DISQUS

AdmNaismith · 10 months ago

Unless someone starts using the 'Liar' word with some regularity, this will continue.

Steve_in_CNJ · 10 months ago

republicans recognize no rules of engagement. the object is to destroy the mind and body of the opponent with whatever means are available.

Laur · 10 months ago

That's pretty much the way it looks to me, too. They are not engaged in a constructive dialogue, as that is in violation of their doctrine of being unquestioningly in favor of anything that makes life easier for the plutocracy.

And we ain't the plutocracy.

I still hope that they get skewered when they have to show their faces in their home states. Let them keep bitching. Let them get known throughout the land as the lawmakers who opposed helping reverse the trend of foreclosures & job losses, even after they consistently championed shipping jobs overseas, and more recently, wouldn't help the U.S. automakers, even though they hurried through an out & out bailout for the financiers (who tightened credit & caused smaller banks to fail).

The difference with the U.S. automakers--they employed unionized workers--the southern senators who opposed the rescue package for the U.S. automakers have foreign automakers in their regions, and those automakers are being subsidized about $100K/employee to operate those plants. By the states in which they operate.

But, heaven forbid there should be a unionized workforce in states like South Carolina, where unemployment is about 15% now. That would be bad for the GOP, and that's all the GOP cares about.

Right now, bi-partisanship is a sucker's game. The GOP doesn't engage in good faith.

Dr Albert Gortenbull · 10 months ago

Ask Judge Pickering, Attorney General John Ashcroft, and Justice Thomas about the compassion of the Democratic party. Respectfully, Gortenbull

Steve_in_CNJ · 10 months ago

thomas and ashcroft are both obscene. pickering is a common bigot. it's not compassionate to put people like that in government.

Rab · 10 months ago

Someone sounds very McGrumpy, is it time for someones diaper to be changed?

sittenpretty · 10 months ago

go home old man,and enjoy SINDEEs money,ok?

RainbowPhoenix · 10 months ago

As a resident of Arizona, I can proudly say that I never voted for the old fart.

Laur · 10 months ago

I'm proud of you, too! :)

Loona_c · 10 months ago

This was the tone on the sunday a.m. talk shows. The repubs on those shows were complaining that Obama is not being bi-partisan. Do they not understand irony?? What exactly happened these last 8 years--absolutely no partisanship. Oh yeah, the repubs were in charge....

HarpoSnarx · 10 months ago

Obviously President Mccain realizes that mipartisanship is WIN-WIN for Woo-Woo.

Wonder when his Veep is going to move to Washington.

TheAngryFag · 10 months ago

I believe Freud referred to it as "projection"

SeekTheTruth · 10 months ago

Nailed it, John.

And you know what is the greatest irony? It was Lenin who was noted for saying that one should always accuse one's opponents of those things one is guilty of.

Damn commie Republicans.

example · 10 months ago

Man, I think the republicans are actually a lot worse then in the past. Maybe it's the shock of being out of power or maybe they figure the only way they'll get anything is by being maximalist. But either way, they are acting way more crazy then normal.

1jarrod · 10 months ago

2

HelenaMontana · 10 months ago

And yet the Democrats, eternal Charlie Browns that they are, keep going back for more. Strange.

1jarrod · 10 months ago

my point is “even on the weekends” is we are still suffering and the facts are this are children and grandchildren are going to pay for this stimulas package but aren’t are retirment years going to be affected no one PERSON has commented on this so i think before there are any decisions on a stimulas package we in this time today 2/8/09 we rethink allowing either side of this government passing anything i would rather go to war on our own ground than have to fight later for FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!………………….what do think

Laur · 10 months ago

Uhm, our children were put into hock by the recently departed regime. I could understand that you were too frightened to open up a mouth then, since they could have easily decided to have you "disappeared" with no due process.

But the new president is trying to do something to repair the considerable damage done to our nation's economy by the conservative policies that are responsible for that damage.

That's what I think.

1jarrod · 10 months ago

do you honestly think throwing money at the current issue is going to solve the problem of greed if so go down to your bank withdraw all your funds and give it to the first person you see in a BENZ and go home and tell your kids they can't eat tonight because someone needed a trip to vegas

Laur · 10 months ago

Actually, it worked for FDR, once he started putting more money into the New Deal programs. It didn't happen sooner, because he compromised too much with GOP opponents at first.

How come conservatives think it's good to throw money at the wealthy, justifying it by saying it would stimulate investment and job creation, but they balk at giving money to people who are not wealthy (you & me), because they reason that it would make us lose our incentive.

Here's an idea--support the stimulus package & hang tough. It's much easier to tear things down than to construct something that requires vigilance and accountability to sustain.

