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Subscribe to RSSThe question, roared by one of the newest members of the Senate in a cavernous Capitol Hill hearing room, was this: "Is the Tea Party still a force in America?"
About 100 activists, who were gathered to listen to the the inaugural meeting of the Senate "Tea Party Caucus," delivered a resounding "yeah."
The setting -- a room that's held such press-saturated moments of D.C. importance as the last eight Supreme Court confirmation hearings -- wasn't exactly typical for the small-government, anti-establishment crowd dotted with yellow "Don't Tread on Me" flags.
But attendees seemed right at home. And the newly-elected lawmakers, fresh from casting their first series of votes and receiving word of their first committee assignments, were careful to say that their "caucus" isn't the stodgily formal assembly that the Washington-speak might imply.
"This caucus exists not for the purpose of speaking for or on behalf of any one organization or any one citizen," said freshman Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. "It serves instead as an effective forum through which you and other Constitution-loving, freedom-embracing Americans can communicate your ideas to members of the United States Senate."
"Some said when people who came from the Tea Party were elected that Washington would co-opt us," said Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. "The interesting thing is that I think we're already co-opting Washington."
Paul noted that the Tea Party's anti-spending mantra is starting to seep its way into words coming out of some unlikely mouths.
"I went to my first State of the Union the other day, and guess who's now against earmarks?" Paul said gleefully. "The president of the United States has been co-opted by the Tea Party!"
But, he added, "I don't think he's necessarily happy about it."
Small but growing
Lee and Paul were joined by Sen. Jim DeMint -- whose early backing during the campaign provided a boost for many Tea Party-affiliated candidates -- as the formally announced members of the caucus. Two other freshman senators - Sens. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Jerry Moran of Kansas - also spoke at the event. (It's unclear if Toomey considers himself a formal member of the caucus; Moran told reporters after his remarks that he is joining.) Other Tea Party-affiliated activists, including anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist and FreedomWorks' Matt Kibbe, also addressed the crowd.
DeMint, the only non-freshman of the group, enjoyed the ovation of activists who credit him as a kingmaker for conservative candidates, but he underscored that the gratitude should flow in the other direction.
Gesturing to his two co-caucus members, DeMint smiled broadly. "Thank you for sending me some help!" he told the audience.
But for the short term, that help likely isn't enough to enact major changes in the world's most deliberative body. Outright repeal of the Obama-backed health care reform bill, as well as spending cuts dramatic enough to sharply reduce the deficit, likely aren't acheivable in the Senate, where Democrats retain a majority. (The fiscally-conservative movement has more numerical steam in the House. A corresponding Tea Party caucus on the other side of the Capitol dome, led by Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, boasts about two dozen members.)
"We don't yet have the numbers to do all the good things that we need to do," DeMint acknowledged.
Instead, the Tea Party lawmakers pinpointed the passage of a balanced budget amendment, the elimination of congressional earmarks, and the prevention of a "naked" raise in the federal debt ceiling (one without offsetting deficit-reducing measures) as key agenda items to push until the next election, when the number of like-minded senators could grow.
Not every Republican who received Tea Party backing during the election opted to attend the first meeting. Sen. Marco Rubio, who received support from DeMint during the 2010 campaign, is holding out from formally joining the caucus. And new GOP freshmen Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire have also said they're not considering themselves part of the group at this time.
Paul told reporters that he didn't view any declined invitations as "snubs." Of the five senators who did attend, he said, "I think that's a great beginning."
Paul, who organized Thursday's event, said that he hopes to have caucus meetings "quarterly," perhaps timed in advance of key votes on fiscal issues close to the members' hearts.
And maybe the next time, the setting will be a little less, well, Senate-y.
'If it's warm enough, maybe we can even do it outside," Paul said. "A couple hundred thousand people would be fine."
NBC's Ken Strickland contributed.
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We used to call those 'circle jer.." uh, never mind.
Why no mention of Senator Rubio side stepping this charade?
Any Republican with an ounce of common sense left, can't distance themselves fast enough from this spectacle!
2 years of witnessing their antics and the Independents will come running back to the Democratic Party!
It's going to be a long two years but likely entertaining. However admirable the TP mission is (I disagree with them completely), they simply do not grasp that ideology doesn't solve problems.
TEA Party = Tax Evading Americans Party
Jody - are you sure ideology doesn't solve problems? So what exactly was "Hope and Change?"
Kevin - it's tax minimizing party.
Tea partiers have no ideas "Cut the Deficit!", but not medicare, medicaid, defense, etc etc. They actually want to cut regulations, which we wouldn't have, if big business and the corporate lobbyists could be trusted to protect future generations from their greed and "free market", make a buck any way you can, mentality.
Whine your little hearts away, libbies, next election they will be bigger.
We remove a lot of rinos and dem lites, during the primaries last year we'll get some more in the primaries in 2012.
Cower in terror libbies, retribution approaches, apace.
Nah Jerry - If it's all the same to you, I prefer to LMAO the next two years watching the tea baggers in action!
Popcorn?
Amen, Red.
Say- 'spose Jerry is from Corpus Christi TX?
LMFAO, Fiesty does your unemployment run that long. Could be rough paying those internet fees. I dont think the Obama admin has internet credits yet. Geesus is that red hair growing inside that noggin of yours.
Tax Evading Americans - sounds about right, the only thing all TEA partiers agree on is they want their taxes lowered, an "I've got mine, screw the rest of the country" attitude.
Some want a "Christian Theocracy", some want a libertarian "small government" with no regulations to keep the unscrupulous from scamming up lots of money, some want to end "socialized medicine" (but don't touch their Medicaid and Veterans Hospitals!), some want all "foreigners" expelled, and some want their own strict laws imposed on everyone. None agree on all those other issues.
I expect the TEA party to take the same "flash in the pan" course as the "Moral Majority" - make a lot of noise, get some early successes, then flame out completely. Ironically, many of the TEA partiers were once stalwart members of the "Moral Majority" (neither moral nor a majority). History repeats.
No ideas, just name calling. Are you defending the actions that have led us to this deficit and jobless rate or something?
4 years of witnessing the antics of Pelosi and Reid and 2 yrs of witnessing Obama sent them running away, yet you seem to be supporting any lawyer and politician based on the (D) after their name rather than their actions. Why?
Ideology is all the Obama administration has and was the entire election platform. It sure wasn't experience. Then again, Obama ran on name calling and the left really seems to enjoy doing that.
Cite source. Last I checked, they weren't the ones moving their yacht to another state or getting censored for not paying taxes on rental property.
OH NO!!! Say it ain't SO!!! lol
Class act, dems We are wathcing the classless comments. Nothing has changed!
