Guest post: Overlords of the phony ‘grassroots’ Tea Party
Note from Dan: Herb Detweiler is a retired white guy who lives in Roanoke County and I’ve known him for years. He’s smart enough never to have sipped the Tea Party’s Kool-Aid.
By Herb Detweiler
I do enjoy your columns so much. You are one of the few who still “tells it as it is” and seems to enjoy “comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable.”
You mentioned the “Tea Party Movement” in your Sunday column and that triggered a response in me to share with you some of the info that I gathered on that “movement” from reading a most informative and disturbing book: “The Obama Hate Machine” by Bill Press.
It came out earlier this year. Wow, talk about telling it as it is! Press has done some heavy research in his journalistic career and really digs up a lot of little-known info about how the Repubs and their sympathizers and supporters have been working since before Obama was inaugurated to make sure he failed and did not get re-elected. If you haven’t read that book you really ought to hurry to the library and get a copy. It is right up your alley!
The basic fact, which we all pretty much know, is that the Republicans pledged from day one to block everything Obama tried to do in the way of legislation, even when some of the proposals were makeovers of ideas which the Republicans themselves had previously endorsed. The point was to limit Obama’s successes to as little as possible. (Reminds me of that old saying, “It’s amazing what can be accomplished if nobody cares who gets the credit”).
They were very successful at this tactic, even to the point of being willing to let the country go down the drain if necessary to achieve their ideological goals. Then the other half of that strategy was, of course, to make his failure of accomplishment a cornerstone of their campaign against him — “The do-nothing president!”
Talk about hypocrisy! They will tell any lie and use any form of personal abuse to depose the current president.
But the most disturbing part of Press’ book is what it reveals about the powerful Koch brothers and the so-called “Tea Party Movement.” David and Charles Koch run a multibillion-dollar conglomerate called Koch Industries. They are into many, many industries, particularly energy (coal and oil/gas), and are one of the worst polluters in the country. They are little-known publicly and prefer to keep it that way, hiding behind a vast network of tax-exempt front groups – so-called “institutes” and “foundations” who do their dirty work for them.
Among the more well known of these 57 groups are: Americans for Prosperity, The Cato Institute, The Competitive Enterprise Institute, The Heritage Foundation, The Free Enterprise Institute, FreedomWorks, and The National Taxpayers Union. In a rare 2006 interview in the Wall Street Journal, Charles Koch stated that their goal was to eliminate 90% of all laws and regulations regarding global warming.
In the decade prior to 2010 the Koch brothers spent nearly $50 million from three of their “foundations” to support climate-denial front groups. From 2005 to 2008 they outspent Exxon Mobil $25 million to $9 million to fund climate change denial. California’s Henry Waxman, the ranking Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee said, “It apparently no longer matters in Congress what health experts and scientists think. All that seems to matter is what the Koch brothers think.”
And that Keystone XL pipeline which would bisect the country and which the Republicans have been trying to push through Congress? It would connect Koch-owned tar sands operations in Canada with Koch-owned refineries on the Texas coast! It is being pushed by the TransCanada Corporation – yet another Koch-owned entity.
What about the Tea Party Movement? The media likes to portray those earnest folks as a spontaneous grassroots movement of voter outrage, similar to the anti-tax outbreak back in Revolutionary days. Nothing could be further from the truth!
The Koch brothers decided that they needed an out-front public organization to back up their behind-the-scenes efforts to influence the government — a “citizens movement” to agitate for their anti-regulation, anti-environment, anti-government, anti-union, global warming denial agenda. They turned to FreedomWorks and Americans for Prosperity, two of their largest and most active front groups.
On April 15, 2009, 600 “Tax Day” rallies “sprung up” across the country. Those rallies gradually morphed into organized groups that took the name “Tea Party” and grew with the quiet backing of the above two Koch organizations. The next spring and summer there was an outbreak of “town hall” meetings and other appearances as members of Congress and their challengers began to campaign for the up-coming 2010 mid-term elections.
Republicans were determined to take over Congress in order to more effectively block Obama’s agenda. Working through Washington lobbyists under the leadership of Dick Armey, a former House majority leader, the Tea Party groups were given information about the time and place of Democratic meetings, were provided with paid transportation to those meetings and talking-point sheets telling them how to disrupt the meetings with their “spontaneous” protests and what to say in media interviews. It was very successful and resulted in a large Republican victory.
