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As they prepare to settle in for another four years of President Barack Obama, Republicans are already busily working on their roadmap to retake the levers of power in Washington. Whether they will need a modest re-calibration or a wholesale reinvention remains an open question.
Obama's November victory arguably marked a new low point for the GOP. The Republican Party now wrestles with a president unburdened with the stresses of an impending re-election campaign and enjoying relatively high popularity.
What’s more, Obama has already worked to set in motion an aggressive – and mostly progressive – agenda that makes most conservatives cringe.
For Republicans, the work to re-position themselves to win back the White House in 2016, and, before that, shore up majorities in the House and Senate, has already begun. And a key step toward reaching those goals, said Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, involves making the party more inviting to voters who do not traditionally compose the party’s base.
Jason Reed / Reuters
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus gavels the 2012 Republican National Convention into session during the opening session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida August 27, 2012.
“We didn’t lose Wisconsin because we weren’t Facebooking pheasant hunters,” he said. “We need more voters.”
Democrats’ victories prompted a round of hand-wringing and recrimination in the immediate aftermath of the election. Having been drubbed among women and Latino voters, some Republicans argued for finally embracing some sort of immigration reform, and directed their ire toward those high-profile Republican candidates who made controversial comments about abortion and rape that fall. Still others pointed to the Obama campaign’s decisive advantage over Romney in digital outreach and voter targeting, while others laid the blame for the party’s defeat squarely with Romney himself.
“This certainly isn't the first time a party loses a presidential election and has to figure out how it does better,” said Henry Barbour, a Republican National Committee member from Mississippi who’s helping to lead the “Growth and Opportunity Project,” the RNC-commissioned review of the party’s failings in the 2012 elections. “Things are never as good as you think, or as bad as you think.”
Some of the project’s recommendations, which are on course for release as soon as March, are glaringly obvious. Republicans are virtually unanimous in agreeing on improved digital tools to court voters, as well as improved outreach to key voting communities – like Hispanics or women voters.
Priebus said he’s taking a cue from former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean’s “50 State Strategy” he enacted as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
“We have to compete everywhere again. You go back and look at the electoral map in 1988, and you look at the states that were red. It’s stunning,” he said. “I think the charge for us is to run up the hill and make the case everywhere that the Republican Party is the home for more Americans.”
'Battle over strategy'
But as party leaders fan out to hear from elected officials and grassroots activists alike about the trajectory of the party, the GOP on Capitol Hill has been anything but a tribute to party unity.
If House Speaker John Boehner’s remarks about accepting new revenue in the aftermath of Obama’s victory were emblematic of Republicans’ soul-searching after the election, then the weeks since then have painted a vivid portrait of just how divided the GOP is about its path forward.
“If we’re split on anything, it’s on strategy, not the final goals,” said Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., a darling of conservatives. “I think what you’re seeing now is a battle over strategy, not over principle.”
Must-Read Op-Eds: Mika Brzezinski reads from Joe Scarborough's latest Politico column on how the GOP can win future elections, and that is by electing "candidates who can win sweeping majorities." The Huffington Post's Arianna Huffington joins the conversation.
The battle over the so-called fiscal cliff laid bare many of the fissures that plagued Republicans in Congress for the past two years, bringing the government to the brink of shutdown several times and almost tipping the government into a default on its debt. The party’s ability to speak with one voice has been hampered by familiar internal, ideological divisions.
When Boehner offered to raise taxes on millionaires – a concession, but one that Obama dismissed outright – conservatives undercut their leader’s bargaining position by refusing to pass it out of the House.
Even when Democrats won an income tax hike, it was over the objections of most House Republicans; Boehner won another term as speaker over the defections of some high-profile conservatives, including Mulvaney, who did not vote.
“I do believe that, as a party, we need to focus on the things that unite us,” Barbour said. “Folks in the party aren't going to agree on everything, and that's OK. The Republican Party is a diverse, broad party.”
And as party leaders attempt to put a fresh face on the Grand Old Party, the first few months of Obama’s second term seem destined to test the divisions among Republicans.
The president has signaled his intention to seek comprehensive immigration reform and new, stricter controls on firearms – two initiatives that could split conservatives who want to hold the ideological line from Republicans who wish to shed the party’s image of intractability, and cut some sort of a deal with Obama.
Those battles will play out alongside what’s expected to be a bruising fight in just a few weeks over raising the debt ceiling, continuing government spending and dealing with the automatic spending cuts in the fiscal cliff, which were delayed for two months past the beginning of this year. The deadlines for all three of those issues fall within a few weeks of each other in late February and early March.
'We have a mish-mash'
And already, some Republicans are openly discussing the possibility of a shutdown or default, things which Boehner and other GOP leaders had openly disavowed during similar fights in 2011. Mulvaney said “the world is not going to end” if the U.S. defaults on its debt.
“No one wants to default; not even the most right-wing nutjob wants to default,” he said. “But do we want to throw money at paying the light bill at the Department of Education?”
But as Republicans wrestle with these divisions, there’s always the hope of the one development that seems to solve most problems in politics: winning.
After Romney’s loss and Boehner’s struggles with his rank-and-file, Republicans lack for any natural leader behind whom the party could rally. The country is still years away from the next presidential primary, a contest which might test many of these same fault lines within the GOP.
“It's absolutely a challenge that we face. The Democrats have Barack Obama, and we have a mish-mash,” Mulvaney said. “We have the speaker of the House, the minority leader of the Senate, various outside groups and very vocal folks over in the Senate, along with a cast of presidential cast-offs in the last four years. We haven't really coalesced yet.”
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Rape remarks sink two Republican Senate hopefuls
Leave a Comment:
The first thing the GOP has to do is tear up that pledge to Norquist. They were hired to do the PEOPLEs job, not Norquist. That's who that work for, the people. Their only pledge it to the Constitution and the people. Once they do that, then maybe they will be in a position of confidence of the people.
The Nomination Process for the GOP is insanity, its a sprint to see who can appease the most radical elements of the Party. The result is a group of Candidates who have no chance of winning a General Election. The GOP needs to regroup and realize its much more effective to offer incremental changes or Policies then utter full out Dogma. They need new leaders, folks willing to admit we live in the 21st Century.
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Nope, only the GOP jw101
Understand "For the People" and become human again...........
“If we’re split on anything, it’s on strategy, not the final goals,” said Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., a darling of conservatives. “I think what you’re seeing now is a battle over strategy, not over principle."
The only strategy that we have seen so far from them has been obstruction. They do seem to be united in the principles of obstructing any meaningful legislation that is put in front of them while not coming up with any good ideas to replace the legislation that they reject.
MontereyJim - Those comments are exactly whats wrong with your Party. Nuff Said.
Norquist is on the board of the NRA. The NRA grades congressmen on their votes to support the cause of the NRA, which is clearly to have an assault rifle and 30 rd clips in every home. Norquist compells congressmen to sign his no-tax-increase pledge in writing. The NRA has said that if a congressman gets a low grade by not voting the way the NRA desires, they will fund a primary candidate to beat that congressman in the next election and not provide GOP funding for the sitting congressman's campaign. That, my friend, is called EXTORTION and is illegal in all 50 states and the federal gov. We need Eric Holder to prosecute the NRA leadership and board members. Its just that simple, Norquist and the extremist NRA need to go - they have no place in our society.
“But do we want to throw money at paying the light bill at the Department of Education?”No. the deparrtment of Education can work in the dark tHE rEPUBLICANS FACE A CHALLLENGE SIMILAR TO WHAT THE coNFEDERACY FACED IN THE cIVIL War. WHen faced with the prospect of receiving aid from ENgland, that very probvabably could have swung things in their favor in return for giving up slavery, welll, we alll know what they decided.
Bingo. Kevin nailed it.
GOP back to power.. hmmmm.
1. Stop telling us who we can marry
2. Stop telling us what our religion should be
3. Stop telling us what our family values should be
4. Stop trying to regulate women's vaginas, legitimate rape? cmon.
5. Stop tax credits for corporations that move jobs to other countries.
There's way to many things to even list here... However, if the GOP will stop their motto of "GREED, GOLD, GOD, and GUNS" and ignoring women, minorities, gays, and get rid of the teaparty....
Ulterior motive, manipulation, narcissism, greed... these are some of the traits that define the Republican party today. These traits will always fail within a culture that has access to information and social connections, because they are neither honest nor practical. That is why information and social connections are limited in totalitarian states. Until Republicans build their platforms - whatever they may be - on honesty and pragmatism, they will only have the support of those who are ignorant, paranoid, and easily persuaded to follow a trend.
your party... that party... his party... her party... It does not make a difference which party needs to get their act together. They need more common sense approaches. They need to stop the BS. The need to cut the pork fat attachments out from a main bill that gains passage. Enough of the insanity ALL the way around.
Why do We The People get pink slips of there are mistakes in our work, yet that same policy does not happen in Washington? That is assbackwards. *smiles*
MontereyJim wrote "we are on the highway to dictatorship and there is no stopping it now". Oh really? Have the 2014 elections been cancelled? Are there armed storm troopers in the streets? Have any industries been nationalized?
What total and utter nonsense, fear mongering at it's best without one iota of fact.
They can't do their jobs NOW, why would anyone in their right mind have the CRY babies lead the country, NO WAY IN HELL.
Obama is working frantically to disarm the people right after equipping his Department of Homeland Security with enough guns and ammo to pump five bullets into every man, woman and child in the entire country.
If he succeeds, there will be no more elections and we will be remembered as the most gullible enslaved population in history.
The decision is made within the Republican Party, already being trumpeted through the microphones of radio talkers and the columns of the punditry. The GOPTP has decided they failed because they "aren't Conservative enough" and the wrong people voted. To them this isn't a fundamental problem. It's a marketing problem, and marketing problems are solved with a new and better PR campaign. This approach is doomed to failure. Republicans deliberately turn a blind eye to the facts, to a world where;
People value our education institutions.
Over 95% of women use contraceptives at some point in their lives and don't approve of restrictions on their reproductive rights.
The Public is weary of war and refuses to be moved by the politics of fear.
Half the poor are the working poor, made that way mostly by the WalMartization of America. Many fear facing that same fate, a fate that Conservatives PROMISE for more of us in their Dickensian view of the economy.
We know that a hand up isn't a hand out, and most of us will suffer setbacks at some point in life.
People who've paid into Social Security all our lives demand that it be preserved, not handed off to the banksters of Wall Street.
Those banksters who crashed the economy did so through a lack of regulation and an excess of greed. We're angry they've been made whole and more while our incomes continue to stagnate.
Most of us recognize the difference between Wall Street and Main Street, and know which side the Republicans stand.
Too many of us suffer from years without a raise even while profits rise, and too few benefit from the Carried Interest loophole.
It's obvious the three decade experiment with deregulation, trickle down, and Laissez Faire Economics has been a failure.
We demand better. The Republican Party will not agree to anything except more of the same failed policies.
To quote a famous President, "Mr Norquist, tear that pledge up!" GOP has forgotten who pays their checks, WE THE PEOPLE do. If you are not going to work for the people that hired you, then your out.
You post is moot if you can't even say the Presidents name correctly. Just sounds like a child throwing a tantrum. Grow up.
The biggest problem is that 3 people gave him an up vote.
Take some Valium cause damn, your conspiracy theory mind is on overdrive. Who would have thought that someone would be against giving guns to trained personnel and taking them away from rednecks that just want to be able to kill something? Oh and all the while under the pretext of taking over the world, lol. Wake up people.
The GOP has lost vision and direction. If they want to get back, they need to get their message out in a positive way instead of the negative narrative. The GOP also ruined credibility in the Bush years by acting like Democrats. Now, they look hypocritical trying to get back to financial responsibility.
You can't promote fiscal responsibility after allowing Bush's reckless spending. Kind of like Obama in 2006 voting against raising the debt ceiling for Bush, but now wants unlimited debt ceilings for himself. But liberals would NEVER hold Obama accountable for anything he said.
1. Use common sense & don't hurt the feelings of women and minorities, such as the legi rape comment by Akin;
.
2. promote moderates inside the party
.
3. Work with the President, and the first order of business...raise the debt ceiling.
Really, can a leopard change its spots? I do not think so, The conservatives are in this situation because they are conservative, holding onto a past which was never as perfect as they reminisce. Our country and the world is ever changing and to not evolve with it will leave one a relic of the past. Just like the Whig Party.
Perhaps, instead of trying to manipulate Americans into positions ever farther to the right, the Republican Party should ajust their policy positions to where they were 40 or 50 years ago. That's where the majority of Americans are. Of course, that's where the Democrats now as well.
All you have to do is look at that moronic, @!$%# eating grin on the face of Reince Priebus and you can foretell the future of the republikan party.
The only way the republikans can win an election in the near future is by voter suppression and the disenfranchisement of the American middle class. They are going to gerrymander every Congressional district in every state they can. They are going to try and change (not eliminate) the Electoral College and they are going to spend billions of dollars on lies and propaganda to that end.
I don't see any element within the republikan party strong enough to fight the fascist radicals who now have the party by the throat. The have tons of money and the radical right wing propaganda machine of Fux "News".
We must, at all costs, battle them on every front when it comes to voter suppression.
