Piggy - You stole the words right out of my mouth. Unfortunately, I don't think they've learned their lesson...

Hi, GT, you need to change your avatar and let go the elephant - the beginning of wisdom is to know when to stop - and....do you think you need to take a break..after you have been in that position for some time??

What a week, I still feel like dancing.

And next week, the Congress will be back for a whole 10 days before they recess again! LOL

this lame duck Congress will be giving all of us a News Year present of expired tax cuts,

Spending cuts that they negotiated as part of the sequestration.

Until Boehner tells old Norquist to take a hike, they are on the wrong side of any compromise.

Heading to the DDI to put my dancing feet to some great music.

Hey, NorthstarDFL -

What a week, I still feel like dancing.

I don't blame you, but Madonna just called - Madonna has a different feeling?? What does she feel like?? But you all know she was not at all ... what she 'feel like...'

if the GOP doesn't learn the lesson from this election, and still decides to refuse to work with Pres. O and forces this country into a 'fiscal cliff,'

Pigotry - hearing comments from the forces within, they still don't get it. They blame everything but what the real problem is for losing the election. I know that old habits die hard, but unless they deal on this, we may have seen the last of the Republican Party. No tears from me will be shed if so.

Hi, GT, you need to change your avatar and let go the elephant - the beginning of wisdom is to know when to stop - and....do you think you need to take a break..after you have been in that position for some time??

Piggy - When I see a true effort of compromise coming from the GOP congress, I will then change my avatar. However, you are right about me being in this position a long time. My back is getting sore....LOL...

...but unless they deal on this, we may have seen the last of the Republican Party.

Mmm...no, not even close.

Does the Republican Party have some work to do? Yes...but if history teaches us anything it's that there are cycles. Joe Scarborough pointed out the other day that people once upon a time in 1984 and 1988 wanted to kick dirt on the Democratic Party once and for all. That proved to be premature.

So, no, don't go picking out a tombstone yet.

The GOP has stood for corporations since 1865. When they have all the money...just like anyone else...they have become complacent and stuPig. But I am sure, if the elephant become an endangered species, the environmental-friendly Democrats will save the elephant. As the saying goes (started by Truman-but adapted to the current political situation)...if you want a friend in Washington DC, get an elephant (a dog? a donkey?...a pig??)

It appears that Speaker Boehner wants to sit down with the President and work this out. Will he be able to convince the right wing nutjob extremist Fascist wannabe faction of his party to go along with it or will they dig in their heels like stubborn little brats and refuse to budge toward any sort of compromise. If he can't controll his people Boehner should do like Gingrich who was defeated by Clinton in their little budget fights.

The solution is going to take a combination of spending cuts and tax increases to make any serious difference. We can afford a small increase, emphasis on small, for the wealthy and larger corporations.

We need to get people working too. When people work they pay more in taxes and thus produce more revenue for the country. Government workers pay taxes just like the rest of us (except 1%ers) do.

In the past whenever President Obama extended his hand across the aisle it was slapped back. Let's see if they do that to him again. If we go off the cliff it will be the fault of the right wing nut job extremist Fascist wannabe Republicans (Tea Party if you want to call them that).

Heading to the DDI to put my dancing feet to some great music.

Northstar,

Let's get is started in here, compliments of The Black Eyed Peas;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ1tIAqSQfA&feature=player_detailpage

I'm still walking on sunshine!

Salud!

Feisty,

Wahoo, now that is a beat.... to dance your feet.

BTW, I love your new avatar!

cheers.

hey, baldeagle11, I agree with you.

Obama's approach is the common-sense one - spending cuts & tax hikes. But the Republicans for some reason haven't been able to come to grips with reality..for some time now.

GOP, please wake up...please do your duty of loyal opposition..We need you..without you, we can't claim bipartisanship..although 2 rounds of Bush tax cut for the rich (2001 and 2003) were both done through reconciliation - shunning Democrats out, avoiding filibusters. But the result was Greatest Recession ever.

Bravo, Noid, and when was it that MiniMe Rove was making confident predictions about a "permanent Republican majority"? Seems like just yesterday, doesn't it?

Listen up, Pigotry and Beeerm: We cannot afford to become complacent for even a moment. We Progressives are at a permanent disadvantage with respect to the Old Ones (no, not Cthulhu and Dagon- I meant Priebus, McConnell, those hideous inhuman monsters from another dimension) because of the very things that make us Progressives in the first place!

They will always be more disciplined and better organized than us because they have no tolerance for dissent; we feel that every dissenting opinion has a right to be heard, even when the meeting hall is burning down around our ears.

They will always be better funded than us, because so many of the world's richest men are attracted to their belief in "giving more to them what gots."

And they have always had a much more credible threat of force, because their movement is a natural haven for people who hate mankind and love to do violence.

BUT!

We continue to grow in strength because we believe in comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable. Our God loves all of His creations equally; their God punishes and torments those who they designate as His enemies. (Boy, good thing for God that He has their help to figure out who's wicked!)

We believe in freedom of thought; they seem to lean more towards freedom from thought.

And last but not least- we've got all the fun! Look at the world of writers, sculptors, actors, poets, painters, and especially musicians- damn few conservatives to found anywhere. Who have they got? Ted Nugent, Clint Eastwood, and- and- um, uh- Charlton Heston! YEAH! (Me, I'd much prefer to look at Katy Perry than at any of those guys, but that's just me.)

Liberalism! Better values, better food, better music, better scenery! Conservatives- cranky, anxiety-ridden old guys with money and guns. No wonder most 20-somethings voted Obama.

Hey, FoxTrotsky - a great post...

- damn few conservatives to found anywhere. Who have they got? Ted Nugent, Clint Eastwood, and- and- um, uh- Charlton Heston!

Gladly, Charlton Heston is dead...good riddance to bad piggish...

Hi all you fellow progressives! <waves> FoxTrotsky is correct, we cannot get complacent! We must stay organized and ready to meet all challenges from the GOPers. They will not go away quietly.

Feisty - "Walking on Sunshine"! Yesssssssss!! Oh boy, Stephanie and the Mooks were on fire this morning! Now is the time to gloat a little and have some fun! But fight on we must!

On a more sober point. I got an email from the campaign with the President's thank you speech video to the staffers in Chicago linked. I am going to save that one! In my 5 decades of living, I have not felt closer to any other candidate! He is truly one of a kind and it was an honor volunteering on his (and our nations) behalf!

Progressives Forward!

GT-2021701

Donkeys kick ass!!!

Beverly - and sometimes we even take names!

HolyHangrenade

I got an email from the campaign with the President's thank you speech video to the staffers in Chicago linked.

I got the same e-mail this morning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBK2rfZt32g

What a humble, sincere, compassionate, and hard working President we have! YUP, that community organizer thing pays off. It got President Obama to the White House twice.

I wonder is there a video of MYTH and Queen Ann shedding tears?

Once the GOP/Tea Baggers get their act together they too can go>>>FORWARD.

Hey, Beverly in Chicago

Donkeys kick ass!!!

Ass kicks Elephants!!

.

...and elephants fall on their ass...tails between legs

So, no, don't go picking out a tombstone yet.

I'm not. I am suggesting that they redefine themselves by getting rid of the Tea Party element that cost them the election. Unfortunately, that is a big chunk of their voter base. Kind of puts them in a tough spot.

Beverly - I think they are calling the Myth video the boo-hoo goodbye tour. Sha-na-na-na, Sha-na-na-na, hey hey, goodbye!

However, you are right about me being in this position a long time. My back is getting sore....LOL...

Ha-ha! The wonders of Viagra.

HolyHangrenade

Beverly - and sometimes we even take names!

