Hey, IR: It sounds good! I think we all need a break. Will do the barn chores and meet you at the Dew Drop Inn later this afternoon! Keep the jukebox playing! Later

"I'll put my bonafides up against anybody as a social conservative," Barbour said earlier this month. "But that ain't going to change anybody's vote this year because people are concerned about job, the economy, growth and taxes… you are using up valuable time and resources that can be used to talk to people about what they care about."

He's right, and if they stay focused on economic issues, they will make a lot of headway in the Congressional elections.

Once they are in office, they can then also promote their social agenda.

What never seems to amaze me is how people vote based on a (D) or an (R) behind a politician's name and totally ignore their voting record vs their own personal beliefs.

Roy Wilson - Are you suggesting they hide their true agenda from the American people to get into office? You know that most Americans don't believe in their holier than thou attitude about religion, family, etc. Most Americans don't agree with such a right wing social agenda. So you say, just keep your head down and slither in under the economic, jobs issues and then once you're in you can hit them with your "true" agenda.

Much obliged IR, much obliged.

I don't really drink much, but I always wanted to say "shaken, not stirred" . . . so give me whatever drink that applies to, okay?

lol

Have a great weekend.

Yes indeed IR. I think a retro weekend is just what I need. A bit of Johnny Cash (early years) can sure put you in new frame of mind.

Laurie,

That's what it sounds like to me. I, for one, will continue to vote (D) because I'm afraid of the (R)s who do exactly what you said. They hide their true agenda until they get elected and then shove it down the throats of the rest of us. I don't want any of their social "conservatism" which really isn't. A true conservative would be for keeping government out of people's private decisions while helping them to get ahead. So things like access to health care is really an American value whether you are a conservative or a liberal. It gives people the means to be productive. How can a person who is poor get on their feet if they are also sick because they are poor??? Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day -- teach a sick man to fish and he will starve to death.

And why should the government have any interest in women's reproductive lives other than to insure that they have good care? Personally, I don't believe the government has any legitimate interest there other than the health of the woman. It's a personal decision not a public one so the government should not interfer. If you disagree with choice, you can affect other people's choices by how you, as an individual, behave and talk but you have no right to force your beliefs on people who believe differently -- at least not in a free society and we still call ourselves that.

I'm tired of so called social conservatives who are really just control freaks.

Exacly ! You are so right. These lunatics want to control our personal lives, talk about dictatorship !!!

Vote all republicans OUT if you want to remain free !

Jack - you have a lot of it right. Especially about term limits, social security, pay raises.

I would only change one thing - the entire nation should go on the health care plan the Congress has. They pay, like we do, so it costs the taxpayer nothing. But they have a lot more choices for a lower price due to a parger pool. Get rid of all thse local insurance boards, etc, and even up the playing field.

Gayle -

I'm tired of so called social conservatives who are really just control freaks.

Also agreed. Many come from religious backgrounds where women have a second rate status, and discussion of viewpoints is not allowed. They are taught total obedience - not just to God, but also to the preacher and their hubbies - all the male figures in their lives who do not live the life of a woman, but profess to know better what is good for women.

This is caried over into politics too - here's the talking points, parrot them, don't question authority (that's why Limbaugh and Hannity always shout over the top of their guests if they disagree, and Tea Partiers were taught to shout down others speaking so no opposing views culd be heard), you are either with us or against us, and anyone from outside the clique is not to be let in....Sounds like the GOP, right? Tea Party? Rude, inflexible, manipulative, and willing to say anyuthing to get what they want.

Fiscal responsibility - hah! Like we had 1980 to 2007? Debt, military spending, more debt, more military spending, tax cuts-increase spending?????? start wars, decrease taxes?????? Oh yeah - that is SO not working.

Values Voters???? Whose values? Dick Armey's? (insurrection) Palin's? (idiocy with a book signing) McConnells? (just say no, No , NO) Huckabee's? (Jesus wants ME to be President) Romney's? (no! Jesus wants ME to be President - with the White House in Salt Lake City), Bachmann's (I just want to rant, please just let me rant) Cantor's? (I want to discriminate against muslims, but can I say that on TV?) Cheney's (after we torture muslims, let's get Haliburton to buy us some Lexus's and we'll run over them in the desert) These folks are no role models of mine.....

Typical GOP . I wil never vote for them ever again. They lost me when the neo-cons took over with GWB.

I'm tired of so called social conservatives who are really just control freaks.

Well said, Gayle!

From the article:

Rep. Mike Pence... warned of the economic costs of government services if "the family continues to collapse" and urged Republican leaders to "stand for life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty without apology."

So, they're worried that if there aren't stable familes the economy will suffer, but if two gay people want to form a stable family, that's not allowed.

Also, does does this "religious liberty" extend to those who do not worship as they do and who do not believe in their god and would therefore prefer not to have christianity "shoved down their throats" (to use that charming phrase that these folks so seem to cherish)? Somehow I think not.

Somehow, when these people talk of "religious liberty without apology", I think they really mean that they have the right to espouse their beliefs, at the exclusion of any others, and attempt to dictate to others how they should think, and that they should allowed to do so in any and all locations, including classrooms, government buildings or anywhere else they choose.

How about, instead, keeping your religious beliefs at home, with your wholesome family values, where they belong, instead of telling all the rest of us how we ought to live our lives? I thought you folks were in favor of LESS government intervention, or does that only matter when it's about your tax bill?

Gayle-Pot calling the kettle black. Read the recent article in Forbes Magazine, "How Obama Thinks". The greatest election con job on the American public, to date. That is one of the many reasons us "simple folk" will take the country back from the liberal Democrats!Is that enough control for ya?

I like that jack the only problem is that as soon as it hits washington all the lawyers will turn it in to a 1000 page monstrosity full of loopholes for these crooks. I'm down though.

Money is freedom. With it you can go anywhere or do anything.

So when the Gov't takes more of my money, they are taking more of my freedom.

But the Democrats think Gov't is doing such a great job, that they need a raise.

Of course when the Gov't gets a raise, the taxpayers take a pay cut.

No Republican that I have ever known is going to make Homosexuality illegal. They might not want them to get Married, but Gay Marriage is a RADICAL CONCEPT.

What's so funny is that every Democrat wants MORE GOV'T to LET THEM DO WHAT THEY WANT.

That is illogical. It isn't ever going to work. More Gov't = More control. More rules. More penalties.

The country was the greatest in the world when Gov't was 1/3 the size it is now. No one starved. Heck, now the greatest risk to our "Poor" is obesity.

But don't take my word for it. Check out the national debt. We have got to reduce the size of Gov't to what we can pay for.

I'm glad to hear a focus on fiscal conservatism without the moral side getting equivalent time. I realize this distinction is for election reasons, but maybe it will carry over into policy decisions as well (I can hope :P).

Jack - I like your points...there may be some pieces I'd change, but overall I really like your approach.

Dorfy - I'm a bit confused by your health care comment...it sounds like you're saying we should all get free health care. I'm guessing I'm just misreading your post, but in case I'm not...nothing is free. Even if I don't write a check to an insurance company each year, someone still has to pay for me to go to the doctor. If government is running health care then I'm paying via taxes.

