Laughably, GOP wants to blame divisiveness on Obama
“Republicans are seeking to portray President Obama as the divider-in-chief, arguing the presidential candidate who trumpeted hope and change four years ago is now running an increasingly negative campaign.
Their chief argument is that Obama’s attacks on the wealthy are meant to incite class warfare and a heightened us-versus-them mentality never seen before in present-day politics.
But Republicans also point to Democrats’ “war on women” and the contraception mandate in Obama’s healthcare law, which they argue is an attack on religious freedom.
Even the lead-up to the anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden over the last week was used by a sharp-elbowed Obama to divide the nation, Republicans say.”
Politically speaking, it’s a smart if cynical strategy. Millions of Americans are indeed worried about how divisive our debate and rhetoric have become, and how difficult it has become to reach compromise. They understand at a gut level that it’s an unhealthy state of affairs, and that if allowed to fester it could threaten the nation’s long-term security, prosperity and unity.
Among Republicans, the fact that the divisiveness is almost entirely their own creation doesn’t faze them in the least. Like a spouse abuser who blames his violence on his victim, the Republican Party hopes to blame the whole mess all on Obama.
The truth is, Obama infuriates the Republicans simply by waking up as president each morning. Under the rubric of “taking our country back,” they have challenged his status as an American, they have impugned his faith and they have even questioned his loyalty and patriotism. From the very beginning, they have pursued a conscious strategy of refusing to compromise in any way whatsoever, to the point that they have purged any in their own camp who dare to even suggest such a course. (See Lugar, Richard)
There is no better illustration of that dynamic than what happened with the health-care debate.
When he came into office, Obama abandoned the more liberal public-option approach to health insurance that he had campaigned upon in the ‘08 race. Instead, he embraced an approach that had been pioneered by a Republican governor in Massachusetts, that had been championed for almost a decade by a former Republican speaker of the House from Georgia and that had been created by the most important conservative think tank in Washington.
But what was his reward for seeking common ground? Instead of winning bipartisan support through his embrace of the health-care mandate, Obama found himself condemned as a socialist who was out to undermine the foundation of American society. And that pattern has held throughout the course of his presidency.
Even then, it took Obama a while to come to the realization that no matter what he did, there would be no compromise. The only thing that his opponents wanted from him was his surrender and then his disappearance. That was their price for “unity,” and now they want to blame him for refusing to pay it.
– Jay Bookman
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994 comments Add your comment
Towncrier
May 3rd, 2012
1:35 pm
Hah!
Thulsa Doom
May 3rd, 2012
1:41 pm
“Among Republicans, the fact that the divisiveness is almost entirely their own creation doesn’t faze them in the least”
My God that is funny. Is the lib manufactured “war on women” not divisive?
getalife
May 3rd, 2012
1:42 pm
Told ya facts don’t matter this cycle.
When the cons believe every word they say with no questions asked and corporate media give them a free pass, they don’t have to tell the truth or use facts.
Fred ™
May 3rd, 2012
1:43 pm
Thulsa, sometimes all I can do after reading one of your posts is shake my head and say, “Just Damn.”
Wanna go have a beer?
Normal Free, Plain and Simple
May 3rd, 2012
1:44 pm
This has always been a GOP strategy…take your biggest weakness and try to turn it into your opponents weakness…in other words another case of smoke and mirrors….
getalife
May 3rd, 2012
1:45 pm
gop strategy:
We lie.
Talking Head
May 3rd, 2012
1:47 pm
Divisivness? Why not go after him on his record? Dude is a clown.
Simple Truths
May 3rd, 2012
1:47 pm
Here are the titles Jay did not use for this post:
Laughably, Democrats wants to blame divisiveness on Republicans
Laughably, Democrats wants to blame divisiveness on the Tea Party
Laughably, Democrats wants to blame divisiveness on Wall Street
Laughably, Democrats wants to blame divisiveness on Fox News
Laughably, Democrats wants to blame divisiveness on talk radio
Right, Jay. The Republicans are almost entirely to blame. It is almost entirely their own creation. The Democrats have done no blaming…
Normal Free, Plain and Simple
May 3rd, 2012
1:48 pm
Thulsa is so full of “GOP fervor”, I bet his eyes are brown..”lib manufactured “war on women”, I ask you….Libs aren’t closing womens health clinics and making Federally legal abortions harder to get now are they?
Joe Hussein Mama
May 3rd, 2012
1:49 pm
Jay — “Under the rubric of “taking our country back,” they have challenged his status as an American, they have impugned his faith and they have even questioned his loyalty and patriotism.”
They don’t do it just to the President; they also do it to any Republican (whether leader or individual voter) who dares to step out of line by asking the wrong questions.
