In the 6th District, no good choice
The race pits a veteran congressman on the wrong side of major policy issues against a newcomer with little understanding of the job he seeks.
When Rep. Bob Goodlatte sat down with The Roanoke Times editorial board for the 11th endorsement interview of his long congressional career, the first question went something like this:
You read our editorials. Your policy positions are often at odds with ours. Why do you think this newspaper should endorse you?
His answer went something like this: I don’t know that you should, if we disagree on essentials.
October 25, 2012 - 8:31 AM
“The Democratic Party, unfortunately, has not offered a viable alternative in Schmookler, who is well-meaning but has neither an understanding of the job he seeks nor the instinct to accomplish anything in Congress: “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” without a screenwriter to develop the story.”
The democrats haven’t offered a viable alternative? What, by not sending a lawyer to Washington? By offering a regular guy who actually knows what’s going on here in the 6th district and what our needs are to Washington? Dr. Andy Schmookler never aspired to be a politician, he decided to run when he became as disgusted as the rest of us at how things are going in Washington. I would personally prefer to see MORE regular people in Washington making choices for me than career politicians that are bought and paid for by lobbyists.
Examples of things Dr. Schmookler would like to see happen-that Goodlatte and the Republicans haven’t taken on since they wont control of over Congress in 2010-job creation. The American infrastructure system has a D rating. Almost failing. Those are the roads and bridges we drive on every day. Do you feel safe driving on them knowing they received a D rating by our own engineers? Cut back on defense spending, invest that money in infrastructure, and put people back to work. Also, bring back jobs from overseas, change the incentives that corporations have to send those jobs away in the first place.
The Republicans with Bob Goodlatte right behind them contiue to make cuts to Medicare, Social Security and other programs that can be sustained by bringing healthcare costs under control. To quote Dr. Andy Schmookler-”Fiscal discipline need not dismantle the programs and institutions that make America a great and humane society, or be achieved at the expense of our country’s most vulnerable citizens.”
As for Bob Goodlatte on the Affordable Care Act…when the rest of the nation has the same coverage that Congress has FOR LIFE, I may shut up health care. He has great coverage, what does he have to worry about? I’m a single mom that spend $100′s each month on co-pays, old medical bills, and medications-I’m 32.
When Dr. Andy Schmookler and Bob Goodlatte had their debate here in Roanoke a few weeks ago, I hung around afterwards so I could ask Bob MY question-his self imposed term limits. I asked, so Bob, what do you think about term limits? His reply, term limits are great, if they’re for everyone. I then asked, well, what about the one you set on yourself, it was over years ago-he got in the car and drove away. If you can’t even stick with the standards you set for yourself, no way do I trust you to be my voice in Washington. Way to reach out and discuss things with your constituents, even the ones who will NEVER vote for you.
That was a damnable low blow RTEB!
Sandi, I know you’ve got more than that!
Yes, I suppose I do.
How dare the RTEB characterize Dr. Schmookler the way you did! Besides the fact that Goodlatte is merely a party pawn, an ineffectual representative for Roanoke, and a completely non-credible voice, you condemn many people who are not career pols, glad-handers, or agenda driven zealots out of the prospective field that is so lacking. If the “instinct to accomplish anything in Congress” is so important, please do tell us what Goodlatte has accomplished for the district or the nation? You cannot, because he has not. His blustering, faux battle with the Federal government over the Poff Building is the perfect example of “sound and fury, signifying nothing”. It is his modus operandi, look busy and pretend you know what you are doing.
You KNOW what a candidate, their family, their friends, and their community goes through when they dare to stand up for their district against the entrenched pols and you deliberately take a snide swipe at a man willing to devote his time and energy to the district instead of party or agenda? That is sacrilegious to your stated message IMO. What do many freshmen know going in? Are career pols and zealots all we will be left with?
I have no doubt that Dr. Schmookler and his supporters will feel the purposeful sting of your jab and what, in the end, does it gain you? Nothing.
Do you believe, from the posts you see here every day and the letters, emails and calls you must receive that you are seen as credible, unbiased or even handed? You know better. You, above many others, know the climate of politics in this nation. You also know well that Dr. Schmookler has little to no chance of unseating the placeholder and yet you still could not resist twisting that knife. For the sake of what?