Your ranting makes about as much common sense as eating shredded glass. I think you were trying to be cute. But you come off being completely crazy. hahahahahaha.

oilspillsinnigeria
Vote all republicans OUT if you want to remain free !

Exacly ! You are so right. These lunatics want to control our personal lives, talk about dictatorship !!!

Do you mean like my freedom to purchase insurance if I want or to risk it without? Do you mean my freedom to work hard and be a success without having to support those that don't? Do you mean my freedom to hire qualified people versus be forced to use union labor?

You've gotta be joking saying that the Democrats are for freedom. Socialism is not freedom.

Now, as far as republicans running on "Christian Values"...shut the hell up and read the constitution. Religion does not belong in politics. Those are personal decisions and neither republicans or democrats should be determining any laws regarding it.

I'm a conservative. I'm tired of the federal government assuming more and more control of our personal lives and finances. Also, believe it or not, I am Christian...but that is my decision and it is not my place to tell anyone else how to live their life or what to believe. I could care less if gay people can get married. It doesn't affect me...and it doesn't affect my family. It's my job to raise my kids, not the governments or the Christian rights or anyone elses.

jack-3333

Love the ideas....now if we can put them to a national vote instead of asking for congress to vote against themselves.

I'd like to see some serious campaign finance reform and lobby reform as well. It's getting aggrevating having to choose from the two highest spenders instead of actually getting to vote for the most qualified person. 305+ million Americans and these people are the best 535 we can come up with? Cmon!!

You know that most Americans don't believe in their holier than thou attitude about religion, family, etc.

The "holier than thou attitude" Congress has about voting against the wishes of their constituents is WAY worse.

They hide their true agenda until they get elected and then shove it down the throats of the rest of us.

After the health care bill being rammed down our throat, I find it ironic that you think the (D) candidates don't do that.

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day -- teach a sick man to fish and he will starve to death.

You're oversimplifying. True Christians or anyone who has moral values and respect for their fellow human being would help the sick man in his time of need. That's what volunteer workers and charity is for. The way you worded it though is you shouldn't teach a man to fish at all if he's sick.

How about, instead, keeping your religious beliefs at home, with your wholesome family values, where they belong, instead of telling all the rest of us how we ought to live our lives?

You're preaching about your beliefs in public right now and telling us to live our lives in solitide behind closed doors. Non Christian believers on the left keep pushing laws like banning school prayer or even moments of silence, removing the bible from the courtroom, trying to desecrate grave stones because they have a cross on them you don't like to look at, 120% taxes on cigarettes with mandated relabeling and added total crap taste, no trans-fat cooking, etc. It's the same thing. I don't care of gays get married, but I don't think in the name of PC we should have gay people on every single TV show either. Where do you draw the line? Do we get beastiality represented next? I say let them get married and enjoy their Bush tax cut that ended the marriage penalty. It falls in line with less gov't.

And why should the government have any interest in women's reproductive lives other than to insure that they have good care?

Abortions kill WAY faster than trans-fatty foods and cigarettes. You used to be a fetus yourself. While I agree that if the mother's life is in danger and a C-section is out of the question, abortion as a form of birth control should be a crime.

It wouldn't even be much of an issue if people used protection. Diseases wouldn't even spread if people waited until they married the person they are sure they want to stay with and remained faithful. These are the things pro-abortion without justification supporters advocate against. Nobody is forcing you to abide by these ways of life, but if you go and sleep with half the city I shouldn't be responsible to pay for your HIV, herpes treatments, and abortions in the name of health care either. As soon as Obamacare passed, your lifestyle that could lead to health costs became my business. What are you going to do if a Republican supermajority comes along and uses the health care bill that overrides the state laws to enforce this on you in the name of "lowering health care costs"? Obama set it up where it can be done.

Stay out of my bedroom and quit spending my money. Diggit?

Shoot. Have one for me, Redneck

Yeah, handgunner- smaller government... just hope you got room in bed for em

larkin1974

Values meeting, Ha Ha Ha,.. every 4 years you GOPhers try to out moral each other at these things. Who is the biggest moral Christian, Gay hating, Abortion and Women rights haters of all times. How high on the self righteous meter can one stand. The only but real problem you have is that your party is full of people who masturbate, Governors who take long hikes in Argentina, fool around on your wives/husbands, have the highest level of abortions in the nation, and are all "gayed" up around the country. You watch more porn than liberals, less educated than democrats, drop out of school at higher rates. Now, how do you run on a platform of purity with all that baggage?

annie13

"The pursuit of happiness is about individuals having the right to the fruit of their own labors," she told the crowd. "It's that simple."

Then let me make the money and keep it and not the fat cat business men1% who have something like 75% of the wealth of this country, or the other billionaires who have made their money from the sweat of the brows of illegal immigrants, destroying competition, refusing to allow for paid sick leave and manipulating the work force so that they have few responsibilities to their workers and all the profit.

And regarding limiting the power of government, I would like to keep the government, usually made up of men, out of my decisions over my body. And if I want to educate my children about sex and birth control, I want to be able to do so freely. If I have the grave misfortune to have to terminate a pregnancy i want the right to do so legally and safely. It's none of anyone else's business. And don't tell me I'm not pro-life, because that is exactly what I am. I am for every child being wanted and cared for and loved, and brought into the world by educated citizens who are in control of their lives.

I don't want anyone who believes that scientists have created mice with functioning human brains to have any power over any other human being, not do I want the theory of evolution placed the same level as creationism, which should not be taught in any school except as an oddity.

Hey people you all confuse socialism with communism, but what to expect coming from such an ignorant people ??

Hey, I live in a social democracy, I have affordable health care, in fact universal health care, I get 5 weeks paid vacation every year, our 12 century castle with its 400 acres are paid for, we are totally debts free and yes, I live in a socialist country !!! He he !Yep, we pay taxes but so what ??? We have a good quality of life, our food is safe and we have the security that we will never loose our home because we cannot pay for medical bills! Now that is called a GOOD democracy

You fools are being lied to by your republican lunatics !!

Bush brought the deficit to over 11 trillion dollars money who should have come back to you by creating universal health care for ALL, repair of your falling infrastructure and other good things that democrats want for your country !

Right on redneck, we as Americans may disagree on a whole lot of different issues but in the end I think we can get along. Shoot, who knows what we may think about religion, science, politics or a few other issues. I'd still enjoy lifting a few to you and our country at the local bar- have one for me and I'll have at least one for you!

I like that they need to have a convention to remind themselves of what they are to do. Do they really need to be reminded so many times that they are to have values? And the values are: 1. trample on those who are less fortunate than me; 2. keep government out of everyone lives except when it comes to the bedroom, then follow what we say is right; 3. Protect the rich because they help "us"; 4. fight wars so that our friends at Haliburton can make more money; 5. Abolish public schools because the little people might learn what is happening to them; 6. Deregulate every business because no one should have to follow any laws except for the ones we deem correct and as long as WE do not have to obey them; 7. never take care of the sick, it has to be G*D punishing them for not being pure and good.

I don't think I have missed anything. But feel free to add more if you can see anything I missed. I know this is snarky, but I really get tired about hearing this and then they do the exact opposite when in power.