One jackass told me “you ain’t no veteran no more” because I had the temerity to display a “Veterans for Kerry” bumper sticker on my car. Silly me; I figured my DD 214 made me a veteran, not my voting record.
Normal Free, Plain and Simple
May 3rd, 2012
1:49 pm
Laughably, Democrats wants to blame divisiveness on Republicans
Laughably, Democrats wants to blame divisiveness on the Tea Party
Laughably, Democrats wants to blame divisiveness on Wall Street
Laughably, Democrats wants to blame divisiveness on Fox News
Laughably, Democrats wants to blame divisiveness on talk radio
Hmmmmm, sounds like the truth to me…
getalife
May 3rd, 2012
1:49 pm
We Independents think being lied to is being disrespected.
An insult to our intelligence.
Their strategy to just lie will never work for us.
Fred ™
May 3rd, 2012
1:49 pm
Normal: I missed your question from downstairs. I had posted it but I’ll post it again lol. Der Bier Garten. Now I’m on my way to E48th street market.
http://www.derbiergarten.com/
Logical Dude
May 3rd, 2012
1:49 pm
I’m shocked SHOCKED!!!! that there is gambling going on in this establishment!!
(here are your winnings sir)
Thank you.
Thulsa Doom
May 3rd, 2012
1:50 pm
Fred I guess we just keep on amusing each other. Rain check on the beer.
Oscar
May 3rd, 2012
1:50 pm
GOP was the same way when Clinton was president. Spent forty million trying to dig up something that they could use to impeach him.
Problem Obama is a democract, made worse that he is biracial.
JKL2
May 3rd, 2012
1:51 pm
I guess you guess slept thru the last decade when it was nothing but Bush bashing 24/7. I guess the “great uniter” needs to get in the back of the bus.
Adam
May 3rd, 2012
1:52 pm
Like a spouse abuser who blames his violence on his victim, the Republican Party hopes to blame the whole mess all on Obama.
EXACTLY.
Peadawg - I'm a native Georgian capable of analytical thought and rational thinking
May 3rd, 2012
1:52 pm
“Right, Jay. The Republicans are almost entirely to blame. It is almost entirely their own creation. The Democrats have done no blaming…”
While Jay’s article is mostly spot, you do have a point.
People that wear blinders make me sad.
Joe Hussein Mama
May 3rd, 2012
1:53 pm
Normal — “This has always been a GOP strategy…take your biggest weakness and try to turn it into your opponents weakness…”
That was one of Karl Rove’s signature plays. The GOP is still running that game, even though Rove’s not front-and-center in the GOP’s black ops unit any longer.
JOE COOL~DoWnToWn THUG
May 3rd, 2012
1:54 pm
Im confused as to how CONs try and flip this “war on women”…. they write bills every dayum month trying to RESTRICT a woman from making some type of choice. They run around advocating closing PP which is a clinic many women use.
Peadawg - I'm a native Georgian capable of analytical thought and rational thinking
May 3rd, 2012
1:54 pm
“We Independents”
Dude, getalife, stop. I’m laughing so hard my stomach is starting to hurt.
JKL2
May 3rd, 2012
1:54 pm
oscar- GOP was the same way when Clinton was president. Spent forty million trying to dig up something that they could use to impeach him.
I guess that would have erased the deficit if they hadn’t done it. What exactly did Clinton get disbarred for?
MoveOn.org, nothing to see here.
Simple Truths
May 3rd, 2012
1:54 pm
“While Jay’s article is mostly spot, you do have a point.
People that wear blinders make me sad.”
Peadawg, I guess Jay has a pretty good set of blinders.
Jay
May 3rd, 2012
1:54 pm
Of course both sides engage in “blaming,” Simple. It’s standard, even necessary, in politics.
But “blaming” does not extend to implications that the president is trying to weaken his country, that he’s not really “one of us” and that any sort of compromise with him is itself an act of disloyalty.
That kind of thing is very new and very dangerous.
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
May 3rd, 2012
1:55 pm
The republicans are blessed actually.
There is little or no devisiveness in what former President describes as the GOP base.
Remember?
The haves and the have mores.
getalife
May 3rd, 2012
1:55 pm
Thanks pea.
Adam
May 3rd, 2012
1:56 pm
My brief take on divisiveness in general:
“You’re being divisive” arguments make the problem being discussed seem insignificant, effectively making it seem as though no problem exists or is just not worth dealing with. In this way, this argument mirrors “both sides do it” or “two wrongs make a right” arguments. As long as people make such arguments, sometimes to distract *deliberately*, no problems can be solved. The effect is to distract from the issue and put the people trying to solve a problem on the defensive.
And as such, by putting someone in a “you’re divisive” box, you are also effectively arguing a point, and putting yourself on the opposite side, thus being divisive yourself.
