It has been only a few days since the election and already we are seeing the Republican/Tea Party eating their own. Both Palin and Bachman appear to have been thrown under the Bus and now they are going after Scott Brown for 2012. I tell ya, these guys have neither shame nor loyalty.

New report that 151,000 new private sector jobs adding in October. That makes about 1.4 Million – 3.5 Million jobs saved and another 750,000 new added.

Today is November 5, 2010, 732 days to 2012 elections and “Yes – America is watching”

I can’t help but question why after:

Losing 3000 lives to the attacks of 911…

4000+ American lives that have been lost in Iraq thanks to a war we were LIED into…

The slaughter of 100’s of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians…

Ignoring the Geneva Convention and bringing torture back into vogue…

The lack of response to the victims of Hurricane Katrina…

The near destruction of our economy…

George W. Bush’s believes the WORST moment of his Presidency was when he was dissed by Kenye West!

What a shining example of conservatism… They don’t care how many lives are lost or forever changed as long as their feelings aren’t hurt!

On a positive note… good to get some encouraging news with the October jobs report.

Gridlock 101

President Obama will extend an olive branch, but it will not be accepted. In the next two years the country will see who is putting country first and who is putting party first. Saying NO, being angry, and avoiding compromise is what I expect to see, but it is not a governing principle.

Jerry Brown and Harry Reid - the new faces of the Democratic party!

Feisty;

Great post to end the week. President Obama is now addressing the Jobs and for 10 consecutive months we have been in the black. Yes America, our President Obama is creating jobs, slowly but positive.

Any bets that any job bill that comes from the republican/tea part will look similar to what our President has proposed over the last 2 years that the republicans have opposed? They will re-package his ideas and present them as their own, just like they did in the Pledge to America on Health Care where they took seven existing features from HCR and tried to pass them off as their own.

McConnell is going to spend a big portion of his time trying to repeal Health Care Reform knowing this is an uphill battle. Why? because he is going to use this as a diversion to direct people away from their promise to improve the economy. Anything they can do to keep us in this hole, is what they are going to do.

and "Yes - America is Watching".

Fellow Travelers:

Holy smokes! The left-wingers are already sounding as nasty as the right-wingers were prior to the election. Get over it, we have to move on. All of us. The polls are closed, and we should already be absorbing some facts - facts we cannot and must not forget.

First, the Republicans have already disavowed their primary campaign plank - the sacred, the hallowed, the holy grail, "The Balanced Budget". A balanced budget was an impossibility, yet G.O.P. leadership touted this nonsense, day after day after day. Now, they have embarrassed their defenders, the voters who believed them. The Republicans - pure deficit hawks that they are - will raise the debt ceiling, just as they always have, even while they tell their followers that they hate deficits.

They encourage their defenders and supporters to constantly attack President Obama. Didn't he know it was about "....the economy stupid!"? Didn't he know it was about "jobs, jobs, jobs."?

So what's the first thing the Republicans do? From Boehner - No compromise and we're going to repeal health care. Hey John, it's the economy, stupid! It's about jobs, jobs, jobs. From McConnell - We're going to make Obama a one-term President. Hey Mitch, it's the economy, stupid! It's about jobs, jobs, jobs. Yeah? Well Republicans, you've been jobbed.

This should be a lesson for Democrats AND Republicans. The repeal of Obama's landmark health care legislation is not going to happen. The argument that this legislation is behind the descent into further debt is absolutely false. Here are the facts from Kaiser, the pioneer in health insurance and health care delivery systems. Please look at this: http://www.kaiseredu.org/Issue-Modules/US-Health-Care-Costs/Background-Brief.aspx.

If Republicans have cause to be embarrassed, so do Democrats. They couldn't be bothered to vote. The youngsters stayed home. Well, youngsters, here's the reason I think you need a good slap upside your thick skulls.

When I was 18, we had a draft and we had no vote. All healthy males aged 18-1/2 could be drafted to go to a garden spot called Viet Nam to fight for a cause that even today no one can rationally explain. More than 58,000 U.S. troops died in this inexplicable "foreign entanglement", and hundreds of thousands more were scarred forever, physically and mentally. That's where I learned that the information that comes from the government is not always true.

Young ladies, consider this. Less than a century ago women could not vote at all. Then you got the right to vote at 18 at the same time young men did, barely 40 years ago. LESS than 40 years ago, the Supreme Court ruled in Roe vs. Wade that you were more than mere chattel. Today, there is a very powerful group of citizens who wish to reduce you to incubators with legs.

And boys and girls - YOU can't be bothered to vote.

We have two years to stop with this insane partisanship and mindless identity politics and sort out this mess. Let's stick to facts. If there are errors in my post, point them out. I hate being wrong. If what I write runs counter to what you believe and you cannot prove me wrong, perhaps you should re-consider you position.

The people who run our government ARE NOT going to do what needs to be done. WE HAVE TO FIX THIS.

"Obama agenda: a failure to sell"

I couldn't have said it better, First Read.

And look at the toll that agenda took on the Democratic Party:

64 seats lost in the House, dozens of incumbent Democratic Representatives gone; the Republicans lost 3 House seats...and only 2 incumbents.

In the Senate, Democrats lost 6 seats, including incumbent Senators Feingold and Lincoln; Republicans held all of their seats, including the open seats left by retiring GOP Senators. Counting Scott Brown, Republicans have gained 7 Senate seats since President Obama was elected.

Then there's the state houses and state legislatures that switched control from Democrat to Republican.

What a rebuke...a stinging, unambiguous rejection of President Obama and the Democratic Party at all levels of government.

As Charles Krauthammer wrote in today's Washington Post, "...this wasn't an election so much as a restraining order."

Great post to end the week. President Obama is now addressing the Jobs and for 10 consecutive months we have been in the black. Yes America, our President Obama is creating jobs, slowly but positive

Thanks Retired... I was listening when President Obama said that and couldn't help but smile!

Can't wait to hear the righties spin this! With the usual But... But... But... Who knows maybe they'll continue with urban legend about the Presidents trip to Mumbai to try to take some of the heat off! lol

And I couldn't agree more with your observations as to what the Republicans are up to... ;0)

David Walker

So what's the first thing the Republicans do? From Boehner - No compromise and we're going to repeal health care. Hey John, it's the economy, stupid! It's about jobs, jobs, jobs. From McConnell - We're going to make Obama a one-term President. Hey Mitch, it's the economy, stupid! It's about jobs, jobs, jobs. Yeah? Well Republicans, you've been jobbed.

I don't think we're going to hear the "where are the jobs?" refrain from Boehner and McConnell very often. They're going to be too busy figuring out how to destroy the president and win the 2012 election. It doesn't seem to have occurred to them that maybe a good way to win the election might be to show they can govern responsibly and cooperate with Obama to get legislation passed that might actually add some jobs jobs jobs. (The 150,000 jobs added to the economy last month without any GOP help at all are good news that the Republicans don't seem to want to talk about.)

David Walker---on the worst day imaginable the folks on the left couldn't sound as nasty as the right-wingers. Just read the posts from both sides on the day after the election. As disappointed as we were, we all congratulated the winners and wished them well. What we got back (other than from a very few) were insults towards us, President Obama and candidates who waged tough campaigns. And since---no optimism, no hope from them---just continued criticism of everything Obama has ever done and how they are going to undo it.

Yes, the economy has been improving steadily, but Republicans have been hard selling the idea it isn't the case. According to the Institute of Supply Management factory production has been up for 13 consecutive months, the economy as a whole has been expanding for 15. Surface trade among the NAFTA nations was up over 25% in August Year Over Year. http://www.ttnews.com/articles/basetemplate.aspx?storyid=25512&utm_source=alert&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=newsletter

Unfortunately Morgan Stanley predicts the recovery to continue to be sluggish, like the 1991 and 2001 recessions. That's a result of 3 decades thinking Conservatives are some sort of economic geniuses when reality shows the opposite. One thing will change some time during January, however. Conservatives will begin trumpeting a recovery that they claim isn't happening now. They'll be anxious to take credit for it and pump up the sluggish recovery of an economy they destroyed.

All you MSNBC fans - LEAN FORWARD, this won't hurt a bit.

The jobs picture this month is exactly related to the fact that everyone thought the Republicans would make great gains. You will see that the country is back on the right path. The voting is over so GET OVER IT. Where have I heard that before?

This is a repeat of a post I blogged elsewhere on the 'Vine, seems to fit here:

Michelle Bachmann warned apparent House Leader John Boehner that she and her Tea Party colleagues expect a place at the leadership table and a commitment to their ideological agenda. She and others in her coterie pledged no compromise - all their positions must be embraced by the GOP and achieved.

What we see in this report is the unfolding of what some call "the politics of disaffection." One minority group, united by either practical or ideological opinions, is disaffected with the establishment and manages to place representatives of their views into the government structure - and then, obstruct, delay and harrass, interrupt proceedings, and attempt to cause as much havoc as possible in order to force attention to their agenda.

This was the tactic adopted by the Irish Republicans in the early 1900's, in the British Parliament. It was the tactic followed by the Dixiecrats in the 1940's after the war. And, although after 1994 in the majority in the Congress, it was still the method employed by Newt Gingrich and the Republicans from 1992 forward.

In general, the record shows this approach to politics does not achieve success, but it may advance some elements of the agenda of the disaffected. It served to achieve women's suffrage in both the United Kingdom and the United States. It served to impose Prohibition in the United States. It retarded meaningful progress on Civil Rights in the U.S. until the Supreme Court broke the logjam in 1954.

Some of the ideological positions of the Tea Party have virtually no chance of success. Statistically, it was not the Tea Party per se that handed the GOP so many victories, but the over-65 vote - at 23% of the total national turnout, a significant factor. While some of those voters most assuredly had to be adherents to the Tea Party movement, many were not. It appears that the self-identified "Tea Party" backers add up to about a 32-35% share of the electorate, and while that percentage may be marginally higher among seniors, it also means that the majority of older voters are NOT allied with the movement.

Now set that statistical insight against the Tea Party program - is it really possible that major cuts in programs serving seniors, chiefly Social Security and Medicare, can possibly get through Congress? That will not happen as long as the GOP leadership recognizes the importance of the senior vote.

Nor is it likely that despite rigid insistence, the Health Insurance Reform measures will appreciably be altered, apart from a few provisions on which the White House and Democrats may agree. Nor is it at all possible that rollback of financial regulatory reforms will occur, any more than the Tea Party ideologues are going to cut or eliminate several departs of government - Environmental Protection Agency, OSHA, Energy, Education, and Commerce.

Under the doctrine of the politics of disaffection, Tea Party officeholders would turn to disruption and loud, perhaps almost violent, confrontations once their leading agenda elements are balked. To avoid this, the Republican leadership might be well-advised to look toward early legislative efforts on which cooperation with their newly-minted allies and some Democrats is more probable. One of those issues is immigration.

An early success in immigration reform, even measures which do not satisfy everyone (particularly the most hard-line opponents of immigration of any kind), gives the GOP considerably more prestige and authority. Another potential area could be an initiative which transforms some remaining economic stimulus plans into a more urgent support for private industry to keep rather than chop employment and to add new workers even in advance of additional economic growth. Remember, exit polling on election day placed the economy, and in specific, jobs, as the voters' number one issue - Health Insurance Refom was very far down the list in both importance and statiscal significance.

Unless some such advance thinking about how to score early and well with important legislative measures is applied by the Republican leadership, the country may be tortured by the passionate and disaffected ideologues of the Tea Party. And the lessons of history are plain: For the most part, a prolonged tantrum by the disaffected does not produce what they consider "victory." It simply makes a mess of everything.

Yesterday, a conservative poster listed the big achievements of previous republican presidents naming Lincoln, TR Roosevelt, Eisenhower. Yes, they achieved major, historic goals from the intercontinental railroad, the National Park system, the interstate highway system--all were progressive thinkers. But none of the poster's listed achievements named any recent republican president that invested in America--none. Ronald Reagan did nothing toward advancing infrastructure programs, he actually spent less on it than Nixon, Ford. Reagan focused on a massive defense build up and spent billions on Star Wars; yes, that created jobs in the defense industry but it did nothing for the country beyond that. Europeans began installing high speed rail to connect cities, towns and countries; we must fly to get somewhere in a reasonable period of time and in doing so, miss the beauty of this land and a connection to it.

China, India are investing heavily in their infrastructure but republicans believe Government should not be involved in such things so cut taxes and let corporations do it. Impossible, corporations do not have the capital to build high speed rail from coast to coast, city to city without government assistance. If a party does not believe government has a role in advancing new opportunities, then America will continue to fall behind, continue to have failing and aging infrastructure; we will fail to re-ignite a new age of manufacturing and improving America. I am not saying that republicans have no love of country and do not blame them entirely but the GOP has done a wonderful job convincing the American people that tax cuts solve every problem--the party's ideology works against the good ideas they as individual have.

Houston:

You hit it right on the head. The exit polls said that the economy was the number one most important issue. So far all we are seeing from the republican/tea party is McConnell and his rant about repealing Health Care Reform, keeping the tax cuts for the richest 2% (holding the taxcuts for the other 98% effectively hostage) and subpoenas. The last thing the will talk about is the economy, because they do not have a plan. They spent 8 years in destroying the economy and now they are in a position to do it again. President Obama has tried to move this forward, and yes the economy is showing positive gains even with the obstructionism from the right.

What will the republican/tea party do for the economy? I have no idea, if they know they are not telling. I bet it will look very similar to what our President has been trying to do the last two years. They will try to copy his infrastructure bill, change a word here and there and claim it is their idea, etc.

I believe their "Pledge to America" will not be worth the paper it is printed on. Time will tell and "Yes - America is Watching" - The republican/tea party has the ball and we are watching to see what they do with it. Will it be a touch down or more likely will they punt?????

USN, they won't say because their IS NO GOAL other than to achieve single party rule by Republicans. Conservatives are treating this as a win at all costs, ends justify the means struggle to make sure the American two party system becomes the American one party system. For them this is a fight to the death and it is short sighted of the Left to think the Right shares any of our egalitarian, democratic values of fairness and belief in the ability to build a better society.

John A: Excellent well thought-out post. Politic of Disaffection is an excellent description of what is happening today. I also enjoyed the historical perspective showing it is not a new strategy.

America voted LOUD and CLEAR for Republicans to STOP the communist OBAMAGENDA

Now the Liar-in-Chief is trying to SPIN the results as a mandate for Republicans to COOPERATE?

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahah

Obama and his handlers are SO out of touch with reality to need cure themselves with lots and lots of blue and red pills

According to Obama BETTER for Grandma than corrective surgery

Isn't it obvious the Kool Aid isn't working any more?

The political storm that swept through the country in 2008 was out of the ordinary. Did the democrats really think they could see the same turnout they did in 2008? Most will call me a racist, but the big turnout was because there was an African-American running for president.

Now I've voted in every election since eligible (2000) and I had friends who only voted in 2008 because they wanted to help the first black man become president. Most of them couldn't tell you who the mayor of our city was and had no idea of what stance then Senator Obama took on issues, but they were excited to be part of the group the elected the first African-American. You can bet that at these mid-terms, they didn't vote, and are not likely to vote again.

I know Secretary of State Clinton said she is not interested in running again for president, but I would be willing to bet that she would have a better chance at getting elected in 2012 than President Obama. They see eye to eye on most issues, but you would see the younger generation out voting again to help the first woman get elected.

I may be wrong, but that is the impression I got from my small little city back in 2008. Maybe it's much different elsewhere.

Well, here's the 'Vine's own screechowl, Madison. Take a look at both my and others' posts above that recite the statistics and opinions of voters as the left the polls on Tuesday.

Nope, NO "mandate" to "stop the Obamagenda" as you put it.

I trow, Madison, all of your posts TWIST facts so they end up looking like those railroad ties Sherman's army left behind during their march through Georgia.

Loius J

Well the sensational story of “Republithugs Continue to Sit Back and Doing Nothing Sensational” continues on Friday November 5, 2010.

