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The metamorphosis is complete. For some time we have been able to look through the increasingly transparent walls of the dingy chrysalis, discerning within the agitated writhings of an unlovely bug. But now the thing has split open and the creature is spilled out into the autumn light, its vile nature revealed. It goes immediately to feeding, and to our horror and disgust it is a bloodsucker, a flesh consumer, and we doubt it can be squashed or poisoned by the only recourses we have-the protest letter or call or a pointless vote some weeks hence. The Democrats are now the champions of Wall Street, wealth, and a world made safe for money and risk at the expense of common decency.
I drove a neighbor to work this morning, in Augusta. Her very used car needs a timing belt on top of the seven hundred dollars she spent to get it inspected, and the eight dollar an hour McDonald's burger job where she works five hours a shift at variable hours four days a week won't afford it roadability. I've agreed to pick her up a five tonight. This is no fun for either of us, or for the other persons she often must beg for help. But this is America. And it's not even winter yet, and nobody's living on stale Cheerios and overwatered soup yet to save up enough for whatever minimum the oil man requires before he'll hose their tanks.
Before being driven indoors by the first wave of tropical rain from a combination of storms aimed at Maine this weekend, the dachshund and I planted and pruned. The last two Acer pseudosieboldianum I had sitting in pots are now in the ground, together with a few odd half-priced Hosta that doubled their number by the application of a dividing knife. We lifted some basswood shade off smaller trees, pruned up a Korean mountain-ash (the only member of the genus worth growing), and settled the branches on a brush pile we have been building and time and decay have been reducing for three decades.
This is all true, real, concrete, believable, knowable stuff. And good and worthwhile and satisfying and life-affirming. I shall live longer for my time among my trees. And with the dog. Then the rain became too thick, we abandoned hopes for hauling dirt or improving more trees or mowing and came in.
And Public Radio, as it has been doing all week, was churning through the swill bucket of information and rumors and guesses and lies that has become the focus of our nation, the impending great Wall Street Rescue.
First there was a deal, then there was no deal and then there was. Ben Bernanke, a man I doubt could identify ten species of trees if he had Dirr's Manual in hand, says we've got to, got to, got to commit seven hundred billion dollars to this purpose now. This week. Today. The Market cannot open Monday without "a plan in place." Treasury Secretary Paulson, an apparent idiot, and an excitable one at that, concurs. President Bush, that folksy fool, just was on the news assuring us he had faith that Democrats and Republicans would put aside the evil of politics and come together in a grand display of bipartisanship and git 'er done.
Nothing new in any of that. And then NPR gave air to Senator Charles Schumer. Now, we all know Chuck's a master at both whoring himself and at loudly and indignantly posturing. Pretty much all Senators are, of course, but Senator Schumer turns up on the radio more often than many, and seems more sure of himself, more full of himself, and is more grating in his presentation (at least to me) than almost anybody since Trent Lott.
And what would Chuck have us know this noonday? Just the damned Republicans are standing in the way of transferring billions of dollars of our children's futures to investment bankers, speculators, jerks, liars and scumbuckets. The Democrats could, he says, pass this necessary bill without the GOP, but won't do so. So there we have it, as clearly as a webworm crawling up the branch of a buckeye under autumn skies-there's the Democratic majority all you earnest persons worked so hard and donated so much money to elect two years ago.
The Republicans, it turns out, have scruples. They believe in something. (Who could have imagined it?) They don't think the government should give over so much money to speculators and they object to relinquishing so much power to the likes of Bernanke and Paulson. The Democrats are livid. Time is wasting. We need to pass a bill now, don't you see! Barney Frank told Charlie Rose a couple nights ago; I heard it; I saw it. Barack Obama, the man who would bring Change, affirms his wish that Republicans would stop their obstructionist ways and meet him mid-aisle in some compromise bailout that would throw a few dollars to a few mortgagees, put a (ridiculously high) cap on CEO salaries, and reach right into your and my ass pockets and bank accounts and hopes for a better America and rip out seven hundred billion dollars (more or less-and it will end up being more) so that corrupt and negligent and self-satisfies sons of bitches who never worked a real job, never held a saw or a wrench or a hammer to good purpose, never tried to make a fan belt out of a nylon rope or get a Ford past the inspector by plugging up a shitty muffler with aluminum flashing and duct tape, so these worms can keep on keeping on.
