"I've Had It" [View all]

[H2O Man]

What to do at 1 am on a rainy night when this old bag of lard & bones aches? I had been under a quilt in my rocking chair, watching a podcast that I like. I had first come across it a few weeks ago. After catching up on a few episodes, I came on to DU:GD to see what, if anything, new was going on. So I read a few OP/threads about a Senate deal, and the reactions of two distinct groups – those okay with what some Senate Democrats are doing, and those who feel betrayed.

After over twenty years here, it does not come as a shock that there can be harsh disagreements on this forum. Is it possible that there are trolls afoot? Maybe some kids who weigh three to four times their IQ, in their mother's basement? Maybe. Even a single actual political operative, seeking to stir the pot? Or might one have to kid themselves to think such an unlikely thing in November of 2025?

Now, I wanted two things: first, for Democrats to break republicans, and second, to be 100% sure that people had food and health care. That would seem the least a civilized society could provide. Deep down, of course, I favor improving our educational system, including lowering the cost of public colleges and universities.

That may be in large part because I am convinced that one of the most dangerously entrenched problems today is economic warfare. It seems we are to avoid talking about this in proper society. We can talk about sexism, racism, street crime, inflation, and the president's tiny, mushroom-shaped prick, as one of my friends recently pointed out. But not how the opulently wealthy are treating the vast majority of American citizens. Thus, I will not even so much as hint at the context in which I view the cruelty involved in current events.

Instead, I'll recommend that people watch the podcast “I've Had It.” It features two women – Jennifer Welch, a Democrat, and Angie Sullivan, a former republican. They have interviewed individuals including Barack Obama, Elizabeth Warren, and Kamala Harris on their show. But they lean to the left, and thus have also interviewed AOC, Bernie Sanders, and Zohran Mamdani.

On of the things they stress is that we should look to see who their biggest sources of income are, in order to understand the positions they take, and votes they cast. If they take substantial income from a foreign lobbyist, perhaps one that isn't registered as much, it just might influence their stance on foreign affairs. Or if they take money from a domestic source, it is within the realm of possibility that this could influence their votes.

Now, this is just my opinion, but a government that will support the cruelty that one nation inflicts upon human beings – let's say the people of Gaza and the West Bank – is capable of inflicting cruelty upon segments of its own population. Others may disagree – perhaps strongly – and I can respect that. This is merely the thinking of an old man, in the early hours after skimming through DU:GD. I shall wait until I wake up later to decide if I'll even post this.

Last Tuesday, a number of different Democrats won elections. In some places, a progressive candidate may win where an establishment candidate such as Andrew Cuomo cannot. Yet in other cities and states, a conservative Democrat may be the best candidate. But one thing seems clear, at least to me: to win in both 2026 and 2028, our party needs the support of liberal and progressive independents. And the supporting of cutting back on the social safety net is not going to gain their support. In other words, we don't need the Weather Channel to see which way the wind blows.

Finally, let's be respectful of those on this forum who hold different opinions. Harsh and insulting responses will not change minds.

(Note: As a result of some interactions here this afternoon, I decided I would post this, which I wrote in the wee mourning hours.)