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Republicans Clearly Are Willing to Let This Country Collapse if They Think it Will Win Them Elections

By Doug Kreeger, AlterNet. Posted February 4, 2009.


It is abundantly clear that the Republican leaders are going to do everything to prevent Obama and the Dems from doing anything constructive.

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Last week, we witnessed how the Republicans will help serve this country in the worst crisis since the Great Depression.

By standing together in opposition to the stimulus package, they showed the world that they haven't at all joined the momentum of the new administration, rather they are still playing politics and are focused on the 2010 elections. Their objections to the stimulus have nothing to do with trying to solve this crisis.

I was always struck during the Bush Error (otherwise known as Era), that the axis of evil title was slapped onto any entity not aligned with their inane response to any issue they faced. Whether it was Iraq or Hurricane Katrina, time and time again we were expected to take their word through blind faith and or outright deceit.

Now the remaining cronies have sunk to an unthinkable new low. It is abundantly clear that the Republican leaders are going to do everything to prevent anything constructive from happening. They will be sure our damaged nation does not get fixed on Barack Obama's watch, the public be damned.

Last week, Obama's plans were debated in Congress. His goal of creating 2 million to 3 million jobs in the next two years through a massive rebuilding program of our crumbling infrastructure, was countered by the Republicans' revised stimulus plan. Their plan was not detailed beyond more tax cuts.

Here's the catch: The Republicans said their plan would create 6 million jobs. Really. Remember “Mission Accomplished”? Just saying something doesn't make it true.

The Republican playbook is about standing in opposition, knowing full well that the Democratic Congress is going to pass a stimulus package. Their next step is to go home and sell to what's left of their constituencies the notion that if we had listened to them, things would be far rosier. As a minority, a control group is unlikely to emerge that can disprove false numbers based on false rhetoric. They can go back and campaign in two years whether or not Obama's plan creates anywhere close to the number he hopes and tell the world, and claim that their plan would have provided double the number.

A perfectly manipulative strategy which plays to the short-term memory of the American electorate.

The minority role in government should be about balancing the need of their constituencies with real ideas that create a stronger way of finding a solution. In the modern era of politics Rush Limbaugh style, it is all about spewing hate and misinformation in the guise of governing for the good of the people. The very people that the Obama plan will help most, are the very same people that are being preached to by the likes of Limbaugh and his puppets in Congress.

Yes, the power of right-wing talk radio is finally being seen for what it is, the true center of gravity for one of the two major parties in this country. With a total vacuum of leadership in the Republican Party, they are left with the hot-air balloon of the airwaves creating the impression that failure is the best option for the good of this country.

This type of inertia is what Republicans think they need to get back in power, and they are going to their best to try and make that happen. The people of this nation will continue to suffer through this false debate that has nothing to do with solving problems, but is all about Election 2010. Make no mistake. This group of “unconscientious dissenters” can say anything and do nothing. Only time will tell if their strategy for regaining power is successful.

Given this tactic, it is up the Democrats and their supporters to now do what is best for the country and stop worrying about appeasing those people who do not serve for the good of the people. President Obama started with his best foot forward and will need to leave these negative forces in his wake.

The stakes are too great to play talk-radio politics and let us be falsely governed by an obstructive minority.


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Douglas Kreeger is the former CEO of Air America Radio, and a chairman of the board of the Independent Media Institute, AlterNet's parent organization.

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View:
Label Them Economic Terrorists
Posted by: NoPCZone on Feb 4, 2009 12:31 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Issue a few NSLs and slap them in prison without the ability to communicate, see the charges or the evidence against them. Maybe they will get a moment of clarity...

A taste of their own medicine might change their minds about civil liberties and economics.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» You know the Democrats Control Congress? Posted by: SeattlePackedSnowandCollidedCars
Share the Power
Posted by: Revolutionary (Direct) Democracy on Feb 4, 2009 2:21 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
FREE AMERICA

REVOLUTIONARY (DIRECT) DEMOCRACY

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: Share the Power Posted by: Mikehunt
Here in Michigan...
Posted by: adp3d on Feb 4, 2009 2:21 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
...the GOP delegation is taking a huge risk by standing against the so-called stimulus for the sake of party unity. As thousands of auto workers are being laid off do the Republicans not know they will be voted out in the next midterm, furthering the demise of the party? Well, I say stand up against the president, your will get your just rewards.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: Here in Michigan... Posted by: bccmeteorites
» We Don't Give a Damm about the Whole State of Michigan! Posted by: SeattlePackedSnowandCollidedCars
» Go away! Posted by: veg4peace
» We're from Ohio Posted by: SeattlePackedSnowandCollidedCars
You don't need the Republicans
Posted by: Blink on Feb 4, 2009 3:38 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Dems have the votes in both the House and the Senate to put through any stimulus package they want. Why do you care if the Republicans oppose it? Besides -- 11 House Democrats also voted against it. The partisanship was all on the side of those voting for it, with 100% being Democrats. No doubt Dems want Republicans voting for it, at least in some numbers, so that when it doesn't work as they've promised it will, there will be political cover. Otherwise, it's 100% the responsibility of Democrats and the Obama administration. Why are Dems so afraid to take full responsibility for it if they're so sure it's going to work?