Some days, my estimation of your board is right along with the right wingers, just for different reasons. I am tired of fighting the moderators who claim to support free speech. I am tired of the media that is complacent and complicit. Seeing you succumb just makes this all even more sordid. What is it exactly that you are above doing?
RTEB – take note of the vitriol you’re seeing from the left, just for daring to not endorse their candidate. I’m finding it quite amusing, myself.
#5 – “I’m finding it quite amusing, myself.”
Their ship is sinking, TOR, and they’re in full panic mode.
Watching it happen is great fun!
The Other Rick, I cannot type slow enough, I realize that, but this has NOTHING to do with the RTEB not endorsing Dr. Schmookler. Maybe your amusement is what they were aiming for.
The Other Rick-I’m too far left to be a democrat. I just admire Dr. Schmookler for the courage it took to take on this challenge, of trying to unseat one of many of Washington’s already paid for puppets, just like I did with Sam Rasoul in 2008.
What are you “babbling” about? Do you think we have never lost an election before? Do you think the party placeholders matter so much? IDK if you got the point of the commentary, but you are most certainly missing the point of the comments.
So when did losing the White House (which is what I presume is the “ship” you are speaking of), become your “ship is sinking”? Do you believe we will all just magically disappear and be quiet like you all have the last four years?
#10 – Actually Sandi, I do NOT mean losing the White House…I’m talking about watching the Dems fall apart as Election Day gets closer and closer.
Regardless of the validity of the idea that I do not understand the job I am seeking (and I think there is little validity to that argument), there is possibly no one with greater understanding of the crisis gripping our political system today than myself. Our failure to deal adequately with that crisis has led to the most paralyzed Congress that this country has had in generations, despite the presence in Congress of hundreds of professional politicians.
So we are not going to lose the White House, but we are falling apart anyway? Nice try.
#13 – Yes, you’re going to lose the White House, but that is NOT what I meant about the sinking ship.
You guys are frazzled right now, eating your own, and it’s fun to watch!
Romney is backing off his endorsements not us. Who is being “eaten”? The right wing who is screaming “Winning” in their best Charlie Sheen are the ones who are “frazzled”. None of this is “fun to watch” IMO.
Our ship is fine and even losing the White House will not change that. It never has.
Dr. Schmookler,
I am sure that Congressman Goodlatte came to Washington with that same thought process as you do, as did Jim Olin (democrat) and Caldwell Butler (republican) before him. I believe they all realized that they were but one of 435 congressman and were unable to change the world. Reality bites.
“there is possibly no one with greater understanding of the crisis gripping our political system today than myself.” Be careful with your modesty sir, it may get the best of you.
For the RTEB to not endorse you on the basis of their perception that you do not understand the position you are seeking is indeed a bit hypocritical. Sam Rasoul received their endorsement in 2008 and was such a neophyte that he had no clue about the reponsibilities of a congressional representative. And I have met and hunted with Sam’s younger brother several times and have it firsthand just what he knew about it.
However, it is very rare for the RTEB to not endorse a democrat candidate for the HOD, State Senate, statewide office, congress, or the senate. The last one that I recall was Greg Habeeb and that endorsement was retracted practically before the ink on the paper was dry.
If there is a silver lining to this, take comfort in knowing that the RTEB endoresed Periello over Hurt (Hurt of course won), Boucher over Griffith (Griffith, of course won), Rasoul over Goodlatte (Goodlatte, of course, won) and the complete democratic late for Governor, LG, and AG and each Republican won. Not getting the RTEB endorsement is hardly the kiss of death!
I, for one, am hoping they endorse Tim Kaine. I am sure that is forthcoming unless I already missed it.
#15 – “None of this is “fun to watch” IMO.”
I can see how watching Obama, who once was the Messiah among Libs, circling the drain is not fun for you.
Thankfully, America has woken up and seen what a joke many of us saw four years ago.
#12 “….there is possibly no one with greater understanding of the crisis gripping our political system today than myself.”
Should be endorsed & elected on modesty alone.
14 – Election night on MSNBC should be a real scream!
#19 – “Election night on MSNBC should be a real scream!”
Absolutely. Someone might want to send them a few cases of ShamWow’s to soak up all the tears.
I’m gonna have to tune in just to see Chris Matthews have a nervous breakdown!
I find myself agreeing with the RT. Democrats have not fielded a serious challenge to Mr. Goodlatte in years. That being said, I would vote for Mickey Mouse before I would vote for Bob Goodlatte.