The makeup of the Tea Party groups is overwhelmingly white, socially conservative disgruntled Republicans and is older than the general population. Many of them are card-carrying seniors, and a great number over 65. They rail against government “intrusion” into their lives and denounce “Obamacare” as “socialized medicine.” But I doubt if many of them are ready to tear up their cards for Medicare, which, along with Social Security, is one of the most successful government programs ever, and a perfect example of government-run “health insurance.”
I wonder what the reaction of Tea Partiers would be if they knew their “movement” was not as spontaneous as they like to believe and that they are being used as pawns in the Koch brother’s fight against the government? They sincerely believe they are the true patriots, fighting to take back their country from the evildoers.
The Tea Party has been very successful in influencing Congress and the Republican leaders, and now virtually controls the party, because those leaders and legislators realize that to challenge the Tea Party people is to risk being cut off from the deep pockets which enable their reelection. “Money is power!” and “Money talks!” In other words, as has been said so often, if you want to know what something is all about, just follow the money trail!
It is easy to see why some have called the Koch brothers the single most powerful force in American politics today.
But don’t take my word for all of this, Dan. Get your hands on that book, where it is all thoroughly and sadly documented.
Thomas Jefferson wrote, “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.” He was referring, of course, to the latent problem of slavery. But I tremble for my country when I reflect how money, power and special interests have overtaken us. We are dangerously close to losing that government of, by and for the people of which Lincoln spoke.
When “Gordon Gecko” intones that “greed is good,” the Republican leadership, in chorus with the Koch brothers, shouts “Amen!” If they are successful in regaining control of our government, I fear we will almost irretrievably fall into a government of, by and for the corporations and moneyed elite, for which Reagan and Dubya paved the way.
America will have lost its soul, and the supreme court’s decisions that money is “speech” and corporations are “people” will have driven some of the last nails in the coffin!
Can this election be any more crucial than that?
September 28, 2012 - 6:00 AM
Man did pistol Pete nail Dan to a tee yesterday with his letter posting. Well done pistol.
This a all nothing more than liberal propoganda. What’s the point?
The present administration is the most corrupt administration in history.
In addition to destroying the economy in an all out war on capitalism people are dying including over 300 Mexican citizens (and one US Border Patrol agent) with the Fast & Furious scandal and, most recently, our Ambassador to Libya and 3 other citizens because the State Department and
our Foreign Policy have reverted to supporting Islam at the expense of free speech. Does anyone really think a Communist or totalitarian government, which is what this administration is taking us to, is in the best interest of the United States?
Mr. Detweiler = Pot calling kettle black.
The basic fact, which we all pretty much know, is that the Republicans pledged from day one to block everything Obama tried to do in the way of legislation,
Gee, that’s ridiculous because 0bama controlled EVERYTHING the first two years. But even so, when you have a president whose agenda is clearly to weaken America, shouldn’t you try very hard to keep him from doing so?
Hauling out the White House flunkies and their old tired excuses about how they couldn’t do anything even when they controlled Congress AND the White House because Dick Armey, the Koch brothers and the Tea Party wouldn’t let them.
And they want a chance to not do it again. Sheesh. I’ll tell you what Obama did do though:
Since 2008, US deaths in Afghanistan up > 200%
warrant-less wiretaps up > 300%
Unemployment over 8% throughout his entire Presidency
No other President has done that.
Amen brother!
Indeed!
Big healine at Fox News: Liberal magazine takes another swipe at Romney.
Uhh, gee, really? I could write my own headline: Conservative “news” organization takes another swipe at Obama.
Look, pammalalalaland, it a TPer you can make fun of for eating donuts!!! Go ahead. Let’s hear it.
I am in love with a man named Herb Detweiler! Ignorance is a form of slavery and when people willingly join, it is disheartening. He is shining a bright light for those willing to step into it. Don’t be a beard for the Koch’s.
Another aspect of this whole bogus “movement” is that the original TEA Party of Ron Paul supporters were already active and already working supposed for what the “TEApers” who post, protest and whine about. The kicker here is that he Ron Paul TEA Party was real, was there for the joining, if these folks had been sincere, but NOT going to do the bidding of the KOCH brothers and other big business to the extent they wanted and he and his supporters, the legitimate TEA Party have been shunned, insulted and virtually silenced by the usurpers fronting for BIG, and I mean BIG, business.
Kudos!
