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Carolyn Kaster / AP
President Barack Obama, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (center) and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, talk as they look over the 9/11 Memorial in New York.
An annual speech by a Northeastern governor focusing entirely on disaster recovery efforts wouldn't normally make national news.
But when that governor is a possible presidential contender, a symbol of Republican infighting and the proud owner of a sterling 73 percent state-wide approval rating, it's a different story.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is one of several governors whose rumored presidential ambitions offer a larger national platform for annual "State of the State" speeches that can contain hints of their policy ideals, political goals and personalities.
Republicans Christie, Virginia's Bob McDonnell, Louisiana's Bobby Jindal, and Wisconsin's Scott Walker have all been discussed as future GOP standard bearers. Democrats Martin O'Malley of Maryland and Andrew Cuomo of New York are also thought to be eyeing national office.
From policies to address economic concerns to commentary on Washington political culture, those who have delivered their State of the Union equivalents have offered glimpses of their governing style, as well as the challenges facing them in their current jobs.
In his State of the State address Tuesday, Christie suggested little in the way of new proposals, but touted his own record as a reformer and offered a rhetorical pep rally for a state battered by last year's superstorm Sandy.
Mel Evans / AP
The N.J. politician's straight-talk and tough policies put him in the national spotlight — but after considering a presidential bid, the governor decided he wasn't ready.
"Despite the challenges that Sandy presented our economy, I will not let New Jersey go back to our old ways of wasteful spending and rising taxes," he said. "We will deal with our problems but we will continue to do so by protecting the hard earned money of all New Jerseyans first and foremost. "
Christie, who is preparing his own re-election bid in New Jersey, pointedly thanked his Democratic colleagues in the heavily blue state.
"Maybe the folks in Washington, in both parties, could learn something from our record here," he said.
The relative lack of controversy from the famously blunt Christie Tuesday contrasted with neighboring state head and possible Democratic presidential hopeful Andrew Cuomo.
Cuomo, a popular New York governor and formidable fundraiser, grabbed headlines for his Wednesday afternoon address, during which he proposed a specific new gun policy that would "enact the toughest assault weapon ban in the nation, period."
The outspoken governor dismissed critics who say an assault weapons ban would infringe on the rights of sportsmen and women --an argument echoed at the federal level as the Obama administration weighs gun control measures.
"I say to you, forget the extremists," Cuomo declared loudly. "It's simple. No one hunts with an assault rifle. No one needs 10 bullets to kill a deer. And too many innocent people have died already."
His address included a laundry list of policy measures that thrill the Democratic base, including election funding reform, climate control measures, the passage of a women's equality act and fortified abortion rights legislation.
"Because it's her body, it's her choice!" Cuomo repeated three times to applause from the crowd
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo calls for closing loopholes on a state ban on assault weapons and ammunition magazines that carry more than 10 bullets, during his State of the State speech.
Virginia's McDonnell, whose fast-growing state suffers from a dearth of transportation funds, used part of his remarks to outline plans to overhaul the way roads and bridges are paid for by taxpayers.
The plan would eliminate an existing gas tax -- which is based on overall gasoline volume rather than price at the pump -- in favor of a sales tax hike to help fill Virginia's yawning transportation funding gap.
By tying the transportation funds to sales, the logic goes, the pool of funds for construction and maintenance will grow with the state's economy. But it risks complaint from some in the national Republican base who object to tax increases of any kind.
The Virginia governor also echoed the rhetoric of national Republicans by underscoring his efforts to make "government live within its means."
And, like Christie, the Virginia governor poked fun at the federal city no more than a few hours' drive away. McDonnell slammed the lack of "bipartisan consensus" in Washington, saying that Capitol Hill is seized by "dysfunctional governing paralysis."
"In Washington, we see debt, taxes, delays, blame, and dysfunction. Here in Virginia we see results, solutions, job growth, surpluses, and cooperation," he said. "What a difference 100 miles makes."
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Now that Hillary seems to be out of the running, potential candidates from both parties are going to perk up and think about going with an early start, to test their viability.
Hilary Clinton has not indicated that she is out. It is too soon to start making predictions. The only real thing is that the GOP is trying to clean their image with Chris Christie.
