Hello, American People!

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.

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.

Here is the line that should terrify us all:

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

Deficit hystrionics

David Plouffe editorial in the WaPo:

Don't accept any lectures on spending. The GOP took us from a $236 billion surplus when President Bush took office to a $1.3 trillion deficit, with unpaid-for tax cuts for the wealthy, two wars and the Medicare prescription drug program. Republicans' fiscal irresponsibility has never been matched in our country's history. We have potent talking points on health care, honest budgeting and cuts in previously sacrosanct programs. Republicans will try to win disingenuously by running as outsiders. We must make them own their record of disastrous economic policies, exploding deficits, and a failure to even attempt to solve our health care and energy challenges.

The deficit spending practiced now is to stabilize the economy, rebuild the infrastructure, and stimulate job--and we're not burying it in "off-budget" sleight of hand. Those how raised no hue and cry when Bush drove us into debt can hardly cry "deficit" now without exposing themselves as rank hypocrites. Let's call them out on it.

--the BB

Now: The Movie!

h/t to BarbinMD

--the BB