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The battle for control of Congress this fall will be more closely fought than many Republicans had predicted in the heady days following their 2010 midterm landslide victories, according to those most closely involved in the campaign.
House Speaker John Boehner’s comments this week that the GOP has a “one-in-three” chance of losing the House sent shockwaves through the political establishment. “We've got a fight on our hands and our hands need to be prepared,” Boehner told reporters on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, doubling down on his warning.
While the Ohio Republican’s admonition was mostly meant to guard against complacency among donors and lawmakers, it reflects a more grim assessment of the GOP’s chances in the House and Senate.
Richard Drew / AP
House Speaker John Boehner's comments this week that the GOP has a "one-in-three" chance of losing the House sent shockwaves through the political establishment.
Republicans now privately expect to suffer a handful of losses in the House, expected partly to be a natural outgrowth of the receding Republican wave from 2010. And while the party remains optimistic in its chance to regain the Senate, Washington Republicans believe it wouldn’t be by any commanding margin.
"This is going to be an election that comes down to jobs, the economy and pocketbook issues. This is going to be a referendum on the president’s economic policies and how it translates down to congressional districts," said Brad Dayspring, a former spokesman for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor , R-Va., who now works for the Young Guns Action Fund, the super PAC founded by former aides to Cantor and GOP Whip Kevin McCarthy.
"It’s going to be whether Republicans can be trusted again to govern in a responsible manner," he said.
Forty-six percent of registered voters in April's NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll said they would prefer a Democratic Congress as the outcome of this fall's elections, versus 44 percent who said they’d prefer a Republican one. That's a closer margin for Republicans than in previous months, but general anti-incumbent fervor is running high, too.
Speaker John Boehner says Republicans have a 1 in 3 chance of losing the house, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer predicts the Democrats will take the 25 seats needed to win back a majority.
“Fairly or unfairly, House Republicans have become the face of Congress, and right now a root canal is more popular than Congress,” said Doug Thornell, a former aide on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Gone is the optimism from Texas Rep. Pete Sessions, the Republican in charge of his party’s campaign efforts in the House, from early 2011, when he predicted an expanded majority in November’s elections.
One Republican veteran of the party’s past campaign efforts pointed to two moments from the intervening 15 months that tarnished the party’s brand: the impasses associated with raising the debt ceiling and extending an expiring payroll tax cut.
"I don’t think that Republicans have had the opportunity to showcase what they are capable of doing; it’s hard to do with only one house in Congress," said the Republican. "But when they did have opportunities, they didn’t necessarily make the most of them."
The GOP entered the 2012 cycle with some built-in advantages. Down-ballot victories in 2010 helped the party shore up some seats through Census-mandated redistricting efforts, and Democrats must defend more seats (23) than Republicans in the Senate.
But Democrats argue that they have made inroads over the past year in recruiting top-flight candidates and defining Republicans, especially in reference to the controversial GOP budget in 2011.
"Nobody would have thought after we lost 63 seats in the House that we would fast-forward 18 months that we would have the candidates we have on 'Red to Blue,'" said one House Democratic campaign operative, referring to the party's initiative to flip Republican seats in November.
Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, the second-ranking Democrat in the House, pegged the odds of retaking the House even higher. "I think it's 50-50," he told reporters on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.
To accomplish that feat, Democrats must win a net of 25 seats to retake control of the House. (Republicans caution that, because they expect to win at least a few seats, their opponents must win 35-40 seats to have a real chance of re-taking the House.)
By contrast, Republicans need a net gain of just four seats to win back the Senate.
Republicans are eager to stress the plethora of opportunities that could allow the party to accomplish its goal of winning the upper chamber. But they caution that the early projections last year that saw the GOP as competitive in over a dozen races were irrationally exuberant.
"The expectations were out of whack a year ago, and conversely, people's perspectives were out of whack, too," said one GOP strategist familiar with the party's campaign efforts in the upper chamber.
Republican candidates have struggled to get traction in states like Michigan, and few good GOP candidates have emerged in battlegrounds like Florida, Ohio, or Pennsylvania — despite potentially vulnerable Democrats facing re-election this fall.
"I think that after 2012, people will look back and see there were missed opportunities not only in 2012 but in 2010, as well," said the veteran GOP operative of the party's campaign efforts, alluding to the instances last cycle in which Tea Party-affiliated candidates failed in winning competitive races.
Author and GQ contributor Robert Draper embedded himself in the House for a year, and he joins Morning Joe to offer an in-depth look at the House of the 112 Congress and how the Tea Party freshmen changed the tone of the House.
Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe's decision to retire complicated Republicans' efforts to stymie losses, and Massachusetts Republican Sen. Scott Brown's re-election campaign is a virtual toss-up.
“We were not handed a friendly map at the beginning of this cycle but we went out and aggressively recruited great candidates in open and Republican-held seats, our incumbents built strong campaigns, and we are now more bullish than ever about keeping the majority,” said Matt Canter, the spokesman for Senate Democrats’ campaign arm.
At the same time, though, Republicans point out they could still lose a number of contests and still wrest the majority from Democrats if they're able to score victories in places like Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and Montana — states traditionally friendly to Republicans.
For all of presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney's talk of shrinking the size of government and repealing the president's health reform law, much of it depends on whether the GOP can retain control of the House and win back the Senate. On the flip side, Republican control of one or both chambers could also grind to a halt President Barack Obama's attempt to restructure taxes in a manner that shifts more burden to the wealthy.
To that end, both parties expect the presidential race to affect these downballot races. The Obama campaign's sophisticated turnout efforts in states like Virginia, Nevada and Ohio — to name a few — could help propel Democrats' House and Senate candidates to a margin of victory.
In the same manner, Boehner's admonition this week focused partly on minimizing losses in so-called "orphan" states and districts, where the presidential race isn't being fought tightly. The GOP made gains in three such states — New York, Illinois and California — last cycle, and their ability to keep control of the House might hinge in part on their effectiveness of holding onto some of those seats.
Another major variable involves the full advent of super PACs, the unlimited campaign funds on both sides which can spend millions to pummel candidates whom they oppose. American Crossroads and its non-profit arm, Crossroads GPS, spent with great effectiveness in 2010, and have already gone on the attack in 2012, most recently announcing a $1.2 million blitz against five Democratic Senate candidates.
“My biggest fear at both the House level and the presidential level is all of these outside groups coming in and spending tons of money,” Thornell said. “There are clearly now more of them, and they’re going to have millions of dollars. That’s going to be a huge challenge.”
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$431,000 per year salary at Harvard? Gosh, you all think that might have something do do with the ridiculous cost of higher education? But hey, let's keep plying the students with cash, so the schools can keep robbing them.
Yeah we have got to get Elizabeth Warren in, cause she's all about the little people.
Harvard is not public education. Harvard is private education. Like Buffett says, soak the rich, rain the poor. Oh wait, that doesn't count, Buffett wasn't from the Ivy League.
Oh and by the way, can anybody name one piece of knowledge that can be learned from Harvard that can't be learned in the next 2 minutes on the Internet?
Wow, this is the second election related article on the MSN News page today where the NBC crew has presented pure conjecture and wishful thinking in lieu of facts!
Better yet, lets vote in Mitt Romney, he'll really take care of the little guy with more tax breaks for the rich, destruction of the Dept. of Education and another unfunded war in the middle-east.
"Trickle down" economics is not going to be selling at the voting booths this fall.
American's also won't settle for the status quo if health care is struck down. Republicans will have to propose something to replace it.
The GOP's hopes are growing dimmer as they have disenfranchised women and the Hispanic vote.
The elections will be very close, and neither party will be able to claim overwhelming victories. In fact, it's entirely likely that the gridlock will grow as obstruction has not been punished by the voters.
This is what happens when the GOP decides to use the Taliban as a a model for republicon "insurgency...to disrupt entire processes". As in the unprecedented use of the filibuster to insure 60 votes necessary to get ANYTHING done, blocking presidential appointees...etc., etc.
The republicon Senate leader says the single most important thing is...not jobs, not the economy, not the welfare of the American people...but to insure that Obama is a one term president.
Party first, country last. And the American people are sick of the republicon Taliban.
Maybe trickle down won't be selling at the voting booths this fall, but at the same time everything the nation bought from the last Obama campaign will be sitting on the clearance racks. Funny how liberals find endless amusement in the bashing of Republicans, but 3.5 years of total failure by the Obama administration has them waving the flags of support.
Nothing but a bunch of hand out gimme gimme gimme liberal entitlement babies who care only about themselves and nothing for the condition of the country. It is a pretty sad commentary on how badly education has failed. This country is doomed to failure, there is no stopping the financial collapse that is fast approaching. Can't wait to hear all the liberal entitlement babies complaining when that day arrives, and I can't wait to hear who they are going to blame this time.
Obama's support and politics are crumbling more than he though .... "LOL"
When the GOP turned from conservatism to the party for FECE's, Fundamental Evangelical Christian Extremists, and went from small government to mandated vaginal ultrasounds they ceded the election to the democratic party.
Gonna be hard for mittens to lie his way out of this one.
GOP shamelessly represents the interest of the top1%. The rank and file republicans believe that the rest of the country can live off the crumbs left on the floor by the rich.
The best thing for the country is to make Obama a one term president. His record is horrendous but I wouldn't expect anything more from liberals than to put their handout first and country last.
Even the most efficient "college" teaches history...the goal of our education system need to be teach students how to think...which seems to be at a 3rd grade level in DC
@Eric
Not a Republican...but I do have a plan...that would reduce Federal Healthcare costs by 90%, over-all health-care costs by 60% or more, and ensure every American has un-restricted access to health-care...(fair warning: Insurance companies won't like it)
Give a teacher that much money!!!
No give it to an oil barron instead. To heck with schooling says Spanky.
The more Republicans obstruct our Recovery, the more Republicans fight against Working Americans and provide more and more tax cuts and tax breaks for the Rich and pay cuts for American Workers, the more we will fight back with our vote, and send Republicans home.
The GOP continues to refuse to hear the voices of the Majority of the American People and ONLY act when it's in their own personal best interests. Now, we're going to DO something about it, we're going to act in OUR own best interests, and send Republicans packing!
Obama / Biden 2012
http://ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011083428/three-charts-email-your-right-wing-brother-law
Look at the charts and tell me how Obama has "failed miserably" (Republican talking point #1).
@rrobeson - The answer to your question is "HOW to think critically."
It would be interesting to know the true personal biographies of Spanky and the Gang of Conservatives on this site. You know they are mostly 1%ers and those that are not are in cush/secure jobs (mainly attached to the Petroleum, Healthcare/Drug, Financial Services, and Defense Industries) with Health Insurance and 401k's. They know the Republicans will keep taxes low as well as standards on Wall Street (Low) so they can continue to reap dividends off the sweat of Middle and Lower Class slaves who have no Insurance and some with no jobs - because their cush jobs have been protected by the policies of Bush/Cheney's economy collapse in 2007.
Thankfully we haven't seen the depths to which Boehner's GOP could sink us - yet.
And thankfully, there is ample opportunity to send a message to this worst Congress ever - check the ratings GOP fans, with 'for the people' candidates like Elizabeth Warren.
Mitt's right. We're not that stupid about the economy to see that this obstructionist GOP Congress was willing to see us default and did not pass anything to help our economic situation - all for the sake of making Obama a one-term president, has got to go!
Remember in November - Take back Congress from the GOP!!!!!!!!!!!
Republicans have a gift. They are able to eat each other alive without a thought. I hope they have a feast.
But democrats can't be complacent. They need to focus on the important issues of the day and let the republicans have their wars on women, immigrants, and workers while democrats defend them.
I seen the president's speech yesterday. An excellent orator. I also seen Romney's speech from Tuesday's primaries. The comparison is amazing. As Biden pointed out, Romney does indeed look at things from a rear view mirror. Romney often brings up last years topics for reference.
I'd like to see more focus on the House. Like the article states, republicans own the poor ratings it has, not all true but neither were the death panels. Representatives there are decided on a local level.
