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Subscribe to RSSLiberal and conservative bloggers both ridiculed what they perceived as outrageous or embarrassing statements and actions from members of the opposing party, which also represent criticism both sides make about each other: that some Republican Senate hopefuls are too extreme, and that some Democrats have charged forward with sweeping legislation, seemingly ignoring constituents' concerns.
Some liberal writers praised Republican Colorado Senate candidate Ken Buck, a Tea Party favorite, for distancing himself from former Rep. Tom Tancredo (R), when the latter said at a rally that President Obama is "the greatest threat to the United States today, the greatest threat to our liberty, the greatest threat to the Constitution of the United States, the greatest threat to our way of life, [and] everything we believe in."
That praise was short-lived, however, given Buck's comments over the weekend that Tancredo's comments had "a lot of truth."
More from Buck, who was speaking at the first annual Western Conservative Summit: "The greatest threat folks is not a single man, but rather the progressive liberal movement that is going on in this country. It is the $13 trillion of national debt; it is a huge threat to our security and financial system; Obamacare, cap and trade, card check, our disintegrating relationship with Israel. It is a huge threat to this county.”
Wrote ThinkProgress's Amanda Terkel: Buck has tried hard to insist that he is not out of the mainstream... So late Saturday, the Buck campaign did some damage control, with a spokesman stressing that Buck differed with Tancredo because of his belief that the greatest threat was more than just one man. This view, however, doesn’t make Buck any less extreme. Instead, it places him in the camp of people like Newt Gingrich (who has compared Democrats to Nazis) and far-right Mississippi state Sen. Alan Nunnelee (R) (who said that Democratic policies are “more dangerous” than 9/11 or Pearl Harbor)."
Joan McCarter at DailyKos also asserted that Buck's attempt to qualify his remarks falls flat: "Winning his primary requires agreeing with Tancredo, so to try to not look like to much of a craven fool, he has to try to qualify it. It's not the man, he says, but everything he represents that's worse than the threat of nuclear annihilation," she wrote.
"So much for the high road," wrote Washington Monthly's Steve Benen. "It was a reminder, though, of why Buck has proven to be one of the year's more extreme politicians, vying for inclusion in the Sharron Angle/Rand Paul radical contingent. He has after all trashed Social Security, called for the end of the federal student loan program, announced his opposition to church-state separation, proposed eliminating the Departments of Education and Energy, and even supporting 'Birther' craziness. And now he thinks liberals are the greatest threat facing the country. I wonder if, after his fleeting bout of civility last week, Buck's supporters took him aside and explained that respectful rhetoric just won't do in modern-day Republican politics."
NRO's Jim Geraghty was among the writers who linked to a constituent meeting featuring a rolled-up-newspaper-waving Rep. Ciro Rodriguez of Texas, who slammed the paper on a table when a constituent pushes back on his defense of the health care reform bill.
Alluding to a video of North Carolina Rep. Bob Etheridge (D)'s headlocking a student several weeks ago, Geraghty wrote, "It’s Monday, so we’re due for another Democrat in the House having an awkward moment with his constituents. Today it’s Ciro Rodriguez, Democrat of Texas. No headlocks, neck grabs, or hugs in this one, but he seems to get pretty steamed when he cites the CBO, and the constituent argues that the CBO is revising its assessment of the health care bill."
Wrote Red State's Moe Lane about the incident, "Shouting, smacking a newspaper against the table, a general ‘Do you know who I AM?’ - is this what Nancy Pelosi meant when she encouraged Democrats to go home and push back on health care? If so, by all means: keep doing it."
And Ed Morrissey at Hot Air commented, "How testy are Democrats going home from Congress to campaign in their districts? If this video of Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX) gives any indication, it may be the incumbents who are powder kegs and not their constituents. Last year, Democrats claimed that they couldn’t hold town hall meetings because of worries over potential violence from opposition to ObamaCare. The Texas Democrat seems to demonstrate that Democrats may have had a slight case of projection."
