Why the future looks so bleak for the GOP
As I mentioned yesterday, as of mid-December some 53 percent of Americans perceived the Republican Party as too extremist, a record-high number that had jumped 17 percentage points in the two years since the GOP took control of the House in the 2010 mid-terms.
Given what has happened in the three weeks since that CNN poll was released — the GOP House rejected John Boehner’s fiscal-cliff plan as too moderate, and it refused to even vote on an emergency aid package for New York and New Jersey — that number has only risen.
In fact, the party is caught in a long-term downward spiral that will prove difficult if not impossible to escape.
Look at the top issues likely to dominate the 113th Congress: immigration reform, gun control, and the debt ceiling. On each of those high-profile issues, the Republican Party finds itself trapped defending a strongly held but distinctly minority point of view.
In November exit polls, for example, 65 percent of American voters said that illegal immigrants ought to be offered an avenue to legal status. To put it mildly, that is not a position that Republicans can easily reconcile with their base. And in a recent Gallup poll, 58 percent of Americans said they backed stronger gun-control laws; just 6 percent wanted less stringent gun laws, which is the default position of many in the GOP.
The debt-ceiling optics are even worse. The GOP plan is to confront President Obama with two brutal choices: Make serious cuts in Medicare and other entitlements, or Republicans will force the country to default on its debt. Maybe it’s just me, but if you’re trying to shuck a reputation as extremist, that’s not exactly the course I would recommend. As I’ve noted before, even Republican voters oppose Medicare cuts by an overwhelming margin. Yet somehow Republican politicians have convinced themselves that this is a battle that they must fight and can win.
And of course, the group that will continue to define the Republican brand in all these fights will be the House GOP caucus, a group that is considerably more conservative and yes, extremist, than the country at large. It’s not hard to understand why.
Take Georgia’s Republican House members as an example. All eight of them voted against the fiscal-cliff solution that President Obama signed into law yesterday. And all eight are likely to toe the hard-right line on immigration, gun control and the debt ceiling. And the truth is that based on their own narrow self-interest, they’d be fools to do otherwise.
Thanks to gerrymandering, a political evil in which both parties indulge, three of the eight are in such strong GOP districts that no Democrat even bothered to run against them last November. The five who did draw Democratic opposition won re-election by an average margin of 40 percentage points. So none of the eight has anything to gain personally by becoming more moderate.
That brings us to the ultimate question: How can the Republican Party shed its reputation as extremist on the national stage when most of those who create that reputation — the members of the House GOP caucus — have every incentive as individuals to continue on their present course?
I confess I’m stumped by that one.
– Jay Bookman
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823 comments Add your comment
Towncrier
January 3rd, 2013
11:27 am
“How many ways can you say that the GOP sucks and DEMS are our savior? I would submit that for every 100 posts, 90 are concerned about making the most of the dysfunction of idiot GOP’s or praising President Trillions every move.”
Not unlike Hannity (whom most here probably loathe) when he gets to beating his drum. The only thing is: they can’t see their (Hannity-esque) reflection in the mirror.
ATL Born and Raised
January 3rd, 2013
11:28 am
@Towncrier I think by definition abortion cannot be used as contraception because the fetus has already been conceived. But, do go on.
Lord Help Us
January 3rd, 2013
11:28 am
‘My question to you is this: do you believe abortion should be allowed as a form of contraception?’
Always the loaded, false choice…
Dude, imagine birth control pills are readily and cheaply available, morning after pills are readily available, sex-ed is competently taught, etc.
You and your ‘ilk,’ fight tooth and nail to emasculate all of those things and THEN, have the audacity to self-righteously bloviate that abortion is used as a form of birth control.
Geez…
mbtc
January 3rd, 2013
11:28 am
” I would submit that for every 100 posts, 90 are concerned about making the most of the dysfunction of idiot GOP’s or praising President Trillions every move..”
If you’re worried about saving face, change behavior.
guy
January 3rd, 2013
11:28 am
Liberalism is a mental disorder! Look at Europe and we are next.
Stevie Ray
January 3rd, 2013
11:28 am
DannyX
January 3rd, 2013
11:23 am
What right do the evangelicals have to control womens rights in this country? Over the past several decades, those attending church has plummeted in similar fashion to union membership…People can believe in a higher power and still support a woman’s right to choose..
I’d support a ban on abortion if those so righteously opposed promise to provide safe, family environment to each and every one of the 2 million or so procedures annually.
indigo
January 3rd, 2013
11:29 am
USinUK – “Congress shall make no law infringing on the right to free speech”
And yet, in a courtroom, the Judge can yell and insult you and, if you reply in kind, it’s “contempt of Court” and off the jail.
So much for “free speech”.
williebkind
January 3rd, 2013
11:29 am
“That brings us to the ultimate question: How can the Republican Party shed its reputation as extremist on the national stage when most of those who create that reputation — the members of the House GOP caucus — have every incentive as individuals to continue on their present course?”