Do you seriously believe this? Seriously? I mean there are plenty of things wrong with every single organization but to knock the Tea Party or any other group that just doesn’t see your way is crazy. My guess is the reason many of the “card carriers” are older is that they are part of the last few who have worked for what they have and did not have a deep seeded belief that they were entitled to something that someone else worked for.
Please send Mr Detwieler a new box of aluminum foil. Sounds like he needs lots of hats.
“Retired white guy”
Can someone explain to me why it is important to know that Herb is a “white guy?”
Liberals are obsessed with race. Conservatives are the only colorblind people I know.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is the typical 0bama voter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev7cSRjShn8
The fact that this pathetic human being has a say in how our government is run is an abomination.
Herb Detweiler does a great job of breaking down the workings of the Tea Party and the puppet masters behind this “movement”
I would add one more characteristic to your description – “The makeup of the Tea Party groups is overwhelmingly white, socially conservative disgruntled Republicans and is older than the general population.” – they also appear to be rabidly racist.
Pure garbage. What a waste of space. Claiming that Bill Press has written a book full of factual, verified evidence is absolutely ridiculous. Bill Press is a leftwing nutjob, and there is nothing fair or objective about him (which is why ol’ Herb thinks Press is right up Dano’s alley). I guess that part of his essay makes sense. But anyone who actually acquires their “facts” from such a person is not really searching for truth, just entertainment . It’s like saying “here is a wonderfully researched book by Sean Hannity, with all kinds of factual data and previously unknown nuggets of truth.” Yeah, right.
Bill Press also hates our National Anthem. He says it’s stupid. He has called it an abomination and says that he’s embarrassed every time he hears it. He also thinks the American voter is stupid. From his radio show in November 2010: “Just once…I would like to hear somebody say, ‘The voters have spoken, the bastards.’ Or, ‘The voters have spoken. What a bunch of idiots.’ ‘The voters have spoken. God, they’re dumb. Dumb as hell.’”
Yep, so hurry to your local library or bookstore, where you can find Bill’s book in the fiction section!
“But I doubt if many of them are ready to tear up their cards for Medicare, which, along with Social Security, is one of the most successful government programs ever, and a perfect example of government-run “health insurance.”
Keep government’s hands off my Medicare!
Could there be any greater repudiation of the TP than Mitt Rmoney? Doubtful. If they wondered whether or not the mainstream (such as it is) GOP gaves a rat’s butt what they thought, Rmoney’s the answer.
“Retired white guy”
Can someone explain to me why it is important to know that Herb is a “white guy?”
Terps,
I offered that only for the purposes of noting that Herb fits the demographic of the typical Tea Partier.
What did the sign the women is holding up in the picture originally say? It is obviously photo-shopped.
#2 “most recently, our Ambassador to Libya and 3 other citizens because the State Department and
our Foreign Policy have reverted to supporting Islam at the expense of free speech.”
I thought their deaths had nothing to do with the video, Leon. That’s the right-wing line. Catch up.
#3 “…because 0bama controlled EVERYTHING the first two years.”
We’ve destroyed that lie so many times now it’s a wonder you even bother bringing it up.
#13 Posted for the 849th time.
So that the RWers can take off for the weekend and not entertain us or assault our intelligence with their endless stream of parroted “talking point”, constantly being supplied to them by Republicans, or teabaggers and their RW media outlets…
I post the list of hateful talking points from spam emails and from RW and TP websites – some are the newest parroting remarks and some favorite oldies…
☻Oh, you know Obama controls the media
☻Barack Obama wouldn’t have been elected if only the people knew the “real” Obama
☻Obama is a communist, socialist, Nazi, not a “real” American
☻The polls are skewered in favor of Obama / Democrats
☻Barack Obama is going to give black people free cell phones if he’s re-elected
☻We want to call a fag a fag without getting arrested.
☻We want schools to stop teaching little children that the “fag way” is good.
☻Obama’s the most liberal person in history, that he’s destroying the country, that he’s single handedly turning this country socialist
☻Obama going to sell the USA to China.
☻Obama has a concentration camp in Nevada where he tortures republicans
☻G W Bush saved America after Clinton destroyed it.
☻A theme of “Who is The Real Obama?” [with ominous overtones]
☻Obama is committed to economic equalization for all the people = redistribution
☻Obama hates America and all we stand for.
☻Obama’s War on Coal – guns – the Catholics…
☻We want our freedom back
☻Obama panders to women like Fluke, and Muslims around the world.
☻Obama will be busing Mexicans and blacks to the polls [my newest favorite]
So Parrot Heads – I think this list just about covers what you would be spewing over the next two days…take a trip, take a nap, but please give the rest of us a vacation from your “talking points”.