Bringing up problems and proposing solutions will necessarily involve a lot of discussion, even sometimes arguing and, yes, yelling. This is not inherently bad.
In many cases involving Obama and the Republicans, we are discussing obstruction and who is to blame for that – with the Republicans being the clear instigators as a rule, not the exception. We also see this play out regarding the War on Women and War on the Poor or Class Warfare. By making the “divisive” argument, you are also effectively arguing that no such problem exists, or is insignificant.
scott
May 3rd, 2012
1:56 pm
bwahahahahahah. You don’t actually BELIEVE this garbage, do you Jay? It is almost entirely the Republicans fault we are a divided country? I guess when Obama asked all Republican Senators into the White House days after he was inaugurated and said “I won. You lost. Get over it.” that was done to bring the country together huh?
Joe Hussein Mama
May 3rd, 2012
1:57 pm
JKL — “I guess you guess slept thru the last decade when it was nothing but Bush bashing 24/7.”
How’s the search for those scary WMDs going?
It was 12 years between Desert Storm and Bush’s order to invade; y’all think you’re going to need longer than 12 years to find those WMDs? ‘Cause 2015’s coming up fast in the windshield.
UNCLE SAMANTHA
May 3rd, 2012
1:57 pm
Jay
May 3rd, 2012
1:54 pm
But “blaming” does not extend to implications that the president is trying to weaken his country, that he’s not really “one of us” and that any sort of compromise with him is itself an act of disloyalty.
That kind of thing is very new and very dangerous.
OH PLEASE
Bush was demonized for 8 years and now for 3 1/2 more……. dont cry we didnt start it
both parties are babies
change your diapers
Peadawg - I'm a native Georgian capable of analytical thought and rational thinking
May 3rd, 2012
1:57 pm
“Peadawg, I guess Jay has a pretty good set of blinders.” – Yes he does. As does Thulsa, getalife, Granny, Talking Head, Kyle next door…I could go on and on.
Adam
May 3rd, 2012
1:58 pm
The only thing that his opponents wanted from him was his surrender and then his disappearance. That was their price for “unity,” and now they want to blame him for refusing to pay it.
“We will take care of everything if you just hand power over to us.” – Hitler, paraphrased. Roman Empire, paraphrased. Ottoman Empire, paraphrased. Etc.
Janney
May 3rd, 2012
1:58 pm
“Like a spouse abuser who blames his violence on his victim”
Perfect analogy, Jay.
JKL2
May 3rd, 2012
1:59 pm
getalife- Their strategy to just lie will never work for us.
It’s worked for obama so far. Why would he want to change now?
Vote obama: Free money for everyone!
getalife
May 3rd, 2012
1:59 pm
I tried living in la la land but it was not for me.
Too many rabbit holes.
I like facts and living in the real world.
Peadawg - I'm a native Georgian capable of analytical thought and rational thinking
May 3rd, 2012
1:59 pm
“Of course both sides engage in “blaming,” Simple. It’s standard, even necessary, in politics.
But ” Nanny nanny boo boo you’re side is worse. *sticks out tongue*. That’s what you really meant, right Jay?
No, thank you getalife. Your troll posts always give me a good laugh.
getalife
May 3rd, 2012
1:59 pm
jk,
Please list the lies.
Thanks.
Adam
May 3rd, 2012
2:00 pm
Talking Head: Divisivness? Why not go after him on his record?
Because Obama actually has a solid good record to run on, and only the people who live in a bubble and claim “Obama has no record to run on” believe otherwise.
Like I keep saying, good luck convincing independents of that. Also, good luck convincing them there’s no class warfare from the right and no war on women from the right. You’ll need it.
getalife
May 3rd, 2012
2:00 pm
pea,
I think the blame game accomplishes nothing.
Peadawg - I'm a native Georgian capable of analytical thought and rational thinking
May 3rd, 2012
2:01 pm
getalife
May 3rd, 2012
1:59 pm
So you switch from Republican to Democrat…yet claim to be “independent”. You give REAL independents a bad name.
Peadawg - I'm a native Georgian capable of analytical thought and rational thinking
May 3rd, 2012
2:02 pm
“I think the blame game accomplishes nothing.” – So you just call out the Republicans? I missed where you called Jay out also.
Joe Hussein Mama
May 3rd, 2012
2:02 pm
JKL — “What exactly did Clinton get disbarred for?”
He didn’t. He surrendered his law license, and thus was not disbarred.
Adam
May 3rd, 2012
2:02 pm
Thulsa Doom: Is the lib manufactured “war on women” not divisive?
