Two sentences by Obama that Romney won’t dare utter
Two short sentences. That’s all.
Take the hundreds of thousands of words uttered at the Democratic National Convention this week, weigh them against the hundreds of thousands of words used by Republican speakers a week earlier in Tampa, and the critical difference can be boiled down to two seemingly bland sentences.
It’s not about policy, it’s not about values. It’s about something even more fundamental:
“No party has a monopoly on wisdom. No democracy works without compromise.”
I would never argue that those words convey some great, hidden insight. They do not, because the sentiments are pretty obvious. They are just workaday sentences tossed largely unnoticed into President Obama’s closing speech to Democrats Thursday night. Politicians have been uttering words to similar effect for as long as politicians have existed.
“No party has a monopoly on wisdom. No democracy works without compromise.”
But here’s the point: Can you imagine either Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan daring to say those simple words? Can you imagine either of them standing before their fellow Republicans to say that no party, not even their own, has a monopoly on wisdom, and that compromise will be necessary to make democracy function?
No, you cannot. It is inconceivable, and that explains our fundamental problem.
Like it or not, the American system of governance constitutes a marriage between two contentious partners — a forced marriage at times, perhaps, but a marriage nonetheless. And while the balance of power will shift back and forth from one partner to the other, in most cases neither partner will have the power to take major action without the other.
Look at the history books. It has been 28 years since we had a presidential election decided by 10 or more percentage points. Look at the polls. This year’s presidential race is likely to be decided by five or fewer percentage points. The small Republican advantage in the House is likely to shrink; the small Democratic advantage in the Senate is also likely to shrink if not disappear altogether.
We are, by any measure, a closely divided people, and we are governed by a system that cannot function unless divided people work together. Yet one party in this marriage, the Republican Party in its present incarnation, believes emphatically that it does have a monopoly on wisdom, and it believes that compromise only taints the purity of that wisdom. It refuses to compromise even about compromise itself, hunting down and eliminating any politician within its ranks who might acknowledge that working with the Democrats is a good idea.
Marriage cannot work like that. A partner who can’t bring himself to concede that the other person might have a point, a partner who insists that it will be done his way, by his rules, or it will not be done at all, makes it impossible. It’s a destructive attitude, particularly because in this type of marriage, there can be no divorce.
When you wake up tomorrow morning, the other party is going to be there. And they will be there next morning, and the morning after that, and the morning after that too. We will succeed together, or we will fail together, and at the moment we seem intent on doing the latter.
– Jay Bookman
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726 comments Add your comment
Peadawg
September 7th, 2012
8:26 am
Nice article, Jay.
Peadawg
September 7th, 2012
8:26 am
Ooooh, first “female dogs”.
Peadawg
September 7th, 2012
8:28 am
And if that gets taken down, then how about “primero perras”.
Lord Help Us
September 7th, 2012
8:29 am
Those words are as forbidden as touting healthcare legislation in Mass that included a mandate…
It’s common sense, so it is now allowed.
Take two tax cuts and call me in the morning…
Peadawg
September 7th, 2012
8:30 am
Is it just me or does the GOP kind of sound like a lot of women? They think they’re always right and can NEVER admit they’re wrong.
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
September 7th, 2012
8:31 am
I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t here this from Romney or Ryan either:
“But we also believe in something called citizenship – a word at the very heart of our founding, at the very essence of our democracy; the idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another, and to future generations.”
Lord Help Us
September 7th, 2012
8:32 am
Job numbers disappointing…release the Kraken!!!
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 7th, 2012
8:32 am
JAY,
I like your column today. However, based on the books I’ve been reading and contrary to your contention in prior days, the DEMS did not remotely reach out on the HC bill and BO had almost nothing to do with it…it was all Pelosi….in fact, he pissed Pelosi off to no end when he called for bi-partisan summit after Pelosi had all ducks in a row….the insurers advised Pelosi that the bill would increase premiums for a family by $20,000 by 2018….Pelosi’s response…she introduced bill to eliminate the insurers anti-trust exemption…extortion no less..
Both sides are equally guilty..
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
September 7th, 2012
8:33 am
Peadawg
September 7th, 2012
8:30 am
Is it just me or does the GOP kind of sound like a lot of women? They think they’re always right and can NEVER admit they’re wrong.
