On election night, a reality check looms for someone

The multiplicity of modern media has made it possible to create worlds within worlds, realities within realities. You can, for example, choose a reality in which Barack Obama is up by 3.5 percentage points, with an 80 percent chance of being re-elected, or you can choose to live in a competing reality in which “unskewed” polling reports the happy news that Mitt Romney is actually up almost eight points in national polls.

images-17However, a time will always arrive when your created reality must be “trued up” against actual reality. You can delay that moment, you can dodge that moment, but eventually it must come. Media technology, with all of its magic, has not yet created a work-around to that harsh exercise.

In the runup to the Iraq War, for example, the Bush administration created a reality in which Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction, American forces would be greeted as liberators, ethnic differences in Iraq were of little consequence and the invasion would more or less pay for itself. Actual reality proved to be quite a bit different, but it took several agonizing years for our leaders to admit just how delusional their created reality had been, and to realign their policies accordingly.

Election days also have a way of realigning created realities to actual reality. On the evening of Nov. 6, we will not only have an answer to whether the polls or the “unskewed polls” had proved more accurate, we will learn a lot more about the American people as well. Each political party entered this campaign season confident that it had the backing of the majority of Americans; each believed that its message was more true to American values and more responsive to America’s needs.

The election is going to tell us which reality was correct, and which is in need of alteration.

images-11In my own personal created reality — and given human limitations and our imperfect understanding of the world, we all live in created realities of varying accuracies — Barack Obama should and probably will be re-elected.  In my reality, those conservatives who have been pouring into movie theaters to see “2016: Obama’s America” may have to come to grips on Election Night with the fact that a majority of their fellow Americans simply do not see the world as they do, that in fact they, not the president and his supporters, are the minority that is out of touch with the American mainstream.

I understand that would not be easy to accept, and that most will employ any means available to avoid doing so. The process is already underway and is easily observable. For example, the claim that current polls are biased against conservatives is at root a defense mechanism that allows them to deny in public, and for a while, an outcome that many of them in private now fear to be looming.

And should that argument fail, fear not, because this is a defense in layers. Conservatives are already preparing a fallback defense blaming their loss on the media. Beyond that they have prepared a defense in which they blame it on Mitt Romney, and beyond that on the Republican establishment that forced the selection of Romney on a party base that knew better.

All of those layers of psychic defense are designed to defend the inner sanctum, the holy of holies. Whatever happens, blame must not be allowed to fall on the conservative message. Blame it on those selected to spread the message, blame it on those who distorted the message, blame it on those too stupid to appreciate the message, but whatever happens, do not blame it on the message.

Because if the message is wrong, it forces a readjustment to reality that is too painful to be considered.

Read, for example, Erick Erickson, the CNN analyst and Redstate.com founder:

“There are a lot of elitist Republicans who have spent several years telling us Mitt Romney was the only electable Republican. Because the opinion makers and news media these elitists hang out with have concluded Romney will not win, the elitists are in full on panic mode. They conspired to shut out others, tear down others, and prop up Romney with the electability argument. He is now not winning against the second coming of Jimmy Carter. They know there will be many conservatives, should Mitt Romney lose, who will not be satisfied until every bridge is burned with these jerks, hopefully with the elitist jerks tied to the bridge as it burns.”

Read his conservative colleague, Ben Domenech:

“There will be very negative consequences for a Romney loss for the power of center-right elites who are largely viewed as foisting him on the base despite the latter’s objections. A Romney loss almost certainly pushes the 2016 nominee rightward, and I doubt the megaphones will be powerful enough to frame the 2012 contest, as they did in 2008, as one where the conservative Veep choice dragged down the ticket.

“Like it or not, the money and opinion elites on the center-right own Romney’s failure from the perspective of the base — they need him to win. And the reality is that if Romney loses, it will have little if anything to do with Paul Ryan’s big ideas, tactical choices, or elite misgivings — and far more to do with the simple fact that Romney is still disliked by most voters.”

Both men insist — and on this they are correct — that the battle is not yet lost. There is still time — barely — to turn the race around, although at this point something major would have to happen to do so. I have yet to see such anguished handwringing from anyone on the left, which tells you something.

