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Obama, the Mortgage Mess & His Record on Tough Issues:
Identify a Problem, Fail to Offer a Solution, Pass the Buck*

October 10, 2008 by GayPatriotWest

In perhaps the most hopeful column for Republicans in recent days, Karl Rove wrote yesterday in the Wall Street Journal that, “There are probably more undecided and persuadable voters open to switching their choice than in any election since 1968.”  He still thinks Obama hasn’t sealed the deal.  Peggy agrees.

But, as Peggy noted, it doesn’t help McCain to be going negative at this point.  “To win,” Rove contends, “Mr. McCain must demonstrate he stands for responsible conservative change, while portraying Mr. Obama as an out-of-the-mainstream liberal not ready to be president.”  He seems to be trying to do both, but the media dwells on the second half rather than the first.

McCain didn’t doenough in the second debate to push that kind of change.  Nor did Obama offer much in the way of solutions. He kept harping on how bad the “last eight years” of deregulation were (without providing any examples of actual deregulation).

Just as McCain failed to call him on that, he also failed to call him on something else. Rove got at in his column:

For those leaning to Mr. Obama, there was no evidence of bipartisanship. There was no talk of accomplishments. Did he really think it was smart to answer Mr. McCain on Fannie by dismissing the GSE [government sponsored enterprise] reform bill and pointing to a letter he wrote? In the Senate, is the pen mightier than legislation? And Mr. Obama’s say-one-thing, do-another approach was apparent. Blast Mr. McCain for talking up the economy, then say, “I am confident about the American economy.” Blame Mr. McCain for the credit meltdown, and end the assault with “you’re not interested in hearing politicians pointing fingers.”

Here’s what Obama said in the debate:

I wrote to Secretary Paulson, I wrote to Federal Reserve Chairman [Ben] Bernanke, and told them this is something [sub-prime lending crisis] we have to deal with, and nobody did anything about it. . . . . Now, with respect to Fannie Mae, what McCain didn’t mention is the fact that this bill that he talked about wasn’t his own bill. He jumped on it a year after it had been introduced and it never got passed.

Nobody did anything about it, Senator? Including you. Remember, you serve in the United States Senate where you can introduce legislation to address such problems. Or support bills already on the floor.

Given that McCain did something, he should have jumped on Obama’s statement and replied:

A year after it had been introduced? So what? That was two years before the current crisis when when we had enough time to prevent it. I at least supported actual legislation that the Senate considered. I tried to get it passed. I warned of the dangers of its failure. By contrast, you wrote a letter, asking someone else to do something. As president, you have to take action, not pass the problem on. Do you remember the sign on President Harry S Truman’s desk? “The Buck Stops Here.” It seems you just want to pass the buck.

For Obama, there is no taking responsibility, no offering of solutions, save repeating his mantra of hope and change. What’s he going to do if he wins next fall? Wait for Congress to act? Obama may have the right rhetoric for this anxious time, but his record includes few proposals for actual solutions even to problems he identified.

Is this the kind of president we want? A man who identifies a problem and writes a letter asking someone else to address?

Related: Is that the best you can come up with, Barack?

*Please note I changed the title from the original because I thought it was lame. Not sure this is much better, but seems to capture post’s essence more accurately.

Filed Under: 2008 Presidential Politics, Economy, Obama Watch

Comments

  1. Ted B. (Charging Rhino) says

    October 10, 2008 at 9:25 pm - October 10, 2008

    McCain and.or his advisors have played the post RNC-period all-wrong…especially once the credit and equity markets went-to-hell. He shoud have been out-there in-front with a coherent yet-flexible plan and just brushed Obama aside…both on the stump and in the debate last week. Attacking Obama might excite the base, but he’s losing the financially-paniced moderates. The McCain staff bungled the Palin introduction post-Convention, and they’ve bungled it on the economy.

    McCain’s only hope it to rope in a true, respected financial titan like Buffett or Bloomburg or Forbes…someone who isn’t from Goldman-Sachs or one of the other Wall Streeters…put them forward as McCain’s Secy of the Treasury-presumptive and financial right-arm, and go hard-campaigning as a team. Ignore Obama, brush aside the deadenders obsessed over ACORN and Ayers, and get out there stumping to the middle-class moderates who are scared as-hell.

    Admit that he’s not a economicsand finance-guy…but here’s the man I’ll put in-charge of YOUR finacial future…and we’ll address your needs and concerns. There’s an old military pilot’s saying dating back to Jimmy Dolittle when lost and running out of gas, “…climb, communicate, and confess”.

