Democrats & Liberals: Archives

andre,

yes, yes, and yes are the answers to your question. this system is far beyond broken and my personal hope is that this indictment and the surrounding controversy shines the brightest of lights directly onto the overall problem of money influencing politics and legislation far too greatly. we have to take the government back from special corporate interests, repudiate once and for all any lingering trickle-down ideology, and reassume our rightful places as WE THE PEOPLE.

If it is not just a Republican issue, why spin it that way?

And, you are correct sir, it is NOT only a Republican issue!!!

This discussion could probably have been done without any politicians names at all.

“This discussion could probably have been done without any politicians names at all”

Amen Trace, but that wasn’t its intent.
Delay is a Republican, all Republicans are guilty of this.
There are elections coming up girl.

Legalized bribery is the result created by the system. The idea that the recipient of the money could claim that he’s not benefitting from it is ridiculous. I don’t think that DeLay knows what an ethic is.

This is an issue on both sides of the political fence, to be sure. But i do not think that we have seen anything of this magnitude ever in our political history. The republicans should be ashamed. This is a slap in the face for all Americans and we WILL pay a price for their inappropriate behavior.The world is watching, and we have our pants down

Yes, both sides exhibit corrupt behavior to some extent. However, Republicans are in power right now. Republicans have done something different these past few years; instead of allowing lobbyists to play on both sides of the fence, as they have done in the past, Republicans have insisted ‘it’s my way or the highway.’ As a result, the K Street lobbyists are now a Republican constituency. Combine this with another major Republican constituency, big business, and the result is a degree of corruption which exceeds anything we’ve seen.

Both sides play the game and it’s disgusting. The hard thing is trying to figure out what to do about it. It can be argued that limiting contributions, especially by individuals, is an infringement on free speech.

That said, I’d have no problem with an outright ban on corporate donations, given that I’m not sure corporations should necessarily enjoy the same constitutional protections as individuals.

Unfortunately this is just a ‘me too’ article mimicking the great new book “Do as I say not as I do” which highlights liberal hyporcisy to the nth degree. The problem is that conservative values would agree such things are wrong - unfortunately liberal demoncrats could never say the same - end of discussion

Mike -

You obviously do not post here often, or do not read what is posted, or ignore it. The people that post here regularly attack the DEMs for their many issues… and I for one think they deserve twice the punishment as REPS for the simple fact that the DEMS represent me and those who have not served us well directly broke that trust. (I expect REPS to do this… it’s why I don’t vote for them.)

It seems that you would like to excuse those in your party because of some ethereal belief that we do just like you. WRONG.

Mike & Tony,
“… Conservative values would agree such things are wrong-“

That’s probably true. On the issue of corrruption, and on the issue of constitutional rights, many people agree, even though they perceive from different philosopical perspectives. For example, on the issue of warrantless searches, conservatives & libertarians and classic liberals like myself find common cause.

The apologists for the Bush administration are generally not conservatives. As long as I’m throwing around labels, I’d characterize Bush supporters as Neocons, not conservatives. As a group, the Neocons are marked by their unconditional support for Bush and his Republican followers in Congress.

In broad terms, these supporters of Bush are fundamentalist Christians. Generally speaking, they are people who back the invasion and occupation of Iraq; they are people who support congressional Republicans such as DeLay and Duke Cunningham; they are people who reflexively respond to any apparent problem with:

“IT’S CLINTON’S FAULT!”

They’re support for Bush is, as mentioned earlier, unconditional.

These Neocons are people who support Bush even at the expense of honor. These Neocons support Bush even at the expense of the US constitution. They value security over liberty and civil rights. These are Neocons.

phx8,

In broad terms, these supporters of Bush are fundamentalist Christians.

I think you are mistaken in your analysis. Christians will support Republicans as a general rule because of what they stand for. Their philosophy of government and leadership is more closely aligned, then that of the Dems to be sure.
Is it perfect?…No Way…Do we believe that it’s better then what the Dems are offering…Yes…(at the moment)

I’m from a conservative always vote red state. Your generalities are conjecture at best and more then likely tainted blue.