By the way...how's He (Lord Barack) doing so far? Yes, to quote Biden again, "that young man has steel in his spine." And, I might add, the judgment, maturity, and far-thinking wisdom to go along with it. Why, in response to his telling Johnny Dinnerjacket that he'd be willing to sit down with him for negotiations without preconditions, Johnny responded with all sorts of preconditions on his part! And Gitmo? Let's see if it's "shut down in one year," as our impulsive, manly Dear Leader says in a typical example of saying the politically expedient and un-thought-out pronouncment intended to appease (yes, there's that word again) the far Left.

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» Why do you hate America? Posted by: LMNOP
» "Some" Libs know the game Posted by: SeattlePackedSnowandCollidedCars
What we really saw last week......
Posted by: 2thepoint on Feb 4, 2009 3:55 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
were the republicans finally demonstrating leadership in times of a crises.. All we have right now is Pelosi and co running frantically throwing money at everything without much apparent thought.

In the face of a President everyone thinks can do not wrong (he was wrong the entire week), they did the right thing.

They called out all the pork we were promised would end (wait, that was McCain who said that). Hopefully they will forge the changes we need to make this pig work!

Thanks to the republicans (can you believe it) someone is finally watching the bank.

All it takes is a little defeat to bring someone back to their senses!

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» Except you or you wouldn't be posting, LOL ! Posted by: Jennifer Bedingfield
» 1+1=4 - liberal math! Posted by: 2thepoint
» RE: 1+1=4 - liberal math! Posted by: wagnerrocks@gmail.com
» RE: 1+1=4 - liberal math! Posted by: JSquercia
» We expected this... Posted by: jvaljon1
» Incredible hypocrisy! Posted by: LeeAnnG
Economic terrorists
Posted by: robchapman on Feb 4, 2009 3:55 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
With the entire GOP House membership voting against the President's stimulus package it is clear that Republicans are betting the farm on Obama's failure.

The Republicans are talking short-term thinking in the face of President Obama's strategic vision of a just and sustainable economy.

The Republicans are depending on the fact that this will be a long painful recession followed by a fragile and slow recovery.

The Republicans believe that the adjustments and changes needed to make the American economy globally competitive and sustainable will be painful enough breed discontent with President Obama and lead to GOP legislative gains in 2010.

In my opinion, calling the Republicans "economic terrorists," strengthens them because people who vote Republican often have a very active sense of grievance. The people susceptible to the GOP message will be prone to view the sobriquet of economic terrorist as mere liberal propaganda.

This is a case in which Obama's supporters must be clear and patiently explain that there are no short-term solutions for our economic woes.

The economic problems we face are the result of six years of policy gridlock followed by eight years of bad Presidential leadership.

Democrats and progressives need to hit back at the Republicans by pointing out that they embody the short-term thinking that has ruined American business.

The GOP represents the short-term outlook, Obama has a strategic vision to improve the economy.

If we can frame the debate in these terms now, we have a chance to re-build the economy in an just and sustainable way.

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» RE: You're probably right, but... Posted by: Cybershaman
Republicans work to further destroy our Country
Posted by: gwazdos1 on Feb 4, 2009 4:46 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
SAME STORY THAT I WILL BE REPEATING ALL YEAR SO SOME HOW YOU WILL ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT THE REPUBLICAN’S AND THEIR SO-CALLED LEADERS STAND FOR. THEIR NEW PARTY LEADER RUSH (FAT MAN) LIMBAUGH AND HIS CHOICE FOR PRESIDENT SARAH PALIN WHO HAS AN IQ OF 5 REFLECTS WHAT THE REPUGS STAND FOR. REMEMBER THIS STATMENT AND ALL WILL BE CLEAR - REPUBLICANS - CANCER - SAME DISEASE, THEY WANT YOUR MONEY TO MAKE THEM RICHER AND EVENTUALLY KILL YOUR SPIRIT. SIMPLE STUFF AMERICA. ENJOY THEM, BUT KEEP YOU HAND IN YOUR POCKETS AS THEY WANT MORE FOR THEMSELVES EVEN THOUGH THEIR ARE NOW ALL MILLIONAIRES!