Since it’s not a manufactured issue, and is based entirely on what the GOP on both the national and state level have done since they took over many areas in 2010, no. You see, it’s actually real. The GOP IS legislating AGAINST women, whether they intend it that way or not. And if the “War on Christmas” is a perfectly fine phrase to utter, then you have no leg to stand on when saying we shouldn’t use the term “war” when referring to this legislative and policy reality.
Joe
May 3rd, 2012
2:02 pm
So true! Jay you nailed this one. So true!
getalife
May 3rd, 2012
2:02 pm
pea,
I am a proud left leaning Independent that lives in the real world.
Peadawg - I'm a native Georgian capable of analytical thought and rational thinking
May 3rd, 2012
2:03 pm
“no class warfare from the right” – There’s class warfare on BOTH sides, Adam, Talking Head, etc. Y’all would have to take your blinders off to see though.
kayaker 71
May 3rd, 2012
2:04 pm
If Bozo had anything else to run on, we wouldn’t be having this discussion. But when your record is so bad and not expected to get any better before November, you become desperate. Situations are contrived, the Occuturds are endorsed by liberal America, the 1%ers all of a sudden are evil, even though they pay the lion’s share of federal income tax in this country and white working America is written off. That’s all this clown has…… nothing more. Unemployment still above 8%, foreclosures at an all time high, more homes under water than at any time in our history, millions still out of work. What else do you have except divide and conquer?
JOE COOL~DoWnToWn THUG
May 3rd, 2012
2:04 pm
Funny how ANYTHING thats wrong or happens in this country is Obama’s fault according to Repubs, yet ANYTHING good is not because of Obama…lol.
Peadawg - I'm a native Georgian capable of analytical thought and rational thinking
May 3rd, 2012
2:04 pm
“I am a proud left leaning Independent that lives in the real world.”
If I knew how to mark through a word, I’d mark out “independent” and put “Democrat” and say “fixed your typo”.
You’re not fooling anyone.
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
May 3rd, 2012
2:04 pm
Poor peadawg!
The only one not issued blinders.
MAyhaps he needs them not.
AS he does not truly see anyway.
(Unless of course, he’s already got what he wants)
I suggest he change his name to MEdawg.
ty webb
May 3rd, 2012
2:05 pm
flinging poo at poo flingers.
Talking Head
May 3rd, 2012
2:06 pm
“Because Obama actually has a solid good record to run on, and only the people who live in a bubble and claim “Obama has no record to run on” believe otherwise.”
Oh, like promising to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term? Or promising his administration would the most transparent and he would shoulder the responsibility instead of blaming others? Or that $5+ trillion debt that’s been added since he was sworn in?
Like I said, the dude is a clown.
JOE COOL~DoWnToWn THUG
May 3rd, 2012
2:06 pm
“If Bozo had anything else to run on, we wouldn’t be having this discussion”
Thats the whole reason YALL are even having the discussion.
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
May 3rd, 2012
2:06 pm
“Why not go after him on his record?”
Talkin’ Mitt are we?
We are gonna’ chase ole’ Mitt every day on his…..the one he is already running away from.
Peadawg - I'm a native Georgian capable of analytical thought and rational thinking
May 3rd, 2012
2:06 pm
Granny Godzilla – Union Thugette
May 3rd, 2012
2:04 pm
That post is as incoherent as you can get. Go take your meds.
Joe Hussein Mama
May 3rd, 2012
2:07 pm
K71 — “If Bozo had anything else to run on, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.”
If *Romney* had anything to run on, you wouldn’t be talking about Obama.
“What else do you have except divide and conquer?”
Oh, I see. That explains why the GOP’s using it; that’s all they have.
Steve - USA (I support "None Of The Above")
May 3rd, 2012
2:07 pm
Let’s hope the Jobs number is good news tomorrow morning. I am off to fight the weeds in my back yard. They are without question laughing at me and winning the war.
Anybody have a Goat I can borrow?
getalife
May 3rd, 2012
2:08 pm
pea,
I attack the dems for being weak on corruption.
They tend to stab the President in the back.
They don’t march lock step and ask questions.
Adam
May 3rd, 2012
2:09 pm
Peadawg: There’s class warfare on BOTH sides, Adam, Talking Head, etc. Y’all would have to take your blinders off to see though.
Your point is only true in the smallest sense of the fact that two sides have to fight for there to be warfare. Right now, I’m with Warren Buffett on the description, but I will say it more tamely. The rich and special interests have more power in the fight, and they have won. The peons fight back, and suddenly they act helpless and they have an entire party (the GOP) willing to perpetuate the message that the rich and special interests are completely innocent and being attacked for no reason.
Steve
May 3rd, 2012
2:09 pm
Talking Head- a President can promise many things but if is dealing with an obstructionist Congress, like we have now, forget it.
