COLLECTIVE MADNESS


“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Sometimes Sales Demonstrations Go Wrong



19 comments:

  1. Just followin' the SOP, like wi"o" fears, could cause people to bleed, but hey, its' SOP.

    Experts at conflict resolution, in the Obama Administration, tell the O the 'Standard' way forward.
    Seems clear enough, to me.

    Just loke a fellow gettin' cut by his own sword.

    Now. maybe, if one applies Mr Carlos Pascuals' Four Step process to the Arab-Israeli conflict the resolution matrix does not appear goofy. to trish, but SOP.

    Seems that wi"o" only sees dead Jews resulting from what trish describes as a not so goofy SOP.

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  2. But if one takes Carlos Pascual and adds a dash of Samantha Powers it seems that SOP indicates the Arabs & Israeli need an independent monitor, on the ground.

    Just Standard Operating Procedure,
    in comflict resolution.

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  3. Sure hope Alcee L. got some more money for his detention camps:

    LIFE WITH BIG BROTHER
    Bill creates detention camps in U.S. for 'emergencies'

    Rep. Alcee L. Hastings, D-Fla., has introduced to the House of Representatives a new bill, H.R. 645, calling for the secretary of homeland security to establish no fewer than six national emergency centers for corralling civilians on military installations.

    Rep. Hastings created controversy during the 2008 presidential campaign with his provocative comments concerning Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

    "If Sarah Palin isn't enough of a reason for you to get over whatever your problem is with Barack Obama, then you damn well had better pay attention,"
    Hastings said, as reported by ABC News.
    "Anybody toting guns and stripping moose don't care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks. So, you just think this through."


    History of Detention Camps in the USA

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  4. Seems a tad goofy, to me, doug.
    But hey, its' SOP for Democrats.

    That makes it all good to go, no?

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  5. Another extraordinary power bequeathed on Obama by the enabler in chief.

    I'll check back with you on that SOP after I get enlightened about it.

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  6. As if a SOP and goofy were mutually exclusive.

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  7. I didn't say anything about Lifer Logic.

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  8. 41 Senators is just not enough.

    The compromise represented a dramatic finale to a tumultuous and frustrating week for Democrats pushing the package, as Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) saw the limitations of an expanded majority and a band of GOP centrists came to appreciate the very high price they can extract for their votes on key measures.

    The bipartisan deal was cut after two days of talks and would cut more than $100 billion from the $920 billion bill, dropping its cost to about $820 billion, if amendments added on the Senate floor are retained.

    Most Republicans remained strongly opposed to the compromise bill, saying it was too costly and ineffective, and Democratic leaders were counting on just three GOP votes for the plan as of last night but hoped to expand the number before a final vote.

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  9. Obama endorsed the moderates' effort and brought its leaders -- Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) -- to the White House to discuss their proposed cuts.

    White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel attended the final meetings in Reid's office last night to work out lingering differences. Before Emanuel arrived, Collins said, Democrats were advocating $63 billion in cuts. "Then Rahm got involved, and a much better proposal came forward," she said.

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  10. Well, it was a lively discussion there in that last thread.
    Got quite a few chuckles out of it.
    Docs in the clinic here have touchscreen laptops, very convenient, and Docs are usually too rushed to look carefully, so I can bring attention to whatever I want, and ignore what I want forgotten.
    (Like why I never show up as often as I'm sposed to.)

    Last time Doc rushed in an hour late and said when troubles rain, they pour.
    Then he said:

    "I've got to wash my hands,
    they've been in the muck.
    "

    Now, normally I'm all for small talk in these situations, so, just out of habit, I said:

    "In the what?"

    ...but even as I said it, I realized I shouldn't have.

    "in the muck."
    repeats the doc.
    Then he's finished rinsing off his hands (nuthin like a surgical scrub) and extends one to shake mine.

    Again, even as I was doing it, I realized I wished I hadn't.
    The mental strain throughout the visit and on the way home to try to remember not to pick my nose with that hand was severe, let me tell you.

    As yet, I show no signs of Rat Lung disease, or any other local bacteriological treats.

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  11. Yeah that extra $40 billion cut got it down into the lean and mean area it was in when Nancy first presented it.

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  12. ...I had to remind Larsen of our debate about W always giving his support to moderates, like Arlen, over conservatives.
    Can't say it's worked out too well for the party or the country.

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  13. Announcement: I have discovered what heaven is: it it Maria McCool, without end---

    Maria McCool

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  14. Who needs Al Franken when we have Arlen Specter?

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  15. As to the bloom being off the Obama flower, RCP reports:

    *Despite issues with several Cabinet nominees, more than 50% of Americans say they are more confident in Obama's "ethical standards" and "ability to manage the federal government," Gallup reports. Less than 20% say they are less confident in Obama in both categories. His current 65% approval rating is about even with where its been since he took office.

    *National Journal's latest Political Insiders Poll: 39% of Democratic insiders think Obama's image has been hurt "some" by his cabinet nominee controversies and 42% think his image has been hurt "only a little"; similar numbers for Republican insiders, as 45% say his image has been hurt "some" and 35% say "only a little." Less than 10% of insiders from both parties think his image has been hurt "a great deal."


    Here's to Hope!

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