Home > Jay Bookman > Archives > 2008 > October > 23 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWho’s your daddy, John?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
John McCain says George Bush has been a disaster.
“Spending, the conduct of the war in Iraq for years, growth in the size of government, larger than any time since the Great Society, laying a $10 trillion debt on future generations of America, owing $500 billion to China, obviously, failure to both enforce and modernize the [financial] regulatory agencies that were designed for the 1930s and certainly not for the 21st century, failure to address the issue of climate change seriously,” Mr. McCain said in an interview with The Washington Times aboard his campaign plane en route from New Hampshire to Ohio.
“Those are just some of them,” he said with a laugh, chomping into a peanut butter sandwich as a few campaign aides in his midair office joined in the laughter….
In addition to the long list of failures he attributed to Mr. Bush, Mr. McCain blamed the president for supporting the Medicare prescription-drug bill, saying, “They didn’t pay for it.”
“They put a trillion-dollar debt on future generations of Americans, then allowed the liberals to expand it so they’re paying my — they’re paying for my prescription drugs. Why should the taxpayers pay for my prescription drugs?” he said with exasperation.
He rejected Mr. Bush’s use of issuing “signing statements” when he signs bills into law, in which the president has suggested that he would ignore elements of the bills, labeling them potentially unconstitutional….
The Republican also targeted his own party, saying they got drunk with power ….
“I think, frankly, the problem was, with a Republican Congress, that the president was told by the speaker and majority leaders and others, ‘Don’t veto these bills, we need this pork, we need this excess spending, we need to grow these bureaucracies.’ They all sponsor certain ones. And he didn’t do what Ronald Reagan used to and say, ‘No’; say, ‘No. We’re not going to do this.’”
OK, but where were you when it counted, John? Some of us have been pointing this out for years, years in which we were attacked as unAmerican and unpatriotic, as people so blinded by Bush hate that we could not see how wonderful and wise ol’ George really was as a leader. Years in which you and your colleagues continued to give Bush free rein to drive this country into the ground. On the rare occasion on which you challenged him, such as on signing statements, you quickly backed down out of obedience and political calculation.
But now you join the parade? Three months from the end of this eight-year reign of error? Thanks a heap, John. Country First.
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Comments
By AJC/DNC Management
October 23, 2008 8:03 AM | Link to this
Bush’s fault?
The consequence of all the Democrats’ meddling with real estate markets and with established regulations was that these subprime mortgages were secreted into bundles of mortgage packages and sold all over the world. Now we see a crisis and magically it is blamed on Senator McCain’s party. The answer is to elect Senator Obama and his lovable sidekick to the White House. Yet, as readers of this column read last week, the chair of Senator Obama’s finance committee, Penny Pritzker, gutted her own bank with subprime loans and has had to pay $460 million in penalties. Moreover, Wall Street abounds with Obama supporters who prospered on these subprime dealings. -AmSpec
Change the subject, criminals.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 23, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this
Look at how ridiculous this is:
“They put a trillion-dollar debt on future generations of Americans, then allowed the liberals to expand it so they’re paying my — they’re paying for my prescription drugs. Why should the taxpayers pay for my prescription drugs?” he said with exasperation.-kookman
A lib whining about wealth redistribution.
Rich, isn’t it?
By GodHatesTrash
October 23, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this
Hensley-McCain is a disaster. Only kkkooks and kkkrazies - and dumb “colorful rustics from eastern mountainous regions” - are voting for him.
By TW
October 23, 2008 8:07 AM | Link to this
Pulitzer stuff this morning, Jay.
Thanks for the sanity.
By Taxpayer
October 23, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
Jay,
I must say that you do have the ability to bring out the whining Republican base with your words of wisdom. I especially enjoy reading about their anguish as the reality of Obama as President draws nearer with each passing day. All together, you whiny Republicans, President Obama, Commander-In-Chief Obama.
By Bud Wiser
October 23, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this
Wow. So deep, yet so shallow.
I can post pictures of Obama embracing idiots as easily as you, Jay
By Mrs.Godzilla
October 23, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this
Speaking of signing statements, they realy tick me off.
The most offensive?
The executive branch shall construe Title X in Division A of the Act, relating to detainees, in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President to supervise the unitary executive branch and as Commander in Chief and consistent with the constitutional limitations on the judicial power, which will assist in achieving the shared objective of the Congress and the President, evidenced in Title X, of protecting the American people from further terrorist attacks. Further, in light of the principles enunciated by the Supreme Court of the United States in 2001 in Alexander v. Sandoval, and noting that the text and structure of Title X do not create a private right of action to enforce Title X, the executive branch shall construe Title X not to create a private right of action. Finally, given the decision of the Congress reflected in subsections 1005(e) and 1005(h) that the amendments made to section 2241 of title 28, United States Code, shall apply to past, present, and future actions, including applications for writs of habeas corpus, described in that section, and noting that section 1005 does not confer any constitutional right upon an alien detained abroad as an enemy combatant, the executive branch shall construe section 1005 to preclude the Federal courts from exercising subject matter jurisdiction over any existing or future action, including applications for writs of habeas corpus, described in section 1005.
Attached to McCain’s “anti-torture” bill.
Bush retained the right to torture in this signing statement.
McCain stood by and just watched.
By Copyleft
October 23, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
At least the majority of the GOP has finally been forced to admit what the rest of the country (and the world) has known all along: Bush has been a disaster for America.
Yes, even the “pro-American” parts of America!
Why do you think McCain’s best applause line of the last debate was “I’m not Bush”?
By Mrs.Godzilla
October 23, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this
Did Bud really just link to Media Matters? To a story that debunks there was ever an embrace?
Slow down on that post button dude.
By T
October 23, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this
Creepy picture.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 23, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this
Bush’s fault?
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) recently cut off its over $1.1 million in funding for the left-wing community organizing group ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), citing a million-dollar embezzlement case. Of course, news of the malfeasance first came out four months ago, whereas most have regarded ACORN as radically liberal for years. What explanation could the Catholic outreach program possibly offer for funding until now a group that is defrauding the electorate to help Barack Obama, the most extreme pro-abortion candidate ever?-AmSpec
By Taxpayer
October 23, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
Mrs. G,
How could we expect anything less from King George.
