tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post6268400274767698708..comments2024-03-20T12:34:55.100-05:00Comments on Stonekettle Station: Sequestration and Self Inflicted WoundsJim Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-88816112417947997092013-03-08T08:04:51.470-06:002013-03-08T08:04:51.470-06:00As usual Jim ,thanks for a succinct and informativ...As usual Jim ,thanks for a succinct and informative explanation of this "Sequestration" mess. I've rather unfortunately had my eye off the ball of American politics lately.Long Ben Averyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12382408372788942193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-71910789332590757042013-03-05T00:04:07.319-06:002013-03-05T00:04:07.319-06:00You might notice that I never postulated that Demo...You might notice that I never postulated that Democrat = good, Republican = bad. <br /><br />That's a construct wholly derived from your own imagination. Makes me wonder if in fact you did read what I did write, because you won't find that in any comment I advanced.<br /><br />I said there is not any equivalence between the two. They aren't both doing the same thing, there is no instance of them 'both doing it', whatever 'it' might be, they both act differently, they both have different proposals for public policy. There is not any grain of truth in Anon's delusion. His delusion is what's known as erroneous yet commonly accepted knowledge, and like so much commonly accepted 'knowledge', ....it's unfounded and nonsensical. It's born out of political spin and has no basis in reality.<br /><br />You attempted to proclaim there was 'a grain of truth in Anon's delusion. There's not, but it's your claim, no? You should, whether you think it's your 'job' or not, at the least be prepared to defend or substantiate your opinions. Else you're just setting out random unstrung thoughts devoid of context and lacking objective substance. To each their own I guess.<br /><br />You attempt to assign a what you call a 'generalization' to me that I have not advanced. <br /><br />That's nothing more than a form of rhetorical gamesmanship that you weren't very adept at.<br /><br />In the end, Moorcat, there is no 'self destructive paradigm' except for the additional strawman construct you're hoping to bring life to.<br /><br />I've not thrown up my hands in any defeat, let alone this mythical and fictional 'utter defeat' you've hoped to have constructed to assist you in your rhetorical evasions.<br /><br />You've also stated, (narrowly), that not all Republicans are self-destructive idiotic gets, (the qualifier you add is 'at least in the Senate'. <br /><br />If you think it helpful to identify rational Republicans? Why didn't you do so ?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03878884323732649241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-63844651484431188362013-03-03T16:39:27.095-06:002013-03-03T16:39:27.095-06:00First, it is not my "job" to prove anyth...First, it is not my "job" to prove anything. I simply made an observation about your generalization that "Republicans = bad, Democrat = good". That is just silly on it's face. All politicians are people and some are good, some are bad. It seems that at this point in time, the majority of Republicans are promoting a self destructive courses for America and I will grant that their dislike/hatred of President Obama is quite likely a strong motivator for it.<br /><br />That said, not all Republicans are self destructive, idiotic gets and (at least in the Senate) it does not take a majority of them to "see the light" for something to get done. If a majority of Democrats and even a minority of rational Republicans work together, something can be accomplished (and some things have been accomplished).<br /><br />Instead of sticking your rather self destructive paradymn, it might be more helpful to identify the rational Republicans and target them with citizen appeals instead of throwing up your hands in utter defeat. Moorcathttp://www.moorcat.com/roadlesstravelednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-11091206742660449332013-03-02T18:51:17.863-06:002013-03-02T18:51:17.863-06:00OK, Anonymous, you're done now.
