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THE ABSURD TIMES
We have finally seen a genius at work -- Phil Graham, economic advisor to the John McCain campaign. With a single sentence, he managed to point to the cause of all the nation's problems and, therefore, to the solution to these problems. With one sentence, he has become the Cognitive Behavioral Therapist from Hell. Here I studied the field for years and have been certified for a decade, he solves everything quickly, for everybody.
The sentence, telecast around the world, and spoken originally to The Washington Times, is "America has become a nation of whiners." The solution, of course, is simply: STOP WHINING!!
For example, gasoline is now about $4.00 a gallon, up enormously to the point where people can not even afford to look for a job, much less drive to one. They could move closer to work, but houses are being foreclosed as it is. Ever wonder where those people who were forclosed go? All I hear about it is whine, whine, whine.
One reader mentioned being invited to a "Wine and Whiners" function. As I understand it, the idea was that people could bring their kids and they would be attended to, somehow. How? I don't know, but modern technology surely could be used. Have you ever been annoyed by brats whining at a restaurant or a store? I'm sure you have.
Well, what we need is a taser for the purpose. We could call it "Toddler Taser." In fact, we could have a whole line of products. "Infant Taser," "Addle Essence Taser," "Teen Taser," all would have markets. And why need a gun for the home when you could have a taser? Tired of getting bills in the mail? Tase the Mailman. The kids could be warned in the restaurant "Be nice, or Daddy will tase you." That would stop the whining.
Even more important: we could have saved over 4,000 American Soldiers and 3 billion dollars if people hadn't whined about a couple of building in New York. Who cares about New York City, anyway? And terrorism? What's the big deal? Who cares? Stop whining and leave the fourth ammendment alone, will ya?
And remember, these gas prices have nothing to do with oil anyway. See, it's called Capitalism and that's what we want here. On the market, people buy what are called "futures." So, people who bought oil a few months ago when it was $90/barrel can now sell it for a $50/barrel profit without haveing anything to do with oil. They don't drill for it, produce it, ship it, refine it -- they don't even pump it into a gas tank. They have nothing to do with oil at all. So stop whining about it.
So what about making the earth uninhabitable? Hell, we will all be dead before that time comes or, come to think about it, everyone will be dead when it comes, so why worry? Whine, whine, whine -- that's all I hear.
We have the worse health care status in the developed world and many people die because they lack health insurance. People here are starving. So what? Get over it!
JUST STOP WHINING!
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Here is an article by Tom Hayden a whiner who is one of Jane Fonda's (another whiner) ex-husbands.
No Retreat: If you Want to Win, Stop the War! Barack at Risk
July 07, 2008 By *Tom Hayden*
Tom Hayden's ZSpace Page </zspace/tomhayden>
Call him slippery or nuanced, Barack Obama's core position on Iraq has
always been more ambiguous than audacious. Now it is catching up with
him as his latest remarks are questioned by the Republicans, the
mainstream media, and the antiwar movement. He could put his candidacy
at risk if his audacity continues to shrivel.
always been more ambiguous than audacious. Now it is catching up with
him as his latest remarks are questioned by the Republicans, the
mainstream media, and the antiwar movement. He could put his candidacy
at risk if his audacity continues to shrivel.
I first endorsed Obama because of the nature of the movement supporting
him, not his particular stands on issues. The excitement among
African-Americans and young people, the audacity of their hope, still
holds the promise of a new era of social activism. The force of their
rising expectations, I believe, could pressure a President Obama in a
progressive direction and also energize a new wave of social movements.
him, not his particular stands on issues. The excitement among
African-Americans and young people, the audacity of their hope, still
holds the promise of a new era of social activism. The force of their
rising expectations, I believe, could pressure a President Obama in a
progressive direction and also energize a new wave of social movements.
And of course, there is the need to end the Republican reign that began
with a stolen election followed by eight years of war and torture,
corporate gouging, environmental decay, domestic spying and right-wing
court appointments, just in case we forget who Obama is running against.
with a stolen election followed by eight years of war and torture,
corporate gouging, environmental decay, domestic spying and right-wing
court appointments, just in case we forget who Obama is running against.
Besides the transforming nature of an African-American presidency, the
issue that matters most to me is achieving a peaceful settlement of the
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — and preventing American escalations in
Iran and Latin America. From the beginning, Obama's symbolic 2002
position on Iraq has been very promising, reinforced again and again by
his campaign pledge to "end the war" in 2009.
issue that matters most to me is achieving a peaceful settlement of the
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — and preventing American escalations in
Iran and Latin America. From the beginning, Obama's symbolic 2002
position on Iraq has been very promising, reinforced again and again by
his campaign pledge to "end the war" in 2009.
