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Call it a Tea Party "takeover" of the Republican Party.
That was the message from last night's election results in Colorado and Connecticut, according to Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine.
"Maybe some would have argued that OK, Rand Paul, he's an aberration," Kaine said in a phone interview with First Read. "Rand Paul and Sharron Angle, they're both aberrations. But you go Rand Paul, Sharron Angle, the two Colorado candidates, Linda McMahon, and chasing Charlie Crist out of the party in Florida, bouncing Bob Bennett from the Senate primary in Utah, this is not just an exception or two. This is a kind of main theme of the Republican midterm strategy [which] is, 'We will make a deal with the Tea Party, and then the Tea Party dictates a lot of these candidates, and these candidates are millstones for these guys."
Republican leaders, however, haven't always been on board with Tea Party candidates. In Kentucky, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell endorsed Trey Grayson, Paul's opponent in the primary. In Florida, the National Republican Senatorial Committee recruited and backed Crist until he, reading the polls, switched to independent. In addition, Sue Lowden in Nevada and Jane Norton in Colorado were the GOP establishment favorites.
"It's not a marriage," Kaine conceded, "It's a takeover.
"I dont think they can control it. I think they thought, 'Hey, this will be great for us because there's energy there, but what they're seeing is the energy cuts a lot of different directions. A lot of these Tea Party guys, they don't mind losing a seat. 'If we don't like this institutional Republican we're going to put in one of our guys even if that person goes down in flames.'"
Kaine will be in Colorado tomorrow for a "unity rally" with the Democratic Senate candidates -- White House-backed Michael Bennet, who won last night's primary, and the defeated former state House speaker Andrew Romanoff. Kaine said the rally was planned a couple of weeks ago with the state Democratic Party.
Of the Colorado Senate and governor's races, Kaine said: "We feel very, very good about both those races. I think last night was a very good night for us, and a tough night for the other side, because what it did is it showed that the Democrats are coming together and that the Tea Party takeover of the Republican Party is producing very ideologically extreme and flawed candidates that enable us to make this election in the fall a choice between, 'Do you want to keep moving forward, or do you want to go backward.'"
He touted that months ago, handicappers saw good GOP pick-up opportunities for both Colorado seats. But not anymore.
"It's turned from a very tough climate for us" in Colorado, Kaine said, "to a very positive one largely because of the Tea Party takeover."
Kaine also pushed back on Bennet having said that while he appreciated President Obama's support, he didn't think his endorsement had much of an effect. The DNC chairman said the DNC's Organizing for America was hard at work turning out voters and that Bennet reached out to the network of 2008 Obama supporters early on.
"That field effort ... was a very important part of his win," Kaine said.
Kaine added that he thinks it would be a "mistake" for candidates in swing districts and red states to turn away from the president.
"I think it's a mistake," Kaine said, adding, "The midterm election is not a presidential year or high turnout election. It's a lower turnout election. You do not win as a Democrat without energizing Democrats. And no one energizes Democrats like President Obama."
When asked why someone should vote for a Democrat this fall, Kaine put it this way:
"You should vote for them because we were in a ditch at the end of a lost decade, and Democrats have been doing heavy lifting to get us moving forward again; the economy is growing not shrinking; we're adding jobs not losing them; the stock market's over 10,000 not at 6,000. We're not where we want to be at yet, and the president says that every time he talks, but thank God we're climbing again; we're moving forward again. And what the other guys are offering is, 'Hey we want to go back and do exactly what was done in the lost decade that put us in the free fall."
Republican National Committee spokesman Doug Heye contended it's Democrats who are in the "free fall."
"The Obama admininstration finds itself in an absolute free fall and needs some straw man to blame," Heye said of Kaine's view that the Tea Party has taken over the GOP. He added, "The honest truth is that it's neither" a takeover or a marriage between the GOP and the Tea Party. "Certainly we have to appeal to those voters like we have to appeal to all voters. Democrats have said we're going to co-opt them or we have to co-opt them. There's no possibility of that. You can't pick up the phone and call the 'Florida Tea Party,'" for example.
He continued, "It seems the Democrats are insulting voters, and somehow saying that some voters shouldn't be taken seriously while some voters -- the ones they think they can get -- should."
He highlighted White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs' comments about the left. "You look at Democrats," Heye said, "They're insulting voters on the left and voters on the right."
Asked if that actually helps the president appeal to the middle -- exactly the voters Obama has struggled with since taking office, but who helped him win in 2008 -- Heye said, "You can do that when your poll numbers are at 68%, and you're riding a wave. Keep in mind how much things have changed in the last 14 months."
On last night's results, Heye said Democrats have reason to be worried about the midterms, since "Democrat after Democrat" is shying away from the president, he charged. Heye noted the ad running in Indiana's second congressional district, in which Democratic incumbent Joe Donnelly uses an image of President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (as well as House Minority Leader John Boehner) as the "crowd in Washington."
"That ought to be very troubling," Heye said.
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As an unapologetic Progressive, I kinda feel sorry for the moderate Republicans who could help get this country moving forward except their party has been hijacked! Had they not been so afraid of angering Rush , Beck and O'Reilly maybe they wouldn't be in this pickle. Oh well, better luck in 2012
How Do ya know that the GOP is running scared as we get closer to November?
Just look at all the New RightWingTalibanBibleThumpingTeaPartier's coming to a so-called Left Leaning Blog! Just a couple days ago, they were Quoteing "Daily Kos".
Keepup the Good Work, Democrats & likeminded Independents.
Real America is paying Attention!
You Betcha!
Sheila, MD
lady you are right on traget on that,
what ever happen to the republicans like
Jack kemp, Bob Dole, Gerald Ford, hell i would take sparo Agnue or Nixion over there guys.
