Some things seem simple to me. Simply put, it is so very wrong that the President perverted history to promote his war and occupation. It is wrong that we, including top Dems, are getting involved in Iraqi politics to the degree of virtual coup d'etat. It is wrong, so very wrong, to blame the victim -- Iraq is a mess because we made it that way. Democrats who join this business about them having to "step up" deserve our scorn. Finally, TPM and MY are right -- this defeatism has to stop. Reminds me of Grant telling his generals to stop worrying about how Lee is going to beat them, and focus on beating Lee. All seriously wrong in different degrees, scream out loud wrong.
We still take the President seriously. Or, rather, enough to be too much. There is a sort of belief in some that the President is sorta like one of those less than savory popes or kings, who we cannot oppose too much since it will defame the office and threaten the system as a whole. In actuality, such support perverts the system more than the alternative. Ah the irony. I felt this way in 2004, but it's ever more true now ... support of this threat to republican values is anti-American as that term should be defined. The President and his ilk spread ignorance, hate, selfish bluster, and all the other dark sides of our being, and the fact some in his party feel unable to really call him on it because the office needs to be salvaged or something is ultimately pathetic. As is those who continually deem such criticism some childish notion of "liking" the President or something. Grow the f. up.
While I'm ranting, some more things that annoy me. First, this typical business about anti-abortion legislators and such only worrying about "children" (fertilized eggs are human "life" to some degree ... if not in the complete sense of the word ... but they are not "children" in my eyes) until they are born. This is bogus. The fact that a majority might be very dubious about many social welfare programs is true enough and worthy of our opposition. But, this does not mean they don't care about them at all. In fact, hard as it is for some to understand, many actually think the government hurts their overall welfare. Again, in various ways, they are wrong to trust the private sector alone to such a large degree. Doesn't mean they do not "care" though. This hyperbole causes problems and generally is wrong.
Second, Thom Hartmann has this "corporations aren't persons" fetish. I use the word advisedly. I actually remember him saying once that corporations are in some senses of the word "persons," such as for tax purposes. When you tax or regulate something, "personhood" might be involved in some contexts. And, this is exactly how corporations became persons in limited sense. For sake of jurisdiction, courts started to treat them as persons of the state where they were incorporated or did business (etc.). They NEVER had the same bunch of rights as you and me. Likewise, they can be regulated, especially when being incorporated, in ways you and I cannot be. You and I cannot be told that we can only do one sort of business. Finally, "property" is protected by the Due Process Clause. Various protections that annoy people would fall under that provision too.
So, there will be limits to how we can attack corporations, but quite a few ways that than can be attacked. And, the "personhood" business is in no way as ridiculous as some think. BTW, I am still not sure if Thom thinks cases like NYT v. Sullivan were illegitimate. A press corporation as a person!!! Likewise, sorry Thom, the press is not the only "business" covered by the Constitution. It might not be nice to view it that way, but religion is a big business in this country too (they get paid, right?). Likewise, associations are secured by the First Amendment too, including lobbyists btw, and they too very often are businesses.
Finally, he wants us to show some tough love to our members of Congress. Do right by us, and we will stick by you. Sorry, I do not think that will work. Some of these people have to go. When a Sen. Levin joins in complimenting the surge and saying leaders of other sovereign nations have to go, some line is being crossed. Changing Congress is a multi-step process. 2006 started the ball rolling. Many Republicans are calling it quits this year. Some Dems need to go too ... the 1995-2007 period left something to be desired.
It seems to be time for a real cleaning out of the stables. Surely, more muck cleaning than we had thus far.