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Jonathan Ernst / Reuters
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin speaks to the American Conservative Union's annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Saturday in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON -- Sarah Palin argued Saturday that a long, competitive battle between the remaining GOP presidential candidates would lead to a Republican victory in November.
“In America we believe that competition strengthens us. Competition elevates our name,” Palin told the crowd as the closing speaker at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). “Competition will lead us to victory in 2012. We must stay true to our principles. I believe that the competition has gotta keep going but let's make sure this competition brings out the best in our party.”
Palin did not make an endorsement of any particular candidate during her speech but did tell NBC News afterward, she “would endorse whomever it is who is elevated to the top by this process.”
A brokered convention, Palin said, wouldn’t necessarily be bad.
“We are going to see how this process evolves and if it if ends up as a brokered convention at the end of the day, well that would be a really exciting time for all,” she said just before departing the Washington Marriott Wardman Park.
The former Alaska governor, who flirted with a presidential bid this year herself, spent a big chunk of her speech criticizing President Barack Obama.
"Mr. President, we don't want an economy built to last. We want an economy built to grow," she told the overflowing crowd. “We certainly don’t want your economy built to last, we want your administration to end.”
Palin also picked back up on the populist tone of her speeches from last summer, speaking about the need to rid the government of “crony capitalism.” She said many people who come to Washington calling it a "cesspool" get all too comfortable there in the "hot tub."
"It is time that we drain the Jacuzzi and we throw the bums out with the bathwater," the former governor said, drawing loud applause from the audience.
Palin spoke at CPAC directly after the results of the organization’s straw poll were announced.
Mitt Romney won with 38%. Romney, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum all spoke at CPAC Friday.
The former governor said the nominee must “be ready, strong, fortified, passionate, a fighter for American ideals,” but most importantly, people need to rally around him to beat Obama.
“Whoever our nominee is, we must work together to get him over the finish line so we can start tackling this defense of our Republic,” she said.
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Yeah, we know the type of competition valued by the Grizz .. the type where you hunt down your opponent from a the comfortable seat of a helicopter and shoot them in the back with your high powered rifle.
Too funny - the quittar from Wasilla talking about leadership...
Shut up you stupid broad & go make some more babies... that you can pass out to the crowd!
Will someone remind me again, WHY I give a rats ass what this bitch has to day?
Go slap a Slamon & make our day you dumb@!$%#!
Actually I don't completely disagree with what she is saying. Competition does make candidates and parties stronger, usually.
However, this time, it isn't a competition to see which strong candidate can prove a little stronger. It's more along the lines of a competition to see which weak candidate the party as a whole can stomach. And this isn't making the Republicans stronger.
Oh, is that babies she is dropping around .. I though they were soccer balls from her former career as a
suckersoccer mom.Totally off topic but the breaking news is; Whitney Houston died today...
What a loss of a precious & loving breathe of life!
Godspeed - Whitney! I for one, will never forget you or your talent!
In the wake of this news, it kind of makes all the rest of the political bull@!$%# seem inconsequential!
Sarah said, "Competition elevates our name."
Sorry, the 2012 GOP competition is not elevating the party.
OBAMA 2012
In normal circumstances Princess Dumba** of the Northwoods would be correct, except these aren't normal circumstances. The coalition of disparate groups that make up the Conservative Movement, many of whom are at odds on various points of policy, is disintegrating before our very eyes. Moreover the politics of personal destruction is spectacularly at play even within the Republican primary season. That can only serve to make the eventual nominee even more unpalatable to the general electorate than he was destined to be.
http://articles.cnn.com/2012-02-08/opinion/opinion_avlon-gop-turnout-down_1_gop-turnout-turnout-numbers-republican-rank?_s=PM:OPINION
In a democratic process they are competing to represent the 1% and the fools who vote against their own economic interests, to try to garner the favor of the 1%. They should wake up to the reality that the best that they can do with that strategy is to capture the vote of 44% of the people. The electoral college is another issue, but I don't believe that Obama hasn't figured out how to distribute his 52% popular support amongst the states that he needs to win handily. Espaecially after he helps the Israelis take out the Iranian threat in OCTOBER 2012.
The GOP continues to get all excited because a "perky young thing" has a foul mouth and goes way beyond the pale in criticizing this presidency. This is pure red meat. With the personality of a female dog (starts with a "B"), she does nothing but drive wedges between the parties and the races while furthering and raising her speaking fees...
And you people fall for it EVERY TIME... Jersey Shore at it's finest.