Typical angry mob. Go back to your 'No Blood for Oil' banner feisty redhead.
You make us all sick with your hate!
Drive by---they still do in this case.
You TP people--your rancor gets old. Your pining for the pioneer days gets old. Your reliance on "the old way" gets old. Why don't you guys step up to the plate and do something, (other than the same banter--cut taxes, gimme jesus, eliminate government and let's be anarchists).
I love the fact the I was a lefty to all the righties in 2008 and now I am a righty with 2012 election coming. I have seen both side and the way they discuss issues, I have to give it to the right as being more civilized and easier to deal with. Lefties need so bad to set the emotions a side and deal in reality. I have never seen such dedication to the blue light no matter what. Name calling is a highlight of the attacks. It seems the more scarred they are the more the name calling is escalated.
The Tea party is a response to the non-sence that has been going on in Washngton for the last 2 years. Demos keep it up and the TP will just get stronger.
Independent and working for the removal of Obama and that mess of a health care bill.
Interesting comments, caradjt, especially coming from someone whose posts are so offensive that they are regularly collapsed by the community.
bring it on girls, plenty of room for a vible third or fourth party. The way fiesty talks shlt, bet she wants to start a radical, sarcastic filled fourth party! LOL That will truly be an all talk, no ideas party!
you used to participate in "circle je.." ? with the "red he.." ?
Hey John M, Has it ever crossed your mouthy mind that you imps think it is only the Democrats that do all the wrong? Think about the village idiot that left all this crap to President Obama, The great American Dictator started two wars over lies, put 48 million without insurance, 67 million lost their homes and jobs. The price on everything tripled. He had a rabid skunk as V.P. Many of our men lost their life. He had over a million innocent people killed. That wasn't wrong to you no thinkers was it? You people are sick.
Hey bob, has it ever crossed your mouty mind that your dem has been in office for the last 2 years and has made everything worse? And your party refused to even read what was in their bill? Hey bob I suggest you learn how to read and think for yourself instead of your blind trust. Hey bob do you really think things are getting better? Hey bob I can be a keyboard warrior also.
The tea party movement is conservative by nature but also against business as usual. The real idea was to get washington moving again in the right direction, Many people are fully discusted with the antics of both partys. The only problem with the tea party is not really winning enough seats in both houses, the career politicians need to wake up, It's not business as usual. I hope more are voted out next year, we need some honest representation for a change.
And Jerry, this 'Hey Bob' stuff is what, clever? How about an original notion instead of down-opted talking points. Really, do you think your lack of intelligent thought is not noticeable?
Reading the Constitution, aloud, is a good start. Reading the Federalist Papers, which was the open debate on every provision of the Constitution would be better, But that is 1000 pages long, something our esteemed politicians seem to be unable to do. If the nanny state existed in 1903, the Wright bros. would have been prevented, by government regulation, to even attempt flight. And regulations, and tort lawyers, have since killed the entire private aircraft industry. Hamburger meat is now $6 a pound, because we need our corn for ethanol, a real farce. I can't eat the foods that I was raised on, I cannot feed homeless from my kitchen. Her royal nanny-ness is now telling me how much I am allowed to weigh. No, it is far more than just 'Taxes'
Hopefully the Tea Party politicos will play slash and burn to the mountains of government regulations. Of course, that will create massive unemployment when many government departments become totally unnecessary, along with the army of non-governmentals that those departments feed.
Great ideas, Mort. Let's do away with ALL regulations. What a party that would have been in 2008 as we watched the country go down in flames as one economic sector after another collapsed, starting with the banking/financial sector! That would have been really cool! And then let's let corporations start poisoning the environment again, because damn it, those pesky regulations just cost the shareholders too damn much off the profits!
In exchange, we'll outsource as many jobs as possible to countries oversees because, damn it, those American workers just cost too damn much!
Your vision for the future of this country, Mort, sounds REAL GOOD. I'm sure you and your fellow travelers will get LOTS OF SUPPORT once the American people see what you folks are really up to.
The Tea Party needs to represent what it is that they do, whether anyone acts with them or not, and there are more than 30 Senators actively supporting the United States as citizens who have joined together to help run the states and make good changes in our country. The Tea Party may not catch on with anyone, and after the fanfare is old news often new party line just disappear, but the workers are in pace with our problems and possibilities, and want to make good changes to our state's economies. Betsy.
Hey Red. You must be in the teachers union or another overpaid govt. subsidised blood sucker
Good thoughts Betsy, I concure
Gosh, it looks like Feisty Redhead is getting under the skin of the tea people. Could it be that the truth hurts. If the tea people would start acting like they had some common sense and stop supporting bubble heads like Palin, Bachmann and the FOX circus, then maybe we would take some of you seriously.
One question I have is, where were you guys when W. Bush was President?
Also Kevin Q
I love this slogan for the front of the T-Shirt
“TEA Party = Tax Evading Americans Party”
You bet liberals, keep knocking those tea party people with your useless personal attacks while bringing absolutely nothing to the conversation of value. They will go away for sure. Isn't that what you liberals said well over a year ago? Instead of knocking them, why not try talking about the beliefs of this new party. Tell us how much you hate lower taxes, or smaller government, or reduced spending. At least offer something other then your personal attacks and useless dribble that roles off of your chins like drool.
Feisty, I bet you are beaming with pride regarding how well your pals, the Democrats, have run things in Illinois. You should be spending more time pointing out their actions, or inaction, then attacking people that really want change in Washington. Give them a chance. I believe you liberals said something similar OVER 2 years ago when Obama took office. Didn't you?
Again, One question I have is, where were you guys when W. Bush was President?
and i suppose you agree with barry's method.....spend, spend, spend till you are broke.
I see as usual Feisty made sure to be one of the first to post her inane and useless blather, can't believe her eqaully useless buddy wasn't right behind her.. Must be nice to have that much free time, but I guess when you got nothing to do but wait for the mailman to bring you your gubment entitlement you can do that sort of stuff. Funny how the one person with the least amount worth listening to has the most to say.
oboy - fiesty and her posse collapsed my previous post on creating a viable 3rd and/or 4th party and I even supported fiesty as being a leader of one of them. One would have thought that I called her party the party of SIASD! lol!
Frank nitti - be advised that joidy of iowa also stated that she "hates" republicans also. Guess we know that she and some of her posse will never agree to bipartisanship legislation. It will always be her way or the highway!
Joby
I like this for a t-shirt
"Democrat = Jethro Bodine stupid"
"Again, One question I have is" where where you when it came out that Timmy Geithner is guilty of tax evasion , or Johnny (my wife wears the pants) Kerry evaded taxes , or Chucky (I'm entitled) Rangle was evading taxes...you even using "tea party" and "tax evasion" in the same sentence is quite ...well...you get the idea
ya, that's the one
Why is a Campaign rally being held in a Senate office?
