“ That's a bunch of garbage,” Graham said. “That's a complete bunch of garbage.” This quote from Republican Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina on the report that came out from his own party that was investigating Benghazi found nothing much to fault the administration's handling of the incident. This is a symptom of ignoring facts, and sticking with conspiracies theories that fit into his warped sense of reality. Senator Graham is not alone in this thinking. Fox News; Limbaugh, Will, Gingrich, and assorted right-wing wing-nuts fit into this category. They choose not to believe anything that doesn't fit into their perception of what is right and wrong.
This phenomenon isn't anything new. You can find instances of this throughout history.
In President Kennedy's time a congressman from Texas denounced President Kennedy on the house floor for assuming “almost unlimited power” and using “dictatorial tactics.” The right-wing also said that Kennedy's use of executive orders that by-pass Congress would transform our Republic into a dictatorship.
When the Affordable Care Act was proposed you heard about all kinds of things that could happen, including death panels. When Medicare was proposed the same term was used, of course that never happened, but it doesn't stop the right-wing of doing it again.
Ronald Reagan, and Barry Goldwater two of the icons of right-wing thinking had this to say about Medicare.
Ronald Reagan: “If you don't [stop Medicare] and I don't do it, one of these days you and I are going to spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was like in America when men were free.” 1961
Barry Goldwater: “Having given our pensioners their medical care in kind, why not food baskets, why not public housing accommodations, why not vacation resorts, why not a ration of cigarettes for those who smoke and of beer for those who drink.”
It's obvious that these two dove off the shallow end of the pool once to often and hit their heads. If these two guys and the other people who were against medicare or the
Affordable Care Act had legitimate arguments against them they sure didn't show up in the absurd comments made then and today. None of the things these people have
said has come true or has caused us as a country to suffer. All it has done is make life easier and better for the elderly.
I used Benghazi and Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act as examples. There are many more things that have been said by these people that are out of touch with reality. I think this quote by former Senator, Vice-President of the United States Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota sums them up nicely.
Whole communities “can be afflicted with emotional instability, frustrations, and irrational behavior. That emotional instability that affects a significant but small minority in our midst that some call extreme right. They still see the world in total black and white they are still substituting dogma for creative thought. They are angry, fearful, deeply and fundamentally disturbed by the world around them”
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
MINNESOTA WISCONSON COMPARISON
“Minnesota is ranked the second-most liberal state in the union a study by The Hill concluded. How is that working for us? By contrast, Wisconsin seems to get it right for the most part.”
That is an excerpt from “letters to the editor” from the local newspaper. I can't figure out how anyone could actually say that with a straight face. If you pay any attention to the facts, you would see that Minnesota's unemployment rate is almost a point and half better than Wisconsin's. Job creation is much better in Minnesota. Wisconsin is trailing in jobs recovered after the recession. Since this was suppose to be Walker's strong point, I guess you really have to hide your head in the sand to not see that. The budget's are like night and day. Wisconsin has at least a projected 1.8 billion dollar deficit. I think it actually is going to be worse than that. The state is floating increases in transportation taxes do to a huge shortfall there. Minnesota has a 1.2 billion dollar surplus which is being used to lower taxes on individuals and small business.
I am sure most of us have had the same experience with relatives and friends that send you emails that make fun of or state untrue facts about Democrats, a lot of them have so much misinformation in them it's ridiculous. I have many times debunked the email with actual facts and send it back to the sender. They actually get upset with me for doing that. The thing is it doesn't deter them, they just keep sending me made up stuff. These people are not stupid, so what is it?
The question that needs to be asked and answered is how can Democrats get through to these kind of people. It's obvious that people who spout this kind of misinformation have no idea of what's actually happening in the world, but they also have no intention of finding out. Is it all ideology, or just a strong hatred for liberals?
That is an excerpt from “letters to the editor” from the local newspaper. I can't figure out how anyone could actually say that with a straight face. If you pay any attention to the facts, you would see that Minnesota's unemployment rate is almost a point and half better than Wisconsin's. Job creation is much better in Minnesota. Wisconsin is trailing in jobs recovered after the recession. Since this was suppose to be Walker's strong point, I guess you really have to hide your head in the sand to not see that. The budget's are like night and day. Wisconsin has at least a projected 1.8 billion dollar deficit. I think it actually is going to be worse than that. The state is floating increases in transportation taxes do to a huge shortfall there. Minnesota has a 1.2 billion dollar surplus which is being used to lower taxes on individuals and small business.
