So, what does the GOP have to offer the American People?
I think the NY Daily News captures it:
The 21-page manifesto gathers familiar talking points for Republicans, such as cutting taxes and slashing government spending.Talking points. Those familiar sound bites that evoke flag, mom, and apple pie but often lack substance and, if they are coming from the GOP, are probably laden with misdirection, outright lies, and a high probability of "collateral damage" for most Americans.
Jon Stewart does a stunning job of pointing out that the Pledge is a rehash of what they have said before, repeatedly. There is nothing new or newsworthy in it.
Here is the line that should terrify us all:REP. PETER ROSKAM, R-IL (9/23/2010): ... rein in the Washington, D.C., red tape ...
REP. DENNIS HASTERT, R-IL (1/3/2001): ... cut Washington red tape ...
REP. JEB HENSARLING, R-TX (9/23/2010): ... act immediately to reduce spending ...
REP. NEWT GINGRICH, R-GA (6/5/1998): ... have real reforms to reduce spending ...
REP. JASON CHAFFETZ, R-UT (9/23/2010): ... change the way we do business in Washington ...
REP. JIM NUSSLE, R-IA (11/19/1994): ... change business as usual in Washington ...
REP. PETER ROSKAM, R-IL (9/23/2010): ... make the tax cuts permanent ...
REP. DICK ARMEY, R-TX (9/15/2002): ... make the existing tax cuts permanent ...
REP. BILL CASSIDY, R-LA (9/23/2010): ... health savings accounts that puts the patient firmly in control ...
REP. DENNIS HASTERT, R-IL (8/30/2004): ... health savings accounts, which will give families more control ...
REP. JEB HENSARLING, R-TX (9/23/2010): ... reduce the size of our government ...
REP. NEWT GINGRICH, R-GA (9/18/1998): ... reducing the size of government ...
REP. JOHN BOEHNER, R-OH (9/23/2010): ... a smaller ...
REP. JOHN BOEHNER, R-OH (3/3/1998): ... a smaller ...
REP. JOHN BOEHNER, R-OH (9/23/2010): ... less costly ...
REP. JOHN BOEHNER, R-OH (3/3/1998): ... less costly ...
REP. JOHN BOEHNER, R-OH (9/23/2010): ... and more accountable ...
REP. JOHN BOEHNER, R-OH (3/3/1998): ... and more accountable ...
REP. JOHN BOEHNER, R-OH (9/23/2010 AND 3/3/1998): ... government in our nation's capitol.
REP. JOHN BOEHNER, R-OH (9/23/2010): On the point we make in this preamble to our pledge, is that we are not going to be any different than what we've been.So, the folks who cater to the richest among us, who oppose supporting the working class at every turn, who have no problem with deficits on behalf of tax cuts for the wealthy or unfettered defense spending, lead us into an unnecessary and counterproductive war based on lies, resist doing anything about climate change, favor oil and coal over clean and renewable energy, choose ideology over science, and want to turn everything over to unrestricted corporate greed while beating down the middle class...
The folks who tell us that government is the problem rather than a means for meeting collective needs and challenges, then prove it by governing badly whenever they are in power...
The folks who took us into debt and war and skyrocketing economic disparity, who regularly wage class warfare against the middle class...
The folks who decry government regulation but want to regulate your private lives...
Have pledged to keep on doing the same.
Dems, Independents, and the remaining isolated rational Republicans, this should motivate us all to vote to ensure that the GOP does not take over Congress. We're not talking statistics, we are talking real lives at stake.
Speaking of lives at stake, how about their medical plan. Repeal what they call Obamacare and then reinstate the most popular parts of... Obamacare. Wow, impressive.
Rachel Maddow suggests the Dems should learn from the Rethugs here. The actual details of health insurance reform are popular and the GOP is willing to put many of them into their plan so they can take credit for it. This is announced on the same day that some of them actual became effective in the current law that they opposed so bitterly.
Meanwhile, many Dems seem afraid to tout the very good things that are going into effect.
Finally, preserving huge tax cuts for billionaires (1) will not hurt them as they will still have plenty of money, (2) will not stimulate the economy because it did not do so while the cuts were in place, and (3) will certainly remain a huge obstacle in the matter of reducing national debt.
Remember, if tax cuts lapse we go back to the tax levels of the Clinton era. Y'all DO remember that the economy did fine then, right?
--the BB
4 comments:
So what do we do, Paul? I confess that my energy for the fight is low. Our leaders in the Democratic Party seem to shrink from talking about the good things that they have accomplished. They seem to think that playing defense is a good strategy. It's quite dispiriting.
I don't have an overall strategy, though I do petition to encourage them to fight for the alleged principles and support progressive positions. I also contribute to progressive candidates directly or through ActBlue and refuse to give a penny to the party because they would waste it on Blue Dogs and compromisers.
I was at Bill's last night and he hung up on the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, to my sorrow. If I'd known who was calling I would have asked for the phone and given them an earful.
From time to time here I try to arm progressives with information so they don't have to sit by mute when someone spouts misinformation.
Paul, what you do is exactly what I once did until my energy flagged because of disappointment in the party and our reps in Congress. For conscience's sake, I'll be forced to take steps to rouse myself from torpor and get moving again. Thank you for being my conscience.
We have to take turns in the front lines. No one can do battle forever. Give yourself R&R. We have to be in this for the long haul because the bastards are and they have the corporate funding. I think the biggest challenge this year is to get out the Dem vote.
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