What do you think about this Garrison Keillor take on Christmas?

I've found a perfect example of what I think is over the top political correctness in the opinions about this bit by Garrison Keillor. If you want to see some of it, there is a link below. My personal reaction to this bit of Keillor-ism is "Way to go! Christmas should be moved to another date... say Dec 28, and leave Dec 25 to be the celebration of materialism." I must confess that I'd probably continue the celebration of gift giving and feasting on the 25th. But I deplore the slow (and now speedy) elimination of Christ from the holiday. How does this qualify as prejudice, or whatever?

I've finally figured out my take on sexual misconduct. What about you?

For the past couple of weeks I've been struggling to come up with a principle for responding to allegations of sexual misconduct. I've finally got it. In all circumstances except for current (within the statute of limitations) instances of violence, involvement of children or threats to a person's livelihood, we should not try to establish a principle. The area is too tied up with the norms of small communities. For instance, I really resonated with the person who pointed out that there's value in little children understanding how much aunts and uncles appreciate hugs. On the other hand, I'm sympathetic with situations where the children have developed a strong sense of privacy. These things will vary from family to family.

So - I'm going to stop trying to come up with principles that we can all embrace. The perpetrators, or targets of allegations, will just have to deal with the majority sentiment.

My granddaughters were told the earth would be uninhabitable in 30 years.

They are 8 and 14 and heard, or thought they heard this, on a retreat. They came home in tears. My daughter isn't sure where the mis-information came from - whether it was their hearing or the speakers' sources, but it certainly throws a light on the question of how to raise awareness without scaring people into immobility. And as things get worse and worse over the decades, what do people tell the next generations?

Do any of you have examples of what to say to the youngest activists?

Why does sexual "misconduct" automatically...

... trump (sic) possible votes on income inequality and climate change? I'm not focussing on any individual... just on the notion that a person's political positions are not trivial.

Why is it that "sex" trumps everything???????

Help me figure out how to say this. (Yeah, more sexual conduct stuff).

According to the report, Bittel made female party staffers uncomfortable with body language, comments, and even a breast-shaped stress ball on his desk.

Come on, DU, where's the passion? How come no replies to this info???

That is, the passion to DO something? I posted the text below yesterday, and it got only 2 replies, excluding mine to kick it for visibility an hour or two after the last one. Why???? Was it my introductory para?? Did people not understand it was a letter from Obama? It is. Was the title not catchy enough? "I've been waiting for this. (Obama getting active)" Or just that no controversy was offered??? I expected DUers to jump at the chance to keep this opportunity to pitch in visible.

***********************************************8
I'm really tired of watching all this Democratic energy going toward mocking the highly mockable DT. It's just too easy. He's getting us addicted. So I was happy to see. some months ago, that Obama was going to focus on gerrymandering. Here's what, for me, is a first step.

Organizing for Action

Laxxxx --

When I left office, I asked you to embrace the responsibility of active citizenship -- to get involved in our political process, regardless of which way the pendulum of power swings. And over the course of this year, I've seen millions of people answer that call.

You signed up with OFA to take action, and your efforts made a difference. All summer long, for example, you called your members of Congress, you showed up at their town halls, and you used your voice on social media to protect people's health insurance from partisan politics. And it worked.

Together, you've stood up for science and stood against hate, you've marched for women's rights and protested a divisive immigration agenda.

You're doing the hard work of citizenship. You've inspired me all over again. You remind me of the energy that fueled our campaigns in 2008 and 2012. And I know that once again, we can turn that grassroots energy into real, lasting change.

That's why I'm writing you today.

Soon, our states will be redrawing their Congressional and state legislative district lines. It's called redistricting, and it will take place in 2021, after the next Census takes place. That may seem far off, but the time to get started on this issue is now.

This is our best chance to eliminate the partisan gerrymandering that has blocked progress on so many of the issues we all care about. Simply put, redistricting has the potential to be a major turning point for our democracy. But we need to be prepared.

That's where the National Democratic Redistricting Committee comes in. Led by Eric Holder, my former Attorney General, they're the strategic hub for Democratic activity leading up to redistricting. In partnership with groups like OFA, the NDRC is building the infrastructure Democrats need to ensure a fair outcome. But they need your help.

Sign up on this page, Laxxxxxxx, and let them know that you want in.