Everybody h...<b> OK, Anonymous, you're done now. <br /><br />Everybody here understands your message: Democrats are bad. Republicans are bad. Everybody except for you is stupid, brainwashed, and suffering from mental illness. It's the same opinion you've expressed on every post you've ever commented on. We got it. You've more than made your opinion clear.<br /><br />I let you run on here just to see if you had any mode other than that of the standard issue sneering libertarian. Obviously you don't. It was bad enough when you were just repeating yourself over and over. But now, true to form, you've started engaging in snide little ad hominem attacks directed at the other commenters.<br /><br />Normally I'd give you a warning, but I've already done that on several previous posts. So, you're now done. Any further comments from you will be removed without fanfare. Don't bother to try and get in the last word, just leave. </b>Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-41270666926130434462013-03-02T18:34:47.214-06:002013-03-02T18:34:47.214-06:00Ann C.,
It's rather telling that you would s...Ann C.,<br /><br />It's rather telling that you would somehow equate pointing out the abject failure of republicans and democrats with asking if "the government shouldn't exist." Says pretty much all one needs to know about how badly your Stockholm Syndrome is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-63695999094871705562013-03-02T14:57:22.531-06:002013-03-02T14:57:22.531-06:00actually, they've been doing that since Nixon,...actually, they've been doing that since Nixon, when they felt he was unfairly targeted.<br /><br />so not kidding.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-758393829912213862013-03-02T14:26:51.653-06:002013-03-02T14:26:51.653-06:00Wow, chilling analolgy.Wow, chilling analolgy.shadowspringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15172112981244682382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-22609584106014139422013-03-02T01:46:51.623-06:002013-03-02T01:46:51.623-06:00Moorcat, you haven't proven Anons misguided an...Moorcat, you haven't proven Anons misguided and false preconception. <br /><br />Pointing to a few outliers doesn't negate the larger political reality. It's disingenuous and just as off the mark as trying to contend there is some equivalency between both parties. <br /><br />When you make a statement like 'Congress failed to do the job', you do not account for what actually caused that failure. You've made the mistake of creating what's called a 'sweeping generalization' and a generalization very seldomly reflects actualities.<br /><br />Do I attempt to deny there might be Democrats who need to be replaced with better, more conscientious Democrats. No, I don't. But those few don't reflect the majority.<br /><br />I've already made the allowance that there might be Republicans who aren't bat s hit crazy, but they are, or have been effectively silenced, so what good have they been? A very few have been able to resist the pressure that's put on them.<br /><br />A 'grain of truth' isn't worth much of anything other than providing a tenuous toehold for people who wish cling to their delusions. A grain of truth doesn't negate or refute the larger reality.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-52606878505771872312013-03-02T01:28:18.247-06:002013-03-02T01:28:18.247-06:00Anon, at 5:03 appears to be intent on demonstratin...Anon, at 5:03 appears to be intent on demonstrating his concern for a lack of intellectual capacity by insisting on sacrificing whatever intellect he may have once possessed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-42387938331211447302013-03-01T21:47:24.207-06:002013-03-01T21:47:24.207-06:00Not to mention that the damage done by cutting SNA...Not to mention that the damage done by cutting SNAP is permanent and not reversible by giving more food later on. So yet another generation fucked over. <br /><br />Plus with cutting back some of these programs will lead to them running higher long term costs (by loss of price reduction contracts from buying on volume, delaying purchases means paying the increase from inflation, etc). Also the resultant health and social issue from all those kids we're damaging by allowing SNAP and Medicaid funds to be cut. Steve Buchheithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12999709767641212586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-18243983617484802052013-03-01T21:40:03.178-06:002013-03-01T21:40:03.178-06:00IMO, much of the reason Americans are so ill infor...IMO, much of the reason Americans are so ill informed is because the media is corrupt, incompetent, and bias. They don't care about the truth. "Both sides do it". "We'll have to leave it there". I don't watch anymore, even MSNBC. Thanks for blogs such as this one, at least I stay more informed than if I got my info from the boob-tube.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-89582282353394821522013-03-01T18:21:11.173-06:002013-03-01T18:21:11.173-06:00Uh....yeah, thanks for pointing that out.
There...Uh....yeah, thanks for pointing that out. <br /><br />There's a couple of little problems here--first, we do not _have_ a Parliamentary system over here. And second, how do you propose we get one over here? Because the chances of me marrying Bar Raphael are much, much greater than getting a Parliamentary system to replace the current form of government.<br /><br />Marc McKenziehttp://redshoulder.deviantart.com/gallery/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-69902700828711859662013-03-01T18:08:38.844-06:002013-03-01T18:08:38.844-06:00I agree there were considerations, but sooner or l...I agree there were considerations, but sooner or later, the issues keep coming back. They hate the President; they hate his wife; they even hate his children. It's time to draw the line.bearsensehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12000858896207125033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-42756477788156563602013-03-01T17:54:33.856-06:002013-03-01T17:54:33.856-06:00Joe Blow -- Very well put. We have the ability, t...Joe Blow -- Very well put. We have the ability, the money is there. Ensuring that every American has a reasonable chance at a decent life is a responsible we ought to embrace, and paying for that is something we should do gladly, without the hand-wringing and whining about "takers."Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11364316598293820961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-86317354539920742902013-03-01T16:24:53.728-06:002013-03-01T16:24:53.728-06:00Anon at 5:03 am - Just double checking here - You&...Anon at 5:03 am - Just double checking here - You're saying the government shouldn't exist? Or that we should appoint a dictator? Or that we should come up with some new parties (out of our collective asses, maybe?) and let THEM elect the incredibly sane people they would come up with?<br /><br />You've got your own list of rascals you want to put in once you throw all of our rascals out?<br /><br />If you've got a sincere and honest solution, let's hear it. A loud raspberry doesn't qualify.<br /><br />Ann C.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-51484972884045428862013-03-01T14:53:10.678-06:002013-03-01T14:53:10.678-06:00Obama should not have continued the Bush Tax Cuts,...Obama should not have continued the Bush Tax Cuts, but I understand why he did. He traded the extension for extending unemployment payments. Those unemployed needed the money to keep roof over head, groceries on table, utilities paid. So he extended the cuts. Damn. If he just could have done otherwise.....But reality intrudes.sophienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-25555104310769979082013-03-01T14:36:32.431-06:002013-03-01T14:36:32.431-06:00Where's the "Like" button? I like t...Where's the "Like" button? I like this.sophienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-35040256080821457772013-03-01T14:18:22.818-06:002013-03-01T14:18:22.818-06:00What a bunch of morons on that Yahoo comment threa...What a bunch of morons on that Yahoo comment thread.LCShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06230899522753297278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-32498961021881846272013-03-01T14:05:16.107-06:002013-03-01T14:05:16.107-06:00You're Wright, jim (arrgghh !).
