The Debacle of New Orleans
(This is a revisit of the American tragedy of our time as sung or metered to to the tune of The Battle of New Orleans)

On September 2nd Dubya took a little trip
To the city under water on the mighty Mississip
He took a little bacon and he took a little beans
For the people who were dyin’ in the town of New Orleans

Old Dubya told them it was such a cryin’ shame
That the help didn’t come in time but he was not to blame
He hugged them and he patted them with pity in his eyes
And he acted like he gave a shit and filled them full of lies

(Chorus)
They cried out for help but no one came a runnin’
The King was on vacation and they would have to wait
After four long days he told them help was comin’
But for most of those who clung to life the help was much too late

(Verse)
They worried and they fretted as they saw the water rise
While the government was saying this had hit them by surprise
They didn’t have the money or a car to leave the town
So they couldn’t pack their families up and head for higher ground

The water got so high that it covered up their homes
They were told that they should try to reach the Superdome
So they climbed up on their rooftops and they lifted up a prayer
While Old Dubya played a guitar like he didn’t have a care

(Chorus)
They waited and they cried but no one came a runnin’
King Dubya shoulda been there when the waters overflowed
He posed and he smiled as the cameras kept a hummin’
As he graced them with his presence on the Gulf of Mexico

(verse)
Dubya told the people have no fear you’re not alone
Then he continued on vacation, left the people on their own
A wave of compassion’s on the way he’s fond to say
But not until we figure out just who’s in charge today

Well, who is playin’ first and what is playin’ second
I don’t know is playin’ third while the water’s all around
Chertoff’s playin’ I’m the boss and Brown is herding horses
And Dubya’s playin’ with himself while helpless people drown

With no food and no water they could only pray and cry
But no one seemed to give a damn if they would live or die
So they broke into the stores and took whatever they could find
These victims of society the ones we left behind

(Chorus)
Well they swam down the streets with their heads above the water
Though the mud and the slime as the bodies floated by
They were trapped in their attics and dying of starvation
While Dubya smiled and came up with another fuckin’ lie

Creating Armageddon out of Whole Cloth

We are witnessing a somewhat frightening phenomenon; the rapid rise of paranoia, fear and outright craziness among white, right-wing, evangelical, so-called "Christians". There has always been that element among us, the rural, less educated, lower intelligence, more radical "Christians", the holy rollers, the snake handlers, etc. Radical Christians have always longed for persecution like that of the early Christians, and when they can’t realize it they have always tried to invent it - but this is getting serious.

I see unsettling signs of a gathering storm, the stocking up of weapons, of ammo, freeze-dried food, and survival supplies. These people are apparently convinced that there are evil people in control of our government (Obama and his Muslim minions) who are intending to destroy the US, specifically to kill and imprison white “Christians”, or “Uhmurikins” if you prefer. They fantasize that "white" citizens will soon be attacked by our military, that there will be roving bands of human flesh-eating “zombies” created by some kind of virus or that there will simply be a civil war or a citizen’s rebellion pitting our military against United States “freedom” fighters akin to those uprisings we have seen in Egypt, Libya and now Syria. The “evidence” to support and stoke these fears is being spread by radical right-wing radio talk shows and websites like the madman, Glenn Beck.

There is good evidence that many of the conspiracy nuts among us are infected with at least a mild psychopathic disorder and actually look forward to a stimulating confrontation and shootout with those they unreasonably fear, disagree with or just don’t like because of skin color or ethnicity. A race war, “Christian whites” against just about anyone else, especially Muslims and Blacks, or a war between the right-wing and liberals would fulfill their sexual fantasies. After all, what purpose life if someone isn't out to get you? Jesus, pull the trigger.

In case you haven’t heard, one prime piece of evidence of Obama’s plan to enslave them is the claim that SSA and the DHS are purchasing arms in preparation for civil unrest. This was spurred by an order supposedly placed by those agencies for either 147,000 or 1.6 million rounds of hollow-point bullets (or any number in-between, whichever report you want to believe) for use by their armed officers. The government says this is standard ammo to re-supply the approximately 130,000 federal officers employed by these and other agencies. The wing-nuts would rather believe all this ammunition will be used to attack US citizens and enslave them.