I don't think there's any doubt that the need to pander to a more and more extreme base in order to win elections has opened Pandora's Box for the GOP. They've mainstreamed the worst sort of extremism and now they feel entitled to say whatever they want, whenever. They always had that right, of course, but the Tea Party astroturf movement has given a stage to militia wackos, the long-discredited conspiracy theories of the John Birch Society, and brought racist appeals to a level not seen since the flashpoint of the Civil Rights Movement. It's bad mojo and it'll be some time before things get back to anything approaching sane.
The people you mentioned, like all conservatives were labeled nazis, facists and racists by all you lefties. There ARE NO moderate repubs as far as you people are concerned. Did you notice that all the ones you mentioned are dead? That's right. Because to you people, the only good republican is a dead republican. It's safe for you that way. "Boy, I sure miss those moderates of yesteryear..." Bullcrap. Back then, you were calling them facists just like you call today's moderates the same thing. Remember, the people on this board only get mad at the most far-left president in history, when he doesn't lean far enough left. You people think Hilary Clinton is a rightie.
Bob Dole died? I knew his wife's political career died; but I was unaware of his demise,...Rest in Peace, Mr. Dole.
CU Farley
My brother from another mother, why is everything you post about race. i mean everything, i don't know how old you are but i remember Jack Kemp and Bob Dole and the left never called these guys racist. that is in your mind or you want the conforsation to go back to race like the last 2 weeks. we are past that, all i was doing was to compaire republicans of 25 years ago to now. Bob dole is not dead. i remember when his wife lost her senate seat he was right next to her. jack kemp, gerald Ford, sparo Agnue, richard nixion all dead!!!!!
Who's going to break the sad news to Bob Dole. He's DEAD!
Bob Ray is still alive, too. I have great respect for him. When he earned his last term as Iowa Governor the GOP was already changing and so he needed to choose a trusted Conservative named Terry Branstad as his running mate. Now that Branstad is trying to get back into politics he's widely denigrated as a RINO and spends most of his time pandering to the Conservative base to convince them that he won't sell them down the river.
It isn't that we don't approve of moderates, it's that the Republican party no longer allows them.
The Pipe Piper speaks and you listen? LOL, Hey there Ricky, what's a real American? Are you one? Am I one? or is it people that agree with your ideology one? Yes I say you have an ideology, look up Political Ideology. I'm pretty sure name calling will be easier for you than looking it up.
Shiela... you SURE got that right!
It is fun watching them put the 'fun' back into dysfunctional!
You got my vote! :0)
Hi, Feisty- Since I've returned, I no longer see our favorite donut-dispensing-diva or that one guy- what's his handle? Anal to a 'T-, something like that?? Whatja do- run 'em off while I was gone, or do you think they finally saw the light that the chant 'come November" isn't such a bright beacon for them after all, now that the Tea Baggists have taken over the opposition party?
just looked Bob Dole up on internet, according to his bio, Bob Dole still alive.
Chuckles:
Really?
We weren't the ones who developed the "Republican Purity Test".
By the way, if John McCain had run for President as the moderate he showed himself to be during his tenure as US Senator instead of running as far and as fast as he could towards "Bush's Base" he might have had a better chance at winning.
John McCain in 2000 would not have voted for John McCain in 2008.
Good to see you back Drive-By!
Nah... the large mouth b@ss is still flip flopping around here... of course you won't see her now as it's after 5:00!
RNC's budget is pretty tight these days (gotta save up for the lesbian bondage clubs foray's dontcha know? ;0)
So NO overtime for the paid right wing trolls!
Sheila has nailed it. I've asked many GOP friends, who heads up their party, never get an answer, just a confused look on their face. Sorry, it's not possible for me to embrace the Party of No. Maybe the GOP should begin to focus on developing important strategies towards solving our unemployment and our housing problems, that will help stabilize the lives of millions of Americans. I have often felt that the GOP is all about protecting and preserving interests, rather than addressing and dealing with issues, peoples issues, our issues.
I sure wish more liberals were like that moderate, Joe Lieberman. He's alive and repubs will admit that they like him. Ok, so Dole is the one guy on your list that isn't dead. Congrats. His career is long over though. Be like me and have some balls and choose a moderate repub you like. You all liked McCain until he had the unmitigated gall to run against the New Messiah. Then you all acted like he was to the right of Newt Gingrich.
@ # 1.4, CU Farley
What's up with the "YOU PEOPLE" rant? And what gives CU Farley the right to draw"finger pointing" distinctions between the other 300 million American citizens? It appears CU Farley represents exactly what he railes against; Radical Extremism,Us Against Them, I, Me,... everything except " WE"!
May I remind CU Farley, the U S Constitution starts with the word "WE"!!! And may I also advise, TRY IT-YOU MAY LIKE IT. Hate and anger is a terrible burden to haul around. At best CU Farley, you are but 1/300 million of "WE". This is not YOUR Country, and yours alone, This is all of our country, including you. And like any good parent will tell their child; you must learn to share. After all, being selfish, is a sign of INSECURITY! I hope you get in the spirit of the FOUNDERS ie... "WE", instead of "them" and "you people", which you seem to wear out in your posts!!!
Have to admit, after Gibbs comments yesterday, both parties are in a world of hurt. I used to label myself a Republican, until I discovered I was not pure enough to be one :)
Libertarian is the way to go. It is about as balanced between the two as can be, until of course one party takes it over.
Keep it up Mr President. Wonderful and powerful speech. It was just the other day that we the voters asked them(Republicans) to surrender the key to the Democrats after they drove the car into the ditch and today, they are back asking for the key. Does it mean that these people can never be ashamed of what they have done to this country for the 8 years they have been there! For 8 years! 8 years! Can they explain where the surplus they inherited from President Bill Clinton went?
They want the key back so that they can reverse the car into the ditch. We the people; we the voters have said NO. No key for them. They have been there for 8 years. They need to step a side for at least 4 years.
