Don't Like The Economy? Senate Dems Look At The Policies That Got Us Here
Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Bob Melendez (D-NJ) castigate the Republican policies of the Bush administration that have brought us to this point and how a John McCain presidency will be just more of the same. Senate Democrats:
Refusing to police lenders and neglecting to protect consumers enabled the subprime crisis that has brought first the American economy and now Wall Street to its knees. Bush-McCain Republicans' "anything goes" approach to governing cost Americans jobs and hurts the American taxpayer. With the economic news only getting worse each day, Democrats believe that we must urgently pass another economic recovery package.
But Bob Geiger got the best statement on the state of the economy and John McCain from Sen. Bernie Sanders:
"One does try to get a handle on understanding what world Senator McCain and President Bush are living in when they would suggest that ``the fundamentals of our economy are strong.' Clearly, they have not been talking to working families around the United States of America.
"My perception of the economy is if you get off of the country club circuit, you stop talking to the millionaires and the billionaires and the large campaign contributors, and you talk to ordinary working people, people who own small businesses, what you find, in fact, is that the middle class in our country is under more assault than has been the case since before the Great Depression."
Well said.
Not to exonerate Repubs, Dems share in the blame bigtime.
Too bad. No one can now ask McCain which of the fundamentals he had in mind. The stammering would have been priceless.
Speaking of the Great Depression...anyone paying attention to the FDIC and rule changes that allow banks to dip into our bank deposits for the next four and a half months?
This race should not be even close. My God, what do these repugs have to do to us before the American voter revolts and throw the bums out? We are in a giant hole in the middle east and Bush/McSame are screaming for more shovels. The economy, a house of cards crashing before our eyes, and McSame promissing to continue to follow the policys that got us here and even more of the same. We are a nation of ignorant people in the majority. What a pityful situation.
Wait a second... the Dems are co-ordinating with their candidate?
WTF?
The world is upside down and pigs must be flyin!
Hey you hardworkin' folks keep working hard! We play while you pay. Keep it up America!
Bush and McBush and Mrs. McBush
We recall an article Spitzer wrote three weeks before he was "taken out"
It explained alot.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR200802...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMo7T9t0Gzk
Bush Won’t Make Public Comments After Paulson Meeting
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g2La3PaX7aVf0tHBpyZe76Rtbh8w
image of Paulson answering questions from China, Japan, German, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Great Britain, India, France, Sweden, Russia, and Iceland about the soundness of the US banking system....
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2008/09/dont-worry-banking-sy...
The Clinton administration left this nation with jobs created, peace, and a surplus, which Bush has promptly spent on a war he sold the nation based on a pack of lies. Republicans have been in the White House the past 7-plus years and controlled Congress for six of those years, when they never told the president NO. Now we owe billions to China, India and other nations. I fail to understand how "Dems share in the blame," as the GOP has steadfastly insisted the markets would correct themselves and no regulation was needed. Well, guess who has bailed out the markets? The American people. And only the Democrats will make sure the American people get some kind of handlle on this horrible mess. It won't be McCain and Palin, who don't have the smarts to unravel this complex snarl and want to have the foxes guarding the henhouse.
Barbara Boxer please teach Nancy Pelosi how to speak truth to power and also how to grow a pair.
I'm really getting tired of this, "share the blame" mentality. It's a little too much like blame the victim for me.
For eight years I have watched in horror as this train wreck headed for a cliff and Dems were so far in the minority that they could do NOTHING without significant defections by Republicans, which virtually never happened during Bush's first 6 years.
Lobbyists who spoke to Dems couldn't get in to see Republicans. Democrats were kept out of policy meetings. Democrats weren't allowed to present bills and have them heard. Democrats were denied acess to committees which had been bipartisan.
Energy lobbyists had more input into Bush's energy policies than Congressional Democrats did.
Now that we're hurtling over that cliff, all of a sudden, the Dems share the blame?
Uh, uh.
Debbie Stabenow, who is here in Michigan has one hell of lot to answer for herself.
For starters why she voted for the "Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005". Don't let the title throw you, it is a consumer impoverishment, credit card corporation enrichment bill.
She also voted for the abominable 'Military Commissions Act'.
Half of these Democrats can go to hell. The jury is still out on the other half.
Sorry. But it wasn't just Republican policies. Clinton happily continued the deregulation movement begun by Reagan - including eliminating the differences between banks, investment banks, and insurance companies. This is, of course, in addition to the rank capitulation (collaboration?) of the Pelosi/Reid Democrats - especially since gaining control of Congress.
i'm canadian and even i know that the original crook was the hallowed RONALD REAGAN
The fuckers went along.
Sweet fuuking Jeezis!
Now they start to fight?
