Tag Archive for 'GOP'

GOP representing a minority of their constituents

Published on January 21, 2011 in Politics. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Here’s a chart that illlustrating the number of unemployed constituents versus wealthy households in districts represented by a Republican Senator.

Unemployed V. Rich Households By State with Republican Senator

Wonk Room uses this char to point out that GOP senators represent 4 times as many unemployed people as wealthy households, yet the GOP practically started a war of words against the unemployed when the Democrats were busy capitulating on the Bush tax cuts.

The attacks on the those collecting unemployment would have you believe that the unemployed are relaxing at home collecting 50% less in earnings and doing nothing to return to full time employment status.  They’re just lazy folks who won’t go out and get a job.   Unproductive stigma and stereotyping is not getting a country to work.

While I’d like to hope that come November 2012, residents of those states will remember the rhetoric used to dismiss the concerns of the unemployed, it’s probably not going to happen.  There wasn’t much of an uproar from constituents when the verbal attacks on the employment-challenged were actively taking place.

And I have to wonder in part if it’s a matter of self-identification.  With more than 15 million people unemployed (a very conservative estimate), is an element of “I can’t believe it happened to me” in play? Joe/Jane Average has been dutifully reporting to work for X years and gets laid off after a round of budget cuts that couldn’t be avoided.

When listening to your representative going off on a tangent about the employed, you’re not considering yourself a part of THAT group; afterall, you were a hardworking, tax paying citizen that fell victim to the economy.

Voters unlikely to get the compromise they want to see in DC

Published on November 4, 2010 in Politics. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

Yesterday, Senate Minority Leader McConnell insisted the American people voted Republican because they stand behind the party of “no”.

“I get the impression that [the Democratic Party's] view is that we haven’t cooperated enough. I think what the American people were saying yesterday is they appreciated us saying ‘no’ to things that the American people indicated that they were not in agreement with.”

To the contrary, according to a series of polls inquiring about partisan behavior post election, voters hoped for collaboration and compromise after the election,  In a Bloomberg poll, 80 percent of respondents wanted both parties to “work together even if it means compromising.” Seventy-eight percent of respondents thought Republicans in Congress should “compromise some of their positions in order to get things done” and 69 percent say the same about Obama per a CBS/NYT poll.

Doesn’t look like the GOP got the message:

In an interview with CNN’s Candy Crowley, RNC Chairman Michael Steele made clear that compromise is not on the table:

Well, I think that, to be very clear here, when we talk about not compromising, not compromising away on the principles that our party have run on and have stood for, for a long time. For example, we’re not going to compromise on creating more debt. We’re not going to compromise on raising the debt ceiling. We’re not going to compromise on increasing the burdens on the backs of small-business owners and families.

Shortly before the election, Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana also shot down any hope of compromise:

Look, the time to go along and get along is over. . .there will be no compromise on stopping runaway spending, deficits and debt. There will be no compromise on repealing Obamacare. There will be no compromise on stopping Democrats from growing government and raising taxes. And if I haven’t been clear enough yet, let me say again: No compromise.

At a Heritage Foundation talk today, McConnell reiterated his goal of making Obama a one-term President because his agenda does not fall in line with that of the in-coming Republican majority in the House.

But the fact is, if our primary legislative goals are to repeal and replace the health spending bill; to end the bailouts; cut spending; and shrink the size and scope of government, the only way to do all these things it is to put someone in the White House who won’t veto any of these things.

At least voters are more aware of the reality than they’re given credit for.  In that same CBS/NYT poll, “72 percent thought that Obama would try to work with Republicans—but only 46 percent thought that the Republicans would try to work with Obama.”

It’s going to be a rocky road to 2012.

Why I Don't Like Politicians

Published on March 9, 2009 in Politics. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , .

“We will lose on legislation. But we will win the message war every day, and every week, until November 2010,” said Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., an outspoken conservative who has participated on the GOP message teams. “Our goal is to bring down approval numbers for [Speaker Nancy] Pelosi and for House Democrats. That will take repetition. This is a marathon, not a sprint.”

