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Reports

Those Brand-New Humble Republicans

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Posted on May 7, 2009
Bush
AP photo / John Raoux

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, pictured in June 2008, is one of a group of GOP mainstays on a “listening tour” for the party.

By Joe Conason

Hoping to re-brand their declining party, a group of prominent Republicans recently launched a national “listening tour,” presumably as an exercise in market research. They would like to know why voters—and especially younger voters—increasingly reject the GOP. They want to “ask the American people what their hopes and dreams are” while engaging in a “wide-open policy debate.” And they believe that all Americans deserve “access to high-quality, affordable health care,” and “a high-quality education ... not dependent on a parent’s income,” among other good things.

It all sounds very nice and very humble, as politicians on the edge of utter irrelevance probably should. It almost sounds Democratic. But how sincere is this new humility on the right?

Among the founders of the National Council for a New America, which launched its re-branding effort in a Virginia pizza parlor the other day, there is no doubt a real yearning for a new Republican image. With such members as Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, Bobby Jindal, Eric Cantor and Haley Barbour, this is an outfit that represents future ambition as much as ideological commitment. None of these men (and they were all male until they persuaded Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to join) want to see their life’s work wasted on a rump partisan remnant. Undoubtedly, they would like to know how to make the Republican Party more appealing.

Yet even in that fundamental endeavor, the Republicans are divided among themselves. While the governors may at least want to look as if they’re listening, a far more powerful faction disdains any talk of dialogue as a betrayal of conservative principle. On talk radio, where Rush Limbaugh is the true boss of the Republican Party, “listening” is for wimps. The only way forward is to charge full tilt to the right.

All that Republicans have to do, according to Mr. Limbaugh and his imitators, is to wait for the Obama administration to sink under the weight of its own liberalism, because then disillusioned Americans will return the one true faith of Reaganite conservatism to power. Today, America is ruled by “the most liberal—far-out radical, liberal president and Democrat Party ever, at least in any of our lifetimes,” he says, so “the opportunity to contrast the Republican Party and conservatism with what Obama is doing is great. It’s easy. It’s profound.”

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In short, there is no need to re-brand, let alone rethink or reconsider. Forget the listening tour. As Limbaugh put it, “We need a teaching tour.”

That kind of arrogance is startling, given the thrashing that Republicans and conservatives continue to suffer in the voting booths, on Capitol Hill and in public-opinion surveys. The defection of Sen. Arlen Specter to the Democrats, in a desperate attempt to save his threatened Pennsylvania seat, was only the latest in a series of severe warnings that the GOP is endangered. In New York’s conservative-leaning 20th Congressional District, an unknown Democrat edged out the leader of the State Assembly’s Republicans—after the national party had virtually announced a victory in advance of the special election there.

The frustration of the hardliners is understandable. The mushy, liberal-sounding rhetoric of the governors on the listening tour must be unbearable to true believers among the dittoheads, who want to hear that the president is a communist and that tax cuts, and only tax cuts, are the panacea that will solve every national problem.

So long as that attitude prevails within the Republican Party, the Democrats need fear only apathy. The oldest saying in politics is that you can’t beat somebody with nobody—and in the eternal contest of ideas, you can’t beat something with nothing.

Joe Conason writes for The New York Observer.

© 2009 Creators Syndicate Inc.


Elsewhere: .

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By christian96, May 13 at 3:05 pm #

Didn’t Adolf Hitler have credentials?

Report this

By Inherit The Wind, May 13 at 8:45 am #

foggyjones, May 13 at 1:38 am #

Ref: Inherit the Wind

Though I dare not share with you, I have credentials. Your repeated replies to others that you do not know WTF is going on and you cannot understand basic English, says it all.

Why you bother to ask or answer is a bit of a puzzle. Well, have a good life.
************************************************

OK, I’ll spell it out.  Maybe your “credentials” won’t get in the way of your understanding.

You accused me of “foggy logic” and then proceeded to post something that had NOTHING WHATEVER to do with what I had posted.  Zip, nada, rien.

I have credentials too.  Mine include a motorcycle license and SAS Macro languange.  So what?  Credentials don’t mean squat if your argument still sucks and is irrelevant.

Report this

By foggyjones, May 13 at 1:38 am #

Ref: Inherit the Wind

Though I dare not share with you, I have credentials. Your repeated replies to others that you do not know WTF is going on and you cannot understand basic English, says it all.

Why you bother to ask or answer is a bit of a puzzle. Well, have a good life.

Report this

By christian96, May 13 at 1:10 am #

I just watched a program about the rise and growth
of McDonalds.  The business leaders of McDonalds
were drooling over the prospect of millions of
children and adults in China eating their burgers,
fries, and drinks.  Wait a decade.  Those skinny
people you now see in China will look like the pigs
in America.  And our government(Republicans and
Democrates) don’t appear willing to try to prevent
it from happening.  If anyone from China is reading
this please look at the obese Americans who have
been deceived by slick advertising(Ronald McDonald,
etc.) by the fast-food industry.  Don’t let it happen to your people in China.  Tell them to avoid
the fast food industry like the plague.  Tell them
to continue their diet of fish and vegetables.

