February 07, 2014

Obama May Decree... What Would Surprise You At This Point?
— Ace

That's from the morning dump thread, and the headline is all BenK84. I tried to think of a better one, but that one's pretty spiffy.

Obama is thinking about decreeing that the law he claims is inviolable -- you know, the law he says Congress must not repeal because the Supreme Court has ruled and "It's. The. Law." -- shall be further altered by his personal decree. He is considering permitting already-illegally grandfathered policies to remain in force for another three years... which, just coincidentally, would take them beyond the 2016 elections.

Originally, I think, from the Blaze.

In other news you probably already know (I'm a bad blogger): The GOP is not going to fight hard on the debt ceiling.

One Democratic Representative says he sees no fight in the GOP: “This is the dying gasp of a dead-end strategy. I think this fight is over.”

At the link (to Hot Air), you'll read that there are in fact reasons to believe that perceptions about the US' credit-worthiness have been affected.

The trouble with fights on the debt limit is both sides are threatening each other with a very bad outcome (default). It's brinksmanship about a default. Were the media in this country other than they are, we would be freer to have this fight.

But the media always reports that it's only the Republicans who are engaging in brinksmasnship. When Republicans say, "We'll give you your debt ceiling increase, but we want Obamacare delayed" (something, by the way, Obama has largely done, illegally, by his own decree) they say no, thus themselves putting default in play.

But the media never reports it that way. To the media, it's always, and only, the Republicans putting this possibility in play, and therefore, to the country, it's only the GOP.

I would like to get angry and huffy about this, and angry at the GOP, but it's really more the situation I'm angry about. The GOP lives in this situation the same as all of us do. It's the facts on the ground. It's the environment we all live in.

I know that some will say "Let it Burn" but for 80% of the country (or more) that is not an option they'd be willing to even consider. Indeed, even among the people saying "Let it Burn," only half really mean it. The other half intend it as a bargaining position, a show of force at the negotiating table to back the other side down. But the Democrats know this, and thus the position does not actually move anything at the table.


Posted by: Ace at 12:58 PM | Comments (297)
Post contains 451 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Who said you're a bad blogger I'm gonna whop their ass.

Posted by: Fourth Horseman at February 07, 2014 12:59 PM (GKF3X)

2 This can only mean he'll be running for President again!

Posted by: t-bird at February 07, 2014 12:59 PM (FcR7P)

3 It would be nice if we had an opposition party.

Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 07, 2014 12:59 PM (T2V/1)

4 We're fucked.

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at February 07, 2014 12:59 PM (0LHZx)

5 Not a damn thing.

Posted by: Gmac-Pondering the coming implosion, and hoping its 404care at February 07, 2014 12:59 PM (baiNQ)

6 I'll go get the others.

Posted by: Fourth Horseman at February 07, 2014 01:00 PM (GKF3X)

7 Obama May Decree...


You must brrrrring me a........shrubbery!

Posted by: pep at February 07, 2014 01:00 PM (6TB1Z)

8 Ace:

I'm in the "Let it Burn" camp because the math is inevitable.  The Donks are shrinking the tax base while simultaneously increasing spending.  I'm also tired of the fecklessness of the GOP "leadership."

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop posting from work at February 07, 2014 01:01 PM (T6MoX)

9 Ace, You're right this is the world we live in. But that is why it's so frustrating watching the GOP in these situations. Each time it seems like they're completely shocked the media is spinning things the way it is. You'd think after 25 years of this, someone at GOP HQ would come up with a plan to counter the liberal media. Instead they go out there and do the same thing over and over, with the same results.

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at February 07, 2014 01:01 PM (0LHZx)

10 Burning is inevitable math says so.

Posted by: Fourth Horseman at February 07, 2014 01:02 PM (GKF3X)

11 You'd think after 25 years of this, someone at GOP HQ would come up with a plan to counter the liberal media.

What's your plan, Napolean?

Posted by: pep at February 07, 2014 01:02 PM (6TB1Z)

12 I'm surprised he has time to decree, with all his unnecessary TV appearances.

Posted by: HR at February 07, 2014 01:02 PM (ZKzrr)

13 Arghhhh, Napoleon

Posted by: pep at February 07, 2014 01:02 PM (6TB1Z)

14 I sent Boehner an email last night to tell him Congress has the power of the purse & to stop funding TFGCare. I also told him Congress is supposed ti reign in a president who has abused his power & to put a stop to it. You're not a bad blogger, Ace! We love you!

Posted by: Carol at February 07, 2014 01:02 PM (z4WKX)

15 All hail BHO.  Whatsoever He says, Let it be Written. Let it be Done.

Posted by: Sphynx at February 07, 2014 01:03 PM (OZmbA)

16 He's gonna decree we all have to get our social tatooed on our wrists. But not to worry, his tech contractor, the one you have to report to in order to get it done, promises to securely encrypt it.

Posted by: the littl shyning man at February 07, 2014 01:03 PM (tmFlQ)

17 There is no opposition, and they give us talk radio because... Get off my damn lawn!

Posted by: Gmac-Pondering the coming implosion, and hoping its 404care at February 07, 2014 01:03 PM (baiNQ)

18 "Let It Burn" is usually said more in sadness than anger.

Posted by: Whoopi Goldberg [/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 07, 2014 01:03 PM (yz6yg)

19 / epic sock fail off

Posted by: Sean Bannion [/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 07, 2014 01:04 PM (yz6yg)

20 I KNOW! LET'S RE-ELECT THE VERY PEOPLE WHO GOT US HERE!!

MITCH MCCONNELL/ JOHN BOEHNER 2014!

(and the rest of the leadership)

Posted by: NWConservative at February 07, 2014 01:04 PM (buZ/8)

21

Ok

 

 

Off  to   the cups.

 

Later peeps.

Posted by: eleven at February 07, 2014 01:04 PM (fsLdt)

22 I'm officially renaming my philosophy to "Prepare and Preserve": Prepare for the inevitable, and Preserve what you can for rebuilding afterwards. The idea of "Let it Burn" isn't quite accurate and gets twisted around too easy.

Posted by: Brother Cavil at February 07, 2014 01:05 PM (naUcP)

23 So shall it be written. So shall it be done.

Posted by: Barackhentaten I at February 07, 2014 01:05 PM (iUMdy)

24 >>I sent Boehner an email last<<

If it's like it is with my Senators (I haven't tried my Rep. yet, but he's basically on my side), you'll wait from 2 to 4 weeks for an email reply and it will be a template/boilerplate reply.

I don't think Internet communication has the same impact as a formal letter. And nothing has better impact than an in person visit.  Well, nothing except a big fat donation.

Posted by: Sphynx at February 07, 2014 01:05 PM (OZmbA)

25 Every GOP member when having a microphone stuck in their face by the MSM should say, " when are you going to tell the American people the truth" . Then turn and walk away. Still we know the stupid party doesn't have the balls.

Posted by: Fourth Horseman at February 07, 2014 01:05 PM (GKF3X)

26 I would like to get angry and huffy about this, and angry at the GOP, but it's really more the situation I'm angry about. The GOP lives in this situation the same as all of us do. It's the facts on the ground. It's the environment we all live in

And that's the crux of it.

People are frustrated (justifiably so) and looking for a scapegoat.  The want THEM to DO SOMETHING... but they don't really know what aside from platitudes and slogans ("they should FIGHT!").




Posted by: Hollowpoint at February 07, 2014 01:05 PM (SY2Kh)

27

I'm a 10%er. Cool !!! We should have a song ...

 

I'm a Tenner, He's a Tenner, She's a Tenner, We're a Tenner, Wouldn't ya' like to be a Tenner too !

Posted by: ScoggDog at February 07, 2014 01:06 PM (Y9dJL)

28 ok, so is this the thread for zombeavers???

Posted by: dillhole13 at February 07, 2014 01:06 PM (uURnG)

29 The Internet was supposed to get us an Army Of Davids that would hamstring the Left's alphabet networks. What it got us instead was Upworthy and Buzzfeed; the online equivalent of a permanent flashmob. A meme is cooked up, like "homosexuals need marriage" or "mr smith is a racist". Google runs with it. Everyone agrees or shuts up.

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at February 07, 2014 01:06 PM (iQxYV)

30 He's gonna decree we all have to get our social tatooed on our wrists.

Microchipped like livestock.

Posted by: HR at February 07, 2014 01:06 PM (ZKzrr)

31 This deal keeps getting worse all the time...

Posted by: Lando Calrissian at February 07, 2014 01:06 PM (/Crba)

32

The debt ceiling business is just theater.  Seriously, nobody in Washington takes it seriously, so why should anyone else.

 

What has me  encouraged is when something actually important comes up, like illegal immigrant  nonsense, the party  gets an earful, then backs down long enough so we can at least stop talking about it for a while. 

 

I may not have any faith  in the R party, but I still want them to do what I tell them to do, when I (the collective "I")  tell them. 

Posted by: BurtTC at February 07, 2014 01:07 PM (TOk1P)

33 Duh!1 is an idiot.
At best.
And a maroon.
Feel free to quote me....
I'd say it to his lyin' face.

Posted by: backhoe at February 07, 2014 01:07 PM (ULH4o)

34 The problem is as much the way the Republicans fight the issue as it is the media.

Find something Obama doesn't want that is a political problem for him. Pass it with a short term debt ceiling hike. Go home.


Posted by: 18-1 at February 07, 2014 01:07 PM (P3U0f)

35 After reading the link to Ace's old column on banning, I have a question. 
What is "tl;dr"?

Posted by: pep at February 07, 2014 01:07 PM (6TB1Z)

36 >>>You're right this is the world we live in. But that is why it's so frustrating watching the GOP in these situations. Each time it seems like they're completely shocked the media is spinning things the way it is. You'd think after 25 years of this, someone at GOP HQ would come up with a plan to counter the liberal media. Instead they go out there and do the same thing over and over, with the same results. realistically, what could they do? I mean, what could *you* do? What could *I* do? The media is nigh-entirely a creature of the Democratic/progressive left. They know they are. We've said they are. The public knows they are. It does not change their behavior in the least. They got into this business to make a difference, and making a difference means advancing the democratic/progressive agenda. What could we do? The stuff we can do is long-term stuff, supporting competing news institutions. But the GOP itself cant' do that. rather, deep pocketed GOP supporters must start to work out the math and realize that rather than donating millions to a politician, they really should be funding more fair and balanced news operations.

Posted by: ace at February 07, 2014 01:07 PM (/FnUH)

37 This shd get the juices flowing: Reformed addict Russell Brand says tragic Philip Seymour Hoffman was a 'victim' of the drug laws

Posted by: Judge Pug at February 07, 2014 01:07 PM (NRYdU)

38 At some point, I figure by June, this shit is going to explode. People are not signing up, those that have have not paid and the drs, insurance companies and hospitals are covering these costs to keep HHS off their ass. By June they will be close to fucking bankrupt and will have to pull the plug on the whole thing. Then Obama, our lord and savior, we arrive to save the world and all will be well. This has been the plan for a long time. It is not going to be pretty. The true believers are now figuring out they are fucked and we have no fucking leadership to offer an alternative. OH, have a nice day.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2014 01:08 PM (0FSuD)

39 Burn it will, one way or the other.  Whether it's the math, world war, or a split in the country, this nation's strife is  just beginning.

Posted by: Adolf at February 07, 2014 01:08 PM (EecJi)

40 I sent Boehner an email last night to tell him Congress has the power of the purse & to stop funding TFGCare. I also told him Congress is supposed ti reign in a president who has abused his power & to put a stop to it.

OK, let's look at that from his perspective.

Since the Dems would never agree to defunding Obamacare, what you're describing is shutting down the government.

I seem to remember that being tried already.  Predictably, that didn't work.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at February 07, 2014 01:08 PM (SY2Kh)

41 This deal keeps getting worse all the time... Pray I do not alter it, further. Oh, who am I kidding...I'm gonna alter it.

Posted by: Barackhentaten I at February 07, 2014 01:08 PM (iUMdy)

42 What is "tl;dr"?

Posted by: pep

Too long; didn't read.

Posted by: weft cut-loop[/i] [/b] at February 07, 2014 01:08 PM (cxs6V)

43 Well, I do declare...

Posted by: SCOAMF (in his Southern Preacher accent) at February 07, 2014 01:08 PM (Cxgnh)

44 Old dead sock off

Posted by: Soona at February 07, 2014 01:09 PM (EecJi)

45 it's like the old saying, "everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it." Well, the media is our weather. it's our climate. And there's a hockey-stick graph showing exploding bias.