  2. GayPatriotWest says

    October 10, 2008 at 9:32 pm - October 10, 2008

    Well said, Ted B., esp. first two paragraphs.

  3. Clint says

    October 10, 2008 at 10:26 pm - October 10, 2008

    In the title, you missed Step #4: Claim credit for any good ideas other people have.

  4. SoCalRobert says

    October 10, 2008 at 11:18 pm - October 10, 2008

    #1: Ted – you make a really good case.

    But I just wonder how much “truth-telling” people in this country can handle.

    The relatively small number of mortgages that popped the balloon were made by many of the same people who are “scared as hell”. The same thing can be said for people investing in the debt that has driven our (illusory) economic growth for many years now.

    It seems to me that if trillions in wealth can be wiped out in a couple of weeks then it never really existed in the first place.

  5. Kevin says

    October 10, 2008 at 11:43 pm - October 10, 2008

    In the last few days, I’ve watched McCains campaign implode.

    Sarah Palin is an unmitigated disaster…any thinking voter does not want a soccer mom for president. Today, McCain himself had to talk about respecting Obama as a candidate, completely opposite of the message Palin has been giving by trying (lamely) to make Bill Ayers a major campaign issue. Today comes the news a bi-partisan panel has ruled that she abused her power by attempting to get her brother-in-law fired. Seriously, wasn’t someone like Elizabeth Dole or Kay Bailey Hutchinson available?

    [Um, no, Kevin, did you even read the report? The bipartisan panel just voted to release the report. It was written by a Democrat close to the fired commissioner. And her abuse of power? Not telling her husband to stop pestering that commissioner, yet there is evidence that she did. Not just that, the report made clear and this is an actual quote from the report, “Governor Palin’s firing of Commissioner Monegan was a proper and lawful exercise of her constitutional and statutory authority to hire and fire executive branch department heads.” –Dan]

    McCain himself simply looks now like a sad, tired, beaten down old man. His time should have been in 2000; a time that was de-railed by the whispering campaign that painted him as a deranged pow.

    [And please will you actually address the point I made in the post to which you attach your comment? Can you identify a problem where Obama has provided a legislative solution while working in the Senate, particularly related to the current crisis? ]

  6. ThatGayConservative says

    October 11, 2008 at 12:03 am - October 11, 2008

    respected financial titan like Buffett or Bloomburg or Forbes

    Screw the two former and run with the latter.

    Palin has been giving by trying (lamely) to make Bill Ayers

    One wonders, then, why Comrade Obama’s scared of the issue.

  7. Luke says

    October 11, 2008 at 12:10 am - October 11, 2008

    McCain needs to get tough on Obama and take off the gloves. People are angry that we are losing against this slimy Chicago politician. It isn’t racist to not want an urban community organizer to run our country. Obama is an unknown politician who has ties to terrorists who hate our country. Cindy McCain said it best when she expressed her rage at a foreigner like Hussein Obama who literally pulled funding for her military son while he was in harms way. McCain needs to let people vent and express themselves against Islamofascists and those in Arab dress who support them. I for one, AM scared as hell that I will wake up on Nov 5 and learn that Hussein Obama is President. Do we really want our children speaking farsi?

  8. North Dallas Thirty says

    October 11, 2008 at 12:22 am - October 11, 2008

    Today comes the news a bi-partisan panel has ruled that she abused her power by attempting to get her brother-in-law fired.

    Let’s see, that would be the brother-in-law, the state trooper who threatened her father’s life, abused her sister, tasered his own stepson, broke the very game-hunting laws he was supposed to be supporting, and drove his patrol car after drinking and with a beer in hand.

    But then again, given that Barack Obama not only endorses and supports people who build nail bombs to kill US troops, firebomb houses with sleeping children, and kill policemen and innocent guards, but gives them millions of dollars to teach children their racist and violent ideology, it shouldn’t surprise us that Kevin and other Obama supporters see nothing wrong with what said trooper did.

  9. SoCalRobert says

    October 11, 2008 at 12:35 am - October 11, 2008

    Well, Kevin, we have three choices in this election (includes the “stay at home” option).

    As far as Palin: I think I’ll wait on some sort of objective review of this case. (Bipartisan? There is no such thing in politics.) And, I really don’t care.

    Given my politics, there is no ideal candidate in this race so I have to vote for the guy whose philosophy is nearest mine.

    I judge Barry to be an empty suit with poor judgement and no remarkable accomplishments.

