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Subscribe to RSSIn South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson's district, Democratic opponent Rob Miller accuses him of outsourcing jobs to Central America. And in an example of how European politics are affected by immigration issues, the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats release a controversial spot in which an elderly woman vies for government funds against Muslim women in burqas. A Swedish TV station is refusing to air the ad in advance of the country's Sept. 19th elections, prompting politicians in neighboring Denmark, a nation familiar with immigration controversies, to accuse the station of censorship.
SC-2, Miller, "Went"
9/2
WOMAN: Our jobs went to Central America. MAN 1: Places like Honduras, and Guatemala. MAN 2: Some guy in El Salvador has my job. MILLER: Instead of protecting South Carolina jobs and our workers, Joe Wilson voted for CAFTA, an unfair trade deal that sent thousands of South Carolina jobs overseas. MAN 2: Congressman Wilson. When you put helping Central America MAN 1: over helping South Carolina WOMAN: You lost touch with people here. MAN 2: Congressman Wilson. MAN 1: You oughta be ashamed of yourself. MILLER: I'm Rob Miller and I approve this message because I'll never outsource South Carolina jobs.
Sweden Democrats, "Swedish"
8/27
TEXT ON SCREEN: State Budget ANNCR: Politics is all about priorities. What is your choice? The 19th of September you can choose if you want to save money from the pensions or immigration budgets, the choice is yours. Vote Sweden Democrats.
CA SEN, Boxer, "Contra Nostros" (Against Us)
8/31
TRANSLATION: Carly Fiorina laid off 30,000 workers when she was the CEO of HP. Families who watched as Fiorina exported American jobs to China. And then she tripled her salary making millions. Right now, Carly Fiorina is against education funding that will stop teacher layoffs. Fiorina is against education funding that will stop teacher layoffs. And against comprehensive immigration reform. Carly Fiorina is not for us. She’s out for herself.
MD SEN, Wargotz, "Political Insidersaurus"
9/1
ANNCR: "This is a brontosaurus. This is a political insidersaurus Barbara Mikulski. Inhabiting Washington for many years. Famous for spending, raising taxes, roaming Washington with insidersauruses like Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi. This is Eric Wargotz. Physician. Family man. A citizen just like you. Eric Wargotz is taking on political insidersauruses who have inhabited DC for too long. His mission? To make political insidersauruses extinct." WARGOTZ: "I'm Eric Wargotz and I approve this message"
FL GOV, Sink, "Happen"
8/31
SINK: "The oil spill has been devastating to Florida's environment and economy. I'm Alex Sink. And while we're fighting to repair the damage and hold BP accountable, we also need to diversify our economy starting right now. That's why I have a detailed plan to develop new industries and attract new businesses to Florida -- like renewable energy, health care and biotech companies. We need a more stable economy for Florida's future. And as your governor, I've got a plan to make it happen"
MA GOV, Baker, "Turnaround'
9/3
WOMAN #1: "Have you had enough?" MAN #1: "Enough spending and enough taxes." WOMAN: "Enough insider deals." MAN #2: "Those guys on Beacon Hill." WOMAN #2: "(Gov.) Deval Patrick (D) and (Treas.) Tim Cahill (I)." WOMAN #1: "They just don't get it." MAN #3: "They raised taxes eight times." MAN #4: "Eight times." MAN #5: "They never cut a thing." WOMAN #3: "And pat themselves on the back." MAN #4: "And everything's going up to New Hampshire." WOMAN #2: "Last time I voted for Patrick and Cahill." MAN #6: "They didn't get it done." WOMAN #3: "We need a change." WOMAN #1: "We need Charlie Baker." WOMAN #2: "Charlie will say no to things we can't afford." MAN # 4: "He will turn this state around." BAKER: "So if you've had enough, join us." WOMAN #2: "We can do better"
MA GOV, Cahill, "Daughters"
9/3
DEVIN CAHILL: "My dad Tim Cahill taught us to do right." MAKENA CAHILL: "Don't be wasteful and watch your money." NICOLE CAHILL: "Just because everyone's doing something, doesn't make it right." M. CAHILL: "Leave a party if people behave badly." D. CAHILL: "Oh yeah." KENDRA CAHILL: "If you want new results." D. CAHILL: Go in a new direction." K. CAHILL: "Be independent." T. CAHILL: "Wow, sounds like they were listening after all"
MA GOV, Cahill, "It's Time"
9/3
CAHILL: "Governor Patrick passed a tax increase without looking for cuts, so I left the Democratic Party. Baker and the Republicans, they ran the Big Dig. That's not an option. So I registered Independent because only a different direction can bring different results. And it's time"
WI GOV, Walker, "Make it Right"
9/2
WALKER: "When I became the county executive, I didn't go to work for the government. I went to work for the taxpayers. We had a pension scandal. Politicians were helping themselves to millions instead of helping us. I ran to make it right. We took back our government, turned deficits into a surplus, held the line on taxes and made government smaller -- things Gov. Doyle didn't do and Tom Barrett will not do. I believe in Wisconsin. Together, we will put government back on our side"
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Not sure if we’re going to get ‘The Week Ahead’ since Domenico is on a well deserved vacation and Mark is holding down the fort (so to speak)! lol
With the unofficial end of summer upon us this weekend… it’s a good time to remind all progressive and independent voters in this country that this is NOT the time to become complacent & apathetic!