But that pledge also has been laced with loopholes all along, caveats
that the mainstream media and his opponents [excepting Bill Richardson]
have ignored or avoided until now. As I pointed out in Ending the War in
Iraq [2007], Obama's 2002 speech opposed the coming war with Iraq as
"dumb", while avoiding what position he would take once the war was
underway. Then he wrote of almost changing his position from anti- to
pro-war after a trip to Iraq. He never took as forthright a position as
Senator Russ Feingold, among others. Then he adopted the safe,
nonpartisan formula of the Baker-Hamilton Study Group, which advocated
the withdrawal of combat troops while leaving thousands of American
counter-terrorism units, advisers and trainers behind.
that the mainstream media and his opponents [excepting Bill Richardson]
have ignored or avoided until now. As I pointed out in Ending the War in
Iraq [2007], Obama's 2002 speech opposed the coming war with Iraq as
"dumb", while avoiding what position he would take once the war was
underway. Then he wrote of almost changing his position from anti- to
pro-war after a trip to Iraq. He never took as forthright a position as
Senator Russ Feingold, among others. Then he adopted the safe,
nonpartisan formula of the Baker-Hamilton Study Group, which advocated
the withdrawal of combat troops while leaving thousands of American
counter-terrorism units, advisers and trainers behind.
That would mean at least 50,000 Americans, including back up forces,
engaged in counter-insurgency after the withdrawal of combat troops, a
contradiction the media and Hillary Clinton failed to explore in the
primary debates. To his credit, Obama said that these American units
would not become caught up in a lengthy sectarian civil war, leaving the
question of their role unanswered.
engaged in counter-insurgency after the withdrawal of combat troops, a
contradiction the media and Hillary Clinton failed to explore in the
primary debates. To his credit, Obama said that these American units
would not become caught up in a lengthy sectarian civil war, leaving the
question of their role unanswered.
The most shocking aspect of Samantha Powers' forced resignation earlier
this year was not that she called Hillary Clinton a "monster"
off-camera, but that she flatly stated that Obama would review his whole
position on Iraq once becoming president. Again, no one in the media or
rival campaigns questioned whether this assertion by Powers was true.
Since Obama credited Powers with helping for months in writing his
book, /The Audacity of Hope/, her comments on his inner thinking should
have been pounced upon by the pundits.
this year was not that she called Hillary Clinton a "monster"
off-camera, but that she flatly stated that Obama would review his whole
position on Iraq once becoming president. Again, no one in the media or
rival campaigns questioned whether this assertion by Powers was true.
Since Obama credited Powers with helping for months in writing his
book, /The Audacity of Hope/, her comments on his inner thinking should
have been pounced upon by the pundits.
Finally, it has taken the pressure of the general election to raise
questions about whether his parsed and lawyerly language is empty of
credible meaning. Consider carefully his July 4 statements:
questions about whether his parsed and lawyerly language is empty of
credible meaning. Consider carefully his July 4 statements:
The first one, promising a "thorough reassessment" of his Iraq position
later this summer:
later this summer:
"I've always said that the pace of our withdrawal would be dictated by
the safety and security of our troops and the need to maintain
stability" — two conditions that could justify leaving American troops
in combat indefinitely. "And when I go to Iraq and have a chance to talk
to some of the commanders on the ground, I'm sure I'll have more
information and will continue to refine my policies" — another loophole
which could allow the war to drag on.
the safety and security of our troops and the need to maintain
stability" — two conditions that could justify leaving American troops
in combat indefinitely. "And when I go to Iraq and have a chance to talk
to some of the commanders on the ground, I'm sure I'll have more
information and will continue to refine my policies" — another loophole
which could allow the war to drag on.
Then there came the later "clarification":
"Let me be as clear as I can be" [not, "let me be absolutely clear"].
"I intend to end this war." [intention only].
"My first day in office I will bring the Joint Chiefs of Staff in, and I
will give them a new mission, and that is to end this war — responsibly,
deliberately, but decisively." [ Sounds positive, but "decisively" can
mean by military threat in the worst case. And it's pure theatre,
borrowed from Clinton, since the plans most likely will be drafted and
finalized immediately after the November election.]
will give them a new mission, and that is to end this war — responsibly,
deliberately, but decisively." [ Sounds positive, but "decisively" can
mean by military threat in the worst case. And it's pure theatre,
borrowed from Clinton, since the plans most likely will be drafted and
finalized immediately after the November election.]
"And I have seen no information that contradicts the notion that we can
bring our troops out safely at a pace of one or two brigades a month..."
[but what if the military commanders on the ground assert that it is too
dangerous to pull out those troops?]
bring our troops out safely at a pace of one or two brigades a month..."
[but what if the military commanders on the ground assert that it is too
dangerous to pull out those troops?]
Obama's position, which always left a trail of unasked questions, now
plants a seed of doubt, justifiably, among the peace bloc of American
voters who harbor a legacy of betrayals beginning with Lyndon Johnson's
1064 pledge of "no wider war" through Richard Nixon's "secret plan for
peace" to Ronald Reagan's Iran-Contra scandal and the deep complicity of
Democrats in the evolution of the Iraq War.
plants a seed of doubt, justifiably, among the peace bloc of American
voters who harbor a legacy of betrayals beginning with Lyndon Johnson's
1064 pledge of "no wider war" through Richard Nixon's "secret plan for
peace" to Ronald Reagan's Iran-Contra scandal and the deep complicity of
Democrats in the evolution of the Iraq War.