Feisty: I think you're scared of Sarah Palin. Everytime you bring her up you start blubbering. Look at how many words you misspelled, or is the wine?
The Alaskan Wild DingBat Hates President Barrack Obama so much that she Stole a version from his 2004 Democratic Convention speech. Something about a Red, White & Blue America.
I guess her Real American's Bull Hockey does'nt play so well now.
O well, Whitney Houston passed away & there will NEVER be another person come close to her singing "The National Anthem" several months after 911 @ the Super Bowl.
Occupy SoggyBottom!
LMarcT--I agree, but please do not sully the memory of my wonderful female dog. She was intelligent, loyal, honest, and never was a publicity hound. Something Palin will never be.
Well, Palin is yappin about competition, I wish there was real competition in the republican nomination process...
Read this,
Google accidentally releases final Maine Caucus results a day early
Check this one out,
Maine VOTE FRAUD--Results before they post them!
Need more,
Nevada vote fraud official
Newsmax accidentally prints Romney Nevada win article 2 days early
Well lets see, we have creditable fraud issues in Iowa, South Carolina, Florida, Nevada and now Maine.
Reported issues in New Hampshire, Colorado, Missouri and Minnesota but no actual reports yet.
Most of the issues center around accurate reporting of vote totals between Rick Santorum and Ron Paul, with some trash concerning Newt Gingrich votes thrown in for good measure. All reports involve the media reporting and the Republican party officials on the state level.
At this point I would say that the Republican Nomination race is a fraud, an obvious fraud and is unrecoverable as far as any consideration of fair and open nominating process. The only candidate untouched by this,
Willard Mitt Romney.
I wonder what he and the national party are promising the individual states to get them to prostitute themselves like this.
I will never forgive old man McCain for unleashing the Alaskan lipstick wearing hell hound onto the rest of us...
What a great rousing speech Palin gave at CPAC! Brought the crowd to it's feet with applause several times! But for me she summed it up with a big "WTF"to Obama! WTF are you doing to the country with your idiotic ideas, Mr Obama? The country can't take it anymore!
I hope carrot top listened to the speech! If so, I bet she pounded down several boilermakers to forget, lmao!
ABO 2012, more than ever!
Benny, I agree it was a good speech and very funny! Someone on another thread suggested that obama's handlers should have him use slapstick comedy as a strategy.... he sure can't campaign on his record!
Nice Job Sarah! Romney/Rubio 2012!
You're right, Egilman. After all, these are the guys who faked the moon landing. Compared to that, rigging an election is simple.
But what is Palin's role in this? Why do they keep trotting out such a media-created, establishment-backed, elitist dunce to fire up the conservative base with hypocritical anti-elitist, anti-media, and anti-establishment rhetoric that even the most minimally informed citizen should be able to see right through?
And how do they get the conservatives to keep eating it up? Alpha-wave mind control messages buried in the network TV signals by the FCC? Hallucinogenic compounds snuck by the EPA into the fluoridated water supply? Brain-altering retroviruses inserted into vaccines by the CDC? An army of FEMA thugs waiting outside to ensure that the participants put on a good show, and to march them off to death camps if they don't? Or just a steady supply of bribe money from the Fed? Once we understand that, I think we'll finally be close to seeing the big picture.
Nathan, That's a great description of Obama!
bensnead Wow your a grown man with no brains. Letting the half governor speak for you. But one does have to say she is kinda of smart. she did get you all to donate or better put she took your money all the way to the bank and didn't do a thing for it. Now that is taking advantage of some real smart people.
Obama Biden 2012
Feisty, I was very sad to hear about Whitney Houston. My thoughts and prayers to her family.
Robin, how so?
smitty, reading your posts indicate to me a strong lack of maturity, and little formal education.... so typical of a liberal sheep! It's so easy to get under the skin of a liberal these days... isn't it! :-O)
Sarah Palin isn't running for anything and that gives her the freedom to speak her mind and take chances others can't! I admire her moxie and love that she has the power to give my favorite truck stop troll carrot top fits! lol..... no one can give carrot top a first class wedgie better than Sarah!
"I will never forgive old man McCain for unleashing the Alaskan lipstick wearing hell hound onto the rest of us..."
He paid the price Fiesty, Palin destroyed his campaign, and his reputation as a straight shooter. Palin getting back on stage is good for democrats because outside the republican base she is and will forever be seen as a joke candidate.
ben I guess my lack of maturity has never allowed me to quit a job right in the middle of it. When I was growing up I was told that, "No one likes a quitter." I guess thats changed huh ben. Now it pays to be a quitter. Strange days in America!
