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Darron Cummings / AP
Senate candidates running in the GOP primary, Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind.,and Richard Mourdock, left, participate in a debate Wednesday, April 11, 2012, in Indianapolis.
In the 2010 midterm elections, the GOP was jarred by an array of suddenly-potent Tea Party-backed challengers taking on the party establishment. The movement achieved mixed results overall, but resulted in a Republican Party heavily influenced by it.
History is repeating itself in Indiana where one of the Senate’s two longest-serving Republicans, Richard Lugar, 80, who was first elected in 1976, is facing a challenge in the May 8 primary from state Treasurer Richard Mourdock, who became famous in 2009 for opposing the auto industry bailout and the forced write-downs for Chrysler bond holders.
Mourdock is backed by Tea Party activists, the Club for Growth, the National Rifle Association, and old-line social conservatives like Phyllis Schlafly.
As Lugar struggles to fend off Mourdock’s challenge, Democrats hope their candidate, Rep. Joe Donnelly, will profit from the GOP schism and pick up the incumbent’s seat in November.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Wednesday, “The race is very close now and it’ll be decided on May 8 and a number of factors could apply. Obviously turnout is important. Gov. (Mitch) Daniels’s ad supporting Sen. Lugar is a very positive development for him,” he said. “But our job is to hold the seat (in November) and we’ll support the nominee in the general election, but I think we will hold that seat regardless of what happens in the primary.”
A Lugar loss would end the political career of a man who was first elected in 1964 to the Indianapolis school board and who in the 1970s was known as “Richard Nixon’s favorite mayor” when he held that office in Indianapolis. Since taking his Senate seat in 1977, Lugar has become his party’s cerebral foreign policy expert.
Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. who serves alongside Lugar on the Foreign Relations Committee, said “the knowledge that Sen. Lugar has – having worked on these issues for decades – has been invaluable ... Certainly he’s someone who’s very respected in the Senate and he’s listened to by both sides of the aisle.”
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But no matter how deeply respected Lugar is on Capitol Hill, Mourdock’s charge is that Lugar isn’t conservative enough – although Lugar’s lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union, based on dozens of roll call votes, is 77 out 100, putting him a long way from Senate GOP centrists such as Olympia Snowe of Maine, who has a 48.5 lifetime ACU rating.
Politico's Alex Burns explains why certain conservative groups are launching attack ads aimed at longtime GOP Sen. Dick Lugar criticizing his stance on gun rights, tax hikes and government bailouts.
Mourdock’s campaign ads regularly link Lugar with Democratic President Barack Obama. Early in Obama’s Senate stint, Lugar helped him establish his foreign policy credentials. In 2005 Obama accompanied Lugar on a trip to Russia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan to inspect weapons dumps and sites where smallpox and other pathogens were kept.
“When Dick Lugar moved to Washington, he left behind his conservative Hoosier values,” Mourdock says in one of his television spots. “How else to explain his support for amnesty, for Obama’s liberal Supreme Court choices, even his vote to bail out Greece?”
An ad the NRA has run against Lugar tells viewers that, “Some things shouldn’t change. Our Indiana values, stewardship of the land, and the protection of our Second Amendment and hunting rights. But over his 36 years in Washington, Dick Lugar has changed ... He’s become the only Republican candidate in Indiana with an “F” rating from the NRA.”
The NRA grievance against Lugar goes way back: he voted for Bill Clinton’s 1993 Brady handgun bill and for the ban on certain semiautomatic weapons, called “assault weapons” by gun control advocates.
Lugar, always avuncular and courteous, told reporters this week in Washington that his battle with Mourdock is “a very close contest (and) has been throughout.”
Asked about Mourdock’s view that he has changed in his years in Washington, Lugar chuckled amiably and said “I think it’s his view but we’re getting along fine with voters.”
Since last year, Democrats have accused Lugar of being detached from Indiana issues and denounced him for living in Virginia. They gained ammunition when he had to reimburse the Treasury for some hotel stays in Indiana that were charged to his Senate office account. On the residency issue, Lugar said Tuesday, “It was clearly somebody engaging in negative campaign research, trying to find some difficulty.”
Since this is his first primary challenge since 1976, is it difficult since he’s perhaps out of practice? “No,” Lugar replied, “I’ve been campaigning all over the country for the last 35 years and I’m campaigning vigorously again this time ... This is a very vigorous experience and we’re doing the best we can.”
The Republican fratricide in Senate races two years ago had at best mixed results for party leaders.
Darron Cummings / AP
Brent Gentry shows his support for Richard Mourdock before a U.S. Senate debate Wednesday, April 11, 2012, in Indianapolis. Mourdock is running against Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind.
One of the GOP incumbents, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, ultimately survived after losing the Republican primary by running in November as a write-in candidate.
Establishment GOP candidates in Arizona, Indiana, New Hampshire, and Missouri defeated their conservative primary opponents and went on to win in November. The party favorite in Washington beat his conservative challenger in the primary, then lost in November.
Elsewhere, conservative challengers forced one GOP senator, Robert Bennett, into retirement in Utah and another, Arlen Specter, into switching parties in Pennsylvania.
Conservative favorites won four Senate seats (in Pennsylvania, Utah, Kentucky, and Florida), but lost to Democrats in four other Senate contests (Delaware, Connecticut, Nevada, and Colorado) – races which more mainstream Republican candidates might have won.
One of the Establishment GOP victims of the Tea Party surge in 2010, was former Rep. Mike Castle of Delaware, who lost to Christine O’Donnell – who then was defeated by Democrat Chris Coons in November.
Castle is now a partner with the DLA Piper law firm.
Reflecting on the parallels with his bitter loss to O’Donnell two years ago, Castle said if Lugar loses the primary, “it has the effect of making it more and more difficult for people who take middle-of-the-road positions, who try to work with both sides of the aisle to get things done ... .”
The Tea Party trend puts such pragmatism, Castle said, “at jeopardy in the Republican Party ... It moves the party not just further to the right, but to a much more conservative stance than it used to have. It’s going to ultimately lead to a minority status in the country.”
Pointing to the danger of Mourdock winning the primary but losing to Donnelly in November, Castle said that for Indiana Republicans, Lugar “may not be 100 percent what they might want, but the alternative is you may elect somebody from the other party.”
Castle’s campaign fund has given $1,000 to Lugar’s campaign.
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Seeing the race from a different angle, South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, whose Senate Conservatives PAC supported O’Donnell against Castle and Sharron Angle in Nevada in 2010, said, “Richard is a friend of mine – but of course, we’ve got two Richards in that race. Dick Lugar is a friend of mine, but I’d be honored to serve with Mourdock. He’s clearly someone who is in line with some of the things we’re trying to do,” but he added, “I’m not going to get involved” in the Lugar versus Mourdock primary. “I’m not involved in any incumbent races right now.”
Meanwhile Democrats are waiting to take on the survivor of the GOP primary. "While Joe Donnelly has been focused on jobs and the economy, both Richard Mourdock and Dick Lugar have spent the last year slinging mud, pandering to the Tea Party, and showing voters that they're both of touch with Indiana's middle class. Joe's candidacy gives us an excellent chance of winning in November regardless of who Republicans nominate," said Shripal Shah, a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Despite the Democrats touting Donnelly's chances, there are echoes of Indiana’s 2010 Senate race when Democrats had hopes for former Rep. Brad Ellsworth, a centrist Democrat with a voting record much like Donnelly's.
Ellsworth ended up losing by 14 percentage points to Republican Dan Coats. Democrats say 2012 isn't 2010; turnout this year is going to be significantly higher and the economy is healthier now than it was in 2010.
But Donnelly voted for the Obama health care bill and for his stimulus plan, neither of which will help with conservative voters in Indiana. And his fund-raising has been less than stellar.
Democrats privately say that Donnelly runs stronger against Mourdock than against Lugar.
Tom Williams / Roll Call/Getty Images
Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., talks to a reporter before the Senate Republican Policy luncheon in the Capitol.
“Yeah, I understand that,” Cornyn said. “Sen. Lugar is a legend in Indiana. To show how quickly things change, six years ago, he was uncontested in the Republican primary and in the general election ... But it will probably make it more of a contest if Sen. Lugar is not the nominee, but I’m confident we’ll hold the seat.” Cornyn said the Indiana race “is not one of my worries.”
Leave a Comment:
Pack your bags Obama!
MSNBC cant even help you now.
What the GOP is doing is called cleaning house, the dems should try it once in a while.
Obama will pack his bags on January 20th 2017.
The farther to the right the GOP goes the less support its going to get.
Vote out the Tea Party in 2012!
Wow, Eric, that's exactly the opposite of what happened in the most recent election.....so what's changed since 2010?....certainly not any great successes on the part of the libs and RINOs currently in power!