Don't— Insult_My_Intellect, Please explain your theory of how Bush brought the economy down in 2007...this will be interesting...
TO: Nancy's Red Diaper Doper Baby who wrote:
Republicans just don't get it. We are sick and tired of Republicans rambling on about their hatred toward the Leader WE THE PEOPLE chose to represent us!
Republicans' mindlessly repeating their mantras are worthless! Repeating Republican hate speech does NOT put food on the table of the American People, and it isn't getting anybody any JOBS!
Obama / Biden 2012
GOP Congress - failed to deliver on promises made that couldn't be kept (a given), shouldn't have been kept, and simply weren't kept. The only thing it could agree on doing was nothing. That's what it delivered, time to abandon the tea party and find a work party. Rick you need to read up on what defines the term Liberal (strict Constitutionalists, small government, individual rights/freedoms, free market, capitalism). A liberal isn't a geo-political entitiy. A GOP fundamentalist can be a liberal, in fact the values expressed by the GOP are for the most part Liberal. Similar lesson on the term conservative (strong central government, government regulation over individual rights/freedoms). Fiscal conservatism, same concept, but with the financial institution as the governing body to enforce policy. The terms are not mutually exclusive and not party based. Obama's poll numbers are solid and his support base is healthy. The swing is towards the Democrats.
It's funny how the right quickly forget how obstructionist they have been from day one. See this seed: http://smd12364.newsvine.com/_news/2012/04/26/11406229-just-in-case-you-were-wondering-if-the-gop-planned-to-screw-obama-from-the-beginning
Nothing he has wanted to do has been able to go through without all sorts of fits from the right, and/or completely changing it (e.g. healthcare), even policies they once supported. So that's the policy huh? Block everything or change it to crap then stand back and say "see he can't do anything".
Or maybe its not that they forget, maybe its that they are just liars...and lie to themselves everyday then come out and lien to the rest of us.
Pitiful...
Even MSNBC is using their bull crap rhetoric to imply that wealthy will be paying an undue share of taxes.
GET THIS:
NO ONE WANTS THE WEALTHY TO PAY MORE. THEY JUST WANT THEM TO PAY THE SAME PERCENTAGE AS THE MIDDLE CLASS.
Geez, what is so difficult to get about this. Why should someone getting all of their money in compensation other than a paycheck get off with 15%. It's a freaken disgrace. That 35% tax rate for someone making 100K a year is a much bigger bite of their budget than it would be for the billionaire.
Hey Ecoman, How is that "Trickle Up Poverty" that your leadership is so fond of...so far the slowest recovery...
For everyone that continues to scream and moan and whine about how Obama has not done enough for this economy, let me ask you. How long does it take to build a home, properly? How long does it take to tear it down? The economy is attached to the global economy. When it flucuates, ours will also. It took very little time to destroy our economy as we knew it and bring about the near collapse of it. It will take a long time in order to fix it. If any of you would bother to check your history, the only thing that got us out of the great depression was WWII (manufacturing jobs anyone?) and that still took close to 20 years. There is no easy fix and there sure as hell isn't a fast way to get it done. Do you want it done right, or do you want to see it collapse again in a few years right before you retire and then lose everything?
Umm...MJ
Let me let you in on a secret....the wealthy pay less then the middle class...so if they pay the same as the middle class...aren't they paying more? Just pointing out your error.
Basically THIS.
The GOP was actually gaining traction with their "smaller government" chants... but what happened the very second they took over the house? What was the first god damn thing that they did?
Immediately try to pass laws to INCREASE government in our personal lives. They pulled a Romney, doing a complete 180 and pushing the opposite of what they campaigned on.
On top of that, every Republican here complains about Obama's "track record", but turns a blind eye to the GOP "track record" in the house. What have they done since taking control? Anyone? Bueller... Bueller?
So, we now have a GOP who is chomping at the bit to INCREASE government in our personal lives, while also standing on a track record of obstructionism, refusal to compromise, threatening to default our credit rating, and attacking personal rights.
As far as "track records" go... things are not looking to bright for Republicans.
Sessions is wrong and He knows it. The problem is; the republicans have had ample time and opportunity to showcase what they are capable of doing, and have spent much effort in so doing. Those efforts have revealed the republicans collective penchant for legislating crippling, and ass kicking policies upon the poor and middle class, while doing everything they could to enlarge the theft buckets toted by the wealthy. Accordingly, many of these republican "ass kissers of the wealthy" will get their sorry asses run out of the Congress.
you don't remember the 2 Trillion dollar Wars he started -Cheney's Secret Energy Meeting of 2001 followed by $4-5/g pump prices? Those are just the tip of the Tip of the Iceberg for starters. Why is it Conservatives use the Congress' fault as an excuse when it is Bush and the Presidents fault when it is Obama?
So are you better off now than 3+ years ago? I know I am not.
Any you know what, Bush sucked.
boredwithsameO, FECES! LOL that is drop dead funny!!!! The GOP policy of "trickle down" is just their way of saying piss on you.
Mark L46, that "slowest recovery so far" would not have anything to do with GOP obstruction and foot dragging would it? Or the depth of the hole that Bush and the GOP dug?
MJ - "NO ONE WANTS THE WEALTHY TO PAY MORE. THEY JUST WANT THEM TO PAY THE SAME PERCENTAGE AS THE MIDDLE CLASS.'
You do know that the "Wealthy" pay the same exact taxes as everybody else, don't you?
Everybody pays 15% capital gains tax. I repeat EVERYBODY
As for Income we all pay the same for every dollar we make and all the same tax deductions are available to ALL of us.
Do the math yourself instead of listening to somebody else's lies, that way you won't look stupid.
I am... by leaps and bounds. My portfolio has never been larger, I am making more at work... across the board I am doing much, much, MUCH better than 3-4-5 years ago.
If you are not, maybe YOU should take PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for your own failures. You are the party of "personal responsibility", right? Well it's time to practice what you preach, buddy. YOU have failed at life, and now YOU blame Obama for YOUR FAILURE.
If you are not doing better now, the ONLY person to blame is yourself.
So Boehner says" We have a fight on our hands, and we better have our hands ready". As in raising them in unison while doing the Goosestep? As in holding them out to their rich friends for cash? As in playing with themselves while Rome burns? Telling and troubling in so many ways.
So Devil, I already said above Bush sucked, but when do you stop making excuses for PBO and start holding him accountant?
The Dems did control all branches for 2 years and the house for 4 years and the senate for 6 now correct?
Hey Indie, I agree with what you say. Do you hold all to those same standards or just those that don't agree with you?
Because I am guessing the extra 20 million of so that are on foods stamps now compared to a few years ago may beg to differ.
FYI - the reason I am not doing better today than in the past is because the cost of food and energy is raising faster than my salary and I am not blaming that on PBO I am blaming that on Government, take it how you like.
and I think failed at life my be a bit harsh, I didn't say I was doing bad, just not better.
Don't insult- How did spending two trillion dollars on was make the economy fall out? Did that cause housing to fail? did it effect the stock market? Is it maybe a fault in Keynesian Economic theory? Gas prices were $1.78 when Bush left office...now it is twice that and you blame Bush... Secret energy meetings are responsible? But your president wants "Cap And Trade" which will double (double is actually an understatement) energy prices in the United States making some very wealthy on the backs of Americans...
You have to be pretty flush to have Capital Gains as an issue...
You have to be pretty flush/own a business to have tax loopholes in play to end up with a lower effective rate
It is people of that ilk who think certain people are dumb
I know I'm not the only one tired of both sides and their BS games. We need to vote out folks that sign lobbyist pledges (Repubs and Dems alike) and vote in people that are not afraid to get a little dirty fixing the many problems this country faces.
The truth hurts and we need more income AND less spending to get debt under control. That's a fact and all will need to work toward this goal.
More of the same from both sides just ain't gonna cut it!
Tom, I have never blamed a politician for my personal standard of life... never, not even one f***ing time. So you bet your a$$ I hold myself to that same standard.
Why? Because I realize that prices have ALWAYS gone up, and gas prices have ALWAYS fluctuated... it's called COLA.
So you have a few options. (1) You can complain every god damn time it happens, under every President. (2) You can only complain when it happens under a President of the opposite party. Or (3) you can realize that is will ALWAYS happen, and adjust your life.
Remember when Bush was President, and gas hit $5? I do, specifically because that event sparked an investment conversation between myself and another guy who was making money from energy stocks because of the rising prices. I also realized that gas prices have always gone up and down... ALWAYS.
Food prices rising? Adjust where you shop, or don't have another f***ing kid so you have one less mouth to feed... *gasp* perish the thought. Money tight? Get a f***ing abortion, it's a hell of a lot cheaper. Don't believe in abortion? That is YOUR choice, and the resulting financial problems are YOUR fault. Don't blame someone else because you decided to crap out a kid when food is expensive.
So you can either continue to blame Obama, or realize that this is life, price fluctuations will ALWAYS happen and you need to adjust accordingly.
Kyle Drew-
That's because it didn't work, but Obama mimicked the polices in this recovery to be the same...why? Even the architects from the New Deal admitted it did not work. As for a quicker recovery, well if we look at Reagan we will see that he had a far worse situation and he turned it around in less time with better results.
the establishment is the problem people. msnbc is no different than the "news" you get from the north korean or iranian govt news organizations. its all a bunch of BS. msnbc sucks and has an agenda. you are not reading news on this site.
Mark L,
If you remember right the problems started with Reagan so your point is no longer valid. The same policies he employed were used by Bush, the same thought processes...also if you think about it...things that happened then no longer are valid now as things have changed. The world has changed. Time to get into this century as what they did 50 years ago no longer are a valid option now.
And what were some of the things that Reagan did? Oh ya... he increased taxes 11 times after first reducing them.
Think Reagan would get elected now in this GOP? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
His own son admitted that the current GOP would call his father a liberal. The person who knew him better than any GOP talking head admits that he would be considered a liberal by the current GOP. So keep preaching about Reagan, we like the liberal support.
Indie, you sound bitter an angry.
I asked -
"Hey Indie, I agree with what you say. Do you hold all to those same standards or just those that don't agree with you?
Because I am guessing the extra 20 million of so that are on foods stamps now compared to a few years ago may beg to differ."
I also said I hold Government Responsible not PBO, I blame Bush, McCain and PBO equally. Why because they all add to the size of Government.
Also I would ask that you save your rant for those that are solely living off the government, besides killing my two kids we do exactly what you say, shop at cheaper places use coupons cut cost on cable, got rid of data on our phones, ect... So you are preaching to the choir.
As for Reagan, he did raise taxes, why? two reasons, compromise and because his cuts didn't pay for themselves. Which is kind of the exact opposite of Bush and PBO have done.
Bush spend more cut taxes.
PBO spend more try to raise taxes.
Also, don't get me wrong Reagan is one the politicians that sent us down the path of debt.
Thanks Rick I agree here's a reprint:
Maybe trickle down won't be selling at the voting booths this fall, but at the same time everything the nation bought from the last Obama campaign will be sitting on the clearance racks. Funny how liberals find endless amusement in the bashing of Republicans, but 3.5 years of total failure by the Obama administration has them waving the flags of support.
Nothing but a bunch of hand out gimme gimme gimme liberal entitlement babies who care only about themselves and nothing for the condition of the country. It is a pretty sad commentary on how badly education has failed. This country is doomed to failure, there is no stopping the financial collapse that is fast approaching. Can't wait to hear all the liberal entitlement babies complaining when that day arrives, and I can't wait to hear who they are going to blame this time.
So Tom you think that Carter would have been a better fit for America then Reagan? And the Reagan policies led to the largest increase in US history in regards to GDP...
Wendy Breeze, It truly is amazing that this all sits before their eyes, yet they cant seem to see what Obama is doing...not to mention the lapse of any economic sense...
Kyle, what policies were the same that Reagan and Bush used?
