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DEL.ICIO.USObama, McCain in the mushy middle?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Is this presidential election evidence that the nation is determined to move to the middle?
Wall Street Journal reporters Gerald F. Seib and John Harwood speculate that the campaign of ‘08 may yield a new political center, something akin to the alignment that existed two generations past when conservative Southern Democrats and liberal Northeastern Republicans formed a center that constituted “a kind of human bridge between the partisan extremes.”
The premise is that John McCain and Barack Obama are running as candidates who can bridge the partisan divide — something we know to be true of McCain, as evidenced by his participation in the Gang of 14, campaign finance reform and other efforts to chart his own course.
But while Obama talks the talk, there’s no real evidence I’ve seen that the speeches translate into anything more than campaign bromides. He’ll set a firm departure schedule on Iraq, raise taxes on capital gains, create universal health care and, most assuredly, appoint judges in the mold of John Paul Stevens and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Despite the talk, the policies that emanate from them are pretty much from the “partisan extreme” that’s supposedly to vanish if he’s elected.
The mushy-middle is certainly useful in public office — if, in fact, there’s a strong leader in the White House or in the governor’s office who has a strategic vision. Otherwise, if Obama proposes a fixed pull-out from Iraq in 10 months and the mushy-middle causes him to make it 12 or 15, what’s gained by compromise? Bad policy executed more slowly.
Likewise, If he proposes to raise the capital gains tax from 15 percent to 28 and the mushy-middle settles at 23, we’re still enroute to big government and high taxes, just on a slower train. And if the compromise on judges gets us David Souter, an unknown from the left, rather than Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whose leanings were known, the train’s track reaches the same destination.
Rebuilding the middle is a lot like campaign finance reform. It’s usually more appealing in the abstract than in practice. It’s wishy-washiness as a virtue.
If Obama and McCain have distinctly different visions for America and distinctly different ideas about what’s best for the country — and they do — the solution is not to split the difference. One solution often precludes the other.
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By Copyleft
May 12, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this
Wooten, the problem is this: Obama’s radical-sounding agenda really DOES bridge the divide. Because that’s what America actually wants.
Much to the conservative commentators’ dismay, and the outrage of the GOP faithful, of course. But then, the GOP has never been about paying attention to the real concerns of Middle America anyway.
By Taxpayer
May 12, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
Good Morning Jim,
Based on your comments this morning, I can see that you are a person that stands his ground. Once you make up your mind — right or wrong — you are not to be swayed. Compromise, in your eyes, is for wimps. “It’s my way or the highway”. So, you’ll not settle for McCain then, will you. No compromise here. I mean, since you could not have your 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th choice in the primaries, you won’t stoop so low as to settle for McCain, right. I guess you’ll just have to sit this election out given that compromise is not a man’s — a leader’s — option, eh, Jim. You and GW are of the same mold, I take it. You both believe that the Axis of Eevillllll must be destroyed and all taxes must be simultaneously eliminated — for starters. I must say that I am beginning to become intrigued at the prospect of reading more about this perfect world you envision. Have you published it yet. Oh wait. My bad. You’re just saying these things in response to Bookman’s article. Right? Well, in that case, just forget everything I said. After all, there’s nothing like “fair and balanced” and presenting opposing views and compromising, is there?
By Dusty
May 12, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this
Taxpayer,9:06
Bookman, who?? There’s no censorship here. We all give our opinions. Jim Wooten gives his. Whatya expect? The opinion of somebody else?
You’re just mad ‘cause Jim is not a flaming liberal like you. Well, all is fair and balanced, both sides presented, free for all. As far as I’m concerned, you should have stopped when you discovered you were “bad”.
By Dennis
May 12, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
Mr. Wooten writes, “The mushy-middle is certainly useful in public office.”
We can wonder if Mr. Wooten has ever read any real history of United States take overs of Central America, Cuba, Hawaii, the Philippine Islands, or whether his history lessons have always consisted of politically correct public school history texts books.
He’s correct that the U.S. didn’t build its empire from being mushy in the middle, but by aggressive take overs by the extream Right.
He apparenty wants more of the same from this “christian” nation - say, in Iraq.
