(California) Madam Speaker Bashes Republicans as Terrorists

LA Times ^ | 27th Jun '09 | PATT MORRISON

[blueplum]

interview exerpt:

QUESTION: How do you think conservative talk radio has affected the Legislature's work?

BASS: "The Republicans were essentially threatened and terrorized against voting for revenue. Now [some] are facing recalls. They operate under a terrorist threat: "You vote for revenue and your career is over." I don't know why we allow that kind of terrorism to exist. I guess it's about free speech, but it's extremely unfair."

QUESTION: Do you get especially exasperated when your own people -- Democrats -- don't agree with you?

You know, I was a community activist, so I'm used to standing out in front of an elected official's office and protesting. It's only been five years since I've been on the other side. I get frustrated when we're in the middle of the deepest recession since the Depression and people say, "You really shouldn't cut." This is very, very painful. I'm doing the exact opposite of what I ran for office for. But I do have to be an adult in this situation. My job is to protect [programs]....

[SupplySider]

I am not conversant with California's budgets, but I would guess the shocking, unacceptable cuts that no one is willing to make would amount to modest 5-10% cuts in actual spending (as opposed to politicians' fantasy "cuts" in the rate of spending increase) over a period of years.

Ordinary families and businesses do this all the time. Only vote-buying politcos are horrified by a little belt tightening.

[wita]

“Activist” my ass. She a white hating, anti-Western, anti-Libery POS.

I’m leaning so far your way, I’m about to topple.

[Iron Munro]

“You forgot racist.”

How true.

That is the grandaddy of them all.

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping/post/thread/comments. BTTT!

[af_vet_1981]

The use of the word "career" is part of the problem.

You nailed it; the ruling elite with a different brand of sanctioned racism

[usmcobra]

community activist!

[Forward the Light Brigade]

The day will come when only one political party will be permitted—the National Union Party (Democrats) and the Republicans will be listed as a “Hate Party” and banned. Watch out when they start to ban the small parties and groups like the KKK because it will open the doors to ban all other parties. Only in this way can the “progressives” stay in power and force their changes on the nation.

[NormsRevenge]

The Enemy Within relied on the backbone and sweat of a lot of republicans to feed their welfare armies and socialist programs over the years.. she has a lot of nerve and little sense of history much less a shred of decency. typical dem,, entitled... and embracing the what’s yours is mine approach.

[NoLibZone]

Not what you spun she said, but what she said was:

Question: "How do you think conservative talk radio has affected the Legislature's work?"

ANSWER "The Republicans were essentially threatened and terrorized against voting for revenue. Now [some] are facing recalls. They operate under a terrorist threat: "You vote for revenue and your career is over. I don't know why we allow that kind of terrorism to exist."

[NoLibZone]

What Vendome is saying applies to every government with in the US.

So that any effort by the people to stop revenue generation to fund programs is justified,

That’s the DNC position alright!

[Vendome]

I totally agree with your post but, everyone wanted to take on the her ridiculous assertion and childish logic to describe activism or dissent as terrorism.

Eventually, if you bandy a word around long enough to describe anything, it will lose it's value. Kinda like the word “Racist”.

There was no spin on this and if you have seen any my other posts you would no the positions I take. But, when they are right well, they are right.

The people of California are childish and need to vote to reduce spending in this state.

It is kind of like a relative who recently asked me for some money saying they are “not making enough to keep up with their bills”.

I informed her that she has a spending problem not an income problem.

She asked if I knew what $40,000 would mean to her and how it would change her life

To which I replied “What like a cathartic experience?”.

She wanted to know why I being so harsh and I said I didn't think I was but, that I was calling the situation for what it is.

I then asked “How did you settle on the number $40,000?”.

She told me that she had taken out a second on her house to pay for some “keeping with Jones things”.

To which I replied and....? So reducing your bills by $400 a month will change everything? Please, you mortgaged your home for stuff that has a declining value. It's not like you mortgaged your home to build a business and improve your lot in life.

she said “I guess that's right”

Anyway, I gave her $1,000 and said I didn't care what she spent it on but that she might consider reducing a credit card balance or two.

That was three years ago and she has never paid it back. Though from time to time she tells me she means to.