Mitt Romney who? Nobody seems to remember the man who was talking about pulverizing the Middle East. THANK GOD HE IS OUT!. He is becoming one of the non-existent GOP people, just like George W. Bush, Sarah Paing and Dick Cheney. The GOP has already erased him forever from the books.
Nice party!
Secretary of State is probably the most brutal job in government. Constantly popping from country to country for 4 years. I think she's burnt out and unlikely to run. Just my guess.
Had Mitt won the election, we would not know Sandy devastated NY and NJ, the rich and super rich control the air waves and news media. Mitt would balance the budget all right. According to Mitt, states would be on their own when disaster strikes. He would never have signed any disaster relief.
Brand building is shoveling BS in a large pile. The debates always bring out their true colors, they still have learned nothing.......
Americans love presidential elections. We're talking about who's running for president in 4 years, this just after a presidential election.
Did ya see 2-bit Gov. Andrew Cuomo giving his feigned passionate speech about the need for more Gun-Control in New York.....He's a poor Character Actor.....Andrew, you are no Mario, so just give up trying....makes you look soooo foolish.... I hope "The Rent Is too Damn High Party" candidate Jimmy McMillan beats you out of your job next election....
Actually, Hillary did say she was NOT interested in running in 2016. However, she does have the prerogative to change her mind.
Wisconsin's Scott Walker (R)? For president? Now, that would certainly be a landslide for the Democrats.
Sorry, Den O'Synn, but I never saw Hillary as an unstoppable Presidential candidate, and I suspect neither did most to the potential Republican candidates.
On the Democratic side, I'll grant you she had, and may yet have, the inside track for the nomination.
But that is about the extent of it.
Who is this Martin O'Malley character? The rest of the gentlemen eyeing national office I've heard of, but him? Out of left field...
JESUS H. GONZALEZ!!! Presient Obama hasn't even been innogurated into his second term yet, and people are already starting their campaigns for 2016???
In other news, there are only 349 shopping days left until Christmas...
Governorship is a real training ground for the Presidency, such as Gov. Reagan and Gov Clinton. But not always, such as Gov. Carter (Jimmy, that is). It's so much fun to watch these governors growing up politically as hands-on administators, such as Christie.
But there are not enough books by these govornors for self-promotion. Such books should matter a lot.
Yes, we know the brand left by republican governors.
Voter suppression, take away woman's rights, cut education, destroy unions, attack the services helping those in need by calling them entitlements, cut Social Security, stop health care for those in need by calling it Obamacare, cut funds for mental health, work for the NRA, cut funds to help woman get mamograms though Planned Parenthood, stop tax reform to protect the rich. It goes on and on!
{{{{PUKE}}}} we need a break! Damnit! The media is pushing the American people around and its not fair...this stuff should not matter right now....we have families to raise and educations to get, who cares about the same old crap, no matter what, we all know by now that its just a different face, same crap over and over and over...knowing this should encourage the media to stop this insanity...because that is what this is, doing the same thing expecting different results. we are insane and its making me puke.
That's it, MSNBC: I'm officially boycotting you and any other news org that posts up stories like this. This is why our country is in the mess it is in, people can only see as far as the next election cycle instead of focusing on the larger more long ranged issues. I'll go to Al Jazeera English for my news for the next four years.
"That's it, MSNBC: I'm officially boycotting you and any other news org that posts up stories like this."
Are you boycotting Fox too? My guess -- no.
First of all, don't believe a d@mn word of it. I wouldn't trust Christie further than I could throw him. And Walker lied his way to office in Wisconsin. Walker promised 250,000 jobs, but Wisconsin is one of the worst states for jobs with only 37,000 created in the last two years under Walker, and Walker changed the reporting process to get those. Instead, WI has seen education funding devastated while abstinence is now required to be taught in schools over contraception/protection, an expanded Castle Doctrine of shoot first ask questions later, and an all-out assault on all clean air and water regulations to expand fracking and mining in the state. One could only hope that the GOP would be stupid enough to push Walker as a candidate. But beware of the man behind the smokescreen.