1jarrod · 10 months ago

I am not saying he (the new president) is not trying but he said hisself the ideas he is getting from ECONOMISTS may not be the best BUT where are his ideas not the economists or advisors ...........? is why are we paying for the same economic advice when we were told that change is on the way with the biggest spending for an inaguration in history

Laur · 10 months ago

More people attended the inauguration events than in any time in U.S. history--also, there were people who supported the Obama campaign who made generous donations to the inaugural events. I didn't pay for it out of my taxes.

As for economic advisors--I'd like to see Paul Krugman, Robert Kuttner & James Galbraith have more input, and I hope that they do in the future of this administration.

Also, check this out, to see at whom you might direct your anger

http://oxdown.firedoglake.com/diary/3533

because it would be a good idea to pay attention to what the GOP is trying to pull. I'm sorry to say that they are less concerned about our personal financial troubles than they are about just regaining the power they used to abuse us over the past 8 years (and I'm being generous).

1jarrod · 10 months ago

don’t understand why there is no american standing up against this government

1jarrod · 10 months ago

we have our weapons and can make them if necesary take a axel with a flange, black powder, fuse, the projectile could be rocks ,nails , bolts, nuts whatever (we are not defensless)

Gridlock · 10 months ago

You have fun taking on a professionally trained military force.

1jarrod · 10 months ago

if they don't have your money are they going to use thier abilities NO
I see why your name is gridlock favoring the ways our government can not make a decision

Laur · 10 months ago

Boy oh boy do I feel sorry that McCain is so deeply disappointed.

NOT!

Gridlock · 10 months ago

*eyerolls with everybody else here*

Not that I haven't been saying it for years, but come ON...

Laur · 10 months ago

What? Don't think that McCain is geuinely shocked SHOCKED that his political cohorts are being assclowns?

This is the out of touch geezer who insisted that the "fundamentals of the U.S. economy were sound".

Yeah--for his wife.

This is also the guy who was nicknamed "McNasty". By other GOPers, I believe.

Agressive Bottom · 10 months ago

Please, please stop using the phrase "bending over for" to indicate submission. You're reinforcing hateful stereotypes. And, for some of us, "bending over" is an act of aggression.

Gridlock · 10 months ago

Only if he's tied up, gagged, and then you jump on him LOL

Agressive Bottom · 10 months ago

Did you install a spy cam in my bedroom?

1jarrod · 10 months ago

well then stop bending over

RainbowPhoenix · 10 months ago

Why should he.

1jarrod · 10 months ago

why should he what (stop bending Over?)

RainbowPhoenix · 10 months ago

Pay attention, of course that's what I meant.

Agressive Bottom · 10 months ago

Jarrod, sweetie, you should START bending over, if you haven't already, and then perhaps you'll realize why using something that gives pleasure to so many as an epithet is not only unfortunate but self-defeating.

1jarrod · 10 months ago

here we are Americans blogging on the internet what's that you say "INTERNET " that's right the INTERNET why are we paying over 7.5 million a year in just salary to these senators when we have the "DARE I SAY IT AGAIN THE INTERNET" wher they get the statistics of job loss why do we need them to represent us when we have this technology BECAUSE no one has looked at it from this perspective the computer does not get sick and does not need a break what it needs is to either get rid of it OR use it to our advantage

Laur · 10 months ago

Interesting link about the conservatives who oppose the Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/07/recovery-v-...

Politichick · 10 months ago

Can someone please tell John McCain the elections are over? I mean this is getting embarrassing already. It is time for Johnny Mac to go back to his trophy wife and leave the policymaking to those who actually know what they're doing.

http://democralypsenow.blogspot.com/2009/02/liv...

HereinDC · 10 months ago

"how the Republicans always, always, always accused US of doing what THEY are ACTUALLY doing. It's their oldest trick in the book, and it still works."

You guys are so so right...so so right!!!

Sarah Palin · 10 months ago

He's so Maverick-y!

gonzalez · 10 months ago

It.still works because we let it work. Send us links to the news organizations so we can follow up with all kinds of e-mails. Let's drown these idiots with them. Also, lets drown Congress. All we need is links and the blogs should set it as a first priority.

RDS · 10 months ago

What is there to say, really? McCain is too stupid to understand that stimulus is spending. Although, it seems that in the case of these folks stupidity is acceptable and seemingly rational when it conflicts with their failed ideology.

dad · 10 months ago

loser

YogaforCynics · 10 months ago

Not sure how well that's working for them this time. I believe I just read that 81 percent of Americans in some poll think that Obama is being non-partisan--which, considering that at least 20 percent think he's a communist or Muslim terrorist (or at least say that because they don't want to use the "n" word) is about as close to perfect success as he's likely to get....

wb · 10 months ago

Wasn't it Machiavelli who said, "Accuse your enemy of what you intend to do."

