Daily Archives: 03/21/2014

(Community Matters) I too am hoping we see a real, substantive, nearly overreaching response. Twist European arms hard if that’s what it takes – yes, to the super power falls great responsibility, and if we’re to assume such, then our allies must collaborate acknowledging we’re first among equals. We should have plenty of assets & IOUs to deploy so as to encourage resistive collaboration. Now is the time to use them. Roger Cohen – Cold Man in the Kremlin. 

(Community Matter) Sting at TED Vancouver.

(Community Matters) Biggest threat yet to the American dream isn’t communism, fascism or Putin expanding Russian territory – it’s the adoption of electoral best grass roots practices by the Koch brothers. They reflect, the worst practices of self-dealing, no hesitancy to completely fabricate information which serves their interests and to exploit real fears of Americans.

Politico’s Playbook: ON THE SECOND EPISODE OF “OPEN MIKE,” we interview Tim Phillips (@TimPhillipsAFP), president of Americans for Prosperity, the Koch-funded group that is by far the biggest outside spender this cycle -$30 million in ads so far, 90 percent of that on TV. AFP’s biggest ground force is in Florida, where 25+ staffers made the group the biggest outside player in last week’s House election. Tim describes a new approach the group took for door-to-door visits in Florida, defends the Koch brothers, admits his pitch to donors now includes Harry Reid’s Koch attacks, and details his Dairy Queen obsession. 3-min. videohttp://politi.co/1i9newl

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(Community Matters) I was once ridiculed at a dinner table for answering that Paul Krugman was the most influential, contemporary economist, and I stand by this answer. No worries, being ridiculed for my beliefs & opinions or underestimated is metaphorical viagra.

“powerful pain caucuses — influential groups fiercely opposed to any policy that might put the unemployed back to work. . . . now have truly impressive track records of being always wrong, never in doubt.”

You might ask why the good guys have been so timid, the bad guys so self-confident. I suspect that the answer has a lot to do with class interests. But that will have to be a subject for another column.

Krugman’s column: The Timidity Trap