Sounds like the GOP is trying to find a better way to Lie.
The God Owful Party lost because they are bunch of losers and extremists as is evident by their "Legitimate rape" comments and more. Now they want to tamper with the Electoral College voting as their way to sneak back into the good graces of Americans who have rejected them and are fleeing their extremists right wing views! This will only alienate us more and show that the republican't party is the party of wealth and corporate world! Rest in peace God Owfil Party!
HINT: Get rid of all the bigots in your party. Oh wait, would you still have a party then? (oO)
GOP, how difficult is it for you to reconnect with the people, after all you are supposed to be representing them? Perhaps a lot less BS and more of “rolling up the sleeves” and spending some productive time with real people, listening to them, would do a world of good for your standing in the electorate.
If you can’t do that, you are not worthy of being in control of the levers of power.
When I commented that the 2nd Amendment needed rewriting and was out dated by 230+ years I was condemned by conservatives. Now I see they want to change the Electoral College because they think it needs changes after 230 years. The whole party is a bunch of hypocrites! Get in touch with a little reality and stop listening to FOX!
The only way they get back the power is to cheat, as Bluelake said, fool the American people as they have before, or become human beings.
They once called themselves "compassionate conservatives" which fooled many very nicely.
The internal force that makes a person a conservative, is selfishness and greed. People do not choose the party they follow. they follow the party that matches their personality.
self interested emotionalism, is the underlying force. people who process information in the logical part of the brain become progressive. people who process information in the emotional side of the brain become regressive (republican).
Liberals on this site are one ridiculous comment after another. Very selective history and selective memory. Giddy about their own party today, foolish in how they portray the future. As if the Democratic Party has some great history of being above reproach, as if the tide cannot turn on a dime. Republicans just lost a presidential election, and that typically results in some leadership confusion. Democrats after Gore lost were in disarray. It is a cycle, up today and down tomorrow. Nothing more and nothing less. This is when new leaders emerge, and new strategies. It does not happen overnight, but rest assured it will happen.
"Sounds like the GOP is trying to find a better way to Lie."
They talk about the need to repackage their message. But it's not the packaging, it's THE MESSAGE. The real message is we don't like anyone except old, rich, white guys.
I posted this on Monday -
A conservative adviser’s idea about how to revive the GOP … It's pirate time.
The Republican Party … is a disparate and fractious lot of varying talent who, again, are connected to Congress - an institution less popular than cockroaches, according to a Public Policy Polling survey last week. Congress is now less popular than cockroaches and colonoscopies, though more popular than
the ebola virus and gonorrhea. The House has an approval rating of 9%.
.
a goal and strategy are needed. ….
….
Take the president's issues, steal them—they never belonged to him, they're yours!
Examples of what might be done:
(1) gun control
If there are voices within the GOP that are for some part or parts of gun reform it would be good for them—and for the party—to come forward now.
I love the Second Amendment and I'm not kidding, but I have to say tens of millions of assault weapons in the hands of gangbangers and unstable young men couldn't be what the Founders had in mind.
We need a little moderation here, a little give.
2) break big banks
If you are conservative you are skeptical of concentrated power. …. Republicans should go to the populist right on the issue of bank breakup. Too big to fail is too big to continue. The megabanks have too much power in Washington and too much weight within the financial system. People think the GOP is for the bankers. The GOP should upend this assumption. In this case good policy is good politics.
If you are a conservative you're supposed to be for just treatment of the individual over the demands of concentrated elites. Every individual in America making $400,000 a year or more just got a tax hike that was a blow to the gut. Regular working people are seeing their payroll deductions increase. But private-equity partners who make billions enjoy more favorable tax treatment. Their income is treated for tax purposes as a capital gain, so they're taxed at far lower rates. This is called the carried-interest exemption, and everybody knows it's a big con.
The Republican Party should come out against it in a big way. Let the real rich pay the same percentage the not-actually-rich-but-formally-declared-rich are paying. If the Republicans did this they'd actually be joining the winning side, because carried interest will not survive the new era. If congressional Republicans care about their party they'll want it to get credit for fairness, as opposed to the usual blame for being lackeys of the rich.
Republicans make too much of order and discipline. Sometimes a little anarchy is a good thing, a little disorder a sign of creativity and independence of thought.
3) immigration reform
Finally, Republicans should shock everyone, including themselves, by pushing for immigration reform—now. Don't wait for the president, do it yourselves, come forward individually or in groups with the argument for legalization of who lives here now. Such bills should include border control and pathways for citizenship, but—and most important—they shouldn't seem punitive or grudging and involve fines and lines and new ways to sue employers. The world has changed. Ease up now. In the past 10 years immigrants, legal and illegal, have fought our wars. We need to hurry in those who are trying to bring gifts we need into the USA. Whoever comes here learns to love our crazy country, or at least appreciate it. If we do a better job of teaching them why the goodness we have even exists, we will do OK.
The point here is to have the GOP lead in terms of good policy. But it's also important for the Republicans to show the variety, disagreement and alive-ness that exists within the party. It is not some grim monolith, some thought-free zone, or was not meant to be. It's not bad to be unpredictable. Living things
are.
Members should loosen up, speak for their corner, put together caucuses, go forward, move. Go on TV, dagger and sword, and make your case.
Really: It's pirate time.
This has been…a conservative’s idea about how to revive the GOP
My comment:
of course, assuming the GOP is capable of such change of heart. I do like the 2 party system. Best of luck.
Despite the fact that Obama won , it doesn't mean the the Republican party is losing, Republicans Won one more State Governorship they solidify their majority , at local levels , and states. Republicans lost the Presidential Election but retain the House, it is nahib for liberals to believe Republicans can't win in 2014 and the next Presidential election. Remember, Obama only won because the Latino pro-amnesty group but he lost the independent vote. Is too arrogant for liberals to pretend to give advise about the changes that the GOP has to make, when theyare losing union members , losing pro-abortion suporters, and independents.
An open question to whom? The very idea that a modest re-calibration might do is simply nonsense.The GOP needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror. Their platform is out of step with the majority of Americans and yet they stubbornly cling to their looney ideology.
Memo to the GOP: If at first you not only don't succeed but fail utterly, you might want to ask yourself why. Hint: A democracy means government by the people, not by the clown posse.
Keep believing that and report your party's results back to us in a year's time.
Yellow Dog,
Well, actually the Leopard HAS changed it's spots over the last 160 years. In fact the Leopard has become the Donkey and vice versa since Lincoln became the first GOP President in 1860.
If the GOP want's to become relevant again they need to go back to the beginnings of their party and look at what they once stood for.
The GOP was born from the dieing Whig party. The Whig's believed Government had the responsibility to build roads, maintain waterways, encourage the construction of railroads and maintain certain infrastructure projects that aided the people, the government and commerce. The Whigs were staunch abolitionists and worked tirelessly for the elimination of slavery. The GOP became all that and more when Lincoln was elected President.
It was the Democrats, sometimes referred to as the "Slavocrats" who favored smaller government, state's rights (to hold slaves) and were the party of the wealthy and the landed.
I would strongly suggest that the GOP order several million copies of TEAM OF RIVALS, distribute it to the party faithful and READ IT, OUT LOUD to each other and see the true history of their party and of their first President. THEN they should get the most recent biography of Teddy Roosevelt and READ IT OUT LOUD to each other. TR busted up the monopolies, regulated the packaged food industry and so much more that would be contrary to the new GOP's philosophy. Lincoln and TR were populists. They believed government had an important role to play in promoting the greater good and protecting the American people, WITHOUT INTERFERING IN THEIR LIVES.
TEAM OF RIVALS. Read it. I'm sure it will be an eye-opener. After they have read it, stopped listening to FOX news and Rush Limbaugh, then we can talk about their future role in our political system. The current GOP has NOTHING in common with the GOP of Lincoln's day other than the name.
I'm sorry to have to say this, but more and more they are exhibiting the behaviors we associated with the German Nationalists in the early 1930's. Yes, I'm talking about the Nazi's. Fanatical Nationalism and a "my way or the highway" attitude combined with the demonization of minorities and those who disagree with them.
Those who agree with the philosophy of the right of right GOP need to stop hiding behind the GOP brand and step out and form their own nationalist party. That's already been suggested by one right-wing talk show host.
Then the GOP can get back to it's populist, moderate, roots. THAT's when the GOP will become relevant again.
The radical Nationalist Tea Party tail of the GOP dog has been rejected at the polls. If the GOP wants to get back in the game they need to shove those folks out the door.
READ TEAM OF RIVALS. Great history, and a real eye-opener when you compare Lincoln's GOP to today's GOP.
and as "kevinoffsite" already stated, THIS is why the GOP is out in the wilderness.
An unwillingness to compromise, an unwillingness to state the truth, and an unwillingness to live in REALITY. Keep talking @!$%# like this, and don't be surprised when the D's pick up more seats in the house in 2014 and retain control and both the senate and white house in 2016...
and here's another one. "HIS" dept. of Homeland Security?!? Did you forgot who graced us with the DHS and the "Patriot Act?" And in what way is he "disarming" the populace? Because he asked for expanded background checks at gunshows, improved mental healthcare, and moderate restrictions on assault weapons and magazine capacity? Are you for real?
Stop with the hyperbole and start living in REALITY. Then, and only then, will the GOP become a viable political party once again...
GOP return to power plan....gerrymandering, rig the elections electronically in their favor, more voter suppression laws to remove people voting against repubs, commit more voter fraud, let the billionaires and millionaires buy the candidate they want to represent repubs, buy all the ads they can to overwhelm media in their favor, destroy the middle class by destroying unions and anything to do with destroying the middleclass, spend, spend, spend to give to republicans and then NEVER pay for it in order to blame on Dems........and most importan........LIE LIE LIE and DENY DENY DENY......
Same ol...same ol..!
The only hope for GOP is to spin off the Teabaggers into a separate party, the Party of NO, and then go back to the center, where they belong.
Excellent analysis, skip. Happy New Year!
I gave my comments base on facts , it is ridiculous to pretend that after Obama Democrats will get the 99 % of the Black Vote and the 80 % of the Latino vote , even all liberals and the Rev. Shapton's group of lunatics along the open border supporters claim Republicans are racist.
There is a pretty big difference between the Democratic Party in 2001 and the Republican Party in 2012. In 2001, the Democrats weren't saddled with a aging, dwindling, mostly monolithic constituency like the present GOP is.
The GOP has spent a decade (in fact more) demonizing the poor, minorities, and women and appealed primarily to older white folks (and mostly only the males at that). They will have to find ways to appeal to people they've (as previously mentioned) spent a decade or more demonizing. This is no easy task, and far more difficult than simply discarding the "soft of terror" tag that the D's were saddled with after 2001 (which was never true to begin with).
Thanks KB and Happy New Year to you as well.
Red, I strongly suggest you take a course in basic logic. Minorities voted for Democratic candidates because indeed, the GOP is racist. The agenda of the party of old white men is to hold on to their money and power, the country be damned.
The Democratic party platform seeks to serve the needs and interests of minorities, while the GOP leaves them out in the cold. Voting for the party that is not only on your side but is on the side of ALL Americans of whatever race is logical and consistent with improving our economy and strenghtening our country.
Minorities vote for Democrats candidates because Democrats are working hard to maintain the minorities in their plantation , increasing the level of government dependency for political gain.
GOP in conjunction with the NRA re-writes its message. Killed any kids today? We got an APP for that. And apparently, the NRA wasn't happy with how far the APP went, so it goes on to target the President's children in a new ad. What is wrong with the GOP? Let's ask the NRA. They have a fix for that, an APP for that, an ad for that, and a gun for that. If you are an extremist, your iPhone has a party for that. It is the GOP.
that's right, I forgot, ALL minorities are dependent on the government.
Nevermind that the bulk of welfare recipients are poor, rural, white folk. And of course, we all know those poor rural white people in places like Alabama and Kentucky are the Democratic Parties primary base... oh wait...
To any minority reading your post (#1.49), it just smacks of racism (seriously, try reading that comment from someone elses perspective). But no, no racism in the modern GOP...
{note: That is most certainly NOT to say that all the GOP is racist, I cannot stress this enough. That would be painting with the same broad brush that YOU did when writing that D's want to keep minorities "on the plantation."}
Oooh, can you cite an example of a plantation employing slaves in today's world. There is an equivalent, and that would be Wal-Mart and all other corporations that want free labor and want to bless their employees with freedoms of zero benefits. That is not the democrat's position - that is all GOP courtesy of the Kochs and their Wal-Mart ilk. Koch Industries=low wages, no benefits.
Fair enough, but the problem is that they take the money from successful, responsible people like us Independents to keep that plantation running.
Stop attacking women's health issues. Stop being the party for the rich. Stop telling us that guns don't kill but people kill. Stop discriminating against every group that is not white, male and heterosexual.
If the republicraps cannot get the message from the 2012 election, then they will lose badly in the midterms in 2014 and will be in the wilderness for generations.
RedVa...Your posts prove one thing...narrow minds never admit they have narrow minds. A racist is a racist is a racist. They refuse to see what they post and what in their posts others see...how is that not narrow mindedness?
