DonCoquixote
DonCoquixote's JournalThe True Meaning of Christmas (That Everyone Forgets)
Slight salty language for those with sensitive eyes, but overall, this piece really does drive home why we do what we do, and that despite the foolishness, there is still goopd in it.
http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-true-meaning-christmas-that-everyone-forgets/
from the article:
No matter how black, white, male, female, Irish, German, tall, short, ugly or pretty you felt this year, you are part of a family that has been targeted by an unforgiving cosmos since its inception but has, regardless, survived ... humanity, warts and all, is an inherently heroic species that has spent about 99.99% of its short lifetime as an underdog. And If you see no billboards telling you that, it's not because it's not true. It's because there's little to no profit to be made telling you.
I could go on and on about the suffering we've endured and the adaptations we've made, but to me, our species' crowning jewel is that on the shortest day of the year, when the sun spends most of its time swallowed, when everything is frozen, when nothing can grow, when the air is so cold our voices stop right in front of our faces ... we put a string of lights on a universe that is currently doing nothing to earn it. We not only salvage an otherwise desolate time of year, we make it the best time of year.
On elections and identity politics.
First off, let me lay out where I come from: I am a Hispanic male, Gen X. I will admit, that I enjoy some of what has been called "privileged" being male, though I also affirm that being Hispanic also mean I get some BS too, thought not the sheer torrent of crap Black people get.
I can also say that women of all colors get crap. They are the ones who have to bear babies, and very often, wind up raising them, even if Dad skipped out with the new wife. It is thoroughly understandable why many would feel that until a woman becomes president, that the concerns of women will always be easier to ignore. The fact that Brazil, Canada, Argentina, and yes, even Jolly ol England have already beaten us to this highlights the fact that America needs to become grown up enough to get over the idea of women in power.
Now, that being said, I think Identity politics is a bad thing, and can bring up problems as bad as the ills it is meant to cure.
I am Hispanic, and despite the fact my ancestors were here long enough Jamestown and Plymouth Rock, we are often treated as not "american." Yes, part of me thinks "if we had a Latino, then finally people will understand we belong here, and have rights." Oddly enough, there are two latinos running this year, one of whom is a threat to even Trump. Now, let me state this clearly:
1) Neither Ted Cruz nor Marco Rubio should be allowed within a telescope's view of the White House.. Period...FULL STOP!
2) The most dangerous person, perhaps even more dangerous than Trump himself, is Raphael "Ted" Cruz. While Trump is a blowhard, and Rubio is a glad handing politico, Cruz is a religious fanatic, not one micro gram less than Osama Ben ladin was. He has already done a lot of damage as Senator, and he will do more damage.
3) Any of the GOP Hispanics, like Susanna Martinez, need to also be treated with suspicion as they got to be elected by the sort of people that would normally beat them up or kill them.
Now, while I understand people embrace a candidate because they finally feel it is "their turn", be they those who want a woman or, in the case of Bernie, those who finally want an FDR liberal. However, the fact is that every successful politician got to be successful in part because the people this country was built around, Rich Males, like them or think they can control them. The people running for president would not be there unless the rich people found them useful, therefore, the danger is that when Mr or Mrs "our Turn" gets in, not only will the candidate get to pull his or her mask off, but the rich males can say "we, we put one of you in, now stop whining." Said people can also run on resentment, making sure that those resentful lower class white voters get to be fed a diet of "you don't have to respect that person, indeed, lets put some people in their place".
Oh yes, you know resentment of Obama was used to ramp up racial prejudice to the point where cops are being cheered on to kill black people. I shudder to think how the spin masters will spin a Hillary or even a GOP Latino win. They do nto care as long as they can keep their gold.
just remember kids
The ghoulishness and grave dancing some Hillary supporters show will be redone to us come 2017. They will gladly demonize everyone to the left of Imperatix Hillaria, especially as more is shoveled out to wall street and to the MIC.
But there will be a point where the masters realize "hey we do not need these Hillary people either" and they will be thrown out with us in the cold. When we see them in the snow, do not let them try to take over what space we have left, that was our mistake when many former GOP stuck into the "big tent" and tried to kick us out. If they want to participate in OUR attempts to take back OUR party and OUR nation, we will tell them "this time, YOU get to be the cannon fodder!"
Don't let GOP **** disturbers log onto the DU?
