"Where you get the idea that conservatives don't want high voter turnout is puzzling."
I've heard many say it. It comes out of talk radio, around the Internet. They dislike motor-voter (don't want those people who spend too much time around government offices voting with ease). The Democrats have massive, get out the vote drives. lots of voter registration. It's good work, I don't give a damn what people say.
I don't hear the same thing from the other side. You can call me on it if you want, but it's not the same priority.
I think there are conservatives who wouldn't say it, but would prefer that only property owners vote, or have their vote carry more weight.
Sorry, my mistake. I hadn't seen the "retraction story". I can only make an observation on the information I have. I stand corrected.
"That's not going to stop CSC from namecalling. He's on one of the nastiest partisan tears I've seen here in awhile."
Now that's the pot calling the kettle metal! I'm not a Republican and I have never supported Coleman. My position has always been that he is the lessor of two evils.
I don't think that football would be much of a distraction this year since the Vikes are sucking so bad now anyway. But that's for another board. I just wanna know if I can show up wasted so I have an excuse if my guy wins and he screws up in the future. I can then use that teenage excuse that I was fucked up so I really didn't know what I was doing anyway. ;-)
I do like the remote idea though. Secure internet is a good one too.
"America is a land where a citizen will cross the ocean to fight for democracy and won't cross the street to vote in a national election." ~ Bill Vaughn
Good to hear it's working, if it gets more people to the polls I'm all for it.
Last night I heard they expect voter turnout nationwide to be possibly below 40% I couldn't believe it. It's disgusting.
I caught Rather on Larry King and they were talking about it. King asked Rather if they'd be a little less quick on the trigger since they called Florida 2 hours early, Rather seemed uncomfortable and said they wouldn't be making that mistake again.
One thing he did say that I agree with him 100% on is this. He was lamenting as well the low turnout. He said essentially "You know, one would think that 9-11 would make folks realize the gift of freedom, if we can send our young men and women around the world to defend that right, the least you the voter can do is show up to vote and those who don't ought to be ashamed."
The quote isn't verbatim but I couldn't agree more with Dan on that.
Low voter trunout is no big deal. It is quite likely that many of the people that don't vote are not interested and any input they have would not be helpful. Also, many people may not vote because they may be satisfied no matter what the outcome is.
Well I voted this morning on my way to work and the turnout looked pretty high.
I asked one of the folks working and she said that there were people waiting in line when they opened, it was good to hear. It took me about 20 min. total.
The supplemental ballot was wierd. It looked like a post it note almost. The box was kind of funny too but They are going to have to hand count all of them, yikes, a daunting task for sure.
There was an elderly women in front of me in line who was asking me questions because it was hard for her to read the ballot. I felt uncomfortable giving her any advice so I hailed a poll worker down to assist her. On the way to work I got to thinking, how do blind people vote ? They must have an official do it for them I guess. I didn't see how they helped this woman since I was up next but I am assuming they helped her.
btw: I'm writing in Walter Mondale for "Soil & Water supervisor" in my district.
LOL ! DAMN, I didn't think about that.
He's got my vote for Soil & Water supervisor. His slogan could be "Dirt and H20 in 02" Go Walt ! (What the hell do they do anyway ?) Don't you find it odd that we elect a posisition like that and yet appoint the met council ?
Did anyone vote for the judges that there was a challenger for ? I must admit I don't know alot about the judicial races and it seems well, a bit like Iraq when I see someone running unopposed.
Well either way you slice it and no matter who wins or loses I think we can all give thanks that there's only a few more hours left of campaign ads ! WooooHooo.
So I'm out there in the darkness allowing Old Smokey to lustily poop when I hear a commotion from a house down the alley.
I check it out and see a neighbor, known to be a staunch Democrat, standing on the edge of his deck, about even with the top of his basement window.
"What's up, Carl?"
"Haven't you heard? Those damned Republicans won control of EVERYTHING. Suicide's the only answer. I'm ending it all. Goodbye cruel world!"
"But, Carl, you're two and a half feet above the ground."
"I know. But we Democrats are weak and fragile. The economy's a mess, corruption is epidemic, and we're going into a bad war. And still we couldn't win. I figure I'll disintegrate when I splat on my lawn."
"But did ANY Republicans win anywhere around here, where folks have long experience with which party stands for what, and where special-interest attack ads don't fool anyone?"
