Reprinted in its entirety, with permission from Eddie’s Corner, the blog of Eddie Rose at www.eddierose.org
The Republican candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States typify the present-day Republican Party. They represent the ultra-rich, the special interests, the mega-corporations, the corrupt, the greedy, the evasive. They are anti-women, anti-minority, anti-elderly, anti-middle class, and anti-anyone and anything that doesn’t comply with their bigoted view of American society.
If elected (G-d forbid), Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan would lower taxes for the upper 2% of Americans, raise taxes for the rest of us, destroy Social Security and Medicare, deny consumer protection from unscrupulous business practices, and allow big oil and other polluters to wreak havoc on our environment.
In order to accomplish their evil agenda, the morally-bankrupt Republican Party has engaged in a campaign of hate, outright lies, and dirty tricks, such as voter suppression and intimidation, in an attempt to steal the election, much as they did in the year 2000. Will it work? Only if a gullible and apathetic electorate fall for it.
As of now, it looks like the Romney-Ryan ticket, funded by their multi-millionaire and billionaire donors, have a lot of work to do. For example, among women voters across the country (except for the rich b——s of South Orange County, CA, many of whom sadly hold elective office), Romney trails by double digits. But Romney does have the multi-millionaire/billionaire vote, the mega-corporation vote, the big polluter vote, and the Wall Street bankster vote. Hopefully, that won’t be enough to steal this election.
The Honorable Eddie Rose
Former Laguna Niguel (CA) City Councilman
“A Voice—Not an Echo”
“They are anti-women, anti-minority, anti-elderly, anti-middle class, and anti-anyone and anything that doesn’t comply with their bigoted view of American society.”
Bigot: a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group with hatred and intolerance.
Hey pot, this is the kettle . . .
Granted, politics are ugly– but this is just name calling. The sad truth of this article is the only reason that the Romney/Ryan ticket might win is because of idiots on the other side of the isle who write like this.
Polarization cuts both ways. Name calling, ultra partisanship, and demonizing Republicans (i.e. the school of Pelosi) is what cost the Democrats their super majority in 2010.
If you’re going to call a person a bigot, don’t act like one.
Eddie? Ball’s in your court. (I think he’s a Republican, by the way, Ryan!)
Well, whenever I make an over the top emotional argument, I usually tend to fall flat on my face– so I’m sure it’ll be a zinger.
You ought to get to know Eddie Rose. Here’s a primer:
http://www.eddierose.org/biography.html
Stop looking at what’s on my monitor. It’s creepy Greg.
Great minds think alike.
My biggest problem with that Cagle cartoon is that I don’t think that Romney has ever had that jaunty of a posture in his life. And why is he wearing sneakers with a suit? Ryan looks pretty much as expected.
I agree with Eddie’s description of Romney/Ryan, and generally almost all Republicans in Congress that I’m aware of.
And yet, I have met so many nice and honorable Republicans in Orange County, with whom I agree on many issues. It’s hard to figure the Party out.
That’s because the Party can’t figure ITSELF out. Moderate voices are there, but they’ve given the Party over (often by enabling through their silence) to the far right ideologues.
That may change with a Romney loss in November.
Honestly, I don’t think that it wil change until we adopt something other than a “first-past-the-post” voting system. As a country, we’re practically dying to have at least six major parties: Green, Libertarian, Progressive Dem, Business Dem, Money Republican, Religious Republican (most of those with hawkish and dovish wings), but until we change the electoral system the math doesn’t allow it.
We don’t need a change in the voting system for the Republican Party to decide it’s going to give more than lip service to the idea of being the “Big Tent” Party.
YES AND THE DEMS HAVE BEEN HIJACKED BY THE FAR LEFT ENTITLEMENT CROWD HOPEFULLY THAT WILL END AFTER NOBAMAS LOSES
Impeach Obama for Criminal Complicity in Murder of U.S. Ambassador
http://larouchepac.com/files/20120915-leaflet2_0.pdf
http://www.larouchepac.com >> Organize
Robert, perhaps you can summarize the material at the link for the benefit of those of us who would sooner stick a fork into an electrical socket than click it.
I have been (and continue to be) a populist (true) conservative, having whole-heartedly supported REAL conservatives, such as Barry Goldwater and Max Rafferty, in the past. If the Republican Party had a leader today like Teddy Roosevelt (pro-environment and anti-trust), I would support him (or her) in a heartbeat. But today, the Republican Party is not about the little guy or the middle class—it’s about big money and multi-millionaire and billionaire campaign contributors, like Sheldon Adelson and the Koch Brothers.