They lied to get where they are, now they'll lie further to get what they want, and the 47%ers who they don't like, who voted for them last year, will vote for them again....LOL!!!
In the GOP, it's a never ending circle of hypocrisy, stupidity, lies, and ignorance!
The failures of the GOP are not about partisan competition, but personal inclusion.
The few right wing republican comments from the God Owful Party show you are still lost in the wilderness and out of touch with the real world! Too much money, too much rubbing elbows with the corporate world and the NRA! To much of a FOX, Koch and Norquist diet! Try lowering yourself to the "Common MAN" (Or Woman!) and try being Americans!
The one big thing missing in the GOP is someone that has the "balls" to stand up to what's best for the country and the people. With the liberal media, far left and most Democrats, mainly Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, misleading the American people and backing Obama on ALL issues, it is very difficult for the GOP to make this happen.
Until this does happens, Obama has the upper hand and decisions being made will be met with controversy and Republicans will lose and receive the blame, again.
Yes, the GOP needs voters. Yes, the GOP needs to appeal to voters who do not necessarily vote for republicans. The issue the GOP does not seem to understand is the very voters they want to court, cannot abide the GOP and their policies.
They dug themselves into a hole now let them wallow around in it like the pigs they are!
The GOP is NEVER going to expand its membership unless they stop running obviously insane backwards candidates whose sole agenda is to STOP STOP STOP anything and everything they can. THE GOP's M.O. these days is to return us to the glory days of the mid-20th century when everyone knew their place, and America is never going to buy in to that again. I have serious doubts the GOP will ever recover. Too much barely concealed hatred and greed.
The right wing pit bulls are out. Obama is going to be a dictator, he's working to take all our guns and he's taking away our jobs. Listen to yourselves. You sound like a bunch of nut jobs. Where do you come up with this. We can tell the trolls who getting paid your outlandish post give it away. If your not getting paid get some help mental help that is, you really need it.
The GOP should fare very well in the future once it becomes blaringly apparent that this administration will not have kept one single promise it made. After 8 years of failed policies and liberal nonsense people will have had enough.
Wow!!!You poor Eeyores o the reich really don't get it and really don't comprehend what happened in the last election. There are many people like me who are not in love with Obama but the GOP (Greedy Obstructionist Party) really gave no alternative. They openly pander to the super-rich and don't give a damn about the USA or the middle class. They are owned by the likes of Grover Norquist, NRA, Koch Bros., Karl the Rover, The Dick Chainy, oil companies, and the banks. To suggest that all they need to do is change their message is to suggest that cow pies will sell better with prettier packing. I don't think so. They need to oust dinosaurs like Barbour and Gingrich and younger snakes like the ones infesting the deep south (Jindal, Sanford, S.C. and Florida are rife with them) and start thinking about what is best for this country. Where were all of the right's concerns about federal power, spending, and debt while Bushco was ruining our economy, burying us in debt, starting two unfunded wars, giving massive money to Pharma, and signing the Patriot Act? A good start would be to bounce mealy mouthed Prince and hang jackasses like Marsha Blackburn, bush's lap dog. It;s incredible that after being slaughtered in the last cycle that the 'pugs think the problem could be "messaging". THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY ARE NOT SERVING THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COUNTRY. AND AFTER DOING EXTRAORDINARY DAMAGE TO US, RATHER THAN TRY TO FIX IT OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY, THEY TRIED TO BLAME IT ON THE DEMS AND STOP OBAMA FROM FIXING IT. It's odd how much their belligerence increased with a black president. I'm so sick of hearing the reichwing nutjob jackasses with their personal attacks on Obama. One thing that disturbs me is that Obama failed to make a very clean break from Bushco and the Nazi Party (GOP). And yet the riech attacks him for the same things that bush started.
As long as the Nazis fail to grasp their responsibility, accept it, and truly change, they are doomed. The bigger question is who will replace the GOP after it is dead in a few more cycles,.
To all of the NRA Nazis...should grenades and flamethrowers be legal for everyone?
It's such a shame that people assume just because someone is against obama, they are republican.
obama is a very smart man.. so was hitler .. it's the people who support him, who are ignorant and foolish
Hopefully the GOP will stop trying to interfere in people's personal lives. Although I liked a lot of what Reagan did, one very bad thing he did was tying the party to the "moral majority".
Also, no more pledges. All a pledge does is back someone into a corner so they can't easily change their position as new information becomes available.
One more point, until they stop wanting to spend even more on defense, they will never be able to convince people they are truly fiscally conservative.
I think 1 party rule is very bad for our country, so I always hope both parties are viable...but I think the GOP needs to change before they fall farther behind at a national level. (although interestingly, they increased their state-level control again last election...)
Thank you, Skip Nicholson, for your excellent and perceptive analysis. You exactly stated what I have been thinking all along. And thanks for noting that back in Abe's day, and right into the early 20th century, the Republicans were the progressive party. People seem to forget that Robert LaFollette was a Republican even while he was a progressive, and that he had a lot of support from his fellows within the party. What a travesty that only a generation later, his seat went to Joe McCarthy! Now, that's irony!
RedVirginia, I just want to point out that the one large bloc that the Republicans won last year was the over-65 crowd. And I don't have to tell you that a lot of them will not be here in 4 years. I'm not trying to sound snide, or gloat, but the fact is that the crowd that's replacing them, the oldest of the Boomers, do not share their ideals.
Also note that women make up 53% of the population, and until Republicans stop the misogynist dialogue and their transparent attempts to restrict women's full citizenship-and human rights--, they will lose the female vote.
Redvirginia,
You just prove how silly and misinformed you are. You don't know anything about politics because if you did you wouldn't make a stupid a$$ comment like that. Not one democratic canidate got 99% of black votes, not even Obama.
History lesson for this conservative nut,
Al Gore got 95% of black vote in 2000 (He's White)
John Kerry got 93% of black vote in 2004 (He's White)
Source: www.gallup.com
Why is this all about who has the power? Why isn't it about fixing the problems we have in this nation, and about working together to do it? No, we have to worry more about getting back on top of the power structure, which is BS. I'm not with either party, and I can stand back, and see that this is why nothing ever gets done. If this is all these two parties think about, then maybe it's time the people stop backing them until they get the message.
GOP assesses path back to power, this must be some kind of joke !!!
Good will start is to get the crazy Koch tea movement out of the GOP and rip-up the Norquist pledge !!!
Than stop with all the lying and hate !!!
Last and best of all is to pass-out Bear hugs and make-up with our President !!!
@ Pigotry.
On board with you today.
.
Oh yes they are................
the tea party has destroyed the gop. they have to go so far to thr right that they will never win a national election without stealing it. but thats part of their plan to get back in power. just take all the swing staes and divide their votes so there election don't matter. they have already stared legislation to do just this. that would mean romney would be president right now even though he got almost 5 million less votes. tats gonna create the rest of the downfall for the gop as they go the way of the whigs'
Thomas Blue -- YES YES YES!
I'd give you 6 thumbs up if I could.
The key is to keep the focus on the DEBT, and how devastating that will be to the future of young Americans.
The Actual Debt at the end of fiscal 2000 (Clinton) was $5.629 Trillion.
The Actual Debt at the end of fiscal 2008 (Bush) was $9.986 Trillion.
The Debt right now is $16.433 Trillion.
The Debt at the end of fiscal 2016 (Projected by Obama) will be $20.392 Trillion.
The REAL problem will be Interest payments when rates return to 'normal' (30 year average before Obama was 4.92% per year). Annual Interest Payments under Clinton averaged about $220 Billion per year, and under Bush they averaged $199 Billion per year.
If Interest Rates return to the historical average of 4.92%, our INTEREST ONLY payments in 2016 would increase to over $1,000 Billion per year ($10 Trillion over 10 years). That will have the same high taxes and 'austerity' in the USA as the current problems in Greece, where the Unemployment Rate is over 30% and they have a severe Depression in their economy.
Source for Info - Obama's 2013 Budget Historicals and Projections.
Libertarian is the new Republican party. It is obvious there is no leadership in this party. This two party system needs to be destroyed as both are corrupt and going down the wrong path for 'the people'. The right path for indecent agenda the wrong path to protect the constitution. We are coming. We are coming peacefully. We know of your false flag civil war Mr. President...a nation divided is easily conquered and we won't just give our country to you and your global elitist, One World, power hungry, sociopaths.
If you are looking for TRUTH research who owns the...media, banks, politicians, the one ally whom manipulates this country to fight their wars time and time again...see any correlation? The truth is out there and it is appalling - especially when calling on this truth you are labeled and anti-semite or terrorist. The truth is out there. Seek it and it will find you. You feel something isn't right don't you? It isn't.
So, Republicans looked like fools the last time they held up the debt ceiling.
Now what do they want to do? The same thing.
What was that definition of insanity we heard ad nauseum about from Republicans?
You want to win an election?
As painful as it sounds, you're going to have to run someone who Democrats would vote for. Appealing to your base is just ... appealing to your base. The problem with firing up your base is that you also fire up your opponents base to oppose you. The more you appeal to your fringe and create publicity the more you also fire up your opponents base for them.
Work on independents and conservative democrats and you likely have a better chance of electing someone. Stop the wild rhetoric of "second amendment remedies" and "long form birth certificate" and you get a better chance.
The far right won't vote for the left. The far left aren't going to vote for the right. You need to play the middle ground and look for moderates on both sides and independents. Alienating independent voters who have heard enough of the "don't retreat reload" or suggesting that our current president is really a communist in disguise of a foreign born marxist plant who truly dreams of burning down DC while he laughs maniacally into the night really turns off voters. Tell us less about how bad your opponent is and how you will fix things.
That's just my view as someone who doesn't align with either party.
Look, this is really simple.
If we want to have all of these 'free' services from the government, then PAY FOR IT.
We are currently spending about $3.8 Trillion per year, and we are taking in about $2.7 Trillion per year, which leaves a Deficit of about $1.1 Trillion per year. If we want to keep spending at that level - THEN PAY FOR IT, and then the real cost of government will not be hidden with borrowed money - sending the bill to our children and grandchildren. It's GROSSLY UNFAIR to hide the real cost of current spending with 'Borrowed Money'. It doesn't work with our personal finances, and it doesn't work with the government (just ask Greece).
It will cost the average family of 4 about $14,000 per year in new taxes ($1,165 per month), but hey - if that's what you want, THEN PAY FOR IT.
That would be 50.3, NOT 53, according to the 2010 US census.
That pretty much sums it up. BOTH parties blow. Big time. That's why we need more Independent candidates.
Roy, I will guarantee you that projection will turn out to be wrong.
The only reason the republicans still have a majority in congress is gerrymandering. Without it, they can't win an election.
The GOP is an odd coalition of groups with failed policies. They are (1) the wacko billionaires like Sheldon Adleson and the Koch Brothers, (2) the misled audience of Rush Limbaugh who think Obama is a dictator and the recession is getting worse, (3) the remnants of the once-strong evangelical movement who think we are in the Biblical endtimes, and (4) haters who just can't stand that times change and minorities and gay people have equal rights. The failed fundamental policieas are (1) getting more money to our wacko billionaires while weakening unions and cutting wages will somehow make us richer, (2) freedom means more guns, (3) modern science is atheistic and liberal and we ought to control people's sex lives, and (4) we hate gays, women, liberals, elitists, artists, teachers, blacks, latinos, union members, foreigners, muslims, atheists, and Jews need to be perfected.
@Thomas Blue.......well, when YOU hit a nail on the head, you really hit the darn thing for all it's worth. Your post sums it all up quite nicely.
LOL Stop - you are right - at the currect level of spending by this administration - it will be MORE.
Roy, how much can we take in if we take the cap off of SS wages being taxed?
How much can we get for taxing dividends at ordinary income tax rates (like we used to do) rather than at 20%?
How much can we get by stopping all corporate welfare, including carried interest?
Maybe we can pay for it.
Every-time a Republican gets in the White House we get Wars, Debt, Lying, and down grades "Enough" !!!
We have spent the past 4 years trying to reason with Republicans, and 8 years before that opposing them and their war-thirsty ways.
Republicans refuse to listen to the American People, they have their own agenda, and that agenda has proven to be very bad for America and the American People.
After the way the GOP has done everything possible to stall our Economic Recovery and bad-mouthed our President, I wouldn't vote for any Republican.
TO: MontereyJim who wrote:
Empty allegations lacking substance and having no relation to truth will certainly keep Republicans OUT of office!
Majority still rules in this country, NOT a minority of wackos loaded with hate speech.
Thanks Eve I appreciate the shout out.
TO: Thomas Blue who wrote:
Thomas Blue, I think I love you! Thanks for laying it out, perfectly!
ProFreedom, change the 8 to a 4 and we have your quote before the last election (and it will work just as well as it did the last time).
StoptheCannibals-2908428 "The Debt at the end of fiscal 2016 (Projected by Obama) will be $20.392 Trillion"..............Roy, I will guarantee you that projection will turn out to be wrong."
I know - Presidential Projections are notoriously 'optimistic'. Both Clinton and Bush projected 'surpluses' in their future (our present), and Obama's 'projections' show economic growth of over 5% per year, when the average of the last 4 years has been less than 2% per year.