Like...

Todd Akin

Richard Murdock

Joe Walsh

Allen West

Next up...

Eric Cantor

Mitch McConnell

Michelle Bachmann

Pigotry

Hey, Beverly in Chicago

Donkeys kick ass!!!

Ass kicks Elephants!!

.

...and elephants fall on their ass...tails between legs

Good one Pigs! May I call you Pigs? BTW - love your avatar!

Big sand sculpture of Obama on Puri beach; remarkable picture.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A7G2rTECcAEa7p2.jpg

Pattnaik created a seven-foot high sand sculpture of Obama with a message “Again Congratulations” with the help of the students of his Golden Sand Art Institute.

He also created the image of the US and its national flag.

“I created the sculpture to congratulate Obama for the election victory,” Pattnaik told IANS from his hometown Puri, about 56 km from here.

The artist, who is well known for his sand sculptures in India and abroad, said he used about eight tonnes of sand.

Beverly -

Next up...

Eric Cantor

Mitch McConnell

Michelle Bachmann

God yes, they got to go! Remember "In Living Color"? "I'm retty to go". (purses lips) LOL

Listen up, Pigotry and Beeerm: We cannot afford to become complacent for even a moment.

That ain't gonna happen, Fox. But after four years of verbal torture from those now silent wimps, i'm going to soak it up like a sponge and party like it's 1999.

After the 2012 elections, the elephant has shrunk ... to become an ant..eleph-ant, that is. Next time you bump into your eleph-ant friend ...you should greet him/her with: have you lost weight?? have you been working out...

.

I wonder if every part of elephant has shrunk in proportion..or maybe some particular part of the elephant has shrunk more...but I am not curious ... I doing it for curious george

HolyHangrenade

Beverly - I think they are calling the Myth video the boo-hoo goodbye tour. Sha-na-na-na, Sha-na-na-na, hey hey, goodbye!

Actually, there is a video.

Romney's Complete Concession Speech...

"I never really wanted that low wage 'president' job to taint my career. Besides, who on Earth could possibly get on by on $400,000 a year?" Romney sings.

Who needs the presidency when you have tax write-offs and can invest in anything you want overseas?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0q2eGAjyGg&feature=player_embedded#!

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

Good riddance MYTH. Sha-na-na-na, Sha-na-na-na, hey hey, goodbye!!!!

TonyB and Pigotry, you guys and many of our other kindred souls have been cheering up my days for some time now, so it's an honour to be able to return the favour.

No, I'm not too worried about y'all getting "fat, dumb and happy", not after what happened in 2010. Tony, you make a very good point about the quandry that the Reptilicans have put themselves in. Once you've invited the Devil in, he'll leave when he's good and ready. Myself, I'm glad that the extreme elements have gone mainstream- they're out in the sunshine, where we all can see them and laugh at their ugliness.

"I would only believe in a God who could dance. And when I found my Devil, I found him serious, thorough, profound, and solemn- it was the spirit of Gravity, and through him all thing fall.

"Not through wrath does one kill, but through laughter. Come, let us kill the spirit of Gravity!"

-- Friedrich Niezchte, Thus Spake Zarathustra

Beverly,

Actually, there is a video.

Romney's Complete Concession Speech...

"I never really wanted that low wage 'president' job to taint my career. Besides, who on Earth could possibly get on by on $400,000 a year?" Romney sings.

Who needs the presidency when you have tax write-offs and can invest in anything you want overseas?

#!

I'm not sure I could bring myself to watch that link. I just got a new keyboard and don't want to gum it up with my partially digested dinner. Just the sight of Myth makes me nauseous! Let alone having to listen to the pompous ass. ;-D

FoxTrotsky -

"I would only believe in a God who could dance. And when I found my Devil, I found him serious, thorough, profound, and solemn- it was the spirit of Gravity, and through him all thing fall.

"Not through wrath does one kill, but through laughter. Come, let us kill the spirit of Gravity!"

-- Friedrich Niezchte, Thus Spake Zarathustra

Quoting Niezchte, got to love that! My favorite is "life without music would be a mistake"!

My favorite Nietzsche quote is also a criticism of today's GOP:

Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies..

So I prefer when Republicans are just lying their arse off...people will judge and reject Mitt the Liar. But when the GOP refuses to compromise, as they did summer 2011, our credit rating was cut, 'fiscal cliff' created..thus more dangerous.

.

Another Nietzsche quote - the most famous...dog is dead

I feel like I'm finally getting back to normal.

Can't wait to get that extra hour of sleep I was promised last weekend.

Can't wait to get back on a normal diet. Hot tea and potato chips was all I basically ate the past week. How bad is that? Pretty pretty bad.

All the GOP pundits are continuing to point fingers. And I mean, ALL OF THEM. Too funny. These same pundits approved the war in Iraq, turned a blind eye to racism, turned a blind eye to voter suppression (to the point of laughing at it) and even supported Sarah Palin at one time. They continue to approve tax cuts for the wealthy even though they know we can't afford them.

These same pundits played along with the propaganda game of whatever the right threw out there, and they were more than happy to oblige by continuing the lies on their tv shows. Day in. Day out.

And finally, not that I want to act as though I'm some sort of tv guide, but I just wanted to alert you all ONE MORE TIME, that yes, Lawrence O'Donnell will be on this evening.

And means the official end to the 2012 presidential campaign.

As someone over @ DailyKos was quick to remind us towards the end of the campaign whenever one of those "tied" national polls came out and left us a bit nervous, this was all we needed to remember:

I WON = Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Nevada.

We won. We all won.

btw, just WHAT IS an unlikely voter?

Pat - Great to hear from you! Congratulations on Senator Warren! Man I love the sound of that! Senator Warren!

or...my.. did I say (in #1.33)... Another Nietzsche quote - the most famous...dog is dead

actually it's -

GOD is dead; not -

DOG is dead...

we love dog more....dogs and cats go to heaven, pigs get slaughtered (oink...that hurts...oink). I hope when dogs and cats go to heaven, the stern and uncaring god will treat them nicely.

HolyHangrenade, there were times when I wasn't sure she would make it, but her debates we all felt put her over the top for good. Her ads were very good too.

Two democratic Senators again here in Massachusetts. What a relief. Seriously. I hope John Kerry stays put.

Pigotry, DOG is dead?! LoL.

God, Dog, its all the same. ;-) Inquire within - Buddha

Pat, I love her knowledge! I can't wait to hear her on the floor of the Senate. I will be scanning C-Span for her speeches!

Sorry, Pat Boston MA, forgive my typo in #1.33 -I made correction in a new post #1.37...what Nietzsche said most famously is..

GOD is dead...not

DOG is dead

.

Nietzsche loved dogs...he hated his stinking girl friend who never bathed and stank so much.

Pigotry, I did see your edit. My first reaction to the "dog is dead" typo was that we're all just a tad tired these days. I got quite a chuckle out of it actually.

Starting Monday - new week, new horizons. It's all good.

Hey, Pat Boston MA, here is a pig's confession: dog or god..pun intended...sacrilegious? sorry. Who cares - as long as not at the expense of a pig...

"I would only believe in a God who could dance"

A good Shaker tune says the same thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XiyGZTvC9I

Fox Trotsky - Bravo!!! Anytime from now on that I watch the movie "Trading Places" and see the Duke Brothers, I'll think of the Koch's who got the same kind of comeuppance! LOL!!

Hollywood Golden Era

For those needing to wind down and escape for a bit from politics after a year long stress filled campaign, here is a fantastic web site with photos of all those great Hollywood actor & actresses' homes back during the golden era of Hollywood.

