UPDATED AND BUMPED:Berkeley mayor to Marines: End the occupation of our city; Marines to Berkeley mayor: Get bent…. Code Pink: “If it weren’t for people like the people in Berkeley, standing up for what they believe, we’d be living under Hitler”
UPDATE: Allahpundit has must see clips of this fiasco! Read this and then visit Hot Air
Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates offered Friday to help the U.S. Marines leave town by negotiating an end to the lease for their recruiting station, even as he backpedaled on a City Council resolution declaring the Corps “uninvited and unwelcome intruders” in the city.
In the face of an onslaught of pro-military criticism from around the country, Bates, a retired Army captain, also issued a statement that said the City Council’s resolution Tuesday night “did not adequately differentiate our respect and support for those serving in the armed forces and our opposition to the Iraq war policy.” He said he would ask the council to modify the resolution at its next meeting, scheduled for Feb. 12.
A Marines spokeswoman said Friday that the Corps has no intention of abandoning its space at 64 Shattuck Square that has been the subject of protests for months.
Question for you: Where is the Governor?
As promised to SFL, here is another more news outlet picking this up: San Francisco Chronicle,
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Thank-you Michelle for posting this.
A local activist group drew a crowd of 50 onlookers yesterday when they staged a mock debate against a military recruiting office in Downtown Berkeley.
Although conservative radio talk show host Melanie Morgan was originally scheduled to participate, she was ultimately replaced by a member of activist group Code Pink pretending to espouse conservative views.
Issues ranged from the congressional race between Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan to the military presence in Berkeley.
“We are the defenders of democracy, the upholders of the Constitution,” said Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink. “If it weren’t for people like the people in Berkeley, standing up for what they believe, we’d be living under Hitler.”
Not that it is of any use at this point:
The vote to award the Code Pink parking spot was 8-1, and the condemnation resolution was 6-3. On Thursday, the polarized emotions that went into those votes had not abated.
“I’m ashamed of my vote,” said Councilwoman Betty Olds, who helped approve the parking spot but not the condemnation. “The protesters should have free speech – this is where Free Speech was born, after all – but to tell the Marines they are not welcome is shameful. If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t even go for the parking spot.”
U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., says the City of Berkeley, Calif., no longer deserves federal money:
DeMint said he will draft legislation to rescind any earmarks dedicated for the City of Berkeley in the recently passed appropriations bill ” which his office tallied to value about $2.1 million. He said that any money taken back would be transferred to the Marines.
DeMint’s office provided a preliminary list of items that would be subject to his proposal:
” $975,000 for the University of California at Berkeley, for the Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service, which may include establishing an endowment, and for cataloguing the papers of Congressman Robert Matsui.
” $750,000 for the Berkeley/Albana ferry service.
” $243,000 for the Chez Panisse Foundation, for a school lunch initiative to integrate lessons about wellness, sustainability and nutrition into the academic curriculum.
” $94,000 for a Berkeley public safety interoperability program.
” $87,000 for the Berkeley Unified School District, nutrition education program.
February 1, 2008 - 11:24 AM on February 1st, 2008
This from an Austrian (which lies in Europe, and which is also the country where Hitler was born):
No Code Pink, you’d be living under Hitler if there wouldn’t have been the US Army, the US Navy, the USAAF (today USAF), the US Marines and the US Coast Guard.
February 1, 2008 - 11:56 AM on February 1st, 2008
SFL, see what is going to happen to SF because idiots like you go beyond being libertines to being out right anti-american *ssholes.
February 1, 2008 - 12:14 PM on February 1st, 2008
Lame. This guy can “draft” whatever he wants…it doesn’t mean it’ll happen.
What part of Democratic Congressional Majority do you both not understand? Republicans don’t have much of any legislative power anymore.
Just for shits and giggles, why don’t you keep your eye on this and let me know if this ever gains any traction.
February 1, 2008 - 12:21 PM on February 1st, 2008
SFL- that is an odd arguement to take considering that it was you that used the excuse that your incompetent Democratic leadership was due to the fact that Republicans were standing in their way…
Believe it or not, all Democrats are not liberals and all Democrats do not hate the Military. Many members on both sides of the aisle have taken notice of this..
I will keep you posted..sooner rather than later because it has started to gain traction..
February 1, 2008 - 12:28 PM on February 1st, 2008
Let me just say again, as I have posted here before, that SFL does not really like “code pink” protests.
I’ve bumped into them many times here in the City, and nearly each time they were doing some protest I disagreed with their approach and their tactics.
I remember once they were protesting an H. Clinton speech because of her stand on war funding – and then they were camped out in front of Nancy Pelosis house (a few blocks from where I live) and I thought it was lame then too.
From my experience, they are older baby-boomer women who obviously care deeply about their country and the war, but they tend to be more than a little, umm…hysterical (“think of the children!”, types).
Not very impressive.
But, having said all that, God Bless the political rable-rousers…whomever they might be.
February 1, 2008 - 12:39 PM on February 1st, 2008
My argument on this, Pam, stems from me and PCD going back and forth about whether or not congress will ever allow federal funds to be taken from a city (our focus has been on San Francisco) as punishment for political views.
I say: not going to happen
and PCD says: it will happen
(Why I even try and talk with a Troll like PCD on this issue here, I don’t know…I must be bored. Normally I like to ignore jokers like him.)
February 1, 2008 - 12:49 PM on February 1st, 2008
“”If it weren’t for people like the people in Berkeley, standing up for what they believe, we’d be living under Hitlerâ€â€
Actually, if the Berzerkeley types got everything they wanted, we’d be under the tyranny of political Correctness/Socialism/Communism.
February 1, 2008 - 02:42 PM on February 1st, 2008
Hey SFL do you belong to CODESTINKPINK?
February 1, 2008 - 03:27 PM on February 1st, 2008
If I remember my history, wasn’t the liberals that was coddling to Hitler and protesting us sending supplies to Britain?
