Republicans Surge in New ABC News/Washington Post Poll

I don’t think there’ll be a Democratic Congress to run against in 2012 — it’ll be a Republican Congress.

We need a Carter to get a Reagan…..
This guy is like Carter on steroids with a Delusion disorder.

“The President says he’s trying to reach across the aisle but the Republicans are not reaching back. ”
And with VERY good reason. The President wants to be able to say he has bipartisan support but he also says he won’t consider any proposals that don’t match his legislation! Now, how is that “reaching across the aisle”?
Sounds as though he’s reaching across the aisle to grab them by the throat.

I’ve never been more proud of the party of NO.
Please GOP keep saying no to this out of control administration.
No to more taxes, more borrowing, more spending, more rights for terrorist.
Keep saying NO!
The people approve.

Why are the poll numbers a “stunner”? Can this biased network find any reason why Republicans just might be pulling ahead? It is disgraceful. Thank God, I don’t watch and just happen to like Jake and read his tweet. If not for him, your network doesn’t exist to me.

“The President says he’s trying to reach across the aisle but the Republicans are not reaching back.”
Let’s see- some of us remember a time when a Republican President reached across the aisle to work with Democrats. He gave them the tax increase they asked for and they beat him over the head with it in the following 1992 election.
It would be completely stupid to trust Democrats or especially, Barack Obama. All Obama would do is take pictures with Republicans, dismiss all their suggestions and then claim he tried but Republicans were blocking his efforts.
No thanks.
Remember- Obama said that Republicans have no ideas but that he has read them.
Barack Obama is a thoroughly dishonest person.

OMG!!!! Some of the people that spend so much time commenting don’t even have a clue!!! STOP!!!!!!!!!!
Yall have gone on and on about the party of NO!! Do you UNDERSTAND, that Obama has the MAJORITY IN BOTH THE CONGRESS AND SENATE!!!!!
He could NOT GET HIS OWN PARTY TO PASS HIS AGENDA!!! THE REPUBLICANS DID NOT EVEN HAVE TO SHOW UP AND THEY COULD DO WHATEVER THEY WANTED!!!!!!
Seems to me if you understood the way things worked it turns out that the DEMS WERE THE PARTY OF NO!!!!!

My real hope is that the Dimocrats continue on with the vitriol, baseless charges, mocking of Sarah Palin, mocking of the Tea Party crowd, mocking of guns and religion, etc…you need to SCREAM A LITTLE LOUDER.
We’ve now experienced hope and change and recognize the hope as empty as the narcissistic man and his cliches, his insufferable wife, and his ideas of change for fools.
When the enemy continues to shoot themselves in the foot, no need for intervention. Just sit back and marvel at the comedy, remembering patience is a virtue.
And I say this as someone with no real love for the Republican party – as they are the lesser of two evils.

Lesson for democrats – no one likes condescending pricks with an unfounded sense of intellectual superiority, ie; your typical Jon Stewart fan. Actually, that’s a pretty apt description of Stewart himself. When people you get to know you, to really really know you, they just don’t like you.

Why let these clowns up? Let them continue to destroy themselves.

Posted by: dawglover | Feb 10, 2010 10:05:35 AM
Why don’t you use all caps a little more to really do something about the overall image of flaming rightwingers as angry doorknobs waving their fists in the air and shouting out the same lines over and over. (I mean, gee, your objections are so “fresh”– we haven’t heard them before.)
LOL.
I have no love of Dems in general, but I do like Obama– and there’s no question that Republicans are the party of no– no meaningful reform, no good ideas, no conscience, no diversity. And that Dems have a better track record if you crunch numbers and like facts and data.

“Yes— we saw how the last utopian America worked out (see ratings of the past decade)– how brilliant to do it all again. Sigh. (Why oh why are there so many morons in this country?)”
“Ratings” propagated by the liberal media because it is a way to bash GWB. What about the record 46 months of job growth under GWB? Aw, the good ol’ days…
Things have only gotten worse since January 21, 2008: Double-digit unemployment, record/unsustainable deficits, budgets that will double the national debt within 10 years, terrorism on the rise, allies and adversaries who question our strength and resolve, a massive expansion of government, etc., etc., etc.
Yeah, Obama and Democrats are on track to improve on the performance of the vilified Republicans. I don’t trust either party, but I trust Republicans more than Democrats (and Republicans are generally more competent given they have a range of experiences that extend beyond working for law firms and the government.

Posted by: tjp612 | Feb 10, 2010 10:07:11 AM
When you completely close your mind, you lose out on information– which would explain some of your views. The clips show pics and everything, totally highlighting hypocrisy that normal people would find embarrassing– but the Republicans? Nah– nobody expects them not to be flaming hypocrites, apparently.

@ progressive mama: “And at least a big majority of Americans polled, 68%, says, rightly, that Republicans should use their tired power play of no, no, no in the Senate to block legislation only infrequently. Unfortunately its very likely that won’t cause the conscienceless GOP Senate leaders any kind of gut-check moment as they continue on with their scorched earth tactics.”
****
You realize the script they’re playing from don’t you? I’ll give you a hint: it’s the exact same one the Democrats used in 2005 during the ill-fated Social Security reform debate.
They took a president’s “big” initiative, tore it to shreds in the public ether, killed public support of it, and steadfastly refused to offer any meaningful alternatives.
The 2005 Dems employed that strategy to not only kill the president’s “big” initiative, but also to win big in the next Congressional election and effectively render that president a lame duck.
Out of curiosity, how apoplectic were you in 2005 when Congressional Democrats (then a minority in both houses of Congress) were obstinately obstructive and refused to offer their own alternatives?

