READER COMMENTS ON

"Buy the Numbers..."

(32 Responses so far...)





COMMENT #1 [Permalink]

... Dan-in-PA said on 10/31/2009 @ 6:07 pm PT...





That's very clear and undeniable. Well done. I'm borrowing this, thank you.

COMMENT #2 [Permalink]

... Big Dan said on 10/31/2009 @ 6:25 pm PT...





As I believe, the corporate media is doing their job, which is to speak for corporations, the wealthiest few, and the military industrial complex. They're not doing a bad job, they're doing their job. It's no accident that they're always not "doing their job".

COMMENT #3 [Permalink]

... Agent 99 said on 10/31/2009 @ 7:36 pm PT...





Aren't you overlooking the fact that this House "healthcare" bill is more like the House "mandatory health insurance" bill? Yes, yes, good it's so much less than blowing innocent people to bits for drill, but, er, it's not healthcare reform. That's just what they call it. So I don't think it's that great of an idea to be using it in the yardstick here. And, again, every single self-proclaimed conservative I know, and those are a lot, wants SINGLE PAYER. So Congress is the only entity beside the health insurance companies who benefit from both the trumped-up and trumpeted tea party blather about it, and using it in arguments like this. Both are giving the Democrats political cover for not delivering what they didn't want to deliver from the git: healthcare reform.

COMMENT #4 [Permalink]

... Agent 99 said on 10/31/2009 @ 7:50 pm PT...





Lookee hyere at the latest from the AP [Appalling Propagandists].... I don't think this is anything to be using here. Not good enough against outright psychotic doesn't get us any nearer good enough, contrary to the crowing party hacks have been doing about it, and doesn't faze outright psychotic. And knocking out Dennis' amendment is further proof this is a bad faith maneuver. Nope. I really think you need to stick something more worthy in there against the war bucks and the propagandized pissed off people. I really, really do.

COMMENT #5 [Permalink]

... Soul Rebel said on 10/31/2009 @ 8:01 pm PT...





Dammit 99 you stole my thunder... I was going to write: Percent of the population that the Public Option would cover: Two

COMMENT #6 [Permalink]

... Agent 99 said on 10/31/2009 @ 8:05 pm PT...





Oh, shit! I blew it! He probably would have listened to you! He never listens to me!

COMMENT #7 [Permalink]

... Agent 99 said on 10/31/2009 @ 9:19 pm PT...





And if you haven't seen this forty minutes between Glenn Greenwald and Bill Moyers, you gotta get to it right away. It wasn't broadcast on PBS; it's what they call a "web exclusive" and it should have been on everyone's tv on Friday night... but settle for watching it online.

COMMENT #8 [Permalink]

... Brad Friedman said on 11/1/2009 @ 10:09 am PT...





Great thought, Soul Rebel! I should have included that!

COMMENT #9 [Permalink]

... Big Dan said on 11/1/2009 @ 10:22 am PT...





The torturer's daughter says Bush/Cheney visited the war dead at Dover but not with TV cameras like Obama...too bad she didn't mention Bush and her torturer father NEVER (ZERO) visited the war dead at Dover, she LIED: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfC4TqtdGVk She should've mentioned that her father the torturer also had FIVE deferments from Vietnam.

COMMENT #10 [Permalink]

... Big Dan said on 11/1/2009 @ 10:26 am PT...





You know what else the torturer's daughter doesn't mention? All those dead going through Dover are a result of her father & Bush's LIES!

COMMENT #11 [Permalink]

... Agent 99 said on 11/1/2009 @ 10:34 am PT...



COMMENT #12 [Permalink]

... Gos said on 11/1/2009 @ 11:45 pm PT...





[ed note: Comment deleted. You are on the moderation queue because you are continually trying to hijack threads with your own pet cause, using Brad's blog as your soapbox, and no amount of complaining or warning from me ever seems to daunt you in this. You would be welcome, more than welcome, to comment here, if you would stop this nasty activity. I don't know who disagrees with your views on your subject, CERTAINLY not me, but I strongly disagree with your abuse of this blog. So, please, either reconsider your belligerence and participate reasonably, or go away. Thank you. --99]

COMMENT #13 [Permalink]

... Floridiot said on 11/2/2009 @ 3:27 am PT...





