John McCain selected Sarah Palin to try and combat Barack Obama's message of change, yet yesterday's hate-fest was a stunning admission that the Republican Party has nothing to offer but more of the same.

The night began with Mitt Romney, who stepped onto the stage and into the 1970s. If "liberal" were a four letter word, half of his speech would be censored. But that was his intent, of course--to hurl the word out to the dazed, white masses below as if the word "liberal" was an epithet, and as if by its mere utterance, a hoard of rioting dirty fucking hippies would pour onto the convention floor.

Next came Mike Huckabee, who entered stage right and brought along with him the 1980s and a school desk. A timely quip about Madonna's wardrobe triggered the start of what was a somewhat stumbling stroll down Ronald Reagan lane. Warning against the rise of "centralized government," he weaved a foreboding narrative of an Obama presidency, stitched from scraps of fears two decades old that the is an ever-present red haze on the horizon, eager to chomp into your paycheck and tear apart your private home.

Huckabee was followed by Rudy Giuliani, who cheered for the Republican Party of the 1990s. He tried to paint Democrats as haphazard and unethical controllers of the government, and sold the tale to the audience that it was the Republican Party that had all the answers. Stopping short of drafting another Contract with America, he promised that Republican rule would "shake up Washington" and delivered the rest of his speech in a voice dripping with sarcasm, betraying a jealously that a Democratic official dare to be beloved. He looked so very small on the stage not because of his stature, but because of his style. He delivered a line followed by a pause, grinning and chuckling, as if he were waving a blue-stained dress to the world.

And then, Sarah Palin took the stage. By the end of her speech, she made it abundantly clear that this "change agent" relishes playing the same Bush/Rove politics of the last eight years. The "rising star" of the Republican Party sunk to barrel-scrapping levels as she spit out attack after attack on everyone from Barack Obama to Harry Reid. Snide remarks were followed by more caustic insults, with little if any substance in between. As the monochrome audience roared, and as many in their homes watching winced at the sharpness of her personal attacks, she twisted her verbal knife not in an effort to skewer Democratic policy or governing philosophy, but to draw blood from the bodies of her political opponents. It was Rovian rhetoric at its finest. It was Rush Limbaugh to its core.

Four speakers yesterday demonstrated why four decades of conservative politics have led us here today, to this broken system where a "successful" speech is not one that speaks to the issues, but is one that speaks to the ugliest side of human nature and appeals to hate rather than hope.

It against this ragged landscape of the same, exhaustive politics that John McCain will accept the Republican nomination for President. And though he will style himself as a reformer, he will bleed into the background of these small politics that have long plagued our social discourse and that have stood as deliberate barriers to real change. Because no matter how much he attempts to distance himself from what his party stands for and how it misgoverns, no amount of rhetoric can conceal that a McCain-Palin ticket ensures more of the same at a time when the American people are clamoring for change.

Ahhh....Deepak, Deepak....

you say, "She is the reverse of Barack Obama, in essence his shadow..."

That's funny....she could never be his shadow... in fact, that 'little feller' is going to be walking in her shadow for quite some time now...

But, go ahead...do your thing....

I think I'll just cling to my small town, nationalistic, gun toting, abortion decrying, patriotic, petty, small minded parochialism!

You did pretty good stringing all that together, maybe you could send your resume to Axelrod, and get on board as one of Obama's speechwriters!

have a wonderful, cosmopolitan, large minded, globally uniting day!

Now, i'd better go read my bible and clean my ole shotgun...squirrel season is open...(funny thing, I'm not even bitter!!)

:)

It takes two to tango:

To dance with one's own shadow.

I experienced this lately in my own labyrinth, the sun casting its beams through the trees in such a way that I could see my shadow dancing alongside of me in all the seven paths.

Sometimes my shadow is in front of me, showing me the way.

Sometimes my shadow is behind me, protecting me.

Sometimes my shadow walks alongside in the happiest harmony.

Salina...you're a good writer...too bad you're all wrong... :)

Obama will be the next President of the United States of America!

Go OBAMA!!!!

Dear Char,

I wish I was able to vote :)

I second your intuition wholeheartedly!!

And remember, the more souls united in peace the more the world will reflect it :)

Love, Mieke

There is a fish that more or less moves like a snake and in my language (Dutch) it is named: paling.

I do not want to know what the name in English is because this association is enough for me:

Obama and the 'paling' effect means as much to me as Obama and the slithering effect. Slithering also means shady, so?

Same game, other side of the medal.

"...the more souls united in peace the more the world will reflect it :)" ~Mieke

And that's what I think is happening.

I kind of feel bad that I said some negative things in Gotham's post about the Republican's (the Ms. Pain part, which was uncalled for), as I believe our shadows do weaken the movement toward the light. Oh well, like Deepak said, we all have a shadow or two occasionally.

GO OBAMA!

Some play on the liberal conservative fiction because they can't touch the truth.

The truth would destroy the empire they have built.

I for the One, will not be depending on congress or the president for change.

I will instigate it myself, with the help of the many, and market forces.

That's interesting Mieke, as we posted on the same thing 'Palin's name' and I had not see your post yet, so I guess we were on the same wave length some how.

Love, Char

Dear Dr. Chopra,

I most emphatically disagree with your interpretation of the message delivered by Sarah Palin. You have said that "Palin sent a rousing call to those who want to celebrate their resistance to change and a higher vision".

Sarah Palin said, "THERE ARE THOSE WHO USE CHANGE TO PROMOTE THEIR CAREERS AND THERE ARE THOSE WHO USE THEIR CAREERS TO PROMOTE CHANGE".

Rudy Giuliani said, "CHANGE IS NOT A DESTINATION AND HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY".

