The Mahablog » I’m Baaaaaack

February 10, 2006

I’m Baaaaaack

Filed under: blogging — maha @ 10:28 am

Thank you everyone for the kind comments. To the couple of snarky commenters: You stink, too.

I am exhausted … didn’t sleep at all last night and eventually got up at 4 a.m. … so remembering what planet I was on was a major accomplishment. Now I hear they’re forcasting mondo snowfall tomorrow so I need to hit the grocery asap for the traditional pre-snowball milk-and-bread run. I’ll blog something later if my brain doesn’t totally shut down first.

Spotlight

117 Comments »

Great job on C-SPAN!!!!

Comment by cspanjunky — February 10, 2006 @ 10:42 am
Discovering you. Well done! Afraid for a minute you were going to let the Alabama Reservist(?) from TX off the hook–but you handled it very deftly and NICELY TOO! No doubt–went over a head or two, but it doesn’t hurt to be nice.

Comment by ahrainstorm — February 10, 2006 @ 11:05 am
GGreat job on C-SPAN. I think Brian was even impressed. I think he is on to the flawed and total incompetence
ll leadership of the Bush clan.

Comment by Cathy — February 10, 2006 @ 11:05 am
Caught the end of CSPAN this morning, and was curious regarding comments about those who don’t read newspapaers don’t get the whole story. I agree in part, but also see this is two ways. First, I’m not sure which papers you refer too, but my local paper only serves two purposes, wrapping fish and for the bird cage. Second, with circulation and advertising dollars dwindling, where do we turn next.

Comment by MilitaryMan — February 10, 2006 @ 11:06 am
Dear Ms. O´Brien:

Saw you (heard of you) for the first time on C-Span this morning; was very favorably impressed.

I have a personal story to tell on the subject of Bush Administration Security Paranoia.

I was violently ejected from our own Embassy in San José, Costa Rica, simply for voicing a personal opinion. My complaints have been unanswered (covered up?) thus far.

If you would be so kind and provide me with an e-mail adress, I would like to forward to you copies of some documents relating to this case.

Thank you in advance and kind regards,

Don Huberty

Comment by Don Huberty — February 10, 2006 @ 11:45 am
“I think Brian was even impressed. I think he is on to the flawed and total incompetencell leadership of the Bush clan.”

If Brian Lamb even showed and or admitted that, C-Span would be off the air within days and good riddence. His job is to moderate, not to kowtow to political parties. C-Span is owned by cable subscribers from ALL political arenas. That’s what makes C-Span great. Dream on.

Comment by JZ — February 10, 2006 @ 11:53 am
Tuned in this morning and watched you stand up to “angry” Republican listeners. You were absolutely wonderful and very articulate. I also think that there is a “Conservative” message that is coined and promoted each morning, and I think it actually comes from Carl Rove. And Progressives are disorganized. Probably because we are “nurturing parent” types and not “strict parent” types. We march to our own drummer. It’s a bit difficult to get 200 million people all marching in different directions to march in one. Like herding cats, I suppose. Have found your blog and will start paying attention.

Comment by Patricia Shillingburg — February 10, 2006 @ 12:10 pm
My first blog. Got address from C-Span. I heard your coments and am on your team

Comment by Barby Albee — February 10, 2006 @ 12:12 pm
Thanks to C-Span, I have discoverd you and your great site and want to compliment you on a super display of straightforwardness with the questions you answered.
I have only known two Americans over the past few years that I truly admire for a job well done, one is Brian Lamb who can ride the center rail better then anyone and the other is Charley Reese who was an outspoken journalist at the Orlando Sentinel for many years. Both are men of integrity and honesty which is a rare commodity in the world we live.

Comment by BarryBarry — February 10, 2006 @ 12:23 pm
Thanks to C-Span from me too! You did a great job. I wish I had thought to tape it. Will look for it later today as it may be re-broadcast. I sure hope so. The Democrat Party needs you. WE need you. You answered every question and comment with such grace and confidence. Thanks!

Comment by hettiemae — February 10, 2006 @ 12:34 pm
I look forward to watching it when I get home. However, I apparently haven’t been watching the same C-Span or the same Brian Lamb. They have been leaning rightward for some time. I saw several shows where Lamb hung up on Democrats before they even finished. They were being critical of Bush. Didn’t know until then that he could be that rude. Also, a report was done by some media watchdog and it turned out that C-Span also has overwhelming numbers of conservatives to liberals. Still, C-Span is better than the networks and cable cabals.

Comment by Bonnie — February 10, 2006 @ 12:43 pm
zapped my origanal …but join us at NYT forum….when you can!http://forums.nytimes.com/top/opinion/readersopinions/forums/washington/presidentbushssecondterm/index.html?offset=201888

until then have a great weekend and KEEP up the GOOD fight ..I’m with ya!

Comment by Anonymous — February 10, 2006 @ 12:46 pm
Hi,
I just discovered your blog through your appearance on C-Span this morning. Good overall job.
I DO wish you had taken the opening that Brian gave you to discuss in more detail the allegations that Libby is now making against Cheney. When he mentioned that it was the lead story on your blog, you really didn’t talk about it much. It would have been great to point out that the Vice President of the United States is now being fingered by his former Chief of Staff of having violated criminal laws that could put him behind bars for many years. My own hometown newspaper, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, had NOTHING about this story from the National Journal today. Thanks.

Comment by Gene Martinez — February 10, 2006 @ 12:54 pm
http://forums.nytimes.com/top/opinion/readersopinions/forums/washington/presidentbushssecondterm/index.html?offset=201888

Comment by d.Breckenridge — February 10, 2006 @ 12:55 pm
I’ve always thought that Brian Lamb, like Jack Cafferty, went running back to his basic conservative roots whenever he (they) felt challenged, but I guess Brian didn’t feel threatened by you. I especially liked your answer to the clown who made the absurd assertion that conservatives were more logical than liberals, more manly and less emotional. Your reply was, “well maybe that explains why we don’t get into barfights”. What a dork. I used to trade insults and rebuttals with the local self-appointed conservative in our local paper, but it was too easy and after a while it wasn’t fun anymore fighting the same stupidity. Keep up the good work, lady - you manage to hit them where it hurts.

Comment by Chuck Garner (diogenes) — February 10, 2006 @ 12:56 pm
I’m wondering if anyone out there knows how I can get my hands on the book “Rogue State” by Blum (sp?). He was on C-Span several weeks back because Ben Laden mentioned his book in the last “message.” I immediately ordered the book from Amazon. At first they said I would receive it mid-February, now they are telling me it is not available from the publishers at all and they are cancelling my order.

Comment by Mary Stolle — February 10, 2006 @ 1:00 pm
Great going on C-SPAN today! I now have you saved on my ‘favorites.’

As an aside, I wanted to comment on leadership, in general. All of the comments I caught today on C-SPAN concerning leadership and what makes a good leader somewhat missed the boat. My take on the difference between ‘leadership’ and ‘leader’ is this: Leadership is a function of someone ‘in charge;’ that is to say, that anyone can be positioned to be the person who provides guidance, direction, make decisions, gives orders, etc. A ‘leader’ is someone who inspires others and inculcates in them the “willingness” to follow; the desire to willingly, gladly, to want to do or perform in a manner indicated or requested by that person (leader). A true leader must exude a certain charisma and character that intrinsically motivates those around him/her to ‘want’ to follow. Such a follower wants to perform in a manner that does not “let down” the leader. I served 30 years in the military and knew only a few true leaders, perhaps only three, people who I wanted to follow; who I would gladly do anything for to help them achieve the desired goal. A true leader motivates and inspires because of who they are; they generate profound admiration, perhaps a hero worship kind of thing, maybe even something akin to love. A true ‘leader’ always provides great ‘leadership.’

Comment by Harvey — February 10, 2006 @ 1:01 pm
Loved watching you on C-Span this morning simply because you once again showed why the left cannot be trusted to run this country. Aside from the “entitlements” they have given us over the past 60 years which has made the country almost exclusively dependent on the fed you clearly demonstrated the delusions that the left suffer from.

Here are a few examples of how you demonstrated that.

1. The warnings of terrorists using jumbo jets as weapons first came about in 1996 when the Philipine Govt. captured a terrorist that was trainign for just such an attack. Clinton then assigned Gore to the Airport Security Commission who then declined to require hardened cockpit doors, and sky marshalls, on aircraft in spite of the recommendations of two Congressional Committees. That alone could have prevented 911, however, since you want to blame Bush you choose to ignore that fact, and force yourself to believe that Bush could have done something in the 7 months, and 22 days, he was in charge while Clinton had in excess of 5 years to do something, and did not.

2. Next, you referred to the Minutemen as “right wing militia”. Nothing could be farther from the truth yet it shows how flawed your position is on border security.

3. You then went on to say that you were not afraid of terrorists, and that Bush was using it as a “fear factor” to gain support for his agenda. First off, the Democrats have used fear as a political tactic for decades. I remember the charges of how the GOP would allow children to starve, or the elderly to die, back in the early 90’s. We all know there are terrorist cells here in the States waiting to act, and if that does not scare you wait till they kill more.

