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Democrats, Don't Despair
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Things look bad now, and the party will lose seats this fall. But the economy will bounce back, Democrats will be united—and faith in government can be restored.
Democrats win elections by convincing Americans that government can work. Republicans win elections by convincing them that it can’t. Right now, the GOP is winning that argument. To resurrect his presidency, Barack Obama must change that.
A year ago, most Americans were hopeful that Obama could invigorate government, and that an invigorated government could improve their lives. According to a January 2009 NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, Americans were 11 points more likely to say “government should do more to solve problems and help meet the needs of people” than they were to say that “government is doing too many things better left to business and individuals.” During the Bush administration, after all, people had seen what happens when business is left to handle financial regulation and individuals are left to handle hurricane relief. They wanted government to do more—and believed they would benefit if it did.
Even if he encounters further setbacks, Obama doesn’t have to worry about a primary challenge (that decision to get Hillary out of the Senate looks smarter every day).
The problem is that government has done more, and Americans haven’t felt any benefit. That’s not the same as saying that they haven’t benefited. There’s a pretty strong argument that without Obama’s stimulus package—which funneled money to cities and states, thus allowing them to avoid truly brutal budget cuts—and without the epic action by the Federal Reserve, and yes, without the bailouts of Wall Street and the automakers, that Americans would be feeling far more pain than they currently are. But politically, it’s hard to win elections by telling people that although things are terrible, you kept them from being worse. Franklin Roosevelt didn’t have to convince Americans that the country would have been in a depression had he not enacted the early New Deal; he took office with the unemployment rate at 25 percent, and by 1936 had cut it in half. Obama, by contrast, took office when the unemployment rate was about 7.5 percent, but many economists feared it would rise dramatically as the nation’s financial system imploded. The Obama administration helped keep the financial system from imploding, and so the unemployment rate has risen to “only” 10 percent—none of which is leading Americans to throw the White House bouquets.
• Mark McKinnon: Can Plouffe Save Obama’s Bacon?To make matters worse, the things Obama has done to stave off economic collapse have been ugly. Americans don’t like bailouts and they don’t like massive debt. They might have swallowed their disgust had those actions prevented economic misery. But instead, all Obama’s policies have done is prevent the greater theoretical misery that many economists believe Americans would have experienced had nothing been done. If the fire department floods your house with water yet the blaze still torches your living room, it’s cold comfort to hear that the damage would have been even worse had they never arrived.
Republicans understand this. For all their claims that Obama should be focusing more attention on the economy, their real position is that he should have done less: no bailouts, no big stimulus, less-aggressive monetary policy. The GOP basically believes that if the fire department hadn’t come and messed everything up, the fire would be burning itself out on its own—without all that nasty water damage. And at this point, the White House can’t prove them wrong.
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Peter Beinart, senior political writer for The Daily Beast, is associate professor of journalism and political science at City University of New York and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation. His new book, The Icarus Syndrome: A History of American Hubris, will be published by HarperCollins in June. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
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Peter Beinart, senior political writer for The Daily Beast, is associate professor of journalism and political science at City University of New York and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation. His new book, The Icarus Syndrome: A History of American Hubris, will be published by HarperCollins in June. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
Democrats, Forever Changed
Peter Beinart, senior political writer for The Daily Beast, is associate professor of journalism and political science at City University of New York and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation. His new book, The Icarus Syndrome: A History of American Hubris, will be published by HarperCollins in June. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
FarLeftFist
In 2009 we saw capitalism collapse and actually fail, the President put it on life support where it still remains in serious condition. This is a moment we should all be grateful the republicans didn't have power, as anarchy surely would have reigned.
AlanD2
Republicans are doing their best to retrieve the anarchy that might have happened.
They want to terminate stimulus spending, give everybody tax breaks (especially the rich), cut government spending, and reduce our deficit.
Herbert Hoover would be proud of them, but I would prefer to avoid a replay of the Great Depression.
DakLak
The Bush gang usurped The Constitution. But that's OK as ordinary Americans have their telephones tapped and their e-mails read, the terrorists and technically savvy are enjoying privacy by using Skype, vice and text encryption and other devices that run circles around the NSA, CIA and FBI.
Dave1959
The left are still going to be singing this song when they march off right over that cliff !!
subframer
Oh yeah. It's a wonder that fools like you exist, essentially encouraging the govt. to max out their credit cards with no hope of ever repaying. That's such a sound micro strategy, why not use it on the macro level? Can you say "banana republic"? The feckless shills you put in DC care only about one thing: their own power. They will bankrupt you and I in an effort to keep it. Difference is, only one of us is stupid enough for them to fool....