"And didn't those Democrats who uncompromisingly, truly militantly fight for common people's needs win, both locally and nationally? You can't judge last night, or the future, by the fate of wishy-washy DNC types who're closet Republicans in any case.
"Besides, now the GOP is in complete control to royally ruin the country, in time for 2004 and the inevitable center-left resurgence.
"Come on down, buddy. Think of your wife and kids. How would they feel if they found your teeth, hair and eyeballs littering the yard?"
"Well...I guess you're right. Maybe this is just the darkness before the dawn."
"Speaking of which -- isn't that a pretty sunrise?"
"Speaking of which -- isn't that a pretty sunrise?"
It sure is if you look at the headlines across the nation. No more gridlock in congress, maybe we can get a budget out of the senate now, maybe we can get some senate votes on judges, etc.
Well it's over, I'm glad it is and it was a good battle.
What happened last night was history making, history was not on the Republicans side and I think all were surprised. I thought that the R's would keep the house and perhaps draw even in the senate with the tie going to Cheney. I didn't expect it to be the dramatic event that it turned out to be. The Republicans haven't had a situation like this very often over the last 50 years. It's an odd posistion for the left to be in as odd as it is for the right I suppose.
For those from the left reading this I have heard some trying to look at what it was that the Republicans did to win in such a dramatic fashion. Instead, you and your party and it's leaders should be looking at what they need to do instead of blaming Republicans for your woes.
There were many tight races but nationally and locally what was it that put it over the edge in favor of Republicans ? I've heard the talking heads offer differing opinions. I think it was a combination of alot of things. Frankly I think that many people trust R's more with matters of national security (and many polls support that)
The biggest thing or reason I believe they won big is that people have looked around after 50 years of Democrats having more power or the majority for most of those 50 years, they are looking for balance and have said, "where has it gotten us ?"
Democrats are good at pronouncing ideas that sound great until they are examined. Many have been tried over 30 years and have failed. The left is running on those same failed policies. That's not to say the left hasn't done some wonderful things, they have. The problem is that from those good ideas the extremist element was able to take those well intentioned ideas and morph them into things never intended for. Welfare, S.S, etc. People are working more and more evry year and all the ideas are great until they have to be paid for.
Locally I think the attitudes and tactics of the left has definately hurt their cause. I think they were pretty confident. On top of the national trends we locally had Another Mondale and Another Humphrey loss in the state, names that had been institutions in this state. Why ? The rally didn't help and the attitudes that really showed the true nature of the DFL. The nice guy inclusive and tolerant values they claim to espouse weren't present that night and I don't believe they ever really were. Their constant herald is about mean right wingers, their actions eclipsed many of the things I've seen. Their desire to gain or hold power became apparent to many through the actions of Lautenburg, Luther, etc. etc. the voting fraud and the arrogance didn't help matters.
They'll be back, they will figure it out and the balance of power will shift back and forth as it was intended to be. The republicans won a great victory but also have a great burden, I hope they don't squander it.
Too many of them, under DNC and Gephardt misguidance, schmooz with the power structure rather than fight the power.
They can't inspire working people (America's wage-earning majority) so long as they CONSPIRE with Republicans to jointly keep a lid on the emergence of Wellstone-style populism.
I'm guessing it won't be long before some Democrats start blaming Greens again for their loss.
"If you'd have stuck with the party, we'd have won."
C'mon.
No genuinelly progressive-minded soul will stick with a vapid, wavering entity that's abandoned its liberal, fighting, historical essence to become the flavorless chewed gum of the Clinton era.
There needs to be a purge of Democratic leadership.
Out with the mugwump fencesitters and members of mixed, Repub-Demo golf foursomes.
I only hope that the moderates will make Certain that they don't take the country too far to the right, or the backlash will be swift and lasting.
As do I. I hope the Republicans don't see these gains as a blank check to do whatever they wish or the pendulum will swing the other way.
For instance... If Roe vs. Wade was overturned? Women will turn out in numbers never seen before, and vote them out of office, without question.
I doubt Roe/Wade will ever be overturned but I do hope Republicans make some gains in that area. I'd love them to get rid of government financial support for abortion. I'd love them to get rid of late term abortions. I'd love them to inact parental notification & waiting periods.......
, into an environment where a madman might unleash untold numbers of chem/bio weapons on them....
All the more reason to take him out.
The hard-core religious-right had better be kept at arms length, or the Republican Party will lose, big time.