Spider, what has changed is that the TEA Party failed to accomplish any of their stated goals and only ground the government to a halt.
This country needs leadership and I don't care if it comes from Democrats, Republicans, or purple baboons. We need to toss out all the clowns in Washington and do a governmental reboot.
@ Spider, There have been many changes since the last election.More people have quite the Republican Party than ever,The Republican Party has gotten so stupid that the entire world is now laughing,the T Party is now choking on used bags and is the laughing stock of the country,Republican women now carry aspirin at all times,stock in vaginal wands is up,venereal disease is up among Republicans,so there has been alot of changes
Nor any great sucesses from the tea baggers either. Ever hear of buyers remorse? People are starting to see tea baggers for what they are. Oh yeah, the house has passed all kinds of nonsense, but what has been signed into law????
Also shows how dangerous the NRA is. A vote for something 20 years ago still gets him an F. Aganst those assault weapons that EVERYONE should own so we can "hunt".
Spider, typical teabagger. Blame, blame, blame. So now it's "libs" and "RINOs" causing all of our problems? Teabagging nutcases have nothing to do with the state of our Nation?
Sentiments like that should unite moderate Democrats and Republicans to once and for all squash the radical Teabagging movement.
Unbeknownst to many pro big government folks, "not doing anything" is actually an accomplishment in itself. We don't need the government to create more rules and laws, we want them to STOP.
Democrats desire to be seen as doing something for the people in order to get votes is unquenchable. They will always be willing to pass a new law or create a new bureaucracy if there is an opportunity to grandstand and tell the constituents what a good job they are doing.
Spider-what's changed since 2010 is that the teabaggers have shown that they are incompetent and have no idea how government works. They are 1 trick ponies who can't even accomplish that 1 trick because they don't know how. They had a 2 year site seeing tour of the Capitol. it's time for them to go and for us to remember not to laugh at crazy candidates, again. Everyone turns out in '12.
One thing that has changed, I hope, is that many working people in the midwest have gotten to see what a vote for a republican means. Recalls anyone???
It means they will attack your union, your job and your benefits !!
Since 2010, the true, blue TEA Party Republicans have demonstrated they are fiscal liberals and social conservatives. THAT has never represented more than a minority of Americans.
What is going to make this election different is voter turnout. 2010 was a hard-learned lesson that midterm elections are just as important as presidential year elections. People stayed home in 2010, big mistake.
Corporate.....No, republicans attack your union, the overpayment of your job and benefits. Many of us however will see pay increases because companies can invest in the US instead of being weighted down by a ballooning government workforce whose pay and benefits scale is out of line with reality.
Would you look at the size of that guy's hand! Holy crap. It almost doesn't look like a hand, it looks like some kind of creature crawling across the podium!
Obama / Biden 2012
Pick up the Kool Aid and put down the crack pipe Nerm...
Has anyone noticed that MSNBC has been eliminating the comment page from anything that is damning to the Obama administration?
Example:
US economic growth slows in the first quarter
I wonder why not all articles have comment pages either, Mark.
@UAW you are hopelessly deluded and entirely ignorant of polling data if you actually think any of that is true. get off your computer and spend some time in the real world and youll discover that the tea party movement is actually getting stronger everyday obama is in office, maybe not as loud, but they are organizing better, becoming more accepted and legitimate. And the world isnt laughing at the tea party they are laughing at all of American politics. And why shouldnt they? Our own president refuses to stand up for us, why should anyone else?
Nothin better than a good old GOP Civil War! Obama/Biden 2012!!
Jackofspade, I wonder why the left thinks that a smaller government, less taxes approach to the problem is in their words "radical"? The evil Tea Party wants to cut the deficit without supplying government branches with more money that will be spent in a misguided fashion...
wakeup, republicans are attacking unions all over the nation. Even Ann Coulter admits it !
Coulter: Attacks On Unions Is Part Of The GOP's "War With Democrats"
Mark,
Yes, I have noticed that lately. They gave Obama pretty good cover from his past, but everyone knows who Obama is now. No more hiding.
Agreed Mark, thats because higher deficits are actually good politics, since you can benefit your constituents without raising taxes. Too bad it makes for such sh itty policy.
BTW elliot...your so called "logic" defies any visible signs of intelligence! Eric hit the nail right on the proverbial head! Obama/Biden 2012!! Get used to it baggers!
It does open up thoughts of a Romney/Lugar ticket...
Speaking of unions, I noticed the plant that just opened up to manufacture televisions in Michigan is not union and is doing very well without the unions. Here in the south, we have no use for unions. That's why Boeing, BMW, Caterpillar and most major companies are relocating here. We don't fight with management like the unions do. It's a team effort. Unions believe it's either us or them. We believe there wouldn't be an "us" without "them".
ahahaaha.. 1974? and THATS cleaning house?
keep on fightin GOP! hes not a patriot! I AM! no i am!
no iam! i am patriotic! more patriotic than YOU!
no its me! im the REAL consrvative!
no i hate mexicans more than you!
well i spit on a woman at planned parenthod!
I'M the conservative!!!!!
Mucker87- If you think their is a civil war in the GOP than David Axelrod is spinning you so hard right now!
TO: Mark L-464288 who wrote:
You can take that as a sure sign that most of us are sick and tired of hearing Republicans repeat their daily mantras, their Republican talking points, and all that repulsive hate speech.
Obama / Biden 2012
Teahadists continue to attract the "The earth is flat" ideological types in the nation. real success in this country has only happened when we have had sincere bipartisan efforts to put our nation ahead of political parties and opinions. With the nutcases of each party adding insult to injury and preying on the least educated and ignorant in our nation, they can attract a few votes but the middle and moderate voters that make this nation work see through the partisan BS and insanity of radical rights and radical lefts and ultimately will elect the most normal candidates left standing.
More wishful thinking by the msnbc cheerleaders. Polls show both R's thumping donnely. Lugar beats him by over 20 points!
Well, to be honest, republicans ARE trying to limit the rights and freedom of choice for women, and the teapubs DID singlehandedly cause the US credit rating to drop (and cheered when it did). They also are working hard to cut programs that benefit the poor and middle class, and they would rather protect the wealthiest at our expense, no matter what. But jobs? Hell no, they don't give a rats ass about anything EXCEPT protecting the elite. Gotta give'm their money's worth, right?
@Mark L-464288 -- Haven't you heard - Facebook is the new way to make comments. Money is speech and speech is money. Commenting is not free - ya know?
Name one 'spending cut' proposed by the RetroRight that has not been directly tied to social conservatism. One. Just one.
Name one time that the righTEAs have avoided increasing funding on 'government control' programs - like security, military, immigrant harassment.
You actually believe that the American public is going to believe that the only way to balance the budget is to whack the poor, the disabled, the elderly, the young, the unemployed?
If the color of the sky on your world is brown - it must be TEA, right? That does not pass the smell test for most Americans.
American Girl,
You know what they say, big hands, big gloves.
So my choices in Indiana are a wacko TEA bag extremest, or a older than dirt incumbent that hasn't even lived in Indiana for years. (nice law Indiana) Or vote for the Democrat. I'l be voting Democrat. Since the GOP dominated state government in Indy does nothing for us in the Northwest counties. Thank god for term limits or we would be stuck with the comb over champion, company looter with the wacko wife. I have to show a picture ID to vote yet the GOP Secretary of State and the GOP Federal Senator both are guilty of voter fraud.
Reading libbie drivel is very amusing...
Indiana is like the Middle East so I expect that either of the Republicans will end up winning the election but this primary battle will once again show how radically out of touch the Teabaggers are with the rest of the country. They can't hide their crazy...
Iowa - Guy "Spider, what has changed is that the TEA Party failed to accomplish any of their stated goals and only ground the government to a halt."
Offhand, I'd say preventing Obama from spending us into oblivion was a pretty good accomplishment.
Zero out federal funding for National Public Radio
You said name one...
I have no problems with representatives making moral decisions...
Well lets see here...every time the left takes control they strip these programs, so the right does have to go in and build them back up...These programs have also brought competitive American products to the market place. We were faced with a weak military when Bush had to use a striped down Clinton military to start the Iraq war...
That is an unfounded accusation...and if you keep repeating it, believe it or not it won't come true. Do you think that driving this economy into extreme debt is going to be beneficial to any of the groups you mentioned?
What's with all this hatred for you libs? You've controlled Washington since 2006 and look where you put this country. You can do nothing but blame Bush for your repeated failures, you still blame republicans even when your own party won't vote for Obama crap. Republicans have had no real power in Washington since the Dems took the house and senate in 06. Your policies got passed, not republican ones, your actions cause the crash of 2008 (thanks Frank/Dodd) which led to the America we have today. Yet after all of your "good" work you still blame the people that could not really make any effect on anything. You lot really are a sad bunch, I really feel sorry for you because either you are actually this stupid or your are just this ignorant.