Madame Cynne · 10 months ago

Brilliant point, well observed !

Joneses · 10 months ago

The fall of the Republican party, how sweet it is.

wearing out my F key · 10 months ago

those pesky republicans!

wearing out my F key · 10 months ago

"shake harder, boy!"

Goronzola · 10 months ago

The same old snake oil salesmen of the conservative economic policies that drove our country over the cliff are at it again. George Will, McCain et al are everywhere on TV telling us that all we have to do is cut taxes for the landed gentry and everything will be fine. Its mind boggeling to me that well educated, professional people I know buy into the GOP line like nuns to an encyclical. Its hopeless.

JustAnOldLady · 10 months ago

Isn't McCain the guy who said our economy was strong a couple of months ago?

RDS · 10 months ago

So, here we go again: McCain is a proven clown on the subject of economics (this is well known), yet somehow he now carries weight on this topic?
Seriously. We are phucked. We do not have anyone to bang the drum on our behalf in the court of public opinion.

djny10003 · 10 months ago

So those Repugnicans were wrong for eight years and created an unprecedented economic meltdown, and that means Pres. Obama should take their advice? Like their pals at the banks and on Wall Street, they have shown they are INCOMPETENT. Why should he listen to people who are consistently wrong?

1jarrod · 10 months ago

I am sick and tired of these career politicians getting sick coming in and out and voting on our lives while they are being medically treated and still recieving compensation its time for ted and other politicains that have been in the senate for more than ten years to go and not allowthem to hold a seat for more than ten years so we can continue to get fresh ideas and grow as a nation to many same ideas result in to many same results Mccain, Kennedy, Reid, All sides and yes there is legislature that prevents this idea But in the past administration and current political set backs proves there are changes that has to be made

Hank · 10 months ago

1Jarrod, I a few bottles of prozac left. Sounds like you might need them more then me.

BRG · 10 months ago

I would love to come across John "Maverick" McCain and ask this simple question: when Bush was deflating the blow-up of Ronald Reagan and all his principles what were you doing to stop him? Nothing!!! He did nothing but smile during photo-ops and rubber-stamped everything Bush sent to the Captiol. He was not trying to stop Bush from spending but he damn trying to stop Obama. Hilarious.....wait........his defense of Rush Limbaugh was hilarious. "OH GRANDPA"

Hank · 10 months ago

McCain who? I hear that some people in Alaska are looking for fossils, might be work there for would be mavericks

TAprof · 10 months ago

Hey, John, that's why they're called elections. And guess what? You and your party lost.

DCinDC · 10 months ago

The GOP is winning on this issue from a political point of view. It is really Nancy Polosi's and Harry Reid's fault. They seem to be unable to lead effectively. So far the republicans have been able to frame the issue as an over spending issue and not a economic recovering issue. The need for this big bailout is a result of a need to recover from the terrible economic platform and plan the GOP was running in the first place.

Rajan · 10 months ago

President Obama and his economic team, and even the entire political class in this country, are suffering from collective myopic vision in viewing and tackling the current economic downturn. 2009 is not 1932 but they are trying to apply 1930's prescription to tackle the 2009 problems when the country had undergone a sea-change in its economic activities during the intervening seven decades. During the earlier era, almost everything this country's population needed - even articles like bedspreads, towels, pillowcases, children's clothes and toys, etc. - were manufactured within the country. Today nearly 90 per cent of the items sold in WalMart and Target stores come from China and elsewhere. Add to them all the consumer electronics, computer hardware, home furniture, etc. Any money which will be put in the hands of the general population by way of tax cuts and rebates will straightaway go into purchase of goods manufactured in other countries and will, possibly, ameliorate the economic situation in China, Mexico and other countries and certainly not here. The manufacturing jobs that had gone overseas are gone for good; they will never come back, let us have no illusions about it. No amount of exhortations, like King Canute commanding the tide to stop from coming in, will bring them back. This country, at the prevailing per hour labor costs, cannot afford to manufacture most of the everyday items and even other more expensive durable goods within its borders any more. This applies also equally to the services sector like software development and maintenance and other IT enabled services. The American worker is, of course, more productive than his counterpart in China or India but the advantage from higher productivity certainly does not compensate fully for the factor of 4 or 5 times increase in labor cost. The corporations in this country outsource their products and services from China and India not out of any particular love and affection for the Chinese and the Indians but because that is the only way they can compete and survive in the global trade and commerce.

