After I got home from being on the road all week, here are some random thoughts:
*This tea party nonsense is really incredible. It really shows how desperate the Republican Party is after the 2008 election. The very people who flaunted wearing flag lapel pins and put yellow ribbons on their cars are now calling for an overthrow of our government and secession. Some patriots!!!!
*Isn't incredibly disingenuous on the part of some local officials to take such hard line anti-tax positions??? Senator Maziarz is the champion of the taxpayer. Yet, where was he when he was in the majority and his buddy Pataki was Governor??? Spending grew and the NYPA was sweeping money and screwing Niagara County royally. By the way, Maziarz was Chairman of the Energy Committee when the new 30 yr deal for NYPA was negotiated. How come he didn't do something about our rates then??
*Unfortunately, Senator Thompson is no better. How about growing a set and stand up for your constituents. Oh I forgot, if you did that you probably would lose office staff, your committee chairmanships and campaign funding from the State party.
*While the County is sinking further into despair, the County Legislature is going to sue the State to get more casino money. Kind of like Nero, these 19 are fiddling while Rome burns.
*Mayor Dyster is a good guy and a great change from the previous mayor. However, could someone please tell him that Donna Owens is killing him!!! I don't know of anyone who has anything good to say about her.
*Conservatives are outraged about Homeland Security warning about right wing extremists. In case these morons forgot, the second largest terrorist attack on American soil was Oklahoma City. This is what happens when you have morons like Hannity and Beck spewing their garbage. These guys and their ilk are domestic terrorists.
*Kudos to MSNBC to putting Ed Schultz on the air. The Ed Show is great, and Big Eddie really knows how to get after these conservative windbags!!!!
*While I've been on the road for awhile, a friend of mine told me this evening that The John Restaino Show is going off the air. What a shame!!!! I thoroughly enjoyed the show and I thought John did an excellent job. I wonder if there is any way we could keep him on the air.
*And finally, I'm thinking its Pittsburgh and Chicago in the Stanley Cup finals. It may be a stretch but there is no clear cut favorite so anything can happen!!!!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The Grand Obstructionist Party: Tea Bag This!!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-ostroy/tea-parties-gop-once-agai_b_187750.html It's quite clear that the Grand Old Obstructionist Party and its propaganda arm, Fox News, haven't gotten the message: the American people aren't buying what their selling......
Thursday, April 2, 2009
They Still Don't Get It!!!!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/01/white-house-house-gop-bud_n_181687.html More of the same from the Grand Obstructionist Party: They still don't get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, March 23, 2009
It's Time For A Change: Remove Geithner
In February I attached an article saying that there was a power struggle between Geithner and Axelrod over the direction that was going to be taken with the economy. Geithner won out and it was a mistake. President Obama needs to go back to the people who brought him. He needs to break away from the failed policies that Geithner is continuing that were Paulsen's. The President needs to take charge of this because he is being put into a terrible position and giving the neocons ammunition. Geithner's reality is Wall Street not Main Street. The President needs to go back to Main Street before its too late.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/geithner-unable-to-escape_b_178006.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/geithner-unable-to-escape_b_178006.html
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Reagan and the Right Wing Conspiracy
Once Ronald Reagan announced that he was suffering from the terrible disease, Alzheimer's, the neocons decided that it was important to perpetuate the right image of Ronald Reagan. Led by neocon Grover Norquist, the Reagan Legacy Project was started in 1997. The purpose was to ensure that the neocon hero would never be subject to critical historical analysis. For the most part, the Legacy Project has been very successful. The coverage in 2004 of the death of Reagan and his funeral far surpassed that of any other President's death other than that of John Kennedy. Of course, Kennedy was murdered as our sitting President. Reagan had been out of office for 16 years.
Tied into the Reagan Legacy Project was the fear on the part of many neocons that the presidency of Bill Clinton could upset the neocon dominance moving into the 21st Century. Many of the same people who funded the Legacy Project were also involved in the many allegations against the Clintons. Bill Clinton was President during a time of great economic growth, no foreign conflicts and balanced budgets. The neocons knew that this was a problem and they needed to muddy him up. And that they did. Despite support from the American people, the House called for impeachment but the Senate could not move on impeachment the winner because of the American people's support of Clinton.