Devil's Son, if you are going to take a moral high ground on fraud within the GOP then shouldn't you have the same stand for Dems?
"Four Democratic party officials, including the St. Joseph County chairman Butch Morgan, have been charged with conspiracy, forgery, and official misconduct in the 2008 presidential primary election."
Lol I came back to check on my comment above and instead of finding any responses to it I just saw it collapsed, probably by UAW reporting it. Typical. Whenever you make a solid argument against a liberal on MSNBC they just collapse it without even responding, cowards.
And I wonder why the right thinks that less taxes, less regulations, and less government is the answer to every economic problem in America??? Stagnant wages: Cut taxes. Inefficient education system: cut spending. Slow economic growth after a recession caused by a deregulated economy: Cut regulations. Does this sound familiar??? You right-wingers caused our economy to collapse: our debt to balloon; and our influence and image in the world to wane. And now you claim to now how to fix our problems??? Go back to your caves and talk amongst yourselves until you either reform your party or go down in flames. We don't need your bull@!$%#; not now, not ever.
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
What's changed since 2012??? Hmmm. Well, our credit rating got downgraded. Our government has almost been shut down four times, people who supported tax cuts for the wealthy balked at tax cuts for the the middle class and poor. Our economy suffered a huge setback in the summer of 2011. And our president was accused of being a foreigner by Donald Trump. And all this because of the GOP. Hmmm. I don't think the American people are too stupid enough to vote for the people who had several chances to make a difference, and all they did was waste it away. I'm so sorry to say this, my dear friend spider, but your beloved party is nothing but a collection of befuddled old bastards. Seek the truth, my friend, for the truth shall set you free.
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
DEATH TO YOUR "PRECIOUS" GOP 2012
Its real easy...because high taxes without spending cuts and increased spending leads to poor economic times...someday liberals will figure this out.
Not much im guessing since that was 4 months ago o_0 lol did you mean 2010?
"Its real easy...because high taxes without spending cuts and increased spending leads to poor economic times...someday liberals will figure this out."
Hey Mark L, Nice try but taxes are the lowest in more that fifty years, fact! He's a clue, reboot and give it another stab - we'll give you another shot at it for sh*ts and giggles.
You sound like another one of those frustrated Briebardt bloggers complaining about getting your rear ends handed to you in ALL the political blogs...LOL
Ha. Increased spending boosts the economy; one the factors of our slow recovery is cutting government spending. And how come we prospered significantly in the 50s and 60s and during the 90s when the top tax rates were 90% and 40%???? Someday you conservatives will figure out that tax cuts for the wealthy only benefit the wealthy. Seems like a fifth grader could understand that. But apparently Republicans are either too stupid or too stubborn.....
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
" youll discover that the tea party movement is actually getting stronger everyday obama is in office, maybe not as loud, but they are organizing better, becoming more accepted and legitimate."
Except they aren't. See here for the decline in popularity of the Tea Party across all the recent polls. http://www.pollingreport.com/politics.htm
MSNBC still drinking the kool-aid. I hope they really don't believe this garbage they put out there everydat!
Go to FOX then! I'm sure they are serving up your kool-aid.
They have to make themselves believe it, dogs,......if they want to keep their jobs, that is!
At least the Koolaid here isn't poisoned with Murdoch juice!
thats jizz, not juice.
Send a message and vote out all incumbents. Tell career politicians Americans are tired of the "do nothing" Congress. If the next group can't get the job done, vote them out too!
TO: Mark L-464288 who wrote:
You can take that as a sure sign that most of us are sick and tired of hearing Republicans repeat their daily mantras, their Republican talking points, and all that repulsive hate speech.
Obama / Biden 2012
No, It's worse than Murdoch juice, It's that David Axelrod swill. For example:
David Axelrod-
So Axelrod thinks that Republicans will set aside their morals and ethics just to support bills and programs that strike against their core beliefs? Do any liberals even believe this BS?
Nice try, American Girl. We just need to elect more TEA Party politicians, eliminate the RINOS and Dems and then we can begin seeing things getting accomplished.
Just for all of you that don't lean to the left, I have placed a translation for you:
"You can take that as a sure sign that as a Democrat I have closed my eyes, put my hands over my ears and have buried my head in the sand in hopes to escape every thing that is not a democrat talking point!"
dogs80 . . . very odd you dislike MSNBC so much you'd like to see them disappear but you keep posting thereby giving them more "hits" to their site to drive advertising revenues . . . personally I don't buy products I don't care for like you don't MSNBC . . . crazy confused behavior on your part . . .
Yes MSNBC is drinking koolaide when it trys to say Lugar is done.
Sorry I am a Hoosier. People in Indiana don't like Mourdock because he was not born in Indiana and comes from Ohio. Also he is very chummy with the catholic church in Fort Wayne and has a website with connections to Glenn Beck. Not to mention ties to energy companies that he worked for.
Plus his terrible attacks against Lugar Hoosiers LOVE HIM
LIKE PEOPLE LOVE RONALD REAGEN
Indiana is different we elected a Republican Governor and Obama for president.
And most of the time we elect a republican for president and a democrat for Governor.
races are all over the place in most of the counties..
HOWEVER HAMILTON COUNTY IS MITCH DANIELS TOWN AND THERE IS KNOW WAY THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO ALLOW the people of fort wayne to elect and decide and that is basically what it boils down too.
DANIELS ALREADY GOT RID OF CHARLIE wHITE WHO WAS SECRETARY OF STATE AND A TEA PARTY BOY.
People voted for him and they canned him based on living in the next town over and not meeting residency requirements and that's why the fuss is over where Lugar lives. Its retaliation for the tea Party..
But the paper doesn't report this because they are in the dark about what is going on here.
Lugar IS A KNOWN TRUE REPUBLICAN CONSERVATIVE WITH A VOTING RECORD
Mourdock has a reputation with Locals for being to much in Bed with Fort Wayne ideas and guess what is in Fort Wayne NOTRE DAME...
MOURDOCK IS ANOTHER CHANCE JUST LIKE OBAMA EXCEPT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THE VERY EXTREME RADICAL IDEAS MOURDOCK IS NOT CONSERVATIVE
Hoosiers as a whole do not like government intervention.
Republicans in Indiana who live in Cedar Lake and St John are mad about the Illiana because the repubs and dems voted to take every ones land and let a private corp offer the homeowners recession prices for homes that were some of the most expensive in the county. iTS JESSE JACKSON Jr's PROJECT.
People In Gary who vote democratic are not happy either because they have an airport Illinois is trying to strong arm and close, but nobody reports about that either...
Plus the whole situation with the union law past banning contributions
LOTS OF UNION MEMBERS WHO VOTE REPUBLICAN AND ALWAYS HAVE
I think that the media is so ought of touch with what is happening on the ground in Indiana
WHY BECAUSE NOBODY EVER GOES THERE SO GOOD LUCK TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO WILL WIN
Hoosiers won't fill out a census form properly let alone have there privacy invaded by telling an exact pole what they really did in that voting booth..
So good luck YOU DON'T GO UP AGAINST MITCH DANIELS YOU LOSE EVERY TIME MITCH IS NEVER ON A LOSING TEAM NOBODY WANTS THE ILLIANA AND HE IS COOPERATING WITH ILLINOIS POLITCOS SO TELL ME HOW THAT WORKS.
Its a big mess here in Indiana a big mess this paper doesn't even mention the fights over Cline avenue a route to major steel mills completely shut down to force companies out of Indiana nobody talks about that.
PEOPLE IN INDIANA ARE TIRED OF PAYING FOR PRIVATE PUBLIC FUNDED TOLLWAYS THEY DON'T GET TO DRIVE ON AND NOBODY CURRENTLY IN OFFICE IS LISTENING AND LOSING CEDAR LAKE AND ST JOHN AND SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS THAT VOTE REPUBLICAN IS GOING TO BE A BIG PROBLEM COME ELECTION NIGHT ITS ANYBODY'S GUESS..
and for the dems they think they have Gary Well the Gary Mayor has an airport expansion going on but she is a woman mayor and Mr Jesse Jackson JR and son think they are going to shut down her project and get There peotone airport. Gary isn't buying it. So needles to say it will be a factor in elections.Not to mention other areas surrounding Gary that wanted the expansion and not the destruction of farmland down south...
The Illinois dems have been vital in shutting down road projects in the north side of the state to make way for there IL projects on the border.
Unions elected daniels to get the illiana built and now Daniels delivered a no dues law that basically makes it so ONLY UNIONS IN ILLINOIS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE HIGHWAY EXPANSION PROJECT.
