October 8, 2006
LANDSLIDE REVISITED....Republicans are in a death spiral:
Democrats now outdistance Republicans on every single issue that could decide voters choices come Nov. 7. In addition to winning for the first time in the Newsweek poll on the question of which party is more trusted to fight the war on terror (44 to 37 percent) and moral values (42 percent to 36 percent), the Democrats now inspire more trust than the GOP on handling Iraq (47 to 34); the economy (53 to 31); health care (57 to 24); federal spending and the deficit (53 to 29); gas and oil prices (56 to 23); and immigration (43 to 34).
How should Democrats take advantage of this? I boiled down my advice to 200 words for the New York Times two months ago, but it just got printed today. I think it holds up pretty well.
—Kevin Drum 1:00 AM
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200 perfectly chosen words, Kevin!
Posted by: John Forde on October 8, 2006 at 1:10 AM | PERMALINK
What John Forde just said.
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 8, 2006 at 1:12 AM | PERMALINK
ROFL. The dead tree news cycle exemplified.
Posted by: JayAckroyd on October 8, 2006 at 1:17 AM | PERMALINK
Two months ago? It could have been written 2 years ago. What happened to Republicans?
Posted by: Jeffrey Davis on October 8, 2006 at 1:17 AM | PERMALINK
Kevin -- very nice!
Posted by: Pothique on October 8, 2006 at 1:46 AM | PERMALINK
Kevin, this is precisely the kind of commentary I most enjoy reading from you: strategies on how to win. Congratulations on getting printed in the NY Times - you're now officially an enemy of the state as far as Republicans are concerned; they really, really, really hate people who have brains and a spine - the antidote to their corrupt, incompetent, and arrogant rule based on blind loyalty and fear.
Though I would argue that it's not enough to remind people that these failures are occurring on the Republican watch. Democrats need to be even more forceful in correctly labeling the Republican party for what they are: corrupt, incompetence, and arrogant.
CIA - corrupt, incompetent, and arrogant.
Posted by: Augustus on October 8, 2006 at 1:47 AM | PERMALINK
Two months ago - oy - tree-killer press on tree-killer time
The poll numbers are cool but they demonstrate quite clearly what has been pointed out for a while. The Pubbies are shooting themselves in the foot but the Democrats are not taking advantage - I bet none of the Democrat numbers have changed substantially in the last 2 months.
Posted by: RR on October 8, 2006 at 1:48 AM | PERMALINK
"Democrats now outdistance Republicans on every single issue that could decide voters’ choices come Nov. 7. "
Except for ownership and control of Diebold. It will be interesting.
Posted by: phil on October 8, 2006 at 1:48 AM | PERMALINK
Trial May Hurt Ohio GOP on Election Day
By JOHN SEEWER
Associated Press Writer
October 7, 2006, 2:34 PM EDT
TOLEDO, Ohio -- Just a month before the elections, a former Republican fundraising star is set to go on trial on charges that he stole millions of dollars from a state investment in rare coins.
The timing couldn't be worse for the GOP.
The trial of Tom Noe will shine a spotlight on Republican Party problems even though its leaders have worked to distance themselves from the former coin dealer who managed the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation's $50 million rare coin investment.
"You couldn't think of much worse to happen to a state party during a critical election," said William Binning, a political scientist at Youngstown State University who has worked on past GOP campaigns.
Investigations into Noe's coin investments led to separate ethics charges against Gov. Bob Taft, who pleaded no contest last year to failing to report golf outings and other gifts.
Whatever happens in state court, Noe already faces more than two years in federal prison after pleading guilty earlier this year to improperly funneling $45,000 to President Bush's re-election campaign.
Posted by: Ney No? Nay, Noe! on October 8, 2006 at 1:51 AM | PERMALINK
Considering that it's now an open secret that the Saudis are pushing out oil to get prices down for the election, this
gas and oil prices (56 to 23)
is interesting.
Failure - it's the new black!
Posted by: craigie on October 8, 2006 at 1:52 AM | PERMALINK
You know, they used to make fun of the Detroit Tigers too.
Posted by: Thin White Guy on October 8, 2006 at 2:01 AM | PERMALINK
mmm, "death spiral", mmmm, yummy.
More please!
Posted by: craigie on October 8, 2006 at 2:09 AM | PERMALINK
I feel a bit sorry for Hastert having to face all these wild rumors, assuming that they are just that.
Posted by: gregor on October 8, 2006 at 2:50 AM | PERMALINK
I hope that the NYT's will replace Brook's with our good old friend, Cal Pundit. There has to be Friday Cat Blogging on the back page of the Time's A section. Whoooya! Go Inkblot.
Posted by: DaveA on October 8, 2006 at 2:58 AM | PERMALINK
No race is run until it's won!
Rove must be turning everything upside down to find some morality issue with the Democratic Party, preferably a senator, to muddy the waters. "Look! There is no difference. They are just as bad."
So you'd better hope everyone kept their nose clean.
Anyway, it's nice to see the Repugnut machine have its wheels fall off. You'd have thought they'd know how to exercize damage control. Seems deep down it's still the good ol' boys club. The longer and deeper Hastert keeps digging the more dirt thrown up over the others.
So yippee for that, but steady as she goes, and make sure voters have positive reasons, too, and will be glad they voted their Dem in.
Posted by: notthere on October 8, 2006 at 3:01 AM | PERMALINK
Fuck you, Al :)
Posted by: Boorring on October 8, 2006 at 3:11 AM | PERMALINK
Careful, Kevin. I had a column in The New York Times on Nov. 1st, 1989, and look how I turned out! We'll also see how this "death spiral" thing turns out. If Dems take control of Congress they have just enough time to make themselves hated and feared before 2008 and the presidential race.
How could that happen? Let me count the ways. First of all, life in America right now is really pretty good and it's been pretty good for quite a long time, even though a lot of people don't appreciate it. In fact, the only really lousy time we've had in my memory were from the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 until 1980 or so. Even though the missile crisis turned out OK, I think in retrospect it was such a frighteningly close call that if it is any kind of harbinger of the future we ought to all be digging survival caves.
Well, there I go being Cassandra again. The main thing that really bothers me about the Dems coming to power again is that I expect a lot of severely extremist solutions from the left to not only problems that are real, but to problems that are only imagined.
Posted by: Mike Cook on October 8, 2006 at 3:52 AM | PERMALINK
Kevin:
Good piece. Suggested topic for the next one: RICO prosecution of the GOP.
The GOP in its current form is the greatest crime organization in the history of mankind.