Maybe that's what we need. Wellstone was an extremist and he did all right.
Then many women would finally have their voices heard. Big thanks would go to those in big government who worked long and hard all those years to reverse a bad decision.
All the more reason to take him out.
The voice of America has spoken loud and clear that they support this.
I only hope that the moderates will make Certain that they don't take the country too far to the right, or the backlash will be swift and lasting.
I can pretty much agree with this too. There are more moderates so I don't see that as a problem.
What demographic comprises the overwhelming majority of adult Americans?
Wage-earning workers.
Who'll get squashed if Bush's Big Business agenda steamrolls ahead without any effective opposition?
Wage-earning workers.
Conservatism being what it is -- namely an ideological facilitator for special interests ripping off common people -- ultimately darned near everyone is going to suffer.
Capitalist high rollers will get the gold, but we'll get the shaft.
Lower pay stemming from union busting.
Higher taxes for the Little Guy because Mr. Moneybags is evading like a fiend.
Obliterated social services and safety-net protection, as corporate welfare and military trough-feeding escalate, robbing revenue from popular needs.
The economic devastation that comes from ceaseless guns-before-butter war making.
Corruption, prejudice, repression, etc.
Seems to me that the Democrats would have a strong future, with much success, if they followed Nancy Pelosi's prescription and became authentic, battling champions of...the wage-earning majority.
Remember, most independents are a part of that majority as well.
Liberalism being what it is -- namely an ideological facilitator for special interests ripping off hard working Americans in an attempt to impose their totalitarian goals -- ultimately darned near everyone is going to suffer.
Remember your workplace rights - because you're about to lose them!
The Bush Administration is campaigning in Congress for a Homeland Security Department that strips federal employees of their union rights and civil service protections. Under the Bush plan, if a manager arbitrarily downgrades your position and pay, passes you over for a promotion you truly deserve, or fires you because he or she doesn't like your political beliefs, there will no longer be a union or civil service law to protect you. It will be "their way" or the highway.
Why? Bush argues that the Homeland Security Department needs to have the "flexibility" to get the job done. But "management flexibility" is doublespeak for management freedom from unions who advocate fairness and taxpayers who demand that federal managers answer for their actions. Just ask the 1000 Department of Justice employees who petitioned for union representation and then, on the same day, under an Executive Order signed by President Bush, were stripped of their union rights and civil service protections - all in the name of national security.
AFGE fully supports the goal of protecting America. It's what AFGE members do everyday. Before, during and after September 11 federal employees -- from border patrol agents and FEMA employees to civilian workers in the Department of Defense -- have worked to protect the freedoms Americans hold dear. Not one complaint has ever been raised that their status, collective bargaining rights or civil service procedures have ever interfered with our nation's security.
Our homeland security will be best served by maintaining our nation's proud history of a civil service independent of politics and cronyism. Denying federal employees their basic freedoms at work will not make the U.S. safer - only less democratic...
--American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO
Plus it'll set as much of a nationwide precedent for busting unions and attacking workers' rights as Reagan's mass dismissal of PATCO strikers did back in '81.
All to further the Republican purpose of "reducing labor costs" to achieve more exploitatively-derived profit for Big Business.
There's an old farmer from one of our outlying communities who'll write a letter to the editor of the Superior Daily Telegram before each election.
He'll always point out, using historical examples, how the GOP "is, was, and always will be the party of the rich".
Obviously so.
For you'll never hear a Republican exclaim:
"Hey, let's raise the minimum wage! Ordinary workers are the backbone of America. Let's give them decent pay, and good benefits, so they'll become consumer confident and fire up the economy with their purchases."
Republicans never think of mass betterment, and true advance for all of America. It's always "us", at "their" expense.
And they do it with a skewed sense of false liberty.
Never wanting to have their "freedom" imposed upon, no matter how destructive its exercise is to public welfare and the common good.
It's a lot like smokers narrowly insisting on their right to huff and puff in public places, when the real issue is protecting the health of restaurant and bar employees, etc., who are forced to breathe other people's second-smoke on a constant, massive, dangerous basis.
"Hey, let's raise the minimum wage! Ordinary workers are the backbone of America. Let's give them decent pay, and good benefits, so they'll become consumer confident and fire up the economy with their purchases."
let's raise the minimum wage to $35 per hour, Thus a 40 hour week gives anyone who works $70,000 a year!
That will make us competitive with the 3rd world.
