Posted on 08/17/2010 10:13:36 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
American politics isn't beanbag. It is rough, bare-knuckled and often dirty. In today's 24/7 media environment, attack ads are remembered, and the truth has a hard time catching up with a lie. We now have entire TV networks that are essentially ideological propaganda outlets. With Republicans consolidated as the party of white sanctuary, anchored in the South, and Democrats championing diversity and inclusion, the politics of race is accentuated.
But given all that, have we ever witnessed anything like the unrelenting assault on Barack Obama? "Birther" nonsense is believed by some 40 percent of Republicans. Staggering numbers think he's a Muslim. National Republican leaders denounce his "socialist" agenda. When the first lady takes a vacation with her daughters, it's a scandal. Senior senators embarrass themselves by endorsing the big lie of "death panels" in the health care bill. Republicans openly decided that they would obstruct virtually everything the president tried to do. Zero votes for financial reform in the House. Zero votes for the recovery act. Zero votes for health care reform. Judicial and governmental nominees blocked for months by senatorial "holds" grounded on nothing but wanting to obstruct the operation of the government. Now every major vote is met with a filibuster, in numbers we've never seen before, rendering the Senate virtually dysfunctional.
This comes as the country faces its worst economic downturn since the Great Depression (begun under Obama's predecessor), two wars (started by Obama's predecessor) and the calamitous malfunctioning of key industries -- finance, housing, health care, energy and more. Yet, instead of an effort to come together to meet what are national crises, the right-wing echo chamber talks only about bringing the president down, and the Republican leaders embrace and parrot the extreme anger of the right. The so-called moderates duck and cover. No more mavericks allowed.
Yet, while there are differences between the two parties, they are not nearly as great as the debate suggests. Crisis drives action more than ideology. George Bush did the first stimulus plan. Bush pushed through the bailout of the banks, the controversial $700 billion TARP program. Obama's program was but a continuation. Obama's stimulus included the top-end tax cuts that Republican senators called for. Obama would continue all of the Bush tax cuts, except those applying to the top 2 percent. Bush provided the first money to rescue the auto industry. Bush started the two wars that Obama now wages. If anything, Obama's strategy in Afghanistan reflected the conservative criticisms of President Bush's policy. The trade policies, alas, are indistinguishable.
But the venom ignores the areas of agreement by simply peddling lies. Obama is assailed for running up deficits, but the great bulk of the deficits -- as any honest analyst knows -- were inherited, the results of the recession, and the funded wars and tax cuts of the Bush years. And in fact, the single act that has done most to reduce projected long-term deficits -- by more than $1.3 trillion over the next 20 years -- is health care reform. Ironically, Republicans are moving to repeal exactly those parts of the bill that would most hold down costs.
People have the right to say what they wish, particularly in political speech. But having the right does not make it right. Opposition to the president's policies should be combined with respect for his office. Political tactics ought to be informed by the reality that we all want this country to succeed. Democratic House leader Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan were diametrically opposed, but managed to find ways to work -- and to share a drink -- together. Dr. King always taught us to appeal to the better angels of our opponents, even those unleashing dogs and armed with billy clubs. It is a lesson we should not forget.
Yeah - Jesse Jagmo and the Sun-Times’ folks kind of forgot about that stuff in the past year and a half.
“There is a class of colored people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the Negro race before the public. Having learned that they are able to make a living out of their troubles, they have grown into the settled habit of advertising their wrongs-partly because they want sympathy and partly because it pays. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs.”
- Booker T. Washington
No, not of the “MG’s”! /s
"Birther" nonsense is believed by some 40 percent of Republicans. Staggering numbers think he's a Muslim. National Republican leaders denounce his "socialist" agenda.
If the shoe fits...birds of a feather...actions indicate intent.
Zero...Zero...Zero...
Come on, Jan, give the guy a break! You're supposed to be his friend.
the country faces its worst economic downturn since the Great Depression (begun under Obama's predecessor)...
Democrats controlled Congress.
...two wars (started by Obama's predecessor)...
Democrats controlled Congress.
...and the calamitous malfunctioning of key industries -- finance, housing, health care, energy and more.
Democrats controlled Congress and enacted legislation that caused it.
Yet, while there are differences between the two parties, they are not nearly as great as the debate suggests.
You're right. Progressives are progressives whether they're on the right or the left.
I'm not even going to bother with the rest of it.
So what does that implicitly mean Jesse? That Democrats are consolidated as the party of black handouts?
Riots Erupt As Thousands In Atlanta Scramble For Section 8 Housing Waiting List
Huh? Nonsense? I'm not a birther. I am not preoccupied with it. However, if he is American born, which non-birther's say he is; simple solution to this: produce the birth certificate and shut everyone up. Until then, the drone of your silence is becoming deafening.
“George Bush assassination film wins top award”
Last updated at 17:28 20 September 2006
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-405644/George-Bush-assassination-film-wins-award.html
Was it John Kerry, Howard Dean or Bill Clinton that said regarding this who hate Bush theme, “Assassins wanted?” I foget now.
SB ‘this whole hate Bush theme.” Apologies to the forum. I think I even misspelled ‘forget.’
Personally, I think it more likely that Rev. Wright is a Christian or at least was one at one time in his life.
obama claimed to be a muslim on arab t.v. , he’s only a Christian on American t.v. What a politican !!! as for his birth certificate , if someone could get a certified copy of obama’s original birth certificate it would prove that both of his parents WERE NOT U.S. citizens and he is ineligible to be the President. ain’t gonna happen!!!
Obama will be in his last year of second term and still be blaming Bush for everything. Most presidents would have moved on from this tactic but since Obama’s policies have made things much worse he will be looking for anyone to blame for his miserable performance. The American people are not a stupid as he and his co-hearts think. We pay attention, listen, then make our decisions.
The name of Reverend you have used for cover has always been an embarrassment to anyone who took even a moment to think about it.
Old Jesse going to have a rough time of it when he stands before the God he claimed to represent....
LOL! Where didn't he?
hey, Jizzy... 
MO only took one daughter to Spain. The other one and granny have disappeared ("in camp" for the daughter).
Jesse who? I thought he had died already...been quiet for a long tome but I guess not long enough.
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