Didn’t it take Pearl Harbor before they jumped on board?
Yeah…thought so…
February 1, 2008 - 03:53 PM on February 1st, 2008
6, SFL, you sure flunked American History. Let me ask your ignorance once again, which President sequestered funds allocated by Congress? The funds couldn’t be spent and the Supreme Court said the President had the right to do so.
Also, it is in the law that when you deny military recruiters access to your town or public facility, the Feds are REQUIRED to strip that town/facility of all Federal funds.
The party is over SFL. Get used to it and don’t cry.
February 1, 2008 - 08:27 PM on February 1st, 2008
Guy, it’s just not going to happen. I am 1000% sure of that.
The party has just begun. A Democratic Congressional majority, set to get LARGER this election, and a near sure bet that a Democrat will be elected President this fall.
SFL is feeling pretty damn good about the way things are going for the Left right now.
The only people “crying” should be Conservatives who had a Republican Majority and President both at the same time…with nothing but a tax-cut for the rich and a shitty ass war to show for it. And then you lost the Majority and you will lose the presidency. Even if McCain, god forbid, wins, its the end of Conservatism as you know it.
You guys couldn’t even ban abortion in 6 years of solid conservative rule!! That’s Pathetic and Weak.
February 1, 2008 - 08:36 PM on February 1st, 2008
Umm SFL, abortion is protected by the SCOTUS..in the past 6 years, the types of abortions has been severely limited and states have enacted tougher laws..
February 1, 2008 - 08:42 PM on February 1st, 2008
Please.
Your republican majority hardly even tried. It’s like your signature Conservative issue and it was barely pushed.
Look at it this way. If you couldn’t succeed with your favorite legislative issue during the 6 plus years of SOLID conservative rule over all three branches of government, then you never will.
I’d be pretty fucking pissed if I was a Con.
(!)
February 1, 2008 - 08:44 PM on February 1st, 2008
And another thing, the Culture War still rages on…after 6 plus years of Conservative Rule and more if you count the 90’s…what have Conservatives succeeded on?
Honestly, what do conservatives have to show THEIR BASE for their short lived Republican Majority?
February 1, 2008 - 09:47 PM on February 1st, 2008
Banned Partial Birth Abortion ” by far the most significant roll-back of abortion on demand since Roe v. Wade.
Reversed Clinton’s move to strike Reagan’s anti-abortion Mexico Policy.
By Executive Order (EO), reversed Clinton’s policy of not requiring parental consent for abortions under the Medical Privacy Act.
By EO, prohibited federal funds for international family planning groups that provide abortions and related services.
Upheld the ban on abortions at military hospitals.
. Made $33 million available for abstinence education programs in 2004.
Supports the Defense of Marriage Act ” and a Constitutional amendment saying marriage is between one man and one woman.
Requires states to conduct criminal background checks on prospective foster and adoptive parents.
Requires districts to let students transfer out of dangerous schools.
Requires schools to have a zero-tolerance policy for classroom disruption (reintroducing discipline into classrooms).
Signed the Teacher Protection Act, which protects teachers from lawsuits related to student discipline.
Expanded the role of faith-based and community organizations in after-school programs.
Budget, Taxes & Economy
Signed two income tax cuts, one of which was the largest dollar-value tax cut in world history.
Turned around an inherited economy that was in recession, and deeply shocked as a result of the 9/11 attacks.
In process of permanently eliminating IRS marriage penalty.
Increased small business incentives to expand and to hire new people.
Initiated discussion on privatizing Social Security and individual investment accounts.
Killed Clinton’s “ergonomic” rules that OSHA was about to implement; rules would have shut down every home business in America.
Passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account as a result of corporate scandals.
Reduced taxes on dividends and capital gains.
Signed trade promotion authority.
Reduced and is working to ultimately eliminate the estate tax for family farms and ranches.
Fight Europe’s ban on importing biotech crops from the United States.
Exempt food from unilateral trade sanctions and embargoes.
Provided $20 million to states to help people with disabilities work from home.
Created a fund to encourage technologies that help the disabled.
Increased the annual contribution limit on Education IRA’s from $500 to $2,000 per child.
Make permanent the $5,000 adoption tax credit and provide $1 billion over five years to increase the credit to $10,000.
Grant a complete tax exemption for prepaid or college tuition savings plans.
Character & Conduct as President
Changed the tone in the White House, restoring HONOR and DIGNITY to the presidency.
Has reintroduced the mention of God and faith into public discourse.
Just three days after the attacks, in his address at the National Cathedral, the President reassured the nation when he said: “War has been waged against us by stealth and deceit and murder. This nation is peaceful, but fierce when stirred to anger. This conflict was begun on the timing and terms of others. It will end in a way, and at an hour, of our choosing.”
On Friday, September 14, 2001, President Bush visited Ground Zero. Standing on a crushed and burned fire engine atop the smoldering pile at Ground Zero, he put his arm around a retired firefighter who had volunteered to help, and began speaking to the crowd. Rescue workers shouted that they could not hear him. Someone handed him a small American flag and bullhorn. The President spontaneously shouted: “I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.” The crowd roared with cheers and chants of “USA! USA! USA!” Then he raised that American flag and rallied a nation.
Education & Employment Training
1. Signed the No Child Left Behind Act, delivering the most dramatic education reforms in a generation (challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations). The very liberal California Teachers union is currently running radio ads against the accountability provisions of this Act.
2. Announced “Jobs for the 21st Century,” a comprehensive plan to better prepare workers for jobs in the new millennium by strengthening post-secondary education and job training, and by improving high school education.
3. Is working to provide vouchers to low-income students in persistently failing schools to help with costs of attending private schools. (Blocked in the Senate.)
4. Requires annual reading and math tests in grades three through eight.
5. Requires states to participate in the National Assessment of Education Progress, or an equivalent program, to establish a national benchmark for academic performance.
