It is way past time for Americans to recognize that the Republican leadership has become a threat to America.
Is it possible that Republicans truly believe that President Obama is both a socialist, and a fascist, who wasn't born in the United States, and that providing affordable health care to American families is a plot to destroy America? Could they possibly believe that Dick Cheney kept America safe, or that George Bush was protecting the American way of life? And is it possible that they consider their incendiary rhetoric simply innocent speech, and don't recognize that during this time of severe hardship, they could very easily incite insurrection within the country? It's not likely.…
Article comments
126 - Clavos
He's talking about the Neocons, Jet.
You should know better than to bring a knife to a gun fight.
127 - Ruvy
The faction in the GOP which promoted our recent wars were all former Democrats.
Dave, guys who talk about having been history professors should not make mistakes like that. Some folks are liable to take you apart like an artichoke....
128 - Jet Gardner
No the Republican majority of the U.S. Congress obstructing any kind of progress (like they're doing now en mass) is responsible.
They opposed everything Clinton tried to do, and rubberstamped everything Bush did.
As for "former" Democrats and war-I suppose you forgot Bush Sr. was Reagan's vice president too?
129 - Jet Gardner
--Nixon was elected to get us out of Vietnam... and we spent the next 7 years ther... longer if he hadn't been forced out of office
--Neocons are former democrats-former democrats are war-mongers... George Sr got us into Iraq in the first place then fucked up by not taking out Hussein. Bush Jr. made up a bunch of lies-or was stupid enough to believe faulty intelligence to use as an excuse to put the U.S. back in Iraq. Congress went right along with him because we were dumb enough to believe at the time that the President of the United States had the best intelligence in the world, so OF COURSE we BLINDLY believed him.
In actual face we went there to cover his inept father's ass, instead of taking out the taliban's multibillion poppy fields in Afghanistan that were financing the terrorist fight against the U.S.
Dump enough a bunch of perfume on your shit but it's still going to smell like shit.
130 - Silas Kain
Ruvy, with all due respect, I don't consider AlJazeera to be the network of Allah. I have found their English website to be a great source of information. While I don't agree with many of the positions taken by the extremists in Islam, let me once again point out that I don't like extremism from any faction be it religious or secular. Extremism breeds intolerance, ignorance, fear and war.
We have had many great prophets in antiquity from Abraham (the father of the three 'great' religions), Moses, Jesus and Mohammad (PBUH). Islam and Christianity were born out of political necessity more so than some silly search for salvation. Jesus Christ, the Man, had a message which he delivered to his followers. Somewhere along the way that message was skewed, dissected, sanitized and modified to fit the politics of the time. The same can be said for Islam.
I've had an interesting weekend. I watched that documentary produced by Edward Norton on Barack Obama's rise to the national stage. I then watched Sean Penn's brilliant portrayal of Harvey Milk. And in digesting all of this, I watched the debates on the floor of the House. I'm over 50 now and most certainly am closer to the cradle than the grave. It's not a very happy thought but I came to realize all too well this weekend that life is indeed short and the time each of us spends on this planet is but a blink in the eyes of God. But more on that later once I get my thoughts organized.
Ruvy, you have descended from a great people and in your observance of your faith you believe, without question, that the Jews continue to be the "chosen people". That's OK. Believe what you will. Thew bottom line is that all of us are mere temporary guests upon this round rock. We are born. We live our lives. And we die. What is beyond that finality of death is the question which has eluded us since the dawn of humankind. While we may not question our respective faiths and believe in some type of hereafter, none of us really know for certain do we? In the meantime we must live our lives, find common ground, and try to leave this place a wee bit better than we found it. If each of us just followed that one basic precept, so much could be accomplished in this world.
131 - Clavos
Umm, Silas I think you meant "closer to the grave than the cradle.