And he wonders “why” we are hated?
You don’t have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.
By jungleland
May 12, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
Taxpayer
WHY is big government the answer? Lower taxes, reward for success (not more tax),freedom to decide how I get/pay for my insurance (or freedom not to have insurance, and pay the consequences),right to have a gun if I choose (and where). Do these things not make sense to you?
I don’t think we should have gone into Iraq, I think Patriot act is a crime. There is no excuse for a deficit. So I get you having a problem with GW, but how is a democrat in office going to be a better thing?
By George Washington
May 12, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this
Woodenhead reading the WSJ? What a joke…..ah, he only reads the editorial page….still, the contrast between his, er, alleged writting skill and the the WSJ must make him ill at ease…..Don’t worry woody, the little weasle called the Morlock is steadily draining the talent at the WSJ, and I will not be renewing my subscription come March of 2009….The Financial Times will replace the degraded and decontented morlock rag. As for the right, left, and center…it makes not a whit of difference….The hammer is falling on the American empire, and no one and nothing can stop it…We wasted our resources on foreign wars from Korea to Viet Nam to Zionism to Iraq….the dollar is doomed, our domestic oil reserves have been drained, and our workers only understand compound interest….our economy has for the last decade at least been based on manipulating green paper, and that green paper is rapidly becoming worthless…Fall Hammer, Fall
By linny
May 12, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
It would be different if Mr. Obama were a man of “substance” and i am NOT speaking monetarily. He sounds good. He speaks well. He’s attractive and charming.
but… I see no substance beneath the words. I see no experience in leadership. and I see most of all, in what little we DO know about the man, a serious question as to his judgmental abilities with regard to the character and motives of Men and Women he might choose to guide and advise him.
I’m not happy with Bushie or the Republicans. I feel betrayed in a lot of ways. I feel Mr. McCain is about as close to liberal as a conservative can get without actually crossing that nebulous line. But Mr. Obama…. I don’t see a solution there, just a great big HUGE question mark. [and no, i am NOT a Hildebeast supporter either].
In fact, for this upcoming presidential election, I’m really in a quandry. and a little bit frightened of all possible outcomes!
By George Washington
May 12, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
Here Morons, a hint as to the nature of the hammer: According to John Williams’ Shadow Statistics, the premier source of unadulterated U.S. economic indicators …
While the March year-over-year change in the official CPI was only 3.98% …
The true CPI, based on the same standards as those that prevailed before the Clinton administration, is now 11.58%!
By Redneck Convert
May 12, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
Well, I don’t want no middle. I want it all Right—and as far Right as it can be.
I want people like old Newt that shut down the guvmint rather than split diffrences with the libruls.
I want abortion outlawed and all women made to have their babys. And without no guvmint help either.
I want Free Innerprize to do whatever they want without laws that would keep them from doing it.
I want to be able to carry my two machine guns and antitank weapon right down Peachtree Street in the open.
I want war when we feel like it and we don’t like someone.
I want to be rid of these do-gooders that want all these laws on the environment.
I want to be rid of Social Security and Medicare and PeachCare and every other kind of guvmint care.
And I want tax cuts and plenty of them. I don’t care how much we have to borrow to do it.
Anyway, the Supreme Court is getting to be all Right, thanks to My President. I liked how they told that woman that didn’t know she was being discriminated against till the deadline passed to take a hike. And I like how they told the states they could go right on with the Death Penalty. If they will finally get around to letting us put up crosses and the 10 Commandments everywhere in guvmint we will be getting somewhere.
But I’m mighty worried. This librul McCain keeps screwing up on account of being old and wore out. He gets the Sh*ts and the Sunnys mixed up. And after telling everybody he won’t use dirty tricks he calls Obama the best friend of Hamas. Even tho its probly true he oughtn’t to say it.
And a lot of people in this country are fed up. They may elect this towel-head Obama and he will raise taxes and make us surrender in Iraq and spend all kind of our tax money on social programs to benefit Those People.
Just in case, me and Joe Bill and Jim Earl are making plans to go down to the Canadian office and see if we can move there. I just couldn’t take the shame of having one of Those People and a librul to boot as president of the U.S. of A.