By TN Gelding
October 23, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this
I must say I’ve been amazed over the last 7 years, 9 months and 3 days how the GOP-controlled Congress whimpered like a puppy before the Bush administration. If they had stood up and worked with the Blue Dog Democrats, they’d probably still be in the majority.
Country first? McCain didn’t have to request Social Security benefits or Medicare prescription drug coverage.
In many ways he is flawed like Bush. He just doesn’t have the demeanor or discipline to be president.
The Maverick.
By Taxpayer
October 23, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this
Banking execs ask for more regulation but the all-seeing, all-knowing Republicans just say NO. You don’t need regulations. Our economy is just in a soft patch but the American consumer is very resilient, very rubbery. Just watch how we stretch the truth and how they look puzzled momentarily before snapping right back in line. That’s a good boy. Now go to your room. You’ve been a bad banking exec.
By E
October 23, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this
So where was Maverick during those SIX years of runaway spending, Iraq war cries and failure to enforce the regulations that were suppose to protect Americans from the morons on Wall Street?
This is nothing but empty campaign rhetoric from the candidate who kissed up to Bush for eight years and just recently figured out that it is the Bush anchor that has helped drag him down in this election.
At least he finally has most of the facts right. Good to hear them come from a Republican for once. Hope the Neocons don’t beat him up too badly for that.
He should have miles of tape of speeches from CSPAN and his last senatorial election where he was all over Bush for all this bad stuff. But I see that it just doesn’t seem to exist.
I would think that his copies from the Sunday morning interviews and newspaper articles where he was all Mavericky would have been plastered all over the airwaves over the past few months. But I see that they just don’t seem to exist.
As a SENIOR SENATOR he had every opportunity to speak out on the big issues but he did not. As a SENIOR SENATOR he had every opportunity to submit bills to fight the Majority Republicans on spending and Iraq, but he did not. Instead he went with the Majority, went with the President and took the easy route, finding out too late that the easy route was not what the PEOPLE want in 2008.
Obama/Biden ‘08
By Taxpayer
October 23, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this
The picture reminds me of this little Taco Bell dog I have. It’s a talking dog with traits much like McCain’s talking parrot, Sarah. They don’t say much but they are real good at repeating the same old line over and over. Anyway, my talking dog say I think I’m In Love. Is that what McCain is whispering in Bush’s ear?
By Joey
October 23, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
According to this post:
Jay pointed out often and early that the Medicare Prescription Drug bill was a boondoggle that would not help the people who needed help, and would increase our debt.
Jay did not stop there he faithfully pointed out all pork-barrel spending in an effort to force congress to control itself.
Jay was the face of the AJC’s Hate Bush campaign for eight long years. Jay never waivered from his duty to attacked Bush unmercyfully for anything and everything.
Only one of these statements is true. Jay and his readers know which one.
By mm
October 23, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this
Duh and Bud Wiser,
Same as McCain, your lies are falling on deaf ears.
Now crawl back under your rock and wait for the Obama victory. And the crushing defeat in Congress.
By Taxpayer
October 23, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
John McCain’s words are I’m not Bush but his actions tell a different story. The picture just screams out I’m not Bush but I aspire to be. Oh George, my hero. Let me give you a really big hug because real Republicans don’t do handshakes although a little tap dance may be in order from time to time.
By "The Corporal"
October 23, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this
War has never solved anything:
Except slavery, pirating, oppression, barbarism, genocide, communism, facism, nazism ….. and now for terrorism/Islamo-facism.
By Bullzeye
October 23, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
Can you please define Islamo-facism. I am not familiar with your AM radio “language”. Please provide an example too.
By TN Gelding
October 23, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this
McCain’s the one that should have challenged Bush in 2004. He, Newt and many others.
By TN Gelding
October 23, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this
Ohio leaning Obama.
By Paul
October 23, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this
Jay
At what level, and how strongly, and on which issues, could McCain have “opposed” Pres Bush that you would be satisfied enough that you would not have written this column?
Mrs. Godzilla 8:20
Need we revisit that Democrats aren’t all that serious about anti-torture legislation? Having it as an issue benefits them.
Corporal 9:08
Good points. May I add to your list “British tyranny”?
By getalife
October 23, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
Finally told the truth but left out the biggest outrage. Stealing American freedoms like listening to troops talking to their wives.
He must know he is going to lose because he would never say this. Make a good ad for the dems.
By Taxpayer
October 23, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this
Grunt Corporal just can’t stop when he has it right. That would be: War has never solved anything. The Republican party’s Grunt has to try and add his two cents to an already perfect line! Our war-mongering grunt. He thinks bullets are the solution to all of his Republican party’s problems — only if they are all suicidal, Grunt.
By Midori
October 23, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
Jay,
you’ve certainly outdone yourself this time.
BRAVA
BRAVA!
BRAVA!!
Let the whining, teeth gnashing, finger pointing and name calling BEGIN.
Oh wait - it already has.
by the usual suspects at that.
By TN Gelding
October 23, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this
“The Corporal”
October 23, 2008 9:08 AM
There’s almost always a better way.
By E
October 23, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this
Mrs. Godzilla, you have got to see this. Talk about a fashion faux pas!
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/23/palin-fashion-includes-scn137090.html)
Obama/Biden ‘08
By AJC/DNC Management
October 23, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this
Who’s your fascist, Oblahma?:
LONGWOOD, Fla. — The home of a Central Florida Republican headquarters manager was shot up and damaged over his support of Sen. John McCain, the man told police.-Local6
Little punks run and hide from Islamic extremists but they’ll shoot up a Republican’s house.
By "The Corporal"
October 23, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
To Mrs. G.
British Tyranny? Sure - good one but only because we won.
Remember, if you win you are a patriot but if you lose you are a rebel (i.e., the War Between the United States of America and the Confederate States of American known incorrectly as the Civil War.
To Bullzeye
Definition: The term is included in the New Oxford American Dictionary, defining it as “a controversial term equating some modern Islamic movements with the European fascist movements of the early twentieth century”.
