In the popular mind he IS the face of communism. I never said he's actually its

prime example. There can be a gap between reality and perception.

Sometimes it's a good idea to read my statements carefully for what they are, not what you might imagine them to be.

That said, Putin does not appear to be what I'd consider a good communist. Which still doesn't mean he isn't one at all.

If we don't string this out to an endless and useless debate about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, I'd be interested briefly in knowing what you do consider Putin to be. In addition to a xenophobic, blustery dictator, that is.

Quite apart from the wrong or right of your organization,

I must say that the timing of your split with the other group might not prove beneficial to your cause. Right now Putin is the face of communism for most of the world. He's no more palatable than Stalin to most people. Good luck overcoming that hurdle.

I'm an old lady who came of age in the 1960's, with a peculiar fondness for Trotsky which I've never quite understood well or delved into - or bothered to hide. It's just there. Not to worry, there's probably nothing the CIA, FBI, and NSA don't know or think about me already. No point keeping my head down now.

But after reading much of your FB page, I get the impression you are a very young man. That has its advantages but believe it or not, it also carries one significant disadvantage - the lack of long-range personal perspective. There are things you will learn over time that you might not even be considering now. It's not my place to school you on the matter; we all have to arrive at that point by our own path. Just try to believe me that with any luck you will not be quite the same person at 40, 50, or even 60 as you are now. The earlier wisdom comes to a person, the better.

Enough said. By me, anyway.

Quite apart from the wrong or right of your organization,

I must say that the timing of your split with the other group might not prove beneficial to your cause. Right now Putin is the face of communism for most of the world. He's no more palatable than Stalin to most people. Good luck overcoming that hurdle.

I'm an old lady who came of age in the 1960's, with a peculiar fondness for Trotsky which I've never quite understood well or delved into - or bothered to hide. It's just there. Not to worry, there's probably nothing the CIA, FBI, and NSA don't know or think about me already. No point keeping my head down now.

But after reading much of your FB page, I get the impression you are a very young man. That has its advantages but believe it or not, it also carries one significant disadvantage - the lack of long-range personal perspective. There are things you will learn over time that you might not even be considering now. It's not my place to school you on the matter; we all have to arrive at that point by our own path. Just try to believe me that with any luck you will not be quite the same person at 40, 50, or even 60 as you are now. The earlier wisdom comes to a person, the better.

Enough said. By me, anyway.

Sorry I can'r relate specifics to something I read months ago. Seems like it was at least

more than one city, however. Perhaps others have smaller projects they might later expand, and others are seriously considering it. I damn sure wouldn't look for any in red states, though. They don't care about what's most efficient and better for everyone - they're out to freeze the homeless to death in the dark if they can't starve them first. In so many places it's against the law to feed the homeless! Many places they aren't allowed to sleep in their cars, if indeed they have any such 'luxury'. So if they can be accused of vagrancy, they can be thrown into for-profit private prisons. Damn the whole conservative movement to everlasting hell.

People who post such articles don't belong on DU either!

Can someone not read the word 'DEMOCRATIC' in the title? Did they wander into the wrong pew by mistake? THIS IS NOT THE 'BI-PARTISAN OPEN SEWER PIT'!

If the website owners want to scratch their heads wondering what happened when such an atmosphere inevitably drives away dedicated progressives, let them try to remember all the warning rumbles from the past.

The commonality of our struggles unites us and makes us stronger.

I don't participate much in most forums with a potentially political turn either.

But sometimes when I see an OP by you or certain other compatible souls, I'm too tempted to resist. Otherwise DU would quickly grow unbearable for me as well. I don't like to use thread trash or blocking because I want and need to see what's going on wherever I (rightly or wrongly) stick my long nose. And then there are posters whose very name as OP author alerts me to discretionary avoidance.

True, to a degree; but why, dear heart, do you say in one breath

that President Obama shouldn't (therefore presumably does) give torturers a free ride - yet in the next breath state correctly that it's not his call? That is self contradictory.

He has called them out in public and created quite the firestorm as a result. I'm terrifically impressed. All the executive power in the world can't and shouldn't give him or anyone else complete free rein to mete out deserved punishment. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Since it isn't his personal call in this instance, let's pressure those who are responsible for bringing the matter to justice. Even a sideways hint that he surely could've done more if he chose is counterproductive, a waste of time, and ultimately unjust in itself.

That said, I certainly agree with President Obama AND you about the unacceptability of torture.

Thank you, and same back atcha!

I miss the dojo. Might be getting older and slower, but I can still reach most people's knees. My nickname in those days was the Sicilian Girl. Of late I've been looking for my inner Gandhi, but some days he's nowhere to be found. Have to end my morning prayer with, "... and please help me be nice to at least one Republican today."
.............................................................

BTW, many people misunderstand the true purpose of martial arts, which is self mastery. I just like to trot that reminder out once in awhile. Not aimed at you (certainly) or any particular individual. It's simply one of the best life lessons I was ever given, even if it cost me terrible discomfort at times. But I do believe it's helped put the brakes on the natural human tendency to lie to oneself in the many ways we all manufacture to one degree or another.

It also helped cement liberalism in my soul. Does the human soul immeasureable good to get its butt kicked by a great variety of other people in a socially sanctioned, closely monitored environment. I mean realistic humility, not a crushed spirit.

Preach it, sister! Somebody has to.

I'm nowhere near as good at it as you. I'm a pretty good backup in a bar fight, but that's a whole different skill set. Not a particularly widely admired one either in a delicate little flower as myself, yet I hope the surprise factor makes up for it a bit.