Morrissey also linked to a post from Big Government, where blogger Mike Flynn wrote, "The mid-term elections are inching closer and Democrats are having to finally admit that they are in real political trouble... If they weren’t trying to seize control of huge swaths of the economy, I might almost feel sorry for Democrat Congressman having to face voters with such a 'record.' They blindly followed the Democrat leadership and listened to the chattering class in DC who assured them everything would be okay; the progressive agenda was secretly popular with the public. Instead, I’ll enjoy video snippets like this, which shows another Democrat House member losing his temper in the face of public anger with their agenda."
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Ignoring constitutients concerns is the hidden, not so much, voting record of every Repuke in Congress. NO, NO, NO, on everything.......totally unconcerned. Ed Schultz just did a review of the super rich, multimillionaire Repukes, including McConnell........voting NO on the unemployment benefits, and the jobs bill, and EVERYTHING else that my President has proposed.....
Constitutients?......I believe it was Reagan to once said that there were no homeless people in the USA as pictures were shown of folks living in boxes on sidewalks.......
Constitutients?
Hello, Chilled,
I don't think I've ever watched Ed Schultz. Did he list the richest senators in order of their wealth?
Herb Kohl (D-WI) $219 million
John Kerry (D-MA) $165 million
Jay Rockefeller (D-W Va) $78 million
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) $43 million
Lincoln Chaffee (R-RI) $41 million
Frank Lauterberg (D-NJ) $38 million
John McCain (R-AZ) $20 million
Late Edward Kennedy (D-MA) $19 million
Elizabeth Dole (R-KS) $13 million
Gordon Smith (R-Ore) $13 million
(From 2008 disclosure filings but I'm pretty sure the rankings are about the same). Look's pretty even to me. $562 million for the top Democrats to $87 million for the top Republicans (you spelled it wrong in your post by the way). It's not only the one side that are obscenely wealthy.
Hey, did you see the article on MSNBC.com site today entitled "D.C. Bobbled the Ball on Jobless Aid. Why?" Good article. Sort of spread the blame around.
I found the last paragraph troubling:
"Democrats also maintain hopes of passing a $16 billion aid package for governors aimed at preserving the jobs of tens of thousands of state workers through the election. They intend to pay for it in part by cutting food stamp benefits."
Saving jobs of state workers through the election...what, so the Democrats will be re-elected, and then after the election saving those jobs won't be so important? Is that what the author is saying?
Worse.....By cutting food stamp benefits????
I thought the Democrats were all about helping the little guy.
The republicans are doing EXACTLY what we have ask them to do, vote NO on anymore of this administrations insane spending. Perhaps it wasn't on your progressive sites but, in June, obamas handpicked man, Erskine B. Bowles, a DEMOCRATE, Compared this spending and debt to a CANCER that he said "will destroy us from within"!! This insanity must stop and this government must not only reduce their aggregious spending, they need, desperately, to cut back on the entitlements!!!
The republicans voted no on the unemployment benefits extension due to the amount of pork hidden in the bill by the democrats. I am not a republican but applaud their efforts to control this out of control spending by this administration.
I apologize for not answering you earlier; I didn't see your post until now. As far as the book I mentioned on Friday - I don't remember. Do you remember what it was about? I did mention one last night - The Whiskey Rebels.
Chilled....nice statement coming from the left.....completely void of thought, facts and like every liberal on this planet...always blaming someone else and NEVER looking at the facts and the insanity out of the Obama administration......keep watching "The View" for your next missions and what to think, it's obviously working on you.
It's this is the type of thinking that is ruining the country. Seeing the complex problems of this country in terms of partisan politics is going to destroy us. If you believe that one side is always wrong and the other side as always right, you need to have your head examined. There are good ideas and people on both sides of the aisle and it's your job as a voter to figure it out, not blindly follow one ideology. As you most certainly do. Also, the View? Really. Is that what all liberals watch in your twisted view of reality? I didn't even know that show was still on.
D-Nice. You're so right--there are good ideas and good people on the left and right. No one party has all the answers. Right now our problem is that the republican side of the aisle is refusing to come to the table or if they do come and get their ideas into legislation, they vote against it because it contains democratic ideas. Sadly, the republicans are allowing the right fringe element within it to control it and FOX and Limbaugh are the drivers of the GOP fringe bus.
