...is Listen. Listen to what people say, and not what you think or want to hear. Listen to those who present facts, instead of believing in fantasy and fiction that makes you feel fuzzy inside. Hear the voices of those who aren't like you, who belong to groups and have "identities" different than your own. Or, you can stick your head in the sand, and pretend like Chimpy does: that your feelings influence the shape of the universe. They do, but not in any way that makes a difference.

No, this post isn't about HRC supporters. It's about the fucking blogosphere, which at this point, I'm really, really close to being done with, forever. Why am I so angry/depressed/bitchy? Well, partly because I'm on the rag and sick of having back pain and cramps. But also, because I've realized: some of our "friends" aren't really our friends, but overly emotional, live-for-teevee stories, 'not in my backyard,' put it off until later, "I just don't want to think about that now," Scarlett O'Haras. Seriously, it's sickening. Or: I'm an idiot, for believing that "liberal" and "progressive" Americans are any different from the other kind, and have the ability to think critically, and dispassionately. Obviously (to me) a lot of us don't.

This bitterness is the direct result of two things. A: Reading how people at the Crack Den get all excited about Edwards stumping for Obama, when they couldn't be bothered to hear him (Edwards) when he still had a chance. As I told a friend recently, if this gay, black, extremely well-educated and politically experienced radical gets behind a Str8 Southern White Xtian male, don't you think there are some good fucking reasons for it? The other reason I'm pissed is because no matter how fucking nice I am, how often I reign in the cursing, sex talk, or other 'coarse' kinds of discourse, some people still can't seem to understand: I am my own woman, my own independent person. I think for myself. I don't let other people tell me what to think. I'm not alone; many in the blogosphere, many less popular or well known but still pretty bright people, are also thus. Try it some time, instead of letting a "liberal hero" on teevee tell you for whom you should vote, and what should make you mad.

Words do matter. Actions matter even more. You can judge people by what they do, have done, say they will do. It's important to pay attention to all expressed words, when it comes to judging where people stand politically. If that's too hard for you, go back to elementary school. A private one, I guess; public schools are worse than useless in terms of education these days, for the most part. But for fuck's sake, recognize when your mind is being directed and controlled by other people, other people who have the sole mission in life to fuck you out of your time, freedoms, and money. If I critique a candidate, it's because there is a reason. Unlike some, who seem to do so only for the thrill of pissing other people off and getting attention directed at them, like children in a sandbox with a handful of catshit. It's pathetic and part of the reason that despite ~80% of the country feeling that "we're on the wrong track" and "Republicans don't have the solutions," McCentury still has more than a fighting chance of winning this fall.

Democrats: their own worst enemies. Still, and perhaps Always. Sigh.