Rosemary Clooney and Jose Ferrer bought George Gershwin's house. And she, Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz, Milton Berle, Ira Gershwin, Jimmy Stewart and Jack Benny to name but a few, all lived on the same street, just doors from each other.

http://www.image-archeology.com/movie_stars_homes.htm

"Nietzsche is dead." --God

Probably the last word on this particular thread.

Thanks Pat,

It was a welcome relief.

What did your co-workers say about what happened at the polling place?

Opps, I'm sorry; some other time

Hey, FoxTrotsky

"Nietzsche is dead." --God

Probably the last word on this particular thread.

I agree...no pun intended...seriously...

President Obama, our 44th President for the next 4 years. Ilove it.

Beverly, a co-worker of mine went down to South FLA for a number of days and he decided the best thing he could do for all those lines was making sure people who needed chairs, had chairs, and plenty of water. He held their place in line if people needed to leave it for a while.

He also said that all the people in line kept emailing, text messaging and tweeting each other the words of Rachel Maddow - please, for the nation, stay in line. He said he never saw such unity in our country as he saw in FLA.

He also said the biggest topic of conversation was - how do we get rid of Rick Scott.

I loved Lawrence showing the words of the self-absorbed republicans who all said point blank - Romney was going to win. It was a classic.

Nate Silver. A fact checker whom our media dismissed. Interesting isn't it?

As Frank Rich wrote:

Some of Silver’s detractors didn’t bother to concoct their own bogus analyses but just tried to defame and bully him. In the waning days of October, Joe Scarborough of MSNBC’s Morning Joe discounted FiveThirtyEight’s finding that Obama had (then) a 73.6 percent probability of victory by ranting that anybody that thinks that this race is anything but a toss-up right now is such an ideologue they should be kept away from typewriters, computers, laptops, and microphones for the next ten days, because they’re jokes.

Dean Chambers, a conservative blogger who gained popularity on the right by setting up a junk-science Romney-boosting site called UnSkewed Polls, implied that FiveThirtyEight was skewed by Silver’s sexual orientation. Chambers wrote that Silver is of very small stature, a thin and effeminate man with a soft-sounding voice that sounds almost exactly like the Mr. New Castrati’ voice used by Rush Limbaugh on his program. (To which Silver responded with a classic Tweet: Unskewedpolls argument: Nate Silver seems kinda gay + ??? = Romney landslide!)

Scarborough’s and Chambers’s efforts to discredit FiveThirtyEight mirrored their party’s attempts to demonize the nonpartisan organizations that questioned Romney and Ryan’s voodoo economics as well as Jack Welch’s assault on the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You challenge the imaginary numbers of the post-fact GOP at your peril.

http://nymag.com/news/frank-rich/gop-denial-2012-11/#print

_______________

'Tis not the Conservatives who were lied to. 'Tis the entire nation who was lied to by conservative pundits too afraid to diss Limbaugh, Norquist, etc.

We the honest people, however, were not afraid to point out their lies. And as it turns out, most of the nation doesn't like Limbaugh & Co. That's what I learned from the results of the election. But as usual, the GOP pundits and politicians are way way way behind the pulse of America.

They lie and continue to believe they can get away with it.

I noticed a little twinkle in some of the msm's eyes last weekend as it appeared to most of us the president was going to win. And my first thought was - well, what do you know. Not all msm are nuts.

Chris Hayes had a lovely tribute to his brother this morning who has worked for the Obama campaign for years. It was very moving and what amounted to a tribute to the entire Obama campaign foot soldiers.

President Obama won. And the nation wants the president to govern as a democrat. He can compromise, but he cannot get less than what he fought for and won on.

Tax cuts for the wealthy - au revoir

Wow - where are the other guys. Must be sulking.

Now it is time to stop dancing - we have some serious issues coming up. I just hope that both sides will really come to the table. Although some pundits on MSNBC feel the fiscal cliff or curb will not effect us too much. I disagree. It will affect the stock market and globally. Everything does even rumors. We have the billionaires already selling right after the election. It is not always about Europe but it is about everything!

The dirty word is COMPROMISE.

Breaking news from PNN (the Pigotry News Network)...

.

Obama just won Florida -

never a doubt in my mind. Ryan's voucher plan has helped.

.

FORWARD...

This has been a PNN breaking news update - PNN - a nun-partisan news network - our motto? 'We love nuns.'

Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
What is a community and how does it regulate itself? This is the central premise behind politics and political discourse from the local to the national. While back I don’t remember how long now but I found a community. Come an evening I could print out a day’s activity within that community and take it out on my quiet mountain back porch and take a stroll across the various locales of these United States and visit folks just like myself who were interested in their individual communities and our national community. It was one of the few places that I found that had a lot of folks that were willing to take the time to express themselves completely and discuss the issues of the day in a way that they felt would grow both our online community here and their local and national communities.
I decided that I would participate in this community and present a view point that may be a little different from some but may be recognizable by some others. I was very gratified to find some measure of acceptance and encouragement from the beginning not just from certain and select individuals but from the community as a whole. I found that participation here is very similar to participation in most other communities. In our participation here much is revealed about ourselves and our strength of character and interest in the betterment of both our online community here and our communities spread all across our great nation there.
So over time we have built a community here. We’ve celebrated births of children and grandchildren. We have done what we can to console each other in times of loss and Illness. We have had some very pointed discussions among ourselves. We have giggled a little at each other’s foibles and miscues. However in all that time I have never doubted in the voices that we have revealed to each other (and because this is a public forum accessible to all thus to the world) that most had the best interest in our communities both here and at home at heart.
Over the years with the participation of a lot of fine folks all over the nation and our hosts here we have built a community that we could all be proud of. I know I am and take a certain amount of satisfaction in the feeling that my contributions may have played all small part in that success that we have seen.
So now I’m going to do what I do so dearly love and that is take a step back an indulge myself a little more in those strolls across America. We seem to be building on our success and now maybe that the election is over and most of the bumper sticker logic and most of the Yahoo’s that perpetrated it have gone by the wayside we should be able to discuss things on a level that will make those strolls well worth taking. We seem to have developed a fine crop of new posters to present interesting points of view. Let’s expand on it a little bit. There is a bunch more of you’ll out there with a point of view. Tell me what it is. Agree with me or somebody else or give us your own unique view on things. Folks you never know how an idea or a position is going to fly until you give it wings. Believe me I’ve had a bunch crash and burn but ever now and again you’ll put one out there and it will soar beyond your wildest dreams. But you will never know till you try. Come walk with me across America if for no other reason than the pure T fun of it.
My thanks and appreciation to all my friends out there both old and new for wading thru my southernisms and expanding them till that little core of truth that I was trying to get at takes wings and soars. Some of you I have appreciated for years and for some of you the trip is just beginning but I’m already looking forward to what we find over the next little knoll. To my friends in the “Tree house” and the subset of that that I like to call the Luscious Ladies of First Read thank you for letting an Old Country feller go along for the ride. And Who Wee lemme tell you what a ride it is. Makes a feller come back day after day just to see what is going to happen next but I don’t know of a more dedicated, passionate bunch. It is my Honor and Privilege to both know you and to support you. Finest Kind.
As always my thanks and appreciation to our hosts for their time, giving me a little place to stand, a subject to comment on, a forum to put it in, and their indulgence when I don’t quite get it right or get a little off subject. I purely do appreciate it. Hope you’ll have a fine weekend and good fun among folks that you know and love. To my fellow participants keep well, keep safe, and keep the faith. We’ll make it. See you’ll next week
You’ll look for me when you see me coming up the road kicking up a little dust.

Independent, thanks to sites like First Read, people from all across the nation can talk to each other. We are all from different cultures, yet, we're all Americans. Proud Americans.

