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Re: Bill O’Reilly attacks Obama staffer

Liza — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 03:39:49 -0000

Obama should stay off the O'Reilley show on FOX because it will cost him credibility if he is on. Everyone knows that FOX is to news what cartoons are to entertainment. The future president of the US cannot risk his dignity by giving legitimacy to the ridiculous media hole known as FOX news.

Re: Bill O’Reilly attacks Obama staffer

Liza — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 03:39:49 -0000

Re: McCain Aide Suspended for Pushing Racist Video

Liza — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:34:16 -0000

Look at it this way, Obama's Swiftboat was going to be about race. The right wing is not all that creative. They are going to pick the easiest and most obvious way to attack. They only need to plant a spark of doubt that Obama can lead a white majority. That's all it takes.

Re: McCain Aide Suspended for Pushing Racist Video

Liza — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:36:03 -0000

Oh, yeah, about Hillary. She goes along for the ride. She can only benefit from this and it saves her having to keep hammering on Obama for being inexperienced and full of empty rhetoric.

Re: Another Sista Souljah

Liza — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 14:21:52 -0000

Diana's comment above isn't good for much of anything except to illuminate the fact that most white Americans know very little about reparations and mostly associate reparations with payments made to individuals.

Obama said, "...the best reparations we can provide are good schools in the inner city and jobs for people who are unemployed..."

The linked article goes on to say, ""There's enough flexibility in the term "reparations" that Obama can oppose them and still have plenty of common ground with supporters.""

And this, "The NAACP says reparations could take the form of government programs to help struggling people of all races."

I am not trying to be an Obama apologist here, but there is not enough time before the election for Obama or anyone else to educate the dumbed down electorate about reparations for slavery. Despite all of the dire economic news, the escalation of violence in Afghanistan and Pakistan and bad news forever from Iraq, the Democrats are still very vulnerable to the usual GOP fear based politics and smear campaigns. Just look at their recent public opinion success with off shore drilling. The Democrats would really be in trouble if the Republican presumptive nominee were even slightly appealing.

Re: The Democrats' Best Shot at Reform - Magazine - The Atlantic

Liza — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:05:32 -0000

I think that this ad is funny, McCain calls Paris Hilton an airhead and she responds with an articulate statement about energy policy. However, I hope that it ends right here. The media coverage of this election is already at the tabloid level, and it doesn't need to sink lower.

It's interesting that McCain chose to associate Obama with young, bleached blonde white women when he is the one who left his family for a young, bleached blonde white woman.

Re: Ante Bellum - Magazine - The Atlantic

Liza — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:37:58 -0000

I grew up in the south but moved to southern California in my mid-twenties. I have spent at least 25 years adapting southern recipes that I like to healthier versions of what is basically the same thing. I'm not from Louisiana, but I definitely have a thing for Creole/Cajun food. So what if my gumbos, etc... do not taste quite as good as your great grandmother's? They are still pretty damn good.

What is the point in medical research if it does not lead to better health? We know a lot more now about what is causing many of our diet related health problems, and we need to "adapt or die" as commenter JR Shells above says.

Re: This is good, no?

Liza — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:33:06 -0000

I have to agree that that the MSM tabloid level coverage of this election is becoming almost totally focused on the right wing smears against Obama. Whatever McCain says, no matter how inane, is dominating the political discussion.

When was the last time anyone mentioned healthcare and the 48 million uninsured who will remain uninsured if McCain is elected? And that is just one issue.

I do not think that Obama can get down in the mud with McCain and win hearts and minds. The Democrats need to bring the real issues back to the front and center of this election, and fast.

Re: This is good, no?

Liza — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:20:49 -0000

The Obama campaign has, so far, made very few mistakes and I have to believe that there is a post-convention strategy.

The fact is, Obama's nomination is history in the making. His acceptance speech before 75,000 people in Denver is going to break all the records for a political speech watched in this country and around the entire world.

Obama has an opportunity to do what McCain can never do, and that is to disseminate his message to the largest political audience ever, and we have every reason to believe that the world class orator is going to take full advantage of the historical moment.

I believe that the campaign strategy will be much more aggressive from that point forward.

Re: This is good, no?

Liza — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:22:44 -0000

The Obama campaign has, so far, made very few mistakes and I have to believe that there is a post-convention strategy.

I believe that the campaign strategy will be much more aggressive from that point forward.

Re: The Age of Innocence - Magazine - The Atlantic

Liza — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:06:49 -0000

I love the distinction between Hillaryism and feminism. I never saw Hillary as much of a feminist. She has remained in an abusive marriage with her philandering husband for decades. And whatever power she had in her life until she was elected to the Senate was directly derived from being a beneficiary of the white male patriarchy. I just don't see her as an icon of feminism.

Hillaryism, on the other hand, is completely about the promotion of Hillary. Sebelius isn't going to be the VP, so it's really a non issue, and this small but loud movement to promote Hillary will eventually have to fade away.

