it can't go on like this, we've reached the crisis level

[mopaul]

what's holding it all together? the whole system is teetering, like a giant beast with long, skinny legs. can we say that the foundation of america is cracked and collapsing into total chaos? or did i just utter a foolish thought? i keep asking myself, why hasn't the white house been burned down by angry mobs? why hasn't rage erupted into the streets? why has no one given any real opposition to these monsters and madmen squatting in the people's white house?

things really cannot continue along like this much longer, it's amazing that the union is still holding.

and when you remind me that i should take a deep breath and look on the sunny side of life, realize that you too have convinced yourself that everything will heal itself, and all will be made good again after the next election cycle. if there is one.

i sometimes envy those among our citizenry who are blissfully unaware of the grave situation here, and worldwide. people who have no interest whatsoever in politics or voting or civics or anything other than the pursuit of ignorance and comfort. how sweet it must be to have an uncluttered, unworried mind.

but no kidding, it really can't go on like this much longer. i'm gloomy wondering about what bushco has in store for us between now and election day 04'. whatever it is, it ain't gonna be pretty. and i'm sure that whatever it is, it will involve a lot of people becoming dead.

[Yavin4]

1. Don't Underestimate The Power of Cheap Debt

As long as people can buy whatever they want regardless whether they can afford it or not, then the masses won't revolt. It's possible in America to live like a rich person on a working class person's salary. You can work at Walmart as a manager, own a home, own a boat, take expensive vacations, buy expensive clothes, and live large all because of cheap debt.

[democrat in Tallahassee]

2. MoPaul, I am bewildered at how they have gotten away with

this. I just can't believe it; the press has rolled over and the Democrats are mute. Everytime I allow this thought to pass through my head: "What if Clinton had done this?" I have to snuff the thought out or lose my sanity. What the hell is going on?
What is wrong. Is everybody on Prozac, is that the problem?

[King_Crimson]

25. I firmly believe that they saw their opening...

during the re-count in Florida during the last election. When their hired thugs put a stop to the re-count using intimidation and met NO opposition. I feel it could very well happen again if we aren't bound together firmly in each and every state. Their fascistic tendencies to use "muscle" to get their way should be challenged everywhere. If we need to counter them with brute force...so be it!

[demnan]

3. I'm in agreement

it amazes me that so few people seem to care about our country. Yesterday I heard the families of the military involved with Bring Them Home Now and one poor lady was weeping for her son as the others articulately laid out the case against Bush. It was heartbreaking to listen to.

Yet no mention of this on the news. Only C-SPAN carried it. No one cares unless they have someone over there. Reminds me of the 60s. Only those of us with a loved one over there really knew we were at war. Back during WWII everyone was living on ration scripts, I think we should do that again because that way all the people would be forced to sacrifice (and the first thing to be rationed should be oil and gasoline). Instead, we are eating all the good food here and sending the military junk food in trays. I say send them all the meat, fruit and vegetables and let us live on rice. If the blissfull majority were forced to sacrifice, they might wake up.

[wtmusic]

4. Now let's not get alarmist

the nation is being held together by the misplaced assumptions that our President wouldn't lie and that he has the best interests of the nation at heart.

As the general populace realizes this is not true there will be a shift in loyalties and uncertainty, but nothing worse than Pearl Harbor or 9/11--we'll just have another fallen hero, like Nixon. Keep the heat on and enjoy the ride!

[Insider]

5. psyops & 'national security'

with a sprinkle of not-quite-religious mumbo jumbo. the power of psyops is highly underestimated. but call me nuts...

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

6. When the martial law-enabling crisis hits

how long do you think it will take them to find smoking gun-class evidence of Saddam's duplicity?

My guess is, within 48 hours they will have precision documentation of who, how, why, and when it was set up. Of course, then out the window will permanently go all civil liberty, along with the elections.

I feel they will need a 9/11 crisis because of Bev Harris's work in exposing the voting scam. In another year, that little deal will be in big-time crisis, and a large explosion somewhere in the U.S. will be badly needed.

