Comments on: The Silver-Lining of the Bush Years http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/ a radical newsletter in the struggle for peace and social justice Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:35:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Mike McNiven http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-17047 Mike McNiven Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:45:26 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-17047 Thank you Mr.Frank! What you are pointing us to is what the scientific Left was calling the "thesis/anti-thesis" relationship. Yes, you are correct, we should value the significance of the end result of such a relationship! Thank you Mr.Frank! What you are pointing us to is what the scientific Left was calling the “thesis/anti-thesis” relationship. Yes, you are correct, we should value the significance of the end result of such a relationship!

]]> By: zhann http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-17027 zhann Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:04:26 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-17027 Although the comments are almost as entertaining as the original article, I am almost ashamed to say that Josh has managed to make me think of Bush and Smile at the same time ... no small feat, I should add. I have always been labled an optimist and can find a silver lining in the darkest of clouds, but I couldn't come up with anything quite so entertaining. Josh, thanks. Although the comments are almost as entertaining as the original article, I am almost ashamed to say that Josh has managed to make me think of Bush and Smile at the same time … no small feat, I should add. I have always been labled an optimist and can find a silver lining in the darkest of clouds, but I couldn’t come up with anything quite so entertaining. Josh, thanks.

]]> By: Lloyd Rowsey http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16981 Lloyd Rowsey Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:06:01 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16981 Thanx for the Reality Check, Hawkins. JF wrote above: "Many are yapping away about the fate of the environment." What an apparent counter to JF's characterization of Greenies as "yapping"! Whether it's indicative of a more pressing matter than ending the Iraq War, for example, or than the left getting less disunited by occasionally thinking positive, are other questions. <a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/03/25/1389355-western-antarctic-ice-chunk-collapses" rel="nofollow">Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:00 PM EDT</a> WASHINGTON — A chunk of Antarctic ice about seven times the size of Manhattan suddenly collapsed, putting an even greater portion of glacial ice at risk, scientists said Tuesday. Satellite images show the runaway disintegration of a 160-square-mile chunk in western Antarctica, which started Feb. 28. It was the edge of the Wilkins ice shelf and has been there for hundreds, maybe 1,500 years. Thanx for the Reality Check, Hawkins. JF wrote above: “Many are yapping away about the fate of the environment.” What an apparent counter to JF’s characterization of Greenies as “yapping”! Whether it’s indicative of a more pressing matter than ending the Iraq War, for example, or than the left getting less disunited by occasionally thinking positive, are other questions.

Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:00 PM EDT

WASHINGTON — A chunk of Antarctic ice about seven times the size of Manhattan suddenly collapsed, putting an even greater portion of glacial ice at risk, scientists said Tuesday.

Satellite images show the runaway disintegration of a 160-square-mile chunk in western Antarctica, which started Feb. 28. It was the edge of the Wilkins ice shelf and has been there for hundreds, maybe 1,500 years.

]]> By: Lloyd Rowsey http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16979 Lloyd Rowsey Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:43:06 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16979 *It's that the waning support for the American Left after the middle 70's was explicable to the Lights of the Left mainly as a very human response on the part of the public to repression and infiltration they witnessed "the Left" being subjected to -- forget about whether the American public was ready for socialism or anything to the left of right field. And as the colossal nature of that misjudgement -- their blindness regarding the unreadiness of the American public for the social programs of the Left -- increasingly proved out over time subsequently, it hit the Lights of the Left where they needed to be most confident, in their analyses of the attitudes of American workers and the American public. And now, with all the positive indicators JF speaks of regarding even middle Americans, the Left continues to manifest crises of confidence. *It’s that the waning support for the American Left after the middle 70’s was explicable to the Lights of the Left mainly as a very human response on the part of the public to repression and infiltration they witnessed “the Left” being subjected to — forget about whether the American public was ready for socialism or anything to the left of right field. And as the colossal nature of that misjudgement — their blindness regarding the unreadiness of the American public for the social programs of the Left — increasingly proved out over time subsequently, it hit the Lights of the Left where they needed to be most confident, in their analyses of the attitudes of American workers and the American public. And now, with all the positive indicators JF speaks of regarding even middle Americans, the Left continues to manifest crises of confidence.

]]> By: Don Hawkins http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16978 Don Hawkins Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:33:04 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16978 Yes it is HP. Change is coming we have no choice in the matter. Yes it is HP. Change is coming we have no choice in the matter.