.
.
.
Well they think they’re always right and can NEVER admit they’re wrong,
but I think the gender thing is probably a matter of perspective.
JohnnyReb
September 7th, 2012
8:33 am
Jay, you apparently have a short memory. Let me help.
Just after Obama’s election there was a meeting at the White House where Republicans came ready to work with Barry. They presented their ideas, Obama rejected them, and promptly stated to the Republican group on Natiional TV that he won the election.
Obamacare passed under reconciliation without the first Republican vote.
Obama’s vision of compromise is not exactly that of the parties from who he needs compromise.
As for me, Compromise hell ! We are in the current situation because of compromising with the Left.
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
September 7th, 2012
8:34 am
JohnnyReb
Help would be a link….
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 7th, 2012
8:34 am
GRANNY,
How exactly (or what) is your guy proposing to protect future generations?
Lord Help Us
September 7th, 2012
8:34 am
‘Both sides are equally guilty..’
Except that one side calls the plan they touted for 30 years, ‘government takeover of healthcare…SOCIALISM,’ once Obama got behind it…
Totally equal…
Tick...Tick...Tick...That's the Sound of Unemployment Ticking Down (8.1%)
September 7th, 2012
8:34 am
FORWARD we march with Obama.
We are not going BACK.
Tick...Tick...Tick...That's the Sound of Unemployment Ticking Down (8.1%)
September 7th, 2012
8:35 am
Enter your comments here
Peadawg
September 7th, 2012
8:36 am
“Obamacare passed under reconciliation without the first Republican vote.”
Obamacare used Romneycare a a starting point and the mandate was a Republican idea to begin with. Next.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 7th, 2012
8:36 am
Johnny,
Spot on…Granny this is an excerpt from Woodwards book that will be released on the 11th…in fact, Ryan proposed a reduction in the two lowest tax rates as well as eliminating the tax on unemployment insurance proceeds…Obama’s response was…” you lost we won…” he completely ignored proposal and anything from the other party…
RB from Gwinnett
September 7th, 2012
8:37 am
Just curious, Jay. What are your thoughts on being a water carrier for a party who can’t get about half their delegates to agree to put proclamations about God and their support of our best ally in the middle east in their platform document and can’t seem to get anybody in the party to explain why it was taken out to begin with or why.
I’d like to hear Jay’s reply to this, but the rest of you liberals are welcome to weigh in as well.
Lord Help Us
September 7th, 2012
8:38 am
Steve, what are your thoughts on the GOP plans to replace Obamacare?
Or did you find the old system to be satisfactory?
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 7th, 2012
8:38 am
PEADOG,
What’s good for a state is by no means good for the nation….the DEMS whimped out on the best solution which is single payor…extorted the insurers to get this done…BO had almost nothing to do with this legislation…
Lord Help Us
September 7th, 2012
8:39 am
‘What are your thoughts on being a water carrier for a party who can’t get about half their delegates to agree to put proclamations about God and their support of our best ally in the middle east in their platform document and can’t seem to get anybody in the party to explain why it was taken out to begin with or why. ‘
My opinion is that it is ridiculous noise from GOP partisans who have nothing else to rally around…
Peadawg
September 7th, 2012
8:40 am
“the DEMS whimped out on the best solution which is single payor”
The GOP didn’t want the single payer, so Obama COMPROMISED with the Republicans on that. Next.
Lord Help Us
September 7th, 2012
8:40 am
‘BO had almost nothing to do with this legislation…’
Complete, utter, BS…
Jm
September 7th, 2012
8:41 am
Maybe not
But he will do it unlike Obama
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 7th, 2012
8:42 am
LORD,
If we could afford it and if our interests were not subordinated to special interests, a single payor system…given the deficit, we can’t afford more taxpayer cash to fund a multi-trillion dollar program whatsoever…nobody should be declined healthcare but the current bill is trash and anything the GOP will propose that remotely resembles this convuluted garbage is a loser too…
We have a supply issue that is beyond a problem….the math doesn’t work in addition…
bman
September 7th, 2012
8:42 am
“Non-farm payrolls gained only 96,000 in August, missing expectations for an increase of 125,000, according to the Labor Department. The unemployment rate declined to 8.1 percent from 8.3 percent, but the drop is largely attributed to people giving up looking for work”
Over 8% for 43 months. Now you know why Obama wasnt his usual excited self last night.
