The state of American politics today....
On the one hand, we have a well meaning but fundamentally clueless President, leading a party who's leaders believe, (as I saw Al Sharpton say the other day) that "raising taxes creates jobs"....
A President who fervently believes that solar panels, windmills and other esoteric "green technologies" are somehow the key to righting an economy with 16 million unemployed....
And on the other hand, an opposition party who's leadership seems to think (or probably, more correctly, who's leadership has been driven by the fear of an ignorant activist element into embracing) that the solution to our problems lies in repealing every bit of social legislation since The New Deal, and imposing a Neo-Social Darwinism on our society...
This lot would consider Ronald Reagan a pinko.....
I recall reading a few years ago a column written by George F. Will where he was interviewing a very hardcore Conservative GOP strategist...
"The Republican Party", this fellow suggested, "should be the party of the people who want nothing from government!"....
Will replied, "I suggested to my to my friend that all 'the people who want nothing from government' could join us at the small table we were dining at...."
If the leaders of my party believe "Vote For Us And We'll Repeal The Social Contract" is a winning strategy, they will lose and lose badly, and deservedly so.
The extent to which the aspiring leaders of my party have been driven paralytic to the point of borderline madness by a small group of hyperactive Randians, was on full display when they were asked the question in a recent debate if they would be willing to accept a deal that had 10 dollars in spending cuts for every dollar in tax increases....
Not one of them raised their hand...
Ronald Reagan would have taken that deal in a heartbeat....
The party of Reason seems to have abandoned it, and the party of Silliness remains just as silly as ever, and those are our choices....
As I said it is to weep....
It Is To Weep...
Re: It Is To Weep...
You could always move to Canada.
Here we have a PM who never had a clear plan for dealing with the econony, who was goaded into doing something in the form of a stimulus plan by a united opposition in a minority parliament who had a plan to take power if the government fell, and who now is facing the prospect of a double dip recession with absolutely nothing to offer in the way of avoiding it, largely because even he knows that his preferred solution of more tax cuts will not have any impact. His response to what he considers an out of control crime rate (in spite of crime being lower than any time since 1973) is to spend billions of dollars building more prisons in order to house all of the new inmates incarcerated for mandatory minimum sentences for growing six marijuana plants.
On the other hand we have a newly ordained official opposition party, leaderless after its former leader died of cancer a few weeks back, that does not know whether it afoot or horseback while trying to accommodate a large new Quebec (and somewhat nationalist) contingent into what has always been a very federalist party. We also have a third party, also leaderless, that has been in search of an identity for the past seven years it has been out of power.
On second thought, maybe we should both move to France.
Here we have a PM who never had a clear plan for dealing with the econony, who was goaded into doing something in the form of a stimulus plan by a united opposition in a minority parliament who had a plan to take power if the government fell, and who now is facing the prospect of a double dip recession with absolutely nothing to offer in the way of avoiding it, largely because even he knows that his preferred solution of more tax cuts will not have any impact. His response to what he considers an out of control crime rate (in spite of crime being lower than any time since 1973) is to spend billions of dollars building more prisons in order to house all of the new inmates incarcerated for mandatory minimum sentences for growing six marijuana plants.
On the other hand we have a newly ordained official opposition party, leaderless after its former leader died of cancer a few weeks back, that does not know whether it afoot or horseback while trying to accommodate a large new Quebec (and somewhat nationalist) contingent into what has always been a very federalist party. We also have a third party, also leaderless, that has been in search of an identity for the past seven years it has been out of power.
On second thought, maybe we should both move to France.
"Hang on while I log in to the James Webb telescope to search the known universe for who the fuck asked you." -- James Fell
Re: It Is To Weep...
Perhaps because they saw how that worked out for Reagan, the spending cuts never come, they still have to deal with the party of silliness.Ronald Reagan would have taken that deal in a heartbeat....
I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way. Mark Twain
Re: It Is To Weep...
Come to Aus.
We have a silly cow of a prime minister who seems to think that her job is to alienate as many of her supporters as she can, by pushing through legislation which will not achieve a damn thing for the country. We have an opposition leader who is so universally despised that he would come second to Gadaffi in a popularity poll. We are rich, rich I tell you, until China stops paying our bills and we realise our main export is dirt and tourists.
But it's sunny, and the beers are cold, so no worries, right!
