Wednesday, May 06, 2009

The G.O.Pizza Party


Did you see it? It was beyond pathetic - it was dark comedy at its finest. Kurt Vonnegut might have written it! There they were - Eric Cantor, Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush - holding some kind of town meeting - at a pizza parlor. They made much of the fact that they were able to crowd almost fifty people into the place. Smart move. They probably realized that they would not be able to get much more than that number into an average sized auditorium. Romney was actually comparing the Republicans to the American revolutionaries of the eighteenth century. He also said that the Democrats were more like the English monarchy that ruled during that era. As he was making these incredibly stupid statements, he was sitting next to a man who was the son of one president, the brother of another - and the descendant of still another (Franklin Pierce). I think poor old Mitt's irony meter needs some adjusting.

It was yet another silly attempt to remake the image of the GOP and it didn't work. No one is buying their product anymore. It reminded me of an electronics dealer who used to operate here where I live in Goshen, NY. Well into the 1980's, years after they were rendered hopelessly obsolete, this clown was still selling 8-track tape machines - or trying to sell them anyway. I always felt sorry for the poor guy. Although I was very much involved in audio and radio production at the time, he sold absolutely nothing which suited my purposes. So out of touch was he with the times in which he lived, he eventually went out of business. Come to think of it, that is exactly what is happening at this very moment to the Republican party.

While this silly nonevent was transpiring, the life of Jack Kemp, one of America's last remaining conservative visionaries, was ebbing away. It was sad, symbolic and ironic all at the same time. Kemp, like Arlen Specter, was a right-of-center moderate who was viewed by many Republicans in the House and Senate as a Pravda-reading, Castro-loving lefty. He also understood something which every single one of his Republican colleagues could never figure out: the importance of bridging the gap that has existed in this country for centuries between blacks and whites. Jack Kemp knew that it was the single most important issue facing the American people. This morning, one less, clear thinking and decent conservative politician walks among us.

And what was the purpose of this so-called "Pizza Party" you may well ask? No one, thus far, has been able to quite figure that out. It made about as much sense as those moronic "Tea Bag Protests" of last month - just another mindless publicity stunt. They spent a great deal of time preaching the ideas of the Republican party without being able to define just what those ideas were. That has been pretty much the case with all of their public venues as of late. Whenever a relevant question has managed to cut through the spin, smoke and mirrors, their responses tend to be of the "dog ate my homework" variety - amusing to say the least. The fact is, they have no good answers to the questions we might put to them at any given time:

Us: "Now, about the economy...."

Them: "We have a plan."

Us: "Umm, right, you have a plan - got'cha. Explain your plan."

Them: "We have a plan."

Us: "And just what would your plan entail?"

Them: "We have a plan."

Us: "Wait! This plan of yours doesn't even have any numbers!"

Them: "We have a plan."

Us: "Do you even have a clue as to what you're talking about?"

Them: "We have a plan."

Us: "Do you really think you'll be able to get away with this?"

Them: "We have a plan!"

You get the idea - or lack thereof. What they are doing is tying a pair of antlers to a pig and calling it an elk. This is beyond humorous; this is screamingly funny! The Snake Oil salesman will only be able to sell his worthless nerve tonic for so long before the people catch on to the scam. When that happens he'll merely relabel the bottle to read, "CLEANING FLUID". The American people have been swallowing that worthless Right Wing Elixir for nearly thirty years and it hasn't cured their ills - in fact it has only made them sicker. Doctors Canter, Romney and Bush are desperately trying to change the bottle's label. Unfortunately for them, the people have gotten wise to the swindle and are no longer buying the product.

"Stop claiming you have 'an agenda.' It's not an agenda; it's a random collection of laws that your corporate donors paid you to pass."

Bill Maher

Not only that, you should stop claiming that you're the "party of ideas". No one believes that anymore. You don't even believe it anymore! You are the purveyors of an obsolete ideology. And while we're on the subject, will you people please cease and desist from using the name of Jesus Christ as proof of your so-called moral superiority over the rest of us? While I can never claim to be a religious scholar, my Catholic school upbringing has given me, at the very least, a remedial understanding of what Jesus was (and is) all about. When He said, "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth", I have a funny feeling He wasn't talking about Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter - or Canter, Romney and Bush. Enough already, alright?