Thank you for your words which clearly come from your heart.

Aside from having over 60% of the population behind them, the Dems will win either way on the “fiscal cliff” issue. And this time the Republicans don’t have anyone to take hostage.

If all the Bush tax cuts expire, the Dems can very quickly propose new tax cuts for folks earning less the $250K/year (those below the richest 2%). How could the Teapubicans refuse to pass tax cuts? This is what many would like to see happen (including some Republicans) because it would destroy the Grover Norquist pledge.

If Boehner/GOP refuses to extend tax cuts for the 98% in order to get breaks for the richest 2%, they will lose more seats going forward -- even in the 2014 mid-term that typically favors Republicans due to lower turn out. And this time the Dems are focusing on the mid-term, including election reform, but also knowing that Obamacare will go into full effect and it will gain popularity once folks see the improvement it represents.

A side note: If we had mandatory voting, the Republicans would have tanked long ago. I just saw an article today about the nation being split 50/50, and that’s complete BS. First off, when was the last time Republicans won something by 50% or more – even with the current pathetic election system?

Back to the topic…Can Boehner get Tea Party members, especially in the South to compromise? No, because most will not stand up to the monster they created -- known as their constituents. And most, including Mitch McConnell are up for reelection and are afraid of being “primaried” from the Right.

This game Boehner is playing about “revenue” is where folks need to pay attention. He is still trying to push the Romney/Ryan plan of closing loopholes – not that the rich enjoy, but that the 98% rely on. This is BIG folks, so heads up.

The tax credits currently used by the 98% were proposed by the Republicans in lieu of indexing the minimum wage to inflation. If the minimum wage had been linked to cost of living increases, it would be about $11 an hour right now. So understand this right up front that not only do the Teapublicans want to end the tax breaks for the working class, they also want to abolish the minimum wage altogether.

We need to start with restoring the highest tax rates (for the richest 2%) and we need to close the loopholes for the richest 2% (e.g., capital gains) -- And loopholes for highly profitable corporations currently paying ZERO in taxes. This cannot be negotiable, and should be immediate.

Then we need to pass equal pay for equal work, and we need to index the minimum wage to inflation. And finally, when the middle class wages are no longer stagnated (per the last 30-40 years), then let’s get rid of ALL tax credits -- And let’s raise the highest tax rates a bit more, as even the Clinton rates are too low for the richest 2% – But not until the economy has recovered, particularly for the working class.

The election is over, but not the work – The real, hard work begins now.

And Thank You to one of the Premier Luscious Ladies of First Read. I hope that most folks realize without a Pat Boston there might not be a First Read. After all the hyperbole of the Election I hope that we can get back to talking with one another instead of at one another and comport ourselves accordingly. Our future and our children's future depends on it. On a more personal note if you decide to come to D.C. for the inauguration I hope you won't hesitate to ask if there's anything I can do to smooth the way for you. Short that I'm still going to take you up on a Sox game one of these long come short days now that You'll have gotten rid of Ol' Valentine.

Independent, thank you for the offer of helping out if we were heading to DC for the inaugeration. I looked into hotels the other night and I came up empty for what I was looking for. I guess these hotel rooms are blocked off months in advance for swearing in day. I was hoping to spend a few days in DC so I could take the girls around to see the sites, but it's almost impossible to do that on inaugeration day as too many of the streets are blocked off and it's much too cold to spend that much time walking around barrier after barrier. We were even willing to miss the inaugeration and be there the weekend before so we could take in all the excitement of the time. No hotels that I could find. It's just not in the cards this time.

So we decided to wait until next spring or summer. Again, thanks for your offer & always very special kindness.

Fenway Park/Red Sox game - Spring, summer or fall - you have my email.

Excellent posts Pat Boston (#1.51) and Independent Redneck, etc. FoxTrotsky -- This line in particular:

We believe in freedom of thought; they seem to lean more towards freedom from thought.

IMO, the rightwingers are ALWAYS on the wrong side of history. Based on a religious story, even from the very beginning during the war in heaven -- When Lucifer proposed that everyone should be forced to follow God's plan, and Jesus proposed that everyone should have free will to choose.

This is why legislating morality never works. But the religious-Right baffles me with their hypocrisy, and their inability to see how much they have in common with the very things they condemn -- Sharia Law, fascism, discrimination (racism, sexism), and attacking "the least among us" such as the poor, the elderly, the children. Even the children are not as important as the unborn (WTF?).

As I've posted before -- The Democrats may not be perfect, but the Republicans are nuts.

Times are ripe for a third Party. The Teavangelicals need to go off into their own Party, and they can take the white supremacists, misogynists, and NRA types with them. If they don't split off, they will take the moderate establishment (i.e., reasonable y sane) Republicans down with them.

Pat when it gets in the cards and you and the girls need a handy dandy injun guide just let me know. As you know my wife has M.S. and has trouble walking now and it's robbing us of something that we used to take great pleasure in from time to time but she always ready to let me take a day for an old friend and in fact encourages me to do so.

Hey, Elise, SF - who writes:

Wow - where are the other guys. Must be sulking.

Well, believe it or not, before the election day - those sulking folks predicted Mitt's victory and the disappearance of Feisty Red and me from this site ...

.

Wait..where is Feisty???

Wait..where is Feisty???

I'm right here silly!

Can't a girl take a well deserved day or two off to bask in our VICTORY? ☺

PS: Unlike the right wing nuts, I'm not going anywhere, rain or shine!

Hey, Feisty... U R a psychic?? wait...could be worse..a witch? Christine O'Donnell's disciple?

If so..may I recommend a senatorial campaign in 2 years (2014)?

could be worse..a witch?

Nah Piggy,

I'm what is known as a plain old fashioned BITCH!

I'll leave the broom-sticks to the likes of Snookie-Joe, Snuffy & the rest of the old washed up gals! lol

Pigotry writes on Fri Nov 9, 2012 8:23 PM CST

GOD is dead...the most famous Nietzsche quote

Nietzsche hated his stinking girl friend who never bathed and stank so much.

Maybe, that's why Nietzsche declared 'God is dead' because of the stench of his girl friend? Oh, boy, this Nietzsche philosopher was one shallow SOB.

What a week, I still feel like dancing.

Me too, Northstar! Still celebrating here! :)

A song for you and all my progressive friends to dance to:

And if I was the president (was the president)
The minute congress call my name (was the president)
I'd say "Who do,
Who do you think you're fooling? (who do you think you're fooling)

I've got the presidential seal (was the president)
I'm up on the presidential podium
My mama loves me
She loves me
She get down on her knees and hug me
And she loves me like a rock
She rocks me like the rock of ages
And loves me. She love me love me love me love me...

Paul Simon, Loves Me Like a Rock

I recall many many times during Romney's campaign, things were written here on First Read, either by us commentors or by Mark & Domenico and other authors, that somehow made it to the Romney campaign. They even stole from the Obama campaign. I was totally fascinated by this and mentioned it time and time again. Why would they do this and do it so openly?

Now we know why. They had no campaign of their own.

This is an article from Red State that is making its way all across the internet:

Campaign Sources: The Romney Campaign was a Consultant Con Job

Another source that closely studied the Obama campaigns GOTV efforts as compared to ORCA said bluntly that “the Obama training manuals made ORCA look like a drunken monkey slapped together a powerpoint” adding that we must duplicate and improve what they accomplished to have any hope for the 2014 & 2016 ground game.

Stu Stevens of the Stevens and Schriefer Group was said to not be chasing poll numbers with the media buy strategy and appeared instead to be doing little more than “throwing darts at a dartboard.” At best using false numbers provided by ORCA; at worst milking the cash cow of the Romney campaign.