Posted by: ace at February 07, 2014 01:09 PM (/FnUH)

46 Let it burn. Would I prefer it not burn? Sure, but the fire is hungry. It will feed.

Posted by: blaster at February 07, 2014 01:10 PM (4+AaH)

47 Too long; didn't read. Posted by: weft cut-loop at February 07, 2014 05:08 PM (cxs6V) What ace did a movie review? ha ha

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2014 01:10 PM (0FSuD)

48 >>I sent Boehner an email last night to tell him Congress has the power of the purse & to stop funding TFGCare. One more time. This is not an option. Funding for Obamacare was built into the law. It does not come from discretionary spending. There is no way to stop the spending on Obamacare without repealing the law.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 07, 2014 01:10 PM (g1DWB)

49 tl; dr = Too long, didn't read.

Posted by: AMDG at February 07, 2014 01:10 PM (t7OO0)

50 I actually would like to burn it down, i'm armed and i'm all about that liquidity so i'll be just fine, you bring the lighter fluid and i'll bring the zippo.

Posted by: booger at February 07, 2014 01:10 PM (xRDdL)

51 1. Ace you are not a bad blogger! 2. Obama surprise me? No, not really, not anymore. As Rush said and I hoped, I wish TFG would have failed. 3. All you morons have a great weekend!!!

Posted by: Misanthropic Humantiarian at February 07, 2014 01:11 PM (HVff2)

52 Well, the media is our weather. it's our climate. I say we kill it with fire.

Posted by: garrett at February 07, 2014 01:11 PM (iUMdy)

53 >>>What ace did a movie review? ha ha it's comments like that that result in no movie reviews for you, Mister. Just kidding, I just don't really watch many movies any more.

Posted by: ace at February 07, 2014 01:11 PM (/FnUH)

54 It will burn. There's nothing we can do at this point but prepare. I can think of few instances in history where a great nation had a leadership so unserious. Oh, and by the way, this is where democracy leads. The Founders would not be at all surprised to see this. They tried to prevent it.

Posted by: rickl at February 07, 2014 01:11 PM (zoehZ)

55 The Donks are shrinking the tax base while simultaneously increasing spending
***
Also, in the last 20 years or so they added most of the upper class to their base, rendering them nontaxable.

Math...how does it work?

Posted by: 18-1 at February 07, 2014 01:11 PM (P3U0f)

56 FMBD? Fuck Me Big Daddy!

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2014 01:11 PM (0FSuD)

57 >I sent Boehner an email last<< Posted by: Sphynx at February 07, 2014 05:05 PM (OZmbA) I live in Massachusetts, all the reps are moonbats. It would be a waste of time to call, email or visit my rep & one of the senators. I think Warren still has a home in MA, but Markey lives in MD I had an email with BoehnerÂ’s website on it & decided to try him.

Posted by: Carol at February 07, 2014 01:12 PM (z4WKX)

58 Funding for Obamacare was built into the law. It does not come from discretionary spending.

So is the mandate starting in '14.  That doesn't seem to have had much impact.

Posted by: BHO at February 07, 2014 01:12 PM (6TB1Z)

59 Well, I do declare...
Posted by: SCOAMF (in his Southern Preacher accent)>>

That sounds more Southern Belle about to hit the fainting couch to me.

Posted by: Buzzsaw at February 07, 2014 01:13 PM (tf9Ne)

60 Think about it, Biden running for President. How can it not burn?

Posted by: blaster at February 07, 2014 01:13 PM (4+AaH)

61 I can think of few instances in history where a great nation had a leadership so unserious.
***
Imperial Spain had a similar downfall. Incompetent political leaders spending too much money on things that were of little value to their society.

In fact it would appear that a ravenous and insatiable government sector is the downfall of most great states - Rome, Imperial Spain, Imperial France, and now America...

Posted by: 18-1 at February 07, 2014 01:13 PM (P3U0f)

62 I would like to get angry and huffy about this, and angry at the GOP, but it's really more the situation I'm angry about. The GOP lives in this situation the same as all of us do. It's the facts on the ground. It's the environment we all live in. I know that some will say "Let it Burn" but for 80% of the country (or more) that is not an option they'd be willing to even consider. Indeed, even among the people saying "Let it Burn," only half really mean it. The other half intend it as a bargaining position, a show of force at the negotiating table to back the other side down. But the Democrats know this, and thus the position does not actually move anything at the table. ************* I think there is a weird coping mechanism that people do. When terrorists attacked the country (I think the effects of that we are still suffering) Democrats knew that the terrorists didn't care what they though, or what they did. The only people they could reach out and get a reaction from was fellow Americans --Republicans. It helped them to feel less helpless and it helped them not to focus on the real thing that they could not control and therefore feared--terrorism. I think the same thing is happening now --except the people they cannot control and the people that could care less what they think--are now the current Democrat regime. They fear the Democrats--but they cannot face the reality of how horrifying the Obama administration really is--so they engage in the above mechanism on a smaller scale.

Posted by: tasker at February 07, 2014 01:14 PM (RJMhd)

63 Just kidding, I just don't really watch many movies any more. Posted by: ace at February 07, 2014 05:11 PM (/FnUH) Television has surpassed movies. House of Cards shd be returning and I see that they already signed up for a season 3.

Posted by: Judge Pug at February 07, 2014 01:14 PM (NRYdU)

64 I KNOW! LET'S RE-ELECT THE VERY PEOPLE WHO GOT US HERE!! MITCH MCCONNELL/ JOHN BOEHNER 2014! (and the rest of the leadership) Posted by: NWConservative at February 07, 2014 05:04 PM (buZ/ There was a link last night on Mark LevinÂ’s website to sign a petition to get rid of the leadership. I signed it.

Posted by: Carol at February 07, 2014 01:14 PM (z4WKX)

65 I can think of few instances in history where a great nation had a leadership so unserious.

Ummmmm.....

Posted by: Imperial Rome at February 07, 2014 01:14 PM (6TB1Z)

66 No, when we say "Let It Burn" we mean let the idiots keep spending and let the Republicans continue not making a stand against it because there is only one way that can end... in flames.  The ONLY way out is to cut spending.  So I think you have it exactly backwards there Ace.  Which is OK, but you perpetuate a media narrative that the right wants everything to burn down just out of spite... which is completely incorrect.  I don't think you want to give that impression because it simply isn't true.

Posted by: Thatch at February 07, 2014 01:14 PM (qYvEa)

67

I'm going to be That Guy who re-posts something that won't get read because it was at the bottom of a dying thread, but I'm doing it in service to the blog.

This is the post where Ace kindly asks everyone who doesn't like silly threads or pop culture to SDASTFU:

 http://ace.mu.nu/archives/343017.php

Posted by: Frumious Bandersnatch at February 07, 2014 01:14 PM (A0sHn)

68 >>>At some point, I figure by June, this shit is going to explode. People are not signing up, those that have have not paid and the drs, insurance companies and hospitals are covering these costs to keep HHS off their ass. By June they will be close to fucking bankrupt and will have to pull the plug on the whole thing. Then Obama, our lord and savior, we arrive to save the world and all will be well. This has been the plan for a long time. It is not going to be pretty. The true believers are now figuring out they are fucked and we have no fucking leadership to offer an alternative. ... i'm not sure it will go down that way. On one hand there is the old saying about bankruptcy, that you go bankrupt slowly at first, and then suddenly. On the other hand, "decline" (as we are now experiencing) is a long process. Japan has been in steep decline for like, what, 25 years? Greece is obviously in serious decline, and yet there's no one moment (yet) where everything obviously stopped. The thing about decline is just that it all gets worse, every year. I don't know if there is always a period where you could say "It happened right then." or who knows, maybe it did-- maybe the financial crisis was that moment, and some of us didn't realize it, because things *seemed* to go on...

Posted by: ace at February 07, 2014 01:14 PM (/FnUH)

69 Well, mark me down as officially moved from the "Let it burn" camp to the "It WILL burn" crowd. There simply is no way the country can continue like this. No way at all. Throw enough people out of the workforce, with no means to provide for them and theirs, harass enough people with government action, pile enough regulations upon regulations on top of a state that's a house of cards atop unsustainable, un-repayable debt..... At some point, this cannot continue. And it won't.

Posted by: Hawkins1701 at February 07, 2014 01:14 PM (7aJyE)

70 Strategery for dealing with Democrats: 1) Say fuckin nothing in public. As a matter of fact shut the fuck up all together 2) Come up with 1 proposal and ONLY 1 and don't change it 3) Stick to your guns and let it burn of the Dems don't cave or truly negotiate. 4) At what the fuck, we need new leaders

Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 07, 2014 01:15 PM (op9Rd)

71 Hey, can we have an AoShq Men's Choir???

Posted by: Judge Pug at February 07, 2014 01:15 PM (NRYdU)

72 37 This shd get the juices flowing: Reformed addict Russell Brand says tragic Philip Seymour Hoffman was a 'victim' of the drug laws --- Someone give Brand a cock and a smile and tell him to shut the fuck up.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at February 07, 2014 01:15 PM (/Crba)

73 Ace had a post during the election season about how Romney had to win, because he (ace) just couldn't take another 4 years of TFG. I didn't really take it seriously, since I just couldn't believe that the American people would reelect him after seeing what he really was.

Think they would reelect him again, if it were permitted?

Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at February 07, 2014 01:15 PM (IN7k+)

74 epic sock fail off Posted by: Sean Bannion at February 07, 2014 05:04 PM (yz6yg) It's not a fail fail.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) (No Really!) at February 07, 2014 01:15 PM (GaqMa)

75 >>So is the mandate starting in '14. That doesn't seem to have had much impact. And? How exactly does the House prevent spending on an entitlement? If theres a solution for that I'm all ears.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 07, 2014 01:16 PM (g1DWB)

76 They fear the Democrats--but they cannot face the reality of how horrifying the Obama administration really is--so they engage in the above mechanism on a smaller scale.
***
The Republican leadership is a large part of the reason we are where we are. We didn't always have two parties with one ideology behind them, and the reason for the collapse of America is because liberals have come to power in both parties only within the last 10-15 years.

Posted by: 18-1 at February 07, 2014 01:16 PM (P3U0f)

77

The fact that people can't quietly "ignore" people without broadcasting to the world who they're "ignoring" is a demonstration of the true character of what they're really trying to accomplish.

It's just middle-school Mean Girls othering, primary school really, which has been for the most part otherwise tamped down by Ace and the cobs, rearing its ugly head again

Posted by: MAx at February 07, 2014 01:16 PM (b7yum)

78

Maybe the wunderdouche Rinse Pubes could figure this shit out rather than wait for a fight with MSMORONS to come around so he can "rev up the base", whom he despises for asking him to do something.

The entire leadership of the GOP sucks.

When he got his sas handed to him by the drunk fool Matthews and did nothing about it at all on live TV, it was obvious he is a pussy.

But hey, give me a beer.



Posted by: Rev Dr E Buzz Christies at February 07, 2014 01:16 PM (xggaJ)

79 Hey, can we have an AoShq Men's Choir??? Posted by: Judge Pug at February 07, 2014 05:15 PM (NRYdU) Too ghey

Posted by: Sean Bannion [/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 07, 2014 01:16 PM (yz6yg)

80

53...I just don't really watch many movies any more.

 

Posted by: ace at February 07, 2014 05:11 PM (/FnUH)

 

---------

 

I watched a new one on OnDemand the other night...'Odd Thomas'.

I liked it.

Which is rare these days, for me.

 

If you haven't seen it, Ace, I think you may find it entertaining.

Posted by: wheatie at February 07, 2014 01:17 PM (eCZwh)

81 Think they would reelect him again, if it were permitted?

Yup.

Even without the Ohio pollworkers voting six times.