While you’re enjoying the long weekend step back for a moment to reflect on the excitement you felt on Election night or Inauguration Day!
As I stood in Grant Park that warm November night I have never felt such a sense of accomplishment as I did watching then Senator Obama become President Elect Obama!
It is naive for anyone to assume that in 2 years President Obama could and would undue the damage that was left by the previous administration!
Both he and the Democratic candidates currently up for re-election this November deserve our continued SUPPORT!
Volunteer to phone bank – get out and knock on doors – donate $5 or $10 when possible to the either the DNC or the candidate of your choice – talk to friends and relatives and keep reminding them of the quagmire we will end up back in if the power hungry ‘rulers’ known as the Party of NO regain control.
Remember then candidate Obama said change happens from the bottom up!
The Republican party would love for you to believe it happens from the upper 2% DOWN… hell we’ve already ‘lived’ that social experiment which has failed miserably and personally I’m tired of getting peed on!
It isn’t the Democrats who are waging an all out war against the middle class!
They want their country BACK & I want my country FORWARD…
So what do you say… ARE you FIRED up and READY to GO?
Many thanks to our hosts/moderators this week for the fantastic articles they’ve posted for us to squabble over! Lol
Rest up everybody… it’s going to be a sprint to the finish between now and 11.2.10!
Have a Happy & Safe Labor Day!
Now… if I can get the bartenders attention over here at the Dew Drop Inn we can get this party started!
(Dear Feisty, sorry I hitched on to your wagon, but I wanted to get this out there where it's not lost over the weekend)
ONE NATION WORKING TOGETHER - Is anybody here (both friend & foe) interested in going to this march in DC on Oct. 2nd? I'm thinking of going down there. Could be a great opportunity to meet each other during an important moment. Think about it. It's time we became one nation again.
Just a thought. Check it out.
http://www.onenationworkingtogether.org/
You're welcome to 'piggy back' anytime Pat (it's an honor)!
I heard about that on my way home tonight and HELL yeah I would be interested!
It would be a great way to have our first annual FR reunion!
Let's get to work....
You got it. I've been doing just what you said.
Fiesty-they're fired up and ready to go, all right. They're ready to go vote republican.
They're ready to vote to repeal HCR.
They're ready to vote to cut spending.
They're ready to vote to stop Obama before he totally destroys this country.
That's the change people can believe in this election year.
NJNB -
You forgot to add my personal favorite...
They're gonna IMPEACH Obama... lmao..
Fiesty-who? For what?
Now come on NJ... tell me you haven't read the multitude of posts from the right wingers calling for the impeachment of President Obama...
Better yet... the 'fearless' leaders of the Party of No... Tom Tancredo & the self proclaimed 'lovable little fuzz ball' Michele Bachmann are spewing this stuff the the herd..
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/29/michele-bachmann-flirts-w_n_663155.html
Based on some nonsensical claim by Senator Kyle that the President NOT securing the borders for poltical gain!
If this isn't a wakeup call to AMERICA that these two dimwits are rising 'stars' of the right and will wield POWER should the Republicans win in November... well then...
