Someone just kill me now. If America doesn't get it by now, we never will

[Donailin]

Just read this. .

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-1765481,00.html

September 05, 2005

Bush tries to regain lost ground as political blame game begins
From Tim Reid in Washington

PRESIDENT BUSH sought to regain the initiative yesterday, as a blame game erupted between Washington and state officials over the response to the disaster.
As senior Republicans said that the fallout could undermine Mr Bush’s second-term agenda, the President scrapped all his plans for September. . . .

Mr Bush, facing the lowest poll ratings of his presidency, again conceded during his weekly radio address on Saturday — for the first time televised live from the Rose Garden — that the response had been “unacceptable”.

But in doing so, he sought to shift the blame to state and local officials. The tactic showed that, despite the overhaul of the nation’s emergency agencies after September 11, the chain of command responding to a large-scale disaster is unclear and mired in bureaucracy. . . .


A Washington Post poll gave Mr Bush some comfort. Despite almost universal criticism of the federal government’s response on Capitol Hill, Americans are evenly split on the Bush Administration’s role, 46 per cent approving, and 47 per cent disapproving.

So there it is. Nothing has changed. What is as plain as the noses on our faces is invisible to his supporters. It blows my mind, and yet it doesn't. Rove has managed to make Bush unhate-able by his supporters by simply making us, the left easily hate-able. This morning my alarm went off to c-span's WJ and two out of three callers were using terms like "personal responsibility" and "should have left when they had the chance" and "the left just wants to politicize a hurricane"

They will never get it. It is impossible. The polls only need to stay evenly divided for them to steal all manner of elections. A six point spread would do it, and Rove knows he can shift those numbers by simply creating a strawman any time he wants.

I proposed that we need to ask only one thing in 06: Are we safer now than four years ago? thinking that it is a slam dunk question. But forget it, it won't matter. The hateful right won't care if they are safe or not, they will only care that they have enough hate for us to cut off their nose to spite their face.

I just want to fucking cry.

[valerief]

1. Maybe other countries will protest in our behalf

And not get shot at or sonic lasered.

[Donailin]

16. OK

this is the second time you've referred to sonic lasers and getting shot at in my threads. What exactly is your deal?

[cbear70]

2. I feel the same

I really feel like giving up.. what is the point if nothing turns America?? Even the media is pissing me off today..spouting talking points... my hope is gone.

[mogster]

3. Somebody ought to look at those pollsters

I don't trust them at all.
I read up on TNS, that did the ABC poll the other day, exonerating Bush totally by claiming that the majority of people wasn't worried about the administration's handling of the situation.
Didn't find anything controversial - it's a British company, with connections to Robert Maxwells old empire. But no controversy so far.

But that it is something there, somewhere, is clear.
I believe controlled polling is one of the key factors in this goverment's ability to keep the pace.

On the other hand; Bush' overall support is steadily trickling down on the polls in general, so who knows the good polls from the bad polls?

[miss_kitty]

4. You have to know how the poll was worded

They might have asked the questions in such a convoluted way...Also the qualifiers to get one's answers included in the poll might have been quite narrow.

You really can't believe in polls.

And the people who are politicising this event are the ones who should have had their asses down there sharpish and didn't, and are now cooking up bogus 'Talking Points' for the talking head shows, instead of using their mighty brain power to come up with REAL SOLUTIONS for the people in the South.

Just because some shithead says something doesn't make it so. When people become discouraged by bullshit, the bullshitters win.

Fuck them. They are garbage.

[emanymton]

5. Stick To That Which You Believe!!!

It is not message. There have always been those who blame the victim. Do not let this distract you from your position. Half the problem I see is too many people worry about the packaging the message.

Articulate your position clearly and simply, stick to your point and tell the truth. The rest will fall into place.




Bush Lied. People Died. Media Cheered.