Gutless pimps...
Wow, powerful video. thank you for posting it.
Clinton betrayed his true sympathies when he didn't fire Mr. Andrea Mitchell from the Fed.
Sorry. But it wasn’t just Republican policies. Clinton happily continued the deregulation movement begun by Reagan - including eliminating the differences between banks, investment banks, and insurance companies. This is, of course, in addition to the rank capitulation (collaboration?) of the Pelosi/Reid Democrats - especially since gaining control of Congress.
****
Nice soundbite. However, it was 54 votes (all republican including MCCAIN) that voted for the 1999 Phil Gramm deregulation bill. All 44 dems voted against it. Clinton signed it because that was when 54 was still considered a majority.
and this is who you want to lead the country regarding
the economy....someone who said he didn't know as much
about it before he said he was an expert.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OunCv-7qvA
Alice_X@10
Well, you've got to admit that that bill was a boon for the credit/financing branches of the (formerly) Big 3. And whether we like it or not, those three still provide a lot of jobs here in MI. What was the UAW's stance on that piece of legislation?
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Anybody that still isn't convinced that McCain is inextricably tied to the current financial meltdown needs to check a list of some of his prominent campaign advisors:
AIG – Wayne Berman, National Finance Committee Co-Chair
Merrill Lynch – Charlie Black, McCain Campaign Senior Adviser
Merrill Lynch – Judy Black, Women for McCain Steering Committee
Merrill Lynch – Daniel Crippen, Senior Policy Adviser
Merrill Lynch – James Hyland, Virginia Steering Committee
Merrill Lynch – Peter Madigan, fundraiser
Merrill Lynch – Steve Phillips, fundraiser
Lehman Brothers – Charlie Black, McCain Campaign Senior Adviser
Lehman Brothers – Vicki Hart, Women for McCain Steering Committee
Bank of America – David Crane, Senior Policy Adviser
Fannie Mae – Kirsten Chadwick, fundraiser, Women for McCain Steering Committee
Fannie Mae – Arthur Culvahouse, head of McCain V-P search
Fannie Mae – Alison H. McSlarrow, Women for McCain Steering Committee
Fannie Mae – Aquiles Suarez, Economic Adviser
Freddie Mac – Juleanna Glover Weiss, Women for McCain Steering Committee
Any of those companies sound familiar? Not to mention Phil Gramm who wrote McCain's economic policy and called us all "whiners", who was the legislative orchestrator in charge of gutting all of the New Deal legislation written to prevent another Great Depression, which is exactly what we'll get if McCain gets elected. Hmmm, in a certain light, McCain does look quite a bit like Herbert Hoover, doesn't he?
Gee. Looks like trickle down economics works! We've been pissed on!
Sparkle Plenty (a.k.a. Sarah Palin) will save the country!
Bit NOLA @ 2:
Would you be so kind and provide a link?
It's Bob Menendez, not Melendez.
Bush-McCain/Palin IS the bridge to nowhere.
Blame is one thing.
Fixing the problems is quite another.
I don't have confidence in either McCain and Obama on this score.
Both, IMO, have been bought and sold.
everybody is looking to blame. take a look into
SEC which has 5 members: 3 republicans and 2 democrats. when you have time look into christopher
cox(R)....and google past member pitt i believe his name was.
the democrats tried to call the president on this matter.
the republicans were given what they wanted a free market so they could make more profit.NOW they're
in trouble so they're asking for a socialist...big
government solution.....i've seen this before. they want it both ways..... what a surprise.
they want socialism to protect the top(especially bond
holders) and have full time capitalism for the working
class. they act tough...they say they're taking the risk
when they're really made themselves to big to fail.
This is a little off topic [Deleted. You're right, it's off topic. Please take it to an open thread. Thank you. Site Monitor]
constituent @ 25:
They lost the money?
The money went somewhere, i sure would like to know where.
The country is falling apart and Bush is nowhere to be seen. I imagine he's somewhere playing the fiddle as Rome burns.
Still just political theatre.
Andy K @ 18:
I don't know about the UAW position. Levin's position on BAPCPA was that it was horrible, he voted no.
The Big 3 minus ARE asking for a $50 Billion government handout, I know that much.
The sooner Michigan broadens its economy the better.
"Clearly, they have not been talking to working families around the United States of America."
Sure they have, only those families work for the fortune 500.
"This is a little off topic [Deleted. You’re right, it’s off topic. Please take it to an open thread. Thank you. Site Monitor]"
Cripes, lighten up, Thundar!
Oh Rapture, joyous day has come
It has finally become acceptable to our owners that our political parties openly discuss the disaster that is the US economy. You might even think they were kind of forced into allowing us to do so, since even our miraculous political system is not able to complete prevent people from noticing reality.
Do you realize that the US has spent almost as much money bailing out Wall St. Hedge funds this year as it has on the entire Iraq war? hmmm... gee, I wonder who this system functions for.
Oh, golly I am so loyal to the Democratic Party. They do such of fine job of representing my interests, and safeguarding the welfare of the society. Why just today they have been thinking up new ways to throw money at corporations.
No amount of money is too much homage to our owners, and I'm sure the Democratic Party knows it.
The smell of hypocrisy is thick as can be. The Dems stood by (or should I say stillstand by) and did absolutely nothing about this "crisis" since taking power in '06. Pelosi and Reid are a disgrace.
Want more of the same sh*t the neocons left us? Vote your representative (any representative) back in.
Nearly every f*cking member of congress is to blame. Crooks on both sides of the aisle (Along our system itself) are corrupt to the core. You really think it will change with the courageous leadership of Mr. Bring-All Sides-Together, Pelosi and Reid?
Uh huh.
This economy is the culmination of Reagonomics. It was a great run for thirty years beginning with the Reagan deficits through the saving & loan debacle, the first Gulf War, the dot com bubble, the second gulf war and now the big kuhuna.
Unregulated capitalism will naturally evolve to monopoly and then oligarchy. So verily that path to the nether world is paved with good intentions.
if you think mccain/palin are going to get anything accomplished......your dreaming. it's going to be
more nation building and devalued dollar so they
can get exploit the foreign markets.
america needs to be rebuilt....
"Nearly every f*cking member of congress is to blame. Crooks on both sides of the aisle (Along our system itself) are corrupt to the core. "
Yes, i agree 100% The Democrats have been complicit in not executing the oversight responsibilities. For instance, why isn't Rove sitting in a jail cell in the basement of the Capitol right now for refusing to testify before Congress?
When the history of the period 1968-2008 is ultimately written, the major issue analyzed will be how the constitutional plan of government so badly failed the American people.
Why are the CEO's of companies that have failed allowed to leave with $161 million (Merrill Lynch) or $20 million (Lehman Brothers)? Why is it called a government bailout when it is the taxpayers money? Why is it that taxpayers money is used to bail out the BIG guys while small businesses stuggle? Why is it a black man in Texas is sentenced to 80 years for arson while CEO's are walking off with obscene amounts of middle class money? When did they take the blindfold off Lady Justice?
Johnny2Bad @ 34:
except ron paul i take it
A great bumper sticker idea:
Can't Afford Gas And Food?
Republicans Say Stop Whining!!
dosido @ 16:
What "soundbite" are you referring to? Clinton signed the bill because he liked the bill - period. FYI, it takes 67 votes in the Senate, as well as a 2/3 majority in the House (yes, they vote too) to override a veto. To assume that 54 Senate votes forces a President to sign a bill is, well, uh.... Never mind.
jane6pack @ 23:
Yep. And Obama (and nearly every Dem) voted for it.
"The Senate rarely backs efforts to strike another member’s pet projects. Obama and 81 other senators opposed an amendment in 2005 to strike the infamous $231 million “Bridge to Nowhere” earmark for Alaska and redirect that funding to help with rebuilding New Orleans. ...Obama voted with most of Congress for the 2005 highway bill, which included an eye-popping 6,000 earmarks worth more than $24 billion."
VietVet8666 @ 38:
Except that it's a much longer story.
Closer to 80 years, and the system didn't fail the people, the system was hijacked. You cannot blame the passengers on a plane when terrorists take over the cockpit.
constituent @ 40:
No idea. Not my guy.
Alice_X@30
First, what I wouldn't give for 100 Carl Levins in the Senate. He ain't flashy, but he's principled and he gets things done. Debbie's far from perfect, and being in west Michigan I've got little idea who the better progressive candidates might be in the state, 'cause they certainly ain't living around here!
But Debbie's far better than Spencer Abraham, or that ass the GOP threw up against her the last time out.
Second, GM just debuted the Volt, but maybe they rushed it. If it ain't the latest Mustang, minivan or Taurus all the bailout $$ you could give them won't help.
Third, broadening the economy? Fuck, just give us a fair wage and something to manufacture and we can make it as could or better than anyone anywhere. Maybe I'm biased, but...Just sayin'....
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Johnny2Bad @ 43:
who was for it before they became against it
essentially lying
You know what response I get when I debate the economy with Repugnicans? "The economy is bad because the liberals want it to be bad."
Johnny2Bad @ 45:
nader
constituent @ 49:
Nero.
sherrill @ 39:
You're right. It SHOULD be called a Taxpayer Bailout.
But labels are effective in deceiving the public.
You used to make your tax-payment check out to the "Internal Revenue Service", which generated lots of enmity toward the IRS and its employees. Beginning in the Bill Clinton presidency, you've been required to make your check payable to the "United States Treasury." This change has cut down dramatically the number of threats against the IRS and its employees, even though its just a change of label.
Simple, effective deception of the public.
me@46
Fixed. :^D
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Here's the major problem with the Dems right now as I see it: everytime they go on TV and Republicans spout the line "but the Democrats have had control of Congress for 2 years and done nothing", the Democrat on to counter the Republican doesn't throw that back at them as "but the Republicans have filibustered all of our legislation." When they do say that, the cynical bastards that are the Republicans, blow it off as untrue.
My dad and I have had this argument and he's been alive since the Eisenhower administration. What I come to find out is that he, like most Americans I would guess, don't understand what it takes to overcome a filibuster. Since the Democrats don't have a filibuster-proof majority nor do they have what they need to override a Presidential veto, this problem is, for those of us that know what's going on, the problem of the Republicans. This is where, as I stated above, the cynics that support Republicans, know they can win.
They, the Republicans, need to keep people ignorant about how things are working in order to win. Democrats tend to be delussional in their belief that most Americans know automatically how it works. Well, they don't. The news media doesn't help either because they let Republicans do this crap without doing their jobs and challenging them all in the name of appearing "fair and balanced".
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): "Accountability Is Off The Table"
dosido @ 14:
Gee how about we stop the federal reserve from going latteral
Yeah, so powerful that it's almost believable that the Dems share no blame.
Your unconstitutional private central bank is selling us all out. We've got socialism for the rich and no we're stuck with the bill.
Andy K @ 52:
Fuck, just give us a fair wage, a week of decent waves and something to manufacture and we can make it as good or better than anyone anywhere.
Fixed. :^D
Red Headed StepChild @ 48:
NO we don't want it to drag on. it has potential to drag on. we don't want a bad economy. we've been given a
bad economy.....much due to cost of war,foreclosure and price of oil. yeah we want that.......that's ridiculous.
speaking of wanting something. i never saw republicans
or( whatever they call themselves)so happy when the
president didn't show for the RNC convention.
Johnny2Bad @ 50:
the son of...............?
constituent@49
Don't waste your energy on that one. He stands for no one. He just likes to bitch.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
woody, tokin librul @ 44:
We (The passengers) just sat there and let it happen. We've abdicated our responsibilities as citizens and are happily lost in a personality contest pitting Bad and Badder in a who's worse smack off based on lipstick, age and skin color. We deserve everything we've gotten but this crisis may finally wake up the sleeping giant called the American people. Hunger and cold often do that. Go figure.
Tim at 55
Your unconstitutional private central bank is selling us all out.
Yep. 1913 was a very bad year for ordinary Americans.
Andy K @ 59:
i think you may be right.........will i'm going to obama
rally here in las vegas
Johnny2Bad @ 43:
John Cole at Balloon Juice has an interesting set of observations about your earmark talking point...
http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=11268
My opinion? The economic policies that got us to this place have been in the making for decades and while the dems may be complicit in watching it and not fighting it... Those specific policies were the brainchildren of republicans toadying and carrying water for the mega corporations and the CEO crowd with their private sector good, gub-mint bad mantra... The policies themselves are varied, complex, selfish in nature and ultimately failures...... Reagan got this ball rolling big time when he came to power but the plans for it were probably on the drawing boards since at least the Nixon administration would be my guess. I mean, given it's all old Nixon cronies who have 'masterminded' the current specific trainwreck that is the U.S. economy circa 2008................... JD
Andy K @ 59:
Your unconstitutional private central bank is selling us all out. We’ve got socialism for the rich and no we’re stuck with the bill.
Listen to Amy's @Democracy Now today. It's chilling. And there is NOTHING ANYBODY--INCLUDING St. Barry, the Mocha--is going to do about it. The Govt for once and for all, for all practical purposes, has cast its--and OUR--fate with Wall Street and the Fed.
Bernie Sanders........"the middle class in our country is under more assault than has been the case since before the Great Depression."
I wish he had finished the sentence. That has been the
planall along. To destroy the middle class. Without the middle class we have a banana republic. Welcome to the Banana Republic of the United States.And may I suggest if you have any money in a bank, take it out. Better no interest than no money.
woody,_ tokin_ liberal@56
Well, if you don't mind that that week happens to coincide with the first week of deer camp, which is in early November....But, different strokes for different folks. Just don't forget the dry suit and some eats. Lake Michigan is mighty cold that time of year, and Grand Haven's Pronto Pup is closed in the winter, iirc.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Andy K @ 59:
Ahhhh, the first amendment. Ain't it grand?