If lying to people, stealing their freedoms and smashing Unions is "Standard-bearing" for Republicans, then hot damn I'm glad I'm an Independent. You should be ashamed for sucking Corporations are people's dicks. Democrats, you should be ashamed of doing the same for banks and Hollywood. How about working for the people for a change? It's our money you're thieving and I'd be more than happy to move away from elected officials making my decisions for my family, friends and countrymen. You all have shown a propensity to screw up everything you touch. All I have to do is go to my local Post Office, to see how mismanaged your skills in leading are, Congress. You suck and I wish you'd just go away and die somewhere.
The conservatives are divided and directionless. Their message is chaotic and their tone is offensive ("that makes her a slut!"). They have lost touch with the American people. Their record is one of big spending, growing the size of government, huge deficits, huge debt, socialism through taxpayer bailouts, inaction on containing health care costs and immigration, favoring Wall Streeters/bankers while vilifying teachers and public workers as overpaid and under-worked, calling Social Security and Medicare an "entitlement" after a lifetime of investing in it, but most of all, a big bunch of juvenile acting obstructionists that does nothing to move our economy or nation in a positive direction.
As for Hillary she is also a product of the Chicago DNC feeder lot and she's personally worth over $20 Million, most of which she accumulated as Sec'y of State under Obama. Between her wealth and that of Bill we voters can go forward knowing that she can relate to our financial struggles and hardship as much as B. HUSSEIN Obama can relate to the poor and stuggling Black population whose color he wears so opportunitstically.
Maybe if the right didn't field Mr. "I'll take you out" Paladino as their candidate for NY Governor, things may have turned out differently.
I personally don't care for Cuomo, but I sure as hell didn't want someone that issues death threats to reporters as our Governor.
Justslapme,
Being from Wisconsin I must agree with you about your comment about Wacko Walker, as he is often called. He created so much division in the state that the republicans are now trying a softer approach. Winning a Recall, the first in our state, with only 53% is not saying much for this right wing idiot. Having 6 of his staff found guilty for stealing and for working on his campaign while working for Milwaukee Co. tells you a lot about his character! They all pleaded guilty!
I don't care about any of this other than the point of why the hell is this being given attention or why are we making a big deal about it? Why don't these clowns worry about doing their jobs instead? I know novel idea huh?
This is why we need term limits. All any of these fools think about is how to get reelected instead of doing their jobs and what can I do that is best for America. Just got thru with an election and that appears to be the underlying care of several of these guys with the predictable media fanning the flames.
This is nonsense and does nothing for us. Do your job and then get re-elected (one more time, maybe two with limits in place) on how you did your job (may or may not work if you had to make needed but unpopular choices but at least the right thing will have been done).
If we put the limits in place, restricted the pay and out of office benefits (at least bring in line with what average joe America sees), curbed the payoffs from the knobbiests, and mandated a set length of time for campaigning (I say no more than 3 months before election) maybe we could see an end to this BS and actually see these guys do their jobs and get something done. I'm tired of it, how about you? Ok off my soap box.
It is time
Christie blew his presidential chances with his azz-kissing of Obama after Sandy that contibuted to a GOP loss. Few Republicans outside of NY/NJ would even consider voting for him.
The GOP better select a better candidate then Romney. They also better develop a stronger game plan then the last campaign. Texas, Arizona, and Georgia are not going to be GOP strongholds for much longer, and the caddy Good Bye Old Party better stop catering to the christian right white american male population to win.
spider-737231
You mean a governor putting his state's needs above national partisian politics WON him stronger praise from the rest of the country. He was honest and up front with Obama and the GOP. The GOP didn't lose because of Christie, they lost because of their entire strategy. Legitimate rape? Not acceptable.
SECEDE from DC............. the only answer
Actually, I think that is exactly when he started to look like Presidential material, as opposed the latest poster boy for 19th-century conservatism.
But I guess Nov. 2012 didn't teach you anything, did it.
Yes, Christie is looking more like presidential material. All three of them!
Christie is probably the only republican from the current crop that would have a chance in 2016 if no new super stars come up the next few years. None of the old school like McCain Perry or the other radical right are acceptable to mainstream Americans. Christies willingness to stand up against the radical right and acknowledge a democratic president when his actions warrant it sets him apart. Republicans need a more moderate candidate and at least Christie has shown he's willing to stand up to the radical right. We'll see.