"What we have here is a failure to communicate"

Struther Martin
from the film, Cool Hand Luke

It is not really a question of failing to communicate. After all, the patron saint of that party was called "the great communicator". The problem is the fact that for so long they were able to communicate a whole range of perfectly screwy ideas that the electorate (for reasons I'm still trying to figure out) took seriously. While the notion of a "trickle down" economy might have looked fine and dandy to many in 1980, twenty-nine years later the people are no longer swallowing the snake oil. The (Republican) party's over. The piper must be paid.

This would appear to be the end of the line for the loony right wing, and maybe even the Grand Old Party itself. The "moderate wing" will not be able to save it this time for the simple reason that the moderate wing no longer even exists! Arlen Specter and Jim Jeffords are now Democrats; Jack Kemp and Barry Goldwater are dead (And yes, they have moved so far to the extreme right, historical hindsight now views Goldwater, "Mr. Conservative", as a centrist). As someone recently remarked, "That's not a political party; that's a cult".

While I couldn't be happier over the complete destruction of what used to be known as "the party of Lincoln", my utter joy is tempered by the knowledge that one party rule can ultimately lead to disaster. Will absolute power corrupt the Democrats? Absolutely.

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
tomdegan@frontiernet.net

SUGGESTED READING:

New Rules
by Bill Maher

33 Comments:

At 1:16 PM, Blogger LCS said...

Conservative visionary? Isn't that an oxymoron?

To paraphrase a line from the blog ERV:

"Welcome to America today. Where the Democrats are Republicans and the Republicans are batshit insane."

 
At 2:36 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Tom,
Somehow, deep in my 'gut', I don't believe these snake oil salesmen are really imploding as much as it seems. They look and act like Asses, but what's new? That's not reason enough for them to disappear now...Plenty of nuts still pay attention to their ravings.
There a thousands of Rush Limbaughs, Michael Sabavages / Ann Coulters out there secretly waiting for their turn to re-group and pounce. They're staying under the radar 'for now'.
Am I paranoid...maybe, but I'm still reeling from the last 8 years of incredible crap foisted on us, that years ago I never would have believed was possible.
Maybe I'll feel better once I see Karl Rove and his cronies, arrested, tried, convicted and jailed.

 
At 3:08 PM, Blogger LCS said...

"Maybe I'll feel better once I see Karl Rove and his cronies, arrested, tried, convicted and jailed."

Wouldn't that be nice? If only we lived in that mythical world! Then again if we did live in that mythical world we would have rightfully had two terms of president Gore!

 
At 3:26 PM, Blogger charles moore said...

Hi Tom,
Yes it is funny, but it is also disturbing that they are dragging out Jeb Bush. Hasn't this country been Bush whacked enough, or are they so devoid of ideas that they can't think of anyone else?

The GOP has literally become the party of clowns; Palin, Limpballs, Coulter, Steele and then McConnell, Bonehead, I mean Boehner and Cantor falling all over one another.

Perhaps the most disturbing thing as Anonymous points out is why is Rove still free with a cushy job instead of being issues an orange suit and forced to make license plates?

 
At 3:33 PM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

Hello, Charles.

You make a good point. What the hell is the sense of using any Bush to get their message out? Is Bush positioning himself to be the nominee in 2012? Could he be that delusional (or arrogant?) Time will tell.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if they nominated Jebby in three years?

Cheers!

Tom Degan

 
At 11:47 AM, Blogger Prairie Waif said...

Pizza?I thought they were trying to position themselves as "The Party of TRUE AMERICANS."

Shouldn't they have been at a picnic in a small town park eating Hot Dogs, Potato Salad, Watermelon and Apple Pie before the baseball game?

They are so tortuously pathetic.

 
At 4:35 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love how you losers drool over the freak and the rest of the moonbats in office currently....
Tom, you goon - it's great how you post garbage on the toilet paper that I use called the boston globe..hate away all you want..the truth about freak in office will eventually come out and i'll be laughing at the liberal commies while it happens.

Harry from Mass

 
At 7:00 PM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

Hey there, Harry from Mass....

Keep those thoughts coming in, pal! We here at the editorial offices of "The Rant" appreciate a full diversity of ideas - opposing or otherwise. One of the things I enjoy more than anything is the....

Wait A Minute!LOSER? GOON?? LIBERAL COMMIE??? WHY YOU LITTLE....All the best,

Tom Degan

 
At 8:30 PM, Blogger Jefferson's Guardian said...

Harry from Mass...