(Better format)
I'll warn you, this is pretty boring even for financial types, but here it is:
The Long-Demise of Glass-Steagall http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/wallstreet/weill/demise.html
An unbiased look at how we got into the mess we're in today, rather old, but still relevant.
Johnny2Bad @ 60:
DHavok @ 53:
I'd love it if the Dems only problem was not having a "filibuster-proof" majority. Unfortunately that doesn't even come close to explaining the remarkably pro-Republican/pro-Bush agenda that both Houses of Congress have followed since the '06 elections.
Fine, Republicans filibuster, or threaten to. So what? How does that explain the Dems failure to fight (filibuster or otherwise) anything George W. Bush has wanted from them? We've had resolutions condemning MoveOn and declaring "Christians are Wonderful." The Congress has given Bush every penny he has asked for in his war effort. Impeachment has been taken "off the table." Our country is torturing people and the Dems won't even hold significant hearings. The list is endless and has little to do with not having a large enough majority.
The fucks in congress know the American people are pissed about earmarks in general.
But they also know they can use the issue of earmarks to club the other side.
It's win-win for congress, which has a higher re-election rate than did the Soviet Politburo.
Johnny2Bad@65
From the perspective of one who appreciates comedy, yeah.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
From the 2006 Documentary "Oil, Smoke and Mirrors":
Colin Campbell: "They're going to have to wipe out just mountains of capital"
Chris Sanders: "And this is where Peak Oil comes in because the implication of Peak Oil is that oil prices are going to become more volatile, and that the average price of oil is going to remain structurally higher than it has been in decades. And if that happens then the economic value securing the American debt structure has got to be valued downward by some factor...let's call it Factor X. And Factor X is the thing that threatens the United States the most."
The other day I learned that Lehman Brothers was 158 years old. That got me to wondering just what is the oldest thing, entity or concept in the world that has been destroyed. Something tangible like Iraq, Afghanistan, or Lehman Brothers. Or maybe something intangible like honesty, integrity or compassion. I wonder.
Andy K @ 74:
You are so right. Your posts prove that you're a real cut-up. More farce than straight comedy but really, really hilarious stuff.
Vietvet8666@1
Please explain how it is that Congressonal republicans who constantly put up resistance against any meaningful legislation that did not favor big business, used the filibuster at a record level, and insured their anti-regulation agenda at every turn, knowing that although the Democrats had a simple majority they din not have enough votes to overcome a republican president's veto, are equally to blame. Remember when republicans were attempting to do away with filibuster?
By the way, I am a Viet Nam vet and I am completely embarrassed by your b.s. You don't make any sense whatsoever. I know you admitted to being brain damaged, but are you sure you haven't had a lobectomy!
Jo @ 67:
These numbers tell the story very succinctly:
10,578.24 10 Jan. 2001
10,609.66 17 Sept. 2008
If you'd kept your cash under your mattress since Bush took office, you'd have done just as good, if not better.
In fact, I put $10,000 in back then in a safe, large cap fund and it's worth $9,700 now.
I predict the next Wall Street scam will be energy speculation - they'll try to sell investments in natural gas dug up right in your own backyard!
Lest we forget in our feeding frenzy of attacks on the Republicans for the state of our economy, remember, the article states that the deregulation bill introduced by Gramm et al and supported by McCain took place in 1999. You remember 1999, don't you? Back when Clinton was President? Back when we had NAFTA foisted upon us? Although Bush has done NOTHING to help the economy, the writing was on the wall Looong before the current crop of Republican cronies took over the White House. No matter how good we had it in the 90's, this chicken was definitely coming home to roost sooner or later, and we were even warned by knowledgeable and responsible economists back then.
Of those policies that were enabled by legislation, how many from the "centrist", Bluedog and corporatist prostitute wing of the Democratic Party voted for them? Those folks need to be held accountable, too.
samdog@80
Another apologist bites the dust!
From Public Citizen, December 2001
Blind Faith: How Deregulation and Enron's Influence Over Government Looted Billions from Americans
"From June 2000 through December 2000 -- prior to the bill's passage -- California experienced significant price spikes but only one Stage 3 emergency (requiring "rolling blackouts"). After passage of Gramm's energy commodity deregulation bill in December 2000, Stage 3 emergencies increased from one to 38 until federal regulators helped end the crisis by imposing price controls in June 2001. Phil Gramm's legislation, for which Enron was the primary lobbyist, allowed Enron's unregulated energy trading subsidiary to manipulate supply in such a way as to threaten millions of California households and businesses with power outages for the sole purpose of increasing the company's profits."
What do you think about, kind of makes you look, well, dumb, doesn't it.
When does the GOP start digging up Reagan and hauling his dead ass on the campaign trail?