I was thinking that same exact thing. 3 days later and still no solutions are being put forth apart from getting rid of the AA man in the Oval. They [Republithugs] are in ere. It's all about jobs; Republithugs just don't get it.

That makes about 1.4 Million – 3.5 Million jobs saved and another 750,000 new added.

Those mythical jobs saved would be ... what? Rainbow inspectors? Unicorn ranchers? The "jobs saved" numbers has been so disproved by media outlets, I can't believe anyone still has the gall to quote it.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/01/farewell-saved-or-created-obama-administration-changes-the-counting-of-stimulus-jobs.html

I have tried, Jeff, over and over, to explain that these are theoretical jobs shown on a graph of jobs that should be saved or created by government spending.

They continue to chant "the stimulus worked". I guess they got tired of 'yes we can'.

I am just so excited that the republicans have finally won. Just think what is going to happen next.

I will not have to pay any taxes any more. neither State nor Federal. After all, cutting taxes grows the economy, so if I don't have to pay any, just think how much this economy is going to grow. I think I will start my own private police and fire department!! Hey, you won't mind paying for my crew to put out your small fire will you? Charge by the mile? Charge by the amount of water to be used? How about charge 2 million dollars a hour just to show up and then cash to actually put water on it. I love free enterprise.

Then I have this really stinky, messy and toxic plant that I have been unable to get built any place. Would putting it at the head waters of any major river so I can discharge directly into those waters to get rid of the toxic stuff be enough to prove that I need no regulations?

I have been thinking also about all this marriage bit. I am so tired of seeing people get married that do not match my perfect ideals of a couple. I think that a constitutional law should be passed that prohibits the marriage between 2 people if they are greater than 2 years, 4 months apart in age; more than 4 inches apart in height; and lets think about the correct hair color combination (hummmmmm, I will have to ponder this a little longer).

Then lets get going on health care reform. Those poor insurance companies forced to cover people. They really should just be allowed to pick and chose who they collect money from yearly, and then not pay anything out. I mean really, those company CEO's can not make money if they have to pay a hospital bill for one of their members who had the audacity to get sick or run over by a car. Those darn people should have to be immediately expelled from their roles the minute a claim is made. Gosh, how is that poor insurance company supposed to have any money??

Does this sound really stupid and ridiculous? I hope that you can agree that these ideas are crazy. I can come up with many more crazy ideas that just take what our newly elected leaders have said just a little farther than many of the ideas that I have heard coming from our "leaders".

I has been 3 days since the country elected the republicans....WHERE ARE ALL THE JOBS?

I have been saying for 2 years on here that the GOP leadership is incompetent. I see they are proving me right every day.

Two days after the election - TWO DAYS - we are seeing the 'real' GOP agenda. It is PAYBACK, pure and simple. The GOP leadership are vindictive bums.

How do I surmise it is payback?

-- We have Sen McConnell wanting to 'make President Obama a 1-term president. Gee, Mitch, I thought that reducing the deficit and jobs was the most important thing that the electorate was empowering you to do.

-- We have Sen. Mc Connell and Rep. Boehner wanting to 'repeal and replace the Health Care Law'. Gee, gentlemen, I thought that the electorate empowered you to produce JOBS and cut the deficit.

-- We have Rep Issa PROMISING to investigate the Obama Administration, and will spend millions of dollars on those investigations. Gee, Rep. Issa, wouldn't that money be better spent reducing the deficit? How many JOBS could be generated from that money? We wouldn't be WASTING taxpayer dollars, would we?

Nah.

So, GOP leadership, where are the Jobs? What is the PLAN to help CREATE Jobs in our recovering economy?

What's that?

NO PLAN?

It looks like the American electorate got snookered.

Again.

There is a mandate to stop the Obama agenda. The libs lost 60 seats in the house. The biggest loss by either party ever. You had Dems running against their own party. Russ Feingold got clobbered and Obummer's seat went to a Republican. You guys can go stick your head in the sand and talk among yourselves about how there is no mandate to stop Obama but that is not the way the people voted. MSNBC is also delusional - they put PA in the leans Democrat column when the Gov just switched to Repub in a big way and the Senate race went Repub. The state houses the Repubs increased their margins. The only Dem left is a freshman Senator who is up in 2 years and only won last time because of his father's name. Robert Casey, Jr is in big trouble already because he voted straight down the Harry Reid line which will get him fired. Ohio as a toss-up - MSNBC - did you see who won the Gov and Senate races? These big states are Red right now and nothing Obama is doing is going to turn them Blue. Its too bad that Hillary keeps saying she won't take on Obama in 2012 - we might actually have 2 decent candidates to choose from if she ran.

Louis,

You would have the media NOT write about the mid-terms this week??? They call that "killing the messenger".

How about we send some of the out of work construction people to Haiti and completely retool their infrastructure. Theres jobs, and practice for the retooling of our infrastructure, though that won't happen until the president wants another $50B on top of the $50B he wanted a month ago and the $28 allocated last year. At any rate, jobs is jobs right?

I has been 3 days since the country elected the republicans....WHERE ARE ALL THE JOBS?

Asked and answered.

Private employers hired 159,000 workers, while governments at all levels shed only 8,000 jobs.”

You left out the most important lesson our politicans SHOULD have learned by now. They work FOR us . . . not themselves, not their political party. They don't do the job they were hired to do . . . then it's way too easy to fire them. It's time our politicians get their acts together . . . or else.

People get ticked off at the Republicans and we swing the pendulum to the Democrats.

Now we are ticked at the Democratic agenda, and we are swinging back to the Republicans.

People, get out there and vote for some moderate politicians! Quite voting along party lines and get the best people up there, or else we will never change anything.

Yes, we need business stimulus (conservative). Yes, we need taxes (liberal). Yes, we need to protect nature (liberal). Yes, we need to be able to defend ourselves (conservative). You can achieve it all, but it won't be easy, it won't be quick, and every voter will complain about it so much that nothing will get done.

The liberal scare-mongers are out in full force. Like Obama said 2 years ago, we had an election, we won. Deal with it.

So yes, the #1 priority is to make Obama a 1 term President. You keep taxes as low as possible, you repeal everything you can regarding the healthcare bill, BECAUSE IT'S DAMAGING THE ECONOMY among other things.

I love the "The Republicans have no plan" - sooooo, the Democrats did?

And the "saved jobs" thing - god that's hilarious. Obama made up a saying that was 100% unprovable (as all the major economists have confirmed) it's pure politi-speak - and those of you with fairly empty heads just keep regurgitating the same nonsense.

How can this election be seen as anything but a repudiation of the agenda and policy of the 111th Congress and the Obama Administration? Can any liberal say that this was a clear signal to continue to move the country in a direction that over 60% of the country sees as wrong? It would also be a mistake for the Republicans to think of this as a mandate of any kind other than to stop the current agenda.

The national swing of the independents was 18%. The Democrats have lost the middle and created a vocal opposition in the Tea Party. All self inflicted with a hard left California style of a Utopian Nanny State. While hard working (those lucky enough to be working) families make the hard decisions on how to spend every penny, what can we do without so that we can pay down our debt, the Feds continued to apply for more credit cards and max them out in a matter of seconds. If it will cost a $1.50 to repay the $1 we borrowed the voters must demand at least $1 worth of value. Accountability is the new watch word regardless of party.

Trust is earned over time...Bush lost our trust...Obama never earned it.

Or more likely Conservatives are working hard to create a narrative supporting a mandate for change, when in reality the election was a referendum on the economy. Put the pieces together--1) the President's party virtually ALWAYS loses seats during the midterm of his first term. 2) The party in power almost never has a third gain, which this would be after the '06 and '08 drubbings the Republicans took. 3) The party in power is guaranteed to lose big when the economy is bad. Add that to Democratic mismanagement of the campaign and vast anonymous donations to Republican attack ads, you have the recipe for a beat down.

Marcos - so if you were so upset with the Dems, why vote for GOPers that HAVE NO PLAN?

I could see - and possibly support - a change if someone was to present a plan as to what they wanted to do. This 'repeal Obamacare' mantra is, well, silly. What plans would the GOP put forth to help America? Since you believe the President Obama didn't do the job, and that is your right, then who is going to?

We have had NO PLAN at all on how the GOP is going to promote job growth, infrastructure repair or deficit reduction otherthan the 'cut taxes' routine which we KNOW does not work (we have 8 years of practice with that).

What gets me is that many people voted GOP this round as a repudiation of the Dems, and the Dems DESERVED to be repudiated in many cases. It is obvious that many did not think about what they were replacing the Dems with.

It's like someone saying to you 'I can fly that airplane' over and over and when you hand them the keys, they don't know how to operate the yoke or rudder pedals when they are in the plane. Then, when they do manage to start the plane, they try to make left and right turns with the yoke.

Anyone on that plane will get killed if the plane got off the ground.

If 'trust is earned over time' and 'Bush lost our trust', and 'Obama never earned it', you are going to trust the people that enabled the one (Bush) that LOST our trust?

What kind of logic is that?

"It sure didn't take long for the Republicans to show their hand. Senator McConnell says his number one priority is to defeat President Obama in 2012. Now why would he say that? President Obama just said he was willing to reach out to Republicans." Great post!

To me that statement by McConnell is so telling about the priorities of the Republicans. This is all about winning a game and nothing about leadership and governance. It's all about the score and managing the plays to come out ahead. For what purpose is that? Frankly, it angers me.

For God's sake! Republicans show some real leadership for a change. Leadership that is focused on this American society. And not, on interests that run counter to the interests of, "We the People"

Don't start your tenure with targeting Obama. That's NOT constructive. And, it's a waste of time that takes you away from the priorities of the country. Especially, after he's stated he want to work together to get things done. Focus on governing well first! That means, in our current set up, working multilaterally. It's only after you've done a good job that you can say it's time to compete for the executive branch. And, I would expect that Obama will also do a good job. I wouldn't expect him to make it easy for you. But, that's the nature of our system.

As far as a Republican plan goes the empty rhetoric will come to an end on January 1st then the rubber will meet the road they will no longer just be able to say No. For me it is enough that they will not continue with the Agenda of the 111th Congress and this Administration. Neither of these parties have proven that they can fly a plane but we must pick a pilot from amongst them.

I live in Alaska I was lucky enough to have a third choice and I took it. McAdams the democrat was inexperienced and Joe Miller unfit. I am a center right independent and Lisa will represent me for the most part. I hope she tells Mr. Demint to kiss her A@#.

I find it hard to believe that in a country the size of ours that Obama/McCain was the best we could do. I would have loved a chance to vote for Evan Bayh but alas I am forced choose the lesser of two evils. A novice or a dinosaur.

The one true thing this election should prove Candidates do Matter.

Fair enough, Marcos. I am glad you had a 3rd choice.

A few things I wish the strategists and pundits would drill down on:

1) Independents. I believe the number of Americans registering as Independent has grown, especially at the end of the Bush/Cheney administration. Please do some research to see who these new registrants are? Because my hypothesis is these are unhappy Republicans, and though they are no longer affiliated by registration, like the Tea Party they came from the GOP tent and will continue to vote Republican. Some have registered Libertarian as well, but to a lesser extent.

Therefore, to say that these folks are "moderates" is incorrect, as well as the erroneous cause and effect that Independents are fickle and are now leaning to the right. If the Tea Party was a real party, we would see many of these folks register accordingly. If this is the case, the "middle" is not a problem as you claim.

2) Monetary Influence. It's nice to see that riches did not buy votes. Or did it? Campaign ads funded by undisclosed right-wing groups did have an effect.

3) Messaging. I think the Obama/Dem message was just fine. It just wasn't heard. The FOX "news" ratings support my case. The 24-hour cable news is a recent phenomenon, but FOX is a big part of that, particularly the increase in OpEd commentators (Glenn Beck), that viewers mistake for factual journalism.

Also, other technology such as viral Email and websites (NewsMax, WorldNetDaily Drudge) have since joined in with Hate Radio (Limbaugh, Savage). The viral Email is the worst. It is proliferate and origin is impossible to determine. Right-wing books are proliferate too--Murdock and his cronies are controlling the media. We have a large population now that tunes out anything that does not reaffirm their world view.

4) Anti-intellectualism Movement. This is related to the messaging problem. People who are anti-science are unlikely to know basic research methodology, in particular what a credible source is. So when these people receive a viral Email, it doesn't occur to them to verify claims made, or perhaps not even know how. Unfortunately some are willfully ignorant, in that that don't want to be exposed to facts and truth if it doesn't reaffirm their world view.

Also related to the anti-intellectualism movement is candidate preference. Those who want someone like themselves, rather than someone who has impressive merits, is very odd. Even they are expected to have education and experience on their resume to get a good job. You'd think they'd set a higher bar for the leader of the free world.

They do not, so the Sarah Palins, Rand Pauls, Christine O'Donnells continue to garner their support as was shown for Joe the Unlicensed Plumber on Welfare. Lord help our country.

Hey Teabaggers and other Republicans stop being such liars! Let’s look at the Truth and you Washington Republicans said you will listen to all the people---NOW HEAR THIS:

1) In 1st world countries America is the only country that has Health Insurance and Hospitals as a profit, for the Country Elite pigs.

Facts: America health care is number 40th in the World, meaning most other 1st world countries have better healthcare, plus America Healthcare cost are more than 3 time as costly as the nearest other 1st world country, PLUS meds in America cost nearly 4 times more for the same units when purchase at drug stores.

A new Associated Press poll of voters over the last few weeks has 36 percent of voters who say they want to revise Obama’s Healthcare law to make even bigger changes to the health care system and 15 percent said they would leave the overhaul unchanged. That’s totaled 51% who say: DO NOT REPEAL IT.

And only 37 percent of votes said they want to repeal it, mostly Teabaggers and far right wing-nuts and the Elites...

It's the Republican cry for health care repeal that is going against the will of the people, the same GOP with the Contact that said they will listen and govern to the will of the people-------SEE they lied already for their Masters and the hell to the will of we the people.!

Also look at Canada who weather the last 10 years as the most envied economy and country in the World--- A new Nov 2010 nationwide survey of Canadians has ranked the introduction of Universal Health Care well ahead of all the Wars on a list of the most important events in Canada’s History.

2) The USA has the 2nd lowest total real Elite & Corporate tax rate in all 1st World countries!!! And only 2nd by less than 1%, but the USA has better & greater roads, rail, sea and 200+% lower gas and electric cost than number 1…!!!!!

Plus over 55% of we the people say remove Republicans tax cuts for the Rich, including fund managers and CEO type that real income are taxed as Capital Gains.

3) American wages are lower than 75% of all 1st world countries once you take-out the CEO type, plus Americans work longer hours with less time-off and with lower pensions and poorer health coverage for 70% of all Working Americans.

But America has the greatest number and riches Elites in the Worlds, the top 1/3 of 1% of Americans. The top 1% income being 1200 times more than the average American—see the problem---Now 80% of all income goes to the top 2%, who are tax at a real tax rate that is a lot lower than if that income when to the middleclass. This is why are tax dollars are falling and people and country are more poorer, even with the GNP going-up!

4) GOP voters, have you ever learn about supply and demand. YOU CAN REDUCE CORPORATE TAXES TO ZERO BUT IF NO ONE HAS THE CASH TO BUY THEIR PRODUCTS THEY WILL NEVER EMPLOY MORE WORKERS.

Lower salaries, pensions and lower health insurance coverage for Americans means less employment---get-it-fools!!---less money for most to buy more products & services!

We the people say no more special tax breaks for Corporation unless they are for adding more businesses in America and have a net increase in Employees plus good pay/bennies.

5) Republicans are for more corporate profits by moving jobs oversea to 3rd Worlds, reducing Americans salaries, reducing workers pensions and healthcare insurance and reducing SS, Medicare and other support needs.

In addition, Spending more than the total cost of the next 20 largest countries added together on Military to support the Elites holdings worldwide---including the combine cost of China, Russia, England, France, German, Spain, Japan, Korea, Brazil, India totaled together. These are the cost that needs to be reduced Big-Time!

