Isn't she brave? I just love it when people within the Democratic party stand up to their leaders and the media and liberals shun them, but when a Republican stands up to leaders within their party, they are lionized and "brave." People like roger37 and TavernWench can stand up and be proud of you. Ridiculous double standard.

Let me offer a thoughtful response:

Up yours.

You will have to get rid of The Rushes and The Hannitys and The Bill O'Riellys before you are going to attract any new republicans not to mention the rush of republicans heading for the door on their way out before you can get a handle on a new party interested in today's problems instead of dwelling on the the Reagan years and yesterdays problems.

I think Barney Frank being asked to leave the Dems, as well as a couple of others, shows the Reps are no different. It is time to take back our parties. It is time we take back our government. Every single person with a military or police type job has to take an oath to the Constitution, not either party, they are the ones who have ruined it all. Old fat guys, or cheating middle age guys or women who should not work anywhere, let alone politics, are not either party. BUT, it is our fault, we keep electing the, Once Readers Digest had a story about a town that elected a dog mayor, maybe it is time we elect some people who do not get the big million dollar campaigns, and let them figure it out.

*many....... between too and people above

Perhaps it is *because of* the racism flap. The GOP clearly harbors a lot of members who are afraid of people different from themselves.

Genuinely "decent people" in the reupblican party are like virgins in a whorehouse. And anyone who stays in that party knowing better deserves the disdain that they get.

Thank you ted-scheriff. We can't dispel hate with hate. Be your better self when you express yourself, and we'll all be better for it.

indeed!
and thank YOU, clubed60090.
i appreciate you.
be well.

Ted & Co - I believe that people who call black people "coons" are indeed vermin, and should be indentified as such, loudly and proudly, by all. And I believe that not to say so is a tacit acceptance of these expressions in political & social dialogue.
Innovations - I am insulting it. But, I am amused by the tone of it - Here's Meghan, a seemingly well-intentioned, life-long republican, who perhaps has been primarily exposed to the limited "good side" of their party, but is now forced to confront the powerful negative undercurrents. In light of her horrific realization, I am inviting her to leave all that behind and just become a democrat.

Hate has always been the Republican way? Abraham Lincoln was a Republican. Was he hateful? I'm simply an American. I see hypocrisy in both parties. But, honestly, I see more of it on the Democratic side. Rs say they are for less government, yet they want to tell ppl they can't do drugs or gays that they can't marry. As long as it is a personal adult choice, the govt. should stay out of it. Educate ppl abt the harmful effects of drugs and they are less likely to use them (including those legal pharmaceuticals with their long lists of side effects they push on us constantly). Christian marriage is between a man and a woman, but ppl get married every day who are not Christian. No one should be forced to perform a marriage ceremony against their conscience, but grown Americans should be able to make their own decisions. Now here comes the Democrats who fight for the rights of fruit flies but don't give a rat abt innocent, unborn babies. They stand for women's rights until one stands up and says something they don't like. They tell us no means no and prosecute rape to the fullest, but expect us to negotiate with terrorists and offer them land for peace. To me, that is just the same as if I were brutally raped and instead of justice I had to give the rapist my backyard to prevent further attacks. It would be a great day in America if sense would simply once again become common. ~Cea*

What ele do you expect from a spoiled litttle snob whose Mommy marries multiple times and never worked a day in her life?

agree with you,the repulican party does need to change and accept folks of different stripes.i live in a red state and never voted for a repulican,though i would love for Gov.rick perry to lose to Kay Baily Hutchtison.and 38 is young...mid 40s and 50s is mid-age.Bush`s terms scared the heck out of me,when he was Gov.i was dumbfounded,Tx.power is with the lutienant gov. he was really a figure head like the Queen of England is.he was not equipped to be President and that is why they chose him..theocracy is tyranny cloaked in Gods robes.I hope we do not make the same mistake again,please Republicans we need you,we need a 2 party system that works for the good of all Americans,not just rich,white,straight or God fearing,i have no problem with worship,just don`t preach hate and as if your God is a hater if one does not think like you,learn to accept all humanity as God made us all different for a good reason..