Grover Norquist speaking! Whazzzup with that?
Get the Ethics Panel firedup, it's gonna be exciting!
RIck- I wonder if Scalia or Roberts or Sam Alito will be in attendance?
When the Dems get back the House, I truly hope that they have grown a pair and a backbone by them and impeach Scalia, Alito, Roberts, and Thomas. Politics has no place in the SCOTUS, yet these four are flaunting their Right-Wing-nut politics every chance they get. Judicial Ethics requires them to step down now!
Aw shucks, you libbies, could rule the world , if it wasn't for that nasty old constitution, couldn't you.
Here is a hint sunshine you don't need the house, the Senate, only, is responsible for impeachment, go ahead get started. You only need 75%
Jerry, you do need the House to impeach a supreme court justice. The house has to impeach the justice, and the justice is removed from office if convicted by a Senate trial.
So it's not gonna happen this round, but it should. The blatant partisanship of Scalia, Roberts, Alito, and Thomas (add violation of the rules by Thomas) is a shameful turn in what used to be the last respected branch of our government.
I'd like to see you clarify your remark about the "nasty old Constitution"... liberals respect it, whereas conservatives just seem to use "Constitution" as some kind of magic-word pixie-dust without understanding it at all in an attempt to endorse their anti-American agenda.
Jerry - thanks for sharing your intellect and knowledge with us.
or lack thereof
watch as we restore the Republic. cry libby redistributionists as we cast your anti-American ideas on the scrap heap of history!
God save the Tea Party!
HEAR hear, in a 2 more years libbies and the head liar himself, will be obscure historical footnotes.
Your problem peaches, is that liberals are the only people who actually impact history. We make the nation the rest of you get the free ride. We work, you enjoy, and complain that you're not the only one enjoying. But don't worry we liberals will keep building the US. And because we're such "bleeding hearts" you'll get to enjoy our efforts (like you do now) despite working against the success of our nation.
You people are under the impression that the "tea party" is gona save America .... Just another CULT yea that's right I said a CULT I call it how it is here is my proof.....
They will blindly follow any one who references GOD, smallerGovernment, Guns , and of Course my fav that OUR PRESIDENT is a Socialist, Marxist ,Socialist and from Kenya.....
Their MOVEMENT because that's what it truly is ( not a Political party as they claim to be because they are mostly all Republicans) is a litmus test to see if you truly are an EXTREMIST..
You people probably would cast Reagan from the party for being too liberal or even Eisenhower as well....You guys just keep repeating untruths that government is bad and they ruin everything, well I have some news for you, the MAIN reason things are the way they are right now is because George Bush De-REGULATED every industry, which then let them do as they please.... As we know BIG BUISNESS is not able to police itself because of one thing and its what truly is killing this nation and it is GREED,They will not look out for the best interest of their consumer.Greed Esp at the top, their is no money flowing in the economy and big business just made a RECORD amount of profit.Why do they not hire???? Why do they not give wage raises?????
Our President has been a friend to business and yet he is demonized. The stock market is almost doubled from when he started office and profits are through the roof. Our President has also included tax breaks for business esp in the stimulus which was also demonized as well as giving small business tax credits in the health care bill that helps take the burden off of them .....
Explain to me how OUR PRESIDENT is anti buisness or even anti american I dare anyone to provide information to this. One rule Use FACTS and back it up using sources Please!!!!!!!!
The tea party is just a bunch of Hell raisers/sh!t starters that spend weekends ironing sheets for their Klan rally. You will be blessed when you become selfless and more humble.
That's why I prefer coffee!
The Tea party is the public response to the non-sense that has been going on in Washington for the last 2 years. Demos keep it up and the TP coalition will just get stronger.
Independent and working for the removal of Obama and that mess of a health care bill.
Mitch
I can't believe you spew the crap you spew and then have the nerve to call liberals unAmerican.
Listen up sissy. I served a year and a half in Vietnam and have more then paid my dues. You got a problem. Look to yourself.
Hey Rick, you whatever destroyed this Country when Bushski was in office. So it is only fair that you Party of No fix it back. You people are only going to run your mouth.
God won't save the TP. Right about now, the smart people are sitting down with all the TP newbies telling them three things:
- the talking points that keep the folks back home ("the base") thinking you're doing what they thought they elected you to do
- what you need to do to actually get something done in DC (how much, besides face time, has Ms. Bachmann accomplished?)
- what you need to do to actually get re-elected.
Trust me, if they don't learn and play by the rules, they will be self term-limited.
caradjt...you sound like a freaking parrot..keep repeating the same post..STFU
I thought the regular vine was bad with assinine comments but this firstread stuff is laughable. A few attempt to have a discussion and everyone else just makes dumb comments insulting others on their political beliefs. It's no wonder the USA isn't the leader in anything but military might anymore. The only thing we seem to do well is fight. Maybe everyone should quit pointing fingers at the other side and start pointing at ALL politicians. If you don't.... the you are a big part of the problem.
Was that an interactice caucus or an interactice cluster @!$%#?
It was an interacive 'baggering'. Many bags were t'd, and a good time was had by all. (well, most all- the one's that were 'taxed enough already', even though their rates are the lowest since 1950 didn't have such a great time)
Go ahead, talk some more of that same drivel, that got your fannies handed to you, in Nov., last.
With your help, there may well be no elected dems, in DC after 2012.
Jerry your loonie toon outlook is laughable.. hahahahahahaha
Explain to me how owning 1/3 is getting your fannies handed to you... Remember dems own the senate and the presidency so your jealousy is oozing out.....
I wonder is their will be any true republicans in Washington after the tea cancer keeps pushing people more and more to the right..... Lies and untruths only work for so long then when people have had enough you will have your just desserts...
The tea party and republican are in the fear business, they have learned well after the shenanigans of bush to get re-elected and to get us into two wars that have drained this country of OUR MONEY, OUR GREATNESS and our Place in the world as a LEADER and soldier of FREEDOM.. We are now a joke in the world and the trust we had of other nations is just not there now because of it..
" GOD BLESS AMERICA" !!!!!!!!!!
The Tea party is a response to the non-sense that has been going on in Washington for the last 2 years. Demos keep it up and the TP will just get stronger.
Independent and working for the removal of Obama and that mess of a health care bill.
So in 2.5 hours you could not think of anything new so you copied and pasted from 4.2? Since you appear to be unarmed, I shall not debate.