Sarah Palin described most eloquently the types of changes that she is pursuing in her effort to put an end to the proclivity of government towards capitulation to the interests of special interest groups. She is aware of how monetary benefits from any savings realized by the correct management of collective funds should be returned to the people. She is against undue taxing of the people so that more unnecessary government agencies can be funded. She talks good sense and she has shown by her management in office that she means what she says.

Rudy Giuliani explained the situation beautifully. He told of how Obama has voted "Present" 130 times in his tenure as a senator. He has changed his opinion on issues over and over again. He has never held any executive position which requires responsible decision making. He is the least qualified of any candidate for the presidency in over 100 years.

Best Wishes,

"Betsy" S.

Hello Deepak and Everyone,

I think I like the way I put this here showdown better than your way Deepak...

that we will chose to save ourselves in spite of our ignorance or we will choose to celebrate our ignorance....

skinny, we know, where you weigh in.....and you will have a lot of company....but who knows maybe we can save ourselves from ourselves....

McCain will speak tonite but I bet the audience will be much smaller, really, Palin is all the Party has, now....John has nothing to say that he hasn't already said and what that is...is about as interesting as my doorknob...that is why they badly needed a Palin pick....the "hockey mom/pit bull" to spice it all up....she has done her part well...I do not expect the excitement to continue though....maybe for the press and media but for the voters I do not think last night was much more than a little pure entertainment...

have a great day My Friends:) ruth

Mieke
I will carry your vote with me.

"the more souls united in peace the more the world will reflect it :)" :) worth pasting twice

I simply expect humility and confidence in my leaders.

This is what I will base my decision on.

Being a bulldog is not appealing to me, male or female.

I still think it's odd that the audiance at the RNC is overwhelmingly white and middle aged. Very small cross section of America.

peace comes from peace
humility and confidence is a sign of inner peace

derek

re #1

Salina talk about a critique....a home run, it should be printed on the editorial pages of all the major newspapers....wow.ruth

Amen Ruth
This is not Dancin for the Stars.
This is not even about just America.

Hey Ruth
I typed in wow.ruth and nothing is there yet. Are you still building it? just kidding

derek

"The best thing about Gov. Palin is that she brought this conflict to light, which makes the upcoming debate honest. It would be a shame to elect another Reagan, whose smiling persona was a stalking horse for the reactionary forces that have brought us to the demoralized state we are in. We deserve to see what we are getting, without disguise."

Dr. Chopra,
Thank you for this.
I was so disheartened when I heard Gov. Palin speak... the anger, the jeering, the belittling and mocking of everything I hold dear. But as I felt my body tighten listening to her and the crowd, I knew she was expressing my shadow, the things that I've been trying to embrace and befriend so I can be free and open myself up to the real world of dreams and endless possibilities, joy and love.

If Barack Obama understands the shadow, what would his conversation with Gov. Palin be like? How would he respond to her, what would he say to release the power of the shadow?

What do you say to someone who is in the grip of the shadow and believes it is real, someone like Sarah, to jolt her, to give her some sense of awareness that there is another way?

Some may spend time arguing their fictions engaged in a distracting drama and your tax dollars go to the wrong institutions and people.

Industry promotes the ignorance that protects their profit centers.

One is mapping out plans and operations that both the Democratic and Republican parties have failed to do.

We are going to focus on one of the biggest cost burdens, disease.

Here is the plan for Universal Health not Universal Health Care, the first insight this new scientist consciousness article.

There is no cure for disease, but there is a solution, the end of disease

Click my name.

Hi Derek,

wow.ruth...that is funny....yes I am still building, problem is I am not a carpenter.:))

re Salina's #1.....I tuned into the convention right about the time Rudy was giving his speech and I my thoughts were, this man, is either truly corrupt or he actually believes what he is saying...I do not know, but from the way that he delivered his propaganda I would say it is about 60 corruption and 40 true belief in his spiel....really, now Skinny and Amba eat his stuff up and clamor for more and I wonder how can one look at what he is saying and the way he is saying it and not see it for what it is? How can people believe in such smallness of mind and cheer it on? ....Salina.....you wrote about Rudy's speech this....

"He delivered a line followed by a pause, grinning and chuckling, as if he were waving a blue-stained dress to the world."

you captured the heart of Rovian republican strategy in all it's ugly splendor with that simple but powerful observation...

You also go on to say, "Snide remarks were followed by more caustic insults, with little if any substance in between. As the monochrome audience roared, and as many in their homes watching winced at the sharpness of her personal attacks, she twisted her verbal knife not in an effort to skewer Democratic policy or governing philosophy, but to draw blood from the bodies of her political opponents. It was Rovian rhetoric at its finest. It was Rush Limbaugh to its core."

It wasn't enough to just, out, Clinton, they had to drag him stark naked through every tv in the globe( what does that picture remind you of...hint...men in orange jump suits) to try and finish him off( so it is not just "terrorists" who the rovians would see fit to use torture on..Bill Clinton and Family, I would say, were their first victms..I knew then how sick and perverse these republicans had become by their treatment of Bill Clinton and his Family. Torture it seems is the republican's version of S & M, I am beginning to understand,....I'm getting off track now but you get my drift.....you see they lusted after his impeachment but the public and the world turned out not to be as sick, as perverse....they said no, enough....and Bill continued on to finish...but then....we voted and then we fell...head first into a big pile of muck...and here we sit...trying to drag or bass out of it...and it ain't easy....

anyway to finish my ponderings...this election is really a showdown, a very critical point in this Nation's emotional/mental growth process, From what I can see I think the prognosis is iffy.

yeah....we need all the help we can get in kicking out this very sick bunch of hooligans and Co.......

Remember America is better than this(McCain, Palin & Co.)

ruth..

Dear Dr. Chopra,

As Marianne Williamson says, "This is a moment in American history when our Committment to Compassion is as low as it has ever been".

