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| Frank Zappa got it too! |
We have been studying Washington politics and Congress for more than 40 years, and never have we seen them this dysfunctional. In our past writings, we have criticized both parties when we believed it was warranted. Today, however, we have no choice but to acknowledge that the core of the problem lies with the Republican Party.
The GOP has become an insurgent outlier in American politics. It is ideologically extreme; scornful of compromise; unmoved by conventional understanding of facts, evidence and science; and dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition.
When one party moves this far from the mainstream, it makes it nearly impossible for the political system to deal constructively with the country’s challenges.
“Both sides do it” or “There is plenty of blame to go around” are the traditional refuges for an American news media intent on proving its lack of bias, while political scientists prefer generality and neutrality when discussing partisan polarization. Many self-styled bipartisan groups, in their search for common ground, propose solutions that move both sides to the center, a strategy that is simply untenable when one side is so far out of reach.
Well hell it took long enough!
Still I am hoping that OTHER newspapers, blogs, and news programs soon get with the program and follow suit.
There is NO LONGER any doubt that the problems of this country, and the complete gridlock which has brought progress in Washington to a halt, is the fault and responsibility of the Republicans and their corporate overlords. And it is WAY past time that journalists started to aggressively call them out for it.
After all Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, and Bill Maher can't do EVERYTHING!
Meh, would have been better if the Post didn't print this in the Outlook section next to articles by Jonah Goldberg and Frank Luntz yesterday.
ReplyDeleteSo I would say no, the Post still doesn't get it. I canceled my daily subscription a few weeks ago, now only get the Sunday edition. It's turned into a slightly less conservative version of the Wall Street Journal.
I just want to say I have had the Frank Zappa quote on my refrigerator for years.
ReplyDeleteIt's from when Zappa testified at the
Parents Music Resource Center Senate Hearings, held in Sept. 1985, over the censorship of rock lyrics.
My husband and I have always thought it to be a perfect foretelling of Sarah Palin.
Or we just want people to assume responsibility and not blame others. Simple concept that many "democrats" today don't understand. And you'd know that if you'd watch some unbiased news and venture away from far-right news sources.
ReplyDeleteOh really? There you go again making up shit(you don't cite any references or give any details) because the truth ain't in ya.
DeleteYou're a dumb troll.
DeleteExcellent advice to stay away from "far-right news sources". They'll mess up your mind and your values in no time.
DeleteFinally!! Hopefully some of their own contributors will read this. I find it hard to believe that the journalists and pundits do not see what has been happening. One example is that if Palin, Bachmann, Taitz, Nugent were rooting for the democratic side, these people would all have dismissed them long ago. Instead, they boost them up, knowing they are nuts. There will be no "going forward" for this country as long as the truth continues to be ignored, and total ignorance is reported on daily. People have been patient long enough, the so-called news media has to get REAL and report the facts as they are.
ReplyDeleteBasically the democratic party wouldn't allow anyone/group in their party to mock the constitution. The democratic constituents wouldn't allow that vile garbage.
DeleteI'd noticed repugbaggers also mock the bible the same way.
Another thing the repugbaggers do is deny the obvious, such as the war on women, torture. Their motto is "Don't believe your lying eyes.
Years ago, I read that the KKK originally started as a social evening for the men involved- and rapidly devolved into the racist, violent organization it became.
ReplyDeleteI liken the Repugs to the KKK because originally, they were a political party that had a foot in reality. It was possible to be a republican and not be crazy. It was even beneficial to the country to have two different perspectives, and work towards a compromise agreement- things have more of a chance of being acceptable to both sides if both sides have a hand in it. Alas, those days are no more.
At this point, people can't claim to be a republican without announcing that they are either stupid, ignorant, criminal, venal, or complicit. Or any combination thereof.
I realize there are people who claim they're "real" republicans, and disagree with the stance of the current party. To me, they are like people who claim they're "real" KKK. If you claim the name, you're stuck with the current position of the organization. (That would mean you fall under the "ignorant" heading of my point above.) You can't make the KKK look good by saying you're KKK and that's not what you believe, and you can't make the republicans look good by claiming you're repug and that's not what you believe. The repugs have left you- and you need to move on. There's no there, there, any more.
Well said, Ivyfree.
DeleteI'll second that, I always love reading Ivyfree's comments.
DeleteO/T
ReplyDeleteStrange irony and coincidence.