We will see by years end how much you are crying when your first check in January shrinks after Bush's tax cuts expire. Yes on average those who pay taxes and are middle class will lose $320+ a month out of their pocket. Depending on how many children you have, it may be much hirer.
Tom, don't worry... not bitter or angry, just tired of every crybaby that blames the government for their personal problems.
Now, if the government directly influenced your life, personally... like shoving an ultrasound wand up your orifice, or telling you that you have to keep a rape baby... then I can understand.
But to blame the government for things like gas prices, which are primarily a product of commodity speculations... or rising food prices, which can come from a variety of influences... that is just refusing to acknowledge the realities of life.
Prices will always go up. Companies will always pay the least they can to get the results they want. The business environment will continue to change, as technology continues to replace jobs. People will always have sex and crap out kids they can not afford. We will always need to pay taxes to support our society as a whole, including those that do not contribute. And life will never be fair. THAT is reality... you can either recognize these facts, and adjust for changing times... or you can blame someone else while your life falls apart.
But keep in mind, you will spend your entire life blaming the government for these changes if don't accept the reality that they will always occur.
Economically I, my business and employees are doing much better than 08 and 09. Things are finally looking like we are on the cusp of much better economic times. Thanks to the efforts and persistence of President Obama, Ben Bernanke, and some of the democrats. Republican sons-a-bitches did all they could to keep it from happening.
Mark - absolutely Carter would NOT have been better, but Reagan was OK with the borrowing money to pay for things, and every President since has embraced that policy. (especially Bush and PBO)
Indie, if you think the Government doesn't have an influence on inflation you are crazy. Printing money and energy policies are just a couple of examples.
you never did answer if hold the people surviving on the Government to the same standard as you hold you and I?
Do I hold them to the same standard as far as complaining about their personal situation, and blaming the government for it? Yes.
But that is not what you are getting at, is it? You want me to say that I don't agree with helping them, or paying for welfare, because they put themselves in that situation. The problem is, it's not a matter of whether I agree with it, or not... it's an issue of necessity. Do I like that people "survive" off the government? No. Am I against it? No. Because that is reality... there will ALWAYS be people on welfare and food stamps. It is a necessary evil.
This is the main problem I have with Republicans, they do not live in realty. They all live in this ideological fantasy world that will NEVER come to pass.
They think they can get rid of welfare, and everyone will just get a job. Unfortunately, there are more people than available jobs. They say things like, "We have a society of have's and soon to have's"... shut the f*** up. We will never, EVER, live in a society of only "have's" or upper class. Not only is that a mathematical impossibility, but it's completely unrealistic from a sociological standpoint. Every society throughout history has always had an upper class and a lower class... that will never change. The upper class needs someone to pick up their s***.
So we have to pay into welfare, knowing this lets people survive off the government, because the alternative is letting them just die in the street (not very pro-life). Now I am a cold-hearted, son of a b****... but even I know that throwing millions on the street to die is not conducive to a civil, advanced society.
Ha. So 25 months of private sector job growth, unemployment at roughly 8.2%, and the Dow about 13,200 isn't good enough for you righties??? Killing bin Laden is a failure??? As is creating several million jobs and reversing the recession??? What would your boy Romney do??? He'll send us back into the trickle-down hole. Since when has success trickled down from the top??? Are we forced to lower taxes on the "holy job creators" to show our gratitude for them allowing us to make a damn living??? To hell with the rich. They have been soaking up the money for three decades. I'm sick and tired of hearing that we have to make cuts to social spending, but that the rich get off scot free. THEY ARE NOT THE ENGINE OF GROWTH. WE, THE MIDDLE CLASS, ARE. @!$%# the wealthy. It's time their taxes go up. I say raise taxes across the board by 20% (percentage, not points).
Funny how the states that require most federal aid are RED STATES, huh???? Did you ever realize that some of these people taking welfare are ashamed of doing so, not in the least because of your anti-welfare rhetoric???? Stop this anti-poverty movement. Have you Republicans no decency??? At long last, have you no decency???
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
So Indie you had no problem ripping on me saying it was my fault, but you don't say the same to others who believe taking from one person and giving to the others.
I see, it is pretty simple if we all get in lock step with your ideas everything will be OK.
Those two trillion dollars were like a defibrillator; they jolted our economy back into action. The stimulus created 3.3 million jobs, and TARP stabilized the financial market. When gas prices were $1.78, the economy was in chaos. Demand was low, so gas prices fell drastically. Cap and Trade in the American Clean Air and Security Act actually protected low-income earners; it doesn't hurt businesses, and if tweaked to offer emission permits for a price, it could substantially decrease emissions. The problem with the Clean Air Act was that it could be construed as corporate welfare, which is why the CBO recommended that it be made more efficient. And correct me, but cap and trade was a Republican idea in response to carbon taxes. I would say use both. Next time Mark, try using viable arguments instead of right-wing bull@!$%#. Okay???
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
All politics is local, and that is certainly what you are talking about in Congressional elections.
Isn't that the truth Wayne!
With an approval rating of 13% - I would say it's a safe bet plenty of heads are going to roll.
Starting with the tea party members who failed to deliver on their #1 promise of J-O-B-S!
Politics maybe Wayne, but the economy is not.
Unemployment for last week was revised up, again. England is now officially in a double dip.
I did not think it possible, but it really is getting uglier - now gas and food are blowing up.
But hey, at least the poor farm kids can't be 'forced' to work. Plus, I'm sure some of that green shoots crap will start panning out any day now.
You know, it might behoove all of you liberals- including the writers on this site- to actually read through the polls.
If you read the trend, you'd find that in October, 2010, those polled by this firm preferred a democratic controlled congress by 2 points- exactly the same spread as this, most recent, poll.
Republicans won by 8 points.
In light of the revelation that this network maliciously doctored an audio tape, is it really wise to highlight the fact that your pollsters never reweighted for that level of error?
I say put both parties in the minority for a 1000 years, by giving Americans a taste of Freedom and a functional Federal Government...Vote Other (Third Party / Ron Paul) in 2012
@Bob...so you've met the "Collapse Nazis"...it is both sides that do it, and Newsvine tolerates it...I'm not sure how they do it, but I do know why...because small minds can not handle opposing views
England's double dip is set to be over in June. Unemployment continues to trend down and with gas prices headed downward you can count on American's taking vacations this summer with increased spending.
In short, despite Republicans exaggerations and gloomy predictions, it's going to be quite the opposite.
The economy will continue to get better, and the Republican's top talking point will go down the drain.
Enter the debates of social issues for this election.
Funny how liberals celebrate the polls from a ultra left wing propaganda operation like NBC. They aren't trying to report anything accurately, they are trying to influence the outcome by distorting the truth through creative questioning or target polling. My hope is that all liberals just eat this stuff up, after all they are lost causes not capable of being an informed voter.
Liberals vote for promises, for hand outs, and are ignorant to the fact they are simply be used because they are so easily lead. Nothing Obama ever promises is going to trickle down to a bunch of liberal entitlement babies, not when all his cronies are first in line. So go vote straight Democratic ticket, no one really cares you are a small minority. If just one liberal would just jump off the cliff, liberalism would end.
Independents control this election, and right now you should check the polls on who they support. Here is a hint, it isn't Obama. Independents don't want to see this country fail, and that is certainly the path Obama has it on. So celebrate an NBC poll, we have come to expect liberals to act like fools.
It has always been, "Through all of the bums out!" except for my Congressman, he/she is doing a good job. And polls regarding "Congress" as a monolithic entity are useless. There will be 435 separate Congressional races this Fall, not one all encompassing 'election of Congress'.
I
Spider . . . reporting on what the Speaker of the House stated publicly isn't fact based reporting . . ? You work so hard a keeping your head in the sand you can't even see facts when they're from your own side . . . you just don't like this site apparently . . .
Patrick1315, Spider is right. The Republican Speaker of the House speaks, and none of what he says can be taken as fact. If he said the sky were blue, I would need to look outside to confirm it. Republicans are just good at spinning. (to most of us, that means republicans lie)
Fox News is a Republican Party Mouthpiece and MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN are Democratic Party Mouthpieces...any voter who doesn't understand this needs a wake-up call
Ah Rick, you need to keep up.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/154091/Obama-Job-Approval-Leads-Romney.aspx
Obama approval 50%
disapproval 44%
Obama 49%
Romney 42%
Here is how the independents are shaping up:
Independents Apr 11-15 Apr19-23
Obama 39% 45%
Romney 45% 43%
My how the tide is changing !!!!
Let's not even bother voting....we will let the corporations that own our government decide who they want.
Let's see since the Repugs took control of the House and picked up seats in the Senate two years ago, what have we gotten? Holding the debt ceiling hostage, internal bickering, and war on contraception? And they think they deserve to keep control because....? Not only will President Obama be reelected by a comfortable margin and the Democrats hold on the to the Senate, we'll most probably take control of the House as well and hopefully, there will be a return to sanity and a return to getting things done in Washington instead of pontificating on the evils of birth control and other noble causes of Tea Baggers.
Big Money wants laws to benefit Big Money. They bribe Congress in many ways and they get what they want, often to the detriment of the American citizen.
Both political parties are too beholden to Big Money to represent the true interests of America.
But, in the past twenty years, the Republicans have increasingly become an obstacle to progress and have supported laws that make Big Money richer at the expense of average citizens.
2012: ABAR (Anyone But A Republican!)
@jw101
You don't think your Party Elders decided who you are voting for??? You don't understand that those same Elders decide what "News" you are recieving??? You don't understand that most of these "posters" are simply employees of these "Elders"....Haven't you ever wondered about the employee ID numbers after all of their names??
@Rick-3416939: where do you get all that crap from?
FIESTY,
It was taxes and health care that the tea party rallied for. I was there. We knew if we could help stop the bleeding, then jobs will come. They will. Have no doubts.
The summer of recovery?!!
GOP shamelessly represents the interest of the top1%. The rank and file republicans believe that the rest of the country can live off the crumbs left on the floor by the rich.
So, Republican'ts where are the Jobs? The Democrats tried to pass bill after bill to create jobs. the Corporate Republican't Teabaggers would always obstruct and block the jobs bill.
It looks like the Republican'ts have spent the time they have controlled the House of Representatives declaring war on Women, Declaring War on children, Declaring war on Equal Rights, Declaring war on Grandma, And declaring war on the Disabled and lets not forget the Republican't Party platform of making President Obama a one term president... Seems the Republican'ts spent 100% of their energy trying to make their delusional dreams come true.
The only thing the Republican'ts have done is pass laws that cut taxes to Billionares and Trillionares. The Republican'ts are now trying to end Universal Healthcare via their puppet John Roberts who pretends to be a United States Supreme Court Chief Justice, but because he is a puppet with no free will, he will declare Universal Healthcare Unconstitutional.
What have the Republican'ts done for America? With the exception of making the Billionares, Trillionares and corporate raiders like Mitt Romney Rich, absolutely nothing at all .
The Republican'ts do not deserve to keep control of anything, let alone the House of Representatives.
in 2012 vote President Obama, Save Grandma, Save the Disabled, Save Women, Save the children... Do it now!!!
And thats my opinion
Rob in ma-3189632,well, I can see why your comment was deleted rather than collapsed..I watched the video and it was advertising- a direct violation of your user agreement. If you wish to keep promoting advertising on this site, you may find your account banned.I'm sure you were already warned by the moderators and if not, maybe you should take a look at your email.;-)
Obama/Biden 2012
THE DEMOCRAT AND LIBERAL MEDIA PLAN FOR THE 2012 ELECTION
Tell everyone we are going to win and they won't bother to vote!
WRONG FELLAS!
This will bring out even the not paying attention lazy and/or the busy voters. We will take back our Country, whether you like it or not!
In response to Rob in ma-3189632
Hey Rob, I see the collapsing all too often with deletions not nearly so much. You obviously did strike a chord, a big chord to have it deleted. Does this mean you have made it to the big time? :) I took the time to watch the video you posted and it was one of the best I have ever seen! It really nails it. Unfortunately I think most of the left will refuse to even look at it, openmindedness not being one of their strong suits. Keep up your good work, I enjoy reading what post.