Team Obama:
culture of corruption
AG Eric Holder:
continues to stonewall IG over default judgement of New Black Panther Party, saying NO independent agency can investigate my decisions………
more racism by the department of injustice

Senate global warming hearing cancelled…
Its too cold and snowy LMAO

Your disappointment and desperation is quite apparent.
Posted by: tjp612 | Feb 10, 2010 10:36:24 AM … alongside a bunch of other stuff, much of it made up speculation that misses the mark, lol
What a weird post. For example, are you talking about CNBC, the cable channel? I don’t watch TV for news– I get my news online, and I’m totally unfamiliar with CNBC, so I have no idea how that became my beloved. I quoted Rachel Maddow, who has a show on MSNBC, and who did a segment that you can get clips of online.
Second, she listed plenty of examples. Closing your mind and asking for sources because you’re that out of the know doesn’t do much to improve my view of the dimwits who tend to vote Republican.
As for my desperation, not at all. My husband and I both own small businesses. We started being squeezed in 2005 and knew a recession was coming. For me, things are better now– stocks, business, real estate holdings (value is down, but we’ve bought a couple more properties at dirt cheap rates, so long term, we’ll benefit). We also have property in italy. If the morons here elect Palin as President, we have somewhere else to go till the populace regains some sense. My actual concern is for the country rather than myself– I’d rather not see us crash and burn, or follow the path we were following from 200O to 2008. In regards to your economic figures, President Bush holds the dubious honor of being the only president in recent times to preside over a two-term income decline; in addition poverty increased, the number of uninsureds rose, and small businesses fared much better under Clinton– but hey, that and unnecessary war didn’t awaken your sleeping giant, so keep defending his policies. Who cares, right? After all, you don’t have to worry about the long term all that much– who cares? You’ll be gone, and the heck with us. Kick actual problems down the road.. because why not? At least we won’t be inconvenienced in the Right Now.
I stand by no conscience and no diversity. Did you see the televised Republican convention? It looked like a homogeneous small town, not at all like the real world. And when it comes to conscience, look at you– you’re defending failed economic policies and total jerks and you have no qualms about it. You actually seem a little proud of yourself. Its pathetic.

Obama, like most Democrats, sees bipartisanship as letting Republicans support Democratic programs and ideas. Along with the lapdog media, they are incapable of believing that their opinions are not factual and self evident.
Republicans and independents don’t buy it. If we wanted to be Democrats, we would. We don’t.

Out of curiosity, how apoplectic were you in 2005 when Congressional Democrats (then a minority in both houses of Congress) were obstinately obstructive and refused to offer their own alternatives?
Posted by: Scott | Feb 10, 2010 10:33:46 AM
Gee, can you count filibusters and the number of proposals that happened on and give us a little comparison chart to see why you’re comparing apples to oranges, or is that above your ability level?

Americans just get dumber and dumber, as evidenced by the tea-baggers posting here. The GOP has not offered a single idea on what they would do to improve things, all they have done is obstruct and criticize. If people are stupid enough to elect Republicans again after one year they deserve to see this country fail. Thats what the GOP is hoping for anyway.

“Gee, can you count filibusters and the number of proposals that happened on and give us a little comparison chart to see why you’re comparing apples to oranges, or is that above your ability level?”
Aren’t 41 votes required for a filibuster? Another inconvenient fact that opposes your “progressive” narrative?

And before all you “progressives” say I’m a tool of the oil and gas industry, know that I work for Krogers, a supermarket chain.
Posted by: Joe Encore | Feb 10, 2010 10:32:45 AM
Of course you do– and yet you’re still a tool. (What is with all the right wingers who spell aisle as isle, btw? Or do you post under multiple names?
—
The Democrats have now become a joke
—
And the Republicans are better? Seriously? The sick thing is that they aren’t any better– imho, they’re worse– and we’re all going to just keep repeating the same stupid mistakes. The new Republicans… same as the old ones, but dumber and more telegenic.

That’s politics in the big leagues.
Posted by: Scott | Feb 10, 2010 11:21:02 AM
Right, and meanwhile the real issues associated with medical inflation and the rising number of uninsureds and health care’s drain on the economy and small business don’t get addressed– but hey, focus on the politics and clap your hands, because politicians that don’t accomplish jack are so worth cheering on.
I think maybe you mistakenly think I have some big love of Dems–or any big group. Nope. Only in comparison. Unfortunately, in national politics right now we have two main choices, and the Dems have a much better track record than the Republicans, at least during my adulthood — compare Clinton to Bush and take a peak at my stock portfolio performance and mine and my husbands’ small business performance. And now that a Dem is in office, we’re doing better again. Admittedly we’ve been a little ahead of the curve– we felt squeezed while the Republicans were babbling about the fundamentals being strong so we were well aware how full of crap they are.
The problem with Republicans is that they never seem to accomplish much. But that does satisfy and delight those who oppose progress, cling to the past and protect that status quo at all costs.

Right, and meanwhile the real issues associated with medical inflation and the rising number of uninsureds and health care’s drain on the economy and small business don’t get addressed– but hey, focus on the politics and clap your hands, because politicians that don’t accomplish jack are so worth cheering on.
==========
The bills that were written would have taken care of the rising number of uninsured. It would not have addressed medical inflation or the “drain” on the economy.
“Accomplishing” something isn’t always better than not accomplishing anything.

@ progressive mama: “Right, and meanwhile the real issues associated with medical inflation and the rising number of uninsureds and health care’s drain on the economy and small business don’t get addressed”
*****
Well, I could once again point to Social Security. Because it’s on its way to insolvency (in fact, it will spend more than it takes in this year for the first time in the program’s history). And the Dems refused to help GWB reform it.
Why? Well, because they vehemently disagreed with how he wanted to reform it.
What are they supposed to do…help enact a reform plan they hate, simply because SS needs to be reformed?
The same goes for Republicans here. They’re not going along with the healthcare reform because they (and I) think it’s a bad reform.
That doesn’t mean they don’t think it needs to be reformed.

The bills that were written would have taken care of the rising number of uninsured. It would not have addressed medical inflation or the “drain” on the economy.
“Accomplishing” something isn’t always better than not accomplishing anything.
Posted by: MayBee | Feb 10, 2010 11:43:32 AM
Better to do absolutely nothing then, right? Better than, say, actually engaging and getting in there and rolling up ones sleeves and working? Worth defending the do-nothings too because you think, wow, if we do the same thing over and over and keep on voting in do-nothings, all of a sudden they’ll do something worthwhile?
What a joke. Republicans are idiots. That’s nothing new, What is disturbing is the independents who are selling out and going into the Republican fold, OR supporting complete fools, or saying on polls that they’ll vote Republican on a generic ballot rather than holding out for a good independent with interesting ideas and a will to work hard.

@ progressive mama: “Better to do absolutely nothing then, right?”
*****
If those are our only two options, yes. It is better to do nothing than to do something that promises to exacerbate the problem.
And I’m pretty confident that the reform measures in Congress will — for most Americans — make matters worse. Yeah, it’ll be great for the 30 million who are currently uninsured. But not so great for everybody else who has to pick up their tab.
Go find Robert Samuelson’s writing on the healthcare reform measures. He’s hardly what I’d call a Republican or conservative. But he nails it on these reform measures.
If Obama and the Democrats are interested in pursuing a better reform of healthcare, then let’s trash these monstrosities and start with a clean slate.
If not, then….yes, he’s going to get nothing.
So I’ll put the question back to you: are you interested in doing nothing, or are you interested in crafting a sound reform?
If it’s the latter, then you should join the call to have these bills scrapped and demand that both parties come together to work on a sane reform of healthcare.