I made projections based on 2% economic growth per year and Obama's spending projections, and the resulting Debt in 2016 would be more than $25 Trillion, an increase of over $15 Trillion under Obama.
One of the GOP Congressmen said it best:
The only principal the GOP understands is to get back into power. What they STILL fail to understand is that the majority of the electorate actually are intelligent, educated people. The Republican strategy of playing to a base of angry, uneducated, white male voters and doing everything in they can to offend everyone else is NOT a long term way of winning the electorate.
Roy,
Posted FAKE numbers again I see. Dude you know you're a joke when you gotta post FAKE numbers after the Election is Over.
FACTS: When Obama swore in as president in Jan 2009 National Debt was 10.6 trillion, Roy said it was 9 trillion. (Lie #1)
Obama First budget did not get started until the Fiscal Yr 09-10 which started on October 1st 2009. Which means all the debt that occurred during the time of Jan 09 to Oct 09 was carried over from Bush Last Budget (Oct 08 - Oct 09). This is how a federal budget works, from 1 firscal Yr to the next. Seeing that Roy don't know sh!tt about Economics. I will try and educate this fool again.
On Oct 1st 2009, National Debt was 11.9 trillion. I say it again because Roy is slow. Obama Budget did not start until after Oct 1st 2009, which means before Obama spent any money the Debt was exactly at 11.9 trillion on Oct 1st 2009.
Do your math, 16.5 trillion substract by 11.9 trillion does not add up to 6 trillion in Debt by Obama.
People like Roy try and repeat this lie over and over again. Kinda like Fox News, they repeat it so much until you start to believe them. The FACTS are Obama did not spend 6 trillion in Debt. Before he spent $1, the Debt was set at 11.9 trillion.
So Roy, keep on lying buddy if that makes you sleep good at night. But know this, they are alot of smart, educated people out here aint buying what you selling buddy..
Don't worry I know this fool gonna be on here still fabricating and making up Fake numbers. Why? He is an Obama Hater, period...
Source: Factcheck.org
""There will be no other time........we are on the highway to dictatorship and there is no stopping it now! Other than civil unrest. Since obozo learned that with a stroke of a pen he change and make law with NO ONE saying other or trying to stand up."
Empty allegations lacking substance and having no relation to truth"
Really American Girl? Ever heard of the NDAA?
ROY WILSON-336103
Originally posted in the wrong place, but moving here for coherency's sake.
Roy is hitting one of my nerves here. He is absolutely right that we have to find a way to "pay for it". The issue that we have with runaway spending unfortunately is bigger than one party. With the House and the Senate pouring money down the drain for things that we don't need we are going to have a serious issue.
One thing we always do is give Clinton credit for a balanced budget that wasn't running a deficit. Clinton was forced to work with the leadership in the House and the Senate to achieve it.
I understand many on the left are going to say "but the right doesn't want to play ball!". That may be the case, but it's going to be up to the Chief Executive to be the bigger man and see what compromise they can come to and to also get the current Senate Majority leader to play ball.
We have very serious issues with debt in this country. The tired of excuse of "but they won't work with us!" is getting old and tired. I don't care if you don't like each other. I don't care if they daydream of the other slipping and falling on a banana. We need to work together to address this or it's going to address us in a fashion we can't follow.
I don't need to hear about how badly Bush mismanaged finances when it's Congress that pushes spending and sends him a bill to sign. I don't care about 8 years ago. I don't care about 4 years ago. I care what you are doing about it today. I care what you are going to do about it 6 months from now. I care for what plan you have for our future.
We can't change the past, but we can certainly work together for a greater future. I don't honestly believe our leadership wants to destroy America but as a whole we are too focused on the present. Our leadership has to be disciplined and give up a short term gain that will turn into a long term loss.
Roy I agree with the premise but I noticed you never say anything about Americas largest expenditure, The Military? This will also need massive cuts..Can't put it all on entitlements.
Mulvaney said, 'The GOP needs to regroup and realize its much more effective to offer incremental changes or Policies then utter full out Dogma.' The ACTUAL effect of the GOP's 'incremental changes' started under Reagan with the help of the NRA, when the then Black Panthers of the late 60's/early 70's, openly carried guns to protest their 'right' via the 2nd amendment, which Reagan (as Governor) then quashed by signing laws to stop it. Then the NRA said' 'Hey these guys have a point, but let's make it for ALL Americans,' and Reagan (as President) went along with it. The NRA/GOP have been in lockstep with each other ever since, and that's just one 'small incremental change' out of MANY.
"Roy,
Posted FAKE numbers again I see."
Hey Jason, Roy posted where he got those numbers: "Source for Info - Obama's 2013 Budget Historicals and Projections."
Instead of being an asshat with Roy, maybe you should take the time to look it up yourself. I know that isn't as fun, but it sure would stop you from looking like the total fool and shill that you are.
I am an Independent and have voted both ways for most things, but my own observation is that America has a short memory, and in 2016 they will probably elect a Republican. That's just the way things work here.
"Every-time a Republican gets in the White House we get Wars, Debt, Lying, and down grades "Enough" !!!"
And the Democrats haven't brought us more debt and down grades? What planet have you been living on lately?
catch44 "Every-time a Republican gets in the White House we get Wars, Debt, Lying, and down grades "Enough" !!!"
Thanks for the laugh.
I did an analysis of American war deaths over the last 100 years, and over 96% of the 600,000+ of those deaths occurred under Democratic Presidents.
Over the last 40 years, the Debt has increased more under Democratic than under Republican Presidents, despite the Republicans holding the Presidency for 24 of those years vs only 16 for Democrats. In fact, the average annual Debt increase for Democratic Presidents has been $485 Billion per year, which is 52% higher than the average increase of $318 Billion per year for Republican Presidents.
The only 'downgrade' of our Debt occurred under Obama.
Try posting REAL facts instead of giving uninformed opinions as facts.
The GOP should own-up to the mess Mr. "W" Jr. got us into and dump the right-wing nuts from the party, this would be a good start, than President Obama would give then a Pardon !!!
kevinoffsite "Roy I agree with the premise but I noticed you never say anything about Americas largest expenditure, The Military? This will also need massive cuts..Can't put it all on entitlements."
Actually, our biggest expenditure is for 'Heath Care' (Medicaid and Medicare) - According to Obama's 2013 Budget projections, they will average $1.15 Trillion per year over the next 10 years, vs only $720 Billion per year for Defense. Also, Defense is a Constitutionally mandated expense, while heath care is not.
That being said, I agree that we should have significant cuts to military spending
catch44
I'm not trying to be intentionally obtuse, but let's assume that happened.
Would it solve any of the situations we are currently facing and will be facing in the future?
No.
I think as a whole we need to focus less on blame and more on solutions. Like adults.
"The GOP should own-up to the mess Mr. "W" Jr. got us into and dump the right-wing nuts from the party,"
That would only happen, when the Democrats understand that you can't pay off debt by creating more debt. to pay it off with, and then dump the left wing nuts from the party.
^this. I've been over this 100 times with him. He'll never learn, and I suspect it's because he doesn't WANT to. Why post the REAL #'s when his own fake ones better make the nonsensical point (whatever that is) he's trying to make.
I typically just ignore him now. If he's not gonna debate honestly, why bother debating at all. C'est la vie.
agreed. Now perhaps you should read the credit ratings agency's REASON for the downgrade...
Jason797 "Roy, Posted FAKE numbers again I see."
I got my numbers from the Official Obama White House - To make it 'simple' for you, here is a link'
For Gross Debt at the end of fiscal 2008 = $9.986 Trillion - see Table 7.1;
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Historicals
Bush never got a 2009 Budget from the Democratic Congress, so fiscal 2009 spending under Bush was at the same level as in 2008. (links below). When Obama took over in January 2009, he passed his 'Stimulus' bill in February 2009, and then HE signed the only fiscal 2009 Budget - in early March of 2009, calling for a huge 18% spending increase - Stop trying to 'Blame Bush' for Obama's spending - it defies REALITY.
https://www.aamc.org/advocacy/washhigh/highlights2008/159056/president_signs_spending_bill.html
www.docstoc.com/docs/5109251/continuing-resolution
So who's REALLY 'lying'?
Only in america,
I was not even talking to you, I was talking to Roy.
Second, I posted my source: Factcheck.org. My source proves Roy made up his own damn numbers.
Roy, I did not say anything in my Post about end of 2008 debt.
I said Jan 20 2009, debt was at 10.6. Factcheck.org, hell you can google nationaldebt Jan 20 2009 and it will say 10.6 trillion.
You trying to tell people Obama took office with 9 trillion in debt and that is a freakin LIE..
You said bush never got a budget for FY09 because of democrats, Ok, you must not have heard "Continue Resolution" Continue Resolution push foward the bush budget of FY 08 - 09.
Roy, and you are notorious for skewing statistics to try to make some political point. You're like a bad cold that keeps coming back. Even when we "treat" you with the whole truth, there you are again.
The fact is, we can change things dramatically every day up until your "projection" comes true or not, the policies of the last President are also included in your numbers, and you've admitted your growth numbers are your own (obviously not optimistic). In short, you aren't adding much to the debate.
I will state categorically here that under President Obama, we have had deficits of about $1.3 Trillion each year.
Now, do you want to harp more about the labor participation rate (despite 10,000 people retiring each day), or the "real" unemployment rate (that is virtually the same as when Bush was President) the Republicans rolled out this year to try to make Obama look as bad as they could?
Repojam "One thing we always do is give Clinton credit for a balanced budget that wasn't running a deficit. Clinton was forced to work with the leadership in the House and the Senate to achieve it."
When Clinton had a Democratic House and Senate, he continued to run Budget Deficits. After the Republicans took over the House and Senate in 1995 and limited spending, we had Budget Surpluses in 4 of the next 7 years.
But there was not a single year when the National Debt had any money paid down - The National Debt still went up every year under Clinton (The so-called Surplus is accounting trickery).
Roy, I'm not trying to blame bush. But I'm not gonna sit here and let u make up some damn numbers that was accounted for under bush last budget. Your lying a$$ don't want put in the FY 08 -09 budget, Why? because it makes your 6 trillion dollar argurment a Lie.
DrowningGrover "Roy,Posted FAKE numbers again I see...... I've been over this 100 times with him. He'll never learn"
I posted my official government links, so I'll let the other readers decide who to believe - My official Obama White House links, or your 'opinions'.
By all means, please 'block' me - I'm tired of you ignoring the TRUTH and you calling our differences of opinion 'lies'.
I'm not wasting anymore of my time today with Roy, I think others on here see this Lying Fake numbers guy as to what he is.
I already prove my point with FACTS in my earlier posts, Obama did not spend 6 trillion in debt.
Lastly, Obama is the President and will be for the next 4 yrs. Roy, you can go complain, whine, make up Fake statistics to someone who gives a sh!t. This conservation is over....
ROY WILSON-336103
Notice the choice of words in "give credit to" for the accomplishment, but paying down the national debt is likely never going to be a priority.
We can talk about explosive growth in the debt, but as a contrast we can also talk about the wealthy and their holdings which have gone up many hundred percents in the last 30ish years. Our national debt has oddly followed a similar arc.
If every facet of our government came in well below budget and we ended up with a real surplus, I seriously doubt that money would go towards paying the national debt. Just like with business budgeting and military budgeting, the money left over would be used as a benchmark and removed from next years funding.
Then the left over money would likely be shifted to a new current "priority".
Jason797 "Roy, I did not say anything in my Post about end of 2008 debt. I said Jan 20 2009, debt was at 10.6."
Since the government keeps track on a fiscal basis, your date is conveniently arbitrary, and it includes hundreds of $Billions in TARP loans that were repaid to the government under Obama's watch - in other words, Bush got the 'hit' for those loans, and Obama got the 'credit' when they were repaid - with Interest.
The vast majority of increased spending for Fiscal 2009 was from Obama and his 'Stimulus and 'Porkulus' bills - Trying to 'Blame Bush' is disingenuous. The Bush Budget for 2009 was a 'proposal', which was ignored by the Democratic Congress. The only REAL Budget for fiscal 2009 was signed by Obama in March 2009 - not by Bush.
Put the 'Blame' where it belongs - with Obama.
I won't block you. You're good for the laughs, like calling what you post "the truth." You post numbers, true, but you don't tell the whole story. It's pretty comical actually.
I thought that after 4 yrs of incompetence the people would have had enough of this clown. Well, most taxpayers have, but the freeloaders and illegals came out in force to get him elected again. Many normal people stayed home thinking there was no way such a failure could get re-elected and this was a mistake. Rush, Hannity, Rove, Morris and others also talked like Romney had it in the bag and this also led to complacency which was a mistake. So, libbies, don't think that the country is behind "barry", only the deadbeats and illegals are, along with some pointy headed liberals. "barry" continues to show his disregard for our constitution and our rights and his incompetence is evident with the economy and jobs so don't worry, the pendulum will swing the other way soon.
