The world as Marco Rubio prefers to see it
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio may have had an awkward, amateurish moment in his rebuttal to the State of the Union last night — grace under pressure it was not — but it’s nothing that will do permanent damage to his career. The national spotlight is a difficult place, and you learn how to handle it by living in it. Sarah Palin, for example, never got the benefit of the learning curve that Rubio is now experiencing, and the lack of preparation ended her career.
With that in mind, let’s set aside talk of Rubio’s delivery and take a serious look at the message itself. (Transcript available here.) And let’s start with the fact that in most respects, his speech was a standard, rote recitation of Republican ideology, including a familiar condemnation of President Obama as an enemy of capitalism:
“Presidents in both parties – from John F. Kennedy to Ronald Reagan – have known that our free enterprise economy is the source of our middle class prosperity. But President Obama? He believes it’s the cause of our problems.”
“… the idea that more taxes and more government spending is the best way to help hardworking middle class taxpayers – that’s an old idea that’s failed every time it’s been tried. More government isn’t going to help you get ahead. It’s going to hold you back.”
That is an easily disprovable assertion. Medicare is not a failure; Social Security is not a failure; the GI Bill was not a failure; Head Start is not a failure; unemployment insurance is not a failure. The student loan and Pell Grant programs are not failures. Neither is Medicaid, which among other things insures two-thirds of Americans receiving long-term nursing home care in this country.
These and other programs — almost all of them opposed by Republicans since their inception — have been of immense service to “hardworking middle-class taxpayers” and other Americans. In fact, Rubio and his family have themselves benefited greatly from those programs. As he acknowledged later in his speech, his mother and late father have relied heavily on Medicare to deal with their declining health. Rubio attended a state-financed university, including a community college and the University of Florida, and financed that college education through federal loans and the Pell Grant program.
It is not an exaggeration to say that those taxpayer-funded programs — dismissed by Rubio as failures in helping the middle class — have made his entire life and career possible. College, for example, would have been much more difficult. And without Medicare and Social Security footing the bill, the cost of caring for his aging parents would have had to be paid from his own pocket, significantly shrinking his own economic and career options.
However, when Rubio recounts his personal history, such inconvenient facts seem to melt away. As he said in his speech last night:
“My parents immigrated here in pursuit of the opportunity to improve their life and give their children the chance at an even better one. They made it to the middle class, my dad working as a bartender and my mother as a cashier and a maid. I didn’t inherit any money from them. But I inherited something far better – the real opportunity to accomplish my dreams. This opportunity – to make it to the middle class or beyond no matter where you start out in life – it isn’t bestowed on us from Washington.”
It is a theme that he returned to in his closing, in which he talked of the dreams that parents of today have for their newborn children, just as his parents had for him:
“For many of these parents, life has not gone the way they had planned. Maybe they were born into circumstances they’ve found difficult to escape. Maybe they’ve made some mistakes along the way. Maybe they’re young mothers, all alone, the father of their child long gone.
But tonight, when they look into the eyes of their child for the first time, their lives will change forever. Because in those eyes, they will see what my parents saw in me, and what your parents saw in you. They will see all the hopes and dreams they once had for themselves. This dream – of a better life for their children – it’s the hope of parents everywhere. Politicians here and throughout the world have long promised that more government can make those dreams come true.
But we Americans have always known better. From our earliest days, we embraced economic liberty instead. And because we did, America remains one of the few places on earth where dreams like these even have a chance.”
It is moving stuff, but again, it is romanticized to the point of caricature. These parents “born into circumstances they’ve found difficult to escape” would no doubt welcome high-quality pre-K programs of the sort advocated Tuesday night by Obama, because without it their children would have a much tougher time excelling in school. The earned-income tax credit for working families having a hard time making ends meet would be invaluable to them. Parents working as bartenders and cashiers are highly unlikely to have employer-provided health insurance, so Medicaid would be essential if their children should become ill.
There’s one more very important factor to consider. Rubio’s parents came to this country in 1956, and over the next quarter century, as they tried to establish an economic foothold here, they did so in an era when economic prosperity was more broadly shared than it is today.