On a more personal note - I did see your message to me the other day under the Michael post and wanted to say thank you for the kind words... we agree that we despise each others politics but still have much in common! ;0)
Enjoy your weekend with your princess & the kitties - our 'claws' came come out at each other next week.. lol
Enjoy yours, too, Fiesty. Last unofficial weekend of summer. sigh.
I actually like the fall-the leaves, halloween decorations, getting ready for the holidays. The one fly in that ointment is-
it's molting season for my Maine Coons. I brush them both twice a day, starting now, and they STILL get hairballs!
Ugh.
Have a drink for me Feisty. I am in California so I can't close the shop just yet. Have a great weekend my democrat friends.
And tea-baggers.............try waking up and smelling the coffee. And remember...Education is a good thing. I know your mormon leader Glenn Beck thinks stupid is good but believe me, intelligence and common sense is what we need.
You too Ramboet!
We'll keep one cold for ya! :0)
Myths and misconceptions of the GOBP exposed by Fix news
Misconceptions about REPUBLICANS go back many years. In the 1830s, the geographer Zeigler of Strasbourg proposed the theory that the republicans fell out of the sky during stormy weather (also featured in the folklore of the Inupiat/Yupik at Norton Sound), and then died suddenly after the november elections.[5] This myth was refuted by the natural historian Ole Worm, who accepted that the republicans could fall out of the sky but that they had been brought over by the wind rather than created by spontaneous generation during the spring primary. It was Worm who first published dissections of a rebublican, which showed that they are anatomically similar to most other tea partiers, and the work of Carl Linnaeus proved that they had a natural origin.[6][7]
Republicans became notorious in popular culture because of a myth that they commit mass suicide when they loose elections. Driven by strong biological urges, some species of republicans may migrate in large groups when democratic voter density becomes too great. Republicans can swim and may choose to cross a body of water in search of a new precinct/district. In such cases, many may drown if the body of water is so wide as to stretch their physical/mental capability to the limit. This fact combined with the unexplained fluctuations in the population of Southern republicans gave rise to the development of the myth. [8]
The myth of republican "mass suicide" is long-standing and has been popularized by a number of factors. In 1955, Disney Studio illustrator Carl Barks drew an Uncle Scrooge adventure comic with the title "The Republicans with the Locket". This comic, which was inspired by a 1954 American Mercury article, showed massive numbers of republicans jumping over Hudson river cliffs.[9][10] Even more influential was the 1958 Disney film White Wilderness, which won an Academy Award for Documentary Feature, in which staged footage was shown with republicans jumping into sure death after faked scenes of mass election losses.[11] A Canadian Broadcasting Corporation documentary, Cruel Camera, found that the republicans used for White Wilderness were flown from the west coast to the east coast, where they did not jump off the cliff, but in fact were launched off the cliff using a turntable by other tea party republicans.[12]
Because of their association with this odd behavior, republican election losses are frequently used metaphor in reference to people who go along unquestioningly with unpopular opinion, with potentially dangerous or fatal election consequences.
See wikipedia for some source/research material
Thanks a bunch jomama for sharing... it's most definitely a popcorn 'piece'... lol
Good one.
As always, an interesting week on First Read. Feisty, I can promise you I will be at the phones and going door to door during election time, for all the Dems with the exception of Collin Peterson. He is really a Republican, and I don't know why he is not more honest about it. Fall seems to be descending on the prairie. Beautiful day today, spent it on horseback, so missed the great debates. To our hosts, my thanks, to all of you, friend and foe, have a good long weekend. Feisty, I have the horse groomed and she is out in the pasture, going to clean up and head to the Dew Drop Inn. Hope you spin us a tale of what it was like at the park that night President Obama was elected. See you all there!
NDD - lucky girl! You know how much I love horses and what a beautiful (almost autumn) like day to be riding! I'm soooo jealous!
And I will tell you ALL the story of that magical night in Grant Park... so pull up a stool!
One of my cherubs was in the audience when President Obama accepted the nomination. She called me at the moment he walked out, and I felt like I was there, hearing the crowd go well.
I had my cell phone on speaker during the Presidents elect speech so my daughter & hubby could listen to it live along with me!
My daughter telling me how proud she was of my relentless dedication to improve America made it worth all the *blisters* in the world! lol
Actually getting to attend was a last minute thing as one of my co-canvassers got the ticket(s) the morning of the election!