Other claims are circulating that armored tanks are on order to be used against civilians and that FEMA is stockpiling body bags and caskets to hold the victims. The tank rumor is not true, as verified by Snopes.com, and instead of new tanks being ordered to use against citizens it was simply a contract entered into with manufacturers to repair and upgrade tanks being returned from duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, a standard maintenance activity. As for the mountains of caskets to bury you and your neighbors after the Obama machine kills you, the FEMA stockpiling of packaged meals, blankets and body bags is considered prudent in view of the possible catastrophes being predicted by climatologists and the charges that they have been ill-prepared for previous disasters.

Those Chicken Little alarmists who make a fortune spreading fear and those who manufacture weapons and survival supplies have a vested interest in creating a market for their wares. The vulnerable among us will always be prime targets for those with no morals or ethics when it comes to separating fools from their money.

That said, it is always prudent to not hide your head in the sand regarding the possibilities of a devastating interruption of our lives by some unforeseen or distantly possible catastrophe. Every family should take some minimal precautions and have emergency protection against prolonged power outage, disruption of the food supply chain, or – in a more realistic case – the hair-trigger eruption of right-wing crazies in your neighborhood that can’t wait to start shooting at phantom dangers including innocents who might simply be coming over to check on their neighbor’s welfare.

Call of Duty fantasies aside, you can own a weapon or two to guard against an intruder but you don’t need an AR 15. If you have to spray a hail of bullets to defend against an oncoming assault of crazies you are not going to last long regardless. This ain’t a video game and you ain’t Alex Mason.

With this post I plan to reactivate this blog after several years absence. You can see by the previous post where I stood politically at that time. Much has changed since and what was true then does not apply in the present moment as what we think of as time weaves itself through and around our conscious experience which becomes the whole cloth by which we reference life. Our experience of life and the linear time frame that frames it is an illusion of inconceivable meaning and purpose.

But, here we are, or so we think, and we deal with this life as we are able, as we think we should, and as we are compelled to by some unidentified driving force. Call it God if you like but of that there is no definable proof. As I recently quoted Marcelo Gleiser, "Thought is derivative of being, and is thus insufficient to answer questions about the origin of being."

What is a good subject? Where should I start?

Here's an observation. I stopped by Target tonight to pick up a couple things and I saw a couple female employees in their red jackets,vests or whatever, stocking shelves. I overheard the young one ask the other woman, "Have you heard the news? I'm going to be a mama." "Oh", the other exclaims, "That's wonderful news." "Yes", says the young mother to be, "I think my fiance is more excited about it than I am."

It's a sign of the times, of how times have changed. No longer is it considered a stigma to be pregnant out of wedlock. You can announce it to the world with no fear of recrimination. And for you bigots, no, she is not black, both are white women. Hopefully, her "fiance" will do the right thing and not hightail it for the coast. Even if he does marry her it probably won't last. Divorce also is no longer a stigma.

On the other hand, Target management may not be thrilled by the news but their turnover is probably so high it doesn't matter. Most likely this young woman is a temporary employee, held to minimal hours and does not receive benefits any way, so why would Target care? This young woman is as expendable as a paper cup that you drink from and then throw in the trash. This is what the profit-sucking corporatists have done to America. No longer is there any competition to speak of which would inspire the competing stores to hire and train quality employees and genuinely compete for customers. A few corporate conglomerates control their respective markets and you have no real choice where to shop. Locally Target competes only with Walmart and the fast fading K-Mart. There is no dignity or true security working for either of them. Their training is minimal so they have little invested and their profit plan calls for operating with as few full-time employees as they can get by with. At most of these stores try finding an employee on the floor to ask a question or where to find a product. And when you finally find one, chances are they don't know the answer. There is no work ethic because there is no feeling of ownership by employees. They are little more than indentured servants who are being taken advantage of. This is the new America championed by the element that reveres and worships big business.