<golly gosh I left out vacations and benefits!>
Gosh why stop at $35?? Every American who works could be a millionaire! $3500 for a Big Mac? Who cares I'm rich!
"Republicans never think of mass betterment, and true advance for all of America. It's always "us", at "their" expense."
Your logic is backwards, it should read: LIBERALS never think of mass betterment, and true advance for all of America. It's always "us", at "their" expense.
"Where you get the idea that conservatives don't want high voter turnout is puzzling."
I've heard many say it. It comes out of talk radio, around the Internet. They dislike motor-voter (don't want those people who spend too much time around government offices voting with ease). The Democrats have massive, get out the vote drives. lots of voter registration. It's good work, I don't give a damn what people say.
I don't hear the same thing from the other side. You can call me on it if you want, but it's not the same priority.
I think there are conservatives who wouldn't say it, but would prefer that only property owners vote, or have their vote carry more weight.
Sorry, my mistake. I hadn't seen the "retraction story". I can only make an observation on the information I have. I stand corrected.
"That's not going to stop CSC from namecalling. He's on one of the nastiest partisan tears I've seen here in awhile."
Now that's the pot calling the kettle metal! I'm not a Republican and I have never supported Coleman. My position has always been that he is the lessor of two evils.
I admit to being partisan.
But I have not yet called the whole party racist.
And I've said more good things about Norm Coleman than most of his supporters here.
They could let people vote during the commercials of football games with their remote.
I don't think that football would be much of a distraction this year since the Vikes are sucking so bad now anyway. But that's for another board. I just wanna know if I can show up wasted so I have an excuse if my guy wins and he screws up in the future. I can then use that teenage excuse that I was fucked up so I really didn't know what I was doing anyway. ;-)
I do like the remote idea though. Secure internet is a good one too.
"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferior." ~ Plato
"America is a land where a citizen will cross the ocean to fight for democracy and won't cross the street to vote in a national election." ~ Bill Vaughn
Vote for the man who promises least; he’ll be the least disappointing. --Bernard Baruch
Political Quotes:
http://www.ronholland.com/quotes/politicalquotes.htm#Voting%20and%20Democracy
Clinton saw in the anthrax vaccine a way to stick it to the military he "loathed," literally, while handing a pot of gold to an important political ally. It was win-win for the Clintonistas, but lose-lose for our finest servicemen and women.
Bill,
Good to hear it's working, if it gets more people to the polls I'm all for it.
Last night I heard they expect voter turnout nationwide to be possibly below 40% I couldn't believe it. It's disgusting.
I caught Rather on Larry King and they were talking about it. King asked Rather if they'd be a little less quick on the trigger since they called Florida 2 hours early, Rather seemed uncomfortable and said they wouldn't be making that mistake again.
One thing he did say that I agree with him 100% on is this. He was lamenting as well the low turnout. He said essentially "You know, one would think that 9-11 would make folks realize the gift of freedom, if we can send our young men and women around the world to defend that right, the least you the voter can do is show up to vote and those who don't ought to be ashamed."
The quote isn't verbatim but I couldn't agree more with Dan on that.
Low voter trunout is no big deal. It is quite likely that many of the people that don't vote are not interested and any input they have would not be helpful. Also, many people may not vote because they may be satisfied no matter what the outcome is.
People should vote, even if they put in a write in.
btw: I'm writing in Walter Mondale for "Soil & Water supervisor" in my district.
Well I voted this morning on my way to work and the turnout looked pretty high.
I asked one of the folks working and she said that there were people waiting in line when they opened, it was good to hear. It took me about 20 min. total.
The supplemental ballot was wierd. It looked like a post it note almost. The box was kind of funny too but They are going to have to hand count all of them, yikes, a daunting task for sure.
There was an elderly women in front of me in line who was asking me questions because it was hard for her to read the ballot. I felt uncomfortable giving her any advice so I hailed a poll worker down to assist her. On the way to work I got to thinking, how do blind people vote ? They must have an official do it for them I guess. I didn't see how they helped this woman since I was up next but I am assuming they helped her.
People should vote, even if they put in a write in.
Should people vote if they don't have a clue about the issues or the candidates? Should people vote if they don't care about the outcome?
Should people vote if they don't have a clue about the issues or the candidates? Should people vote if they don't care about the outcome?
Yes. We should start a party called "Totally Uninformed & Apathetic".
Our platform will be simply to appeal to ignorant, lazy & stupid people.