[flakey_foont]

6. I think that there are some changes coming

there are clues here and there that the mood of the country is changing, and the Evildoers won't get away with as much of their crap as before....
several outlets of the national media, as well as nearly all of the international media, for instance, has called last Friday's photo op exactly what it was - shameless exploitation for political purposes

I honestly don't believe that at this particular time the country is nearly equally divided.....

stay strong

[dogday]

7. I would not trust any figures from the Post

that paper is so shrub oriented, it is not funny... Don't trust those figures...

[DemocracyInaction]

8. Your Title Said it All----------ALL

and they don't and they won't. They are hateful bigots who have the fucking balls to tell the world we are over in Iraq 'cause we just cry to bring democracy to those people. We have a bunch of red neck, red states who think dead "n---" are funny and these toothless idiots have no idea they are one paycheck away from being poor. This will not change.

[sub.theory]

9. America's Race Problem

The real problem is that America is still a racist country and most white people in this country really don't like black people. If New Orleans were an overwhelmingly white city, I guarantee things would be different. As it is, most Americans can't get too worked up over some dead black people.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

10. Yes, sub.theory you are correct and the events of the past

week prove this without a doubt, at least to me.

I don't recognize my country anymore. I am almost out of hope.

God help us all and I'm a white 51 year old woman.

[emanymton]

12. Don't Agree With Your Assumption.

The national media and national leaders are in a world of their own. They do not reflect my desires nor my opinions. The items of iterest they put forward are not even close to me or mine. The national media and national leaders are racist without a doubt.

So the fact the national media and national leaders show themselves indifferent and callus to the needs of _all_ people does not surprise me. Are you not aware of the outpouring of help by the people?

The national media and national leaders are worthless. Don't get discouraged, the people DO care!




Bush Lied. People Died. Media Cheered.

[moof]

11. It appears you are among the uninformed

"I proposed that we need to ask only one thing in 06"

Better to curse the darkness than open your eyes and see reality ?

Your sorrow is shared and understood.

[Donailin]

15. what do you mean?

Can you elaborate?

I AM informed, more informed than anyone I know. I live outside the beltway, it's hard to not be curious about everything political. So tell me, what reality am I not seeing?

[moof]

27. You lament that people are unaware

yet it appears that you are not aware that America no longer has elections not that America has had an unrigged election in quite some time.

[wildeyed]

13. I am feeling the same way.

The exact same way.

The hurricane has laid some truths bare. We need to have a serious discussion about race and poverty in this country. We need to invest in infrastructure. We need to manage our environment in a sustainable fashion. And if the sheeple can't get it after this hurricane, they can't get it. Period. We are doomed. We can't even blame it on the media. They are actually doing their jobs.

This is the first time since the election that I have seriously considered leaving the country. I talked to my sister yesterday. She lives in Australia. She pays 45% of her income in taxes. But there is no poverty in Australia. No homelessness. Universal health care. Pretty much everyone can go to college if they want to. And contrary to the freepers reports of economic doom, Australia is one of the most productive countries in the world. Plus the weather is really good. I could live in a place like that, you know?

I am so tired of the greed and the hatefulness that characterizes the US these days.

[Donailin]

18. we need so many things that it would be easier to just nuke ourselves and

start over. It's so overwhelming as to be impossible.

If I were in charge though, the first thing I would do is rewrite the laws that govern corporations. Oh wait, there aren't any.

[itzamirakul]

19. But there is racial prejudice against the

aborigines...Australia's blacks

[wildeyed]

23. Yes, that is true.

Australia is far from perfect. But they recognize that the government should be for the benefit of the people, and that the more affluent members of society have a responsibility to the less well-to-do. I am so sick of our culture of greed.

[ngGale]

14. If I had a way....

at this point, I would leave America behind.

*'s policies have been slowly killing the poor and disabled (all colors) since he came into office. If this major FUBAR tragedy doesn't make people see the truth. There is no hope...if you can 'spin' Katrina, you can spin anything. Things in this country are only going to get worse. I hate to be negative, but you can't hide from the truth.