The unemployed are not just democrats, they are republicans, independents, liberatarians, progressives, conservatives. When their safety net is pulled from beneath them by GOP politicians for purely ideological reasons, then it is the republican party which is ruining the country. I would say the same if democrats were blocking the extension. This is wrong, just wrong.
I'm a democrat and believe that democrats tend to look at the long view not the short one; they tend to be protective of the worker, the middle and low income earner, the miniorities. That said, when republicans participate in solving our problems, their ideas can make legislation better.
Because right now republicans refuse to help solve our problems, I believe they are the ones destroying the country. I would prefer it if they helped fix it instead of doing everything in their power to defeat Pres Obama. That's not what the Constitution intended. The majority vote winners get to choose the agenda and it is up to the miniority to work with them to make legislation better in the interest of moving the country forward. Their turn will come again but it troubles me to think what will happen to this country if they continue to say NO to defeat Obama yet fail to recognize the consequences of their actions.
Liberal ideas aren't ruining the country and never will as long as the conservative side participates and vice versa. When one party determines they are always right (republicans for now) and that they and only they are entitled to be in power, we know what happens. We see it every day.
Well said. I voted. It takes two to Tango. You always seem to have your head on straight.
Jody, are you serious? It was the Democrats that locked the Republicans completely out of the stimulus and health care bills. Its my opinion that the Democrats are writing up a bunch of very irresponsible legislation and then calling the Republicans the Party of No for opposing it. Well, duh!!! Put together something that makes sense to BOTH parties AND the tax payers and you will get a lot of bipartisan support. I agree with you that both sides should participate and that we will get much better legislation when the two parties have to cooperate. Unfortunately, the party in power is ramming its agenda down our throats, completely ignoring what their constituents want.
In my opinion, the Democrats have really blown a golden opportunity. A lot of voters, including myself, thought that we were going to have a centrist president that was going to try to work with the other side, kick out the lobbyists, and chop the wastefull spending. If we had gotten that, Obama would be hailed as a great president and dance to re-election. The Democrats would trounce the Republicans this fall and maintain control of congress. Instead, we get pandering to special interests and the unions, horrible legislation, a president who believes that bipartisan politics means do it my way or your are disrupting the process, and a political agenda that the majority of taxpayers do not want in the least. Open your eyes!!!
Jody, etc.
The Republicans are not voting against solving problems. They are voting against policies and legislation that they oppose. It turns out they were right too. The stimulus bill didn't work. The more we learn about the Health Care bill, the more expensive and bureaucratic it becomes. They would have voted for the unemployment bill if it had been a clean bill that wasn't loaded with non-essential spending.
That is patently absurd. They are standing against anything, not on principle, not for the good of the party, but they see it as their own salvation. What on earth would make you follow a group like that?
They are voting against policies that they oppose. And they've been right so far.
That is also patently absurd. Unless you rejoice in children going hungry due to unemployment benefits running out. If you believe that it is the greatest statesmanship to refuse to engage in debate, to refuse to do the work of the people, then I suppose the Republican party is really the home for you. This has nothing to do with the benefit of country, it has to do with the Republicans trying to regain power. If the Republicans continue to put party first, we all lose. And if you support that, you do not support your country.
Good Lord. Everything you just wrote is absurd.
I had kind of a crappy day. Did you, too?
I'd rather have a reasonable discussion. You seem itching for a fight.
Maybe we can "talk" another day.
And there you go again, Candice. Every time you get called out to provide evidence for the absurdities that you post here, you go back to "how you want a reasonable discussion" You don't. You want agreement. I am no more spoiling for a fight than you are, but like all Republicans, it has to be the other guys fault, right? Frankly, you bore me.
I am sorry that I believed that the people who post on a political site have a greater interest in politics over other sections of the newspaper. It's not a character flaw.
