to this dangerous psychopathology that will be on full display this week in St. Paul is, above all, to understand the dysfunction, not to attack it. Rejecting the dysfunction of another often causes one to retreat further into it, to justify with even more force that which is essential to their current identity. As a communication strategist who greatly appreciates the importance of human psychology I suggest that the communication of the Democratic cause and the future of our country depend on allowing those who are stuck in fear of mankind and stuck in the Reptilian part of their brain to know that we, at least, acknowledge that fear and their reality. No communication is ever possible without the sharing of some commonality, to be, in at least some small way, on the same "wavelength." So, while the dangerous Neo-con, domination based ideas, ironically, threaten the very safety of our great country, we must step back and, as if we were coaxing a scared third grader to get out of bed and open the closet door, treat our fellow Republican citizens with love and respect, listen to them and, gently, help them feel safe in ways that do not always involve guns or bombs.

The bridge to nowhere...

Lee — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:40:37 EDT

Last night, I watched Sarah Palin's speech on PBS. At one point, she implied that she refused the federal monies offered for the bridge. In the commentary after the speech, Mark Shields pointed out that she, as governor at the time, did accept the federal monies for the bridge. The Republicans are really audacious!!!

Lee ;-)((fist bump))

I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington...I'm asking you to believe in yours.-Barack Obama

Just When You Thought it was Safe to Go Back in the Water

Rob-33704 — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:42:39 EDT

I received the following email from aBarbara Davis this morning. She is apparently also a member of the 2008 Presidential Blog group. Barbara wrote:

"The fact that the taxes are too high on American Companies is why they are leaving the US. The US will become a service nation soon if we raise their taxes more. This will cause even more crime and poverty. We have to lower their taxes in order to bring the companies back to the US and put people back to work.

You need to get your facts right before you place the blame."

Someone please explain to me how an "American Company" can relocate to a communist nation - like China - and make a profit? The tax rate there is suppose to be 100%.

If a democrat can believe the real problem is that companies are taxed too much then we certainly should not take victory in November for granted. No matter how silly the republican policies may seem to us.

Essays - Let's Light a Path To The Future

Ray Pairan — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:01:37 EDT

All the below essays may be read at-

http://structuraleconissues.blogspot.com/

[The Illusion of Justice]
Unique boundless power is exerted upon those citizens that are unfortunate enough not to be among the corrupt few. Regardless of your stature, education, or intelligence those unscrupulous corporations and other guardians of government 'disservice' who command influence over our judges will engage in any action that will perpetuate our obedient servitude to their slanted economic system. It is an economic system integrally tied to a legal system woven to snuggly fit our corporate culture manipulated by a few business elite who use it to their exclusive benefit.

With staggering sums of money being spent by the elite to maintain a legal web of forced obedience on the part of the general citizenry is it any wonder that a citizen of modest income is 'priced out' of obtaining council for anything other than trivial cases.
...

Essays written in August-

Our Survival Depends Upon Cooperation
Don't Become another One of the Worn-Out
Citizens Gather to Hear Message of Hope & Change
A Sustainable Future for America Built Upon Equali...
Americans United Behind a More Equitable Future
One Nation, One World Willing To Dream
Pragmatic Solutions to Global Economic Problems
Henry Ford Realized the Importance of Adequate Wag...
Reach Out For the Radiant Light of Hope
Production Camps Build Upon Tumor of Greed
Unity Vanquishes Selfish Destruction
Business Alchemists Believe In Their Infallibility...
Democrats and Republicans Extol Business Party Lin...
Russia's Plan for Reestablishing Empire
The Programming Wasteland
Crumbling, Neglected, Cheap American Society
Shock Waves from Russian Conflict with Georgia
Corporate Masters Marginalize Current Citizens
Collusion to Lower Wages and Thus Fix Prices
The Corporate Beast Reigns Supreme over Everything...
Human Labor Exploitation Has Occurred For Eons
Message from Behind the Economic Iron Curtain

It is important that all our efforts be directed at getting Barack's message of positive change out because it is currently being overshadowed by the news coverage devoted to Sarah Palin.