McCain didn't stop the "terrorist" slur until John Lewis after hearing the mob scream "bomb"him in Georgia took a public stand against the rhetoric. Palin rallies were getting scary and her follower's of identifiable white supremacists lost Florida after two stops. If the neo-nazis are following you from state to state, you won't attract the jewish vote. Obama carried the Jewish community be over 70% per the exit polls even with the GOP ranting about "Obama is a muslim"

How can a woman nearing 40 be a "Young" Republican? What a laugh.

While 38 isn't exactly "old" per se, it isn't young either.

@innovations; The real issue is that the Republican Party is almost completely taken over by the racists, the Luddites, the Creationists, the black helicopter crowd, and the Hooverites. There are almost no moderates left in the GOP (ie. moderate meaning someone willing to discuss different viewpoints and perhaps even be willing to re-consider your positions on things). This forces anyone who is conservative, and who might want to be a Republican and has no interest in becoming a Democrat or Libertarian, to remain "in the closet" about their actual beliefs around their more radical Republican peers. Unless Meghan and her generation wrest control of the GOP back from the radical ultra-conservatives, the GOP is doomed to go the way of the Whigs, or worse. Perhaps they should consider creating a New Republican party, or something.

I will say, though, that ultra-radicals are not simply a conservative problem. It's just that the entire Repubican Party leadership is now made up of radicals and anyone who doesn't fit their mold isn't welcome. The Democrats and other Progressives have the same problem, but at least they are a lot more inclusionary and broad-ranging in their views and opinions (well, they always have been compared to the Republicans, but the dichotomy is more pronounced today).

For instance, I can discuss politics and policy (say, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan) in any number of Progressive blogs or FB pages, and the discussion is often congenial and even where there is disagreement, it is civil. Then I go on some more radical ones (such as Cindy Sheehan's FB page) and if you don't believe we need to immediately, right-this-minute pull all US troops out of every single theatre in the entire world, destroy all weapons above a pea-shooter, and reduce our military to just enough to watch the borders, then you are called such delightful terms as "warmonger", "war-pig", "baby-killer", and "murderer". No room for discussion unless you agree completely.

The far Left is just as unwilling to entertain alternative viewpoints as the far Right, but the issue is that the far Left is one small component of the Democratic Party, while the far Right is a major, or you might even say the bulk, of the Republican Party right now. Unless they reform into a more inclusive party (which isn't likely to happen; it is made up of people who are by nature exclusionary), then the Democratic Party is going to be running the country for a long, long time.

Which, as a Democrat, scares the hell out of me. I want a progressive, relatively liberal government, but I don't want the Dems to get the idea they can do anything they want, either. We need balance; the current Republican Party doesn't provide that because they are literally the Party of No at the moment. But having Dems in charge without that counterbalancing of a moderate conservative voice is just as dangerous to our country's future, IMHO.