Economists who draw parallels between the 1930's Depression with today's recession are rather loth to acknowledge the most vital difference between the two era. It is an unpleasant fact - but it is still a fact - that, despite the saintly FDR's valiant efforts to revive the economy, the Depression would have prolonged its ugly reign well into the 1940's and beyond but for the sudden simulataneous appearance of three other not-so-saintly actors on the world stage. It was the evil trio of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini and General Tojo who, by plunging the world in a world war, brought a sudden end to the depression in a weird, cataclysmic way. The Allied war effort which created a demand for enormous numbers and quantities of weapons, ships, aircraft and munitions and other war supplies, together with the compulsory military service call-ups of eligible adults, opened up employment opportunities for men and women, which did not exist before. But, today, we are not in such (bad) luck. Even the Russian bear has gone into hibernation and the Chinese dragon has also stopped spitting fire towards Taiwan and is content with making and exporting Barbie dolls and baby diapers to the US and elsewhere. Thus, there are no likely contenders for starting a global conflagration in the near or distant future. All other miscreants like Iran or North Korea are no more than just miscreants and are capable of causing only some easily stoppable nuisance . Hence, the active ingredient that played a major role in stopping the Great Depression in its track is not avialable today.

There should, therefore, be a completely revolutionary change in the mindset of the "experts" who are now entrusted with the task of lifting the country out of the economic morass into which it has fallen. Otherwise, the trillion+ dollars of the stimulus plan will inevitably go down the drain.

BRG · 10 months ago

Rajan, I agree with 100% no 100 and 10%. I hope President Obama and his team can come up with a solution, but I'm a realist. I know that this "recession" is on a world wide scale. The Republicans say "more tax cuts and breaks" but who benefits from the tax cuts? If you had 10 people in a room and 7 of those people are unemployed and not paying any taxes how is a tax cut going to benefit them? As for creating jobs well I wish them all good luck because without any new techologies upcoming It is going to difficult.

GG · 10 months ago

Being a republican is not about politics: it's about anger (always mad, upset, distraught about something), enemies (more important than friends because it gives them clear objects to hate and attack), and privilege (I'm better than you therefore I resentment you). It's not surprising so many people are republicans: their lives are filled with anger, bitterness and resentment. Anyone see an emotional pattern?

Dick Moranis · 10 months ago

Talking to Republicans is like whispering on deaf ears of a political party with a bankrupt ideology. Not any hope for understanding not any possibility to compromise. Because their egos are grater then common good and purpose
Limbaugh is obviously the President of the Rebublicant’s club of “money makers and bananas shakers’
My concern is that his listeners are exposed to a very damaging ‘idiotic syndrome with moronic aggravation’. This results in a persistent mental constipation.
Recent example is the former Bush Administration!

blue proctor · 10 months ago

And here I thought that McCain had some dignity left. The republicans are morally, ethically and idea bankrupt. Same old same old crapola that got us into trouble. Don't these people get it at all? You have to put the people first, not the rich wallstreet, corporate big wiggs.

bedforduk79 · 10 months ago

nothing has changed. Obama wants bi-partisin politics when it fits his plan and the republicans only their changes are accepted. Both parties should have have their people work for a living and find that the only jobs out there are at minimum wage. There is no sector of American people who are innocent in this mess. Bankers who made terrible loans, the people who signed for these loans knowing full well they could not afford them. The CEO's who for the most part are just arrogent, incompetent, unchanging idiots, to the union leaders who think that there unimpeded greed in the 70's and 80's did not contribute to this failed economy. Finally to the gov't leaders from the 80's forward who were all talk and no action in helping protect our economy from outside attacks. Looks like we got what we were looking for.

steve · 10 months ago

We have come to understand that fear is the tactic that the Republican Party uses to push their agenda. On terror, the tactic was used by them to justify anything they wanted to do concerning "national security". Think about it, tapping into our phones, torture, and a war against Iraq. Incredibly, they stand behind these moves to this day, evidenced by Cheney's comments last week. So now we have the economy. A government, ruled by the party for a full 6 of the 8 past years, have lead this country into a tailspin that may take us a long time to recover from, if it is possible to recover from entirely. We, the populous are guilty here as well. Let's face it, we all saw the Wall Street crowd "run up the score" and we feasted from the droppings they left behind. But our elected officials, mainly Republican, drove the plows ahead of Wall Street to ensure that their roads were free and clear of any obstructions such as audit, regulation and the like. The greedy bastards on Wall Street were not happy enough to make billions, they wanted more, defying basic investment knowledge and over leveraging the portfolios. Why did they care, their income was secure, if they made or lost money. So now we come to the cross roads, with a gapping hole in the economy of trillions of dollars, with an employment and housing slide unparalleled in history. Now McCain, Shelby and Co. have answers? Now they step up to the plate? Do they offer anything different than what we have seen in the past 8 years? I don't get it; almost every major economist believes we need a stimulus package, a large one, perhaps larger than the one proposed. All I hear are the Republicans asking for more tax cuts, like removing capital gains...Who will enjoy these tax cuts?. The unemployed? Middle America? I have a lifetime of investment losses that I will never see recovery from in my lifetime. Our 401K and IRA are well less than half of what they where a year ago and will never recover. Capital gains, are we kidding. I was a registered Republican. No more. The party has lied to us, and continues to do so. Now they have moved their key strategic tactic, fear, into the argument, that we are doomed if this passes. Their wrong, we are doomed if it does not. The party needs a serious overhaul, we need to remember their names and get them out of office…