Posted by: HR at February 07, 2014 01:17 PM (ZKzrr)

82 Reformed addict Russell Brand says tragic Philip Seymour Hoffman was a 'victim' of the drug laws

Posted by: Judge Pug at February 07, 2014 05:07 PM (NRYdU)

Naw, looks like idiopathic assholitude to me.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at February 07, 2014 01:18 PM (pFqpP)

83 Speak for yourself, Bannion.

Posted by: blaster at February 07, 2014 01:18 PM (4+AaH)

84 State Department Channels Nancy Pelosi: We Have To Confirm Obama’s Ambassador Nominee To Find Out If He’s Qualified To Do The Job… Does President Obama’s nominee for ambassador to Argentina, a campaign bundler who has never visited the country, even speak Spanish? The State Department doesn’t know. “I don’t have his personal biography in front of me, but what I will convey is that,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki replied when asked by ABC’s Jon Karl if Noah Mamet, whose nomination to the crucial diplomatic post was considered by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday, speaks Spanish. “Judging somebody’s effectiveness, or what role they’ll play, or how strong of an ambassador they’ll be — you can’t do [that] until they’ve spent some time working in the job in the country,” she added. In other words, you have to confirm the ambassador to Argentina to know what’s in the ambassador to Argentina. Is she fucking kidding? Is that bitch actually paid a salary to say stupid shit?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 07, 2014 01:18 PM (op9Rd)

85 Think they would reelect him again, if it were permitted?
___
It will take 12 years to undo 8 years of Bush...vote Obama

Posted by: Obama's Slogan in 2016 at February 07, 2014 01:18 PM (P3U0f)

86 I'm exhausted from being mad at the GOP for being such feckless mewling quims.

Either that or I've just come to the grim realization that they are no longer my party.  Yeah, that's probably it.

Posted by: DangerGirl at February 07, 2014 01:18 PM (GrtrJ)

87 >>>They fear the Democrats--but they cannot face the reality of how horrifying the Obama administration really is--so they engage in the above mechanism on a smaller scale. there's that, and there's the basic human predisposition for wanting a living villain. It is this desire that animates a lot of conspiracy thinking. It's hard for us to get angry at the abstract, at circumstances, at just the way it is. So whenever a situation is worse than usual, we tend to look for living, breathing human agents with free will and intentions behind it. I don't really think the GOP are "the villains." They can be faulted for not being heroes, but 90% of people are not and will never be heroes, and I imagine that percentage flirts with 100% as to politicians, who are by temperament people who seek others' approval and therefore are not very willing to make a stand that most people will not like.

Posted by: ace at February 07, 2014 01:19 PM (/FnUH)

88 Watch Fleming and you can see the actress from Sherlock get her ass strapped and then boinked.

Posted by: Judge Pug at February 07, 2014 01:19 PM (NRYdU)

89 Hey, can we have an AoShq Men's Choir??? Careful, EoJ might get excited.

Posted by: garrett at February 07, 2014 01:19 PM (iUMdy)

90 peak for yourself, Bannion. Posted by: blaster at February 07, 2014 05:18 PM (4+AaH) If I said it was too gheyÂ…implying I'm notÂ….and you told me to speak for myselfÂ…thenÂ….thenÂ…Â… Never mind.

Posted by: Sean Bannion [/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 07, 2014 01:19 PM (yz6yg)

91 Its too bad the GOP isn't smart enough to argue that these debt ceiling fights are about the abrogation of the House's budget process. This type of omnibus spending is designed to get around spending cuts - either pass the entire monster in toto or bring down the government. Smells like extortion to me.

Posted by: Fen at February 07, 2014 01:19 PM (a422o)

92 Don't deny yourself too many things at once.

Posted by: tasker at February 07, 2014 01:19 PM (RJMhd)

93 OK, let's say the GOP leadership in Congress was replaced, from top to bottom.

What specifically would you expect or want them to do differently?  What do you believe the consequences would be?

And no, FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT isn't an answer.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at February 07, 2014 01:19 PM (SY2Kh)

94 Strategery for dealing with Democrats:

1) Say f***** nothing in public. As a matter of fact shut the f*** up all together

And you would be the first one screaming that the GOP is full of wusses who don't fight back, just like you said about Mitt Romney.

2) Come up with 1 proposal and ONLY 1 and don't change it

3) Stick to your guns and let it burn of the Dems don't cave or truly negotiate.

Yeah, that's brilliant. The old ossification ploy, backed up by a threat to destroy the country.  Big electoral winner.   Do you want to vent or win?

Posted by: pep at February 07, 2014 01:19 PM (6TB1Z)

95 Our public debt can never be repaid. Never. It's not really a case of Let It Burn. It will burn, for some values of burn. It doesn't have to end up Mad Max or Serbia but the country as we have known it must end.

Posted by: toby928© at February 07, 2014 01:19 PM (QupBk)

96 Is she fucking kidding? Is that bitch actually paid a salary to say stupid shit? Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 07, 2014 05:18 PM (op9Rd) Yes. Exactly. $175,000/year.

Posted by: Sean Bannion [/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 07, 2014 01:20 PM (yz6yg)

97 >>>Ace had a post during the election season about how Romney had to win, because he (ace) just couldn't take another 4 years of TFG. I didn't really take it seriously, since I just couldn't believe that the American people would reelect him after seeing what he really was. Think they would reelect him again, if it were permitted? ... this is an interesting question. I might make a post of it at the end of the day, just because it will tend to make for good conversation fodder with little required of me. So no one can talk about the question now, or you will be BANNED. J/k.

Posted by: ace at February 07, 2014 01:20 PM (/FnUH)

98 "When in the Course of human events..."

Posted by: Alf767 at February 07, 2014 01:20 PM (71bXH)

99 "The trouble with fights on the debt limit is both sides are threatening each other with a very bad outcome (default)." What kind of default are you talking about here? There need be no default on debt payments as the govt enjoys sufficient revenue flow to cover those and many other unrelated functions of the government.

Posted by: Meremortal at February 07, 2014 01:21 PM (jTKU5)

100 Indeed, even among the people saying "Let it Burn," only half really mean it. The other half intend it as a bargaining position, a show of force at the negotiating table to back the other side down.
====================================

I guess that I'm in the other half. It's going to burn anyway, so screw it. Sooner is better.

Oh, and if King Obama decrees another delay and the fucking GOP simply says , "Duh, okay" I will actively campaign for the Dem in 2016. Not bothering to enforce a law-illegally, I might add- simply because it's politically inconvenient? Boo fucking hoo. I want this pain to be FELT so that people finally realize what they voted for.

Posted by: Physics Geek at February 07, 2014 01:21 PM (llWHs)

101 91 Its too bad the GOP isn't smart enough to argue that these debt ceiling fights are about the abrogation of the House's budget process. This type of omnibus spending is designed to get around spending cuts - either pass the entire monster in toto or bring down the government. Smells like extortion to me. Posted by: Fen at February 07, 2014 05:19 PM (a422o) ******** Damn it Fen. Really? You lost more than 50% of the country with the word-- "abrogation".

Posted by: tasker at February 07, 2014 01:21 PM (RJMhd)

102 Our media today are almost all Dems and thus the GOP will always be shafted by the media.  However, the media is disliked and distrusted by most people in the US.  Thus, the GOP must use every appearance on TV, radio, etc. to demonstrate the linkage between the Dem party talking points for the day and media questions to GOP. 

As far as the LIB meme, most feel that It will Burn regardless of what happens in Washington now.  Almost every Western social democracy is reaching a sovereign (government) debt crisis point.  At some point, someone will realize that this debt is never going to be repaid or instead is being inflated away then we get something like the 2008 crisis on a grand scale.  The plunging Argentina currency gives us some pointers on what to expect--collapsing world trade, stagnant wages, spiraling costs for commodities, Potemkin laws regarding hoarding and profiteering, capital outflow controls, etc.  Any economic historian worth their salt can fill in the blanks.   In rare cases revolutions, coups, governmental collapse, however most cases of default (formal or informal) result in stagnation/depression for a generation to purge the bad debt out of the system. 

Key issue is whether the burn occurs simultaneously in most countries like the Great Depression or can be compartmentalized and staggered over the West. 


Posted by: wg at February 07, 2014 01:21 PM (2EzL+)

103 What I am saying, Bannion, is that if I were singing in an AOSHQ choir, that shit would be fierce.

Posted by: blaster at February 07, 2014 01:22 PM (4+AaH)

104 What Obama decree would surprise me at this point?

One admitting that he had grossly violated his powers under the Constitution, and was resigning immediately. Or failing that, anything showing any admission of responsibility for anything that has happened during his administration.

Posted by: Stu-22 at February 07, 2014 01:22 PM (AiYlm)

105 The thing about decline is just that it all gets worse, every year. I don't know if there is always a period where you could say "It happened right then."

or who knows, maybe it did-- maybe the financial crisis was that moment, and some of us didn't realize it, because things *seemed* to go on...

Posted by: ace at February 07, 2014 05:14 PM (/FnUH)

 

 

-------------------------------------------

 

 

It's like being kicked to death by a rabbit.  At first, there's not much affect.  But those last few years will be the ultimate in misery.

Posted by: Soona at February 07, 2014 01:22 PM (EecJi)

106 But the sad fact of the matter is that it will burn, whether we want it to or not. That which can't go on forever, won't.

Posted by: Herr Morgenholz at February 07, 2014 01:22 PM (T3WEb)

107 If Hillary wins, I'm probably going to quit my job and go on food stamps. Might as well, the country is gone at that point.

Posted by: TC at February 07, 2014 01:22 PM (ygAxO)

108 Obama is the law.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 07, 2014 01:22 PM (thBHI)

109 Well, more than half of that 80 or more percent voted for this, and I'm not saying LIB, I'm saying It's. Already. Burning. And even if the R's get both houses and the prez by 2016, considering the state of the republican party, no one knows how to use the fire extinguisher, or even what a fire extinguisher is. We. Are. Screwed. Third. Party. Now.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at February 07, 2014 01:23 PM (+jyzN)

110 "OK, let's say the GOP leadership in Congress was replaced, from top to bottom. What specifically would you expect or want them to do differently? What do you believe the consequences would be? And no, FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT isn't an answer." An across the board cut of 4.5% in all federal spending would save us from default. Simple. And better than the eventual outcome we will experience.

Posted by: Meremortal at February 07, 2014 01:23 PM (jTKU5)

111 What I am saying, Bannion, is that if I were singing in an AOSHQ choir, that shit would be fierce. Posted by: blaster at February 07, 2014 05:22 PM (4+AaH) My bad. AndÂ…I concur. Now, where's my stash of C-4?

Posted by: Sean Bannion [/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 07, 2014 01:23 PM (yz6yg)

112 Posted by: blaster at February 07, 2014 05:22 PM (4+AaH)

Can we make the trolls castrati?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 07, 2014 01:23 PM (QFxY5)

113 And what he wants, what he really, really wants, is to outlaw "racism" and pants. But mostly pants.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 07, 2014 01:23 PM (thBHI)

114 You should have seen the Russian Police Men's Choir getting down. Not ghey. And what about all those welsh miners? And they sing with black lung. Is that ghey??? I'm already composing my opus: Ewok Rhapsody.

Posted by: Judge Pug at February 07, 2014 01:23 PM (NRYdU)

115

"That didn't work"

Only because they didn't have the spine to leave it shut down and let the private sector pick up the slack.

Posted by: Fen at February 07, 2014 01:23 PM (a422o)

116 And? How exactly does the House prevent spending on an entitlement? If theres a solution for that I'm all ears.

I didn't say they could.  I said the law means nothing anymore, at least to the executive / God-King.  Although now that you mention it, I'd like to see Trey Gowdy go all Preston Brooks on some folks. 

Posted by: pep at February 07, 2014 01:23 PM (6TB1Z)

117

Something I would like to see...

 

We don't see conservatives on TV talking about what the Debt is doing to the average person.

 

Wonder why grocery prices are higher?

...The Debt.

 

Wonder why your dollar doesn't go as far as it used to?

...The Debt.

 

"The more money the politicians borrow...the more you, the average citizen, is having to pay for everyday necessities."

 

These things need to be said, over and over, until it sinks in.

 

 

Posted by: wheatie at February 07, 2014 01:23 PM (eCZwh)

118 there's that, and there's the basic human predisposition for wanting a living villain. ********** Yep--it's easier. Sometimes I'm just glad they scapegoated only one person--instead of a whole group.

Posted by: tasker at February 07, 2014 01:24 PM (RJMhd)

119 That, and as much debt as possible. What could possibly go wrong?

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 07, 2014 01:24 PM (thBHI)

120 The thing about decline is just that it all gets worse, every year. I don't know if there is always a period where you could say "It happened right then." or who knows, maybe it did-- maybe the financial crisis was that moment, and some of us didn't realize it, because things *seemed* to go on... Posted by: ace at February 07, 2014 05:14 PM (/FnUH) We can wish for that out come and maybe we will have some time to climb out of the hole. I am afraid we won't. This whole Ponzi scheme is front loaded. AKA everything looks free for a while, then the money we are stealing from Medicare and the double counting are going to come home. The insurance companies are budgeting a 5-10% overage on their costs. When it starts to look more like 25% they are going to bail. CBO's message is just the first sign of things that are going to get much worse. Remember signing up closes in March? Then what then they miss their numbers by 50%?

