By Caitlin Taylor

Jan 30, 2009 8:23am

The Note, 1/30/09: Grand Old Positioning: Republicans seek a leader — and a message — in Obama era

By RICK KLEIN Who’s in charge around here anyway? Who, that is, is poised to lead the GOP out of its Obama-complicated wilderness? Mitch McConnell, whose Senate caucus provides the last legislative check Republicans own (at least for now)? John Boehner, glowing even more than usual after keeping his entire unwieldy group on board opposing the president? Rush Limbaugh or Matt Drudge — who together had more to do with the House vote than Boehner’s team can claim credit for? The 2012ers in exile — Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and all the rest — who can comfortably oppose the president without having to take a vote? Or whoever of the (now down to five) men is elected RNC chairman Friday — in a race nobody is paying much attention to, but will determine much of the image the party puts forward? Balancing ethnic and regional politics, the past vs. the future, the Bush legacy and what means to be a Republican, the race to head the Republican National Committee represents party insiders’ best chance for a while to choose a path. It comes at a delicate time for the GOP. The party is finding a voice as Obama’s opposition — Wednesday’s House vote did wonders for party unity going into the House retreat — but is still figuring out how best to handle this popular new president. The party’s problems — the technology gap, regionalization, the Bush era’s continuing drag — are well-known. But new ideas for what to do about — that’s a different story. Friday brings a chance for a new face — or, at least, a new old face. The convention wisdom on the RNC voting, with the meeting set to commence at 10:30 am ET: Current Chairman Mike Duncan will lead in the first ballot — but will fall well short of the majority he needs. Then the wheeling-and-dealing commences, with Michael Steele, Saul Anuzis, Katon Dawson, and Ken Blackwell also vying for the top spot. Washingtonpost.com’s Chris Cillizza lists the favorites in order: Duncan, Steele, Dawson, Anuzis, Blackwell. “At the philosophical level, there are two dynamics playing out in the race,” Cillizza writes. “The first is a choice between change and more of the same. Mike Duncan, the current RNC Chairman who is seeking another term, is, without question, the more of the same candidate — arguing that he did as good a job as possible at the helm of the party in 2008 and that a steady hand is needed to guide the GOP back to relevance in the coming years.” “The other dynamic is between committee members and outsiders. For the last eight years, RNC members have seen their chairmen foisted upon them by Bush with little input or say over how the committee runs,” Cillizza writes. One way to frame it: “Their choice when they vote Friday was to give former President George W. Bush’s hand-picked party chief, Mike Duncan, a shot at turning around the Republican Party by re-electing him to a second-two year term or choosing a fresh face from one of his four challengers,” the AP’s Liz Sidoti writes. Add to that the possibility of having an African-American voice at the top — in Steele or Blackwell — or an immigrant with a compelling life story — Anuzis — and count on multiple ballots Friday in Washington. “The field is expected to remain largely static over the first two ballots, with most campaigns expecting some significant fluctuations on the third ballot,” The Hill’s Reid Wilson reports. (And some pledges extend as far as six ballots!) One fewer candidate at the start — which means the headlines Saturday won’t reference any “magic negroes.” “Chip Saltsman, the candidate for national Republican Party chairman who came under fire late last year for distributing a holiday CD with the parody song “Barack the Magic Negro,” dropped out of the contest Thursday on the eve of the vote,” Adam Nagourney writes in The New York Times. “Mr. Saltsman was always viewed as something of a long shot, but his prospects dimmed after the disclosure that he had distributed the CD with the parody song.” The latest developments, from Thursday night’s private RNC session, per ABC’s David Chalian and Teddy Davis: “Keith Butler, an RNC member from Michigan, openly challenged South Carolina Republican Party chairman Katon Dawson on his recent resignation from a ‘whites-only’ country club.” “Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, one of two African-Americans running to head the GOP, addressed his previous service on the board of the Republican Leadership Council, an organization headed by former New Jersey Gov. Christie Todd Whitman which aims to make the GOP more acceptable to supporters of abortion rights. Steele offered a passionate defense of his ‘pro-life’ views and said that he was not apologizing for trying to reach out and broaden the party.” “Dawson’s whip operation is going hard at Mike Duncan, believing that the current chairman of the RNC who is seeking an additional two-year term is Dawson’s most intense competitor,” Chalian and Davis report. Anybody’s guess: “In part, it’s a reflection of a party that, even after a nearly three month-long chairman’s race, remains deeply uncertain of which candidate can best lead the GOP back to power,” Politico’s Alexander Burns reports. The Steele campaign is doing a good job of demonstrating momentum: “There’s anecdotal evidence building that former Maryland lieutenant governor Michael Steele is making a strong case to become the first African-American chairman of the Republican National Committee,” Jim Galloway reports in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Sue Everhart, chairman of the Georgia GOP, just called to say she would vote for Steele tomorrow.” Bad timing for Dawson: “In addition to his already disclosed past membership in the all-white Forest Lake Country Club, Dawson was also an officer in 2004 of a social club, the Camellia Ball (which holds events at the Forest Lake Country Club),” Jennifer Rubin writes at Pajamas Media. “According to information obtained by Pajamas Media (including photos), the Camellia Ball is an exclusive social organization with no minority members, which presents débutantes to South Carolina society.” “One anonymous e-mail mocked him as the ‘whites-only’ candidate to lead the national Republican Party,” Jim Morrill reports in the Charlotte Observer. “One e-mail featured a mock USA Today headline that read ‘RNC Members Choose “Whites-Only” Chairman.’ “ In a sense, the race could turn on items as simple as who has the most friends (on Facebook), and who tweets with the most alacrity. Watching a party wake up: “As the Republican Party rebuilds after its defeat at the polls in November, the discussion has centered not so much on honing its message as on messaging — on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace. In previous elections, the GOP often used technology in targeting voters more effectively than Democrats did; now the party is playing catch-up,” Christopher Rhoads writes in The Wall Street Journal. Not that the new chairman will represent the only party power source. The liberal group Americans United for Change is putting up a new radio ad in three states in support of President Obama’s stimulus package as it moves to the Senate — and it takes aim squarely at El Rushbo. “We can understand why a extreme partisan like Rush Limbaugh wants President Obama’s Jobs program to fail . . . but the Members of Congress elected to represent the citizens in their districts? . . . that’s another matter,” the ads say.