A good example is the local Kroger store. I've been shopping there for years and there are only a handful of employees that I recognize on a regular basis. The others pass through like migrant farm workers. Many are there only a few weeks before someone new takes their place.

Enough for now. I hope to tackle interesting subjects as they arise from my daily experience and those in the news that elicit public interest and controversy. I have to familiarize myself with the blog apparatus which has changed since Google bought eblogger. Please comment at will.

More soon. Yea!

The Clinton Years Are Over!

In a Washington Post article this morning announcing Karl Rove’s resignation it read, ” In the interview with the Journal, Rove painted a typically upbeat picture of what the future holds for Bush and the Republican Party. He predicted that conditions in Iraq would improve in coming months as the effect of the surge is felt, and that Democrats will split over issues like wiretaps in the name of national security. He said he believes the Democrats are likely to nominate New York Sen. Hillary Clinton for president in 2008, and speculated that Republicans would have "a very good chance" of holding onto the White House for a third consecutive term.”

I doubt he will be right about the first prediction although the Bush administration has a success record of convincing the predominately ignorant American people that things are other than reality. After all they twice have cast enough votes for Bush to allow the Republican Mafia to easily steal the election, 2000 in Florida, and 2004 in Ohio. American voters are reality adverse. Bush is not a rational human being. He is an insecure, delusional human being lacking in intelligence and exhibits sociopathic behavior patterns. This man is an embarassment to our country, a threat to world order and to our democracy.

And in the case of the second prediction, Rove is not all that prescient in predicting the Democrats will split over issues like infringement on individual rights and freedoms in the guise of being absolutely essential to national security. Just look at the history of the last ten years or more. Most elected Democrats in congress are spineless prostitutes of the worst kind.

But Rove is most certainly right about prediction number three if Hillary were to become the Democratic Party’s nominee. Rove predicts that with Hillary as the candidate to run against, the Republicans can win, or more correctly, will once again be in a position to steal yet another election. I reluctantly agree.

I think the Democrats just might nominate Hillary and that just could be the kiss of death for the party in 2008. Many progressive Democrat's feel she’s just too controversial, her negatives are too high, and her lightening rod quotient is off the charts. A recent analysis of her campaign pointed out that she carefully avoids being pinned down on her positions on the issues and speaks in generalities and political double-speak. This is typical of politicians who have mastered the game. A Hillary nomination would likely assure a big anti-Hillary turnout of Republican and Cristian right-wing voters, a lukewarm, hold-your-nose-and-vote turnout for many Democrats, and a no-show by disaffected Greens and independents. Maybe not - but it's very possible.

Progressive Democrats realize that a Hillary presidency would result in acquiescence to corporate power, capitulation to Republican hoodlums, triangulation and a centrist approach that almost guarantees no change in the direction of this country or the problems we face. Under Hillary we will likely stay in Iraq for many more years, our borders will remain open, corruption in government and the trade deals will hold fast or will increase assuring a continuation of obscene corporate profits, a bleeding of good paying American jobs, an ineffective attempt at healthcare system reform, continued deterioration of infrastructure, etc. Despite the popularity of Bill Clinton he was a free trader and a corporate mistress who helped get us in the mess we are now in. If she is elected, Hillary will continue to coddle and defer to the corporate powers.

It’s plain and simple – we need change. The Clinton years are over. There are too many Democrats who held their nose and voted for Kerry who don’t want to have to do it again for Hillary. We need a candidate who is not just charismatic and politically savvy but one that offers a dramatic change from the culture of corruption, wealth and corporate power that DC insiders, the DLC and K-Street lobbyists are scrambling to protect. We need someone who can be honest regardless of the potential fallout and who instills a real feeling of confidence in their leadership ability by virtue of their courage to take on the obscenely corrupt corporate-political hierarchy and return the power to the people. In 2004 that candidate was Howard Dean. Instead we were force fed DLC puppet and political hack, John Kerry, by the Democratic Party.