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2014 01:24 PM (0FSuD)

121 Can we make the trolls castrati? Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 07, 2014 05:23 PM (QFxY5) You mean they're not already?

Posted by: Sean Bannion [/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 07, 2014 01:24 PM (yz6yg)

122 Posted by: Hollowpoint at February 07, 2014 05:08 PM (SY2Kh) I wanted Boehner to know that we care & they should fight! How in this climate is the question of the day, but they have to put up a fight. I read in the WSJ one day this week that some dems are running away from TFG. Maybe a few will join? Its worth a try, at this point anything is. This is a representative republic. Our reps do mot represent us.

Posted by: Carol at February 07, 2014 01:24 PM (z4WKX)

123 How about "let it smolder" - until we are all overcome by noxious fumes?

Posted by: rockhead at February 07, 2014 01:24 PM (jtTKf)

124 What specifically would you expect or want them to do differently? What do you believe the consequences would be?
***
Stake out a position where the public agrees with Republicans. Force the Democrats to deal with it. Have a simple, effective script for dealing with the State Media. Win elections.

It would up until 2004 or so.

Posted by: 18-1 at February 07, 2014 01:24 PM (P3U0f)

125 Well, he's got a pen and a phone. I don't see how we could hope to stop him.

Posted by: garrett at February 07, 2014 01:24 PM (iUMdy)

126 Inflation: The Invisible Tax

Posted by: toby928© at February 07, 2014 01:24 PM (QupBk)

127 Yeah, that's brilliant. The old ossification ploy, backed up by a threat to destroy the country. Big electoral winner. Do you want to vent or win? Posted by: pep at February 07, 2014 05:19 PM (6TB1Z) I thought the shutdown was great. The only thing I would have done is not paid any back wages. Why is it always our fault when Obama's mantra is "my way or the highway"? The problem was we kept changing our demands and looked like fools. If we had spoken with one voice and one reasonable proposal we could have come out on top. It was Obama shutting everything down, not the Republicans. Grow a pair

Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 07, 2014 01:25 PM (op9Rd)

128 Keynesian economics is poised to start working.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 07, 2014 01:25 PM (thBHI)

129 Wonder why your dollar doesn't go as far as it used to?
...The Debt.
"The more money the politicians borrow...the more you, the average citizen, is having to pay for everyday necessities."
These things need to be said, over and over, until it sinks in.

Posted by: wheatie



Sorry, missed all that. Was checking my FB on my iPhone.  Now, what again?

Posted by: Typical LIV at February 07, 2014 01:26 PM (OZmbA)

130 It's like being kicked to death by a rabbit. At first, there's not much affect. But those last few years will be the ultimate in misery. Posted by: Soona at February 07, 2014 05:22 PM (EecJi) Or boiling a frog, putting him in cold water and watching him slowly cook.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2014 01:26 PM (0FSuD)

131 >>>Wonder why your dollar doesn't go as far as it used to? ...The Debt. I was shocked by how much the missus and I have earned in this year. Sure as hell doesn't feel like it

Posted by: Herr Morgenholz at February 07, 2014 01:26 PM (T3WEb)

132 Lots and lots of debt + Quantitative KY = 'Priming the Pump'

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 07, 2014 01:26 PM (thBHI)

133 Tragedy of the commons--no one is willing to have their taxes raised nor spending that affects them cut.  In the US, the likelihood is that we will simply inflate the currency until we get a spectacular inflationary spiral when people collectively discover that fiat money is in fact is worthless.

Posted by: wg at February 07, 2014 01:27 PM (2EzL+)

134 "The more money the politicians borrow...the more you, the average citizen, is having to pay for everyday necessities."
***
I would add

"The more money the politicians borrow to pay off their friends and allies the more you, the average citizen, is having to pay for everyday necessities."

Stop letting the LIVs believe the left is well intentioned.

Posted by: 18-1 at February 07, 2014 01:27 PM (P3U0f)

135 I was shocked by how much the missus and I have earned in this year. Sure as hell doesn't feel like it Posted by: Herr Morgenholz at February 07, 2014 05:26 PM (T3WEb) Ditto. Sickened by it actually.

Posted by: Sean Bannion [/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 07, 2014 01:27 PM (yz6yg)

136 The only time in USA history the public debt was paid off was when?
Anyone?

Posted by: navybrat at February 07, 2014 01:27 PM (AW7Gr)

137 Inflation? That's just silly talk.

Posted by: garrett at February 07, 2014 01:27 PM (iUMdy)

138 Sorry, missed all that. Was checking my FB on my iPhone. Now, what again?
***
The LIVs know they are paying more for their groceries. When I talk wiht them apolitically they just don't know why...

Posted by: 18-1 at February 07, 2014 01:27 PM (P3U0f)

139 Oh, and just to make your day. China is also fucked. Who will buy our bonds when they start to explode?

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2014 01:28 PM (0FSuD)

140 The only time in USA history the public debt was paid off was when? Anyone? January, 1835

Posted by: Sean Bannion [/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 07, 2014 01:28 PM (yz6yg)

141 "133 Tragedy of the commons--no one is willing to have their taxes raised nor spending that affects them cut. In the US, the likelihood is that we will simply inflate the currency until we get a spectacular inflationary spiral when people collectively discover that fiat money is in fact is worthless. Posted by: wg at February 07, 2014 05:27 PM (2EzL+)" 'Let it burn.' -- The Elites

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 07, 2014 01:28 PM (thBHI)

142 93 And no, FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT isn't an answer.Posted by: Hollowpoint at February 07, 2014 05:19 PM (SY2Kh)
Yes it is.

Posted by: Knute Rockne at February 07, 2014 01:28 PM (juDHN)

143 The only thing Obama can do that would surprise me is leave the White House peacefully when his term is up. That would surprise me.

Posted by: Joseph O'Henry II at February 07, 2014 01:28 PM (iqrMC)

144 Posted by: ace at February 07, 2014 05:07 PM (/FnUH)

One thing they could do is fight back at the MFM.  Newt did a good job of that during the debates.

Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 07, 2014 01:28 PM (T2V/1)

145 I was shocked by how much the missus and I have earned in this year. Sure as hell doesn't feel like it Ain't it the truth. I make an order of magnitude more now but, I swear I had more disposable income when I was 25.

Posted by: toby928© at February 07, 2014 01:28 PM (QupBk)

146 let the MF burn... and yes, i mean it.

it's not like i have anything left to lose, and, unlike my neighbors, i'm ready for the fall.

Posted by: redc1c4 at February 07, 2014 01:29 PM (q+fqH)

147 An across the board cut of 4.5% in all federal spending would save us from default.

Simple. And better than the eventual outcome we will experience.

Getting Obama and Reid to sign on would be simple?  Keep in mind that "all federal spending" includes Medicare and Social Security.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at February 07, 2014 01:29 PM (SY2Kh)

148 "January, 1835"
Slides you a cigar thru the USB slot!

And the National Bank had to be destroyed to make it happen.

Posted by: navybrat at February 07, 2014 01:29 PM (AW7Gr)

149 If we had spoken with one voice and one reasonable proposal we could have come out on top. It was Obama shutting everything down, not the Republicans. Grow a pair

Oh, so that's the problem. Everyone was confused about why we wanted to shut things down, and they thought WE were the ones closing parks and monuments.  Grow a brain.

Posted by: pep at February 07, 2014 01:29 PM (6TB1Z)

150 136 The only time in USA history the public debt was paid off was when? Anyone? After Revolutionary war.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2014 01:29 PM (0FSuD)

151 The LIVs know they are paying more for their groceries. When I talk wiht them apolitically they just don't know why...
Posted by: 18-1
<<


'Cause Teddy Cruz shut down the government, silly. I knew that.

Posted by: Typical LIV at February 07, 2014 01:30 PM (OZmbA)

152 China isn't buying our bonds any more. The Fed is buying them with money that they don't even need to print, just "create".

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at February 07, 2014 01:30 PM (+jyzN)

153 Damn it Fen.  Really? You lost more than 50% of the country with the word-- "abrogation".

True. We should add that to our rules for reaching the LIVs - never use a word you have to google to spell.

Posted by: Fen at February 07, 2014 01:30 PM (a422o)

154 I want to believe that an Article V convention would turn this around, but down deep I think  Dear Leader and congress would just ignore it.  It's why I say that freedom is going to have to come from the individual states.  They really are the last hope  before the camps get built and/or the shooting starts.

Posted by: Soona at February 07, 2014 01:30 PM (EecJi)

155 Slides you a cigar thru the USB slot! And the National Bank had to be destroyed to make it happen. Posted by: navybrat at February 07, 2014 05:29 PM (AW7Gr) ::: pats self on back ::: I was a History major in college. Concentration in U.S. History.

Posted by: Sean Bannion [/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 07, 2014 01:30 PM (yz6yg)

156 Is Obama really breaking the law when there is no higher authority to stop him? At some point, we have to admit that Obama is the law until something bigger comes along to change that.

Posted by: adolfo_velasquez at February 07, 2014 01:30 PM (Lp6I1)

157 I wanted Boehner to know that we care & they should fight! How in this climate is the question of the day, but they have to put up a fight.

That means nothing.  It's the equivalent of "just do something!".

Posted by: Hollowpoint at February 07, 2014 01:31 PM (SY2Kh)

158 Hey, man, can't we all just get along?

Posted by: Zombie Rodney King at February 07, 2014 01:31 PM (0FSuD)

159 "Inflation? That's just silly talk." Sarcasm taken. The same can be said about deflation. This govt has created the perfect storm. Asset and income deflation, with consumables inflating. The entropic process is accelerating.

Posted by: Meremortal at February 07, 2014 01:31 PM (jTKU5)

160 Andrew Jackson was the only US President to run and win on a platform of eradicating the national debt. And he paid it off in full.

Ever since then, debt grows.

Posted by: navybrat at February 07, 2014 01:31 PM (AW7Gr)

161 "Let it Burn" takes too damn long.

Posted by: Adam Smith's Invisible Pimp Hand at February 07, 2014 01:31 PM (WdbF7)

162 Slides you a cigar thru the USB slot! You're doing it wrong.

Posted by: Bill Clinton at February 07, 2014 01:32 PM (iUMdy)

163 >>Slides you a cigar thru the USB slot!<<


Isn't that how Bill Clinton got into trouble?

Posted by: Sphynx at February 07, 2014 01:32 PM (OZmbA)

164 >>I didn't say they could. I said the law means nothing anymore, at least to the executive / God-King. Although now that you mention it, I'd like to see Trey Gowdy go all Preston Brooks on some folks. But thats the problem. Congress writes laws, the executive enforces them. Even if Congress wrote a law which tied Obama's hands on spending, which obviously isn't going to happen with Reid running the Senate, Obama could just ignore it as he does every damn day. Fighting is a natural inclination but with the tools at our disposal right now we will not only not win those fights we will end up looking bad because the media will make it so. We've got to win the Senate this fall. That won't be a cure all but it will end Obama's agenda and effectively stall his last two years save for his unlawful executive orders. As much as that sucks that is the best we can get right now.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 07, 2014 01:32 PM (g1DWB)

165 Re 133,  check out the massive Swiss Central Bank market manipulations to try to keep the franc stable because a lot of people want a stable store of value.  Economic elites are already hedging their bets for the burn.  Also look at the number of U.S. citizens renouncing their citizenship. 

Posted by: wg at February 07, 2014 01:32 PM (2EzL+)

166 Doh!

Posted by: Sphynx at February 07, 2014 01:32 PM (OZmbA)

167 "151 The LIVs know they are paying more for their groceries. When I talk wiht them apolitically they just don't know why... Posted by: 18-1 << 'Cause Teddy Cruz shut down the government, silly. I knew that. Posted by: Typical LIV at February 07, 2014 05:30 PM (OZmbA)" Also, because Bush stole all of Iraq's oil.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 07, 2014 01:32 PM (thBHI)

168 "The LIVs know they are paying more for their groceries. When I talk wiht them apolitically they just don't know why..."

I tell them "it Bush's fault!"  I know thats mean, but I just can't help myself.

The Mrs and I are kicking ourselves for being too kind to exploit the LIVs. We would have been filthy rich by now.

Posted by: Fen at February 07, 2014 01:32 PM (a422o)

169 Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon in the sense that it is and can be produced only by a more rapid increase in the quantity of money than in output.

Posted by: Stuff Milton Friedman Said at February 07, 2014 01:32 PM (QupBk)

170 136 The only time in USA history the public debt was paid off was when?
Anyone?

