First – If you don’t accept the fact that the Economy crashed while Bush was President, then, I’m afraid that there isn’t any reason to try to have a discussion with you.
Second - If you do accept that Bush and the GOP were in power when the economy crashed, then you should be asking them “If you want us to vote for you, please tell us what you will do differently this time, what plans and programs do you have to fix the economy and create jobs?” and, if their answers included anything about tax-cuts, then ask them “What are you going to do about the National Debt?”
He = democrats - you know sit at home collecting unemployment.
She = Republicans - you know, working. Unfortunately all the pay goes to all the politicians - dems and reps - who spend it as fast as they can. Hence the eviction notice.
I understand that for some like Howard facts are best ignored. The economy did indeed begin its collapse when Bush was President. But he was not in power. Congress was under the control of the Democrats. They passed the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac bills that began our fall. Barney Frank, a Democrat, screamed about red lining and demanded sub prime mortgages. Bush’s error and it was monumental, was to sign those stupid bills.
Yeah right, and Clinton wasn’t in power either, and neither of course was Barney Frank. Take off your partisan blinders & notice that both parties bent over backwards from the 80’s onwards to please the banks and hedge funds and those who GOT RICH from the credit bubble.
Just follow the money, and it’s pretty obvious who maxed out our credit cards and is now putting the rest of us on a diet. (Goldman Sachs etc.) They play, we pay.
Whenever I’m feeling optimistic about humanity, (A problem I dream of having) all I need to do is visit the comments on Mr. Rall’s comic. The human mind can be astounding. How dare Democrats try to spend money to sustain the economy! Record deficits are allowed only when Reagan Democrats or Dubya Neocons control Congress. Boundless spending is allowed only for huge unnecessary domestic surveillance programs and new cabinet departments designed as political ploys and, of course, senseless wars that make Americans less safe.
As kensurg points out for us, only Dems collect unemployment. Only Dems can’t find work. Republicans would never consider also receiving the benefits of a safety net working people pay into for such unfortunate occasions.
The funny thing about all this is that anyone spending money, from unemployment or a job or otherwise, is stimulating the economy, while the bankers continue to restrict credit which will in turn continue the downturn.
I wish I knew how Dems were pigging out like the man in the comic…do they really benefit personally from emergency economic spending? Republicans are the ones who want you to foot the bill of a continued tax break for the very richest. Perhaps it is the avarice of the corporate elite that Mr. Rall is lampooning here. Or perhaps I’m just crazy.
Conservatives are certainly clever to conveniently forget that it was their party’s dominance of Washington that allowed them to deregulate the financial industry which in turn caused the collaspe that Dems are feebly trying to reverse.
“He treats her like the Obamas treat us, & like the whole fed govt treats us.”
Churchill, I’d like to reply to your response on the previous comic, especially since I respect you, unlike some conservatives on here.
Nowhere did I mean to imply that I wanted a dictatorship. In a democracy, the rights of the minority have to be protected from the oppression of the majority, surely you know this; I’ve read enough of your comments to know you are educated. Also, that our country has failed to do so throughout its history despite the best designs of the founders. And I strongly disagree with your characterization of the country as center/right. This has been a major concerted effort of the right for the past thirty years to remake in the minds of as many Americans as possible that we always have been a conservative country. If this were the case, we would be still be living in 1800. Lefties just don’t have as much motivation anymore. They don’t get out and protest or vote.
Gibbs is a slimeball. The real left is angry because we are denied a choice in politics. We either get wimps like him or monsters like McConnell and Boehner. What is infuriating is that we form Gibbs’ and Obama’s base and they treat us like dirt and still expect us to get out and vote. Leftist positions are quite popular atm. Extending unemployment, holding BP accountable, ending DADT, etc. We elect someone to do what is right. The majority doesn’t make something right. You should know this from Dubya. He didn’t give a flying f*ck about the popularity of his positions, and he was a two term president. He got away with it, constitutional breaches and all, and even got a Dem to continue his legacy.
Moreover, taking a position that is only 40% or 30% popular is not a political killer. People overlook some positions remembering other ones. In addition, people’s memories are short. There were all kinds of issues that could have decided 2008, but the one on most minds was the most recent: the economy.
Obama was voted in to f*cking do something worthwhile. Not take up Republican positions consistently and still get hammered by Republicans.
But I think you made my point, that Dems are centrists, so Republicans really have no business calling them liberals. Anyone who would vote for the Patriot Act and take a contradictory stance on LBGT rights has no business either being called a liberal or calling himself one.
