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May 31, 2011 in Nation/World
GOP presidential hopefuls take a hard turn to right
WASHINGTON – In the first presidential election since the tea party’s emergence, Republican candidates are drifting rightward on a range of issues, even though more centrist stands might play well in the 2012 general election.
On energy, taxes, health care and other topics, the top candidates hold positions that are more conservative than those they espoused a few years ago.
The shifts reflect the evolving views of conservative voters, who will play a major role in choosing the Republican nominee. In that sense, the candidates’ repositioning seems savvy or even essential.
But the eventual nominee will face President Barack Obama in the 2012 general election, when independent voters appear likely to be decisive players once again.
“The most visible shift in the political landscape” in recent years “is the emergence of a single bloc of across-the-board conservatives,” says the Pew Research Center, which conducts voter surveys.
Climate policy is a dramatic example of how GOP presidential hopefuls have shifted to the right in recent years. Former Govs. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Jon Huntsman of Utah, along with other likely candidates, have backed away from earlier embraces of regional “cap-and-trade” programs to reduce greenhouse gas pollution.
Such stands were unremarkable in GOP circles just a few years ago. Now the position is anathema to millions of Republicans. Pawlenty is the most effusive in his backtracking. “I was wrong, it was a mistake, and I’m sorry,” he says repeatedly.
The likely presidential candidates have shifted rightward on other issues as well.
Romney, who leads in most polls, has rejected his earlier stands supporting abortion rights, gun control and gay rights. He says his 2006 law requiring Massachusetts residents to obtain health insurance was right for his state at the time, but he has condemned the Obama-backed mandate that would cover all Americans.
Pawlenty campaigns as a tight-fisted conservative who would refuse to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, even though many Republican leaders say economic chaos would ensue.
The Republican Party’s rightward drift is causing headaches for the presidential hopefuls on the issue of Medicare, a potential minefield in the general election. House Republicans passed a bill that eventually would convert Medicare to a less costly, less generous program. It would help older Americans buy health insurance, but it no longer would provide benefits based mainly on a patient’s needs rather than costs.
Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich touched off a firestorm by calling the plan radical. He spent the better part of a week trying to recant.
Many Republican activists are delighted by the rightward tack of their party and its presidential contenders.
If anything, “mainstream Republican leaders are pushing the party too far to the left,” said Sid Dinerstein, GOP chairman in Palm Beach County, Fla. The House plan for Medicare is the only one that makes sense, he said, and GOP candidates “should become articulate and knowledgeable in talking about it.”
Romney, Pawlenty, Gingrich and others “are wiggling all over the place” to appease staunch conservatives, said Bill Burton, Obama’s former spokesman and now a Democratic fundraiser and advocate. Americans want strong, consistent leaders, he said, and the Republican contenders aren’t filling the bill.
The latest Pew Research study suggests that independents, who “played a determinative role in the last three national elections,” will have even more clout in 2012. They comprised 30 percent of the national electorate in 2005, Pew found. They now make up 37 percent.
Whoever survives the conservative-dominated Republican nominating process will have to address those independents’ concerns quickly and adroitly.
© Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Stocks plummet as outlook in Europe dims 
mikeln on May 31 at 12:51 a.m.
Poor republicans, got caught with thier hands in everybodies wallets and are now doing damage control. Most americans now realize they want your money for little or nothing in exchange.
drywitt99 on May 31 at 1:37 a.m.
To my Republican friends……PLEASE….keep on the starboard tack!!
To quote a lyric from a classic Broadway musical:
“To the right…..ever to the right…..never to the left…..forever to the right.”
Why??
Because it will make you FEEL GOOD.
And your happiness is important to me. Really!!
The fact that it will show the electorate what heartless, greedy bastards you really are…..thereby insuring President Obama’s re-election in 2012…..and the Democrat’s re-taking control of both the House and Senate…..well…..that’s just frosting on the cake!!
Sure…..“End Medicare as we know it.”
How did that work for you in last week’s special election???
It cost you a House seat in NY’s 26th District……a seat a Republican had won the year before with 74% of the vote. The 6th most Republican district in the entire nation!!!
‘To the right” boys and girls.
drywitt99 on May 31 at 2:05 a.m.
Or how about THIS example of Republican COMPASSION.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor….telling the people of tornado-devestated Joplin, MO that disaster relief funds will HAVE to be off-set by cutting other programs!
He’s telling the victims of a natural disaster that sure…..YOUR government will help you…..but only if it doesn’t cost us any money!!
All the compassion of Ebenezer Scrooge suffering from constipation.
Using the plight of a devestated community to force spending cuts for federal programs you are opposed to.
Humanitarian issues aside….which is appropriate because the Republicans in Congress are apparently unfamiliar with the term…..wonder how this will play out politically in the 2012 elections??
