More than ever before, the Republican Party has moved to openly endorsing extreme positions and backing up those positions with lies so obvious that the liars have to know that they are lying, and only the most ignorant sheeple, who graze for information only at Fox News, could possibly believe them. Why would they do this?
What is it the Republican Party has against religious freedom, private property and the U.S. Constitution?
The question is raised as the GOP scrounges for votes by opposing construction of an Islamic center near the World Trade Center site. In the absence of any credible contributions to critical public-policy issues, the R’s struggle to change the topic.
Republicans are shocked — shocked — that faithful Muslims would try to build on a site they have owned for years, near two other centers that are busy to the point of being overcrowded.
The former retail store is two blocks away from Ground Zero, sacred space indeed, consecrated by the innocent blood spilled by terrorists. This is the site where thousands of firefighters, police and citizen volunteers turned out to search for survivors and recover victims of all faiths and creeds amid the toxic wreckage.
Thousands of those selfless responders are now ill, and Republicans refused to pay for their health care. Evidently they were more appalled by the idea of chasing down offshore tax evaders to pay for the medical relief than by refusing to provide it.
So it has gone, and so it must be explained as attention turns to the November general election. Where are the Republicans on any substantive public issue? They have had nothing to say, no policies to offer and produced nothing but "no" votes to block Democratic efforts.
Voters worried about jobs, housing and raising families in an economic environment where all the old assumptions are bruised and battered have to ask themselves where the Republican Party wants to lead them.
Sure, let’s just assume President Obama and the Democrats who labored to expand health-care coverage, pass financial reforms and consumer protections, prop up the banking system and staunch job losses got it all wrong. Major legislative achievements, but they got it wrong, OK?
The GOP wanted to do what? One cannot even argue the party had bad ideas and flawed thinking. In the midst of an extraordinary economic crisis Republicans did nothing, content to play parliamentary games and mindlessly vote "no."
Republicans oppose letting the Bush tax cuts lapse. Those tax rollbacks were passed as the party doubled the debt and started two wars. Essentially, they ran up the credit card bill, and cut the monthly payment.
The GOP is totally focused on the federal deficit, except for accepting any responsibility for its size and paying if off. Remember those bygone federal budget surpluses? Read my lips. Presidents Bush, the elder, and Clinton set them in motion with tax revenue.
For pure political hypocrisy on the budget, it is hard to beat the GOP drama queens in state capitols. The Republican governors of South Carolina, Georgia and Nebraska — even the Democratic governor of Tennessee — were never, ever going to accept federal funds to help the unemployed.
Now their hands are out for the money, and they eagerly queued up for more federal dollars to pay teacher salaries. Headlines about their change of heart never matched the bombast about their virtuous refusals.
Republicans are mute on Iraq and Afghanistan, apparently happy to provide Pentagon contractors with more billable hours.
Ever since Republicans grabbed a beer and slid down the emergency ramp, voters must hold Democrats accountable for dealing with federal deficits, ending two wars, and crafting public policy to restore the economy and environment… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Seattle Times>
The author is spot-on. I can’t believe that the Republican leadership (with several exceptions) is stupid enough to believe their own BS. Their tactics coalesce as a strategy of desperation. They have nothing to offer the American people except more of the same flawed policies that left out nation in its most pitiful state since the great depression. No Millionaire Left Behind is their only success. So they are desperate to gather votes from anywhere, no mater how hateful and extreme. And they are are desperate to create non-issues to distract the voting public from asking ourselves if we really want what they have to offer before the November elections.
If voters are so desperate, I can offer the same: No No No No No No No No No No No No
Every Republican in office is one Republican too many!
24 Responses to “Republicans: Why All the Sensationalism?”
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But you have to admit that thus far the strategy of lie and run to the next issue, obstruct it, Then reconstruct it with a lie as a base premise has thus far been fairly effective ar getting the herd ready to stampeded. I say it is up to the president as the leader of the Democratic party and the head of the DNNC to debunk this bullshit in no uncertain terms.
