The Democrats don't respect your intelligence and their party "leaders" have no idea how to attract the so-called middle. Don't believe me? Witness this missive from Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) on The Huffington Blog. Same old Democratic bromides and bogeymen. Same dull rhetoric that blunts the senses and smothers the ardor of even the most strident Bush opponents. How can anyone take this guy seriously?
[Forgive me for once again ripping off the FIRE JOE MORGAN motif, but those guys do an amazing job dismantling neanderthal sportswriting, and I don't see anyone doing the same thing in politics. So, into the vacuum come my own mediocre efforts. Sorry. Sometimes that's just what you get.]
The Congress of the United States has reconvened in Washington, D.C., but don't expect Congress to legislate on behalf of the American people.
Since society can pretty much manage itself without you people, that's OK. As an American myself, I believe I speak for all Americans when I say: thanks, but no need to legislate on our behalf. No, seriously, we're good.
The Republican Party will spend the next 30 days trying to make you afraid. It is the Republican midterm election strategy.
Yes, and one that your party did a rather poor job of countervailing in both 2002 and 2004, if you don't mind my saying so.
For the rest of September, until the moment Republican leaders gavel the Congress into adjournment, Republican speakers will rise and implore the American people to be afraid.
Republicans will call it security, and every time they do, just remember they are speaking in code. Republicans really mean insecurity.
During September, Republicans will wield the gavel, but they will not make America safer.
We will not consider, much less pass, legislation to better protect our ports.
Jimmy. Bubelah. Legislation does not make us safer. Since freedom is the natural state of things, legislation is nearly always designed to empower the state. Legislation prescribes the boundaries of licit behavior and the punishments for when those boundaries are transgressed, but it cannot make us safer. Really, most of the time legislation just turns peaceful, consensual activities into crimes. Given the staggering number of people the U.S. incarcerates, it can scarcely be argued that legislation functions as any kind of deterrent.
We know what needs to be done, but Republicans are hard on rhetoric and soft on action.
Republicans are going to use their insecure code word so often that I hope Lou Dobbs, Jon Stewart, and others keep track, and remind people daily of how often Republicans are willing to talk, and how little they are willing to act.
Considering that when Republicans act, people tend to get bombed, spied upon, or tortured, this is all to the good. Seriously, I prefer politicians who are unwilling to act, unless they're repealing something.
After America was attacked on 9/11, the finest military on earth--- the United States Armed Forces---
"We support the troops! We support the troops!"
was sent to Afghanistan to hunt down bin Laden and stop the Taliban. They did a magnificent job until U.S. soldiers were ordered to leave before the job was done. We don't have bin Laden and Afghanistan is looking more like Iraq every hour.
A Republican Administration is responsible for diverting our military, draining our treasury, destroying our credibility, and making America less safe.
This is undoubtedly true, but these words ring hollow since the Democratic playbook offers little in response besides tax increases and "social" spending instead of warfare. Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.
The American people know that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, but the Administration denies the intelligence. Instead, the President mechanically recites his stay the course PR line.
That's because the president is a douchenozzle. We all know this. Look, if you Democrats want to be a viable opposition party, then oppose, G-d dammit. How many prominent Democrats (at least, those that have something to lose) have been steadfast about calling for an immediate end to this pointless war?
The American people know we are off course and adrift in a sea of violence.
Must be the sharks with the frickin' laser beams.
U.S. soldiers are not fighting a war on terror in Iraq. They are targets in a civil war among Iraqis.
When Republicans parade to the rostrum to outdo each other in using their insecurity code word, think of how insecure our soldiers are.
"Does this body armor make me look fat?"
Republicans keep saying things are getting better. That is disproved by their own Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, who ordered another 13,000 U.S. soldiers into Iraq recently. There are now 140,000 U.S. soldiers surrounded by civil war.
After 2,653 American lives lost, and 19,600 wounded Americans, the country deserves Democratic leadership that knows the Republican plan to stay the course is the most insecure plan for our soldiers, this nation, and the Iraqi people.
Yeah, good luck with that. Odds are you'll find bin Laden before this "Democratic leadership" you speak of.
Republicans will spend the next 30 days trying to stay in power, nothing more.
"Our cause is noble! We Democrats won't rest until we've seized power!"
They will say their insecurity code word over and over, but they won't pass the recommendations of the bi-partisan 9/11 commission.
"Bi-partisan," great. Things are seldom worse than when the Stupid Party and the Evil Party agree on something.
Republicans won't bring up immigration legislation intended to make our borders safer.
Legislation does not make us safer. See explanation, supra.