We have a silly cow of a prime minister who seems to think that her job is to alienate as many of her supporters as she can, by pushing through legislation which will not achieve a damn thing for the country. We have an opposition leader who is so universally despised that he would come second to Gadaffi in a popularity poll. We are rich, rich I tell you, until China stops paying our bills and we realise our main export is dirt and tourists.
But it's sunny, and the beers are cold, so no worries, right!
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: It Is To Weep...
Or you could go to the UK.
But only if you are a Ethiopian terrorist who wants to kill as many Brits as you can, and are prepared to live in a Kensington mansion while the state pays you a few thousand pounds a day, and sends you a British butler and maids to look after you.
But only if you are a Ethiopian terrorist who wants to kill as many Brits as you can, and are prepared to live in a Kensington mansion while the state pays you a few thousand pounds a day, and sends you a British butler and maids to look after you.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: It Is To Weep...
That's a legitimate point Lib, but why don't we have a candidate who can make it?Perhaps because they saw how that worked out for Reagan, the spending cuts never come, they still have to deal with the party of silliness.
Is too much to ask to have a candidate who has enough intelligence and courage to say something like:
"Of course I would accept a 10-1 ratio of spending cuts to revenue increases. I'd gladly accept 5-1. It would be irrational to refuse a deal like that. IF the deal is legitimate. The history of this sort of thing is not encouraging; more often then not, we've seen the tax increases followed by broken promises on spending reduction. If I am elected President, I would not only accept a deal like that, I would hold the Congress accountable to make sure it actually happened."
How much better would an answer like that be than the blanket, "I wouldn't take 10 dollars in spending cuts for one dollar in tax increases" that sounds well, stupid, and creates a big time talking point for Team Obama?
"these guys are so fanatical they wouldn't even take 10 dollars in spending cuts if it meant one dollar in tax increases!"
Why hand a PR club like that to your opponent to beat you over the head with, when a perfectly legitimate counter argument can be made instead? And why don't we have a candidate who can make that kind of argument?
It's not rocket surgery....
Re: It Is To Weep...
You could always move to Canada.
Come to Aus.
I'm thinking of volunteering for the first manned mission to Mars....Or you could go to the UK.
Re: It Is To Weep...
It is nice to know we have company in poor democratic leadership, though. It has long been observed that people want the budget balanced, but just no reductions in any programs they like or tax increases on themselves. Guess if you go enough years like that, you get to the point where Mr. Rubber finally meets Mr. Road.
Re: It Is To Weep...
Good, because I'd hate to see the size of the scalpel...Lord Jim wrote:It's not rocket surgery....
"Hang on while I log in to the James Webb telescope to search the known universe for who the fuck asked you." -- James Fell
Re: It Is To Weep...
Seeing the in-laws again?Lord Jim wrote: I'm thinking of volunteering for the first manned mission to Mars....
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: It Is To Weep...
Another thread in which it's appropriate to quote Mencken on the US Presidency:
I predict 2012, if the GOP have their way.The larger the mob, the harder the test. In small areas, before small electorates, a first-rate man occasionally fights his way through, carrying even the mob with him by force of his personality. But when the field is nationwide, and the fight must be waged chiefly at second and third hand, and the force of personality cannot so readily make itself felt, then all the odds are on the man who is, intrinsically, the most devious and mediocre—the man who can most easily adeptly disperse the notion that his mind is a virtual vacuum.
The Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men. As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. ~ H.L. Mencken
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
~ Carl Sagan
Re: It Is To Weep...
Bachmann/Paul 2012 
"Hang on while I log in to the James Webb telescope to search the known universe for who the fuck asked you." -- James Fell
Re: It Is To Weep...
I've still got my fingers crossed that Palin will enter the race! If she does, I might even sign up for cable just so I can watch the electioneering.
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
~ Carl Sagan
Re: It Is To Weep...
And she can promise that, if she wins, she will carry on Michelle Obama's healthy food initiative by personally shooting all the meat that is served at the White House.
"Hang on while I log in to the James Webb telescope to search the known universe for who the fuck asked you." -- James Fell
Re: It Is To Weep...
The country in general, (outside of the micro-community here) know that the US has a spending problem, much much more than a revenue problem, this is what the election of last November was all about. The Rep party generically want their candidates to get that, therrefore, the candidates are telling them that they get it. They must win the primary first, then they can modify the message if necessary.Why hand a PR club like that to your opponent to beat you over the head with, when a perfectly legitimate counter argument can be made instead? And why don't we have a candidate who can make that kind of argument?