"Our women see a growing threat to the children of the world."

"There is a good reason for the high incidence of depression today. Our psychic/emotional/spiritual pain indicates that we sense that there is something terribly wrong."

"We must Stand Up for Life Itself. We must give birth to a New Wisdom; a Reverance for Life."

"When you make as the underpinnings of civilization economic principles rather than humanitarian principles, then you are a money changer."

"We must reclaim the Feminine Nature of the Divine. We must give birth to a greater wisdom.
Pregnancy is a serious business; giving birth is serious business; takinig care of the children is serious business. We are here about our Father's and our Mother's business."

Best Wishes,

"Betsy" S.

Deepak!! You have hit this one right around the world!! Dear sir, you are so on point with this, it's not even funny. A great post!

Palin felt strong to a lot of people because she has a peculiar energy, not unlike Ronald Reagan's, that's attractive whether you like her values and politics or not. On the level of human-to-human attractiveness, she's a match for Obama, and he now has a fight on his hands of a kind he didn't expect. This was an excellent move in this chess match, on the part of Republicans. My intuition says Obama's glad that he's got such a strong challenge on that front -- he's capable of fighting like crazy when he has to, and he relishes this new opportunity. His capability to rise to a difficult challenge is what set him above all the other Dem candidates, as well as what sets him above the Rep ticket, and for that I thank God, because we cannot tolerate Republicans running this country at this point in time.

Thank you for your great post.

Blessings & love, h

Obama took on Hilary and won the nomination; Sara Palin can't even stand in Hilary's shadow. McCain chose her and made a campaign choice and not a governing choice. She is his smokescreen. I'm hoping American's see through it but I have my doubts.

Deepak,

I think that your take on things is interesting.
But I do not believe Obama's idealism contains much substance. The question is whether his idealism contains enough substance for Palin to actually respresent the shadow to this idealism.

Also, I think that as long as abortion is considered "OK" in this country there is a major problem, a major ethical problem. As it goes against everything this country stands for. But that is beside the point, but I did want to mention it as you wrote "rigid stands on guns and abortion--a scornful repudiation that these issues can be negotiated with those who disagree". The problem is here that the left does not want to "negotiate" the abortion issue either that I am aware of.

Hey skinny,

This takes the cake, Deepak has real comtempt for half this country. He has such a chip on his shoulder, I feel sorry for him.

Palin rocks and is authentic, maybe it's not the shadow that he sees but blindness.

It's pathetic,

Go team!

Take it easy my friend

Steve

It's astounding when the media does its job and even more astounding when it's The Associated Press that does it but credit where credit is due, they have a fact check of the speeches last night and Sarah Palin in particular turns out to be just an out and out liar.

Just a few of her doozies:

PALIN: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending ... and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere."

THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a "bridge to nowhere."

PALIN: "There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform -- not even in the state senate."

THE FACTS: Compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate, Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year. To demean that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a respected foreign policy voice in the Senate. In Illinois, he was the leader on two big, contentious measures in Illinois: studying racial profiling by police and requiring recordings of interrogations in potential death penalty cases. He also successfully co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation.

PALIN: "The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars."

THE FACTS: The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama's plan would increase after-tax income for middle-income taxpayers by about 5 percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. McCain's plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by 3 percent, the center concluded.

Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.

He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year would see taxes rise.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080904/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_fact_check

The article was posted last night but got a second lease on life today as the number one featured story on the Yahoo home page. Yahoo is generous, saying "Sarah Palin and her fellow RNC speakers weren't completely truthful at times"--while neither The AP nor Yahoo comes right out and uses the "L" word--but the message is clear: she's a freakin liar.

Aloha Deepak and Everyone

I have to agree Palin is Obama's shadow, and when you look for your shadow it disappears. After Palin's speech Obama had the best day in donations for his campaign. How can someone sanctify a war that has killed 1000 American soldiers and kill 100000 Iraqis talk about abortions:) Hmmm must be awfully nice to live in a glass house. Same old dance of mass weapon of distraction. love patty

Yes, but who is McCain's shadow?

I have fallen in love all over again and his name is McCain. What a beautiful man, who does not care who embraced 'change' first, as he will take it as his own for the American people, he does serve.

I think my lovers Obama and McCain are very similar. And maybe I shall not vote at all, as my silence shall be my witness.

Love,Char

"Yes, but who is McCain's shadow?"

John Kerry, I would say.

"Silence of the Lamb"

John you wrote elsewhere:

"I look forward to seeing Hillary deliver some knockout blows, and SOON!

68. Posted by John on September 4, 2008 11:21 AM"

Here it is:

This just in.

Statement of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
Thursday, Sep 4, 2008

The two party conventions showcased vastly different directions for our country. Senator Obama and Senator Biden offered the new ideas and positive change America needs and deserves after eight years of failed Republican leadership. Senator McCain and Governor Palin do not.

After listening to all the speeches this week, I heard nothing that suggests the Republicans are ready to fix the economy for middle class families, provide quality affordable health care for all Americans, guarantee equal pay for equal work for women, restore our nation's leadership in a complex world or tackle the myriad of challenges our country faces. So, to slightly amend my comments from Denver: NO WAY, NO HOW, NO McCAIN-PALIN.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/04/sen-clinton-statement/

Hillary had a broad base, people who supported her for different reasons.

People who do not follow politics closely may initially be drawn to Palin, and Hillary needs to make them understand the GOP ticket stands against everything she stands for.

I'd just like to see Hillary kick Sarah's butt down the road in the most mocking, seriously demeaning way she can manage.

SEN. CLINTON, GO KNOCK 'EM DEAD!

Hillery--take off the gloves.