We'll offer then cigarettes & welfare checks for our votes.
Of course when we're elected we'll renege and give the cigarettes & wellfare to our corporate special interests that got us elected.
Our quirky motto will be: "When in doubt, vote TUA".
LOL ! DAMN, I didn't think about that.
He's got my vote for Soil & Water supervisor. His slogan could be "Dirt and H20 in 02" Go Walt ! (What the hell do they do anyway ?) Don't you find it odd that we elect a posisition like that and yet appoint the met council ?
Did anyone vote for the judges that there was a challenger for ? I must admit I don't know alot about the judicial races and it seems well, a bit like Iraq when I see someone running unopposed.
Don't you find it odd that we elect a posisition like that and yet appoint the met council?
No, I don't find that odd. I find that criminal.
Well either way you slice it and no matter who wins or loses I think we can all give thanks that there's only a few more hours left of campaign ads ! WooooHooo.
(What the hell do they do anyway ?)
when i think of them the first thing that comes to mind is raw sewage. i'm not sure why though.
No, I don't find that odd. I find that criminal.
couldn't have said it better myself.
James Carville explaining the GOP sweep.
With 45.03% of precincts in, Republican NORM COLEMAN 50.15%, Democratic-Farmer-Labor WALTER F. MONDALE 45.94%
Go Norm!
FOX News is claiming that the GOP regained control of the senate.
I wonder if Jumping Jeffords is pissing his pants about now?
- Republicans take control of Senate, keep control of House, CNN projects.
http://www.cwdzyns.com/dancingbush/dancingbush.swf
When I don't know who to vote for (or if there are only Democrats and Republicans running), I write in myself. Building name recognition. ;-)
So I'm out there in the darkness allowing Old Smokey to lustily poop when I hear a commotion from a house down the alley.
I check it out and see a neighbor, known to be a staunch Democrat, standing on the edge of his deck, about even with the top of his basement window.
"What's up, Carl?"
"Haven't you heard? Those damned Republicans won control of EVERYTHING. Suicide's the only answer. I'm ending it all. Goodbye cruel world!"
"But, Carl, you're two and a half feet above the ground."
"I know. But we Democrats are weak and fragile. The economy's a mess, corruption is epidemic, and we're going into a bad war. And still we couldn't win. I figure I'll disintegrate when I splat on my lawn."
"But did ANY Republicans win anywhere around here, where folks have long experience with which party stands for what, and where special-interest attack ads don't fool anyone?"
"And didn't those Democrats who uncompromisingly, truly militantly fight for common people's needs win, both locally and nationally? You can't judge last night, or the future, by the fate of wishy-washy DNC types who're closet Republicans in any case.
"Besides, now the GOP is in complete control to royally ruin the country, in time for 2004 and the inevitable center-left resurgence.
"Come on down, buddy. Think of your wife and kids. How would they feel if they found your teeth, hair and eyeballs littering the yard?"
"Well...I guess you're right. Maybe this is just the darkness before the dawn."
"Speaking of which -- isn't that a pretty sunrise?"
"Speaking of which -- isn't that a pretty sunrise?"
It sure is if you look at the headlines across the nation. No more gridlock in congress, maybe we can get a budget out of the senate now, maybe we can get some senate votes on judges, etc.
Come on Republicans, don't screw it up.
:-)
If it doesn't matter, why were the Democrats so desperate to win?
Well it's over, I'm glad it is and it was a good battle.
What happened last night was history making, history was not on the Republicans side and I think all were surprised. I thought that the R's would keep the house and perhaps draw even in the senate with the tie going to Cheney. I didn't expect it to be the dramatic event that it turned out to be. The Republicans haven't had a situation like this very often over the last 50 years. It's an odd posistion for the left to be in as odd as it is for the right I suppose.
For those from the left reading this I have heard some trying to look at what it was that the Republicans did to win in such a dramatic fashion. Instead, you and your party and it's leaders should be looking at what they need to do instead of blaming Republicans for your woes.
There were many tight races but nationally and locally what was it that put it over the edge in favor of Republicans ? I've heard the talking heads offer differing opinions. I think it was a combination of alot of things. Frankly I think that many people trust R's more with matters of national security (and many polls support that)
The biggest thing or reason I believe they won big is that people have looked around after 50 years of Democrats having more power or the majority for most of those 50 years, they are looking for balance and have said, "where has it gotten us ?"