132 - Silas Kain
I stand corrected, Clavos, and thank you for reminding me of my mortality. Obviously my juxtaposition of words was a subconscious manifestation of my fear of dying. Once I am dead, however, I hope that I'll have the ability to send word back to you guys from the other side.
133 - Clavos
I'm afraid I'm excessively fixated on mortality these days...
134 - Ruvy
Silas, may you live to be 120, and thus presently be closer to the cradle than the grave.
I realize that I do not often crack jokes here. But every now and again, I like to crack a joke. This was one of those times.
Considering the source, al-Jazeera is reasonably informative. I've used it and relied on it occasionally. But, it is a Moslem station, and this means that it views itself as the station of Allah. My opinions are irrelevant. Nevertheless, they have had Israelis on their shows and allowed them to argue vehemently in favor of our nationalist positions there.
But, if someone says he views al-Jazeera as his major source of news (as did Jet), I feel obligated to consider the source and weigh carefully how valid I view his views on matters concerning Israel and the region.
135 - Silas Kain
What's worse -- fixation on mortality or oral fixation? I guess excessive or extreme fixation in both cases is counterproductive.
136 - Ruvy
Silas,
The joke I was referring to had to do with al-Jazeera, not my wishes for your longevity. That may not have been clear.
137 - Silas Kain
You were clear, Ruvy, and thank you. Every day is a gift as far as I'm concerned. I should have expired long ago. That being said, I'll be happy if I get another decade or two as I have yet so much more to do before I depart.
138 - Jet Gardner
When in the hell did I even mention al-Jazeera much less say I watched it-which I don't?
139 - Jet Gardner
Ruvy I just did a F3 scan of all comments and the only one mentioning it was you-APOLOGIZE
140 - Jet Gardner
The comment you quoted in #85 was made by Silas-not me.
141 - Jet Gardner
#134 'fess up:
"But, if someone says he views al-Jazeera as his major source of news (as did Jet),"
142 - Silas Kain
I do visit the al-Jazeera website and for that I do not apologize. And, Jet, thank you for your Book of Isaiah reference. I'm going to retool my mantra now:
...They shall beat their swords into campaign war chests and spears into coat hangers...
143 - Jet Gardner
I'm not going at you Silas, and you're welcome to do whatever you darn well please, but Ruvy directed a bunch of venom at me I didn't deserve.
Normally I wouldn't care, but I like Ruvy, or I did until he became so anti-american
144 - Jet Gardner
And clothes hangers in back alleys and infections will what we'll have do deal with after the antiabortionists have their way.
Their so concerned with morals until after the girl has the baby, then they could care less.
145 - Silas Kain
A few things, Jet. I knew you weren't going at me. And, like you, I do like Ruvy. What I admire most is his passion. I don't agree with a lot of it but I understand from where he comes. You, Ruvy and have more in common than not if you look at the struggles each of us have experienced in our lives. I also don't believe that Ruvy's as anti-American as he is anti the status quo in diplomacy. We've got no business trying to dictate that which occurs in the Middle East. If we kept out of their affairs I honestly believe that Israelis and Arabs alike can come together -- especially if they are educated to all the facts without the religious sanitation.
I am VERY concerned that the abortion battle is about to come front and center in our national discourse once again. And I'll guarantee this -- Republicans and ultra conservatives alike are about to demonize the LGBT movement once again. Fags are a great scapegoat when we want to take focus away from issues that count. While some may be offended by my using the "slang" let me offer comfort. I never used that word very often and found it offensive. And one day a gay friend of mine was like fag this and fag that. I called him out on it and he replied, "Darling, every time I say FAG I am saying Fabulous And Gay!" If it's good enough for him, it's damn good enough for me!
And now let's digress back to the subject matter of this thread. I honestly wonder how many GOP members of Congress actually believe the swill they spew. They're just playing to their base because that's the only way they perpetuate their pipeline to special interest cash. Want to stop the Congressional sellout of the American people? Campaign finance reform and term limits, period. No member of the House should serve more than 5 terms (10 years) and no member of the Senate shall serve more than 2 terms (12 years). It's time to shake up the seniority system and get the political process more interactive.