]]> By: hp http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16977 hp Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:27:29 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16977 Deadbeat, you're welcome. Always glad to help if I can. Nice to see someone has a sense of humor. After all, isn't that a big part of being positive? Deadbeat, you’re welcome. Always glad to help if I can. Nice to see someone has a sense of humor. After all, isn’t that a big part of being positive?

]]> By: Don Hawkins http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16975 Don Hawkins Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:04:38 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16975 Reality Check: WASHINGTON (March 25) - A chunk of Antarctic ice about seven times the size of Manhattan suddenly collapsed, putting an even greater portion of glacial ice at risk, scientists said Tuesday. Satellite images show the runaway disintegration of a 160-square-mile chunk in western Antarctica, which started Feb. 28. It was the edge of the Wilkins ice shelf and has been there for hundreds, maybe 1,500 years. This is the result of global warming, said British Antarctic Survey scientist David Vaughan. Vaughan had predicted the Wilkins shelf would collapse about 15 years from now. Scientists said they are not concerned about a rise in sea level from the latest event, but say it's a sign of worsening global warming. Such occurrences are "more indicative of a tipping point or trigger in the climate system," said Sarah Das, a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Yes this happened today. Reality Check:
WASHINGTON (March 25) - A chunk of Antarctic ice about seven times the size of Manhattan suddenly collapsed, putting an even greater portion of glacial ice at risk, scientists said Tuesday.
Satellite images show the runaway disintegration of a 160-square-mile chunk in western Antarctica, which started Feb. 28. It was the edge of the Wilkins ice shelf and has been there for hundreds, maybe 1,500 years.

This is the result of global warming, said British Antarctic Survey scientist David Vaughan.
Vaughan had predicted the Wilkins shelf would collapse about 15 years from now.

Scientists said they are not concerned about a rise in sea level from the latest event, but say it’s a sign of worsening global warming.

Such occurrences are “more indicative of a tipping point or trigger in the climate system,” said Sarah Das, a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.
Yes this happened today.

]]> By: corylus http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16972 corylus Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:58:21 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16972 Josh! Did you get into my Prozac again?!! Josh! Did you get into my Prozac again?!!

]]> By: Deadbeat http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16971 Deadbeat Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:46:31 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16971 hp, Thanks for the laugh. It made me feel real good. Your remarks were most inspiring. hp,

Thanks for the laugh. It made me feel real good. Your remarks were most inspiring.

]]> By: Lloyd Rowsey http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16970 Lloyd Rowsey Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:35:17 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16970 I have a probably little-shared take on the left's long-term ailment. It's that the disappearance of the American Left after the middle 70's was acceptable to the Lights of the Left mainly as a very human response to repression and infiltration -- forget about whether the American public was ready for socialism or anything to the left of right field. And as the colossal nature of that misjudgement -- regarding the broader left itself, not regarding the Black Panthers and Weatherpeople and other militant leftists -- increasingly proved out over time subsequently, it became ever harder for the Lights to abandon it. Until now, with all the positive indicators JF speaks of regarding EVEN MIDDLE Americans, the left continues to manifest it's now-perpetual crisis of confidence. I have a probably little-shared take on the left’s long-term ailment. It’s that the disappearance of the American Left after the middle 70’s was acceptable to the Lights of the Left mainly as a very human response to repression and infiltration — forget about whether the American public was ready for socialism or anything to the left of right field. And as the colossal nature of that misjudgement — regarding the broader left itself, not regarding the Black Panthers and Weatherpeople and other militant leftists — increasingly proved out over time subsequently, it became ever harder for the Lights to abandon it. Until now, with all the positive indicators JF speaks of regarding EVEN MIDDLE Americans, the left continues to manifest it’s now-perpetual crisis of confidence.

]]> By: Lloyd Rowsey http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16967 Lloyd Rowsey Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:10:10 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16967 Thanx for this article - an instant classic, JF. Better even than your Ron Paul. Thanx for this article - an instant classic, JF. Better even than your Ron Paul.

]]> By: D. R. Munro http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16962 D. R. Munro Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:54:20 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16962 Beach volleyball tournament this weekend! My place! BYOB! Oh, right. . . Beach volleyball tournament this weekend! My place!

BYOB!

Oh, right. . .