Look, I do not put ANY low past the GOP. If they have to do things that would make Stephen King lose his lunch, that would make Hitler, Stalin and Mao look like Camelot's Knights of the Round Table, they will. Part of the reason why I affirm again and again that I will vote for WHO-EV-ER the Democrats nominate is because Florida was a perfect example of GOP using misguided people to win. I have been yelled at many times on this site because people who were NOT in Florida keep telling me that Nader was not a trick used to steal the election. The really hateful part of my soul wishes that these more liberal than thou people could be forced to listen to all the Talk Radio, Smarmy local news, and Water Cooler talks where people BRAGGED about how easy it was for them to pretend to be principled liberals, only to rip their mask off on Wednesday morning. This was the trolling that filled the waves of Tampa radio from, among others, then local radio jock Glenn Beck. He went from being a low rated show to being promoted to where he makes MORE money than Rush Limbaugh, because many people that called pretending to be "principled liberals" called to brag "hey, I was a republican ALL ALONG Glen!"
Now..
THAT being said.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz is someone who has a strong track record of FAILURE, who has lost the 2008 Hillary bid, and TWO mid-terms, which gave congress to the GOP. Need I bring up how in Kentucky, Alison Blunders and Crimes ran a campaign demonizing Obama, where she refused to admit that she even VOTED for the man the country did, and acted like she was Joan of Arc being interrogated by the Inquisition. Do I need to bring up how Mitch McConnell went from being vulnerable to going right back into action? Need I bring up Florida, my home state, where she ran Chain gang former vocal GOP Charlie Crist as governor, or for that matter, for good friend Alex Sink, who initially lost to Rick Scott. Need I mention how she is opposing Alan Grayson, the one election night success story in Florida, and trying to get yet another former GOP to run for Congress?
The fact is, Debbie wants to hide the fact that she is a FIASCO, not just incompetent, a FIASCO. Just because she is "loyal" Hillary is letting her drive one of the most important elections in our nation's history. Of course is Debbie going to be competent and honest, NO! She is not only going to cheat, she will be incompetent about cheating, and the result of course will be feeding the GOP tons of ammunition for the general! Keep in mind, every purple state, including Florida and Ohio, are going to need to face stiff resistance in November, including:efforts to make sure anyone not white cannot vote, "lone wolf gunmen" walking around with guns, cops that want to be the next Cop to kill someone and get slapped on the wrist, and we are not even touching the fact that Florida's votes are still easily stolen, especially with Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio more than willing to "help." The very problems Debbie should have been focusing on are still there, made even worse by the fact she is so desperately trying to prove she is not the best good luck charm the GOP has had. And what is the battle cry, but a whip crack, given by DWS, to the people who know she will betray and insult them, yet again, seconds after the finish line.
We will gladly erect the gallows for the GOP, but that is demoralizing knowing Debbie cannot wait to hang us on it before the corpses of the GOP get cold.
and of course, there is Hillary. Yes, I will admit there are far worse his party would offer, but constantly, we are told "no other choice", and it sure does not help to hear many of the 2008 faithful slam and abandon Obama, as if the past eight years were some interregnum until the Holy Queen returns to her rightful throne. Her book "Hard Choices", aka "why I would already be in war in Syria, unlike the man my Husband called a 'wuss'" was a blatant f*** you backstab to a person that frankly, saved her career. If Obama did not take her in, many people would have CHEERED. It sure does not help that in every issue from Syria to Ferguson to KXL to TPP, Hillary only speaks after massive poll taking and foot dragging. Granted, I can get used to 11th hour changes from positions she supported, but do not yell at us for not feeling confident when it is apparent Hillary will only swerve out of traffic at the last second. Add to this that because Debbie is "loyal" (gee Hillary, ask Florida Dems how loyal she is), she is letting Debbie drive this Bus.
And I will say this to sum: again, we do NOTNOTNOT need another self sanctimonious temper tantrum vote or stay at home non vote, which is every bit a GOP vote as the ones your idiot GOP relatives and co workers are waiting in line to cast. But as I said earlier, people who really love this party, and indeed, who want to HELP any nominee, Hillary included win, are not going to just say "yes" to everything. Elvis was not helped by all his yes man goons that kept getting him drugs and fried peanut butter sandwiches.
the big data snoop: who wins, Bernie or Hillary
On the one hand, snooping on this data is something that frankly, has NO excuse....ZERO...NILL. And do not try to say they were nobly exposing a hole; that is the classic hacker bs line when they get caught with their hands in the till. This would not be the first time some supporter of Mr. Sanders has decided they can act like an ass for the cause, as we see in DU way too often.
On then other hand: Why the Hell does Debbie Wasserman Schultz have to get on the air and feed the GOP sound bites? You sure as hell stay off the air a lot Debbie, but this is where you had to act like Sanders was Edward Snowden with an army of cyber ninjas? You were at your best, which is to say your worst, especially as you Gish Galloped over the fact that the actual FACTS of this are still in the air.