Limbaugh’s response, to Politico’s Jonathan Martin: “Senate Republicans need to understand this is not about me. . . . It is about them, about intimidating them, especially after the show of unity in House. It is about the 2010 and 2012 elections. This is an opportunity for Republicans to redefine themselves after a few years of wandering aimlessly looking for a ‘brand’ and identity.” Does Obama want this battle? “Excuse me, Mr. President, but you’ve been baited by none other than the Master Fisherman. Limbaugh tossed you a lure and you chomped,” Kathleen Parker writes in her Washington Post column. A drag on unity: “As Republicans fight President Obama’s gargantuan economic plan, they have plenty of ideas. What they don’t have is a party-wide consensus: They can’t agree among themselves on the best alternative, or on whether government action is even needed to pull the economy from its nose dive,” Mark Z. Barabak and Janet Hook write in the Los Angeles Times. Tough words from Terry Nelson, in a Washington Times op-ed: “We should be clear headed about this: The voters are behaviorally more centrist (and may be center-left) than they were four years ago. This is Obama’s opportunity and our trouble. This change in voter affiliation provides President-elect Obama the opportunity to govern from the middle. If he stays focused on this electorate, he can create a formidable group of voters that stretches from the left to the center.” And if Republicans really want a scare, check out this map: Gallup says there are only five “red” states left. Five. The opposition party, on the Hill: “In unanimously opposing the massive spending bill that Obama says is crucial to reviving the economy, they signaled they are not cowed by his November win or his calls for a new era of bipartisanship. Obama’s popularity will slacken, they say, and even if it doesn’t voters will reward a party that makes principled stands for restrained spending and bigger tax cuts,” Charles Babington and Liz Sidoti write for the AP. Per ABC’s Jonathan Karl: “Politically, the Republican mindset boils down to this: President Obama is popular, but the Democratic congressional leadership is not. They may pay a political price for opposing Obama’s plan, but not for opposing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s plan — even though that’s a distinction without a difference.” A misstep? “There is abundant evidence suggesting that we are in a new political era with new rules and a new lexicon. Those who ignore that evidence will have only themselves to blame if, like the air traffic controllers, they end up losing their jobs,” Eugene Robinson writes in his Washington Post column. RNC members heard a warning Thursday from McConnell, R-Ky.: “[T]he Republican Party seems to be slipping into a position of being more of a regional party than a national one,” McConnell said, per ABC’s Teddy Davis. “In politics, there’s a name for a regional party: it’s called a minority party. And I didn’t sign up to be a member of a regional party.” And McConnell’s caucus could be a minority that loses its 41st vote if this goes through: “The Obama administration has been floating the idea of naming Republican Sen. Judd Gregg (N.H.) to be Commerce Secretary, several Senate sources said Thursday,” Roll Call’s Emily Pierce reports. “The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Gregg’s nomination was far from a done deal, but remains a serious possibility. Reached by phone, Gregg, the top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, said he had no comment on whether he has been in talks with the White House about the post.” “If tapped, Gregg’s exit from the Senate would set off a political scramble in New Hampshire. Democratic Gov. John Lynch would name Gregg’s replacement,” John DiStaso writes in the New Hampshire Union Leader. (How could Republicans even think about letting that happen?) Gregg, while still a senator, is being pressed on the stimulus — and does this qualify as a warning? “It’s almost as if the election didn’t happen and that the message wasn’t received: that people in Washington need to cooperate a lot more than they have in the past,” said Obama campaign manager David Plouffe, to The New York Times. President Obama’s Friday: New, labor-friendly executive orders, and a memo that will create the Middle Class Task Force that will be led by Vice President Joe Biden. Biden outlines the task force in a USA Today op-ed: “At the end of the day, it will be our responsibility to offer clear, specific steps we can take to meet these concerns and others. Unlike some previous government task forces, our task force will operate in a fully transparent manner. We will consult openly and publicly with outside groups that have thought long and hard about these issues and can help us bring the most far-reaching and imaginative solutions to these problems. All the materials from our meetings, and any report we produce, will be up on our public website. None of this will happen behind closed doors.” Per ABC’s Jake Tapper, the new executive orders will: Require federal contractors (holding contracts above $100,000) to post a balanced notice of their employees’ rights under the National Labor Relations Act; Require federal service contractors providing services to federal buildings to offer a right of first refusal to the nonsupervisory, nonmanagerial employees of the predecessor contractor for positions for which they were qualified; and Prevent federal contractors from being reimbursed for expenditures intended to support or deter their employees’ exercise of their right to form unions and engage in collective bargaining. The AP’s Philip Elliott: “President Barack Obama is playing to one of the Democratic Party’s most reliable constituencies — organized labor — reversing a number of his predecessor’s executive orders that critics regard as anti-union.” Tough to counter: “President Obama branded Wall Street bankers ‘shameful’ on Thursday for giving themselves nearly $20 billion in bonuses as the economy was deteriorating and the government was spending billions to bail out some of the nation’s most prominent financial institutions,” Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Stephen Labaton report in The New York Times. “It was a pointed — if calculated — flash of anger from the president, who frequently railed against excesses in executive compensation on the campaign trail. He struck his populist tone as he confronted the possibility of having to ask Congress for additional large sums of money, beyond the $700 billion already authorized, to prop up the financial system, even as he pushes Congress to move quickly on a separate economic stimulus package that could cost taxpayers as much as $900 billion.” Still dealing with the (self-created) fallout of that early executive order: “The new chief of staff to health reform czar Tom Daschle was a lobbyist through late last year and will have to recuse himself from issues he worked to influence, an administration aide said Thursday,” Politico’s Carrie Budoff Brown reports. Plus: “A university dean picked as one of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s top diplomatic deputies has earned tens of thousands of dollars in part-time consulting work from a prominent Washington lobbying firm with a roster of foreign clients that include a Dubai-backed company and Colombia’s trade bureau,” Jim McElhatton writes in the Washington Times. “Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg, who was confirmed by the Senate this week, reported $70,000 in income from the Glover Park Group, whose partners include several former high-ranking Clinton administration officials, according to documents recently filed with the U.S. Office of Ethics.” And: “Senate opposition is mounting to President Obama’s nomination of William Lynn to be deputy Defense secretary, with senior Republicans now questioning his competence in addition to his recent lobbying activity,” CQ’s Josh Rogin reports. “GOP senators inside and outside the Senate Armed Services Committee raised new objections Thursday to Lynn becoming the chief operating officer at the Pentagon, potentially adding roadblocks to his nomination if and when it emerges from the committee process.” It’s a working Super Bowl at the White House — Obama and Biden are both rooting for the Steelers, but really are rooting for some bipartisanship to break out. Jake Tapper: “A Democrat tells ABC News that invited guests at President Obama’s White House Super Bowl Party this Sunday include Rep. Mike Castle, R-Del., Sen. Bob Casey, D-Penn., Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., Rep. Artur Davis, D-Ala., and friends of the Obamas from Chicago.” “That means not only that both Democrats and Republicans will be drinking beer and popcorn at Casa Blanca, but both Steelers fans (Casey, President Obama) and those backing the Cards (Franks).” Who would you rather be? “As a coatless Norm Coleman trudged through the snow Thursday morning in St. Paul, making his way to the fourth day of the U.S. Senate recount trial, Al Franken had already begun a weeklong vacation in balmy Key West,” Mike Kaszuba writes in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Gone — and soon to be forgotten: “The controversial signs at Illinois tollway plazas announcing ‘Open Road Tolling — Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor’ will soon be changed, a tollway spokeswoman said Thursday,” Richard Wronski reports in the Chicago Tribune. “New signs, keeping the open-road-tolling message but covering Blagojevich’s name, will be placed over the old ones, said Joelle McGinnis, spokeswoman for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, before the Illinois Senate voted to remove the governor.” The Kicker: “If you are impeaching me on providing safe and affordable prescription drugs — going to Canada and getting the same medicines made by the exact same companies — then the governor of Wisconsin ought to be impeached, the governor of Kansas ought to be impeached, the governor of Vermont ought to be impeached. And, while we’re at it, let’s go reach right into the United States Senate and let’s expel John McCain and Ted Kennedy because I worked with them on this issue. . . . Let’s demand that President Obama fire Rahm Emanuel because Rahm Emanuel was the one who gave me this idea.” — Rod Blagojevich, naming names on his way out. Bookmark the link below to get The Note’s daily morning analysis:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/the_note/index.html For up-to-the-minute political updates check out The Note’s blog . . . all day every day:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/ Follow The Note blog on Twitter: http://twitter.com/thenote

User Comments

A message; a Leader: from the GOP?
You have got to be kidding.

Posted by: Thinking | January 30, 2009, 8:54 am 8:54 am

How about we just do away with the Republican and Democrat parties? Vote for who you believe in is the right person no matter what. One of the worst things I would hear when canvassing was I have to vote for McCain because I’m Republican then they would say they can’t stand him or don’t agree with what he said. How does that make sense? People need to vote for the best qualified person regardless of which party.

Posted by: enviro | January 30, 2009, 9:24 am 9:24 am

A new image??? Does that mean they feel their previous image was flawed? Whers is Rush and Sean on this “new image” objective?

Posted by: Don | January 30, 2009, 9:30 am 9:30 am

Whew, that was a LONG one Mr. Klien.
Do we really need three pieces on the Republicans searching for new leadership?
I’m no PR expert, but perhaps in the midst of this crisis, Republicans could be meeting about economic SOLUTIONS to our problem not electing their new leader? I for one, would give the appearance of “feeling the common folks” pain. And “woe is us” falls short.
Conservative common sense needs to wake up, and be sensitive.

Posted by: Mavsreader | January 30, 2009, 9:43 am 9:43 am

Maybe they should have a 9/11 type commission explore how they screwed up governing the country. I’ll give them an idea: spent millions to prosecute Bill Clinton and attempt to remove him office for extramarital affairs with Republicans in charge of Senate. When presented with memo title “Bin Laden Determined to Attack America,” The Republican President told the messenger “now you can say you covered your ass.” Ignored subsequent memos from the CIA asking for meetings with principles regarding Bin Laden threat.
Forced into retrememnt a General who said more troops would be needed to invade Iraq than Rumsfeld believed. Dissenting voices purged from administration, including freezing out General Powell who cautioned, regarding Iraq, “you break it, you bought it.”
Republican Vice President and Secretary of Defese on tape assuring Americans Iraq invasion would be paid for with Iraq oil revenues, that Americans would be greeted as liberators by Iraqis, that the war would take “six months tops.” Republican President using his re-election capital to push for putting Social Security retirement money into the Stock Market. Stock Market collapses three years later amid reports of ponzi schemes, irresponsible money managers and prolifigate CEO’s. And so on, and on and on…yeah, the Republicans just need a new face.

Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2009, 9:45 am 9:45 am

Here is an idea for you weak republicans- stand up to the socialist democrats!
The democrats crushed our housing market by forcing banks to make “fair and equal” housing opportunities with litte outcry from the republicans.
Oppose barry O’s attempts to dramatically grow the size of gov’t, taxes and citizen dependence on the state.

Posted by: dave | January 30, 2009, 9:54 am 9:54 am

I guess you’d say the “Saving Grace” for the Democratic Party is; the Republican Party just CANNOT disconnect its Base from their “celebrated antagonist – talkies” Hannutty, Dimbaugh & O’Really (and those who attempt to emulate them.)
Most folks find these “talkies” disgusting and others cite them for “inflaming their maniacal followers”, they pretty much ensure the majority of “average Americans” (of any “stripe”) – who finds them repulsive, would choose NOT to be associated with their ilk.

Posted by: bobj72 | January 30, 2009, 10:01 am 10:01 am

I do belive Limbaugh and Hannity Are in Control of the party now Watch the Gop become Extinct!

Posted by: Angie | January 30, 2009, 10:03 am 10:03 am

The representatives of the Republican party actually listen to their bosses the people that elect them to offices. The Limbaugh commit by the president ignited the conservative base to get back in the political game.