Report this

By Inherit The Wind, May 13 at 12:26 am #

Foggy, I have NO idea WTF you are talking about.  You know, it’s good advice not to drink and post.

Report this

By foggyjones, May 12 at 11:14 pm #

ref: inherit the wind

more of your faulty logic. i call it “foggy rationale.”

in the first place, it takes a “special people” to actually feel superior to naive people to trade beads for huge tracts of their land. no more special than john dellinger or bonny and clyle were the smart people for robbing banks. through economic crimes that involve scamming other people, is not so much an issue of greater intelligence and “gifted” people, it is more about those how operate by their own laws and values, and scamming the “others.”

this kind of thinking is typical of the definition of a psychopathic criminal. If another group in the larger socieity is playing by their own rule book, little children and ordinary people are at a huge disadvantage. These “naive” customers might not even suspect these sharks do not discriminate. You sign the long contract, you put your mark on the paper and you must pay the consequences. The law is the law. Straight out of Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure.”

It is a culture clash and centuries ago, again and again, this culture clash had erupted in huge deadly violence. One thing you can rely on, when it comes down to the final summing up, there are so many more suckers than the so-called wise guys and the smart merchants. Millions more. It is a sleeping giant that, once aroused, will leave no stone unturned to satisfy the rage for “justice.”

Deep down, you must know that is true, don’t you? Well, i can hear the rumbling deep down in the vulcano mountain. Just keep assuming this has blown over and all the dispossessed and jobless and crushed 401Ks and so on will just forgetabout it. Return the gold and turn yourself in. Plead for mercy. Do you doubt Bernie Madoff wish he could do that? Madoff is in hell until the day he dies. Is that what the rest of them want? They did it, everybody knows, and it is just a matter of time. Never forget! If bambozzling is the only way to make money, i suggest some people have a very predatory, corrupt value system, sooo, think about, too.

Who wants such people like that around? It is not about who is smart or not, or who can jump the highest etc,, it is about law and order plus decency. Some people really are decent but too many only pretend to be decent. Certainly, Bernie Madoff is not decent. Certainly, the stealthy banksters and their political puppets are not decent. Yet, they continue to stick together and stay out of jail. That’s not right, not for decent people.

To protect standards of law, decency, morality and ethical behavior, there must be day for justice. Heads must roll and the indecent (not smart) ringleaders must be named and indicted. The longer the delay the greater the guilt spreads. At the beginning maybe the CEOs and their assistants would satisfy, but it is too late for that. Now, the hand of justice will reach far beyond that level. There is a vulcano of red hot rage ready to blow! But for the furious deception and distraction from the mainstream news media, it would already be happening. No, nobody is foregetting, just waiting in rage.

You can bank on that.

Report this

By Inherit The Wind, May 12 at 10:01 pm #

foggyjones, May 12 at 12:30 am #

ref: i am amazed that would ask “christian96”

for two months the mainstream liberal media has been elevating lincoln to sainthood. obviously, the central issue is “racism” and “unequal rights.”

basically, as you well know, the war tactic he approved for the North, freeing the slaves, has been appropriated by the Dems. in a very real sense, history has been rewritten and, presto chango, abraham lincoln is both a republican and a new symbol of the democratic party. only the boys from hollywood can get away with this slight of hand and sourcery. hell, its magic!
***********************************************

Not at all. Unless, of course, you consider the study of history “sorcery and magic”.

The Republican Party arose in support of the new industrialists, the businessmen as opposed to the mercantile class OR the Southern agrarian land holders, who had the REAL ante-bellum power.

Slavery only exists where there is a dirth of laborers—you have to either pay a LOT for labor or….you make ‘em work for nothing.  But when labor is cheap and abundant (like from immigration) you don’t NEED slaves.  So the Republicans LIKED the idea of lots of laborers, cheap, but the Southerners opposed them because a) it undermined their way of life, b) it would give the North the population and votes to take over the government.  In that sense the Republican party never changed—it was the party of BUSINESS and INDUSTRY.  But not the people. Lincoln was all in favor of industry.  He, like many capitalists, was also a self-made man, not American Gentry like the plantation owners.

Meanwhile the Dems went through three major re-organizations (being out of power from 1861 to 1933 and only holding the Presidency for 16 years will do that to you).  First, the Dems absorbed the Populists, a third party of simple farmers who weren’t represented by the Dems as they were for the plantation owners.  1st step toward being populist.  Then the FDR revolution took the next big step toward looking out for ordinary people.  Finally, LBJ forced through the CRA, the VRA and the Loving decision and the Southern racists were in a party that didn’t LIKE their racism….

so the southern segregationists went GOP (Nixon’s Southern Strategy in 1968), and Lincoln’s ideals became much closer to modern Democrats as THEY represented the idea we’re all equal.

no magic.

