[TChris]

He doesn’t do it because he sees the Republican Party as the party of incomprehensibly stupid, shortsighted and greedy economic policies. He agrees with FDR, and sees the Republican economic agenda to try and dismantle Social Security, ship every last job to China because it’s so cheap, et al, as idiocy incarnate. And he is right.

So, it's your position that higher taxes, more social welfare and protectionist trade policies are the wisest economic course?

Sure. It works great for Europe, doesn't it?

Have you noticed that America has the highest standard of living in the whole world? ...and that it's increasing? I'd say that the proof is in the pudding. American capitalism and free trade work.

And what's with the "we're losing the war" crap? By what standard are we losing? How are you keeping score, that you conclude we're losing? You can't just throw out B.S. like that without something to back it up.

[Vicomte13]

“And what’s with the “we’re losing the war” crap? By what standard are we losing? How are you keeping score, that you conclude we’re losing? You can’t just throw out B.S. like that without something to back it up.”

Watch the news. Look at the election results. Watch the next election results looming. Watch the American will to continue the weariness evaporate. Watch the “surge” unable to protect even the Iraqi Parliament. Watch the British, even, having withdrawn substantial forces, even as the country is no closer to stability, and the Baghdad Bob cheering squad STILL says there’s no Iraqi civil war.

The American will to stay in Iraq is flagging, and nothing is restoring it. The Army is having to press Navy men into service to fill the gaps, and pay $150,000 bonuses to keep special forces experts in the field.

We are losing the war. It is plain as the nose on our faces, and has been for sometime. When Rumsfeld left, Bush gave a speech detailing all of the errors to date. Since, we’ve launched the new strategy...with about a quarter of the troops needed to actually pacify the country. The military brass know this. It’s not a secret. Our current strategy is a holding action. We cannot stabilize the country.

The only way to win the war, still, is to choose sides in the civil war, arm them, and let them kill off a lot of their opponents. And this is the one thing that has been consistently ruled out by the Administration.

So there we are: losing the war. By the time it’s over, we will have spent 5000 American lives, 20,000 American limbs, and $1.5 trillion dollars, and we will be retreating in disgrace as the political will to continue the effort collapses in America and the troops come home. It has been utterly predictable since the moment Bush chose NOT to ask Congress to declare war and call for a general mobilization to win it.

THAT would have meant a tax hike, a massive tax hike, and lots of “national unity” measures.

We didn’t get the tax hike. Instead, we’re just getting $1.5 trillion more in debt, to fund a war we’re LOSING.

But I’m not going to fight with you about this. I have told you the truth. Telling ourselves pretty lies isn’t going to save our ass here. The headlines will drone on towards the monotonous and thoroughly predictable end, UNLESS we decide to do something evil and pick the side we want to win the civil war. This Administration won’t.

[Durus]

While we should certainly dismantle social security as the idiotic ponzi scheme it is, calling our trade agreements with China "free" is a gross mischaractization. It's hard to imagine a more gerrymandered, over-regulated agreement. Fair trade is not protectionist and Fair trade is just as important as free trade.

We certainly aren't losing the war unless you count frothing mouthed CNN reporters wet dreams. To date we have prosecuted on of the most lopsided victories that America has ever seen. Maybe we are losing the PR war...that's about it.

[schlockandflaws]

You said: "Have you noticed that America has the highest standard of living in the whole world? ...and that it's increasing? I'd say that the proof is in the pudding. American capitalism and free trade work." You also said "You can't just throw out B.S. like that without something to back it up." Practice what you preach.

From Wikipedia http://tinyurl.com/7yymv:

On comprehensive measures such as the UN Human Development Index the United States is always in the top ten, currently ranking number eight. Scandinavian countries, Ireland, Belgium, Canada, Australia, and (until recently) Japan; Canada and Norway have alternately held the top spot for some time. On the Human Poverty Index the United States ranked 16th, one rank below the United Kingdom and one rank above Ireland.[4] On the Economist's quality-of-life index the United States ranked 13, in between Finland and Canada, scoring 7.6 out of a possible 10. The highest given score of 8.3 was applied to Ireland. This particular index takes into account a variety of socio-economic variables ranging from GDP per capita and life expectancy to political stability and unemployment.[5]

[LexBaird]

And what's with the "we're losing the war" crap? By what standard are we losing?

The only thing we are losing is the will to continue the fight. We are losing to the MSM, which knows the true meaning of "all-out war".