The thrust of the argument from Erickson, Domenech and many others is equally telling: Should we fail, our failure can be explained only by the fact that our movement has been insufficiently pure, that our message is insufficiently pure, and that we ourselves have been insufficiently pure.  Move farther right, ever farther right, for there lies true salvation.

From my version of reality, that response dooms you to perpetual minority status. From theirs, it represents pursuit of the true faith. And one of those realities is very very wrong.

– Jay Bookman

1,181 comments Add your comment

GT

September 26th, 2012
4:15 pm

What I would like to see is this trickle down into the Congressional races. As people are getting closer to the elections they are starting to take better notes. The Tea Party is trying to distance themselves from this blood bath, but I offer here that the Tea is what is giving the GOP the rash in the first place. They scare the country like motorcycle gangs roaming the country side having their way. In the meanwhile our credit rating sinks and will more if they have their destructive ways after the election We need to rid all of them, then I venture Romney or whoever the next candidate is can get a clearer message from his heart out to the public. If this Tea Party is in the majority let them lead if not and I think their ship is sinking fast get them out of our way.

Fred ™

September 26th, 2012
4:15 pm

Brosephus™

September 26th, 2012
4:11 pm

Jerome

I figured more people know who John Shaft is. Had I said I was badder than this mofo here, Sho’Nuff, I don’t think many people would have got the joke.
++++++++++++++++++++++++

I would have called you Bruce Leroy. I posted that clip once here lol. One of my favorite movies. I love the end when the blue sht flies out of Bruce Leroys hands……..

That Black Guy

September 26th, 2012
4:15 pm

Joe Hussein Mama

September 26th, 2012
12:54 pm
Carol — ” The only difference between the Taliban and the Republicans is they don’t go out and kill people for not believing the way they do.”

I don’t know about that. We’ve seen quite a few of our conservative regulars here in the last few days aggressively advocating the enthusiastic knocking of heads overseas.
_____________________________________________________
And I’ve seen statements about heads on pikes and poisoning the water conservatives drink.

I guess the Taliban has taken over both sides.

But seriously, saying that a political party is like the Taliban in an insult to those who lost their lives at the hands of the Taliban and their families.

Billybob

September 26th, 2012
4:15 pm

fred,
just for the record, rush’s audience is growing…..liberal 101 intellectual superiority alert

DebbieDoRight - The only thing wrong with capitalism is capitalists...

September 26th, 2012
4:15 pm

Tom: What did you folks think when the lib(Madonna) said “there is a black Muslim in the White House”. She was in D.C. at the time. Really, I’m not making it up.

Tom, since she’s an American Citizen, she has the right to freely voice her opinion. Really! I’m not making it up.

Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes

September 26th, 2012
4:16 pm

What did you folks think when the lib(Madonna) said “there is a black Muslim in the White House”.

What did I think?

Meh.

They BOTH suck

September 26th, 2012
4:16 pm

btroll

It even gets done by Republican governors who take stimulus than cry about the stimulus, right?

Just Saying..

September 26th, 2012
4:17 pm

I’m a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with…cause we’re smart and they are not
September 26th, 2012-1:38 pm
“Don’t believe the polls. They are tilted Dem by 5-12%…”

Lib, you favor Mexican or Columbian?
Oh, my bad, you’re a patriot.
Northern California Gold, or nothing…

East Cobb RINO, Inc. (LLC)

September 26th, 2012
4:17 pm

“Hogwash. Done every year by almost every state government.”
**********************

With the help of federal money. Why that sounds like redistribution.

getalife

September 26th, 2012
4:17 pm

Fred,

I have not seen Bruno or Soothsayer but he committed blog suicide over Platinum Blond.

Joe Hussein Mama

September 26th, 2012
4:17 pm

Billybob — “no i don’t have children, hasn’t worked out quite yet”

If you’re trying for children, then sincerely I wish you and your wife good luck in that pursuit. :)

And if you’re not married, then I wish you happy hunting! :D

They BOTH suck

September 26th, 2012
4:17 pm

TBG

Agreed. 100%

East Cobb RINO, Inc. (LLC)

September 26th, 2012
4:18 pm

250K and up? My household is about 100K short. I must be a moocher.

Ol' Timer

September 26th, 2012
4:18 pm

The radical platform and direction the Tea Party has pushed the Republican Party has done what 51 years of marriage couldn’t do — made a democrat out of my life-long Republican wife. She is totally turned off with the negative anti-anti -anti-anti direction of the Republican Party.