Posted by: navybrat at February 07, 2014 05:27 PM (AW7Gr)


Silent Cal

Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 07, 2014 01:32 PM (T2V/1)

171 >>>. I make an order of magnitude more now but, I swear I had more disposable income when I was 25. Bingo. Of course I didn't have a mortgage, or 4 kids them, but a dollar just doesn't go fucking anywhere anymore.

Posted by: Herr Morgenholz at February 07, 2014 01:33 PM (T3WEb)

172 . Everyone was confused about why we wanted to shut things down, and they thought WE were the ones closing parks and monuments. Grow a brain. Posted by: pep at February 07, 2014 05:29 PM (6TB1Z) Because people are to stupid to recognize basic facts and truths I am suppose to roll over and go along with stupidity? No I have a brain. Republicans have to unite behind one voice and make an argument. I will not go along with this suicidal economic behavior and remain silent.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 07, 2014 01:33 PM (op9Rd)

173 Andrew Jackson detested paper money, called it "government scrip" and would be insulted to know that his image appears on our 20s.

Posted by: navybrat at February 07, 2014 01:33 PM (AW7Gr)

174 Speaking of Zombies. Did anyone else see where MLK's family sold his papers for $32 Million! I didn't even know the guy could write. http://tinyurl.com/o8txmm3

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2014 01:33 PM (0FSuD)

175 Stake out a position where the public agrees with Republicans. Force the Democrats to deal with it. Have a simple, effective script for dealing with the State Media. Win elections.

Stake out a position that the general public agrees with, and the base will scream "RINO SELLOUT"

If there's a simple, effective script for dealing with the media, please do share.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at February 07, 2014 01:33 PM (SY2Kh)

176 you know what was super-busy when I was down in Aruba? the nice fortress-like banks they have and the real estate offices also I have a little OT rant for you guys about the ice storm

Posted by: Black Orchid at February 07, 2014 01:33 PM (pS66t)

177 You people a not cheering me up.

Posted by: Frumious Bandersnatch at February 07, 2014 01:33 PM (A0sHn)

178 One thing they could do is fight back at the MFM. Newt did a good job of that during the debates.
Posted by: Vic

Agreed, but that is a long term project.  Plus, Newt was in exactly the right place to do it, and even then, it pretty much disqualified him in some eyes, because he was an angry bomb-thrower.  But the real problem is that he's just much quicker on his feet than most people, Repub or Dem.  He can do it, but Santorum would step on his willie. 

Posted by: pep at February 07, 2014 01:33 PM (6TB1Z)

179 Getting Obama and Reid to sign on would be simple? Keep in mind that "all federal spending" includes Medicare and Social Security. Posted by: Hollowpoint You asked a good question and I answered it. Simple does not equal easy. The eventual train wreck will be worse than the cuts needed to avoid it.

Posted by: Meremortal at February 07, 2014 01:33 PM (jTKU5)

180 Silent Cal Posted by: Vic at February 07, 2014 05:32 PM (T2V/1) Nope. Although he DID radically shrink the debt, he never did pay it off entirely.

Posted by: Sean Bannion [/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 07, 2014 01:34 PM (yz6yg)

181

134 "The more money the politicians borrow...the more you, the average citizen, is having to pay for everyday necessities."
 

 

***
 

 

I would add

 

 

"The more money the politicians borrow to pay off their friends and allies the more you, the average citizen, is having to pay for everyday necessities."

 

 

Stop letting the LIVs believe the left is well intentioned.

 

Posted by: 18-1 at February 07, 2014 05:27 PM (P3U0f)

 

--------

 

Exactly!

 

The conservative pundits are always coming out with "Every citizen now owes $53,000 per person".

Well that doesn't resonate.

 

Most people don't even know that they took out Gas and Food from the Inflation Equation.

They hear..."There is no Inflation"...and they don't know that's because the inflation numbers are now bogus.

 

I've started putting up a few stick-em notes at the grocery store that say:

"These prices are higher because of The Debt."

 

But I'm just one little person. In a red state.

So I don't know how much good I'm doing.

 

Posted by: wheatie at February 07, 2014 01:34 PM (eCZwh)

182 BOTH sides are threatening default? This used to be a routine thing, where people just voted against it for partisan points. The reason the GOP isn't fighting hard on it is cause they aren't morons, unlike ultra ficons who keep warning of a fiscal collapse that never occurs.

Posted by: MB at February 07, 2014 01:34 PM (STpvz)

183 Andrew Jackson detested paper money ...and Lemurs. He hated fucking Lemurs.

Posted by: garrett at February 07, 2014 01:34 PM (iUMdy)

184 >>>The only time in USA history the public debt was paid off was when?
Anyone?

If only we had stuck with Cal; he had us on the right path. From Wikipedia:

Coolidge's taxation policy was that of his Secretary of the Treasury, Andrew Mellon: taxes should be lower and fewer people should have to pay them. Congress agreed, and the taxes were reduced in Coolidge's term. In addition to these tax cuts, Coolidge proposed reductions in federal expenditures and retiring some of the federal debt. Coolidge's ideas were shared by the Republicans in Congress, and in 1924 Congress passed the Revenue Act of 1924, which reduced income tax rates and eliminated all income taxation for some two million people. They reduced taxes again by passing the Revenue Acts of 1926 and 1928, all the while continuing to keep spending down so as to reduce the overall federal debt. By 1927, only the richest 2% of taxpayers paid any federal income tax. Although federal spending remained flat during Coolidge's administration, allowing one-fourth of the federal debt to be retired, state and local governments saw considerable growth, surpassing the federal budget in 1927.

Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at February 07, 2014 01:35 PM (IN7k+)

185
not the hill and all that.  never is. wrong environment.

the thing is (imho) that the only way to stop blackmail is to say no more, don't care about the consequences.  but the gop totally cares about their high paying phony baloney jobs so they will pay the 'not now ransom'.  there are no or few statesman, no or few with principles.  and so it goes, no budget, just keep spending and keep raising the debt limit.

Posted by: Guy Mowhawk at February 07, 2014 01:35 PM (n0DEs)

186 Fighting is a natural inclination but with the tools at our disposal right now we will not only not win those fights we will end up looking bad because the media will make it so.

We've got to win the Senate this fall. That won't be a cure all but it will end Obama's agenda and effectively stall his last two years save for his unlawful executive orders. As much as that sucks that is the best we can get right now.

Sadly, I largely agree.

Posted by: pep at February 07, 2014 01:35 PM (6TB1Z)

187 "162 Slides you a cigar thru the USB slot! You're doing it wrong. Posted by: Bill Clinton at February 07, 2014 05:32 PM (iUMdy)" Heh.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 07, 2014 01:35 PM (thBHI)

188 If there's a simple, effective script for dealing with the media, please do share. Posted by: Hollowpoint at February 07, 2014 05:33 PM (SY2Kh) If it were simple, it would have been done already. To paraphrase a famous democrat: we do this not because it is easy, but because it is hard". That is what Leadership is all about. Lead, Follow, or get out of the way

Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 07, 2014 01:35 PM (op9Rd)

189 174 Speaking of Zombies. Did anyone else see where MLK's family sold his papers for $32 Million! I didn't even know the guy could write. http://tinyurl.com/o8txmm3 Boy, they are a greedy bunch.

Posted by: Judge Pug at February 07, 2014 01:36 PM (NRYdU)

190 How is the R party getting the Senate going to stop the agenda ? I'm not convinced that they disagree with the agenda, based on their spineless behavior.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at February 07, 2014 01:36 PM (+jyzN)

191 The only half answer I ever heard that sort of made sense was to try to by pass national media and go directly to local media. Local media runs a bit less idealistic or Liberal. They also might have to actually get audiences instead of being run like MSNBC as a tax right -off for GE.

Posted by: tasker at February 07, 2014 01:36 PM (RJMhd)

192 The pathetic thing is watching ace indulge in the right version of BDS, as if a middling economic comeback from a crash=apocalyptic calamity, and then convince himself he's "reasonable" cause he's, like, for personal liberty duuude.

Posted by: MB at February 07, 2014 01:37 PM (STpvz)

193 You people talking about inflation are crazy. Inflation is just fine, excluding the volatile food and energy sectors. So don't drive to the grocery store, motherfuckers.

Posted by: Herr Morgenholz at February 07, 2014 01:37 PM (T3WEb)

194 183 Andrew Jackson detested paper money He also hated injuins and liked to dual. He killed 13 people in duals.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2014 01:37 PM (0FSuD)

195 If there's a simple, effective script for dealing with the media, please do share. I kind of liked the approach the Egyptian Army took with Al Jizz.

Posted by: garrett at February 07, 2014 01:38 PM (iUMdy)

196

MLK's family sold his papers for $32 Million!

I didn't even know the guy could write.

 

 

'ta fuck?  You think he just read the "I have a dream" speech off a teleprompter?  Got someone else to write a letter from a Birmingham jail?

 

Sometimes this "everyone who doesn't agree with me all the time is stoopit" stuff is just over the top.  For fuck's sake, he was Martin Luther King, Jr.

 


 

Posted by: Frumious Bandersnatch at February 07, 2014 01:38 PM (A0sHn)

197 If it were simple, it would have been done already. To paraphrase a famous democrat: we do this not because it is easy, but because it is hard". That is what Leadership is all about. Lead, Follow, or get out of the way

Again, how?  JFK didn't say we'll go to the moon in a canoe, not because it is easy, but because it is hard.  Reality must occasionally intrude.  We've asked several times now for specifics, and all we get is testicular bluster. 

Posted by: pep at February 07, 2014 01:38 PM (6TB1Z)

198 He also hated injuins and liked to dual. He was a cross-desser? Back then? That would lead to a lot of duels.

Posted by: garrett at February 07, 2014 01:39 PM (iUMdy)

199 unlike ultra ficons who keep warning of a fiscal collapse that never occurs. Look around. We're in the collapse. I have more money, but it buys less. I have more rights but less freedom.

Posted by: toby928© FiCon Prophet of Doom at February 07, 2014 01:39 PM (QupBk)

200 OT - How does illegal immigration relate to the SE PA Ice Storm of 2014? or am I just crazy? We live in an area with lots o' trees. I'm into gardening, so I've been systematically removing the ones that are sick, dying, or overhang my house. Also, I do my own lawn care and gardening so I don't enjoy dealing with tree leavings very much, another reason I'm so into tree care and removal (and limbing up). No one else I know does this. THey have Luis or Miguel to do ALL their gardening/landscaping/leafblowing. When I was young, the new developments were made on cleared PA ground - they took the trees OUT! the old locusts and "lightning-happy" oaks especially. Now when they build new McMansions out here, they leave those old guys in. Because oh they're so stately and pretty. AND the new owners don't care so much about the leaves! they never even see them thanks to the landscapers. All is well until - DUN DUN DUN! an ice storm! Suddenly no one can believe I had no damage (well other than my poor roses which don't look good at the moment), while enormous unkempt trees and bits of trees were falling all over the damn place, into garages, onto wires, into kitchens - you get the picture. I guarantee you if people had to mow their own lawns and sweep up their own leaves, they would be doing a hell of a lot more tree and branch removal!

Posted by: Black Orchid at February 07, 2014 01:39 PM (pS66t)

201 My friends...

Posted by: John McCain at February 07, 2014 01:39 PM (oFCZn)

202 165 Re 133, check out the massive Swiss Central Bank market manipulations to try to keep the franc stable because a lot of people want a stable store of value. Economic elites are already hedging their bets for the burn. Also look at the number of U.S. citizens renouncing their citizenship. Posted by: wg at February 07, 2014 05:32 PM (2EzL+) I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

Posted by: Hawkins1701 at February 07, 2014 01:39 PM (7aJyE)

203 MLK's family sold his papers for $32 Million! I didn't even know the guy could write. He couldn't. His PhD dissertation was plagerized.

Posted by: Sean Bannion [/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 07, 2014 01:39 PM (yz6yg)

204 For fuck's sake, he was Martin Luther King, Jr. Well, I knew he liked to fuck, he he. He was a Baptist preacher, that comes with the territory.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2014 01:40 PM (0FSuD)

205 When I say Let It Burn, I'm entirely serious. I haven't much to lose and no heirs to concern me. I'm well into middle-age with not a shred of savings and short of winning the lottery the future looks severely downhill.

I want a good show at least, as opposed to a long descent.