6. Requires school-by-school accountability report cards.
7. Established a $2.4 billion fund to help states implement teacher accountability systems.
8. Increased funding for the Troops-to-Teachers program, which recruits former military personnel to become teachers.
Environment & Energy
1. Killed the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty.
2. Submitted a comprehensive Energy Plan (awaits Congressional action). The plan works to develop cleaner technology, produce more natural gas here at home, make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy, improve national grid, etc.
3. Established a $10 million grant program to promote private conservation initiatives.
4. Significantly eased field-testing controls of genetically engineered crops.
5. Changed parts of the Forestry Management Act to allow necessary cleanup of the national forests in order to reduce fire danger.
6. Part of national forests cleanup: Restricted judicial challenges (based on the Endangered Species Act and other challenges), and removed the need for an Environmental Impact Statement before removing fuels/logging to reduce fire danger.
7. Killed Clinton’s CO2 rules that were choking off all of the electricity surplus to California.
8. Provided matching grants for state programs that help private landowners protect rare species.
Defense & Foreign Policy
1. Successfully executed two wars in the aftermath of 9/11/01: Afghanistan and Iraq. 50 million people who had lived under tyrannical regimes now live in freedom.
2. Saddam Hussein is now in prison. His two murderous sons are dead. All but a handful of the regime’s senior members were killed or captured.
3. Leader by leader and member by member, al qaida is being hunted down in dozens of countries around the world. Of the senior al Qaeda leaders, operational managers, and key facilitators the U.S. Government has been tracking, nearly two-thirds have been taken into custody or killed. The detentions or deaths of senior al Qaeda leaders, including Khalid Shaykh Muhammad, the mastermind of 9/11, and Muhammad Atef, Osama bin Laden’s second-in-command until his death in late 2001, have been important in the War on Terror.
4. Disarmed Libya of its chemical, nuclear and biological WMD’s without bribes or bloodshed.
5. Continues to execute the War On Terror, getting worldwide cooperation to track funds/terrorists. Has cut off much of the terrorists’ funding, and captured or killed many key leaders of the al Qaeda network.
6. Initiated a comprehensive review of our military, which was completed just prior to 9/11/01, and which accurately reported that ASYMMETRICAL WARFARE capabilities were critical in the 21st Century.
7. Killed the old US/Soviet Union ABM Treaty that was preventing the U.S. from deploying our ABM defenses.
8. Has been one of the strongest, if not THE strongest friend Israel has ever hand in the U.S. presidency.
9. Part of the coalition for an Israeli/Palestinian “Roadmap to Peace,” along with Great Britain, Russia and the EU.
10. Pushed through THREE raises for our military. Increased military pay by more than $1 billion a year.
11. Signed the LARGEST nuclear arms reduction in world history with Russia.
12. Started withdrawing our troops from Bosnia, and has announced withdrawal of our troops from Germany and the Korean DMZ.
13. Prohibited putting U.S. troops under U.N. command.
14. Paid back UN dues only in return for reforms and reduction of U.S. share of the costs.
15. Earmarked at least 20 percent of the Defense procurement budget for next-generation weaponry.
16. Increased defense research and development spending by at least $20 billion from fiscal 2002 to 2006.
17. Ordered a comprehensive review of military weapons and strategy.
18. Ordered a review of overseas deployments.
19. Ordered renovation of military housing. The military has already upgraded about 10 percent of its inventory and expects to modernize 76,000 additional homes this year.
20. Is working to tighten restrictions on military-technology exports.
21. Brought back our EP-3 intel plane and crew from China without any bribes or bloodshed.
Globalization & Internationalism
1. Challenged the United Nations to live up to their responsibilities and not become another League of Nations (in other words, showed the UN to be completely irrelevant).
2. Killed U.S. involvement in the International Criminal Court.
3. Told the United Nations we weren’t interested in their plans for gun control (i.e., the International Ban on Small Arms Trafficking Treaty).
4. The only President since the founding of the UN to essentially tell that organization it is irrelevant. He said: “The conduct of the Iraqi regime is a threat to the authority of the United Nations, and a threat to peace. Iraq has answered a decade of UN demands with a decade of defiance. All the world now faces a test, and the United Nations a difficult and defining moment. Are Security Council resolutions to be honored and enforced, or cast aside without consequence? Will the United Nations serve the purpose of its founding, or will it be irrelevant?” We all know the outcome and the answer.
5. Told the Congress and the world, “America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our country.”
Government Reform
1. Improved government efficiency by putting hundreds of thousands of jobs put up for bid. This weakens public-sector unions and cuts undeserved pay raises.
2. Initiated review of all federal agencies with the goal of eliminating federal jobs (completed September 2003) in an effort to reduce the size of the federal government while increasing private sector jobs.
3. Led the most extensive reorganization the Federal bureaucracy in over 50 years: After 9/11, condensed 20+ overlapping agencies and their intelligence sectors into one agency, the Department of Homeland Security.
4. Ordered each agency to draft a five-year plan to restructure itself, with fewer managers.
5. Converted federal service contracts to performance-based contracts wherever possible so that the contractor has measurable performance goals.
Health
1. Strengthen the National Health Service Corps to put more physicians in the neediest areas, and make its scholarship funds tax-free.
2. Double the research budget of the National Institutes of Health.
3. Signed Medicare Reform, which includes:
A 10-year privatization option.
Prescription drug benefits: Prior to this reform, Medicare paid for extended hospital stays for ulcer surgery, for example, at a cost of about $28,000 per patient. Yet Medicare would not pay for the drugs that eliminate the cause of most ulcers, drugs that cost about $500 a year. Now, drug coverage under Medicare will allow seniors to replace more expensive surgeries and hospitalizations with less expensive prescription medicine.