Their so concerned with morals until after the girl has the baby, then they could care less.
The only time they do care is when they can use it as a weapon of mass distraction. Case in point, John & Cindy McCain's adopted daughter Bridget. Bush's machine with Comrade Rove at the helm did a smear campaign in South Carolina back in 2000. It was that smear campaign and the aftermath that caused me to walk away from the GOP. George W. Bush and the team around him don't care about Republicans or Conservatism. They're focus is on the politics of fear and their capitalization of the same.
146 - Jet Gardner
I agree with everything but term limits Silas, and here's why. By the time anyone's elected, it's time to campaign to be re-elected, which leaves very little time for learning the ropes of how to get significant legislation through.
Now if there were reform that allowed free TV time to each candidate and covered a lot of the expenses, then it wouldn't be necessary for politicians to constantly be attending fundraisers instead of doing the people's business.
Also if a congressman can gain his constituant's trust and loyalty, I see no reason why he/she shouldn't continue to serve as long as they want him/her to.
Of course that's only my opinion.
147 - Silas Kain
Good points, Jet. I would only go for term limits as long as there was a campaign finance system in place that was publicly funded. We also need to get away from our primary system. To allow states like Iowa and New Hampshire to set the tone for a national campaign is insane. We should have a national primary day in September. The endorsed candidate of each party should have to be in a primary with his/her peers, period. Then we have the general election in November. That's it, a 10 - 12 week election cycle.
Term limits are very key, Jet. The system in its current configuration affords lots of centralized power to a few. Several years ago there was a Congressman from Rhode Island that we knew as Freddy St. Germain. He was Chairman of the House Banking Committee, got millions in donations from the banks, and when he was defeated he moved from the poor community in Northern Rhode Island which he represented to the opulence of Newport.
We don't elect OUR representatives to Congress so they can come home and move out of our neighborhood. We elect them to represent our interests and insure that our respective district gets a rightful piece of the Federal Creme Pie. We tend to shy away from the truth -- it's the "not my kid" syndrome. It's always the other guy's member of Congress and not our own.
148 - Dave Nalle
I am VERY concerned that the abortion battle is about to come front and center in our national discourse once again. And I'll guarantee this -- Republicans and ultra conservatives alike are about to demonize the LGBT movement once again.
Silas, if this is the way things are going to go, I'm going to do everything I can to stop it and to hold accountable those who attempt it. The RLC now has hundreds of people in elected office nationwide and our chapters are growing rapidly. One way or another we're going to keep the GOP on topic and make politicians pay a price for focusing on distractions instead of real issues. The situation we face is too serious for people to be wasting time on these social and religious issues.
Dave
149 - Ruvy
I'll be jiggered! Comment #80 was by Silas and not you, Jet I do humbly apologize. I was wrong. A whole bunch of my comments and perceptions were wrong, therefore. For that too, I apologize, Jet. I can't unsay what I said. The universe don't work that way. But I am big enough to admit when I've said wrong.
150 - Silas Kain
I agree, Dave, and I'm comforted in the fact that you're going to be one of the folks fighting to keep the GOP on topic. I can smell it in the air up here in Massachusetts. We have a fight about to take place over Ted Kennedy's seat. None of the Democrat candidates are worth a doggie piss hole in the Alaskan snow while the Republican "alternatives" are just as undesirable. It won't matter much. Martha Coakley will be elected and she'll head to Washington. She'll be as ineffectual as Senator as she is as Attorney General. I'd rather see George W. Bush in the Senate than Martha Coakley and, as a result, I will cast my ballot in the Democrat Primary. Only this voter is writing in his candidate of choice: Victoria Reggie Kennedy.