    I could live with the empty suit (we’ve had empty suits before); it’s the bad judgement that concerns me. Ayers is an issue since it speaks to Barry’s judgement and is an indicator of his philosophy. If McCain was hanging around with Fred Phelps or Timothy McVeigh, I’d bet my next paycheck (fingers crossed) that you libs would make it the central issue in this election.

    I’m certainly no fan of Hillary but a HRC presidency doesn’t scare me near as much as an Obama presidency. Indeed, some of the most damning indictments of Obama have come from HRC and Joe Biden.

  10. Sean A says

    October 11, 2008 at 12:49 am - October 11, 2008

    #8: 3……..2……..1……….. [KEVIN TO INSERT LAME EQUIVALENCE COMMENT ABOUT JOHN HAGEE’S ENDORSEMENT OF JOHN MCCAIN HERE].

  11. ThatGayConservative says

    October 11, 2008 at 1:05 am - October 11, 2008

    #7

    Guess whom I’d prefer in the WH.

  12. V the K says

    October 11, 2008 at 1:11 am - October 11, 2008

    The actual conclusion of the report:

    I find that, although Walt Monegan’s refusal to fire Trooper Michael Wooten was not the sole reason he was fired by Gov. Sarah Palin, it was likely a contributing factor to his termination as a commissioner of public safety. In spite of that, Governor Palin’s firing of Commissioner Monegan was a proper and lawful exercie of her constitutional and statutory authority to hire and fire executive branch department heads.

    I just keep wondering why Democrats think it was improper to fire a cop who tasered his ten year old stepson, got drunk in his patrol car, threatened his wife’s family with violence, and was, by all accounts, a pretty bad character.

  13. North Dallas Thirty says

    October 11, 2008 at 1:16 am - October 11, 2008

    Because, V the K, they literally do not care what a person does as long as their supporting them will help Barack Obama.

    Hence why we have the spectacle of Kevin and his ilk running around proclaiming the virtues of people who spew racism, kill police with bombs, firebomb houses in which children are sleeping, try to build nail bombs to kill hundreds of US soldiers, and then, years later, insist that not only was doing so right, but that they should have done more of it.

    Otherwise, people might question why Obama gave them millions of dollars to teach their ideology to children.

  14. DinaFelice says

    October 11, 2008 at 1:52 am - October 11, 2008

    In spite of that, Governor Palin’s firing of Commissioner Monegan was a proper and lawful exercie of her constitutional and statutory authority to hire and fire executive branch department heads.

    Can someone please explain to me why anyone would bother holding a hearing on a firing (which this wasn’t) of a person for ‘improper’ reasons (which this doesn’t seem to have been) when the person doing the firing has the absolute right to dismiss the person for any reason? Wasn’t this the obvious–and in fact, the only–conclusion that could have come out of the hearing?

    BTW, I had the same question when Bush removed some of the US attorneys…if they serve at the pleasure of the president, and he is displeased, why shouldn’t he be able to remove them?

  15. Sean A says

    October 11, 2008 at 1:54 am - October 11, 2008

    #12: Hey, NDT–you’re right. The huge headline of the day for the mainstream media is: Governor Palin ABUSED HER POWER! Meanwhile, Obama’s “Muslim outreach adviser” has been caught meeting with Islamic organizations with ties to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. The response from the Obama campaign? The meeting was not organized by the campaign, the “outreach adviser” is not an employee of the campaign and does not speak for the campaign. Well, I guess that settles it then.

    http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/10/obamas-muslim-outreach-coordinator/

    So, Obama appoints an “outreach adviser” to show how tolerant and in touch he is with that “moderate Muslim community” we all keep hearing about, and when the adviser is caught having closed-door meetings with terrorist-sympathizers, the campaign acts like they’ve never heard of him and he has nothing to do with the campaign whatsoever.

    Obama can’t even keep an eye on his Muslim “outreach adviser” long enough to keep him from consorting with supporters of terror, but this is the guy the Left wants to be in charge of national security. It’s un-fu*king-believable.

    And like the Ayers issue, it will be completely ignored by the MSM. Total non-issue. Just another one of those hateful McCain smears trying to destroy the infallible Obamessiah.

  16. North Dallas Thirty says

    October 11, 2008 at 2:09 am - October 11, 2008

    This is the best summary yet I’ve seen on the whole trooper thing.

    Remember, folks: Barack Obama believes that police officers who break the law and commit acts that would likely get a civilian thrown in jail should not be fired.

    Of course, Obama’s already got the Secret Service out harassing people who aren’t going to vote for him. He needs thugs and drunks like Trooper Wooten who have no trouble tasing people, including children.