I don't believe that the G.O.P. needs to alter their message in any way to survive,as a viable alternative to the Democratic Party.What,in my opinion needs to happen ,is that the Liberal Conservatives and other moderates of the present G.O.P./T.P. need to do is abandon that antiquated party and start to build up a moderate Conservative Party. I prefer a two party system, and to have one of those two parties to be fiscally conservative would be the checks and balances to the Democrats. I do believe that both parties need to believe in representing the majority of their voters and should have their wages and benefits to be tied to the voters averages . This would encourage them to always have their employers welfare at heart. I doubt if this will happen,but we can always hope and strive for this Utopian Ideal.
StoptheCannibals-2908428
Here are the ACTUAL average Unemployment Rates under recent Presidents;
Clinton = 5.20% over 8 years
Bush = 5.33% over 8 years
Obama = 9.10% over 4 years
I'll take Clinton's and Bush's 8 year averages over Obama's average any day.
I think 8 YEAR AVERAGES are a little more meaningful that a few 'Cherry Picked' dates, but then that makes it more difficult to 'spin' the figures, doesn't it?
-usa1967-
It is pretty naive to suggest that illegals (who can't vote) and deadbeats were the only ones voting for Obama.
This is one of the reasons that the GOP is looking at their message. Statements like that are far more offputting to getting people to vote Republican who are not already inclined to do so.
In order to actually win the election, you'll need to convince Democrats and Independents to vote for a Republican. Energizing your base isn't necessary.
People have openly stated they are sick and tired of the bickering, and as an independent eye, Republicans tend to demonize those who voted for Obama as much as they demonize him. This is a good way to alienate potential voters from agreeing with you.
Jason797 "I'm not wasting anymore of my time today with Roy...I already prove my point with FACTS in my earlier posts, Obama did not spend 6 trillion in debt."
Even using your numbers of the Debt at January 21, 2009 of $10.6 Trillion and the current figure of $16.4 Trillion, that's an increase of $5.8 Trillion in Debt under Obama - Close enough.
Bye - gotta get some work done before we move to Costa Rica - Have a nice day :)
Actually, in this case, using an average unemployment figure makes it far far easier to "spin" reality by conveniently ignoring the fact that unemployment was rising like a rocket as Bush was on his way out the door.
But that doesn't accomplish your goal of pinning the entire fiasco of the Great Recession on Obama, nevermind that it was in full swing and growing in intensity before Obama was even a Presidential candidate, let alone an actual President...
TO: ProFreedom who wrote:
REPUBLICANS JUST DON'T GET IT.
Republicans attacked President Obama NON-STOP during the run-up to the election, with hate speech AND saying the President didn't keep his promises, and where did that get Republicans?
Answer: Nowhere. Republicans decided to blame everyone but themselves for losing the election and to this day continue to say and do the kinds of things that piss everybody off.
I do not understand. Why are any of the liberal posters discussing what they think the GOP has to do to get back in power? What the liberals need to do it to figure out how to make all the states just as liberal as they are. Don't you want these United States to be a one party country?
TO: ROY WILSON-336103 who wrote:
So, if there was no "surplus" then Bush must have lied yet again, when he said his "Bush Tax Cuts" and the rebate checks Bush sent out were based on there being a "surplus".
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
TO: MrRighteous who wrote:
Because the GOP would love to have our votes, and the GOP certainly only has to get meaner and nastier to continue to get the votes they're already getting, which is NOT enough votes to get into the White House.
@ american girl & Mr. Righteous.
And add to it, because it would be for the benefit of the country if you listened to the middle 80% of the population and not let the 10% on each side rule.
& Mr. Righteous, I for one do not want an unchecked single party. The fiscal health of extreme liberal states are dangerously close to bankruptcy, and none have a plan to get back into balance. Specifically, California, New York and Illinois.
Obama just handed the GOP a major concession with this gun control push.... it helps the GOP reunify their voters behind a traditional GOP plank at a time when he had them divided... politically its a huge mistake...
and he's almost certainly not going to get the ban... so he's putting the GOP back on track for free....
TO: ROY WILSON-336103 who wrote:
The "key" for whom?
No one believes, and no one is going to believe that Republicans give a crap about anybody's future as long as Republicans don't mind poisoning our drinking water, polluting our air, don't give hoot about our food being safe, don't care about educating American Children, and the list does on.
From what I've been reading here, Republicans are getting worse, NOT better.
I'll give you a clue: The old "Jedi Mind Trick" DOESN'T WORK!
Just because Republican followers tend to act like zombies and just do as their told without regard for their own well-being, doesn't mean you can find that kind of mindlessness in the majority of the American People.
Not to mention the horrible hate speech problem Republicans have!
"Only in america,
I was not even talking to you, I was talking to Roy."
You don't like it Jason? Tough, deal with it.
Old white men can not be called diverse.
Having them controlling the process as to what section a state gets less representation with taxation.
Jerry mandering the election in all the swing states President Obama won can not be called; talking to everyone.
Republican run states are jerry mandering local, state and national elections to impose their ideology on the American people who rejected them as if to throw-up in ones mouth.
The world is changing and like babies they are kicking and screaming them selves to sleep.
The time has come to continue to build an equatable society.
The American people must find away to break jerry mandering to solve our nations most pressing needs in the biggest change to this society has ever looked upon - The Great Computer Evolution.
"Just because Republican followers tend to act like zombies"
And that thought was posted by a Democratic party talking puppet!
There's no saving the GOP.
The extremists have gained control of the party and it's a continuous downhill slide from here on out.
The best thing that moderate conservatives can do at the moment is leave the GOP and send a message to the extremists.
.
Roy Wilson: The 2009 budget was Bush's submitted and passed before Obama was even elected with a projected deficit of 1.2 trillion which raised the debt at the end of his budget to 12.1 trillion.
Sadly, the Republican party has decided to embrace the strategy of undermining the very democratic electoral process itself. If they can win, despite not commanding a popular majority or plurality, then they can keep imposing the offensive, intolerant, avaricious agenda of the shrinking minorities they represent upon the nation at large.
TO: ROY WILSON-336103:
What was the Actual Unemployment rate the DAY BEFORE President Obama took office?
You put those numbers up as if none of us know that Bush collapsed the entire United States Economy before he left office, and left the incoming President with a boat load of crap!
It's brazen lies like that, that keep the American People running away from Republicans!
Republicans make me want to puke. They will flat out lie about what they will do in office, then once there, they mandate stupid things like crushing unions, taking away individual rights and back business instead of people. They are nothing but legalized whores for sale to the highest bidders such as Koch, Adelson and worst of all TRUMP. I cannot recognize a group as being intelligent that allows such individuals with such hatred of the American worker. Same for the Chamber of Commerce, who typically backs Republicans.
And don't worry, if the article was about Democrats I could go on about them as well. Both suck and would sell out America for their personal gain in a heartbeat. It's just a simple choice of the lesser of two evils.
That light bill was ALREADY incurred under budget authority granted to it by a previous Congressional vote. So, what the GOP is proposing is that we don't honor our word ... they're saying that just because Congress approves something doesn't mean that they'll pay for it! With an attitude like that, every vendor will demand pre-payment before they provide anything to the government.
Mark Sanford will be along directly. He'll lift the republicans right back up on their hind feet again.
If the GOP wants my vote the they have to divorce themselves from Norquist, Koch and the social conservatives and return to the fiscal sanity and vision of Dwight Eisenhower because I will not vote for Christian theocrats and tax cutting and war mongering Republicans who think that corporations are people and rape is gods will.
When will they learn that the Bible and Ayn Rand are books of fiction?
TO: -usa1967- who wrote:
I think the best thing "regular" Repulicans could do for themselves is to disassociate themselves with the "hate speech freaks".
You just said all of that horrible stuff about the President of the United States AND the Majority of the American People, and then have the nerve to wonder why Republicans are losing voters and don't have enough supporters to win national elections.
It's not the Democrats who need more voters, it's those hate-filled Republicans who are out of touch with reality, still thinking that they are the majority, and are wrong on so many levels it's just too much to put into words.
Plain and simple! The NRA has to be stopped!
The NRA and republicans belong together! Evil bed fellows! Demons!
GOP's path back to power is to rid itself of the Tea Party.
One word:
Moderation
Now many more words explaining that word:
The Republican party has simply become too radical. Or at the very least, the radicals in the party have become too influential. Now don't get me wrong, there are radicals in the Democratic party as well. But there are far less of them in our government, or at the very least it appears that way as they have far less transparent impact on what the party does. So the majority of the Democrats at least come off as way more moderate than the Republicans. There are even Democrats who are being described as basically conservative, but not in the Republican party because they have become too radical. And Obama was one of them. Ouch. Whether or not it is true, that is the perception. And that perception is hurting the entire Republican party because they do appear too radical in the eyes of the general public.
Personally, there is so much crap out there on this that I believe at least some (obviously not all) of it must be true. And of course conversely, there is so much crap out there that all of it cannot possibly be true. However the Republicans in the house, the only part of congress they have majority, have basically been blamed for the debt ceiling/fiscal cliff crap, as well as the overall dysfunction of the government. And those house Republicans have had plenty of support from much of the rest of the party, so they must take responsibility for that.
I watched as we went through this mess. I followed the actions of our elected officials, and was overall unhappy with much of what most of them across both parties have done/not done. However, I must say that much of the blame on Republicans, particularly in the house, was quite justified.
Hindered Government:
The GOP did in fact make every attempt to stall Obama's administration, including using record numbers of filibusters. Whether or not you agree with what Obama's administration was doing, the result of stalling the government to such a degree did eventually make it quite dysfunctional for years. And we still aren't over that. Now I like some things Obama's administration has done. I like some other things they have done but disliked how they did them. And I have disliked some things they have or in some cases haven't done. I won't get into specifics or percentages or anything like that, but I generally have one of those 3 reactions to anything they have or tried to do, or in some cases not done or tried to do. And while the Republicans have consistently hindered much of what Obama could have done over very large stretches, as well as the general functionality of our government, I do believe there were opportunities for Obama's administration to do more. I will also say that I quite often don't agree with their (the Obama administration's) approach, and now leave it at that.
But the bottom line is we need our government to be functional. And whether or not you agree (and I often didn't) with what they were trying to do and/or how they were trying to do it, for much of Obama's presidency the Republicans in the house have prevented that. And we STILL aren't over that dysfunctional-ism.
Debt Ceiling/Fiscal Cliff:
Then the Republicans took the debt ceiling, which should have been a non issue, and tried to use it to gain leverage by holding the country hostage. We still aren't over that either. And let me make it clear that it is not by any means unprecedented for the minority party to try things like this (although generally it is on smaller scales) to gain leverage, and it may have been the Democrats at another time. However, THIS time it was the Republican party who started this, so they must take the blame for that. While the Democrats also did things I was not happy with, they did NOT start this fiasco. And it is also worth mentioning that the government as a whole across both parties could only turn debt ceiling into a procrastinated and prolonged fiscal cliff mess, so the entire government in general should get plenty of blame. And I would even argue the Democrats should probably get more blame than they do. But again, it was the Republicans in the House who initiated this and were the most disruptive in preventing this solution. And since most of the Republican party has backed this, they rightfully take the blame that comes with doing so.
Blame Game:
The Republicans have blamed Obama for just about everything that did or did not happen. It has gotten to the point now where it is beyond laughable. Some even think it is the fashionable thing to do. Now before you get upset, let me point out that I agree that Obama and the Democrats deserve blame for many things. HOWEVER, many things he is blamed for are not his fault, and some things have nothing to do with the presidency. It has gotten to the point where most things he is blamed for don't even make sense. There is so much crap he is blamed for, that it can't possibly all be true even if you ignored the fact many of those blames are just plain silly. And the Republican party appears to have embraced this philosophy while forgetting another word:
Credibility:
When one constantly blames others and refuses to take any responsibility for their actions, they lose any credibility they may have had. Note that taking responsibility for one's actions is different than taking credit for achievements. This is something all politicians are famous for "mixing up" if you will, but the Republican Party at least appears to be doing it more.
Credibility...
You lose that when your go to response, no matter what the situation, at least appears to be some derivative of, "Blame some other guy." Or in this case: "Blame Obama." It has gotten so bad that we now have, and have had for quite some time, Obama trolls ravaging the internet looking for places to post blind one-way blame for everything one could possibly imagine and more. It is even the "fashionable" thing to do for some of us.
I believe they call that crying wolf.
Eventually the majority stop believing you because the accusations are so absurd. And when something legitimate comes around, well we no longer believe it because you've played the blame game so often. Now let me make it clear, again, that I believe Obama deserves at least some blame for many things. No where near as much as he gets blamed for mind you, as the amount he gets blamed for is disproportionately absurd, but he still deserves blame for many things. I also believe the Democratic Party deserves far more blame than they get from non fully Republican sources. However, since the Republicans have been crying wolf for so long, it's hard for many people to tell the difference when the Republicans are just at it again or when Democrats are really deserving of blame. And when the Democrats do legitimately deserve blame, many people miss it because they are so many accusations out there.
Now I realize the Democrats blame the Republicans just as much as Republicans blame Democrats. But the perception that takes away their credibility to blame, which is rightfully earned from the over abundance of Obama slander, transfers to when they blame the Democrats just as often and refuse to take responsibility to balance that out. So because many people believe the Obama blame has gotten silly, and rightfully so, now they begin to question the rest. They now no longer believe it when a Republican says it is the Democrats fault, even if it is legitimately their fault, because it seems as if all they do is blame Obama and the Democrats. In the eyes of the general Public, the Democrats have lost a lot less of their credibility than Republicans because things like of this. Their media, like Fox News, is also very bad at appearing at least reasonable, to non Republicans. And thus more of the credibility flies out the window.