99 gets no respect...he-he

COMMENT #14 [Permalink]

... Shortbus said on 11/2/2009 @ 7:09 am PT...





99

You also seen this, right? Brad, Would love to add to your numbers, But I refuse to "Twit"

COMMENT #15 [Permalink]

... Agent 99 said on 11/2/2009 @ 10:34 am PT...





Shortbus! Man [?] after my own heart! No. I don't have a tv and I miss a lot of shows... so, thanks! And, don't get me started on twitting....

COMMENT #16 [Permalink]

... Agent 99 said on 11/2/2009 @ 11:34 am PT...





Flo, it's so damn lucky for Brad that I'm such a lame excuse for a Zen mistress and don't care if he respects me, or I'd have to join Moderators' Anonymous or something....

COMMENT #17 [Permalink]

... Brian R. said on 11/4/2009 @ 1:38 am PT...





Cost of national defense authorization bill for 2010 only, as signed by Obama on Wednesday without objection from tea baggers: $680 billion Cost of national defense authorization bill for 2010 only, as signed by Obama on Wednesday without coverage/objection at Brad Blog: $680 billion I find your work to be really genuine, but I also find it to be very partisan.

COMMENT #18 [Permalink]

... BlueHawk said on 11/4/2009 @ 8:11 am PT...





Brian R @17 I find your work to be really genuine, but I also find it to be very partisan. You ignore the last line of Brad's "Buy the Numbers" piece... Cost of misplaced tea bagger/media priorities: priceless Brad's main point seems to be (if I may Brad)

about the manufactured outrage of these teabaggers...Brad doesn't seem to have a partisan dog in this fight...hell as a matter of fact I'm outraged that the left isn't out there raising a fuss. But the left seems to be in it's constant state of wimpy inertia that empowered the far right in the first place...Fact is Brian R, it's the teabaggers squawking about the costs of everything, not the left...but teabaggers are silent about the numbers that Brad's quoted.

That my friend tells me who the teabaggers are actually representing...the Banks, Wall Street and the Military Industrial Complex. That's extremely partisan if you ask me. The fact that Brad quoted the defense authorization costs was very unpartisan...I wish we could hear this kind of news on the mainstream media....oh yeah! the mainstream media are owned by the same entities that benefit from our ignorance...Corporations and Military Contractors...who keep the Banks and Wall Street flush with our cash. You see Brian this isn't a partisan thing....but Wall Street and Corporations (especially Banks) love a partisan fight...they exploit that to it's fullest. It's why the teabaggers exist. Teabaggers ignorance is very profitable to the aforementioned institutions... real news isn't partisan, it's enlightening.

COMMENT #19 [Permalink]

... Brian R. said on 11/4/2009 @ 3:21 pm PT...





par·ti·san 1 (pärt-zn)

n.

1. A fervent, sometimes militant supporter or proponent of a party, cause, faction, person, or idea. You see Brian this isn't a partisan thing....but Wall Street and Corporations (especially Banks) love a partisan fight...they exploit that to it's fullest. It's why the teabaggers exist. Teabaggers ignorance is very profitable to the aforementioned institutions... Your ignorance is just as profitable. But keep blaming it on the tea baggers, do whatever you have to do to sleep at night.

Instead of blaming them, understand that Glenn Beck is disinforming hardcore, whiole others disinform with a velvet glove (olberman, former sports man.)

Stop blaming the fruit of the tree, start treating the soil.

You are seperating yourself from others.

COMMENT #20 [Permalink]

... BlueHawk said on 11/4/2009 @ 7:19 pm PT...





Brian @ #19.... Brian you're getting closer...yet the issue still eludes you. The partisans in this case are the Bankers, Wall Street and Military Industrial complex. The teabaggers are simply their unwitting accomplices...it's really quite simple and eloquent.