4. Cable news has gone “right” because for years the only source of info was the lies of the left. People are tired of the lefts dishonesty, and misinformation. Even now they refuse to report on the successes in Iraq dwelling on the negative instead. As Cable Facts show FoxNews is number 4 of ALL cable channels, and MSNBC is 33rd. on the list. CNN doesn’t even show up.

I appreciate it every time one of you comes on C-Span. It offers yet another example of why people like Cindy Sheehan, Michael Moore, Belafonte, Dean, and Al Franken, are your spokepersons

Comment by Ken — February 10, 2006 @ 1:02 pm
Kudos, Ms. Barbara! Hope you didn’t hide under your desk too long, and that you get to catch a nap today. You did a great job this morning.

Hopefully a lot of other DUers stop by and give you encouragement. You made a lot of sense this morning, without sounding angry or strident. If you saw yesterdays’s WJ, they talked about us angry liberals. Speaking of liberals thanks for making the point that the word liberal has been turned into a cuss word. BTW, blogs are half as vitriolic or divisive as RW hate radio, so any other bloggers who go on WJ need to let Brian know.
Blogs and Air America Radio are pretty newand the divide started with Rush Limbaugh and his ilk, and the impeachment of Clinton.

Comment by Marlene Jones — February 10, 2006 @ 1:06 pm
Welcome to everyone here for the first time……Maha,, you were OUTSTANDING

Comment by justme — February 10, 2006 @ 1:14 pm
Ms. O’Brien, I caught your appearance on C-Span this morning, and I’d like to make a few points in response to some of the views you presented.
On of the first items you touched upon was your view that the executive leadership is focused on advancing an agenda as opposed to serving the nation. I see this as something of a misunderstanding of the nature of our political system –of course the administration has, and seeks to advance, an agenda. Every administration does so, and the root of an administration’s agenda is serving the nation in what they believe is the best possible fashion. And politicians run on an agenda, and are elected to enact that agenda. At least that is the theory.
Of course the agenda and the goals are shaped by the ideology of the president and his/her party. And it is here that I think you take issue. I don’t think I’d be mistaken is saying that you disagree with the president’s agenda ( ), and of course you’d want to voice your opinion and make your arguments. And of course that’s good, its how America works. But I do believe that you weaken yourself by coming at it from the direction you chose.
I must also take issue with your perspective on your ideological opponents. You made statements along the line that the Right in the various media and the political leadership are closely tied, perhaps to the point of unity. Something akin to a well orchestrated network of political operatives marching in lockstep (if I properly understood your point). This rather clearly implies that the behavior is synthetic, rather than the natural result of ideological consensus. I think that there are fewer behavioral differences (as related to your point) between the sides than you suggest. There might be more ‘internal’ disagreements on the left due to a greater diversity in ideological perspectives, but they are not at all uncommon on the right. When Rush disagrees with the president, he lets you know. So what you are seeing as a broad and unified organization is just the result of concurring opinions and, from an external perspective, the situation on the left is almost exactly the same. People with similar views say similar things, right?
Oh, and your stated distaste for a one party system, though appropriate, may not be applicable to the current situation. The Republican Party does control the White House and maintains a slight legislative majority, true, but the phrase “one party system” implies that there is only one party. I agree that we are probably best served (generally) when the government is divided, maximizing the ability of each party to check the behavior of the other –and therefore hindering the natural tendency of government to expand and infringe upon our freedoms. But the Republican majority in the Senate is slim, and the Democrats are far from powerless in either house. The balance of power shifts over time, and that it is now leaning to the right should not be a cause for such pejorative language. Since the time of FDR the power had generally been in the hands of the Democrats, possibly longer than would be the norm. But now it has shifted right, and in the future it will shift back to the left, and so on and so on. In this we can see that the center is not found in any one year, or even in any one presidency, but over the long term. Describing the situation as a “one party system” though implies a fascist system; which, quite honestly, is neither a realistic assessment or technically feasible. I have noted a tendency in some circles on the left to say that this is the case, just as there are those on the right who call every Democrat administration communists. And that is just plain foolish; showing a complete misunderstanding of such totalitarian systems as well as utter irrationality.
Which, Ms. O’Brien, I am not accusing you of. I make no accusations. I’m just suggesting that you may be mistaken.

Comment by Matt, a humble student of humanity — February 10, 2006 @ 1:17 pm
Wow, maha, for the first time ever, I’m sorry I don’t have cable! Looks like you’re going to have an even wider readership now…. Congratulations on what sounds like some awesome face time on behalf of the good guys.

Comment by joanr16 — February 10, 2006 @ 1:17 pm
P.S. Matt, get your own blog, dude.

Comment by joanr16 — February 10, 2006 @ 1:20 pm
GREAT JOB on Cspan this AM:))) Yes, BL was totally impressed. I’ve been watching Cspan for years now, and he gets this certan look on his face when he is impressed with one of his guest. You got that expression today:))) You have a special quality about you that is the “girl next door”, sitting at the kitchen table just having a well inrmed conversation etc., and I hope to see more of you in the future. Stay strong. Kitty (not so cranky:)))

Comment by Kitty — February 10, 2006 @ 1:20 pm
Joanr16 is absolutely correct. Matt you do need to get your own blog, but I have a feeling Maha wouldn’t mind debating you at any time or place. :))) Kitty

Comment by Kitty — February 10, 2006 @ 1:30 pm
Maha Barbara! You should have a radio show. We need an AM broadcast that counters those fundamentalist Limbaughasa’s.

Comment by Jack — February 10, 2006 @ 1:43 pm
Debating Matt — Nah, he still sees the world the way it’s supposed to be instead of the way it is. I might have written that crap 20 years ago, before I caught on. We’d just be talking past each other.

Also Ken (comment #18) — Dave Niewart at Orcinus is the go-to guy for debating what’s a right-wing militia and what isn’t. I defer to him on the subject.

Regarding what Clinton did in two terms versus what Bush did in 7 months — One can argue that the Clinton Administration didn’t do as much as it could have done. But the Bush Administration actually UNdid much of what the Clinton Administration HAD done to fight terrorism. By the summer of 2001 we were MORE vulnerable to terrorism because of Bushie idiocy than we had been the year before. That’s a fact.

We all know there are terrorist cells here in the States waiting to act, and if that does not scare you wait till they kill more.

Jeez, what a sniveling, pathetic weenie. I’m the one who witnessed the collapse of the WTC towers and who rides NYC subways and commuter trains frequently — likely targets. What do you want to bet this guy lives 500 miles from anyplace likely to be an al Qaeda target?

I don’t believe I said I’m not afraid of terrorists, but I did say we can’t let fear control us and how we run out country and our lives. Big difference. If you want to give in to fear and tear up the Bill of Rights to make you “safer,” why don’t you move to a nice totalitarian country to do it? Thanks much.

Comment by maha — February 10, 2006 @ 1:51 pm
barbara, saw you on C Span today. I really enjoyed what you had to say. Keep up the excellent blogging.

Comment by B Shilliday — February 10, 2006 @ 2:08 pm
bet you wont post this one…..I saw you on CSPAN today and you are the type of person that is a great danger to this nation. One comment in particular you made about the release of info yesterday about the 2002 planned attack on LA… You said that the President uses this type of thing when he is in trouble…you also said that the Mayor of LA didn’t know anything about this so called plan….you did not listen to the Mayor’s press conference yesterday when he had to admit that he knew about the plan, (it was outlined in the 9/11 Report for God’s sake) but that what he didn’t know was that the White House was going to release the info on the plan…which was proved to be WRONG with proved info from the White House that his office was informed that the info was going to be released…the problem with people like you is that you only give half the truth in order to further your political agenda….try for once telling the whole truth and if you are going to spew your garbage, maybe you learn ALL OF THE INFORMATION before you give out half truths and all out lies….like I said, I know you wont post this …..

Comment by Joan — February 10, 2006 @ 2:15 pm
Kudo’s for your professional behavior on cpsan.. i coudn’t have done it.. i want to see cheney and bush hang. period.

Comment by BJ — February 10, 2006 @ 2:19 pm
forgot to mention, i also surf other blogs and as for female bloggers.. i think there’s more of us out there than people think or know.. afterall you can’t tell by most blogs who the writer represents!

Comment by BJ — February 10, 2006 @ 2:22 pm
Ken–get a grip, man! Next, you’re gonna tell me that the Republicans haven’t fulfilled their promises to let children starve and the elderly die. Haven’t you been paying attention to what the Bushies have done to the nutrition program budgets, and what do you think Medicare Part 4 (the pharmaceutical plan) is doing? Be proud of your accomplishments, man! That’s what I call being effective at keeping promises!
Charles

Comment by charles moore — February 10, 2006 @ 2:25 pm
If George W Bush had not made the threat to invade Afghanistan in July 2001, the 9-11 attacks most likely would not have happened.

Republicans do better than Democrats on National Defense? That myth EXPLODED with the first plane that hit the world trade center on Sept 11, 2001.