More health care choices: As President Bush stated, “:when seniors have the ability to make choices, health care plans within Medicare will have to compete for their business by offering higher quality service [at lower cost]. For the seniors of America, more choices and more control will mean better health care. These are the kinds of health care options we give to the members of Congress and federal employees. What’s good for members of Congress is also good for seniors.
New Health Savings Accounts: Effective January 1, 2004, Americans can set aside up to $4,500 every year, tax free, to save for medical expenses. Depending on your tax bracket, that means you’ll save between 10 to 35 percent on any costs covered by money in your account. Every year, the money not spent would stay in the account and gain interest tax-free, just like an IRA. These accounts will be good for small business owners, and employees. More businesses can focus on covering workers for major medical problems, such as hospitalization for an injury or illness. At the same time, employees and their families will use these accounts to cover doctors visits, or lab tests, or other smaller costs. Some employers will contribute to employee health accounts. This will help more American families get the health care they need at the price they can afford.
Homeland Security, Border Enforcement & Immigration
1. *See Government Reform above. Under President Bush’s leadership, America has made an unprecedented commitment to homeland security.
2. Has CONSTRUCTION in process on the first 10 ABM silos in Alaska so that America will have a defense against North Korean nukes. Has ordered national and theater ballistic missile defenses to be deployed by 2004.
3. Announced a 9.7% increase in government-wide homeland security funding in his FY 2005 budget, nearly tripling the FY 2001 levels (excluding the Department of Defense and Project BioShield).
4. Before DHS was created, there were inspectors from three different agencies of the Federal Government and Border Patrol officers protecting our borders. Through DHS, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) now consolidates all border activities into a single agency to create “one face at the border.” This not only better secures the borders of the United States, but it also eliminates many of the inefficiencies that occurred under the old system. With over 18,000 CBP inspectors and 11,000 Border Patrol agents, CBP has 29,000 uniformed officers on our borders.
5. The Border Patrol is continuing installation of monitoring devices along the borders to detect illegal activity.
6. Launched Operation Tarmac to investigate businesses and workers in the secure areas of domestic airports and ensure immigration law compliance. Since 9/11, DHS has audited 3,640 businesses, examined 259,037 employee records, arrested 1,030 unauthorized workers, and participated in the criminal indictment of 774 individuals.
7. Since September 11, 2001, the Coast Guard has conducted more than 124,000 port security patrols, 13,000 air patrols, boarded more than 92,000 vessels, interdicted over 14,000 individuals attempting to enter the United States illegally, and created and maintained more than 90 Maritime Security Zones.
8. Announced the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), an internet-based system that is improving America’s ability to track and monitor foreign students and exchange visitors. Over 870,000 students are registered in SEVIS. Of 285 completed field investigations, 71 aliens were arrested.
9. This week, the US-VISIT program began to digitally collect biometric identifiers to record the entry and exit of aliens who travel into the U.S on a visa. Together with the standard information, this new program will confirm compliance with visa and immigration policies.
10. Eliminated INS bureaucratic redundancies and lack of accountability.
11. Split the Immigration and Naturalization Service into two agencies: one to protect the border and interior, the other to deal with naturalization.
12. Signed the workplace verification bill to prevent hiring of illegal aliens.
13. Established a six-month deadline for processing immigration applications.
14. Information regarding nearly 100% of all containerized cargo is carefully screened by DHS before it arrives in the United States. Higher risk shipments are physically inspected for terrorist weapons and contraband prior to being released from the port of entry. Advanced technologies are being deployed to identify warning signs of chemical, biological, or radiological attacks. Since September 11, 2001, hundreds of thousands of first responders across America have been trained to recognize and respond to the effects of a WMD attack.
Judiciary & Tort Reform
1. Is urging federal liability reform to eliminate frivolous lawsuits.
2. Killed the liberal ABA’s unconstitutional role in vetting federal judges. The Senate is supposed to advise and consent, not the ABA.
3. Is nominating strong, conservative judges to the judiciary.
4. Supports class action reform bill which limits lawyer fees so that more settlement money goes to victims.
Politics
1. His leadership resulted in Republican gains in the House and Senate, solidifying Republican control of both houses of Congress and the presidency.
2. Signed an EO enforcing the Supreme Court’s Beck decision regarding union dues being used for political campaigns against individual’s wishes.
Second Amendment
1. Ordered Attorney General Ashcroft to formally notify the Supreme Court that the OFFICIAL U.S. government position on the 2nd Amendment is that it supports INDIVIDUAL rights to own firearms, and is NOT a Leftist-imagined “collective” right.
2. Signed TWO bills into law that arm our pilots with handguns in the cockpit.
3. Currently pushing for full immunity from lawsuits for our national gun manufacturers.
4. *See Globalization & Internationalism.
Traditional Values, Compassion & Volunteerism
1. Endorses and promotes “The Responsibility Era.” President Bush often speaks of the necessity of personal responsibility and civic volunteerism. He said, “In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. My hope is to change the culture from one that has said, if it feels good, do it; if you’ve got a problem, blame somebody else ” to one in which every single American understands that he or she is responsible for the decisions that you make; you’re responsible for loving your children with all your heart and all your soul; you’re responsible for being involved with the quality of the education of your children; you’re responsible for making sure the community in which you live is safe; you’re responsible for loving your neighbor, just like you would like to be loved yourself.”
2. Started the USA Freedom Corps, the most comprehensive clearinghouse of volunteer opportunities ever offered. For the first time in history, Americans can enter geographic information about where they want to get involved, such as state or zip code, as well as areas of interest ranging from education to the environment, and they can access volunteer opportunities offered by more than 50,000 organizations across the country and around the world.
3. Established the The White House Office and the Centers for the Faith-Based and Community Initiative ” located in seven Federal agencies. The faith-based initiative supports the essential work of these important organizations. The goal is to make sure that grassroots leaders can compete on an equal footing for federal dollars, receive greater private support, and face fewer bureaucratic barriers. Work focuses on at-risk youth, ex-offenders, the homeless and hungry, substance abusers, those with HIV/AIDS, and welfare-to-work families.