@lovelifelightlaugher, If this country was run by Democrats, I have no idea what the hell would make you so worried. Democrats get down to business. Republicans like to fuck it up so that Dems lose the upcoming election.
Think about it. Was it a coincidence that Nixon and his crew were 'hanging around" the Watergate Towers? According to the history books, Nixon was an all around guy-- campaign fraud, political espionage and sabotage, illegal break-ins, improper tax audits, illegal wiretapping on a massive scale, and a secret slush fund laundered in Mexico to pay those who conducted these operations.
Was it a coincidence that Iran takes our hostages on the same year Carter starts his re-election campaign and they just happen to get released on the day Reagen gets sworn? Was it a coincidence that Bush won the 2000 election in the same state his brother was governor? Was it a coincidence that Bill Clinton got his reputation ruined on the final year of his perfect presidency? Where he vetoed every bill the Republican Congress tried passing? After a while, you realize these were no coincidences. Bill Clinton was a victim of Republican jealousy. He proved that this country can be run without the help of Republicans; he vetoed all their bills for the entire 6 years of Republican Congress control. Because everytime he saw their bill, the Republicans wanted to do is give themselves trax breaks and screw everyone else.
The 2008 CBO report shows this: " When President Bush took office, he received a surplus of $5.6 trillion over the next ten-year period and the paying down of nearly all redeemable federal debt. But in the last eight years, this Administration squandered the surpluses and replaced them with record deficits. According to the figures in the Sept 23, 2004 report, the $5.6 trillion ten-year projected surplus inherited by the Bush Administration had become a $3.3 trillion deficit - an $8.9 trillion deterioration in just 42 months. According to today's figures, the nation's debt is projected to rise every year without limit, growing faster than its income. In January 2008's CBO report, Middle-class Americans and the economy still struggled after three rounds of tax cuts and almost six years of Republican control in Washington - and ten years of their control in the Congress. After $2.25 trillion of tax cuts targeted to those who need the help the least, the Administration has failed to generate a meaningful
recovery for an economy that slumped on its watch: nearly 1.7 million private-sector jobs have been lost since the President took office, and the typical person losing a job is out of work about twice as long as he or she was four years ago. The total amount of tax cuts for households with more than $1 million of income was projected to be on average $119,517 . %u2022 The comparable figure for households with incomes of $50,000 to $75,000 is $1,163. %u2022 Millionaires can therefore expect an average tax cut 103 times larger than that of households with incomes $50,000 and $75,000, 176 times greater than the average tax cut for households with $20,000 to $50,000 of income and 72 times larger than that of households with $75,000 to $100,000 of income."
SEE lovelifelightlaugher, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A DEMOCRAT BUSTS HIS ASS FOR 8 YEARS TO PUT THIS COUNTRY IN TIP-TOP SHAPE. AND THAT WASN'T ALL CLINTON DID. CLINTON WAS "DA MAN":
Clinton's Vision and Accomplishments - Newer Information

Economic Leadership and a Stronger Economy
Under President Clinton's leadership, almost 6 million new jobs were created in the first two years of his Administration -- an average of 250,000 new jobs every month.
In 1994, the economy had the lowest combination of unemployment and inflation in 25 years.
As part of the 1993 Economic Plan, President Clinton cut taxes on 15 million low-income families and made tax cuts available to 90 percent of small businesses, while raising taxes on just 1.2 percent of the wealthiest taxpayers.
President Clinton signed into law the largest deficit reduction plan in history, resulting in over $600 billion in deficit reduction. The deficit is going down for 3 years in a row for the first time since Harry Truman was president.



Fighting Crime and Restoring Our Communities
The President signed into law the Brady Bill, which imposes a five-day waiting period on handgun purchases so that background checks can be done to help keep handguns away from criminals.
The President's Crime Bill will put 100,000 new police officers on the street. More than 1,200 communities have already received grants to hire 27,000 additional officers.
The Crime Bill also punishes criminals by expanding the number of offenses eligible for the death penalty and implementing the "three-strikes-and-you're-out" provision.
And, the Bill banned the manufacture of 19 specific types of deadly assault weapons, while simultaneously protecting hunters' rights by exempting over 650 hunting rifles.



Strengthening Our Families: Security and Opportunity
President Clinton signed the Family and Medical Leave Act. The law, which covers over 42 million Americans, offers workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-guaranteed leave for child birth, adoption, or personal or family illness.
President Clinton expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit to cut the taxes of 15 million working families with incomes of $27,000 or less.
President Clinton granted waivers to 25 states -- half the nation -- providing for comprehensive welfare reform demonstrations.
President Clinton ordered the U.S. Justice Department to conduct the first-ever crackdown on deadbeat parents who refuse to accept financial responsibility for their own children.
Signed an Executive Order cracking down on federal employees who owe child support.



Cutting Bureaucracy
President Clinton has already cut the federal bureaucracy by more than 100,000 positions. Under the recommendations of the National Performance Review, the federal bureaucracy will be reduced by 272,000 -- its lowest level since the Kennedy Administration.
And, he reduced the White House staff by 25 percent.