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WOULD RATHER LITERALLY DIE THAN ADMIT TO BEING WRONG
Posted by: drricklippin on Feb 4, 2009 5:03 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I have learned the lesson in life that there are many individuals and institutions who literally would rather die than admit to being wrong.

Unfortunately they bring others down with them in families,communities,workplaces and other institutions and,yes,even in nations. Especially if they are in leasdership roles.

Sad but true

Dr.Rick Lippin
Southampton,Pa

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» BECK'S COMMENTS WORTH READING Posted by: drricklippin
» CORRECT JENNIFER! Posted by: drricklippin
» RE: CORRECT JENNIFER! - Thanks. :) By the way, Posted by: Jennifer Bedingfield
» Thanks Bruce. :) Posted by: Jennifer Bedingfield
» HARD HITTING REFORM BY MAUSMASHER54! Posted by: drricklippin
If the Republicans have a plan that they claim will create 6 million jobs
Posted by: Beck on Feb 4, 2009 5:39 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Why didn't they use it when Bush had congress?

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» RE: They did! Posted by: Cybershaman
» RE: They did! Posted by: madmax427
Sorry, this comment has been removed from the system.
» Progress? Posted by: Quicksilver
» RE: Progress? Posted by: Jennifer Bedingfield
Repugnicans squealing for taxcuts really makes no sense
Posted by: xvictor on Feb 4, 2009 5:53 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Per reputable studies corporations and many upper income folks pay next to nothing in income, corporate, and other taxes, if any. And that's been patently true throughout the Bushmoron Misadministration. In addition, low income folks virtually pay no income tax. So I can't understand the foolish Repugnican mantra of taxcuts.

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» Sure it does... Posted by: jvaljon1
» Sure it does... Posted by: jvaljon1
Damned if we do/don't
Posted by: jon B on Feb 4, 2009 6:10 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I guess I just don't see that the Republicans are so wrong in opposing a "stimulus" package that probably won't do a damn thing to stimulate.

Everyone is running around screaming "Do Something" about the economy, but just doing something, anything, isn't an answer. There is no proof whatsoever that the current stimulus package will save the economy. Just as there was no proof that the TARP was going to be a good idea either, (which it hasn't as of yet proved was a good idea) the stimulus package could just as well be a mistake.

You know there were plenty of Democrats that wanted nothing to do with the TARP and some don't like this stimulus package either. There were progressives voting against the TARP, were they obstructionists? Sometimes opposing something because it's a bad idea is the right thing to do. So Republican House members voted against the stimulus en masse, so what. If as I believe that the stimulus will be a lot of hot air, they will have turned out to be right and will be able to say so.

Throwing more government money around like it's Monopoly money particularly a government that is in debt up to their ears, doesn't sound so stimulant to me. It sounds more like suicide. Infrastructure spending are temporary jobs, what happens when the jobs are done? Back to square one. The package is costing us over $5,000 per person in the US, for what? A bunch of temporary jobs? I'd rather they hand us all $5,000.

Personally, if the Republicans don't like a stimulus package that probably won't do much in the long run, why fault them? The economy will suck, stimulus package or not.

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» RE: Hypocrisy Posted by: Cybershaman
» RE: I know. I know. Posted by: Cybershaman
» learn how to read Posted by: jon B
» RE: Democrats loved the ramming Posted by: photon's feather
» RE: Damned if we do/don't Posted by: Sean Boi
Republicans should refuse any stimulus money if they're so against it
Posted by: browsercat on Feb 4, 2009 6:21 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If any Republican says yes to money for his/her area after voting no en masse, expose it. The hypocrisy needs to be laid out on the table for what it is.

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That's what politicians do in a country that knows we don't...
Posted by: ABetterFuture on Feb 4, 2009 7:01 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
...have any compulsion to exercise other choices.

Democrat and Republican elections (read: American elections) are run like Superbowl affairs. It seems that the spectacle is more important than the follow up.

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Where there's a will, there is a way.
Posted by: WhatNow? on Feb 4, 2009 7:15 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"it is up the Democrats and their supporters to now do what is best for the country and stop worrying about appeasing those people who do not serve for the good of the people."

Well democrats, do you have the will? Can you prove yourselves to be better than these fascists or will you side with the ultra rich to the detriment of our country and the majority of its people?

I've got a couple of simple suggestions obama. Invest in alternative energy and mass transit. Windpower.org says with large scale turbines the cost is approximately $1000 / kW installed. The $350 billion that the bush administration already extorted via TARP would have purchased 350,000 MW of capacity. Let's say these turbines were placed in areas were they generate full power 50% of the time. 4400 hours X 350 GW (gigawatts) would give us 1,540,000 GW-hrs of electricity per year. How much CO2 would that prevent from entering the atmosphere? How many people would it employ to do this? Would auto workers care if they built wind turbines instead of automobiles?

