Santorum wants to impose 'Judeo-Christian Sharia'

[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

I blame the 24 hour news cycle. With the rise of cable news, they have hours and hours of programming time to fill. Pundits muse on the most mundane details, they infer meaning to every word, every action, and the politicians realize this. They've found that they've become a brand, and they need to manage their message and their image needs to be as carefully crafted as any shoe or car brand. In order to resonate with people, they've become marketers who cater to the lowest common denominator and as a result we have the ridiculous antics that we see from career politicians.

There's a whole industry built around the concept of political entertainment, and the people lap it up. FOX News and MSNBC are raking it in.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Tribesman

I think you miss the point about your severe lack of thoughts.

It's hard to follow your point when you intentionally abuse the quote function. Who were you quoting?

[TarJak]

Originally Posted by Sea Demon

Because it's not about religion. The fact is, the economy still sucks. The housing market still sucks. Infrastructure is still crumbling. The deficit is still rising (And Obama has increased this ten fold.....and wants Trillions more). And businesses are still showing a reluctance to hire because of things like the costs of Obama's healthcare bill. Obama is toxic. To the Democrat party and the country both. People are ticked off. Don't fool yourself into believing Obama is a guarantee. He's lost a vast amount of the white independant vote, and will not get it back. I'm not saying they all go Republican....some of them will, others don't show up. That hurts Obama more than any GOP candidate. GOP voters want to drive Obama out of the White House. This race is for the Republicans to win or lose.

It's not Reagan "romanticism". This happens every presidential election regarding GOP outsiders from the beltway East Coast. Reagan was an unelectable senile actor. G.H.W. Bush was a "corrupt" unelectable and unworthy VP (time for change). George Bush was an unelectable "bumbling idiot". This is a pattern. Now anybody but Mitt is unelectable. The same people will say he's unelectable if he wins the nomination. Cracks me up.

You really need to take a reality check mate. You comments on housing and infrastructure are laughable when compared to world standards. A vist to Mumbai, India's Manhattan might open your narrowed vision a little:

[Oberon]

I believe he was referring to Sea Demon, Steve.

In my view Obama should be the easiest Democrat President to unseat since Jimmy Carter. If the Republicans cannot organise themselves enough to manage to do that, then they deserve to lose.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by TarJak

You really need to take a reality check mate. You comments on housing and infrastructure are laughable when compared to world standards. A vist to Mumbai, India's Manhattan might open your narrowed vision a little:

To be fair TJ, the American people have lived in relative prosperity since the later 1930s early 1940s. They have enjoyed economic success, freedom from enemy bombing campaigns, infrastructure that remained undamaged throughout the Second world war, and a post-war boom from helping Europe rebuild, as well as financial gains from the various loans.
This is the biggest crisis since 1929 for the US...heck...it might well be the biggest economic crisis in American history, and the standards of living that America has enjoyed for the past several decades is slipping, it's still marvellous compared to most of the world, but compared to what they have been used to, yes, it's crumbling. We'll have the same problems over here...but we have a generation that went through worse and came through it alright, unfortunately they're not the generation in charge at the moment, but I hope that their lessons will ring true...but...looking at the riots of last year...I do fear for what is to come...

[TarJak]

Originally Posted by Oberon

To be fair TJ, the American people have lived in relative prosperity since the later 1930s early 1940s. They have enjoyed economic success, freedom from enemy bombing campaigns, infrastructure that remained undamaged throughout the Second world war, and a post-war boom from helping Europe rebuild, as well as financial gains from the various loans.
This is the biggest crisis since 1929 for the US...heck...it might well be the biggest economic crisis in American history, and the standards of living that America has enjoyed for the past several decades is slipping, it's still marvellous compared to most of the world, but compared to what they have been used to, yes, it's crumbling. We'll have the same problems over here...but we have a generation that went through worse and came through it alright, unfortunately they're not the generation in charge at the moment, but I hope that their lessons will ring true...but...looking at the riots of last year...I do fear for what is to come...