I have this odd feeling that The Tea Party doesn't get the rest of the country's message. We like the basic structure of our government, (minus the wasteful spending and corruption). I had this neighbor 15 years ago that spouted the same thing--she was a 'sovereign citizen' and claimed that she had to pay no taxes. That didn't work out for her too well for her.
We'll end up doing with less, and yes--we will be taxed at a higher rate and, yes---we'll gripe. We don't want to regress. I'm totally fine if this 'minority' finds a country where they can dictate their desires to the masses. Just like the crazy neighbor from 15 years ago--good luck with that.
God save the Tea Party?????
There is just so much wrong with that comment. LMAO.....I'm assuming it was sarcastic...hahahahaha
Kareem in my Coffee
God save the Tea Party?????
There is just so much wrong with that comment. LMAO.....I'm assuming it was sarcastic...hahahahaha
Wouldn't it be nice if he could enlighten the tea baggers?
still don't understand how you can call yourself a liberal, yet use a derogatory homosexual slur towards conservatives....will never understand liberals....calling someone an ugly name makes you feel better? Makes you part of a mob? What is the rational? Makes me not take you seriously....tacky man, tacky
You can also tea bag a female, thus it is not a homosexual slur. Also, thanks for pointing out the bigotry of your kla...I mean side. Do you also hate Blacks, Jews, Catholics, Atheists, the depressed, the crippled, and people who think freely? Also, red armbands went out of style in the 40's.
BB3333, the bigotry is stemming from your side. You are the one makeing the assumptions of hate which puts you as the one lableing others and is that not the definition of being a bigot?
Hey Beverly, seeing how it's ok for you to call Tea Partiers tea baggers then using the same level of respect it's ok to call you a clueless douche bag....right? It is definitely more accurate.
You folks seem to forget that during the first tea party rallys, Glen Beck referred to y'all as Tea-Baggers. People showed up with signs saying they were proud to be Tea-Baggers... until somebody pointed out what it meant. Now everyone who uses their term of choice is wrong?
They are speaking with one voice and that is fine, by me. I would just like them to own up to it. They are putting the so-call RINOs on notice. I feel for the moderate Republicans, but not too much. This is going to be wonderful political theatre for the next two years.
The Tea Party is not going away! Keep the uninformed insults coming. Better yet, attend a rally and stop
lying to yourself.
Do I gotta carry?
OK, Matt, so here's one for you:
Q: What's the difference between the members of the Tea Party Movement and our Founding Fathers who wrote the Constitutiion?
A: One group lived in another century, wore bad clothing, had bad teeth, and believed that women should not have the right to vote, that slavery should be legal, and that a freed slave's vote should count as 3/5 of a white person's vote. AND THE OTHER GROUP WAS OUR FOUNDING FATHERS!!
NAH--------- Let them keep talking, fastest way to recruit more Tea Partiers.
I wasn't around back then, so I can only speak from my own conscience in the present, and what I can glean from history books. Times definetly do change but I'm not so sure that people do. You have folks who are capable of making sound honest decisions in any generation. Anyone on this board should be able to run for office if they firmly believe in service to their constituents. Why not?
Not going away? You mean, like how the Moral Majority didn't go away, and how the Reform Party didn't go away?
I'd say history is about to repeat, again.
It amazes me how many on the left have no clue why the 3/5 clause was put in the constitution. It was meant to undermine slavery. It worked too.
I know you guys like to pretend Lincoln was really a Democrat, so was the 3/5 clause entered into the constitution by Democrats with the label of Republican or do you only get to claim a Republican as your own on a case-by-case basis? (it's a trick question btw)
You BETCHA! ;o)
I'm thankful to have a front row seat as I witness the demise of the tea baggers!
I love the Lincoln debate, lol...
When we are ending slavery he "was a Republican" and when he "invaded the South" he was a "liberal". Also Party lines did an about-face during the Reconstruction and came to a slamming halt as we know them now under FDR, you know that evil Socialist who fixed Great Depression #1 and deftly managed WWII.
Also there is no "restoring the republic" because it has been in place since its inception. A Democratically elected Republic that falls under the definition of both Democracy and Republic (What both, how can that be?!). Point being, you can't have your cake and eat it too, your just as bad as those lazy un-American folks on welfare who got their jobs shipped overseas by the folks funding this "movement". You want all this reform and are unwilling to sacrifice. The new budget recommendation came out, you can find it on any reputable news site and maybe on Faux News...We are tending towards bankruptcy like, oh, the Soviet Union ans other than, yes, cutting a lot of the Democrat chaff, the folks who run the committee (it is bi-partisan by the way) say that we will get nowhere unless the wealthier Americans see a tax increase.
Therefor, if we reach bankruptcy, because of your revisionist view of American history believing that this is more-or-less and anarchist (that means without control, but I shouldn't tell you because hey Obama is both a fascist and a Communist, because those aren't on complete opposite ends of the political spectrum, right?) economy, when the s*** hits the fan, Taxes are coming down on you very very hard, so keep protecting the opulent (that means extremely rich).
And to your "Don't Tread" flag, I like to fly my Battle Flag of the Union, because America 1- Secessionists 0
Please do research on the Democratic party history. You will find that for the most part they were responsible for Jim Crow laws, Maintaining slavery, Vietnam war. To mention a few.
Memo To Michelle Bachmann: THANK YOU FOR THE BOTCHED UP HISTORY LESSON!!!!!!!!
It's really interesting to me when Conservatives/GOTPers state that "The Republican Party FREED the slaves" AND that "their party signed the Civil Rights Acts into law" when they claim that they are not racist, but they fail to answer how such a rift could've taken hold in the first place.
To find out what happened, we have to go back to the "Reconstruction Era" of the latter half of the 19th Century.
Abraham Lincoln, having beaten the South in the bloodiest Civil War in our nations' history, failed, or did not pursue the prosecution of Confederate Veterans for high treason and war crimes.
Likewise, Ulysses S. Grant, although he was a prominent war hero, close friend to the de-parted Lincoln, and fought back and re-pealed the "Black Codes" of 1867 that were brought to fruition by President Andrew Johnson, he made the following errors:
1. As Commander of the Union Army, he gave considerably generous terms to effect the surrender of Confederate Troops to end the Civil War on the condition that when they returned to their homes, they would never take up arms against the United States.
2. Even though he supported the Freedman's Bureau, signed the Naturalization Act of 1870 and the Civil Rights Act of 1875, the passage of the 15th Amendment to the U.S Constitution and went out to prosecuted leaders of the KKK, Red Shirts and the White League, BOTH he and the Liberal Republicans supported amnesty for former Confederate Veterans by signing the Amnesty Act of 1872, and dramatically scaled back use of the U.S Army to quell the paramilitary uprising in Southern States during the 1876 elections.