Making Education A Priority
Under the President's Direct Student Loan program, students can borrow money directly from the government at a lower interest rate and with many flexible repayment options, including the option to repay with a percentage of their after-graduation salary. Taxpayers will save at least $4.3 billion over five years.
In 1994, over 20,000 AmeriCorps members tutored students, immunized children, reclaimed urban parks, and patrolled neighborhoods. In return, they earned $4,725 per year of service towards college tuition or job training.
President Clinton signed into law Goals 2000, a national standard of excellence for our public schools. Already, 41 states and territories have received federal grants to raise academic standards and improve schools.
President Clinton's Safe and Drug Free Schools and Community Act and the Safe Schools Act provide funding to schools to fight violence and drug abuse. Schools can use up to 25 percent of their funds to purchase metal detectors, develop safe zones, and hire school security personnel.
The President's School-to-Work program provides venture capital to spark a nationwide system for moving America's young people from high school to a job with a future. In 1994, all states received planning funds for their school-to-work program.
Charter School legislation signed by President Clinton encourages states and localities to set up public school choice.



Expanding Markets for American Products
The Clinton Administration forged a bipartisan coalition to pass NAFTA, after concluding tough negotiations on side agreements covering workers' rights, the environment, and import surges. Exports to Mexico rose 23 percent in the first 11 months of 1994.
President Clinton led the fight to pass GATT, which lowers tariffs worldwide by $744 billion over ten years -- the largest international tax cut in history. GATT cuts tariffs on manufactured goods by more than one-third overall and eliminates tariffs in major markets in a number of sectors in which the U.S. is particularly competitive.



Protecting Our Environment
Under President Clinton, the EPA launched its "Common Sense Initiative" to make health protection cheaper and smarter by focusing on results rather than one-size-fits-all regulations.
The President's Northwest Forest Plan is putting communities in the Northwest back to work, while conserving ancient forests.
After decades of conflict, the Clinton Administration negotiated a consensus plan to protect California's most valuable natural resource -- its water. The San Francisco and Delta estuary supplies dr inking water to two-thirds of the state's people, provides irrigation for 45 percent of the nation's fruits and vegetables, and sustains 300 aquatic species.



Promoting Security and Freedom Abroad
President Clinton hosted the signing of the Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles in September, 1993, and the signing of the Israeli-Jordan Washington Principles in July, 1994 -- historic agreements between the leaders of Israel and her Arab neighbors to settle differences by peaceful means.
To enhance European security and stability, the Clinton Administration proposed the Partnership for Peace program, offering former Soviet republics and Central/East European states closer ties with NATO. Already, 22 nations have signed on, since NATO's adoption of the program in January, 1994.
As of May, 1994, nuclear missiles in Russia and the United States are no longer targeted against any country. And, as a result of other Clinton Administration efforts, the Ukraine is ahead of schedule in reaching the goal of transferring 1,500 nuclear warheads to Russia for dismantlement.
President Clinton peacefully restored democracy to Haiti, curbing the violence that threatened tens of thousands of Haitians, securing our borders, and upholding our commitments and the commitments made to us in the process.





CREATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND SECURITY FOR ALL AMERICANS
Signed the Economic Package, August 10, 1993.
The economy created 7.7 million new jobs in the first 34 months of this Administration.
Passed the largest deficit-cutting plan in history -- saving more than $1 trillion over seven years.
On track for three consecutive years of deficit reduction -- for the first time since Harry Truman.
Cut federal spending by $255 billion over 5 years.
Made new tax cuts available to over 90% of small businesses.
Unemployment has fallen from 7% when President Clinton took office to its current rate of 5.6%
Lowest combined rate of unemployment and inflation since 1968.
1994 real GDP growth was the highest in a decade.
Proposed a plan to balance the budget while protecting critical investments in education.

PROMOTING A FUTURE OF OPPORTUNITY
Increased Head Start funding by almost $760 million.
Passed the Student Loan Reform Act, August 10, 1993.
Implemented the National Service Act, September 21, 1993.
Signed the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, March 31, 1994.
Enacted the School-to-Work Opportunities Act on May 4, 1994.
Signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Reauthorization

MAKING COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS SAFE FOR OUR FAMILIES
Passed the toughest most comprehensive Crime Bill ever, September 13, 1994
Signed the Brady Bill, November 30, 1993.
Enacted the Assault Weapons Ban as part of the Crime Bill.
Put 100,000 new police on the street -- nearly 31,000 more officers have been funded.
Signed the Violence Against Women Act as part of the Crime Bill.
Signed the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Act, October 20, 1994.
Issued Presidential Directive enforcing a "Zero Tolerance" gun policy in schools, October 22, 1994
Submitted and fought for the most comprehensive Drug Control budget ever.

