I am always amazed when in the company of other progressives and liberals how truly regressive and unwilling to change we can be. Diary after diary, comments by the thousands about what? How we can't, how we shouldn't and how Obama is going wrong. Well Obama hasn't gone wrong, we've just stopped listening and started grinding the same old axes. We spend too much time bashing and not enough time listening, fear and ignorance is abundant on BOTH sides of the ideological divide. Follow me below the fold for hopefully some insight into how all the fears of your worst nightmares coming true are in fact the realization of your most heartfelt dreams for this country.

This is not what you think, I believe for transportation and energy we certainly CAN and will end that dependency. What few of us think about is all the products using petroleum as part of their manufacturing process. Follow me below the fold for a partial list of the thousands of items we use everyday tying us to oil for years to come.

Redemption is an important word to add to your current vocabulary and an even more important concept to allow in your consciousness. Follow me below the fold for a story of a man, an ordinary human being in so many ways, possessing so many of the same flaws as the rest of our species.

I am a County Delegate and when we met to give suggestions for the party platform, one of the things I suggested was that the European economy standards be adopted starting 2010. Did you know we, the United States of America has the lowest fuel economy standards in the industrialized world? Even China beats us by a mile. Follow me below the fold for the evidence of how we've been played.

I was disgusted and disheartened to hear the IOC had banned the Iraq Olympic team for irregularities. It seems back in May the Iraqi government dissolved their 11 member committee, charging they did not have a legal quorum to conduct business and perhaps concern over the fact several of the members were hold overs from Saddam. Never mind the IOC allowing Udai's teams compete even tho torture was part of his training regimen. In 2008, dozens of Iraqi athletes were expected to compete, their spots have now been given to other countries.  Follow me below the fold for a glimpse the gut wrenching ramifications of the heartless hypocritcal decision by the IOC.  

I must say I was angry, mad as hell that NN soft balled Pelosi and not one person had the balls to stand up and ask her that all important question. Let her set the agenda and showed the world a lovefest for a person who fairly regularly gets trashed on these pages. Well kids you've been bested by The View. That daytime talk show, fluff, the program that gets laughs here and no respect. But apparently The View doesn't let guests tell them what topics they are willing to cover. Joy Behar isn't afraid of Nancy and DID ask that question and Nancy answered it.  Follow me below the fold for a little piece of TV history.

Lately, there seems to be a love affair starting among liberals for Chuck Hagel, going so far as suggesting he would be a good choice for VP. I consider him a shill for the religious right, a Fascist authoritarian with a couple of views regarding the war in Iraq and diplomacy that make him look like a moderate, he is not. Follow me below the fold for why I have no respect for Hagel.

I was disgusted and disheartened to hear the IOC had banned the Iraq Olympic team for irregularities. It seems back in May the Iraqi government dissolved their 11 member committee, charging they did not have a legal quorum to conduct business and perhaps concern over the fact several of the members were hold overs from Saddam. Never mind the IOC allowing Udai's teams compete even tho torture was part of his training regimen. In 2008, dozens of Iraqi athletes were expected to compete, their spots have now been given to other countries.  Follow me below the fold for a glimpse the gut wrenching ramifications of the heartless hypocritcal decision by the IOC.  

As most of you know who have read some of my diaries and comments, we are in Chapter 13 and in a battle with WaMu, our lender to keep our home. This has been quite the adventure and a real eye opener. When our problems with WaMu started in the fall of 2006 we were pretty sure we weren't the only ones, fact is we aren't, but we also had no idea and my guess is neither do you. Follow me below the fold for a sneak peek into Mortgage Lenders REAL dirty secret, the one that is more dangerous and pervasive than sub-prime loans.

In the past few weeks we have learned Obama is putting together a program reaching out to Christians as well as a faith based initiative with an Obama spin. Most seem to believe this is a good thing and it is, yet some too are concerned about the separation of church and state or churches using this money for other than charitable works. Obama's plan clearly spells out restrictions as well as expectations and is worth a read before deciding its merits.

Progressivism and religion are a good fit, one of the core values of each is social justice. So it isn't surprising a progressive candidate would reach out to people of faith. Obama understands the importance of churches in the fight for social justice during his time as a community organizer in South Chicago. What is also true, is many people don't realize what a powerful advocate for progressive change churches can be and have been in the past. Follow me below the fold for a look at religion and politics, the good parts.

Regardless of how you feel about the crimes of George W. Bush and impeachment, there are millions of innocent people asking for justice and who have no voice of their own. Follow me below the fold to hear ONE case for impeachment and justice.

Social Justice. Some of us were introduced to the idea in church, appropriately because Jesus preached social justice. Altho social justice is an important theme in all major religions, some churches like the Catholic Church have offices of Social Justice. In deed the term was coined by a Jesuit priest in the mid 1800's, based on the teachings of Thomas Aquinas.  

It got a lot of press both good and bad in the 60's when Jesuit priests preached social justice and organized the impoverished of South America. Social Justice is the heart of Liberation Theology and Black Liberation Theology.  Follow me below the fold for a little background on social justice, why shooting the messenger is counter productive and oh yes, the grand experiment of YES WE CAN.

CBS 2 News has learned that Francis Cardinal George is temporarily removing Father Michael Pfleger from his position as pastor of St. Sabina Roman Catholic Church on Chicago's South Side.

Also breaking on News Channels and CNN got it wrong. Pfleger has NOT left the priesthood.

Yesterday was a very trying day. I found myself in a political fight with a co-worker I used to consider a friend.  Normally we all pretty much agree on what is right. This time has been different in so much as Hillary was in the mix and now I find out John McCain as well. Follow me beneath the fold for how reasonably intelligent people are rejecting Obama. I have question, lots of questions.

Stepford citizens is what we have become. We have not just given the press too much power, we have given them all the power, we are now their bitches. We have been played, snookered, used, lied to, pwnd, exploited, preyed upon, duped, victimized, fooled and generally bamboozled.  There is no way around it, they absolutely have the upper hand, hold all the cards and if we lose this election, if Obama crashes and burns it is on US.

We talk politics a lot at our house. All of us were SOOOOO disgusted by the last debacle, er debate. I thought it might be interesting to look at what constitutes a real presidential debate, the bar our candidates must clear to carry the torch. Follow me below the fold for the real deal.

Let me first say I am not an economist, investor or a lawyer. Whatever experience and knowledge I have about mortgage banking and loans is from personal experience. However, I do believe my experiences are not only valid but common in the bigger picture of lending woes. Please join me below the fold for the WaMu snackdoodle's family saga and what I believe is fair instead of a bail out with our tax dollars.

The last few days there have been a number of fine diaries about torture enabled by the DoJ, CIA and of course our President. Read here here here here  and here.  I am shocked by the number of people who for some reason believe this is new. The roots of our violent, regime changing, torturing, death squad, secret prisons and extraordinary rendition school of foreign relations go back far more than 50 years but for the sake of brevity this diary only covers the time from the late 40's. I should tell you too I originally published this diary 10-07-07 under my old NYM of ghengismom. I have updated some information but it is essentially the same text.

Follow me below the fold for a glimpse of our shameful past, present and future and when we stopped being the good guys to the rest of the world.