The Republicans are engaged in a pseud0-scorched earth policy because they’re  sore losers, making it a lose-lose scenario for us.  When Republicans are in charge, their policies aren’t particularly helpful to MOST Americans, and when they’re not in charge, they’re trying to eliminate the possibility that Democratic policy could make up lost ground.

Hilary Clinton at least had the maturity to suck it up and take on a constructive, proactive role under the Obama Presidency.

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GOP shuts down "Party Favors" Reading at RNC

Published on September 3, 2008 in Books and Politics. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Given police have been arresting journalists for doing their jobs, why is not surprising to see some censorship of the traditional kind taking place in St. Paul.

According to Susan Johnston, co-author of Party Favors with Nicole Sexton, the GOP Killed “PARTY FAVORS” reading at RNC.

Well, it’s finally happened. The GOP has officially shut us down. As some of you know, Nicole, my co-author, has been fighting a very quiet, behind-the-scenes battle on behalf of PARTY FAVORS.

Nicole is personally taking a beating in D.C. and now, she’s been “politely” asked to cancel the book signing/reading at The Barnes & Noble in MN during the Republican National Convention.

I can’t come right out and say who made this “polite” request but I can tell you he’s one of the biggest muckety-mucks within the party. And yes, he’s in the book.

Apparently the GOP feels that the book is critical of GOP fundraising and campaign related tactics and therefore a book signing could be embarrassing to the Party.

Nicole doesn’t even work for them anymore! She no longer has any affiliation with the Republican Senate and in fact, the book is critical of fundraising efforts on both sides of the aisle. She had a reading/signing in Denver but the Democrats didn’t shut her down!
. . .
If we’re just an innocent “beach-read” and “chick-lit novel” then why is the GOP so scared of a book signing??? Clearly, they see this book as a threat.

More details and articles about the book and its authors available here.
From the book jacket:
Temple rises quickly through the ranks of the Republican Party’s fundraising elite, navigating a treacherous community of lobbyists making deals for dollars, gossiping staffers, and child-like senators, to be appointed the highly coveted position of Finance Director for the Republican Senate Campaign Committee. Her every  waking moment is spent convincing the über-rich and ultra eccentric to hand over the cash money green and, in the process, she learns everyone’s secrets. Temple knows which senators can be manipulated by baked goods, which donors are most likely to pass out drunk at  dinners, which chiefs of staff are still “in the closet” and, unbelievably, which senators are actually good people, behaving with integrity even if no one is watching. She is envied, adored, respected, feared, and most of all needed as a fundraiser.
From the outside, Temple’s life looks like one fantastic party, but on the inside she’s tired of dating the wrong men and sleeping on the office floor. Her successes are measured in dollars, all of her status is derived from the politicians she knows personally, and all of her friendships stem from her career. But with her entire identity so wrapped up in D.C., can she walk away from it?

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Final thoughts of Palin for the evening

Published on August 29, 2008 in Politics. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

I would feel sorry for Palin, but that she accepted the offer from McCain.

On the one hand, the media and the blogosphere are going to tear this woman apart.  She’s the punchline to a bad joke.  She has no national or foreign policy to run on, and she most certainly cannot begin to compare herself to Hillary Clinton beyond genitals.

Kevin Jones of Mother Jones points out that McCain met Palin exactly 3 times.  Politico’s Jonathan Martin confirms the whirl wind vetting this week.  It means she’s going to wind up being more thoroughly vetted in public by the media and the American people.  It is not an enviable position.

But on the other, she actually agreed to this charade. She didn’t see it for the pandering that the public seems to take it for? She felt she could fill Hillary Clinton’s shoes for the GOP, for sure?   She expects to win?

She can’t truly think she’s prepared to step in a run a gov’t that supports more than 300 million people because she’s spent about 2 years running a gov’t that supports less than 750,000 Alaskans, in a state whose largest city is 65th in size in the US.  And McCain’s age makes that reality a factor.

