Reading through comments of a blog post (even a progressive one) is at least problematic because the reader doesn't know the qualifications of the one spouting off. Is there a grain of truth or are the words merely a rant? Even so, a few resonated with me.
Jaye noted that Boehner (sitting behind Obama) has spent so much time in the tanning booth he is now darker than Obama.
skeith wrote something I wholeheartedly agree and wish had been done all along:
My dream is to someday hear Mr. POTUS say, "The only reason government is dysfunctional is because Republicans keep stabbing it with poisoned knives. The only reason the Senate can't pass a budget, or most anything else, is because Republicans filibuster everything. Government is what keeps your air and water and food from poisoning you, the only reason it sometimes fails at this is because Republicans cut its throat at every opportunity. Government provides the roads and bridges and schools and police and laws and trade and everything that makes us an orderly society where people don't murder one another on the street. If you hate government so much, move to Somalia, where there is no government to pester you and which is, I'm sure, a capitalist paradise just waiting to welcome you."If Obama won't, maybe Biden can?
It appears, according to the GOP, that the ability to create jobs trumps everything else. want jobs? Let us pollute more. Want jobs? Allow us to destroy your health. Want jobs? Allow us to get rid of worker safety protections. Want jobs? Get rid of unions. Want jobs? Welcome global warming.
Of course, from what we see above, the GOP does not want to create jobs. They want to get rid of every last shred of regulation that just might possibly cut into their profits. And their means to get there -- "There's too much regulation!" -- won't change the jobs picture at all.
After a night of pondering what I wrote yesterday I'm going to toss out a few predictions. I won't claim enough accuracy for you to plan anything concrete. Laugh at them if they amuse you. We'll see how these predictions play out. Yes, I'm feeling gloomy about the future.
* A good chunk of the independent voters and perhaps a chunk of progressives will see the GOP is against them, but the Dems are not for them. They will see both parties as corrupt. They won't bother to vote in 2012. The more conservative the voter, the more likely he/she is to vote. I most certainly will vote and trust you, dear reader, will do so as well.
* If Obama manages to keep his job the big money interests (at least oil, pharma, health insurance) will begin to spend a lot more money on Dem candidates who will do their bidding. These deep pockets are already spending on Dems, which is why they are a bunch of wimps.
* If the corporate interests don't accomplish a takeover in 2012, their increased spending will accomplish it in 2014. Wholesale dismantling of government will commence.
* Without USA leadership (and perhaps at this late stage, even with), global warming will cause severe environmental damage.
* The GOP controlled legislature in North Carolina plans to vote on a marriage protection amendment perhaps as early as Monday. NC is the only southern state without one. The backers are, of course, the Fundies. Various NC businesses are making a big fuss saying they do not want such an amendment because it is bad for business. Polls show that NC voters don't want it either (and don't want to spend 14 months listening to their gay family and friends being called all sorts of nasty things by amendment supporters). The uproar is loud enough that the GOP is attempting to hide their actions. An amendment requires 3/4 approval, so at least a handful of Dems need to agree to it. All of that is a long way of saying I can't predict whether a corporate takeover comes with a Fundie takeover and whether gays will be demonized in the new order. That may depend on whether it is Prez. Rick Perry.
* The Fundies will actively encourage the corporate takeover (certainly planning on a seat at the table). In the eyes of the general public this will discredit at least Fundie Christians, and perhaps all of Christianity.
* If Christianity survives it will focus on the love of God, not on the retribution of God, and the survivors of the mess may actually build a community that works. I'm not alone in this view. I've written about the book The Great Disruption by Paul Gilding. John Shelby Spong has several books exploring an entirely different way of practicing Christianity.
Vancouver? It just might be under water. As might Melbourne.
Back to that proposed amendment in NC. NAACP of NC has issued a letter condemning the amendment (but are white good ole boys going to listen to a black organization?) and outlining why it is a bad idea. Alas, while it is a spirited explanation of why the amendment should not be approved it is not a ringing endorsement of gay marriage. The NAACP does have to contend with homophobia in black churches.
As was the case in Michigan in 2004 the amendment isn't so much who marries whom, but who is drawn out to vote for whom. And because this will affect the outcome of a presidential election there is lots of money involved in pressuring legislators to get it on the ballot.
While the GOP has trotted out some religious leaders to support the amendment there is a strong showing of religious leaders who oppose it. Equality NC has released a list of 242 clergy and faith leaders along with an additional 56 church members who oppose the amendment. I've scanned the list and found clergy from United Methodist, Episcopal, Unity Fellowship, Presbyterian, AME Zion, United Church of Christ, Unitarian Universalist, Quaker, Baptist (!), Metropolitan Community, and Congregational churches (plus a few more I'm not familiar with). There were also representatives from Jewish synagogues and a Buddhist temple.
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