So because the Republicans can no longer say the Democrats are at fault with much credibility, And because Republicans have been blamed for the debt ceiling and general dysfunction of our government, the Republicans appear to be far more at fault to the general public.
Conclusion:
As an INDEPENDENT, I believe radicals and blind party bias on both sides of the party aisle are tearing the country apart. However, there is more of it in our government, or at least there appears to be more effective radicalism on the Republican side. And while I am unhappy with pretty much everyone, I am currently more unhappy with the Republicans in the House and the rest of the party who has supported them than I am with everyone else, as they are the ones who have played the largest role in making our government what it is today:
A dysfunctional laughing stalk that makes the rest of the world (well after they are done laughing at us, it makes them) wonder why those silly Americans do things the way they do.
And at the very least, Republicans must acknowledge that this perception of them being radical has penetrated everyone who isn't a diehard Republican. AKA: Those diehard Republican radicals who are so biased to their party that they never once question what their party is really doing and only question everyone else. Anyways, the point is that this perception will in fact prevent them from winning until they fix it. So they need to work on that word:
Moderation
TO: ROY WILSON-336103 who wrote:
Wrong!
In the same place in the U.S. Constitution where it calls to "provide for the common defense" it also calls to provide for the "general welfare" of the American People, meaning the "general well-being" of the American People.
Anytime a teabagger posts or speaks, a Democratic candidate picks up another vote.
Until the Republican Party apologizes for the financial disaster that Bush era policies caused, promise to work night and day to repair the damage, and renounce the tea/nazi party, normal Americans will reject them. The idiot teabaggers may not remember what policies enacted by a Republican President and Congress brought us to this point, but the majority of the American population will not forget.
The Republican Party sold itself to the devil and now cries like a baby when the devil comes back to collect. It's all about the the "R"s, Republicans:
Recognition, Repentance, Recompense.
Lies, deception, fraud, treasonous actions, will not allow republicraps to convince enough of the ignorant lackeys to vote them back in. AMERICANS CANNOT BE THAT STUPID. We say what they did to Romney in the primaries, we know they will eat each other to gain the ability to stop progress and ruin our working class. If you want to make what a Chinese worker makes then elect a republicrap, he will give you $2 an hour for your labor in environmentally unsafe workplaces (just like in Beijing right now). Fools are still to be had, it is getting harder and harder to find them.
American Girl-724855
I just got back from working today, and noticed several posts by you addressed to me, so I'll respond;
1 -"... (The so-called Surplus is accounting trickery)." - Indeed, it is 'Trickery - for example, Clinton claimed 'Surpluses' for fiscal years 1998, 1999 and 2000 of $431 Billion, but the Treasury Department confirms that the National Debt actually INCREASED by $259 Billion during those same years - A negative difference of $690 Billion. The reason is the 'funny accounting' used by the government - for example, when the government 'borrows' hundreds of $Billions from the Social Security and Medicare 'Trust Funds', they call it 'Revenues', and spend it just like tax Revenues, when the reality is that it's just another loan. If you borrowed $200,000 to buy a house, I doubt that you would call it 'Income', when the reality is that's it is actually more Debt.
2 - "What was the Actual Unemployment rate the DAY BEFORE President Obama took office?" The government doesn't issue Unemployment Rates on a daily basis - only Monthly. The Unemployment Rate for the last full Month that Bush held office was 7.2%, per the official government Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) - Link below; It has been above that Rate for every one of Obama's last 48 Months in office. As I mentioned, the average Unemployment Rate for the 96 months that Bush was in office was 5.33%, vs the 9.10% for the 48 months that Obama has been in office.
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_01092009.pdf
3 - "... Defense is a Constitutionally mandated expense, while heath care is not..."......Wrong!
That's an interesting 'twist' that I haven't seen before. I don't think that the Founding Fathers had the cost of 'Obamacare' in mind when they wrote the Constitution. Having the government PAY for health care is a relatively new concept - paying for Defense has been with us since 1776.
By the way - Was it Bush that 'collapsed the entire United States Economy', or was it the refusal of the Democrats in Congress to listen to Bush for all 8 of his years when he told them that reforming the loose lending practices of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was needed to prevent a potential financial collapse?
There are a lot of well meaning suggestions on how the GOP can move back into the mainstream and start picking up wins. There is a simple problem with it all. The GOP is sold body and soul to their corporate masters who really could care less if any particular candidate gets elected. It's all about moving the center of American political life to the right and towards getting the big money what it wants. No regulation in the work place, or for the environment. No taxes on the big money that's bought most of our politicians. No rights for anyone except themselves. A return to serfdom would suit the GOP's corporate masters just fine.
Change will be problematic while working under these restraints and will mostly consist of smoke, mirrors and B.S..
HotTicket:
Your Post #1.84
Some of us would whole-heartedly agree with Independent candidates as long as we could be assured that they were neither far right or far left.
Hell, an Independent candidate could be far more radical than the extremes of either existing party. That's not the Independent we would be looking for.
Averages are good, eh? Let's look a little deeper...
Clinton Dec, 1992 - 7.5% dec, 2000 - 3.7%%
George W. Bush Jan, 2000 - 4% Dec, 2008 7.8% (and rising faster than Halliburton's profits!)
Obama Jan, 2009 - 8.5% dec, 2012 - 7.8%
Averages don't tell the entire tale, do they? No matter how you spin it, George W. Bush's economic policies led to the largest American recession since the Great Depression. And you wanna return to that?
Its amazing how the GOP continues to work so hard to figure out ways to rig the system, suppress voters and gain an upper hand.
Now they're short-sightedly trying to change the Electoral College to give conservatives an assumed advantage.
They'll do anything OTHER than nominating good presidential candidates, creating a sound and widely accepted political platform and stopping its conservative social engineering of the nation.
They seem to embrace the notion that if you can't win honorably, then change the rules and/or cheat.
Want to win again? Quit trying to divide us by calling seniors and the unemployed as handouters. Quit pitting the 47% whose biggest groups are seniors, military and working poor against the 53% who most only pay a small amount in income taxes. The seniors have paid over a lifetime, the military have earned their breaks and the working poor have little to give. Run on how your plans better and back up what you propose without asking us to trust you.
So, what you're telling me is, they're still not doing their job of getting more jobs to the American people, they're not going to sit down with Democrats and work towards and mutual goal, they're focusing all their efforts on taking power back 3 years from now. Yeah, that sounds like the Republican party alright.
They spent the majority of the last 4 years trying to make Obama a one term president. All they did was give him a landslide victory. Now they're back to basics: Screw everyone except us, we're going to take absolute control back over, money money money power power power, I hope the American people can wait, because we're holding it hostage until we get back in the White House.
Blah blah, wah wah, cry cry cry, I'm so frelling sick of all this money and power grubbing from those crazy zealots in the Republican party. People want hope and change, not fear and the wrath of am omnipotent figure telling us every little thing we do is bad and should be ashamed of. Sheesh.
When a media source frames a headline that makes 'competition' for 'power' a one-sided portrayal of political party maneuvering in America, it isn't about competition or power - it's about the 'framing'.
I don't see why the GOP haven't realized that what they say just doesn't sound right?
“No one wants to default; not even the most right-wing nutjob wants to default,” he said. “But do we want to throw money at paying the light bill at the Department of Education?”
So Mulvaney and the GOP are attacking education of this nation's children? Thats what it sounds like.
Here in Florida,when Rick Scott became governor, with a G.O.P. legislature, one of the first things they did was to cut the pubic education fund by $1.3 BILLION then the next year restoring $1 BILLION leaving it short by $300 million. At this point he declares how he and his G.O.P. followers are a champion of education. Which is the classic G.O.P. bait and switch.
In his time frame Mr. Scott and friends have come up with the drug testing of welfare recipients and state workers at a cost of $48 million plus litigation, A YEAR, with no savings to the state in any way shape or form. These reforms are moving through the courts with an added fees from the system.
It most be noted at this point that Mr. Scott was the C.E.O. of a company called Solantic which is walk in clinics around the country that does piss test. It is worth noting that this company was fined the largest fine EVER, $1 BILLION plus for welfare fraud.
Now then, we have had voter suppression, women's rights limitations, sport team welfare handouts (over $ 3 BILLION).
These are but a few of the reasons of why "We the People" will not be voting for the G.O.P..
1 Year 9 Months and 19 Days,
Until the mid term elections and we will vote out every G.O.P. member we can.
Have a nice day.
But he's got satanic backing.
Every liberal post about the GOP sounds the same, and offers the same solutions. All the GOP needs to do is sound more like liberals. How ridiculous. Maybe liberals are gullible enough to buy into the hype that road into Washington in 2008 with a plan to divide the nation in many ways. But reality has a way of shaking out the truth, and right now this country is headed for a financial collapse. It is unfortunate that the cheering crowds fail to see the unsustainable path, so instead of having a chance the nation will face a major catastrophe that will for sure hurt those that cheered it on. Time is running out, and when the inevitable happens, I wonder if those that support the GOP will be here telling liberals all you need to do is become more like us.
No, all the GOP needs to do is abandon the bat-crazy agendas of the John Birch Society and the Christian Taliban. It isn't the same thing.
So you want to get back into power do you GOP? Consider ----
Stop badmouthing Hispanics.
Stop badmouthing blacks.
Stop badmouthing people who work for the government .
Stop badmouthing teachers.
Stop badmouthing gay people
Stop badmouthing union people.
Stop badmouthing Social Security.
Stop badmouthing Medicare.
Stop badmouthing science.
Stop badmouthing anyone who is not a fundy Christian.
Stop confusing campaign slogans with policies.
Stop worshiping Grover Norquist.
Stop worshiping the NRA
Stop worshiping Fox Noise
Stop worshiping Rush the junkie.
Stop thinking that being stupid is the best qualification for office. (Rick Perry)
Dump Michelle Bachmann
Dump Sarah Palin
Dump Newt Gingrich
Dump Donald Trump
Dump the craziest of the crazies.
Once you look at which states the most extreme conservatives represent, you see the real GOP conundrum. Politicians from the red states have no real concept of what goes on in other states. They live in an unchanged Pre-Civil War dream state where magnolias bloom year round, mint juleps are the favored libation and the time passes ever so slowly. Put one of these politicians in one of the blue states where they'd wake at 5 AM, catch a train or subway to get to their jobs and these red staters would burn out in 3 days time. They simply do not assimilate to life anywhere but in their own states. That's dangerously myopic. So the world of blue staters whizzes past at breakneck speed while the world of red staters barely crawls out of bed by noon. This applies not just to their lifestyles, but also to their businesses. It's why they struggled so hard to maintain industries long after they became obsolete. This is the GOP's present situation. They put on those corporate images like a layer of icing on a cake but underneath, the cake is crumbling. So they end up with a soggy, sugary blob when they should have had their just desserts.
The reality is that today's GOP is singularly backward in principles, morals and their sense of honor. Instead of looking at change, which is always inevitable, they hang onto to traditions that are now threadbare and appear silly, selfish and self-important to all but the practicing elites.
I can't recommend the post above mine (#2.6) enough...
No, it's not ridiculous, it's pretty much correct. The current crop of the GOP is so far out in rightfield of the political spectrum that they will never be able to capture 50% of the vote (note, they didn't get 50% of the house vote this year either, they only retained a majority of seats through gerrymandering) without returning to somewhere closer to the middle of the road, that is, more like liberals.
Note, they don't have to actually BE liberal, but they must slide towards the center on the political spectrum if they ever with to capture a majority again. The Tea Party was their undoing. Sure, it garnered them a single midterm election (2010) through shortlived enthusiasm and turnout, but it doomed them to longterm unsustainability because they're so damned bat@!$%# crazy.
Rick
You are a fiction writer, right? A plan to divide the nation?
Rick, you expect someone to take you serious when you got a FAKE picture of obama standing next to the iran president as your profile picture. What a joke you are,
Having a picture like that just proves you are nothing but another Obama Hater, Conservative Right Wing Nut!!
Republicans need to realise they can't cast their opponent as divisive while they're talking about the 47% and calling any tax that affects the top 2% as class warfare. Reagan after going too far with his tax cuts had to raise taxes 18 times to recover some revenue with most falling on the middle class. No one called those increases class warfare.
Reasonable people won't buy a president talking about the 100% being the divisive one but the one pointing the finger at the 47% whose 3 largest groups are retired on social security, military and working poor. The elderly and military have paid their dues and the working poor are striving to join the middle and upper classes. Pointing fingers at them isn't what I call bringing all Americans together.
I've explained how Romney attempted to pit different segments of Americans against each other. I defy any republican to point to any quote or action by Obama that did the same. And no extending the Bush cuts to only those below 250K doesn't count. Every tax increase in history hits different groups harder.