I am scratching my head over the Roanoke Times characterization of Andy Schmookler as “having little understanding of the job he seeks.” Could the paper possibly have confused a refreshing lack of political polish with a lack of substance? Andy is one of the most substantive persons I’ve ever seen run for public office. First, he has put his finger squarely and fearlessly on the greatest problem facing this nation: a Republican Party with a scorched-earth policy. The Party of No makes it virtually impossible to deal effectively with all our other problems: income inequality, the debt, climate change, financial regulation, and energy independence. The modern GOP deliberately attempted to engineer the failure of the Obama presidency, even if it meant the country went down the tubes with him. The GOP does not deserve to be rewarded for its unprecedented cynicism and lack of patriotism. Second, Andy is right on the money about how to fix what ails us. Is the national debt a problem? Yes. But balancing the budget during a recession is equivalent to imposing the types of austerity measures that are crushing Greece and Spain. Until such time as the private sector has fully recovered, the government should continue carefully engineered stimulus, directed at the middle class, even if it means running deficits in the short term. Is Social Security in trouble? Not really. It can be “fixed” by simple tweaking. Is Medicare in trouble? Yes. But health care costs as a whole must be reigned in in order to properly address the Medicare issue. This is why universal healthcare becomes an integral part of the equation. Is climate change a hoax or a real issue? Andy believes the scientists rather than the oil companies. Yes. Climate change may very well be the greatest issue of our generation, and we are failing miserably at present to take it seriously. We could address our economic issues, the climate problem, and foster energy independence all by investing our national brainpower and economic might in the development of green energy technology. I’d say Andy Schmookler has a greater understanding of the job description of Congressman than 99 percent of those presently in the job: listen to all points of view, study the issues, tell us what we need to hear not what we want to hear, and work for genuine solutions, not political points. Schmookler has both my vote and my sincere admiration for his commitment to the truth and his refreshing candor. Virginia is blessed to have him in the running and will be well served by him in Congress.
It would have been nice if the RTEB had explained why Andy Schmookler wasn’t considered a “viable alternative”. Heck, he’s the official Democratic Party candidate for Virginia’s 6th district, and he received barely 60 words in a 660-word editorial.
Part of the job of media is inform readers. We learned nothing about Andy Schmookler here. No wonder newspapers are dying out.
That’s a valid point, Brian. We devoted most of the space to explaining why we couldn’t endorse an incumbent who has been in office for two decades. That seemed to be the most relevant issue.
Christina,
Has the RTEB EVER endorsed Bob Goodlatte?
I will go out on a limb here and say that I highly doubt ANY RT reader or blogger was surprised that the RTEB did not endorse Bob Goodlatte. Hardly any explanation was needed.
The surprise here was that democrat Andy Schmookler was not endorsed by the RTEB, which is very unusual given the endorsement history of the RTEB. That is what needed the REAL explanation.
I guess the temptation to slam Goodlatte in print, one more time, was just too great.
I agree with the RTEB in that our District 6 representative is one of many. It is time we (Americans) start voting out those many who have put party and big business above the benefit of the citizens. Mr. Goodlatte is a perfect example of what is wrong with Congress.
How can someone who has pledged his loyalty to Grover Norquest help get this nation out of the financial mess we currently face? If we as voters send him back to Congress we are to blame for our problems.
Mr. Goodlatte started as an inexperienced representative with little knowledge of government. What he has learned has not helped the ordinary citizens of the 6th district.
It is time for change and progress – vote Schmookler.
Proving once again that you all do not understand the media at all. Sure the Obama supporters and Progressives will be sad to lose, if that happens, but then we will all be free to let loose and “go after” Romney/Ryan in all the ways the right wing media has done to Obama. All the dirt, distortions, and destruction that faux news and fiends have used as “news” for 6 years will become the new genre at MSNBC. Ratings will skyrocket as people turn to them for the scoops they will deliver. There will be tears for what America almost had, a chance, but they will get over it as we have every other time and MSNBC and all good Progressives will simply go on informing the country and saying “I told you so” with the panache only we can deliver. Defense is hard work, offense is fun. You truly “misunderestimate” MSNBC!
Great, now you admit that the cruel, needless and confusing ‘take down’ was also superfluous. Way to go.