What makes them think that we voters easily forget? How can they expect us to give them back the key after they have been out for only 18 months?
You Republicans have just had your 8 years. 18 months that the Democrats have been there is not enough time for a new person to settle down in the job and at the same time be able to do all the things that people need especially given the type of economy that they inherited. Let us all Americans be realistic on this matter. Let us be fair; 18 months is not enough for these new leaders to learn the job, settle down in it and do everything that we want them to do.
They have been learning the job and struggling to settle down under very difficult circumstances while at the same time gaining experience in the job. Let us, voters, give these leaders even only 2 more years and see how well they will perform once they finish settling down.
Time to take your meds.
Liberalism is a mental disorder.
Well said, Sam.
Oh! HAHA! OMG! THAT'S SO.... what, 1972 or so?
Don't you conservatives EVER come up with ANY new ideas? No? Didn't think so. Still all about "cutting taxes" (wow, done that since the 50's, and they've gone from a top rate of 91% to 35% and you're STILL not happy!) a "strong national defense" (Gee, ya think having a larger defense budget than the next 25 countries COMBINED is enough? And how are you going to keep paying for that with 56% less taxes? MAGIC?!?) and "morality" (Oh! HA! Yeah, let's start the list: Ensign, Vitter, Gingrich, Craig... oh I could go on, but that would just be mean).
So yeah. You've still got nothing but the same tired 3 to 5 word phrases that cons can actually remember without screwing them up (Ever listen to Sarah Palin try to construct a coherent, complete sentence? It's not pretty.).
Sam
You are so correct. But in this 24/7 mental institution that we call media.....we need to have changes IMMEDIATELY!! If you can't turn this country around in 1 day, then you need to be thrown out. Sometimes I think that we should let the republicans take over and then see where we end up. I know, I won't have to pay any taxes, of course I will have trouble getting to work cause the roads will all be gravel with pits in them. But wait, I am a teacher so i guess I won't have a job because teachers are evil consumers of the republican money that they earned. So I will just have to stay home watching MSNBC all day and eating popcorn!
Goodness gracious, Sam. Can you articulate your opinions without simply repeating the Democrat talking points? The truth is that the Republicans have not had 8 years. They had six. The Democrats have had control of Congress for four years already.
While patience is generally a virtue, continually asking the 12 million non-union folks who are struggling and out of work, still losing their homes, no end in sight and scared....to be patient with the current Administration is not good enough.
As far as inheriting a mess....that was his choice...he said he would fix it. His fixes haven't worked. He can't blame the past anymore.
And as far as the right having no ideas. I was starting to think so, too. I encourage you to check out some of the Republican's websites and look over their "Issues" tabs. They do have ideas. Heaven forbid they develop the ability to articulate them. Heaven forbid the mainstream media covers it.
I am 99% sure that President Obama stepped foot in the Oval Office on his first day of work and asked the nearest aide..."What a mess....what was I thinking?" However, he claimed he had all the answers. He promised the American people he'd fix everything. He cannot tell them to be patient anymore.
If you started a job, and 18 months later, you were still having a hard time learning the ropes, you'd have been fired long ago.
Actually, didn't Republicans have control of Congress from the beginning of 1995 to the beginning of 2007?
Heartlight,
I think you're right!
1995 to 2000 was a good time economically too, relatively speaking.
Thanks!
SPIN, SPIN, SPIN! When you have nothing to offer, you have to resort to negative comments and just outright lies.
When it comes to the Tea Party, no one party owns this group. It is a group of individuals, Repub, Dem and Independent who have had enough of our legislators, this administration, liberal judges, lack of a Constitution, and the socialism of the country by the minority left wing nuts.
When will the pundits quit attempting to put a spin on the truth?
So they're Not tired of Conservative Judges also? I'd think that since some Democrats are TeaPartiers, that some would be!
I don't buy your argument about some Democrats.
We actually use Different Brands of Deoderant. The smell of Tea on your person, only Attracts the Crazies.
Yeah, no one owns the Tea party. That's why Dick Armey, Grover Norquist, Fox News, and a lot of other familiar faces from the GOP and the Conservative Movement are the organizational forces behind the Tea Party. http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2009/04/the-tea-party-movement-whos-in-charge/13041/ and http://www.campusprogress.org/articles/astroturf_tea_parties
safecracker
SPIN, SPIN, SPIN!
When it comes to the Tea Party, no one party owns this group. It is a group of individuals, Repub, Dem and Independent who have had enough of our legislators, this administration, liberal judges, lack of a Constitution, and the socialism of the country by the minority left wing nuts.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
You're doing a good job of spinning; safecracker!!!
Those socialist you speak of are all those "Robber Barons on Wall Street" whose socialism is concerned that their social and economic distribution system remains inside their little Party. You know; the one that allows them yachting, snorting coke on Toasters, partying in their multimillion dollar homes; shipping jobs offshore to avoid paying taxes while Main Street hunts down a food pantry.
No one in the Tea Party knows anything about the Constitution.
*Tea baggers know nothing of the 1stamendment; they want to harass Muslims.
*Tea baggers know nothing of the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equality.
*Tea baggers want to repeal the 16th Amendment, which allows for a federal income tax; (Does crack pot Sharon Angle ring a bell; not the Liberty Bell either?). Read Dick Armey’s article in USA Today on upending Social Security . 80% of American are against stopping Social Security.
*Tea baggers want to repeal the 17thAmendment, in order to take the power to elect U.S. Senators away from individual voters and give it back to state legislators.
*Tea Baggers use inflamed rhetoric suggesting that the 2nd amendment is for armed rebellion.
Sarah Palin, , would refudiate the purpose of the Constitution today because Sarah is a Tea Party “Constitutionalists” Know Nothing unless it’s the Confederate Constitution; you betcha!!