Peadawg
September 7th, 2012
8:43 am
Jobs report for August is pretty bad.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/07/us-usa-economy-idUSBRE88604Y20120907
Butch Cassidy (I)
September 7th, 2012
8:44 am
Stevie Ray…. – “BO had almost nothing to do with this legislation…”
That’s good to know. Maybe you should contact Romney/Ryan and tell them to refer to it as it’s official title “The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)” or even start calling it “Pelosicare”.
RB from Gwinnett
September 7th, 2012
8:45 am
Jay, this whole compromise thing is a farce and I can prove it.
Let’s say my proposal is to take everything you own; house, car, financial assets, everything but your debt. At what % are you willing to compromise with me? Half seems reasonable doesn’t it? So when can I expect delivery? If that’s not fair, tell me why and what % you’re willing to agree to.
Gale
September 7th, 2012
8:45 am
Aw Peadawg. I often admit I am wrong. I may do that more often because I live with a woman. But stilll…
M
September 7th, 2012
8:45 am
Anybody remember the interview (on 60 Minutes) where Boehner REFUSES to say that he would compromise on anything? He was scared of the actual WORD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUJgX9SBow8
Lord Help Us
September 7th, 2012
8:45 am
‘ the current bill is trash and anything the GOP will propose that remotely resembles this convuluted garbage is a loser too…’
Seems you preferred the previous healthcare system with 50 million uninsured and premiums increasing at 4x the rate of inflation. Nice…
Single payer is coming…it is inevitable.
The GOP is in the way…vote them out.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 7th, 2012
8:48 am
LORD,
He really didn’t…it was all Pelosi who pushed the spineless one around and virtually ignored him..at one point during a conference call where BO began orating again to DEMS in congress, Pelosi put the phone on mute and they all went back to work…He didn’t take a stand on either House or Senate proposal until extra innings…he pissed of her highness after the skids were greased by calling for bi-partisan summit….of course nothing came out of that….fascinating stuff really…
Lord Help Us
September 7th, 2012
8:48 am
RB at 8:45. Sorry if this breaks the rules here, but that has to be the dumbest analogy I have ever seen…
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 7th, 2012
8:50 am
LORD,
If you read my previous post you would know that I’m in favor of single payor as any deal cut with insurers et al will fail us…family premiums will go up $20k by 2018 according to the insurers actuarial opinion…
Too bad we can’t remotely afford single payor now…
M
September 7th, 2012
8:52 am
Only in the Republican Bizarro Universe can it be said that while Candidate Obama ran on a promise of healthcare reform and President Obama pushed through healthcare reform at significant political cost to himself, Obama is a do-nothing president with no accomplishments who had nothing to do with the healthcare bill at all and never keeps his promises.
Lord Help Us
September 7th, 2012
8:53 am
‘He really didn’t…’
BS again. Obama pushed, shoved, negotiated and, without him…it would not have gotten done. Period. One of my favorite memories of Obama was watching him in front of a couple hundred GOP congressfolk (with no teleprompter) responding to their questions contemporaneously. Afterwards, when the GOP realized how badly he made them look, they were pissed they allowed cameras in…
You say, ‘he had nothing to do with it.’
I say, ‘ it would not have gotten done without him.’
Mary Elizabeth
September 7th, 2012
8:54 am
“. . . the Republican Party in its present incarnation, believes emphatically that it does have a monopoly on wisdom, and it believes that compromise only taints the purity of that wisdom. . .”
——————————————————-
“We have one goal, and that is to make President Obama a one-term president.”
That statement is neither a wise sentiment nor is it reflective of a wise consciousness, regardless of how Republicans may view themselves. They are mistaken. One needs some degree of humility regarding one’s place in the universe, related to all others, to see with some degree of wisdom.
That President Obama continues to keep the door open for further compromise and communication with Republicans, in spite of their voiced goals toward him personally, speaks well of his developed wisdom and of his understanding of a deeper humility, which does not contain the petty.
