MOLLY, YOUR COLUMN IS DEAR TO MY HEART. I SMILE EVERYTIME I READ L\IT.  BUT I HAVE A SMALL PROBLEM. THE WORD “DEMOCRACY” . IN WW2 I FOUGHT FOR MY RE[UBLIC. WHAT HAPPENED TO IT.  MY STOCK QUESTION IS; SING ME A FEW BARS OF THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE DEMOCRACY? I AM FEARFUL OF A DEMOCRACY.  I DID NOT BRING MY SOAPBOX. BUT HANG IN YHERE. LOVE YOUR ATTITUDE. RON GREEN

Molly:

tell Larsen comnent #10881 that the word “gyp” had entered the domain of common venacular and in no way should be construed as a slur on gypsies even though the word stem “probably” taken from gypsy.  As a verb its connitative definition is correction as you used it.  (there is just too much outrage over perceived slurs these days)  Here’s merriam-webster definition:
gyp
2 entries found for gyp.
To select an entry, click on it.
  gyp[1,noun]gyp[2,verb] 

Main Entry: 1gyp
Pronunciation: ‘jip
Function: noun
Etymology: probably short for gypsy
1 British : a college servant
2 a : CHEAT, SWINDLER b : FRAUD, SWINDLE

Love your columns.
Patricia Cross

Molly Ivins, I’ve read your essays for years and usually find myself agreeing with much of what you have to say. But today I’m very disapppointed in you.

I expect that you wouldn’t _dare_ to write that somebody tried to jew somebody else out of their money—nor should you, as gratuitous racial insults are quite unacceptable. Yet here

> Enron bought the politicians who bent the rules that let them
> steal, con and gyp.

you seem to think that Gypsy people aren’t worthy of that same respect.

Shame on you.

Amen, Molly!

And if we think Hillary is the one who will reform our system, I fear we’re sadly mistaken. I’m a Democrat, but she’s just as beholden to big business as Bush.

Cheney had to claim he was from Wyoming because the Constitution says that the President and Vice-President must be from different states. These guys were rigging the game from the very start. A Texan as POTUS, a Texan as VP, Texans controlling the cabinet, Texans controlling Congress, Texans controlling Business.

Future historians will draw the map of North America to show the Empire of Texas, its allied states to the east, its dependent states to the west, and the occupied territories in the North and on the Pacific coast.

Here in the occupied territories the Empire now chooses the Republican candidates (cf. Gov Pawlenty and Sen Coleman), who are then shoved down our throats (I think Minnesota elections are still clean, the campaigning is not).

The “blue states” should all join Canada, and let the rest of the “republic” descend into the church-run hellhole they so richly deserve. No money, no schools, no hospitals, no roads…see how much longer they can afford to pay for their armies then.

Great column, Molly!

Public campaign financing is crucial, and there’s finally a concerted, bi-partisan effort being mounted to make it a reality.

It’s called “FOR JUST 6 DOLLARS”, a name reflecting the projected cost, per person, to actually fund public financing.

The organization is being spearheaded by former U.S. senators Bill Bradley (D-NJ), Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.), Warren Rudman (R-NH) and Alan Simpson (R-Wyoming).

They’re taking to the airwaves to spread the word. Let’s help them! Visit http://www.just6dollars.org

Something occured to me as I watched Lay & Skilling making their way out of the courtroom after being found guilty. I was expecting to hear the theme music from the television show “Cops” begin to play, and four or five burly crewcut policemen muscle their way through the crowd toward the convicts. Instead I saw the crowd being parted by the police acting as body guards as Lay & Skilling were escorted away.

How come it’s only poor people that get thrown to the ground and roughly wrestled into handcuffs when the police charge in? Why is it only the disadvantaged, uneducated, disaffected, and poverty stricken, get chased down, kicked, pushed face first into the mud with a knee to the small of their backs?

Am I the only one who feels uneasy when the “Bad Boys, whatcha goin do when they come for you” theme music plays background on television? Yes, uneasy, because “Cops” looks like a police brutality show to me.

But I have to admit, I’d sure like to see Lay & Skilling get the Cops show treatment. Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha goin do….

Isn’t it time for America to wake up and get rid of thne so-called ‘two party system’? It is really one CORPORATE controlled party with two branches. Let’s have instant run-off voting and see how fast things change.

And why don’t we shoot anyone referring to ours as a ‘free enterprise’ system. Large corporations are—as they were always intended to be—obstacles to free enterprise.

