Tell the truth - are there really any surprises in the political news?

[NRaleighLiberal]

I am 54 and have been paying attention to political news off and on since Nixon, growing ill over it during Reagan....mildly annoyed during Bush I, and pretty much got drawn in way too deeply once the Supreme Court handed it to *Bush. I joined DU in 2004 when Ohio was an obvious "technology" gift to the country. Afghanistan...Iraq....black sites....Right wing stacked media. Hypocrisy and lies. Keeping the powder dry. Alito and Roberts. Then hope - Obama - then the past year of fits and starts....and Palin.

But I can't help but think that pretty much everything we are seeing has happened in some form already. That it is nothing more than a consistent ability to not learn from past mistakes, to be condemned to repeat problems over and over. That politicians, by the time they get to the senate, or house, or presidency, are already deeply entwined with the special interests that got them there, and they forget what they are there for, and forgot what they once stood for.

I guess I am sick of the groundhog day nature of politics - that I have neither the patience or stomach for it. It seems like it is all rigged against progress, against the people who need things the most....and yet many of those people support things not in their best interest.

Sorry to be a downer, but as I did my evening scan of DU (as I've been doing for 6 years), it's all territory that's been beaten to death many times over.

[babylonsister]

1. As someone who has been here since 2004 also,

I have two sentiments. One is that idiot son is no longer there to annoy the shit out of me for so many years and reasons.
Two is that warts and all, Obama is a helluva lot better than idiot son ever thought about being. And smarter, and more diplomatic, and a host of other things. He's attempting to make progress, has smarts to do so, and is running into rethug (and Dem) walls at every turn.

I think watching everything happen on a daily basis is frustrating because progress, and lack of, is so mind-bogglingly slow.

I kind of witness the political process as a drama; every day reveals something, but I try not to take all the little nitty- gritty things too personally, because they're sure to change.

[northcarolinadavid]

2. Ground hogs and hate....

The days of Tip O' Neil and bipartisanship are long gone.


P.S.

Could someone post this article relating to this North Carolina Muslim teacher? I found it on WRAL a few minutes ago. Everyone from this site needs to read this story!

Apex teacher suspended after parents question Facebook comments

"Following the evolution discussion, Hussain wrote on her Facebook page that a student left a Bible on her desk with a card that read Merry Christmas with “Christ” underlined, the parent told WRAL News Monday afternoon.

Facebook is a social networking Web site that allows users to create profiles and participate in online discussions with “friends.”

Hussain wrote that the gesture was cruel and called it a “hate crime,” the parent said.

The parent said Hussain then wrote, “I have a meeting with the (possible) Bible boy on Monday … Heaven help him, I am still so mad at that child!”

Parents complained to school officials about the comments last week."



http://www.wral.com/news/news_briefs/story/7041186/