Have a good day everybody.
By Bitter EX democrackkk
May 12, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this
the rEVOLution is JUST beginning and it doesnt begin with Hitlery, NObama NOR McCaint.
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read, learn, understand Dr. Paul’s capabilities as the ONLY worthy Presidential candidate.
His new book is a #1 NYTimes bestseller! order on amazon.com for only $11, order several for gifts!
“The Revolution: A Manifesto”
READ IT NOW!
By Dusty
May 12, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this
George Washington, @9:41
You cannot even think of an original ID much less an original comment. Why don’t you try “Henny Penny” as an ID? She was the scared little chicken who constantly complained that “the sky is falling”, just like you.
But you are typical of the twisted left. Still sulking over your losses, still losing, and set up for another loss. Obama?? Keep the Kleenex handy.
By ben
May 12, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
Yes, Wooten, you are indeed the expert on “Bad policy executed more slowly” considering how long you supported your incompetent boyfriend, George W. Bush. He’s the King of bad policy executed more slowly. (Securing Iraq anyone?)
Your support of the so-called Republican party and their subsequent debacle these past 8 years forfeits your right to have an opinion on anything.
Signed, Former Republican
By Scholar
May 12, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this
Dusty,
Are you retired or do you just blog on the company’s time all day?
By Fulton
May 12, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this
IMO, Copyleft said it best, @ 8:45am…
By George Washington
May 12, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this
Ah Dusty you fool, you could not be more wrong…I am now and have been for many a decade a stinking Repuke….Know thy self hag, the first rule of self enlightment.
By candide
May 12, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this
McCain is white, Obama is black. What more needs to be said?
By Dusty
May 12, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this
Dear curious Scholar@10:00
Are you just plain nosy or another far left lib? Either way, you have my sympathy for your “condition”.
RedNeck, 9:59
I have contacted the Canadian Embassy and they said come right on up.Oh happy day!! I will mail you some grits. Have fun.
By George Washington
May 12, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
We are suffering a dust storm today….
By Scholar
May 12, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this
Dusty,
By avoiding the question you answered it. My condolences to your employer, on many levels.
By dirty harry
May 12, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
Scholar…Dusty was used as Lily Tomlin’s model for her role on Laugh in…Remember the “Ringy Dingy Girl?” One ringy dingy…keep on blogging.. two ringy dingies…keep on blogging.. You get my drift WORTHLESS!
By Thomas Jefferson
May 12, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this
Faithful, thoughful contributors jbmlaw and Glenn have not been seen today. However, Dusty is here and manically so. She was invited for coffee by the aforementioned missing contributors. I suggest a coup took place at the coffee shop. May I suggest a search party, complete with cadaver dog be assembled to find the missing.
By Dusty
May 12, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
Scholar,10:43
If you had ever worked in a field that required intelligence, you would not be asking dumb questions about my schedule. But enjoy yourself. Do you have an opinion on the subject of the day by any chance?
By Dusty's husband
May 12, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this
Condolences to her employer? What about me? Anyone got a Glock so I can shoot myself?
By Glenn
May 12, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this
Jim,
Your term “mushy middle” works just fine for me. If someone’s truly indecisive, tentative-contemplative about point of public decision, then all right I take it on trust that she comes to that pass honestly. But persons who either as a rule? How could post-revolutionary governance survive when great numbers of its “deciders” are constitutionally incapable of decision between (as it were) Tory and Patriot? God spare the Republic!
If the washed-and-wishful are holding out for the unicorn of legend, the shining Third Way, they’re going to reach that eschatological epiphany through ecstatic visions Bobby, or Gary or Barack. (Be still my hartpence.)
How much more ridiculous can a stentor be than than to brave the winds at the point of a gun and enumerate with defiant self-righteousness his first things, the things he never could disavow or betray, but you can have my grandmother now, if that keeps you busy, and my mother in a few days, and check with me in three weeks about the other thing?
Such words as “moderate” and “compromise” and “uncommitted” and, worst of all, “undecided” are in play just now in reversion proportion to the smallness of our leaders. It is We who have compromised, We who are to ashamed to cop to it.