Report this

By foggyjones, May 12 at 12:30 am #

ref: i am amazed that would ask “christian96”

for two months the mainstream liberal media has been elevating lincoln to sainthood. obviously, the central issue is “racism” and “unequal rights.”

basically, as you well know, the war tactic he approved for the North, freeing the slaves, has been appropriated by the Dems. in a very real sense, history has been rewritten and, presto chango, abraham lincoln is both a republican and a new symbol of the democratic party. only the boys from hollywood can get away with this slight of hand and sourcery. hell, its magic!

Report this

By christian96, May 12 at 12:18 am #

What happened to the Republican Party that elected
Abraham Lincoln?

Report this

By foggyjones, May 11 at 9:25 pm #

monday   805 pm/cst   dfw/usa

ref: paul_ga


tangential to the central thread at the moment, i just heard churchill on utube as ww2 was kicking off. it is so strange to hear a great leader of yesterday telling the people some truth, that is, laying it on the line. sir winston said, “all i can promise you is blood, sweat and tears….”

the truth helps bring order and engenders loyalty. there may be a period of fragmantation and dissent or worse. however, the big brother manipulation strategy as in george orwell’s great “1984” serves notice of the absolute deadend of secretive, manipulative zionist fascism. it breeds misery and hate to all but the ruling elite.

only secret, underground insurgency has succeeded. once they have all the money and all the guns, and the communications system, it is astounding how then can control millions even billions of brainwashed soldiers and workers.

today, north korea is a glaring example and in his death, nobody was more successful and ruthless than Joseph Stalin. Maybe Ghenghis Khan, but not Hitler. Adoph was a flash in the pan. Mao Se Tung make a difference but, that was then.

Is the USA headed back to the future? It sure feels like it. If things continue as it has for a decade or so, permenate resistence will go underground, set up in independent cells and begin an endless war of attrition. Once the safe, secure network has been established, it will spread like the mandrake or bamboo roots.

Report this

By Leefeller, May 11 at 3:55 pm #

As I sorted through the breadmaking news, I found two interesting articles next to each other.  One Header reads: “Top House Republican: Obama Secretly Trying to Increase Unemployment” right next to a header which read:  “Watch Orangutan Short Circuits Wires, Builds Ladder in Zoo Escape.  I don’t know about you but, there needs to be something said for different levels of intelligence. First of all which artice do you think I went to?

As for intelligence or the lack of, In this case comparing Republicans to Orangutan’s.  Orangutan’s as far as I know, do not talk, so they have a huge advantage over any Republicans, and Orangutan’s seem, according to this article, to be able to figure things out.  Republicans on the other hand, would short circuit the wires while giving themselves a permanent wave, say they did it on purpose so they would look good in front of the Cameras, that is until they opened their mouth.

One could say, if Orangutan’s ran for office, I would vote for them over a Republican any day of the week.  Let’s hope the Republican permanent wave is good by.

Report this

By Paul_GA, May 11 at 6:28 am #

I hope you’re right, Foggy; as much as I’ve come to hate and despise the Repubs, I’d love to see them go the way of the Whigs—into the trash-can of history.

Report this

By Bud, May 11 at 3:53 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Old republican,new republican,humble republican.When you’ve seen one republican,you’ve seen them all!I personally would rather have a sister in a whorehouse,than a brother in the republican party!!

Report this

By foggyjones, May 10 at 2:03 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

SUNDAY   1253 PM/CST   DFW/USA


REF: PURPLEGIRL


You are right about the situation, comparing Dick and Rush. Spot on. Whether the GOP was guilty of criminal intent or plain old incompentence, this party is contaminated and radioactive.

It does, however, create a huge power vacuum. Where those who cannot fit under the Dem’s big tent, will look to a third party. The GOP is a dead man walking. Of no more interest to me.

Report this

By foggyjones, May 10 at 1:10 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

“I belong to no organized party. I am a Democrat.”

    —Will Rogers


(Repugs are forever contaminated for failing to think. Dems—the jury is still out. Both bare much blame for decision to fund years of another stupid war and The Crime of the Century, or otherwise known as by the weasel term, “economic meltdown.”

“All I know is what I read in the papers,” said Will Rogers.

Report this

By Purple Girl, May 10 at 9:21 am #

DICK’s party of “SO”
Come on the Repugs have given up appearances, they idea that they work for US.
Bothering to explain “No” has gotten too burdensome and difficult.
Rush is elated to proclaim his 400 mill contract. Free to admit the wealthy can jsut chose to not ‘participate’ in the recession the ret of US are struggling with.
Bachmann airs her empathy for the potential lose of ‘Rich People’.
They think nothing of telling americans Walmart is your future Employer AND healthcare provider.
Repugs have decided there is no need to pretend they give a shit anymore.
It is beneath them to even utter the word ‘No’ when “So” is far more accurate and requires less effort.
Rush doesn’t Run the Repug party- he spends too much time trying to expalin his point of view. Dick has the true ideology down to a fine Art- Tell them “So”. It not only expresses their disregard for our economic situation- but clearly defines the Social heirarchy. Welcome to the socio -economic reality of a Feudalistic Cast system, summed up in two letters “SO”

Report this

By Paul_GA, May 10 at 7:19 am #

Ike may indeed have been the last decent Republican, if such a rara avis exists, Outraged; too bad none of his decency rubbed off on his vice president ... or any subsequent Repub who sat in the Oval Office.