Posted by: Epobirs at February 07, 2014 01:40 PM (bPxS6)

206 So-- if some of you are overdoing the Adkins diet. They are now saying you need starch and/or potatoes for serotonin. Something like that.

Posted by: tasker at February 07, 2014 01:40 PM (RJMhd)

207 lly move anything at the table. Then burn the table.

Posted by: Havedash at February 07, 2014 01:40 PM (G1XMn)

208 Reading this thread reminds me I need to pick up a giant bottle of rum on the way home tonight.

Posted by: Buzzsaw at February 07, 2014 01:41 PM (tf9Ne)

209 >>>Stake out a position where the public agrees with Republicans. Force the Democrats to deal with it. People sometimes say I'm anti-Tea Party even though I actually support them in the main. When I'm critical of the Tea Party, it's because the Tea Party often acts as if the first part of your suggestion -- "Stake out a position where the public agrees with Republicans" -- is not important, and even maybe a little cowardly. I do not want to get into my theory of how any lobbying/advocacy group -- any and all groups, all of them -- tend to be dominated by their purest (most "extreme," as far as the Overton Window) voices. But I do think it's true. Of all organizations. Every single one. But political parties aren't lobbying/advocacy groups. They cannot permit themselves to fall into this dynamic of advocating the purest possible position. At any rate, this is along the lines of my advice that the Tea Party must begin to position itself, and think of itself as, a governing political party, rather than lobbying/advocacy organization associated with the GOP. And that will mean, often, taking a position which the purest-position members are critical of, and even charge as being a sell-out or cowardly.

Posted by: ace at February 07, 2014 01:41 PM (/FnUH)

210 They are now saying you need starch and/or potatoes for serotonin. Er, that would be the beer with your steak.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2014 01:41 PM (0FSuD)

211 Reading this thread reminds me I need to pick up a giant bottle of rum on the way home tonight. Posted by: Buzzsaw at February 07, 2014 05:41 PM (tf9Ne) Cheers. I picked up my giant bottle of Irish Whiskey on the way home tonight myself.

Posted by: Sean Bannion [/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 07, 2014 01:41 PM (yz6yg)

212 Actually, I take it back.  I'm exhausted from everything.  Most of it comes from frustration.  From feeling like I'm screaming into a headwind.  From feeling like I'm completely ignored.  From being called racist, Nazi, extremist, homophobe and bigot.  From attempting to have reasonable conversations with people and having completely irrational responses that they act like are rational and will not be swayed from.  From feeling like politics/race have crept into every aspect of my life and I can't escape...from movies, TV, books, magazines, work...

I'm just exhausted and a lot of times it comes out that I'm just angry with Republicans but in reality I'm angry with everyone.

Posted by: DangerGirl at February 07, 2014 01:42 PM (GrtrJ)

213 208 Reading this thread reminds me I need to pick up a giant bottle of rum on the way home tonight. Posted by: Buzzsaw at February 07, 2014 05:41 PM (tf9Ne) Bonus points if it actually has the word "giant" on the label.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 07, 2014 01:42 PM (oFCZn)

214 >>that would be the beer with your steak<<


Mmmmmm, beeeer.  Mmmmm, steak.

Posted by: Sphynx at February 07, 2014 01:43 PM (OZmbA)

215 I picked up my giant bottle of Irish Whiskey on the way home tonight myself.

I've had a stomach bug for the last 5 days.  Good for the diet, but even the thought of a drink made me want to hurl. 

I got better.

Posted by: pep at February 07, 2014 01:43 PM (6TB1Z)

216 "178 One thing they could do is fight back at the MFM. Newt did a good job of that during the debates. Posted by: Vic Agreed, but that is a long term project. Plus, Newt was in exactly the right place to do it, and even then, it pretty much disqualified him in some eyes, because he was an angry bomb-thrower. But the real problem is that he's just much quicker on his feet than most people, Repub or Dem. He can do it, but Santorum would step on his willie. Posted by: pep at February 07, 2014 05:33 PM (6TB1Z)" Santorum? He hasn't actually said that many stupid things. But the hate must go on.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 07, 2014 01:43 PM (thBHI)

217 HollowPoint, Arriving at the equivalence of 4.5% cuts doesn't require cutting every budget item by that amount. Some items can be cut more and some less or not all all. And there are plenty of budgets items that could be abolished completely or cut a lot more than 4.5% without hurting the country nearly as badly as what is coming. Thanks for asking this most important question.

Posted by: Meremortal at February 07, 2014 01:43 PM (jTKU5)

218 I'm just exhausted and a lot of times it comes out that I'm just angry with Republicans but in reality I'm angry with everyone. Posted by: DangerGirl at February 07, 2014 05:42 PM (GrtrJ) ::: looks at shot glass :::: ::: shoves it through USB port to DG :::

Posted by: Sean Bannion [/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 07, 2014 01:43 PM (yz6yg)

219 Na--you never want to go full Libtard. I would think the difference between us and them is we would never get so irrational with our hatred for one man and wish for-- your country--our country to burn. It's the very antithetical of-- patriotism.

Posted by: tasker at February 07, 2014 01:43 PM (RJMhd)

220 Bonus points if it actually has the word "giant" on the label.

Or Keg'o'

Posted by: pep at February 07, 2014 01:44 PM (6TB1Z)

221 At any rate, this is along the lines of my advice that the Tea Party must begin to position itself, and think of itself as, a governing political party, rather than lobbying/advocacy organization associated with the GOP. God Bless you ace. That is what we are seeing in NC, where people that have NEVER been in politics think saying something makes it happen. They are trying to fuck up a wet dream, aka beating Hagan.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 07, 2014 01:44 PM (0FSuD)

222 Sorry about that, I just felt the need to say that out loud.  I haven't done that and I think I needed to.

Posted by: DangerGirl at February 07, 2014 01:44 PM (GrtrJ)

223 I want to believe that an Article V convention would turn this around, but down deep I think Dear Leader and congress would just ignore it. It's why I say that freedom is going to have to come from the individual states. They really are the last hope before the camps get built and/or the shooting starts.

Posted by: Soona at February 07, 2014 05:30 PM (EecJi)

They wouldn't ignore it.

The democrats would co-opt it.

They would take it over with surrogates. This is exactly the kind of thing the left is good at, taking over public meetings. Just like stuffing ballot boxes, they live for that kind of thing. and if it does work there is always the beer garden putsch.

Posted by: Joseph O'Henry II at February 07, 2014 01:44 PM (iqrMC)

224 I got better. Posted by: pep at February 07, 2014 05:43 PM (6TB1Z) Stay that way. Your presence is required at NoVAMoMee II

Posted by: Sean Bannion [/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 07, 2014 01:44 PM (yz6yg)

225  @ 175 [Hollowpoint] -- If there's a simple, effective script for dealing with the media, please do share.

-----------------------------------------

We were thiiiiiiiiis close, but that RINO SELLOUT Michael Grimm didn't follow through and break that reporter in half and throw him off the balcony.

Posted by: DamnDirtyRINO at February 07, 2014 01:44 PM (m0h0I)

226
The best answer is of course for those asking how is of course to actually do it and damn the consequences and damn the media.  Just keep saying no budget, no debt limit increase to every question asked.  Let the media go on with their palace guard stories.  Do it until something finally breaks.

And my prediction if this would happen:  the gop would get a budget and win in the fall.

Now all of that above is pure bunk of course, because there is really only one party and they aren't on your side.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at February 07, 2014 01:45 PM (n0DEs)

227 Loved the Bane post. Now if only we had an opposition leader with that kind of ruthless efficiency! and wit!... and Fashion sense!.... and skin tone! (sorta joking)

Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 07, 2014 01:45 PM (TGgNi)

228 For example, even though I'm more sympathetic to the Tea Party than the GOP, if I say something critical of the Tea Party, many who consider themselves Tea Partiers accuse me of being against the Tea Party, and hostile to it. In other words, the membership of the Tea Party is limited to those who agree with the most strident members of the Tea Party. Now, let's face it, I will concede, I am RINOish, and not among the most strident in these matters. Nevertheless, the fact that I wish to be a part of the Tea Party -- but perhaps a member of the moderate wing of the Tea Party -- should permit me membership, if the Tea Party is thinking of itself as a potential governing party that could displace the GOP. But when the reaction is "Well then you're not Tea Party," then the Tea Party is not acting as general governing political party (which should want to attract as many members as possible, because elections turn on numbers), but as a lobbying/advocacy organization which can (and should) be highly selective about whom it permits into its membership lists.

Posted by: ace at February 07, 2014 01:45 PM (/FnUH)

229 Santorum? He hasn't actually said that many stupid things. Bring on the Felons in Sweater Vests who Vote Republican!

Posted by: garrett at February 07, 2014 01:45 PM (iUMdy)

230

We need to shut the government down.  Let the private sector show the people that we really don't need those fools in DC.

 

And, to be honest, I  think that's exactly why the repub   leadership caved.  People  were finding out they could go on with their lives without Uncle Sugar.

 

I also think the  last shutdown was a very educational experience for many Americans.  It showed  a hint of just how far Dear Leader and his regime are willing to go to punish  all of us uppity people.

Posted by: Soona at February 07, 2014 01:45 PM (EecJi)

231 Santorum? He hasn't actually said that many stupid things. But the hate must go on.

I don't hate him at all.  But he's plodding and lecturing, whereas Newt is quick and acerbic.  He's also lecturing, but it goes down a lot easier from someone who's just fun to listen to.

Posted by: pep at February 07, 2014 01:46 PM (6TB1Z)

232 You better hope there is a burning. If it spirals around the toilet long enough it will have the effect of burning with no chance for a phoenix rising from the ashes. It will just be putrid 3rd world shit. It Can't Burn Soon Enough™

Posted by: Bob from table9 at February 07, 2014 01:46 PM (jsa6I)

233 Absolutely nothing the Jug Eared Fuck decrees would surprise me.
 
And while I think that nothing we say or do in the future will make one damn bit of difference that counts in our leadership, our only chance is to try and elect a radical President in 2016 -- Rand Paul or Cruz. Someone that the left would be howling for impeachment about on Day 1.
 
radical = tells the truth
 
As in Rand Paul calling Bill Clinton a sexual predator.

Posted by: GnuBreed at February 07, 2014 01:47 PM (cHZB7)

234 The next mindless fuck that misrepresents LiB as -wanting- it to burn can blow me. I'm sick of that bullshit. The truth has been related repeatedly. If you choose to parrot the enemy's meme, I'm classifying you accordingly.

Posted by: Brother Cavil at February 07, 2014 01:47 PM (naUcP)

235 "179 Getting Obama and Reid to sign on would be simple? Keep in mind that "all federal spending" includes Medicare and Social Security. Posted by: Hollowpoint You asked a good question and I answered it. Simple does not equal easy. The eventual train wreck will be worse than the cuts needed to avoid it. Posted by: Meremortal at February 07, 2014 05:33 PM (jTKU5)" The nomenklatura doesn't seem to care. 'We'll just keep borrowing. And printing money. What could possibly go wrong.' 'And inflation will take care of everything.' 'Because Fuck You, Middle Class.'

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 07, 2014 01:47 PM (thBHI)

236 nood

Posted by: Sean Bannion [/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 07, 2014 01:48 PM (yz6yg)

237 How is the R party getting the Senate going to stop the agenda ? I'm not convinced that they disagree with the agenda, based on their spineless behavior. Posted by: sock_rat_eez at February 07, 2014 05:36 PM (+jyzN) Another good question. Every congress critter believes s/he can retire before the SHTF. And they are right. We can go on for decades like this, and we will. The question for each us is always the same. What do we do to protect ourselves and when?

Posted by: Meremortal at February 07, 2014 01:48 PM (jTKU5)

238

In case no one has mentioned it...

 

John McCain was on Cavuto today...and said "She's right!"...when they were talking about what Victoria Nuland said, "Fuck the E.U."

 

He then went on to praise her, about the 'great job' she's doing, blah blah blah.

 

So McCain basically said..."Fuck the E.U" too.

 

Posted by: wheatie at February 07, 2014 01:48 PM (eCZwh)

239 Dear others, new thread.

Posted by: Brewer at February 07, 2014 01:48 PM (eV1I0)

240 Any of you who grew up on farms know what a tobacco worm is. The tobacco worm has a particular wasp that lays its eggs on it. The larvae then come and suck out the insides to survive. Apropos of nothing.

Posted by: Herr Morgenholz at February 07, 2014 01:49 PM (UcXfZ)

241 If it were simple, it would have been done already. To paraphrase a famous democrat: we do this not because it is easy, but because it is hard". That is what Leadership is all about. Lead, Follow, or get out of the way

Well, that's kinda my point.  It's not simple, and there are no quick, easy fixes.