According to all the sources I spoke to, the breakdown of the campaign can be traced to the primaries. One source saying “they looked at the guy who could raise the most money in history as a ride” adding that “money no longer matters. That’s the problem,” also referring to the campaign overall as “the biggest political flim flam of all time.”

The result of all of these false numbers and inaccurate ground reports is simple: Mitt Romney was ill-prepared for the actual numbers on election day and his false sense of confidence directly translated into how the campaign operated in the closing weeks. In the words of one source, it was a con job. As David Mamet famously said, “If you’re in the con game and you don’t know who the mark is … you’re the mark.” Mitt Romney had no idea what was coming.

________________

Two comments that stand out:

I donated to the Romney campaign. Not much, but it was what a could afford. I think it came out to about $300. That's grocery money to feed my family. That's gas money to get my kids to school and for me to get to work. And this is how it was spent? To line the pockets of wealthy charlatans? Words can't describe how angry this makes me. And this "good man" allowed this to go on right under his nose. Mitt Romney owes me and a lot of other Americans a huge apology.

Yet more evidence that we have been living in fantasyland for too long now. I don't want to hear that this is all Romney's fault, or all the campaign's fault. The simple fact is that in the run-up to this election, we were fed a steady diet of lies, from all our "loyal" sources. We need to hold not only the Romney campaign accountable, but also the conservative press (specifically the Murdoch press - Fox was the worst of the bunch), and the establishment talking heads like Karl Rove and Peggy Noonan. We need to get clear about something: these people are selling us a product. They have been taking our money and telling us bedtime stories. We complain about the MSM, but can we honestly say that the conservative press has been more honest?

http://www.redstate.com/2012/11/09/campaign-sources-the-romney-campaign-was-a-consultant-con-job/

_____________________

Lesson:

If you have a candidate running for the presidency and his only goal is to protect the wealthy from having their taxes raised, then it's probably not a good idea to give his campaign any of your hard earned money.

Thanks Pat,

I am so glad people our finding out what a fraud MYTH is.

Romney’s loss is the nation’s gain. In case anybody had any lingering doubts about that, here’s a reminder. It’s the transcript of an interview I did with Mike Papantonio on Ring of Fire radio about Romney’s business practices in the health care field. The discussion was based on a piece called “Sick Money,” which covered Romney’s and Bain’s investment in health care companies that went on to commit fraud and patient abuse

Romney’s investments encouraged precisely the kind of predatory capitalism that’s ruining our health care system and driving our costs so much higher than those of other industrialized nations, even though we offer less coverage to fewer people. All the conservatives who claim to be concerned about our national deficit should focus their energy on driving Bain-style investment out of the health care sector.

Here’s a transcript of the interview, courtesy of Ring of Fire radio...

http://blog.ourfuture.org/miss-mitt-yet-dont-an-interview-on-bain-and-health-fraud/

Happy Veteran's Day to all our brave military forces and their families.

Hi, Bev..Happy Veteran's Day -

World War I ended in the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918... Is this how we get this day as the Veteran's Day?

.

The Republicans refused to approve Veterans' Job Bill on their last day at work right before the Fall Campaign.

.

Where have you been, Bev...too much heavy partying in the last few days..celebrating O's re-election!!

We need to start with restoring the highest tax rates (for the richest 2%) and we need to close the loopholes for the richest 2% (e.g., capital gains) -- And loopholes for highly profitable corporations currently paying ZERO in taxes. This cannot be negotiable, and should be immediate.

The Bush tax cuts of 2001 lowered tax rates for everyone, but in particular for the richest 2% (historically). Then in 2003, the Bush tax cuts lowered the tax base only for the richest 2%, in regard to capital gains, dividends, and what we refer to as 'loopholes."

It is important to point this out and remind folks of what and how we got where we are now. Because the Teapublicans led by Boehner/Cantor and McConnell are "clinging" to the Romney tax plan though it was soundly rejected in this election. And I don't just mean the election itself (electoral and popular vote in all swing states except one), but per the polls, particularly exit polls showing over 60% of voters want to return to the days when the rich paid their fair share.

To clarify -- the Romney tax plan is only about the base and not the rates. In other words about eliminating tax credits, and which tax credits enjoyed by whom? This is what I meant above -- that the Bush tax cuts of both 2001 and 2003 need to end immediately for the richest 2%. Not just one or the other (rates or loopholes) but BOTH.

Let's also remember why the Bush tax cuts are set to expire. It's because these were "jammed down our throats" to use rightwing jargon. Because Republicans couldn't get a majority to pass this crap, they had to pass it via reconciliation -- the the second round in 2003 requiring Cheney's vote to break the tie. By rules of reconciliation, these tax cuts were never permanent and have been extended far beyond the rules already.

Another very important distinction to note is the proposal the president has been offering to the treasonous oligarchs in the Teapublican Party. The president would extend tax cuts to the richest 2% on their first $250,000 earned. This is NOT a part of the Bush tax cuts if these expire (and why I'd prefer the Bush tax cuts just expire). The obstructionist demands of the GOP/TP could well cost the richest 2% this tax break.

Listen to these non-repentant Teapublicans -- McConnell and Boehner who couldn't be bothered with a call from the POTUS after the election -- the same disrespect, arrogance, and idiocy as before. Sorry folks with your talk of bi-partisanship, cooperation, and all that idealistic talk, but these douchebags deserve nothing but to be thrown out of office.

I hope McConnell is challenged from a Teabagger and loses. Cantor -- We'll get back to you along with Michele Bachmann and Paul Ryan, now adding Jeff Flake. Tick tock...

PS -- In the meantime, any of you rightwingers who are also delusional, please get a copy of the Congressional Research Service Report. Also historical, this is the first time this report has been suppressed -- by Teapublicans. It proves that tax cuts for the rich do not improve the economy, and in fact only cause inequity to increase, which in turn hurts the economy. Read it and STFU.

Pigotry

World War I ended in the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918... Is this how we get this day as the Veteran's Day?

.

The Republicans refused to approve Veterans' Job Bill on their last day at work right before the Fall Campaign.

.

Where have you been, Bev...too much heavy partying in the last few days..celebrating O's re-election!!

Hi Pigotry, Happy Veteran's Day to you too.

RepubliCONs are a bunch of hypocrites and liars. They'll do anything to bring this country down just to get back at the man in the Oval Office. Patriotics they are not.

Yup, I'm elated In fact, the liquor store is open so I'll have to sign off for a while. I'm baking a rum cake for my son and his girl friend who is a veteran. They're coming over later after church; so we can bask again. I'll be back online later tonight.

FORWARD

I am looking forward to the GOP facing facts and coming to the conclusion that they need more than the right wing lunatic fringe to win elections. In fact, the ultra-conservative crazies they had been courting previously might actually be a liability to the Republican Party, and not an asset. If the GOP can muster the cojones to accept obvious facts, this election may herald a move by the GOP toward the center and a more inclusive agenda for the future rather than the exclusive policies that had been promoting that offended and alienated women, Latinos, seniors, gays and lesbians, and moderates in general. Furthermore, it could mean a wholesale abandonment of the TP and other hateful neo-fascist organizations. This is a good thing for America and a bad thing for Karl Rove, bat@!$%# crazy teabaggers, and other assorted right wing nuts. It's truly morning in America!

Sailcat-2064101

I am looking forward to the GOP facing facts...

Despite the spanking the Teapublicans just received, this is not the case. I was just listening to Boehner being interviewed and there are two major points to note: 1) he refuses to raise tax rates, and will only talk about ending loopholes (AKA Romney's tax plan that was just rejected in the election) and 2) he is demanding that the president/Dems reform the tax code, which he knows is not possible between now and January when the Bush tax cuts will expire.