Hairball
AlanD2,
I don't think Repubs want to terminate stimulus spending. If you remember Bush enacted the fist bailout/stimulus in 2008. I also don't understand why you think Hoover would be so proud. Contrary to popular belief Hoover participated in massive government spending and basically kicked off the new deal. Very similar to Bush/Obama spending. I believe government spending will only prolong a true recovery just as it did during the great depression.
FarLeftFist
But the republican's economic policies are what got us into this mess, so if the American people are buying what THEY'RE selling then I stick to my comment that anarchy will reign. You see the republicans are so vile in their attacks and so sure that their economic policies will work that when they don't it will be the last straw. We will have a republican administration that will not only be hated by the Left but by the Right as well.....That's when things will get real ugly. We've already seen fascism rear it's ugly head with the recent supreme court ruling, your defending a regime, not a political party. Not one of you should be happy or gloating about a republican administration....Unless you are an anarchist.
crypto
The only people who want government to "take charge of their lives" are those who are too lazy or too dumb to do any better. Even this feeble attempt to sell a 17 percent unemployment rate as 10 percent and then to have the guts to say that by keeping the financial system intact 10 percent is acceptable is plain bull schitt. Companies and institutions have come into being and went out just as fast since the beginning. The sky did not fall. If Obama wants to actually "fix" things he only needs to park air force one, stop Pelosi and Reid from playing president, take charge of his presidency, fire the #$#$%!! crooks he brought in, and get out of peoples lives. Whether you like it or not these three, Obama, Pelosi, and Reid have all but destroyed all faith in government. Those who continue to believe this administration intends to or knows how to "fix" this mess need to do a serious self evaluation.
wowjustwow
cypto- faith in government was destroyed during the Bush administration. Reid and Pelosi contributed to that. Obama raised everyone's hope. He foolishly left it to congress to fulfill. Now the mission is complete. Corporations own politicians in every party. The supreme court just made them people like you and me. Dems are outraged, but will do nothing. Republicans somehow think it levels the playing field. Like you or I have billions to spend on advertising. Government is dead. The corporate takeover is just a few years away. Say hello to the Senator from Exxon, United Health Care and Wal-mart.
AlanD2
Hairball said: "I don't think Repubs want to terminate stimulus spending."
In July, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) told Sean Hannity "If the American people will let the Republicans back in charge, the 60 percent of this bill that won't be spent until after the next election, we'll cut it off and let it go to the Americans."
On 10/29/09, Scott Brown, now Senator from Massachusetts, claimed "The fact is the stimulus has not worked. Not one new job has been created in Massachusetts, or anywhere in the nation. ... Our country can't afford any more stimulus spending that adds to our deficit without adding to employment."
There are lots of examples of Republican anti-stimulus comments around, and terminating stimulus spending is one of their goals.
cbl99201
Dear AlanD2,
Republicans failed in their first effort to put us in a deep depression by de-regulating the markets. Now that economists inform us that we require more stimulus spending to right our economy, they are foaming at the mouth to take atvantage of this second opprotunity to bankrupt us by opposing it.
Hairball
I hope there are some people in government who are against spending but I doubt there are many. I'm sure Republicans will say they are against stimulus spending because thats what they are suppose to say. Even Bush said (and I paraphrase) We must abandon free market principles in order to save the free market. That doesn't make any sense at all to me. But Repubs will say whatever they think they need to say.
The point I want to get across is that both parties practice the same monetary policy. Borrow, print, tax and spend. Its not sustainable or healthy for individuals to borrow and spend with no restraint. Eventually it leads to bankruptcy. Government can make it last a little longer because they have the authority to tax the people and to counterfeit money but this only complicates the money problems.
gameon
Alan , cutting taxes leads to job creation,not anarchy .And while you may be comfortable spending the next generations earnings on frivolous "stimulus" programs ,I do not. Your selfishness will lead to anarchy.
Hoover raised taxes,he didn't lower them.If you want to avoid a replay of the great depression then you shouldn't have voted Obama into office.It wasn't conservative principles that got us into this mess,it was liberalism and weak regulation from a corrupt political system.
AlanD2
gameon, I feel sorry for you. I hope you don't get hurt too badly when reality sinks in.
johnwr3
I suppose you believe in unicorns too Peter? The Dems are toast. The country isn't a bunch of progressive journalists who sometimes show up on MSNBC. They don't want what you're selling. Obama is lost in the woods and you can play pretend all you want but it won't change the outcome of the election in November. "Lose some seats"...they will lose control of Congress. This is the age of the internet Peter. Obama got his 15 minutes.
