THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026
Voices of outreach emerge: "Spirits are using me," Stephen Stills wrote. "Larger voices calling."
In the famous song in question, Stills was discussing a marriage which failed. That isn't exactly this—what we're all dealing with now.
Stills wasn't discussing this. But just for the record, here's part of the leading synopsis—and a key word is lurking here:
Southern Cross (Crosby, Stills and Nash song)
"Southern Cross" is a song written by Stephen Stills, Rick Curtis, and Michael Curtis and performed by the rock band Crosby, Stills & Nash. It was featured on the band's Daylight Again album and was released as a single in September 1982. With a theme concerning the healing power of sailing amongst the natural world, it was a hit for the group and has received classic rock airplay in the decades since.
[...]
Stills explained, "The Curtis Brothers brought a wonderful song called 'Seven League Boots', but it drifted around too much. I rewrote a new set of words and added a different chorus, a story about a long boat trip I took after my divorce. It's about using the power of the universe to heal your wounds. Once again, I was given somebody's gem and cut and polished it."
Spirits were using him, Stephen Stills wrote, as he was trying to heal.
We focused on the concept of healing a few weeks back. To our reckoning, spirits are floating around in the news as next week's elections draw near.
This nation has a desperate need—a need to find a way to heal. Various spirits are lurking about as an ancient battle is fought. Let's start with the fury of Senator Bernie Moreno, (R-Ohio).
Yesterday, Moreno spoke at a Republican rally in Chillicothe, Ohio. As reported by Mediaite, with videotape provided, some very familiar spirits seemed to be speaking through Moreno:
[Moreno] Says Non-Christians Are Unfit for Senate: ‘Should Be Nowhere Near Washington’
Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) said on Wednesday night that anyone who does not believe that Jesus died for their salvation is unfit to serve in the Senate and “should be nowhere near Washington.”
Moreno spoke at a rally in Chillicothe, Ohio, where he was joined by President Donald Trump and Sen. Jon Husted, who is in a close race against former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown.
During his remarks, Moreno turned his attention to Michigan, where Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is in a similarly tight contest with former Rep. Mike Rogers. If El-Sayed wins, he would be the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Senate.
“On Monday, I went up and campaigned with Mike Rogers because he’s in a race with somebody that just is an affront to me as an American,” Moreno said. “By the way, an affront to me as a naturalized citizen to this country.”
Did Moreno really say what Mediaite says he said? Did he really say that you're unfit to serve in the Senate unless you believe that Jesus died for your salvation?
It's hard to believe that he could have said that. But here are a few more of Moreno's peculiar remarks:
“This character, Abdul El-Sayed, can be nowhere near Washington, D.C.,” he continued before saying non-Christians have no business in the Senate. “Do you think he understands that concept? That our rights come from God Almighty? That Jesus came here for our salvation? He should be nowhere near Washington, D.C. And Mike Rogers is gonna kick his ass on Tuesday.”
Astonishing! On balance, we aren't fans of the prickly way Candidate El-Sayed has conducted his Senate race. At times, it has seemed to us, perhaps incorrectly, that his prickly ways might be costing him the Michigan Senate seat.
That said, does a person have to believe "that Jesus came here for our salvation" to be allowed to serve in the Senate? An ancient part of the war of the (human) world was playing out in those astounding prehistoric remarks.
Ancient spirits of tribal conflict were in the air yesterday—and it isn't just Senator Moreno who has brought that prehistoric impulse to the ongoing campaign. In this report, USA Today describes intemperate remarks by the furious Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas):
GOP makes Islamophobic attacks against El-Sayed in Michigan Senate race
Republicans are ramping up Islamophobic attacks against Democratic Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, using recent campaign trail appearances to claim he would be a threat to American security if elected.
At an Oct. 28 event near Detroit, Sen. Ted Cruz called El-Sayed a "jihadist leprechaun" and said he believed El-Sayed was a "passionate supporter" of the Muslim Brotherhood, a group the Democrat has disavowed. The Texas Republican said that if El-Sayed wins and is put on the Senate Intelligence Committee, there is a risk that "Americans will die as a result."
Cruz said he believed the Democratic candidate could use the panel to help terrorists avoid detection by U.S. troops or intelligence operatives.
"We have every reason to believe that Abdul El-Sayed, if he found out, 'OK, they're about to apprehend these terrorists,’ that he would let those terrorists know," the senator said.
Cruz’s comments are the latest escalation in Islamophobic rhetoric from Republicans against El-Sayed, who would be the first Muslim American elected to the U.S. Senate if he wins on Nov. 3.
Can those remarks fairly be called "Islamaphobic?" It's hard to say that the answer is no.
Fear of The Other is bred in the bone. It's part of the way our imperfect species is wired. Spirits are using us as we proceed toward Tuesday's midterm elections.
Up in Alaska, the Peltola campaign—and, we'll suppose, Peltola herself—has engaged in the kind of braindead behavior which may keep Democrats from winning control of the Senate. From the standpoint of Blue America, it would be a disaster if ridiculous conduct of that type allows the the sitting president retain control of that body.