Q: What does the republican base like for desert?
A: Half baked Alaska.
It's hard to believe there are actually people supporting Palin on this discussion. If this idiotic loudmouth actually excites you, my guess is that you're a typical republican voting against your own interests.
Obama/Biden 2012
Smitty, you are obviously in denial if you don't understand Palin's reasons for stepping down from her position as Governor of Alaska! That's what the lies of the old liberal media is doing to you...! Maybe someone can explain it to you......
Actually Forrest, I prefer my crazy cakes fully baked, but that's just me you understand. (can't handle that soft doughy center)
;-0)
Egilman, you must be talking about Mitt's famous flipjacks, uh flopjacks, oh flapjacks!
Actually, blueberry flips are what came to mind....
"Can't we all just get along?"
Why are we looking at our fellow citizens such as those offering comments on these Newsvine discussion threads, as if they are our enemies, merely because they may have differing opinions about how to fix our badly broken country?
Haven't you all thought this through, fully, and realized already that this divisiveness is EXACTLY what the Democratic and Republican Parties and the 'professional politicians' wanted all along?
Our divisiveness and anger with each other, and their ability to 'play us' against each other, is their best guarantee of job security. The more partisan and polarizing they are, the more they appeal to their ever-more-polarized bases. Yes, that's US! We are being played!
Divisive voices such as Palin, Pelosi, Boehner, Reid, McConnell et al, don't care a lick about us. They care only about their own personal power and influence, and how they can convert that into personal wealth; and we are enabling them.
They are polarizing the country purposefully so that more moderate voices, whom can bring REAL change and stability to our country and get things done, have no chance of threatening their jobs in congress!
Wake up everyone! Our neighbors and fellow citizens ARE NOT our enemies, regardless of their political persuasions. The REAL enemies of the United States of America, which are a clear and present danger and threat to this nation's future, ...are the Republican and Democratic parties
Oh that old lamestream librul medyah you bethca...right heres why she quit...for the money! She doesn't care about anything but herself...like most Alaskans know...she is a sellout
what about the Chicago bs politicains your city has unleashed on our country?
Okay, that picture makes her look like she's surviving solely on daily injections of botox and methamphetamine. Wow.
Furthermore, this "competition" is similar to the residence of a psych ward, competing for "most sane". In other words, in context, it's not much of a competition at all. It's more of a race to the right, which will inevitably hurt the nominee.
A true competition that would strengthen their candidate would not be grounded in things like how many electric fences we can build on the border or who can vow to blow up the most sh($%* in the desert.
It would focus on real concerns and ways to actually get stuff done.
Sarah Palin, Being picked by John McCain for vice president, set back the republican party and exposed their evangelical right wing extremism... Plus she showed the country just how dumb some people can be...
Please just go away... But you are nice to look at... No, go away...
Isn't this bimbo's 15 mins up yet ? The VP is already chosen and its not you !
No VP yet... could be her! Now THAT would be something, wouldn't it? You never know what, if anything, is going on in that little brain of hers.
Palin's 15 mins will be up when her contract with Fox dries up, her speaking fees stop, and no more book sales. VP? Why not? Keep the ludicrous circus going. Although it is wearing me out trying to keep up with all of the performers in the ring.
If the V-P spot is taken. Picture this Secretary of State. Let your imagination run wild with that one thought. LOL.
There she is again, talking about how a brokered convention wouldn't necessarily be bad. I'm telling ya, she's holding out hope, lol.
Though I do kind of agree with her in that the Republicans would greatly improve their chances in November by picking someone from outside the current candidates. I think Sarah and I will have to agree to disagree on whether that someone maybe ought to be her.
Paul,
Sad news and off topic. Whitney Houston is dead. She was 48. Cause and location of death unknown.
Hadn't heard that. Just breaking now?
I try not to make too much out of celebrity deaths, because in the end it's no more significant than anyone else's. But you're right, always sad to see someone that young die.
Just got the blip on my cell a little while ago. My daughter loved her (she kept playing "I Will Always Love You" in the car). Lady had one tough life. She did one of the best renditions of the National Anthem I have ever heard.
And Sister Sarah would LOVE a brokered convention!
I remember once seeing Dolly Parton interviewed. "I will always love you" was Parton's song - she wrote it and first recorded it. She was asked if she minded seeing Houston's version go ballistic like it did. Parton said of course not, it was flattering to have another singer pick her songs. Then threw out the line - "especially that singer. I may have the lungs, but she's got the pipes."
Why wouldn't she? Hell, they might even pick her at that point!