Specifically in MO’s 7th District….where Joplin is located.
In 2010 Billy Long….first term Republican Congressman…..was elected with 63.4% of the vote.
As you can see….a deeply red district. Almost as red as Eastern Washington’s 5th District where Cathy McMorris Rodgers garnered 63.7%
After Majority Leader Cantor’s tutorial on Republican views of humanitarianism vs. fiscal responsibility….how do you think Rep Long likes his chances for re-election??
Hope you’re just renting in DC Congressman Long.
Diana on May 31 at 4:40 a.m.
Sure, Republicans. Play to the teabaggers. You don’t have to do much to convince them to vote against their best interests. Great strategy to lose the independents. See you in 2012.
drywitt99 on May 31 at 4:57 a.m.
This from Public Policy Polling:
“Thursday, March 17, 2011
Palin trails Sheen with independents
We’ve found a lot of brutal poll numbers for Sarah Palin so far in 2011: down in South Dakota, down in South Carolina, down in Arizona, only up by 1 point in Texas, only up by 1 point in Nebraska to name a few. But this has to be the worst- independent voters say they would support Charlie Sheen over Palin for President by a 41/36 margin. Seriously.”
Way to go “mama grizzly”………teabagger favorite…..
You are less popular than the LEAST popular person in Hollywood!!
Ninch on May 31 at 6:11 a.m.
Using common sense regarding “energy, taxes, health care” is taking a “hard turn to right?” Only out-of-touch libs and their puppy dog media pals (AP/Babington) would characterize fiscal responsibility this way…. as well as use scare tactics against GOP Medicare proposal. What have Dems proposed for Medicare? NOTHING… and even stated to keep it as is… guaranteed to go broke within a decade.
And Bill Burke (Democratic fundraiser and advocate) states that “Americans want strong, consistent leaders.” If so, then the Dems have a problem with their incumbent candidate.
As for independents (according to multiple polls) they are already on board with so-called current “right-wing” fiscal responsibility proposals.
Diana on May 31 at 6:20 a.m.
Already on board, ninch? The polls in your head don’t count, cupcake.
Strong independent leaders! like Newt? $arah? Who’s the sacrificial lamb gonna be?
JBlim on May 31 at 6:24 a.m.
On Planet Ninch:
Strong:
Bush lets Osama bin Laden attack the Pentagon and the WTC
Weak:
Obama kills Osama bin Laden.
idahocity on May 31 at 6:44 a.m.
once again the lame stream media ignoring the presence of ron paul.
wiggentree76039 on May 31 at 6:48 a.m.
Although I didn’t see any mention of Palin or Bachmann in this article, I just read an article in the Washington Post which was the scariest thing I’ve read since the petition I signed to censure Bachman for remarks and/or activities that suggested nothing so much as a return by her to the McCarthyism of the fifties. Even more frightening about the petition was that I never heard further mention of any censure in Congress or in the news in several major newspapers. We can only hope that if she’s serious about running (and I suspect this woman is deadly serious), someone (I pray it’s a newspaper) will uncover her questionable right-wing conservatism. Happily for me, I just read a commentary by a prominent, intelligent, knowledgeable moderate Republican stating that neither Palin nor Bachmann was his choice. I’ll go back and read it for reassurance if the news (or lack thereof) gets too scary.
MrBloggy on May 31 at 7:06 a.m.
MrB wishes the “lamestream media” as, surprise surprise, someone w a pseudonym containing the troglodyte breeding central northwest territory, “Idaho,” so eagerly parrots his/her fave right wing radio/tv clownbagger - clownbaggers whose ratings are plummeting like a bag of used tea flung limp wristedly into a harbor in protest of the crushing humiliation of enduring a President with rockhard abs and a skin darker than velveeta left on the trailer windowsill too long - please, please, crazy people of Regruntlicania, turn harder to the right, crank the sweat stained steering wheel on your jalopy as hard starboard as your wan, corpulent hands and arms can manage, turn right until you spin out on the dusty dirt road of irrelevance and slowwwwly tip over onto your dented and primer gray van roofs.
Then America can get back to gettin’ great and killing evildoers.
Ron Paul? Yes.Yes.Yes. Ron Paul/Michelle Bachman 2012. The Extraterrestial Ticket.
Subplot: How the aliens tried very hard to built human-like prototypes but just couldn’t get the sanity part dialed in correctly.
Loudin on May 31 at 7:10 a.m.
Remember the ‘96 election? “Herpes vs. Hemorrhoids”?
Well, get ready wingnuts! The childish fringe part (Tea Baggers) of your party is going sabotage any chance you have at retaking power. They’re going to demand a candidate that is unelectable…and you’re going to spend another four years whining & crying on the intrawebs and old-timey AM radio.