9/11 happened with a GOP President, and Control of Washington---Note: that they increased military cost before 9/11 and the Government was told in advance of an attack, yet zero was done!

Now if you take out Trust Funds for the Federal Budget, such as SS and Medicare, you would see that out of all income to the Feds such as income tax, fees, import tax, gas tax and 100s of others that over 50% of these funds and most debt spending go to Military related items to support the Elites World-Wide Holdings, PLUS the Blood of our Children—not the blood of the Elites. These are the items that spending needs to be reduce big-time!

6) The GOP and its teabaggers are liars and have been giving out lies by the 1000s in support of their Rich Elite Masters, but most Teabaggers are to brain wash/dead to know it...

7) 70% of Americas total debt is due to the GOP, including to date!!!!!!

8) If are Founding Father were alive today they would be calling for Americans to get their gun and end this Military world power Government and pull most of our boys back to America at once and stop giving $100s of Billions to other countries and spending on Embassies. We stand for We the People of the USA and that includes the Elites fighting on the ground in wars hand to hand with the poor boys like they did—All for America.

You people who lied and voted for these pigs can live in hell---most will!

Hey, true patriot?

All of those things you are kvetching about the "right" having - Fox News, websites, talk radio, advocacy groups, etc etc etc....

The LEFT has had for years. You're just pissed you don't have the corner on the market anymore.

As for independents, get over your "drilling down" and accept the fact that this country is center-right. The "drilling down" (Rick Sanchez, is that you?) has already been done, by a decades-old, well respected polling firm called Gallup, who does that "drilling" every two years. I'm sure you've heard of them.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/141032/2010-conservatives-outnumber-moderates-liberals.aspx

Yes, conservatives outnumber liberals 2 to 1. And get over yourself attempting to define for everyone else what moderate actually means. What it meant on Tuesday is a rejection of far-left liberalism, and finally the center and right have the same tools to combat liberalism as the left has had for much longer to try to shout down conservatism.

Here's what's happened, okay? You guys have been browbeating this center right country for a couple decades, trying to convince everyone that YOU'RE right, that the US sucks, that people should work hard so they can be taxed to pay for people who refuse to do the same and that saying someone is "handicapped" is somehow insulting - so lets call it "differently abled". In other words, politically correct bullcrap. You've called us every nasty name in the book when we refuse to go along with you, and because most people in this country are NOT rabid left-wing douche bags, we were shocked and intimidated by your vitriol and went along. You and your leadership DEMAND tolerance, but have NONE for people that don't agree with you, and call them racists, bigots, homophobes, haters, stupid, astroturf, etc etc etc.

WE'RE NOT DOING IT ANYMORE. You are the MINORITY, and the majority is DONE bending over and grabbing it's ankles for you, GET IT?

You're a sore loser. Get some vaseline.

Happysocialist, I've reported you for spamming that bogus list on every single vine.

Just like in 1941 the socialist have awoke the real American people. Now the midterms are over obomacare cost start to kick in (except for unions until 2017 and wavier weazels

happysocialist:

90 points parroted from Barhetoric Hussein Obull$hit.

Nice party-line puppeteering.

Cult of Personality @ #1.19:

The political storm that swept through the country in 2008 was out of the ordinary. Did the democrats really think they could see the same turnout they did in 2008? Most will call me a racist, but the big turnout was because there was an African-American running for president.

You were the one who mentioned it. Did you ever study any psycology or sociology? Just like in Texas Hold 'em, you can figure out who has a hot hand because they "tell" you with their body language....in this case you just wrote it down so it was really easy to figure you out.

I suspect more than most will think you are leaning against racial equality....probably everyone except other racists.

I also suspect we have a much better use of our time than to consider you and your views of anything.

Good luck being bitter down the road.

happysocialist @ #1.46:

You forgot the ending..............MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

@ John Miller - Wow. Where do you get your facts. Understand your unhappiness with the election results but several of your claims lack credibility. Every two years we get a chance to change the direction of the congress. The Democrats will get another chance in two years.

@ happysocialist - Don't know how to say this kindly. You need to tone it down a notch.

PTAF, first of all 42% to 35% is NOT 2 to 1. You're caught in a lie. Again.

Secondly, happysocialist addresses the issue of "communication" with a list of the accomplishments of the WH. You flag him. Thanks for outing yourself as a member of the collapse crowd.

Thirdly, you finish your post with a personal attack on the poster. Classy move.

You've outed yourself as a partisan troll. Now there's no longer any point in continuing to treat you as someone seeking an honest dialogue. Thanks for that.

Partial retraction, the chart attached to the Gallup poll didn't load properly the first time. Your right on the proportions, but at 43% Conservatives are still a MINORITY in the political world. You're also misleading us with some important aspects of the numbers. 70% of Republicans describe themselves as Conservative while only 34% of Democrats describe themselves as Liberal. That automatically skews the numbers. It also highlights how ideologically rigid the Right has become. The REAL middle party is the Democratic Party, not the GOP. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/morning-fix/-1-2-3-9.html http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2008/12/pew_more_democrats_now_describ.asp

I stand by my troll accusation.

McConnell said they will support what the people want. Hmm...

Polls show most Americans support tax cuts for all but the richest 2% (a compromise that would result in 98% of Americans keeping their tax cuts, which seems like a very good thing).

Even health care reform is split about 50/50. So completely repealing the bill would not be representing half the country, many of whom wanted single payer.

Most Americans (like 100%) want job creation. Most want cooperation not gridlock, most don't like negative ads, etc. If McConnell/Boehner continue to play to the Tea Party extremists in their base, they will not "earn back trust" of the American people.

Where was the news on progress before the Dems were tossed out? It was always there, it just wasn't reported by the FOX Political Organization and their Hate Radio affilitates. Conspiracy theories are what you find in the right-wing Echo Chamber (viral Emails, Drudge, etc.). Liberals fact check. Try it sometime.

Let's not forget that if we continue the Bush tax cuts for earnings below $250,000 EVERYONE gets a tax cut. That includes the top 2%. The only difference is that the top 2% won't get the MAJORITY of the benefit.

I'd say that's a pretty strong statement as far as who backs the regular guy (Democrats) and who's in it for the very wealthy (Republicans).

If they're lies how 'bout you disprove some of them?

The public has spoken! However, what makes them think that things aren't going back business as usual, if not worse than before???! You thought there was gridlock for the last 2 years, well get ready for government at a level of constipation thats never been experienced. The "joe public" has just voted progress into the toilet. I guess stupidity wins again. 8 years of Bush buffoonery just wasn't enough. Some people just continue to step in CRAP no matter how many times you tell them to look out for it. GOP....Champion of the gullible!

John Edwards was right - there are two Americas. And looking at the electoral map, the Democrats are strong in two regions, the West coast and the northern East coasts, and really in only two states, California and New York. There is a small island of support for the Democrats in the Midwest in Illinois and Minnesota, but that seems to be shrinking. Is it any wonder these three states (not clear where Minnesota is financially) are so far in debt, have the highest state taxes in country, and are so corrupt?

You could easily drive across the southern US from Arizona to the Carolina's, and not drive through a district represented by a Democrat.

One year ago, the liberal news rags were saying the Republicans were the "Regional party". Care to try again on that prediction Libs?

Looks like the real regional party is , well, the Democrats.

Californians may not have legalized marijuana, but they must be high on SOMETHING, given that the state is circling the drain, and their response is to go into denial and elect governor Moonbeam.

New York? Mario's little boy is a political hack who ignored his responsibility as Attorney General, (Rangel should have been prosecuted on the STATE offense of holding four rent controlled apartments, an open and shut violation of the law), but I guess his opponent was too far out there, which is the fault of the republican party in that state, who could not draft decent opposition to either Gillibrand or Schumer.

So, what have democrats got? A handful of states on the coasts? Sure sounds regional to me.

But Joe Mr. Boehner and Mr McConnell have already told us this week that the election wasn't about jobs at all didn't you hear. First priority now is going to be repeal of health care reform. Didn't all of you'll rascals just spend a whole year telling us what a BIG mistake that the President made by focusing on health care instead of putting folks back to work. Are we going to be treated to an encore Summer of "Kill Granny and Death Panels" while we all try to subsist on turnips and beans or what?

I beg to differ, Colorado voted in a Democratic Govenor, democratic state senate and house, and democratic US Senator.

I'm just curious if the Republicans that post here alot are REALLY in support of the Tea Party. I consider myself an Independent, I used to be Republican, and now I probably lean more Democrat, but I know when I was a Republican there is NO WAY I would have voted for Rand Paul, Sharon Angle, or Ken Buck.

I would really like to know your opinion about these candidate's platforms because they are NOT Republican platforms...

Steven, Highlands Ranch,CO - I apologize, you are correct, Colorado too is a Blue state, in a sea of Red.

And now that the good guys have cleaned their clock, they suddenly want to work together.

Obama: "I want us to talk substantively about how we can move the American people's agenda forward."

HA! Obama is not engaging with his plebian political counterparts because of some newly discovered spirit of patriotic fellowship. To the contrary, this man is a wounded president who is being forced by circumstance to reach out to the political opposition because it's the ONLY way he can possibly get anything done. Unlike, say, during the HCR mess when the consequences of the preceding election provided Democrats with all the rationale they needed to shut Republicans out of the process and ram that monstrosity through.

McConnell: "If the administration wants cooperation, it will have to begin to move in our direction."

You betcha. If the president is seriously interested in compromise, he'll first have to get past the shocking new reality that Republicans are in the position of dictating the terms of that compromise. Because if he thinks moving the country forward means staying on the left fork of the road, there will be no compromise. Republicans will then advance the interests of the country by stopping the Obama agenda in its tracks -- a hugely worthy goal that no leftist will ever understand, in either this life or any that may follow.

More McConnell: "By sticking together in principled opposition to policies we viewed as harmful, we made it perfectly clear to the American people where we stood. And we gave voters a real choice on Election Day."

Exactly. The disciplined, unified opposition to policies the Republicans (and most Americans) viewed as harmful was quite impressive. That opposition drew a clear line in the sand, and all the world can see which side of the line the Republicans are on. And all the world can also see which side the country voted for. So harmful policies will be stopped, whether the president deigns to "compromise" or not.

So, what have democrats got? A handful of states on the coasts? Sure sounds regional to me.

...and a majority in the Senate.

John Raese (WV), Sharron Angle (NV), Christine O'Donnell (DE), Dino Rossi (WA), Carly Fiorina (CA), Ken Buck (CO), Linda McMahon (CT)

I just rattled of 6 states where the GOP could have (and in some cases, should have) picked up victories. You win 4 of those races and you've got a GOP majority in the Senate. But that didn't happen, did it?

So, you know what I learned this week?

CANDIDATES STILL MATTER

Apology accepted :) Yes, we are surrounded by red thats for sure!

JoAnnaSmith1..........Interistingly, the democrats are strong mostly in the states that send more money to Washington than they get back ! Most of the "red" states are on welfare from Washington, paid for by New York, Connecticut, California and a few others !

I just rattled of 6 states...

Yeah, it's actually 7 states I named...you get the idea.

"But Joe Mr. Boehner and Mr McConnell have already told us this week that the election wasn't about jobs at all didn't you hear. First priority now is going to be repeal of health care reform"

_____________________________

That is a job creating move in that it will make small business hiring less costly and will remove a major uncertainty that has been hindering hiring since early 2009. Just knowing that the lefty liberal agenda of Barry/Pelosi/Reid is dead in its tracks is enough to get the economy moving ahead.

Ironic that Bill supports his argument that it is Democrats who have been ostructionist with the statement;

If the president is seriously interested in compromise, he'll first have to get past the shocking new reality that Republicans are in the position of dictating the terms of that compromise

Republicans have been doing that for nearly 2 years already with filibusters and holds and every other parliamentary procedure available. But it's still the Democrats who are the obstructionists.

Spin, spin, spin. No matter, the American people are watching now. They demand immediate results that the Republicans claimed they would bring.

How 'ya gonna do that?

This election actually showed me that most people are NOT political partisans. Maine re-elected two Democratic House members by large margins, AND sent more Republicans to the state senate AND elected a Tea Party conservative as governor. Chew on that.

I think the red state/blue state mentality is media hype. Voters are hungry for competent officeholders. It's not ideological. Sure, there are activists on either side, and they have their agendas, but most Americans just want a representative who implement policies that will get results. I think we get a skewed view of the electorate by reading so much political punditry. The country is not as partisan as the media portrays it.

Joe old friend that sounds so good when you say it. However having spent several meetings last month on behalf of my employer who has done what good business men do and had his Lawyer,Accountant, and Insurance Rep advise him on the future I have been shown where my company is going to be able to meet requirements, take advantage of some tax breaks and make everybody happy by not reducing anybodies coverage and actually save some operating Capital for next year. Kind of shows what Business can do if they look forward to moving themselves ahead instead of sitting back doing the same old things the same old ways. All you have to do is be willing to set down at the table and examine the facts instead of the speculation.

This sturm and drang about NY and CA contributing so much more than they get back is so monotonous and top-line shallow, it's a joke.

Of COURSE they contribute more, they have nearly 20% of the ENTIRE population of the country in them, AND the highest per capita income average (ergo, higher taxes paid) AND the entertainment industry and Wall Street on virtual lockdown - along with the taxes those industries pay. I know you people like to THINK that Wall Street pays nothing, but the state of NY was in the hurtbag after the collapse of '07 and '08, because of all the lost tax revenue more than anything else. What do the idiot Democrats in NY do? RAISE spending! Yes, that's right, RAISE spending and taxes.

Compare that to a state like North Dakota, for instance. 650k people - IN THE ENTIRE STATE, not even 1/2 the population of the island of Manhattan, 1.6 million. Median income = $47k. Median in Manhattan? $188k. Now consider how much Federally-funded activity occurs in ND, that is NOT "welfare" in nature, versus NY. ND has two SAC bases and until disarmament, would have been the third largest nuclear power in the world had it succeeded. There are also several Indian reservations, and large national parks. When you consider ALL that Federal activity, the $ 1.4 billion in Federal funding that goes into ND doesn't seem like all that much. Then consider the $45 billion that goes into NY. Per capita, ranks AHEAD of North Dakota but in total dollars receives more than 25x the money.

Of course you can hide behind a top-line look at tax dollars out versus tax dollars in and claim that the blue states are "donor" states. But that is actually false, when you open your eyes just a little wider.

Maybe FEMA should be a program that gets cut. Why should I have to pay taxes to suppport states that get hit by hurricanes, floods and tornados? If people are so willing to live there, they should have to personally accept the risks involved. Let the people accept responsibility for natural disasters, not the government. If we think each day of something that does not affect us personally, and then promote that being cut, we can get the national budget down to $0 in no time.

Hey, it's Friday and no one should be serious on Friday......just dream of those Friday night drinks that are waiting at the local watering hole. I am ready for a large pitcher of drinks :)

MM - JoAnnaSmith1..........Interistingly, the democrats are strong mostly in the states that send more money to Washington than they get back ! Most of the "red" states are on welfare from Washington, paid for by New York, Connecticut, California and a few others !

Well, maybe those Democrats should keep some of that money they are sending in to Washington and pay off their own states debt.

Pragmatic,

You practically MAKE my argument for me that we need to consolidate some REPRESENTATION in government. Like add a few extra Senators in the TWO STATES PROVIDING THE FUNDING.

I know, Republicans will gasp, "You can't cut OUR welfare! Cut someone else's!" They never see the irony in what it means to CUT GOVERNMENT. (Corporations say the same, "Bail US out! Not Americans, we OWN you Beathces cuz WE HOLD the JOBS and the POWER!"

I'm paraphrasing, of course, but you really hate when we point out how adept the 'sea of red' is at sucking the welfare teat. It just pisses you off to have it pointed out to you!

John -- The new reality is the Republicans are in the catbird seat, and if the president wants to compromise he will have to deal with them on their terms. Period. No reasonable person would interpret those words as implying that Democrats are "obstructionists." But folks like you prove day after day around here that you are not reasonable. Which is only one of the many reasons your leftist ideology has no chance of ever gaining widespread support in this country.