Here’s what income inequality looked like in America from 1956 to 1981:
Here’s what it has done since:
Here’s what employees’ share of the gross domestic product did from 1956 to 1981:
Here’s what it has done since:
Those and other profound, structural changes in the American economy have made it much more difficult for modern versions of Mario and Oria Rubio to look into their children’s eyes and dream of a better life for them. Yet, as their son explained to the American people Tuesday night, the Republican Party believes that government should take no account of those changed conditions. “More government isn’t going to help you get ahead,” as he told us. “It’s going to hold you back.”
In fact, we are told, the answer must be to shrink those government programs that — Rubio’s denials aside — have helped himself and countless millions more Americans achieve the dreams of their fathers and mothers. The American people are going to have a hard time swallowing that.
– Jay Bookman
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856 comments Add your comment
TaxPayer
February 13th, 2013
3:25 pm
Seriously, don’t you ever get tired of repeating the same myopic rhetoric day after day after day….
Says the cat in the hat, er, um box. Seriously, is that the best you got. I suspect yes given that you are a Republican.
stands for decibels
February 13th, 2013
3:25 pm
There has to be some point of personal responsibility. Pre-K is welfare, face it.
And welfare is baaad. because… hey, help me out here, DDR…
Cause LimpBalls told them so. Duh!
yeah, that must be it.
So let’s dump more of that “baby sitting.” No government education until they’re, what, ten? twelve?
JohnnyReb
February 13th, 2013
3:25 pm
No Fred, the parents of the little 5 year old should pay for his pre-K. When they decided to procreate it did not include my agreement to help them pay for their offspring.
Itchy Finger
February 13th, 2013
3:27 pm
Its sad Jay even you can’t get your buffoons to join in with the attack. I guess obama’s speech was so miserable to them last night that they don’t feel like talking today…
Joe Hussein Mama
February 13th, 2013
3:27 pm
U. Samantha — “THE EMERGENCE OF WOMEN/MINORITIES IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAVE THE HUGGIES STRAINING ON THE LEFT”
IF YOU CAN STILL COUNT ALL OF YOURS ON ONE HAND, THAT’S NOT VERY SCARY
Itchy Finger
February 13th, 2013
3:29 pm
http://nation.foxnews.com/marco-rubio/2013/02/13/rubio-schools-stephanopoulos
Doggone/GA
February 13th, 2013
3:29 pm
“the liberals’ “government is always the solution”
When you have to lie to make your “point”…you have NO POINT
JohnnyReb
February 13th, 2013
3:29 pm
No Stands, first grade at the governement school at 6 years old worked just fine and there is no evidence that more than that makes a difference. Some say it does, but if that’s so, why all the talk of reeducation, trade schools, etc.
Truth is, Progressives pushing government school before 6 years old is to compensate for no parental responsibility.
Fred ™
February 13th, 2013
3:31 pm
No Fred, the parents of the little 5 year old should pay for his pre-K. When they decided to procreate it did not include my agreement to help them pay for their offspring.
The parents are dead beat losers. So what should we do with the kid? Educate him to be a productive member of society? Oh hell no, let’s not do that. Shame you couldn’t just take your assault rifle and shoot the little welfare rat eh………
getalife
February 13th, 2013
3:31 pm
It is your failed ideology that keeps you being self defeatists.
Your media are not credible yet you continue to swallow every lie.
You do not have any leaders, you are stuck in the wilderness flailing like lost children.
You are marginalized divided and conquered.
You are the minority for a very long time.
Self reflect on that.
Erwin's cat
February 13th, 2013
3:32 pm
Fred – I see you are continuing the debate with the voices in your head
Where did I mention Pre-K or a 5 yr old?…This is the greatest country in the world…you can be whatever you want to be if you’re willing to work for it and dedicate yourself
Fred ™
February 13th, 2013
3:33 pm
Truth is, Progressives pushing government school before 6 years old is to compensate for no parental responsibility.
I trust you have some facts other than Rush and Fox told you to back up that little gem there? Because the studies I’ve seen show differently than your wild claim……… here let me TRY to educate you……..
http://tinyurl.com/b635w7r
JohnnyReb
February 13th, 2013
3:34 pm
Now Fred, let’s not go overboard. The problem is not the children. It’s too many of those dead beat losers you reference where the Left wants to just fix their screwups without fixing them. The Left’s answer for the dead beats is to give them something else instead of taking the children and letting the dead beat starve to death.
getalife
February 13th, 2013
3:35 pm
“you can be whatever you want to be if you’re willing to work for it and dedicate yourself”
That is the goal.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
February 13th, 2013
3:35 pm
stands — Are you talking about Bernie Madoff? If so, you hit hat one dead on!!