That's as may be Oberon, but its not excuse for being blinkered to what the rest of the world is like. The US' blinkers need to come off sooner rather than later.

[CCIP]

Another layer of cross-cultural irony: in much of the rest of the world, neoconservative economics are in fact called neo-liberal.

Otherwise, I think the bottom line that a few people in this thread have hinted at: why do we need dogmatic religious social conservatism mixed with neo-liberal economics when the US has a perfectly good, functional tradition of constitutional, secular, reasonable libertarian conservatism? Do you really need Jesus and corporate interests in DC, or just a minimally-intrusive government that works and protects citizens from others' spiritual and economic schemes?

[CaptainHaplo]

Originally Posted by CCIP

For the Tea Party, Romney and Gingrich are "the establishment"

Actually, most polls show Gingrich gets a good chunk of the "tea party" vote. The majority of people see the Karl Rove type power players all backing Romney, and doing their best to harm Newt. How many senior republican politicians have been negatice about Newt running? The establishment fears Newt.

I submit that the best thing that could happen in American politics is to somehow get away from the current 24/7/365 election cycle. The day after the election, the runs for the following November start to form.

Best thing we could do is get rid of the letter by people's names. If people had to run on issues vs what party they were in - then the electorate would be more educated on the candidate stances on the issues. It wouldn't be "left vs right", it would be about the issues and the ways to solve them. THAT would be the best thing for this country.

Campaign finance reform would be the next.....

[AngusJS]

Originally Posted by Sea Demon

Be careful. That's exactly what people thought about Obama. He is on the extreme left and he has largely been a failure. Obama is a looney marxist with all kinds of weird ideas

Now that's entertainment.

[Sea Demon]

Originally Posted by August

The real political power in this country rests with its legislatures, not it's executive. So IMO the Republicans would do far better by getting control of Congress.

Yes, the legislative controls the purse strings. So yes, it's imperative the Republicans need to solidify their hold of the House for sure. And retain balance in the Senate, if not take a slim majority. The thing that concerns me regarding the executive is that it appoints judges. A power I don't want liberals to retain for the long term.

Originally Posted by TarJak

You really need to take a reality check mate. You comments on housing and infrastructure are laughable when compared to world standards. A vist to Mumbai, India's Manhattan might open your narrowed vision a little:

It's all relative wherever you live. And I'm definitely not going to shoot for a living standard like the slums of Mumbai, India. The facts remain that our economy is still performing poorly, jobs are lacking as unemployment is still a huge factor, our deficit is running in the Trillions and the current administration thinks we need to add more to it, government waste and fraud is ramapant with tax withholdings, and overall national debt is increasing and will negatively impact future generations. Obama simply can't escape HIS economy. That's reality.....mate.

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

I blame the 24 hour news cycle. With the rise of cable news, they have hours and hours of programming time to fill. Pundits muse on the most mundane details, they infer meaning to every word, every action, and the politicians realize this.

Well here's where we can find common ground mookie. I'm sick of 24 hour cable news. But that also goes to the "out of context" propaganda articles coming from places like Daily Kos, Free Republic, gateway pundit, CNN opinion and others (like the one posted by the OP about "Santorum and Sharia".

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Funny when some of the most insightful and balanced political news is broadcast on Comedy Central's The Daily Show

You've got to be kidding me. This is where we part company. This show is not balanced news or insightful in any way. It's supposedly a comedy show but acts as platform to bash conservatives(and the token liberal from time to time for pretend balance...but we know where he leans). There is nothing insightful about it at all. Even Fox News typically has someone on the Right and someone on the Left to argue their points against one another and present their views. They offer retractions. That's balance. The Daily show does not have anything like it.

Originally Posted by Platapus

The RNC is telling me that these guys are the best of the best of the best that the GOP has to offer.

Really? These are the best?

Actually they reserve that label for Mitt...LOL. At least the establishment GOP does. You know, I'm not convinced that any of these candidates are the best America or the GOP has to offer. But IMO, all of them (except Ron Paul) are a much better option than Obama. As a taxpayer with an actual tax liability, I stand firm on that.