Rand Paul?
Governor Christie seems likable and he even SEEMS as though he might be able to be an effective president but he brings the republican party back into the white house with him, so unless he changes his stripes, he can not have my vote...
Ahhhh so Greg is a party only voter. Got it.
I think those who don't know Governor McDonald need to look a little closer at him. He's a moderate who doesn't promote bigger government, yet understands that sometimes, taxes need to go up to pay for the cost of government. He understands that leading means getting all parties together to pass a budget and making sacrifices in his platform for the good of the state. I voted for the past two Demorcratic Governors (who won) and changed this year for McDonald and he didn't disappoint me.
Of course, he has a problem, he's not a ultra conservative so the heavily right of the Republican Party won't like him and of course, the unltra liberals will not support him because he's a Republican. Such as Greg-632153
And people wonder why we have gridlock in Washington.
Talk: When it's the Republicans, it is only the party and party politics. It has nothing to do with the rest of the American people. Leopards don't change their spots, nor do the Republicans.
I would like to see and Independent get into the run. Party politics are terrible dividers, and we really need to pull together. Our current election process is not what our country's founders intended. (They actually wanted to protect and build this country.) As a matter of fact, we should hook up the founding fathers to generators. They are turning over in their graves so fast, that they could power a large city.
Governor Christies grossly overstated anticipated 2012/2013 state tax revenues, and by the end of last summer it was clear the state would have a budget crisis on its hands. Now he gets to hide behind SS Sandy and pretend that th state's financial problems were all was a result of the storm. For 14 of the previous 17 years NJ didn't make its required contributions to its public employees/teachers pension fund. That combined with the market colapse in 2008 resulted in an underfunding crisis in the state's pension plan. Yet Christie has managed to villify the state's teachers and other public employees in the eyes a significant portion of the voting public, convincing them that their unions were the cause of the problem. If you admire deception, Christie your man. However, if you value integrity at all, sorry, the big guy has none.
I am A Democrat. But I would vote for a Chris Christy any time rather then a Dem. from the South. With the exception of Bill Clinton, Every Southern President had destroyed this country. The President can funnel money and government contracts places like Tx. And the fact that Tx don't care about there land, Water and Air Quality means company's that want to pollute all of the above all they want, Well TX is the place to be. We have to be clear. The civil war is not over, It has never been over, the tactics have just changed. Is it not clear to everyone. Look at the Sandy bill. 60 billion was asked for and the Congress only passed 9 Billion. Many southern Representative voted against that. And for the fact that these are all blue states. Its full time we Northers understand that is what is happening. Think Where Remington fire Arm's company is located. TX. We need to demand GM Move all there production back to Michigan where it belongs. We need to demand more Defense and Aerospace contracts be moved back to the North. We have the work forces, we have the Roads and Rail, Air ports. And we have water. How much longer can places like Ga. Tx, AZ, and all these other states that don't have water. You are going to see the masses moving back to the north for water if nothing else.
"He's a moderate who doesn't promote bigger government, yet understands that sometimes, taxes need to go up to pay for the cost of government"
chuck-2111043
Texas doesn't have any decent water? Your a fricken idiot. You wish your sewer State was as good as we have it in Texas.
Larry are you stupid, Christie is an idiot, he has no chance of getting the Republican nomination. You have bought into the liberal media line of the radical right, there is no such thing. If you think having a balanced budget, not killing unborn babies, following the constitution, believing in God, requiring people to show there identification to vote, believing in you making your own way and not living off of the government, if these things are radical to you then god help this country.
Best bumper sticker in Wisconsin:
"My kid is an honor student, my governor is a moron!"
Trtanslation of Barry Sorero's post:
There is no such thing as "radical right" if you are radical right.
APEWATCHER,your name says it all, you have not evolved yet.
@Barry Sotero
So you would refute that there is a substantial and growing libertarian (as opposed to the dominant Neoconservative) wing of the Republican party that is systematically suppressed by its leaders and ignored by the media?