==============
Mr. Rebel — Here’s some fact check on Obama’s speech that came from, gasp!, the front page of the AJC!!!! (grab the pearls and where IS the fainting couch?!?)
http://www.politifact.com/georgia/
stands for decibels
February 13th, 2013
3:35 pm
No Stands, first grade at the governement school at 6 years old worked just fine and there is no evidence that more than that makes a difference.
GOP, THIS^^ is the guy you need to run out there in 2016. No more socialist Kindygarten!
Erwin's cat
February 13th, 2013
3:36 pm
DDR – You could go somewhere like Somalia — no taxes
I just realized…that’s a pretty rich statement coming from an expat whose first $90k/yr brought back to the US is tax free
mm
February 13th, 2013
3:36 pm
“But we will never be able to even attempt paying down this debt unless we, among other things, seriously reevaluate our spending.”
We already have, so why do you cons keep spewing that garbage?
From CNN Money:
Where does the $2.5 trillion come from? Several sources: savings from the 2011 Budget Control Act, lower spending levels enacted in temporary government funding resolutions since 2010, and the fiscal cliff deal passed at the start of this year.
In fact, the latest savings estimate is actually closer to $2.7 trillion, according to Marc Goldwein, CRFB’s senior policy director.
Of that amount, $1.57 trillion comes from spending cuts, $690 billion from increased tax revenue and $430 billion from interest savings.
Righties hate facts, math, and science.
moonbat betty
February 13th, 2013
3:36 pm
“you can be whatever you want to be if you’re willing to work for it and dedicate yourself”
Just be sure you go into rhythmic gymnastics instead of wrestling.
Itchy Finger
February 13th, 2013
3:36 pm
If this was said about obama’s speech it would be deemed raciest….
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jeffrey-meyer/2013/02/13/chris-matthews-bashes-rubios-response-state-union-primitive
stands for decibels
February 13th, 2013
3:38 pm
stands — Are you talking about Bernie Madoff? If so, you hit hat one dead on!!
heh. Sorry, I did not properly identify the gentleman in question. Here’s a direct link.
JohnnyReb
February 13th, 2013
3:38 pm
Debbie – your reference is my point. The AJC does not have the fortitude to fact check Obama lies, of which his claims to pre-K success being one. ALl the spending he proposes without raising the deficit another, and I could go on. They only fact check what make little Barry look good or not very bad. They always skip the pants on fire.
getalife
February 13th, 2013
3:39 pm
The American dream, “you can be whatever you want to be if you’re willing to work for it and dedicate yourself” took a hit after the w disaster but our President is working to restore the American dream.
This should be a bipartisan effort but the gop ideology stands in the way.
Get the gop out of the way of free enterprise for jobs.
It is not complicated.
Erwin's cat
February 13th, 2013
3:40 pm
mm – you forgot this part of the article
“the vast majority of the deficit reduction has yet to materialize. Congress is supposed to comply with the caps on discretionary spending imposed by the Budget Control Act in future appropriations bills. But whether that happens remains to be seen.”
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
February 13th, 2013
3:41 pm
No Stands, first grade at the governement school at 6 years old worked just fine and there is no evidence that more than that makes a difference, [or any I'd believe anyway or even deign to LOOK at 'cause if i LOOK at it, then I'd have to recognize the truth of it! What's the point in my rant then?]
ODD OWL
February 13th, 2013
3:41 pm
Non rich Republicans are ideologically tone deaf… They don’t have a leg to stand on… The Republican agenda is based on the “ready, fire, aim” formula… When the Republicans begin to spray rhetoric, We the People duck for cover…
moonbat betty
February 13th, 2013
3:42 pm
“ALl the spending he proposes without raising the deficit another, and I could go on.”
But hey, he SOUNDS and LOOKS good saying it!
Fred ™
February 13th, 2013
3:43 pm
The Left’s answer for the dead beats is to give them something else instead of taking the children and letting the dead beat starve to death.