But it's reasonable to expect hundreds of duly elected representatives of the people of the United States -- including the President -- to just roll over and do what the new majority in ONE house of Congress wants?

If that were true then by the same logic the Republicans should have just rolled over and complied with Democratic wishes for the last two years. Democrats, if you'll recall, held both houses of Congress and the White House. Even before that Conservatives are fond of pointing out that Democrats held both houses of Congress for the last part of the Bush Administration. Should President Bush have just bought a fresh ink pad for his rubber stamp because the people have spoken?

I think most Conservatives would say no, they should have done exactly as they did. So don't whine when Democrats don't just get out of the way. What are Republicans going to do to make government work? Just telling us we have no choice isn't an option. We have a choice, and we'll exercise that choice.

Me First Bill- two words for you, pal, when the people REALLY have had enough (or, actually, DON'T have enough....):

The Romanovs.

Teapartiers/republicans/conservatives don't seem to believe that the people who voted for the Democrats are Americans too. Almost every post I have seen by one of the above referenced ideologies has been essentially "nananananana-we won, now you gotta do what we say". No, you apparently didn't pick up on the fact that even in the areas that are "red", there are alot of people who are Democrats-and our voice counts too! I am sick and tired of the rants from the right that are nothing but attacks-no substance. I have a young niece that dropped out of school, has had 3 abortions, works part time and she and her husband rant about all of "them" (and we know who "they" are) that won't work and take her money, how much of a communist Obama is, etc. (We all know one or two), BUT when their young child was ill and in the hospital for 6 months, guess who had no problem screwing the tax payer for the millions of dollars in healthcare bills they had by lying to the hospital about them being married so she could have the bills paid by Medicaid. This is the mentality of so many of the right. Just b!+#$ about all of "them" with no answer except cut taxes. There are millions of Americans who want to make this country strong again and just cutting taxes and expecting private enterprise to fill in the gap are not answers. Our infrastructure is falling apart, are best and brightest are being killed in a lost cause war, many people seem to think they got theirs and the rest of you can go to hell, the President is accused of all manner of BS and now they are talking about investigations?-of what?

We are in real trouble here and half the country either refuses to see it, doesn't care or is so afraid of the changing world they just want to throw temper tantrums instead of trying to find answers. I wasn't pleased over the way the healthcare law was done-but the Party of No gave them no other choice except to pass it the way it was or offer nothing at all.

It is time for the Republicans to put up or shut up. I want to see real answers about what we are going to do to strengthen our country. I don't want to hear about how we need to shrink government-you are, in general, disingenous about that anyway. You only want to shrink what doesn't fit in your little minds. How about some shrinkage of minding the business of women? How about shrinking the govt. when it comes to who marries who? What about shrinking the govt. by taking away all those huge subsidies we pay agribusiness (not small farmers) and big oil? What about shrinking the govt. by disallowing private "contractors" from screwing over our military so they can slop at the govt. trough. There are plenty of problems to be taken care of , so stop with the crap and get to work.

Oh, and the jobs....if "business was waiting to see the outcome of the election" before hiring, then shame on them. Letting all these people suffer so your bottom line can get better is the epitome of selfishness.

Hope everyone has a good weekend . . . thankfully I have been away for a few days . . . had a field trip with one daughter yesterday . . . and unfortunately my other daughter is sick today. . . I have to say . . . not reading all the hateful, nonsensical and highly political postings here is good for the soul!

That said, I'll be back at it bright and early on Monday! :o)

Very well written Betty L, you've expressed what many of us feel. When Democrats win they aren't entitled to lead. When Democrats lose they're required to get out of the way. When Conservatives take a seat with so much as 50% + 1 vote then the remaining 50% - 1 vote have no voice in matters.

This is FUNNY!!!!!

From Politico:

Olbermann suspended after donating to Dems
By: Simmi Aujla
November 5, 2010 06:00 AM EDT

MSNBC host Keith Olbermann has been suspended indefinitely without pay after POLITICO reported that he made three campaign contributions to Democratic candidates.

MSNBC President Phil Griffin said in a statement Friday: “I became aware of Keith's political contributions late last night. Mindful of NBC News policy and standards, I have suspended him indefinitely without pay."

Olbermann made campaign contributions to two Arizona members of Congress and failed Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway ahead of Tuesday’s election.

Olbermann, who acknowledged the contributions in a statement to POLITICO, made the maximum legal donations of $2,400 apiece to Conway and to Arizona Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords. He donated to the Arizona pair on Oct. 28 — the same day that Grijalva appeared as a guest on Olbermann’s “Countdown” show.

NBC has a rule against employees contributing to political campaigns, and a wide range of news organizations prohibit political contributions — considering it a breach of journalistic independence to contribute to the candidates they cover.

NBC has a rule against employees contributing to political campaigns, and a wide range of news organizations prohibit political contributions — considering it a breach of journalistic independence to contribute to the candidates they cover

Now that's some funny stuff Minnow Joe...

So let me see if I understand this...

NBC has rules against employees contributing to political campaigns... YET... what you're saying is that it's perfectly alright for Fox to cut out the middle man and allow the the owner to directly contribute 2 MILLION to the Republican Governors Association...

Dude you sure got some effed up morals...

"YET... what you're saying is that it's perfectly alright for Fox to cut out the middle man and allow the the owner to directly contribute 2 MILLION to the Republican Governors Association... "

Nasty Redhead: could you please show me where I said anything even close to that, other than in your imaginary world??

Nasty, you sure got some effed up imagination.

Joe in Albany

This is FUNNY!!!!!

If the Republicans fail to focus on the economy and jobs as the #1 priority they will be punished in 2012.

We can not afford another 9 month discussion of Health Care again. Parts of this legislation need worked on as admitted on both sides and should be done in the course of the 112th Congress and just like Obama said as he ran for election that he would pass health care the Republicans ran on repealing it so they will have to make some effort to do what they say.

As far as McConnell goes he must also make jobs/economy #1. As far as the pledge to make the President a one timer that is his job...he is the opposition and feels that with this President in office he will be unable to forward the agenda his party wants to put forward and the country now expects more from the Republicans than just say NO. They have until January to come up with a plan and put it forward for all to see and judge.

They have until January to come up with a plan and put it forward for all to see and judge.

Marcos1120 - don't you think it would have made more sense to have them prepare and presenttheir plan BEFORE we voted them into office? Why are we so willing to repudiate President Obama and the Dems with a group that has NO PLAN?

Now we are 'hoping' that these guys 'change' their nature and 'come up with' something that will benefit the American people?

That's kinda like closing the barn door after all the horses are out, don't you think?

First you must pass the bill to see what is in it!

My vote was to stop the agenda that the democrats were running on and end one party domination of the House and the White House.

Marcos, I can see the logic of your vote, and you voted according to your beliefs. I am OK with that. What I cannot see is people 'hoping' that the GOP 'does the right thing'. They have a track record of raising deficits and taking money out of the economy to fight unjust wars... and these guys are going to CHANGE to do the right thing?

Good luck with that.

Clara, if you think the presence of military installations - intentionally placed where they are because of low population density, trajectories over the north pole into Russia and other strategic reasons qualifies as "sucking at the government tit", you might want to try having that conversation with one of the farmers in the midwest who have nuclear missle silos in the middle of their fields - to this day.

Or take it up with the Native American Indians, and tell THEM to get off the government tit. Here's a link to a map with all the reservations and lookit that - mostly "red" states.

http://www.nps.gov/history/nagpra/documents/resmap.htm

Or tell it to the millions of people that go to the national parks that are in so many of the low population states, ie Yellowstone, Glacier, Teddy Roosevelt, etc etc etc. Better shut them down, and get those states off the government tit - so we can feed, clothe, educate and provide medical treatment for MORE illegal aliens in CA, right?

OR, you could try to wrap your mind around statistical analysis that completely debunks your whining about red state/blue state. PS, of the tens of billions that go into the blue states, how many billions of that are for TRUE tit programs - like welfare, medicaid, food stamps, HUD, etc, versus what you claim are tit programs - that aren't. Defense, in fact, is a Constitutionally mandated function of the Federal Government.

Finally, I'm sure you assume I live in a red state. I don't. I live in NY, one of if not THE highest taxed states in the country, that spends THE highest amount of money per capita on TRUE "tit" programs and one of the donor states you're whinging about.

http://www.ppinys.org/reports/jtf/welfarespending.htm

There are more people LITERALLY sucking at the government tit in this state than the populations of several red states combined. The state has NOTHING to show for their constant drain on the economy, and the liberals in Albany keep circling the wagons to make sure they stay impoverished and voting Democratic.

Sorry. You will FAIL, every single time, at convincing me that defense, national parks and native American indian services are sucking at the government tit - and welfare isn't.

Another thing about the last election and the Democrats Keep Moving Forward slogan as a large majority ran hard fast and far from what they had already passed. If what they did was so great they should have been re elected easily and instead they were cast out in droves even the moderates who were given a pass by the speaker to vote against.

Hmm red states sucking the government teet.... lets see if the government paid taxes on all that land it administrates ( remember the land still belongs to the states and is a taxable asset) in stead of paying a set payment inleu of taxes ( pilt payments for those that dont live in states that get them) im sure any "red "state that does have a deficit wouldnt , I know the last time I checked , that Wyoming , red as hell and 2 steps from the center of there is budgetarily in the black , not because its red or blue , but because they take those funds and spend them wisely and only when needed , not on whims and fancies . I wonder what the property taxes on yellowstone are worth with the revenue it generates and being that particular park is mostly in Wyoming , i smell an Alaskan sized citizen payment deal if the state forwent PILT for property taxes ...... I can think of no better insentive to get abalanced budget in place in any state.

President Obama has not been interested in compromise in the past. He pretended to listen to Republican ideas and then summarily dismissed them. The next two years will be very interesting. We can only work to get our ideas heard, then come election time vote out the politicians both dem and rep that didn't listen. Its time for liberals to understand that they are NOT the majority in this country. Independants influence the election more than any other political group, they are the people that must be listened to.

Poor analysis is just that, poor analysis.

Beverly in Chicago..THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING THESE VOTES.

I can't think of anyone I would vote for more. Each and every one of those votes were in the best interest of the American people. Thank you John Boehner!!!

Janet. President Obama has repeatedly reached out to republicans and their answer was always NO. You can continue to say he hasn't, but that doesn't make it true.

It's only possible to fool people for just so long, and already it's obvious to almost half the voters that Republicans have been stalling, preventing the nation from moving forward. They've done it from a comfy chair where they can sit and disingenuously claim "we're the minority, it's not our job to put forth any solutions."

Now Conservatives have the majority in one house of Congress and claim a mandate to make over the country. They're using it to continue stalling, obstructing, and refusing to compromise. Won't work, the comfy chair is now a hot seat.

What are they going to do to move us forward?

So cutting deals in backrooms is now considered reaching out. I'll give you the healthcare meeting they had, at which every idea the republicans had was dismissed. Please someone educate me why tort reform is such a bad idea? Of course there are times when a doctor deserves to have his "pants sued off", but not every single time an honest error is made. Lawsuits are part of the reason healthcare is so high. So why can't that even be addressed? Why can't healthcare be sold against state lines, if that were to be implemented with some of the regulations already in place it could be successful. These are ideas the republicans had, and then the president dismissed them and repeatedly said the republicans had no worthy ideas.

John B...I will take a No vote any day as opposed to taking a Yes vote that is bad for America. I applaud each and every representative that voted NO on the Health Care Spending bill. I hope they repeal it as a first order of business. "They" (the progressives) don't have a constitutional right to mandate that every American MUST buy "government approved" health care or be heavily fined for not doing so. If your progressives want to change the Constitution, bring forth an amendment...good luck on that one!

janet-489369

Please someone educate me why tort reform is such a bad idea? Of course there are times when a doctor deserves to have his "pants sued off", but not every single time an honest error is made.

When a person gets a tiny fraction of what the damages to their bodies and livelihoods is, it is a BFD!

Bev:

Dontcha love the sound of Governor Pat Quinn? lol

Senator Mark Kirk - sounds sweet.

Feisty

Don't you love "lean forward - this won't hurt a bit" You guys lost, get over it. We will have another election some day.

Feisty,

My father, who lives in southern Illinois, like to call him "another democratic dumb@ss from Chicago"

I just noticed he was a tax attorney. Maybe he can turn around the mess that other Chicagoan (Blago) made.

yeah compromise ,what would the president compromise on ? have the republicans came up with something new or change the way things were going that got us into this mess ? no they look at this as a football game[ just win no matter what the cost] and the democrats need to look at there tactics and play not on defence but offense .MR OBAMA PLEASE find a democrat that can be your warrior and go after Carl Rowe like a bull dog and be as relentless as he , day in day out,keep Carl Rowe in the news show him for what he really is. things will change for the better.Carl Rowe is the leader of the republican party . the democrats need to play tougher not a weaker [ sorry to say game]

Beverly,

I was hoping for an intelligent answer about why TORT reform is a bad idea. Your answer is obviously is like any other you provide to anyone asking an honest question. You always have a smart ass answer which is never intelligent.

Your answer is obviously is like any other you provide to anyone asking an honest question

HUH? And you always have a smart ass comment which is NEVER coherent! I am proud that you finally figured out how that spell checker thingy works though because I got to be honest it was painful to watch! ;0)

Hey Janet... Why NO mention today about President Obama's trip to Mumbai? You were ALL over that the other day right next to the other factually challenged right wingers around here...

I know hon... the facts do tend to sting a bit...

I think that tort reform is a good thing to do. Why should lawyers profit off the suffering of patients? Then again, why should CEO's profit off the sick? They are tied in together and tort reform SHOULD have been in the bill. So rather than repealing the entire bill, FIX it and add in tort reform. Those commercials on TV from the lawyer's "If you have used >>> and are experiencing }}}} then you may have a claim" . That is pure ambulance chasing.

You obviuosly have me confused with someone else. I never made a comment about the trip to India. I researched it and discoved it was not a true story. Something you would never attemp to do. You only spout democratic talking points, which show your lack of intelligence every day.

GO KIRK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Really Janet... then could you explain your comment below from YESTERDAY @ 8:40 on Thursday November 4th?

Now I'll give you a little tip hon... the first rule of blogging is NEVER try to LIE your way out of something. Because you will get BUSTED every time!

Put on your big girl panties and admit your mistake and move on... because once you've been proven to be a liar it's difficult to take ANY THING you might say in the future as credible!

janet-489369

Yes, the president does deserve to go on vacations. But I think what people are questioning is the fact that he is taking a thousand friends with him. They are flying on government flts and aren't entitled to do that. Is there a reasons his friend couldn't have just met them in India? For goodness sakes the people are taking up 40 gov planes. As long as the friends are paying the inflated gov prices for the flt, their entire hotel bill, food, and entertainment expenses who cares? They probably could have bought commercial tickets much much cheaper.

• #2.11 - Thu Nov 4, 2010 8:40 AM CDT

Now what were you saying again about a LACK of intelligence?

I don't care what it costs bozObama to go to Mumbai. And I'll pay for his one-way ticket if he'll stay there.

Janet-489369 – you asked “why TORT reform is a bad idea?”

According to the Amendments 1, 5, and 14 of the US Constitution

Amendment 1 guarantees the right to all citizens and aliens “to petition the Government for a redress (e.g. to set right, remedy, rectify, or to make amends for satisfaction for wrongs done or for reparation) of grievances article 1 To set right, remedy or rectify. 2. To make amends for. n. 1. Satisfaction for wrong done; reparation

Amendments 5 and 14 guarantees the right to all citizens, aliens, and corporations to not “be deprived (e.g. to take something away from or be divested) of life, liberty, or property, without due process “. A process is considered "due" only if it accords with judicially ascertained principles of liberty and justice.of law. Tort Reform is such a process.

I assume you are referring to Tort Reform in relation to the Health Care Reform (HCR) bill passed by the 111^th congress I further assume you question why some limitation on dollar amounts of remedies were not negotiated to help keep the cost of health insurance down.

