Since first Twitter presented itself, I have wondered why anyone felt compelled to publish any or every random thought to countless strangers. Now I learn that every random glance at the lives and profiles of others is by default revealed to anyone who has the time or inclinatio­n to investigat­e. What drives the desire to participat­e in a technology so inherently at odds with the normal wish to keep some elements of our lives private? Have we become so anonymous in modern life of transient workplaces and ever changing real communitie­s that we are desperate to create them in the clouds or our dreams? Or is the human ego unable to resist the temptation to become so very “public”. Certainly a politician such as our scandal of the moment Anthony, has the desire and need to make his name and image known to everyone, regardless of the perils of over exposure. But, why so the rest of us? Perhaps we should all take a moment to review Emily Dickenson’­s poem “I’m Nobody”:
I’m nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there’s a pair of us—don’t tell!
They’d advertise—you know!

How dreary to be somebody!
How public like a frog
To tell one’s name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!

I wasn’t aware Pawlenty had any ideas to take apart. But okay, if people have
nothing better to do.

I’m sore about this assault on Weiner by righteous liberals at it again. Cons got
nothing on that crowd when it comes to hypocritical moralizing.

As I was just writing to the DNC, what could be richer than a pack of bribe
recipients talking morally down to a guy who sent out a couple pics of the old
thing. Yep, pretty damn serious. Meanwhile, it’s been Weiner who’s made some
attempt to hold to what used to be the party’s principles, way back before labor
went for Reagan, if not back to FDR. Yeah, Weiner’s loud, which is kinda
necessary, isn’t it?

When even your own party is in opposition? (I swear, I don’t know how Bernie
Sanders can stand to be around those people, speaking of, “Icky.”)

Blabbermouth media has worked up its own over all this Weiner biz. Indeed, I
hear a climax coming, so to speak, and it will amount to Weiner’s resignation,
called for by Pelosi and followers. This is the same Speaker who gave us Iraq
and a phony healthcare bill. Boehner could hardly be worse, though he and his
must be enjoying this, along with the French and maybe even the British.

But childishness is us, and indeed—as I agree with Dionne about one thing—
Twitter is where that’s at. I cannot, however, agree with Dionne that politicians
might have more than 140-characters worth of anything to say. Not American
politicians anyway, as the ones calling for Weiner to go away have long been
demonstrating. Were it not for the length of soundbites, almost all would be in
serious trouble, no doubt especially on the Bachmann side, though at least
Republicans are campier, whether intended or not. Liberals are SERIOUS, man!

Which must be one reason they keep getting their butts handed to them by a
population that on occasion does demonstrate a fair amount of wisdom. (If only
we then didn’t decide to vote for the other side, again out of childishness
manifested as tantrum.)

Media consumes us. We’ve become no more than so much grain to be milled,
rolled and flaked. Then we happily partake in our grinding down by signing up
to twit, or tweet, or whatever the hell it is, very often to media. (Truthdig
should demand MORE than 1,000 characters, or don’t bother if you’ve so little
to say.)

I hope Dionne was kidding with that part about receiving twits from celebs,
since…I don’t even know what to say about that, except that I’m surprised I
might have a higher opinion of humanity than does Dionne.

Otherwise, I’m tossing out my own call for all in Congress and at the White
House to resign for receiving bribes, and also for sending out their own
pictures, which you can bet are as revealing as Weiner’s if not more so.

Is this a country, a state, a nation, some damn place where dwell adults or has
it become, or was it always, a playpen?

Why not include Facebook - the other big “social networking” brain sedative?  Yes
Facebook helps protesters to organize and vendors to sell their goods, but so does
Twitter. Why single out Twitter?

From Samson:  “Who can create an image that appeals to the masses?” Answer The masses, by using the ubiquitous, all-pervading media—the TV, film, news media constellations. 
  Second question:  Who could suggest, support and sponsor all those small organizations and insignificant people who are working their tails off every hour of every day, providing the world with suggestions and actions that put into practice the answers to problems?
  Answer: Again, the media. 
  Question:  Why don’t they? 
  Answer:  Because the media are not interested in helping—only in making money. Other than that, they don’t care one whit—any more than any other capitalistic organization cares what happens next. They act without conscience, teaching the ordinary people to act without conscience.
  Possible solution:  Widespread popular take-over of the media by demand, by boycott, by a realization of the power of massive non-violent, ethical common sense. By refusal to be corrupted by corruption. Turn it off.  Don’t watch. Don’t listen.  Don’t buy the products advertised. Organize to object. Make a noise. Create your own media—word of mouth, local protests, get advice from savvy media experts who are on the side of the people.  Yes, there are some. Bill Moyers, anybody?  Amy Goodman and friends? Fair-
ness and Accuracy in Reporting? Others? Act together.
  Weeping and wailing will never do the job.

“And now social networking has taken us where human nature always threatens to go: downward.”

Yeah, that and “reality TV”.  It fosters the concept that we should waste time following the minutiae of some stranger’s life.  Makes my skin crawl every time I hear about one of those shows.

Politics has moved entirely into the realm of
entertainment.  It certainly isn’t a debate about
national policy. Politics is all about image. Who can
create an image that appeals to the masses? Who can
draw attention to themselves and become noticed?

And of course, since our one party/two wings system
doesn’t provide any more real policy choices than the
old Soviet one party elections, the elections
themselves are all about entertainment of the masses.
They’ll be big shows and debates and conventions with
lots of balloons dropping from the ceiling to provide
entertainment over the next year. 

But, remember, whether you’d elected McCain, Hillary
or Obama, the wars would have continued, the Bush tax
cuts would have remained in place, and Wall Street
would still have gotten its trillion dollar bailout
and protection from prosecution.  Everything you saw
in 2008 was just a big show for your entertainment. 
Everything you see in 2012 will be pure
entertainment.  If you elect any of the candidates on
your tv, then the wars will continue and the bankers
will continue to own the place.

Since politics is now pure entertainment, the answer
is yes, we expect our politicians to act like movie
stars and rappers and comedians just like any other
entertainer. No, wait a minute, the comedians are now
politicians, and get elected to the Senate. It gets
so confusing. Next there will be an actor in the
White House.  You’d see ex-Senators doing stand up
comedy, but there’s no such thing as a poor ex-
Senator who needs the money.

Quite frankly, (and I’m of the first trendy generation, i.e. post WWII), I was taked aback when I learned that our elected officials have the time and temerity to “tweet” their so-called followers. As if they had to suppliment their fund-raising efforts, which takes up the majority of their time, and raise it to a level that describes their day from the brand of toothpaste they start the day with to every trivial comment on someone else’s comment to a comment on the coverage of their comments in the news media. When the flip (deliberate euphemism) do these nondescipts, who we overpay, do the work, bequeathed through trust, to keep this nation from skidding blindly into the rail of incompetence and ultimately the dipsty dumpster of fiscal ruin? Is it by virtue of self-engrandizement? Put the toys away, go to your room and write a measured position paper, with pivotal privisos for meeting half way, to your competitor across the aisle. Grow up and govern. I don’t give one crap about the goddamn Blackberry. Get to work. Here’s a clever condensate of contemporary venacular: GOYA (Get Off Your Ass).

what we really NEED (not want) from our politicians is less politics and more leadership, vision, integrity, courage and honesty ... at the very least.  matter of fact we should DEMAND these qualities or not provide our vote, assuming we even care to vote.