Eivis wanted to record Dolly's song. However, in doing so, he also wanted all the rights to the song. She said "Thanks, but no thanks" One of the smartest moves Dolly ever made.
Da Noid, the thought they would ever consider Sarah is either very, very sad or hysterically funny. I go for both!
they might even pick her at that point
They might, but reading the tea leaves unless there is a major gaffe, and/or Mitt is able to bury him with negativity that can stick (line Gingrich) Mitt will be going home by the convention.
On the Public side Survey USA just posted a primary poll for California - Mitt 33, Santorum 31, Newt and Paul back there somewhere.
If there is a brokered convention... it will be because the saner minds in the Repub party realize that there isn't a winner in crazytown or "Kochtown" and someone who can at least fake giving a rip about 99% of the country has to step up. They will select someone who they think will attract independents & democrats....... maybe Christie or Me Daniels ( who won't) or Jeb Bush ( who won't either but would have plenty of $$$$$$$ backing for the big oil cartel).... this isn't our parents Republican party any more...they would all be called RINOs today......., this has been taken over by the very people William F Buckley worked so hard to keep OUT.
Feisty again showing the post- Tuscon bipartisan civility so valued by the President...
What is it about a successful conservative woman that causes you to lose the last shred of decency you may have had?
Answer: you never had a shred of decency to begin with...
A more likely answer: Sarah Palin is an obnoxious idiot.
I don't recall anyone accusing Sarah Pailn of being a "successful conservative woman".
Kay Bailey Hutchinson, that's a successful conservative woman. Sarah? Not even close.
Barbara Bush was a real lady. Sarah? Not even close.
You call that post-Tuscon bi-partisanship civility? I call it a nasty evil swipe by an even nastier evil conservative witch.
Elizabeth Dole is another. She wasn't much of a candidate, but certainly successful in other endeavors. I remember when she ran, she wasn't considered a token female or anything like that. She was considered credible from the start, at least until it became apparent she didn't have candidate skills.
Bob McDonnell for VP - a newly born re-reg of a previously banned troll!
Tick Tock Bubby... tick tock! lol
Feisty,
I was never banned from here. Why your endless personal nasty attacks on GOP candidates and their families arent banned...is a mystery.
Then what's up with the multiple accounts booby?
Hey Bob?
Where did you go?
Cat got your tongue?
Paul M,
Liz Dole was a strong candidate and wouldn't sell out her views, but had very bad handlers and strategists. This is why you don't hear too much anymore from Bob, the establishment cut her off at the knees and he resents that massively.
Phine,
I wouldn't be at all surprised if Hutch is the first woman president. Politically she has all the cred, a titanium backbone, and smarts that will match up with anyone.
Egilman, I remember her in those debates. She just didn't have it.
I'm not saying that's a bad thing. There's not many of us who can stand among other overachievers and somehow grab the spotlight. And honestly I think I'd rather have someone like Liz Dole who couldn't as a neighbor than someone who could. But as a candidate, she was too reserved. She's the kind of person who makes kings behind the scenes, but doesn't take the throne herself.
That's the conclusion many of my friends came to also, but I think with the right handlers and advisers she would have made a great President.
Dude...She's hot to look at (if you have the tv muted ), but she's just not bright. Successful maybe (you don't need to be bright to be successful), but sorry, any person that wants to run for president or vice president better know more about foreign policy than I do if she wants to be taken seriously.
She is an incurious GRIFTER. She's working a con! If that's what you want in a President, then you are more corrupted than most.
So, between Newton and Sarah we've got a call loud and clear to "shake up" the Washington establishment.
...oh, by the way, the DC GOP establishment? They were all in the room listening to you. I bet they just loved that message.
RIP Whitney Houston... You are an example of how our bad habits will kill us.
She was on some severe anti-depression medicine - may have put her to sleep in the tub - especially if she took it wrong. Lost a brother from some of that stuff - you have to work the problems out or mentally it will destroy you.
Time to measure the White House for new curtains Mr. Obama. Your next 4 years in the White House are assured if this ding bat thinks repubs are taking over.
What has this moron been right about in the last 5 years?
Open competition? You mean like offshoring our jobs to Vietnam, laying off Americans, and then pocketing their salaries? That kinda' competition? You're a management / business genius Ms.Palin. Just like the rest of your repub party.
Palin needs to understand that the competition in the party is not NASCAR. This is an all-out Demolition Derby. The last one running won't sell.
Palin is still dumb. Her voice sounds like someone running their fingernails down a chalkboard.
Well, the lack of posts here show her relevance. Im outta here.