On the other hand, possibly this:
Last night, Candidate Annie Andrews made a brief appearance with Lawrence O'Donnell on The Last Word. Earlier in the day, the New York Times had reported its new poll, in which Dr. Andrews was running even in the South Carolina Senate race.
Could some such breakthrough really occur in the Palmetto State? As in Ohio, so too here—the Democratic Party has turned its hopes over to a female candidate who is a doctor—who literally is a healer.
Last night, the analysts came out of their chairs when the healer in question said this:
DR. ANDREWS (10/28/26): There is so much hope and optimism and energy on the ground because we've been building a campaign that's for everybody, not just the Democrats who are feeling hopeful in South Carolina, but for Independents who are ready for change and for Republicans, like my own Dad, who care more about South Carolina than they care about politics in D.C.
The candidate was speaking the language of the healing of rifts! Soon, this exchange occurred:
O'DONNELL: Your Dad is not the only Republican voting for you. You've got a former Republican governor of [South Carolina] endorsing you, in a kind of team endorsement with a former Democratic governor of [South Carolina]. What is your pitch to Republican voters?
DR. ANDREWS: Yeah, I'm really excited to have the support of former Republican South Carolina governor and David Beasley and former Democratic South Carolina governor Jim Hodges....They ran against each other. They disagree on a lot of things, but they're coming together because they see in me a senator who will put South Carolina first, and that's what I'm hearing from the over one hundred Republicans across the state who have endorsed me...
The spirit of outreach was again being voiced by the candidate on the Blue side of the aisle. Elsewhere, the spirit of civilizational war was being expressed.
Spirits are using us as this prehistoric conflict is being played out again. Elsewhere, the spirit of Puck prevailed:
‘Pitch Perfect!’ Critics Delight as Obama Mocks Trump’s Cheesecake Factory Joke ‘Tantrum’
Former President Barack Obama took another swipe at President Donald Trump on Wednesday, days after the commander in chief’s furious reaction to his Cheesecake Factory joke, much to critics’ delight.
Obama reignited the bit on Wednesday night at a Democratic campaign rally in Atlanta, mocking Trump for apparently taking greater offense at being compared to the restaurant chain than to former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
And so on, with laughter, from there.
Is Obama wiping the floor with the sitting president? Next Tuesday, we may find out. But larger ancient voices are calling as this struggle plays out once again. Spirits urging the end of war may be using Blue America's newest candidates.
We Blues will have to cop to the ways we've been wrong. It can't just be the Reds.
Tomorrow: Attention C-Span callers
Come on man, fucking prickly?, the other mo fos are creating a white nationalist christian fascist Government where there will be no fair and free elections. But keep punching down on the smart accomplished American born and bred Muslim.
ReplyDeleteSomerby claims to be liberal, a Democrat, but somehow no Democrats ever seem to meet his high standards for enthusiastic endorsement. Meanwhile, he keeps quoting Gutfeld and ignoring the efforts of the left to improve the lives of everyday people. What a ridiculous farce Somerby's blog has become.
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ReplyDelete"That said, does a person have to believe "that Jesus came here for our salvation" to be allowed to serve in the Senate?"
There has to be a million of idiotic things American politicians say every day. And this particular one attracts you attention. Why is that?
I think I know why. You retarded Dumbocrats need to constantly 'virtue signal'. You find (or, more often, invent) some stupidity, and go: 'Look at me! I despise this horrible thing that someone said! Therefore, I am a good person!'
So, okay, do what you have to do...
Note: comment above was typed from deep inside Saddam Hussein's Cheesecake Factory.
DeleteAnonymouse 11:35am, Sen. Moreno is an idiot. Pres.Trump has the fundamentalist Christian population locked up. Moreno’s risks turning other types of voters off Trump, rather than helping Trump. He expressly dissed voters who are not ardently religious. He hurts the president’s chances by acting this way. I know this is harsh, but you’re thinking like an anonymouse.
Delete"Anonymouse 11:35am, Sen. Moreno is an idiot."
DeleteThat's what I said, more or less. Only I was more precise, saying that he said an idiotic thing. What's your beef?
Trump is a heathen with no religious beliefs beyond selfishness and cruelty. That makes him a bad role model. Trump is not running for office again, so how does he need Moreno's "help"?
DeleteWe have a Constitution that spells out separation of church and state and specifies that there should be no religious test for serving the country. Moreno has apparently never read the Constitution. I think that disqualifies him from office, given that he took an oath to uphold the constitution himself.
This is a raw appeal to religious bigotry.
Anonymouse 12:05pm, the statement wasn’t merely dumb. It is not merely something to be shrugged off that way. THAT is WHY Bob referenced it.
DeleteYou would vote for him if he were the gop candidate in your state, now wouldn’t you, “Cecelia”?
DeleteMeanwhile, the important news is how well our military is doing in the Strait of Hormuz
ReplyDeleteThe tide is beginning to turn in the battle for the Strait of Hormuz—thanks to the U.S. military. It is performing two tasks superbly and simultaneously: the implementing of a naval blockade of Iran and facilitating the export of non-Iran oil through the Strait of Hormuz.
We are doing so much winning that the Pentagon issued a statement that military refrigerators nationwide were hacked, causing meat and other food to spoil.