Democrats are good at pronouncing ideas that sound great until they are examined. Many have been tried over 30 years and have failed. The left is running on those same failed policies. That's not to say the left hasn't done some wonderful things, they have. The problem is that from those good ideas the extremist element was able to take those well intentioned ideas and morph them into things never intended for. Welfare, S.S, etc. People are working more and more evry year and all the ideas are great until they have to be paid for.
Locally I think the attitudes and tactics of the left has definately hurt their cause. I think they were pretty confident. On top of the national trends we locally had Another Mondale and Another Humphrey loss in the state, names that had been institutions in this state. Why ? The rally didn't help and the attitudes that really showed the true nature of the DFL. The nice guy inclusive and tolerant values they claim to espouse weren't present that night and I don't believe they ever really were. Their constant herald is about mean right wingers, their actions eclipsed many of the things I've seen. Their desire to gain or hold power became apparent to many through the actions of Lautenburg, Luther, etc. etc. the voting fraud and the arrogance didn't help matters.
They'll be back, they will figure it out and the balance of power will shift back and forth as it was intended to be. The republicans won a great victory but also have a great burden, I hope they don't squander it.
Why'd the Democrats destruct?
It's really quite plain.
Too many of them, under DNC and Gephardt misguidance, schmooz with the power structure rather than fight the power.
They can't inspire working people (America's wage-earning majority) so long as they CONSPIRE with Republicans to jointly keep a lid on the emergence of Wellstone-style populism.
I'm guessing it won't be long before some Democrats start blaming Greens again for their loss.
"If you'd have stuck with the party, we'd have won."
C'mon.
No genuinelly progressive-minded soul will stick with a vapid, wavering entity that's abandoned its liberal, fighting, historical essence to become the flavorless chewed gum of the Clinton era.
There needs to be a purge of Democratic leadership.
Out with the mugwump fencesitters and members of mixed, Repub-Demo
golf foursomes.
Bring on the Desciples of Paul!
I only hope that the moderates will make Certain that they don't take the country too far to the right, or the backlash will be swift and lasting.
As do I. I hope the Republicans don't see these gains as a blank check to do whatever they wish or the pendulum will swing the other way.
For instance... If Roe vs. Wade was overturned? Women will turn out in numbers never seen before, and vote them out of office, without question.
I doubt Roe/Wade will ever be overturned but I do hope Republicans make some gains in that area. I'd love them to get rid of government financial support for abortion. I'd love them to get rid of late term abortions. I'd love them to inact parental notification & waiting periods.......
, into an environment where a madman might unleash untold numbers of chem/bio weapons on them....
All the more reason to take him out.
The hard-core religious-right had better be kept at arms length, or the Republican Party will lose, big time.
Maybe that's what we need. Wellstone was an extremist and he did all right.
If Roe vs. Wade was overturned? Women will turn out in numbers never seen before, and vote them out of office, without question.
If Roe v. Wade is overturned women can take up the issue with their state legislatures. That is how it should be.
Then many women would finally have their voices heard. Big thanks would go to those in big government who worked long and hard all those years to reverse a bad decision.
The voice of America has spoken loud and clear that they support this.
I can pretty much agree with this too. There are more moderates so I don't see that as a problem.
She has said that Democrats must move further left and shape themselves into a more cohesive group that is distinctly different from the GOP.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,69423,00.html
If the democrats do that a lot of moderates will leave the party and possibly join the republicans. It could be the end of the democrat party.
What demographic comprises the overwhelming majority of adult Americans?
Wage-earning workers.
Who'll get squashed if Bush's Big Business agenda steamrolls ahead
without any effective opposition?
Wage-earning workers.
Conservatism being what it is -- namely an ideological facilitator for special interests ripping off common people -- ultimately darned near everyone is going to suffer.
Capitalist high rollers will get the gold, but we'll get the shaft.
Lower pay stemming from union busting.
Higher taxes for the Little Guy because Mr. Moneybags is evading like a fiend.
Obliterated social services and safety-net protection, as corporate welfare and military trough-feeding escalate, robbing revenue from popular needs.
The economic devastation that comes from ceaseless guns-before-butter war making.
Corruption, prejudice, repression, etc.
Seems to me that the Democrats would have a strong future, with much success, if they followed Nancy Pelosi's prescription and became
authentic, battling champions of...the wage-earning majority.
Remember, most independents are a part of that majority as well.