By Dusty
May 12, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
Dirty Harry,Thomas Jefferstoned and Georgie Porgie, (pka)probably known as PoFo the Pitiful,
Make my day but do it soon. I can’t stay here all morning trying to help you loser libs make sense. I know it is hopeless but SOMEBODY’S GOT TO DO IT!!
By Thomas Jefferson
May 12, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this
Now she’s imitating them to cover her tracks.
By getalife
May 12, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
McSame vs Kool aid.
Yawn.
ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Business as usual.
By joyce
May 12, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this
I agree with “linny”. Nuf said.
By Curious Observer
May 12, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
Bob Barr announces today, to take away whatever’s left of McCain’s conservative and libertarian support. Heh, heh. Lotsa luck, McCain. Helloooooo, President Obama. Vengeance is sweet. The Republicans will have their own version of Ralph Nader.
By Scholar
May 12, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
You see, Dusty, it really does not matter if I am liberal or conservative. From time to time I stop by Wooten’s column and I take time to gander at the comments. Consistently I see the regular contributors posting ALL day, and I wonder what they do in life that allows them to spend all day on the blog. Just as I thought, when pressed you avoided the question and responded with nastiness and sarcasm. I really do wonder what you are like in real life, when the anonymity of the net is stripped away. I wonder if I ran into you in the grocery store would you be polite, or would you be the way you are on this blog? The net tends to bring out the worst in some people; they feed off the attention and “empowerment” they feel from someone listening to them. I guess it is a hobby. Well, I have other hobbies to attend to. Have fun, reply with your usual self; I won’t be here to read it. Life calls.
By Taxpayer
May 12, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
Good morning again, all. Wow, we had a power outage so my wife and I decided to take a walk and take in the blooms. She showed me a fresh patch of Pink Lady’s Slippers that had recently bloomed. They’re cool looking. Anyway, the modem and router were also down and were not working properly when the power came back up. So, my wife called support, in India, and they went round and round until I finally got tired of my wife wasting her time with these people that read garbage off of a sheet of paper. Anyway, I went down and started troubleshooting the system and got it fixed after re-booting both the modem and router. I should start speaking with an Indian accent and apply for a job with the phone company. Maybe I will if I get tired of being retired.
Anyway, I sure stirred up a couple of hornet’s nests with my comments to Jim this morning. I think that’s just plain cool. The only problem is that I thought I was just doing a little back-door criticizing of Jim for compromising by settling for anything less than his first choice for presidential candidate. Did I really leave the impression that I am a flaming liberal that believes in big government and all that other stuff. Far out. OK, so maybe I did throw a few punches at GW as well. I feel I’m entitled though. After all, I’m one of those idiots that voted for him only to be disappointed. I won’t let that happen in the next election. Nope. I’ll write in Ron Paul if I have to or maybe I’ll vote for Bob Barr. I won’t settle for McCain. I won’t pick the lesser of the evils this time around.
By Lily Toad
May 12, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
Interesting that Wooten brings up Supreme Court appointments. McCain says we need more appointees like Roberts and Alito. This sure doesn’t sound like middle-of-the-road justices. McCain’s recent comments are putting him more in the far right category than middle.
By Taxpayer
May 12, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
George Washington at 9:59,
I hear you. Loud and clear. That’s the big problem with this administration. It just keeps modifying the definitions (I like to call it lying) until it gets the answer it wants. The same thing with unemployment, the reason for being in Iraq, etc. I have to face my problems and deal with them like a man though. I voted for these idiots. I was duped. I must learn from my mistakes.
By Glenn
May 12, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
In short, Dusty, Scholar’s not a scholar, doesn’t merely visit these blogs but rather inhabits them (probably for pay), prefers arguments ad hominem and just generally regards us as dried insects dangling from his entomological T-pins. Isn’t that nice? How very nice. Why, Scholar’s a perfect Nietscean liberal, isn’t she.
Might “Scholar” be Barack Obama?