If only we could tax the rich out of existence! The birds would be chirping, the flowers would bloom, children would be singing! The poor would still be poor, but wouldn't it feel great!
Pretty simple...
Obama/Biden and both houses of Congress 2012...we won't be denied! Ball's in your court GOP/TP! I can't wait for 11/6/2012...we will then spend the next 4 years totally dismantling your corrupt Conservative world! LMFAO!
sic-n-tired, # 2.15- EXCELLENT!!!! and AMEN (it means "so be it")!!! For all the talk of "SMALLER GOVERNMENT", how many People aren't realizing that the "Republican" aim is obviously for continued hustling of The People (no matter how or how much it harms them) down a Republican Utopia path to that smaller declared-untaxable and untouchable 1% Government size?
Rob in MA -- the video was great and it is sad that some liberal pin head tagged it as advertizing, ergo the deleted post. The video was not advertizing, so whoever monitors this vine should restore your post.
It should required viewing for all liberals, since what the person in the video is describing is already underway in the USA.
For all the liberal idiots on here, and thats most. How many budgets have been passed under Obama? His last 2 budgets received no votes from both sides of the isle. So again please tell me how he plans on making this country great again.
What have the Republicans/Tea Party officials proposed, or actually done, for the lower income and middle class in the U.S.? Answer that question fairly and honestly and it will direct your votes on November 6, 2012!. In short, what have they done or proposed to do for YOU?
Congress has never and never will belong to any Party!
What an abomination Congress has become.
I say referendum vote of confidence of congress if no they all should go, and a second referendum to decide if removed can they run for position again.
No! I want healthy competition NOT destructive competition.
Rob in MA I would like to see that video. Where do i have to go to get it?
HERE's WHAT HAS REALLY HAPPENED -- Progressives, who have suspected a conspiracy, especially after Mitch McConnell admitted that the GOP goal is to prevent the president from any success... It is now confirmed...
Frank Luntz, along with others like Newt Gingrich -- both infamous for their list of propaganda words and talking points -- called a meeting with Republicans in Congress on the day of President Oabama's inauguration after seeing the huge crowds on the mall -- A meeting that lasted four hours of "strategery" to win back the House, then the Senate and White House!
The GOP successfully obstructed efforts for economic recovery, with exception of the stimulus, which they were able to keep small and less effective. Then they were successful at obscuring their policies that caused the Great Recession with promises of jobs, Jobs, JOBS in the 2010 mid-term, in which they enjoyed a huge gain thanks to the Tea Party.
True that the Dem focus on ACA did not help public perceptions, though in fact ACA is very important to economic recovery, but other efforts such as cap-and-trade should have been put on hold. But as the article points out, the Teapublican obstruction on raising the debt ceiling that resulted in the downgrade of our credit rating, followed by ridiculous efforts against extension of the payroll tax cuts including attaching "poison pills" to symbolic BS exposed their treasonous plans to tank the economy if need be to be victorious.
"It’s going to be whether Republicans can be trusted again to govern in a responsible manner," he said.
This is key -- NO, Teapublicans can't be trusted, and if voters have not learned this from broken promises in 2010 to create JOBS, then how can they be so gullible to believe the GOP/TP or Romney will create jobs?! Fellow Americans, look at Romney's plan and the Paul Ryan plan, and you'll see there is nothing concrete about job creation other than the same old failed GOP/Bush-ear policies of tax cuts for the rich, deregulation, increased defense spending, and draconian "eat the corn seed" spending cuts -- only more "severely!"
Per another article today in the business section:
What we need to do is increase taxes on the rich for now and not the 95% who are still struggling due to wage stagnation in order to off-set the automatic cuts in spending. After the economy has recovered enough, then let the Bush tax cuts expire for everyone. But this cannot happen as long as the Teapublicans are in Congress -- They will take this nation off a cliff!
The conspiratorial Teapublicans have proved they can't be trusted to put Country First -- Throw the Teapublicans out -- Obama/Biden - 2012!
@SanAndresMan#2.17: To your question to "Rick". Rick is an avid, though poor performing, student of the idiotically infamous, "Frank Luntz" correspondence school of republicanism for the "lesser minded". The man contorts the truth with the adeptness of a surgeon conducting a lobotomy with a jackhammer. That's where most of these crazies obtain their scripts. Regards
@True Patriot #2.34: As usual, great post! Always great to see you. Best regards
Help defeat Boehner and Cantor. Support with your time, money, and any other means available, their Democratic opponents.
SouthernBelle ,raleigh dolly, and ted patrick , what Rob in ma-3189632 posted is indeed advertising. And he has posted it on numerous articles to the point of comment spamming and derailment-more COH violations. You did read your user agreement and the COH when you signed up-didn't you?Click on his name and read his comments-maybe you'll find one that wasn't deleted-yet.The moderators know exactly which user has done the collapsing/deleting and will be more than happy to restore it if it falls within the guidelines. Just make a report and fire it off.
Oh, and FYI: Misuse of the report features (!) may result in your own suspension and/or your privilege to use that feature for a given length of time. ;-)
Mr. feenix/ you are proposing the defeat of both major political parties and the creation of a new party.You have been partially granted your wish.The Repubs. have a new right wing to take over your party and if this Tea Party idiocy continues you will regret this wish with no way of correcting it.Do you think that the average German was happy with the end results of 1936 Germany? Be careful what you wish for. Very few of us,including you I surmise would like it.
True Patriot, very well stated.
Sounds like the GOP Tea Party knows they're going to lose.
At this point, it's just damage control to lessen their collective bleeding until the axe of public opinion falls on them in the November Elections.
Let's see ...they've already lost the vote of a majority of Hispanic-Americans, African-Americans, Islamic-Americans, scientists, labor union workers, public school teachers and their students, U.S. postal service workers, firemen, environmentalists, humanists, members of non-christian religions, women... ...Anyone care to add to this growing list of groups in the U.S. not likely to vote for Tea Party Republicans?
When President Obama was elected, this Congress vowed to block any initiative he proposed regardless of merit. They have become the "Party Of 'NO"! They are nothing but a band of obstructionists, and because of them our legislative abilities have slowed to a crawl. Thank God President Obama is smarter than them. Were it up to the Republicans Osama Bin Laden would be alive and well, we'd be embroiled in wars throughout the world and our nation would be in financial default. All of that aimed at saving the Bush Tax Cut For The Wealthy. Every GOP representative, from Boehner down to our local dog catcher needs to be voted out of office to send a clear message to the Republican party that they were elected to represent the citizens of this nation, NOT JUST THE RICH ONES. I'm an Independent Voters who has decided to vote Democrat straight across every national and local election for the next two cycles.
Why does nobody mention all these signers of the "so-called" Norquist Pledge?? If these Tax Reform, "Tea Party" people; would follow their "namesakes", grab their "axes" and "AX THE TAX CODE"; we could have "TRUE TAX REFORM" Plus a declining "Deficit"?? With the "Code" $1.1TRILLION in "breaks", Plus allowing 45% to pay NOTHING; anyone who signed the "Norquist Pledge" should be voted "OUT". Get rid of "Gridlock", and holding this country "hostage"??
What happen to all the jobs the tea baggers promise ??? All we got from them is Hate & mendacious ! They did everything in their power to destroy this President and our Nation.
correction: all we get about them from MSNBC is Hate & mendacious...You really think that 81 house members (who claim T-party values) are going to change anything in DC with 350 socialist house members, and 96 socialist Senators and a Dictosocialist Whitehouse???????
If America survves this generation of Americans, it will because the T-party exists
Mr.PheaNiques:
RE: your post #2.44
Your up to your very old, tired, and false GOP/TP talking points. Your 'game' is way out-of-date! First the House is controlled by the REPUBLICANS, including the 81 far-right-wing members supported by the T/P! However, they are REPUBLICANS, and with the other Republlicans they are the majority party and dictate what happens in the House of Representatives. Your fear mongering is no longer going to work on anyone but YOU Mr.PheaNiques! You have become so emotional and fearful that you are no longer factual and rational in your comments. You will see the results of this fear-mongering come this November 6th! This obstructionist policy of the GOP in the U.S. Congress will thankfully cease when they lose control of the House. Shame on them and shame on you for believeing this is, in any way, good for our country. By the way, where are all the jobs that these Republicans promised just before the 2010 mid-term elections? They have also cost us our AAA credit rating; this cost EVERYONE more money. Why? Because we now pay more interest to finance our national debt. Don't understand, or don't believe this is true. Just ask anyone with even a small knowlege of economics.
I thought the Tea Bags were not going to run again, not Pro Politicians what happened? West are you lying to America?
The 'Republican Wave' was all about the unpopularity of the health care bill. Here is what the Republicans have done about it - NOTHING! People have become resigned to the bill, and have moved on. All the Republicans did was block any and all legislation that would have held banks and mortgage companies and Fannie Mae and derivative traders responsible for the destruction of our nation's economy. And continue tax breaks and other sweetheart deals for the oil and pharmaceutical industries, who are now picking over the remaining bones of our former great nation. So speaking as a 'Wave' voter, it is kind of hard to find some reason to vote for them again...
How dare the republicans come up with any group that would support the campaign of their candidates.
While corporations can spend unlimited amounts in super PACs, that spending will help the economy.
So, turn your sound off at commercials and know that the spending during this election year will further help the economy grow.
Yeah ironic. As they spend, spend, and more spend on their republican campaigns, they help the economy and the Democrats. Great situation. lol
I've always wondered about the spending thing too.
Where does all that advertising money go?
You'd think it would help the economy, but its not really too apparent how it does.
Eric -
While unions can spend unlimited amounts in super PACs, that spending will help the economy.
So, turn your sound off at commercials and know that the spending during this election year will further help the economy grow.
Tom,you better get a clue. Unions only make up 7% of the population not a hell of a lot of money there. Union membership is the lowest it's been since 1932. Check the facts before you post BS.
Yeah, we are supposed to believe what MSNBC says about Republicans. And pigs can fly. The Republicans have ZERO chance of losing the House.
If all that money was circulating in the ECONOMY (and campaign spending is not like investing in the country, like infrastructure, or higher wages, or benefits, or teachers...... It is circulating around the politicians, lobbyists and corps who are trying to buy the government. Why ANYBODY accepts that is beyond me. Can't we all agree this is detrimental to the country? Now lets demand change.
Rich, you may want to look into how much money the unions spend on campaigns.
The unions spend between 300-400 million just on the presidential campaign in 2008.
Did you cathch Barnake's comments today? Here's a summary:
"Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke calls it the “fiscal cliff.” It might be better thought of as the next economic Armageddon.
Unless Congress acts to soften the blow, economists are warning that a looming year-end collision of massive, “automatic” cuts in federal spending and the expiration of sweeping Bush-era tax cuts could crush an already weak U.S. economic recovery.
And unlike the central bank’s response to the Panic of 2008, the Fed would be powerless to offset the catastrophic impact on the economy and financial markets.
"There is absolutely no chance that the Federal Reserve would be able to have the ability whatsoever to offset that effect on the economy," Mr. Bernanke told reporters Wednesday, following a two-day meeting of the Fed's policy-making committee.
The risk of a potential economic train wreck stems from a series of contentious political decisions that Congress has been ducking for years, postponing a long list of tough choices until the end of the year, until after the national elections."
So unless Congress grows a set and starts dealing with our issues (say an annual national budget- 3 years missing), dealing with a massively growing deficit, expiring Bush era tax cuts, and governmental bloat we are going to crash. Sounds like the Tea Party may have been correct- smaller government and government control = better then oversized, ever spending and ever reaching one. The part that I have an issue with is that he's saying we can't cut government spending or it'll hurt the economy. Is he saying that government spending is the only thing holding up the economy?
Joe,
I think he is saying neither party is totally right and the economy is about flow.
I want change, so when are YOU going to change?