Liberalism being what it is -- namely an ideological facilitator for special interests ripping off hard working Americans in an attempt to impose their totalitarian goals -- ultimately darned near everyone is going to suffer.
Progress:
Imposing the Liberal agenda
Reform:
Robbing Peter to pay Paul.
:-)
That was fair. I don't agree with the "Big Brother" mentality currently coming out of Washington.
The blame thing I don't understand.
I suppose when fold can't argue in a rational manner he has to throw out names like "Nazi." Just another example of your limited capabilities, fold.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,69297,00.html
Thanks Jethro, that was interesting.
I especially liked those Mondale Democrats that thought Coleman to be too Liberal.
LOL!
After last week's drubbing in the midterm elections, the Abortion Party (formerly known as the Democratic Party) is looking for direction. Happily, both the party brass and base are coalescing around the idea that the Democrats were not adequately insane.
What's the opposite of pro?
con
Then what's the opposite of progress?
Someone page me??????
HOMELAND SECURITY
Remember your workplace rights - because you're about to lose them!
The Bush Administration is campaigning in Congress for a Homeland Security Department that strips federal employees of their union rights and civil service protections. Under the Bush plan, if a manager arbitrarily downgrades your position and pay, passes you over for a promotion you truly deserve, or fires you because he or she doesn't like your political beliefs, there will no longer be a union or civil service law to protect you. It will be "their way" or the highway.
Why? Bush argues that the Homeland Security Department needs to have the "flexibility" to get the job done. But "management flexibility" is doublespeak for management freedom from unions who advocate fairness and taxpayers who demand that federal managers answer for their actions. Just ask the 1000 Department of Justice employees who petitioned for union representation and then, on the same day, under an Executive Order signed by President Bush, were stripped of their union rights and civil service protections - all in the name of national security.
AFGE fully supports the goal of protecting America. It's what AFGE members do everyday. Before, during and after September 11 federal employees -- from border patrol agents and FEMA employees to civilian workers in the Department of Defense -- have worked to protect the freedoms Americans hold dear. Not one complaint has ever been raised that their status, collective bargaining rights or civil service procedures have ever interfered with our nation's security.
Our homeland security will be best served by maintaining our nation's proud history of a civil service independent of politics and cronyism. Denying federal employees their basic freedoms at work will not make the U.S. safer - only less democratic...
--American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO
Plus it'll set as much of a nationwide precedent for busting unions and attacking workers' rights as Reagan's mass dismissal of PATCO strikers did back in '81.
All to further the Republican purpose of "reducing labor costs" to
achieve more exploitatively-derived profit for Big Business.
There's an old farmer from one of our outlying communities who'll
write a letter to the editor of the Superior Daily Telegram before each election.
He'll always point out, using historical examples, how the GOP "is, was, and always will be the party of the rich".
Obviously so.
For you'll never hear a Republican exclaim:
"Hey, let's raise the minimum wage! Ordinary
workers are the backbone of America. Let's give them decent
pay, and good benefits, so they'll become consumer confident and
fire up the economy with their purchases."
Republicans never think of mass betterment, and true advance for all of America. It's always "us", at "their" expense.
And they do it with a skewed sense of false liberty.
Never wanting to have their "freedom" imposed upon, no matter how
destructive its exercise is to public welfare and the common good.
It's a lot like smokers narrowly insisting on their
right to huff and puff in public places, when the real
issue is protecting the health of restaurant and bar
employees, etc., who are forced to breathe other people's
second-smoke on a constant, massive, dangerous basis.
"So! Find another job!"
Selfishness.
It's killing America.
Great
Dennis,
let's raise the minimum wage to $35 per hour, Thus a 40 hour week gives anyone who works $70,000 a year!
That will make us competitive with the 3rd world.
<golly gosh I left out vacations and benefits!>
Gosh why stop at $35?? Every American who works could be a millionaire! $3500 for a Big Mac? Who cares I'm rich!
Dennis:
"Republicans never think of mass betterment, and true advance for all of America. It's always "us", at "their" expense."
Your logic is backwards, it should read: LIBERALS never think of mass betterment, and true advance for all of America. It's always "us", at "their" expense.
Doesn't matter to me, anyway.
I've got HUGE talent.
I'm a dazzling tambourine virtuoso with the new rawk band, Freddy Federal and the Ephedrines.
We'll be bigger than the Beatles.
I'm gonna get so stinkin' rich...