Another Steve · 10 months ago

the GOP is a cult and their members gobble up whatever their "leaders" say.

gringovejo · 10 months ago

As a old Republican, who has been on the 'Hill', I am deeply saddened by
the obstructionism that I see coming out of the entire GOP leadership today.

This country is facing the most difficulties that I have seen since the Depression. Instead of acting like 'Hooverites', with a unbelievable string of economic mantras and inertia. That seem to stream from Adam Smith's lengthy 300 year old dissertations that were true for that period, but require modification in today's era of mega, multi-brand, multinational corporations and a Global economy that surpasses anything imagined
even 50 years ago. The "Free Market" mantra still being espoused, without proper oversight, is largely responsible for the mess we are in.
Banks should be banks only, not investment houses, not insurance companies, etc., etc., etc..The dollar is at about it's lowest level in more than 50 years. These guys think that is good, that it will mean that we will export more. Ask Boeing what they think of that. Started out well, but as it
continued to slide, contracts became worthless. Many commodities such as OIL are priced in dollars-hmm could that cause the price of gas to rise?
Before this last administration, when the dollar became weak, we, along with our allies, pumped it up saving us at home. Only in the last days of the Bush Administration did they reverse their course on that. Really stupid.

Human nature being what it truly is, requires that we have checks and balances to help prevent those who's greed transcends all ethics and morality, and to provide punishment for those who are caught manipulating the system. Unfortunately, the Republican leadership doesn't seem to get it.

Tax cuts only help those who are working. They do nothing for the folks that have lost their jobs, are loosing their homes and have nothing to look forward to. 'Trickle Down' does not work for them, or the millions who are on the edge. Before they can purchase luxury items, they have to be passed the 'survival stage.' Therefore unless you are selling basic survival needs or services, you can't make a profit, hire additional employees, or expand your business. At this stage, we need 'Trickle UP.'
If it appears to be too far above their ability to comprehend, then perhaps
they should try a basic course in Psychological Warfare-which would also
explain some things they should know about occupying countries.

If you read the Bios of this congress and the last ten years, you will find that the Republicans, in particular, do not have either the knowledge or leadership skills to handle the problems facing us. They have little real business or military experience and seem to be more interested in remaining in their offices than working for the good of the entire nation. They have made us more vulnerable to attack from inside and outside sources than ever. and this will only deepen, if we don't get this economy back on track.They need to stop the stupid propaganda attacks, face reality, and join the Dems in saving what is left of this country. Or as I am fond of telling them, every chance I get, " Get yourselves to a neuro-proctologist for a cerebral extraction, or get the hell out of my party!"

mark · 10 months ago

I got so angry at McCain, and FAT old queen Lindsey Graham, and Diaper wearing whore monger David Vitter smirking and laughing as they delayed the stimulus senate vote Friday evening. The same a$$wipes who NEVER cut spending in Bush's administration who drove the economy OFF A CLIFF, before Obama took office. This ROVIAN "win the daily news cycle" and F*CK people losing homes, F*CK people losing jobs, F*CK medicaid being slashed in state's budgets for seniors and disabled.
Here's an image which bashes these SOB's back,,,,,,,a LEAGUE of LOSERS.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-8/1210139/l...

mark · 10 months ago

what would fit these obstructionist to a T, would be Democrats and Obama let these stooges kill the stimulus bill, and then let these republicans go back to their states with NOTHING, and no HELP for another couple months for their state's residents.
They's come back to DC with an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT
When YOU repigs drove the bus in a ditch, ya can get your fat a$$es behind that bus, and start PUSHING!

johanB · 10 months ago

It shows once and for all how unreliable Mr. McCain is. unreliable and a coward , as he is seeking protection behind the backs of all the quacks who are in charge at the Republican party.