Samantha
Samantha's JournalPew is a right-leaning organization with ties to the John Birch society
It is not surprising they would be critical of MSNBC.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pew_Charitable_Trusts
"Although today the Pew Charitable Trusts is non-partisan and non-ideological, Joseph Pew and his heirs were themselves politically conservative. The mission of the J. Howard Pew Freedom Trust, one of the seven funds, was to "acquaint the American people with the evils of bureaucracy and the values of a free market and to inform our people of the struggle, persecution, hardship, sacrifice and death by which freedom of the individual was won". Joseph N. Pew, Jr. called Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal "a gigantic scheme to raze U.S. businesses to a dead level and debase the citizenry into a mass of ballot-casting serfs".[5] (emphasis added)"
http://www.pewtrusts.org/about_us_history.aspx
The Pew Charitable Trusts, an independent nonprofit, is the sole beneficiary of seven individual charitable funds established between 1948 and 1979 by two sons and two daughters of Sun Oil Company founder Joseph Newton Pew and his wife, Mary Anderson Pew. Honoring their parents’ religious conviction that good works should be done quietly, the original Pew Memorial Foundation was a grantmaking organization that made donations anonymously.
Fred Koch, father of Charles and David, was also a founding father of the John Birch Society.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_C._Koch
"Fred Chase Koch (September 23, 1900 – November 17, 1967) was an American chemical engineer and entrepreneur who founded the oil refinery firm that later became Koch Industries, the second-largest privately held company in the United States
***
He was one of the founding members of the John Birch Society.[18]
He claimed that the Democratic and Republican Parties were infiltrated by the Communist Party, and he supported Mussolini's suppression of communists. He wrote that "The colored man looms large in the Communist plan to take over America," and that public welfare was a secret plot to attract rural blacks and Puerto Ricans to Eastern cities to vote for Communist causes and "getting a vicious race war started." (emphasis added)
Sam
I need some advice from people who are cat savvy -- the journey continues (PART TWO)
I have received some inquiries in my DU inbox about Nikita's and my journey. If you were a participant on this thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018319954, this update is for you.
Someone told me once I started this journey, I had no idea what I was in for ... and at this point, I have to say they were right. But despite the challenges that have occurred since we last "talked" in the earlier thread, my love for Nikita, and I believe her love for me, has only gone stronger.
I am going to post a couple of emails in which I discuss what has happened so you will get a sense of the last few days events. I think I have struggled with some things simply because I started this adventure knowing nothing about cats. Had these things happened to one of you cat-savvy du'ers, I am sure there would have been a lot less anguish and a lot less second-guessing.
At this point, Nikita is still outside, but I believe she is contemplating coming in part time. I have opened the door, and she has started in, but each time backs back out. Yet, when I leave the door open, she often looks around as if studying the environment like a prospective tenant considering a new move. Her eyes inevitably land on Cheyenne, who is usually asleep on the couch and impervious to the scrutiny. It appears to me that Nikita is weighing whether or not this would be a situation that works. She has made a couple of moves when we have been out on our walks to engage Cheyenne, but Cheyenne has no idea what is going on. This will simply take time I believe.
So just to start this thread off, I will post a couple of messages in my private email on situations which one DU'er was so kind and generous enough to help me through. These will follow soon.
Sam
Wait a minute please -- the "Third Way" nomenclature was openly discussed in Clinton's autobiography
"My Life" by Bill Clinton, pages 381-2, 813, 854, 878-9, 907-8,934 (pages enumerated from Index which discuss the term "Third Way."
at pages 381-382:
I was amazed by some of the criticisms of the DLC from the Democratic left, who accused us of being closet Republicans, and from some members of the political press, who had comfortable little boxes marked "Democrat" and "Republican." When we didn't fit neatly in their ossified Democratic box, they said we didn't believe in anything. The proof was that we wanted to win national elections, something Democrats apparently weren't supposed to do.
***
The principles and proposals I advocated could hardly be called Republican-lite or lacking in conviction. Instead, they helped to modernize the Democratic Party and later would be adopted by resurgent center-left parties all over the world, in what would be called "Third Way." Most important, the new ideas, when implemented, would prove to be good for America....