Brosephus™
September 7th, 2012
8:54 am
Marriage cannot work like that. A partner who can’t bring himself to concede that the other person might have a point, a partner who insists that it will be done his way, by his rules, or it will not be done at all, makes it impossible. It’s a destructive attitude, particularly because in this type of marriage, there can be no divorce.
Jay
What part of Ephesians 5:22-24 do you not understand?
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
The current GOP in its hyper-Christian form is merely taking the role of the husband and giving the role of the wife to the Democratic Party. As such, the Democratic Party should submit themselves to the GOP. Richard Mourdock has already given people the plan in his statement about compromise. Everything has been laid out in public for anyone to see. You only have to open your eyes to the interpretation to understand.
***Gonna sit back now to see if any “true” conservative can factually debate Jay’s POV.
Goldie
September 7th, 2012
8:54 am
“We are, by any measure, a closely divided people, and we are governed by a system that cannot function unless divided people work together.”
Thanks again, Jay — you understand the big picture and you da Man!
Keep Up the Good Fight!
September 7th, 2012
8:54 am
No, you cannot. It is inconceivable
Now that is the proper use of the INCONCEIVABLE.
Lord Help Us
September 7th, 2012
8:54 am
‘Too bad we can’t remotely afford single payor now…’
BS…again. It is cheaper than Obamacare and much cheaper that the old system. That makes no sense.
The reason we do not have single payer is the GOP.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
September 7th, 2012
8:55 am
Cons, don’t worry. The gay marriage you will be forced into won’t hurt much. You will get used to it.
Paul
September 7th, 2012
8:56 am
One of our prolific conservatives posted words to the effect the other day, ‘compromise is of the devil.’ So not only couldn’t the candidates utter the words, their base would disown them for even entertaining the idea.
Any conservatives care to dispute that with an example where you’d be willing to compromise? How about something simple? Like embracing actions and ideas Republicans championed just a few short years ago?
Go ahead.
Jay – nice marriage analogy. I think that would resonate within many, many undecided households.
Thomas Heyward Jr
September 7th, 2012
8:56 am
It’s ridiculous to claim that the two wings of the R&D Washington party is THAT partison.
.
For the things that REALLY count for our rulers (plunder, war,violence,coercion,power) ……….they ALWAYS compromise.
.
See TARP,WARS,Patriot Act, Drones,etc……………………..
.
Stop the Propoganda.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 7th, 2012
8:57 am
BUTCH,
PelosiCare is definitely a more apt title…of course since it happened under his watch…he owns it and Pelosi is irrelevant at this point…I know I’m stating the obvious..
TaxPayer
September 7th, 2012
8:57 am
103,000 private sector jobs created and another 7,000 government jobs eliminated in August. Local governments have shed over 530,000 jobs since January 2009. State governments have shed 158,000 jobs since January 2009. Rejoice, Republicans. Government continues to shrink while the private sector jobs continue to be created, probably thanks to those Bush tax cuts, huh.
with Kam Fong as Chin Ho
September 7th, 2012
8:57 am
“Single payer is coming…it is inevitable.”
hell yes it is. And so is even more Progress.
I agree with the con above – NO compromise.
Beat Them down,
Prepare the Hope Camps.
There is no going back
There is no future in the past.
And I’m tired of being trickled on for 30 years.
Thomas Heyward Jr
September 7th, 2012
8:57 am
I also forgot NDAA.
That draws enourmous bi-partison support.
Goldie
September 7th, 2012
8:57 am
“What are your thoughts on being a water carrier for a party who can’t get about half their delegates to agree to put proclamations about God ” BLAH BLAH BLAH
RB, what your thoughts on your Party having a VP candidate who wrote a bill in Congress that attempted to re-define the term “rape” and why are you a water carrier for that Party today???
Paul
September 7th, 2012
8:58 am
Peadawg
“Jobs report for August is pretty bad.”
Would you call job growth of 96,000 better than, or worse than, 750,000 people losing their jobs in a month?
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 7th, 2012
8:59 am
PAUL,
I’m not sure there exist too many undecided households…IMO, it all depends on who gets out to vote…If those who feel their individual situation is worse and previously supported BO, I bet they simply don’t vote…
Just my opinion could be wrong.