The Winners: DWS for her campaign for whatever office she wants, regardless if she wreck this election like the last two. If she wins, she can go right back to working with her GOP friends, and kneecapping anyone to the left of "I used to be a a vocal Republican until my party kicked me out."
The losers: all of us, because we have to see a party that is between one of a proven liar and backstabber and a guy who wants to revive the left, but seems locked in a black and white episode where no blacks, browns or women took the lead.
The winner: Vlad Putin, who knows no matter which of the current offering get elected, he can make short work of all of them, even the one who supposedly has all that "experience" gained during the 90's, because when Russians hear the name "Clinton" they will get a reminder of how we tried to use Yeltsin to rob their country, and that will make even the harshest critics of Putin remember what president "two for the price of one" tried to do. Yes he is a scumbag, do we offer anyone better?
SO nice to be back
I tried looking at that other site (rhymes with "deconstructionist"
and saw how many Conservatives and others assorted cyber-vermin were waiting to bite anyone to their left. I got a whiff of fermented MRA stink and stale DINO poop. UGH...I am so glad that I do not have to call that place home.
Yes, this place can drive you mad, and yes, like always, my ignore list has grown, including overzealous members of the Hillary and Bernie tribes, as well as a few "But I am a real christian" and "Dawkins is always right" types. However, we still have a fighting shot here, even if it is nothing more or less than making sure that whoever carries our standard into battle One: wins and two: does not lower that standard by the end of the first 100 days. There is no finish line here.
Now, I know that many people will want to return to the regularly scheduled circular firing squads and Middle school name calling, but let's not forget, we have work to do.
We have Magic to do:
Caliphate: a question
admittedly, I direct this question to many of the Muslim Duers, not that I am trying to put anyone on the spot, but because I think the good thing about the internet is that instead of hearsay, you can get info from the source, people who can speak about themselves for themselves. Of course, DU has no shortage of smart people, so if anyone else can answer the question, by all means, and if anyone is offended, apologies are offered in advance.
and to those who say this should be in the religion section, as this is about ISIS, it is also political. Religion and Politics bleed together, in part because the people involved do NOT think of them as separate things.OK, with that out of the way:
When Al-Bagdaddi, leader of isis/daessh makes a claim to be a caliph, does he have to fit certain requirements to credibly make that claim?
Can there be more than one Caliph? Is it a one person titular position, like the Pope, or Archbishop of Canterbury?
If he is claiming to be the Caliph, and somehow does not qualify, is he a heretic?
I ask this because in the Mormon faith, this sort of despite has happened. There are most Mormons/LDS, who follow "the prophet" based in Utah. There was a branch that broke off because they did not want to follow Brigham Young, and they are based in MIssouri. And of course, there are various cults like what Warren Jeffs tried to do. All of them say there can only be one leader.
about insults and browbeating
Look, Bernie supporters and Hillary supporters, I realize that both of you think the other is the enemy. The Bernie supporters feel the Clintons have ignored them for years, and seem ready to do so again. The Clinton supporters feel that the Clintons saved the party from being swept over. Many here disagree on many ideas, from whether to support or abandon Israel, to the TPP.
The fact is, no matter what we feel about each other, we have to be able to unite in November. It is true, and ugly, but as much as the GOP sounds like they want to kill each other, they will, to use the words of Lucianne Goldberg, walk on broken glass to vote against the Democrats. They have churches and corrupt state and county governments to help them. Regardless of who gets the nod, we need to realize, if we do not win the general, which we will only do by unity, all the arguing will have been a waste of time.
Is Jeb going down or playing rope a dope?
BY rope a dope, I refer to Ali's boxing trick where someone pretends to be hurt, only to trick his/her opponent into blowing too much energy, and then find themselves helpless and pummeled in the latter round.
Now, here is what I am worried about. Trump is of course the elephant in the room, in any and all uses of the term. As long as Trump is in, being himself, even Hillary will need to fire ammo on Trump. However, Trump does make a wonderful cover for Jeb, as Jeb gets to tell both the GOP and the Undecideds "look, I am not like these crazy people." Yes, it is the exact same "Compassionate conservative" trick his brother used in 2000. It sure does not help that the far left are going to be angry, thanks to lots of abuse by the mainstream media.
The reason I am concerned is that many people think Jeb is going to come to his senses like Scott Walker did. Jeb knows if he even HINTS at retreat, not only is he finished, but we will go down as the brother NOT cut from presidential timber. Think of that. So , because he is the superpac's favorite hog, he can hold on till Trump throws that one temper tantrum too many. Here we are, oh miss DLC schultz having already blown huge chunks of cash, and now we deal with Bush.
As rachel would say "talk me down"
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Member since: Thu Apr 17, 2008, 05:51 PMNumber of posts: 13,616