Perry and pro-Perry Super PAC way outspending the field in ads… Don’t overlook how much -- and how -- Paul is spending… Signs of trouble: Bachmann’s spent nothing since August … Do we see a pro-Romney Super PAC going on air soon? … Obama launches his reelect message, but what was missing? … Gingrich scrambles to get on Ohio ballot … Republicans ready to go after Obama at Republican Jewish Coalition event today … Romney will accuse Obama of “appeasement.” … Kaine and Allen debate!
*** Ad war heats up: With less than four weeks until the Iowa caucuses, the TV ad war in the Republican race is underway. Ron Paul went up with the first negative ad; Gingrich is now hitting the airwaves; and so is Romney. But guess who is leading the ad race so far: Rick Perry. In fact, according to a Republican ad-tracking source, Perry appears to be making a last stand of sorts. His campaign has placed a $1 million buy over the next three weeks in Iowa, and the pro-Perry Super PAC Make Us Great Again has booked $1.2 million on broadcast TV in Iowa and South Carolina over that same period of time (but they don’t coordinate, right?). And don’t lose sight of the candidate in second place in ad spending: Ron Paul. Below are the updated ad-spending numbers (and they include money for both TV and radio ads):
-- Overall: Perry: $5.1 million; Paul: $2.6 million; Make Us Great Again (pro-Perry): $2.5 million; Our Destiny PAC (pro-Huntsman): $1.4 million; Romney: $674,000; Gingrich: $233,000; Bachmann $166,000 (but hasn’t been on air since August); Santorum: $23,000.
-- Iowa: Perry $3.9 million; Paul $1.2 million; Make Us Great Again $1.1 million; Romney $322,000; Gingrich $233,000; Bachmann $166,000 (zero since August); Santorum $17,000.
-- New Hampshire: Our Destiny PAC $1.4 million; Paul $430,000; Romney $352,000; Perry $234,000
-- South Carolina: Make Us Great Again $1.4 million; Paul $57,000
*** Ad-scendency: A few other points: Paul might end up spending more on his Gingrich attack ad in Iowa than the Gingrich campaign spends on its first bio spot. … Despite Bachmann’s campaign having denied they had major financial problems at the end of the last quarter, it seems pretty clear they have serious problems. She may have outspent the field at the Iowa straw poll, but now her spending is an asterisk*. … The most surprising absence from this ad spending chart: the Romney SuperPac (Restore Our Future). We’re betting the first place we see “Restore Our Future” ads: Iowa mailboxes.
*** Obama’s opening salvo in Kansas: Perhaps the best way to view President Obama’s speech in Kansas yesterday: It was the opening salvo in his re-election campaign, at least when it comes to economic messaging. He said the phrase “middle class” 20 times; He even adopted the language of the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement (99% and 1%), though tried to rise above their rhetoric while embracing their beefs. And he lamented the inequality gap, which has grown over the last decade. The speech wasn’t always lofty, at times, it had the feel of one of his standard American Jobs Act pitches, but it’s clear we now have a better idea of where the re-election campaign is headed message wise. “We simply cannot return to this brand of ‘you're on your own’ economics if we're serious about rebuilding the middle class in this country,” he said. That’s likely a line we’ll hear again.
*** What was missing: A couple things missing from the speech: Taking credit for accomplishments and a “Kansas” backdrop. In traditional reelect messages laid out fully in convention speeches, president’s usually have a healthy dose of taking credit for accomplishments. Obama’s speech yesterday had just some allusions to those, but there’s still time. And just askin’… For a speech the White House and campaign team is so proud of, can someone explain why they allowed the backdrop to look like it was set up in some school’s basement? Other than him SAYING Kansas, he could have been anywhere. This White House hadn’t really made stagecraft a priority (despite what they did during the FIRST campaign), but had improved with striking backdrops in recent months during the president’s jobs act events.
*** Gingrich scrambling to the get on the ballot in Ohio: Does Gingrich’s campaign have the ability to go toe-to-toe with Mitt Romney’s operation in a long, protracted nomination fight? NBC News has learned that the Gingrich camp is scrambling to meet today’s deadline to submit the proper petitions to the get on the ballot in Ohio (which doesn’t hold its primary until June). In fact, folks from the Gingrich campaign in Ohio have sent out multiple emails with the subject “emergency” looking for help to get on the ballot or simply supporters who are willing to be delegates. NBC’s John Bailey reports that, according to a GOP source in the Buckeye State, Gingrich has not finished filing in Ohio, but is expected to file today. They have until 4 pm ET to do so. Today’s also the deadline to get on the ballot in Oklahoma, which holds its primary on March 6 (Super Tuesday), and the Oklahoma GOP says Gingrich has already filed. The next big test for all the campaigns, organizationally, will be the Virginia ballot. The deadline is in two weeks -- Dec. 22. It’s a complicated petition process. First Read friend Frank Lavin remembers vividly the Reagan ’76 campaign’s inability to get on the Ohio ballot with a full slate of delegates. Lavin reminds us Reagan received some 40%-plus of the primary vote, but only about 20% of the delegates.
*** All GOP candidates -- except Paul -- speak at Republican Jewish forum: Today, six of the seven GOP presidential candidates will address the Republican Jewish Coalition forum in DC. Rick Santorum speaks at 9:15 am ET, Jon Huntsman goes at 9:45 am, Romney at 10:25 am, Gingrich at 2:05 pm, Perry at 2:45 pm, and Bachmann at 3:25 pm. The one candidate who was NOT invited is the man who is either tied for second or in third place in most of the polls: Ron Paul. “His views [on Israel] are what we feel are way outside the mainstream of the Republican Party,” Republican Jewish Coalition Executive Director Matt Brooks said of Paul, per the Boston Globe. “He has consistently articulated positions that are antithetical to those in the organization.”
*** Romney to accuse Obama of ‘appeasement’: Romney’s campaign has already released excerpts of his remarks to the Republican Jewish Coalition, and they appear to be a response to President Obama’s economic speech in Kansas. “President Obama is replacing our merit-based, opportunity-based society with an entitlement society,” Romney is expected to say. “In an entitlement society, everyone is handed the same rewards, regardless of education, effort and willingness to take risk. That which is earned by some is redistributed to others. And the only people to enjoy truly disproportionate rewards are the people who do the redistributing -- the government.” Romney will add, “President Obama has adopted an appeasement strategy. He has embraced an Entitlement Society. He has put America on a path toward decline.” And Romney will also say, as he has done before, that President Obama has “chastised” Israel. Expect all of the Republicans at today’s event to hit President Obama hard.
*** Kaine vs. Allen debate: One of the most watched Senate races in the country has its first debate today – the Virginia Senate race at 1:30 pm ET. The Richmond Times-Dispatch says it’s “shaping up to be the battle over which set of ‘failed policies’ failed harder. Allen will take aim at Kaine's former role as Democratic National Committee chairman in which he touted President Barack Obama's stimulus plan, health-care overhaul legislation and other legislation considered disastrous by Republicans. Kaine, on the other hand, will go after Allen's record as a U.S. senator, contrasting it with his own record as governor, top advisers said Tuesday in a conference call.” NPR notes: “It's a race likely to revolve around two key issues: President Obama and the economy.” Virginia and Massachusetts could be lynchpins to whether the Senate changes control.
*** On the 2012 trail: Outside of the today’s Republican Jewish Coalition forum, the only activity on the campaign trail is New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) stumping for Romney in Iowa at 6:50 pm ET.
*** Wednesday’s “Daily Rundown” line-up: A debate between former Gov. Buddy Roemer (R-LA) and former Gov. Gary Johnson (R-NM)… CNBC’s Larry Kudlow on the economy, 2012 and his chat last night with Gingrich… more 2012 headlines with USA Today’s Jackie Kucinich, the Chicago Tribune’s Clarence Page and msnbc.com’s Vaughn Ververs.
*** Wednesday’s “Jansing & Co. line-up: Jansing & Company -- Chris Jansing welcome’s DNC Chair Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz to discuss Obama’s fight for the middle class, Also, the New York Times’ Charles Blow and author Richard Wolffe weigh in on Rove vs. Trump. National Journal’s Major Garrett, and C. Nicole Mason, executive director of the Women of Color Policy Network at NYU on a new poll.
*** Wednesday’s “MSNBC Live with Thomas Roberts” Line-Up: Thomas Roberts talks with Karen Finney and J.P. Freire about Newt’s Surge and Romney bucking Trump. Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich will discuss President Obama’s populist message. Maria Teresa Kumar and Earl Ofari Hutchinson react to a new poll on black and Latino voters.
*** Wednesday’s “NOW with Alex Wagner” line-up: Alex Wagner’s guests include New York Magazine’s John Heilemann, former GOP Rep. Susan Molinari, Roll Call’s Christina Bellantoni, and the Washington Post’s Melinda Henneberger.
*** Wednesday’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” line-up: Andrea Mitchell will speak with Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) who will be discussing the payroll tax, as well as Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD, ranking member of the Budget Committee). Also: Former Pennsylvania Gov. and NBC News political analyst Ed Rendell on Battleground Pennsylvania, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) on the pending Consumer Financial Protection Board director vote, NBC’s George Lewis from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the 70th anniversary of the attack, as well as Craig Shirley, author of “December 1941.”
*** Wednesday’s “News Nation with Tamron Hall”: Tamron Hall anchors from DC today with guests A.B. Stoddard from The Hill, Republican strategist Alberto Martinez and radio host Michael Smerconish, as well as Amanda Terkel from the Huffington Post on the effort to recall Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
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Countdown to South Carolina primary: 45 days
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Countdown to Election Day: 337 days
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I think that was one of President Obama's greatest speeches to date!
It comes as no suprise the vultures started picking at the carrion the minute it ended.
Democrat & Republican alike...
Blah! Blah! Blah!
He should of said this - he wore the wrong color tie - he smiled too much...
