Discussion: The REPUBLICAN Party XV

[Webfoot Hero]

Ezra Klein has a really good article up, providing some analysis on the current state of things:

13 reasons why Washington is failing

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/07/the-13-reasons-washington-is-failing/

Klein seems awfully one-sided in placing blame in the article, blaming Rs in 9 of the 13 topics.

 

[craigdbfan]

That list is too short. He only listed the problems with the Republicans. There are some equally as damaging issues with the Democrats.

Both parties are equally destructive. The best part was its comparison of the US to Chile pre Pinochet in terms of a Democracy buckling under too much separatism and having different extremes in charge of congress and the executive.

 

[Genosha]

They should settle this Bill & Ted style with a series of board game match-ups.

Best of 7. Parcheesi is first.

 

[Arc-Light]

Klein seems awfully one-sided in placing blame in the article, blaming Rs in 9 of the 13 topics.

Because....there is a reason for that and this shutdown is a very good example....

 

[Thundercrack85]

Both parties are equally destructive.

No, that's just not true. There is one party, or at least, one party in a party, which is actively sabotaging the country's government, and undermining the law.

Not to say Democrats don't do stupid, destructive things, but the Republicans are taking it to new extremes.

 

[SV Fan]

No, that's just not true. There is one party, or at least, one party in a party, which is actively sabotaging the country's government, and undermining the law.

Not to say Democrats don't do stupid, destructive things, but the Republicans are taking it to new extremes.

Let's not forget one party that actively campaigned in shutting down government, then have the gull to point the fingers at the other side for being the problem when it is shut down.

 

[terry78]

^Basically a "why did you make me hit you" scenario.

 

[Cosmic]

^Basically a "why did you make me hit you" scenario.

Yeah, exactly. I was just about to post this. It's like they're saying, "stop resisting! Your resistance is hurting me, and forcing me to hurt you!"

 

[Thundercrack85]

Actually, I think Jon Stewart just gave the best analogy, with Tom Coburn (who made an idiotic analogy about having to needlessly buy stuff at a grocery store) going to the store - ignoring the shopping list everyone wrote - and then burning the store down.

 

[ColumbChris]

In my opinion people with drudges should not be in position to get to throne, who know what may happen if they do.

 

[SV Fan]

Looks like the Republican party is having another Clown Convention with all the regulars this weekend. The "Value Voters"(ie we hate gay marriage and abortion) is having it's yearly summit, this should give us alot of comedy gold.


It should be noted Chris Christie wasn't invited so props to him

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Apparently the GOP is less popular than dog poop right now, that my friends is hilarious

 

[SV Fan]

So looks like somehow repealing Obamacare equals "Family Values" if you go by all the speakers at the Value Voters summit

 

[Thundercrack85]

Did Ben Carson really just say that Obamacare is the worst thing since slavery?

The cognitive dissonance that there must be for a brain surgeon (yes, he's a brain surgeon) to say something so stupid... is just... you'd need to be a brain surgeon to fully appreciate it.

What is wrong with these people?

I understand when dumb people say dumb things, but this man is a doctor... who attended Yale... and operates on people's brains.

What?

 

[SV Fan]

Did Ben Carson really just say that Obamacare is the worst thing since slavery?

The cognitive dissonance that there must be for a brain surgeon (yes, he's a brain surgeon) to say something so stupid... is just... you'd need to be a brain surgeon to fully appreciate it.

What is wrong with these people?

I understand when dumb people say dumb things, but this man is a doctor... who attended Yale... and operates on people's brains.

What?

There is alot of money to be made saying stupid things on the Republican talking circuit

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

There is alot of money to be made saying stupid things on the Republican talking circuit

This is my problem with the whole right wing culture right now.

Freedom of speech, and difference of opinion is one thing.

But the speech that comes from the extreme right wing media is literally -dangerous- speech. Because it purposefully uses lies and deceit to rile up a base to act out on lies and untruths, and ignorance.

No side of the coin is "innocent", but one is far worse, and that side is actively dangerous.

 

[Kelly]

Apparently the GOP is less popular than dog poop right now, that my friends is hilarious

From the polls I've seen, no one is smelling too great....

 

[marvelrobbins]

Obama and Democrats have better numbers than they do.

 

[Kelly]

Well, as far as Congress, I would actually like to see the State by State, District by District numbers...those really tell the tale of Congress. Congress whether its Republican or Democrat are never high. As far as Republicans, sure they are low, that is no surprise at all....they are who you see the most in the media, they are the ones speaking the loudest, anytime you have that happening, whoever it is will be the most drastically judged.

It is the same with the President...to me "likability" polls mean absolutely nothing. But, "likely voters" polled on specific things in regards to the President, those things I pay attention to....as well as what the actual question was, how it was asked, etc. If it's a phone poll, I throw it out....most phone polls only reach those that have landlines, the percentage of cell phones used is extremely low....which means you have an age problem in who you are polling, it is not a well rounded poll.

So, with all of that said, there are many, many things that I look at when looking at these poll numbers....and as a general look, no one in Washington is loved right now.

 

[Thundercrack85]

There is alot of money to be made saying stupid things on the Republican talking circuit

Maybe. Still, to say something that dumb and objectionable...

 

[Webfoot Hero]

Tea Party members smarter than people believe they are, outscoring others groups (slightly) in scientific literacy.

http://www.ijreview.com/2013/10/874...tea-party-supporters-scientifically-literate/

 

[Trainwreck2100]

And yet, they see what happened as some sort of victory

 

[Webfoot Hero]

And yet, they see what happened as some sort of victory

And Democrats see Obamacare as good legislation. There's stupidity on both sides.

 

[SV Fan]

And Democrats see Obamacare as good legislation. There's stupidity on both sides.

I am guessing most see it as the first step to a single payer system

If you ever look at those polls about Obamacare it should be pointed out that when they say like 50% don't like Obamacare about 15% included in that is because people don't think it's gone far enough. I assume those aren't people the Tea Party will win over

Tea Party members smarter than people believe they are, outscoring others groups (slightly) in scientific literacy.

http://www.ijreview.com/2013/10/874...tea-party-supporters-scientifically-literate/

I guess it's the same reason that atheist have a better understanding about the history of Christianity on a whole over christians. Basically when you verse yourself up against something you get ammo. Personally I would love to see the scores of people who consider themselves social conservatives.

 

[enterthemadness]

Tea Party members smarter than people believe they are, outscoring others groups (slightly) in scientific literacy.

http://www.ijreview.com/2013/10/874...tea-party-supporters-scientifically-literate/

test is invalid, doesn't include libertarians.