Of course, with those corrupting influences also in control of the main information media—and soon the internet?—it will be hard to sell misinformed America on a fix to this proble.

I just want to say THANK YOU, Molly Ivins!  You give me hope that the profession of journalism still has some honorable practitioners!  I know you will “tell it like you see it,” and I never think that you are sucking up to some editor or power broker to gain advantage or wealth!  When I begin to lose faith in the Fourth Estate, all I have to do is read a Molly Ivin’s column, and I am “happy” again!

Kate Madison
Depoe Bay, Oregon

Kenny Boy is about to scream Jesus Christ, where the Hell are you just like Jesus did on cross.
But there is a better chance Kenny will be back then Jesus.
Hey Molly, when are you going to ask the Christo/facists Pimps for Jesus why they don’t complain about Moon being crowned King in the halls of Congress.
Moon says that he is here to finish the work of Jesus which means like I he knows Jesus is not coming back or else he would be very foolish to make such a claim

Please go to ACT BLUE and donate to Curry4Congress or any other progressive candidate running for the US Congress.

John Curry is running on the Democratic ticket in a district held by an entrenched Republican. Curry is a working man, Marine Corps veteran, former union member and activist. He is deeply and broadly self educated about the challenges that face the working peopole in his district and the country as a whole. Isn’t it time the average working person actually had a representative in the House? Just one who is not a lawyer, banker, developer or real estate broker?

I hear plenty of voters complaining about how all politicians are crooks and liars. Why not support a candidate who is neither - who is more like you than what you ever thought possible?

Curry is resolved not to be a sacrificial lamb in this election. He is resolutely progressive, and absolutely determined to run a winning grass roots campaign. He and many other candidates out there deserve your support in the form of time and money. There are millions of doors to knock on, phone calls to place, dollars to raise and votes to get out. LET US BEGIN!!!

What democracy? Our democracy vanished in plain view, and with our complete acquiescence, when the Supreme Court decided the 2000 election without so much as a whimper of protest. Harmless vituperation from such as Molly Ivins is perceived as evidence that democracy lives! It doesn’t. It is long gone! And we have not the slightest blush in lecturing the world about democracy.

What’s that old quote?

“The problem with democracy is that people get the governments they deserve. . . “

Great article, Molly, its time for people to think more, demand more, and pay attention to something for longer than it takes to flip a remote control to a different channel. My fear, however, is that nothing will change as long as the majority of Americans find politics less interesting than American Idol and Brad/Angelina’s baby.

It reminds me of the sytory of the rich guy dancing with the debutant.  The man said to the young lady “Honey will you go to bed with me for a thousand dollars?” Quichly she answered “yes”.  Would you go to bed with me for a dollar?”  “What kind of a girl do you think I am?”  DThe rich man replied “Honey, we have already decided that now we are dickering on the price,”  (IN THIS LIGHT WHAT DO WE CALL THE CAPITAL AND THE WHITE HOUSE?

The coup d’etat of 2000 was the defining event for everything that has happened in this country since. EVERYTHING. I do not believe for one moment that the plotters have any intention of
relinquishing power because of the “will of the people”.

Molly and Friends,

You finish by saying “Let Us Begin” - and at first I wondered “How?”

I applaud calls to delete the Electoral College but I wonder how long that will take and how much power we have to do it.

So what about this? Why not Fire them all! They work for us so why can’t we fire them all? Incumbants. Everybody with the job who is running again: Fire them. Elect the other guy. How bad could that be? Would we lose any good ones? How many good ones are there?

Fire Everyone!

Mike - Cheney WAS from Wyoming but had been working and living in Texas for years prior to 2000.  All one has to do to qualify as a voting ‘resident’ in Wyoming is to register in the state 30 days prior to the election.  Cheney has a ‘vacation’ ranch (more or less) in Jackson Hole but hasn’t been a ‘resident’ in any other requirement needed.

As an ex-Wyoming resident, I understand that the men are men and the sheep are nervous there, but Cheney’s ‘residency’ was for electoral convenience, nothing else.

Who wants to take a bet that on the last day of his presidency, George W. decides to pardon Kenny Boy, citing his “deep faith, many charitable works in the community, blah blah blah”...  All those big contributions will have been an investment in Ken Lay’s future, let’s not kid ourselves.  Poor Skilling, though, he’ll be in jail the rest of his life!