If assumptions are correct, If the quality of my life were ever deprived or diminished by a proven faulty or improper medical procedure, I cannot conceive of any monetary value that would be sufficient to redeem the wholeness of me. The idea that anyone or anything else could predetermine an equitable monetary value is ludicrous. However, by the preponderance of the evidence by a jury of peers and their rendered verdict, I would be satisfied to accept that redress to be sufficient to force those responsible for the injury to improve its processes by which no one else should needlessly suffer.

If not already addressed in the new HCR legislation, the health care industry would be better served to use the same dollars to improve the automation and coding of medical records for accessibility by panels of specialists for review and approvals of recommended procedures. This would save the need for each specialist to have to request same procedures and test and pass the extra cost to the insurance premium payers.

Bev;

Great points, there are another additional 400+ Bills you could have added to that list that the republicans have stalled in the Senate like the extension of the ARRA that is still creating jobs today as reported by MSNBC and others.

The Tea Party did not stand as a seperate Party. They did not raise their own money etc. They were and are the old right wing conservatives just repackages under another name. They took the same money from the "Special Interest Groups" and others just as did the republicans. That is why I refer to them as the republican/tea party. That is in fact what they are.

Should be interesting as time unfolds as to how much influence they will have. Bachman is trying to push her way into power along with Palin and the word is the republicans are blocking this. I wonder if the Tea Party has figured out yet that the republicans used them for their own political gain.

Time will tell.

Great post, IR---loved your story although I'm not sure it is fair to poodles.

I do think political parties go through periods where they decide what values they represent and what their positions are and we are watching the Republicans decide how conservative they are and how much room for difference they have. I gave up any right to say anything about that when I left the Republican party but I will say that no one ever contacted me about why I left or whether I would consider a return.

Great way to end the week, IR. You're a terrific story teller who adds a moral.

I'd say the republican party itself is a lot like the beagle turned poodle. They tell people they believe in the Constitution but plan to change it, that tax cuts work, that they'll cut spending to reduce the deficit but they can't reduce the deficit with tax cuts for 2% of the richest because they can't find equivalent spending cuts to cover it; the dye washes off the beagle and we find poodle.

I left the republican party, too, and no one from it ever asked me why.

Great story IR, love it. Regarding this comment from USN;

Great points, there are another additional 400+ Bills you could have added to that list that the republicans have stalled in the Senate like the extension of the ARRA that is still creating jobs today as reported by MSNBC and others.

The dye job is off the Conservative Movement in general and the Republican Party in particular. Standing there screaming about Democrats being the obstructionists in the face of that is like a kid, covered in chocolate, pointing at his brother and crying "He ate the candy!!"

Great story!

In the end whether the Tea Party is the beagle or a poodle does not really matter. Either way the dog is sick and mad with rabbies and needs to be put down.

No if I was going to use a dog analogy to describe the stupid teabaggers I would have to refer to them as the infamous legendary breed none as the SOONER...

AS in just as SOON sh!t inside on the floor than outside...

Pirate's Life for Me

No if I was going to use a dog analogy to describe the stupid teabaggers I would have to refer to them as the infamous legendary breed none as the SOONER...

AS in just as SOON sh!t inside on the floor than outside...

That is really good analogy. Especially, since the news is the darling Scott Brown is no longer the flavor of the month. That brownie is being challenged by the Tea Baggers. They no longer want the brownie with their weak tea.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Feisty,

Yes, Gov Quinn sounds good just like Governors Brown and Patrick.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

True American-2366567

Beverly, you keep organizing up and the rest of us will put this country back on track.

BTW...you must have missed my post #3.3. What exactly is wrong with these votes specifically?

• Voted NO on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending. (Jul 2009)
• Voted YES on $40B in reduced federal overall spending. (Dec 2005)
• Voted NO on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package. (Feb 2009)
• Voted NO on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy. (Sep 2008)

You do realize that government money is not monopoly money, don't you? Those of us that actually pay taxes don't like the government throwing our good money after bad. Unless you have never had an economics class, you should realize that spending your way out of debt DOESN'T WORK! You must also realize that those B's stand for Billions of TAX PAYERS dollars.

Do you realize money that is a stimulus for the top 2% of America is a monopoly. They do take and do not give back to US. They have loopholes which allows them to ship their earnings to the Cayman Islands etc. Nor do they create jobs anymore as they luxuriate with their ill-gotten goods somewhere in the world; seeking to exploit even more so. The jobs they create go off shore where sweat factories work for less than a dollar. How is that helping US?

If No money is put into the treasury for jobs in infrastructure, & energy for bridges, roads and disasters it is just not there. So your premise is a bad course for your Econ 101 if people working contribute but money going in is"≠" to money going out.

Btw: Every one pays taxes. What is plan to fix infrastructure?

IR, that right there made my day.

All I want to see hough is all the hound dogs in congress face up to what they are, and ork together as equals.... you know? A pack unified is so much more effective then a pack divided.

That goes for citizens too. Be a TP, a R, or a D, but be a citizen first. Don't badmouth your leader, his (or eventually her) life is far more difficult than you can understand and it doesn't mater what side they came from, they will do what they feel is best for the people. If you disagree, tough. Write your rep and SPEAK UP!!!!

nice

Good morning Pat, Boston, MA

"I don't care about the Far-Right. They're just crazy ignorant Neanderthals. It's the way the beltway and the mainstream treats this president that is shocking.

Excellent post and comment Pat,

But, tea baggers get offended of being called tea bagger, a name they gave themselves. They're not offended to tote signs of the President of the United States with a bone in his nose?

We've moving forward in Massachusetts and Illinois. We have our progressive governors. We must keep moving forward and support our governors and President. I liked the post you gave about disgruntles wanting 15 minutes before the cameras.

"We've moving forward in Massachusetts and Illinois."

Yes, Massachusetts and Illinois. Add California.

The fake American states evidently. lol

Good Morning Pat; TGIF,

If that report was not so sad it would have been funny. Rachael had a great show last night about the total lack of fact checking on the right. The only facts they check are the ones that they agree upon. SO if republican A says something that is all republican B needs to claim it as true. Makes absolutely no difference if republican A lied, the fact that he/she said it now makes it a fact.

The media is totallly responsible for this crap, whether it be republican/tea party or democrats. True journalist check and re-check their facts. Political Pundits just throw sh!t out and see what sticks. They then claim that it is up to the AMerican people to figure out what is true or not. How in the he!! do you do that when you have no idea what out there is facts because nobody checks anything??? Just does not make any sense.

This is going to get worst over the next 2 years. More lies boulder than the one before it, rhetoric with no solutions. You name it we are going to see it and all Americans will loose until will start demanding the truth, ask the hard questions and demand an answer.

We let too many get away this election cycle without knowing what they really stand for or what their agenda really is.

There is a reason why the republican/tea party is not be straight with the American people. When the truth comes out about whatever the real agenda is, I bet most Americans will be pissed, claim they did not vote for that, etc. But too late, we did not do our homework, we did not get out and vote and now the bill is coming due.

Yes, Massachusetts and Illinois. Add California.

The fake American states evidently. lol

More like the deepest in debt. Also, don't forget New York. The four of them together have the highest state taxes in the country. Progressive indeed.

Excellent points Pat & Bev!

Below is a time line of the evolution of the term tea bagger!

Feb. 27, 2009
At the first anti-stimulus "New American Tea Party" rally in Washington D.C., a protestor carries a sign reading "Tea Bag the Liberal Dems before they Tea Bag You!!" The Washington Independent's David Weigel calls it "the best sign I saw."

March 2
Americans for Prosperity, an anti-tax group, is one of the first Tea Party organizations to advocate sending tea bags to elected officials to protest the stimulus package. Several other lobby groups follow suit.

April 1
Several Tea Party protest sites encourage readers to "Tea bag the fools in DC." Jay Nordlinger at National Review Online later admits: "Conservatives started [using the term]... but others ran and ran with it."

http://theweek.com/article/index/202620/the-evolution-of-the-word-tea-bagger

SORRY they get NO do over! They chose it... and now their stuck with it! lol

US Navy, I found that people up here in MA are genuinely impressed with Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O'Donnell (they have always loved Keith Olbermann's work) and what they're trying to bring to America - The Facts - Not Just Stupid Irresponsible Immature Lazy Spin. And I noticed the past few nights with Adam Green and Michael Moore and Al Sharpton - three individuals who are just trying to get the facts to the American people - to wake them up. But the President Obama haters don't care about facts. The media? They'll just go with whatever the GOP nuts give them. These people can't govern. They have never governed.

And now they're going to be in important positions in DC. It's mind boggling that our Nation has let this happen.

P.S. - I did have quite a laugh out loud moment with Rachel last night when she was speaking about Michele Bachman's United States Census Internment Camps. And the other night when she talked about finding a dead man who votes according to the Republicans- turns out they didn't have to exhume him - he was raking his leaves. lol

Excellent post, Pat, great way to end the week.

I wonder why every day. I am proud, extremely proud,of President Obama and nothing the perveyors of contempt and hate can say will ever change my mind. I read the conservative posters and know they have no individual thoughts but merely repeat the lies they are told and with every comment, they prove Freddy Angstmann to be correct. What is sad is that too many in the media seem unable and unwilling to hold the republicans feet to the fire for the untruths they speak daily.

Jody, I honestly don't know what to say about our media. The one part of our social fabric that we need to be honest. And they're not. Mind boggling to see since the advent of cable just how Americans think.

They are truly ignorant. And yes, racist. Big time. They all treat him like he has nothing better to do than hold everyone's hand. We have no idea what he goes through behind the scenes. He's not a whiner. He's an adult. The only adult in the room.

He's attempting to govern an ungovernable nation. And someone really needs to tell that idiot Mitch McConnell that he is not the Majority Leader.

When you can convince a Nation that we have to go into Iraq, then all bets are off. They let the right wing war mongers do their thinking for them. And the rich.

All in the name of patriotism and religion. It's been going on for centuries.

Feisty, words can't describe how much I detest these people. We are NOT the unAmerican ones. If we were, we wouldn't be speaking out.

I have yet to see anyone apologize to President Obama for those signs and lies. It's not in their genes to apologize. But they will. When they're about 80 years old. Just like has happened to SOME KKK members. And old WWII war criminals. SOME.

They get old and they cry and wonder how they could have been so cruel while on this planet.

When are people going to take joy out of life? Why all the hate?

I have lost so many family members in recent years. They will never see the sun come up again; they will never see the snow fall. Ever again. They will never again enjoy our lakes and oceans and parks. Or listen to a beautiful song. Or enjoy Autumn.

When are people going to start understanding - we're all different in background, cultures, geography. But we're all worth something together as a Nation.

As one voice. They're not interested. They would rather spend their days hating. And lying. About everything.

What a waste.

Here we go again. The last time I heard that the nation was ungovernable, Jimmy Carter was president. Pretty appropriate, considering that Obama is even more incompetent than Carter.

The only reason left wing liberals think this nation is ungovernable is because the majority reject their prescriptions for perfect world solutions that do not work in the real world. If these programs fail, it is not because the program was faulty, it is because the electorate is stupid, or paralyzed by fear, or unworthy.

Or, ungovernable.

This is a center right nation, the majority of whom want to be self reliant. The majority reject your perfect world solutions, government nannying, and ivory tower excuses for failure. Obama understood this, on the campaign trail, which is why he was the Zelig candidate- whoever you inferred him to be. It is impossible to continue that once elected- and, face it, he would not have been elected had the media not been complicit in hiding his record, and pooh poohing anyone who questioned his past votes.

We have had it with being called racists. We have had it with being called the enemy. We have rejected the Obama agenda. And, it might help you if you remembered that the Founders set up this system so that it is career killing to impose legislation without the consent of the governed.

Those are the facts, Pat. No amount of rationalizing will change them.

When are people going to take joy out of life? Why all the hate?

I wish I had the answer to that Pat...

All I can think of is being GREED - BITTERNESS & SELF-CENTERED is quite the toxic combination!

It's exhausting listening to them!

Stay positive my friend...

So NJ, I don't hear any solutions there, just a lot of whining that you weren't treated fairly. Where are the solutions? How will the new, Republican House majority fix it all? How will Senator McConnell move that legislation through the Senate? What are the Republican solutions?

"Stay positive my friend"

{wink}

___

Always Feisty. Always. Despite the realization of what our Nation has become.

"stay positive my friend"

{wink}

Apparently, you cannot yell on the 'vine, so I will have to settle for a dignified "This comment terrifies me very much"

Terrifies?

Lol.

Want solutions? How about HCR?

Obama did not even understand the problem, which was the HIGH COST, not a lack of access. Everybody has access, many cannot afford the cost. The problem is exacerbated by his plan, which increases government mandates on coverage.

The solution is to get rid of ALL mandates, and allow people to buy only that coverage they need and desire. And, please, spare me the nanny state whine that people are too stupid to know what coverage they need. It is condescending and elitist.

It follows that people could then buy insurance across state lines. Congress could also enact laws allowing people to buy into their local municipality's healthcare plans- after all, it is purchased with their tax dollars.

Tort reform is a must to decrease the useless testing done in the name of defensive medicine.

By the way, republicans offered all of these ideas, which were summarily rejected by Obama.

Lower taxes, smaller government, repeal of HCR,and returning the unspent stimulus funds to the Treasury, were all republican proposals. Proposals with which the electorate agrees.

Obama's agenda? Rejected.

Instead of taking a victory lap it's been NON-STOP bullsh!t from NJNB 24/7!

Same crap she's been spewing for 2 years NOW!

WE GET ALREADY... you're bitter & miserable okay?

Doesn't mean the rest of us are...

I would put you on ignore but then I wouldn't be able to bust you for the bold face lies you're so fond of spreading!

Hey... did you hear the one about President Obama's overseas trip costing 200 BILLION dollars a day?

Can you say... HOOK... LINE & SINKER? lmao

They can't afford the policies jackwagon, the individual mandate to buy insurance was a Republican idea, see Mitt Romney, The insurance companies will do exactly what the gangster banksters did, incorporate in states that will allow them to deny your claim anytime they want and charge you anything they want. 50 million people had no health insurance before the Obama plan, do you think that they wanted to have no health insurance? If lower taxes lead prosperity, move to Somalia, they have no taxes there. As for access, if you think that most Americans had access to decent health insurance before Obama, you're living uninhabited by logic. If there was no stimulus, the Republican economist Mark Zandi, who advised McCain, publicly stated that unemployment would have reached 15%. If lower taxes lead to job creation, how come the Bush Administration which lowered taxes had a far worse job creation record than the Clintons, who raised taxes.

Ok, I thought I have seen everything, but this takes the cake.

When are people going to take joy out of life? Why all the hate?

Feisty wrote -I wish I had the answer to that Pat...All I can think of is being GREED - BITTERNESS & SELF-CENTERED is quite the toxic combination! It's exhausting listening to them!

Stay positive my friend...

Why all the haters? Now thats is sick! Feisty answering a question about haters!

That's rich.

CU:

That you quit the union speaks well of you. Your membership, given your rather right-of-center views, seemed contradictory at best, and hypocritical at worst.

I am curious though, how will you negotiate your remuneration with management?

CU Farley

Obama needs to continue calling his countrymen "enemies". This fits just right with his taking sides against America in the illegal alien issue. He needs to keep explaining to Americans that they are simply not capable of understanding why the economy has not improved much.

Really, you need to stop thinking you're an enemy and start pulling you weight. Come to the front of the bus and help "Move America Forward".

And you come on here everyday and prove just how stupid and childish many Americans are. Your childish name calling and even sophmoric screen name tells everyone who reads your post everything they need to know about you. But you don't stop there, you double down when you try to explain economics when you, yourself, have no knowledge of how economics works.

Please, child, give us a quote where President Obama has called his countrymen enemies. Explain how he has taken sides with the illegal aliens against America. I will not hold my breath expecting an answer from you, not because you will not, rather because you can not.