I am sure most of us have had the same experience with relatives and friends that send you emails that make fun of or state untrue facts about Democrats, a lot of them have so much misinformation in them it's ridiculous. I have many times debunked the email with actual facts and send it back to the sender. They actually get upset with me for doing that. The thing is it doesn't deter them, they just keep sending me made up stuff. These people are not stupid, so what is it?
The question that needs to be asked and answered is how can Democrats get through to these kind of people. It's obvious that people who spout this kind of misinformation have no idea of what's actually happening in the world, but they also have no intention of finding out. Is it all ideology, or just a strong hatred for liberals?
Sunday, November 30, 2014
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES PRODUCE NOTHING
Ray Merrick a Kansas legislator and a “Legislator of the Year” according to the American Legislative Exchange Council ( ALEC). He was addressing the disaster that they call the Kansas budget. His answer was to cut some more. He stated that “Government employees produce nothing.” That means the public employee's in Kansas can expect to bare the brunt of the next round of cuts. I hope Merrick is not a product of the public school system, because it's obvious he's an idiot. He doesn't seem to understand that he is a Government employee. If he wants to help out Kansas he should resign his job and go into chicken farming, of course, that may be a stretch, because the chickens might out -smart him on a regular basis.
I was at the Minnesota State Capitol a few years ago after the Republicans had taken control of the capitol. I was in a meeting with some legislators when a women walked in and tried to take control. She stated that public employee jobs weren't real jobs and seen no use for them. It just so happened that there were several public employee's in the group, one was a prison guard who spoke up and said if his job wasn't real then he wanted to know who the people were that were threatening him everyday. This women got up and left the meeting without answering any questions. It came to light later that she thought she was in a meeting with her supporters. The point is these people care nothing about people that can't push there careers forward, or offer them some incentive. If this country is not careful were going to go back to bread lines and huge unemployment, because the Republican's have every intention of gutting all safety net programs.
I was at the Minnesota State Capitol a few years ago after the Republicans had taken control of the capitol. I was in a meeting with some legislators when a women walked in and tried to take control. She stated that public employee jobs weren't real jobs and seen no use for them. It just so happened that there were several public employee's in the group, one was a prison guard who spoke up and said if his job wasn't real then he wanted to know who the people were that were threatening him everyday. This women got up and left the meeting without answering any questions. It came to light later that she thought she was in a meeting with her supporters. The point is these people care nothing about people that can't push there careers forward, or offer them some incentive. If this country is not careful were going to go back to bread lines and huge unemployment, because the Republican's have every intention of gutting all safety net programs.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
ELIZABETH WARREN FOR PRESIDENT, I DON'T THINK SO.
I like Elizabeth Warren. I would like it if she were my Senator. That being said, this call for her to run for President is disturbing. In my opinion she is not qualified to be President at this time, maybe in the future she would be. The same goes for Senator Bernie Sanders. I voted twice for President Obama, but I would have liked someone a little more battle hardened. The Republicans have gone down the path of exclusion in recent years. Senator Warren, from the get-go would alienate many many people, and make them feel excluded. Her manner is that of college professor, she goes into the I am the teacher and you are the student mode, much to often for my likening. She would have the problem of trying to get along with Congress. When I say Congress I mean her own party in Congress.
President Obama has had the same problem, and you can see where that has gotten us.
Erica Sagrans the campaign manager for Ready for Warren says that Warren “is the kind of Democrat that the Democrats have been yearning for.” This may be true to a point. She may say all the right things, but I don't think the electorate would buy into it. The problem is, I think, she will be perceived as a egghead with no back bone when it comes to foreign policy. There was a woman Martha Coakly from Elizabeth Warren's very own liberal state of Massachusetts who lost the Governors race, and who in my opinion, Elizabeth Warren would be looked at the same way by the country as a whole. This is the same problem President Obama faces. Of course, it isn't true, but the people in this country are constantly hearing this from the media in this country. I think she would make a terrific Secretary of the Treasury. This is her strong suit, and a perfect fit.