The GOP must use a progressive liberal tactic to shed the reputation the lame stream media has fed about conservatives to the morons living on the east coast, west coast, and up north. They must attack with extreme prejudice and viciousness that the radical left has use for decades. They must select one by one the journalists, anchors, news outlets, bloggers, twitters and all the lame stream medias and attack them personally, professionally, constantly and without mercy. Check out their families, friends, social groups, religious or non religious places and catch them in a moment of unawares and expose to the world with distortions and call it facts. Take no quarter and give no quarter! Be on the constant attack and never see any good at any thing the liberals do. Attack and assign names to them that will horrify those who only vote and pay no attention to the world around them. Attack as is a ravenous wolf was about to eat your child. Attack and attack the all. Put in print, put in the airways and put it on videos.
Towncrier
January 3rd, 2013
11:29 am
“Lets rephrase…”Why the future looks so bleak for the USA”.”
Can you say Titanic?
td
January 3rd, 2013
11:29 am
Jay,
You are very funny in getting your progressive readers an amen article But your numbers are forgetting some important facts that does not go along with your narrative.
According to the progressive guru Nate Silver. There is a very slim chance of the Republicans not being in control of the House of Reps for the next 10 years.
Republicans have total control of both chambers and the governorships in 24 States. Dems have total control in 13 states. The rest of the states are split.
Republicans have 30 governors.
Dems do not historically turn out in mid term elections and there has been historic Presidential fatigue in the 6th year of a President. In the 2014 midterms there will be 7 Democratic Senators will be up for re election in states won by Romney and 0 Republican Senators will be up for re election in states won by Obama.
Joe Hussein Mama
January 3rd, 2013
11:29 am
F. SInkiewicz — “Who would have ever thought that in America advocating individual liberty”
You mean like the individual liberty to NOT have a transvaginal probe shoved up you?
Nunna Yobinnes
January 3rd, 2013
11:29 am
“The second amendment was passed for one reason, tomake sure the state militas had rifles to use in needed. No hunting, no collectors, nothing but arms for the milita.”
Someone process an arrest warrant for Daniel Boone ASAP. How dare he use his rifle for hunting and self-defense. He should be buried under the jail.
barking frog
January 3rd, 2013
11:29 am
Oscar
Time now to close the deductions-loopholes. Mortgage interst deduction should be the first to go.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
No man, the charitable deduction, I’ll help with your house but not your
personall superstition….
mbtc
January 3rd, 2013
11:30 am
“But, do go on.”
Or, “Proceed Governor!”
Regnad Kcin
January 3rd, 2013
11:30 am
“The Republicans are in trouble for 1 reason… they will not start fighting the media battle with emotional pleas vs. intellectial ones”
…aaaaaaaaaaand there’s coffee all over the monitor! Funniest post of the year!
curious
January 3rd, 2013
11:30 am
The Republican jobs program is to give tax breaks to millionaires, so they can invest off shore.
Those Cayman Islanders appreciate it, too.
barking frog
January 3rd, 2013
11:31 am
td
Republicans have 30 governors.
…………………………………………………
but many are like Chris Christie……
godless heathen - Law Abiding Citizen
January 3rd, 2013
11:31 am
Mortgage interst deduction should be the first to go.
How much is your rent?
Stevie Ray
January 3rd, 2013
11:32 am
Towncrier
January 3rd, 2013
11:27 am
What does a brain damaged Hannity have to do with this? Folks on the left and right media bias are all the same..trash, trash and more trash talking..
mbtc
January 3rd, 2013
11:28 am
I have no idea what you are talking about…saving face from what. In the land of the blinded (right and left fringe)the one eyed man is king…Do you beleive everything you hear from your liberal outlets?
Lord Help Us
January 3rd, 2013
11:32 am
“The Republicans are in trouble for 1 reason… they will not start fighting the media battle with emotional pleas vs. intellectial ones”
SAHRIA-CREEP!!! DEATH PANELS!!! MARXIST!!! SOCIALIST!!! GREECE!!!!
For God’s sake…BENGHAZI!!!
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 3rd, 2013
11:32 am
indigo – 11:29 – you can’t cry “fire” in a crowded theater, either …
independent thinker
January 3rd, 2013
11:33 am
Aw c’mon Jay -Old Joe released the cons from the chains they were throwing around themselves before they jumped off the Cliff. Now no less than Grover, Boner and Lyin Ryan said the cons voted for the Obama/Biden tax cuts to save the middle class. Presto- the cons are now heroes.
UNCLE SAMANTHA
January 3rd, 2013
11:33 am
dang……….. obama is a better republican president than we could have hoped for……….. not only making permament BUSH TAX CUTS but also laying the hammer with unapproved force on terrorists……. as reported by CNN
In some cases, the administration continues to aggressively use tactics his supporters once decried, such as relying on renditions to detain terrorist suspects who are overseas, as The Washington Post reported this week. In other areas, the administration has expanded the war on terrorism, including the broader use of drone strikes to kill terrorists.
barking frog
January 3rd, 2013
11:34 am
towncrier
The only thing is: they can’t see their (Hannity-esque) reflection in the mirror.
…………………………………………………………………………….
Do you have a reflection in a mirror?