How many of those children have YOU taken? That’s what you mean right? I mean once you take them, where do you put them?
I know it’s a lot for you to understand, but people DO make mistakes. Once a kid has a child their options are somewhat limited. If they don’t have a well off family they have to go to work. They are unsuited to get meaningful jobs so they are stuck in low paying menial labor jobs. I realize that you and Erwins cat would have managed to work 3 or 4 “part time” menail labor jobs at minimum wage , raise a child AND get a PhD so you could increase become rich, but most of us are just mortals, not supermen like you two.
Reality has a way of pissing on trite little phrases like “This is America, you can do anything you set your mind to.” Yeah right, let’s see Stevie Wonder take the wheel……….
Despite what your talk radio Gods would have you believe a small minority of folks actually are “deadbeats.” Most people are hard working folks who started life behind and will NEVER catch up. Some of them truly are dumber than a box of rocks. They work hard, they don’t drink or smoke or chase wild women, but they just aren’t smart. WHen they knocked up little Susie Sally Jane, they didn’t run off, they didn’t push for an evil abortion, they manned up and did the responsible thing. Doesn’t matter, they are screwed. You answer? Kick them in the teeth.
And you wonder WHY we think you are stupid. It’s because of the stupid things you write. I doubt that in real life you would treat a hard working fellow American like that. So why do you talk this trash and support the hate.
It’s time to stop the hate and rhetoric JohnnyReb and act like the man you are, not the programmable Foxbot you come across as on this blog.
mm
February 13th, 2013
3:44 pm
Erwin,
And both parties have a hand in that.
The Dems came up with the tax increases. Now it’s time for the GOP to name the spending cuts. But you know as well as I do, Boehner wants the Dems to name the cuts so the GOP can use that against them in the next election. So, stalemate.
Fred ™
February 13th, 2013
3:46 pm
JohnnyReb
February 13th, 2013
3:38 pm
Debbie – your reference is my point. The AJC does not have the fortitude to fact check Obama lies, of which his claims to pre-K success being one.
++++++++++++++++++++
I provided you links to the contrary of that ridiculous claim. I also asked if you had any proof to back it up. Did you post it and I missed it or do you in fact have ZERO proof like I think?
Itchy Finger
February 13th, 2013
3:46 pm
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/food-stamp-rolls-america-now-surpass-population-spain
getalife
February 13th, 2013
3:48 pm
Basically, the gop blew the American dream and our President will restore the American dream.
This President is performing better than President Clinton with no scandals.
I could not be happier with our President.
ev
February 13th, 2013
3:49 pm
Again Jay, do those numbers include benefits?
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
February 13th, 2013
3:50 pm
stands — God is gonna get you for that one!! The fact that you scoffed and actually smiled at what Bernie had to say was about corporate america was…………ummm………bad! Yeah, that’s right bad! B-A-D!!! And you should be ASHAMED of even reading anything bad about C.A.!! C.A. is now a PERSON; so in effect, you have just blasphemed your neighbor! Bad stands! Bad, bad BAD!!! (but i kinda like bad so……
)
===========
JR — I’m trying to figure this out from your point of view. Just because the AJC LINKED to the politifact website that double checked PrezBo’s speech, is not relevant because they didn’t do the fact check themselves?
Is that what you’re saying?
=============
Cat – Who’s the ex-pat?
Fred ™
February 13th, 2013
3:51 pm
I could not be happier with our President.
I could. But I could be more dissatisfied as well. I think he’s doing a fine job. Not a great job, but certainly not a terrible job like the assha………….. detractors say.
Steve
February 13th, 2013
3:51 pm
Some of you people must be very miserable human beings.
Itchy Finger
February 13th, 2013
3:52 pm
getalife
Basically, the gop blew the American dream and our President will restore the American dream.
This President is performing better than President Clinton with no scandals.
I could not be happier with our President.
Wow. Just wow….
TaxPayer
February 13th, 2013
3:52 pm
Come now, Fred. One of those other Republican planks, that they so proudly display hanging from their eye sockets, is that there is no salvation from fornication.
Fred ™
February 13th, 2013
3:52 pm
Cat – Who’s the ex-pat?
You are. He says so, so it must be true.