]]> By: Jerry D. Rose http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16951 Jerry D. Rose Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:47:49 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16951 Josh, good thinking! I've finally started reading Naomi Klein's Disaster Capitalism and already I'm learning something about social change as related to disaster. Her thesis is that Milton Friedman and his "Chicago school" were ready to take advantage of the "opportunities" for expanding the free market presented by such disasters as Iraq and New Orleans, because they had a blueprint of how to proceed to "shock and awe" responses, having developed them in academia and in neo-liberal think tanks. What this tells me is that dissidents or progressives can also use "disasters" like the Bush presidency as opportunities, as you suggest this very disaster has laid bare the pretenses of neo-liberalism and imperialism. It also tells me that we need much, much more think-tanking preparation for taking advantage of disaster opportunities to promote the changes we seek toward a humane society. There was a post-Katrina moment in which it was being said that the disaster and the governmental non-response that followed it laid bare the results of the neo-conservative "starve the beast" approach to public services when Katrina showed what we miss when we have to deal with a disaster and have nothing effective left to do it with. My question is why this moment didn't extend in time toward, let's say, a presidential campaign in which a "leading" candidate could advocate for, let's say, a public works program on the scale of the New Deal response to depression disaster. Is it because progressive thought has not been buttressed by an equivalent of a "Chicago school" or an American Enterprise Institute? Bottom line, you can "take advantage" of disaster for your political ends, but you better be ready when disaster happens, and for that you may need a social movement and an institutional structure of planners planning for things before the opportunities arise. Well, gotta go to my step-grand daughter' birthday party! Josh, good thinking! I’ve finally started reading Naomi Klein’s Disaster Capitalism and already I’m learning something about social change as related to disaster. Her thesis is that Milton Friedman and his “Chicago school” were ready to take advantage of the “opportunities” for expanding the free market presented by such disasters as Iraq and New Orleans, because they had a blueprint of how to proceed to “shock and awe” responses, having developed them in academia and in neo-liberal think tanks. What this tells me is that dissidents or progressives can also use “disasters” like the Bush presidency as opportunities, as you suggest this very disaster has laid bare the pretenses of neo-liberalism and imperialism. It also tells me that we need much, much more think-tanking preparation for taking advantage of disaster opportunities to promote the changes we seek toward a humane society. There was a post-Katrina moment in which it was being said that the disaster and the governmental non-response that followed it laid bare the results of the neo-conservative “starve the beast” approach to public services when Katrina showed what we miss when we have to deal with a disaster and have nothing effective left to do it with. My question is why this moment didn’t extend in time toward, let’s say, a presidential campaign in which a “leading” candidate could advocate for, let’s say, a public works program on the scale of the New Deal response to depression disaster. Is it because progressive thought has not been buttressed by an equivalent of a “Chicago school” or an American Enterprise Institute? Bottom line, you can “take advantage” of disaster for your political ends, but you better be ready when disaster happens, and for that you may need a social movement and an institutional structure of planners planning for things before the opportunities arise.
Well, gotta go to my step-grand daughter’ birthday party!

]]> By: sk http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16950 sk Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:38:11 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16950 FYI, an interesting <a href="http://www.counterpunch.org/kolko03122004.html" rel="nofollow">article</a> published four years ago on <i>The Coming Elections and the Future of American Global Power</i>. FYI, an interesting article published four years ago on The Coming Elections and the Future of American Global Power.

]]> By: Don Hawkins http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16934 Don Hawkins Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:57:45 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16934 Hello Jim, http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/2008/TargetCO2_20080317.pdf Jim here is my question this report by James Hansen and 8 other people. Maybe you have already read this but I just did and is not this James Hansen person the man that our President didn't want to talk about climate change because I guess he doesn't know what he is talking about. Now I watch Fox News and have seen many people who think this climate change thing is a hoax like Fred Singer I think that is his name and James Inhofe seems like a likable fellow and I listen to Rush Limbaugh and he tells me it's a big bunch of nothing. It's hard to watch Fox News sometimes as if they have more than one person on they seem to try and cut one another off. Anyway my question is that I have a good deal on a house, the outer banks and I see this James Hansen person talks of sea level rise. What do you think should I buy it? Oh I almost forgot This just came out a few hours ago now I see why the President doesn't like him, James Hansen. http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/20080324_Rampant.pdf Don I sent this to the Weather Channel last night and Fox News Hannity and Colmes. Joshua you are right you have to beat them with there own game. Hello Jim,
http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/2008/TargetCO2_20080317.pdf