4. The White House released a guidebook fully describing the Administration’s belief that faith-based groups have a Constitutionally-protected right to maintain their religious identity through hiring ” even when Federal funds are involved.
5. Issued an EO implementing the Supreme Court’s Olmstead ruling, which requires moving disabled people from institutions to community-based facilities when possible.
6.Increased funding for low-interest loan programs to help people with disabilities purchase devices to assist them.
7. Revised the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 8 rent subsidies to disabled people, permitting them to use up to a year’s worth of vouchers to finance down payments on homes. HUD has started pilot programs in 11 states.
8. Committed US funds to purchase medicine for millions of men, women and children now suffering with AIDS in Africa.
9. Heeding the words of our own Declaration of Independence, the president laid out the non-negotiable demands of human dignity for all people everywhere. On January 29, 2002, he said, “No nation owns these aspirations, and no nation is exempt from them. We have no intention of imposing our culture. But America will always stand firm for the non-negotiable demands of human dignity.” As stated by the President, they are a virtual manifesto of conservative principles:
Equal Justice Freedom of Speech Limited Government Power Private Property Rights Religious Tolerance Respect for Women Rule of Law
February 1, 2008 - 10:09 PM on February 1st, 2008
That’s a dandy list (and way out of date in some spots – politics), but my question remains unanswerd.
What kind of LASTING change does the common conservative man and woman feel and notice after all those years of solid Republican rule?
Fact remains, a woman can STILL walk into an abortion clinic and do whatever she wants.
The only noticable change that I can honestly think of, from 1996 and 2006, is reduction is taxes for wealthy folks and a poorly run war.
Has the Social Safety Net been reduced? Is affordable Health Care not an issue anymore for Americans?
I don’t see very much REAL progress on our major issues in all those years…
February 1, 2008 - 10:30 PM on February 1st, 2008
No SFL she can’t walk in and do what she wants..As I said, and you seem to want to ignore it, abortion wasn’t ever going to be overturned. The best a conservative could hope for is that the states enact stricter laws while still respecting Roe v Wade, and that has been accomplished..
What is affordable healthcare? I would really like to know that the definition of that is…
February 1, 2008 - 11:33 PM on February 1st, 2008
SFL,
While a woman can still go into a Planned Parenthood abortion mill to do business, I’d remind you that the number of abortions has been the lowest since the mid ’70s. That’s the sort of thing that only social pressure (surely you as a good SanFran lefty knows all about that
can change. We’re changing it; witness good pro-life message movies like Bella and Knocked up.
On the issue of removing federal funding from Berserkley: That sort of removal will happen right around the same time South Carolina’s universities get their funding removed for the cardinal sin of the state having a Confederate flag in their possession.
February 1, 2008 - 11:43 PM on February 1st, 2008
Boycott berkley dont spend a single penny in this waste dump in amrica
February 2, 2008 - 12:30 AM on February 2nd, 2008
“abortion wasn’t ever going to be overturned.”
————————
Of course not.
But that’s not what hundreds of Conservative Republican politicians have been telling sucker conservative voters for the past 14 years. (!)
The Republican Majority owes its LIFE to religious conservatives (vastly pro-life) and my point, Pam, is that these voters should be fucking mad that they were used to elect these guys and ended up getting a weak return on their investment.
The Republican Majority of yesterday is over and gone, and what do Conservative voters have to show for it?
The next Dem president and Congress will reverse as much as they can of the damage Bush inflicted on the nation and world with his policies. Watch Family Planning funding return to foreign countries, better relations with the UN, etc…
February 2, 2008 - 12:45 AM on February 2nd, 2008
“What is affordable healthcare? I would really like to know that the definition of that is…”
————————
My first guess would be; not having to go into debt to pay for a simple medical procedure like a root canal or something.
Maybe something about being able to afford medication AND rent, too.
February 2, 2008 - 07:29 AM on February 2nd, 2008
The republican partys medicaid subsidy passed a few years ago helped my mother tremendously SFL. It was amazing how much less she has to pay and all she had to do was fill out a one page form.
February 2, 2008 - 07:50 AM on February 2nd, 2008
Those that are on medicaid get root canals for free. Those with denal insurance usually have them covered..those that don’t have insurance can make payment arrangements.
Medication and rent…Well, my mil, at the age of 78, managed to get my husbands step father, a 93 year old man that that had lived and worked through the great depression, into bankruptcy(2003)…my sil and hubby had to work a budget around $460.00/month to bankruptcy court and $800.00/supplemental insurance (combined) for the two of them, to offset any costs that medicare did not pick up. MIL was a diabetic and sfil’s biggest drug cost was his inhalor. There was $1800.00 combined ss payments to work with..we did manage to make sure that they always had money left over at the end of the month. I took them to the doctors. I learned that doctors offices appreciate it when you hand them reports of observations, it makes their jobs much easier..I also learned that poor people are handed the samples that the evil drug companies leave in bulk at the doctors office. The more control we took over their lives, the healthier they stayed. Medicare picked up the visiting nurses. The city paid for their roof via a program for indigent homeowners…There are all kinds of programs out there, but the government doesn’t come to your door, you have to get off your ass and actually do a little bit of the leg work.
Want to hear about another sil that has been milking the welfare system for the better part of 20 years?
February 2, 2008 - 07:51 AM on February 2nd, 2008
22- that would have helped our situation out a great deal! Glad your Mom can use that Bon Bon..
February 2, 2008 - 11:50 AM on February 2nd, 2008
“That’s a dandy list (and way out of date in some spots – politics), but my question remains unanswerd.”
Instead you choose to just ignore it and continue. VERY lame, SFL, and an extremely transparent, weak debating tactic!