As far Judges Ellena Kagan would not have been confirmed because she, in their view, would not commit during her Judiciary Committee testimony to enforcing “God-given” natural or inalienable rights mentioned in the Declaration of Independence; not to mention slandering Justice Thurgood Marshall who won Board v Board of Education.
WOW. Talk about your out-and-out LIES. Gibbs said, "The professional left," as in, the pundits in the Beltway. How the RNC magically transforms that into "voters on the left" is not just spin, it's a complete falsehood. And Obama has openly welcomed Democrats, Independents AND Republicans to work WITH him.
And you KNOW that if that's some of the best shots they have, Republicans are in more trouble than they'll admit. Because they didn't WANT a lot of those Tea Party candidates, because they KNOW that they are far, FAR RIGHT fringe types.
Jose
when you say "work with him" you mean agree with whatever he says is best right?
Because Im pretty sure the conservatives in Congress have resorted to saying no to the regime because he has yet to even listen to anything the conservatives or the people want.
Now he does work with the unions and ACORN. Remember this is the president that said that before andy decision he would consult with SEIU.
Don't forget the CrackHead Monkey's today, Larry, OK !
Aren't they already a voting bloc?
That's right Larry - when this White House has on their website that they are "committed to creating the most open and accessible administration in American history" and have on their website a form to solicit feedback from EVERYONE that is so simple a right-wing hack like you could even use it, then somehow I have to believe you're not really a serious kind of guy when you say what you say. Look, the website is even easy to remember!
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
Gosh... yeah. That whole think just SCREAMS "whatever he says is best." That sure screams "REGIME!"
Go back to watching Beck. He has no national advertisers anymore, so go run along and buy some gold so he can stay on the cable TV.
So how did HCR become filled with Republican ideas? http://www.news-journalonline.com/opinion/editorials/2010/03/05/reforms-big-secret-health-bills-full-of-gop-ideas.html
Shh... John. They don't want to admit that. They're all running election ads saying they didn't have ANYTHING to do with it, and DID NOT vote for it.
This, despite the fact that it's basically modeled on a conservative idea that came out of the Heritage Foundation, and was the basis for what Massachusetts implemented under conservative Mitt Romney's "regime."
By transparent I guess you mean making backdoor deals and not televising any of the discussions about HCR right?
And you know Im sure the multi thousand page HCR bill that by the way allows the government to now come in my house to "ensure" Im raising my children to thier "expectations" was on the website for the full 5 days that Barry said he would put any legislation up for right?
But het just cause Barry put it on a website that makes it Gospel truth right?
Yes, I forgot - C-SPAN isn't on TV. Oh, wait....
Where exactly is this section in the HCR bill, Larry? You seem well acquainted with this provision. Bill section, number and letter please? Thanks!
Yes, because Republicans hadn't had an opportunity for 9 months to add amendments and then decry it as "Big Government will pull the plug on Grandma with its Death Panels." You wanna talk intellectual honesty here? Obama has WAY more credibility than the right on this issue. Bring it, bub.
Jose,
So you are admitting Obama lied and are just giving the reason why you excuse his lie.
Didn't Obama promise the five days for any legislation? When did the bailout bill passed yesterday get signed? Yesterday? Is yesterday to yesterday 5 days?
N..
Need to be buy a vowel, bub?
On the contrary, I'm pointing out the FALLACY of your lame/weak excuse of an argument since 90% of the bill was being debated and/or available for ANY Congressional member or staffer to review over those 9 months. Are you suggesting that a Republican was actually going to vote FOR it if they HAD read it?!?!?
Gosh, yeah - a simple extension of unemployment benefits and money for firefighters, police officers and other first responders. Gee... we really should have waited, and made sure more of them couldn't start school to teach kids - that would have been a GREAT idea! Awesome catch there, BOB.
BTW, how much did George W Bush say Iraq would cost, and how long was it going to take? 100 billion and 6 months, I believe was the original statement they made. Let's see, we're trillions of dollars in at this point, over 3,000 Americans have died, and this, to go to war against a country that didn't even attack us or have anything to do with 9/11. Yeah... I can see why you're so upset at Obama, for having helped AMERICANS with their JOBS.
And conservatives whine about "relativism"!!! HAHA!
Incidentally, I found the actual quote that "Bob" is referring to (which he probably even know - he just heard "FIVE DAYS!" and ran with it):
So perhaps YOU, Bob, don't think that this is "emergency" legislation. But to hundreds of thousands of teachers and perhaps millions of schoolchildren who's lives, and livelihoods, depend on this funding being available BEFORE school starts, I think it qualifies as "emergency" conditions.
Besides, was any Republican going to vote for it anyway? Were you going to support it if you'd read it? Do you know anyone who might have changed their mind had they had 5 days to read it?
John B,
Come on now, your source is an Editorial. I thought you're smarter than that?
Jose,
I wasn't making an argument. I made declarative statement that you did not address, or dispute.
You obfuscated the issue by mentioning that 90% of the bill had been debated, or was available for any Congressional member, or staffer for nine months and that Republicans wouldn't vote for it, but what does that have to with Obama's promise? Was the final bill, (not what was talked about in the draft nine months before by staffers), available to Americans for 5 days, or not?
Again, you guys aren't very good at this, are you?
Let me give you a hint. If you were any good at it, you would not have to pull out the Bush meme?
When you put your big boy pants on and can follow the discussion, get back to me.
"big boy pants"? I see we're pulling out the "I'm going to talk down to you" card, since that's all you've got left. Sad.
And to be clear:
A declarative statement can be part of an argument. You are making the argument that "Obama lied." I pointed out how this was a fallacy. That would be MY argument. See how that works? Good!