Posted by: Jesus Warrior | January 30, 2009, 10:06 am 10:06 am

@enviro…
You are correct.. that would be nice.
I am a believer in SMALL Goverment. I am responsible, I work hard, I pay my bills on time, I take care of my Family, Friends and Neighbors. I believe that everyone should work and MY Tax money should go to Police, Fire, Rescue and Military to defend this country. Let Private Charities handle the homeless, hungry, and truly need help.
We have created a Country where there are people that KNOW how to live off our tax money without ever working and the PEOPLE that REALLY NEED IT, DON’T GET IT. We allow people from another Country to come here, drop a child and CRAP, we have another mouth to feed.
I did not see that in OBAMA or McCAIN.
So, what happens when none of the people running comes close to standing for what you would like to see? I guess you just don’t vote?

Posted by: ajax | January 30, 2009, 10:08 am 10:08 am

“The democrats crushed our housing market by forcing banks to make “fair and equal loans”
Typical Republican talking point, putting the blame on Democrats when Republicans have encouraged homeownership since before Reagan’s time. Not putting any responsibilty for this crash on the over paid money managers who turned their profits bundling bad morgages with good, who devised predatory loan schemes where payments increased, while housing values fell. The Feds, under this Republican administration, lowered interst rates to encourage spending, fueling the housing bubble. Gosh, who would have thought $250,000 was too high a price to pay for a one bathroom, ugly ranch? Oh, no, its not the Republicans fault and their “let the markets be free!” motto, its the Democrats’ fault, even though Fannie and Freddie account for only a third of the foreclosed loans.

Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2009, 10:14 am 10:14 am

bobj72,
NO Different then the Hollywood crowd that sells the liberal party. The Hollywood, Hannity, Limbaugh make millions and guess WHAT? We don’t!!!
The left has people like Sean Penn that goes and hangs our with Hugo Chavez who has taken control of the News and pretty much stopped elections. So, the dems have their radicals and so do the repubs.
Maybe if the True Democrats in this Country should STOP Listening to their ELITE LEFT and the Republicans STOP listening to their ELITE RIGHT. Maybe, just maybe.. we may get something done.

Posted by: ajax | January 30, 2009, 10:16 am 10:16 am

Each and everything with the Republican Party is in a limbo. I can’t imagine if Republicans are in power and anyone say he/she wants them to fail, how the Talk Radio King Rush Limbaugh will react!!!!

Posted by: Rosie | January 30, 2009, 10:18 am 10:18 am

All the republicans have to do is stand strong against the EU socialist dems. Republicans need go back to the founding father’s core beliefs in an efficient state.
Stand for…
-small govt (as opposed to the democrats idea of gigantic nanny state)
-small taxes (including for the evil wealthiest 10% who currently pay 50% of the tax load)
-large military (which the democrats are always trying to shrink because they can’t stand America being a superpower)
-citizen self reliance
-stand for human rights (a concept the dems just picked up on in the 60′s when they realized that shoving entitlements down voter’s throats will get you reelected). Before the 60′s, democrats were the segregationists, klan members, and slave owners. Thank God democrats don’t know how to win wars, or blacks still might be enslaved!

Posted by: Jill | January 30, 2009, 10:19 am 10:19 am

at on time I thought the republican party was on track for the right values for this country. All they are is talk and self righteous. Our new president is humble and yes he wants to help the middle class and other under served Americans. All the republicans want to do is serve the needs of the rich and pretend to care about the middle class. Why in the world would the republicans want to stop financial aid for students that need it? Go dems! Stay on the path of serving America.

Posted by: TV | January 30, 2009, 10:24 am 10:24 am

Jill, Well Said.
I too, wish the same for the Republican Party.

Posted by: ajax | January 30, 2009, 10:26 am 10:26 am

We have created a Country where there are people that KNOW how to live off our tax money without ever working and the PEOPLE that REALLY NEED IT, DON’T GET IT.
***************************************
This is pure BS. I do not care what sort of law, government, Ideology, you ar I have there wioll allways be someone who games the system..
Try and tell me that the Bankers haven’t, try and tell me that Wall Street hasn’t, try and tell me that the CEO’s of every major company in the world hasn’t. This under the Supposed, we know what is best for the country GOP watch.
Your just singing the same old tierd, weak, absurd arguments I have heard from the GOP since Nixon.
The GOP acts as if the people are the problem. Why if they could just submit the people they could run the country, and their family and friends would be in good shape, and they would try and tell me that unemployment, no health care, $5.00. hr job is good for me.

Posted by: Thinking | January 30, 2009, 10:28 am 10:28 am

Thinking
People are not the problem, gov’t is the problem. Socialism/communism has tried and failed all over the world. Capitalism allows the free market to create an environment where individuals choose for themselves. Our system, which is the best the world has EVER seen, was nearly broken because of the democrats.
Barney Frank, chuck schumer, harry reid, maxine waters, chris dodd, ACORN, jimmy carter all played robin hood with the housing market and nearly broke this country. Without the protection from the media, the socialist dems would have been exposed for who they are and for the damage that they have caused.
Have you seen ALL of the you tube videos of the dems i listed fighting againt ANY regulation of fanny/freddy because it would decrease “fair and affordable housing”??
These people should have been chases out of DC with brooms and instead, they are more powerful then ever. Thank you liberal media.

Posted by: Jill | January 30, 2009, 10:45 am 10:45 am

Amy: Hear hear! Sing it, sister.
I pray the GOP remains subservient to its hateful fat slob of a leader, Rush Limbaugh. Most of the country has moved past the 90s by now, and the GOP’s prospects will continue to darken the longer they hold onto the old divide and conquer strategy of yore. I think it’ll take one more whipping at the ballot box in 2010 before these dinosaurs finally get that through their thick skulls. But until then, keep believing you lost because you weren’t “conservative” enough, morons! Hahahahaha!

Posted by: SpaceCat | January 30, 2009, 10:46 am 10:46 am

Jill, Republicans make more people poorer and the Democratic administrations then have to provide services to them.
I looked at the stimulus plan last night and got a chill: more money for unemployment insurance, food stamps, and Medicaid for the unemployed. Folks, these services are designed to help people survive the upcoming down turn. This is not a plot by Democrats to turn us into a socialist state, this is spending that is required to keep people from starving in their unheated homes.

Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2009, 10:49 am 10:49 am

Amy
You are sadly misinformed, which explains how someone like barry could ever be elected here.
Please look at statistics leading up to the 60′s. Blacks were on the rise in every catergory relative to whites (MLK was a republican). Housing, marriage, education, life expectancy… And then what happened? Wham! The whole liberal, free your mind, let your pants hang down menality hit. Welfare skyrocketed, and ever since then, blacks and other minority groups have seen their quality of life drastically decline relative to whites.
Welfare keeps democrats elected and its recipients enslaved.
Just as the democrats had actual shackles on slaves before the republicans kicked their behinds in the civil war, the democrats now have welfare shackles on the poor today.

Posted by: dave | January 30, 2009, 10:57 am 10:57 am

Poor Jill she is Under Limbaugh,Hannity Spells, Poor thing maybe someday the Girl will snap out if wake up to Reality like the Rest of the Country has about the Gop!

Posted by: Angie | January 30, 2009, 10:58 am 10:58 am

@Thinking,
“This is pure BS. I do not care what sort of law, government, Ideology, you ar I have there wioll allways be someone who games the system..”
So what, we just keep putting the money out there for more and more to “game” the system??? How about FIXING WHAT WE HAVE before we keep adding to it!
“Try and tell me that the Bankers haven’t, try and tell me that Wall Street hasn’t, try and tell me that the CEO’s of every major company in the world hasn’t. This under the Supposed, we know what is best for the country GOP watch.”
That I will agree with you over, BUT I know quite a few Democrats that MAKE and TAKE the same way, but I guess that is ok? The Republicans do not CORNER THE MARKET on this. How much is “Ted Kennedy Worth”?? How much MONEY did Bill Clinton make Last year?
“they would try and tell me that unemployment, no health care, $5.00. hr job is good for me.”
Maybe you get off you ass and work.. you won’t be making $5.00 and hour. Don’t give me this bullcrap “The Man” put you down. Trust me, I had no one to pay my way into College. I joined the Military for 6 years(+ 2 more Reserves) and saved my money, PUT MYSELF through college and then got a job and I work an average of 55 hours a week. Truse me, if I could get to where I am today.. most everyone else can!

Posted by: ajax | January 30, 2009, 10:59 am 10:59 am

Amy and the rest of the obamabots have been drinking the liberal kool-aid for far too long.

Posted by: Jill | January 30, 2009, 10:59 am 10:59 am

What a great start they are making. Associate yourself more closely with Rush Limbaugh, an uneducated, fat, bigot with a microphone. He all eat up with that fat anger. Your sure to attract more uneducated, angry bigots to your party. That’s a big pick up.

Posted by: Mark S | January 30, 2009, 11:00 am 11:00 am

Jill you are so right. The Republican Party was the liberal party before the Democratic party realized they could buy votes. It happened during the JFK/ LBJ era. Remember the foreign policy that committed troops to Viet Nam, allowed the Cuban missile crisis, was responsible for erection of the Berlin Wall, botched the Bay of Pigs invasion, had an arms for drugs deal going in central America, manipulated the governments in the middle east, the deeper reason they hate us today? All those things happened under Democrats. Republicans got us out of those messes.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 30, 2009, 11:05 am 11:05 am

Ajax
Great point, but these obamabots are too far gone to accept facts now.
27/50 of the WEALTHIEST members of congress are DEMOCRATS, with 8of them being in the TOP 10.They are truly the party of the people!
Liberals are socialists and they are ALWAYS more willing to spread around someone else’s $$$$.