Dan - You really think that that is this crowds real agenda? I think not. Oh they talk a good game but their true agenda is to make richer those that are already rich, to take the wealth created by the middle class and "trickle it up" to the wealthy and powerful and the most important of their agenda; to control Americans. They beg for smaller government then want to control what we do in our bedrooms, whom we marry, how we are educated, what country we conquor, what religion we tolerate and promote....have I left anything out about these people? They want to destroy the middle class. This has always been their agenda from the very start of the rise of the middle class. This crowd is pure evil and they revel in it.

You say government as if it were a living, breathing thing. Come to think of it, it is. Only it's you and me. We still help our neighbors, only these days that neighbor may be four or five states away and I never met them in person, but am still glad to help them.

Dan,

It exactly WAS government handouts and subsidies that made this country what it is. Government subsidies brought electricity to rural America, supports our farmers, wove the countries rail system together, built up the aerospace and air travel systems, grew our technology and medical fields. Handouts from the government pay for the education of our population so that our workforce may be skilled, builds our roads so our commerce may be conducted, ensures our water is clean and our food is unspoiled.

The people of the United States relied upon themselves as much as the People of the United states IS the Government of the United States.

It says so in the very first line of our Constitution. You should read it sometime.

Laurie and Frank and others of like mind -- Amen! Helping others is an American value and one means of doing that is through our government and we should use it for that.

And this is why we need to vote for Democrats this fall.. Republicans are for the rich and wel to do while Democrats are for the people.. always have been imho.

Stealth : That has become such a boring argument..."They're only for the rich". Most Americans are not rich, so I guess the republicans are good at conning enough people to vote for them and your perspective is "I'm not dumb enough to fall for it, while others are". OK! How about this. Have you ever thought there are good people who have different priorities than you, and feel the Democrats haven't represented those priorities?

I was raised in as a far-left family in Ca. as you can get. Registered like a good boy as a Democrat. My mother said that as poor people, the Democrats looked after us. I soon realized as a young adult (White male) that the Democrats could care less about my education, rights as a father, how affirmative action affected me and a whole host of other issues. In fact, It was Republicans in my personal experience that at least gave lip service to issues that were important to me. If I even brought up how affirmative action punished poor whites or how indigent men are discriminated in family court, they acted like it was a non issue. Well, it's an issue to me and these few examples are why I can't vote Democratic at the moment. The Democrats to me have become the same sexists & bigots they were complaining about just 30-40 years ago. Try stealth, to think outside the box, that other people have concerns they want addressed that are just as important as your concerns and aren't "idiots" because they vote for someone who may be opposite of who you vote for.

@ Union Baby - The govt. has shown, time and again, they are unable to manage taxpayer money. They have squandered it and diverted it from it original purpose to buy votes. This is exactly why we need a fiscally responsible govt. It is time they step up to the plate, not stand there with their hand out. The govt. is not our parents. The more entitled our society becomes, the more complacent the entitled have become and less likely they will be to go out and do what it takes to earn their own way. Or become successful for that matter. That goes for the 50% who doesn't pay taxes. It is time for them to pay their share as well, for exactly the same reason. It is not the duty of the rich to entitle those who found it easier to sit on their butts than take care of themselves.

1. trample on those who are less fortunate than me;

2. keep government out of everyone lives except when it comes to the bedroom, then follow what we say is right;

3. Protect the rich because they help "us";

4. fight wars so that our friends at Haliburton can make more money;

5. Abolish public schools because the little people might learn what is happening to them;

6. Deregulate every business because no one should have to follow any laws except for the ones we deem correct and as long as WE do not have to obey them;

7. never take care of the sick, it has to be G*D punishing them for not being pure and good.

Wow. You fell for every single smear tactic Democrats used to get in office and keep you from focusing ont he fact they aren't representing their constituents. Not one single one of them was even close to truth either.

Altho #6 was what Greenspan told every president & congress to do in his career and both Republicans and Democrats alike obliged.

#2 becomes an issue in 2014 when I'm financially responsible for the results of bedroom lifestyles though. Your STDs and unplanned pregnancies aren't my responsibility. Using precedent of health care overriding state law, tobacco regulations and trans-fat & salt content regulations, it can be pushed on you now tho. Congrats on your Dems making that possible.

"only for the rich" is laughable after how much Democrat controlled congress has approved in bailouts in the last 3 1/2 years. You guys can't even keep that talking point straight either because half of you claim we're all rednecks missing teeth who live in trailer parks living off welfare.

Good old willowbrook.

50% don't pay taxes because they are so poor they don't even have a tax bracket for that. Those 50% have 1% of the wealth between ALL OF THEM

We DON'T NEED to be fiscally responsible, because WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY. It's GONE. The wealthiest have actually accellerated that whole "getting richer" thing since the reccession started. They're richer, now, than they ever were and they took it all.

The right-wing of this country has taken us all for a ride for years. Now they want to put a whole NEW set of nutbags in.

What we need now, is to get back to the Democrats and BACK them. THEN we will get things running again. WITHOUT the government taking our personal lives

The GOP and Corporate sponsored Tea Party has only one agenda and that is to take Over the Government so they can put more Pro-Corporate leaning legislation into the lives of Americans.

All of this BS about family values and keeping government out of our lives really makes me sick and tired of hearing it. They do not have any answers for anything. Only their stupid fact-less statements.

• They SCREAM keep the government "Stay out of our personal lives!" BUT: Want to deny people the right to choose their Religion (Christian only country), personal choices to their bodies ( they want to put them in jail for getting an abortion), who they can marry ( No Gay marriage)
• Obama, Stop taxing us to death! Pres. Obama lowered taxes on 95% of the United States population and plans to lower it even more yet they still have a problem with taxes? The top rich 1% who did receive tax cuts from the Bush administration are whining about Obama wanting to repeal 4% of that tax cut to help with our economy. Most of the 1% of the rich in this country don't even pay taxes because of all the tax regulations they have put in place in their favor. They are the also the only evil in America over the last few years have gained in income while the rest of us lost income on the average. The tea party is sponsored by rich corporate companies!
• I'm sick of all these bailouts to the Banks and Auto industry! George Bush is the one who in did the bailouts for the banks to keep our economy from collapsing before Obama was elected to office. The difference is Bush did not require any accountability on what they did with the money where Obama kept CEOs from getting paid bonus money through the bail out and also set rules to help make sure they distribute it correctly. The so-called Auto Bailout was not a bailout, it was a loan which most of the auto companies have already paid back and the taxpayers actually made $1.3 million in interest! The Tea party will will keep bringing this up though they know they know these facts, there just trying to discredit everything along it does.
• We don't need any Socialized Government Medical program! The bill that was passed was actually called medical REFORM Bill not program. the bill provides that insurance companies would monopolize on our health in this country are not able to kill people wanting more by denying them health care ( talk about family values). Your medical insurance will be 100% covered by private insurance companies is no government insurance companies involved, even Medicare is conducted through private insurance companies not government. The only socialized form of government ran health care in this country is the VA which is 100% government owned and operated. All you with your family values should take away our veterans health care if you're so moral.