Go back and see what Bush promised and see what got accomplished. Expensive/failed/pointless wars.
Jefferson
May 3rd, 2012
2:09 pm
The GOP is a catchy phrase folks, much akin to a sbd fart, no substance and it stinks.
getalife
May 3rd, 2012
2:10 pm
pea,
You are a con pretending not to be a con.
You are not fooling anyone.
Joe Hussein Mama
May 3rd, 2012
2:11 pm
T. Head — “Oh, like promising to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term?”
Bush Administration: ‘Iraq’s oil revenues will pay for the war.’
“Or promising his administration would the most transparent and he would shoulder the responsibility instead of blaming others?”
Bush Administration: ‘School curriculums will be based on sound scientific principles.’ Then came creationism and abstinence.
“Or that $5+ trillion debt that’s been added since he was sworn in?”
Bush Administration: Added $4.7T to the public debt despite an expanding economy for most of his term.
Spare me your poutrage. If you were upset about those things, then you should have started pointing fingers and shrieking a LONG time before now.
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
May 3rd, 2012
2:11 pm
MEDAWG
can’t, your mama hasn’t come by with the stuff today….
Adam
May 3rd, 2012
2:11 pm
Talking Head: Oh, like promising to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term? Or promising his administration would the most transparent and he would shoulder the responsibility instead of blaming others? Or that $5+ trillion debt that’s been added since he was sworn in?
Try Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, Health care reforms, wall street reforms, broadband access in rural areas, stimulus that helped with some infrastructure and other things, etc etc etc.
As for transparency, why don’t you tell me how you know for sure that the administration is using drones? Or how you know what the stimulus money is spent on? Is it because of investigative reporting that dug it all up, or is it because they’ve been putting it out there for all to see?
Peadawg - I'm a native Georgian capable of analytical thought and rational thinking
May 3rd, 2012
2:11 pm
“I attack the dems for being weak on corruption.” – proof please
Adam @ 2:09 – My point is true, period. GOP fights for the rich while Democrats fight for the poor. It just depends on what war you agree with.
Talking Head
May 3rd, 2012
2:13 pm
“Talking Head- a President can promise many things but if is dealing with an obstructionist Congress, like we have now, forget it.
Go back and see what Bush promised and see what got accomplished. Expensive/failed/pointless wars.”
2 things:
1. In his first 2 years he didn’t have an ‘obstrunctionist Congress’ and did whatever he wanted
2. Bush hasn’t been President the last 3.5 years
Terrence
May 3rd, 2012
2:13 pm
When and where did it all begin?
Jan. 24, 2009: Obama to GOP: ‘I won’
President Obama listened to Republican gripes about his stimulus package during a meeting with congressional leaders Friday morning – but he also left no doubt about who’s in charge of these negotiations. “I won,” Obama noted matter-of-factly, according to sources familiar with the conversation.
The exchange arose as top House and Senate Republicans expressed concern to the president about the amount of spending in the package. They also raised red flags about a refundable tax credit that returns money to those who don’t pay income taxes, the sources said.
The Republicans stressed that they want to include more middle class tax cuts in the package, citing their proposal to cut the two lowest tax rates — 15 percent and 10 percent — to ten percent and five percent, rather than issue the refundable credit Obama wants.
After Friday’s meeting, Democratic and Republican leaders publicly wrangled over the developing stimulus plan.
But perhaps taking a cue from Obama’s “I won” line when Democrats were asked if they were concerned about Republicans blocking the package, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had a swift one-word answer: “No.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the bill was on track for passage by February 16, while Republicans continued to voice their opposition.
Adam
May 3rd, 2012
2:15 pm
Peadawg: You’re being divisive
Seriously though, you’re drawing an equivalence between fighting for the poor or fighting for the rich? The proposals to help the rich hurt the poor far more than any proposals that have been put forth to help the poor. The battle is one sided no matter which way you look at it in evidence.
Just saying..
May 3rd, 2012
2:16 pm
“…the president is trying to weaken his country, that he’s not really ‘one of us’”
Oh, my.
So that’s what Marxist means…?
‘
Talking Head
May 3rd, 2012
2:16 pm
Joe @ 2:11,
Seriously? That’s how you respond with …but but but BUSH!
Basically you’re saying that Obama is worse than Bush. We all know Bush was a disaster, and Obama continues to do the same things, except at a much larger and faster rate (ie the debt added by Bush was 4.7T in 8 years, and debt added by Obama is 5+T in 3.5 years)
Towncrier
May 3rd, 2012
2:17 pm
“Like a spouse abuser who blames his violence on his victim, the Republican Party hopes to blame the whole mess all on Obama.”