And, Romney wears his new found conservative ideology like a Walmart suit. It just doesn’t fit a guy who’s been a moderate all of his life, but who knows he’s got to dress up in his Tommy Bahama jeans and play the ideologue if he expects to have even a chance of winning.

Romney/Ryan 2012: “If we can’t dazzle ‘em with brilliance we’ll baffle ‘em with B.S.”

Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)

September 26th, 2012
4:18 pm

Fred or getalife – So Kyle is going to China for a wedding, great maybe I’ll get some cons help over here. Now was that China or was it Japan that only allows one child per family. If only ATL had that same policy, sorry that was insensitive of me.

b-troll

September 26th, 2012
4:19 pm

Bro.

Weird.

Korea, Norway, Sweden, Chile, Singapore, Peru, Switzerland and Russia (of all places) all have balanced budgets.

http://www.photius.com/rankings/economy/budget_surplus_or_deficit_2012_0.html

Dude, you lose.

Billybob

September 26th, 2012
4:19 pm

debbiedocookoo

b-troll

September 26th, 2012
4:20 pm

keep trying libs.

you’re losing. at least on the facts.

Rafe Hollister

September 26th, 2012
4:20 pm

Bro
The President’s 2013 Budget is built around the idea that our country does best when everyone gets a fair shot

Did he put any more effort into the 2013 budget than he did the 2012 one, you know the one, the Dem controlled Senate voted down 0-97. He has never had a budget approved, never had one that anyone seriously considered. Why would anyone bother to look at another version of the same shinola.

We have been something like 40 months without a budget to work from. Never before in history have we been governed by such a shoot from the hip, unprepared, unplanned, and incompetent regime.

The spending cuts never materialize, haven’t you heard. The GOP agrees to deals involving decreases in future spending and they never happen. Show us that you are serious about the spending decreases and we can put the revenue increases back on the table.

They BOTH suck

September 26th, 2012
4:20 pm

getalife

Have you seen josef?

Fred ™

September 26th, 2012
4:20 pm

Billybob

September 26th, 2012
4:15 pm

fred,
just for the record, rush’s audience is growing…..liberal 101 intellectual superiority alert
+++++++++++++++++++

Uh huh. So he says………. and anyone who doesn’t walk lockstep with the far right wing fanatical nutcases is a liberal. We get that too.

You are a sad, sad, pathetic little man.

Billybob

September 26th, 2012
4:21 pm

Brosephus™

September 26th, 2012
4:21 pm

sorry. see my 4:11. try again.

ok. How may state budgets operate exactly like the federal budget? Zero, as most states have laws that mandate balanced budgets. To achieve that, how much have states cut services? How much did states rely on fed subsidies to meet budget shortfalls (Texas)?

Your attempt at oversimplification fails because there’s no way to bumper sticker our budget issues. Attempting to do that simply makes you look foolish.

Just Saying..

September 26th, 2012
4:21 pm

“Don’t believe the polls. They are tilted Dem by 5-12%…”

Jay, do you just start laughing sometimes?

The fantasy is never enough by itself. ACTUAL NUMBERS create Gospel…

getalife

September 26th, 2012
4:21 pm

Madonna was using this thing called sarcasm,

She supports our President.

fair and balanced

September 26th, 2012
4:21 pm

We’ll know its over when Sheldon Adelson stops pouring money into the GOP and instead starts paying his attorneys to avoid prosecution.

b-troll

September 26th, 2012
4:22 pm

Sad. Russians can balance their budget but Americans can’t.

Weak.

Fred ™

September 26th, 2012
4:23 pm

What did you folks think when the lib(Madonna) said “there is a black Muslim in the White House”.

I don’t pay any attention to that ho so I don’t care anymore about what she says than I do what Kim Kardashian says. I wouldn’t let my dog sniff either one of their legs. They only difference between the two is that at least Madonna has a talent, singing, that is awesome.

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 26th, 2012
4:23 pm

They BOTH suck:

“I could be wrong, however I believe you are a retired from the Federal government.

Are you part of those workers who the right claims have to many benefits paid for by the tax payer?”

1) You are not wrong you are correct …………. I am retired from Uncle Sam after 36 years of service (2 military and 34 federal law enforcement). As opposed to probably 98% of the federal workforce I went to work everyday putting my life on the line for this country and its citizens (not to mention my year in Nam in the USMC infantry).