The only unanswered question is, where will it be, and how close to election day? I personally predict an industrial town somewhere close to the Canadian border, to set up the Escape Across The Border Quickly scenario. It will take place about three weeks before the date of the election, to give them acting space for their passion play.

JMHO

[Andy_Stephenson]

10. I have long said....

Seattle, Chicago and Las Vegas are targets. But what do I know.

[nannygoat]

11. Is Nevada a blue state?

I think the third might be California....

[Andy_Stephenson]

23. Las Vegas is surprisingly

Democrat. In a sea of pukes.

[Droopy]

7. What, specifically, are you referring to?

I agree that the Iraq situation is a mess and something different must be done. But I don't think it warrants riots. We're in a recession, those happen occasionaly and it's clear Bush doesn't know what to do to help bring us out of it. The stock market is stagnant and unemployment is creeping up, but things have been worse. I think unemployment was much higher under Reagan and Bush I and we came out of it okay during the Clinton years. If you are referring to LIHOP or MIHOP, I'm not going there.

[hang a left]

26. that is just fine

live in your denial that we are just an election away from complete repair. I have been reading and reading and the reality is that this planet is in serious trouble. We live amongst the whores of babylon, and if we even see another presidential election, it will be because the beast has been discovered and stopped.

I have never been religious, although have always believed in God, I chose to disregard all of the hellfire and brimstone that organised religion endorsed. I found it necessary to find a loving God so that I could live my life, free from my own personal deamons.

I know now that it is not just Republicans and it is not just Democrats causing the destruction of life as we all know it. I also know that it is coming faster and sooner than any of us could even imagine.

There are dark forces at work here, they are politicians, pharmacuetical companies, multinational corporations, power brokers, and the richest people on this earth, all leading us to the same place.

Al Gore said what we have witnessed here is a form of "looting." They have sucked all the money out of our country. The stock market is over-valued by at least half. All the people who are going to ride out this storm have stolen all America's money. It's gone, what is left is mostly figment, covering up the true economic reality, holding on till the end when they allow it to crash.

It is frightening, I lose sleep, I worry about my children, family and the planet. Get down on your knees and pray.

[LibDemAlways]

8. Public apathy and ignorance plus media lies

have landed us where we are today. In the bizarro world of tv news Lieberman is the Dem favorite, Bush is a popular war hero beloved by all true Americans, U.S. troops are really loved by the Iraqis - except for a pesky few that keep killing them, the economy is on the mend, Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to "rescue" California from that terrible Dem governor who single-handidly ran it into the ground (and by the way the White House is staying out of the recall effort), electronic voting is good, all terrorists have ties to Saddam Hussein - who is on the verge of being caught and when he is the violence in Iraq will magically stop, going to war "pre-emptively" is a good and necessary thing because it keeps us safer, there are wmd's in Iraq and they will be found - but if they aren't it's ok because Saddam is a bad man who gassed his own people, homosexuals are a terrible threat to the "sanctity" of marriage.....and on and on

This is what the majority of our fellow citizens hear on a daily basis. Most never get any other point of view or any perspective or any unvarnished truth. And they don't want to. Politics is pretty far off the radar of most people struggling to get by - which is fine with Rove. The less people know the better.

I've lost friends or had people distance themselves because I'm not williing to sit there and take it when they mouth repuke bullshit. Try telling the truth and expect to be scoffed at, called "paranoid" or simply icily silenced.

I don't know how bad things will have to get before we see riots in the streets, but they probably won't be covered by the media anyway.

[smirkymonkey]

9. God, I thought maybe I was crazy to think this way

but I totally agree with you on every point. We are approaching critical mass here - something has to give. Watch the dog and pony show and pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

It seems like it is a matter of distracting the populace while a new world order is being installed by the global power elite. The average citizen will be crushed by this eventually, but refuses to think anything but happy thoughts.

I am also amazed that more people haven't gone berserk considering the economic picture and its grim prospects, despite what chimpy says.

It seems so surreal to me that I am just in a daze most of the time when I think about what is going on in the world - and most of the trouble can be linked back to our government.

I thought I was the only one who saw the gravity of the situation - maybe I am paranoid, but I have a really bad feeling that things will get much worse before they get better.