These are Bill Clinton's own words, but they could have easily enough been written by President Obama, who described himself as a "New Dem." I have no link, but heard him say this in an interview. Of course, I immediately recognized that term and knew instantaneously that I am much farther left than he.
I point this out to answer your question "... do the people you name self-identify as "Third Way"?
I believe you overstepped when you referred to the terms Third Way or DLC as "bogeyman terms." Obviously, these are legitimate terms used by people who want to be recognized as having separated themselves from -- now I will openly make up a term -- Classic Dems.
I have read several bios about Clinton, one of which specifically mentioned his search for a term to particularly identify his brand of politics. He wanted to differentiate his brand of politics from the DLC, from whence he came, thus the search for a different branding. He came up with the term Third Way, but I do not believe it truly stuck. New Dem in the political world today is synonymous with Third Way.
The DLC (Democratic Leadership Conference) openly publicly published its membership list, so there was no secrecy about it. I think of the New Dems as the "remains" of the DLC with a few having left and some new having joined.
Sam
Edited to add President Obama's declaration of being a New Democrat:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/19862.html
"Surrounded by 65 moderate Democrats on Tuesday in the State Dining Room, Obama was happy to portray himself as simpatico with a group of members who are largely socially liberal but fiscally more moderate to conservative."
I chose not to watch because she was being interviewed
Not too long after that SC decision, she was asked about it at a dinner party in Washington. She called that decision a "no brainer" meaning the decision was clear from the beginning and she didn't even have to think about it.
What I have never understood is why the Supreme Court thought it could constitutionally take that case on appeal. The Constitution delegates the right to decide Presidential elections to the individual states. The highest authority on this dispute should have been The Florida Supreme Court, which when handing down its decision started with the words "The right to vote is paramount."
The United States Supreme Court in taking this case and rendering a 5-4 decision handing the Presidency to George W. Bush* negated the votes of 51 million Americans. So I guess in a way it was a no-brainer (for 5 judges) but not in the sense O'Connor meant it....
Sam
I need some advice from people who are cat savvy (UPDATED WITH PICTURES)
I know quite a bit about dogs, had at least one most of my life, bred dogs for awhile, but I have never owned a cat. I am ignorant about cats.
A strange thing happened about a week ago. A cat started staying on my front porch stoop. I opened the door, and there she was. She immediately started whining at me. I was very startled -- I couldn't imagine why a cat would choose to come to my place.
This cat is small but beautiful. I asked someone that day what does that cat want from me (yes, I am that stupid). The answer was food. Also added in was do not feed the cat or she will never leave.
I am not barbaric. I can't know that an animal is hungry and not feed it. I went out and got some canned cat food, hoping it was okay. I brought it home and put the bowl down on the stoop. She came right up and ate it right away, even though I was standing nearby. I had been told by then that this was an "outdoor" cat, not an "indoor" cat.
Then I was advised not to give the cat wet cat food - feed her the dry cat food. I bought a big bag of that. I also have been giving her clean water everyday. I asked at the pet store what kind of treats do cats eat, and I was told I could give her the treats I was buying for my dog - sweet potato fries. I was not too sure of that, so I have not done it. Any thoughts on that? Any recommendations?
So everyday the cat is there and everyday I feed her. I have a dog that is almost blind. She has lived here for almost twelve years, and she means everything to me. Outside, the cat puts her nose up to the screen door, and inside my dog puts her nose up to it as well. She must sense the animal is there, but I know she cannot see it. It seems like they could tolerate each other.
It is really cold outside tonight. My neighbors have told me the cat will be okay, but I am not too sure about that. And guess what, even though she is not yet 1 year old, she is probably pregnant. I noticed she was looking bigger after a few days, and I asked someone from PAWS to give me some advice. That was her observation. She believes the cat is pregnant.
I need to ask anyone reading this post is that cat okay outside for tonight. It seems to be pretty cold to me, I think it is about 38, but I can't quit worrying about her. I also need to figure out what to do to get ready for the "big event." I can't understand how a cat can have kittens outside and newborn kittens will not be adversely impacted by the elements. I have found a website which shows different shelters that can be improvised, but they require materials and tools and a little know-how.
So tomorrow I am going to start making some changes, but please let me know what you suggest. This is really upsetting me. I want to protect the cat but I am at a loss to figure out what to do. I have put a blanket out there which she is lying on, but that seems pretty lame.