I know people who have lost their jobs, their homes and their families. The amount of money they collect on unemployment insurance can range from 20% to 60% of what their pay used to be. They can't live on unemployment. They would rather have jobs. Extending unemployment doesn't help them. Improving the business and political environment so that jobs would come back would have a greater effect on the economy than simply throwing money at it. However, in the meantime, these families need help - whatever they can get -- and if it's extending unemployment - fine.
The problem is that we are running in unsustainable deficits. The commission President Obama appointed is announcing this fact. So, when the unemployment bill came up it was loaded with non-essential spending that had nothing to do with helping these families. The Republicans, who have finally come to their senses, or finally realized that the reason they were voted out of office in 2007 was because of their drunken sailor spending, didn't want to vote for the bill as it was presented. Rather, they wanted to remove the non-essential expensive stuff and vote on a clean bill that specifically helped the unemployed feed their children, and keep their homes. However, it took awhile for the Democrats to agree and while the bill was delayed, it was eventually pared down and is due to pass soon. This is what you call compromise. The Republicans wanted a compromise. Worked or balked at the Democrats and a deal was reached. It will likely be the first bi-partisan bill passed since President Obama took office. I don't need for you to agree with this. However, these are the facts.
One of the major differences between Democrats and Republicans is that, to me, the Democrat's tend to come up with fixes that are temporary. They have a knee jerk reaction to a lot of issues (it seems to me - you don't have to agree).....and don't look forward to the long term consequences to the solution. Republicans, on the other hand, (in my opinion - you don't have to agree) tend to look at the reality of the way the country, economy and business works(sordid as it may be sometimes), and they have not voted in favor of the legislation that has been sent to the floor because the long term consequences - while maybe not intended --- do not seem as if they will end well --- in their opinion.
Republicans, Newday, do not want to see children starve. They do not want to see people out of work. They do not want to see people lose their homes. They want to find solutions. Yes, they may get sticky (I have a harsher word that I don't think I can use here) and it may appear as if they are just battling the President and the other side of the aisle. Maybe they are in some cases. But most of the time, they are trying to represent the people they are supposed to represent. Most of the time they are voting what they believe in by voting against the thousands of pages of legislation no one has read.
And, as it turns out....the record shows that so far, the stimulus is not working, and the more we find out about the health care bill, the more costly and bureaucratic it is.
The Republican party as well as the Democrat party are full of politicians, and frankly, most of them because of their politicking, make me sick. The difference between you and me, though, is that I can admit and even point out when the right messes up. You, on the other hand, I believe -- I might be wrong --- have a hard time acknowledging mistakes on your side.
I would like the Republicans to come to the table. I would like the Democrats to welcome them. It would be very nice if Congress actually served all of the people. We'd be a happier nation.
Respectfully, Newday. Talk to you soon.
A day late, but....
To any one who says the Repubs are only saying NO to bad ideas, and not just being stubborn or obstructionist, my I remind you of one Eric Cantor's "it will break him" speech.
To all you progressives who choose to look the other way, The republicans, clearly said that we needed to extend the unemployment! They simply stated that we need to pay for it, not add it to the debt! It was, we might remember, the democrates who preposed and passed, with bi-partisan support, the Pay-Go Bill! Every spending bill they have preposed since then has been done completely by-passing that legislation!!
They have the money allready set aside in the stimulus fund to pay for this, but they refuse to do so! Remember nancy pelosi claims that unemployment payments are the biggest stimulater of the economy! If that's true, it seems that the stimulus fund is the appropiate place to go for the funding!
Please quit calling the republicans the party of NO....they voted against the unemployment extension due to the amount of pork in it by the dems.
Great post Jody. Thanks.
Good job Candice.
And MSNBC actually allowed the last paragraph - cut to food stamps for union election workers?
Wow.
If you'd like to read it....
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38201272/ns/business-stocks_and_economy/
The article was buried in the business section. I have a feeling not too many on First Read spend much time in the business section.
It is bipartisan.
Candice: Your comment about First Read participants shows your bias. Support your statement with fact. Otherwise, it is just a gratuitous insult. Now, your history has been that you will completely back away from your statement, and try to declare yourself the mediator of the polarization that takes place. This comment puts the lie to that. You are as partisan as though you decry.