Posted by: dave | January 30, 2009, 11:08 am 11:08 am

The new leader of the Republican Party should be no one other than Rush Limbaugh! He so reflects all the talents and ideas the Republicans represent! The American People are watching the Republicans and Rush very closely.

Posted by: SUNMAKER777 | January 30, 2009, 11:12 am 11:12 am

DAVE JILL AJAX
Are Irrelavant Just like their Pathetic party! pay them no Mind folks The Limbaugh Cult followers will Dwindle away Into Extinction! Ignore something and It goes away I mean look we Ignored the Republicans in 2008 And their Failed Policies and look their dwindiling Away hahahahahah

Posted by: Angie | January 30, 2009, 11:19 am 11:19 am

When the states tried to stop the mortgage companies from giving out toxic loans in 2001, Bush had the office of the OCC sue based on an archaic 1860 law stating that states cant interfer w/ federal banking & commerce. THey have been screaming deregulation for years, they have done everything they can to make sure that employees lose benefits & to drive down wages. There ONLY fiscal plan for the last 8 years was tax cuts & ignoring the markets, look where that got us.
Now they only want tax cuts. HuH? New Direction? New Leadership? What do they stand for? They are in the pockets of large corporations & could care less if the American public is homeless & hungry.

Posted by: Kristina | January 30, 2009, 11:21 am 11:21 am

Jill,
Of course they have not seen it, these liberals refuse to believe anything in the real world. The love to have MSNBC the NY Times, etc tell thme every problem since the big bang is due to the republicans.
FACTS are not relevant to a liberal. They refuse to see that both parties have blame on this mess.
They especially do not want to hear that many of the Democrats who own a share of that blame pie are now supposed to fix everything!
Barney Frank – Failed Social Engineer and defender of the faith
Tim Giethner – Tax cheat, orchectrator of Wall Street Bailouts and now the “only man” who can save the economy.
Larry Summers – Big backer of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (yes that was a Republican bill) that helped to deregulate the banks, now a chief economic advisor to Obama.
Nancy Pelosi – Queen of the Handouts, the mother of all partisan politics, in charge of the lesgilative agenda in the house for the last 2 years and at least the next 2. She rushed TARP through with no oversight, she leads the effort for the new Stimulus bill and had go on TV and explain how $200 million for birth control stimulates the economy!
Robert Reich – the little guy with ALL the big ideas on social engineering. Another Obama retread from the Clinton years, Reich recently stated that quotas should be imposed based on race, ethnic background and sex in regards to how funds from the Stimulus package get dispersed. He would rather give money to an unqualified person to do a job wrong than to a qualified person based solely on his ideas of how to engineer society,
Charlie Rangel – Another tax cheat, whose main responsibility as a congressman is to write & oversee the Tax Code!!!
Harry Reid – Congressional “spouse” of Pelosi. Already adding over 100 Billion more in pork to the stimulus bill.

Posted by: Mike_C | January 30, 2009, 11:21 am 11:21 am

OK, Dave, let me see if I have this right. Blacks were better off during the 50′s under Eisenhower, when they could be denied service at a lunch counter, a seat on the bus, a decent education, an equal shot at a job, equal advancement in the military, etc. The Republicans were also such great champions for African Americans under Reagan, Bush I and II that African Americans slide further apart from whites in academic test scores, health statistics and levels of income.
And yet, 95% of them came out to vote for a Democratic President in 2009. Hmmmmm. P.S. we don’t have many African Americans in Maine but we do have our share of white criminals, wife beaters, alcoholics and homeless people. Dysfunctional people come in all colors, in all states, red and blue.

Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2009, 11:23 am 11:23 am

Rick Klein; Are you nuts? We know the libs have carte blanche with the media but this commentary is off the charts biased. I’m a fiscally conservative independent, another estranged group. Do you really expect the Republicans to jump on board a sinking ship in the interest of being part of the in crowd? We the taxpayers can see the ship going down and don’t want any part of the strategy this administration has adopted so far. All the Democrats have done as the ship sinks is poke more holes in the hull. It’s time to bail with all the buckets we can find. Hang tough Republicans. We will need you down the road to get us out of this mess. Until then you’ll be able to make eye contact with that fellow in the mirror.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 30, 2009, 11:29 am 11:29 am

Posted by: Mark S | January 30, 2009, 11:34 am 11:34 am

Amy
You are correct. BLACKS WERE FAR BETTER OFF IN THE 50′S regarding standards of living (literacy, housing, education, marriage).
The # of ghettos, drug addicts, and outofwedlock births skyrocketed once the democrats started to enjoy the black vote. Welfare keeps the blacks in shackles and keeps the democrats in office.
Johnson was a HUGE racist, as were most of the democrats then. He should not be viewed as some great savior. Johnson signed the bill because he had to.
Republicans went to the extent of fighting democrats in a civil war to keep the dems from having slaves. Segregationists and klan members almost exclusively democrat jackasses, look in your history books.

Posted by: dave | January 30, 2009, 11:36 am 11:36 am

If they continue to keep doing what they keep doing, they will continue to keep getting what they are getting -
voted OUT!
I believe the American people are sick of it — I know I am.

Posted by: Nancy | January 30, 2009, 11:38 am 11:38 am

Amy
You are correct. BLACKS WERE FAR BETTER OFF IN THE 50′S regarding standards of living (literacy, housing, education, marriage).
The # of ghettos, drug addicts, and outofwedlock births skyrocketed once the democrats started to enjoy the black vote. Welfare keeps the blacks in shackles and keeps the democrats in office.
Johnson was a HUGE racist, as were most of the democrats then. He should not be viewed as some great savior. Johnson signed the bill because he had to.
Republicans went to the extent of fighting democrats in a civil war to keep the dems from having slaves. Segregationists and klan members were almost exclusively democrat jackasses, look in your history books.

Posted by: dave | January 30, 2009, 11:39 am 11:39 am

Posted by: ajax | Jan 30, 2009 10:16:37 AM;
Appears as though you and Jill are two (2) peas in a pod. (I might add, “a pod with a thick shell!”)
You said; “The left has people like Sean Penn that goes and hangs our with Hugo Chavez who has taken control of the News and pretty much stopped elections. So, the dems have their radicals and so do the repubs.” …….
I say; “Not only do most Artistic folks tend to be Liberals, there are some who are ‘Outright Kooks!’ But you’ve been “asleep at the switch”, if you think for one (1) instant that ANY of them have an iota of influence over “Thinking Adults.” Conversely, “The Talkies” preside over their disciples like ‘Grand Wizards!’
Now Jill: “Your ‘War Assessment’ is faulty (as I also find most of your reasoning), seems you’re suggesting the Civil War was fought between Republicans and Democrats???”

Posted by: bobj72 | January 30, 2009, 11:42 am 11:42 am

mmonroeliveson
I know you are a reasonable guy and an independent voter. Just one question, why don’t you hold Republicans responsible for the results of their policies? I mean, The Iraq war has cost trillions, much of it lost to fraud, Republicans wanted to put Social Security funds in the stock market, which has now tanked, economic indicators are the worst we have seen in decades, and yet you urge Republicans to “hold on.” Just curious. What would they have to do to get you to ask them to take a break?

Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2009, 11:43 am 11:43 am

dave, “Segregationists and klan members were almost exclusively democrat jackasses”…who switched to the Republican Party, I do believe. When President Johnson signed the Voting Act it signaled the end of Southern white support for the Democratic Party, I do believe, if my history book is correct.
Being from Maine I try to stay out of commenting on Southern politics.

Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2009, 11:48 am 11:48 am

What happened to the GOP? What a mystery. Where is Sherlock Holmes when you need him?
Strategy-Back a lame duck president with the lowest approval rating in history on everything he wants to do. Run up the largest deficit is U.S. history after having a surplus. Blindly promote an unpopular war that changed it mission on a semi-annual basis. Who would have thought it would have costs them votes?
I like the new strategy- rally behind a fat, uneducated bigot with a microphone. Happy 2010.
—————————
Mark S,
Latest Democratic Strategy……
Allow a Democratic-controlled congress with an approval rating LESS than Bush’s write bills spending TRILLIONS on everything under the sun EXCEPT things that actually create jobs and get the confidence of the consumer up once again.
“While the Senate debates the merits of President Barack Obama’s near-$900 billion economic stimulus bill, policy makers continue to prepare another massive bailout for the nation’s troubled financial institutions.
A new approach has emerged as The Wall Street Journal reported regulators are considering a hybrid rescue that would both buy a portion of banks’ bad assets and offer some guarantees against future losses. The so-called “bad bank” could cost $2 trillion but officials said this hybrid approach is just one being considered, the newspaper reported.”
Consumer Confidence…
“U.S. consumer confidence rose to a four-month high in January but improved less than economists had expected and remained weak overall, a survey showed Friday.
Despite the increase in the overall sentiment index, consumers rated their current economics conditions worse than the month before, with this gauge falling to 66.5 from 69.5.”
Now how can this be? Why is it that consumer confidence has skyrocketed now that Obama is in control and the Democrats rule the government.
Answer – Despite the rhetoric, the people do not have confidence that this congress has any clue about what to do. People see them just doing buisness as usual – taking a bill aimed a specfic critical problem and attaching wasteful and useless spending all over it.
Things are already bad, but this democratic congress seems determined to play “pork” games instead of seriously trying to solve problems!
This is why their approval was lower than Bush’s

Posted by: Mike_C | January 30, 2009, 11:56 am 11:56 am

CORRECTION!
Now how can this be? Why is it that consumer confidence has NOT skyrocketed now that Obama is in control and the Democrats rule the government.
Answer – Despite the rhetoric, the people do not have confidence that this congress has any clue about what to do. People see them just doing buisness as usual – taking a bill aimed a specfic critical problem and attaching wasteful and useless spending all over it.
Things are already bad, but this democratic congress seems determined to play “pork” games instead of seriously trying to solve problems!
This is why their approval was lower than Bush’s

Posted by: Mike_C | January 30, 2009, 11:57 am 11:57 am

“TRULY AMAZING”, Barack Obama – a Bi-Racial African American is elected President. January 20, 2009 he is inaugurated and heretofore Ultra-Conservative Neocons, whose interracial experience is largely limited to an expression such as; “One of my best friends is a _____________ .” (take your choice.)
Here’s the Real Kicker; “Post Jan. 20,2009 – the same folk project a “Very High Level of Expertise in BLACK HISTORY!!! Now, if that’s NOT a Kick in the head, for you???”