I have taken our President up on his offer to 'work hard' - on his re-election campaign that is... ;o)
Obama/Biden 2012 - for the sake of our future!
So the Campaigner in Chief gave yet another wonderful speech, and Obamabot's everywhere are cheering and swooning.
Yadda, yadda, yadda.
Yaaaaawwwwwnnnnn……
Please don’t wake me unless Barry does something new and untried because what he’s been doing sure ain’t been working to fix the slow-bama recovery.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
I swear, Joe, you must be part of the 9% that thinks Congress is awesome.
Go Romney and Paul. Blingrich must go!!!
Remember, Remember the 7th of December.
Joe is right, what America needs is a leader who can't give a speech, speak in complete sentences or formulate a thought without the help of corporate special interests.
Gingrich/Cain 2012!!!!!
"So the Campaigner in Chief gave yet another wonderful speech, and Obamabot's everywhere are cheering and swooning."
Yes, he did give another wonderful speech, didn't he, Joe. So glad you recognize it as such. Some will actually get on here in a little while, and COMPLAIN about it, though. Small minds, I guess.
"Obama Care".
Yes, he does care., as he pointed out again yesterday. Whoever coined this term should be commended.
"NewtISaPIG"- Your name says it all, but be careful- there is a 'lawer' out on the left-coast that actually condones that pig and all he stands for. He will NOT be pleased, I'm sure.
All the opposition has to do is run an add with a Pig in it and scroll the following:
-Newtissa Pigg: I was shown a "good time" by mr. Blingrich!
Joe is right, what America needs is a leader who can't give a speech, speak in complete sentences or formulate a thought without the help of corporate special interests.
______________________________________________
Leave it to the liberal mind to get it EXACTLY backwards.
What we need is someone other than a President whose only capability is to give a wonderful speech. (And yell "Fore")
Here's a few backdrops Obama can use. During his time in office we have high unemployment, higher poverty, higher food stamp usage, higher deficits and higher debt.
Run on those backdrops Obama.
And Obama is trying to convince us he's for the "little guy", while raking in $35,800 a plate dinners with the Wall Street types. Obama just talks nonsense. Just like with the budget and the economy, he has no plan for trying to get re-elected.
If the "stagecraft" of the speech had been perfect, we would have heard criticism that it was too staged and faked. And if the President had said more about his own accomplishments, we would have heard that he doesn't recognize the people who are still in trouble. Bottom line---President Obama has worked tirelessly for the American people in the face of an opposition who has no problem putting their desire to see him fail ahead of the good of the country. He has my full support
Well, it is so very comforting to know that those of you on the right learn nothing from history (must be why you all rewrite history books to fit the facts you want to believe, rather than what they really were). You are all so very predictable.
Best part of all you RWNJ's? No matter what, you will find someone else to blame before looking at yourselves.
NewtIsAPig - You needn't worry, Mitt Romney will win the nomination. Gingrich will self destruct within the next few weeks.
...but we'll elect Newton or Willard because they'll take care of the little guy, right?
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
To be very truthful, I could hardly tell the difference between Chris Matthews, , or FOX. I wish I could know just what Chris Matthews is channeling now! Apart from from pimping his mythological book, he must channeling his inner racism.
That’s another thing; I’m tried , too tried of, is the PL wanting our President to channel other Presidents. Perhaps it would be better if the media started channeling President Obama’s message rather than diluting his message or wanting to give him an extreme make-over. President Obama is genuinely who he is and I’m just sick of these fools trying to re-arrange his personality and temperament. Can’t these fools see the President is occupying this time in our universe because of who he is? Our President is doing an excellent job and it doesn’t need to be minimized by a bunch of jealous sore losers and egomaniacal pundits.
Perhaps, they could focus on Gingrich 's campaign fraud
*HUGs*
Bottom line---President Obama has worked tirelessly for the American people in the face of an opposition who has no problem putting their desire to see him fail ahead of the good of the country. He has my full support.
Exactly. I'm with you 100%. Obama is the best President since FDR and he has my unbridled support.
GOP motto "Money and Me First, Screw the rest of the country"
******************"Newt is flying high in the polls on insiders money"************************
And your guys can stand in front of banks JoJo.
I don't know Phine, I sometimes get the feeling that Republicans LOVE the poor, but that love is mostly because poor people taste just like chicken.
I'm kidding, I don't think Republicans are actual cannibals, but in terms of economics they sure are.
********************* "Grinch will be Lynch in Iowa" ****************************
They'll create a business environment where the little guy can take of himself. I know that concept of someone "taking care of themselves" is foreign to you Lefties. You may want to read up on it.
Not to worry nisl, this season they are eating themselves ... next up is pate-au-Newt.
Bingo Bev!
Thank Gawd President Obama doesn't listen to the chattering class!
Especially the book pimping Tweety!
{{{hugs}}} back atcha GF!
GOP motto: I GOT MINE - 'F' YOU!
@nisl
Ain't that the truth! Although, in a food shortage, I wouldn't put it past them!
President Obama was elected in a tide of good will. We liked his message. We liked his family. There wasn't much we didn't like about him. It didn't hurt that the previous administration had lied to us, that it seemed incredibly inept, all the while displaying world-class arrogance. Oh yeah, and the economy was in complete collapse.
The right wing couldn't stand the election results and began to tear the President apart immediately. They still can't get over it. After three years, many of these weak-minded trolls continue with their teleprompter and 57-state mantras. Why not? Isn't that the very essence of governance? Always nice to know these guys have such a thorough grasp of how the world works.
True to form, the right-wingers missed the truth. Of course they did, it was right in front of them and they got it completely wrong. To this day, we hear about "the community organizer" in very derisive terms. Hello, right-wingers. You organize a community - in this case, the United States - you win the election.
As lefties, we have also missed a very important truth. Yes, that was a galvanizing message from President Obama. We were inspired. He knew exactly what to say. Even better, he was right. What we missed in all that was the fact that the President is a politician. Yes, a politician, and one of the best we have seen in many, many years.
He has made his opponents look like rank amateurs. (In large part, that is because they are extremely inept, if not downright dim.) Joe Walsh? Jon Kyl? Mitch McConnell? Eric Cantor? John Boehner? Really? That's the best they have? The President has smacked these guys down so many times it's unreal. And who is their leading candidate for President.......at the moment? Newt Gingrich. You have to alternate between states of shock and stunned disbelief as this is played out.
Yet, through all this outright Republican stupidity and insanity, WE are foolish if we imagine that President Obama's re-election is a cakewalk. Many of us aren't exactly doing cartwheels over his performance, but there's nothing even close to him on the horizon. If you have a few minutes, check out this link. The President is a good man, even if he is a politician. http://blackliberalboomer.posterous.com/i-am-not-disappointed-in-president-obama
Part of Obama's wonderful speech yesterday ....
Duh ... everyone has always known that except criminals ... and well ... liberals.
Most people understand the free market is a system protected by laws that allows companies and people to freely engege in economic activity.
If you don't want to make Bill Bates a billionaire - don't buy his stuff. Free choice.
If Bill's company rips you off, breaks a law, or one of thousands regulations - file a complaint, sue him.
Nope, it seems only liberals feel they have the liscense to take whatever they want as long as they cloak it in the fairness drivel and through class warfare.
Of course the president is exempt .... if he is a lib.
If you are Obama, you can actually take money from the middle class tax payer and give it to your billionaire bundlers for their projects.
But maybe that isn't "the price" of progress ... maybe that and demonizing part of America is just "the price" of cronism and a pathetic, incompetent president trying to get himself re-elected.
Yep, another great speech, huh.
ideologyspoilstheview - Yeah, the wingnut media (Eric son of Eric for example) are all praying (Eric's words not mine) for a brokered convention because all of the candidates in the GOP field are either crazy or stupid or hopelessly corrupt or all three (and those are my words not Eric's.)
"What's ailing the Tea-Retards in Congress, could it be that their trickle down is not working" ????
Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Brooke Brower,
One of the ways in which journalism seems to be going downhill these days is in the proliferation of incorrect grammar, which happens more frequently on FR than one would hope. I don't know who was responsible for "president's", but really, how about taking more time in your work to do a proper job of editing. It's one thing for posters to be inarticulate, but you guys should be leading the way.
Yesterday Obama was Teddy Roosevelt. A few months ago he was FDR. Obama loves the Bill Clinton era tax cuts, so Barack would very much like to be just like Bill. Obama never seems to want to be Jimmy Carter, even though he is.
It reality though, Obama is really just an Urkel.
The GOP T-Retards has a weak field of losers and that's going to Guarantee Obama a big win win for 2012.
JoAnnaSmith1,
I'm assuming you're a woman. How do you feel about Blingrich's past treatment of his former wives and women in general??
I mean I hope you're not ignoring all that "baggage" or shallow enough to think he's truly sorry for anything.....
Grinch , you were in Congress to serve, not profit ??? The man for family values ???
That's an excellent question PIG. But the "baggage" and "ethics" question for presidents was answered 15 years ago with President Clinton. They just do not matter. Affairs? So what? Ethics charges? No big deal. Big payoffs for wrong doing ($300,000 in the case of Newt, $850,000 (Paula Jones case I believe) in the case of Clinton) - It's just no big deal.
The bar was set very low by the Democrats patriarch and current rock star hero President Clinton. Now all politicians need to do is meet that same level of behavior as Bill.
Fair is fair, correct?
Joe in Albany
Joe is right, what America needs is a leader who can't give a speech, speak in complete sentences or formulate a thought without the help of corporate special interests.
______________________________________________
Leave it to the liberal mind to get it EXACTLY backwards.
Joee, already your first sentence is incomprehensible. LMAO@U. Whether the GNOP/T Nuts speak in short simple statements or give messages with long expansive vocabulary words their message is still complex.
Don't you get it the Republican Party has become a 3 ring circus even they themselves don't understand?