Am I to interpret your message to mean you use The Boston Globe as a substitute for toilet paper? If that's true, no wonder you're in a foul mood. Perhaps if you read it before cleaning yourself, you wouldn't be so angry and accusatory toward the government that has to find sustainable fixes for all the transgressions of the last eight years -- if not the previous twenty-eight.

Harry, I'm curious. Why do you deny the reality of the truth, and refuse to release yourself from the dividing ideology that has paralyzed this nation for much too long? The objects of your anger are totally misplaced. Until you realize that the real enemy -- to ninety-five percent of Americans -- is the corporatism that has upstaged our democratic rights and values, you'll continue to bark-up-the-wrong-tree no matter which party is in power.

 
At 10:45 PM, Blogger LCS said...

Harry from Mass....

You're a pathetic loser, like all conservatives are.

 
At 12:24 AM, Anonymous John said...

Waif, Shouldn't they have been at a picnic in a small town park eating Hot Dogs, Potato Salad, Watermelon and Apple Pie before the baseball game?Better yet, they can enjoy the dogs provided through the 'national school lunch program' at an elementary. That is probably a good metaphor for the quality of various government programs in recent decades...

----------------------

Harry, are you a corporate officer of one of the federal reserve companies? If not, it is good that you can still laugh - as the joke is on you along with the rest of us.

Tom said it, Laneman said it in the first comment as did several other commentators. Nearly all of us are getting screwed by nearly all of the politicians that have graced DC over the last several years. We already know of the incredible influence the corporations have over the current (and a succession of previous) administration. How could this not be the case?

You are wasting your time arguing with those that you label 'liberal commies'. It is the fact that the government primarily represents the very wealthy - either corporate or individual. It is that relationship that is your enemy. Wake up!

You may also notice, the ownership of nearly every media outlet is through that very same group. So if you hear it on the radio - it is probably propaganda. So, point taken regarding your newspaper.

 
At 5:24 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just can't get rid of the ominous feeling that the Obama victory is just part of a Republican long term strategy, given the mess they left behind.

They know very well that the economy is beyond repair. The perfect time to quietly withdraw and let the other party take ALL the blame, creating irreperable damage to the democratic image. In my community this is already happening, more and more people spewing their hate against the current administration as if they created this mess.

Rational reasoning with them is only a temporary remedy, once they get back to the O'Reilly Limbaugh brainwashers in the evening, their attitudes reset right back to the FOX factory settings, so it feels. Just so frustrating and scary.

Obama is caught between a rock and a hard place which will give repugs plenty of ammo when the hard decisions need to be made and the message needs to be conveyed that there is no going back to the good old days.

Things are a' changing, and people don't like it.

Republicans don't need an agenda, just enough material for well timed smearing campaigns to scare people into voting for them, once again.

We the people who more than ever need to unite, think outside the box to create new kinds of sustainable communities and cooperate regardless of religion, partisaship and race will vote against our own interest, again.

That is my nightmare, please give me some argument against that scenario, I just don't sleep well right now...

regards
Gold Ranger

 
At 5:39 AM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

Gold Ranger
(Off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see)

There was an excellent piece on AlterNet this morning that I think will inspire you - much as it inspired me.

Here's a linkpeace....

Tom Degan

 
At 7:42 AM, Blogger Prairie Waif said...

Tom,
Great article on Alternet.

Now cut off your John Lennon records and get back to work damm hippieSay! I didn't know you smoked a pipe; regular or cherry tobacco? My Grandpa smoked cherry and I sure miss the smell; incense cannot ever replace the smell of good old pipe tobacco.

 
At 1:46 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's not anger from me...it's all the social issues that you liberal freaks consume your time and energy with that is the cause of the mess we are in.
The globe for now will remain a top notch toilet paper..
It's a two way street you freaks and you losers are headed down the wrong one..

Harry from Mass

 
At 2:01 PM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

Listen, Harry, I've got an idea:

Turn off FOX News and turn on Bill Moyers' Journal.

Put down that Ann Coulter book you're reading and pick up What's the Matter with Kansas by Thomas Frank. It might do you some good.

Just a thought.

All the best,

Tom Degan

 
At 2:22 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tom,

Your imaginary Q&A with these Pizza People reminded me of the Kerry/Bush debates. When asked about taxes or healthcare, Kerry would answer with clear details about how his administration would handle these matters. (Ok- I will admit he would even lose me part way through his answer with that monotone.)