There is a racial overtone, but living in the south I can say this. IMO, the racial view is for the rich people of all colors. They play into race (class), look at Condi - the truth this administration does not want to get out is: This administration kills all people in poverty, we are all dirt under their collective, corporate, feet. IF, all people in poverty combined our resources we could fight back.

Playing the race card is only to divide and conquer the people, keep us from becoming a movement. The success of the Civil Rights movement came from, all people bonding and fighting together. Cindy Sheehan, is becoming a big movement - let's just add another issue to it, poverty.

The middle class is sinking fast too, we are all in the same boat. It's only a matter of time.

Together we stand, divided we fall...:cry:

Jesse Jackson needs to keep the "Rainbow" going - this is where our power is, or all humanity will be lost.:hug: :cry:

Remember: "We shall overcome?" We are all brother's and sisters!
Together, we have them out numbered.:think:

:grouphug:

[meganmonkey]

17. It's just a bump - usually after events like this it's more like 90%

just like 9/11.

This is a temporary bump, and it is terribly low and it is bad news for bush.

Keep your spirits up - we still have a lot of work to do, but this isn't as bad as it may look at first glance.

:patriot:

[Donailin]

20. thanks megan.

You know, I lament on the phone with my good friend almost every day. We have a one hour roundup in the evening. Everyday we can talk for an hour (easily!) of how Bush fucked up that day. Today, I ran out of words. I'm in a state of shock, I think. PTSD or something like that. Haven't been able to fully accomplish one task I set out to do in three damn days. I won't have three days off again until Thanksgiving. It's like Bush drove and wrecked a train in my living room, my kitchen, my computer room, my car -- anywhere in my property that has a tv, radio or computer. And he gets out of the train and walks out of the house and says, "now look what you've done, you've wrecked the train" OR "What train wreck, that's how trains look all the time"
I mean, I'm beginning to believe that this man could commit cold blooded murder with a gun in his own hand and get caught and he would get away with it. This is just beyond obscene, this incompetence.

[meganmonkey]

22. It is a daily struggle

to keep some optimism...every few months there is something that happens and I think 'that's it - that'll put america over the edge!' and it doesn't. So I know what you mean.

But I can't give up hope, and I can't give up trying, for the simple fact that if we all give up, our chances are zero. The only way to change things is to believe we can. It has to start there.

Maybe I only convince myself of that to retain my sanity, but it's better than nothing :)

Peace!

[Donailin]

24. Peace!

:hug:

[meganmonkey]

26. ..

:hug:

[welshTerrier2]

21. much too cheery ...

you want to take a long, hard look at the darkness?

here ya go => http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2060057&mesg_id=2060057

electoral politics is all about image ... it's about battling for that last "2 to 5%" to tip the balance ... it's about not saying anything too dark or alienating EVEN IF IT'S THE TRUTH ...

getting Democrats elected and sticking it to bush and the republicans is critically important but it will not change the cold dark script we are facing until we run on the peril our nation is in and win a mandate from the American people to make the needed changes ...

whether we win or not, "play it safe" politics will lead to the end of the American empire if it already isn't too late ...

[omega minimo]

25. HEY. GETAGRIP. IT'S OUR JOB NOW TO MAKE SURE THEY DO. DU IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Contact the press and your congressional representatives
DEMAND REPRESENTATION
Don't take NO for an answer
Have FAITH that ENOUGH individuals with heart are FINALLY WAKING UP
This IS the wake up call. We have to make sure that it is heard.

If we are outraged and heartbroken at the criminal homocidal negligence perpetrated on New Orleans, WE OWE IT TO THE DEAD AND TO THE SURVIVORS TO QUIT WHINING AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS MOMENT.

Or else you're right. It's all over.

Now get busy or I will really start kicking some BUTT :hi:

:bounce: