America is concluding the first election in history where
the winners could be a Republican Party dominated by goons who beat up
political opponents at campaign events, handcuff reporters at public meetings,
shout down members of Congress while pointing guns at them at town meetings,
dress up like the Nazi Waffen SS as a Republican candidate for Congress
regularly does, and threaten to wallpaper the White House with subpoenas and
restore a new age of McCarthyism if they win control of the Congress.
I am not referring to isolated right wing bloggers or
even right wing talk show hosts whose attacks lead to death threats and
criminal attacks against patriotic Americans they publicly demean.
I am referring to Republican candidates for high
office on the ballot today, would-be Republican committee chairmen in a
Republican Congress, and Republican leaders who foment the politics of hate and
kowtow to rightist elements who are far outside the mainstream of American
tradition.
In a new Washington Post ABC poll, if the election were
decided by registered voters, the Democrats would win by substantial margin of
49-44%. The notion that America is turning to the right is a fraud perpetrated
by the right, pushed by Republicans, repeated like parrots by the mainstream
media. If everybody votes, Democrats win.
That is real the fact. Anything else is the big
lie, no matter how often it is repeated by every pundit.
In the Washington Post poll, if the election is decided
by likely voters, Republicans win 49-45. In short, the election would not
be won by Republicans, but lost by Democrats, liberals, and moderates who do
not vote.
Everyone must vote. The stakes are enormous.
The outcome is far from certain even if every smartass
insider tells you otherwise. All they do is talk to each other and
predict yesterday's news. Everyone must vote. You can make tomorrow's news.
Something is happening in America, and it must be
stopped. It was Sharron Angle, Republican opponent of Sen. Harry Reid,
who said it straight:
Angle said that America's problems may need Second
Amendment remedies. She means, not even in code, solving political issues
by using guns against political opponents.
The Republican candidate for Senator from Kentucky has
supporters who pin down, beat up, and put their boots on the face of a young
women. The Republican candidate for Senator from Alaska hires private militia
to handcuff a writer. The Republican candidate for governor of New York
starts a virtual fistfight with a reporter and threatens to "take
him out". A Republican candidate for Congress from Ohio who dresses
up like the Nazi Waffen SS.
Just watch:
The former Republican Speaker of the House accuses
Democrats of being unpatriotic, communists, and friendly to Islamic terrorists.
The man who would be chairman of the House Investigations Committee promises a
Nixonian abuse of power if Republicans win, pledging to abuse the subpoena power
to persecute the President, White House staff, Democrats, and their friends and
allies.
They run television ads with black and brown faces in the
most demeaning and offensive ways, appealing to bigotry. They run ads
trying to make white voters afraid of Hispanics, while they run ads
telling Hispanics
not to vote.
In the U.S. Senate they literally destroy the democratic
system by filibustering against every bill, in a direct attack against majority
rule.
Dozens of members of Congress have been shouted down at
town meetings by radical rightists brandishing guns pointed at elected
officials, using tactics reminiscent of a different country in a different era.
They hated Franklin Roosevelt. They hated Jack and Bobby
Kennedy. They hate Jimmy Carter. They hate Bill and Hillary
Clinton. They hate Al Gore. They hate Barack Obama and Harry Reid
and Nancy Pelosi. They hate Barbara Boxer and Patty Murray. They even
hate Admiral Joe Sestak, an American hero.
They hate you.
They hate me.
They do not believe we are political opponents, they
believe we are enemies of the state.
Do not give them subpoena power. Do not let them run
America.
LAS VEGAS — First lady Michelle Obama has made a day-before-the-election stop in Las Vegas to boost Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's bid for...
"They do not believe we are political opponents, they believe we are enemies of the state."
“And if Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, we’re gonna punish our enemies and we’re gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us…†- President Barack Obama
HisXLNC: "They do not believe we are political opponents, they believe
"Right you are, "Mike". It's unconscionable that anyone would use unverifiable anecdotes in order to ratchet up fear. This guy Budowsky has some nerve."
Then may I assume that you are not here to support Brent's position, but are merely trolling, as usual?
vespasian1: "Right you are, "Mike". It's unconscionable that anyone would use
He's making his point known by his well crafted words, not having to resort to the cowardly 2nd amendment "solutions" touted by the wingnuts....but that requires knowledge, abstract reasoning, grammar, spelling, sentence structure, etymology, oh, now I know why they threaten 2nd amendment solutions, that's all they have....
enlightened45: He's making his point known by his well crafted words,
His "well crafted words" are a bit verbose. What he said in 20 or so paragraphs he could have easily summed up with a good ol' fashioned "It's Bush's Fault!(tm) or "That's Racist!(tm).
Rah Rah, siss boom bah. Nothing more than a pep rally piece here.
molonlabe: His "well crafted words" are a bit verbose. What he
His well crafted words basically amount to "all republicans are evil and want to destroy America". And to think its the leftists who so often accuse the other side of being "divisive".
Ohio9: His well crafted words basically amount to "all republicans are
We have a POTUS who called US citizens who disagree with his agenda, "enemies," Pelosi who urged the hasty passage of the Health Care legislation and to just "read it later," Obama supporter who bit off the finger of a Tea Party protester, lefty supporters of closing the "terror gap" who refuse to justify its direct infringement upon due process, unemployment stedily hovering around double digits, TARP costs which will be deferred to my grand children, housing market which is still in foreclosure heaven,....
Must be a nice view from that glass house, Brent.
You're damn right I'm going to vote. Maybe I'll find more Change(tm) than the nickel, dime, and 3 pennies i found in the cushions the other day.
molonlabe: We have a POTUS who called US citizens who disagree
No way, e. With ammo still commanding a high price thanks to gun salesman-of-the-year Obama, my valuable cache is well accounted for. All sealed up nice and tight in a climatically controlled environment. No stragglers.
Nice rant, but even your stalkerish little quips can't dampen my exuberance from pulling the lever straight "R" about an hour ago. I'll be thinking about ya while watching the returns tonight. ;)
molonlabe: No way, e. With ammo still commanding a high price
"If everybody votes, Democrats win." Thats a crock for one thing Washington post ABC poll? Ya like thats unbiased. and eveyone knows you can't win an election without the independent vote.
DallasMike: "If everybody votes, Democrats win." Thats a crock for one
No you can't win without the Independents, but in past elections, Independents tended to go with the democratic candidate (or a third party) over republicans.
"An estimated 201.5 million U.S. citizens age 18 or over will be eligible to vote Nov. 2, although many are not now registered.
Of these, about 55 million are registered Republicans. About 72 million registered Democrats.
About 42 million are registered as independents, under some other minor party or with a "No Party" designation."
SO I believe the author is saying that (given that the independent block tends to be very center or slightly left of center) that if every single registed voter actualy went out and voted, the Dems should win.
schnauzergirl: No you can't win without the Independents, but in past
As an ignorant non-insider “smart-assâ€, I will try to counter your remarkable Leni Riefenstahl impersonation. The majority of the electorate consider themselves as independents regardless of what their voter registration card lists. I know that remaining smug and keeping an edge in the Left wing’s juvenile utopianism competition is time-consuming, but the pulse of the country changed a little since the Democrats validated De Tocqueville’s prognostication in Hyde Park.
Democrats have long outnumbered Republicans, but they prefer the label and not the political philosophy. In addition, Democrats are NOT a monolithic party; the diversity of its members makes for strange bedfellows. This is an intrinsic barrier and will always pit Dem against Dem. The luxury self-righteous organic Californian instructing the middle class union manufacturer on why she needs to shop at farmers markets makes for fantastic reality TV, but not a cohesive party.
Assuming the falsity that “Republicans [alone] made this mess†is true, how does that bolster the Democratic Party’s “Progressive†(did someone say eugenics?!) stance? When a Democrat offers a solution to resuscitate the economy it, shockingly, contains a rehashed derivation of the New Deal. On an aside, how was the economy in the late 1930’s? That was a silly question, of course, employment was zero and everyone rode around on magic carpets made out of pure sunshine, right? Democrats would pass a law restricting voting rights until an individual proves he or she will exercise it properly.
Nicholas_S_Dubrowsky: As an ignorant non-insider “smart-assâ€, I will try to counter
You have hit so many "hot button" points, your fingers must be scorched by now....
Argument by emotive language, poisoning the well, reductive fallacy, argument by scenario, and finally your self-effacing beginning makes an attempt at argument by personal charm. I probably have missed some others, but you post may have set a new record on HP.
As Nixon said, "The jawbone of an ass is just as dangerous a weapon today as in Samson's time....." and I would guess, from your comment, Nixon is still relevant in your world....
enlightened45: You have hit so many "hot button" points, your fingers
"As Nixon said, "The jawbone of an ass is just as dangerous a weapon today as in Samson's time....." and I would guess, from your comment, Nixon is still relevant in your world.... "
Well then, shouldn't you be out there championing the cause of ass-jawbone control?
mike102: "As Nixon said, "The jawbone of an ass is just
Then we have a lot in common. Your response contains:
Failure to Elucidate, coy dysphemism, Platitudes, non-sequiturs, "polishing the apple", misrepresentation, ad hominem, and your Performative Contradiction - "I will prove you are wrong by pointing out the your "hot button" points by unknowingly using...more hot button points."
However, what you consider "self-effacing" should be placed in the poisoning the well category. Likewise, you incorrectly accuse me of argument by scenario. My scenarios were not in support of an argument, but a refutation by example. If I said "the New Deal did not help the economy, therefore the author does not grasp the current political climate" you would be correct. Rather, I reference the New Deal to counter the author's reductive fallacy (another argument trap that you misunderstand) and not to prove my principal argument (let's assume it is an argument and not a statement to make it easy)-that the author lashes out emotively without an argument.
To be sure, you made an attempt at listing logical pitfalls without responding. Do you have a position, preferably a relevant one? Or do we have to continue using this website's comment board as a de facto LSAT class?
Nice Nixon cliche. He is relevant in my world in fact. Nixon is proof that people will act in bad faith through misrepresentation to assuage their own delusions. I recommend reading "Nixon Agonistes: The Crisis of the Self-Made Man." With some introspection you may become "Enlightened."
Nicholas_S_Dubrowsky: Then we have a lot in common. Your response contains:
All the charts, graphs, predictions and political hype aside, the only determining factor to the outcome of this midterm election is the voter turnout by the Democrats. It is their midterm to win or lose.
stonemann: All the charts, graphs, predictions and political hype aside, the
I'd say, that economy was DESPITE the Republican Congress. Remember that government shutdown ? That's not what helped the economy... That Gingrich/Dole Congress only lay the seeds for the all-out obstructionist GOP of today...
Martin_Houde: I'd say, that economy was DESPITE the Republican Congress. Remember
But if you lived in Vermont you could:
1. Buy a long gun without a waiting period.
2. Buy and hand gun without a waiting period.
3. Carry a gun in the open without a permit.
4. Carry a gun concealed without a permit.
5. Sell a personally owned firearm without the government's permission.
6. Buy a personally owned firearm without the government's permission.
7. Buy, sell, own and carry any semi-automatic pistol or revolver of your choice.
8. Own any capacity firearms magazine you chose.
9. Probably lots more too.
10. Why not move?
Rooster_Coburn: But if you lived in Vermont you could: 1. Buy
OK seriously, its time to get off the ARCORN band wagon. That was the actions of one regional group. The national groups dropped their support as soon as this issue was brought to to light. The appropriate charges have been placed and the punishments given out where needed. If this is really the best you can do to discredit the Dems, then we are doing way better than i ever thought we could.
schnauzergirl: OK seriously, its time to get off the ARCORN band
Maybe the problem is that there really is no such thing as "democrats" while there clearly is a thing called "republicans". Democrats are really more "not republicans". They do not have a coherent ideology or philsophy. In fact they can rarely agree on basic beliefs. We often share some but not all and we are terrible at staying on message because we all want to change it a little. It is why we often lose and lose interest.
Samson1: Maybe the problem is that there really is no such
"dominated by goons who beat up (a) political opponent at (a) campaign event"
I assume you are refering to the isolated incident at the Rand Paul event. One could counter by referencing the SEIU goons who beat up political opponent, Joseph Gladney ... or the incident at a Tea Party in North Carolina where an Obama supporter assaulted a protester. Does this mean that since twice the number of assault have occured against Republicans by Democrats that Democrats are twice as bad?
"shout down members of Congress while pointing guns at them at town meetings"
Funny how I don't remember hearing about any incidents in which someone pointed a gun at a congressman at a town meeting. Do you know why? Because it never happened. Pointing a gun at a member of Congress is a crime.
"dress up like the Nazi Waffen SS as a Republican candidate for Congress regularly does."
Regularly? You see Brent at war reinacments, both sides require live bodies to serve as reinactors. otherwise, a reenacment of D-Day would be boring as the Doughboys casually stroll up an empty Sword Beach. Most times, reinacotrs for the "bad guys" are chosen randomly. This is a common occurance at Civil War reinacments, where Confederates usually outnumber Union soldiers, requiring some reassignments. So I'd hardly call once, regularly.
"threaten to wallpaper the White House with subpoenas"
Which party was it that said it wanted to dredge the swamps upon election?
blackraisin: "dominated by goons who beat up (a) political opponent at
"Samson" -- there will be no "references" --- they make it up as they go along. I've watched this for years...nothing changes with them - and they wouldn't recognize the truth if it stomped on their faces.........pun intended.
hearmeloudandclear: "Samson" -- there will be no "references" --- they make
Budowsky is right on the numbers. Democrats win if we could just read the minds of registered voters. Actually, since lefties tend to be lethargic anyway and don't even register, a citizen mind reading vote tally would likely be a total landslide for the left, judging by issue polls. Unfortunately, in order to communicate your thoughts to the government you will have to get out and pull a lever or two.
The use of "likely voter" models has been a active to tacit deception, as I write here:
But if progressives were to employ the "late voting option" in close races and wait until Wed. morning to see if the Republicans were hanging on by a slight lead and then go and exercise the "deferral option" and all vote against the Republicans they could tip a close race from Republican to Democrat. It is also know as the "Franken Offensive" for his come-from-behind win through the counting of late votes. Vote late and vote hard!
Rooster_Coburn: But if progressives were to employ the "late voting option"
Very funny Rooster. Republicans generally do better in the "deferral option" phase though, they being in charge of the day after election day vote counting machines, as in Ohio.
hp_blogger_Stephen Herrington: Very funny Rooster. Republicans generally do better in the "deferral
Perhaps their just preoccupied carrying the load for the Republicans. After all, it's the Red states that take more federal spending than they provide in taxes, leaving us another 100 billion in the hole each year.
It's those pesky lefties that provide more taxes to the feds than they take in spending. Having to carry the load for the welfare Red states does take time and effort.
Perhaps some day the Republicans will explain their plan to get off the dole.
iskra: "Lefties tend to be lethargic" - Really? Perhaps their just
“And if Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, we’re gonna punish our enemies and we’re gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us…†- President Barack Obama
Wow, that's a strong accusation.
I don't suppose you have one iota of evidence to back that up, though. If you do, I'd love to see it.
You hysterical fear-mongers seldom have a shred of evidence to justify anything you say.
Does anyone actually pay you to write this guff?
Semper fi
Then may I assume that you are not here to support Brent's position, but are merely trolling, as usual?
Rah Rah, siss boom bah. Nothing more than a pep rally piece here.
Must be a nice view from that glass house, Brent.
You're damn right I'm going to vote. Maybe I'll find more Change(tm) than the nickel, dime, and 3 pennies i found in the cushions the other day.
Nice rant, but even your stalkerish little quips can't dampen my exuberance from pulling the lever straight "R" about an hour ago. I'll be thinking about ya while watching the returns tonight. ;)
"An estimated 201.5 million U.S. citizens age 18 or over will be eligible to vote Nov. 2, although many are not now registered.
Of these, about 55 million are registered Republicans. About 72 million registered Democrats.
About 42 million are registered as independents, under some other minor party or with a "No Party" designation."
SO I believe the author is saying that (given that the independent block tends to be very center or slightly left of center) that if every single registed voter actualy went out and voted, the Dems should win.
Democrats have long outnumbered Republicans, but they prefer the label and not the political philosophy. In addition, Democrats are NOT a monolithic party; the diversity of its members makes for strange bedfellows. This is an intrinsic barrier and will always pit Dem against Dem. The luxury self-righteous organic Californian instructing the middle class union manufacturer on why she needs to shop at farmers markets makes for fantastic reality TV, but not a cohesive party.
Assuming the falsity that “Republicans [alone] made this mess†is true, how does that bolster the Democratic Party’s “Progressive†(did someone say eugenics?!) stance? When a Democrat offers a solution to resuscitate the economy it, shockingly, contains a rehashed derivation of the New Deal. On an aside, how was the economy in the late 1930’s? That was a silly question, of course, employment was zero and everyone rode around on magic carpets made out of pure sunshine, right? Democrats would pass a law restricting voting rights until an individual proves he or she will exercise it properly.
Argument by emotive language, poisoning the well, reductive fallacy, argument by scenario, and finally your self-effacing beginning makes an attempt at argument by personal charm. I probably have missed some others, but you post may have set a new record on HP.
As Nixon said, "The jawbone of an ass is just as dangerous a weapon today as in Samson's time....." and I would guess, from your comment, Nixon is still relevant in your world....
Well then, shouldn't you be out there championing the cause of ass-jawbone control?
Failure to Elucidate, coy dysphemism, Platitudes, non-sequiturs, "polishing the apple", misrepresentation, ad hominem, and your Performative Contradiction - "I will prove you are wrong by pointing out the your "hot button" points by unknowingly using...more hot button points."
However, what you consider "self-effacing" should be placed in the poisoning the well category. Likewise, you incorrectly accuse me of argument by scenario. My scenarios were not in support of an argument, but a refutation by example. If I said "the New Deal did not help the economy, therefore the author does not grasp the current political climate" you would be correct. Rather, I reference the New Deal to counter the author's reductive fallacy (another argument trap that you misunderstand) and not to prove my principal argument (let's assume it is an argument and not a statement to make it easy)-that the author lashes out emotively without an argument.
To be sure, you made an attempt at listing logical pitfalls without responding. Do you have a position, preferably a relevant one? Or do we have to continue using this website's comment board as a de facto LSAT class?
Nice Nixon cliche. He is relevant in my world in fact. Nixon is proof that people will act in bad faith through misrepresentation to assuage their own delusions. I recommend reading "Nixon Agonistes: The Crisis of the Self-Made Man." With some introspection you may become "Enlightened."
$ $ $ VOTE FOR EVERY DEMOCRAT $ $ $
We all await with baited breath, as you think of a way to blame that on the Republicans.
Or maybe you live in Tennessee, where it doesn't matter.
Go vote people...
1. Buy a long gun without a waiting period.
2. Buy and hand gun without a waiting period.
3. Carry a gun in the open without a permit.
4. Carry a gun concealed without a permit.
5. Sell a personally owned firearm without the government's permission.
6. Buy a personally owned firearm without the government's permission.
7. Buy, sell, own and carry any semi-automatic pistol or revolver of your choice.
8. Own any capacity firearms magazine you chose.
9. Probably lots more too.
10. Why not move?
I assume you are refering to the isolated incident at the Rand Paul event. One could counter by referencing the SEIU goons who beat up political opponent, Joseph Gladney ... or the incident at a Tea Party in North Carolina where an Obama supporter assaulted a protester. Does this mean that since twice the number of assault have occured against Republicans by Democrats that Democrats are twice as bad?
"shout down members of Congress while pointing guns at them at town meetings"
Funny how I don't remember hearing about any incidents in which someone pointed a gun at a congressman at a town meeting. Do you know why? Because it never happened. Pointing a gun at a member of Congress is a crime.
"dress up like the Nazi Waffen SS as a Republican candidate for Congress regularly does."
Regularly? You see Brent at war reinacments, both sides require live bodies to serve as reinactors. otherwise, a reenacment of D-Day would be boring as the Doughboys casually stroll up an empty Sword Beach. Most times, reinacotrs for the "bad guys" are chosen randomly. This is a common occurance at Civil War reinacments, where Confederates usually outnumber Union soldiers, requiring some reassignments. So I'd hardly call once, regularly.
"threaten to wallpaper the White House with subpoenas"
Which party was it that said it wanted to dredge the swamps upon election?
The use of "likely voter" models has been a active to tacit deception, as I write here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-herrington/the-invisible-six-point-d_b_757555.html
Perhaps their just preoccupied carrying the load for the Republicans. After all, it's the Red states that take more federal spending than they provide in taxes, leaving us another 100 billion in the hole each year.
It's those pesky lefties that provide more taxes to the feds than they take in spending. Having to carry the load for the welfare Red states does take time and effort.
Perhaps some day the Republicans will explain their plan to get off the dole.