Hillary Clinton would not be my first choice for President, but I am more amenable to her. She does have experience. She was a Senator, and a Secretary of State. I am pretty sure she could stand up to all the criticisms she would receive. She is tough, and not afraid of taking on her opponents. I do have problems with her, but I can't think of any person that I wouldn't have problems with. Bill Clinton's Presidency restored our economy and did a lot to make us a better country. Except for the NAFTA treaty I was on board with him. Hillary is her own person, but I think she actually wants what's best for this country unlike the Republicans.
The main problem with the Democrats is that they don't appeal to the whites in this country. This is a topic that most people shy away from, but it has to be addressed. I think I understand why the party doesn't appeal to whites. If you listen to the Democrats talk, what do you hear coming out of their months? They constantly talk about immigration; minimum wage, student loan reform, gun-control, and abortion. These are all good things that should be talked about, with the exception of the minimum wage none of this appeals to the white working class in this country. The working class who doesn't have a lot of time to analyze every issue hear that Democrats want to take their guns away, and raise taxes to support people who are sitting around doing nothing, and getting government checks. This isn't right, but look at the recent past. Wisconsin had huge labor issues with the Republican Governor. The national Democratic party mostly ignored them. The same goes for Ohio, and Michigan. The Democratic party is perceived by most of the working class in this country as a party of give me something for nothing. This isn't true, but the democrats have to make themselves heard about issues that mean something to them. There are Democratic politicians that do this, but on a much smaller scale. The national party should take their cues from this people.
President Obama has had the same problem, and you can see where that has gotten us.
Erica Sagrans the campaign manager for Ready for Warren says that Warren “is the kind of Democrat that the Democrats have been yearning for.” This may be true to a point. She may say all the right things, but I don't think the electorate would buy into it. The problem is, I think, she will be perceived as a egghead with no back bone when it comes to foreign policy. There was a woman Martha Coakly from Elizabeth Warren's very own liberal state of Massachusetts who lost the Governors race, and who in my opinion, Elizabeth Warren would be looked at the same way by the country as a whole. This is the same problem President Obama faces. Of course, it isn't true, but the people in this country are constantly hearing this from the media in this country. I think she would make a terrific Secretary of the Treasury. This is her strong suit, and a perfect fit.
Hillary Clinton would not be my first choice for President, but I am more amenable to her. She does have experience. She was a Senator, and a Secretary of State. I am pretty sure she could stand up to all the criticisms she would receive. She is tough, and not afraid of taking on her opponents. I do have problems with her, but I can't think of any person that I wouldn't have problems with. Bill Clinton's Presidency restored our economy and did a lot to make us a better country. Except for the NAFTA treaty I was on board with him. Hillary is her own person, but I think she actually wants what's best for this country unlike the Republicans.
The main problem with the Democrats is that they don't appeal to the whites in this country. This is a topic that most people shy away from, but it has to be addressed. I think I understand why the party doesn't appeal to whites. If you listen to the Democrats talk, what do you hear coming out of their months? They constantly talk about immigration; minimum wage, student loan reform, gun-control, and abortion. These are all good things that should be talked about, with the exception of the minimum wage none of this appeals to the white working class in this country. The working class who doesn't have a lot of time to analyze every issue hear that Democrats want to take their guns away, and raise taxes to support people who are sitting around doing nothing, and getting government checks. This isn't right, but look at the recent past. Wisconsin had huge labor issues with the Republican Governor. The national Democratic party mostly ignored them. The same goes for Ohio, and Michigan. The Democratic party is perceived by most of the working class in this country as a party of give me something for nothing. This isn't true, but the democrats have to make themselves heard about issues that mean something to them. There are Democratic politicians that do this, but on a much smaller scale. The national party should take their cues from this people.
Friday, November 21, 2014
CONSERVATIVE MEDIA?
Stanley Hubbard owns Hubbard broadcasting. He owns the station in Minneapolis KSTP-TV that aired the picture of the mayor of Minneapolis Betsy Hodges and a black individual pointing. The claim was that the mayor was making a gang sign. The station has come under fire for the story, rightfully so. What people have to understand Hubbard broadcasting is the same group that refused to air certain political ads by Democratic Congressman Rick Nolan in the recent election. They decided that there were factual errors in the ad. No other stations in the state seemed to find a problem with them. I have written before about this. In the recent episode Mr. Hubbard was asked to apologize for the story. His answer was that the people upset have “been sucked in” by the media coverage. He said he wouldn't give an on-air apology “No, of course not, that's ridiculous” Hubbard a well known conservative has decided that his opinion is the only one that matters. The conservatives in this country claim there is a liberal bias in the media, well if a liberal station,(if there are any left) did this, the outrage from the conservatives would be deafening. So far I haven't heard anything from Fox News, and I don't expect to. A side note to this story is Hubbard said that “multiple law enforcement” officials put him on to the picture and the gang signs. The Mayor and the police have a strained relationship do to the fact the Mayor said “some officers abuse the trust that is afforded to them, and take advantage of their roles to do harm rather than prevent it.”