Posted by: bobj72 | January 30, 2009, 11:58 am 11:58 am

A few words of advice for you SOCIALISM haters. Are you now accepting social security payments, Medicare benefits, government regulation of safety standards, and at least a minimum wage
set by the federal government? If so, you are part of a SOCIALIST conspiracy to improve your lives! You should give up your benefits right now, open up your windows, stick your head out, and scream “I’m not going to take this any more!… And to think you people helped bring on our current economic crisis by voting for Bush and his fellow conservative congressional candidates…What were you people thinking anyway????

Posted by: leftyintexas | January 30, 2009, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm

Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2009, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm

Republicans spend this country into historical debt then “unite” in opposing spending. . . .WOW!
Republican mouths are fast becoming the best friends the Democrats could ever have. If they keep flapping their lips in the breeze with anti Obama messages the first thing that will happen is that they will lose more seats in Congress and the next thing that will happen is that they will guarantee a Democrat in the White House for the foreseeable future.
The sad thing is that there are many elements of the “help yourself” Republican Speak which can be accepted by just about everyone. The PROBLEM is that when Republicans open their mouths they spew nothing but anti Democrat garbage which buries them further in public opinion and costs them votes they might otherwise have won IF they had a centrist spokesperson with half a brain, which they do not at the moment and don’t seem to be trying very hard to find.
So, Republican Party, you wanna know what’s wrong with the party line. . . . YOU are wrong. Until you acknowledge your losing ways you are gonna be “Bushwacked” at every turn and you are going to give new meaning to the expression “Minority Party”. Lots of luck with Republican Party “change”!

Posted by: chuck, Illinois | January 30, 2009, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm

“Amy and the rest of the obamabots have been drinking the liberal kool-aid for far too long.”
What’s funny about this is how many people use exactly these words saying exactly the same thing. Yet, we’re the “bots.”

Posted by: Silky | January 30, 2009, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm

MikeC said:
Latest Democratic strategy……
Allow a Democratic-controlled congress with an approval rating LESS than Bush’s write bills spending TRILLIONS on everything under the sun EXCEPT things that actually create jobs and get the confidence of the consumer up once again.
Great point.
The congress is filled with the same band of liberal socialists who nearly broke our housing market. As I have said before, these people should have been chased out of Washington with a broom, instead the liberal media has given them full power. God help us all.

Posted by: Jill | January 30, 2009, 12:20 pm 12:20 pm

“The congress is filled with the same band of liberal socialists who nearly broke our housing market.”
Please read Amy’s post above on the subject and try to, y’know, digest it.

Posted by: Silky | January 30, 2009, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm

Do you people get a fibre-optic Jesus everytime you use “liberal” in a sentence or something?

Posted by: Silky | January 30, 2009, 12:22 pm 12:22 pm

“This is why their approval was lower than Bush’s”
Funny thing, Democrats picked up seats in the Senate and the House ’08. Guess voters want to see Congresses’ approval ratings go up.

Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2009, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm

The Republican pratice the principle of insanity. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result-
The Republican party is about self-center, egocentric politics. They prefer to cause discord at a really fragile time in this country rather than coming to the table to help solve problems.
Another 3,300 jobs are loss today-just today-thank the GOP for deregulation and not paying attention to the problems-What more evidence do people need to see how the Republicans have failed this country?

Posted by: Sophia | January 30, 2009, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm

Amy; The Republicans have been sent to break, are taking a time out, whatever, and I do hold them responsible for their part of our problems. I also hold the Democrats responsible for their contributions to our problems. As an Independent I can candidly see shared culpability. The historians will sort out the details. Even then the perspective will be that of the author. Talking about how we got here makes for good conversation and debates. It’s not constructive though entertaining. The main objective now that we’ve messed up is finding our way out of where we are. Can you in all sincerity, and I perceive you to be an intelligent person, can you honestly say you have confidence that the direction this legislature is taking us financially is going to bring us out of financial crisis? Can we spend our way out of a deficit spending situation while experiencing a financial industry meltdown and fighting a war against worldwide terror? When will the economy become healthy again and at what price “To Our Children’s Children’s Children”? That was a great Moody Blues album from the early ’70′s, by the way.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 30, 2009, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm

Amy, you don’t even believe what you’re saying how are you going to convince me or anybody else? The Democratic controlled congress has a rating lower than Bush. Actually it was congress which consist of republicans and democrats. It quite obvious to anyone who paid attention to our recent election that republicans were overwhelmingly thrown out of office. I think it’s quite easy to conclude that the lion’s share of the low congressional approval rating belonged to republicans who backed President Bush in every thing he did.
The republican strategy of blaming democrats no longer works. Those that lie down with dogs get fleas and the Bush albatros will hang around your party’s neck for quite some time. Talk all you want, keep watching idiots on Fox news and morons like Limbaugh and you’ll keep getting the same results-losing elections. I believe there are actually good, smart Republican leaders in Washington. Unfortunately they are not getting heard. A bill will come out of the Senate that’s good for America because the input of democrats and republicans will compromise on a good bill in the Senate. I don’t think the President’s bill is perfect and I’m sure some things will be cut. The core of the bill is correct. The trickle down theory of tax cuts has a poor history. Targeted spending to grow the economy has the backing of most leading economist. Also, your comments on black history are the stupidest comments that I have ever read on a message board. Why don’t you try telling your African American friends or co-workers your ideas about how much better off they were when they had to ride at the back of the bus?

Posted by: Mark S | January 30, 2009, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm

Amy
Have you seen the stock market since nov 4th. It has been the worst post-election sell off in the history of the stock market.
It appears the stock market recognizes socialism better then the rest of the obamabots do.
Did you also see the studies done on Barry vs. McCain with media coverage?
Even European studies have shown similar results. 86% favorable for Barry and 30% favorable for McCain.
Big shocker Barry has high approval ratings (which have already begun to fall).
The lemmings will follow barry right off of the cliff shouting CHANGE! CHANGE! the whole way down.

Posted by: Jill | January 30, 2009, 12:33 pm 12:33 pm

Thank God you showed up Silky, I’ve been fighting neocons all morning. I throw facts at them, but they just bounce off!

Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2009, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm

Uh, Mark, I think you just failed your reading comprehension test. Dave said Blacks were better off in the 50′s, I said oh yeah, like when they had to ride in the back of the bus. Maybe you don’t get sarcasm, some people don’t, I won’t take it personally. I agree with your positions. My senators are Collins and Snowe, sensible Republicans the conservatives are trying to push out of their party.

Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2009, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm

Oh yes, Silky always responds so well to facts. He admits when he’s wrong and apologizes for calling people names and liars in the typical, “open minded” liberal fashion.

Posted by: dave | January 30, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm

Posted by: Jill | Jan 30, 2009 10:19:52 AM;
You said; “Before the 60′s, democrats were the segregationists, klan members, and slave owners. Thank God democrats don’t know how to win wars, or blacks still might be enslaved!”
I say; “You make a pithy and pompous statement; High on flowery prose, low on legitimate content!” It WAS NEVER ABOUT “PARTY”, it has always been about “THE PLANTATION.” Can you ‘get in touch with that?’

Posted by: bobj72 | January 30, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm

“Why is it that consumer confidence has NOT skyrocketed now that Obama is in control and the Democrats rule the government.”
Obama has been President for a week. Franken hasn’t even been certified yet.
Consumer Confidence statistics take time, but Obama has the highest approval rating for an incoming President, like, EVER.
———————————
Amy, Amy, Amy….
The markets look forward, it si no secret that this stimulus package will end up passing. What the people seeis buisness as usual in Washington. No real changes at all ! Certainly NONE in regards to how congress slops together legislation.
Your own read on things is contradictory. If consumer confidence is yet to reflect Obama, why does his approval rating mean ANYTHING if he has only been on the job for a couple weeks then!!!
The fact is the data shows despite approval, the people are NOT confident that he & this congress can find viable solutions. It is not like this January data was compiled with no knowledge of who would president on Jan 20!
As far as AL Franken goes, what exactly is that fool going to bring to any table to sovle any problem???
If your hoping that he is coming with any ideas at all, your in for a hell of a letdown!