Screaming like a bunch of stuck hogs…Way to go Herb!
Their right wing propaganda is true but ours is false.
Their right wing lies are Okay, but ours are repulsive.
Their right wing distortions and cherry picked facts are important, ours are garbage.
Wow, I see how the Koch’s and Friends did it. Sheep are more independent than right wingers, and smarter too! At least they recognize the wolf in sheep’s clothing!
What would a day here be without Suzie’s racism?
“The FCC’s LifeLine Assistance program was set up in the ’90s to help low-income families with monthly landline bills. Over the past few years, the program has put more than 12 million wireless feature phones into the hands of low-income Americans.”
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/kimkomando/story/2012-06-01/low-income-lifeline-plan/55315532/1
I hate seeing the ‘Obama controlled everything for 2 years” LIES from the right wing nut cases.
It is true that the Dems had control over both houses when Obama took office, but that is the end of the factual connection.
Remember the 6 months before Franken was seated? To make the “2 YEARS” claim stand, the R’s have to overlook the 6 months of Minnesota recount when the Dems did not have 60 seats due to that situation. Then they have to ignore the fact that Kennedy stopped voting in the spring due to his health, so even after Franken was seated in July, they didn’t have 60. And Kennedy was not replaced until almost October and Scott Brown was sworn in February 2010.
In reality, the 60 seat majority in the Senate was only in place for 72 days (4 months and a week or so minus congress screw off days, weekends, holiday break, etc).
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-16/news/ct-oped-0617-zorn-md-20120616_1_minnesota-democrat-al-franken-filibuster-proof-majority-barack-obama
Now we also have to consider that the Dems are not the monolith that the R’s are. Dems, even during that 72 days had to fight their own party for votes. This is because Dems are actually big tent, with differing views on topics as opposed to the R’s who are purity testing, party-line walking xenophobes.
The Dems do not march in lock step, do not force moderates out, do not insist everyone mouth the talking points handed to them and Faux by corporatist masters.
17.“Retired white guy”
Can someone explain to me why it is important to know that Herb is a “white guy?”
Terps,
I offered that only for the purposes of noting that Herb fits the demographic of the typical Tea Partier.
Ok
So the fact that Herb is “white” gives his argument more validity than if he was black or Indian or Hispanic or whatever? Is that right?
Liberals practice a subtle form of racism that is beautifully demonstrated in this exchange. Herb’s race is irrelavent to a conservative…it is the argument that matters. But to a liberal, everything is viewed through the prism of race.
Re: Comment by VVArlock — September 28, 2012 @ 12:52 pm
Yup!
Those facts have been presented before — resulting in crickets from those whose claims were obliterated.
I, then, added a request for a citation of a single super-majority vote in which the democrats and the two independents who happen to caucus with the democrats stood alone and overrode the opposition. If the supper majority was used during the short time it did exist, when and on what issue? The reason the Senate “seemed” like a super-majority is because actual bipartisanship was evident on several occasions. On several occasions a republican senator or two, would see fit to assist in getting legislation through without filibuster. FWIIW, the democrats could not even garner 100% support among their own ranks as proven by the house vote on ACA. So, that alleged super-majority is not even discounting politicians who have a D after their name but won’t necessarily vote that way.
BTW, that is the way it should be for good legislation, IMHO.
Another fact the “opposition” likes to ignore is that one of the independents was a speaker at a republican convention and the other was a 5-term republican that just happened to switch parties because he feared losing his primary.
Again nothing but crickets from those hyperventilating about the super-majority failure.
59 seats and the House and the White House and they still couldn’t get anything done. Epic FAIL.
Oh wait, they did manage one thing. They managed to blame the Republicans for their inability to get anything done. And they managed to run the Deficit up to $1,500 billion. And lose several million jobs.
Henry –
When facing an intractable opponent whose only care is to make the President a one term president and when cloture threats are at epic levels (111th Congress) and actually invoked more times than ever in history, you have to have 60 to get anything done.
Republican Obstructionism – setting records.
But Henry,, they did pass the stimulus and ACA, did numerous trade deals, and actually had a long list of accomplishments in spite of all but two Republicans voting against everything. In spite of many of the things accomplished previously being supported by the GOP.