Thomas Heyward Jr
September 7th, 2012
8:59 am
If you execute a successful drone strike, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American drone system that we have, that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in laser guided missiles and war propaganda. If you’ve got a drone — you didn’t drone that. Somebody else made that happen. Drones didn’t get invented on their own. Government research created drones so that all the companies could make money off them.
.
lol
Gale
September 7th, 2012
9:00 am
I believe we can afford single payer health care. We will have to raise taxes to do it, and we will need to cut insurance companies out of the primary care bisiness.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 7th, 2012
9:00 am
PAUL,
GWB is no longer in office..
Peadawg
September 7th, 2012
9:01 am
“Would you call job growth of 96,000 better than, or worse than, 750,000 people losing their jobs in a month?”
I’d say better absolutely. This is the bad part I was talking about:
“While the unemployment rate dropped to 8.1 percent from 8.3 percent in July, it was largely due to Americans giving up the search for work.
The report’s weak tenor was also underscored by revisions to June and July data to show 41,000 fewer jobs created than previously reported. The labor force participation rate, or the percentage of Americans who either have a job or are looking for one, fell to 63.5 percent — the lowest since September 1981.”
Mick
September 7th, 2012
9:01 am
Cracks me up that republicans care so much that the democrats hurt “gods” feelings; I don’t know about you but I have a hard time envisioning the creator upset about it. In the paraphrased cinematic words of hyman roth: “It’s small potatoes”…
Paul
September 7th, 2012
9:03 am
RB from Gwinnett
“ay, this whole compromise thing is a farce and I can prove it.
Let’s say my proposal is to take everything you own; house, car, financial assets, everything but your debt. At what % are you willing to compromise with me? Half seems reasonable doesn’t it? So when can I expect delivery? If that’s not fair, tell me why and what % you’re willing to agree to.”
Okay, so you’re the Democrat and I’ll play the Republican.
How about keep your assets but on all your income, after deductions, above $388,350 a year, we’ll increase the tax rate by 3.5%.
See? The Republican offered what Pres Obama has asked for. Compromise is easy.
Peadawg
September 7th, 2012
9:03 am
RB from Gwinnett
September 7th, 2012
8:37 am
Why don’t you worry about the report that said GOP states watch the most porn. Good ‘ol family values party!!!
Thomas
September 7th, 2012
9:03 am
Now that PT Barnum and the circus have left Tampa and Charlotte
one corner- Hollywood starlets, the blog and city occupiers, unions, and the media
the other corner- the uber wealthy, small business owners, big oil
game on
Gale
September 7th, 2012
9:03 am
I tend to agree with Stevie Ray on the undecided voters. I think they have decided. They have decided they cannot vote for either candidate. What we need is a valid candidate that all the “undecideds” can write in.
Goldie
September 7th, 2012
9:04 am
So Cons– how many years do you say that it will take for your Voo-Doo Economics to finally start working for America? Let’s see… let’s do the arithmetic… Reagan/Bush = deficit spending and cratered economy. Bush/Cheney = deficit spending and devastated economy. That’s 24 years right there.
So you’re saying that we need maybe another 12 to 24 years or so for your plan to really kick in? REALLY???
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 7th, 2012
9:04 am
GALE,
Regardless of what you propose as a role for insurers of the contrary, the primary care MD and nurse shortage are real and will be getting worse…
The tax increase to support this freeby on single payor basis would dwarf Medicare in short order..in terms of cost and ultimate unfunded liability…how will our kids afford the explosion of baby boomers even if limited only to Medicare and SS?
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 7th, 2012
9:06 am
Thomas,
I feel it is much more Jerry Springeresque than a circus…puts the perspective in modern times…I’m still trying to find the TV ratings for the Kardashians for the week…
Goldie
September 7th, 2012
9:07 am
“GWB is no longer in office..”
Thanks for that excellent reminder — and thank GOD for that… What a nightmare those 8 years were for America!
Simple Truths
September 7th, 2012
9:08 am
“No democracy works without compromise.” Jay is quick to point out the scorched earth tactics of the GOP. Where is he when the Dems are engaged in their own scorched earth tactics?