Hoosiers are getting it from all sides and all parties they sold our state to the highest bidder and are now taxing us to fund the PRIVATE startup costs AND USING EMINENT DOMAIN TO STEAL LAND AT RECESSION RIPOFF PRICES SO MSNBC WHY DON'T YOU GET PEOPLE ON THE GROUND AND REPORT WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON THERE GO TO CEDAR LAKE
THEN GO TO HAMMOND AND DON'T INTERVIEW THE POLITICANS INTERVIEW THE PEOPLE IT WILL BE THE BEST REALITY TV EVER
Where is anderson cooper when you need him ?
Mark L? You wrote; "Axelrod thinks Republicans will set aside their morals and ethics just to support bills and programs that strike against their core beliefs?"
"morals and ethics" in the same sentence as today's Republicans? Oxymoron if I ever saw one. Exactly what "morals and ethics" would those be?
I do not accept that today's conservatives have morals or ethics beyond "what's in it for ME!" and F__K everyone else.
I noticed that myself they had an article on here earlier today that I read. One of the ones that didnt let you comment. And MSNBC is manufacturing all kinds of fairy tales that they are hoping people believe so they can get Obama back in office this fall. Is it truly to their advantage or will this all backfire on them as the Trayvon case did? I suppose only time will tell, but MSNBC definitely has its own brand of Kool-aid and drinkers!
You're a Hoosier and you think Notre Dame is in Fort Wayne?
Patrick 1315, it is pretty simple. these stupid msnbc is tied to MSN and like hotmail & msn email addresses that most people have it comes up linked to everything therefore making it easy to comment on whether you like it or not. I use my email addresses and have on MSN for over 10 years I won't stop using them because of your beliefs and why shpould I? That being said I don't believe the Fairy Tales that MSNBC makes up. This was just MSN before MSN bought NBC. Doesn't mean you have to agree to comment. like I said it is just to easy not to ignore it. And their are people like you evidently that think because it is MSNBC it must be true. ANother question for you why is Fox news hooked into MSN site also?
The GOP/REPUBLICAN PARTY in the Senate will turn on you faster than a COPPERHEAD snake....
Readabook, Are you serious? 1. Learn "no" from "know" they have different meanings. 2. A lot of us in Cedar Lake/ St. John want the Illiana expressway so we can get to our jobs in llinois. We all don't farm or work for pennies in NWI. 3. Notre Dame is in South Bend! 4. It's Ronald Reagan not Ronald Reagen. 5. What the heck is a "Fort Wayne idea"? 6. All my neighbors and I filled out our census forms. We aren't paranoid. 7. Jesse Jackson JR. is the son, Jesse Jackson is the father.
A lot of right wing whining today.
I noticed that myself they had an article on here earlier today that I read. One of the ones that didnt let you comment.
All articles that deal with the economy/the federal reserve do not have a comment section. Interesting how that works.
Once again an article about slow economy and no where to comment. Anytime there is something that could be considered a detrimental article about the President and his great policies there is no place to comment. Go figure!
You mean those detrimental policies that kept us out of a depression. Those policies that have seen the GDP grow each and every quarter since he was sworn into office. Those policies that are winding down two wars, have dismantled Al-Qaeda and killed Osama Bin Laden.
Excellent, dogs; my reaction was exactly the same as yours. Damn, the lamestream media toadies are so transparent!
dogs-your confusion continues.
spider-your web is weak.
Your Internet is slow. refresh your screen. All articles have a place to post.
TO: dogs80 who wrote:
You can take that as a sure sign that most of us are sick and tired of hearing Republicans repeat their daily mantras, their Republican talking points, and all that repulsive hate speech.
We've heard Republicans repeating their same old tired crap long enough. Let's talk about the "Ryan Plan" and how Republicans "plan" to give more tax cuts to the rich, and more pay cuts to working Americans.
Obama / Biden 2012
TO: realist pondering who wrote:
Tiny blessings! Thank the stars!
Obama / Biden 2012
Eric, you mean the two wars that were voted on by congress and that the withdrawals were negotiated before Bush left office, those 2 wars?
I still believe that it was Seal Team 6, you remember the team that Obama wanted to court Martial, that killed Bin Laden.
I think that if you would look, Al Qaeda is just waiting for the US to leave Afghanistan.
American Girl,
Please fill US in on the "Reid Plan" for the Budget...Or you can explain why Obama's plan, seeing how he is soooo intelligent, did not even garner one vote in favor of either on of his submitted budgets...must have been so intelligent that is was above every ones level of understanding...
Totally agree, but libs can't deal with facts that are not programmed in with the kool-aid. And yes the tea party slowing down the actions is desired. Can't pass a bad bill if you can't pass a bill. Just as the founding fathers envisioned.
Also a GDP of 2.2%....boy that's impressive.......NOT!
TO: Mark L-464288 who wrote:
So, Republicans plan to avoid discussing the "Ryan Plan" by trying to change the subject, because Republicans already know, the more people learn about the "Ryan Plan", the more Republicans lose votes, even from other Republicans.
That old trick won't work this election. Like I said, for the past 3-1/2 years we've heard those same old tired talking points and hate speech.
We can chalk this one up to the American People have decided NOT to vote against themselves.
We're just NOT going to vote for more tax cuts for the rich, and more pay cuts for American Workers!
Obama / Biden 2012
The GOP / REPUBLICAN PARTY --- be it in the SENATE or in CONGRESS simple hates the President of the United States ----- simple because he is a black man.
It's called politics loonytoon. And yes, it is apparently way beyond your limited understanding. Why in the world would he waste the time, and more importantly the money, to produce something that in the current environment would never even be considered. Republicans telegraphed their position way before time for Obama to deliver a budget and their announced position was "don't bother".
Clearly the Republicans don't like seeing the Democrats succeed even when the country is better served, as it has been, but they have become so devisive that they don't even like each other. The GOP has lost any semblance of cohesion or platform. They have gone completely negative and simply know that they don't like anything. It is obvious in their field of candidates, their infighting, their representation and lack thereof, and their supporters who vote against their own self-interests. Case in point, the Ryan plan which has no real economic value, a thinly veiled attack on middle america that benefits the wealthy.
Your right dogg80....never a word about the true Obama...How about the 80 million dollar slush fund to keep medicare advantage running until after the election....The silence is deafening....DemocRATS are a bunch of weasels...
A new Tea Bagger to defeat. Good. Keep the crazies coming. No bailout for GM says Mourdock-jobs we don't need no stinking jobs!!! What a tool this Hoosier is.
Yes the farther to the right they go, the crazier things get.
Eric-they are "Great Americans" who believe Hannity and Limbaugh and think O'Reilly is too liberal. Comic relief on a daily basis with inane posts about black helicopters and FEMA camps.
Keep on encouraging the Republican clown show.This is the funniest election cycle yet
It's funny until you realize that neither party knows what the hell they're doing.
Just need to know what rock he came out from under..
According to Real Clear Politics, the following are the 2012 elections that are most likely to change representation in Congress and the Governors races;
Senate – 11 Democratic Senators are at risk, vs only 4 for Republicans. The Republicans need a net of 4 to take over control of the Senate (3 if a Republican wins the Presidency).
House of Representatives – 13 Republican Congressmen are at risk vs 12 Democrats. The Democrats
would have to win a net of 26 to take control.
Governors – There are 8 Democratic Governors at risk, vs only 3 Republican Governors. Republicans currently control 29 States, vs only 20 for Democrats. There is 1 Independent Governor.
It would appear that no matter who wins the Presidency, the Democrats are not likely to have much
legislative control. The link to the RCP site is;
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/election_2012/battle_for_congress.html
It's so easy to say Tea bagger online....Say it to a man in the TEAPARTYs face punk...
It's funny how you weasels collapse comments that say nothing derogatory or profane...the truth scares the crap out of you in the dependent democRAT party...
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh Scottie, another internet tough guy.
Yep. scott lashes out at someone for calling someone a name on line, then he does the same thing. Isn't that the definition of a hypocrite?
Scott implies he knows a man in the Tea Party-not that he is one. More confusion.
Your messiah's 15 minutes are just about up!
The fact is President Obama was the one who, with his military advisers planned the mission, had the navy seals practice to perfection and gave the go when he believed it was time for the mission to take place. Our service members were superb carrying out this dangerous strategy. None of this would have been done without the President's determination to see bin Laden brought to justice.
Vicki -
FYI -
The Seals were following standing orders on dealing with bin Laden. They didn't trust Obama not to dither about allowing the mission to go on (like he did with the Somali pirates), so they took steps to prevent his inability to make the hard decision from impacting their orders.
Tammy-you know this how?