She will lead her party to VICTORY ,the same as she did in 2008. Doesn't this creep get the message that the U.S. has had enough of her crap?
Go back to Alaska IDIOT--THE LOWER 48 has enough creeps here -WE DON'T NEED YOU......
I know we're not supposed to compare American politicians to Nazis, but doesn't Frau Palin sound like she'd fight right in at that Party?
Just when you think you've heard everything. . .
Tell me something, Amy- which political party is busy vilifying a religion? Which party is attempting, in defiance of a Firat Amendment that precludes such behavior, to insert itself into religion to achieve its own ends?
Oh, and, by the way- which party demands not just acceptance, but downright worship of its leader?
That would be yours.
Democrats vilify religion? Gosh you have a short memory. Republicans made alot of hay out of preventing Muslims from opening a building in downtown Manhatten, as I recall. So much for "freedom of religion."
Amy: poor no jo cannot comprehend that this is not an issue of the First Amendment. If it were, the government would have demonstrate neutrality with religion, which her President did. The government cannot be seen as favoring one religion over another, which is what the bishops and the fringe right wing are demanding by their petty tantrum over women's access to contraceptives.
This is purely employment law, which is too fine a point for no jo.
Yep!
The Constitutional amendment the Republicans keep throwing around says that our Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or restricting the free exercise thereof...
As a Christian, I am more afraid of the Republicans, who seem to want to force my Christian beliefs on every American while trying to prevent the religions they deem as "evil" from their basic freedoms. I am happy that I have a choice and have chosen Christianity. I have no fear of being prevented from practicing my religion or attending my church.
God, whom I believe in with all my heart, says it's an individual choice. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus Christ. And everywhere in the New Testament Jesus and his followers taught us that each of us must CHOOSE to follow Christ. It seems to me that the Republicans think they can cram our Christian beliefs down all other citizen's throats and make laws according to their own religious beliefs. That's the main reason they don't like Romney.
Amy B
No Jo means "real" religion; you know like the Catholic religion. The same religion that burned heretics, went on crusades, did nothing to stop the Jewish pogrom during WWII and most recently did nothing when young boys were being molested by priests except to cover it up.
That religion.
Of course that doest even begin to compare to Obama having the gall to make sure women of a different faith working for a Catholic institution receive equal access to contraceptives.
What you have to wonder is why no jo and the Republican leadership aren't equally outraged about not extending unemployment, also favored by the bishops....or is this purely to further their war, hatred and mistrust of women?
It is the "restricting the free exercise thereof", where Onama seems to have a problem.
Tell me, Amy- which president was the recipient of a nine to nothing decision from the SCOTUS when he tried to impose HIS will on a church?
That would be OBAMA, Amy.
See, a Lutheran school fired a teacher from their K to 8 elementary school after she had been out for a long period of time. She taught reading, writing, arithmetic- all the usual elementary school subjects- and religion. That made her a minister.
So, the Obama EEOC filed a suit. The Obama assistant Solicitor General said that the Church School's beliefs simply did not matter; that the ministerial exemption should be tossed, like so much garbage, in the interest of "fairness".
The Court- including both of Obama's appointees, said bunk.
The First Amendment of the Constitution protects religion- all religions- from government intrusion. That includes exemptions from many statutes- including, but not limited to, hiring
practices. Thus, Mosques and orthodox synagogues are free to practice their belief that women and men should not worship together. It is not your place- or mine- to tell them they are wrong- it is their belief, and they are free to practice that belief.
This contraception debacle Obama brought on himself was bound to lose in Court- and will still lose, as it is a violation of the Fourth Amendment guarantee against government "taking". Obama does not have the authority to order any business to give away, without recompense, any product or service.
As to your earlier assertion- who was it posting so many negative, and, in some instances, vile, remarks about the Catholic church? Why, bless my soul, it was Democrats! In defense of their idol!
Your worship of the man, (and, here I refer to all of the cult members, not just you), renders you completely unwilling to admit that he is not above the Constitution of this country. This past week is just another instance of his abrogating that document- a document without which we, as a nation, cease to exist.
You-and, here, again, I mean all of you-do not seem to care. That makes YOU more akin to the followers of another charismatic ego maniac from the last century than those who oppose your idol.
That you are willing to so cheaply give away the rights and freedoms so many heroes have bled and died for to serve your idol is sick making. That you would even consider ascribing to others your own tendencies is indicative of the complete inability to recognize your brain-washed subservience to a man who cares about nothing but his own ego.
Whatever will you do when he is unceremoniously booted from office?