Peadawg
January 3rd, 2013
11:35 am
“Mortgage interest deduction should be the first to go.”
That’s the only thing about a house that’s better than an apartment. Do that and the housing market dips down again.
Redcoat
January 3rd, 2013
11:35 am
How much is enough?…..ours kids are in debt……..grandchildren in debt…….and for who exactly? and Why? It’s broken……the treasury is empty!
barking frog
January 3rd, 2013
11:36 am
Uncle Samantha
In some cases, the administration continues to aggressively use tactics his supporters once decried, such as relying on renditions to detain terrorist suspects who are overseas, as The Washington Post reported this week. In other areas, the administration has expanded the war on terrorism, including the broader use of drone strikes to kill terrorists.
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
our Prez is a tricky man…
Lord Help Us
January 3rd, 2013
11:37 am
‘…….and for who exactly?’
The rich, the elderly, the corporations, the MIC, to name a few…
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 3rd, 2013
11:37 am
LHU – 11:32 –
TaxPayer
January 3rd, 2013
11:37 am
Oops. I forgot about all the jobs Republicans planned on creating to monitor our bedroom activities and women’s uteruses. Whatever came of those jobs bills anyway.
Joe Hussein Mama
January 3rd, 2013
11:38 am
td — “According to the progressive guru Nate Silver.”
Silver’s not a “progressive guru.” Silver’s a statistician and analyst who has the stones to let the chips fall where they may, and who also has the stones to honestly articulate what the numbers are telling him. Lately, the numbers have been turning out badly for the GOP — but that’s not a function of Silver himself.
And there’s certainly nothing to prevent the statistical tide from turning in the GOP’s favor — except, IMO, the GOP and its membership.
Stevie Ray
January 3rd, 2013
11:38 am
Joe Hussein Mama
January 3rd, 2013
11:29 am
Transvaginal probe..classic. Hope you don’t mind if I use that one..
It would seem to me that evangelicals on their arrogant high horse would be praying hourly…that seems to be held as the most effective solution to all the ills of life…guess in this instance it ain’t enough..
Towncrier
January 3rd, 2013
11:38 am
“Dude, imagine birth control pills are readily and cheaply available, morning after pills are readily available, sex-ed is competently taught, etc.”
Condoms are very inexpensive and (if used properly) can as much as 98% effective. FAM are free. Combined, these two methods would be almost 100% effective. If any one really doesn’t want any or more children, then sterilization is 99-100% effective. Other forms of contraception are available and the cost for some can/will be covered mostly by insurance.
“You and your ‘ilk,’ fight tooth and nail to emasculate all of those things and THEN, have the audacity to self-righteously bloviate that abortion is used as a form of birth control.”
I guess you glossed over most of the post you are indignantly responding to. It is the SCOTUS that has concluded that.
HDB
January 3rd, 2013
11:38 am
It’s not just the financial optics that make the GOP look bad….it’s also the DEMOGRAPHIC optics!! Until the GOP begins to realize the changing demographics and run on policies that can ATTRACT said changing demographic….then the GOP will remain in its position of irrelevancy!!
mbtc
January 3rd, 2013
11:39 am
“I have no idea what you are talking about…saving face from what?”
Then why seem all butt hurt that Jay documents the extremism of one of our two national parties. And to compare left vs right extremism is a fools errand. What percentage of those buying and hoarding guns would you guess to be liberals?
RB from Gwinnett
January 3rd, 2013
11:39 am
Aquagirl, “RB is losing his cookies again. Poor fella.”
You do realize you’re the fat kid being pacified by the cookie don’t you? You’re all giddy with this “we won” garbage and the truth is the bill that just passed is a farce. But you enjoy your cookie, Aquagirl. Obama promises it won’t make you fatter.
Karl Rove
January 3rd, 2013
11:40 am
You think us cons are in trouble .You liberal commie journalist, Just wait John Bolton and
Fox News are about to run an expose about how Hilary faked that blood cot to keep from testifying. And now you got that fat traitor in New Jersey getting bought off by Obozo promising him god knows what . Probably food stamps for the whole state.Darrell Issa is going to call her doctors to testify. We will blow that whole Bengazi thing wide open. And Dick Cheney has some good leads on how Biden drugged McConnell into joining in that insane compromise. If Cheney was up there he would have shown them Dems who was boss.
Remember if you pass gas in a crowded room , it is always a liberal journalist’s fault.
rightwingextreme
January 3rd, 2013
11:40 am
Finn McCool (The System isn’t Broken; It’s Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
11:15 am
Gun Issue – Covered by the Second Amendment.
The 2nd amendment has never been the issue. It’s the NRA that wants you to think that. The issue is high capacity magazines and rapid firing rifles.
If you need that kind of firepower to kill a deer you should give up hunting altogether.
The Second Amendment isn’t about hunting. It’s designed to keep a government in check by the People.
Joe Hussein Mama
January 3rd, 2013
11:41 am
S. Ray — “Transvaginal probe..classic. Hope you don’t mind if I use that one..”
Saw a photo of some Congresswoman back during the election — she was carrying a sign that said “If I Wanted Government In My Vagina, I’d F**k a Senator.”
