You have learned well, grasshopper :D

Michale

Regardless of whether Teachout won or not. Her run and the WFP, however, have significantly shifted the debate.

http://www.thenation.com/article/180314/how-working-families-party-already-changing-electoral-politics

There is much to be cheer and be hopeful about!

*snort* Now I'm gonna definitely have to check him out :)

Any comparison to Philip K. Dick is high praise indeed. I may have to check this out, Bashi.

I think that's a legitimate problem in the Dem party -- there really is a divide between the -- I'll say "white collar" and "blue collar"

Hmm. Interesting, Paula. This could just as easily be name recognition, however. A "white collar" audience is going to have the resources to find a better candidate. To reach "blue collar" audiences requires money because they may not be as engaged. Idunno. Hard to tell.

-David

It's also an unfair comparison because Progressives are sane.

Yea, the crazy ones ALWAYS thinks that they are sane.. :D

Paula,

I think it's very important to always note that the Tea Party has power because it supports 1% interests. Progressives threaten 1% interests so all sorts of power brokers line up to marginalize them.

Progressives CLAIM to be against the 1%... But it's all just lip service..

When the rubber meets the road, Progressives always vote for the 1%'s interests...

Michale

I suspect that he believes the same stuff his father does to a great degree. The old man didn't really care about winning but he does, so he says what he has to. Crushing and destroying are popular with American viewers.

I would like to see him challenge Clinton from the left by promising to pardon non-violent drug offenders. It would have to be a clear promise with no wiggle room, but I would consider voting for him if he did. Somebody has to end The War On Poor People. On the other hand, the GOP would probably nominate Willard if he did.

I went back and answered comments for all of last week's columns, so check them out.

:-)

-CW

Today's column (Wednesday) will be a snap reaction to the president's speech. So it will be posted later than normal, just to warn everyone.

-CW

RAW is a pretty wild ride. I suggest starting with the Illuminatus trilogy.

My reference was to him choosing amusing names for characters (example: "Justin Case").

His perspective is to believe all conspiracy theories simultaneously. Also, a fresh new religion "Discordianism." Like I said, a pretty wild ride!

BashiBazouk -

Nice comparison to PKD. Very apt.

Oh, and might I add: Hail Eris!

:-)

Paula -

Thanks for the link, I will check it out. I personally think the money disparity made the demographic problem worse -- TV ads reach a lot of people, but they're expensive in NY.

Pastafarian Dan -

Heh. Well, I wanted to be nice...

:-)

John From Censornati -

As far as I can tell, Rand Paul has taken pretty much every position possible on Iraq. It's hard to know which (if any) he really believes, at this point.

-CW

Now since Bill's season premier is this Friday, I don't know that I really believe him. I think he just wanted a headline (or maybe he has ulterior motives - see my last comment). Rant has joined the Crush and Destroy the Evildoers bandwagon, so I'm not really sure how he qualifies as less warlike. Is he propsing some kind of un-warlike crushing and destroying that I missed?

"Pardon them all, let them go, because they haven’t committed a violent crime. Can you imagine now with the understanding of the pros and cons of marijuana how many people are still in prison over this!”

I wonder if Rant Paul (R) would follows Dad's advice if he were president. We need to know the answer to that question, but I won't hold my breath while I wait for somebody to ask him. There are more important things to ask him about like Benghazi™.

I think it's very important to always note that the Tea Party has power because it supports 1% interests. Progressives threaten 1% interests so all sorts of power brokers line up to marginalize them.

A DailyKos diarist wrote that Teachout won big primarily among well educated well-off folks -- http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/09/10/1328535/-NYC-Where-Teachout-won-and-where-she-lost

The diarist basically felt she was unable to or ineffective at reaching out to people that weren't her own personal demographic - white, well-educated liberal.

I think that's a legitimate problem in the Dem party -- there really is a divide between the -- I'll say "white collar" and "blue collar" -- voters in many respects and it's a rare politician that can span the divide. So Teachout had 2 problems: the divide, and lack of money. Overall I think she did well under the circumstances and she may learn and come back stronger next time.

It's been a while since I read anything by him but his most famous work, The Illuminatus! Trilogy which he co-authored is the mix between sci-fi and Illuminati paranoia by someone to makes Phillip K. Dick seem down right normal and main stream in comparison...

She's got it way too easy in the name recognition department. Perhaps that's why Cuomo refused to even say her name.

Or acknowledge her in any sort of way whatsoever at the Labor Day parade.

http://vimeo.com/105433950

The video is worth watching just for the cringeworthiness of Cuomo. From the comments:

"[Cuomo] looks like he was just hit in the head with a pillowcase full of doorknobs. Cuomo is so used to being the bully that he just freezes up when a little girl that isn't scared of his bark starts actually coming at him."

I was lucky enough to get to talk to Zephyr for a few minutes at Netroots this year. She would have made a far better candidate than Cuomo. Kudos to her for running and fighting the good fight!

-David

It's funny...

David complains when large corporations take their jobs oversees...

You want to hurry them along and FORCE them to take their jobs overseas...

Herding cats, indeed... :D

Michale

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/09/09/video-foxs-defense-overruled-bp-to-blame-for-gu/200700

I really do like that woman's name though. I wasn't making fun. I would vote for her.

I have a hard-and-fast rule that I never make fun of people's names, even if they're a politician. I did so once (Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter, I believe), and regretted it almost instantly.

But I do admit that I did indeed think about it for Zephyr Teachout. What I might have written, if I had broken this cardinal rule, would have been: "a name worthy of inclusion in a Robert Anton Wilson novel."

How's that for obscure?

Heh.

-CW

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/08/john-oliver-student-debt_n_5784266.html

I feel sorry for kids today. I went to a state-funded university and I took out a government-subsidized student loan. Otherwise, no degree. I would not be able to do that today. I would never take on the staggering debt that they do. It all seems pretty unsustainable to me.