Ah yes, we have “misunderestimated” MSNBC alright. I certainly did. Just when I thought I couldn’t have any less respect for them as a news operation…along came this tirade, which caused my opinion of them to sink to an all new low:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sOmdN7aQPY
Larry needs to up his meds…otherwise his head is going to explode on election night.
26 – “then we will all be free to let loose and “go after” Romney/Ryan in all the ways the right wing media has done to Obama.”
Yeah, we already know what’s coming. We’ve seen it all before, from your side during the Bush years. Same old…stuff…
Precisely, “what goes around, comes around”…and yet you persist. Why is it you “couldn’t have any less respect for them as a news operation” for what MSNBC does, yet uphold (and parrot) what FOX News does? Do you REALLY not see the problem with that?
BobH, the board endorsed Goodlatte in 2006 when he had two independent challengers and in 1998 when his opponent was David Bowers. In many election cycles, Goodlatte has had no opponent.
31 – Sorry, but I’ve never witnessed unhinged behavior like that on Fox (Bob Beckel has come close at times…but then again, he’s a lib).
Which brings up another point – Fox has liberals on nearly all of their commentary programs on a regular basis. Beckel, Alan Colmes, Juan Williams, Kirsten Powers…just off the top of my head. There are many more who appear regularly.
How many conservatives are regulars on MSNBC? Scarborough doesn’t count…he’s about as useful as a conservative, as teats on a boar hog. That leaves Buchanan.
Anyone who takes MSNBC as a legitimate news source, has no standing to trash Fox.
Someday you will learn, you cannot dance fast enough to please the right wing in this nation. They are a one tune band and why you keep trying to explain yourselves would be a much better question. BobH has lived here for many years, hell, he probably knew the answer and still asked the question just to snark. I truly do not think you all have a real grasp on your audience. Nothing less than total capitulation will suffice. Unless you are willing to do that, you are wasting your time.
Fair would have been not taking a cheap shot at Dr. Schmookler.
Balanced would have been to blurb that no endorsement was made in that District. You blew it, and for what?
So, Goodlatte has changed somehow between 2006 and now become unpalatable for endorsement apparently.
I predict the RTEB endorsement will have 0.0% effect on the election in the 6th.
#33 “I’ve never witnessed unhinged behavior like that on Fox…”
…which only goes to prove that there is none so blind as he who will not see.
I have said repeatedly that I do not watch MSNBC so how can I tell you who they have on? Since you are eliminating names before anyone even attempts it, what is the point? And as to those so called “liberals” on FOX? You have GOT to be kidding!
I do not take FOX or MSNBC as any kind of “legitimate news source”, and I believe anyone who does is only harming their own credibility. Anyone who relies on one source or one POV is going to be missing the big picture. And it shows.
Goodlatte was indeed inexperienced and naive when he was first elected as a moderate Republican back in 1992, on promises of congressional reform and term limits. Since being elected that first time, he has soaked up every congressional benefit (health care, retirement, incumbent privileges, ad nauseum) and dishonestly rejected his term limit promise. He has proven himself to be a party establishment puppet, opposed to civil liberties and more than willing to spend and borrow, under both Republican and Democrat presidents. Andy Schmookler must be credited for seeing fit to challenge this incumbent. Goodlatte’s political days are numbered, because he will eventually be defeated by the civil libertarian fiscal conservative core of his own party. We saw a glimpse of how this will work last June, when 1/3 of his party rejected him as a suitable representative of their values.
36 – And I may add, none as delusional as those who see things that just aren’t there.
Would you mind sharing things you think we see “that just aren’t there”?
Let’s see some links to this so-called “unhinged” behavior on Fox, to match the level of that Lawrence O’Donnell tirade I posted earlier. Good luck.
And let’s not forget all the “racism” the left sees, in virtually any criticism of Obama. We’ll be treated to a huge helping of that over the next few weeks – especially after Obama loses the election, that will be the number one reason according to libs.
Maybe you should define “unhinged” for us since you want to define what we see, think and will do already.
Racism is real. It is a factor, it has always been a factor and nothing you can say will change that.
“Evidence from other research, as well as some new analysis in this paper, suggest that few white voters swung in Obama’s favor in the general election due to his race.
…the evidence on the effects of racial animus on turnout is as follows: Some
Democrats stayed home rather than vote for Obama due to his race; a similar number of individuals who would not have otherwise voted turned out for McCain due to Obama’s race. However, there is not enough statistical power to determine this number.
