(I spent 20 years in Vancouver one weekend)

On one hand we have JCummings the idealistic if not somewhat deluded Canadian natiionalist and on the other we have Marc Cooper, the ugly American. Coops, I’m guessing that you went to Vancouver some time back. It’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and I can almost gurantee if you came back that you’d enjoy it

Not really fair. He also does that sycophant thing with Marc.

As for Gitlin, I credit his analysis in part because he’s not treating it as a memoir but as history. Obviously he’s got a dog in the mix, but his approach is more serious than most of the other stuff.

“Canada for the Canadians!”

(I spent 20 years in Vancouver one weekend)

I just got done watching the BBC’s Planet Earth series. Last disc had environmentalists trying to tackle the problem of climate change and the endangerment of so many species from the economic side of the equation. In light of the recent global financial contractions/corrections, one should be excused to think that the notion of transforming from growth economics to a “sustainable retreat” perhaps has a moment — albeit unintended.

—
But, as some other peacock-dude with a goatee once quipped, ‘What is to be done?’ Hmmm. 4 weeks left to impact the US elections. I’ll confess, I’m mostly consumed by sending Obama into the White House with as much help as possible. Thinking and trying to act down ticket. Give him a huge majority. Look how desperate Rep Kollenberg (MI-R) has become, he’s calling out BullWINkle

http://tinyurl.com/4ec3vp

Feel a need to adopt a Democrat? Gary Peters could really use your help. Just saying.

cummings - Your relentlessly sneer at and patronize people from the US. I think in this thread you’ve charged your fine southern friends with being stupid, fat, deluded, uninformed, and uncivilized.

Then you top it of with a nice helping of your endless preening peacock routine. All of it very becoming, and I’m sure I’m not alone in finding it extremely persuasive too. Keep up the good fight, comrade!

I have to say I’m more optimistic - despite my doomsaying - than Anna, about it getting ugly. Modern fascism will come with a smiling face and a credit card. People are oppressed by their flat screens and obesity and easy credit.

I have been talking to chairman of county commissioners; Dem candidate for state representative; challenging the candidate for house of rep on her stance on universal health care, did volunteer work for Move On, doing recon on all that will be involved in order to perhaps be able to set a precedent in my local area on an environmental issue. Change ONE thing in my backyard.

Once the election is over I will be starting a petition gathering campaign with the aid of local chapters of major environmental groups.

If something disgusting happens–which it frequently does in the state in which I am a relatively new resident–I call the Gov’s office, my state senator, rep etc etc. Dept of Ed; County Sherriff’s office–whatever bureaucratic body has oversight.

And…I recently got Kucinich on Maddow. How? I picked up the phone and called NBC.

I spent months a few years ago telefunding for every goddam progressive advocacy group including the fucking DNC to whom I wouldn’t give my cat’s spit up. But I was able to form a convincing argument to furious Democrats all over the country, in 2005, to continue to support the Democratic party BUT to call the DNC and demand they grow the balls everyone was whining about their lack of. I tried to remind all the liberal whiners that THEY ARE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. I called the DNC–spoke to Dean flunkies.

Reg…McVeigh is so last decade. Bombs are like soooooooo OTT. We live in a country where people take a Sarah Palin seriously.

Organize? who. Liberals? Have you been reading this comments section? Have you convinced anyone that McCain and Palin are off the map?

They sent Jung to try and talk to Hitler. He said fahgettabowit.

This is Nazi Germany in 30’s time. Its here. Its been here for years.

But this current meltdown will be the collective ball breaker. look at how Obama is leading now since people realized their lives are in jeopardy. Republicans are grabbing at Democratic straws.

The organizing will be organic. It will have to be. Real change cant be imposed. Americans will eventually be forced to find their inner common sense. But it will have to get real ugly first.