Dems would be better off if they ever used their political capital. Instead they piss off everyone with their middle of the road bs. Seriously, give me something worth voting for.
“Dems would be better off if they ever used their political capital. Instead they piss off everyone with their middle of the road bs. Seriously, give me something worth voting for.”
I’m embarrassed to have to use a sports analogy, but falling back to a prevent defense is hardly ever an effective strategy for winning. It seems that the only thing which will get Democrats fired up in November is abject horror of a return to Republican control.
jrmerm, you surprised me and took the high road, refuting my post entirely with an ad hominem attack. Even so, I somehow get the feeling that I know more than just a bit more about economics than you. For example, that tax cuts stimulate the economy less than unemployment benefits. But f*ck the economy right? Ideology takes priority!
Churchill, rebuttal success! Also, clever twist on my name. But really I just lost all respect for you. Attempting to impeach criminal executives shouldn’t be considered liberal. But f*ck justice amirite? We’re CONSERVATIVES!!! Although being for real economic competition should, by appearances, be a conservative stance, I suppose Republicans in practice are generally in favor of monopoly. I suppose our friends at Fox support the Fairness Doctrine so that finally the liberal media will no longer be able to run rampant. Moreover, a single candidate for a single primary may make a neat encapsulated talking point, but it is hardly a complete representation of an entire country’s complicated political spectrum. Perhaps he would have done better if he didn’t try to legislate over the 2nd amendment.
Sirrom, Robert Gibbs and the rest of the White House seem to be banking on abject fear.
kennethcwarren64 over 13 years ago
First – If you don’t accept the fact that the Economy crashed while Bush was President, then, I’m afraid that there isn’t any reason to try to have a discussion with you.
Second - If you do accept that Bush and the GOP were in power when the economy crashed, then you should be asking them “If you want us to vote for you, please tell us what you will do differently this time, what plans and programs do you have to fix the economy and create jobs?” and, if their answers included anything about tax-cuts, then ask them “What are you going to do about the National Debt?”
ken591 over 13 years ago
He = democrats - you know sit at home collecting unemployment. She = Republicans - you know, working. Unfortunately all the pay goes to all the politicians - dems and reps - who spend it as fast as they can. Hence the eviction notice.
ButchInWaukegan over 13 years ago
He = Corporate Elite + Political Elite (Republican + Democrats) + Media Elite
She = The rest of us
sirrom567 over 13 years ago
Yup.
Read the small line in the middle: It’s about capitalism.
Jaedabee Premium Member over 13 years ago
^^^ Yep.
mattro65 over 13 years ago
And The Money Party, with Democrat and Republican branches, merrily governs on, apparently oblivious to life outside the Beltway.
Libertarian1 over 13 years ago
I understand that for some like Howard facts are best ignored. The economy did indeed begin its collapse when Bush was President. But he was not in power. Congress was under the control of the Democrats. They passed the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac bills that began our fall. Barney Frank, a Democrat, screamed about red lining and demanded sub prime mortgages. Bush’s error and it was monumental, was to sign those stupid bills.
OtisIzaltumuch over 13 years ago
“Bush was President. But he was not in power.”
Yeah right, and Clinton wasn’t in power either, and neither of course was Barney Frank. Take off your partisan blinders & notice that both parties bent over backwards from the 80’s onwards to please the banks and hedge funds and those who GOT RICH from the credit bubble.
Just follow the money, and it’s pretty obvious who maxed out our credit cards and is now putting the rest of us on a diet. (Goldman Sachs etc.) They play, we pay.
SClark55 Premium Member over 13 years ago
He treats her like the Obamas treat us, & like the whole fed govt treats us.
wmclay over 13 years ago
Capitalism = Organized Crime.
RationalEmpiricist over 13 years ago
Whenever I’m feeling optimistic about humanity, (A problem I dream of having) all I need to do is visit the comments on Mr. Rall’s comic. The human mind can be astounding. How dare Democrats try to spend money to sustain the economy! Record deficits are allowed only when Reagan Democrats or Dubya Neocons control Congress. Boundless spending is allowed only for huge unnecessary domestic surveillance programs and new cabinet departments designed as political ploys and, of course, senseless wars that make Americans less safe.
As kensurg points out for us, only Dems collect unemployment. Only Dems can’t find work. Republicans would never consider also receiving the benefits of a safety net working people pay into for such unfortunate occasions.