Adam
September 7th, 2012
9:08 am
But but but…. gridlock is OBAMA’S fault!
(Alternative): But but but…. BOTH parties do it! (No they don’t, not in equal measure, the Republicans do it WAY MORE).
barking frog
September 7th, 2012
9:08 am
GOP marriage is only
between a man and a
woman not between
political parties or
branches of government.
Adam
September 7th, 2012
9:09 am
To those who would like to suggest BOTH sides do this in equal measure I have two words for you:
Prove it.
bman
September 7th, 2012
9:09 am
Paul .. .. You’re reaching….
Paul
September 7th, 2012
9:09 am
M
“Anybody remember the interview (on 60 Minutes) where Boehner REFUSES to say that he would compromise on anything? He was scared of the actual WORD.”
Great example of leadership by the House Majority Leader, eh?
I can see Boehner’s latest book: “Profiles in Followership.”
Stevie Ray
“GWB is no longer in office..”
What’s your point? Denial of progress from where we were to where we are? Republicans assert things are just as bad today as when Obama took office. As Bosch would say “That’s just plain silly talk.”
Your 8:59
My impression is the two are tied. There is a small, critical group of undecideds whose votes make the difference in close races. Therefore, that group that makes the difference does vote.
Goldie
September 7th, 2012
9:10 am
Romney/Ryan 2012 — Vouchercare While You’re Sick!
barking frog
September 7th, 2012
9:11 am
If god wanted to be in
politics he would have
created his own party.
RB from Gwinnett
September 7th, 2012
9:12 am
Lord help us, you might want to drop the “lord” part of your name so you don’t offend half of your party.
How about telling me why my analogy is dumb. I know that takes a bit mor effort than spewing hate at me, but give it a try.
JamVet
September 7th, 2012
9:12 am
Re, that first 8:45…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hfYJsQAhl0
Paul
September 7th, 2012
9:12 am
Peadawg 9:01
Thanks for the response. Those giving up the search have been part of the calculation for as long as anyone here has been paying attention to them. Bottom line is, though, that where we are is better than where we were. It’s still not good enough, it’s still not indicative of a robust, growing economy, but it is, as you say, reflective we’re doing better than we were in Jan ‘09.
paulo977
September 7th, 2012
9:13 am
ord Help Us
September 7th, 2012
8:32 am
Job numbers disappointing…
_________________________________
You HAVE to be joking!!! After what happened 4yrs ago ?
N-GA
September 7th, 2012
9:14 am
@Brosephus (8:54) – I’ve visited Ephesus twice. No one lives there anymore. Probably because the women decided to show the men who is really in control. No procreation, no Ephesus!
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 7th, 2012
9:14 am
PAUL,
I don’t think it is relevant at this point what happened under Bush…everyone knows your guy was dealt a poor hand…too bad he decided to fold and re-direct…he allowed an all DEM congress focus on a idealogical, yet unworkable HC bill that most people still don’t want as opposed to the economy which affects us alll…
After 8 years, are you guys still be comparing him to Bush? That’s a grand legacy…
Adam
September 7th, 2012
9:14 am
Peadawg: Is it just me or does the GOP kind of sound like a lot of women? They think they’re always right and can NEVER admit they’re wrong.
I have long believed this attitude is not specific to women. A lot of men take the “I am always right” position as well.
Women just APPEAR to do it more, or seem to get away with it more in popular stereotypes. I could guess at why, but I might be wrong. My view is that traditional views of marital sex as a bargaining chip seems to fit, combined with traditional guilt. But it’s probably not the whole answer.
I am pretty sure it’s a bargaining chip issue though. If one side feels they have all the advantage and that nothing the other side has is of enough value to stop their hardline position, that’s where the no compromise problem comes from.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
September 7th, 2012
9:14 am
Well, all I know is if the Republicans compromise with the librul Democrats on anything we’ll be grabbing our guns and holing up someplace. You don’t compromise with the Devil.
But it’s going to get real tricky shortly. If Congress and Obama don’t do nothing then taxes will go way up in January. He’s got us by the short hairs, and OUCH! And the worst part is, the elections will be over and all our howling won’t change nothing.