I'm glad the KLOWN KAR is rolling over to their circus where they can park.
Americans don't want this embarrassing freakoid side show
Obama/biden 2012
Now, when you say "little guy" do you mean just the "small business" owner or the guy who works for him, too?
Beverly, cheers to you for that post. I'm so tired of the pundits and the media comparing President Obama to those in the past. To borrow a quote from an episode of The West Wing, "Let Obama be Obama". I do not want a clone of JFK, LBJ, FDR, Truman, Clinton or whoever--I merely want President Obama to continue to work for the principles of those democratic presidents who came before him.
David Walker, another terrific post.
JoAnnaSmith1
Sure, they will. If by "little guy" you mean a corporate raider who somehow create jobs by firing American workers like Romney, or a "historian" like Newt who got a cool million for advocating against more regulations for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- from a historical perspective, of course. I'm sure that the typical mom and pop hedge fund managers will do just great under either of them, even if they tank the economy like the last Republican president managed to to.
You're a liar, JoAnna. Repeating your nasty lies doesn't make them true. Most of the people here are gainfully employed. But sometimes I wonder about you. How much does lying on blogs pay these days?
Oh, so that is what the Gingrich plan to make assistant janitors out of poor kids is all about. Sorry I didn't catch that the first time around. Don't worry about the little guy ~ Republicans have a history of "taking care of the little guy."
Newt is up Trumps butt for support, two retards calling paul & huntsman a "Joke" The people of Iowa should kick "Grinch" and "Drump" out of their State. PS - Drump is Trumps new name !
Dear Domenico and Mark:
You once said you'd like to see state level polling, as opposed to just national numbers.
I realize Maine is not an important primary state, (or even an important state, period), however, you might be interested in this new poll. If nothing else, I think it shows President Obama is on to something, using the rhetoric of the Occupy movement.
http://ericrussell.bangordailynews.com/2011/12/06/obama-snowe-lepage-cutler-and-the-economy-featured-in-latest-pan-atlantic-sms-poll/
Refresh my memory...which "Traditional Family Value" is the one that lets you kick your sick wife to the curb and trade up for This Year's Featured Model?
@Amy
I have always wanted to vacation in Maine. If you are an example of its citizens, I think me and the hubby would love it. Thanks for the link.
Wouldn't they both benefit?
They'll do better than Obama, and that's a fairly low bar to get to success.
Have a nice a day Houston.
Well, at least you admit you're a shallow hypocrite!
And I still question whether you're a real woman or a regressive in drag in self-denial...
YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS. (Sound up, "Jingle Bells")
Good morning kiddies, did you all sleep well? Good. Visions of Sugarplums dancing in your heads? Well, it's that time of year. A time of hope, joy and wonder. A time to count our blessings and look forward to a bright new year.
NISL, I believe you are correct, (mostly because I've been saying the same thing for many months now, great minds and all that) despite his lackluster performance so far I still believe Romney will be the nominee.
Although, I think Perry's subtle anti-Romney ad is VERY clever. If I'm right about Romney's stealth negative (Mormon) then Perry's ad could be devastating. We'll just have to wait and see. I'm not nearly the political junkie most of you are, but I have to admit this GOP race for the nomination is very interesting. I hope you are all taking notes and taking names. We'll need them later.
I still think it's Mitt's turn and even if someone else gets the nomination I do not think there is a Republican in the field who can defeat the President. Each and everyone of them are damaged goods in one way or another. Some segment of the "anybody but Mitt" party is not going to be happy with the nominee whoever they may be and that will be their downfall. Merry Christmas, kiddies.
I really think AND HOPE that Mitt's the guy because he is already toast. He has the "M&M", double negative: moderate and Mormon. He won't be able to overcome that no matter how many ads he and his superpac run. He'll still be a moderate and a Mormon and HUGE numbers of GOP will stay home on election day and a few will even vote for Obama. Merry Christmas kids.
So, rejoice children, there is a Santa Claus and he is bringing us all a second term for our President and with that second term we'll have another chance at redemption and the rebuilding of the American dream for EVERYONE, not just the 1%.
Happy Holidays everybody and a great big lump of coal for Joanna, Nojo, Bob numbers, White Collar, Joe Albany and the rest of the RWNJ's. Nahhhh, I'm just kidding. I hope you ALL have a Happy Holiday and a Happy, healthful New Year.
Happy Winter Solstice everybody. (Sound up on "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas")
Obama/Biden 2012
Patriotic American U.S.A.
******************"Newt is flying high in the polls on insiders money"************************
Don't forget Newt is Fox Noise's chosen one. All Vultures fly high.
The GOP is self imploding especially now with the top 2 Klowns, Newt, Romney left
hee hee hee
"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far"
Theodore Roosevelt--quote
The President is so far ahead of these RWNJS; every time they think have him cornered he shakes that stick. They are trembling in their boots now especially after today's speech.
Meep, Meep, Meep, get outta the way RWNJS the President has a big stick
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSimS1z7WALNPnDOIqAoQ-ionqAatRatF_SRW9cRb-VQSA9RRzj13qDOWjpNA
=============================================================================
I love it when President Obama shakes that stick and shakes it well.
:)
BUH BYE GNOP/ TEA NUTTERS
Michael Kazin from TNR had some interesting thoughts on why we should look forward to a Newt victory:
But if Newt somehow manages to surmount these obstacles, imagine what a refreshing campaign he and Obama could wage. Gingrich has already vowed to challenge the president to hold lengthy debates—absent the usual moderators, with their tired Q & A format. Obama would have to agree, lest he seem cowardly. And this could set up the kind of campaign Americans have never witnessed before: a serious debate between articulate exponents of liberalism and conservatism—the ideological conflict that has shaped American politics since the emergence of a mass movement on the right in the 1950s.
...
And the contest would be good for liberalism because Obama would win—unless he gets ensnared in a major scandal or the economy lurches back into deep recession. Gingrich may be basking in the admiration of conservative activists, but, to a broader audience, he still comes off as an arrogant pedant unable to convince those who are not already on his side. On the biggest stage of his life, Newt would almost surely give in to what Matt Bai called his “unhealthy, irrational need to hurl himself higher onto the slopes of history” in The New York Times. Preeners don’t get elected president.
After such debates, an Obama victory would signify more than just the re-election of a moderately popular president over an opponent who fails to inspire the base of his own party—as happened with both Bob Dole in 1996 and John Kerry in 2004. It would expose the moral and logical defects of the conservative ideology that has been mostly dominant in the U.S. since 1980, even under Democratic presidents. Then, perhaps, a true liberal revival could begin.
Hypocrite how PIG? I'm saying Newt should be treated just the same as Bill is treated. You obviously think differently. Kind of makes you the hypocrite, no? Again, fair is fair, correct?
JS1, I don't think PIG (like many Libs) knows what hypocrite means.
Thanks, phinephancy-4252115
Come on up! (If you like to ski, otherwise, better wait till July :)
Americans don't want this embarrassing freakoid side show
_______________________________________
Then do American's a favor and stop posting your ridiculous nonsense, Bev. You might want to also consider trying AA while your at it.
Gingrich has already vowed to challenge the president to hold lengthy debates—absent the usual moderators, with their tired Q & A format. Obama would have to agree, lest he seem cowardly.
I seriously doubt that Obama will allow Gingrich to define or dictate the essentials of his re-election campaign. Obama is under no obligation to "help" Gingrich in any capacity. Let Gingrich rely on Trump for his debating platform. After all, Donald is hoping Newt will pick him as his V-P nominee. They can continue their incestuous relationship.
It does seem that way. Let see if he/she has the ability to catch on. I guess we might get the usual parsing "But, but, but, what Bill did was different than what Newt did!" argument. Sure, different women, different places, different payoffs.
See? It's all different.
No it's not.
@Mr.JoAnnaSmith1,
Who even brought up Bill Clinton? We're trying to progress Sir/Madam(er, whatever..), not REGRESS..... Geez
Acting honorably and being decent =Good. The opposite = BAD . Progress not REGRESS. I get the feeling you'd be making the same argument for a certain dictator of Germany since you've gone over to the darkside....
Why is it hypocrisy?
Because the GOP has taken an absolute moral position..."Family Values".
"Woody Allen having nonincest with a nondaughter to whom he was a nonfather because they were a nonfamily fits the Democratic platform perfectly." - Newt Gingrich, 1992 Republican National Convention
"I think that the mother killing the two children in South Carolina vividly reminds every American how sick the society is getting and how much we need to change things. The only way you get change is to vote Republican." - Newt Gingrich, 1994
Answer me honestly...aren't Bill Clinton's past infidelities still a punchline for the GOP?
Yet now here you are saying, "Well, Newt Gingrich is on Mrs. Gingrich III...but Bill Clinton had affairs so that should be okay."
Forget my liberal leanings and ask yourself this...Is Bill Clinton really the yardstick you want to use when measuring the moral fiber of a presidential candidate? If you're having trouble answering that question, a good rule of thumb is to say it out loud. If using Bill Clinton as your standard sounds ridiculous when you say it out loud it probably is ridiculous.
See, there's a lesson I've learned over the years...moral absolutes are bad because they are the very path to hypocrisy. Instead, I've learned that you simply need to be what you say you are.
Newt preached family values and is on his 3rd marriage. Sounds like failure to me.
****************** "Watch out" Newt is in bed with Trump **********************
And from the left it's I GOT YOURS F' YOU!
couldn't resist ;)
"If Bill's company rips you off, breaks a law, or one of thousands regulations - file a complaint, sue him."
Great, Bob, problem being - what regulations? you want to get rid of those, don't you?
Hope the American people wake up and smell how rotten Newt is, he stinks like hell. The Grinch is a home grown loser.
The T-Retards in Congress sold their souls to the Koch Coffins !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dean Moriarity:
Some other vacuous twerp already beat you here with those empty talking points.