The teabaggers by their simple distractions (with media assistance no doubt) are keeping the public's attention on their shrill *protests* and loony accusations that don't pass scrutiny ...but said teabaggers don't really examine things....they're told what to hate and then go out and hate. All the while the Bankers, Wall Street and Military Industrial complex; the true partisans, who own both parties make out like bandits....you see my friend Brian the aforementioned cabal is partisan to themselves and their friends only. The teabaggers are their tools...as it were.

COMMENT #21 [Permalink]

... Brian R. said on 11/5/2009 @ 9:22 am PT...





You are a tool too!

The teabaggers, democrats, republicans, environmentalists... all are tools.

Do you think Toyota's goal this quarter is to sell LESS Prious's?

Do you think the Green movement is real? Is that the same one being funded by Chevron, Exxon, Shell and other Corps.

TOOLS.

Until you realise how you are being used we will still fight each other.

You think the teabaggersa are the problem?

No more so than everyone in a hybrid, SUV, Green Home, or any other new age sell-you-what-you -think-is-right bullshit.

But keep blabbing bout the teabaggers...

Youll have years of making fun of im sure.

And they will do the same to you, because you have been partisaned.

COMMENT #22 [Permalink]

... Brian R. said on 11/5/2009 @ 9:28 am PT...





...yet the issue still eludes you No, there are just bigger issues. And you are stuck in that one.

COMMENT #23 [Permalink]

... Bluehawk said on 11/5/2009 @ 12:49 pm PT...





Brian P @ 21 &22 Do you know who funds the teabaggers ?



The tea parties, he points out, are funded by typical Republican billionaires and promoted by Fox News. I ask you sincerly Brian...Where were the teabaggers when...

Bush spent a $trillion dollars going into the quagmires of Iraq and Afghanistan...prompted by the Banks, Big oil and defense contractors who made out like bandits on those wars...all on our money. Where were the teabaggers when Bush cut taxes on the rich while leaving middle class taxes stagnant...Bush then borrowed heavily from the federal Reserve to fund his tax cuts for the rich, sinking the U.S. further into debt. the only ones that made out on that were rich folks and the private corporation that is the Federal Reserve...the teabaggers were silent. Where were the teabaggers during Bush-Cheney's illegal surveillance of Americans. I could go on and on Brian...but teabaggrs are funded by health insurance lobbyists, bankers and other corporate leeches who use the public treasury for their own enrichment. I ask you Brian to please explain to me what exactly the teabageers beef is ?

COMMENT #24 [Permalink]

... Brian R. said on 11/5/2009 @ 6:18 pm PT...





teabaggrs are funded by health insurance lobbyists My impression is different. I wonder, how did you come to this conclusion? To answer your question I must know something else.

When you say "teabaggers," what do you mean?

(A)Did you mean the millions who have rallied for better governing?

(B)Did you mean the media- from Glenn Beck to Keith Olberman playing peoples emotions like fiddle's?

(C)Or did you mean the small fraction of people in the rallies who literally work for health insurance companies?

I think you are talking about(A)

If I am correct, I translate that as a person to person fight; partisaned

If this is the case you have overlooked the importance of (B) and its influence on (A).

(A) is a group most of us belong to, unpleased in someway of the "representation" in our Government.

So unless you belong to the (C)or (B) group, you are fighting yourself. I doubt that you belong to the unmentioned (D) group: Banking

The (D) group controls the (B) groups, and consequentially the (A) groups.

COMMENT #25 [Permalink]

... BlueHawk said on 11/5/2009 @ 7:46 pm PT...





Brian P I have to wonder if you're being purposely deflective and obtuse. Your alphabet soup in comment 24 is needless to wade through. Brian you haven't addressed any of my issues or questions; I was pretty straight forward I think. You seem to be an exposed nerve with no relief...you're angry about Brad's piece on teabaggers and want someone to ride your merry go round of retribution. I won't do that Brian...life is too short. When you have something solid to add to this convo I will listen...I ask you to read my comments again and answer one thing I put forth or asked you. If not then have a nice life....

COMMENT #26 [Permalink]

... Brian R said on 11/5/2009 @ 9:28 pm PT...





I think Brad was picking on people, and extremes of any type are an easy target.

You want to know the tea baggers beef?

I want to know what you mean by tea baggers.

