Democrats, Please Use Your Power
One continuing source of frustration for many of us was the difficulty in passing good legislation. There were endless negotiations and compromises that kept weakening good bills. Part of this was because of the unprecedented abuse of the filibuster by Republicans. However, this was only possible because Democrats wanted to get things done and Republicans were perfectly happy if nothing got done (economy is way less important than handing defeats to Democrats). This creates an imbalance of power because our system makes it so easy to do nothing instead of something. The Senate has things like secret holds and unanimous consent which really allows one Senator to disrupt the whole process. Despite their minority status Republicans used this power effectively to block legislation.
The lame duck session is about to start and finally, finally Democrats have something that Republicans want. Republicans want to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. Now Democrats are already talking compromises like extending them temporarily (despite all evidence that these tax cuts hurt the economy) so they can get the tax cuts for the rest of us. Last I heard, the Democrats are going to cut the tax cuts into two bills – the tax cuts for most of us and the expiring cuts for high earners. Good. That’s what we told them to do before the election (yeah, how did that work out Blue Dogs?). What’s to stop a Democratic Senator (how about you, Russ Feingold?) from blocking the high earners bill from coming to the floor unless they get their wants addressed? What if someone refused to let the Bush tax cut bill come to the floor unless we got a non-filibustered vote on the Public Option? Or DADT repeal? Or judge confirmations?
Another thing I learned from the election is that even though the term “bipartisan” makes the press happy, voters don’t care. In my opinion, bipartisan means “get stuff done.” The lazy way of thinking is that if government is divided both sides will have to work together to do business. That’s true if both sides are committed to governing. One side isn’t so it won’t work. I already see Republicans falling into a big mistake – their first priority will be repealing health care reform. For one, it won’t happen because Democrats still control the Senate and even if it got through Obama would veto it. Whatever. People’s main concern is the economy. Republicans playing around with health care and launching nuisance investigations will not go over well if they aren’t doing anything to address the economy.
I’ve also learned from this election is that their is absolutely no reward for Democrats for helping out big business. Republicans pulled a nifty trick of bailing out banks and making Democrats take the blame for it. Republicans, in fact, ran against bailouts and were supported by the very business who were bailed out. So, why would Democrats even try to help big business? They will only use their money to run against you, because big business doesn’t care about middle class Americans, their CEOs only care about their own wallets (more tax cuts! weeee!). The New York Times has even recognized this disconnect:
“An apology is due Barack Obama,” wrote The Economist, which had opposed the $86 billion auto bailout. As for Government Motors: after emerging from bankruptcy, it will go public with a new stock offering in just a few weeks, and the United States government, with its 60 percent share of common stock, stands to make a profit. Yes, an industry was saved, and the government will probably make money on the deal — one of Obama’s signature economic successes.
Interest rates are at record lows. Corporate profits are lighting up boardrooms; it is one of the best years for earnings in a decade.
All of the above is good for capitalism, and should end any serious-minded discussion about Obama the socialist. But more than anything, the fact that the president took on the structural flaws of a broken free enterprise system instead of focusing on things that the average voter could understand explains why his party was routed on Tuesday. Obama got on the wrong side of voter anxiety in a decade of diminished fortunes.
I see one thing Democrats can do – stop cooperating with big business. It’s unpopular. The Republicans are supported by big business, let them do their bidding. It sure would be nice if someone was questioning if what business wants is what is best for the rest of America.
So, will Democrats do any of this? I’m not holding my breath but a gal can dream can’t she?
Tags: Senate Reform, U.S. Senate
I think “big business” greases as many D palms as R?
Nice try at “both sides do it” but business groups spent on Republicans this year 9:1.
“What’s to stop a Democratic Senator (how about you, Russ Feingold?) from blocking the high earners bill from coming to the floor unless they get their wants addressed?”
how about 24 hour coverage from Fox news about how they are unamerican, daddy rush and borther glenn turning assassins loose on them, death threats to their families from poor white people who dont know what they are talking about….
remember, when a republican does it, it is american. When a democrat does it, it’s treason.