Rick: Bush's last budget for 2009 had a deficit of 1.2 trillion dollars and had Obama simply continued Bush's last budget his first term the debt would have hit 15.7 trillion with no new spending. No one doubts the need to cure the massive deficit and debt but wonder where you were when democrats were screaming about Bush's drunken spending when he drove the debt from 5.7 trillion to 12.1? Much of our current deficit is funding Bush's wars, tax cuts, drug plan all unfunded. Anyone with more than 2 active brain cells knows you can't turn a 1.2 trillion deficit into a surplus over night without a repeat of 1929. Why weren't you people concerned when Bush ran up the biggest deficits in history at that time? Maybe you agreed with Cheney that deficits don't matter.
Larry, the last two budgets passed under the Bush administration came from a Democrat controlled House and Senate. Those happen to have been the two largest budgets passed during his terms. So I guess all the Democrats screaming about the massive budget Bush passed along to Obama seems to have been a self fulfilling prophecy. I am a fan of term limits in Congress, and a balanced budget amendment. Democrats have been the ones to kill off every attempt in recent history to pass a balanced budget amendment, and deficit spending hasn't bothered them one bit under Obama. So play your partisan political games Larry, I happen to feel both party's are to blame. It is only through selective history or selective memory that anyone can tout their own party. When Obama did not embrace Simpson Bowles, in my book he failed the nation.
The Republican Party will continue to be marginalized and even more intractable in their positions as long as they continue to be controlled by the extreme right wing-nuts such as Tea Party, and the likes of Grover Norquist, the NRA, among others! The vast majority of the American voting public no longer trusts or believe the leaders of the GOP! They have earned this DISRESPECT by their continual attacks on everything from a woman's right to choose to the payment of the national debt that the CONGRESS, including Republican members, actually created through the last four decades. They seem to not realize, or choose to ignore, that in today's society information and truth can be gleaned from everything from a computer serarch engine to talk television. When your primary sources of propaganda are FOX NOISE, Rush Limbaugh, or Glenn Beck you should realize you have an information and truth problem. Republicans simply seem to choose creating fiction versus accepting hard FACTS. Another glaring and growing problem faced by the Republicans is the fact that the GOP is the party of the "interests of the few" - the wealthy, big corporations, bankers, and Wall Street! The leaders of the Party and the elected officials in office are fearful of speaking the truth as it may offend the far right extremist who control their party, speaking factually and truthfully may lead to a primary challange next election. They simply choose to defy reason and logic and accept the myths and illogical ideology of the far right. And don't expect the far right wing of the GOP to concede or change. They are MAINLY composed of people who cannot, or will not, accept the rule-of-law by the majority, they are truly paranoid of their own government, they ignore reality and they certainly do not actually accept the principle of Christianity which says "love your neighbor as yourself"! They are mostly uneducated, bigoted, rural, and cannot stand the idea of a black man in the White House! Thank God, they are a diminishing minority. They may take the Party of Lincoln with them to the end and that would be a very big tragedy.
Only an idiot would equate shutting down the federal department of education with 'attacking the nations children'. Seriously, do some research before you sound like you were educated by the department of education. lol
Stop "assessing".
There IS no "path back to power" for the GOP, and this is coming from a LIFE-long Republican.
MY (ex) party screwed the pooch.
The only thing WORSE than the Republicans....are the Socialists (uh, I mean DEMOCRATS).
VOTE LIBERTARIAN ! THERE IS A CHOICE.
Rick: Congress doesn't initiate spending programs only the president does. Getting congress to sign off on tax cuts, wars and new drug plans doesn't make them democratic spending nor the bank and financial bail outs. Those were all Bush and you know it.
TO: Rick-3416939 who wrote:
What do you mean "headed"?
George "Curveball" Bush collapsed the economy before he left office.
Instead of trying to reverse that Economic Collapse, Republicans have done everything in their power to PROLONG the Economic Devastation that occurred under Republican GWB, and STALL our Economic Recovery because, they claim, the GOP didn't like the fact that the American People elected a Halfrican-American President.
TO: Damyou who wrote:
I see Republicans have NO plans to make any new friends.
Keep on with the insults and that will certainly help us put the rest of the GOP out of office.
Larry-367607 says "Rick: Congress doesn't initiate spending programs only the president does."
Larry you are clueless to how the system works. That is a ridiculous statement, but at the same time explains why liberals just don't get it. It really does take two to Tango Larry, and in Washington that means both Republicans and Democrats. Failure belongs to both party's, and I think the day will probably come when even liberals have to face that reality.
Rick: Hard to explain the obvious to a fool. Reagan cut taxes, began a new star wars program and the biggest peacetime military build up in history. No one with more than 2 brain cells believe that because democrats were a majority in congress that these were democratic programs. Funny you credit Reagan with the soviet break up but claim the democratic congress was responsible for the resulting debt. Same with Bush. Every facet of our massive debt increase was directly a result of Bush initiated programs. 2 wars, 400 billion a year tax cut and the Ryan crafted, Bush sponsored drug plan, You hail Bush for these, "achievements" and blame democrats for the resulting debt. Whatever helps you sleep but you'll never sell it to anyone with a brain. Keep cheering the made up facts while your side loses election after election. The bank and financial bail out was a Bush proposed plan. Selling it to congress doesn't take Bushs name off of it. Nice to live in a world where whatever works can be credited to your guy but all negatives can be shifted to the other side isn't it? Only you believe it.
Government is public service, not a being right competition. Grow up, Republicans.
Perhaps your fearless leader, Obama, should grow up and propose real cuts to the budget instead of using his stale scare tactics. Face it, cutting a few billion dollars 10 years down the road is not a real cut, it's a slap in the face of the taxpayers of this country,
"Perhaps your fearless leader, Obama, should grow up and propose real cuts to the budget instead of using his stale scare tactics."
Perhaps your Republican should grow up and admit that they causes a whole lot of this during the 6 Bush years when they controlled AL of Washington, admit they should admit that tax cuts for the richest of the rich DO NOT create jobs, admit that tax cuts DO NOT pay for themselves, and admit that we do not need to spend as much on our military as the next 10 nations in the world combined.
Where is the history of the Democratic Party of being so far above reproach? Well one thing for sure liberals know only of the history that dates back as far as the Bush terms, so they spew out of convenience rather then reality. This country cannot possibly sustain its trajectory. We are on the road to oblivion, another fall of a great empire, and it will be liberals who are at the helm. The single biggest problem is that liberals are an us against them crowd, and not a we the people. Both party's share the blame, but it will be truly sad that so many will suffer because so few didn't care. Obama is not offering solutions, or displaying leadership, you simply don't tell the press it is my way or else. Obama wants nothing more then to blame Republicans for everything he can in the hope it will help the midterm elections, because right now division is all that is standing between Obama and our road to oblivion. We are on an unsustainable path, and sooner or later this country will face a financial disaster and by then it will be too late.
Where was your concern over spending during the years of your fearless leader, W, when the republicons had congressional majorities and raised the debt ceiling seven times, while Cheney was spouting that "deficits don't matter"? I'm sure at that time, it was okay because republicons said so.
In reality, government spending has decreased since those years, but you just keep talking your republicon and Faux News rhetoric as if it's true.
Typical liberal comment, point to the guy who is no longer in office as justification for what is going on today. Believe whatever you want about government spending, which has certainly not decreased. We are running trillion plus annual deficits, and those simply cannot be sustained. Since there is no plan of the table in Washington to change that fact, the day of reckoning will come. It is fine that liberals spend their time justifying today's actions because of failures from the past, but all that does is ensure the inevitable. At some point liberals need to actually realize who is sitting in the Oval Office today, and hold them to the standard you repeatedly complain was ignored in the past. Only a complete idiot would repeat that deficits don't matter as justification for the road this country is now on.
"Where is the history of the Democratic Party of being so far above reproach?"
The is NOT about the Democrats -- it's about Republicans coming back from the grave. Try giving us a reason to vote FOR Republicans as opposed to a reason to vote AGAINST Democrats. The way many see it, it you're not an old, super rich white guy, the Republicans don't want you. Your last presidential candidate said that 47% of the people are lazy. That's NOT how yo win elections.
In the twilight zone of neoconservatives, they are the ONLY Americans who have jobs, work their asses off and are the only ones entitled to tons of our federal tax dollars ...before they touch a dime of their state taxes for their states' needs.
Look at the states that put the pork into Hurricane Sandy relief....wildfires? And just which red staters get wildfire relief funds from the rest of the states most? Which get relief funds for tornadoes?
But these neocons are the first to make certain we all feel guilty that none of the rest of us work, are all on welfare or collecting unemployment...Funny how 90% of my federal taxes end up in red states though isn't it? Funny how my paychecks are deducted for SS, Medicare, Medicaid, SSDI, SUI and SWI every pay period.
What a laugh...red staters always seem to know all these welfare recipients, all the unemployed and loafers. If they dare and try to lob this on liberals, they'd better watch their own lazy asses. They can't hope to compete with the ambitious, competitive heavily employed in blue states.
I live in NJ...devastated by Hurricane Sandy...but let's not give NJ a dime of funding relief that doesn't also help wild fires in red states right? And, in case anyone missed the BS game House Republicans played with their watchdog over this relief...By railing against the pork in the bill which would have benefitted their states most, they knew they'd be able to reduce the fund to states like mine, NY and CT...that were devastated by the hurricane. So you play a game...you bitch about pork and then...voila! Relief funding is reduced to states that need it most. How very very very benevolent of conservatives...Just wait until your wildfires and tornadoes need funding...You won't get it from my state.
Charlie, I vote for the best candidates and not the party. You should try that for a change, then maybe you could be part of the solution. I heard what Romney said, and although you are taking it out of context and not actually stating what was said who cares? You won't need to be given a reason to vote for the other party, it will come from your own. This nation would rally around Obama if he were actually offering solutions, but he isn't. We are just raking up massive debt and there won't be so much as a dime of spending cut but more taxes are coming. Obama isn't leading, he is the first president in my lifetime that is deliberately trying to divide the nation. Remember the adage, united we stand and divided we fall. Division works for politicians, maybe someday you will figure that out, and hopefully before it is too late.
dude, the guy "who is no longer in office" very much IS the reason for what is going on today.
The GOP doesn't have a leg to stand on when it comes to fiscal responsibility because for 30 years (through Reagan, Bush I, and Bush II) they ran up so much national debt as it's nearly impossible to talk about the national debt without mentioning them. Hell, even the large deficits being run today by Obama are largely a result of prior policy enacted before he came into office coupled with decreased tax revenue from the
depressionrecession. Obama still has to pay for the wars, he still has to pay for Medicare Part D, and up until Jan 1st of this year he was still having to pay for the two rounds of Bush tax cuts. And, with more baby boomers retiring, social security and Medicare expenditures will continue to rise every year going forward through no fault of ANY President (including Bush and Obama).You can't ignore this stuff like the present GOP does and pretend to have found fiscal
godsanity to win elections. America has a very short memory span, but thankfully it IS long enough to remember recent events circa 2000-2008, and until your party is willing to own up to these facts they will have difficulty winning elections. Period.this is also a good point. And it should not be forgotten that the number of people who pay no income taxes (where the magical 47% number comes from) was dramatically increased by two factors.
The first is obvious, the great recession. When people lose their jobs and become unemployed, they pay less in taxes. Shocking, I know.
The second reason, of course, is the Bush tax cuts. No other policy decision increased the number of non-income-tax-payers in recent history than the two rounds of Bush tax cuts. Here's a hint, if you cut peoples taxes, some of those on the bottom that paid very little to begin with will drop off the rolls and pay nothing. You can't author a policy that swells the number of those who pay no income tax, and then TURN AROUND AND DEMONIZE THE FOLKS WHO PAY NO INCOME TAX (half of whom, statistically speaking, are Republican).
Hello?!?
Newflash. The people DID do that in 2012, which is why we're not swearing in President Romney next monday...
"Charlie, I vote for the best candidates and not the party. You should try that for a change, then maybe you could be part of the solution".
I do vote for the best candidate. That's why voted for Reagan -- twice and Bush 41 twice. The problem with the current crop of Republicans is their candidates stink --- seriously -- Rick Santorum, Rick Perry, Michelle Bachmann, Mitt Romney?? republicans didn't even like Romney all that much.
"I heard what Romney said, and although you are taking it out of context and not actually stating what was said who cares?"
That's the fallback position for republicans -- taken out of context. Mitt Romney was NOT taken out of context. He said what he said and you don't win elections by insulting almost half the population.
Charlie here is the exact quote from Romney. What is interesting is that he was right that 47% of the people were never going to vote for him no matter what, the rest was a pretty callous statement but probably not entirely untrue. But if you really believe these sort of statements don't occur behind closed doors in both party's, then you are a fool. Right now over 50% of all households are receiving some form for government assistance, and that number is growing. Sure there are demographics within that number, but it is a pretty startling fact for this the land of opportunity. Which means we don't have much farther to go before everyone is dependent upon the government, and that was never a consideration when this nation was founded. As for your laundry list of candidates, there is such a list for Democrats as well. In my book when Obama did not take and run with the Simpson Bowles recommendations, he failed the nation.
“There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what … who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims. … These are people who pay no income tax. … and so my job is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.”