Example: Al-Qaeda
By TN Gelding
October 23, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this
Taxpayer
October 23, 2008 9:31 AM
What about a one dollar tax on every bullet sold in the USA?
By Goldie
October 23, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
JAY— I believe it’s obvious to most Americans that today John McAngry’s slogan is “Campaign First”… even most of the so-called “independent” voters see through his facade and willful blind-eye toward the disasters he has enabled.
By getalife
October 23, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
This was the best find this cycle.
Pure gold.
I passed it on to several blogs.
I suggest those who have not been banned on RW blogs to post this story.
It is very rare the gop ever tell the truth.
By Citizen of the World
October 23, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
AJC/DNC @ 9:37 — that sounds like something out of Karl Rove’s playbook. Do damage to a Republican whatever and blame it on “liberals.”
By "The Corporal"
October 23, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
To Taxpayer and TN Gelding
A Couple of points:
1) Those who have been involved in war (especially at the infantry eyeball to eyeball level) know the true cost and do not choose new conflict easily.
2) Evil must be fought. Sometimes you fight it with education, money, political persuasion and of course spiritualy. But there comes a time when it must be fought physically.
3) Police officers in this country fight evil physically everyday and many give their lives in that service. If they didn’t, you wouldn’t be able to leave your home. War is just law enforcement against evil on a much larger scale.
4) “When civilized man can no longer stand the horror of war and refuses to fight, then he will surely be killed or enslaved by the uncivlized who can.”
Author Unknown
By TN Gelding
October 23, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
AJC/DNC Management
October 23, 2008 9:37 AM
No, George Walker Bush.
12 more potentially game-changing days.
By Mrs. Godzilla
October 23, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this
Coporal
Perhaps you’d like to re-address your British tyranny comment, you know….to the correct poster.
TN Gelding
I agree the Democrats lacked backbone on torture.
By Bosch
October 23, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
Corporal,
What is evil?
By Bullzeye
October 23, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this
to Corporal: Oxford Amarican Dictonary says in regard to Islamo-fascist:
We found 0 items matching keyword “islamo-fascist”
By Taxpayer
October 23, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this
TN Gelding,
I could go for that bullet tax but in order to sell it to the Republicans we have to call it a fee or service charge. The word tax was pasted over in the Republican-controlled text books much like other words have been treated in text books by those radical ones of the Republican faith. They pay others to stand bravely in front of bullets and IEDs but cower at the very sight of words such as taxes, evolution, Darwin…Do you think it likely that their problems can be traced back to an incorrect teaching of the old phrase, Sticks and stones… Don’t you wish you were a fly on the wall around some of these Republicans when they accidentally see these words in print. Oh. The horror…I love it.
By RB from Gwinnett
October 23, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this
Jay, This article is a perfect example of how conservatives feel about W and is THE reason his approval rating is so low. He’s spent like a drunken Democrat.
The error in your piece is the last paragraph (the one you wrote). Dems have complained about the war, he lied, no WMD’s, no Bin Laden, tax cuts for the rich, blah blah blah, but never have they complained about the issues McCain raised in his interview. Dems don’t complain about new entitlement programs.
You’ve hit on the reason conservatives are angry at the Republican party, Jay, but to claim those reasons as support for the liberal hatred of Bush is just plain dishonest.
By tcoach
October 23, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
So McCain is wrong if he does not denounce Bush’s admin. And he is wrong if he does.
Maybe he has changed his mind. That is the excuse I have seen used on this blog many times for Obama’s actions as well.
I would think dems and liberals would be happy to hear McCain say Bush was wrong.
You all know we will not hear Obama say Pelosi is wrong. Never has never will.
By Morningstar
October 23, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this
By Bosch October 23, 2008 10:06 AM Corporal, What is evil?
Bosch, you have posed a ‘thinking’ question, that can’t be answered by an AK-47.
Ohmygosh! Gunshot in the woods behind my house! I think someone who doesn’t need meat for the table, has resorted to trying to blow Bambi of the map. On my property! Off to check it out, and probably call police! Probably some warmonger with no humans to slay.
By Joey
October 23, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
RB from Gwinnett (10:09)
Excellent points. Dishonesty and absence of Principle are the hallmarks of Jay’s success as a Dem Toady.
By Bosch
October 23, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
Um, Morningstar,
Everything okay over there?
I was just curious as to what a wingnut’s definition of “evil” was. Just a little sociology experiment.
By GodHatesTrash
October 23, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
W’s phony War on Tare is the most inept, bungling, asinine, wasteful thing ever done in the name of the American people.
What bin Laden did on 9/11 was a criminal act, by a criminal. But W made it into a war, coalescing and creating new enemies for America, and spending hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars and thousands of American lives killing hundreds of thousands innocent civilians in his bloodthirsty revenge schemes.
There has never ever been a commander in the American military as inept as George Walker Bush, let alone Commander-in-Chief.
And Hensley-McCain has promised us to follow in W’s inept, incompetent, stupid footsteps.
By Eric1
October 23, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
When Nancy Pelosi is wrong, Obama will call her on it. When exactly did Obama embrace bud wiser?
By Taxpayer
October 23, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
Grunt Corporal,
Those who so willingly send others to war in the name of whatever, need to have some “skin in the game” as others have put it before. They need to be willing to pay with their own hard-earned money, up-front via a war tax (or, war fee for you Republicans) for example, for as long as the fighting continues. Then, they need to be willing to send their own, i.e., themselves and other family members right up to the front line to fight alongside all others that are fighting for whatever. That second item would consist of a properly designed draft that lets no able-bodied person off the hook and shows no favoritism regarding one’s liklihood of getting one’s buttocks explosively removed. All for one and one for all is the only way to fight a truly necessary war.
By Bosch
October 23, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this
Eric1,
I was going to ask something similar to your 10:27.
Could you kind wingnuts tell us what Nancy Pelosi has done that is acutally WRONG? With examples?
I think Pelosi is a pretty poor leader, her and Reid have allowed Bush to veto things that they should have been able to get through, but as far as actually being WRONG?
By AJC/DNC Management
October 23, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this
HARVEY, Ill. (CBS) ― The U.S. Post Office seems to think that this is one of the most dangerous blocks in the country. People who live on it say they haven’t gotten any mail delivered to their homes in almost two weeks.