Posted by: nehoa on October 8, 2006 at 4:32 AM | PERMALINK
Nice piece, Kevin. If the Democrats don't take the first bit of your advice, the rest will remain academic. You can't be too explicit or redundant making the point of who's been running Congress and the nation the past eight years. "Republican Congress" has to be in every speech, yes, but also in every print and broadcast ad as well.
The tag line should be: "Had enough?"
Posted by: DevilDog on October 8, 2006 at 5:37 AM | PERMALINK
Mike Cook:".. really bothers me about the Dems coming to power again is that I expect a lot of severely extremist solutions.."
What bothers me is if the Dems don't have the cojones to impeach the Bush assholes.
I want the disaster of the next 2 years to get hung around the Republican's fat necks like a reeking dead albatross. The stink must last for at least 25 years, to balance the last 25 years cursed by "conservative" misrule.
Posted by: Joey Giraud on October 8, 2006 at 5:52 AM | PERMALINK
Nice piece, Kevin!
Only now I've got the Talking Heads going through my head, thanks to you.
Posted by: RT on October 8, 2006 at 6:16 AM | PERMALINK
The main thing that really bothers me about the Dems coming to power again is that I expect a lot of severely extremist solutions from the left to not only problems that are real, but to problems that are only imagined.
I'm sorry, what?
Look, as a libertarian-leaning centrist I'm not a huge fan of the Democratic party, but please stop projecting. If you're going to hyperventilate about extremist solutions to imagined problems, let's start with the Federal Marriage Amendment, the attempted privatization of Social Security, and the whole torture/indefinite detention mess. Padilla and Hamdi in particular are perfect examples. The Iraq war certainly could apply, because even though Saddam was a problem, the solution was arguably worse. I don't know enough about the immigration debate to know whether it's a real problem, but the solutions being proposed by the right (except Bush, for once) sound pretty extreme to me. I could probably think of more but I'm still at work and coasting on stimulants.
So, if you're going to spew wild accusations like that, please explain which extremist solutions and imaginary problems you imagine the Democratic party pursuing. I'll give you national health insurance since I'm sure you'll include it anyway, although I don't think it's particularly extreme or unwarranted.
Posted by: Nat on October 8, 2006 at 6:22 AM | PERMALINK
Payback is coming for the Repukeliscum, and it is going to be a BITCH.
There will be investigations of every single feature of the Bush Administration.
Posted by: POed Lib on October 8, 2006 at 7:18 AM | PERMALINK
Hi Kevin,
Bush is a rich-boy sociopath who can't tolerate losing. Do we really think he'll let himself lose this election? He's annoited by God....
In spite of that (!) your NYT piece was great -- you should write a "Making Sense" series for them.
Posted by: dubious on October 8, 2006 at 7:54 AM | PERMALINK
I hate it when people say that Democrats don't have a viable alternative to the Republicans' plan for everything. They're wrong. The Democrats do have an alternative: it's the opposite of whatever the Republicans are doing. Do people honestly think that anything the Republicans have done in the last six years has been good for the United States of America? If they were running a Third World country they'd been overthrown years ago.
Posted by: Vincennes on October 8, 2006 at 8:04 AM | PERMALINK
AND, the new Republican SPIN is that this is a "local election"...people "out there" don't know or care about Mark Foley...again making this SCANDAL about Foley being gay and/or a pedophile...so their SPIN is working just fine making this about how DEMS are no better than they because it's tit for tat in the scandal department. Watch and learn...they'll pull this off as they have TOO MUCH of the system in their corner with primary concern of protecting their fortunes and their backsides!!!
Posted by: Dancer on October 8, 2006 at 8:21 AM | PERMALINK
The third paragraph is all wrong and demonstrates that Democrats are still vulernable to shoddy 'conceptions' and are only going to win because Republicans will have lost. Peacekeeping? Getting people to like us? Multilateral empathy? For most Americans these ideas, words, notions are received as shibboleths defining a party of weakness and compromise - not that they are necessarily [although probably they are] but that is how they're received into the infantile minds of the average voter.
If Democrats regain power their will be a blood letting between realists and ideologues within the party - bank on it. I know the GOP is.
Posted by: saintsimon on October 8, 2006 at 8:29 AM | PERMALINK
Saintsimon and Dancer, paid Republican concern trolls. Pay them no mind.
Posted by: John Casey on October 8, 2006 at 8:33 AM | PERMALINK
our Kevin in the NY Times!! as an op-ed author too! they grow up so fast!
we're all very proud of you Kevin!
p.s. remember the little guys when you're at the top!
Posted by: Michele on October 8, 2006 at 8:35 AM | PERMALINK
less is more. spot on kevin. republican congress.republican congress.republican congress.republican congress.republican congress.republican congress.republican congress.republican congress.
republican congress.
Posted by: mestizo on October 8, 2006 at 9:05 AM | PERMALINK
I think a main point that should really be hammered home is that unless you put your money where your mouth is, it's all bullsh!t.
Bush passed a bunch of tax cuts as he went to war. The country has to decide whether it wants to give up the money, or give up the war.
This way, it can't be spun as cut and run, but dealing with the reality.
Posted by: brodix on October 8, 2006 at 9:32 AM | PERMALINK
Two comments:
- Denny Hastert looks like a gray-haired Quasimodo lurching out of the Congressional chambers. Not that looks should dictate who is in charge of a political party, but Good God, this guy is both hideous and incompetent!!!
- Your letter was nicely done and concise. Just enough edginess and constructive advice to boot. The only thing I would add would be to emphasize that terrorism can only be addressed through coordinated international police work and intelligence, NOT by $500 billion in military spending. Throwing all your resources at the Pentagon to defeat an enemy that doesn't even have an army is wasteful and stupid!
Posted by: The Conservative Deflator on October 8, 2006 at 9:33 AM | PERMALINK
The editorial is behind the damn firewall.
There is a lot of anger in this thread. Might I suggest that we all take a deep breath and remember the immortal Yankee Yogi "it isn't over until it's over." There is still a month until the election. Lots can happen.
I have read that Nancy Palosi laid out a reasoned, reasonable legislative agenda just the other day. It has been lost in the Foley scandal like everything else. Mike Cook ought to read it.
We all need to keep in mind that one result of the Radicals dragging the country so far right is the left has of necessity honed positions that are actually pretty reasonable.
For the last year I have been pounding on the notion of competence. The Republicans aren't. That is apparent in everything they do. America hungers for a competent legislative branch that really tries to pass well thought out and well written bills designed to help everybody. America also cries out for oversight. Outside a handful of members of the administration, John Yoo, Sam Alito and John Roberts nobody is in love with the notion of an unchecked unitiary executive.
Deliver competence and oversight, and 2008 will be a good Democratic year. Other wise, the 2006 landslide will have little long term effect.