Phx8, why is this term “Neocon” being tossed around again without any reference to its actual definition? In current American politics, the Neocon movement is dominated by secular Jews, not fundamentalist Christians.

The most dominant figures in the “Neocon” movement are people like Paul Wolfowitz, Michael Chertoff, Norman Podhoretz, Elliott Abrams, Richard Haas and Richard Perle.

Are any of these people fundamentalist Christians? Hardly. In fact all of those I just named are Jewish. And the Neocon movement is made up of some very formidable public intellectuals, people teaching at pretigious universities, publishing scholarly books and engaging in public debate. These are hardly the type of people who blindly follow anybody.

Probably because it entered common usage during Bush’s term in office, it’s become synonomous in the eyes of the left with “Bush supporter,” but that is completely innacurate.

I don’t think that this is just semantics—I think it would actually be profitable for the left to actually look at who the Neocons are and what the Neocon movement represents. Neocons are actually by and large social liberals with hawkish foreign policy views. Joseph Lieberman is often called a Neocon, and he’s a Democrat. In fact, a common definition for a Neocon out there is “a liberal who has been mugged by reality.”

To address your larger point, any party or leader will have partisans behind them, people who really are the true believers and who give unconditional support.

What’s also common, however, is for people on opposite ends of a debate is to say that the other side is made up of nothing but blind followers.
In any case, you have a lot of Christians on both side of the political spectrum. In fact, a full third of those who identify themsevles as white evangelical Christians vote Democrat.

And on of the most religious groups in the country, measured by church attendance and professed conservative social views, are African Americans who vote overwhelmingly for Democrats.

Sanger,
Good points, and I agree with most of what you say. However, I think another characteristic of Neocons is their identification of Israeli national security with US national security. This is another example of unconditional support. Some give that support as a matter of political philosophy, others for religious reasons. The Christian fundamentalists support Israel for a variety of reasons, including the need for a nation of Israel as a prerequisite for the Rapture. A peculiar result is that American Jews support Israel as a Jewish state, and so do Christian fundamentalists, but the later only because it needs to be destroyed to fulfill strange philosophies of an evil nature. It’s worth noting the way some of the more bizarre beliefs dovetail with a desire for personal security, even at the expense of civil rights, at the expense of independence, and at the expense of independent thinking. The insecurity & need for a mystical parental authority flares when confronted with the other. The xenoophobia becomes extreme when the other is an infidel. Of course, not all Neocons are motivated by religious zealotry. Some of the unconditional supporters for people like Bush & DeLay are motivated by money & greed. The Business of America is Business, and for them, oil greases the way.

Generalizations, I know, I know. Not everyone who is a Christian fundamentalist is a Bush supporter or Neocon. But a quick review of posts from the previous few days will suggest some consistent patterns.

Andre, In my opinion, Delay is an obvious crook and a sick freak. Or in other words, he’s a typical Neocon.

phx8, what you said — both posts. (saying that a lot lately it seems…)

ray:
“I don�€™t think that DeLay knows what an ethic is.”

Total sleezebag.

sanger:
“the Neocon movement is dominated by secular Jews, not fundamentalist Christians.”

It contains both — and there is a connection between them that many people understand, but one I guess you’ve never heard about?
I’ll give you a hint… it has something to do with goals, hardcore zionism, and the laundry list for the Rapture.
But thats not all! No, there is still another element within the realm of the Neocon — of which Dick Cheney might well be considered the perfect, diabolical, poster-child.

Hey! phx8, I was writing my post when you posted yours. They’re so similar, but yours is more well-written and a lot less sarcastic.

Phx8, okay, but I’m not too sure about combining in one package support for the state of Israel, the Rapture, a lack of regard for independence or free thinking and a “bizarre belief” in personal security. That looks like a lot of issues which really deserve more individual and nuanced attention on a large number of fronts.

Bush as the central figure in all of these issues is really beside by the point for me, a very strong Bush supporter on foreign policy issues. Bush is only in office for three more years, so the policies are far more important to me than the man.

On every issue where Bush is opposed, there are also Democrats and independents who agree with him on those solitary issues even if they don’t support the whole package he offers, so we can’t say that supporting what he supports in every case is just a blind game of follow the leader.

