Blogcritics Comments on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Comment by The Fifth Dentist on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 08:47:42 EST

Let 'em muck it up. It's their turn.

Comment by steve on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 18:06:06 EST

This election indefinitely proves to the United States that change will soon come about. My main concern lies with the fact that democrats used a smear campaign to gain seats. Like in 2004; the democrats danced around the issues and attacked republican incumbents. Hopefully they will have adequate leadership.

Comment by STM on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 00:25:02 EST

"...as long as, like Clinton, we don't inhale... " On Clinton (whose policies I admired, as a non-American, except for the one that said he didn't have to keep his knob in his pants and that it was OK to lie to the world about it). I can't remember who said it - it might even have been one of my mates in the pub - but it was a classic line: "Good job he wasn't experimenting with coke or he'd still be sitting there looking at the line."

Comment by Clavos on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 23:59:45 EST

...as long as, like Clinton, we don't inhale...

Comment by Martin Lav on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 17:44:53 EST

He's a dry drunk. Happy one minute, full of visions of grandiosity the next. Don't worry, his Daddy is taking charge now and hopefully his money will insist he get "religion" through 12-step program and then we all can "exhale".

Comment by Bliffle on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 15:25:42 EST

Perhaps someone, inspired by this patronizing article warning Ds to behave well, should write a corresponding article warning the Rs to behave well now that they've been dope-slapped by the electorate. For what do I find but another saber-rattling proclamation (AP release) from the provoker-in-chief: "President Bush, responding to concerns Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert brought to the White House, called on Monday for worldwide isolation of Iran until it "gives up its nuclear ambitions." The risk to the world extends beyond Israel and the Middle East, ... The fear is that with American public opinion turning against the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Bush, a Republican, would be less likely to take decisive military or diplomatic action against Iran. " What arrogance! Apparently Bush has thrown aside the soothing bipartisan humbleness he displayed to the press last wednesday and reverted to the sword swinging warrior threatening his enemies (while STILL refusing to have no-precondition diplomatic contacts with them). What a double-talking betrayer he is!

Comment by John Q. Public on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 10:45:12 EST

It took 12 years for the levels of graft and corruption to solidify in the Republican party. The rise and influence of the K street project coupled with DeLay's pay to play management style, and the ability of the leadership to get all their members to vote in lockstep took time and money to get into place. You have to look at 1996's election to even come close to an analogous situation. As for betting on the Democrats being ousted form the House in 2008, I'll take that bet. Not enough time to get really corrupt, and no where near enough time to be found out about it by the public and press.

Comment by Clavos on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 10:10:47 EST

If I were a betting man, I'd put my money on the Dems fucking up and getting voted out in '08. It's a lead pipe cinch. As so many have said, there's no real difference; they're all politicians. And mostly lawyers, to boot. Power is corrupting...

Comment by Taloran on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Fri, 10 Nov 2006 16:40:09 EST

re comment 65 by guest938 - I could be wrong about many things in my letter. However, if I'm correct that the US electorate actively shitcanned the Republicans as a reaction to their numerous public gaffes, rather than actually being enthused about the Democrats, and the Democrats somehow manage to keep their noses clean and their sticky fingers out of the public till for the next two years, I believe there's a better-than-even chance of the Dems holding on to one or both houses of Congress two years from now. However, if the Dems forget the lesson of this election and screw up as badly in this term as the GOP did in the previous term, and get caught stealing, lying, pandering, buggering, cheating, whoring, etc., or destroy the economy by excessively raising taxes, I think it likely that swing voters will again make a change in temporary allegiance and put the Elephants back in power, since there is no viable third alternative. If I were a betting man, I'd put my money on the Dems fucking up and getting voted out in '08.

Comment by guest938 on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Fri, 10 Nov 2006 16:13:09 EST

I seem to have missed the second half of the letter, where you tell the new employee that if they follow through as promised, they will be kept on and that you will shift your loyalty away from the guy you fired. IOW can they envision a post-probationary period? I mean, life-long republicans will not be able to conceive that dems will be effective, but can the dems expect their support if somehow Pelosi et al pull it off? People tend to forget that a moderate democrat has a better chance of being an effective administrator and legislator than a knee-jerk republican. The former tends to actually listen, the latter tends to go around ineffectively kicking ass.