Republicans won't address reforms to make Social Security safer.
How exactly does one make a Ponzi scheme safer, Jim?
Republicans won't bring up legislation to end taxpayer subsidies for Big Oil, or launch a national campaign to end our addiction to oil.
Instead, Republicans will tell you to be afraid unless you pay through the nose at the pump, and Big Oil drills in every pristine environment left on the planet.
Republicans will tell you to be afraid for Social Security unless they give your benefits to Wall Street, so you might have holdings like Enron.
Clever, invoking the Enron bogeyman. No doubt those guys were awful, but care to take some responsibility for the government's role in creating the Enron monster? No?
Republicans will tell you to be afraid unless they can mortgage America's 22nd century, so that today's super rich can just have more.
Delightful. The "super rich" -- another boring, predictable Democratic whipping boy. This sentence tells you all you need to know about modern Democrats and their unwillingness to be dragged into the 21st century. OK, listen: there are a lot of people who made boatloads of money yet still maintained their liberal bona fides. Look at all of fucking Hollywood. Enough bashing of the "super rich." Fomenting class warfare is so very Marxist chic, and so very fucking passe. It does not resonate with anyone; it only reinforces the perception that you people are disconnected from reality. Get over it already.
Republicans had their chance and squandered it, leaving the American people with monstrous debt.
I love this: "WE collected your taxes, WE squandered it on warfare and pork, WE can't be trusted with power...but shit, the debt? That's YOURS." You know how you know this is bullshit? Expect Republicans to use the exact same rhetoric after the Democrats control the purse strings for two years. The parties just recycle and trade the same epithets every election year but nothing changes.
Republicans had their chance and used it to divert America away from the real war on terror.
Terrorism is a tactic. You can't wage war against an abstraction or strategy like "terror." There is no real war on terror, and even if there was, it couldn't be won. Please stop trying to talk tough by appropriating Republican language. Geez, if McDermott is representative of some new Democratic vanguard, these guys are in heaps of trouble.
Republicans are calling this Security September.
Not quite as much fun as "March Madness" or "Black History Month," but maybe it'll grow on us.
Just remember to be afraid....afraid of what else Republicans will do if they remain in power after the November election.
I am. Unfortunately, the Democrats terrify me just as much. There is really only one cause for hope and it has nothing to do with politicians.
[h/t to reddit]
[Forgive me for once again ripping off the FIRE JOE MORGAN motif, but those guys do an amazing job dismantling neanderthal sportswriting, and I don't see anyone doing the same thing in politics. So, into the vacuum come my own mediocre efforts. Sorry. Sometimes that's just what you get.]
The Congress of the United States has reconvened in Washington, D.C., but don't expect Congress to legislate on behalf of the American people.
Since society can pretty much manage itself without you people, that's OK. As an American myself, I believe I speak for all Americans when I say: thanks, but no need to legislate on our behalf. No, seriously, we're good.
The Republican Party will spend the next 30 days trying to make you afraid. It is the Republican midterm election strategy.
Yes, and one that your party did a rather poor job of countervailing in both 2002 and 2004, if you don't mind my saying so.
For the rest of September, until the moment Republican leaders gavel the Congress into adjournment, Republican speakers will rise and implore the American people to be afraid.
Republicans will call it security, and every time they do, just remember they are speaking in code. Republicans really mean insecurity.
During September, Republicans will wield the gavel, but they will not make America safer.
We will not consider, much less pass, legislation to better protect our ports.
Jimmy. Bubelah. Legislation does not make us safer. Since freedom is the natural state of things, legislation is nearly always designed to empower the state. Legislation prescribes the boundaries of licit behavior and the punishments for when those boundaries are transgressed, but it cannot make us safer. Really, most of the time legislation just turns peaceful, consensual activities into crimes. Given the staggering number of people the U.S. incarcerates, it can scarcely be argued that legislation functions as any kind of deterrent.
We know what needs to be done, but Republicans are hard on rhetoric and soft on action.
Republicans are going to use their insecure code word so often that I hope Lou Dobbs, Jon Stewart, and others keep track, and remind people daily of how often Republicans are willing to talk, and how little they are willing to act.
Considering that when Republicans act, people tend to get bombed, spied upon, or tortured, this is all to the good. Seriously, I prefer politicians who are unwilling to act, unless they're repealing something.
After America was attacked on 9/11, the finest military on earth--- the United States Armed Forces---
"We support the troops! We support the troops!"
was sent to Afghanistan to hunt down bin Laden and stop the Taliban. They did a magnificent job until U.S. soldiers were ordered to leave before the job was done. We don't have bin Laden and Afghanistan is looking more like Iraq every hour.