That be Oblahma’s district, hahaha.
“Between robberies and shootings and delayed police response, several things going on, that would make it unsafe,” said Harvey resident Venus Jones.
Nice job, barry.
By Bosch
October 23, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this
And I must admit, Pelosi sometimes gives me the creeps when I see her on tv, but wrong?
That’s all relative.
Taxpayer,
“War fee.” That’s funny.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 23, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
The phenomenon that leads to unseasonably cold temperatures, driving rain, hail, or snow whenever Al Gore visits an area to discuss global warming. Hence, the Gore Effect.
For Thursday night (the day after … the speech), the temperature in Cambridge is forecast to drop below the freezing point to 28 °F which, if true, will beat the record low temperature set in 1883, which means exactly 125 years ago, when it was 29 °F. Not bad! Moreover, the phenomenon present in Cambridge in order to discuss global warming seems to be driving rain and hail, with the probability of rain indicated as 60%. ;-) At 1 p.m. local time, they report a cloudy weather with isolated showers.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 23, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Student volunteers from colleges around New York State braved freezing cold temperatures on their bikes Wednesday to send a message to state and federal political candidates: pay attention to climate change.
Morons.
By "The Corporal"
October 23, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this
To Bullzeye
Maybe it’s because you misspelled Amarican ?
Try this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamofascism
To Mrs. G.
Sorry. I take so many of you on it gets confusing sometimes.
P.S. Please see my comments to you at the end of the “Palin’s $150,000 wardrobe blog.”
To Taxpayer
talk (on a blog) is cheap
“talk” …. to communicate ideas by means other than speech, as by writing, signs, or signals……to transmit data, as between computers or between a computer and a terminal.
So what’s your point ?
By tcoach
October 23, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this
Obviously pelosi is doing something wrong. She is speaker of the house and therefor a leader. They have an 11% approval rating and being that she and the rest of the members of the house work for those who do not approve them, she must be doing something wrong.
By Paul
October 23, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
GodHatesTrash 10:26
I do believe bin Laden rejects your characterization of him as a criminal and AQ as a criminal enterprise. I believe they’ve referred to themselves as “holy warriors.”
Bosch
I heard a nice reply to your query but will hold off to see if anything develops.
Regarding Pelos being wrong: how about her reversal on offshore drilling? Or if that wasn’t wrong, how about her initial opposition to offshore drilling?
:-)
By Midori
October 23, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
Rut Roh. Some wingnut’s wife let it slip out. Your wife, Joey?
By TN Gelding
October 23, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
GodHatesTrash
October 23, 2008 10:26 AM
At least there are two of us still willing to tell the truth.
By Morningstar
October 23, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
By Bosch October 23, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this Um, Morningstar, Everything okay over there?
Everything’s OK. They are shooting back there, but not on my property, so we just have to be careful. Some never learn that population growth in some areas no longer makes hunting a safe practice. Oh well, another story.
I believe some individuals who post here would define evil as: Anyone not like me, which includes race, national origin, religion, political views. The list is endless.
By Bosch
October 23, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
tcoach,
I was talking specific examples of her wrongness. Not Congressional approval ratings.
Paul,
Well, is her reversal of opinion WRONG?
I’m feeling very philosophically today.
:-)
By AmVet
October 23, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
One of the more inane aspects (and there are a ton of them!) about these fake conservatives is how NOW they lament that apparently this worst administration in US history is NOT conservative.
NO SH!T, D!PST!CKS!!!
It only took year and years and years and zillions of dollars and 4186 American lives KIA needlessly in Bush’s “War” to FINALLY realize that the sky is blue, grass is green and the Republican Party has had virtually NO actual conservatives in their midst for thirty years.
And now the only relevant question is, “Why would ANYBODY” believe these bungling, head-up-their-arse clowns cloaked as “conservatives” can correctly assess anything or anyone?
Hint, neo-cons, most Americans don’t.
And because you are such slow learners, go ahead and hang on to that “conservative” mantle of yours as you get yet another chance in just 12 days to revisit your ostrichness and the humiliating results thereof…
By Bosch
October 23, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this
Oh Midori!
OMG!!! I wonder if that was a real thing?
I’m laughing so hard I’m crying, and choking at the moment.
By Taxpayer
October 23, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
Grunt Corporal,
If you will be so kind as to refer to your post in the previous topic where you said talk is cheap first, you might be able to figure out this, what’s your point? Then again, if you could, I might not feel justified in referring to you as Grunt.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 23, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this
Lorne Michaels, the executive producer of “Saturday Night Live,” lives on the forward wave of American life. This week he gave his view of Sarah Palin to EW.com: “I think Palin will continue to be underestimated for a while. I watched the way she connected with people, and she’s powerful. Her politics aren’t my politics. But you can see that she’s a very powerful, very disciplined, incredibly gracious woman. This was her first time out and she’s had a huge impact. People connect to her.”
Morons don’t connect to her, apparently.
By Paul
October 23, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
Bosch
It’s not the reversal - one day it’s “no drilling” next day it’s “drilling.”
Wrong once, right once?
Wrong both?
Right both?
:-)
By Bosch
October 23, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
Amvet,
Good point. I enjoyed that. Seriously, they realize all this NOW.
Pathetic.
Morningstar,
Glad to see you’re okay. Your list? Kind of what I was expecting from the old Corporal, but I don’t want to tarnish my experiment creds. I’ll see if he’ll answer me.
By Bosch
October 23, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
Paul,
But what is right and wrong?
And who are we to judge what is right and wrong, we are but lowly humans on this big giant sphere floating through the sky.
By Bosch
October 23, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this
Wait, wait, wait.
Floating through the UNIVERSE, not sky.
Big giant sphrere floating through the sky, good grief, now that’s just plain crazy talk.
By GodHatesTrash
October 23, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this
Paul, bin Laden might refer to himself as a “holy warrior”, just as you might refer to yourself as a “thoughtful intellectual”.
Just because you say so doesn’t make it true.
Andi -
obviously, morons do love your L-o-l-a.