Report this

By Outraged, May 10 at 2:05 am #

Another clue.

President Eisenhower:

“Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels - men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion.

Report this

By Outraged, May 10 at 1:50 am #

Not enough…. Okay, I’ll give you another hint.

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

President Eisenhower:

Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels - men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion.

Report this

By Outraged, May 10 at 1:44 am #

But….. as an afterthought, I’d feel utterly unworthy as your opponent, not to give you a clue….

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

Report this

By Outraged, May 10 at 1:28 am #

Article quote:  “They would like to know why voters—and especially younger voters—increasingly reject the GOP.”

Well, I’m not a “younger voter” but I have and know a lot of young people.  I feel qualified, take or leave it, to answer this for them.

Because they KNOW all of you are liars.

The only ones “following you” now…. are the ones who are already bought and paid for and these same are well…unpopular for this same reason.  And lets face it, those were in the bag from the get-go, weren’t they?  Additionally, I know exactly why they know you are liars, but it’s a “trade secret” and I would be remiss to divulge it.

Report this

By foggyjones, May 9 at 11:13 pm #

SATURDAY   1012 PM/CST DFW

It was the Zionist all along.

Report this

By Inherit The Wind, May 9 at 10:15 pm #

fedupvet, May 9 at 2:14 pm #

Inherit The Wind,
What you are saying is that she is already,at her young age,smarter,more informed,more expierenced,and more American than Ron Paul…Who are you kidding? Ron Paul may have delivered her….ha ha ha
He would certainly deliver her in debate…on any issue.
Take your “MSM” type ass and put it in a can..you can eat it later when Barry makes growing food a crime.

***********************************************

(yawn)

As nutty as the ultra-left and “The Contingent” are, it’s always hilarious to hear that the nutty right is still out nuttying them.  Listen to the desperation…“when Barry makes growning food a crime”...why don’t you add “And when he demands you drain all the blood from your first-born and give it to the state”, since you are being inane?

Report this

By mandinka, May 9 at 4:20 pm #

Inherit the wind, I find it troubling that the Democrats don’t have a spokesman!! Right now the teleprompter is the source of all democratic logic and pronouncements. I think on occasion the Dem’s have had some great lines, like she’s just a crazy old white women you know how they are, john McCain hasn’t made me feel guilty about my Muslim religion, I’m not a citizen of this country, my aunt is an illegal alien
And the real keeper I just spent $20 Million to bring Hamas terrorists from Gaza to this country.
YEA MEEEE

Report this

By foggyjones, May 9 at 2:37 pm #

SATURDAY   132 PM/CST   DFW

REF: FEDUPVET (MSM)


Cudos to FEDUPVET on comment about mainstream media’s corrositve influence on society. It is the omissions, bias and misinformation this possibly the root of collosal trainwreck. Furthermore, the great gas machine (profitable propaganda oligarchy) that keeps things spinning.

“Whe the finger of truth points to the moon, a fool only stares at the finger.”

Report this

By fedupvet, May 9 at 2:14 pm #

Inherit The Wind,
What you are saying is that she is already,at her young age,smarter,more informed,more expierenced,and more American than Ron Paul…Who are you kidding? Ron Paul may have delivered her….ha ha ha
He would certainly deliver her in debate…on any issue.
Take your “MSM” type ass and put it in a can..you can eat it later when Barry makes growing food a crime.

Report this

By MarthaA, May 9 at 11:52 am #

Listen to the following video all the way through, because it shows that WE THE PEOPLE having medical health care will not bankrupt our nation, but would be beneficial to our economy and well liked by all citizens, as not having medical bill pressures makes life more manageable:  http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6646340600856118396&ei=sicko .  Conservatives/Moderates and the brand NEW humble REPUBLICANS of course won’t want it, because it isn’t private, but the United States must have the same type of medical care for the people that CUBA, CANADA, FRANCE and ENGLAND currently have. Private doesn’t work well for the PUBLIC.  It is not too much to request and WE THE PEOPLE must press in until we have universal single-payer medical health care.

Report this

By Inherit The Wind, May 9 at 10:45 am #

It’s really freaky that the most intelligent, sensible and appealing voice in the Republican Party these days comes from a 20-something blogger with a bit of a potty mouth named Meghan McCain, daughter of the recent failed candidate, John.

She’s also the only one with balls and a backbone, who stands up to Limbaugh, Coultergeist and the others, and slams them where they live when they give her crap about having a “fat ass”.

Report this

By foggyjones, May 9 at 3:44 am #

SATURDAY 234 AM/CST   DFW

The ambian and avocados went down well but it is affecting my vision oridinary letters have fuzzy edges and some of they can move about.