Those of you who are still reasonable…ie, you who are fiscally conservative Republicans and not Talibanisque socially conservative Republicans…need to wise up and take your party back. The Tea Baggers are a lot of hot air; though they want fringe candidates, they want Obama gone (dead?) even more. Thus, they’ll go ahead and vote (reluctantly) for an electable candidate if you guys can take back Iowa, NH and other early-polling states.
But that ain’t gonna happen, is it? Goofy stuff like “The Ron Paul Revolution,” Sarah Failin’ Palin and Newt “The Playa’” Gingrich will get all the press…and all you’ll get for four more years of Obama. Getting scared yet? You should be, and you should be taking back your party.
Loudin
hawken on May 31 at 7:18 a.m.
The whole nation is moving right, thank heavens. Now that we have had another taste of hyper-liberalism in control of the government for just less than three years.
Every 40, 50 years or so, the American electorate gets fooled badly by the far, liberal left.
The problem is that with those previous blunders, trusting the liberal left, we have accumulated and been enslaved more and more by socialist leaning policies, which never go away. Thus, today, we are the most socialist we have ever been and consequently, we have never been in more trouble economically than we have ever been. Apart from the hyper-socialism and “Keynesian” policies of FDR which extended the Great Depression by Seven years.
One would think that we would have learned our lessons from the history of the failures of FDR and Carter. But, as they say, “Those who don’t understand history are destined to repeat it.”
Most people don’t have a clue what liberal left, “Keynesian Economics” means. One prominent liberal poster on this blog once accused me or “racism” because I referred to Obama as a “Keynesian Left” evangelist. I had to explain the difference between “Kenyan” and “Keynesian.” Which I don’t mind doing.
Some progressive Republicans have also gone along with the failed, “Keynesian,” world view as well. Bush, during his last two years is only one example. Then we have other Republicans, like Nixon, who took us off the gold standard.
The more I ponder our current, “Keynesian” mess, the more hopeful I become for the future.
1- We can send the liberals home in 2012, replacing them with conservatives and start the recovery from quasi-socialism in earnest, in a more manageable, less painful manner. But only if conservative Republicans, Independents and Reagan Democrats show up at the 2012 polls.
2- We can re-elect Obama in 2012 which will take us over the cliff in a fiery, economic crash. The crash will then force us to do what we should have done by tossing Obama and his commune in 2012 (if we re-elect him). Namely, stop the Nanny State, big government, tax, borrow and spend madness. The crash will be more painful than anything we can imagine. Even me. Nevertheless, the good news is that will force us as a nation to re-make ourselves.
Meanwhile, my personal, Obama defensive, investments will soar in value. Obama’s liberal left policies will indeed result in one of the largest, transfers of wealth in American history. It will not be to the socialist left as he planned. Unfortunately, Obama’s crash will cause great damage to the American Middle Class.
In the end, American will painfully recover her greatness, in time.
Orphan on May 31 at 7:27 a.m.
I did not realize just how terrified you all are, if the next election was in the bag, why all the venom? You do know that the ultra left wing folks are a very small minority the tea party type folks out number you about 2 to 1 amd they are also a small minority.
Keep up the good work, ultra left wing mouth pieces such as yourselves are the best vote getters for the comservatives out there right now. The crazier you get the louder you shout the more outrages your claims the more independants will run to the other side. I for one am proud of all of you for exercising your 1st Amnedment rights and letting the country know just how messed up your policys are.
JBlim on May 31 at 7:29 a.m.
Nice ad hominem, orphan. Who’s worried?
eagleproducer on May 31 at 7:44 a.m.
To say the “whole nation is moving right” is an observation that is about forty years too late in coming.
Obama is considered far left wing in the U.S? Far left now means continuing practices of torture, extraordinary rendition, throwing single payer health care under a bus, handing trillions to an irresponsible financial sector after they crashed the economy, extending unpaid for tax cuts for the wealthy, expanind unwinnable wars, and on and on and on…
I hope people with operating brain cells understand exactly why the U.S. has moved so far right over the past several decades. That “movement” corresponds tightly with the decline in education, wages, union membership, and the number of people with a full set of teeth at the age of fifty.
Thanks a lot Nascar dads. Our laws strip felons of the right to vote, I’d like a law that states you can’t vote if you are still rocking a mullett.
selkirks on May 31 at 7:45 a.m.
@Ninch: “What have Dems proposed for Medicare?”
What did Republicans proposed for healthcare reform? Where was that bill?
And for the record, there is a Democfat Medicare plan. Keep it intact but eliminate the waste and fraud.
johnclarke on May 31 at 7:49 a.m.
Oh look, it’s the double threat of Orphan and Hawken. No, the whole nation is not moving right, it’s just the saps that want the GOP nomination. It’s really a shame that genuine candidates have to essentially backtrack and lie in order to please the dopes on the right. I can’t wait until ‘ol mittens gets to explain his health care system.