It is amazing how things like ACA could one day be positive for the GOP and then as soon as Obama was elected, they hated it. You simply cannot avoid the fact that the Republicans tried to block everything the Dems tried to do. In spite of that, with the help of two Republicans and often only one, Obama got things done. Sad to say, the GOP cooked their own goose, but they surely have. Goodbye Tea Party, you have cost the GOP a Presidency and it looks like control of Congress as well. I bet some of you are trying to get your names off the Tea Party rolls already. even Susie has come out and said Romney was not her choice. LOL Like Pawlenty, everyone is running for the hills.
Henry = EPIC FAIL Obama had a “super majority” for seven weeks! You and Willard both have a problem with honesty.
“There are various scenarios to do with Kennedy’s and Byrd’s health, along with the Kirk replacement, that could be argued with. And you can find small periods in which Obama had a fleeting supermajority in the Senate – but still sought bipartisan support. Just remember that Romney claimed a supermajority in both houses for two years. Just untrue. And he clearly doesn’t care.”
http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/06/the-big-lies-of-mitt-romney-v-obama-had-a-super-majority-in-congress-for-two-years-ctd.html
http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/06/the-big-lies-of-mitt-romney-v-obama-had-a-super-majority-in-congress-for-two-years.html
“Lies, and the lying liars that tell them” sounds like a good book.
Why would 59 seats mean squat when the TP/R’s decided not to cooperate on anything. Hell they even blocked insignificant stuff, just to say they did. Maybe the Fast and Furious issue could have been caught sooner if that empty position had been filled… It is incredible that the liars keep bouncing back up after being whacked with the truth. I am so sick of right wing lies I cannot wait for Obama to win in November.
Thanks for playing dumb Terps, or do you just have Dan fooled? Actually, as Dan said, “the fact that Herb is “white” just makes him more like the people he is complaining about, nothing more. Not a lot of color in that TEA!
Everybody, please have a little sympathy for my good buddy (and regular foil) Terps. The guy has to grasp at straws these days.
He’s read the handwriting on the wall over at Real Clear Politics and he’s deeply depressed.
Donations of Prozac, Celexa, Zoloft and Lexapro may be forwarded to him in care of the local Mitt Romney Victory Office, 2706 Ogden Roanoke SW, Roanoke, VA 24018
“Lies, and the lying liars that tell them” sounds like a good book.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — September 28, 2012 @ 2:53 pm
oh you mean the book about 0bama?
Liberals practice a subtle form of racism that is beautifully demonstrated in this exchange. Herb’s race is irrelavent to a conservative…it is the argument that matters. But to a liberal, everything is viewed through the prism of race.
Comment by terps — September 28, 2012 @ 1:18 pm
yeah they’re stupid alright and wrong
Re: Comment by Dan Casey — September 28, 2012 @ 3:06 pm
Donations of Prozac, Celexa, Zoloft and Lexapro may be forwarded to him in care of the local Mitt Romney Victory Office, 2706 Ogden Roanoke SW, Roanoke, VA 24018
————
Dan,
Subornation of violation of Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970????
Oh for a font to cover irony, tongue-in-cheek, parody, satire, sarcasm and any other form of “I’m not being literally serious” or “there is a discrepancy between what I’m saying and what is meant.
.
#27 Henry, I guess you’re not paying attention to your fellow right wingers. Obama accomplished several things that they hate.
“the last few who have worked for what they have and did not have a deep seeded belief that they were entitled to something that someone else worked for.” Baloney. Most of the people I know work very hard for diminishing pay and have earned the same benefits that these retired tea baggers want to withhold from the younger generations.
Yes, they earned what they are receiving, however, so have I and so have the majority of Americans the Tea baggers and GOP want to end.
The Tea Party are pawns of the 1%. Fools promised their lives will not be affected if they vote for radical change of the American Social programs which will be devastating to their children. Shame on you old fools. If you care about your children you should be at the lead fighting the GOP and the evil profiteers represented by the Koch brothers. Not out bringing down our society with protests funded by SS checks I’M paying for.
Herb is someone I know I’d like to have a beer with. He is spot on.
30 Sandi, and don’t forget that most of the time that he had a supermajority the Senate was in recess. That left about a week that the Dems had a supermajority.
Why would 59 seats mean squat when the TP/R’s decided not to cooperate on anything. Hell they even blocked insignificant stuff, just to say they did. Maybe the Fast and Furious issue could have been caught sooner if that empty position had been filled… It is incredible that the liars keep bouncing back up after being whacked with the truth. I am so sick of right wing lies I cannot wait for Obama to win in November.