The tea partiers I know were OUT there during Bush and are still out during Obama.

You see it started with 9/11 truth rallies, followed by a light rain of Ron Paul, and anti-war-CIA-Central Banking-Foreign Military Base-Bank bailout-stimulus spending-tax raising- sentiment.

The tea baggers you (dont) know are following a popular "media" channel known as FOX. Glenn Beck is an obvious shit starter. Probably an agent of counter intelligence program either knowingly or unknowingly. The people who follow him are blind vicitms of propaganda.

But the same polar opposite exists. YOU

I would rather try to rach out and lend a hand a say, "Beck is not the answer." But political energy is; we need it, and anger is brewing on all sides of the aisle.

Thats because We The people aren't represented anymore.

Maybe that is what it comes down to...

And so I hope you find an answer in that, and yes, I will have a nice life, but trying to unite the People is no easy job-

COMMENT #27 [Permalink]

... Bluehawk said on 11/6/2009 @ 6:58 am PT...





Brian P @26 I think Brad was picking on people Brad asked questions. Teabaggers answered. That's picking on people ? I want to know what you mean by tea baggers. You're being obtuse again. The tea partiers I know were OUT there during Bush and are still out during Obama No they weren't. They organized after Obama's election. The more of you I read Brian the more your credibility plummets. You see it started with 9/11 truth rallies, followed by a light rain of Ron Paul, and anti-war-CIA-Central Banking-Foreign Military Base-Bank bailout-stimulus spending-tax raising- sentiment. These teabaggers aren't 9/11 truthers and they aren't out there being Ron Paul supporters; I've heard no teabaggers commenting on the leeches that is the Fed, Wall Street and M.I.C....Ron Paul is calling for an audit of the Federal Reserve bank; yet these teabaggers are silent about that. The tea baggers you (dont) know are following a popular "media" channel known as FOX. Glenn Beck is an obvious shit starter. Probably an agent of counter intelligence program either knowingly or unknowingly. The people who follow him are blind vicitms of propaganda. The teabaggers I DO KNOW are angry folks with no place to focus their anger. The right wing propaganda machine has tapped that anger like an oil well...and focused it on furthering their own (right wing) interests. The teabaggers I DO KNOW are decent, yet pathetically uninformed people. Your last sentence is an obvious contradiction of your own position here....read how your previous quote starts and your last sentence in this quote...Glaring contradiction. Not good for your credibility. But the same polar opposite exists. YOU Read back my comments...Show me. I would rather try to rach out and lend a hand a say, "Beck is not the answer." But political energy is; we need it, and anger is brewing on all sides of the aisle. Why would I reach out a hand to a movement that doesn't reflect my issues or values ? There was a lot of political energy in Nazi Germany too...One doesn't simply seek "political energy"...One seeks truth energy. Teabaggers aren't motivated by the truth. They're motivated by anger...a manipulated angry mob is only seeking retribution ...not solutions. Thats because We The people aren't represented anymore. I agree....but the teabaggers are representing those that are invested in the status quo. They're extremely threatened by the changes that will be needed to heal this country. trying to unite people is not an easy job I agree...maybe you should examine your methods. You didn't comment here in a uniting manner. You made assumptions and accusations that only reflected your biases. Personally I believe our issues are that a fascist oligharchy of banks, corporations and wall street have hijacked our government... They own both parties. They're using teabagger anger to thwart change and accountibility. Your noble attempts to unite people have led you too those that aren't seeking union...Theirs is a manufactured outrage to hinder any change. There are plenty of things to be genuinely outraged about...the teabagger movement isn't concerned about those.

COMMENT #28 [Permalink]

... Agent 99 said on 11/6/2009 @ 10:56 am PT...





I fixed your broken code, Bluehawk. Brian is right about the other Ron Paul issues... or the other issues of his followers anyway... and he's right about trying to unite people. No good reason why we couldn't be out among them at these coöpted protests, agreeing with what we agree on and helping to educate our brothers and sisters about the real causes of the troubles. And those troubles are NOT all Bush/Fudd perfidies. Bill Clinton is also guilty and so is Barack Obama, by commission, not just because he's in office now, and not because he's too new, but because he has overtly endorsed them and is continuing them.