Erwin's cat
February 13th, 2013
3:52 pm
Fred – Yeah right, let’s see Stevie Wonder take the wheel……….
stop limiting yourself Fred….never ever let the situation define you
http://current.com/community/89402333_blind-man-sees-wife-and-kids-for-the-first-time.htm
DownInAlbany
February 13th, 2013
3:53 pm
getalife
February 13th, 2013
3:48 pm
I hate to break it to you, but, you are in the minority…
According to a Gallup poll, 42% of Americans approve of Obama’s gun policies while 54% disapprove.
On taxes, 41% approve and 57% disapprove. On the economy, 39% approve and 60% disapprove. On “the situation in the Middle East between the Israelis and the Palestinians,” 36% approve and 55% disapprove.
And on the federal budget deficit, 31% approve and 65% disapprove.
The only area in which Obama gains the support of a majority is on “national defense” issues, but the poll was conducted before North Korea reportedly tested a nuclear weapon on Monday as Obama seeks to diminish America’s nuclear arsenal.
Gallup conducted its poll from Feb. 7-10.
appleseed
February 13th, 2013
3:53 pm
decided to procreate.Most do not decide just happends.Give them control,wont use it.pre natal then welfare.the only answere is to thin the herd.Thin the herd.
Erwin's cat
February 13th, 2013
3:53 pm
DDR…my bad…I always seem to get you and USinUK mixed up…my apologies…I’ll try hared
Erwin's cat
February 13th, 2013
3:54 pm
hared = harder
JohnnyReb
February 13th, 2013
3:54 pm
This is fun, but at some point work must be done. Bye for now.
getalife
February 13th, 2013
3:55 pm
Fred,
There are no perfect politicians.
Factor in congress and the unhinged behavior of the right that gave him a big pile of stinking crap in your analysis of our President but he is not done yet.
TBS
February 13th, 2013
3:55 pm
“The only area in which Obama gains the support of a majority is on “national defense” issues,”
And at the voting booth, but whose counting the real poll, huh?
getalife
February 13th, 2013
3:57 pm
downer in Albany,
I go by election results not uncredible polls.
Thanks downer.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
February 13th, 2013
3:58 pm
Of Welfare, Love Of Country, And Talking Out The Side Of Their Necks:
Wall Street banks and large companies love America when they need corporate welfare. But when it comes to paying American taxes or American wages, they want nothing to do with this country. That has got to change.
Offshore tax abuse is not just limited to Wall Street. Each and every year corporations and the wealthy are avoiding more than $100 billion in U.S. taxes by sheltering their income offshore.
Pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly and Pfizer have fought to make it illegal for the American people to buy cheaper prescription drugs from Canada and Europe. But, during tax season, Eli Lilly and Pfizer shift drug patents and profits to the Netherlands and other offshore tax havens to avoid paying U.S. taxes.
TBS
February 13th, 2013
3:58 pm
DIA
By the way, read your post this morning regarding paying decent wages based on applicable skill sets in efforts to keep good workers.
Hope that is working out for your company. Way to go. Hats off to you.
Joe Hussein Mama
February 13th, 2013
3:59 pm
DIA — “Gallup conducted its poll from Feb. 7-10.”
Link, please.
Itchy Finger
February 13th, 2013
3:59 pm
The view of a smart black man…
http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2013/02/13/Dr-Ben-Carson-Slams-State-of-the-Union
getalife
February 13th, 2013
3:59 pm
Let me be clear, the American people told you cons to shove your failed ideology in the last election.
Erwin's cat
February 13th, 2013
4:01 pm
Let me be clear, the American people told you cons to shove your failed ideology in the last election.
well 53% of them did anyway
getalife
February 13th, 2013
4:02 pm
The banks, corporations and military industrial welfare costs trillions.
We must end this welfare and will end this welfare.
So when you speak about welfare include this fact or zip it.
DownInAlbany
February 13th, 2013
4:03 pm
Rock star and conservative activist Ted Nugent told Breitbart News that he thinks the Republican Party does not fight back against President Barack Obama’s agenda because “they somehow has lost their scrotum.”
“Working hard, playing hard America is literally recoiling in shock and dismay on an hourly basis,” Nugent said. “Where is the GOP? There must be a system by which we can stop this stuff.”