I do admit it. The democratic leadership has been too cowardly to come out swinging. We made the first mistake in the fall of 2007, when we did not immediately movbe to impeach Bush, Cheney, et al. They cam play offense only because our party won’t put them on the defensive.
Speaking of the leader of the DNC – where the f is he? I’ve seen Howard Dean out there but not that asshole. I had to LOOK HIM UP about 6 months ago because I had no idea who it was.
He’s keeping a low profile, but for the party in power, that’s the norm. The President is supposed to be the point man.
Great post and I am in complete agreement, the republicans have gone insane and offer no real answers on any issue.
Thanks, Beach.
It took canny funnyman Jon Stewart to explain the threat was not from Islam but the Carlyle Group,
which included, I think, King Fahd, George W. Bush, Bin Laden and Dick Cheney.
Now tell me there was no theat..
Ivan, you were with me in the old days. How many times did I say that Al Dubya was a far greater threat to the US than Al Qaeda ever was?
The obvious key to any election in independent voters. We have our message and Fox has theirs. The right has the bigger machine in place. We have the truth! We’ll see which one wins out.
Yes we will.
I just posted this comment somewhere else but it applies here as well, I think.
These people are not happy unless they are spewing some sort of nonsensical hate (and obstructing). Personally I think it will only help liberals and moderates in the end. Signs are there that there’s already some erosion. Palin is scheduled to speak in Jacksonville, Fla. this week. They had to move her talk from a 3000 seat theatre to one with 600 seats because of a lack of ticket sales. It’s these kinds of little chinks that can signify a major earthquake.
Excellent post, TC – but that’s not unusual.
Thanks Leslie. The comment was worth repeating… also not unusual.
Barring some devastating October surprise, I think our November losses will be minor.
I think you’re right but Democrats had better get off their butts and candidates had better campaign like there’s no tomorrow.
Double Amen. See my lead story today
“I can’t believe that the Republican leadership (with several exceptions) is stupid enough to believe their own BS.”
It’s fascinating to watch, isn’t it? In a scary way? Of course they don’t believe their own BS, neither the leadership nor the rank-and-file (barring the *real* crazies, like Rep. Bachmann). But their ability to make the sheeple believe it is heartbreaking to those of us who view the Constitution as something more than just a piece of paper.
It’s amazing that so many men and women can stand before the cameras with straight faces and spew what they absolutely know are distortions and outright lies, *and* knowing that much of what they say can harm this country. Nothing seems to matter to these sociopaths but money, power, and getting reelected. And I’d have to toss in some Democrats with this bunch, too.
This *should* serve as a teaching lesson on the corruption and ineffectiveness of our Congress. Well, if it doesn’t now, hopefully it will in some future history book about the fall of the free world.
Well said, Candace. We certainly have our DINO contingent. I still believe that the only solution for Congress is 100% public financing.
Yes, campaign finance reform!!!
Amen! 🙂
They do not believe their own BS. It’s a strategy to make Obama look inept and can get nothing done. It actually might work.
That is the nightmare about this whole thing.
I agree they are hell-bent on making Obama look inept and getting nothing done. I predict the economy won’t improve until after the elections, whichever way they go. I am sore afraid over what may happen in November.
Candace, before Obama even won the nomination, I predicted that completely repairing the economic damage done to our nation during the 8 year Fourth Reich would take between twenty five and fifty years. This is how people need to be educated, and it’s not what they want to hear. 🙁
The Republicans are so funny, when the economy is good you say let’s all celebrate “Cinco de Mayo, my brothers” but when the economy is down “it’s all your fault, you damn immigrant”. When most Americans (with Latin America roots) go to the polls this November we will remember that the GOP has gone on a nationwide rant in proposing and passing several anti-immigration legislation and have continue to blame us for the flat economy or worse. We will remember who stands with us and who stands against us, so trying to stop it now is somewhat funny, but go ahead, you will not change our minds. Is does not help that the GOP has recently attacked the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Your hate made you do it, in November; you will reap what you have sown.
Welcome Benito. 🙂
The way I see it, the Republicans want to preserve the status quo so they can better exploit Latinos without legal status.
I support a path to citizenship and a more open immigration policy.