Posted on 11/02/2009 8:25:34 AM PST by rabscuttle385
Senator Liebermans threat to filibuster the health-care bill isnt a betrayal of the Democratic Party, says Meghan McCainits a sign of courage. And we need more of it.
BY MEGHAN MCCAIN
A few weeks ago, I gave a speech at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and one of the questions I was asked was: Aside from your father, who are your favorite senators and politicians?
Without hesitation, I said that I admire South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham and Connecticuts Joe Lieberman. Now before my fellow Republicans start panicking at my fondness for two independent, moderate, and dare I say maverick senators, let me state that its no secret I have an aversion to partisan politics and extremismon both sides of the aisle.
Recently there has been talk of a moderate bloodletting within the GOP, but I think it is very clear that this attrition is happening to both parties. And the extreme, vitriolic reaction by so many Democrats to Senator Liebermans announcement last week that he would join a Republican filibuster if a public option was included in the final health-care bill is yet another example of how this is not just a Republican problem. Everyone from Paul Begala to Stephen Colbert immediately started dogpiling on the senator. God forbid any politician from either side dares reach across party lines and refuses to placate the partisan faithful.
The older generation needs to understand that my generation does not respond well to anger, hate, and personal attacks. We are a generation of communicators, and to us, actions speak louder than loud words. Perpetuating negativity will only result in the tuning out of another generation of voters, and we simply cant afford that. I find it especially ironic that most of those who criticize Senator Lieberman more often than not have never run for elected office. But as the old saying goes, those that cant do, criticize.
Lets face it, its easy to preach to the converted and many people have mastered the art of the negative sound bite. If I want to hear the liberal bias, I will turn on MSNBC. If I want to hear conservative dogma, I will turn on Fox. But where do people go to listen to the Joe Liebermans of the world? Where can we hear voices that dare to cross party lines, think outside the box, and say what they truly believe? If this country wants to simply be a place of extreme partisan politics, I think we are well on our way. If people like Senator Lieberman are treated with such disrespect for daring to be true to their political beliefs, there will really be no hope for independent thinkers of my generation to be inspired to join the political process.
And for the record, Senator Lieberman is now an even greater source of inspiration and comfort to me in politics.
She's describing a real political phenomenon, however. You can dismiss it ... but it would be a mistake to do so.
I expect her to go for Levi J. Both appear to have the same IQ.
Is that just insufficient for you, or are you being obtuse?
She is a shallow twit. If the "teabaggers" cant stop Card Check, Capn Trade and Health Care, her fellow sensitive 20 somethings are going to feel it sharply in their wallet. Unfortunately, its going to be too tough to roll back by then.
Listening to PC types like yourself, I half wouldnt mind seeing these spoiled brats learn the hard way. The libs definitely have the power to ram this all through; only a loud opposition will make them stop and think.
All well and good, but in a practical sense ... so the hell what?
I'm saying that angst -- no matter how justified -- is still just angst.
Angst will have no serious political effect unless and until there is a coherent political strategy in place to channel that angst into something useful.
Alternatively, that angst may be co-opted by a person or group whose intentions are less wholesome, and more self-serving, than those of the protestors.
Is that just insufficient for you, or are you being obtuse?
Hm. It's easy to spot the brainless. They typically resort to vapidities such as, "PC types like yourself," or "RINO" or whatever.
It beats thinking, I guess.
But Limbaugh is right, many Democrat incumbents will be swept away in '010 if they get their agenda through, regardless of the "leadership" vacuum. You dont want that to happen, do you?
Whatever you say, Scozzafava
I'm saying it's not an effective political movement right now, because it's just a bunch of folks who are upset.
And you agree with me on that ... and for some unknown reason it doesn't seem to bother you that you belong to a politically ineffective movement.
You're pissed at CNN for not taking your seriously ... but why should they, when they know that you're not an effective political force?
Folks love to talk about how liberals are motivated by their emotions rather than by rational thought. Unfortunately, people like you are proof that this phenomenon is not isolated to the left.
She GAVE A SPEECH????!!!!
I am afraid it is Meghan who has centered her on-line personality around sex and her physical characteristics. Did you miss her twiter boob shot? How about her “I love sex and need a date” screed? Maybe you have missed this show of Meg’s. I will give you the benefit of the doubt.
“Because she speaks for a lot of people who inhabit the political center. She’s quite correct about the fact that the extremes of both parties are marginalizing themselves by their antics. “
You give Meg more credit than she deserves. She has no political sense to know what is extreme and what is not extreme. Her hero Lindsey Twinkletoes supporting cap and trade is about as extreme as it comes. Meghan feels; she does not think because she in uninformed beyond pop culture.
It’s true there are many like Meg in the US. Following their vapidness would be a big mistake for the country. It elected a Marxist who hates America because of a “The One” image created by the media. Moderates were unable to analyze what was behind the cool image because moderates are basically stupid. Moderates are shallow followers.
CNN would not take anyone or anything that is not Marxist seriously. Who cares. Conservatives have held power for decades with CNN hating on them.
The GOP was taken over by a minority of big money Rinos. They invested their dough into other Rinos and now they have created a minority, unpopular party for themselves. The tea party is in reaction to this problem where there is no voice or ideas for reform anymore - there is only a move for “bi-partisan” bigger government and more liberal social elitism aka social Marxism and globalism.
The Tea Party is quite clear in some things that it stands for although the rino party is telling them to “shut up.” They want Obama’s socialism stopped. It was moving through like a freight train until all those angry voices screeched it to a halt. That is the reason for the angry voices - the energy required to stop the socialists in both parties from totally taking over private industry, banksters crashing the economy then putting their grubby hands in our Treasury, spending us into debt to the edge of economic collapse, enacting health care reform that only Hitler could love... It took a lot of energy slow that socialist/fascist bulldozer Obama, the Dems, the Rinos and corporate CEO’s had going at the beginning.
I know Republicans are worried that the Tea Party people are not easy to herd into their party and the GOP has given the Tea Party folks no reason to beleive they have an agenda of stopping the socialism and reforming the government. The GOP is a go along to get along kind of thing in a period where the people are weary of going along and getting along with the elite.
The closest you could come to saying what the Tea Party is for - reform of government back to it’s constitutional purpose and the constraints on it’s power. There is also a lot of upset among a lot of tea party folks over the police state that has grown up after 911 which has come to view Americans as all potential terrorists in the name of non-racism to please Muslim terrorist supporters. It has unnecessarily erroded our freedoms and changed the spirit of our police forces and lowered the quality of our lives across the nation.
So, I think it is pretty clear what the tea party is for if you have listened to the speeches given at the Tea Parties. The Rinos probably are not happy about any of it.
I was wondering where she had been... (ok, I'm joking)
Boobs McPiggy can’t keep her snout shut.
I think I’m going to start calling her “Beth” (Dog’s bitch). Only the South Park Freepers out there will understand this.
Oh, she’s been back for a while. Yesterday she was ranting on Twitter and calling Palin, the Tea Partiers, and anyone who opposed Scozzafava as “extreme.”
Thanks. Wow, the things I miss by not signing up for Twitter. (giggle)
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