Michael Cormier, a respected forensic technician for the Los Angeles County Coroner died under suspicious circumstances at his North Hollywood home April 20, the same day Breitbart’s cause of death was finally made public.
http://www.wnd.com/2012/04/breitbarts-coroner-poisoned-to-death/
March 3 Andrew Breitbart's death sparks wild
conspiracy theories http://digitaljournal.com/article/320552
World News Daily is the king of conspiracy garbage. By your posting this crap here, you're just trying to stir up trouble. Fuck off!
DeleteLet's all just keep this in mind and post it everywhere we can and remind people what they so easily forget and counter how the GOP likes to rewrite history...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WbQe-wVK9E&feature=
Thanks for the link. The video is excellent.
DeleteThe Five Stages Of GOP Reaction To Osama Bin Laden’s Death
ReplyDeleteAs America nears the one-year anniversary of the operation that killed Osama bin Laden, Democrats are running on the tagline, “bin Laden is dead, General Motors is alive,” as Vice President Joe Biden put it this week.
Republicans are not happy with the development. After the Obama campaign put out a video suggesting Mitt Romney might not have made the same decision to send Navy SEALs into Pakistan, the RNC went ballistic, dispatching an irate John McCain to condemn their efforts to “politicize” bin Laden’s demise.
In truth, both sides have been sharpening their political message since the moment the death was announced. Let’s review the five stages of the evolving Republican response.
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/04/the-five-stages-of-gop-reaction-to-osama-bin-ladens-death----and-whats-next.php?ref=fpa
I am so damn tied of McCain. He thinks he is the shit, truth is, he ain't shit.
DeleteThat's exactly what needs to be said and all journos should be saying it. More real conservatives should be calling them out too. As much as Joe Scarborough is a hack, more conservatives should do as he once did; he compared his positions of 20 years ago when he was considered a very conservative congressman to his positions now, as he is now considered a RINO or centrist. His positions are virtually identical. Everyone else has just swept their past sanity under the rug and happily got on the express bus to crazy town. As much as we wish she were over, the party is in Palin territory right now and I hate to tell you....I read a Breitbart post today about her and it was full, FULL of fawning comments. Six months ago the view was split and people were embarrassed by her. Its worrying.
ReplyDeleteTania,
DeleteThose comments are planted.
They are not "real".
The Girl Power Unity of Fluke and McCain Spawns a Right Wing Meltdown
ReplyDeleteLast night, at a Nerd Prom after party, Meghan McCain and Sandra Fluke swapped stories about being attacked by sexist losers after expressing an opinion publicly.
Meghan tweeted out this gorgeous picture of the powerful pair:
http://www.politicususa.com/the-girl-power-unity-of-fluke-and-mccain-spawns-a-right-wing-meltdown.html
Meghan added, “My fav meeting of the night, the very brave and badass Sandra Fluke! #MSNBCafterparty”.
To which Ms Sandra replied, “.@McCainBlogette thanx 4 support/advice re: public attacks! We girls have 2 have each others’ backs despite polit diffs. #MSNBCafterparty”
Meghan wrote back, “@SandraFluke There’s like ten women on the planet that know what being in the middle of a political media firestorm feels like. Any time”
How cool is this? Ah, that’s just how we women like to roll. Everything is not a war, you know. We like to find common ground. That’s just one reason we think we need more of us in elected office….
But I digress.
Meghan later had to defend herself from conservative accusations of actually treating a liberal like a human being. But not to worry, if there is one thing Meghan McCain is, it’s truly steely-spined unlike some pit bulls we all know.
Meghan told her conservative followers to chill.
Naturally, all of this sisterhood power got patriarchal puppet Michelle Malkin upset. She sounded like the perennial third wheel trying to hop on a ride of more relevant peeps, whining about conservatives needing air sickness bags over the two “Twitter besties,” as if we all never left junior high.
more...
Since Meghan McCain made it her business to trash President Obama, I can't stand her.
DeleteI just don't see why she is still running around in the news, being famous off her fathers failed presidential bid.
very good to see.
DeleteThat's so nice, isn't that nice? Sandra Fluke is playing nicey nicey with Meghan McCain! They're "Tweet buddies" after the nerd prom post party at MSNBC, where Meghan is a paid republican pundit.
DeleteSandra's a private citizen who doesn't come from a privileged family with a famous or infamous last name. Sandra doesn't badmouth the POTUS
When was the last time Meghan was under attack for weeks by Rush Limbaugh? Anyone remember seeing Meghan on the campaign trail with her daddy?