By JAY BOOKMAN
October 23, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
To RB, Joey and others:
Sorry guys. We on the AJC board, and myself personally, strongly opposed the Medicare prescription drug program on fiscal grounds and repeatedly criticized earmarks. You don’t get to rewrite history. Let me document just a few examples:
Cynthia Tucker wrote in a November 03 column:
“the AARP has managed one of the best public relations scams since the leisure suit, convincing Democrats and, more recently, Republicans that a prescription drug plan should be added to Medicare. It’s a complex piece of legislation chock full of giveaways to industry, mostly drug companies.
And it’s going to cost plenty. Forget the $400 billion over 10 years that you’ve been hearing about. Focus on the costs after that. By the time the drug companies finish jacking up their prices, the price tag will be well into the trillions.
By some estimates, the prescription drug benefit will cost $1.5 trillion between 2014 and 2023. The Medicare hospital benefit is already expected to run out of money by 2026, after the baby boom generation has retired.
This bill is so wrongheaded that it’s hard to know where to begin.”
On Dec. 1, 2003, I wrote an editorial noting that “just last week, a new Medicare bill was passed without any regard whatsoever for its financial impact. It is estimated to cost a minimum of $400 billion over the next 10 years, but as much as $2 trillion in its second decade, when many baby boomers become eligible.”
In that piece I concluded that “some disasters, like the attacks of Sept. 11, come without real warning. This fiscal disaster will be far more destructive, and we can see it coming already. Yet, we do nothing.”
A week later, I wrote another editorial condemning earmarks, one of many on that topic. “Fiscal conservatives are aghast. Big spenders are shamed. Together they watch in wonderment as a Republican-controlled Congress lards an array of pork on every passing vehicle. And a big Christmas is yet to come,” the editorial warned.
“Spending by this Congress is a fiscal conservative’s nightmare and puts to shame the traditional big spenders, who find themselves reduced to amateur status by Republicans. In two years, the party of fiscal restraint has presided over a 27 percent increase in the growth of government spending, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates.,” I wrote, noting that “the just-passed Medicare prescription drug bill is loaded with $120 billion in tax breaks and subsidies.”
Facts are facts, boys.
By tcoach
October 23, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this
Bosch since you are feeling philosophical, there is no correct answer to your question. The question is unanswerable because anything that I deem wrong would be only my opinion. Such as anything Bush did wrong is only a matter of my opinion. We cannot as an absolute judge what others do in our life, it is not our place or anyother mortal beings.
However you do help me out some in my argument in your post.
You ask Paul if her reversal of opinion is wrong. That means you agree she had to be wrong at least one of those times. However since Obama was also against drilling then open to the idea he must also be wrong in a way, no?
However I could list examples of what I think she did wrong. I feel she was wrong in a misdiagnosis fo the catholic stance on abortion. I am not saying I agree or disagree with it( I’m a guy can’t have or abort babies), but I use this as an example because leaing members of the Catholic church have stated she was wrong. So I guess that makes it less my opinion.
With an approval rating listed below even that of Bush, I think Obama should say something about her performance. Otherwise he is condoning her actions. The same actions that the American people have said they disagree with.
By "The Corporal"
October 23, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this
To Taxpayer
You’re hopeless as a debater. Could you just try debating every once in awhile instead of vitriol?
Have a nice day.
P.S. Please keep referring to me as grunt. I couldn’t be more proud of a title.
For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.
By Bullzeye
October 23, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
Sorry for the typo Corp. Thanks for the insight;however, you did not note the rest of the definition:
The term, “Islamofascism” has been criticized by Western scholars and journalists alike. One of the world’s leading authorities on Fascism, Walter Laqueur, after reviewing this and related terms, concluded that “Islamic fascism, Islamophobia and antisemitism, each in its way, are imprecise terms we could well do without but it is doubtful whether they can be removed from our political lexicon
By Goldie
October 23, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this
1) Those who have been involved in war (especially at the infantry eyeball to eyeball level) know the true cost and do not choose new conflict easily.
Corporal @ 10:00 — so I’m wondering why you’re such a big Repug supporter today, when your leaders in the White House did not know the true cost of war at the eyeball level and still they chose so easily to invade Iraq??? Seems to me like you should know better…
By AmVet
October 23, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
I feel sorry for John McCain being in a completely untenable situation.
Talk about having to run the gauntlet!
How was the man supposed to appeal to the demented, blindly loyal “base” and yet distance himself from this pathetic excuse of an American administration all at the same time?
He has given it one helluva try, that’s for sure. And I do admire him for doing so, regardless of how this all turns out.
Clearly, the strange selection of Sister Sarah, to try to him through that gauntlet, effectively killed his chances with many (most?) of the independents, moderates and centrists he desperately needed.
Stupidly, his advisers apparently counseled him to listen to the voices of scumbags like Pretty Boy Sean and Lush Scumbaugh and so, he waited FAR too long and was MUCH too tepid in saying the following:
“Spending, the conduct of the war in Iraq for years, growth in the size of government, larger than any time since the Great Society, laying a $10 trillion debt on future generations of America, owing $500 billion to China, obviously, failure to both enforce and modernize the [financial] regulatory agencies that were designed for the 1930s and certainly not for the 21st century, failure to address the issue of climate change seriously,” McCain told the Washington Times when asked to name his criticisms of the current president.
“Those are just some of them,” McCain said, laughing.
Indeed, John…
By Bosch
October 23, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
tcoach,
“The question is unanswerable because anything that I deem wrong would be only my opinion”
Correct sir!
And I’m feeling “philosophically,” not philosophical. :-)
No, I don’t think Pelosi was WRONG, I think she simply changed her mind. Do I agree with her? Don’t know yet. When we see what the effects of off-shore drilling are in ten years or so, then I’ll be able to say whether or not I disagree with her decision or not.
You can’t think that someone’s wrong or right when events haven’t even happened.
Catholics? That’s for the Catholics to say, not me, I’m Episcopalian. But, if she misdiagnosed something as a matter of fact from someone’s faith, then, okay, I’ll give you that.
Obama and the ratings? The approval rating is all kind of relative anyway, because when you ask people how they feel about THEIR representative, the answer is usually pretty positive.
BTW, I was impressed by your slam down of the Corporal yesterday, for what it’s worth.