We spent election day in Milwaukee until about 4:00 getting out the vote and then I drove us back to Chicago and then we hopped the train to head downtown...
Shout out to Pat the Realtor for inviting me to that historic event!
Feisty, take my post above with you to the Dew Drop Inn and have a laugh. I hope y'all know this whole election issue is all media spin and hype, wait till Nov.
What can anyone say about Joe Wilson except...."you lie". I'll leave it at that on this late Friday afternoon.
Have a great weekend everyone, stay safe. See you at the Dew Drop Inn, I.R.'s got the tables reserved.
Labor Day and Corporate America - 2010
"The highest reward for man’s toil is not what he gets for it but what he becomes by it." John Ruskin
The Lower East Side, Hell's Kitchen - to all those neighborhoods that made up NYC back in the late 1800's/early 1900's. And later, a lot of those boys you see in photos who were @ Yankee Stadium watching The Babe and Lou Gehrig play ball, eventually grew up and fought in WWII. They were our fathers, even grandfathers to some now. Those were the depression years. And before that, it was
The Gilded Age - an era of unbelievable wealth for industrialists. We know who they were, most of their names we recognize instantly. They were better known as the "Robber Barons".
At the same time in that particular moment in American history, we had 10 million immigrants come to our country to not only be free from religious prosecution but also to simply build a better life for their children. Because of the influx of immigrants, Ellis Island was built. A large portion of them settled in the Lower East Side of NYC under the most horrible of conditions. One of the oldest neighborhoods of the city, the Lower East Side has long been known as a lower-class worker neighborhood and often as a poor and diverse part of New York. As well as Italians, Poles, Ukrainians, and other ethnic groups, it once had a sizeable German population and was known as Little Germany, Manhattan.
Who came through Ellis Island? Our people. Our very own grandparents, or perhaps great grandparents.
The wealth of the Gilded Age period is highlighted by the American upper class's opulent self-indulgence, but also the rise of the American philanthropy that endowed thousands of colleges, hospitals, museums, academies, schools, opera houses, public libraries, symphony orchestras, and charities.
Today we are perhaps seeing the end of the latest Gilded Age. Only what I see is -unlike the past, today's robber barons gave nothing back. Inner cities are desolate of any charm, good educations, healthcare - libraries are unable to sustain themselves, the arts became unimportant in schools. Jobs moved to other countries, instead of hiring our own.
I wonder. Who were the grandparents of these people on Wall Street or CEO's of banks and insurance companies? Who were the ancestors of the GOP? Where did the chairman of Countrywide's parents come from? Actually all those companies that went under, the ones who received millions in bonuses before they left their positions after they ran out of people to exploit - did their ancestors come through Ellis Island? Most likely. Those faces on those boats you see were us. Only it was a century ago. Yet beginning with the Reagan years, it became unpopular to think about, let alone assist -the less fortunate. If you couldn't keep up, too bad. Everyone looked the other way. Greed was good. No one cared anymore about our children, our sick, our poor, our elderly. It was fashionable again to be self-centered, to have the best of everything. Credit cards made this all possible for the working class as well. Mortgages were easy to come by no matter your circumstance. And best of all, corporate welfare, white collar crime, became acceptable. The workers in this country were once again looked down upon. No one was going to look out for you. It was considered a "hand out". Not so with the rich. If they didn't receive a hand out, the country would fall apart. That's what everyone was told.
The reality is that greed and stupidity killed this country. A country our own parents and grandparents built. For us. And we blew it all up to smithereens. Again.
For this our ancestors traveled thousands of miles with nothing to sustain them except a dream for their children. That's the only thing that kept them going. Unfortunately as we grew up, dreams no longer mattered. It just wasn't enough. Not by a long shot. We used cheap labor and outsourced jobs. Our manufacturing cities became desolate. Add to that, the talking point that public educations aren't worth a damn. Since when? They are the best educations, IF properly funded.
We as a country created this catastrophe and looked the other way while it was happening. As long as people were making millions, no one cared. And the GOP think they have the answers? By doing what exactly?
Nothing. Except finding someone else to blame but themselves. Never taking responsibility. Just like they've always done. Character. Where has it gone?
John Boehner, you go right ahead and help the wealthy. What makes anyone possibly think you care about anyone else in this country?
btw, is Rahm Emmanuel a Democrat still? He sure doesn't sound like one.