I never hear what the tea party will actually do if they were in power besides blanket statements of bring morality back to the Country bla bla bla. What specifically would you do to get the economy going again besides blocking the Jobs Bill or Bank Reform & Wall Street (the people who got us in this mess in the first place) what are your answers? Please! I'm dying to know?

@ Steve, so our taxes went down? Well, I guess I can go along with that, but then my income has DECREASED 13% in the last 2 years, so it is hard to see it. According to the 941 payments I make for my Employer each week, that is not the case.

The rest of your post????? PLEEEEZE! You taking lessons from Obama? Your popularity will go down the more you talk like him.

willowbrook

@ Steve, so our taxes went down? Well, I guess I can go along with that, but then my income has DECREASED 13% in the last 2 years, so it is hard to see it. According to the 941 payments I make for my Employer each week, that is not the case.

Actually, Willowbrook, yes, your taxes went down under GWB and Obama wants to maintain that cut permanently for the middle class. Speaking as one whose taxes would go up to Clinton levels (who left us with a surplus I might add) under Obama's proposal but would permanently stay low under Boehner and McConnell's clans...if fiscal responsibility is what you want, then you have to start paying for things which means increasing taxes.

Here's your thought for the day, Ronald Reagan is almost considered a saint under current GOP...guess what HIS top tax rate was?? 90%!! Ronald Reagan raised taxes when it was necessary and he did it more than once.

I for one am totally sick and tired of Conservatives whining about taxes when they are at the lowest rates in modern history, wanting to keep those tax cuts permanently without any real strategy for balancing that out in the budget and then getting all high and mighty against the Dems and Obama for having a record deficit when all that deficit was started under Bush...first with his two unfunded wars which he didn't bother to put into the official budget so it was worse than it even looked, then with his tax cuts and then with his own bailouts that Obama HAD TO continue and expand if this country wasn't going to fall into a total depression. Think about how bad you'd have it then if unemployment was at 25%!

EVERYONE pays for things that tick them off through their taxes. I don't particularly like how mine go toward these damn wars that we need to end once and for all....and believe me, my family happens to pay more in taxes than many people earn all year GROSS. Taxes are essentially the membership dues for belonging to this great club we call America. Deal with it or move on somewhere else.

Willowbrook

" The rest of your post????? PLEEEEZE! " Like I say You have No Answers, Just speechless about the truth!

@ Steve, my post was to the point, I read NO TRUTH in your post. I have better ways to waste my time then attempting to help those who don't want to see or hear. I will be sure to skip your posts next time and stick with those who can have a real discussion. Night

Dr B said:

Actually, Willowbrook, yes, your taxes went down under GWB and Obama wants to maintain that cut permanently for the middle class. Speaking as one whose taxes would go up to Clinton levels (who left us with a surplus I might add) under Obama's proposal but would permanently stay low under Boehner and McConnell's clans...if fiscal responsibility is what you want, then you have to start paying for things which means increasing taxes

Increasing taxes will not cause fiscal responsibility. Creating a plan, setting limits and sticking to it will create fiscal responsibility. (Just like the expiring tax cuts, headlines proclaimed keeping the tax cut for the wealthiest would cost America XXX billion dollars. No it doesn't cost the govt. anything. They were already counting it like income they could spend. WRONG MENTALITY!) It is not the taxpayers responsibility to pay for irresponsible legislator's out of control spending without question. It is not our responsibility to pay for building Mosques in other countries, or send Muslim clerics to other countries to "foster" Muslim/American relations. It is not our responsibility to repave new pavement, reinstall new sidewalks as a "stimulus." (Or pay millions for signs showing the work is paid by "stimulus" funds.) It is not our responsibility to cater to Illegals, giving them more rights than Americans. Giving them section 8 housing, food stamps, health care, American jobs, while they don't pay into the system and send BILLIONS back home to their Mother country. We have to spend more on law enforcement due to illegals, in a vain attempt to protect AMERICANS from them. The list goes on and on. The current discontent in our country is due to wrongs like the ones I just posted and thousands more. The Liberals are hateful and rude as that is all they have in their arsenal to defend their beliefs and actions. Liberal cry "racist" where none exists to try and quiet the masses. It is not working.

It is our right as Americans to vote out our Legislators if they are not doing what is in the best interest of the US. (Or what they claimed they would do when they were on the campaign trail.) We are doing nothing wrong. I want what is best for America. Not been seeing much of that come out of Washington. If you want to blame someone, blame the Media. The Media has distributed the info coming out of Washington more than ever. And our current technology makes it easy to be bombarded with coverage. It didn't used to be that way. Probably how the govt. got away with so much for so long. The Liberals have not been successful in controlling the Media, therefore, they have no way to hide their actions any longer.

Fiscal responsibility STARTS with taxes.

Fiscal responsibility is for EVERYBODY- NOT just the poor people.

Fiscal responsibility is keeping corporations in check, when they drive wages down and profits up and UP AND UP. Fiscal responsibility prevents them from eliminating competition and gaming the markets.

Fiscal responsibility is ensuring that America has enough to pay for infrastructure. That it has enough to pay for roads and rails and pipes. That its water is fresh; that there's no downer cattle in the beef; no salmonella in the peanut butter or eggs; that there's no melemac in the milk or baby or pet food.

Fiscal responsibility is preventing the most important things in our lives from becoming Profit Centers for corporations; whether it's air, water, health, energy, or its institutions .

This is getting long, so I'll stop here and just point out to everyone that fiscal responsibility is NOT something that the REPUBLICANS or the TEABAGGERS have EVER DISPLAYED ON THEIR OWN.

Yes, we have the right to vote who we want in or out of office. BUT we also have the DUTY to make those choices worthwhile. The only people who have shown responsibility has been Democrats. NOBODY ELSE.

Marxist

What other religion is being persecuted in America other than Christian values? It sure isn't Islam.

Wow, you can't be serious! All you here in the news every day is how:

• Eeverybody who is not a Christian is some type of heathen!
• That are not Christian you are immoral!
• That we should teach biblical references instead of science in our public schools!
• That Christian values are the values of America and if you're not a Christian then you are not an American! This is all Christians Tea Partiers talking who are bashing everyone else in this country.

We also hear all over the News!

• If you're a Muslim you're a terrorist.
• How dare Muslims build a community center for blocks away from ground zero!
• We are going to burn the Quran to make a statement!
• Obama is a radical Christian who howls around with Rev. Wright
• Obama is a Muslim. Which one is it?

This is the true religion bashing people in this country, they are not the victims of anything!

where exactly are Christians being persecuted in America? Haven't seen even one iota of evidence of that one.

Why do you have to make things so complicated? Ever think MAYBE the Bible was written just to help ELECT right-wing rabid-bat top two % selfish tea bag half-term anti-social security cuties (Mr. Mitch not included) obsessed with stem cell research, condoms and masturbation? Bet you didn't even consider the possibility!

You may be right! I'll have to rethink that.