Although you might be old enough to vote in 2012 Hawken, by all means keep up the cut and paste and opposite world hyperbole. You are only underscoring the divide between reality and the GOP.
eagleproducer on May 31 at 7:51 a.m.
It’s going to be grand theater over the next year or so while all the idiot candidates on the right wing try to “out conservative” the next guy/gal. I can just see it now…
Palin: “If Todd is elected the first dude we’ll have community organizer and former ACCORN member hunts on the West Lawn of the White House!”
Romney: “It only looked like I signed a socialist health care system into law in Massachusetts. That was really Ted Kennedy in a Mitt Romney mask!”
Huckabee: “I’ve decided to exit the race in order to maintain the last shred of credibility and dignity I have until 2016 when Obama is out of the White House.”
Pawlenty: “I’m just hoping voters latch on to my midwest style hucksterism as I ride the wave of energy supplied by 20% of registered voters in some backwards county of Iowa!”
Bachman: “At least I’m not a witch, but I’ll soon be if you let the U.N. put fairy dust into school lunches! It makes me sooooooooo mad that Rachel Maddow got a show before me. And on national T.V. too. GRRRRRRRRRR!
Newt: “I am convinced that if we do not decisively win the struggle over the nature of America, by the time [my grandchildren are] my age they will be in a secular atheist country, potentially one dominated by radical Islamists and with no understanding of what it once meant to be an American.”
“The idea that a congressman would be tainted by accepting money from private industry or private sources is essentially a socialist argument.”
“This is one of the great tragedies of the Bush administration. The more successful they’ve been at intercepting and stopping bad guys, the less proof there is that we’re in danger…. It’s almost like they should every once in a while have allowed an attack to get through just to remind us.” (all actual quotes)
Who’s bringing the popcorn?
leekinny on May 31 at 7:57 a.m.
When I don’t let the Righties get under my skin, their antics are comical. I can’t wait for the Republican debates to get under full swing.
There is a serious side when you see how terrible their policies would be to the people of our nation. That pull to the right is them playing with fascism.
“Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of State and corporate power.”
Benito Mussolini
.
“We stand for the maintenance of private property… We shall protect free enterprise as the most expedient, or rather the sole possible economic order.”
Adolph Hitler
“The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to the point where it becomes stronger than the democratic state itself. That in its essence is fascism - ownership of government by an individual, by a group or any controlling private power. “
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
johnclarke on May 31 at 8:03 a.m.
I just love it when the uneducated tools on the right drag out the FDR “example”. I guess getting elected 4 times is considered a failure eh? FDR got handed the Great Depression from Hoover “whose economic policies accelerated the collapse of the U.S. economy into the Great Depression” check out my source for that quote !
http://www.conservapedia.com/Herbert_Hoover
So in short - the GOP essentially screws everything up, and then accuses the Democrats of not fixing it fast enough. Sound familiar ? The Republicans can not be trusted to run a lemonade stand. They are great at increasing the debt, the size of government and lining their pockets.
leekinny on May 31 at 8:09 a.m.
selkirks said:
“And for the record, there is a Democfat Medicare plan. Keep it intact but eliminate the waste and fraud.”
That and allow for Medicare to negotiate drug prices, a huge Republican give away to the pharmaceuticals, which would save millions. The GOP will buckle under to their corporate masters and do everything they can to block that from happening. It will show that they aren’t serious about reform; only destruction.
soccermomsusie on May 31 at 8:24 a.m.
Yes, our nation has moved to the Right!!! In fact, Richard Nixon would now be seen as the Commie he really was. Even Ronald Reagan would be rightly seen as a Liberal today. HE RAISED TAXES!!!! Just one reason why GWB beats RR any day.
How far to the Right can we push it? We are already pretty much the most Right-Winged (Godly) nation in the world. Are we more to the Right than Franco’s Spain? I don’t know. How far can we push it? I SAY - ALL THE WAY!!! Our Lord is waiting in the wings.
What can one do locally? Vote for David Condon (R) for mayor of Spokane, that’s what. He is OUR Tea Party candidate. The Battle to make Spokane Godly begins now. Sure, you can say Verner has improved many aspects of our city and has helped Spokane ride out Obama’s Recession well and most small businesses and citizens support her, but that is using man’s logic not God’s Wisdom! The only thing that bothers me about Condon is that he wants his wealthy supporters to pay more to his campaign than his poor ones (as if). This smacks of class warfare.
HEAR OUR VOICE!!!!!
Scoutster on May 31 at 8:27 a.m.
And don’t forget these are the “fiscal conservatives” who brought us Medicare Part D, with NO MONEY attached to it.
(That’s how you spell D-E-B-T.)