FarLeftFist
So which 3rd party candidate are you rooting for, b/c if you say republican you should be ashamed of yourself. The republicans in congress are polling at a 16% approval rating, but they have all the answers right? Riiiiight.
The Dems will lose seats but keep their majority, that's the way mid-term elections historically go so put your hard-on away, nothing lasts forever.
johnwr3
"That's the way mid-terms go"...I love Dems. So it's January and you've already conceded Failure in the mid-terms. That's Dems are such hopeless leaders. You watch some political show that says the incumbent party "always" loses seats to the opposition party. Great, thanks please go tell all your liberal friends. Scott Brown is a republican, Mr. Fistacup. Since I wrote my comment this morning Biden Jr. has dropped out of the senate race for his daddy's seat. So that's another one gone to the GOP. Mark Kirk is going to win in Illinois so that's both Obama and Biden's seats going to the GOP and I'm just getting started. Congress always has crappy approval ratings but when it comes down to it the country trusts the GOP more on security and economic issues. Obama has wasted his first year and his second will show liberals how much the country thinks about wasting an opportunity. "The Presidency is a terrible thing to waste".
Maezeppa
LOL. No, they're not. Republicans are toast.
Promethius
FarLeftFist - You are correct, sort of; capitalism collapse under the heavy boot of a command economy. In other words the free market could not support the weight of OPRESSIVE GOVERNMENT!
Nevertheless, it is capitalism that is rebuilding our economy, despite the policies of Obama and the Democrat, which continue to be a millstone around the neck of businesses.
I said you were right, but you are actually wrong. If capitalism, that is free market capitalism is allowed freedom, then it will flourish, expand and create jobs and wealth that we all can access. However, you lefties keep applying the same tired socialism that has failed everywhere it has been tried.
They say that the definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over again, and expecting different results. Therefore, progressivism equals insanity!!!
Try being informed instead of just opinionated.
newswoman
Socialism of one form or another in Europe isn't bad at all. Holland, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, etc are pretty nice places to live, in the words of Americans who have lived and worked in these countries. They NEVER have to worry about healthcare, for one, and that is so important as we are beginning to realize. (Democrats, that is). These angry Tea Partiers obviously have not been caught up in the healthcare mess. I know of a couple, the man had a stroke, who lost half their IRA to pay for his care. They are retired and will need the rest of their IRA to live on and it may not be adequate. But Reps don't care about these people, they just assume they are lazy loafers who want government handouts. This kind of thing doesn't happen in the socialist countries of Europe. Americans still think unbridled capitalism is the answer even tho' it hasn't helped the middleclass or the poor, but has enriched the upperclasses.
Hairball
Capitalism didn't fail because we haven't had capitalism for going on 100 years. The life support you speak of is more like injecting the disease directly into the blood stream. If we don't stop the so called stimulus spending it will inevitably be the demise of the dollar.
The spending "fix" is temporary. Of course it will help certain areas short term but ultimately it will prolong a real recovery and possibly prevent one from happening at all.
However I don't think this is a party issue. Both parties practice the same monetary policy and both parties believe in the power of government. They just use it differently and in my opinion they both abuse it.
Joanne38
FarLeftFist, no he hasn't put this country on life support, but he has convinced those who don't know any better that he did. All that talk was about was an excuse and a form of talking points because he failed. What else could he say? He hasn't created any jobs, but he has lost many during this one year that will never return. He knows that. He has got to tell his followers something to buy him more time. How far are you people willing to let him go before you open your eyes? Will you continue believing him all the way over the cliff when it is too late? If you don't see through his lies by now, you won't ever. He is a crook and you people continue to give him cover. That is horrible for all of us. You have the proof of what waste he has been doing with future tax dollars and you still think he is the Messiah. That is astonishing! Republicans have their faults also, but they didn't eat your lunch. Your friends in politics did.
crypto
Joanne38/Hairball/Promethius: It's good to hear from folks to have some sense and guts to express it. The upcoming State of the Union address will tell it all. Obama will spend great amounts of time telling the "american people" how well things are going in spite of the mess he had to undertake. He will have Pelosi jump to her feet and applaud every statement he makes. And he will tell us about the great numbers of jobs he "saved" with the stimulus package. He will talk a litte about the "fight" he has before him and how he will keep his promise inspite of opposition against him. The left side of the isle will applaud him as directed by Pelosi and they will pat each other on the back for a job well done. To sum it up: another bs package coming our way. Appreciate you guys speaking out.
dxgmmpa
FarLeftHead...
I think you got it wrong. It has nothing to do with capitalism being replaced with socialism or whatever brand of progressive government you believe in.