Can’t really argue with that!
robert goulet
January 3rd, 2013
11:42 am
Jay:
Let’s go through the issues:
Immigration Reform – count me as one of the 65% who is fine with offering an “avenue” (extra emphasis on avenue) for becoming a legal resident. I oppose offering pure amnesty or simply ignoring the issue which is what the President did with his Executive Order on not deporting illegal aliens. How about an application process with references from current citizens and local municipalities? This would weed out illegals that have committed violent crimes, etc. Then, have formal work visas issued with regular checks from immigration for a specified amount of time. If everything checks out, grant them citizenship. Additionally, the immigrant would need to complete the steps that all naturalized citizens have to complete.
Debt Ceiling: You know as well as I do that not raising the debt ceiling will not “cause the country to default on it’s debt.” It simply means that the country will have to cut spending (gasp!) in other areas to pay down our debt to a point where we can borrow again. You have a credit card, right? You understand that once you hit your limit, you are not allowed to borrow any more money until you pay down the principle, right? It does not mean that you cannot pay your bills, it merely means that you need to pay down your credit card before using it again. America might have to scale back to “basic cable” in order to help pay down its debts. This will not be a bad thing.
Gun Control: 58% of Americans want more stringent gun controls because that is what they keep hearing. More controls, less horrific events like what happened at Sandy Hook, right? Explain to me how that will happen? Make “assault weapons” illegal? Drugs are illegal. It is a felony to possess some of them. Does that stop criminals from manufacturing, distributing, and using them? Does it stop them from getting into the hands of our children? No. Granted you don’t fight drugs with more drugs–you put in place treatment programs and educational programs. Similar things can happen with gun safety, but it will never keep ourselves or our children 100% safe from gun crimes. To think there will ever be an instance where that is the case is extremely naive, but that is what we keep hearing as the only solution. If felt the NRA’s proposal for armed security at schools is a good idea. We have armed security at banks, sporting events, airports, etc., so why not at schools that house our most precious resource? The guy has been vilified by the left for even mentioning this. Also, can you define “assault weapon?”
I agree that unless the GOP changes course, it will be a long time before we hear from them again. In my opinion, someone in the GOP needs to step up and explain our positions on the issues in real language that the uninformed masses can understand, and someone other than Fox News has to make it a top story.
Welcome to the Occupation
January 3rd, 2013
11:42 am
F. Sinkwich: “If O’bozo and his Marxist minions had done NOTHING for the last four years, and pledged to do NOTHING for the next four, this economy would be booming by now”:
One of the dumbest statements I’ve ever read here — and that’s really sayin somthing.
If Obama had done absolutely NOTHING, then of course we would have had a full run on our banks with cascading failure rippling through the financial system and the real economy on an even wider scale than what we saw.
In other words, we would have plunged into outright depression.
I think any person who wants to claim that should first sign a disclaimer waiving any right to redress when their banking account disappears or they are forced to stand for hours in a line for a food voucher.
Sean
January 3rd, 2013
11:42 am
Before we complaining about our congress house leaders, the real change needs to happen closer to home… the GA legislature. But not much fires up people to vote their GA state representative out… so they keep making districts that are very strong Rep and Dem.
godless heathen - Law Abiding Citizen
January 3rd, 2013
11:42 am
That’s the only thing about a house that’s better than an apartment.
Can’t pee off the porch in an apartment.
Lord Help Us
January 3rd, 2013
11:42 am
‘It’s designed to keep a government in check by the People.’
So, is it working? Is the ‘government in check by the People?’
Oscar
January 3rd, 2013
11:42 am
Lots of deductions need to go. Charitable deductions in the first batch along with mortage interst.
Look at the stats. Very few people actually use the mortgage interst deduction. And comaped to other countries, it does not really helh home ownership and value of houses.
Only thing it does is encourage people to buy big houses they can’t afford.
clem
January 3rd, 2013
11:43 am
future is bleak except in south where goatropers abound
Joe Hussein Mama
January 3rd, 2013
11:43 am
G. Heathen — “Can’t pee off the porch in an apartment.”
Says you.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
January 3rd, 2013
11:44 am
“Can’t pee off the porch in an apartment.”
well, you can, but it’s a limited time offer
Redcoat
January 3rd, 2013
11:44 am
@ Lord help us……and Lord help us please!
TaxPayer
January 3rd, 2013
11:45 am
If a person spends a flat $50,000 per year in today’s dollars then over the course of 60 years that person would have an unfunded expense of 3 million dollars. Tack on inflation and multiply that by a few hundred million people and that could add up to a hundred trillion dollars! Wow! You cons need to pay up, up front, or else we just cannot afford to have you around.
barking frog
January 3rd, 2013
11:45 am
JoeHusseinMama
Saw a photo of some Congresswoman back during the election — she was carrying a sign that said “If I Wanted Government In My Vagina, I’d F**k a Senator.”
……………………………………………………………………………………………
and thus the problem with the Congress…..not as smart as a white house intern
but probably less work…
DannyX
January 3rd, 2013
11:45 am
“People can believe in a higher power and still support a woman’s right to choose..”