By Dusty
May 12, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
Scholar,@11:14
Why do you think you have the privilege to ask personal questions here? This is a political opinion blog, not a social study of personal inquiries to be answered.
By Blind Homer
May 12, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this
I’ve been trying to remember the glorious small government years of the reagan and Bush administrations, without success. Mostly I just recall huge tax cuts, primarily for the wealthy and massive deficits and Medicare Part (D). Small government has arrived and his name is Bob Barr!
By Dusty
May 12, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this
Dear Glenn @11:50
I liked your nice comments yesterday about Mothers. The whole weekend was special for me.
I don’t think “Scholar” is Barack Obama. Obama’s got his hands full. “Scholar” doesn’t have enough to do. Starts dabbling.
But…I have to get busy myself. Hold the fort!! Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead and all that stuff!! Cheers!
By The surge is working...?
May 12, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
Ok, I’ll cheer. Yay, Dusty is leaving.
By Taxpayer
May 12, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
I was an idiot for voting for GW before. At least I finally learned. Dusty, on the other hand, cannot be taught. Her blind loyalty reminds me of those idiots that think they’re going to get forty virgins.
Ron Paul for president.
By George Washington
May 12, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
Dusty, stealing from your employer tells us exactly what kind of person you are —- a thief. Nuff Said
By @@
May 12, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this
Mushy….MUSHY you say?
Ahmadenijad isn’t mushy! Al Qaeda isn’t mushy! Hezbollah and Hamas aren’t mushy!
NOPE!!! none of the above are mushy so I will draw my defensive line in the political oatmeal positioning myself on John McCain’s breakfast plate of champions as opposed to Barack Obama’s fast break on the basketed balls court.
By BS Aplenty
May 12, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
Jim, excellent commentary on the unnatural nature of “political compromise.”
Governmentally-addicted liberals need to be taken to re-hab periodically. Their drug of choice, government-as-nanny, is a vile and beastly master. Under this liberal haze, there’s no problem too small or inconsequential for government to provide the “fix.” We should not compromise with such addicts.
Love the user, hate the disease.
By Fulton
May 12, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this
It’s funny and also quite sad to watch supposedly grown folks bicker & taunt each other. With no apparent solution in sight, the actual issues remain unsolved. For a civilized society, the bigoted viewpoints and blind party allegiances are both silly & sickening. When you wonder why this country is a mess, look no further than the mirror. The root of the problem probably starts with you…
By TW
May 12, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
The truth is that John McCain doesn’t remember who he voted for in 2000…sad. While the GOP has redefined ‘ignorance is bliss,’ putting forth a candidate who can’t recall what he had for breakfast might be pushing it just a tad.
By George Washington
May 12, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
Wrong Fulton, ah’m the solution, not the problem….Dirt ball is the problem, stealing working time from her employer….dropping productivity…LETS TELL ON HER…
By HECKler
May 12, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
The truth is that John McCain doesn’t remember who he voted for in 2000…sad.
What’s sad is liberals who buy Arianna’s huffed fumes after watching McCain campaign across the country for George Bush.
It displays the unabashed ignorance of liberals accompanied with their blind allegiance to believe anything they’re told.
By getalife
May 12, 2008 1:34 PM | Link to this
“A chemical plant collapsed in Shifang city, to the northeast of the quake’s epicenter, burying hundreds of people and sending more than 80 tons of toxic liquid ammonia leaking from the site, state media report”.
Geez.
By ron
May 12, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this
Dear Scholar,Are you some sort of employer,looking for his misplaced employees on Wooten’s blog?Why do you care what Dusty does?Do you sign her paycheck?I’m retired.Want to dock my pay?
By dirty harry
May 12, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
@@…. keep spending your worthless time drawing lines in your oatmeal..it’s not you who has to jump on the next troop transport and head for Iraq for the 3rd or 4th time is it? And, it’s not your country that we invaded and left countless people homeless, maimed or dead is it? It’s just a game of playing with your oatmeal!
By TW
May 12, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this
McCain campaign across the country for George Bush
That part we will remember, most definately. Gonna be tough washing that stink off…
‘Spose McCain’s oatmeal is mushy from the aged drool line?