Some people might construe such an analogy, falling short of calling them Nazis but irresponsibly emotionally charged with emotion, as rather divisive. Ever think of that?
“The truth is, Obama infuriates the Republicans simply by waking up as president each morning.”
And you know this how? Where did you buy your crystal ball? Or are you able to channel the dead? I don’t wake up infuriated, but hey…don’t let me slow you down.
“Under the rubric of “taking our country back,” they have challenged his status as an American, they have impugned his faith and they have even questioned his loyalty and patriotism.”
Wow..sounds a lot like some of the Democratic attacks on GWB (notice, unlike you, I qualified my statement by the use of the word “some”). You DO remember them, right? Care to pint me to a column or two of your upbraiding your fellow party members for such “abusive” behavior? Don’t get me wrong, I think it would be a whole lot better if people in both parties stuck to what and how they planned to make things better than to attack each other like children. But for you to get all up in arms here seems to be very much like the partisan politics you condemn.
“From the very beginning, they have pursued a conscious strategy of refusing to compromise in any way whatsoever, to the point that they have purged any in their own camp who dare to even suggest such a course.”
To the extent that is true, it is regrettable. But again, the same may be said of Democrats in both houses over the past ten or so years. Without even a single sentence acknowledging this, you are being hypocritically partisan. I wonder if you even see that.
“There is no better illustration of that dynamic than what happened with the health-care debate.”
We’ll just have to agree to disagree on this. Having forty plus uninsured Americans is a big problem, along with costs increasing at almost an exponential rate. But I don’t think the solution in the current legislation is quite the answer. THAT is the problem, in my view. I give Obama credit for really trying to do something about it, but criticism for the solution and how it was conceived. I am truly surprised at you, Jay. Government seldom effects or manages things well; your faith in it is striking for someone as knowledgeable as you.
“Instead, he embraced an approach that had been pioneered by a Republican governor in Massachusetts…”
For a particular state, and NOT the federal government. There is a considerable difference, in case you didn’t know.
“…that had been championed for almost a decade by a former Republican speaker of the House from Georgia…”
I am sorry, but for you to cite this as support for your contention in the same column you are say his leaving the presidential race makes things less weird verges on the ridiculous: “I loathe Newt Gingrich, but I will make reference to some of his ideas if it can help me make an argument (though I have trashed him and his ideas in almost every column – and they are many – I have written about him)”.
“…and that had been created by the most important conservative think tank in Washington…”.
So NOW the Heritage Foundation has relevance. I see. They are a bunch of nuts, their ideas are crazy but I nonetheless support the legislation based upon some of them. I get it.
“Even then, it took Obama a while to come to the realization that no matter what he did, there would be no compromise.”
Of course I am still waiting you or his administration to provide proof that he was, for example, truly willing to compromise on a deficit deal – you know, not just some verbal assurances (can you list how many campaign “promises” he has broken – starting with “transparency”?). Boehner claims he changed the deal at the last moment and that is why it fell through. Either he is lying, or Obama is lying or they both are. But they can’t both be telling the truth. Or maybe by unity, you mean him jumping feet first into the Trayvon Martin case, saying that is he had had a son he would have looked like him (though, in fact, because he has substantial white DNA, that may not be necessarily true). But hey…that was just to unify us, right?
Nuff said.
Mamouian
May 3rd, 2012
2:18 pm
Jay, the president is trying to weaken the country by throwing up trip wires to make it hard for business to succeed. He does not like the free market capitalism and has said as such in so many words. I’m sure you are familiar with the many statements he’s made to corroborate that, so I won’t waste my time on youtube when I have work to do in minutes.
And, the blaming… no one has taken it to such an extreme that I can recall. Blaming his predecessor ad infinitum, blaming natural disasters here and abroad, blaming ATMs (which have been around since the early 80s at least) and on and on. They should consider making it an olympic sport, so he could take the gold medal. It would mean more than that Nobel.
To Republicans and many Independents, it would certainly be a disloyalty to their constituents.
Adam
May 3rd, 2012
2:18 pm
Talking Head: 1. In his first 2 years he didn’t have an ‘obstrunctionist Congress’ and did whatever he wanted
Incorrect. And don’t play dumb that you don’t know the reasons why this is incorrect. I’m not the only one who has had to school you or others on this.
2. Bush hasn’t been President the last 3.5 years
WHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE! In other words, don’t talk about the previous President because that hurts your argument! It doesn’t matter if he hasn’t been President for a few years. History didn’t start 3.5 years ago, and the effects of previous administrations going as far back as Washington are still being felt. So don’t give me that “OMG STOP TALKING ABOUT THAT” nonsense.