The NDRC is providing a comprehensive strategy for the path forward. They're challenging unconstitutional maps in court, and doing the necessary state-by-state electoral work to make sure Democrats have a seat at the table for redistricting.

To support them, OFA volunteers and supporters will provide the grassroots organizing capacity and mobilization that we'll need to win state-level elections and move other initiatives forward ahead of the 2021 redistricting process -- making sure that states are in the best position possible to draw fair maps.

Systemic gerrymandering has favored one side over the other in literally hundreds of congressional and state legislative districts around the country.

If we're ever going to truly achieve our vision of an America that works for everyone, we have to draw our districts so that politicians are encouraged to cater to common sense, not rigid extremes.

Getting that done will require participation. It will require each of us continuing to accept our responsibility to be active, engaged citizens.

This fight matters, and OFA and the NDRC need you to be a part of it. Say that you will be:

https://my.ofa.us/Fair-Democracy

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

I've been waiting for this. (Obama getting active)

I'm really tired of watching all this Democratic energy going toward mocking the highly mockable DT. It's just too easy. He's getting us addicted. So I was happy to see. some months ago, that Obama was going to focus on gerrymandering. Here's what, for me, is a first step.

Organizing for Action

Laxxxx --

When I left office, I asked you to embrace the responsibility of active citizenship -- to get involved in our political process, regardless of which way the pendulum of power swings. And over the course of this year, I've seen millions of people answer that call.

You signed up with OFA to take action, and your efforts made a difference. All summer long, for example, you called your members of Congress, you showed up at their town halls, and you used your voice on social media to protect people's health insurance from partisan politics. And it worked.

Together, you've stood up for science and stood against hate, you've marched for women's rights and protested a divisive immigration agenda.

You're doing the hard work of citizenship. You've inspired me all over again. You remind me of the energy that fueled our campaigns in 2008 and 2012. And I know that once again, we can turn that grassroots energy into real, lasting change.

That's why I'm writing you today.

Soon, our states will be redrawing their Congressional and state legislative district lines. It's called redistricting, and it will take place in 2021, after the next Census takes place. That may seem far off, but the time to get started on this issue is now.

This is our best chance to eliminate the partisan gerrymandering that has blocked progress on so many of the issues we all care about. Simply put, redistricting has the potential to be a major turning point for our democracy. But we need to be prepared.

That's where the National Democratic Redistricting Committee comes in. Led by Eric Holder, my former Attorney General, they're the strategic hub for Democratic activity leading up to redistricting. In partnership with groups like OFA, the NDRC is building the infrastructure Democrats need to ensure a fair outcome. But they need your help.

Sign up on this page, Laxxxxxxx, and let them know that you want in.

The NDRC is providing a comprehensive strategy for the path forward. They're challenging unconstitutional maps in court, and doing the necessary state-by-state electoral work to make sure Democrats have a seat at the table for redistricting.

To support them, OFA volunteers and supporters will provide the grassroots organizing capacity and mobilization that we'll need to win state-level elections and move other initiatives forward ahead of the 2021 redistricting process -- making sure that states are in the best position possible to draw fair maps.

Systemic gerrymandering has favored one side over the other in literally hundreds of congressional and state legislative districts around the country.

If we're ever going to truly achieve our vision of an America that works for everyone, we have to draw our districts so that politicians are encouraged to cater to common sense, not rigid extremes.

Getting that done will require participation. It will require each of us continuing to accept our responsibility to be active, engaged citizens.

This fight matters, and OFA and the NDRC need you to be a part of it. Say that you will be:

https://my.ofa.us/Fair-Democracy

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

Find out what happened on 10/7/2016

I was flabbergasted to hear about this from Rachel last Friday.

This documents why the government's release of the news about Russian interference was ignored.... Well... maybe not the whole "why." The MSM could have done better.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/64-hours-october-one-weekend-blew-rules-american-politics-2-162827162.html

What about a special fund drive to increase computer capacity for DU searches?

I'm not able to search across more than a day, and even then, I can't include replies. What if DU (senior moment on the guy's name) had a one time/one purpose fund drive for more computer power?? I know I'd donate.

Can gun control laws be written in such a way...

... to prohibit the sale to non-military/law enforcement of guns that will shoot more than X bullets per minute/trigger pull? I frequently see references to the problem of manufacturers simply making new weapons that don't fit the description of legislation. Can legislation be written based on "behavior" of the gun, rather than its physical description?

To re-phrase... If they can be written this way, why aren't they?