And in OC, it’s all about big development and rubber stamp elected officials, who have the blessing of the local Chamber of Commerce and other special interests. And so, having dealt with some of these individuals directly while serving on the Laguna Niguel City Council from 1994-1998, I will continue to be an independent, and speak out when appropriate and necessary
“And in OC, it’s all about big development and rubber stamp elected officials, who have the blessing of the local Chamber of Commerce and other special interests”
That’s why it was refreshing to see some of the OC GOP’s endorsements last night – especially how, in the Anaheim Council race, they denied the endorsement to corporatist carbetbagger Steve Lodge and gave it to true, non-hating, populist conservative Brian Chuchua.
On the other hand, generally whacked-out hatemonger Deborah Pauly deserves a shout-out for sticking up for the populists and environemtnalists in the City of Orange who are trying to save some of the town’s last remaining open space from greedy developers – unfortunately she had no chance against the kneejerk cries of “property rights!!!!”
More here http://ocpolitical.com/2012/09/17/live-from-oc-gop-central-committee/
YOUR A CONSERVATIVE EDDI ROSE PLEASE YOUR NOSE IS GETTING BIGGER AS YOU SPEAK
*We support everything that Eddie said………exactly!
Um… and this was our two old-school Republicans talking.
We’ve been trying to get them to be even slightly critical of their Party for a long time … suddenly giving ditto fingers to this post is surprisingly harsh!
R&A, don’t you know Eddie’s talking about people like your own dear Mimi, Diane, Dana R, Ed Royce??
*Chairman Vern,
In spite of belonging to Mitt Romney’s 47% that DO pay taxes……..we can say….
that personalities in the Republican Party…..cater to a big tent……where intelligent
folks can agree and disagree with certain positions, policies and strategies.
All the current slate of Republican electeds have their own sets of problems. Some are far worse than others. The truth is that they all have feet of clay….but on occasion…and we repeat…..but on occasion……actually try to do the right thing.
Let us also say….that the current slate of Democratic electeds….have moved sizeably to the right…..in response to their various constituencies. Some Democrats are OK…but then there are those that are so dirty, corrupt and duplicit that no one in their right mind could possibly support them.
Orange County is fast becoming a Tri-Partisan battleground. No one in the Libertarian, Republican or Democratic party are supporting environmental concerns, Big Phara, Big Chema, Bio-Engineered Crops, The stupid use of Corn Ethanol for
fossil fuel and lots of other issues.The desparate anti-HSR and the Pro Toll Road Crowd for Transportation The time is coming when those shoulder to shoulder party hacks will finally get the message and start representing the people……not there list
of Campaign Contributors.
Until then……..Eddie has his good points on which many times we fully agree!
*Chairman Vern – And do not forget that we are supporting Obama-Biden in the National Election!
BIG MISTAKE
I think there’s a deepening chasm between the Republican leadership and the GOP’s rank and file members. I grew up in the OC but through some kind of genetic mutation I’m a Democrat. Therefore, most of my friends were and are Republicans. I’ve always thought and still firmly believe most “mainstream” Democrats and Republicans want the same fundamental things for ourselves and our country–prosperity, peace, and a decent world to leave our kids. We just have different ways of achieving those goals. And that’s always been okay because the two parties have tended to balance each other out. But over the past 40 years, that’s changed for both sides. First, sometime between the assassination of Bobby Kennedy and the election of Bill Clinton, Democrats, especially those on the farther left, started worrying about how we say things instead of what we’re saying. We’ve become so wrapped up in the “why”, we forgot the “how”. I think there are ways entitlement programs can be reformed and made more efficient, not by cutting and slashing but by looking at the benefits holistically–if we really want people off of welfare and back to work, they need the skills to get decent jobs, and the right to bargain for decent wages and benefits, and they should be able to compete in a system that gives everyone a fair shot at success. But too many Democrats see any change as a threat to the status quo and oppose it on the chance that someone, somewhere, won’t gett he chance they deserve. We can’t solve everyone’s problems, but we sure can foster an environment that gives everyone a square deal (a peon to Mr. Truman).
The Republican leadershipip, on the other hand, has sold itself to whomever it sees as thee most willing top ut them in power. Starting with Reagan’s pandering to the religious right, and on through today’demonization of the working poor, public employees, and unions, the GOP’s leadership has had an uncanny ability to find new scapegoats for each election cycle. The only thing that matters is their perceived divine right to run this country as they see fit. If you look at some of the real pillars of true conservatism from the mid-20th century through the 1980’s–people like Barry Goldwater and Robert Taft–Mitt Romney is, at best, a mediocrity who wouldn’t be allowed in the same room with them. True conservatives wouldn’t dream of vilifying working people, or channeling money to a selectct few. Their belief in a free market means no-one gets an advantage, no matter how much they pour into a super-PAC.