Peadawg - I'm a native Georgian capable of analytical thought and rational thinking
May 3rd, 2012
2:18 pm
“you’re drawing an equivalence between fighting for the poor or fighting for the rich?” – Yeah b/c that’s exactly what it it. It just depends on which side/war you agree with. Personally, I side w/ the Democrats on this issue (seeing as I’m nowhere near $250k a year) even though I can’t stand the man that’s leading.
F. Sinkwich
May 3rd, 2012
2:18 pm
“Obama found himself condemned as a socialist who was out to undermine the foundation of American society”
He got outed to those not paying much attention to anything except Hope & Change posters.
Let us hypothetically posit an individual who declares his intention to burn your house down.
Would not your first inclination be to hope he fails?
Towncrier
May 3rd, 2012
2:19 pm
“My God that is funny. Is the lib manufactured “war on women” not divisive?”
No, TD. Liberals and Democrats are allowed double standards, don’t you know? Stop complaining, will you?
stevie ray..Clowns to the Left and Jokers to the Right..here I am...
May 3rd, 2012
2:19 pm
JAY,
Pity party. His comments pitting class versus class and suggesting to now-turned-violent 99%’ers to taking the low road relative to popping off on that white shoots black incident in Florida (too bad he couldn’t sympathize and recommend to the public that a man is innocent until proven guilty like a true leader)suggest his only game is divisiveness…He pushed a HC bill that 60% of us didn’t want and low balled the cost at that…what say you?
Adam
May 3rd, 2012
2:20 pm
Towncrier: Some people might construe such an analogy, falling short of calling them Nazis but irresponsibly emotionally charged with emotion, as rather divisive. Ever think of that?
In other words, don’t say anything divisive, ever, and everything will be all well because the Republicans will surely learn by your example and stop being divisive themselves.
Sorry, the days of the Democrats playing by different rules than the Republicans are OVER. Get over it.
JF McNamara
May 3rd, 2012
2:20 pm
You should have Kyle read this. He’s bad about this.
Joe Hussein Mama
May 3rd, 2012
2:20 pm
T. Head — “2 things:”
“1. In his first 2 years he didn’t have an ‘obstrunctionist Congress’ and did whatever he wanted”
Republican Fairy Tale. Obama never had the supermajority that would have allowed him to do “whatever he wanted.”
“2. Bush hasn’t been President the last 3.5 years”
Which begs the question of why it took you so long to get upset about Presidents adding to the deficit and not being as transparent as you’d like. You’re clearly willing to give Republicans a pass when they do the same sorts of things as Democrats do — but you’re mightily offended when Democrats do them.
Michael
May 3rd, 2012
2:20 pm
I can still see McConnell and Demint saying we are going to work hard at making him fail almost 4 years ago. What a strategy! They will eat their words again hopefully.
Steve
May 3rd, 2012
2:21 pm
Talking Head- We did not have a super majority in the
Senate. Conservatives opposing the Public Option (senate) is a great example. We did push some things through and then lost the Senate. It’s all about Congress, and the Tea Party made it impossible to push a true progressive agenda, hence we only got a few things through. I have a decent memory – apparently you do not.
And yes, we inherited the worst recession since the Great Depression. I see you forget that too. And you forget that the GOP control government for most of Bush’s 2 previous terms.
Towncrier
May 3rd, 2012
2:21 pm
“Like a spouse abuser who blames his violence on his victim, the Republican Party hopes to blame the whole mess all on Obama. EXACTLY.”
At least, Adam, Jay refrained from calling them Hitlers. I mean, alcoholic and abusive men are not so bad, huh?
JOE COOL~DoWnToWn THUG
May 3rd, 2012
2:22 pm
Towncrier
May 3rd, 2012
2:17 pm
Tell us 2 things the GOP doesnt criticize the Prez about?
Towncrier
May 3rd, 2012
2:22 pm
“Sorry, the days of the Democrats playing by different rules than the Republicans are OVER. Get over it.”
Get thee to a schoolery.
Lord Help Us
May 3rd, 2012
2:22 pm
It looks like the cons want a third Bush term.
Question for cons: What is the difference between Bush Policy and Romney Policy?
Talking Head
May 3rd, 2012
2:22 pm
Obama, the buck stops with some other guy and it’s not my fault President.
Towncrier
May 3rd, 2012
2:23 pm
“Spare me your poutrage. If you were upset about those things, then you should have started pointing fingers and shrieking a LONG time before now.”
My point to Jay and you and other liberals here exactly. Thanks for that.
Joe Hussein Mama
May 3rd, 2012
2:24 pm
T. Head — “Seriously? That’s how you respond with …but but but BUSH!”
Nope. I’m pointing out that you’re a hypocrite, and you’ve generously proven it here today. When Bush does it, you’re fine with it. When Obama does it, it’s the end of the freaking world to you.