I agree Stevie. Of course that is not how Christian conservatives see it. Towncrier for example said just the other day that a person who believes in abortion cannot be Christian. To me that arrogance is absurd. DeborahinAthens’ excellent post about all the innocent deaths the US caused in Iraq is case in point, can you be a Christian after supporting that war, as many Christian conservatives did/do?
Stevie Ray
January 3rd, 2013
11:46 am
Redcoat
January 3rd, 2013
11:35 am
Never enough is the answer….especially as long as we keep printing money…interesting that one opinion I came across outlined the cost to each of us of the interest rates being suppressed…namely the return on safe investments…
Rockerbabe
January 3rd, 2013
11:46 am
Well, the GOP might try leaving women and the reproductive medical care alone; women are perfectly capable of making their own decision without the male GOP’s input.
The GOP might try standing up for ALL Americans, not just those with a 6+ figure income.
The GOP might try paying for all of the wars they thought was a good idea; unnecessary and immoral notwithstanding.
The GOP might try confirming the nominees for the federal judge positions that are vacant.
The GOP might try really cutting unnecessary and wasteful spending like, subsidies for the oil industry, subsidies for the entertainment industry, subsidies for the car and racing industry, subsidies for the chamber of commerce. Then they could consider cutting subsidies for the dairy, wheat, rice, soy, corn, beef, pork, chicken, barley and hops farmers.
There are lots of things the GOP can do to appear to more Americans, but alas, I doubt they just cannot find the courage to do so.
Georgia
January 3rd, 2013
11:47 am
Is this the real life Westside Story? Everything free in America. Free to wait tables and shine shoes. Except this time the Sharks are winning. Well, this time there’s no Natalie Wood to wave a pistol around and snap everyone out of it. Imagine this country with no GOP to check the spending. Imagine only democrats in our congress. Stick to your own kind, stick to your own kind. In two years we’d have a quadrillion dollar debt and inflation would be over a thousand percent. We’re lucky the GOP is still around to check the lunatic fringe that has become the spending core of the democratic party. How bad is it? Stephanie Miller is now considered a moderate liberal. (and if she doesn’t stop wearing those stupid caps…..)
We have to be careful here, and watch closely what we ask for. A Place For Us? We might get it. I don’t trust Obama with a carte blanche legislative right of way to spend. I want there to be strong opposition to any spending conspiracies. Gridlock is good. I’ll say it again. Gridlock……is good.
Redcoat
January 3rd, 2013
11:47 am
All politicians lie…..agree? If not which ones don’t……..anyone?
curious
January 3rd, 2013
11:48 am
rightwingextreme
“The Second Amendment isn’t about hunting. It’s designed to keep a government in check by the People.”
Where can I get a M1A1 tank?
Towncrier
January 3rd, 2013
11:48 am
“Explain to me how that will happen? Make “assault weapons” illegal? Drugs are illegal. It is a felony to possess some of them. Does that stop criminals from manufacturing, distributing, and using them? Does it stop them from getting into the hands of our children? No. Granted you don’t fight drugs with more drugs–you put in place treatment programs and educational programs. Similar things can happen with gun safety, but it will never keep ourselves or our children 100% safe from gun crimes. To think there will ever be an instance where that is the case is extremely naive, but that is what we keep hearing as the only solution.”
I am not sure people who are pushing for a lot of gun control are so much interested in a “solution” as in pushing their agenda (the not-well-though-out belief that more guns equals more violence, which many studies do not validate). The principal “solution” (which at best is really no more than a dramatic reduction in gun crime), I think, lies elsewhere. And if we are serious about finding that solution, we will find it.
indigo
January 3rd, 2013
11:49 am
USinUK – 12:32
Standing your ground with a Judge in a courtroom is NOT the same as yelling “fire” in a crowded theatre.
Paul
January 3rd, 2013
11:49 am
“How can the Republican Party shed its reputation as extremist on the national stage when most of those who create that reputation — the members of the House GOP caucus — have every incentive as individuals to continue on their present course?
About the only thing that comes to mind is for the Republican House leadership to make the caucus pay a price for their intransigence. They’re separated from what had been historical reliance (and allegiance) to leadership, such as fundraising. They’ve their own routes for that so they’re not dependent on the leadership. Boehner made some tentative steps in that direction by removing some members from key committee positions. Time to up the ante. Treat them as if they are not members of the Republican Party working for the common good. They want their extreme, marginal agenda – fine. Let them do it on their own. But until they want to play, they’ll have to pay. And the more creative ways leadership can dream up to make life miserable for them, the better.
Of course, in their “I’m oppressed but I’m fighting the righteous fight for a cause bigger than myself” minds it may be just the kind of perverse attention they crave (as we see with some bloggers). That is a risk. But accommodating, attempting to placate and talking haven’t worked. Find out what’s most dear to them, then shut it off or use it against them. As Pres Bush said, they’re either with ‘us’ or against ‘us’ – and so far they’ve been not only against the ‘us’ of the Party, they’ve been against the ‘us’ of the US.