By Bosch
October 23, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
tcoach,
In other words…….I try to avoid staying out of the “he’s right or wrong” realm of the universe - you know, the one in which the sphere called Earth is passing though.
Oh God, I need to stop.
By Abomi Nation
October 23, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
Approval rating lower than Bush? Gosh do you think some of the disapproval could be coming from Dems upset that Republicans are blocking Democrat legislation? Sure sounds like it to me. How else can you explain the gains the Dems are expected to make in 12 days.
The Dems could end up with 250 seats in the House. How on earth could the Dems make these kind of gains if Americans blame Pelosi and the Dems for the mess we’re in?
Why are the Dems also picking up seats in the Senate?
Its the Republicans that Americans will be throwing out the door.
250 House seats? sounds like America loves Pelosi.
By getalife
October 23, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
Oh no , the facts.
Yes, while Jim and his ilk were cheerleading the destruction, folks on the left were screaming outrage.
Which ones are real Americans?
By RW-(the original)
October 23, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
McCain voted no on the Medicare prescription drug bill and has railed against spending, earmarks, and the conduct of the war for years.
As Jay B might say, facts are facts.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don’t bother to pay any attention to the following and please elect a filibuster proof Democrat majority and a Marxist as President, but the Democrats are already schemimg on your 401K.
That means your employer can no longer write off their contributions to your 401(k), and your capital gains would be taxable year-on-year. In other words, it becomes just another investment or savings account, with no tax benefit at all, and no employer contribution. Instead, Uncle Sam would give you your “matching” funds — up to a whopping $600 per year! Whoopee!
As Michelle Obama says, you could buy a pair of earrings every year … except, of course, you can’t. It’s in The Lockbox, defined by politicians as Locked Away from You but Accessible to Us. It goes there along with 5% of your gross earnings, apparently to play with the 7% of your gross earnings that already goes to Social Security. And what do they do with the money? They give you government bonds as your only investment option
By Paul
October 23, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
GodHatesTrash So by what standard do you judge OBL just a criminal? If he’s a criminal, should we cease use of the military in opposing him? Remember, AQ declared war on us in the late 90s. It’s ‘nonstate’ organizations conducting military operations previously done by nations states. So while crimes can occur during times of war, and the perpetrators prosecuted, that does not change how those fighting them characterize them. Many Japanese were war criminals, but we didn’t respond to Pearl Harbor by dispatching a boatload of FBI agents to Japan.
Bosch – Midori That youtube is one of my all-time favorites. It’s right up there with another one I’ll try to pull up.
Bosch – your truth thing sounds like a sequel to Hitchhiker’s Guide!
What is truth? Knowledge of things as they were, as they are, and as they will be.
By Paul
October 23, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
Bosch - Midori
Let’s see if I can get a link to work:
Link: Flowers for my girlfriend
By AmVet
October 23, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
Goldie @11:12,
I will not speak for the corporal or anyone else here, though I do not, based on much past experience, expect the same courtesy to be returned.
I have considered this at length and believe the answer for many is found in one word.
BLOODLUST.
It’s power is intoxicating and for some it trumps intellect, reason, moderation, jstice and even compassion. (that last word is dicey, I know and almost certainly some cretin will say i am advocating compassion to those who would kill you and me given the chance. I am most definitely not.)
In this modern, liberal society, one cannot simply brutalize “those” people anymore. Men cannot beat our wives/girlfriends for talking back (though apparently some loathsome ones still do). One cannot lynch illegal immigrants (though again some would love to).
It is undeniable that there is a significant percentage of our society which is VERY violent.
And for countless of these frustrated and impotent armchair warriors and keyboard kommandos, this bloodlust cloaked as “support the troops” nonsense is a way to vicariously kill and savage other people.
Which brings some joy to their otherwise miserable lives I suppose…
By RB from Gwinnett
October 23, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
Jay, Nice try, but don’t take us for the fools your sheep are. Nowhere in your piece does anyone critcize the drug program as a whole, just more of the usual liberal “hate the evil drug company” tired old crap. If you think the entitlement program is a bad idea, then say that instead of “it’s bad because drug companies are going to make money”.
You know, Jay, if they don’t make money, they won’t be in business very long and they won’t be producing any more drugs for the next big cure. You are smart enough to figure out how that works, aren’t you?
AmVet, so your solution for conservatives upset about Republican spending is what exactly? Our options are to vote for McCain or even worse spending? While it sucks to have poor choices, it’s foolish to make a dumb one intentionally. Like Biden, I too can guarantee the people will be attacked if Obama is elected, but it will be Obama doing the attacking. Hold on to your wallets!
By Midori
October 23, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
Bosch,
unfortunately for Joey, it was real :)
By Taxpayer
October 23, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
Grunt Corporal, the one so rightfully entrenched in the level of “performer of menial tasks” and proud of it. I think that pretty much sums up my reason for not even thinking you capable of debate. Therefore, I just continue my tradition of using you for more appropriate tasks, especially given your pay grade, such as the occasional laugh. By all means, blog on — between spuds, that is.
By Bosch
October 23, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
Paul,
“What is truth? Knowledge of things as they were, as they are, and as they will be”
That’s good. Did you make that up?
By Bosch
October 23, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
Midori,
:-)
Paul! Is that for real? That is crazy!
By Midori
October 23, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
HAHAHAHAHAHA
Paul: GOOD ONE
By Paul
October 23, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
Bosch
Can’t take credit for originating it, just remembering it. Heard it in a similar discussion, asked the source, person was LDS and said just part of their beliefs. I like it when there’s a lot of thought in a few words.
And truth is truth no matter the background of the person speaking.
RW-(the original) 11:31
So we can expect an AJC editorial citing that and titled “What we like about McCain”?
By whatever
October 23, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this
JAY
What is Al-Hesbah’s stance on todays topic? Yesterday you reference them and their support of McCain. Since you obviously believe anything the enemy tells you, please keep us up to date with their view points.
The media is running Obama’s dirty campaign and no one seems to care or recognize it.
By tcoach
October 23, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this
Thanks Bosch, I too am Episcopalian.
It has become sour to watch as people go after each other. We are all in this together. None of us KNOW the answers to the problems that face us. If we did they would not be problems because they would be fixed.