This is about the democrat party cleaning house of the people in moderate districts to try to keep power. This is a good thing. In the end this will cause the democrat party to purge the progressive elements from their party and move it in closer alignment with the mainstream of the principals of American people.
By the same token the Republican party is doing the same thing. They must clearly articulate the principals for which they stand. They must purge their party of their own progressives that caused them to lose their way. These are the republicans that led party off the cliff in 2004.
Whether it is like the democrats "tax and spend-spend folks" or like the republicans "progressive spend-spend bodies" neither one will fly in the current political environment as recent elections and polls have shown.
The is not about democrats or republicans winning. No person and likewise no government should SPEND more than it PRODUCES. This is a battle for the hearts of the American people. The America people have had enough of this Congressional bull shit. They want a new congress and want ALL SPENDING there to stop now. They want a government that will create an environment for businesses and GDP to grow and jobs return.
By definition governments never create any permanent jobs because they do not produce anything. Big government just creates a giant sucking sound that consumes everything that an economy produces until no one has anything regardless of the form of government or party in power.
dana64
well said.....................PETER may the GODS hear you.
I really think it all depends on the way the supporters will react and analyze the situation.
IF they BLAME the OBAMA team.................it would be fatal.
I AM FIRED UP in my support............because i am truly afraid ney TERRIFIED of the coming back of the GOP repressive come-back
HEY wake up PROGRESSIVEs .........do not be perfectionist.
Natural-Selection
The picture of those three all together equals dispair for the good old USA and grand opportunity for our enemies....nice work, voters!!
DakLak
Maybe the loss will serve as a spur to regain control of the Obama agenda and put the No! Republican Party where it should be.
Parker1227
Spin, spin, spin. Blame it on the republicans. Yada, yada, strawman, yada.
But republicans didn't force Obama, Pelosi and Reid to play grotesque political games with health care and bailouts.
Special treatment for all of Obama's friends (unions and government employees) while everyone else is asked to pick up a huge new tab "for the greater good"?
And then exempt 3 or 4 states from new tax burdens just to make sure to pi$$ off everybody else (except a few leftist ideologues).
And they do it all Chicago style - with zero openness and transparency?
Well, the independent voters who gave Obama his chance at the helm are having serious cold feet. This is not the kind of change they believe in. You don't play these kind of political games with far-reaching national legislation that is going to change all of our lives.
So keep attacking republicans guys. Ignore the independents and their completely reasonable questions and demands.
See what happens.
DakLak
Health care hasn't passed yet, so all your predictions, etc are just No! Party hot air.
anna1960
"By passing Social Security and Medicare, Democrats proved that government could tangibly improve people's lives, which increased trust in government, and helped the party of government-the Democrats-win election after election. Another successful expansion of the welfare state could have a similarly profound effect in the decades to come. Conversely, if Democrats fail, it will just validate the Republican argument that government can't improve people's lives-and in that environment, the party of government will usually lose."
I can't believe that you can write this with a straight face! Social security and Medicare were NEVER intended to be the huge social welfare programs that they are today. The Democrats have expanded them exponentially over the years, and this country is DROWNING in debt because of them. Both are going to be running in the red withing 10 years, with no possible way to keep them afloat without massive tax increases or program cuts. Name ONE government program that isn't running in the red - that actually supports itself the way it was supposed to do when enacted. JUST ONE.
So, yeah, let's go ahead and enact ANOTHER massive government program that will never pay for itself.
Republicans are NOT opposed to safety nets for people who truly need them, and Republicans have already been proven right. BIG GOVERNMENT DOES NOT WORK.
This country was never intended to be a cradle to grave nanny state, but you have made it very clear that Democrats will continue to push that concept because once people become reliant on social welfare programs, they are reliant on government and the party that continues to feed the addiction - all in order to win elections and maintain political power.
And you wonder why people don't trust government. BLEH!
hockeydog
Doggone Anna, thanks for the reminder. George W. Bush tried to save our Social Security by allowing it to be privatized. But, since that one failed, mostly due to the Democrats' lobbyist-shrunken integrity, but integrity nonetheless, your boy Hank Paulson found another unique way to funnel our tax dollars to his buddies at Goldman.
Don't forget that Hank threatened Congress with the imposition of martial law if they did not fold any opposition. It is probably just a coincidence that Hank's successor, Mr. Blankfein is now lining his and his cronies pockets with that wealth.
Incidentally, that wealth was ours at one time, whether it was called Social Security, Medicare, or what have you. But that was then, and this is now.
Now, we have a President, who inherited a desperate situation, and despite the inherent dirt of politics, has done an admirable job of trying to fix things.
That our intransigent Senate is corrupt on both sides of the aisle, combined with our fascist-leaning Supreme Court, does not bode well for the future.