My main reason for being a Bush supporter is my wish for personal security, and I hardly think there’s anything “bizzare” about it. 9-11 was a major trauma in my life as I’m sure it was for many others.

If I’d left at a different time, booked a different flight with a different airline in September of 2001, I might not be here today and I’m very aware of it. So I’m very willing to see a few carefully defined measures enacted which increase security while also putting in place mechanisms to ensure civil rights.

I’d prefer not to be killed OR see any more of my fellow citizens killed, and I don’t see this as a bizzare desire at all. Bizzare? I don’t think so.

Though a Christian, my Christianity has nothing to do with my support of Bush, and I don’t even agree with most of domestic issues related to Christian beliefs that Bush pushes.

Independent thinking? That’s in the eye of the beholder. Neither Bush supporters or Bush detractors—even the strongest on both sides—have cornered the market on independent thinking.

Just because some Republicans are partisan lackeys doesn’t mean that there aren’t just as many or even more Democrats who are also partisan lackeys.

Adrienne, these mysterious other “elements” you allude to but fail to name end up making your casually tossed off aspersions pointless.

I’m highly familiar with the Christian fundamentalist/evanglegical movement, though I’m not an adherent myself, and I can promise you that Bill Moyer (who has pushed this idea about Christians and the Rapture that the rest of the left has picked up) is flat wrong about this.

Saying otherwise shows a complete ignorance about fundamentalist Christians and their political interests.

Christians believe that the Rapture will take place, but they’re not trying to bring it about because when it does, they expect that Christians will be imprisoned and massacred during the next phase, which they call the Tribulation.

I know a large number of hard core Christian fundamentalists, people I disgree with on about 75% of everything, and not a single one of them is so eager for the Rapture, the Tribulation or anything that comes with it. It’s not even discussed except now and then as a fairly remote possibility.

It’s actually a very minor concern for them which, if it inspires anything, inspires dread, and it certainly doesn’t influence their voting patterns in the slightest. The bible actually says that nothing we do can speed up or delay the “end of times.”

Christian fundamentalists are far more concerned with issues about free practice of religion, and on public policy, the matter of abortion. This is why they vote Republican, and the question of the Rapture doesn’t rank anywhere among their concerns.

Sanger,
“Just because some Republicans are partisan lackeys doesn’t mean that there aren’t just as many or even more Democrats who are also partisan lackeys.”

No question. But right now the Republicans are in power, and the Neocons- the ostensible majority of the majority- seem intent on pursuing destructive courses.

Adrienne occasionally responds with sarcasm. So do I. I don’t think it comes through in comments, but more often I feel… tremendously disappointed, and angry… to see people willingly surrender their rights in exchange for the promise of safety. That just floors me. How could people be so afraid?

The fear is out of proportion to the situation. A lot of innocent people were murdered on 9/11. Taking reasonable, measured steps to prevent a recurrence is common sense. I’ve said it before, I believe the War on Terror, for all practical purposes, ended two years ago. The actions since then may involve important intelligence operations & Special Ops actions, but it’s doesn’t involve enough people or enough activities to qualify as a ‘war.’ It certainly doesn’t involve enough to be a major focus of US policy. It makes no sense to base US priorities on what a handful of fanaticals in Pakistan might do. Go after the crazies? Of course. Make it the centerpiece of our lives? That’s foolish.

Yet that is the Neocon priority for foreign policy. It’s all about fear.

Too many Americans are scared witless, and if this keeps up, the fear will literally destroy our country from the inside out.

Phx8, there’s nothing about the current political or civil rights enviroment in this country which should make it “the centerpiece of our lives.”

That is, there’s isn’t anything unless you’re hanging on every rumor, innuendo, blog posting and political talking point released by one political party or the other.

The reasons are twofold:

(1) There’s nothing that has happened after 9-11, despite all the sound and fury, which has actually interfered with our liberties and ability to live our lives as we see fit. Whenever you ask somebody to name a liberty which they had before 9-11 which they no longer enjoy, they’re left speechless, though they mutter something about what they read on a blog about the Patriot Act without reading the act itself.