Where the Republican leadership has really had success is its ability to get people, including its own members, to vote in direct opposition to their best interests . The leadership doesn’t seem interested in merley Republican rule, but in Republican rule by the party’s elites. And therein lies the danger. First, for this country, since they seem willing to use any tactic, including voter suppression, baely veiled hate speech, religious fervor, and a host of other weapons in their arsenal of deceit just to gain power. In their wake, they will leave a fractured society at war with itself, while they walk away with an even bigger chunk of this country’s wealth, unnotcied.
Second, they are endagering themselves. Eventually, fanatics always eat their own. One day, they’ll run out of people to blame and they’ll turn on themselves. You can see it happening already. Compared to Paul Ryan, Ronald Reagan looks like a flaming liberal. And Michelle Bachmann is nothing more than Joseph McCarthy in drag. One day, they will push things way too far, and the backlash will be ruinous to them and damaging to the country.
Liberals, moderates, and conservatives all have legitimate voices and need to be heard. But nobody owns an exclusive right to the truth, and nobody deserves to be president who needs to blame the “others” for our country’ ills.
Noclib1,
Very thoughtful post. What do your Republican friends think of the current state of their party ? Are they excited about their leaders ?
It seems to me that they are trying every trick in the book to hold on to their diminishing power, at any cost. Unfortunately the cost is being paid by the public as a whole. The obstructionist strategy is leaving an economy limping along in order to precipitate Obama’s “Waterloo.” They are hoping his failure will ensure their rise to power. Pretty sick.
I think that the mainstream Democrats are willing to make changes for the greater good, I just don’t see that on the Republican side.
I think the most important issue for me is the incredible amounts of money that is buying our political system. Politics is now very dependent on Madison Avenue style tactics, as opposed to a fair representation of a politician’s ideas for the future. Lies told often enough become reality, and that’s what money can do.
That money is coming from a very small slice of the American pie, and that is not very democratic.
I agree, demogogue. When the Senate Minority leader makes it clear the number one job of his party is to defeat the president, you know their priorities are messed up. Its obvious, despite all of the smokescreen talk to the contrary, Republican leaders are willing to sacrifice what they know to be good policies just because people on the other side of the aisle come up with them. The advantage (if you can call it that) the Republicans have is their dogged determination to pursue power at any cost. In lieu of any real ideas to improve the economy, they’ve mastered the use of the sound byte and easy slogan. Frankly, I think its a shabby way to run a political party and a worse way to run a country, and its a terrible disservice to genuine Republicans who deserve much better.
And to answer your first question last, a lot of Republicans I know profess very little enthusiasm for Mitt. Most are of the “we can’t sees ourselves voting for a Democrat, so we may as well vote for Romney” variety. (The Republican Party is much more effective at making its members toe the party line than we Democrats). The others have been so acculturated to hating Obama by four years of non-stop vituperation, they’d rather jump off a cliff than vote for him. Fortunately, as far as I can tell, there aren’t many of those kind. What I see darn few of are Republicans genuinely moved by Romney as candidate or a person, and even fewer who embrace what little policy detail he’s been willing to offer.
*Demo – you and your own tragic flaws…..worrying about “the mother’s milk of politics..Money!” Please, we have had plenty of abuses on both sides. Those abuses will continue no matter who is in charge Noclib1 is right on track……Republicans locally are starting to eat their own…..and it isn’t pretty. Grover Norquist, Rush Limbaugh and The Tea Party……are currently creating the personality for the Republican Party Nationally. This is called “Running Right” and going “Fascist”……
The Democrats meanwhile have finally come to the conclusion…..that you can kill the Golden Goose. 3% at 50 was never going to be sustainable. Raising wages over the growth rate of the prior year…is certainly not sustainable. This goes for Public and Private Employees. The Democrats forgot the Social Contract and got Greedy. The Republicans then said: “Oh, you want to see Greedy….how about Credit Default Swaps and Liar Loans…….now that is really Greedy!” They too forgot the Social Contract between Management and Labor – Being Reasonable about Demands and Contracts!” The Social Contract that says…..we will repair your roads. We will offer you affordable healthcare……we will supply you with both Public Safety and Fire Protection.
The key ingredient that most certainly killed the Golden Goose was the Public/Private Partnerships…where the fix is in. Both sides are greedy and the only folks that are left and being robbed is the public tax payers.