2) My “pension” is as a result of work I did for this country as opposed to a “benefit” or handout for no work performed.

3) That said, should the American people choose through their elected representatives to substantially reduce my pension I will accept that as I have provided for myself by other means should that become necessary. I will not demonstrate or riot should that happen but live instead
under the rule of law.

Is there any part of the above that you find offensive or would disagree with ?

b-troll

September 26th, 2012
4:23 pm

bro 4:21

you’re behind. as always. see my 4:19. keep trying. but you already lost.

getalife

September 26th, 2012
4:23 pm

Both,

No, he said he took a new job at the school and would be busy.

JamVet

September 26th, 2012
4:23 pm

rush’s audience is growing

Insane, but believable.

Even though the slut and prostitute’s sponsors have all abandoned him like he has the plague…

Brosephus™

September 26th, 2012
4:24 pm

Korea, Norway, Sweden, Chile, Singapore, Peru, Switzerland and Russia (of all places) all have balanced budgets.

And exactly how many of those are like the US? You’re comparing the most diverse country in the world against those countries, and I’m wrong? Dude, you need to come up for oxygen a bit more. Keep failing though. You’re making me laugh.

Fred ™

September 26th, 2012
4:25 pm

getalife

September 26th, 2012
4:17 pm

Fred,

I have not seen Bruno or Soothsayer but he committed blog suicide over Platinum Blond.
++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jay bans (in most cases) for a time period, not for life. Bruno could probably come back now. As for Sooth, did he leave too? I now realize I haven’t seen him.

What about josef? I don’t recall seeing him for a while either.

getalife

September 26th, 2012
4:25 pm

Tom,

It is China and you have plenty of help over here now.

Just keep in mind we live in the real world here.

You just can’t make believe a different world I call la la land.

East Cobb RINO, Inc. (LLC)

September 26th, 2012
4:25 pm

“Korea, Norway, Sweden, Chile, Singapore, Peru, Switzerland and Russia (of all places) all have balanced budgets.”
***********************

Care to go check out the tax rates in those countries? Off the top of my head Norway, Sweden, & Switzerland I expect to be higher than ours and would be nice places to live. Singapore is probably rather low tax rates but nowhere I would want to live. I do not know much about tax rates in the others and other than Peru do not hold much appeal.

Billybob

September 26th, 2012
4:27 pm

fred,
it is growing nevermind the ranting…..projection, look it up

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 26th, 2012
4:27 pm

“If it feels a little harder to pay the bills, it might be because median household incomes have fallen 8.2 percent since President Obama took office — and continue to drop despite the official end of the recession, study shows.”

Get ready America if he gets back in ………… you ain’t seen nothin’ yet !

Fred ™

September 26th, 2012
4:28 pm

Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)

September 26th, 2012
4:18 pm

Fred or getalife – So Kyle is going to China for a wedding, great maybe I’ll get some cons help over here. Now was that China or was it Japan that only allows one child per family. If only ATL had that same policy, sorry that was insensitive of me.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In China, if a couple has an unauthorized child they crown the child. What is crowning? Why they make the mother carry the child to term. When she is giving birth to the child they wait until the head comes out and they then jab a needle of poison in the childs head murdering it on the spot.

Are you still laughing? Is your little “insensitively” still funny? Probably. I mean it’s not like they are doing that to a white kid, it’s just some dumb slope over there in China……..

Joe Hussein Mama

September 26th, 2012
4:28 pm

TBG — “And I’ve seen statements about heads on pikes and poisoning the water conservatives drink.”

Not from me. And I don’t agree with the kind of rhetoric that wishes harm or death on one’s political opponents. FWIW, I don’t consider terrorists to be *political* opponents, but then again, I don’t think that the Libya attack had the support of most Libyans. I’ve seen many photos of Libyans mourning the Ambassador’s death. Consequently, I’m down with catching the richardheads who killed him, but not with punishing Libyans in general.

“I guess the Taliban has taken over both sides.”

Perhaps it would be fair to say that the mindset behind some of their tactics is unfortunately creeping into the rhetoric of both sides of American political discourse.

“But seriously, saying that a political party is like the Taliban in an insult to those who lost their lives at the hands of the Taliban and their families.”