When Bush was queried, his response? "We have a plan." No details, no analysis, just a very vague "plan". Americans, with their short attention spans, re-elected the "Man with a Plan" and here we are today. I hope everyone enjoyed "having a beer" with this guy, because the party is over and we are stuck with the tab.

Thanks for reminding us about how a vague "plan" can win the day if we are not more vigilant and demand real answers from our candidates.

Peace to all,

Jo from AZ

PS - Molly Ivins always said that Jeb was the Bush family favorite. I am not at all surprised he is making the rounds and getting his name out there again. Never say never, my friend.

 
At 4:15 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tom, pause the latest "Save the World/Environment" documentary by Al Gore....sorry man but no go on Ann Coulter...she doesn't do it for me..I'll stick with Mark Levin and his words..
I'll leave my lights on tonight and won't be recycling my seltzer water can while I go out in my Hummer to trash Jeneane Gerafalo on her D-Bag appearance Sommerville MA.

 
At 4:44 PM, Blogger Prairie Waif said...

This morning, just about 8:45am, CBC's news show, The Current (Radio One, was interviewing someone about their book. I didn't quite catch the name of it (pre-espresso) but will look into the website later to see if the interview has been posted.

The Geopolitics of Fear was the name or something similar. The author's contention was that while the Republicans have capitalized on Fear from Reagan on (Remember his Star Wars and it's infamous slime bag promoter, Edward Teller (sold out Robert Oppenheimer to McCarthy and clowns)? How about the Red Baiting done during Reagan's term of office? Remember the movie, Red Dawn? Fed right into the strategy of fear.

The person being interviewed stated that the USA and the Republicans had managed to sell their Bill of Fear since the Reagan Era.

One of the most interesting things he said was, "The Republicans spent decades saying that if the Government was involved, capitalism would fail and the USA Democracy would prove to be a myth." A scary thought for those who didn't want the Red scare to be realized.

Well, guess what kiddies? Under the "Politics of Fear" the system went unregulated and was left to run "free." There is a little problem with this; the entire system imploded/collapsed and took the world with it. There is nothing to fear anymore. It has already happened.

The bogeyman arrived and it was while/during the Republicans' watch. In the military, under the 11 Orders to the Sentries, the Republicans, on their watch violated the following:
3. Report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce. Gee, that revelation of a CIA classified officer is only one of those violations that come to mind *SO* easily.

4. Repeat all calls from the post more distant from the quarterdeck than my own. Gee, shouldn't we then, in a Democracy have *KNOWN* the cost of the illegal war in terms of cash, deaths and long-term medical disabilities and the care they require?

7. Talk to no one except in the line of duty. Gee, doesn't that mean Dick Cheney should not be talking USA policy with the Government of the State of Israel behind the back of the current, democratically ELECTED, government?

8. Give the alarm in case of fire or disorder. Gee, they cried "Fire!" so often with flames and guns that no one can distinguish what the Republicans stand for but what they hope people will fall for: Fear.

9. Call the Officer of the Deck in any case not covered by instructions. Gee, wasn't he reading, "My Pet Goat" at the time? And wasn't the Attorney General "grandfather" writing "instructions" along with Bybee?

11. Be especially watchful at night and, during the time for challenging, challenge all persons on or near my post, and allow no one to pass without the proper authority. Gee, didn't the Republicans bypass just about every thing the THREE branches of Government were authorized to do?

Jackson Browne sang, Running on Empty, the Republicans are still singing, Fire! Fire! louder than Sammy the Bull, and yet, they will still have to find their way out of their self-induced "Witness Protection Program" if they ever want to participate in the rebuilding of a country; the USA.

The Republicans told everyone to "Be AFRAID! Be *VERY AFRAID* of Big Government!" they neglected the sub-clause, except for the money works, we take care of those, however we want.

Well, be careful what you ask for. You asked for huge percentages of profit, dividends and "bigger, better, faster, more!" however, the ball dropped, and instead of "Happy New Year!" People HEARD THE SKY FALLING on their retirement funds, their education funds, their homes, their jobs, their futures.

What is there left to be afraid of? What can you sell for FEAR once everything has burned to the ground?

The worst has happened and you can't go any further with fear once you hit bottom.

The American populace has recognized this, voted for a change from living under a "fear-based" governance and hope to move on to a "new normal" which will include stability for the majority of United States citizens, not just those with over $250,000 in income and unknown amounts in offshore accounts.