Why is it that we don't allow a politician to ever change their minds. It happens to both parties, some republican will say "I think we need to cut back on spending" then all the liberals jump on the band wagon and criticize the person "well he didn't feel that way 3 years ago." Or some liberal that voted for health care, now says he is sorry that he voted for the bill, now says "oh I shouldn't have voted that way" Why can't people change their minds? Maybe, just maybe the individual had a true change of heart. I'm sick of hearing, "well he didn't do that 5 years ago. Everyone sounds like my two year old granddaughter. "Well last week susies mom said it was okay to pinch the dog" Come on, none of us are two. Responsible adults grow and thier opinions change over time. I will bet none of you on this forum think exactly the same today as you did 30 years ago. Its ridiculous to hold any politician accountable for something they said 20 years ago.

Janet - I agree completely. We should applaud the people that have enough integrity to listen to others and constantly question their own beliefs - and change their positions if needed. Yes, sometimes this is done for political purposes (and I don't praise those cases), but other times it's just because they evaluated the current facts and changed their position.

Or a lobbyist paid for their opinion to change.

If I recall, we tried that already and it blew up in our faces pretty badly. I don't see how they can continue to pretend that they understand the ecomony

Everything will blow up in your face when you keep chasing the fuse and after it is lit. Nothing can work if every time one person starts a reasonable course of action the next impatient fool decides that they have a better idea that will work faster. .What party they are makes no diference there are fools of every stripe

They believe that they can fix a problem in an hour that it took them decades to screw up in the firs place

They do not want to give the economy a chance to heal because if it were to straighten it self through the natural forces of the market. 1)it would take longer than they would care to wait. 2)it would make people realize that they have been getting tooled and 3) they would have nothing to complain abot because the economy will have been straightened out by it self

They are the kind of people who put down astroturf because the seed takes too long and requires too much thought and care to get a nice green lawn.

They think it is fast but it is only half-fast

Ask him if he has ever read or studied the Jefferson (yes, that's Thomas Jefferson) Bible? Probably not!

Mark, Wow! I'm so intimidated. The Govt. pounded in my door to force me to read the bible and act like a good Christian. I don't have the first clue about the bible and I hardly see where the govt. is forcing Christianity on me. We have two social issues (Gay marriage, abortion) that the country is in debate over....That's it!! I hardly think there is some theocracy going on. I for one wonder why the Govt. is even involved in Marriage to begin with. Why did it sanction a religious institution? How about the Govt stay out of marriage all together and have the separation of church and state like so many of us believe we should have. As far as abortion, I know equal amounts of people who support, or are against abortion and sense I don't really know very many religious people I hardly think it's simply a religious issue. Some people just think abortion is wrong (I don't agree) and they have the right to argue their points. That's America, debate it out, but I don't treat them with disrespect because they have a different perspective than I. Democrats are slowly losing the argument by taking a stance that only they know whats best and everyone else are just uninformed.

Darryn - I agree, more open debate is badly needed in this country. What's sad to me is, I used to think the progressive crowd as a whole advocated an open exchange of ideas (and maybe they did 20 or 30 years ago). Now, it seems like progressives are just as bad as the religious fundamentalists on the right. Neither side appears to be interested in discussing alternative view points.

I don't think Democrats are saying anyone is misinformed. Quite the opposite. I think they are saying it's ok to believe what you want, what you are misinformed on is that your personal and religious beliefs don't belong in law.

What I find totally hilarious is that the Baptist think the Catholic is going to hell. The Pentecostal thinks the Mormon is going to hell. The Evangelical thinks the Jehovah Witness is going to hell. And so on. When Christianity can agree on the message of Salvation, which should be the most important message, without damning all other believers to hell, then they may have an argument. Until then, it's schoolyard thugs trying to get rid of the ones they don't like collectively.

If you don't like gay marriage, don't marry someone gay. If you don't like abortion, don't have one. If you feel that your kids need prayer in school, teach them at home or send them to a religious school. I could buy this whole return to the constitution if that was what it was all about. However, if you aren't anti abortion, anti gay, pro gun, pro prayer in school, etc, then you can't be a Tea Party member. They all lie because they wont say what their stance on social issues really are! They want to hid in the corner, tempt people with fancy rhetoric and inflame their anger. But at the end of the day, what do these people really want? No masturbation. Doctors paid in chickens. And a revolution pitting neighbors against one another. Yeah, sounds like such a great idea.

I read somewhere that Huckabee's son-in-law is the paid advisor for one of the Alabama Governor candidates. The first TV ad was about cracking-down on illegal immigrants...in Alabama. Good grief, with all the real problems in the state.

You're absolutely correct, Rich.

It's stunning to hear from them, and an insult, besides. Especially since it has cost so much, just to keep the country afloat, while the wealthiest are getting more than ever

Im conservitive and I don't want to control your life or anyone elses. I just want my liberty. So your gross over-generalization is blown to shreds. Now what?

Out of A job,

First off, sorry you are unemployed. I mean that sincerely. However, it was Tea Party people who called unemployed "lazy", "drug addicts," and "abusers of the system." These political leaders DO want to get rid of abortion, deny gays equal rights, force prayer in school, etc. So you may not want those things for yourself, but you support those people who bad mouthed you and do want to legislate their morality into the fabric of America. Now what?

That's not the tea party fols I know Ross, not even the unemployed part. I think you're listening to the spin from the pundits who hate us honestly.

Out of a job,

DeMint- Voted against gay marriage and constitutional amendments twice. Tried to have openly gay and lesbian teachers fired. Voted against any and all abortion bills. Voted to have prayer put in school. Has a total voting record of social conservative without fail.

Palin- States that abortion should be illegal. States that gays shouldn't marry. States prayer should be in schools.

O'Donnell- Against masturbation. Against abortion. Against gay families.

Bachman- Against abortion. Against gay marriage. Wants to have proceedings to find out who is a "real American" in Congress.

Shall I go on? The truth is, it doesn't matter if you personally feel the same or not. The people you support do want to promote their conservative agenda that promotes loss of equality, loss of freedom, and go in the complete opposite extreme that Tea Party people seem to despise. Once you open Pandora's box, you can't close it.

Conservatives made the government bigger than it ever was and NOW they blame it on Obama. It's ridiculous

Old forester- it isn't God that causes our problems and it isn't God that needs to find answers.

God gave us free will and has been crying about what we're doing to each other, ever since. We NEED to work on this- ALL of us.

Man, just gotta admire yet again the twisted logic that people keeping more of the money they earn is an entitlement from the government. Where does that end? Is everything we earn an entitlement from the government? If so, then we are slaves and I think I will do the absolute minimum demanded of my master to help out.

OutofAjob - Republicans can't have it both ways....bemoaning the deficit at the same time they try to give tax cuts (they don't want to pay for) to wealthy people who don't need the tax break and won't stimulate the economy with it. Even economists agree the tax breaks to the wealthy won't stimulate the economy.

Most of the smart ones are bemoaning the extreme, unsustainable spending and the broad over-reach of government, not the deficit. They're not trying to give tax cuts, they're trying to prevent tax increases. Which economists "agree"? Name them? Krugman?

Daniel J .....Gee, one of those times when I wish I'd said that. So obvious, it's a wonder some tea partier didn't think if it!

laurie-480643

bemoaning the deficit at the same time they try to give tax cuts (they don't want to pay for) to wealthy people who don't need the tax break and won't stimulate the economy with it.