I think there’s a degree of religious intolerance within both the Taliban and the religious right in America, but there’s certainly no comparison of *degree.* And there are certainly conservative Americans who *don’t* agree with that kind of eliminationist rhetoric, either.

Perhaps we can agree that wishing death and/or destruction on political opponents is abhorrent and to be avoided — no matter which political party it comes from.

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 26th, 2012
4:29 pm

Fred:

Re: your 4:28 …….. have we found something we can agree on !!??

getalife

September 26th, 2012
4:29 pm

The newt is on cnn making excuses for romney.

cnn lets him lie unchallenged.

cons call it liberal media.

Brosephus™

September 26th, 2012
4:29 pm

Rafe

Are you talking about the Sen. Sessions (R) “supposed to be Obama’s” Budget vote? Don’t even start with that crap.

The spending cuts never materialize, haven’t you heard. The GOP agrees to deals involving decreases in future spending and they never happen. Show us that you are serious about the spending decreases and we can put the revenue increases back on the table.

That right there is why absolutely nothing gets done. I’m willing to bet you shake your pom-poms and cheer for that crap too. They should be done at one time, and not that if you do this then we do that crap. You sound like a grade schooler with that.

We need grown ups in DC that can think beyond that 3rd grade logic. We’ve tried this supply side stuff for 30 years plus, and as a result, we have a decade with no new job growth and currently $16 trillion in debt. When is it going to be enough?

You want to talk about a plan, well comparing having no plan to Ryan’s plan that balances the budget so far in the future that it will likely never happen, then I think doing nothing is actually less damaging to the country. You’re just like most of these people, all talk and not a single idea about what you’re actually pushing.

Jerome Horwitz

September 26th, 2012
4:30 pm

Bro – And Bruce Leroy showed that the good guy always wins in the end. Last Dragon was a great spoof of Kung Fu movies.

Joe Hussein Mama

September 26th, 2012
4:30 pm

b-troll — “keep trying libs. you’re losing. at least on the facts.”

Let that thought console you as you cry yourself to sleep in November.

Jm

September 26th, 2012
4:30 pm

Bro’s 4:24

Backpedaling alert! :)

Game over. Bro lost. Try better next time.

Butch Cassidy (I)

September 26th, 2012
4:31 pm

Rafe Hollister – “It is Dana! Destroyed whatever you were saying, by being so ignorant. She was WH Press Secretary for a number of years.”

My apologies. DANA was being an idiot when she railed about Harry Reids comments on Romney and his Mormon faith. Apparently not knowing that Reid is a Mormon as well. And thank you Rafe for reinforcing my suspicions regarding the ineptness of the Bush Administration.

Just Saying..

September 26th, 2012
4:31 pm

“Joe, I’m not a statistician, but calling more Democrats than republicans and asking who they plan to vote for and saying that Obama is leading is a little dishonest.”

Quick, dial 9-1-1…

JamVet

September 26th, 2012
4:31 pm

Actually, the numbers I just looked at show that the Excrement in Broadcasting Welfare King’s numbers have dropped since his depraved slut meltdown…

Either way, who cares?

The carnival barker serves a valuable role on the Republican midway…

They BOTH suck

September 26th, 2012
4:32 pm

Scout

Again I mentioned that I believe your earned your pension and benefits.

With that said, I do not recall any administration categorizing or ranking who “earns” their salary, retirement and benefits (insurance, ret. plan, vacation, etc). Unless you are a contractor of some sort then I would assume those individuals are not afforded the dame plan for their efforts. Like in the civilian world, it comes mostly through pay and not as much on the “benefit” side.

If their is such a ranking, I am not aware of it.

While there certainly is waste in government, I will not state or agree that other Fed employees, who were not in “police” type work, have not earned their keep just as you did.

They serve or served a function and you served a function.

Fred ™

September 26th, 2012
4:33 pm

Scout: We agree on a lot of stuff. Just not on the talk radio bumper sticker stuff.

Brosephus™

September 26th, 2012
4:33 pm

They BOTH & Fred

This is the time of the year where josef disappears for a while. September 16th was Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year. He’ll likely pop back up in a week or so. He’s taking time to reflect on things and such. Given the things one get’s exposed to on here, he might need a month of reflection.

can't hide it

September 26th, 2012
4:33 pm

Once again Jay can’t hide his excitement that a socialist leaning President/candidate may win the election.