The funny thing about all this is that anyone spending money, from unemployment or a job or otherwise, is stimulating the economy, while the bankers continue to restrict credit which will in turn continue the downturn.
I wish I knew how Dems were pigging out like the man in the comic…do they really benefit personally from emergency economic spending? Republicans are the ones who want you to foot the bill of a continued tax break for the very richest. Perhaps it is the avarice of the corporate elite that Mr. Rall is lampooning here. Or perhaps I’m just crazy.
Conservatives are certainly clever to conveniently forget that it was their party’s dominance of Washington that allowed them to deregulate the financial industry which in turn caused the collaspe that Dems are feebly trying to reverse.
“He treats her like the Obamas treat us, & like the whole fed govt treats us.”
Care to elaborate, sclark55?
RationalEmpiricist over 13 years ago
Churchill, I’d like to reply to your response on the previous comic, especially since I respect you, unlike some conservatives on here.
Nowhere did I mean to imply that I wanted a dictatorship. In a democracy, the rights of the minority have to be protected from the oppression of the majority, surely you know this; I’ve read enough of your comments to know you are educated. Also, that our country has failed to do so throughout its history despite the best designs of the founders. And I strongly disagree with your characterization of the country as center/right. This has been a major concerted effort of the right for the past thirty years to remake in the minds of as many Americans as possible that we always have been a conservative country. If this were the case, we would be still be living in 1800. Lefties just don’t have as much motivation anymore. They don’t get out and protest or vote.
Gibbs is a slimeball. The real left is angry because we are denied a choice in politics. We either get wimps like him or monsters like McConnell and Boehner. What is infuriating is that we form Gibbs’ and Obama’s base and they treat us like dirt and still expect us to get out and vote. Leftist positions are quite popular atm. Extending unemployment, holding BP accountable, ending DADT, etc. We elect someone to do what is right. The majority doesn’t make something right. You should know this from Dubya. He didn’t give a flying f*ck about the popularity of his positions, and he was a two term president. He got away with it, constitutional breaches and all, and even got a Dem to continue his legacy.
Moreover, taking a position that is only 40% or 30% popular is not a political killer. People overlook some positions remembering other ones. In addition, people’s memories are short. There were all kinds of issues that could have decided 2008, but the one on most minds was the most recent: the economy.
Obama was voted in to f*cking do something worthwhile. Not take up Republican positions consistently and still get hammered by Republicans.
But I think you made my point, that Dems are centrists, so Republicans really have no business calling them liberals. Anyone who would vote for the Patriot Act and take a contradictory stance on LBGT rights has no business either being called a liberal or calling himself one.
Dems would be better off if they ever used their political capital. Instead they piss off everyone with their middle of the road bs. Seriously, give me something worth voting for.
SuperGriz over 13 years ago
I’m glad that Ted labeled today’s toon, otherwise I would’ve thought it was about the mass psychosis overtaking the country.
sirrom567 over 13 years ago
“Dems would be better off if they ever used their political capital. Instead they piss off everyone with their middle of the road bs. Seriously, give me something worth voting for.”
I’m embarrassed to have to use a sports analogy, but falling back to a prevent defense is hardly ever an effective strategy for winning. It seems that the only thing which will get Democrats fired up in November is abject horror of a return to Republican control.
sirrom567 over 13 years ago
Organized crime, at least, has a code of conduct that’s strictly adhered to and enforced.
RationalEmpiricist over 13 years ago
jrmerm, you surprised me and took the high road, refuting my post entirely with an ad hominem attack. Even so, I somehow get the feeling that I know more than just a bit more about economics than you. For example, that tax cuts stimulate the economy less than unemployment benefits. But f*ck the economy right? Ideology takes priority!
Churchill, rebuttal success! Also, clever twist on my name. But really I just lost all respect for you. Attempting to impeach criminal executives shouldn’t be considered liberal. But f*ck justice amirite? We’re CONSERVATIVES!!! Although being for real economic competition should, by appearances, be a conservative stance, I suppose Republicans in practice are generally in favor of monopoly. I suppose our friends at Fox support the Fairness Doctrine so that finally the liberal media will no longer be able to run rampant. Moreover, a single candidate for a single primary may make a neat encapsulated talking point, but it is hardly a complete representation of an entire country’s complicated political spectrum. Perhaps he would have done better if he didn’t try to legislate over the 2nd amendment.
Sirrom, Robert Gibbs and the rest of the White House seem to be banking on abject fear.
sirrom567 over 13 years ago
I’m banking on that fear myself – I’m feeling it.