Absolutely. The contrast between the RNC and the DNC was so revealing. One provided us with Lying Ryan, minority tokenism, marginalization of women, a presidential candidate out of touch with middle and low income Americans (meaning heartless), unemotional, and an undertone of anger, resentment, fear, and hate. Their focus was to irrationally attack the President without revealing any policies, strategies or platforms to the voting public. In all honestly, Republicans do not like their candidate.

With respect to the DNC, on display: passion, compassion, authenticity, diversity, resolve, belief in President O'Bama, the most impressive FLOTUS ever, a former President, a former President Clinton who had one of the most impressive political speeches ever, and a party that moved center, making the Republican Party look even MORE extreme, afraid, angry, and self serving to the rich.

And for Republicans who say we're not better off than 4 years ago. Listen to President Clinton's speech. And in the words of VP Biden, "Bin Laden is dead and GM is alive!"

Watching Dick Durbin go ballistic on Bret Baier when Baier asked a simple question about why the word 'God' and 'Jerusalem' were dropped from the DNC platform has been one of the highlights so far. Durbin was practically foaming at the mouth accusing Fox of painting the Dems as 'Godless' and saying they were making a big deal out of nothing. It was priceless. Baier looked like he was about to bust a gut -- that's how unhinged Durbin was.

So what happens the very next day? After 3 torturous voice votes in which opposition to changing the platform and putting the words 'God' and 'Jerusalem' back in the platform, Villaraigosa announced the measure wins and the crowd erupts in a chorus of boos! That's right, Dems are booing God and Jerusalem!

How come you failed to mention all of this drama Mr. Darnell? Were you napping? This bit of theater was not scripted and was such an embarrassment to the Dem Party. Who took those phrases out in the first place? The President feigns surprise at the brouhaha...but it is his Party and his platform.

Theater yes. More later when third parties push the "majors" into floor fights on big platform issues. That and so-called "renegade" candidates have enough delegates to take them to convention and broker. It's coming.

its all one big puppet show!

25 years ago when I decided to study Russian language and culture I never dreamed our countries people, politicians, and media would try to walk down this broken path. I've heard some dangerous rhetoric from democrats. One phrase I heard " We belong to the government". A very communist, socialist statement. Our founding fathers had a different take on this. They believed the government belonged to the people of this country, not that the people belonged to the government. Jefferson warned about government having to much of a hand in peoples lives. I keep hearing this idea of "Progress". Where? I don't see it. Here's the so called progress. Higher divorce rate, more single mothers, more corruption and crime in our cities and schools. Overcrowded and substandard schools. More children having children. A definitive loss of morals and cultural standards. More pollution, more traffic, more government, more people dependant on said government than their own initiative. A huge dependency on China for their goods and money. Class warfare, more people dependant on wellfare. Resentment towards someone with more than you and instead of trying to achieve a similar status, dependency on using our government to redistribute said wealth.

I'll leave you with a statement my grandmother, a full blooded Cherokee with minimal education told my father in the 1930s. He had just heard about the new deal that FDR was proposing for our country on the radio. He told his mother how Mr. Roosevelt was going to put everyone back to work and take care of people that were old with social security. When he explained to her the benefits of social security she became sad. My father asked her, why are you sad? This is great for our country. She replied, no son, now they have given us each a #. We are now no better than cattle. I see more sheep and cattle in our country, but not enough shepherds. The wolves are circling. I fear for our nation.

I've only made it through Tuesday night of the DNC so far, but... Wow. After seeing some compelling speakers at the RNC last week (most notably, Condoleeza Rice) I was wondering how the lackluster Dems would follow that act. But obviously there's nothing to worry about with this younger generation. I was impressed with Cory Booker, Tammy Duckworth, Martin O’Malley, and especially Deval Patrick and Julián Castro. I had anticipated fast-forwarding through a lot of it, but was captivated by this unexpected roster of talent. Michelle Obama was excellent; much more substantive than Ann Romney, imho. It was a surprisingly great opening night for the DNC.

Nevertheless, I still believe both parties are in the pocket of the bankers and MIC, and that the two-party system is just a charade to distract the people from the fact that we're being plundered. Yes, Tom Doolittle, I hope the third parties are coming.

Jonathan,

This whole issue of smaller government by republicans is only when it makes sense to achieve an outcome they want. For example, less government and less regulations on environmental controls, corporate taxes , higher profits (greed), labor laws, and Wall Street governance (the stuff that created the mess we are in in the first place). At the exact same time, this shift to "states rights" is where republicans are have a field day in creating much more government on women reproductive rights, civil rights for LGBT community, punitive immigration laws, and voting rights restrictions, as examples. Talk about a bait and switch strategy. A couple of other points. For a party that is "value driven" they seem to be counter Christian teachings with a punishing budget for those impacted by poor economy, corporate greed and institutional racism. Also, Jesus wouldn't be for capital punishment, punitive immigration tactics, unjust wars, medical care, homelessness, and racism. Yes, all against abortion, but what about what happens when the baby is born! Finally, a goos friend of mine is dying of cancer. He hates President O'Bama and rails against the Affordable Healthcare Act. Yet, he is sincerely appreicative of Medicare and the offset to Rx expenses. What a disconnect.

Clarification above...Jesus against "unjust and no healthcare for the down and out"

Last point for now....the over the top, extreme availability of weapons of destruction couched in "rights to bare arms." Crap, the hate para military groups in our country are better equipped than many counties. Again, I don't thing Jesus would approve. He would be tearing down the institutions the republicans are trying to build up, in their quest for "smaller government and individual freedom."