Republicans sure would be idiots if they rubber stamp a bill so awful dems can only get their own to support it by exempting them from it (See unions, Landreau & Nelson). I know most people who want to see healthcare reform in various ways and they ALL agree this bill is not it. I also know people who are increasingly becoming independants and are looking for exactly the candidates you’ve described they just want to make sure they’re not working hard to grow the government over the private sector.

Keep saying NO Republicans.
Obama’s agenda stinks so badly he is forced to bribe his own party to get votes.
Let Obama continue to ignore the wishes of the people.
He’s already weak, but in November Obama will be a true lame duck.
Just say NO…

The article interchanges cause and effect. See for yourself.
The article: The republicans don’t want to collaborate with Obama because their popularity is growing.
Reality: Because republicans don’t want to collaborate with Obama, their popularity grew through out 2009 and well into 2010.
If you doubt this – ask yourself – what happened first – the republican surge in the polls or their refusal to collaborate with Obama? Keep in mind that cause cannot come after the effect.

November 2–less than nine months away.

In the end, the problem is really neither with the Democrats or the Republicans, it is with the American People.
Whether or not one agrees with Obama’s policies, he is the only major figure in public life who is seriously trying to come to grips with reality. But we as a people don’t want to face the hard choices in front of us. We will have to, at some point, both reduce entitlements AND raise taxes. But no politician has the courage to tell the people that, because we don’t want to hear the truth. Instead, we would rather point fingers at each other and demonize each other.
Healthcare is broken, median family incomes are declining, and our children will be the first generation in American history who will have a lower standard of living than their parents.
I believe Obama knows this, but I don’t think he has a cat’s chance in hell of doing anything about it because the people don’t want to hear the truth.

I believe Obama knows this, but I don’t think he has a cat’s chance in hell of doing anything about it because the people don’t want to hear the truth.
===========
There’s nothing stopping him from saying it. If he is truly the “only one” trying to deal with reality, it’s his job to speak the truth clearly.
Papering over things and pushing for a bill that won’t actually solve these problems isn’t dealing with reality. It’s creating a new set of problems on top of the old ones.

You mean when the Republicans controlled both Houses of Congress during President Clinton’s last SIX years and actually wrote the budgets that contained the surpluses in which the Left credits Clinton?
Posted by: James Danley | Feb 10, 2010 11:56:36 AM
Funny that those same Republicans you credit with so much blew it big time when they had a Republican as president, isn’t it? So whose agenda was it?
Go ahead. Stick up for the morons. Tell me all about how they had absolutely nothing to do with our current situation and how you’ll just keep on voting for them and pursuing their scorched earth agenda alongside them so they can do it all again, and ensure that no problems are addressed. It won’t surprise. i could probably write your response for you, as it will be a cliche. LOL.
Unless you want to surprise me with something interesting.

Jimmywitz….I agree with a lot of what you say. Really, I do. Especially that too many Americans — including too many elected officials — are just willfully ignoring the hard truth about where we stand.
Do I think President Obama understands where we’re at? Yeah, I do.
The problem is that his prescriptions are simply not the right ones. Think about it…we’ve got a serious entitlement problem, right? Entitlements are set to cost way more than we can afford to pay for.
So, what’s he doing? He’s adding more entitlement! And that’s precisely what Bush did with his Medicare drug plan.
Recognizing the problem is one thing. Having the right solution to it is another.
Let’s start talking about ways to make ends meet with the entitlement infrastructure we currently have…instead of enacting things that are destined to make the problem worse.
Can we at least agree on that?

We need only look at the cliff notes version of history and party.
As soon as Dems got control of the hill during the Bush years spending went up.
It as accelerated obsenely since then.
Democrats = Higher taxes for ineffective programs and BIG government.
Republicans = Fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, LESS government and promotes small business. Pretty easy to understand, eh?
It’s pretty easy math.

If Obama wants to turn the tide, here is a solution from a staunch partisan critic of everything he does:
A)Take unspent stimulus funds and returned TARP funds and apply to Debt. This is a trillion dollars and immediately removes the deficit.

Republicans have been almost as bad as Democrats in terms of fiscal irresponsibility and lack of respect for the hard-earned tax-payer dollar.
The real problem is the concentration of power remote from where the effects of its use are felt.
The largest portion of taxes should be collected at the local level, city, county and state, where people have more direct access to the politicians.
“Revenue sharing” and Federal government underwriting of programs that belong at or below State level should cease.
We need to return the Federal government to one of enumerated powers (as in the Constitution). Only then will we be able to reign in these abuses of power.

“Meanwhile, progressives– or progressives with libertarian leanings, who tend to vote Democrat because there are only two choices…”
Again, you are hopelessly confused. Politically, progressives and libertarians are about as opposite as you can get in terms of philosophy. Progressives believe in government control. Libertarians believe in small government. A “progressive libertarian” is nonsensical. From what I’ve read in your posts, you have much more in common with the Tea Party folks you disparage than a progressive like Nancy Pelosi, for example. About 1/3 of our Tea Party attendees are Democrats and many share your views.

If Obama and the Democrats are interested in pursuing a better reform of healthcare, then let’s trash these monstrosities and start with a clean slate.
———–
The problem there is history, isn’t it? Remember? Per Jonathan Chait–
“In 1994, when they were killing Bill Clinton’s health care plan, Republicans promised over and over they just wanted to do it right. Start fresh and pass a real health care plan without all the bad socialist stuff:
“We don’t have to do it all this year,” [Bob Dole] said in the closing address to committee members. “We don’t have to do any of it this year. You know, Congress meets every year.
“I see a lot of bright spots to (acting) next year.” …
“If they come up with something I can live with, I would support it, ” said California state party Chairman Tirso del Junco, a surgeon. “But I do not believe that the plans presently on the table would be approved by the American people. To rush this through is bad news.”
Of course, the Clinton plan died, and Republicans proceeded to do absolutely squat for the next fifteen years.”
Since many of the same tactics were used, I’m assuming its rather difficult for Dems to totally scrap something without some genuine signs of good faith, and some actually sit downs and honest work and effort put forth.
The trust deficit goes both ways.

In 1994, when they were killing Bill Clinton’s health care plan, Republicans promised over and over they just wanted to do it right. Start fresh and pass a real health care plan without all the bad socialist stuff:
===============
Democrats had Congress in 1994.
At some point, people are going to have to realize that it wasn’t then, and isn’t now, Republicans killing health care reform.