JoAnnaSmith1
Get an honest job, JoAnna. Since you can pretend you know that working people who write on this blog are on the government dole, I can presume you make your living as a paid liar.
Joe in Albany who wrote:
Even with those minimum requirements, and basically NO requirements, Republicans STILL don't have anybody electable.
The fact is, the American People are NOT going to elect any Republican because Republicans want to lower our wages, deny us health care, and steal our retirement money, while they continue to defend the top 1% wealthiest Americans.
David,
Finally found the time to listen to the "I'm Not Disappointed" video. It's a great reminder to those of us on the left that we have a compassionate, caring President. The RWNJs can scream all they want about their perception of President Obama's "poor performance" (and now that I think of it, they're screaming because he has been successful!). None of their Pretenders to the Throne have a compassionate bone in their bodies for the American public at large. It's all about corporate profits.
Where is all the holiday cheer? Peace on Earth, good will toward men?
C'mon folks, it's Christmas...Winter Solstice......Hanakah.....Ramadan.......Kwanza....however you celebrate this traditional holiday season how about extending some good wishes to your fellow man? Woman? Americans?
(Sound up on "White Christmas")
C'mon you grinches, sing it with me kids...
"I'm hoping that it's Newt Gingrich
On the ticket come next Fall.
Get those poor kids working
And lob'yists lurking
Around the Oval Office HALL.
ooo ooooo oooo oooooooooooo
I'm hoping that they go for Gingrich
Not Perry, Romney or Ron Paul
He's the best one running on the right
Even if his resume is light.
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Obama/Biden 2012
The JAS1 cabal states that the President has no plans on getting re-elected, but the FAIL to recognize that the GOP field right now is handing the President a 2nd term - giftwrapped.
As usual, the JAS1 cabal is talking with forked tongues. On this post alone, there are at least 5 posts by the JAS1 cabal disparaging the President that are nothing but talking points.
Why does the JAS1 cabal not acknowledge that the GOP actually LIKES this president and is helping him achieve HIS goals?
Thank God for TiVo and the fast-forward button.
Vote Ron Paul for Americas President, not Israels
While the GOP primary process continues and the ad wars heat up, it's time to think about what they say, think about their ideas and then remember those ideas are the same ones we heard 30 years ago from President Reagan and the same ones that created the economic and deficit/debt mess we have on our plates today.
Pearl Harbor. 70 years ago, December 7, 1941, the United States was attacked by the Japanese. Our involvement in War War II began. It is important to remember what happened, why winning that war was crucial to the survival of the free world.
Today, Congress is gridlocked. One party refuses to compromise often about ideas that it preaches to its supporters. From 2001 through 2008, President Bush started two wars and finished neither, cut taxes to unsustainable levels, charged everything the GOP wanted on the USA credit card thus creating massive deficits and debt as far as the eye can see. Not once was anyone, especially those who could afford to contribute more, asked to sacrifice. In deed, Frank Luntz instructs republicans to never use the word "sacrifice". The result of Reaganomics on steroids was the economic collapse in 2008. We have watched this country's people struggle through a Great Recession, lose their jobs and homes because of the greed and corruption of financial institutions. For three years, the GOP has refused to help the nation recover because their goal is to defeat President Obama. What kind of patriotism dictates the brains of these modern conservatives? They claim it is principled fiscal responsibility but where was that principled ideology from 2001-2008.
Today, we remember Pearl Harbor, "a day that will live in infamy". If the Congress of today had existed in 1941, would we be asked to sacrifice? Would Congress reinstate the draft? Would the GOPTP stand against raising taxes on the richest 2% to help pay for a huge war? Could we, in record time, mount a manufacturing juggernaut to fight WWII or have our manufacturing industries outsourced to such a degree that we could not build and produce what was needed? Have we eliminated the skilled commercial labor needed to mount a switch to war-time manufacturing because profits and anti-union thinking has diminished that skilled labor expertise?
I do not doubt the will and the willingness of the American people--never, we are a resilient people, a "can do" people. I do doubt the will and willingness of industry to recognize that to be strong, to be prepared for the worse, we must produce and manufacture goods in this country or else we must rely on China to build and ship us what we need. I do doubt the will and the willingness of a conservative party that seems to have lost its sense of what and who we are; lost its comprehension of why we once were the most powerful, industrial nation in the world; lost the ability to recognize that in order to be strong both militarily and economically, the middle class must thrive and prosper not just the 2% wealthiest.
Today is a day to remember Pearl Harbor but it is also a day to reflect on who we once were, why we could mount that WWII juggernaut and why it is important that America again recognize that only if the middle class is strong can we continue to be the USA who defeated Hitler and the Japanese. For 30 years, the result of "supply-side, trickle down" ideology has caused the incomes of the middle class to flatline, the middle class has decreased in size while the richest 2% has seen their wealth increased 250%. If the USA is to remain a great and powerful economic nation, it must invest in fairness; its industries must be willing to accept lower profits in order to invest in the American worker. It is not about taking from the rich, it is about the "haves" investing in the middle class by investing in the worker's well being and providing a path to the middle for the poor through fair wages and a shared sense of responsibility.
Jody, within 30 days of Pearl Harbor, our manufacturing plants were building ships and planes instead of automobiles. Scrap drives were started and people were buying and/or selling war bonds. Those not in the active military still participated in the war effort.
A lot of the facts I have learned about this time comes not just from history books. I am blessed with a family that believes in the oral tradition of telling the younger members of this time. I am blessed with a mother and her "senior gang" who can tell the story of America at war.
God Bless each and every one of them. Because of them, we are here today to fuss and fight about the trivial politics of today.
Yes, I can see how igniting a class war would definitely bring people together. After all, it's only fair that 49% pay all the taxes, while 51% pay none- and many get welfare checks from the 49% in the form of refundable tax credits!
And, it's only fair that Obama get another honeypot from which to repay his donors with taxpayer dollars. What other incentive could they have to donate hundreds of thousands, if not the promise to be repaid in millions?
And, it's only fair that people know who is really responsible for high unemployment- airport kiosks, ATM machines, and the Internet. So what if all those things predate Obama's presidency- obviously, they were lying in wait to tank him!
Know what's unfair? For three years, Obama has been trying to get a book on Austrian- a language he does not speak. They always seem to be all sold out. How is that fair?
If people are not nicer to him, he will just take his act on the road- maybe hop aboard the Intercontinental railroad, and take up residence in Venezuela. That will show them!
phinephancy, this country still exists because of the sacrifices made by Americans in WWII, the willingness to do whatever it took at whatever the cost. It is amazing when you read about how quickly we were able to shift from cars to planes, tanks and ships. To repeat your words, "God Bless each and everyone of them."
The selfish attitudes I see on FR, from legislators and presidential wannabees every day is why I wrote this post this morning.
nojo, you are absolutely ridiculous. The sad thing, you believe that junk you write. You would not have made it in the 40's. You are a drain on society.
Jody---great post. The contrast between 1941 and the aftermath of 9/11 is a sad one.
It was sad to see this morning that today's commemoration at Pearl Harbor will be the last one as few survivors remain and those who are with us have difficulty traveling. They truly were our greatest generation.
Someday, Steeler Fan, I will tell some of the wonderful stories from not only my family, but those of the "senior gang" of that day, and the days that followed. Hearing them just makes you proud.
Jersey Shores No Joe didn't disappoint and posted the usual "selfish" me-firster attitude, and by the way, your post is the usual right-winger approach--blame the poor for being poor. Never ask why it is they do not pay federal incomes taxes or ask how it can be that so many citizens barely make ends meet. Never face the reality that this number came about because Reagan's trickle down only trickled up. 48% of this country's citizens do not make enough money to pay federal income taxes because they barely earn enough to feed their families and keep a roof over their heads but they pay state incomes taxes, payroll taxes, local and state sales taxes.
No Joe, you are a waste of my time--you are not stupid, just ignorant of reality because you choose to be.
Jody, & phinephancy,
Your messages ring true. How many of those so called real Americans FOX NOISE espouses have done anything to reward the elderly wo/men how served in WWII; for that matter, anyone not in the 1% ?
Personally, I really sick of these greedy, irresponsible, facades the Congress put out in regards to patriotism. The least thing the GOP/ T Nuts' message conveys is appreciation for this country. Otherwise they wouldn't be trying so arduously to destroy this country with their retrograde ideas and gridlock.
Beverly, I am extemely blessed by my family and extended family who taught me well of these times and how to apply those lesson to today.
phine---would love to hear the stories. Have been meaning to apologize to your mom & the crew for the lack of hospitality my Steelers showed your Bengals on Sunday. I do think their QB, Dalton, will be one of the good ones in the years to come.
Steeler Fan, they hid the tv from Uncle Bob so he couldn't watch the game!
I look forward to hearing some of those stories, too, phinephancy. Thanks everyone for adding to my post--well, almost everyone had something positive to add.
Great Post Jody, one of your best.
Remember, Remember the 7th of December.
I post this every year, least we forget.
Obama in 2012.
Remember Pearl Harbor....Celebrate Hiroshima and Nagasaki!
California Tom, thank you for the kind words about my thoughts today. It is important to always remember Pearl Harbor and the sacrifices of that generation!
Obama/Biden 2012
Really?
Damage, you are a disgrace. 'Nuff said.
So here's an incredibly irrelevant story:
Seems the Obama kids school today served Japanese cuisine for lunch. Saying it was a coincidence that it coincided with Pearl Harbor Day.
I believe it was. I also believe they must have an idiot planning their menus.
And anyone who sucks the kids into this irrelevant story needs his head examined.
But mark my words, someone will blame the kids.
Damage, a totally useless, inflammatory and unnecessary statement.
Dimwattage, this is a daylight hour, you need to return to the attic and resume your upside down position.
WCA, don't often agree with you but you make a good point, especially that last sentence.
nojonob
Well, I'm in the 49% that has to pay taxes, and I'm grateful to be there. I'm not full of hate like you are for people living on the brink of poverty that you want to push off the cliff.