More nonsense from no jo: "the free exercise thereof" does not apply. That's not what this is about. If it were, the bishops would not be able to stop others from having access to contraception, due to their doctrine. See, no jo, that floats both ways.
The President was right, this is purely an employment law issue, and no bigotry from you about your President changes that.
Bless the old broads heart!
Wrapping yourself in a flag and banging your bible does not make your blathering magically become true...
Then again, you already know that...
It's why you, Donna, remain thee #1 liar on FR - Your princess must be so proud!
I have to admit, you do have some newbies nipping at your ankles... ;o)
What ever will YOU do when President Obama is re-elected in a landslide?
I don't think you could survive 4 more years of your pure hatred & bitterness... lol
No Joe’s new hero, now that Tricky Rickey from Texas stepped on his little Rickey, Mitt Romney won in Maine.
While only 2% of registered Republicans even bothered to spend a little time to vote, Romney won with 37% of the vote while in 2008 he got 51% of the vote.
Talk about falling out of love !!
As is the usual, no jo is lying. The case of the teacher was filed under ADA. She had a sleep disorder. no jo's President did not file the complaint, the teacher did.
But, no jo is nothing if not predictable.
The utter irony is, the Catholic bishops claim they are against abortion - but they don't want anyone helping women to prevent unwanted pregnancy. They'll cover Viagra for impotent old men, but not contraceptives, because those old men may be trying to start families with younger wives ?????
I fear this controversy does more harm, once again,to the Catholic old boy's club, then it does to Obama's re-election. It's a shame too, just when the Church is asking people to "come home."
The Church should be about so much more than saddling women with this dilemna: go against church teaching to protect themselves, deny themseleves sexual relationships, or try to prevent an unplanned pregnacy through the rhythm method.
Right you are Amy. And what it really comes down to is this: The Republican party likes to SCREAM about personal liberties, all the while, they are interfering with the most intimate choices families make. If you look at a family as the smallest social unit, one would think that the Republicans would be screaming about getting the "Federal Government off their backs." Instead, that is where they want the MOST control. It makes people like no jo look foolish to support them.
The bishops can't understand that it is simply none of their business.
No jo likes to bring up some sort of case that she read, and she is always wrong, either about the case or the intrepretation.
But she might remember this, it was Bush Sr. that signed the ADA into law.
Newday,
I would like to hear your take on these websites. I posted these earlier but it seems everyone ignored them....
Why don't we start with the "War"
Sebelius' War Lands Her in Court
This really started two years ago but read the above article, you will find,
WE now go to here,
The HHS Contraception Mandate vs. the Religious Freedom Restoration Act
Even after the SCOTUS ruled against Obama in the Tabor case, we get this,
You see a trend here,
The Obama administration starting a war against Faith based medical facilities? Blaming the Republicans for this direct assault on the constitution by the president and his administrators is an outright falsehood.
It is not a social issue that the republicans raised, it is a constitutional issue, one that has been cooking for over two years, raised and then backed off from by the administration, and the political backlash will be at the administration.
Just one last point,
154 Congressmen Send Letter to HHS Protesting HHS Contraception Mandate
here you will find,
Even the congress thought is was a constitutional issue.
You can spin it any way you want to take responsibility off the democrat plate, but in reality all such spin is a falsehood also.
I would really like to hear a rational viewpoint on what is in those articles.
Please?
Your point escapes me Egilman. My initial reaction to reading these sites is "so what?" A bunch of people decided to use this as a political football. Sounds the usual to me.
This is purely employment law that has been bastardized for a church. In violation of the Wall of Separation. Do I care that some courts support that? NO. They also supported slavery for many years, as well as things like poll taxes.
The doctrine of the Catholic Church should not hold ANY part in this debate. And riddle me this. If people like Boehner and the rest of that ilk are going to be SO outraged on the Church's behalf, why are they not following bishops declaration on extending unemployment?
Hmmmm?
Or is this all the usual charade?
Newday,
My point when I originally posted this was exactly as you state here.
It was intended to enrage the masses, to take advantage of the outrage over the Komen issue for political reasons.
What backfired is the catholic issue, a large constituency for the president in '08 that at the very least is now going to be fractured. For a president, that in all realistic reasoning is going to need all the support he can muster, it was a bad political move.
It creates more political dissension that it resolves, bipartisan dissension. Besides it made him appear weak, which is a serious arguing point with the fanatical democrat faithful.
All rhetoric aside, this didn't help the president, he could have easily waited until after the election and muted most of the anger over this.