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
SCOTT WALKER'S WARPED SENSE OF GOVERNMENT
The newly re-elected Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin has decided he wants to drug test people who get government aid. This is not a new idea, Florida tried it, and it was found unconstitutional. This won't stop Walker. He has some dubious ways of looking at laws. This idea puts his name in the national spotlight. My problem with this whole thing is that he wants to pick and choose who gets tested. He leaves out all the other people who get money from the Government, and since corporations are people now according to the Supreme Court I guess they should be tested to. The Congress who recently cut money to the food stamp program, but left in subsidies to farmers some of which went to the same disgusting politicians who voted to cut the food stamp program. They don't consider that a government handout. How about all the money that goes out to assist businesses relocate or move into an area? That is tax payer money. Public employees will have to be tested. This includes elected officials because they are public employees, even though they claim to despise public employees. Most of these government haters sell their souls to get a public employee job. In my mind they don't care about the country, but how much they can serve their real masters, and how much money they can accumulate in their time in office. Of course they also get a great pension and medical care. That is so different than the regular working people, because in their minds they deserve it because they are special. These people don't see themselves as public employee's, they see themselves as the anointed ones who are going to save us from the great unwashed hordes who threaten our way of life.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
THE POPES LONG ROAD AHEAD
The Pope has demoted the Cardinal Raymond Burke who is the highest ranking United States Cardinal at the Vatican. This Cardinal is a strict conservative, and doesn't really believe in what the Pope is trying to do, namely move the Catholic Church into the 21st century.
Let me say from the start that I am a Catholic, or at least raised a Catholic. I have an on-going discussion with a Catholic Priest in my area who is constantly comparing Democrats to Nazi's, Communists, and Socialists, he never seems to get his insults straight. When the issue of the pedophile priests come up he makes all the excuses that you hear from the church. He always says it was such a small number and he actually doesn't believe that those figures are even true. The point I try to get across to him unsuccessfully is that my problem with the church isn't the priests themselves. People make mistakes, and none of us are immune. The problem is with the cover up the church has employed, and to some degree are still perpetrating. William Donohue who was the head of the Catholic League tried to justify the abuse by saying that most of the abused were not children, but 15 or 16 years old. I guess it's alright to abuse someone when they become teenagers. This Priest found out where I lived and sent me a letter telling me I was ignorant and needed to make a good confession. I had to laugh because in his mind a good confession would make everything all right.
The Pope has a tough road ahead of him with these kind of Priests; Bishops, and Cardinals. Hopefully he will stick with it and get rid of the malcontents.
Too bad for the conservative clergy they don't have the same system as our government. They could just threaten to impeach him, because they don't agree.
Let me say from the start that I am a Catholic, or at least raised a Catholic. I have an on-going discussion with a Catholic Priest in my area who is constantly comparing Democrats to Nazi's, Communists, and Socialists, he never seems to get his insults straight. When the issue of the pedophile priests come up he makes all the excuses that you hear from the church. He always says it was such a small number and he actually doesn't believe that those figures are even true. The point I try to get across to him unsuccessfully is that my problem with the church isn't the priests themselves. People make mistakes, and none of us are immune. The problem is with the cover up the church has employed, and to some degree are still perpetrating. William Donohue who was the head of the Catholic League tried to justify the abuse by saying that most of the abused were not children, but 15 or 16 years old. I guess it's alright to abuse someone when they become teenagers. This Priest found out where I lived and sent me a letter telling me I was ignorant and needed to make a good confession. I had to laugh because in his mind a good confession would make everything all right.
The Pope has a tough road ahead of him with these kind of Priests; Bishops, and Cardinals. Hopefully he will stick with it and get rid of the malcontents.
Too bad for the conservative clergy they don't have the same system as our government. They could just threaten to impeach him, because they don't agree.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)