Re: The Age of Innocence - Magazine - The Atlantic

Liza — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:26:55 -0000

Chris, if you can't see the difference between a Hillary Clinton and a Janet Napolitano, for example, then it is pointless to explain it to you. Hillary's much touted "35 years of experience" was comprised of being 7 years as a senator and the rest as the wife of Bill Clinton. She has been a beneficiary of the white male patriarchy, and you can't argue that and be anything less than delusional.

Given that I am from Arizona and I have voted twice for Janet Napolitano for governor, I am somewhat familiar with her background. Janet isn't married to anyone and her rise in politics is fueled by her own steam. She ran for governor as a "clean elections" candidate twice, which means that she went into office without being beholden to anyone but the voters. She's a damn good politician who has operated effectively as a Democrat with a Republican legislature. She landslided her last election because she grew a huge base of independent support during her first term as governor.

Really, Chris, I do not want to get into an argument with a "feminist" about whether or not Hillary Clinton is a feminist. To me, she isn't. There were plenty of women who succeeded on their own steam from Hillary's generation. She could have been one of them, given her abilities and her opportunities, but she latched on to Bill and took the ride and settled for being the smaller half of a power couple.

Re: Best speech at the convention

Liza — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:11:42 -0000

Kerry's speech was absolutely one of the best. His comparison of Senator McCain and Candidate McCain had me laughing, probably because I'm from Arizona. I love where Kerry said that Candidate McCain has vowed to vote against the immigration bill that was written by Senator McCain. And my favorite line was that McCain shouldn't have a debate with Obama until he has completed the debate he is having with himself.

Yeah, I think this "McCain the Maverick" myth needs to be thoroughly debunked and replaced with "McCain the Flip-Flopper who never was a Maverick."

Re: Global Warming: The Convenient Truth - Magazine - The Atlantic

Liza — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:23:58 -0000

I'm watching the convention on CSPAN and sometimes CNN. Yesterday, when Obama was nominated by acclamation, John King of CNN said that Democrats and Republicans should step away from the fight for a few minutes, maybe the whole night, and just appreciate the historical significance of the moment.

There are many people who won't be able to do that and that is just simply their loss.

I grew up in the south during the civil rights era. I can just tell you that it is not just the "old black people" who are weeping.

Re: Global Warming: The Convenient Truth - Magazine - The Atlantic

Liza — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:43:21 -0000

The only thing that I ever had against Al Gore was that he picked Leiberman as his VP running mate in 2000. Of course, Leiberman probably didn't seem as bad back then because the neoconservatives had not yet taken over the government.

I hope and pray too that McCain picks Leiberman. Romney is a good pick as well (for Democrats) because all of the evangelicals think that the Mormon religion is a cult.

Leiberman seems to be hated by just about everyone these days.

Re: Primary Sources - Magazine - The Atlantic

Liza — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:56:02 -0000

I feel compelled to state the obvious, for some reason. McCain is 72 years old and he does not present as a physically fit over 70 male who looks young for his age. It should be very clear that McCain's VP will be scrutinized as someone who has a better than average chance of assuming the presidency. McCain may very well live to be 90 or more, but perception is everything.

This woman may perhaps be the GOP gift to the religious right to make sure they turn out to vote Republican in November. Who knows?

But the part that I cannot begin to understand is how in the blazes does the GOP expect to deal with the fact that they cannot even pretend that this woman could be the most powerful leader in the world if something were to happen to McCain?

It is almost surreal, it is just so hard to believe.

Re: Primary Sources - Magazine - The Atlantic

Liza — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:21:01 -0000

Asher, it doesn't matter if McCain has the internals of a newborn (which he doesn't.) He has very wrinkled skin, he's had skin cancer on his face, he had thin white hair, he's balding, and he's overweight. He looks like an old man.

Yeah, I know, he was a POW.

Re: West, Malveaux and Smiley

Liza — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:46:24 -0000

I am one of the people who was looking forward to some of that "lofty rhetoric" that would honor the Civil Rights Movement and Dr. King. And I was hoping for a delivery that was slightly reminiscent of the civil rights leaders (think New Hampshire.) I thought it was the only way to go, given the historical significance of the Democrats nominating an African American and the 45th anniversary of "I Have A Dream."

However, a couple of weeks before the convention I realized that it wasn't going to happen, at least not in the way that I wanted it to. The purpose of the convention is to nominate a presidential candidate, lay out the party's political platform for the general election, and fire up the party activists. All of the major speakers had an assigned task, a specific message to convey, and it was Obama's job to present the Democrats' political platform and make the case to the nation why they should vote for a Democratic president (and Democrats in general.) When I thought about this, I knew that Obama would probably make a reference to Dr. King at some point, but the speech was going to be about making a clear distinction between the two political parties.