So, the only thing I can figure is he is giving lip service to appease the Tea Party caucus and their base, perhaps hoping the Bush tax cuts will expire and they can somehow blame it on the president. Guess what? The president isn't up for re-election so I hope he'll call that bluff.

Fellow Americans -- Contact your representatives and ask them to just let the Bush tax cuts expire! These POS Teapublicans are NOT interested in reducing the deficit. They are putting Party ahead of country like they always do.

The rightwingers get their panties in a knot over earmarks, yet when it comes to the rich paying their fair share they make the fallacious argument that this is not enough to reduce the deficits. Breaking News -- We need to start by returning the tax rates for the richest 2% at least to Clinton-era levels PLUS end loopholes for the rich. Then we can go from there...ending the payroll tax cuts, ending tax credits, etc. to get any where close to the revenue needed. Then we can talk about cuts in spending, which we will also need to do starting with defense. 'K'?!

World War I ended in the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918... Is this how we get this day as the Veteran's Day?

Correct. It was called Armistice Day until 1954. Other nations still use that or Remembrance Day. But, yes, it was declared after the horrific number of deaths in the trenches of WWI.

On this Veterans Day...we are all grateful for your unselfish service to our country.

A heartfelt Thank You!

Despite the spanking the Teapublicans just received, this is not the case.

You may be right, as usual, TruePat, but I hope not. If you are correct, though, it will simply mean the GOP will marginalize itself into oblivion as the nation's demographics change the color of the map. I'm fine with that, too.

Lesson:

If you have a candidate running for the presidency and his only goal is to protect the wealthy from having their taxes raised, then it's probably not a good idea to give his campaign any of your hard earned money.

That was an excellent comment, Pat!! Romney's supporters were made fools. Didn't they notice he wasn't spending any of his own money? The GOP is one giant milking machine.

As for the superiority of the Obama campaign: indeed it was vastly better organized, but another factor has got to be the candidate you are asking volunteers to work to elect. Personally, I can't imagine ever working that hard again for another candidate. Romney never engendered the love and respect that Obama enjoys among his supporters.

Romney's campaign had to pay people to do what Obama's supporters volunteered to do. We re-elected Obama, we grassroots volunteers, not only with our hands but with our hearts.

Well, at least relegated to insignificant!

Moronic Republican't,

small minded as small as an elephANT;

absolutely disregard the public good,

thus relegated to inpignifiCant.

Just curious, Pigotry, can pigs fly? I was going to ask this before the election in regard to Willard's chances of winning but didn't get around to it.

Hey, baldeagle11 who asks -

Just curious, Pigotry, can pigs fly?

Yes, pigs can fly...in a cop-ter...heli-cop-ter, that is!

And The “Reporter” Who Had An Affair With David Petraeus Is…Paula Broadwell

A.J. Daulerio Slate confirmed this just moments ago, that Paula Broadwell, co-author of All In: The Education of General David, was the not-so-mysterious other woman who forced his resignation. According to Slate, the two were long rumored to be chummy and often went on five mile jogs together, but Petraeus was "so square" that it was all dismissed as scuttlebutt. Nope.

Pillow Talk......tee hee hee

Does anyone know how Petraeus got caught?

GT--I just read that a woman who wrote a biography about Patreus is being investigated by the FBI to see if she somehow got access to his email.....maybe that has something to do with Patreus coming forward.

This will be a drip, drip, drip....

I wonder if Mrs. Petraeus will stay on in her position in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Sue - No. Its not you.

Sue ... it's not you. Make it a favorite. Glad it's not just me! ;-)

Sue, there is NO MsNbc any more??? MSN and NBC have broken up ... for some time now?? You need to sue for updates??

I wonder why? Making it a favorite's a good idea! Thanks guys!

Pigotry, I knew they said that but they still use msnbc on tv; but whatever they've done, I need my First Read fix!!!

Definitely, hard to find.......Don't know what's up!

Off subject---Is it me or is MSNBC making it harder to find First Read?

Sue,

Maybe MSNBC is making the right wing trolls actually do some work to find it?

Wouldn't hurt my feelings! ☺

Hey Layton and Feisty- two thumbs way the hell up on your new avatars! Love 'em!

(I'm sticking with mine for the nonce for the same reason Capt. Teach flew the Jolly Roger- to strike fear into the faint, fluttery hearts of the heathen! Stand by to be boarded, ye lubberly swabs!)

I have the site bookmarked. Makes it easy to find! ;-)

Maybe MSNBC is making the right wing trolls actually do some work to find it?

I'm thinking the right wing trolls are out looking for jobs now that Karl Rove has stopped sending them checks. Hopefully, the last one bounces :)

Like Myth cutting off the staffer's credit card accounts! What a pompous ass he is!

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

Off subject---Is it me or is MSNBC making it harder to find First Read?

Maybe MSNBC is making the right wing trolls actually do some work to find it?

Wouldn't hurt my feelings! ☺

Mine either!! I'm happy getting our party started in here.

Thanks Fox! Been lovin' your posts all day, by the way!

I'm sure having fun tonight! Every body Wang-Chung tonight! :-)

Plenty of celebratory, refreshing, adult beverages! ;-D

GOP will be really d-(a-noid) if Murphy wins.... let's pray for just that.

And tomorrow, Florida may join the rest of the nation in actually reporting it's votes and certifying a winner in the presidential election!!!! I guess that's the warm up act for the recount!

So West wants a recount?

Will he have to pay for it, or will Rove send in a few million more dollars?

Florida has to pay for it. Too bad they won't pay for a jail cell for their felonious governor! In some states, if the vote count is within say 2000, there is an automatic recount. I haven't seen the final numbers on West's loss, but that may be the case.

Da Noid

Allen West vs Patrick Murphy...the recount!

Are you sure? Judge denies Rep. West's motion to impound ballots

MATT SEDENSKY, Associated Press

Updated 3:21 p.m., Friday, November 9, 2012

http://www.newstimes.com/news/politics/article/Judge-denies-Rep-West-s-motion-to-impound-ballots-4023915.php

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

Good riddance craaaazzzy ass Tea Bagger, Allen West. Sha-na-na-na, Sha-na-na-na, hey hey, goodbye!!!!

Great news Beverly!!!

chilled

So West wants a recount?

Will he have to pay for it, or will Rove send in a few million more dollars?

Rove's credit cards have all be denied by the billionaires. They are not happy with the turd.

Another lost for the turd.

Jay Inslee Democratic Candidate For Washington Governor Beats Rob McKenna

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/31/jay-inslee-election-results-2012_n_2050425.html

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

Great news!!!

To quote Bill Maher: "no gloating. The republicans are off licking their wounds. Which ironically is Mitt's health care plan!"

ROTFLMAO!

Hi, Bev.

Hey. Congratulations on the re-election of President Obama. Like Speaker Boehner and Governor Romney I pray for his success. I was hopeful on Wednesday and Thursday. With Senator Reid's comments and the President's today I hope we don't experience more of the same......

I heard the Reverend Anthony Williams - the write in candidate for Jesse Jackson Jr.'s seat - this morning on the radio. He was talking about taxation without representation ---(which, quite frankly, I'm feeling right now......). He also spoke about striving to improve the lives of everyone -- and that- I agree with.

What do you think, Bev, about Chicago continuously electing candidates that are either under investigation, plea bargaining with the feds, or under indictment? What's up with that?

Candice

An interesting question, but do you not feel that it is far more important for you to ask why your side lost and what can be done about it?