Obama forget about the auto culture. A nice start to transportation investment would be to work on commuter lines to get people in the 'burbs to their jobs and second run passenger lines either down the middle or sides of our interstates. There's little need to worry about the people who worry about their "freedom" to drive. Think about us (people who would like to be free from the costs and responsibility of automobiles) for a CHANGE!

AND what about this? Cut the DoD 50%! That's $300 billion plus right there that could be put into jobs, mass transportation, and alternative energy! Who cares if we have the most sophisticated and deadly missiles and planes? Instead of the wasted resources and accompanying opportunity costs, let's use these resources to build the best rail networks, wind turbines, solar farms, and geothermal plants. The physicists and engineers that work so hard to find ways to deliver high explosives as quickly as possible to peasants world wide would be better used figuring out how to deliver electricity quickly, cleanly, and cheaply to everybody nation wide at first and later world wide.

Obama forget about the republicans. What kind of man are you? Why suck up to "the man"? Martin Luther King Jr. never sucked up to bull connor! Can you not see these guys are nothing but bigots? I've lived most of my life in repugnican country. I've heard all their bullshit. All they really know how to do is peddle bigotry, hatred, and fear. I don't want to let these assholes pick my pockets clean because some lack of character or decency I might have. You need to try to find a way to articulate this to more people. Do you want to live with strife and poverty so you can hate? or do you want to give up the hate so you might live in comfort and peace? All the republicans (nazis) have to offer is poverty and strife for most of us. Can you not do any better?

It's sad to say the best most of us might be able to do is be very careful as to how you spend your money. Try not to spend your money on goods and services from these corporate welfare queens. Starve the beast! I think my vote is meaningless but how and where I spend my money can have an effect.

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OH SHUT UP ! The Democrats are in the majority but are still begging the Republicans !
Posted by: Jennifer Bedingfield on Feb 4, 2009 7:35 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Ok, well at least most of them although Sen Mckaskill is finally getting her groove together. I'd like to see the Obamabots explain why they're man Barry is wasting his time watering down the much major reform that is needed just to "appease" the looney rightwing Republicans. And as a white woman, I admit that the Republicans for the most part are nothing but white trash !! Come on Barry, Pelosi, Reid, etc ... ! Stop pandering to the Republicans with all your "centrist" excuses and bullshit and save this country from rightwing madness god damn it !! The more you screw us like that, the more pissed off more of us will get ! And then you wonder why folks like myself are proud as hell to have voted Nader !!!

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» I like You Posted by: SeattlePackedSnowandCollidedCars
» By the way, Posted by: Jennifer Bedingfield
» Don't blame them Posted by: Quicksilver
Sore losers..........
Posted by: Spiritgirl on Feb 4, 2009 7:38 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Republicans, have they always been this whiney or is this what happens when one gets kicked out of power? And are they so g.d. thick-skulled that they don't get it? The Republicans have controlled Congress for at least 12 of the last 15 years, and look at what their actions at the bidding of their "Corporate Masters" has unleashed upon us!

Note to Rep John Bohner- you need to stay out of the tanning salon, your brain is obviously suffering from dehydration?


The whole lot of them should be arrested for treason against the American people! Hopefully those constituents that still believe that these people represent them - will see them for the spoiled, whining, ideological, incompetent shills that they really are! Can we start to talk about term limits for Congress, NOW!!!!!

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» You know the Democrats Control Congress? Posted by: SeattlePackedSnowandCollidedCars
» Thank you too for pointing this out. Posted by: Jennifer Bedingfield
Politics As Usual ...Never changes.
Posted by: henkle110936 on Feb 4, 2009 7:57 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It is the nature of the beast. A snake will strike without remorse or guilt. A politician will always defend his/her status in his/her party by attacking the opposition party(s). The same ignorance and bias will forever be evident in the charges hurled at opposition party (the one out of power for a season). Profit-oriented Politics never changes. Profit-oriented Politicians never change. The profit-oriented media never changes, and the scammed and duped people keep on stumbling in the dark without leadership, charity, or the light of truth.