… While racial animus obviously did not cost Mr. Obama the 2008 election, examining more elections shows that effects of the magnitude found are often decisive.”
http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~sstephen/papers/RacialAnimusAndVotingSethStephensDavidowitz.pdf
Perhaps, Other Rick, you missed this CNN interview:
If you do not think Glenn Beck can match any partisan barker on MSNBC you are only fooling yourself.
http://mediamatters.org/video/2011/02/10/in-unhinged-rant-beck-tells-critics-you-want-to/176272
44 – I don’t watch left-leaning CNN very much, so I did miss that.
With that being said, IMO race was a factor in Powell’s endorsements – both in ’08 and now. Anyone who thinks I’m a “racist” for thinking that, so be it. I really don’t care.
45 – Beck is a lunatic, I’ll admit that. He makes some good points occasionally…but he’s way too over the top for me. Yet compared to the nutjobs on MSNBC, he’s no match IMO.
Hurricane Sandi, Glenn Beck no longer works for Fox. Your earlier comment “right wing media” is a oxymoron. Everyone knows that the majority of the media is left wing. You leftists love to use the race card every time it is convenient to offset the real issues. You mention whites vote against Obama due to his skin color. I am sure there are whites who vote against him for that reason, but the percentage so minute that it is not going to have a factor. On the other hand, 97% of blacks will vote for Obama “because he is black”. Can’t they be considered racist since they are voting for him due to his skin color?
Pretend as you like Jerome, it is NOT the main stream media, or even the left wing media that is representing a narrative that is so devoid of facts and reality. That has been the province of the right wing since the early 90′s and it has coarsened, worsened and divided this nation. All for the political gain of the Plutocracy. Thinking Romney will change that is just laughable.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/10/26/the-obama-haters-book-club-the-canon-swells.html
NO, everyone does not “know” that the majority of the media is left wing, that is the right wing meme that has been pedaled to discredit their condemnation of the right wing hate and division machine while it conveniently dismisses the millions of “fact checks” they receive. It has been pretty effective and as we see here, they almost never fight back. There is a world of difference in bias and being wrong. The right wing media is dishonest and they refuse to grant anyone who disagrees with them any credibility, patriotism or decency. This nation will not survive with the rise of the right, it just won’t.
BTW, “the race card” is more than proven as credible, true and real. Denial is not going to change that truth. And no, when you consider that the vast majority of the black voters have long voted Democrat, it is NOT racist for them to vote for Obama and they are a small minority of voters.
Interesting article on racism:
“Both whites and blacks agree that anti-black racism has decreased over the last 60 years, according to the study. However, whites believe that anti-white racism has increased and is now a bigger problem than anti-black racism”
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/226283.php
#49 – “However, whites believe that anti-white racism has increased and is now a bigger problem than anti-black racism”.
I kind of agree with that.
Did you happen to read up on that “survey” b.o.h.i.c.a.?
“Both whites and blacks agree that anti-black racism has decreased over the last 60 years, according to the study. However, whites believe that anti-white racism has increased and is now a bigger problem than anti-black racism.
“It’s a pretty surprising finding when you think of the wide range of disparities that still exist in society, most of which show black Americans with worse outcomes than whites in areas such as income, home ownership, health and employment,” said Tufts Associate Professor of Psychology Samuel Sommers, Ph.D., co-author of “Whites See Racism as a Zero-sum Game that They Are Now Losing,”
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/226283.php
#48 You really humor me-that is why I am prying you so much. You get into this stuff so much that you cannot see the forest because of the trees.
In regards to your comments about the left wing/right wing media, you are completely wrong in every way. Let’s see the TV media:
ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, MSNBC, CNN – ALL LIBERAL NEWS Sights
FOX – Fair & Balanced OK, maybe they lean to the right somewhat.
Can you name another right wing TV station? I didn’t think so.
Newpaper-95% liberal
By the way, I am 49 years old and I can never remember a time where the nation has been so divided as it has become in the past 4 years and this is clearly due to liberals using division as a way to scare minorities, women & the elderly into voting for them by spewing out lies about their counterparts.
By the way, many blacks are starting to learn the real liberal objective and thinking for themselves as they differ on many of the liberal social positions such as gay marriage & anti-God positions.