And what can you do about that? Nothing. Not, as we say around here, a frigging' thing. Should I E-mail Olympia Snow or Tom Allen? No, they will vote for whatever deal comes before them. You can petition your own legislative team if you wish, but I'd suggest that instead of asking them to vote against the bill, instead of expressing your concerns politely, you threaten them, coldly, politely, but unequivocally. You vote for this, in any form, for any amount, you give one dollar of my money toward this purpose, and I shall not only never again vote for you, I'll work as hard as I can and donate as much money as I am able to whomever may run against you in any future election, whatever he or she says or believes or has done or proposes. As George Herbert Walker Bush said so many years ago: "This will not stand!"
And don't let Obama off the hook. I've had enough of hearing how he's only backpedaling and waffling and vaguely oozing around issues that matter to liberals so that he can get elected and then he'll bring out the buckets of Change. The time for change is now, Senator. Vote No. Be a Democrat.
34 Comments so far
Show AllBeetleOut
Cooper,
If my wife and I bestoop ourselves to mark a ballot for this latest presidential dog and pony charade, it will be a three-way choice between Nader, McKinney and Dr. Paul. The Late, Great, Mr. Obama! has lost our approval too many times for me to feel good about voting for even the (significantly) lesser of the two weasels. His reversal of position (de facto) on public campaign funding for this election was huge at our house. His refusal to squawk, or even wince, about the Democrat's participation in the undemocratic exclusion of all Minor Party candidates from debates ( at every turn ) does not square up with any sense of democratic fair play at our house. It's simply disgusting. Corporate money is paying for the world's most expensive "Punch and Judy Show", and it's all for our amusement!
Chuck Schumer? Yeah. . . Bill Clinton, minus the brain.
Keep batting rocks at the swaggering class, Amigo! We peasants can use a hero or two.
Beetle
Why, indeed, are the Democrats all over this bailout? 75% of the country is in an uproar, and there are Pelosi and Reid, posing with Bush.
We had people yelling across the cafeteria where I work today. Everyone is furious, Democrat, Republican, Green, Libertarian.
And there are the Democrats, pontificating on the importance of passing a bailout for the rich, a month before the election.
It's almost as if they have a death wish.
Well, Mr. Cooper, the only cheer I find in this missive is that I am not alone in my despair over this latest sell out. My only argument would be that I think you give the Republicans any credit for scruples. They were, after all, just trying to get the capital gains tax lifted as part of this package. I would hardly call their stand on that "scrupled".
Meanwhile, I tend my small pecan orchard and garden and wait for better days. Stay dry and well, kind sir.
Working a low-paying job and then expecting a bailout just because her car isn't working. That's the trouble with these people - always looking for a handout. You don't see successful people always looking for free handouts. They don't expect to be bailed out by the government just because their car isn't working or whatever.
Thanks Cooper, this is the best I've read in sometime. The comments here too. Damn right you better have your own plan. I do enjoy the nature as I too, have trees and a dachshound.
I can't believe the number of people on this site spreading this BS that Obama never takes a stand on anything. On 10/24/07, Obama's campaign issued this statement, "To be clear: Barack will support a filibuster of any bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies."
How is that not taking a stand?
And another glorious stand voting for FISA instead of standing up like a 'real' man & raising hell about that travesty of justice.
The best thing I can say about Obama is he is not insane McSame or Flailin' Palin, but that's a small consolation akin to second place in a two person race that's rigged. Oh, you didn't know this show is rigged? I pity you. It must be quite a challenge going through life with the IQ of a brick...my apologies to bricks LOL.
The bailout has been passed. ): It's all so depressing! Compromises were reached, but not enough to matter. Back to work trying to get a progressive majority in america. It would be so much easier if Democratic apologists would simply stop supporting Democrats.
threaten not to vote for them!!!!
News flash I have been posting that same threat for about a year. Use a Pay phone if you don't want it to be traced. Phone up these elected people who are so out of touch with the voters in this country and tell them not to support what WE THE PEOPLE don't want them to
Have you tried to find a pay phone lately?
I am the last person in the US without a cellphone, apparently.
Because when I go looking for a payphone, when I'm out and need one - there are literally holes in the walls where they've been torn out!
What is up with that? Maybe they want all calls to be traced?
Only, Coop, i don't think the Republicans are resisting on principle or because they believe in anything except shit rolls downhill. i heard their big beef was with the cap on CEO pay. Doesn't that sound more like them? i'm not exonerating Democrats, but red flagging any temptation to endow the Republicans with principles just because they're opposed to this bailout, too.
RE:katfish September 27th, 2008 10:38 pm
"i heard their big beef was with the cap on CEO pay."
Well how would we know, since these negotiations were behind closed doors? Real 'transparency' would have the public included in ALL discussions. It's our money they're fooling around with isn't it? Oops! I forgot, they think it is theirs. Well screw all of them...and keep your powder dry, you might need it.