And as far as "It wasn't available for 5 days"? I don't know if you're still yammering about health care or the latest emergency legislation, but I'll address both. Either way, you're wrong on both here. Here's the timeline for HCR:
The Senate passed their version of the bill on 12/24/09. The House passed THE EXACT SAME VERSION of the bill on 3/21/10, and the President signed it on 3/23/10. So the EXACT LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE was available for THREE FULL MONTHS for ANYONE who can read to review (including you).
How exactly did Obama "break his pledge" on that legislation? Uh, he didn't. OOPSIES FOR YOU!
And already I pointed out the "emergency legislation" aspect of his quote, so in regards to "keeping up with the discussion" yeah... clearly it's you who's having trouble with this concept, not me.
Thanks for playing! Buh, bye!
I made a simple declarative statement that you challenged with obfuscations and irrelevance. I pointed out the obfuscations and irrelevance, you failed to address them and you have now offered "That would be MY argument." If obfuscation and irrelevance is the best you can do, that's sad, but I can accept that.
I asked a simple question, "Was the final bill available to Americans for five days, or not?", to specifically avoid your obfuscations which I specifically pointed out. (Common sense dictates that it is pointless for the average American to read different versions of a bill before before it is reconciled into a FINAL BILL. With the Cornhusker deal, Louisiana Purchase, Executive Orders, all the back room deals, nothing mattered except the FINAL BILL.)
Your response is the same irrelevance and obfuscations. This is obviously the best you are capable of and to further indulge your irrelevance would only speak more to my foolishness of wasting additional time.
Quitting Time, JoAnnaSmith1, time for the 2nd shift.
O Yeah, don't forget your BrownBag at your feet!
If it's the authentic tea party revolution taking over--fighting for true Republican ideals like fiscal responsibility and moderation--then I'd be ok with it. But it seems that the Republican party is being hijacked again by extreme points of view like they were under the Neocons. It's a shame because this progressive could actually embrace some of the Republican ideals.....if they ever lived up to them.
Jackie, I agree about moderate repubs. The problem is that the GOP has not been the party of fiscal responsibility and moderation since Reagan took office--he was transformational all right but not in a good way.
John B,
Come on now, your source is an Editorial. I thought you're smarter than that?
Nothing will get the RINO's stampeding like a tall glass of tea!
http://www.twocanpete.com/
I don't know what the Republicans are doing, they haven't shown me anything in the last eighteen months. The best person they had running was Charlie Crist from Florida, and they didn't aprreciate him. The ones I have seen are not what I would call quality candidates. None of them have much to offer. They all seem to on the same level as Sarah Palin. All show, no substance. MY question is: If they came back into power, how would they make things better, anda and for who? Saying "no" to everything, cutting services to people who needs them to survive, increasing war spending, and cutting taxes for the rich, hoping they get paid back by them, by giving them a few crumbs for their tables, in the form of jobs, hasn't worked before. Well, it did worked for Bush for a while, but when the Dems came back in in 2006, the crumbs were taken back. See where it got us. I say, we should stay on track, keep working to do away with the deregulations, lower the debt, and get people to work on jobs that doesn't depend on Corporations taking them back, when their buddies are not in power, and keep closing the tax loop holes for them. Do something about our trade policies to other countries.
The best thing to happen in politics lately, the emergence of the Tea Party. The democrats have been trying to tell the American people for years what the real GOP agenda is but "tax cuts" and "small government" make good bumper stickers. Now, the TP has forced the truth front and center--it is difficult to deny what the Angles, Rands say about ending social security, medicare, the Dept of Education, EPA to name a few. Then Kyl steps into a big pile of "oops" by stating the tax cuts do not require spending cuts, that extending the Bush tax cuts won't add to the deficit and then having to defend it. Pence, Cantor, DeMint, and the others have been trying but cannot find the words. Try these--YOU LIE.
Is this a Tea Party Issue?
Yesterday we gave 10 billion to teachers to each our children. 10 billion that those elementary and secondary kiddos will have to unnecessarily pay for in way or another depending what TANSTAAFL trick was applied.
They will have to pay $100,000,000.00 - $150,000,000.00 to the unions and thus democrat election campaigns. A,B,C....1, 2, 3?
But, that is not all they will unnecessarily pay for, or even close to the big cost. The big cost is the future costs of strings. Not the strings used in arts/crafts classes, tennis racquet strings, or violin strings. They will pay for Obama strings.
Seems the "bailout" was actually a supplement that required states to add this amount to their budgets and requires them to maintain this level of expenditure. It actually, unnecessarily and artificially just raised the cost of education for states that cannot even meet current expenses! Can anyone say more bailouts next year? Or, states will be required to take finds away from the police and fire fighter budgets to meet this federal requirement. But we have to protect our children, right?
Necessary? Between 1990 and 2007, enrollments increased 22%. Teacher employment rose 41%. Since 2000, enrollment have increased 5% with teacher employment increasing 10%.
In Milwaukee, they announced the need to lay off 500 teachers. This could be avoided if the unions agreed to accept a change in the health care plans from $23,000.00 a year to $17,000.00. Unions said no, lay'em off. Of course they knew they would get their bailouts, due to their strings on Obama and Obama strings on programs.
Win - Win - Win, .... right? For the unions, democrats and Obama. For the kiddos that are inheriting all the debt of this administration?
I hear a lot about the tea baggers, I don't know that I know any, but is this an actual issue that they care about for their "children" and more importantly, do the FR tea bag bashers care about it?
I know, I know they are racist, faux noise, fringe nut jobs....
The Bees know. They always know.