Posted by: Ron Byers on October 8, 2006 at 9:35 AM | PERMALINK
"only bad time was from Cuban missile crisis in 62 until 1980"
No fun and games at Walla Walla?
Seven Hundred and Seventy Six troops wounded in the last month. Fourth highest since "Mission Not Accomplished".
Remember all in the 33rd Congressional District of the State of Washington to get out and vote for your Democratic incumbent so Mike Cook can go back to trying to be picked up by the NYT.
Posted by: thethirdPaul on October 8, 2006 at 9:52 AM | PERMALINK
Careful, Kevin. I had a column in The New York Times on Nov. 1st, 1989, and look how I turned out!
That's right, Mike Cook, look how you turned out. A religious wingnut clinging to delusions of grandeur. A "Christian" who thinks that exploding nuclear weapons on Arab populations would "solve" our problems with Islamic extremists.
Where is your shame?
Posted by: obscure on October 8, 2006 at 9:55 AM | PERMALINK
This is a Babelfish translation of the Chinese post above (Kevin: maybe you might want to delete this kind of thing, which often clutters up the comments section):
The sex life free movie downloads the free on-line movie to look the free movie free movie website South Korea movie both sexes life sex education piece amphoteric knowledge sextual affection picture fervor movie pornographic movie newest movie sextual affection movie free small movie movie free adult movie free movie on-line looked the wide band movie classical movie terrorist movie free movie free theater newest big piece 18 movies beautiful women draw a portrait the human body art beautiful woman picture beautiful woman to be exposed the beautiful leg picture three levels of pieces to rape on the small movie autodyne naked beautiful nyu chuang the autodyne pornographic movie to download the on-line erotic movie fervor picture sex appeal picture younger sister to paste the chart beautiful woman to make love the picture fervor small movie exposed beautiful young girl av beautiful woman to paste chart pornography picture comrade the picture sextual affection video frequency star dew point The fervor bare draws a portrait the genitals picture breast picture star to photograph surreptitiously according to the sextual affection literature is exposed the attractive beautiful eyebrow swim suit to draw a portrait the bra underpants adult to paste the chart appeal underwear sex life movie to do likes the autodyne love picture sexual intercourse movie making love the video frequency luck movie human body art star to synthesize bare according to bare female pastes chart pornographic novel adult novel incest story violent picture mass rape video frequency sex abuse movie fan deceitful picture prostitute diary Tonga Li 写真集 entire bare beautiful woman lascivious novel promiscuous novel pornographic book Jin Ping Mei Shu Qi to draw a portrait the beautiful woman to escape the clothes video frequency naked woman picture human body to draw a portrait the beautiful woman masturbation picture wave tyrant beautiful woman obscene water beautiful woman abalone 阴户 vagina pubic hair buttocks beautiful woman 图库 mouth junction anus to hand over the picture A piece to download Mao Piantou to peep the picture naked video frequency The chatroom adult website adult forum sextual affection forum website change in sexuality condition picture obscene female picture Japan female student beautiful woman 下阴 chart feminine reproductive organ holds compels picture beautiful woman fervor Dell notebook Dell notebook computer Dell official website Dell d620 dell notebook dell notebook computer dell the d620 Dell on-line to order Dell the computer Dell China Dell main page dell computer Dell table model computer Dell company Dell official website
Posted by: emjayay on October 8, 2006 at 9:56 AM | PERMALINK
Yesterday's lead article in the Denver Post/Rocky Mountain News combined issue reported so many people were jittery about computer voting that 50% of the registered voters in the state area had requested absentee ballots.
Posted by: Carolannie on October 8, 2006 at 9:57 AM | PERMALINK
What dicks they are ... not posting a link to Washington Monthly.
Posted by: nitin on October 8, 2006 at 10:32 AM | PERMALINK
It's not happening! You liberals just wait! We'll pick up 200 seats in November and you'll be crying in your beer! Republicans never lose elections because we are God's chosen party!
Posted by: Wingnut on October 8, 2006 at 10:40 AM | PERMALINK
Good point on the saying "Republican Congress" over and over (now just wind the clock back six months).
I'd amend to say that it isn't important at all that the Democrats have a plan for Iraq. It's only important that they sound like they have a plan for Iraq. Get in a room and come up with a pat answer that doesn't have any details that can be questioned (if we told you about the details Tim, the terrorists would win!) and repeat it over and over.
It's not like Bush is going to let the Dems implement anything about Iraq even if they take the House and the Senate. The Dems should just prepare themselves for the Repubs blaming them for everything that goes wrong in Iraq 06-08.
Posted by: Brian in Atlanta on October 8, 2006 at 10:44 AM | PERMALINK
Shorter Al for today:
MOMMY!!!!!
Posted by: shorter Al on October 8, 2006 at 10:45 AM | PERMALINK
In the real world, the lead should be:
Two More Troops Killed in Iraq.
In the FAUX News? Channel world:
Paternity questions nag Anna Marie Nichol
Posted by: stupid git on October 8, 2006 at 11:09 AM | PERMALINK
I also like the tag "Had enough?" at the end of any litany of GOP fuck-ups. It's simple, memorable, and cuts to the chase for a lot of independents.
The main thing that really bothers me about the Dems coming to power again is that I expect a lot of severely extremist solutions from the left to not only problems that are real, but to problems that are only imagined.
Jesus, if the extremist policies and legislation the right-wing has actually put into effect for problems real, imagined, and newly created by them doesn't bother you than you are hopelessly muddled.
I think what has the Repubs in Congress really soiling their undies is not the specter of something like impeachment, but that Dems in power might treat them as they have treated the Dems the past 6 years. They know that their despotic, one-party rule and abjectly partisan trampling of tradition and comity, not to mention the concentration of power in Congress to the leadership and the lobbyists, is going to come back to severely bite them in the ass.
Posted by: R. Porrofatto on October 8, 2006 at 11:16 AM | PERMALINK
Careful, Kevin. I had a column in The New York Times on Nov. 1st, 1989, and look how I turned out!
It got you shitheaded obscurity and a bitter taste of envy in your mouth, but not a whole hell of a lot else, it looks like...
Posted by: Pale Rider on October 8, 2006 at 11:19 AM | PERMALINK
First of all, life in America right now is really pretty good and it's been pretty good for quite a long time, even though a lot of people don't appreciate it. In fact, the only really lousy time we've had in my memory were from the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 until 1980 or so.
And this is why you find yourself in obscurity, dumbass--
During that time, ONE wage earner in a household was enough to sustain family. Now it takes two, and they're struggling nowadays, thanks to stagnant wages.
Posted by: Pale Rider on October 8, 2006 at 11:21 AM | PERMALINK
Ron Byers makes some excellent points.