If Florida's Republican Party wants to keep a Republican as its' governor, it better find a viable Republican candidate to run against the incumbent Republican Governor Scott. Scott has done everything in his power to give him the lowest approval rating in the nation and there is no reason to believe he can shake this mantra. Republican Governor Scott is the reason Democrats picked up more seats in the state and local county governments, and helped Obama win Florida as POTUS beating Mittens in the ground. Just watch Fox News anytime the guy is on and you too will be of the same opinion!
These next few years could be fun to watch.
Foot in mouth JOE , may not be the top dog on the DEM ticket. Also the PUBs have a ton of damage control to do. Along with fence mending. That last group of CLOWNS they paraded in front of us last time will not cut it next time and they know it. Mean while back at the ranch. We have to light a fire under congress to stop their bullsh#@ and do the wright thing for the country. As for HILLARY . I think she has had it !!! Four years of hopping around the world has taken a heave toll on her. She is just plain worn out.
I've been listening to/reading of-and-about countless thousands of opinions for the last who-know-how-long, and at this point, I'm burned out, too. I don't give a damn about any of it, anymore. Politics in this country has become nothing more than another "throwaway" commodity that we can no longer either use or afford.
I'm interested in changing how we do business, because the concepts of money and commerce, as we've known them, no longer function in Life. Got any new ideas? The old ones don't work.
I hope another Republican extremist will be put forward as a candidate, ensuring another Democratic win. I also hope the Tea Party keeps being the mouthpiece of the Republican party. Democrats never had it so easy...
Moderates like Christie or Cuomo could be "dangerous". Breathing new life into the Republican party at this point may resurrect the Tea Party types. I actually wouldn't mind to see Christie or Cuomo as President, they seem like good middle of the road politicians, not extreme. I just think it's way too soon to give the Republicans another chance- the Tea Party still has a pulse, though a weak one... let's make sure the beast is dead before any more Republicans are voted in.
The Tea Party is what was once the Republican Party.
My sister lives in New York (and works for the state) and she doesn't have a lot of good to say about Governor Cuomo. I liked him until his statement about gun control. Even hinting about confiscating guns from law abiding citizens is just plain wrong.
Correction to my post- didn't mean to lump Cuomo in with Christie
Cuomo is a democrat and a stupid one at that.
Bill Buckley said it best. You don’t necessarily want to nominate the most conservative candidate; you want to nominate the most conservative candidate WHO CAN WIN. Republicans could probably have won control of the Senate in 2010 and increased their margins in 2012 had they nominated candidates WHO COULD WIN. But instead, they lost elections they likely could have won in New Jersey, Colorado, and Nevada in 2010 and lost seats again in elections they likely could have won in Indiana and Missouri in 2012. All of this is due to tea party people demanding ideological purity. You must agree with them on every single issue or you will challenged in a primary by someone who is ideologically pure.
Only around 14% of registered Republicans vote in primary elections but almost 100% of tea party Republicans vote in primary elections. Thus Republicans end up with candidates for the general elections that are so far out of the mainstream that they can’t win. As long as 86% of registered Republicans allow the tea party people to run their show; as long as they allow Rush Limbaugh, the NRA, the birthers, Michelle Bachmann and similar crackpots to be the voice and face of the party, the Republican death spiral will continue.
How many other governor's speeches will focus on attacking firearm ownership?
They forgot Gov. Schweitzer from Montana. He's definitely making a play and has plenty of time to prepare now that he's out of the governor's mansion. He reminds me of a real life Jed Bartlett.
Cuomo needs to crawl back under that rock he came from. All these anti-gun dirt bag liberals keep poking their heads up, they need to shut the h*ll up.
You need psychiatric help. But keep talking, it helps Democrats gain votes.
40% of gun owners for the last 20 years are self described Demorats. 43% are women. So talking about any Candidate that is a gun grabber, has nothing to do with Red/VS/Blue. Any one of them crazy enough to start talking about forced confiscation, is cutting his own throat.
Cuomo seems determined to become the darling of the extreme left and at the same time drive even more people out of a state already in decline.