The GOP has isolated itself by refusing to look at the revenue side of the picture. They have painted themselves into a corner, and they won’t get out of it until a new leader emerges after 2012 with more reasonable policies.
Until then, the canopy of NO NEW TAXES will not allow any new shoots to bloom on the forest floor.
leekinny on May 31 at 8:58 a.m.
I’m not posting this on here for the Righties, because, of the high level of politically correct propaganda that’s been forced upon them, it will just go over their heads.
I’m putting this here ‘for the rest of us’. It’s about 22 minutes long so it will take setting some time aside for it, but I think you will find it well worth it.
‘When Democracy Failed’
by: Thom Hartmann
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1251628960376247583&q=thom+hartmann#
hawken on May 31 at 9:07 a.m.
Comrade Clarke: quote
When people are desperate, they will believe anyone, even FDR. When you’re standing in line at a soup kitchen, you’ll vote for anyone who offers a FREE handout.
History has well documented FDR for what he was: A hyper-left socialist. The only thing that saved us from FDR. Was Japan bombing Pearl Harbor and WWII.
SIDE NOTE: You champion yourself to be a veteran. That you use a photo of the “Hammer and Sickle” along with a photo of “Lenin” is an insult to our military, our fallen heroes and patriotic Americans everywhere. You suckled at the government, military teat and now show your Marxist core. To say this is pathetic, is to be kind. You are a perfect example of why America is in the decline.
You are an example of American Liberalism/Marxism at its worst. You and Comrade Eagle.
eagleproducer on May 31 at 9:14 a.m.
Herr Hawken: I’ll let history judge who has done more damage to the U.S.
Don’t insult those of us who actually served. I’ll bring my DD 214 and college transcripts to any meeting you’d have the guts to attend.
Stop confusing liberlism in the U.S. with Marxism, and most importantly, stop confusing Marxism with Soviet Totalitarianism.
effrepublicans on May 31 at 9:19 a.m.
@Hawken… As true to form you can’t help but personally attack the people that disagree with you. You’re just as pathetic as the posts that you write.
johnclarke on May 31 at 9:21 a.m.
Are you really that stupid Hawken? That picture (and many like it) were/are in use in military training programs. I put that up for morons like yourself. Thanks for continually taking the bait you gigantic dope.
Those of us who actually served understand. I also understand that you are a little man, and a coward. I just love your blathering statement(s) on Memorial Day about the military, like you know the first thing about service. Why don’t you sign up you pompous uneducated windbag?
To the topic, the run to the right is predictable. Watch closely how the right comes apart - personally the one I’m waiting for is Palin vs. Bachman. Cat fight !!
Seattle_Liberal on May 31 at 9:31 a.m.
The non-stop vitriol spewing from the right wing conservatives is getting really old. They are distancing themselves even further from from mainstream society and independants.
Even Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity’s hate shows are down 30%.
johnclarke on May 31 at 9:38 a.m.
Oh, I’ve offered many times Eagle; Hawken just won’t take us up on a meeting. He skulks from behind his keyboard.
hawken on May 31 at 9:43 a.m.
effrepublicans
No personal attack. Just stating the obvious which Comrade Clarke has demonstrated to all. If you don’t want to be accused of being a Marxist, don’t align yourself with “Lenin,” the “Hammer and Sickle.”
Clarke is a self-proclaimed Marxist by his own association with Lenin. What’s so difficult to understand?
I am a self-proclaimed “Conservative American.”
Post a ‘Swastika’ and then tell me what a supporter of Israel you are.
You are whom you associate with and hold up as a model.
In Clarke’s case, Lenin. Spend a little time and see who Obama surrounds himself with. Clarke could be a candidate for political appointment, by Obama.
Marxism is well defined. Clarke associates himself with Marxism.
Truth has convincing characters of it’s own. Only political correctness puts a veil over truth. But, only for a brief period of time.
johnclarke on May 31 at 9:46 a.m.
Yes, I associate myself with Marxism; as if you understand what that means. I have a picture of GW now, do I associate myself with him? I will have Marx tomorrow.
*yawn*
My stars Hawken, would you find a girlfriend already. Summer is almost here.
hawken on May 31 at 9:57 a.m.
Comrade Clarke:
You changed your photo!! Nice try with the photo of Bush. Everyone believes that, I’m sure.
This might fool some , but not the informed. You have already, well established yourself as a Marxist by association and world view.
I will not let this ‘fact’ be forgotten, simply because you are now trying to deceive with a new photo and slithering away from your core beliefs.
There are actually some people who don’t believe that we have Marxists, Communists and Socialists in this country whom are trying to take us their direction. You are but one of many, many examples of the Marxist, Socialist, Communist, convoluted world view.