But these is a good thing. It really slows me up. I wanted to address the issue of overpopulaton, overcoming the soft power of international banking, energy, the milatary industrial complex and redistricting regions of earth so famalies and their life in villages, too. It does take a village. Birds of a feather flock together. Whats wrong with that? People should have a house and a little garden out back. Michelle was smart of install a garden. It looks great,already. Grown most of you good is both for nutrition and makes everybody appreciate life and help make the connnection.

Report this

By foggyjones, May 9 at 1:19 am #

FRIDAY   1131 PM/CST   DFW

REF: MANDINKA RESPONSE


That is very, very likely because they just might not continue to throw “them” a bone or some trinkets to borrow more time.

The “change” has been ongoing for a long time but the pace has steadily accelerated in recent years. When leaders sense the “indians” are getting too restless, throw them some chump change and buy some time to trim the sails and arrest a few. Take control of the situation. Nobody was better than Joseph Stalin at sizing up a situation and taking control and putting down anybody who stood in his way. Once he succeeded at grasping control of the government he anticipated any possible move to remove him. Hitler was romantic, an idealist. Stalin became the single most powerful, cold, detached evil genius on Earth. He was the real Darth Vader, the real deal. Untold millions were killed. His story proves how quickly and how far an authoritarian government can go. It is exactly what the overwhelming majority of mankind hate and fear.

Ignore the lessons of history and trust you life to politicians at your own peril. Trinkets, a small check in the mail from the U.S. Treasury should serve as a warning. It is a sign that the ruling elite sense how restless “indians” have become. Send out some checks, intensify the proganda on mainstream media and keep a lid on it. One step at time, tighten down the screws without alarming everybody. Put the secret police on red alert and keep a lid on it until absolute control is confirmed. Nobody better than Uncle Joe at such strategy and tactics.

You do not have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing. These are the times that try man’s soul. Resist the proganda and know big change is the background. Ignore the trivial distraction and keep your eyes open. Many already know to believe nothing you hear and half of what you, as my long-departed great grandfather use to say.

When a government grows more and more centralized and secretive, you must rely on strength in numbers. It is a time be vigelent, watch for signs, patterns and hooking up with your tribe.

We have only just begun our transition into a Brave New World. This is no time to ignore the danger. Unite but only with careful consideration. Resist the misinformaton and distraction in mainstream media.

It is later than you think.

Report this

By mandinka, May 8 at 10:43 pm #

The democrats have been very smart cementing there base. when 50% of the population doesn’t pay taxes why would you want to vote for another party. Fortunately the pattern isn’t sustainable once minimum wages jobs become high sought after, as they are now, those who aspire for a better way of life will take their pitch forks to the white house

Report this

By msgmi, May 8 at 6:33 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Rush’s ultra-right wing arguments and verbage echo the 1930’s brownshirt sentiments of us versus them. Sieg Heil Rushfuehrer.

Report this

By ocjim, May 8 at 5:27 pm #

The boobs can’t even get listening right at least according to Rush Limbaugh. Cantor, who said he was being considered as McCain’s VP last year, changed his tune about listening, that is after Rush said they need a teaching tour.

Report this

By Mary Ann McNeely, May 8 at 3:43 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

It all sounds very nice and very humble, as politicians on the edge of utter irrelevance probably should. It almost sounds Democratic. But how sincere is this new humility on the right?

It is a lie!  Baldfaced!  Flat out!  In the immortal words of J.J. Hunsecker, it’s a “cookie full of arsenic.”

Report this

By BobZ, May 8 at 3:09 pm #

The GOP needs to ditch the Gods, guns, and gays culture warfare rhetoric for starters. They come across as a bunch of screwballs totally out of touch with modern society. They need to recognize we are one America with lots of diversity. They really need to lose the look of a party made of primarily of middle aged white people. And they need to ditch all of the kooks who have latched on to the party. The McCain campaing rallies were truly embarrassing and the recent “tea bag” demonstrations brought out the same idiots. And networks like Fox News need to quite egging on the more extreme viewpoints of the right wing. They need to quit bashing science and education, and quit advocating for tax cuts that only reward the rich and big business. They need to quit threatening to secede from the union if they don’t get their way. They need to purge the party of leadership quacks like Michelle Bachman. They need to get rid of sore losers like Norm Coleman. They need to tell Dick Cheney to shut up. They need to go to Colin Powell and tell him he is the new leader of the GOP. They need to quit kissing Rush Limbaugh’s butt. They need to quit talking about Reagan as if he was still alive. They need to quit bashing government - it is a necessary part of our society. They need to quit bashing immigrants and gays. In other words they need to quit acting like Republican’s and join the 21st century.

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By "G"utless "W"itless Hitler, May 8 at 2:20 pm #

I love how everyone on the left keeps acknowledging that pill-deaf fatbot as the de facto leader of the Republican Party.  HI-larious!  The lockstep is broken and nobody on the right will ever rein in that egomaniacal blowhole.  Mark my words:  it’s only a matter of time before disenfranchised Republicans start calling for an end to the two-party system.