I really don't think that even if Mr. Obama were to transform himself into Superman, our faith in government can be restored.
But, at least the man is trying!
Redstateblue
I've had a theory that the 'health care reform' concept was simply a way to get Medicare reform. Medicare is the runaway freight train and the solutions are (1) raise payroll taxes or (2) reduce benefits. No one inside the Beltway would accept either alternative so they decided to hide their plans inside a larger, wider bill that affected all of us. No one had even heard of the Town Hall meetings and when the Medicare recipients showed up and shouted "I don't want the government involved in my healthcare" (note the irony there) it became impossible to have any discussion.
So Medicare is gaining speed as it races to the cliff, payroll tax receipts are shrinking due to increased unemployment and we sit back and fiddle.
Where is the plan to get us off the train?
subframer
Jesus this kid is an idiot. Obama is arrogantly disregarding the will of the electorate. He is pandering to the 22% that identify as liberal, and turning his back on the broad base of independents that responded to his bait and switch message of pragmatism and post-partisanship. Writers like Beinart are essentially shills of the state (see also EJ Dionne), and their refusal to identify the facts on Obama's duplicity re the electorate stink to high hell. Hey Peter, take a break, chief. A long one....
escomments
It's almost like the plagues on Egypt.
Moses kept telling Pharaoh to "Let My People Go". (Release the people from Government Tyranny). Pharaoh would say "No, They are Mine." (No, It's for their own good. They will see the wisdom of our Liberal Policies in time.")
God unleashed a Hail storm of Fire on Egypt. (Virginia Governor race).
Still Pharaoh said "No, We will make deals with our reluctant moderate politicians with the peoples money to get our Health Care Plan Passed." "The people will see the wisdom of our Liberal policies in time."
God turned the water of the Nile to Blood! (New Jersey Governor race.)
Still Pharaoh's Heart Hardened as he said "No, They will see the Wisdom of our Liberal policies in time"
God unleashed the Angel of Death on Egypt. (Scott Brown Wins the Massachusetts Kennedy Senate Seat by running against Health Care Reform and running against treating terrorists as common criminals)
Pharaoh's Heart is like stone! The Massachusetts Senate race was not a referendum on Obama's policies. If they had only a better Candidate and a better understood message that the common "Joe Six Pack" citizen could better understand. If we only fought harder for Health Care Reform and Cap and Trade. They just need to know how all of our policies will make their lives better, then they will unquestionably vote Democrat and we will win the day.
I can't wait for the Liberals to get swallowed by the Red Sea!
mcasio
I agree with what you wrote here. The similarities are uncanny. I was just thinking the other day how much like the Pharaoh and Egyptian Obama and the democrats are. If they would only cut us free from government tyranny (excepting, of course, the tyranny that makes us safer like torture and domestic spying, and the tyranny which allows the government into our bedrooms to make us more pure) then we would be so much better off.
And how did I miss the similarities between the New Jersey Gov. race and God turning the waters of a river into blood. It seems obvious now, but at the time I guess I just didn't connect the dots (I mean we all know about Jersey's pollution problems, this one was a no-brainer).
Really spot-on stuff here, great work. Now you need to bring this message off the boards and to the people. Take to the streets! Show everyone the truth! Let your wisdom free us from the oppressive shackles that bind us.
You have my unwavering support.
kognyc
"I can't wait for the Liberals to get swallowed by the Red Sea"
Hmmm......
He that hates dissembles with his lips, but lays up deceit within him.
PDenoli
Hey, I would love to say "Government can work" but after 30 years of direct exposure, I haven't seen a single situation where Government was a force for good. Hell, even our Firefighters are volunteers. Government is good for Government employees, not real people.
crypto
And they ALL said "AMEN".
newswoman
You obviously aren't on Medicare or Soc. Security or using the VA services. We thank God for the government services everyday or we would be bankrupt from medical problems. (P. Denoli) Why don't you Reps care about people?
OldCrow
Social Security and Medicare are rapidly going bankrupt. These programs had good intentions, but the government can never make large social welfare programs work.
The net worth of the private sector declined by 20% over the past two years while the size of government increased. We need massive, yes massive cuts to the federal, state, and county budgets - on the order of 30-40%. We cannot afford our current government.
The current health care legislation does not reduce costs or improve service - it hands over more taxpayer money to Big Pharma and the insurance companies. Fix health care by tort reform and letting folks buy health insurance across state lines. Let individuals deduct 100% of their health insurance costs from their income taxes.
Less government.
Lower taxes
kurtmudgeon
Did President Reagan improve the lives of most Americans?