Of course, this is only my opinion based upon what you have demonstrated on this blog. I do believe that this is a public form where we can exchange opinions. In your case, my opinion has been corroborated by you, yourself with your posted associations and posts.
detroitdude on May 31 at 10:04 a.m.
LOL I get the feeling most people who encounter Hawken in real life just agree with him to pacify him 99% of the time.
hawken on May 31 at 10:12 a.m.
Comrade Clarke:
Timothy McVeigh had an honorable discharge as well.
Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan was active duty when he gunned down 13 soldiers in the name of “ALLA.”
Benedict was one of the most decorated Generals in the American, Revolutionary war, before he betrayed his country.
I can go on and on….. But here’s the point.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not comparing your self-proclaimed Marxism with any of the above. Let’s be clear.
What I am illustrating is the bogus argument you make, that because I have served in the military, I’m an American patriot whose opinion is beyond question. Don’t miss the point.
That you are a veteran, self-proclaimed, Marxist, is no small matter. In my opinion.
American Patriotism (and Freedom) and Marxism are mutually exclusive.
johnclarke on May 31 at 10:37 a.m.
No Detroit, I think most people just laugh because he is a pontificating fool. Hawken, if you are so darn smart - where is the evidence I asked for? Provide an example of any Republican administration that has reduced spending or the size of government. Do that, and I’ll put your picture up.
“Timothy McVeigh had an honorable discharge as well.
Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan was active duty when he gunned down 13 soldiers in the name of “ALLA.”
Benedict was one of the most decorated Generals in the American, Revolutionary war, before he betrayed his country.”
Although I have to admit, when he posts crap like this it makes me want to send him to his room. I wish his parents would find something more useful to do with his time. The thing I worry about is someone, like a veteran getting angry enough to do something about his inflammatory postings. I personally think he is a bug and not worth it.
Scoutster on May 31 at 10:38 a.m.
American Patriotism and Marxism is comparing apples to oranges.
We could freely elect a Marxist government. It would be as American as apple pie.
Bernie Sanders is freely elected by the fine people of Vermont. He’s as patriotic as anyone else who hangs the flag on his sleeve (or lapel).
Chile, in fact, did elect a Marxist govt. But we, the USA govt, decided it was better to have a military dictatorship instead, so we overthrew it.
A military dictatorship IS anathema to the Constitution. Marxism is not as a concept.
eagleproducer on May 31 at 10:38 a.m.
Marxists and socialists built the U.S. Not the 1% who control Hawken’s thinking!
http://www.thenation.com/article/159929/how-socialists-built-america
Marxism and freedom are not mutually exclusive. Hawken confuses Marxism with Soviet Totalitarianism. Those with active brains cells don’t. How “free” is a person who will never achieve their potential because of socio-economic factors? What is lost when a nation fails to tap into all the human talent/capital within its borders?
leekinny on May 31 at 10:42 a.m.
Totalitarians all hate liberals
“Today, students should shout at the president and ask why liberal and secular university lecturers are present in the universities,”
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
.
“When contemplating college liberals, you really regret once again that John Walker is not getting the death penalty. We need to execute people like John Walker in order to physically intimidate liberals, by making them realize that they can be killed, too. Otherwise, they will turn out to be outright traitors.”
Ann Coulter
State Universities are breeding grounds, quite literally, for sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV), homosexual behavior, unwanted pregnancies, abortions, alcoholism, and drug abuse.
James Dobson
.
“Why, particularly in time of war, should we entrust the education of our children to people who loathe and ravage so many of out core values and traditions?”
Sean Hannity
.
“I suspect that the picture of the woman soldier with a noose around the Iraqi man’s neck will soon show up on the bulletin boards of women’s studies centers and feminist college professors. That picture is the radical feminists’ ultimate fantasy of how they dream of treating men.”
Phyllis Schlafly etc….etc….etc….etc….etc.
Fascist and those leaning that way cannot tolerate any form of liberalism, because if it is strong the autocratic right is weaker. All fascist attack liberals first; with hateful lies and propoganda.
WHS on May 31 at 10:49 a.m.
I just spent the weekend at a biker rallye with a whole bunch of my conservative, republican, right wing, tea party friends. Yeah, I am a Democrat… And yeah, we “debate” all the time.
Here is the gist of our current conversations.
They are all pissed, especially the retiree’s. They all voted “Republican” during the last election cycle, and not one single person is happy. Sure they will probably not vote Democrat next cycle, but they are realizing that the tea party and radical republicanism is definately not the answer… In fact, it is the more traditional Republicans that are starting to come back to the conversation.
It will be interesting to see what finally happens, but the general consensus is that there is nobody to vote for, Republican, Democrat or Lunatics…
WHS
liberal_in_right_wing_land on May 31 at 10:51 a.m.
Funny, Hawken cannot argue any facts or the truth so he has to devolve into attacking people. What, are we 10 years old on a playground now Hawken? Grow up.