Finally, Rutherford B. Hayes, brokered a deal with Democratic Political Leaders (the Redeemers) in the Southern States Stating that if the electorates in Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina would send their votes for him, he would do the following:
1. Add a Southern Democrat to his Cabinet.
2 Legislation to help industrialize the South.
3. Remove ALL Federal Troops from former Confederate States WITH THE CONDITION that the rights of African Americans WOULD BE PROTECTED.
To make his failure complete, a Democratic Majority led 45th Congress passed an appropriations bill for the Army with a "rider' attached that would subsequently re-peal the Force Acts.
The results and actions of these men would have dire consequences and repercussions that would span from 1865 to the 21st Century, a cumulative lifetime period covering 146 years.
It is worth mentioning that during that time, African Americans rose to prominence, and 21 sat on Congress:
RepresentativePartyStateTermLifespanFormer slave
John Willis Menard
Republican
Louisiana
1868
1838–1893
No
Joseph Rainey
Republican
South Carolina
1870–1879
1832–1887
Yes
Jefferson F. Long
Republican
Georgia
1870–1871
1836–1901
Yes
Robert C. De Large
Republican
South Carolina
1871–1873
1842–1874
No
Robert B. Elliott
Republican
South Carolina
1871–1874
1842–1884
No
Benjamin S. Turner
Republican
Alabama
1871–1873
1825–1894
Yes
Josiah T. Walls
Republican
Florida
1871–1873, 1873–1876
1842–1905
Yes
Richard H. Cain
Republican
South Carolina
1873–1875, 1877–1879
1825–1887
No
John R. Lynch
Republican
Mississippi
1873–1877, 1882–1883
1847–1939
Yes
James T. Rapier
Republican
Alabama
1873–1875
1837–1883
No
Alonzo J. Ransier
Republican
South Carolina
1873–1875
1834–1882
No
Jeremiah Haralson
Republican
Alabama
1875–1877
1846–1916
Yes
John Adams Hyman
Republican
North Carolina
1875–1877
1840–1891
Yes
Charles E. Nash
Republican
Louisiana
1875–1877
1844–1913
No
Robert Smalls
Republican
South Carolina
1875–1879, 1882–1883, 1884–1887
1839–1915
Yes
James E. O'Hara
Republican
North Carolina
1883–1887
1844–1905
No
Henry P. Cheatham
Republican
North Carolina
1889–1893
1857–1935
Yes
John Mercer Langston
Republican
Virginia
1890–1891
1829–1897
No
Thomas E. Miller
Republican
South Carolina
1890–1891
1849–1938
No
George W. Murray
Republican
South Carolina
1893–1895, 1896–1897
1853–1926
Yes
George Henry White
Republican
North Carolina
1897–1901
1852–1918
No
From 1868 until 1901, these men were systematically removed from their office, some with blatant evidence of election fraud and rampant voter intimidation, particularly among black voters of that time. Had these men stayed in office and held every Republican Presidents' feet to the fire on Civil Rights, from 1881 to 1933, things would've turned out differently for generations of African Americans to come. Instead, they did very little, if nothing at all, from making pretty speeches against lynching and mass murders, to vetoing legislation and their timid unwillingness to uphold the 14th and 15th Amendments, to defend them. To them, it was nothing but a grab for power.
It wasn't until the Great Depression and the onset of WWII that things started to turn around for the better between African Americans and the Democratic Party. In addition to the New Deal and ordering the military to allow Blacks to serve in combat units (although segregated), FDR worked more closely with the NAACP and other Civil Rights organizations at the time dealing with cases of police brutality, lynching and voting rights abuses. Then another Democratic President came in. Finishing the business that his predecessor had left off when he died in office, Harry Truman was receiving wave after wave of reports on how African Americans comported themselves on the the fields of battle, be it air, land, and/or sea, and he made one of the most decisive decisions in the annals of U.S History: He signed Executive Order 9981 which virtually ENDED segregation in the Armed Forces, he signed a second one making it illegal to discirminate against a person applying for Civil Service based on race and finally one that established the Committee on Government Contract Compliance, ensuring that defense contractors to the armed forces could not discriminate against a person on account of race.
With President Eisenhower declaring racial discrimination a "National Security issue", He is probably THE ONLY REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT that understood how serious this matter is, and the following things took place under his administration:
(1) The U.S Supreme Court ruled in the case of Brown versus the Board of Education, Topeka, Kansas, that segregation in our public schools was unconstitutional.
(2) He signed Executive Order 10730, bringing the Arkansas National Gaurd under Federal control during the "Little Rock Nine" Incident.
(3) He signed the Civil Rights Acts of 7957 and 1960, the latter putting a Civil Rights Office inside the Justice Department.
During the Sixties, a large fundamental shift was taking place inside the Republican and Democratic Parties, particularly where African Americans and Civil Rights is concerned, and although the Kennedy Administration laid out much of the groundwork, the Johnson Administration turned the tide once and for all. Here is a link to a post I have on the subject:
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/11/12/5454862-cindy-mccain-splits-from-husband-on-dont-ask-dont-tell?commentId=19367990#c19367990. Look for Kevin-458252, comment number 351.1.
There is no further need to look into the Reagan, Bush-41 and Bush-43 administrtations, for we know all too well about them.
Actually, instead of 'carrying', I bet a tea party gathering would make a whole lot more sense to me if I was 'holing' or 'using'.
No, you don't have to be afraid, just show up. I know it can be frightening to think that your government has problems, but that's ok. At some point you will have to wean yourself off anyway. If you don't use your head they will gladly use it for you.
"Using one's head", and 'Tea Partiers' seems mutually excluseive, somehow. Maybe I need to quit looking to guys like Palin, O'Donnell, Angle, Beck, et.al. for my examples, then?
AND leave my irons at home?
That's a start for sure! You don't need to look to anyone but your own common sense.
MATT---------- You are talking to libbies!!!!
you know how unlikely you are to find common sense there.
DO you guys come in. like, a right-hand version and a left-hand version?
Was Bill Baird your daddy? Jeff Dunham??
Government has huge problems - both repubs and dems. The big difference - repubs actually screw the average American out of more money than the dems - think S&L crisis - still paying for it! think - getting rid of the 40mpg law by 2010 because it "threatened" the economy - thanks RR, think two wars & haliburton & a huge tax break for me (thanks - I am saving 40K a year in taxes - you do the math!), think - trickle down economics (I haven't hired one extra person because my taxes are less - I also own 4 companies), think Medicare Plan D (it is going to bankrupt medicare), I could go on and on...but hey, I appreciate all the redneck right wing Christians that have no money (only their "morals") for continually protecting my income from being taxed...