And to the trolls...bring it on.
I'm in that kind of mood tonite.
Your great saint was a jerkoff and the root cause of the atmosphere of greed, illogical deregulation and regressive policies that have let to the debacle that we live with today.
When history is written...the Great Communicator will be revealed for the Great Fraud that he was.
And George W. Bush's legacy will be so bad...that Republicans will never speak his name again.
Sonny_Liston@76
Too lateEpic fail. You took it on the temple, ref counted ten and the bell rang. Ahh, the subtlety of the anchor punch.Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
The rest of this race will be filled with images of Obama slapping the stupid off of the American Cadaver's face.
Paul@81
I agree. There are a couple of Blue Dog Dems (Dims?) that represent my district. I keep sending them emails, some of them laced with expletives, and the send me letters thanking me for communicating my concerns!
chicano2nd @ 77:
That's all true but Reid never held their feet to the fire. There's more to attacking the opposition than simply "breaking a filibuster" or "overcoming" vetoes. They needed to fight back...hard.
"If Republicans are going to block this legislation, make them pay a big price in the eyes of the American people for doing so. Senate Democrats, led by Harry Reid, need to step up, because right now they are letting Republicans get away with blocking popular legislation basically for free. That is not acceptable. That is not leadership. It certainly is not a way to reinforce to the public what Republicans actually stand for. Can you image the political price Senate Republicans would have paid for spending four days and three nights filibustering Webb’s amendment on troop deployments? That is the sort of thing that holds potentially catastrophic consequences on their image of years-talk about not supporting the troops! And that is exactly what Senate Democrats need to do." Open Left, July '07
They never did.
Johnn2Bad@90
Agreed that the leadership was weak. Maybe in the hip pocket. That is why progressives are needed in Congress.
At least Obama acknowledges the Progressive Movement. Do you remember his victory speech in Wisconsin?
GREAT statement by BOB Geiger. He couldn't have hit the head harder on the nail in regards to McCain (and Bush for that matter) and their economic policies. At least now I think McCain realizes that there is some crises going on and someone needs to take responsibility for it, but would he be concerned were it not close to election? The working families get taken for granted by the conservative politicians who just can't step out of their comfortable (Italian leather) shoes.
But why is McCain/Palin hanging so tough in the polls? Where have our minds gone? Why doesn't Obama stick to the hardcore issues of today and attack the Republicans for their gross mis - management of the country? Doesn't anyone see that the financial meltdown smacks of the Great Depression? The ripple effects of the market crash have yet to be felt. We are in a real economic mess and no one wants to put the blame on the Republicans.
Pay no attention to the Rove behind the Push Polls.
Unfortunately Liberal AND Proud, the polls are from Rasmussen. I've followed their polling for 4 years. Sadly, they are very accurate.
chicano2nd @ 91:
"Acknowledging" the progressive movement is kinda like acknowledging Gays.
Three things:
1. Acknowledging them is smart but certainly doesn't mean you are one.
2. Ok, they're out there but not enough of them to win you the election.
3. And most importantly, you'd be smart not to bring 'em up too often or it could cost you.
I do agree with you when you claim the Great Communicator was a fraud. However, our opinion of the "Gipper" is held by a small minority of Americans. To many, RR is a saint.
According to the "baseball" prediction...this is the year that the Party out of the White House gets in.
Also...there is the "economy" prediction..and others.
Liberal AND Proud @ 86:
Just you wait until they are done re-writing history to make sure the next Bush in like has a nice "legacy" to run on.
With the lack of memory of the American populace, and the bullshit skills of the GOP noise machine. I am willing to bet that Bush Jr will be sanctified come 2012 and on...
I prefer the Rasputin polls.
Tyler...I won't live long enough to ever see George Bush vindicated.
Perhaps when the alien excavation team in the far distant future discovers evidence of a "civilization" having existed on earth and then misreads the sacred scrolls...or finds Karl Rove's memoirs....maybe...just maybe...GW Bush will be vindicated.
Did Herbert Hoover ever get vindicated?
Johnny2Bad@96
And to assume does what? Do I need to spell it out. What are you doing about anything! I see complaining but little else.
Come on folks....it was the Dems that wanted to see more minorities and "low enders" get in to the American Dream. Over the past 5-6 years mortgage rates have been as low as 4 1/4 %. Why did they go for adjustable rate loans...right...they had no money to support their venture into home ownership.
So, why did the sub-prime and "liar loans" pass through the system? Right...make it easy for deadbeats and non-qualifiers to get loans. It appeared to be "easy money" for crooks too. It's hard to feel sorry for any of them
Now that the chickens are come home to roost, you liberals want to blame Bush, McCain and any other other Republican when it is primarily Dem policies that got us into this mess.