(2) There have been no further terrorist attacks on American soil. You may interpret this to mean that there are threats, that the threats are not real or imaginary to begin with.

But you might also interpret it to mean that increased vigilance IS WORKING. And the reason that vigilance is in place is because some people—namely those in the adnmistration—are remaining vigilant and taking threats seriously while cutting through all the media BS.

Being scared, at least a little, is NOT unreasonable when you see 3000 of your fellow citizens incinerated on live television before your eyes. It just isn’t.

The threat is real. 9-11 was not a figment of our collective imaginations, and heading off new 9-11s means that we can’t bury our heads in the sand like we did before that event occured.

Protecting our civil liberites, as well as our lives, demands that we don’t avoid or try to bury unpleasant facts just because they make us uncomfortable. And definitely not because our protectors, who have so far proved very successful, belong to a domestic political party other than our own.

Paul: That said, I�€™d have no problem with an outright ban on corporate donations, given that I�€™m not sure corporations should necessarily enjoy the same constitutional protections as individuals.

We tried that in our recent election in Ohio. It was so demonized my the right wing that it only got a 1/3 vote.

Corporations don’t vote so they shouldn’t get the priveledge of buying favors at our expense, especially when they make the voting machines.

If the brillance of what most of the right leaning posters add to this blog was tabacco and smoked in pipe, the aroma would be quiet similar to that found at the south end of a northbound jackass!

And how would I know what the south end of north bound jackass smells like, I’m from Texas.

It’s the great Republican marketing scam, stupid!

You couldv’e use ANY congress person’s name, because we all know the Congress is for sale. In fact, out last President (…Clinton) not only was for sale, but he advertised (Lincoln bedroom @ 50K per night).

The system is broken, but the only ones who can are the ones profiting from it. Perhaps it’s time for a third party?

“nothing which interferes with our civil liberties”??? being stripped of the right to protest peacefully in public on public property, rather than in a “first amendment zone’, strip searched to fly on an airplane, not being allowed to fly between these United States because your name being on a do-not-fly list, puh-leeze. I FOIA’d myself and apparently have been photograped and researched because of my political expressions in the public domain. get real. I guess if you MYOB, send a check to the RNC and are willing to swallow the pablum fed to you ona daily basis, (if you aren’t aware, pablum is for infants). I guess your CIVIL LIBERTIES might still be intact. Don’t count on it.

Andre

How does that old bromide go..”Absolute power corrupts absolutely”…something like that.

Your point is well taken.

However vast abuses take place on both sides of the aisle and have since this form of government was abopted in colonial times.

Perhaps the Congress should adopt the philosophy of the ancient Roman Cato…who wore a simple robe,no sandals and truly tried to represent the people.

Of course,he ended up committing suicide iun disgust so that’s not a very good analogy.

David Reemer is correct though…vote them all out although I personally think term limits would probably be a better alternative….one six year term for a president,two six year terms for a senator and 3 or 4 two year terms for a representative after each pass a CORI screening (criminal records check) which would,of course, precluded from admission 50% of this present group.

Sanger,

“Christian fundamentalists are far more concerned with issues about free practice of religion, and on public policy, the matter of abortion.”

They are not interested in the free practice of religion. They are only interested in using their religion to judge others and have these make believe wars against the liberal hoards to restock their cupboards with new Bible thumping bigots who ignore the teachings of Christ in favor of being self rightious.
They want to manipulate public policy to keep those who think differently and or behave differently than they do down.

If the Christian Fundamentalists are wholly motivated by Christ and driven by a true spirituality to end abortion, why all the lies? Why the manipulation of scientific data? Why the cheap scare tactics? Why kill a doctor who everyone knows is a living, breathing human being, then justify it by saying well he’s an abortionist? Why the hypocrisy?

God is the one true judge, not the closed minded bigots who hide behind their Bibles pretending to be moral and spiritual. See Pat Roberts, Jerry Falwell etc.

OK… but why is it that every REP seems to want to dismiss complaints about corruption as ‘everybody does it… on both sides of the isles’?