As more and more people buy into (and are bought) a socialist US, we will lean more and more in that direction.

The model that 50% of the people pay for the other 50% simply is not sustainable. It has to stop. Our problem isn’t taxes (income), it is spending. We are spending too much money and have to elminate the entitlements. Obama has shown zero inclination to do that.

Obama is the enemy of small businessmen everywhere. As long as he is in office we will have a weak recovery and weak employment.

USMC

September 26th, 2012
4:34 pm

Getalife,

Sorry to hear the news… :-(

independent thinker

September 26th, 2012
4:34 pm

Just wait – Scalia will figure out a way for the GOP to win this election if Citizens United does not do the trick. Maybe they will claim Willard’s civil rights were violated by disclosure of that tape.

They BOTH suck

September 26th, 2012
4:34 pm

Jm

Singapore’s debt is over 100% of GDP.

Why is that?

Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)

September 26th, 2012
4:35 pm

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801@4:23 – At last an ally, 34 years of service(3 1/2 military, 30 law enforcement, large city and county). Good post, glad to be retired!

Joe Hussein Mama

September 26th, 2012
4:35 pm

TBS — “With that said, I do not recall any administration categorizing or ranking who “earns” their salary, retirement and benefits (insurance, ret. plan, vacation, etc). Unless you are a contractor of some sort then I would assume those individuals are not afforded the dame plan for their efforts. Like in the civilian world, it comes mostly through pay and not as much on the “benefit” side. If their is such a ranking, I am not aware of it.”

I’m sure that the business types here will recognize that wages/salary *and* benefits — including retirement bennies — are calculated and accounted for as Total Compensation.

They BOTH suck

September 26th, 2012
4:35 pm

Bro

Thanks for that info. Didn’t think about it at all until “getalife” mentioned Bruno and Sooth.

Fred ™

September 26th, 2012
4:35 pm

Michael G.

September 26th, 2012
4:36 pm

Jay,

I’ll be here. If your guy wins, I’ll congratulate you. If the guy I’m voting for wins, I look forward to the crow you will have to eat.

Drudge

September 26th, 2012
4:36 pm

Bring on the fiscal cliff!

Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes

September 26th, 2012
4:37 pm

I have not seen Bruno or Soothsayer but he committed blog suicide over Platinum Blond.

Bruno pulled a nutty after he got severely mocked for spiking the ball too soon on the eve of the SCOTUS ruling on the health care act. All of that guff about his girlfriend was a face saving stunt.

Sooth probably came down from N.Ga. to watch the PGA at Eastlake, which is why we haven’t heard from him for a while — but that’s merely a guess.

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 26th, 2012
4:37 pm

Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF) :

Congrats !!!

Butch Cassidy (I)

September 26th, 2012
4:37 pm

Drudge – “Bring on the fiscal cliff!”

Why, are the polls indicating a Romney victory?

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 26th, 2012
4:38 pm

Fred:

It’s a start !

They BOTH suck

September 26th, 2012
4:38 pm

JHM

I’m sure there are categories of job types and descriptions, etc.

I’m referring to who “earns” their retirement and insurance based on what department they worked in or job they did.

Brosephus™

September 26th, 2012
4:38 pm

jm

Backpeddling my ass. You show me where the US will end up if we cut current spending to match current revenues. We’d all be in bread lines. As much as people hate to think about it, the private sector benefits from much of the fed dollars spent. It might come as grocery sales for food stamps, jobs building unnecessary engines for unnecessary fighter planes, or paying $150,000 a year for someone to cook meals in Afghanistan instead of having an E-4 do the same for much cheaper.

That talk about balanced budgets don’t mean jack until one actually adresses the actual revenues needed to run this government. As we’ve been in full credit mode for 30 plus years, people, such as yourself, have nary the slightest clue about the true amount of revenues we really need. You’d rather surround yourself in the fantasy that we could cut spending and things would magically turn out ok. You fail to forget that when you cut that spending, you also cut someone’s job, and likely more than a few indirectly.

lynnie gal

September 26th, 2012
4:38 pm

A move further to the right for Republicans? How can you get further to the right than these guys? The only thing further right than these guys is Fascism, and what Republicans are now is Fascism-Lite.