*************** "A date which will live in infamy" *******************************
Along with Sept. 11, which will live in Infamy even more than Dec. 7th. Remember what those d=== Arab/Moslem killers did to the American Public. Yes, remember 9-11. And what did everyone say ? We all said: Thank God George Bush is President. How quickly we forget....some of us, anyway. I still say it even today. Thank God W was president on 9-11. And thank God for next year's election.
Gordon
Flu season is upon us, you should get plentyof fluids with that fever you are running.
He who will not barter nor bargain for the Presidency. The PEOPLES President, NOT the MEDIAS.
Join the RON PAUL Revolution and take our country back
Today is December 7th - the day that lives in infamy. We need to stop and remember all those of the greatest generation who fought for our right to argue and fuss at each other today. Not all served in the military - although most men did. But all types of work was considered important to the war effort, from coal mining to farming. Victory Gardens and scrap drives.
Please do not compare 9/11 to Pearl Harbor. Aside from the loss, they are nothing alike. We, as a people, have not contributed to any war effort. Less than 1% of the population is involved with today's wars.
Please, though, remember those whose lives were forever changed on this day.
Thank you.
We, as a people, have not contributed to any war effort. Less than 1% of the population is involved with today's wars..
Hey now, that isn't fair! After 9/11 I did what the "leader" asked me to do to contribute to the war effort: I went shopping.
Point well made, nisl. We, as a people, not just right or left, rich or poor, should look inside ourselves and see what we can do to promote the general welfare of our country. What's the line, country first? Hmm.
We, as a people, not just right or left, rich or poor, should look inside ourselves and see what we can do to promote the general welfare of our country.
Phine - Careful now, that is the kind of statement that will get you labeled a, "Kenyon Marxist Mau Mau foreigner"
Yep, bring it on. I would rather be labeled as such, than what the right is known as - the selfish, ugly American.
I remember when President Bush told people to "go shopping", I couldn't believe he actually said something that completely ridiculous and stupid--the neoconservative mentality in all its glory, start wars and go shopping to pay for it.
As I have said before, for the GOP it is always money first, then country. (Well, maybe country after money and power and a fancy car and a new mansion)
Oh, the shopping wasn't to pay for it,...it was more Retail Therapy to pay no attention to the 'man' behind the curtain.
Capitalism at its 'finest'. The cowboy diplomat had many gaffes during the aftermath of 9/11:
__________________________________
see more if you can stomach it, here:
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_W._Bush
Jody, Phinephancy and Clara: Would you all even know a fact if it bit you on your fat, liberal, First Read-addicted asses? Bush never told Americans to "go shopping." Much less after he "started a war." Is Jody one of those people who thinks that we deserved 9/11? I'm pretty sure that 9/11 is what "started" the war. Islamofacists did that. Bush's remarks after that have been twisted by you twits for years.
Here's the real deal...
What Bush Really Said After the Attacks
President Bush didn't call on Americans to run up their credit card bills.
He encouraged them go on living their lives as they were used to doing. And he expressed concern about a nation and an economy paralyzed by fear of terrorists.
"I ask your continued participation and confidence in the American economy," Bush said in an address to the nation on Sept. 20, 2001.
"Terrorists attacked a symbol of American prosperity. They did not touch its source. America is successful because of the hard work, and creativity, and enterprise of our people. These were the true strengths of our economy before September 11th, and they are our strengths today."
Bush did not, at any point, use the word "shop" in that momentous speech.
Nor did he ask anyone to "go shopping" in a speech one week later.
"When [the terrorists] struck, they wanted to create an atmosphere of fear," Bush said at a Sept. 27, 2001, speech at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. "And one of the great goals of this nation's war is to restore public confidence in the airline industry.
"It's to tell the traveling public: Get on board. Do your business around the country. Fly and enjoy America's great destination spots. Get down to Disney World in Florida. Take your families and enjoy life, the way we want it to be enjoyed."
One of the only references Bush made to shopping at the time was on Nov. 8, 2001, when he said he had seen signs of a courageous people in the aftermath of the attacks.
"This great nation will never be intimidated. People are going about their daily lives, working and shopping and playing, worshiping at churches and synagogues and mosques, going to movies and to baseball games," Bush said.
The word "shopping" also turns up one more time. On Sept. 17, 2001, Bush addressed the fear some Muslims had of a backlash.
"I've been told that some fear to leave; some don't want to go shopping for their families; some don't want to go about their ordinary daily routines because, by wearing cover, they're afraid they'll be intimidated," Bush said.
"That should not and that will not stand in America. Those who feel like they can intimidate our fellow citizens to take out their anger don't represent the best of America. They represent the worst of humankind. And they should be ashamed of that kind of behavior."
Damage, I put the exact quote in my statement and gave you a friggin' link. The moron SAID it.
Perhaps YOU don't understand how our American Economy works; but SHOPPING is a key element. Defend him if you must; but don't deny his own words, no matter how inarticulate they were.
Thanks, Damage- but I have to ask- what makes you think any of these people are interested in facts? They're perfectly content with their twisted versions of what was said- because of their outrage over who said it. Therefore, it is more convenient to simply make up their own quotes.
You must also remember that the man they idolize has spoken, not once, not twice, but more times than I can name, of the causes of unemployment- including just yesterday. ATMs and airport kiosks have been joined by the Internet as the reason for so much unemployment.
He went on to say that America has never worked.
That it is necessary for the government to expand, for regulations to expand, and for taxes to expand, (but only on "the rich", mind you), in order to create a "fair" society. Funny, but I seem to recall other leaders interested in such "fairness"- Lenin. Stalin. Mao. Chavez.
Then he wonders why so many people identify him as a Marxist. Incidentally, I'm not one of them.
I just think the man is an educated idiot, who has no clue what he is saying, let alone what he is doing. Otherwise, why on earth would he have chosen to give a speech at the same place as a former president- of the opposite party- who was soundly defeated in his quest for re election?
Sock it to him, Clara! (Just don't expect him to read. And if he does, that he will comprehend.)
BrainDamaged:
The only claim to fame for George Bush would be his crowing achievement:
The extension of Daylight Savings Time
Eight years of George Bush weakened our Country. You must be so proud that your vote brought so much despair to so many.
Mickey, I only wish you would have pointed out that the extension of Daylight Savings Time was their ENERGY policy.
Yeah,...I can see why people miss W.
No I can't. He was a class a fukup. And no amount of stain remover can repair the damage.
Thanks, Jack. My crapometer went off the rail today. I can only take so much willful ignorance at one pass through First Thoughts. I see the newjersey nutjob made an appearance,...that's how you REALLY know Braindamaged is devoid of fact or substance.
When that crazy cheerleader shows up and spurs them on,...you can rest assured - it was garbage in and it will be garbage out.
Why in the world would Perry spend any more money on anything? Just shows how stupid he really is
Not really. Unlike the folks here, political junkies, a lot of folks stay uninformed and pick a candidate by their ads. Sad, but true.
Fuzzy,
I agree, and I understand Phiney's point as well. But in Perry's case, who or what is going to benefit by the expenditure of all that money this late in a failed campaign? By the time he's done with the current round of spending, he will have spent enough money to feed a million starving kids in this country.
Welcome to another day of sniping on the Vine. We can expect someone to point out that unemployment was great/horrible in year X under President Republican/Democrat, and someone will say that it was better/worse in year Y under President Democrat/Republican. Of course, that's because the circumstances in year Y were identical to those in year X. Bull S***!!!
What the snipers bring here has no value. What worked in year Y may not work in year X. Some actions will work in both time frames, some will not. This is a very different world from what it was just a few short years ago. For all practical purposes, this is a world without borders. We are now just another household in a world-wide community. We don't snap our fingers and the world kowtows. We don't thump our chests and the world shrinks in fear.
We may have the biggest house, but we have the biggest mortgage. We may have the biggest house, but it needs a great deal of repair. A lot of us don't have jobs. A very few of us have most of the spare cash. The heads of the household - Congress - are drug addicts. Their drug of choice is cash, and they're selling everything in the house to feed their addiction. What the hell are we doing in everybody else's house, when we have so many problems right here?
While our house is falling down around us, we snipe at each other over utterly ridiculous talking points. One example: Tax cuts for the rich will increase jobs. After ten years, it should be obvious that is not true. On the other hand, we are told that if we just pump more printing-press money into the economy that will solve the problem. After a point, it should be obvious that isn't working either. Maybe, just maybe, the truth lies somewhere in between.
Yes it does. The tax cuts must stop. The very rich are going to have to pay a great deal more. (Why? As Willie Sutton would say, "Because that's where the money is." You can't get money from people who don't have it.) We are also going to have to cut spending - big time. That means entitlement programs and it means defense and a host of other sacred cows are going to face the knife.
How we make these cuts and how we increase taxes must be debated within a framework that recognizes TODAY'S world - not yesterday's. The demand for durable goods has been met. Manufacturing is largely going only to meet replacement needs. That's just how it is. Manufacturing isn't going to save us.
The stated unemployment rate of 8.6% is a fiction. It is probably closer to 20% and it is going to rise. It is not going to decline. We are going to have to embrace a new lifestyle. Honestly, does anyone with a lick of sense really believe we can run a country where everyone sits in front of a computer terminal? Yo, OWStreeter's, we have all the graphic designers and English majors we can use.
Pell Grants in too many cases are a waste of taxpayer money. The high school graduation rate is a meaningless statistic. We are pouring money into colleges to pay for remedial classes the "students" should have mastered in their K-12 years. The educational system is a disaster.
Wall Street (a handy generic term for the financial community) screams for regulation. We really do have poor people who need assistance in this country. The defense industry is being looted by private enterprise. We are building a grossly inefficient and very expensive army of mercenaries. The food stamp program is loaded with abuse. HUD actually competes against itself. Yes, government wastes money. No, private enterprise is not God's answer to the problem.