  17. Sean A says

    October 11, 2008 at 2:48 am - October 11, 2008

    #11: “I just keep wondering why Democrats think it was improper to fire a cop who tasered his ten year old stepson, got drunk in his patrol car, threatened his wife’s family with violence, and was, by all accounts, a pretty bad character.”

    V the K, this is what I’m wondering about: Is this, or is this not, the first time in the history of American law enforcement that liberals have OPPOSED the termination of a police officer? And if so, why now? Why this case? Hmmmmmmmmmm……

  18. American Elephant says

    October 11, 2008 at 3:09 am - October 11, 2008

    Kevin, how could you possibly have any idea what “thinking voters” think? You arent one yourself.

  19. Sean A says

    October 11, 2008 at 6:30 am - October 11, 2008

    #5: “Sarah Palin is an unmitigated disaster…any thinking voter does not want a soccer mom for president.”

    Hey, I hope everyone got a chance to see Kevin’s V for Vendetta mask fall off in comment # 5, above. According to him, “thinking voters” do not want a “soccer mom for president.” Setting aside for a moment the fact that Kevin is too stupid to remember that Palin is seeking the office of VICE President, is anyone surprised that behind his mask of enlightened tolerance, Kevin is actually a sexist neanderthal? Of course, he’s not referring to Palin as a “soccer mom” because she drives her kids to soccer practice everyday. He means it demographically—middle-aged (or approaching middle-aged) women that still have young children living in the home. Women in this group are called soccer moms not because of the sport their children play, but rather as shorthand for the level of involvement they have in their children’s lives. Palin certainly fits in this demographic.

    So, when Kevin says “thinking voters” don’t want a “soccer mom” for president, what he’s really saying is that it’s the “mom” part that disqualifies her from the Vice Presidency. The fact that she’s also the Governor of Alaska and has more executive experience than his chosen candidate is irrelevant. SHE’S A “MOM.” Thus, loosely (but accurately) translated, Kevin is saying, “Well, what thuu—Sarah Paaylin is whuut?! Runnin’ for vayce presidint?! Yure shittin’ me—fur reel?! Well…whuut she wanta go a do-a thang like that fer? That li’l lady’s got a whole passel uhv youngin’s at home she s’posed to be raysin! Duzz her huzzbund know about this? Well, that just ain’t right. A momma needz ta be home wiff ‘er kids if ya asked me. Who she think she izz anyways? If eyezz ‘er huzbund, I’d be embarressssed as all get out. If my wife millie did somethin’ like that, I’d say woman—you gone just plum crazee or whuut?!”

    That’s Kevin and his “thinking voters.” Tolerant, enlightened sophisticates on the outside. Ignorant, hypocritical, sexist fu*k-wads on the inside.

  20. Scott Lassiter says

    October 11, 2008 at 7:28 am - October 11, 2008

    Just for your information……I was at the South Carolina State Fair yesterday. Of course we are not a battle ground state but it was interesting to see: Obama/Biden booth – no one, McCain/Palin booth – jammed. The other interesting thing (non-PC correct to even observe I know) was that there was not a single African-American wearing with an Obama sticker. Yet the fair population seemed nearly half and half (black to white). And the Obama booth, staffed by an elderly white couple, very friendly and we chatted. Strange dynamics in this election.

  21. Kevin says

    October 11, 2008 at 8:28 am - October 11, 2008

    8: Funny you say that, because I come from a very Republican family. Not only are they Republicans, but they have been active for many years, chairing county and state committees, selecting candidates to nominate for local and state offices, working to support presidential candidates every 4 years, attending the Republican convention as delegates every year, etc. I was somewhat shocked to hear a couple of them say that they are now planning to sit out the election. These are folks who are not just party supporters; They firmly believe (as I do) that voting is one of our top duties as American citizens. Sorry, but there is something mighty wrong here.

  22. just me says

    October 11, 2008 at 9:11 am - October 11, 2008

    I judge Barry to be an empty suit with poor judgement and no remarkable accomplishments.

    I agree but I also think he is an arrogant empty suit.

    He also likes to claim other’s glory for himself.

  23. J says

    October 11, 2008 at 9:50 am - October 11, 2008

    I have to wonder…In a conversation with my partner, who is white, he is under the opinion that if Obama were white, his lead in the so-called polls would be considerably greater.

    And I just can’t remember people being as outspoken to this degree on this stie during the 2004 election, especially since even McCain has had to tell people to stop hurling racist insults regarding his opponent.