This is crazy talk UI. The main thing is to have less bickering. You know how DD feels about purists. Careful or you will get yourself banned.
Now Democrats are already talking compromises like extending them temporarily (despite all evidence that these tax cuts hurt the economy)
Delaware just elected two of the compromisers.
If Democrats pass the Bush tax cuts for the rich, it is getting close to the time to say “My party has left me.”
So, why would Democrats even try to help big business? They will only use their money to run against you
Think about this if you have ever praised the HCR bill. Like we didn’t see this coming? The money pouring into the industry will insure we never have the opportunity to “fix it later.”
It was a serious question. Are you talking big business as in corporations, or big business as in the Chamber of Commerce? The old political maxim is that labor supports Democrats and business supports winners. It seems that a lot of business money has followed Democrat electoral successes.
The one thing they cant fight is how big businesses hold America hostage. if we regulate them, they fire Americans and leave. if we tax them, they fire Americans and leave. if we dont regulate them, they poison Americans, abuse workers, dont pay taxes… then fire Americans and leave.
“The old political maxim is that labor supports Democrats and business supports winners. It seems that a lot of business money has followed Democrat electoral successes.”
Democratic politicians decided long ago to side with the workers and the people. that is a harder position to take. IT requires more thought, more compromise, and more work. It is easy to side with people who are already filthy rich, and pass laws to keep them rich. That is what the republicans have done. Yes, many dems have gotten lots of money from big business, they were the main reason the Obama agenda was so neutered…. and one of them just lost her job…. so good riddance to Republicrats. But EVERY republican is bought by the big money powers who dont care about you or me. they dont care about their employees, or customers (as long as they pay)… they care about themselves, and their money. And as long as we have politicians who work for them, and a news company that speaks for them, people will always assume democrats are losers…. because i assume, the average american worker is a loser to the rich.
Big business pays repubs and then pays just enough Dems to control the governement. Business-wise, it would be foolish to pay everybody when you only have to pay a majority.
Business-wise, it would be foolish to pay everybody when you only have to pay a majority.
All you really need is 41 Senators.
Democratic politicians decided long ago to side with the workers and the people. that is a harder position to take.
It is a conundrum why working people vote Republican. I think the answer is that as long as people have food on the table and a roof over their heads, and beer and Monday Night Football, they will respond to emotional arguments from politicians rather than rational economic arguments. And nowadays you can induce people’s emotions with enough marketing.
When I was a tyke my Dad took me with him to vote one day, and I asked him what were Republicans and Democrats.
He told me “Republicans are for the fat cats, and Democrats are for the little guy.”
I really can’t improve on that.
Of course, he may have been influenced by being fed by FDR as a child.
An ‘apology?’ You know nothing of the auto industry. The Bondholder’s got raped! They received 18 cents on the dollar. The salary folks at GM got nothing, while the Union got a large ownership in GM, not to mention a bailout of their bloated pensions. The ‘legacy costs’ created by years of cartel-like tactics (give us more or we’ll strike) drove GM and Chrysler into a precarious position. It was unsustainable. To be fair, GM’s management made numerous business mistakes as well. Private industry should NOT be bailed out.
Furthermore, GM still owes the government (i.e., taxpayers) approximately $55 billion! The auto bailout was a political gift to the unions for helping Obama get elected in 2008.
Allowing the ‘free-market’ to take its natural course, would’ve allowed for entrepreneurs, private investors and other auto experts to re-organize ‘outside’ of a burdensome contract where anachronistic work rules tamp down global competiveness. The crutch of Moral Hazard now envelopes the US auto industry. Heck, Chrysler is now on its SECOND government bailout.
Why not bail out the mining indusrty, the steel industry, the home construction industry, realtors, or any manufacturing industry that got whacked by the financial meltdown?
Btw, it was the moderate ‘Blue Dogs who put a drag on the health care bill. They wanted umteen special provisions, deals and assurrances before they would vote ‘yes.’ In fact, the Bart Stupack (aka – Bart Stupid) coalition, among others, singlehandedly did a money grab in the name of self-indulgence. The Republicans did not have a super-majority in the House. Besides, the Republicans offered numerous ideas and plans to Obama and company, but were summararily dismissed. Your ‘blame’ the GOP mantra is a canard; Obama didn’t let the Republicans on the field to play.