I didn’t *complain* about Bush. I just pointed out that he’d done the SAME SORT OF THINGS as Obama has. And like the sucker you are, you decided I was *defending* Obama. So go ahead, Champ. Show me where in there I *defended* Obama.
“Basically you’re saying that Obama is worse than Bush.”
Nope. I’m saying *you’re* a hypocrite.
“We all know Bush was a disaster, and Obama continues to do the same things, except at a much larger and faster rate (ie the debt added by Bush was 4.7T in 8 years, and debt added by Obama is 5+T in 3.5 years)”
Bush had an expanding economy for 2/3 of his term. Obama had much less to work with. You’d *expect* a President with an expanding economy to do better. I really can’t believe I have to explain that to you.
Thulsa Doom
May 3rd, 2012
2:24 pm
“that he’s not really “one of us””- Jay
Funny that you should say that Jay. Reminds me of Dems implying that Romney is “not one of us” due to his wealth and status as a 1%er.
Adam
May 3rd, 2012
2:24 pm
Towncrier: At least, Adam, Jay refrained from calling them Hitlers. I mean, alcoholic and abusive men are not so bad, huh?
Alcoholic and abusive men, empires that seek to impose their will on others, fit in well with a basic concept of Psychosis and Psychological Projection. If you can convince me that you, and everyone else who regularly vilifies Democrats, understand what those two terms mean, then I’ll start using them to more accurately describe Republicans of the 2008-2012 era.
Towncrier
May 3rd, 2012
2:25 pm
“Tell us 2 things the GOP doesnt criticize the Prez about?”
If you first tell me two things the Democrats didn’t criticize GWB about. That’s fair, wouldn’t you say?
Mary Elizabeth
May 3rd, 2012
2:25 pm
I just posted the following on Maureen Downey’s blog. It is pertinent here because one must consider the history of who is making such a blatant statement as “Obama is divisive.” That volatile line is being used as current day Republican propaganda to sway the minds of those who do not look at the history of those who perpetuate such propaganda. Below is a brief history of today’s Republican Party’s roots. I believe readers will be able to connect the dots.
———————————————————
“Do you think that Georgia’s Republican leaders will care about whether this ‘charter flight’ possibility might resegregate Georgia, this time by class and wealth? I hardly think so because, after all, Ronald Reagan, the revered leader of the Republican Party, kicked off his candidacy for President of the U.S. from Philadelphia, Mississippi (the place of the murders of three civil rights workers in 1964), in a blatant attempt to woo those who saw people in terms of race and hierarchial status, instead of in terms of our common humanity, an egalitarian concept. Reagan said in his speech in Philadelphia, Mississippi, in 1980, ‘I believe in states’ rights.’ That phrase was a code for supporting a segregated society – at that time and place, especially.
Societies – and schools – can be segregated in many ways, not simply by race, and that segregation creates a consciousness of division rather than of unity among all people.”
——————————————————————-
That “consciousness of division” was strongly reinforced in 1980 by the iconic leader of the current day Republican Party, not President Obama. One must consider the history of the Republican Party to determine if the statement, “Obama is divisive,” is true or not. It is not true. It is blatant propaganda. In fact, the reverse is true. The roots of the division in our nation have been ingrained for decades, and the current Republican Party has done little to reduce it – it has, in fact, perpetuated that division.
BobC
May 3rd, 2012
2:26 pm
I’m in my 50’s now, and I’ve never seen so much divisiveness before as I do now from the GOP. Even when Obama supports something the GOP supports, they change their minds and decide to support something else just so they can be at odds with him. And then Obama did the one thing that nobody could fault him for…. getting rid of Bin Lauden. And the result is that the GOP is indignant that he mentions that as one of his accomplishments. If they can’t criticize him for doing it, then they’ll criticize him for talking about it. I guess when you’re a party that hates women, non-whites, non-Christians, gays, and anyone else that’s not upper-middle-class white heterosexual evangelical males, the only thing you could do is make the other guy seem even worse.
JKL2
May 3rd, 2012
2:26 pm
getalife- list the lies
“Like a spouse abuser who blames his violence on his victim”. Which party is in power?
Lord Help Us
May 3rd, 2012
2:27 pm
Dems didn’t criticize Bush’s invasion of Afghanistan or formation of the DHS.
Your turn
Jefferson
May 3rd, 2012
2:27 pm
Defense mechanisms is all the GOP is about.
Joe Hussein Mama
May 3rd, 2012
2:27 pm
Towncrier — “My point to Jay and you and other liberals here exactly. Thanks for that.”
And here’s my point to you.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2012/05/01/at-georgia-legislature-a-test-of-ethics/?cp=4#comment-942764
When you’re ready to shift out of neutral, you let me know.