Let my People GO!

A friend and I recently had the pleasure of meeting Nancy Pelosi.  The event was sponsored by the Dallas Democrats (and hosted by Harryette Ehrhardt & Eddie Bernice Johnson).  And, as most socially conscious political bloggers do, I shared this information on Face Book.   Much to my chagrin, a couple of the comments from beleaguered Democratic colleagues were quite disturbing.

The lack luster responses (premised by the not-so-subtle disclaimer): “I don’t mean to offend, but…” were, in fact, offensive.   Side bar:  when someone begins a statement with “No offense, but…” or “Don’t take this the wrong way, but…”-you can be certain that any statement that follows WILL offend you.  More importantly, the  person delivering these ultimate wastes of verbal intercourse, think that by disguising their insult, they will offset any backlash it may cause them. But, it doesn’t really work that way, now does it?

Democrats, someone has high-jacked your way of thinking and it’s hindering your effectiveness.  Perhaps, it time to dust off the cobwebs of discontent, break free from the psychological quicksand.  Democrats, you will never find the promised land if you continue to wander in  the radical right wing desert of defeat.

Can you say, “UNITY- all together now…U-N-I-T-Y.”

Democrats, do not allow idiots like Bachman, Palin, Limbaugh, Beck, Boehner, Hannity, O’Reilly, Colter, and all of the other tea party imbeciles (masquerading as “Patriots”) to redefine what a Democrat is and what a Democrat stands for.  Do not stand idly by; do not acquiesce as they attempt to make ‘Liberal’, ‘Left’, and ‘Democrat’, dirty words.  Remember, the core principles that built the rock solid foundation of our party.  Adlai Stevenson said it best:

The people are wise, wiser than the Republicans think. And the Democratic Party is the people’s Party — not the labor Party, not the farmers’ Party, not the employers’ Party — it is the Party of no one because it is the Party of everyone.

Annie

THANK YOU, TEA PARTY…

Bat-Shit Crazy- Going Network

Howard Beale’s rant on the Movie “Network News” is apropos for the current bat-shit craziness we are seeing in the news coming out of Washington.  I’ve modified the rant to fit my own purpose:

“I don’t have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad…Everybody’s out of work or scared of losing their job. The dollar buys a nickel’s worth, banks are going bust, shopkeepers keep a gun under the counter….. We know the air is unfit to breathe and our food is unfit to eat, and we sit watching our TV‘s while some local newscaster tells us that today” [the Republican Party won’t budge in the interest of the American People], “as if that’s the way it’s supposed to be. We know things are bad – worse than bad. They’re crazy. It’s like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don’t go out anymore. We sit in the house, and slowly the world we are living in is getting smaller, and all we say is, ‘Please, at least leave us alone in our living rooms…Just leave us alone.’

Well, I’m not gonna leave you alone. I want you to get mad! I don’t want you to protest. I don’t want you to riot …All I know is that first you’ve got to get mad. You’ve got to say, ‘I’m a HUMAN BEING, God damn it! My life has VALUE!’ So I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out, and yell, ‘I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!’ I want you to get up right now, sit up, go to your windows, open them and stick your head out and yell – ‘I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!’ Things have got to change. But first, you’ve gotta get mad!… You’ve got to say, ‘I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!‘ Then we’ll figure out what to do about the”[Republican Party’s failure to protect the American PEOPLE.]  “But first get up out of your chairs, open the window, stick your head out, and yell, and say it: “I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!”

Ref:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074958/quotes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_qgVn-Op7Q

Network (1976) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Can’t We All Just Get Along, DAMN IT!

Rodney King‘s famous plea, “Can’t we all just get along “during the LA riots is still as relevant today, as it was back in 1992. I find myself asking the same question, over and over again. Why can’t we (as a Nation) all just get along? Why must it always be the Democrats against the Republicans, the tea party against the Liberals, the conservative Christians against gay rights, Muslims against Christians (you get my point). Even a rogue scholar can point out the obvious: we are all in this together. We must learn the art of compromise to solve the nation’s problems.

Achieving a political utopia where the warring parties compromise to achieve goals is not impossible. Compromise in favor of the American people is not a concession of personal convictions, per se.  Simply put, when two or more parties reach a compromise, they personify mutual respect. Having a mutual respect for each other includes giving credence to opposing views. We may both concede that the sky is blue. We may, however, differ in opinion of what shade of blue the sky is. For once I’d love to hear our leaders’ say that while they don’t agree on all of the issues, they are willing to compromise in order to do what is best for the American PEOPLE.

Sometimes you have to give a little to get a lot, and vice-versa. Compromise means that while the parties can agree to disagree, they are at least willing to move beyond the barriers of selfishness and consider other factors.

The few who are willing to brave the shark infested waters  of postured arrogance will reach the welcoming shores of compromise. And, maybe, just maybe Americans will rise to the occasion and mirror the same behavior.

Spending has RISEN with Perry in Charge

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/07/17/3226023/spending-has-risen-with-perry.html

UNAPOLOGETIC LIBERAL!

Liberal is something I am and I wear it as a badge of honor. In the words of George Lakoff-“Liberty-loving liberals founded our country and enshrined its freedoms. Dedicated, fair-minded liberals ended slavery and brought women the vote. Hardworking liberals fought the goon squads and won workers’ rights: the eight-hour day, the weekend, health plans, and pensions. Courageous liberals risked their lives to win civil rights. Caring liberals have made the vulnerable elderly secure with Social Security and healthy with Medicare. Forward-looking liberals have extended education to everyone. Liberals who love the land have been preserving our environment so you can enjoy it. Nobody loves liberty and life more than a liberal. When conservatives say you’re on your own, we liberals know we’re all in this together.”

The Deficit Monster | Fort Worth Weekly – News, Entertainment, Restaurants, Music

The Deficit Monster | Fort Worth Weekly – News, Entertainment, Restaurants, Music.

GOOD ADVICE

“Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:9).

Hate & Fear (Letter to the Editor from my good friend, Carl Flores)

“You’ve got to be taught
to hate and fear
You’ve got to be taught
from year to year
It’s got to be drummed
in your dear little ear
You’ve got to be carefully taught.”

Oscar Hammerstein’s words written for South Pacific over 60 years ago are more appropriate today than they were then. They were addressing a white/Polynesian relationship in the great musical.

Today we can add Muslims, Blacks, immigrants, Hispanics, gays and most minorities to the list of targets for hate.
Our own good paper,the FWS-T, does little to counter the rampant hate and fear that has accelerated since the election of a Black president.

Just look at the Opinion section to see the hate spewing Mallard Fillmore cartoon on the Editorial page,and then sample the letters- to- editor on the opposite page.

Someone is spending large sums of money to cultivate this climate of “hate and fear”.
In order to figure out who is funding and promoting this damaging hate just ask the question from the old Chinese proverb(on a criminal act)—who gains??

Carl V Flores

Thank you, Carl.