    Many conservatives believe seem to believe McCain and the conservative ideology are best for our country (regardless of political affiliation) for many reasons. I still see no discussion about the fact that the face of the Republican Party, even through attacks on LGBT Americans and with the threat of an imploding economy and the threat of terrorism, still lacks a look of diversity that is the true reflection of who Americans are.

    Are ALL of the issues not important all of the time, especially truly working towards inclusion while making sure all families have a shot at opportunity rather than just the elite few?

  24. just me says

    October 11, 2008 at 10:21 am - October 11, 2008

    I have to wonder…In a conversation with my partner, who is white, he is under the opinion that if Obama were white, his lead in the so-called polls would be considerably greater.

    I disagree. I don’t even think he would have gotten the nomination-McCain would be runing against Hillary right now, not Obama.

    Also, the white version of Obama already tried to run for president-his name is John Edwards, and while he didn’t flop, he didn’t win the nomination, got the VP nod, and lost in 2004, and tried again with little success.

    I think Obama’s race is helping him right now more than hurting him.

  25. J says

    October 11, 2008 at 11:39 am - October 11, 2008

    just me, I think it depends on certain demographics as to whether or not Obama’s race is helping him or not.

    I must say, in my short life, I’ve never seen so many efforts to not only get blacks registered to vote in my area, but to actually go out there and do it. As a black male, I’ve always gone to the polls with the knowledge that additional sacrifices were made so that I might be able to have my voice heard.

    It’s a shame that it could have taken so long in this country’s history (especially with reputation we have as having a truly unique government of the people) for there to be a non-white candidate president with whom some voters could identify.

    I certianly look forward to the day when the country has run out of such “firsts”.

  26. North Dallas Thirty says

    October 11, 2008 at 11:53 am - October 11, 2008

    I still see no discussion about the fact that the face of the Republican Party, even through attacks on LGBT Americans and with the threat of an imploding economy and the threat of terrorism, still lacks a look of diversity that is the true reflection of who Americans are.

    Probably because Republicans are concerned about finding the most competent person for the job regardless of minority status, while Democrats are concerned about finding the correct minority-status person for the job regardless of competence.

  27. ILoveCapitalism says

    October 11, 2008 at 2:17 pm - October 11, 2008

    Obama’s race is helping him right now more than hurting him.

    Absolutely. If Obama weren’t half-black, he would have come in fourth in the Democratic primaries, behind Hillary, Edwards and Biden.

  28. J says

    October 11, 2008 at 5:14 pm - October 11, 2008

    NDT, you may find your candidate to be the more competent one to lead the country. The fact still remains that, when it comes to race relations, your party seems not just somewhat uncomfortable having the discussion, but also seems to rather focus on issues you think would unite all Americans rather than trying to tackle issues that currently divide us.

    ILoveCapitalism, your comment, while probably quite honest, is still an example of why there is still need for such a discussion. The thought that a black candidate could only be taken seriously because his mother was white is a throwback to the good ole “mulatto hypothesis.”

  29. North Dallas Thirty says

    October 11, 2008 at 5:49 pm - October 11, 2008

    The fact still remains that, when it comes to race relations, your party seems not just somewhat uncomfortable having the discussion, but also seems to rather focus on issues you think would unite all Americans rather than trying to tackle issues that currently divide us.

    Exactly. Instead of arguing over racial quotas and why minorities deserve preferential treatment, as do Democrats, Republicans simply take the tack that skin color makes no difference when it comes to safety, education, and other issues.

    Democrats believe that there is a black way, a white way, and a Hispanic way to do everything. Republicans believe that there is an American way.

  30. J says

    October 11, 2008 at 7:26 pm - October 11, 2008

    NDT, who said anything about racial quotas? How have you come to the conclusion that Democrats en mass believe that there is a “black way” or “hispanic way” is beyond me.

    What I am saying is that the experiences minorities, the racism of “low expectations” is what I believe C. Rice called it in an interview, continue to give minorities a unique perspective that should not be ignored. Republicans seem more comfortable or dept at discussing other issues than reaching out to minorities and asking, “Do you feel included? Why or why not?” Not engaging in the discussion seems a tad heartless.

  31. J says

    October 11, 2008 at 7:36 pm - October 11, 2008

    I’m not sure how far Jasper is from Dallas (where I thought you resided), but I’d be curious how you could take such a sarcastic tone from the state in which something so terrible happened to James Byrd Jr. just 10 years ago.

  32. ThatGayConservative says

    October 11, 2008 at 8:08 pm - October 11, 2008

    They firmly believe (as I do) that voting is one of our top duties as American citizens.

    So then you oppose Comrade Obama and the Association of Community Organizers for the Registration of Necro-proxies?