Finally, there’s a very good reason why the Filibuster rule is in the Senate. It is there to ‘slow things down’ when the other chamber of Congress gets too ambitious when it has a super-majority and resolutely tries to pass legislation without due diligence.
Btw, the ‘filibuster’ helps both parties depending on party control. It’s hated when your party holds the majority. It’s loved when your party is in the minority.
Your assumtions are wrong. Yes, I ‘get’ that you are upset after the ‘shellacking’ the Dems took; however, the Democratic-led Congress and White House failed to pick an agenda that solved the country’s immediate problems (jobs, economy, uncertainty, overspending) and instead, made two non-emergency pieces of legislation their clarion call – Obamacare and Cap & Trade. The 16 months of wasted political capital and opportunity cost was unforgivable, given the the circumstances.
Think about it. You have millions of patients in the emergency room waiting for treatment on serious injuries because they crashed their car into a ‘ditch’ on the way to the unemployment office because they were broke and couldn’t afford to replace their worn-out, tires and brakes.
At the emergency room, the doctors ignore the patients that need emergency surgery, oxygen or acute care, and instead start working on those who need stitches, a sling and some band-aids.
Obama doesn’t ‘get it.’ And the people have spoken.
“Democratic politicians decided long ago to side with the workers and the people.”
You apparently missed the memo from Bill Clinton and the DLC. The Democratic Party has been friendlier to business than to labor and the middle class for 20 years now. Liberal/progressives are the “base” in the sense that we have nowhere else to go.
I agree Obama doesn’t get it.
If he had “got it,” we’d have some form of public health care, and a stake through the heart of the tax cuts for the rich, and Dem control of the House, and maybe an extra Dem Senator or two.
The Democratic Party has been friendlier to business than to labor and the middle class for 20 years now.
Business is supporting R’s 9-1 over D’s.
Maybe it is time for Dems to start chasing votes instead of dollars.
Polemical – How much time did Obama actually spend on cap & trade? That passed the House and died in the Senate. It was barely spoken of outside of 9-12 patriot meetings and the Rush Limbaugh show.
We ought to do a Medicare buy-in to fix the most glaring problem with the HCR law.
“Private industry should NOT be bailed out.”
Had it not been, all those workers would now be on the government dole along with the other unemployed. Those of you who always argue for letting the market take its course are willing to do so because you won’t be the ones who have to answer for the human suffering it causes.
Actually, the people spoke about their anxieties about the economy. And the GM bondholders were not entitled to be made whole on their bonds. That would have been one more bailout of the many you seem to think are a problem. And that union ownership was in return for a cash stake — which is the way that ownership works, you know. If you own Wilmington Trust stock you aren’t feeling too happy now (or at least the last time I saw this stock after M&T announced its buy).
I was going to write a separate post about this, but yesterday I provided the advise to President Obama to throw this Republican House an anvil. And I think that Brad DeLong has found that anvil.
Telling this House that they have to live with PAYGO and pay for all of it seems like a brilliant — but high stakes — strategy to me. Then make sure you introduce Mr. Boehner to Mr. Reid and tell him that he has to be able to get 60 votes for his PAYGO ruled world in the Senate. After that, we’d need Obama to start making sure people know how painful this budget from Repubs will be. Personally, I think that this will make business interests come running — because the only way to get the kid of cuts in is to start cutting down the programs that all of the beltway bandit type live off of.
The GM bailout was a success. GM is making money again and many people got to keep their jobs. Letting GM fail and having more manufacturing jobs die in the U.S. was a horrible idea and I’m glad Obama did this. If some bondholders didn’t get as much money as they wanted – GOOD. Let the market manipulators suffer some more.
The bailout was kinda sorta successful. The financial firms are in fine shape, thank you very much. The problem with that bailout is that the people who caused the problems didn’t get punished and they’re back to their old ways. Since it was Bush/Paulson that pushed this bailout, is anyone suprised that the fat cats were protected at all costs?