When I ask people what specifically they think should be done, I fully well know it's a trick question.

That, again, is my point.  For all the caterwauling about the GOP leadership (and not always without justification), when it comes down to cause and effect specifics, nobody has a plausible answer.  Mostly because one doesn't currently exist.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at February 07, 2014 01:49 PM (SY2Kh)

242 I'm tying to think of a position that the Tea Party has that is too pure (or extreme, if you prefer). I can't think of one. I can think of those that the leadership of the GOP might not like, but not the rank and file. All their policy preferences seem pretty much mainstream GOP/conservative/libertarian. But, the Tea Party is more grassroots, without much of a top-down party structure, so maybe there is some stuff in there that I'm not considering.


Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at February 07, 2014 01:49 PM (IN7k+)

243 I've heard Obama may decree that the Prez can have multiple 1st ladies, and some of them can be dudes.

(Are we still doing this?)

Posted by: Dr Spank at February 07, 2014 01:49 PM (38LLM)

244 Newt should replace Preibus as head of the GOP. Vic is right that Newt fought the media. Preibus is only boycotting MSNBC or is that over?

Posted by: Carol at February 07, 2014 01:50 PM (z4WKX)

245 209 >>>Stake out a position where the public agrees with Republicans. Force the Democrats to deal with it. People sometimes say I'm anti-Tea Party even though I actually support them in the main. When I'm critical of the Tea Party, it's because the Tea Party often acts as if the first part of your suggestion -- "Stake out a position where the public agrees with Republicans" -- is not important, and even maybe a little cowardly. I do not want to get into my theory of how any lobbying/advocacy group -- any and all groups, all of them -- tend to be dominated by their purest (most "extreme," as far as the Overton Window) voices. But I do think it's true. Of all organizations. Every single one. But political parties aren't lobbying/advocacy groups. They cannot permit themselves to fall into this dynamic of advocating the purest possible position. At any rate, this is along the lines of my advice that the Tea Party must begin to position itself, and think of itself as, a governing political party, rather than lobbying/advocacy organization associated with the GOP. And that will mean, often, taking a position which the purest-position members are critical of, and even charge as being a sell-out or cowardly. Posted by: ace at February 07, 2014 05:41 PM (/FnUH) *********** Well as Churchill said--the art of government is compromise. And CHurchill wasn't trying to govern a varied and pluralistic--grand experiment--America. I think the answer is almost a war like strategy. What is the worst case scenario? Probably Hillary in power. Pepare for that--but hope for the best. Hopefully people have learned a lesson in relativity and the power of the Executive and the supremacy of the Senate-- those are not things to be "sacrificed" Particularly--not in this climate or environment that you describe here: it's like the old saying, "everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it." Well, the media is our weather. it's our climate. And there's a hockey-stick graph showing exploding bias. Posted by: ace at February 07, 2014 05:09 PM (/FnUH)

Posted by: tasker at February 07, 2014 01:51 PM (RJMhd)

246 if I say something critical of the Tea Party, many who consider themselves Tea Partiers accuse me of being against the Tea Party, and hostile to it. I hate how terms get imprecise with frequent use. When TEA meant "Taxed Enough Already" I was a big fan. Don't raise taxes, live within your means, it's a simple, easy to agree with message. Then it became something else. I don't even know what the Tea Party means anymore. Like when Feminists say "Feminism is the radical idea that all people are equal." And you say right on! But when I read feminists, all I see is a lot of cultural Marxism and man-hate.

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at February 07, 2014 01:52 PM (gtjN1)

247 >>How is the R party getting the Senate going to stop the agenda ? I'm not convinced that they disagree with the agenda, based on their spineless behavior. Define spineless behavior. What would you have had them do? The House voted over 40 times to repeal Obamacare in the last couple years. Reid refused to bring it up for a vote in the Senate. The House has passed a ton of jobs related bills, again, Reid refused to let the come up for a vote. The House passed a budget every year they have been in the majority and you know what Reid did. Aside from someone lighting themselves on fire like a Buddhist monk, what do you want them to do to stop the Obama agenda when they have almost no power to do it?

Posted by: JackStraw at February 07, 2014 01:54 PM (g1DWB)

248 realistically, what could they do? I mean, what could *you* do? What could *I* do? The media is nigh-entirely a creature of the Democratic/progressive left. They know they are. We've said they are. The public knows they are. It does not change their behavior in the least. They got into this business to make a difference, and making a difference means advancing the democratic/progressive agenda. What could we do? The stuff we can do is long-term stuff, supporting competing news institutions. But the GOP itself cant' do that. rather, deep pocketed GOP supporters must start to work out the math and realize that rather than donating millions to a politician, they really should be funding more fair and balanced news operations. Posted by: ace at February 07, 2014 05:07 PM (/FnUH) ______________ I can't do much since I'm a nobody. But the GOP as an institution has enough money and power that it could do something. There is enough money out there to fight back against the media. And it's not just shit like creating a new TV news station. It's a plan. What do Dems do really well? They stay on message. Every Democrat has the same talking point that is repeated 100 times a day. The GOP simply does not have that. They're all over the map. You can't fault the MSM for this, can you? And marketing. Holy fuck, it's not that hard to come up with some clever TV ads. Instead what does the GOP do? Comes up with web ads that nobody but its biggest supporters will ever see. That's what I'm talking about.

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at February 07, 2014 01:54 PM (0LHZx)

249 I guarantee you if people had to mow their own lawns and sweep up their own leaves, they would be doing a hell of a lot more tree and branch removal!

Posted by: Black Orchid at February 07, 2014 05:39 PM (pS66t)

 

 

---------------------------------------------------

 

 

I do my own yardwork too, but I love trees.  I don't mind the leaves because they're natural mulch and fertilizer.  I love trees around my house because they help keep the house cool in  our OK summers.  Trees and big bushes are my joy.  I'll deal with the negatives happily to keep them.

Posted by: Soona at February 07, 2014 01:56 PM (EecJi)

250 Democrats have become monstrous because they gained all that power; the Executive, the Senate, the House (for awhile)- they loaded the judicial benches and instead of being checked by the Fourth Estate--they were aided and abetted by the media.

Posted by: tasker at February 07, 2014 01:56 PM (RJMhd)

251 Aside from someone lighting themselves on fire like a Buddhist monk, what do you want them to do to stop the Obama agenda when they have almost no power to do it? Posted by: JackStraw at February 07, 2014 05:54 PM (g1DWB) __________ Any time any Republican is interviewed about Issue XYZ, they start the interview with "I'll answer that in a second, but first I'd like to talk about the fact that Harry Reid has not moved on Bill 12345 that would help middle class families".

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at February 07, 2014 01:56 PM (0LHZx)

252 I mean it. If no one in US government can be bothered to enforce the US Constitution might an enterprising nation borrow it and give it a new loving home?

Posted by: sven10077 at February 07, 2014 01:58 PM (TE35l)

253

I know I'm not the only one pointing this out but hasn't the Cloward-Piven strategy evolved over time into something a great deal more comprehensive than their (somewhat modest by comparison) 1966 idea of overloading the entitlement system to expand the welfare rolls? 

 

Seems to me the Left is intent upon destroying much of the country's private sector by engineering an economic crash, using their control of most of the media to blame the destruction on the opposition, and then implementing full-blown socialism in its place. I mean, the Left has whole armies of numbers guys who know as well as anyone that current policies are unsustainable, either short-term or long. They can't be blind to what's happening, what's about to happen--which can only mean they want it to happen, that they are making it happen.

 

I'm saying that I'm beginning to believe our country is being driven into the ground on purpose. I'm saying this appears to be, God help me, a communist plot. 

 

I know how I sound. I'll shut up now.

Posted by: troyriser at February 07, 2014 01:58 PM (gNlvW)

254 I am RINOish, and not among the most strident in these matters. ****** Reminds me of Democrats yelling-- racist.

Posted by: tasker at February 07, 2014 01:58 PM (RJMhd)

255 250 Tasker, Which brings us again to pipewrench.

Posted by: sven10077 at February 07, 2014 01:59 PM (TE35l)

256 We're not just dealing with left-leaning news channels and clever ads. The whole array of arts, entertainment, academia, and entrenched institutions are embedded deeply into the very culture of the nation.

Posted by: DamnDirtyRINO at February 07, 2014 01:59 PM (m0h0I)

257 As to your Tea Party comments, ace, it is in the main a philosophy. That's why no one can lay claim to 'leadership' of the Tea Party. Anyone can join, and there are no dues. You participate as your heart directs.
 
Sure I'm on a calling list, an email list, and in a Facebook group....and I do make a few donations.

Posted by: GnuBreed at February 07, 2014 02:00 PM (cHZB7)

258 To cheer pessimists up,

These palate cleansers,

Default results for Iceland,
http://tinyurl.com/n6jczzc
Default results on Argentina
http://tinyurl.com/lohfsel

Neither of these countries exploded violently, however, both are suffering considerable loss in their living standards. 

Posted by: wg at February 07, 2014 02:00 PM (2EzL+)

259 255 250 Tasker, Which brings us again to pipewrench. Posted by: sven10077 at February 07, 2014 05:59 PM (TE35l) ********** Pipewrench? sven I no comprendo.

Posted by: tasker at February 07, 2014 02:00 PM (RJMhd)

260 253 TroyRiser, Which brings us again to why we must never let them take our guns.

Posted by: sven10077 at February 07, 2014 02:01 PM (TE35l)

261 The GOP has to stop the public insults, McCain, the King from NY, Christie bitching last year about the Sandy relief bill. The dems never fight in public. McCain regularly goes on shows to bitch about the party. They have to be united & take a stand that The JEF cannot change laws. Congress writes the laws, etc. That is not too hard to start with. We know why heÂ’s getting away with it & they have to state plainly heÂ’s overstepping his power under The Constitution. He swore to uphold it and heÂ’s not. I know the LIVs will probably wonder what the Constitution is. GOP must educate them or try. Rush now includes stupid stuff to get the LIVs.

Posted by: Carol at February 07, 2014 02:01 PM (z4WKX)

262 256 We're not just dealing with left-leaning news channels and clever ads. The whole array of arts, entertainment, academia, and entrenched institutions are embedded deeply into the very culture of the nation. Posted by: DamnDirtyRINO at February 07, 2014 05:59 PM (m0h0I) _______ You're right. But that doesn't mean the GOP should just throw its hands in the air and say fuck it, we can't win.

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at February 07, 2014 02:01 PM (0LHZx)

263 259 Tasker, The media adjustment project.

Posted by: sven10077 at February 07, 2014 02:02 PM (TE35l)

264 >>Any time any Republican is interviewed about Issue XYZ, they start the interview with "I'll answer that in a second, but first I'd like to talk about the fact that Harry Reid has not moved on Bill 12345 that would help middle class families". They do that all the time. Thats one of the reasons I know how many bills the House has passed. It means almost dick to people who don't understand the process. Hell, almost nobody here even gets that the Republicans can not defend Obamacare no matter how many times it has been said. Not because they don't want to or don't have big enough stones, but because it is enshrined in the law. The normal and logical ideas of telling the world what we believe is almost pointless in this environment. Hell, just yesterday it was brought to light in the IRS hearings that the IRS counsel office in DC was colluding with the IRS office in Cinn to target conservatives. They have a smoking gun. And the msm has said exactly squat. I get the emotion that the Republicans should do something to stop this crap. I feel the same way. But I'm still waiting for anyone to come up with a real solution other just angry venting.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 07, 2014 02:02 PM (g1DWB)

265 We're not just dealing with left-leaning news channels and clever ads. The whole array of arts, entertainment, academia, and entrenched institutions are embedded deeply into the very culture of the nation.

Posted by: DamnDirtyRINO at February 07, 2014 05:59 PM (m0h0I)

 

 

-------------------------------------------------

 

 

Yup.  The long march.  It worked.  The US as many of us have known it ended November 6, 2012.

Posted by: Soona at February 07, 2014 02:02 PM (EecJi)

266 263 259 Tasker, The media adjustment project. Posted by: sven10077 at February 07, 2014 06:02 PM (TE35l) ********* Oh yes. I remember you advocating for that. --btw you had a brilliant comment about how the media doesn't want or allow the Republicans to have a foreign affairs policy.