Both the right and the left wings have legitimate complaints. Stop sniping. Identify the waste and demand that your Representatives do something about it. Yes, Republicans! That means you are going to have to throw your clowns into the street. Yes, Democrats! That means you are going to have to throw your clowns into the street.
Get a grip. The Civil War is over. It's time to be civil and save this country.
Well put David. And today, December 7th, is a great day to think about how our parents and grandparents put country before self.
David W, well said.
Brilliant post David!
Thanks, David.
Ditto all above, David.
David, well said! I have been saying for years the problems in the U.S are not a Republican problem nor are they a Democrat problem. Everyone has added fuel to this fire, now we need to work together to put it out. Thank you for an excellent post!
Our government. Repubs and Dems..... 1 Bird, 2 Wings, Same poop.
We need change, and I don't mean buying the slogan that was stolen from Dr. Paul early in the last election.
I mean CHANGE WE CAN TRUST because thats what Paul supporters meant when they were first to say it.
Wake up people!! RON PAUL is the PEOPLES President, NOT the MEDIAS....... RON PAUL 2012
In case you missed it...
A jury in Baltimore, MD convicted Paul E. Schurick, campaign manager for former governor Bob Ehrlich (R), of 4 counts stemming from a robocall placed to 112,000 voters that prosecutors said was intended to supress voter turnout.
The call told voters that "our goals have been met. The polls are correct, and we took it back. We're OK. Relax. Everything's fine. The only thing left is to watch it on TV tonight."
The jury convicted Schurick of attempt to influence votes through fraud, failure to identify the source of the robocall as required by law, and two counts of conspiracy to commit both of those crimes.
Schurick's defense team claimed that the call was an attempt at "reverse psychology" to motivate Ehrlich's supporters to vote and they plan to appeal stating that this conviction is an unlawful attempt to violate free speech.
So, there you have it...in the GOP Universe, attempts to supress the vote are free speech!!!
Shhh. Da Noid, don't you know that the GOP will just say it was a left wing conspiracy?
Ex Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich receives his sentence today, for the 42 counts against him including attempting to sell the US Senate seat of former Democratic Senator Barack H. Obama to Democratic Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. . Barack's good friend, neighbor, and fundraiser Tony Rezko received 10.5 years in the federal pen for his corruption. Mr. Blagojevich is expected to get 15-20 years for his misdeeds.
I'm certain when Democratic Governor Blagojevich is sentenced it will be big headline news here on FR. Oh wait, no, that won't happen because as Dominico says, "Blagojevich isn't running for President".
Quote of the Decade from Mr. Blagojevich regarding that open Senate seat: "It's 'freaking' golden!"
Sniffy - you sure are worked up in a lather already this morning!
Personally, I hope FR does print a thread on this, I will be the first to say, I hope Judge Zagel tosses him in the 'klink' and THROWS away the key!
@Feisty,
While those on the right would never admit it, to tamper with voting affects all of us. And is a threat to the very republic they supposedly love.
Nice try jas, old news. But the attempt at diversion is classic. Your credibility, still zero. Why don't you address all of the gerrymandering going on right now at the hands of Republican legislatures. I don't expect to see that, but thought I would ask.
It is always a sad story when any politician from either party uses his office for personal gain or, worse, misuses his office to hurt the people he (or she) is elected to serve. Why would anyone think a progressive would differentiate between the parties on this issue?
Hope Blago enjoys his stay with the Illinois Corrections Dept! Maybe he and Ehrlich can be pen pals.
I, too, hope there is a story on Blago's sentencing.
I furthermore home that the story will remind you that the FBI affidavit in the case found no inappropriate discussions between Blago and Obama or anyone on his staff.
Progressives don't differentiate between the parties on these issues. But the right does. See, it is ok for them to break ethic rules, voting laws, really any law, as long as it benefits the power base of the GOP.
You know the Republicans are in full freak out mode when they have to bring up Blago and Rezko. Those non-troversies didn't hold water the last time around. If that is the best they can do, they have nothing.
I love the smell of wingnut desperation in the morning, it smells like victory!
nisl - It's not going to be easy, don't kid yourself. Most on the right believe their own lies right to their very core. They have been convinced that fairness is socialism. That helping others is wrong. And that any problems we may have can only be corrected by the total destruction of government. They do not understand why destroying government and handing over the majority of the country's wealth to a small number of people is not in our best interests. They view preventing this from happening as somehow stealing something that these wealthy few have earned. They do not understand why moving money to make money isn't earning anything at all and they are ok with the outright theft that goes on daily as part of the process. Nope, with that much stupidity out there winning in going to be a lot of work.
Amused - Oh, I don't think it will be easy at all. I just find it amusing to watch the wingnuts cast about helplessly for any semi-scandal to tie Obama to. That the best they can come up with is Rezko and Blago points towards the shallowness of their case against Obama.
If they spend the next year screaming about Blago and Rezko people will come to the conclusion that the wingnuts are idiots and, ironically, that Obama is an ethical and honorable man. That is NOT a conclusion anyone with an ounce of knowledge would ever make about Newt or Mitt.
Thanks for posting this DaNoid. "Reverse psychology", what a joke. What's worse is that now the GOP state controlled legislators and governors are attempting to legalize voter suppression with ID laws that clearly discriminate against the poor, the elderly, students and minorities--the modern day version of a "poll tax".
As for Blagojevich, he's a crooked politician and deserves to do jail time.
Charlie Rangel is a Republican?
The only psychology at play by this loser is the mind fuk. If this is really his defense, that ought to go ahead and press charges for practicing psychology without a license. Republicans, when you think they can't get any lower, by golly someone tosses them a shovel and they KEEP digging,...priceless.
Haha, really too funny. Gingrich is trying to meet the deadline to get on the Ohio ballet. Don't you think, at a minimum, a presidential candidate should have thought about getting on the voting ballet in time? The circus continues.
If Gingrich can't get things together to get on the ballet, I don't want him commanding our armed forces. Republican candidates would be funny if they weren't so dangerous.
Newt Ballet!!! --- too funny!!!!!!!!!!!
I know you mean ballot ,but you still get post of the week for such funny imagery running thru my brain.................
Gingrich messed up in New Hampshire by not having enough signatures to qualify for all the primary electoral votes and he forgot to file in Missouri (claiming he wasn't planning to run in MO anyway)....and this guy wants to be President?
Easy mistakes to make when your own party announces your campaign DEAD back in June for calling Congressman Ryan's plan Republican Social Engineering,...Man, these righties have such SHORT memories,...I bet if Charles Manson said he was a Republican and managed to get on the ballot, he'd garner support and votes.
I won't be able to get that image out of my head....Gingrich as the hippo in a tutu, Rick Perry as the crocodile, Mitt as the rhinoceros(Rino) Ron Paul and Bachmann as the tinker toys and dolly all in a ballet of the Nutcracker suite to the tune of "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas! LMAO!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49LAPkV9xJg
I have a good idea for a Republican ad......
Have Obama's voice in the background: "this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot"
and in the ad , we hear the voice of a voter saying....."Hey Mr President, how can us folks get a fair shot when you Democrats are a bunch of cheats ?"
Then we see Blago, Holder, Pelosi, Geitner, Corzine, Weiner, Rangel, and Waters.....the D.C. Democrat poster politicians who represent tax cheats , insider traders and funneling money.
ABO
Henney Penney, you are another who never would have been able to contribute in the war years.
Look!
Fresh cackle-berry's from Henny Penny this morning...
Omelets anyone?
Where IS Mr. GreenJeans when you need him? lol
haha, the truth su#$%, I agree , but it's still the truth.
Sorry to hear you are hurting, Henney. You contribute nothing to the benefit of the country. But, at least you are consistant is your mindless rants.
Don't forget to add the orangeman to your list of cheats. You see, that goes on on both sides of the isle but you don't care about cheating republicans do you? You don't care about unfunded wars or prescriptions programs, or bailing out banks, or no bid contracts or oil pipelines over primary water supplies, or letting people who do nothing but push money to make money pay lower tax rates than people who actually work for a living. The problem with republicans is that you just don't care.
Amused,
The problem with you Dem voters is that you are willing to vote AGAIN in 2012 for a man who is a failure, and the country be dam#@d.
Wouldn't work, Leona. The Democrats would only counter with their ad showing all of the Republicans who have cheated, stolen, manipulated, engaged in illicit sexual encounters ~ ~ ~ well, you get the picture, providing you have an extremely wide-screen TV.
You left off some real criminals and sleezy politicians, Leona--there's Newt Gingrich, Duke Cunningham, Jack Abramoff and his band of merry republican legislators, David Vitter, John Sanford, John Ensign, the Florida intern abuser guy, the bathroom stall guy, the John McCain scandal way back....
Jody, you missed Tom Delay,...bathroom stall guy was Larry Craig, Who could forget Mark Foley (not the catheter) and Religious Nut and spiritual guide to 'W', Ted Haggard.
Jody,
You have a weak argument . Can't you do better and list some real criminals?
I did. LOL
Clara, thanks, couldn't remember those two names just their faces and their crimes.
Leona, everyone I named had either serious ethics, fraud or sex scandals. Duke Cunningham was a republican legislator sent to prison; Jack Abramoff just got out of jail; Gingrich was found guilty by his own peers of ethics (criminal) violations. You list Eric Holder, Nancy Pelosi and Tim Geithner--please name their "crimes", haven't seen any charges brought against them, no investigations into their ethics; nothing beyond the right-wingers like you making false accusations. Please note, Leona, that I did not defend Weiner, Rangel or Waters but merely pointed out that you cannot single out democrats without including the long list of republicans with "issues". That dog won't hunt, Leona--and you know it!
Jody,
These "crimes" will never be prosecuted because these Democrats are "above" the law.