By ron
May 12, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
Dusty,In Canada, The Grits are a political party.I don’t recall if they’re liberal or conservative.
Redneck,My secret job is to drink beer,helping to keep you employed.
By Glenn
May 12, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
That’s a pretty good parody, at 1:11, I the Democratic idiotspeak of elections past, when bonehead voters would look to their party in even-numbered years to enumerate that year’s winning “issues”, framed as “problems” demanding “solutions” by the nerds the Party had readied, in its prescience, for just such a purpose.
Fulton is calling us to play in the senior tournament for old times’ sake, according to the nostalgic rules. Neither candidate is an “issues” candidate or a problem silver. Both are running for Homecoming King, not for class nerd.
By ghost rider
May 12, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
Ron…For your edification the definition of the Grits party….
a combination of liberal social policy with moderate economic policies.
Sounds good to me!
By bit
May 12, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
For those on here who think Obama has no substance, what, in your view, defines what the criteria are for a candidate to possess substance?
Who would your substantial candidate be?
By Taxpayer
May 12, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this
While we were out shopping over the weekend, we noticed that WalMart had the advertisements out for $300, $600, and $1200 gift cards corresponding to the different rebate amounts. Well, I checked my account on line(since we use direct deposit) this morning and sure enough, our “rebate” was there as promised (based on those schedules that were published by the IRS). The only thing odd about it was that it was for about $1140 instead of one of the three rounded numbers that were advertised. That struck me as odd. Did the IRS withhold taxes on taxes? I guess I’ll be getting a hard-copy of the “rebate” check details in the mail and I’ll find out then. I sure hope WalMart didn’t hard-program in those three values or pre-print a bunch of gift cards. That would be a bummer to get stiffed by the government like that.
By Taxpayer
May 12, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this
My ideal candidate is one that does not lie and lie and lie — and lie some more. I may just have two candidates to choose from — Ron Paul and Bob Barr. I don’t care if my vote results in Obama or Clinton taking the Presidency even though I would not vote for either of them directly. I am not going to do what I did in the past two elections and vote for the lesser of the evils — GW. I don’t care if it means higher taxes, premature withdrawal from Iraq, national healthcare, global cooling, etc. Maybe the GOP will get the message.
By Morningstar
May 12, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this
By getalife May 12, 2008 11:08 AM McSame vs Kool aid. Yawn. ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Business as usual.
Business as usual is correct. If you please, let’s get down to business and get this election issue resolved. Perhaps we can then proceed with the WAR ON TERROR. We need to cut any expenditures to help the unemployed, uninsured, working poor, elderly (the don’t haves), and those worthless children born without responsible parents. Had those stupid children been responsible, they would have known not to select those worthless parents. Shame! Shame! Shame! You go Gomer Pyle. You, unlike the Repugs some brains and a conscience.
By Glenn
May 12, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this
poot.
Oh, excuse me!
By George Washington
May 12, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this
Taxpayer: Krogers will sell ya 3, 6, 9, or 12 hundred dollar gift cards plus 10%, no questions asked…Ah took mah 10% there, even though ah don’t qualify for a rebate, as was phased out by the stinking repukes fer makin’ too much money…Now that was very un repuke like of them. But Krogers don’t care, ya kin git a max of 1200 bucks on the cards plus 120 dollars fer the 10%. Ah bettca the other stores like Public, Hopeless Depot, TarJah, etc will match or exceed the 10% and not ask if ya have already accepted such an offer from a compet a tor. ah just luvs phonetic spellin…
By George Washington
May 12, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this
ron - Ah be retired too — We gotta keep productivity up for the deadbeats currently in the workforce, they be supportin’ us….When the likes of Dirt Ball goofs off, the price of mah goodies goes up…Dirt ball claims to work in health care, and you know how p** poor their productivity be…
By George Washington
May 12, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
Taxpayer: Ah bet ya were being phased out: on ya r joint return, you must have made more than 150K, but less than 160k taxable income….its a linear phase out, for each 1k over 150k, ya lose 120 bucks. Dam repukes actin’ like dummycrats…we ain’t never go those tuition credits either, stinkin’ clintons.