Report this

By NABNYC, May 8 at 1:58 pm #

The idea of a group of old (mostly white) privileged men showing up at a strip-mall pizza parlor to prove they are real Americans, just like us, is patently absurd.  And we’re all getting a big laugh out of this charade. 

But I think the Democrats are mis-reading this entire situation.

Barack Obama was a spectacular candidate, unlike any we’ve had for generations.  And people from many different groups placed their faith in him, believed he could solve the many problems our country was facing.

So far, he ain’t doin’ the job.  I’m a supporter and I’m pulling for him, but I’m not seeing much.  He’s giving billions of our money away to the criminals on Wall Street and in the CEO executive suites, while they are looting as fast as their private jets can pack up the money bundles and get it the hell out of this country.  And they’re thumbing their noses at us the whole time.  What Naomi Klein called the other night “possibly the biggest heist every in history.” 

His war attitude is particularly frightening.  His promise to end the war in Iraq is fading, with the new proposal to stay there for a few more years, and even then leave 50,000 troops.  Why?  And now the decision to increase the war in Afghanistan (what’s there except poor people and rubble) and apparently the decision to start a new war, this one in Pakistan.  What change?  We’re broke, remember?  Let’s abandon the whole Empire project and try to save ourselves.  It looks to me like PNAC is still the order of the day in D.C.

Mostly Congress is misreading everything.  The public detests Congress.  They are seen in every town as being sell-outs and traitors who solicit money and sell their votes and take kick-backs and bribes every single day, no matter what the issue.  So if Congress thinks they’ve got a lock, they should think again.  I would throw every single one of them out and vote for an independent in a heartbeat. 

So don’t worry about Jeb and the boys, the Democrats in D.C. are destroying themselves by their own betrayal of the public and corruption.  The only question is whether they will be replaced by Republicans, by new Democrats, or by independents.

http://NABNYC.blogspot.com

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By felicity, May 8 at 1:17 pm #

George has been raising, when he feels like it, a million dollars/day for his 100 million dollar Texas ‘library.’  There’s the power of the Republican party, the real movers and shakers and financiers and profiteers who decide an election. 

The Republicans holding sway in pizza parlors these days are merely the crew hired to clear the highways of Republican roadkill that’s been stinking up the countryside for 8 years. 

(As far as Rush is concerned, the skin disorder/rash on his butt that kept him out of the army and Nam invaded his brain long ago.)

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By foggyjones, May 8 at 12:35 pm #

suggestion

bring down mainstream media by any means necessary

bring down both political parties by any means necessary.

begin thinking about a new party which pledges to take no money from individual voters, only.

never again consider anybody for political office who has not been completely vetted by an idenpendent authority.

this archaic, obsolete system has outlived its day. the ruling elite have gained absolute control of this sytem and with their mainstream media, they cannot lose and we cannot win.

believe it, know it, live it.

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By christian96, May 8 at 12:21 pm #

Before the election, I heard a Republican KKK member
say, “Pigs will fly before a black man is elected
president!”  What happened 100 days into Obama’s
Presidency?  THE SWINE FLU!

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By fedupvet, May 8 at 12:13 pm #

The Republicans have heard all they need to hear…Bush???? I don`t think so.Just having his name,and,or,image associated with the Repubs tells us that they,the Repub`s have not listened,and are not willing to listen now.Ask the new Bush is we should try his brother for War Crimes”....just to see what he say`s.  ha ha ha ROFL
They are up to the same ole Communist trickery.
The most scary part is that the Americans are so ignorant they may fall for it again.

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By Hulk2008, May 8 at 11:55 am #

Money talks and BS walks.  That old axiom seems most appropriate.  Both parties are rife with monied interests.  Those who truly are interested in the people rarely if ever reach the House or Senate or the Presidency.  The party in power merely rides on a huge pendulum that sways back and forth over the years.  We can only hope that the pendulum doesn’t have a razor edge - to cut away the rest of the citizenry in its path.  Any progress the people might make under one regime or another will eventually be swept away in the next. 
    The effects of government are a true example of trickle down - those at the top enjoy the perks - the rest of us benefit either by being ignored entirely or by accidentally being included in the bennies created by the privileged. 
    Reagan was the ultimate salesman - he switched parties and positions as it benefitted him and his cronies.  Now he’s held as some kind of idol by conservatives - an artificial contradictory figure to offset FDR and Kennedy as adored by liberals.
    Politics is nothing but Showmanship in Business Suits.  ..... and, if the truth be told, politicians are not even that entertaining.

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By foggyjones, May 8 at 11:12 am #

FRIDAY   956 PM/CST   DFW

Republican? Well, it is a little too late to do the right thing, now. (Tanya Tucker of the Lonestar State)

Take a hammer, get a crane, tear it down and start all over again.