Your point eludes me totally. Now you are conflating two different issues that have at their heart, the same meaning for most women. WE will decide on our own, without old men interference issues that most directly affect us. We are very capable of choosing, what provider we will use, be it Planned Parenthood or a physician in a clinic.
The Catholic Church should not be getting favorable tax status in this country, nor should they be preaching from their pulpit on the issues of the day.
The President did exactly the right thing. And given that 98% of Catholics use some form of birth control, pragmatism will hold sway.
Newday, I'll go one step further,
I do not agree with NoJo's take on this, it is a constitutional issue from the religion standpoint, The SCOTUS decision isn't directly on point but the issue behind it is, seeing as almost half the house of representatives (bi-partisian by the way) viewed it as a direct constitutional issue, as it relates to a challenge of the first amendment protection of religious expression, is the only logical conclusion.
My take on pragmatism, the ends justify the means, is not good, we might wish to end the discussion here as an illustration of the differing points of view.
newday,
While I agree that no church, from a business standpoint, should be receiving any favors from the government as a violation of the first amendment, saying that any clergy shouldn't be commenting (preaching if you will) from the pulpit is absolutely protected just like freedom of speech is protected for newspapers and any media.
Saying they shouldn't be, is the same as saying that OWS shouldn't be preaching about the 1% vs 99% in the streets either. They are the same protected speech.
Wait, what? Egilman, I don't care if 100% of the Congress sees this as a religious freedom issue. That is a naive view, that all who actually read the Constitution should reject.
It is easy to use religion (or guns, or bigotry) to drum up support for extreme views. The Republicans have been doing that for years with wedge issues, and that is a HUGE reason why this country is polarized.
If you take out the wedge issue ( OMG! How DARE women make decisions about their reproductive lives?) and center it exactly where it should be, in employment law, it takes the emotion out and it becomes an easier decision that the President is right.
As to your second comment: OWS is getting preferential tax treatment to take to the streets? Really? Umm, no they aren't.
If the Catholic Church wants to speak from the pulpit on issues and try and tell parishioners how to vote, they don't deserve the tax exemption.
I"m going to take this in two pieces...
1. Political,
I'm a conservative, I believe in individual responsibility, not collective responsibility. My personal political position is that politics needs to get out of the reproduction issue entirely. Politics does not belong in our personal lives mandating anything.
Choice in reproduction belongs with the individual woman with consultation with the father of husband, as long as the father or husband understands that it is his partners or wife's decision.
The fact that the SCOTUS created a government mandate into this very personal issue with Roe v Wade was one of the worst intrusions into personal freedom ever seen in the history of the united states constitution no matter what your political position is.
It is NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS!
2. Religious...
I am a christian, and yes my political beliefs in many way agree with my religious positions. God is what you personally chose him to be, God in my bible, guarantees this. Each individual will at some point in their life make a choice concerning what they believe on the religious front. That choice is between them and their god what ever it is. No where in my bible does it say that I should have an opinion, or the right to an opinion on their choice.
It is NONE OF MY BUSINESS! My god says that I will know another's character by the way they conduct themselves, the only judgment I am allowed is the golden rule, so I try to act with kindness to others even if they do not.
So from a biblical standpoint, the choice of whether or not to get involved in childbearing and rearing is the sole provenance of the parents, not any other individual or government.
It is NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS!
I agree that these are issues used by both political parties to polarize the electorate and hide what the actual intent is. Wedge issues are the tool of the politician, and are used to control the masses. This is why we as citizens need to look beyond the wedge issues and towards the solutions with a calm demeanor and factual basis, not an angry divisional manner and a rhetorical basis.
The sooner we can get there the better off we will be and the closer to rebuilding this great country.
Amy, they promote natural birth control. Must work, seems the states with heavy Catholic Populations have a lot less teen pregnancies than those with the fewest Catholics.
As usual, Sarah Palin doesn't know WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT !
I thought that this TURKEY was back in the hen house in Alaska. justwhen the country appears to be getting some relief from past headaches this Idiot wants to get back on the scene. Their must be some type of law somewhere in the states that would put this nut away for good.
Ms. Palin says a drawn out primary is good - as opposed to her former running mate Sen. McCain who said hurry up and get this thing over with.
"Mr. President, we don't want an economy built to last. We want an economy built to grow," she told the overflowing crowd. “We certainly don’t want your economy built to last, we want your administration to end.”..... Once they "end" your administration Mr. President, they are gonna sit down and figure sumthin out??? Idiots.... following idiots......OBAMA 2012!!!! lets keep the sanity if only for four more years.......Peace...:-)
It is great that Ms. Palin is still stirring the Republik Party pot. They don't like to be stirred, or shakened. Harder to starboard Mr. Romney!