However, the neocons of the Reagan Legacy Project accomplished what they wanted. A president who presided over great economic growth, no foreign conflicts and balanced budgets was neutralized right out of the 2000 presidential election which had his vice president as the standard barrier of the Democratic party. Al Gore did not use Clinton as he should have which resulted in Gore losing states such as Arkansas and West Virginia where Clinton could have brought home the bacon. As a result, the Supreme Court decided the winner and we ended up with George W. Bush as the 43rd President of The United States.
George W. Bush played on the Reagan image: be tough and cut taxes. As a result, we are currently facing economic disaster and are fighting a war on two fronts in the Middle East. Bush won re-election thus maintaining the neocon dominance. But the 2006 congressional elections and the election of Barack Obama as president as set the neocons back on thei heels and has them ready to do whatever is possible to ensure that Obama fails. That's why Limbaugh says what he says. That's why Cheney is out there blasting the Obama Administration for making our country less safe. That is why the McConnell's and Boehner's of the world know nothing but to say no.
This is also why we as lefties need to combat everything that is said by any necon nut out there. We cannot let our guard down because these people are pissed and they will pull out all the stops to bring President Obama down. Hillary Clinton was laughed at when she talked about a right wing conspiracy but she was right on the money. Beware of the sainthood of Ronald Reagan!!!
Tied into the Reagan Legacy Project was the fear on the part of many neocons that the presidency of Bill Clinton could upset the neocon dominance moving into the 21st Century. Many of the same people who funded the Legacy Project were also involved in the many allegations against the Clintons. Bill Clinton was President during a time of great economic growth, no foreign conflicts and balanced budgets. The neocons knew that this was a problem and they needed to muddy him up. And that they did. Despite support from the American people, the House called for impeachment but the Senate could not move on impeachment the winner because of the American people's support of Clinton.
However, the neocons of the Reagan Legacy Project accomplished what they wanted. A president who presided over great economic growth, no foreign conflicts and balanced budgets was neutralized right out of the 2000 presidential election which had his vice president as the standard barrier of the Democratic party. Al Gore did not use Clinton as he should have which resulted in Gore losing states such as Arkansas and West Virginia where Clinton could have brought home the bacon. As a result, the Supreme Court decided the winner and we ended up with George W. Bush as the 43rd President of The United States.
George W. Bush played on the Reagan image: be tough and cut taxes. As a result, we are currently facing economic disaster and are fighting a war on two fronts in the Middle East. Bush won re-election thus maintaining the neocon dominance. But the 2006 congressional elections and the election of Barack Obama as president as set the neocons back on thei heels and has them ready to do whatever is possible to ensure that Obama fails. That's why Limbaugh says what he says. That's why Cheney is out there blasting the Obama Administration for making our country less safe. That is why the McConnell's and Boehner's of the world know nothing but to say no.
This is also why we as lefties need to combat everything that is said by any necon nut out there. We cannot let our guard down because these people are pissed and they will pull out all the stops to bring President Obama down. Hillary Clinton was laughed at when she talked about a right wing conspiracy but she was right on the money. Beware of the sainthood of Ronald Reagan!!!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
What would Reagan Do????
Throughout Bush's presidency, Sean Hannity would constantly ask, "what would Reagan do?" Of course, Sean would conclude that Reagan would have invaded Iraq, would never negotiate with our enemies and would condone a pre-emptive strike. As usual Hannity is off base.
Reagan is credited with ending the Cold War however the facts are that the Soviet Union was collapsing on its own. In fact, Reagan's saber rattling probably delayed the end of the USSR. However, Reagan deserves credit for opening up discussions with Gorbachev. The standard bearer of the conservative movement sat down with the leader of the evil empire. He sat down with the enemy. Wasn't candidate Barack Obama criticized for saying that he would sit down with our enemies??
With respect to the Middle East, the seeds of the problems that exist today was born during the Reagan era. Reagan, through Rumsfeld, supported Saddam Hussein to neutralize Iran. When over 200 Marines were killed in a terrorist attack in Lebanon, Reagan pulled Americans out of Lebanon. Sounds like "cutting and run"!!! Of course there is the whole Iran-Contra affair where the Reagan Administration negotiated with terrorists.
You see unlike the neocon chicken hawks, Reagan abhorred war. He was deeply troubled by collateral damage that involved civilians. Based on the history, I don't believe Reagan would have invaded Iraq. However, that is not what the neocons would have you believe as was evidenced by last year's GOP presidential debates.