Why Republicans Can't Stop Pissing Off Hispanics, Women And Young People
ReplyDeleteWhat are the three demographic groups whose electoral impact is growing fastest? Hispanics, women, and young people. Who are Republicans pissing off the most? Latinos, women, and young people.
It’s almost as if the GOP can’t help itself.
Read more: http://robertreich.org/post/21873448108#ixzz1tXEWKTUq
They have been pissing off Blacks for decades..
DeleteI can't see Romney "connecting" to any group, except Republican White Men, and maybe Mormons.
DeleteRidiculous Pathological Liar Romney Claims Obama Auto Bailout Was Really His Idea
ReplyDelete...It is little wonder why the more Americans learn about Romney, the more they dislike him. No-one likes a pathological liar, and even worse, no-one likes a person who takes credit for another’s accomplishments. It is especially despicable that Romney has been unrelenting in criticizing the President’s decision to save the auto industry for over three years, and now claims the President followed his advice. What is next for Romney? Is he going to take credit for killing Osama bin Laden or the President’s stimulus package that created millions of jobs? Last week Romney said the President made the economy worse than when he came into office, and that his economic agenda has been a total failure, but now he says the President’s ‘only’ economic success was because he followed Romney’s advice? It makes one wonder if Willard is suffering from a mental dysfunction or is just a pathetic loser who happened to make a ton of money destroying jobs and American businesses.
Romney is a miscreant that must think the American people are memory challenged and stupid. How else can he spend three years criticizing the automobile industry bailout as a failure and then claim it was a success that was his idea all along? Americans are not stupid, and neither are Democrats who will replay Romney’s three year bailout criticism alongside his contention that it was his brilliant idea all along so the entire country will see Willard for what he really is; a liar, a hypocrite, and as bad for struggling businesses as he is for America.
http://www.politicususa.com/romney-obama-auto-bailout.html
Republicans are dripping with poutrage in a lame attempt to prevent President Obama from benefitting from his own accomplishments. Dissent is important, but so is political reality.]
ReplyDeleteFor decades, the Republican party enjoyed an advantage on national security and defense, anchoring and reinforcing its status as America’s ‘daddy party’. Bush’s failed Iraq strategy and prolonged bloodshed there damaged the brand, leading to a midterm meltdown and the axing of Rummy. McCain’s war service helped revive the GOP strength gap for 2008, but the financial crisis and Palin swamped that advantage. In 2012 however, the script has been flipped. After scoring an early victory on Gitmo, Republicans have largely been silent (apart from the 'Obama apology tour' meme) or muddled over security and foreign policy during the Obama presidency. Neoconservatism is unpopular and the tea party isn’t focused abroad.
The events of last year proved a major turning point in reshaping perceptions and bolstering President Obama’s standing on defense and national security as he enters into a challenging re-election campaign. In 2011 Barack Obama:
• eliminated Osama bin Laden
• ended the Iraq war
• intervened militarily to help Libyans oust the Gadhafi regime
• leveraged our relationship with the Egyptian military to end Mubarak’s reign, breathing life into the Arab Spring
• removed several other al-Qaida leaders—including Anwar al-Awlaki—from the battlefield, dramatically weakening the terrorist organization
• ended “Don’t ask, don’t tell”
• announced the withdrawal of surge forces from Afghanistan by summer of 2012, followed by a steady drawdown approaching the 2014 transfer deadline
The raid President Obama ordered that killed America’s enemy #1 is the most memorable and visceral because of its surprise nature, revealed in a dramatic Sunday night presidential statement, and for the obvious emotional connection to 9/11. The successful mission ended a decade of national impotence, unleashing a wave of euphoric celebration that manifested outside the White House, in Manhattan and across the country. As the details came out, it was clear that the elements of risk associated with the raid were high and that Obama’s advisors were not sold on the mission, further elevating the presidential decision. Finally, President Obama demonstrated such graceful leadership in visiting NYC to honor the heroes of 9/11 and comfort the victims’ families.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/30/1087238/-Republicans-outraged-Obama-usurped-their-Daddy-party-throne-
GOP Fear of a Cool Obama
ReplyDeletePresident Obama must be the most patient, frustrating opponent to spar with, waiting quietly and then striking without warning. Ha ha ha ha ha. Does anything more need to be said?