What did she get in return for agreeing to be VP? What promises have been made regarding her future in the Republican Party?

I also wonder about the backlash she’s going to take from conservative women.  She’s a pro-lifer, who supports teaching creationism in schools. . . I don’t get the impression that segment of society would approve  of a woman with 5 children — one that’s still an infant — placing her very public political career ahead of motherhood.

Clearly, having a job is as far as her feminist streak extends, given her stance on family planning and gay marriage, but it seems at odds with her very conservative ideology.

Phyllis Schlafly must be torn this evening.

The McCain/Palin ticket : Genius or Insanity

Published on August 29, 2008 in Politics. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Last night the pundits were left either completely speechless or spilling praise after Obama’s nomination acceptance speech. Everyone asked how McCain could possibly respond to such a speech that laid out populist policy plans, attacked McCain’s political experience, and rebutted a number smears.

But he did manage to steal some of Obama’s thunder this morning with the announcement of Sarah Palin for VP.

A few considerations. . .

To some degree, it’s impossible to deny McCain is reaching out to the remaining disgruntled Hillary voters who aren’t yet convinced by Obama.  But the question is why Palin when Kay Hutchinson and Elizabeth Dole would be far more recognizable female Republican running mates?  Palin has even less experience than Obama — and experience has been a focal issue for McCain this campaign season.

That we know little to nothing about her is actually to the advantage of McCain.   Right now, it looks entirely possible that the Republican National Convention will be postponed and scaled down, if not cancelled entirely due to Gustav’s impending arrival on our shores.   No RNC this year means Americans won’t have a direct line of vision into the policies supported by the GOP going into this election.  Plenty of Americans still think of McCain as a party maverick and/or pro-choice and/or a moderate.  His record shows that he is none of the above.

Now we have the addition of Sarah Palin who has zero nation or foreign policy experience.  Frankly, given her limited local government roles, we know little of her positions on a number of key issues for Americans: health insurance, education, Social Security, etc.  And the Average American isn’t going to necessarily be exposed to what little is known about her.

As Huffington Post columnist Linda Bergthold points out, here’s what we do know:

She is NOT pro-choice. She has NO national experience. She has never been under the intense scrutiny of a national campaign. She is under investigation for some incident in Alaska that is messy and personal. She has no international experience. Her experience governing is in a very small state, famous for its “Bridge to Nowhere” kind of political graft. Her Republican colleague in that state, Senator Ted Stevens has been indicted for corruption.

Does that sound like a candidate ready to lead on Day 2, should Sen. McCain die during his first term in office?

While she acknowledges the Republican Party in raising the profile of women in this election, Ann at Feministing notes she is pro-life and on the wrong side of progressive social issues.

First up, she’s super anti-choice. The forced-pregnancy crowd is thrilled today! (She recently had her fifth child, who has Down’s syndrome.) She’s against marriage equality and supports a federal gay-marriage ban, but has made sure to note that she “has gay friends.” Though she has signed on to same-sex partner benefits. She believes schools should teach creationism. She’s also pretty terrible on environmental issues, and is a huge advocate of drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge.

The upside to this election, women’s issues will now be front and center going into the fall.  The downside, if they can keep Palin off the center stage, fueling low key events that get less coverage, the maverick might be able to keep his image intact, and possibly make this a closer election than anticipated.

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Gustav and GOP

Published on August 29, 2008 in Politics. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Yesterday I asked, how will the GOP spin Gustav, should it hit land?

Early McCain supporter Hagee suggested that God sent Katrina to New Orleans as punishment for its acceptance of homosexuality. . . so surely, there’d be some deeper meaning to a hurricane strike in the same region again?

Some would suggest karma would bring the nation’s attention back to the Bush administration’s most hellacious domestic failing of its tenure.

After tonight, it might be considered a GOP gift, because they’re going to need a few extra days to prepare a decent come back to Obama’s nomination speech.

I’ll be thinking positive thoughts for Gulf Coast residents this weekend; they do not deserve a repeat of 2005.