They just passed a $400 Buh, buh, buh , billion dollar stimulus bill for the same issue... education. Congress should have taken the meger $ 26 Buh, buh, Billion out of it as the $400 Buh, buh, buh Billion that hasn't been spent yet. But Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! They fabricated a false emergency [AGAIN] and again passed legislation no one had read or thought through. [assuming they are even capable of simple thought processes]
This scam was plain and simple as the pimple on Obama's beautocks; a pay off as sure as my name is XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX as plain as the nose on your face, a political payoff to the Unions Now the Unions will skim off a goodly portion of this unnecessary spending bill and feed it back, directly to the Criminal Regime of B.O. and his gnarly gaggle of Commie bomb throwers.
Bob, you forgot to mention the teachers unions in Wisconsin are currently haggling to get Viagra paid for in their health contract. But, they have to lay teachers off? It seems most all other aspects of business have had to suck it up, make cuts but not the unions. And, you're right. Let's see how much the teachers unions contribute to BO for his re-electon campaign.
At it's heart, these are voters upset with the "big government" policies of both Bush and Obama.
Michael Tanner of Cato wrote a great piece for Nat Rev Online also posted on Cato's website that states now is not the time for the GOP to be playing the "culture wars". He looks to last year's "gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey. Bob McDonnell and Chris Christie did not run as culture warriors. Instead they won their upset victories on issues like jobs, the economy, and a commitment to limited government". "Social" voters will always vote with the GOP.
Right now the Tea Party is a loose connection of citizens. Obama helped to create it with his wacky 'statist' policies. It will take a national leader or two to be able to coalesce and focus this anger. Very interesting to watch. I'm going to need to see how it progresses.
Of course the left leaning press will always play up the most negative aspects of it in an effort to kill it.
Bob, I hate to break this to you, but the bill that was passed was deficit neutral. It didn't add anything to what "our kids and grandkids" will have to pay. Way to pay attention. I guess they didn't note that point on Fox.
Got a linky with some factsy?
Again, how about some links to these purported "facts"? They sound more like they came straight out of Glenn Beck's mouth to your keyboard, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Provide a link to back them up, that comes from an reliable source.
So what you're saying is, you're in favor of HIGHER classroom size, and LESS teacher time per student, despite the idiotic "No Child Left Behind" bill that requires teachers to "teach to the test." Hey, that sounds like a GREAT way for American kids to really get a "leg up" over the international competition and move American forward. Great idea - let's go with "less education is better for America" and see how that works out in 20 years. NOT.
Jose,
Yea, they just pulled 26 Billion out of their asz. Why doesn't Obama just pull a couple trillion out of his? It is amazing how easily manipulated naive morons can be. TANSTAAFL.
About the link. Why don't you read something other than liberal bloogers and watch something other than political entertainment shows. RCP? Ever hear of WSJ? Look it up, if anything other than Fiesty, Ron and company, tingle leg and kieth are reliable enough for you.
I didn't say I was for larger classrooms, etc. I asked if it was necessary. If you want to argue efficacy, argue efficacy, argue the voucher program in D.C. that Obama is killing and argue why he is doing that.
Nice pick and choose to re-direct the argument though.
You guys aren't very good at discussing the actual point of a comment, are you?
BTW - I do want our kids to get a "leg up" and not end up being the equivalent of an Obama leg humper. If the country is broke, they won't have a chance.
On public radio the other day, it was mentioned that the U.S. has dropped from number 1 to a ranking of 12th in technical education. The drop was not because techincal education has been done poorly, it was because 11 other countries excelled at their technical education for their countries. By standing still, other countries are passing us by. ( I do not have the date or time I heard it, but it was in the past week)
If the Tea Party people want to take their country back to the 1960's, soon people from foreign countries will be coming here to help us dig wells and learn how to take care of cows, and have free health care clinics in the larger cities. Oh wait, that is happening already!! Silly me, are we a 3rd world country yet?? I think we are getting there fast.
Jose, you said it was deficit neutral. You failed to point out that they took money from the food stamp program to pay these teachers' unions. How sad.
All that, and still no links to back up any of your weak arguments. So - no... it's not me that's not "very good at disccusing the actual point." That'd be you. All I was asking for was some evidence to back up a claim - you failed to provide it. I'm not going to do YOUR homework for you. Sheesh. How lazy are you anyway? Probably like most of the rest of the Republicans who don't want to work, so they just vote "no!" so they can get back out on the golf course. No wonder they don't like Pelosi - she makes them work for a change!
Dirt - it is deficit neutral. I didn't ever say HOW it was accomplished was something I though was a great idea. And I didn't see the need of pointing it out, as it wasn't germaine to my point. But since you brought it up, yes, that's what happened. What's sad is that Republicans did everything they could to block this bill in the first place, so Dem's had NO CHOICE but to do this.
How sad is that? Republicans really DO hate poor Americans!
Jose,
You reply to my comments, yet you don't possess the facility to argue "your" own argument without me helping you?
What is even more funny, I nevertheless suggested you go to RCP / WSJ.
Let me spell it out for you. Real Clear Politics / Wall Street Journal.
Dirt,
Good point about the budget neutral nonsense.
BTW - Do you think really stupid people, are too stupid to realize how stupid they are?
Watching the comments on here is like watching soap operas. A slow moving, never changing bunch of characters caught up in a story that simply will not change as long as you keep following the script. I also noticed that when people cannot make their point believable, they resort to calling everyone else a moron or stupid, lazy no goods etc. Open your minds to the possibility that no one person or ideology is correct. Good ideas and people on all sides of the story. Just different experiences and reasons to choose what works for them. Stop hating your own life and try to make a better one by focusing on things that you can actually do each day to help one person at a time. I know that is not nearly as exciting as the daily rants and battles that are engaged in on these sites, but are in the long run better for you and society. Try to find something good in your life and stop worrying about all the petty bickering and long held "falsehoods" that are being passed around as truth.
What Kaine is really saying is the GOP is being taken over by citizens.
Rob-459463
What Kaine is really saying is the GOP is being taken over by citizens.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Only the wacky citizens. Fortunately, they are 1/5 of the electorate.