The Repug Party is losing its collective mind. The Tea Bagger movement is the best thing that happened to Democrats. Hopefully, this Tea Bagger will split Con vote and allow us Democrats to pick up a Senate seat in Tennessee. The Democrats need to send all Tea Bagger groups a card that says, "Thanks for your support." - The Democratic Party.
The only democratic stronghold in the state of Indiana is Lake County. Not only will Donnelly lose to whoever the republicans elect to oppose him, but the state of Indiana will return to a GOP state for the presidency.
President Obama's team has already written Indiana off.
Hey Vince, I second that !
The reality is that the American voter looks at results, and if they don't like them, they will vote for a 'Change' in hopes that someone else might do a better job.
The economy stinks under Obama, and there are still fewer people working than when Obama took office - well over 3 years ago.
Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind.,and Richard Mourdock????
the battle of Dicks
I hear what your saying Roy, things aren't perfect (and really never have been, for everyone). But I can't see changing horses in the middle of the proverbial river, now. I cannot envision middle and lower incomers paying higher taxes for few services...and to give millionaires more money. I also cannot accept allowing companies and industries to choose which regulations they want to get rid of (under the guise of promoting growth). If the repub's would start listening to the people and come up with a plan or a reasonable direction...they'd have a better chance. But it doesn't seem to be happening this year. Maybe in 2016?
Seems to me that if the Democrats are putting their faith in the opposition beating themselves they must know all to well that the ideology of the left is a loosing proposition on which to rest ones hat.
Kind of like wishing the oppositions plane crashes so your side has a fighting chance.
With the Tea Party and their favorite choices of candidates, it's not, "my way or the highway." Since they demand only the most regressive right-wing of all positions, more appropriately, its, "My way ONLY -- and for you and everyone else, NO WAY AT ALL, because I don't want highways to exist."
If Lugar loses to Mourdock, then the State of Indiana's economy, labor markets, educational systems, modern suburban and urban infrastructure and all the social progress their citizens fought for and built up over all these years, will lose ground, go without adequate maintenance, and all of it will start regressing back for them, for at least a few decades of losses for ALL the non-conservatives, the non-wealthy, the elderly, minorities and women living and working there.
...But then again, this is what the Tea Party wants to see happening, everywhere.
Bookem Danno
First of all Eric he didn't kill Bin Laden, Bush's poicies and our Navy Seals did. Maybe you loonies on the coast think the policies he has done are saving something but people (us rednecks) that you left wingers will call us in the midwest don't think he has done anything but cripple the working families. As far as being a teabagger I bought in to his rheteric 4 years ago and voted for Obama. Several of my friends did too. It won't happen again. We are not nearly as gullible as some.
dogs-I'm a fellow midwesterner with 7 grandchildren and a very comfortable income. The thought of elected Reps. signing the grover pledge makes me vote for the democrat every time. I pay big taxes and will continue. When things get better I would like to pay less but not now. My grandchildren include girls and a hispanic/american-I don't appreciate the Right wing trying to make them second class citizens-that's not America.
Dogs, you are an idiot. Bush stated that Bin Ladin wasn't a priority and closed down the CIA unit that was responsible for tracking him down. Obama restarted it.
Stop trying to give credit to the worst president of our country.
dogs-he did kill Osama Bin Laden-get used to it.
Dog you must be a mixed breed
realist - first, a Navy Seal killed bin Laden. In court, the most Obama would be charged with is accessory as he didn't pull the trigger. Therefore, he killed no one.
Second, the reason you would rather pay more taxes now to support your grandchildren must be because you believe that the government is better equipped to take care of them and make decisions on their behalf. Otherwise, you would rather have more money in your pocket now so you can provide for them and leave them better off.
Finally, you wouldn't vote for a republican if he had the same values as John Kusinich or Bernie Sanders.
thats funy, im a working famly, and im doing FINe. besides having to work with some knucklehead righties.. but they eat their own anyway. every time.
TO: dogs80 who wrote:
So long as Bush was in office, Bin Laden was safe.
Obama / Biden 2012
Dog - so wonderful. You were disappointed in the President. Considering some of your earlier posts, I truly doubt that you voted for him. But having said that you did, now you want to vote for tax breaks for the super rich (of which I hope you are a part) because otherwise "crippling middle class families" is exactly what the Republican party is about. You know, I know, anyone with a brain knows it.
My opinion is Cheney, Rumsfield, Wolfowitz didn't want Bin Laden killed. He was the boogey man that allowed them to continue high profit wars. Bush 43 was only the guy that stood in front of the camera, he wasn't calling the shots
"The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him."
- G.W. Bush, 9/13/01
"I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority."
- G.W. Bush, 3/13/02
"I am truly not that concerned about him."
- G.W. Bush, repsonding to a question about bin Laden's whereabouts,
3/13/02 (The New American, 4/8/02)
dogs is definitely a sad mutt, probably one with mad cow disease
Bush ran away from his service responsibilities. He was afterall a fortunate son.
First of all Eric he didn't kill Bin Laden, Bush's poicies and our Navy Seals did.
Bush's policies? He didn't even consider him a threat 6 months after 9/11. And might I add. Didn't have the Balls to take him out when they had him pinned down in the Ky bar path region. So go toot that dumb ass horn somewhere else. To bad Dubbya didn't have as much faith in our military as the Current President constantly shows. :-)
AmericanGirl, If you don't understand something, please don't comment on it!
Obama just happened to be in office when this all came to a close. This operation started in 2002 and the information on the Currier was derived from water-boarding...Do you think that Obama just waltzed into office and ordered some kind of CODE RED and all of a sudden there is Osama?
Hagran, They say that Osama wasn't even in the "Ky bar" he was always in Pakistan...And all of the achievements that Obama is praised with are plans made by the Bush administration not Obama. If one thing is for sure, if Obama takes credit for something you can bet that Bush did it for him, and if he blames Bush you can bet Obama is responsible for it!!!
Mark. Stop being pissed off at your mom.
American girl....to much MSLSD for you....no go back complaining about how you can't afford $9.00 dollar a month birth control ...your as bad as Fluke the wh$#@
Where do people like you, Mark, and "dog" get these incredibly stupid ideas. The plans were NOT made by President Bush and his administration and they sure didn't get the info from torture. Is that what Glenn Beck or Limbaugh told you? Do you live in some sort of alternate reality?
Now, as far as Lugar goes, he's done a decent job over his years. And my guess is that the people of Indiana think so too. As a liberal democrat, I hope they do anyway. I don't think the democrat can win, so INDIANA, keep someone with some intelligence as your senator. These 1915 tea party thinkers scare me. Get too many of them in Congress and nothing will ever get done - unless it's somehow detrimental to women or children with no food. And we don't want our now double AA credit rating to be reduced to whatever comes next.
Oh, yeah, Mark, better be careful. President Obama might put you in one of those FEMA concentration camps that followers of Beck and his crazy ilk believe. That would be very bad - especially coming from someone you no doubt believe was not born a citizen, didn't graduate from Harvard Law, and all his birth records are "forged." Your best bet is to just buy GOLD! LOL/LOL
TO: scott-2329078 who wrote:
Ha! I must have said something right! Obviously you understand what I'm talking about, and so you're pissed because my message got through to Republicans in spite of all the amnesia and denial!
Now do the right thing and vote a straight Democratic Ticket in November!
And no, no Republicans are NOT going to rule my womb. That's way off limits and not open for discussion!
(Roe v. Wade)
Obama / Biden 2012
Dmorgan, thanks for the fact-less post, shows what you have to add to the discussion. As the old democrat saying goes..."No facts, then personal attacks"...
Babyboomer, Sorry you did not find that information in a democrat talking point, but I guess you are right where a Obama supporter would be found... ill-informed.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42853221/ns/world_news-death_of_bin_laden/t/how-us-tracked-couriers-elaborate-bin-laden-compound/
AmericanGirl, When have they tried to rule your womb???
American Girl...
Here's a few better ones for ya...
NOBAMA 2012! or
ABO 2012! or
A vote for Barry is far too scary...
Well, Mark, where in that report did it say they were President Bush's plans? Nowhere. Looks like some of the relevant details "were" obtained in 2007. Why didn't President Bush make any arrangements? Oh, that's right. He said he didn't care about OBL, isn't that correct? There's even video on that quote. Our intelligence agencies gathered information - maybe by torture, but your site doesn't say that. President Obama had many meetings with the intelligence folks and our military and "the" plan was made - not by President Bush and "his" administration, but President Obama and "his" administration. It was carried out bravely and beautifully by our Navy Seals, what a group, under the direct order of their CIC, President Obama - end of story.
I noticed your site was from one of those "liberal" media types, MSNBC!!! I'm amazed you believed it, especially since it gave President Bush NO credit for the achievement. Maybe the intel was there in 2007, but President Bush did NOT take action. I wonder why. Too busy making jokes about looking for WMD under tables (also on video), I guess.