David, CU isn't right of center, he is one of the uninformed, uneducated, gullible far right extremists who open their mouths and prove themselves a fool.

And you come on here everyday and prove just how stupid and childish many Americans are. Your childish name calling and even sophmoric screen name tells everyone who reads your post everything they need to know about you. But you don't stop there, you double down when you try to explain economics when you, yourself, have no knowledge of how economics works.

Matt, can you clear something up? Are you talking about CU, or Feisty.

I am curious though, how will you negotiate your remuneration with management?

He won't. He'll let union workers do that heavy lifting in the same way the proud Red states let the Blue states send them tax money every day of every year.

give us a quote where President Obama has called his countrymen enemies

Wow Matthew, you really need to get out more:

Obama: "If Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, 'We're gonna punish our enemies and we're gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us,' if they don't see that kind of upsurge in voting in this election, then I think it's gonna be harder."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101102/ap_on_el_ge/us_obama_enemies

Now that we've cleared that up, you can go back to eating the elitist, condescending gruel you leftists are so fond of. Thanks for playing.

Obama: "If Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, 'We're gonna punish our enemies and we're gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us,' if they don't see that kind of upsurge in voting in this election, then I think it's gonna be harder."

How very Tammany Hall of the President.

Is it unreasonable that Latinos should think of people who tell them the best way to participate in democracy is by NOT VOTING as their enemies?

I love it, the "elitist" talking point again. Because I man who was fed partly by food stamps as a child, pulls himself up by his bootstraps to become the editor of the Harvard Law Review, a Constitutional Law Professor, and President of the United States is an elitist. Certainly he is not the ultimate fulfillment of the Horatio Alger story.

By contrast the son of two of the most elite of old money, New England families, sent to Yale as a legacy, failing at every business venture he ever attempted, then elevated by the Ken Lays of the world to the Presidency is a regular guy. People who get their political donations from the wealty elites are regular guys.

Up is down, day is night in Conservativeland. Never forget that.

Bill is right, Matthew. You need to get your news from somewhere besides MSLSD and Paul Maddow and KeithO and Chris "Tingle Leg" Matthews. You really had no idea that Obama had said this? Not only was it racially divisive, it goes against all that Obama said he was for: bringing the country together and blah blah blah. I mean, all us common sense people knew he was full of s**t but obviously SOME people bought it. Typical leftists crap. Divide the country up among ethnic lines to exploit false grievances for political gain. What an a**hole he is.

And you never heard about him taking the side of Mexico in their campaign to flood America with illegal aliens? Lawsuits against AZ etc...? You DO need to get out more.

John B....For a moment there I thought you were referring to the Kennedys or the Kerrys. Keep in mind; one does not have to be rich or to have grown up rich to be an elitist. All one needs is a healthy attitude of "I'm smarter than all those ignorant people out there clinging to their God and guns and wanting stupid things done like...protecting our borders, not kissing radical muslims azz, taking the side of drunk, angry college professors over the police, and referring to people who are concerned about illegal immigration as "enemies". I wish the Arrogant SOB In Chief would specify exactly WHOM he was referring to anyway. It would be interesting to know. Ahhhhh. Who cares. He's too smart to talk down to the little people in the flyover states. They're not even smart enough to undserstand all he is doing for them. The idiots.

Keep up the good work Dems! And be sure to read Charles Krauthammer's column today. You may find it very educational.

Why shouldn't latinos consider a party that uses them as scapegoats at every opportunity enemies?

CU,

No more drivel from KeithO.

Keith Olbermann suspended over political donations

I see, Obama referring to Latinos fighting against their enemies (and what else would you call people trying to keep you down) is against America (and guess what, not every Hispanic is illegal, dude), but what John Boehner and Mitch McConnell said is helping America? Just because you believe something does not necessarily make it true. There are REAL problems in this country and they aren't going away without serious changes.

What I'd like to know is why is it impossible for any Republican to show respect to the President? I know what I hear and it seems to be because they think he is an uppity black man and don't try to deny it. See, I'm an evangelical Christian and so everyone just assumes that I'm a Republican because of course Democrats can't be God-fearing people so I get to hear all the dirty little secret bs. It has caused me to leave the church because I can't stand the fact that so called Christians keep spreading lies about this man who is only trying to do his job. And that is your "values voter" for ya.

NBC has a rule against employees contributing to political campaigns, and a wide range of news organizations prohibit political contributions — considering it a breach of journalistic independence to contribute to the candidates they cover

So let me see if I understand this...

NBC has rules against employees contributing to political campaigns... YET... what you're saying is that it's perfectly alright for Fox to cut out the middle man and allow the the owner to directly contribute 2 MILLION to the Republican Governors Association...

I think the big difference is that, the money you referring to that was contributed by FOX wasn't a reporter as it was in Olberman's case. Don't forget when GE was the owner of MNSBC/NBC they contributed directly to Obama. The information is availble at opensecrets.org.

It was clearly NBC's polilcy that reporters aren't allowed to make political contributions, yet Olberman did it anyway. He should be punished.

Joe Scarborough has done it too. When will he be suspended? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113485/

Silly... John,

We should know by now that the righties are fine when the Repubicans do it *wink wink*

But darn it... they better crucify the Democrat who dares! ;0)

Guess I know what Hannity will be talking about this afternoon. He's never been known to choke on his own hypocricy before, don't know why he'd do so now. http://spectator.org/blog/2010/10/07/media-matters-caught-on-campai

If Joe Scarborough broke the rules, he too should be suspended. Maybe he got permission as NBC policy states before he made the contribution.

Yes, and I suppose those Navy ships would cost us nothing to man and run if they were not dispatched to that area ? Are they rentals that we return and don't pay for while they are not on a specific mission ?

The stories and lies of the right wing nut cases go on and on.

And the spinning wheel goes round and round, Oh look Mommy, here come the clowns.

Time for the republican/tea party to put up, You won now do something. To continue to do nothing is not an option no longer. Produce or get replaced in 2012.

USNDV-ret- It's almost deafening, the silence about creating jobs and improving the ecomomy right now from the HELL NO folks. They seem to want to talk about health care, and some other stuff, like how the Dems have to play by THEIR rules or else and all that.

You see, they knew damned well that neither Obama, nor anyone else, could whip unemployment in a short period of time. Themselves indcluded. It just made a good talking point that wound up the voters to the point they blindly returned the people that caused it all back to the playing field.

And now they don't want Obama to 'obstruct' THEIR agenda. They actually have the nerve to use that word. And the sad part is- they are getting away with it. Let's all hide and watch as nothing changes for the middle class, except maybe the shrinking numbers of it's membership.

And this is progress?

Drive By;

I hear you loud and clear. What we are seeing is nothing more than a smoke screen from the right. They are trying to keep us off the promises that they made to buy this election. The Economy, Jobs, Infrastructure, Education etc. They will not come anywhere near their "Pledge to America" and what plans they do have they are not telling because many people who voted for them are going to see they were sold down the river just like they did to the Tea Party. They used them then abused them. It is the Republican/tea party way now. Anything to win an election and the he!! with its people.

Nice plan if you are in the 2% group, not so good for the 98% of us though.

JoAnnaSmith1

Obama is trying to sell his Stimulus plan (total failure), his Obamacare (price of insurance is not only still going up, and it is increasing at a faster rate), and Financial reform bill (more regulations make America less competitive in the world). Obama and his soon to be ex-friend Pelosi pushed the Left-wing agenda, jammed it down Americans throats, and got their "reward" last Tuesday.

Lady Jo

My My, you are a perfect example of those whom Rachel qualifies to be in the right wing alternative universe where the only facts exist for you are lies.

For one... The stimulus worked, but was not enough. In fact, according to the Congressional Budget Office, the stimulus raised employment by between 1.4 million and 3.3 million jobs.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67N55X20100824

New report that 151,000 new private sector jobs adding in October. That makes about 1.4 Million – 3.5 Million jobs saved and another 750,000 new added.

Do take a look at Navy's post.

#1.1 - Fri Nov 5, 2010 9:30 AM EDT

Beverly in Chicago: For one... The stimulus worked, but was not enough. In fact, according to the Congressional Budget Office, the stimulus raised employment by between 1.4 million and 3.3 million jobs.

I'm certain the CBOs report is a comfort for the 10% unemployed and the 25% under-employed. I'm sure the families in those situations read the report aloud during their nightly dinner of Mac&Cheese.

Do take a look at Navy's post.

I looked at it a couple of months ago. Has it changed any since that time?

It's wrong because JS1 says it's wrong. She waves away reality with a flick of the wrist. Facts don't matter in the Conservative narrative, bend them or ignore them as becomes most convenient. Reason doesn't matter in the Conservative narrative, just keep repeating your talking points until they're believed. Our Conservative heroes and leaders told us, far be it for us to question them.

John B, Des Moines, IA

It's wrong because JS1 says it's wrong. She waves away reality with a flick of the wrist. Facts don't matter in the Conservative narrative, bend them or ignore them as becomes most convenient. Reason doesn't matter in the Conservative narrative, just keep repeating your talking points until they're believed. Our Conservative heroes and leaders told us, far be it for us to question them.

She is incorrigible; John, and "exhibit A' of right wing bloviators.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Navy

Bev;

Great points, there are another additional 400+ Bills you could have added to that list that the republicans have stalled in the Senate like the extension of the ARRA that is still creating jobs today as reported by MSNBC and others.

I should have. But, it would not be enough space; it'll take 2 or more pages.

The gullible right-wing machine moves on with a singular goal in mind--say lies often enough and people will believe it. Why look at facts when they don't support a person'sview proving once again, that "You can fool too many of the people too much of the time."

I will also point out, after stepping over the steaming pile that Joanna just dropped again, that since NO republicans voted for the stimulus or lifted a finger to help America for the past 2 years, that statistic for job growth (151,000 jobs created) can be credited to President Obama and his 'socialist' plans that made it possible.

Now that the Republicans are in charge of the House, what is the PLAN for creating more JOBS?

NoJo, Virtually every leading economist (both republican and democrat) has said the stimulus has been a success and to your dismay it has saved and created new jobs. To keep on claiming it a failure is just not telling the truth, but then again what else is new with you. I know you do not like the CBO reports unless they favor your narrow point of view, but that report has been supported by Bloomberg/Business, NYT, and a bevy of others.

Why don't you just get off that high horsey of yours and get your hands dirty like the rest of us and help this country???

In my opinion, your are the problem, not the solution.

Maddow and Olberman are wingnuts and have very few people who watch the garbage that they put out. Go look up the ratings. The few people who are on this website and a few more. Did MSNBC even break 1 million viewers Tuesday night? I know CNN had 2 million and MessNBC was behind them. The Repubs were sent to DC to repeal ObamaCare - otherwise the people would have left the same morons in office. Even here on MSNBC last week they had the new jobless claims at 450,000 last week. Obummernomics is not working. We did send all those new people to DC to make sure Obama is a 1 term Prez. and Obummer is apparently doing everything he can to help us in that objective.

Since you are so concerned about ratings , why are you here? Go on over and increase the one for fox.

The ratings only prove that you can fool all the fools all of the time and those are the ones fox concentrates on.

HCR is here to stay, no matter how the GOP lie, twist. Why don't they prove how genuine they are by giving up their "government health care". You must be one of those that can't even make ends meet and the GOP have you begging for tax cuts for the very wealthy, lying about the HCR while you wait for the trickle down. If you get sick, they tell you health care is a privilege that you do not have or deserve, since you are not rich enough. Pitiful.

Only morons say: "Nobody, but nobody supports the President." Just wait til 2012, that is, if your diapers last that long!

Joanna Smith - sorry to tell you but you are wrong - every Republican that voted against the stimiulus has lined up to have their picture taken with the check and the breaking of ground.

All across the country their are signs that this project is due to the stimulus package - where are you getting your information from - double check before you post. In the State of Washington I drive by signs that are posted - and if I recall even Bobby Jindahll of Louisania posed in front of a sign so get agrip girl and don't post things you don't know or bother to find out. The stimulus has worked albeit slowly because the Republicans cut the numbers. Moral never compromise on what you think is right.

By the way there is $20 Billion still sitting there to go forward

First Read is a hostile environment for epiphanies, dangerfield.

The latest theme would appear to be reaffirmation of the disastrous effect the Tea Party movement has had, and will continue to have, on the Republican Party.

I'm guessing the GOP can tolerate a few more disasters along the lines of last Tuesday's election results.

Based on the daily screeds, most here haven't learned a thing and they are darn proud of it...

Not true! We are all duly chastened and now understand that the Democrats must now compromise by doing whatever the Republicans tell them to do. From now on, the (still minority leader) Mitch McConnell must be allowed to dictate policy to the White House. The People Have Spoken.

Disasters maybe, but both parties have proven time and time again how incapable they are of correctly reading, dealing with and managing electoral success...republicans are at the very least as prone to hubris as the democrats.

Agreed, dangerfield-

But don't think for a minute that the vast majority of Republicans failed to take note of the body count of fallen incumbents...any doubts about the ugly mood of the electorate evaporated on Tuesday.

What's notable to me is the mindset displayed in the excerpt from President Obama's upcoming "60 Minutes" interview. Apparently the President remains convinced that his central difficulty with the voters is primarily related to some sort of communication problem. The agenda is fine...the people just don't know it yet.

"Making an argument that people can understand" would appear to be the President's way of addressing and rationalizing Tuesday's bloodbath. No hubris there, eh?

I really don't think HE understands or accepts, at face value, the magnitude or depth of the electorate's unease with his Administration's agenda.

Until that changes, I don't see matters improving much going forward.

So true, Mixed Bag, and his ego is continually soothed by his sycophants in the media. They twist, distort, and fracture fact so readily one would believe that the Democrats had gained 60+ seats on Tuesday, and lost no Senate seats, governors or state houses.

First Read repeats, over and over, that one exit poll showed the electorate split on HCR. I wonder, was it the same polling organization that showed that Kerry had carried Virginia in 2004? I seem to recall several media outlets who shall remain nameless having to reverse that call when the actual numbers came in.

This election was a clarion call that Obama and his paid propagandists will not heed. Too bad. We will move forward despite them.

The electorate didn't embrace the republicans, they rejected the democrats.

Mixed Bag, How can you say that the electorate did NOT embrace the republicans? Seems to me that they did. Seems to me that the 60+ seat gain for Republicans means that they in fact DID embrace the Republicans. How can you vote for someone that you didn't embrace?

I am not saying that I agree with the electorate's logic, but how can you justify saying that the electorate did NOT embrace Republicans, and by extension, all that the Republicans stand for?

Dangerfield, Mixed - I'm in agreement with you both. Democrats would be unwise to misread the results of this election as a mere communication problem. The Republicans would be equally unwise to assume support for their agenda.

As an independent, I voted for Independents or held my nose and voted for Republicans. I, for one, did not want Republicans elected as much as I wanted Democrats unelected.

Pietro, as a corollary, judging from various posts, I and others did not necessarily embrace Republican values. However, we were unhappy with the direction this administration was taking us. We chose the devil we were hoping was chastened in the last election.

Every few years we get to vote the buggers out.

above-the noise - thanks for trying to make your action(s) clear to me.

However, I STILL find it hard to understand how a cut and dried position - go with either democrats or republicans - is NOT an embrace of one party of the other. If there was a 3rd party involved, then I can say, well, yes, it is very clear that the left nor the right was embraced.

It's like you standing there with dry clothes, and it starts to rain. You are teling me that you didn't want to get wet, but jumped into the pool anyway because the water was clorinated.

You still got wet, didn't you?

Isn't that an embrace of being wet? What happened to the dry clothes? Why didn't you shelter yourself from the rain?

Since you DIDN'T shelter yourself from the rain, you would have gotten wet ANYWAY.

So how has your position changed??

A nuanced stance as the one you are presenting is the reason why we never seem to move forward in this country. And to say that 'We chose the devil we were hoping was chastened in the last election' is kinda like 'hope and change', isn't it?

Talk about not embracing a side.