The New York Times and CBS News that found that Tea Party supporters are overwhelmingly white, predominantly male, middle-aged and older, fiercely conservative and heavily Republican — essentially the GOP’s electoral base. The survey also found that the Tea Party movement, which comprises less than a fifth of the total nationwide electorate (18 percent), is economically more affluent than the general U.S. population.
Beverly,
So the "nut bag" fringe on the right is 20%.
Are the 20% of the electorate that identify themselves as liberal, the "nut bag" fringe on the left?
This is the slippery slope the Democrats are starting to tread. One fifth of the electorate. So, what portion of the electorate's vote should be shown a little respect? Two fifths? A third? Half?
You could say that 40% of the Democrat votes are low income, urban, unskilled workers (for example). They're still citizens and they still have a voice.
Who should have a voice, Beverly? Who should count?
Candice,
Completely off subject, but post after post, you always have sharply perceptive and articulate comments. But what I really admire is your unshakable focus and unique grace when really pressed.
No one does like you do.
Just a fan for awhile that wanted to say thanks for your contributions.
Wow, Bob. Thank you.
I look for your posts as well. In fact I was staying on the sidelines last night enjoying your back and forths. I wanted to jump in but you were handling it very well all on your own.
Enjoy this beautiful day!
"The Bees Know"
"They always know!"
The GOBP dopes of nope are going to become extinct along with their extension, media created teabagger wing. On the Gibbs thing, you go Robert, I love how these media bloviators are whining because he pushed back on their non stop self serving bu&*sh&t. They are fast becoming an extension of the riechwing talking machine in their own way. We now have Ed on the bandwagon, Ed S. are you really a liberal? Hasanyone noticed how Dylan rattle brains has become a Beck lite? Did anyone see the Anthony Wiener smack-down of spongejoe..lol.
Jose Von Hussein
Larry can't watch C-span. I think he keeps his TV on FOX NOISE.
He sure talks that way, doesn't he Bev?
The Bees know. They always know.
They [The Pelosi Congress] just passed a $400 Buh, buh, buh , billion dollar stimulus bill for the same issue... education. Congress should have taken the meger $ 26 Buh, buh, Billion out of it as the $400 Buh, buh, buh Billion that hasn't been spent yet. But Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! They fabricated a false emergency [AGAIN] and again passed legislation no one had read or thought through. [assuming they are even capable of simple thought processes]
This scam was plain and simple as the pimple on Obama's beautocks; a pay off as sure as my name is XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX as plain as the nose on your face, a political payoff to the Unions Now the Unions will skim off a goodly portion of this unnecessary spending bill and feed it back, directly to the Criminal Regime of B.O. and his gnarly gaggle of Commie bomb throwers.
I realize that socialism/liberalism scares some people with the fear of increased taxes, government spending and government control. More than that what scares me is returning to ‘more of the same’ that created the real need for more government spending, increased taxes and government intervention. Eliminate that concern and then I’ll worry about too much government but right now not enough government and irresponsible government has brought this country to the edge of total disaster … and all of it deceptively just to benefit the very few. What adds to this scare is the arrogant and grossly dishonest, self-serving and aggressive subterfuge / efforts to sell a return to ‘more of the same’ using misinformation, hyped up scare tactics and emotional appeals to biases, prejudices, self-interests and individual attachments, all simply aimed to excite and manipulate public opinion. There are a lot of people, whether Republicans, Tea Partiers, conservative groups and especially the Special Interests and influential, powerful and extremely wealthy few who stand to greatly benefit, who absolutely have no conscience when putting their self-interests above all else and at any cost. If they should succeed in conning the voters, then we are very likely to see ‘more of the same’, the continuation of the current drastic problems and really even much worse. Bush-Cheney literally proved that the ‘trickle down’ theory is a fraud. The middle class has literally been constantly loosing ground, with the poor just getting poorer and all while the wealthy simply continue to gain. If that continues, with the reality being that as the middle class goes so does the economy, then everyone looses but those having the gains irresponsibly choose to ignore that fact and instead just try to con, manipulate and take everyone else for granted. All of that is the real meaningful scare!
Great post!!! RG
I'd like to see more of the same. Bush years: unemployment 4.5% on average. Democrats and Obama years so far: 6% - 9.5% on average.
Weakening of buying power in the middle class during the Bush years. (I don't know that's true - haven't been able to find numbers to support that). No buying power for 12 million Americans out of work.
2.4 million jobs created under Bush. Made up numbers of jobs "saved" under Obama.
Yeah. I long for the old days and more of the same.
To all the, cut taxes on the rich and big business, Trickle Down Theorists "don't whiz down my back and tell me it's raining."
RG, That was an excellent post! Thank you!
Candice, You reap want you sow! What GW did was nothing short of lining the pockets of his cronies with our money.
Very little of seed GW (the careless economic farmer) carelessly threw around ever fell on good soil.
I agree. Lots of bad seed falling on bad ground. The rich get richer and the poor are living in tents or their cars! When you try to plant some positive seeds of hope, the rich thorns rise up to try to choke us out. But the best news is, according to the message, is that the good seed that fell on good ground overcame and multiplied. Hope and change can work, it just takes time and nurturing. Don't let the thorns and the hot sun scorch and choke out the goodness.
Vowel, one seat left on the train to Beckistan and his miracle on 8/28, where you will be given the biggest DOPE of nope life time pin for being to stupid to fix.
I as an independent believe like most Americans that this is the worst congress and president in American history. I am a fiscal conservative and a moderate on social issues. I believe most Americans are like me. I do not have a problem with first trimester Abortions after that it is the doctor that should decide of the woman's life or health is in peril or if she had been raped. At the third trimester I think most people know it is murder.
