Hey there, Old Dude,

Everything's OK here, just aches and pains of age. 

I haven't been inspired to blog lately, just the same old, same old stuff in the news. My cynicism grows.

My good email address is leelindeman@comcast.net.

Hope you are well.

Leanderthal

What Will It Take to Wake Up American Voters

Here's an essay by Juan Cole of Informed Comment.Com.

He does a fine job  of summarizing how billionaires are calling all the shots. Somehow Americans have to wake up and smell the stink and vote the billionaires' puppet  politicians out of office.

The alternative over time would be "Aux Barricades".

Leanderthal

The War Queue

Here is an eye opening essay by Juan Cole,  publisher of Informed Comment.
It addresses the likelihood that our military/industrial complex has been, for years, demonizing  the leaders of countries which have oil reserves, and in so doing have created what amounts to a War Queue,  according to Cole.

The hawks in Congress, controlled by their military/industrial patrons, have wanted to keep war going, somewhere, all the time.

Call me a conspiracy nut if you like.  I think of myself as someone who is always leery of hidden agendas.

Leanderthal

Gone But Not Forgotten, I Hope

It's been months since I last posted; just couldn't get up for it for a while.  But here's an essay which I hope many will read.  If I sent a link to it via email it might be seen as spam by some.

One of the best reasons for a blog is that it provides a way to offer thoughts to others which they can access by choice as opposed to entering their world without their permission or invitation, which is what email does.

http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175751/tomgram%3A_lewis_lapham%2C_selling_death/#more

Lewis Lapham writes about death with humor, but still with a seriousness of purpose. A rare treat.

Leanderthal

Deaths from War and Deaths from non-war firearms

Here's a great column by Mark Shields which should, but won't, wake up the NRA terrorists to reality.

It needs no further comment by me.

Leanderthal

P.S.

I forgot to provided the link when I clicked Publish the first time.  Sorry.

The Second Amendment and Slave Patrols(Militias)

Here's a piece which should be broadcast all over the country because it brings up a  part  of our history which NRA types don't want  you to know.

Having lived and worked in  Atlanta, GA for many years, as a displaced New Englander, I observed first hand how bigoted many in the South still are.

Had Lyndon  Johnson not stuck his neck out for civil rights I suspect the South  would still be pretty much a segregated area of our country, in actuality, though it's still pretty much a segregated society.

Atlanta is a kind of oasis in the  South.  Go just a couple of miles outside of the metro area and  you will think you're back in  the early 1800's, culturally at least.

Leanderthal

Chuck Hagel For SecDef

Here's a great piece supporting Chuck Hagel's nomination for Secretary of Defense.

My last post was triggered by the hypocrisy of David Brooks who thinks he should be canonized for his gall at teaching journalism ethics at Harvard.

Well this piece doesn't canonize Mark Shields(no human should ever be considered a saint, in fact no clear thinking human should ever want to be considered a saint),
but I do recommend his clear reasoning for why Chuck Hagel should be confirmed as Secretary of Defense.

Ironically, Mark Shields quotes none other than John McCain on the horror and brutality of war.
Only a fraud or a fool would glorify war.

If and when you read this post, and others, and like them I would be most grateful if you would recommend this blog to your friends.  I'm not into converting right wing people, a fool's errand at best. I am into helping folks of a similar persuasion, progressives/liberals, know that they are not alone. 

Thanks for your support,

Leanderthal

I've been absent from blogging for several weeks, not because I wanted to but because I was so bored by suffering the fools of our Congress, that I couldn't get worked up enough to write, share what I think. 

Ironically, I've been reinvigorated by a fool.  Here's a piece by my favorite fool, David Brooks.  Why is he my favorite?  Because he has the gall to
brag that he is going to teach a course on humility at, I think, Harvard, I wonder why his alma mater, Princeton, is not going to host his revelations. 

One of my wisest of online friends suggests that he, of all people, needs to take that course. 

You have to read Brooks' column here to understand fully.

As always, I hope to get reactions.

Leanderthal

Grammar Mistake or Intentional?

Read this piece on Gaza and take notice of the word "occupiers".  Was the use of that word intentional, implying that Gaza is an occupied land, or was it just an inadvertent grammatical mistake, the proper word being "occupants"?

Who knows when the press is known for partisanship?

Leanderthal

James Carroll's Prose Humbles Me

Here is James Carroll on heroes and our immoral wars.

Leanderthal

Noam Chomksy on Israel

Of all those who criticize Israel Noam Chomsky should have the most credibility.

Here's his expose on Likud Israel's Soul Crushing Cruelties perpetrated against Palestinians.

Leanderthal

On Top of Her Game

Sometimes quoting someone else makes it unnecessary to say any more.    Here's Maureen Dowd at her best.

Molly Ivins, Gail Collins and Maureen Dowd have been priceless in their contributions to our  political discourse.

Leanderthal

Rainbows

Here's a cartoon which speaks volumes for the pluralism of American society which voiced it's values last Tuesday.

Give thanks.

Leanderthal

Romney's Alternative to FEMA

Here's a great cartoon which captures the idiocy of the Romney campaign perfectly.

Remind everyone you know to vote Tuesday.

Leanderthal

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid---------------

if Romney becomes president.

In case you still need a reason to keep Romney out of the White House here's the most frightening things he believes which I've come across.

Leanderthal

What's a Picture Worth?

Try this one?

Leanderthal

Strong Leaders

Here's an article in the NYT today about Romney being seen as a strong leader.

There have been many strong leaders is the history of civilization. Some were
evil.   Hitler was a strong leader.

Too often people will believe lies when the leader appears strong.

Leanderthal

This Says It All

Here's a piece from Joe Klein which explains it all, why Obama blew it at the first debate.

It scares me, a lot.  He hates confrontation.  I do too, but there are times ---------------.

Obama is president of the United States.  He has got to be political right now,
call out Romney for the charlatan he is, drive home the point of Romney's disdain
for half of all Americans, be specific with each lie and call him out as a liar trying
to mislead the American public.

Essentially, bullies are cowards, and usually back down when the guy being bullied
stands up and fights back.

I know that Obama has been criticized a lot by his own people.  Lets hope
he stiffens his spin, gets in the game and fights back.

Leanderthal

America"s Imperialism/Militarism DNA

Here is Tom Englelhardt's essay on American Imperialism/Militarism,  describing it as if it is in America's DNA, which is so dominant that it can't help itself.

It should be must reading for all citizens, at least those who vote.

Leanderthal

This Could Be Big

Iran has asked for trouble today with this.

And "this" could be big, if not huge, in world
affairs.

Netanyahu must be thrilled.  Romney must be licking his chops.

How and when will Obama respond?  Soon I hope, and with
straight forward, unequivocal language about Iran's intentions being a
real threat to peace in the Middle East.

This is an escalation on Iran's part.  Up until now they
have maintained that they are working on Uranium for
power generation purposes only.

Curious what you all think about this.
I am no war monger, but this puts Obama
in a tight spot.  Almost seems like Netanyahu
is in cahoots with Iran to embarrass Obama.
It's been  clear that Netanyahu wants Romney
to become president.

Leanderthal