Holder stonewalled and lied to Congress ( Fast and Furious).
Pelosi is guilty of insider trading, well documented. If she were a regular citizen or a Wall Street hedge fund person, she would be in prison. She even made it possible for her brother in law to get rich from "green" projects.
Tim Geitner didn't pay his taxes. Meanwhile he handles the finances of the country !!
There should be an uprising / revolution taking place outside the White House due to the crimes of Democrats. Instead the OWS PROTESTERS ARE SCREAMING ABOUT THE 1%. lol
THE TEA PARTY has the right idea. Get the spenders (Dems) and the cheaters (Dems) out of D.C.
ABO.
Leona -
After an exhaustive review of the brain trust that your party has proposed for President I have come to the conclusion that the only thing that I can do to prevent the destruction of this country is to vote for the current President to stay in office.
If you can do better than 2 imbeciles (Perry & Bachman), a weathervane with no moral core (Romney), a snarky pseudo intellectual crook (Gingrich), a guy who still lives in the 18th century (Paul), and one sane island in an otherwise ocean of mediocrity (Huntsman) all with their short hairs being tugged around by a squirrel wearing birther (Trump) then stop back by and let us know and I will reevaluate.
You would see that you're standing on quicksand if you took those blinders off for a bit.
Unbelievable that this bunch of dumb clowns is all the Republicans could come up with. They are all just puppets for the crooked corporations and polluting gas, mining and oil industries. The party of No has offered up a rotten kettle of fish.
It does not matter how much "Scary Perry" spends anymore on anything. He has proven to be a functional illiterate, and a very greedy individual. It is just scary that Perry comes off drunk and dumb on almost every policy issue. His lack of ability to speak clearly is scary, and his lack of any thought process take scary to a new level. It is scary to watch this Cognitively Disabled individual go on late night talk shows, and look even more intellectually horrific. No amount of money will ever cover up the dangerous and dumb Foreign Policy comments this Emotionally Unstable individual has made already. Everyone just wave good bye to "Scary Perry."
RE George Allen vs. Kaine: Hmmmph, I suppose Allen thinks Obama is a little macaca too!
Yeah elect Allen if flying the Confederate Flag and wearing big stupid cowboy hats and boots is important to you too! Yeah boy .............lol
It is amazing to me how little of the critiques of President Obama are reality based. I mean, I heard Joe Scarborough this morning on Morning Joe-ke still trotting out the old "the President promised the stimulus would keep unemployment under 8%" lie . . . I mean, obviously Joe must know that is a load of unvarnished bull, right? To Jay Carney's credit, he did say that at the time when that ESTIMATE based on FICTIONAL numbers was released by ADVISORS to the President BEFORE HE WAS EVEN SWORN IN, it was believed that the economy had contracted 3% . . . when in fact 9% was the reality.
So my question is this: Why in the world do we spend so much time creating non-troversies about stuff that isn't true, all while ignoring the clear and present danger of corporations being anointed as "people" by a corrupted Supreme Court and crony Congress?
Is the plan to keep us all rebutting bullsh!t instead of dealing with the bullsh!tters?
In any case, it is sad as hell to see so many good people being led astray by baldfaced lies and misinformation. It is insidious, counter productive, and ultimately corrosive to the very concept of democracy.
How can you have a "representative" democracy when most everything you are told is a load of corporate sponsored bull?
What's the old canard, tell a lie often enough and people will believe it? That's the problem today.
Today's comment was brought to you by phinephancy's tonic - good for what ails you. (You did bring up corporate sponsers)
They just keep repeating lies and suppressing votes and forcing the progressives to be on the defensive. Another way to try to limit our effectiveness. Gotta give them credit--they never give up.
Asking for ID to prove your citizenship is "suppressing votes?" Sure. It is to liberals. But then again, you people think it's racist to deport illegal aliens. Go figure.
Still making everything a racial issue I see Damage . . . can't teach an old dog new tricks I suppose . . . enjoy.
How about that LIE that Obama repeated for years that there are "46 million Americans without health insurance." Just a little homework revealed that he was including illegal aliens in that number. Illegal aliens, as in.....NOT AMERICANS. Luckily, Joe Wilson called him out on his lie and he stopped it.
While I try not to pay much attention to your mindless comments, Damage, thought I would put out there that this administration has not only slowed the number of illegal immagrants coming in to this country to a low not seen since 1970, the administration has also deported more than previous administrations. So, that dog won't hunt. Try a new fib.
So now Obama bases his decisions for supporting things like an $800 billion "stimulus" on fictional numbers? This does not make Obama look any less culpable NF.
Think about if Bush made a similar pathetic excuse for the WMD's in Iraq. You lefties are still whining about that one.
Nashville, you're being too kind. While you say "many good people are being led astray by baldfaced lies and misinformation" I would say many mean spirited, small-minded, self-rightious bigots are leading the way with like-minded folks stepping in line. Half of the people perpetuating the lies KNOW they are lies, but they hope to gain some traction to defeat President Obama. The other half are just not well-informed. No one has to fall for the lies. I wish these "good people" as you say would educate themselves, question what is being fed to them and make more informed decisions. We are becoming an electorate of 24-hour "news" cycles that rely too much on what is told to us rather than just giving us the facts and making up our own minds.
Dear Ms. Smiff:
I know you are trying to appear "smart", but clearly dear, since President Obama cannot SEE INTO THE FUTURE and can only use the BEST ESTIMATES AVAILABLE just like every other HUMAN PRESIDENT, your comment is assinine at best, sad at worst.
JoAnna, You had better believe us "Lefties" are still "whining" about Bush's lies about WMD's in Iraq. Hundreds of thousands of people died. The fact that you can so easily dismiss the lives of so many people says a lot about your character. Pathetic. Keep representing the rightwingnuts. Your type is the best thing for President Obama's win in 2012.
So now Obama bases his decisions for supporting things like an $800 billion "stimulus" on fictional numbers?
Wow, the amount of stupidity pumped into that one little sentence is unreal. No wonder you believe the lies you hear on Fox and hate radio.
Uh, look at this, quickly into the name calling. You're better than that NF. Well, maybe not.
And nice use of CAPS. It really helps in your attempt to absolve any responsibility from Obama.
Obama spent $800 billion on his union friends and the projected jobs he said would happen, but they never happened. That is a fact. It got so bad that Obama had to concoct this "saved job" nonsense to try and deflect away criticism.
Obama will be held accountable for that huge mistake.
Obama spent $800 billion on his union friends and the projected jobs he said would happen, never happened. That is a fact.
The CBO said the stimulus created or saved about 3 million jobs, didn't they? Wasn't that fairly close to what it was supposed to do when it was passed? That the economy was crashing harder than ANYONE knew (we thought it was falling at 3% and it was actually closer to 9%) means the unemployment situation became worse than estimated, but that doesn't mean the stimulus didn't work.
You need to look up the word "fact". I don't think it means what you think it means.
Nashville, terrific post.
President Obama gave an excellent speech to honor a great "progressive" named Teddy Roosevelt and point out the history and how it is today. Too many of the pundits spend time slicing and dicing in the form of criticism--he should have said this or added that--without really looking at context of what President Obama said. The similarities of today to what Teddy Roosevelt faced are amazing. One would think they'd spend time discussing that aspect.
I have occasionally been watching Morning Joe again but the minute I see Peggy Noonan, I find something else to watch; her sugary Reagan was the be all and end all gives me sugar overload. It's always a sure sign that the GOP supporters have nothing to offer when folks like Joe S trot out the 8% number, golf games, Hawaii vacation, the war on Christmas--says to me, they're worried.
Jody,
Peggy Noonan is usually on on Fridays, so I was listening on XM this morning,...as soon as I heard her breathless nasally faux intellectual voice I switched to POTUS,...and MAN howdy was THAT a mistake,...they were streaming live and unfiltered the Republican Jewish Coalition's 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate Forum. The fear cloaks were out in abundance and I am sad to report I only got to hear part of Santorums nonsensical scree about how GREAT war is.
What a way to honor Pearl Harbor day? (sarcasm font needed).
As usual, I see the JAS1 cabal has a short memory. 1/3rd of that $800 BILLION stimulus was TAX CUTS. I guess those tax cuts were 'fictional' too.
It's be way cool if we could get the crooked governors like Perry, who used stimulus money in Texas to balance his budget on the backs of formerly middle class people who are now unemployed, give it all back that would be great too. JAS represents people on the right who are pure ideologues and live in a tunnel where they unfortunately cannot see or feel those around them. They like it this way as it insulates their feelings of moral superiority. She will eventually sink into the quicksand that the republican platform sits on.
jimsepa--I think you meant "ballot," not "ballet." Sorry--I am not normally the grammar police, but the image conjured is way too funny! I can just imagine the Newtster auditioning for the Ohio Ballet--principal dancer....on pointe shoes and wearing a tutu and tiara! Quite fitting for the TPGOP circus! Again, my apologies.
Haha nurse, I think your image summarizes the circus atmosphere much better than my post was intended!! No apologies necessary, I got a good laugh myself.
Speaking of "ad wars"...... Obama still isn't sure exactly what he should say and promise in his billion dollars worth of ads.....
"Repub.National Committee Spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said the president was desperately trying new slogans and messages to see what sticks "because he can't figure out how to sell his last three years of high unemployment and more debt."
I personally liked Obama's "WTF" slogan.
That basically summed it up, LOL
Any group or individual who can brazenly promote Newt Gingrich for president has no platform to be critical of anyone else. A marriage cheat, tax cheat, campaign cheat, ethics cheat, run out of congress by his own colleagues, fined $300,000 for his shenanigans ~ not a glowing resume'. But you have to admire the GOP for passing over the amateur crooks to focus on the professional. Maybe they can resurrect Tom Delay as Newt's running mate. They would compliment each other so well.
Jim,
Repub vs Democrat when it comes to liars and cheats ??