By Taxpayer
May 12, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
Indeed, George Washington. It’s truly a sign of hard times when the major stores are willing to offer a 10% prebate on top of your prebate in order to lock in that spending at some time in the near future. It’s actually a pretty good deal though as long as you can get an extra 10% at a store that you would have spent the money at anyway — for groceries and such, I mean. I would have been disqualified if I were still working but I decided to retire early and live a simpler life off my pension and savings. It was my wife’s earnings that got us the “rebate”. Oh well. May as well spend it because we’ll definitely end up paying dearly for it later.
By Just Nasty and Mean
May 12, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this
All you Obama Kool-Aid drinkers need to truly listen to his speeches. For goodness sakes, they are ALL 30,000 foot platitudes and bumper stickers so vague and ill defined, you cannot have a clue what he is saying.
But, it goes down smooth and he sounds so likable. PLEASE…look for details. Looks for specifics. Look for SOMETHING to put your hand on that is quantifiable.
In essence, he is saying NOTHING. It is vapor and a spoof so generalized, you could use it from any platform and people would think it applies to them!
After his speeches, you come out saying words like “Change” and “hope” and virtually everybody comes away with their own idea and concept of what he said.
But when you go back to pin him down, he’ll say “I didn’t mean that”!
Obama is smoke. He is translucent. He is an apparition. The democrats are signing up for a collection of gases that has no form or content.
Where’s the beef!
By Taxpayer
May 12, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
Just Nasty and Mean, You said: “After his speeches, you come out saying words like “Change” and “hope” and virtually everybody comes away with their own idea and concept of what he said.”
Maybe there’s something in the water. I said one thing in my first post of the day and instantly drew remark from a couple of people who thought I said something entirely different. They just read into my post what they wanted to read.
By Buffy
May 12, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
Taxpayer @ 4:04 You silly goose. You posted a recipe for hashbrown casserole, but you forgot to mention if the oil should be 10W-30 or sweet light crude. Also, I loved your earlier post on pixelization of chronoperationally deficient wogellons.
By AmVet
May 12, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
Good afternoon, all.
Mr. Wooten pontificating about “the political middle” is like a Bedouin trying to teach someone bass fishing.
He is as wed to this worst ever administration as a pundit could possibly be.
I seriously doubt that once the majority of the lockstep Republicans packed up and moved to the far right extremes nearly thirty years ago, they can now even see, much less relate, to the reasoned and reasonable center.
I was an idiot for voting for GW before. At least I finally learned.
I really sense that Taxpayer’s epiphany is being replayed millions of times around the country these days. Lifelong GOPers are cutting and running from that allegiance faster than Dusty can doubt your patriotism.
And trust me “conservatives”, it is nor merely due to perhaps the worst political and military blunder in the nation’s long history; its for a whole raft of reasons.
In summary, this GOP has been mortally wounded by Bushco and his non-conservative conservative agenda.
One can only hope this party, a collective train wreck, can find their own epiphanies and in the process, some sort of rational, moral agenda.
But I don’t think many of us are holding our breath.
And sadly, the cost of all this heretofore unimaginable ineptitude is borne by the nation.
Republican Bloodbath, Part Deux. Coming to an election near you this November.
By halstoon
May 12, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this
McCain has abandoned McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy, and even McCain-McCain. He’s not moving centerward, which is why Jim now loves him. Compromise for McCain meant compromising his true beliefs in order to get conservative support for president.
Remember how McCain insisted on amending the platform on abortion to include rape, incest, and health exceptions? Yeah, well, in the name of compromise he’s given that up.
Remember how McCain blasted Bush’s tax cuts? No more. He’s gonna make ‘em permanent! Remember how McCain thought the war should be ended? Well…now they’re gonna stay.
McCain the centrist has left the campaign building. Now, like Bush, he’ll probably break every promise he makes to the Right, but for now he’s Mr. Sycophant to the Robertson-Hagee-Limbaugh wing of the party.
Meanwhile he can’t see Obama’s bipartisan self; nevermind his work with Lugar on non-proliferation and CAFE standards. Nevermind his work with Coburn on gov’t transparency so that we can actually see just how they waste our money. Nevermind his support of CAFA, which irritated the far left to no end.