I hear alot of Republicans blame Clinton for 9-11. That appears alot of trash. Under Clinton no attack on America occurred from 1994 until Jan 2001 so Clinton kept Al Qaeda from attacking us again for 7 years. Also the Towers did not fall under Clinton.

They fell under Bush and Buish failed to defend us oin Sept 11,2001. We cannot trust Republicans to keep us safe and defend America.

Next time you fax, email or call a senator or representative, include this in with your demand:

Until the legislation or action I demand gets done I will boycott products from Republican contributors Walmart, Wendy’s, Outback Steak House, Dominos Pizza, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Eckerd, CVS and Walgreens, Curves for women health clubs, GE and Exxon/Mobil.

Hold Republican contributors accountable for their officeholders opposition to progress.

So you say that a boycott will take time or will not work?
Nonsense.

Idiot conservatives called CBS 3 or 4 years ago in droves to protest the airing of a Reagan movie they did not see but heard that it would not portray Reagan well. They threatened a boycott of CBS and the advertisers.

That did not take long to get CBS to shift the movie over to showtime which had a much smaller viewership.

Many progressives called Sinclair Broadcasting in droves before the 2004 election threatening a boycott of them and their advertisers if they would not take a movie smearing John Kerry off the air. It worked quickly.

If we can get a movie off Sinclair stations then whey can’t we call companies in droves that give money to the Republican party and their candidates and Republican senators and representatives and threaten them with a boycott in order to get a comprehensive progressive agenda passed?

Why?

People must CALL their senators and representative AND these companies in droves making the connection between a boycott of these companies and a demand that they want a progressive agenda passed in congress.

Do you want to increase the minimum wage?
Write your senators and representative and demand they increase the minimum wage.

Browse http://tinyurl.com/bl2fa

Do you want to scrap the current meager Medicare Part D discount and replace it with 80 percent medication coverage under Medicare Part B?

Write your senators and representative.

Browse http://tinyurl.com/7zj69

Comment by mighty maximus — February 10, 2006 @ 2:29 pm
Saw you on TV. Just another bitter, losing, liberal-left rag session. NO President (or administration is perfect, and hind-sight is always 20/20) Clinton certainly didn’t do much either (if Osama was a woman, Slick Willy surely would have found her). Sounds like you just hate Bush. Maybe his religious beliefs, power in office and one man-one woman marrige stance has something to do with it? Give you credit for going in front of cameras, but discusted with your message and back-stabbing of our commander in chief.

Comment by Republican Viewer — February 10, 2006 @ 2:30 pm
Great job on C-Span.

As far as parallel universes are concerned this is the reason I feel we have this divide in our country now: RELIGION and Bush and Co. made sure they entwined our government & religion
People of faith, have faith. This must be GWB’s message to his faithful.

My Prayer for the governed

I shall wrap myself in the flag of my
country and hold a Bible high in my
hand. My songs of privatization, reverence
and traditional values will be heard
throughout the land.
I will align myself with those of power
and wealth, forsaking the downtrodden
and unfortunate and proclaim my actions
to be in the best interest of all. I will divert
funding from education of our youth,
saying to critics that no child will be left
. behind. I will repeal legislation that protects-
the citizenry from environmental
pollution and deny them redress through
the judicial process.
I will call it necessary.
I will invade foreign powers, categoriz-
‘ ing them as evil, and imprison and
torture their people. And this, I will say,
is justified in that we bring hope, freedom
and democracy to the conquered. I uiill
take from the impoverished, the elderly
and the infirm and they will believe that
this is right and good. For it is by their
faith, rather than their understanding,
that I have been entrusted with the
power to lead them. And they will not
readily admit the fallibility of their beliefs.
Let us pray.

vlup2es

Comment by vlup2es — February 10, 2006 @ 2:31 pm
I am watching you on C-Span now. Consider me a faithful reader from here on out. I also loved the right brain /left brain parallel universe remark.

Comment by J — February 10, 2006 @ 2:32 pm
Saw you on the rerun of CSPAN, you did a great job.
Talk about hitting the nail on the head, every time Bush is implicated in a scandal, he does one of his fear mongering speechs.
This whole administartion is nothing more then a sick, demented joke.
I’ve looked at a lot of websites debunking the whole 9/11 story, and I now believe there is more to it then we are being told.
I want to know what Cheney was controlling when he was playing “war games” on 9/11.
It would not surprise me if he was behind the “plane” crashing into the Pentagon. I feel it was not a commercial aircraft, but a drone carrying a missle. Rumsfeld accidentally said it was a missle in a public statement.
But I just want to say, I love your site.

Thanks for your efforts..
Gregory D. Kramer

Comment by Gregory D. Kramer — February 10, 2006 @ 2:34 pm
Just watching you on CSPAN. Great to listen to you. Very interesting. When Bush was reelected, I got so depressed I stopped writing. It’s encouraging to know that you’re out there still plugging away. Thanks. I’ll be visiting your blog now. Regards,

Comment by Dr. Christina Johns — February 10, 2006 @ 2:35 pm
Saw you on CSPAN. Just another partisan. Right or left makes no difference.

Comment by Terry — February 10, 2006 @ 2:38 pm
You were great, you were poised and intelligent. I loved your thoughts and responses. You made me proud to be on the left.

Please tell me through your blog what this party needs to do to take advantage of the miscues of the present administration.

http://www.lmsharpe.blogspot.com

Comment by Sharpe — February 10, 2006 @ 2:38 pm
Hello Barbara!

Just checked you out on C-Span’s “Washington Journal”. I’m really feeling you speaking truth to power and Republican lunacy! I’m bookmarking your blog! Keep doing the thing!!

Take Care!

Comment by 1SmoothDj — February 10, 2006 @ 2:39 pm
Great to see you on C-Span. Didn’t know about you before.

Especially interesting what you said about “two separate realities” much akin to the two halves of the brain. It does seem that we are hard-wired with a dualistic psychology. That is why we need to discipline our minds and hearts (wisdom ?) to determine the objective reality. When we drop a rock on our toe, it is pretty clear that is the objective reality. Later, it can get distorted.

Was it Max Dupree that expressed that leadership IS the definition of reality. . . I agree with that statement. Perception is NOT objective reality like so many spinners have convinced many of this generation. Perception is subjective interpretation of reality.

Comment by Amadeus Guy — February 10, 2006 @ 2:39 pm
#18 Ken needs to wake up to the future + not the past. He clearly blames all Bush failures on President Clinton-Which are many. I can tell he gets his distorted info. from Fox. Ill bet he loves Hanity+Rush+ Bill- some of the time. He clearly takes notes on anyone HE FEELS is picking on P.Bush. Dont blame his party! How dare you!!!!!!

Comment by Dave Haney — February 10, 2006 @ 2:41 pm
Nice job today on C-SPAN; you were very composed. I’ll be sure to stop by here more often.

And very sorry to see you’re drawing fire, but it comes with the territory. Like “Ken” above, very misguided but probably following talking points. Ditto for “Joan”. Nothing like a public appearance to spawn attacks.

Rebuttal for Ken:
1) FAA issued (4) warnings in spring-summer of 2001 regarding potential for hijackings; 06-AUG-01 PDB also cited imminent threat by OBL. Tenet and Clarke were “hair on fire” for months in advance of 2001. This data and more was far more current than that you cited.
2) “Minutemen”, “right wing militia”…to-may-toe, to-mah-toe. Armed individuals acting in concert under vigilitantism. Better?
3) “…GOP would allow children to starve, or the elderly to die…” Ever heard of Hurricane Katrina? Darfur? Medicare D?
4) Cable news has gone far right because its owners are far right. Roger Ailes, GE, pick an individual or corporation that owns media, then check their donations in FEC reports. Additionally, highest concentration of news consumers are older conservatives; why create products for young folks that don’t vote who’d rather watch reality television?

Comment by Rayne — February 10, 2006 @ 2:42 pm
#18,,,,, just a few things

1.Our CIA trained bin laden , so thank reagan/bush sr for creating the monster to start with, before you complain Clinton didn’t clean up the mess others created, lets be honest about it.

2.One doesn’t need a clue to know, with regard to the minuteman issue , minute men are like putting a bandaide on a gun shot wound.One only need look around the country to see that minute men are not the solution.

3. I love the arguement “but the democrats do it too”., it always make those saying it seem almost child like…But since you agree that the democrats do it too,that means at least you see that Bush IS doing it and I guess you don’t mind fear being used as a tool to control you.

4 you claim the left lied for years, without any specific lie…common among the rights way of thinking, and you go on to say how wonderful and sucessful faux (s)nooze is, , but here is the part where your logic falls flat on it’s fat behind: you say the media refuses to show the good news in Iraq.YOU have Faux , mouthpiece for the Administration ,you claim they are so right,and free from leftist lies and the liberals who tell them, why is it they are not the 24 hour good news in Iraq station?How do they find time to report anything but all that good news?Why is there not a faux (s)nooze reporter on every Iraqi corner, waiting to report, on how terrific we are to rebuild schools after we bomb them?Why no reporters in the homes of candy and flower bearing Iraqis to see their electricity work, or their clean water run?I hear the phrase “the good thing happening in Iraq ” often, but those words are never followed by a huge list of acheivments.The lack of substance really makes the case you wish to make fall sadly short.

