That's, like many of your complaints, is not true.

If you want to argue that Congress is insulated from the real world, you have no argument. Which is why they can vote AGAINST Obamacare, because they will never have to worry about losing their homes to pay for crippling medical bills.


The Republicans have offered nothing constructive to this process after the passage of the bill. They are zero engaged in fixing it, only scuttling it. At this point, they have gone beyond constructive criticism, passed through principled resistance, took a long leisurely trip through pandering, and have reached a heretofore unknown plateau of obstructionism - political masturbation.

So while the great conservative white male circle jerk of opposition to ObamaCare continues, energy is taken away from more productive pursuits.

Obama spoke during his campaign, about bringing us together. Unfortunately, his acts have served to exploit and enhance our class, political, and racial differences. Remember the "Rich should pay their fair share", bull shit? Like the rich don't pay what the law requires??

We now know that the IRS instructions to hold up conservative 501(c)[3] groups from being approved, was NOT done by "some rogue IRS agents in Cincinnati", as the President's spokesman stated. No, it was directed by Obama's political appointee, to the IRS, in Atlanta, GA. If you know any IRS agents, they don't DO rogue. They're by the book, people.

Here's another one:

When GM went bankrupt, and was re-born, several dealerships had to be closed.

Obama's directors made sure EVERY single dealership that was allowed to stay in business, was a donor to the Democratic Party. All except for ONE black guy. Does that SOUND to you like someone who is trying to "bring us together"?

What about the Dreamer act that Obama passed (in violation of law and custom), while the Congress was still in session, but not available to pass his bill into law? (and would not have done it).

If he wanted support for a nationalized health care bill (and I agree, we need it), then why not STOP LYING about the cost of it, and give Congress time to study it before they have to vote on it.

In other words, work with Congress, instead of fighting against it.

Whether it's Fast and Furious, The Benghazi attack, the IRS targeting conservatives, or about Obamacare, Obama has lied, lied, and lied some more. I don't expect politicians to always tell the truth - because they talk too much, and have to win elections - but this is Obama's last term in office (no matter what), and he's still lying to us.

And of course, he's ruining the economy, through his damn heavy intrusion of government, into the private sector.

We can't get cheap Canadian oil down a pipeline, WHY? Yes, the Canadians would like to sell it to us, but they will sell it to China, if Obama doesn't change his mind.

History won't be kind to Obama. Well, the media loves him, but historians who are not Obama fan boys, will know better.

Are you saying that the fair share in this case is zero?

I didn't bother giving the bulk of your post any real attention because until you correct this misunderstanding/misdirection that "fair share"=="what the law requires", your arguments are built on sand. Implying that those two concepts are the same is bullshit, putting words in the President's mouth is bullshit.

There are galactic differences in class, politics, and racial prejudice and ignorance, some of which are well documented here. Pointing them out and encouraging discussion is not exploitation, and if those differences are enhanced for you, repent and close those differences.

But V, he heard it on the radio, it must be true. :haha:

funny, I was just thinking that I owe Adak a thanks for providing me such a concise digest of what's being reported on that end of the talk radio spectrum. I do listen myself on a fairly regular basis, maybe once a week. But it's exhausting listening to commercial after commercial with only the scarcest particles of news to break the monotony. Certainly there is plenty of opinion, and tha's fine, editorial input is--no--can be very useful. But the whining and double standards and poutrage (thanks Happy Monkey, I freakin love that word) are not what good editorials, much less good journalism is made of.

I agree. Instead of a trash compactor, he's a trash talk compactor.:D

It's amazing how the Republicans are being led by talk radio. I listen to MSNBC, which has a lot of liberal commentators, and I don't always agree with them. Nor do I see them promoting filibusters.

We really need a sarcasm smiley....

I have tuned in to Fox radio occasionally. Of course I also watch the highlight reels in liberal and mainstream media.

And of course the more egregious displays by lawmakers make the news.

