Homestead mailing list

["Marie McHarry" <mmcharry AT gmail.com>]

 On Fri, Jun 6, 2008 at 5:34 PM,  <Clansgian AT wmconnect.com> wrote:

> Celia, I can't imagine that you don't see how dangerous this posture is.  It
> is both how the major despots of the world got into office and the major 
> duds
> as well (such as Carter).

The common wisdom is that Carter was a real dud. As far as I can see,
the main thing he did wrong was to let the Iranian ayatollah control
him. Other than that, he had some excellent policies. Had we followed
his energy policies -- he was the last US president to have reducing
our dependence on oil a major goal -- we wouldn't be in the shape
we're in now. As for being a dud, he doesn't hold a candle to the
Shrub who is pissing our treasure away at the rate of $12 billion
dollars a year. Imagine if the tax subsidies for solar and wind had
stayed in place instead of the current subsidies for oil and nuclear.
No, I don't think solar and wind will free us completely from oil, but
I don't think any single technology will do that.

I know that James believes himself to be secure in his castle in the
hills, but when a whole country goes up in flames, everyone gets
burned. I really believe that the way you feel, and act, toward your
fellow human comes back to you, in this life at least.

In my experience, the dragon you fear -- and have therefore made
preparations against -- is not the one that will rip chunks out of
your butt. Something else will get you.

All this dismissal of Obama for speaking in platitudes, or pretty
speeches, is totally beside the point. What exactly do you expect him
to do? Read white papers to audiences? Will anyone tell me what could
have been said to AIPAC that he or she doesn't consider to be a
platitude?

I have the distinct impression that the Lynda & James contingent --
that those two are on the same side more or less convinces me that the
end is at hand -- are really good at dissing politicians, so I'd
really like to hear what you would do if you could suddenly become
president. What would you say to your fellow Americans?

Marie