I suggest you take a field trip to Iraq. Go there and SEE all that GOOD news first hand, and please report back to us here, we would love to hear all the wonderful things you see walking down the streets of Bagdad.Take a few faux news reporters with you to o, it sounds like they are missing a fantastic story!!! Maybe you should call them now and give them the scoop.How could you get away with letting faux (s)nooze of the hook ,it is , after all, the government propaganda channel,,,so how is it they are missing all this good news???

Thanks for your comments,, they remind me of the old saying “If you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything”..I love old sayings

Comment by justme — February 10, 2006 @ 2:43 pm
I just discovered your site by C-Span. It s great to see so many step up to the plate. I am glad to see the media (C-Span) looking forward for a change. Left or right without a middle we would all be chasing our tails to the right or left, we still would be running around in a circle and getting nowhere. Hope this circus will change and our American Ringmasters will redirect attention more to the middle and stop treating the people like animals.
Thanks Barbara, great Job!

Comment by Bobby Allison — February 10, 2006 @ 2:49 pm
Congratulations on your spot on C-span. Blogs are democracy in action.No small feat considering the fact that America resembles more of a plutocracry than a true democracy. KUDOS

Comment by jan — February 10, 2006 @ 2:52 pm
Saw you on C-Span this morning and really appreciated your comments. It’s nice to know we Dems have well spoken and informed people on our side.

Time to “Throw the Republican Bums OUT” come November,,,stay focused,,,,,,stand strong and lets take back our Country from the Treasonous Thugs in Power now.

Comment by beach — February 10, 2006 @ 2:53 pm
Excellent job on Washington Journal.

Comment by Sandra — February 10, 2006 @ 2:55 pm
great job on cspan….especially the comments on how important to the health of our political system TWO parties are….i would add that i think another party would even be better

Comment by rz — February 10, 2006 @ 2:55 pm
Dear Barbara,

I thoroughly enjoyed your comments and wise answers to callers on C-Span this morning! I had encouraged many from Wesley Clark’s WesPAC General Discussion blog to catch you on C-Span, and then you blew me away with your comment that you supported Wesley Clark in ‘04. Well, imagine my excitement! He’s the one man with integrity and honest debate about every issue. I trust him! I also voted for him in ‘04!

Anyone interested in learning more about him, please go to http://www.securingamerica.com . Sign his petitions! Read his “Real State of the Union Address!” http://www.securingamerica.com/

General Clark has dedicated his life to our country! He’s working very hard to help introduce new Democrats running for office! We should all be grateful to him!

I am so happy I caught you on C-Span. Thank you for all you do! You did a GREAT JOB! I am very pleased to know about “Mahablog!”

Unitary Executive Theory is Not a Theory Anymore!
We all must work together to take back the house in ‘06!

Comment by MsbehavinforClark — February 10, 2006 @ 3:00 pm
I saw you on C-Span this morning - what a great job you did! Great enough that I visited my first ever bog site (yours). This is fun stuff! I’ll be sticking around - keep it up.

Comment by Sheryl — February 10, 2006 @ 3:01 pm
Miss,

I watched a few segments of you on C-Span a little while ago and one of the comments you made was that “you don’t feel that the current administration is keeping America safer”, while at the same time just today on C-Span2 Senator Sessions explained why President Bush went ahead and declassified a thwart of an attack on a Californian building by four people that are now in jail because of his “so called” illegal wire taping.

Also, you further went on to say that “you hardly see Liberals on television”. I have to say that that one of the silliest things that I have ever heard. Now, had you said “talk radio” you would have been right, but in today’s T.V. new it is so slated to the left it make me want to throw up. I watch Fox news only. They have that Judge Apaletano, Colms (who’s so far to the left I won’t watch the show) and a couple others who keep it balanced. And then there’s O’Reilly who’s the most fair and balanced.

I do agree with what you said about “liberals” being understood for who and what they are. The far left are not liberals, they are lunatics. Real Liberals believe in Liberty and justice for all, unfortunately we live in a different time now and certain rights and liberties must be exchanged for securities and yes privileges too. Such is life for us all in the land of the Free

TLC
2006

PS: Great Job On C-Span !

Comment by Terry — February 10, 2006 @ 3:03 pm
Saw you on C-span…you might be my new favorite blog…clear-thinking, rational, and quietly firm in your beliefs. You and other bloggers are the sanity-saving saviors of people like me who feel our voice is distorted by the right-wing noise machine that stlfles dialogue and forces the “you’re either with us or against us ” mentality. Thank you for all you do.

Comment by Mariann — February 10, 2006 @ 3:11 pm
I agree with the posters above who said not only did you do a great job and you should get your own radio or TV program. I think real soon the technology will improve to the point that instead of text blogging, there will be voice and therefore ‘radio’? Cool eh?
I was lucky enough to get through to speak with you today. I am not a very good speaker and get nervous and forget most of what I want to say but the guy before me gave me an opening of saying he had served in the guard with the shrub. How desperate do these guys have to be to lie for him? They are sad and are on their way out; the clothes are falling off our poor incompetent dear leader.
Thanks again for your great showing this morning and now I have another blog to read, sheeze, I already read about 6 hours a day!

Comment by Frannie — February 10, 2006 @ 3:11 pm
My first visit here. Saw you on c-span this morning so I wanted to thank you for your well understood positions. Your concise non inflammatory answers will serve the truth. Being an x republican but still conservative I can not believe their openness in shunning the working class but then reassure them with religion.

Comment by Hodobe — February 10, 2006 @ 3:12 pm
Consider

The “cartoon” issue will give new recruits to the phantom fighters in Iraq.

As U.S. resources are depleted, Iran and Syria will call Bush’s bluff. The hawks will have their war!

When fighting someone bigger and stronger than yourself, the key to victory is to sucker him into your territory, get as close as you can, take away his leverage so he can’t power punch you. Use a small knife and you can gut him like a pig.

Shakespeare said “Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot, that it do singe yourself” The U.S. will become bankrupt, tuck tail and pull out or use WMD.

Also, will Bush use the war to try for a 3rd term?

Comment by Charles — February 10, 2006 @ 3:13 pm
It looks like clips (if not the whole show) are available from the C-SPAN website (click on the link for “Washington Journal” in the left sidebar) for those of you who missed it or have a burning need to watch it again. It was certainly better TV than the Today Show.

Comment by Erin — February 10, 2006 @ 3:13 pm
WOW! caught you on C-span this AM, and am extremely proud of and heartened by, your representation of serious feminist values, intellect, and good humor. It’s going to take me a while to explore your fantastic blog, so I’ve put an icon on my desktop to reach you often. If you ever have the time, please visit my blog for a poetic version of polemic expression…I call it the Sovereignty Rag, and you can reach it at
http://the broadsside.blogspot.com
Thank you for the light you shine into these dark times.
Blessed Be, Sage,
alternate email…blackdogjunction@yahoo.com

Comment by sage(short for sojourner) — February 10, 2006 @ 3:14 pm
Barbara…
In my opinion…I think the “division” we see is really not there.
It is there to dupe the American people into thinking that issues are being debated in an open, free arena and something is being done where in reality, the powers that be (ptb) already have an agenda that is set in stone, all the politicians know it, and the “debates” we see are those politicians trying to get their piece of that stone pie or fight against it for their constituents, image, power etc. The American public is pacified easily by the “fact” that there is a division or that issues are being talked about. For example, the wiretapping issue is a good example. I think most politicians know that the NSA has been acting above the law all along, but there was a supposed “leak” so that the masses will be pacified once again by the talk or arguments that would ensue–this is so that, I believe, when the NSA starts doing more intrusive and blatant actions, nothing will really be done because as far as the public is concerned, they have been pacified with the “been there, done that/acceptance” pacifier and thusly, the politicians will stay status-quo as well. I guess what it comes down to is the truth is out there, and it sucks, and every now and then the ptb throws a piece of it to the masses to cause “division” to get the public to go through the basic human responses of shock, denial, anger, grief and finally acceptance of it…so that when the PTB does more of what they shouldnt, the issue will not be revisited. The point: Any division we see is a result of power grabbing or a deliberate maniplualtion of the masses. Heck, Bush and Clinton play golf together, what do you think?

Comment by Robert — February 10, 2006 @ 3:14 pm
Been visiting your blog for the past couple of months and watched the great presentation you made today on C-Span. I usually won’t watch on Friday, but had to hear you speak up for our side, on what I consider to be, a very right-wing attitude Brian Lamb has. Keep up the good work!

Comment by Annie Benton — February 10, 2006 @ 3:16 pm
Adding to the kudos and the “gee, I’d never heard of you before your C-Span appearance” — I thought you were just great. Measured, patient with those who parrot the right-wing talking points and well informed.

Note to Frannie (comment 54) - internet radio is already here. It’s called podcasting and all the kids are doing it! Here’s hoping Mahablog is ready to be one of the kids.

Comment by David — February 10, 2006 @ 3:18 pm
Thanks Barbara for a job well done on C-SPAN. One of the most important things you said this morning was that we liberals are not afraid of terrorism to the point that we are willing to give up our liberties in order to feel safe.