And the fact that OBL was killed by our seals following the orders of President Obama is not a "democrat talking point." It's simply the truth.
Watch out for all the terrible things coming your way that Beck and Limbaugh are telling you. Always be looking over your shoulder. There are liberals like me just everywhere.
Yeah, so Obama is sitting on the bench for the whole game, then the coach puts him in with 3 seconds to go and he makes one blocked shot...team wins...and Obama should gets all the credit for the win...YES you are right there are a lot of liberals just like you and Obama out there!
Kind of like how Al Gore invented the internet...Oh wait that's right, he did not invent the internet, that was Global Warming that he invented!
Again, all he did was execute plans and operations that were already in place. The reason why I used MSNBC was because I didn't want to hear anything about how it was a right wing source that was biased...I give up on this because when you are presented with facts you go into spin mode and it is just time wasted.
American Girl - That Scott is really some tough guy, isn't he? Sitting there holding his gun thinking about his "Glory Days".
Thanks to the crazy tea baggers, Boner is watching his party crumble !
Mark--What that article says is that there was a long standing interest in Bin Laden by CIA that had nothing to do with Bush. After 9/11 more info was developed but led to no action. And you must admit Bush did get sidelined with Iraq issues that were started by no one else but his administration. Also see quotes in one post about him not caring. Obama refocused the hunt, and developed the intelligence, and finally took action, in the face of creating a situation with Pakastan that someone else may have backed down from. Why can't you give credit where credit is due? The anti-Obama hysteria amoung self styled conservatives is completely overboard--do you really think it does your cause any good to spin such easily ignored fantasies that only make you feel better?
Let's see, Mourdock is the treasurer of Indiana, the state that can't account for 525 million, that failed to allocate over 200 million to the counties, and he should be senator......why?
Sheila-because he's a "Great American" who will protect us from progress and tolerance. He will lower taxes on the rulers and corporations and take his contributions like a good peon. He will sign the Grover pledge and be ever vilgilant that FAIRNESS KEEPS IT'S UGLY HEAD DOWN.
So Indiana's republican candidates come down to a not too stellar treasurer and an incumbent who doesn't even live there?
Sheila, Good one!
Maybe Mourdock wants to avoid prosecution?
You need to recognize that breaking the law is a TEA Party qualification to run for office. It demonstrates you 'hate' the government.
Let's see, Corzine lost over a billion....He's a typical democRAT...like you. But not a word about him...he's off limits I guess...
First of all Eric he didn't kill Bin Laden, Bush's poicies and our Navy Seals did. We are not nearly as gullible as some.
Oh yes you are....Either that, or your a real dumbass.. I'm guessing the latter..
The more Teataliban candidates for Senate,the better the chances are that not only will Democrats hold the Senate,but they will increase their majority. Plus,I believe the extremism of the 2010 Tearepublicans on display in The House,may cost Republicans their majority there. Don't be surprised to see The President re-elected and The Congress back in the hands of The Democrats...where it belongs....that is,unless you want the USA return to a 2007 economy,more wars,and ridicule throughout the world.Obama/Biden 2012...because The Mitt Don't Fit !
To Thomas, I would not sign on here that I was from Illinois, the most corrupt state with the most corrupt city in the country. And sir, you are like most other liberals, when you have nothing to say that would make sense let's call them names and tell them how smart we are. I have two words for you 'you're not"
earspot thats wishful thinking on your part. Democrats have far too many senate seats that they have to defend compared to republicans, they almost certainly will lose the senate given that and the utter extermination of blue dog democrats. The house majority that the Republicans hold will in fact get bigger, all this talk of buyers remorse is democrats projecting their own perceptions onto independents and moderate conservatives. There is still some force behind the Tea party and if anything they are getting more accepted. That only thing really up for grabs is the Presidency which Obama is likely to keep unless the economy, and especially the job numbers, heads south sometime between now and november.
"Oh yes you are....Either that, or your a real dumbass.. I'm guessing the latter.."
There you go...can't win an argument when the facts are produced so you fall back on the typical Liberal tactic of name calling. REAL CLASS AG!! But fully expected. Just like your fearless leader not being able to run on his record and resorting to name calling and scare tactics. You are all cut from the same cloth.
i think it's a little too early to be making predictions for november. people in this country so incredibly fickle and their beliefs change with the wind. so, to the democrats in indiana i would say to you. organize well and make SURE that everyone who is entitled to vote gets to. i'm sure there is some kind of right wing agenda to stop "voter fraud" (a myth) and it will be projected at the elderly, poor and ethnic areas. if i lived in indiana, i would be getting together with my dnc to organize people to go door to door if necessary to make sure people are legally registered and if they need help, get it for them. i'm not saying to tell them HOW to vote. just make sure that they can exercise their right to vote.
i live in california where we have protections against the voter fraud crowd and people are encouraged to vote. funny that here there is no accusations of wide spread voter fraud. i mean, if there was, wouldn't it be all over the place and wouldn't the teapartiers by all over it? i mean, we do seem to be the bastion of liberalism, supposedly. (it isn't true, but think that if you choose) i know a lot of young people where i work, i have been actively encouraging them to make themselves informed about the issues and to vote. a lot of them hadn't even thought about it until i said something. i don't tell them how to vote, but just try to impress upon them the importance of it and how their lives will be impacted by whoever wins in washington. remember, if you don't vote, you're voting for the party you don't want to win.
to the right, i'd say don't be so quick to thumb your nose at the rest of us. you may have to eat your words in november. i'm not making any predictions, but arrogance usually leads to a fall.
Vote all republican and blue dogs den out of state and federal office. I am in illinos.
Earsport...Right, Just like last November....Get used to it moron
Hey Black, should you be at a Trevon rally or playing dice...Anything but commenting on something you know nothing about...
Scott-2329078
What was that your fellow teabagger, wb52, said about liberals calling people names?
Is it your racism that makes you think you're a real American?
Today's far out Conservative America is a life threatening mental disorder by a minority but adversely effects everyone.
berndog im a consevative and all i want is for the gov to get the hell out of my life, ill do just fine have for lots of years why you have such hate tells me you are not very well grounded hope you get better soon oh really i dont give a @!$%# if you ever get better
TO: jockland who wrote:
Translation: He doesn't pay his taxes.
Obama / Biden 2012
berndog im a consevative and all i want is for the gov to get the hell out of my life
Then get your "conservative" small government cronies the hell out of my bedroom. And the hell out of my Mother, daughter, girlfriend, nieces.....Doctors office. Small. government. my ass. :-)
Jock strap,
You want the government to get out of your life, but enforce your nitwit morality and superstiton on everybody else.
Shocking as it may seem to some of the commentors on here, but it IS possible to be a conservative that also wants big government out of the private lives of its citizens as long as those actions are not harming another person. It's also possible to be a conservative against tax cuts for the super wealthy, just as much as we're against tax increases for the super wealthy. Tax increases are not the problem; SPENDING is the problem.
Politicians on both sides of the party coin are equally responsible for allowing our budget to skyrocket out of control and cause the credit rating to drop, and those of you that are so quick to blame the other party while blasting those who disagree are just as misinformed and misguided as the ones you blame. This isn't a current administration problem, this isn't even a previous administration problem. This is 100 years of political disconnect with its people and a society too complacent and distracted to notice or care.
So next time you decide to blast a "right-wing gun toting bible-thumping" conservative for being fed up with the government in their lives, take a step back and do some research to see just how involved BOTH political parties have gotten in all our lives in one way or another. And then do your research to vote for the ones who actually want to do something to change the route our country is headed instead of making empty promises to pander to their constituents.
P.S. I'll give you a hint: they aren't the ones spouting off assurances that handouts will still be given in exchange for a vote, and sure aren't the ones promising to keep their corporate buddies' pockets lined in exchange for campaign donations. They're the ones realizing how far away our government has gotten from the constitution and deciding to do something about it.
80 years old??????? No wonder nothing ever gets done by these politicians - they are so out of touch with the real world! Go home Mr. Lugar.........
You should check his voting record. He is a diligent worker, he just resides for the most part in Virginia.
katran-probably for the Ryan budget, too. We don't need social security-these old folks have outlived their usefulness-give the money to the rich and the corporations.
You know why all these old decrepid congressmen live so long? They have medical marijuana in DC. It's not even a state. I think it's time to drug test these guys like they do to the rest of US. Vote out all incumbants and clean house.
RON PAUL 2012
TO: worn out-4024611 who wrote:
I thought they live so long because they have the gold plated Socialist Cadillac Health Insurance Plan that WE pay for, but THEY don't want US to have.