Posted by: Mike_C | January 30, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm

“Have you seen the stock market since nov 4th. It has been the worst post-election sell off in the history of the stock market.”
The fact that you think one is the result of the other is troubling.
“It appears the stock market recognizes socialism better then the rest of the obamabots do.”
Huh?
“Did you also see the studies done on Barry vs. McCain with media coverage?”
Who cares? Don’t like it? Start a media company.
“Even European studies have shown similar results. 86% favorable for Barry and 30% favorable for McCain.
Big shocker Barry has high approval ratings (which have already begun to fall).”
Ever think that maybe that’s because he was clearly the better candidate? Hmmm…
“The lemmings will follow barry right off of the cliff shouting CHANGE! CHANGE! the whole way down.”
First of all, McCain ran on change, too. Second of all…the lemmins scenario happened in 2004 to the tune of “SWIFTBOAT!” and you clowns dragged the entire country over the cliff. But EVERYBODY CHILL OUT! Obama’s got this.

Posted by: Silky | January 30, 2009, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm

“Oh yes, Silky always responds so well to facts. He admits when he’s wrong and apologizes for calling people names and liars in the typical, “open minded” liberal fashion.”
I was wrong technically, I was right on the point. Your implication was that 50% of people don’t pay taxes at all, as in don’t file, and that 95% of ALL AMERICANS were going to get money. Neither is true.

Posted by: Silky | January 30, 2009, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm

“Thank God you showed up Silky, I’ve been fighting neocons all morning. I throw facts at them, but they just bounce off!”
I think Reagan put teflon in the Republican water fountain pipes.

Posted by: Silky | January 30, 2009, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm

“It appears the stock market recognizes socialism better then the rest of the obamabots do.”
The stock market couldn’t possibly be falling on the worst economic news of the decade, could it?

Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2009, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm

“The markets look forward, it si no secret that this stimulus package will end up passing.”
Yeah, they also react to earnings reports, jobs reports, trade reports, etc. In fact, that’s largely what this is about. Logic dictates that companies BENEFIT from getting money.

Posted by: Silky | January 30, 2009, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm

Amy, you are one of the most biased person, to whom its my way or the highway. Try to read other publications then the Pres. Obama newspaper. You follow the crowd when convenient bend in the wind like a willow, its easier not to think, (you might have to use some braincells that are left). You may also look back, and when industry believed that we will have a one party rule, the stock market dropped like a rock. And maybe you can explain to me how a fish barrier (what is it) or ATV trails, honey bee insurance stimulates the ecomony, and those are just a few of the pork thats in this bill. Democrats like you us to be poor, depend on the government, because then they can promise us more the next time around.

Posted by: Lizzie | January 30, 2009, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm

Amy; I’m losing respect for you. You and Silky are buddies? I’m surpised at your indiscretion. He does have some funny insults in his bag. Cute some would say. Unfortunately so far insults directed at anyone who opposes his line of thought (I use the term loosely) is all I’ve seen out of his attempts to participate in the intelligent debate of issues. I especially liked the one about the fiberoptic Jesus.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 30, 2009, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm

Wait a second…there’s a President Obama Newspaper??? I want in!

Posted by: Silky | January 30, 2009, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm

My advice to the Republicans – clean house. None of the current leaders are able or willing to initiate the kind of change that is needed to revive the Republican party. As long as they continue their policies of divisiveness and hostility; favoring only the wealthy and big business, and their lack of ethics, they cannot change. These necons have abandoned true Republican ideals so much that they can hardly ber called Republicans – ideals like fiscal responsibility, smaller government and prioritization of the common man. Instead, they have whored themselves to big business and the fanatical religious right.

Posted by: DaveM | January 30, 2009, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm

Rush Limbaugh / EIB =
Lush Gasbag / Egomaniacle Irrelevant Babbler. Lookin more like Jabba the Hutt.

Posted by: amer_icon | January 30, 2009, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm

Mike_C; Al Franken wasn’t even the best comedian on Hollywood Squares.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 30, 2009, 1:03 pm 1:03 pm

“Unfortunately so far insults directed at anyone who opposes his line of thought (I use the term loosely) is all I’ve seen out of his attempts to participate in the intelligent debate of issues.”
I reserve the insults for those who exhibit especially venomous, misguided, irrational disdain towards an ideology with which they have little to no concept, while waving the flag for an ideology which is not what they think it is.
And I avoid intelligent discourse for the most part because I don’t feel like doing the research. At least not when I’m goofing off at work.

Posted by: Silky | January 30, 2009, 1:04 pm 1:04 pm

One good thing about Rush…if you run into him at a party, you know who’s holding.

Posted by: Silky | January 30, 2009, 1:05 pm 1:05 pm

mmonroeliveson
I do think Silky is cute.
His comment about the fiber optic Jesus comes from the days when the McCain campaign was paying folks to post right wing comments on boards like these, I believe. Don’t be offended, I think Silky is actually a really nice guy.

Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2009, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm

DaveM, when was the last time someone other then the rich or business created jobs for the rest of us????? And the talk about ethics, wow.

Posted by: Lizzie | January 30, 2009, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm

Quote me on this if you like. The Republicans have a poor image right now. Wait until the Democrats have held the reins for a few years and the Republicans will look good again. The people may even give them a mandate to change this nation. All the Republicans will have to offer the people down the road is hope and change. That’s the way politics works.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 30, 2009, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm

Amy; I’m sure he is, just young and angry and more than a little brainwashed.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 30, 2009, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm

Well spoken Silky. That’s the most personal commitment you’ve offered to date.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 30, 2009, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm

“Quote me on this if you like. The Republicans have a poor image right now. Wait until the Democrats have held the reins for a few years and the Republicans will look good again. The people may even give them a mandate to change this nation. All the Republicans will have to offer the people down the road is hope and change. That’s the way politics works.”
Yep. Everybody looks good until you give them enough rope to hang themselves.
“Amy; I’m sure he is, just young and angry and more than a little brainwashed.”
36, happy, and too short a memory to be brainwashed. I am, however, Guinnesswashed.

Posted by: Silky | January 30, 2009, 1:16 pm 1:16 pm

mmonroeliveson – I will agree with you about Democrats holding power. They won’t be able to control themselves any better than Republicans. It’s just a big fat cycle. Problem is – Republican policies have practically detroyed our economy and a Republican president sent us to a pointless war, the cost of which drove up our deficit to catastrophic heights. It will be a while before Americans forget these things. Od course, then again, Americans have very short memories…

Posted by: DaveM | January 30, 2009, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm

I want to sincerely apologize to Amy. The response was meant for Mike C. Mike, I’ve read your comments and it’s clear you don’t know anything about economics. I am an economist and I watch the economic reports daily. Try reading up on the Consumer Confidence Report and look at the history over the last several months. Also, the stock market, you don’t make any sense at all. Stocks rise and fall daily off economic reports which are always from the month before. The catastrophic collapse in our economy started well over a year ago when Bush was President. Our economic situation is steamrolling into a bigger mess because unemployment is rising and our financial system collapsed last year due to many years of practically non-existent regulation by our government. If you read the financial news on a regular basis you would know that the stocks have been rallying off the likely passage of Obama’s stimulus plan. Your comments about consumer confidence are laughable. The latest report shows a slight increase over the last four months. Now lets see what happened around four months ago? Obama, took a big lead in the presidential poll over McCain. Consumer confidence is low because it should be. Unemployment is high, credit standards are tight and banks have been failing. If Obama’s stimulus plan is passed and unemployment drops, credit is less restrictive, banks quit failing consumer confidence will rise in the coming months. If it doesn’t work then it will drop but trying to blame the low numbers on Obama is something one would say that doesn’t know anything about consumer confidence.

Posted by: Mark S | January 30, 2009, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm

I’m a republican, but if the GOP lets the party continue to be driven by a junkie like Rush, then the GOP deserves to continue losing ground in every election.

Posted by: Tyrone | January 30, 2009, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm

whew! Thanks Mark S, I thought I’d over done the scarcasm that time and somebody thought I really meant it. In the battle against neocons, we all get hit by friendly fire now and then.

Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2009, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm

Lizzie – the trickle down theory of wealth just doesn’t work – stick a fork in it and it is done. Hand lots of money to the wealthy business owners and execs and they will send the jobs overseas because our government made it more profitable to do so. Hand the bailout money to tax-paying Americans and they will put down payments on new homes; buy new cars, electonics, and other retail items; and make investments. I’m thinkin’ that would stimulate the economy far more than obscenely wealthy Republican CEOs giving themselves billion dollar bonuses.

Posted by: DaveM | January 30, 2009, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm

Oh, and Lizzie, I take back the ethics comment. Neither party can claim ethis a one of their tenents…

Posted by: DaveM | January 30, 2009, 1:29 pm 1:29 pm

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | Jan 30, 2009 12:31:04 PM;
Monroe, you asked; ….. “Can you in all sincerity, and I perceive you to be an intelligent person, can you honestly say you have confidence that the direction this legislature is taking us financially is going to bring us out of financial crisis?”
“Can we spend our way out of a deficit spending situation while experiencing a financial industry meltdown and fighting a war against worldwide terror?”
“When will the economy become healthy again and at what price “To Our Children’s Children’s Children?”
I say; “Monroe, These “Gotcha’s” don’t fly. I perceive you to be an intelligent person, so shouldn’t you have been asking such questions of the Previous Administration, with its “Veto” – during 2008??? You posed the same questions to me, and I ignored your pandering. You see, I don’t recall you raising such questions when the perpetrators owned the responsibility for the issues. Frankly, it’s obvious now you’re ‘Pimping’ for your Neocon relatives on the ‘Far Right Fringe’, so others can respond to you if they so choose – I’ll pass.