In 2008 there are a couple of developing Democratic candidates that might possibly have the courage and ability to foster the hard-choice changes this country needs to make that will help steer us back in the direction that made this country great in the beginning. These two candidates are the only ones in the field that also have a strong potential to be elected if nominated. That would be Barack Obama and John Edwards.

But there is one leader amongst us that has the vision and proven courage to effect change, and who more than qualifies to lead this nation, and who would likely win with a sizable swell of support from the ranks of all political factions including a good number of Republicans. This is the only potential candidate that would attract the support of almost every Green Party member, the biggest percentage of independents, an overwhelming majority of Democrats and this time I would wager, even the full support of the rebel populist Ralph Nader.

That would be Al Gore.

If only he will run.

Is Gore Too Good for the US?

I got this comment from Dick Pohlman's American Debate blog. I think it sums up what a lot of people who voted for Bush and Nader are feeling, makes the point that We the People are what's really wrong with this country, and nails the Republicans and the Democrats for what they really are.

I hated Gore in 2000, and voted for Nader. (I live in NY; it didn't matter as to the scoreboard, under our dumbassed system. But there are still very few things in my life I regret more.)

But I now feel that Gore is, frankly, too good for this country. He sees the myriad and deeply rooted systemic obstacles to any kind of positive change, and he puts the blame where it belongs--on We the People, who have allowed all the greatness of our country to leech away over the last 40 years or so. Gore's a better man than I am, because he still seems to think there's hope of reversing the trend. I do not. I just see:

--a cadre of deranged nuts on the right who aren't even smart enough to realize that, in their fetishization of brute force and utter hatred of those with whom they disagree, they're essentially fascists;

--a bunch of "Democrats," so-called, who are far more obsessed with retaining their illusory power than actually using it for any constructive purpose;

--and hundreds of millions of us in the left, right, and middle who don't really care if our nation goes down the crapper, so long as we personally get fed and entertained.

Frankly, I'm as guilty of this as anyone else. What we don't realize is that as our democracy goes, our material prosperity is very likely to follow sooner or later.

I'd like to point out that I'm not as guilty as the poster or as many of the rest of you. I've realized this all along.

Will Al Gore Run - Or Not? There Might Be Something There

I am frequently asked as I was last night by a political ally at the annual Gore Family Dinner, “Do you think Gore is going to run?”

"I'm not sure either way", I told them. Even after talking to a few people high up in his current organization, people like Josh Cherwin, Roy Neel and Lisa Berg, I have no real clue. I don’t think they know either, but I do know Al continually leaves the door ajar even when he could easily shut it and lock it. After what happened in 2000, never say never is something I suspect Al Gore understands very well. "Who woulda thunk" back then that Gore would not succeed Clinton?

When I asked Roy Neel he told me “Al Gore is not a candidate – at this time”. To me that’s like saying keep your powder dry which is the old mountain man quip that means “be prepared”. I didn't say he is running, I didn't say he isn't.

Even Harold Ford Jr. speaking at last night’s event commented, “I see a lot of you wearing Gore stickers tonight”. He paused and said, “There might be something there.”

When Gore was recently asked by Larry King what would have to fall in place that would cause him to run Gore replied he hadn’t really given that much thought to it (bullshit!) but he would know it when he saw it. That means he’s watching - which is enough to keep me hopeful, energized and prepared.

I think Gore understands that if he were nominated he would most probably win the election easily. The electorate, Republican and Democratic, are fed up with Bush-Cheney, the Republicans and the corruption. This nation wants change. The Republicans in office have made such a mess of things that I believe even a lightweight, controversial Democratic candidate could win if he/she were fortunate enough to be nominated. Well, except for maybe a woman – or a minority candidate. It’s a romantic idea that we as a nation might do that, but despite early popular support there is some question whether this nation, once in the voting booth, will actually pull the lever for either.

As for Gore, it’s the election process that turns Gore off. He suffered through it and is quick to say there are things he’s not good at and campaigning is one of them. He’s still wary of the media and the unfair way he was attacked and maligned in 2000. I’d say he’s bitter toward the media in general and disillusioned by the errant and compromised electoral system.