I worry about the future as technology requires less workers to achieve maximum production. Yet I do think capitalism is essential to success. Back to the extreme positions.
Its a conundrum.
The "movie" zeitgeist moving forward to me seems to be more on par than anything I have heard anywhere but their solutions are nothing I desire.
leftwhatever-$$$$$+$$$$$$$. Sign the Grover pledge. Don't tread On me!!!! Ditto, ditto,ditto.
The tea baggers need to go first then the corporate shills (Boehner/Cantor ect). The Tea Party Reps have no clue what governing is and are angry tools of the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and don't even know it.
Vote out all career politicians. Send a messaage Americans are fed up with the do nothing, gridlock, backstabbing Congress. If the next group can't get the job done, vote them out too!
The majority of Obama's $$$$ are "small" donations, a lot from people who can least afford it...
No big dawg, just vote out the Tea Party and the right wing conservatives that have stopped up the government for the last six plus years.
Don't turn your back to the GOP/TP !!!!!!
Tom - Plymouth:
RE: your post #3.4
Tom, how about this FACT! LESS than 12% of ALL employees belong to any union!
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/union2.nr0.htm
i wonder when, if ever, polititions will do for WE THE PEOPLE instead of democrats, republicans, left, right, conservatives, liberals, UN, NATO, Israel and corporations.
We do have control of congress, just vote out all incumbants. Put some of these criminals in jail and the rest will fall in line to do the right thing.
With an approval rating of 11%, is it a surprise that people would vote against any incumbent in the House? The Republicans were elected in 2010 saying that they would create jobs and they have done nothing but rename post offices and attack women since then.
Hey Steeler - how's that Senate Budget coming?
I don't suppose you can cite any laws the House has ignored while spending all that time 're-naming' post offices [and oh yeah, passing a budget]?
Funny how your comment ignores the fantastic, and democratically controlled senate, which continues to break the Budget Control law.
Did I say funny? I meant predictable.
The Incumbent Must Die
From the tops of the skyscrapers
To the freedom bells that ring,
Let all the registered voters
And poor children sing,
'We have had quite enough,
Of this corrupt game;
We must vote them all out
Or suffer more of the same.'
Politician marionettes attached to
Wall Street banks and Big Oil,
Public interest groups partying it up,
While citizens suffer and toil.
Health care companies
Drive prices to the skies,
Then manufacture candidates
With a hidden agenda of lies.
Campaign finances are kicked back
Through greed and corruption;
Monuments built to the politician's vanity
That contribute to the environment's destruction.
From our once purple mountain majesties
To our diminishing amber waves of grain,
It is time for the incumbent
To feel some of the pain.
For WE have the power,
And we must take it back,
Chase them politicians,
Go on the attack!
Vote them all out,
Tell their lips that all lie,
Vote them all out,
The Incumbent Must Die.
Joseph DeMarco
Spanky,
The Democrats do NOT control the senate. Unless the majority is large enough to override a filibuster, it is the OTHER party that controls the senate. That would be the Republicans.
"It’s going to be whether Republicans can be trusted again to govern in a responsible manner," he said.
House Republicans rejected Obama's offer to cut entitlement spending, what he called "the Grand Bargain," because they insisted on protecting tax cuts for the 1%. That was the moment the House "jumped the shark," for me. I don't see how the Republican Party can claim to be fiscally conservative, after that move. That, and the fact the Tea Party said they'd risk America's AAA credit rating in order to cut taxes. Can anyone name anything the Republican House has done that doesn't revolve around Grover Norquist's anti-tax pledge?
There is Amy talking about that mythical "Grand Bargain" again. If it was so great, how come no one has ever seen it?
And KayEllen, The budget is not a bill and only needs 51 votes to pass so you can't blame a filibuster for the lack of a budget. It is due to Harry Reid and Obama being wimps.
Anything, including budget's can be filibustered.
It's true Boehner walked away from the 4 trillion dollar deal that would have prevented the Tea Party downgrade.
The Republican budget is a joke. Getting rid of Medicare as we know it and raising the cost of health care for the elderly while the rich continue to get tax breaks.
The Democrats do NOT control the senate. Unless the majority is large enough to override a filibuster, it is the OTHER party that controls the senate. That would be the Republicans.
That has to be one of the most absurd things I've ever read here. The minority party "controls" the senate?
Just FYI the senate does not require a super majority to pass a budget. 51 votes is all they need. Democrats even have extra votes but are to cowardly to step up and do the right thing for the country. They don't want their finger prints on anything.
Like Obama all they want to do is save their own skin.
Deo
@ Joseph,
Nice poem, but you missed the bigger picture. All we do as Americans is vote out one set of incompetent idiots and vote in another. We, as Americans, are our biggest enemy. We, as Americans, have allowed this to happen. We, as Amercans, sit on sites like this and argue back and forth, "who said this, who said that", "my candidate is better than yours because (fill in the blank)" My opinion is that we have gone too far down the slippery slope and no one man (regardless of party affiliation) is going to bring us out of it. Think about this, pretty soon there will be no middle class, and historically whenever there has been a two class system (rich...poor), there can only be one inevitable outcome....revolution. Don't think it can happen here you say? Look at what is going on around you. It is unfolding before your eyes. Ask yourself, "do I feel any better than I did 4 years ago, 10 years ago, 15 years ago"? I know I don't. I have never felt more pessimistic about the future of this country as I do now. What's the answer? I honestly don't know. For myself, I live in a paid for house, no debts, a years worth of food and water, guns and plenty of ammo. That's about all I can do for now. As for voting, I plan on staying home watching a movie and ignoring the debaucle and farce that is the elections. Either way (Obama or Romney) we're all screwed, bet on it.
Amy: Interesting that "Rocco" has never seen or heard about Obama's offers to cut 2-3 Trillion by raising taxes but also cutting entitlements. I think his head was up a hole because he also didn't hear the Repubs reject those major budget cuts that did not cut taxes to Rocco's friends in the 1% league.
Technically you're right...It only requires 51 votes to approve it but a budget resolution is just a blueprint; being able to implement many of its provisions would likely require 60 votes eventually. They'll never let any of the budget's provisions be enacted without filibustering them and thereby requiring a super-majority.
Source your statement please
OBX, Sure I have heard about it. I am talking about seeing it. You know, in black and white written on paper. If it was so grand, surely Obama would want everyone to read it. He could even print one in large type, double spaced so even a liberal could read it. But , such paper doesn't exist as it was all a figment of Obama's imagination and a as true lemming, you believe it.
Any elected official who signed Norquist's pledge should be charged with treason for putting Norquist's demand ahead of the needs of the country. Taxes may or may not need to be increased. But, it is irresponsible to take any course of action off the table in advance.
Boehner sees the writing on the wall... Under his leadership, congress has been a "Do Nothing Congress." The one and only priority that they have had, is to make President Obama a one term president...
They have done nothing about jobs or the economy... They have attacked the president on a daily basis as well as the rights of women... THIS IS WHAT THE TEA PARTY HAS DONE TO OUR GOVERNMENT... and also has brought it to a complete stand still...
This is not what I wanted as a voting American citizen... So my vote will count against the GOP this November... Any One but Boehner...
For you guys arguing about how many votes it takes to pass a budget in the senate, the answer is it takes 51 to pass almost any kind of law. The filibuster doesn't change that. Where the filibuster is used is in preventing the law from actually getting a vote, by extending the debate on the law indefinitely. It requires a supermajority to close debate and bring the law to the floor for the up or down vote.
In other words, a majority wins the vote, but a supermajority is required to get the vote in the first place.
The minority party does not 'control' the senate, but they do have leverages, and the filibuster is one of them. While the filibuster has been around a long time, and been used by both parties, this is the first time it has been used as a blanket invocation on all legislation for the purpose of shutting the majority down. It has long been known that an abuse of the filibuster could break the system, but this is the first time either party has actually used it for that purpose. The attitude of the republicans seems to be: if we can't rule, then we'll break everything, so you can't either.
The irony here is that less than a decade ago, when republicans were in the majority, they moved to abolish the filibuster, and had the democrats on their knees, offering concessions and begging them not do it. Oh how things change...
Right on Terry ... the Tan Man and Cry Baby has been one of the worst leaders of the House ever ... Pelosi did a much better job, and I hope she gets her old job back. As far as the "do nothing" Congress (House) is concerned, I can only hope their strategy of the past 4 years to obstruct everything to ensure a one-term presidency for Obama backfires on their sorry a*s*e*. That is what they deserve. Where are the jobs they promised us in 2010, and they blame Obama? Puh-leeze! Do they really think Americans are that stupid?
Boy you've bought the 11% lie hook line and sinker. People actually like their OWN Congressperson, it's the other ones they dislike. Why do you think they always get re-elected? Answer me that. MSNBC is the biggest lying media outlet out their. Don't let facts get in your way, since the Republicans took over the house there have been more jobs created by many multiples compared to the 08, and 09 Congress which was when both house's were controlled by the Democrats. President Obama will be packing his bags come New Year.
Steeler Fan - you forgot the most important piece of legislation to be passed by the Republicans....Pizza is now considered a vegetable. That was some earth-shattering economy boosting legislation if I ever saw it!!!
It's an election year. Boehner the Drunk is talking about jobs and the teabaggers are the only ones dumb enough to believe a word that passes over his lips. Boehner makes Newt look like an honest hard-worker. That's about as low as you can get!!!
And here's the funniest quote from the article:
"I don’t think that Republicans have had the opportunity to showcase what they are capable of doing; it’s hard to do with only one house in Congress," said the Republican. "But when they did have opportunities, they didn’t necessarily make the most of them."
That's dead wrong. In the previous administartion, Republicans controlled the WH and both houses of Congress for 6 years. They produced massive debt, two wars unpaid for and a trashed economy. Oh, they showcased what they are capable of doing, all right! Maybe this is really at the root of Republican problems, eh?
First we get rid of Failed governor Scott Walker in Wisconsin-then the Tea Party Lightweight Nuts and top it off with a rejection of the corporate takeover of the presidency featuring corporate raider and plastic fantastic robot Mitt. It's going to be a great year for Americans.
The "Budget" is a meaningless piece of legislation that allows junior congressmen to sit on committees with a nice sounding word in the title. The Bills that means anything are the Appropriations. Those actually give money to gov`t entitites. The next most important are the Authorization bills because they authorize the appropriated monies to be spent. Though they are really only important when it comes to New authorities since the existing ones just continue to percolate along until specfically stopped.
BUGDET = NOTHING MEANINGFUL
In the 1930's, Americans finally figured out that it wasn't government that was the problem, it was corporate and financial greed. They had all the same arguments about FDR and his "socialist" agenda that we have today.
Sick of the GOP agenda, Americans voted in 74 Dems in the Senate. We didn't become a communist country - we grew the strongest middleclass in the history of the world. We regulated corporations and financial markets. Interest rates and nation debt were almost non-existent for 30 years. People who don't remember history are doomed to repeat it.
America needs a return to a strong government that opposes corporate corruption and greed in order to restore truly free maket capitalism in this country.
Voting the bums out won't work - voting Dems in by an overwhelming majority is the only way out of this mess!
Come November 2012, we as a Nation need to vote out as many Republicans as possible, and take our Country back from these right wing extremist.
Which one Job1?
The nation is tired of "trickle down" economics and the policies of "starve the beast" that the Republican continue to employ and support.
Americans are tired of watching the rich get richer while the middle class continues to be decimated.
job1: yes we do, we need to be very vocal on this on social media and in our communities. Never let them forget what the repugs have done and want to do.!!!!!!!
And if you don't get your way Job1, will your party run away? Conduct recalls? Riot in the street to get what you want? At two of the three has happened so far. If and I say IF Obama losses the election, will you riot? Cry "Voters fraud"? Try to set up a recall vote?
Job loss numbers in states where Tea Party governors took office will be a huge factor. It's going to be interesting to watch.