Bush's last budget for 2009 had a 1.2 trillion deficit. Why didn't republicans demand he cut spending instead of voting for spending as usual? The deficit is running around the same under Obama as it did the last year of Bush. That's why no one buys your non sense. If you're really concerned about the debt you'd have been concerned when Bush drove it from 5.7 trillion to 12.1. Bush started 2 wars, a 400 billion a year tax cut and a 100 billion drug plan totally unfunded and all added to the debt and yearly deficit. Obama hasn't added anything he merely has to pay for Bush programs. Obama's only new permanent spending program was Obamacare which is fully funded. See how a responsible president does it?
The only way that works is if you count seniors and military as receiving government assistance. Neither group considers their check to be government assistance and are both majority republican. A social security check isn't government assistance it's repayment of a government obligation the same as paying on treasury debt. When you demonize your base you lose. Talking about the 47% at the same time you accuse Obama of class warfare and divisiveness made him look nuts. Any time you point the finger at any group for any reason you are the divisive one.
I think the title for this article should have been "Republican a$$e$ path back to power." First thought, "wipe and flush." Next step; "Remember annual Coloscopy."
what's even more interesting is that you probably believe the statement you made, where in fact probably 50% of those 47% who pay no taxes more than likely DID vote for him (assuming they voted at all)!!
Are you truly naive enough to believe that all of the 47% who pay no income taxes are Democrats? And you people wonder why you're in the wilderness right now, you can't even understand reality when it smacks you in the face...
The super rich equal 2%. approx. The skilled trades and semi professionals make up roughly 60percent. the professionals maybe 15 percent, the rest poorly skilled and unskilled. The Rep.T.P. are committed to the welfare of the top few percent and themselves so I can't see why the majority of us will be ever again committed to to the Rep/T.P. They can try to get a different message out to we trickle down dogs but I can't see how that will increase their voters by too much.
REALLY ?
Just LOOK at Obama's statement yesterday -
The debt ceiling should be a separate "conversation" from spending limits.
REALLY ?
In other words -
"Hey, Republicans - just give us EVERYTHING we want, and THEN we'll "talk" about what you want."
In other words, let us Democrats spend without limits, and, when we hit the NEW ceiling, just vote with us to raise it again...and again.
"we'll get to your spending limit agenda...in due time."
And you say "GROW UP" ?
Funny- I learned "compromise" in kindergarten. WHO needs to "grow up"?
"Right now over 50% of all households are receiving some form for government assistance, and that number is growing."
Those 50% include teachers, policeman firemen, military people, safety inspectors, wounded veterans, fireman and policemen who were disabled on the job, people who have been paying into Social security for 50, 60, 70 years or longer, people who have been paying into Medicare since the program started, , the list goes on and on. But according to Romney --these people are all moochers, parasites, people on the dole, non contributors, worthless people.
And of course -- government handouts to big oil, big agriculture, big pharmaceuticals, bit insurance -- that's all acceptable welfare. Bailing out huge investment banks when they over-speculate and almost crash the world economy -- that's acceptable.
As long as the Republican Party maintains those kind of attitudes, their death spiral will continue. Of course when you're Mitt Romney and daddy set you up for life, you see the world a lot differeently
Republicans are normally corrupt, selfish, and self-serving. I cannot see them winning votes and voters by offering programs, policies, and actions in the best public interest. The selfishness does not allow for considerations, no less actions, in the public interest.
What we have from them now are attempts to change rules and our democracy to give them power without winning votes and voters. This is a national effort. This is a dedicated effort. This effort must be stopped.
If, or when, Republicans can seize power without winning votes and voters, they will have the license they need to become ever more selfish, self-serving, corrupt, and extreme. Let's cherish and protect our democracy and freedom, Americans. Democracy and freedom are dear and fragile, we've been warned, and are under attack by Republicans seeking to rule without and against the public interests.
Sorry, your beloved democrats fit that claim better, even though both parties have their problems.
By the way, when did Reid (who is now being investigated for bribe offenses) become republican? Or Rangel? Jefferson? Edwards?
That would be a good start starbuck and Luis. The Gop is so entertwined with the defense industry thats their mantra, that education, and social issues take a back seat everytime.
In a nutshell, the problem is that Republicans are stuck in the past, unable or unwilling to adapt to fast-changing modern realities. The old guard of the GOP has been fading away as too few young recruits sign on to continue the tradition. Particularly unhelpful to their cause has been the Tea Party, which tends to attract right-wing extremists completely out of touch with America. If Republicans want to survive, they will seriously need to consider restarting with a blank slate.
When DeMint left the senate he said he'd rather have 30 true believers of the tea party agenda in the senate than 70 that merely talked the talk. In other words he'd rather the republicans become an obscure party than to compromise on right wing ideals. It's great to stick up for your beliefs but when those beliefs don't match the beliefs of those who elected you you're no longer their representative. If right wing republicans campaigned on their agenda they'd lose. If you truly believe the right wing agenda don't hide your views until elected.
This mindset is their primary issue "The Republican Party is a diverse, broad party.” NOT
Yes, I saw part of the interview. Everything he said made total sense. He's a Republican from the Bob Dole School of Politics, and there aren't many of them left.
I thought Colin Powell was the most honest republican I've heard on meet the press in along time.
Powell has been the most honest republican for a number of years now, perhaps decades. He reminds me of President / General Eisenhower.
Colin Powell is the last honest republican left. republicans of today you could learn allot from Colin Powell.
Colin Powell may be the only Repugnican I would ever vote for...not because I'm a dem. I'm not. But the GOP is loathsome. I'm amazed he hasn't disavowed this party.
Let the RWNJ keep talking they are digging a deep grave for the Republican brand and if they ever show their faces again we will be ready with a stake through their heart.................they are blood sucking vampires, the face of evil. Efffffffffffff them all.
As bad as the GOP have been lately, they need a good time out on the sidelines for let's say the next two Presidential Elections. Take back the House in 2014 and send in Clinton/Warren 2016-2024. Moving Forward
TryReality - as a depressed, decades-dedicated Republican I have to agree. They need to get a clue.
Unfortunately - I'm afraid that instead of reaching out to women, getting with the middle of the country, they're spending more time on rigging the system: more gerrymandering and encouraging states to award electoral votes county by county which would have enabled Obama to win popular vote by 5 mill, but lose to Romney on electoral votes.
Much like the despicable behavior of Wall Street unethically rigging the economic/banking system for the profits of the few, the GOP is looking to rig the system so they don't have to worry about women and a changing demographic landscape. Why bother when you can use R controlled state houses to use election law to subvert the will of the people????
They are stuck in the past, whats funny is they still don't get it they blame it on Mittens, when I'll be it he sure didn't help. The whole republican primary season or what ever you call it was a parade of idiots, it was like ok who's next to step up and well be idiots. As of this day they haven't changed.
I'll bet they still have that same clown car in the GOP headquarters building under cover ready for the group of idiots they will parade in front of the media in 2016.
Actually, the dems have several good candidates in '16: Howard Dean, Joe Biden, Hillary...their bench is in good shape. I would like to see Robert Reich back in the game.
The problem with the GOP is that they assumed that because they won big in 2010, that they had the country behind them. What they failed to accept is that the reason they won is because they rigged the system so they HAD to win. And, now they are trying to do that for the presidential election. They will be very surprised when we, the people refuse to accept that kind of election. They simply refuse to accept that their day in the sun is OVER and it isn't coming back, regardless of what they say or do. Their ideas are not the ideas that we need to move this country forward.
The GOP is still stuck in a maze of their own making. They are stumbling around punch-drunk in the dark looking for a shortcut out. When they realize that they are their own worst enemy and that there is no shortcut, maybe they can begin to mend. From what I have seen since the election, they are still very fractured and clueless as to what went wrong. They are too busy blaming each other for the loss to reflect on finding a path that takes them out of the maze and back to power.
And with all you said............they are wondering if they need a "modest readjustment" of how they "package" their message...........Another poster said it best: "It isn't the packaging".......DUH.......It's THE MESSAGE............toss Norquist and adopt the US public as a whole and not just the TPs and religious right and then your message will be greatly improved.
I don't think they have a way out. I think they're about to join the Whigs. I think we're seeing their death throes right now. But we need at least 2 parties, maybe 3 would be better. The Libertarians are better suited to living in caves than in the 21st century. So who will take the place of the 'pugs?
Thank the lord Queen Annie turned down DWTS. I bet if she was in the WH she would be hamn it up.
What is left out of this article is what the GOP is actually doing! Rather than actually making real changes from the heart to embrace a diverse group of voters, they are trying to figure ways to win the election without making any real gains in numbers. If they are successful, the Democratic candidate can get 5, 10, 15 million more votes but due to their new plans, the GOP can still win. They are going to " gerrymander " the blue states. They are already working on it, and want to allot electoral votes per district. So, as they received over a million less votes for the House, they still kept the majority, they are planning on doing the same thing for the Presidential race. Rence Prebius admitted it today. If the plans were in effect for this recent election, Obama would have been slaughtered by the electoral college. I am not sure what we can do to stop it. Ideas????
They are going to " gerrymander " the blue states. They are already working on it, and want to allot electoral votes per district
They did that in 2010 and according to federal law, that is now locked in until 2020. So that can't play with redistricting it until then, but they have to have the majority in the state to do that.
The problem isn't gerrymandering. It's that the 'pugs are on a state by state campaign to change the way electoral votes are allocated. Under this system, Obama would have lost votes in Ohio and Pennsylvania even though he won both states. The only real solution will be demonstrations and vote out the 'pug bastard theives. They don't really want democracy. They just want power however they can get it. And as long as this is their strategy, they are simply prolonging their death throes.
Good Rittens Mittens, Annie get yr guns, and the Gop
It might be time for the US to consider BANKRUPTCY..... That is the only way with the idiots we have running this country to get out of Debit..... Everyone screams on how bad it is yet the PORK still keeps getting added on.....
OH Guy...Why is the GOP in such a hurry to get out of debt that been around since George Washington? The most astute financial advisor knows you can't payoff debt in 12 months, not without huge infusions of money. The GOP wants that infusion of funding to come from the $33 trillion sitting in SS, the trillions paid into Medicare and Medicaid and all without forfeiting a dime of the tax subsidies the GOP doled out to the tune of $150 billion last year to profitable home state corporations. Sorry...that's not good math.
The reality is that GOP employs idealisms that do not work in such a diverse society. One size does not fit all. Americans are tired of the GOP stagnation, lack of progressive movement forward and always supporting the rich and Corporate Welfare state.
Is it necessary for American taxpayers to foot the bill for oil spills to 50% and then hand Big Oil another $12 billion in our tax dollars? Explain that one if you can. Dumping the cost of oil spills on taxpayers is the bailiwick of the GOP who consistently try to save Big Oil's ass from extinction. Too late. This is why they handed Big Oil our tax dollars...to keep the drilling going and a handful of their home states from profitting from taxpayers. We do not owe these GOP politicians nor their states help with profitable state industries. That's the job of the industry leaders.
After listening to the fractured debate among republicans whether or not to approve emergency aid for those citizens ill-affected by Hurricane Sandy, and knowing that they selectively chose a Democrat-voting section of the nation for this behavior, leaves me to wonder whether any decent citizen of the nation could vote republican again. As for immigration, gun accountability, and women's rights, you can't have it both ways...intractability on issues that appeal to the republican base and winning majority votes in national elections. The republicans may have gerrymandered themselves to victory in their home districts but isolated themselves for national victory by their parochial and provincial positions.
The only thing the Gop thinks about other than saving their old white guy base, is saving their old white guy base.
Which to them means how can we suppress the vote in any way which benifits us and hurts the other side. When they think about changing demographics they only think of how to make it harder for the little guy to vote. If they can suppress the vote they don't have to change. Remember that when you watch them move forward, they will try to change the optics, but the substance is still the same.
Retired NY teacher I hear ya loud and clear on that one. Next time a disaster tears up the south might have to rethink myself.
garbman: No. We will not act like them. ☺
I can't see the Gop winning the POTUS for a long long time unless they steal it be vigilant voters.
The GOP "shot themselves in the foot", with all the candidate "Mud Slinging" in the first round. They just helped the Democrats before the real election got started, good job. By the time they got through with each other, none looked good.
"Mulvaney said “the world is not going to end” if the U.S. defaults on its debt."
Perhaps for him - but for the rest of us mortals who will having higher costs due to increased interest rates - we will be affected.
How about this - don't complain about paying the bill for something you already bought.
How about "Disbanding" - completely. Baring that, of the following: " a modest re-calibration or a wholesale reinvention remains an open question": Wholesale reinvention is the only possibility - and that "reinvention" had better be in the correct direction: Representing the real people and not their special interests friends and stop being paid lobbyists for the aforementioned Special Interests. Of course, we all know where the GOP-Tea Party-Right Wing Cartel will go: The will choose "Party above principle" as usual:
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…
Well put Will. You only have to look at Monsanto, with their gentically altered, patented soybeans, as evidence of what you are saying! Look at the banks, wall street and oil companies and that will give further evicence!
big bird must be doing the our countries credit rating because i would have lost my credit 30 years ago.
Who the hell WANTS the GOP back in power?? Just LOOK at what they've done when they WERE in power! It will take decades to fix the multiple disasters they've visited on this country!