Why is this post and the last one relevant today??? Well tomorrow I will tie it all together for you: The Reagan Myth and The Right Wing Conspiracy.
Reagan is credited with ending the Cold War however the facts are that the Soviet Union was collapsing on its own. In fact, Reagan's saber rattling probably delayed the end of the USSR. However, Reagan deserves credit for opening up discussions with Gorbachev. The standard bearer of the conservative movement sat down with the leader of the evil empire. He sat down with the enemy. Wasn't candidate Barack Obama criticized for saying that he would sit down with our enemies??
With respect to the Middle East, the seeds of the problems that exist today was born during the Reagan era. Reagan, through Rumsfeld, supported Saddam Hussein to neutralize Iran. When over 200 Marines were killed in a terrorist attack in Lebanon, Reagan pulled Americans out of Lebanon. Sounds like "cutting and run"!!! Of course there is the whole Iran-Contra affair where the Reagan Administration negotiated with terrorists.
You see unlike the neocon chicken hawks, Reagan abhorred war. He was deeply troubled by collateral damage that involved civilians. Based on the history, I don't believe Reagan would have invaded Iraq. However, that is not what the neocons would have you believe as was evidenced by last year's GOP presidential debates.
Why is this post and the last one relevant today??? Well tomorrow I will tie it all together for you: The Reagan Myth and The Right Wing Conspiracy.
Friday, March 13, 2009
The Facts of Reaganomics
The economy under President Reagan was a time of lower income taxes especially for the rich, higher payroll taxes on working families, runaway federal deficits and borrowing and an increasing trade imbalance. The seeds of today's financial crisis was sown during Reagan with the deregulation of the financial industry. In October 1982, Reagan signed into law a bill that lifted many restrictions on the savings and loan industry. Some seven years later, after Reagan was out of office, the S&L industry was on the receiving end of the largest bailout(at the time) with American taxpayers footing the bulk of the $160 billion tab. Hmmm...I don't recall conservatives calling anyone a socialist then.
The 1980's also saw America lose manufacturing jobs. This was attributed to a number of corporate takeovers that created widespread layoffs and the beginning of blue collar jobs being sent overseas. The 80's also saw America move from being the largest creditor nation to be the largest debtor nation. (Reagan disciple George Bush continued this trend)
The Reagan era also saw a nation of savers was encouraged to live beyond one's means(hmmm..sound familiar to W.) An explanation for this is that people could not save and had to overextend to survive. This is illustrated by the fact that the gap between the wealthiest and poorest Americans grew dramatically. (again sound familiar)
While federal spending grew under Reagan, the bulk of that was on defense. Domestic spending was cut, particularly for infrastructure, environment, education and aid to cities. All of this contributing to the problems we face today.
As you can see Reaganomics was a failure. The scary thing is that Republican members of Congress are still espousing the tired old principles of Reaganomics. The same principles which has led to the corporate greed and Madoffs of the world to rip off hard working Americans. You see Republicans have continued to perpetuate the myth of the greatness of Reaganomics and refuse to acknowledge that it was a failure.
Next: What would Reagan do with "The War On Terror"
The 1980's also saw America lose manufacturing jobs. This was attributed to a number of corporate takeovers that created widespread layoffs and the beginning of blue collar jobs being sent overseas. The 80's also saw America move from being the largest creditor nation to be the largest debtor nation. (Reagan disciple George Bush continued this trend)
The Reagan era also saw a nation of savers was encouraged to live beyond one's means(hmmm..sound familiar to W.) An explanation for this is that people could not save and had to overextend to survive. This is illustrated by the fact that the gap between the wealthiest and poorest Americans grew dramatically. (again sound familiar)
While federal spending grew under Reagan, the bulk of that was on defense. Domestic spending was cut, particularly for infrastructure, environment, education and aid to cities. All of this contributing to the problems we face today.
As you can see Reaganomics was a failure. The scary thing is that Republican members of Congress are still espousing the tired old principles of Reaganomics. The same principles which has led to the corporate greed and Madoffs of the world to rip off hard working Americans. You see Republicans have continued to perpetuate the myth of the greatness of Reaganomics and refuse to acknowledge that it was a failure.
Next: What would Reagan do with "The War On Terror"
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