It is difficult to understand Obama's motivation. Perhaps it is his
lifetime success at straddling positions and disarming potential
opponents. Perhaps it is a lawyer's training. Perhaps being surrounded
by national security advisers who oppose what they call "precipitous
withdrawal", and pragmatic Democrats distinctly uncomfortable with their
antiwar roots.
lifetime success at straddling positions and disarming potential
opponents. Perhaps it is a lawyer's training. Perhaps being surrounded
by national security advisers who oppose what they call "precipitous
withdrawal", and pragmatic Democrats distinctly uncomfortable with their
antiwar roots.
What is clear is that Obama is responsive to pressures from the
grass-roots base of a party that is overwhelmingly in favor of a shorter
timetable for withdrawal than his, and favoring diplomatic rather than
military solutions in Afghanistan and Pakistan. At a time that public
interest in the war is receeding before economic concerns, it is time
for the strongest possible reassertion of voter demands for peace.
grass-roots base of a party that is overwhelmingly in favor of a shorter
timetable for withdrawal than his, and favoring diplomatic rather than
military solutions in Afghanistan and Pakistan. At a time that public
interest in the war is receeding before economic concerns, it is time
for the strongest possible reassertion of voter demands for peace.
The challenge for the peace and justice movement is to avoid falling
into Republican divide-and-conquer traps while maintaining a powerful
and independent presence in key electoral states, including
Congressional battlegrounds, between now and November. There should be
at the least:
into Republican divide-and-conquer traps while maintaining a powerful
and independent presence in key electoral states, including
Congressional battlegrounds, between now and November. There should be
at the least:
- A demand that Obama talk to legitimate representatives of the peace
movement, not simply hawkish national security advisers.
movement, not simply hawkish national security advisers.
- A Democratic platform debate and plank that is unequivocal in pledging
to end the war and avoid military escalation elsewhere.
to end the war and avoid military escalation elsewhere.
- An energized antiwar voter education campaign that builds towards a
clear November peace mandate to end the military occupation and shifr to
political and diplomatic approraches.
clear November peace mandate to end the military occupation and shifr to
political and diplomatic approraches.
- An organizational strategy to widen the base of the antiwar movement
through the presidential campaign in preparation for a massive peace
mobilization in early 2009.
through the presidential campaign in preparation for a massive peace
mobilization in early 2009.
Grass-roots people power is the only force that can keep alive the
astute sense of pragmatism that led Obama to criticize the coming war in
2002. The stakes are higher now, and the enemies far more shrewd,
wishing to rip asunder the Obama coalition. The peace movement
assumption should be that there is no one in Obama's inner circle of
advisers to be counted on, no mainstream columnist to catch his eye with
a persuasive column favoring withdrawal. They never have. Only the voice
of the peace voters - and the countless activists who have volunteered
on his behalf - can command his attention now.
astute sense of pragmatism that led Obama to criticize the coming war in
2002. The stakes are higher now, and the enemies far more shrewd,
wishing to rip asunder the Obama coalition. The peace movement
assumption should be that there is no one in Obama's inner circle of
advisers to be counted on, no mainstream columnist to catch his eye with
a persuasive column favoring withdrawal. They never have. Only the voice
of the peace voters - and the countless activists who have volunteered
on his behalf - can command his attention now.
/For more developments and analysis, see ‘Progressives for Obama'
at progressivesforobama.blogspot.com
<https://mail.zmag.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://progressivesforobama.blogspot.com/>/
at progressivesforobama.blogspot.com
<https://mail.zmag.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://progressivesforobama.blogspot.com/>/
/Tom Hayden is a former state senator and leader of Sixties peace,
justice and environmental movements. He currently teaches
at Pitzer College in Los Angeles. His books include Writings for a
Democratic Society: The Tom Hayden Reader
<https://mail.zmag.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com/Writings-Democratic-Society-Hayden-Reader/dp/0872864618/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8%26s=books%26qid=1215282445%26sr=1-1> and Voices
<https://mail.zmag.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com/Writings-Democratic-Society-Hayden-Reader/dp/0872864618/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8%26s=books%26qid=1215282320%26sr=8-1> of
the Chicago Eight: A Generation on Trial, both published by City Lights
Books. For Tom Hayden events at the DNC in Denver go to
www.citylights.com
<https://mail.zmag.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.citylights.com>/
justice and environmental movements. He currently teaches
at Pitzer College in Los Angeles. His books include Writings for a
Democratic Society: The Tom Hayden Reader
<https://mail.zmag.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com/Writings-Democratic-Society-Hayden-Reader/dp/0872864618/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8%26s=books%26qid=1215282445%26sr=1-1> and Voices
<https://mail.zmag.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com/Writings-Democratic-Society-Hayden-Reader/dp/0872864618/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8%26s=books%26qid=1215282320%26sr=8-1> of
the Chicago Eight: A Generation on Trial, both published by City Lights
Books. For Tom Hayden events at the DNC in Denver go to
www.citylights.com
<https://mail.zmag.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.citylights.com>/
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