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Fire up the ovens

Published on August 25, 2008 in Politics. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

photo by a2community

The Nation reports the Republican Part is sponsoring a Happy Hour neighboring the DNC.  They’re inviting Hillary Clinton supporters over for complementary drinks.

Yes, woo the other team with free drinks.

Has the GOP seen that episode of . . . pick a teeny bopper program.  Dueling student office/home coming candidates one up eachother for votes.  Candidate A hands out buttons; Candidate B hands out muffins. . . Candidate A sponsors and ice cream sundae station; Candidate B throws a party while mom and dad are away.

Seriously, aren’t we past high school games yet?

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Good enough to serve, but not to vote

Published on August 16, 2008 in Politics. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

photo by pingnews

This year, Armed Forces Voters Week runs August 31st to September 7th.  The Department of Veteran Affairs is doing everything in its power to keep convalescing vets from registering to vote, and has denied permission to the 19 states that requested the opportunity to host voter registration drives at VA hospitals in their states.

The official word from the Department of Veteran Affairs:

This policy is the result of careful deliberation and consideration for the needs and rights of our patients, concerns about disrupting facility operations, and the need to ensure VA is not involved in partisan political activities. . .

That decision might seem fair, if not for that fact that registration drives are regularly held at hospitals around the country.  Promedica Health in Ohio offers encourages voter registration on its website, as does the New Jersey Hospital Assocation.

The Texas Hospital Association encourages registration drives to reach out to employees, which means patients are exposed to the get-out-and-vote message.  On their site, the THA offers a Time Line for Voter Registration. Among their recommendations:

If appropriate, send a news release about the voter registration drive to local media outlets. . . .

Display tent cards promoting the voter registration drive in the cafeteria and on patient trays. (see sample)

E-mail reminder to staff, if possible. . .

Place get-out-the-vote posters throughout the hospital (in elevators, lobby areas, cafeteria, employee break rooms, etc.)

Seems as though these outreach methods, could reach non-staff members, what with posters hung about the building, easily forwarded e-mails sent to staffers, tent cards delivered to each patient’s room with meals. . . not to mention registration events taking place in the lobby of the hospital.

Voter registration is a non-partisan undertaking.  These health facilities recognize their ability to remind their employees and the public to register and take advantage of their right to vote.

Why is it somehow different at VA hospitals? Perhaps our Republican administration is merely watching McCain’s back?

Last week, the Center for Responsive Politics released a study of military donors to political campaigns this year.

Democrat Barack Obama has received nearly six times as much money from troops deployed overseas at the time of their contributions than has Republican John McCain, and the fiercely anti-war Ron Paul, though he suspended his campaign for the Republican nomination months ago, has received more than four times McCain’s haul.

Troops in the field sent Obama $60,642, while McCain received $10,665 and Paul took in $45,512.   When looking at military personnel overall, Obama is still ahead with $335,536 in donations, while $280,513 went to McCain.

The Center for Responsive Politics reminds us that:

In 2000, Republican George W. Bush outraised Democrat Al Gore among military personnel almost 2 to 1. In 2004, with the Iraq war underway, John Kerry closed the gap with President Bush, but Bush still raised $1.50 from the military for every $1 his Democratic opponent collected.

Seems like encouraging wounded vets to register to vote isn’t going to favor the GOP.

But I’m a cynic, it’s not like the Bush administration has used its office to act in favor of conservatives before, right?

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The GOP: proud of ignorance and irony

Published on August 13, 2008 in Politics. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

The GOP makes it too easy. . .

GWB on America

I don’t see America having problems.

GWB on Russia’s attack on Georgia:

I expressed my grave concern about the disproportionate response of Russia

A bonus!  Did you catch his shout out to Christian nationalists?

If you are a religious person, you understand that once religion takes hold in a society it can’t be stopped.

Are staffers even looking at McCain’s talking points anymore?

So when he says,

In the 21st century, nations don’t invade other nations

Is there a clause excusing attacks on countries whose citizens have darker skin color than those of us of Western European decent?

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