  33. J says

    October 11, 2008 at 8:18 pm - October 11, 2008

    Two questions for ThatGayConservative.

    1) Did you use “comrade” to describe Kerry in 2004?

    2) With Obama being the first nominated black candidate for the presidency, what exactly are you afraid of should he win?

  34. ThatGayConservative says

    October 11, 2008 at 8:18 pm - October 11, 2008

    but I’d be curious how you could take such a sarcastic tone from the state in which something so terrible happened to James Byrd Jr. just 10 years ago.

    In other words, NDT, J thinks you should suffer from White Guilt just like he does. Therefore, you should join the party of the Klan, Faubus, Wallace, Barnett etc. etc. etc. to atone for it.

  35. J says

    October 11, 2008 at 8:26 pm - October 11, 2008

    Actually, ThatGayConservative, I’m black, so I don’t think I could suffer from White Guilt. That’s quite all right. I showed up for a job interview once and remember the look of surprise on the recruiter’s face after realizing that I wasn’t white as he’d assumed based on our phone conversations. It was almost as priceless as the time I called a woman in college about purchasing her used car; she informed me proudly that it was a great car as it had been “n-rigged.”

    Also, I lived outside of the U.S. for so long my view on race relations in this country is somewhat different from what one would expect.

    My partner, who is 10 years my senior, is white. I asked him just now if I was being paranoid in thinking that I’ve seen more ferocity on the side of Republicans in this race than in 2004, 2000, and 1998. Obama was called an Arab at a McCain rally, Republicans are calling him a Muslim. it’s like a two-for-one on racist rhetoric. Is this of no concern? Is it OK to use a racial slur just because one is angry?

  36. ThatGayConservative says

    October 11, 2008 at 8:30 pm - October 11, 2008

    1. Nope. He’s a buffoon, not a radical Marxist.

    2. I’m afraid of the Marxism that would come with the new buffoon hell bent on destroying everything that makes America the greatest country in the world.

    Am I afraid of a black man? Is that what you’re digging for? Nope. That’s you’re own bigoted ASSumption.

    What’s more, NDT used to live in Dallas. I grew up in central Mississippi and was living in Houston (closer to Jasper) when Byrd was killed. Still doesn’t change the fact that I too consider blacks to be Americans instead of people to pitty and keep crushed into poverty under the heel liberal reich.

  37. J says

    October 11, 2008 at 8:41 pm - October 11, 2008

    TGC, please don’t use that whole “ASS” thing with me. I was asking an honest question to which I wanted a straightforward answer. Your answer was quite broad.

  38. J says

    October 11, 2008 at 8:44 pm - October 11, 2008

    And I don’t feel crushed under anyone’s heel. I work very hard to disprove certain myths that may exist regarding my race. Rather, I identify as a Democrat based on several issues.

  39. J says

    October 11, 2008 at 9:00 pm - October 11, 2008

    And given my affinity to Germany (having grown up there), the “reich” comment is offensive. There was, of course, history in Germany before WWII, too.

  40. J says

    October 11, 2008 at 10:00 pm - October 11, 2008

    I’m curious…What made you initially assume I was white, TGC?

  41. ThatGayConservative says

    October 12, 2008 at 2:38 am - October 12, 2008

    And given my affinity to Germany (having grown up there), the “reich” comment is offensive.

    And my family of Ohio Germans came from Stuttgart. What’s your point? Besides, the fact that you’re offended is whose problem, exactly?

    But hey, thanks for changing the subject of the comment thread into a discussion about me and sharing your misinformed opinion that Republicans are racist, sexist, bigot homophobes. While you piss and moan about the notion that the RNC is too white, why not reflect on why blacks have never gotten anywher in the DNC. Why was Kerry’s campaign so lilly white?

    And no, I don’t believe for a second the supposed altruism of nominating a half-black man to run for president. Especially when liberals do their damndest to keep blacks down.

    Cheers!

    (I now return you to the subject at hand)

  42. J says

    October 12, 2008 at 7:56 am - October 12, 2008

    TGC, I never said that Republicans are “racist, sexist, bigot homophobes.” I apologize that I gave you the impression that I have such a misinformed opinion of the Republican Party. On the contrary, I have never believed that Republicans in anyway racist, sexist, and bigoted homophobes.

    What I do believe is that there is a lack of effort on the part of leadership to reach out to groups historically discriminated against based on things they cannot control (race, sex, and sexual orientation). My perception is that there is a gross lack of comfort not just in discussing and listening to the issues rather than hearing them. I’ve even told my own parents and grandmother to “stop and think” whenever they’ve said Republicans don’t care about them.