“We ought to do a Medicare buy-in to fix the most glaring problem with the HCR law.”
We ought to go to Medicare for all and scrap the HCR law. The silver lining to this disastrous bill is that Medicare for all will eventually seem like a brilliant solution to a self-made problem.
I’d like to see Medicare buy-in offered throught the exchange and open the exchange to everyone, not just the uninsured.
Sure,let the Democrats,while they can, create as much havoc as possible and hold republicans feet to the fire.
It will all be forgotten by the next election cycle by the short-termed memory of the masses.
They deserve it.
But I doubt it will happen.
There’s no testosterone for this in the Democratic party.
Someone,please tell me, what WILL wake them up?
Even now.
From the TOP on down.
Simply AMAZING.
++ Geezer and UI
What ever happened to the “pass HCR now, fix it later” crowd? I’d like to hear an explanation of how that is going to work now. pandora? cassandra_m?
The HCR bill as it stands is a ticking time bomb for the Dems, and will go off massively when people start getting fined by the government for not paying 1 month of their before tax income to fund private insurers’ profits.
Meantime, Aetna’s profit during the last quarter rose 53%, and it raised its 2010 earnings forecast.
HCR 2010 = WMD 2002 Obomba lied while real HCR died.
How do people feel about filibuster reform now? The Dems can change to rules at the start of the next session to get rid of the filibuster if they choose to do so. Should they?
Oh I bet the MBA programs are having a field day with the supposed GM success. It ain’t working for the retiree, or the man who threw caution to the wind and upped his family to East Crazy in hopes of squeaking by another 9 months or so with gainful employment (and I do admire that tenacity). Paper and people are two different scenarios so far. But we’ll see.
I think passing HCR was the right thing to do. Tinkering with it now is much easier.
I still support filibuster reform, if not outright elimination of it.
The republicans understand that the current HCR is a poison pill for the Democrats. Just listen to what Mitch McConnell is saying:
“For the next two years, while Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell tries to make Barack Obama a one-term president, he and his counterparts in the House will force repeated votes on repealing and starving the White House’s signature accomplishments.”
“On health care that means we can – and should – propose and vote on straight repeal, repeatedly,” McConnell will add. “But we can’t expect the president to sign it. So we’ll also have to work, in the House, on denying funds for implementation, and, in the Senate, on votes against its most egregious provisions.”
So how is tinkering with it now easier?
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/mcconnell-defeat-obama-with.php
Howard Dean was the first one out the gate to say “Kill the bill” when the public option was dropped. He even explained why, and he was right.
Dean changed his position on the bill after receiving some explanation of how the public option could be added in reconciliation. After that hope disappeared, Dean hung in there with the bill and kept a low profile only because he is a gamer, even though he knew he’d been had.
I’m ready for comments now (DD?) about how Howard Dean isn’t really a progressive and doesn’t understand how to help Democrats win.
I’d like to see Medicare buy-in offered throught the exchange
Agreed. Republicans can run and win against “Obamacare,” but nobody can run against Medicare. Poorly played, Senator Reid and President Obama.
I think passing HCR was the right thing to do. Tinkering with it now is much easier.
Why don’t you run your tinkering ideas past Speaker Boehner and let us know what he says?
Yes to filibuster reform. Filibusters always hurt Dems and never help them.
it wont be easier now. This is like a trip to the eye doctor…. oddly enough one of the examples is an “eye doctor”
The american people are being asked “better one, better 2” we all KNOW which once is better, but for some reason we have to take a look at the choice that gives us a headache. The republicrats were purged this election. in 2 years, once america sees that all the republicans want to do is let poor people die, and let rich people have coke-orgies, we can start the tinkering.
also Polemical……
“while the Union got a large ownership in GM,”
what a novel freaking idea! giving control of the company to the people who DO THE WORK!
I think at this point we will have our hands full trying to stop Republican tinkering like
tort reformmalpractice award caps and insurance industry deregulation. If such things land in the Senate, I have no confidence they won’t be passed, or that Obama won’t sign them.Why don’t you run your tinkering ideas past Speaker Boehner and let us know what he says?