Discussion is not a decision. Window shopping (eyeing) is not commitment. Christie ended his GOP future by buddying up to 0 in Sandy's wake; he'll never get party support. Bobby who? Walker has solidified the union vote--they'll all oppose him ever step of the way even though it was a necessary move he made in Wisconsin--that fight is coming to your state.
Ayatollah Cuomo is dick-tater who will be dread even by the Dremcooks. O'Malley is unknown but his nexus to D.C. could help the Republicons...
Debates and political advertisements to begin right after the faux ball for 0 in January. Please don't waste air time by televising it.
Advice: Don't support either majorly inept party. Get the criminals out of Washington, support your neighbor for public office.
Branding? Does that include "messaging" and the "framing" of issues and an opponent?
The superficiality of the process brought to us by technology is not moving us forward as a nation.
Maybe Virginia should put a huge tax on guns instead of a sales tax hike.
Why? Because you're against guns? Read what Governor McDonald said. He was proposing elimination of the gas tax (because it has not been raised in over 25 years and cannot support the need for roads) and use the sales tax to support roads. Let's face it, even if you don't drive, good roads supports everyone. Goods are brought to your local stores over roads.
Another anti-gun opinion that needs to be thought out fully before hitting post.
Not only guns- they need to tax the living daylights out of ammunition too. Just like tobacco and anything else that kills on purpose and harms society as a whole.
Maybe we should put "progressive" tax on stupidity. I'm sure you'd be in the highest bracket!
Again people the problem is not the parties (Democrat or Republican) it's the people who support them. It seems more and more people are moving to the extreme. The time for compromise has left us behind. Most people on these boards say the same thing..."I'll never for (insert any Republican candidate) him/her BECAUSE they are Republicon" or "I'll never vote for (insert any Democratic candidate) her/him BECAUSE they are a libetard."
Look beyond the party and see what the candidate's position on key issues that affect the country. You will never find a candidate who stands by every position you feel is key, but look past what is best for you and look to see what is best for the country.
I might have agreed with you before two terms of Bush was shoved on us. The damage this country suffered has still not been undone let alone the damage he did to other countries as well. No more of that. We quite simply can not afford it.
Your hero Odumbo has done more damage to this country than any other president in history, keep electing morons like him and the country is gone.
Barry - Some of the world looks to America for various things like support, leadership, etc.. When Bush was president, we were the laughing stock of the world. His foreign policy not only bankrupted us, it turned allies against us. We can't afford another extreme Republican president, ever again.
If the presidential election were held today, Gov. Christie would have my vote. Of course, he's not far enough to the right, so the Repubs would never allow him to run.
Gov. Christie had made great strides in fiscal responsibility. Doesn't that make him an extreme Republican?
As a resident of NJ and a registered Democrat, Christie has gotten and will ever get my vote. The problem with The Republican Party is that they are mad at him because he "made nice" when the President came to survey the destruction of Sandy. And when asked if he would do a photo opt with Romney, he essentially told whoever asked that he had a state to run and didn't have time for politics. His famous "get the hell off the beach" when Hurricane Irene was coming can be translated to the Tea party: "Get the hell out of Washington."
catthepat
The problem is that the media created an issue of a responsible Governor doing his job. Had Governor Malloy (CT) done what Gov. Christie did with a Republican President, would the issue be there?
Was it a politically awkward moment? Indeed, but it was also a moment that Congressional leaders and the public needed to embrace, not politicize.
Christie would be great but I'm sure the media and uninformed voters would absolutely destroy him due to the fact that he is overweight. It's a shame because that idiot from Maryland is exactly what not to do but he has a pretty good chance of getting the Democratic ticket.
Thanks MJ CT. A thoughtful response to what I hoped was a thoughtful post. As Adam Sandler said in his song for the 12-12-12 concert, we are part of the Hudson Brotherhood.
I would like to hear them talk about today's problems and how to solve today's problems. In four years from now who knows what will be going on at that time? The country needs solutions this year.
Couldn't agree more! Stop campaigning and fund raising and pull your heads out of the sand(or locations further south) and legislate! And saying no to everything and walking out of meetings is NOT legislating. Oh and you might what to remember that gerrymandering does nothing on a nation level. This was demonstrated last month, remember....? When your house is on fire you might want to put it out before shopping for a new bigger house. The bank might have some questions. We're the bank in this scenario assh0les so get your house in order!