The other half of your brain.
January 3rd, 2013
11:49 am
indigo
January 3rd, 2013
11:27 am
rightwingextreme – 11:16 “the milita back in the day were the people”
That’s right. They were the farmers, merchants, clerks, etc.
There was no standing professional army.
That was then. This is now.
Today’s milita is our professional Military and the 2nd ammendment guarantees THEM, NOT CIVILIANS, the “right to keep and bear arms”.
You need to tell all our Government and the Supreme Court that they are wrong and you are right.
Aquagirl
January 3rd, 2013
11:50 am
I guess you glossed over most of the post you are indignantly responding to. It is the SCOTUS that has concluded that.
The SCOTUS wasn’t opining on abortion as a replacement for birth control. If your fevered imagination is plagued by hordes of people shtupping like bunnies, that’s your problem.
They cited birth control because the basis for these decisions goes back to Griswold vs. Connecticut, which was about birth control.
For all your carping about Roe vs. Wade, it’s not really the case that kicked people like you out of other’s bedrooms—much to your chagrin.
barking frog
January 3rd, 2013
11:51 am
Hate to say it folks but Stock market is up, unemployment is down,
bank failures are down, retail sales are up, gas prices are down,
we need to send a mission to Kenya to find another anti-colonialist
to run in 2016…….
Joe Hussein Mama
January 3rd, 2013
11:51 am
curious — “Where can I get a M1A1 tank?”
http://www.dispositionservices.dla.mil/sales/generalinfo.shtml
Good luck. Hope you don’t want one with a working main gun or ammo.
Michael
January 3rd, 2013
11:51 am
You know that you are in trouble when you put up people lke Herman Cain, Bachman, Gingrich, Paul etc. for President of the US. Hey, I am a registered repulican but there was no way that I could drink enough alcohol to dumb myself down to vote for any of these people. But it is a double bind for the Pubs because they have that wing of the party along with grover doing battle against their own more moderate wing of the party. Good luck with that. But it will be fun to watch.
rightwingextreme
January 3rd, 2013
11:52 am
indigo
January 3rd, 2013
11:27 am
rightwingextreme – 11:16 “the milita back in the day were the people”
That’s right. They were the farmers, merchants, clerks, etc.
There was no standing professional army.
That was then. This is now.
Today’s milita is our professional Military and the 2nd ammendment guarantees THEM, NOT CIVILIANS, the “right to keep and bear arms”.
Wrong.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
The Founding Fathers included this as a means by which the People could have a means to defend themselves against a tyrannical government. They understood that too much power in government could become corrupted and potentially used against the People.
When tyrants come to power one of the first items on their agenda is to disarm the people. Check out world history and you will see this. It happened in Cuba, China, Russia, Nazi Germany and every other tyrannical government the planet has seen.
You don’t have to own a gun. That’s your right under our Constitution. However, I want my right to own one if I choose.
Redcoat
January 3rd, 2013
11:52 am
Rockerbabe………All politicians lie…..agree? If not which ones don’t……..anyone?
Tundra Dude
January 3rd, 2013
11:54 am
Stevie:
Most of the Libs I come into contact with want more spending and will fight cuts to entitlements and have no problem about our need to borrow to cover expenses.
Stop fibbing! You don’t know any Libs, and I don’t either, (except the cleaning lady)
Tell me, just how high can our debt get before you and the LIB economists think it will present a problem?
Imo, the official debt and trillions of unfunded liabilities are unpayable. Former Reagan econ advisor, prof Kotikoff, of Boston U, claims we’ve promised over $200 Trillion over 75 yrs. Others think it’s only half that amount. He also claims our annual shortfall is $4-5 Trillion, not that $1 Trillion deficit.
I’m not a GOP by any stretch
Yes you are…all your “info” sounds like it’s straight from that Fountain of Knowledge, Faux Nuze.
Redcoat
January 3rd, 2013
11:54 am
@Micheal…….Who would you vote for or support?
The other half of your brain.
January 3rd, 2013
11:54 am
Rocker, The same exact thing could be said about the Libs. The sorry part about your post is that you don’t want to see the truth.
The VIETNAM WAR caused by the Democrats killed more Americans than all the Republican wars combined.
Damn, that was easy.
GT
January 3rd, 2013
11:56 am
Who would have ever thought that in America advocating individual liberty, fiscal responsibility, and free market capitalism would be considered “too extremist?”
Free market capitalism, with a bail out and a cherry on top. The right is absolutely blind, we fight wars against ghost, deport illegals who are our main working class, chase drug dealers and lose a drug war the majority of the country doesn’t want, yet worry about our freedom like they know what they are talking about. What the extreme want is their freedom to hell with everybody else. Just like Louisiana and Katrina, we don’t believe in hand outs unless it is us getting them. I don’t blame NJ and NY for being fed up. This one monkey show the Tea Party is having is getting pretty old to all of us.
Dawg Man
January 3rd, 2013
11:56 am
To all the left wingers on here, that includes you Jay, thanks for the laughs.