Hawken, if we are all commies then you are a fascist.
Patanjali on May 31 at 10:55 a.m.
Hello friends. Hope everyone had a good weekend.
Hawken, I do not believe you are right when you state that the “The whole nation is moving right…” I believe we are becoming more divided and that just as the gap between the poor and the wealthy is growing larger so is the gap between the Republicans and the pulse of the nation.
While many people are concerned by the wide spread propaganda that the budget deficit will cause this nation’s economy to collapse, an economic theory that is not supported by historical evidence or sound economic theory, the majority of people do not support the program cuts that the Republicans are attempting, as the recent Congressional election in New York attests to where a Tea Party Republican who advocated cuts to Medicare was defeated in a traditional Republican district by a moderate Democrat. Medicare and social security are not in trouble. They are solvent and if more money is needed simply raised the income limit, or make the FICA tax applicable to ALL income not just self employed income and wages.
Socialist is a “red herring” word that Hawken likes to throw around because it inflames people’s prejudices. There is nothing wrong with a socialistic program if it works better than a capitalistic program. Take health care as an example. Americans spend about 16 % of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on health care while the UK, Sweden, Canada, Germany and France spend from kess than 8% to a little over 10%, yet they have better health care than do we in the US as measured by common factors like infant mortality rates and life expectancy. All of these countries have universal health care which some Republicans like to call socialized health care. Does it matter what it is called if it works better and costs less than a profit driven system?
So what does it mean to be exceptional? In the US current estimates are that about 25% of children live in poverty while in Sweden the number is less than 5%, France is at about 6% and the UK is at about 8%; Social spending for families is about 10 times higher in Sweden, Germany France and the UK than it is in the US; the homeless rate in the US is more than double that for these other countries; the multiplier of CEO pay to average worker pay is about 450 to 1 in the US compared with less than 25 to 1 in Japan, Germany, France and Canada; the percent of income received by the richest 1/10th % in the US is nearly 8% while it is between 3 and 2 % in these other countries; prisoners per 100,000 population is over 700 in the US while it is less than 100 in these other countries; and finally, military expenditures is nearly 700 billion in the US (and that does not count the other costs of a hefty military budget, taking care of wounded vets, interest on debt caused by the military budget, mental health problems caused by ravished soldiers returning home) while these other countries have from about 25 billion for Germany to a high of less than 125 billion for China.
I wonder if there could be a connection? Of course there is. I had always thought that Republicans like shouting at the wind about budget and spending on social programs because they just did not get it. I was wrong. The problem is not that they don’t get it, the problem is that THEY CAN’T SELL IT. Those who shout about the deficit yet continue to support a military budget that represents 42.8% of the money spent on ALL of the militaries throughtout the world are hiprocrites. Don’t listen to them for all they care about is lining the pockets of their rich friends. They do not care about the common man and woman and those who struggle to make a living, the backbone of this country. They care about that 1/10th of a percent, their biggest contributors.
johnclarke on May 31 at 11:25 a.m.
Of course they can’t sell it, Patanjali because all of the facts, data and history clearly prove that conservative politics are a complete failure. So, what do they have left? Lies. What troubles me is the percentage of people the lies work on.
WHS on May 31 at 11:53 a.m.
Patanjali, nicely written and well put… And John I mirror your sentiments.
WHS
nimitz on May 31 at 11:55 a.m.
I’m going with Allen West for President 2012. He is the only true American actually wanting to restore America and believes in what and why our Founding Fathers formed the U.S. Constitution. Allen West believes (and for good reason), in ridding our great Nation of the PC mentality that has brought it’s citizens down, not being afraid to speak up about knowing the difference between right and wrong with no gray areas in-between, honoring and restoring faith and trust back into our military to defend and protect America and Her allies from the harm of our enemies (both foreign and domestic), eliminating wasteful spending and the idea that the Govt is there to provide for everyone thru redistrubution of wealth and entitlement programs, allow citizens in each states to vote and decide for themselves what their State needs or doesn’t want, reforming Medicare before the tax dollars that were suppose to be there run out (that the govt is warning about) and make it so that the tax dollars already paid into it will not continue to be wasted and spent on programs other than it’s intended use. Allen West also knows and understands the danger and debt that Obamacare poses and is against funding it. He believes in lower taxes for all thus, small businesses and large companies alike can bring back jobs into our Country and have the money to spend to create more jobs (they will have a hard time doing that if they are taxed to death). Allen West spent 22 years in the military protecting and defending America, put his job on the line as a Lt. Colonel to save his men instead of worrying about his own career and political correctness. Now to me, that is the kind of person that should be our President to lead this Country, someone who stands on principles because as West has said it himself, once a person makes a decision that compromises their principles, they are on the road to perdition. And that’s the problem with both parties today…no one has cared about doing the right thing and standing on principles, thus what is on the side of citizens and instead, they have only thought of their own interests. This needs to be stopped! We need Allen West for President 2012! And if you think he is not running for President 2012, think again….We, the People have a choice for who we want as a candidate and for our President and many Americans are standing up to say it is Allen West!
johnclarke on May 31 at 12:09 p.m.