Jim here is my question this report by James Hansen and 8 other people. Maybe you have already read this but I just did and is not this James Hansen person the man that our President didn’t want to talk about climate change because I guess he doesn’t know what he is talking about. Now I watch Fox News and have seen many people who think this climate change thing is a hoax like Fred Singer I think that is his name and James Inhofe seems like a likable fellow and I listen to Rush Limbaugh and he tells me it’s a big bunch of nothing. It’s hard to watch Fox News sometimes as if they have more than one person on they seem to try and cut one another off. Anyway my question is that I have a good deal on a house, the outer banks and I see this James Hansen person talks of sea level rise. What do you think should I buy it? Oh I almost forgot This just came out a few hours ago now I see why the President doesn’t like him, James Hansen.
http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/20080324_Rampant.pdf

Don

I sent this to the Weather Channel last night and Fox News Hannity and Colmes. Joshua you are right you have to beat them with there own game.

]]> By: joed http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16933 joed Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:38:28 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16933 "Real change is painful and takes sacrifice, and the only people willing to sacrifice are those who already have." Quote from; Why So Blue?, by Sheila Velazquez / March 10th, 2008 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/why-so-blue this quote may be out of context here but it sure seems to apply. Mr. Frank, it is looking more and more like the people are going to have to take matter into their own hands if there is to be any sort of meaningful change in this god damned shitty country. so, you better just run along and play while the deal goes down. the system is all the way broken and if you think obama hillary mccain will fix it then you are as out of touch as your article suggests. kick-back my ass, get out in the fucking streets and shut this fucking country down. arrest the murderous thugs. now, unfortunately the people ain't gonna' do nuthin'. so you are probably correct in your advice to be a part-time warrior. fuck don't even be a warrior be a killer-clown. “Real change is painful and takes sacrifice, and the only people willing to sacrifice are those who already have.”
Quote from; Why So Blue?, by Sheila Velazquez / March 10th, 2008
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/why-so-blue
this quote may be out of context here but it sure seems to apply.
Mr. Frank, it is looking more and more like the people are going to have to take matter into their own hands if there is to be any sort of meaningful change in this god damned shitty country. so, you better just run along and play while the deal goes down.
the system is all the way broken and if you think obama hillary mccain will fix it then you are as out of touch as your article suggests.
kick-back my ass, get out in the fucking streets and shut this fucking country down. arrest the murderous thugs.
now, unfortunately the people ain’t gonna’ do nuthin’. so you are probably correct in your advice to be a part-time warrior. fuck don’t even be a warrior be a killer-clown.

]]> By: bakersfieldbubble http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16930 bakersfieldbubble Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:48:44 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16930 Thanks! We have much to be thankful for in this country. This reminds me to put down the sword (keyboard) and go outside and play catch with my child. Thanks!

We have much to be thankful for in this country. This reminds me to put down the sword (keyboard) and go outside and play catch with my child.

]]> By: hp http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16925 hp Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:46:26 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/03/the-silver-lining-of-the-bush-years/#comment-16925 Heck yes, think of the positives.. Even I can come up with two or three. A great opportunity to learn new languages like Russian, Chinese and Hindi. It'll be fun learning about new currency. Like the Euro, yuan, yen and ruble. Better fitness from all that bicycle riding, walking wood chopping and hauling water we'll be doing. Sleeping out under the stars, bathing in the river, skinning rabbits, the good old fashioned out house. You know, the ones with the cute crescent moon and stars carved into the door. We'll be so busy we won't have time to hardly yap away about nuttin. See, I'm learnin already. Heck yes, think of the positives..
Even I can come up with two or three.
A great opportunity to learn new languages like Russian, Chinese and Hindi.
It’ll be fun learning about new currency.
Like the Euro, yuan, yen and ruble.
Better fitness from all that bicycle riding, walking wood chopping and hauling water we’ll be doing.
Sleeping out under the stars, bathing in the river, skinning rabbits, the good old fashioned out house. You know, the ones with the cute crescent moon and stars carved into the door.
We’ll be so busy we won’t have time to hardly yap away about nuttin.
See, I’m learnin already.

]]>