It seems to this viewer from afar that the only real solution to the current, ongoing US problem involves a complete re-write of the Constitution.

You can tinker, you can pass new laws,you can promulgate new regulations.

All for nought. Because the basic document on which all these rest has been bypassed by time.

Yes the corporations have “the best government money can buy”. So remove the money! look to other countries to see how they have overcome the kind of crooked political activities so beloved in the uSA.

Marx wrote that under capitalism, all items of social value are made commodities.  Political power is of great social and ecomonic value.  It has already been completely commodified and it is a finite commodity.  As a result, American deomocracy is thoroughly corrupted.  Under the present circumstances, politicians are whores and to vote in any election above the local level is to lend credence to fraud.

The most troubling thing of all is the distinct possibility that our electoral system—the actual counting of votes—has been corrupted as well.  I think it’s telling that our (elected?) leaders remain so confident and unperturbed in the face of all their failures and misdeeds. It’s as if they are tacitly acknowledging that, no matter what happens and despite how sharply the polls turn against them, they will still be in charge after the November elections, and they will continue to govern with total impunity. 

It is interesting to observe that the ‘06 election coverage by our corporate media has shifted from predicting a Democratic takeover of the Congress to rationalizing and excusing the possible continued GOP control of all branches of government, even in the face of all the mounting evidence the public has finally turned against our ruling party.  It’s as if they are openly admitting that the fix is in, and there is nothing we can do about it. 

Only this time the opinion-makers will not have any confounding exit polls to analyze and explain away during the many post-election C-SPAN symposiums, no doubt featuring many of our most influential media elites.  One can picture Russert holding forth on Rove’s political prowess and how, once again, divisive cultural issues held sway with the electorate.  And I can just see Mathews, the spittle clinging to the corner his mouth, braying loudly as he interrupts, “it was the illegal immigration issue, Tim, the voters didn’t give a damn about the war”.     

I fear it is already too late.  If the corporate-controlled GOP remains in power after November, it will be a clear sign our democracy has finally been lost.

Who says you can’t throw down on a state with impunity. Just ask California.

Although I agree with what Molly said I think she has misunderstood her enemy.

For what has happened to our country has been a result of careful and thoughtful planning, the corporations and the people she mentions from Ken Lay on down, have actively tried to undermine democracy since the new deal.

Everyday we see them defend their self interests, which are in direct opposition to the values of American’s Democratic institutions.

They do this in so many ways, from trying to restrict information, to intimdating the media, and if that doesn’t work taking over the media and paying for propaganda to be run as fact.

Don’t expect them to suddenly give up over Mr. Lays conviction.

The corporations own our government, and they will continue to dismantle it in their favor, and to restrict competation and regulation for their own benefit, and above all for their continued power over us.

There is no doubt in my mind that they will seek to curcumvent what ever happens to Mr. Lay just as they tried to do with the Savings and Loan scandals in the 80’s.

I believe the real issue is the that the American political system is one of illusion, that is in the business of making it look like we are ok, that we have freedom.

These people are ruthless and unsrupulous and are not about to give up their vast wealth and power easily, and they aren’t timid about doing what it takes to keep the plutocracy going..

Dear Mace:
 
I have thought about it.
 
Seems to me that while political ‘pros’ in BOTH ‘mainstream’ (whatever THAT means anymore) parties very much like (for various ‘inside baseball’ reasons) the Electoral College system, it is ONE of the ‘systemic’ reasons for the failure of OUR political system. There ARE other very serious problems too, of course. I mentioned some of them earlier:
 
‘Bullet-proof’ Congressional districts
   
Corrupt(ed) voting machines, procedures and officials
 
And
 
Authoritarian Supreme Court Judges.

Go-Molly-Go!

Once again you have hit the proverbial nail on it’s legendary head!! 

If “We the People” don’t stop this run-away political joke at OUR expense, this great country will be lost forever.  These greedmongers are stuffing their pockets and laughing in our faces—All the way to the bank!
We watch them receive tax-breaks and make record profits, while WE try to figure out how to put food on the table and gas in the car!

How any blue collar working man can be a republican, and support that buffoon in the White House is beyond me!