Comment by Martin Lav on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Fri, 10 Nov 2006 11:56:17 EST

You got me Dave, I didn't read it and I was in a hurry. I will read your latest and will be glad to comment soon and will patiently wait for your point by point defense of the illogical. I imagine it will be 2 years of hell for you to defend your being obviously wrong, most of the time.....

Comment by Dave Nalle on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Fri, 10 Nov 2006 01:37:01 EST

Dave is working on an article which Martin will really, really hate. As for Clavos backing up my prior articles, that seems unnecessary. Every one of the articles Martin quoted from includes multiple links to sources within its text which support the statements which I made in the article. In addition, all of those articles are quite dated. Most of them are about the Iraq situation and come from a period when things were very different than they are now. At the time they were written they were true and accurate given the information which was available. Clearly Martin has a very short memory. I particularly like this last comment Martin quotes: "While we've been distracted by Katrina and Rita, events in Iraq have been moving towards key turning points." Is he suggesting that things didn't turn for the worse in Iraq towards the end of 2005 and in early 2006? Dave

Comment by Martin Lav on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 20:15:08 EST

#60 Bliffle -- now that is hilarious. He's digging away right now......

Comment by Clavos on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 20:13:15 EST

Mr. zing backed me up one time, to you, who trolls around backing Dave up all the time. No comparison really, so nice try. Well, good for you, Martin; you are a gentleman and a scholar.

Comment by Bliffle on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 20:02:02 EST

I think poor Dave, perhaps overstressed by recent events, is devolving towards Survivalism.

Comment by Martin Lav on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 19:59:59 EST

Impossible! Mr. zing backed me up one time, to you, who trolls around backing Dave up all the time. No comparison really, so nice try. By the way....where is Dave?

Comment by Clavos on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 19:53:28 EST

No, Martin, I didn't misunderstand. I meant that comparing his support of you to my support of Dave is an insult to zing.

Comment by Clavos on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 19:50:51 EST

I'm not down on myself, zing. I get away with a lot when I'm thought to be a stooge... Nope, the commenter's list isn't giving me the list of comments either. I tried using both Firefox and IE.

Comment by Martin Lav on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 19:48:58 EST

"Martin, why would you want to go and insult zing like that???" As usual Clavos, mis-understood, I thanked zingzing and truly am appreciative as I'm sure Dave is of you. eh? Anyway, zingzing, you are spot on and NO the top commentors has NOT been working since the look and feel of the site was changed. Like this election I suppose, no pain, no gain.

Comment by zingzing on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 19:42:58 EST

nono, clavos. first, don't get so down on yourself. i like the stooges. second, the list i am referring to is the one where it has the top commentors, and then you can click on their name and it tells you which threads they have commented on. it just goes to a blank page... that says "done" at the bottom. does it work for you? i can see how many comments they are responsible for, but not WHAT comments they have made.

Comment by Clavos on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 19:40:55 EST

no stooge. Unlike Clavos.

Comment by Clavos on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 19:38:54 EST

the commentors list doesn't work The commenters list is available on the "home" page, zing.

Comment by Clavos on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 19:36:37 EST

Everyone needs a Clavos.... Martin, why would you want to go and insult zing like that??? He was trying to help you.

Comment by zingzing on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 19:35:35 EST

hrm. first, that was supposed to be "i like havING enemies..." and i wonder if clavos speaks with sarcasm... whichever, i'm glad we got this thing sorted. now clavos, don't go trying to back up dave's claims... but don't say he backs up his claims when he quite clearly can't. dave isn't all bad. quite reasonable most of the time. no stooge. but he also gets quite whacked out about the environment, the economy, socialism and his rosey-eyed view of iraq.

Comment by zingzing on An Open Letter to Newly Elected Democrats

Thu, 9 Nov 2006 19:32:50 EST

yep. i dunno if clavos is an older commentor who used to go under a different name, but i think he's been quickly hardened by this place... he was pretty moderate to begin with, but has become more strictly opinionated recently... i like have enemies on this site. sometimes it's dave. but my favorite targets are definitely mr. richard "fucking racist" brodie, arch conservative, and the lovely justoneman. i used to search them out, but now that the commentors list doesn't work my job is more difficult. fix the damn thing!