This is fantastic Hillary will come out and kick ass--having to watch that lying Palin made me sick thinking that this fraud would even attempt to walk under the shadow of Hillary Clinton. Palin is one lie after another and nothing more. I have said it over and over Clinton will not allow this charlatan, who is the antithesis of what Hillary represents, to represent that she is a progressive--she is a skunk. Out of politeness I wont use the "B" word. The silly part is having to watch the media act like a bunch of jerks making comments that treated Palin softly. The jerks at CBS, ABC, NBC and especially that manure lot called Fox just don't get it that the public is on to their inability to be journalist--cable and print media are useless. Hillary kick Palin's big fat derriere. Thank you and good night folks.

I'm a little underwhelmed.

I was expecting Hillary's first statement in regards to Palin to be a lot more hard-hitting and to come right out and condemn that two-faced bitch for trying to capitalize on the movement Hillary spent so many years building.

Something along the lines of, "Gov. Palin is not a friend of women's rights. Despite her claims to the contrary, she has no intention of breaking through or even adding a single crack in that glass ceiling she loves to mention. Instead, she's more interested in patching up those cracks. She has allowed herself to become a tool of the Republican party in the most insulting pander in American history. If John McCain thinks so little of American women that he believes they will vote for him just because he places a woman on the ticket, then I've got news for John McCain -- no way, no how. The women of America are smarter than this and we are outraged. My name is Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin does not even come close to speaking for me."

I really hope Hillary comes out with some more hard-hitting statements real soon.

Well, mini:

This is all coordinated.

Nobody does anything without running it by the Obama campaign first, and they haven't really set out to wound Palin yet. Once Hillary gets the green light, it's going to be... well we know what Hillary's capable of.

There is also a real danger of Hillary being unfairly targeted at a personal level by the rowdy republican crowd if she makes specific criticisms about Palin's policies this soon and during the convention.

Even the Clintons' tensions with Obama campaign prior to their speeches at the dem convention was deliberately allowed to be played, in order to beat the expectations and optimize the effect.

I have mixed and disturbed feelings about Palin, yet at the same time I'm amazed by her. And by that I mean utterly blown away by this Renaissance Woman whose achieved such amazing things all the while using her cooter like a clown car. Folks, one kid in diapers and one dorky government job nearly sent me over the edge! I don't know how she does it. She really is a pit bull with lipstick and I wouldn't want to meet up with her during a back alley abortion.

Giuliani is evil incarnate and I found Palin's speech to be a parody of militaristic fetishism. I think I know why she did it (the speech was written for her), but explaining it is not what I'm here for. I'd rather express my annoyance at the framing of the discourse as black/white and either/or.

Hegelian dialectic is a classic control mechanism used by STATISTS: Straussian Central Control wannabes who see the "common" people as sheep to led, if not to the slaughter, then at least to "service." Usually it's both, but deep down it's code for slavery. It's time for the people to stop acting like sheep and get rid of the ones who think they're More Equal than Others using ANY MEANS NECESSARY. This is not Animal Farm. Wake up.

Both the Republicans and Democratic parties are rotten to the core because they're infested with:

1) the spawn of bluebloods still smarting from the lost of their supposedly God given plantation lifestyles;

2)the spawn of Bolsheviks evicted from the Soviet Union still smarting from their failed putsch;

4)the spawn of Nazi SS agents trying to achieve God knows what; and

3)the spawn of Talmudists who think the goy (the word means "livestock") were put on this earth to serve the Khazar race.

In other words these are slaveowner wannabes, and switching parties is not going to change the fact that we're living in a pathocracy. The neocons are fake conservatives: They originally came out of the Democratic Party and they go wherever the power goes. They jumped ship to Hillary in July 2007, and this is why there has been so much gnashing of teeth over her demise. They had a lot of money on that horse.

Setting up Obama=Highminded and Palin=Lowminded is a massive distration from the real dynamic that's playing out here. Small towns do not equal small minds. Family Values is not code for hypocrisy. The rejection of statism is not parochial. Gunowners Rights is not about mowing down Bambi (it's about defending liberty from the statists). Furthermore, jumping to the "other" side of the dialectic by using fluffy framing language such as "global" and "universal" does not change the essential control-freak nature and utterly doomed approach of World Communism creeping up on this American Republic.

If you can't get out of black/white thinking then at least reframe the discourse:

1. Are we here to serve the State? or

2. Is the State here to serve us?

The refuseniks in both rotten parties are fighting for Faction 2. Howbout you?

Don't expect Obama to save you. He's a good person but the engine running his campaign is already invested with neo-Bolshevik operatives still smarting from their eviction from the other side of the pond. They are obsessed with the Caspian pipeline they just LOST, and Putin's neo-czarist Russia, and they are fixing for a fight. If that's hunky dory with you fine; go vote for him. I suppose this means you're too old to be drafted! Until I see him going in the right direction (pun intended)and putting the U.S. Constitution and AMERICA'S REPUBLIC FIRST (not "democracy," but REPUBLIC)and ripping up his Master's imperialist designs I'm sitting on my hands, writing in Ron Paul's name, or doing . . . something. I know not what.

I think that Obama's statesmen-like character and charismatic oratory offer us hope, not that he can save us, but that we can save ourselves.
I think you are right about Palin. She is a good ol' boy. Her reform is akin to one mob gang that takes out the other.

Dear Richard,

Again, thank you for your comprehensive view of what is happening. As you say, "Some play on the Liberal/Conservative Fiction because they can't touch the truth. The truth would destroy the Empire they have built".

As Marianne Williamson has said, "When you make as the underpinnings of civilization economic principles rather than humanitarian principles, then you are a "money changer".

Didn't Jesus chase the money changers out of the temple?

Today the attention of the public is being directed away from the corrupt operations of a government gone mad (a government controlled by forces beyond those of the Liberal/Conservative contestants).