Wait a minute.. I just woke up after one year.. I thought the GOP had already been read its last rites.. it’s a miracle.. they’re alive!

my biggest curiousity is to see where we get a 10-12 trillion dollar loan to fund our ‘new and improved’ govt.
clearly our economic evaluation is subjective.
i’ll let the world judge our fiscal sanity. if obama can find people willing to invest in his plan, to the tune of 10-12 trillion, he really is a great president.

Looks like Obama’s Hopey Changey gimmick is working out well for Republicans.

James Carville seemed to know a little about this stuff:
“It’s the economy, stupid.”

“I have nothing in common with people who carry Hitler signage– or some of the other disgusting or stupid signage I’ve seen online– or who think Sarah Palin is brilliant and just like them, or who tie themselves to astroturf groups funded by the Koch borthers.”
These are the viewpoints cultivated when one rarely wanders beyond MSNBC, Daily Kos, HuffPo, WaPo, etc. …

At some point, people are also going to have to realize that it wasn’t then, and isn’t now, Republicans doing a darned thing to address health care reform– medical inflation, growing number of uninsureds, any of it. Nor has it been Republicans doing anything about it at any point in between. Never has been, never will be.
=========
Which is why we are at an impasse.
Democrats try to do too much, yet not the right things, and are unable to pass their bad legislation. Voters punish them at the polls for their overreach.
Republicans take control, and don’t do enough. Eventually Americans punish them at the polls.
And now we’re back to where we were in 1994.
Will the Democrats continue to pass this bill that voters don’t like, and that won’t actually address the problems?
Or will they try to do better?
Can they do better without listening to Republicans, who do have some good ideas now?

President Obama’s party holds huge majorities in both houses, much more than Mr. Bush, Mr. Bush Sr., Mr. Reagan ever dreamed of having.
So how were they effective in getting their agenda implemented and Mr. Obama is unable? If universal health care insurance is not a current government program – look to the Democrats.
Until last month, the Repbulicans could not even slow it down, let alone stop it. So why is Mr. Obama trying to shift the blame to the Republicans for it’s failure? He should check his mirror.

@ progressive mama: “At some point, people are also going to have to realize that it wasn’t then, and isn’t now, Republicans doing a darned thing to address health care reform– medical inflation, growing number of uninsureds, any of it. Nor has it been Republicans doing anything about it at any point in between. Never has been, never will be.”
******
You’ll get some agreement from me there.
The bulk of healthcare legislation we’ve had over the past 45 years or so has come from the Democrats. In fact, it was the focal point of Ted Kennedy’s Senate career.
Thing is: look at the monster they created with all those good intentions.
That’s right, I said it: the healthcare system we have today is pretty much entirely the creation of liberal social engineers….despite what they’ll tell you about insurers gouging you and all that.
So allowing these same people to “fix” the very mess they created is about like greenlighting a remake of “Waterworld” with all the same cast and crew.
“Here you go guys. You blew the last $200 million we gave you. Here’s another $300 million to give it another go!”

“So how were they effective in getting their agenda implemented and Mr. Obama is unable? If universal health care insurance is not a current government program – look to the Democrats”
We only need look as far as Joe Lieberman. He wouldn’t even support a public option let alone universal health care. This idea that the Democrats could do anything they wanted is a stupid right-wing myth.

“I have nothing in common with people who carry Hitler signage– or some of the other disgusting or stupid signage I’ve seen online– or who think Sarah Palin is brilliant and just like them, or who tie themselves to astroturf groups funded by the Koch borthers.”
********
Pelosi, is that you? Great way to use your snow day. Maybe you can get a full time job at this when you are voted OUT!

“Our country was here long before Mr. Obama showed up, and will be here long after he is gone.”
Posted by: Quo Warranto | Feb 10, 2010 3:00:19 PM
___________________________________
Sure, and our country was still here after the last Republican President Bush – its just that it was in free-fall economic collapse, with a huge deficit and a doubled national debt – the worst shape it had been in since the Great Depression.

“Health Care bills have been voted on and passed in the House and in the Senate. The people who voted against it lost the vote”
But the two bills aren’t completely alike because too many people voted against them. Those people succeeded in stalling reform because otherwise a single bill would be on Obama’s desk for signing.

Voters punish them at the polls for their overreach.
____
Hmmm.. I’d say voters punish them for a wide range of reasons. In some cases, not reaching enough. In others, not being transparent enough. In others, just because they’re anti-government and punish the incumbents every election. And in many instances, they don’t know what they’re talking about. God love a couple of the trainers here– they’re good people but rockheads when it comes to health care issues. They’re against reform, gosh darn it, and moving to Canada if it passes. So they say. The irony is lost on them. LOL.
But that said, I believe Dems and Republicans should try to sort something out– but i really do wish they’d lock a couple of the more innovative, free thinking, informed and intelligent Congress persons in a room with C-SPAN and have them sort it out and present it lucidly– with good ideas from both parties in there. I still don’t believe Republicans would vote for it– not even the Republican that helped write it. But I’d be happy to be wrong on that. (Unfortunately, in these times, I’d have to see it to believe it.)

“Lieberman voted “Yes” on the Senate bill”
Yes he did, but without a public option included…which the House bill contains.

“That’s right, I said it: the healthcare system we have today is pretty much entirely the creation of liberal social engineers….despite what they’ll tell you about insurers gouging you and all that.”
Healthcare costs have been increasing at rate higher than inflation. More than 50% of healthcare costs are paid by the government.
Tuition costs have been increasing at rate higher than inflation. The federal government provides millions in Pell grants is the largest lender of student loans.
More money is now paid out in Social Security payments than SS taxes received.
Common denominator? Federal government social engineering. It is unsustainable.

“Actually, I’d say the 65% of American voters who oppose Obamacare are the ones who are killing it”
No, the Republican propaganda machine is killing it. When you poll Americans on the provisions in the bills separately they are in favor of them. But when you put them all together Republicans have been successful at portraying is as being too big. Also many Democrats aren’t as enthusiastic about the final bill not containing a public option, which is popular.

Several states have already set up programs for their citizens, maybe that’s where it belongs. People like to compare the US with Canada, Germany, England and other European countries. These countries are more like our states in terms of population. Maybe their programs would not scale up well to cover a population as big as the US.
Maybe leaving it at state level would provide the people of that state more control over their system.
The Federal Government has no business in heath care, other than that for its employees and military. That includes medicare as well. This should be left to the states, and the tax money should be removed from the Federal budget (where it has been misappropriated for years) so that States can raise their taxes to cover their citizens’ benefits.