In Wisconsin, ads for Rep. Gov. Scott Walker who is facing a recall claim that jobs were created in the state - but only for the first 2 months as Wisconsin had the worst job loss of all states last year. Dead Last.
Walker led Wisconsin to Dead Last for Jobs. That's where we'll all end up under GOP control - Dead Last!
RECALL WALKER WISCONSIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER - Vote the GOP OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have to ask : Do we really want Karl Rove and his hatchet men to have hand in our next election cycle?
Don't forget this commie bastard was the orchestrator of the Cheney ,Bush Government.
Can America survive this type of invasion for 4 more years. I have my doubts that we can. When you see these ludicrous lying ads they are the work of Karl the Commie coming to take over a government near you
Keep your day job . IF you have a job . You will NOT make it as a Singer . BtW flagged you as advertising .
Hey Moron- and replace with left wing extremists- you moronic dip@#$% uneducated jack!#@.
The teaparty legislators in Pa have gutted the public schools, Firefighters, police, and other services, have pushed in new laws to disenfranchise seniors, youth and the poor. They have instituted a new vaginal probe law as well. These laws have not proved popular with PA voters, and PA will once again be blue in November. This will happen in many states across the country. Congress will be much bluer in January.
PA has also decided to get rid of the blue-dog democrats (or should I say republicans in sheep's clothing). Good for PA. I agree Wayne: PA will definitely be much bluer.
I am helping my district get rid of Lungren. Ami Bera for congress.
Wayne. You and other liberal left lemmings continue to say that the republicans favor only big business and are against every major group of everyday people. Although it is a bald faced lie, let me ask you a question. How do you or other liberal left loons believe that a state should balance their budgets if they don't cut expenses to firefighters, law enforcement, teachers and state programs such as medicaid?
No one wants to see any of the entities in public services cut. But the majority of states are faced with massive budget problems. What is your answer to end the budget problems?
Our Republican governor's comment to the vaginal probe law---"just close your eyes". And they think women will support them here in Pennsylvania? Really?
Well, I see Steeler Fan bypassed my question with a latter post with a lot of nonsense. Wayne hasn't posted an answer to my question. No other liberal loon has attempted an answer. Very much what I expected. All the democrats are willing to do is to post visceral comments against the republicans with no viable solutions to the real problems the average person faces everyday. Typical left liberal lunacy.
leftliberalliars---the answer to your question is obvious---budgets must be balanced by a combination of cuts to services/programs and increases in revenues. Our governor ran on a platform that said he could balance the budget by eliminating wasteful spending and proceeded instead to gut key programs and supports that assist the middle class and poorer people. He has refused to consider tax increases, including extraction fees for our Marcellus shale boom (where we are the only state not imposing some tax or fee). And our legislation has spent much of its time attacking women's reproductive rights.
As a Pennsylvanian I would be willing to pay more income taxes IF corporations were doing their share but they aren't.
Almost everyone is willing to pay a reasonable increase in taxes. But simply paying more taxes without major cuts to services is nothing more than feeding the beast we are trying to eliminate.
What you and other liberal thinkers fail to see is that wasteful spending includes services to every class of people. Wasteful spending includes huge salaries to elected officials, appointed officials, college administrators which include housing and auto allowances, Medicaid, school/firefighter/law enforcement budgets and many other programs. But the largest offender is the lifelong benefits to those entities through retirement benefits that states can not afford. Pension plans for public employees are gutting the budgets of states across the nation. It is a simple fact that no business or state can afford to pay the majority of a persons salary until the day they die. But unions are behind the entities that are causing the major problems in state budgets and the democrats support the unions and vise-versa so the problem continues to grow more unmanageable everyday.
The republicans are the ones making hard choices that are seen as unpopular. But they are necessary steps to get a handle on budgets so everyone can live a better life in the future. The republicans are acting like the adults while the democrats continue to act irresponsibly in a childish fashion to garner favorable approval just to get elected or re-elected. Then they stand in the middle of the room and cry like whining children that they were given a task to big to control because of the other partys actions.
Raise Revenue!
"Raise Revenue!"
It's like giving a crackhead more crack. Raise it on who? 49.5% of you don't pay a damn dime. Hey Job1 what was your Federal Taxes for 2011? Just wondering...............
What is your answer to end the budget problems?
Raise Revenue!
Great liberal answer JOB1! Now perhaps you'll explain how the states raise revenue. Should they simply further tax the heck out every tax paying citizen? That increases revenue. Should they make every fee more costly to every citizen of the state? That increases revenue. Should they tax every corporation/business more than they already pay? We've seen what happens after that is proposed. They simply pack up and relocate in a friendlier environment. That doesn't increase revenue.
So what's your answer JOB1?
Leftliberalliars since you are so hell bent on cutting public services why don't you advertise your name and address so those under paid fireman and police officers know where you live. And by the way put the name of your children here too so those underpaid school teachers know who you are.
I guess you are one of those 1% that can afford to send your kids to private schools. I have seen you rights on here taking both sides of whatever President Obama and the democrats do and try to make it into something bad. Some of you complain about troops being in Afghanistan and some of you complain about bringing them home. Romney says he wants the most powerful military but he has not said how is he going to pay for it. Oh yeah that's right we will cut help for the middle class and poor and give the rich another tax break.
Republican have talked out of every orifice in their body. And now they are talking out of the butts because their mouths know better. Depending on what the polls say is what Bishop Romney will says. And let's not forget according the Ann Romney it's their turn. The republican party as we knew it is no more. Anti-gay, anti-minority, anti-woman, anti-muslin, anti-anything but christian, anti-elderly, anti-college unless you are rich.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
Hey Ret_MSgt, why the bust on religion? You served right? What happened to freedom of religion? More Liberals cry about our troops overseas than the GOP and that is a fact.
And by asking where he lives what would that do? I'm thinking nothing. Cuts have to be made right? How do you feel getting your bennies cut? You have Tri-Care? How do you feel about the rate hike?
Ret_Msgt........... You couldn't be more wrong about what you are saying. First of all, firefighters, law enforcement and teachers are far from being underpaid. Statistics show that they earn far more than the average tax payer in every state. But I don't even have a problem with that. The problem is the pension funds that can not be paid for without states borrowing money from the federal government to make up for budget shortfalls. But that is just today. As more public employees continue to retire and people continue to live longer, the problem increases dramatically.
As a person standing slightly right of middle, let me also say that I do not want to see our military grow or stay at it's current numbers. The U.S. military has more "employees" than any other entity in the world. That includes more people in the military than our Chinese counterparts who have a population that dwarfs ours. But even cutting the fat from the military doesn't even begin to make a dent in the budget.But any step in the right direction is a positive one and coupling those steps with other measures will get us to where we need to be.
Then you try to say things about the republicans as being "anti" everything. This is a perpetual lie that the left liberal loons would like to have everyone believe, but it is complete nonsense.
Yeah, so why is it that these cuts (quoted above) are never on the list of slash and burn budget proposals pointlessly passed by congress?
Seems to me that if they want to be so fiscally responsible and make the sacrificial trim to overhead, maybe they should set an example by putting their cadillac health care plans and life long pensions (for 4 years of part time work) on the chopping block. But they don't. They cut from the mass funds that help out millions of people first and foremost. They do not have a care in the world when it comes to the middle class.
Paul Ryan........ John Boehner....... Bueller........ anyone? Thought so.
In Wisconsin, Rep. Gov. Scott Walker - facing recall, passed legislation eliminating previous equal pay legislation. Wisconsin was already one of the worst states on equal pay disparity for women - and, Dead Last for job creation.
Scott Walker says 'Let them eat cake' to the women of Wisconsin.
RECALL WALKER Ladies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!And REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER - Vote the GOP OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have to wonder... The attitude of conservatism in this country seems to tend toward this Ayn Rand-ish, "I am going to look after my own immediate best interests before I consider anyone else."
My question is: Why in the Universe would anyone want to elect a person with such a philosophy? If they are only interested in themselves, they aren't interested in the constituents who elected them.
Yeah, so why is it that these cuts (quoted above) are never on the list of slash and burn budget proposals pointlessly passed by congress?
You are only partially correct 'downgrade'. Why hasn't any democrat or republican proposed cuts to their salary and health benefits? This isn't something new. It doesn't pertain just to the current congress. This has been going on for a long time with no end in sight.
Are you willing to ask Obama, Reid, Clinton and all the others from the democrat side of the aisle when they are going to propose such cuts? Thought so.
Im from Pa. and i can tell you if something isn't done soon Corbett and his henchmen will have this state so skrewed up it will take 25 years to bring it back and untill then we will be shipping in water from Alaska.
Now we have the Republicat Kathleen Kane attempting to infect our state government
Tea Party Downgrade, that would also apply to Democrats too. Where do you think this money comes from to "help" out millions of people? I'm Middle Class and I'm sick of wasting my tax dollars on this government. How much money has been wasted in the past 3 1/2 years? Why isn't there a budget?
Hey Paul, busting on religion is what the Republicans started. You cannot use your religion to deny rights to anyone. That is what the so call Christians are doing. You are right the liberals want to bring our troops home yet the rich republicans whose children don't serve want to keep our troops in harms way. Don't you remember McCain crying about leaving both Iraq and Afghanistan? Raise revenue and cut spending is the only way to balance the budget. Continuing to let the Corporation report massive profit and giving them subsidies and tax breaks does not help the American Worker. These massive salaries and benefit the upper level executive get while at the same time putting scores of Americans out of work is stupid.
And yes I have basic Tri-Care but I seldom use it. I have insurance through my job which I use. And the sad thing about that insurance company is because I have military related disability, they try and tie every visit to doctor to that so they don't have to pay.
This is the treatment me and other veterans have to deal with because insurance companies are allowed to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. Do you think it is fair that American troops once release from the military can only get Tri-Care?
Give me a break. The republican have proven time and time again that they only care about Corporation and the rich. They will do anything to keep the middle class from moving up. And they are doing everything to move the middle class to the poor class.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
"And yes I have basic Tri-Care but I seldom use it. I have insurance through my job which I use. And the sad thing about that insurance company is because I have military related disability, they try and tie every visit to doctor to that so they don't have to pay."
I have Tri-care prime and 70%. Your military related disability, you go to the VA. All my related disability is thru the VA. Why would you pay into your works health plan when you have Tri-care? When you say basic, you mean standard? No pay?
If the GOP started on the busting on religion, why would you jump on that band wagon? I don't think being a mormon is a cult. I've been married to a mormon for 20+ years, I'm not one though. The Liberals are the ones busting out the Mormons, you see it every day on MSNBC. The funny part is that Harry Reid is one.
When is come to Tri-Care and the VA, I cannot miss a whole day of work only not to be seen. This has happen several times. Doctors and nurses walking out and then finally someone ask why are you here. They go and check and say Ooops we forgot about you. Now I have reschedule. I cannot afford to miss work because of the sad state of health care provided by the VA. I have Prime when this happened on 3 different occasions.
I am busting on all religions that try and force their beliefs on me. The Christian Taliban has taken over the republican party. Have you all not notice that they will claim President Obama is walking all over the Constitution but make no mention of Romney disobeying the 10 Commandment. Which one packs more weight christian? Thou shall not bare false witness against thy neighbor. Thou shall need steal. Thou shall not kill. Come on christians which one should you be complaining about the most? They want to ban abortions which is killing, yet they want stand your ground laws so you can kill someone who might frighten you.
The wacky republicans do not have a clue. Their puppet masters do not allow them to see how stupid they look to the American people.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
Sorry Gents. The onus falls on the Republicans in this case. They have decried entitlement cuts since Obama took office. But when it comes to their own entitlements, it is a different story. It falls on them to lead by example.
If they did (and they won't) they would have a legitimate soap box to stand upon imo. Until then, they are just casting stones from their glass houses. And this is a leading reason why so many people do not buy into the double standard that is otherwise known as the Republican Party.
Sorry to hear that your VA sucks. I guess I'm lucky, I have no issues with my VA here in Florida.
