The Observation Deck

Score one for the compassionate, wonderful country I know we can be.

Are you kidding me? you're really happy about your representative going on every news program that would have him and declaring that this bill is nothing more than a cash grab for every major insurance company, and then, one trip on Air Force One later, he does a complete 180 and kisses up to the party line and changes his mind?

Unbelievable! So much for moral fortitude! So much for sticking to your principles!

Over the past few years, Kucinich was really starting to grow on me. While I didn't agree with much of what he stood for, at least he stood for something, and he seemed to believe it, and most importantly, he actually fought for it. And THAT was something that I could respect and even admire.

Until now.

So much for setting himself apart from the politics as usual in Washington.

So congratulations Sharon, if THAT's the kind of representative you were looking for, you got it. But whether or not this individual bill gets passed, this is not a good day for this district.

Dennis has been pimped! sad!

This is an attempt to just get something. Do you honestly think we'll let it stay there.

Hey Bret - one of your buddies just spit on me when I asked her what she was doing. I seriously tried to discuss it with her, she was walking into my building after leaving her friends by Kucinich's office. She pointed her finger at me, and spit. Then she brought some groceries into the building for her dad who lives here, where I live, in a HUD building. Entitlement program.

Okay for her family but not for anyone else's - I just love hypocrites, truly I do.

Excuse me Sharon, are you suggesting that I associate, tollerate or possibly even support someone, anyone who would act in such a way?

you cast aspersions more than anyone I've ever met.

Tea partiers.

You are one, correct?

Actually, no I'm not. I've been to a couple of their rallies and I believe a lot of the things the promote, but I act on my own behalf.

But even if I were, would that make someone who acted inapropriately my "friend"? You're a liberal aren't you? Does that make you any way responsible for the things that have been done or said to me by other liberals?

But aside from that, are you sure they were Tea Party people? Maybe they were just other progressives that were protesting Dennis' hypocritical behavior.

I asked her Brett before the discussion even started. I don't assume things.

I'm not a liberal, I'm a radical. They could have been anyone but when I asked, that was the response I was given.

Tea Party meeting at Kucinich's Lakewood office didn't start until 5PM. I don't know who you saw Sharon.

sharon kinsella wrote:I asked her Brett before the discussion even started. I don't assume things.

I'm not a liberal, I'm a radical. They could have been anyone but when I asked, that was the response I was given.

Merriam-Webster: Radical wrote:3 a : marked by a considerable departure from the usual or traditional : extreme b : tending or disposed to make extreme changes in existing views, habits, conditions, or institutions c : of, relating to, or constituting a political group associated with views, practices, and policies of extreme change

What percentage of the country would you say thinks as you do...that considers themselves a 'radical', whether on the left OR the right?

From what I experience many, then again, like is attracted to like, correct?

sharon kinsella wrote:From what I experience many, then again, like is attracted to like, correct?

I definitely see your point, but can you still speculate on a percentage?

As of June last year, according to Gallup, ..."40% of Americans interviewed in national Gallup Poll surveys describe their political views as conservative, 35% as moderate, and 21% as liberal."

I suspect that this year, given the off year elections that went to Republicans, that November will show another sea change towards a more conservative approach for the country.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/120857/Conse ... Group.aspx

...."To measure political ideology, Gallup asks Americans to say whether their political views are -very conservative, conservative, moderate, liberal, or very liberal. As has been the case each year since 1992, very few Americans define themselves at the extremes of the political spectrum. Just 9% call themselves "very conservative" and 5% "very liberal." The vast majority of self-described liberals and conservatives identify with the unmodified form of their chosen label.

FWIW

I would venture to say that those who identify as very liberal may actually be radical but don't use those words.

One thing to add. This is from an essay my friend wrote on another site, she knows I'm using it. It's her mother talking to a teapartier -

"I am one of those bleeding hearts. My heart bleeds every time I think of my daughter who worked, paid taxes, and paid into insurance premiums her whole adult life. Then lost her insurance through no fault of her own. My heart bleeds every time I think of her 5 year old daughter growing up without a Mother because her Mother needs a transplant and no longer has insurance. We need to forget about politics, race, greed and do what is right for the people of the USA. We are going to lose people who would have contributed greatly to this world because they could not receive proper medical care. Remember you can be healthy one day and in a matter of seconds that can change. I don't wish this kind of bleeding heart on anyone, not even you Mr. W."

This is a true story, I've known the writer for 3 years and her sister is dying. She lost her job when she became too sick to work, due to her liver disease. It was caused by the Hep C she caught when she got a blood transfusion as a child.