Hey Y'all. I have been watching the BGOBF Convention. It's a real hoot. Just now we had a speaker tell everyone that there will be this city in North Dekalb that will have wonderful parks, pothole free roads, double the police numbers, money rolling in in train cars, and the whole shebang! There will always be a rainbow and at the end will be Brookhaven. Boy. What an experience. The Brookhaven Good Ol Boy Faction has really put on a spectacular show and the guy making those incredible balloon animals was amazing! The only issue was the episode where a crowd was fighting over the leftover hotdogs.
http://www.thecrier.net/news/article_e327ec68-e879-11e1-a501-001a4bcf887a.html?mode=image&photo=

A society cannot endure if it has more takers than givers. History loves to repeat itself. Your arguments of the rich having a bigger hand in the destruction of our country and government has been made before in Russia before the Bolshevik revolution. The wealthy people were the root of all evils in their society as well. The communist promised everyone would be equal and nobody would be hungry and everyone would get a state education for free and healthcare for free. Sound familiar? Nothing is free in this world we live in. Somebody has to pay. Ask any Russian living here in America their thoughts on how that worked out. Unfortunately with the rise of communist and socialist government, it opens the door for dictators. Stalin killed 25 million of his own people to protect the party. It also makes way for fascism and nationalist behavior like we are currently seeing from our European neighbors like Germany and France. Who both leaders have publicly stated that multiculturalism has been an utter failure in both countries. We have a great melting pot of people and ideas in our country. Problem with that melting pot is this, If you add too many ingredients and don't cook it at the right temperature, it might boil over. I wonder who will be willing or able to clean up the mess. I hope you are all able to be self sufficient and can take care of yourselves when the time comes. I see a bad storm on our horizon. I'm ready for that storm. The question is, Are you?

Oh brother!

Eddie E., thank you for bringing me back to front and center. Yes...Brookhaven start up. I was fixing to chase a rabbit with Jonathan. But if I take his logic to a conclusion....he wouldn't support a new city. It would be adding more government on top of more government. Right? Hey, he may end up being an ally.

Jonathan....sincere questions. Are you a big Anne Ryan advocate? Next, are you a follower of John Birch philosophy (or an Aryan group)? I am just trying to better understand where you are coming from.

Jonathan, good morning and thank you for providing context. You describe an amazing life story and your father as someone very caring and knowledgable. I've looked at the links provided. I will have to go back and study them in greater detail because I am still trying to translate theories and philosophies I am not aware of....as a result "you're speaking Latin and I'm hearing Greek." Poor metaphor but hopefully you understand what I am trying to convey. So PC is cultural Marxism and the ultimate outcome is the demise of society? Am I understanding this correctly? If so, say more on how it plays out in our daily lives. The concepts seem very mysterious. Maybe that is why I used labels earlier because "mysterious concepts" came from groups seen as fringe....such as the Birchers. The Aryan was triggered by your "bad storm rising" and get ready for it. Again, that foreboding seems to come from those elements in society....also Birchers at times. No offense intended. Thank you for recognizing that. So PC is cultural Marxism and the demise of civilization? If I am anyway close, say more on how it plays out today. Provide more context of who is behind the curtain and why?

Clicker....interesting reaction to "religion" and the Democratic platform. The RP and many elements within the party are the ones concerned about any candidate's faith (meaning Christian) belief. Many even espouse breaking down the wall and separation between Church/state and rewrite history about being a Christian country. It's driving some crazy thinking they now have 2 Catholics, a Morman and a Protestant who many think is Muslim running for the highest political offices in the land. BTW, did you see the article intoday's AJC about the 10 Commandments now hanging in the halls of the Georgia State Capital? Scary. I wonder if they used the original and correct version of the 10 Commandments (vs the 20 + different Christianized versions)? I doubt it.

Jimmy Carter and Obama are the worst President's ever!

AR,

Regarding O'Bama, are you completely disregarding Republican fiscal, regulatory, military (unnecessary wars), roll back of previously legally enacted Civil, Women, LGBT rights, enabling corporate greed, as examples, to create the hell hole he inherited? Add on top of that an obstructionist TP influenced Congress who ethically abandoned their responsibility to govern for all citizens....and you blame the President?

Jonathan, I understand the challenge of conveying multilayered theories within the 1,500 word limit. The links you are providing are helpful. I did watch the 22 minute History of PC (William Lind narration). That's why I used the Latin/Greek analogy earlier. I was having a difficult time keeping up with what was discussed because it's not concepts and conversations I run across often (if ever). That's why it hits be as being "conspiratorial." I will commit to viewing the other links provided and better understand the threat from your perspective. In the meantime, one question. As you understand cultural Marxism, does it cross all institutions and political parties?

Yes it does have an effect on all our higher educational institutes, and yes both parties as well. Later in the film, Pat Buchanan throws Bush under the bus for his part in our financial collapse, also there is mention of commiting to war without congressional approval. Honestly I have a hard time finding truth, when it comes to either party. I also am saddened we no longer have an objective media, Just political cheerleaders for either party playing the roles of so called journalists. I wonder what year objective journalism died in this country? The role media plays today in our society does not bring us together to discuss our differences. Instead it pushes us further apart while vilifying the other side. They are not good stewards, as they make themselves out to be. They a part of the problem, not the solution. We deserve better.

Note the disparity in votes between the first and second questions.

Project Runway?

How about an option for "I kept up with it through the internet news"? You know, intelligent people.