Noclib1 was basically right on all counts. The petty power structures have left a meaningless shell of vacuous leadership in both parties, because the lobbyists have all lined up at both counters to give either party as much money as they need. So, Demo’s concerns about the cash are stupid. Everybody is paid off…..who cares gets what?
The great part is that the Citties and Counties that are going to go Bankrupt soon have all been paid off for so long – that the elected’s can’t conceive that it is really
all their fault. They blame others and fail to look in the mirror….where the real bad guys are! Every time we get the chance – we need to recall any elected that chooses Bankruptcy. It shows BAD Leadership! Bernie Madoff did not do it. They were the ones that took the free lunches from the Merrill-Lynch and J.P. Morgan sales reps….nobody else!
Very pereceptive, Winships (and no, not just becasue you agree with me)! Your last couple of paragraphs really zero in on the issues. The unholy alliance of special interests, self-important politcians, and just plain bad decisions have created the perfect storm for a lot of agencies, esecially at the local level. With the exception of Mammoth Lakes, which went bankrupt because its leaders didn’t recognize a loser court case soon enough, all of the bankrupt cities share a number of things in common: 1) they’re all charter cities, enabling them to make more risky financial decisions than general law cities; 2) they all used that ability to make some colossaly bad decisions (does Stockton really need a waterfront?) that compounded themselves over the years; 3) they all relied on the housing market to sustain unsustainable spending policies; 4) at least some of the politicians in each city have tried to blame their employees for the problem, which is kind of like blaming the Eiffel Tower for causing lightning ; and finally…big surpise…none of the elected “leaders” have stepped up and admitted they screwed up. I’d have a modicum of respect for a politician who had the character to admit his mistakes and vow to make them right. But then again I beleived in Santa Claus until I was 35!
Ship heads.
Please reread my post and note that nowhere did I assign blame for the abuses of money to either party. I mentioned both parties by name, Republicans and Democrats, and at the end I wrote …
“That money is coming from a very small slice of the American pie, and that is not very democratic.”
Do you notice the small letter “d” in democratic? That makes it an adjective, not a noun like when it was capitalized earlier. When that word is used as an adjective it means political or social equality for all. That is not assigning blame to one party or the other.
I know that maybe a little too complicated for you to get the nuance, but everyone else got it.
“The petty power structures have left a meaningless shell of vacuous leadership in both parties, because the lobbyists have all lined up at both counters to give either party as much money as they need. So, Demo’s concerns about the cash are stupid. Everybody is paid off…..who cares gets what?”
Now you’re talking out of both sides of your blabber hole. If you get rid of the big money changing cabal, meaning getting rid of the lobbyist, PACs, Super PACs etc., and the media whores willing to take the close to $6 billion spent this election cycle, we might get something a little more democratic (Ship heads might need to reread the first part of this post to understand). If you limit the money factor, then the politicians first concern after getting elected isn’t to raise money for the next election.
Why do you think campaign finance reform never goes anywhere? Because big money is spending tons to defeat it, because their buying elections is working very well for them.
Maybe you have your eyepatch on a little too tight. Argh!
Saw this on the Dailykos this morning;
“There is a big difference between a disappointing friend and a deadly enemy. Of course the Democrats are disappointing—that’s what makes them Democrats. If they were any more frustrating they’d be your relatives. But in this country they are all that stands between you and darkest night. You know why their symbol is the letter ‘D’? Because it’s a grade that means ‘good enough, but just barely.’ You know why the Republican symbol is ‘R’? Because it’s the noise a pirate makes when he robs you and feeds you to a shark.”
—Bill Marrrr
*They both eat from the same trough……and as a result……it is purely a Mad Magazine Spy vs Spy world…..that gets everywhere — nowhere! Counter productive……..Mug-Wumps……..Face on one side – Butt on the other!
To be certain….different personalities make one party attractive and the other an obvious ugliness – depending on the years involved. Jimmy Carter was certainly one of the most egregious. LBJ was hugely Bad, Nixon was beyond terrible and Jerry Ford was a pathethic mess. George the Elder was a very terrible example of the remnants of the Nelson Rockefeller wing of the Republican Party. The most attractive Republicans were Reagan and George and Laura Bush…in spite of their obvious problems along the way. The same goes for Jack and Jackie Kennedy……as likeable…..but they passed some very very bad stuff. Hillary and Mr. Clinton….also passed the likeable but terrible passage of awful laws.
This time Michelle and Barack are far more likeable than Mitt and Ann……but a wide margin.
Arrrr, can it be some sort of meeeerrrre coincidence that ye post that there comment on “Talk Like a Pirate Day”?
*Ay matey……steer a firm course!
Avast, ye scurrrrvy dog!