The Real Mitt Romney

[Pico and ME]

Damn. Great post, Bruce.

You need your own talk show. You would have a million fans.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Probably get death threats and my peonies trampled. But thank you.
Adak's a problem because instead of the crazy right wing zealots you see on the web, his posts sound rational. It's only when you get into the facts that they fall apart.

A friend of mine has a couple girlfriends she shops and walks with, who are tea partiers. They send her a constant flow of right wing emails, which she passes along. Half of them are lunatic scary, a quarter make sense if you just accept the facts as they state them, and a quarter you have to do some semi-serious research to find the flaws.

Those are the ones with links that back up the statements, but from dubious web sites. Then they'll say "Snopes says it's true" with a link to Snopes where it says it's false. They're counting on people being to lazy to click the link (maybe at work seeing the dozens of addresses attached), and just forward.

I got one yesterday that complained soldiers only get half pay when they retire after 20 years. I accepted that without checking, and believe it's a possibly legitimate complaint. Even full after 20, at 40 to 45, I don't want the job.
But the next statement was congressmen get full pay for life after one term. What? I know that's complete bullshit, but I've seen it written many times before, and probably these clowns believe it.

Next, to reinforce sympathy for the first statement, is a picture of a Marine that was really fucked up, blown up and burned, but alive. The kind of picture that puts a lump in the most dispassionate throat.
Obviously this Marine has nothing to do with retirement pay plea, he's a 100% disability case right now. Maybe disability just moves the same pay from 20 years to now? But if that's the case, say so, because it makes the whole thing sleazy otherwise.

[Sheldonrs]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

...
Adak's a problem because instead of the crazy right wing zealots you see on the web, his posts sound rational. It's only when you get into the facts that they fall apart....

I believe this is part of the job description for most of the "reporters" on Fox.

Thanks for this post Bruce. Facts are nice to see. :-)

[tw]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

HELL NO, BOEHNER MUST GO!

Boehner is not the problem. He saw the problem early. How often he made deals with Obama to only have it yanked out from under him by extremists - especially Cantor. How many times have so many Democrats and Republicans complained that Cantor should not even be in that room? How many long time most conservative Republicans (Simpson, Dole, Lugar, Gramm, Grassley, etc) complain about the extremism in their own party that is so destructive? Again, point to its best example - Cantor. Whose political objectives are quite clear - to make America fail.

How many times has Boehner made a deal to make American great? And then have Cantor yank it out from under him? Routinely. Cantor believes America will restore George Jr extremists if he makes America fail. Boehner is but another victim.

[xoxoxoBruce]

For Boehner to go, the Republicans would have to loose control of the house.

[infinite monkey]

Where do you live that you need photo id to get a library card, adak? Here you fill out your info, get a card. Of course, a 'public' library reeks of socialism...the idea that any bum off the street can read a book? Hmmmph.

But it was a lovely little speech, cherry picking aside.

[richlevy]

Everything old is new again. In the 60's they used money, guns, and lawyers (Zevon) for intimidation. In the 2010's it's just money and lawyers.

[DanaC]

Yeah, that was awesome.

[ZenGum]

From the depression to Reagan, the tri-lateral commission (government, labor, and the 1%) kept everything in balance, not letting power swing too far in any direction. But since 1980 I've seen labor decimated causing real wages to decline, Congress bought by K Street, lock, stock, and barrel, and the 1% play the "Global Economy" card to put themselves back in power.

I honestly believe this election is the last stand against a power grab that we peons may never recover from. Mainly because unlike the Robber Barons of old, the current 1% don't give a shit about the country.

Bruce can be grouchy at times, but he sees things very clearly, and if we all saw what was going on this clearly, we'd all be grouchy too. Bloody angry, in fact.

The present global situation is similar to the middle stages of the Roman empire, as the plutocrats eroded the republic and gained total control. Social demoralisation followed, and the Roman world became so brittle that a handful of barbarians was enough to destroy it. That is the future I fear.

Adak, although I disagree with 80% of what you say, please, keep it coming. Really. I like the cellar because it gives me a window into the way US folks are thinking, and with Merc on Hiatus, you're the chief republican spokesman here right now.

[Trilby]

I think Adak IS merc.

disguised.

same vitriol, same personal attacks, same yelling-sort of painting everyone with the same brush.

It all seems so very familiar.

[Sundae]

But Adak was registered way before Merc left.
I don't think of Merc as that sneaky - he had a more bull-at-a-gate style to life.

[ZenGum]

I'd thought of that, but Adak seems somewhat more mild-mannered than Merc. I'm pretty sure they're different.
And I'm pretty sure there is more than one devoted Republican supporter willing to relay Party talking points onto the internet.

[infinite monkey]

Adak is much more reasonable and eloquent than merc.

But he also shares that trait: you just said a lot so I'm going to repeat everything I said before but leave out my gaffes that were pointed out to me.

Really have a hard time believing he was asked for his ssn at a hardware store.
Everything I do at work ties into a person's ssn, and we are still very discreet about asking for it. Its a big no-no in the era of identity theft.

I think adak lives in 1957. But he has a time machine.

[DanaC]

I was somewhat taken aback by the use of the word 'spinster'... but posting from 1957 would probaby explain this.

[Stormieweather]

I have a few problems with Adak's statements.

First, a community food program does not usually ask for financial information to prove you "need" their services. If you are there, you usually need it. Often, they require that you help them or the community in some way as "payment" for the food package. Been there, done that, in my poverty days. I'd much rather do something to earn that food than be given it, outright.

Secondly, asking for a SS# in order to make a purchase these days is a BIG no-no. If anyone (other than insurance or creditors) ask me that, they don't get my business.

Thirdly, as a parent with two children attending public schools, I can testify that it is absolutely not true that 90% of the kids get free lunch. In order to get reduced or free lunch, you have to fill out and sign a financial need application form. According to the FDOE data report, the actual number is 41%.( FLDOE free lunch). That actually ties right in with the number of children living in low-income families - 44% (Child Poverty). In my poverty days, my kids got free lunch. Now that I'm no longer unemployed and poor, they do not.

Additionally, as a former poor person, I can absolutely state that asking for and receiving "aid" is the most humiliating and degrading thing I've ever done. The very moment I could manage to make ends meet without it, I dropped it like a hot potato. There was absolutely none of that *wink wink nudge nudge* that you are referring to...more like, you lazy, stupid, dumb person who is getting a free ride while I, the person who signs off on your aid, is working hard and earning mere peanuts. Let me see how many ways I can make you feel subhuman to compensate for my disdain!!