You also said that the Bush administration had plenty of warnings about 9/11 and they made no effort whatsoever to stop it. If you think about it for awhile, what reason could they possibly have for their inaction in the face of plenty of actionable intelligence? The conclusion is breathtaking in it’s simplicity and it certainly is not because they were inept.

Comment by Rae Ann — February 10, 2006 @ 3:25 pm
You did a great job — and on no sleep, yet. I don’t even think I could handle a normal interview/call-in show on a good night’s sleep, and you handled (a) hostile callers who (b) really wanted to answer the previous question while (c) being interviewed by the wildly overrated Brian Lamb, who seems incapable of asking two questions in a row that have anything to do with each other (it makes me crazy every time I watch him). Yet you handled it with aplomb — good on you…

Comment by Steve M. — February 10, 2006 @ 3:28 pm
“Time to “Throw the Republican Bums OUT” come November,,,stay focused,,,,,,stand strong and lets take back our Country from the Treasonous Thugs in Power now.”

And replace them with what? A bunch of terrorist appeasing limosine liberals? The next terrorist strike will be twofold compared to 9/11 and let’s see who the left will blame. It’s BoOsH’s fault!

I have news for ya, If they hit Manhattan again, don’t expect everyone to come running to your aid. The majority of Americans are sick to death of the loony lefts traitorous and backstabbing BS. And this comes from someone who witnessed people jumping and hitting the ground from the North tower on 9/11. I was there so spare me your.. “I was a mile away from the scene” schpeel.

God help us all if we have to count on losers like you.

Comment by PellMell — February 10, 2006 @ 3:29 pm
Note back to David (61)
I didn’t know pod-casting was interactive, am I wrong?
I want back and forth voice dialogue on the net.

Comment by Frannie — February 10, 2006 @ 3:32 pm
I just now saw you on the C-Span!
I said to myself, wow….she thinks just like me!

But what really floored me, besides the fact that you were outstanding in your general discussion and your answers to callers, was the fact that you mentioned your support for Gen. Wesley Clark!

The Patriotic General Rocks bigtime! He is Leadership personifide and is currently tirelessly stumping for many of the 60 patriotic Democratic Veterans running for house seats in Republican Districts throughout the Nation against the chickenhawks. Wes is advocating we take the fight to the Republicans on National Security as opposed to avoiding the issue. After all, Woodrow Wilson, FDR & Truman, and Kennedy (WWI, WWII and the Cuba Missile Crisis/Cold War) were all Democrats, and they kept us safe and strong in years gone by.

9/11 happened with Bush in office, and not before. The buck should stop there! When he tries to blame everyone else, it only shows how weak and unaccountable he truly is.

Evidently many Soldiers and Veterans understand better than some of the rest of us about how they were sent to fight a war that they didn’t have to fight without the right body armor and the right plan by an administration that exaggerated, cajoled, bamboozled, bullied and frightened the American people into invading the country posing the least threat to our security (if any threat at all).

There were no WMDs, but yet, we have wasted numerous human lives and billions in monetary treasure because of the incompetence and desingeniouness of this manipulative corrupt administration.

Osama Bin Laden is cutting more tapes than Outcast which this administration pathetically pulls out whenever they wish to frivolously scare unsuspecting Americans to raise their sagging poll numbers.

But I have no doubt that we will win the house back in 2006, no matter what the naysayers say. Even the normally disinterested folks can’t help but notice the bad leadership currently leading us over the edge, as absolute power continues to corrupt absolutely!

As far as the Corporate media (90% owned by 5 corporations) is concerned; their motto? “Never mind the Truth; trust us on this”!

I can’t wait for the day that America becomes a better America again!

A newfound fan of yours,

Comment by Juliette — February 10, 2006 @ 3:34 pm
Welcome to the peculiar world of Chris Simcox, vigilante leader, right-wing dilettante and, according to one new report, a man rapidly skidding towards extremist delusion. In “Minuteman Leader Has Troubled Past,” the Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center portrays a confused and dangerous demagogue whose rapacity for conspiracy theories exploded as the Twin Towers imploded.

In Southern Arizona, he’s known as co-founder of the Minuteman Project and former owner of the Tombstone Tumbleweed newspaper. But according to the report, Simcox arrived here with a little baggage from his tumultuous Los Angeles past–one rich with wild-eyed rants, violent outbursts and an alleged molestation attempt.

The SPLC was founded in 1971 to fight hate crime and racism. In Simcox, it apparently found shades of both. The center began investigating the vigilante chieftain “because he was making very bigoted statements about Hispanics, and he sounded a bit crazy,” says Mark Potok, SPLC Intelligence Project director. “Simcox in many ways represents a lot of people in the vigilante movement.”

Contacted by the Tucson Weekly, Simcox in turn accuses the SPLC of “conducting a witch hunt.”

“I consider the Southern Poverty Law Center a hate group,” he says. “Their goal is to slander and stereotype people.”

But what SPLC reporters Susy Buchanan and David Holthouse found was a former primary school teacher who left frightened ex-spouses, bizarre behavior and plenty of firepower in his wake. If Simcox was paranoid before Sept. 11, they write, he was raving in its aftermath. “His phone messages and conversations with relatives were growing increasingly bizarre. He talked endlessly about stockpiling firearms and apocalyptic premonitions. Los Angeles was doomed, he said. Then, on Sept. 30, he fled the city for good. ‘I’m going on a great adventure,’ he told his teenaged son. ‘If I end up going to prison, you can always e-mail me.’”

But old memories die hard. Take Deborah Crews, his first ex-wife, who accused Simcox of pedophilia in 1998. “He tried to molest our daughter when he was intoxicated,” Crews told the SPLC. “When she ran out, he tried to say he was just giving her a leg massage and she got the wrong idea.

“He’s a drastic, chaotic, very dangerous guy,” Crews added. “I’m surprised he hasn’t shot anybody yet. I see him on TV and I have to turn if off, because it makes me sick to see him getting all this attention.”

Today, Simcox calls those molestation claims “a bunch of crap, considering that I just spent Christmas with my daughter, and she’s pretty estranged from her mother as well.”

The scene was little better between Simcox and his second wife, Kim Dunbar. She filed for full custody of their son “because she feared that Simcox had suffered a mental breakdown and was dangerous,” says the SPLC story.

In sworn affidavits, Dunbar testified that Simcox would fly into sudden and violent rages during their marriage. “He once took a knife from the kitchen and threatened to kill himself,” she said. “When he was angry, he broke furniture, car windows, he banged his head against the wall repeatedly and punched things.”

When their son was 4 years old, Dunbar said, Simcox slapped him with such force that the marks lasted for two days. And she reported grabbing her boy and jumping out the window another time, because Simcox was heaving furniture at them.

Her husband always emerged morose from his outbursts: “He would stare at walls, mumbling to himself,” she told the court. At one time, she reportedly tried to have him hospitalized, but he rejected all professional help. Finally, she said, “the only thing I could do was file for divorce.”

And after Sept. 11, she started filing emergency appeals. “I am convinced he has had some kind of mental lapse,” she said, “and I am now, more than ever, afraid for my son to be in Chris’ care.” At the same time, says the SPLC report, Simcox would leave ranting phone messages about terrorist attacks, nuclear bombs targeting L.A. and the fact that their then-15-year-old son sorely needed a little good gun training.

Soon Dunbar was awarded full custody.

At that point, Simcox was drifting. He tried joining the U.S. Border Patrol, but was too old. So he struck out for the borderland, eventually rambling into Tombstone and a brief gunfight actor’s gig. Then he reportedly raided his son’s college fund to buy the Tumbleweed, according to the SPLC. And that’s when the Simcox we’ve come to know started to emerge. Soon, he’d formed the Civil Homeland Defense Corps, a ragtag band of weekend warriors bent on turning back Southern Arizona’s migrant hordes.

Today, Simcox dismisses the entire SPLC report as culled “from one ugly divorce, and another with the court considering that me wanting to sign my son up for an NRA-sanctioned gun-safety course was inappropriate.

“Other than the court records,” he says, “90 percent of it is inaccurate and blatant lies. I could really care less–it has nothing to do with anything now.”

But the past may portend the future, says Potok. “This wasn’t an attempt to pillory the guy with unpleasant things his ex-wives had to say about him. I think what is most important in this story is the idea that he is a chaotic individual, a person who is acting for reasons other than the reasons he says.”

Potok calls Simcox an unstable conspiracy theorist who draws extremists to his cause. “I don’t mean to suggest that everyone in the Minutemen and other (vigilante) groups are Klansmen or off their rockers,” Potok says. “But we have seen time and again that the leadership of this movement is shot through with people who are racists, very militaristic and seem somewhat divorced from reality.

“Conspiracy theories run through these groups from top to bottom. Our overall concern is that the mixture of false conspiracy theories, a lot of weapons and a great deal of bigotry is really a tinderbox waiting to explode.”