[elephantium]

Originally Posted by Sea Demon

I don't believe any of it. It's a made up projection of a future without federally funded birth control. It's a fraudulent argument. People can pay for their own birth control. A few people unwisely choose not to use birth control at all, and make babies they cannot afford. Federal funds won't change that. What liberals want is to create another entitlement using taxpayer funds, thus creating dependancy on government. This is nanny state lunacy. Government, using tax dollars on thousands of wasteful programs won't save everybody from themselves. Never has. This is why liberals have no business putting their hands on the levers of government.....they abuse it.

As far as states banning birth control, he's for allowing states the right to choose which laws they want to pass. Even if it is about birth control. Birth control is not a right or power enumerated in the US federal constitution. Therefore, he is correct. Leave it up to the states to pass their own laws. Let the courts determine the constitutionality.

I consider myself a liberal, and this is most definitely *not* what I want. Please stop lying about my wishes and motivations.

[Sea Demon]

Originally Posted by elephantium

I consider myself a liberal, and this is most definitely *not* what I want. Please stop lying about my wishes and motivations.

I wasn't talking about you or any regular joe voter on a personal level. But in my view, I believe the Democrat Party and liberals in government who seem to hold perpetual office wants people dependant on government programs in exchange for votes. Federally funded "everything" is a way to make that happen.

What's entertaining about your post is, I don't know how many times I've been told I want to "deny" people healthcare and want the elderly to die because I oppose Obamacare, how I "hate" gay people because I support Prop 8, I want to nuke everybody out of existence because I want a strong and viable nuclear deterrent and remain firm against further cuts, and I hope and pray for dirty air and water because I oppose legislation that all but guts our energy infrastructure and refuse to support pie in the sky energy schemes. All told to me by died in the wool libs. I made no such assertions against you.

[elephantium]

Fair enough - I'd agree (with respect to both political parties) that the people in Washington are so far out of touch with the "real" people that they're in essentially a different country.

Please do say "the fat-cats running the Democratic party" instead of "liberals" -- the latter is a VERY broad brush and inaccurate besides. I'm certainly not a Democrat.

I'll add this comparison, too:

Democrats - want voters to benefit from and be grateful for social programs? ... in bed with rich Hollywood companies.
Republicans - want voters patriotic and grateful for jobs from lots of spending on "defense contractors"? ... in bed with said defense contractors.

Looking out for normal people: No one.

It's hard to follow your point when you intentionally abuse the quote function.

Didn't you learn from last time that it's all in your mind?
Oh sorry, last time you crazily said I was deliberately doing it not intentionally doing it.
Must make a mental note , don't use the big "post reply" button when posting a reply

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Originally Posted by Sea Demon

It's all relative wherever you live. And I'm definitely not going to shoot for a living standard like the slums of Mumbai, India. The facts remain that our economy is still performing poorly, jobs are lacking as unemployment is still a huge factor, our deficit is running in the Trillions and the current administration thinks we need to add more to it, government waste and fraud is ramapant with tax withholdings, and overall national debt is increasing and will negatively impact future generations. Obama simply can't escape HIS economy. That's reality.....mate.

Just checking: do you remember, that this "stimulus" crap was invented by previous administration? Yes. Its Republican invention despite how much they are fitting that to Obama only.

Originally Posted by Tribesman

Didn't you learn from last time that it's all in your mind?
Oh sorry, last time you crazily said I was deliberately doing it not intentionally doing it.
Must make a mental note , don't use the big "post reply" button when posting a reply

Steve meant (or at least I mean) that it would be really kind to keep that [QU0TE=Person X + numbers] in beginning of quote like this (with 0 replaced with O): [QU0TE=Tribesman;1816903]it makes you much more easier to understand.

Please? Could you do that? Btw what is point answering with "Post Reply" button if you are anyway going to quote someone? There is "Reply With Quote" and "Multi-Quote This Message" buttons available.

No intention to insult you. I would just like to understand your logic and your current quoting tecnique makes it (at least in long threads) unnecessarily work intensive.