Newday,
Seems to me First Read participants spend more time on the Political section than Business. That's all. You have to admit Politics seems to be the passion of the folks around here. I don't think it's an insult. Why would you?
Since you know my "history", you know I'm pretty open minded and want to hear your opinion and "feelings" too. I shared a bi-partisan article for goodness sake!
No, you did not share a bi partisan article. What you did was make assumptions about First Read participants in a condescending way. You have no way of knowing what participants read, and that makes it a gratuitous insult. Unless you have stats to back up that statement, you owe people an apology. The reason it is an insult is that you allude that you are the only one who might pick up a business section which is pure bunk. I don't agree with you that you are open minded. I think you are very entrenched in a Republican mindset. What you don't want to do, for whatever reason is admit to it.
Okay, I re-read the article. Maybe not so bi-partisan. Interesting, though, huh? I'm glad you got to read it. It's good to understand the other side, ain't it?
We didn't get to finish our discussion on heath care over the weekend. You and I agree on the problems that need to be solved.
Center right, Newday. You know that. I know that.
I'd rather have a discussion than get into a cat fight with you. No one finds that interesting.
Your last post makes no sense whatsoever. But, I am always amused how the right wing, which is what you are, tries to portray those of us who have a thought in our heads as trying to get into a cat fight. I have little interest in discussing the banal and pedestrian things that appeal to the right wing.
Candice,
That's too good ............. and they still don't get it.
My goodness. Feeling picked on.....
Thanks, Bob.
By the way, the only thing as horrible and disliked by the majority as the Presidents agenda has got to be this new format by MSNBC. T E R R I B L E!!!!!
Just like Sarah asked over a YEAR ago... "How IS that Hope and Change thing working out
gosh, how even handed and fair. since obama came into office, this nation has tucked it head between his legs and have been kissing his A$$ goodbye. with this man in office we will be a nation of also rans in very short order. somewhere around 15trillion is the point of no return. we will be there in less than 4 yrs. at the rate we are going. can you say "learn chinese quickly".
I could be wrong, but it seems like the left has, for years, touted America's growth and economic success under the Clinton administration. I still see references about the surplus Bush inherited from Clinton on a very frequent basis.
And daily, post after post, people lament Obama's woes and failure due to the intractable, impossible Party of No Republicans.
But didn't Clinton have Republicans. Actually, didn't the Republicans control both the House and Senate during the Clinton glory days?
Kinda funny, huh. Maybe it's not the Republicans, especially since there is real bipartisanship - bipartisanship against Obama's HCR, stimulus, financial reform, immigration reform, cap and trade, etc.
Who could the real problem be then?
Whoa guys. The problem is both parties are so fragmented and yelling so much they forgot about the people they are supposed to serve.
The biggest problem right now is to get the unemployment benefits rolling. In my state it takes only about 24 hrs to evict someone. Now I know in other states it is different. unemployment for many is the rent ant the bills and that is about it if that.
Food stamps if anything need to be increased food prices have gone up and to eat healthy is more expensive
What the parties can do is a bill to give the physician who has Medicaid/medicare patients is to allow them a tax right off and or a student loan write off at 100% of the normal office fee. That works for both at this time of crises. It is too expensive to allow those who could go to a DR in practice rather than burdening the emergency rooms.
That does not cost anything that would increase the deficit and brings medicine/and dental care back. Food stamp increases would add a little but the offset is healthier population.
I do think we should look at foreign aid very closely and cut back or defund. We have real problems at home. Home is where the charity begins.
Many on social security are having a very difficult time finding housing that is safe and affordable. In my area the landlords are requiring 3 times the rent in income. Well most on social security get about $1000.00 monthly that is difficult to find an apt for $350.00. Again the tax law can help. Say a landlord has apts that are running $600.00 monthly. A tax credit for the 250.00 can be done allowing rentals in a good safe neighborhood. Again we do not add to the deficit. But we do good by our citizens!