Absolutely. I’ve always said so. If I’m not mistaken, you’re the one who jumped to conclusions, yes?
========
I believe you are mistaken.

Well, tierra, it sounds like you should continue voting for Democrats, then.

But the two bills aren’t completely alike because too many people voted against them.
===========
What?
——–
Just because the Democrats didn’t have enough consensus and votes among themselves to pass identical bills in the House and Senate doesn’t mean the Republicans didn’t have a major role in killing this process. They set the barriers high enough that the Democrats couldn’t get over them.

@ Skip: “We only need look as far as Joe Lieberman. He wouldn’t even support a public option let alone universal health care. This idea that the Democrats could do anything they wanted is a stupid right-wing myth.”
****
Huh? It most certainly is not. DEMOCRATS could do anything they wanted. That includes the Liebermans and Nelsons of the world, last I looked.
That doesn’t mean that liberal Democrats could do anything they wanted. It just means that the party, as a whole, could’ve done anything it wanted prior to Brown’s election.
It just had to be unanimous. You’re making the mistake of not considering Lieberman, Nelson, etal to be Democrats.
But they are. They’re each one of the 60/59 that make up the Senate Democratic Caucus.

“They set the barriers high enough that the Democrats couldn’t get over them.”
If Democrats cannot clear these “high barriers” with commanding majority in the House, a supermajority in the Senate and a Democrat in the White House, perhaps Democrats just aren’t up to the task of governing competently.

Yes but that doesn’t mean THIS (Senate & House) bill which is what 65% of Americans ARE opposed to.
Fine why not pull out those parts with the broadest consensus, give people a chance to review and pass those.
Posted by: GO | Feb 10, 2010 3:31:27 PM
_____________________________________
Nobody has seen the reconciled bill, it’s still being worked on – and nobody has said the reconciliation process can’t involve pulling out the best and adding in any good ideas from anyone that have been left out . . .
Many of the elements ARE supported . .. that is why there is no need to abandon the provisions that are effective.
The ‘let’s start over from scratch’ thing is pure politics and delay from the Republicans – they’re in the pockets of the health insurance industry and they have no cohesive, effective plan that holds up to scrutiny.

Just because the Democrats didn’t have enough consensus and votes among themselves to pass identical bills in the House and Senate doesn’t mean the Republicans didn’t have a major role in killing this process
========
The problem is, and always has been, that while a lot of people want to see a reform of health care, there isn’t a broad consensus on *how* to do it.
There is a wide swath of opinion out there, and the desires some have is contradictory to the desires others have.
Nobody set up some insurmountable obstacle. It’s just that nobody has found the right combination to get the votes in Congress AND public support.
The process hasn’t been killed- it’s working.

The ‘let’s start over from scratch’ thing is pure politics and delay from the Republicans -
Posted by: tierra | Feb 10, 2010 3:39:47 PM
That’s what I think, too. Good posts. I like this one, too, as it highlights when many of the Tea Party folks don’t seem to get:
“Republicans make no claims they will be ‘transparent’ in government. Never have.
If they get voted in, its’ back to all the doors being closed . . . back to the secret neo-con agendas, back to the lies that kill tens of thousands of people . . .
Obama’s transparency and booting out of lobbyists may not be perfect but its is many, many steps in the right direction.
The Republicans have promised – and will deliver – nothing.”
That’s the thing, really, isn’t it?
What I don’t get is that people who don’t trust the beltway are willing to trust beltway Republicans again. Really? Why?
It makes no sense to me.

Progressive mama, had the Democrats campaigned on making the Bush tax cuts permanent and not raising taxes, the wealthy would have continued to spend as they did in 2003-2007 (5 million jobs created from Sept 2003-Dec 2007). And once the financial institutions began its collapse in the 3rd quarter of 2008, had the Democrats immediately began campaigning on passing an additional 10% across-the-board tax cut, the wealthy would have kept their money in the stockmarkets–greatly limiting the stockmarket freefall. And then the recession might have been more like the 2000-2001 “Dot-com” recession–short and shallow.

“a supermajority in the Senate”
They didn’t have a supermajority for everything, only the things Joe Lieberman agreed with. I know it’s one of those cheaply clever bumpersticker type claims right-wingers love, but if it were true a health care bill with a public option in it would be on Obama’s desk right now.

Posted by: James Danley | Feb 10, 2010 3:50:54 PM
Thanks to the rich for destroying the economy then. Greed First. Country Second.

Posted by: James Danley | Feb 10, 2010 3:50:54 PM
Thanks to the rich for destroying the economy then. Greed First. Country Second.
Posted by: tierra | Feb 10, 2010 3:57:21 PM
I actually think I’ve now heard the most absurd explanation for the economic meltdown that I’ve ever heard– and I’ve heard some absurd explanations.

“And I cannot understand the folks who think somehow if they vote for the same kind of folks– repeat their mistakes, so to speak– they’ll somehow get a different result. Why would they? What has changed?”
A lot has changed. Incumbent Republicans who have been inconsistent in their application of conservative principles are now being challenged in primaries (e.g., McCain). Doug Hoffman wipes out the Republican establishment pick in NY-23 (Scozzafava). A popular Florida governor who supported Obama’s “stimulus” bill now trails a little known state Senator (Rubio). Republican politicians are getting the message.

I understood what you meant mama . . .

First, the Democrats have had larger majorities in both houses than any party in many years, yet they can’t move their own top priority. Somehow the Republicans are at fault for not rolling over and letting them do what they want? Wind back the clock a few years to when it was the Republicans trying to do things. What advice did the liberals give? Of course, the Republicans should reach across the aisle and do what the Democrats want. When the filibuster was used by Democrats to stop Republican initiatives, that was great. Now, they don’t like it so much. I wonder what caused their change of heart on that issue?
Second, liberals seem to believe that people who oppose their ideas are just stupid. Maybe so, but what does that matter? We have elections for a reason – to decide what policies get enacted, whether they are “stupid” policies in the eyes of liberals or not. I don’t know how the elections this year will turn out, but I am very much looking forward to them, and to reading the comments from the likes of Skip and Progressive Mama right after the returns come in!

“Wanna make a wager on the actual results, or is that too elitist for ya?”
You betcha.
If a Republican can win “Teddy Kennedy’s seat” in MA, no seat is safe (think Boxer is getting a little nervous? Bayh? If Tommy Thompson decides to run (it appears he won’t) Feingold would be in for a tough race in WI.
Loyal Democrat pollsters are already predicting the Nancy could lose her Speakership. Can’t wait!