Better yet, try to get the public option or single payer through the 2010 Congress. I’m sure they were ready after dropping everything and starting over to be more reasonable. Or even better, try to get HCR through the Republican House and 52-Democrat (kinda) Senate. I’m sure that’d work real well.
Like it or not, 2009 was our best shot, our only shot for a while. I doubt much will be done with it in the next Congress but it will be improved, I have no doubt.
and it will be unamerican for the democrats to say “no” to anything the republicans do.
Better yet, try to get the public option or single payer through the 2010 Congress.
That’s what I kept trying to say! A bunch of commenters almost got banned for saying it.
What was the outcome of that roll call again?
Clear Channel~WILM radio has new rules people! You can only call in once a week, and you cannot use the word teabagger or be banned. Ok, civility and political discourse perhaps should be considered. We spoke with the station manager this AM, and asked if Clear Channel was using censorship! Would WILM ban anyone who refers to the President as a “commie, marxist, dictator” and other derogatory words? We asked Bruce Elliot if he would stop the tea partiers callers from calling the president these vile names? Absolutely not he said, “thats free speech”? A daily rightwinger Jeff called in to say, “we are 25 and we are going after WILM’s sponsors”? Do you see the pressure these baggers are putting on our local stations to muzzle callers and regulars who call in with some fact and truth? First Comcast tries to destroy the peoples right to use free access TV to discuss issues. Now WILM is going to censor callers? Do you see whats going on here. Christine said, “we are not going away, this is the beginning”? Is this the NEW beginning she refers too? Sounds like a Rove move to me. Shut down any discourse. Remake the baggers and move the righties into the mainstream republican party.
A bunch of commenters almost got banned for saying it.
I don’t remember anyone almost getting banned. Do you have a link?
There is no link. You have to listen to the show or try to call in. You will be told when you call in “you cannot speak if you called once this week already”. Meanwhile the tea partiers are getting organized, they are all calling in now with the same talking points. They will tie up the airwaves giving the teaparty message and people with an opposite point of view will not be permitted to speak! LAPA and other groups are apprised and will take action. Even while threatening the station with “we are going after your sponsors”, WILM appears to have caved to the Delaware regressive tea parties. We will have to listen to WDEL to see if they are taking over the airwaves there.
<i.I don’t remember anyone almost getting banned. Do you have a link?
Well, maybe A1 just seems like a whole bunch of commenters.
LOL!
I don’t think they’ll get very far on WDEL from 9 a.m. to noon.
Political correctness is a very bad thing. And ‘most’ speech is free, but not all. The Supreme Court left open the interpretation of what’s considered harmful and vile with respect to pornographic speech: “we know it when we see it,” said one justice.
I remarked in blog posts in the past (here on DL and elsewhere) that the ‘teabaggers,’ ‘baggers,’ and other similary-worded comments are pejorative (no foul there), have ‘sexually explicit’ connotations (this is where the ‘harm’ is done) and is generally considered derogatory in nature.
Radio and Television have strict written rules as defined by the FCC. Everyone knows the Howard Stern v. FCC drama that got played out years ago. He went off the public airwaves and onto a ‘premium’ paid satellite radio channel, much like HBO and Cinemax can use otherwise FCC-mandated language any way it wants.
I made the argument that the N-Word and teabaggers are morally equivalent. Many disagreed with me. That’s fine. However, a station cannot condone words or figures of speech that are FCC regulated and/or cause harm to the general listener (e.g., fags, N-word, pussies, etc) We all know the list.
The ‘Teabaggers’ nomenclature is new and is thus not contemporary with FCC rules, much like there is no cyber bullying rules for Twitter, FaceBook and other social media channels for at least 31 states.
Btw, ‘Commie,’ ‘Dictator’ and ‘Marxist’ are not deemed racially or sexually offensive. Thus, they do not rise to the FCC standard. These terms are mere opinion. ‘Commie’ is simply shorthand for communist (this is a political and social term) and many ascribe to its beliefs. Indeed, many would find such terms as ‘commie and Marxist’ pejorative or otherwise unprofessional; however, they are not words that can be considered exclusionary in public.