    By not having the discussion, it gives the appearance to the other side that Republicans just don’t care. Minorities and whites have a 50/50 responsibility to extend a hand to the other side.

  43. Kevin says

    October 12, 2008 at 8:47 am - October 12, 2008

    15: Its not improper to fire a cop for those reasons. If you looked at my comments (and a lot of others), you’ll see this isn’t the point, especially since the guy sounds like a nasty piece of work. The point is that for someone who is a national candidate she has no regard for the rule of law. Is that what is meant by maverick? (take a swig for all of you playing the drinking game)

    In this case, not only were her family members working to get this guy fired, but when the laws involved didn’t suit their needs to make their case against this guy, she began using staff members to harass state agencies to get her way. Does Alaska have other problematic state troopers who she has tried to get dismissed for similar issues? I understand she also maneuvered to remove qualified people from non-plum jobs to fill with her friends and relatives.

    Sorry, but I think the country has had enough of a president and vice-president for the last 8 years who thinks they can do whatever they please and use the constitution as toilet paper.

  44. North Dallas Thirty says

    October 12, 2008 at 6:14 pm - October 12, 2008

    Its not improper to fire a cop for those reasons. If you looked at my comments (and a lot of others), you’ll see this isn’t the point, especially since the guy sounds like a nasty piece of work. The point is that for someone who is a national candidate she has no regard for the rule of law.

    The “rule of law”, in this case, was being abused and ignored.

    Trooper Col. Julia Grimes in her disciplinary memo to Wooten stated, “It is nearly certain that a civilian investigated under similar circumstances would have received criminal sanctions.”

    But of course, Barack Obama shrieks that firing people who abuse the system like this and insist that officers of the law can get away with things that would land a normal person in jail is showing “no regard for the rule of law”. Barack Obama supports breaking the law to keep corrupt criminals like this on the job, but screams that people who fire these corrupt criminals are lawbreakers.

  45. ThatGayConservative says

    October 12, 2008 at 6:40 pm - October 12, 2008

    What I do believe is that there is a lack of effort on the part of leadership to reach out to groups

    Groups being the operative word. Repbulicans don’t “group” people like the left does. The left keeps the masses in check by keeping them in assigned groups for their own good. Meanwhile, Republicans address Americans.

    Perhaps people should break out of their assigned groups and join the rest of us as unhyphenated Americans?

  46. ThatGayConservative says

    October 12, 2008 at 6:41 pm - October 12, 2008

    Sorry, but I think the country has had enough of a president and vice-president for the last 8 years who thinks they can do whatever they please and use the constitution as toilet paper.

    Sooooo that means that Americans won’t be voting for the liberals, right?

  47. American Elephant says

    October 12, 2008 at 11:57 pm - October 12, 2008

    Two questions for ThatGayConservative.

    1) Did you use “comrade” to describe Kerry in 2004?

    I know you didnt ask me but Im going to answer anyway.

    YES! We all called Kerry a commie in 2004!And only half tongue-in-cheek.

    With Obama being the first nominated black candidate for the presidency, what exactly are you afraid of should he win?

    His skin color has nothing to do with being opposed to Obama, but the fact that you would phrase the question like that suggests you are actively looking to accuse anyone who opposes Obama of racism.

    The fact is being afraid of an Obama adminstration is very easy. Based on his voting record, he has been rated by non-partisan groups as the singular most leftwing member of the Senate. This is in a Senate that includes Bernie Ward, a self avowed socialist. You have to be pretty fucking left wing to be more left wing than Bernie Ward.

    The truth is, from his voting record, to his associations, to his writings, to his proposals, Obama has proven that he is a radical leftist whose ideology lies somewhere between socialism and Marxism. He wants to let the Bush tax cuts expire, meaning a tax increase for everyone, then give some sort of lesser tax cuts to the middle class and a huge tax increase to “the rich” a group he defines as anyone making over $250K — a group that also includes over half the small businesses in America. He has proposed over a trillion dollars in new spending and wants to socialize large sections of the economy. He has a healthcare proposal that while technically not “nationalized healthcare” sets up a scenario that will inevitably cause socialized healthcare — undoubtedly by design.

    He promises 90% of all Americans will get a tax cut when 40% of Americans dont pay taxes at all. The truth is, what he proposes is using the government to take money away from people who earned it and redistribute it to people who didnt.

    He wants universal pre-school and universal voluntary service — an oxymoron. He wants to change our culture from one where volunteering means volunteering to one where volunteering means getting paid.

    he and his wife travel America encouraging students to forgo the “greed” of working in the private sector to work for government instead.