I believe that Gays and lesbians should be allowed to marry. I also believe that is a church because of religious beliefs dose not want to perform the marriage then that is their right. Can you imagine a gay couple getting married at a mosque? I believe that Illegal Immigrants need to have a guest worker program and a way to earn their way to legal citizenship. I believe we shout at each other and do not listen to each other. I am also guilty of this because I sincerely dislike Liberals destroying this great country. However you can not say Liberals have never had any good Ideas it is just always seams to involve bigger Gov and more taxes and that is always bad. So If you are an independent like me or even if you just agree with me on the main social issues then we should elect those people willing to work together and talk to each other. No more Obama's or Pelosi's or Reid's What this country badly desperately needs are Social moderates and fiscal conservatives . We pay our bills live within our means and treat everyone with respect and human dignity.
I guess you would'nt have a problem dismantling Homeland Security that those mean Liberals created.
O wait, it was George Bush.
O well, argument over.
Wade!
Totally agree.
The Unions? How about the Congressional give away to Wall Street? Goldman Sachs and all the rest will fill the politician's coffers for quite some time with all that dough. BTW, it's not Obama, it's the Congress. I like the man, it's time we had a smart guy in that job. I was afraid he would go down the Jimmie Carter road, but has demonstrated an ability to get things done.
I would have voted for McCain, but when he picked the bimbo, I knew he was past it. I really, really wish Colin Powell would've run for 2000, we wouldn't be in this mess. Now there's a smart guy!
BTW Teaparty Obama-mias. Keep it up and the Republicans won't have a prayer. This country was pretty much 50/50 politically until recently and you guys have radicalized the right to such an extent that the middle of the roaders, like me, are turned off.
Bruce,
Both Obama and the Democrats in general received Wall Street money by a 4-1 margin over McCain and the Republicans in general during the last election cycle. Obama was complicit for every buck they got.
Is wall Street happy that the Democrats passed the Wall Street Financial Reform Act?
Who tried to stop this Financial Reform Act?
Is wall Street happy that the Democrats passed the Wall Street Financial Reform Act?
Who tried to stop this Financial Reform Act?
Alex,
1) Does this help?
2) Republicans.
BTW - About the financial bailouts that this was supposed to fix - you are aware that Freddie Mac is already getting teed up for a $1.8 billion bail out, right?
I am wondering about Ed from the "Ed Show; I feel he sometimes say things that are more damaging to the Democratic Party than Fox News.
He's ask his questions to his quest in a way that plants a negative thought in his viewers mind...then he says right after the damaging question "what do you think" to demish his responsiblity for asking such question.
I agree with Robert Gibbs...we are becoming our worst enemy. We progressive act as if President Obama's God and he can just wave a magic wand and the GOP will vote for his progressive policies. That's not realistic- way do we Progressive not see that.
Ed instead of damning things that President Obama was unable to do...how about helping the base and focus on what he did and explain as passionately as you do about what he hasn't done. The reason why he wasn't able to do it.
I like you...but you are very good with reverse messaging, don't know if it's purposeful or you really don't see the realism of the GOP obstruction.
Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA
Mr. Gibbs
Call me a member of the Professional Left, and as for the reference to drugs. Well perhaps the Democratic base does need rehabilitating.
We are high on the President and the policies of his administration, and the Democratic Party! Our drug of choice (Demoractic Party), is letting us down by appeasing the right-wing, watering down legislation, and other acts of disregard for our preference in favor of hearing the ultimate NO from Republicans.
Thank you Mr. Gibbs. After the Professional Left completes rehab should we not help to advance the Democratic Agenda? Do you want us, appreciate us or not?!
Democrats fall in love---after careful thought! Republicans fall in line---NO thought wanted!
Which do you prefer!?
President Obama has an approval rating that is lower than 50 percent.
If those on the extreme left keep pushing and bothering the President, President Obama will never be able to get an approval rating higher than 50 percent.
Those people on the left should leave the president alone. The president has to move to the right to improve his approval rating. The people that left the President are mostly on the right.
Alex,
You are right.
Obama is facing the same situation Clinton faced. Clinton moved to the center and you know the rest.
But, Clinton was more talented as a leader, was easier for Americans to relate to ("I feel your pain") and was not the radical liberal Obama is. Most importantly, he was not the narcissist Obama is and had the ability to recognize reality and adapt.
"Deficit neutral" means robbing Peter to pay Paul. It only means that you are maintaining the deficit at its existing level (which would actually be nice to a certain extent, even though it's not happening).
In the countries who have overtaken us in educational performance, how many are home to athe children of 10 million illegal immigrants that the home country has committed to educate? Has the impact on our school systems been calculated? I don't know, and maybe some of these other countries are educating very large numbers of illegals, but I would like to know. I'm sure a veteran First Read poster could provide me a link.
Now we have poor education because of the scary brown people.
It's OK Richard, we know you fear them. Don't worry, that guy on the radio will tell you what to do about it.
You all know what I mean. They're either dead ot their careers are over and dead. Liberals considered McCain a moderate until he had the unmitigated gall to run against The New Messiah, and now you hate him as if he were Newt Gingrich.
I agree partly. I consider myself a liberal Democrat but I voted for Bush (the good one) in 88 and 92. I also voted for McCain in the primary in 2000 (in Ohio, you declare when you go to vote in the primary). After he lost the primary because of the Bush (the bad one) organization's lowlife tactics, I began to regularly vote Democratic. The lies they laid on Kerry were simply terrible. When you go out and deface a hero's reputation, you simply have no morals.
The McCain in 2008 was no longer the person I thought he was (I also moved to Arizona) and when he chose Palin as his running mate, I lost all respect for him. In 2008, he showed the country that he would take any position that he thought would get him elected. Take a look at his stances on issues in this year's election for Senator of Arizona and you will see what I mean. He has begun to use the same tactics as Bush used against him.