Is this the same guy that was demonized on here yesterday? He what he says gets repeated on here every day. Maybe he’s not such a bad guy, afterall?
getalife
February 13th, 2013
4:03 pm
“well 53% of them did anyway”
The majority rules.
Bow down.
Erwin's cat
February 13th, 2013
4:04 pm
Bow down.
I lol’d
moonbat betty
February 13th, 2013
4:04 pm
“The banks, corporations and military industrial welfare costs trillions.
We must end this welfare and will end this welfare.”
I wish Obama would have said this last night!
moonbat betty
February 13th, 2013
4:05 pm
“Bow down”
I wish Obama said this last night!
Fred ™
February 13th, 2013
4:05 pm
stop limiting yourself Fred….never ever let the situation define you
http://current.com/community/89402333_blind-man-sees-wife-and-kids-for-the-first-time.htm
How many people have been born blind in history? How many have had a “miracle” to restore their sight? There is no way to find accurate figures, but would you concede less than 1/1000th of 1 percent?
Thank you for proving my point. The odds against these people are not that long but still pretty damn long. And you know this, you are just being deliberately obtuse. You really aren’t this stupid, or never have shown yourself to be in the past so I can only conclude deliberately and provokingly obtuse. Play with someone else, I choose not to participate.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
February 13th, 2013
4:06 pm
Republican planks, that they so proudly display hanging from their eye sockets, is that there is no salvation from fornication.
They should know…..
moonbat betty
February 13th, 2013
4:06 pm
“Let me be clear, the American people told you cons to shove your failed ideology in the last election.”
I think Obama did say this last night…Fact check anyone?
DownInAlbany
February 13th, 2013
4:06 pm
TBS
February 13th, 2013
3:58 pm
DIA
By the way, read your post this morning regarding paying decent wages based on applicable skill sets in efforts to keep good workers.
Hope that is working out for your company. Way to go. Hats off to you.
We’ve found that when you pay folks a decent wage, turnover is virtually non-existent (and turnover is expensive!). We pay, probably, above the market, health, life and dental insurance (pay 100% of premium) and 401k with matching. We have folks clamoring to work for us. We are expanding and life is good!
DownInAlbany
February 13th, 2013
4:07 pm
getalife
February 13th, 2013
3:57 pm
I can’t argue with you regarding election results, but, Gallup is not credible?
getalife
February 13th, 2013
4:08 pm
“I wish Obama would have said this last night!”
Shifting focus to the middle class is saying it.
Unfortunately, the turtle made sure some more was included in the fiscal deal.
You party is still focused on more trillion dollar welfare.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
February 13th, 2013
4:08 pm
I wish Obama said this last night!
Oooh Betts — you’re such a naughty girl!
PS: If he would’ve said it, I bet Bohner would’ve been on his knees faster than the class tram##p!
TaxPayer
February 13th, 2013
4:09 pm
getalife,
Bow down
I believe the expression you are looking for is “Kneel, Knaves!”
Dekalb comments
February 13th, 2013
4:09 pm
@ Down in Albany
(1) We don’t care what you think. Please comment on the Albany Cornhusker site
(2) Of course the number of people on Food Stamps has increased under Obama….people are hurting because of the Bush catastrophe. Obama is slowly addressing the issue with NO help from the pukes.
Enough said. Please get back on your medication.
DownInAlbany
February 13th, 2013
4:09 pm
Just for you, Joe…
http://www.gallup.com/poll/160385/obama-rated-highest-foreign-affairs-lowest-deficit.aspx
moonbat betty
February 13th, 2013
4:10 pm
“Shifting focus to the middle class is saying it.”
By raising their taxes?
getalife
February 13th, 2013
4:11 pm
“Gallup is not credible?”
They did not perform well last cycle.
indigo
February 13th, 2013
4:11 pm
Some people, after working hard to get ahead and receiving Govt. help to do so, seem to develop some sort of situational amnesia. They will believe, for the rest of their days, that only their own hard work and ambition got them ahead. Any outside help they recieved becomes utterly forgotten or meaningless.
These people, if they become politicians, are Republicans. They have got theirs and are convinced others should get theirs strictly by their own hard work. They will approve of little or no Govt. help.