DeleteThe Secretary of Defense who has been hiding the fact that our base in Bahrain was evacuated early on.
Deletefuck you straight to hell, dickface.
The tide sure has been beginning to turn a lot, ever since last year when they supposedly obliterated Iran’s nuclear program the first time.
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ReplyDelete"Obama reignited the bit on Wednesday night at a Democratic campaign rally"
So Barack Hussein is learning, trying to imitate The Donald. But I don't think Barack Hussein is smart and talented enough for that.
Peltola and her campaign have denied recruiting Sullivan. They say they had no involvement in that effort. Somerby is apparently calling her a liar, since he has today doubled down on the slander he made yesterday against her. All the NY Times has is the DOJ's lawsuit against Peltola (to go into effect only if she wins) claiming she recruited the extra Sullivan. There is no evidence beyond that. That DOJ lawsuit is part of the right's ongoing lawfare against Democrats. It is not serious and has no proof that Peltola was involved in recruiting a Republican named Sullivan to run against the existing Republican candidate, also named Sullivan.
ReplyDeleteThe right has been pulling such stunts all over the country, and not just in this election. These sorts of things happen in campaigns. That doesn't mean Peltola did it or that she had any knowledge it was happening. She denies it and I believe her, because Democrats are not huge liars like right wingers are, especially Trump.
If Somerby were on the ball, he would have challenged the NY Times article, not blamed Peltola, swallowing this right wing propaganda whole, and advancing it by repeating verbatim the NY Times accusations without presenting Peltola's response to it. That is dishonest of Somerby.
Heaven forbid, if a democrat is a little prickly.
ReplyDeleteGreat news. Will the voters be aware?
ReplyDeleteReal gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 3.4 percent in the third quarter of 2026
https://www.bea.gov/news/2026/gdp-advance-estimate-3rd-quarter-2026
fuck you, dickface
Delete\
Claiming that Obama was engaged in the “spirit of civilizational war” is a brain dead characterization. He, like Ossoff, calls out Trump’s corruption and self-dealing and his focus on vanity projects, all of which illustrates Trump’s contempt for Americans. It’s a message that resonates, and they also connect Trump’s pathology to the Republican Party, which by extension has contempt for Americans too. It’s a reasonable and accurate appeal. Andrews and others talk about healing, but so do Obama and Ossoff, because aside from outreach, you also need to identify the source of the problem.
ReplyDeleteBut by the way, Obama spoke also of what democrats can do better and what they ought to do policy-wise in the future. It was a wide ranging speech.
Obama had his shot at being president. He does not get to tell Democrats what to do down the line unless his opinion is asked by a sitting US President.
DeleteHe appeared at a rally for Ossoff, who is making the same points as Obama, and who hopes to be able to enact a democratic agenda in the future. Ossoff wanted Obama there. Are you a moron, 12:03?
DeleteI wonder whether Somerby understands about ideological splits within religious groups and the ways these define religious denominations. Within Islam, there was a split between the Sunnis and the Shiites over which successor to Mohammed had God's blessing. Jews and Moslems worship the same God, but disageed over whether Mohammed was anointed by God as a prophet and leader. Jews and Christians worship the same God but disagree about the standing of Jesus as a savior, with Christians saying yes. Then Catholics diverged from Protestants over elements of doctrine, such as the infallibility of the Pope and whether priests were needed to interpret the Bible, and whether good works could get one into heaven. Meanwhile the Christian Orthodox church of Eastern Europe split from the Catholics. In Western Europe, protestants splits included the Methodists with their vows of poverty and self-sacrifice breaking from the Church of England, the schism from Catholicism ignited by Henry VIII's divorce and confiscation of the Catholic monestaries and church property. In the USA, we have the Baptists splitting from the Presbyterians, the evangelical Mormons and born-agains and the US-invented Christian Scientists diverging from English imports such as the Quakers and Episcopalians. Meanwhile, ALL of these groups worship a unitary God that originated from the same deity. The splits are in the details.
ReplyDeleteThat's why this whole uproar over El-Sayed's religion versus the Christian fundamentalists of Texas versus the Jews is so utterly and completely stupid. And today Somerby buys into the meaningfulness of it all, when the real split is between the God-worshipping religious people and the atheists, scientologists, tech-bros who believe in aliens and the AI-worshippers. Those are the real weirdos, religion-wise.
Trump is obviously not a religious man. He hasn't got a clue what religion is about, is unfamiliar with the Bible to the point where he cannot quote a verse or name a gospel. He has lived his life without religious guidance, has no morality beyond self-indulgence, and is unfit to lead our country. I believe that anyone supporting Trump has declared himself unfit for office too, because he would inflict such a heathen asshole on our nation. If Trump were to worship anything, it would be Satan, just as he worshipped Epstein and followed in his evil path. Next to that massive failure of morality, the divisions over which church to attend are trivial. Is a candidate willing to stand up for what is good and decent or not? That is the only question that matters.
Without empathy, our species is lost. The right wing has no empathy. They are cruel for cruelty's sake. Avoid voting for anyone who is like that, and his or her religion won't matter.