When your enemy is trying to commit suicide, do not stand in his way. And the Republican Party and the hard Christian-Republican Right wonder why the rest of the G-20 is merely stepping over the body. . .

 
At 4:45 PM, Blogger Prairie Waif said...

Oh, Jibreel? You cannot pass as "Harry from Mass" when your use of language is so obviously yours; Moonbat!

MJ

 
At 11:05 AM, Blogger Jefferson's Guardian said...

Harry from Mass...

Thanks for responding to me. I'm still curious as to your mindset, however. You mentioned that we're ("liberal freaks" is the expression I believe you used) spending too much "time and energy" with "social issues". Please, if you don't mind, explain more thoroughly what you mean.

And, why do you feel that us "freaks" and "losers" are "headed down the wrong" street? I'm not sure I understand your position. Please, also, explain what you feel should be done to derail this economic catastrophe we all find ourselves having to endure.

I look forward to your reply...I think.

 
At 5:11 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jefferson,

A conservative believes in freedom and liberty, for low taxes, less government, traditional values (I'm open on these), and a strong national defense. That's pretty much the mission statement I would think. Let me know if any liberals these days believe in this.

It's pointless for me discuss issues. The '08 Election was the biggest disgrace in the history of our country. Not because a black man or a muslim won.... It's because of who voted. Never before in American history that so many people voted for the wrong reasons. We voted for a man who had his own agenda/vision. That's a dangerous thing...

I hate liberals because of the new guy in office. Simple as that...I'd much rather have Hillary..

Harry from Mass

 
At 6:16 PM, Anonymous John said...

It would be convenient to respond that, 'I hate idiots'. This statement however would be untrue in several ways. First I have no ill feelings toward Harry. Second, he is the victim of a massive brainwashing campaign, after all he was probably raised under the threat of nuclear annihilation by one of the two biggest terrorist regimes in history. If that is not enough to fuck with the mind of a person of any intelligence, I don't know what is...

Wake up friend, someone is telling you lies, it may be best not to repeat them.

 
At 7:09 PM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

Harry....

With all due respect (Seriously) We have now exceeded the number of a quarter of a billion people. If there is ANYTHING a quarter of a billion people need, it is governance. This is something that the right wing has never been able to understand. The idea of "shrinking the size of government" at this stage of the game is nuts!

Keep your comments coming in, Harry. You definitely stir the pot! We really need that!

All the best,

Tom Degan

 
At 7:36 PM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

NOTE TO JOHN:

Damn you! You really have got to start your own blog, pal! You're good. You are really, REALLY good!

All the best,

Tom

 
At 1:12 PM, Blogger Ellis D., Esq. said...

Conservatives believe in freedom and liberty ?? Really ?? Maybe for the rich, but not for the 95% of us who aren't rich. LIBERALS believe in LIBERTY. CONSERVATIVES believe in CONNING and Harry they sure have YOU conned. As I have said before, the first lie we are told as children is that we aren't lied to. The result is the mess we are in today :-(

 
At 4:23 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'd rather be called an idiot instead of brainwashed. So please in the future just call me names.
Brainwashed from what? and who? and please don't say from Fox, Coulter, Cheaney etc....my TV is only tuned into sports and I don't watch the news or read the newspaper...I only read some political crap once in a while.
Ellis - as an FYI that 5 % pays for the 95% who are "poor"...go find the numbers that show the 5% paying for all the waste that our gov has created (Bush included of course)...bless their hearts if they want to protect their hard earned money by hiding it...
It's so damn laughable when we group the rich with conservatives. Lets blame the "poor" a little bit who are unproductive, lazy and act as victims....lets blame my own people (Armenians) who have had a hand in the financial distruction in the state of California..they pissed on the system that's been created there in order to cater the so called unfortunate and that's our blueprint for the future...simple as that..
The people who blame the rich are the ones who are brainwashed. Go look at the Armenians in California as exhibit A...I'll single out my own people as I don't want to offend anyone....

Harry from Mass

 
At 5:55 PM, Blogger Jefferson's Guardian said...

Harry from Mass, you stated...

"my TV is only tuned into sports and I don't watch the news or read the newspaper...I only read some political crap once in a while."