Are you sure? Judge denies Rep. West's motion to impound ballots

Norm Coleman held the 2008 election for Senator from Minnesota hostage for over 6 months. I expect Allen West will make simillar attempts.

blackcat,

I think both of our questions are equally important.

Within the Republican party there are a lot of people like me who want to lift people up, help them succeed and be fiscally responsible and respectful. On social issues, there are a lot of Republicans like me who are more in the middle instead of the extreme. The Republicans need to reach out and break the stereotype of ultra conservative, uncaring monsters your side paints us to be.

Getting our message out is tough given what seems to be an inability to communicate by our leaders, and some media bias.

Your side does a better job of demonizing us.

How do you think we should move forward?

Candice,

How do you think we should move forward?

Read your post, you did little but demonize the Left. You and others like you may be well intentioned but there are many within the Republican Party who are not. Look to your house and clean it up. That will force the Left to clean up theirs.

The Republican Part needs to ask why it lost and why its message fails to resonate. It is not because the Left successfully demonizes it but that much of the message is decades behind much of the country. Mayberry never existed.

How do you think we should move forward?

1. Never underestimate people's desire and need to be inspired. I do not question Mitt Romney's intelligence. Whether you agree or disagree with his politics or the methods by which he accomplished what he did as a businessman, you have to understand that you don't get to where he is while being stupid. That said, compared to President Obama, he failed to connect with people. Governor Mitch Daniels understood that when he offered the following back in February 2011...

“A more affirmative, ‘better angels’ approach to voters is really less an aesthetic than a practical one. With apologies for the banality, I submit that, as we ask Americans to join us on such a boldly different course, it would help if they liked us, just a bit.”

2. Put down the socially conservative dogma and slowly back away. According to exit polling, "Evangelicals" made up only 24% of the electorate this year. You have that voting bloc and I doubt they're going anywhere. Why, then, do you feel it necessary to court the socially conservative vote? You need not endorse abortion and same-sex marriage but you also need not despise it. On abortion, Gallup's poll in August found that only 20% of those who responded opposed abortion for all cases...let that sink in for a second. As for same-sex marriage, ask yourselves...is it that big a deal to younger voters? In both cases, opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage flies, to me, flies in the face of the "Small Government" argument.

3. Rein in the radical right-wing media. Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, et al are not the leaders of the Republican Party. GOP Leadership, however, is being drowned out by these voices. Understand that the power of the right-wing media is whatever the GOP leadership gives it. If you cater message and policy to Rush Limbaugh's listeners thinking they represent an valid cross-section of the Republican Party you are doomed to failure. I suspect that there are more than enough serious conservatives out there and they are not listening to anyone I've listed above. If they don't like it, too bad. How many times have we seen a prominent Republican apologize for running afoul of Rush Limbaugh? Stop it.

4. Understand the changing demographics. The number of white voters in this nation is not shrinking but the percentage of white voters in this nation is shrinking. You need to come to grips with the fastest-growing demographic...Latinos. Does this mean adapting? Not necessarily. Remember the DREAM Act? It was originally a Republican idea. You want to get touch on illegal immigration and I appreciate that...but you also need to get serious about who is here. "Self-deporting" as a policy was just silly. Ultimately, we're talking about a demographic that has a strong Catholic background and who, like you, has strong belief in the principles of family...and, like you, they are here because they beleive in something better.

5. Encourage people to get involved in the process. Voter ID laws...purging voter rolls...changing voter registration laws...limiting early voting...I understand any desire on your part to protect the integrity of the election process but ask yourselves this...when was the last time Republicans did anything to make access to the ballot easier? Elections are determined by those who show up to vote. If elections are as important as we say they are shouldn't we be doing all we can to get more voters to actually vote? Also, can't we agree that voters should not be required to wait hours on end to cast a ballot?

6. Stop whining about the "Mainstream Media". Using the sports analogy, the media represents the referees out there in politics. If in sports nobody likes it when a team or a player complains too much about the referees, shouldn't it also hold true that nobody likes it when a politician complains too much about the media? Like it or not, you're going to have to deal with CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, etc. You can't cocoon yourself with FOX News and expect your message to be heard.

7. Take off the tinfoil hat. A lot of what happens out there isn't a conspiracy theory. This year, however, opinion polls, job numbers, Hurricane Sandy, Benghazi, the belief that President Obama would cancel elections...it all became one conspiracy theory after another. If you want to be taken seriously, starting acting seriously.

8. Remember that candidates still matter. The GOP loved talking about how vulnerable President Obama was going into this election. That doesn't mean you can field your own weak candidate and expect a win. Look at the names that stayed on the sidelines this election rather than running...Haley Barbour, Mitch Daniels, John Thune, Bob McDonnell, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie...all chose not to run and instead you gave us Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Herman Cain, Jon Huntsman, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann. Ask yourself honestly...who would you rather have had at the top of the ticket...one of the first names I listed or one of the last names I listed? If you need any further proof that candidates matter, just look at the Senate race in Indiana. Richard Mourdock beat Dick Lugar in the primary but Lugar, as the incumbent in Indiana, wins re-election without breaking a sweat.

9. Ground Game, Ground Game, Ground Game. You can spend all the money in the world on ads that make all the noise in the world. You need to get people to actually go out and vote. The Republicans didn't do as good a job as Democrats did. Even Scott Rasmussen of Rasmussen Reports (the "gospel" poll of the GOP) had to acknowledge that...

"In general the projections were pretty good. The two differences I noted were share of white vote falling to 72 percent. That’s what the Obama campaign, to their credit, said all along. We showed it just over 73 percent. Also, youth turnout higher and senior turnout lower than expected. That’s a pretty big deal given the size of the generation gap. I think it showed clearly that the Obama team had a great game plan for identifying their vote and getting it to the polls."

DaNoid,

Your nine points are full of common sense.

Hope the GOP is listening.

DaNoid,

Excellent and well articulated points. Now we need to figure out how to get the GOP to listen.

Hi Candice

I don't condone corruption. Obviously, the people in his district see something in him. He was fighting very hard for an airport in in Peotone, IL and to expand the defunct lakefront in a mall, and hotel which would all bring jobs and prosperity to his district.

Perhaps his plead bargain may have something to do with his mental health; dunno? There have been cases of politicians who committed crimes, rehabbed; and came back strong for the betterment of their constituents. That all remains to be seen.

Thank you, for your congratulations. This country has gotten one of the best Presidents in my lifetime since JFK and LBJ

FORWARD

Steeler, enjoy it; we all deserve a celebration!

Northstar,

I hate to say this; it's a lack of arithmetic skills....I don't know about Arizona; but when my son was young and we lived in Florida, I homeschooled him because the schools were so bad--I had full grown cousins who had graduated from high school there who could not read!

Sueb1,

LOL, maybe that is why the Florida ballot was a short novel, 10 pages long. And no one could read it.

Seriously, good for you.

Does explain a lot!!!!

My grandparents retired to western FL, close to Ft Meyers back in the 1970's. It was pretty sparsely populated there at that time. We went to Disney and the only things open were the haunted house, pirates of the Caribbean and the Monsanto 360 theater. A few other smaller rides, but we still had fun.

The fishing's good, we used to fish off the Clearwater causeway!

I used to fish off the seawall at my grandparent's house. Caught a lemon shark once. He put up quite a fight! Wore my 10 year-old ass out! (well 10 year old in the late 1960's.

Northstar---we went to the Dali museum a few years ago---it was great. Also went to a casino near there & my husband hit a slot machine for $1,600!

I was surprised when Florida elected Scott, given his company's history. Sure hope they make him a "one term Governor."

Steeler Fan - I was surprised when Florida elected Scott, given his company's history. Sure hope they make him a "one term Governor."