I’ll take my share of the responsibility to bust the DEMs balls every time they screw up. Please, just post the issues here and I’ll do my part to slap them around (like there’s that much I can do…) At least I promise to be outraged. But that also means that REPs need to stop shirking their responsibilities in forcing their representatives to work honest and ethical. Stop dismissing problems because they exist on both sides of the isle and get pissed… do something. These guys had your trust by gaining your vote - and they pissed it away. Or can you honestly say that you and your values are being truly represented by those in power now?

A wise person once said that if you are going to strip people of their rights there are two tools that can be used, Fear and Distraction. Our government uses this two pronged attack to confuse those who casually follow the political process.
Use fear to take away their rights, distract them with partisan bickering to hide corruption and secrecy and an unnecessarily complex system to hide pork, their true agendas and the fact that they no longer represent us but are enslaved by their own greed to the large corporations who purchase their positions in government.
Republicans and Democrats are guilty of not representing the interests of their constituents.
Our voice and influence is rapidly declining.
What are we arguing over?
This is not a partisan issue.
If you’re American you should be outraged.

Andre,

Your comment concerns me. I do agree that there are right wing wackos, just like there are left wing wackos. They are extremists everywhere.

However, I am very concerned about where our country is going. The moral compass that existed 40 years ago is almost gone. Some look at this as progress, that scares me.

We have educated our society to think that it can do anything it wants and take no responsibility for the consequences. Society has learned to blame someone else for their position and expect someone to take of them.

We as a coutry have decided that the courts are the ultimate authority. There is no balance of power anymore.

Rambling Thoughts…

Agreed. The fact that both parties are corrupted by filthy corporate money doesn’t excuse either one from the crime of pimping themselves out to the highest bidder. On the other hand, one party in particular holds the vast majority of public offices in this country at present. And what was the plan, at least on a federal level, of these SUCCESSFUL PROTECTORS? Well, the architect of 9/11 is still at large…our protectors decided to go after Saddam and all that oil instead. And what about the very real threat of WMD’s that appeared here in this country, sent through the US mail from New Jersey to major media networks and congressional offices? Again, the perp is still on the street (but this time on American streets) and our protectors have no idea who is behind the anthrax letters.

So, in summary - if that’s what passes for success these days, I’ll take a miserable failure any day. And if all that corporate money can buy is a futile exercise in nation building rather than Bin Laden’s head in a box, then yes — Delay and Cheney and the lot of ‘em can go fly a kite and quit pretending to have the slightest idea how to govern.

sanger:
“Adrienne, these mysterious other �€œelements�€ you allude to but fail to name end up making your casually tossed off aspersions pointless.”

:^) Guess what, sanger? I’ve given up sparring with Bush Apologists for the Holiday Season, so I wasn’t trying in the least to engage you in any sort of a real debate. Instead, I was just attempting to amuse the bloggers here on the Left with a little biting humor.

PS. That “other element” is comprised of power-mad plutocrats.

Discerner,

“I do agree that there are right wing wackos, just like there are left wing wackos. They are extremists everywhere.”

I agree.
If we have a government that is transparent because of our being able to hold it accountable. A government not influenced by corporate greed. One in which all public offices have term limits, where campaigns are not financially influenced by lobbyists, we will practically eliminate the two extremes. They’ll have no one to rail against but each other with no audience to listen and will eventually go away.
This partisan bickering is the “Distraction” our government needs to keep it from being exposed.
The fear of terrorism is the “Fear” that will allow it to usurp our rights.
The extremes don’t scare me. Our complacency does.

Tony

Most of these guys who get elected…most ..not all..are wealthy white guys…especially at the Senatorial level.

Yes there are exceptions..but as a rule,if you are not wealthy from the inception of your campaign,your chances of getting elected are very very slim.

What has really happened here is that we used to have a patrician class in the Senate and a plebian class in the House,but the texture of the House has changed too….now,for the most part,we have 2 patrician classes of elected representatives with only a smattering of plebian class representatives.

Unfortunately,most of the plebes soon get co-opted by the system and turn patrician over time.

Here is a local example:Marty Meehan my rep from Massachusetts was an Assistant District Attorney here in Massachusets making what,maybe $50,000 a year .Ten years ago he beat Chet Atkins for the seat.