Posted by: tasker at February 07, 2014 02:04 PM (RJMhd)

267 Neither of these countries exploded violently, however, both are suffering considerable loss in their living standards. Posted by: wg at February 07, 2014 06:00 PM (2EzL+) ________ Iceland is what 1 million people? All the same ethnicity, all speaking the same language. Argentina too is fairly monolithic. What will happen here is the tribal factions will turn on each other. Blacks and hispanics have been told for decades that whites are evil and are to blame for everything. Look to Yugoslavia as a guide more than Iceland

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at February 07, 2014 02:04 PM (0LHZx)

268 I decree, Martial Law, elections are suspended until further notice. Internment camps are forthcoming, crackers!

Posted by: Emperor Buh-Rock the Merciless at February 07, 2014 02:04 PM (nbGZj)

269

256 We're not just dealing with left-leaning news channels and clever ads. The whole array of arts, entertainment, academia, and entrenched institutions are embedded deeply into the very culture of the nation.
 

 

Posted by: DamnDirtyRINO at February 07, 2014 05:59 PM (m0h0I)

 

-------------

 

You're right, Damn.

[May I call you 'Damn'?]

 

Leftist propaganda is inserted in nearly everything that people watch these days...even commercials.

 

 

Posted by: wheatie at February 07, 2014 02:05 PM (eCZwh)

270 The normal and logical ideas of telling the world what we believe is almost pointless in this environment. Hell, just yesterday it was brought to light in the IRS hearings that the IRS counsel office in DC was colluding with the IRS office in Cinn to target conservatives. They have a smoking gun. And the msm has said exactly squat. I get the emotion that the Republicans should do something to stop this crap. I feel the same way. But I'm still waiting for anyone to come up with a real solution other just angry venting. Posted by: JackStraw at February 07, 2014 06:02 PM (g1DWB) _________ That's my point though. Every Republican on the Sunday talk shows should be bringing this IRS stuff up. None of them will.

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at February 07, 2014 02:05 PM (0LHZx)

271 I'm tying to think of a position that the Tea Party has that is too pure (or extreme, if you prefer). I can't think of one.

That the debt ceiling  not be raised under any circumstances is one.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at February 07, 2014 02:08 PM (SY2Kh)

272 264 JackStraw, There's plenty the GOP should be doing.... I'm not going to reiterate why the fucked up Washington Generals should actually opose the fucks... Or point out that the suggestions and permissions have rotated from "free shit for all" to "shut it down and art V the fuckers"... John McCain GOP spokestool still I guess....?

Posted by: sven10077 at February 07, 2014 02:09 PM (TE35l)

273 The GOP has to stop the public insults, McCain, the King from NY, Christie bitching last year about the Sandy relief bill.

OK, but does that also apply to the likes of Ted Cruz?

You can't have it both ways.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at February 07, 2014 02:10 PM (SY2Kh)

274 >>There's plenty the GOP should be doing.... >>I'm not going to reiterate why the fucked up Washington Generals should actually opose the fucks... Then go ahead and list what they should be doing and show exactly where they are going along with them. Otherwise you're just venting.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 07, 2014 02:11 PM (g1DWB)

275

Why can Tip Oneill shut down the govt but it is not  HelpFul for republicans during Budget battles?



At this point in Ronald Reagan’s second term, for example, the government had already shut down six times, for a total of twelve days, as a result of failed budget negotiations between the White House, a Republican Senate, and House Democrats under the leadership of Speaker Tip O’Neill (D., Mass.) — precisely the opposite of the political dynamic that exists today. Former O’Neill staffer and MSNBC pundit Chris Matthews has written annd entire book extolling that era as a time “when politics worked.”

NRO Oct 2 2013

Posted by: willow at February 07, 2014 02:11 PM (nqBYe)

276 266 Hollowpoin, It's the truth the media as rendered exists to undermine traditional US foreign policy. I hate the media with every fiber of my being.

Posted by: sven10077 at February 07, 2014 02:12 PM (TE35l)

277 OÂ’Neill presided over a total of seven government shutdowns under Reagan, and five during the Jimmy Carter administration, meaning that he played a role in precisely two-thirds of all the government shutdowns since the modern budgeting process has been in place

Posted by: willow at February 07, 2014 02:13 PM (nqBYe)

278 >>>That the debt ceiling not be raised under any circumstances is one.

The correct place for tat debate is the budget. But, the GOP leadership caves on that debate, so then people want to re-fight the battle when the debt ceiling comes up. If the leadership was willing to use the power that it does have at the appropriate time, the debt ceiling issue wouldn't even come up.

But granted, insisting on fighting the battle one more time, especially when it will be a pointless, losing battle, is not a smart strategy.

Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at February 07, 2014 02:14 PM (IN7k+)

279 Representative Raul Labrador (R., Idaho)pointed this out   to Matthews on Meet the Press on Sunday, noting that OÂ’Neill was never called a terrorist for shutting the government down over budget negotiations

nro

Posted by: willow at February 07, 2014 02:14 PM (nqBYe)

280 274 JackStraw, Horsefuck. I had I think ~32,000 posts last year? Advocacy for Student LOan Forgiveness for school reform ring a bell?

Posted by: sven10077 at February 07, 2014 02:14 PM (TE35l)

281 am i too late to the party?


Posted by: willow at February 07, 2014 02:15 PM (nqBYe)

282 In several instances between 1977 and 1979, the Democratic House resisted the Democratic SenateÂ’s efforts to expand the number of cases for which federal funds, via Medicaid, could be used to pay for abortion. The government partially shut down three times for a total of 28 days between September and December 1977 as lawmakers negotiated a compromise on the issue, although it would be revisited several times during subsequent shutdowns

Posted by: willow at February 07, 2014 02:16 PM (nqBYe)

283 Apparently some people don't get the "let" part of "Let it Burn." Allowing something to happen is not a threat.

Posted by: Burn the Witch at February 07, 2014 02:16 PM (0jFxY)

284 >>Advocacy for Student LOan Forgiveness for school reform ring a bell? Yea, thats a national crises that absolutely nobody is paying attention to. Seriously, that would be a great electoral strategy right now, come out hard against any sort of student loan forgiveness. That ought to be a barn burner of a platform for us to run on right now when we are getting crushed with the youth vote.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 07, 2014 02:17 PM (g1DWB)

285 And it's not just shit like creating a new TV news station. It's a plan. What do Dems do really well? They stay on message. Every Democrat has the same talking point that is repeated 100 times a day. The GOP simply does not have that. They're all over the map. You can't fault the MSM for this, can you? *********** Well we don't have the unifying pacifier of handing out pie--to shut up our factions. So we are divided. Dems are united in the goal of redistributing pie. And we are the pie makers--or something.

Posted by: tasker at February 07, 2014 02:17 PM (RJMhd)

286 OK, but does that also apply to the likes of Ted Cruz? You can't have it both ways. Posted by: Hollowpoint at February 07, 2014 06:10 PM (SY2Kh) I havenÂ’t heard Cruz insult anyone but say things about TFG. Has he publicly insulted someone or was he responding to one already aired? If heÂ’s just insulting in general he should stop. I say it should apply to all, a united GOP against SCOAMF.

Posted by: Carol at February 07, 2014 02:19 PM (z4WKX)

287 The debt ceiling is not the problem.  The problem is spending.

The debt ceiling needs to be raised frequently because we only raise it incrementally, and we keep spending.  But the ceiling isn't the spending, the spending has already been authorized by law. 

Fighting the debt ceiling is like saying you will control your spending by refusing to pay the credit card bills. 

Posted by: Adjoran at February 07, 2014 02:20 PM (QIQ6j)

288 Look up^ Ace made a thread based on one of his comments in this thread. So there is a newer thread on this subject.

Posted by: tasker at February 07, 2014 02:21 PM (RJMhd)

289 Re 267 Moo Moo,

Well, I can do pessimism too--see tumult in Central Europe during the 1920's where a number of countries defaulted due to war debts and authoritarian governments took over.  However, Yugoslavia's breakup was caused by succession crisis and Slovenia's independence supported by Germany (Yugo presidency rotated) and not primarily economic. 

Economic stress could be a factor in causing a civil war but is not a necessary one.  See Lebanon in the 1970's, Ireland, Rwanda, etc. Ethnic/religious/racial/political conflict is far more likely to cause a civil war than economic factors alone.  My bet is still on stagnation if the defaults are staggered--course that is no picnic either.  If most of the West defaults together or if China acts the part of Germany in expansionism, then all bets are off. 

Posted by: wg at February 07, 2014 02:24 PM (2EzL+)

290 Jack I'm watching Sherlock and I am frankly done with speaking on it. FreeShit army can be nothing but bought dear man, in the sense the McCain gang can't help but splinter the GOP to suck Media Cock. You advocate student loan forgiveness in exchage for a flat 40 dollar maximum per credit hour on campuses and vouchers for public schools. That the "GOP" "genius" class cannot decipher that education has devolved into a federal money laundry for the DNC means they are either too stupid to breathe or in on the gag.

Posted by: sven10077 at February 07, 2014 02:24 PM (TE35l)

291 Tasker, how far up?

Posted by: Carol at February 07, 2014 02:24 PM (z4WKX)

292 "That the debt ceiling not be raised under any circumstances is one."

Whats the point of having a debt ceiling if you raise it every 3 months?

Posted by: Fen at February 07, 2014 02:28 PM (a422o)

293 253 I'm saying that I'm beginning to believeour country is being driven into the ground on purpose. I'm saying this appears to be, God help me, a communist plot. I know how I sound. I'll shut up now. Posted by: troyriser at February 07, 2014 05:58 PM (gNlvW) I've been saying that for quite a while. It's the Occam's Razor explanation.

Posted by: rickl at February 07, 2014 03:38 PM (sdi6R)

294 Obama towers above the edifice of Obamacare the Way You Know Who towers above the model of the Fuhrermuseum in Monunents Men.  Go see it by the way.

Posted by: richard mcenroe at February 07, 2014 03:59 PM (qNWT5)

295 Ok, I'm ticked offg.  "Ok what would you do then!"  Like that is an argument.  It really is easy... if the goal is actually to defeat the progs.  But to most of the Republicans it isn't, their goal is to get a piece of the action.

Step one.  Correctly assess the situation and identify the enemy.  Progressives.  Where is their power?  Academia and the media, politicians are incidental.

Step two.  Attack the enemy.  The currency of the both is public trust.  Bend every effort to undermine it.  A secondary effort to undermine the stability of the academics in their ivory tower would be a wonderful front.  Put them on defense and they at least have less time to dream up new attacks.  Public confidence in the press is at historic lows and while they follow the antics of Hollywood they don't really look up to them like they used to.  So attack!

Every election cycle is a multi billion dollar effort.  Devote a piddling couple of million of that to a dirty tricks dept dedicated to investigating a top twenty list of enemy media figures with a goal of destroying at least half the list.  Rinse and repeat every election cycle.  Make being the most vicious attack dog of the pack a dangerous thing and let their inate cowardice and sense of self preservation reign em in.

While that project is ongoing attack DC.  Until the media project bears fruit or conservatives (as opposed to Republicans) take over our options for direct attack are limited.  Ok, so attack anyway!  DC is a target rich environment and a clever warrior can find things that can be attacked.  So what to attack?  Again, assess the reality and attack the foundations first.  Pick things that we would enjoy attacking that they would have trouble defending.  These things won't instantly fix the big problems but would prep the battle space and start shifting the Overton Window.

So attach a rider on the debt limit to end baseline budgeting.  Something so wonkish the Foe would be very hard pressed to shut down the government over it.  So do it and double dog dare em.  I mean it, we should stand up in front of the mics and literally double dog dare them.  We would win.

Then the House should settle in and pass a full set of spending bills.  Something that used to so ordinary as to not be notable but in this environment would be an act of open rebellion.  Then refuse to even consider another omnibus unless and until the Senate responds and the reconciliation process has broken down.

Begin a tradition of beginning each session of the House by bringing up Bills to cut specific wasteful spending and voting on them, and no additional business is to be considered until enough bills pass to cut a hundred million dollars.  Each one the Senate sits on is a campaign ad that writes itself.  Eventually move on to a demand that the Senate bring them up for a vote.

It is a PR game, play it like one.

Posted by: John Morris at February 07, 2014 04:05 PM (sCRhB)

296 I would still rather be Chinese than Russian. The girls are prettier, the food is way better, we won't have no weird racial problems, 'cause we will all be dead, and I love America too.

Posted by: and irresolute at February 07, 2014 04:40 PM (RqHWH)

297 Default ? would never happen and is NOT in play ...

Posted by: JeffC at February 07, 2014 05:14 PM (TR6Cq)

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