Name one bill that was defeated solely by Republicans while the Democrats held 59 Senate seats. Come on, Sandi. Get off your 0bamaphone and answer that.
Hum? TP to the rescue????
http://tinyurl.com/8m9av8d
**
Sign of trouble for GOP in Arizona Senate race?
By SCOTT WONG | 9/28/12 2:25 PM EDT
Tea-party group FreedomWorks is sending staff and additional resources to aid Arizona Republican Jeff Flake’s Senate campaign, another sign his race against Democrat Richard Carmona is tightening in the traditionally red state.
FreedomWorks for America, the conservative advocacy group’s super PAC, will be opening an office — or “Victory Center” — next week in Flake’s hometown of Mesa, the group confirmed. FreedomWorks currently has these Victory Centers in such swing states as Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida, but this is the first for Arizona.
SNIP
**
Who’d think that “Flake” and “TP” would be a natural fit?
Re: Comment by Suzie — September 28, 2012 @ 4:52 pm
See my comment @ 2:02 pm.
Politicians who have a D after their name but won’t necessarily vote that way. Ditto, politicians who have a R after their name but won’t necessarily vote that way.
Hence, all the hyperventilating about the “super-majority failure” is at best a sign of ignorance of the real world. Otherwise, it is a sign of outright dishonesty or stupidity.
oh wow, these lib posts have been so much fun reading, it’s like when i watch my grand kids in the kiddie pool…they feel so confident in the safe, shallow, water, splashing around, and just having a gay old time! …really fun to watch ya know? ….watching the little libies, splashing around amongst themselves… in the kiddie pool…
oh boy they REALLY have fun with polls…in the kiddie pool….shrieking, laughing, …with no care in the world!
then, there’s the REALITY pool, in which the little kiddie libies would, well, NOT be laughing so much, nor shrieking and playing around so gayly… …again, HaHa!
Yo herb! bill press? wasn’t he the lib “balance” to the conservative Tucker Carlson on a tv show at one time? Does that mean that the “bill press” you worship is the ideologically opposite of Tucker Carlson? Sooo, what do you libs think of ol’ Tucker’s political ideology, eh? …seems to me that ol’ bill press is as non-partisan as is Tucker Carlson. Stick THAT in your peace pipes, and smoke it!
by the way, i think bill press is a dangerous man.
See, she is so ignorant of how Congress works that she thinks the only obstruction is when a bill is “voted” down! Heaven help us, she gets to vote!
Just this week “an unnamed Republican senator blocked a bill last week to provide veterans with an annual cost-of-living adjustment.
“It is outrageous that disabled American veterans are once again being held hostage to partisan politics,” said Bob Wallace, executive director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.”
While Harry Reid has been leader, the TP/GOP has filibustered 382 times! “381 more filibusters than Lyndon Johnson faced during his six years as Majority Leader”
THAT is how a so called minority can obstruct.
School’s out, run outside and bully the other children now Suzie.
Hence, all the hyperventilating about the “super-majority failure” is at best a sign of ignorance of the real world. Otherwise, it is a sign of outright dishonesty or stupidity.
Therefore you would agree the accusations of “Republicans blocking 0bama” is also dishonesty and stupidity for the same reason.
Excellent.
Here’s a thought for you right wing rubes, research the facts in his book and refute them. Prove Bill Press has his facts, evidence or information wrong and clear your “grass roots” meme. Oh wait, you have to wait for the Koch brothers fed media outlets and “think tanks” to do that for you…nevermind.
sandi, sandi, sandi…, bill press is to conservatives as Tucker Carlson is to you libs. if we might BOTH agree, both have something lacking in the non-partisan department….., you blithering idiot.
Re: Comment by Suzie — September 28, 2012 @ 7:32 pm
Well refuted by Comment by Sandi Saunders — September 28, 2012 @ 7:11 pm.
Have you ever even visited a legislative body when in action, or followed the minutes (other that those bobble-head snippets).
Hint: Come the opening of the next session of the Congress the CQ Roll Call on-line publication will be free. Yeh!! that will save about $900 a year for true political junkies. The hard copy will still cost you, however.
Re: Comment by Frank — September 28, 2012 @ 8:08 pm
Frank,
Dispute the facts presented and/or the book’s actual opinions or arguments rather than launch an Ad hominem attack on the character of the author or an Ad populum emotional appeal that speaks to assumed pejorative labels concepts rather than the real actual content.
Name calling is grade-school sandbox behavior.