It is the system, stupid. This two-party system needs to tossed into the crusher and melted down, like they talk about doing to inappropriate SUVs and all the other old gas guzzlers. Hell, they don’t have a clue. The loyal partisans are too old to learn new tricks. They are only loyal to their masters, not the millions of voters. This whole arkane system reflects a bloated archiac system from centuries ago. Out of date and out of touch. They just keep borrowing money to keep the old junker runnig a little bit longer. Good money down a rat hole. And borrowed money, at that, charged to the taxpayers!

What a phenomenal mess. It is like watching you home burning down and waiting on the fire truck that is long overdue. You know how it will end but you can only watch the flames and smoke. Can a whole nation go into PTS at the same time? You just get numb.

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By Clonakilty32, May 8 at 9:34 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

What a phony crock of shit!  They should invite the “cancer boys” of Limbaugh, O’Reilly, and Hannity along as cheerleaders.  These conservative pundits want to run the Republican party and seem to have control of the Republican party.  Let the “cancer boys” get out in front and lead. Lets let the “cancer boys” give us some real answers to the problems facing the Republican party. They can then go on to solve all the problems facing this country.
Stop your bitching and moaning “cancer boys” and come up with some anwsers.

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By Inherit The Wind, May 8 at 9:22 am #

Outraged, May 8 at 3:04 am #

Re: ITW

Your comment: “But don’t be fooled by the humility.  The Republican party is like that classic hated middle manager who kisses ass and flatters upper management while $#itting on his subordinates and stealing their ideas for himself.  When they were on top they treated the voters like $#it.  Now they are on the bottom they are kissing ass.”

I’ll second that.  What’s the world coming to ITW, when you and I are getting along, lol.  Ahh…the kindler, gentler America…. we have a way to go, but the view is getting better all the time.
******************************************

LOL, too!  I guess when the house is on fire it’s time to stop worrying what color the fire-truck is and who gets to be the guy in front holding the fire hose!  You gotta put out the fire!

Or, to put it another way, to stop rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

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By Paul_GA, May 8 at 8:41 am #

Am I SO glad I got disillusioned with these losers and jerks more than a decade ago! They have no principles but (a) get elected, and (b) get re-elected. If I ever get a fund-raising letter from the likes of them again, I’m just liable to tell them that I’d sooner flush the money down the toilet than give it to a failing and floundering party that deserves to go the way of the old Whigs—and swiftly.

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By Purple Girl, May 8 at 7:14 am #

If their Lips are moving they are lying, and after 40 yrs of this people aren’t buying.
Nixon taught them how to not only lie, but berate and ignore the masses.
Reagan taught them to not only lie but blame everything on the Dems (the recession started before Carter- under Nixon),while doing exactly what you blamed on them.Additionally His admin were apt instructors on how to hate or disparage your opponents, legitmizing the idea of second class citizens through religious justifications.
HW was the first to admit we need to watch his lips-We stopped listening to him and began Reading them,We voted him out!
Repugs seized tehy claim they earned a mandate with W when none existed and proceeded down the same path they had always- ignoring 1/2 (if not the majority) of americans and doing whatever they damn well pleased.
Once again up is down and the Repugs on this ‘listening tour’ failed once again to explain it was US who were expected to be listening- We aren’t- we’re reading your lips.
When Prince Mitt dares utter the word ‘Monarchy’ in regards to the Dems, while sitting next to Prince Jeb- you know they haven’t changed a bit,nor intend to. when it comes to repugs the old kids adage ‘We’re rubber and you’re glue’ fits- when they are making claims about themselves their lying, when their making accusations about the Dems, their confessing.
Last honorable True Republican Pres was Eisenhower.And theres not an Ike in sight.

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By Outraged, May 8 at 3:04 am #

Re: ITW

Your comment: “But don’t be fooled by the humility.  The Republican party is like that classic hated middle manager who kisses ass and flatters upper management while $#itting on his subordinates and stealing their ideas for himself.  When they were on top they treated the voters like $#it.  Now they are on the bottom they are kissing ass.”

I’ll second that.  What’s the world coming to ITW, when you and I are getting along, lol.  Ahh…the kindler, gentler America…. we have a way to go, but the view is getting better all the time.

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By MarthaA, May 7 at 11:33 pm #

FAR RIGHT AUTOCRATIC CONSERVATIVE CAPITALIST CORPORATIONS are the 10% base and rule the Republican Party, they may deceive a few of the proletariat into thinking they are free and equal with the AUTOCRATIC RIGHT-WING CONSERVATIVE CAPITALIST CORPORATIONS, but actual representation doesn’t come with helping REPUBLICANS get elected. REPUBLICANS will vote lock-step with Conservatives against anything of benefit to the proletariat, because they ONLY represent the 10% big ELITE capitalists of big CORPORATE business, big CORPORATE insurance, big CORPORATE industry, big CORPORATE pharmacy, and big CORPORATE banks, if you are of the 10% population that have big finance and a continuously flowing revenue stream REPUBLICANS are glad to represent you, but if you are SMALL WITHOUT A LARGE REVENUE STREAM for a cushion, REPUBLICANS CAN NOT REPRESENT YOU, as you are the Left and Democrats are suppose to.