Why aren't the DPAs using this argument?
'Vote for Obama to protect us from the Democratic Congress.'
After all, even if McThuselah gets elected, Congress could deny him the funds to decomplish anything (decomplish - opposite of accomplish and I just made that up so I own all the rights to its use).
Oh yeah, that's right. The Democratic Congress is Republican in all but name.
I just realized. There's the difference! They have different names!
I have gone a step further. I've told my representatives in congress this past week that if this passes, I, after decades of proudly doing my duty, will no longer support this government financially. And you know what that means.
So be it.
My vote doesn't matter because there is no opposition. It is ONE party. They are either criminals or insane. You can make up your own minds regarding that matter.
Washington has no credibility left. Clearly at this point, they are operating under the rule of every man (or corporation) for himself.
So, calling, writing or voting, makes no difference. As with Iraq, they will do whatever they want, and damn what the citizens want.
As Bush and the democratic congress has stated, "we WILL have a plan". Fine. As a citizen dealing with a rogue and criminal federal government, for my own survival in a country that's gone insane, I WILL have one, too.
I love a great deal of what Nader, Paul, and even Mckinney or Barr have to offer but the system is stacked against 3rd parties. I wanted to vote for Obama hoping that he would push for even a small change in direction or slow down the mess a great deal but now I think I will just sit this election out. Very sad. :(
C. Cooper,
If you ever stop writing, be prepared. I'll hunt you down like a dog in my baling wired, nylon roped, ducttaped '83 Toyota pickup. And I'll be bringing the corpse of my beloved 18 year old Dachshound.
Got that?
Thank you Christopher. If only more would post your kind of straight talk....
Cooper says: "No point here except personal outrage."
You said it, Coop, as after watching the debates and then listening to the nation-wide, call-in opinions starting this morning with 98 per cent of the U.S. voter responders buying into the particular falsehoods/lies that both candidates reinforced in their side-by-side responses ... one swears and the other lies to it, ... I too turn to my land and the integrity of the huge, towering old trees outside my window, and the high brush piles and the pond inhabited by beavers diligently and so cleverly and purposefully repairing their home for the long winter and the births that will come in the early spring.
For the four decades [out of seven] I've lived here and fought to keep this hunk of land, it -- the natural world -- has become the only truth in this temporary lifetime of mine and my brother and sister humans that I trust to continue on and to continue being itself, especially in its healings, no matter what calamities happen.
Species come and go, and at the rate we're going, the homo sapien sapiens variety may be one of the shorter-lived ones.
The irony is that the humble sponge at the bottom of the ocean, whose ancestry can be traced back to a few creative cells doing their thing relatively close to the beginnings of life on earth, will likely be around long after we of the hi-tech modern-life,"higher intelligence" are gone because our brains have become more like sponges with a death wish than the truly knowledgeable, critically thinking, wise and life-affirming instruments they might have been.
Hopefully some of the tribal members of the ancient wisdoms may survive our dishonest and lethal foolishness so we can start over again and stay true to the essential, crucial understanding that we are not some separate, superior species, but part of and inseparable from the natural world. Then humility, respect and truth will be reborn, and maybe we'll have another chance to get it right.
Short of that characteristally hopeful vision that lately feels so frayed around the edges, I think I'll go tar the roof and finish plugging up the holes so the rest of my dining room ceiling doesn't fall down, and then I'll take a nap and dream on.
peace, and keep on yelling in your own inimitable style.
Then she told us how times were tough and about how she was thinkin' of bummin' a ride back to where she started.
But ya know, she changed the subject every time money came up.
She said, "Welcome to the land of the living dead." You could tell she was so broken-hearted.
She said, "Even the swap meets around here are getting pretty corrupt."
-brownsville girl, bob dylan
"no gods, no masters" --m. sanger
Hey, I am with you..I love it when Chris uses Dylan lines. Just wish he would give him credit. For a man who has been on the road now for 46 or so years, the least we can do is thank him for his words...they're timeless and have become part of our language!
I (and some others) have been criticized in these posts for urging "progressives" to vote for 3d or 4th party candidates. But no one has yet convinced me that my voting for McKinney is either (1) a wasted vote; (2) a vote for McCain; or (3) "delusional" (to quote one poster/poseur).
Do I think there are differences between the two major parties? Of course there are! Are they consequential enough for me to worry whether it's Mccain or Obama who is handed the keys to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? Not in the least!