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/30/1087420/-Rove-Crossroads-Anti-Obama-Ad-and-GOP-Fear-of-a-Cool-Obama-
The GOP’s Fear of a Cool Obama
ReplyDeleteAt some level, much of the GOP base still believes that Obama’s race is somehow disqualifying for the Oval Office, and they can barely keep themselves from overtly attacking him for it. But the demographics are daunting, and their professionals know it.
http://www.thenation.com/blog/167617/gops-fear-cool-obama
Is Mitt Romney Trying To Steal Obama's Auto Rescue Plan - Then Claim It As His Own?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/30/1087378/-Is-Mitt-Romney-Trying-To-Steal-Obama-s-Auto-Rescue-Plan-Then-Claim-It-As-His-Own-
Mitt Romney tries to Etch-A-Sketch away his opposition to bin Laden strategy
ReplyDeleteNearly five years ago, then-Senator Barack Obama said that if he were president and had actionable intelligence that high-value al Qaeda targets like Osama bin Laden were within Pakistan, he would take action with or without the cooperation of the Pakistani government—and Mitt Romney slammed him for it:
"I do not concur in the words of Barack Obama in a plan to enter an ally of ours... I don't think those kinds of comments help in this effort to draw more friends to our effort," Romney told reporters on the campaign trail. [...] Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who is one of the Republican front-runners, said U.S. troops "shouldn't be sent all over the world." He called Obama's comments "ill-timed" and "ill-considered."
Despite that criticism, Barack Obama kept his promise four years later, giving the order that resulted in the killing of Osama bin Laden. That order carried significant political risk, but it was the right call. Yet now that Obama's position has been vindicated, Mitt Romney is trying to erase history:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/30/1087559/-Mitt-Romney-tries-to-Etch-A-Sketch-away-his-opposition-to-bin-Laden-strategy
Like John McCain last week, former Bush aide and current Romney adviser Ed Gillespie is hopping mad that the Obama campaign dared to remind voters that the president was right and Mitt Romney was wrong about Osama bin Laden:
ReplyDeleteAppearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Gillespie was asked for his reaction to a video clip in which Vice President Joe Biden last week told a campaign audience “Thanks to President Obama, bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive. You have to ask yourself: If Gov. Romney had been president, could you have used the same slogan in reverse?”
Gillespie, a former Republican National Committee chairman, responded: “This is one of the reasons President Obama has become one of the most divisive presidents in American history. He took something that was a unifying event for all Americans – an event that Gov. Romney congratulated him and the military and the intelligence analysts in our government for completing the mission in terms of killing Osama bin Laden – and he’s managed to turn it into a divisive partisan political attack.”
There's really nothing in the world that's easier than rebutting this argument. Republicans milked the horror of 9/11 for everything it was worth, not just to win at the ballot box, but also to justify an entirely unrelated war. Meanwhile, the Obama campaign is claiming credit for having brought the guy behind the 9/11 attacks to justice—and pointing to the entirely accurate fact that Mitt Romney severely disagreed with the strategy that brought it about. And unlike Republicans, the Obama campaign isn't turning this into an issue of patriotism, which actually does divide the country: they've raised this as a matter of policy.
But maybe the best response to the howls of outrage from Republicans about "politicizing 9/11" comes from Mitt Romney himself:
Rudy Giuliani will appear at an event with Mitt Romney on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the assault on Osama bin Laden, a campaign aide confirmed to CNN.
Yeah, Mitt Romney is so desperately against politicizing 9/11 ... that he's going to mark the anniversary of bin Laden's death by campaigning alongside Rudy 911iani.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/30/1087543/-Former-Republican-Party-chairman-furious-over-reminders-that-Mitt-Romney-was-wrong-about-bin-Laden
Politicize THIS: Celebrations a Year Ago
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/30/1087558/-Politicize-THIS-Celebrations-a-Year-Ago
Republicans started their temper tantrum as soon as Obama was elected......and it hasn't stopped since....
ReplyDeleteA voice of reason (and madness) that is truly missed. Frank Zappa, we hardly knew ye. Now, shut up and play yer guitar!
ReplyDeleteThere is no vestige of the old GOP, not one shred. All they have left is to muddy the waters with false talking points, taking President Obama's accomplishments and ideas, and claiming them as their own. It's like hitting a reset button, like playing with an etch a sketch. The you tube video and the candidates own words and records might make it appear like they said something, but in reality, they were busy doing President Obama's Job.
ReplyDeleteThat's their story, and they're sticking to it!
Thanks for the quote from Frank Zappa, he was one of my all time favorites, and his definition rings true today as it did when he first said it.