Political Hippo Circle Jerk - America, farg YEAH!

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

I think he's right, but I figured that there would be people on this board that dismissed him as a kook or a racist.

[rjs246]

IGY, you're basically saying that every person with any religious beliefs is insane.

they pretty much are....but im specifically talking about politicians...

Politicians are elected to represent their constituency. It's the only job description outside of upholding the Constitution. Sadly, most politicians don't do either.

[rjs246]

I think he's right, but I figured that there would be people on this board that dismissed him as a kook or a racist.

He is right and everyone with a brain predicted this. If Obama is serious about changing things he won't fully embrace the Executive Branch expansion that Bush ushered in, but expecting a politician to cede power is laughably naive...

[Seabiscuit36]

actually i do, if you touch a kid, i think you should be dead.  I'm not talking about being 18 and banging a freshman, im talking about creepy dudes who live in their moms basements at 35, who watch kids getting off schoolbuses

[Phanatic]

Watched Jindel's speech and it was awkward! The message was the same thing we've heard over the past 12 years from the GOP and it was poorly stated. The GOP in my opinion needs to redefine fiscal conservatism. Right now they contradict themselves by saying less government is the answer because you can't trust the government to do anything! Meanwhile I'm an elected official so I'm saying trust me anyway? I don't get the contradiction. It's too negative and even defeatist! Governments allways suffer corruption so why bother to try. Cut budgets and let there be a free market business to cater to all you needs. Public schools are a waste of tax payer monies. There should be 3 or 4 schools in every region that you pay to send your kids too.

Since when has the free market proven to be less corrupt then government. I agree that free markets can work in a lot of places but their argument is that free markets are better because you can't trust government. Government has to regulate that free market and then your back where you started. The position makes no sense to me and just talks itself in circles.

Anyone who takes the time to think critically for even a second can't come to grips with GOP positions and that really is their problem. After years of mismanagement folks are paying attention at the moment and shallow talking points don't work.

OK... Rant over... Dems will head down this same path eventually I'm sure.

[rjs246]

Well that was all over the place.

The Democrats already had an identity crises. They dragged themselves out of it by taking up the mantle of fiscal responsibility (see Clinton, Bill). And as discussed, if Obama can prove that a government can spend money and still be fiscally responsible, then the Republicans will have to redefine themselves in some other way or perish.

[Rome]

If Jindal had plans for higher office he pretty much flushed 'em down the toilet with that idiotic reply he gave last night.

To solve our current problems, Washington must lead. But the way to lead is not to raise taxes and put more money and power in hands of Washington politicians ... Democratic leaders say their legislation will grow the economy. What it will do is grow the government, increase our taxes down the line, and saddle future generations with debt. Who among us would ask our children for a loan, so we could spend money we do not have, on things we do not need?

This is the future of the GOP?


Jesus Christ.

[General_Failure]

Isn't... isn't that what we've been doing for twenty or thirty years now?

[Diomedes]

I don't get how he can rail against the federal government in one breath and fawn all over the military in the next. 

Are they not the same farging thing?

[ice grillin you]

I don't get how he can rail against the federal government in one breath and fawn all over the military in the next. 

Are they not the same farging thing?

everyone loves the govt as long as it legislates in their favor...how the pubs co-opted the less govt mantle is beyond me...kudos for them pulling it off but its such a bunch of horseshtein

[fansince61]

Seems like those who pay no taxes not only hate tax cuts but insist on tax increases:

[ice grillin you]

i pay a shteinload of taxes and have no problem doing so

[fansince61]

i pay a shteinload of taxes and have no problem doing so

I to pay a shteinload as I live in NJ but I am not bitter...yet.  I just don't believe the middle class should be paying more taxes and while others are "given free money" as tax cuts on taxes they didn't pay to begin with (Washingtons "making work pay jargon " is bull schtein (to tax payers) .  EVERY able bodied person in this country has a moral obligation to pay some type of income tax as WE ALL benefit from government spending in some way.  Paying people for doing nothing is a terribly destructive behavior wise and only encourages the recipients to do more of the same (staying in the wagon and letting others pull it).  Reward it you get more, tax it you get less.  This has always been and always will be the way things work.

[rjs246]

The thing that gets me about this is that the welfare reform of the Clinton years is universally lauded as an example of effective government reform. It reduced the cost of welfare for the nation while actually putting more people to work and reducing poverty (which should be the point of the welfare system).

If this provision reverses any of that I don't understand what it's doing in the bill in the first place...

Well I got my answer...

Expanded unemployment was universally excepted as an 'immediately stimulative' measure. Which is why this was included and passed without much (any) objection. The problem arises in the fact that this expansion of benefits is worded so that it is to be permanent even after the stimulus is over, causing long-term problems for states.

Something to keep an eye on, I guess.

[rjs246]

Article about Obama and Pelosi butting heads.

I'm definitely starting to believe the theory that this is a politically ingenious plan to allow Pelosi to be bad cop while Barry plays good cop and the Democratic party gets to have all of their wildest dreams come true while Obama still comes across as moderate.