If you think Osama's plan to raise taxes on the rich is going to feed even more deadbeats...not a chance. Should one thinks it is hard to find a job now...wait until taxes go up. We already have approx 50 million people not paying taxes and Osama wants to add another 18 million with his socialist policies. The truth is all Americans should pay a fair share and that includes anyone (rich or poor) who has earned income.
Socialism is the way of liberals. I bet they just love the Government taking over financial institutions and the economy going down the tubes.
Paul Fenton@103
Yawn! And how long does all that money take to trickle down. It started with Reagan. republican greed is the name of the game.
PaulFenton@193
to see more minorities and “low enders”? I bet you fought yourself hard from wanting to say and other....
Screw you!
PaulFenton@103
We already have approx 50 million people not paying taxes...
And how much in taxes did the rich pay? the mega corporations?
Paul Fenton @ 103:
Which "liberals" are you talking about? The "liberals" running the Federal Reserve system? The "liberals" running traditional banks? The "liberals" running the investment banks? Or is it just what you say "liberals" want in the abstract? You know, somewhere in a vacuum? Need another hint?
BTW, if it's hard for you to find a job, you're probably just another one of the millions of "paid by the hour" idiots who repeatedly support policies that screw themselves financially - just so people won't think they're gay. Sorry, but if your a conservative Republican male, the secret has been out for a while.
I prefer the Rasputin polls.
Yeah, but he hasn't published one in quite awhile. If he had published one recently, Obama would be behind in that one, too. What is it going to take to make people see the error of the Republican doctrines? Large bank failures? We've got them. Housing not worth what one paid for it a couple of years ago, We've got that. A useless war with no end in sight? We've got that. What will it take?
We need a JUNTA, throw out 533 congressional members, send the Federal Reserve into the stratosphere, deport the 40,000 registered lobbyists out of the USA [I don't know, send them to Antarctica in bermuda shorts], have November elections WITHOUT Obumma and McCrank, limit terms to 2 years for both representatives and senators, change the Pentagon into a parking garage - THEN AMERICA MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE!
"I sincerely believe that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies ... If the
American people ever allow the private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation,
then by deflation, the banks and the corporations that grow up around them will deprive the people of all
property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.”-Thomas Jefferson
"The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly
belongs."
-Thomas Jefferson
"It was not my intention to doubt that the doctrines of the Illuminati had not spread in the United
States. On the contrary, no one is more fully satisfied of this fact than I am." -George Washington, 1782
“I never would have agreed to the formulation of the Central Intelligence Agency back in forty-seven, if
I had known it would become the American Gestapo.” -US
President Harry S. Truman, 1961
Cappy @ 93:
Actually it doesn't appear that McPain is holding tough in the polls.
All the Polls that completed last week before the announcement of Lehman's bankruptcy had McPain tie or winning over Obama by a +3 to +4 point spread, save one poll that closed on Saturday the 13th when rumors began to spread.
The polls that were still in progress after the announcement of Lehman's failure show Obama winning by a +2 to +5 spread with the one exception of Rassmussen that gives McPain a +1 lead.
Pollsters have reported that it will take a week yet for the full impact of the financial meltdown to show in the polls, but there are some poll reports coming in that show Obama pulling ahead of McPain or to a tie in the swing states of Ohio, Virginia, Florida, Minnesota, and Colorado.
It is still too early to tell but there is a shift happening and only time will tell if it is a temporary reaction or a trend.
Poll………………...…….Date………….McCain…...Obama.....Spread
RCP Average………….09/05 - 09/16…..45.7….…45.7……Tie
CBS News/NY Times.…09/12 - 09/16..…44………49....…..Obama +5
Gallup Tracking……….09/14 - 09/16…..45……….47……..Obama +2
Rasmussen Tracking...09/14 - 09/16….48……….47…......McCain +1
Hotline/FD Tracking…..09/14 - 09/16.....42…..….45…......Obama +3
Reuters/Zogby……..….09/11 - 09/13….45……….47….…..Obama +2
Newsweek……………...09/10 - 09/11….46……….46……..Tie
Battleground*…………..09/07 - 09/11….48……….44….….McCain +4
Associated Press/GfK...09/05 - 09/10….48……….44…..…McCain +4
FOX News……………...09/08 - 09/09….45……….42……..McCain +3
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_electi...
But you all missed the fine point of McCain's statement.
Whereas the 'fundamentals' used to refer to the financial strenght of the country McCain redefined 'fundamentals' as being the 'American Worker'.
See how easy that is?
The 'American Worker' is strong, if he just had a job.
Cappy @ 108:
This one is just for you cappy!