February 2, 2008 - 11:51 AM on February 2nd, 2008
Correction: Post #15.
February 2, 2008 - 04:06 PM on February 2nd, 2008
Like I said in another topic, I would not lift a finger to help the mentally-diseased degenerate population of Berzerkeley. They can wallow in the mental and cultural filth of their own making. If terrorist attacked there I would just watch and laugh.
Berzerkeley deserves nothing from America and Amnericans, not even survival.
February 2, 2008 - 05:38 PM on February 2nd, 2008
Hey come on, Robert, I said it was a dandy list…thats credit given where credit is due. But much of it had to have been from the 2004 election, and much of it was small peanuts.
And, like I said, much of those listed are small things like executive orders that can be easily overturned by the next president, or the attitude of the government towards the UN; also easily corrected by a simple change in administration.
My question was, what big accomplishments did the expired Republican Majority have to offer its base?
I’m just saying, I’d be pretty upset at my political leaders if I the roles were reversed. They had Power with a capital “P” and what have they to show for it?
If the Dems had a Super Majority for a limited time, and nothing really big, lasting and positive happened…I’d be pissed.
February 2, 2008 - 11:48 PM on February 2nd, 2008
The real problem with the “Affordable Healthcare” statement is that people want something for nothing. The Health savings accounts allow younger/healthier people to have affordable healthcare, and a means to keep it that way. The problem comes in when people seem to think they should get a $50 deductible policy for $100 a month and then go running off to the doctor every other week expecting the insurance company to pay for every little hangnail. The way to make health insurance affordably is simple. Take out a policy with a $2000 deductible and a health savings account for $2000 a year. Your premium will be $300 less per month and your health savings account will be only $167 of that. You’ll have your deductible reimbursed to you if you have to use it. If not, the next year you’ll still have the $2000 in the health savings account and your premium will still be $300 less per month than a $500 deductible policy. You could even cut your contributions to the health savings account to keep it level at the $2000. I used to try and explain this to people and they simply went blank. It simply did not sink in that if you put the money in the bank that you save on the premium, the difference in deductible won’t matter because the money will be in the bank to cover it. People were so stupid that they couldn’t figure out that by doing what I was telling them, they’d save over $2000 a year in their pocket that they would be sending to an insurance company for coverage they probably wouldn’t even use.
BTW the real cause of the high cost of health care is multi faceted. When hospitals are losing millions of dollars a month treating people who aren’t intending to pay their bills, Pharmaceutical companies spend BILLIONS in R&D and testing to bring a single drug to market, doctors have to spend tens of thousands annually for malpractice insurance, and medical schools cost over $250,000, it’s not to hard for ANYONE with a brain to understand why medical costs are so high. Whatever happened to when noone had insurance, or only major medical? I can remember when my parents had to pay the doctor out of pocket for office visits. Costs were a lot lower then. It wasn’t mandated that doctors work for free by treating patients who weren’t willing to pay. They also didn’t have to carry ten million dollars worth of malpractice insurance because Juries would never have awarded that kind of money like they do now.
February 3, 2008 - 04:27 PM on February 3rd, 2008
“And, like I said, much of those listed are small things like executive orders that can be easily overturned by the next president,”
Which is why the next President must be a Conservative. To preserve any positive changes.
February 4, 2008 - 07:13 AM on February 4th, 2008
Hey, SFL, you’d better cool your jets. You lefties get the civil war you are pushing for, I can guarantee you that loud mouths like you will be the top targets. Now, are you going to obey the laws on the books or do you want to face the consequences of anarchy and civil war?
February 4, 2008 - 06:59 PM on February 4th, 2008
Hey guy, you’re about 140 some years too late for a civil war.
Your side lost.
Sorry.
February 4, 2008 - 07:51 PM on February 4th, 2008
Actually, the system is ripe for a regular “Reign of Terror” (that’s the French Revolution for those without a history background which is far too many) if the next president and congress carry out 75% of the idiotic legislation that is in the wings. McCain – Lieberman would raise gas taxes 50 cents a gallon, the new highway funding bill (over half of which doesn’t even go to highways) will raise it another 40+ cents, and revoking the tax breaks to the oil companies combined with attempts to seize their profits should raise them another $2 – 3 dollars per gallon. With all of that extra money going into subsidies for the Ethanol debacle, farmers will be forced to convert to growing corn that is used for ethanol versus food grains or face going under. It’s impossible to produce food on a commercial level without using gas or diesel powered machinery. With the recent increases in food prices caused by the small amount of grain diversion that has occurred to date (let us not forget the food riots over the increased cost of tortillas in Mexico last summer), food prices could almost double. Likewise virtually everyone in the transportation industry will face increasing costs and a large number will be forced out of business. This will leave cities with large populations unable to obtain adequate supplies of food to feed their huddled masses. The same huddled masses who have a history of rioting and looting when they don’t get their way. Heating oil and natural gas will go up. I expect 20 – 30 million to lose their jobs and inflation to hit rates unseen in this country since the civil war. About that time someone will point out that the reason why people are cold and hungry is because of the liberal taxation and regulations that have forced businesses under and stopped domestic energy production that would’ve lead to good jobs and cheap food and energy. If you think bankruptcies and foreclosures are high now, wait until the Libs get in charge and start taxing and regulating every business out of existence. At that point in time, we will be in nearly the exact position as France prior to the Revolution. People starving to death because of the taxes being leveed against them. The difference here is that the Second Amendment (Which H.R. 1022 is the libs’ level best attempt at repealing)allows for the whole of the law abiding adult population to be armed. Once we hit that point, it won’t take much for a multi-front revolution to break out. Thomas Jefferson said that one of the reasons for the Second Amendment was to allow the people to protect themselves from tyranny in government. Am I the only one here who can imagine Hillary making the “Let them eat cake” comment?