Posted by: Johnson and Johnson on October 8, 2006 at 11:24 AM | PERMALINK
"they're struggling nowdays"
Yes, and that is why in places such as Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent and even Sea-Tac, Washington, they will be voting to re-elect Shay Schaul-Berke, M.D., Democratic Party, as their representative in the 33rd Congressional District.
Posted by: thethirdPaul on October 8, 2006 at 11:32 AM | PERMALINK
The recognition of a well thought out critique is nice : but I'm picking nits today. It sounds as if "Islamofascism" is a no-brainer gimmee. The "no-brainer" is apt.
Fact is, some sort of resistance to imposed foreign authority is as inevitable as water flowing downhill. 9/11 we now know was more about letting down America's guard than any real shortcoming in available intelligence. Occupation is just stupid because it's difficult and unecessary. Why keep your agents in reach of retribution ?
The border. Machine guns on government boats patrol the Great Lakes in contravention of treaty. Massive amounts are to be spent on electronically monitoring the border : if you think that will be done without the government being ripped off you're a prime candidate to but that bridge in Brooklyn.
Crops rotted on the ground because temporary workers weren't available.
There could be a few problems with current trends and thinking due review.
Today, of course, anyone with a brain in their head has been either let go or resigned from government service. Replacing expertise is going to be a momentous undertaking.
It's not half of what will be necessary to fix the problems - starting with charges being laid against those who made it possible to rape the government with fixed contracts.
Housecleaning is compromised because it is necessary to raise funds to win elections. The bagman always has the most influence.
Untying that knot will be no great joy : without it nothing will have changed except the blatancy of oppression and corruption.
Posted by: opit on October 8, 2006 at 11:33 AM | PERMALINK
"necessary to raise funds to win elections"
How true - Please visit www.John06.com the website for John Laesch of Yorkville, Il. An unknown to many until recent days. Please help him send J Dennis into a long stay at Jenny Craig's.
Posted by: thethirdPaul on October 8, 2006 at 11:45 AM | PERMALINK
I do hope that the Dems are able to find their collective spine after November...the damage that has been wrought by the Publicans is so great that we're talking years and years of hard work just to get us back to square one (i.e., 2000).
There ought to be investigations, of course; so much criminality and mendacity has occurred under the Publican watch that letting it go unchallenged would itself be a crime. But justice must be balanced with a carefully considered approach to both domestic and foreign policy. Frankly, I'm not sure the current crop of Dems actually has the chops to pull it off.
Posted by: Wonderin on October 8, 2006 at 11:47 AM | PERMALINK
Ron Byers makes some excellent points.
Except the one about the firewall. It's a free registration system and there are a thousand fake registration names on the web.
Posted by: American Buzzard on October 8, 2006 at 11:52 AM | PERMALINK
"the attempted privatization of Social Security"
Why is the privitization of Social Security considered "radical"? Why do those that believe that people should have a right to keep their money and save towards their retirement as THEY see fit vice some government clown considered radicals? By what definition?
Posted by: Mike on October 8, 2006 at 11:53 AM | PERMALINK
I hope that the NYT's will replace Brook's with our good old friend, Cal Pundit. There has to be Friday Cat Blogging on the back page of the Time's A section. Whoooya! Go Inkblot.
Posted by: DaveA on October 8, 2006 at 2:58 AM
If the Times did cat blogging, it'd be restricted to cats from Manhattan (south of 96th Street, of course) who have Ivy League owners.
Posted by: Vincent on October 8, 2006 at 11:58 AM | PERMALINK
23 more kids die in Iraq, but the President cannot do anything until after the election!
All the trolls should themselves go to Iraq and pay for the re-election of Republican Congress with their lives or, if the are too old, send their kids to make the ultimate sacrifice for enhancing the electoral prospects of the GOP.
Posted by: gregor on October 8, 2006 at 12:01 PM | PERMALINK
"All the trolls should themselves go to Iraq and pay for the re-election of Republican Congress with their lives or, if the are too old, send their kids to make the ultimate sacrifice for enhancing the electoral prospects of the GOP." - deranged liberal
And henceforth, all liberal women should get pregnant and abort to fully demonstrate their unwavering support to protect womens rights.
This makes as much sense as the aforementioned hysteria.
Incidentally, most Democrats voted for the war as well, so how should their constituents react?
A. Hide under the bed
B. Prosecute Christians
C. Redeploy US troops to Norway.
Posted by: Jay on October 8, 2006 at 12:12 PM | PERMALINK
Here is a link to Kevin's Op-Ed with the subscription wall defeated.
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 8, 2006 at 12:13 PM | PERMALINK
"Frankly, I'm not sure the current crop of Dems actually has the chops to pull it off." - wonderin
You doubt Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reids ability?
Blasphemy!
All you need is a little super glue for Nancys eyelashes and Harrys spine. And you're good to go.
Posted by: Jay on October 8, 2006 at 12:16 PM | PERMALINK
"Why is the privitization of Social Security considered "radical"? Why do those that believe that people should have a right to keep their money and save towards their retirement as THEY see fit vice some government clown considered radicals? By what definition?"
--Mike
Radical might be a poor choice of words, Mike. I prefer - selfish, short-sighted, delusional, and other similar words.
Tell you what. Let's have a national referendum on the 2008 national ballot - "Should the United States continue to have a Social Security program?" A straight up-or-down vote. You and Bush would get your asses handed to you, guaran-fucking-teed.
It is a program that makes sense. Both employee and employer have a vested interest in providing for a secure old age for their workers. You have alternatives, chump. Become self-employed and pay self-employment tax on your own or leave the country.
Posted by: The Liberal Avenger on October 8, 2006 at 12:17 PM | PERMALINK
"During that time, ONE wage earner in a household was enough to sustain family. Now it takes two, and they're struggling nowadays, thanks to stagnant wages." - frail rider
I sustain my family on one wage, as do many others I know.
I guess it's all in how you budget. Or complain. You're better at the latter.
Posted by: Jay on October 8, 2006 at 12:19 PM | PERMALINK
"Should the United States continue to have a Social Security program?" - liberal avenger
You're obviously completely mis-informed on the proposed program.
What a shock! guaran-fuckin-teed.
Posted by: Jay on October 8, 2006 at 12:22 PM | PERMALINK
Shorter Jay:
Le monde; c'est moi.
Posted by: Davis X. Machina on October 8, 2006 at 12:24 PM | PERMALINK
Grand Old Parasites,
the Party of Mark Foley
Posted by: cld on October 8, 2006 at 12:25 PM | PERMALINK
Not-so-shorter Jay:
You're not pulling hard enough on Paris Hilton's diamond-studded bootstraps.