Is he going to eventually run? Who knows? I don't think even Gore himself knows for certain.

Gore, I think, is somewhat unconsciously running by not running. I don’t think it’s intentional but he’s not doing anything to keep it from happening. Everyone is aware of the attraction created by playing hard to get and I think it’s happening in Gore’s case but I don’t think he planned it. Everyone is attracted to those things that seem just beyond reach. You can have Hillary, Obama, Edwards or the rest just for the asking, but Gore . . . he’s just tantalizingly there - on the highest shelf – very desirable but not for sale, and at least not until Gore’s value shoots through the roof would he likely become available. Like I said, what’s happening is just happening, and Gore is just an observer like the rest of us, but I’m convinced he’s paying very close attention. Maybe the stars won’t align properly - but then what if they do? What if providence awakes?

Morris Udall was quoted as saying “There is only one cure for presidential ambitions and it’s embalming fluid.” If that’s actually the case then Gore will not pass up the grandest of all opportunities to fulfill that most pervasive ambition of those who seek public office. Consider also, Al Gore Sr. who reportedly was intent on grooming his son for the highest office. One might presume that Al Gore Jr., a polite southern boy, would not intentionally deny his daddy that dream.

Whatever comes, it remains that Al Gore is the man for our time. The nation at large knows he was denied an election that he in fact won. They now see the folly of those who envisioned the New American Century and their attempt to rule the earth at everyone’s expense except their own.

There’s this great post by Larry Abrams in the Huffington Post entitled Weighing the Field. Abrams likens Hillary to an 800 lb gorilla and says that Gore is the only other 800 lb gorilla in the room. He comes to the conclusion that Gore himself holds the outcome of the next election in his hands. Abrams states, “I don't think Al is going to run unless it looks like Hillary's going to sweep the field in the early primaries. Nonetheless, we can be sure he's paying close attention.” Abrams thnks despite Obama’s surge of popularity there are only two candidates in the end who can take on Hillary, Edwards and Gore. “Edwards is in decent shape, but is still a little light in the butt. He needs to put on about ten pounds of muscle to be a real heavyweight.” As for Gore, Abrams says, “Al Gore needs to take a good look at himself, without his shirt on, in the mirror.”

The DLC Dog and Pony Show at Opryland

The Democratic Leadership Council's National Conversation will be held July 28-30 at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. Harold Ford Jr., chairman of the DLC, and the rest of the leadership will be in attendance and I suspect that may include, Hillary Clinton, who chairs the DLC’s American Dream Initiative.

Ford is also scheduled as the featured guest of the 3rd annual Gore Family Dinner the night before, on the 27th (tonight) being held at Lowe’s Vanderbilt Plaza. This event is the big annual fund raiser for the Davidson County Democratic Party that normally has Al Gore in attendance. Unfortunately Al and Tipper Gore are not going to be there this year. This may come as a surprise to those attending. The organizers failed to point this out when promoting this event. I suspect it may have affected ticket sales – do you think?

Speaking of Harold Ford Jr., when asked to chair the DLC earlier this year, Harold fawned all over Al From calling the previous DLC work “exemplary”.

Exemplary of what? Twelve years of Democratic Party failure? Twelve years of Republican rule, political corruption, raiding the treasury and corporate excess? Twelve years of seeing our jobs outsourced and immigration laws ignored? Twelve years of rolling over for Republicans? Twelve years of serving corporations rather than the people? Twelve years during which they supported the invasion of another country that didn’t attack us or threaten our safety and then continues to fund this ill-begotten war and all the carnage and damage to our reputation it’s caused?

I recently remarked to a prominent national Democrat that Harold could thank the progressives for paving the way for Harold’s almost successful campaign for the open senate seat here in Tennessee even though many progressive Democrats who supported his campaign did not approve of his positions. He didn’t comment but looked sideways at me in a suspicious manner like – you’re not one of us, are you?

They don’t get it. It was Howard Dean and the progressive Democrats who opposed the war long before it began. It was Howard Dean and the progressive Democrats who raised hell, shook the party by the shoulders and said “wake up!” It was Howard Dean and the progressive Democrats who showed the rest of the Democrats how to run a modern campaign utilizing the internet and grassroots activists; that you can raise campaign funds from average Americans rather than rely on corporate bribery.