Sarah Palin?? isn't she the no brained, half-term former governor of Alaska whose now trying to be a something then quit half way through. Now I know why these wacko convervatives like her because she make no sense at all to any normal person.
Yes! As Sarah Says, the drawn out campaign (and infighting and bashing one another) is great! And she says, "lets make sure it brings out the BEST in our party".
Bwaaaahhaaa!
Feisty Redhead, while I am not a fan of Sarah Palin, I look at your opening comments on this thread and I see a lack of civility, an inability to communicate without forcefully using explitives and offensive rhetoric, an icon which although you consider clever demonstrates an immaturity beyond your years, assuming you are past 12 years old, and a strong sense that you need to putting people down in order to stand taller than them. I don't doubt that you have some valuable opinions. We all do. It would be interesting to see if you can carry on a dialogue in adult fashion and see what your life experience brings to the table without all of the foul content.
Is it just me or does everyone with a brain think Palin is,,,,,,,,,,,An idiot
She has no place in politics, No place in public, No place period, Pathetic
Well, I wouldn't want to see her in a Federal public office, but with her speech yesterday, she is helping stop the Republik Party from falling into lockstep behind Mitt Romney, and is just generally messing up the Republik Party machinery.
What I cannot understand is why CPAC allows audience to the is loser and quitter. She has little if any common sense. A competitive battle over the months leading up to the convention will show glaring divisions in the TEA-GOP-Republican parties. Yes, there are three parties; Lincoln's, Roosevelt's and Reagan's. The TEA party, the GOP and the Republican's now have a three-way stand off arguing over Social programs and religious issues that have no real bearing of everyday American life, except they want to make these into issues. Countering the doctor's Hippocratic Oath and imposing rules that border on draconian orders, reeks of Hitler-Stalin impositions. Palin further stated a brokered convention wouldn't be bad. Again, she shows her complete ignorance as brokering a convention would further fragment this uneasy coalition. The CPAC attendees are very aware of the news and the divisions that point to the re-election of president Obama. They have been going in circles trying to nominate some one with strong credentials and no one has come into view. They still perceive yet another nominee, but have none in sight. What they are up against is Bush's two unfunded wars and the Bush tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, along with the "Housing Bubble" started in the Bush administration. Things are trending up for the president, and possible the house and Senate as well.
I just watched,for 30 seconds,about all one can could take,Waldon Palin on the Hooter's Fox Network..She is one insufferable human being..Dumb would be a compliment to describe her.In appealing to her strong conservative base tell us the intellectual capability of her supporters.
No Bill...the definition of dumb is YOUR VP Biden....looked it up in the Liberal dictionary. Your picture was there with his.
Biden looks like a polished politician compared to a possible VP Palin had McCain got elected, a death away from the top spot, that is a scary thought!!!
Q: What's the difference between Sarah Palin's mouth and her vagina?
A: Only one retarded thing came out her vagina.
GO HOME STUPID!! NOBODY CARES WHAT YOU THINK!!
I don't care for Palin but I think your comment was not called for..Comments like that I expect from Fox Ditto Heads.
I don't care for her brand of conservatism either, (I'm a conservative) But using sexual references to denigrate anyone only shows yourself as the neanderthal that you claim her or anyone else to be...
I would agree that a long battle between GOP ers would be like iron sharpening iron, but I have listened to 9 GOP debates, and they attack the President, fine that's political fair game, but they don't offer proven economic alternatives, unless hearing the same rhetoric: CUT TAXES!! DEREGULATE!!, GIVE COMPANIES ANYTHING THEY WANT! I haven't heard anything with any substance!! Gingrich can say all day long how inner city kids should work, but HOW is he going to pull it off without "government" intervention some how. Does he think municipalities and company are just going to step in and provide this?? They rhetoic alot, but they don't give solid answers, I haven't heard it.
Oilman ......you are an idiot. Tell us, did your mother have any children that lived?? Having fun yet jerk???
Bill/Egil/BK - ya ya ya...so it was joke that wasn't in very good taste. So what? It's comedy...get over it.
It hardly overshadows the very fact that she is dumber than a barrel of hair. What's even more pathetic is that people actually believe the trash that comes out of her mouth. I HAD respect for John McCain until he picked this dimwit as a running mate. I would actually pay a month's wages for the opportunity to kick him right square in the balls for embarrassing the entire nation by dragging this dumbass xenophobe out of the backwoods of Alaska and putting a microphone in front of her stupid mouth.