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Questions for the Economists
Posted by: henkle110936 on Feb 4, 2009 8:34 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
1. If our debt is owed to ourselves, why do we not simply forgive our debts...take it off the books by an act of Congress?
2. If the Banks are not profit-mongers or privately owned as a free gift of the United States to the banker class, then why do we not find a better money-management system?
3. How can we continue to turn out 'monopoly-money' (money that has no value) through the printing presses of the United States Mint?
4. Can the United States not declare Bankruptcy and wipe out all of our International Debt?
5. Consider that no one can use more than one refrigerator, one television set, one car, one home, or set of tools at one time, is there NOT a fixed limit on the need for manufacturing these items once the need is fulfilled for everyone?
6. Does our system of consumerism have hidden flaws that only becomes visible when saturation sets in? If all needs are filled and no one is consuming, why would the factories, jobs, and economy shut down as a natural by-product of the system?
7. Do the Economists not realize that non-consumption (regardless of cause) is the fuel for Depression. The people know it, and I suspect have acted on that knowledge. Is this a big secret that is not being told to the world?
8. Does anyone believe that we can continue to consume, consume, consume, without innate penalties?
9. Do the rich corporations who control or own so much of our economy not realize that without jobs for Americans there will be no American buyers to support the consumer life-style imposed upon us? What is with shipping jobs out of the country for profit? What if ALL jobs were shipped out of the country to satisfy the greed of corporations? Who would be left to buy anything?
10. Is there a need for a whole new economic system and what would be the nature of that system?
11. Early pioneers in America were self-sufficient. Will Americans need to return to those life styles in order to survive while the national infrastructure continues to deteriorate and decay from neglect?
12. Do Economists not realize that their theories are NOT all inclusive and do not provide answers to our current systemic problems?

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» bad questions Posted by: jon B
Time to Leave the Repubs in the dust...
Posted by: c&s mom on Feb 4, 2009 8:37 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I am sick to death of kissing the Repub ring. We have put up with their self serving crap long enough. I want the President to fix the bill and put more infrastructure in it and less tax cuts. I own a small business, $1,000 tax break is not going to do anything for me. We should not be draining the Treasury with unnecessary tax cuts. There is plenty of time for those later. I would rather see the Capital Gains tax rolled back, Corporate loopholes plugged for moving jobs overseas and getting the Green industries up and running.

There are plenty of shovel ready projects that are being put away at the moment of our greatest need. We need affordable housing built or rehabbed. This cannot be a mystery to anyone who is watching this economy implode. We have 4 tent cities in a town near Boston where people who have lost their houses are staying. Our local hospitals are treating frost bite and no one is saying anything.

It is time to stop catering to the Repubs, it makes them bolder and more self important. Democratic ideas are good ideas and they are what we voted for, not some "let's not hurt their feelings" playground PC junk. I am very frustrated with the President and the watering down of this bill. Enough already, do what needs to be done and stop pandering to these short sighted people.

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» RE: Time to Leave the Repubs in the dust... Posted by: Jennifer Bedingfield
Stimulate Overconsumption while the EARTH COLLAPSES!
Posted by: mtnprivy on Feb 4, 2009 8:38 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
All theoretical positions on money mean very little. The economy is a subset of THE EARTH. When we finish killing the earth with our "economic stimulus", then we ALL DIE!
The fact that people aren't buying stuff is a good thing. It means that they realize that they DON'T NEED MORE SHIT. All of those people who are dependant on conspicuous consumption to survive need to find another occupation. Let Madoff pick veggies with the farm laborers. Let all of us get BACK TO THE BASICS. Any money that Obama/congress spends should be to dig our way out of a "growth economy" and into a "steady state economy." Everything else is just a FART IN A WINDSTORM!

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You all hate so much that you buy into the illusion
Posted by: billwald on Feb 4, 2009 9:21 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
that there is a difference between the 2 parties. The 2 parties are owned by the same invisible people who own all of us and their intent is to destroy the the US middle class.

It ISN'T a conspiracy. Slugs and cutworms don't conspire to eat your veggies. They do what slugs and cutworms do by nature. Our invisible owners do what they do according to their nature. It is Darwinism at its best.

Bill Gates and the other new rich paper profit billionaires are far down the food chain but are to self centered to see it. Our owners probably hate them more than they hate the American middle class. Maybe the Taliban understands this.

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» Well said. Posted by: GuitarBill
» No, we don't. Posted by: Beck
» Yes you do. Posted by: Jennifer Bedingfield
I voted Ron Paul in the Primary
Posted by: mtnprivy on Feb 4, 2009 9:37 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Then when it came down to it, I chose Obama over Repub. because of the war/pentagon/miitary spending. I thought he would end the war! You're right, though, they all support the military/corporations/rich/money.