Did LBJ improve the lives of inner-city families? When, if ever do these urban legends ever end? What's that? Never. Dang.
Ozone69
President Obama is a great speaker. He inspires and encourages. He ran an amazing campaign but the campaign is over. He must now lead. He lost credibility when he broke his promise to have the health Care legislation broadcast on C-Span. His stimulus bill was loaded with pork that will do nothing to stimulate the economy. he needs to get rid of tax cheat Geithner, clueless Napolitano and Panetta, and AG Holder who thinks it't a great idea to hold the 9/11 terror trials in NYC IN CIVILLIAN COURT!
robjh1
No Mr. President despair. You squandered your first year.
"and we are not saved..."
dalelama
It is not true that Conservatives believe that government can't work but rather that Federal government works best when it's duties are limited to those prescribed in the Constitution. Amazingly the things government does best are those outlined in the Constitution, i.e. national defense, law enforcement, and regulating disputes between the states. Health care reform works in Massachusetts because the citizens of Massachusetts wanted it and established a state plan. Social Security has been a failure as contributors in it would have been better off putting their money in the private markets and SS is headed to bankruptcy. Medicare has been a failure as it combined with Medicaid have been the root cause of spiraling health care costs and are also headed to bankruptcy. The Fed"s War on Poverty has been a failure as trillions have been spent on it yet the poverty level is no better today than it was in the 60's. The problem with Federal government solutions is that the temptations for a majority to shake down a minority to bribe others to support them is too strong. Our Founding Fathers' foresaw this and established a Republic that limited Federal power. That way states run by Socialists and their comrades in unions can have their Leftist utopia and run it into the ground (see New York, California, Illinois, and Michigan) while I can escape the tyranny of their idiocy by living in Texas. What most conservatives actually want is to have the government run based on Constitutional principles not the principles of Chicago style mafioso who shake down the productive public to fund their non-productive "families". Just stick to the Constitution, is there any doubt that the wisdom of the Founding Fathers exceeds that of the recent leaders of both political parties ? And if you don't feel the Constitution is working then amend it.
Promethius
dalelama - Here, Here!!! Right on the Money!!! Very well said!!! Unfortunately, we don't have a sledge hammer to pound this through the thick skulls of the lefties. You have summerized proper roll of government under our Constitution, yet it is like a foreign language to progressives.
Now they will call you stupid, call you names, obfuscate, and change the subject. But they will not address your very well stated points. They cannot, because their beliefs in central planning of economies, society and governance have been tried time and time again, and they have failed.
dalelama
The surest way to defeat a liberal is use facts.
newswoman
The Constitution is a great document and has served us well over the centuries. But the writers never imagined how this country would grow and what problems would accrue. We may have to update the document to make it applie to today!
I know, I know, you Reps think it is like the Bible, and must not be changed.
wowjustwow
Sounds good, except that Republicans (the conservative party) don't follow the Constitution either. Like waging war without declaring it. Like destroying all but one right of the bill of rights with warrant-less wiretapping, the elimination of habeous corpus (you know the right to question your imprisonment in court) which if you can be denied that, you essentially won't have the right to anything else in bill of rights.
Last time I checked, New York was in trouble because those big, deregulated profits of Wall St. weren't filling the states coffers at the levels they were used to due to the crash created by those same big banks.
Of course, now the banks are having record profits with the bailout that Bush gave them. What was it Paulson said? Give me 700 billion dollars now or else and I'm not going to tell you what it's for? Ah, transparency!
And oh how wonderful it would have been to have all our social security funds in private brokerage accounts so that every senior receiving ss benefits would get to see their savings cut in half in a day! Many to never recover is even better. I guess it would have been worth it to pay all those transaction fees to the banks that held those private accounts. Of course, that would be better than watching every congress and president, democrat or republican use the social security funding to make the budget deficit look better.
If only those silly lefties who tax and spend would just go away so conservatives could borrow and spend and create the biggest deficits the world has ever seen! Cause, you know, as Mr. Cheney said "Deficits don't matter." Especially when you cook the books by keeping a trillion dollar war off the budget and expand medicare prescription drug benefits and create education mandates and don't fund either of them.
And we can't forget health care either, wouldn't want those 45,000 people who die each year to get health insurance. And, fiscal conservatives went and made it impossible to declare bankruptcy due to medical expense so those wonderful banks who screwed us all would be sure to get as much money back as possible before they died, too!
Yeah, if only the conservatives ran the country we'd be so much better because Jesus wants you to be rich! Which makes it even harder to understand why poll after poll keeps showing that Americans still hate the republicans more than the democrats and still like Obama more than congress.