I read people on here everyday write things as if they are the sole correct voice.
Both parties need to grow up and admit they have been wrong and will be wrong.
If Obama is elected presidnet he will make stupid errors in decisions and judgements.
Just as if McCain is elected president he will make stupid errors in decision and judgment.
Anyone who fails to admit this is a voice I care not to hear. They are human and by nature expected to fault.
I do have to ask though why when Pelosi and Obama alter their position it is called changing their mind. But when McCain comes out and speaks against the president he is compared to, by the host of this blog and many others on it, he is then chastied for saying it. He is asked where these feeling have been the whole time. Does that seem fair to you.
By Paul
October 23, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this
tcoach 11:57
[[Both parties need to grow up and admit they have been wrong and will be wrong.]]
I was wrong, once. That was the time I thought I was wrong.
:-)
By Morningstar
October 23, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this
Bosch, here’s a definition of evil. I just watched a very evil person on C-Span criticizing Obama for visiting his sick grandmother. Visiting Grandma when we have an energy crisis for goshsakes!
Now that person is evil!!!
By RW-(the original)
October 23, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this
Paul,
Not before November 5th you can’t and then it’ll only be if he loses.
By AmVet
October 23, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this
RB, first acknowledge that you have endorsed and enabled men who are not now, nor ever were conservative.
That would be a helluva start.
Years and years ago, did the “conservatives” write their representatives and say, “NO! Enough is enough!”?
They did not.
Did the “conservatives” stand in the well of the US Senate and say, “NO! Mr. President, this war in Iraq is folly!”?
They did not. They marched lockstep like apparatchiks into this grand, failed experiment.
Did they say, “NO! We will not coddle the obvious monied frauds and charlatans in the far, far fringe of Christianity”?
They did not. They sought their votes by pandering to them.
Did they exercise ANY restraint whatsoever in rational and reasonable spending of OUR money?
They did not. They made the Democrats look like great protectors of our fiduciary interests!
Did they see, acknowledge and attempt in even the tiniest way, to stem the obvious, overwhelming damage being wrought upon our natural resources and our planet?
They did not. They denied it. And still do.
Did they insist on economic justice and an end to the reign of financial terror by these corporate criminals?
They did not. They aided and abetted them. And took their dirty money.
So your question might be better rephrased as “Who could have done worse in these areas?”
In my mind, perhaps the Russians or Chinese…
I will address your canard of “more spending vs. McCain” as the only choices in my next post.
By Paul
October 23, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this
RW-(the original)
Touche!
Bosch
Alex Baldwin starred as the lead prosecutor in a tv movie about Nuremburg. He was talking to his secretary and after interviewing and prosecuting the Nazis he said he knew what evil was.
“The absence of empathy.”
I like that definition as well as any I’ve heard.
By tcoach
October 23, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
Abomi Nation,I know this is old but maybe it will help. If Pelosi was the great leader some hold her up to be, then she would be able to influence and work with those she disagrees with. Instead she takes every opportunity to cut them down and hurl insult their way. When you are the leader it is your fault what happens under your control. “A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released today found that 79% of Americans believe the Pelosi-Reid Congress in failing and only 13% believe they are doing a good job.
This is the lowest approval for Congress in this poll dating back to 1997.
President Bush has an approval rating at 31%.
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the Democratic-led Congress believes taxing oil companies and suing OPEC will lead America out of its current gas crisis? …Maybe it’s their pro-OPEC policies that turn off Americans
By lrd
October 23, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this
Question is, would Representatives rather have ideology trump what is best for the country? Both parties should provide answer to that question…
But it seems that for a while, country first is just a motto without any real meat behind it… and not saying that about McCain, I mean in general for the last 8 years +
By getalife
October 23, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
Both parties are guilty of this disaster.
Which part of broken government is too hard for Americans to understand?
By Abomi Nation
October 23, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this
tcoach, AmVet just made some excellent points in his 12:10 post. One of them:
Did they say, “NO! We will not coddle the obvious monied frauds and charlatans in the far, far fringe of Christianity”?
They did not. They sought their votes by pandering to them.
An example of this congressional pandering would be the Schiavo fiasco. That was probably the tipping point. The Republican congress really became unpopular during that time. The pandering to their base was a huge miscalculation. That Republican Congress was deeply out of touch with mainstream America on that issue.
Congress has a built-in approval rating system. Every two years for the House. In 2006 that approval rating was clear and obvious. The people threw out the Republicans. The Iraq war, Schiavo, bridges, and corruption all contributed to the collapse.
Two years later the American people are about to hand a mandate to the Democrats, the built-in approval rating is still intact, the Democrats will make big gains. How does that translate into disapproval?
By AmVet
October 23, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this
RB, firstly partisans tend to see virtually everything in terms of stark black and white, truth or/(as?) lies, all or nothing, Republican or Democrat.
This is foolish.
Let me say clearly gain, I AM NO DEMOCRAT. I left that party twelve years ago and vote for their lockstep candidates, just like Republicans, very begrudgingly. And I have a myriad of reasons for coming to that decision.
Unfortunately they have mimicked the very worst aspects of the generally despicable GOP and in some cases actually surpassed them.
I hold them as culpable as the Republicans for this clusterf&ck we are in.
To your point about spending, rational and reasonable Americans understand we must levy taxes to implement this democratic republic.
What many people do not comprehend is that there is a HUGE difference between cost and value.
The fundamental question is not how much the government spends, though if, for too long, it far outweighs income, that is an obvious recipe for disaster.
It is WHAT ARE WE GETTING IN RETURN FOR THOSE TAX DOLLARS?
For example, our military budget is equal to that of Russia, China, Europe, Japan and the entire rest of the planet. COMBINED!!!
It is approaching a trillion dollars annually. And it is without question incredibly bloated and wasteful.
NO ONE in their right mind can refute this. (Some even call the DoD the Dept. of Waste.)
The Air Force and Navy especially are still living in the 1970’s, and continue to get funding for programs that are not really necessary anymore. But they sure are good for Lockheed, Martin Marietta, GE and Boeing, aren’t they?