This is all well and good but where the fuck was all this intestinal fortitude four years ago while Bush was gutting our Constitution? Where the fuck were they when he decided he could order anyone to do whatever he wanted? Where were they when he put the security of the nation in jeopardy so he could discredit the one person who knew the Iraq war was bullshit.
The Dems can talk all they want. But it's still just talk. They've done shit to counteract or prosecute the criminals and sorry Dems "Trust us we'll do better" isn't going to cut it.
Too bad Bernie isn't the Senate majority leader. Oh wait, he's not even a Dem; even though he is more of a true democrat than the republican-lite weasels we have in place right now! Go figure?
Thank you President Bush for keeping us safe since the tragedy of 9/11.
Thank you Donald Rumsfeld for a well run Pentagon.
Thank you Condoleezza Rice for maintaining a strong US in a weak, bail us out, world.
Thank you General Partaus for a winning strategy in Iraq.
I watched Senator McCain on C-SPAN ten years ago stand up and speak against earmarks and subsidies. No one would listen because it is easy to spend my taxes on pet projects. I was very impressed by him then and ever since.
All our economic woes stems from a quadrupling of oil prices. Drill now, Drill everywhere. Support clean coal, natural gas and all alternative energies. If energy costs had stayed stable, jobs would have been created and people could pay their mortgages. This was the fault of a global increase in demand without us developing our resources. Leftist radical enviromentalists ignorance stifled energy development. Now we are paying the price. Develop all our resources as cleanly as practicable.
Boxer goes straight at it! Wow, when I compare her to Feinstein, the contrast really shows how utterly sold out DiFi is. Mukasey? FISA? The list goes on and on.
how about the democrat who's who in subprime/low income housing connection??
obama - pritzker - ACORN - jim johnson - frank raines - rezko chicago housing projects - 2nd recipient of FMAC/FNMA contributions
in the end, there's only been a few in the Senate who's shown balls in reform - coburn, demint, and sessions - and to some extent mccain.
"[further deregulations is] like taking cops off the street to deal with a riot"
The bail-outs are like supplying more cops with orders to smash windows, loot and beat people up at random. Or throwing guns into the crowd and shouting "sort it out amongst yourselves!". I guess the latter is the NRA approach.
"And may I suggest if you have any money in a bank, take it out. Better no interest than no money."
Yeah, that'll help. Everyone do that. More banks will fold, China will call in the dept and hyperinflation will kick in.
That's when the riots start, members of Palin's denomination/cult purge the house of representatives with holy fire (and blame it on some Muslims, anarchists, gays or some other out group), the election is declared void, the phone and 'net records are used to round up the evil far-left liberals whose fault it all is and the thousand year "majority" begins.
Spell check...Menendez should replace Melendez in your lede para
"Well said."
That's why we send Bernie down there. I don't know why in the hell we sent that Welch guy but hopefully we'll correct that situation in November.
let's see now are we talking brain surgery or rocket science here??? IN Bush's 8 years, he provoked a war with Iraq and he borrowed from china to pay the trillions it cost to run that war and everyone knew that it would cost not us but our children and our children's children. They will be the ones paying long after we're worm food. Our economy today is a direct result of that. What part of that is so hard to understand. The last two days have seen the DOW drop about 900 pts. That's not a correction. that's the harbinger of a depression. And McCain has the gall to say the economy is on stable ground. Bush has succeeded in bringing this country to its knees. He's so ignorant that i doubt that even he visualized the implications. There won't be a country, the United States of America, for him and Cheney to enjoy their ill gotten gains. And still this is a "close" election. give me a break. we have a doddering old man who clings to the policies that brought us to this point and he selected as his running mate a bimbo bombshell. they are both embarrassing, almost as much as what we are currently stuck with. and they are running up against a bona fied intellectual in obama. His intellect runs circles around those two. In a real debate, the two of them would be unmasked for what they are: know nothings. But that wouldn't matter, the heartland would vote for them anyway because as in voting for bush, they would like to have a beer with McCain and he will keep them safe (after all didn't he graduate near the bottom of his class, and how many times was he shot down, and lastly didn't he spend 5 years in the Hanoi Hilton. Oh yes he has a wonderful running mate, who wears designer glasses so that she can see russia from her back door and that qualifies her for the highest office in the nation. This circus just will not stop.
The historically low congressional approval ratings confirm the American people aren't laying the current financial crisis solely at the feet of Republicans. Anyone who does a modicum of objective research will discover connections between Wall Street, Fannie, Freddie, etc., and top politicians on both sides of the aisle.
Sans the comparison connection to the Great Depression, Bernie "let's paint every issue as a class war" Sanders sums it up quite well. Except that it's not just Bush, McCain or Republicans who need to get off the country club circuit.
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