I’m at a loss to explain this sort of behavior by Republican politicians. Its even more difficult to explain why so many of the electorate believe this totally distorted way of thinking.
Erwin's cat
February 13th, 2013
4:11 pm
Fred – How many have had a “miracle” to restore their sight? There is no way to find accurate figures, but would you concede less than 1/1000th of 1 percent?
I have no idea what that number is so no I won’t concede..
My step nephew was born blind…and I’ll bet he can kick your butt on almost any video game..especially NBA 2K13…again you can define yourself or you can let the situation define you…it really is that simple…sure some things are harder for some than others but such is life..we all have obstacles and if you think money fixes everything you’d be horribly wrong
DownInAlbany
February 13th, 2013
4:11 pm
Dekalb comments
February 13th, 2013
4:09 pm
Typical. You can’t argue the points intelligently so, (a) go away (b) blame Bush.
Geez!
getalife
February 13th, 2013
4:12 pm
“Kneel, Knaves!”
LOL, good one
DownInAlbany
February 13th, 2013
4:13 pm
Dekalb comments
February 13th, 2013
4:09 pm
@ Down in Albany
Enough said. Please get back on your medication
Oh, and one other thing, I’d be glad to go back on my medication, but, the testosterone shots were giving me migraines! Bawhahaha
getalife
February 13th, 2013
4:14 pm
Low t causes erectile dysfunction.
DownInAlbany
February 13th, 2013
4:14 pm
getalife
February 13th, 2013
4:11 pm
“Gallup is not credible?”
They did not perform well last cycle.
I can’t think of one that did! Afterall, most had us cons giddy that it was Romney in a landslide!
Joe Hussein Mama
February 13th, 2013
4:15 pm
DIA — “Just for you, Joe…”
I notice that you cherrypicked only the bad stuff. Your cited survey ALSO says (emphasis mine)
Obama receives a 51% overall job approval rating in the Feb. 7-10 World Affairs survey, meaning that the president comparatively underperforms on all but one of the specific issues measured. This could reflect strong perceived performance on issues that were not included in the survey, and may reflect Americans’ broadly positive view of Obama as a person, including the consistently high “likability” image he enjoyed during the presidential campaign.
Broadly speaking, most of the president’s other issue ratings are quite similar to when Gallup last measured them.
While defense may not be the major emphasis of Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday night, this is clearly an area on which the American public gives him relatively strong marks. Obama’s rating on handling national defense is the same as it was last February, when it tied his rating on the environment as the highest of the 11 issues measured. National defense is now his strongest area in the current list of nine issues measured.
Obama’s rating on handling foreign affairs, second highest on the list (along with immigration), is down only slightly from last February. Although the president’s rating on the economy rose in surveys conducted around his re-election in November of last year, there was no such jump in his foreign affairs rating, which has remained roughly consistent all year.
The Obama administration has taken up immigration as a major focus point in recent weeks, and leaders of both parties in Congress appear to be on a pathway to possibly passing new legislation on immigration-related issues. Obama’s current rating (46%) is his highest yet over the four times Gallup has measured it.
There’s more along that line, but I refer the interested leader to your link.
FWIW, it always seems that links don’t QUITE say what conservatives suggest they do.
DownInAlbany
February 13th, 2013
4:15 pm
getalife
February 13th, 2013
4:14 pm
Low t causes erectile dysfunction
They have meds for that, too! (thank goodness)
TBS
February 13th, 2013
4:16 pm
DIA
That is great to know and again congrats and continued success. Some businesses regardless of size don’t ever find that happy medium as you guys have found, yet they always complain they can’t find good help or keep the good ones.
It is surely a balance, however it is one that usually pays back in terms of productivity, less training of new hires, etc.
We might disagree on numerous political issues, but won’t ever begrudge you of your success and willingness to do things the right way.
Dekalb comments
February 13th, 2013
4:16 pm
DowninAlbany
Not actually I can destroy your points one by one.
No this is not a blame game. This is REALITY which pukes refuse to accept. The entire global economy collapsed based on many, many factors. Some I could lay at the feet of the U.S. Congress, Bush, etc. and others elsewhere. But the reality is we are slowly climbing out of this with NO help from the pukes. They didn’t want any stimulus, wanted to continue to lick the balls of the rich, deny unemployed persons, strip military of benefits…the list of atrocities go on and on. But your ilk fail to live in reality.