The Church and the Council of Nicea

Rob-33704 — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:38:45 EDT

At The Council of Nicea "The Church" accepted the overlordship of the Roman Emperor who retained his pagan title of High Priest.

Among the controversial issues which the council agreed to was permitting Christians to charge interest on loans. They agreed to this although the Bible expressly forbids it?

Why??? To gain worldly power.

An objective they continue in this day by hiding behind their 501-3-C tax exmpt - wealth enhancing -status which also permits them the luxury of not having to speak out against evil.

David Brickner - Jews for Jesus

Rob-33704 — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:55:15 EDT

rjsnj wrote:

In my experience, many if not most mainstream Jews are deeply suspicious of Jews for Jesus - indeed, the group has been denounced by all four branches of Judaism - and it's easy to see why.

That link to wikipedia says:

On several occasions leaders of the four major Jewish movements have signed on to joint statements opposing Hebrew-Christian theology and tactics. In part they said: "Though Hebrew Christianity claims to be a form of Judaism, it is not ... It deceptively uses the sacred symbols of Jewish observance ... as a cover to convert Jews to Christianity, a belief system antithetical to Judaism ... Hebrew Christians are in radical conflict with the communal interests and the destiny of the Jewish people. They have crossed an unbridgeable chasm by accepting another religion. Despite this separation, they continue to attempt to convert their former co-religionists

To which I can only reply - none of that means that Mr Brickner is incorrect in his faith.

Joe Lieberman

Rob-33704 — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:41:50 EDT

Jilting Joe Lieberman shoud be:

1. stripped of whatever "seniority" he has in the senate.

2. Removed from all committee chairmanship positions he holds.

3. Removed from all committees in which he is a member.

4. Barred from speaking in the senate.

5. Allowed to represent his state as long as they care to elect him.

6. Encouraged to join the republican party.

The Simple Truth

Rob-33704 — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:54:45 EDT

1. McCain has a right to choose anyone he wants for his VP.

2. Palin's daughter is 17 years old and only a poltroon picks on a child.

Sarah Palin and the evangelicals...

Lee — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:47:30 EDT

I must say that I was surprised at first at John McCain's choice for Vice-Presidential nominee. The first thought I had was that his choice undercut his main argument against Barack Obama...experience or the lack there of! His choice smacked of pandering to the so-called "hillary voters" who would vote for a woman...any woman...over issues and what the party stands for. Now, it seems that she has many things which would make anyone wonder why McCain ever chose her. I would appreciate any thoughts you have...Lee ;-)((fist bump))

I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington...I'm asking you to believe in yours.-Barack Obama

McCain's VP Choice

Lee — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:38:18 EDT

I do not know if McCain has made a fatal error in choosing Sarah Palin...but, McCain has lost 2 votes!!! My friend emailed me this... "I saw Sarah and Linda today and yesterday. They are both going to vote for Barack. Linda stated that there was no way she was going to vote for McCain and Sarah pointed out that she was going to vote for Barack Obama." Both of these women had stated that they would vote for McCain or noone when Hillary suspended her campaign. This change of heart came about because of McCain's choice for VP. - Lee;-)

((fist bump))
I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington...I'm asking you to believe in yours.-Barack Obama

P.S. I want to apologize for my gramatical lapse in the last posting...I did not proof it. :-(

Christianity and Right Wing Politics - II

Rob-33704 — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:44:46 EDT

For far too long right wing politicians and advocacy groups have been virtually unopposed while spewing their distorted form of Christianity across our nation. The recent flap over comments concerning rain on the night of Senator Obama's acceptance speech is only one example of their misguided theology.

The obvious assumption behind the words which sparked the flap is that God is on their side. Much of the theology that the right wing bases this assumption upon is derived from what has come to be know as, "The Prosperity Gospel."