The bottom line is this - we cannot unring the bell that has been rung. We need to have a better thought process before we ring the bell in the first place. Now that you have chosen 'the devil' that has forgotten the 'chastening' of the last election, I guess you are prepared for ALL of us to experience Gridlock and get nothing done.

How does that help us at all? Why choose the 'devil' in the first place when you KNOW that they will NEVER change their position(s)? As a punishment for the Democrats?

Well, it looks like we are ALL punished.

Thanks for that.

Simple, Pietro-

I did NOT say it.

The midterm elections have obviously affected your attention to detail.

You have mistakenly attributed dangerfield's remark to me.

Mind you...

I'm not saying that was WRONG, but...

dangerfield is a far more effective advocate of his own views than I am.

My apologies, Mixed bag. I attributed the quote to the wrong person. I am man enough to admit when I made a mistake.

With that being said - I still stand by my post.

Matthew, Houston, TX

Mr. Boehner, Mr. McConnell, where are the jobs? The unemployment rate is still at 9.6%.

Boehner should pull an Obama: Stand up behind a podium, rant how he "Inherited a mess" from Pelosi, say he's going to spend trillions of borrowed money to fix it and give it to Corportate America instead, walk off the stage without answering any questions and go on vacation.

Yes - America is watching.

150,000 jobs created last month. And the GOP has only been on the job for two days.

150,000 jobs created last month. And the GOP has only been on the job for two days

Did you CALL it or WHAT Retired?

It was only a matter of minutes... lmao

JoAnnaSmith1

Boehner should pull an Obama: Stand up behind a podium, rant how he "Inherited a mess" from Pelosi, say he's going to spend trillions of borrowed money to fix it and give it to Corportate America instead, walk off the stage without answering any questions and go on vacation.

Yes - America is watching.

150,000 jobs created last month. And the GOP has only been on the job for two days.

Lady, are you admitting 2 days is a fact?

If you admit 2 days is factual, do have a jolly good weekend.

PS: Will you admit Mr. Boehner and Mr. McConnell sent the jobs overseas?

JoAnna - 150,000 jobs created last month in October. Election was held on Nov. 2nd. GOP get no credit for that from me.

If jobs increase during November and December with the annual holiday temporary hiring spurts, GOP will get no credit from me.

If job employment increases in January (or insert any month name) without the GOP implementing any new programs, ideas or work with the other side they will get no credit from me.

However, as jobs are created even if by some fluke it comes through GOP policies; I will celebrate the fact that more americans will go back to work. Sometimes I look for ANY signs that you guys on the other side really care about the country. Can you all be that gloomy?

Feisty:

Yep, and more to come. Just watch with America. One already trapped in a lie and the others pretty much trying to spin the same old same old. It really make no difference now. They are right in that the election is over and the republican/tea party won. Kudos to them. But sometimes you must be weary of what you wish for.

They now have all the limelight. Let's see what they do. So far it has been the same name calling, misinformation and personal attacks. Several have their diapers in a bunch, you would never know from reading their posts, that they just won an election in big fashion to boot.

It is now time for them to get off the pot and start doing what they said they would. All this rhetoric means nothing, America is now looking for results, and if we do not get them it is not the democrats that are going to be held responsible in 2012.

So far all we know, ignoring the usual rhetoric, is the the republican/tea party is sticking to their guns to keep gridlock alive. Nothing about creating jobs. They will increase the deficit to a new record so the National Debt will also increase as well.

The next 2 years is going to be a mess and there is a better than even chance that it may be worst than today unless these clowns start working together and move America forward. This is going to be virtually impossible when the republican/tea party keeps telling our President they are not interested in any compromise at all. They only compromise they want is for President Obama to adopt their ideas. There is a plan for ya.

Humorless today are the Liberals.

We better cut them some slack, its only been a couple of days. Got to leave the new reality of the situation for them sink in for a while. I'm sure they'll be their old cheery selves soon enough.

What's mesmerizing Retired is not only have the righties proven they can't even celebrate their BIG win with an ounce of class or a shred of dignity...

But certain posters around here are even more bitter than usual... guess getting busted for lying for the THIRD time does tend to STING a bit... lol

I always wondered if there was anything that would make them happy... GUESS NOT!

Then you've got the other ones who's sole purpose is to run around nipping at ankles with the juvenile taunting...

Better be careful cause sooner or later someones gonna drop kick the little critters for the field goal! ;0)

150,000 jobs created last month. And the GOP has only been on the job for two days.

"Post hoc, ergo propter hoc."

By the way, what has the GOP been doing for 2 days? Taking a victory lap? At the moment, guess what...Nancy Pelosi is still the Speaker of the House.

"nipping at ankles with the juvenile taunting"..."someones gonna drop kick the little critters for the field goal!"

Really? That's the pot calling the kettle black! give me a break.

I think the one lacking humor or an understanding of sarcasm is the one telling liberals we lack humor.

150,000 jobs created last month. And the GOP has only been on the job for two days.

Funny how they are already giving credit to the GOP who aren't even in power yet. They certainly know how to work retroactively and take credit, or their supporters know how to twist, shout and lie.

Come January 1st, when thy actually take over, there will be 0 unemployment, no need for welfare, social security or medicare. Everyone will be rich, healthy and employed. They will take to the podium on January 2nd and say "I told you so".

Democrats still have the White House and large majorities in both Houses of Congress...the new 112th Congress won't be sworn in until January. That leaves them still in charge...still responsible.

After the new Congress is sworn in, Democrats will still control the executive branch of government, plus a majority, although sustantially reduced, in the Senate half of the legislative branch...two of the three legs of the stool.

That leaves Democrats still in charge...thus still responsible, despite the worst losses in the House of Representatives since 1938.

And...in spite of enduring Tuesday's electoral debacle, Democrats retain the primary burden to govern.

Only now, they'll have to reach across the aisle in order to do so.

As ordered by the electorate, in no uncertain terms, last Tuesday.

150,000 jobs created last month. And the GOP has only been on the job for two days.

I know most everyone else has already ripped you for this, but I can't resist. That is easily the DUMBEST thing you've ever said, the BIGGEST non-sequiter I've seen you post. Republicans gaining a majority in the House three days ago DOES NOT mean they're responsible for the addition of new jobs A MONTH AGO.

Where's your brain, Joanna? Where's your brain?

That's right. In Republicanville they get credit for teh GOOD stuff that happened in October,...even if they weren't elected until November.

And the SAD thing? They ACTUALLY believe it. They will repeat it. And in their pathetic echo chamber,...they will validate one another's FAKE belief system as though it were written by the hand of G-d.

DISHONEST doesn't even begin to cover it. Truly SAD days ahead in America as they continue to posture that THEIR internal polls tell them that Americans spoke to them (in their limited capacity, in their like minded districts); but the REST of America doesn't COUNT.

ED - you're too much. You try so hard, but yet you still fail. Have someone help you read the entire thread. The comment was in response to a poster that sarcastically asked now that GOP is in control with the House, "Where are the jobs?" You saw my answer. Sorry you do not understand humor, not surprised though.

Listen ED, if we're going to have to hold your hand and explain these basic things to you, we're going to have to bill you. You do have a PayPal account, correct?

I've said before you are off your game. I was wrong. You don't even have a game.

Clara KCMO

DISHONEST doesn't even begin to cover it. Truly SAD days ahead in America as they continue to posture that THEIR internal polls tell them that Americans spoke to them (in their limited capacity, in their like minded districts); but the REST of America doesn't COUNT.

I like the way you succinctly defined "limited capacity" for the right's pollsters and leaders.

Joanna, the terrible thing about you is your inability to set any tone when you post - and most of what you post is so thoroughly idiotic to begin with it's impossible to tell if you mean to be serious or sarcastic. Don't try to back-track - though I am amused, as ever, that you feel a real need to single me out when I point out something dumb you do. Did you think you were safe just because the GOP posted wins in the House, or what? Did you think you were safe because I sank my teeth into Feisty the other day? Not so, Joanna!

Back to the content of your posts, I find it safer to assume you endured some sort of horrific industrial accident years ago that saw your skull caught in a wood chipper. Perhaps we can finish the job with a Winnebago~

ED - Feel safe? From you? I guess one can't feel unsafe, unless they feel threatened. You don't seem to be the type that threatens very well ED. You're more the angry guy with the loose nonsensical quips. You seem more cut out to be a court jester, someone to entertain and amuse others, but not really the go-to-guy you'd goto to get any real information. You know, like when "derp-derp" is the deepest thought you can come up with, you really can't be taken very seriously.

And please, don't let your ego run wild because I"singled you out". There is only so much time in the day to deal with the ignorant like yourself, it just happened to be your turn.

And I don't know what makes you so angry that you have to talk of horrific industrial accidents that you image for others. Probably not enough love from mom when you were wrong. Lizards do abandon their young early in life, so it's a plausible theory.

Hi, Clara KCMO-

Take a look at the new map of U.S. congressional districts by political party.

When your eyes have adjusted to the sea of red...

Ask yourself what the term "like minded districts" means in the "real world".

Just an aside, Clara...

How did the Democratic Party fare in your home state, anyway?

Hi, Bev-

Democratic pollsters like Charlie Cook and Nate Silver successfully detected the wave that hit on Tuesday months ahead of the actual election...

Have you detected it yet?

A midterm election with the party of the President in control of Congress during the fledgeling recovery from the worst recession in 70 years...Even "wide stance" Larry Craig couldn't have messed that up.

John B.: A midterm election with the party of the President in control of Congress during the fledgeling recovery from the worst recession in 70 years...Even "wide stance" Larry Craig couldn't have messed that up.

Apparently that wasn't the thinking by the NY Times early last year:

http://blow.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/31/whither-the-republicans/

A little quote regarding Mr. Steele at the end of the article: "What do you think? Will Republican ranks continue to contract, or can they bounce back with the iron fist of Mr. Steele?"

It looks like the answer to that question regarding Mr. Steele is affirmative!

You Libs can continue to think like Obama that it was a "communications" issue that sunk the Democrats last Tuesday: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/05/obama-acknowledges-failures-says-leadership-isnt-just-legislation/ , but Obama gave over 40 speeches on health care and dozens regarding his stimulus bill, that wasn't exactly a lack of communicating. Obama has failed because of the results of his actions, not his perceived lack of communication.

Did you READ what I wrote, or just cut and paste it into your own preplanned statement? I'm going with that second thing because your response doesn't indicate basic reading comprehension.

Democrats (2/3) and Republicans (1/3) of the executive and legislative branches...

Americans are/were asking you to do something about jobs & the economy, not fiight for your own political gain. If you don't/didn't deliver, you'll all be/were voted out in the next/last cycle.

Remove the partisan spin and you have made a true statement...

Under Roberts, the Supreme Court is now a legislative branch too. So give the Repubs 2 out of 4.

Once you get out of the People's Republic of Boulder - CO is pretty Red. The Repubs shot themselves in the foot in both the Senate and Gov race otherwise those would have switched. The only safe Dems in the state are Udall and Polis. Right now Obama would get swamped in an election in CO - much like the rest of the country. I am guessing that is why they call it a toss-up.

No Joe---in the spirit of celebrating your victory and in your hopes that it will only be for 2 more years, could you refer to our elected President by his proper title? President Obama.

I actually did not believe that George Bush was legitimately elected but once Al Gore conceded in 2000, I always referred to him as President Bush. Please return the courtesy.

Were I addressing him in person, I would address him as Mr. President, the proper title.

Read my posts. I call Bush, Bush, and call Carter, Carter. I refer to Bill Clinton as Bill Clinton only to avoid confusion.

This is not a monarchy. I do not have to worry that I am in danger of offending the anointed leader of my country.

NoJo,

You just said well versed and electorate in the same sentence. Do you really believe that? You often talk to some posters here as if they are stupid. So what you really mean is you believe people who agree with you are well versed. Most the electorate can tell you the names of people on "The Jersey Shore" but not the names of the Supreme Court. Does that sound like well versed to you.

I guess Tom is one of the Obama worshippers who believe that the electorate is too stupid or paralyzed by fear to understand how magnificent Obama is, and how well his policies have worked.

The sky is plaid in Obamaland. I still truly hope that he never declares that his cult members can fly- you will seriously injure yourselves jumping off your roofs.

And the sun shines in the alternate universe where too many conservatives live.

I guess I am well versed - I have never seen "Jersey Shore" and I can recite all 9 members of the Supreme Court. I do always like it when Leno or others do the man in the street stuff and ask people who the VP is and they have no clue.

In Joe's defense, Tom, several of the posters here are stupid - but we should chalk that up to the debilitating nature of the Internets rather than political affiliation.

I didn't mention the President at all No Jo I am asking you to just be honest. I am speaking of the entire electorate to include all voters that check the (R) or (D) box regardless of what the name says. Why is it if I don't have a clever screen name or post anti Obama information you assume I am a worshiper. How about I respect the President but don't agree with some of his policies or the way he went about getting some things done. I do agree with a few but I am far from a worshiper. I believe many of my fellow Americans are not well informed because they choose that path. There are many people who voted on both sides that couldn't pass a basic civics test. As the poster above stated "Jay Walking" is a funny and tragic segment on the Leno show.

My parents took in a young lady who's mother was a drug addict. We were sitting around the table after on sunday dinner and some how started talking about Malcom X. When asked who Malcom X was the young lady said and I quote " Isn't he a rapper?" Thankfully, my parents helped her improve herself and that same young lady is very successful now. Although she will tell you she used to vote party line (D) at that time in her life. It goes both ways but for you to pretend the electorate is well informed on the policies of this administration because a mid-term election went your way is at best delusional.

Ahh, yes,...

There is stupidity. There is ignorance. And then there is the WILLFULLY ignorant.

Some people lack the mental capacity to KNOW better. Their life experience has kept them from learning or they have never had role models that encouraged them to seek answers to questions they may have. These people tend to be unaware of big picture events going on around them as they are focused on the day to day survival.

Other people are lacking in diversity or knowledge and simply don't know better. These folks tend to generalize that All muslims are terrorists or other such statements.

And then there are the Willfully Ignorant or, in No Jo's case - The Deliberate Misinformers. They aren't interested in sharing ideas or reaching consensus. They are foot soldiers in the scorched earth war that is all about winning and being RIGHT. They will continue to repeat a debunked lie because it makes them feel important to have 'gotten' the daily talking point. They spread misinformation with impugnity and ALWAYS run from a direct challenge.

I have issues with stupidity and ignorance, as I think ALL people have the ability to be trained or educated. I further believe that is the key to CHANGING systemic course in impoverished districts.

BUT I ABSOLUTELY DETEST THE WILLFULLY IGNORANT! They may have won this battle; but they will never WIN the war. The simple fact is that POWER for Power's sake is NOT a Long Term winning strategy. So nojo, please do carry on. We know you for what you are and quite frankly, we are not impressed with your bull@!$%#. Peddle crazy somewhere else, 'cuz we're all stocked up after two years of your continued nonsense.

PS. Are you still mad that President Obama hasn't stepped aside, yet? Are you still holding your breath for that quintessential moment that will "Palinize" him in your view? Losers quit, Leaders Lead. Get used to it because I am certain you have a little over six more years to gain some coping skills.

*Standing O Clara*

The cheese has done slid off her cracker! ;0)

w bush

What We Learned From The Mid-Terms

1) Corporate money determines election results in the United States

2) The voting public are easily hoodwinked into voting against their own best interests.

3) Republicans know the voting public are easily hoodwinked.

4) Democrat's can't overcome 1,2, and 3.

So true, but...

There are other alternatives

1) A yes vote on the Disclosure Act

2) we can start giving money now to combat the dirty money rather than wait until the very end

3)Our democratic leaders can push back on the lies today rather wait untilthe last days

4) We can continue to organize.

What you and your party should have learned is that when you are inundated by phone calls, letters and emails against a policy; and when your constituents show up in droves at town hall meetings arguing against a policy, if you continue along your merry way and vote FOR the policy, you will get removed from office.

No amount of twisting the facts will change the outcome. Obama's policies were rejected by the electorate, and the democrats who supported them were summarily dismissed by the electorate.