[Minstrel Boy]

12. It can always get worse

And I have absolute confidence in the venality of the Cheney-Bush gang that they'll ensure it does.

[SpiralHawk]

13. Reality: Coming Soon to a neighborhood near you

It's true -- the pres and the nation are still oblivious, for whatever reasons. But it will not last much longer. By October and November of this year, the hard realities (for the nation and especially for its appointed Chief Exec) are going to be so strongly present that they can no longer be denied.

By June of 2004, the die will be cast.

Karma is coming home to the US of A and its feckless, figurehead Exec*

[pretzel4gore]

14. truth is toxic ...

to them lying pigs...
Simple fact is, a contradiction in terms has become accepted as normal in georgebushamerica....a) george bush inc is destroying the very thing 'conservatives' historically got all excited about ie freedom, democracy, prosperity, civil liberty etc b) the 'conservatives' are the people who seem most devoted to bushinc, who are deadliest enemy of those very things 'consevatives' love (???)
If one really hates gbamerica (as I've grown to) then bush is da man!
(obviously, i do not really hate America, or western culture or god or decency or anything like that, but GODDAMMMIT &^%$(#@@!%%%@!!^&&*((&&!!!!!)

[rucky]

15. Living In Uncertain Times...

The important thing is to remember that any feelings of hopelessness & powerlessness are all part of this game that "they" are forcing us all to play. The prize in this game is essentially your soul, so protect it by keeping it strong. Don't measure yourself by the strength or weakness of any outside group. Don't place all your hopes in a leader to save us. DO encourage and participate in mass movement, but keep looking inward, and keep your psyche and your sense of individuality strong and in the forefront of your conciousness - it's the best weapon you have.

Don't be afraid to engage others in (tabou) discussions of politics, religion, or philosophy. Don't do it with expectations of changing their views, but to express yourSELF sincerely and emotionally. Ask questions of them - the more lofty and abstract the better - with no expectations or judgement as to the response. If they strike out at you or walk away, it means they are confronting something they don't want to face. While it's easy to look down upon the masses as "ignorant sheeple," try to understand why many so desperately cling to the powers that be (church/state, etc.) as a replacment for their own critical analysis of right and wrong.

The fears you have chosen to face are buried in everybody's mind, and anybody who brings these thoughts to the forefront have an obligation to themselves and society to face them head-on. It's scary and it sucks, but it's the key to survival, and you are a hero because of it. You also have my respect for voicing insecurities that I think everybody here shares.

[greekspeak]

17. Thank you for your encouraging post

I for one get so upset and drained worrying about this nightmare. I break down and cry or cannot sleep at night. The audacious things the ruling elite is getting with appall me. I think back to 2000 and how frightened I was on election night, and I think about how much worse it is than I imagined it would be. At least I know I can come here and hear an encouraging word.

[MISSDem]

20. Rucky, yours is a very inspiring post

and it makes me feel ready to start all over. I had just about given up trying to talk to anyone about what is going on in our world beyond the "really important things like Kobe Bryant and Lopez/Affleck". I will again try to engage folks in conversation about what really matters even though when you really hit on an important point people like to say "well all politicians are crooks, so..."

[MuseRider]

16. Mopaul

everything in my being tells me to hide my head and ignore all of this because it causes me so much stress and worry. Thanks to everyone here, and you are a big part of it with your well thought out posts, I am unable to do that. It is too important as we all know. Yup, it will be bad but as long as we have the internet and DU we can keep trying to stop it. It does feel very on edge now.

[Karenina]

18. *Bobbing head

LOVE IT!!! :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

Your graphic input keeps me spewing across my keyboard. I find laughter cathartic in these times, it keeps me from hiding under my pillow with my hands placed firmly over my ears.

Breathe in deeply. Stay engaged. :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

Breathe out completely. Stay engaged :mad: :nuke: :mad:

Breathe in :wtf: :freak: :wtf:

Breathe out :argh: :argh: :argh:

Ahhh, such interesting times we live in...

