I feel depressed and hopeless

I have been looking around the web today and have been reading what the right wing has been saying about the torture pics out of Iraq. Uggabugga has Michael Medved saying this is the reason women and gays should not be in the military because the people who did this were all closeted gays. Rush dismisses them as frat pic, more and more right wingers are writing columns saying this is nothing. Normally I would brush this off, shake my head and laugh, but these people are in power and this stuff will get overseas and more of our soldiers will be killed. How is it that me saying BushCo is wrong gets more scrutiny about whether that is unamerican and will put the troops in harm or aide the enemy and Rush can say stuff that really does put our troops in harms way and get cheered. Also, after reading Franken's book about how what is said on right wing radio eventually seeps into mainstream press I feel even more depressed and hopeless. Please cheer me up. Thanks.

it's ok...

all these things too shall pass.

Kerry will be elected and the world will start healing . . .

...or you can fight. These neocons in power have already demonstrated that they eat their young as soon as their opposition pushes back.

Stand up for what's right and never shut up. Karma works wonders for those who do evil.

They will say shit that just doesn't make sense to the "average" American and they will sound like the idiots they really are. They are going to marginalize themselves by making such comments. Let's give 'em enough rope.

Let's see why oh why would gays in the military be closeted? And that is if Medved is right. What a load of crap.

In fact, it's scary how much I feel the same way. But we have to slog through. The nightmare is just beginning, but we're on the right side. There's a whole bunch of people out there who, secretly, feel the same way. I witness it everyday. Had a died-in-the-wool repub in the elevator the other day say "I wish I never heard of Iraq". Had another, in the smoking room(now I'm in trouble) say "I'm basically a conservative, but I can't see voting for Bush in November. Just keep working. We're only now beginning to get a taste of what our ancestors went through. We owe it to them to not let it die.

and you just know they found out recently that Bushco knew about the torture problem months ago but didn't do or say anything about it. Ouch...that's gotta smart!

... all depressed, too. I just cannot believe that anyone would condone this prisoner abuse, calling a bunch of people who didn't do anything to us until we went in and bombed their country "terrorists" and saying they deserve this torture and shame.

When is SOMEONE who speaks Republican going to tell these jackasses once and for all that THERE IS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN 9-11 AND IRAQ! And explain to them that the only reasons we're in Iraq are because of PNAC and oil and Bush's father's legacy.

I can't bear another five minutes of Bush, let alone four years. Kerry's GOT to get through to the undecideds!

And I'm scared. These abuse pictures have put our country in so much danger. Just saw the "Frontline" on PBS about cyberterrorism and the havoc it can wreak ... and just how technologically advanced they've recently found out al-Qaeda is.

I mean geez, you went so far as to quote those fools. Just laugh at 'em. Do what you know is correct and to hell with the rest. Let your foundation be built upon the good things said and done, and forget the rest. Don't let them run your mind. Be free to use it as you see fit.

Only in my case, it has to do with a bunch of personal crap.

Believe me, anyone who defends this crap will have to defend those words forever. If Medved really said that, he won't hear the end of it. As for Rush's line about Frat initiations, this smacks of being a widespread RW tactic: some cluck from Beverly Hills had a letter to the editor in the LAT advancing this idea on Wednesday, and it was mercifully hammered by another letter to the editor today.

Anyone stepping forward to defend this will pay forever. Unless the fascists completely take over and quash all dissent (okay, it's possible) anyone who enabled them on this is going to have to account for it.

Yes, we suck. The problem is that the important lessons will never be learned. The biggest lesson is that this is the dark side of human nature, and how people insulate themselves from such a scary reality is to proclaim themselves above this sort of thing. What we'll do is just create another "them" of convenience, and absolve ourselves once again. What could be a good moment to reflect on the universality of man will be used as another way to point out how "our" bad guys are nowhere near as bad as "their" bad guys, so once again, we've proven our racial and cultural superiority. It's just a couple of Americans; they don't really count.

Sadly, this is the standard defense mechanism.

Remember, though, with each incident like this, more and more people cool on this administration and their apologists. That's something to snuggle up with when you're feeling lonely.

Life sucks a lot of the time; that's why people concoct preposterous religions to take the sting out of it and kill people who try to take that comfort away from them.

I'd still say that it's better to recognize the ugliness and amorality of it all so it doesn't sneak up on you or sap your ability to experience the nice parts.

1. Our news media is not completely bought and sold by BushCo. These pictures saw the light of day, and they're being discussed, and even the Chimp had to say he was sorry. It's a definite blow to the war machine.

2. There are some wonderful, heart-lifting threads and posts here in DU written by former conservatives and Republicans who are disgusted with what is happening. They've joined us in the fight to throw Chimpy out of the White House. I'm sure that they speak for many of their brothers and sisters in the Republican party. People on all sides are fed up with this crap, and they're speaking out.

3. Even though I am certain that the polls are rigged to favor Chimpy, his ratings are creeping ever downward, and Kerry hasn't really begun campaigning yet. It's going to be a long and depressing six months for the Republican attack machine. Kerry may be a little dull, but he is certainly intelligent and he is known as a vicious campaigner. I feel confident in his ability to win the election. Then we have the long, hard work of rebuilding.

If you are feeling discouraged, consider writing a letter to the editor of your paper, or a letter or email to your congress people. Or send a contribution to the Kerry campaign or to Moveon.org or to DU. Doing something will help you feel better.

and they'll just dig themselves more holes.

The assholes who get their news from Pigboy or the rest of the wingnut media are really few and far between. I can't believe anyone with a lick of sense will really believe that the two homicides the Army has already admitted to are just "fraternity pranks."

The lead story on the local ABC 11PM news was how Shrub is toast over all of this. Had Rangel there yelling for Rummy's impeachment. Pointed out how Shrub's "apology" was strained, and a day late and a dollar short. And made sure it jumped out at you that his "apology" was for making the country look bad, not for committing war crimes.

Schumer said "We shouldn't call for Rumsfeld's resignation until after we hear what he has to say." The implication being...

And a nice Kerry quote.

This beat out yesterday's helicopter crash, so you know they're taking things seriously. They even talked about the sharks smelling blood in DC.

I sense that a corner has been turned. It took well into his second term before NIxon was taking this kind of heat, and he didn't even start that war.

Courage, mate! I'd rather win fair and square, but they're giving us this one. It pains me that we'll win because of the death and destruction these people have caused, but, then, that is why we must win.

The wingnuts are desperate, and they'll being going way over the edge even more than they have been. They'll lie and smear, but in the end we'll have the last laugh.

Fight. There is joy in the struggle :-) I keep these handy for when I feel a bit down...this is what WE have. Now tell me again why we should be intimidated by these fools. Look at these beautiful people!

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Carol

On edit - fixed spelling error.

were cool. That's what we need more of, a working-class movement.

that always takes the sting out real quick. it's a nice way to get perspective. they are hurting. they control the media, fix the numbers, have every position in place with their watchdogs, and yet shit just keeps bubbling up to the surface. they are still on the defense.

at least you're not an Iraqi prisoner.

Put a little perspective into your anguish and you will find that you don't have it so bad.