Thanks Molly, your thoughts once again, as always, ring true and honest.  Jim Slater
                      Oak Point, TX

Abolish the Electoral College and you’re liable to get someone in the Executive Branch that you might really regret—and please, for the intents and projection of this comment let’s leave The Decider and his Iraq Policy out of it for 30 seconds—If so, who would undertake to oversee a rouge Demagogic Regime “voted” into power—especially with the present State Security Apparatus, legitimized by little more than subjective judgements, falling into their hands? Who would contest them? The Democratic process? The Banks? Congress? The Illuminati? The Carlyle Group? Batman? The Press? The F.B.I.? Militias? Or the elite formations of The Military? Sounds like hell I know, the truth usually does. But the known institutional inertia and systems imperative you’ve lived under all your life, i.e., a hierarchical society-Democracy is preferable to the visions of some very skilled, ambitions, and insane people with an arm load of axes to grind. People who have always existed, and sooner or later always seize control by addressing public discontent with actions, in lieu of more rhetoric…If the Politics you’ve grown up with are in effect a movie that you know the ending to, you can at least walk out of the theatre…The abolition of the Electoral College would open the door to some real live radical performances, that you might be compelled to watch. The only thing that has traditionally and effectively prevented it in The US is an imposed stigma, a negative public perception of such behavior. That is to say: “Look at him. You thank ‘at sumbitch ain’t crazy?” Abolish the Electoral College and trust me, you would also abolish such necessary if not accurate perceptions. Wouldn’t take long for you to regret it either. Hell, there’s enough venom in some of the comments I read here to fill a morgue…Think about it…If you ask me The Electoral College was designed to obfuscate the true purpose of Second Amendment. To abolish the former would perhaps necessitate the exercise of the latter. In all it’d be a case of Agressit Mendendo; and a Goddamn bad one.

Dear Dave:
 
Cheney’s from Wyoming.
 
And, for the record:
 
“...President [George W.] Bush was born on July 6, 1946, in New Haven, Connecticut, and grew up in Midland and Houston, Texas. He received a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University in 1968..”
 
http://www.whitehouse.gov/president/gwbbio.html

Molly—
Ken Lay, as you may know, was far more into George W., and vice-versa, than Bush would like for us to know. Some of their ties go way back to the days when George W. owned the Texas Rangers, and would host Kenny at the stadium. The partnership continued long after that, as Lay got his way with tort reform and energy policy in Texas and even at the federal level. His effects are still being seen at the national level, where the politicians he helped into office tried, for the seventh time in the last four years, to favor insurance companies who are sued by injured patients of doctors and hospitals. The legislation that Lay pushed on George W. in Texas left the most seriously injured victims of serious medical error with a cap of $75,000 for their life of suffering. Now Congress is still trying to do the same favor for the whole country. Michael Townes Watson, author of America’s Tunnel Vision—How Insurance Companies’ Propaganda Is Corrupting Medicine and Law. http://www.AmericasTunnelVision.com

10642, Mike

I’m with ending the electorial college, after all the president does not take office until the following year, the founding fathers did this for a reason, the roads were not passable, I wonder if choosing a president back in the 18th century was decided in one day.

Marge, Portland, Oregon

How about we just get rid of Texas

Besides Bush being Kenny Boy’s “Number One Show Pony” domestically, Kenny Boy sent his “Show Pony” and Condi Rice and Cheney and OPIC Agency officials and National Security Council officials to strong arm India to do Enron’s bidding internationally as well.
(See:Alternet -Robert Parry-“Bush’s Enron Lies”-Consortium News)

Once again Molly, you’ve said it succinctly.  It’s time to root out the rot and insist on real accountability and reform.

Right on Molly!
As usual, I enjoyed your take.

Human nature, how does one reform human nature.  Greed prevails, because it is a part of human nature, which cannot be changed, as history has shown.  A college of government ethics might help, but you would still have serpents in suits who are difficult to detect.  Alas, the surrvival value of human intelligence, has not been satisfactorily demonstrated, avarice has.  Cupidity leads to the rule of the mwealthy and the enslavement of the poor.

How about:
 
    A Supreme Court majority with enough ‘judicial temperament’ to stay the hell out of the business of choosing presidents
   
    Tamper-proof voting machines (and procedures) in every precinct in the country
   
    Non-gerrymandered Congressional districts in every state in the Union
   
And
   
    Abolishing the Electoral College?

Hooray for Ms. Ivins !  Excellent article.  Actually, we would save millions if we had reformed campaign financing.  It might cost the American taxpayer a few bucks up front, but the billions being reaped by companies such as Enron, Halliburton, etc. based on lobby efforts, would become saved dollars for America’s federal budget.