I would never risk my personal reputation by using known racial or sexually explicit words in my writing, but that’s just me. Anyone can say whatever they want (save for yelling ‘FIRE’ in a crowded theater). However, WILM, and I’m sure there will be others to follow, is getting in front of the curve with respect to the Tea Party terminology. We all know the ‘code’ words used to get around this problem. Anyone listening to talk radio on a daily basis hears the ethnic or racially stereotyped words that get callers taken off the air immediately (e.g., pejorative references to Jews, Italians, Irish, Blacks, Hispanics, etc).
Heck, you all saw what happened to Juan Williams. He can say whatever he wants, as long as his employer does not have rules that would purport otherwise.
I’m neither a Tea Party fan, nor an enemy. But because Liberals in general ‘Hate’ the Tea Party, does not me those same Liberals can make up the rules to which the FCC, a professional media outlet, its shareholder’s or CEO says is not welcome.
Right: But Rick will let them ALL on. And doesnt WDEL have a policy of one call a week as well? I dont think is a joke people its very serious! Are we going to have the teapartiers taking over the airwaves nationwide. Clear Channel owns 1200 radio stations across the country. In some states Clear Channel is the ONLY radio station in the market. Wonder why the people are so dumbed down? Faux News and Clear Channel won the election for the teapartiers.
Teabagger is NOT even in the same ball park as the N word… it isnt even the same sport.
when we start enslaving and lynching conservatives and yelling “die teabagger” while we do it… and do that for over 200 years, THEN we’ll talk.
but being a Tea PArty member is a choice. Making signs with Obama as hitler is not something you are born needing to do. The put their metaphorical balls in the metaphorically sleeping metaphorical mouths of the American public through their actions. therefore, Teabagger is not just an insult THEY BROUGHT ON THEMSELVES, but a very accurate description of exactly what it is they do. Because when you get right down to it, your average teabagger has never suffered any kind of oppression, is an anti-choice homophobe who has learned from Glenn Beck to mask their racism as capitalism, and is proudly ignorant. No sympathy for the ‘Bags.
As for your defense of “Marxist, commie” est… it is still used as a way of insulting someone. We should also be talking about banning “liberal” as an insult.
and liberals “hate” the teaparty because the teaparty, from the instant Glenn Beck shat them out has identified liberals, and progressives MORE their enemy than al-queda.
Hmmm… guess we shouldn’t allow callers to say, “we’re screwed.” Or Limbaugh’s favorite, “bend over and grab your ankles.” Guess jerk-off, whack-job, etc. are out too.
But, this language wasn’t a concern when conservatives held up the sign that said TEA BAG the LIBERAL DEMS BEFORE THEY TEABAG YOU!!
Oh no! The baggers can slam the liberals, moderates with code words and thats just fine with Bruce Elliot. He stated, “commie et al will not cause anyone to be banned….thats free speech? They arent talking about fixing the broken political system, or finding solutions, but “hate speech” is ok on Faux and now WILM? Shutting down voices in opposition is the key. Going after a stations sponsors is not only a threat to the station, but one would think they would be in opposition to those who want to take out their sponsors, unless “you give the facts as we the baggers see it”. Trying to find out if this is going on around the country on other Clear Channel stations.
Since I haven’t been on here in a while, it’s good to know that the movement for true freedom is still strong and hard in DE. I’m glad your state didn’t elect O’Donnell, what a mess that would’ve been. It’s also very disheartening that across the country though, people in general are very much attached to “immediate gratification”. 2 years in and everyone is ready to abandon ship. It’s depressing to know that when it’s all said and done, Barack’s election and the HC bill will be seen as something this goverment did right.
Boehner’s and Bachmann’s post election statements pretty much said it all: “They are taking back their country”. Regardless of how much progress we’ve made as a nation to see beyond color, beyond sexual taste and so forth, the underlying theme is still there. I started listening and researching some of the talking points that the Republicans have but when you start driving down to the details of the “plan”, there aren’t any. It’s really more of the same, We’re becoming a socialist, communist country. It’s sad because if people actually left this country and went to China, North Korea etc. they would know what that really means.