Posted by: enozinho (wetorture.com) on October 8, 2006 at 12:28 PM | PERMALINK
I sustain my family on one wage, as do many others I know.
Yes, and I'm getting tired of earning all the dough while you masturbate and eat Cheetos all day long. Go look for a job, you lazy motherfucker.
Posted by: Jay's sad sack wife on October 8, 2006 at 12:31 PM | PERMALINK
Where is the outrage over the fact that we cut taxes in a time of war, and enlisted troops with families qualify for food stamps? I have seen the look of shame on the faces of their wives in the commissary. It outrages me.
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 8, 2006 at 12:33 PM | PERMALINK
So Jay supports sending our kids to die so GOP can win the election.
Wow!
Posted by: gregor on October 8, 2006 at 12:35 PM | PERMALINK
Do not fear - Rove will take care of the Hastert and staff problem - All he needs is to find a Heydrich type - Any trolls out there looking for a few extra bucks? A little drive over to Bad Weisse, Virginia and voila, Night of the Long Knives II.
Pale Rider - Prostitution for Schaife always pays better than two people having to work at 7-11.
Posted by: thethirdPaul on October 8, 2006 at 12:36 PM | PERMALINK
At least our beloved President George W Bush stood very tall this week, as he said,
"I was shocked by the allegations, and deeply saddened that he had stopped e-mailing me. Must try more Grecian Formula."
Posted by: stupid git on October 8, 2006 at 12:44 PM | PERMALINK
"...and enlisted troops with families qualify for food stamps? I have seen the look of shame on the faces of their wives in the commissary. It outrages me." - global idiot
Cellular biology, buys products to support the Amish, and pays visits to commissaries. wow.
"So Jay supports sending our kids to die so GOP can win the election." - deranged liberal
First of all to both of you, it is an ALL VOLUNTARY military. Just FYI.
And here's another one, they're all over 18 and responsible ADULTS.
You know, the type of adults who are responsible enough to tell their parents whether or not they got an abortion.
Posted by: Jay on October 8, 2006 at 12:47 PM | PERMALINK
But Democrats also have an opportunity to do something more constructive in this falls campaign: they should package a common-sense foreign policy so that it sounds like the common sense it is.
This is important. The Dems need to come up with a plan that is positive and simple to understand. Three, four, fives points -- it doesn't have to be more than that.
One, it will give a few voters a reason to vote for something, instead of just voting against the Rs.
Two, and more important, it will give the Dems an opportunity to win the spin war after the election. The way things are going, the Dems could win and they'll be defending themselves against charges that it was just the Foley scandal that brought down the Rs.
The country needs change and Dems in charge of Congress will help the matter but it's important to have a message and agenda to act on after Election Day.
Posted by: JJF on October 8, 2006 at 12:53 PM | PERMALINK
I have never commented before, but I have to kow something. What is Jay's problem? Why does he deride students and retired military personel? Hwat gives him the moral authority to be such a jerk? Why shouldn't the Amish be supported? What have they ever done to you? Are you a member of Westboro Baptist church? If not you would fit right in with the Phelps clan.
Posted by: just a lurker on October 8, 2006 at 12:59 PM | PERMALINK
It's very frustrating that something as stupid as Foleygate is what finally brought these fuckers down. After everything else they did - it's all about the sex. I'm happy that there's a chance things could turn around for this country under Dem leadership - (maybe) - but I'm disgusted that people chose this issue to finally fucking pay attention.
Our species is doomed. And that's probably a good thing.
Posted by: osama_been_forgotten on October 8, 2006 at 1:01 PM | PERMALINK
"What is Jay's problem?" - lurker
In one word - liberals.
Posted by: Jay on October 8, 2006 at 1:06 PM | PERMALINK
Thanks for clearing that up. I guess you favor a one-party system, so long as it is your party?
Posted by: just a lurker on October 8, 2006 at 1:16 PM | PERMALINK
just a lurker,
Sieg, baby!
Posted by: stupid git on October 8, 2006 at 1:27 PM | PERMALINK
"Radical might be a poor choice of words, Mike. I prefer - selfish, short-sighted, delusional, and other similar words."
So up until the time when Social Security was enacted, all our ancestors were selfish, short-sighted, delusional, etc. Yeah, got it. It's amazing they were able to get through the first couple of hundred years building such an incredible country being such complete whack jobs.
"Tell you what. Let's have a national referendum on the 2008 national ballot - "Should the United States continue to have a Social Security program?" A straight up-or-down vote. You and Bush would get your asses handed to you, guaran-fucking-teed."
You're probably right. Giving up personal responsibility is like a drug, once you've done it, it's hard to stop. Of course that doesn't make it smart, just addictive.
"It is a program that makes sense. Both employee and employer have a vested interest in providing for a secure old age for their workers."
I'd rather have the money, it is MY Money after all you do admit I hope, to invest myself. Socialists always forget that part. The part of about working for a wage and keeping what you made. That's not selfish by the way. Why would it be selfish to expect to keep what you worked for? Only an idiot would think otherwise don't you think?
Anyway, I just dropped in cause I saw the letter Kevin had wrote and in the past I always found him relatively reasonable, plus I thought the part about saying re-looking at SS was radical somewhat strange. Unfortunately I don't think I'll find the same reasonableness among his readers so I'll not bother you folks further.
Posted by: Mike on October 8, 2006 at 1:29 PM | PERMALINK
The only people who can win the 'war' against Islamic military jihadism are moderate muslims and they will pay a terrible price in blood for standing up to the fanatics. Until the terrorists are viewed in the middle east as nazis are in the west no solution is possible. The moderate muslims suffer far more from the jihadists than we do. They are a proud people and must clean up their own house. It probably must start with Islamic teachers willing to suffer martyrdom in denouncing the teachings of the radicals. Then mass demonstrations in the streets. If and when the radicals harm many nonviolent muslims in spectacular fashion, they invalidate their position and their type of radicalism may fade away for a long time.
History is replete with examples: the cossack assaults doomed the Tsarist regime, British violence at the Darsana? salt works convinced even the British that they must ultimately leave India.
A morally bankrupt perspective must be graphically made apparent to those who tolerate it and the price of that awareness is almost always blood. In this case not American blood, muslim blood. The jihadists must seal their own fate by strongly alienating and motivating their own brothers. Islam must raise up great courageous moral leaders, the likes of Mandela and Tutu.
I'm not sure how non-muslims can help with that., but surely, guns and bombs wont do it.
Posted by: Michael7843853 G-O in 08! on October 8, 2006 at 1:31 PM | PERMALINK
Kevin,
I realize that you were limited to 200 words and it was an article not a speech. Nonetheless, I note that the phrase "Republican Congress" was only included once in the piece and not repeated at all. Gotta keep disciplined!