“I am very much looking forward to them, and to reading the comments from the likes of Skip and Progressive Mama right after the returns come in!”
They will blame the Republicans for telling lies and misleading the public instead of blaming the Democrats for sticking to unpopular policies. President Clinton was re-elected because he read the writing on the wall and made the “right” turn towards the middle. President Obama and the Democratic leadership in Congress appear unable, or too much in denial, to read the writing on the wall. Instead they are bent on staying the course and ramming their agenda down our throats.

When the filibuster was used by Democrats to stop Republican initiatives, that was great. Now, they don’t like it so much. I wonder what caused their change of heart on that issue?
——-
Can you give us a breakdown– an actual comparison on the number of filibusters and how often and for what the tactics were used, then and now, just to maybe get a sense of what would really paint the current Republicans in the Senate and House as unprecedented obstructionists in reasonable people’s eyes? Or do you really believe its an even steven quid pro quo?
As for looking forward to my comments, I can tell you what they will look a lot like right now if a bunch of cookie cutter Republicans get voted in (the new Republicans, same as the old ones but dumber and more telegenic)– just read what Bill Maher has to say about the stupidity of America. (You can’t expect brilliance from folks who were duped and still believe, in some instances, that Saddam Hussein had some direct involvement in the terrorist attacks on 9/11; or that think Africa is a country) I’ll be right there with Maher in shaking my head, in my highly elitist way. LOL. But you’re right, we live in a democracy– and stupid or morally corrupt or do-nothing, naysaying people absolutely have the right to vote– and, yes, they can vote for other stupid or morally corrupt or do-nothing, naysaying people.

Well, when you quote Bill Maher, we know your historical perspective and knowledge base is truly superior. Case in point, we live in a republic.

Silly me for not recognizing colloquial speech. It’s good to know that democracy is slang for republic.

“Really? YES!
“Was income on the rise?” Some people were making more money. Profits were clearly on the rise as the stockmarket shot up to over 14,000 twice. And federal income tax revenues were at an all-time high (unfortunately so were federal spending and borrowing).
“Were people being pulled out of poverty?” At the peak, 135 million people were employed–an all-time record.
“Were the number of uninsureds decreasing?” No, but that is irrelevant as to whether the economy is booming or not! About a quarter of the uninsured are such because they choose to pay cash for their healthcare.
“Were small businesses thriving?” YES, actually they were!

Well, there’s nothing like Wikipedia to supplement the education given by Bill Maher. Our form of government is a republic and we follow the rule of law. Allegedly anyway.

just read what Bill Maher has to say about the stupidity of America
===========
He would be the expert.
It must feel really good to believe people who don’t agree with you are stupid.

“Can you give us a breakdown– an actual comparison on the number of filibusters and how often and for what the tactics were used, then and now, just to maybe get a sense of what would really paint the current Republicans in the Senate and House as unprecedented obstructionists in reasonable people’s eyes?”
Correct me if I am wrong, but are not 41 seats/votes required to execute a filibuster?
ObamaCare did not pass due to the following (a.) it was too big and too far left, (b.) the American people strongly protested it (an outcome of (a.)), (c.) the Democrats could not get their act together to construct a cohesive and consistent bill across both chambers (they never saw Scotty Brown coming), and (d.) the backroom deals and outright vote-buying further turned public opinion away.
While ardent Democrats will not state publicly that Obama/Reid/Pelosi wasted 2009, many realize the truth.

The Democrats didn’t just sweep the mid-term elections because of Iraq. Voters were worried about the economy too. Wall st. seemed happy but on Main St. people were getting smacked by killer high gas prices and all manner of cost of living increases with little rise in wages to offset it, while our jobs were getting shipped overseas.

“The Bush years were not fiscally responsible or economically strong years.”
We ain’t seen nothing yet..Obama is on his way towards making Bush look like a master economist. But of course the ideologues blame Bush for Obama’s $1.6 trillion deficit in 2011 ($0.35 of every govt. dollar spent will be borrowed).
I’ll take Bush’s average unemployment of 5.5% (over 8 years), record job creation (46 straight months), record stock market highs, and lower taxes vs. what Obama has demontrated. That being said, Bush spent too much (Obama makes GWB look like a penny pincher).

“And no one group is more in favor of the dumbing down of America than progressives.”
Yes…they are the “equality of outcome” crowd (vs. “equality of opportunity).

It’s very interesting that everytime you talk about a republican right away people start screaming BUSH. As much as I can tell he’s not going to be on the ballot so could you please calm down.
Bush was not his father was not Reagan. Some good some bad with each. Yes some policies are similar but wow go see a doctor and move on with the issues.
Just because Pelosi and Reid went hog wild with spending I didn’t expect that from Obama until he came to office and showed that’s what he was for. Now I know. If you think a republican (or another dem) with loose fiscal policies is going to see the oval office then I am completely misreading what is going on in the US. Just look at the guy who took over Kennedy’s seat. It’s the same in many other places.
I’m willing to bet most people are like me -we are not comfortable with making our grandchildren endentured servants to a bunch of political unsustainable fiscal policies even if it makes our lives “easier” no matter which “party” advocates them.

.Obama is on his way towards making Bush look like a master economist. But of course the ideologues blame Bush for Obama’s $1.6 trillion deficit in 2011 ($0.35 of every govt. dollar spent will be borrowed).
____________________________________
Bush stripped the government of revenue by stripping taxes, dealt out 2 unpaid for wars, dealt out an unpaid for seniors drug program and in doing so doubled the national debt and put in place huge deficits for years to come. He brought home all the cookies and didn’t pay for them.
Then he presided over the biggest economic collapse since the Great Depression.
Yes, we have the ‘fiscally responsible’ Republicans to thank for Bush and that disaster.

Bush stripped the government of revenue by stripping taxes, dealt out 2 unpaid for wars, dealt out an unpaid for seniors drug program and in doing so doubled the national debt and put in place huge deficits for years to come. He brought home all the cookies and didn’t pay for them.
Then he presided over the biggest economic collapse since the Great Depression.
Yes, we have the ‘fiscally responsible’ Republicans to thank for Bush and that disaster.
—
Master economist, indeed, if you’re idea of mastery is crash and burn, baby.

Thanks a lot for the post!