MAKING GOVERNMENT WORK BETTER AND COST LESS
Already cut the Federal Workforce by over 200,000 -- on the way to lowest level in 30 years.
Abolishing 16,000 pages of obsolete regulations and rewriting 31,000 more pages.
$58 billion in savings are already in the bank. $46 billion in savings are still to come.
Over 180 new recommendations will save $70 billion. Eliminated 284 federal advisory committees.
Developed government-wide Customer Service Standards for the first time.
Appointed the most diverse Cabinet and Administration in history.
Signed the most important federal procurement act ever to streamline government purchasing.
Reformed Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation to protect 8.5 million pensions.
Signed the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, March 22, 1995.

CREATING OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA'S COMMUNITIES
Created nine Economic Empowerment Zones and 95 Enterprise Communities.
Signed the Community Development Banking Financial Institutions Act, Sept. 23, 1994.
Signed the Interstate Banking Bill, September 29, 1994.
Instituted the Defense Reinvestment and Conversion Initiative.
Reformed the Community Reinvestment Act to focus on performance rather than paperwork.
Made the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and Mortgage Revenue Bond Program permanent.

PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND OUR PUBLIC HEALTH
Issued a new executive order to require polluters to disclose information to the public and expanded the public's right-to-know about toxic releases.
Launched "reinventing environmental regulation" to cut red tape and better protect public health.
Issued a new standard to cut pollution from chemical plants 90% by 1997.
Signed executive orders to increase recycling and cut pollution in federal buildings.
Signed the California Desert Protection Act, October 31, 1994.
Issued a new standard to cut pollution from incinerators 95%.
Introduced comprehensive Safe Drinking Water and Superfund reforms.
Developed a plan to restore Florida's Everglades.
Ended decades of conflict over the allocation of California Bay-Delta water.

PROMOTING HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS
Passed the Family and Medical Leave Act, February 5, 1993.
Signed a comprehensive Child Immunization Plan.
Revoked the Reagan/Bush restrictions on abortion counseling ("the gag rule"), abortions in military hospitals, "Mexico City" policy and RU-486 imports.
Increased Ryan White CARE Act funding for outpatient AIDS care over 100% in first 3 budgets.
Put the Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) on a full-funding path.
Increased funding 65% for breast cancer research.
As part of the balanced budget plan, introduced health care reform initiative which strengthens Medicare and expands coverage.
Proposed a $1.3 billion increase in veterans' benefits -- of which $1 billion will be directed to the VA health system to provide treatment for 43,000 more veterans.

PRESERVING AND STRENGTHENING OUR FAMILIES
Expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit providing tax relief for 15 million working families.
Introduced the Work and Responsibility Act - comprehensive welfare reform.
Passed the Family Support and Preservation Program.
Passed major funding increases for homeless programs in both Houses.
Approved 35 waivers to states permitting comprehensive welfare reform demonstrations.
Collected a record $10 billion in child support through enforcement in 1994.
Signed the Social Security Independent Agency Act.
Increased adoption and foster care funds by almost $600 million from 1994-1995.

RESTORING TRUST IN OUR GOVERNMENT
Signed the National Voter Registration Act (Motor-Voter), May 20, 1993.
Eliminated the tax deduction for lobbying expenses.
Imposed strictest Administration ethics guidelines in history.
Barred top officials from becoming foreign lobbyists after leaving government.
Signed the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 -- the first overhaul of lobbying rules in 50 years.
Fought for passage of and signed into law the Congressional Accountability Act, January 22, 1995.
Fought for passage of line-item veto and campaign finance.