To view the Southern Poverty Law Center report, go to http://www.splcenter.org.
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/currents/Content?oid=oid:76815

Comment by Cathy — February 10, 2006 @ 3:36 pm
Barbara,
We need more who can articulate the progressive viewpoint as articulately as you did this morning. Great job…and thanks! I’ve just added your blog to my blogroll.

Comment by Edward Deevy — February 10, 2006 @ 3:41 pm
See, Maha, those of us who have been following your work for years have always told you that you are great,,a star is born indeed!I am so happy for you, I only regret none of your regular readers were able ot get thru,,, some of us stayed up all night last night searching for the perfect question to ask , and didn’t get a chance to ask it.

Those of you who have never been here before, Bookmark this site, I promise you are in for a treat.Whether you always agree or not Maha will make you think.. how inspiring in a world where everyone seems to be more interested in telling you what to think!

Maha , I think I can speak for all of your regular readers when I say thank you so much for all of you hard work over the years, thanks for being the voice of reason and a refuge for thinking people, I am so proud to see others recognize what a great gift you have..Please keep up the great work..Don’t forget about your loyal readers when your a big star…:))

Comment by justme — February 10, 2006 @ 3:49 pm
BRAVA BARBARA, BRAVA!!

Great job today on C-span. I was recently turned on to your blog and now read it regularly….What a pleasure to see you on cable as well.
Great overview with Brian Lamb, responses to callers ( even though I didn’t get the whole topic of leadership qualities that so many wanted to discuss) and deft handling of the right both on air and in the blogosphere.

You are a great asset to the left side of the political spectrum!!

Comment by NEOJOE — February 10, 2006 @ 3:54 pm
“I’m Baaaaaack… To the couple of snarky commenters: You stink too.” - O’Brien

Upgrade the site maybe? Simple copy ‘n paste techniques should not be a prob. ~wink~

Comment by Jim — February 10, 2006 @ 4:10 pm
Thanks, Jim. Save me a lot of typing.

Comment by Cheryl — February 10, 2006 @ 4:14 pm
A big thumbs up….Maha. You were great..

Comment by Swami — February 10, 2006 @ 4:17 pm
Does anyone out there really believe Bush is President? The man always says what you want to hear, turns around and does the complete opposite.

Cheney is the President! He has put his thieves everywhere. No one dares cross him or they are out….
By the time Cheney is finished we will be a third world country. Rich and poor. Middle class gone.

Bush is a puppet for the Neo-Cons who are running everything They now have the Supreme Court, the World Bank, The U.N., and anything else they want.
Read their plan written in 1997.

We must stop them in November.

Their arrogance and abuse of power is beyond belief.

The religious zealots must stop checking their brains in at the door of the church.

Pay attention America.

Comment by vlup2es — February 10, 2006 @ 4:31 pm
Saw you on Lamb’s Lunatic Losers today. Looking at you reminded me that apparently a few nuns did escape South American massacre! Why don’t you join the Taliban crowd, you share their negativity…and you would certainly do us all a favor by hiding your repulsive appearance behind a birka …Better yet why not go to New Orleans, they could use some big “dikes” to reduce the flooding. The purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others. Now, go change the litter box.

Comment by carson — February 10, 2006 @ 4:39 pm
Shame on Carson.
You fight like Bush.
More substance and intelligence would help. Even perhaps a knowledge of current events.
The personal insults you leveled, are worthy of a person of your intellectual weakness.

Comment by vlup2es — February 10, 2006 @ 4:45 pm
Good Afternoon, Barbara ~

Like so many others today, I too saw you for the first time on C-SPAN. I got a kick out of your comment about hiding under the furniture yesterday in preparation for the big event. Let me tell you, what a terrific job you did! So articulate, eloquent, on-point, armed and ready. Glad you were able to define “liberal,” and talk about how the word’s been demonized. Count on me to be a regular

Comment by Tricia Galbraith — February 10, 2006 @ 4:47 pm
Hi, saw your comment about not being a good buddhist on PBS today. Pl be reminded relationship with Buddha is of a student-teacher. Buddha sets the example, we do our part by daily practice. Me think you provide public service and is mightly good buddhist.

Comment by robin li — February 10, 2006 @ 4:50 pm
Hi, Barbara-

I saw you on C-Span today and thought you were FABULOUS!! I wish I could have called in regarding 9/11/01 and what my experience was. I live in Atlantic Beach, FL, near Mayport Naval Base. In July, 2001 I rode my bike on the beach up to Mayport but was stopped by a Federal Police Officer who would not allow me to continue my ride to the jetties.

I started talking to him about the reasons and he eventually stated to me, “We’ve had threats from Osama bin Laden.” This was in JULY 2001!! And I’ve never forgotten it- nor did I forget the officer’s name. The whole military knew something was going to happen- and some of us here think that Bushco knew- and let it happen to gain more control. It’s despicable and shameful. And it’s not that much different from what happened in New Orleans.

Thanks for letting me vet about my experience. Hope to see you again on C-Span.

Comment by Sperry49 — February 10, 2006 @ 4:58 pm
What caught my ear on CSPAN,
1. Caller said he thought the difference between Conservative and Liberal blogs was that the former are mostly analytical and the latter are mostly emotional, you said just the opposite is true.
>>> I think someone could do a rather quick bit of sociological research; which while not definative might shed some light on the subject. I do not think it is self evident who is correct here and recital of anecdotal evidence doesn’t really qualify as an answer.

2. You said you believe in objective truth.
>>> Thank You, I wish more people said it and meant it when they said it. I assume you not only believe in objective truth but you also seek it.
I wondered what methods, techniques and mesurement tools; you employed in your daily struggle for objectivity and against the pitfalls of subjectivity and bias.

Comment by IMJonah — February 10, 2006 @ 5:02 pm
Your book marked and Ill be back often. I would say something witty to some of the hateful comments above, but they wouldn’t get it anyway. Keep up the great blog.

Comment by Alan J — February 10, 2006 @ 5:05 pm
Great job on CSPAN. You handled the callers well, especially the Bushbots! You were very calm and logical when they made ridiculous claims such Bush is honest and strong on defense. It is still beyond me how anyone can say this after Hurricane Katrina.

I love to see and hear REAL liberals in the media. It is quite rare these days. These days we get fake, diluted bullshit like Juan Williams on Fox News!

I’m bookmarking your site. I, too, am a feminist yet I rarely check out the women’s blogs because I haven’t heard too much about them. Usually I go to dailykos, mydd, and Steve Gilliard. So, you and your links are most welcome!!!

Comment by Sheri — February 10, 2006 @ 5:08 pm
Note to Terry(#52) - you seem to be fair but you’re certainly not balanced if you depend only on FOX for your news. I’m glad you don’t watch Hannity & Combs (not because Combs is left but because Hannity is so far right that he seems to be nothing more than a bag man for the Bush administration). At least we know that you do check out C-SPAN!

Note to Ken(#18) - Regarding Democrat fear tactics charging that the GOP would allow “children to starve, or the elderly to die” - are you unaware of the administration’s recent budget proposal that recommends cuts to such programs as food stamps, medical care and heating subsidies (to name a few). That sounds like children starving and the elderly dying to me. But maybe you are one of the few members of the country that will TRULY benefit from Bush’s very generous tax breaks. Me, I’m middle class and any tax credit I was so lucky to get has since been eaten up by MUCH higher property taxes that have resulted from decreased payments to the states which in turn have reduced payments to the cities and towns. Fees just to get my kids to school almost offset my tax savings. I could go on and on. Wake up and smell the facts!!!

Comment by Sue — February 10, 2006 @ 5:13 pm
Excellent job on C-SPAN this morning. You did the blogosphere proud!

Comment by Paul Blom — February 10, 2006 @ 5:26 pm
Dear Barbara, it’s a great pleasure to ‘meet’ you today on C-Span, and to find your blog and all that comes with it!

As you know, this Administration’s m.o. is to divide; its their strategy, political and ‘diplomatic,’ and I’m thrilled that you and others here recognize the need for uniting, for leadership, and for General Wesley Clark.

For those who would like to join more conversations, please join us at securingamerica.com; click ‘community’ at the top of the home page. AND the home page contains lots of information about Wes Clark, including articles, speeches, op-eds, and transcripts.

Be seeing y’all!

Comment by EllenG — February 10, 2006 @ 5:38 pm
The buzz about your terrific appearance on CSPAN is blogospheric!
I support Wes Clark for President in 2008 for reasons that must be
obvious to you supported him in 2004. Let’s hope the Democratic base vote with their heads for once in the 2008 primaries. I hope you get onto the CNN and MSNBC next!

Comment by voteforhopeandsunshine — February 10, 2006 @ 5:48 pm
Check out George Lakoff’s book, Don’t Think of an Elephant. It’s only $8 at Amazon.com. He is a professor of linguistics at UC Berkeley. He has thought long and hard about the different world views of conservatives and progressives. Conservatives have a “strict parent” approach to life, and progressives have a “nurturing parent” perspective. Those with a “strict parent” world view look to and need authority and their authority figures can do no wrong. The poor are morally suspect, and therefore why should society help them. “Nurturing parent” types, on the otherhand, believe that we are all in this together and must watch out for those less privileged. He has many more examples of the difference in world views, but, hey, just guess who believes in the federal role in supporting highways, public transportation, the Internet? Again, check it out. This little book helps to explain why “strict parent” types are so angry. They think everyone who doesn’t think like them is a thief.