They do drug test everybody who works in the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives. I know because I used to work there.
I guess you don't remember when George W. Bush was drug tested.
Everybody was surprised he passed.
Obama / Biden 2012
"realist pondering" is very typical of what a lot of independents are thinking. Our elected officials took an oath to serve the American people NOT kowtow to a republican activist who never received a single vote his entire life and does not represent anyone. Our government needs to be able to act when it needs to and senseless pledges that prevent them from performing their jobs need to be ignored.
Lugar is the one person in the GOP that knows foreign policy. So it`s no shock that the tea-partiers want to get rid of him. They cannot tolerate common sense.
he has to go i sent my check in
TO: bywood who wrote:
Right on! I used to see Dick Lugar all the time, and he is just the nicest guy!
Republicans are trying to find all their "new hires" from the insane asylum.
Republicans are so wrong on so many levels they don't know how to get anything right.
Obama / Biden 2012
Dick Lugar seems like a decent man who offered a hand of friendship to a rookie Senator. Not because he was a minority or a Republican/Democrat but because he was a rookie. I usually vote Democrat but I would vote for Dick Lugar if I lived in Indiana. A class act.
I will be voting for him. There is alot of talk about where he actually lives, but I don't think he is breaking any kind of residency laws in maintaining a place in VA. It makes sense in a way, puts him closer to the White House. All I know is he always, always answers my emails, letters and he has done a good job for the state. Mourdock, on the other hand, has done a horrible job as treasurer. I wonder what the teaparty considers important in a candidate. My rep is teaparty backed, but I think he has received so much negative response from the voters he is shying a little away from it.
Let me reiterate, our only chance of returning this country to sanity is to eliminate the ultra-conservatives from the equation,,,,If a republican is willing to buck his own party for the sake of the american people and not play the ideology card, then they deseve their seat,,,,,otherwise GET RID OF THEM!!!!!!!
omega do you have even the slightest idea how many atrocities in the world are committed when people say "get rid" of small minority of the country for the sake of everyone else? Now i'm no ultra conservative but your kind of rhetoric is truly disgusting. Democracy is founded on the ideal that all political ideas, no matter how radical deserve some kind of voice, even if you dont like it. The good news is people like you rarely get any power in our system of government.
"Party Loyalty" on both side is what got us into this situation regardless of ideology.
In Washington's day this was referred to as regionalism. He clearly preached against it in his departing address. It as simply morphed into political parties and all the evil he said would come about from such things has come to pass and continues to pass. Lugar should be removed from office simply due to the amount of time he has spent in office.
One of the most unfortunate oversights that was done with the writing of the constitution was not putting in term limits. This was largely because the average age in the country was 40. They never imagined a person living to their 80's and 90's on a regular basis and being in office for literally 50+ years like one late Mr. Kennedy.
The Teabaggers would be NOTHING on their own. The only reason we have to deal with them is they hijacked the Republican party, like a virus.
Why do they keep quoting Cornhead, he is a bigot and in the pocket of Big Money. What a jerk.
It's long past time for lugar to retire.
Why, just because of his age?
Because he's been in office for over 3 decades.
Any person who dedicates themselves to telling other people what to do, which is what all politicians do, is suspect. Mr. Lugar has been a professional politician since 1976. Time for him to retire or get a real job.
There is a heavy increase in articles and presentations advocating that the economy will not only continue experiencing the severe downturn but that actually it won’t bottom-out for several years, frequently referring to the trend as equal to or even worse than the Great Depression. One recent article indicated that this in-process disaster started in September 2008 and is being fueled by a self-serving collusion between “the money”, major corporations and those politicians who serve “the money’s” interests, with the intent being to gain great benefit without having any conscience for what the public suffers (we have already seen a lot of this). It is apparent that many conditions around the world, like challenges with Iran and Israel and Palestine, with North Korea, with Syria, with economic conditions in China, Spain, Greece, Ireland, even England and of course here at home, all lend support to the catastrophe theory. Jobs, home values, oil costs, the wars, the threatening wars and much more all need to be resolved but they each serve to prevent recovery with there being no promise to effectively satisfy all concerns.
Lending to the appearance of collusion, we have seen the constant pushing towards our being a two-class society with “the few” (1%) feeding their insatiable “more” appetite and competing in having it all, while the majority (99%) is left struggling, with those politicians strongly supported by “the money” constantly advocating as “conservative” the policies that benefit “the few” while excusing their own arrogantly ignoring, even stubbornly refusing to compromise for the benefit of the people, as they just put their political ambitions above all else, regardless of the costs to the people. No matter what anyone’s political preference and regardless of whether they buy into the catastrophe theory or not, the evidence that the majority, including the total middle-class, simply are being taken for granted, used and abused with mega-millions constantly spent to dupe them is just indisputable. Should the nay sayers be correct or not, should total recovery be around the corner or several years out, the majority simply can’t withstand any more exploitation by “the few” ... and unless they recognize and become insulted by being taken for granted, for being considered “pawns” to be used and abused, and instead firmly and totally reject those politicians who are owned and controlled by “the money”, then more exploitation to benefit only ‘the few”, being rationalized as “conservative”, is what can be expected. These are some very serious times and if people fail to check their emotions and do some rational thinking, refusing to be conned, we may again just be paying serious penalties.
R Giles: I couldn't have said it better myself! I have to agree with you totally. Until the 99% stand up and tell their politicians to get out of the pockets of Big Business and do the jobs they were elected to do (without signing any agreements that totally go against their oath of office), we will not get ahead or find prosperity for all of us. It's pretty clear where each party stands, and it's OUR job (because it's OUR government) to vote out the ones that are not doing their jobs and vote in the ones that will do their best for ALL of us. There should be no such thing as "uber conservative" or "uber liberal"....we need to have middle-of-the-roaders who are willing to reach across the aisles to do what is best of this country and it's population irregardless of what is being forced on them by Big Business, Big Banking, Big Pharma, Big Oil, a Supreme Court, etc., etc., etc. Until we get a Senate, a House, a Congress, etc. with people who are willing to see compromises.....we will continue the downward spiral that we seem to be heading for.
Prospero Tempesto, The white RACE took this country from the red RACE,,,,,,I'm really not quite sure what you're getting at, but shortly after we eliminated the red problem, we the white RACE decided we did not want to pay a fair days wage to the white workers and instead brought the black Race into the equation,,,,,,I am as white as they come, but you sir are a racist!!!!!
babysonawhat
It's sad to know someone as ignorant and biased as you lives in this great country of mostly decent people. Sad.
I will NEVER vote for a republican EVER. Not until the Tea Party disappears into the night. But another issue are "LIFE TIME" politicians like Luger. They get in there, get seniority, and control all the committees and all the legislation. They run out of ideas and solutions, get rich, and see themselves as some type of American royalty. It's too bad the Tea Party turned into, or maybe was at the beginning, a republican party BECAUSE if it really were for change, and NOT republican control, I might support throwing Lugar out. But, I would never vote for anybody form the Tea Party or supported by the Tea Party, and I will never vote republican as long as the Tea Party exists. I hope the dems take this one.
Yes
This election gives Dems hope?! This writer's false "hope" is as good as the "hope" Obama delivered: zilch, ZERO, nada, the big 0. Lugar will win reelection.
babysonboomboom
You're as nuts as prospero!
I fully support the tea party in trying to clean up and get rid of politicians that cater to the special interest groups. If the democrats would have a similar purge of corruption in their own party, we might get somewhere as a nation.
Just from my own perspective, my own interaction with them, the teaparty electives are incompetent. I think I will hold out for a higher standard.
Now who do you replace the caterers with, know nothings that don't have a clue? Someone in a earlier post said that doing nothing was the point. Then stay at home, delete your state from the polotical process. Save that money tea party types.
Shelia. Some are, but I see larger rate of incompetence coming from the career politicians. In order to be competent, they have to be willing to make responsible decisions and find a way to pay for their programs. That hasn't been happening in a while.
Gateway......you have one group who is actively endangering the future of the US and one group who is saying that doing nothing is better than doing something harmful.
PutAmericaFirst...on what planet are you from where the TP are not being propped up my special interests? Do you realize how much the oil & gas industry are pouring into Murdoch's coffers as we speak? The more he speaks of getting rid of the EPA, the more BP and Mittal give him. Indiana has some of the worst polluted waterways in the country, and Murdoch wants to get rid of the EPA and deregulate environmental controls. Yeah, who's paying him off...
Thats true. I remember swimming in the river when we were kids. I wouldn't step a toe into it now.
The Tea Party folks were conned by Dick Armory using Koch Bros. and other money to win an election. They were not in charge of their movement about spending and deficits. They fielded candidates who were mostly ill equipped to hold office and unable to perform simple legislative tasks-like compromise. They did not compromise and the government stalled. This plays into the long game that wants the Obama administration to fail. Well played by Dick Armory and the others-I wonder what the Tea Partiers will do when they finally figure out they were used?