Posted by: bobj72 | January 30, 2009, 1:29 pm 1:29 pm

Blacks have nothing to do with the greed of the GOP and Wall Street, and tell me what country you live in? Name one State that still give out Welfare. A democratic Prez enacted the Welfare to Work across the entire nation. Now if you’re referring to low-wage earners that barely makes minimum wage, that the GOP attempted time and time again to not raised, then that is not called Welfare. It is simply low-wage earners such as a mother working at MacDonalds earning 9.00 per hour to house, feed and clothe her 3-4 children, and don’t even mention no healthcare, that again the GOP attempted to block and is now screaming about the SCHIPS program for children to have healthcare.So those of you who think this has anything to do with race is as stupid and anger as “your leader, Limbaugh. Oh, and by the way tax-cuts for the average American that I mentioned above, is deserving more than the 1% wealthy people that received it from the previous Administration. The low-wage earners are the engine of any society. Matter of fact, the middle class that has been destroyed by the GOP shoulders everyone, the lower class and the upper class. Read your sociology books. Those of you that want to continue to “blame” others outside your party better take a good look at your own lives, and ask an honest question: Are you in the bracket of the Rich or the Poor. Because this is the mandate of the Republican party, either you’re rich or poor, and this has never made America great. This idealogy was not the fore founders of our nation.

Posted by: sara wilson | January 30, 2009, 1:30 pm 1:30 pm

I would like to thank the Republican Party for making-Rush, Rannity and Rove as the face and voice of their party… I really really look forward to how they will try and distance themselves from each other because as we know breaking up is so hard to do….

Posted by: Gary | January 30, 2009, 1:32 pm 1:32 pm

Silky defended barry’s 86% positive coverage to McCain’s 33% by telling me to start a media company? Very practical suggestion silk.
He went on to say that it was due to barry being the better canidate. What?
The media operates under the lie that they are objective, when in fact they are on a mission to promote their own agenda. They have abandoned their principles long ago and picked up their free-tibet t-shirts long ago.
But where does their agenda come from?
University of Mizzou, my school for 4.5 years, was quite possibly the most biased liberal haven I have ever seen. The journalism professors hated America, corporations, and of course, Bush.
The school was renowned for its journalism, which meant it was full of kids who hated their parents and were cut from the sports teams in highschool. Their hair was long, their clothes were hemp-made, and they drove BMW’s.
They were for the most part, angry little people who choose to rebel by attacking anything in the majority- Christianity, white people, and America.
But hey silky, I guess your right. The media bias was probably just due to barry being the better canidate!!
Please get your head out of your rearend.

Posted by: dave | January 30, 2009, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm

Karl Rove is one of the few who seems to have come out of his association with Bush fairly clean. There is no Rove fatigue. He worries me. Probably the sharpest cookie on their team. If I was a Republican, I’d be looking to him right about now.

Posted by: Silky | January 30, 2009, 1:37 pm 1:37 pm

“The journalism professors hated America”
This one never gets old. The Americans that hate America so much that they make it their life’s work to teach Americans bit. Love it. dave, there is middle ground between thinking America is just fine how it is and “hating America.” Just a heads up.

Posted by: Silky | January 30, 2009, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm

If the GOP think for one moment that the party of “anger, and anti-america” can throw a convenient “Black” in as their leader is soo wrong, and will be searching for another leader in 2012. We as black America doesn’t vote race, we vote issues and principals.There they go again, insulting the intelligence of the American people. I thought they learned when they forced an uninformed, fake woman to run as Vice Prez in a country that lives in reality.

Posted by: sara wilson | January 30, 2009, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm

And dave, I know how you like to cite the exposure to your journalism professors at Mizzou as your credentials for knowing what a Democrat is, but remember, you’re talking about, what, like 3 guys tucked away in a podunk town in a flyover state.

Posted by: Silky | January 30, 2009, 1:43 pm 1:43 pm

Hello! I can’t remember when a President had to SPEND MY TAX DOLLARS TO BAIL OUT WALL STREET AND BANKS. The President that did this was name George W. Bush. This economy happened on his watch. President Obama wasn’t in office, but now He has to clean up the mess left by one of the worst Presidents in American history. President Obama has to spend some more of our tax dollars so the system won’t collapse any further.

Posted by: sara wilson | January 30, 2009, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm

Honestly, I don’t like Democrats. I don’t like people who are easy on killers. I don’t like people who make excuses for terrorists.
I loathe people who help murders in prisons. I hate people who do everything in their power to help terrorists.
I want Obama plans to work because it will indirectly hurt his supporters. Jobs will dry up. Obama’s supporters will be hurt by it. Violent crime will increase, Obama’s supporters will most often be the victums. The terrorists will attack New York an W.D.C.; that’s good because mostly democrats will be the victums.
Democrats are not our countrymen. They are the enemy. They are to be loathed, opposed, and defeated.
Even if the republicans lose the true enemys of America will attack and defeat the democrats.

Posted by: Hannibal Lechter | January 30, 2009, 1:52 pm 1:52 pm

Silky, can you just imagine what their lives are like right now. But of course if you haven’t had or seen any better, then you wouldn’t know any better. Let them stay in whatever “hole” they’ve been living in. Sarah Palin called them “real America” and they believed her. Mike and some of the others here are the “prey of the GOP’ and don’t even know it.

Posted by: sara wilson | January 30, 2009, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm

Hannibal Lechter was smart….You’re Not.

Posted by: sara wilson | January 30, 2009, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm

Silky
Your arrogance never ceases to amaze.
Acutally, mizzou currently has 28,000 students enrolled and is credited as having the first journalism school in America (something I am not proud of). It has been consistenly ranked as one of the top journalism schools in the world.
The professors there are extremely hostile to America in general (as most liberals are) and constanly are assisting in organizing anti-war rallies. Very objective, right?
It is the breeding ground for liberal thought, and it is a direct reflection of how barry got elected. The teachers hated capitalism, America and the military. Just a heads up.

Posted by: dave | January 30, 2009, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm

Back to topic….a leopard never changes it’s stripe. Building a “image” even they (GOP) don’t know what they stand for. But the American people do.

Posted by: sara wilson | January 30, 2009, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm

Dave, I graduated from a teaching certification program at the University of Southern Maine and I absolutely hated it, my education professors, my mentor teachers and the public school system where I interned. So, I relate to your unhappy experience, but let’s face it, maybe free thinkers like us just aren’t happy in institutional settings.

Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2009, 2:03 pm 2:03 pm

“It is the breeding ground for liberal thought, and it is a direct reflection of how barry got elected.”
Some of the media was clearly biased, yes. But the results of the election would have been the same either way.

Posted by: Silky | January 30, 2009, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm

Bobj72; Didn’t ask for your opinion. Was asking Amy. So far we’ve been able to respectfully discuss. She’s not hostile. She’s not on the attack. She generally has candid unbiased input as if her hope for the future is a better America for everyone. Don’t think she’s here to see what’s in it for her. On the other hand if anyone offers a penny for your thoughts you tend to put in your two cents worth. Don’t mean to let the air out of your balloon. Have a happy rest of your life.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 30, 2009, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm

Amy,
I am not being sarcastic- you seem like a genuine person- but your complacent attitude toward the liberal indoctrination of youth in schools can only be explained by your own liberal views. As long as you agree with what the professors and teachers are saying, then there isn’t a problem?
The problem that I see is some teachers are not always the smartest people (I AM NOT DIGGING AT YOU!), and their ability to influence children politically is astounding.
Most professors I dealt with never read any economics/accounting/finance books, but many considered themselves geniuses on the subjects. They inturn, persuaded many of the students to believe capitalism was evil.
Big problem there!

Posted by: dave | January 30, 2009, 2:44 pm 2:44 pm

Rush Limbaugh is an eogmaniacal PIG.

Posted by: Lily Bell | January 30, 2009, 2:44 pm 2:44 pm

Dave,
I agree with you, teachers are not always the smartest people,(sorry teachers out there.)
If you were enraged by your liberal journalism professors, perhaps its because you valued their opinion too much. You were hoping journalism classes would be enlightening and you found out professors are just gas bags.
Here’s my prejudice: Education professors don’t really care about children. They are are not liberal or conservative, just utterly, utterly conventional and authoritarian. That’s my opinion, and as I said, probably an indicatation the education field was not right for me.

Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2009, 3:08 pm 3:08 pm

Wow, this has been quite a day on this blog. I have to say, I laughed out loud many times reading it. I needed a good yukking it up!! LOL
Jill had mentioned about reading the youtubes and MikeC agreed with her this morning. I will say I saw some great ones about George W. Bush being stinking drunk in the past few years. Maybe they were doctored too? LOL
Oh, and Silky, what you mentioned at 12:19:27, about the Robots that keep using the term “obamabots and koolaid”, CHANTING would be the more correct term to use. (very robotic) These can get sooooo boring, the same old, same old, socialist, obamabots, etc. etc. etc.
And last but not least, Lizzie 12:56:34, WHAT?! Honey that was just plain ranting and very little was done in English.
Monroe, You are the most conservatively independently republican I have ever read. I thought Independents could see both sides of both parties. You always, always side with the Republicans.