Just this week “an unnamed Republican senator blocked a bill last week to provide veterans with an annual cost-of-living adjustment.
We’re not talking about this week. The question was when the Democrats held a 59-seat majority. or like in 2009 when there were 58 Democrats and two independents that voted with them up until Scott Brown’s election. How many bills were stopped by Republicans either by vote OR by filibuster then?
And Poor Dave H is so eager to swing at Suzie, he will throw his own point under the bus in the failed process.
LOL.
Whenever I get bored with the blog and think of leaving, things like this remind me how much fun it is to come into the enemy’s territory where I am outnumbered 20 to 1 and just OWN the whole bunch of you.
#46 Of course not, suzie. Rethugs pledged to block Obama and have done so on many, many things. You’re making no sense. Again.
Give her credit, she removed all doubt. Definitely, “outright dishonesty” and “stupidity”.
Frank, I realize that this will not compute for you, but bias does not HAVE to mean wrong. I know it generally does in the right wing media because they are only in the business of propaganda not information and integrity. If you have evidence Bill Press’ book is wrong, refute it. Being biased does not make him wrong. In fact, it is not the bias that makes you wrong either, it is the blindness and closed mindedness that allows you to spread lies and distort the truth. Bias is not wrong. Being wrong is wrong.
hey dano, why don’t ya print something by Thomas Sowell, who is the same color as many typical “i hate me” libs wanna be. “Maybe ya’ll learn sumthin”… (that was my effort to sound like little joe biden…)
Nice to see the delusions are progressing on schedule. Has anyone noticed particularly insane times of day or days of the week/month?
I assume we still travel on hubby’s private plane?
hey shrill, you forgot the one where Dear Leader is doing more snooping on private citizens than W. could even imagine.
#51 And of course Dave H’s point was perfect. You lose again.
#52 Hey, if you consider fleeing threads you’ve been beaten on, ignoring posts where you’ve been caught lying flat-out, claiming your failed predictions have come true, and claiming “victory” based on nothing at all “owning,” have at it. The rest of us are snickering.
See, she is so ignorant of how Congress works that she thinks the only obstruction is when a bill is “voted” down! Heaven help us, she gets to vote!
We were talking about when Democrats essentially had a supermajority for most of 2009, hon, up until Scott Brown was elected. How many bills were filibustered during that time?
Butch is now Ellie May Clampett. How apropos.
Suzie –
After it was demonstrated that this was a lie, you are so dishonest as to re-post it?
“We were talking about when Democrats essentially had a supermajority for most of 2009″
You are contemptible. It was clearly explained to you that for 6 months after winning his election, Senator Franken did not get seated (which means until July). It was also explained that by the time he was seated Kennedy was too ill to participate.
It was not until Sept. 24 that the Dems had a supermajority. It ended in Feb.
Stop lying.
Re: Comment by gdad — September 29, 2012 @ 11:13 pm
Thanks, gdad.
However, I think it was Sandi @ 7:11 pm who totally refuted Suzie’s failed attempt at logical debate and that non-sequester is too mentally-challenged to realize that she is toast. Or she is so inept as to think that a non-sequester refocus of the debate will save her.
Sad. It like watching a child keep repeating that same lines and thinks it is effectively arguing a point. But “Did to.”, “Did to.”, “Did to.”, “Did to.” is about all Suzie is capable of these days.
Re: Comment by VVArlock — September 30, 2012 @ 12:44 am
Yup.
Same on broken record of “Did to.”, “Did to.”, “Did to.”, “Did to.”
#60 Donna Douglas, twice divorced mediocre actress who had no career after her one role that anybody remembers.
#60 Donna Douglas, twice divorced mediocre actress who had no career after her one role that anybody remembers.
Donna Douglas was one of the most stunningly beautiful women ever to grace Hollywood. She turned down risque roles later on because of her Christian values. Her legacy is she’s an icon remembered forever for starring in a hugely successful squeaky-clean long-running television series. So much better than the profane trash on the networks today. Today, she speaks to groups spreading the Christian message. All these are reasons liberals hate her.
Notice none of the liberals want to talk about how many bills the GOP was able to filibuster during the Democrat supermajority. Why not? LOL.
Suzie –
Your dishonesty again –
You said “Notice none of the liberals want to talk about how many bills the GOP was able to filibuster during the Democrat supermajority. Why not? LOL.”