I almost expect Mexico to invade the Southwest in an effort to “Help its neighbor restore order” but never withdraw from any land taken under the claim of reconquista. Of course that would allow those of us living here to expel the Mexicans without interference from the US Government.
February 4, 2008 - 08:14 PM on February 4th, 2008
Madame HilLiary Klinton, Queen of Amerika, then said: “Let them eat cake”.
February 4, 2008 - 08:56 PM on February 4th, 2008
Robert and FAO- all I can think of is the scene from History Of The World Part I: Cloris Leachman was Madam DeFarge
The segment opens with a sequence depicting the squalor of Paris. On the Rue de Merde (literally “Shit Street”) vendors are selling apple cores and rats for food and one vendor is shown selling “absolutely nothing.” Beggars beg from beggars. The next scene takes place in the tavern of Madame Defarge (Cloris Leachman) where a mob of “scum” has gathered to discuss their situation. Mme Defarge rails that “… we are so poor we do not even have a language. Just a stupid accent!” Another plebeian chimes in, “She’s right, we all talk like Maurice Chevalier, honh-honh-honh!” The final line from the scene belongs to Mme Defarge when she announces to the mob of “scum” “…And now, let’s end this meeting on a high note.” She then sings a high A which the rest of the “scum” join. The mob, thus incited, goes on to plot the French Revolution.
February 4, 2008 - 09:41 PM on February 4th, 2008
FAO makes a good point…when a whole lot of people get desperate and hungry, anything is possible. People that have nothing to lose are very dangerous.
February 5, 2008 - 12:31 PM on February 5th, 2008
“…when a whole lot of people get desperate and hungry, anything is possible. People that have nothing to lose are very dangerous.?
————————-
I’ll play along for a minute.
If we are talking about social uprising, and if we agree that it is more than often the people who have nothing left to lose who are doing to deed…
…I would argue that it wouldn’t be a ideological revolution (Left vs. Right, like PCD stuggles to communicate properly), or at least wouldn’t begin as such, but would be another in a long line of social class struggles – Have Nots versus the Haves.
The gap between rich and poor is only getting bigger, soon the balancing middle class could all together disappear and what then will stop the poor from simply taking what they want and need, or on the other side of the coin, what would stop the well-to-do from exploiting the weak?
That said, this isn’t going to happen any time soon, or if ever at all.
America, I would like to believe, is better than that…
February 5, 2008 - 12:40 PM on February 5th, 2008
37, SFL, no, it will be people fed up with the leaching and aggrievation from people like you that starts a civil war. Law and order mean nothing to you when you can’t have what you want, so why do you think that the people you want to rob from won’t get the idea to do the same to you?
February 5, 2008 - 01:52 PM on February 5th, 2008
I hope America is better than that. If the Middle Class disappears, then look out.Or even more general, if there is no mobility in a society, then there are a huge group of people that are disenfranchised and have nothing to lose.
February 5, 2008 - 02:37 PM on February 5th, 2008
“Hey guy, you’re about 140 some years too late for a civil war.
Your side lost.”
This is a joke, right? Or is is just plain ignorance on your part?
And here Pam was defending you as an intelligent voice in another thread…
February 5, 2008 - 03:09 PM on February 5th, 2008
“This is a joke, right?”
———————-
Well Ted, there’s a little bit of jest in there, yes…
But I could argue that pre-war South was a socially conservative (resistant to change) based society that ended up losing to the liberal (open to change) ideals of the North.
And in that context, the side PCD would represent in his little political based hypothetical “civil war” would have already fought a civil war and lost.
…Like I said.
February 5, 2008 - 03:11 PM on February 5th, 2008
Robert is right; watch out if the balance the Middle Class provides disapears (and it is currently geting smaller and smaller)…
not good.
February 5, 2008 - 07:53 PM on February 5th, 2008
42. HOw well I know that. During the Clinton years when Maryland had a democrat governor I was screwed royally by all their new taxes. I was seriously considering finding a way to not pay but in the end I was too honest. May not be so for many middle class folks today though. The times are tough and when dems make it tougher, anything can happen.
February 5, 2008 - 10:54 PM on February 5th, 2008
“But I could argue that pre-war South was a socially conservative (resistant to change) based society that ended up losing to the liberal (open to change) ideals of the North.”
You could…but you’d absolutely be wrong.
February 5, 2008 - 10:55 PM on February 5th, 2008
“Robert is right; watch out if the balance the Middle Class provides disapears (and it is currently geting smaller and smaller):
not good.”
And this is EXACTLY what the liberal doctrine sets forth.
February 6, 2008 - 01:10 AM on February 6th, 2008
Well, well well. SFL got it right. He just didn’t quite understand that it’s the liberal taxation policies that are going to destroy the middle class and lead to the revolution. Notice that Bill and Hill are claiming that they don’t need tax cuts but are sheltering assets in Costa Rica and the Grand Caymans to avoid paying taxes on them. Edwards talks about how he cares so much about the poor while pocketing TENS of MILLIONS for a few months work from a hedge fund. A hedge fund that was foreclosing on the homes of the very people that he was telling how much he cared. Isn’t it funny how the same people who will scream bloody murder about a CEO’s compensation package have no problem with accepting the same amount of money for hedge fund work, speeches overseas, or advances for idiotic ghost written autobiographies?
Yes, it will be a revolution between haves and have nots, and the biggest haves will be the Gores, Edwards, Clintons and their supporters. With the conservative history of giving from their own pocket versus someone else’s, many will be inclined to protect those who have given to them. The Libs are known for the unwillingness to part with their own money which will be their undoing.
As for the antebellum south (that’s pre-civil war for the historically challenged), it was almost entirely DEMOCRAT. The Republican party was the one that freed the slaves. They also put the first black man in the Senate and in Congess. That was until the KKK started terrorizing the black communities to suppress the black vote until the white southern Dems pass the Jom Crowe laws that would keep the blacks from voting for decades.