[Clete]

19. Not enough jobs have been lost yet, nor Americans returned

home in body bags. When this happens you will see the riots in the streets you long for. It won't be from us left-wingers because we actually have respect peace and order, but it will be from the very people waving the flags today and claiming their patriotism when they finally realize they have been swindled by their elected gods.

[JCMach1]

21. They give a taxcut and the resulting sales for essentials people

have put off is called a 'Recovery'

Let's wait for the Fall and Winter numbers...

[Wednesdays]

22. If it's any help,

Maybe this will help you feel a little better.

My family is now completely composed of online Democratic Party activists, whereas just a few years ago everyone was apathetic at best, if not outright conservative.

But events since 1998 has completely changed all that. My 75-year-old mother is ready to singlehandedly march on Washington, she's so pissed now. My wife reads Bartcop religiously, and she forwards info she gets there to a very large mailing list. My nephew is publishing a book about the 2000 election theft.

The biggest change occured in my sister, who was very conservative and hated Clinton while he was President. Within the past year, she has shifted from "Independent" to solid Dem, and is now actively recruiting people to join the Democratic Party!

Also, my sister recently spoke with an old family friend, who once was a huge Limbaugh fan. He has recently shifted from Repug to Independent, and he now openly talks about how Bush* is ruining the country!

All the people I know personally, politically have either maintained status quo, or have shifted away from Bush* and conservativism. The only people I know who are * supporters have been the ones who supported him since the beginning.

I know it's not necessarily indicative of the whole country, but it gives me some hope.

[tom_paine]

24. That is hopeful

And you are right, hope is precious in these degenerate days of rising Empire.

[chromotone]

27. "approaching critical mass..."

I agree with this assessment.

I believe the deciding factor/defining moment will be the 2004 Election.

What happens then will determine whether we repair the Union or tear it apart.

[iangb]

28. What '04 Election?

He doesn't have to have an election......and he won't.

[Jacobin]

29. Some network mediawhores are revolting

heheheh. not the noun "revolting" but the verb "revolting"

They seem to be getting fed up with a pResident who can't put two words together in times of crisis, spends all his time fund-raising and speaking to military crowds who can express their disdain for this monkey.

He is starting to have the patina of Poppy...disconnected, unconcerned, incompetent and whiney.

I think its the calm before the storm and that on election night there are going to be some very surprised neo-cons who hadn't expected to have to update their resume's so soon.

[Shakeydave]

30. I just spent the better part of my day..........................

staring at my computer screen at work, lamenting the same facts. I'm reaching the tip of the iceberg here! How do we push it over the edge?

[PurityOfEssence]

31. Who hasn't had his SOMA today????

Better a gramme than a damn...

Say...where does a fella get one a them Prez dispensers?

[Avalon Sparks]

32. I hate it too~

Aside from all the shitty 'damn the people' leglislation and executive orders that Bush* pushes for - what I really hate the most is the way it effects me.

My husband and I are continually worried about losing our jobs in this economy. I'm just so freaking sick of not feeling even remotely secure financially.

We've got all our credit cards paid off and we're socking away any extra money now - and it just really sucks.

We are practically living today like we did during his father's administration - the only difference being, is that time we didn't have a choice.

Additionally I keep seeing my food and insurance bills (health, car and home) go up.

His company already told him today that next April, when raises are due, no one will be getting more than 2%. That won't even meet the cost of living increases I keep experiencing.

Maybe I sound selfish, but where it hits hardest is what stresses me the most.

Then I think about how the majority of Bush's* policies are screwing so many people over, and it just adds to the stress of my own daily worries.

On top of that, I'm kinda bummed because we're saving every dime since we have no confidence in the Bush* economic polices. I have not bought some of the things I want NOW like a new computer, (mine is 6 years old and a pain), prescription sun glasses, (wearing an old pair from early 90's because my latest pair broke), a portable CD player (because mine broke), just things in the past I would have just bought... it sucks because we have the money (we make a little over 70K together), but we're living frugaly.

That's just my rant, and I've been feeling this way since the bonehead took up residence in the WH.

Let the Good Times roll........ fer Christ's sake.