One can debate until the cows come home how worthy this outlay is. But to pretend that this is NOT a big part of the reason that we have not, do not and will not provided many of the same basic human services to our people that every other civilized nation on the planet does, is disingenuous.
One of the constructive things to try and get this behemoth under control is to get the hell out of Iraq. NOW!
They don’t want us there, most of the American people don’t want us there, and the US Army and US Marine Corps are not policemen.
By T
October 23, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
RW-(the original)
I don’t think we need a new SS. Maybe they could try to fix the old one.
By Mrs. Godzilla
October 23, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
PERHAPS THIS WILL GET US SOME HELP WITH ELECTRONIC VOTING:
Votes reportedly flipping FROM REPUB TO DEM in Tennessee
By hillbilly ragger
October 23, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this
tcoach @ 12.22, please. Enough with the “congressional approval rating” nonsense.
Here, I’ve even gone so far as to post on this inane talking point at my own crummy blog.
Anyway don’t fret—some guys (like David Broder) get paid big bucks to deliberately get this one wrong.
By E
October 23, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
Mrs. Godzilla at 1:05,
Yep, this should do it!
Obama/Biden ‘08
By tcoach
October 23, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
I only showed you polls.
By using your argument one could say that the country is NOT unhappy with the Bush Admin. It could be said because you do not have proof he would not be elected. I know that sounds strange but you do not have proof. Maybe you are able to see future events but I cannot.
If a poll is done and people say it so then what else would one need. The poll I showed you was not about the house but rather pelosi alone. There are better ways to defend your stance than tho always blame it on republicans. I know the republican party as a whole has made mistakes, and will say so. When will the democrate party do the same. Or do you honestly believe the democrates and Obama are perfect beings and have never made mistakes.
The point is McCain has taken an opportunity to say he believes what they have done was wrong. Then here he is torn down for it. Why has Obama never said anything or challenged Pelosi. That was the point of my argument.
By RW-(the original)
October 23, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
T,
Perhaps it would be a good idea not to elect the Democrats that are planning the second SS for you by stealing your 401K then.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blog Service Announcement
If you are running Windows XP be sure to go to Windows Update this afternoon. There is an emergency security patch being released ahead of the normal update schedule which generally means it’s pretty serious. The update was supposed to be out at 1:00 eastern.
By AmVet
October 23, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
Ever since Reagan the utterly misnamed “compassionate conservatives” were and still are ferociously throwing poor Americans off the dole and under the bus.
YET, they turned right around and hyper-escalated a MUCH bigger problem - corporate welfare.
Any assistance provided by a government, which gives a private business an advantage over others. In the United States, corporate welfare refers to any number of favors, costing billions of dollars each year, bestowed on corporations by the federal government. It includes, but is not limited to, tax breaks, direct grants for corporations, and various other forms of special favorable treatment.
As with other forms of welfare, many individuals and groups oppose the concept. One of the main contentions concerning corporate welfare is the fact that it like other welfare programs is unconstitutional at the federal level. The Constitution provides no authority for Congress to redistribute money collected via taxation, in an effort to subsidize businesses or individuals. In fact, the spending power of Congress is specifically detailed and limited.
While entitlement programs ostensibly designed to assist families or individuals are often described as “leveling the playing field,” those who support public assistance rarely apply this position to corporate welfare. In fact, it is as inaccurate concerning corporate welfare as it is in regard to other entitlement programs.
Corporate welfare is accused of not leveling the field at all, but distinctly providing advantages for select industries or companies at the expense of other businesses and often consumers. Not only that, but the cost is astronomical, and the taxpayer doesn’t get a say in which companies will be propped up. Adding insult to injury, some say that the government seems to choose blindly when determining which industries or businesses will yield a return on this huge investment.
Corporate welfare is not always recognizable in its various forms. Along with cash bailouts there is also money provided to pay for research and development, insurance, or for subsidized loans. Favors also include acts of protectionism, shielding only certain American industries or businesses, from foreign competition. This of course, stifles free trade, limits other companies, and means that Americans often pay more for goods and services.
Many people believe that corporate welfare also breeds corruption. It seems that frequently, those that make the greatest campaign contributions receive the greatest windfalls. Aside from monetary concerns, certain industries sometimes have greater lobbying power when it comes to legislation. Can you think of any industry that has been able to persuade the government that the purchase of its product or service should be mandatory? If so, you have just discovered another form of corporate welfare.
How much is it? Hard to say for sure, but easily to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars annually.
And the “conservatives” call others socialists and Marxists though they more than anybody want more and more and more of it…
By tcoach
October 23, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
Hillbilly I really think it is a non issue I was only using it for a small point to be made. And I was making an entirely different point. Go read the first post and see how it all escalated. I promise I find no value in any poll except those on election days. People say one thing and do another consistantly so I never get high or low because of a poll.
Was not trying to attack the left or democrates by using a poll.
My post at 11:57. That was the focus of the post. Not the drawn out process that Abomi Nation wanted to talk about.
Sorry if I bothered you with my opinion.
By "The Corporal"
October 23, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
To Bullzeye
I never said it wasn’t controversial.
So is the term “Christian Identity Movement? Ever hear of that? They are nothing more than terrorists hiding behind the banner of true Christianity. They could also be called **Christian-fascists. Have at it.
Personaly, I like the term Islamo-facism. I think it states the case precisely.
To Mrs. G.
Last chance ……………..
P.S. Please see my comments to you at the end of the “Palin’s $150,000 wardrobe blog.”
To Bosch
If you don’t know what evil is, look it up yourself. Or, one day it may come calling to you or your family.
To Taxpayer
And you know I will civilian.
Ooo Rah!
To Goldie
Does this mean you or your children will be joining the Marines after all ?
By John Call
October 23, 2008 6:33 PM | Link to this
I love all this bi-partisan arguing, further dividing our nation……it was BOTH democrats and republicans who contributed to the overspending/financial mess we are in…..actually I take that back……the FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM being allowed to create fiat money out of thin air created the financial mess it is now trying to fix with the same measures it wrecked us with in the first place…..still there is too much finger pointing on both sides and not enough ACCOUNTABILITY by either side to FIX the problem….guess, because I live here, I’ll have to go down with the ship