David (davidavilasilva) (San Leandro, CA)'s Recent Status Updates Showing 211-240 of 554

David is on page 7 of 473 of Wealth and Democracy: A Political History of the American Rich

Romney and Ryan are just the latest incarnation of a class struggle.

— Aug 18, 2012 08:37PM Add a comment

Wealth and Democracy: A Political History of the American Rich

David is on page 72 of 288 of As Texas Goes...: How the Lone Star State Hijacked the American Agenda

With such a history as a source of economic disasters for the whole country, it might be better if Texas not only seceded but sealed itself off North Korea-style. But, well, the S&L crisis, Enron, the 2008 meltdown, Tom DeLay, Jim Wright, Phil Gramm, W., Dick Armey -- maybe there's some good stuff to come?

— Aug 07, 2012 10:49PM Add a comment

David is on page 27 of 288 of As Texas Goes...: How the Lone Star State Hijacked the American Agenda

I wish I could discover something to like about Texas. Well, it's good for laughs, anyway.

— Aug 07, 2012 08:03PM Add a comment

David is on page 70 of 388 of Sealab: America's Forgotten Quest to Live and Work on the Ocean Floor

"a fecal foray in abstract expressionism" -- way to write, Ben!

— Jul 29, 2012 12:31AM Add a comment

David is on page 10 of 388 of Sealab: America's Forgotten Quest to Live and Work on the Ocean Floor

Ben, I'm already hooked!

— Jul 26, 2012 10:57PM Add a comment

David is on page 61 of 401 of Savage Dreams: A Journey into the Hidden Wars of the American West

"Walking is the only way to measure the rhythm of the body against the rhythm of the land."

— Jul 05, 2012 09:23PM Add a comment

David is on page 28 of 401 of Savage Dreams: A Journey into the Hidden Wars of the American West

I had no idea there were THAT many US nuclear bomb tests as late as 1989. I wonder what, if any, useful data was gained....

— Jun 28, 2012 11:01PM Add a comment

David is on page 562 of 712 of The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

I'm sure that no president since LBJ has worked as hard (or even had the skills necessary) to push legislation through Congress. Passing the Civil Rights bill of 1964 was an incredible accomplishment, plus there was the budget and tax cut. Still, even LBJ couldn't get past today's GOP. At least in LBJ's time the GOP was genuinely concerned about deficits and debts.

— Jun 20, 2012 08:10PM Add a comment

David is on page 543 of 712 of The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

LBJ, having grown up poor, knew the difference between patched clothes and rags.

— Jun 20, 2012 11:49AM Add a comment

David is on page 523 of 712 of The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

Just when I finally find something to admire in LBJ he shows his low-down, bully, corrupt side. He was a powerful, driven leader -- good when his cause was good but ruthless when it wasn't.

— Jun 19, 2012 11:10PM Add a comment

David is on page 456 of 712 of The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

Republicans were obstructionists in 1964, too. Interestingly, they didn't want to pass a tax cut -- JFK's!

— Jun 18, 2012 09:53PM Add a comment

David is on page 373 of 712 of The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

LBJ was not an admirable character, really, before he became president. Certainly he showed leadership qualities. Once he achieved absolute power, though, he did use a lot of it to good ends.

— Jun 16, 2012 07:02PM Add a comment

David is on page 318 of 712 of The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

So, if JFK hadn't been assassinated LBJ might well have had to resign in the face of corruption charges or been replaced on the ticket for 1964. As it happened, the assassination of JFK blew away the fast-growing suspicions about LBJ.

— Jun 15, 2012 09:19PM Add a comment

David is on page 269 of 712 of The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

"'Any son of a bitch who makes me a million dollars can't be all bad.'" Some things never change. Rich people had their ideologies -- opposition to integration and equal rights, for example -- but tax loopholes and avoiding regulation trumped everything.

— Jun 14, 2012 04:24PM Add a comment

David is on page 255 of 712 of The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

I'm happy to find something to admire in LBJ: his sincere passion for equal rights for African Americans.

— Jun 14, 2012 03:19PM Add a comment

David is on page 239 of 712 of The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

Now that RFK is part of the story, LBJ looks even worse by contrast. There's precious little to admire about LBJ, just a lot to pity or deplore.

— Jun 14, 2012 02:19PM Add a comment

David is on page 230 of 712 of The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

"He lies even when he doesn't have to lie": RFK about LBJ.

— Jun 13, 2012 10:29PM Add a comment

David is on page 225 of 712 of The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

Do all Texan presidents believe they can see into the hearts of Russian leaders?

— Jun 13, 2012 10:13PM Add a comment

David is on page 172 of 712 of The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

LBJ asks JFK to sign an executive order granting him unprecedented powers. JFK wisely ignores it as Lincoln wisely ignored a power grab by Secretary Seward.

— Jun 09, 2012 03:28PM Add a comment

David is on page 168 of 712 of The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

Wow. LBJ attempts to be VP _and_ Senate majority leader. Senate says, thanks, but no thanks.

— Jun 09, 2012 03:04PM Add a comment

David is on page 152 of 712 of The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

Election fraud, Texas-style: pistol-packing jefes made sure Mexican-Americans voted how they were supposed to. That's how it still was, in 1960, when (surprise) votes went overwhelmingly to Kennedy-Johnson.

— Jun 09, 2012 02:07PM Add a comment

David is on page 114 of 712 of The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

LBJ was crazy but not stupid: he had aides figure out his odds of succeeding from the vice presidency to the presidency.

— Jun 06, 2012 10:04PM Add a comment

David is on page 71 of 712 of The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

Pathological narcissist -- and I don't know what all else. The man should have been in a padded cell, not the White House or the Senate. Or, just confined to his ranch, where he limit his bullying to bulls.

— Jun 05, 2012 09:37AM Add a comment

David is on page 64 of 712 of The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

Oh, hell, so much for my positive view of RFK. Well, maybe he'll be redeemed as I progress further into the LBJ biography.

— Jun 04, 2012 09:37PM Add a comment

David is on page 53 of 712 of The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

JFK was phenomenally, chronically ill. I never realized before how hard a time he had.

— Jun 04, 2012 12:10PM Add a comment

David is on page 36 of 712 of The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

I never knew JFK was so sick, so chronically. Reminds me of TR, with his asthma and diarrhea.

— Jun 02, 2012 11:46PM Add a comment

David is starting The Passage of Power (The Years of Lyndon Johnson, #4)

I've been looking forward to this one. A big book: ~100 pages/year of LBJ's 6-year senate career.

— May 31, 2012 08:51PM Add a comment

David is finished with Tropical Truth: A Story of Music and Revolution in Brazil

I liked the book -- though I still don't understand tropicalismo. I think I have to go back and re-listen to all the music.

— May 20, 2012 02:35PM Add a comment

David is on page 291 of 384 of Tropical Truth: A Story of Music and Revolution in Brazil

With a gun to your head, compose a song in praise of the Transamazon highway.

— May 19, 2012 04:52PM Add a comment

David is on page 236 of 384 of Tropical Truth: A Story of Music and Revolution in Brazil

Imagine politicians, officers, soldiers and police being afraid of this man: http://youtu.be/ppdpae0EWDU

— May 16, 2012 06:09PM Add a comment

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