I believe that's a major reason why you don't understand, or comprehend, liberalism and what it stands for. I don't feel like getting into a match of wits with you at this time, mostly because it would be impossible for you to convince me that your self-described conservatism retains more redeeming values than the liberal or progressive ideals that I grew-up with and believe whole-heartedly to this day. If there's proof that conservatism -- which does go hand-in-hand with the values of most of the wealthy and privileged in this country -- is a blight upon most of society, one only has to consider what has occurred in this country over the course of the last thirty years. Just as an example, real wages have disintegrated for the middle and working classes over this time period, just as they did during the "Long Gilded Age" as profiled by Paul Krugman in his excellent work titled The Conscience of a Liberal. During FDR's presidency, political and economic reform turned the oligarchic America of the 1920s and before, a place and time of vast inequality, bigotry, and corruption, into a far better society beginning during the postwar era. But, unfortunately, starting with the "Reagan revolution", all the advances and betterment of American society began to be dismantled and thrown-away. The result is what we're experiencing, and having to contend with, today.

Perhaps you ought to turn off the television and educate yourself. It's only through education that one liberates oneself (see, that word "liberal", that you apparently distain, has its root here) and finds the best for all of society -- not just a select few.

Good luck to you, Harry. May you someday find true enlightenment and understanding.

 
At 6:21 PM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

Aw, hell, Jeff's Guard, you took the words right out of my mouth. In fact, I was going to cut and paste that very quote!

Harry, here's my e-mail address:

tomdegan@frontiernet.net

Drop me your address, pal. I have a couple of DVDs I would like to send you. I think they might make you reconsider some of your positions. Call it a hunch, but I detect in your tone not only an essentially decent guy, but one who is open to ideas.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Tom Degan

 
At 12:10 AM, Anonymous John said...

> It's so damn laughable when we group the rich with conservatives.

...and yet this was exactly what was done - particularly by the previous administration. Bush was essentially tattooed as a conservative republican. I would argue he was neither.

> I'd rather be called an idiot instead of brainwashed.

Well, your the one making this a either or... I really have to go with brainwashed. This is nothing personal, more the the fact that all of society has been exposed to a constant barrage of media that arrives through too many conduits to count. My contention is that everybody is impacted by the oceans of opinions that are foisted upon us. More often than not, these messages are created or delivered by someone who may have something to gain by exaggeration or perhaps outright lies. At this point I'll go out on the limb with the claim that those with the most money can broadcast their message the furthest.

So, Harry brainwashed? We are all brainwashed. It started before we were born and continues to this day. Furthermore, we can't escape, merely gain understand where we can (or such is my delusion). It is like driving in the rain and fog, no matter how fast the wipers or bright the lights, you still can't see as well as you'd like.

 
At 4:59 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jefferson, FDR prolonged the Depression...simple as that. Don't give me that peace, love and bigotry crap. The endless list of policies under his watch remain embedded to this day. He brought unnecessary suffering to millions...
I'm happy that you grew up with these values, it means that you are a family guy and I think that's great. However, don't tell me to educate myself. I've paid my dues and even had many idiot professors in school feed me the garbage that you preach. Watching sports on TV is better than reading a book by some clown who is crying poor because someone makes too much money.
Reagan was the greatest president in my lifetime. His message for less gov is every liberals worst nightmare...and I supremely enjoy that!
It's been great going back and forth with you. We simply disagree and that's fine.

 
At 11:51 PM, Anonymous John said...

> Reagan was the greatest president in my lifetime.

This may well be true, although you could make the argument that Clinton was the greatest wasted potential. As for myself, I can't look at it this way. There has not been a great president in my lifetime. My hope is that one or more come along soon.

As for less government, I'll welcome this if it ever arrives... By the way, what did he mean by less? Debt, expenditures, trade deficit military budget, power of special interests or lobbyists, bullshit, truth? You might say regulation of the banking industry (although Clinton probably wins the prize here as well) - anyway we are finding out how well this works out.

 
At 10:40 AM, Blogger Bill Barras said...

What I find discouraging is that Cheney doesn’t even begin to acknowledge the many failures of his administration. You’d think someone would challenge him on not seeing 9/11 in the tea leaves, the morass in Afghanistan and the quagmire in Iraq, not to mention the tanking economy. W. is purported to admire Harry S, but Truman famously maintained the Buck stops there with him. W. and Cheney blame the lawyers, and take no more responsibilities for their disasters than would a cheerleader in a defeat at a sports event. And… by the way, is it just me, or does Cheney remind you of a fleshed-out Montgomery Burns?
Bill Barras

 

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