Posted by: dave on October 8, 2006 at 1:32 PM | PERMALINK
I will be 18 next week and register to vote, so I have been watching political discussions on-line. The conservatives and their hatred make it easier to break family tradition and register as a democrat.
Posted by: just a lurker on October 8, 2006 at 1:40 PM | PERMALINK
"I will be 18 next week and register to vote, so I have been watching political discussions on-line. The conservatives and their hatred make it easier to break family tradition and register as a democrat." - lurker
Yup, there's no hatred coming from the warm and fuzzy crowd. Obvioulsy not paying attention close enough.
Posted by: Jay on October 8, 2006 at 1:53 PM | PERMALINK
There is more than enough hatred being spewed from both directions. I am admitedly naive, but the hatred seems different. From the right it seems personal, like they want to squash all differng opinions and from the left it seems rooted in frustration.
I am just figuring out where I stand, and so are a lot of other young people. We are forming opinions now that will influence how we vote for a long time.
Posted by: just a lurker on October 8, 2006 at 2:09 PM | PERMALINK
A reasonable and thoughtful young person. We have a big tent, Lurker, and you are welcome in it.
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 8, 2006 at 2:37 PM | PERMALINK
Jay gets his handle from his IM endearment, Jailbait.
Posted by: cld on October 8, 2006 at 2:52 PM | PERMALINK
Way to go Jay. You've got a new voter sitting on the fence expressing concern at the hostility from the right. So you insult him. That'll really help your party.
Lurker, I've been watching GOP thuggery for 20 years. Get used to it.
You will rarely, if ever, get an honest debate on the issues.
You will get a lot of name-calling and victim-blaming.
You will always see them point the finger at anyone but themselves, even as they whine about personal responsibility.
You will get constant professions of Christian faith and also calls for genocidal mass murder of civilian and the cutting off of any aid for the poor. They see no contradiction here.
They are hypocrites, especially when it comes to responsibility.
For example, Jay said:
"First of all to both of you, it is an ALL VOLUNTARY military. Just FYI."
This was in response to one comment about military families not being paid enough to feed themselves, and another decrying the apparent willingness of the GOP to sacrifice soldiers in war for domestic political purposes.
Note that Jay refutes neither of these assertions. Instead he justifies both by saying the soldiers are themselves responsible for their situations. While this may be true, it is beside the point.
The point is that our troops are being used up and underpaid and that these are ultimately harmful for the military and shameful for the nation.
Jay's response is basically that they should just suck it up. He probably wonders why recruiting and retention are down.
How much you want to bet he has a yellow ribbon sticker on his car? Way to support the troops, Jay. I'm sure they'll appreciate your concern for their families' welfare and morale.
Lurker, you'll also note that in his quotes he changes both commenters' names, calling one an idiot and the other deranged. Personal attacks are the GOP's main stock in trade. When you see them, rejoice. It means they've got nothing else.
The mantra of the GOP is "always attack, never defend." It is the same strategy of gangsters, charletans, and the Church of Scientology.
Don't hold your breath waiting for Jay to apologize for his rudeness. That would mean admitting an error and taking personal responsibility for it.
Posted by: RobW on October 8, 2006 at 3:00 PM | PERMALINK
The fourth reich might be the best recruiting tool the Democratic Party has seen since the Great Depression. To one and all, I say thank you!
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 8, 2006 at 3:08 PM | PERMALINK
Right on, Citizen. Let them continue to act like thugs, blaming the victims of sexual harassment (and possibly assault). And PLEASE let them continue to hurl insults at young voters.
It's been especially fun to watch them eating their own this week.
Posted by: RobW on October 8, 2006 at 3:22 PM | PERMALINK
Is it possible to OD on schadenfreude? I think I just might be getting close to it.
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 8, 2006 at 3:28 PM | PERMALINK
Football time - back later.
Posted by: Global Citizen on October 8, 2006 at 3:36 PM | PERMALINK
I guess when you write something you lose objectivity in judging your own words, but the following words from Kevin seem more like vacuous generalities than a "commen sense foreign policy" - what specifically does Kevin mean?:
"That means taking seriously the idea that our national interest is served by easing tensions and reducing hatred of the United States. This in turn means remaking the United States military so it can fight insurgencies and conduct peacekeeping missions more effectively; making serious use of multilateral institutions instead of deriding them; once again acting as an honest broker in the Middle East; and using economic engagement to help bring the Muslim world into the global community."
Posted by: brian on October 8, 2006 at 3:37 PM | PERMALINK
just a lurker >"...I am just figuring out where I stand, and so are a lot of other young people. We are forming opinions now that will influence how we vote for a long time."
Welcome to the world of voting & best of luck to you and your friends; thanks for taking the time to inform yourself
Just remember that GOP = Greed`s Own Party
Note I am (and always have been) an independent & have never been a member of either political cabal
"The future will be a struggle between huge competing systems of psychopathology." - J. G. Ballard
Posted by: daCascadian on October 8, 2006 at 3:54 PM | PERMALINK
seem more like vacuous generalities than a "common sense foreign policy"
Well said, Brian.
Posted by: Michael7843853 G-O in 08! on October 8, 2006 at 4:16 PM | PERMALINK
"Don't hold your breath waiting for Jay to apologize for his rudeness. That would mean admitting an error and taking personal responsibility for it." - who cares
Was I rude? I can't tell you how sorry I am.
"Way to go Jay. You've got a new voter sitting on the fence expressing concern at the hostility from the right." - who cares
You lefties are so easily hoodwinked.
"This was in response to one comment about military families not being paid enough to feed themselves, and another decrying the apparent willingness of the GOP to sacrifice soldiers in war for domestic political purposes." - who cares
um.....I have two family memebers in the military who are doing quite well economically, thank you. And the war is against radical Islam. Did ya forget already? ADD's a bitch huh?
"The point is that our troops are being used up and underpaid and that these are ultimately harmful for the military and shameful for the nation." - who cares
Do you really want me to point out the lefts history on the military?
"I'm sure they'll appreciate your concern for their families' welfare and morale." - who cares
What a drama queen. Good little liberal.
Posted by: Jay on October 8, 2006 at 4:18 PM | PERMALINK
Really, please don't be complacent that the relative number of votes will make the difference. Those bastards will do *anything* to stay in power, and their vote-suppression and hacking efforts will be redoubled. We have to fight hard this time. This is not cranky or anything of the sort. It is already documented in many areas, by the blackboxvoting folks, the "blackou" by NAACP studies and so on. Prepare for a struggle on Nov. 7.
Posted by: delver on October 8, 2006 at 4:18 PM | PERMALINK
"making serious use of multilateral institutions instead of deriding them;..." - Kevin
Who the fuck is Kevin kidding? It's the left that wants to abandon multi-lateral talks re: North Korea.