However, outside of the left leaning community and the MSM, I don't think this position is a loser.
I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way. Mark Twain
Re: It Is To Weep...
Just so long as she doesn't do it by hunting at the Democratic Caucus meetings.Scooter wrote:And she can promise that, if she wins, she will carry on Michelle Obama's healthy food initiative by personally shooting all the meat that is served at the White House.
Did I just issue a blood libel?
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
~ Carl Sagan
Re: It Is To Weep...
Wonderful quote BSG....
One of the great things about Mencken is that even though he wrote 90 years ago, his observations are timeless...
A few words about Rick Perry....
What an enormous disappointment he has been...
"A good lookin' rascal" (as Bill Clinton observed) with a great job creation story to tell, I had really hoped that he would be the kind of candidate I could support....
He had scarcely announced his candidacy before he began to, (in the immortal words of Claty Williams, another Texas Governor with foot-in-mouth disease) "Shoot himself in both feet, reload, and fire again"....
He followed that up in rapid succession with three debate performances that went from mediocre, to poor, to gawdawful....
He's been so bad that he's making Mitt Romney look like a Superstar....He made a huge initial splash, but with each public performance he's been so atrocious, Romney has cut his lead in the GOP preference polls to single digits...Give Rick a couple of more weeks, and he'll be trailing Newt Gingrich....
A GOP pundit early on described Perry as, "A less cerebral George W. Bush"....In other words, if GWB was too much of an egg head for you, you'll love Rick Perry....
At first I thought that was just a shot from a guy who just didn't like Perry personally...
I'm now beginning to think it may be spot on....
Brit Hume, hardly a left wing screamer, said that in the last debate, Perry "threw up all over himself"....William Kristol, (another guy who ain't wearin' a Che Guevara tee shirt) described his performance as so bad, that it "nearly disqualified him from the race".
Discussing an issue that should have been a complete lay up, going after Romney's flip flopping, the guy managed to make the issue his ineptitude in making the point, rather than Romney's record for changing positions, (a legitimate point to make that Romney has to deal with)
The man is hopeless. He's so bad he makes Mitt Romney look like Pericles....
One of the great things about Mencken is that even though he wrote 90 years ago, his observations are timeless...
A few words about Rick Perry....
What an enormous disappointment he has been...
"A good lookin' rascal" (as Bill Clinton observed) with a great job creation story to tell, I had really hoped that he would be the kind of candidate I could support....
He had scarcely announced his candidacy before he began to, (in the immortal words of Claty Williams, another Texas Governor with foot-in-mouth disease) "Shoot himself in both feet, reload, and fire again"....
He followed that up in rapid succession with three debate performances that went from mediocre, to poor, to gawdawful....
He's been so bad that he's making Mitt Romney look like a Superstar....He made a huge initial splash, but with each public performance he's been so atrocious, Romney has cut his lead in the GOP preference polls to single digits...Give Rick a couple of more weeks, and he'll be trailing Newt Gingrich....
A GOP pundit early on described Perry as, "A less cerebral George W. Bush"....In other words, if GWB was too much of an egg head for you, you'll love Rick Perry....
At first I thought that was just a shot from a guy who just didn't like Perry personally...
I'm now beginning to think it may be spot on....
Brit Hume, hardly a left wing screamer, said that in the last debate, Perry "threw up all over himself"....William Kristol, (another guy who ain't wearin' a Che Guevara tee shirt) described his performance as so bad, that it "nearly disqualified him from the race".
Discussing an issue that should have been a complete lay up, going after Romney's flip flopping, the guy managed to make the issue his ineptitude in making the point, rather than Romney's record for changing positions, (a legitimate point to make that Romney has to deal with)
The man is hopeless. He's so bad he makes Mitt Romney look like Pericles....
Last edited by Lord Jim on Thu Sep 29, 2011 6:52 am, edited 4 times in total.
Re: It Is To Weep...
Gee - that review makes me sorry I've been missing the debates. When's the next one?
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
~ Carl Sagan
Re: It Is To Weep...
Yes, I know you guys dream about that sort of thing, but if I were a betting man, I'd say Romney/Rubio has the inside track....Bachmann/Paul 2012
Re: It Is To Weep...
I don't dream about it, as in I don't hope that it becomes the ticket so that the Dems will win, but I do have fun imagining what the upcoming political season will be like with that set of nominees.
"Hang on while I log in to the James Webb telescope to search the known universe for who the fuck asked you." -- James Fell