Well, I'm pro-choice and 100% backer for "stand your ground" law. If someone was pounding my skull into the pavement I wouldn't put just one round into them. If you're referring to what happened here in Florida, you don't know the whole story and believe me MSNBC/NBC is not a reliable source! When you have a network edit the 911 tapes to make it appear racial, then there's a problem. I have a conceal permit and believe pot should be legalized. I believe Liberals like radical Right Wingers are nut jobs. I believe in State rights and smaller Government.
OK but that is just you. The republican party and Bishop Romney wants to ban abortions. I am pro-choice and I back stand your ground also but don't you see the conflict here. We will make you have a baby and then we will allow others to shoot it if we a scared. WOW forced to have a rapist baby, the forced to allow someone else to kill it. If that is not an attack on women I don't know what is.
The republicans are fully backing this position and they want my vote, not in a million years.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
I'm really surprised that nobody on the left addressed the false dichotomy posed by 'leftliberalliars'. If our only two options are to raise taxes or cut spending, then we're sunk. Neither of those options deal with the real problem, which is that our economic engine is sputtering. What is needed to bring it back to life is jobs. Jobs bring more tax revenue, and require less services.
Obama knows this quite well, and has proposed many laws that reprioritize our spending to invest in jobs, from infrastructure investments to job training. Republican leadership also knows that his priorities are the right ones, and so have blocked him at every turn, on the belief that if they can keep unemployment high, voters will throw him out of office. I consider this a cynical and callous scheme, on a par with a doctor poisoning the water supply in order to get new patients.
Jobs. Jobs. Jobs.
Snakebone,
The cyclical problem that stymies your concept (and Obama) is that the right continues to push the false belief that by cutting taxes, jobs will magically appear. They have a zero tolerance for people who suggest otherwise. Additionally, they refuse to budge on tax welfare for corporations and the wealthy. They even call a closed loophole a "tax hike". No, it's not. They will continue to push this agenda until one of two things happen. One, tax revenue stays stagnant and the country's economy goes to hell in a handbasket leading those of us who can afford to get out - get out. The other outcome will be that progressives actually pass their agenda and Corporate America decides they have been slighted. They will raise prices, lay off workers and create a competition between states of who will offer the best tax welfare for them to move operations there. Either way, the middle class will lose once again. Gone are the days when Corporate America "settled" for modest profits. They will keep working to increase profits no matter what externalities result from their doing business.
Everything you say is correct though. The president has put forth clear, concise ideas that translate into jobs for the average American. He shot down the Keystone Pipeline because it was a red herring for the right. It created faux jobs such as a 120 bakers, 68 hair stylists and 225 topless dancers. Fox News and the Tea Party nut jobs will continue to obfuscate the truth. Their faithful followers with continue to slop up the worthless drivel like gruel in an orphanage. It is very sad
Walker and the Republicks in Wisconsin's first act was passing a tax cut which immediately took an operating surplus to deficit. Of course then they went after public employee unions crying deficit. It was clear that the intent was to go after collective bargaining as a concept, the unions gave into all the demands for reduced compensation but that was not enough. Of course with Wisconsin shedding jobs, they needed more tax cuts for the "job creators". Once the middle class is gone, there will be nobody left to challenge their fawning over the 1%. A long list of benefits, I should say compensation, not "entitlements" as you cons like to say, used to be available through private and public employment alike; health care, retirement, life insurance. Of course through the years the private sector started dropping compensation, and wages didn't keep up with inflation. Meanwhile taxes are the lowest in many decades and corporate profit is record breaking. Not hard to see why the upper crust got wealthier while everyone else stagnated. None of this kept Romney from the Caymen islands, he's such a patriot. His best buddies are corporations my friend, real people refuse to keep company with him.
leftliberalliars
"The U.S. military has more "employees" than any other entity in the world. That includes more people in the military than our Chinese counterparts who have a population that dwarfs ours."
The Chinese have 2.8 million in their military, 1.8 million more than the Untied States.
Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_people_serve_in_the_Chinese_military#ixzz1tBOEKPjV
If you are going to rant about How good the Reps are then get your facts straight. The rest of us are not stupid.
Include all people in the Department of Defense and my numbers stand.
No, not everyone is stupid. It is just very simple to see that stupidity is the basis for which the democrats operate.
Everything you say is correct though. The president has put forth clear, concise ideas that translate into jobs for the average American
Okay Downgrade, suppose you enlighten everyone with what those clear and precise ideas are. So far everything the president has done is talk a good game for mom and pop business encouragement. But I have yet to hear anything he has done to present America with a coherent plan to bolster our economy through a viable plan to re-energize our manufacturing base.
The posts of leftect and the other Foxbots make it very clear. First we get rid of Failed Governor Scott Walker in Wisconsin-then anyone who signed the grover pledge (especially the nutty tea baggers) and then refuse Mitt's corporate take over of America.
Does Arizona have recall? Jan Brewer is the second worst governor in America-right behind Scott Walker.
To le--Li---Li-/Why are Liberals,like me ,against the majority of Republicans? We are not.We are against the Right wing of the Republicans, like you and the-Tea Party.The far right are against any one but the greedy exploiters , of the 1% of our wealth owners.Their lackeys, like you? are not progressives like me and other people ,known as Liberals. Try to give me instances of the majority of the 1% advocating ,that they help to pay their fair share of the tax burden of the U.S.A. They are trying to advance political positions held by the super rich ,prior to the early 20th century.The workers of most countries,including ours have advanced our standard of living ,since then. Our S.S.,Med.care and other improvements would not be a problem if they had been fairly funded, like they should have been ,instead of looted by both Government and Employers who assured us that what was good for them was good for the country, a prior philosophy that had always shown to be false
Republicans thought they had Nebraska in the bag when Ben Nelson decided to retire. Fortunately, for democrats, Bob Kerry decided to run again. I think we will be keeping that seat.
New Yorker old geezer Bob Kerry has a snowballs chance in hell of winning that Nebraska Senate seat, but keep drinking the koolaid.
Bob in Virginia-can I call you Bob? Begins with b ends with a b with an o in the middle. What's your name? You seem to need this clue 'cause you're clueless. VP in Virginia doesn't stand for Vice President it's vaginal probe. McD won't even make the recall list of governors- he's just mediocre even in the nutball governor sweepstakes.
Perhaps TeaPeople never ever dial 911. Home school their kids, etc!
It's that 'personal responsibility' that they champion so much.
Obama/Biden 2012
Duh you idiot. Why would anyone call 911 when you already have your own private security force.
@ rrobeson
Have I missed your sarcasism? Or are you saying that TeaPeople have their own individual 'private security force', 'medical professionals, firefighters, etc. with each and every one of them and their family members. lol
Misconception on his part:
They've very much shown what they're capable of, and that's what's going to hurt them most.
Republicans = OBSTRUCTION
Anyone But A Republican for any office in the land!
THROW THE BUMS OUT!
People don't care about voting records anymore. If you look at the national debt and who controlled congress, the liberals/democrats hold the highest debt when they controll both houses. You can go to any official government website and find this information. Democrats have the most wasteful spending bills, the most pork, the most infidelity, and more scandals than the republicans, yet the liberals are the only one's who bitch and point fingers as to cast light away from they're own short comings. Today the house is controlled by republicans, but Obama circumvents the democratic process and thus makes himself responsible for most of the debt and @!$%# that happens in Washington.
Spanky....Harvard is a private college....geez!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Teach a lesson, are you retarded or insane? You keep posting the same thing over and over again, is that your daily limit of gray matter use?
If you look at the national debt and who controlled congress, the liberals/democrats hold the highest debt when they controll both houses.
Sorry, that's wrong. Here's a graph that shows national debt, persident and both houses of Congress in nice colors: here
It is pretty clear from this that the worst combination is a Republican president and Republican majority in the Seante.
To get to the bottom of this, I created a chart of Congresses and Presidents and which party controlled each chamber and what party the President was from, beginning in 1953 and ending in 2010. I totalled all deficits and put them in columns based on who controlled Congress and who controlled the White House. The deficit or surplus amounts I used were in current dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
Who controlled what?
Republican Presidents: 36 years
Democrat Presidents: 21 years
Republican Congresses: 10 years
Democrat Congresses: 37 years
Split Congresses: 10 years
Who spends what?
Democrat Congresses: $10,350 billion
Republican Congresses: $1,397 billion
Democrat Presidents: $4,353 billion
Republican Presidents: $7,394 billion
(Note: I didn't include split Congresses, because in all cases except one, the Democrats were in control of the House, which has the most power over the budget).
The only conclusion I can reach is that the Democratic Party, when in control of Congress, spends like drunken sailors with no restraint. But, as Reagan once said, that is unfair to drunken sailors because at least they're spending their own money. Yet, on the other hand, many of our Republican Presidents should be ashamed of themselves for approving all the Democrat-approved spending. (In a few cases they actually didn't, because the Congress overruled them).
This is the GOP on the hill's fault, PERIOD!
We need to get the senate back so we can stop the onslaught of every bill being filibustered
From the day President Obama was sworn in the every GOP had voted NO to or filibustered every bill in the House and Senate that would have helped this country and it populous to grow out of the mess that was created under Bush. Their main objective was to bring the POTUS down and make him a one term president no matter what it took, even destroying the country. Now people are blaming it mostly on the new t-party members, when this was going on since 2007 and more so after the President as sworn in 2009.
The Democrats had two years of full control of both Houses of Congress and eth White House.
They failed miserably, as reflected by the 2010 election results...and Democrat policies have continued to fail.
The GOP House since 2010 at least has slowed down the runaway train to socialism...
So, Bob, are you going to give up your social security benefits? That is a socialist program by your thinking. I hate this kind of problem solving, casting aspersions and name calling. Both the houses of congress have not been able to perform the tasks they are supposed to. There is too much division and money for there to be an effective congress. Every one of them in both houses is in the pocket of some corporation or institution. There can be no effective government as long as money and influence is the driving force and not the electorate. I have to ask you too if you agree with the anti-woman legislation in Virginia and if you do, are you married and did you ask your wife how she feels about that, or did you, like the republicans, disregard her and her personal health decisions?
Bobbi in Virginia, big Bob, Bankrupcy is ---- SOCIALISM, where are all you whiners, Start paying your Hospital Bills I tried of paying them for you all. LEECHES!!!!
"The Democrats had two years of full control of both Houses of Congress and eth White House"
Republicans had 6 years of total control under Bush (Karl Rove's "Permanent Republican Majority"). They lost it all. Remember that? They lost both houses of congress, then the war hero and the soccer mom lost to a black guy with a muslim sounding name. What the heck happened?
Bush 5.4% unemployment for 8 years OBUMA 8.5% unemployment for almost four years.
Very disingenuous - let's look a little closer:
Bush:
start: (Jan, 2001) 4.2%
end: (Jan, 2009) 7.8%
Obama:
start: (Jan, 2009) 7.8%
now: (Mar, 2012) 8.2%
You simply can't use averages to describe what happened. Fact is, Bush took a healthy economy and turned it to crap! As soon as it all hit the fan, Bush stepped out and someone else took over. Blame Obama as much as you want (and Republicans certainly have), Bush and his Republican cronies were responsible for tanking the economy.
Sid-you must be an insurance executive. They hate to pay hospital bills, too. Make those corporate superpac donations and pray for a miracle. Mitt Romney grows a personality and all of his right wing primary videos disappear. If not, 2012 will be a Mayan disaster for you.
Perhaps Congress should have gotten off of their butts to help the country instead of rooting for a poor economy in order to win political points. The obstructionism and negativity is going to come back to haunt them.
"...and few good GOP candidates have emerged in battlegrounds like Florida, Ohio, or Pennsylvania"
Disagree with that spin. Connie Mack in Florida, Josh Mandel in Ohio are strong challengers and may well win.
Bob in VP...... you are dead wrong on Connie Mack, another of your stalwart conservatives, George Le Mieaux, is the front runner and doing a mighty fine job of shredding Mack to pieces.