A Republican Administration is responsible for diverting our military, draining our treasury, destroying our credibility, and making America less safe.
This is undoubtedly true, but these words ring hollow since the Democratic playbook offers little in response besides tax increases and "social" spending instead of warfare. Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.
The American people know that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, but the Administration denies the intelligence. Instead, the President mechanically recites his stay the course PR line.
That's because the president is a douchenozzle. We all know this. Look, if you Democrats want to be a viable opposition party, then oppose, G-d dammit. How many prominent Democrats (at least, those that have something to lose) have been steadfast about calling for an immediate end to this pointless war?
The American people know we are off course and adrift in a sea of violence.
Must be the sharks with the frickin' laser beams.
U.S. soldiers are not fighting a war on terror in Iraq. They are targets in a civil war among Iraqis.
When Republicans parade to the rostrum to outdo each other in using their insecurity code word, think of how insecure our soldiers are.
"Does this body armor make me look fat?"
Republicans keep saying things are getting better. That is disproved by their own Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, who ordered another 13,000 U.S. soldiers into Iraq recently. There are now 140,000 U.S. soldiers surrounded by civil war.
After 2,653 American lives lost, and 19,600 wounded Americans, the country deserves Democratic leadership that knows the Republican plan to stay the course is the most insecure plan for our soldiers, this nation, and the Iraqi people.
Yeah, good luck with that. Odds are you'll find bin Laden before this "Democratic leadership" you speak of.
Republicans will spend the next 30 days trying to stay in power, nothing more.
"Our cause is noble! We Democrats won't rest until we've seized power!"
They will say their insecurity code word over and over, but they won't pass the recommendations of the bi-partisan 9/11 commission.
"Bi-partisan," great. Things are seldom worse than when the Stupid Party and the Evil Party agree on something.
Republicans won't bring up immigration legislation intended to make our borders safer.
Legislation does not make us safer. See explanation, supra.
Republicans won't address reforms to make Social Security safer.
How exactly does one make a Ponzi scheme safer, Jim?
Republicans won't bring up legislation to end taxpayer subsidies for Big Oil, or launch a national campaign to end our addiction to oil.
Instead, Republicans will tell you to be afraid unless you pay through the nose at the pump, and Big Oil drills in every pristine environment left on the planet.
Republicans will tell you to be afraid for Social Security unless they give your benefits to Wall Street, so you might have holdings like Enron.
Clever, invoking the Enron bogeyman. No doubt those guys were awful, but care to take some responsibility for the government's role in creating the Enron monster? No?
Republicans will tell you to be afraid unless they can mortgage America's 22nd century, so that today's super rich can just have more.
Delightful. The "super rich" -- another boring, predictable Democratic whipping boy. This sentence tells you all you need to know about modern Democrats and their unwillingness to be dragged into the 21st century. OK, listen: there are a lot of people who made boatloads of money yet still maintained their liberal bona fides. Look at all of fucking Hollywood. Enough bashing of the "super rich." Fomenting class warfare is so very Marxist chic, and so very fucking passe. It does not resonate with anyone; it only reinforces the perception that you people are disconnected from reality. Get over it already.
Republicans had their chance and squandered it, leaving the American people with monstrous debt.
I love this: "WE collected your taxes, WE squandered it on warfare and pork, WE can't be trusted with power...but shit, the debt? That's YOURS." You know how you know this is bullshit? Expect Republicans to use the exact same rhetoric after the Democrats control the purse strings for two years. The parties just recycle and trade the same epithets every election year but nothing changes.
Republicans had their chance and used it to divert America away from the real war on terror.
Terrorism is a tactic. You can't wage war against an abstraction or strategy like "terror." There is no real war on terror, and even if there was, it couldn't be won. Please stop trying to talk tough by appropriating Republican language. Geez, if McDermott is representative of some new Democratic vanguard, these guys are in heaps of trouble.
Republicans are calling this Security September.
Not quite as much fun as "March Madness" or "Black History Month," but maybe it'll grow on us.
Just remember to be afraid....afraid of what else Republicans will do if they remain in power after the November election.
I am. Unfortunately, the Democrats terrify me just as much. There is really only one cause for hope and it has nothing to do with politicians.
[h/t to reddit]
1 comment:
there are many quotes in this post that I could throw in a shirt and it would sell like hot cakes, my fave: " class warfare is so Marxist chic" with crazy beard design and decorative red stars. And on the back of the shirt i could put: Thatzz izz how we rrrol, comrade!
Post a Comment