AMERICAN LEADERSHIP
Helped Israel and Jordan achieve an historic peace treaty and Israel and the Palestinians fulfill their historic accord.
Contributed to an historic cease-fire in Northern Ireland.
Restored democratically elected Haitian President Aristide to power; will continue to stop the flow of refugees to Florida.
Undertook, with NATO allies and UN, military and diplomatic actions to alleviate the suffering and lead the effort to broker a comprehensive peace agreement in Bosnia.
Russian nuclear missiles are no longer pointed at our cities.
Persuaded Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan to give up the nuclear weapons left on their land when the Soviet Union collapsed.
Agreed to framework with North Korea that freezes and leads to the eventual elimination of North Korea s dangerous nuclear program.
Led the international effort to secure the indefinite and unconditional extension of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) further reducing the danger of nuclear proliferation around the world.
Working to prevent nuclear weapons from ending up in the hands of terrorists or international criminals.
Air-lifted more than half a ton of vulnerable, highly enriched uranium, enough to make dozens of nuclear bombs, from Kazakhstan to safe storage.
Assisted South Africa's transition to democracy, providing support for elections and development.
Bringing the nations of Europe closer:
-- Modernizing NATO;
-- Working with Russia;
-- Reforming the former Soviet Union economies
Waging a tough counter-terrorism campaign with stronger laws and more training for law enforcement.
Maintaining strong sanctions against states that sponsor terrorism and defy the rule of rule, such as Iran, Iraq, Libya and Sudan.
Sent our planes, ships and troops to turn back a new Iraqi threat to the Persian Gulf.
***** ARE YOU REALLY AFRAID OF A DEMOCRAT RUNNING OUR COUNTRY????

Hey, you guys. Nobody reads exhaustive posts like that. Get a room.

I read the long reply and agree. The FACTS are simple and straight: A Democratic president did great things for the country. A Republican president did horrible things to America.

Meghan - on another topic - follow your heart AND your mind and become a Democrat. The party you want the Republicans to become is already here in the Democratic column.

roger37

Hey, you guys. Nobody reads exhaustive posts like that. Get a room.@@@@@@ ROGER, THATS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH TODAY'S REPUBLICAN. THEY DONT READ PERIOD. THEY PUT THEIR TRUST IN THE LIES OF PUNDIT COMMENTATORS THAT YOU FIND ON FOX AND THEY THINK THEY'RE GETTING TRUE FACTS. I'M PRETTY SURE AT THE END OF THE DAY HANNITY, BECK, AND COULTER ALL GET TOGETHER IN SOME MIDTOWN BAR AND LAUGH AT ALL YOU IDIOTS. IN ORDER TO TWIST THE TRUTH INTO LIES, YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE TRUTH; MEANING HANNITY AND THE REST ARE NOT STUPID, JUST SURE ACT LIKE IT.

Oh come on! As if anybody on this site really listens to anything OTHER than self-serving propoganda. My God...have you ever heard of Contract with America?? Although I agree that Clinton did a great job as a partnering President to get a lot of good things done, he did not do it all by his lonesome, so do us all a favor and step outside of your self-righteous soapbox.

Thank you for your honesty. I think many people can relate to your story.

When Dwight D. Eisenhower's granddaughter left the Republican party, I knew they were in deep, deep trouble.

I am a Republican, when Obama announced he was running, the woman I spoke to said I was the third person to call to support his run. I am Native American and live in LA and had checked out Obama, I thought he would push this country out of the closet. We all go along. It has to stop.

I kept being told, as soon as the party took over, wait until he is nominated, wait until he is elected, wait until he is in the White House, well, what are we waiting for now? I just asked to be part of the volunteer effort. That to date is -go out and do it yourself, if you can figure a way to let anyone let you, because they all have programs- we need authority and money to change things. Even the California governor ran up against bureaucrats who refused to do what he asked them to do, or even worse, tried, but were restricted by laws lobbyists put in place to keep change from harming their clients.

That is not working.

I'm afraid you misread the Supreme Court. In their recent decision on Ricci v. DeStefano, conservative justices on the Court reversed the Second Circuit in a 5-4 decision, thereby legislating from the bench as activist judges. (Anybody hear Republicans screaming about this injustice? No? Anybody??)

The 5 justices were Anthony Kennedy, John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. You see, the court does make laws. So much for strict constructionists.