Our Government is the problem and so is anyone who thinks this can be fixed by Democrats, Republicans, Tea Baggers, Dianetics, Christianity or Haitian Voodoo. This country has gone way off the tracks. Time to tear it down and rebuild it and this time without the double talking, slave owning, pocket lining "Founding Fathers" that set this country on the wrong path to begin with.
Do you have any ideas? Besides "second ammendment remedies"? TP'ers are under the child like notion that if you support our duly elected Government, you are living in a "nanny" state. I don't know anyone who relies on the Government to provide everything. Smaller government? Fewer fire fighters, police, regulators, sewer workers, water workers, "government workers", army, navy, airforce, marines. I know the government can be more competent and efficient. And money can be saved. Please come up with substantive IDEAS!!! Besides it is all Obama's fault.
I know what they mean by "take our country back". Back to the 1800's.
They'd like to party like it's 1899.
I never said anything was Obama's fault. All of the various departments you cited, you are correct about and I have no argument. If you run a household, you are responsible for the inhabitants, and the decisions you make cannot be totally self serving, or your home will fail. We see it all the time. On the larger scale of this country and it's management, there are professional, career politicians who are not held accountable or given a specific amount of time to get results. Instead they are captivated by big money, big business, and everything else that leads them away from doing their just duty. Idea #1 Term limits
Worried about your freebies, are you?
The ideas have been on TV for over 2 years and posted on here hundreds of times. Yet, you managed to retype the ones that have been hashed out and proven not to be in their list repeatedly. Do you have reading comprehension issues or just hate issues?
I take that back, maybe it's dyslexia. A nanny state is when your government supports you, not when you support your government.
Yes I am worried about my "Freebies". I want the roads to remain open, and the police and fire dept. to respond without having to pay "special fees" for their use. I want the government to continue funding important scientific research that could one day improve my life - or even save it. I want free public schools to educate all the populace, as ignorance is far too costly. I want to be able to vote freely, without having to pay a "Poll Tax".
Most of all, I want the entire society to thrive, not just the wealthy souls living in their exclusive gated communities.
look i usually dont actually insult but the tea party does not kno what they are talking about and it is proven over and over again im not saying obama is god just that he is alot better than the majority of the conservatives are all this we are taxed enough crap is bs obama hasnt raised any income taxes and everyone needs the freebies just in what form most people on welfare arent able to care for themselves this country isnt built for everyone to succeed like americans want to think u can get lucky but if you are not intelligent then your chances of ever being in that top 5% is very low
pittsburgh -
Your post would be readable if you would learn how to punctuate. the way it is at present, it just makes you look ignorant.
I do get that you don't like the TEA party movement, but most of it just makes no sense at all as there seems to be no coherent train of thought.
CM
police and fire are local , and municipal departments...not federal government, the liberal public school education sure does leave one a brick or two short of a full load , doesn't it?...oh, and you do realize there are more RICH liberal bonehead democrat senators than republican...do you want to vote freely without new black panther members in front of polling places carrying clubs and sprewing hate? After all, your liberal king and his inept AG Holder think it's ok for them to do so...
Will someone address my concern that these people don't seem to konw their taxes are MUCH lower than they used to be? (yes- even under St. Reagan).
Going to be lower yet when we get all of the parasite bills chopped.
You folks that have been living off of taxpayers are about to suffer severely.
Why, are you packin'? BTW- not sure who 'you folks' are, but I do work and do pay taxes. Have since I was 14.
And hey, were you on here when the previous admin was taxing and spending at the same rates??
You need to look up the budget on a year-by-year basis. The only part of the previous administration that was at this rate was Jan 2007 - Jan 2011 Congress and Senate. The President can't spend $$.
The tax rates are at the lowest they've been since 1950, have been for nearly a decade, resulting in the record deficits for the past decade and a 13 trillion dollar national debt - and you're whining that they should be cut even more?
Selfish crybabies. You don't really care what happens to the rest of the nation, as long as you've got yours.
CM, the tax rates of the last 10 years haven't created the deficits.... the "drunk sailor" spending of Congress created the deficits....... Having been drunk and a sailor at the same time, I know of which I speak!...
Tea Partiers. Soon to be a footnote of history, along with the Luddites and the Wobblies. They spent months railing against the very thing that they campaigned to be a part of. I'll believe their anti-tax rhetoric when I see them saving the American public some money by foregoing their salaries and their perks and their cushy offices, which they will never do.
Let the corruption begin!
To the great purple spider in the sky: Forgive them for they know not what they spew.
These people are just 2011's version of the Brown Shirts of 1930's Berlin. With Senator Demint playing Der Furher. Zeig Heil.
Hey, ya frikkin' genius, the Brown Shirts of 1930's Berlin were SOCIALISTS.... just like yo' B.O. you sad, pathetic twit!!!!
uhh national socialism altho that word is in there is actually a right wing form of politics GENIUS
Fellow Pittsburgher, haven't you ever noticed that these well informed constitution-loving individuals know neither the definition of Fascist or Socialist, in fact they use them interchangeably...Forgoing the fact that they are on extreme opposite ends of the political spectrum. The National Socialist party of German was Fascist, a Fascist regime, who picked and chose who and what could exist in Germany. Just saw a nice History channel documentary of the rise of the Nazi's. It was kind of scary, kind of scary.
Also, on a side note, remember kids, the North is undefeated.
I love the fact the I was a lefty to all the righties in 2008 and now I am a righty with 2012 election coming. I have seen both side and the way they discuss issues, I have to give it to the right as being more civilized and easier to deal with. Lefties need so bad to set the emotions a side and deal in reality. I have never seen such dedication to the blue light no matter what. The scarier the issue to the demos the insults and name calling increase accordingly.
The Tea party is a response to the non-sense that has been going on in Washington for the last 2 years. Demos keep it up and the TP colalition will just get stronger.
Independent and working for the repeal of Obama and his Health Care plan
caradjt, why do you keep posting the same things over and over again here? Once is enough. Please stop using copy and paste. You don't want to have to be collapsed by the community again, do you? Try to think of something new and interesting to say.
Silver you can read. Maybe if you read it 10 times it may sink into your thick head how real and factual it is. her I will give you something to really bi-th about Bachmann rules, Palin for Pres, Pelosi for VP. Impeach Obama, Spend some more, deregulate the health care bill, LOL LOL LOL
Independent and loving it.........
caradjt has the republican mantra down. If I keep repeating myself, maybe somebody will believe me.
The tea party is like a rooster who thinks he has caused the sun to rise.
Scared to death, aren't you libbies, You see it coming and all you can do is stick with the Liberal Manifesto,.