February 6, 2008 - 07:22 AM on February 6th, 2008
As for the antebellum south (that’s pre-civil war for the historically challenged), it was almost entirely DEMOCRAT. The Republican party was the one that freed the slaves. They also put the first black man in the Senate and in Congess. That was until the KKK started terrorizing the black communities to suppress the black vote until the white southern Dems pass the Jom Crowe laws that would keep the blacks from voting for decades.
This is the part most dems conveniently forget. I have yet to hear SFL comment on this bit of historical fact. When presented with this fact to the libs I talk to they always revert to Kennedy and the 1960’s as if the past didn’t matter anymore. Imo the past matters a great dea.
February 6, 2008 - 08:58 AM on February 6th, 2008
46,47, FAO and BonBon, don’t expect any intellectual honesty from SFL. He’s too busy begging questions and slanting answers that he wins. He’s just a child that is cruising for a bruising or worse. His little closed mind won’t accept that he’s the evil aggressor in this country.
February 6, 2008 - 09:14 AM on February 6th, 2008
BonBon that historical reality is why one of my many names for the Democrats is “Demokkkrats”.
The DemokkkRats depend on stupidity for their success. Ignorant, uninformed, stupid sheeple are most welcome in the Democrite constituency tent. That’s of course why they want the illegal vote so bad. They know those voters can be bought quite cheaply.
February 6, 2008 - 09:58 AM on February 6th, 2008
You know one thing I’ve noticed with those Demokkkrats is that they themselves are either rich or poor. Very little in betweeen. Now I know that’s probably just my perception but think about it. Clinton, Edwards, Obama, Kennedy, Soros, etc., all rich and all the welfare recipients in our country vote, if they vote, democrat. Why? Because most of them believe the democrats will provide handouts.
I know there are rich republicans and big corporations are generally rich but I would offer those people provide jobs, and lots of handouts for which they don’t seem to get credit.
February 6, 2008 - 01:12 PM on February 6th, 2008
Bingo! Rich people don’t sit around counting their money in big piles on the floor of their living room, then locking it up in a safe and hoarding it. The money is invested, creating jobs, opportunity, growth and progress for all of us. They take risks by investing, typically with no guarantee of any return at all. Those risks ceate new companies, new technology, and bring prosperity to our nation.
The welfare recipients, on the other hand, conusme resources, and other than injecting consumer spending into the economy, produce nothing but waste. They create no wealth, generate no new opportunity, advance no technology.
They do offer one thing: votes for politicians who pander to them.
So if you asked me, I’d say it is better to have more rich people than poor people.
February 6, 2008 - 01:37 PM on February 6th, 2008
Now the subject of rich Democrats…there is an area of special hypokkkrisy. The same blowhards babbling about taxing the rich, demagogueing and grandstanding to try to make themselves look better to the sheeple and babbling idiots, know very well that their fortunes are safely protected by trusts and an army of professional accountants and lawyers who do nothing but make sure their tax liability is minmized.
If the Kennedy fortune was subject to the inheritance taxes they want to keep imposed on the rest of us there would be no Kennedy fortune. The damned hypokkkrites know that.
February 6, 2008 - 10:10 PM on February 6th, 2008
“As for the antebellum south (that’s pre-civil war for the historically challenged), it was almost entirely DEMOCRAT. The Republican party was the one that freed the slaves. They also put the first black man in the Senate and in Congess. That was until the KKK started terrorizing the black communities to suppress the black vote until the white southern Dems pass the Jom Crowe laws that would keep the blacks from voting for decades.”
“I have yet to hear SFL comment on this bit of historical fact.”
———————————
Yes, yes, yes…because it’s old news that is irrelevant to the present.
Contrary to conservative opinion, it’s actually not a secret waiting to be revealed to the masses about the Republicans being the party that freed the slaves, yada-yada.
What you fail to understand, I suppose, is how that party has, over the years, degraded its value to the political needs of african-americans.
This undeniable fact is demonstrated by the huge numbers of blacks who repeatedly and overwhelmingly vote Democratic.
And that’s why your talk about what Democrats were like 140 years ago is irellevant.
Predictibly, you’ll blame your failure on unprovable and silly allegations of “keeping blacks on the plantation” or something like that.
February 6, 2008 - 10:16 PM on February 6th, 2008
“But I could argue that pre-war South was a socially conservative (resistant to change) based society that ended up losing to the liberal (open to change) ideals of the North.”
“You could:but you’d absolutely be wrong.”
—————————-
Hmmm. I see, Ted.
So you would argue that the institution of Slavery in the south was a socially LIBERAL practice, and that the North, while advocating freedom for blacks was, in fact, resisting change like social conservatism often does?
Very strange, indeed.
February 6, 2008 - 10:22 PM on February 6th, 2008
“Predictibly, you’ll blame your failure on unprovable and silly allegations of “keeping blacks on the plantation”or something like that.”
In fact that is exactly how the Democrites did/do it.
February 6, 2008 - 10:23 PM on February 6th, 2008
“I’m no way tarred…”
HitLiary Klinton, using her phony black accent, pandering to a group of sheeple.
February 7, 2008 - 07:16 AM on February 7th, 2008
SFL is again ignoring facts to worship at his Liberal Delusions.
February 7, 2008 - 07:26 AM on February 7th, 2008
It may be old news but it is absolutely revelant. As a matter of fact Republicans actually have a better voting record for the civil rights of blacks.
As for your statement of proof being that blacks vote democrat is hogwash. They vote democrat because in many cases they believe they will be getting free money. That is not a prejudicial statement either as I know of several pockets of inner city blacks both in Baltimore and Washington who don’t work, won’t work and abuse the welfare system. I have no reason not to assume it’s not happening in other major cities either and that is where the dems pick up the majority of the black vote.
February 9, 2008 - 06:51 PM on February 9th, 2008
SFL cant think becuase their minds been numbed with LSD