Someone could start by saying , If I was President, now, this is what I would do to fix the economy and some other things. Not in 2016 if I am elected, If you would be a good President then, you should have some good ideas now you're willing to share with the country.
If any of the Repugs think they have a chance at the WH, they'd better get their a$$es in gear and stop the BS they are spreading around. The bigotry, hatetred, and selfishness they spew will be their downfall. Haven't they realized this yet? Obviously not! Bob Transvaginal is wants to be President?? LOL.. Please!!!
They could show up for two weeks every quarter, and do the countries business, and save the tax payers a lot of money, as part time workers. Leave a few from each house there full time and reduce the cost. Leave twenty people to keep track of things and update the part time workers, who by the way would not be entitled to health care, and it might help get more things done. Heck the travel expense alone, would be a lot of savings!
You're right. The Republicans need to create special interest groups and pander to each coalition regardless of consistent policy. The Democrats have shown how to move politics forward.
The challenge will be how to pay for strengthening the expanding safety net other than printing more money and shrinking the middle class' purchasing power. But then again, that doesn't appear to be a Democratic issue.
leftisfascist
WHY ARE there so many left-wing nutjobs making accusations they cant back up?
Hey lefty..... Sorry, that nutjob tag is already taken by the GOP/Teabags. You have just proven my point. Hateful, not to mention out of touch. Read a damned newspaper or watch the news sometime. NOT FAUX NEWS.... then come back and make some valid points. Have a nice day!
Good one, Lauren
Loren-4235488
Really good hypocritical post. Your about as far left & extreme as it gets & then you want to accuse someone else of being extreme & calling names. Point taken. I just don't get it. You accuse Republicans of hate, bigotry & such. Then in return you spew your hatred , name calling & such.
Lauren you have nothing to say but denegrate other people, maybe you should learn something before you speak. You are a typical liberal moron, no idea of how to do anything but put someone else down. PATHETIC.
I'm sorry, the two party system in America is failing. With the election recently over, the American public must now face four years of media bombardment concerning the upcoming election in 2016!!! One party wins, the other party immediately digs in to begin throwing dirt. As far as I'm concerned, Republicans and Democrats are more concerned with their party platform and success versus the problems facing America. I'm not a Republican or a Democrat, I'm an American and we need help. Quit bickering and postering for position in the next election and get to work!!! Accomplish something the American people can be proud of and quit pretending you're performing public service when you're actually representing your political party!!!
What's failing is the GOP/Teabaggers. Never before have you seen such outrageous nonsense from this pary. Could it be because Obama is African American??? OH NO!!! It's not that! Please! ... and no, I'm not African American! I do have eyes and ears.... and most of you ignore the facts in front of your faces. Deny all you like, we know the deal.
No one can disagree with Odumbo unless it is about race, you are too stupid for words. Crawl back under the rock or cave you sleep in.
O'Malley from Maryland is probably the only option the Democrats have that would be a step-down so I assume he will get the nomination.
Cuomo is D.O.A. with the confiscate guns statement...don't even try
We're talking about 2016 because 2012 was SO disappointing
Actually, many people support gun control (contrary to the dozen or so NRA posters who show up on these threads to spew their pro gun BS)
O'Malley in Maryland is doing everything he can to get rid of capital punishment while "The Joker" is preparing a lifetime vacation in Colorado for wiping out a theater full of people.
Not sure where you are headed with that statement.
The legal system is terribly flawed, and it's very easy to convict and execute an innocent person. If I could be certain that th elegal system never made a mistake, I would support capital punishemnt, but sadly such is not the case.
The Aurora killings were perpetrated by a nut case who clearly has lost all of his marbles. Mentally ill people are typically not executed in this country, but I fell pretty certain this guy will never walk the streets agin.
The only way to be sure he doesn't walk the streets again is to kill him. In addition, dead prisoners require less daily cost to the state once the body is disposed of they are gone.
Help us!
What cooperation is McDonnel talking about? Like how the republicans cooperated to come up with invasive medical procedures to discourage womens choice or when they attempted to divert public tax dollars to religious private schools with no oversight? That cooperation?