President Obam...You're Wright, jim (arrgghh !).<br />President Obama has consistently and repeatedly underestimated the venality of the Republicans.<br />If he'd done the right thing in the first place and said that he would veto any bill that allowed the Bush Tax cuts to continue (and maybe even done it), we'd be nowhere near where we are today. <br />As Atrios has said: "Solve the jobs problem and the deficit goes away. The reverse isn't true."bearsensehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12000858896207125033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-81254945613121499712013-03-01T13:54:42.045-06:002013-03-01T13:54:42.045-06:00One small correction, Jim.
"And, hell, Cong...One small correction, Jim. <br /><br />"And, hell, Congress already has the next crisis, the reoccurring debt ceiling showdown, scheduled for the end of March"<br /><br />The fight that will occur March 27th is over whether the Federal Government will continue to operate, not the Debt Ceiling (though I am sure we will hear all about the Debt Ceiling during that debate). The current "continuing resolution" to fund the Federal Government ends March 27th and without Congressional action, the Federal Government is no longer funded after that date and has to close it's doors. Moorcathttp://www.moorcat.com/roadlesstravelednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-8433348475509720932013-03-01T09:37:10.862-06:002013-03-01T09:37:10.862-06:00While I don't completely agree with Anonymous ...While I don't completely agree with Anonymous and his equal distaste for both Democrats and Republicans, there is a grain of truth in his delusions. Yes, the so called "Party of No" has been majorly confrontational, obstructionist and singularly unhelpful in getting anything done since President Obama was elected. In truth, that is an oversimplification because there were some Republicans that were working to do the jobs needed to be done. But there are also Democrats that have misdirected, or even outright lied to the American Public about the situations they were debating in Congress. Democrats are not exempt from the fact that Congress - as a whole - has failed to do the job and now we - the governed - will pay for that failure. All of Congress needs a wake up call - Dems and Republicans alike. Moorcathttp://www.moorcat.com/roadlesstravelednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-47684828057571231812013-03-01T08:03:52.322-06:002013-03-01T08:03:52.322-06:00Joe,
I'm all for honest and sincere construct...Joe,<br /><br />I'm all for honest and sincere constructive solutions. But they're impossible to achieve as long as a single democrat or republican is in office. The fact that Stockholm Syndroe partisans on either side continue to elect (but refuse to hold accountable) their overlords is why we are $17 TRILLION in the hole.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-72144476623972764062013-03-01T07:59:07.824-06:002013-03-01T07:59:07.824-06:00TS,
Yeah, because the gubmint has done a real ban...TS,<br /><br />Yeah, because the gubmint has done a real bang-up job in the aftermath of Sandy, huh? *Facepalm*Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-61491304007641980512013-03-01T07:57:03.413-06:002013-03-01T07:57:03.413-06:00Joe,
They're two sides of the same dirty coin...Joe,<br /><br />They're two sides of the same dirty coin. But apparently their kabuki dance is working, because people hoodwinked into supporting either side spend so much time arguing with each other that they aren't the same pile of steaming crap that it lets them get away with pretty much anything they want. THAT is party over country. Every. Time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-66979447592730615582013-03-01T01:36:33.838-06:002013-03-01T01:36:33.838-06:00Every time I see a reference to the "Democrat...Every time I see a reference to the "Democrat Party", I immediately stop reading that post or article because I refuse to let anyone waste my time who cannot correctly name the largest political party in the United States.<br /><br />Hence, I spend approximately ZERO time reading the sewage published by the likes of Coulter, Limbaugh and their ilk.<br /><br />As an aside, I recently read that a fairly large majority of Americans believe, correctly, that our current woes are the fault of the Republican Party. I expect that the Teabaggers and their Republican lackeys will get their dumb asses kicked in the next election.<br /><br />Superb article, as usual, Jim. Many thanks.South Jersey Docnoreply@blogger.com