I will say that someone needs to show me an example of liberals so enamored of their commentators as conservatives are of theirs. I see Huffington and Maddow on panels, but I don't see the kind of response that Limbaugh got at CPAC, mostly because liberals don't have a CPAC.

Gathering liberals is like herding cats, mostly because the definition of liberal is 'broad minded'. I give every conservative complaint some consideration. The ones I reject immediately are the ones I have already rejected.

For example, I'm sure there are conservatives who actually believe that we could construct and maintain a wall on our southern border in a cost effective manner that would completely negate the need to do anything on immigration reform if it were only high enough, strong enough, with landmines, turrets, and whatever stretching across 2000 miles.

While monitoring of borders makes sense, the idea of an impenetrable physical barrier is a fictional ideal.

Hey, it worked in Berlin, didn't it?

Definitely need a sarcasm smiley.

But the Berlin wall is a good example. It only had to cover 96 miles. Take the following and multiply by 20.


FYI, I own a piece of the Berlin wall.

@Bruce, you're right!: Congress will be replacing their health care plan, with Obamacare. I love it! :D

If you make up a list of those who have exemptions from it however, you'll be quite surprised how many there are.

I got tired of listening to the griping about Obamacare, long ago. I have just been changing the channel on the radio when it's the subject, lately.

NO! I'm saying people (everyone), will ALWAYS want to pay the least legal amount that they can - just human nature.

Our politicians have been corrupted by special interests who offer to help pay for their reelection next time, if they'll support some special exemption (for something), which will favor their business.

Over the decades, we've accumulated 100's (if not thousands), of these special tax exemptions, which are basically never rescinded. They just go on and on, year after year.

So GE can legally use a bunch of these exemptions, to pay $0 taxes. And that is hellishly WRONG! :mad: But it's also legal. And as long as it's legal, it will be done.

To get a fair tax system, we need to remove 90% of those exemptions - but that would upset the politicians who want their reelection contributions - so we never get it. :greenface

You should read what I wrote, and that IS A QUOTE, from the President, report on the BBC, CNN, Reuters, and all the major news services I've seen. You need to open your eyes, and read, my friend.
Here's some points for you to ponder:

1) I was raised in the Deep South, This was in the days of segregation (separate schools, separate drinking fountains, Jim Crow laws, Democrats running everything down South, etc. Although I'm white, I have forgotten more about racial issues, then you'll ever learn. ;)

2) Every country has large differences in class, politics, etc. Obama has not just discussed them, he has stirred them up - as Saul Alinsky, (the famous community organizer and author of "Rules for Radicals", strongly advises doing).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_Alinsky

Alinsky wasn't just A community organizer, he was THE community organizer, in the black communities of Chicago. You know that Obama worked as a community organizer in Chicago before he was elected Senator, right?

Saul's tactics included a lot of violence and chaos, against the city, state, or federal government. Acts that put the target on their back foot, so you could take advantage of any crisis that developed, as a result. You wouldn't be wrong to say that Saul's teachings and influence, were a big part of the reason for the race riots in the black community, during the 60's and 70's.

Some of this was just common sense, if you use a US vs. THEM kind of framework for thinking about it. But Saul took it a good deal further than others, and so does Obama.

As the President, and the one in charge of the head of the Dept. of Justice, (which is looking into prosecuting Zimmerman), Obama the lawyer, knows damn well that he should stay silent about the Zimmerman case.

He even said as much when he earlier said the jury had spoken, etc.

But now we have this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23387496

Anyone with any sense knows Obama's just increasing the odds that Zimmerman will be killed by someone who has been motivated by the Presidents new conference comments.

As someone who knows the black community intimately, AND is a former Constitutional instructor at the University level. Obama KNOWS what he's doing, and he knows what the effect of will be, and he knows it's WRONG.

For him, it's another little subject, to take the news media away from his IRS scandal, so he's anxious to take advantage of it. Which is more the pity, because Obama sounds sincere, and can give a really good speech, sometimes.