That’s what gave Harold Ford Jr. a chance to win here in Tennessee. Not the policies of the DLC.

It’s the corporate-funded DLC; the free trading, Clinton fawning, Republican-Lite centrists, who have caused and allowed the Democratic party to decline in power. You know the ones – those who allowed Bush to steal the elections in 2000 and 2004, those who wouldn’t stand up to Bush and the Republicans on the war and all the other issues, those who keep funding the war, those who are against impeaching Bush and Cheney, and those who didn’t want Dean as DNC Chairman and then criticized Dean’s 50 state plan which is now bearing fruit. Without the progressives and Howard Dean battling Bush and laying the groundwork, Harold’s campaign here in Tennessee wouldn’t have been nearly as successful as it turned out. In fact, he probably wouldn’t even have attempted it.

And even more so, the elections in 2006 wouldn’t have returned control of Congress to the Democrats without Howard Dean and the progressives setting the stage.

Harold said before becoming DLC chairman the DLC should put out a booklet similar to a previous DLC publication, “Putting People First”. What a joke! Everyone knows people come last on the DLC’s agenda. DLC members come first, then their friends, and then the corporations, and then the party, and then finally the people – if at all. “Putting People First is a populist slogan and the DLC is anything but populist.

So, I find it not surprising that Harold is now taking shots at any form of populism by saying, “Right-wing populists claim immigrants are stealing Americans' jobs. Left-wing populists say trade is shipping our jobs overseas. Both look backwards toward an allegedly better past and argue that, by sealing our borders and retreating from global markets, government can recover it. Our country's problem isn't immigration or trade, its uneven prosperity.”

That’s like saying the environmental problem isn’t companies and manufacturers, it’s the toxic chemicals and waste entering our food, water and air.

Of course corporations are all for unrestricted immigration and trade, wide-open borders and wide-open trade, which are not the problem according to Harold. Spread your legs wide America and the corporations will implant you with prosperity while having a great time at it. Harold Ford Jr., the Clintons and the rest of the DLCers are corporatists, free traders and globalists, not national populists, so why are they pretending to put people first?

The DLC and the crowd of sycophants who support them are part of the corrupt system of beltway freeloaders who kiss corporate ass as a means to stay in office and feed off the more and more corrupt system that politics in DC and our government has become. The DLC is so accustomed to being in power, controlling the party and picking the candidates, they don’t like it when someone like Howard Dean, who ran outside the system, shakes their tree. It worries me that Barack Obama, who appears to be a populist, will become just another DLC fraternity member if he hasn’t already.

Harold Ford Jr. and the DLC will meet here tomorrow in Nashville to discuss a renewed commitment to fiscal discipline, reforming the federal tax code to reward work, innovators and long-term investing and expanding international trade while vigorously enforcing trade laws to punish rule breakers. Also the need to rectify long-standing social injustices and ensure that no U.S. worker is left behind in today's competition for the world's best jobs. And how to close America's education achievement gap by attracting better teachers and paying them well. And how college must be more accessible and affordable for all Americans. We used to rank first as the nation with the most citizens with post-secondary degrees and now we rank seventh. They’re also going to discuss how we can guarantee all Americans affordable health insurance and reduce the cost of health care to individuals and businesses, and root out inefficiencies and stamp out the greed in our health system. Those and other issues.

Sure! When have we heard all this BS before?

Most of our elected representatives don’t really care how thinly veiled their motives and agendas are. They know most Americans are fools and are easily manipulated.

The average Venezuelan peasant is likely better informed, understands and participates more in the politics of their nation than most Americans do theirs. Those who control our government know how to dangle bright shiny objects in front of us, distract and entertain us, while they pick our pockets and have their way with us.

There will be staging and rehearsal of the newly scripted DLC dog and pony show at Opryland Hotel this weekend. Look for it to open in your neighborhood soon.

Gary