Post #323,407
3/24/10 6:47:24 PM
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Is the Republican party fit to govern?
http://www.frumforum.com/waterloo
IÂve been on a soapbox for months now about the harm that our overheated talk is doing to us. Yes it mobilizes supporters  but by mobilizing them with hysterical accusations and pseudo-information, overheated talk has made it impossible for representatives to represent and elected leaders to lead. The real leaders are on TV and radio, and they have very different imperatives from people in government. Talk radio thrives on confrontation and recrimination. When Rush Limbaugh said that he wanted President Obama to fail, he was intelligently explaining his own interests. What he omitted to say  but what is equally true  is that he also wants Republicans to fail. If Republicans succeed  if they govern successfully in office and negotiate attractive compromises out of office  RushÂs listeners get less angry. And if they are less angry, they listen to the radio less, and hear fewer ads for Sleepnumber beds.
So todayÂs defeat for free-market economics and Republican values is a huge win for the conservative entertainment industry. Their listeners and viewers will now be even more enraged, even more frustrated, even more disappointed in everybody except the responsibility-free talkers on television and radio. For them, itÂs mission accomplished. For the cause they purport to represent, itÂs Waterloo all right: ours.
Normally, I'd consider a statement that a conservative party let extremists set their agenda, instead of pragmatic deal making, as delusional. However, the Republican party have plain obstructed, refused to talk and gotten nothing over a bill that's mostly their idea in the first place. The idea that a party would let political commentators run it is absurd but I can't think of a better explanation. A major political can't control their own agenda any more? Can the Republican party be regarded as fit to govern?
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Matthew Greet
I'm not prejudiced. I hate everyone equally.
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Post #323,411
3/24/10 8:04:13 PM
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they are no different
they overspend in favor of their own constituents the same way the dems overspend on their constituents. Thats why nother gets heartburn if the repos run things because all of the spending is against his interests. Me I just get heartburn that they are spending at all much less spying on my ass. Pox on both their houses
If we torture the data long enough, it will confess. (Ronald Coase, Nobel Prize for Economic Sciences, 1991)
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Post #323,421
3/25/10 1:10:38 AM
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your pseudo-equivalence...
serves the GOP's purpose, and gives the lie to your "independent" stance.
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Post #323,435
3/25/10 8:52:08 AM
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hogwash
the war on terriers is expanding along with the war against the american people. On the economic front he is a bitch of the wall street dogs just like his predecessor. A health plan that I did agree with allow anyone to pay into and sign up for medicare was ignored and deals struck without public input were made with big pharm, the health insurance companies and a boatload of special interest except for one special interest, the american people so fuck the idea that they are different
If we torture the data long enough, it will confess. (Ronald Coase, Nobel Prize for Economic Sciences, 1991)
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Post #323,440
3/25/10 9:28:59 AM
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Bug vs Feature
When Obama does it, it's a bug. When Bush did it, it was a feature.
You can find some examples. During the last administration, these were daily events.
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Why, yes, I did give up something for lent. I gave up making sense.
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Post #323,476
3/25/10 9:15:53 PM
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oh, box!
You're such the manly, iconoclastic thinker! I'm simply wet with admiration!
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Post #323,490
3/26/10 8:26:51 AM
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it might be your age, try depends
If we torture the data long enough, it will confess. (Ronald Coase, Nobel Prize for Economic Sciences, 1991)
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Post #323,493
3/26/10 8:51:48 AM
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No, there is a difference
in that at least one side is honest by omission about who is going to get screwed.
I will choose a path that's clear. I will choose freewill.
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Post #323,423
3/25/10 1:37:52 AM
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Yes they are . . .
Republicans are totally gonzo INSANE. I give you this page they're
taking dead seriously over on Nick's board.
http://www.dailymail...l-states-sue.html
The Onion couldn't get near this absurd.
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Post #323,432
3/25/10 8:42:23 AM
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the daily wail, didnt the enquirer have anything?
If we torture the data long enough, it will confess. (Ronald Coase, Nobel Prize for Economic Sciences, 1991)
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Post #323,427
3/25/10 7:44:23 AM
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One teeny tiny difference (among many)
John Boehner in an update to "Yes we can" - http://www.youtube.c...e=player_embedded 1:59 video. (It's a little loud at times.)
;-)
Cheers,
Scott.
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Post #323,433
3/25/10 8:45:47 AM
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sorry I dont think I can
afford any more opportunity and prosperity :-)
If we torture the data long enough, it will confess. (Ronald Coase, Nobel Prize for Economic Sciences, 1991)
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Post #323,413
3/24/10 9:07:41 PM
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Not at the moment.
They haven't been fit to govern for a long time. They seem to regard Reagan's 8 years as a Golden Age and don't bother to think about policy any more. They only care about sound-bites and scaring their base.
But beyond that, since Obama showed up on the national political scene there seems to have been an epidemic of political stupidity, as John Cole says - http://www.balloon-j...4/gonna-backfire/
:-)
Cheers,
Scott.
(Who is not a fan of Frum. A stopped watch is right twice a day...)
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Post #323,472
3/25/10 8:59:36 PM
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mistermix at Balloon-Juice on Frum.
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