But I had already said
“Now we also have to consider that the Dems are not the monolith that the R’s are. Dems, even during that 72 days had to fight their own party for votes. This is because Dems are actually big tent, with differing views on topics as opposed to the R’s who are purity testing, party-line walking xenophobes.
The Dems do not march in lock step, do not force moderates out, do not insist everyone mouth the talking points handed to them and Faux by corporatist masters.
Comment by VVArlock — September 28, 2012 @ 12:52 pm ”
Which is clearly a reference to the Dems not passing a lot of things during their supermajority because they are not a monolith, not a purity test party. Because the Dems have members who are allowed to have differing views, including some more conservative members. Some members who do not vote the party line.
The Dems have had poor success in passing bills over the Republican filibuster machine. A big part of this is their own fault.
And?
Let’s face it Suzie, you like many of the so called Conservative TeaBaggers, fail on every argument in the face of reality. Instead of providing facts, which is what intelligent people do in a debate, you instead revert back to the party rhetoric of screaming talking points. Made up ideas by individuals hell bent on getting their agenda across despite the failures it will create and ensue on the public.
And Donna Douglas? LOL how desperate is that as a response? She’s a hypocrite as was pointed out. 2 marriages? Either she either can’t pick a decent husband or she is a miserable woman that no one else can get along with, I mean let’s face the reality here. Squeaky clean hahahaha. Wow coming from a Conservative TeaBagger now supporting Hollywood actresses, amazing. Whenever Dems get involved with Hollywood it’s a Liberal conspiracy but when you use one of it’s former members (because she has no career presently) it’s gospel. Incredulous!
-Suzie
The so-called ‘supermajority’ was however in effect for 6 YEARS under Bush though. And during that time he accomplished two wars (unpaid), 10 years of tax breaks for the wealthy (unpaid), and an almost complete collapse of the banking system including Wall Street for which he had to beg $400 billion from China for. I mean if we’re going to look at records here and who supports/supported who, I would definitely be calling your ability to judge ANYONE effectively into question!
And we won’t even get into the 1.3 million jobs lost during Bush’s last 2 months as President.
If we’re going to look at effective agenda here, your past leader is surely no character to go by at all, that much is for sure. And please don’t resort to Christian doctrine or Idealisms as I would like to make this a fair debate. I think you’re automatically handicapping yourself when bringing that nonsense into a discussion. Myths are for witch doctors and such ie, fables handed down through generations that are indefensable.
Hey WS, according to you in a post above (10/1/12 @ 4:45 p.m.) to Suzie, you state as clear as you can the following misinformation: “the ‘supermajority’ was however in effect for 6 YEARS under Bush…”
I’m being charitable when I refer to your “misinformation” as, well, “misinformation”. If your were one of the dastardly and dreaded RWers on this blog, your comment would have elicited loud and voluminous shrieks and shrill cries of “Liar”, “stupid”, “idiot”, etc. Since you don’t appear to be a RWer, you know the drill.
Please define what you mean by “supermajority”….and then maybe the only thing wrong will be your definition.
Please.
This article was very entertaining and the subsequent comments were even more so. Although I realize that this article was focused on the Koch Bros., I believe that the author missed an opportunity to call out Grover Norquist, the other person handling the puppet strings of the GOP. For those of you who are not familiar w/ Mr. Norquist’s work, is founder of Americans for Tax Reform. “He is known as the promoter of the “Taxpayer Protection Pledge”, which was signed by 95% of all Republican Congressmen and all but one of the 2012 Republican presidential candidates, to oppose increases in marginal income tax rates for individuals and businesses, as well as net reductions or eliminations of deductions and credits without a matching reduced tax rate.” Norquist and his Pledge are directly attributed to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction’s lack of progress. Since Norquist’s pledge binds signors to oppose deficit reduction agreements that include any element of increased tax revenue, some now retired Republicans have stated that Norquist has become an obstacle to deficit reduction. As a matter of fact, “Former Republican Senator Alan Simpson, co-chairman of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, has been particularly critical, describing Norquist’s position as ‘No taxes, under any situation, even if your country goes to hell.’”
While the Koch Bros. and Grover Norquist are very good at promoting capitalism regardless of the ramifications and in protecting their own self-interests, these men very are dangerous for democracy. As long as we have elected officials that are beholden to them, there is no way our country will have progress on any front.
And Suzie – Please watch something other than Fox News and the Beverly Hillbillys. You may be surprised at what you learn.
Hah…apologies for the extended italics, guess I didn’t close the HTML tag.