Fast forward 10 years.Now the guy has several MILLION in his campaign account making him absolutely unbeatable now and in the future.

He will be Ted’s sucessor down the road.

He has a summer home in Seabrook N.H. that is spectacular.

I bet that he has had dinner in a restaurant or two as well as visited a country club or two,but that is really not the point.

Did I tell you that the basis for his original election was a pledge of term limits ?He beat Atkins for the seat on exactly that pledge…saying that his job would be done with two terms.

Of course,after his third term,he retracted that promise.

Marty is a terrific guy..I like him very much and we are friends of sorts(despite our profound politicial differences)and am I sure that he is an honest guy.

However the Marty of 10 year ago and the Marty of today are really two different people.

Multiply that story be 235 or so and that’s the story (for the most part) with the House.

The Senate is absolutely worse…We have fiefdoms created there…entrenched fiefdoms and kingmakers.

White male fiefdoms…with a few exceptions here and there.

Andre, you’re right, and that was well said.

macsonix — I feel the exact same way that you do.
Our Neocon leaders trackrecord is heavy with failure. And it really irritates the hell out of me that they’re always going on the campaign trail after every incidence of that failure, trying to convince the American people that only their brand of leadership can “protect us” and that they’re so intent on fighting terror.

It’s hogwash, and how anybody can buy it after so many lies have been told, after such bad management and lack of leadership has been displayed, and after such a mountain of failure is simply mind-boggling. I mean where is the proof of all their claims, and why don’t their followers require any after all this time?
How could anyones belief be suspended for so long without a few results?

Adrienne,

I can only theorize that those who continue to support G.W. have the loyalty and mentality equivalent to the “die hard” fan. Even when your team sucks you keep rooting for them, hoping some new coach or player wil fix the problem.
It’s sad.
They wait for the government to fix itself despite every effort of the media and bloggers to show them that it’s not in the lawmakers best interest to fix government. They’re gaining power and wealth, why would they change? We must force our elected officials to change before we the people are no longer relevent to them.
I enjoy reading you posts. You get it.
Happy Chritmahaukwanzaka (I love that commercial)

Hey since we are doing Holiday greetings I thought I should pass along a greeting to show the true difference between the two parties. For the record I am a Democrat.

For My Democratic Friends:

“Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.

We also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2006, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. And without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

By accepting these greetings you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for herself or himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.”

For My Republican Friends:

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Sanger,
Again, we agree more than we disagree. I think at some point we need to put the fears inspired by 9/11 into perspective. But to move to another point:

Are you voting today? Because if you’re not voting, you don’t really need the right to vote. The government has secretly done away with your right to vote. After all, an election that threw out the Bush admnistration would send the wrong signal to the terrorists. But since you’re not using the right to vote, you don’t really need it.

Are you participating in a political protest today? No? Since you’re not using your right to peacably assemble, the government has secretly done away with that right. No blood, no foul, eh? Since you’re not using the right, you won’t miss it. How has the government hurt you? Besides, a political protest might send the wrong signal to the terrorists.

You don’t want to help the terrorists, do you? Because either you’re with us, or against us. And if you disagree, you’re actually aiding the terrorists, which is treason. Besides, everyone knows the liberals are brain-dead kool-aid drinkers, etc., etc., etc. And… and… It’s Clinton’s fault!!!

Wish that type of post were a rarity on Watchblog, Sanger. Unfortunately, it is all too common. It is a typical Neocon post. They are extreme in their views, but their extremism doesn’t mean they are rare; these unconditional supporters of Bush & DeLay are as plentiful as they are ignorant.

RJacob,

That was hilarious.

For my Republican friends:

May all your Christmases be (White and wealthy and unsympathetic to those around you, only looking to amass as much personal wealth as possible without any regard to your fellow man, all the while preaching you moral superiority and railing against the degeneration of this once great nation founded by your forefathers, never mentioning the Native people and African slaves that died at their hands in the process, which gives you the right to judge those who you deem financially and morally inferior,all the while stealing from your own and sending other peoples children to die for the oil industry, so that you can line your pockets with tax payers dollars and sell your influence in the government to the highest bidder and proving once again that the biggest assholes find the best loopholes)

Merry Christmas

I am a repub and I am very mad that a corp. with millions of dollars can influence my rep. I am the constituent. You should be voting for the good of your people, not some company that wants regulations eased on their trade. Someone should put all of these people in jail.