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» RE: I voted Ron Paul in the Primary Posted by: Mrs. Jefferson
COUNTRY COLLAPSE
Posted by: pfm on Feb 4, 2009 9:43 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Some term it a pathway to collapse perhaps it is a pathway leading to a revolution declaring that you and I have had enough of being constantly treated as a mushroom kept in the dark and constantly fed a diet of BS. Some say there is danger in throwing the baby out with the bath water, perhaps. But so entangled have we permitted the salient essence of our constitution to become so as today to be virtually meaningless. Some say we can not return to the ways of yesterday and perhaps they are right. Might we evoke as law of our land and nation the simplicity of our Bill of Rights and the universal message in our Constitution...? Based on these our nation will not collapse but will in an honest collaborative effort move forward.

I invite you to view my blog
http://waterman99.wordpress.com/2009

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...and this is news to who, exactly?
Posted by: hurricane hugo on Feb 4, 2009 9:47 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
They've been proving it since '81.

#@!

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Lipstick on a Pig
Posted by: gabbyone on Feb 4, 2009 9:53 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This bill is another attempt to put lipstick on a pig. The bill is pure pork. 56% of
Americans agree. Are they joining the Republicans to destroy the country too? Obama needs to get the pork out...another promise he
hasn't kept.

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» RE: Lipstick on a Pig Posted by: Quannah
» 2 weeks in office Posted by: Beck
» RE: 2 weeks in office Posted by: Quannah
THERE IS NO METHOD TO THIER MADNESS
Posted by: VZEQICVA on Feb 4, 2009 10:45 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Truth is, as long as they de-rail any plan the Dems have in place, they're happy. The consequences mean nothing to them. Like the mean kids in the playground. ANNA

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liberal math
Posted by: wagnerrocks@gmail.com on Feb 4, 2009 10:47 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
so you really think this economic freefall started last year? WTF are you smoking? all your republican insanity starting with Regan has caused the almost complete destruction of our country and still you rave on, in some delusional state in favor of republican values. Mentally, you are a freakin' traitor.

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canipanic
Posted by: canipanic on Feb 4, 2009 11:21 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
wow those republicans.. seems to me that they keep talking about the 'small' business endeavors.. correct me if i'm wrong,but arent they more concerned about large corporations instead?i think the voters are not as dumb as they think..vote them out!!! so our country can move forword

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flood the whitehouse
Posted by: wagnerrocks@gmail.com on Feb 4, 2009 11:47 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Perhaps a large infusion of letters directed at President Obama would help convey the message that we are serious about this economy. A real letter conveys a willingness to take real time to express the anger and frustration.

Dick Wagner

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» RE: flood the whitehouse Posted by: Beck
» RE: flood the whitehouse Posted by: willymack
exoevolution
Posted by: exoevolution on Feb 4, 2009 11:56 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The Republican Party are jihad suicide bombers. Their "God" is greed & power for the rich & the corporations.

Their bombs of; deregulation, tax cuts for the wealthy, preemptive & endless war, criminal corruption & mind-numbing incompetence have caused far more damage than the 19 hijackers!

Republicans are terrorists!

Just listen to Limbaugh & Hannity & the other terrorist haters.

Republican's are nothing more than shills for the CORPORATE TOTALITARIANS!

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» RE: exoevolution Posted by: xbj
» RE: exoevolution Posted by: willymack
got a newsletter, people:
Posted by: photon's feather on Feb 4, 2009 1:06 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
anti-stimulus callers out-number pro-stimulus callers by roughly 100 to 1.

Call your Senators toll free:

1-800-828-0498
1-800-473-6711

(I used both of these to lobby against the Bailout.)

---

The newsletter gives the number
1-866-544-7573

(Never used it.)

Capitol Hill seems to have a series of toll-free numbers - and some are defunct.
If one doesn't work, go to the next.

The Republicans want more tax-breaks for the wealthy.
(How many jobs did the last ones create?)

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Poll results
Posted by: dkm on Feb 4, 2009 3:27 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It looks like the Republican opposition is having the desired effect. Poll results show that support for the stimulus plan is slipping greatly and that people in general aren't really looking at the whole picture. There are times when I get so discouraged that I want to just throw in the towel and let the know-nothings destroy themselves. Unfortunately they will take the rest of us with them.

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» RE: Poll results Posted by: Mrs. Jefferson
Oh yes, whining will get them to cave to Lord Obama's every whim, that's the ticket!
Posted by: xbj on Feb 4, 2009 3:27 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Look, there's only one way to stop a GOP obstructionist.

Sign him up to do Viagra commercials and pay him a TON of money.

Shut Dole up but good, didn't it? Eternal Mr. Nasty became kindly Erectile Dysfuction grandpa for the rest of his miserable life.

Newt? He's still kvetching. No Viagra commercial contract for him.

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I smell a Rat just like in 2004
Posted by: Mrs. Jefferson on Feb 4, 2009 3:55 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Commerce Secretary-designate Judd Gregg (NH-R) left his Republican seat in Congress. Obama need him to serve as "for sale America agency"...the Commerce Department.