Anyhow, so the librul Democrats finished their convention? I was too busy watching pawn stars to know. All you librul Democrats–be sure and vote on November 7 and don’t forget your photo ID.
Have a good day everybody.
EJ Moosa
September 7th, 2012
9:15 am
Not gonna matter in 60 days.
The jobs report is another nail in the coffin of this campaign.
It’s obvious he has no answers on the economy.
Which makes it obvious we will be making a change.
Paul
September 7th, 2012
9:15 am
bman
“Paul .. .. You’re reaching….”
How?
TaxPayer
September 7th, 2012
9:17 am
The Bush Tax Cuts–What they gave, they tooketh away, and then some.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 7th, 2012
9:17 am
You have to admit that Wasserman chick said the GOD agenda item passed by 2/3 majority after hearing the crowd response is stunning…that was one of the most amazing bald face lies ever…
They had the answer but couldn’t show the work…
EJ Moosa
September 7th, 2012
9:17 am
“You HAVE to be joking!!! After what happened 4yrs ago ?”
How long can you hold on to that excuse? 5 years? 6? 8?
Joseph
September 7th, 2012
9:17 am
One question that Democrats can’t or won’t answer. “Are you better off now than you were four years ago”?
Lord Help Us
September 7th, 2012
9:17 am
‘How about telling me why my analogy is dumb. I know that takes a bit mor effort than spewing hate at me, but give it a try.’
You said:
‘Let’s say my proposal is to take everything you own; house, car, financial assets, everything but your debt. At what % are you willing to compromise with me? ‘
Bubba, if someone starts from that premise, it’s not the beginning of a compromise…
Or, you simply have no idea what the word compromise means…
Beyond the left-wing gush
September 7th, 2012
9:18 am
Where have all the blue dogs gone? That’s right, the dems divorced them.
Joseph
September 7th, 2012
9:19 am
What about all the lies told in Biden & Obama’s tripe? I notice you didn’t mention that Jay…
http://news.yahoo.com/fact-check-obama-phantom-peace-dividend-033637499–election.html
with Kam Fong as Chin Ho
September 7th, 2012
9:19 am
one of the Ten Commandments of Psychiatry –
compromise enables the sociopath
RB from Gwinnett
September 7th, 2012
9:20 am
Paul, while I appreciate your proposal, the one I made is the one we’re discussing. Stay focused and I’m sure we can get to an agreement.
M
September 7th, 2012
9:20 am
Four years ago this month, gas prices were well over $4…if you could find gas at all. Remember that?
TaxPayer
September 7th, 2012
9:20 am
I’m better off now than I was during Bush’s Great Recession.
EJ Moosa
September 7th, 2012
9:21 am
“Or, you simply have no idea what the word compromise means…”
If you want something really bad, but cannot do it on your own, it is YOU that must compromise to get the support needed.
That means it is the majority, who does not have enough of a majority to do what they want that has to compromise.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 7th, 2012
9:21 am
The jobs report is a disaster for BO and expect the 100million of GOP PAC cash to drive this ad nausea in the coming days…
Interesting that the President gets this report a day ahead….wonder if that affected his mojo..
Peadawg
September 7th, 2012
9:21 am
“reflective we’re doing better than we were in Jan ‘09.”
That we are. However slow it might be.
Steve Shamrock
September 7th, 2012
9:21 am
There were two other sentences that I remember from Obama (October 25, 2010 – Rhode Island Convention Center)…
“We don’t mind the Republicans joining us. They can come for the ride, but they gotta sit in back”.
Remember those Jay????
Goldie
September 7th, 2012
9:21 am
“everyone knows your guy was dealt a poor hand…”
LOL… poor hand! Another Con trying to re-define the words ECONOMIC DISASTER!
Paul
September 7th, 2012
9:22 am
Stevie Ray 9:14
You’ll notice my emphasis has been on those who assert nothing’s changed from where we were when Obama took office.
I’ve written often in the past that I thought Pres Obama took too long to change from his Legislative mindset to head of the Executive. I saw him as I’ve seen many executives – the Capt Picard type – who says “Make it so” then walks away.
I do not think that’s the case any more. It’s just one reason I’d expect his style to be much different the second four years than it was the first four.