Pg 1----------- when faced with a situation or statement you don't like but have nothing to refute it, with, ridicule, ridicule, ridicule.
Pg 2----------- Lie.
Pg 3--------- Ignore corrections.
Acidrain- did the rooster strut around the barnyard with 'grit' stapled to his comb?
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha....
to jerry: Perfect description of the teaparty republicans these days. I have some friends who have been completely brainwashed. How does Fox do that? When you wake up your face may be a little red and just think of what and who you sent to congress. Sorry a red face and an apology just won't make up for it. Think if you still can of what you are doing to our country.
How is he brainwashed? And how in the world did liberal media cause you to honestly think everyone who thinks that way watches Fox News? That sounds like brainwashing to me. I flip channels between cnn, msnbc, and Fox and the only one that seems to be missing half of every story is MSNBC.
jerry, watch out for the stones you're throwing in that glass house of yours. When they have no reality to attack, no one lies more than the darling of the Tea Party, Michelle Bachmann. Recall the "death panels" that were never in the bill, our founding fathers tireless fight to abolish slavery, the $200 million a day expenses for the president's trip to India... it goes on and on, lie after lie (or maybe she's just stupid... not sure which is worse), with no retraction after her nonsense is unequivocally debunked.
If the Tea Party needs fabrications to support their agenda, they don't have an agenda that will survive reality.
I attended a tea party rally one time, and that was one time too many. I have never heard such ignorance from a large group of people like that. These people should not have a podium to speak from. I am ashamed that these so called "patriots" spawn from the same nation as me. I felt as if I was in that movie "Idiocracy" (which is really dumb but also hilarious). The worst part is that it was a California tea party rally so I expect that it was "toned down" compared to rallies in other states. The sad part about it is that they are here now and will most likely be staying for a bit. Like a rash, they make me feel uncomfortable at times and even embarrassed but they are also harmless and will hopefully be subsided with a little bit of ointment and happy thoughts.
Ok voice. What did they say that was ignorant? I don't want your take on their words, I want their words. I have a feeling that objectivety is not your strong suit, but correct me if I'm wrong.
Anyone who actually went to a Tea Party rally and heard specific lines that were "ignorant" would be proudly repeating exactly what was said that was stupid and posting the videos of it on youtube. I'd like to hear exactly what he thought was ignorant myself, but I'm sure it'd just be more name calling and I've had enough of reading comments that sound like 5th grade argument tactics for the day. Later.
Sure you went to a Tea Party rally . . . Your post is so juvenile that a 12- year old could see thru the lies. You sound like a little girl having a temper tantrum.....I quess next you will hold your breath.
TVoR, aren't you used to to those liberashes by now? All ya gotta do is rub a li'l B-O-leum on it, it'll be fine.... or, just take another "blue pill".... ;-)
The tea party are just a bunch of sore losing republicans that lost the vote for president and don't seem to be able to turn off FOX news liars.
If you all would just listen for once to all the Glen Becks,Hannity's and Rushes in the news not to mention Sarah who hates everyone. They are so distraut they don't even remember why we're in this mess.
Sad people. I really do feel bad for all of you.
The ignorance I heard was ignorance to how things work, ignorance to the reality of things, ignorance to common sense. "Why should I have to pay all these taxes when there are so many people on welfare taking my money?" Ummm because thats how a democracy works, and just because welfare exists doesn't mean YOUR money is going straight into the pockets of "lazy poor people", OUR money is paying for items that WE vote on. Many people in that crowd believed that if they stood there and screamed "Socialist!" loud enough that they would somehow make a difference. If you have a problem with how things are don't get mad and cry about it or point fingers and call names, get out and vote! I apologize if I came off as harsh, I understand that we are all entitled to our own opinions and this is just an opinion of a well educated college kid in California.
Voice of Reason (or so he says).... "A well-educationed college kid" who obviously has no life experience. Sorry, but I did not vote for tax-payer funded healthcare, I did not vote for tax-payer funded abortion, I did not vote for BIG GOVERNMENT! But obivously you did. I think a great idea is for all the states that vote red, get to keep the things they vote for but not be part of what they don't vote for. Same with the blue. Haha! I can see it now, the blue would eventually become a thing of the past, because all the gimme people would take over and there would be no one to fund all their entitlements!
Fights - There is no tax-funded abortions!
Mary, really? Stop kidding yourself.
I have had many life experiences and I would have to say that one of the worst was attending that dreadful tea party rally. FYI I also didn't vote for "big government", I DID however, vote for our wonderful president Barack Obama and so far I am satisfied with the things that he has done and I have already benefited from the health care bill so thank you President Obama! Sorry Fights but I can't take you seriously if you're offering ridiculous solutions that attempt to divide our country even more, but I suspect that is on the tea parties agenda so you are just following along. Do me a favor and google "Koch brothers" you may find out a little more about the tea party than you would like to know.
TVoR -
It would be a little hard to get anything out of it if you went with a closed mind and weren't really interested in listening to what they had to say - which is what I get out of your post.
But then, that seems to be a general problem with the liberal point of view, one thinks one knows it all, when one doesn't actually know it all. The first step to learning is to admit that you don't actually know everything.
I find their calling for the stopping of earmarks hilarious, especially since they asked for more earmarks than their Democratic friends, I use that term lightly!!
I think you need to look again at who has asked for earmarks. The NEW Congress has only been in session for a few weeks. Before that the OLD Congress was still in force. Also, the worst offenders on the earmarks have been the oldtimers in Congress - on both sides of the aisle.
There's a file on the net somewhere - I don't remember where, but I do remember looking at it - to a spreadsheet on earmarks and who has requested them. I think you would be surprised, but the democrats request 2 to 3 times the number and amounts in earmarks than the republicans do.
Also, how many earmarks were in the Obamacare bill? Considering they had to buy the votes of their fellow democrats, I seem to remember exactly one (1) earmark for a republican House member (he was actually voted out because of his vote) - everything else was for democrats. kind of telling, don't you think?
Perhaps you need to open your eyes and see the real world.
Stinkin' democr@ps in Illinois just doubled my taxes. First thing I did was make a large donation to the Tea Party.
Listen up you scum sucking liberals, we're going to cut the hell out all of these budgets. Your free ride on other peoples money is OVER.
So what did you contribute to. Have you ever seen any of them say what they are for. Any of them? Just some vague notion kind of fill in your blank. Have you ever heard any one of them say who the leader is. They don't have one. So they don't have a leader and they don't have a platform or message. Who are you sending your money to? YOu don't know how it is spent or who spends it do you. And I am from Illinois and it is fine with me for you to go where there is absolutely no government or rules or civility. We will be better off without all the complainers and people who only want to help themselves. Do you use state services? Please stop.