No, the tea party do not want to compromise. The tea party is why independents are going to be voting for Obama in the Fall.
I know this Inde will, Republican politicians have gone off the deep end and the pool has been drained
If you are an independent I am a jet airplane pilot, Bo.
Also an Inde, and agree. They have gone to the extreme.
Dog, why is it that the tea-party expects all independents to favor them? Wouldn't that make them dependent?
Yes
The teabaggers cost the GOP the Senate in the last election cycle and they will give the House back to the Democrats this time.
Before we can move forward, we had to send a message to the republican party. Stop with the corruption and catering to special interests. Yes it cost the Senate, but it was necessary. Now we need more qualified people to run.
LOL, The Tea Party sure showed em (how) didn't they?
@Put America First. Had the T-pers done that it might have made a difference. I don't see any actions on their part that could or would have helped the economy. They just played a sleight-of-hand and left their message behind, while bringing their evangelical zealotry to government. They had no intention of anything. Their deficit message? Oh yeah, let's downgrade the US. Did they take the 3 cuts for every 1 increase - hell no. Do they do anything that makes any sense? No. They're arrogant, rude, malicious liars, and by god, if anyone wants to take away freedoms it is them: Want to stop contraception, want to invade vaginas, want to have a religious test for office, want to make it harder to vote, want to take over whole cities and villages an do away with those elected to office in the cities and villages, want to take the land of the cities and villages and sell it off to their buds to make golf resorts and developments (and do you think they might be getting a little kick-back from that on the side?), want to make certain the rich do not pay their fair share, want to make certain that workers have no rights, want to eliminate that minimum wage, want to eliminate public schools, so we can all pay more for private ones, want to close the Post Office, so your letters can cost you mega bucks by sending them through FedEx or UPS, want to privatize all health care, and elminate regulations from it, so we can all spend 50% of our income on health care, or die. Yeah, they've made a really big impression on the electorate who actually know what's going on.
Yes.
babyson,etc. No Bush will never be gone. What he did to this country should never be forgiven and certainly not forgotten. It will take years and years to undo what Bush did to the United States. No Bush is not gone and won't be for a long long time.
PAF
Befoye you can move forward, you need to turn around.
Trying to explain to folks in Indiana why Obama's auto bailout is a "bad" thing,,,,,,,Exactly how is that done in a State that manufactures as many auto parts as Indiana? It's like attempting to gain votes by telling people you would foreclose on their homes, put them on food stamps and unemployment, Then to top it off,,,,,,,Defund food stamps and unemployment.
You can't run on "Screw the people" or Democrats will own that seat, PERIOD
Doing the right thing and doing what people like are too different things. That is why we are all in the mess that we are in. We have a choice between people who somewhat try to be responsible and those that are irresponsible.
Hahahaha,,,,,,The exact mentality I was speaking of,,,,Voting for the guy who would watch your homeless children starve (or die in an ill concieved war without reason)
Now THAT is truely a Republican "value"
Right, Bo - the leftist independent - all republicans want to starve childresn, push grandma in front of a bus and pollute the sky so bad that we will never see the sun again.
Most republicans are just social conservative, fiscally liberals. There are a few who actually believe that we should not be spending at the federal level for what should either be a state function or should be left to private charities and businesses. What a bad, bad idea that would be, right?
Bookem Dano- the problem we have had is when we do allow the states or localities to administer programs we find a high level of local corruption or bias. The reason we no longer have seperate but equal is they were seperate but never equal. Poll tax, and a whole host of other examples can be provided but you probably know them as well as I.
The Repblicans play off this preconception which has been drilled into them for ages that the Democrats just spend spend, support "welfare mothers," etc. and increase taxes to pay for it. These preconceptions have some basis in past behavior but were never completely true and as time passed and the situation changed these preconceptions persisted even though they had little to do with the actual problems. I know how it works, I came from a Republican household. So when the economy tanks under a Republican, and the deficit started increasing even more, it was easy for the Kock Bro and others to manipulate Republican fears and create the Tea Party. They were niave people and could not understand that you can't just cut spending in a severe recesssion. Easier to go with the preconceptions that it was Democratic spending on things that might directly benefit working people that was to blame. At the same time nobody likes taxes so taking a "antitax pledge" was politically beneficial. The problem all along was reality. The government was in fact getting smaller all along as a percent of the GDP and the overall population. Amazingly it was getting more efficent. But this goes directly agaist the preconception of a bloated monster sucking life out of the economy that the Repubs were brought up to believe. Also the tax intake was getting less as a percent of GDP as more of the countries wealth was ending up in the top 10% bracket which had been limited to 35% of whatever couldn't be shielded from taxes as investment, corporate income, etc. The problem was always partly an income one, and never really a spending one. And then there was Bushes unfunded war----. The whole Teaparty mentality is founded on an unreality. Is it any wonder they are so crazy or trying to reason with them is so fruitless? The only solution is to vote them all out. I now vote only Democrat. When the Republicans can start dealing with reality again, I'll reconsider.
Teatards can't even stand eachother.........
We like Libtards even less. (;-
Like I care.
Isn't this libtard thing kind of old? It was never what you'd call the soul of wit. If anything, such lame humor made me more grateful than ever that I had never fallen victim to the dumbness of wingnuttery.
@ Citizen: when I see the 'libtard' name calling, I just consider the source and forget it. But it's the ABO thing that absolutely cracks me up. It was funny before, but puts me in tears now that Romney is their candidate. AND THEY KEEP USING IT! To me, I read it as though they're saying "PLEEEEASE, someone else PLEASE run on the GOP side. ANYONE??? PLEASEE??" They're not happy with Romney (he just had the most money) and they are still searching for someone, ANYONE to be the real nominee against Barak.
Reading this article confirms what I believed about Senator Lugar when I voted for him for Senate in 1976 (his first term). He is intelligent, articulate and apparently willing to work with everyone to bring them along. I have long respected and liked him (even when he was Mayor of Indianapolis).
However, I do think at the age of 80 and after 36 years in the Senate, it's probably time to retire. Long term service is a great thing; but there is a limit to the amount of time anyone should be in that position. Since I haven't lived in Indiana for almost 20 years, I know nothing about the other Republican or the Democrat who are also running.
Senator Lugar obviously is more moderate than some would like. But all in all, I think he has done well by Indiana. I wish him well.
I'm also disappointed that yet another article concludes with someone (anyone) saying, we'll support the nominee of our party, whoever it is.
Annie, I couldn't agree more....people who are voting for Romney are doing it mainly because they've been brainwashed into believing that they MUST get rid of President Obama -- in most cases, they have NO idea what they will lose if he's elected. They don't know they may lose Medicare, they may lose Social Security as they know it today, they may lose a regulated environment, a regulated banking system, healthcare protection, etc., etc. If even half of them took the time to actually look at what Romney stands for, they would be appalled! But, they will continue to be brainwashed into thinking that President Obama is the "worse president ever." Unfortunately, I won't be voting for Romney....I know better!!
Bringing up the elections in 2010, amost every President, in his first term, has a new Congress made up by the opposite party. That happened, and the tea baggers got in. We have seen how they have really, really helped the Average American, not only in DC, but in state governor's office also.
They ran on a promise of jobs, as that old "trickle down theory is pure BS", and has never worked. So just where are the F ing jobs tea baggers? And if you are so good, why is the governor of WI being recalled? That is just two examples of the LOUSEY type of people they are.
Then the tea baggers wanted smaller govt, unless it comes to women reproduction rights, then they want the govt involved. What's next, a pussy police force? To make sure women aren't making their own decisions over their, not your reproduction rights?
From Texas, you and I both know the independent voters will be voting for Obama. It sure won't be for some damn Bible thumper, that's for sure.
Sally Ann just don't quite know where to start "just where are the F N job Tea Baggers?" Obama is the one spending all the tax payers money you know on "Shovel Ready Projects" when he made all the promises spending what close to a Trillion in what he called Stimulus in 2009 then last year he said "Oops I guess there weren't as many shovel ready projects and jobs as we thought" so Sally Ann question is do you want to follow Greece's lead or are you really that dumb that you cannot tell where we are headed under Owebama?
And the Women rights thing is a distraction created by the liberal machine to take the focus off of Obama's failed policies! He has NO record to run on He is toast! He is the weakest link, GOODBYE!
BrentOC
If the women's right thing is jus a distraction to take the focus off "Obama's failures" then why did the Teabaggers start attacking women in the first place?
Kinda stupid wasn't it?
Do you really think it's clever to blame the victims for fighting back.
You weren't expecting that were you?