The fact that you actually think the Republican party/conservatives is done, finished, stick a fork in them, is so absurd and borders on stupidity that your wishful thinking is hilarious.
Do you really believe that this country’s problems is due to one party & one party only? If so, then that stupidty is not funny, but sad.
barking frog
January 3rd, 2013
11:56 am
USinUK
about the 2nd amendment, who in the government can infringe
on the right of the people to keep and bear arms without a law to
enforce ?
Towncrier
January 3rd, 2013
11:56 am
“Well, the GOP might try leaving women and the reproductive medical care alone; women are perfectly capable of making their own decision without the male GOP’s input.”
Yes, but would that they might do that BEFORE they got in bed with someone and not after. Let’s see how many things in life we get a “take back” with. Drunk driving causing a fatality? Nope. Cheating on your wife and getting caught? Nope. Overdosing on drugs? Nope. Jumping off a cliff? Nope. Getting an STD from a sexual partner? Nope. Eating 3 Big Macs a day for 10 years and having a heart attack? Nope. Having sex with a male without conscientiously using contraceptives and getting pregnant? Yep (all it takes is giving infanticide another name and getting the approval of liberal justices).
mm
January 3rd, 2013
11:58 am
You cons love to imagine that your are so smart about so many things.
But on a daily basis, the most ignorant, racist, heartless, classless people I meet are righties.
Matti
January 3rd, 2013
11:58 am
Georgia @ 11:47: “Imagine this country with no GOP to check the spending.”
Imagine if Georgia actually paid attention to who authorized the spending, how much, and on what, in the last three decades instead of regurgitating the most shallow and easily-debunked talking point the RW media pumps forth. Points for working in a show tune though! At least that part was refreshing.
The other half of your brain.
January 3rd, 2013
11:58 am
Dawg Man
January 3rd, 2013
11:56 am
To all the left wingers on here, that includes you Jay, thanks for the laughs.
The fact that you actually think the Republican party/conservatives is done, finished, stick a fork in them, is so absurd and borders on stupidity that your wishful thinking is hilarious.
Do you really believe that this country’s problems is due to one party & one party only? If so, then that stupidty is not funny, but sad.
” Dogman, So true, they were saying that the Democrats were done around 10 or 12 years ago. “
Paul
January 3rd, 2013
11:59 am
robert goulet
” You have a credit card, right? You understand that once you hit your limit, you are not allowed to borrow any more money until you pay down the principle, right?”
Household budgets and credit card analogies. Sigh….
IF you have already spent in excess of your credit limit and if those transactions have been processed, you owe more than your limit. You’ve already spent the money – approved it.
Congress had, months ago, approved the funding. They had two choices of how to pay for it: revenue or take on debt. They (including Republicans) knew the revenue wasn’t there so more debt was the route. The only thing sadder than them peddling the line ‘we aren’t going to accumulate more debt by raising the limit’ ‘ (after they’ve approved funding in excess of the limit) is that people actually believe the line.
Joe Hussein Mama
January 3rd, 2013
11:59 am
R. W. Extreme — “The Founding Fathers included this as a means by which the People could have a means to defend themselves against a tyrannical government. They understood that too much power in government could become corrupted and potentially used against the People.”
I am sure that your AR-15 will avail you naught against a Predator drone.
If you think for a moment that your popguns, and the popguns of all other Americans who think as you do, amount to much against the weapons and equipment of our military, then you’re simply deluding yourself. And I say this as a gun owner myself.
There was a time when your guns would have made a difference in such a scenario, but that time is long, long gone and not coming back.
I certainly don’t advocate our military firing on civilians, but if David Koresh’s arsenal in Waco couldn’t protect his people against ‘government interference,’ (that didn’t even include the military) then I doubt yours would fare any better.
barking frog
January 3rd, 2013
11:59 am
the other half of your brain
The VIETNAM WAR caused by the Democrats killed more Americans than all the Republican wars combined
………………………………………………………………..
but the killed were mostly Republicans…….
TaxPayer
January 3rd, 2013
12:00 pm
What were the founding father’s plans for dealing with drones. A well-winged militia perhaps.
Aquagirl
January 3rd, 2013
12:00 pm
TC thinks an abortion is like hitting the reset button on a video game.
And Republicans wonder why they’re the incredible shrinking party.
The other half of your brain.
January 3rd, 2013
12:00 pm
mm
January 3rd, 2013
11:58 am
You cons love to imagine that your are so smart about so many things.
But on a daily basis, the most ignorant, racist, heartless, classless people I meet are righties
” Maybe you need to get out of the inner city? “
Joe Hussein Mama
January 3rd, 2013
12:01 pm
Towncrier — “Yes, but would that they might do that BEFORE they got in bed with someone and not after.”
Live your life the way you want and extend others the same courtesy.
If you don’t like the reproductive choices and actions of others, that’s just too bad for you.
DannyX
January 3rd, 2013
12:01 pm
“The VIETNAM WAR caused by the Democrats killed more Americans than all the Republican wars combined”
Last I checked Lincoln was a Republican.