Posted by: YOUBETCHA | January 30, 2009, 3:13 pm 3:13 pm

YOUBETCHA; Guess you missed my yesterday’s post concerning The Equal Pay Bill. I said it was long overdue. As an independent conservative my ideals do run more along the lines of Republican thought. That’s the way conservatives think, but I refuse to subscribe to the antics of either PARTY. They are both stubborn and self serving and therefore not inclined to the least bit of bi-partisanship. In general, party politics is directly in conflict with government by the people. We generally elect the better choice of two bad choices and then that person can’t represent us lest he/she loses the support of their party. So all the politicians all play party politics.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 30, 2009, 3:29 pm 3:29 pm

Republicans do not hear the american people – just as those abusing the bailout money on bonus’s. In particular Senator Shelby is – to state it kindly – an idiot. I have had it with the republican party. The republicans need to support the president and be responsible advocates of the american people.
The fact that they are banding together against the president is exactly why the lost the election, because the american people are tired of “politics as usual” and it”s why democrats now control the house and senate – you would think they would learn. I completely agree that this bailout needs to be responsible but the republicans owe the american people to work with the new administration.

Posted by: confidential416 | January 30, 2009, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm

It is not a Congressman’s job to “support the president.” Ever. It is their job to serve their contituents and vote accordingly. Well, that or leverage their position to get paid as much money as possible by as many people as possible.

Posted by: Silky | January 30, 2009, 3:51 pm 3:51 pm

mmonroeliveson – You’re right on target. Both republicans and democrats work for their party first, the groups that help them raise money for re-election second, and for Americans third. Because the first two are more important, they seldom think about what is best for the country.

Posted by: MikeMo1947 | January 30, 2009, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm

why are the republicans still getting press? they lost! turn off the spotlight, shut down the camera, pack up the gear and everyone go home.
we have a country (and planet) to save, and the educated, rational people of this nation have elected someone willing to try to fix it all.
get on board with supporting our new prez, or disappear, please.

Posted by: joeblow | January 30, 2009, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm

I echo the sentiment of party affiliation as it pertains to how we have no representation as long as these two circus shows exist (DNC, GOP) we should outlaw political parties altogether, and have government start doing our business, not the one of special interest and campaign donors.

Posted by: Nestor in Miami | January 30, 2009, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm

Joeblow, I bet when the dimpeled and pregnant chads were being counted, you were on board with our then new president. Without the GOP, the dems would get all the special interest money for themselves and continue to corrupt our system even worse. The dem and the repub parties are a joke.

Posted by: Nestor in Miami | January 30, 2009, 4:07 pm 4:07 pm

Why do Congressional Republicans cow-tow to Rush Limbaugh?

Posted by: 33Greeper | January 30, 2009, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm

Limbaugh was just incensed because he wasn’t invited to the party at George Will’s house. He was snubbed and he is out for political revenge on the president.

Posted by: 33Greeper | January 30, 2009, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm

Youbetcha
Your post has got to be one of the more intelligent posts that I have read in a while.
The way you just fly into the debate criticizing all those who you don’t agree with without offering any counterarguments is really groundbreaking.
And bringing up George Bush being drunk, awsome!
However, I don’t remember W. driving drunk off of a bridge, killing his mistress, fleeing the scene, and not reporting the accident until 11 hours later after he had “hatched up a good story”? Do you?

Posted by: Jobsisa3letterword | January 30, 2009, 4:29 pm 4:29 pm

Why don’t the lawyers in Washington investigate the legal profession? Trying to point out the biggest problem in America with as few words as possible. The answer is obvious. Will never happen.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 30, 2009, 4:31 pm 4:31 pm

Silky; You’re starting to see the light. Reference your 3:51 post. You had the insight to target all politicians with your tongue in cheek.

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | January 30, 2009, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm

Silky’s gone home. Its Guinness time! Have a nice weekend monroeliveson and you too Dave and Bobj72, and the rest of you nutters, left and right. Stay warm!

Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2009, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm

Posted by: mmonroeliveson | Jan 30, 2009 2:15:50 PM; MONROE, I found your impish and rude reprimand a bit insulting, so I took the time to list the chronology of the subject matter, to Refresh Your Memory. While the questions vary somewhat, the context remains consistent.
For you to contrast me with AMY…. is a bit extreme, wouldn’t you say? I sincerely hope my somewhat Colorful & Candid assessments of you haven’t provoked you.
The chronology: (Capitalizations & punctuation have been altered for emphasis and ease of reading.)
________________________________________
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | Jan 29, 2009 11:20:48 AM; BOBJ, Good morning. At this point I must ask you if you sincerely believe
1)this Economic Stimulus Package will bring stimulus to the economy any time in the near future?
2) Did the bill get loaded up with pet projects or is it pure stimulus as advertised in the title?
3) How long will it take to pay our way out of the debt this bill represents?
I know it will provide some security for poor and unemployed people in this time of need for such. I don’t begrudge that. I am concerned about the obvious politics of flossing support groups at taxpayer expense.
________________________________________
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | Jan 30, 2009 12:31:04 PM; AMY…… “Can you in all sincerity, and I perceive you to be an intelligent person, can you honestly say you have confidence that the direction this legislature is taking us financially is going to bring us out of financial crisis?”
“Can we spend our way out of a deficit spending situation while experiencing a financial industry meltdown and fighting a war against worldwide terror?”
“When will the economy become healthy again and at what price “To Our Children’s Children’s Children?”
That was a great Moody Blues album from the early ’70′s, by the way.
________________________________________
Posted by: bobj72 | Jan 30, 2009 1:29:59 PM; I say;
“MONROE, these “Gotcha’s” don’t fly. I perceive you to be an intelligent person, so shouldn’t you have been asking such questions of the Previous Administration, with its “Veto” – during 2008??”
“You posed the same questions to me, and I ignored your pandering. You see, I don’t recall you raising such questions when the perpetrators owned the responsibility for the issues.”
“Frankly, it’s obvious now you’re Pimping for your Neocon relatives on the ‘Far Right Fringe’, so others can respond to you if they so choose – I’ll pass.”
________________________________________
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | Jan 30, 2009 2:15:50 PM; You said; “BOBJ72, I
Didn’t ask for your opinion. Was asking AMY. So far we’ve been able to respectfully discuss. She’s not hostile. She’s not on the attack. She generally has candid unbiased input as if her hope for the future is a better America for everyone. Don’t think she’s here to see what’s in it for her.”
“On the other hand if anyone offers a penny for your thoughts you tend to put in your two cents worth. Don’t mean to let the air out of your balloon. Have a happy rest of your life.”

Posted by: bobj72 | January 30, 2009, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm

while it is true that the dems have their own skelitons in the closet, blago, spitzer and the like, the repugs have cornered the market in corruption. craig the closet restroom gay, vitter, delay, ney, scooter, cheney, gonzo, foley, cunningham, hastert, limbaugh the drug addict, and finally “W”. Yep, id say the repugs are definately due for a face lift.

Posted by: jimt | January 30, 2009, 6:01 pm 6:01 pm

Monroe, YOUBETCHA ‘Nailed You’ at Jan 30, 2009 3:13:20 PM. “You’re a TRANSPARENT kind of guy.” The Astute “See Through You!” And those who are Candid, don’t fail to Tell You! But Hey, I think I know you and “Deep Down” You’re really an “O.K. Guy.” But your “Politics Are Questionable.”

Posted by: bobj72 | January 30, 2009, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm

Can anyone say “Sarah Palin.” She is still on the lips of the rank and file as a party leader.

Posted by: Nike Chillemi | January 30, 2009, 6:27 pm 6:27 pm

I say let Rush lead the Republican party, after all he is not elected and he can be a permanent figurehead. He is the best free advertising the Democrats have. Remember he is solely responsible for getting Clair McCaskill elected in Missouri, a reliably “red state”. His latest foray into helping Republicans netted them minus (count ‘em boys) 11 Bush states. Keep up the work Rush! You’re doin’ one heckuva job.

Posted by: repubswrong | January 30, 2009, 7:55 pm 7:55 pm

The democrats crushed our housing market by forcing banks to make “fair and equal” housing opportunities with little outcry from the republicans.
Posted by: dave | Jan 30, 2009 9:54:47 AM
Dear Dave,
I have tried, without success, to have one Republican blogger show me the HR bill that was passed by both houses of the Democratic Congress and signed into law by the President that is responsible for the claim you allege here. You seem well informed and articulate in the ways of Republican policies and the failings of the Liberals, so please inform me of the house bill that the liberal Dem passed that “forced” the banks to give minorities the loans you claim are “directly” responsible for our current financial status so I can stop placing the blame on eight years of fail Right wing leadership.
Thank you, I look forward to your response.
-fel

Posted by: fel121 | January 31, 2009, 9:15 am 9:15 am

A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Posted by: pamp205 | January 31, 2009, 11:15 am 11:15 am

Top

The Note, 1/30/09: Grand Old Positioning: Republicans seek a leader — and a message — in Obama era

Related Videos

Leave a Reply