It is absurd to posit that the Republicans "have come to their senses" or that the debate with them is about unsustainable spending. If that were true, they would not make an issue out of extending unemployment, alluding to the people that need it as being lazy or on drugs, and they would also not say that extending unemployment without equal spending cuts is what must be done to cause them to vote for a bill, but by golly, more tax cuts for the rich, without the requiring spending cuts, just because the rich, God bless them deserve it, is the morally correct thing to do. As to the stimulus, you provide no evidence that it is not working, and since it will be rolling out over the next three years, it is unfair to say that it hasn't. Read: "Are You Feeling Stimulated Yet?" Newsweek Feb 17, 2010. Simplest explanation I have seen. The proof in the pudding is that the Republicans, who have stood against all of this, are rushing home in droves to claim their share and to take credit for it. A bit hypocritical, don't you think? I am also beyond exhaustion with the right wing canard that the Republicans have not been invited to participate. They have and refused, or do you choose not to remember the public meeting President Obama had with them on the Health Care Bill. Something Bush NEVER did, nor was he capable of doing. There is a difference between not being invited and choosing to behave like children and take a ball and go home, and that is what the Republicans did. I also disagree with your statement that Republicans don't want to see children starve, since the evidence is clearly against it. One last thing, be clear about what you post. You are not middle of the road, though you like to pretend to be. You are a right winger. If you adhere to those views, then be willing to stand up for them and don't try to disguise that. I am a proud Lib, I am not a progressive, I am a Liberal. I have the courage to say that. Do you?
Newday
Great post. But obviously the right wing will always have their excuses as to why they have become the party of No. Republicans apologizing to BP, making statements correlating the economy to an ant, birthers, etc., etc., etc. Unfortunately, you can talk til you're blue in the face; they just don't get it. I have read more than one rant about how Obama is taking this country down, ruining it for all of us. My question to them is, how has your life so radically changed in the last year and a half? What has gone so far down hill since the President was elected? Are you being pulled from your homes and put in concentration camps? Are you being microchipped? That's just a part of the rhetoric coming from Beck, Hannity, Limbaugh, O'Reilly, scaring people into actually believing what they're saying. I've said it before...the REAL problem people have is that an intelligent black man was elected as our President. Plain and simple. You right wingers can deny it all you want, but take a look at the Tea Party. White, senior citizens mostly, who are so scared they can't think straight. Newday, you're right about the stimulus, too. All those Republicans who voted against it, but showed up for all the photo ops when stimulus money was being used in their district. Geez, I could go on and on. Republican Senator John Kyl doesn't have a problem putting Bush tax cuts onto the deficit, but won't vote to extend unemployment compensation. What a crock some of these people are.
Dee: You write far better than I do, and you put my frustrations in much clearer terms, so thank you for that. I agree. It makes me sad beyond belief that families who are struggling to find jobs now have to face the loss of the little support that they have. I am not at risk, my income is secure, and frankly, I don't mind being taxed if it will help that family who is praying for relief. I DO object to people like Boehner, who would not be able to hold a private sector job saying that we must be sorry for the rich, and they deserve the relief, to the detriment of working families everywhere. Maybe it is because I am older, and I remember how many times Reagan's "trickle down" theory has been tried. IT HAS NEVER WORKED, AND WHEN DO WE QUIT DOING THAT WHICH MAKES THINGS WORSE! The history of the thing is against us. And I worry that people, who do not have long memories will return to those failed policies. But, thanks again for spelling it out for me, you were way more clear than I was. Voted.
Newday
Thanks for the compliment. Your eloquent post is what made me want to do the same. Sometimes I feel outnumbered, so it's refreshing when you read something from someone with an actual brain.
Boy, Dee, I hear you. Lately I feel like no one is really watching what is happening. I don't know if it is the 24 hour noise machine from the right, or what. But, I hope to read more from you.
To the Senate who just killed the bill: The Unemployment Insurance Extension for one, as well as several bills to help the middle class in America, even the teacher's credit to help them pay for their supplies!!!!!!!!!!