Please explain this laurie.

Why is it that everytime that there has been a reduction in taxes, ie a tax cut, the reciepts to the IRS have always increased.

This happened with Kennedy, Regan, and Bush. The problem is ALWAYS in Government SPENDING.

oilspillsinnigeria

You left out the most important item, JOBS. I know that is not very important to Europeans since money grows on liberal trees. You like all the French freebies, but you don't get them unless someone else is working. Must be nice working 30 hours a week. Just try not burning down government buildings if you are asked to work a 40-hour week.

Well Oilspillinnigeria I too lived in France while worked in the foreign service corp. I was very excited at that opportunity due to the fact that my grandfather immigrated (legally imagine that) from France. I am glad you have gone back because it seems to be just the place for you. You see I was happy to come back home to my great country, even with its problems, its much better than France. I found the French to be horribly obnoxious people. The country is filthy, your houses are ridiculously behind the times, and your lack of technology is amazing, and the French are incredibly lazy. Maybe that gov, that you love so much should spend some of those tax dollars you so happily pay to main the infrastucture of your country, and teach its citizens some common courtesy.

By the way, isn't France the country that is trying to ban Muslim head scarfs? Don't think we have tried that here.

Janet... you are our typical republican moron... and no, you never lived in France and your post is a lie !!

In fact, I find France much cleaner than the usa where I spent 25 years of my life. Your roads are filty with beer bottles, and junk yards everywhere. Our infrastructures are well maintained when your'r a falling down ! Our people are no more obnoxious than yours, in my years there I never saw so many arrogant, nasty people and racist people !

All I can say is that you are a liar. 100 000 americans live in France and lets not count the ones who live in other parts of Europe.

Democrats didn't vote to go to war? Democrats didn't vote for bank bailouts(tarp). Democrats weren't in control since 2007.?You lemmings need to think before you spew.

Since 2007? You really don't remember anything that happened in the past decade, do you? Let me break it down for you.

Bush came into office, neglected the country for 8 years and played war in two different countries at the same time (with no end game or plan in mind) and then decided at the same time to not only do nothing about the failing banking industry or stock/housing markets, but instead decided to cut taxes. Did I fail to mention that Osama Bin Laden was never caught? Did I also mention that oil prices went up?

It is funny that when the GOP gets into office and things fall apart they keep yelling that all policies take 7 years to implement and impact the economy (roughly the time they will be out of office), but once Democrats step into power, they are expected to turn everything around in less than two years (about the time Obama has been in office).

Sorry, but you can't have it both ways GOP...

First you have to tripple it before cutting it in half. "Half" is such a wonderful relative term.

Actually if you would get out of your hate enveloped universe occasionaly you'd know that the Federal Deficit has dropped 8% so far..

stealth-1098860

Check out the national debt clock. It was $12 trillion when Obama took office. It is now $13.5 trillion, a $1.5 trillion gain in 20 months. It took Bush eight years to gain $5 trillion. Didn't we vote for change and not someone who is worse than Bush?

Road Warrior - Again you are wrong. President Obama has accomplished quite alot in his first two years not cutting the deficit 8% while trying to stimulate an economy in free fall and stop the free flow of job losses to the tune of 725,000 when he came into office. Why don't you get the facts straight or better yet, just get some facts.

Hey road warrior.... it takes money to repair a car, it takes even more money to repair a country ! Yep, Bush spent over 11 trillion dollars of your taxes, where were you to denounced him ??

Republicans are the biggest spenders, unfortunatly, they do not spend your taxes on you or your well being, they spend it on big military !! That will ruined a country as you can see it, now !!

Hey you should have thought twice before voting for Bush, If democrats had been in power, the country would be far ahead ! You just got what you deserved for being stupid ! Yeah, keep on dwelling on stupid issues like clinton's affaire or on Obama's preacher, I am sure that will better your lives ! Idiots!

Lol, never heard "hate envelope" before. Of course, all forms of disagreement are now labeled as "hate". Since you are disagreeing with me, why do you hate me so much? What have I ever done to you that you are being so hateful to me? Also gotta love the twisted logic of Obama reducing the deficit, which is a fabrication. Don't forget about the rainbows and puppies that Obama promised each of us.

oilspillsinnigeria
I did not vote for Bush. Haven't voted Republican in over twenty years, but I will in 46 days. The Democrats will be flushed out.

You haven't told us yet how you managed to own 400 debt-free acres in France after losing everything in the US under Bush.

Apparently no one here is aware of the role that the Federal Reserve has played in our economic crisis. The Federal Reserve is a private banking cartel. The government borrows from the Federal Reserve to run the country and the IRS came into existence shortly after the inception of the Federal Reserve to insure that taxpayers would pay taxes so that if the banks screwed up the federal government would step up and bail them out. Remember 2008? Remember Goldman Sachs?

All of this is and was engineered by the international banking cartels, with the American taxpayer taking it in the shorts. Remember Bernacke saying he didn't know where the bailout money went? It went into the coffers of Foreign Banks like Deutsche Bank. Our politicians have been pawns of the Federal Reserve for three generations. Bush, Obama, Clinton...all of them are either captive to or willing participants of the international banking cartels.

China and Saudi Arabia and other countries with the help of the banking cartels hold American debt. The more the government spends the greater the debt and, like if you don't pay your car loan, the bank can reposess your car. Guess what, the countries holding our debt can do the same. You like the idea of being beholden to China or Saudi Arabia? You think you got it bad now? Blame Bush, Blame Obama, whatever, the net result will be the same unless the government borrowing and spending stops.

I think Democrats have always been accused of being unpatriotic by conservatives. Democrats are also accused of being non Christian and heathen. Whenever someone stands up for someone who is under represented who isn't a part of the mainstream culture and has a different point of view, they are either unpatriotic or a heathen.

After 6 years of Republican control of Congress with a Republican President, why don't we have prayer in school? Why do we still have abortion? Why aren't bibles back in courts? Before you say "Those Damn Democrats stopped us," remember that Tea Party and Republicans have been asking why we haven't had sweeping social reform since Democrats have a Super Majority. Go ahead and answer the question, I'm excited to hear the answers.

While I agree that healthcare shouldn't have been the President's top priority, you have to put in into perspective.

Bush destroyed our economy. It was anticipated that millions would be out of jobs for a very long time and no one knew how long that would be. We also having a large aging population. Couple those together and healthcare becomes very important. Further, no one talks about this, but if you compare the cost of the healthcare plan against the costs of two unnecessary wars, it is relatively small. I would rather spend money to save American lives than pay to send Americans off to their death in a foreign country.

Last - Obama has been in office less than 2 years and has done a lot. If he said he would do it in 4 years, it is way too soon to judge whether or not he will live up to his word.

EXACLY ! what a waste of money !!! well it made a few republicans like Eric Prince Blackwater, very rich, money who should have gone to the american people, money who should have been spent on your infrastructures, health care.... what a bunch of fool american right wingers, are. Can you spell STUPID ?

Yes, this kind of discussion will do a lot of good to make plans going forward.