Why Steve King can't support immigration reform:
He can't get the image of skinny people with muscular calves out of his head, apparently.

So, the US gets it's own pool of super-legged desert-traveling cargo haulers. Certainly can't say they're lazy.

UPS now routes their trucks to avoid left turns.

The Conservatives took note of this.
Now, their routes all turn right to Alinsky.

They are still looking for a different result....

NY TIMES
JONATHAN WEISMAN
July 23, 2013
House G.O.P. Sets New Offensive on Obama Goals
WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans are moving to gut many of
President Obama’s top priorities with the sharpest spending cuts in a generation
and a new push to hold government financing hostage unless the
president’s signature health care law is stripped of money this fall.
<snip>
In the Senate, Republicans are circulating a letter to Senator Harry Reid of Nevada,
the majority leader, warning they will not approve any spending measure
to keep the government operating after Sept. 30 if it devotes a penny
to put in place Mr. Obama’s health care law.

Signers so far include the No. 2 and No. 3 Republican senators, John Cornyn of Texas
and John Thune of South Dakota, as well as one of the party’s rising stars, Marco Rubio of Florida.

Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Attachment 44953

They only agree on funding level for Homeland Security.

He's doubling down.
He can tell you're a drug mule by looking at your calves.

Well sure, that's easy... brown calves are drug mules, white calves are honest upright citizens. :rolleyes:

Attachment 45030

NY Times
ROBERT PEAR
August 2, 2013

House Votes to Bar I.R.S. Action on Health Law

Will someone please go get my G-son...
"I'm not going to argue with you " :eyebrow:

NY Times
August 6, 2013

Attachment 45164

This is a retraction of my above postings with this image

I am hereby retracting my previous posts which accused the Republicans
of mental illness in their voting 40 times to repeal Obamacare.

A friend and I were talking, and he pointed out that the Republicans were following
a perfectly logical pathway to benefit their most special interest group.

The logical basis for these 40 votes has been posted previously in a different thread, here.

:rolleyes:

I love the results of this poll:
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.co...a-response-was

Almost a third of Louisiana Republicans blame President Obama for the poor response to Hurricane Katrina even though it was 3 years until he was President.

The American Conservative Union opposes science in general.

GOP sponsor resource supplementation Bill for food industry.

NY Time
Ron Nixon
9/19/13

House Republicans Pass Deep Cuts in Food Stamps
Those 60 and over are encouraged to enlist now.

Well everyone knows that all of those on food stamps are just lazy freeloader who buys lobster and king crab and sushi! ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP_izYhdehY


Amazing how the Republicans get the same talking points for every hot button issue. Whether it's limiting access for the poor to health care, especially women's reproductive health, cutting food stamps or WIC and SNAP, drug testing anyone getting financial or food assistance, voter ID and promoting Christian beliefs in public schools and government, they all feel the same.

Today's problem: poor people aren't going to get free food.

Yesterday's problem: poor people are obese.

I'm
just
saying.

The Republicans are just solving one problem with another.
They are such good people... always looking out for the less fortunate.

I'm just saying.

Wendy Davis is going to run for Texas governor.

It's still unlikely she'll win, but at least her chances will be a little better running against a new Republican and not Rick Perry. That asswipe is stepping down, thank God, most likely to pursue another Presidential bid. Don't you fuckers elect him, you hear me? Don't you do it.

We are near the last stages of the GOP-driven government shut down.

The GOP needs to call in Penny from the Big Bang Theory as a management consultant.
Penny was able to convince Sheldon about the danger in antagonizing his waitress.

Maybe she could also convince the House Republicans the dangers of antagonizing
their own Congressional staff members by deleting their health care.

:rolleyes:

For those of you who do not watch Rachel Maddow, and do not watch Fox 5 news out of Virginia...

Try this link + 15 sec ad.