You Fat Cats are worried about a Freaking Deficit!!!!!!!!! What a joke!!!!!!!!!!!!! This Country is falling into an Oil pit literally and figureatively and you block the very bills that would help middle America and pass the tax credits for large Corporations that got us into this mess in the first place!!!!!!!! Orrin Hatch is a pompous piece of crud! He had the NERVE to suggest we be drug tested to collect the very benefits that we paid into the system in our many years of gainful employment!
If you wouldn't mind, we would like all your home addresses so we can send you the bill for our mortgages. Oh, you can't do that for us? How about finding all of us new jobs which pay enough for us to afford our mortgage? The very mortgages for homes that at the time of purchase, the banks which you bailed out approved, and claimed our homes were worth!!!!!!!!!!!!! And, while you wealthy snobs are hob-knobbing with the banks, please tell the moron that's running Chase that the HAMP loan modification applications are going on 7 months without a freaking response! Also, since you've now cut off our unemployment benefits which we've worked all our lives paying into, may we now apply for food stamps? Oh that's right, you just cut those too! In that case, have your maid set another place or one million at your table because we'll be over to have dinner shortly and maybe squat in one of your mansion's spare rooms!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! By the way, would you mind also putting us on your health insurance plan, since we haven't any.There will now be 1.5 million people who can no longer collect unemployment benefits, have no health insurance and still have no jobs available for them. Should we all leave our house keys behind and go willingly into the streets or should we just face these banking institutions' firing squads? We have children in the military trying to keep our freedom and we're being robbed of our own freedom right here at home. We think you're going to have a real crisis on your hands now. Over a million Americans with no means of support and thousands more home foreclosures to come in what used to be lovely neighborhoods, will now pave the way for a rapid increase in crime. To coin an old expression. Crime pays. In this country it rewards you with a roof, a bed, 3 meals a day, medical care, college education at no-cost, plus you get to watch cable and all without a mortgage payment! And, there's also no race or age discrimination and no waiting lines! What a deal!!!!! We do not want our children living in the streets or worse, jails!
We are Honest, Hard-working, Taxpaying citizens born in America, who have children in the Military defending this country, and we face living in shelters or the streets shortly. The Senate should be absolutely ashamed to call themselves Americans!!!!!
Sincerely,
A unemployed military mom and American citizen
Wow, downandout, just wow. We appreciate your child's service, and I will pray that things get better for you. Again, I am willing to pay an increase in my taxes to help families like yours. I also believe that other Americans stand with me on that. Shame on the Republican party. Maybe we need to start hearing more from families like yours on blogs like these so people can begin to put a face to the problems at home.
I understand your situation, Down! I am one of the long term unemployed, as is my wife. To make things even better for us I'm over 60 and a construction worker. It's clear to see that I woun't be on top of anyones "To Hire" list! That being said I disagree with your analysis of what got us here and what is retarding our growth now!
For any plan to have even a small chance to work it must, at all costs, be self-sustainable! Even obamas hand picked man on the Debt Commission, Erskin B. Bowles, a democrate and former financial advisor to bill clinton, stated in June that we must stop this out of control spending! He compared it to "A cancer that will, surly destroy the country from within"
By the way the republicans clearly stated that we needed to fund the unemployment extention! They only ask that it be payed for! The democrates themselves preposed the Pay Go Bill, then have ignored it ever since!!
It is obvious we are a divided country some here seem to believe the right are the extremist while most Americans now see it is the left that is the true extreme. It is not about one or two issues because we ail always have differences on some moral issues because of religious or just plain personal; believes. However that the country is in serious peril is not in question except for those that are asleep. That it was the Democratically controlled House since 2006 that has led to this situation is also not in question. The question is why do the American people continue to buy into the lies of the Dems and some of the Press. Most Americans still see the economic problems as Bushes' fault that is just crazy if you actually read the facts. It was Bush that tried to stop the problem it was the Dems including then Senator Obama that blocked the regulation of Fannie May and Freddie Mack that caused the collapse. It is amassing that the banking issue gets pined on bush when it was Clinton that deregulated the banks and it was people like Obama and Acorn and the Dems in congress that forced the banks through intimidation and laws to give loans to people that could not pay for them. Now the media mostly because they just plain hate Bush and most Americans mostly because they are just to lazy to actually investigate the truth just follow the story line that everything in the world is Bushes' fault inspire of all the true evidence that indeed it was the Dems who failed completely at everything they have touched for the last four years. I do not care about Republicans or dems I care about America and if the readers here do not start caring about her too there may soon be as the progressives desire no America to care about.