Gregg thinks it's OK to off shore American business and pay for them to do it (with our tax dallor against our wishes). This says he is a globalist and won't bring jobs here...but only there.

Now the New Hampshire Democratic governor says he promised to replace Gregg with a Republican in Congress. He should be impeached and thrown out of the party. He doesn't want to win?

The NH Democrat governor, with the big phoney capital in his first name, wants bipartisonship to rule? After eight years of bad policy he wants to keep Republicans in power? He is a globalist (and hidden Republican) to say that. Bipartison rule never helped Clinton. They made Democrats meet in the basement for hearings, didn't consult, etc. We give away our power...AGAIN.

To be Senator Al Franken is still fighting the win in his state of Minnesota. He's not in Congress yet. What the MN court can't rush that along since the state now lacks a Senator in DC? That's not important in these times of financial chaos that the citizens of that state don't have representation? Don't elect these judges again MN.

Let Harry Reid decide Al? Boy are you are trusting the wrong guy. Isn't this like the Supremes deciding the Bush win when the votes weren't even all counted let alone recounted? A "dog and pony show" with the winner already decided.

That would be two people in Congress which Democrats need to have a majority to win by 2/3rd vote (over ride the President, other party, etc.). Can't have that can we? Over and over the Democrats first in power find a way to not have a majority. Why is that? They aren't really Democrats and want to ignore their mandate from the people? Seems that way doesn't it.

I'm sick of the Democratic leader's lies and manipulation to lose power every election since 2000. They aren't Democrats but globalists with pro-globalization and Empire...wars agenda. OK so now you know Republicans and Democrats. We can't elect globalists or bipartison representatives any more. We don't ever win.

I smell a RAT who floated over here from global China. Can't tell if he is black, white, or yellow..male or female...Muslim, Christian, or none. He is below the surface most the time.

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Utah
Posted by: Perry Logan on Feb 4, 2009 5:25 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Here's my plan: we airlift the cool people out of Utah and herd all the Republicans there. I call this the "Liberal Separatist" philosophy.

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Headline fits Democrats, too
Posted by: danscanlan on Feb 4, 2009 6:30 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I think this article falls short of the larger truth. The Democrats have long been willing to let America collapse in order to win elections. That is exactly why Bush and company were able to avoid impeachment and why they are not now at risk of prosecution. There's plenty of evidence for both processes, and until one of them takes place, seriously, this country and its vision of "we the people" is at great risk of enduring. There's a song to to facilitate this needed justice at http://www.coolhanduke.com/shame.html

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Narrow Minded and Destructive Article
Posted by: chagrilama on Feb 4, 2009 10:01 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What a preposterous notion!

Let's start with some disclaimers: I am a Democrat through and through, always was! Always will be! But I am not stupidly so.

I do not believe that the dems OR the republicans have all the answers. Rather, the wisdom in this country is imbued in all of us, and the trick is to get all the brains to work together for a solution to what ails us.

So now to this piece of writing: The title starts you off with the inane notion that the Republicans are all dumb enough to destroy the country, then run in the election and WIN THE ELECTION. And may I ask for what earthly purpose? So they can run a destroyed country? Really? I believe there are SOME republicans dumb enough (and some dems equally dumb enough!) to want this, but the majority of dems and repubs are not half as dumb as the writer assumes them to be.

Evi Axis: the writer complains about the title being slapped on anyone not aligned perfectly with the Bushies. Nice work, Dumbo! Now you turn around and assign that title to all repubs who do not align themselves perfectly with your ideas of what is right?

Are you any better than the worst repubs? I think not. I do not want YOU and YOUR KIND in my country and among my elected officials. You are the worst of the rabid worst neo-cons.

And you know obviously little about people and how to work WITH them, but probably much about how to mow them down. You know it may just be possible that the repubs HAVE some points and that their plan has some positive ideas. YOU will never know because you labelled them the evil axis and discounted them like they were dirt. I hate to introduce you to the notion that this country is ALSO their country, they too were born here, they too love it (even if YOU think they are just rapists or some other perverts! Yeah, I know you did not say it, but you cannot possibly harbor any notion of thought that they also love this country with out the word love being smeared with some disgusting murky meanings...)

So assuming you are past this disbusement, maybe you can get it into your head that they are also living here and also want to be part of the process of solving problems. But you know, in the post-election win euphoria no one asked them. People in Congress and Senate just like you - giddy and drunk after drinking the blood of their enemies, the repubs, are ramming their programs in with little inclusion of others who also happen to live in the same country. And you wonder why they stand on the sidelines? No one asked them to join the games. All the ysee is people like you, drunk with blood, stupid with empty victory.

