I haven’t been here much.  I spend a lot of time over at dailyKos, and I can’t handle being very active on both sites.  

But maybe I should be here instead.

Tomorrow, I will write a diary over there entitled “Memo to admins: Do you want us to leave?” in which I will say why I am considering GBCWing over there.

There are some aspects of dailyKos I really like.  I like a lot of the people. I like playing to the big crowd.  I like how, in an active diary, you can have hundreds of comments and all sorts of interesting threads.  I like the huge variety of diaries

But it’s bad over there.  The candidate diaries suck up more and more oxygen, and good diaries scroll down the recent list into oblivion.  Many people have left, others are thinking of it.

So, maybe I should be here, instead?

The regular list

If you like to trade books, try BookMooch.

What are you reading? is crossposted to dailyKos

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein.  OK, his social theories are wacky, but it’s a hell of a good story

the boy would live forever by Fred Pohl.  In the Gateway series.  Fun.

Statistical models: Theory and practice by David Freedman.  Delves into the details of models, without getting overly mathematical.  

The politics of congressional elections” by Gary Jacobson ….nicely geeky

Alexander Hamilton  by Ron Chernow.  Barely started, but it is already impressive (as is the subject)

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet.  Interesting novel about 12th century England

The Art of Mathematics by Bela Belobas.  Interesting, easily stated math problems. For slow solving.

(originally at dailyKos, long ago)

Today, we honor Dr. King.  But there are other heroes.  You probably haven’t heard of these, some of my heroes.  But I hope you will read on.

Who makes you proud?

Proud of what?  Proud of being human.  Name some heroes, and try to tell us WHY they make you proud or ashamed. And try to pick some people who won’t be on EVERYONE’S list unless you have some special thing to say – soem special bit of knowledge.

So….in no particular order….and I am NOT saying these are the greatest  people in history….just some who I think aren’t that well known

Heroes:

S. Michael Gelber, who was my rabbi, and who I diaried about here

My father – who not only led a life that would fit into a Horatio Alger story (except Alger didn’t write about Jews) but is totally committed to giving back to the community, and who may be the least prejudiced person I know (certainly less prejudiced than I am).  

Paul Farmer – for his stunning work in bringing free health care to some of the most impoverished places on Earth – most especially Haiti.

Wayne Inman – In Billings, MT, in 1993, the KKK and other groups were vandalizing the homes of the few Jews who live there, who they identified because they were displaying menorahs in their windows. Cemeteries were desecrated, swastikas painted….etc.  Inman, the police chief at the time, reacted brilliantly.  He publicized the incidents, got religious groups to sponsor marches against hate, and, in what I regard as the most brilliant move, got 10,000 menorahs printed up and urged residents to place them in their windows.  Kudos to word is bond for helping me find the info, and posting it here

David Smith of Whitwell, TN, a teacher and assistant principal who came up with the idea that led to a great film.  The basic story: He decided that the kids in this nearly-all-White, all-Christian town needed to learn about the Holocaust.  Then he had the idea to collect a paper clip for each Jew killed by the Nazis.  It really is a great film , and a testament to what ordinary people can do, and how ordinary people can grow.  

Who are your heroes?

Why?

Who gets to decide if something is racist? Or sexist?

Or if a remark that is racially insensitive or sexually insensitive is an indication that the person making the remark is a racist or sexist?

This whole thing had me somewhat confused; I haven’t followed the whole imbroglio either here or at big Orange, it’s too tangled up with candidate diaries and general nastiness (which I am beginning to see over here…. oy).

But it’s really simple.

Just put yourself in there.  And your own group.

I’m a white guy.  But, like nearly everyone in America, I’m a member of a minority.  I’m Jewish.  So….

if Cuomo had said “you can’t just bargain your way into the presidency” about a Jewish candidate…. would I be pissed?  Bet your ass I would.

If Jackson had said, about a Jewish candidate “he’s just appealing to their pocketbooks” would I be pissed?  Bet your ass I would

So, yeah, I’m pissed at Jackson (whose dad made a bunch of clearly anti-Semitic remarks) and I’m pissed at Cuomo.  More important, I’m pissed at Obama (was keeping McClurkin insensitive to gays? Ummmm. ASK GAY PEOPLE.  The opinions I’ve seen from GLBT people have been pretty condemnatory).  

if it’s sauce for the goose, it’s sauce for the gander.

It can get trickier though.  Because, you know what? Not all women agree as to what’s sexist; not all Blacks agree as to what’s racist; not all Jews agree as to what’s anti-Semitic, and so on.

But put yourself in their place.

Would Cuomo be upset if someone said of him “You can’t just grease some palms and pay some people off”?  Well, I’m guessing the answer is “yes”.  

see how easy it usually is?

With one year left in the Bush regime, here’s a simple guide:

If Bush proposes it, it is either illegal, immoral, or stupid (possibly all three).

You don’t need to think about it, or analyze it, or poll about it, or have focus groups about it.  You just need to OPPOSE it.

Why any Democratic senator or representative supports anything Bush does is beyond me.  As for Republican senators and representatives…..they’re just beyond me, altogether!

Let’s take a look

Invading Iraq (huge Democratic support): Illegal, immoral and stupid

Patriot Act (near universal support): Illegal, immoral, and stupid

NCLB (lots of support): Stupid

Mukasey as AG (enough support to pass):  Immoral

Changes in tax code: Immoral and stupid

Gonzales as AG : Immoral and stupid

Alito and Roberts on SCOTUS: Immoral

Drilling in ANWR: Immoral and stupid

see? It’s easy!

If Bush proposes it, you oppose it.  

Always.

(originally posted, long ago, at daily Kos.  Offered here, with some changes, in the spirit of the season)

Reading dailyKos and docudharma can be depressing and scary.  A lot of people here are exposing a lot of maggots, and it’s scary to see what’s under the rocks.  Necessary, but scary.  But it’s not enough to expose maggots.  We must also plant grass.  Otherwise, our landscape will be just a lot of upturned rocks and dirt.

Most people aren’t devils or gods, they’re just ordinary shmoes trying to get along in the world, not thinking too much, just putting food on the table and themselves in a chair before a TV.  They listen to what their leaders say because it’s easy, and they don’t question because that’s hard.  They aren’t evil, but they won’t lead.

Winning the hearts and minds of the leaders of the opposition may be impossible; but winning the hearts and minds of these people – the ordinary people – is possible.  We just have to plant some grass.

I have some ideas below the fold.  But not nearly enough.  I need your help – this community’s help.  Together we do have the brains, the talent, and the wherewithal to plant a lot of grass. The seeds are there.