Has anyone seen the email that lists numerous crimes and then asks you who committed them? It sounds like an NFL team, but it was our US congressman.

Is there a group that represents the average working american, and if anyone says the aclu I will kick you.

Just a little cynical there Andre. The extremely right wing fundamentalist Christian who sent me this is one of the nicest people I know. The traits you assigned to the Republicans can just as easily be assigned to every single American. My wife worked for 20 years on an Indian reservation and I can assure you the white man does not corner the market for greed and corruption. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I don�€™t know why a politician can accept a trip, a dinner or anything from a PAC or lobbyist. I deal with the military and the government agencies and they cannot accept even a simple sandwich and a soda from us at lunch time. If the lower levels of the government can figure out how to keep from giving the appearance of taking a gift down to a piece of bread, how is it that our lawmakers are so easily on the take. Tom Delay is the poster child for corruption and working the system.

as a matter of fact, unions of all stripes are the last existing (barely) bastions of blue-collar, middle-class power through organization. Only problem is they’ve been criminalized by the mob in years past and by the corporate lobby in more recent years. The choke hold put on them by the corporate lobby in this country is yet another example of the failures of trickle-down economics.

Of course, the other way to organize and represent the working class is the old-fashioned way: taking to the street and demanding an audience at every opportunity. ‘Course these days that could get you disappeared.

Isn’t this the country of the people, by the people and for the people? Don’t we have a Democratic Republic form of Government where we elect representatives to represent out best interests in the Executive and Legislative Branchs of government?

Then how does a huge reduction in the 2006 budget justified when it comes from student loans, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid? How can tax cuts for the very wealthy be justified be justified under the above circumstances?

The answer is simple, we have the best dammed representatives that money can buy. The wealthy and corporate America have the deep pockets with which our politicians are bought and ultimately owned.

especially when they make the voting machines.

MyPetGoat, that brings us back to Diebold again. Read Gore Vidal’s Imperial America, and other places http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/04/12/02_mustnot.html for a piece on the Max Cleland/Saxby Chamblis senate race in Georgia. This was the first time it was made clear that something funny was going on with the Diebold machines.

So let us find out is the system is broken. I suggest we (the Congress) spend as much money looking into this matter as we (the Congress) did Whitewater and Monicagate.

If you would have changed the name from DeLay to Kennedy, the right would have a “Righteous Indignation” field day with it. As a hard lefty, I would gleefully let DeLay walk if the parties would actually fix this form of legal bribery once and for all. I believe it is one of the major cogs in the sprocket that will bring this country crashing down. Continuing to go unchecked, I give the good old USA, 50 to 75 more years. Nobody want’s this, but it better get fixed before it�€™s too late.

Rjacob,

I was going through all common, often repeated Republican steryotypes many of which I’ve spouted. It was meant to be funny.
Sorry.
I reread it and I see what you mean. It was really a joke I promise.
I like Republicans.
Bush sucks!

Is there anyone out there who supports Delay? Ok, there are people in Texas, but these are probably the same cowboys who I’ve seen chewing and spitting tobacco on the indoor stadium seats. Yippie Kiyay Dipshit!

Seriously, even if they don’t bust Delay on the charges he faces, he’s still gone through 3 ethics violations on Capitol Hill and will be facing issues with Abramoff. I’m sure his mother loves him, but anyone else?

I agree that calling the right-wingers neocon is wrong. The republicans are more like a CULT,…just smile and look forward goo-goo eyed and agree with their leader. Annoy a republican and think for yourselves!! It is time to let Delay and the other “cult” members reap what they have sewn.

I agree that calling the right-wingers neocon is wrong. The republicans are more like a CULT,…just smile and look forward goo-goo eyed and agree with their leader. Annoy a republican and think for yourselves!! It is time to let Delay and the other “cult” members reap what they have sewn.