Motley Moose – Archive

2008 was a fascinating and invigorating year for political enthusiasts on the left. There were huge gains in both houses of Congress and a Democrat won the presidency. Politicos on the left were on top of the world.

Then, reality set in.

2009 has brought that fact home only too vividly. Initiatives have been stopped. Others have yet to see the light of day. Some grind on endlessly, like Universal Health Care. The glow of electoral victory has faded. The honeymoon is over. This governing shit is hard.

Each new rumor is trumpeted across the media and the blogosphere. Daily stories of seeming betrayals or secret deals cause either pandemonium or elation amongst the political set. This could be a story from the glory days of Greece and Rome.

Another VersusPlus! I think that is the second in just a couple of weeks. They seem a bit bearish these days.

I need to thank them for helping me post a tube diary.

Wanna know who is against health care reform? Rachel Maddow gives us some insight. Be patient, as the confusion will soon pass.

Don’t those populist movements just set you on fire?

A GOP Senator and fan of Alaskan Blogger Sarah Palin has stated his intention today to stop any reform of health care under any circumstance whatsoever.  Joe Liebermann (R-Sole)was quoted today as saying, “There’s nothing I enjoy more than watching poor people struggling for their last breath, alone and in fear.”

President Barack Obama faced a unique challenge in Oslo this week as he delivered his Nobel Peace Prize speech after ordering the deployment of an additional 30,000 troops into the Afghanistan conflict. Commander in Chief in the midst of two wars, Obama described the war in Afghanistan as “just” and acknowledged the need for military force in the face of violent conflict.

“In a ceremony at Oslo City Hall, Mr. Obama was formally welcomed into the ranks of Nobel laureates

who have won the prize, which was established 108 years ago. He said he accepted the award with

‘deep gratitude and great humility.'”

* All captions quoted from the New York Times, photo credit to Doug Mills.

Ramping up teh krazy once again, Minnesota token lunatic Representative Michele Bachmann (R-MN) has provided us with a slew of asinine creative catchphrases to laugh derisively at adopt for personal use. I think most of us would agree that there’s no one on the national scene quite like Bachmann. Sarah Palin is probably dumber, but that could be said when comparing her to pretty much any nationally known politician. So beating Palin out on brains (if only someone would actually beat their brains out — it wouldn’t take long) is really not much of an accomplishment on Bachmann’s part. But when it comes to pure, unfiltered, unadulterated KRAZY… Bachmann may indeed take the cake.

At a time when many foundations have cut back funding, even to the big prestigious groups and institutions that normally look to them for sustenance, the Union Square Awards were given out last week in NYC, to local grass roots organizations that are doing progressive work in their communities.

These awards are not just a plaque and a pat on the back.  They provide sorely needed funds for small grassroots groups doing important work in the diverse communities that make up the rich cultural melange that is New York City.  

It is too obvious to point out that right wing conservative car alarms are using fear and anger to stoke hatred of government and our elected leaders these days. Is Fox leading this movement or is this a spontaneous response to troubled times in our country? I am fairly certain that Republican Party has little of no control over the tea parties and anti-government sentiment. Some elected Republicans foolishly participate and are often ridiculed for their conflicting and hypocritical deeds and words.

So far I find President Obama to be the politician I expected, and in fact better than I had anticipated. He has faced unimaginable circumstances with seriousness, thoughtfulness, infinite calm and tremendous determination. He has actually been able to accomplish quite a bit in spite of the catastrophic environment he inherited.

I am a lifelong member of the Democratic Party of the United States of America. I have always voted for Democratic candidates and have participated in local and state politics in North Dakota throughout the 1980’s. In spite of my loyalty, I have experienced too many years of absolute frustration toward my party. Many of them over the past few months;~J  

More news emerged on Blackwater (currently known as Xe Services) yesterday as new information was revealed regarding their participation in secret raids coordinated by the CIA and carried out against suspected insurgents in Afghanistan and Iraq. These revelations have increased the already stringent criticism being directed toward both Blackwater and the CIA and the depth of their relationship. Iraqis have claimed that the behavior of Blackwater security guards has been reckless, and the company lost its contract with the State Department this year in response to a shooting in 2007 that resulted in the deaths of 17 Iraqi civilians.