What part of NO do you not understand?

All you can do is campaign on what you will do, do it when elected, and take the next election results as they come. The public's fickleness is no reason to back down on your principles.

Beverly, you keep organizing up and the rest of us will put this country back on track.

BTW...you must have missed my post #3.3. What exactly is wrong with these votes specifically?

You do realize that government money is not monopoly money, don't you? Those of us that actually pay taxes don't like the government throwing our good money after bad. Unless you have never had an economics class, you should realize that spending your way out of debt DOESN'T WORK! You must also realize that those B's stand for Billions of TAX PAYERS dollars.

NoJo - What you say is correct. If you focus on matters that your constituents don't care about or think will not help them, you will be voted out.

However, as a progressive I think that the White House and Congress was right to tackle the hard problems. When Obama was elected I announced that I would gladly accept him as a one term president if he got real HCR reform, Immigration reform and Energy reform. Sometimes trying to pass good policy is not smart politics.

My only criticism is that Obama had a center of the road approach from the get go to the other side. As a result the stimulus was tax laden and didn't have enough construction jobs or infrastructure empahsis. His other reforms with Credit card agencies and Wall street were diluted with, yes republican ideas.

Messaging or lack of it by the White House was not a factor, as most Americans unless they are hit on the head with a board don't care about politics. They are too interested in watching American Idol, Dancing with the Stars or CSI to bother to get informed. That being said they knew enough that things were still not as good as it could be. Do you think they knew or cared about GOP obstructionism? All they heard about was there is a scary radical in the White house and we are losing our precious country.

For all Obama's attempt to cater to the middle and independents they left him high and dry. The only people in my precinct who showed up were the hard lefties.

For those elected democrats and even the democrats on this site who complain against the hard left liberals do so at your own peril. Mr. President if you sell out to the top 2% you will cement our party as regional party with no convictions.

If however, you fight and stand with your convictions you may yet win another term. Think long term not short term.

Yellowdog, I would LOVE to see Obama take your advice.

None of the far left, expensive, government expansive proposals will make it through the congress, but in 2012, not only will we have a republican president, there will not be one democrats re elected. So, heck, yeah! He should try really, really hard to go even further to the left than he has so far.

Tell the truth- you are actually a republican consultant in disguise.

NoJo

I agree nothing will get through Congress. That being said, it doesn't mean that you sell your soul to try to get the other side to ally with you. I know you disagree but Obama already tried that tact in my opinion.

I watched his speech the other day and was glad to see that he said he still felt he did the right things. It was concilitary, reflective and classy. It is amazing that the republicans wanted him to say I was wrong and my policies were wrong. Not going to happen.

I repeat, allowing the 2% tax cuts to be extended to the rich should not be considered.

I am an architect, consultants work for me.

You forgot the Union and George Soros money.

What about the money from the Koch brothers, Fox/Newscorp and their terrorist supporter, all the corporations that shipped jobs overseas, all the foreign companies that are now buying our elections and the Chamber of commerce? Just to name a few.

BTW Soros did not spend much this time, but I understand, that's all you have.

W bush what you think best interests may not be the same as anothers thought of their best interests , just because YOU think its something doesnt mean anyone has to agree with you , and isnt that what makes politics? the people did vote for their own interests , the best they could . and will continue to , to the consternation of all involved .

I am struggling today to articulate what I learned from watching the Maine race for governor.

It's hard to put it into words, and the political journalists don't seem to be very helpful in drawing conclusions that resonate with me.

I don't dispute the Tea Party activists won the gubernatorial election. Their enthusiasm carried their candidate to victory. They have a legitimate role to play in our democracy, if only by getting someone elected who will implement policies that will prove unpopular and result in a bigger surge to replace the Republican senators in 2012. I don't say that in bitterness, I really don't, but now I see how the game works. Politics is really kind of strange. It's not straightforward, as in, the best candidate doesn't always win, and the majority doesn't really carry the day. Also polling and media hype play an outsized role, versus debates among candidates and a focus on issues. It's a collective game, I think. Very strange.

Amy--I think you are where many of us are in trying to understand things and to figure out a way to go forward. I think one lesson I have learned is to speak out for what I know to be true and to get the facts out there since many people don't know them. People will believe lies if that is all they hear.

Those poor people in Haiti----earthquake, cholera epidemic, now a hurricane. A reminder to us all to count our blessings and share some with them.

You are right, Frank---we can predict behaviors all we want but time will tell how well your Republicans do with the gains they have made. For all our sakes I hope they make the most of the opportunities.

Steeler Fan...

I hope they do make the most of their opportunities...they had the controls for a while in the early 2000's and basically threw fiscally conservative principles right out the window. I'm hoping to see some compromise...of course, I'm a bit more of an idealist than most, and we may end up just seeing a protracted 2012 campaign taking place where each party is forcing the other party to take uncomfortable votes.

I believe the Steelers are on MNF this week if I'm correct. Have fun!

One other thought from the election...before it took place, I said that GOP primary voters made some mistakes in nominating more conservatie (i.e. tea party) candidates for statewide office in moderate to blue states. I believe the results backed this up. The more conservative candidates worked out fine in deep red states, but not so much in moderate states. I hope this lesson was learned as we look to 2012.

The more conservative candidates worked out fine in deep red states, but not so much in moderate states. I hope this lesson was learned as we look to 2012.

Good news on the job front as well...

____________________________________________________________________________

Good call Mr Grimes. At least there is one happy, rational conservative out there.

However, looking from my perspective I hope the GOP doesn't learn their lesson, overreaches with their supposed mandate and tries to nominate Palin/Odonnell :}

Glad you brought up Haiti. If you're a praying person, say one for the Haitian people--they need all the help they can get.

BTW, Frank, of all the TP candidates, I think Rubio does not hold most of the really extreme beliefs that so many TPers do, I think he more centrist on many issues. Time will tell but at least what he says sounds more reasonable.

In respect to Haiti, maybe Sen. Tom Coburn will release his hold on the $1.5 MILLION in aid to help those poor people in need.

Nah.

Who am I kidding? It's all about the GOP and their agenda... whatever that is...

There is no way the Repubs will nominate Palin much less O'Donnell. The media has demonized Sarah Palin to the point where she is not electable and don't even get me started on O'Donnell. There are a number of good Repub candidates out there and none of them are in the Senate. Historically Senators from either side of the aisle have made poor Presidents and in the last 100 years there haven't been many of them. The only good Senator to be Pres in the last 50 years was Kennedy. Gov's have traditionally done the best because they have actually run something

Yellowdog...if the GOP nominates Palin / Odonnell, I will sing "Bohemian Rhapsody" via live video feed on First Read that day, renounce my GOP party affiliation, and join the "Rent is too high" party. LOL

Pietro...It's a tough thing when it comes to money and Haiti. I admittedly don't know Coburn's reasoning here. I know that in the past, I've heard various statistics that say that very little money ever reaches the Haitians it is intended for. Truly sad if that's the case.

Jody...yeah, just a bad situation down there. From Dr. Jeff Masters, Tropical Weather expert for Weather Underground: "...bringing the storm total for Port-au-Prince and the surrounding mountains to 6" - 9". Rains of this magnitude are likely to cause extremely dangerous flooding for the 1.3 million Haitians living in makeshift refugee camps, and may cause heavy loss of life. Also of concern is the rains that will fall in northwestern Haiti, particularly in the highly vulnerable city of Gonaives, where rains from Tropical Storm Jeanne in 2004 killed 3,000 people."

Frank that is a good one. We will have to see in 2012.

If those two women are running then that song will really make sense.

Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?

(Oh mama mia, mama mia) Mama Grizzly, let me go!

Good point, TRR. The republicans keep saying it and the media doesn't push back despite exit polling which said that only 37% of voters cast their ballot as a referendum on Pres Obama and his policies--most voters were telling Congress to get off the dime and work together. Something that clearly Boehner and McConnell do not say even if they comprehend it.

Correct me if I'm wrong, Jody, but that 37% - is that not the largest percentage among the reasons voters listed as their purpose for casting a ballot?

It is, indeed, E.D., but please, do not try to derail Jody's narrative. It will not work, as reality does not intrude.

No ED, the economy was the #1 reason. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/02/first-exit-polls-economy/

As much as I've disagreed with dangerfield I never challenged him on his mantra that "It's the economy, stupid", because he was right. Had the recovery come along faster the election would not have been such a bloodbath. If the economy doesn't recover sufficiently by 2012 it'll be tough reelection for President Obama. The press said it constantly as well, and they also got it right.

Which is reason enough to not just roll over for the GOPTP agenda. They're in a big hurry to claim a mandate, hoping that message will solidify before anyone realizes it really WAS about the economy. That dog won't hunt.

Another lie from our resident fraud. The Economy was listed as the number one issue this election cycle. One more for the hat trick.

TRR,

yeah! Because if you go to an emergency room they will refuse to treat you, and no one can go to college without the government.

Wall street should be regulated, derivatives should be paying a 1% transaction charge to pay off the debt within 3 years, everyone should be paid by job title (unless they get pregnant and are no longer productive, then they should get nothing until they return to work)

Anything else?

Chef Darrell - I guess what you are saying correct me if I am wrong - it's not oK to be treated in an emergency and families should pay $20,000 to $40,000 to send a child to college? okay but a woman last I looked who is more productive than you can ever be - why? you sir cannot make life and women can ergo she is being productive and has every right to get parental leave and why not the contributing partner? Plus she should be paid for this leave last I looked it was 6 weeks and you would begrudge her that what a small man you are. And if truly you are a chef my daughter was a chef and believe me sir I know the hours required - to work in your industry.

There are those who simply do not understand what they claim as fact in their own narrow world. I will again suggest to Madison that she take a trip to the library and read up on the subject; Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote extensively about life in the Gulag Archipelago and the Soviet regime. No one who really understands the horrors of communism or Hitler's fascism would make such an uninformed statement. No, I never have never and never will call Pres Bush or VP Cheney either name despite my belief their policies were wrong for the country.

Quite striking how the American people were fooled and misled because they were weak-minded and easily led astray by Barack Obama. Now that they've elected a Republican majority in one house of Congress it's because they're wise and intelligent, impossible to fool.

As always reality is always exactly what Conservatives want it to be.

The Republican Party is in totally cahoots with the Wall St. lobbyists...Wall St. drives the Republican Party. Wall St. and WalMart are behind the outsourcing of jobs to Communist China. Why because it's cheaper to do business there...Americans make too much money. Maybe if we had the Chinese health care plan and made Chinese wages the jobs will come back. My solution, dump free trade agreements. There was no income tax...back in the days of duties and tariffs. Tax the Chinese.

I hope you're right but it is hard to imagine when Boehner, McConnell and others are still repeating the "my way or the highway" mentality we had hoped to leave behind when Bush/Cheney left office.

Obama, Pelosi and Reid didn't even let the Repubs in the room when they were crafting the hideous ObamaCare bill. Obama said we could ride at the back of the bus and were the enemy. I thought the Prez was supposed to be above all this. Obviously not.

Rusty248
They really think communication is the problem? I find that delusional

No, Obama doesn't think communication is the problem. He just wants his low information base voters to think he thinks that. Obama's base will believe any excuse he cooks up, you just need to look at some the Libs comments here to see it's true. For some reason, they still adore the guy.

...which isn't any damn different from the low-information voters that buy into everything that comes from the right-wing pundits of the world.

Low information voter is not a term I am comfortable with, but it seems to be a part of the dialogue.

So, tell me, folks, who is to blame for this?

It seems to me that this country has a Fourth Estate, whose primary responsibility is to inform voters. Can anyone on this board honestly say that they have been doing their jobs?

All of the people I know who voted for Obama thought they were getting "Bill Clinton redux"- and got, instead, Jimmy Carter redux. So, how were these voters, who listened to the Zelig candidate, to know the truth? Think maybe the journalists could have spent a little less time repeating " historic, unprecedented", and a little more time on his voting record?

It remained until after the inauguration for 53% of the electorate to discover just how far left, and disconnected from reality, Obama truly was- four different polls, including two by democratic polling organizations, put his re election numbers at 38%. So, 15% of the people who voted for Obama do not plan on repeating that mistake. Would they have made it in the first place had they been given unbiased information?

Seems to me that indicting people for not having information is more rightly an indictment of the media.

Yes, our weak authoritarian pushover strongman regularly exhibits his elite education by being too stupid and dense to understand what's going on right in front of his face. Too top it off he spends entirely too much time not communicating with the American people, spending all his time on TV and going places where there are people instead. It's a miracle all his ambitious plans haven't totally destroyed the nation by not doing anything.

Low information voters are the ones that wait on a suited talking head, to tell them what and how to think.

Rush and Fox said they would interpret for them and look on the lies they sold them. They crow about ratings, all the while selling their wares to these poor people, who they care nothing about, except how much money they can make on these people backs.

John B,

I am truly enjoying your snarcasm. Nice touch! You've kept the gloves on FAR TOO LONG.

I suspect njnb is uncomfortable with the term because it causes her great introspection. She is one of the biggest purveyors of BAD information, therefore she painfully identifies with the LOW information element. Or something like that.

njnbnj

Low information voter is not a term I am comfortable with, but it seems to be a part of the dialogue.

So, tell me, folks, who is to blame for this?

It seems to me that this country has a Fourth Estate, whose primary responsibility is to inform voters.

Who's to blame? The voters. If a voter chooses to only access information from one place that provides only one type of ideology, they are in fact a "low information" voter. If a voter cannot separate the entertainment aspect of the "news" they are observing from the facts of what is really going on, they are in a fact a "low information" voter. It is the voters job to not just observe the entertainers making a living off of politics. That includes Jon Stewart, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Bill Maher, and Keith Olbermann (among others).

If those are the only places you're getting your "news", you are a "low information" voter. There is plenty of information available to the voter. A serious voter will ignore the political entertainers, and research a cross section of views from more serious sources of the news.

No, the democrats won't do the same thing because they believe it more important to fix our problems and help people. I'd rather lose an election based on solving problems than win one based on doing nothing while the people continue to suffer.

It is a dilemna...you're both right. Good thoughts.

First you make the money THEN and only then do you go shopping not before.

Tax breaks allow business owners to defer that tax money into jobs.

A business cannot do both pay taxes and hire people the end result of higher taxes on the businesses of this country are less taxable incomes and higher prices.

I hope the remnants of the previous administration have learned that lesson.

We cannot afford more government with the less tax collectors higher taxes will produce.

The government needs to learn to live within its means.

If the republicans lower the taxes more privet sector jobs (TAXABLE INCOMES) will be produced.

If the democrats become obstructionists they will lose more seats in staggering numbers in 2012.

There are many other shady deals the previous administration has committed against the will of the people, if the remnants of the previous administration do not yield to the will of the people you will be gone. You the remnants of the previous administration Will be the obstructionists if you do not yield to the will of the people.

Lets cut the crap! after seeing many weeks of eric cantors you cut sight I know the republicans have the right ideas.

There is alot to be cut long before any cuts would have to be made to the people.

Here is your proof. http://www.republicanwhip.house.gov/YouCut/

Social security is not in financial trouble we have excess however this excess needs to be locked away from our government. The social security administration needs to be investigated for its 700.000 dollar parties the people responcible need to be fired and social security needs to become much more secure and mondernized.

I wouldn't worry about the things we need i would worry about all of the wasted spending we do not need.

I would much rather see more liberatarians in office they are anti war. a great saving yet another savings would be use our military on our boarders. They are also very freedom oriented a much better party then the overly expencive far left.

well said. Obama negotiated horribly with the republicans. However, the Republicans will have a rude awakening when they fictitiously try to repeal the law and face the onslaught of the insurance industry lobbyists. They will only go through the hearings..and might change the 1099 section..but Obama must be vigilant to show he is the bi-partisan person and not let the Republicans claim it has their victory or worse yet..pass a reform as a repeal.

WRONG! If the republicans become the democcrats they can count on the same fate. We do not want to spend money. We do not want taxes raised .

The rest of the democrats better not be obstructionists or they too will be gone.,