Democrats are suppose to represent the whole Left, the proletariat,  their base, which is 90% of the population, since the United States only has 2 constitutionally legislated political parties; but, since 1980 the Democratic Party’s conservatives have separated out a NEW CLASS in the Democratic Party that has changed representation of the whole remarkably; NOW the Democrats only represent the upper 20% High-End constituents and the lower 70% Low-End constituents go begging for representation, as the New CONSERVATIVE/MODERATE Republicans-Lite, the DLC, NEW CLASS DEMOCRATS represent the lower 70% majority population exactly the same as the Republicans do, NO REPRESENTATION AT ALL. 

But, still the lower 70% majority of the population, the proletariat, the Left, needs representation and the Democrats are the political party that is actually suppose to represent them, NOT THE REPUBLICAN RIGHT, but the LEFT.  Without another separate constitutionally recognized political party, separating the Senate and the House into three insead of two, to represent the MIDDLE constituents SEPARATELY from the Left and the Right, the lower 70% majority population are going to continue begging for representation.

It is the Democratic Party’s legislators that must represent the Left’s low-end 70% majority population, as well as the high-end 20% minority population, unless there is another political party, but if all the Democrats do represent the whole, it will be a surprise, because they haven’t represented the majority population for the past 29 years.

Now, since the NEW CLASS has messed up our country financially to the point that we are about to lose our way to China, it would seem that Universal Health Care could be our saving grace, as the proper use of health care will provide the needed employment to get our country started economically and since the United States as a whole needs universal health care, it is a win-win for the vote.  Democratic legislators can and need to unite our country with universal health care by actually representing the whole of their 90% constituency, so that all people in the United States will have universal health care as good or better than CUBA, France, England and Canada, and when people from other nations come visit the United States, their medical will be covered as well.  It is time for democratic legislators to actually represent the constituents they receive their pay from the government to represent.  Watch the following video all the way through:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6646340600856118396&ei=sicko

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By PatrickHenry, May 7 at 8:49 pm #

If state legislatures collectively impose term limits, we would effectively do away with the seniority system in the house and senate which is undemocratic and hurts other states citizens.

Change the congress critters regularly and the lobbyists have a harder time getting their hooks in any one.

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By samosamo, May 7 at 8:17 pm #

Never count these bastards out of anything.

And never think another bush will not be able to become president or senator or member of the house or a governor, jeb still wants his turn at the helm and he just might get it if this country keeps getting more and more frustrated with their insane switching from republican to democrat and back hoping the results will change and be better.

Even worse are those neocon think tanks that one would have to acknowledge are running 24/7 to restructure their agendas.

The media is no help but rather they exacerbate the insanity.

Nothing will change until the media is forced to obey the anti-trust laws.

And with obama, why would the republicans want anyone else?

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By Inherit The Wind, May 7 at 7:58 pm #

I may not think much of these guys, but at least they are a $#it-load wiser than Rush Limbaugh.  Limbaugh doesn’t seem to realize that for something like 10 million Americans out of work, his “True Faith” has been a dismal failure.  And for everyone who knows someone out of work, and/or is scared for his/her job, they ALSO know Limbaugh’s “True Faith” failed in everything it touched.

But does Rusty know? Hell No! That Jabba the Hut pulls down $50 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR!  For HIM, Bushie Neo-conism worked GREAT.  Clearly the man sees nothing beyond his own needs.

It’s ironic to see Bush’s taller, better-looking, younger and SMARTER younger brother breaking from Botch’s screwups.  It’s funny, in the picture Jeb looks like what George would look like if only we could imagine George with intelligence and insight!

But don’t be fooled by the humility.  The Republican party is like that classic hated middle manager who kisses ass and flatters upper management while $#itting on his subordinates and stealing their ideas for himself.  When they were on top they treated the voters like $#it.  Now they are on the bottom they are kissing ass.

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By freepressmyass, May 7 at 7:07 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Jeb Bush!  Perfect, another Project for the New American Century singatory.  Endless wars, killing, depravity, and global genocide.  The thought of another Bush in government is chilling. Starting with Prescott Bush, one of Hitler’s bankers, the Bush family has directly or indirectly murdered more human beings than any other in human history.

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By Burr Deming, May 7 at 6:30 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

National Council for a New America is actually a good idea. Not all good ideas work, and I have doubts about this one.

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By Jesse Vasquez, May 7 at 4:37 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

“That kind of arrogance is startling”

It WOULD be startling coming from another source perhaps, but the progressive in me finds it wonderful coming so steadily from that trumped up turnip. Let the man speak. The “kinder and gentler” the conservatives learn to pretend to be, the more difficult it will be for the average person to avoid their makeovers. The only thing they want to conserve is their narrow-minded worldview and corrosive policies that allow it to hold any sway in the world. If nothing else, at least Rush is honest, and thus, easier to counter.

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