A "mock fight" takes attention away from the real powers wishing to maintain control.

The question is, who can best fight the elitists and corporate mega-powers in order to restore a system that is focused on the original idea which was a system meant to operate for the people and by the people?

Best Wishes,

"Betsy" S.

God brought this to my attention to be posted. My mother sent me back an email I had sent her several years ago. Some great quotes from Marianne's book Gift of Change.

"To say that we are holy is not symbolic; it is to say that we are extensions of the Mind of God, and as such, our true nature is divine.

“When we stop to actually consider that we are children of God -- not just children of this world -- we begin to realize what spiritual wealth we have inherited. And it is ours to use, to cast out all darkness from ourselves and the world around us."

"Remembering our connection to our Source awakens us and frees us from the nightmares we create. In any Holy Instant, the ego is made null and void."

"Your value is inestimable because you are a child of God. Anytime you find yourself thinking, 'Nothing ever works for me. Time and time again I try, and I always fail,' stop right there. Erase the tape by recording a new one. Say strongly to yourself, silently or verbally, 'I'm the coolest person in the world because God creates only perfection. I recognize my inestimable value regardless of my mistakes, for which I ask forgiveness. I am God's creation, and in this moment I ask the universe to reflect back to me the greatness of God, which is within me.' Let whoever needs to laugh at that, laugh. What kind of world are they creating?

"Just push the button of the self you wish to be, and the file appears. It was already there, after all, just waiting to be brought down. It doesn't matter whether you're in the mood to be gracious to the bus driver today; do it anyway--and watch how it begins to affect your mood. We become gracious when we decide to be gracious. We have the power to generate as well as react to feelings; to hone our personalities as we travel through life. In The words of George Eliot, 'It is never too late to be what you might have been.' It is never too late to become who we really are."

"God can and will disentangle the myriad lines of dysfunctional energy that pervade a situation, as long as we place it in His hands."

"I try to remind myself, whenever I am tempted to think the world is boring, 'No, Marianne, you're boring.' And that seems to fix it. Only what we are not giving can be lacking in any situation. The excitement isn't out there; it's in here, in all of us, when it is consciously what we choose to see."

"Imagine your life as a long-running movie. Now see it made by two different directors. The first movie, in the hands of one director, is a movie about fear, anger, scarcity and anxiety. The other, in the hands of a different director, is a movie about love, peace, abundance and happiness. One director is your ego; the other is the Holy Spirit. And the star of the movie is you."

"The perception of guilt in anyone is our surefire ticket to hell. Every time we blame another, we are tightening the chains that keep our own self-hatred in place."

"Whenever our lives aren't working the way we wish they would, our instinctive tendency is to blame someone else. From dysfunctional parents to corrupt society, bitter former spouses to disloyal colleagues, we carry with us a catalog of grievance: if only this or that were different, my life would be good . . .Yet somewhere deep inside a little voice breaks through. . .we could have a grievance or we could have a miracle."

"Every relationship is a teaching-learning assignment. Anyone we are destined to meet, we will. . . Every encounter is a holy encounter if we use it to demonstrate love."

Dear Richard,

Thank you for that beautiful posting of quotes from Marianne Williamson's book, "Gift of Change". I just found it.

As Marianne has also said, "This is a moment in American history when our committment to compassion is as low as it has ever been".

The dark forces wish to destroy the Pure Keepers of Knowledge (the indigenous peoples and the followers of long suppressed wisdom teachings) - those who respect and support the Mother Goddess.

Let's revive the Awareness of Her Wisdom.

Best Wishes,

"Betsy" S.

Hi Betsy, your welcome.

"A "mock fight" takes attention away from the real powers wishing to maintain control."

Yes, this would be true.

The question is, who can best fight the elitists and corporate mega-powers in order to restore a system that is focused on the original idea which was a system meant to operate for the people and by the people?

The answer is one possessing a knowledge of people's hearts and minds. One who can see through appearances to the real intentions. One who knows the ways of the source disconnected ignorant ego.

You mentioned the money changers so I thought I would write something about that.

Thanks, Deepak Chopra, for this break-down of the phenomenon we're seeing play out on the American political stage just now. I'm sure that this kind of Jungian analysis will shed a lot of light on those nebulous but troubling feelings that have progressives and conservatives alike scratching their heads thoughtfully but not being able to articulate the archetypes of this race and these candidates.

I do think, too, that it's not only Sarah Palin who represents an antithesis of everything that Barack Obama represents, but John McSame does, too. Reports of his characteristics -- caustic anger, his hair-trigger temper, a penchant for 4-letter words (even to his own colleagues in the Senate and his wife!), neo-con warmongering and a gambler's style of decision-making (impulsive at best)-- are coming out slowly in the media.

I would suggest that all of these characteristics reflect the shadow side of what Barack Obama and the progressives who support him - and that Sarah Palin is merely a more lively embodiment of them, writ large.

What happens from this point on is, as you say, the interesting part -- it really feels to me as though American fate, history, and destiny (as well as the world's by some extension) is hanging in the balance right now.

An interesting, yet biased, piece. There are assumptions made by the author, even though it is Deepak Chopra, that I feel miss the mark of clarity. For instance - 'small-town values' to me doesn't mean 'a denial of America's global role, a return to petty, small-minded parochialism,' it means a sense of being part of a larger community, being accountable for ourselves and our manner of treating others, learning to honor and respect the ideas of others because we need to live with them on a regular basis, recognizing and supporting the successes of individuals and groups within the community, and being able to maintain friendships with others regardless of where or how they worship. It means, as the Global Heart Vision states, pervasively caring about others. Therefore, this piece by Deepak still needs to be viewed from the bias with which he wrote it - as do so many Op-Ed pieces written about everything from politics to hurricanes (i.e., external god is punishing the sins of the nation) to education.