Comment by Patricia Shillingburg — February 10, 2006 @ 5:49 pm
Nice

Comment by Geraldod — February 10, 2006 @ 6:25 pm
You mentioned your life was boring. Why do you say that?

Comment by Geraldod — February 10, 2006 @ 6:27 pm
Wish I could have watched you, Barbara. I don’t own a TV, much less have cable.

It’s interesting how the people who disagreed with you and bothered to write have to, in nearly all cases, call names and denigrate your appearance. Very childish. I can only respect those who have respect.

Keep up the good work. We all need folks like you.

Comment by Lynne — February 10, 2006 @ 7:20 pm
Thanks to CSPAN, I found you………good job!!!!

Comment by DannyY — February 10, 2006 @ 7:50 pm
Barbara, I thought you were adorable on CSPAN. You struck me as the everyday woman with a really cool intellect and a concern for what’s happening. I liked what you said about your cat. I’m hooked. Thank you.

Comment by Rounds77 — February 10, 2006 @ 9:18 pm
Ooo, we’re so close to 100. I never got 100 comments on one post before.

Comment by maha — February 10, 2006 @ 9:21 pm
I saw you this morning and must say THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I am a 60 year old Black female from the East Tennessee area and if you know anything about this area - you know I am trapped in the civil war era in 2006. I have no representatives and if anyone chose to protect and defend me - they too would be attacked. I am a LIBERAL and PROUD of it, but then as I always say - if there are Black conservatives - they are misled and confused. I was a joy to hear you and I had to tell you. Whenever I am about to give up on the human race and believe that the majority of the majority are conservative bigots - I come across people like you. You stood your ground this AM and to those who think Brian Lamb is fair and balanced - just look and listen - and check out his body language. I must say he does a great job of pretending. What I loved about you this morning is - YOU were precise - accurate - assured and did the best that I have seen on what is often referred to as the “liberal media.” Looking forward to reading more - Have your blog in my favorites. THANKS AGAIN - Now get some rest - and Let’s keep up the FIGHT.

Comment by DKincaid — February 10, 2006 @ 9:25 pm
I caught you on C-span today and I just had to check out your blog! I read thru many of your prior posts and I am now even more impressed with you.I added you to my favorites list and I will check in often to get your insight into the events of the day.

I think, as others have said,we need a voice like yours to carry a reality based message to those who are ready to listen, and I believe the number of people ready to listen would increase if all could deliver it in the manner you were able to, something I noticed comes thru in what you write as well.I hope you are able to be seen more often,,the left has a powerful asset in you, and your words, I hope they recognize it!

Comment by trapped in a red state — February 10, 2006 @ 9:43 pm
Maha…..I just watched the tape of your C-Span 45 minutes. You certainly deserve all the great reviews you are getting here about your poise and intellect and ability to communicate succinctly exactly what is most pertinent to so very many people [and to shine so without a good night's sleep!].

Having posted here a lot of times…..I was understandably curious to see you ’speak in person.’ Your ability to speak temporaneously does indeed match your ability to write your great blog. I particularly enjoyed the play of expressions on your face as you listened to questioners.

Speaking of questioners, my hat is off to Frannie [#54 above] for her getting through to ask a question at the right time! Frannie was quick and brilliant in her priceless countering of the previous caller, the guy saying he had buddied with Bush in the Texas Air National Guard…..oops, she said, “he missed out on the $10,000 reward offerred [to anyone who could come forward with proof that Bush actually served]!”

Comment by Donna — February 10, 2006 @ 9:49 pm
Well,Maha..I’ll guarantee you get 100 comments..they may be stupid,but there will be 100.

I loved the comment on C-span from the well adjusted viewer in Georgia who said that the left has been” given over to a reprobate mind”. I noticed you didn’t respond to the statement… and then I thought, how can anybody counter such profound thinking. It was almost like hearing from God.

Comment by Swami — February 10, 2006 @ 9:51 pm
Frannie [#54 above] Frannie’s call stands out for me because she was so friendly and a nice contrast to the whackjobs. And I appreciate Frannie’s remembering the reward for anyone who could corroborate Bush’s guard service claims! Thanks, Frannie!

Ooo, 3 more, 3 more …

Comment by maha — February 10, 2006 @ 9:53 pm
MaHa/Barbara, I saw you on C-SPAN this morning on the rebroadcast. Your capacity to do a TV interview with those particular demands is amazing. Your ability with the wingnuts was positively Budhist. One of the best skills you exhibited is knowing when to stop with a closing comment. You understand the demands of the medium, an interviewers must love your capacity to expand without steamrolling on forever. I was proud to have you as a spokesperson for us all. I join you in being over 25, a feminist, a blogger, a progressive, a centrist, and a Liberal (there I said it!). Yes we can be both. I’ll be a regular. But know that I won’t be one of those “Gushers” on a regular basis.

Comment by Carol Gee — February 10, 2006 @ 10:24 pm
Durn! thot I’d be 100.

Comment by Carol Gee — February 10, 2006 @ 10:25 pm
Good work Barbara.
I caught your C-Span interview this morning, I found you to be thoughtful and disarming.
Shortly after 9A.M., I removed several “Carsons” from the cat litterbox and went off to do some chores.
(sorry, couldn’t resist!)

Comment by erinyes — February 10, 2006 @ 10:34 pm
WAY TO GO!… Carol Gee..

Comment by Swami — February 10, 2006 @ 10:37 pm
Damned, missed it by __this much!!!
C-Span had an interesting presentation to the U.S. house of Reps. regarding “Hubbards’ Peak” or Peak Oil.
The internet has been buzzing about it for about 2 years, it hits the MSM yesterday. C-Span is doing some great things, maybe, just maybe, the tide is turning.
Regards,

Comment by erinyes — February 10, 2006 @ 10:38 pm
I just wanted to say I thought you were excellent on C-Span this morning. As usual some of the callers tried to ruffle the feathers of a guest that did not sing Hail to the King.
Wonderful answers.

Comment by Kanilea — February 10, 2006 @ 10:52 pm
Caught the Cpan appearance this AM, and extend a hearty heartfilled THANKS for articulating the progressive position …FEW are able to express and unfortunately , those that do make the appearances are NOT able where the RIght has masterfully mastered the rhetorical techniques of spinning . It is frustrzating, caught the Truman quote on one of the 4sale items…and LOL, it articulates the Rove stance…(Carry the battle to THEM . Don’t let them bring it to you. Put Them on the defensive. And don’t ever apologize for anything”>>>exactly how the GOP /Rove/Bush folks do it !!! They DO stay right on message and send out the daily updated talking points…Just listen up to them, over and over they same tripe but it gets imbedded in mmindsets even when OUTRIGHT LIES AND WRONG INFO. They DO head OUT to attack first and put all the oppositionaries on the defensive from which rarely do the oppositionaries recover for the INBEDDED talk point has already been seared. In order to DEFEAT them and push them back and off and etc…The progressives and others wil have to get even BETTER at such a game. The present GOP is masterful in the art…gonna have to get MORE than masterful to get them subdued !!!)
Catching the comments referring to 911 and the MISSED opportunities …How many remember that the FIRST WTC bombers were set to be sentenced that very day just blocks away there in mid Manhatten and how they had VOWED REVENGE for their capture and prosecution and loudly let it be known their would be retribution ?…Am amzaed that so few remember in the general mix of what WARNINGS were ignorred !! Am one who fully belives at this point there is far more we are NOT privvy to in regards to how 911 DID come about…Erry is the PNAC rerad where they state that in order to move the agenda forward, they NEEDED a NEW PEARL HARBOR event in which to “rally” the public around….This was written long befor 911 OCCURRED and need too to remember in regards to Afghanistan..In the spring of 2001, negotiations for a PIPELINE were breaking down as the Taliban wanted NO WESTERN on their “sacred ground” and were refusing permission..A line that came out of those negotiations ” A carpet of GOLD or a CARPET of BOMBS”…The Taliban turned to Osama for protection of sorts, sided with him as was thought aligned with their relgious thinking and of course, there came the CARPET OF BOMS to Afghanistan even thou the 911 perpers were SAUDI’s…and too, the pipeline WAS indeed installed , Osama not captured, nor has Afghanistan truly been “freed” other than in PR’d perceptions sold as if mission was accomplished there when a major NOT SO!!!

Comment by Bozwellian — February 11, 2006 @ 12:14 am
Those of us who are long time fans always knew we were onto a good thing. It’s great to see your long-running efforts finally rewarded by boatloads of new people who just discovered you.

You did us all proud! It was neat to see what you really look and sound like. I hope Brian was sincere when he mentioned having you on again.

Comment by alyosha — February 11, 2006 @ 12:15 am
To #33 Backstabbing George W. Bush?? The Fake Compassionate Conservative?

Are you kidding me? You want to know about Backstabbing? Backstabbing is when your Commander in Chief lies about Weapons of Mass Destruction and people die because of it!!