Nero
January 3rd, 2013
12:02 pm
Classless…….BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Nunna Yobinnes
January 3rd, 2013
12:03 pm
“the other half of your brain
The VIETNAM WAR caused by the Democrats killed more Americans than all the Republican wars combined
………………………………………………………………..
but the killed were mostly Republicans…….”
barking frog – are you suggesting that the Vietnam war was a Democrat conspiracy to kill young Republicans?
Michael
January 3rd, 2013
12:03 pm
Redcoat, I have no idea who has the ability to unite this Party. Rubio might come close and now Christy is trying to be a voice of reason in a sea of insanity, so he will likely get his knees whacked. And Jay s right, the georgia politicians have no gain to be made in being rational.
barking frog
January 3rd, 2013
12:04 pm
Taxpayer
What were the founding father’s plans for dealing with drones
………………………………………………………………………
They kept them in hives with the Queen….
The other half of your brain.
January 3rd, 2013
12:04 pm
barking frog
January 3rd, 2013
11:59 am
the other half of your brain
The VIETNAM WAR caused by the Democrats killed more Americans than all the Republican wars combined
………………………………………………………………..
but the killed were mostly Republicans…….
” Barking, Thans for admitting that the Republicans were the only soldiers willing to fight for your PATHETIC FREEDOM. ”
It’s ok to be a COWARD, it just pisses me that I was willing to join the service to protect cowards like you.
GT
January 3rd, 2013
12:05 pm
Dawg Man I doubt the Republicans do enough to cause anyone any problems. It is the most do nothing but complain crowd God has ever invented. They believe the old southern adage that doing and saying nothing keeps people from knowing how dumb you are and then you had to go ruin it by telling us how stupid we are. Maybe you prefer we just sit here and stare at each other while there is serious business for adults to attend to.
HDB
January 3rd, 2013
12:05 pm
he other half of your brain.
January 3rd, 2013
11:54 am
“The VIETNAM WAR caused by the Democrats killed more Americans than all the Republican wars combined.”
Actually, the Vietnam War was CAUSED by Republicans…i.e., Dwight D. Eisenhower. His signing of the SEATO Treaty in 1954 obligated the US to come into French IndoChina in case hostilities broke out…The war started in 1955…but escalated under Democratic Administrations (Kennedy/Johnson)……..
barking frog
January 3rd, 2013
12:06 pm
Nunna Yobinnes
barking frog – are you suggesting that the Vietnam war was a Democrat conspiracy to kill young Republicans?
………………………………………………………………
Don’t think they are that smart, just worked out that way…..
Joe Hussein Mama
January 3rd, 2013
12:06 pm
other half — ” Barking, Thans for admitting that the Republicans were the only soldiers willing to fight for your PATHETIC FREEDOM.”
This Democrat and disabled Army veteran would like to know just WTF you’re talking about here.
The other half of your brain.
January 3rd, 2013
12:08 pm
DannyX
January 3rd, 2013
12:01 pm
“The VIETNAM WAR caused by the Democrats killed more Americans than all the Republican wars combined”
Last I checked Lincoln was a Republican.
” Danny, The civil war was started by the Confederates firing on the Union on 4/12/1861
And yes Lincoln was a Republican, your point being? “
Towncrier
January 3rd, 2013
12:08 pm
“I agree Stevie. Of course that is not how Christian conservatives see it. Towncrier for example said just the other day that a person who believes in abortion cannot be Christian. To me that arrogance is absurd. DeborahinAthens’ excellent post about all the innocent deaths the US caused in Iraq is case in point, can you be a Christian after supporting that war, as many Christian conservatives did/do?”
We all choose to believe what we will. And I believe we will be accountable for those decisions one day. If you think that the same God that was displeased with Israelites sacrificing their children to Molech in the OT smiles upon abortions, then so be it. Please show me scriptures to back up your position.
BTW, I was not a supporter of the Iraq war. Unless one wants to be conquered and subjugated, war is at some point unavoidable. It may not be one’s decision to make war, but one must decide whether or not to defend himself in war.
barking frog
January 3rd, 2013
12:09 pm
the other half of your brain
It’s ok to be a COWARD, it just pisses me that I was willing to join the service to protect cowards like you.
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Ditto. USAF 1964-1968. How about you?
Nunna Yobinnes
January 3rd, 2013
12:09 pm
Yeah, LBJ sent more and more troops, but would not allow military leaders to utilize their own strategies to get the war over as quickly as possible. Result – more and more coming home in body bags, until finally we just walked away. What a waste of all those lives.
Tundra Dude
January 3rd, 2013
12:09 pm
Half Brain wrote:
the VIETNAM WAR caused by the Democrats killed more Americans than all the Republican wars combined.
Axshully, if you persue the National Archives,
you’ll discover Eisenhower (and his corporate sponsors) had their sights set on Indochina way back in the 50’s. (tin, tungsten, oil, yummee!)
Towncrier
January 3rd, 2013
12:10 pm
“Live your life the way you want and extend others the same courtesy. If you don’t like the reproductive choices and actions of others, that’s just too bad for you.”
I am exercising my First Amendment right to challenge the positions of others. If you don’t like that, then that’s just too bad for you.”