The really good news is that we each already have the wisdom and insight within ourSelves, should we decide to sit with the questions during meditation.

The Money Changers

Back in the time two things were going on at the temple. Money exchangers and religious cult. But you have made it a den of thieves—Jeremiah 7:11. The reference to den of thieves may be a reference to inflated pricing or more sinister forms of using a religious cult to exploit the poor.

The money changers: The rule was that to purchase anything in the temple one must use the local currency. So those traveling to the temple were forced to purchase using the local coin; Greek and Roman money for Jewish and Tyrian money. In the exchange the money changers would take 30% of the value as a fee for the exchange which was the price for the use of the exclusive symbol for exchange. In other words extorting profit from the exchange of monies. So by creating an artificial need they gave something they could produce for almost free and create value where there was not. When we take value without creating genuine value we steal.

The Religious Cult: It was required by the religious leaders that people sacrifice animals which they had to purchase. Doves were sold to the poor people as sacrificial animals for they could not afford a lamb or other such. So here we have the religious cult creating an artificial economy in league with the money changers and animal breeders. A conspiracy of church and state.

The synoptics then state that the crowd were in awe of Jesus, which concerned "the chief priests and the teachers of the law." Luke and Mark say these Temple leaders were so concerned that they began to plot against Jesus' life, to which Luke adds that the crowd were so in awe with Jesus that no-one could be found to assassinate him.
The priests, teachers, elders, Pharisees and Herodians are described as coming up to Jesus, and questioning his authority to do the things that he is doing; the synoptics imply that it is in reference to his teaching. The synoptics recount that Jesus called into question their own authority or allegiances.
The followers of Jesus and their were many drove the money-changers from the Temple precincts. They money changers later returned after the crucifixion. .
It’s 2008 the money changers and religion as a cult have evolved and expanded throughout the world and their artificial economy reaches every corner. The benefactors of this fiction, with the symbol they control, oppress the people and obstruct a natural balanced flow. For with this artificial value they take a portion of the genuine value creating disparity among the all. For by law one must use their symbol to buy and sell. The people do not own the monetary system, it is held in private hands, and they take nothing and turn it into gold. A clever trick based on perception.
The Religion as a Cult, various church bodies, are still selling salvation and redemption having clouded the truth with fiction.
It is time to destroy the fictions of the world and remove the money-changers and their artificial economy from the system.

I have been about ready to unleash a serious oration about evil middleman money-changers. But my inspiration has been crushed by the capitalist dogs, b/c in truth the only way this system will be changed is by an all-out nuclear war or a natural disaster of planet-wide catastrophic consequence.

I'll take either one asap please!

If you cannot win them over with love, burn them all with cosmic fire! Empyrius!

He-he

Dear Richard,

You say that you will be writing something about the money changers. I am looking forward to reading your next commentary. In his series on Big Brother David Icke addresses the control tactics used by the Private Banking Cartel as well as the programs being used to move us towards the rule of International Law.

Just thought I'd ask you if you have had a chance to listen to David Icke - Big Brother, The Big Picture on Youtube.com. You may very well be aware of David Icke's teachings, since as you say, you were born in England. Don't know how many current connections you may have with those in England. Judging by your commentaries, it appears that you are well aware of the bigger picture.

It is imperative that people wake-up to the Big Picture because as some wise person has said, "The walls of his prison are invisible to one who is mentally manipulated". Too many of us have been mentally manipulated for too long.

Best Wishes,

"Betsy" S.

Dear Richard,

That's a great commentary on the money changers and religion as a cult. As you say, "The Religion as a Cult, various church bodies, are still seeking salvation and redemption having clouded the truth with fiction. It's time to destroy the fictions of the world and remove the money-changers and their artificial economy from the system".

Humanity does not appear to be developing towards a progressive mentality very rapidly. It seems to be "stuck in a rut". Something monumental must occur in order to "snap us to attention". I believe that just this may be on the agenda for the very near future.

Thank you again, Richard.

Best Wishes,

"Betsy" S.

Richard and Betsy -- isn't it a sadder commentary still that the exploitation of the poor by the modern-day churches isn't only about money per se, but more about promoting dumbed-down ideology in order to increase hierarchical power? money is just another vehicle of power -- as is mindless dogma. that anyone claiming to be following Christ's life and message would seek to have power, any kind of power, over another human being or whole groups of human beings, is tragic in my view.

Dear MissA,

Yes. Modern day churches are more about promoting dumbed-down ideology (and an emphasis on guilt because of a focus on sin) in order to increase hierarchal power. Money is just another vehicle of power. Yes, it is reprehensible that anyone professing to follow Christ's teachings would seek to hold power over others.

In my unfolding exposure to the writings of wonderful researchers I have become more and more aware of how there are two types of Christianity. There is the one (the largest) that promotes the teachings about the life of Jesus. There is another (the hidden one) that teaches the lessons taught by Jesus. There has been a concerted effort made by church organizers (Church of Rome) to misrepresent the original teachings of Jesus.

Best Wishes,

"Betsy" S.

Well, I think that the churches are doing the best that they can, as in any religion, especially Christianity since it was brought up here. The preacher does his/her best to reach the people, but if everyone has their hands over their ears, no one hears or wakes up and the hands over their eyes keeps them blind. So the church has a good purpose and it's leaders (supposedly awake?) are (should be) waiting until there is a stir to attend to. I would think that's a better picture of what is going on. For example, if a baby wakes up in the desert by itself, its going to be scared and start crying, as well as being hungry and dirty.

Love, Char

Remember high school? Remember the cheerleader/prom queen/mean girls and how a lot of people a) were afraid to question or challenge them, b) secretly wished those girls would allow them into the fold, c) felt compelled to go along with whatever they said so as not to be snubbed or cut out of whatever crumbs of privilege those almighty popular girls might allow to fall to them.