The teabaggers I DO KNOW are decent, yet pathetically uninformed people. That seems like a fairly accurate account of them to me, and since it is mostly true, so much the more should we be friendly and informative instead of putting them down for their ignorance.... So much the more should we be checking the soundness of our own positions and being willing to cop to our weaknesses when faced by our irate and misled fellows. So I think Brian's trying to do a good thing here, even if you suspect his motives.

COMMENT #29 [Permalink]

... BlueHawk said on 11/6/2009 @ 2:48 pm PT...





Agent 99 @28 Merci beaucoup 99 for the cleanup of my post.... I agree about Ron Paul...he needs all the support he can get. No good reason why we couldn't be out among them at these coöpted protests, agreeing with what we agree on and helping to educate our brothers and sisters about the real causes of the troubles. That's also a noble concept 99...but have you ever tried to inform, discuss with and or educate someone who's not willing to listen ? Bill Clinton is also guilty and so is Barack Obama, by commission, not just because he's in office now, and not because he's too new, but because he has overtly endorsed them and is continuing them. Absolutely...I don't know if you read back my comments with Brian P...but I am well aware of Clinton's and now Obama's complicity in this mess. So I think Brian's trying to do a good thing here, even if you suspect his motives. I don't suspect Brian's motives as much as I do the teabagger's handlers motives. I went to Brian's website, I like a lot of his ideas... Again thank you 99...you need to know that I now cruise your site regularly...it's outstanding visually and informationally.

COMMENT #30 [Permalink]

... Agent 99 said on 11/6/2009 @ 3:18 pm PT...





Well, obviously you are a man of impeccable taste! I don't mean to sound obtuse, here, but we bumbling Zen types have this saying; to wit: What do you call the world? It means that the world is to each of us what we only call it. And when we stop calling something in the world what we call it, either think of a more productive name for it, or just leave it open and perform, stuff that always seemed on its face to be impossible turned out to be perfectly possible. I've tested this, and it is 100% sound advice from the ancients. [Who, by the way, called this world "Endurance"....] Yes, I have spent untold hours trying to get opponents to listen, to open-mindedly listen and not be too stubborn to budge. To my utter astonishment, I have found that people who identify as conservative, I HEAR YOU RUSH bumper stickers and all, are more likely to do just that if you sit down with them as equals and don't put them down while you're discussing stuff. I have found that, in real life, on the ground situations, people who identify as liberals are more likely to call the police or some government agency when faced with, say, a stranger in extremis, where conservatives are just flat out more likely to help, up front, on the spot, do what they can to ease the problem in the moment.... I'm generalizing here, and also talking about personal experiences over a long life. The most blaring example was when I set down in Petrolia, California, the very heart of the anti-environmentalist redneck timber industry good old boys during the midst of the huge Earth First! debacles. I was a complete stranger, and one local just walked right up to me and said, "Yer not one of them environmentalists, are you?" First thing. I wasn't in town for fifteen minutes. The E-word had been just dripping with derision. I merely gave him a wry smile and said, "I'm just here to hang out for a few days." In under an hour there were four of them vying to show me where Maxxam had broken the law and where self-styled enviros had put in dirt driveways on the cheap with money donated to an enviro organization and those driveways were slipping into the streams below. They were on fire for sense and decency to be recovered, but everybody who'd come was so busy blaming and shaming them, all they'd been able to do was fight. I can't help but think that a good many of these duped protesters are just the same... wanting what is right as badly as any of us and sick of being assaulted by holier-than-thou activists.... If we leave them to the gaping maw of plutocratic perfidy on top of plutocratic perfidy, everyone loses. Thanks for your kind words.

COMMENT #31 [Permalink]

... Agent 99 said on 11/6/2009 @ 3:53 pm PT...





I mean, I hope to hell the goal here isn't to get them to stop standing up for a better world, just to get them to do it with the right facts, adjust their aim, so to speak, and then to join them in protesting this broken and corrupt government.... Right?

COMMENT #32 [Permalink]

... Brian R said on 11/6/2009 @ 5:55 pm PT...