Duggars campaign for Cuccinelli in Woodbridge,
have tough time remembering McAuliffe's name
Fox 5
10/16/13



Then, you may/may not wish to uncover my wife's NSFW comment below...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

My wife said: "That woman must have f***ed his brains out"

There are several reports in the press about the schism
within the GOP since the shutdown/debt ceiling.
Some are reporting an actual division of the Republican Party.

I'm curious how the NRC will employ their usual "dirty trick"
and/or "turn strength into weakness" in this process.

Here is one recently implemented strategy to protect GOP incumbents...


The Guardian
10/18/13

Is the Republican party's effort to win black voters just skin-deep?
After Romney's loss in 2012, the RNC made great play of wooing minorities.
Erika Harold exposes how thin that commitment is

Will we be hearing about "candidate fraud" and "candidate ID cards".

You have to admit, there's a difference between trying to talk some number of black voters into voting for a white guy (they can only gain, if incrementally,) and expecting racist white voters to vote for a black woman (they can lose their existing base, big time.) The GOP just knows their members.

Today is the day... SNAP feels the brunt of the true spirit and intent of the GOP.

The average monthly benefit per household last year was $278.
A family of 4 will receive $36 less in Food Stamps each month
due to this cut, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The government recognizes that recipients previously received
enough food stamps for only the first 27 days of the month.
Now, they will run short after the first 3 weeks each month.

Stateline
Jake Grovum
11/1/13

How Food Stamp Cuts Affect Your State
Note, the interactive link above will take you to a screen like this,
which shows each state's numbers of children and elderly affected by the GOP intransigence.

The GOP is proposing an additional $40,000,000,000 ($40 billion) cuts over the next 10 years.

... HAPPY THANKSGIVING and MERRY CHRISTMAS too...

:confused: LL, why is Oregon the third biggest big food stamp state?

Without looking it up somewhere, I'd guess the following... not in any particular order.

Rural populations that depended on the extremely depressed timber industry
Rural coastal populations that rely on the fishing industry
Rural coastal populations that rely on the tourist industry
... all coastal business is very cyclic and/or has suffered in recent years.

Native Americans (reservations)
- but this may be changing with the new gambling casino incomes

Oregon has a fairly liberal attitude towards the homeless,
but I'd be surprised if that is a truly a significant number
- even tho we know other states do put a small number of homeless
or otherwise disabled people on buses with one-way tickets to PDX.

Otherwise, we also know that Portland is midway between Seattle and California,
and has mild winters so the homeless/unemployed are our "rain birds"
- as opposed to our better off "snow birds" that travel south over the winter.

Beyond that, I'd look at just the general unemployment in PDX as
a result of loss of jobs in manufacturing as the major group.

The GOP has just learned the hard way that what goes around comes around.
The GOP is resorting to name-calling... but Reid has just told the GOP: GFYS.

Harry Reid gave plenty of warning back when Ted Cruz made his threat
of "filibuster vs government shut down".

Harry Reid also gave warning days ago when Lindsey Graham made his threat
of stopping all Senate approvals for "judgeships vs Benghazi"

Undoubtedly, the GOP will now attempt to make reprisals regardless of who might get hurt.
Eventually, they will succeed at something, and round and round we will go.

Very generous of you to say that the GOP has learned something.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

Harry Reid is still an ass. This is not a good thing for the country. It makes those currently in power,and their supporters happy. I doubt they will agree when the shoe is on the other foot... Time will tell.

Classic, I basically agree with you. It was an "unfortunate" action.

I've read that historically, the dear, upstanding, GOP Vice President Richard Nixon
tried to do the same thing (twice), but Senate members didn't let him get away with it.

But seriously, aside from name-calling, what would you have Reid do ?

This came directly from the tactics of current several GOP senators,
...and specifically from one, [R-SC] Lindsay Graham, who openly and publicly
promised to filibuster all nominees, regardless of the person or the position
until he got his way on a completely unrelated political issue (Benghazi).