I just don't get it.
crypto
Okay wowjustwow, lemme explain it to you. This coming November when you vote use your head, not your heart. Throw the bums out. All of 'em. When they, the politicians, understand that WE CAN do something about them, then and only then, will anything change. I've been a jackass, and an elephant. Now I intend to vote based on what I see, not what I hear or have been promised.
clearthinker
yeah, it's pretty clear you don't get it. Earlier you mentioned how we are all going to be owned by corporations because of the supreme court decision and you mention Exxon and United Healthcare. What about Starbucks or Microsoft or Apple? How about George Soros? These are huge liberal organizations and have lots of money, but I don't hear you or any liberal attacking them.
In this post, you attack Bush (surprise, surprise). Can you have a legitimate defense of Obama and his failure as a president without somehow blaming Bush for it?
The difference between Bush and Obama's destruction of the constitution is that Bush did it to protect us from terrorists and Obama does it to protect the terrorists from us.
Promethius
wowjustwow - First of all I guess it depends on which polls you look at. The poll they just had in Mass. definately went to the Republican Brown. Look for more of these sane "poll" results next fall. HeHeHe!
Next, let me ask you a question: When one attacks Obama and the Democrats as the far left, anti-Constitutional, anti-American, fifth column, enemy within, that they are; why do people automaticly assume that we are supporters of the Republican party, or of George W. Bush?
The Republicans will pick up a lot of seat, as the much lesser of two evils. There were actions of the Bush's administration, which would lead me to support impeachment and removal of George Bush. However, give our current despot, I'd welcome Bush back in a heartbeat!!!
dbro0009
wow dalelama, did you take an intro to con law class recently? i'm soo impressed
you speak as though you know so much about the founders.
let me fill you in on somethings you don't seem to be firmiliar with. they were not united in agreement on this idealistic world you are drawing in your comment where the fed is limited and the states decide on most issues.
they all disagreed on many levels. for a simple example, (since you seem to thrive on simplicity) jefferson was all for state's rights as hamilton was for a strong fed and an energetic executive. the rivarly between hamiltonian federalists and the democratic republicans nearly destroyed our fledgling federation.
this discussion of the founding fathers and our government that you have attempted to simplify and generalize obviously goes beyond your own knowledge.
you want facts? then take more than just an intro class buddy
newswoman
Medicare and Soc. Sec can be fixed by raising the rate of taxation. I know those words are anathema to Reps, but it can be done.
grabowcp
Clinton was popular because of school uniforms and the V chip? You've got to be kidding me. Clinton spent his second term slashing welfare, cutting the capital gains tax and deregulating the finance and telecom sectors. If Democrats want to pursue that agenda, I say be my guest.
dalelama
Actually all the good things Clinton "did" were only accomplished after a conservative Congress forced them down his throat. He blocked welfare reform twice before Conservatives and the public made him see the light.
flyoverland
Anybody who thinks being a watered down Secretary of State will stop Hillary from a primary gambit is fooling themselves. I'll be her minions meet daily on the subject. I've never heard so many Republicans say, "I wish it had been Hillary."
Aslanleon
I remember conversations with Republican party activists in 1996. We called the Clinton platform the Kinko platform, because he had basically copied the Republican platform of 1992. He ran as a Republican and governed as a Republican, with occasional spasms of left wing rhetoric to appease his very disappointed base. That's Obama's best bet to win another election. Govern as a Republican and make liberal noises every once in a while.
daveinboise
I agree. But maybe do a better job than Pres Clinton with some of the more important stuff.
JeffreyinLA
I think you're right about this. Bill was at his "best" when he was walking the GOP line -- passing terrible legislation that removed the barrier between banks and investment houses set the stage for the financial collapse. It was Bill who sucked up to the GOP with the Defense of Marriage Act and Don't Ask/Don't Tell. It will take a generation to recover from the damage that one Democrat and one Republican.
Aslanleon
Wrong, Jeffrey. Those are the things he got right and that made him popular and gave us the great economy we had. Welfare reform and restraint in government spending is what kept him in office.
SimmertimeinVA
Clinton finally realized what works for a capitalistic society. Wakeup and smell success instead of trying to bring everyone down to the lowest common denominator. Those politicies are what started the economic downturn in the first place.
mudbrick
Bienart has a great crystal ball.What does it say about global warming and same sex marriage?
newswoman
Mud, it says that global warming is REAL and same sex marriage should be approved. Get your head out of the sand and see life as it is, not how you wish it would be. The glaciers are melting in the Alps, Himalayas, Greenland, Alaska at a rapid rate, and the ice shelf in the Antartic is also melting. The seas temperatures are rising, which will affect the migration of fish, for instance, and the polar bears are in trouble because of fewer ice floes which they need to get food from the sea. What about that don't you understand???? Try getting info on the subject and learn something.