Wanna discuss this research? “…Matters of race and national identity motivate many Tea Partiers as well as a sense of dispossession from their place of privilege in the racial order. This analysis takes at face value the movement’s dress, symbols and invocation of the constitution, as well as its claims to embody the aspirations of a narrow body of ‘real Americans’. By making an exclusionary claim on the nation’s founding moments, they actually set themselves apart from other Americans.”
http://crs.sagepub.com/content/38/4/495.abstract
There is no decrease in “anti-black racism” in all circles. There just isn’t.
I’m not paying for any of these articles, but those pushing a “post racial America” are dreaming…or lying IMO.
“…When observed ethnographically, the lived experience of race relations suggests a different view and conceptual framework. As the legacy of racial caste, the color line persists in social interaction and is evident in racially determined perspectives and local working conceptions that order race relations and contribute to persistent racial inequality. Indeed, the claim of a postracial society is an ideological discourse that denies continuing patterns of race relations.”
http://ann.sagepub.com/content/642/1/25.abstract
I don’t think you still study what is no more.
#54 Your comment “I’m not paying for any of these articles, but those pushing a “post racial America” are dreaming…or lying IMO” proves my point-you liberals don’t want a nation where race is not an issue because you depend on them for votes-not policies which gives them a chance to prosper on their own without government help. We have taken numerous steps backwards since Obama became president and the Dems controlled the house and Senate.
I think the research is all on my side of this argument Jerome.
The Betrayal of the American Dream
It’s Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided With the New Politics of Extremism
The Broken Branch: How Congress Is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track (Institutions of American Democracy)
The Party Is Over: How Republicans Went Crazy, Democrats Became Useless, and the Middle Class Got Shafted
“Mike Lofgren retired on June 17 after 28 years as a Congressional staffer. He served 16 years as a professional staff member on the Republican side of both the House and Senate Budget Committees.“
Goodbye to All That
The truth may have a “well known liberal bias”, but the right wing memes lacking foundation, facts and reality are not serving this nation. The lines have been drawn for a reason, but that reason is not “liberals using division as a way to scare” anyone. That is just not true. The facts prove that many of us, who love privacy, civil rights and America have very much to worry about with the rise of the Plutocracy and the exclusionary TP/R Party.
FOX network dominates the cable news viewers.
The Wall Street Journal is the dominant national newspaper.
The right wing virtually owns free talk radio.
The saturation rate of the right wing media is pervasive and growing and the networks you list are not liberal and only CNN competes in the quantity of news shows and only MSNBC competes in the number of POV shows. You malign ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS as being “liberal” when that is just not credible IMO. The right wing considers anyone who disagrees with them to be liberal or RINO. That is how they operate.
Sandi Saunders, did you read the article?
You don’t seem to understand it.
“BOTH whites and blacks agree that anti-black racism has DECREASED over the last 60 years”
Sandi, do you know why FOX, Wall Street Journal and talk radio dominates, because the people don’t want to hear the liberal bias that all of the other stations, papers & radio stations spew. There have been liberal radio stations who have tried to compete, but no one will listen to them so they fail. This is what is happening to all of the liberal newspapers & TV as well. I know, the truth hurts. To say that ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS is not liberal, you have got to be kidding.
That is one survey b.o.h.i.c.a. One. There is no definitive research confirming that sentiment and the author pointed out how hard it was to believe in the face of the continued inequality. Did YOU read it?
No Jerome, it is not true that what I said proves your point! Liberals want a nation where race is not an issue, but pretending we have one, does not make it true. We depend on progressive values for votes, and that is roughly half this country. The right wing trickle down policies of the last thirty years have damn sure not given minorities or any working class American a chance to prosper. A Plutocracy doesn’t. You cannot pay the low wages paid to so many and expect them to prosper
HELLO, we had an economic crash, second only to the Great Depression! We have lost jobs for over a decade, what is it you people expect to be happening. Do you not even realize this sets Romney up for certain failure too?
The steps taken “backwards” have NOT been due to Obama. And the Dems never actually “controlled the house and Senate”. That too is a right wing meme that has no basis in fact.
“author pointed out how hard it was to believe in the face of the continued inequality”
The author can say whatever, but it doesn’t change the research data or the end results of said research! Read again.
#61 “it doesn’t change the research data or the end results of said research…” Nor does it “change the research data or the end results of said research” of many more studies that reach far different conclusions from the one you’re pushing on us, b.o.h.i.c.a.