Barack has to change because right now, the most important aspect of himself is also his biggest weakness. After reading the book by Woodward and seeing his post election news conference, he has to be less pragmatic and more bully. I wouldn’t apologize for what he did as he did what he knew was the right thing to do. There never really was a chance that there would be anyone listening on the Right because when you come down to it, they believe it’s “THEIR COUNTRY” and a Black Man has no right telling them how to run “THEIR COUNTRY”. And before someone out there says that I’m playing the race card, let me ask you this question, what makes it THEIR COUNTRY and NOT OURS?
The flip side of all of this is now, there are no excuses that can be made by “THEM”. Also, from a little insight from the book on how Barack thinks, this may very well be what he wanted in the first place because it will bare the fact that “THEY” have no plan.
a.price –
Why the fear of ‘Marxist?’ Did you attend Amherst with comrade Coons? Oh, you probably didn’t go to college as proven by your nacsent writing ability and prosaic diatribes.
No fear of “Marxist” if someone is going to insult me, id prefer they get the pejorative right.
“Marxist” as applied to Obama or Coons is inaccurate. Most of the people using that term don’t know the difference between Marxism, Socialism, socialism, Communism, communism, Soviet Communism, Chinese Communism….etc.
And not that it matters, but I happen to be IN college… I don’t feel the need to make sure my writing would pass muster with a thesis review board because i really don’t care what made-up screen names think of my ideas. But yes, I am educated, something Tbags LOATHE. Education is something to be ashamed of in bagland…. am i offending you yet? good. it’s about time redneck conservatives had a word that offended them.
But back to your feeble claim that you “arent a teaparty supporter” every bit of drivel you’ve posted screams the opposite… of you may not be in the National Mall with lipton bags taped to your hat but you eat the same Beckian crap all the rest of them eat…. and that you would be so clueless to equate Teabag with the N word just proves you are another one of these “white victims”.
My first stab at radical activism was yelling MOVIE in a crowded firehouse where I’d taken my grandma for bingo.
Just think — if they follow this plan they will be rejecting what the American people just rejected on Tuesday. And nothing says “VOTE FOR US” to the American people like telling them “FUCK YOU!”
Surely you jest, Joe.
I’ll let Benen take it from here:
Um… yeah, thought so. Hypocrite.
There must be a mandate, Fox says so!
The Isotope asked:
Oh, maybe because four out of five Americans who have jobs are employed by private businesses. I know that this is just wholly outside the paradigm of my friends on the left, but the greatest friend of the American worker is American business, because American business is what provides him with a job and a paycheck.
So, why would Democrats even try to help big business?
The question is, how do you help business?
Caving in to their lobbyist-written list of demands does not help business. That is a false premise.
To help business, put more money in the hands of consumers. And end tax policies that promote pump and dump.
Our decades-long experiment in trickle-down has failed. Policies that try to create jobs by cutting taxes and regulations on business do not work.
Unfortunately I think we are in for another round of doing the same thing and expecting different results.
.
Caving in to their lobbyist-written list of demands does not help business.
TARP helped the financial sector which then kicked Democrats in the face while Democrats took the blame for helping Wall Street over Main Street. I have no doubt that Republicans will do Big Business’s bidding. Why should Democrats get the blame for it? Someone should think about the rest of us.
Just doing what Big Business wants does very little for the economy. That’s what we did in the 90s. The rich got richer and the rest of us lost jobs.
The Democrats need some new leaders in Congress. Fresh faces who can counter the conservative Republican ‘young guns’. Telling Nancy Pelosi “its time to go” won’t be easy however.
“My first stab at radical activism was yelling MOVIE in a crowded firehouse where I’d taken my grandma for bingo.”
now THAT is funny. (seriously, if you actually did that, bravo. and if you didnt, points for creatvity)
Telling Nancy Pelosi “its time to go” won’t be easy however.
Even so, I’d rather have Nancy for now, than Steny.