RealSolutions
Rather than throwing out the typical slogans that always seem to bury honest discussion and has folks from both sides of the issue arguing further and further from reality, lets start with reality.
#1 Our Seniors do require Medicare. As much as the folks on the right will scream it's an ENTITLEMENT program that should never have been enacted, the reality is without it we wouldn't have death panels, but death homes instead of nursing homes. Just keep your mouth shut you old fart and die. Sorry you didn't make $500, 000 a year and can't afford medical help, hey the markets work. Please
It's the same with Social Security, sure it's going broke in great thanks to W spending well over a billion of it in the two wars to take care of their defense contractor friends. Although W did propose a solution, lets privatize it. It'll be exciting for all of us and we can all make bundles as we all know the markets always work. Another great solution that would have saved social security as we know it now, but all our cash would have been further skimmed of the top to our friendly bankers would have the money and we'd have worthless paper with their logos printed on them.
Folks on the right don't want government is like saying you don't want fire. Guess what folks there will be fires and your home will be rescued (hopefully) by your local fire dept. which is government. You friendly right never stops the fire dept in their tracks and let the market work (flames burning down your house) and their only solution is to throw barbs at the left for funding a fire dept. Still waiting for any type of solutions on any issue other than trying to dismantle any things that actually has a cost to it. We as a people need each other to build numerous infrastructure from social programs to roads, bridges and our military. Are their problems with the institutions that build them? Yes! But we are a lot better off than having Haliburton or Blackwater operate them for profit. If you really want to take a look at what our country would be like if the right had full control just examine the wonders that these two companies have brought to us. They are the rights vision of our potential.
dalelama
As one who is ignorant of the Constitution and its delineation of powers and the role of the Federal government it is convenient to mingle the functions of local and federal government. Police and fire brigades are primarily provided by local governments and hence more effective. Education, for example, has seen a steady decline in quality in direct proportion to the degree of involvement of the federal government. No conservative has a problem with the Federal government providing for the common defense as that role is assigned to it in the Constitution. Social programs are not infrastructure because they do not help anyone. Trillions have been spent to reduce poverty without any success as the poverty level is exactly where it was when they started. The problem with your philosophy is you eventually run out of other Peoples money in an attempt to purchase votes for failed programs. Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security all broke because the Left cannot resist the urge to steal from the productive to purchase voted to retain their benefits and perks. Thank God Americans are waking up to your socialist Ponzi Scheme.
RealSolutions
Sorry Dalelama, You and your party are the ones that have bankrupt all the social programs with underfunding and spending current surplus as I mentioned above with Bush's assault of the SS monies. You folks live in a delusional world that Big Business is somehow in a better position or will somehow solve our challenges with profits. You stand behind great slogans that get most of your brainless puppets excited and simply do nothing to move this country in a positive direction. Keep on believing that the monies to help poverty have not helped. Just throw on old Fox I'm sure they'll explain this theory and a fair and balanced way. While your on there you might even notice we have new president. He's not white, he's didn't grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth. Somehow he and his kind escaped the throws of poverty and he's actually fighting for middle Americans. Not the tax breaks to the rich and new schemes to make our country a religious wasteland.
xiaobo
Before you lefties spend even more, I hope you go to China or Japan, kowtow to them, and ask them to lend us money first. When you say government should spend more, it means spending more of my money instead of yours. How much tax you pay, moron ?
RealSolutions
Open your eyes the spending occurs on both sides of the isle. The only difference is that the rich and War interests reap all the benefits with the Repubs in power. Would I like my taxes lowered of course, unfortunately, for the next decade our tax rates will remain high as we try to pay off the useless Wars and underfunding by the repubs for anything that might help the middle class.
Frogwart
Your persuassion went mute when you pointed the finger at Bush. he was like any other president limited to what he can do. It is always a combined effort by the 3 branches of government. Therfore no one man can have ultimate rule. If we cannot elect public officials who get the job done, what can we expect? They are sworn toup hold the Constitution but they don't do they. When one breajs the rules you point at him yet the next one just capitalizes on the broke rule. Why don't you complain about that? Nothing about our government is going to get better..get a grip and accept the real truth. There is no solution. The only way there can be a solution is when a real problem can be defined.
lel2007
I'm sure Arkansas can find another democrat coke-head to fill Marion Berry's spot.
wareagle82
not the same Marion Berry. Come on, do a little research.
newswoman
You goyt the wrong Marion Berry. The coke head was mayor of Wash., D.C.
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