DebbieDoRight - The only thing wrong with capitalism is capitalists...

September 26th, 2012
4:39 pm

Paul: So okay, have any of the cons admitted it’s the GOP message that’s the problem?

Ha! — they’d rather, (in order):

Wear gas drawers in hell.

Tape pork chops all over their naked body and jump into a hungry lion’s den.

Fornicate with the Dem’s mascot Donkey.

Openly admit that (some of them) are gay.

Wake up next to Hillary Clinton and kiss her in her morning breath mouth.

Say, with absolute sincerity, that Obama is NOT a marxist.

So, to answer your question – No.

Jay

September 26th, 2012
4:39 pm

And Josef has been taking his annual blog break for the High Holy Days, which means he may return tomorrow.

cc

September 26th, 2012
4:40 pm

“have you actually looked at Obama’s budget plan, or did you rely on the talking mouthpieces to tell you what was in it?”

It must have been a fantastic plan . . . since most of the dims voted against it, too.

Rafe Hollister

September 26th, 2012
4:41 pm

Grab your pacifiers Libs, new lineup at WSB.

Boortz, Limbaugh, Hannity beginning 1 Oct.

Obama bashing 9 to 6, and they still will not be able to cover all the futility, with just 9 hours to do so.

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 26th, 2012
4:42 pm

The BOTH suck:

A couple of points:

1) Part of my duties over the years involved investigations of other federal agencies. All I can say is the waste, fraud and abuse I observed over the years is staggering. There is no doubt in my mind that “at least” 20-25%” of the federal (and probably state) workforce could be sent home and if the rest worked their full eight hour day (mine were almost always 12 to 16) the American taxpayer wouldn’t miss a thing.

2) Congress sets the pay and benefits for federal work (law enforcement and otherwise). They can set it high …………… they can set it low ………….. and the workforce will still be there. It’s the “quality” of that workforce that you have to deal with and in law enforcement that is particulary crucial.

Translation: “You get what you pay for.”

Joe Hussein Mama

September 26th, 2012
4:43 pm

TBS — “I’m referring to who “earns” their retirement and insurance based on what department they worked in or job they did.”

I know. I think I made my point rather clumsily, so I’ll try again.

Economic conservatives and libertarians generally seem to argue that they should be able to pay whatever pay scale and benefit schedule they can get employees to agree to. Okay, fine and good. Having then *mutually agreed* to the pay and benefit package — which will likely include retirement benefits — why then are conservatives griping about leeches and ‘takers’ and the like? If the pay and benefit package was freely agreed to by both sides, then doesn’t management bear a portion of the blame for *agreeing* to provide such benefits?

Full disclosure: both my grandfathers were coal-mining United Mine Workers men, and my maternal grandfather retired from the job.

Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)

September 26th, 2012
4:43 pm

Fred – The one child per family was meant to be somewhat humerous, you guys need a laugh or smile ocassionally. Be more like Obama, have fun, laugh, smile. You guys get so serious and stressed, it’s a wonder some of you don’t go and off yourself.

getalife

September 26th, 2012
4:44 pm

Thanks Jay.

Forgot about that.

“I’ve been across this country. My heart aches for the people I’ve seen,” romney.

How will romney get the gop to vote to help the middle class?

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 26th, 2012
4:44 pm

Excuse me: “particularly”

Orange12

September 26th, 2012
4:44 pm

The same old, same old. Jay is now using Chicago style BS scare tactics meaning. “i’m telling you, your candidate is losing. You might as well stay at home and not vote at all. You know how high gas is. Save your gas. Your vote isn’t going to matter.” Then you have Obama’s left nut want to be Getalife spreading the same baseless not supported by facts manure.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/26/household-income-down-82-percent-since-obama-took-office-study-shows/

Joe Hussein Mama

September 26th, 2012
4:44 pm

R. Hollister — “Grab your pacifiers Libs, new lineup at WSB.”

If The Kimmer were still working at WGST, he’d have to find a new name for ol’ We Suck & Blither. :D

East Cobb RINO, Inc. (LLC)

September 26th, 2012
4:45 pm

Never listened to WSB before. Not going to now. But there must be some mistake, where is Olberman & Madow?

getalife

September 26th, 2012
4:45 pm

Tom,

Did you just tell us to be like our President?