Do they even pay attention to whats going on?
Posted by: Jay on October 8, 2006 at 4:20 PM | PERMALINK
"We have a big tent, Lurker, and you are welcome in it" - global idiot
Except for Chrisitans, people that shop at Walmart, anybody who works for a big corporation, anybody in Utah, most people in the mid-west (you know fly over states), any pro-lifers, and some Jews (all Muslims welcome).
Other than that is a fairly, kind of, well oversized tent.
Posted by: Jay on October 8, 2006 at 4:24 PM | PERMALINK
That was Jay, our Senior Correspondent from Bizarro World.
You thank that for!
Posted by: Kenji on October 8, 2006 at 4:37 PM | PERMALINK
J(ay) is for Jackass, I guess.
I sent many an enlisted troop in my command to the Red Cross and social services office, and paid a few deposits for telephones when they couldn't scrape up the money in a high-rent area, jsut so they would not have to move into the barracks and leave their families off-base.
You make sweeping generalizations just like you accuse us liberals of, you are just more virulent about it. Check a fucking dictionary, Jackass, and look up hypocricy. Might just find your own mug-shot.
Being a liberal, I will defend to my dying breath your right to say any damn-fool thing you want to spout. So carry on.
Thank you for helping a young person pull back the curtain on Publican hypocricy. You never did answer the question that was posed - you are all for a one party system, so long as your party is the one in power, right?
It is a big tent, fuckstick. The probabilty that the Democratic Party will be in control of the house and senate come January has you ready to stroke out, doesn't it?
Posted by: Joyfully Subversive on October 8, 2006 at 4:39 PM | PERMALINK
Jay - you are playing that idiot's game of focusing on the farthest-left sector of the Dems and pretending they are typical, but ignoring that right-wing voters are most attracted by their hardest-right sector. Anyway, do you realize how irrational many of those evangelicals reallya are? They take Genesis literally, they want war in the middle east so that armageddon can come, they support the worst Israeli fascism even though, technically, their extremist religion says Jews will be thrown into Hell - what in the heck are you defending such irrational people for? Oh - if it wasn't for their votes, rational people would have thrown out Repugs a long time ago.
Posted by: Neil' on October 8, 2006 at 4:39 PM | PERMALINK
And no, I woun't give you my DD-214 number, but I will tell you my MFA was 71 and my AOC was 67B.
Just in case you want to call me a liar about serving. Jackass.
Posted by: Joyfully Subversive on October 8, 2006 at 4:42 PM | PERMALINK
"What a drama queen."
LOL... Oh, the irony....
Posted by: PaulB on October 8, 2006 at 4:45 PM | PERMALINK
"Being a liberal, I will defend to my dying breath your right to say any damn-fool thing you want to spout. So carry on." - does it matter
Why don't you make that day today.
"....what in the heck are you defending such irrational people for?" - Neil
First of all, the Christians you mentioned probably make up 1/10 of 1% of the Faith. Secondly, I am not defending them, I am merely here to mock the deranged liberal mindset.
Have a nice day
Posted by: Jay on October 8, 2006 at 4:52 PM | PERMALINK
"It is a big tent, fuckstick." - does it matter
Is that anyway to welcome a conservative.
Posted by: Jay on October 8, 2006 at 4:53 PM | PERMALINK
Liberal Avenger:
Tell you what. Let's have a national referendum on the 2008 national ballot - "Should the United States continue to have a Social Security program?" A straight up-or-down vote. You and Bush would get your asses handed to you, guaran-fucking-teed.
I've got a better one. Put this up for a vote: "Should those under 30 now be allowed to opt out of the Social Security system?" See how that one goes over.
Posted by: carlyle on October 8, 2006 at 5:04 PM | PERMALINK
Aw, poor Jay. Someone was rude to him.
Your single attempt at refutation of someone else's statements falls totally flat. Logical fallacies, baby. Anecdote and strawman. Look them up.
I don't look to anyone else's military experience to judge the situation regarding military pay and morale. I look to my own.
Did you serve? Are you planning to enlist to fight your war with the scary Islamists?
Are you ever going to post a comment that isn't a personal insult and a redirection of the debate?
Didn't think so.
"I am merely here to mock the deranged liberal mindset."
Thanks for proving my point so completely. You have no intention to engage in honest debate. You admit you are here to mock and insult. And you wonder why people here don't like you? Oh, sure, it's because we're so deranged. That's it.
If you don't want to be despised, quit behaving despicably.
That's it. No more troll-feeding for me.
Posted by: RobW on October 8, 2006 at 5:09 PM | PERMALINK
How about this one:
Should the government not allow you to set aside a percentage of your SS contribution to be deposited into a professionally managed portfolio upon your request?
Posted by: Jay on October 8, 2006 at 5:09 PM | PERMALINK
focusing on the farthest-left sector of the Dems Most of Jay's characterizations of the dems are straw men based on stereotypes put forth by talk radio or loose talk by thoughtless dems(the thugs dont have a monopoly on that, just a prohibitive market share).
Moderate dems must be wary of confusing activist dems with extremists or else their positions will be like elevator music, a stark contrast to the thugs atonal death rock, but hardly satisfying to anyone. A political party with no vision, no agenda, is just a blind man going nowhere.
Posted by: Michael7843853 G-O in 08! on October 8, 2006 at 5:12 PM | PERMALINK
"And you wonder why people here don't like you?" - it doesn't matter
I don't want people here to like me.
"If you don't want to be despised, quit behaving despicably." - it doesn't matter
I want to be despised.
Do you not pay attention.
Most of the posters on this site represent 6% of the minority party: the far left. The Jimmy Carter School of Liberalism.
Posted by: Jay on October 8, 2006 at 5:15 PM | PERMALINK
If the wingnut evangelicals are only .01 percent percent of the base, why would the Bushies bother with them? In this area alone are they practical.
You still seem to have some small handle on reality, Jay, so why do you throw in so many made-up "facts"? There's nothing deranged about caring about your country and wanting to save the constitution from crooks who are just gaming the system for their own short-term gain.
Maybe YOU have a belief system, but Cheney and Rove and Condi and the rest of these scumbags would wear yarmulkes and swastikas at the same time if they thought would guarantee them enough votesand when the polls shifted they would swear the liberals (Christian Democrats in just about any other Western society) were making it up.
Really, isn't it time to think about getting off the Titanic? I mean, it already hit that iceberg three years ago.
Posted by: Kenji on October 8, 2006 at 5:15 PM | PERMALINK
"so why do you throw in so many made-up "facts"? - kenji
And then this was in the same post.