I think the problem is I am getting conflicting advice. Additionally, I have been told that an outside cat cannot become an inside cat. Is that true? This cat, although not there yet, allows me now to pet her. She walks between my legs and brushes herself on my pants. The night before last when she knew I was coming inside, she put her paw on my shoe as if to get me to stay. I think she is starting to feel trusting of me and eventually could be very comfortable if I keep working at it, slowly but consistently. Is that true or false? Could she be trained to live inside and use a litter box?
Sam
PS I am really starting to love this cat and want to do the right thing by her, but I need some expert advice for that.
UPDATE: If you have been participating in this thread, please see post 111 for pictures. If anyone can take a look at her right ear and let me know if that a "tipped" mark, that would be great.
JFK
He had many goals set that the American people did not know about. The biggest impressive thing he planned (to me) before his life was suddenly taken was to disempower the CIA and other elements of the intelligence community. He was outraged over the Cuban Missile Crisis and the role it had played. He also was quietly trying to improve our relationship with Russia.
President Kennedy was privately determined not to see the Vietnam War become our war and he planned during his second term to fully withdraw. I believe that is another prong in his ambitious policies that played a role in his assassination. He was perceived to be "weak" by the war mongers; but I saw him as a true hero, a champion of positive moves to dramatically reform our society, and along with it, our government.
Many of the programs Johnson introduced as legislation after President Kennedy's death, such as Medicare and The Voting Rights Act of 1965 sprang from JFK's unfinished agenda for the Nation. The promotion of Medicare was a prominent plank in President Kennedy's 1960 campaign, and his support for that never waivered. And as far as pushing the right to vote for African-Americans as a civil rights issue:
http://blsciblogs.baruch.cuny.edu/his1005/2010/06/14/the-voting-rights-act-of-1965/
"In June 11, 1963, during a national television address about civil rights, John F. Kennedy stated: “We preach freedom around the world…, but are we to say to the world, and much more importantly, to each other, that this is a land of the free except for Negroes?” (Foner 921) Kennedy was killed few months after this presentation without enacting his civil rights bill, in which, among other points, he proposes the right to vote to blacks. One hundred years before Kennedy’s speech about civil rights, Abraham Lincoln expressed in his last public address his support to black suffrage. Like Kennedy, Lincoln was assassinated few days later." (emphasis added)
I believe his determination to right many wrongs existing in this country played an important role in his early death. I also believe he knew the actions he was quietly taking in fact did put his life at risk. But he decided to put Country first and proceeded to formulate a plan to enact his initiatives. That is a description of a man who loved his Country more than his own life and was prepared to risk it in order to eradicate threats on our Republic.
Sam
When political cow pies fly
During the Clinton administration, we reached a point when every single day was a putrid day. Each dawn brought a new fresh pile of political cow pies being lobbed into our faces.
It started when Newt's ego convinced him HE was the one who actually ran The Nation’s Capital. Bill Clinton might have been sitting in the Oval Office, but Newt saw him as usurping his (Newt’s) chair. So it became his personal mission to make each moment Clinton sat in that chair a moment of misery for everyone.
Some time ago, I got exactly this same old feeling again. Finally, I was able to discern the problem. Those days are these days. It seems as if I have stepped back in political time.
When Republicans do not rule, they run wild. When you hear a herd of them charging at you, do not look up and let them see the white of your eyes! There is no middle ground for them. Showdowns, shutdowns, impeachment….
Their black and white world is divided into only two parts: goals or targets.
Some evenings when I go to bed at night, things seem quiet and I feel hope. But by the dawn of the new day, flying saucers of cow pies once again come sailing out of the blue. Looks like dung, smells like dung -- but wait, it is dung! It is the Republican way of dealing with a Democrat in office. But today, some of them are having to cope with an African-American Democrat in office.
So sleep well tonight if you can because tomorrow morning when you awake, the misery index will have increased. And that is the way it will be until we see Republicans once again stand up and clean house. It was they who removed Gingrich from his House Speakership in the 90s. By that time even to them, his Contract with America had morphed into something that seemed more like a Contract on America, and they couldn’t stand the stench any longer.
The time is ripe. How long will it take?
Sam
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