West and Malveaux are trying to intellectualize and explain something that they do not seem to understand is purely emotional. Obama's speech disappointed them because they wanted something from that particular speech that would satisfy them on an emotional level and they didn't get it.

I know how they feel, but I seem to be more accepting of the convention strategy than they are.

There will be other speeches, and I believe that if Obama wins in November, West and Malveaux and me and everyone who wants to hear that lofty rhetoric will eventually get to hear it.

Re: Ornette Coleman and the Circle With a Hole in the Middle - Magazine - The Atlantic

Liza — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:10:35 -0000

These guys are creeps, to be sure, but much of what they are doing here is about profit as commenter "brooksfoe" above said. They attack Obama, Blacks, Muslims, and immigrants on one little box. A certain kind of person thinks this is very amusing, and those are the people I am concerned about.

There is racism here, but to be amused by the degradation of others takes it to the next level.

Re: A Single Bullet - Magazine - The Atlantic

Liza — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:15:47 -0000

Alright, I'm considerably older than a lot of you but I'm kind of amazed that no one has mentioned Bob Dylan. Everything from "Freewheelin" (mid 60's) through "Street Legal" (late 70's) is worth listening to. There isn't a white songwriter in that same time period who can touch him. My personal favorite is "Desire" from 1976, I think. "Black Diamond Bay" on that album is a masterpiece.

Other than that, my opinion is that black people own American music, at least the American music that is worth listening to over time and I am talking about time in decades.

Re: The saga continues

Liza — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:20:19 -0000

Couric went much too easy on Palin. When you are asked a question, and you answer with rambling, unfocused, and very close to meaningless half sentences, you really should be called out. This woman is a vice presidential candidate so when is she going to be scrutinized at the level that office deserves?

If these are the kind of qualifications that are acceptable for a vice president, then we may as well just have some kind of national lottery to decide who the president will be in the future and it should be open to everyone over 18 who is not institutionalized. Palin proves we are all potential presidential candidates, especially me because I've lived near the Mexican border for 30 years so I have some serious foreign policy experience.

Re: The saga continues

Liza — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:55:23 -0000

No, Blue Moon, you are just wrong that this woman should ever have been anything other than a hockey mom.

America deserves better. When I hear this woman speak, I cannot even believe she is a vice presidential candidate. It is as though the GOP has finally decided that the president and vice president HAVE to be fools, so that the neo-conservative think tanks and the corporations can rule unhindered.

God help us. I can't even believe what is happening anymore.

Re: The saga continues

Liza — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:16:01 -0000

What is most amazing is that people are actually trying to find meaning in what she says. This woman spews talking points that have gotten jumbled in whatever she uses for a brain and that is what comes out of her mouth. There is very little relationship to the question asked and the response.

She makes Ahmadinejad sound like a world class orator. She is an embarrassment and when is she going to be called out for what she is?

Re: Foreign Policy: Munich Versus Vietnam - Magazine - The Atlantic

Liza — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:03:46 -0000

All I have felt about Palin since the DAY ONE is outrage. The woman is a whack job and it's high time that she gets called out for what she is.

For what little thought she has given to US foreign policy, she sees it totally within some simplistic world view of "good guys" and "bad guys" where the US is, of course, on the side of good. Israel should never be "second guessed." The US invasion of Iraq was a "task from God." Even the Alaskan gas pipeline is "God's will."

Separation of church and state is fundamental to our form of government and Sarah Palin should make it very obvious as to why.

Everything else she has said is either rooted in extreme, "religious" fundamentalist beliefs that are never questioned or analyzed by the believers, or she is regurgitating the talking points that have been crammed into her head over the past several weeks. Unfortunately, once inside her head the talking points became fragmented and disorganized and she is unable to eject them logically or in the right sequence or even at the right time. She is literally speaking jibberish.

Sad for Palin? To all of you who are, I envy your ability to feel compassion for someone so undeserving of it.

If you want to feel sad, feel sad for what is happening to our nation and the rest of the world. Feel sad about what right wing ideology had brought us to and the years of reparations that will be needed to get us back on track.

We cannot afford a mistake like Sarah Palin. Things are bad enough already.

Re: Foreign Policy: Munich Versus Vietnam - Magazine - The Atlantic

Liza — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:30:15 -0000

No, DougEFresh, I disagree. If Palin were an intelligent woman, she would have those talking points memorized flawlessly. She would eject them from her pie hole in a logical sequence and at the appropriate time. Then, she would sound just like any other conservative Republican and no one would take any particular notice of what she was saying. That is what they have been trying to train her to do, and she can't do it.

Palin is a gimmick that bought the GOP something like three weeks of distraction coverage in mainstream media. The meltdown on Wall Street has brought the economy front and center while McCain searches for his next gimmick. His "I must suspend my campaign and save the economy" gimmick seems to be backfiring. McCain needs a new gimmick so what will it be? Replacing Palin? Who knows...