I will refrain from itemizing the previously-posted betrayals of the (D) party; I would urge people shuddering from their Obama-gasms to actually visit his vapid web site or review his writings/speeches to see what a triangulating, centrist, re-run of Clinton his presidency would impose upon the country.
No leadership. No courage to take a stand that may be unpopular (say, the bail out, or Cuba, or the Israeli-American genocide against the Palestinians, or "clean coal", or the devastating war on drugs, or the fabricated bullshit "global war on terror" (what's next, a war on right flanking maneuvers or enfilades?), or single-payer health care, blah blah blah. A leader would LEAD the citizenry to his or her position.
I can't come up with a single freakin' policy where he and I are in any kind of close alignment. And people want me to vote for him because he's not as bad as McCain?! What's McCain going to do that Obama isn't going to do? May I remind everyone that we have Clinton to thank for "welfare reform", NAFTA, GATT, the WTO, hundreds of thousands dead in Iraq thanks to his sanctions, Bosnia, telecomm deregulation, FIRE (financial, insurance, real estate) deregulation, blah blah blah. And please! Don't throw the Supreme Court at me! The (D) party could have blocked Roberts, Alito and Scalia. Remember it was Biden and Uncle Ted acting all soft-porn good-ol'-boys wink-wink, nudge-nudge with Clarence POS Thomas before showing him the way to the bench.
When a (D) DOES begin to stand up to the corporate bosses of the (D) party (like Dennis Kucinich), the party actually abandons the candidate.
They have worked hand-in-hand, across the aisle, to make sure that it is nearly impossible for a 3d or 4th or 5th party candidate to have any chance of electoral success. But it is still POSSIBLE! If progressives would only vote their ideals instead of blindly laying down in the middle of Party Loyalty Blvd., we may just begin to take our country back.
Now, I'm gonna go scoop litter boxes and fantasize what a run-off presidential election between Kucinich, Nader, Bob Barr and Ron Paul would be like.
"no gods, no masters" --m. sanger
I know! I know! It is a line from Dylan's song Brownsville Girl. I love that song. Know it by heart.
They're all sitting up there in Congress when normally they'd be home now, getting ready to go out and convince us to vote for them again. It's pretty obvious they're hip deep with the money lenders, and couldn't care less about we the people. Oh, they'll make it look like they've thought of us and provided provisions that'll sound good. And as Bush, Bernanke, and Paulson gleefully hunker down over the billions they've been served up on a gold platter despite all the opposition, the dems who handed those billions over will go off to brag to their constituents about what a grand thing they did.
If I didn't know the conservative agenda as well as I do, and if the dems go through with the bail-out, I'd be voting republican come November. I wonder how many others there are out there who don't know the conservative agenda, but will feel as I do about the bail-out, and will vote republican. Of course there are the third parties. They seem like the best bet to me.
Can't believe I'm rooting for the Republicans on this one. At least the ones thinking for their pocketbook.
They are just playing good cop to appease their base. The Bail Out is a done deal. Only a 1 party system exists today, your choice of 2 colors, blue and red, dem or repub. They may differ on social issues and who pays the taxes, but on globalization, free trade, corporate welfare, wars, GWOT, reducing our liberties, big government, etc. they are brothers. They are coming together on Climate Change because thats a money making scheme for the bankers who will control the carbon credits (and debt) and carbon trade.
and the connection to the title is.. what....?
My question too.
It's a Dylan line about having your future crushed by those "living dead" who would suck the life out of your soul just to get to your last few dollars.
Thanks!
I believe that either candidate could have cinched the election in last night's debate if one of them had had the the guts to stand up for the American public and gone for the gold by saying 'No Bailout, Period.'
I agree wholeheartedly. All Obama has to do is to take a firm stand on something, ANYTHING. Just once.
Time is of the essense. We have been driven to the cliff edge and there is no need to cling or grasp those last few pebbles, might as well just jump and get it over with. Where has Congress been for the last year? This can't have been a surprize to any of them. Why haven't there been a host of hearings on the economy? Why are there no hearings now. How about listening to a few experts and economists for some rational input and common sense. Does anyone understand the accounting of billions? I sincerely doubt it with so many billions going 'missing or unaccounted for.' Chris, you may not have received your usual fee for this article but we certainly received a killer article. Thanks.
So why are progressives still voting for Democrats? Shame on all of you who still support them. Vote alternative parties and candidates.
If you think that Bill Clinton was a great president, then you'll be happy with Obama.
If you think that NAFTA, WTO, lack of universal healthcare, endless war (the democrats must have misheard us when we said 'end this war') are major issues, then vote third party, vote Nader, vote Green. Because the democrats aren't going to change that.
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." ~Albert Einstein