    He has already tried to get the Justice Department to go after people who dare criticize him and has sicced his lawyers on TV and radio stations that play ads critical of him. He had his lawyers threaten Republican donors with lawsuits and possible prosecution.

    He has long relationship with ACORN — a group which is currently under criminal investigations for election fraud in at least 11 states — most of them swing states — and at the same time tried to hide an $800,000 payment to them. His chief political financial backer, who is now in prison, got him a crooked deal on his mansion, he is deeply tied to the notoriously corrupt Chicago political machine. He moved his campaign and the DNC to notoriously corrupt Chicago. All his previous political opponents mysteriously had their divorce records unsealed. An unheard of practice. And even left wing newspapers are reporting that its possible that he has taken in millions in illegal foreign campaign contributions.

    The man is a socialist/marxist and shows all the signs of being a fascist.

    There are enormous valid reasons to fear an Obama presidency and how much damage it would do to our country and our constitution. And none of them have anything to do with his skin color.

  48. American Elephant says

    October 12, 2008 at 11:57 pm - October 12, 2008

    FILTERED!

  49. American Elephant says

    October 13, 2008 at 12:15 am - October 13, 2008

    The point is that for someone who is a national candidate she has no regard for the rule of law.

    WRONG! The investigation determined she broke no laws! You lose.

    Sorry, but I think the country has had enough of a president and vice-president for the last 8 years who thinks they can do whatever they please and use the constitution as toilet paper.

    The president and vice-president have adhered to the constitution ENTIRELY! When there were differences of opinion between the branches on what the constitution allowed, as there always are, they went through the proper checks and balances and nine times out of ten Bush and Cheney were proven right. And the only times the court disagreed with them, they complied with the court. Thats not abusing the constitution Kevin, thats following it! Proving once again, the only asswipe is you.

    Meanwhile, you have a speaker of the House who violated the constitution and the Logan Act by trying to usurp presidential foreign policy powers, a presidential nominee who did the same, a Democrat congress that tried numerous times to usurp the presidents commander in chief powers. A presidential nominee who tried to sic the Justice department on people who criticize him. A Democrat congress that wants to outlaw secret ballots. A Democrat congress that wants to use the Orwellian-named “fairness doctrine” to shut down opposing voices and whose stated agenda violates the enumerated powers given congress by the constitution in so many ways it wouldnt be possible to list them all here.

    So really. Get fucked with all your bogus accusations of Republicans violating the constitution. The ONLY parts of the constitution that Democrats dont violate on a daily basis are the ones, like a right to force a third party to scramble your baby’ s brains, that never existed to begin with! Democrats fucking LOATHE the constitution.

  50. J says

    October 13, 2008 at 8:09 am - October 13, 2008

    The ironic thing, AE, is that those of us who grew up in the military community actually grew up in a microcosmic socialist environment (uniform compulsory education paid for with your tax dollars, uniform free healthcare offered to dependents of active duty military and DoD civilians that are military veterans). Wasn’t half bad.

    I apologize for getting away from topic, but I honestly do not recall the degree of criticism that exists now against Obama having been displayed against Kerry. I could be particularly sensitive to it because I am both a racial and sexual minority. But, being that I did not really grow up experiencing the lingering racism that exists in this country, I admit that it is very possible that my feelings are misplaced.

  51. J says

    October 13, 2008 at 8:16 am - October 13, 2008

    TGC, my point seems not to have been made. I’m not talking about keeping people in check by keeping them identified with groups.

    There seems to be a lack of sympathy/empathy for the fact whole groups of people in this country do not feel communicated with based on race or sexual orientation. More pointedly, defense of issues seems to be more important than the actual lives of people.

    Race, sexual orientation, one’s faith give Americans unique perspectives. The racial aspect seems ignored, but the RNC would cater to people based on fait?

  52. J says

    October 13, 2008 at 8:18 am - October 13, 2008

    “Faith”, I meant to type.

    Plus, you never told me why you’d assumed I was white?

  53. J says

    October 13, 2008 at 12:24 pm - October 13, 2008

    A socialist system already exists in this country. It has been called the DoD, and pertains to acitive duty employees, civilian employees with veteran status, and their dependents.

    I think both sides could name presidents who’ve blurred the lines of the checks and balances system that makes our country’s system of government unique.

    I was extremely ambivalent about Obama in the beginning. But, after reading both candidates platforms, I can’t seem to find where McCain stands on people…not issues, but actual people who make up this country.

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