This false theology is basically a Twenty-first Century version of the Dark Ages practice of "trial by combat." The idea being that if you win then God is on your side and if you lose then obviously God is not on your side. This is the false theology which is behind much of the right wing economic policies which have destroyed 80% of the value of the U.S. dollar. Link

One of the Biblical problems with this philosophy is that even if God does permit you to "win" that doesn't mean that they are actually favored by Him. One example of this can be found in the Book of Exodus, Chapter 9, verses 15 - 16. The LORD has Moses to tell Pharaoh, "For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth. And in every deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth."

It is obvious to anyone who reads this passage that the LORD permitted Egypt to prosper and to become great so that when He punished them people would know that only the LORD could have done these things to them. Being prosperous is, therefore, not and never has been an indication of the LORD's favor.

We must cintinually challenge the false theology of the right wing. They are wrong.

Christianity and Right Wing Politics

Rob-33704 — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:10:56 EDT

We must cintinually challenge the false theology of the right wing. They are wrong.

Devaluation of The Dollar

Rob-33704 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:15:02 EDT

Federal Reserve Bank records reveal that the U.S. dollar has lost 80% of it's value since 1967.

Link

Eyes on the Prize! and lest we forget, that doesn't mean Sarah Palin

Jim Hart — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:59:12 EDT

I have been greatly disturbed over the past few days. We have been provided a red herring, and we have been totally distracted from the real quarry and have been knocked off of our game.

STOP!! It is time to straighten out before this campaign is severely damaged.

The Oil Industry

Rob-33704 — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 18:41:12 EDT

The federal government gives the corporations the mineral rights.

The federal reserve lends money it doesn't own to the corporations at interest.

The tax payers guarrantee the corporate loans so that if anything does go wrong the federal reserve and the corporations won't lose any of the money that isn't theirs'.

The corporations make the interest payments with profits from the oil they sell which isn't their's.

The federal reserve pays profits to their investors for lending money that isn't their's.

The tax payers pay higher prices at the pump, and absorb the resulting inflation.

No wonder Kucinich was telling us to wake up.

Oil Revenue in Alaska

Rob-33704 — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:02:29 EDT

By Hollywood Today at 9:30 am EDT (Updated Today at 9:30 am EDT) Also will mention again - this person wants to drill our way out of the energy crisis. Not because she actually believes we can, but because her fellow Alaskans will get a $1200 check every year if we try. If that's not corrupt, I don't know what is

My reply is:

Its not corrupt - corrupt is letting the corporations keep all of the money. Something the people of Alaska were smart enough to prevent. They are a shining example for the rest of the nation on that one

Hollywood's reply:

By Hollywood 36 minutes ago (Updated 36 minutes ago) the money.Only Alaska residents. And it's federal land. The state doesn't own it. Of course, the state should get revenues. But there are 700,000 people in Alaska. Meanwhile, the other 230 million Americans continue paying high prices at the pump

My reply:

Hollywood, I really have to disagree. The people had the oil industry over their own barrel and made them cut a deal. The other 300 million of us should make them cut the same deal.

Federal land??? You mean citizen owned land.

The federal government gives the corporations the mineral rights. The tax payers fund and/or guarrantee their loans - and since the money ultimately comes from the federal reserve we pay for it all and the bankers get the interest that we should be getting.Basically, doesn't cost the corporations one cent and they get all of the profits while we pay higher taxes and absorb the resulting inflation.

The other 300 million of us really do have to wake up..

Hey Arius - The Answer to Your Question is.....

Rob-33704 — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:50:24 EDT

Because economic theory is built upon the principle of scarcity and though there may be a glut of something it is still considered "scarce" if it is also desirable.

Say for instance, new cars at a dealership. They aren't scarce but they are expensive because they are desirable

But the real answer to your question is that the federal reserve, the world bank, and the international monetary fund loan money to governments based on their promise to continue taxing their citizens.

What other guarrantee is there to back up fiat money?

Sarah Palin

Rob-33704 — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:08:05 EDT

Sarah Palin appears to be be a good choice in terms of ber background and personal life..

The debates will both feature youth and vigor vs less youthful and supposedly less vigorous candidates.

It is undoubtedly a desperate gamble by the McCain campaign - but what other choice do they really have other than to gamble.