Wow, it’s amazing. Are all obamaist’s programed to spout off the same stuff after being confronted by any critic of the President?
No matter what walk of life, or State, situation in life, it’s always the same. Bush, Bush did it, did that this, the other thing.
As you can see Y’all, the liberal,progressive, communist, socialist, national socialist,( or whatever name y’all hide behind these day’s.) have a wonderful gift for witty retort.
And I for one, am happy for this tactic, and pray your ilk continue to ride that (Bush Boggie Man) mantra to electorical success The type of success that the nation has witnessed in Virginia, New Jersey and what?? Mass too.
While you hold on to your somewhat lunitic hatrated of Bush, you fail to realize that the “System worked” that Ole pesky Constitution, and those check’s and balances have foiled the Oman’s radical left turning joy ride, in our ship of state.
Congress, (as both Libcom’s and regular American’s sometime’s forget) is who controls the purse strings, and make law. Both Bush and Obama have had to deal with congress. Only Obama was carried into washington with Historical Majorities in both houses of congress.
With a fauning media our Rock Star president was perched on the precipice of greatness. He was bringing hope and change, with an edge, and this one could do more then string a sentence together! Oh man when he spoke even hardened members of the press corpse got chill’s down their legs.
So what has happened to the Mystery president since then? Well,bush sucking and everything else aside, the boy president sit’s at historicaly low approval ratings, and the American economy is on life support.
Bush may still be a “criminal” but on earth, her in the United States, there are vast majorities of Americans who hate all of Obama’s policy’s, and the Republican’s are on the verge of a once in a century tsunami like crushing of his party in November’s mid term elections. You think it’s cold today, wait till next november ladies.

Bush, Bush did it, did that this, the other thing.
__________________________________-
It’s not that difficult to understand . ..
Bush was the last Republican president – hence people make the comparison between the current and the previous president.
You might also remember, the previous Republican president had some impact on the state of the country.

Why Oh Why do we call each other names. Let’s just admit that we made a mistake in electing Bush to a 2nd term. And we made an even bigger mistake electing a man with no experience and then expecting him to lead us out of the wilderness. Don’t we all share the responsibility for this mess? Instead of being party loyalist, we should ALL be independent thinkers and voters. There is a time for everything, and now is the time to clean house in DC, put bickering aside, understand that this runaway gov’t spending will take us down the road to ruin. We should NEVER have the same party occupying the White House and Congress. Checks and balances work only when they are forced to work together.

I was just reading an ABC News report that 80% of 2 billion in ARRA for wind power went to turbines manufactured in China.
Great. Way to go Obama administration and “Sheriff” Joe Biden, the “stimulus cop.” Can anyone say “payoff for buying our debt?”

Do you think Clinton should’ve taken out bin Laden when he had the chance, but didn’t?
_____________________________________
Whether President Clinton REALLY and TRULY had the ‘chance’ to take out Bin Laden ‘but didn’t’ depends TOTALLY on who’s lies you believe.

Wow, it’s amazing. Are all obamaist’s programed to spout off the same stuff after being confronted by any critic of the President?
—
Nah. If it appears that way, I think its because there’s still a healthy part of the population that remembers what Republicans have done and stand for– and what the trends project they’ll do again if given the opportunity. In many ways some of us are hitting are heads against brick walls because a lot of those on the right simply aren’t willing to think it out and look at the data or the facts– but there are some who will, and there’s still some time before midterms, so it would be a disservice if we didn’t keep reminding people that Republicans are bad for the economy, world standing, civil rights and progress.

Progressive mama: “I think its because there’s still a healthy part of the population that remembers what Republicans have done and stand for…”
We Conservatives believe in small and limited government, Individual Freedom, Personal Responsibility, Self Determination and the Free Market/Capitalism.
We believe that the government exists to protect the freedom of opportunity in which the Entrepreneurial Spirit can flourish.
We believe in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, age, gender or national origin.
We believe those who cannot provide for themselves should be assisted by the government, charitable organizations and individuals, but that every effort should be made to help them become self-supporting, productive citizens so they too can enjoy Individual Freedom and assume Personal Responsibility and Self Determination.
We believe the preservation of the Republic and the security of our citizens depends upon the U. S. Constitution, the laws and the courts–and the strict interpretation of the U. S. Constitution.
We believe the government is responsible for maintaining a strong national defense in order that we can always negotiate from a position of strength.

Wow if people are listing Reagan’s deficits as unacceptable they must really hate what President Obama is proposing, unless you’re a blind ideologue. Pres Obama’s budgets triple as a percentage of GDP what Reagan’s highest deficits were and that’s before Pres Obama’s big spending really kicks in.

progressive mama, that’s a non-answer to my question.

Posted by: obieone40 | Feb 11, 2010 10:40:42 AM
—
Voting in more Republicans with the same old failed ideas isn’t exactly a solution that holds much probability of changing anything or success.

“The President(Obummer)says he’s trying to reach across the aisle but the Republicans are not reaching back.”
Obama, Pelosi and Harry said “we don’t need Republican’s help” when they had negotiated about health care bill until one day before Scott Brown got victory.
GO REP. CONGRESSMEN AND WOMEN IN 2010
GO SARAH PALIN/SCOTT BROWN IN 2012

Posted by: progressive mama | Feb 11, 2010 10:40:24 AM
The Republicans–as a Party–best fit the mold for Conservatives. When they govern as Conservatives the country wins. When they govern from the middle the country loses. The Republicans of 2001-2006 abandoned their principles and governed from the middle.
There certainly are Conservative Democrats. But the Socialist leaning Left Wing of the Party clearly outnumbers the Conservatives.

Of course, which is why you keep trying to pretend that’s what I’m arguing. LOL. What a piece of work.
=======
That’s what I understand you to be arguing. If you are trying to make a different argument, I’m sorry that I don’t clearly see it.

That’s what I understand you to be arguing. If you are trying to make a different argument, I’m sorry that I don’t clearly see it.
Posted by: MayBee | Feb 11, 2010 1:00:17 PM
My argument is vote them all out (with a dozen exceptions– maybe) and live up to the ideals and ideology many are spouting, on both sides– I do believe that with a much improved, innovative, bright, outside-the-box Congress we will move forward and not retread the same past failure, with the current president as well as future presidents. Spouting conservatism or progressivism and voting in the same old, same old, with the same old ideas will just give us more of the same– particularly if we get more people stuck in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Time to move on and think about the country. We have some serious problems. More Eric Cantors or folks like that doofus in NY won’t solve the problems.I actually think Brown might be more interesting than I originally thought– though anyone who thinks torture is a great idea seems to have a few screws loose to me.