Yeah, ktlin. You're from Il and I'll bet you don't pay any taxes either, like most of you libs. I know my money is going to people that will work to stop the spending. Between all the major taxes, income state, property, social security, my wife and I pay are paying out over 35% of our income.
Until you got some skin in the game, shut up.
So you don't want to pay money to the Government that provides a host of services, such as police, fire protection, courts of law, regulations to keep unscrupulous businesses from ripping you off, road maintenance, etc. - but you'll gladly give money to a group that, aside from being entertaining and calling for tax cuts, has done diddly squat for you?
BTW, liberals pay taxes, too, and at the same rates. If you want to complain, squawk about the Billionaires and Big Corporations that pay less tax than you do. Oh, but that isn't the Tea Party position, is it.
Oh good Lord CM, grow up. What does it take for you people to understand that when you work hard for a living, and other people don't, they have absolutely no right to it! Now, police and such is a different story, BUT, I'm paying special interests, people that won't get off their collective butts and work, abortions, deep pockets. Do you really believe all you are paying for is what you see? How utterly naive of you.
CM, the Tea party (formally the john birch society) CAN"T say anything about the billionaires and big corporations. Thats who provide the bulk of their money for campaigns.
Every time a democratic president is elected, the billionaires and corporations fund a ultra-ultra right wing group or society, call it something patriotic, and "sic" them on the rest of the US. The formula for all these groups is the same. We want the basic constitution as the only law, we want NO regulations, capitalism is the best form of government, and we want to go back to religion. Oh yes, each group is supposed to be a "grass roots" movement. This has been so since FDR, and probably before that. The only exception was MaCarthy-ism, who pushed the idea that "communists were everywhere, trying to destroy our country". Sound familiar? I read this as a article, but sadly, didn't save it. I'm sure you can find ALL about them on the net, but I have to go to work, so do your own homework.
I love when people take credit for something Obama does. It just shows that they are simply clueless. There is no hope for some people. Why try. Just hope no more of them are elected. We don't have a zoo in congress.
Yet you want to give Obama credit for the good things and good ideas that others have done and have had - how truly egalitarian of you.
Those that ran with TEA party backing ran on the ideas that Obama claimed to have during his State of the Union Address - or did you conveniently forget that?
I guess it doesn't count unless Obama thinks it?
Hey Jerry 194283 when you speak of liars, is that John Boehner your speaking of!!!!!!!!!!! Your all in for a
treat!!
Sounds like some like honey with their tea and others lemon. Will see how long it takes for Washington to corrupt.
Junior senators are fodder for the lobbyist. Wrap em' up and deliver, PDQ!
The Tea suckers are simply irrelevant in the circles of Washington DC. Who cares what jerks jump up and down in the House. The Senate is still in control of reasonable people. Consequently, the tea suckers will be viewed as do nothings and blow hards. This means that in 2012, most of them will be returned to live out their simple lives in absolute obscurity. This is as it should be.
TopDolphin33 . . .I love when a leftist becomes unhinged over the Tea Party. If you think they are so irrelevant, why post anything at all . . . Because they are relevant, 'the shellacking in November", and you know they will be relevant in 2012. And I can't wait!!!
Jennifer010102 this is a perfect example of your CULT thinking.....
Explain to me how owning 1/3 ( one third in case you don't know fractions) of the government is a "shellacking" Please do tell esp since the DEMS own the senate and the PRESIDENCY....
Your notion of a shellacking is like NE patriots LOSING 7- 21..... I guess it is a step up from owning NONE..... hahaha you guys are sooooooooo funny
B. Power -
The only thing that saved the Senate is that only one third of the Senate was up for re-election and the split was about 50-50. Even so, the democrats lost 7 of the 20 seats they held that were up for re-elections while the republicans didn't lose any. In the House, the democrats lost about 67 seats - the worst mid-term losses in nearly 70 years.
Even obama called it a 'shellacking'.
But it does take a die-hard liberal to claim that it wasn't...
Fact is you only own 1/3 of government it is a step up from owning NONE.. I guess If I went from losing 0-21 to 7-21 it would be considered a win....
As for OUR PRESIDENT he was just trying to appease the wing nuts so they would actually try and work together something repubs forgot about a long time ago.......
Example: Using the filibuster a RECORD amount of times if you dont know what that is. The filibuster allows the minority to block legislation from even being brought up for discussion sounds petty and one sided to me. If they believed that these things were bad they would let them come up so they could point out the bad instead they run and hide from it because alot of that legislation would be good for the country and you repubs wouldnt want things to go well while this honorable man, OUR PRESIDENT is in power....
to LeeH: The tax increase couldn't have been that bad as you stated you made a sizable contribution to the tea suckers. Wow, you really believe in throwing your money away.
Thanks to the Tea Party, the libs really got a "shellacking" last November. We need to stop this imcompetent president from pushing his socialist agenda and spending trillions on these entitlement programs. He has truly been the worst and least experienced president that America has ever had.....just as David Letterman said, "HE WILL BE A 1 TERM PRESIDENT".
What "Socialist Agenda"? Wall Street bailout? The GM bailout? Both signed into law but Bush Jr. Obama already sold Chrysler, so it's no longer "government", and GM had an IPO and the sale of the Government share is already planned. "Obamacare" isn't socialist, the government isn't taking over a single hospital, clinic, insurance company, pharmacy, pharmaceutical company, or any other healthcare provider. Obama hasn't called for a government takeover of ANY business or industry. As for providing "Government Services", that just happens to be the function of Government, has been since the founding of this Nation.
Typical tea-partier, make threats and wild accusations but can't back them up with any facts.
Define Socialism?
jennifer, It's easy to see that your comments can be taken as the gospel. Especially since they come from such a renowned political annalist as "David Letterman"...
TOPDOLPHIN What I do with my money is my business, not yours or the govt to question. Using money as toilet paqper would be more productive than giving to the govt and you lib whack jobs
But when you receive goods and services, you are expected to pay for it, and those expected payments are no longer "your money", and whoever gets that money gets to decide what to do with it, not you. So since you receive services from the Government, you are expected to pay for it, just like the rest of us, and the Government gets to decide what to do with it.
The difference being, with the Government, you can complain about it to your representative. (but please remember that they represent everybody else, too.)
Good point, CM. And has anyone noticed what else is going on in the world today? Look at what is transpiring in Egypt. Tomorrow has been declared the Day of Rage there. Count your blessings that you live in the United States and maybe we can all attempt to debate our differences more civilly. I may not vote like some of you, but I don't hate you either.
Thank You silverton for some sanity......