I guess there isn't a lot of outrage because most of the democrats voted to enter the war

Janet, I guess selective memory again comes into play. Let me refresh your memory. After 9/11 and Bush started beating the war drums, words like "Un-American" and "traitors" began floating around like much poop in a polluted river. Bush and Co. were masterminds by labeling anyone against the war as against America. They capitalized on America's sorrow for the bombing to push their fake war for oil. Any member of Congress that didn't vote for the war was already labeled a traitor to the country before there was any real conversation about the implications of a war. Please tell the families of the thousands of soldiers who died in these "justified" 'wars that their husbands, wives, children, fathers, mothers died for a just cause. I support our troops and thank God they are there to serve. I don't support the mindless killing that ensued and I pray that they will come home and we will actually honor them with the services they deserve!

Have you been off the planet Enrique? The tea party movement is the outrage!

That three trillion created some real wealth in this country, but did us very little good.

What scares the left most is the fact tea party people are not concerned about social issues. They are more interested in fiscal issues, something that most Americans can identify with. That is why people like Florida's Rubio, a tea party favorite, is gaining independent support and is 14% ahead of Crist.

What scares the left most is the fact tea party people are not concerned about social issues.

nobody believes you. really.

do yourself a favor and quit saying that.

Road Warrior - I guess you weren't looking at those tea totalers during their protest rallies were you?

40% of the sunshine state and 55% of the blue grass state are agreeing with the tea party so far. Stay tuned for more.

laurie-480643

No, I don't need to. While you are grinding your teeth at Palin, the independents are quietly making their voices heard at the polls. As I recall, it was the independents who were the difference in 2006 and 2008 and now gives the Democrat Congress an 16% job approval rating, just a tat over the 11% overall who disapproved.

So... Rubio is more popular than Crist?

Gosh, when John lennon said that about the Beatles he almost got crucified for it. ;)

roadwarrior... I don't support rubio.. its more of the same.. bad for this state... the good ol boy network has been the ruination of this state and rubio is nothing more then one of the cronies. it's about the money and the outside groups that provide ads... they do this to push to get the good ol boy in the position so he can be a yes man instead of putting someone in that would actually support the people of this state.. the average worker that is strugging to get by, the folk that have NO HEALTHCARE.. bet rubios folks took advantage of the help the system could provide when they left cuba

Again, unlike traitors like you who have deserted your homeland in order to get freebies from a socialist country (France), we American like what we have. We don't need your advice. It's like the French soccer team giving advice to the Italian team on how to win. As any Italian knows, your competition will never want what is good for your team.

Hey stupid republican, I work over 70 hours on my companion's ranch taking care of over 500 head of cattles, oh and by the way, his 400 acre ranch is PAID FOR ! We don't have one debt ! How about that ?

oilspillsinnigeria

You must have done pretty well under the American capitalist system before you tucked tail and ran off to France. You were once a greedy capitalist turned liberal like George Soros. Damn hypocrite. You libs are all the same. I bet you even parked your yacht in Rhode Island like John Kerry to avoid paying taxes.

What are you figting for Road warrior ??? For ignorance, I suppose.

I work on a ranch and work over 70 hours / week ! Oh and by the way, our ranch and 12 th century castle are paid for ! We are debts free, unlike you and most americans.

yeah and I enjoy 5 weeks paid vacation every year, affordable health care, safe food supply. Yep, we pay taxes but so what if those taxes come back to us with good social programs like universal health care and insure our security ??? You see the difference with you people we have a better quality of life and we feel secure in our lives ! You, do not !

There it is, folks, if you don't agree with Road Warrior, you are a traitor.

oilspillsinnigeria never said he was an American who was living in France but that does not matter, it doesn't fit in with RW's narrative.

Yep, I was a business owner in the usa, but I lost it under GW Bush, like so many !!

Hey Matthew, ask oilspillsinnigeria where he or she lives now and where he made his fortunes, and now trashing the US?

I am a french/american citizen and yeah, I choose to now live in France ! It took me 25 years living in the usa to realized what am I doing here ??? I should have never left France !

Morons like Road warrior need to get a passeport and see the world outthere !

RW, to describe you as 'dense' would be too kind.

I was a business owner in the usa, but I lost it under GW Bush

oilspillsinnigeria
Hmmm, something is not adding up. You lost everything under Bush, but managed to move to France and became the owner of 400 acres in France. Are you not telling us something?

Matthew

Coming from you, that's a compliment. The last thing I want is a lib agreeing with me. See you in 46 days.

Socialized health care is not the key. It is a very expensive proposition. The U.K. and your adopted country are realizing that and they are making adjustments.

Road warrior... No I did not make my fortune in the usa, I made it in france.

oilspillsinnigeria

You hate the US, but lived here for 25 years before moving away? It took you that long to decide this wasn't the place for you? I thought liberals are the smartest of the litter. I am glad you are gone though. That is one less Obama vote.

Hey, aren't you the one sending me those notices that I won the Nigerian lottery?

Almost anyone who has been to France will tell you that the people are friendly and it is a beautiful place. I have the distinct pleasure of going there every year for six weeks and I wish it were more. What happens there, however, is not relevant to our own problems. To those who complain about their treatment of Muslims, they have a 2,000 year old culture which they are trying to maintain. I wonder what the US reaction would be to a Muslim population that was approaching 10% and did not respect our cultural traditions?

Agree totally ! Put them in front of a firing squard !

Agree totally ! Put them in front of a firing squard !

Where were the "fiscal responsibility” folks the past 8 years

Aus10

We were among the people who gave Bush a 22% job approval rating, especially after he began nation building instead of bringing the troops after Saddam fell. We didn't like his Medicare expansion and caving into the teachers union either. You really don't believe that the 78% who disapproved of Bush were all liberals, do you? BTW, the "past eight year" line is no longer valid since it's been ten years. You need to revise your DNC talking points.

Who gives a rats ass about Bush? That's all you libs can come up with? Damn you probably bitch and moan at your spouses everytime they do something wrong years ago and hold it over their head too. You all threw the baby out with the bath water and forced the American people to drink the Obama kool aid. Well, news flash, the kool aid is tasting stale now and American's do not see CHANGE and HOPE right now, especially in the unemployment line!

Road Warrior - Do you like any working class hard working American? You seem to be down on any union member but you forget one thing. Union workers are middle class Americans working hard to earn a middle class living. Why would you be down on these people....the backbone of our country? Are you only for wealthy business people who only care about their bottom line or corporations who don't care whether this country goes down in flames or not? You call people here traitors because they pay taxes and want social programs to help combat powerful individuals and corporations. The average American has no leverage to go up against the wealthy and corporate interests. We pay taxes and the social compact is that we get social programs to help us maintain a middle class existence. The wealthy are still wealthy, the powerful are still powerful. But no you would abolish Social Security, Medicare, Unemployment Insurance, the public education system, civil rights for women, blacks, homosexuals, the 14th Amendment in an effort to take away hard fought and hard won rights and entitlements from the American people. I would submit that rather the traitor is YOU.