Joe Hussein Mama
February 13th, 2013
4:16 pm
getalife — “Low t causes erectile dysfunction.”
Whereas cons simply have electile dysfunction.
DownInAlbany
February 13th, 2013
4:17 pm
Joe Hussein Mama
February 13th, 2013
4:15 pm
DIA — “Just for you, Joe…”
I notice that you cherrypicked only the bad stuff.
Just trying to have a balanced approach (now, where have I heard that recently?). Jay, cherry picks the good stuff, afterall…
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
February 13th, 2013
4:17 pm
but, the testosterone shots were giving me migraines!
You used to be a girl?
Cool! When they gave you a penis, how did they do it and does it have any “feelings”? Can you get excited or do you have to use a pump or something?
Also, is being a boy all that great? I mean now you have to go into the nasty men’s bathrooms, (yuck); and now you wipe the snot off your face with your hands (eeewwww)!
getalife
February 13th, 2013
4:18 pm
“I can’t think of one that did!”
I can but you need to learn on your own.
Google it.
Tom Middleton
February 13th, 2013
4:18 pm
Doggone/GA
@3:29pm
Well how about this: Somewhere between the liberals’ half a philosophy and the conservatives’ half, there’s a whole philosophy that’ll take us to the next level and beyond. Feel better now?
Joe Hussein Mama
February 13th, 2013
4:19 pm
DIA — “Just trying to have a balanced approach (now, where have I heard that recently?). Jay, cherry picks the good stuff, afterall…”
FWIW, I appreciate you posting the link so readily. Many of our con regulars will just say ‘google it yourself, tard,’ and then go sulk in a corner.
getalife
February 13th, 2013
4:19 pm
“Whereas cons simply have electile dysfunction.
”
Another good one
appleseed
February 13th, 2013
4:19 pm
Why do most tax payer paid jobs belong to the conservative?The jobs are filled with cons from city clerk,county corner,school board member etc,all way through top jobs and elected.
Erwin's cat
February 13th, 2013
4:19 pm
Whereas cons simply have electile dysfunction.
is that japanese?
I once had a japanese colleague with an interest in American politics… in early Nov he e-mailed me asking how I thought the erection was going
Uh Huh.......Rubio's Internal Contradictions
February 13th, 2013
4:19 pm
Rubio said that more government is NOT going to help you.
But more government helped his mother with medicare and
student loans helped him go to college.
That is a contradiction.
ummmmmmmm
Uh Huh
TaxPayer
February 13th, 2013
4:19 pm
Obama’s polling results are not of much value unless presented relative to other’s polling results from the same time period. Take Congressional Republicans, for instance. No. Please. Take them. Colonoscopies poll higher than they do.
Joe Hussein Mama
February 13th, 2013
4:21 pm
getalife — “Another good one”
It’s caused by ‘low V.”
rightwingextreme
February 13th, 2013
4:22 pm
Social Security is not a failure….
WRONG….
If I could start over when I was 16 and be allowed to keep my “contribution”(isn’t that a nice name for a tax!) from every job i’ve ever had and be allowed to invest it i would have at a minimum three times more money available for retirement than SS would ever provide.
Plus, when I die I would be able to leave that to my family increasing their wealth. Of course that would cut down their need for guv’ment which the left would never agree to.
My mother in law passed away last year without receiving one dime of her “contribution” to SS. Talk about a rip-off.
DownInAlbany
February 13th, 2013
4:22 pm
Dekalb comments
February 13th, 2013
4:16 pm
DowninAlbany
Not actually I can destroy your points one by one.
No this is not a blame game. This is REALITY which pukes…
Sorry, I quit reading right about there. Come back with an adult conversation and I’ll be glad to engage. Name calling is quite juvenile.
getalife
February 13th, 2013
4:24 pm
Y’all are on a roll
My work is done.
TaxPayer
February 13th, 2013
4:24 pm
If cons had house insurance and suffered no damages, they would complain about not being able to collect on it.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
February 13th, 2013
4:25 pm
Later Gators (or DemDawgs, whichever you prefer) —
It’s
MillerPilsner time!!