Great advice.

Fred ™

September 26th, 2012
4:46 pm

Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)

September 26th, 2012
4:43 pm

Fred – The one child per family was meant to be somewhat humerous, you guys need a laugh or smile ocassionally. Be more like Obama, have fun, laugh, smile. You guys get so serious and stressed, it’s a wonder some of you don’t go and off yourself.
++++++++++++++++++++++

Yeah I always find murdering babies to be a stress reliever. I sometimes do 4 or five a day………

DebbieDoRight - You Show Me A Capitalist & I'll Show You A Bloodsucker...

September 26th, 2012
4:46 pm

The carnival barker serves a valuable role on the Republican midway…

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Jm

September 26th, 2012
4:46 pm

Tbs.

Topic is deficits. Keep up.

St Simons

September 26th, 2012
4:46 pm

well, they’ll still be masters at mumbling at the am radio all day

even if they lose the senate & house

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 26th, 2012
4:46 pm

Joe Hussein Mama:

“why then are conservatives griping about leeches and ‘takers’ and the like?”

In my opinion they are talking about those who didn’t/don’t work ……… entitlements ………. a substantial portion of which (not all of course) are undeserved (laziness) and even fruadulent.

Fred ™

September 26th, 2012
4:47 pm

So ole Clark Howard is now off the air?

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

September 26th, 2012
4:47 pm

Fred:

Are you a doctor ?

USMC

September 26th, 2012
4:48 pm

“A move further to the right for Republicans? How can you get further to the right than these guys? The only thing further right than these guys is Fascism, and what Republicans are now is Fascism-Lite.”–Lynnie gal

Okay Lynnie gal, come in off the ledge and we can all talk about this… breath deeply… It will be okay. :-)

(sounds like Lynnie gal listens to too much Liberal Hate Talk Radio: Rachel Madcow, Keith Olbermann, Herr Lawrence O’Donnell and the other usual Hooligans)

That Black Guy

September 26th, 2012
4:49 pm

Fred ™

September 26th, 2012
1:49 pm
he’ll toss in a 76th grade crotch joke for change
____________________________________
Daymn Fred, how long were you in school?

They BOTH suck

September 26th, 2012
4:49 pm

“Grab your pacifiers Libs, new lineup at WSB.”

As much whining as you do at Wingfields, you need to stop worrying about others and get your mommy to give you your pacify.

getalife

September 26th, 2012
4:49 pm

Radio is for music.

It will make you happier like Tom.

cc

September 26th, 2012
4:49 pm

“cnn lets him lie unchallenged.”

Yes, all of Obama’s lies have gone unchallenged . . .

JamVet

September 26th, 2012
4:50 pm

Yeah, my guess is either that jo is being one of those “real” Jews that crier is always going on about or he is in Springfield, Illinois at the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum…

They BOTH suck

September 26th, 2012
4:50 pm

TBG

Read that and let it go………

Fred is surely edumacted………………..

Doggone/GA

September 26th, 2012
4:51 pm

“I believe that it was you who made the point that misogyny mountain is a higher hill to climb”

I don’t know about Stands, but I certainly said that

They BOTH suck

September 26th, 2012
4:52 pm

“Obama bashing 9 to 6, and they still will not be able to cover all the futility, with just 9 hours to do so.”

Seeing that all three of these entertainers are already on the radio in Atlanta, what is your point?

Is it going to impact the election?

Joe Hussein Mama

September 26th, 2012
4:52 pm

0311 — “In my opinion they are talking about those who didn’t/don’t work ……… entitlements ………. a substantial portion of which (not all of course) are undeserved (laziness) and even fruadulent.”

Okay, fair enough.

But how would they *know,* in the case of any specific individual, whether fraud or laziness was involved? It seems to me that there’s a kind of guilt-by-association working in the conservative mind whereby ‘public benefits’ *automatically* equals laziness. And it wasn’t that long ago that ‘brown skin + Hispanic surname’ *automatically* equaled undocumented alien.

Seriously, does it actually *matter* to cons whether a given individual is on the up-and-up with this sort of thing, or does some kind of automatic condemnation mechanism kick in?

getalife

September 26th, 2012
4:52 pm

cc,

“Yes, all of Obama’s lies have gone unchallenged . . .”

Like he said at the UN, he is attacked daily and is for it.