Laurie, I'm a middle class worker that is barely hanging on to my job in the "private sector". I have worked and managed union environments in the past and they stink just like the nutcases that can't work together in Congress. I couldn't wait to leave that cancerous environment! You always have UNIONS AGAINST MANAGEMENT and visa versa. So don't go spewing about how peachy unions are because they are just as disgusting as the fat cat CEO's in big corporations sucking money from workers for "union dues" every month and allowing lazy f'ers to keep their jobs while disrespecting management! So there...take that!

The point is why were you so silent on Bush then but oh so vocal about Obama now? Its why we can't take you serious. And yeah the tea party definitely has a social agenda. They are just using this tax charade to hide the fact that they are the ones who used to call themselves the "moral majority"

laurie-480643

I don't know how we got on the subject of unions. I did not mention it once on this thread. But since you brought it up, let me tell about my experience with unions. Like LoudMouth (I hate calling someone that whom I agree with), I see unions crippling companies. As a contractor, I travel from plant to plant, some union, some not. I love working at non-union plants because I don't have to put up with the crap at union plants. Getting something done at a union plant is like pulling teeth. Everyone has his little job description and nobody raises a finger unless it is specifically wriiten in the job description. If someone tries to help another in a job, they are given a warning and gets chewed out for doing something that is not their job. If I want to sweep my office, I must get a designated person to do it or else I get written up. Every union job takes twice as long as a non-union job and cost twice as much. It really sucks.

Now that's something I can agree with!

To Sharlicart: Spot on my friend...too bad the Bush bashers, anti-teaparty folks don't get it. They whine and wail about the Christians in the teaparty, but no one says a word about the vipers of radical Islam which our president seems hell bent on establishing as our national religion. The mainstream media is either braindead or else so far of left with the progressives that they don't comment on issues which are of great importance to national security. Obama supporters remind me of the cultish followers of Jim Jones. They willingly followed and supported a charismatic and charming leader, and, when those followers who finally realized what Jones was all about, it was too late, the more radical followers forced the less-willing into their mass suicide .

mygirl, Do you really believe Pres. Obama is trying to establish radical Islam as our national religion? Words have meaning, try to post something that is coherent and persuasive to your argument or thinking people will dismiss you as someone who is crazy, biased, bigoted, and uninformed. Who are you taking your marching orders from? Surely you didn't reach these conclusions by yourself.

LOL. How are they pretending to be better than everyone else? All they do is care about their country and don't want absurd Obama policies shoved down the throat of the nation. Isn't government supposed to be for the PEOPLE by the PEOPLE. NOT for the Liberals by the Liberals!

loud- remember that liberals are citizens of this country as well. we have the right to live our lives as we choose without ultra-conservatives trying to preach morals and "that's the way it's always been", things are changing, and it will be a great thing for the GOP to open the narrow-mindedness that has plagued the party for YEARS. no, obama isn't perfect, but has ANY president been perfect? and yes, you will have to get used to a lot, because gay marriage is coming fast and it's being pushed by a large portion of the GOP now. the right needs to loosen up a little and the left really needs to tighten up, liberal is fine, but bleeding hearts get us nowhere.

government is supposed to promote domestic tranquility. these conservative right wingers have brought nothing but anger and lies. they want to replace the science curriculum with bible stories. they want to whitewash history by referring to slavery as the "Atlantic triangular trade". they want to make easier for polluters to pollute. they'd love to sell off the national forests, parks, and recreation areas to corporations. they think you can balance the budget by cutting off food stamps, school lunches, federal aid to education, and the national endowment for the arts and other social programs which are less than 10% of the deficit. I suppose God will supply the other 90% if we say the right prayers.

these conservative right wingers have brought nothing but anger and lies.

Ain't it the truth but the other side is a swell bunch of public spirited servants of the people who want nothing more than to improve the lives of the people they serve. They lay awake at night sometimes sobbing quietly about the plight of the poor and disaffected. They spend their free time in soup kitchens and tutoring the underprivileged in their districts tirelessly working to improve their lot in life. They live lives of intentional poverty so they can contribute all of their worldly assets and be a shining example of charity to the world. No yachts, private planes or mansions for these paragons of virtue. Yes by golly those other guys are the spawn of Satan and my guys well they are good, no lets no tbe wishy washy GREAT.

Yup we're circle jerking all right. Along with 70% of fellow American's that do not like where this country is heading. So if you don't wanna get on the REAL "supertrain" of CHANGE then get the hell outta the way because as your liberal friend in San Fran said when he wanted to ram gay marriage down our throats...."It's happening whether you like it or not!"

Retard.With.Religious.And.Ignorant.Thinking.Hypocrites

Loudmouth - How is gay marriage rammed down your throat? I suspect it wouldn't even affect you and your marriage now would it? Would gay marriage prevent you from getting married to your partner? Would gay marriage cause you to get a divorce? Will gay marriage prevent you from having children, going to the food market, buying a house, a car. How does gay marriage affect you and your life style in any meaningful way other than you get to deny someone else the benefits that you enjoy for yourself?

I believe in the sanctity of marriage between a man and woman. You know PRO-creation! I just believe that if we balloon the term "marriage" with anyone, everyone, and anything, we will open up pandoras box. I have no problems with changing the term "marriage" to "civil union" for ALL if that means giving Homosexuals the same civil rights as everyone. I would sacrifice calling my marriage a "civil union." See I just set up a compromise, but pro-homosexual activists are set on their high horse to hijack the definition of "marriage" to piss off people that do not agree with their lifestyle.

Lets not forget the liberal politicians motto. Do as I say not as I do!

Loudmouth - What would you have those people who are no longer able to procreate call their unions? You know those of us over say 50 who want to get married. Should we be denied the ability to marry because we are no longer able to procreate? How about those of us who don't want children and "choose" to remain childless? Your argument doesn't hold water because marriage is not for the sole purpose of procreation. If it were, there would be many individuals other than gays that would be prevented from marrying. So I think you should get off your self righteous high horse on this one and admit you are just plain out and out discriminating against a class of people based on innate characteristics beyond their control.

laurie, loudmouth thinks the government should be able to coerce people into believing in his belief system and live according to his rules. that's what he means by freedom from government intrusion. I suspect he also believes we should be teaching creationism in school instead of biology.

Never a better example of the "Straw-man" argument Laurie.

no loudmouth- we do not want to "hijack" the term marriage. you want to protect the sanctity of marriage, how? with an over 50% divorce rate, babies having babies, and you want to deny marriage to an entire group of people, citizens, who want to enter into this joyful union? you'd do better to fight to make divorce harder to come by. as harvey milk once said, "as long as we accept less, we will never be equal". civil unions do not always cross state lines and are not recognized as the same as marriage. nothing bad has happened to the countries that have same sex marriage, so why are you so upset about it? as great as america is, it is NOT the moral bastion of the world that the religious right would try to make us believe it is. change with the times loudmouth, your kids and grandkids will wind up thinking the same thing about this as we do about interracial marriage being illegal in most states 'til '67 or women not being able to vote until the 20's.

John Martin, I stand up and salute you! You've nailed it concerning the gays right to marry. The right to seek a legal abortion should not be dictated by the government either. This is a decision that should be made between the pregnant teen or woman, significant other and the doctor. Councelling from Planned Parenthood is advised as it is a serious step. The government has no business getting involved.