".....but Cheney and Rove and Condi and the rest of these scumbags would wear yarmulkes and swastikas at the same time if they thought would guarantee them enough votesand when the polls shifted they would swear the liberals (Christian Democrats in just about any other Western society) were making it up." - kenji
He's a grad student at the Jimmy Carter School of Liberalism.
Posted by: Jay on October 8, 2006 at 5:18 PM | PERMALINK
"A political party with no vision, no agenda, is just a blind man going nowhere." - Michael7....
Almost the perfect description of the Democratic Party.
Posted by: Jay on October 8, 2006 at 5:20 PM | PERMALINK
Pathetic generalizations from someone digging a hole deep in Denial Land. Anyway, how do you think Georgie Peorgie is going to stack up against Jimmy Carter in the ex-president sweepstakes?
I predict a DUI within two years of leaving office. And Laura's tell-all book will be something to behold.
In any case, regardless of how loud you smirk, your guys are finally on the way out and you ought to sniff the smelling salts before it's too late.
Posted by: Kenji on October 8, 2006 at 5:29 PM | PERMALINK
"Pathetic generalizations from someone digging a hole deep in Denial Land." - kenji
um.....kenji, I quoted only you. If those are "pathetic generalizations", they're your own pathetic generalizations.
Posted by: Jay on October 8, 2006 at 5:35 PM | PERMALINK
Republican woman analyzed by scientists,
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/6176/lieladyliecg2.gif
Posted by: cld on October 8, 2006 at 5:59 PM | PERMALINK
Yawnnnn...
Posted by: Kenji on October 8, 2006 at 7:04 PM | PERMALINK
Jay: Incidentally, most Democrats voted for the war as well, so how should their constituents react?
Your lies have no more power to persuade.
Go peddle them to the Christian Ayatollahs on the American Right.
They still believe.
Along with Bush supporters, few as they may now be.
No. One. Else.
Posted by: Advocate for God on October 8, 2006 at 11:07 PM | PERMALINK
"For the last year I have been pounding on the notion of competence. The Republicans aren't. That is apparent in everything they do. America hungers for a competent legislative branch that really tries to pass well thought out and well written bills designed to help everybody. America also cries out for oversight. Outside a handful of members of the administration, John Yoo, Sam Alito and John Roberts nobody is in love with the notion of an unchecked unitiary executive.
Deliver competence and oversight, and 2008 will be a good Democratic year. Other wise, the 2006 landslide will have little long term effect."
Posted by: Ron Byers on October 8, 2006 at 9:35 AM
That is the message, and it makes the Foley scandal yet another horrid example of it instead of just a tawdry sex scandal which seems to be the GOP's approach to dealing with it in the spin wars. It is also important in a more fundamental respect. America needs to regain credibility and respect in the international community, especially in the populations of their allies which is where much of the worst damage Bushco has done and the Congress allowed to go unchecked. This is not going to happen anytime soon without the bringing into the daylight what is known outside of America broadly to Americans themselves. Until that happens who is going to really believe that there is any reason to go along with any of their ideas? Why should anyone vote for their own governments say committing troops again anytime soon? Money and other important resources for that matter as well as public recognition of America as the moral leader it used to be?
I have long maintained that the best way to deal with the international damage the Bush 04 win did is to expose their actions and to inpeach if there is sufficient serious grounds (as in not personal peccadilloes with no significant consequences in his profession aspects) to do so with this President. That will also have the byproduct of showing the difference between what the GOP abused the process for in the 90s and what it is supposed to be used for, grave national emergencies, which I would argue Bushco has been for some time now. There also needs to be good government practices put back in place as well, and it needs to be focused into things like finances, foreign policy, and influence peddling in government (yes I know, the odds of fundamental change is remote but even a minor readjustment which could gain moment is better than the status quo). This is not about payback, it is about restoring the moral authority America once held as a society based in the rule of law. When Bush and the GOP say they hate us for our freedoms one of the things being referred to is that the laws which those freedoms are safeguarded by are hated so it should be continuing to respect them despite the additional hardship they create over taking the simple and time tested way of pain and coercion of the dictatorship to fight them with. It is one thing to consider pardoning exceptions because of circumstances knowable/showable after the fact, it is quite another to write them into place before the fact and indeed assume they could be the fact each time and act accordingly for every time.
One of the things that made America shine so brightly was that to go with the wealth there was this idea that no one was above the law and it was actually practices better than most anywhere else. That if someone was honest, worked hard and was loyal to their fellow Americans that they could prosper and their children do better than they could. It truly was for many around the world the shining beacon of hope, which is one of the reasons the intensity of the anger at what has been done to that beacon by the current GOP government. The GOP have stained the honour of the American people, possibly for generations with their actions, and the American people appear finally to start feeling it even if they can't bring themselves to name it publicly yet. Shining light onto their actions that caused that shame is not only smart politics for the Dems, it is good government and a healthy step towards rehabilitating the international reputation of America among her natural allies against religious extremism/terrorism which is a common threat to all non-believers.
Posted by: Scotian on October 9, 2006 at 12:12 AM | PERMALINK
Kevin,
Don't be too proud of yourself. Your party is not the one who counts the votes.
Posted by: anonymouse on October 9, 2006 at 12:43 AM | PERMALINK
It's very frustrating that something as stupid as Foleygate is what finally brought these fuckers down. After everything else they did - it's all about the sex.
Now you know how Eliot Ness felt when tax evasion, not his other sundry crimes, did in Al Capone.
Posted by: Vincent on October 9, 2006 at 2:39 AM | PERMALINK
I have a feeling that, by then Ness was happy to take him down with whatever would stick. The guy doed in prison, which is probably too good for this gang. Anyway, Dick Cheney has already been cryogenically frozen.
Posted by: Kenji on October 9, 2006 at 3:05 AM | PERMALINK
It's very frustrating that something as stupid as Foleygate is what finally brought these fuckers down. After everything else they did - it's all about the sex.
That frustrates me, too. But try to think of it this way: "It's all about the sex" is how the GOP has positioned itself for years. They used their unhealthy obsession with consenting adults' sex lives and their supposed bedroom morality to effectively distract their base from critical issues like illegal wars, economic injustice and the wholesale slaughter of civil rights. That they should be brought down so smartly by their own bizarre weapon is wildly entertaining, even as it makes one shudder at the priorities of Americans.
Posted by: miss understood on October 9, 2006 at 8:17 AM | PERMALINK
God, that's so hilarious: the polls predicted Kerry and Bush won by .05 dubious percentage points.
Well, it all worked out just fine in the end, didn't it? Now, where's that damn page...
Posted by: Kenji on October 9, 2006 at 2:20 PM | PERMALINK