Abortion should be illegal except in the case of the health of the mother, incest or rape. Any other instance is murder, plain and simple. If you support abortion in any other case you have no morals at all.
@Barry Sotero: I know a lady that was raped and did not have an abortion. Said that it would have been murder. So why is it okay for rape victims to have an abortion it still does not changed the fact you were raped. A lot of the anti abortion people are hypocrites.
So Barry, why is it not murder in the case of rape? If your going to call it murder you can't have it both ways regardless of how the 'fetus' came to be. Damn, there's that H word again...
Major corruption for President! This cat couldn't even fit into the OVAL OFFICE CHAIR! The 99% American People sure hope the corrupt Republican corporate MONARCHY runs him for president! If Romneysia didn't make it, how in the hell do they think this fat cat could make it???? Hillary will have a LANDSLIDE WIN against Tubby much greater than our illustrious President Obama had against Romneysia!
I guess the corrupt Republican corporate MONARCHY thinks they can continue GOUGING US with their 3x's too high-priced POLLUTANT gasoline, STEALING OUR PENSIONS, trying to cut SOCIAL SECURITY, instead of CONTRIBUTING TO IT, trying to cut "OUR" MEDICARE that they call "OBAMACARE" and keep STEALING FROM US with their 401k Bull$hit that right now leaves the 99% American People with an EIGHTY DOLLAR A MONTH PENSION! Who is $hitting who? They must think they are still back in the ages where they can BUFFALO the American People!
Major CORRUPTION at its finest and NEVER ENDING GREED!!
Libtards got to love them, want to ban guns because they kill, but have no problem killing babies. What hypocrites.
Hey Rose I guess you have no problem with a dumcrat being wealthy by any means right. Your buddy Al Gore who was almost president has more money than Romney after he saild his TV station to the muslims. You trolls are totally clueless. really!
Rose:
What about Johnny Boy.. Parking his yacht in another state so he didn't have to pave taxes on it... And when caught, he said he didn't know the laws... Hell he is suppose to be a LAW MAKER.
So-called "conservatives" here talk about "Conservatism" like it’s a noble state of being - NOT! Perhaps conservatives should rename themselves the "McNasties". In every possible way, conservatism has devastated the United States (and beyond). They vote for and support greed, corruption and fraud. They are guilty of political fraud, fake patriotism, economic fraud, religious fraud, moral fraud. There is little to be proud of in "Conservative World". When you vote for corruption, etc - you are part of that corruption, etc. Just look at the damage done to America since 2000! How many families have lost their homes and gone hungry because of conservative support for the GOP and Tea Party?? How many more businesses have gone bust?? As conservatives, you have supported the obstruction and sabotage of our economic recovery! And this is just the tip of the conservative "iceberg" that damaged America and wants to sink her - solely out of narcissistic politics and religious fundamentalism...
The only explanation for Republican behavior is that Republicans have (and have had) a "plan" for America that is extraordinarily way beyond sinister: Republicans and their cronies actually believe that they can control the world. They believe that they can turn the United States workforce into the equivalent of a third-world workforce. Put another way, they are purposely trying to drive down the standard of living of the 98% so that they can be controlled and exploited even more than they are now. Power-drunk Republicans and power-drunk companies (not all) think they can manipulate the world economy and even other nations like China. They think not of the United States or this State or that State (foreign nations) but are now thinking of themselves as the world controllers and the world as its workforce and market. In other words, America, its citizens and the United States government are relevant – only as long it these entities are "useful" to the ultra greedy, powerful and wealthy (again, not all are part of this). Think of the Republican "plan" as being the "Landlord of the World", the "Warlord" of the world, the "Company Store" of the world. It puts "1984" thinking to shame. All of this was blatantly clear during the Bush-Cheney years. It is also clear that, as a party, the GOP has not given up on this “dream”. Looking at the wackiness, the nutty talk, ideas, etc, etc, etc coming from the Republicans and the right wing, there can be no limit on any interpretation of the Republican “plan” for America and the world. Just look at the evidence since 2000 and the Republican disaster that has taken place…
Americans want America to be America and not the failure that Progressives want.