At the end of the day, this country is by the people and for the people, and that includes the repubs, the evangelists, the other groups that you probalby are dissgusted by. If you had your way, they would all be kicked out of here on the day after the election. Welcome to Hitleric Germany - ask the Jews how they felt in Germany being defined overnight as second class citizens, their immense contributions to the German culture nullified by a stroke of a pen. You come across like you took lessons from the 1930s German government. "By the people, for the people, as long as they are MY people!"

Not so fast! Take a pill, or two, take many deep breaths and for God's sake, quit politics, you are lousy at it. Go dig ditches somewhere, does not take much brain.

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This is the whole point
Posted by: Comrade Rutherford on Feb 5, 2009 5:13 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The GOP's long-term plan has been exactly that, to force the US economy to collapse! Ever since they got Reagan installed, the GOP has been working very hard to eliminate the middle-class, one of the key parts of turning America into a third-world dictatorship.

When I first read Greg Palast's 'The Best Democracy Money Can Buy' I thought his premise was far-fetched, yet I saw what he was talking about. After the last 8 years of Know-Nothing Republicans intentionally ruining this once-great nation, and specifically engineering the economic collapse, I see that Greg was right.

If you want to see how and why the Republican Party, and their wholly-owned subsidiary the Democratic Leadership, are succeeding in killing America, then go read that book. He predicted the Bush Administration and their willful murder of the middle-class and the global economy.

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No they aren't.
Posted by: rickiey on Feb 5, 2009 11:36 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Republicans Clearly Are Willing to Let This Country Collapse if They Think it Will Win Them Elections

Are you seriously that stupid? Or do you just not understand the difference between the Republican leadership, and the almost half of the country who are Republicans?

Many of my friends are Republicans; they don't want to see the country go down the drain. They just have different opinions on how to prevent the collapse.

Demonizing and diviseness, such as the article above, are NOT what this country needs.

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Democrats have wanted Republicans to fail
Posted by: VeryBlessed on Feb 6, 2009 8:37 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Whenever Republicans have been in power Democrats have wanted their leaders and policies to fail, done everything in their power to stop what they're trying to do, and welcomed their failures. Just a sampling of comments over the years would show how vehemently Democrats wanted Republican failure, whatever the consequences. The public knows this. And Democrats have wanted failures in order to win elections. Here’s an example from this site of Democrats putting elections before all else:

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/waroniraq/75786/

And the public isn’t that much behind Obama and against Republicans, either, on the stimulus plan or probably anything else. The plan isn’t supported without major changes by most people, and its numbers have been dropping. And given everything, including the unrealistic hype over Obama, the Democrats have nowhere to go than down. In just a couple of weeks “change we can believe in” is already starting to sound like “mission accomplished.”

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23fggyrt
Posted by: megal_1 on Feb 8, 2009 10:47 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
________________________
iPhone Ringtone Maker, a smart iPhone ringtone tool.

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OBAMA: MORE LIES AND BALONEY
Posted by: reelman on Feb 10, 2009 6:17 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
No class no sense no guts…

Wants “to look forward” but trashes the past 8 years (not ever mentioning his party controlled congress the last few)…
Calls “for bipartisanship” but never crossed the aisle in congress and never pressures his party to do so now (3 mod NE Repubs is not crossing… over)…did not open his mouth when Pelosi made new House rules to cut out Repub input…
Does not want “to go back to the failed policies of the past” but never says what they are (maybe they are tax and spend, trust govt?)…
Elevates radicals like the kook Huff Post “reporter” who wants to prosecute the previous administration…

Continues to say there is “no pork” in the trillion dollar borrowed to buy votes Pork-u-Lus Bill that is 80% pork…
Does not admit the govt extended the Great Depression and the average recession is less than a year long…

Continues to whine that the sky is falling week after week while preferring the govt to spend instead of letting you keep more of your money…
The worse baloney is all this crybaby stuff when the socialist Party has the votes and can pass whatever they want NOW…they want shared blame down the road come campaign time…hey, its so great and so need now…so pass it now you big sissies…take ALL the credit…
=====
Do you think for a second if Repubs had the votes to cut our income taxes 10%, eliminate death taxes and cap gains taxes they would whine and cry that the Democrats where “not on board”? No way. So run with your secular socialist principles democrats…NOW. Don’t drag thinking people with a sense of economic history into this foolish trillion dollar borrowing scheme to buy votes (AND change Health Care forever).
http://conservablogs.com/theconservativecrawfish/

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................
Posted by: itouch backup on Feb 11, 2009 1:23 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
______________________
itouch backup

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» RE: ................ Posted by: steven605
» RE: ................ Posted by: steven605
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