This is what Sarah Palin represents - this was the flashback I had while watching her "acceptance" speech. Of course her self-assuredness is attractive. Of course men are falling all over themselves. Of course women are charmed - they want to BE her and know they never will be so the next best thing is to be her lap dog.

Deepak Chopra, thank you for saying to your large audience what many of us are feeling and thinking but don't have the platform to make public enough.

Let's take off the blinders and see facts.
Not only did Palin lobby heavily FOR the bridge to nowhere, after she supposedly said "no thank you," Alaska KEPT THE MONEY.

This supposed champion of special needs children pushed for extra funding for them AFTER SHE KNEW SHE WAS HAVING ONE HERSELF. How cynical to use public funds to assuage her own problems and make a personal family tragedy into a public display of virtue to pander to voters. Didn't she just ask us not to make her daughter's personal situation a public one? Isn't this hypocritical?

And this educated wife of an oil man who has the means to support her daughter's pregnancy and health cut funding to aid any other pregnant teens in Alaska. You can't have an abortion and you can't have help to care for and raise your child either.

As for McCain, the only change he has made in recent years is from being a maverick to joining in lock-step with Bush/religious Right on a woman's right to choose, tax cuts for the wealthy, and many other policies.

McCain/Palin means a woman continue to get $.75 to the dollar, education continues to be a privilege of the wealthy, the nation goes deeper into debt, we get mired in more wars, the poor get poorer.

Did you hear Kucinich speak?
WAKE UP AMERICA!

hi again, Betsy -- *grinning* about different types of Christianity... only two?

the one I love the most is the Eastern yogic approach to Jesus and his teaching and miracles. Paramahansa Yogananda opened that subject beautifully in his book called "The Second Coming of Christ:The Resurrection of the Christ Consciousness Within You." his point is that it's difficult to understand the depth and message of Jesus' real life, teachings, and connection to god unless we also grok that he was educated as a yogi by many spiritual figures in India, during his so-called 'lost years'.

that's probably too out-of-the-box for many Western Christian readers... but it definitely casts the words in the Gospels and other writings close to the time of Christ (like the Gnostic Gospels) in a completely different light.

to the yogis "love your neighbor as yourself" makes perfect sense because your neighbor IS yourself.

Thanks Char, MissA, and Betsy for your additional insight and reflection. It is a nice contrast to some of the vulgar minded output one comes across from the dastardly ego.

I have had a few members of the clergy tell me they are disgusted with organized religion and tend to do their own thing even though they are affiliated with it.

So there are exceptions out there.

It often seems insurmountable it’s the little miracles I see every day that would indicate that it might be possible to transcend the old consciousness. It is these that lift me up in vibration.

On the other hand when feeling a bit overwhelmed, and I think Craig can relate, I would like nothing more than to flush a good portion of humanity down the toilet and be done with it.

Dear MissA,

In response to your Posting No.51:

I am referring to the two "Major" different types of Christianity, not the myriad divisions of Christianity into Protestants, Episcopalians, Baptists, Catholics, etc.

Yes, Paramahansa Yogananda has the knowledge of what Jesus actually taught, the elevated Christ Consciousness. Jesus taught from the traditions of the Mystery Schools of Egypt, Tibet, India.

One of the major issues never explained by the organized Christian Religious Teachings (those about Jesus, not of Jesus) is what He was doing during His lost years.

Best Wishes,

"Betsy" S.

Hi Betsy,
Those 'lost' years - interesting, it seems the Catholic Church has not found it important enough to the story, to divulge where and what Jesus was doing and learning before beginning his public ministry.

Is it possible Mother Church does not know, or won't discuss what hidden texts survive to say?

It is compelling, given the belief which millions hold to - surrounding his birth, death and Divine nature, that no record exists of Jesus' whereabouts or of his studies, work, relationships, temple worship, etc.

~ Kate

Dear Kate,

To answer your question: "Is it possible Mother Church does not know, or won't discuss what hidden texts survive today?"

The Vatican has been in possession of unpublished texts for a very long time. An example is "The Essene Communions" which were found in the secret vaults of the Vatican in the 1920's. The ones that were recovered were translated from the original Aramaic language by an Austrian scholar. They have yet to be acknowledged or circulated by the Church. You can find the translated texts on the Internet under: The Essene Communions.

There have been records of the travels and studies of Jesus found in Tibet, in a monastery. He studied under the Buddhist Masters there. He was revered there and was called Issa and in India he studied under the Rishi Masters.

Years ago I found a book called, "The Lost Years of Jesus" which was sold by the Rosicrucian Order and it told of his extensive travels and studies in the Mystery Schools of Egypt as well.

Best Wishes,

"Betsy" S.

If Patriotism is the usual fallback in a failed war, what happens during a successful war?

The Democratic Party does have high ideals. Some of its key points are important to listen to and engage, but only a few. It has as its flaw a deep-seated, self-deceptive narcissism which conservatives properly reject. It requires disillusionment. Obama candidacy reflects the feeling that we need a messiah- so we want to elect an unknown and a blind ideologist.

Issues like economic growth and national security don't give us a narcissistic thrill. That is, however, why they should be focal points.

As for the war, it certainly is not a failure, and whatever anyone thinks about it, the aftermath of 9/11 certainly didn't call for half measures.

Lets take a close look. Power internationally is based on perception. Presidents can not make change because they can not make laws. Its perception of their leadership and the public's backing of their positioning that gives Presidents and VP's power -power to mobilize and pressure legislation, business, values and how we the public see our status. That's what's really at stake in this election, every executive level election actually.