In addition, there are 11 more candidates all republican looking for their place in the sun and several independents there in the mix.
Guess you must have tired of pushing the Bob McDonnell card for VPVP>>>>> time to change your avatar.
Yer, yer, jobs, jobs jobs instead they went about naming post offices that they voted to emasculate with ponying up 75 years retirement benefits in just 10 years and war on women, just after war on poor people just after war on American workers in order to have enough money for more tax breaks for the rich and big corporations. Now we will all sing halleluya Republican candidates as messiah of our best interest. They think we are stupid.
People have been very unhappy with Congress. They see it as being obstructionist, rather than working to find reasonable compromises with the President. I can't remember the last time a Republican Congressman presented a compromise that involved actual compromise -- as in, willingness to meet the President halfway.
I believe the tea party republicans in Congress have intentionally stalled the recovery, worsened the fiscal challenges we face and lied to the people about their intentions (jobs, jobs jobs, no, we actually meant - anti-abortion, anti unions, anti-anything Obama is for) and have displayed just how poorly adults can act in government. Why on earth anybody would reward them for this behavior is beyond me. There is a reason they have a 12% approval rating - They Stink! They have not served the people. They should lose control. If the collective American electorate was an informed mass, they wouldn't have a chance of maintaining control of the house.
Wayne-1656909 and Ramboet
Keep your eyes on the House of Representative too!
Remember This:
When John Boehner rose from Minority Leader to Speaker in January, he not only expanded his staff and his paycheck, he more than doubled the expense-account check he cashes each month.
http://www.rollcall.com/issues/56_135/John-Boehner-Expense-Checks-206264-1.html
Remember the new house schedule after John Boehner became speaker
Two weeks on, one week off in shorter 2011 House schedule
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/132629-house-gop-releases-schedule-with-fewer-weeks-of-work
Is that true for all Speakers or just John Boehner? And while your bashing make sure you let everyone know how much it cost us (the taxpayers) to fly Princess Pelosi back to her castle every weekend....
Ellie-stop it. You will make me cry.
Elllie, Peolosi was flown home, because since 9/11 the speaker of the house, has been required, to fly on military flights, to be sure of their safety. That now includes Bohner, so you can stop bringing up that old bit of garbage. By the way Peolosi was one of the best speakers of the house in a long time.
Sorry to break your bubble but just because their were physically more democratic bodies in the senate did not mean they had control
People love to blame President Obama for the economy but they forget or do not want to remember
Another GOP false propaganda, Democrats have had control of the Senate since 2007
Since 2007, the GOP has been stopping any and every bill they could that would help the economy and jobs growth for one reason and one reason only to make the economy so bad that it would force the president out. I know some of you are going to say the Democrats had control but, not actually.
Up until 2007, most bills in the senate only needed 51 votes to pass. Unless there is a filibuster, then the bill needed 60, so here are the amount of Senators and the amount of GOP Filibustering from 2007-2010: Senate McConnell said on the floor Friday that 60 votes for any bill is commonplace, only since the GOP has been using the Filibuster rule, has 60 votes become routine.
Senators:
Did we really ever have 60 Democratic Senators in the past 3 years......and if so, for how long? For about 2 months
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x467727
110th Congress,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Senators_in_the_110th_Congress_by_seniority
2007 Senate Democrats 49 members, Independents 2 members, and Republican Party: 49 members.
2008 Senate Democrats 58 members, Independents 2 members, and Republican Party: 40 members.
2009 Senate Democrats 57 members, Independents 1 members, and Republican Party: 40 members.
111th Congress
Party standings in the Senate 2010-2011 Senate Democrats 57 members, Independents 2 members, and Republican Party: 41 members.
Filibuster rule:
http://uspolitics.about.com/od/usgovernment/a/filibuster.htm
Filibusters skyrocket under Republican minority in 110th Congress.
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/03/31/republican-filibusters-skyrocket/
The Staggering Rise of the Filibuster
http://politics.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/robert-schlesinger/2009/11/25/the-staggering-rise-of-the-filibuster.html
Ranmarie---great post; thanks for sharing. The increasing use of the filibuster has hamstrung the recovery efforts. I would love to see them actually have a filibuster---the Republicans threaten to hold one and that is enough. Let's make them stand up and speak about why they are opposing legislation, directly to the American people. It is shameful.
The filibuster has been the death of democracy in this country. Now any minority can stop any legislature at the detriment of the elected majority
.Blue dog dem let the country down. We need vote them all out office.
During Reagan's inherited recession, Democrats put aside politics and worked with Republicans for the good of the country. Imagine if Republicans had done the same with Obama's inherited recession, instead of focusing on making him a one-term President?
You can't just say they stopped a singular bill. The bundles are not constitutional. The democrats and republicans are both guilty of this, but when a bill is proposed, it has 15 different bills in it and makes it hard to pass. You may like parts of a bill, but the other 14 are crap.
Most Republicons, also forget that one of those years the Democrats, had control, Bush was still in office, and vetoed almost everything that they passed.
The danger of the increased filibuster approach is that your brand may become so linked to obstructionism that the other party may vote in an obstruction proof senate - that's the only path to change in this country. Vote dems vote!
Folks! Let's not forget what Grover Norquist said a few months ago... He didn't care which GOP candidate won, as long as they did as they were told in the Oval Office.
He's far more concerned about filling the congress with 'his' people for total control.
Yup, Grover is the true GOP ruler...
Fretting Repukes. Now that must be somethin' to see.
More wishful thinking by msnbc. I guess alot of money can be saved with waving off the election since no one but democrats are going to win anyway.
Has anyone noticed the Democrat members of Congress who are not running for re-election are now saying the way Obama pushed ObamaCare in his first days in office was a big mistake and will prove costly in November? They include Frank, Webb, Cordova and Miller.
Yes, I noticed. But so what? Essentially, Obama made the same mistake as Clinton. He expended a huge amount of political capital, early in his first term, attempting to address the health care problem. A problem that a majority of voters put front and center in 1992 and 2008. But when push came to shove, the self-same American voters fell for the GOP advertising campaign against any kind of a solution.
Plainly, Obama should have focused exclusively on the economic near-depression that consumed the first six months of his term. That is not to say that he spent insufficient time on the economy; he spent a great deal of time promoting a stimulus bill, in the face of stubborn, intractable, unreasoning opposition from a Republican Party that was hell-bent on defeating him from day one. Regardless of the effect on the country.
My advice to this and the next Democratic president would be this. Regardless of the outcome of the SCOTUS ruling on the ACA, no Democrat should touch healthcare in the future. The public wails about it during elections, but does not support efforts to address the problem afterwards. Treat healthcare as a third rail--don't touch it again, because there is no "win" in the proposition.
The faster we get these GOP obstructionist out the better.
This country needs to get SOMETHING done, and the last two years have been one nightmare piece of legislation after another.
Of course, you are right DionysusOmega. Unfortunately, this election is not going to change anything. Neither party will achieve a sufficient majority in either house to pass legislation. If fact, unless the filibuster rule is modified or abandoned completely, there will be no signficant legislation of any kind coming out of the Senate in the foreseeable future. And this will be true regardless of which party has a nominal (51-59 votes) majority. In fact, one might say that holding a nominal majority in the Senate is worse than being in the minority. Harry Reid, with his 53 votes and a nominal majority, is held responsible for passing legislation. But while he controls the legislative agenda, he has no reasonable expectation of amassing 60 votes to break a filibuster on any bill of any significance. Thus, he finds himself in the uneviable position of having responsibility without corresponding authority.
"Its going to be whether Republicans can be trusted again to govern in a responsible manner." I'm not sure when this ever happened but certainly not in the last 40 years. The BS of a trickle down economy never worked and never will. Just preserve the wealth for the rich at the expense of the rest of Americans is the only platform the repubs care about
Based on Wall Street currently and the job market, trickle down is all the Democrats have been claiming as a sign of good times. How is trickle-up working?
Much better now than under W.
The Ryan Budget is a perfect example of what you are saying...
Gut every program that helps the poor and middle class while giving the wealthiest the biggest giveaway in history.
It takes balls to be this obvious about 'redistributing' this much wealth to the top.
And it is like half of America is asleep or intentionaly ignorant when these issues come up...amazing.
Guess we can screw the dream of the American public controlling the democratically elected representatives - the slaves have become the masters -
In 2010 the GOP got control of the House by screaming "Jobs, jobs, jobs!" Two years later the GOP House finally mention jobs again, but only because they are about to lose their own. Bye-bye GOP.
Finally someone who noticed that the GOP promises and promises what everyone wants...Jobs......then votes NO, NO and NO and many programs that would create those jobs, then creates none, extends the recession and THEN
IT's OBAMA's Fault..............BS Republicans are worthless scumbag liars. and those are my nice words for them.
If only President Obama had seen reason to compromise to the terms of the tea party contingent on the various legislation passed in the last two years then the job creators would have provided more jobs - right? or damn right?
Myk-967424
You know that is not true. They have passed many bills that would help bring our debt under control and create jobs. Your man Harry won't even let them come up in the Senate for discussion so stop telling outright lies. Obama just had the Muslim Brotherhood welcomed in our Whitehouse. When it got out his excuse was that he was talking to them to "help small business". Can anyone say BULL? There is a lot of bumper stickers saying "Don't believe the liberal media". I think I'll put one out that says never believe a post by an Obama supporter.
OBXRon
You Obama supporters are such a class group. You who depend on Obama's hand outs should not call Republicans worthless. You heard the one about glass houses, right. Matter of fact all Obama's supporters would be wise to remember that one. I see post after post blaming things Obama has done on others or spinning something good the Republicans did to make us think Obama did it. The game besides the big brother watching Narwhal info gathering room, seems to be turn black into white (not racially) just in terms of the truth. BUT, the only ones buying it are you guys.
Ever heard of cause and effect? You quote numbers like they are all there is to the story. The only lesson you're teaching is how incredibly brain dead the GOP has become.
Teach A. Lesson. Bush and the Republicans started a two front war based on imagionary threats, Vice-president Dick chaney and Co. making milions from these wars ( not to mention heart replacements/repairs at tax payers expense). President Obama didn't vote for this war/s, but has to clean up this republican mess. When Bush could have taken Osama out in the early 90's, he punked out. Obama, just like he said during the debate on the RED carpet, if given a chance, he would take Osama out and HE DID. Our economy is still in a mess. Democrates and republicans are getting paid when a large percentage of the country in either umemployed or just making ends meet. Now we have large corporations able to spend millions to to help put someone they choose to be president.
Whatever the political machinations of the political leadership, as a practical matter for we the people, the issue on the jobs front boils down to this difference: for the republicans, the plan is to give the wealthy tax cuts, and hope they will use their increased wealth to create American jobs; for democrats, the plan is to give the wealthy tax cuts when they actually create American jobs.
Simply put, the 'job creators' had quite a few years of deficit-busting tax cuts to work with, and we got nothing for our 'investment' but an economic catastophy. A huge portion of that new wealth ended up in oversees tax shelters. Those who created new jobs, created them in places like India and Mexico. We're tired of waiting. To get out of our economic problems we need jobs. If they're not going to create them here, then I don't know why they should get tax breaks from us.
teachalesson:
Yeah, the GOP needs to say more, if they want to win the election. They'd need to explain why their party, which took a surplus and low UE and drove it off a cliff, would not do so again. They'd also need to explain why the guy who put us back on a growth path is not the right guy for the job. Not even Romney has enough chutzpah to say that Obama didn't take an economy in free fall and turn it around. His only argument is that Obama didn't turn it around fast enough.
This is why - for all their bluster about the economy - republicans have really been trying to make this about something other than the economy. They can't attack Obama on foreign policy, because there is widespread agreement that he's doing pretty well on that front. They've floated a few other options (like a return to the values voters who helped put a flailing Bush back in the white house because they opposed gay marriage), but these have been backfiring so badly that many are trying to step back from them. Romney now knows, for instance, that he has to stop talking about contraception and immigration, or he will lose the election badly.