Meanwhile, back in the Lone Star state, Dave, what's shaking in the gubernatorial race? Will Perry be the first president of the Republic of Texas or will Kay Bailey Hutchinson become Governor? Anybody consider digging up Ann Richards?
151 - Ruvy
I also don't believe that Ruvy's as anti-American as he is anti the status quo in diplomacy. We've got no business trying to dictate that which occurs in the Middle East.
Someone here gets it clearly. That's good to see. But, no matter how much I like my former compatriots, there is no getting around the Jew-hatred that infests the State Department, and the FBI. That's institutional and generational stuff that goes beyond idiots like Bush or Obama to the control exercised at State by the CFR, and the Jew-hatred of J. Edgar Hoover.
152 - zingzing
j. edgar hoover?! for fuck's sake. do you know what century it is?
if the state dept hates you so much, why are there so many jews in positions of power here? your logic eats itself and shits and eats its own shit. oh yeah, we put jews in power so that we can shit on them when stuff goes bad, that's right. jesus.
it's clear that the leadership of the united states does NOT hate jews or israel. otherwise we wouldn't be involved in TWO wars that came about directly because of our backing of israel. (oh, alright, one is a direct result. the other is about oil.) we're fighting your fucking fight and you accuse us of hating you? you are an ingrate. and it's a good thing most people aren't so deluded.
at least we agree that the us should back the fuck out of the middle east at the earliest opportunity. even if we disagree about the reasons, we do aim for the same end. at least in that part of the goings on in the big old clusterfuck that is your part of the world.
153 - Jet Gardner
Dave, unfortunately it is aborttion and homosexuality that is used to scare the ignorant in this country and if the GOP can make them believe that to vote Republican will prevent hoards of little boy recruiting fags and baby killers from chasing their children, that's how they'll vote.
And when those hoards don't appear, the GOP takes credit for keeping them from the castle gates... but only until the next election.
I remember when the GOP was for the power of the State instead of a big federal Government, and that Washington stayed out of our lives under them, now they want to sit in our bedrooms, tap our phones and control things they have no right... or need to for that matter.
154 - Silas Kain
But, Jet, if the majority of the LGBT community was out in the open and treated with respect how would the ultra-right closet cases be able to hook up with other men? As long as they make gays feel inferior, public mens rest rooms will be open and ready for business. If you haven't, do yourself a favor and watch Outrage. It's an eye opening jaunt through the hallowed halls of Washington. After you watch it, tune in to FOX News. As the GOP side marches out for interviews, you will quickly be able to pick out the hypocrites and closet cases. I mean, not fo' nuthin' but FOX News is gayer than a bonnet full of parrots!
155 - Silas Kain
Here's one for you: Trust the government? Heck, I'm in the government and I don't even trust it. You don't have to believe in your government to be a good American. You just have to believe in your country. - George W. Bush character from Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo.
Every word is true.
156 - Jet Gardner
Sorry but I'm warm for Anderson Cooper on CNN
157 - Jet Gardner
"(T)he feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians."
Pat Robertson
158 - Glenn Contrarian
Silas -
#154 - ROTFLMAO!
Nice!
159 - Silas Kain
FOX News gayer than a bonnet full of parrots? Is that the one, Glenn? That's OK, the Conservative Congressional Caucus is gayer than Barney Frank at a sausage factory.
160 - Neal Mc Clung
The only comment that I thought needed repeating was this.----
"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; When the government fears the people, there is liberty."
This is why our Government was created the way it was from the very beginning and this is why we have our Constitution that was written to protect us from this "tyranny" but now we have so called electorates that think that our "Constitution" Is too old and does not apply to this age so they twist and distort it to fit their own selfish endeavores and desires to aquire the neccessary results such as the "Healthcare plan" and the Government take over of private companies and Banks.
Isn't it time for America and Americans to wake up?
We need conservative independent thinkers and conservative independent leaders to take control over our totally out of control Government and return it to the original concepts of our forfathers--- "that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Thank you