Reagan, because it was perceived that he had united all of us as a force, kicked ass so to speak and the world again respected the US. Remember that boat off the coast of Korea? The striking people who used to guide our flights, "used to" being the operative word since Reagan said government workers had no right by law to strike and fired them all. He enforced it and we rejoiced.

Palin:
Look at what she stands for:
-- Small town values -- a denial of America's global role, a return to petty, small-minded parochialism.

Comment: We really have lost those values, you know mutual respect, accountability for actions, "entitlement" is not a birthright, not everyone gets a trophy, we pass and we fail and we recover, loyalty, watching out for you neighbor, kids out by them selves at the park.

Why don't we want those values back?

-- Ignorance of world affairs -- a repudiation of the need to repair America's image abroad

Comment: Not at all what she said. She said the heck with fixing the world's problems on our own with US treasury $ without our so called allies.

We must first repair and strengthen our own home front, schools, health issues, become energy self sufficient, become a self sufficient nation. That's called controlling your own destiny or has that become politically incorrect as well.

Billions at home instead of billions somewhere else. We need repair and we have the cash so lets use it here. No country is worthwhile if is full of cracks in its overall health and we are.

-- Family values -- a code for walling out anybody who makes a claim for social justice. Such strangers, being outside the family, don't need to be heeded.

Comment: Strange- Don't family values mean learning love, respect? How would that adversely effect our main core philosophy. We are not intended to be caring for everyone who says we should. Family values mean supporting people not calling them names. What's wrong with family values?

-- Rigid stands on guns and abortion -- a scornful repudiation that these issues can be negotiated with those who disagree.

Comment: Criminals can get guns on the street corner. Gun rights are in our constitution or did someone forget that all important national and supreme law that is the constitution. Gun laws should carry strong penalties for crimes committed with them and that's where we mess up on the idea that controlling access to guns will protect us.

Its all in the user, owner and how the gun gets procured. Laws do not stop unlawful acquisition of guns. Laws should allow unbridled prosecution for a crime associated with a gun. Its criminal prosecution, not gun control that may stop illegal use of guns, maybe and only maybe.

-- Patriotism -- the usual fallback in a failed war.

Comment: Patriotism is not a war time thing, its a belief in ones country and its value system. If you are a Patriot then you know that dissention is allowed and protected by our Constitution. It was designed to allow for the minority opinion to persuade the majority that it is flawed or wrong. That's the essence of the US election system - change by law, not riot or the gun and dissention, discussion, no matter how horrendous the opinion is upheld by our system.

-- Reform -- an italicized term, since in addition to cleaning out corruption and excessive spending, one also throws out anyone who doesn't fit your ideology.

Comment: Why are the two the same? Corruption is corruption regardless of ideology. Non responsive government is non responsive government regardless of ideology. Reform is expected. Jefferson advocated a revolution every 30 years! He meant that power corrupts, power gets abused, times and needs change and "revolution" at the ballot box is necessary. Perhaps you do not understand reform. It doesn't say republican, democrat, liberal, conservative, libertarian, it says change the incumbent behavior and system to be more responsive to another way of addressing issues and getting things managed.

So please stop the nonsense re Sarah and John. Guts and real drive, experience, and the ability to marshal public support, that's what makes change happen or should I say "reform" happen.

hi, Kate, Betsy and Richard --

Richard! don't give up so easily on humanity yet. Berthold Brecht wrote, "when the need is greatest, the rescue is closest." my experience in years of spirituality, spent mostly living and meditating in South India, is that this is 1000% true. the worse it looks (we look!), the more immediately the divine can show itself and help.

but -- back to Kate -- to whom Betsy replied: To answer your question: "Is it possible Mother Church does not know, or won't discuss what hidden texts survive today?"

Possible!??? not only possible, for SURE the Catholic Church is sitting on all kinds of documents and refutations of their doctrine that will never see the light of day in this world. look at their response to the Gnostic Gospels, those brilliant texts found in the 1940s in Egypt, at Nag Hammadi, and written by students of Jesus other than the Fab Four of the gospels, and much closer to his lifetime.

fortunately, other places and traditions have maintained ancient documents that are not in the possession of the Vatican.

it's well known in India, particularly in South India but also in the Himalayas, that Jesus was there during his so-called 'lost years.' (I think of them as his 'found' years.)

there are places in South India where he meditated for many years -- I've been in these places and the energy in them is so sublime you can hardly think. your heart opens, your mind calms down -- his presence is clearly there, even after 2000 years.

Alx

Right on, # 51.

It is useful to me that you wrote out some of the contents of your mind in such a way as to create space between you and the guru archetype you represent to so many people. With posts like this I am hopeful that one day people will recognize your value to them as an indication of their need as much (at least) as your words, your greatness an obfuscated reflection of the light within them they would see but for their judgments and projections of their inner turmoil voiced without. Man, including you Mr. Chopra, is incapable of perceiving outside himself anything that is not also within, and so I wish you the best of luck in accepting the part of you that is Mccain and Palin. A source of light perceives no shadow; to the pure of heart all things are pure, and to separate yourself through judgment is to exalt mind and the limitation of dualistic contexts over the non-being that is outside winning and losing, and outside life and death. Though it seems you celebrate your clever weaving of mind and emotion, perhaps what the world needs is not another clever man...but rather an example of having risen above.

This is a little surprising:

"Reform" -- an italicized term, since in addition to cleaning out corruption and excessive spending, one also throws out anyone who doesn't fit your ideology.

You're blaming Palin for throwing out anyone who doesn't fit her ideology? Since when do politicians pander to "the other side"?

By the way, I can't believe how much attention Palin is getting.
When will it end?
When you you guys stop talking about it?

Her life's story could be written down in about 10 pages. Thus, there's nothing left to say.

Let's get back to Obama and McCain, you know, the guys who are actually running for president.

Hi there Stan,
yes to Let's get back ...