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...cloture-votes/

This was from 3 1/2 years ago.

http://newsjunkiepost.com/2010/03/02...f-filibusters/

A less partisan and more up to date viewpoint, but with less information about the structure of Congress at the time.

http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/ref...tureCounts.htm

There is a point at which reasoned opposition becomes an attempt at nullification. On one hand the Republicans complain about being weak in foreign affairs and on the other hand they attempt to weaken him domestically. They complain about his lack of accomplishments domestically.

Well, the good news is that part of that whole lack of accomplishments domestically is now being handled. It will still end up in a gerrymandered House, but there will now be actual votes on issues and voters can see where their senators stack up.

I'd love to hear what Ann Coulter is saying about this. When the Democrats used it, the partisan princess was all about how the filibuster had no Constitutional basis. Did she stay consistent or did she backpeddle her big ass?

The GOP has just discovered the Second Law of Thermodynamics

NY Times
CARL HULSE
December 13, 2013

Boehner’s Jabs at Activist Right Show G.O.P. Shift
The lesson to be learned is:

When the Speaker of the House appoints someone to a Committee,
don't criticize the work of that person coming out of that Committee.
To do so is just politically dumb ! :facepalm:

The 3rd WOW in one week !

Democrats have won 5 top elected positions in Virginia... WOW !

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/1...#ixzz2nsSboFDt

Chris Christie has so far garnered something of an amusing reputation in the media
... at least for a GOP governor and presidential hopeful.

But New Jersey is New Jersey, and politics there are brutal.
There are several examples in Christie's past that show how he operates
...and here is one more.

Wall Street Journal
Ted Mann And Heather Haddon
1/8/13
Christie Aide: 'Time for Some Traffic Problems'
Maybe this is seemingly a trivial political dirty trick.
But Christie's public ridicule of accusations that his "staff were not involved"
actually shows how he actually operates ... 'support me or suffer the wrath'

This controversy was exposed by the NY Times about 1 month ago. Intentional harm to Ft Lee traffic was a front page story that also included other events. For example, a NJ State Republican Senator, who did not say something good enough about Christie, suddenly found his legislation blocked including a judge sponsorship. Another NJ Congressman said some things good and bad about Christie. Gov Christie is keenly and daily aware of what others say. And what is happening in his administration. So this Congressman, who was up for a Judgeship, immediately found himself struck from the list. And at least two of his relatives who do business with or work for the state had their jobs immediately terminated that week.

Can we attribute any of this to Christie? No. The only reason this NY Times article was ignored: no smoking gun. But that article inspired the legislature to investigate. An NJ Congressional investigation discovered e-mails that confirm what the NY Times reported a month and ago and that the NJ Governor publicly denied back then.

A bully will be vindictive to the weak. And will make a big deal about working with others he cannot bully. Christie does this well because, as noted previously, he is a shrewd politician. Shrewd does not mean honest or having political integrity. It only says he is excellent at manipulating most of us.

Did he make a mistake? Normally a politician will reject these accusations with a few comments and little fanfare. Instead, Christie did a 2 hour press conference. I remember previous politicians spending so much time denying an accusation: ie Nixon and Watergate. Was that overly long press conference harmful. Had it been another politician, I would have called it a major mistake. But this is Christie. Interesting is if so much time in denial results in a state wide pardon or a sudden suspicion of a man who has a bully's history.

You gotta have a program to know the players....

USA Today
Bob Jordan, Asbury Park (N.J.)
January 10, 2014

Some access lanes from Fort Lee, N.J., to the
George Washington Bridge were closed for 4 days in early September.
Here is a PDF file of 635 pages of documents under subpoena:

http://www.app.com/assets/pdf/B3217417110.PDF

... and here is one of the soon-to-be-famous emails:

Attachment 46459

BUT, the general rumor is that this email was entirely "false indignation", and intended to ultimately be made public
as Foye's own defense from the brewing storm.