It’s fantasy.
Posted by: MayBee | Feb 11, 2010 1:22:08 PM
Perhaps, but then pretending you (not you specifically but collectively) stand for something other than the same old, or that you’re voting for Republicans in hopes of lofty conservative ideals somehow being put into action is silly. You’re just voting to swing the pendulum back and keep us stuck in the same b.s. Its not new, fresh, interesting, or going to improve the country. We’ll be backwards when it comes to science, foreign policy, health care, and the economy will continue on its bubble-burst fashion. And if you vote for Republicans, you have no higher ground on the economy– they’re no better than Dems (and, yes, imho, much worse.) You’re just a Republican–period. Nothing better than that.

Perhaps, but then pretending you (not you specifically but collectively) stand for something other than the same old, or that you’re voting for Republicans in hopes of lofty conservative ideals somehow being put into action is silly.
=======
Now I remember how I got the impression that you were all about not voting for Republicans.
The idea that there is some perfect Congress waiting in the wings is what is silly. People vote for the candidate they hope will come closest to doing what they want, warts and all. Sometimes it’s the new guy who seems fresh, sometimes its the devil you know.
Independents end up having to switch between parties because there is no one party that embodies all they want.
The same is true of every voter and individual candidates, I suppose.
Find me a fiscal conservative, pro-choice, pro-gay marriage person and I’ll vote for him or her. Until then, I’ve very realistically got to keep swinging on the pendulum.
Or, I can fantasize that somewhere out there is the perfect Congress, waiting to lead the country to a utopia that will please everyone.

Find me a fiscal conservative, pro-choice, pro-gay marriage person and I’ll vote for him or her.
—
Perhaps you should run. You seem to have a good head on your shoulders. Worth thinking about. Couldn’t be any worse than what we have now, could it? And it could be a lot better.

“Only if you limit yourself to the two major parties and are content promoting a corporate nanny state, totally ignoring the special interests that threaten individual liberty and have grown fat on the state.”
There really are only two viable political parties. The Republican and Democratic parties represent over 75% of the electorate. The other parties–with varying ideologies, so they won’t likely unify their vote–just do not have enough weight to make much of a difference, unless the presidential election is close (as in 1992 and 2000). In recent years, third party presidential candidates have affected some individual state elections–taking votes away from one of the major party candidates, allowing the other candidate to win that state’s electoral votes. But the last third party candidate to actually win electoral votes was George Wallace (46 electoral votes) in 1968.
Now then you mentioned “threaten individual liberty.” Did you read today where the Obama Administration has argued–in a case before a federal appeals court–that warrantless tracking of cellphones is permitted because American’s enjoy no “reasonable expectation of privacy” for their cellphone whereabouts?

I don’t doubt this poll. I’ve always voted center and would have voted for Hillary, but I’m more than ready to vote Republican in the elections to come. That said, Republicans had better address the national debt big time – begin by paying off China and restoring our capacity for self reliance, the ability to act independently and with integrity – or there’s only tragedy ahead.

Good try. But no thanks, we’ll keep Sarah Palin/Tea Partiers from splitting the next election on our own.
Posted by: smartlillena
—
And y’all know that a split ticket on the Right is Obama’s only hope of a second term.

And y’all know that a split ticket on the Right is Obama’s only hope of a second term.
Posted by: smartlillena | Feb 11, 2010 6:12:18 PM
Where we differ is that I’m most concerned about the future of the country, not the future of any given politician or the future of power being held by any large group that I like (ex., the RNC, DNC, and so on)– as I don’t put much stock in any large group. Power tends to collect, centralize and corrupt, You obviously trying to conserve the status quo. I believe that defeats progress– and we’ll remain backwards and continue to lose our edge and have to make up for it with military might. the big dumb kid on the block– but hey, he has muscles.

“You obviously trying to conserve the status quo.”
If by “status quo” you mean, Capitalism/the Free Market, Individual Freedom, Self Determination and Personal Responsibility, then I say YES, I want THAT status quo!

Posted by: James Danley | Feb 12, 2010 10:40:11 AM
Nope. I mean the corporate nanny state that Republicans represent, unnecessary war, growing deficits, kicking solutions to problems down the road and gridlock. LOL.
Talk about “nice tries.” LOL, LOL, LOL.

But keep making assumptions and looking like a hack who doesn’t give a crap if we keep on keepin’ on till we’re the big, dumb kid on the block — way behind on green tech, tech in general, meeting the health care needs of its citizenry, high speed rail, infrastructure, energy independence, etc.
Right now, the Dems have a bigger tent and do actually have some reps that represent broad, innovative thought.
—
If you, or anyone else, want to get behind the greenie machine that is your right. If you want me to get beside you tell me how much it is going to cost. Not phony “savings” figures and such forth.
If you, or anyone else, want to support the Dem platform, do it by supporting the Dem platform. Put that “broad, innovative thought” into words more substantive than “yes we can” or “hope and change”. Do it honestly and on it’s merits. Don’t attempt to achieve that platform by dividing the opposition once it’s become apparent to (previous) supporters that the “hope and change” product isn’t what they thought they were buying.
Obama’s troubles don’t lie with his detractors. His problems are coming from the supporters he’s losing on a daily basis.

Wanna start with which Republicans voted for the new budget with the massive deficit ?
–
Nope, because the bigger issues begin with turning us into a debtor nation in the 1980s, and blowing up the deficit during the past decade while funding two wars with borrowed money and matching tax cuts with … NOTHING! No spending cuts. Its funny how Republicans like to pretend the real problems started this year… and pretend that suddenly becoming conservative after pushing the economy into a situation where government spending was necessary to keep our noses above water is fiscally responsible and/or credible. Better to read the historical data, and understand the current situation. LOL.
After that I’d move on to Medicare hypocrisy. And then we could talk the year of the bailout prior to Obama being sworn in, TARP, ARRA and so on.

There you go again:
status quo
independent thinker
two party ogliarchy
innovative spirit
Not a word of substance. That’s the language that had Obama’s poll numbers on the moon. People have finally realized it was all bs and he’s not to be trusted. And, once it’s gone, trust is something almost never returns. Truth and honesty (substance) are the only way to get it back, even then, it never returns fully.
We are in this box. Thinking “outside the box” is fine if one is spitballing ideas. Aside from that, generally speaking, it’s folly.

Meanwhile at the Washington Monthly blog called Political Animal there’s a post today on exactly what I was talking about in terms of competitive edge and progess:
TRAINS ON DIFFERENT TRACKS…. A major global power is making the necessary infrastructure investments to generate tremendous economic growth and create tens of thousands of good jobs. It’s not us.

Yes, but by a very slim margin. This will be bad for them because people are tired of the two wars and they have no answer whatsoever for the economy. They are just a shadow of what they were ten years ago and it’ll be even more obvious. Being Anti-Democrat only will not cut it.