Pat, that is one of the best pieces of writing I've read on this topic. Please post it again, time and again before November.
We need to be constantly reminded of how far we came and how far we have fallen, in but a few short years.
For now, the Gordon Gekkos of the world have won, it will in the end be a hollow victory.
Excellent post, Pat. I agree with Gingerbread Mamma--please post this again.
As for Rahm Emmanuel--He's still a democrat but I think his frustration speaks before his brain kicks in at times. He needs some of Pres Obama's temperament.
Let me agree.. shall we.... fabulous piece Pat...
wait till Nov...Yikes!
From that right wing nut at the Cook Report...
"Unemployment has been above 9 percent for 15 consecutive months, and that number is significantly higher among African Americans, Hispanics and young people, the groups that boosted Democratic fortunes in 2008.
"The race-by-race outlook confirms the dire forecasts. Cook Political Report House Editor David Wasserman points out that at this point, 32 Democratic incumbents are running even or behind their Republican challengers in one or more public or private polls. At this point in 2006, when Republicans lost control of Congress, only 11 GOP incumbents were running even or behind."
meaningless...
haha big deal, so what! It's just spin, the democrats are going to hold the house in November. We may even GAIN a few seats...wait did I say a few seats, I meant 10 or more. We will defeat the MSM and their lies with FACTS!
It's just awful how they started out telling the truth about how President Obama was incredibly popular and everyone believed in him and trusted him and now it's just lies they get from polls that don't mean anything...that's the real reason so many candidates don't want him in their state or district. Polls that don't mean anything, Oh and of course the lies too and the utter lack of information that many voters sadly have. Not to mention that Sara whatshername is so dumb she BELIEVES she's so popular that she can go right out and endorse people-like they would win. Let's see how that works out lol...she has very low information and just about all of it is lies that we have to expose and correct every day. She can see russia from her house and can't read unless it's on her hand, and those are FACTS and really high information.
She's dumb haha!
and...you know,maybe unemployment ISN'T so high, I mean that is kind of like a poll too, right?
maybe all of my unemployed friends really have jobs and they are just brainwashed by fox news into BELIEVING that they're out of work, even if they don't watch that channel. We know they possess the power of hypnosis, right through the tv, even if you're reading a book, which is how they make you into a low-information voter, then you're voting for your own destruction because they want to destroy the country and the middle class because all they want are unemployed rich people with low information and most of that is lies we have to correct every day so the republicans are really in trouble. I read here somewhere that they're eating their own (btw-did you know that there are 3 different words that sound the same; there, their and they're, but mean something different and you're supposed to use the proper one or some bs like that?) so maybe they will eat each other up by November and then we will win even bigger. So don't believe the lies, fill up on information, fired up and ready to go!
No Offense...
Have a great Labor day weekend
Hope EVERYONE who needs one has a job to to come back to on Tuesday!
no worries, dangerfield. Obama has another plan.
This plan will absolutely work as well as the last plan-if you define 'work' as, spend a lot of (borrowed) money, because the calculations show that it will decrease unemployment.
When that does not happen, explain that you simply did not spend enough (borrowed) money-so the solution is to spend more (borrowed) money.
You see where this is going, do you not?
If you needed any more evidence that Obama has no clue how to proceed with the economy, you have only to read his remarks in defense of his calling this the Summer of Recovery.
Ah, well-have a great three day weekend.
No Joe... You are a total bummer... Doom and Gloom 24/7... Doesn't it get old in your world?
Pat, Boston, MA
I'm with you and Fiesty. I think it would be great for us to continue toward moving this country forward and get a change to meet each other.
__________________________________________________________
dangerfield
I read here somewhere that they're eating their own (btw-did you know that there are 3 different words that sound the same; there, their and they're, but mean something different and you're supposed to use the proper one or some bs like that?) so maybe they will eat each other up by November and then we will win even bigger. So don't believe the lies, fill up on information, fired up and ready to go!
I also know some people think Labor Day means the day a child is born.
Everyone have a great Labor Day weekend anyhow, not matter what you are celebrating.
Dangerfield, peace brother
I can't wait for November. We need to take back America from the left wing idealogues that don't have a clue about how to govern. Joe Wilson only spoke the truth when he said "You Lie." That is what the left does.