It's not important and she took the actions I pretty much expected she would.

She has a spending problem and now every time she sees me she is reminded that indeed is the problem.

So I didn't “spin” anything as you say but if you want to to just flame away, feel free.

[Vendome]

See my post #31 in this thread and I think it explains my position.

Of course you are correct. Everyone sees and wants cuts “just don't cut my bene’s”.

That of course is childish as the article states. And I am not a fan of Ms. Bass whatsoever.

[blueplum]

As Californians, we should be adults in this process, as Ms. Bass has declared. That means saying to your representatives “Cut services and we accept that you will also cut services we are dependent on”. An adult would come to that logical conclusion.

what you're missing is, Bass herself has obviously not come to that logical adult conclusion, since she terms those who do say 'cut services' to their representatives as 'terrorists' who are interrupting the 'career' of the representative with such demands, but only if they are republicans who object. She contradicts herself and her message is very clear.

while you may discount being called 'terrorist' as just another label stuck on by community activists to mobilize their mobs to support their special interests, I doubt DHS feels the same way about the label, and I haven't heard any calls for the Patriot Act to be rewritten to negate the label 'domestic terrorist'. until i do, I consider such remarks as insulting, devisive, nonproductive and incediary. Bass owes a formal apology to all voters and most especially to Republicans. IMO JMO MOO Best Regards, blu

[Vendome]

I think you are reading to much into my response. I don't take lightly being called a terrorist and trust me I have dinner with all the Bay Area Liberals you have ever heard and their machines.

The goal of arguing is not tying yourself to their construct but rather using it against them.

For instance I was asked by a high level fund raiser for the DNC, why I supported Sarah Palin. She isn't very intellectually curious.

I replied that if we wanted to get caught in the semantics of intelligence or conviction that I would choose with a conviction of principles that more closely match my own.

None of your candidates has a compass or an idea that will enable more people to improve their lives. In fact, all your candidates want to treat their constituents like children, tell them what is good for them(based on their or a committees subjective ideal) and in the end you pass laws restricting rights.

We want to hone freedom and broaden its availability by helping and encouraging more people to take the yoke of government and cast it aside for a better life.

The question I then proposed is how do any of your candidates propose to improve the lives of individual Americans. And remember, my friend the shill, the operative word for the day is INDIVIDUAL.

I just got back the usual mindless palaver George this, Republicans that.

To which I smile and said “Well there you are. A simple question about ideas and you go running about, with your hands in the air, assigning blame”. Any more bright ideas?

I say this with a smile so as not be offensive, since I am usually in someone Else's home and we are friends.

Friends with different ideas and no I have never had dinner with Ms. Bass. The other like her always direct their snide comment about people like me to someone else waiting for me to respond so they can say “Was I talking to you!?” and then pulling a whole list of get in your face techniques.

See the difference in strategy? I can assure you that Ms. Bass has the intellect of an adolescent and the backbone of a victim lying on their back.

[Vendome]

BTW, aside from my previous rant, her words can now be used against her.

“Cut What?” “No!” But you waxed so eloquently about childish thoughts and it is necessary. We are in agreement, let’s begin.

I still do get your point about the terrorist “thingy”. But come on. How hard is it tire someone out whose intellect is borders on burnt toast?

[Vendome]

What is JMO(Just my opinion?) and MOO?

Thanks

[Balding_Eagle]

You are friends?

I don’t think so. They may be YOUR friends, but you aren’t THEIR friends.

Friends wouldn’t treat you like that.

[j_k_l]

I wonder if Zero intends to imprison republicans indefinitely for being terrorists?

Why? It is not as if they have done one damn thing to even slow down his marxist agenda.

[Vendome]

No, no, no. First I am friends with many of the people at these gatherings.

Second, even friends can disagree. Most won’t engage in political discussions, it is more comfortable for them to speak to like minded people who are engaged in group think.

Still there others who will and if they are type A, like me, they have no problem expressing their point of view. Even forcefully. I like to debate opposite points of view.

[chris37]

Understood and agreed, however, they are not perceived this way at all. Despite being almost totally socialist, when viewed though the eyes of totalitarian fascist, republican officials still appear as the enemies concentrated, centralized power.