Wade
You kinda crack me up. You rant about how the Democrats have ruined everything and then you say you don't care about Republicans or Democrats, just the country. Don't think that's really true. You don't think Bush holds any responsibility for anything? You think the Democrats forced the banks to give out all those bad loans? Really? I believe you need to stop watching all those right wing talking heads and get the REAL facts. Google the "Bikini Graph" for example. Then tell me how Bush isn't culpable for this mess we're in. Oh yeah, and where are the WMD's?
I am an independent always have been. I think President without a doubt is the worst President in American history. I think anyone who still believes he is doing even a moderately ok job is either brain dead or just a propagandist because every shred of evidence shows clearly he has failed at everything and has placed America in serious danger. He has stolen for the generations to come with out regard to what the American people wanted, he promised change and yet has delivered the same and worse than ever. No openness as promised, no we are all Americans as promised he gives twice as much money to the districts that supported him, brings all kinds of low life radicals and extremist into his administration, railed against General BETRAY US now calls upon him to help him clean up the mess he has made in Afghanistan, He took 5,7 trillion debt and turned it into 13 trillion in just two years, took 7 % unemployment and after 1 trillion in wasted stimulus that was an abject failure has now given us 9.7 % unemployment wich in truth is more like 17 % and after giving BP special permission to lower the regulation standards he shouts at BP for the disaster as though his hands were clean. Just like he did with the banking and Financial markets when in fact it was he who helped to block the Fannie May and Freddie Mack regulation that would have helped to prevent the meltdown. He is a liar. a coward who blames everyone else for the mess he creates through arrogance and failure of leadership and then tells everyone else there just to stupid or they are a racist if they dare to disagree with him. He is a pathetic man and a horrible President. I do not care if your black white or green Chinese Indian or Irish anyone can see the truth if you are just willing to open your eyes.
Wade
Typical right wing rant. Obama's the one who is taking this country down, all by his little ole self. The 8 years of the previous Administration had nothing to do with it at all. He sure dis promise change...and delivered. Healthcare. First President to be able do get it through for over 40 years, starting with Richard Nixon. Yeah, Nixon even wanted healthcare for everyone. Financial Reform. Even though Republicans tried to block this too. And why wouldn't they try to block it? After all, the Republican leaders met with Wall Street executives behind closed doors just a few weeks ago to assure them they'd do everything they could to stop it. Isn't going to work, though. No openness? Did you watch the TELEVISED meeting on healthcare with the Republicans, who, by the way, made fools of themselves? What money has he given to supportive districts? Get those facts from Beck? You want to talk deficit? Wasn't Bush the one who came into office with a surplus? And then spent trillions of dollars on a war we're still trying to understand, looking for WMD's that didn't exist. You're blaming the oil spill on Obama? What nerve. Bush and Cheney were knee-deep in giving the oil companies everything they asked for when they were in office. Haliburton anyone? While Cheney was VP, he walked away with $34 MILLION after a meeting with them. Whether you want to admit it or not, the President DID inherit the worst financial situation since the 1920's. THOSE are the facts. As I said before, stop watching Fox News and start getting the truth about what's really going on. You'll be much better off.
when obama took office now
losing 750,000 jobs a month gaining about 100,000 per month
economy declining at 6% growing at about 3%
kids and elderly bieng drop from can not be denied ins. for pre-exsiting conds.
ins. when they get sick calling it pre-
exsiting conds.
sorry candice and the rest of you right winger , not going to be able to get away from the facts . I wont even get in to how yall boy W destroyed the country , but if you want i can.
dont know what happen to my format but you guys get the picture.