Gettin' Lewd with the Food

Great post by The Agonist. I've clipped a big chunk of it here, but the entire post is a most worthy read if you want to know the exact non-strategy of the Republicans.

It reflects on what I've stated previous. Democrats need to stop playing a separate game from the ones the Republican's are playing. Dems must play the Republican's game in a far more vicious fashion than the Republicans could ever imagine. When we beat them at their own game then, and only then, can we change the game to something more productive and respectable.

When All They Understand Is Fear or Force | The Agonist:

"Republicans, as Krugman has observed, are a revolutionary power. They do not accept the legitimacy of the bipartisan non-parliamentary form of government that ruled the US for most of the post-war period. They do not accept that all three branches of government are co-equal. They do not believe that everyone has to obey the law. They are in Washington to get what they want, and if they can't get it they will bring the entire machine to a shreeking halt.

The Republicans in general, and the Bush administration in particular really have only strategy - they always, always, give the other side nothing of any significance. They never cooperate, they never admit a lie, they never back down unless forced to do so. They understand only the most primal of motivations - fear and force. If you can't force them to do something; if you can't make them fear the consequences of not doing something, they won't do it."

This is a very powerful strategy. You've probably observed it in your life when you've seen a customer in a store scream until someone gives them what they want (or calls the cops). You've seen it from people in power - from cops who will beat you bloody because they know they can get away with it and know if you fight back, you're screwed. In schools kids will use it with teachers, knowing that the teachers aren't allowed to use force anymore. Just do whatever you want - what's the teacher going to do? In business just lock your employees in the store (Wal-mart) or just dock wages whether it's legal or not. What are they going to do?
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The strategy breaks down the same way playing a game of chicken does. It breaks down when someone else is crazier or tougher than you are.

This is how you deal with bullies and thugs - you break them. There is no other way - you can't "reason" with them. They are not 9 year olds who need a "time out" or whom you can sit down with and say "that's not nice". They are adults who respond only to force and to fear - who obey only when broken.

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In the words of the Untouchables - if they bring a knife, you bring a gun; if they put one of yours in the hospital, you put one of theirs in the morgue. When people understand only force, you must respond with maximum force. Anything else is taken as weakness and they will walk all over you.

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Sick cults of personality should only exist in Hollywood... never D.C. Yet......

Glenn Greenwald - Salon:

"As George Bush has become more and more isolated, and as his presidency has collapsed around him, he has increasingly arranged White House events where like-minded admirers come and gather around him and genuflect to his greatness. As The Washington Post's Peter Baker recently reported, these events are attended exclusively by small groups of right-wing pundits, 'journalists' and neoconservative theorists and activists who sit around the President and both soak in and bolster the Rightness of his choices."

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The worst of the worst... A Democrat acting like a Republican.

Progressives have two mountains to climb. One is ensuring that we defeat Republicans at the polls with solid, progressive candidates and two is ensuring that we defeat incumbent, fake Democrats who are no better than the Republicans.

We have two houses to clean.

The Blotter: Critics Slam Intel Chair's Secrecy Over Bribery Report:

"A senior lawmaker is facing tough criticism for burying a report on criminal behavior on his committee.

Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Tex., chairman of the House intelligence committee, did not respond today to questions from the Blotter on ABCNews.com about why he refuses to release a report on the abuses of power by former committee member Randy 'Duke' Cunningham.

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Bush has done an outstanding job in Afghanistan.... if your Pete Doherty.

U.S.: Afghanistan to break opium record:

"KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghanistan's heroin-producing poppy crop set another record this season, despite intensified eradication efforts, the American ambassador said Tuesday.

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HWJMHB. How Would Jesus Market His Brand.

Jesus.

Of course, it's Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart To Test Bible Action Figures In 425 Stores:

"Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) said Tuesday it will test sales in some stores of biblical action figures whose makers say they are aimed at Christian parents who prefer their children play with Samson, David or Noah rather than with a comic book character or Bratz doll."

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Bloggers who make money blogging... Or, people I'd like to be.

Bloggers Bring in the Big Bucks:

"Part of it has to do with the nature of the medium: Blogging creates a direct connection between authors and readers, a conversation with distinct voices carried out in comments and e-mails and other blogs. Nakagawa wants to see how big that conversation—not to mention his business—can get. 'It's kind of like, how far can you take it?' he says."

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Who let the dogs out?

Apparently, Michael Vick let the dogs out.

Michael Vick indicted by federal grand jury in dogfighting probe:

"RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on charges related to illegal dogfighting."

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I'm quite sad over the fact that I'll be losing HBO when I move to a different crib in a couple of weeks.

HBO has some of the best shows on TV: Entourage, Big Love and my current favorite, Flight of the Conchords. The show is hilarious. Check out a clip:



Oh, hell, go crazy and check out all the clips!

HBO: Flight of the Conchords - Video

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