Backstabbing is perpetrating a fraud to the American People by drafting energy policies in secret with energy companies!

Backstabbing is having your NSA go on ‘Meet The Press’ claiming America should fear mushroom clouds!

Backstabbing is having troops in Iraq fighing based on faulty cherry picked intelligence!!

Backstabbing is exposing the identity of a CIA operative out of spite!

Backstabbing is using fear to control the populace, because your policies are weak, insane, idiotic, reckless, arrogant and downright selfish!

Backstabbing is authorizing NSA officials to wiretap American citizens (blatant violation of the 4th amendment) in the name of the war on Al Qata!

Backstabbing is selecting King George W Bush as our Puppet in Chief! Long live President Dick Chaney!!

Put down the Orwellian Kool-Aide!!!

Comment by 1SmoothDj — February 11, 2006 @ 12:31 am
AM of the mind that what is not noticed , the TRUE majority in this country are NOT whacked ultra left nor righteously right..We the true majority come from all backgrounds, races, religions and political positions as well..we are far more balanced and centrist than given acknowledment for …for that matter we are rarely actually acknowledged and constantly get barraged with the utlra’s of spectrum , guess they provide better media ratings or some such but do this nation a vast disservice BIGTIME and thensome !!
Heard the one caller have the audacity to proclaim HE had “served” with Bush in the Guard of yore, how Bush had flown his “missions” and even VOLUNTEER’d for NAM duty/blah/blah and will toss in a yeee-chk for even Bush himself has NEVER said he ever VOLUNTEER’d for Nam. You handle him quite graciously, myself would have ripped for sure with the nonsense he tried to present…Kudo’s fro mentioning that what a shame he had not surfaced long befor for to date, only a dental visit and one character who has semi recanted that he remembers Bush reading in a corner his flt manual have ever stepped forth. One would think a band of brothers of some sort or another would indeed have stepped forth…perhaps Bush not only flew, but fueled and did all his own mechanicals on his aircraft so he had no flt crew to be remember’d by…..Perhaps the caller could contact Dan Rather (sorry poor attempt at humor for actually figure Rather got ripped wrongly for that Guard story that NONE could actually dispute other than the paper “may” not have been the original. I find it appalling that the folks in uniform have to salute this character who in no way could ever perform the type of duty they are assigned and fulfill often with great sacrifice especially by those who lose life or limbs. Has recently been noted by an insider that indeed, the insiders were aware that the MAJORITY of the nation did NOT support the war prior to the first dropping of bombs..They have been able to exploit as supportings the fact that in part to make up for the Nam era where the military took a brunt of blaming and rejection due to that errant war, this time have gone almost to other extreme along with figuring that need to “support” the troops and therefore try NOT to disparage the job they are doing no matter how disagree with involvement that never should have occurred. We really do realize that Saddam was NOT the THREAT they PR’d perspectives in order to justify the invasion..He was contained anc oculd have remained contained at far less expense than what HAS been expended. Part of it had to do with the agenda that was to be implemented…The Saudi’s had given indication the US was to move off their sacred landscape –in order to appease those that declared it highly offensive to have such presence there. Iraq with the number two largest oil supply, weaken condition and etc…well , that was to serve as a showtime WARNING to ALL not to mess with the USA or suffer grave consequences of our mighty power plus allow us a place for a US footprint to keep a hand/foot in the region and of course that oil/etc. Well, it has turned out to be quite a showtime of shock and awe but not how they dreamed..the shock and awe is that the USA comes off as a weaken power not quite all that “capable” really and Iran and others, well THEY are indeed enjoying our quagmired situation as we continue to depleat our resources and even Osama could not imagine how we would crumble in the homeland , giving up those Constitutional “rights”…the ones they hate us for !!! Sad times indeed, scarey too for we have been witnessing the decimation of our nation and where we realized that all was not perfect…well this experiment in democracy of a nation BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE….well, not exactly suceeding more than too many realize these days and how will we EVER explain that to the children…Its their future we have messed up and thensome for sure!!!

Comment by Bozwellian — February 11, 2006 @ 12:49 am
Thank you so much for your appearance on C-span this morning. I saw you on your repeat performance……I used to watch WJ a lot, but it, too, has become so right-wing, that I about gave up on it.

I, like several previous posters, and YOU, am a Wes Clark supporter - since he entered the ‘04 campaign. He’s been my #1 choice ever since, and I have no second choice.

After meeting and talking with General Clark on 2 occasions, I find him to be completely honest and sincere, besides a true patriot, and I believe that our America would once again be the country we were before the BushCo came into power (and I do mean ‘power) with Wes Clark as our leader. He is a true proven winner and leader.

Gotta plug his website: http://www.securingamerica.com for complete and truthful information.

Keep up the good work, and I’m sure there will be more ‘Clarkies’ joining your Mahablog! I know I’ll check in….
.

Comment by WildcatForWes — February 11, 2006 @ 1:58 am
The problem with Democracy is, We need more Democracy.

The problem with C-SPAN is, We need more C-SPAN.

Sign the petition to support more C-SPAN.

http://www.petitiononline.com/cspannow/

The Citizens for C-SPAN Companion Networks

http://www.thecccn.org/

C-SPAN is the only thing We can all agree on.

C-SPAN is the only outlet that would have The Mahablog on for 45 minutes

Comment by cspanjunky — February 11, 2006 @ 7:11 am
TO GIVE YOU A LAUGH….I KNOW IT IS NAUGHTY……REST WELL DURING THIS STORM of friendly messages and whirling snow!

Brokeback Mountain Weekly Grocery Lists

for Karl Rove and Jeff Gannon , Summer, 2006

WEEK ONE

* Beans
* Bacon
* Coffee
* Whiskey

WEEK TWO

* Beans
* Ham
* Coffee
* Whiskey

WEEK THREE

* Beans al fresca
* Thin-sliced Bacon
* Hazelnut Coffee
* Sky vodka & Tanqueray gin
* K-Y gel

WEEK FOUR

* Beans en salade
* Pancetta
* Coffee (espresso grind)
* 5-6 bottles best Chardonnay
&n! bsp; * 2 tubes K-Y gel

WEEK FIVE

* Fresh Fava beans
* Jasmine rice
* Prosciutto, approx. 8 ounces, thinly sliced
* Medallions of veal
* Porcini mushrooms
* 1/2 pint of heavy whipping cream
* 1 Cub Scout uniform, size 42 long
* 5-6 bottles French Bordeaux (Estate Reserve)
* 1 extra large bottle Astro-glide

WEEK SIX

* Yukon Gold potatoes
* Heavy whipping cream
* Asparagus (very thin)
* Organic Eggs
* Spanish Lemons
* Gruyere cheese (well aged)
* Crushed Walnuts
* Arugula
* Clarified Butter
* Extra Virgin Olive oil
* Pure Balsamic vinegar
* 6 yards white silk organdy
* 6 yards pale ivory taffeta
* 3 Cases of Dom Perignon Masters Reserve
* Large tin Crisco

Comment by d.Breckenridge — February 11, 2006 @ 11:09 am
my shopping list is not intended to disparage anyone……just to give a smile……so if you are offended be assured I apologise….AHH…YOUNG LOVE…..basically always the same!

Comment by d.Breckenridge — February 11, 2006 @ 11:33 am
Please add the following:
1 lg bottle Hershy syrup
5 cans whipped cream
10 squeez bottles of orange blossom honey
5 pks. AA batteries

Comment by erinyes — February 12, 2006 @ 2:46 pm
http://www.cspanjunkies.org/

Let’s Define the Public Interest

By Charles Benton and Jim Goodmon — Broadcasting & Cable, 3/21/2005

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA511880.html?display=Opinion&referral=SUPP

Both Members of Congress and a majority of Federal Communications Commission members are calling for a clear definition of the public-interest obligations of digital- television broadcasters this year. These policymakers understand TV’s importance to our country, that it is much more than a toaster with pictures.

Because of the speed and immediacy of television, broadcasters perform a public-forum function with immense power to influence public opinion and affect elections. TV is a window onto our world and a mirror of our society. It is our society’s primary source of information. And local news is used even more than national news by citizens.

What we see and hear helps inform what we think and believe. Research shows that television points out not only what issues people should think about but also what to think about those issues—something no toaster has ever achieved.

Comment by cspanjunky — February 14, 2006 @ 8:26 am
To: 108

You libs are so funny, especially when you get mad

Yes, I’d rather drink wining kool-aid than whatever losers drink.

Not to worry though… Al Gore and/or John Kerry may run again to give you another chance in 08 (who knows, maybe even Michael Moore will run for you), aside from the funniest candidate yet, Hillary (which will just be too much to watch)

In the mesantime, I’m sure Jimmy Carter will continue to spread your message, while Howard Dean tries to beg, borrow and steal whatever he can to pay the bills to fund your fight.

God Bless America!!!
(and free speech)

Comment by Republican Viewer — February 17, 2006 @ 2:33 pm
correction: meant to say Hillary will be too much FUN to watch

Comment by Republican Viewer — February 17, 2006 @ 2:34 pm