The thing about Obama is he actually continues to hold his positions, thus Jim doesn’t like him.
McCain—on the other hand—completely sold out his own personal principles in order to run as Bush Lite, thus Jim’s profound respect for the Senator from Arizona.
By jasper
May 12, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
So who’s bankrolling Barr’s campaign? Soros or Oprah. He’s not rich, and he’s certainly not getting paid well for the tripe he contributes to the African Journal of Conspiracy.
By Richard Crass
May 12, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
Jasper, he’s being rolled by yo’ mama.
By Glenn
May 12, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
McCain’s already kissed off the Right to claim next the Middle. (An then—-who knows? It’s John McCain, after all.)
He’ll be attending the national convention of La Raza next month. The signals don’t get much clearer than that.
By jasper
May 12, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this
Amvet, don’t sell yourself short, you’re still an idiot. Republicans are’nt going away and neither will the Democrats, who by the way have been in charge of the Congress for the last two years, but we don’t hear much about attributing any of the economic woes to them, wonder why.
Both parties depend on eachother and operate on a system of built-in ineptitude so that the pendulum of power will only swing back and forth. And we idiots, just like you, put up with it every 4 to 8 years and fool ourselves into thinking we’re going to “change” something with a new president.
The only sure thing is that our Federal government is a boondoggle, something we would never put up with in our households or businesses. Therefore as the true responsible stewards of this country, we should elect the candidate who will most likely reform and reduce the power and expense of this monster, whichever candidate has a track record of doing this very thing.
By Taxpayer
May 12, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this
Ron Paul for president.
By h ryder
May 12, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this
Too far left, too far right, the country is lost in the woods. Down the middle gets the best results the vast majority of the time, just as in plsying golf.
By Black Avenger
May 12, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
Since we’re not going to change anything with a new president, can he at least be black? Jeez, I’ve told my grandson that if he does well in school he might have a shot at the Whitehouse someday without having to grow up to be a sniper.
By Black Avenger
May 12, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this
Since we’re not going to change anything with a new president, can he at least be black? Jeez, I’ve told my grandson that if he does well in school he might have a shot at the Whitehouse someday without having to grow up to be a sniper.
By Jasper
May 12, 2008 5:47 PM | Link to this
To Black Avenger: I’m white, middle aged, southern, and hard core conservative, but I hear what you are saying and respect it down deep. It’s almost palpable what the Obama presidency represents to black’s throught the world, and what it say’s about this country to the world.
Even if he is too liberal, what the hell harm can he do in 4 or 8 years, Oh but the difference he can make to millions in self esteem, self image, self respect, and perhaps revitalize their belief in a country that has treated them very poorly, and rededicate them to the proposition of acheiving success through hard work and education.
I don’t think I can vote for him this time, but if he does win, I won’t feel bad.
By AmVet
May 12, 2008 5:52 PM | Link to this
jasper, I think it is you who is selling yourself short.
The facts you stated are true.
What is not, is your assumption that everybody “just puts up with it every 4 to 8 years and fools ourselves into thinking we’re going to “change” something with a new president.”
The Dems clearly offer little if any hope for this country.
It is a sane and competent GOP that does. Sadly in my lifetime, like the Jews awaiting their savior I’m still waiting.
Your RepubliDem hopelessness is your hang up, not mine.
You want change? I mean REAL change, not the phony bullsh!t these entrenched crooks are talking about?
Campaign and vote for independents and thrid party candidates. It has to start somewhere.
And for me it was with Ralph Nader 12 years ago.
Because he is the ONLY man that the word CHANGE is not just an empty motto.
By Taxpayer
May 12, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this
You want change. I’ll give you change. Put everyone behind the wheel of a Ford Pinto and they’ll all slow down — unless they like to see “Great Balls of Fire” on a regular basis.
By getalife
May 12, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this
The gop are going to use “change you deserve” but is used as marketing for an antidepressant drug.
Insanity is voting gop and expecting a different outcome.
The gop should go the way of the whig party.