Amen to that! By-the-by, I've been a Browns fan since 1964. But i won't hold it against you! ;-) LOL

Steeler Fan,

What a unforgetable trip you had with the stop at the casino.!

I hope Crist runs again as a Democrat or Independent.

Yeah, I wasn't looking to offend anybody here who might happen to be from Florida- there must be an awful damn lot of folks who like Florida just fine, seeing as how they're still getting new residents at the rate of about a thousand head per day.

I went down there from South Dakota looking for work, and once there, work was about all I ever did! Sometimes I'd get asked, "Why do you work seven days and four evenings a week?" and my answer would be, "Well, I don't fish or play golf and I don't use drugs. What else is there?" I know there's a lot to see and do there that I just never made time for.

NorthstarDFL

Steeler Fan,

I hope Crist runs again as a Democrat or Independent.

Crist was introducing President Obama at the Florida rallys. Your wish and mine may come true!

Affinty,

Being "Cautiously" delusional is a virtue for the GOP these day.

Most others in his party have thrown caution to the wind.

I plan on sending my congressman Steve Stivers (yuk, I hate gerrymandering) many emails concerning compromise. I suggest all others do the same!

HolyH ....

I plan on sending my congressman Steve Stivers (yuk, I hate gerrymandering)

Same here! But mine is Rob Bishop (gag!) He represents my district so he is damn well going to hear my views!

Layton - Same here! But mine is Rob Bishop (gag!) He represents my district so he is damn well going to hear my views!

Ah those two short, but wonderful years (2008-10) when we were represented by Mary-Jo Kilroy. God I miss her. Makes me want 2014 to get here now! But Mom aways said; "don't wish your life away".

Layton, I looked up Rob Bishop, Utah. I spent some time in Salt Lake doing some business visits at Tooele and Dugway. Got to love the polygamy porter from Wasatch Beers in Park City!

Got to love the polygamy porter from Wasatch Beers in Park City!

Not only is it a decent ale ... it's got such a great name! I've actually spoken with Rob on the phone before years ago about his vote on a bill that had a charge for recipients of child support buried in it. He didn't know it was there until I pointed it out (after I got my bill for it!). Lost my vote after that!

Mine is Candice Miller and i'll e- mail her my views, but I doubt she'll listen. She is well entrenched in this rather conservative district I live in.

Layton - Not only is it a decent ale ... it's got such a great name!

"Bring some home for the wives" Like that slogan. LOL

I will be off to watch Bill Maher at 10PM eastern. James Carville, Andrew Sullivan, Samuel L. Jackson and S.E. Cupp are the guests. Poor S.E. Cupp will be in for a rough night! LOL

tonybeeerm - Mine is Candice Miller and i'll e- mail her my views, but I doubt she'll listen. She is well entrenched in this rather conservative district I live in.

Ah, the great state just to my north on lovely lake Huron. Are your trees just the right height?

I spent some time fishing off of on Sugar Isle and fly fishing the Au Sable river. Beautiful country! My wife's family is from Williamston, and I have spent quite a few Saturdays in my youth at the big house in Ann Arbor (but please don't tell anyone that). ;-)

Watching Bill Maher now ... and was wondering about the SS question ... (when do they leave a candidate?) and googled it .... found this SO telling! Ann wouldn't release her SS name!!! Proud little thing, isn't she?

http://blogs.suntimes.com/politics/2012/11/tossing_javelin_-_when_the_secret_service_can_abandon_mitt_romney.html

Layton - Queen Ann's SS name was probably something embarrassing like "Seamus" or "Horsehockey". LOL

I think the next mid term will be like the last. Maybe even worse for the libs. After two more years of Mr. Obama, their eyes will be opened........well........maybe. The last four did nothing for them and the ability to grasp reality.

You want to blame the libs and yet it is the repubicans that have voted against every jobs bill in this last four years including one for returning veterans.

Look at history, if you want a job elect a democrat. Who created more jobs, Clinton with higher taxes on the rich or tax cuts for the rich bush whose presidency ended in a recession with our country bleeding hundreds of thousands of jobs every month?

If my eyes aren't open after four years how is two more going to change my mind? You think suddenly all of America is going to start believing the republicans lies like you do?

The the free stuff the republicans are talking about democrats wanting is usually called freedom. We democrats want the freedom to decide about our own bodies, we want the freedom to vote, we want the freedom to marry who we want.

We all know the republicans will force us off the cliff as they can not vote for America, they can only vote to protect their rich campaign donors and to honor their Norquist pledge to kill America. The rich spent a lot of money on republican propaganda and the republicans will continue to fight for the tax cuts they promised them.

Of course the republicans will try and make the fiscal cliff seem like a disaster because raising taxes on the rich campaign donors is a disaster to them. A recession, no jobs, higher deficits, no food for our hungry poor all not important, but protecting the rich, now that is a fight the republicans can get behind.

Joseph - First, it's PRESIDENT Obama! Next, if the Republicans in Congess continue to obstruct everything our President tries to do there will be house-cleaning in 2014 - we'll vote the bums of the Republican party out - and Grover Norquist can go straight to Hell!

Joseph E. Parent

If Obama doesn't deliver, look for another mid-term like the last one.

200, 300 thousand jobs a month just isn't going to fix anything. We need 600,000 jobs added per month....every month. Just to get back to a normal level of consumer confidence.

Good luck with that Barry. LOL

Oh, that's right, I almost forgot. The Best is yet to come.

Still cryin your beer heh; Joseph?

Yes the best is yet to come. We'll get rid of more Tea baggers. Did you NOT see our President taut his veto pin? Our President has a 60% mandate from the voters. I think you should listen to Bill Kristrol said on FOX NOISE this morning rather than the tea sucking baggers and Grover Norquist sock puppets.

Bill Kristol: 'It Won't Kill The Country If We Raise Taxes' On Millionaires

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/11/bill-kristol-taxes-millionaires_n_2113671.html

FORWARD

"Dems. will fight hard to balance the budget"

!

Jersey Mike is the only person that I have heard say that the response to Sandy has been a good one. Most in his state and NY are screaming that next to nothing has been done. Seminar post for sure.

I have during the storm, before and after clean-up pictures if you want them.

Blamo - the vast majority of people who endured Sandy said the help has been tremendous. For the hardest hit the need is so much greater and will take longer. You only hear what you want to hear and you will always only hear bad things about our President. Hint: it's not him - it's you!

The republican majority in the House represents gerrymandering and the doing away with democratic districts. Compromise has to come from everyone.

Over the last four years President Obama has extended his hand across the aisle to the Republicans but all he got was his hand slapped and their heels dug in even more. The Republicans in Congress have been the ones who won't compromise.

The President has the bully pulpit and got both popular and electoral vote to win the election. Now he should explain the bills and expose the Republican foot dragging (knuckle dragging in some cases) and stubbornness and how they refuse to compromise. Just lke what Clinton did to the Gingrch led House on budget bills back int he 90s. Gingrich ended up resigning. Will Boehner do the same? Will Speaker Boehner reign in the teabaggers and other extreme elements and work WITH the President with some give and take for a balanced approach to solving the debt problem or not. If not President Obama needs to come out swinging and talk about it on prime time TV.

Blamo - in your dreams. The Republicans in the House are antiques and only represent the old, pale, male, stale of the Republican party. But, they are about to get their due. More and more people are finding anyone who signs a loyalty oath to Norquist to be a traitor. They'd better all get their houses in order of we can vote each and every one out!

Seeking Sanity--- Blamo!...... take that Blamo!

Now we just need to see how the Allen West/Patrick Murphy tally goes.