I'll take that on....
there's no contest, when in the Dem Party they don't even seem to know they could be prosecuted in the "real world" for the things they do. Blago is the fall guy for the Chicago thugs, Pelosi thinks she can get away with the same stuff she and Obama demonize Wall Street for doing. Barney Frank had a gay prostitution ring in his house.........why isn't he in jail? For that matter, why isn't Weiner in jail?
The President talked about "Win the future". It was the Republicans who morphed it into WTF. That says it all right there.
The Republicans continue to make negatives out of positives.
fielden,
if it was such a "positive", he should have kept it.
"wtf", lol, it still makes me laugh.
fielden,
let me explain,...no time for that, let me sum up...
In republican speak a WIN means NO future (for anyone,...except maybe the 1%)
Jim in Texas - you are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT in your assessment. The situation is this - Newt Gingrich is NOT interested in becoming President; all he is interested in is how much he is going to get PAID.
That's all.
For a frontrunner in the 'pack' to have NO organization, NO campaign offices (up until now), NO ground game and NO official campaigning in Iowa (the man was in New York kissing Donald Trump's frumpy azz) tells me that this candidate is NOT SERIOUS.
It is no wonder that we see so many right-wing posters on here get so upset. They KNOW that the GOP is not serious and they are POWERLESS to stop the GOP from handing a 2nd term to President Obama giftwrapped with a gigantic bow.
Oh well.
Pietro,
After hearing him today, I think he's decided he does WANT to be president. I don't think he started out that way. But now that he's a frontrunner, he is licking his porcine chops and practically quivering at the prospect.
Patriotic American U.S.A.
******************"Newt is flying high in the polls on insiders money"************************
Don't forget he is FOX NOISE'S chosen one.
Iowa is Rick Perry's Alamo!!
Iowa,, Isn't that located under the "Perry Rock"?
Perry was going to comment, but he forgot what he was going to say before he could embarrass himself....
Elect a Christian family man who wants to give the working man a fair chance. Get aboard te-hee baggers and vote Obama in 2012!
Trading in "hope and change" for a "fair chance"? Personally I was disappointed. If nothing were to change, we would still have a fair chance. Regardless of who pays what taxes, the job opportunities are the same. Saying the other party's plan doesn't work isn't what I was looking for.
Interesting,,, 1st Newt says he wrote the policies that ended Communism,,, Now he says he's responsible for making Romney rich?
Romney "inherited" his fortunes from his daddy,,, I knew Newt slept around on his wives,,, but he's not George Romney so I doubt if Mitt will be calling Newt "Poppa" any time soon
I, personally, am waiting to hear that Newt was the one to turn water into wine. Just saying................
It's saddening; to think how much money and effort is going into campaign advertising this election season. We will be subjected to partial truths, biased stats, muckraking, and general negativism. Wouldn't it be nice, and novel, to have ads run on personal merits and platforms?
The winners from the ad campaigns? Media networks.
The winners from their ad campaigns?
Barack Obama, Joe Biden & the "Real" People of America who refuse to hide behind a Tea Bag or Trump Bag
@ Jim
I'm sure the "Real" People of America are proud that you're a spokesperson. I'm a supporter of the whole Team.
I would assume that would be Team Obama? Wise choice, he is the only Ronald Reagan in the race
Conservatives are surprised they ended up with these clowns as candidates,,,, None of them are actually representing old conservatives of Goldwater, Eisenhower & Reagan,,,, they've got many teams
@ Jim
You would assume.
I stop supporting those that pit American vs American. Yesterday's disappointing speech featured:
* The other party's plan doesn't work
* "middle-class" vs wealthy
* "middle-class" vs bankers
And I was hoping there was going to be an actually plan accompanying the slogan switch of "Hope and Change" to "A fair chance".
I'm not saying the choices are plentiful, but we can't be dividing our nation. My opinion.
Can't be dividing the nation? Yet you seem to be supporting who? ----- Independents who have surrendered "libertarianism" to the far right? Perhaps Donald "Birther King" Trump who hasn't surrendered to the far right?
Or, the far right itself who has hated all Americans on the left for generations & insist on a conservative revolution to change American values to conservative values that deny Americans liberties, freedoms & the opportunities to achieve even Middle Class status?
Barack Obama is your Ronald Reagan & Teddy Roosevelt,,,,, Get on board
@ Jim
Sadly, I have yet found someone to vote for. However, I don't feel obligated to vote my party line when I don't condone the message.
And I certainly don't condone divisive rhetoric. Pretty sure Teddy didn't go that route.
Put to focus on a point for the moment. Exactly where have liberties, freedoms, and opportunities been denied; and by whom?
@ Jim
Have you looked into the causation of the financial crash?
I blame all parties in the past for where we are. However, in trying to give the American Dream, home ownership, to everyone; the government created monster, that despite attempts during the last decade, blew up.
Then you no nothing about Teddy Roosevelt
Liberties to achieve, liberties to vote without a poll tax or discrimination, liberties to access to a living wage,,,,, liberties & freedoms to belong to the greatest military in the world, freedom to organize, freedoms to marry whom you love,,,, etc.
The list is long including freedoms from an oppressive government that a "smaller ultra conservative" government would surely bring
Financial crisis? Yes all contributed to that, everyone was making tons of money in an era of totally relaxed financial regulation.
Bush's Tarp worked, So did Obama's American Recovery & Reinvestment Act... It's still not enough. The collapse everyone was slow to recognize or even accept on the conservative watch was far deeper than the conservatives have been playing it!
Conservatives for 3 years have been playing it as an ordinary recession & who did they blame for the collapse? The American People, not the banks or lax regulation they love so dearly!
Dont forget that Teddy was responsible for the death of amillion filipinos and the start of our imperialism and that Ronny Ketchup is avegetable reagan , turned the Republican party into the party of institutionlized Greed. Teddy was great on the environment tho.
@ Jim
Last time I checked we still have all of these... and I don't think we'll ever have a "smaller ultra conservative" government.
@ Jim
Both parties talked about it as a recession. They weren't about to blame themselves for removing regulation and trying to put every American in a home. That was a bipartisan blunder.
And unfortunately, we may need several more years for that to shake out. I hope not, but the housing burst is the primary reason for the wealth gap increase. And that loss of wealth is tied up in a lot of toxic debt.
The wealth gap increase started back in the days of Ronald Regan,,,, It's increased rapidly in every administration since. Middle Class wealth gap stayed flat lined
@ Jim
Did you mean wealth?
I believe that trend is due more to the growth of the global economy than any party's policies. Our politics go back and forth, but the rest of the world moves forward. The wealth of the middle-class is declining from too much debt, too much taxes, and lower paying jobs.
Notice where he did his speech? From the home of the Kansas State Mental Hospital!
Pat,,, Why, were you on the inside looking out?
Yes Pat G the President went right into the heart of Kansas Republican territory to deliver his speech.
Time for your pills Pat
Mittens and the Dough Boy battle it out! What fun.
Thank god for President Obama, an adult.
I thought all that "dividing" was corrected under the previous administration, MJ. After all, Bush ran on the slogan that he was "a uniter, not a divider." Class "warfare" is not something new. Its has been going on for decades but this is the first time the lower and middle classes have mustered enough gumption to fight back against the plutocrats. That's not playing by the rules and it is upsetting conservatives to no end. So long as the lower classes can be kept "barefoot and pregnant," so to speak, its a much more manageable world. I think those days are over ~ at least, it appears to be so.
@ Jim
Racism, sexism, and a lot of things have been going on for a long time. Still doesn't make it right.
I stated my opinion, and am sticking to my belief. Maybe if more people felt that way there would actually be change. Possibly not.
And if you "think those days are over"; you're entitled to that. Good luck with perpetuating the class warfare.
M.J.,,,, I didn't even mention "racism & sexism",,, But, yes conservatives won't address those issues & eventually they must in order to relate to the rest of the country.
Sexism? Cain's campaign staff didn't recognize it, look what happened to him.... Gingrich can't recognize it, it's his history. He's now got Cain's campaign staff working for his campaign! --- Newt wants to lose, he can write more books
@ Jim-372206
Sorry, that was to another Jim. Curious on your thought on it though.
As for the Republicans candidates; it's hard to watch. The last of the decent was Mr. Clinton; but I hold the "not inhaling" against him. (joke)
The GOP run in an old poem:
The GOP run can be summed up in this old poem:
The
Duel
by Eugene Field
The gingham dog and
the calico cat
Side by side on the table sat;
T'was half past
twelve, and (what do you think!)
Nor one nor t'other had
slept a wink!
The old Dutch clock and the Chinese
plate
Appeared to know as sure as
fate
There was going to be a terrible
spat
(I wasn't there; I simply state
What was told
to me by the Chinese plate!)
The gingham dog
went "Bow-wow-wow!"
And the calico cat replied
"Mee-ow!"
The air was littered, an hour or
so,
With bits of gingham and
calico,
While the old Dutch clock in the
chimney-place
Up with its hands before its
face,
For it always dreaded a family
row!
(Now mind: I'm
only telling you
What the old Dutch clock declares is
true!)
The Chinese plate looked very
blue,
And wailed, "Oh, dear! what shall we
do!"
But the gingham dog and the calico
cat
Wallowed this way and tumbled
that,
Employing every tooth and claw
In the awfulest
way you ever saw--
And oh! How the gingham and calico
flew!
(Don't fancy I exaggerate--I got my news from the
Chinese plate!)
Next morning,
where the two had sat
They found no trace of dog or
cat;
And some folks think unto this
day
That burglars stole that pair
away!
But the truth about that cat and
pup
Is this: they ate each other
up!
Now what do you really think of
that!
(The old Dutch clock it told me
so,
And that is how I came to
know.)
And you trust what the clock told you?
Thanks...a long time since I've read any Eugene Field.
Judy-Iowa, thanks for the great post!