Hello Nimitz;
“Allen West spent 22 years in the military protecting and defending America, put his job on the line as a Lt. Colonel to save his men instead of worrying about his own career and political correctness”
Sorry, but I will not stand by and allow that statement to go unchallenged. West was relieved of command for conducting an illegal interrogation and supervising a beating. He was court martialed and the charged were reduced. He’s a criminal, and skated because of his rank.
“in November 2003, West stated, “I know the method I used was not right, but I wanted to take care of my soldiers”
This is a BS excuse. You might as well say “well Iraq didn’t have WMD’s, but I wanted to protect the United States. ”
MrBloggy on May 31 at 12:10 p.m.
MrBloggy is going with Adam West for President. As the former Bruce Wayne he is so rich he can singlehandedly bring down the national debt, as the former Batman he’s very tough on law and order and knows how to scale buildings using adapted technology.
Terrorists beware. Adam West for President!
Diana on May 31 at 2:33 p.m.
MrBloggy wins the day. Again.
Orphan on May 31 at 3:25 p.m.
Jblim Glad you liked it, I am not worried in the least bit. I am a little facinated by the attacks usually only scared people attack like you Libs seem to be doing.
WHS hit the nail on the head there really isnt anyone worth voting for Dem or Rep. Its 6 of one half a dozen of the other.
BTW I am changing my name to EffLiberals
detroitdude on May 31 at 3:36 p.m.
I show up to read some news, but what keeps me around are the prolonged pissing matches :-D
Marksman on May 31 at 3:46 p.m.
DEMOCRATS AIN’T NO WAY TO RUN A COUNTRY!
Biden to be AWOL on Deficit Talks
by Keith Koffler on May 31, 2011, 3:50 pm
Vice President Biden is being touted as the White House point man on the budget, leading the discussions with Congress as our nation’s leaders try to come up with a plan to slash the deficit and avoid defaulting on the debt.
Just today, Biden was the subject of a glowing profile in USA Today describing his unique qualifications for honchoing the negotiations.
It’s a tall order — just the sort of task Biden, 68, has taken on for a president who chose him largely for his foreign policy credentials. In the 28 months Obama and Biden have served together, the vice president’s role has grown to include many of the thorniest issues on the president’s plate.
With the House back in town following the Memorial Day recess, bargainers are set to stream back to the table, roll up their sleeves, and start hashing through the numbers. Biden will be leading the charge.
Wait a second. No he won’t. It’s back to foreign policy for the vice president. This just in from the White House:
Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden have departed en route Rome, Italy, to lead the Presidential Delegation to the Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy on Thursday, June 2.
Though the Treasury Department has already begun taking extraordinary measures to avoid default, budget talks can wait apparently for unification of Italy celebrations to end.
Biden take the opportunity overseas to gather with a few other world leaders who will also be on the scene. Which begs the question: Will the Secretary of State, who normally performs such functions, lead the deficit talks this week?
Biden and his wife won’t be back until Saturday.
Diana on May 31 at 5:05 p.m.
Gee, Marksman, you must have been really extra upset when your war president Junior took 480 days of vacation in 8 years.
JBlim on May 31 at 5:24 p.m.
I do worry actually, Orphan, about someone as unqualified as Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann getting nominated by the Republicans on the off chance that they could assume power. We already went down the road of trying a lower tier president with George W Bush, and we all know what a disaster that was. I’m not being partisan, George H.W. Bush was OK, I didn’t agree with his agenda, but at least he was an not an idiot.
misjustice on May 31 at 9:00 p.m.
Keep on tracking to the extreme right, regressives; as the nation tracks to the center and even slightly to the left, especially on social issues like gay marriage. Ya’ll just don’t get it.
; )
greenlibertarian on May 31 at 9:26 p.m.
Allen West, the new crackpot version of Alan Keyes, now with more wingnuttery. Drummed out of the Army for GOOD CAUSE, he was a disgrace to his uniform before it was fashionable. Should have been up on charges in a Court Martial, but got off as it was TOO UN-PC to prosecute a black man for FAILING to uphold USCMJ.
‘pukes like West are what give the Army a bad rep. Gung ho arseholes who put our troops at risk. He’s lucky he didn’t get fragged.
eagleproducer on June 01 at 8:59 a.m.
greenlibertarian stated: “He’s lucky he didn’t get fragged.”
You mean like that other right wing rallying vector, Pat Tilman?